** A/N: This is a continuation of "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance". I own no rights to Jim Henson's property or Netflix.
Hearing of the series cancellation, I was devastated. So much is left unanswered... but not anymore.
In the Crystal Desert:
He awoke with a groan, his head felt it had been split open and the harsh sun had roasted him in place. Rek'yr lifted his head slowly from the rocky cliff he was laid on, the pain was throbbing and his head fell again to the ground.
The Hunter...
Rek'yr remembered the Hunter. He had come to find the Gelfing Rian who Rek'yr had just taken to the Circle of the Suns with his companions Brea, Deet and a Podling.
"Skekmal...," Rek'yr groaned and lifted his head again.
The light of the three suns blinded him temporarily, but he merely blinked the light away. Living his entire life in the desert he was used to the three suns and was able to adjust quickly. He looked around him for Bennu, his faithful Crystal Skimmer, but she was gone as was Tye and Hiyara, his crew members.
"Tye...," he muttered softly as he sat up.
A flashback of Skelmal grabbing Tye and throwing him over the cliff replayed in Rek'yr's mind.
Rek'yr closed his eyes and leaned against the rock behind him and began to hum.
"Giyal oo bub al ya oo," he spoke aloud, giving Tye a final resting song as he was returned to Thra.
Rek'yr then froze, he remembered Hiyara foolishly telling Skelmal where Rian and the others had went. He stood quickly, looking towards the forbidden ruins in the distance. He had never traveled closer to the Circle of Suns, even now he could feel the darkness of death stained on that tower.
Is it already too late, he wondered, taking a step towards the cursed ruins. The Hunter may have already made it there and killed the Gelfling so eager to find their answers. Again Rek'yr closed his eyes and felt the hum of the sands shifting around him and in his heart he still felt the tune of the dirge song and it still resonated with him deeply.
It cannot be too late, he decided. Thra has not yelled called for them.
As Rek'yr made his way towards the Circle of Suns, he felt as though he had to push past an impossible pull. His feet felt heavy and the winds blew against him as if to tell him to stop. Rek'yr knew it was a forbidden place, a relic to never be visited unless death was the goal. He prayed to Thra that they had survived Skekmal, he would feel the burden of their deaths if Skekmal had succeeded.
Princess Brea... how could I leave you to this place, he thought as he marched further into the desert. I did not mean to guide you to death's arms. He fought against nature and his own instincts, they were screaming at him to turn around and venture elsewhere. Rek'yr looked towards the Circle of the Suns and his determination outweighed his instinct, in fact he started walking faster.
Rek'yr finally made it to the Circle of the Suns, it took him nearly all day without his trusted Bennu by his side. He looked straight up the rocky climb he had to make and took a deep breath. He needed to make it up by nightfall due to the fact that Repoolues were known to nest outside the Circle of the Suns. Repoolues were small spider like creatures that nested in the sand during the hot day and came out at night. They would eat anything they could find to help sustain them, plants and animals alike. They would swarm their target and devour it in minutes, they were very dangerous but exceedingly rare in the Crystal desert.
Rek'yr began his long climb, he had to dissociate himself from where he was, the very though of touching this cursed place made him feel a shiver down his spine. He made quick work of the climb, reaching the top just at the final sun was slipping behind the horizon. Rek'yr felt his exhaustion, he had no food or water and the climb had taken most of his strength.
"Anopa rada tha avea re de!"
Rek'yr heard the strange words from a familiar voice. The podling?, he wondered as he rolled over further from the ledge.
The voice got louder," Rada tha avea! Re de! Re de!," it happily called.
Rek'yr turned and now could see the mall podling running towards him with a big open smile.
"Hello my little friend," Rek'yr pushed himself to stand but his knees buckles and his gripped the ledge to stay up.
"Poado fa va opam?," the podling creased his brow, seeming concerned for Rek'yr.
"I will be fine," Rek'yr assured him. " I am here for your safety. Has the Hunter arrived?"
"Where have you gone friend-slave?," a shrieking voice came from inside the shrine.
It was not a voice known to Rek'yr, he braced himself and faced towards the sound.
"Where is Rian? Where is Brea?," Rek'yr asked the podling without looking away from the entrance to the shrine.
Before the podling could respond, the fabric was pulled apart and there stood a Skeksis.
