Over the next few days, several Perloon scholars are boated in from Grundo at the request of the king of the Illipers. They examine the rocks with all sorts of instruments the monks had never seen or heard of before. A tall, lanky man with thinning hair and a beard scratches his head and takes notes, muttering to himself what appears to be "it doesn't make sense" under his breath. This causes several monk onlookers to stare back and forth at each other in curiosity. The head of The Order approaches the gentlemen, offering them water and refreshments for their service.

Balding Perloon Man: "I don't get it. I just don't get it. My geo-spectrometer is going nuts near these rocks. Upon introspection, it appears as though the rocks are of crystalline structure, very hard and very dense. They'd likely be much easier to study without all the excess of lesser materials."

The head of The Order raises a brow.

Father: "Lesser materials?"

Blond Perloon Man: "Mostly silicates, iron, calcium, various minerals that are no more common than what can be found on our own planet."

Father: "I see. So, what do you suggest?"

Balding Perloon Man: "I think if we can isolate the crystalline structure within, and remove all the impurities, we can find out just what kind of strange powers these crystals have."

Father: "Crystals?"

Blond Perloon Man: "Yes sir, er, father. I think our local gem cutter would be most fascinated in having the opportunity to cut these rocks into prisms for you."

Balding Perloon Man: "Another thing of note is that each of these rocks seems to give off different auras. The geo-spectrometer reacts to each rock uniquely."

The elder Illiop looks at the rocks with a sense of shock and wonder.

Father: "Incredible! Simply incredible! Thank you, gentlemen. We will heed your advice and present them to a gem cutter at the next available possibility."

The two gentlemen pack up their tools, attaching them in holsters and storing others in rucksacks, and they bid The Order adieu.

Blonde Perloon Man: "It was a pleasure to have served you and The Order."

Balding Perloon Man: "Likewise."

Upon the morn the next day, the gems are transported via guarded carriage to a gem cutter in the northwest section of Grundo. The king of the Ilipers has requested a viewing of the rocks, in both their raw and crystalline form, and observes the cutting of the gems. From the rocks, the mineral deposits and impurities are segregated. The king requests the impurities so that he may place them into a museum for preservation so that the Illipers and guests can get to behold actual space rocks for their own pleasure. The Order agrees, and from the rocks, seven beautiful white prisms are produced. They each radiate with a beauty unlike any had ever seen.

The Crystals are then taken throughout the land of the Illipers, studied by philosophers and scientific minds alike, and subjected to many experiments, and the conductors find themselves astonished at the results, as well as the onlookers. One, in particular, a familiar figure shrouded in mystery, takes notes as each Crystal is determined to have unique magical powers.

The first Crystal, upon the subjection of stress, has been determined to have the power of altering the density and size of cellular structures, creating a unified cellular growth or reduction, depending on the focus of the energy. Crystal number two has been determined to be capable of copying and replicating the cellular structures of anything in its vicinity. The third Crystal, oddly enough, is capable of camouflage by increasing cellular transparency tenfold. The fourth Crystal, without even testing, has been proven to give off an aura of oxygen, demonstrated by the constant air permeating from the rock, and when subjected to water, creates a constant stream of bubbles. Crystal number five has been determined to be capable of rapidly accelerating the cellular structure of living beings, causing them to move at incredible speeds. The sixth Crystal manipulates the cellular structure in a way that causes the cells to separate, creating weightlessness and allowing for flight. The Seventh Crystal, most peculiar of all, when subjected to testing, causes all of the scientists in the room to be filled with an unshakable feeling of ecstasy and hope.

For the seventh Crystal, an individual was brought in for testing who was determined to be quite irritable and miserable his whole life. When presented with the seventh Crystal, he was suddenly filled with such overwhelming joy that he wept at the sudden alien feeling of happiness within him, and declared it to be a miracle. This crystal fascinated The Order most of all, impressing them beyond all the scientific phenomena. A certain individual sweats as he takes his notes. In a hurried dash, he exits the building, rushing for the local stable to find a quick mount.

With great haste the spy treks across the land. His face is filled with urgency and the sweat on his brow persists, despite the wind. From one castle to another, in the far east, his steed beats across the dry, arid land. At a local stable, he dismounts, tying the creature with such haste that it immediately breaks free of its bond. The spy insists he has no time to wrangle the creature as he pushes through other similar hooded figures that give him a dirty look as he passes by as if admonishing his rudeness. The spy enters a massive black-stoned castle that tears a hole into the sky in its verticality and clings to the land with aggression in its horizontality through its flying buttresses.

