Kai and the Divine Medallion
Chapter 37: Temporal Woods
Kai and the rebels continued towards the Temporal Woods, where the legendary Celebi was said to be waiting. During the hike, Kai looked around at his surroundings.
"This place," Kai thought. "It seems…familiar. I just can't put my finger on it."
Kai then bumped into Angus, who had stopped. Kai then noticed that all of the rebels had stopped. Zangalus, the blond-haired guy, drew his katana. Takeru, the red-haired guy, drew his sword. Augustus pulled out his shark-fin sword. Angus pulled out his axe, and Erika pulled out a pair of kunai knives. Mina was the only one in the group that did not wield a weapon.
"We have company," Angus said.
Kai looked around for the unknown enemy. He then saw the trees rustle ahead of him. Suddenly, a whole army of wolf-like demons jumped out of the trees.
"Wolfos?!" Kai exclaimed.
"A whole pack," Angus said. "This won't be easy."
Suddenly, the Wolfos attacked. Kai drew his sword in order to block three that had attacked him. Zangalus began to fight one off with his katana. When he noticed a second one running up behind him, he knocked back the first one and jumped out of the way. He then ran up the side of a tree and jumped up above the Wolfos.
"Hammer Slice!" Zangalus shouted as he swung his katana down.
His blade sliced down between the two Wolfos with enough force to destroy them. Meanwhile, Takeru and Augustus were surrounded by several enemies.
"Ready?" Augustus asked.
"Ready," Takeru answered.
Augustus and Takeru rushed in opposite directions. They each took down one and jumped backwards as another tried to strike. After immediately flipping in mid-air, they struck down the remaining Wolfos in the circle. They then began to fight off more.
Angus was surrounded by another group of Wolfos.
"Teaming up won't work," Angus said.
All of the Wolfos that surrounded him charged forward. Angus then began to spin his axe above his head.
"Demon Axe!" Angus shouted.
Suddenly, a dozen evil spirits rose out of his spinning axe and shot towards the Wolfos, destroying every one that they touched. After destroying all of the ones that surrounded him, he stopped spinning his blade.
Erika was easily holding her own against the Wolfos by attacking them one-by-one. One tried to strike her down with its claw, but she flipped backwards into the air and began to form hand-signs.
"Slime Jutsu!" Erika shouted.
She spat out a glop of green slime that stuck to her enemy's paws. The slime prevented it from moving. Erika then rushed forward and finished the Wolfos with her kunai knives. Without Erika knowing, another Wolfos tried to strike her down from behind. Suddenly, a barrier appeared between them. Erika turned around and saw the Wolfos that had run into the wall. She then turned to face Mina, who was controlling the barrier with her magic (similar to Hazel).
"I owe you one," Erika said.
Erika then looked towards Kai. Several Wolfos had Kai pinned down. Kai used his sword as a barrier between him and the teeth of the Wolfos.
"Get…off…of…me!" Kai shouted.
He focused his magic and created his wings. The wings shot out in a manner that blew several of the Wolfos away. He then attacked whatever remained with his sword. Any Wolfos that had survived this battle ran off.
"They may be brave in a pack," Angus said, "but they're a bunch of spineless gits on their own."
"So you are part Avian!" Mina exclaimed as she stared at Kai's glowing wings. "Fascinating!"
"Don't mind her," Zangalus said as everyone withdrew their swords. "Mina's always been a book freak. She read a rumor that you had an Avian ancestor."
"So she likes to read," Kai said. "Reminds me of Hazel."
"We don't have time to chitchat," Erika said. "We have to find Celebi."
They continued through the dark forest. Meanwhile, Junpei was reporting to a figure that stood in the shadows. Its gigantic eyes glowed high above Junpei.
"What's your report?" a menacing voice said from the shadows.
"My liege, I managed to bring Erika to the future, as well as Kai Kamai," Junpei said.
"So is the only threat to my existence gone?" the voice asked.
"Well…no," Junpei answered tentatively. "The two of them managed to escape."
"What?!" the voice shouted angrily.
Junpei began to cower.
"I'm sorry, my liege," Junpei said. "I promise. I'll get them!"
"You had better!" the voice shouted. "History must never be changed!"
Junpei ran out of the room. Once outside, he began to walk again.
"What can I do?" Junpei asked himself. "Where did Kai Kamai run off to?"
Suddenly, the Shadow Sentry that spotted the rebels appeared before Junpei.
"What is it?" Junpei asked.
The Sentry spoke in its own strange language. Junpei smiled.
"So the rebel base has been found," Junpei said. "Interesting. Send some of your troops to the base. Now, where were they heading again?"
The Sentry spoke once more.
"Good," Junpei said. "I'll head there myself. I know exactly where they're going now. Summon the dragon riders! We're heading for the Ruins of Time!"
The Sentry disappeared as Junpei laughed triumphantly. Back in the Temporal Woods, Kai and the rebels had reached a clearing in the forest.
"This is it," Erika said. "This is where I found Celebi last time."
Everyone looked around, but nothing was in sight.
"Are you sure?" Kai asked.
"Absolutely!" Erika exclaimed. "Celebi was right here!"
"Maybe Junpei and his goons found out where Celebi was," Mina suggested.
"That could mean that…Celebi was captured," Takeru said.
