Hi guys, sorry for so long delay. I was kinda distracted and then my software failed me.
Anyway, now the chapter is done so ENJOY! Oh and before we get there… it was her idea (you'll get it).
I felt so awful. Almost as if a truck ran over me. My whole body hurt, I was really weak and even breathing was hard. As my senses were coming back to me, I started realizing my surroundings. First I felt warmth. It was coming from before me. Then there were sounds. That typical cracking nobody could mistake. It was fire. Fire was right in front of me.
I slowly opened my eyes. Even opening them was a hard task, but I had enough strength to stay awake. There was a campfire. I was sitting on ground, I think I was leaning against some rock, since I felt something hard and totally not smooth.
"I see you're finally awake." That voice. I know that voice. My sight narrowed to right. There he was. Fat boy with brown hair and blue eyes. He had dark coat with some symbol on his back. It seemed like a crest. Red background with white twin-tailed lion wearing a golden crown "About time."
"Hi Red." I managed to say. I felt a smile spread over my face "Didn't you say… I won't see you again?"
"Yeah, well… you needed a hand. And somebody wanted to meet you."
His sight aimed to my left. With quite some effort, I turned my head there. To my surprise, there was a girl. She had shoulder-length brown hair and was wearing similar coat to Red's. Only difference was that hers was smaller and the crest on her back was different. Instead of a lion, there was dark red cross with what seemed like a shield in the middle. Inside it were 5 blue shields, each baring 5 white spots. She was blushing, like… really blushing.
"Hi." That was all that came out of her mouth.
"Hi, I'm Mira. I would shake your hand, but… as you can see I'm a little unwell." I tried to joke, but I must say it sounded better in my mind.
"Oh no, don't worry." She raised her hands in defense "You can call me Skylar. I just want to say I am so happy and so honored to finally see you. I am your greatest fan. I totally love your adventures." I couldn't do anything else but stare. That just ran out of her so quickly I didn't even catch all of it. She must've noticed I was confused and slowed down. At least a little "Oh sorry. You see, I am cowriter of this story. I am Red's girlfriend."
My immediate reaction; I very quickly looked at Red and asked "How did you pull THAT off?"
"No idea." He sounded so casual "I never pass a day without asking myself that. But as a matter of fact, she found me."
"Hey!" Skylar snapped at him and crossed her arms "You know I don't like when you talk like that."
"Sure, love." Red said secretly rolling his eyes before he turned back to me "Mira, we cannot stay for long, nor can we come here too often, so listen closely." He leaned in and looked deep into my eyes. I've never seen him so serious. Well… considering I've met him only twice… "Go where sun shines. Follow it as it travels across the skies. Do not stop, do not falter and you will come to her. You will find her. Now, wake up."
That single moment my eyes suddenly snapped open and my muscles moved without my intentions. Before I realized it, I was sitting on ground, breathing very quickly and heavily. I was in complete shock. Then I started realizing my surroundings again. I was back where those fungi attacked me. There was no trace of Red nor Skylar. I knew there was supposed to be a campfire, but there was simply nothing.
"A dream?" I caught myself touching my face, as my brain was running through thousands of theories and questions. Was I just dreaming? Was I only imagining that short conversation?
Then I noticed my own shadow before me. 'Follow the sun.' he said. I quickly turned around to see it. Bright red ball of light was slowly ascending above these woods. Following it won't be easy, considering Lymphea forests are about as thick as ones covering Amazonia.
I stood up and immediately noticed I had my strength back. I could move, run, climb, maybe even fight. Well… I should better be quiet. No saying when I might turn weak again. So I headed out. Step by step, I was following sun. I don't know how long I've been walking, but surely it's been hours.
Sun was traveling across the sky. I didn't slow down, I didn't falter. My feet were on fire, my legs were about to give out. Thought that it was all just an illusion, that it was just my brain trying to find a reason to look for Mirkaria, was slowly filling my mind. But I always managed to find strength to continue.
Sun was turning red again. I was walking all day, without any rest or even stopping for a second. I wasn't even watching where sun was. All my will was concentrated on putting one feet before the other.
"Took your time, didn't you?" Suddenly, a woman voice made me stop. I looked up and saw her. Standing in the light of setting sun, her wyvern features could be very easily distinguished. Wings on arms, tail, dorsal wing. I could see it all.
"Mir…Mirkaria."
She nodded "You must be Mira." I nodded as well "Come, I'm sure you have much to discuss."
She turned on her heel and walked away. I was following her as fast as I could. I led me to her little house. Wooden shack built half way in cliff face. It was really simply made. Wooden logs tied together with vines from local trees. At least that is what I thought. On closer look, I saw those logs weren't cut and those vines were leading into the ground. This house literally grew here.
I followed Mirkaria inside. Trying to describe what was there would be ultimately pointless. My jaw just stayed open. Behind that poorly looking entrance… was a cave. Cave so perfectly decorated and shaped so gallantly I have no words for it. Paintings, carvings all over walls. Waterfall on far side of cave. Tiny stream of steaming water was rushing from there across this chamber into pond and then disappeared in small hole next to it. It was like something out of dream.
