Chapter Thirty-Four: The Great Opal
Hikari landed on the soft ground before the cabin and was greeted by Rin, who ran out of the cabin as soon as she had landed on the ground. "So did you find your opal?" she asked cheerfully. Hikari snorted, nodding, and unclenched the talons of her right foreleg to reveal a small glittering opal slightly larger than a human teardrop. It glowed with a pale white aura and Rin observed it carefully, admiring how it glimmered with a multi-colored iridescent sheen.
Hikari then closed the talons of her right foreleg and transformed into a young teenaged girl, the opal held tightly within her right hand that was clenched into fists. She unclenched it slightly; letting the pressure she had imposed upon the opal decrease slightly and walked into the house, followed by Rin and the others who had since shifted back into their humanoid forms. She showed Sakura the opal, and allowed her to hold it carefully between her thumb and second finger.
"Now that we have found this opal the hard part has now come upon us," Sakura said wryly, "we must now found the opal which my daughter lost in the river. I have an idea where it might be hidden, as I directed her to hide it in a certain area, but the area in question is quite large and has several streams and rivers streaming through it." She handed the opal back to Hikari who wrapped her fingers around the smooth milky stone protectively.
"So then I guess we're going to have to travel to this place then?" Hikari asked softly.
"It does, but we're not going today. You and the others need time to rest, and I need time to plan what we are to do once we reach this particular valley." Sakura stood up, for she had been sitting in a chair, and walked over to Zeniba. Hikari could hear the two conversing in hushed and grim tones.
"Wonder what they're talking about," Takeo walked towards her his dark maroon eyes icy and grim.
"Probably about the valley that the opal pendent is hidden in," Hikari retorted flatly. Takeo seemed thoughtful and walked towards the two. Zeniba and Sakura stopped talking when they noticed Takeo walking towards them. She could hear him inquire as to what they were conversing so intently about. Sakura and Zeniba both seemed insecure as if debating whether they should tell Takeo or not. Noting that they seemed uncomfortable Takeo shrugged and said rather expressionlessly, "I don't mind if you don't tell me, but realize that you'll have to tell everyone else when we leave for this particular valley tomorrow." He separated himself from the group and walked towards Kasumi and Kai who were chatting to each other. They included him in their lively conversation, which turned foreboding after he chanced to join it.
"There's something about him that I don't like," Haku muttered to his sister, "he seems too… withdrawn and…well to put it frankly dark."
"I know," Hikari replied bluntly, "I suppose you noticed what happened to Kasumi's and Kai's conversation after he joined in on it?" Haku nodded in reply his emerald eyes blazing with a mixture of mistrust and suspicion.
"Don't try to judge him too harshly," both turned around to face Natsuko who was looking at the trio of phoenixes, "he's been through a lot, and many of his experiences aren't exactly something you would want to remember."
"How do you know?" Hikari asked, speechless.
"When you had left to get your opal I was chatting with Takeo, I was curious and wanted to find out more about him. I learned some things that I won't relay to you without his permission, for they are both terrible and frightening."
"Then what did you learn about him?" Haku asked the sapphire-eyed spirit harshly.
Natsuko stared at him her sapphire eyes cold yet soft, "his family and many of his friends were killed on an attack by the Evil One. Amongst those killed was the one that he loved and ever since that attack he has sworn revenge upon their death." There was silence. As Haku and Hikari contemplated what Natsuko had told them, their eyes began to drift towards Takeo. Things that they had previously overlooked in the spirit now became magnified, his somber and wary attitude, his silence, and the anger that lurked hidden in his dark maroon eyes.
"Wow," Hikari said softly and gently, "I never knew… the ones he loved and cared for the most killed by the one we now face."
"In a way I'm kind of glad that the council choose him," Hikari looked at her confused, Natsuko smiled and added, "he won't allow us to stray from our task, and so helps us by making sure we're doing what we were meant to do." Hikari grinned feebly, her expression that of great amusement.
"Natsuko is correct," Haku agreed his eyes wandering towards the two females, "Takeo does prevent us from straying from our task. For that I too am glad that the council decided that he should join us on our mission."
