Chapter 4: Friends or Foes
Keja, Picard, and Ameph strolled down the hall to the throne room. Apparently, the castle was open to the public, so no guards hassled them at all. Keja rubbed his arm to try and relive himself of some of the pain. They got to the end of the hallway and Picard pushed open the large doors.
"Ah. More visitors on this graceful day." The Cosmo Queen said. "What is your business at my castle?"
"We came to find out something." Keja said. "We wish to know what 'Dark Illusions' is."
The Cosmo Queen's face went from cheerful to glum in a matter of seconds. "The terms, 'Dark Illusions' refer to a large ancient castle on the border of the Luminous Spark and Wasteland. The castle is known as 'The Castle of Dark Illusions'. Surely you don't plan on going there."
"Why not?" Picard asked.
"Too many reasons young Buster Blader, too many." The Cosmo Queen answered. "The Castle is said to be guarded by a large group of Reapers, shadows wander the outside and inside walls, and the heart of the Castle is the dwelling for the vicious King of Wasteland. The King of Ghosts."
"Is that all there is?" Keja asked.
"No." Cosmo Queen answered. "Almost ten years ago, the Luminous Spark was at peace. Our economy was stable, towns were in perfect condition, and panic was a very rare occurrence. But one day, a young man in black appeared as if out of nowhere. He destroyed half of Fountain in a rage, scorched the west side of the city and headed west. I followed him out to the border of Luminous Spark until he stopped on the threshold of Wasteland. A loud bang echoed throughout the dead field as a large castle descended from the sky, a name engraved on its main entrance in large letters. Elsewhere. He levitated into his massive castle and things stood still for a moment. All of the sudden, an image materialized out of nowhere. It took the shape of a large castle with sharp dark towers. A large symbol engraved on a circular stone on the front of the castle. By the time the castle had fully emerged, Elsewhere was gone. I went running back to Fountain after hearing a loud blood-curdling scream come from the depths of the dark castle. I have not returned since."
"Dominus." Keja said as he tightened the grip on his staff.
"Well we have to get in there." Picard said. "Is there any way we can go in?"
"Yes. But you have to have the Illusions Key." Cosmo Queen answered.
"Well who has the Illusions Key?" Ameph asked.
"I know who." Picard sighed.
Picard led his friends out of the castle after saying good-bye to the Queen. He took them to the destroyed west side of town.
"This place needs a lot of work." Ameph said.
"What are we doing here anyways?" Keja asked.
"I have to go see an old friend." Picard answered.
"Who is that?" Ameph asked.
Picard did not answer. He kept walking until he got to a specific building. The entire left side of the building was blown off and its edges were charred. Picard pushed open the cracked door and entered the building. Keja and Ameph followed. They followed Picard upstairs and into the only upstairs room. The room was dark and empty. The trio walked to the center of the room before being stopped by a voice.
"You seem to have a habit with hanging around Dark Magicians." A figure said as he fell from the ceiling. "Picard."
"YQ." Picard replied reluctantly.
"So what can I do for you on this fine day?" YQ asked. "Would you like something to drink, eat, or are you only here because you need my help?"
"We need the Illusions Key." Picard said.
"Whatever for?" YQ asked.
"To get into The Castle of Dark Illusions. What else?" Picard answered.
"Heh. You, are going into that castle?" YQ asked. "Didn't you learn anything from last time?"
"That was last time. This time is different." Picard answered.
"Yes. This time is different." YQ said. "Its eight months, since you and I went into that castle. And it's been eight months since you 'accidentally' got me swallowed by the Pumpking."
"Can we just forget about that for a second?" Picard said. "I actually have a reason for going in there."
"What would that be?" YQ asked.
"I need to help rescue someone." Picard said.
"And you expect to do it with these clowns?" YQ said. "You're going to need more help than that."
"What do you mean clowns?" Ameph asked.
"Come on." YQ began. "A little girl and a kid that looks like he almost got his arm ripped off, I've seen better. I bet your not even eighteen."
"I am." Ameph said.
"Yeah well not Picard or this guy." YQ said. "I can tell."
"What does age have to do with anything?" Keja asked.
"Heh. Age plays a big role in that castle." YQ answered. "If you're not at a certain age, your strength will deteriorate the deeper you crawl in its confines. Picard and I were lucky to even make it to the center room back then."
"Well how old are you?" Keja asked.
"Sixteen." Picard said.
"Not anymore, buddy." YQ corrected. "I am now at the age of nineteen."
