166

"What will we do, Tol?"

Syn looked up at her husband, tears shining in her eyes. Tolan's expression was distant…he had been so distant lately. "He never came back. And I don't know if we should have gone after him, or…"

"We can't go after him," Tolan cut in. "Hershel made his choice, and we can't just risk ourselves in an effort to talk him out of it."

"We went after Cole and Keyda!" she snapped. "Why do they deserve saving more than Hershel?"

"Because Cole and Keyda were being held hostage…"

"And Hershel isn't?"

"Hershel chose to go!"

"We don't know that!" Syn's tears were spilling over now. "Imgloss said he did, but the Ancient could have abandoned him there, Tolan! And with Hershel out of the way, he's free to become Master Healer on the next full moon. And then what will happen?"

Tolan looked away, still not saying anything.

Syn grabbed his arm angrily. "Don't just shut down…I need you to…"

"I don't know, Syn!" He turned then, his eyes flashing. "I don't know what to do…I don't know what's in store. I don't have the answers. No one does."

She stared at him. Tolan grimaced, apparently trying to keep his emotions under control.

"I'm sorry," he finally said. "I've been trying to figure it out…come up with a plan. But I don't know what to do."

Syn was at a loss. She couldn't remember the last time Tolan hadn't been able to come up with some sort of plan when it was something that mattered. It wasn't that he claimed to know everything…it's just that he had always seemed to blow off the things he wasn't able to figure out. But she realized suddenly that her husband hadn't been distant because he was angry. Tolan was terrified.

Syn wished that she could comfort him, but there was so much against them. Hershel was still missing, the full moon continued to approach, and the threat Imgloss had sneered at her was ever present in her mind. It had gotten to the point where she wanted to send Pippa to Ninjago, but based on how they had treated Theodynn, she wasn't sure her daughter would even be safe there. So with nothing to say to calm the uncertainty, she finally just wrapped her arms around her husband.

He hesitated, and then embraced her back. They stood like that for a while, embracing each other in an attempt to break through the worry and the fear.

"You don't have to have the answers," she finally murmured as her tears stained the shoulder of his tunic. "But I still need you, Tol. I need us to be ok."

She could feel his hot breath on her neck, but he wasn't saying anything. She pulled away to look him in the face.

"Are we ok?"

Tolan's expression hardened, sending a jolt of fear in her stomach. But then he cupped her face gently. "I love you, if that's what you mean. That's not gonna change, Syn. No matter what happens."

"I love you too," she replied with obvious relief. They didn't often say the words, both just knowing that it went without saying. But as Syn clung to him again, she couldn't help but think that it was nice to be reminded. Especially when it felt like everything else was up in the air.

Pippa glanced at the moon right before entering the tent. Only a little wedge left…and then it would be full.

People kept talking about Ninjago, and how she'd be safe there. But she knew enough to know that Ninjago was a place without sniffers and hoofers and Oni. As much as she hated the thought of being that dumb Healer's apprentice, she hated the thought of leaving home more.

She crept into the tent as quietly as she could, even though she knew there wouldn't be anybody there anyways. But after sneaking out of the fortress, she was in a sneaking type mood. It hadn't even been that hard; out the bedroom window, a stop by the arena to pick up Baffa, slipping past the guards. Then she was basically home free as she headed to her Uncle's tent.

She lit up her hands so she could see, her eyes scanning the room until she caught sight of the jar on the high shelf. She nodded once to herself and set off for it. Baffa whined as she moved a chair closer to the cabinets so she could reach the special petals.

"Shhh, Baffa!" she hissed, as she climbed up the chair. "I'm not getting you a treat. I've gotta talk to Archtiphos…"

Her hand grabbed the jar right as her foot slipped on the chair. Crying out, Pippa tumbled to the ground. A moment after landing, the jar crashed on the hard earth next to her. She closed her eyes as the glass shot at her face and said one of the curse words that she had heard her father say.

The shattering sound felt like an explosion compared to the silent night. When the silence picked up again, Pip dared to open her eyes to take in the damage. Glass was scattered like ice, the dark petals pooled everywhere like blood. It wasn't a big deal; she had broken jars before. The petals were fine. And yet, that moment was the one that broke the hoofer's back.

Pippa's eyes blazed with frustration and fear as she screamed, her fist pounding into the earth. She could feel a few cuts stinging on her face, and all the emotions that the child had been dealing with the past weeks churned in full force. Aura winds whirled around as she tantrumed there on the ground.

It was stupid! It wasn't fair! She didn't want to go to Ninjago…she didn't want to be that smelly old guy's apprentice. Her little legs kicked as she said every curse word she knew, her hands shooting small blasts that made divots in the hard-packed earth. A seed of guilt wormed into her fit; Uncle Hershel hated when she made dents in the floor. Chairs and table legs always got caught in them.

Tears joined with the blaze as she thought of her Uncle, kicking and pounding with her fists with vigor until she was worn out. She thought about how he was blind, and how it wasn't fair. She thought about the fights he had with her mom, and how much they had scared her. She thought about the fact that he was gone, and no one would look for him, and no one could find him…and he wasn't coming home.

