Chapter Four: The Mysterious Crystal! Your'e the One.
Malachite studied Zoey's expression. Was it fear? Confusion? Both? It was
confusing and perhaps frightening for him, too, but he didn't show it. Zoey
on the other hand, she was transparent. He could easily see what she was
thinking. It was written all over her face in her expression.
"What other visions have you had?"
Zoey didn't seem to hear the question. She didn't answer.
"Zoycite?"
She raised emerald green eyes to meet his silvery-blue ones. "In a dream, you came into the room and you said not to be afraid. Then I said something, demo, I don't remember what."
"When was this?"
"When I woke up before we had that other vision."
Malachite said nothing. What did these visions mean? Why did they happen? What triggered them?
"Malachite?" Zoey asked.
"What is it?"
"This has nothing to do with the visions, but what is the Crystal of Azurite?"
"It is a powerful crystal. Very powerful. In fact, its power is so strong, it burns when you touch it. Only one person can stand to handle it, but unfortunately we haven't found that one person yet."
"Why does Obsidianite want it?"
"Power, of course. He's convinced it can control the universe." Malachite said, getting a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were remembering something.
"Can it?"
"We're not sure. I highly doubt it. Only the Imperium Silver Crystal can."
"Then what is the purpose of this Crystal of Azurite?" Zoey asked, confused.
"That is unknown. Since no one can handle it, its power is going to waste." Malachite explained.
"Have you ever tried to handle it?"
"Never." Malachite answered. "Obsidianite did, but the only thing that happened was he got burned badly."
Zoey thought for a moment. "Then does he want it if he is not the one who can handle it?"
Malachite shook his head. "He's not the same as he used to be. Something changed him. He never used to be power-hungry, selfish, vain, or anything he is now. He became a traitor to his cause, and I still don't know why."
"I'm sorry." Zoey said. "It must have been hard on you."
Malachite said nothing for a while. "Why don't we continue your training now, so we'll be ready next time they attack? Then we'll figure this out later."
"Okay."Zoey agreed. "I have a feeling he'll be back for that crystal."
"That's not the only thing he'll return for," Malachite made the mistake of thinking out loud.
Zoey frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You really have no idea? Didn't you hear that soldier? 'Master' Obsidianite has ordered them to capture you and take you back to his kingdom."
Zoey blinked. "N-nani? Nande?"
"That's one reason we need to continue your training. That way, you are not completely helpless, like Obsidianite thinks."
Zoey shuddered, remembering how she felt helpless against him when he held the knife to her throat. "No way am I going anywhere with that creep."
"You needn't worry, my dear, he won't get away with anything as long as I can help it." Malachite's face was serious.
"And who's gonna stop me? Your pretty little princess?" A sarcastic voice asked from above. Obsidianite's face hovered a good eight feet up in the air. Well, not his actual face, more like a hologram. "We meet again, 'my dear' Zoycite."
"I'm sorry, I don't seem to remember your name." Zoey replied sarcastically. "What was it? Termite?"
"Oh, but I remember yours." Obsidianite turned to Malachite. "I see the crystal's kept under close watch. Or is it just because I'm back?"
"That crystal is not treated as a toy. You can't handle it anyway, so I don't know why you even want it."
"Someone's got to be able to handle the crystal. And your kingdom isn't even trying to find the one who can. Its power is going to waste sitting here!"
"We have tried for years and no one's come along who can use the crystal. That one person to handle the crystal is someone who lives in the Negaverse. You do not live here any longer. You gave up any right to the crystal by leaving us. That's your own loss."
Obsidianite grew angry. "I will not give up! I'll get that crystal, Malachite! I will! You can count on it!" The image faded.
Zoey wondered if maybe she was the one who was able to handle the crystal. Azurite....why did it sound familiar? She felt as if it were something significant, something that had to do with her visions somehow. She shook her head. She decided to clear it form her mind. Don't think about it now, she told herself.
"Termite? That sounds nothing like his name."
Zoey looked confused. Then she remembered what he was talking about. "That wasn't the point."
Malachite shook his head, a slight smile on his face. "You're something else. Let's go to the Training Field."
"I don't think I want to go anywhere outside this castle right now."
"Then I've got another idea. Come with me," Malachite stood, taking Zoey by the arm.
"Where are we going?" Zoey asked, pulling her arm out of Malachite's grip.
"Just trust me." Malachite teleported the two of them to a strange, dark room. Zoey couldn't see anything.
"Where are we, Malachite?" Zoey asked in a whisper.
"You don't have to whisper," Malachite said in normal tone of voice, the sound of it echoing off the walls of the mostly empty room. "This is where the Crystal of Azurite is kept."
