The Three Gate Stones

"I challenge you to open these gates." Sable continued, gesturing to the pillar in front. Synurix nodded, signaling her to continue "Behind them are three wondrous Creatures. Every God has a Creature. They can grow as tall as a mountain and can perform miracles. To open these gates and claim your creature, you must find the three gate stones and place them on that pillar."

"Hoo boy… I knew there'd be a catch." Evil snorted.

"The villagers were dancing around a gate stone when you arrived. Once you find this gate stone I will tell you of the other two." Sable pointed over to where the path to the beach began. Sure enough, the gate stone was still there, giving off a shimmer of golden glitter "Retrieve the first gate stone, Holy One." Synurix cringed at the mention of "Holy One".

She turned around quickly, dizzying her conscience and flew over to the shining gate stone. She picked it up and returned as soon as she had left. She then, gently placed the precious artifact upon the pillar. A slight rumble shuddered through the ground.

Sable reappeared "You have the first stone. You'll need to search for another now." She paused, looking around "Try looking for a woman called Katherine. I believe she has a gate stone."

"Why would she have a gate stone?" Evil asked scratching his head.

"Oh be quiet!" Good hushed him.

Synurix smiled "Come on you two." She walked across to a large house with smoke floating lazily out of its chimney. A small farm sat beside it, lined with trees and fences. A middle-aged man sat next to a pile of sticks, attempting to start a fire. As soon as he saw Synurix, he bowed respectfully "H-holy One, what brings you t-to my humble ab-abode?"

"Firstly, I wish for you to cease calling me Holy One."

The man stood and nodded.

"Do you know of a woman by the name of Katherine?"

The man smiled "Yes, your eminence, her brother is friend of mine. She and her brother live with me in my house." He nodded towards the large house.

"Fine, Get on with your work." She seemed to hiss. The man shuddered and immediately got the fire going and started farming. Flying over the house and hover by the entrance, Synurix knocked lightly on the door.

A young woman stepped out. She fell to her knees and bowed "Your majesty, I kneel before you…" She stood, tears rolling down her cheeks "My brother is suffering a fever, has left his sick bed and become lost."

"Hehehe." Evil chuckled, watching the woman sob. He was cut short as Good elbowed him hard.

"If you find him and bring him home, I will give you one of the three gate stones, it's in my house."

Synurix stood and left the woman to her sobbing and listened to what her conscience wished to say.

"I gotta plan." Evil smirked "Why don't we trash the house? We can get the gate stone that way!"

"I heartily object!" Good said, pushing him out of the way "That's just malicious!"

Evil shrugged "Well, that's kinda the whole point."

Sighing at his slow-witted counterpart Good pointed to gap in the mountains further up ahead "The brother is in some trees through the pass."

Synurix nodded. However, instead of leaving to rescue the sick man, she turned and grabbed the woman who let out a little yelp. The Goddess floated up the tallest mountain, her beautiful gown billowing behind her in the light of the rising moon, her hair draped over shoulders like a graceful curtain of chestnut. Her eyes, still that dull grey. She reached the peak and looked at the mortals in her hand. With a wicked smile, Synurix sent the woman hurling up in the air and crashing down the side of the mountain. Good gasped and covered his eyes while Evil cheered on. Screams echoed around, sending chills up people's spines as they slept in their beds. The woman's last scream was silenced as she hit the ground hard. Her now lifeless body rolled down further until she lay on her back, eyes closed, facing the jeweled blanket of the night sky.

Synurix laughed, like a child did when it was in trouble. She scooped up the woman's limp body and flew through the pass, leaves swirling in her wake then settling back on the ground.

She found the man, on the brink of death, coughing and struggling to stay alive. He managed to turn his head to see his sister's body thrown beside him "M-my sister dead? How?" his tears never managed to reach the leafy ground before he brothe his last breath.

Smiling like a happy toddler, Synurix twirled in the air like a ballet dancer. She danced back towards the house, enjoying the cold edge of the night air as it spun around her and danced with her.

