My mind is uneasy and restless. I have been like this after I read those scrolls. I cannot sleep without visions or daymares in my subconscious. My mind is uneasy as I drift off to sleep. If I am losing it, kill me now and spare Lydea the trouble with dealing with a loon that was once her husband. I have visions of my past and it has been bugging me like hagsmire. What have I done to get this? Have I committed a terrible sin in order for me to admit I am sorry? My conscience is Pure and I have committed no evil. Why am I being tortured as so? I drift off to sleep and I have another vision.
(In vision, Barran's diary entries apply here. She voices over her entries.)
"I remember when Josh was only a hatchling. He was beautiful and yet so small. Look how much he grew! Tonight, I am going to read him the legend that he has to know. Besides, this is one of the many histories of Ga'Hoole. Boron may disapprove, but I want him to at least know the story of The Legend of Mordecai and Cheyenne…"
"He let out a thunderous cry across the rain littered winds. Princess Cheyenne immediately turned her back to fly away to join the other Guardians in battle, when Mordecai sprung up and stabbed her with the implement she had used to stab him. The two owls lay on the floor, dying. In her final breath, Cheyenne said the praises and blessed Ga'Hoole Tree. It is said that her spirit lives in within the tree, protecting it harm and keeping it as healthy as now. Mordecai however had his spirit to go to hagsmire. Where he had lived for a long, long time since that day. Ok, Josh, time for bed." Mum says
"But I am not tired! I want to stay up longer." I whine
"Come on. I read you a legend and if your father finds out that I have read you something that isn't a bedtime story, I don't want to know what happens next." She says as she corrals me to my nest before she says, "Come on, little one. Hop into bed."
"Ok." I reply
As I lay down. Mum checks if I am snug in my nest. She gives me a hug and kisses me on the forehead. As I drift off to sleep, she puts out the candle and goes to the door to the hallway.
"Good day, Josh. Sweet dreams." She says softly as I fade into sleep
(Josh wakes up)
I wake up as I am now. I felt like I was five again. Besides, that kiss felt so real and I thought I heard my mother's silky voice. Then, I remember that she is… dead. I am a 22-year-old father and husband and I had a dream about my mum. I just think of all the things she has done things for me my whole life and I just miss her. I mean, she does things that sometimes get her in trouble with dad. A tear falls from my eyes as I fade again to sleep. I know that I was like Sina is. I was a presumptuous owlet and sometimes, I had been scolded and got in trouble.
While I am thinking about it, I wonder if my daughter will remember all her childhood when she is older. If this sort of thing happens to my baby girl, I would want to give her happy memories.
I never would make the mistake my father did. He hardly raised me at all. I want to watch over my child when she grows up. Mum did that for me and I will do that for my daughter (maybe more, if I think about it). I fall asleep and don't know what will happen next.
(A vision)
"Just as Lyze had rescued an owlet a few days ago, I have been asked to attend a meeting regarding that. Boron doesn't know that the owlet he saved was none other than Princess Lydea Schana…"
"Will she ever know? When will we tell her? I don't know the child, but I feel like I am betraying her trust." Mum asks
"That depends. The child is only a few nights old." Strix says
"I agree. She will not be able to understand when she is the right age." Ezylryb says
"That means she will have to be 18." Lydea's adoptive mother, Alina says
"Exactly. Barran will hide the crown and keep your beaks shut, everyone. Lydea will never know she is a Schana until she is 18." Ezylryb announces
"I hate to break topic. How is Josh? How are you handling being a first time mum?" Strix asks mum
"His eyes are full of life, Strix. I am handling it all fine. He just makes my smile when he gives me those little golden eyes and… Aww!" Mum swoons
"Ladies, we are in the middle of something. Barran, are you ever going to grow up?" Ezylryb asks
"Maybe. I am a newcomer to being a mum. See you on the other side of seriousness, Lyze." Barran says before breaking into laughter
"Leave her be. She has had five glasses of wine you realise. In this case, she is blind stinking drunk!" Strix says
"Be that as it may, we end with the pledge." Ezylryb says before I wake up
(Josh wakes up, again)
Why did it show me that? What does that have to do with anything? That is a piece of Lydea's past or something and that really doesn't make any sense. Honestly, this is wack! Why would I have a vision about the thing? I am confused as hagsmire. Then, I see a light and the moon rises. I thought it was 4pm. As the moon rises, there is a bright light and I am shielding my eyes. I look again and I see… Mum?
"Mum? I thought you were dead?" I exclaim in surprise as a snowy owl scroom stands in front of me. It is my mother, but she has strange markings on her face.
"Josh. I am sorry I died. I thought that having you would at least save me." She replies as she places her wing on my face. She may be my mother, but she looks so different. I look at her markings before she lets go
"I see now I have made a fatal mistake." Mum says absurdly
"What do you mean?" I ask, "What do you mean by that? You are sounding like… Are you agreeing with what dad said?"
"No, I would never agree to his harsh words he had said to you." She replies
"What is it then?" I ask impatiently
"You, foolish son of mine, are trying to kill without reason. I thought you knew better my gifted one, but I see that your father was right in some cases." She replies
"Mum, he stole the throne and killed you both. I want to avenge you and dad. You died an unfair death and…" I sadly exclaim, "I was going to visit with Sina. She will never get to know her grandmother, now."