"Where are you, Uncle Hershel?" she sobbed angrily, kicking again. "You have to come back home!" She remembered their conversations, the hot tears running down her freckled face. "You said you would make sure that the mean Healer would never touch me! You promised!"

She cried there a few minutes more. Eventually she laid limp, her energy expended. Pippa sniffled as Baffa nudged her with his nose, whining. It seemed the sniffer finally thought it safe to approach; ever since that night with Imgloss, even the smallest blast had Baffa spooked. Pippa wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his mane as her tears finally trickled to a stop.

By the time she felt well enough to get up and pull petals out of the wreckage, she realized the tent was getting lighter. She stuffed the petals in her pocket; her mom would have a fit if she woke up and realized Pippa was gone. She'd have to make the tea later, at the fortress. She whistled for Baffa to follow her and made it to the front of the tent. Sure enough, the horizon was showing the signs of sunrise.

"Alright, Baffa…let's go."

Light had a taste. It washed over every fiber of him, stripping away any trace of his time shrouded in darkness…overwhelming every sense Hershel had. The power of the Island—it's will, knowledge, desires—built up in him. The faintest part of Hershel's mind realized it felt like an overdrive, and he wasn't sure what to expect when he reached the peak. The will of the Island soothed him, reassuring him while the pressure built. It was hard to describe the feeling; it wasn't painful so much as tight. He longed for it to reach the point where it could burst free. Then he would no longer be a solitary vessel filled with his own meager power. Instead, the power of the Island would forever flow through him, like water through a pipe. Then he would be limitless.

He was getting tastes of the potential already—awe-inspiring glimpses. The Island knew all, and Hershel was bursting with its knowledge. It sensed the realm in a way that no one knew…it had grown to become what no one thought it would be. The First Ancients were fools. It was the single most powerful entity in the realm…sensing every life force within it. There was nothing it did not know….

The power grew stronger, and Hershel's weak mortal frame shook with the effort to contain it. Nothing could contain such power, and he found himself laughing as freedom drew nearer. Lunise was right; he did understand. He could see all, sense all. He was the Island.

His sight was no longer his own, and it stretched to the far corners of this world. Pinpricks of light were scattered all over the realm; life-forces, brief-burning candles of hopes and fears. He could feel their potential. He recognized the flames who had the power coiled inside like a sleeping serpent, as well as those who lacked any power at all—no better than animals themselves. Only a few sparks shone brighter…lives of Ancients, far more enduring than the average fleeting flame. He could sense those whose powers were free, but whose destinies were feeble compared to his own. He was the Chosen of the Island: Guardian born of Ancient Power.

The overdrive was approaching, and he could feel his form continue to tremble. The Island's power would soon strip it all away, and at last he would be one with this unparalleled entity…

"Where are you, Uncle Hershel!?"

The words shot through his mind like a knife, severing the connection he had been forming with the will of the Island. Lunise continued to fill him with power, but for that moment, he was able to grasp his own fading identity once more.

"Wait…"

It came out a whisper, and he could feel the Island's emotions within him, prodding, coaxing…but something sinister laid beneath. Hershel tried to pull out of Lunise's grasp, but her grip on him tightened. He forced himself to inhale again…to force air into his mortal lungs.

Be calm, Hershel…you won't have to wait much longer….

"I can't," he gasped, fear finally setting in at the feeling of pressure that threatened to literally rip him apart…disintegrate his mortal form and suck away his identity until it was lost in the infinite power of the Island. The Island was increasing its efforts to lull him, invigorate him for what was to come…but he had heard Pippa. The real Pippa…he knew he had. He had felt her fear. Reality came crashing back into him. He would never see her again, if this process was completed. He would be separated from those he loved forever.

You want Freedom, Hershel

He began trying to block the power coming in, or push it back out. Something flickered across Lunise's expression.

They will only hold you back. The world has abandoned you, and it is time for you to abandon the world. It has nothing left for you but the chains of expectation.

Pippa's giggle. Syn's smile. Tolan rolling his eyes. He forced the memories to remain, using them as a defense to keep the Island out of his mind. Lunise's eyes flashed with anger, and winds were ripping around them now to show the Island's displeasure.

They are unworthy of you!

Myrah's soft touch while she kissed him…

Powerless creatures, undeserving of your affection! Without connection to power, they are but dumb beasts in Oni form!

Another breath…another moment of life…he tried to form his will into words, before it was lost to the overpowering ancient one threating to drown him.

"I cannot…accept…your offer…"

His life was flashing before his eyes, and he hoped that Lunise would listen to him. But she just pressed her hand onto his chest with more force, shaking her head sadly.

We cannot go back. You are truly on the edge of eternal greatness…and you will choose it Hershel. There is no other option.

He tried to breathe again, but there was no space left in him for air. The Overdrive was reaching its peak, and he caught glimpses of white hair whipping around his head that left him stunned. Was it Lunise's, or his own?

I can't pull out of an overdrive…

This voice was not Lunise…it was a memory. This was his own voice, disbelieving as he stared at his Master. They were in the wilderness, away from any prying eyes.