"There you are," the Skeksi cackled. "UrGoh is making tea and...," the Skeksi stopped when seeing Rek'yr. "OH! Another Gelfing! How exciting! More company for us! UrGoh! UrGoh! Make it two more cups of tea," he ended by laughing.
"A Skeksi!," Rek'yr was in no shape to battle if it was needed. "Where are the others," he demanded.
"Shkekshe friend," the podling told Rek'yr.
"Then where are the other? Where is Brea, Rian, and Deet?"
"On their quest of course," the Skeksi cackled. "They leave to find the tool to end all Skeksis power."
Rek'yr did not believe him.
"What tool to end Skeksis power?"
"We can do they play again! UrGoh! Hurry!"
"No" the Podling cried out. "No play," before turning to Rek'yr. "Deet, Rian go to Grot. Brea taken."
"Brea was taken? By who?"
"Skekmal," the Skeksi replied. "He came for Rian but took Brea instead."
Brea has been taken by Skekmal? Why?
"Why are you still here, friend," Rek'yr asked the Podling.
"Dija bop aya bumb ed."
"Yes, the friend-slave was badly hurt when Skekmal came, he was left here to heal."
Rek'yr turned suspiciously towards the Skeksi," And you healed him?"
"Of course! What else would we do with a wounded friend-slave," before turning and going back inside.
"Podling, tell me now if what he says is true."
"True," he nodded.
"UrGoh! Hurry up! Why are you so slow!," the shrill voice bellowed from inside.
The Podling guided Rek'yr inside and Rek'yr was astonished by the site. The furniture and tools were far from what he expected of the cursed place.
"You said the Hunter took Brea?"
"Yes, Skekmal took the Gelfling," the Skeksi nodded.
"He must have taken her to the Crystal Castle...," Rek'yr muttered to himself.
"Aboya omba eeiya," the podling spoke but Rek'yr did not understand.
"There are so many questions...," Rek'yr looked around at the home of the Skeksi. "Why are you here?"
"I am Skekgra," the Skeksi announced," that is UrGoh," he pointed to the dark creature in the corner with wrinkled skin and four arms.
Rek'yr's eyes bulged," A Mystic?"
The Mystic turned to him," Hello... friend... Gelfling."
"I don't understand how you came to be here," Rek'yr tried to organize his thoughts.
"Well we could show you the play," Skekgra clapped excitedly.
Next to Rek'yr, the Podling shook his head, obviously not excited about that idea.
"No, I must know when the Hunter was here."
"Skekmal... was... here... four..."
"Hurry up! Spit it out!," Skekgra urged UrGoh.
"... nights... past."
"Four nights?"
Rek'yr realized he had been unconscious for four days, no wonder he had been so weak. With Brea being taken four days ago, anything was possible. She could have been murdered at the hand of the Skeksis or imprisoned.
"So where are Deet and Rian?"
The Skeksi groaned loudly," Do you not listen? They have left to find the dual glaive."
"Dual glaive?"
"You must see the play to understand," Skegra muttered as he grabbed his cup of tea from UrGoh.
"You said it was a tool to end Skeksis power? How does such a tool exist?," Rek'yr asked.
"Very... long... story...," UrGoh replied handing him a mug of hot tea.
"Then I must go. I must help them and save Brea," Rek'yr announced but his legs faltered again and his knocked a trinket onto the floor when trying to stabilize himself.
"Gelfing is tired and weak," Skekgra noted. "Stay and recover."
"I cannot," Rek'yr shook his head.
"Bomba alom," the Podling took his hand and had him sit down.
"We must go to save your friends," Rek'yr tried to protest.
"Save Brea. Must be strong," the Podling told him. "Hup strong now. You need strong too."
Truth rang is Hup's words, Rek'yr knew he was far too weak to travel the desert. There was no way he could save Brea and help find this magical tool in his current state. But the skeksi and mystic put him on edge. Rek'yr did not trust the Skeksi, but the Podling seemed sure enough about their safety.
"I will stay," he nodded to Hup. "But we leave at first light."
"YAH!," Hup cheered.
"We will whip you up something to eat," the Skeksi went off in search of food.
Rek'yr sighed and made himself comfortable as he watched the mystic sip his tea and smoke.
