A Frightening Change
Days turned into weeks and with the passing of time comes change. It was all because of the Wishing Shells. Since they had the power to fulfill the heart's desire of the people wielding them, they didn't just grant wishes. The people of Atlantis took advantage of the powers of the Wishing Shells and used them for their own satisfaction; thus were given supernatural powers. The magic of the Wishing Shells had been used like a biological technology that people used to not only develop machines and medicine, but to freely make plants and animals. With their biological technology, the people of Atlantis became confident that they could get anything they wanted and no one would stand in their way. But with progress comes greed and violence; fighting to be superior.
Dartz couldn't have felt more proud. He was the leader of the most highly advanced civilization. His sister felt differently. Seeing her people give themselves to their inner darkness made Melinda feel sorry for them. They were too blind to realize they were abusing the powers of the Wishing Shells. It seemed she was the only one who saw reason. People need to think about what they truly want most and whether or not they will be happy with it. Melinda had thought about everything she wanted and realized she didn't need a Wishing Shell to make her dreams come true. But her people became selfish and ignorant. That was why she felt sorry for them and no longer wanted to interact with them.
It was so much better in the beginning when I first left home. I know I said I had no regrets, but now I think I made a serious mistake. At first, there was so much I wanted to share with my people, but then they started asking for more and are even taking for granted all that they are given. Now I wish I could take back the things I did so we could return to the life we once knew.
Melinda was right. It had to stop now. She knew that if her family didn't act quickly, they would lose complete control over their people. But what could they do? If they tried taking back the Wishing Shells and returned them to the sea, then everyone would probably still keep making wishes. That must be it. Since a Wishing Shell only grants three wishes, they turn to sand after the final wish has been granted. Perhaps the last wish is always to have more Wishing Shells so they have limitless power. Still, she couldn't bear to just stand by. Melinda couldn't stand the behavior of her people, but she still loved them and wanted to help them any way she could.
Suddenly, a brilliant green light covers the entire city; blinding everyone. When the light becomes dim, the Wishing Shells take on a strange transformation. Their smooth, curvy, silver surface becomes a rough, edgy, green substance. No longer are they shells, but stones. Frightened and curious at the same time about what has become of their Wishing Shells, some of the people pick up the stones. One man gazes at the stone and tries to make a wish, but nothing happens. He tries again and this time, he loses his grip and groans of pain. As he kneels down, his body changes and he turns into a reptilian beast.
The same thing happens to many more people as they come into contact with the stones. They lose their senses and are transformed into many different kinds of monsters. Frightened and confused, they are unable to control their rage and attack everything and everyone in their path.
Many ordinary monsters tried inspecting the stones as well. Tiberius and Cassius told their mother to stay behind for her safety. They looked at the stone for one moment, but when they touched it, they lost control of their demonic sides. Their nails extended into claws and they bore fangs. Fur even surrounded their entire bodies and their eyes glowed into a bright red. Because they were only half-breeds, their demon blood was too strong for them to control. Even Suri and Yusa lost themselves to the darkness of the stones and couldn't control their demonic rage.
Faine was frozen in fear as she watched helplessly to what was going on. Everyone was turning into monsters and running amok and she didn't know what to do. She didn't have the will to run or cry out for help. Only until after she saw a monster break into her home did she unfreeze. She couldn't wait for her parents. She had to run to safety. Hopefully, the sanctity of the palace would grant her safety.
But things at the palace were becoming just as grim as they were in the city. Iona stood up with her hands on her head and cried out in pain.
Dartz noticed her behavior and asked, "Iona, are you all right?" She didn't answer. Instead, she swung her arm to push him away. Suddenly, her arm turned into a gruesome green color with claws. Seeing herself this way, she ran away from the throne room crying. "Wait, come back!" Dartz called after her. But she didn't stop or look back. Suddenly, he heard her scream. He couldn't let her be on her own. "What's going on?" he asked as he ran after her. Then he stopped and gazed in fear at the monster dressed in his wife's clothes. "Iona!" He couldn't believe it. How did this happen to her and why? He tried to approach Iona, but she raised her arm and attacked. Dartz jumped back to escape. It was as if she didn't even recognize him; not even herself.