The youma guarding the door read the energy signatures of the two before letting them enter. Malachite held onto Zoey's wrist, leading the way through the darkness. His eyes were used to the dark, unlike Zoey, who'd lived her entire life on Earth.
The only light was the light the Crystal of Azurite gave off. It sat on a structure of some sort in the center.
"So this is the Crystal of Azurite?" Zoey studied it carefully.
"We're going to see if you can touch it."
"Nani? I'd rather not risk burning my hand off! I need my hands, thank you."
"It's not going to burn your hand off. If it does burn you, I'll pull your hand away." Malachite said. "Would you just trust me? I wouldn't hurt you, Zoycite." Because I love you, he added mentally. Where did that come from? He couldn't fall in love! Not now, not ever, not with anyone. It just wasn't possible.
Taking her hand, he removed her glove and pulled her over to the crystal. "If it burns you, all you have to do is say so and I'll take your hand off of the crystal." He pressed the palm of her hand to the Crystal of Azurite.
Instead of burning her hand like she expected, it didn't hurt at all. The crystal's surface felt warm, but not in a painful way. It was sort of comforting.
"Is it burning you?" Malachite asked.
Zoey didn't answer. She couldn't answer. She was lost in another vision. Was Zoey the one who could handle the crystal? Malachite didn't have time to think about it. He had to catch Zoey before she collapsed to the ground.
"Zoey! Zoey, answer me! Wake up, Zoycite!" Malachite knelt on the ground, his unconcious student in his arms. "Zoey!"
"I know that. Because I won't let her do anything to the kingdom. I wish to join the Earth's Army in my brother's place."
"Love, I don't think you should-"
"Why not, Malachite? I want to be with you, to fight by your side. I want to defend the Kingdom of Fire! I cn do it, I'm not as weak and fragile as I look."
"I don't doubt that, Zoycite. I just don't want you on the battlefield. I don't want you hurt, you could be killed out there."
"Then I'll die for my kingdom. I'm not gonna stand around while the Earth Army is short one general. I'm not gonna let you have the fun of getting revenge on Beryl without me. I hate her as much as you do."
Malachite took her hands in his. "I don't want you hurt. It's not that I don't believe in you, love-"
"I'm sorry Malachite, demo I'm going to join the Earth's Army and nothing you say is going to stop me."
"I won't argue with you then. I just want what's best for you." Malachite cupped one hand under her chin and kissed her lightly.
"Thank you, Malachite."
Zoey moaned softly and opened her eyes. She lying in Malachite's arms. What happened? Did he see this vision too? It took a few moments for Zoey to remember where they were and why they were there.
"Zoycite, look at your hand," Malachite said, holding her hand up for her to see. "The Crystal of Azurite didn't burn you at all, did it?"
"No," Zoey shook her head. "It didn't burn me at all."
"You're the one," Malachite said. "You re the one the Crystal of Azurite belongs to."
"Me?" Zoey was confused. "How? Why?"
"You had another vision, didn't you?"
"Hai," Zoey looked guiltily up at him.
"I saw your vision."
"Honto?"
"I think your being able to hold the crystal has to do with the Kingdom of Fire." Malachite said. "We just need to find out where this all ties together."
"I want answers!" Zoey declared, sitting up. "I want to know what this Kingdom of Fire is and what it has to do with me."
"You wanted to fight for it, so that must've meant you lived there?" Malachite wasn't sure either. "Do you have any siblings, Zoycite?"
"Not that I know of." Zoey answered. "I'm so confused. I'm not even sure of who I am anymore."
"You're Zoycite. General-In-Training of the Negaverse."
"Yeah, but that might not be who I've always been. Before that, I was Zoey, almost out of high school, and a normal person. Well, not really normal, but still. And now, I may be someone else."
"I don't care who you are. To me, you'll always be Zoycite."
Zoey only half heard what he said. She had too much to worry about. She wondered how much she could handle before she went clinically insane.
"We tell no one but Beryl-sama. If Obsidianite found out...." Malachite let his sentence trail.
Zoey nodded in agreement. "Okay." Obsidianite ws already after the crystal. She didn't want him to be after her too.
"What did you feel when you touched the crystal?"
"The crystal the itself felt warm with energy. It didn't burn, but it felt warm."
"Malachite, what do you think these visions are? The past? The future?"
"I wish I knew. If I did, I'd tell you." Malachite stood, helping Zoey to her feet. "We should go back to the castle now. I will tell Beryl-sama first thing tomorrow morning."
