A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, but it will be worth it. Hope
people are still reading!!! I'm very excited because I'm finally getting
to the really good parts of the story. Hope you like it! Please R/R!!
The final day of the journey had arrived. The explorers were up at
dawn, had a quick breakfast, and set out. Each was eager to see what the day held for them. By noon, the group had already experienced a great deal of confusion and disorientation. The land around them was strange and unfamiliar. More accurately, it was familiar, but out of place. They kept passing places that had once been closer to the tree house, but were now relocated. Challenger analogized it to a puzzle fitted together wrong. Nothing looked as it should - at least not to them. But in actuality, the Plateau was back to the way it was supposed to be - the balance of power was restored. However, it made for a more dangerous trek for the travelers. Things were rearranged so that they never knew what they would run into next, or where to hide or escape from enemies. They ran into many dinosaurs, and even a few cannibals throughout the day. The only thing that kept them alive was their instincts and their weapons. They especially relied on Roxton and Veronica's heightened senses.
Near evening, the group was exhausted. They were a little disheartened. Because of all of the interruptions, they hadn't made it very far that day. Each was preparing themselves for at least another day of traveling before they reached their destination. Finn's suspicions returned, as she reminded herself that they had no idea where their destination was. Only Veronica remained hopeful. She knew her mother would not let her down. It was because of her that the others decided to keep moving, even though it was their usual time to stop for the night. As hungry and tired as they all were, they knew they had to do this for Veronica. If she still had hope, they weren't going to take it away from her - at least not yet.
However, two hours after dark, Finn decided that someone needed to speak up. "Vee, we've been traveling forever. I think it's time we stopped for the night. We can start again in the morning."
Veronica looked at Finn with a determined look in her eyes. "No. My mother told me to pack for three days and three nights. She knew we would arrive on the third night, and I'm not stopping until I find it."
Finn knew it would be unwise to say anything to Veronica about her suspicions that perhaps Avalon didn't exist at all. The others would never forgive her. But, it was getting late, and the group needed their rest - especially if they really were going to be going on a quest in the near future. "Vee, maybe she just couldn't foresee the problems we would have on this journey - especially everything we went through today. It's possible that we're still another half a day away from Avalon."
But Veronica was adamant. "Look, I really appreciate all of you coming with me. And if you want to stop for the night, that's fine. But I know in my heart that I'm doing the right thing, so I'm going to keep going."
Roxton spoke up. "We'll see this through with you, Veronica. We promised you that, and we're sticking to it." He shot a look at Finn.
"Vee, I'm sorry. If you feel that this is right, then of course we're with you."
Veronica smiled at her friends. But her smile soon faded into a look of surprise. "What is it?" Malone asked.
"It's the Trion," Veronica answered, reaching for the amulet around her neck. "It feels warm." She closed her eyes, still grasping her mother's symbol. Then, suddenly, she opened her eyes, and turned towards a nearby hillside. "It's that way," she said, as she started walking to the hillside. The others followed. When she reached the top of the hillside, Veronica gasped. There before her was the misty valley where she had met her mother in her dream. "We're here!" she exclaimed. She picked up her pace down the hillside and into the valley. The mist began to clear a path, and Veronica and her friends followed it until they reached a stone barrier. What seemed at first glance to be a large wall turned out to be the base of a mountain.
"Now what?" Marguerite asked.
"I don't know," Veronica replied. "But this has to be right. The Trion is warmer than ever."
Everyone began to examine the rocky terrain in front of them. "Perhaps we're supposed to climb," Challenger suggested.
"Let's hope not, George," Roxton said. "We're hardly equipped for such a task.
"I think I found something!" Malone yelled from a few feet away. Everyone gathered around him to examine the area in front of him. There, carved into the mountain, was a Trion, much like the carving where Veronica had recovered her childhood memories.
"This is it!" Veronica exclaimed. "This is the way to Avalon."
"No way, Vee," Finn protested. "Remember what happened the last time you used one of those things - we almost lost you."