Through a long, elegant hall, down a carpet that extends through like an ornate snake's tongue, and through massive grand doors, he stumbles breathlessly to a man wearing a long silky indigo, almost black robe that trails on the floor behind him. He stands at a window, sipping from a glass of wine. The figure is tall and imposing, but mostly, hideous. His skin is of a sickly beige color and his face is gaunt. His eyes are sunken in and red at the cornea as if containing all of the hatred of the world within them. His hair is long, stringy, grey, and thinning at the hairline. He twirls his wine in his glass as he turns to face his underling, speaking with a gruff voice through long, jagged fangs.

Spy: "Lord Ewig, sir, my master, my magical liege—"

Ewig rolls his eyes. His pupils glow a bright red as he addresses his spy.

Ewig: "Do get on with it."

Spy: "Yes, I-I'm sorry sir."

Ewig: "What have you to report, my disciple?"

Spy: "Seven Crystals, sire."

Ewig's eyes grow big, but he plays it cool as if he doesn't know what his underling speaks of.

Spy: "Seven rocks fell from space. The Illiops I've been spying on in Rillonia have recovered them. Sire, it's almost as if you predicted they would be there when you sent me there."

He laughs nervously, and Ewig continues to scowl at him in pity and disgust.

Ewig: "I have no idea what you're talking about. As powerful as I am, I cannot predict the future. I can create life..."

He conjures a tiny yellow bird in his palm that tweets and looks up at Ewig with eyes of pure, as Ewig stares at the creature with apathy before closing his palm and opening it.

Ewig: "And just as easily can I take it away. I can speak to mother nature, command her..."

Immediately it begins to rain over the arid land in buckets. Lightning flashes in the sky.

Ewig: "And yet... there is magic that even eludes me."

The spy bows his head at the incredible feats of magic before him, praising him with great intensity. Ewig becomes immediately frustrated.

Spy: "What incredible power you have, my supreme darkness, my master of pure evil."

Ewig: "Surely you didn't rush here to stroke my ego. Get on with it!"

The spy, startled, takes his notepad out of his pocket, fumbling with it and ultimately dropping it on the floor, picking it up and going over his checklist, all as his master forms a throbbing vein in his forehead.

Spy: "There are seven Crystals, each with their own unique magical properties, ranging from shrinking and growing, to making things invisible, to making them super fast—"

Ewig waves his hand at him, signaling him to stop. Ewig turns around muttering to himself with his chin cupped in his gangly hand.

Ewig: "I see. So the Illiops have already done my work for me."

Spy: "I beg your pardon, my master but—"

Ewig: "Be gone! I am busy! We will speak more later. I have urgent business I must attend to."

Spy: "Yes, my master. Goodbye."

The spy bows and sees himself out, closing the door behind him. Ewig walks over to the counter to pour himself another glass of wine when a voice speaks to him.

?: "Come to me."

Ewig places his clawed hand on his temple as if suddenly experiencing a wicked migraine.

Ewig: "No... not the wretched voice again! Why won't you leave me be?!"

Outside of Ewig's window, past his balcony, a magical flight of stairs appears, ascending into the heavens. Ewig pours himself another glass of wine and downs the whole thing, grimacing as he approaches the window. He closes his eyes as he takes the step off of the balcony and onto the divine stairs.

Ewig: "Don't look down... Don't look down."

He ascends up the seemingly eternal flight of stairs slowly, making his way all the way into the sky. As he nears the atmosphere, he can feel himself growing short of breath. He is already panting and sweating heavily as he reaches the top where he is met with a strange purple and blue glow. At the top of the staircase is a marble platform, floating miles above the ground. As Ewig steps onto the platform, his footsteps become slower and slower. At the end of the marble platform rests an entity, a mass of pure black, with eyes of hell and a shapeless appearance. Ewig is hesitant to approach, irritating the black mass, and causing it to stretch its black hand out and pull Ewig in by some unknown force until he is mere feet before the towering black aura.

?: "Have you any news of their whereabouts?"

Ewig sweats profusely, not daring to look the being in the eyes.

Ewig: I do, great Astranalogous. The I-Illiops... t-they've received the C-crystals.

Astranalogous: This... peculiar name you've given me... what does it mean?"

Ewig: "L-l-like space. It means 'like space'."

