Also, please don't forget to read my other fic 'What the?', its bound to give you the giggles if nothing else ^-^.
Over and out!
A special thanks to Trudi Frost, Psycho-Kitty-Purra, AardZG, and Pen2 for reviewing, I really appreciate it guys!**************************************************************************
"Yakumo? She was here?" Saago said shocked.
"Not, here. Out in the forest. Haven't you been listening to me?" Mushra replied hotheaded, now on the verge of shouting.
"But what where you doing in the forest?" Kutal inquired.
"Talking to Yakumo!" Mushra barked
"No, no. I mean to begin with."
"Oh," Mushra blushed. "Oh just going for a walk."
Saago and Kutal looked at each other but didn't say anything.
"Who's Yakumo?" Devick asked, now completely at sea in the conversation.
"A friend" Kutal replied simply. "But why" Kutal continued to Mushra, leaving Devick and Gemma feeling even more left out than before "My dear fellow was she here?"
"She was warning me of some great power that is growing and that we need to find these three jewels that complete the seven. I've just told you all this already."
"But how are we suppose to find three little jewels in all of Enterra?" Saago said looking discouraged. "And we still have to rescue Binka."
"Yakumo said we need to do this straight away, and that we would find Binka." Mushra told them.
"But still…" Saago began
"You don't understand!" Mushra shouted with a sudden burst of maturity and superiority. Characteristics nether Saago or Kutal had ever seen in Mushra. "This is big. Bigger than any of you. You weren't there; you don't know how urgent this is. I've been sensing it as well. We need to act now before it's all to late." They all stared at Mushra. In a matter of seconds he had seemed to grow in stature and not one of them could miss the power, determination, nobility in his eyes and what scared Saago and Kutal, fear.
Mushra shook his head.
"We need to leave the city. They know we and the jewels are here and they will attack again if we stay." He looked up at his friends. They said nothing.
"Fine!" Mushra said, back to his usual hotheaded self, crossing his arms and pouting.
Relived at his sudden change back into character, Saago looked at Mushra.
"Where do we go?"
**************************************************************************
Mushra, Saago and Kutal had been joined by Devick, who, after a lot of arguing, had persuaded Gemma to give the Phoenix Eye to him and not come, but Devick was suspicious of his sisters giving in, he of all people know she was no push over.
Mushra hovered alone, caught up in his thoughts.
Saago and Kutal had not forgotten Mushra's change and found themselves glancing nervously at him.
Devick shifted the bow and quiver on his back; silence had always made him feel a little uncomfortable. He travelled on a hover board, but unlike Mushra and Gemma's, his was thin and closer to the shape and width of a snowboard except shorter.
***
They sat around the fire eating some of the food they had brought from Devick's village.
Mushra put down his empty bowl and let out a satisfied sigh. He lent back on the log behind him and closed his eyes.
"Kutal, this is delicious!" Devick exclaimed
"Why thank you!" Kutal answered cheerfully.
"No really Kutal, you've out done your self!" Saago remarked to the blushing cat Enterran.
"Devick, may I please have a look at the red jewel?" Kutal finally said.
"Ha? Oh sure" Devick replied searching through his cloak pockets and drawing out the small ruby jewel. "Here"
Kutal took it and looked at it carefully, than handed it to Saago.
"Very interesting" Kutal admitted
Saago handed the jewel back to Devick who pocketed it again.
"I think I'll go and get some more fire wood" he said standing up.
"OK, but be careful" Saago replied nodding.
Devick grabbed his board and disappeared into the trees.
**************************************************************************
The forest was dark and silent. The only sounds where that of crickets and other insects. Devick had always liked the forest, but this felt wrong, maybe it was just different to the on by the village, but he could almost swear that there was something about it that just didn't belong; or was it someone? He dismissed the feeling, he was just being paranoid. Devick began picking up dead wood from the ground.
