Chapter 4: Heart of Laarina
The cowboy OverWorlder, Blazier, was riding his Mowercycle through the UnderWorld Pits. Suddenly, a dark shadow crept over the cells. Blazier looked back to see the shadow. He revved up his Mowercycle and sped off to try to get away. But as he tried to speed up, the shadow got closer. Blazier got towards a big crevice and prepared to try and jump it. But as he jumped, the shadow fired a black lightning blast at the Mowercycle. Blazier screamed and fell into the crevice.
"BLAZIER!" Laarina, an OverWorlder mantis, screamed as she woke up in a cold sweat. She looked around, panting for air. She was still in her own room. She sighed and placed her hands on her head. "Blazier, what's happening to you?" She asked herself. "I better go talk to Najarin tomorrow. He'll probably know what my dream means."
(Intro)
In the Crellen Drome, Sidney was battling as Frafdo against another player as Staluk in Crystal Range. Frafdo was blasted back into the crystals. She groaned as she recovered. 'That was some blast. One more like that and I'm done for. I need a plan.' She thought. Suddenly, Staluk came charging through the snow. Sidney took off into the air. "Time for this bird to go down in flames." Staluk said, aiming his Pyroblaster at Frafdo and firing an Ember Swarm. But Frafdo swooped down, evading the swarm. As she flew down, she spotted a certain formation of crystals. 'There it is. Just where Uncle Kaz said it was.' She thought. She landed and looked around. "Where'd Staluk go?" She asked. "Right here!" Staluk's voice shouted as he came down to stomp down on Frafdo. But Frafdo rolled out of the way. Staluk pointed his Pyroblaster at her. "Well, looks like this match goes to me." He said. "Maybe. But I've got one more surprise for you." Frafdo said, forming a Phobia Mask on her face. Staluk looked confused. Frafdo fired red rings from the mask. Staluk rubbed his eyes and looked at Frafdo, only to see a monstrous looking version of her. "Argh! What's happening?!" He shrieked. "This is a Phobia Mask. It drains courage and power. Now you're too scared to block this! Cyclone Slam!" Frafdo shouted, blasting Staluk with a cyclone. Staluk fell in between the crystals, getting zapped into code by the trap that was placed there.
Sidney walked out from the Crellen Drome, feeling proud of winning the match. "Sid!" A voice called. Sidney looked to see Minnie running towards her. "What's up, Minnie?" She asked. "Just got back from Lake Ken-I-Po. Mezzmar asked for you. Najarin wants to see you." Minnie explained. "Why? What's wrong?" Sidney asked. "Something about Laarina. She thinks something's gonna happen to Blazier." Minnie said. Sidney gasped. "Where does Najarin want me to meet him?" Sidney asked. "At his castle at the lake." Minnie said. "Right. Thanks Min." Sidney said, taking off for the Port Court.
At the lake, Sidney and Najarin met with Laarina at the Library inside the castle. "Tell us, Laarina, what did you see in your vision?" Najarin asked. "I- I saw Blazier. He was- riding his Mowercycle at the Pits. When suddenly, a sh- shadow at- attacked him. He tried to jump a trench, b- but he got zapped and f- fell." Laarina stuttered with tears in her eyes. Sidney looked at her with a slight pain in her heart. 'Laarina's in love with Blazier.' She thought. "Najarin, could you use the Song of Future Sight to foresee if my vision was correct?" Laarina asked. Najarin stood up. "I was actually going to suggest that." Najarin said. Sidney and Laarina smiled. "Follow me."
Najarin lead Sidney and Laarina to the Mugic Tower, where dozens of Mugics, Tribal and Generic, reside. Najarin separated the other Mugics and brought down the Song of Future Sight. Najarin donated one of his Mugicians to activate the Mugic. "Song of Future Sight, show me the dangers that Blazier will enter." He said. The Mugic started playing and Najarin's eyes began to glow. Suddenly, he was shown a vision of the future. Blazier, Laarina, the Pits and the shadow creature. The vision ended. "Well Najarin?" Laarina asked. "What'd you see?" Sidney asked. "Laarina's vision was true. Blazier may meet his end in the UnderWorld Pits." Najarin revealed. Laarina and Sidney were shocked. "You both must head to the Pits at once. Blazier was sent on a recon mission to the UnderWorld 2 hours ago." Najarin said. "We'll do what we can, Najarin." Sidney said. Najarin nodded.