Astranalogous raises its finger in contemplation.

Astranalogous: "I see."

Ewig: "W-w-what do you want me to do?"

Astranalogous: "These 'Illiop' creatures, have they any idea of the power they hold."

Ewig shrugs weightlessly, shivering.

Ewig: "I doubt it, although, they've already forged the Crystals from the remains of the meteorites."

Astranalogous: "You will seize my Crystals from them! Use any means necessary! Kill them if you must! They cannot be allowed to discover their true potential!"

Ewig just stares at Astranalogous, and the being becomes irritated.

Ewig: "What... are you?"

Astranalogous leans over, taking the tiny man by the chin in his massive hand. He stares directly into Ewig's soul.

Astranalogous: "I am that which devours all, that from which there is no escape, no life, no light, nothing. Eons ago, before this puny rock bore fruit, I was born from the death of a star as it collapsed in on itself, doomed to an eternity in a black void of emptiness. However, I escaped, and from the fragments of my birth formed seven Crystals embedded in rock. I need those Crystals. They must be destroyed. In the end, I will shroud the world in perpetual darkness. In the end, only the heartless will survive as the compassionate have their souls raptured, and sent to their doom in my place in the hellish nothingness of a black hole."

Ewig: "A-a-and what will you do with me... a-a-and my disciples?"

Astranalogous: "In aiding me, you too will live on, as will your disciples. When their feeble mortal bodies can no longer contain life, I will send them into the bodies of the raptured. They will live on, forever. Now... witness my power."

Ewig stands there as the black mass swirls in the sky above him. The formless mist dives into the eyes and mouth of Ewig. He writhes in pain as he can feel his body and soul burning. He screams in agony as Astranalogous enters his body. He claws at his face as featureless black eyes roll down into his original red colors. The fear dissipates from Ewig as he stands on the marble platform. He looks at his hands with a sense of wonder before sliding away in a black mist, reappearing once more in his castle. As the spy enters his dorm within the castle, Ewig approaches him from behind as if he wasn't there a second ago. He places his hand on the spy's shoulder, startling him.

Spy: "Ah!... Oh, master. It's just you."

The spy places his hand over his heart and breathes a sigh of relief.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "I want you to relay a message for me."

The spy points at himself stupidly.

Spy: "Me? But I was just there. I spied on the Illiops and reported my findings, just as you asked."

Ewig ignores the man, insisting on relaying his message.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "You will request the presence of the leader of The Order of the monastic Illiops. You will tell them the grand wizard Ewig requests their presence at the castle. Tell them... tell them that I have further information on the Crystals and that I may aid in discovering their true power."

Spy: "Yes... my master."

The spy leaves immediately, frustrated that he's gotten no sleep but nonetheless keen on fulfilling his duty. As he leaves, he summons the rest of his disciples. In the large opening lobby of the castle, Ewig addresses his disciples with his arms folded behind his back. He paces back and forth with an emotionless expression.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "I have a most important request of all of you. You are to travel outward to the island of Rillonia, and you are to find the Crystals. Slaughter every single Illiop in your wake."

Many of the disciples are shocked at not only the notion of murder, but by the complete lack of passion behind their master's voice, and his ability to utter the phrase without so much as a flinch or sign of regret. These disciples are magicians, not assassins, and even then, destroying an entire town of peaceful Illiops sounds like barbarism to them.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "The Illiops possess seven Crystals. As I call their leadership here, they will be left defenseless, without order, as I receive further intel in person from The Order. Once I have the information I need, they too will die by my hand. Destroy them, bring me my Crystals, and I shall bless all of you with the greatest gift imaginable... eternal life."

The spy makes his way over to Rillonia over the next couple of days, as the rest of the disciples of Ewig travel by boat using a route that will allow them to meet Rillonia in the south, where they could infiltrate by surprise. There they lie and wait for the signal, the red star in the sky. As requested, the spy meets with The Order face-to-face and requests the head of The Order. Excited, The head makes plans to sail out to Ewig's castle immediately.

Emmet and Keiras have been given orders to guard the Crystals while they're away. Sealed behind a glass case in the grand hall against a wall, Emmet and Keiras are stationed. They stand there, bored out of their minds.

Keiras: "Well, this is a fine mess we've gotten ourselves into, watching the Crystals for some monks."

Emmet: "It's better than our usual station. I hear these things have some sort of magical powers."

Keiras leisurely leans back against the wall with his paws behind his head.