"Me? Captured?" a female voice echoed.
Everyone looked around for the source of the voice.
"Who said that?!" Kai exclaimed.
Suddenly, in the middle of the clearing, a green light began to glow brightly. Appearing in the center of the light was a small, green creature that looked like a fairy.
"Celebi!" Erika exclaimed.
"I don't know if it's good or bad to see you again," Celebi said. "If you're back, it means that you failed in your mission."
"I don't consider it 'failing'," Angus said. "She located and contacted Kai Kamai. The proof is right here."
He pointed towards Kai.
"So you accidentally brought him here?" Celebi asked.
"Yeah," Erika said. "That's why we're here. We need to get Kai back to the past."
"I would love to help you, but after that first trip back in time, my power's been diminished," Celebi said. "I can barely send myself through time, let alone others."
"Then…we're screwed," Zangalus said.
"Not necessarily," Celebi said. "Deep in these woods are the ruins of an ancient temple. It is said to be able to propel an entire country through time. If I utilize its powers, I may be able to send Kai through time."
"Where are these ruins?" Angus asked.
"It is to the north," Celebi said. "I will lead you there."
Celebi began to float through the woods, with Kai and the rebels right behind her.
"You won't have to worry about any creatures attacking us," Celebi said. "I have set a barrier around us. Nothing in these woods can see us right now."
"That's pretty cool!" Mina exclaimed.
"The effect will only last until we reach the ruins," Celebi said. "But we shouldn't need it after that."
They continued to hike deeper and deeper into the woods, until they found it. It was a destroyed building that looked like it was once a large building.
"Here we are," Celebi said.
"Alright," Kai said. "Use some hocus-pocus and send me back in time."
"We have to first find a way to get into the secret room of the ruins," Celebi said. "It's through that door."
There was a large door with the symbol of the Triforce on it ahead of them. The door was by itself. No walls surrounded it.
"The Triforce?" Kai asked. "Then this must be the Temple of Time!"
Everyone except Celebi looked shocked.
"You've been here?" Angus asked.
"Yeah," Kai said. "On my first adventure."
Erika walked all the way around the door.
"How do we get into the secret room?" Erika asked.
Everyone tried to open the door, but to no avail.
"This thing won't budge," Erika said.
Kai then thought for a minute. He then realized what he had to do. He pulled out his ocarina.
"What's that going to do?" Augustus asked.
Kai pulled the ocarina to his mouth and played the Song of Time. Afterwards, the sound of an organ echoed through the room, playing the Song of Time as well. When the song finished, the door immediately opened. Inside was a large room.
"Cor blimey!" Angus gasped.
"Impossible!" Augustus exclaimed. "There's no door on the other side!"
"It's another dimension," Mina said. "Something this powerful is definitely able to propel someone through time."
Suddenly, a fireball exploded at their feet. They looked up and saw dozens of dragons with Shadow Sentries riding them in the sky.
"Damn!" Zangalus exclaimed. "We've been found!"
Junpei and a dozen Shadow Sentries appeared in the trees.
"It looks like we found you," Junpei said.
"Junpei!" Kai shouted.
"You rebels have been a nuisance," Junpei said. "Now then. It's time we destroy you all and finish off that little fairy."
Kai began to draw his sword, but Angus stopped him.
"Kai, we'll hold him off," Angus said. "You go on ahead of us."
"But…" Kai began.
"No buts!" Angus shouted. "You're the future's only hope! You must go back in time and learn the Gigagash!"
He then turned to face Erika.
"You go with him!" Angus shouted.
"But sir, I have to help you!" Erika exclaimed.
"I won't take 'no' for an answer!" Angus shouted. "Kai will need help if he's to find that book. Go back in time, find your partner, and find that book!"
Erika looked tentative at this.
"Now!" Angus shouted.
Erika nodded her head. She, Celebi, and Kai then ran into the room. Junpei ran forward to stop them, but Angus got in his way.
"You want them, you'll have to go through me," Angus said.
"Insolent fool!" Junpei shouted. "You dare to defy the king?! This will show you!"
Junpei pulled out a black katana. He and Angus then began to fight. Inside the large room, Celebi ran ahead of Kai and Erika to a pedestal. Celebi then began to glow brightly. Suddenly, a blue portal appeared before her.
"This is it!" Celebi exclaimed. "You two must go!"
Kai and Erika heard a scream of pain. They turned around and saw that Junpei had stabbed Angus.
"Angus!" Erika shouted.
"We have to go!" Kai exclaimed. "We have to make sure this doesn't happen!"
Kai pulled Erika through the portal. Once they were through the portal, it disappeared. Junpei and some Shadow Sentries surrounded Celebi.
"Do you really believe that you have me?" Celebi asked.
"Get her!" Junpei shouted.
The Shadow Sentries charged for Celebi, but she disappeared before they could grab her. Junpei then slammed his fist on the wall.
"At least one good thing came from this," Junpei said. "We managed to catch most of the rebels and kill their leader."
The rebels were tied up and carried by the dragons. Angus's body was bleeding on the floor. Junpei turned towards one of the Sentries.
"Inspect this room for any sign of a portal," Junpei said. "There might be a chance to follow them. I will not let Kai Kamai slip from my fingers."
Junpei then walked out of the room and hopped onto a dragon. All of the dragons then flew away.