Hikari mock-groaned and stormed away from the two her eyes twinkling with mischief. She walked towards Keiko who was conversing animatedly with No-face. No-face, having spotted the youngest sister of Haku walking towards them, uttered a three syllable phrase in greeting. "Hi No-face, Keiko," Hikari spoke cheerfully, acknowledging both members of the small duo.
"Hi Hikari," Keiko greeted the elder girl kindly. No-face quickly uttered syllables telling them that he was going to cook the evening meal and if they wished to help him. The two girls accepted his offer and helped the shadowy spirit make the evening meal.
The rest of the day passed quickly and uneventfully. Hikari soon found herself lying in her futon unable to sleep. "What are you thinking about?" Hikari shifted so that she was facing Kai who slept to her immediate left.
"Tomorrow I guess," Hikari admitted nonchalantly. "I'm a bit apprehensive about what's to happen."
Kai looked at her for a heavy moment before replying softly, "you're worried that one of us is going to get hurt aren't you?"
"Perhaps… I'm not exactly sure what it is that is worrying me. Maybe I just feel that the entire situation has been daunting despite the challenges we have faced and surpassed." Kai didn't reply as his gaze shifted from her to the ceiling. He thought about the events that had come to pass and the trails that they had faced. He closed his eyes thinking it must have affected her in more ways than she reveals it does… maybe its why she hasn't been exactly perky these last few days and why she was in such a bad mood these last few days.
It wasn't long before he fell asleep. His last thoughts being what he should do to help her overcome the feelings of despair that were troubling her so. Hikari watched as he fell asleep, he looked so peaceful, unbothered by the trails of the world. Wish I could be more laid-back like him, she thought to herself enviously before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
The next morning found Keiko and Hikari awake and assisting No-face prepare the morning meal. "Ah…ahh…ah," he instructed them as they made omelets.
"We won't No-face," Hikari assured him kindly as she scooped her finished product with a spatula and placed it into a plate. Keiko copied her actions when her eggs had finished cooking. The two then set the freshly cooked food onto the table. The others, having recently wakened, stumbled sleepily towards the table before gorging themselves on the omelets.
"So where are we headed off to today Sakura?" Keiko asked the elder spirit kindly after finishing her meal.
"A hidden valley known only to my family, the royal family, and the council," Sakura replied bluntly after swallowing the last portion of her meal, "if I'm not mistaken, the opal pendent is hidden somewhere within the valley. Oh and Hikari, remember to bring your opal. It is the only way to find the opal of the pendent that I gave to my daughter."
"Why?" Keiko asked, curious.
"Hikari, explain to her why only your opal can find the opal pendent."
"Because the two opals are connected rather intimately," Hikari explained, "the opal of the pendent will only respond to its sister opal and to no other unlike my opal which is a rather normal opal which will react to any other opal of power, such as that of Sakura's." Keiko pondered what her friend had told her.
As she sat there silently thinking, Sakura said somberly, "Because of the secrecy surrounding the valley only Haku, Yoshiro, Hikari, Natsuko, Kai, Kasumi, Takeo, Chihiro, and I will be leaving for the valley. Rin, Zeniba, and Keiko are to remain behind."
"How is it that Natsuko gets to go and I don't," Keiko pouted, "I mean she's not affiliated with the royal family of dragons."
"She is actually," Yoshiro told her bluntly, "she's…engaged to me." A slight blush crept up his cheeks as his eyes wandered towards Natsuko who sat in front of him, alleviating Natsuko's fears that he no longer loved her.
Ignoring Keiko's comment and Yoshiro's reply Sakura continued, "Anyhow only the nine that I mentioned shall be leaving for the valley. The other four will remain behind. I think that it will be fair to warn the nine who shall go that the path, and there is only one path, to the valley will be treacherous and filled with unseen dangers. These are only tests to see whether you are worthy or not to enter. The Evil One will also be following us, as the valley is guarded by a special barrier that too is weakening with the barrier between the worlds as He gains strength, and perhaps even be able to enter the valley untried. I will go into more detail about the valley and the various trails you will have to surpass when we leave."
When those mentioned to journey alongside Sakura to the valley had finished their morning meal, they followed her outside. "I wish I could go," Keiko mused, "I got to go last time."
"I didn't go either times," Rin sniffed, "but you don't see me complaining." The two watched as the nine chosen shifted into their other forms and flew into the azure blue sky lined with only a few wispy clouds.