You can, and you will, Hershel. True control is the ability to be on the brink of destruction and maintain the ability to pull out again.

But how can I?

You must change your perspective, boy. The overdrive will try and convince you that there are only two options: to give into the current, or to push back directly against it. The first leads the ruin, the second is impossible.

Then how

There are more directions than two, Hershel. Don't go forwards or backwards…go up.

It flashed through his mind in a matter of moments, and Hershel immediately searched for the way out. The way up.

The Island howled around him, and Lunise was leaning in, trying to say something more. But Hershel closed his eyes. Sometimes light illuminated too much. Sometimes one needed the darkness to consider one's own thoughts.

The power was a golden wave, drowning him, pushing him down the current. With the last of his strength and his will, he forced himself to go upwards to the air where he could breathe.

Hershel NO

Lunise's voice cut in sharply, but he forced her and the Island away. He couldn't choose this. Yes, perhaps he was tied to his family members…perhaps their expectations weighed on him. But there were some ties in life he would rather keep.

They all abandoned youshe hissed furiously, and Hershel felt himself begin to leave the stream. Up, like Phos had explained. They couldn't drown what had learned to fly. The Island pressed memories on his will, every person who had left him, or betrayed him. But he countered their images with one of his own: a stubborn six-year-old who had refused to leave his side, even when he had begged her to.

Not all of them.

He burst from the current. He heard himself gasp, filling his lungs with the air of liberty before the blackness claimed him once more.

167

The only sound was breathing. His breathing. He was breathing…

Hershel's consciousness flickered back to life. As he slowly came to, he was aware of the freezing glass floor beneath him. He was on his stomach, face down. Eyes shut. He was terrified to open them…terrified that his sight would have been taken from him once again. But he was alive.

He couldn't move. But this time it was no spell, no magical paralysis. It was utter exhaustion…his fingers twitched a little when he willed them to, but other than that, he could do nothing. The effort of pulling out of an overdrive had always left him drained. But this was no mere overdrive, and he wondered how permanently he had been affected by it.

Hershel's eyes opened at last. As he blinked wearily, his heart sank. There was only darkness…but was it because he was blind, or because there was no light? There were few things in this situation he could truly be certain of, but at least he could assume he was alive. At least he still had his own will.

Goosebumps broke out across his skin as he closed his eyes, remembering. It had been such an unexpected proposal…one he would have never thought he would ever be offered. Had the Island held sway over him? Or did he really believe for those few minutes that becoming one with the Island would have offered him true freedom?

Hershel shuddered at the thought. Freedom from many things, yes. But still a captive…worse than a captive. He would have lost himself forever, his own will. His freedom to make his own choices. He had tasted infinite power…but it had nearly cost him everything he had ever found important.

Personal Memories are not befitting of a Guardian.

Would he have remembered those he left behind? Did Lunise remember those she had left, all those centuries ago? She had been here so long, and it was so hard to know whether the woman of light spoke her own mind or if she was merely the mouthpiece of the Island.

He had felt the Island's emotions, when its power was in him. It truly had become like a living thing…an arrogant, possessive soul born of the power of the First Ancients and corrupted over time.

How long had it been? He had heard Pippa's voice…she was still out there. He had sensed her among the thousands of flickering life-forces. She needed him. Because if he didn't go back, Imgloss would become the Master Healer. And without any rules at all, Hershel shuddered to think what the Ancient would do to fill his days with entertainment. No…he couldn't leave his family to that fate, not when he had initiated all of this to begin with. But as far as he could tell, he was still on the Island. How would he…

A flicker of something caught his eye, and he felt a rush of relief as he realized that he could still see. But the relief was short lived when caught sight of Lunise's reflection in the cold black stone. Her presence caused the stars in the walls and floor to flicker to life, following her path as she approached him. His heart pounded as she came closer, and Lunise's voice was hushed as she finally spoke.

Oh, Hershel

He longed to move, but he couldn't. Panic jolted through him, but then he forced himself to be calm. He couldn't do anything, so he was going to have to wait and see what the future held. As Tolan would say, there's no point in wishing to fly if you don't have the wings.

Lunise's feet didn't touch the ground, and he waited as she hovered closer. However, he was surprised when the ghostly woman touched down on the black stone after all. Hershel managed to move his head enough to look up at her. He was still regaining the energy to speak, but it didn't seem like she wanted him to say anything, anyways.

We brought you to the heart of the Island so you could embrace your destiny

She sounded like she pitied him, but Hershel felt strangely calm as she knelt next to him. Lunise's hand reached out to push Hershel's overly long locks of hair out of his eyes.

You have disappointed the Island, Hershel…and it saddens us that you would resist. You cannot escape your destiny. The Island has chosen you, and it will not be denied.

Her voice gathered a power then, as if it was the Island itself speaking to him. Suddenly, there was the tell-tale slithering. Hershel clenched his jaw as he felt the vines appear again. Rather than ensnare him, they merely poked at the exposed flesh of his arms and legs. It didn't hurt, but it sent goosebumps skipping across his skin from every point of contact. One slithered by his face, and for the first time, he could actually see what it was that had bound him during his trial. The vines were glowing, he realized…a murky grey light within a metallic exterior. He wondered if the Island would torture him now.

