Trail of Secrets
Chapter 13
Jay Garrick stared at the egg-shaped crystal that contained Harry Potter. Over the last few days, it had begun to lose mass.
"Have you figured it out yet?" Luna asked as she entered the room, two mugs of coffee in her hands.
"Thanks," Jay said accepting the coffee. Taking a sip, he turned to face the holographic screens at his back, letting his blue eyes scanning the screen, "His DNA has stabilized, his body is slowly taking shape within the crystal, that's why it's losing mass, the crystal itself is reforming his body."
"That's good, right?"
Jay ran a hand through his dark hair, "I honestly don't know, the mutations of your world are so versatile, I can't begin to know what the end result of all this will be, but I can say that I don't think the force energies caused any harm while they were there."
"While they were there?"
"The force energies have faded, leaving behind small micro fissures in reality that are letting in a type of energy I haven't seen before. If I had to hazard a guess, the force energies acted as a bridge for this new energy."
"You said the force energies would push him to his next evolutionary stage, could that be what this new energy is? An evolution of his abilities."
Jay took another sip of coffee, "That's as good a guess as any I suppose."
Taking his mug, Luna set it on a nearby table.
She then grabbed his wrist, pulling him towards the door.
"Where are we going?"
"You said we would test out our new abilities today."
"But I have work to do."
"Harry has been okay for half a month, I'm sure he'll be okay for a few hours."
Exhaling, Jay vibrated his body, a skintight red suit with a white circle accented in dark blue in the center of his chest appeared on his body. A dark blue lightning bolt set in the center of the circle.
Luna grinned, her moon like eyes twinkling as her body shone. Her pale hair braided itself as a white gown appeared on her body.
She released Jay's hand, "Last one outside buys dinner," Luna said disappearing in a swirl of air.
"I was going to do that anyway," Jay muttered blurring after her.
–XX –
Pushing himself to his feet, Harry felt course stone beneath his bare hands and feet. "Listen buddy," he began carefully still feeling the power thrummed through the stone. "I just suddenly appeared here, I'm no one's heir. I don't even know what an Earthborn Angel is."
The old man leaned forward, his white eyebrows drawing together, "You are the heir, I first saw your arrival when I arrived here all those eons ago. I would not forget that symbol," he pointed to the symbol etched into Harry's chest.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Harry thought over what he had heard. 'Seems like I'm dealing with someone with the sight. A rare gift even in the magical world.'
"Maybe you should explain, but first, could I have your name?"
The old man inclined his head, "Forgive me, my name is Solomon, former King of the Earthborn Angels"
"Nice to meet you Solomon," he looked around the edge of the pyramid, "Do you mind if I sit while you explain?"
"Of course," Solomon gestured with the palm of his hand.
A simple stone chair rose up behind Harry.
Taking his seat, Harry gazed around at the crimson sky, grey clouds roiled above him.
The clearing of a throat, brought him back to reality.
"Excuse me, it's been a long day. If you don't mind, please start from the beginning."
Solomon's lips curled in a smile, "Don't worry about it, I was actually impressed with the way you dealt with Arachne."
"You knew what Arachne was doing and didn't stop it?"
Solomon smile faded and he raised his shoulders in a partial shrug, "I have been alone for millennia, I was eager for company, no matter if she came to visit or how vile she was. Her mere presence in this land kept me sane until your arrival."
Harry may not have liked it, but he could understand where Solomon was coming from, being alone in this place even with the power provided would drive anyone to the brink of insanity with enough time.
"Speaking of, you were going to tell me a story."
Solomon clapped, "Right."
"Long ago when the multi-verse was still young and rising from the primordial darkness."
The sky behind Solomon darkened, planets still glowing red from the heat of their formation circled around a sun that shone brighter than it ever had in living memory.
"Beings called the Celestial's took an interest in the newly formed Primordial Lords of this universe.
Beings in colored armor descended from the sky to stand before men and women on a jungle like earth.
"Fascinated by the form and great power on both sides, the two beings joined with one another."
The scene shimmered, changing into a cave, a male shadow gently laid a female shadow down.
"This gave rise to a new type of being."
The sun moved through the sky at a rapid rate, primordial women emerged from their caves forming a circle with female celestial's, each holding a babe wrapped in cloth.
Some of the children glowed with a bright inner light, while others glowed with a deep purple.
"These children were called the Earthborn angels, beings of beyond cosmic power given flesh."
The sun moved across the sky again, the children grew, becoming adult men and women. The scene shifted away, to the top of a mountain, the city rose up from the mountain, a giant circular platform decorated with cylindrical towers and square buildings.
"Over time, they grew and expanded out into the world to have their own children. They created a city that was a beacon of light with the world. However, some weren't happy with the piece they had created."
A small contingent of Earthborn swooped over the earth transforming early man into demon like creatures and creating their own city on the other side of the world, a place of grey stone.
"These actions caused war between the two factions."
Earthborn collided in the sky, their collisions releasing massive bursts of power.
"Our fight decimated the earth, setting back human evolution for another handful of millennia. Eventually, our forbearers intervened."
Celestial's and Primordials alike appeared, using their combined power to open a rift in the sky. It swirled with red and released a crimson glow. The Earthborn were sucked inside as more celestial's raised their hands, reality flickered and their great cities vanished.
