Hi again! Sorry it took a while to update, the stupid computer wouldn't let me transfer the stupid document to my stupid profile. I was also editing the previous chapters, so the grammar errors should be fixed; along with any repetition.

Ugh, yeah. I had a frickn' panic attack just now. I was re-reading the story in Word, when I discovered that half of chapter three had disappeared on me! I had to go copy and paste the missing parts from the story here. Seriously thought that I was gonna pass out. Last time I ever let Jax sit on the keyboard…(stop staring at me, Jax is my cat.)

Anyway, shout outs to Warrior and Salacassera. I'm glad that somebody reads my stuff. ((hugs both reviewers)) I LOVE YOU!

Disclaimer still applies.

Chapter 4: Crystallized

Daniel stepped out onto the narrow path made of calcium deposits. He really hated doing this, especially since there was a bottomless pit of green muck waiting for him at the end of a fifty-foot drop should he fall. Just don't look down, hethought to himself. He did alright until a shadow demon began shooting fireballs in his direction. Dan was able to kill the winged monstrosity via crossbow, but he lost his footing and toppled over the edge of the path.

As he began to plummet to his doom, he desperately flailed his arms, trying to grab onto something. When his bony fingers found nothing the knight closed his eye and waited for the slime below to swallow him. Nothing happened. No stomach twisting drop, no dismal end, nothing. Dan reopened his eye.

He saw that he was suspended over the abyss, swaying back and forth like a pendulum. He looked up to find a pair of ghostly hands gripping his wrist. He swung his other arm over his head and seized the walkway. The combined strength of Daniel and his rescuer was enough to pull the dangling skeleton to safety.

Once Sir Dan was on his feet again, he got a good look at the man standing before him. He had shoulder-length hair that was tied back in a lose ponytail. His armor was ornate; long, intricate spells were carved into the chest plate, adding extra magical defense. A huge sword hung from the sheath on his belt. Like Princess Lydith, he was a transparent white. Dan studied him. He must have come from the mirror. he thought. "Thank you."

The man smiled. "Do not mention it, my friend. You'd not be much help to us if I let you fall, now would you?" he said, extending his hand to the jawless knight.

Daniel took the offered appendage in his own and shook it, showing his gratitude with a friendly gesture of greeting. After all, he was glad the man had been there when he was. "You're from Ethrealmere, aren't you?"

The ghostly figure nodded. "Yes…well, was." His cheerful smile wavered slightly, but only for an instant. "I am Sir Kelth Regorlum, captain of the royal guard and husband to Lady Lydith."

"Can you tell me," said Dan, "what exactly is the Angel's Hymn?"

Sir Kelth tapped his index knuckle against his lips, debating whether or not to answer the question. Finally he spoke. "The Angel's Hymn is one of two books that contain the magic of our kingdom. Within its pages lies the power of light, while its twin, the Devil's Hymn, holds the power of darkness. Together, they create perfect balance."

Daniel was a bit puzzled. Why would Zarok want the power of light when he was a dark wizard? The confusion must have shown on his face because the ghostly captain continued his explanation. "Magic is neither black nor white, it is both because nature is both. Every living thing has the potential for good and evil inside of them. It just depends which they decide to use." He looked down at his upturned palms. "The same is true for the books. The Angel's Hymn could be used to destroy and the Devil's Hymn to create, or vise versa. Light can be wicked while darkness virtuous." His hands clenched into tight fists.

When Sir Kelth returned his gaze to the knight in front of him, his pale eyes were clouded with painful memories. "I mistook what should have been a shield for a weapon. I tried to use the Devil's Hymn to fight back against Zarok's army. I failed. Somehow, he was able to turn our magic against us and is now using a corrupted version to strengthen his legion of corpses."

So that's how Ethrealmere was destroyed. Daniel thought inwardly. To Kelth, however, he said, "What happened to the Devil's Hymn?"

A cryptic smile played about Kelth's lips. "We were able to seal it at the last moment. Do not worry about finding it, it is already safe."

Dan blinked. "What do you mean 'it's safe'? With a madman like Zarok running around, nothing is safe."

"I meant exactly as I said, the Devil's Hymn is safe." He paused. "Do you still have the RuneBlade?"

The one-eyed skeleton pulled a dagger from a makeshift scabbard on his belt. "Right here. Why?"

Sir Kelth's smile broadened. "Keep it with you. That blade may be the key, but you still need the lock." He turned and started to walk away from the slightly irked knight. Waving over his shoulder, he called, "If you happen to see my son anywhere, tell him to stop playing with the undead soldiers." He took a couple of steps forward, and vanished.

"Damnit!" Daniel cursed. "It would be so much more helpful if everyone stopped speaking in bloody riddles!" Replacing the RuneBlade to its home on his belt, he headed back down the path.

"Left…no, I went that way already. Maybe…nope. Just came from there." Dan was getting frustrated. He had searched again and again, traveling every tunnel and passageway, slaying any rhinotaur that crossed his path. He was considering going back and asking the gargoyle outside for help, when a blur of brown and pink streaked by. Poor Dan was knocked flat on his face.

He clumsily got to his feet and began to look around for his sword. It was nowhere to be found. The blur dashed by again and Daniel was able to distinguish the gleam of metal. His single eye widened in momentary shock as realization struck him like a bolt from the blue. "That bloody imp just ran off with my sword!"

