Six weeks passed and Lukia's wing healed within the sling that Emily had made for her. Upon removing the sling, they learned that the wing had weakened greatly while immobilized, the muscles atrophied almost to nothing. Lukia freaked out in a major way, but Emily simply said, "Ah, yes. We're right on schedule. Now come the exercises." //You expected this to happen, Emily? You expected my wing to be all thin and floppy and useless? You said it would be six weeks!// Emily replied, "I said six weeks for the healing alone. It'll be two more weeks for getting your wing to be strong again, all adding up to my initial calculation of precisely eight weeks." //What kind of exercises will you have me do?// Emily answered, "Oh, first we'll start out with some basic stretching and some range of motion exercises. Then we'll work on strengthening it. We'll touch on endurance, but that'll be up to you. Then it'll be time for you to get back in the air. The flights will be rather short at first, but you'll be able to fly a little bit longer each time."
They got started the very next day. Lukia's wing returned to its full strength quickly. Soon she was able to soar in great circles high above the ground. Emily stared up at the heavens, watching Lukia glide gracefully through the clouds. True to the words Lukia had spoken when they first met, she was truly beautiful in the air. Floating ever so gently down to earth like a drifting leaf rather than the airplane-sized bird she was, she landed beside Emily. Folding her wings and lying down, she beckoned her friend to ride. //I think it's time to go. Hop aboard, Emily. Fire Island is the closest, so that's our first destination.// Emily gently climbed up to sit on Lukia's shoulders. She laid her hand on one of Lukia's blue dorsal plates for support and it twitched slightly. Emily said, "Whoa… You can move those?" //I sure can. Up to steer, down for speed.// She lowered them and they laid down flat against her feathery white back, completing her sleek, streamlined appearance. //I keep them pressed down against my back whenever I swim, because that reduces drag and lets me swim easier. When they're up and I'm flying, they act as stabilizers.// Emily said, "Thank you for explaining that to me. Now, let's go!" Lukia lifted up with a single powerful flap of her great wings. Emily gave a crazy whoop of wild elation, "Flying! We're flying!" //What, you never flew before? Well, you have now. When this is over, you can say you flew in the sky with the birds.// Lukia shot forward and Emily laughed as the wind caressed her face. //To Fire Island!// She echoed, "To Fire Island!" They whooped together. //Did you bring your ocarina?// "Of course," she replied, "Did you think I'd forget it?" //No, I didn't. But it always pays to be sure.//
Emily pointed at the smoking island that was quickly drawing closer as they sped in that direction. She said, "Excuse me… Is that island doing what I think it's doing?" //Yes it is. Fire Island is a live volcano and it's just one big bonfire. The temple is on top of the volcano. I can only land on the rim because of the heat. You'll have to reach the temple alone.// She replied, "Okay. I can do that. Just be ready to fly away fast. The heat is going to be really tremendous and we'll be on a serious time limit when we're in there." //Fast? I can do that.// Emily held on tight as Lukia quickly swooped downward.
Lukia landed lightly on the volcano's rim and Emily quickly got off her feathery back. They were both coughing from the volcano's smoky fumes. //This is as close as I can take you, Emily! The temple's right over there! Hurry, please!// She ran toward the temple with all possible speed. The heat was tremendous and she choked on the smoke. She saw the stone temple and ran toward it. She moved in amid the stone pillars like a ghost and then saw a large statue. It represented a great flaming bird. Was it Moltres? Its beak was open and there was something round held in its beak. She reached out and grabbed it. It slid free only with the greatest effort. She pulled it free and then looked at it. It was a dull red baseball-sized sphere. As she held it in her hand, it seemed as if a pervasive glow grew within it until it shone bloody red. With a crimson star blazing in her hand, Emily returned to her bird friend's side. She said, "Okay, Lukia, I got the fire sphere. See? It's shining!" //Just as I knew it would. You are the Chosen One, after all.// Emily asked, "What's up next? Where to now?" //Lightning Island. Actually, Ice Island is closer, but that's where the birds are fighting the most. So we're going to go there last.// Emily shrugged and replied, "Okay. Lightning Island it is, then. Do you think Moltres is aware of what we just did on his island?" //No more than Zapdos knows we're coming, which is no way. Still, I'm going to fly very low, just above the top of the waves. This ought to be a real thrill for both of us.// She swooped straight downward with Emily screaming her sheer terror as she hung on for the ride. Just before they would have smashed into the waves like a flying brick, Lukia swooped upward. They were so close that Emily could have reached out and touched the water with ease. Lukia's broad white wings kicked up a great cloud of salty spray. Emily's hair whipped her face and her eyes watered as the scent of pure saltwater filled her head. She was crying again, but this time it was from joy. She had never been quite so happy before in her entire life. The second island, Lightning Island, quickly drew closer. Emily said, "I hate to reiterate my previous question, but is that island doing what I think it's doing?" //Yeah. It is indeed doing what you think it's doing. Lightning Island is always in the middle of a massive thunderstorm. That's why flying in there is going to be very risky for the both of us. Anything that goes anywhere near that island is a possible lightning target. I really don't want to be a lightning rod with feathers, but I don't have much of a choice in the matter, do I? No, I certainly don't. This is going to be so crazy.//