He was heading beck to the camp when he heard it. It was faint and at first he wasn't sure he'd heard it at all, and than it came again, closer, closer. Though he could not see it, he could hear it. Its deep, snarling breathing, its heavy, rapid movements.
Devick dropped the wood and slowly took the bow from his back and drew an arrow. The creature was large and easy to hear, yet, he could not seem to work out it poison, the noise was just everywhere. Devick was loosing his nerve, turning in quick movement to look behind him, bow loaded. His hand where shaking, his eyes darting, waiting for it to attack. Waiting. Waiting. Than another noise came. Something lighter, smaller and, thought Devick, had wings. The creature was also aware of this other presence; it growled at the presence.
Waiting.
Than it happened the creature pounced, pounced at Devick. It was large, very large. It was cat-like, massive paws, claws. And its eyes, its eye were so...Devick froze, his entire body just seized up. The massive cat flew through the air at him, teeth bared, claws at the ready. Devick closed his eye tight, unable to do anything else. This was the end he thought. Than something else hit him, knocking him to the ground. He opened his eyes, above him stood a boy; he wore black with gold chest plate, belt, gloves and boots. Gold wings where spread magnificently behind him. His hair was that of Mushra's, but was a trifle longer and spiked out at the sides.
The cat struggled to its feet growling at the stranger. The boy stood unflourished, seeming almost bemused. The cat readied it's self for attack, then leapt into the air, but the boy through up his hand and the animal was thrown backwards into a tree. The cat disappeared and was replaced by a strangely shaped card. The boy walked over and picked it up. Devick, now able to move stood up and found his voice.
"Who are you?" He asked in awe.
"My name is Kai. Here" He held our Devick's bow and arrow that he had dropped during the fight.
"Thank you"
**************************************************************************
"Devick's been going a while," Saago said carelessly to Kutal.
"Yes" Kutal replied anxiously "Do you think we should go check on him?"
"Na, the kid can look after him self. You say him with the beast back at the village" Saago airily commented.
"I do suppose you are right" Kutal sighed.
At that moment Devick walked into the campsite.
"Ha, see Kutal, speak of the devil." Sago looked at Devick's white face and than to Kai "Who is that?"
"Kai?!" Mushra exclaimed sitting up
"Mushra?!" Kai said for the first time seeing Mushra.
"I that it you two know each other." Sago enquired
"Kai is a Guardian" Mushra said shortly
They all looked at Kai who was no longer in Guardian form. He now wore a undone, thin, black coat with a high collar standing straight up; a thick, wide black choker around him neck with a silver buckle at the front; round, deep black, frameless glasses with thin silver arms; a tight navy blue, sleeveless top underneath; long, tight, black pants, a little flared at the base and black shoes.
"But what are you doing on Enterra?" Mushra laughed curiously.
"I was sent to help you find the three remaining jewels," Kai answered, plunging his hands into his pockets "I'm quite learner in the lore of the jewels, and I believe that your going to need all the help you can get. The enemy is not going to be a push over.
"I think you have four of them do you not?" he looked at them "May I see the one yet without a master?"
Devick handed the red jewels to Kai, who, unlike the others, looked not just at to but seemed to look into it.
"The jewels you see, each, have a single person whom they are connected. For example, the Fire, Water and Earth jewels are connected to you three. The Wind jewel is the only exception. It holds a different power,"
"So what does it do?" Shen asked keenly.
"Well," Kai pondered on it for a second before answering the kitten "from what I understand, the Wind jewel draws all the jewels together, but in what way I'm not sure. Its also the most elusive and had to find."
"So what exactly is this new enemy, and what was that thing we defeated?" Mushra questioned
"He is an Olympus, a race of powerful beings; on which many Human myths are based. Do you have the creatures card?" He asked
Mushra gave the strange card to Kai.
"Yes, this is an Olympus. He goes by the name of Ozark. He, unfortunately is quite weak compared to the others" Kai sighed.
The same worried expressions spread across the others faces.