So what challenges are we expected to face anyway? Hikari inquired of Sakura curiously after having traveled a good distance.
Sakura snorted and replied thus, as we are nearing are destination I shall tell you. The first challenge will be one of wind, the second one of the elements, the third one of pain, and the fourth and final one of temptation. The one of wind shall be an intense wind whose only aim is to force us to admit our weaknesses and land if we can fly through this gale for thirty or so minutes it will pass and we will have passed the first test.
The second test is of the elements, in which the elements that we are familiar with will be pitted against us. We shall have to fly through a tempest of water, or for the phoenixes fire. Finding that we can no longer control these elements we shall have to endure this predicament for thirty or so minutes as with the first test.
The third test, the one of pain, will force us to endure our worst fears and experience a pain that goes by no name. It is similar to what Haku and the others had to endure with the Evil One's torture and what Chihiro glimpsed when she activated the black stone. This shall go on for at the most forty minutes and then it shall end.
The last test is one of temptation, and is the trickiest to pass trickier than even the test of pain which causes so many to turn back. We shall be thrust into a world of perfection and joy, where all we have wished for becomes reality. We will have to stick together and try not to be separated and tempted by what we have seen else we shall give in to our weaknesses and lose all will to fight the darkness. The trick to this one is to remember what we are doing is so that these dreams may become reality and, though it may not be particularly attractive, seek the darkness in life. Only once we have endured this test of temptation may we enter the valley we so seek.
Sounds interesting, Chihiro mused after Sakura had finished speaking, so only after we pass these four tests may we enter the valley. Sakura nodded and stopped.
We are about to face the first test; though it is the weakest of the four mentioned it is still powerful enough to make us want to turn back. She alerted them softly. Within moments a blast of hurricane-speed winds rushed towards them pushing them in the direction they came from. The hilly landscape below them however was untouched by the wind.
Hikari was tempted to land, so strong was the gale, but her thoughts turned fortunately to the phoenixes who were struggling to fly forward despite the wind. They were disadvantaged; their fiery wings were propelled backwards unlike her, who's slim and serpentine body left very little that could possibly resist the flow of moving air. The struggle of the phoenixes inspired her to continue her attempt to advance forwards.
Natsuko started to dive towards the ground below her, but stopped when realizing she was the only one doing so. If they can possibly resist this torment than so can I, she thought to herself boldly and flew next to Yoshiro, who acknowledged her arrival by briefly glancing in her direction. Thought you wouldn't mind the company, Natsuko told him simply in response to his questioning gaze.
Is that so? Yoshiro asked, unconvinced. For some unexplainable reason I thought that you wanted to talk to me about our… relationship.
Well that too…
You're worried about Keiko and I aren't you?
Was it really that obvious?
Yoshiro paused before replying sympathetically, in a way it was, and in a way it wasn't. If your fears have not been abated as of now… there is nothing between Keiko and I. Perhaps she has a minor crush on me and prefers to spend time with me, but I love only you Natsuko. In my travels I have found no one that could possibly replace you.
That's really sweet Yoshiro, but surely…
I am not lying Natsuko. Ask Haku if you wish for evidence of my affection.
Natsuko gazed at Haku and Chihiro, who were flying before them, their manes snapping wildly in the wind their faces grim. Her sapphire eyes twinkled kindly as she replied I don't think I shall… they have their own troubles that need to be dealt with. The two chatted as they waited for the gale to pass, thirty or so minutes according to Sakura's element.
When at last it did pass Hikari admitted shamefully it wasn't that bad… I don't know why I was tempted to land, besides the phoenixes were worse off than me and if anything they should have been the ones most tempted to land.
Our perspectives change due to experience, Sakura told her wisely as they and the others flew towards the looming gap in the continuous chain of ancient mountains now reduced to tall hills. What is considered to be difficult due to inexperience is reduced to simplicity due to experience.
Kasumi was thoughtful as she wondered I wonder how we shall be pitted against our elements for the next test.
You shall find out very soon, Sakura told her coldly as a tower of fire erupted from the earth and surrounded the three phoenixes. It was followed by a tower of water that completely encased the remaining dragons.
