CHAPTER 20:
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
"So," Justin began as he stepped back through the portal and into the library. "Anyone have a plan?"
"Well," Leen spoke up. "the Battlers should be on their way to Zil Padon right now...just as it did last time."
"You mean we have to protect Zil Padon...again?!"
"Of course, Justin," Feena replied. "Zil Padon is the closest city to Gaia, so it would obviously be taken first."
"Well, we've done it before. We can do it again, can't we?"
"It won't be so easy this time," Liete told him. Gaia is much stronger now, remember?"
"Oh, right."
"Stop wasting time, already!" Feena exclaimed. "We have to get to Zil Padon, NOW!"
Liete raised her staff, and it emitted the same bright light that had teleported them to her library. When the light ceased, they all found themselves in the middle of Zil Padon. The city was still peaceful...for now.
"We're going to need all the help we can get," Justin informed the others. "You all stay here and watch for the Battlers. I'm heading over to Guido's."
"I'll come with you," Feena volunteered.
Justin and Feena ran to the Mogay village at the other end of the city, found Guido's house, and knocked at the door.
"Hey, Guido!" they both called from outside the door. "Guido, let us in!"
"I'm-a coming!" Guido called back from inside. The door swung open, and Guido stood in the doorway. "Yes? Who is it?" He looked up at his two visitors. Suddenly, his eyes bugged wide open and his ears hung limply from his head. Then, to Justin and Feena's surprise, he emitted a high- pitched scream, quickly slammed the door, and pushed loads of furniture against it.
"Guido, what's wrong?!" Feena asked.
"GO AWAY!!" Guido screamed. "PLEASE, LEAVE-A ME BE!!!"
"Guido, it's only us!" Justin exclaimed.
"I'VE-A DONE-A NOTHING-A TO YOU!! WHY HAVE-A YOU COME-A BACK-A TO HAUNT-A ME SO?!!! WHAT-A KEEPS-A YOU FROM-A RESTING IN-A PEACE?!!"
"Guido, what are you talking about?!!"
"Justin, he still believes that we're dead," Feena reminded him.
"JUST-A GO AWAY!!!" Guido called out. "I'VE-A GOT-A HOLY WATER AND I'M-A NOT AFRAID-A TO USE IT!!!"
"Guido, we're not dead!!!"
"WHERE'S-A THAT-A HOLY WATER?!! I KNOW IT'S AROUND-A HERE SOMEWHE.... Come again?"
"We're not dead, Guido."
"Justin...Feena...still...still alive?" Guido removed the furniture from the door and opened it. "Justin! Feena!" he exclaimed, his arms outstretched. He then pulled them into a surprisingly tight group hug, making Justin and Feena gasp for air. "Still alive! Still alive! Can't-a believe it! Can't-a believe it!" He finally let go of them so they could breathe. "Fancy that! Even-a the Sea Gods-a themselves-a couldn't-a dispose of-a you two!!"
"I guess not!" Justin replied. "Sorry about your boat, though."
"Oh, you two are much-a more important-a than-a some old-a boat. Besides, I have insurance!"
"Listen, Guido, we don't have much time. Zil Padon is in danger!"
"What-a do you mean?"
"You remember Gaia?"
"Yes."
"Well, it turns out that Gaia hasn't really been beaten. It's still active, and has evolved once again!" There was a long pause from Guido. "And, it has sent a very large army of Gaia Battlers to take the city!"
Guido's eyes widened with concern. "Oh my. Oh my!"
"We need your help, Guido. This whole city needs all of our help."
"Have-a you told anyone about-a this?"
"No."
"I need-a you to alert-a the citizens. We'll-a build an army of our own!" He quickly began to walk away.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I'll-a be back in a couple of-a days. I'm-a setting off-a to look-a for-a reinforcements."
"But we may not have a couple of days! Guido!!" But before he could stop him, Guido disappeared down the street. "Think he'll be back in time?" Justin asked Feena.
"I hope," she replied. "But, I wouldn't worry too much. Guido's pretty reliable."
They ran to the fountain at the center the city. "Hey! Everyone! Listen to me!" Justin called out to the villagers around him. He climbed up onto the fountain's ledge so everyone could see and hear him. The villagers gathered around him with confused looks on their faces. "Listen," he began. "You all probably remember us as the Hero and Icarian who defeated Gaia. But, it turns out that...well...Gaia is still alive. And it has sent an army of Gaia Battlers to conquer Zil Padon."
There was a fearful murmur from Justin's audience. "How many are there?" one man asked.
"Uh...about...several...thousand," Justin estimated.
"Several thousand?!!" some onlookers exclaimed. "We don't stand a chance!!" a woman cried out. "I say we evacuate the city!!" a few people suggested.
