The three prisoner princesses stood in the middle of a large room. The white-tiled marble floor sparkled beneath their feet. Along the walls stood countless statues of men and women, who were seemingly waiting for something. Every statue's head was turned toward the four doors in the far wall of the room. And although there were no lights in the room, the place was brightly lit.
"Welcome to Orento Temple, my lovely girls," introduced the Shadow King with a sweep of his hand. "This temple far beneath the ground is the birthplace of your legends. Come." He led the way forward to the far wall and entered the far left door, followed by Zaron, Takanyar, and the Shadow Warrior, who brought the prisoners with them.
Inside this next room were many statues also, although the size of the room was somewhat smaller than the first. All of these statues seemed to be crying out as if in pain, weeping for something that had not yet taken place. The three princesses stared at these horrific figures as they were led through the room. Zaron noticed the frightened looks on their faces.
"Ha ha ha!" he laughed suddenly, making the girls jump. "What weakness. You will never be able to summon the strength to resist the evil that is to come!" Zaron spoke with a wicked, disdainful smile.
Takanyar opened a door on the right side of the room and disappeared inside. He reemerged a few moments later. "Sire, the Preparation Chamber is ready."
"Good. Let us go." The Shadow King followed Takanyar into the adjoining dim chamber. Zaron shoved Peach roughly into the room, and the Warrior brought Daisy and Éclair behind him. Once they were all inside, the door was shut, and the princesses were made to stand in the center of the room while the King chanted something in a weird language. Even in her weakness, Éclair could sense an evil in the air around her. It was so real that she could almost reach out and touch it. She shivered.
"Are you all right, Éclair?" whispered Daisy.
"Yes, except I'm still very weak. How's Peach?"
"Can't tell," Daisy replied quietly. "She seems...stunned by all of this. I don't know if she has the strength to -"
"Silence!" shouted Takanyar. "We go now into the Oracle Chamber. Hold your tongues or suffer for it!"
The princesses quickly became quiet, and were led by the Aides into the vast room called the Oracle Chamber. There were inscriptions on all of the walls, covering them almost completely. In the center stood a huge silver statue.
"The shadow King turned to the girls. "I recall that Marlon quoted a legend to you on the Night of Legends. The pity of the thing is that he did not recite it in its entirety. Allow me to read from these sacred walls the final words of the ancients." He began to read.
"A higher one there is
With no feelings of mercy
She seeks half a score
And three
"Thirteen there are
Only a light-filled one
Can break their power
And free them
"A power of the depths
Thirteen in one
Incarnation of evil
Cursed, he who touches it
"Higher is she
Who wears no crown
An iron scepter only
Is her symbol
"Shall such a one be found
As can break destiny's chain
For the love of none
And the love of all
"Mystery is a precious thing
It hides from fearful eyes
That which they cannot bear
To behold
"The ones to whom we speak -
View the scene
Destiny is no more
Fate is yours"
The Shadow King smiled evilly at the bewildered looks on his captives' faces. "Shall I interpret the last verse for you?" he asked with a wicked smile. "'The ones to whom we speak' are u you /u , my little princesses." He waved toward the silver sculpture in the center of the chamber. "View the scene." Turning to Takanyar, he ordered, "Untie their hands." Takanyar obeyed, and the three girls hesitantly appraoched the statue.
The sculpture was so large it was intimidating. It depicted the Shadow King himself, seated on his throne, making as if to get up, his finger pointing off to the girls' left, an evil expression of delight oozing from his face. The throne by his side was empty, as if waiting for an occupant. Before the throne stood three terrified victims who were apparently being condemned to a horrible fate. They stood as if pleading for mercy, but the King's look gave them none. The girls were standing behind the three victims and could not see their faces.
Daisy turned to Peach. "Please, Peach, look for us. Éclair can't take this much strain on her nerves - she's weak as it is." Looking at Éclair, Peach could easily see that Daisy was right, for Éclair shook like a leaf in the wind, and her eyes were wide and frightened. She begged Peach to go.
"All right..." Peach answered reluctantly, stepping forward. Slowly she walked past the three condemned victims and shut her eyes. Praying and hoping that nothing horrifying or grotesque awaited her gaze, she turned around to face the victims, eyes still closed.
Then she opened her eyes - and screamed.
She stared at the face on the right. It looked desperate. It was Daisy's face. Her wild eyes caught the pale, drawn face of Éclair, the center figure. But it was the leftmost figure that made her scream again. For this terrified, wracked expression, gazing at her from a face all too familiar -
It was her own.