Chihiro felt as though the main purpose of the stream of fast-flowing water was to suffocate her beneath its force and will. That is, if it even had a will. The water encircled her body as would tight heavy metal bands wrought of titanium or similar metal. She struggled and found that the water seemed to react to her movement, increasing its hold upon her.
She looked about her to find that her friends were in a similar conundrum, unable to move and writing from the torment imposed upon them. I just…have to…survive…for thirty minutes, she thought to herself, I can do this… I just can't give up… just can't…give… up. As the pressure of the water increased the task of breathing became more and more difficult. Chihiro found it hard to think and was disoriented due to the lack of oxygen entering her system. A dragon with an emerald mane swam awkwardly towards her, concerned, but she was unable to tell whether it was Haku, Yoshiro, or Hikari.
Chihiro, she heard a masculine voice call out to her, are you okay? She didn't reply. The words made no sense to her. Just random sounds imposed together.
No… Chihiro… this can't be happening… it just can't… not after all that we have been through… tears fell out of Haku's emerald eyes.
Chihiro stared at the dragon. He seemed familiar, but she was unable to recall his name. Such was the effect of the water upon her memories. She noticed that he was crying, but she didn't know how to comfort him, such was the effect of the water upon her thoughts. A strong current pushed her away from the dragon, and all she remembered before she blacked out was his face and the look of utter horror and torment etched upon it.
No… Chihiro! Haku tried to follow her as the current pushed her away, yet it was the same current that kept him at bay. He had been weakened greatly by the strain of the water, and it was the current was too strong for him to surpass. He could only watch in horror and longingly as his beloved was carried away, limp and lifeless.
Sakura observed Haku intently, wishing that she could help him and calm his fears. However she could not, for she had her own battle to fight against the water. He'll get over it, she turned to face Hikari who was positioned directly behind her, he always does. I should know as I was with him for a small period of time when he was in the Evil One's custody.
The elder dragon smiled ruefully, perhaps… but that was when he knew that Chihiro was still alive… or at least for the time being. Now he has no idea that Chihiro is still alive, for the guise is convincing enough for him to believe otherwise.
Then why don't we just go tell him that she's alive?
I can't… or at least I'm not allowed too. He has to figure out himself that Chihiro is fine, and fight the emotions welling up inside of him by himself. That was the purpose of this test… to find the strength and courage that lay within you and to carry on despite the hardships that will arise. Look at Yoshiro and Natsuko if you want further proof of this. Indeed Natsuko, like Chihiro, appeared lifeless and was carried away by the current, Yoshiro, like his elder brother, tried to reach her to little or no avail.
I wonder how come neither you nor I are affected, Hikari told her companion thoughtfully.
Look closely at the ones affected and perhaps you will understand.
Well… Chihiro and Haku are lovers as are Yoshiro and Natsuko… but if that's true than how come I'm not affected?
Well… didn't you think of Kai when you were… drowning?
I did… but then I realized that if I could handle the pressure that he surely could.
Exactly, so you've already accomplished what was expected of you. I assume Kai did as well.
How do you know that Kai also fared well? Hikari asked mystified.
Well… you don't seem as affected by the water as before, and as long as both of you realize what you were meant to realize than both would be relinquished by your element's grasp.
Then what about you? I mean… the one that you love isn't present.
As long as I can endure the pressure for as long as it takes for the lovers around me to achieve their goal, than I'll be fine. The same applies for Kasumi and Takeo.
Than that means… that your fate is in the hands of my two elder brothers, Chihiro, and Natsuko… Sakura nodded in reply grimly. Hikari stared at her two brothers, Natsuko and Yoshiro had already been reunited only Haku and Chihiro remained…
Haku gazed enviously at his younger brother, Natsuko, and Hikari. All three seemed to have recovered from the testing and were chatting cheerfully amongst themselves. Sakura, albeit tired and quite weary having been unable to recover from the testing, would at times join into their merry conversation. What do they have that I don't have, Haku speculated to himself spitefully, why is it that Natsuko has recovered from her unconscious state while Chihiro is still unconscious? Then again… it is strange how they suddenly fell unconscious, yet neither Yoshiro, Hikari, Sakura, nor I were affected in that way… Chihiro should be able to regain consciousness if Natsuko has, yet she isn't moving around as she is. It then occurred to him that Chihiro never really should have fallen unconscious, she was just as strong as her companions, if not stronger, and she had been fine in the beginning, despite the lack of oxygen. As the realization dawned upon him, the towers of water and fire collapsed relinquishing their charges, and Chihiro regained consciousness. The nine members of the group hovered in the air uncertainly after its collapse before continuing their quest. The hills loomed closer in their sight, and they traveled for a good distance untroubled.
