Emily entered the village and was caught. She was immediately taken to the center of town. A tall, strong man said, "I am Connor, the head chief, avatar of the four elements, beloved of Lukia. Who are you, stranger?" She said, "My name is irrelevant. This isn't. Great chief, I bring you the test of the ages. Now the Chosen One shall be proven. I bring you…the spheres of power." The spheres of power, just lumps of dead glass, were laid on a high table in the marketplace. The whole town had congregated down to the last man, woman and child, and were watching and listening with great interest. Connor picked up the ice sphere and held it high over his head. He shouted, "People of Rainbow Island! Worshipers of the great birds! I have here all three stones of power! The spheres of power shine only in the hands of the Chosen One! If the Chosen One is among us, we will soon know!" Emily, held firmly by two guards, cut in, "You were already tested, great chief. You are not the Chosen One. But there is something I want to show you. Give it here." Connor replied, "No, stranger. You aren't one of us. The people of this island are the only ones the great birds chose when they created this world. You will not be tested. After all, how can someone who is unconsecrated by the four great birds be the Chosen One?"
In response to his statement, Emily kicked both guards in the crotch, broke free and lunged forward to seize the lightning sphere. The guards quickly recovered and then went after her, but they stopped cold when the sphere began to glow. Everyone watched in shocked awe, as the lightning sphere burned brighter than the sun itself. Emily then held it high over her head and shouted, "Now you all can see that the Chosen One of legend was not of your island at all! I flew here to this place on the wings of the sea! Lukia herself brought me here to this place! But the three rogue elements overwhelmed her song of balance and she…she…" Emily's voice broke and she looked away momentarily, overwhelmed by the memories of what had happened to her bird friend. Then she continued, "People of Rainbow Island, Lukia has fallen from the sky and is no more! I alone remain, and I am all that is needed for this phase of the master plan that is destiny! Now the prophecy shall finally be fulfilled and so the world shall be set free for all time! Behold!" She then whipped out her precious ocarina, which had miraculously remained completely undamaged throughout the entire ordeal of seeking the three spheres and flying to the island, and then began to play Lukia's special song. When it was finished, the people bowed low before her. They finally recognized her as the Chosen One. Emily picked up the other two spheres of power. They too began to burn brightly, awakened by her touch. Holding three small stars and an ocarina in her gentle hands, she said loudly, "People of Rainbow Island, you who follow the great birds where they go on their elemental journeys through space and time, I now ask you for your aid in my quest! I go now to the great altar to sing the song of balance that will release the Great Power of the Sea, but I cannot sing it all alone! I bid you come along with me now, to lend both your hearts and your voices to the great weaving of ultimate harmony, so that the three rogue elements may be tamed for all time, far longer than forever! Come with me now!"
Directed to a huge winding granite staircase carved deeply into the side of a high, dark mountain, Emily slowly ascended to the great altar. The entire human population of Rainbow Island followed her as she went up. She could hear the three birds fighting in the sky, and she silently cursed the lot of them for what they had done to Lukia. She quickened her pace just a little bit. High mossy stone cliffs rose high on either side of her, and huge evergreen pines wafted their rich scent into the preternaturally still air. She ignored them all, each and every one of them. She had a mission to complete and she would complete it, no matter what it took. She would do it for Lukia, even if it meant she had to rend her own flesh and pour her blood on the ground. She held her precious ocarina, which would save the world, tightly over her heart. She had the three spheres of power, she knew the song, she had the means to play it, she was on her way to the great altar, and her mission was almost complete. Lukia would have wanted it to be that way. She didn't know for sure, but she believed Lukia met her death in the fall from the sky.
