Chapter 33: Investigation

~Logan's POV

A week's gone by since the whole 'sparring' thing and I can just say… Every single day I'm surprised at all the new abilities we're discovering with our new sets of armors.

"Right, everyone ready?" Kendall asked as we got ready to set out.

The werewolves were in another part of Auradon, investigating magical anomalies, while Ben and Pup were busy trying to rebuild the defenses of the kingdom after firing literally all of the generals and replacing them with better, trustworthy ones.

So, instead of another day of training, which was slowly becoming more and more tedious like Gustavo's harmonizing, dancing and singing practices – which I actually miss, Kendall decided that we should actually go investigate the giant tree in the forest nearby.

He told us that when he and James first went into the town nearby, they saw that the tree was still luscious, leaves still green and life-filled…

Now, when we actually go into the town nearby, we actually see that the tree was practically dead.

Not just that, everything else around it was dying… To make it worse, it's actually turning into a grey hue.

"Okay, let's go," James confidently instructed, leading us.

The castle slowly disappeared from sight, though the town was actually coming into our sight… Our real objective was the tree. We ventured to the right, straying away from the dirt path supposedly leading to the town, instead trekking onto the green grass which led to the now grey-ified area.

"This… Actually looks kind of scary," I whispered to Kendall, who nodded as we approached the grey forest. It looked so full of life before! How'd it all suddenly turn into this dead, foggy grey forest?

"This place actually gives me a bad feeling," Carlos thought out loud as we entered the foggy forest, sticking very close to each other so that we wouldn't be separated.

Thank goodness we didn't actually ride horses into this place, otherwise the aura this place gives off would've scared them away.

As we walked hopefully towards the tree and not in circles, crow noises could be heard above us. I'm kind of thankful the trees are actually dead, because if they weren't, the leaves would've blocked sunlight, which combined with this fog would've made this place horrible to go through.

"Are you sure we're going the right direction?" James asked, his eyes trailing to the right a bit. "Because I could've sworn I saw that tree earlier," He pointed at a particular tree, a few shades darker grey than the rest.

"Wait…" I looked around, noticing the small red string I tied onto a nearby fallen branch was actually right beneath my feet.

"Yep, we've been going in circles," I frowned, untying the red string and stuffing it into my pocket.

"Everyone, hold on to something," I said, holding both palms up. I've actually learned to casts spells without the need to shut my eyes now!

James, Kendall and Carlos held on to each other as a gentle wind blew… Soon, a violent gust blasted through the forest, carrying the fog with it… And the illusion caused by the fog.

"I knew something was up with that fog," I looked around with furrowed brows, noticing how there's far lesser dead trees, and how easier it is to actually see without the fog…

"Wait, we're not even close to the tree!?" James cried, noticing how far we actually are from the gigantic tree.

I also thought we made a bit of progress… Turns out, we've like… 20 minutes of walking.

"Right, let's go," I sighed, hoping that nothing else pops up unexpectedly.

Walking there, a sudden feeling of dread washed over me. Something was actually warning me not to go there.

"You shouldn't go there," A voice literally calls out as soon as I thought of that.

We all turned to the left by about 30 degrees, spotting a girl with silky black hair with a streak of red, sitting on a tree.

"What even," Carlos gasped while I furrowed my brows. Something about this girl is super familiar…

But what is it!? I feel like I've seen her before, somewhere.

I can't put my finger on it!

"Um… Who are you?" Kendall asked as she hopped off the tree, walking towards us.

"The girl who put that ornate black box in Logan's old apartment, who threw the black key into the lake and purposefully enchanted it so Logan's hook would catch onto it, the girl who hypnotized Two Direction's tour bus earlier this year so they'd end up with you guys… And the same girl who put that white box in your apartment," She answered simply, extending a hand afterwards.

"Lucy Stone. The good twin of the same woman who killed you four millenniums ago," She introduced herself, Kendall shaking her hand after. "Wait, what?!" The four of us gasped, ready to summon our weapons.

"You see, when Ancient Logan came back down from heaven and did the whole 'reset' thing, Chaos was split into two. Me, assuming the identity of a regular teenage girl named Lucy Stone, being the good twin, I knew you guys needed a push." She sighs, her voice hinting tiredness.

"I really don't know why but you guys were supposed to receive your rings during your birth. Somehow, it never happened," She answered, turning her head towards the giant dead tree again while we listened quietly, lowering our guards.

"That… Is the entrance to Nothingness," She points towards the giant tree.

As soon as she did, memories of Nothingness came back. I remembered immediately how my counterpart told me that once we found the entrance to Nothingness… Then the day is near.

Like, really close.

"Okay…? I kinda thought it'd end up being more dramatic," I said, eyeing the giant tree. What… Are we supposed to axe it down? Or is there a hole nearby? A portal maybe?

Lucy led us closer and closer to the tree. We walked all the way to the opposite side and there it stood…

A giant cave, leading deeper and deeper into nothingness. Somehow the ground in the cave was perfectly flat as it descended in a slope. Being this close to the tree gives off so much bad energy, it made my skin crawl.

"W-We're supposed to go in there?" Carlos asked, peeking his head into the cave. Sunlight could only reach so far down before it turns into pure, pitch black darkness. As we stared into the abyss, we could feel eyes staring back when a sudden gust of strong wind blew us forth, a red barrier suddenly blocking the cave.

I turned to the left and saw Lucy standing there with her palms up. "I told you guys, it's not time yet. If you go in now…" She looks back into the cave. "Your soul pieces won't be able to break through on time," She sighs, curiosity peaking in me when she mentioned 'soul pieces'.

"Why… Why didn't you appear earlier? I mean, why didn't you just hand in the white box personally?" Kendall asked as we stepped back, resisting the sudden surge of the need to enter the cave.

Okay, what is happening?

One second my skin's crawling as we near the entrance. All of a sudden, I feel like we're being sucked in slowly.

Summoning my cosmic sphere, I teleported all of us far away from the tree and into the training area in the castle.

"Good thinking," She sighed, lowering her palms. "I've other business to take care of. I had to find time to actually place the box in your apartment, because I'm trying my best to reopen the link between all 400 dimensions," She explained before glancing at her wrist watch.

"Right, I've business to attend again. I had a feeling you guys would go into that forest today. Well, I've to go now," She quickly said before summoning a thick cloud of red smoke, stepping into it and literally disappearing.

"So…" Kendall turned towards us, sporting a rather nervous look.

"This means that… It's coming, isn't it?" He asked, frowning nervously.

I nodded, remembering how I was told that once we found the entrance to 'Nothingness', then that day is coming very soon.

I honestly thought finding the entrance would be waaay more dramatic though.