Emily cringed against Lukia's feathery back as she deftly navigated the storm. Lightning cracked and crashed around them and they were both drenched clean to the bone. They landed atop a high plateau. She could see the temple from where they were. She shouted, "Okay, Lukia! I'm going in to get the sphere! Now, you had better wait for me right there!" //You got it, Emily.// Emily left behind a shivering Lukia and rushed toward the temple, then darted among the pillars. She knew she wasn't supposed to go under any tall objects during a thunderstorm, but she would be just as dead under the pillars as she would be out in the open. She then saw the statue she was supposed to look for. It represented a very mean-looking bird with sharp, spiky yellow feathers. It could only be one bird: Zapdos. In its sharp-edged, pointy beak was what she sought. She quickly grabbed the sphere and yanked on it. As she pulled, her hair stood on end and her head buzzed painfully. Lightning was going to strike the temple-and her in it! Fear gave her a huge boost in strength as she ripped the sphere loose from the stone bird's beak and then bolted for where Lukia waited for her. //Emily! Emily, look out! The storm-// There was a bright, blinding flash of white light and a horrendous rumbling she could feel deep in her bones. There was a sudden jolt of extreme pain and a loud buzzing crackle in her head. She suddenly became aware of the fact that she was no longer running but being hurled headlong through the air. Landing was extraordinarily painful. The next thing she knew, she was lying on her face in the mud. She stood up and quickly looked herself over. She'd been set on fire, but the mud had extinguished it, so she wasn't burned too badly. She looked at her face reflected in a nearby puddle. Her hair was badly singed, smoking profusely and standing straight up. "Oh, hey, wow," she said, "I look just like Don King." Sure, Emily, she wryly thought to herself, Joke about it all you want. //Emily! Emily! Can you hear me? Emily!// She suddenly noticed that Lukia was throwing a fit. She yelled, "Hey! I'm alive here! I got the lightning sphere, too!" She looked at it and saw that it was the color of a ripe lemon, burning as brightly as the sun. "Wow," she breathed softly; "I'm holding a star in my hand. It's so beautiful. This is way too cool."
Emily got back on Lukia's back, wincing at the pain movement brought her. She was burned and moving really hurt. She said, "You want regular or extra crispy? Ugh, I'm toast." //Please stop joking around, Emily.// Emily shot back, "Who's joking? Anybody got a barf bag?" //I know you're in pain, but I have to concentrate or we may never reach Ice Island!// Wincing, Emily replied, "I just want to reach solid ground before I lose my lunch!" She pushed the pain away and looked ahead at the island that was quickly getting closer. The island appeared to shine a bright blue in the sunlight, and the sea was glitteringly motionless for many miles around. //Yes, that island is indeed doing what you think it is doing, Emily. Ice Island is frozen completely solid, and the ocean around it is just one big ice cube. That's Articuno's doing. She likes it cold.// Emily said, "Okay. Maybe I can just skate over to the temple. I just hope I don't become an icicle before I can get there. Do you think the birds will spot us heading in?" //I truly hope not. Even so, I'm going to fly full speed just above the ice and pray that they don't see my white back against the white ice. Hold on to me tightly. Here we go.// Emily clung to Lukia's back as they zoomed over the ice. She was glad that she'd skipped lunch before they left, otherwise she would have puked all over Lukia right then and there. Once again, Lukia's flying prowess was totally unbelievable. She was mere millimeters from total ruin, and yet she didn't so much as brush a feather against the ice.
Emily looked over to one side and saw three extraordinary birds flying high overhead, swooping, pirouetting and diving in aerial combat. Their angry squawks were audible, and she felt she could almost hear them cursing at each other and shouting threats as they fought. She said, "Lukia! It's them! They're right above us!" //Are they? Whoa! They are! I'll speed up!// They shot forward like a large feathery missile and left the three fighting birds behind. Ice Island shone a bright, glittery blue in the sunlight. Emily could feel it getting markedly colder. It felt just like the middle of winter, even though it was actually July. She asked, "Is the Ice Island temple on top of that mountain right there?" //Yes, it is. I'll land as close to the temple as I can possibly manage. The rest is up to you. At least on this island you don't have to worry about being struck by lightning.// "Lukia," Emily said, "Are you making a joke?" You bet. Emily groaned, "Oh, man."