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Sorry, this wasn't as good as the rest, in my opinion. You might think differently. Please Review and tell me what you think. I was hving problems with ideas for the chapter. The next will be better, promise! Til next time!
"What other visions have you had?"
Zoey didn't seem to hear the question. She didn't answer.
"Zoycite?"
She raised emerald green eyes to meet his silvery-blue ones. "In a dream, you came into the room and you said not to be afraid. Then I said something, demo, I don't remember what."
"When was this?"
"When I woke up before we had that other vision."
Malachite said nothing. What did these visions mean? Why did they happen? What triggered them?
"Malachite?" Zoey asked.
"What is it?"
"This has nothing to do with the visions, but what is the Crystal of Azurite?"
"It is a powerful crystal. Very powerful. In fact, its power is so strong, it burns when you touch it. Only one person can stand to handle it, but unfortunately we haven't found that one person yet."
"Why does Obsidianite want it?"
"Power, of course. He's convinced it can control the universe." Malachite said, getting a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were remembering something.
"Can it?"
"We're not sure. I highly doubt it. Only the Imperium Silver Crystal can."
"Then what is the purpose of this Crystal of Azurite?" Zoey asked, confused.
"That is unknown. Since no one can handle it, its power is going to waste." Malachite explained.
"Have you ever tried to handle it?"
"Never." Malachite answered. "Obsidianite did, but the only thing that happened was he got burned badly."
Zoey thought for a moment. "Then does he want it if he is not the one who can handle it?"
Malachite shook his head. "He's not the same as he used to be. Something changed him. He never used to be power-hungry, selfish, vain, or anything he is now. He became a traitor to his cause, and I still don't know why."
"I'm sorry." Zoey said. "It must have been hard on you."
Malachite said nothing for a while. "Why don't we continue your training now, so we'll be ready next time they attack? Then we'll figure this out later."
"Okay."Zoey agreed. "I have a feeling he'll be back for that crystal."
"That's not the only thing he'll return for," Malachite made the mistake of thinking out loud.
Zoey frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You really have no idea? Didn't you hear that soldier? 'Master' Obsidianite has ordered them to capture you and take you back to his kingdom."
Zoey blinked. "N-nani? Nande?"
"That's one reason we need to continue your training. That way, you are not completely helpless, like Obsidianite thinks."
Zoey shuddered, remembering how she felt helpless against him when he held the knife to her throat. "No way am I going anywhere with that creep."
"You needn't worry, my dear, he won't get away with anything as long as I can help it." Malachite's face was serious.
"And who's gonna stop me? Your pretty little princess?" A sarcastic voice asked from above. Obsidianite's face hovered a good eight feet up in the air. Well, not his actual face, more like a hologram. "We meet again, 'my dear' Zoycite."
"I'm sorry, I don't seem to remember your name." Zoey replied sarcastically. "What was it? Termite?"
"Oh, but I remember yours." Obsidianite turned to Malachite. "I see the crystal's kept under close watch. Or is it just because I'm back?"
"That crystal is not treated as a toy. You can't handle it anyway, so I don't know why you even want it."
"Someone's got to be able to handle the crystal. And your kingdom isn't even trying to find the one who can. Its power is going to waste sitting here!"
"We have tried for years and no one's come along who can use the crystal. That one person to handle the crystal is someone who lives in the Negaverse. You do not live here any longer. You gave up any right to the crystal by leaving us. That's your own loss."
Obsidianite grew angry. "I will not give up! I'll get that crystal, Malachite! I will! You can count on it!" The image faded.
Zoey wondered if maybe she was the one who was able to handle the crystal. Azurite....why did it sound familiar? She felt as if it were something significant, something that had to do with her visions somehow. She shook her head. She decided to clear it form her mind. Don't think about it now, she told herself.
"Termite? That sounds nothing like his name."
Zoey looked confused. Then she remembered what he was talking about. "That wasn't the point."
Malachite shook his head, a slight smile on his face. "You're something else. Let's go to the Training Field."
"I don't think I want to go anywhere outside this castle right now."
"Then I've got another idea. Come with me," Malachite stood, taking Zoey by the arm.
"Where are we going?" Zoey asked, pulling her arm out of Malachite's grip.
"Just trust me." Malachite teleported the two of them to a strange, dark room. Zoey couldn't see anything.
"Where are we, Malachite?" Zoey asked in a whisper.
"You don't have to whisper," Malachite said in normal tone of voice, the sound of it echoing off the walls of the mostly empty room. "This is where the Crystal of Azurite is kept."