"How can you be real? Mystics are a myth..."
"I am... as real... as you," he replied.
Rek'yr had many more questions to ask, but his strength was gone. His eyes closed easily, and he fell into slumber before the Heretic could return with his meal.
At Stone-in-the-Wood:
Brea clutched the shard of the dark crystal to her chest as the Gelfing rallied around her, everyone was in good spirits and cheering about the recent victory. Night had fallen on Thra but Stone-in-the-wood was as lively as ever, fires were a flame and Gelfing were dancing. Stonewood clan members were mourning the loss of the Maudra Fara, she had fallen in battle when she had pushed Seladon out of the way and taken the blow of the Skeksis herself.
Even with the loss of Gelfling lives, the aura was lively as they all celebrated. The Spriton were dancing with the Drenchen, Dousan and Sifa were laughing, and Vapran and Grotton were sharing food and drink together. The seven clans were united and everyone was happy, it all seemed too good to be true. Brea was filled with hope, now with the crystal shard the crystal could be healed and Thra could be saved. She tightened her grip on the crystal, scared to lose such a precious item.
"Hope is delicate, like a crystal shard" Mother Aughra's words had resonated with Brea, she knew the shard was fragile and must be taken care of to complete the healing of Thra.
It was then that Rian approached her," Brea!"
"Rian, are you alright?"
"I am but I think Deet is in trouble."
"Deet? Where is she," Brea looked around for her green friend.
"She's wandered off. I tried to call out to her but she seemed to be in a daze."
"We have to go after her," Brea charged forward.
Rian stood in Brea's way, "She isn't herself, Brea. I think the darkening has taken a hold on her."
"Why would you say that?"
"Believe me I wanted to help her, I wanted to reach out to her and do something...," Rian bowed his head. "But without a word, she told me everything. I knew I couldn't go after her."
"Rian, what are you talking about?"
"Her eyes, Brea. They were shining, they were as purple as the Crystal and her face," Rian paused. "Her veins had turned black."
"We have to go after her, Rian," Brea begged.
"We can't," Rian didn't want to believe it either. He wanted to go and save his friend, he wanted to help Deet. "How can we help her?"
"I... I'm not sure," Brea admitted. "But leaving her alone can't be any better."
"She blocked off her trail," Rain told her. "As she left the roots twisted and curved so I couldn't follow. The roots were stained with dark purple energy, just the lightning Deet shot at the Skesis."
"Oh no... poor Deet," Brea gripped the crystal tightly. "We must find a way to help her."
"Yes but how? I'm not sure she even recognized me."
"Maybe there something in the library, something that would help make sense of it all."
"I doubt there are any books on the darkening."
"You'd be surprised what we have hidden in the Ha'rar library," Brea told him.
"Well then you should go back with the Vaprans when they leave tomorrow. "
"What about you?," Brea asked.
"I'll stay here and help build the army to defeat the Skeksis. Maybe Deet will come back. You should take the shard with you, keep it safe from Skeksis' claws."
"I hope Deet does come back," Brea said solemnly. "I will protect the crystal shard," she then promised.
"Safe travels, Brea."
"Yes, and stay safe, Rian."
The next day Maudra Fara was buried in the Stonewood ritual and returned to Thra. A new maudra was appointed to Stonewood, but since Fara had no children at the time, it was given to Yre, the closest advisor to Fara. Yre had kind light green eyes and her cheeks were stained the light green that deemed her to be of the Stonewood Clan. Yre had her coronation ceremony and was formally name Maudra Yre, the Stonewood clan accepted her as their new maudra. The Gelfling all knew the Skeksis would return, but not when and they knew in the castle the Skeksis had the home field advantage.
"We need to be prepared for when the Skeksis return," Maudra Yre made her first statement to the maudra council.
"We have a weapon that they cannot fight," Maudra Mera of the Spritons looked towards Maudra Argot of the Grottons," The magical powers of the Grotton child."
"Deet is not a weapon," Maudra Argot shook her head.
"You saw how she was able to kill the Skeksis without even touching them. She is the key to our victory," Maudra Ethri of the Sifa interjected.
"The dual glaive is our key to victory," Maudra Yre opposed.