"Because of our actions, celestial's agreed that they would no longer breed with any other race other than themselves. They then left this world, until alone celestial arrived here millennia later vomiting a virus on to the world that would give rise to some of earth's early mutants."
Harry leaned back in his chair, "All very fascinating, truly, but I still don't get what that has to do with me."
Solomon ran a finger down his long white beard. "I was there at the battle."
An image of a young man with short white hair, the same narrow face, golden eyes, and slightly pointed ears appeared between them. He began floating upwards, a resigned look on his face, "Before we were sealed away, I had a vision."
The symbol of the deathly hollows burned in the sky, but like the symbol on Harry's chest, it had a crystal in the circle, with multicolored strands forming a spiral in its center, "Someone bearing this mark would appear, and give redemption to my people."
"And how do you know that is me?"
"It wasn't until after we were sealed away that I learned that the power we called upon was the Aether you see around us. While the rest of my race continued our work, I studied our new home. I learned that though we were sealed away, our new home could still influence the earthly realm, giving rise to abilities such as Life Force manipulation, Chi manipulation, Mana manipulation," he looked at Harry, "and Aura manipulation. Each of these abilities, allowed their users to influence a unique type of energy. Each of these energies had their own unique abilities, but all of them contained a spiritual aspect."
"You are the first to wield Aether since the Earthborn Angels. From what I have seen inside your mind…"
Harry tensed he hadn't even felt Solomon enter.
"I believe that the combination of your parent's mutations and what you've been through in the last few months of your life have evolved your mutation giving you access to this place."
"So, what happened to the rest of the Earthborn?"
Solomon looked down, "They either died as they continued to battle, or chose to go into one of the vortexes to be reborn," he looked at Harry. "Will you carry on the Earthborn legacy?"
Harry stood there, he wanted to learn about this new energy, but he had to know something first. He glanced around, "Can I leave here without the training?"
Solomon shoulder slumped, "Of course, I can use my abilities to open a portal that will allow your spirit to return back to the earthly plane."
Harry raised an eyebrow, it was interesting that he was only here in spirit, it made him wonder what his body was going through, "Alright then, teach me."
Solomon raised his head, "Are you sure? It will not be easy."
"I'm here for a reason, whether it was by destiny, or my own mutation seeking out its next evolutionary path, I will not forsake this chance."
Tightening his grip on his staff, Solomon rose to his feet, "As you wish, let us begin." White energy exploded out from him in a wave.
–XX –
Jay Garrick stood in one of the parks behind the walls of TírnanÓg.
He glanced up at the glass dome that covered the city, marveling at how it still let air and rain inside while blocking hostile intent. The grass squeaked as he shifted his feet still damp from last night's rain. A cool breeze sent the trees swaying.
Luna hovered in the air, her eyes closed, the hymn of her white gown fluttering around her as she listened and felt nature. She pointed her palms outward, electricity dancing from finger to finger, she opened her eyes, her silver pupils shining like twin moons.
"Breaks over."
Lightning jumped from her palms.
Jay Garrick stood still, his body vibrating as time froze. He looked around him, the blue bolts of electricity that had been arcing towards him were frozen. He moved forward, jumping lightly to close the distance between Luna and himself.
Hovering in midair with a bit of his new telekinetic power, Jay threw a punch.
Time resumed and his fist connected with a shield of air, tendrils of air wrapped around his arm, slinging him sideways. He hit the ground rolling before coming up in a crouching position.
"You know, I think this whole practice thing was just an excuse so you could throw me around."
"Well, it is a little unfair since I have the sight."
Brushing off his red spandex, Jay climbed to his feet, "So, you are finally admitting you have the sight?"
"I don't know if it's the same psychic ability my ancestors had, but the wind keeps me informed now," she looked at him, "even when time is frozen, you still move through the air."
"That is so…"
He was cut off as Luna's eyes glowed white and she began falling towards the ground.
In a blink he was there catching her and cradling her against his chest, "Luna, are you alright, can you hear me?"
Luna's eyes opened, and her head snapped towards him, "We need to get to earth right now!"
"Why?" Jay asked as he lowered her to the ground.
"Meruda is getting ready to attack the innocent."
"How do you know this?"
Luna locked eyes with him, "I told you the heir talks to me, that includes the air on earth, just because we're in another dimension, we still share the same space with our ancestral home."
Jay moved forward, wrapping one arm around her waist, "Alright." Gold lightning danced around their bodies before they transformed into a bolt of energy, and streaked upwards.
–XX –
Meruda crouched in a tree outside the walls of the Xavier Institute, his red eyes scanning the grounds. His hand pressed against the rough bark, causing it to crack beneath his touch.
He didn't know why Herpo wanted the mutant called No Girl, but since it gave him the opportunity to finally get his revenge, he didn't really care.
He glanced up at the sliver of moon hanging in the sky. Clouds had obscured the nights stars.
"I'm coming for you Munro, and I'm going to take everything from you, just like you took it from me."
Reaching up, he fingered a coin dangling from a chain around his neck. According to Herpo, this would hide his mind and his sent from some of the more challenging mutants that lived on the estate.
A grin split his features, in a way he was disappointed, he would like to test himself, now that his training was complete. Eyes still locked on the estate, he pushed off the branch soaring through the air and over the brick wall.