Lunise made a soft sound as if she could sense his thoughts. He felt the warmth of her hand again as she tenderly brushed his hair back once again. It is not the Island's desire to hurt you. It wants you to realize your potential…to be free

"It's not…freedom."

He finally managed to speak, though his words were barely audible. The vines seemed to hiss at him, but if anything, Lunise's voice became more comforting.

You just do not understand all you will become. But we will show you; we will never abandon you as so many others have. You pulled out of the connection only moments before your transformation was complete. But you will regain your strength, and then we will try again. You cannot resist us forever, Hershel. We know that eventually you will realize your error and join the Island freely. Your world was willing to let you go. We never will.

Her touch and tone were warm, but her words filled Hershel with icy dread. He swallowed, mustering his energy to move a little more, to speak.

"I passed…the trial. I have earned the right to summon an Ancient. It is the law…"

Lunise's entire form flashed angrily. The walls around them suddenly thundered, and the vines pressed against him.

Do not speak of their laws…their treachery

Lunise's voice had grown cold, but then her expression softened again.

The Island makes its own laws now. Do not ask to see the Ancients…we will not let them reach you. They would not listen to you…they would harm you again as they did before. The Island will not allow it.

Her voice rang out in the space, and the Island caused the words to echo with a ring of finality. As if beckoned by the voice of the Island, the living vines suddenly lurched into action. Hershel grimaced as they wormed their way underneath him, and with their dusky glow he could see them forming some kind of cage around him. His heart pounded as the new prison took shape, and he managed to push himself up just enough to glare at Lunise in betrayal.

"You…dare speak of freedom!" he accused. She regarded his anger sadly.

The Island knows how much you fear captivity…how you dread being alone. It hates to make you feel like a prisoner…

One last metallic vine moved suddenly, wrapping around his neck like a collar. He tried to yell out, but it came out as a gasp. He was desperate to pull the vine free, but he had barely enough energy to shiver in his numbing cage.

But we have told you already how to avoid such a fate. When you join us, you will be free.

"It's just…another form….of slavery," he managed through chattering teeth. "The Island has overpowered you; you are a slave, Lunise."

The vine tightened around his throat, and he stiffened. It seemed this was the Island's way of keeping him in line. Lunise eyed him coldly.

You will see the truth someday. We have centuries to change your mind.

He realized that she was going to leave, and he managed to move his hand through the bars of his prison. She paused as he grabbed her arm, turning as if she hoped that he was seeing things her way at last. Hershel swallowed, the vine shifting around his throat as he did so.

"Don't you realize?" he pleaded. "The Island is a captor, not a savior. Think of yourself; is there nothing you remember from your own mortal life? Before the Island took everything?"

At first, Lunise's expression hardened. Then she glanced away, as if considering his words. Something flickered across her expression; an emotion that Hershel didn't have time to place. But then the Island howled around them, and Lunise looked up fearfully, as if seeing some being that Hershel was unable to perceive. She addressed the Island, seeming to forget about Hershel altogether.

"Forgive…"

She didn't get the chance to finish speaking to the Island. In a moment, Lunise's form burst into a million sparks of light. Hershel's stomach clenched with alarm as her arm faded out of his grasp. The sparks darted down to join the stars in the floor. Hershel was left to wonder in horror whether Lunise had just been cruelly destroyed, or whether she was merely being punished for daring to question her place. The Island continued to howl, and Hershel grunted as his prison was suddenly whisked into the air with a jolt. He had been trying to push himself up on his hands. In the sudden upward movement, he was forced back down onto the web of vines that formed the floor of his cage.

It came to a sudden halt. Hershel panted as the cage swung in the open air, as if dangling in space.

The Heart of the Island he remembered, acid crawling up his throat. It's keeping me here…in its heart.

He waited for the howling to stop, for the cage to stop swinging. The vine around his neck twisted like a snake. It wasn't necessarily getting tighter, but it was unnerving to have it constantly slithering. Threatening.

He was hoping to gather strength, but the vines around him felt like they were absorbing his stamina through their icy bodies. Unknown amounts of time passed. The winds died down. The cage tremored and ceased its swinging.

Then Hershel's blinks became heavier…his breathing slowed. He hadn't wanted to fall asleep, but whether it was the Island or his own drained body that demanded it, he found he could disobey no longer.

Breakfast was out of the way; no one should come looking for her for a while. Pippa had told her father she was going to explore the fortress again today. She hoped he wouldn't know she was lying. She had explored the fortress every day…but every room was the same. Stone, boring, cold. She wanted to be outside, where she could run and run and never get to the edge of anything. And there were fewer people for her to crash into out there; she had already been scolded three times this morning.

Pippa darted into the room and shut the door carefully. In one hand she held the glass of water she had begged from the kitchen staff. She hadn't run through the halls this time; she had to be careful not to spill any of it.

She turned to look at her hiding place. It was just a little room by the arena that she had started hanging out in more and more; Baffa had to stay in the arena, and she spent a lot of time in there with him. But when she had discovered this small room, she had decided it would make a nice place to just sit and be alone. She liked to just be alone sometimes.