"You saw the childling! Her power may be even greater than the Skeksis," Maudra Mera then turned to Seladon. "All-Maudra, what do you think of the Grotton?"
Seldaon felt out of place along the Maudras- deep within her she felt a sting of guilt for what she had done during her own coronation. How she had smashed her mother's crown and pledged her loyalty to the Skeksis, she was ashamed of herself and felt she was not meant to be the All-Maudra.
"Has Deet always had powers like this," Seldaon asked Maudra Argot.
"No," Maudra Argot replied. "It was a dying gift from the sanctuary tree... or perhaps it was a curse."
"A curse?," Maudra Laesid of the Drenchen clan leaned closer to Maudra Argot.
"Deet was told by the sanctuary tree to find the All-Maudra and warn her of the darkening. When the tree was taken by the darkening, he gifted Deet with its powers. Deet is not a tree, how can she hold the same power?"
"Maybe she could be trained? Or perhaps her power could be shared," offered Maudra Seetha of the Dousan.
"How can you train what you don't know," laughed Maudra Argot.
"We can't lay here helpless while the Skeksis plan their next attack," Yre stood from the table. "I suggest every clan leave their strongest 30 soldiers here at Stone-in-the-Wood to prepare for when the Skeksis return."
"How are we to be sure they will return here," Maudra Laesid countered. "They could attack us anywhere at any time."
"You can't expect us to leave our borders unattended," Maudra Mera also disagreed.
"Here at Stone-in-the-Wood, we are closest to the Crystal Castle, and we can see and track the Skeksis and their movements. We can start to form a perimeter and work to isolate the Skeksis from leaving the castle."
"How do you propose this, Maudra Yre?," Maudra Laeside asked.
"Set traps and roadblocks, work to keep them in one place. We become a shield for Thra and leave the Skeksis to wither in their palace until the time is right to strike," Maudra Yre sounded confident in her plan.
"I agree," Maudra Seetha nodded. "We should take the advantage while we have it. I will leave warriors here at Stone-in-the-Wood."
"Good," Maudra Yre nodded. "My soldiers can help train them all in battle."
"I will also leave warriors here," Maudra Laesid agreed. "Now is our time to weaken the Skeksis."
All the Maudras concluded they would leave up to 30 gelfling volunteers at Stone-in-the-Wood to not only train, but to detain the Skeksis. Maudra Yre would lead them and handle their training. Seladon left the meeting and got into the Vapran carriage, 16 paladins had offered to stay behind and 12 vapran volunteers had offered to join the army forming. With nearly 30 Gelfing from every clan, the army would be close to 200.
"200 Gelfing," Seladon sighed and looked out the window. "Will it be enough?"
"What was that sister?," Brea turned to look at her.
"Do you think we will be able to defeat the Skeksis?," Seladon asked her honestly.
Brea comforted her instantly," Of course, Seldaon. Rian has the dual glaive and I have the crystal shard; we will be able to heal the crystal and save Thra from the darkening."
"Even with all that, I worry for all Gelfing," Seladon looked to her lap.
Brea took her hand in hers," That's because you are the All-Maudra. It makes sense you worry for your people."
Seladon suddenly remembered her mother and the cold mountain ledge where she had burned her body. Seladon's eyes began to tear as she saw the flame catch hold of her mother and she had done nothing to stop it.
"Seladon? What's wrong?"
Seladon could not stop her tears," I... I didn't listen to her," she bawled into her hands. "I betrayed mother! I let her die and did nothing about it!"
Brea was shocked by her sister's cry. Could she really believe she was the cause of their mother's death?
"You did not kill her," Brea squeezed her sister's hand.
"I may has well have," Seldaon bellowed. "I did not deliver the blow, but I stood by. I defended her killers." she hiccupped. "I called our mother a traitor and... and I... I...,' she couldn't even say what she had done. Not only had Seladon disgraced her mother after her passing, but she had also offered the lives of her people to keep a false peace between Gelfing and Skeksis. "I let her down. How can I be named All-Maudra after what I've done?"
"You made a mistake Seladon," Brea consoled her sister.
"At my coronation... Maudra Fara challenged me," Seldaon did not look to her sister. "She and Maudra Laesid did not support me becoming the All-Maudra. I broke the crown and made a new one, I just wanted to please the Lords of the Crystal...," she started to cry once more.