Lukia landed about fifty feet from the temple. Emily slid off her back…and ended up lying flat on her butt. She tried to stand up, but fell down again. //What are you doing on the ground, Emily?// She replied, "I can't stand up! I keep slipping! Stupid ice!" //Oh.// Moving slowly and carefully, she stood up. Wobbling slightly, she was able to stand but not walk. Having an idea, she said, "Hey, Lukia. Gimme a push and I'll skate over there." //Okay.// The next thing she knew, she was moving with great speed. Remembering going skating when she'd been a little kid, Emily skated right over to the temple. She almost overshot her destination, but she just barely managed to grab a pillar and swing herself around. Unable to stop herself, she rammed face first into the bird statue she sought. She ended up lying on her butt again, but she used the statue to pull herself to her feet. The statue was of an iridescent blue bird with a crown of three feathery tufts and a long glimmering tail. It held a blue sphere in its beak. Emily reached out and grabbed the sphere. It was stuck hard, so she had to wrench it out. The act of freeing the ice sphere caused her to rocket backward and smash her head against a pillar. She lay there stunned as Lukia flipped out. //Emily! Emily, wake up!// After a few long seconds, she sat up, rubbed the growing lump on her head and said, "Wow. I'll be feeling that one in the morning." Then she turned to Lukia and shouted, "I'm okay! Just a big headache here, that's all! I'll be over in a minute, okay?" She looked down at the sphere she held. It was a pale blue, but as she watched a diffuse glow built within it until it burned brightly, and it was the same hue as the sky on a crystal clear winter day. "Cool," she said, "It's pretty." Then she got down to business. Inching slowly along the ground like a little inchworm, she carefully moved to the side of the temple that Lukia was facing toward.
She latched onto the nearest frost-encrusted pillar with all her strength and pushed her back up against it, facing toward her avian partner. Moving very slowly, she balanced herself on one leg and braced the other against the icy pillar, ready to push off. She yelled, "Okay, Lukia! Get ready to catch me, please! Here I come, and I'm not steering, either!" //I'm ready, Emily! So come on!// She shoved off with all her power and rocketed forward. The next thing that she knew, she was sitting on Lukia's back again. As they rose off the ground, Emily said, "We got all three! We got all three! Where to now?" //We have to get to the temple on Rainbow Island and we have to do it fast. Do you think the birds know what we're doing? Can you see where they are?// Three shrieks pierced the air and Emily said, "That's not a problem, because they're right here!" //Uh-oh! Hang on!// Lukia flapped up as fast as she could and began to speed forward with great power.
It was then that Emily saw them. All three were huge, but not nearly as big as Lukia. They appeared to be her size, each with a tremendous wingspan. They looked like their statues. Moltres came in for the attack first. He was a flaming bird of epic proportions. He was mostly a bright yellow-orange, but his wingtips were red and orange, as were his crest and tail. He spewed flames at the two of them, but they were instantly enveloped in a huge sphere of white energy. Lukia had shielded herself and Emily with her. With an angry screech, Moltres moved back. The next bird she saw had to be Zapdos. He had a sharp beak, and his feathers appeared to be as sharp as knives. He was mostly yellow, but his back was black and he also had a few black feathers in his tail. He appeared to be quite angry. Lightning exploded out of his body, but Lukia's shield protected them again. With a screech that echoed the one Moltres gave seconds ago, Zapdos banked sharply and veered off. The third bird was strikingly beautiful. It was Articuno. She was blue, and she sparkled. Her wings glittered as she flapped forward. A crest, formed of three tufts of feathers, made her almost appear to be wearing a crown. Her tail was very long, resembling an iridescent drapery, and it undulated as she flew. A beam of blue-white energy erupted from her beak and the air seemed to freeze where the beam passed. But Lukia and Emily were protected, so Articuno also gave a frustrated cry and veered off.
The three birds congregated high overhead, hovering, and a swift series of chirps and low screeches passed between the lot of them. //We're in big trouble now. They're planning a strategy together.// Emily interrupted, "Then you have to hurry, Lukia! Hurry!" //I'm going as fast as I can! Looks like I'm going to have to start dodging!// "This is just plain wonderful," Emily said, "I'd better hold on tight and pray I don't fall off." Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno charged forward, looking like a trio of aerial linebackers speeding in for the blitz. Swiftly tucking the three spheres of power into her pocket, Emily latched on to Lukia's feathery back with a major death grip. She grimaced, closed her eyes and shouted, "Okay, Lukia! I'm ready! Let's bust a move!" //Okay. I'm ready. Are you ready, Emily? Please hold on tight.// Lukia spiraled out of the sky, dodged and wove in all directions, turned in midair and changed altitude rapidly. Emily screamed in terror and shivered wildly. She hated roller coasters, despised them with a passion. But riding on the back of an immense bird that was engaged in a dogfight made even the worst roller coaster look tame. As scary as they were, roller coasters were safe. Riding on Lukia's back as the great bird dodged powerful blasts was as dangerous as things could get.