She walked over to a corner and tried to make herself comfortable; she didn't want to wake up all sore and stiff. After positioning herself, she boiled the water in the cup with her power. Her mom didn't like her to do that; she said she was afraid that she would burn herself by spilling the boiling water on herself. But Pippa needed it to be hot if she was going to make the tea.

Eventually the cup was steaming and she pulled out the crumpled fist-full of petals from her pocket. She looked at them in distress; the dried flowers had basically disintegrated from all her running around. She frowned and tried to put as many of the tiny petal shards in that she could. She took a sip and frowned. It wasn't as strong as it normally was, but…

Her thought drifted off as her body slumped. She dropped the cup on the ground, and the weak tea spilled out onto the dirty stone floor around her.

It was night again in the dream world…and there was a moon in the sky. A huge moon; Pippa gasped when she saw the size of it. And it was nearly full.

"Archtiphos?!" she called out, her heart pounding. "Archtiphos?!"

"I'm here, Pippa."

She turned to see him seeing him standing close by.

"Did you find my Uncle Hershel?" she blurted. The Ancient looked troubled and her eyes filled with tears as she continued. "Is he dead?"

"He is not in the departed realm. He has to be somewhere in the realm of the living."

"He's on some Island!"

Pippa kicked a rock in frustration.

"I keep hearing people talk about it, when they don't think I'm listening. They were trying to decide if they should look for him there and how they would get there but they won't go. They won't look for him! And every day…."

"What Island?"

Pippa looked up at Archtivus' stern tone.

"I dunno," she admitted. "Just that no one wants to go there. Dad says it's his own fault for going but if he doesn't come back…"

"The Isle of the Ancients?" the elderly Oni cut in again, and Pippa's eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah! That's what it's called. How did you know?"

Phos's expression was disturbed, and it made Pippa's insides feel even worse.

"Why are you looking like that?" she demanded. "Is it a bad place?"

Phos glanced back at her. He was wearing the expression that adults always put on when they were deciding not to tell her something.

"He has to come home!" Pippa said, stamping her foot. "We have to go look for him! Cuz if he doesn't come home, then the mean Ancient's gonna make me his apprentice and I don't like him!"

"What?"

It was Phos's turn to be confused as he stared at the small child, whose eyes were filling with tears.

"Which Ancient? What do you mean?"

"The short ugly one. He says I hafta be his apprentice cuz when he's the Master Healer there won't be any more rules…and the full moon is just a few days away!"

She pointed at the giant moon in the sky, and Phos glanced up at it. But before he could say anything, the world began melting around them. Pippa balked.

"The tea…it wasn't very strong!" she realized with a panic. She looked up to see Archtivus reaching for her, a concerned expression on his wrinkled face.

"Pippa…"

Whatever he was going to say was lost as Pippa jolted awake with a gasp. She blinked in the dim light of her hiding room, and then sagged with defeat. She was glad her Uncle Hershel wasn't dead. But Archtiphos hadn't helped her decide how to rescue him. Cuz he needed rescuing, right? Uncle Hershel wouldn't just leave…not when that mean Healer was gonna take her.

…Right?

She shuddered and realized that she was soaked; the tea must have spilled all over herself. She grimaced as she stood up, spying the cup where it was lying on the hard ground. Sure enough, there was a puddle of murky tea on the stone.

"Stupid tea!" she chastised, as if she could blame all the bad things on it. "Stupid…everything!"

She kicked the cup on the ground and sent it skidding across the stone. She immediately left her room, heading into the arena so she could find Baffa. To her surprise, Theodynn was already in there.

"Pippa!" he called with a smile. She blinked and then returned it shyly. It was hard to stay mad when Theo was around. He came over to her.

"I've been looking for you. I thought you might be in here with your sniffer."

"No. I was exploring," she said immediately, and he looked down at her clothes.

"Exploring where?" he asked with a grin. "Down a well? You're soaked!"

Her smile vanished at his joke and she shuddered. Wells were not something she wanted to explore.

"Why were you looking for me, Prince Theo?"

"I…had to invite you to something."

"Invite?" Her curiosity was immediately peaked, and she began bouncing on her heels. "Invite me where?"

"Things keep getting in the way of me celebrating my birthday," he explained carefully. "I was supposed to have a get together a little while ago, but with Hershel gone…"

He trailed off and Pippa's face transformed into a scowl.

"He needs to come home," she muttered, and Theo put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure he will," he assured, but Pippa could tell that he didn't really know. She wasn't sure why adults liked to pretend that they know everything. "But meanwhile, we're going to have a little get together in Ninjago…"

"Ninjago?"

Her heart immediately plummeted, and he rushed on.

"Sure. I have lots of friends there, Pip. And your parents said that I could invite you to come."

"You…want me to come to your birthday party in Ninjago?"

Theo winced a little, though she wasn't sure why.

"…Yes. I think your Mom's coming too…"

"Not Dad?"

"Um…we're still trying to decide. He gets travel sick."

Theo's tone was strained, but the six-year-old didn't really notice as she tried to picture what Theo was offering.

"What kind of party?"