Melinda was running around the halls looking for Dartz. "Big brother," she called out. "Where are you? Brother, answer me!" Then she tripped and fell. She saw a shadow above her and turned back seeing an armored dragon. She recognized the armor and saw that the monster was one of the royal soldiers.
The monster was about to slash Melinda with its claws until Dartz came and rescued her. He ran, grabbed his sister, and they slid across the floor. "I've got you, Melinda."
Still holding each other, the two siblings faced each other glad to see that they were unharmed. "Big brother, what is going on?"
"I don't know," he answered. "I've never seen anything like this before. Our people are transforming into monsters and can't control themselves."
"What can we do?"
He faces her and tells her, "I'm going to go check it out. You stay right here and don't leave for any reason."
Melinda's eyes widen. "What? No, I want to go with you."
"I can't risk your safety. Besides, I have to do this. As king, the well-being of my people is my responsibility. I have to see what's going on for myself. It may help me think about what to do."
Tears filled Melinda's eyes. She knew her brother had to go, but she didn't want to lose him. That was the same reason Dartz told her to stay behind. He didn't want to lose his sister to this disaster. She holds his hand in hers and tells him, "I understand. Please be careful."
To give her a glimmer of hope, Dartz smiles and hugs her. "I promise." As he gets up and starts walking, his hand slips free of his sister's.
As he ran through the halls and out to the balcony, he felt a strong pulse beating through his head as if something was trying to communicate with him. Ignoring the pain, he watched from above as many houses were set on fire, humans laid down on the ground slaughtered from the attacks of monsters, and even many other monsters became motionless. "Why?" he asked himself, seeing the tragedy. "Why is this happening?" Then he felt the pulse again and saw a green glow coming from one of the fountains.
Dartz went outside and the water from the fountain glowed into a bright green color. He heard a voice, telling him his questions would be answered. He stepped inside the fountain, saw a small green stone, and picked it up in his hand. The stone shined brightly and showed Dartz a vision of the world. It looked beautiful at first, but Dartz realized that beneath its beauty was a plague of evil. Mankind had been revealed to him as the monsters they were within. But why were so many humans and monsters collapsing and dying? They couldn't control their rage and gave in to their inner darkness. That was when Dartz saw something else; a new kind of monster dormant just below the earth's surface. It was drawing its strength from those coming into contact with the stones; feeding on the souls of those who lost themselves.
Dartz realized what all of this meant. Mankind had to be destroyed. It was the only way to stop this evil from spreading. When the vision cleared, the stone finally stopped glowing and Dartz uncovered his eyes. He knew now why this was happening and what he had to do.
Melinda couldn't stand not knowing what was going on. For all she knew, her brother had been transformed into a monster like many other people. If that was so, then he would have lost himself. The thought of it was terrifying her as she was walking around the throne room.
She couldn't bear it anymore. She had to find Dartz no matter what. But before she could start running, she heard someone call out to her. "Melinda, it's you!" She recognized the voice. It was Lyra. She turned around and saw her with Faline and Zephyr. The four remaining friends ran up to each other and hugged one another.
"Are all of you all right?"
Zephyr nods. "We were very lucky to have found each other. We were running around trying to escape the monsters."
Faline looks away and sobs. "Our demonic friends weren't so lucky. We lost them."
Wondering if her friends may have any ideas, Melinda asks them, "Do any of you know why this is happening? Surely you must have some ideas based upon what you have seen."
"It's the Wishing Shells," Lyra answered. "They seem to have mutated into some kind of evil force and are destroying everybody."
"But the Wishing Shells are supposed to be pure," debated Faline.