Emily screamed, "I really don't think we'll be this lucky forever, Lukia! We have to hide somewhere until they give up on trying to find us!" //Good idea! There's a water cave on Rainbow Island. We can hide in there.// She replied with totally fake calmness, "Okay, then. Let's hustle and make for that cave with all we've got. Shall we get going, Lukia?" //Here we go, Emily. Hold on to me as tight as you can. And just try to remain calm.// "Okay, self," she said, "Stay calm. Lukia wants calm. Stay caaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA!" She screamed in hysterical terror as Lukia just plain folded her great wings and plummeted in what seemed like an uncontrolled dive. Just before they would have hit the water, Lukia spread her wings and swooped upward. Emily closed her eyes as they rushed toward a cavern at the bottom of the island. Tensed, shivering, she waited for them to run into something, sure that a huge impact would soon jar her mind from its frightened distraction. But no impact came. Had she possibly underestimated Lukia's innate agility? Perhaps she had. She relaxed ever so slightly, slumping against Lukia's feathery back. Then the great bird dropped out from under her, leaving her floundering in the water. Emily quickly became hysterical, screaming and flailing away in the water until she somehow managed to reach the cave wall. She hoisted herself out of the water, clinging to a small protrusion. Hanging from the wall, she was shaking wildly and gasping for air. She felt a familiar presence behind her. //What's wrong, Emily? Are you hurt? I let you off in the water to go for a refreshing little swim and you flip your lid like there's no tomorrow? What's the matter?// Stuttering badly because of sheer fright, Emily said, "N-N-Never been a-able to h-h-handle deep w-water. W-W-When I was a b-baby I almost d-d-drowned!" //So it's traumatic hydrophobia, huh? I'd better get you out of here fast.// Just a short instant later, Emily was shivering and sobbing on Lukia's back. She whimpered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. All my life I've tried to get rid of my fear of deep water, but I've never been able to manage to do that. I get to where I can't touch the bottom, or even up to my neck, and…and…I just lose it!" //Oh, well. We couldn't have just stayed here forever, anyway. And those birds would be willing to wait until the end of time and beyond even that. Sooner or later, we'd have had to leave this cave to reach the great altar. Why wait? Let's just get it over with right now. Here we go!//
They swiftly erupted into the sunlight and Emily could see Zapdos, Articuno and Moltres circling high overhead. She said, "Yep, Lukia, they were indeed waiting for us to come out." //I thought they would.// Emily asked, "About our ultimate destination… Where's this great altar you spoke of? Would you mind telling me that?" //It's up on a high cliff overlooking the sea. It's over on the eastern side of the island. We're on the western side right now. We have to cross the island before we can get there.// "Okay," Emily said, "Let's get going! We have a great altar to reach and not all that much time to reach it." //You're right about the time limit, so okay. Here we go, then.// They rose high into the sky and then began to soar over the island. Emily noticed a small village on the southern coast. She said, "Hey, Lukia! You never mentioned to me that this island was inhabited!" //They're aborigines, Emily. They worship the four great birds…and the fifth that is to come. I am considered to be the top bird-god. And they fervently await the coming of the Chosen One. If there's any trouble before we reach the great altar and do our thing, go to the village. Show them the three stones and I'm sure they'll help you in your quest. They might even sing with you. Emily, I have a bad feeling that something major is going to happen to me soon. Maybe…just maybe…you're meant to do this next part alone.// Unnerved by that last cryptic remark from Lukia, Emily looked around and saw the birds hovering off to one side. Once again, they were gathered in a group. She said, "Uh-oh. It looks like they're planning to try something major, Lukia." Just then, the birds broke their huddled group and lazily flapped around. Emily relaxed just a little bit…until she saw that they had formed a huge circle around Lukia. She gently nudged her bird friend on the shoulder and said softly, "Don't look now, but I think we're surrounded." //I can shield myself from all of them. Their elemental powers mean nothing to me and I have elemental powers of my own. What can they possibly do to harm us?// Just then, the three birds implemented their master plan. They each let out a huge blast of their power, and then followed it in with a huge headlong charge. Emily said quickly, her voice quickly growing hysterical in the face of their triple attack, "What can they possibly do to harm us, you ask? That!"
An instant later, they were both falling out of the sky. Lukia was flapping frantically, but she couldn't even slow her fall. Emily was screaming, clinging to Lukia. Their screams blended together as they fell to earth. They landed in the water. Emily awakened an instant or an hour later. Lukia was lying face down in the water. Her back was out of the water, and Emily was lying on her back. Her bird friend's face was submerged, meaning she couldn't breathe. She immediately forgot all about her debilitating fear of deep water and leapt into the water as if she had been born to swim. Treading water, she held up Lukia's great head so she could breathe. She was out cold and hurt very badly again. Dragging her limp friend along behind her, Emily slowly began to swim for shore.
Emily finally managed to get Lukia into the shallows, but that was all for what she could do. She tried and tried to wake her up, but to no avail. Lukia didn't seem to be breathing and Emily couldn't hear her heartbeat. She began to cry for her bird friend, "Lukia! Oh, Lukia! If only I hadn't flipped out back there in that cave! Then you'd be all right now and everything would be cool! Curse Zapdos! Curse Moltres! Curse Articuno! I wish I'd never heard of these stupid spheres!" She was about to launch the three spheres of power into oceanic oblivion when it was as if she heard Lukia's voice ringing in her head. 'If there's trouble, go to the village. Show them the three stones and they'll help you.' Something deep within her soul just wouldn't surrender. Emily left Lukia behind and slowly headed toward the village she'd seen before. She clutched the spheres tightly to her chest, over her heart. As she walked, she whispered in a quivering voice, "Oh, I'll do it, Lukia. But not for the reasons for which you wished me to do it. I won't do it for myself, or even the world, but I will do it for you. I'll go to the great altar and play your special little song on my ocarina. Your song will stop the warring birds even without you. Then, if any of us survive long enough, the natives and I will create a memorial to you. I'll live out the rest of my lifetime right here on this island, honoring your name for all time. I'll be your high priestess, worshiping you both night and day until the end of my days. I owe you for what you did, and I owe you big time. Oh, Lukia, you brought me hope. You awakened my long dormant dreams and made me want to live after years of thirsting for death. You'll never know how much that meant to me. You'll never know."