"There'll be food, and some games."

"When?" she asked. "Can I bring Baffa?"

Theo was hesitating again.

"Sniffers don't really like transporting, Pip. We're leaving tonight."

He seemed to be waiting for her to respond, and seemed a little worried. Pippa wondered why he thought she would say no to a birthday party.

"Ok!" she finally said with a bright smile. "I'll come to your birthday party. Oh…cept I don't have a present…"

Theo was sagging with relief for some reason, and he flashed her a smile himself.

"That's ok, Pip. We just definitely want you there."

"We who?"

"Um…err…me and your parents. We got all the paperwork done yesterday and called it over, and I think it will all work out…"

She stared at him blankly, and he chuckled.

"I just mean that the realm's all ready for us to visit."

Pippa shrugged. "Ok."

And with that, she hugged him. He seemed surprised, but Pippa felt like she wanted a hug right then. And of all the people to hug, Theo sounded like a really good option. Pippa smiled as she felt him hug her back.

168

Cold chains around his neck…Syn crying. Trying to hush her as the guards pulled them to their feet. The other kids snapping at his sister, making him angry. But he couldn't do anything about it. Walking for hours…the hunger gnawing inside becoming the only thing he could think about. Breath in, breath out, keep up, hold Syn's hand. Tripping. Yelling. A man with a switch…

Hershel gasped as he woke, feeling sick from the memory. For a moment he laid in silence, trying to remember where he was. The cold weight on his neck made him think he was still in that line of slaves, heading to the Central Fortress. But after a few moments, he remembered the truth.

Anger filled him as he realized. He was chilled to the bone, but his energy had returned enough for him to push himself up. The cage around him shuddered and began to swing in the open air as he moved, and he tried his best to keep the swinging to a minimum. Hershel managed to make it off of his stomach and into a sitting position. He leaned his back up against one of the vine-formed walls as he exhaled slowly. He was a prisoner once again, a captive to some entity that he didn't understand. He wasn't sure anyone did.

His nightmare still clung to him, but it was hard to shake the dread from his dreams when his current reality wasn't any better. He wondered bitterly if the Island was giving him the nightmares; he wouldn't be surprised if it was. Reminding him of everything that people had done to him over the years. All the ways he had been trapped. As if he would believe that becoming one with the Island was so much better in comparison.

The world around him glowed dimly from the light of the vines, but it wasn't enough. He didn't feel like sitting in dull darkness, waiting for the end. He lit one hand with aura, to provide light…

The aura blazed, and he gasped as he let it go out. Heart pounding, he tried to reconcile what he had just seen. It…couldn't be. Could it?

Hershel's mouth was dry as he slowly let the aura reignite, bright tendrils licking at his fingers on one hand. His blood ran cold; rather than the familiar purple glow, his aura was shining bright white.

What did this mean? The room seemed to be spinning. Maybe it was spinning— the cage was suspending in air, after all. Hershel tried several more times to reset his aura, trying to convince himself that it was just another Island trick. But it felt different too…why did it feel so strange? Panic was starting to creep into his mind.

You were moments from completing your transformation

That's what Lunise had said. Completing…did that mean that it had started? Had he already somehow been transformed?

He was shaking now, and he extinguished his aura again as he braced himself up against the wall of the cage. White Aura…why would it be white? Was the Island somehow inside of him? The thought caused a wave of nausea to wash over him. He assessed himself mentally; could he remember his family? Their faces flashed through his mind, which did give him some relief. And he was still adamantly against becoming the Island's Guardian. Surely if the Island had control, it would be forcing him to change his mind.

Except Lunise had stressed how he had to choose that path. It didn't seem like the Island just wanted to take him over unwillingly. They wanted him to join them freely, which caused him to shudder. He didn't even want to think about how long that would take, but the small cynical voice in him couldn't help wonder if he would give in once his imprisonment stretched longer than the lifespans of those he loved.

He shook his head to clear it, which caused the vines to shift. The one around his throat was heavy and his neck had started to ache. Hershel grimaced as he reached up to try and remove it. He was able to get a good grip on it, but despite his pulling and twisting, he couldn't get the thing off. He wasn't entirely sure what its purpose was…unless it was a threat. He remembered how it had tightened when he had said things that displeased the Island. That would make it difficult to escape; at this point, he didn't think the Island would kill him. But if it cut off his ability to breathe, he would black-out and become helpless.

The time dragged on, and he was beginning to realize with a twist of dread what it was he was in for. Years, possibly even decades of imprisonment—sitting alone in a cage while anyone he had ever known or cared about grew older and passed on. And there was no way for him to count the time, to know how long it had been. Since hunger did not even seem to exist in this place, he wouldn't even have meals to help him realize how long a day was. He clenched his jaw as he realized how much time could have passed already. He had sensed Pippa during the Island's attempted transformation. But he didn't know how long he had been wiped out after that, lying on the floor. He didn't know how long he had been lying in this cage, nightmares from his past haunting him and trying to tear down his resolve.

The feeling creeping into him was far too familiar for his taste; despair. His eyes flashed white in anger; he had felt far too much despair the last few months before coming to this Island. Seeing how pale the light was, he exhaled shakily.