Keiras: "You really believe that hoo-hah?"

Emmet: "Would monks lie to us about something like that?"

Keiras: "I suppose not, but if they wanted them to be safe, they would have told nobody they were magical at all. I mean, think about it. How much danger does that make if they are magic as opposed to non-magic ones?"

Emmet: "I suppose a bit more danger, but think about it. That means there is a bit of weight behind this job like we're protecting something that could possibly be stolen. Who cares about a bunch of regular old rocks when you could get some magic ones?"

Keiras concedes.

Keiras: "You make a good point, Em."

Keiras walks over to the Crystals. As he approaches to look in the case and gaze at them, one starts to glow among them. Startled, Keiras falls back.

Keiras: "Emmet! Look at this!"

As Emmet approaches, another Crystal glows.

Keiras: "Now another one's doing it!"

Emmet: "What in the world?"

Both Keiras and Emmet find their bond with the rocks as they continue to shine brightly in their presence. Beyond the strange glowing, the night goes as planned, and the duo departs upon their shifts ending as they're replaced by their skeleton crew counterparts. Keiras and Emmet can't help but think about the Crystals well into the next day. As Emmet goes to his standard daily post, he's completely mystified and inattentive. Melody and Cocoa walk by him several times without him even noticing them, and it frustrates them immensely, especially Melody.

Melody: "Hello, Emmet? Rillonia to Emmet? Come in, space boy."

Emmet: "Huh?"

Melody stands there with her arms folded. Emmet starts to blush uncontrollably around her. Cocoa just shakes her head in disappointment. She smirks as she teases Emmet.

Cocoa: "Tsk tsk tsk. You really got the hots for Mel, don't you?"

Emmet: "What?!"

Melody shoves Cocoa as she giggles onto the ground.

Melody: "Emmet Ruxpin! I tire of this game of you playing hard to get, so I'm gonna be the one with the pants and just be upfront about it!"

Emmet is completely and hopelessly confused. He has no idea what she's talking about. He backs into the wall as she approaches, pointing at him almost threateningly.

Emmet: "Wuh-whatever do you mean?"

Melody: "I know that you really, really like me, Emmet Ruxpin, but you're too much of a chicken to ask me out, so I'm gonna do it for you."

She then relaxes her mood, straightens herself up, and leans up against him, pinning him to the wall.

Melody: "How would you like to go on a date with me tonight?"

Emmet has no idea how to react. He's just frozen in place.

Melody: "Cocoa?"

She snaps her fingers, and Cocoa splashes Emmet in the face with a touch of water from her canteen.

Melody: "Thanks."

Cocoa: "No problem. So happy to be of service."

Melody taps her foot.

Melody: "Well?"

Emmet: "Yes! Yes of course!"

Melody: "Great! Meet me tonight at sundown at the bonfire on the southern beach. I have some friends coming over and I'd love for you to be there. Oh, and bring that Keiras with you. Tell him Cocoa would like to see him. He'll know what it means."

She winks at him, and Emmet falls to the ground, positively melted with a stupid grin on his face. Cocoa and Melody look at each other.

Cocoa: "I think you broke him."

The two girls walk away, leaving Emmet Ruxpin a smitten mess on the ground. He indeed tells Keiras and Keiras is completely ecstatic the second he hears Cocoa's name leave his lips. That night, Emmet, Keiras, Melody, and Cocoa all sit outside of a campfire, roasting various treats.

Keiras: "This was a great idea, Mel."

Melody: "Thanks Keiras, I'm glad you decided to show up. I was afraid for a second you wouldn't."

Keiras throws his arm around Cocoa.

Keiras: "And miss the opportunity to catch up with an old flame? I really missed you, Coconut."

Cocoa: "And I missed you, you big ol' plush toy of a man."

Keiras: "Are you calling me soft?"

She walks her fingers up his chest and boops him on the nose.

Cocoa: "Only on the outside, sugar."

They all laugh. Emmet, as usual, continues to remain quiet until Melody places her paw on his lap. She smiles at him.

Melody: "Hey, Em? You don't have to be nervous anymore. I really like you."

Emmet: "You really do? I mean, I'm not that interesting. I mostly just do my job, go home, eat dinner, read a book and go to bed. I'm really boring, really."

Melody: "That's not boring. Do you have any idea how few guys like to read books anymore?"

Cocoa: "I haven't seen Keiras pop open a book in years."