They got started the very next day. Lukia's wing returned to its full strength quickly. Soon she was able to soar in great circles high above the ground. Emily stared up at the heavens, watching Lukia glide gracefully through the clouds. True to the words Lukia had spoken when they first met, she was truly beautiful in the air. Floating ever so gently down to earth like a drifting leaf rather than the airplane-sized bird she was, she landed beside Emily. Folding her wings and lying down, she beckoned her friend to ride. //I think it's time to go. Hop aboard, Emily. Fire Island is the closest, so that's our first destination.// Emily gently climbed up to sit on Lukia's shoulders. She laid her hand on one of Lukia's blue dorsal plates for support and it twitched slightly. Emily said, "Whoa… You can move those?" //I sure can. Up to steer, down for speed.// She lowered them and they laid down flat against her feathery white back, completing her sleek, streamlined appearance. //I keep them pressed down against my back whenever I swim, because that reduces drag and lets me swim easier. When they're up and I'm flying, they act as stabilizers.// Emily said, "Thank you for explaining that to me. Now, let's go!" Lukia lifted up with a single powerful flap of her great wings. Emily gave a crazy whoop of wild elation, "Flying! We're flying!" //What, you never flew before? Well, you have now. When this is over, you can say you flew in the sky with the birds.// Lukia shot forward and Emily laughed as the wind caressed her face. //To Fire Island!// She echoed, "To Fire Island!" They whooped together. //Did you bring your ocarina?// "Of course," she replied, "Did you think I'd forget it?" //No, I didn't. But it always pays to be sure.//
Emily pointed at the smoking island that was quickly drawing closer as they sped in that direction. She said, "Excuse me… Is that island doing what I think it's doing?" //Yes it is. Fire Island is a live volcano and it's just one big bonfire. The temple is on top of the volcano. I can only land on the rim because of the heat. You'll have to reach the temple alone.// She replied, "Okay. I can do that. Just be ready to fly away fast. The heat is going to be really tremendous and we'll be on a serious time limit when we're in there." //Fast? I can do that.// Emily held on tight as Lukia quickly swooped downward.
Lukia landed lightly on the volcano's rim and Emily quickly got off her feathery back. They were both coughing from the volcano's smoky fumes. //This is as close as I can take you, Emily! The temple's right over there! Hurry, please!// She ran toward the temple with all possible speed. The heat was tremendous and she choked on the smoke. She saw the stone temple and ran toward it. She moved in amid the stone pillars like a ghost and then saw a large statue. It represented a great flaming bird. Was it Moltres? Its beak was open and there was something round held in its beak. She reached out and grabbed it. It slid free only with the greatest effort. She pulled it free and then looked at it. It was a dull red baseball-sized sphere. As she held it in her hand, it seemed as if a pervasive glow grew within it until it shone bloody red. With a crimson star blazing in her hand, Emily returned to her bird friend's side. She said, "Okay, Lukia, I got the fire sphere. See? It's shining!" //Just as I knew it would. You are the Chosen One, after all.// Emily asked, "What's up next? Where to now?" //Lightning Island. Actually, Ice Island is closer, but that's where the birds are fighting the most. So we're going to go there last.// Emily shrugged and replied, "Okay. Lightning Island it is, then. Do you think Moltres is aware of what we just did on his island?" //No more than Zapdos knows we're coming, which is no way. Still, I'm going to fly very low, just above the top of the waves. This ought to be a real thrill for both of us.// She swooped straight downward with Emily screaming her sheer terror as she hung on for the ride. Just before they would have smashed into the waves like a flying brick, Lukia swooped upward. They were so close that Emily could have reached out and touched the water with ease. Lukia's broad white wings kicked up a great cloud of salty spray. Emily's hair whipped her face and her eyes watered as the scent of pure saltwater filled her head. She was crying again, but this time it was from joy. She had never been quite so happy before in her entire life. The second island, Lightning Island, quickly drew closer. Emily said, "I hate to reiterate my previous question, but is that island doing what I think it's doing?" //Yeah. It is indeed doing what you think it's doing. Lightning Island is always in the middle of a massive thunderstorm. That's why flying in there is going to be very risky for the both of us. Anything that goes anywhere near that island is a possible lightning target. I really don't want to be a lightning rod with feathers, but I don't have much of a choice in the matter, do I? No, I certainly don't. This is going to be so crazy.//