"That was awful!" Good muttered, wiping a tear from his eye "How could you do that?"

"'Cuz she's evil! You hear that, Goody?" Evil mocked his opposite. Good, angered by Evil's ignorance and Synurix's choice in alignment, turned and disappeared in a wisp of white smoke "Ah, just ignore him!" Evil said "Now let's get that gate stone!"

Synurix smiled. She picked up a rock, using telepathy, and threw it at the house. Debris flew everywhere and occupants of the house cried out and ran for safety from their demolished home. The stone was shaped like a monkey's head. She picked it up and, with the same caress as with the first gate stone, placed it on top of it. Another low shudder rippled underneath her hovering form.

Sable reappeared "Congratulations! You have the second one." she applauded but then sighed "But the third could be a problem."

"A problem?" Synurix repeated, concerned.

"People say it was destroyed eons ago, all is not lost though." She smiled, seeing her Goddess relax slightly "Talk to the village sculptor, he should be able to craft a new one."

"Thank you." Synurix said much to her conscience surprise.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Evil said floating in the Goddess's face, causing her to lean backwards "What do ya mean "thank you"?"

"Well…"

"She was being polite. Not that you would know what that means!" Good interrupted, glaring at Evil who poked his tongue back immaturely.

Synurix smiled at the two, her eyes changed green for a second "She seems to really respect me." She looked from Good to Evil "Now come on, let's find this sculptor."

Together they floated towards a small circle of various caved statues. In the center was a man dressed in grey working on a small sculpture of a woman. He turned around, sensing the Goddess's presence.

"Your highness, I hear you are looking for a gate stone." He said. Synurix nodded "If you provide me with the right rock I'll carve one for you. The rock I need is in the Old Hermit's Quarry, please, bring it here." He began carving on the statue again "I'm definitely the best sculptor in the village."

Synurix frowned at his ignorance but let it slide. She glided slowly, enjoying the caress of the wind. She saw the gold glittering of the rock and picked it up carefully. This time, she was quick to get back to the sculptor; she was feeling really eager to be able to choose her Creature soon.

She placed it down gently.

"That's excellent, the exact right rock to work with." He clapped "Thank you, come back later and I'll have it finished."

Synurix sighed and floated back to her temple. She hovered outside when Evil came up with an idea.

He called Synurix over to a small spit of land with a pile of rocks on one side, a man and his house on the other and at the end of the spit was a pillar with a rock atop it "Okay, let's get our projectile skills up to scratch!"

"Hm, I presume it involves killing?" Good asked apprehensively.

"No! Not at all! I was going to propose we… uh… um…"

"I know!" Good interrupted "Why don't we try to hit that pillar over there?" he pointed to the pillar at the end "It's a test of our godly powers and no one gets hurt!"

Evil made a face "How nice! And I guess we use this pile of everlasting stones?" he mocked and gestured towards the pile.

"Handy that." Good said suspiciously.

Synurix eyed the man that watched her. She smiled evilly and picked him up. With little effort she hurled him at the pillar. The rock flew off as the man hit it hard. He had not time to scream. His battered body slid to the side.

"Well…" Good sighed "You hit it…"

Evil had his mouth wide open in a grin "Yeah! We get a reward!" a chest fell in front of Synurix. Eagerly, she opened it. Inside was a toy ball, too big for a mortal. She raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to do with it. She picked it up and put it inside the pen in front of her temple entrance.

"I'm not sure what I'll do with a toy ball." She said.

Her conscience each shrugged and followed her to the sculptor's house. Sure enough, the stone was finished. It was in the shape of a cow's head, which intrigued Synurix.

"It's finished and ready to be placed with the others by the gate." The sculptor declared. Synurix suddenly grabbed him and threw him across the village and out to sea. She hated ignorant people.

"W-why did you kill him?" Good spluttered aghast.

"He was ignorant." Evil replied for their Goddess.

"How?"