After many long minutes of nearly mindless trudging, she finally reached the top of the staircase. Atop a high, open wind-blown plateau she saw a wide circle of moss-covered pillars. In the middle was a high stone altar with three holes carved through it. It was the great altar that Lukia had spoken of so many times before. The Rainbow Island natives as a whole stayed just beyond the windswept circle of tall stone pillars. From the utterly unkempt look of the altar and the pillars themselves, she guessed that no living person could ever be allowed to enter the circle of mossy pillars but the true Chosen One herself. She hesitantly stepped forward, stood silently in front of the four-foot tall altar and looked at the three holes. At the very bottom of each there was a small circular carved cup to put a sphere in. But which sphere went where? Which hole was meant for which sphere? The question easily answered itself after just a few short seconds of close examination. Instead of looking just at the holes themselves, she looked up above the holes and then through them as well. Then it became incredibly and stupidly obvious where each sphere went. One hole was in line with Fire Island and it had a stylized flame carved above it. Another was in line with Ice Island and it had a stylized snowflake carved above it. The very last one was in line with Lightning Island and it had a stylized thunderbolt carved above it. That was the answer. It had to be the answer. She put the fire sphere in the flame-marked hole that lined up with Fire Island. The ice sphere was quickly inserted into the snowflake-marked hole that lined up with Ice Island. Finally, the lightning sphere went in the thunderbolt-marked hole that lined up with Lightning Island.
As soon as she put the final sphere into its proper place, the altar itself began to shine a bright lime green. The color originated around the three holes where she had just inserted the spheres, then flowed downward to pool and spread outward from the very bottom of the altar and began turn the dusty dirt-encrusted floor and the surrounding pillars from plain, moss-covered rock to faceted, shining lime green gemstone. As the stupendous transformation slowly ceased, the world as a whole waited for what would happen next. The sea itself seemed to pause and the wind swiftly died down to nothingness. Consumed both within and without by sheer awe, Emily slowly, hesitantly looked down at the changed ground. Uncounted eons of accumulated dust and dirt had been pushed aside by the recent transformation, exposing the many ancient runes carved on the ground inside the circle of pillars. They had been hidden from any and all human sight for uncounted ages, but now the world as a whole could see them once more. Adding surprise to surprise, she promptly found that she could read them as if they were English. She read them loudly, so the natives could hear them as well, "When this altar shows its light… The three spheres of power follow the heart of the one who would save the world. Take the spheres and release the Great Power of the Sea. Give song and service to she who rules over the three elemental forces…and once more bring peace to this world."
The decisive moment had finally arrived. This was her time to truly shine. Emily slowly stepped up to stand before the changed altar, raised the ocarina to her lips and began to play. A brilliant flash from one of the surrounding pillars mirrored each note she played. Each pillar seemingly represented a single musical note in Lukia's song, and it flashed whenever she played that note. Shining green light flowed like liquid from the bottom of the altar, past the pillars and across the dusty ground. There it stopped. Emily was not Lukia. She didn't possess anything close to the great bird's sheer magical, musical power. That was why she needed massive help on this endeavor. The Rainbow Island natives slowly joined in, singing Lukia's song as best their feeble human voices could allow. As they hesitantly joined in, the shining green light slowly began to expand outward again. As she played, she began to cry and a strange thought drifted through her mind. Sacred spheres that protect the Great Power of the Sea… Altar of emerald green stone… Shine for me once more. Slice through the darkness…and make it through…to Lukia… I give you my power, my life… Lukia! Great bird! You must be alive! AWAKEN! LUKIA!
On the beach far below, the great bird Emily had cried for awakened. Lukia looked up and listened intently as the wind brought her soft, faraway snatches of a song she knew very well. //I can hear…// She listened to it harder, concentrated all her heart and soul on hearing the song that drifted out upon the wind. //It's Emily! She's playing my song at the great altar! She's praying!// She thought hard as to what she could do to help her friend, then she knew what she had to do. She reared up and drew a deep breath. //I'll sing along with her…lend her my power, my spirit! Fear not, my friend, for I am with you! All will be well from now on! Now, Emily, release the Great Power of the Sea!//
Emily thought she heard a hauntingly familiar voice rising up above the others and her own music. Could it be that Lukia was actually alive…and adding her own voice to the song as she played it? She slowly opened her eyes and looked around at the great changes that had taken place all around her. The whole world was a magnificent lime green color. The bright, shining greenness spread outward from the altar and flowed in all directions, cascading down the plateau and into the sea, and rising upward to stain the whole sky with its emerald hue. The air itself seemed to sparkle and dance as her song echoed all around. High above, the three birds ceased their battle and just hovered in midair, listening. She played harder, concentrating all her strength on playing the song. The birds began to circle overhead, happily chattering with each other and harmonizing with the song. Pretty soon, the birds were singing along as well. Emily continued to play, finishing the song. Tired out by the great exertion of playing the song, she dropped to her knees. Holding her ocarina in her lap, she bowed her head and just let the tears flow freely.
