Author note: 1 I love this scene in Lord of the Rings. Just think about when Sam, Frodo, and Gollum are crossing the endless swamp in Two Towers.
!!!Dangerous and Magical
Chapter 12: Battles Approach
The land of Fiends, isolated from the light of the Light Mountains, utter darkness stretched across the land as far the eye could see, and from the nine warriors views, who all stood outside the land's border scanning over the dismal seemingly uninhabitable land, which had been hidden from all in the Shadow Realm. The land seemed to be made up mostly swamp with very few dry paths to walk. Neo spoke breaking the silence, moving ahead of the group. (1)
"Come on, we have to move quickly but also carefully, and don't stop to talk to anyone, make that just let your eyes wander."
"But where is Krystal, Neo?" Catalina asked, trying to keep looking forward, keeping herself from looking at the land she had heard only stories of.
"She's up there." Courtney said plainly, stepping up behind the D. Magician Girl, at the same time pointing to a castle ahead of them.
The castle itself was by far the largest peak and could only be guessed that it was the center of this kingdom. It was as dark as night. Spikes radiated out from all sides, making it look more menacing then the rest of the land around it. It also looked more dangerous, as if the castle itself was under a spell and would attack them.
As the group walked, Mace was building up every ounce of his willpower so he wouldn't rush forward and head first without thinking. Soon they heard through the silence of the bubbling bog, the sweet sound of singing. The soft chords sounded like dozens of harps playing their simple yet mesmerizing tune. Everyone stopped when this started and began to look around realizing it was coming from under the surface of the water. However, when Neo, Sara and Courtney heard the tunes they quickly covered their ears to block out the sounds. The three turned around and rushed to the others to try and stop them from falling to the watery fate of so many others. Neo rushed over to Catalina, whose eyes became clouded, had fallen to her knees, staring at the water preparing to go in. He reached out and grabbed her and held her back despite her struggle. Sara did the same to Kevin, holding her hands against his ears trying to stop him from hearing the music. Courtney, who was trying with her might to hold back Robert, looked around and saw there was too many of them and only her, Sara and Neo to stop them. Just then, hands began to reach out of the water and grab at the ankles of the travelers of shadow pulling them down and toward the water, thus confirming who it was to the warriors of light. Releasing her hold on Robert, Courtney pulled a bluish white feather from her wings and tossed it into the air as she began to chant a spell.
"â€Chained Energy!"
Suddenly, as her words began to echo, the feather began to glow brightly, and was stretched out into a long purple and gold chain. The chain twisted and loomed rapidly toward its victims, encircling the warriors binding them tightly together. Neo, seeing Wingweaver's work, stepped back, drew out his sword and he too began to chant a spell.
"â€Swords of Revealing Light!"
In an instant, his sword began to glow and divide into many swords, spreading outward creating a wall around the group, keeping the hands repelling and soon the strange creatures disappeared. Soon all the bound warriors began to awake and struggle to get free.
"What is going on?" Natasha groaned, trying to ease the pain in her head.
"Those were the Toons of this land," Sara began stepping up, standing over the group, while Neo was further away staring out over the water, looking as if he was chastising someone. Sara then continued, "They live in their own world under the bog. Every now and then, they play alluring music and try and drag warriors and monsters down with them, and over time they will become a Toon." Catalina watched Sara as she finished then saw Neo turn around, and she gulped when she saw the seriousness in the swordsman's blue eyes. However, as Blake began to wake from his trance, he looked down to see the chain around him and the others. He growled.
"If someone's doesn't release me, in five seconds, I'm breaking out and killing the one who did it."
Courtney just smiled and walked over to the group and reached her hand under the chain against Robert, smiled and scratched the chain. All of a sudden the chain began to wiggle and loosen, if it had a mouth it would be laughing; soon it fell limp to the ground and vanished. Blake rolled his eyes and stood up. Soon everyone did the same. Neo still had a serious yet concerned look in his eyes.
"Come on, we have to hurry. These swords won't last long."
Everyone agreed and started to run through the bog, following behind the three light warriors.
((()))
Meanwhile, Krystal paced around her small dark room, wondering and hoping how her friends and little brother were safe and that they were not coming to help her. Krystal laughed, she knew Mace pretty well now, and he wouldn't let her alone. Every now and then, the White Magician tried to leave her room but was always caught by Silver. The seemingly gentle yet ferocious wolf was everywhere, in every corridor and doorway she came to. So now, she waited. Standing on her small balcony, tear-filled blue eyes looked sorrowfully over the desolate swamp covered in an everlasting darkness. Krystal, whose heart usually pained whenever she or her loved ones were in danger, now was in agony. She could barely stand on her feet. Pale hands, which had let go of the staff at the edge of the bed, gripped the black stone ledge tightly. She knew who was causing this pain.
