Of Flame and Light: Clock Work
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Some go north and some go south. Some go nowhere and some go somewhere but they always meet somewhere in-between.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Chip stared at the marsh before them. He didn't know why the other knights opposite for Catalina and him to come here. He read about the marshes before after Catalina mentioned crossing this place in her journal. The marshes out of something like Lord of Rings. It gave the creepy impression of the swamp that Frodo and Sam crossed during the Two Towers.
"Do you think the others will be alright?" He asked.
"They will be fine," Catalina said as she got off of her racing snail.
He followed her lead by getting off of Fieval's back.
"Catalina?"
"We leave them here."
"Why?" He said as he started to follow her through the swamp.
"Because they can't come where we are going. Stay close. Ignore any lights or sounds you might hear or see," She said calmly.
"The Ways…you can't be serious," Snow Prince said angrily.
"Do you suggest another way for us to gain entry?" Catalina said.
"We can use Brightstar." Leanbow said.
"These creatures can track our magic. There is a chance that might track Fieval as well. The Ways are safe," Catalina said.
"The Ways are dangerous. You know that as well as I."
"Not for me."
"But for Chip, it will be." Daggeron pointed out.
"He is with me," Catalina said.
"Nothing is safe in the Ways. You know that."
"I know that, brother. But do you have another way?"
"Nicky might…"
"You know that Undonna and Necorali are trying to clean out the Trails…"
"Chip?" Catalina's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Yes?" He said.
"You must remain focus."
"Why are Undonna and Nikki cleaning out the Trials?"
"Without the knights, the Trails become…corrupted."
"Corrupted?"
This was new to him. Sure, he knew that he and Nick would have to go through some sort of trials but he really thought that the others would be handling it. It wasn't some sort of place that they would go to.
He seemed to be wrong.
"In the beginning, the senior knight would take a squire though series of tests. If the squire is successful, he or she is knighted and joined their brothers and sisters. But as time grew on, that method become corrupted and twisted. It was no longer a system of equals…it become a matter of favoritism and breaking."
"The Truce of Breaking…I read about it."
There weren't any wars between the knights. They simply decide to break apart into two separate groups. Of course, it was simple version. In reality, it was like two rattlesnakes getting into a fight. It was awful time with assassinations, small fights breaking out between each group, and undermining each other.
It ended with one group disappearing into the history. Personally, he thought that one group wiped out the other.
"One of results of the truce was that Mystic Mother created three tests known as the Trails. It was supposed to be fair test of a squire's worth," Catalina added.
To hear that it has been corrupted…was awful.
"So…Undonna, Clare, and Nikki are trying to clear them out? How did they become corrupted in the first place?"
"Like all things…the Master's influence."
"Couldn't you ask Mystic Mother to change it?" He said as he scratched his head.
"She refused. She believed that it was our job to take care of it. I somewhat agree but we can't enter the trials ourselves," She said in frustration.
"Why?"
"Once you have become a knight, the trials locked out to us."
"So that is another reason why you sent them."
She nodded her head then she waved her hand to stop him.
"Don't listen to the voices. Don't turn toward any light."
He nodded his head before he turned his head back around toward the swamp. Wow…they really traveled fast or….Catalina was really good at taking his mind off of this.
"Gotcha," He said as he stared at the cave's entrance. He thought the swamp was creepy…this place was just as creepy. Sure, it had glowing lights and soft, mumbling voices echoing through the walls, and weird fog…but it also had this stillness.
This place was lifeless and it creep him out more than Silent Hill did.
How did anyone cross this place?
"Hello, Chip," An unfamiliar voice said behind him.
He turned around to see a face that he only saw pictures of. She was just like in the drawings he saw in books. She wore long elegant dress with her hair in a simple braid. She didn't look much like a queen but a person going out for a scroll. Everyone that he talked to said that Zaria hated those dresses.
"Hello, Your Majesty." He said.
The woman smiled at him softly.
"I would prefer Zaria but if you wish," Zaria said in amusement.
"Uhh…" He said as his eyes darted from side to side.
The fog was thick. He couldn't see Catalina. He thought that he was right next to her. His hand went to his wand.
"No need for that."
"No disrespect…but I think that I do."
Zaria laughed as his hands gripped tighten on his wand.
"I can see why Catalina likes you so. You have a good head on your shoulders and following your instincts."
"That is really nice to know…but I think that I will be leaving now."
Zaria sighed softly.
"I wished that I had more time. I would love to hear about the others…but I don't have much time, of course. I would love talk about you as well. Does Catalina still do the question for a question? How are little ones? I am sorry. So many questions. But…I can't…. Catalina is approaching as we speak."
"What do you want to tell me?"
"Tell my mother that I am sorry. Follow your heart and miss," She said.
"Follow your heart and Miss? Miss what?" He asked in confusion.
Zaria was about to say something until he saw her shatter into million pieces.
He stumbled back and landed on the ground to see Catalina holding her staff.
"You foolish boy. Are you okay?" Catalina asked as she grabbed him and forced him to his feet.
"I'm fine. I saw Zaria and she was weird and…" He said.
"We don't have time. You can tell me later."
He wanted to say more. He wanted tell her so much but…why would Zaria tell him to follow and miss?
What was he missing?
End of Clock Work
Next Chapter: Planning Shadows
