Chapter Seven: Orinoco Flow

Author's Note:

I know I'm being a bit irritable by keep on changing the chapter names, but I really am gonna stick with this one! This chapter will feature Celtic Woman's version of Enya's "Orinoco Flow," which you can possibly hear on my Yahoo! Music LaunchCAST station if you're lucky enough, for Enya being one of my rated artists. It also features a little bit of Proto Zoa and Cosmic Blush's "Out of This World" from the Zenon Z3 Movie Soundtrack.Anyway, here it is. The training begins as Elyonna's army, Annika and her rebellion, the Keepers, and the Guardians, prepare for war against Wicked and her army, along with a journey to save Tohmis, after the war is over. Enjoy! I'll see ya guys on Chapter Eight: On Top of The World, featuring Jordan Cahill's "On Top of The World" from Disney's Stuck In The Suburbs. I'll see ya guys then! ;-)

-CelestialTime93

Jackie fluttered her eyes open to find herself in the medical tent of Elyonna's camp.

"'Bout time you got up, Princess." a familiar voice said.

Jackie whirled her head around to see Matt, in his Keeper form, sitting on a chair beside her bed. Jackie looked down at herself to find out that she was also in her Keeper form.

"Well, that's a new remark." Jackie frowned, practically breathless for an unknown reason.

"You had a rough one back there." Matt smiled weakly, attempting to make the space more livelier.

"I just had the strangest dream." Jackie laughed softly, "It was raining. We were trapped on the moor. Vines and thorns blocked every inch of a gap in the surrounding walls, cupping the rain together to form a flood. After I got up onto the wall with you, we began to talk about the rain and tears. Then, I felt something, on my lips. It didn't take long for me to find out that you kissed me. I said I could do better, and you told me to prove it. So, I did..." - Jackie looked down at her huddled knees and said softly, "I kissed you. It all seemed so real, and it all happened so fast. The kiss, the wind knocking us off of the wall and into the rising tides, the fear of not getting to live another day, the fear of losing everything that I just recieved. And, when I thought I was dead... I heard your voice."

Matt suddenly felt strange. He slowly raised his lowered head up from looking down at the floor, as Jackie continued, "For the first time, in my life with you, after all of those, harsh words that you said to me, just to entertain you... you cried for me. You begged for me to live again. I even heard you say, my name. My... real name."

"Jaclyn." Matt said quietly.

Jackie looked down at Matt, whom was still sitting with his back arched and bent foreward. Then, she met with him, face to face.

"I have something to say." the two said at the same time.

The two Keepers felt their hearts racing. Both of their breaths quickened.

"Y-you go first." Jackie stuttered nervously.

Matt recollected his strength and finally managed to say, "What you saw wasn't a dream. It was all real. That's why it was all real to you. The kiss, the water, the rain, the conversation, everything. Every word and sound you heard, everything you saw, everything you felt, both physically and emotionally, they're all true. You just fell into unconciousness when I brought you out of the water. You were dead for one second and I hoped that it was just all a misunderstanding, and that the Amulet was just the one that had died, but I was wrong. I wasted your power to get us out of the waters. I had many of mine. I could've just used my own and only my own, rather than both of ours together. I just had to waste your remaining energy. Jaclyn, if I could do that all over again, I would do it differently! I would use my own magic, I won't risk yours! Please forgive me!"

Matt prepared himself to be slapped at, yelled at, abused at. He won't care. He deserved it. He knew he deserved it.

But what he got, was something else...

"You just called me Jaclyn."

Matt looked up from the ground met eyes with the owner of the voice that spoke to him.

"What?" Matt asked hoarsley.

"You just called me Jaclyn." Jackie repeated, "I've never heard you call me that before. You'd just call me what everybody else called me or you'd just tease me and call me a drama queen. But, never Jaclyn."

"Well, that's your name, isn't it?" Matt laughed weakly with an equally weak smile.

Jackie laughed the same, then she grunted when a sharp pain rushed throughout her whole body from her side.

"You're still in much pain." Matt said softly, as Jackie struggled to lay back down onto her back. Matt carressed Jackie's head with one hand and supported her back with his other, and placed her fragile body gently back onto the bed. As he slid his hands out of position, he began to speak to Jackie again, only with a more gentler voice, "I'm not gonna leave you alone on your will if you don't tell me what caused that reaction to happen."

"How do you know about this?" Jackie whispered weakly, as Matt brought himself to a lower level until his cheek made contact with Jackie's own. Her skin felt smooth to the touch and was strangely warm after being in the cold water during a rainstorm.

"Your power's weak, Princess, it's easy to tell." Matt replied.

"That's the second time you called me Princess." Jackie said, "Do you know something that I don't?"

Matt hesitated.

