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Chapter 25

Revelations

The knights together with their steeds and the children approached the giant gate, Eric knocked, no answer, he knocked again but there was still no answer.

"They won't open the gate" said Trey "they don't like strangers"

"So how do we get you in there?" asked Cole

The children shrugged. Taylor looked up at the wooden watch- posts that were built on either side of the gate.

"Doesn't anyone stand watch in there?"

"Normally they do" said Ronan the other older boy who seemed to have plucked up the courage to talk to them.

"But if there's an attack as bad as this one was everyone goes to the Tree Dome, even the soldiers."

"Why?" asked Conner "I get that they would evacuate most people to a safe place but aren't the soldiers supposed to protect the people."

"They don't want to risk loosing anyone unless absolutely necessary" said Ronan in a small voice giving Eric the impression that he didn't really agree with that line of thinking.

"The wall has always protected us and they rely on it to continue to do so"

"But they have no way of knowing that the attack's over"

"They'll send Gravel to check it out later" said Trey

"Who's Gravel?" asked Wes

"Lady Persephone's tryklar"

"What's a tryklar?" asked Conner

"It's a kind of bird" explained Cam "They were native to Terralia, the realm of earth, I suppose if any of them are still are alive they would be around here"

"Are you suuuure you're a knight?" Trey asked Conner

"What? Of course I am"

"Just not one that reads" said Cam while everyone else laughed

"Hey"

"Knock it of guys" ordered Eric.

"Eric's right" said Maddie "We've got to figure out a way to get these kids home"

"What are we supposed to if these weirdoes won't open the gate.?" said Conner

"What?" he yelped when Kira elbowed him

"Don't you think it's a little weird, stupid even to trap themselves in a fortress, without any way of knowing what's going on the outside and sure nothing can get in but of chance something did they're sitting ducks holed up wherever it is they've gone to hide"

"Conner" hissed Kira, Ronny and Dana at the same time.

"Oh" he said looking at the frightened expressions on the children's' faces.

Cole wandered away from them calling out to the people inside emphasizing that there were children still outside but there was no response.

"Its no use" said Ronan "There won't be anyone there, they'll all be in the dome and won't be able to hear you"

"I wonder what they're so afraid off" said Maddie thinking aloud.

"I don't know, maybe being attacked by a bunch of giant lizards" said Wes

Maddie scowled at him.

"Maybe" said Ronny coming to Maddie's defence "but the drizzards haven't been seen for years and today's attack was a complete surprise to everyone, they couldn't have been expecting it."

"That's true" said Cam "and" he added as he looked up at the giant wall that stood in front of him "to have built a fortress like this and to be so afraid of loosing one of their own they must have faced something terrible before, something their afraid will return"

They all turned to look at the five children.

"Don't look at us" said Trey

"Yeah, grown ups don't tell us anything" said Ronan

"We can fathom what these people are so afraid of later" said Dana "right now we need to concentrate on getting them inside"

"And maybe then we could just ask them" said Ryan

Eric looked thoughtful for a moment then turned to Cam

"Do you think you can get a look inside?"

"I'll try"

He stood in front of the gate stretched his arm forward, closed his eyes and took a step forward expecting to walk right through the gate but instead he walked right into it and fell back with his hand held over his nose.

"Cam" yelled Tori as she and Taylor rushed to his side

Conner, Wes and Cole tried their best to hide their laughter but were failing miserably, they stopped only when Taylor and Tori glared at them after helping Cam up.

"I'm sorry" he said to Eric as he stroked a worried Digit who had come up to him trying to assure him that he was fine.

"I think I used up all my energy holding up the shield"

"No problem" said Eric reassuring him

"So what now?" asked Ryan

"Hey Trey" said Taylor as she walked over to the little boy and bent a little

"Are you afraid of heights?"

The others looked on confused.

"Huh… of course not" he answered proudly

"Alright then" she said smiling down at him as she held out her hand "Do you think you could help us out with a little problem?"

"Sure" he said happily as he took her hand

"Are you sure?" asked Eric

"Be right back" she said with a smile

"Wha…?"

"Tay wai…"

Before the others understood what was going on she was already near the top of the gate with Trey grasped firmly and securely in her arms.

As she landed on the inside landing that ran between the watch-posts she got a clear view of the city that was spread over a wide expanse. The city itself was like a giant forest, with homes built into the trees. She set Trey down and took a good look around but couldn't see anyone.

