Under the Sea
Karma POV:
Previously:
"Let's go then," Blake said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Ok," Karma replied, following Blake.
Present:
Karma and Blake walked with the ectoplasmic people, weighing their options if they needed to escape. 'I don't think I have done anything that deserves reprimanding' Karma thought to himself, 'but the last king I faced imprisoned Aubree for not paying enough taxes'. All he could hope is that this king was different. The citizens seemed happy, so it was implying that the king was nice. But why were they being called?
The duo waited at the huge closed doors and watched as the leader of the group pressed his hand onto the door. The outlines of the door glowed green, before slowly opening. Everyone walked down the corridors, into another room. This place seemed to be the final destination, as there were multiple big thrones.
Karma looked around. There was no one there to inhabit these thrones, so why were they here. His question was soon answered, as the gooey substance started to secrete from the thrones. The gooeyness started to build up, and form into people. On the biggest throne was a large ectoplasmic man that had quite a belly. He had a big crown on, so Karma assumed he was the king. The king had an emotionless mask on his face, so he couldn't tell what he was thinking. On the chair left to him was a lady, also wearing a crown. She looked a little bit more drippy. 'The queen' Karma realized to himself.
To the right of the king, there were three smaller, identical-looking thrones. Three different girls appeared on them. They all looked prim and proper, but each looked unique. The first girl was blue-ish green and had long hair that rested on her shoulder. He had an indifferent look on her face and seemed to be staring off into space. The second one had an afro of sorts and was a yellowish-green. She was jumping up and down on her seat and looked the most hyper out of the three. She was eyeing Karma, and he had no idea why. The last girl was a blue-ish purple, and looked shy, avoiding eye contact with everybody. She had her hair in a moderate height, and it covered one of her eyes.
Karma assumed those to be the daughters of the king. 'Princesses huh' thought Karma. He looked around some more and saw an assortment of different people, all made of ectoplasm. Karma thought it would be ectoplasm, and was a little jealous. He looked back at the king, awaiting whatever he felt the need to say.
The king coughed to signify that he was about to speak, and all eyes were on him. "What are your names?" he boomed. Karma could feel the strength in his voice.
"Karma," he told the king, letting a little power into his voice to show that he was not one to be trifled with.
"Blake," Blake said, still looking around the room.
The king nodded.
"I am King Blosphomes, do you know why you are here?" Blosphomes asked. Karma and Blake shook their heads. Blosphomes looked at them fiercely. Kamra cringed back. The man was terrifying.
The king looked at them for a little longer, before bursting into laughs. His laughter rang in the throne room, and soon everyone followed, excluding the two visitors. Karma and Blake looked at each other with confused expressions.
The king stopped laughing, whipping a tear from his eye.
"Sorry for scaring you, it's just a joke we love to pull. You aren't in trouble," Blosphomes told them. "You were actually called here so I could give you my thanks". Karma breathed a sigh of relief.
"My daughter Indigo," he said pointing at his blue-ish purple daughter, the shy one, "was saved by you two during the attack by the Pure". Karma recalled saving someone like that. 'The Pure huh' thought Karma. It seemed that the attack wasn't a rare occurrence
"As thanks for saving my daughter, I would like to reward you. If I deem it worthy, I shall grant you it," Blosphomes said. Karma smiled. Things were looking up.
"If it is alright with you, I would like to know the location of the Purity sword," Karma told him. The hall gasped. The king chuckled.
"Such strange people we have here, I say I could give you riches but instead you want to go through the danger of finding your own," the king said. Blake's nose flared.
"What is the use of treasure if you didn't get it your own," he said like it was utter blasphemy. The king was sent in a laughing fit once again.
"I like you two," the king said, "would you like to marry one of my daughters". The laughing died down, and the room froze, all eyes were on Karma and Blake. Jealousy, confusion, surprise were on everyone's faces. Even the princesses looked shocked, and Indigo looked down, while the other two turned to look from their dad, then to Karma, completely ignoring Blake.
Karma held out his hand.
"No thank you," he said quickly. If the room could get any quieter, it could. The princesses looked at Karma with utter shock. Even Blake was looking at him for his quick response. The king looked at Karma, before busting out laughing.
"You really are a strange one," the king said. Karma tilted his head in confusion.
"Huh?" he asked no one in particular. Blake just facepalmed.
"As thank you for saving my daughter, I shall reveal the location of the sword, but first there are trails you must face," Blosphomes said. Karma looked curiously. "The sword of purity has been causing our kingdom troubles for generations. It's purity, without a master, has gone to the extreme, and sends the monsters you witnessed today to wipe out us… "impurities"," Blosphomes said. "The location of the sword is a well-guarded secret to limit casualties, but if you best the trial I give you, I shall deem you worthy to try to retrieve the sword".
Karma nodded. "I shall take your trial," Karma said.