Keiras: "Hey, come on now, you haven't even BEEN here in years. How can you say that?"

Cocoa: "I'll get you up to snuff on some of those Grunge books I brought for the kids at the library."

Keiras: "Sure, I'll check 'em out. Hey, wait a minute, you're not saying I only read kid books are you?"

They all laugh.

Cocoa: "Well, I did catch you nose deep into 'The Fuzziest Caterpillar'."

Keiras: "That's a bestseller!"

They laugh even harder.

Melody: "See, Emmet? We're all among friends here. If there's anything you need to say—"

Emmet: "I've always liked you. Ever since high school, I couldn't stop thinking about you. When you walk by my post it makes me difficult to concentrate. I've always loved everything about you: your long, brown hair, your pretty, chocolate eyes, your sweet personality, and that VOICE, that beautiful voice, like an angel's voice. I never heard anything like it, that one time you got up on stage at the local theater, and you played those lovely ballads you wrote, what was it, 'Dashing Knight in the Field of Daisies' you called it? The most beautiful song I ever heard. I was right there in the front row that night, watching you, on your acoustic guitar."

Melody: "I know... I saw you."

Emmet is taken aback.

Emmet: "You... you did?"

Melody: "Yes, I did. And do you know who that song was for?"

Emmet scratches his head.

Emmet: "Some tough and brave knight standing out in a field of daisies?"

Melody: "No, silly. It was about you."

Emmet: "Me? I'm no knight in shining armor. I'm just some guard—"

She hushes him with a finger to his muzzle.

Melody: "Shush. You need to stop downplaying your importance to this town. What you and Keiras do every day is brave, whether your nights are eventful or not. You two go out there every night, and you keep Rillonia safe. We can all rest easy knowing the two bravest Illiops in all of Rillonia are standing over us like guardian angels. Don't ever downplay your importance."

Emmet looks at her shamefully.

Emmet: "You're right... and I do like you, just as much as you like me... perhaps more."

Cocoa is sitting there with a big cheesy grin, arm-in-arm with Keiras, leaning her head on his shoulder as she gushes over the goofy couple in front of her.

Cocoa: "Those two are just precious. Can we be precious?"

Keiras: "I don't wanna be precious. I'm a knight. Knights don't do precious."

She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. Emmet remembers something.

Emmet: "Hey Mel, I'd like to show you something, both of you, actually."

Melody: "Really?"

Cocoa is excited. Her eyes grow huge.

Cocoa: "Ooh! What is it, Emmet?"

Emmet: "It's at the monastery, locked behind a closed case. It's the Crystals. They behave strangely whenever Keiras and I stand before them."

Melody: "Huh, really? I never actually got to see those Crystals."

Cocoa: "From what I understand, those Crystals are actually what we saw falling to the ground the other day, right?"

Keiras: "That's correct. The Order says they have magic powers, so when they started acting weirdly around me and Emmet, it really startled us."

Melody: "I'd like to check them out."

Cocoa: "Yeah, me too!"

Emmet: "Alright then."

The party extinguishes the fire and makes their way over to the monastery to show Melody and Cocoa the mysterious Crystals. Far off in Ewig's castle, the leader of The Order is to meet with Ewig. He and several members of the Order greet themselves as they and Ewig exchange formalities before being seated at a grand table in a massive marble room.

Ewig (Astranalogous): Gentlemen, it pleases me to no end to know that you've discovered this magical... phenomenon.

Father: "I was told that you could assist us in revealing the true nature of the Crystals."

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Of course. But tell me, where are the Crystals in the first place?"

Father: "Oh, we kept them safe and sound at home knowing full well of the kind of people that could wind up taking them."

Ewig stares at the man with endless contempt in his eyes, not once blinking as he utters the next sentence, allowing the displeasure to roll off his tongue.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "That would be most... inconvenient."

The Order looks at each other and laughs nervously. Ewig never once changes expression.

Father: "Yes, of course."

The head of The Order barely makes his sentence out before Ewig inquires of him once more. He paces around the table with his arms behind his back in a slow and deliberate fashion.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Ever since you've discovered the Crystals, I've wondered, what could possibly be achieved through their use? In order for me to teach you how to wield magic, you must tell me what knowledge your science has procured."

Father clears his throat. Suddenly he finds himself short of breath as he explains the experiments.

