Alternate Destiny: Sloth's Reign
Author's Notes: This is it guys, no more horsing around, this is the real deal... What does the Prophecy mean for the Rebels and the Artesians? Will it affect the outcomes? And what does the Astral Gates got to do with the Prophecy!
"You're not going to kill me… Right?" whimpered Kali. Artemis looked ominously at her as he saddled on the Ice Uni called Blitzen… "It's me, Art. But I've dyed my hair later so that's why-"
Blitzen snorted as the Wielder's expression didn't even change. Instead his scowling face loomed closer to the shivering green haired girl with plaits, as her Diaconate sprang forth in an attempt to protect the Rebel. Artemis had only one word for his unfortunate neighbour.
"Die," he snarled as immediately Kali felt an intense pressure tightening around her neck...
Finding it difficult to breathe, the Rebel struggled for air as Blitzen charged forwards, hard-edged hooves splintering across the bladed grass…
"Nooo… You-can't-do this to me…!" cried out Kali, she was now crawling towards her friend despite of the pain he was causing her to feel. "I don't remember you, I work for Sloth now." Artemis replied stoically.
This is it, this is the end…! Kali thought before a monstrous figure rose up and shattered the Ice Uni with its bulk… Blitzen neighed with renewed terror as furtive Jacobin smashed the smoothly crystal surface, causing the Uni to break off into chunks of rapidly melting ice.
The force of the blow caused Artemis to fall headlong. Kali exhaled as she also tried to avoid the Uni's stagger, but she crashed into darkness as she hit her head on a strange cryptic Ruin…
Almost as a shuddering sound trembled with unnatural force, the earthen depths of the Ruins seemed to split open momentarily.
A disturbing chill seemed to come with the opening, unsettling those who watched. With paralysed expressions, Aerie and Jacobin watched as ghostly forms of Neopets rose from the crack, scrabbling upwards from their dwelling.
Flitting amongst the Ruins, their soulless eyes pervaded all that looked upon them. Then the spirits floated with indescribable purpose towards Artesia…
"I suppose we need the Ghoul Catchers." Jacobin dryly joked as he looked towards an unconscious Kali… "The Prophecy's going to be fulfilled just as we've been foretold."
The Blue Wielder adjusted his hood back as he semantically explained why he was here to his sister. It took a while to sink the truth in for Dana, but when he finally did, he wouldn't (no, couldn't) honestly think that his still living sister could handle that...
"So, unless we complete the Prophecy of Artesia, there's nothing we can do, Dallas?" whispered Dana.
"That's correct, and according to Quinn it's happening right… now." Dallas added as the two took off for the abandoned library with Isis the Eyrie at the front. Immediately, there was a roar of sound as many other citizens fled before the baying spirits, ultimately paying for their bloodlust and betting on the Arena…
"WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON BACK THERE!" yelled Sloth in an apparent digression when he was talking to Kana, the lead guard.
The alien-like being of vile origin stomped across the room, shredding the curtain in the process. Suddenly there was a sound that chilled Sloth's blood (if he had any) and he turned around. Kana was as shocked as the leader was.
It was the sound of wailing, -a high pitched unearthly cry- as the chair fell as if being struck down by an unseen force… "That's impossible, everything is under MY control!" the megalomaniac gloated in an attempt at bravery.
Kana stood stock still as another vase shattered before his very eyes by its own force. "Prophecy, coming… True!" gasped Kana, "We got to get out of here-!"
"All spells that are still arcane, answer to the promised bane!" shrieked Artemis as he was confronted by a smoky figure that wafted around him, the mists were congealing… And becoming more solid! Alarmingly, there was her- standing near the spirit- who was seemingly unaware.
"Stay-stay away!" snarled the Black Wielder to the girl as the spirit enclosed him, "You don't know- what is it…!" The spirit seemed to bond him to something… But his powers weren't working, unable to be used in the presence of this insubstantial being.
Suddenly, Artemis felt his mind become extremely hazy, as if he was walking in a dream… Memories of the past flashed rapidly in his shattered mind…
A young boy was playing with -a blonde haired girl- and -her Diaconate- laughed happily. -A spaceship landing- A frightened black haired boy being forced to obey the Deceiver -mind breaking- with a cry that echoed horror… His Uni turned into the Ice type by pure accident…
The sheer strain of the recovered memories caused Artemis to feel emotions he'd seldom felt since- since when…? Clutching his head, the Wielder felt the more vulnerable as he involuntarily recalled his every flashback- everything that was lost… Until he could finally look into Kali's eyes and recognise who she was.
Then the ghostly Neopet vanished with barely a whiff as it released the teenager from its deathly cold clutches.
The teenaged night-haired male seemed dazed and confused, as if seeing things for the first time. "Artemis?" asked Kali after several shocking moments of watching her old friend regain his posture, shaking his head. "What happened?" mumbled the former Wielder of Forces.
His once powerful and malignant voice was silenced as he said, "Kali?" in an extremely earnest way… The remnant of his controlled state fell away at that single word and Kali stood there dumbstruck.
Crumbling houses were littered across the barren alleys as the united Dana and Dallas travelled across to the forsaken library. Many Artesians had fled in fear of the coming Prophecy, Dana noted as Isis sprinted towards the shaded library. Now, they had to find out what the future held for Neopia…
The doorway of the library showed a derelict place with heavy volumes of books strewn everywhere. The Blue Wielder glanced at a spread page and immediately, the faded words and illustrations were renewed. Owners, beware the one who deceives -the one who seeks to weave…
"Now, where can Fawn be?" wondered Dana as her heroic brother pored over the pages, attempting to find the answer to their questions they sought…
"Don't know," shrugged Dallas, "Ghosts can't be that knowledgeable… Even spirits have their limits." The girl glared at him with a sigh…
Honestly, could he be disclosing his 'lack' of astral skills? He didn't seem to be very helpful at the spur of the moment… "Well, thanks a lot brother!" said Dana with a sarcastic reply. It was then that she noticed a clear bottle with a grey aura right on the top shelf…
"Dallas, can you help me get that down?" she asked her Wielder brother. Dallas nodded as the bottle came down with a crash. Suddenly there was a faerie crawling out of the cracked glass. "Fawn?" gasped Dana as she recognised the Grey Faerie.
"It is I," called Fawn Bella, "Thank you for rescuing me, Dana! Is the Prophecy completed?" Dana scanned the rest of the renewed words and pictures.
"'Those who wield the powers that we loathe
must face the wrath of those who are ghosts-
For the Rebels are the ones that we seek most
and then, eternally to those who hath not lost…
I leave these last words: Beware of Sloth.' There's a picture of the Soup Faerie underneath the Prophecy…" shouted Dana in excitement, "Are you-?" But before the Rebel could finish her words, Fawn transformed into said Faerie with a glitter…!
"At last, you have restored my true name," smiled Fawn Bella, the Soup Faerie.