"I shall as well," Blake said along with him. Karma smiled at Blake, who returned it.
"Very well, the date of the trial shall be determined, and our guests shall stay in our guest rooms for the time being. If you need anything just ask, and weapons shall be supplied for you if needed. That is all, the meeting adjourned," the king said.
Karma and Blake followed a knight to their quest rooms, where they closed the door and jumped onto their beds.
"Finally I can relax, that whole meeting stressed me out," Blake said.
"Yes, we can finally relax," Karma confirmed. There was silence for a moment.
"Thanks for helping out during the attack, and joining me in the trials," Karma said. Blake nodded.
"Of course, I got a feeling you're a good guy, even with all your secrets," Blake said jokingly. Karma blushed.
"See you in the morning," Karma said.
"See ya," Blake confirmed.
In the morning:
Indigo POV:
Indigo and her two sisters woke up early that morning, at her sister's, Analele's, request. Analele was the oldest of the three princesses. She was a blue-ish green color, with long hair, and she was absolutely livid.
"Why did that hero boy reject the offer so quickly," her sister ranted. Analele was usually calm and collected, and certainly didn't stress about boys, but something about how Karma didn't even consider it an option made Analele mad.
"I ought to give that hero a piece of my mind-," Analele was cut off by the second oldest sister, Crystal.
"I think that is hot," she said. Indigo and her sister turned to look at Crystal, who looked at them. "What? We get guys throwing themselves at our feet 24/7. The fact that he rejected the offer so easily interests me," Crystal explained.
Indigo knew that her father wouldn't actually marry them off. He used that as a test for anyone that was to stay at the castle, to make sure that his daughters were safe. Did Karma know it was a ploy?
"How about we go see what they are doing now?" Indigo suggested. Analele agreed with a fire in her eyes, and Crystal nodded. The three princesses were walking past the training area when they heard voices.
Blake POV:
Karma was weighing the swords he had been presented. After a hearty breakfast, and a quick jog, they were going to start training, awaiting the deadline announcement at the end of the day. Blake was relaxing while Karma picked out a sword.
"Pick one already!" Blake screamed at Karma. He ignored it. Finally, as Karma picked up another sword he whispered.
"Perfect," Karma said.
"Finally," Blake said, starting to get up. Both guys walked toward each other, ignorant to the three princesses watching them intently.
"So, what are we doing, if we are going to work together we should share our abilities," Blake said. Karma nodded in agreement. "I can-" Karma held up his hand for Blake to stop.
"How about we fight first, and then share our abilities," Karma suggested. Blake thought for a moment before speaking.
"Sounds good to me," Blake said. Both guys took a step back.
Karma removed his shirt, throwing it into the corner of the room. The three princesses in hiding started to blush furiously, Indigo and Analele covering their eyes, while Crystal just started more intently.
"Why are you removing your shirt?" Blake asked. Karma shrugged.
"It's just easier. I'm not stuck in a sweaty shirt, and I'm able to move easier. You're the only one in here and I didn't think you would mind," Karma told him. Blake decided not to comment on any of the scars that riddled Karma's body. If he wanted to reveal that, he would've.
Karma pulled out the sword he would be using.
"You ready?" Karma asked, getting into position.
"Whenever you are," Blake responded, getting into his own position.
Karma POV:
The two eyed each other. Karma held out his left hand and pointed a finger gun at Blake. Unlike Solomon, Blake was precautious, and instantly summoned his string of fate. Water started to form on Karma's fingertip before he realized the steam bullet. Blake made a shield out of his string just in time, and the explosion did not injure him, though it pushed him back.
"Steam bullet," Karma tells him. Blake smirked.
"You are just full of surprises huh?" he asked. Karma just returns the smile. A second later and they charge at each other. Blake shoots three strings to pierce Karma, which he dodges, cutting the third-string before it impaled him. He lept into the air and used his moisture abilities to leap in the air, propelling himself off of self-made walls. He leaps around trying to confuse Blake, while he continually shoots strings at him.
Karma boosts himself to Blake, holding his sword in a ready position. Karma swipes at the back of Blake, only for his attack to be blocked by Blake turning around, and weaving his strings together to make a weapon. The two traded blows for a bit, swords colliding with each other, and them not finding any opportunities to strike their opponent. Karma was the better swordsman, but Blake's ability to make the sword anywhere made him more difficult to defeat. Their swords collide once again and Karma takes some steps back, holding his sword in a ready position.
This time, Blake charges at Karma, sticking his strings in the ground to propel himself upward. He yanks the strings out of the ground, before raising them, forming them all together to make one big ax. He brought the ax down on Karma, who narrowly escaped his end, by vapor traveling to Blake's behind, and shooting another steam bullet.
Blake didn't have time to react, and on impact was launched across the room, smashing into the wall. Blake got up and dusted himself off. His red eyes were glowing, and he looked excited. He looked to have some blood in his mouth. He raised his hand to Karma.