"But you've seen with your own eyes what the Skeksis have done. Now you know."
"I should have believed mother," Seladon turned her teary eyes to Brea," I should have believed you. I'm so sorry, sister. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course, I forgive you," Brea hugged her tightly.
Seladon buried her face into Brea's shoulder," How many more will have to die for my delay? Tavra is already gone..."
"Tavra risked her life to kill the Skeksis, she made her own choice."
Seladon cried at the losses she had faced, letting her tears stain Brea's hair. She missed her mother and her sister, she clung to the last person she had. No matter what would happen in this war, she could not lose Brea.
At the Crystal Palace:
The Skeksis had a feast to celebrate the creation of the Garthim, the creature that was to be their obedient soldiers for the upcoming war against the Gelfling.
"We will destroy the Gelfing," Skekok the scroll keeper raised his glass to toast the death of Gelfling.
"Here Here," Skekayek the gourmand drank the contents of his glass quickly to fill his round belly.
"Destroy Gelfing!," Skekect the ornamentalist cheered.
"Sire," Skesil the chamberlain turned to the Emperor. "Perhaps we send Garthim out tonight. Take Gelfling by surprise, yes?"
"They aren't complete yet," the Emperor said spitting his food out onto the table. "Sketek will finish them with haste."
"Of course, Emperor," Skektek the scientist agreed.
"Once we have our army, we will be victorious against the Gelfling! They will be no more!," the Emperor slammed his fist on the table.
"Yes sire," Chamberlain nodded.
"I can't wait to be rid of them, the ugly things," Skekect moaned with disgust.
"What of the staff, sire?," Chamberlain leaned over to get a better look at the Emperor's scepter.
"What of it," the Emperor glared at Skeksil.
"It seems to have power," Chamberlain's eyes danced over the staff and finally rested on the dark jewel at the top resting inside the crescent shaped claw.
Skekso the Emperor snatched the scepter further from Chamberlain, hiding it in his cloak. He had only told the General of his work with the power of the darkening. His first attempt to harness and use the power had been at the second battle at Stone-in-the-Wood, but the Gelfling had reversed it somehow.
"Yes, power... mmmm...," Chamberlain awed.
"You did shoot it at the Gelfling," Skekzok the ritual master also showed interest in the Emperor's staff.
The Emperor did not want to share the power of the darkening. He saw what it had done, it had killed Skeklach the collector when the Gelfling had used it. He wanted that power for himself, so he thought quickly of a lie.
"It was gifted to me by the General," the Emperor told them. "He said it would give me power in battle."
"Where did the General get such power," Skekok wondered.
"He only told me it would bring me power. Now I keep it with me to honor the brave General. To Skevar!," the Emperor made a toast. "And to Skelach!"
"The Skekvar and Skeklach!," the Skeksis raise the glasses.
The Chamberlain wanted that staff, he saw the power that it wielded. He pretended to forget about the scepter to keep the Emperor's favor, but he was forming his own plan to have it in his possession.
"Hurry up useless, Podling," Skekayek shouted. "I'm starving!"
"Oh, poor Skeklach, she would have loved this," Skekect whimpered as she continued to eat.
"Yes, what of the collector," Skekok murmured. "The title must be replaced."
The ritual master agreed," We must have a collector and a new general."
"Sire, perhaps we should call Skekli, Skeksa, and Skekung back to the castle," Chamberlain suggested.
"Mhhm," the Emperor pondered his suggestion. "Yes... all Skeksis should return. We need everyone here."
"It's been so long since I've seen Skeksa," Skekna the slave master remarked.
"We will appoint a new general and collector after they arrive," the Emperor nodded at his decision. "Then we shall all feast on essence!"
"Essence! Essence! Essence!" The Skeksis all cheered at the idea of consuming Gelfling essence.
The Emperor wished to hurry the dinner along, he could feel his legs growing weak and wanted to look over any new damage they may have come from harnessing the power of the Darkening. Essence was helpful in keeping them young, but so far it had not reversed the effects the darkening had on his body. Soon he would have all the essence he would require, and it would work, it if brought back Skekmal the hunter from the dead, it could reverse his ailments too. All that was left was to find a way to exploit the raw energy of the darkening to end all Gelfling.
Thank you for any reviews.