"You do know something." Jackie frowned, "Tell me, please. I don't like it when you keep secrets from me."

With a bit of hesitation, the Keeper sighed and began to explain, "Slider and Annika, along with Coop and Elyonna, explained to me that you're from a long line of a now instinct royal family, whom were killed, sometime during your mother's time. They were killed by assassins and rebellions of the world, who's souls are under Wicked's control. But your mother escaped into the real world, through a forgotten portal that lead to Earth. She met your father there, got married, and soon, you were born. Ever since your mom escaped during the Magix Revolution, Wicked's ancestors took over the empire, and soon, after a century, a new rebellion was formed: the rebellion that Annika is leading. The rebellion that will need a princess to lead them into battle. A princess, without a crown. But an awaiting throne. I'm sorry if I confused you so much, but I'm not the best person with secrets. You know that."

Jackie couldn't help but giggle when she heard Matt's last remark. "But, that still doesn't answer how you know about my conditions."

"When your power's weak, and it's slowly rebuilding, you go through a painful healing process, that is somehow connected to your Amulet's power." Matt explained, "Your's is Friendship, so that means, you're hiding something from your friends. Is it me in particular?"

"As a matter of fact, it is." Jackie smiled. With much hesitation, she turned onto her side and faced Matt, eye to eye. She felt her body sending rushes of an uncertain excitement or nervousness throughout her body. Her heart rushing, her breath quickening. The time had to be now.

It all happened so fast: the nabbing hesitation and want to tell him what she thought, electric shocks of the strange nervousness and excitement throughout her body, being lost in his eyes...

Jackie departed, her cheeks bright red, her breathing heavy, her heart beating rapidly. She was practically at a loss for words. She couldn't say anything but stutters. She opened her mouth slightly, but no sound came out. Finally, she managed to say hoarsly, "Oh my god..."

"I can explain!" Matt began, only to be interupted abruptly by Jackie, whom stood up from the bed, and wobbled towards the tent's opening.

"Um... no, it's okay." Jackie said, out of breath and almost at tears of shock, "It's none of our fault. Nothing's wrong. Um, let's just... forget about this whole thing, shall we? I'll meet you outside, with the others. Training's starting."

As Jackie left the tent, still in her Keeper form, Matt let out a sigh, and scolded himself, mentally kicking himself, "Stupid. How could you be so stupid?"

(Intro for "Orinoco Flow" begins)

"Okay, just aim it at a right level..." Creech instructed Inez, who was learning how to control her weapon of choice, a magic mirror that could reflect illusions and turn the enemy into an unknown substance, or even stone. It could even heal.

Right now, it was an attack.

"Now what?" Inez asked.

"Focus..." Creech directed, as Inez closed her eyes and focused her power into the mirror, "Now... SHOOT!"

With the word spoken, Inez shot her eyes open, as a beam of light that was illuminating the mirror's glass, shot out of the mirror, past the target, on and off the trees, and into the lake waters, causing a huge splash of a wave upon two of the boys.

"Oops!" Inez cried, then she called to Matt and Ryan, "Sorry! My bad!"

Let me sail, let me sail, let the orinoco flow
Let me reach, let me beach, on the shores of Tripoli
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore
Let me reach, let me beach, far beyond the yellow sea

"It's alright!" Ryan called back, as Matt shook his hair dry, untied his hooded cloak, and squeezed the water out, "We'll manage! Hey, can you get Sharri down here? I wanna show her something!"

"No problem!" Inez called back, and she went off to find the young magician.

"I hope Sharri likes her present." Ryan smiled, as he grabbed a towel from a line that was tied from one tree to the neighbouring tree, "I worked real hard for this one, knowing that she's a sorceress and all."

"Magician, sorceress, what's the difference?" Matt muttered, obviously in a bad mood.

"You tell me." Ryan laughed, trying to brighten up the area.

"You wanted to see me, Ryan?" Sharri asked, as she came down the steep hill towards the lake. She was in her Keeper form, but her hair was in a low ponytail with a ribbon.

Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away

Ryan turned to face Sharri, only to be shocked by Sharri's appearance. "Wow... You look... beautiful."

Flattered, Sharri blushed a bright pink as her eyes sparkled. "Thank you. Is that why you wanted me down here?"

From Bissau to Calau, in theshade of Avalon
From Figie to Tiree, in the isles of Ebony
From Peru to Ceru, feel the power of Babylon
From Bilie to Cali, far beneath the coral sea

"Huh?" Ryan suddenly then remembered why he called Sharri, "Oh! Yeah!" - he pulled out a crystal orb that hovered on the palm of his hand - "This is an egg of some kind. It's supposed to hatch in a few seconds..."