"Hey!" Justin shouted to get their attention again. "The very last thing we need to do is panic! This is where you all live! Are you just going to let those Battlers take it away? We have to defend the city. We've done it before, and we can surely do it again! I'll fight to the death if I have to! So, who's with me?" There was a long pause from the villagers. "Hey, I can't blame any of you for being afraid. If you won't fight, I'll understand."
After a minute, one person stepped forward. Then, two more followed. Then, three more did the same, until every person stepped forward. Justin smiled to himself confidently.
* * *
Two days passed, and there was no sign of Guido. Justin began to grow nervous. What's taking him so long, Justin thought to himself. Even with all of the villagers helping us, we can't beat that many Battlers by ourselves! It didn't take long for the third day to pass, and there was still no sign of Guido. The villagers were beginning to lose hope. A small number of them left the city in fear.
"Justin, are you sure this will work?" Feena asked him that night, in the hotel.
"Well, I hope it does," he answered as he sat on his bed. "I can't promise anything, however."
Feena walked up and sat down beside him. "Are you scared?"
Justin chuckled to himself. "Scared? What is there to be scared of? Our odds are pretty good. There are at least five hundred of us, and several thousand of them." He then noticed that Feena was eyeing him suspiciously. "Aw, who am I kidding?! I'm not just scared. I'm paranoid!! I'm on the verge of having a nervous breakdown! I've nearly chewed my fingernails to the bone! I don't just have butterflies in my stomach. I have Rock Birds!" He paused. "But I'm still going to fight. My determination is much stronger than my fear." He looked up at Feena. "Are you scared?"
Feena smiled slightly. "I've never been more afraid in all my life. We could lose our lives when the Battlers arrive."
"You know, Feena, you don't have to fight if you're to afraid."
"I know. But...I'm not going to back down. I want to fight. I want to protect this city."
* * *
The next morning, Guido finally returned. And he did find reinforcements. He brought back with him at least a thousand warriors from Laine, Cafu, Gumbo, Dight, and Garlyle. Among them were old friends, including Gadwin and Milda.
"You think I've-a brought enough, Justin?" Guido asked with a big smile.
"Oh, wow!" Justin exclaimed as he looked at the reinforcements. "Guido, you're awesome!"
Guido had actually brought more than enough. Their numbers now lingered in the thousands, and their chances of defeating the Battlers were much higher.
TO BE CONTINUED
"So," Justin began as he stepped back through the portal and into the library. "Anyone have a plan?"
"Well," Leen spoke up. "the Battlers should be on their way to Zil Padon right now...just as it did last time."
"You mean we have to protect Zil Padon...again?!"
"Of course, Justin," Feena replied. "Zil Padon is the closest city to Gaia, so it would obviously be taken first."
"Well, we've done it before. We can do it again, can't we?"
"It won't be so easy this time," Liete told him. Gaia is much stronger now, remember?"
"Oh, right."
"Stop wasting time, already!" Feena exclaimed. "We have to get to Zil Padon, NOW!"
Liete raised her staff, and it emitted the same bright light that had teleported them to her library. When the light ceased, they all found themselves in the middle of Zil Padon. The city was still peaceful...for now.
"We're going to need all the help we can get," Justin informed the others. "You all stay here and watch for the Battlers. I'm heading over to Guido's."
"I'll come with you," Feena volunteered.
Justin and Feena ran to the Mogay village at the other end of the city, found Guido's house, and knocked at the door.
"Hey, Guido!" they both called from outside the door. "Guido, let us in!"
"I'm-a coming!" Guido called back from inside. The door swung open, and Guido stood in the doorway. "Yes? Who is it?" He looked up at his two visitors. Suddenly, his eyes bugged wide open and his ears hung limply from his head. Then, to Justin and Feena's surprise, he emitted a high- pitched scream, quickly slammed the door, and pushed loads of furniture against it.
"Guido, what's wrong?!" Feena asked.
"GO AWAY!!" Guido screamed. "PLEASE, LEAVE-A ME BE!!!"
"Guido, it's only us!" Justin exclaimed.
"I'VE-A DONE-A NOTHING-A TO YOU!! WHY HAVE-A YOU COME-A BACK-A TO HAUNT-A ME SO?!!! WHAT-A KEEPS-A YOU FROM-A RESTING IN-A PEACE?!!"
"Guido, what are you talking about?!!"
"Justin, he still believes that we're dead," Feena reminded him.
"JUST-A GO AWAY!!!" Guido called out. "I'VE-A GOT-A HOLY WATER AND I'M-A NOT AFRAID-A TO USE IT!!!"
"Guido, we're not dead!!!"
"WHERE'S-A THAT-A HOLY WATER?!! I KNOW IT'S AROUND-A HERE SOMEWHE.... Come again?"