The youma guarding the door read the energy signatures of the two before letting them enter. Malachite held onto Zoey's wrist, leading the way through the darkness. His eyes were used to the dark, unlike Zoey, who'd lived her entire life on Earth.
The only light was the light the Crystal of Azurite gave off. It sat on a structure of some sort in the center.
"So this is the Crystal of Azurite?" Zoey studied it carefully.
"We're going to see if you can touch it."
"Nani? I'd rather not risk burning my hand off! I need my hands, thank you."
"It's not going to burn your hand off. If it does burn you, I'll pull your hand away." Malachite said. "Would you just trust me? I wouldn't hurt you, Zoycite." Because I love you, he added mentally. Where did that come from? He couldn't fall in love! Not now, not ever, not with anyone. It just wasn't possible.
Taking her hand, he removed her glove and pulled her over to the crystal. "If it burns you, all you have to do is say so and I'll take your hand off of the crystal." He pressed the palm of her hand to the Crystal of Azurite.
Instead of burning her hand like she expected, it didn't hurt at all. The crystal's surface felt warm, but not in a painful way. It was sort of comforting.
"Is it burning you?" Malachite asked.
Zoey didn't answer. She couldn't answer. She was lost in another vision. Was Zoey the one who could handle the crystal? Malachite didn't have time to think about it. He had to catch Zoey before she collapsed to the ground.
"Zoey! Zoey, answer me! Wake up, Zoycite!" Malachite knelt on the ground, his unconcious student in his arms. "Zoey!"
"I know that. Because I won't let her do anything to the kingdom. I wish to join the Earth's Army in my brother's place."
"Love, I don't think you should-"
"Why not, Malachite? I want to be with you, to fight by your side. I want to defend the Kingdom of Fire! I cn do it, I'm not as weak and fragile as I look."
"I don't doubt that, Zoycite. I just don't want you on the battlefield. I don't want you hurt, you could be killed out there."
"Then I'll die for my kingdom. I'm not gonna stand around while the Earth Army is short one general. I'm not gonna let you have the fun of getting revenge on Beryl without me. I hate her as much as you do."
Malachite took her hands in his. "I don't want you hurt. It's not that I don't believe in you, love-"
"I'm sorry Malachite, demo I'm going to join the Earth's Army and nothing you say is going to stop me."
"I won't argue with you then. I just want what's best for you." Malachite cupped one hand under her chin and kissed her lightly.
"Thank you, Malachite."
Zoey moaned softly and opened her eyes. She lying in Malachite's arms. What happened? Did he see this vision too? It took a few moments for Zoey to remember where they were and why they were there.
"Zoycite, look at your hand," Malachite said, holding her hand up for her to see. "The Crystal of Azurite didn't burn you at all, did it?"
"No," Zoey shook her head. "It didn't burn me at all."
"You're the one," Malachite said. "You re the one the Crystal of Azurite belongs to."
"Me?" Zoey was confused. "How? Why?"
"You had another vision, didn't you?"
"Hai," Zoey looked guiltily up at him.
"I saw your vision."
"Honto?"
"I think your being able to hold the crystal has to do with the Kingdom of Fire." Malachite said. "We just need to find out where this all ties together."
"I want answers!" Zoey declared, sitting up. "I want to know what this Kingdom of Fire is and what it has to do with me."
"You wanted to fight for it, so that must've meant you lived there?" Malachite wasn't sure either. "Do you have any siblings, Zoycite?"
"Not that I know of." Zoey answered. "I'm so confused. I'm not even sure of who I am anymore."
"You're Zoycite. General-In-Training of the Negaverse."
"Yeah, but that might not be who I've always been. Before that, I was Zoey, almost out of high school, and a normal person. Well, not really normal, but still. And now, I may be someone else."
"I don't care who you are. To me, you'll always be Zoycite."
Zoey only half heard what he said. She had too much to worry about. She wondered how much she could handle before she went clinically insane.
"We tell no one but Beryl-sama. If Obsidianite found out...." Malachite let his sentence trail.
Zoey nodded in agreement. "Okay." Obsidianite ws already after the crystal. She didn't want him to be after her too.
"What did you feel when you touched the crystal?"
"The crystal the itself felt warm with energy. It didn't burn, but it felt warm."
"Malachite, what do you think these visions are? The past? The future?"
"I wish I knew. If I did, I'd tell you." Malachite stood, helping Zoey to her feet. "We should go back to the castle now. I will tell Beryl-sama first thing tomorrow morning."
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Sorry, this wasn't as good as the rest, in my opinion. You might think differently. Please Review and tell me what you think. I was hving problems with ideas for the chapter. The next will be better, promise! Til next time!