"Wow." was all I could say.
"Impressive, huh?" Mirkaria yelled spreading her arms. That was when I finally got clear view on her. Considering her age… she looked really well. In fact… she didn't age at all! She looked like 20… 30 at best. This woman was supposed to be about 100 years old for God's sake. Her knee long hair were glimmering in sunlight, shining into the cave through small holes in the ceiling. She was like an exact copy of me, only a little older. She must've noticed I was staring at her and giggled "I will explain everything. Have a seat. I've got tea prepared for you."
She gestured at a carved bench and table before rushing away. I sat there and hell was I glad to finally rest. Guess that really was Red and Skylar back then. Red once said that he is breaking laws by talking to me like that. I wander what I'd do if he was obeying those rules.
"Here it is." She suddenly appeared form behind corner with two cups of tea and placed one before me while sitting at the other side of stone table "So, I hope tracking me wasn't too hard."
"You… wanted me to find you?" I asked all surprised. Well… to be honest, that wasn't the best question, but I had so many of them I didn't know which one to pick first.
"Well of course." She exclaimed smiling really warmly. She didn't seem like an evil traitor at all "I was really excited to meet one of my own kind. Especially since others are such big snobs." With that she took a sip from her tea "I guess you have a lot of question. Come on, go ahead."
I was just babbling. I had no idea what to ask "Well… how come you're so young?" Most obvious question.
"I guess you really don't know anything about wyverns, do you?" she just kept on giggling and chuckling "We live many centuries. I'm barely adult. I see you're confused, let me explain. You and I are both wyverns. Our lifespan is hundreds of years. Even you will live that long."
"But… how?"
"Oh no…" she put lifted a finger before my face "You asked a question, now it's my turn. Why were you looking for me?"
"Well…" I was still in complete shock. THIS… was supposed to be most hated woman of Magical Dimension? She would totally fit into Winx. But despite this shock, I managed to answer "Mi… Mir'suria appeared to me and told me to find others. She said I need to find you to find them."
Her face suddenly got serious "Mir'suria, huh? Tell me, what do you think of her?"
"Well… she was a princess of ancient Dragon Dominion. Asheron killed her and Nar'asara, her father, trapped her should in his blood, ensuring she would be reborn over and over."
"So that's what they told you." She seemed really angry "Well I think I'm not the one to tell you. She'll be much better at this. Let me just tell you that it's not whole truth. Nar'asara did something terrible, even though meaning well."
"What are you talking about?" I was now really scared.
"You will learn soon." She sounded almost evil. Where did it come from? "Once you assemble others, you will learn everything. About wyverns, about Nar'asara, about yourself."
"But…" Her look. It was so deadly. There is something serious I do not know. Something nobody else knows "So… where do I find others?"
"Stay close to girls that call themselves 'Winx'. They will lead you to the first one."
Then there was silence. Beside the water rushing in the stream, there was nothing. But I still had questions "Tell me please. Why did you betray everyone?"
Her expression went from angry… to sad "I never betrayed anyone… but my daughter." I tilted my head, trying to make my curiosity known "I was once a proud queen of Domino. Mirkaria, the Blue Wyvern, protector of Magical Dimension. I had two children, son Arenor and daughter Bel."
"King and princess." I translated those names from Dragon language.
"Yes." She continued "Bel… she was a very powerful and talented fairy. She knew all kinds of magic arts. I was so proud of her… that I didn't see what was coming. She once told me… that she's like to try dark magic arts. I wasn't against it. I thought… I was too proud to see her will wasn't strong enough to resist the temptations. She and her two friends began training. Bel was becoming more and more distant. I still thought that she would come out of it eventually. She had my blood in her after all. But…" she sighed very heavily "one night I heard her and her friends talking in her room. I peeked inside and saw them. Their eyes were glowing and they were talking to someone who wasn't there. Ancient spirit of darkness, trapped behind Obsidian Gate. He promised them power… for his freedom."
"And so they opened the gate." I began realizing where this was going.
"Yes." I noticed tears rolling down her cheeks. I think even I let one or two escape "Three of them stole the key from Pixie village and opened it. I quickly assembled armies of whole Magical Dimension to fight them. But it was too late to save my child. She and friends have already taken their place by side of the dark spirit, Darkar. All I could do was… to kill them. I had to kill my own daughter, because I was too proud to see what was coming! But Darkar used his magic to bring them back as spirit. Bel… took another name. Princess of Darkness."
"Bel la Dona." I translated it and sudden realization came to me "Wait… THE Belladona? The Ancestral Witch?"
She just sadly nodded "Because of my mistake… Domino has fallen, many lives were lost and my family has to fight because of that."
"But… why are you considered traitor?"
"Arenor. He saw me kill Bel and assumed I was the traitor. Nobody knew about Bel. Nobody knows." With that she stood up "It's getting late. You can stay here through the night." She turned around and headed out of there, behind that corner again. But just before that, she stopped and asked "Tell me. Didn't you feel weak on this planet?" I silently nodded "Then you better get some sleep. I have something to teach you tomorrow."
Hi guys! I hope you liked it. I know it's a little rushed, but I'll try to do better next time, OK?