Father: "Well, we've discovered that the Crystals are capable of various feats that modern science has not made possible on its own yet, such phenomena as shrinking and enlarging, hastening of oneself, invisibility, multiplication, generating oxygen, and creating flight.

As Ewig paces around the room, he stops behind father, leaning his neck within the head of the Order's personal space like a crane with devious red eyes at the end.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Six powers. I counted six individual powers."

Father: "Well, the truth is, the seventh Crystal remains an enigma. All we have managed to ascertain is that it is capable of making individuals happy. But it may very well be a dud."

Ewig (Astranalogous): "I assure you it is not."

The head of The Order scratches his head as he inquires once more of Ewig as he stands at the foot of the table with his back turned to them.

Father: "So, have you been able to ascertain through our information whether or not you'll be able to aid us in these miraculous findings."

Ewig stands with his back turned as he addresses The Order.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Unfortunately, gentlemen. I will not be able to assist you. And unfortunately for me... you are no longer of any worth to me."

From underneath Ewig's dark purple cloak forms multiple wicked black tentacles that rise up from underneath the table, impaling many of the Illiops. The rest are lifted into the air and their necks are snapped. The bodies are then dropped from several feet in the air, slamming into the table, through chairs, and onto the floor. Their deaths were mercifully instant. Several cloaked figures enter the large room to find multiple Illiops scattered across the floor in an undignified and disgraceful fashion. The cloaked figures gaze at their master with shock and concern as his eyes blare an ominous red glow. Ewig points to one cloaked member.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Clean up this mess."

He then addresses the rest.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "You will follow me. Together... we will take the Crystals."

Back in Rillonia, several hours before these horrific events, a certain mischievous Illiop is sneaking around the monastery, already donned in a ninja getup. Joshua sneaks around and prowls across ceilings. He wants to get a good look at the Crystals as well. He stands there in the doorway with a Cheshire cat grin as he makes sure the coast is clear. Just as he thinks he's alone, another Illiop places his paw on his shoulder. Joshua jumps nearly a foot into the air and raises his paws in surrender.

Joshua: "Gah! I didn't do it!"

Tauben: "Joshua, what are you doing here in the middle of the night dressed like that? Are you trying to get yourself arrested? You look like a thief!"

Joshua: "Keep your voice down. And me? A thief? Sir, I am offended."

He folds his arms in defiance and turns his nose up at his friend.

Tauben: "Look, what are you doing here?"

Joshua: "I wanted to see the Crystals, the reason you bailed on our game the other day."

Tauben: "Hey, I'm sorry, but you really shouldn't be here in the middle of the night."

Just as he speaks, Emmet, Keiras, Melody, and Cocoa walk through the side doors. Emmet and Keiras use their authority to insist to the other guards that they have clearance and they're let in to observe the Crystals. Emmet finds it strange that Tauben is up at this time of night, and is more surprised that Joshua is there. Emmet knows Joshua as a local troublemaker, but he's never actually broken any laws, just caused minor mishaps throughout Rillonia.

Emmet: "What are you two doing here?"

Tauben: "Well, I live here, so I have every right to be here."

Emmet: "And you, Joshua?"

He inquires of Joshua with his arms folded and Keiras does the same, knowing well of Joshua's annoying behavior.

Joshua: "What? I just wanted to see the Crystals too."

Melody: "So we're all here for the same reason."

Cocoa: "I just wanted to see them because I heard they're pretty."

All six Illiops converge in the single great room before the case of Crystals and the case starts to glow with profound intensity. As they approach, all six of them, it grows brighter.

Keiras: "This is the same kind of glowing that the Crystals were doing when we first saw them."

Tauben: "They glow for you too?"

Emmet: "Yeah. For some reason, they all seem to be glowing."

Joshua: "Except for the one in the middle"

Keiras: "That's a good point. What's with the seventh Crystal in the center? It's not glowing at all."

Cocoa: "Guys... do you think it's no coincidence that we're all here?"

Melody: "What do you mean, sis?"

Cocoa: "I mean, what if the Crystals have been calling us here because they needed us?"

Joshua: "That's a really strange coincidence, but I think it's true."

Tauben: "The first time I saw the Crystals, It was like they were calling me, and I could hear them."

Emmet: "Me too."

Keiras: "Me also."

Joshua: "Whoa. This is too freaky. We've all been having these voices in our heads?"

Melody: "I didn't want to say anything earlier, but I've been hearing them too as if someone was calling us here. I didn't want to freak anyone out."

