The first thing Swiftshadow was aware of was her heartbeat. It was strong and steady inside her chest. Pumping the blood and energon through her veins and arteries. The rhythm of her lungs played in a nice duet with it. She was alive at least.
She cracked her eyes open. A tree stood before her. She recognized this tree. It was the tree from the town square. Except it was green and full of life. Smooth healthy bark covered its trunk and emerald green leave coated the branches.
Swiftshadow looked around. She was in a grassy clearing free of any houses or roads. Scrubland lay in the hazy distance. In fact everything had a distinct hazy quality to it, like a slight mist over a lens. she also noticed that she couldn't pick up any scents. Where ever she was it lacked any form of orders or smells.
The only sound other than her own heartbeat was sobbing. She followed it to the other side of the tree. A small girl had her face in her knees. Tears soaked her legs as she wept and bawled.
"Are you okay?" Swiftshadow sat next to the girl. The girl broke from her weeping. He brown eyes locked onto swiftshadow's. Terror filled them as she scrambled back.
"P-Please d-don't eat me," She stammered out.
"Eat you?" Swiftshadow realized that she was in dragon form. Scary looking teeth and claws gleamed in the hazy light.
She also recognized the girl. She was the same girl who was in command of the cat beasts. But she like the tree seemed more lively than before. Her flesh was a pale pinkish colour and her hair was a dark brunette. She also seemed far less menacing. Before she was a terrifying ghostly entity, now she looks more like a scared and lost little girl.
"I'm not going to eat you. Besides you'd probably taste terrible. But I do look a bit scary in this form, don't I?" Swiftshadow let her body shift over to its human shape.
The girl relaxed a bit. "W-who a-are you?"
"You can call me Swiftshadow. What is your name?"
"Abigale, but everyone calls me Abby,"
"can you tell me whats wrong?" Swiftshadow cautiously sat next to Abby.
"Everything! It's not fair! All we wanted was to be together!" The girls temper exploded around them. The world around them quaked and trembled. It flickered between itself and a darker twisted version.
"Easy there," Swiftshadow said softly, "Maybe if you tell me what happened, I can help,"
Abby whipped a tear away from her eye as she settled down. The strange nether world stabilized. "No I don't think you can,"
Swiftshadow sighed. "Even if I cant fix everything, it might make you feel better,"
Abby regarded her for a solemn moment. She stood up and raised a hand. The world shimmered and changed. A few building and houses sprouted from the earth and the sky darkened to night. It was Dulsbury. But it was not the Dulsbury of the present. It was the Dulsbury from two hundred years ago.
Swiftshadow followed Abby down the street. They turned a corner to see two figures standing in the shadows. Swiftshadow recognized on of them as Abby. The was a girl about Abby's age with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
Abby looked lovingly at the girl. It suddenly clicked inside Swiftshadow's mind that this was Alex. The fathers disapproval suddenly made a lot more sense.
Abby then snapped her fingers. It was if some had pressed play on a paused a movie.
"We must hurry," Said past Abby, "We must stop Robert before he kills your father."
"You're sure that he might try to kill my father," Said Alex, "I know he has been acting out of sorts since he got the necklace."
"I don't know what he's capable of anymore,"
A gunshot echoed in the distance, followed by a pained roar then silence.
"We're too late," Said the past Abby.
The two girls ran to source. Swiftshadow and the present Abby followed along. A large dark beast staggered to the tree. Blood stained its nearly black pelt.
"Robert!" Abby shrieked as she raced for him. The beast gave a surprised look as it slumped on the tree. Its body shifted and changed into a human form. Abby grabbed at his chest. "please don't die,"
The dark haired boy met her eyes, "S-s-sorry. I j-just w-wanted you t-to be happy," The light faded from his eyes. Abby broke into tears and sobbed into his still chest.
Sympathy stabbed at Swiftshadow's heart. She remembered the pain from Moon's death. She could only imagine Abby's pain.
"Father! No!" Alex shout. A large middle aged man had appeared from the shadows. In his hands a rifle. It was pointed right at Abby. A raven cawed somewhere overhead.
"Stand back Alex," He growled, "I will not let this witch poison you any further,"
Alex threw herself at the man. she tried to wrestle the gun out of his hands. A loud crack rang in the still air. Alex fell to the ground motionless. Abby shrieked in horror.
"Alexandra!" Yelled the man. He clutched his daughters lifeless body. "god, please…"
"You!" Abigail stood with fury in her eyes. Her brothers blood stained her dress. She looped a necklace around her neck. The panther diamond gleamed gold in the moonlight. Golden light swirled and gathered around her fingers. With a righteous fury launched it at the grieving man.
Everything seemed to slow. The light was moments away from striking the man when a second silvery light intervened. It clashed with the golden light. The golden energy rebounded back at Abigale. in the blink of an eye Abigail was gone. The tree behind her had taken a strange glow. Magical energy rippled through its bark and branches. It slowly faded into darkness.
The man stared in confusion. Silence filled the air.
"That was a close one wasn't it?" A voice broke through. From the shadows a figure emerged. A tall dark skinned man in a priests garb approached.
"W-who are you?" Said the man.
"Just a travelling man of the cloth," Was his only answer.
"Save her," The man pleaded.
"Sorry, but she is among the dead now. Along with the siblings. Tragedy by your hands,"
Tears seeped from the mans eyes, "Please I'll do anything!"
"Anything?" said the stranger, "Keep that tree standing for as long as you draw breath. Or else the curse that was meant to be yours alone shall befall not yourself but also everyone around you,"
The man caressed his daughters face. "okay,"
The scene then dissipated. Returning to its prior state. Swiftshadow and Abby now stood alone by the tree. Sympathy stabbed at Swiftshadow's heart.
