By The Light of Lightening: All Roads
By: M14Mouse
Summary: We know what the Mystic Forces were doing during the finale…but what Catalina was doing? She gets dirty.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
-To lock myself away from the world was a difficult decision. I remember staying up for hours…debating, arguing…even making lists. So many choices. So many paths to take. The one of the only thing that I get are vague impressions.
My saint has offered little guidance in these matters.
The only path that was closed to me. That was to stay.
I saw the darkness…the lifelessness of the world in that path. I wondered if I let out the Soul Scepter again in this possible future. I don't know if my presence caused them to lose. I just don't know.
I hate that I just don't know.-Catalina
Catalina stared at the cave's entry. Rasa made a loud noise. She tilted her head slightly at her mount.
"I am going to be fine, Rasa," She said.
She heard the snail grumbled again.
"Yes, I know. I know."
Grumble…Grumble. She sighed softly as she turned around. She reached out and stroked his head.
"You are such a sweet boy, Rasa. But I will be fine. Now, wait here. I will be back shortly."
She turned away from Rasa. She turned her attention to the opening. She might as well get this over with. She approached the entry with her morpher then allowed it to shift to her staff. She mumbled a protection spell under her breath. She really didn't want to go into the Ways.
The Ways…were bad. If it wasn't for Mother, she wouldn't go near the place.
At least, she didn't have to travel through the swamp again. The things she saw there made her body twitch.
She took a deep breathe and started to walk.
She ignored the whispers and the strange lights that danced across the caves' walls. She ignored the sweet smell of flowers to the smell of death. She ignored the sounds of groans, scratching, and screams. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw images…things. Perhaps, they were real. Perhaps, not. She knew better than to approach them. She turned down another way to avoid it.
She knew what happened if you did.
She learned.
Don't turn around. Don't look back. Don't go toward the voices, the sounds, or anything that you see.
By the spirits, she hated this place.
"Hello, Catalina."
She stopped in her tracks then tilted her head to look at the shadows.
"Hello, Callindor…or is Imperious now?" She said.
The shadows chuckled softly.
"I am rather fond of my new name," The shadow said with a chuckle.
"You would be."
She watched as the voice came out of the shadow. She almost…pitied him when he stepped into the light. Someone that she called a brother was reduced to these rags and bones.
"How do I look?" He said as he opened his arms.
"Like defeat, brother," She said.
He groaned.
"You are wrong. Daggeron and Leanbow are dead. Master has drained them of their magic. Soon…it will be over"
Her throat tightened at his words but she refused to bend to his will.
"Perhaps but time has yet to set these events in stone."
He stared at her with his glowing eyes.
"You know something."
"I always know something," She said with a nod.
"Is that why you took on the boy?"
"Chip is just as important as Nick in the coming events. I couldn't allow my brothers to carelessly toss him aside."
His eyes narrowed at her.
"What are you planning, Catalina?"
She laughed.
"I plan to save us. We are dying. You have read the books as well as I. At one time, we had several orders of knights. Now…we have one. We are stuck in the ways of old and refused to leave them. If we don't change, we are dead."
"They are children. You expect change from children! Your saint has allowed you to go mad!" He laughed
"Good or ill…I placed my faith in them. If you have placed your faith in us, you haven't reduce down to…this"
He snorted.
"Your faith is ill place."
"Isn't always."
The rags twisted around his body as he grinned at her.
"So, why are you here? Not a walk down memory lane. Not for little old me."
"No. I am here for Matoomboo."
"Why?"
"Unlike you, Matoomboo has been granted a second chance by our Mother."
He laughed.
"He is a monster!"
"It sadden me to say that you are one as well."
"Words…Words….Mother always did like you best. You know I don't think I can allow that to happen."
She gripped her staff and turned her head toward her former teacher.
"We shall see about that," She said.
-MFMFMF-
"I am sorry, Lady Knight," Matoomboo said for half dozen time.
"It was quite alright. It was time for a change," She said as she brushed her hand through her now short hair.
Honestly, the creature was trying to help in the fight. He didn't know that she had it handled.
"I am…"
She raised her hand to stop him from talking.
"You say one more time…I will shave your head. I am not dead. You have been restored. The world hasn't come to end…again. I rather think a hair cut is the least of our problems."
"Yes, Lady Knight. May ask…where are we going?" He asked as he walked beside her.
"Rootcore. I have an appointment and I must not be late. Although, my brothers are mostly likely be."
"Aren't you afraid on how they are going to react?"
"Ms. Vida will be overjoyed to see that you are alive. My appearance will be more interesting. I rather look forward too."
"Lady Knight?"
She looked over the city and its people then she grinned at the creature next to her.
"It is good to be back in the world."
End of All Roads
Next Chapter: Lead Here
A/N: Purposely, I left out the whole Matoomboo scene because that will be his story to tell in another chapter. Read and Review if you wish.