"I have no choice, Finn. My mother wouldn't do anything to hurt me. You just have to trust me."
"I do trust you, Vee. Just be careful," Finn relented.
Veronica smiled. She removed the Trion from around her neck. Ned gave her hand a quick squeeze. She approached the mountain, fitted the Trion into the carving, and backed away. At first, nothing happened. But, after a few moments, the wall of the mountain began to fold inward, forming a passage. When all of the commotion was over, and everything seemed safe, Veronica led her friends into the cave, removing the Trion on her way in. When the last person was in, the wall closed again. Torches lined the walls of the mountain, as if someone had been expecting them to come through. Of course, Veronica knew, someone had indeed been expecting them.
They walked through the cave until they reached the other side of the mountain. There was another carving, and Veronica again inserted the Trion to open the way. What they found on the other side amazed them. It was the most beautiful place any of them had ever seen. Finn was especially amazed, having grown up in a desolate looking place on the same Plateau. "Avalon," Veronica whispered. No one moved. They just stared at the silver moonlight gleaming on the bright green trees and crystalline river. It was amazing.
However, their reverie was interrupted by the approach of figures from the mist. Each of the travelers quickly put hand to weapon - everyone except Veronica, who was usually the most cautious of them all. The reason for Veronica's calm attitude was that she recognized the attire of the strangers - and she was in awe of them. "Avatars," she said, breathlessly. "My mother's warriors."
Her friends relaxed as the men grew closer. There were six of them. One of them was particularly decorated, and Veronica assumed that he was the leader of the Avatars. When the warriors reached the group, they all dropped to one knee and bowed down in front of the women. The warriors first turned toward Veronica. "Hail to the Protector's Daughter," the leader declared. "Hail!" The warriors replied.
Turning to Marguerite, the leader said, "Hail to the Chosen One." "Hail!"
Finally, turning to Finn, "Hail to the Child of Hope." "Hail!"
Challenger, Malone, and Roxton exchanged glances of confusion mingled with amusement. The group had finally made it to Avalon, and apparently there were more surprises waiting for them than they had bargained for.
The final day of the journey had arrived. The explorers were up at
dawn, had a quick breakfast, and set out. Each was eager to see what the day held for them. By noon, the group had already experienced a great deal of confusion and disorientation. The land around them was strange and unfamiliar. More accurately, it was familiar, but out of place. They kept passing places that had once been closer to the tree house, but were now relocated. Challenger analogized it to a puzzle fitted together wrong. Nothing looked as it should - at least not to them. But in actuality, the Plateau was back to the way it was supposed to be - the balance of power was restored. However, it made for a more dangerous trek for the travelers. Things were rearranged so that they never knew what they would run into next, or where to hide or escape from enemies. They ran into many dinosaurs, and even a few cannibals throughout the day. The only thing that kept them alive was their instincts and their weapons. They especially relied on Roxton and Veronica's heightened senses.
Near evening, the group was exhausted. They were a little disheartened. Because of all of the interruptions, they hadn't made it very far that day. Each was preparing themselves for at least another day of traveling before they reached their destination. Finn's suspicions returned, as she reminded herself that they had no idea where their destination was. Only Veronica remained hopeful. She knew her mother would not let her down. It was because of her that the others decided to keep moving, even though it was their usual time to stop for the night. As hungry and tired as they all were, they knew they had to do this for Veronica. If she still had hope, they weren't going to take it away from her - at least not yet.
However, two hours after dark, Finn decided that someone needed to speak up. "Vee, we've been traveling forever. I think it's time we stopped for the night. We can start again in the morning."
Veronica looked at Finn with a determined look in her eyes. "No. My mother told me to pack for three days and three nights. She knew we would arrive on the third night, and I'm not stopping until I find it."
Finn knew it would be unwise to say anything to Veronica about her suspicions that perhaps Avalon didn't exist at all. The others would never forgive her. But, it was getting late, and the group needed their rest - especially if they really were going to be going on a quest in the near future. "Vee, maybe she just couldn't foresee the problems we would have on this journey - especially everything we went through today. It's possible that we're still another half a day away from Avalon."