I wonder when we'll be affected by the third test, Kasumi wondered speculatively. We should have encountered it by now. No sooner had the thought occupied her mind did the third test begin. It was with Natsuko that the pain first began, she roared in agony as her belly ached in the most painful way and then it slowly spread to other parts of her serpentine body. Starting with her heart, which throbbed with every heartbeat, and then her tail, which felt as though it was being crushed by a heavy stone. She felt nauseous and weary, revolting images hurried about in her mind. She felt ill and wished it gone.
It spread like a great wave until every member of the party felt the agony and pain associated with the third test. Those who were not used to the torture that the Evil One was prone to found the test to be both painful and challenging, meanwhile Haku and those who had been trapped in the dungeon found that they were able to refute the images and were able to endure, somewhat, the pain.
Amongst those who weren't fortunate enough to experience this type of torment were Kai and Hikari. Several times Kai found himself believing Hikari dead, only to find it an untrue dream. Hikari too was tricked into this belief, as were many others, only to find it to be false. Kai's not dead… he just isn't… all images that feature him lifeless are false… he's not dead… Hikari found herself thinking. Despite these thoughts she found it hard to overcome the feeling that she had lost him, adding to the already unbearable pain that overwhelmed her.
Unbidden, her thoughts turned to her conversation with Sakura. If I can somehow convince myself that Kai isn't dead, and find the strength to carry on… then perhaps this torment will end… Hikari gazed at Kai, who was hovering uncertainly in front of her.
Hikari, he asked, much to her surprise, are you all right? Hikari nodded, and the pain slowly began to recede. So did the pain of the others, as Natsuko, Haku, Yoshiro, and Chihiro had already disproved that those they loved weren't dead or dying.
The party continued their journey towards the valley, now visible between tall misty hills of lush emerald foliage. Several streams, illuminated by the sun, wove through the lush valley of flourishing trees, some decorated with vibrant pink and white flowers while others were crowned with leaves of a delicate green. Trees were not the only inhabitants of the valley however; various flowers of differing colors and blades of grass carpeted the valley floor.
They were only a few feet from the entrance to the valley when the felt the stirrings of the fourth and final test. As Sakura had previously advised, they moved nearer to one another creating a misshapen circle whose diameter was mere inches. The world around them seemed to falter, and they were plunged into darkness. In the far distance a faint glimmer of light was visible, and it grew until it surrounded them.
Takeo had closed his eyes to shield them from the blinding light and felt himself being propelled towards a hidden portal. He tried to fight it, but wasn't strong enough to break free of the force that plunged him into the paradise that was the fourth test.
"Takeo," a girl shouted loudly. Takeo opened his eyes and looked about himself startled, the others were gone. He was slumped against a maple tree that grew on a densely forested hill overlooking a small village below. In front of him stood a slender girl of sixteen with icy dark maroon eyes and dark black hair. She was two inches taller than him and wore a striped blue t-shirt and denim jeans.
"Well I'm glad to see that you're awake," the girl retorted wryly, "you've been asleep for about two hours now, and Ms. Idiot over there thought you were dead." Takeo didn't reply, and told himself that it was an illusion despite the reality it hinted of. It was only an imaginative dream that consisted of people who had died in the fire, people who he wished was still alive.
Realizing this he refused to follow the girl to a group of others that were watching him only a few feet away. Enraged she walked off in the direction of the others who had been watching the two intently. She conversed with them, and he could hear mentions of his name and tentative glances in his direction. Finally a decision was made and the group walked away from him, except for a youthful raven-haired female of about his age (in appearance). She wore a red t-shirt edged with snowy white and dark denim shorts. She watched him intently, her eyes betraying her worry and great apprehension.
