Chapter Thirteen: Dark Depths
Rosalyn followed Ari into the darkness, her hands instinctively moving upward to try and feel her way in.
"I'm kinda scared now." Linda's voice floated from somewhere near her left. Epros said in return,
"There is nothing down here for you to fear."
Rosalyn highly doubted that, but she didn't say anything. They walked for what seemed like forever, the cold darkness licking at their skin. Every once in a while something fluttered past them, and the Hero had to resist the urge to draw her sword.
A breeze ruffled Rosalyn's hair.
"Did you feel that?" Marlene asked.
Ari said, "I think we reached the fork. We go left, right?"
"No, we go left."
"That's what I said, Linda." He replied with a sigh.
"Oh."
They walked to the left, hands touching the cold, slimy cavern wall.
Ari told them to stop. "We're at some kind of door; I can feel a handle here. Should I just pull it?"
"Try knocking first." Big Bull advised.
"I agree it is highly feasible that the Watcher does not appreciate company barging into his abode." Kisling, of course.
Rosalyn walked forward until she felt the door, then she felt something brush her cheek. She whirled around, sounding panicked. The touch had been cold and rough.
"What just touched me?!"
"Sorry. My tail." Coracinus apologized.
Rosalyn relaxed, fighting back the snide remark she was going to make. She heard the loud "thump" of Ari banging his fist against the door.
Silence. Then:
A pair of yellow eyes, huge and tinged with black and green, appeared in the space the door had been a moment ago.
The voice was strange, sliding over the adventurers like oil; the words were strange to hear. Why? The language was obviously foreign, but their minds somehow registered it clearly, just a second behind the actual words themselves.
"Hello. I've been expecting you." Every word was plainly understood, and with every syllable a loud click was also heard.
That's a bad sign, Rosalyn thought.
"Can we come in?" Ari asked, clearing his throat.
The eyes moved aside, and they stepped into a room that they had a feeling was very large, since their footsteps echoed.
"Can we have a light, Watcher sir?" Linda asked cheerfully.
Something like hissing, wheezing laughter was heard. "Of course."
Flash!
Several torches flared on at once, clearly illuminating the cavern for the first time.
The room was huge but empty, save for four doors situated in corners in the square cave. The cave was dark brown, but the walls were wet, if the shining patterns on the walls caused by the torches was anything to go by.
And the Watcher himself…
The Watcher was a nine feet tall praying mantis, the rounded head and huge eyes were turned their way. His entire body, or at least his head, was green and gold with silver stripes that traced his face. The rest of his body was covered in a dark brown cloak that matched the walls. Two humongous scythes, his arms, lifted up from within the sleeves of his cloak, gesturing grandly to the cave.
"I apologize for the simple décor, but you have not yet been to my personal chambers. What brings you to see an old Ghost like myself?"
Rosalyn decided to save Ari the trouble.
"We would like to go to the World Library, please."
The Watcher turned his head to look at her, bending down until he was directly on eye level.
"What would adventurers like you want with a dusty old book collection?"
"Not so much the Library as the person inside it." Rosalyn replied, trying not to flinch as its cold breath touched her face. It was as cold as the winter's wind.
The Watcher blinked once. "I see. I know who is within the Library, Beiloune, former Master of this world, correct?"
"Yes, that is true. We wish to see my Father." Marlene spoke up from beside Coracinus.
The Watcher blinked slowly again. "I am well aware he is your father. Yes…I know of what has happened to the land you call home. Alas, I do not know if I can trust you. I watch, I learn, and I know a lot about the people here." His voice suddenly turned quiet.
"What's wrong with us? We're Heroes!" Linda said proudly.
"The Diva is right, we saved the world!" Big Bull grunted.
The Watcher laughed again, rotating his head to look at Linda. "You call yourself Heroes. Ex-Evil Kings, self proclaimed or not, a boy too weak to speak up for himself, a girl acting like her doll counterpart, and a corrupted Scholar and Hero. You overthrew the world order, believing it was right. Why should I help you in your quest to destroy?"
"But, we have to! If we don't kill Addonexus, the world is doomed!" Linda spoke up bravely.
The mantis lowered his head down to Linda's level, and Epros stepped protectively close to her.
"Ex-Teen Idol Evil Queen Linda, you kill because you believe it is right. Using that excuse means nothing. Killing is always wrong, when another way can always be found."
Linda pulled back from the Watcher, looking a little freaked out, and Epros said instead,
"What can we do, to properly assure you?"