Emily cringed against Lukia's feathery back as she deftly navigated the storm. Lightning cracked and crashed around them and they were both drenched clean to the bone. They landed atop a high plateau. She could see the temple from where they were. She shouted, "Okay, Lukia! I'm going in to get the sphere! Now, you had better wait for me right there!" //You got it, Emily.// Emily left behind a shivering Lukia and rushed toward the temple, then darted among the pillars. She knew she wasn't supposed to go under any tall objects during a thunderstorm, but she would be just as dead under the pillars as she would be out in the open. She then saw the statue she was supposed to look for. It represented a very mean-looking bird with sharp, spiky yellow feathers. It could only be one bird: Zapdos. In its sharp-edged, pointy beak was what she sought. She quickly grabbed the sphere and yanked on it. As she pulled, her hair stood on end and her head buzzed painfully. Lightning was going to strike the temple-and her in it! Fear gave her a huge boost in strength as she ripped the sphere loose from the stone bird's beak and then bolted for where Lukia waited for her. //Emily! Emily, look out! The storm-// There was a bright, blinding flash of white light and a horrendous rumbling she could feel deep in her bones. There was a sudden jolt of extreme pain and a loud buzzing crackle in her head. She suddenly became aware of the fact that she was no longer running but being hurled headlong through the air. Landing was extraordinarily painful. The next thing she knew, she was lying on her face in the mud. She stood up and quickly looked herself over. She'd been set on fire, but the mud had extinguished it, so she wasn't burned too badly. She looked at her face reflected in a nearby puddle. Her hair was badly singed, smoking profusely and standing straight up. "Oh, hey, wow," she said, "I look just like Don King." Sure, Emily, she wryly thought to herself, Joke about it all you want. //Emily! Emily! Can you hear me? Emily!// She suddenly noticed that Lukia was throwing a fit. She yelled, "Hey! I'm alive here! I got the lightning sphere, too!" She looked at it and saw that it was the color of a ripe lemon, burning as brightly as the sun. "Wow," she breathed softly; "I'm holding a star in my hand. It's so beautiful. This is way too cool."
Emily got back on Lukia's back, wincing at the pain movement brought her. She was burned and moving really hurt. She said, "You want regular or extra crispy? Ugh, I'm toast." //Please stop joking around, Emily.// Emily shot back, "Who's joking? Anybody got a barf bag?" //I know you're in pain, but I have to concentrate or we may never reach Ice Island!// Wincing, Emily replied, "I just want to reach solid ground before I lose my lunch!" She pushed the pain away and looked ahead at the island that was quickly getting closer. The island appeared to shine a bright blue in the sunlight, and the sea was glitteringly motionless for many miles around. //Yes, that island is indeed doing what you think it is doing, Emily. Ice Island is frozen completely solid, and the ocean around it is just one big ice cube. That's Articuno's doing. She likes it cold.// Emily said, "Okay. Maybe I can just skate over to the temple. I just hope I don't become an icicle before I can get there. Do you think the birds will spot us heading in?" //I truly hope not. Even so, I'm going to fly full speed just above the ice and pray that they don't see my white back against the white ice. Hold on to me tightly. Here we go.// Emily clung to Lukia's back as they zoomed over the ice. She was glad that she'd skipped lunch before they left, otherwise she would have puked all over Lukia right then and there. Once again, Lukia's flying prowess was totally unbelievable. She was mere millimeters from total ruin, and yet she didn't so much as brush a feather against the ice.
Emily looked over to one side and saw three extraordinary birds flying high overhead, swooping, pirouetting and diving in aerial combat. Their angry squawks were audible, and she felt she could almost hear them cursing at each other and shouting threats as they fought. She said, "Lukia! It's them! They're right above us!" //Are they? Whoa! They are! I'll speed up!// They shot forward like a large feathery missile and left the three fighting birds behind. Ice Island shone a bright, glittery blue in the sunlight. Emily could feel it getting markedly colder. It felt just like the middle of winter, even though it was actually July. She asked, "Is the Ice Island temple on top of that mountain right there?" //Yes, it is. I'll land as close to the temple as I can possibly manage. The rest is up to you. At least on this island you don't have to worry about being struck by lightning.// "Lukia," Emily said, "Are you making a joke?" You bet. Emily groaned, "Oh, man."
Lukia landed about fifty feet from the temple. Emily slid off her back…and ended up lying flat on her butt. She tried to stand up, but fell down again. //What are you doing on the ground, Emily?// She replied, "I can't stand up! I keep slipping! Stupid ice!" //Oh.// Moving slowly and carefully, she stood up. Wobbling slightly, she was able to stand but not walk. Having an idea, she said, "Hey, Lukia. Gimme a push and I'll skate over there." //Okay.// The next thing she knew, she was moving with great speed. Remembering going skating when she'd been a little kid, Emily skated right over to the temple. She almost overshot her destination, but she just barely managed to grab a pillar and swing herself around. Unable to stop herself, she rammed face first into the bird statue she sought. She ended up lying on her butt again, but she used the statue to pull herself to her feet. The statue was of an iridescent blue bird with a crown of three feathery tufts and a long glimmering tail. It held a blue sphere in its beak. Emily reached out and grabbed the sphere. It was stuck hard, so she had to wrench it out. The act of freeing the ice sphere caused her to rocket backward and smash her head against a pillar. She lay there stunned as Lukia flipped out. //Emily! Emily, wake up!// After a few long seconds, she sat up, rubbed the growing lump on her head and said, "Wow. I'll be feeling that one in the morning." Then she turned to Lukia and shouted, "I'm okay! Just a big headache here, that's all! I'll be over in a minute, okay?" She looked down at the sphere she held. It was a pale blue, but as she watched a diffuse glow built within it until it burned brightly, and it was the same hue as the sky on a crystal clear winter day. "Cool," she said, "It's pretty." Then she got down to business. Inching slowly along the ground like a little inchworm, she carefully moved to the side of the temple that Lukia was facing toward.