"How?" Picard asked.
"With this." YQ said as he walked from the shadows to reveal he was a Dark Magician. "Come on out Clock!"
A small object spun around the room for a few seconds before stopping.
"A Time Wizard?" Keja asked. "How did you get it to change your age?"
"How old are ya kid?" YQ asked.
"Fifteen." Keja answered.
"Clock. Show this kid how it's done." YQ said as the Time Wizard nodded its head.
"Time Warp!" Clock yelled out as he encased Picard and Keja in a vortex. They stayed there for a matter of three seconds before coming back to the room with YQ and Ameph.
"What the hell just happened?" Picard asked. "My armor is tighter on me now.
"Very simple Picard." YQ answered. "You and your friend over there just aged a total of three years. Your current age is eighteen."
"Ok." Keja said slowly with a slightly deeper voice. His arm was all better, and he was a bit taller than he was before. His hair grew out a lot longer and the color on his armor faded a bit.
"With the age of eighteen plus on your side you will pose a bigger threat to the castle than you did a couple of minutes ago." YQ said. "But your not going to need just age."
"What do we need now?" Picard asked.
"Help." YQ said. "But your not going to find it here. I'll lend you the Illusions Key and all but I'm not setting foot inside that castle without good reason."
Picard paused for a minute and hovered his eyes around the room. Picard's eyes widened as he figured out what to say. "Dominus."
"What about him?" YQ asked immediately.
"Keja." Picard said as he pointed in Keja's direction. "He's Dominus' brother. He can help you get to him."
"I'm surprised Picard." YQ said. "You changed my mind. But, you're not in charge of this operation. Nobody is. We do what we want on our own free will."
"Of course." Picard said.
"Well then children. Shall we be off?" YQ asked as he grabbed his staff and headed out the door. "Come on Clock!" He yelled as the Time Wizard hovered after him.
"Lets go." Picard said as he walked out the door. Ameph followed him.
Keja stayed behind for a minute and blew the hair out of his face. He looked over to the object Picard caught sight off before he said Dominus. A small picture was on a nightstand type of table. It showed a family of magicians with a large city in the background.
"Come on Keja!" Picard called out.
Keja took his eyes off the picture and headed downstairs. Unaware of just what stood before him.
"If only you knew little brother."
Keja, Picard, and Ameph strolled down the hall to the throne room. Apparently, the castle was open to the public, so no guards hassled them at all. Keja rubbed his arm to try and relive himself of some of the pain. They got to the end of the hallway and Picard pushed open the large doors.
"Ah. More visitors on this graceful day." The Cosmo Queen said. "What is your business at my castle?"
"We came to find out something." Keja said. "We wish to know what 'Dark Illusions' is."
The Cosmo Queen's face went from cheerful to glum in a matter of seconds. "The terms, 'Dark Illusions' refer to a large ancient castle on the border of the Luminous Spark and Wasteland. The castle is known as 'The Castle of Dark Illusions'. Surely you don't plan on going there."
"Why not?" Picard asked.
"Too many reasons young Buster Blader, too many." The Cosmo Queen answered. "The Castle is said to be guarded by a large group of Reapers, shadows wander the outside and inside walls, and the heart of the Castle is the dwelling for the vicious King of Wasteland. The King of Ghosts."
"Is that all there is?" Keja asked.
"No." Cosmo Queen answered. "Almost ten years ago, the Luminous Spark was at peace. Our economy was stable, towns were in perfect condition, and panic was a very rare occurrence. But one day, a young man in black appeared as if out of nowhere. He destroyed half of Fountain in a rage, scorched the west side of the city and headed west. I followed him out to the border of Luminous Spark until he stopped on the threshold of Wasteland. A loud bang echoed throughout the dead field as a large castle descended from the sky, a name engraved on its main entrance in large letters. Elsewhere. He levitated into his massive castle and things stood still for a moment. All of the sudden, an image materialized out of nowhere. It took the shape of a large castle with sharp dark towers. A large symbol engraved on a circular stone on the front of the castle. By the time the castle had fully emerged, Elsewhere was gone. I went running back to Fountain after hearing a loud blood-curdling scream come from the depths of the dark castle. I have not returned since."
"Dominus." Keja said as he tightened the grip on his staff.
"Well we have to get in there." Picard said. "Is there any way we can go in?"
"Yes. But you have to have the Illusions Key." Cosmo Queen answered.
"Well who has the Illusions Key?" Ameph asked.
"I know who." Picard sighed.