"Ah, Ex-Phantom Evil King Epros, still under the curse, I see."
"Curse?" Linda said in confusion. Epros ignored her.
"What you can do, you ask." The Watcher continued. "I want to issue a challenge to one of you here, a challenge that will force into your face the greatest doubt harbored in your heart. Who will step forward?"
Rosalyn said almost instantly before Ari could volunteer, "I will."
The Watcher nodded. "Excellent, Hero Rosalyn. I'm very satisfied. Please, this way." One long leg stretched out and opened the door to the left. Rosalyn smiled at her friends.
"I'll be okay, guys."
"We know." Ari said with a smile. "Thank you."
Rosalyn followed the Watcher into a smaller room, this one dark. The mantis began circling around her, cloak swishing loudly, and she stood in the only light in the whole room, coming from somewhere above her.
"Are you ready, Hero?" He asked her. "This test will not be easy."
"Nothing ever is." She replied with a smile, and she had a feeling the Watcher smiled too.
"Very well…"
He continued circling her, and Rosalyn resisted the urge to draw her rapier. This must be a mental test, since the Watcher was against fighting, or at least so she reasoned.
"I know a lot about you, Hero Rosalyn."
"Really?" She said dryly.
"Indeed. You are almost a hypocrite." He said this like it was the most amusing thing in the world.
"WHAT?!" She snapped, tightening her grip on her sword.
"It is amusing to me," he continued, like she hadn't just shouted out. "That you were willing to kill yourself to stop King Stan from coming into the world, but when he does come, you actually get into a relationship with him. True, you have only kissed so far, but it is interesting to me that a Hero would love a Villain."
"Who-what-how did you know we kissed?" She yelped.
"I am the Watcher." He said simply. "Now, Hero Rosalyn, you are in love with an Evil King. It goes against everything that should be, a Hero in love with the bad 'gentleman'. Why do you continue to humor him?"
"I-I don't know." She admitted. Everything he was saying was the questions she wanted to ask herself…
"Exactly. You know he is Evil, and thus as a Hero you must kill him at some point."
"You're against killing, wouldn't you rather I am with him to keep an eye on him?"
"That would be good, in some cases." He shook his head, still circling. "But King Stan may soon revert back to his ways, before the bottle, three hundred years ago. Would you have the heart to strike him down, the person you love?"
Rosalyn hesitated, clutching her sword. "I would," she admitted. "If I had no choice."
The Watcher paused, kneeling down until one huge eye stared into her own.
"You have hope." He whispered into her mind. "That you can change him. I can see it in your eyes."
He lifted one leg, lightly touching Rosalyn's ears. She shivered. "But he has changed you. You struggle, having an inner monologue within yourself, unsure what to do. Dark thoughts taint your pure mind. What do you want to do now, Hero?"
"I want to get to the World Library. I have a responsibility to everyone to save them." Rosalyn tightened her grip on her sword until her knuckles turned white.
"Noble of you, Hero Rosalyn. Very noble indeed. Beiloune made you the Great Hero, and you still are, despite all the obstacles in your path. Your heart and mind only grow stronger." The mantis pulled back, nodding in a contented way. "One last statement, and perhaps…I will let you and your friends go."
"Statement on what?" She asked warily.
"What do you think of your relationship with Evil King Stanley? Is it wrong?"
Rosalyn looked down, thinking hard. That was the one question she constantly asked herself. "Love is never wrong." She said at last.
She was sure of it, this time. The Watcher was smiling.
"You pass, Hero Rosalyn."
***
Rosalyn emerged from within the depths of the cave, the door closing behind her. The Watcher stepped forward, walking delicately.
"Hero Rosalyn has changed my opinion on humans completely. Not only that, but she has changed my mind. I will take you to the World Library."
The Watcher motioned for them to follow him back outside to the fork in the path, but this time they took the other way.
The door opened, and Kisling exclaimed,
"Magnificent!"
The room was filled with gleaming, brand new gears. All performing different tasks, not only that, but other machines the others had never seen before whirred and worked. Silver steam was blasted out from a machine, lightly touching their faces. It smelled like rain.
The Watcher quickly typed in some commands, and a machine on the ceiling that worked its way down to the ground began to hum.
While it did so, the Watcher leaned back on his legs.