She latched onto the nearest frost-encrusted pillar with all her strength and pushed her back up against it, facing toward her avian partner. Moving very slowly, she balanced herself on one leg and braced the other against the icy pillar, ready to push off. She yelled, "Okay, Lukia! Get ready to catch me, please! Here I come, and I'm not steering, either!" //I'm ready, Emily! So come on!// She shoved off with all her power and rocketed forward. The next thing that she knew, she was sitting on Lukia's back again. As they rose off the ground, Emily said, "We got all three! We got all three! Where to now?" //We have to get to the temple on Rainbow Island and we have to do it fast. Do you think the birds know what we're doing? Can you see where they are?// Three shrieks pierced the air and Emily said, "That's not a problem, because they're right here!" //Uh-oh! Hang on!// Lukia flapped up as fast as she could and began to speed forward with great power.
It was then that Emily saw them. All three were huge, but not nearly as big as Lukia. They appeared to be her size, each with a tremendous wingspan. They looked like their statues. Moltres came in for the attack first. He was a flaming bird of epic proportions. He was mostly a bright yellow-orange, but his wingtips were red and orange, as were his crest and tail. He spewed flames at the two of them, but they were instantly enveloped in a huge sphere of white energy. Lukia had shielded herself and Emily with her. With an angry screech, Moltres moved back. The next bird she saw had to be Zapdos. He had a sharp beak, and his feathers appeared to be as sharp as knives. He was mostly yellow, but his back was black and he also had a few black feathers in his tail. He appeared to be quite angry. Lightning exploded out of his body, but Lukia's shield protected them again. With a screech that echoed the one Moltres gave seconds ago, Zapdos banked sharply and veered off. The third bird was strikingly beautiful. It was Articuno. She was blue, and she sparkled. Her wings glittered as she flapped forward. A crest, formed of three tufts of feathers, made her almost appear to be wearing a crown. Her tail was very long, resembling an iridescent drapery, and it undulated as she flew. A beam of blue-white energy erupted from her beak and the air seemed to freeze where the beam passed. But Lukia and Emily were protected, so Articuno also gave a frustrated cry and veered off.
The three birds congregated high overhead, hovering, and a swift series of chirps and low screeches passed between the lot of them. //We're in big trouble now. They're planning a strategy together.// Emily interrupted, "Then you have to hurry, Lukia! Hurry!" //I'm going as fast as I can! Looks like I'm going to have to start dodging!// "This is just plain wonderful," Emily said, "I'd better hold on tight and pray I don't fall off." Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno charged forward, looking like a trio of aerial linebackers speeding in for the blitz. Swiftly tucking the three spheres of power into her pocket, Emily latched on to Lukia's feathery back with a major death grip. She grimaced, closed her eyes and shouted, "Okay, Lukia! I'm ready! Let's bust a move!" //Okay. I'm ready. Are you ready, Emily? Please hold on tight.// Lukia spiraled out of the sky, dodged and wove in all directions, turned in midair and changed altitude rapidly. Emily screamed in terror and shivered wildly. She hated roller coasters, despised them with a passion. But riding on the back of an immense bird that was engaged in a dogfight made even the worst roller coaster look tame. As scary as they were, roller coasters were safe. Riding on Lukia's back as the great bird dodged powerful blasts was as dangerous as things could get.