The armored skeleton stumbled after the mischievous little critter, cursing loudly as he went. "Get back here you stupid pig-monkey!" He chased the imp into a small room where the rush of water could be heard. A sparkling waterfall cascaded from the ceiling into a clear blue pool; casting beautiful aqua-colored shadows on the cavern walls as the light from the illuminescent crystals shone through the surface of the water. Dan stopped and stared in wonder. Never had he seen anything this lovely. Then the sword-stealing fuzzball raced in front of him, breaking the spell. The rather irritated knight seized the unfortunate creature by the throat and ripped his weapon from its hands. A quick slash of steel and the imp was no more.

Daniel was about to leave, when something caught his eye. They way he was standing, the reflections lit the water just enough so that he was able to see a dark hole behind the waterfall. He stepped into the pool and peered past the heavy azure curtain. Yes, there was a tiny space behind the flowing water. Covering his skull with his shield, Dan hunched over and climbed through.

When he was able to stand up straight again, he was in a monstrous cave with a mural of a dragon's head painted on the wall. An open book rested atop a pedestal. It read, "Tread softly in these caves for an ill-tempered dragon has a lair here. He can be summoned by inserting two dragon gems into the eye sockets of this relief. The grouchy dragon doesn't come out much, as he is afraid of the roof collapsing over his head."

The knight pulled two rubies from his inventory and held them up to the soft light of a nearby crystal. I wonder if these are what the book was talking about. Dan thought. Guess there's only one way to know for sure.

As soon as he placed to gems into the eyes of the mural, a blinding flash of red nearly knocked him off his feet. Once he was able to see again, Dan heard a loud, booming voice emitting from the depths of the cavern. "Who dares to disturb my slumber?" A huge, scaly crimson head had emerged from a gaping hole in the wall. It did not look happy.

Daniel gulped but didn't budge. "I'm looking for the guardian of the Angel's Hymn. Can you lead me to it?"

The dragon scoffed, shooting putrid smoke from his nostrils as he did so. "Do you take me for a fool? I've no intention of doing anything of the sort." He eyed the skeleton before him suspiciously. "How do I know you could be trusted with the Hymn?"

"So, you do know where it is then?"

The dragon snorted again. "Maybe, maybe not. Defeat me and we shall see." He pulled his head back inside the hole.

Dan instinctively jumped backwards. He whipped his head from side to side, waiting for the dragon to make the first move. He didn't have to wait very long. All of a sudden, a long stream of fire shot from another hole, this time from the left. Dan somersaulted out of the way just in time. He leapt up and grabbed his warhammer.

The scarlet reptile stuck his head out and made to chomp at Sir Dan, but the knight was too quick for him this time. He brought the hammer down hard against the lizard's cranium. As the disoriented dragon tried to figure out which of the three figures he was seeing was real, Daniel once again swung his weapon. It crashed into the wall, causing boulders to topple from their resting-places.

"Enough!" shouted the poor dragon. "Just don't destroy my cave!" He emerged fully and staggered over to where the ground ended and an endless drop began. He blew a trickle of dark blue flame into the darkened gloom. Seemingly out of nowhere, a translucent walkway appeared. "Follow me."

Dan was stunned. "Wait, just like that?"

The dragon turned and looked at him. " What?"

"You mean you're really going to help me this easily? I barely even hurt you."

The crimson lizard chuckled. "Of course. Sir Regorlum of Ethrealmere told me to watch for you. He said you'd be the only person trustworthy enough to protect the guardian." He lumbered across the path.

The walkway led into another part of the cave. Crystals of every color and size grew from the ceiling, the walls, the floor, everywhere. In fact, the only place they didn't grow was the path on which Sir Dan and the dragon were currently standing. In the very center of the cavern stood a crystal unlike any of the others. It was perfectly clear and glimmered in the shallow light. It was the tallest one in the entire cave.

Daniel approached it. What he saw once he got close enough made him gasp in disbelief. Delicately suspended inside the crystal was the most beautiful image that the skeletal knight had ever seen. She was wearing an emerald-green velvet dress that was trimmed in braided ribbon. Her bright, waist-length copper hair was slightly splayed out behind her; while at the same time, framing her soft, kindly face. Her skin was pale and creamy, giving her the appearance of a Dresden doll. Her eyes were closed, the long lashes caressing her cheeks. Surely, thought Dan, this must be an angel.

"Mesmerizing, isn't she?" said the dragon from somewhere behind the entranced knight.

The question brought Dan out of his daze long enough for him to mumble, "This is the guardian?"

The dragon sat down and lay his head on his claws in a slightly tired fashion. "Yes, that's her. Princess Lydith put her under my protection just before Ethrealmere was destroyed. I've guarded her ever since." He yawned, rolling his tongue out before him like a cat. "Just let me know when you're done gawking so I can release her for you."

Dan snapped back to reality. "Oh…right."

With one quick swish of his spiked tail, the dragon shattered the crystal. The woman's limp form fell straight into Sir Dan's outstretched arms. Before leaving with the guardian draped over his bony shoulder, he thanked the kind dragon for his help. He turned to leave once again, but stopped and called back across the walkway to the sleepy reptile. "Who is she?"

The dragon opened one eye and looked at the reanimated knight. "She is the second princess of Ethrealmere, Lady Teran."