"I am going to give you a disc, similar to the one from the griffin. Simply connect it to the Stone Circle for Addashi, and it will change its course and teleport you instead to the Highlands. I have to warn you, though…"
He lowered his head to Ari's eye level.
"I do not see the Highlands well. My sight only stretches so far. My assistant went there earlier, and the rumbling clouds have yet to reach the landscape nearby. The Spiritus should protect the Library, however. Listen carefully. The disc that I am making will stop working after one use, then it will self destruct, and the Stone Circle will change back to the Addashi Desert. Once you gain the Spiritus, you should be able to come back without the help of the disc."
Kisling asked, "What if the Stone Circle for the Highlands has already been stolen by one of the Devil King's minions?"
"Do not worry. This disc will have enough power for both ends, if that is the case."
The mantis turned around and handed Ari a disc that flashed rainbow colors. It scorched Ari's fingers, and he quickly placed it on his palm so his glove could take the blunt of the heat.
Epros's eyes were alight with interest, running over every piece of equipment in the room. True, he had made a metal one, but the machines were interesting nonetheless.
"Permit my question, if you please. Were the Stone Circles made by these?" He gestured to the equipment.
The Watcher nodded. "Indeed, Epros. They were."
Linda jumped up and down. "Eppy-I mean Epros, loves to study the Stone Circles!"
The Watcher nodded. "I know. These machines are not for you, but it would be my pleasure to show you how it works. Once I judge your character. I do not want villains learning how to create Stone Circles! That is why a part of me is glad your 'Metal' Circle was destroyed."
Kisling and Epros were studying the machines, Ari was chatting to Marlene, Big Bull and Linda were talking to the mantis, and Rosalyn just leaned against the wall.
Then, she realized Coracinus hadn't said anything.
"What's wrong, Coracinus?"
The Shapeshifter looked up, lifting his wings slightly in a shrug.
"I don't like my normal form." He smiled sadly.
"Why?"
"Don't I look scary?" He halfheartedly waved his claws.
Rosalyn laughed. "No, I don't think so. You look nicer than what they say Melas looked like."
That seemed to cheer him up; his ears went up a little.
The Watcher turned around, finally done with his discussion. "Shapeshifter Coracinus, I need your help with something."
He frowned. "Okay."
"Find my assistant, the woman who let you in, if you please."
Coracinus left, walking off, looking like a stalking predator who was heading for his prey.
If that's a young Shapeshifter, I'm a little scared on what an old one can do. Rosalyn mused.
***
When they emerged from down within the depths of Wap Wap, it was sunset. The ocean was red with the dying rays.
"This is it, place it there." The woman said in her monotone voice. Epros followed her lead, and the Stone Circle changed from yellow to purple.
"Oh, Rosalyn." She added, turning to face the Hero. "Take this." She handed her a pink parasol.
Confused, Rosalyn stared at it.
"Keep it. Trust me." The woman intoned.
Thanking the woman, who said nothing, the friends stepped onto the portal.
The weightless feeling, and then they landed on the Stone Circle of the Highlands. Crisp, cold wind blew around them, carrying the scent of mountain air and just the faintest tinge of snow, along with the scent of smoke. The rocky grey hills, dotted with green foliage, surrounded them on all sides.
Smoke?
Rosalyn looked around, gaping at the burning buildings of the village. Smoke poured into the sky.
"How did that happen?" She demanded more than asked.
"Look!" Ari pointed, and Rosalyn lifted her head.
There, standing on a ridge looking down on them, was King Stanley HiHat Trinidad the Fourteenth.
He smiled, and then he shot something at them. It was large and dark, and blackish red energy whirled around them, briefly blotting out the environment.
The ridge crumbled, sending the allies into the misty depths below them. Rosalyn stumbled for a moment, trying to gain her balance, but to no avail.
CRACK!
The ridge snapped, and Rosalyn flailed her arms, falling backwards.
She saw his smirking face, and for some reason she shouted his name.
In anger? In horror?
In disbelief?
"Stan!"
She saw, out of the corner of her eyes, Coracinus about to transform, but Stan hit him with something blue that stopped him mid-transformation, resulting in him becoming a loose smoky cluster. Epros grabbed Linda, but Stan shot something at him too. Linda screamed as Epros fell backwards, unconscious.
She caught his eye, and shouted his name again.
"Stan!"
He saw her, he smiled wider. And then…
He turned his back on her.
***
Ohh cliff hanger. Be sure to review! Sorry, School's starting very soon, so I'll update whenver I can.