Yay! Thanx so very much for your reviews! I'm so happy! This one's a real long chappie but it says all the important things. Enjoy!
Lilo: Yep, I updated! I have to update more often but I have to get the reviews first right?
Just-some-girl-1: Don't worry. I'll update on a more daily basis.
Ice Archer Girl: Yep, you inspired me! I guess it's the influence of those stories you write. Anyway, I didn't find my book. TT But, oh well. Yea, I wish I had a necklace like that too. That's why I invented it! Heehee!
Silver Swiftness: Thanx for the email! Now I can chat with you too! Yea, I agree with you. Who wouldn't want a necklace like that?
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters except my OC's. Wish I did though.
"talking"
'thinking'
Chapter Two: A New Destiny, A Prophecy Fulfilled
"Hey Steph. Steph!" Jody shook her head in frustration. It was really hard to talk to her friend while in her dreamy state.
"Are you listening?" Jody waved a hand in front of her face.
"Huh?" Stephanie turned to look at her, her face blank. "You say something?"
"It's the fifth time I've tried to get your attention, Steph. What's wrong?" Jody looked at her curiously.
"Nothing," Stephanie mumbled, her gaze still unfocused.
Jody shook her head again and sighed. She looked at Stephanie one last time before walking away.
Stephanie took no notice to her departure. Her mind was caught up in the thoughts that whirled through her head. She thought of her bleak future and how she would ever survive through it all.
Stephanie felt tears forming in her eyes. She tried to ignore them but one teardrop slipped free. She swiped at it with anger. She couldn't feel sorry for herself now. There was no point. Her life wasn't worth living anymore.
The bell rang, signalling the start of classes. Stephanie straightened and started walking to her next class.
¤ ¤ ¤
Students chattered excitedly about the weekend, telling their friends about the plans they had. There was much laughter and cheer in the air as the doors opened, releasing students out into the brisk air. All were bundled up as snowflakes softly fell from the heavens. Only one wasn't happy with the proceedings.
Stephanie trudged slowly to the bus stop across the street. Her boots crunched in the new fallen snow. Kids milled around her but she was oblivious to their presence. She sighed, her breath fogging up the air and her glasses. She pushed them up the bridge of her nose for they appeared to be slipping again.
She came to the curb. Not bothering to look both ways, she started to cross the street, her feet focused on her footing on the slippery ground.
"Watch out Steph!" somebody yelled from the sidewalk.
Stephanie turned slowly. A car was speeding towards her and it didn't look like it was slowing down. At that moment, she felt like a doe trapped in the headlights. Her whole body froze as her mind screamed for her to move.
Everything happened so slowly it seemed things were going slow motion. She felt the car slam into her, knocking the wind out of her. Flying a few feet, she crashed to the ground. It seemed like every bone in her body was broken, red was brimming in her vision. The life essence seemed to drain out of her. The last thing she heard was muffled screaming before she surrendered to the darkness.
¤ ¤ ¤
Stephanie was floating. She sighed in contentment and grudgingly opened her eyes. All around her, she was swathed by darkness. She looked at herself. Nothing seemed to hurt anymore. A wave of peace overcame her emotions.
A light appeared in the distance. The light expanded as it got closer and closer. It took a shape of a glowing goddess dressed in long billowing robes of pale blue silk. Her flaxen hair stirred in an unknown breeze. The woman glided towards her.
"Am I dead?" Stephanie whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
"No my dear," she said simply.
"Than where am I?" the girl asked, looking around her.
"You are now between the worlds of life and death," the woman answered. "Here is where you make your decision."
"My decision?" Stephanie echoed, shaking her head. "Okay… first tell me who you are."
The lady smiled. "My manners. I am the Elemental Goddess. I watch over the Elemental Galaxy. And according to the prophecy, I am supposed to retrieve you." She bowed low to her.
"Supposed to retrieve me?" Stephanie looked confused. "And what prophesy?"
"Here, " the Goddess replied gently. "This is the prophecy." And she started to sing.
"The Elemental Galaxy lives in peace,
But evil loom ever closer
For the Evil One has been freed,
Leaving destruction in his wake.
Only one can stop him; an Outsider,
The time has come to retrieve her.
Her hair shines like the setting sun,
Her eyes sparkle like the crystalline sea.
Born on the Dark Moon, at the darkest hour,
In the coldest month, on the coldest day.
She is a dreamer, a drifter, a Seer.
She is the one who will save us all.
Her powers are immense, so very strong.
May she lead the Elemental Warriors to victory.
She well com for the fate of the worlds rest in her hands."
¤ ¤ ¤
The Goddess bowed once again, her voice fading into the distance. Stephanie just stood there, mouth wide open, her mind exploding with questions.
'Okay, take a deep breath,' she assured herself. 'There's no need to panic. Just breath.' She inhaled than exhaled slowly. Than, she started to speak.
"Okay, question time." She smiled shakily at her jest. "What is an Outsider?"
"An Outsider is a person not of the Elemental Galaxy. Galaxy laws state that any Outsider would be executed."
"Executed?" Stephanie squeaked nervously. "Than won't I be executed too?"
"That law is now banned from the Galaxy. There is no need of it when our Galaxy is in such a dire state." The Goddess sighed.
"Okay, second question. Who's the Evil One?"