"That was awesome" said Trey unable to control the excitement in his voice "Can we do that again?"

She smiled at him and continued to look around from their vantage point.

"Is that the dome Ronan mentioned?" she asked pointing out a large dome like structure with a single tree growing out of the top in the very centre of the city.

"Yeah that's it"

"Hold on tight"

She landed just outside the wood that surrounded the dome, the two of them slowly made their way towards it.

"Halt. Who goes there?"

They were immediately surrounded by at least ten guards, all wearing shabby brown and bronze plated armor carrying long spheres.

"Relax everyone" said Trey "It's me and this is…"

"Trey get away from her" called the angry voice of a large beefy man also wearing similar armor his expression oddly resembled that of an angry bull. He walked up to them with several armor clad men behind him leading Taylor to assume that he was their Commander.

Trey ran over to him and tried to talk him but to not avail he was just swatted to one side, when he saw the guards close in on Taylor who hadn't said a word but stood still carefully eyeing the guards as if she were reading them, he tried to get back to her but the commander simply picked him up by his collar and handed him to one of the guards standing behind him.

"No" yelled Trey as he struggled with the guard

"Let me go, you don't understand she's…"

"Ow… let go"

"Let him go" said Taylor in a clear sharp voice her fists clenched at her sides her face not showing the anger that was building inside her.

"And who are you to give me orders"

"That wasn't an order, just thought you needed to be reminded of how to treat children seeing as you're so good at greeting guests"

"You are not a guest you are not welcome here" he shouted "as for the boy we will deal with him as we see fit leading strangers into the city is against our laws"

"Really. Who would've thought?"

His face started to grow red with anger

"Enough of this nonsense" he screamed "who are you? Why have you come here? How did you enter the city?"

"You know if you expect an answer from someone it's usually best to give them a chance to talk"

"Don't you…"

"What's going on here?"

A girl of average height, a pale face and waist length light brown hair wearing a light green sleeveless top with bands around her arms and a flowing brown skirt that fell just below her knees with dark brown boots came through a door in the dome structure accompanied by two women and two guards standing on either side of her. The commander and the guards bowed slightly as she approached.

Taylor looked over at Trey who was also looking over at the girl trying to get her attention before turning to her herself.

"Lady Persephone, I presume"

Everyone's heads shot up at once.

"Ho…how?" she stammered o look of surprise crossing her face

"The boy was with her m'lady"

She glanced over at Trey who was still struggling to get away from the guard that held him. A look of anger and disbelief flashed across her face before she turned and glared at Taylor.

From the look on her face Taylor could easily tell what was going through her mind she couldn't help but shake her head slowly and say

"Blind leading the blind"

She said if softly but it was still loud enough for the guards surrounding her to hear.

"Don't you dare talk to her like that" yelled one of them as he advanced on her with his spear, instinctively she grabbed it just beyond the blade as it came towards her, she held on firmly as he tried to pull it back, a shocked expression on his face reflecting that of his comrades.

Taylor could feel her patience slipping away, she wasn't sure why but she had a feeling that they didn't have much time to waste, they needed to get back as soon as possible but they couldn't just leave not with those kids stranded outside she wasn't sure if the younger kids would take to being flown in like Trey and they still needed some answers and these thick skinned people were really starting to get to her.

She pulled the spear forward then jerked it back, forcing the guard to stumble forward before the backend of his spear rammed into his abdomen and the others watched in shock as he doubled over and fell to the ground.

The shocked look was replaced by one of anger and they all rushed her at the same time, with ease and grace she side stepped them, avoided their spears, flipped over them when necessary till she was standing in front of them lying in a heap on the ground.

Jaws dropped all around, she took a step towards Persephone, the guards on either side of her reacted immediately crouching slightly with spears held forward, the two women tried to get her to go back inside but she was hesitant, the commander seemed to take it upon himself to stand in front of her.

She surprised them all by shoving past them and running forward stopping to face Taylor in front whom now stood Trey having escaped from the guard. The others called out to her. And the commander and guards began to approach them. Taylor sighed she really didn't have the time or the patience for this, she raised her arm her palm facing upwards and surrounded them in a chrysalis of golden flames, the commander made it just in time but the other guards ran right into it and were thrown back.