Picard led his friends out of the castle after saying good-bye to the Queen. He took them to the destroyed west side of town.
"This place needs a lot of work." Ameph said.
"What are we doing here anyways?" Keja asked.
"I have to go see an old friend." Picard answered.
"Who is that?" Ameph asked.
Picard did not answer. He kept walking until he got to a specific building. The entire left side of the building was blown off and its edges were charred. Picard pushed open the cracked door and entered the building. Keja and Ameph followed. They followed Picard upstairs and into the only upstairs room. The room was dark and empty. The trio walked to the center of the room before being stopped by a voice.
"You seem to have a habit with hanging around Dark Magicians." A figure said as he fell from the ceiling. "Picard."
"YQ." Picard replied reluctantly.
"So what can I do for you on this fine day?" YQ asked. "Would you like something to drink, eat, or are you only here because you need my help?"
"We need the Illusions Key." Picard said.
"Whatever for?" YQ asked.
"To get into The Castle of Dark Illusions. What else?" Picard answered.
"Heh. You, are going into that castle?" YQ asked. "Didn't you learn anything from last time?"
"That was last time. This time is different." Picard answered.
"Yes. This time is different." YQ said. "Its eight months, since you and I went into that castle. And it's been eight months since you 'accidentally' got me swallowed by the Pumpking."
"Can we just forget about that for a second?" Picard said. "I actually have a reason for going in there."
"What would that be?" YQ asked.
"I need to help rescue someone." Picard said.
"And you expect to do it with these clowns?" YQ said. "You're going to need more help than that."
"What do you mean clowns?" Ameph asked.
"Come on." YQ began. "A little girl and a kid that looks like he almost got his arm ripped off, I've seen better. I bet your not even eighteen."
"I am." Ameph said.
"Yeah well not Picard or this guy." YQ said. "I can tell."
"What does age have to do with anything?" Keja asked.
"Heh. Age plays a big role in that castle." YQ answered. "If you're not at a certain age, your strength will deteriorate the deeper you crawl in its confines. Picard and I were lucky to even make it to the center room back then."
"Well how old are you?" Keja asked.
"Sixteen." Picard said.
"Not anymore, buddy." YQ corrected. "I am now at the age of nineteen."
"How?" Picard asked.
"With this." YQ said as he walked from the shadows to reveal he was a Dark Magician. "Come on out Clock!"
A small object spun around the room for a few seconds before stopping.
"A Time Wizard?" Keja asked. "How did you get it to change your age?"
"How old are ya kid?" YQ asked.
"Fifteen." Keja answered.
"Clock. Show this kid how it's done." YQ said as the Time Wizard nodded its head.
"Time Warp!" Clock yelled out as he encased Picard and Keja in a vortex. They stayed there for a matter of three seconds before coming back to the room with YQ and Ameph.
"What the hell just happened?" Picard asked. "My armor is tighter on me now.
"Very simple Picard." YQ answered. "You and your friend over there just aged a total of three years. Your current age is eighteen."
"Ok." Keja said slowly with a slightly deeper voice. His arm was all better, and he was a bit taller than he was before. His hair grew out a lot longer and the color on his armor faded a bit.
"With the age of eighteen plus on your side you will pose a bigger threat to the castle than you did a couple of minutes ago." YQ said. "But your not going to need just age."
"What do we need now?" Picard asked.
"Help." YQ said. "But your not going to find it here. I'll lend you the Illusions Key and all but I'm not setting foot inside that castle without good reason."
Picard paused for a minute and hovered his eyes around the room. Picard's eyes widened as he figured out what to say. "Dominus."
"What about him?" YQ asked immediately.
"Keja." Picard said as he pointed in Keja's direction. "He's Dominus' brother. He can help you get to him."
"I'm surprised Picard." YQ said. "You changed my mind. But, you're not in charge of this operation. Nobody is. We do what we want on our own free will."
"Of course." Picard said.
"Well then children. Shall we be off?" YQ asked as he grabbed his staff and headed out the door. "Come on Clock!" He yelled as the Time Wizard hovered after him.
"Lets go." Picard said as he walked out the door. Ameph followed him.
Keja stayed behind for a minute and blew the hair out of his face. He looked over to the object Picard caught sight off before he said Dominus. A small picture was on a nightstand type of table. It showed a family of magicians with a large city in the background.
"Come on Keja!" Picard called out.
Keja took his eyes off the picture and headed downstairs. Unaware of just what stood before him.
"If only you knew little brother."