But Veronica was adamant. "Look, I really appreciate all of you coming with me. And if you want to stop for the night, that's fine. But I know in my heart that I'm doing the right thing, so I'm going to keep going."
Roxton spoke up. "We'll see this through with you, Veronica. We promised you that, and we're sticking to it." He shot a look at Finn.
"Vee, I'm sorry. If you feel that this is right, then of course we're with you."
Veronica smiled at her friends. But her smile soon faded into a look of surprise. "What is it?" Malone asked.
"It's the Trion," Veronica answered, reaching for the amulet around her neck. "It feels warm." She closed her eyes, still grasping her mother's symbol. Then, suddenly, she opened her eyes, and turned towards a nearby hillside. "It's that way," she said, as she started walking to the hillside. The others followed. When she reached the top of the hillside, Veronica gasped. There before her was the misty valley where she had met her mother in her dream. "We're here!" she exclaimed. She picked up her pace down the hillside and into the valley. The mist began to clear a path, and Veronica and her friends followed it until they reached a stone barrier. What seemed at first glance to be a large wall turned out to be the base of a mountain.
"Now what?" Marguerite asked.
"I don't know," Veronica replied. "But this has to be right. The Trion is warmer than ever."
Everyone began to examine the rocky terrain in front of them. "Perhaps we're supposed to climb," Challenger suggested.
"Let's hope not, George," Roxton said. "We're hardly equipped for such a task.
"I think I found something!" Malone yelled from a few feet away. Everyone gathered around him to examine the area in front of him. There, carved into the mountain, was a Trion, much like the carving where Veronica had recovered her childhood memories.
"This is it!" Veronica exclaimed. "This is the way to Avalon."
"No way, Vee," Finn protested. "Remember what happened the last time you used one of those things - we almost lost you."
"I have no choice, Finn. My mother wouldn't do anything to hurt me. You just have to trust me."
"I do trust you, Vee. Just be careful," Finn relented.
Veronica smiled. She removed the Trion from around her neck. Ned gave her hand a quick squeeze. She approached the mountain, fitted the Trion into the carving, and backed away. At first, nothing happened. But, after a few moments, the wall of the mountain began to fold inward, forming a passage. When all of the commotion was over, and everything seemed safe, Veronica led her friends into the cave, removing the Trion on her way in. When the last person was in, the wall closed again. Torches lined the walls of the mountain, as if someone had been expecting them to come through. Of course, Veronica knew, someone had indeed been expecting them.
They walked through the cave until they reached the other side of the mountain. There was another carving, and Veronica again inserted the Trion to open the way. What they found on the other side amazed them. It was the most beautiful place any of them had ever seen. Finn was especially amazed, having grown up in a desolate looking place on the same Plateau. "Avalon," Veronica whispered. No one moved. They just stared at the silver moonlight gleaming on the bright green trees and crystalline river. It was amazing.
However, their reverie was interrupted by the approach of figures from the mist. Each of the travelers quickly put hand to weapon - everyone except Veronica, who was usually the most cautious of them all. The reason for Veronica's calm attitude was that she recognized the attire of the strangers - and she was in awe of them. "Avatars," she said, breathlessly. "My mother's warriors."
Her friends relaxed as the men grew closer. There were six of them. One of them was particularly decorated, and Veronica assumed that he was the leader of the Avatars. When the warriors reached the group, they all dropped to one knee and bowed down in front of the women. The warriors first turned toward Veronica. "Hail to the Protector's Daughter," the leader declared. "Hail!" The warriors replied.
Turning to Marguerite, the leader said, "Hail to the Chosen One." "Hail!"
Finally, turning to Finn, "Hail to the Child of Hope." "Hail!"
Challenger, Malone, and Roxton exchanged glances of confusion mingled with amusement. The group had finally made it to Avalon, and apparently there were more surprises waiting for them than they had bargained for.