"Shh… Josh, I know you are trying to avenge me." She says as she turns my head with her wing. I am looking into her eyes now. They are still as amber as before…
"I just want to do what is right in my..." I reply
"You are confused of why I died. My son, my dearest baby boy, I will take away the confusion and replace it with the truth. I know you read that scroll I left you." She softly says while holding my beak shut.
She lets it go and I give her a smile "You were like me once, mum. You were a parent to me and you were confused of what to do about the throne."
"You read all of them? Josh Nyctea! That is private stuff that is not for owlets like you." She angularly whines
"I am sorry, mum. I am afraid of what these visions will do to me." I reply
"Josh, one task at a time. Let me explain why I died. I was a steward monarch and Coryn had retrieved the Ember of Hoole. We were on the throne just to rule until Coryn claimed it. I had hatched you to try to save myself from my death. It failed on me anyway. You are still alive as you are my child. You may be my son, but you are the father to a Schana, even if you are Nyctea. You are not the ruler of Hoole and are the next generation and I sadly was queen and your mother. I know it sounds confusing, but that is all it is." She explains
"I was crushed when I found out. It was like when Lydea was in a coma. Mum, I miss you, but not dad, just so you know." I mention
She then starts to fade from my sight. I am confused of why she is fading.
"Mum, don't leave me!" I exclaim
"Josh, I won't leave you. I know I may not be here with you, but I will always be with you." She smiles
"I don't want to let you go." I reply with tears in my eyes
"Before I go, I have to tell you something. I am Goddess of the Moon, Josh. I have never told your father and you are the only LIVING person to know. This is the reason of my markings." She announces
I am wrapped in her wings and help close to her chest. I start to cry as she fades. I hear her whisper in my ear "I love you, my baby boy" before she finally fades.
The sun comes back up and I am looking out the window.
I love you too, mum.
I get tired and go back to bed. I understand why she had kept it hidden from dad; it is a power that can be used as a weapon. I had learned once about the goddess of the moon when one of mum's books was lying on the floor. They can stop the rotation of the moon at any rotation. It could be used to make moonblinking worse if it is full. However, there is an eclipse whenever she is hurt or when she dies.
This comes to no surprise to me. Lydea can heal and control snowflakes and has snowsight. When I get up, to my surprise, I wake up and didn't have a dream. As I prepare for the battle another vision springs to my mind.
(In Vision)
"Josh's crowing will be an elegant day. My son named the heir to the tree and their prince. I hope to be alive when the day comes for when he becomes king…"
Standing before a crowd of owls, my head held high and a smile upon my face. I see Strix smiling at me with a smile like my mothers and Lady/Princess Autumn's. I have had to stand here during dad's speech for about a few minutes.
"I am proud to present my son, the future heir of Ga'Hoole. I know that my son will do great things when the time comes. I am proud of him, as he is a symbol of our great kingdom. Her highness, Queen Barran of the Moon and I are proud to present our son with his crown." Dad says
I bow and receive my crown as both my parents place it on my head. My mum is almost driven to tears from being proud and happy at the same time. I turn around and the kingdom rejoices as my parents stand behind me. Confetti flies all around me like rain as the moon shines brightly above me.
"Someday, you will make me proud, Josh. The kingdom will be yours and maybe then your father won't be too busy to bother." Mum whispers
The other owls sing rejoices, cheers, and merriment are all around. After that, the whole tree is in celebration. I was still was young and didn't understand why they celebrated this sort of thing. I didn't understand why they made a fuss over me. Besides, I have as much power as Autumn and she is the Princess of Ambala.
(End of vision)
I come out of it and I start to get the army together. I plan the battle plan with my general, who is Otulissa, the very owl that had informed me. I tell her to prepare the army and she replies and flies off. My helmet comes on, my dark side that has come to be is going to kill Coryn, and he will suffer my wrath.
When it begins, it is dusk. The sunlight is disappearing and no one realises what this battle will do. The gong chimes three times and then we begin. As blood and feathers fly around, I am dodging the other owls. I am looking for that pest Coryn. I have a few visions at a time as my mind wanders. It is annoying as I am trying to focus, but my mind won't listen.
I finally find Coryn and we engage in battle. The little pest and I have a one on one. My mind is defocused when we face off. He takes feathers out of my face as we claw and scratch for the throne. I end up punching him in the stiches and he falls back in pain. Then my mind flashes to when mum is against the wall when dad threw her. I don't notice him charging at me until the last moment. I barge him and hit him with my wing before he hits me with another one. Then I go to high attack him when he launches a hot coal at me. It collides with my wing and that hurts I fall and he attacks. My mind flashes to when I am fighting Nyra back in the North. Lydea is lying unconscious in the shards of the mirror as the bitch fights me. Then I come out of it and find that I have been pinned.
"Never mess with me. I will never, ever fall to you!" He announces
"You don't have the guts to kill me!" I reply as the whole field pauses and stares at us
"I don't. I am making you sign a peace treaty and you will accept or I will find a way to kill you." He yells
"Fine then!" I reply
Guards come and apprehend me. I am trying to break free to use this advantage to get the bastard when he is of lowered guard.