"Red string of fate, put his old enemies against him," Blake chanted, and the string started to create entities of string. There were multiple figures all made of string, with one glowing red eyes. Blake to a deep breath, and blew a red mist onto the entities. As the mist cleared, Karma's eyes widened. In place of the woven creatures, stood Kelli and Tammi the empousai, three hellhounds, and his good buddy the Minotaur.
'Great' Karma thought. The hellhounds lunged at him. They quickly dodged the first one, slicing it in the neck while it flew past him. The creature dissolved into a string. The second one rolled him to the ground, and Karma pushed it up into the air, making it collide with the third hellhound that had thrown itself at Karma. He fired a steam bullet at the two beasts, destroying them. Karma got up quickly to see the empousai and Minotaur charging at him, he ran towards Tammi, and sliced her in the legs, making her fall to the ground and well in pain. Kammi sliced at him, but he vapor traveled to over her head and impaled her with his sword.
The Minotaur slammed down his battle-ax, but Karma flipped away, letting Tammi gets chopped instead. Karma put both hands on his sword and concentrated. He opened his eyes and ran at the Minotaur. The Minotaur let out a roar Karma had heard too many times and charged at him. Karma swung his sword, and it met the Minotaur's ax, both trying to overpower the other. Karma increased his force and broke the aze. The Minotaur stumbled back, and before he could do anything, Karma sliced his head off.
Karma wiped the sweat off his forehead. He soon remembered that he was facing Blake, and turned around to see none other than the vampire himself, holding up a hand covered in the string to resemble a claw. Karma very quickly vapor traveled away. The two started each other down.
'I can't use vapor travel anymore if I want to reserve my energy' Karma thought to himself. Karma lifted his sword to the air. A mini hurricane started to form above him.
"Let's go," Karma said to Blake. He nodded eagerly, and covered himself in the string, before blowing the red mist all over him. When it disappears, a werewolf-like figure is shown. Karma smiles. Both of them charged at each other, and just when they were about to make an impact, someone spoke.
"Ahem," a deep voice said. Karma and Blake stopped, converting into their normal forms. "I see you made quite the mess of my training room," the voice, now recognized as King Blosphomes said. Karma and Blake looked around to see the damage they had caused.
"Whoops," said Karma, rubbing the back of his neck. The king just laughed and waved a hand.
"The cleaning crew can fix it later, you two skipped lunch, it is dinner time," the king said. Blake had a look of realization.
"The date has been set?" Blake asked curiously. The king nodded.
"If you would so humbly join us," the king said, "I shall find the princesses". Everyone left the training room, not noticing the three different colors of ectoplasm, starting to spill from under the weapon cart.
Analele POV:
Analele and the other 2 princesses slipped from their hiding place, and reformed.
"We almost got caught," said Indigo paranoid.
"It's fine," Analele said, shrugging her shoulders, "we didn't get caught".
"I'm happy we did stay though. Not only is Karma hot, brave, heroic, and not desperate, but he's also super powerful. And when he took off his shirt…" Crystal stopped talking and started to drool. Analele shook her head. She couldn't deny that Karma was attractive, but she wasn't going to drool over him like Crystal.
"We should get to the dining hall," Analele reminded her sisters. They both nodded and followed her to their destination.
The sisters arrived in the dining hall to see their father and Karma talking, discussing something, and laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. Blake stood by the side, just amusingly watching the two. As the king recovered from whatever he was laughing about, he stood up and banged his cup with his spoon. All the guests looked over at the king.
"Hello, one and all and thank you for joining this dinner. We have come here to announce the trial these two brave men will face proving they can rid out troubles with the Pure," the king announced. Everyone cheered. "We have set the date to a month later, and will have everything set up by then, folks, you can continue your dinners". The dinner continued as normal, and Analele could not wait to see the trials. If he completed them, he might finally rid them of their problems with the Pure, and get a cool sword for himself, a win-win situation. As the guests started to leave, Crystal grabbed Indigo and Analele and dragged them to where Blake and Karma were leaving.
"What are you doi-," Indigo was cut off by Crystal putting her hand in front of her face.
"Listen," she says. The three stay quiet.
"By the way Karma," Blake starts, "why did you reject the offers of marriage so quickly?"
"Hmm?" Karma said, before coming to a realization. "Oh that, well I wouldn't know if the girls wanted to do it anyway, so regardless of my opinion, that would have to be an immediate no," Karma told him. Crystal swooned at that.
"Interesting," Analele said to herself. He really was a good guy. 'I can't wait to see how the future unfolds' Analele thought to herself.
(Hello readers. We almost have 2k views, and I would like to thank everyone who has read my story, and I hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to comment on what you think, and I will try to reply to everybody, but keep in mind that sometimes comments load in a little slow for me. Stay tuned for chapter 9 of A New Light, Trials and Tribulation.)