The Goddess frowned and said vehemently, "The Evil One goes by the name Draken. He is made up of evil itself. He lives in the Realm of Death and is not able to leave because of a strong spell that forced him to stay there. But, as we speak, the spell weakens. He sends countless of his minions into the Galaxy to do his bidding. His name is never uttered for it is a curse to all." She shuddered and made a symbol over her heart. "Here, let me tell you a story."
¤ ¤ ¤
Long ago, the Elemental Galaxy lived in peace and harmony with its neighbouring planets. All was well.
Or so they thought.
Far away, in the Realm of Death, Draken Von Bracken plotted an evil plan to take over the Elemental Galaxy. So he waged an epic war against the Galaxy, vowing that he would not stop against anything to rule the whole galaxy.
His power was immense, his armies strong. Before long, Draken had almost taken over the whole galaxy with the power that emanated from his Mystical Orb. The one who possesses this orb has the power to bring chaos. Only one man stood in his way. And that was the mighty King Stephan.
King Stephan was the ruler of the Realm of Fantasy, the planet that strived to protect the other realms. He and his daughter Angel had did all they could to protect the realms from destruction but to no avail.
His daughter was the heiress to the throne of the realm. Everyone had high hopes for her. The problem with Angel was that she was naïve to the world around her. She was cowardly and whined every passing minute although she passed every day with a smile on her face. The king was dismayed at her for such light-heartedness but couldn't bear to see her unhappy. She was a little bit forgetful but she was intelligent beyond belief. Her mother, Queen Rowena, was the Elemental Goddess and helped protect the realms. She was a sorceress of high rank and was considered a goddess. But, in one particular battle on the Realm of Magic, she disappeared without a trace.
One day, Draken's troops penetrated the force field that surrounded the realm and the battle raged mercilessly. Draken charged his black stallion into the gates of the Fantasy palace. But King Stephan's troops stalled for time. King Stephan fought hard with Draken himself in a sword combat. His daughter watched in horror as her father was wounded. From her place on the palace balcony, the fighting was horrible. Angel cried as her father fell, as if dead.
"Now I shall be ruler!" Draken announced, reaching down to pluck the king's crown off his head.
King Stephan waited for the right moment. Just as Draken was about the put the crown on, he used his remaining energy and destroyed the orb. Draken screamed as the orb shattered and disappeared. King Stephan got up shakily.
"May you be banished to the far reaches of the galaxy!" Draken gave one more scream before he vanished, his troops along with him.
"Daddy!" Angel reached her wounded father, tears running freely.
In the dying light of the magic from the Orb, King Stephan smiled wearily. "My dear, my time here is over. Now I must join the other kings in the sky."
"No!" she screamed but her father just shook his head. Gathering the magic, he flung it over his daughter's body. The magic covered her in a cocoon.
"Take my child far away, into a distant galaxy, to forget all she has seen on this day. Give her the courage to summon the light when her time has come." He sighed and dropped to the ground. With his dying breath, he said, "Take care of her Rowena. She is now in the hands of fate."
¤ ¤ ¤
"So, I'm actually a princess from another galaxy?" Stephanie sniffled. "Even as King Stephan… I mean my father… was dying, he tried to protect me." Stephanie looked at the Goddess. "And you're actually my mother?"
"Yes." She smiled sadly. "I have waited for this day for years."
Stephanie started crying. "How am I supposed to understand that I'm some princess?" She glared at her supposed mother. "I won't believe it!" She started walking away.
"But you have to believe me!" the Goddess glided after her. "You hold the Mystical Orb in your hands and only you can prevent history from repeating itself."
"Get someone else to do your dirty work," Stephanie retorted. "Now get me out of here!"
The Goddess sighed. "If I were to do that, your body on earth will disintegrate. You'll be as good as dead." The Goddess looked at her daughter. "You have no choice but to accept your fate."
"I won't!"
The Goddess smiled ruefully. "You always were stubborn Angel."
"That's not my name!"
"Yes it is."
"I'm not your daughter!" Stephanie sank to her knees and started crying again. "All I want to be is a normal girl!"
"You never were normal," Rowena replied.
"Couldn't you just… destroy the Realm of Death or something?" Stephanie looked up at Rowena.
"If we do, the Galaxy will become unstable. For without the Realm of Death, the Realm of Life will not be able to survive. The two balance each other. The Realm of Life is formally known as the Realm of Fantasy. 5 of the 10 Realms have already been taken over by Draken, the rulers killed. The Realm of Death itself needs no ruler for it functions on its own. However, it cannot survive without the Realm of Fantasy either. So Draken leaves it alone. For the time being."
"Do I have to do this?" Stephanie pleaded. "Couldn't I just go back to earth and lead a normal life."
Rowena shook her head. "Unfortunately, you can't. If you were to do that, you would be dead in your world and that won't do any good whatsoever. Besides, wouldn't you rather come to the Elemental Galaxy and save the world?"
"No." Stephanie sighed. "But I don't have a choice, do I?" She got up, looked at her mother and made her final decision.
¤ ¤ ¤
It's a cliffie! That's just great. Yea, this chappie was pretty long. The next won't be as long hopefully. This chapter took me so long to type up. You see, I had to start all over again because I couldn't find my other book. Oh well, I guess it doesn't really matter. And for some reason, my personal profile is showing nada on it. Don't know what's wrong with it. Well, I'll update soon. Please R&R!