Once the others had left the premises she approached him. "Are you feeling okay Takeo?" she asked him kindly, kneeling in front of him. Takeo nodded. She smiled, but it was clear that she was still unconvinced.
She whispered into his ears, "I love you Takeo, as you already know, and because of this I'm care deeply about you. I sense that you're still troubled, though you refuse to admit what it is that is troubling you."
Takeo sighed, as tears fell out of his dark eyes, "I love you too, and it's too much to bear seeing you again because I know that you died in the fire." The images shattered before his eyes, and he found himself alone in the darkness…
"Takeo," he heard a feminine voice call, "wake up!" Takeo opened his eyes and glanced around him. He was slumped against one of the flowering trees that he had spotted growing in the valley. Before him gurgled the clear waters of a small stream and Kasumi was gazing apprehensively at him.
She sighed with relief once he opened his eyes. Good, she thought to herself, so he hasn't succumbed to the fourth test as I feared.
"I suppose we made it into the valley then?" Takeo inquired of Kasumi after he had observed all aspects of the valley. She nodded in reply.
"Where are the others then?" he asked.
Kasumi hesitated before replying, "they're looking for the frozen stream and the opal pendent."
"How come you're not with them then?"
"I thought that you wouldn't mind the company when you woke up, besides someone has to warn the others if the Evil One comes."
Takeo looked at Kasumi and spoke bitterly, "do you realize how large the parameters of this valley is?"
"I know that the parameters of the valley are huge," Kasumi retorted, "but there is only one entrance to the valley."
"It is still possible that He can find other ways to enter the valley besides the main entrance…"
"Well it's the easiest way into the valley… and it is likely that he'll use it. Besides, he might have been tailing us which would therefore lead him to the main entrance." Takeo didn't reply. Despite this, Kasumi could tell that he was still skeptical of their plan. Takeo took advantage of the silence to look towards the gap between two misty hills that was the main entranceway into the valley. A few clouds drifted lazily across the brilliant azure sky.
Good… he hasn't arrived yet. He felt himself relax, until he spotted a dark speck spiraling towards them. He frowned, at first dismissing the dark speck as a bird, but his fears were later realized when it was followed by a swarm of dark specks spiraling towards them. "Kasumi," Takeo spoke nonchalantly to his companion, "what are we supposed to do if we spot the Evil One and his army."
"Huh," Kasumi followed Takeo's gaze and gasped when she saw the dark speck and the swarm that was growing larger as it neared them, "fly as fast as you can until you spot the others and tell them."
"Well that's a really good plan." Takeo muttered sarcastically as he shifted into the form of a phoenix and flew into the sky. Kasumi did the same and followed him. Do you have any idea where they could be by any chance? He asked her.
I recall seeing them flying towards the northwestern corner of the valley…Kasumi recalled, but I remember Chihiro telling me that they also planned to search the northeastern portion of the valley…
We'll split up then, Takeo interrupted hastily, you search the northwestern portion of the valley and I the northeast. If either of us can't find them, we're to hasten to the other's area… with any luck we'll meet up with each other if we can't find any of them.
What about we take the same path that we took to get to our areas? That will increase the chance that we'll meet up with each other.
Good idea. The two flew northwards as quickly as they could possibly manage, pausing for short breaks whenever they grew tired. Behind them the dark swarm grew larger and more menacing. Already the southern edge of the valley had been enveloped in its shadow. At one point Kasumi fancied she saw a dark storm cloud rather than a dark mass of bodies when she looked behind her to calculate the approximate distance between them and her.
In the distance they saw a tall tree flowering with pale white blossoms, around its trunk flowed six streams in a misshapen circular formation. Deciding that it would make a good landmark for them to remember, they split in opposing paths once they reached it.
Takeo flew swiftly in his direction, and he screeched with joy when he spotted Hikari, Sakura, Chihiro, and Haku stooped over a creek. He dived towards the earth and his companions.
Hikari shifted her gaze into the sky when she heard the screech of joy. She smiled when she spotted the phoenix, thinking that it was Kai, but her smile slowly disappeared after the ruby bird landed, for she knew that it was not Kai but rather Takeo. Takeo quickly shifted into his more humanoid form and quickly approached them. He stopped about four feet from Chihiro.