"Awesome" said Trey as he looked around in awe

"It won't hurt them" she said seeing the look of concern and far on Persephone's face

"This way they can't interfere"

"Trey come here now" yelled the commander in a harsh voice

"Its alright" Trey called back his expression showing that he was unable to comprehend why the adults were behaving like they were, he couldn't understand why they were so afraid.

"She's a knight"

"A knight" scoffed the commander "They are no more.., so called heroes, they're gone, get that into your head boy and stop blabbering nonsense"

Persephone showed no emotion, her hand slowly reached for the base of her throat and she stared fixedly at the symbol on Taylor's armor.

"But look at…" Trey argued but stopped when Taylor put an arm on his shoulder

"I think its time you shut up" she said to the commander startling both him and Persephone, when she turned to her, her voice softened

"My friends and I are not here to hurt you, nor did we send those drizzards after you" she scowled at the Commander once more before turning back

"They're gone for now but there are a couple of kids still outside and the reason I came here was to ask you to open the gate, we can't wait with them much longer"

Without waiting for a response she turned and started walking away, she snapped her fingers collapsing the flame that surrounded them

"I believe this belongs to you" she said turning as she tossed the necklace to Persephone who caught it both hands a look of shock, surprise and relief on her face.

Taylor walked a few more paces then after giving Trey a reassuring smile took off.

A few minutes later she landed outside the gate and was greeted by expectant, inquisitive and questioning glances from her friends.

"Did you find them?"

"How'd it go?"

"Yes I found them" she answered exasperatedly and it went alright I guess"

"You were nice to them…right?" asked Cole sensing her tone

"Being nice doesn't always get the job done"

"Taylor!"

"How long?" Eric asked trying not to laugh

"Couple of minutes maybe more, it depends"

Eric nodded not needing any further explanation. The other knights however looked from Taylor to Eric hoping one of them would explain what was going on.

Brazier turned around when he heard a voice, standing behind him was a woman with long flowing brown hair from her attire he recognized her as the Azeilan princess she was accompanied by twelve fairies.

"Princess" he said

She didn't respond

"You should not be here" said Flora

"You have no reason to be have come here" said Blip

"Oh but I do"

"It is futile" said Draco

"Excuse me"

"Draco is right Brazier" said the princess "it is futile to try and rescue her"

"That is left to be seen"

He turned away from them and proceeded to try and destroy the prison.

"Stop" cried Bloom "you will kill her if you do that"

He stooped short in his attempt to break open the prison and turned to face the tiny fairy

"What?"

"You followed Aaron and Aurora and jumped to your own conclusions leaving without knowing the truth about what really happened that day" said the princess

Brazier growled menacingly through clenched teeth.

"What really happened is still a bit of a mystery" she continued "but I will tell you this, right now that prison is the only thing keeping her alive, destroy it and she dies"

Brazier glowered at them but then smirked slyly

"It would seem princess that you are more concerned about the well being of my sister than that of your own people"

"My people are fine" maintaining her composure

"You seem quite confident but are you sure"

"You should leave now" said Bre menacingly "You cannot save her not without a substitute life force, there is no need for you to linger, leave before you regret ever coming here"

"No one asked for your opinion you little bug" said a feminine voice from behind them

From somewhere in the shadows behind them came a blackish-purple orb of energy that sent Bre flying into the crystal wall before he fell in a crumpled heap.

The knights stood back as the giant gate swung open revealing Persephone standing with Trey at her side, the commander standing behind them, surrounding them in a semi-circle were a number of guards behind them they could see people craning their necks trying to get a look at what was happening.

The four children ran in as soon as the gate opened right into their arms of their waiting families. Trey on the other hand ran out to greet them before turning to face his own people standing at Taylor's side.

A bright smile crossed Persephone's face as she watched the families reunite, but when she turned back to the knights it was apparent that she was still weary of Trey's acceptance of them. She wanted to believe it but at the same time she didn't however as confused as she was she couldn't deny the symbols on the armors they wore, nor the stallions that stood by their sides. Her eyes rested on Cole and the symbol he wore it was the same one she wore around her neck.

"Welcome" she said in a weak voice bowing slightly

"Thank you for saving them and I apologize" she turned to Taylor "for what happened earlier, you must understand a lot has happened in the past years and we are weary of strangers and well uh… this attack…"

"You don't need to apologize" said Wes acting as spokesperson "We can understand"

She smiled at him weakly and looked back at Taylor then to Eric and then Taylor again. An awkward silence fell about and Persephone shifted slightly in her spot her expression revealing her discomfort with the situation though she tried to hide it, from behind her the commander glared at them.