"Well!" Kutal cried, breaking the silence "I do think we should be going. If the importance is as great as it is made out to be, we haven't a second to waste"
They all agreed and set off again into the trees. Kai walked along side them, talking, laughing and joking happily with the kittens, who seemed to enjoy his company.
**************************************************************************
By midday the following day they where within view of a great mountain looming on the horizon.
" So, Kai, tell us, how are we to find three little jewels in the whole of Enterra?" Mushra asked hovering beside Kai.
"Well the three that you, Kutal and Sago carry as you know where Lanacurases. While at the peak of his power, Lanacuras went searching for the jewels so he could become the most unstoppable force in the Universe. He however was unable to find them all before being trapped in the Meteor. The Thunder Jewel was found quite by chance in the ruins of and old city. I believe that each jewel was placed in its own shrine where it is guarded. I am quite sure that the shrine of the dark Jewel resides in that mountain."
"Do you mean for us to go over that?" Kutal asked nervously " I mean that it just looks so, well, uninviting"
"For once I have to agree with Kutal" Sago said looking worryingly up at the ever closer mountain.
"Not over," Kai said shaking his head "Under."
**************************************************************************
By nightfall the mountain had become menacingly large, taking up the skyline in front of them.
"Kai" Ray said buoyantly "How do we get under the mountain?"
"I not all to sure to be honest" Kai answered with a playful smile " But I'm sure it go to be here somewhere.
"Than again," he pondered "This may not even be the right mountain. In fact, it might not even be in a mountain"
"So you guessing" Devick sighed
"Educated guesses thank you!" Kai said nobly, than with an embarrassed smile "But yes, yes I am guessing"
"Hey Mushra" Sago whispered in his friends ear "is he always like this?"
"Oh, pretty much" Mushra nodded.
"It too dark" Sago finally gave in "Even if there is an entrance here, well never find it in this light"
"I'm inclined to agree" Devick said sitting on a near by rock only to find himself falling backwards into a dark hole.
"Devick my dear fellow, are you alright" Kutal called down after him.
"Yeh," Devick replied choking on a mixture of dust and dirt.
He looked around and realised that it wasn't actually that dark. The cave into which he had fallen was in fact lit by an eerie blue glow.
"Wow" he heard Sago's voice say from above "I seems the entrance was covered by the hologram of a rock"
"Devick, clear the way, I'm coming down" Kai called to Devick.
Kai landed lightly in the cave. He took a few steps forward and looked amazed around at the cave. In front of him was a wide walkway and on each side a long, thin pool of crystal clear water. The eerie blue glow that appeared to be coming from nowhere in particular under the water sent a reflection onto the circular walls. Though the light was not strong it lit the cave remarkably well.
Mushra was close behind, Kutal and Sago followed shortly after, landing with the grace of a stunned mullet.
"Wow" Mushra exclaimed, eyes wide.
They moved slowly along the stone walkway. Their footsteps echoing softly through out the cave.
At the end of the walkway was an engraved arch. Its sides where covered in a collage of sharp, entwining patterns that ended at the top of the arch. The top was completely clear and smooth except for a line of unreadable text. The arch admitted the same eerie blue glow as the pools along the side of the walkway.
Cautiously they stepped through the arch into a large, circular hall. All over the walls where strange characters and pictures telling a great and historic story. They stared around them in amazement. Kai ran his hand across the walls markings, fingering each letter with interest, each picture with intent.
"I've never seen anything quite like it. These marking are unlike anything I've ever…" he began.
"What was that?" Devick said, alert.
"Do you think it's the guardian Kai" Ray asked anxiously.
"I have a feeling we're about to find out" Sago said tensely.
A dark shadow grew on the room's walls. The kittens clung feverishly to their uncle's legs.
"Who dare enter the Hall of Shadows?" the fierce shadow growled, teeth bared. The voice echoed so loudly in the hall that it was practically impossible to tell where it had come from.