Cocoa: "That's a relief, 'cause I was having them too."

Outside, it has begun. From outside, sudden explosions and screams of fear ring through the air. Emmet runs to the window to see what's the matter. He gazes in horror as flames erupt into the sky and civilians all across Rillonia are slain and scattered across the ground. Hooded figures run amok and fire spells from their outstretched hands as Illiops run with no avail into their homes.

Emmet: "They're killing people! Keiras! We have to go and help them!"

Keiras grabs Emmet by the wrist.

Keiras: "Emmet! I bet they're here for the Crystals!"

Emmet: "Then let's give them to them! They're out there killing people, Keiras!

Tauben: "No! We can't give them the Crystals. Have you any idea what they're capable of?! They have incredible powers, and would only make those monsters out there even more dangerous!"

Melody: "What do we do?!"

Cocoa: "Those Crystals all reacted to us, right? Maybe that means that they've chosen us... as some sort of protectors. Maybe they want us to use them to fight off the evil that's been sent here."

Joshua: "But we don't even know how to use them."

Emmet: "Cocoa is right. We need to take these Crystals and defend them with our lives! We must stop these madmen from destroying all of Rillonia."

They each grab their Crystal, leaving the inactive one in the box as the front door to the monastery bursts open, and cloaked figures fill the room. The six Illiops are trapped. From behind the hooded individuals, a cackle of maniacal laughter echoes throughout the halls, as in steps the tall figure of Ewig.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Hand over the Crystals or we will send Rillonia to the deepest reaches of hell."

Emmet: "Never! We will never surrender to monsters like you!"

Keiras: "Where do you get this idea that you can just march in here, kill hundreds of people and then negotiate?!"

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Worthless creatures, if you will not hand me the Crystals, I will take them from you!"

Ewig reaches out his long, skeletal hand to cast a deadly spell upon the heroes, jolting a long red bold of lightning straight at Emmet and the others. They flinch, closing their eyes and embracing doom as the Crystals glow brightly in their hands, surrounding them with an aura of protection. Ewig is furious and confused.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "What is this? The Crystals have chosen six individuals, all Illiops?"

Melody: "That's right. And that means you don't stand a chance against us! So leave, and never return to Rillonia!"

The six heroes look at Ewig with a sense of accomplishment and smug superiority as Ewig merely smirks at them.

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Only one small problem. There are six of you, and seven Crystals. I will not fall when you are one short."

Emmet: "Maybe not! But we'll do whatever it takes to defeat you!"

Ewig (Astranalogous): "Brave boy. Let's see how brave you are when you face OBLITERATION!"

Ewig fires all of the violent magical energy he can at the Illiops and it all deflects off of the Crystals, out into the air and destroying the room around them.

Keiras: "How do we fight them back?!"

Emmet looks at Melody, who's terrified beyond belief, before getting an idea. He turns to Ewig, and with an expression of pure confidence, he announces just how they'll win.

Emmet: "We'll fight evil like we always do, the only way to fight it, with all the love in our hearts, for each other, and for ALL of Rillonia! We will not stop until you are gone, forever! We promise you this!"

The Crystals emanate pure energy.

Emmet: "We must focus! Find all of the love in your heart and concentrate on it. Remember all of the fallen loved ones out there. Remember the friendship we've formed here today, the family of past, present, and future! We must destroy this darkness with all of our love!"

As Ewig concentrates all of the hate and negative energy on the Crystals, he finds himself in a power struggle with an ever-growing beam of purity and light. As the light makes contact with Ewig, the darkness of Astranalogous is brought out into the light and Ewig collapses upon the floor.

Astranalogous: "You fools! I will cast you all into a black hole to suffer for all of eternity!"

The Illiops concentrate with all of their love and ferocity on the continued beam of negativity cast out by Astranalogous. As they find themselves weakening, Emmet recalls his love for Melody, and Keiras for Cocoa, and the girls reciprocate. Tauben recalls his love for The Order and his family, and Joshua, all of his new and old friends present here today. The beam of light becomes filled with a remarkable amount of energy and Astranalogous finds that it can no longer hold the beam back. As the beam makes contact with it, it screams a wail of piercing agony, evaporating into the air and jolting into the sky with such force that it rumbles the already destabilizing monastery. The foundation finds that it can no longer support the weakened roof and the walls start to collapse in on themselves.

Emmet: "We have to get out of here!"

Keiras: "But the last Crystal!"