Synurix sighed "He said he was the best sculptor in the village. Therefore, he was being ignorant."

"B-but… Oh, nevermind." Good sighed deeply.

Synurix raised the gate stone to the platform. As it landed gently on top of the other two, another rumble shuddered beneath mortal's feet.

Sable came out and smiled "The three gate stones are together, go through and claim your Creature."

Evil and Good sat silently on Synurix's shoulders but she could sense their excitement.

"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" Evil snickered "I bet they are huge with long fangs and a taste for blood!"

"No. I'm sure they are sweet and fun-loving Creatures!" Good disagreed,

Evil sneered and waved a claw at his opposite "Whatever, beardy."

As the Goddess made her way past the gates, along a beach with a herd of horses grazing happily nearby, she wondered what kind of Creatures were awaiting her. Were they what the gate stones resembled? A Tiger, Ape, and a Cow?

She turned around a small corner, which led to a small valley, over shadowed by the high mountain walls. A pool of crystal clear water sat at the bottom, among trees and small tortoises. On a small elevated plateau stood the three wondrous Creatures…

Synurix's prediction was right. They were a tiger, an ape and a cow.

"Amazing!" Good cooed, looking at each Creature (they couldn't see a God's conscience neither) "This are miraculous Creatures indeed!"

"Yeah but not as big as I expected." Evil muttered, scratching his head.

"Not yet, maybe, but they could become the most powerful Creatures in the world!"

Evil grinned stupidly "Now that I'd like to see!" he started doing a little dance that made Synurix let out a small chuckle "Now… Which should we choose?"

"Any! They are all special!" Good smiled

"If rather small at the moment." Evil added.

Even though the Goddess was already drawn to the Cow, she inspected the others as well. The Ape waved kindly while the Tiger grabbed at the air playfully. The Cow, in a respectful manner, got down on his knees and put it's hooves together in a sign of respect towards Synurix. His tail swished slowly behind him. The other two did the same as well. The Ape bowed his head and the Tiger got on one knee.

They were each loyal towards Synurix. This made her smile. The Ape jumped up in the air, trying to grab attention. Since it was late, the Tiger and Cow yawned. All three tried their best to show off to her.

"Hmm… How about he Ape? Intelligent and quick to learn!" Good suggested. He looked to the Cow "We could have the Cow. A strong and noble beast."

"What?" Evil interrupted "Not the fierce, lethal tiger? Choose him!"

Suddenly, the Cow waved a hoof in the air, attracting everyone's attention, even the other Creatures. He jumped up an inch or two and landed lightly, doing the splits with ease. The Ape and Tiger applauded as he got up.

Synurix smiled and walked up to the Cow. At the moment, since he was small she appeared the same size as him. She reached out and stroked his ear. He mooed in reply.

"We've chosen a Creature!" Evil announced. The other two cried and sobbed but turned and congratulated the chosen Cow.

Waving goodbye to his friends, the Cow walked through the pass following his mistress. His steps were confident and he was unafraid, this pleased Synurix.

"I know you love cows, leader, so I am not surprised at your choice." Good said floating along with the Goddess.

"Yeah, I knew too." Evil agreed.

Eventually, they reached the temple; no words were spoken along the way. Villagers bowed to the new Creature, coming out of their houses just to see him. Synurix led her Creature to his pen.

"I hope this will be cozy enough for you." Synurix whispered to her Creature.

He nodded in reply and smiled, his ears pricked up and tail swishing lazily. He let out a yawn he couldn't contain. Synurix giggled and stroked his head.

"Goodnight," She said. Before she entered her temple, she turned and added "Bairun."

He grinned and waved "Goodnight, mistress."

Her beautiful gown disappeared after her. Bairun, slowly, lay down on the ground on his back and watched the sky. He wasn't sure if his mistress was good or evil. He didn't mind which. Her temple hadn't changed form yet. Gradually, sleep overpowered him and he fell into a deep slumber, under the ever watchful eyes of the very many stars.