Suddenly, there was crack. Light seeped through the cracks formed on the smooth, crystal surface. Then, it opened up completely, the shells disappearing, as an adorable baby pheinox replaced it. It screeched a high pitched squeal when she saw Sharri.

"Well, look at you!" Sharri exclaimed, as the pheinox flew to Sharri's outstretched arm, "You'll make a wonderful companion for Dede!"

"Is Dede a pheinox?" Ryan asked.

"Nope." Sharri replied, "A rhyming bird. Thank you so much!"

"Sharri!" Annika called from above, "We need you up here! When the females attack, all of the females attack at war! Including you!"

"Gotta go." Sharri smiled at Ryan as she went back, "Bye, Ryan! I'll see you later."

"Bye." Ryan replied, waving back.

Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away

As Sharri ran up the hill, Ryan muttered hopefully, "Look back. Look back!"

Sharri peeked over her shoulder with a smile, and went back with the others.

"YES!" Ryan exclaimed, leaping up and down with joy, whooping and exclaiming.

"What's gotten you psyched?" Adam asked, as he arrived with Digit and Slider.

Ryan was about to tell them, then he said, "Just for some particular reasons. C'mon, let's start our own training. And Matt, that means no more moping."

"Whatever." Matt replied.

"Maybe if we knew what he was moping about, we'd know how to resolve it." Slider suggested.

"He refuses to tell us." Ryan replied, "Matt, you gotta get up! This effects your Amulet y'know!"

"Fine." Matt said, as he stood up, "Let's get things started."

"What's up with you?" Digit wondered out loud, "You're usually the one that always is the team spirit! You tell us to hurry up, and you just wanna get everything started with! What's up with you? And you barely said a word today! That is, ever since you-ohhhh. Okay, I know."

"What?" Adam thought for a moment, "Oh. Okay."

"Can we just start here please?" Matt asked impatiently.

Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away

Back with the girls...

"I see Ryan gave you a present." Annika smiled, as Sharri joined the girls with her new pheinox perched on her shoulder.

"Too bad Dede isn't here." Sharri said, stroking the pheinox's head with her finger, "These two will probably have a ton of fun."

"Well, for now, we have to get ready for a war." Creech said, as Inez tried to aim for the target again, "So, we're gonna have a bit of our own fun!"

Inez yelped as the power overstrengthened, and shot out of the mirror's glass, shooting Inez in the opposite direction at the same time.

From the north to the south
Ebudae unto Khartoum
From the deep sea of clouds
In the island of the moon
Carry me on the wave
To the lands I've never been
Carry me on the wave
To the lands I've never seen

Inez ended up tumbling down the back hill towards the river. The girls chased after the tumbling Keeper, trying to stop her before they fell into the river.

"Inez!" Annika cried, as she ran as fast as she could down hill.

Inez grunted as she bumped up and down as her body spun on its side downhill, her friends chasing after her.

We can sail, we can sail
With the Orinoco Flow
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away, sail away
We can meet, we can greet
With Rob Dickens at the wheel
We can sigh, say goodbye
To Ross and his dependencies

We can sail, we can sail
Sail away, sail away, sail away
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away

"Whoaaa!" Inez fell in the water, as the other girls dove in after her.

Sail away, sail away, sail away

Each of the girls screamed as they landed in the water.

It wasn't long until the boys came running down, and helped the girls out.

"Looks like someone lost their focus." Coop laughed after the girls were wrapped in warm blankets at the campfire. It was nightfall by then, and it was time for the nightly dances and celebrations.

"Like I say." Elyonna said, "A chain cannot be formed, unless someone starts the link." Elyonna smiled down at Inez, who smiled back, still shivering from the dive in.

"Now, according to Annika, Inez and Slider have very beautiful voices." Coop smiled, "Is that true?"

"I'm her stepbrother so I'll answer." Matt said, "The answer is, yes. She is. I'm guessing she got it from Godmother Abrienda's side of the family."

"And you got your stubborness from Godfather Marcus' side of the family!" Inez retorted from Matt's final remark. It sounded more like an insult rather than a complement, which triggered Inez's breaking point.

"Well then, I'd like to hear it." Elyonna smiled, "Even just the chorus at least."

"I'm not wasting my magic just for that!" Annika exclaimed.

"No need." Slider replied.

The two nodded, and with a rhythm that was kept steady with their hands, they sang, "♬You're out of this world, I knew that you could make it. You didn't have to fake it. You're never comin' down. You're out of this world. It can't get any better. We're gonna last forever, keep your head up, don't look down---------! You're out of this world! Out of this world, out of this world! Yeah, you're out of this world!♬"

The camp applauded at the wonderful singing.

"That was nice." Elyonna complemented, "You two have very beautiful voices. Even without music."

"We'd all better get some rest for tomorrow." Coop said, as the fire was being put out, "We have a long day ahead of us."