"Exactly," Lyra told her. "Remember, the Shells have the power to fulfill the heart's desire. My guess is that the townspeople's greed and lust for power has abused the power of the Wishing Shells. Now the Shells have been corrupted and everyone on the island has been revealed for the monsters they are inside."
"It does make sense," whispered Zephyr. "But remember, every and any curse can be broken. We just have to find out what can break this one."
"How?" asked Faline. "If we go near the stones or touch them, we'll end up like the townspeople. Now that the magic of the Wishing Shells has been corrupted, how can we purify them? Can they even be purified?"
No one thought about that question before. It may already be too late to try to reverse the damage that's been done. But that didn't mean it couldn't be stopped. Melinda wasn't going to sit by and watch either. She already told herself she wanted to help stop the disasters the stones were causing and she was going to do it. Even though her people had gone through frightening transformations, they were still citizens of the city she loved.
Melinda suddenly remembered her brother. She was going to look for him before she met up with her friends. She also realized that he was going to try to find answers to what was going on; even if that meant confronting one of the stones. "Everyone, my brother may be in danger. I am afraid he may have already made contact with one of the stones."
Her friends gasp, realizing that as well. "What about the rest of your family?" asked Zephyr.
Lyra faces him and tells him, "No, Dartz would tell them to stay behind for their own safety, so I'm sure they're safe. But Milly's right. We've got to find him."
Melinda shakes her head. "I will not risk the safety of my friends for the well-being of my brother. All of you should find the rest of my family and stay with them."
"You may be his sister," protested Lyra, "but you're my friend. So I'm staying with you. I want to help and protect the friends I love; including you."
Faline nods. "I may be scared, but I won't let fear stand in my way of being there for my friends. No matter what, I'll protect you all. No matter what, friends stay together."
"We're all we have left for each other now," Zephyr finished. "I won't lose the rest of my friends. That means I'm staying as well."
"How touching of you," said Dartz's voice. The four friends turned and saw him sitting in his chair. Ironheart, Chris, Skye, and the twins came into the throne room as well.
Melinda was happy to see that the rest of her family was all right, but was worried about her brother. Tears started filling her eyes as well. "Big brother, the Wishing Shells, they are responsible for the city's destruction. Their magic has been corrupted and is attacking everybody. Even my friends have witnessed it. When I realized that you were going to investigate the stone, I started worrying if the same thing happened to you."
He just keeps silent. Melinda raises her voice and begs, "Please tell me that is not what has happened to you!"
He finally responds to her words and speaks. "Whether or not it has happened to me," then he opens his eyes and finishes by saying, "everything is going to change."
Melinda gasps as she sees her brother's face. His right eye transformed into a bright blue color; a color much brighter than her eyes. "Brother, what happened to your eye?"
"Does it frighten you, Sister?" Dartz asks plainly. Seeing him smile, Melinda wonders how he can be enjoying this. She also senses that something is wrong, but her brother seems to be unharmed. "Why the sad face, little sister? There's no need to cry."
She lies and tells him, "I am not crying. I just cannot believe that the stone's curse would be laid upon you. Can you not see what is going on?"
"This curse is a gift that can be used to change the world," he tells her. "Like you, I have been chosen to make a difference for us all. You will help Lugia save the world and I will use the power of the Orichalcos to change it."
"Orichalcos?" asked Ironheart. "Is that the stone's name?" Everyone started wondering how Dartz suddenly knew so much about what was going on and what this strange power was. He said that the Orichalcos had chosen him, but can he control it or is it controlling him?
That didn't matter to Melinda. She knew Dartz wasn't in his right mind and she took it upon herself to try to bring him back to his senses like she did before. "Snap out of it. You know not what you are saying. The Orichalcos has taken over your mind. Please listen to me, Brother."
He just smiles at her. "Wrong, Melinda. You don't know what you're saying. I am in complete control over this force and I will use it to change the world."