"We're not dead, Guido."
"Justin...Feena...still...still alive?" Guido removed the furniture from the door and opened it. "Justin! Feena!" he exclaimed, his arms outstretched. He then pulled them into a surprisingly tight group hug, making Justin and Feena gasp for air. "Still alive! Still alive! Can't-a believe it! Can't-a believe it!" He finally let go of them so they could breathe. "Fancy that! Even-a the Sea Gods-a themselves-a couldn't-a dispose of-a you two!!"
"I guess not!" Justin replied. "Sorry about your boat, though."
"Oh, you two are much-a more important-a than-a some old-a boat. Besides, I have insurance!"
"Listen, Guido, we don't have much time. Zil Padon is in danger!"
"What-a do you mean?"
"You remember Gaia?"
"Yes."
"Well, it turns out that Gaia hasn't really been beaten. It's still active, and has evolved once again!" There was a long pause from Guido. "And, it has sent a very large army of Gaia Battlers to take the city!"
Guido's eyes widened with concern. "Oh my. Oh my!"
"We need your help, Guido. This whole city needs all of our help."
"Have-a you told anyone about-a this?"
"No."
"I need-a you to alert-a the citizens. We'll-a build an army of our own!" He quickly began to walk away.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I'll-a be back in a couple of-a days. I'm-a setting off-a to look-a for-a reinforcements."
"But we may not have a couple of days! Guido!!" But before he could stop him, Guido disappeared down the street. "Think he'll be back in time?" Justin asked Feena.
"I hope," she replied. "But, I wouldn't worry too much. Guido's pretty reliable."
They ran to the fountain at the center the city. "Hey! Everyone! Listen to me!" Justin called out to the villagers around him. He climbed up onto the fountain's ledge so everyone could see and hear him. The villagers gathered around him with confused looks on their faces. "Listen," he began. "You all probably remember us as the Hero and Icarian who defeated Gaia. But, it turns out that...well...Gaia is still alive. And it has sent an army of Gaia Battlers to conquer Zil Padon."
There was a fearful murmur from Justin's audience. "How many are there?" one man asked.
"Uh...about...several...thousand," Justin estimated.
"Several thousand?!!" some onlookers exclaimed. "We don't stand a chance!!" a woman cried out. "I say we evacuate the city!!" a few people suggested.
"Hey!" Justin shouted to get their attention again. "The very last thing we need to do is panic! This is where you all live! Are you just going to let those Battlers take it away? We have to defend the city. We've done it before, and we can surely do it again! I'll fight to the death if I have to! So, who's with me?" There was a long pause from the villagers. "Hey, I can't blame any of you for being afraid. If you won't fight, I'll understand."
After a minute, one person stepped forward. Then, two more followed. Then, three more did the same, until every person stepped forward. Justin smiled to himself confidently.
* * *
Two days passed, and there was no sign of Guido. Justin began to grow nervous. What's taking him so long, Justin thought to himself. Even with all of the villagers helping us, we can't beat that many Battlers by ourselves! It didn't take long for the third day to pass, and there was still no sign of Guido. The villagers were beginning to lose hope. A small number of them left the city in fear.
"Justin, are you sure this will work?" Feena asked him that night, in the hotel.
"Well, I hope it does," he answered as he sat on his bed. "I can't promise anything, however."
Feena walked up and sat down beside him. "Are you scared?"
Justin chuckled to himself. "Scared? What is there to be scared of? Our odds are pretty good. There are at least five hundred of us, and several thousand of them." He then noticed that Feena was eyeing him suspiciously. "Aw, who am I kidding?! I'm not just scared. I'm paranoid!! I'm on the verge of having a nervous breakdown! I've nearly chewed my fingernails to the bone! I don't just have butterflies in my stomach. I have Rock Birds!" He paused. "But I'm still going to fight. My determination is much stronger than my fear." He looked up at Feena. "Are you scared?"
Feena smiled slightly. "I've never been more afraid in all my life. We could lose our lives when the Battlers arrive."
"You know, Feena, you don't have to fight if you're to afraid."
"I know. But...I'm not going to back down. I want to fight. I want to protect this city."
* * *
The next morning, Guido finally returned. And he did find reinforcements. He brought back with him at least a thousand warriors from Laine, Cafu, Gumbo, Dight, and Garlyle. Among them were old friends, including Gadwin and Milda.
"You think I've-a brought enough, Justin?" Guido asked with a big smile.
"Oh, wow!" Justin exclaimed as he looked at the reinforcements. "Guido, you're awesome!"
Guido had actually brought more than enough. Their numbers now lingered in the thousands, and their chances of defeating the Battlers were much higher.
TO BE CONTINUED