"See, you cant fix this," Said the girl, "No one can,"
"That doesn't mean I cant try to help,"
"You cant help me. I'm stuck here forever,"
Set the lost soul free. That line etched itself into Swiftshadow's memory. "What if I found a way to free you,"
"You have to destroy that tree to do that. Which is Impossible by the way. I've tried," She said.
"Have you tried burning it?"
"With what? I cant exactly make fire,"
"Well it just so happens that you talking to a fire breathing dragon," Swiftshadow changed forms. Abby regarded her sceptically. The dragon lined up a shot. She pulled up the flames from her chest. Yellow orange fire spilled forth and licked the bark. The tree did not burn.
"Told you it wouldn't work," Abby slumped down.
"There has to be a way," Said the dragon. She paced around the tree. What if she used a different kind of fire? She remembered the silver fire. Could she make it again? She tried to recall the the feeling it gave her. That gentle warmth and the power it held. She could feel it vibrate within her very soul. It was if her very spirit was on fire. She drew it up and let it flow out from her jaws. The flames latched themselves onto the tree. They consumed the wood and turned it into nothingness.
"you did it," Abby gasped in surprised. She was fading as the flames consumed the tree. "I'm free! Thank you," She hugged the dragon in gratitude. "I'm going to be with Alex and Robert again,"
The tree was nearly gone. As was Abby. The world had also almost faded into nothing.
"You welcome. Before you go is there anything else that you need done?"
"Yes. If you find that thrice damned pendent, make sure no one ever uses its power ever again,"
"I promise," Said Swiftshadow. then everything disappeared.
It was dawn when Martin woke up. The rising sun casted a pinkish glow in the clear sky. Songbirds chirped and sang. He pushed himself from the dusty ground. Dusting himself off her looked around. Dozens of people lay sprawled on the ground. He soon found who he was looking for.
"Diana," He charged to her side. She groaned as she came into awareness.
"Martin? whats going on?"
"I think we can say mission accomplished." He helped her to her feet.
"How?" She asked.
How indeed. The last thing he remembered was fighting beside Swiftshadow then being struck by a curse blast. The could only mean Swiftshadow somehow did it. Speaking of which where was she? He quickly found java and got him to his feet. The townsfolk were staring to stir as well. He suddenly realized another thing. His U-Watch was missing. He franticly searched for it.
He suddenly spotted Swiftshadow laying unconscious in a tangle of wing and talons. Wilson was trying to wake her. He also had the U-Watch and the necklace looped around his tail. The dragon groaned into awareness. Her blue eyes met with Wilsons.
"I guess it worked," She said as she rose to a sitting position. She then shifted into human form.
"So is anyone going to explain anything?" Said Diana.
"Java confused,"
"Ask Martin. I've told him and I'm too tired to explain right now."She said tiredly. She then spotted Wilson and the pendent on his tail, "Could you hand me that necklace?"
"Oh yes," Said Wilson as he gave up the pendent. He then handed Martin the U-Watch, "I think this belongs to you,"
Martin fastened the device back onto his wrist.
"So now what?" Said Wilson.
"we've got a few minutes before M.O.M. arrives with the cleanup crew. I suppose we could trade stories until then," Suggested Martin.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK!" A nasally voice screeched. A middle aged man with a gash on his shoulder and a broken hand was on his knees looking at the wreck. Swiftshadow gave small laugh.
"What so funny?" Said Java.
"Oh nothing," She said smirking. She then looked at the pendant in her hand, "Now what to do with you?"
"We can take it," Said Martin, "The Center will make sure that it's kept safe and secure,"
"Can I be sure that it's power wont be used?"
"Don't worry about it. The Center houses many such dangerous artifacts. We make sure that they can do no harm."
She eyed Him wearily before handing him the necklace.
"What about you?" Asked Martin, "Whats your plan now?"
"Probably go where ever the wind takes me," She answered.
"Got any room for a friend," Said Wilson.
"You want to go with me?" She said surprised, "It's going to be dangerous,"
"All the more reason to have a friend,"
"Good work team," A dark haired woman in white held the pendant in her fingers, "We'll be locking this inside our archives for safe keeping,"
"No problem M.O.M." Said Martin. Diana and Java stood by his side. Swiftshadow and Wilson had long since left for parts unknown.
M.O.M. placed the gem into a box. "Now lets all go home,"
A shimmering blue portal opened.
Swiftshadow sailed through clear skies. She let let the wind choose her direction. A pair of sickle claws hooked themselves into her scales.
"You doing alright back there?" She said.
"Is flying supposed to be this terrifying?" Said Wilson as he hunkered in between her wings.
"Oh relax, I'm not going to drop my first passenger," She said.
"Where are we going any way?"
"To find my brother,"
Julien Hart watched the dry scrubland pass by through the limousine window. A sign that read 'Welcome to Dulsbury' came into view. He adjusted his white tie. A green diamond serpent lay coiled on his suits collar. Finally, He was starting to get a bit impatient from the long journey.
Who knew that the piece he needed was right at his uncles former residence. The limo passed by the town square. A tow truck was busy disentangling a mangled pick-up from a tree. He crinkled his nose. He didn't want to leave the limo and allow the dust to besmirch his pristine white suit.
"The talisman is no longer here," a dark slithery voice echoed inside his head.
"So I came all this way to no-wheres-ville for absolutely nothing," He sneered. People stopped to to gawk at the limo. He paid them no heed. They were peasants to him after all.
"It was moved recently,"
"Then where is it? It cant be to far," Julien sneered impatiently.
"It has been taken far away and now heavily guarded,"
"So this endeavour was pointless,"
"Patience. There are other talismans to retrieve. When we have the power we shall take it back,"
Julien slumped back into the seat. "So wheres the closest one?"
"Not far. In a place called Dakota city,"
To be continued…