"Hello Takeo," Sakura greeted him courteously, "I'm glad to see that you've awaken…"
Ignoring Sakura's comment, he relayed his message, "the Evil One came… and he's brought his army with him." Chihiro barely managed to stifle a gasp, and Sakura frowned with displeasure.
"Where's Kasumi?" Hikari asked, noticing that the female spirit wasn't present, "I thought that she opted to stay with you in case you've waken. Surely she didn't let you leave without accompanying you."
"She's searching for you guys," Takeo said grimly, "I expect her to come here any minute now realizing there wasn't anyone the northwestern corner… speaking of which where are Natsuko, Yoshiro, and Kai?"
"They're in the northwestern corner of the valley," Sakura informed him calmly, "I suspect that she'll come here bringing them after they find that the icy creek wasn't in their area."
"Do you mean that…"
Sakura nodded, "the creek in front of me is in fact the icy creek, and luckily I managed to pry out the pendent while you were chatting." She held up a tiny chain wrought of silver from which dangled an opal no bigger than a human tear. It shimmered with the sunlight filtered from the passing clouds. Delicate hues of green, blue, red, yellow, orange, and purple were entombed within its snowy white surface like shards of colored glass. From Hikari's perspective next to Sakura, she could see that the opal cast a small amber shadow upon the palm of her hand where it was held.
As Sakura had predicted, the rest of the group landed only a few feet in front of them a few minutes later. "We couldn't find the opal pendent," Natsuko gasped after she had transformed into her humanoid shape.
"I'm aware of that," Sakura told her, "because I'm holding the opal pendent." The others, after having shifted into their more commonly used form, raced towards her in order to glimpse the famed pendent. Once everyone had tired of staring at the pendent, Sakura, with the aid of Hikari, placed the pendent around her neck. The opal upon the pendent glowed warmly next to the one she usually wore.
"At last you have found it," they turned to face a tall menacingly cloaked man walking towards them, "and at last my work is done." He lifted the hood that enshrouded his face to reveal cold red eyes set upon a pale white face framed by scruffy short black hair.
Sakura narrowed her eyes coldly, "Hello. I see that you've finally dared to show your face in public, and more importantly in front of she who is the next in his line."
The man laughed wickedly, "you have not changed, Sakura, from the wimpy girl who stood by her father's side, refusing to be parted from the one she held so dearly. It must have pained you to see your father die as such in my hands."
"I'm sure that you're aware that he didn't die, and it was he that trapped you within the Maze and the Gage, never to be set free."
"Really, then how is it that I am free now? Perhaps you have not yet realized that I've had an accomplice within the royal court who was rather tickled to help set me free."
"After you tricked him into believing that he could gain control of Chihiro's realm," Sakura sniffed, "I'm aware that you lured Yoshiro into snatching the Emerald of Dragons and therefore destroying that which chained you and kept you trapped within the Maze's many corridors and the Cage's impenetrable bars."
The man seemed impressed, "you always were a smart one Sakura, shame that you didn't betray your father and join me by my side as queen. If my memory serves me well, we were lovers once."
"That was before you committed into your evil ways. The innocence in our love was gone after you became what you are now. What I cannot understand is why you dwell in the past so, when you attempted to kill my father, the first Dragon of Nature, I'm sure that you were still disillusioned enough to believe that he was still in support of our marriage. In case you're not aware, I no longer love you and he who I have loved and married is now dead."
"Ah yes, and I suppose that to this day you are still unaware of the cause of his death, well now I shall tell you how he died… I killed him just as I shall kill you and yours and wrench the opal from your grasp." As he finished speaking a dark swarm overcame them.
Hikari saw the man, who she was convinced was the Evil One, walk towards Sakura as chaos overcame them. The two opals were glowing brightly in order to ward off his evil. A writhing dark serpent approached her and she, using the power of her Emerald, destroyed it. Her Emerald was glowing brightly now, a tiny green star in a sea of darkness. She spotted three glowing red shapes in the distance, and she watched as serpents were deflected as they approached a glowing red barrier that surrounded them. That's not a bad idea, she thought to herself as she enacted a similar barrier, except it was green, around herself.