Everyone who was in her very thoughts and heart were either suffering or in great danger, and there was nothing she could do to help. Her ways were blocked; she felt helpless. Krystal knew why she felt this pain, something was missing; a something that had eluded her all her life and she thought she had found it at last in the Land of Shadows. Now, it was gone again leaving her empty once more.
Why did I stop him? Her thoughts chastised her, as she remembered Mace and the brief moment they had shared. For that brief moment she felt, for the first time, complete. Ever since, Krystal couldn't keep her thoughts on anything, except the violet gaze of the Dark Magician. "Have I truly fallen in love with him?" Krystal whispered, speaking her thoughts out loud. The White Magician tilted her blonde head solemnly upwards towards the heavens to see if an answer from the gods would be given to her of what to do.
However, before that answer could even come, a low growl and howl sounded breaking the serene silence and the magician out of her own thoughts. She turned to be faced with the young black witch, with a dark yet sad smile, standing in the doorway, and Silver sat obediently at her heel.
"The Cosmo Queen requests your presence immediately in the Dark Hall."
Krystal was stunned when she heard Jeniva. She did not expect the Leader of this desolate place to be as polite as this. Nevertheless, all of her thoughts were so jumbled in her mind, her friends, her brother, and the returning memories of her twin sister, that she didn't bother to question Jeniva, only nodded, picking up her staff, she followed the pair through the everlasting darkness.
((()))
As the group paced carefully yet quickly through the seemingly endless desert of swamp, Catalina looked up and found she was up front alongside Neo. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Mace; his purple gaze remained on the dark castle. Catalina could have sworn she there was a small tear fall down his cheek.
((Mace's POV))
Damn the Cosmo Queen. How dare she steal Krystal away! Why would she want Krystal anyway? Sure the White Magician is the most powerful warrior in the Valley of Light, but I should have been there! I could have stopped Krystal from going through that portal! Damn!
Krystal whatever you're thinking right, I hope you can hear me, I will find you. You are in my very soul. Please Krystal, I can't lose you.
((End POV))
Mace awoke from his thoughts and turned his gaze toward the castle once again. It was closer than ever. His fist gripped his staff extremely tight. He somehow knew Krystal was in trouble; in fact, she was in pain. "I coming, just hold on."
Before the group knew it, they stood at the front gates of the castle. The doors were blacker then night and taller then the three legendary gods.
"This is it; beyond this gate is where the Cosmo Queen resides." Neo stated, almost hesitantly.
"Why are we stopping?" Kevin asked.
"We just wanted to make sure if everyone was ready for want we are about to face." Sara stated very reluctant, slightly trembling.
"Like Kevin said, 'why are we stopping?'" Mace stated sternly as he approached the front next to Catalina, startling her. She looked up and saw a gleam of determination in her master's eyes that she had never seen before.
The three light warriors, after receiving reassurance from the group, nodded to each other and raised their hands to the platform on the enormous doors. After a few minutes, six pale hands and the platform started to glow brightly and the doors burst open suddenly, as if on command. For it is written:
"Because it is the warriors of light in the past who sealed the Fiends within this desolate land of death and suffering, only those of the same blood who can control this place."
As soon as the doors lost their glow, the group continued hurriedly along their path into everlasting hallways of darkness, on their way to rescue their friend.
((()))
Back with the White Magician, as she continued to follow the young witch and her pup, eventually came to an abrupt stop in front of large elegant ebony double doors, designed elaborately with every exotic black jewel imaginable. Jeniva turned around and started to walk towards Krystal. As she got past the white magician, she whispered quietly, but just enough Krystal could hear.
"I wish you luck. Please, don't wish anything ill on her; she has been through so much all ready."
Krystal turned quickly and caught a shimmer of a teardrop in Jeniva's eyes. "Why should I not?"
Jeniva wiped away her fast approaching tears, "She wouldn't want me to tell you this but I feel it's important....
....Krystal, the Cosmo Queen is Aurora, your twin sister"
!!!!!!!!TBC
I am stopping here, for three reasons. One, it's late and I am tired. Two, I have migraine with three other stories I have to type. Three, I think I am getting a block on this. Oh well I hope you like this chapter.
I will give you a small preview of the future chapters, two characters will die, two light warriors. That is all I will say.
White Spirit Angel