There's nothing you can do to change it now… he told himself grudgingly. He still wasn't sure why his inner power was suddenly manifesting a pearly glow, but he couldn't just sit here anymore. He had come to this island to earn his freedom, and he intended to do so.

With new resolve, Hershel summoned his power once again. White light illuminated the cage, shining through the cracks in the vines and into the heart of the Island. He paused to see if the Island would retaliate, but nothing seemed to happen. Hershel looked down at the power enveloping his hands, trying to understand it. It was still power…still part of him. But different as well…as if the innate power that coursed through him truly had been replaced.

It occurred to him suddenly why this looked so familiar. A memory came to mind…Phos's power had turned white after completing the Law of the Ancient's spell that allowed him to steal Theo's power and kill Evynn. Imgloss's power had turned white after manifesting the First Ancients' punishment on him. Hershel's heart pounded in his head. This was the aura that had created the Island, he realized. It was the power that Lunise seemed to be formed from.

The Power of the First Ancients.

Pippa heard her parents talking and paused outside the door. She knew that if she went in, they would stop. Adults were so boring that way…never thinking kids should know anything. So she loitered outside, listening carefully to the conversation that was coming through the door. The full moon was so close now…she wanted desperately to hear them say that Hershel was back. Or that they were at least going to go to that stupid Island and look for him. But what she overheard instead made her blood run cold.

"I'm not saying that she shouldn't go to Ninjago. I'm just saying that I'm going with her…"

"Tolan, please. Remember what Cole and Keyda said about the relations right now. All it would take is you losing your temper one time and…"

"I'm not sending my daughter to the place that locked up Theo! At least, not without me."

Pippa's heart pounded in her chest. Her mom's voice came again, softer.

"Alright…alright Tol. But you will have to be on your best behavior; we don't know how long we'll be there. You won't be able to do the things that you would do here. Theo said that if you went you'd no doubt get stir crazy, but…"

"And what's their plan with the rogue Ancient, anyways? It's fine for us to get Fluff out of here for a few months…but how are they going to stop Imgloss from wreaking havoc in the realm for the heck of it after we leave?"

"I don't know, Tol. Cole and Keyda called a meeting with the other leaders to discuss it…"

Her parents continued to talk while Pippa felt like she was falling down a well. A few months?! Her eyes flashed with anger. She wasn't going to go to Ninjago for a few months! She was staying here!

"The Freak talked to Fluff, yeah?"

"Theo talked to her, yes."

"She buy the whole birthday party thing?"

Pip flushed as she heard her mother sigh.

"He said she seemed pretty excited about it. It shouldn't be too hard to get her there."

"It'll just be hard to keep her there. She's gonna hate it, Syn."

"I know. But what choice do we have?"

The six-year-old felt like she was glued to the floor. She wasn't sure she knew exactly what was going on…but she had heard enough to know that Theo's birthday party was just a lie to get her to go to Ninjago. They weren't going to let her come back home. Her small fists clenched in anger. Who would take care of Baffa? Who would talk to Archtiphos about Hershel?

She threw the door open with a bang, and her parents looked over in surprise. Her father was sitting on a chair, her mother standing next to him. Pippa didn't even try and hide the betrayal in her face.

"I'm not going!" she yelled at them. "I'm not going to Ninjago!"

They both stared at her, and then they started talking at once.

"Pip, it's for your own good…"

"You will do as your told."

She shook her head, her aura whipping around her.

"NO! I WON'T GO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

They were coming for her now, and she backed up instinctively.

"And if you won't go find Uncle Hershel at that stupid Island…then I will!"

"Pippa!" her mother started, but she had already turned and bolted down the hall. She could hear their footsteps running after her and she sped up. Her father was fast—she knew that. Her heart pounded as she tried to think of what to do before they could catch her. She had to get out of the fortress… she had to run away. Because if she and her Mom and Dad and Theo went to Ninjago…who was left to go to the Island to find her Uncle Hershel? And she didn't want to be trapped in Ninjago. If they didn't stop that mean Healer now, then he wasn't ever going to be stopped. So it wouldn't even be months in Ninjago…it could be forever!

People yelled as she flew past them, her heart pounding in her chest. Aura winds whipped around her. She could hear her father getting closer, yelling her name. His legs were long and hers were short. She wasn't going to outrun him…but she needed to get out. NOW!

There was a flash of light, and those in the fortress hall cried out one last time. And then there was no sound at all.

What did this mean?

Had the Island meant to do this to him? Did it even know it had happened? Hershel sat lost in thought, his head hurting from trying to figure out what had happened. He had been filled with the Island's power…he had nearly reached the overdrive point with First Ancient aura. It seemed that even pulling out of it wasn't enough to leave him unaffected.

He had been staring at the power shimmering around his hands when he realized suddenly that the vine around his neck had loosened. It no longer slithered and shifted around, either. He glanced down to realize that the vine was being pulled towards the light…like a moth to a flame. Its movement was slow…it inched towards the power as if drawn to it. Hope bloomed suddenly in Hershel's chest. It was possible this was some kind of sick trap…a way for the Island to manipulate him. But the wheels in his mind were turning with sudden rigor. He was somehow filled with the same power as the Island itself…which meant that he might just stand a chance. He had wondered why the Island wasn't reacting to him using his power, but perhaps it was because it couldn't sense it. What was a small flare of the same power that made up the entire entity itself? He was a pinprick of light inside a roaring fire.