In response to his statement, Emily kicked both guards in the crotch, broke free and lunged forward to seize the lightning sphere. The guards quickly recovered and then went after her, but they stopped cold when the sphere began to glow. Everyone watched in shocked awe, as the lightning sphere burned brighter than the sun itself. Emily then held it high over her head and shouted, "Now you all can see that the Chosen One of legend was not of your island at all! I flew here to this place on the wings of the sea! Lukia herself brought me here to this place! But the three rogue elements overwhelmed her song of balance and she…she…" Emily's voice broke and she looked away momentarily, overwhelmed by the memories of what had happened to her bird friend. Then she continued, "People of Rainbow Island, Lukia has fallen from the sky and is no more! I alone remain, and I am all that is needed for this phase of the master plan that is destiny! Now the prophecy shall finally be fulfilled and so the world shall be set free for all time! Behold!" She then whipped out her precious ocarina, which had miraculously remained completely undamaged throughout the entire ordeal of seeking the three spheres and flying to the island, and then began to play Lukia's special song. When it was finished, the people bowed low before her. They finally recognized her as the Chosen One. Emily picked up the other two spheres of power. They too began to burn brightly, awakened by her touch. Holding three small stars and an ocarina in her gentle hands, she said loudly, "People of Rainbow Island, you who follow the great birds where they go on their elemental journeys through space and time, I now ask you for your aid in my quest! I go now to the great altar to sing the song of balance that will release the Great Power of the Sea, but I cannot sing it all alone! I bid you come along with me now, to lend both your hearts and your voices to the great weaving of ultimate harmony, so that the three rogue elements may be tamed for all time, far longer than forever! Come with me now!"
Directed to a huge winding granite staircase carved deeply into the side of a high, dark mountain, Emily slowly ascended to the great altar. The entire human population of Rainbow Island followed her as she went up. She could hear the three birds fighting in the sky, and she silently cursed the lot of them for what they had done to Lukia. She quickened her pace just a little bit. High mossy stone cliffs rose high on either side of her, and huge evergreen pines wafted their rich scent into the preternaturally still air. She ignored them all, each and every one of them. She had a mission to complete and she would complete it, no matter what it took. She would do it for Lukia, even if it meant she had to rend her own flesh and pour her blood on the ground. She held her precious ocarina, which would save the world, tightly over her heart. She had the three spheres of power, she knew the song, she had the means to play it, she was on her way to the great altar, and her mission was almost complete. Lukia would have wanted it to be that way. She didn't know for sure, but she believed Lukia met her death in the fall from the sky.
After many long minutes of nearly mindless trudging, she finally reached the top of the staircase. Atop a high, open wind-blown plateau she saw a wide circle of moss-covered pillars. In the middle was a high stone altar with three holes carved through it. It was the great altar that Lukia had spoken of so many times before. The Rainbow Island natives as a whole stayed just beyond the windswept circle of tall stone pillars. From the utterly unkempt look of the altar and the pillars themselves, she guessed that no living person could ever be allowed to enter the circle of mossy pillars but the true Chosen One herself. She hesitantly stepped forward, stood silently in front of the four-foot tall altar and looked at the three holes. At the very bottom of each there was a small circular carved cup to put a sphere in. But which sphere went where? Which hole was meant for which sphere? The question easily answered itself after just a few short seconds of close examination. Instead of looking just at the holes themselves, she looked up above the holes and then through them as well. Then it became incredibly and stupidly obvious where each sphere went. One hole was in line with Fire Island and it had a stylized flame carved above it. Another was in line with Ice Island and it had a stylized snowflake carved above it. The very last one was in line with Lightning Island and it had a stylized thunderbolt carved above it. That was the answer. It had to be the answer. She put the fire sphere in the flame-marked hole that lined up with Fire Island. The ice sphere was quickly inserted into the snowflake-marked hole that lined up with Ice Island. Finally, the lightning sphere went in the thunderbolt-marked hole that lined up with Lightning Island.