Finally Taylor smiled and nodded at her, a look of relief crossed her face but she still looked uncertain and maybe even a little scared.

"We're sorry if we scared you" said Cole "Its just that we didn't know how to contact you and we're still new to this place and to being knights"

The commander scoffed earning reproachful glances from Ronny, Conner, Ryan and Tori.

Persephone looked all the more relieved as Cole spoke, his familiar and reassuring manner seemed to soothe her, that and the fact that he wore the symbol of Terralia gave her a sense of security a feeling that she could trust him.

"Ar…are you really the knights then?"

"Yes"

"See I told you" said Trey

"M'lady surely you don't believe this nonsense, the knights, they perished thousands of years ago"

"But they wear the symbols" said one of the guards

"Those symbols belong to the twelve cities not exclusively to the knights and it is quite clear that they do not belong to our world surely we would have known if one of our own and inherited the great power" he glanced at Cole as if appraising him.

"We're not asking you to believe us" said Ryan crossing his arms in front of him

"And we'd appreciate it if you would stop talking as if we weren't here" said Ronny.

"You rally don't need to be so rude" said Maddie "we didn't mean to intrude we were only trying to help"

"And perhaps ask you a few questions" said Eric "but I see we're making you uncomfortable, so I think its best we leave"

"Do you have to?" asked Trey

"Yes we do" said Tori

"We have to make sure those things don't come back" said Kira

"Okay, but promise to come see us again"

"Sure why not" said Cam

With one last wave he ran to where his family was waiting for him

Once he was safely inside the twelve of them turned to mount their stallions

"Wait, you said you had questions"

From amongst the trees a figure wearing a cape and a mask stood watching the exchange, he had arrived not long after the drizzards had begun their attack and was about to intervene when the knights appeared. He watched them save the children, separate and then take on the drizzards and defeat them. He continued to watch them as the others approached with the children and when one of them flew into the city with the boy, the same one that had ventured into the woods alone.

A smile slowly etched itself onto his face though it was hidden behind his mask, he flung his cape behind him as he turned and with inhuman speed dived deeper into the woods.

"Bre" yelled the fairies, Bloom, Flora and Pick flew to his side while rest along with the princess and Brazier turned to see Marsed stepping out of the shadows her cloak in her hand.

"What are you doing here?"

Marsed didn't answer her brother she walked passed the princess not even sparing her a glance till she reached the crystal column then just as Brazier had done placed her palm on it and looked up at her frozen sister.

"Well what are you waiting for get her out of there and let's go"

He didn't say anything but continued to stare at her

"There's been a change in plans it seems the princess here was expecting us"

"What do you mean?"

"Knights"

"Impossible" he turned to stare at the princess who didn't show any emotion.

"I don't know if they are the knights or not, but in either case they still outnumber us twelve to two"

"True but we still have a problem"

Marsed looked around at the princess and the fairies she noticed the four on the floor and a wicked smile crossed her face when she saw Bloom healing Bre.

"You'll do nicely" she said and started walking towards her

The princess followed her gaze and realized what she was about to do.

"No" she yelled running forward and standing in front of the fairies "leave her alone"

"Out of my way" yelled Marsed sending a wave of energy towards her but she blocked it with her powers

"Not so defenceless I see, but your magic tricks don't stand a chance against me"

She created a large ball of energy in her hand and flung it towards her, the princess tried to block it again but it was too strong it hit her sending her flying into the wall behind where she fell, barely conscious.

"Princess" yelled the fairies as the watched her fall and Marsed advance on Bloom realization dawned on them and the ten of them flew in front of her.

"And what do you think you're going to do" said Marsed mockingly before taking them all out with a single energy wave.

Bloom flew out of her reach when she tried to grab her

"Come back here you little bug"

Bloom continued to avoid her, she wasn't sure what to do the princess…her friends…

"I've had enough of this…Marionette"

Bloom froze, she couldn't move, then it was as if something was controlling her movements, she found herself unwillingly flying towards Galatea's prison, she heard the cracking of the crystal and saw a bight flash of light.

'Princess…guys…Taylor…'


There it is. Please let me know what you think coz I had some trouble with this chapter and I'm not all that happy about how some parts turned out and your opinions will help me make the next chapter a whole lot better, So Please Review.

And thanks again for reviewing the last chapter, hope you're enjoying it.