Three Ways to Go

When the team went inside of the ruins, they saw just what had been described in the journal of Lyle's father. Three separate paths were there, and no way to know which one would be the most useful. Especially since they all would eventually lead to a Guardian, which was needed.

"I've got an idea," Sierra told the others, "Lyle, you take the first path. Sasha and Jacob, you take the second one. And I can go on the third. I know that Sasha and Jacob aren't as strong as Lyle and I, so it'll be much safer for them to stick together. I'm sure Lyle and I can handle ourselves."

"Sierra, I won't be around to protect you if we're on separate paths," commented Lyle, concerned for her condition. Although she hadn't told him about her dreams, and the depression she was starting to feel, he could tell that something was wrong. And Lyle wasn't one to let a girl stay depressed.

She informed him, "I can perfectly take care of myself, Lyle. Besides, Kyoku is with me. So let's get going, I'm sure the three Guardians aren't going to be happy if we take our time to kill these demons." With that, the young woman went down the third path. The others weren't happy, but went down the paths that she had told them anyway, knowing very well that they needed the help of the Guardians.

* * *

Lyle was quite happy with himself. On the way down the path, he'd gained a new tool called a Hookshot. With it, the youth could cross chasms by hooking the tool onto poles on the other side. But it wasn't going to be of much help with his current problem, the monster standing right before him. It was a stone beast called a Gargoyle, and seemed to be ready to feast on the youth's blood.

Lyle began to think of a way to help him out. 'If I remember correctly, beasts made out of stone are weak against wind. Well, I've got the Guardian of Wind, but no way to know how to use it. Wait! Jacob was able to call forth a Guardian before, so maybe I can do it too." With that, the young man began to focus on the Medium of Fengalon. Suddenly, it began to glow. Then, a giant white tiger with a ruby on its head descended from the other realm, and attacked the monster, killing it.

Hastily, Lyle went into the next room. There, he found a large statue of a Dragon. It looked just like the ones he'd seen at the Lakeside and Divine Sanctuaries. This had to be a Guardian's alter, but Lyle had no way of knowing how to call the entity forth in order to ask for assistance.

*Human,* spoke an eerie voice, *I am Degenos, Guardian of the Mountains. I can sense the return of our ancient enemies, the demons. I will lend you my powers on this quest.* With that, he transformed into a silver plaque, just like the other Mediums. Degenos descended into Lyle's hand, and the swordsman made this his third Invoked Guardian. Then, he began to head back to the beginning.

* * *

"Sasha, I think we're stuck. You already lit all of the fires with your Fire Amulet, but the door still hasn't opened," Jacob stated, looking at the puzzle before them. It consisted of several lamps, each one that could be lit by Sasha's magical amulet. But the only other lamps were too high up, and they appeared to already be lit. So what was the problem that kept the door locked.

Sasha exclaimed, "I've got an idea! The lamps up there aren't supposed to be lit. You've got to get me up there, so I can put them out with my Ice Amulet. Remember the Jump Boots we found earlier in the ruin? Use them to get me up to that ledge. Come on, we don't have all day."

Jacob suddenly realized that she was right. So he carried her up to the ledge, and she put the fires out. Then, the door opened. Another puzzle was set out before them. The plaque read, "Summon the power to open the door, else you will be locked inside of this sanctuary for all eternity."

Sasha began to think again. "Let's try calling forth the Guardians we have equipped. I've seen you do it, and so can I. After all, I am descended of the Adlehyde family, I can do this with ease."

She began to concentrate. Then, the blue and brown turtle, Schturdark, appeared before them. Jacob followed her lead, calling on the blue dragon Grudiev. Then, the door opened. The duo went inside, and saw a sanctuary, with an altar to a Guardian standing before them.

*I see the power you two wield,* called the deity, *You are a Shaman and a Baskar, two bloodlines that are sacred protectors of this world. You can count on me to aid you in this struggle against demons. For I am Iona Paua, the Guardian of Saint.* His voice faded, and then a light left the shrine. It transformed into a Medium, landing in Sasha's hands. She Invoked the Guardian at once.

* * *

"Sierra, look ahead. It appears to be a treasure of some sort. Let me go and get it," Kyoku told her friend. She jumped over the small chasm, and picked up a treasure. It contained a Radar tool, which could locate lost treasures. Sierra tried it out at once, and suddenly four pings were heard from four boxes.

The two ran up to the boxes. Sierra threw each one, and found the most amazing things. Inside each, was an ARM. They were a Flamethrower, an Ice Gun, a Phase Gun, and a Howler. Now, Sierra was able to use the energy of Fire, Ice, Light, and Dark. And that was a good thing. For a monster that looked like a giant humanoid ice statue was rising up to attack her and her mouse.

Kyoku yelled, "Sierra, draw your Flamethrower, shoot this monster down!" She had left her safe haven in Sierra's backpack in order to perch on the girl's shoulder and yell.

Sierra brought up her new ARM, and fired. It shuddered, but was not destroyed. Now Kyoku had begun to panic, and was digging into the gunwoman's shoulder. It was starting to annoy Sierra greatly. So much so that she nearly threw the Wind Mouse off in order to shut her up.

The gunner sighed. "Kyoku, you freak out well too much. I've got an idea, let's do what Jacob does to Summon a Guardian. Maybe the flames of the Phoenix will be enough to stop it." She concentrated, and then Moor Gault came into the human realms. He struck out at the monster, killing it. That left Sierra and Kyoku free to go forward and find the third of the Guardians.

In the next room, they saw a shrine. It was just like the ones at the other sanctuaries, so even an idiot would be able to tell that it was a Guardian's home. She stepped forward to greet it.

*Death is my specialty,* the Guardian stated, *It is perfect for one like you, who fights with the deadly weapons of Demons, the ones mastered by the ancestors of humanity to combat their wicked overlords. You must take my power along, for Ge Ramtos will prove to be a worthy ally.* He then turned into a Medium as well, and allowed Sierra to Invoke him.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

I've finally got my labtop. This is the first thing I'm typing on it. Luckily, we had that empty disk. As well as a new Slayers video, two Inu Yasha Graphic Novels, a new Tamora Pierce book, and the movie Princess Mononoke. I sure made a great shopping trip at the mall. Currently, I'm watching both the movie and typing.