As soon as she put the final sphere into its proper place, the altar itself began to shine a bright lime green. The color originated around the three holes where she had just inserted the spheres, then flowed downward to pool and spread outward from the very bottom of the altar and began turn the dusty dirt-encrusted floor and the surrounding pillars from plain, moss-covered rock to faceted, shining lime green gemstone. As the stupendous transformation slowly ceased, the world as a whole waited for what would happen next. The sea itself seemed to pause and the wind swiftly died down to nothingness. Consumed both within and without by sheer awe, Emily slowly, hesitantly looked down at the changed ground. Uncounted eons of accumulated dust and dirt had been pushed aside by the recent transformation, exposing the many ancient runes carved on the ground inside the circle of pillars. They had been hidden from any and all human sight for uncounted ages, but now the world as a whole could see them once more. Adding surprise to surprise, she promptly found that she could read them as if they were English. She read them loudly, so the natives could hear them as well, "When this altar shows its light… The three spheres of power follow the heart of the one who would save the world. Take the spheres and release the Great Power of the Sea. Give song and service to she who rules over the three elemental forces…and once more bring peace to this world."
The decisive moment had finally arrived. This was her time to truly shine. Emily slowly stepped up to stand before the changed altar, raised the ocarina to her lips and began to play. A brilliant flash from one of the surrounding pillars mirrored each note she played. Each pillar seemingly represented a single musical note in Lukia's song, and it flashed whenever she played that note. Shining green light flowed like liquid from the bottom of the altar, past the pillars and across the dusty ground. There it stopped. Emily was not Lukia. She didn't possess anything close to the great bird's sheer magical, musical power. That was why she needed massive help on this endeavor. The Rainbow Island natives slowly joined in, singing Lukia's song as best their feeble human voices could allow. As they hesitantly joined in, the shining green light slowly began to expand outward again. As she played, she began to cry and a strange thought drifted through her mind. Sacred spheres that protect the Great Power of the Sea… Altar of emerald green stone… Shine for me once more. Slice through the darkness…and make it through…to Lukia… I give you my power, my life… Lukia! Great bird! You must be alive! AWAKEN! LUKIA!
On the beach far below, the great bird Emily had cried for awakened. Lukia looked up and listened intently as the wind brought her soft, faraway snatches of a song she knew very well. //I can hear…// She listened to it harder, concentrated all her heart and soul on hearing the song that drifted out upon the wind. //It's Emily! She's playing my song at the great altar! She's praying!// She thought hard as to what she could do to help her friend, then she knew what she had to do. She reared up and drew a deep breath. //I'll sing along with her…lend her my power, my spirit! Fear not, my friend, for I am with you! All will be well from now on! Now, Emily, release the Great Power of the Sea!//
Emily thought she heard a hauntingly familiar voice rising up above the others and her own music. Could it be that Lukia was actually alive…and adding her own voice to the song as she played it? She slowly opened her eyes and looked around at the great changes that had taken place all around her. The whole world was a magnificent lime green color. The bright, shining greenness spread outward from the altar and flowed in all directions, cascading down the plateau and into the sea, and rising upward to stain the whole sky with its emerald hue. The air itself seemed to sparkle and dance as her song echoed all around. High above, the three birds ceased their battle and just hovered in midair, listening. She played harder, concentrating all her strength on playing the song. The birds began to circle overhead, happily chattering with each other and harmonizing with the song. Pretty soon, the birds were singing along as well. Emily continued to play, finishing the song. Tired out by the great exertion of playing the song, she dropped to her knees. Holding her ocarina in her lap, she bowed her head and just let the tears flow freely.