Emily screamed, "I really don't think we'll be this lucky forever, Lukia! We have to hide somewhere until they give up on trying to find us!" //Good idea! There's a water cave on Rainbow Island. We can hide in there.// She replied with totally fake calmness, "Okay, then. Let's hustle and make for that cave with all we've got. Shall we get going, Lukia?" //Here we go, Emily. Hold on to me as tight as you can. And just try to remain calm.// "Okay, self," she said, "Stay calm. Lukia wants calm. Stay caaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA!" She screamed in hysterical terror as Lukia just plain folded her great wings and plummeted in what seemed like an uncontrolled dive. Just before they would have hit the water, Lukia spread her wings and swooped upward. Emily closed her eyes as they rushed toward a cavern at the bottom of the island. Tensed, shivering, she waited for them to run into something, sure that a huge impact would soon jar her mind from its frightened distraction. But no impact came. Had she possibly underestimated Lukia's innate agility? Perhaps she had. She relaxed ever so slightly, slumping against Lukia's feathery back. Then the great bird dropped out from under her, leaving her floundering in the water. Emily quickly became hysterical, screaming and flailing away in the water until she somehow managed to reach the cave wall. She hoisted herself out of the water, clinging to a small protrusion. Hanging from the wall, she was shaking wildly and gasping for air. She felt a familiar presence behind her. //What's wrong, Emily? Are you hurt? I let you off in the water to go for a refreshing little swim and you flip your lid like there's no tomorrow? What's the matter?// Stuttering badly because of sheer fright, Emily said, "N-N-Never been a-able to h-h-handle deep w-water. W-W-When I was a b-baby I almost d-d-drowned!" //So it's traumatic hydrophobia, huh? I'd better get you out of here fast.// Just a short instant later, Emily was shivering and sobbing on Lukia's back. She whimpered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. All my life I've tried to get rid of my fear of deep water, but I've never been able to manage to do that. I get to where I can't touch the bottom, or even up to my neck, and…and…I just lose it!" //Oh, well. We couldn't have just stayed here forever, anyway. And those birds would be willing to wait until the end of time and beyond even that. Sooner or later, we'd have had to leave this cave to reach the great altar. Why wait? Let's just get it over with right now. Here we go!//
They swiftly erupted into the sunlight and Emily could see Zapdos, Articuno and Moltres circling high overhead. She said, "Yep, Lukia, they were indeed waiting for us to come out." //I thought they would.// Emily asked, "About our ultimate destination… Where's this great altar you spoke of? Would you mind telling me that?" //It's up on a high cliff overlooking the sea. It's over on the eastern side of the island. We're on the western side right now. We have to cross the island before we can get there.// "Okay," Emily said, "Let's get going! We have a great altar to reach and not all that much time to reach it." //You're right about the time limit, so okay. Here we go, then.// They rose high into the sky and then began to soar over the island. Emily noticed a small village on the southern coast. She said, "Hey, Lukia! You never mentioned to me that this island was inhabited!" //They're aborigines, Emily. They worship the four great birds…and the fifth that is to come. I am considered to be the top bird-god. And they fervently await the coming of the Chosen One. If there's any trouble before we reach the great altar and do our thing, go to the village. Show them the three stones and I'm sure they'll help you in your quest. They might even sing with you. Emily, I have a bad feeling that something major is going to happen to me soon. Maybe…just maybe…you're meant to do this next part alone.// Unnerved by that last cryptic remark from Lukia, Emily looked around and saw the birds hovering off to one side. Once again, they were gathered in a group. She said, "Uh-oh. It looks like they're planning to try something major, Lukia." Just then, the birds broke their huddled group and lazily flapped around. Emily relaxed just a little bit…until she saw that they had formed a huge circle around Lukia. She gently nudged her bird friend on the shoulder and said softly, "Don't look now, but I think we're surrounded." //I can shield myself from all of them. Their elemental powers mean nothing to me and I have elemental powers of my own. What can they possibly do to harm us?// Just then, the three birds implemented their master plan. They each let out a huge blast of their power, and then followed it in with a huge headlong charge. Emily said quickly, her voice quickly growing hysterical in the face of their triple attack, "What can they possibly do to harm us, you ask? That!"
An instant later, they were both falling out of the sky. Lukia was flapping frantically, but she couldn't even slow her fall. Emily was screaming, clinging to Lukia. Their screams blended together as they fell to earth. They landed in the water. Emily awakened an instant or an hour later. Lukia was lying face down in the water. Her back was out of the water, and Emily was lying on her back. Her bird friend's face was submerged, meaning she couldn't breathe. She immediately forgot all about her debilitating fear of deep water and leapt into the water as if she had been born to swim. Treading water, she held up Lukia's great head so she could breathe. She was out cold and hurt very badly again. Dragging her limp friend along behind her, Emily slowly began to swim for shore.
Emily finally managed to get Lukia into the shallows, but that was all for what she could do. She tried and tried to wake her up, but to no avail. Lukia didn't seem to be breathing and Emily couldn't hear her heartbeat. She began to cry for her bird friend, "Lukia! Oh, Lukia! If only I hadn't flipped out back there in that cave! Then you'd be all right now and everything would be cool! Curse Zapdos! Curse Moltres! Curse Articuno! I wish I'd never heard of these stupid spheres!" She was about to launch the three spheres of power into oceanic oblivion when it was as if she heard Lukia's voice ringing in her head. 'If there's trouble, go to the village. Show them the three stones and they'll help you.' Something deep within her soul just wouldn't surrender. Emily left Lukia behind and slowly headed toward the village she'd seen before. She clutched the spheres tightly to her chest, over her heart. As she walked, she whispered in a quivering voice, "Oh, I'll do it, Lukia. But not for the reasons for which you wished me to do it. I won't do it for myself, or even the world, but I will do it for you. I'll go to the great altar and play your special little song on my ocarina. Your song will stop the warring birds even without you. Then, if any of us survive long enough, the natives and I will create a memorial to you. I'll live out the rest of my lifetime right here on this island, honoring your name for all time. I'll be your high priestess, worshiping you both night and day until the end of my days. I owe you for what you did, and I owe you big time. Oh, Lukia, you brought me hope. You awakened my long dormant dreams and made me want to live after years of thirsting for death. You'll never know how much that meant to me. You'll never know."