"Who are you?" Mushra demanded
"I am the great Ramidayuu, Guardian of the Dark Jewel"
Mushra concentrated on the voice, than with a single movement chucked his spear into one of the doorways at the side of the hall.
"Eep!"
Out of the room bolted a small dragon type creature. It was black with two neon green stripes on its face and than more down its back and tail. It walked, or in this case ran, on two hind legs, both with a single green stripe at the top, the back of the feet stayed above the ground ending in a claw. On its head were two wavy ears, each with a neon green triangle on. The for arms also had a single stripe at the top. The small dragons eyes where large and glowing and it had medium sized nostrils at the end of its snout.
Mushra broke into a fit of laughter; the dragon wouldn't have been much more than two thirds of a metre tall.
"You're the guardian for the Dark Jewel?" Mushra hooted with laughter.
The creature Ramidayuu crossed its arms and stuck up its nose, giving Mushra a sourer look.
"Oh go ahead and laugh, but you don't have a chance at getting past me," Ramidayuu said sullenly
"And how's a runt like you going to stop me?" Mushra crowed
"Oh look who's talking!" the dragon glared casually back with a smile at Mushra's fuming look.
"You just try and stop me!" Mushra said marching towards Ramidayuu and the yet larger arch behind him.
Mushra was about halfway across the hall when the small guardian through his arms forward, causing Mushra to be thrown back. Mushra skidded to a halt at his friend's feet, he than go up and glared at Ramidayuu, who was standing on the other side of the room laughing at him.
"Like I said" He called to Mushra "you don't have a chance at getting past me"
"Grrr" frustrated, Mushra went on the offensive again, charging at Ramidayuu with a roar, and again he was thrown back.
Not about to give up, Mushra clenched his fists and went Hyper.
"Well fancy that, the twerps a Hyper-Enterran," he said unenthusiastically
Mushra made another attack. This time he was able to hold his own for a moment or two before being catapulted back again.
"Is that all you've got?" Ramidayuu said disappointed "I got a better challenge from Lanacuras."
Mushra and the others stopped in their tracks.
"You mean, you where able to stop Lanacuras form getting the jewel?" Sago asked on disbelief.
The dragon guardian pouted.
"Oh you don't have to look so stunned"
"Than" Mushra said "We're going to need more power"
He transformed back to his normal form and than, with a blast of light, changed into his Guardian form. Ramidayuu's eyes widened, but stood his ground.
Mushra stretched his wings and launched an assault towards Ramidayuu. The small dragons eyes filled with fear. Mushra hit the force field with such force that the entire hall shook with the shock wave. He pressed against the field sending off sparks. Than finally the field gave way and a large crack split across the failing force field. Ramidayuu stumbled back, the fear clear on his face.
With one finishing blow, Mushra shattered to force field. Ramidayuu fell back.
"I do wish you hadn't done that," he moaned, "Now you'll have to deal with Dayuu"
"Is that a threat?" Mushra barked, clenching his fist.
"No. Its a warning" Ramidayuu sighed
Mushra took no heed to Ramidayuu's warning and walked forward through the large archway. The others followed behind, leaving Ramidayuu on the ground outside.
"I did warn you" he quietly sighed sadly "You have brought it upon yourselves"
They turned around to find not the small Ramidayuu, but a larger, more fearful looking creature. It was the size of a large dog. Perched on top of its head were two long, thick horns. Like Ramidayuu, it had neon green stripes against the black of its face and body. It had long, broad claws; the front pair larger than the back. It walked on all fours and with amazing speed and agility; it was in front of them; sharp, carnivorous teeth bared. It was the only thing standing between them and the jewel.
**************************************************************************
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it and I'm always open to ideas.
If anyone has a better name for this than the one I have now let me know.
Just remember, your welcome to contact me at www.neopets.com. My accounts are baby_blue__angel OR lil_flying_nimbus.
Plus, I do have a website if you care to have a look. The address is on my details page.
Review! Much reviewing wanted. Please make me feel wuved =P
^-^
Toodles
Cheese Monkey!