He reached up to pull the vine off his neck, his heart pounding with anticipation. Despite his realization, he was still half-expecting the Island to attack with vigor at any moment. The vine stiffened momentarily as his aura-bathed hands came into contact, and Hershel found himself holding his breath. But in the next moment the vine sagged in his grip, and he felt a rush of victory as he eased it from his neck completely. Soon he was breathing a sigh of relief as he looked down at the limp vine in his hands. Hershel remembered back to when the vines had first entrapped him.

This isn't real! He had yelled. He had been right, he realized. These vines were physical in a way…they could hurt him if they wanted to. But they were also just forms created from the Island's aura. And if that kind of aura could create them…surely it could destroy them.

The power in his hands increased, enveloping the vine completely. There was that strange feeling again…the more power he used, the more it made itself known. It wasn't like when the Island was trying to fill him with its will…it was just a different feeling than what he had come to recognize over the last few decades of having his powers unlocked. It felt like when someone starting parting their hair another way, or when he dressed in clothes that didn't fit quite right. This new power…it wasn't quite him. But then again, Hershel wasn't sure that he would ever be able regain who he was before stepping foot on this Island's shore.

The vine in his grip almost seemed to sigh. Then it suddenly vanished in a puff of pearly aura of its own. It didn't seem to disintegrate as much as it seemed to melt back into the basic power it was created from. He immediately extinguished his hands, waiting in breathless silence to see if the Island was aware that he had removed the vine. Still no reaction, and Hershel couldn't help but smile. Perhaps he wouldn't be stuck in this cage for centuries after all.

He turned his attention to the cage wall. It took a few minutes to decide on his course of action. After taking a deep breath, he summoned his new aura once again. Then he carefully began returning several of the vines in the wall to their aura state, dissolving enough of a hole to fit through. That part was easy enough—the vines didn't even seem to mind. Rather than fight or hiss, they merely sagged and disappeared without a single complaint.

But now came the tricky part. Hershel selected the longest vine he could find, praying it would be long enough. He had no idea how far down the floor was…if there even was a floor. The vine hissed when he first tugged at it, and he winced and reignited his hands to calm it. He would just have to be careful not to fill it with so much power that it reverted. He paused on the cusp of his leap, his mind begging him to make sure that he didn't have any other ideas. But he really didn't. He wasn't even sure how he would get off this Island even if he made it to the ground…but he wasn't spending one more second in a cage. One last breath to steady himself, and then he was falling out the gap.

The air rushed past him, causing his hair to fly in all directions. For a few moments, things were going smoothly, even if his stomach was in his throat from the thinly-controlled freefall.

But then he got to the end of the vine. He gasped as his make-shift escape rope went taut and then bounced up. The problem was that he didn't bounce up with it. Hershel cursed as the slippery vine ripped from his grasp, and then he was truly freefalling. He was wondering if he would just continue to fall forever when he finally hit the floor. It wasn't nearly as hard of a landing as it probably would have been in the real world, but it was enough to knock the breath out of him. The impact caused the stars in the floor beneath him to flash into being again, rippling out as if he had been a stone cast into a pond. For a few moments, Hershel just laid there in starry silence, catching his breath.

But then the Island came to life with a terrible roar, and Hershel's heart sank as he realized that perhaps the last part of his escape hadn't gone as unnoticed. Winds were rushing around the area now, and Hershel grit his teeth as he pushed himself to his feet. The Island knew he had escaped his cage, but he wasn't about to be forced into a new one.

A fierce wind blasted directly into his face, howling at him as it threw his hair back. He glared into the darkness of the Island with glowing white eyes.

"I can't understand you!" he finally snapped, aura beginning to lick around his hands. "If you want to talk to me…you have to use Lunise."

The howling continued, and he had to wonder if the Island just couldn't understand him, or if the ghostly woman truly had been destroyed. But after a few more moments, the stars in the floor shifted and returned up into the air, where they molded together to form Lunises' form once more. Hershel felt a rush of relief. He had no love for the manipulative ghost woman…but part of him couldn't help but think that she was more slave than tormentor in this situation.

"Lunise," he tried, and she fixed him with a cold, almost apathetic expression. "Please; you know that I can't do this. What would you have…"

Personal Memories are unfit for Guardians

Her tone was more apathetic than it had ever sounded as well…it sent a chill up Hershel's back. She began coming closer, still speaking.

You cannot escape the Island; there exists no exit to this place. But you seem to have had enough time to regain your strength. Now, your transformation will be completed.

Hershel hadn't wanted to have to try and fight his way out, but as the winds continued to howl, and Lunise continued to approach, it didn't look like he had any other choice. His hands lit with the pale aura, and Lunise lifted one hand, her expression slack as the Island spoke through her.

You belong to the Island…and it is time to accept your destiny.

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