Melody: "And the warlock!"

Cocoa: "We have no time! We must leave, now!"

The six depart from the collapsing building as Ewig crawls back into consciousness.

Ewig: "Argh... the seventh Crystal! I must have it!"

Ewig climbs to his feet, stumbling over to the seventh Crystal and pocketing it before tearing open a portal with the last of his magic and limping inside. The monastery collapses before the six Crystal bearers. Melody and Cocoa sob openly into Emmet and Keiras' arms as they mourn the loss of many Rillonians that day. Ewig retreats to his castle. As he shambles weakly into his chair in his great room beneath his dorm, he takes the bottle of wine and weakly begins to pour a glass as his trembling hands can barely grasp the bottle. As he fills the goblet with liquid. He looks up into the sky. Above him appear red eyes, and following them, a furious mass like black fire. The weakened Astranalogous is furious.

Ewig: "I am so weak. I don't think I can make it."

Astranalogous: "This is not your failure, but ours. Nonetheless, we have but a small victory. The seventh Crystal is ours, and the Illiops have not figured out what it truly does."

Ewig: "If you don't mind me asking, my lord and master... in my dying request, I merely ask, what IS the power of the seventh Crystal?"

Astranalogous gazes right into Ewig's dying eyes and mutters.

Astranalogous: "They represent the following attributes: imagination, honesty, bravery, trust, friendship, and freedom, and were to present themselves to individuals of pure hearts. The seventh Crystal, however, was never meant for an individual of pure heart, but for a wounded soul. The seventh Crystal represents redemption. It has been told through prophecy over centuries that 'one bathed in darkness will be guided by a single speck of light, straight to the source, where he will be cleansed, and the darkness will be banished forever. This cannot happen. It will not! I will not allow it! It is why I will spare you the last of my energy. Do with it as you must. Preserve the darkness, and you... will live forever, with me."

Astranalogous grants Ewig the last of its power, and once more they are one. Ewig uses his fleeting magic to create a black box. Within the box, he places the seventh crystal. The box would not open for anyone, but it would hide the true nature of the Crystal, instead granting the powers of mind erasure and restoration. He knows the box is not full-proof, and that if the black box were ever to fall into the hands of the repenting soul, the redeemer would shatter the box, and the seventh Crystal would bear its true form once again. Many days later, the dying Ewig and Astranalogous would be approached by the six Crystal bearers at the castle, vowing revenge and swearing to finish them.

In a last-ditch effort, Ewig casts a spell that causes the castle to sink into the dirt. The six Crystal bearers, triumphant in their fight against evil, take the box and narrowly escape from the castle as it sinks deep within the dirt, leaving not a trace of its remains. Emmet and his friends gaze at the black box, wondering if the seventh Crystal is truly within.

Ewig would remain within his castle in the dirt, left to die. As promised, Astranalogous takes its fleeing followers up to the beyond, where they would stay forever, undying, and unliving. Their mortal bodies would fade away, and Astranalogous would promise them new ones, so that they may truly live forever under the darkness. No longer able to sustain life, Ewig drinks one more glass of wine, this time laced with poison. He writhes in agony, alone on his throne in a prison of his own making, his own personal hell within a sunken castle. That is where his body would remain to the very day that Quellor would show up.

Back in the modern day, Quellor awakes, having witnessed it all. What was nearly a week had flashed before him in mere seconds. He knew and remembered it all. Ewig was his lost ancestor. His wife and children had left the castle long before the six Crystal bearers had arrived, and they would flee to the outskirts of Ying to be raised among the trolls. He remembered it all, his ancestors, his childhood, and his distant grandfather of five hundred years ago.

As the memory ends, the palm of the being before him loses all life and falls to its side. The body of Ewig disintegrates and turns to dust on the throne. Quellor gazes upon his hands and laughs maniacally as he becomes surrounded by a mass of black billowing tentacles. Sludge, Drudge, Trudge, and Grudge are all huddled in a mass of terror in the corner as Quellor turns around. He stares at his underlings with unfiltered hatred as they cower before him. Quellor lowers his cowl, revealing a sickly-looking face with beige skin, red eyes, long, thinning greyed hair slicked back with a deep widow's peak, and a fanged smile of razor-sharp, shark-like teeth.

Grudge: "S-s-supreme O-oppressor Quellor? Are you okay?"

Quellor (Astranalogous): "I am fine. And from now on, you will call me... Astranalogous."