That liar. He has no idea what he is doing. If the power of the Orichalcos continues to take over him, he will be lost to it. I cannot let that happen. I have to keep trying to break through to him. "Big brother, for the last time, I am begging you to listen to me. People are getting hurt and dying. You could end up like those who have suffered. If you really can control it, then you must stop it before it is too late! Destroy the Orichalcos Stones so that we can return to the life we once knew!"
Dartz just chuckles. "Do you honestly believe we can go back to the way things were? It's too late for that, Melinda. I am aware that everyone is dying, but their souls will not go to waste. I'll make sure they'll be put to good use. And I assure you, I will not be harmed by the Stone's power."
"But, Brother," Melinda started, but she was cut off.
"I heard everything you and your friends were discussing, Sister, and I agree. The true nature of our people has been exposed. The people of this kingdom and the world are evil and must be destroyed."
Melinda's eyes widen. "What!?" she exclaims. She didn't want to believe it. The people of Atlantis have always lived in harmony and prosperity. If anything was evil, it was the Orichalcos Stones.
"You heard me, you little runt. We should be thanking the Orichalcos for showing us the truth; not blaming it for the falsehood of man. The Wishing Shell's transformation has not only opened up my eyes, but it has also shown me what's wrong with our people. As you said, the Shells have reflected the hearts of our citizens and punished them for abusing their power. Reflecting their hearts revealed the truth about them. Everyone is evil and must be destroyed. But I am spared because the Orichalcos has chosen me as a true and pure man of the world. That's why it's given me the tools to fix it. For now I have the power to awaken a mighty creature known as the Great Leviathan."
"What is this Leviathan?" Lyra asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," Dartz said and started approaching everyone. "By the power of the Orichalcos, it will rise from the depths of the earth and fight by my side. And when I'm through, I shall rebuild civilization."
Melinda was being pushed past her limits, but she still wasn't going to give up. Like she always had, she believed her brother's kind and gentle spirit was somewhere inside the monster she was facing. She also knew that the only way to stop the Orichalcos from going on and growing stronger was to fight it. And there would be no telling what this Great Leviathan would be capable of once it would arrive. If destroying her own brother was also a necessary sacrifice to stop the Orichalcos, then sadly, she would have to accept it knowing she would later regret it. But the world was in danger of being destroyed and this was the time for Melinda to gather all of her courage and love. "I know not if I will break the curse or save you, but I will do whatever it takes. I am going to help Lugia put an end to this and free the world of this evil."
"So will I," Lyra says and takes a step towards Dartz. "I may not be chosen, but I'll do whatever it takes to help and protect the friends I love." Zephyr and Faline agree and so does the rest of the group.
"I won't allow it," Dartz says angrily. "Even if you try, I'll just stop you." Then he holds out his hand revealing a fragment of the Orichalcos Stone. The Stone glows and the Orichalcos symbol appears, creating a monster. "Meet my Orichalcos Soldier!"
Ironheart and the children gather around and hold each other. Skye and the twins get in front of everybody, growling at the monster. "Do you dare use this dark magic against your own flesh and blood, big brother?" questioned Melinda.
"Well, if you join by my side, then you'll have nothing to fear. If not, farewell."
"We'll never join you! Never!" Ironheart told him. "Everyone come with me!" Then the children and their inhuman friends follow him as they escape the palace.
"Have it your way," Dartz called, watching them all run away from him. It amused him to put fear into their eyes, for now, everyone who stood against him was his enemy. He didn't even care that the one person who always stood by him and believed in him would be the one fighting him. Melinda would be a fool to think that the man she once knew and loved still existed. Dartz did know this, though, if he wanted his plan to come to pass, then that meant he would not only have to stop Melinda and Lugia, but he would have to kill them both as well. This time, nothing would hold him back.
He went to the balcony and made his announcement to the Orichalcos Soldiers patrolling the city. "The time has come to cleanse the world of its impurities. So arise, my children, and conquer the people of Earth and this planet shall be yours!" He merely chuckled for a moment, and then held his head back in sinister laughter.