She grinned with satisfaction as the barrier blocked the serpents that approached her with great ease. Chihiro, Natsuko, and her brothers weren't so fortunate. Relying on their powers alone, they were only able to destroy a limited number of dark serpents that advanced towards them. Pitying her friends she enlarged the glowing green barrier, first walking closer to them so that she wouldn't have to use too much of her power in order to maintain such a big barrier.
"Thanks Hikari," Haku told his younger sister proudly.
"You're welcome," she replied, "and Sakura's in trouble." Haku shifted his attention to Sakura, who was being held by the man in a seemingly affectionate embrace. "I'm pretty sure that guy's the Evil One." Haku and Chihiro slipped through the edge of the barrier to where Sakura and the Evil One were standing after Hikari had handed them her opal.
"Yoshiro we need to talk," Natsuko told the uneasy dragon sternly once Haku and Chihiro had left.
"I didn't mean to do it," Yoshiro whined, aware of what she might want to talk about, "it's just that I've heard so much about it and though it might be interesting to pay a visit to her realm…"
"That still doesn't make it okay to do such a horrible deed," Hikari retorted. "If mom and dad find out they just might disown you for your deed."
"Hikari's right," Natsuko agreed, "excuses aren't going to make the situation any better."
"I… fine you're right, I guess I should apologize to everyone once this entire thing is over."
"You should, especially to Chihiro for making her life so difficult. I'm kind of glad that you were captured and sent into the dungeon. You were the cause of this entire mess after all."
Hikari smiled ruefully as she watched Yoshiro and Natsuko chat quietly about what could be done to alleviate the pain that he caused. She then turned her gaze towards Sakura, who was now suspended into the air by a dark cocoon…
Sakura struggled against the strands of dark magic that bound her, but found that she could not free herself from its grasp. "So you see Sakura," the Evil One muttered ruefully, "if you had just betrayed your father and joined with me, this entire incident would never have happened."
"If I had betrayed my father both realms would have fallen into chaos and you would have been ruling both as they're supreme ruler afterwards." Sakura snapped.
She felt something pressed into the palm of her right hand. It was followed shortly by Chihiro's voice, "here, its Hikari's opal… use to summon the Great Opal and free yourself."
"I'll summon it," Sakura whispered in reply, "but it shall have to be you who wields it." Despite the tightening of the strands to resist her motion, she slowly pressed Hikari's opal against that of the pendent. Show me that which has been kept from me. She thought to herself. Both opals began to glow as did the dark strands of magic. The Evil One had to shield himself from the searing light of the combined opals as Sakura fell into a trance.
Her father stood before her in a large domed chamber within their home. "Hide it Sakura," he commanded her, "hide it in a way and place so that it will never be found again."
"Yes father," Sakura replied respectfully. Within her hands was held the Great Opal, a stone no bigger than the palm of her hands.
The image swirled and was replaced by one of the Great Opal, held within her hands, being split into two separate, but smaller, opals.
The image blurred and was replaced by her father enchanting one of the opals into a scroll.
It blurred yet again and was replaced by one of her father placing the opal pendent around her neck. "Keep it safe," he told her lovingly, "you may not remember where it came from… but it is important that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands…"
Sakura snapped open her eyes, she knew what she must do. The opals were glowing brightly and she imagined them being wielded together into one opal, the Great Opal. The opals obeyed and the silver chain that held the second opal snapped. Its deed was done. The strands that once encased her now fell like limp threads, releasing its victim. Sakura fell onto the earth, and stood up. She handed the Great Opal, which was flashing brilliantly, to Chihiro who stood next to her. As she did the Evil One walked towards her and wrenched the Opal from her grip.
"At last," he whispered his eyes glimmering evilly, "it's mine."
"Think again," a voice brought his attention to a boy that had hurtled himself at him, and had since wrenched the stone out of his grasp. The boy threw it at Chihiro who caught it before he could react.
"No," he screamed in agony. Chihiro faced the Evil One and with all the strength she could muster summoned a glowing cage in which to imprison him and a maze in which the cage was hidden; this was then teleported into some unknown place, desolate and daunting so that no one would be able to find him.
The dark serpents were then banished into the dark realms from which they came, and then it was over. Chihiro collapsed from the exertion. "Is it finally over?" she asked Haku who was kneeling by her side. He smiled and nodded.