Sidney and Laarina rode a couple of Skeletal Steeds through Plural Forest. Sidney continued to stare at Laarina. This didn't go unnoticed. "Sidney, if you wish to ask me something, then just ask. You don't need to stare." Laarina said. "Okay. Laarina, do you feel love for Blazier?" Sidney asked. "Love? For Blazier?" Laarina asked. "When you mentioned that Blazier was about to be put in danger, the tone in your voice sounded very familiar to me. My parents sound the same when either me or one of them is out at a late hour." Sidney explained. "Of course. Blazier's one of my best friends." Laarina said. Sidney had a look of disbelief on her face. Laarina knew she couldn't hide it anymore. "Okay, I do feel love for Blazier. I have for years. Even back when your parents helped us back at Gigantemopolis." She revealed. "Have you told him?" Sidney asked. "No. I don't have the courage Maxxor and Intress have when they expressed their feelings. Look at them now, married with a daughter." Laarina explained. "I never told Blazier because-" Sidney noticed her freeze up. "Because why?" She asked. "Because I'm afraid I might lose him. As a friend and as a lover. I don't know if my heart can bear it, mourning him year after year." Laarina said. "You're not gonna lose him." Sidney said. "Cause you both have each other's backs. No matter what." Laarina smiled. "You truly are your father's daughter. You both have the same courage." She said. "Thanks. Now let's get riding." Sidney said, riding ahead with Laarina right behind her.
The both of them soon reached Fear Valley. "Blazier's maps indicate that there's an underground entrance to the UnderWorld here in Fear Valley." Laarina said. "Wow!" Sidney said. She had heard stories about Fear Valley. How it drains energy from Creatures with the lowest courage. Laarina looked at her with concern. "You know, if you have a scan of the Pits, you could probably get there before me." She suggested. "No way, Laarina. We go together. No matter what." Sidney said strictly. "Besides, I don't have a scan of the Pits." After sharing a laugh, they entered the valley. "Just be careful. This valley has a knack for playing tricks on your mind." Laarina warned. "Yes, I've heard." Sidney said.
After a few minutes of searching, Laarina was about ready to give up. "Laarina! I found it!" Sidney called. Laarina rode over to where Sidney was. There, they saw it. Fear Valley's hidden passage to the UnderWorld. "Well, we'd better get going. Who knows if Blazier's already in danger right now?" Laarina said. Sidney nodded. The 2 dismounted their steeds. "Oh! One more thing boy. Or girl. Hard to tell with walking skeletons." Sidney said, taking out her scanner. She scanned her Skeletal Steed, let it nuzzle her and left to join Laarina.
Down in the UnderWorld, Sidney and Laarina started to look around the city, trying to find Blazier. Sidney carried a Liquilizer for protection. "How do we find Blazier in this mess of a city? I mean I don't really know my way around, and I've battled here as Sukoval in my first Chaotic battle." Sidney stated. "Well, I say we should head for the Pits. That may be where Blazier is right now. I know the way. I've snuck around this place back in the days of the war." Laarina explained. She led Sidney down a stone stairway that leads to the Pits. Once down there, they started to search for Blazier. Sidney kept looking at the cells. "The UnderWorlders kept a lot of prisoners down here in the Pits. But since the Tribal Alliance reformed, most of the guards have been without a job for years." Laarina explained.
As they went deeper into the Pits, a familiar motor sound could be heard. "I know that motor anywhere. That's Blazier's Mowercycle!" Laarina said. Sidney listened. "It's coming from down there." She said, pointing down a tunnel. They ran down the tunnel, following the sound. They continued until they found Blazier. And he was being chased by the very shadow that Laarina saw. Blazier rode his Mowercycle towards the very crevice that he fell down. Laarina gasped. Her vision was about to come true.
Blazier hopped the crevice, but got zapped by the shadow's dark lightning and fell. "NO!" Laarina yelled as she ran for the crevice. "Laarina! Wait for me!" Sidney said, running after her. Laarina and Sidney stopped at the crevice's edge. "Vine Snare!" Laarina yelled, forming vines from her fingers. They wrapped around Blazier and his Mowercycle and she pulled them up with all her strength, dropping them behind her and Sidney. Suddenly, the shadow attacked Laarina and Sidney with boulders shrouded with green auras. The 2 dodged the boulders. "You will not hurt my Blazier ever again!" Laarina said angrily. The shadow just glared silently. "Sidney! Together!" Laarina called. "Right!" Sidney said. They both fired Riptide attacks at the shadow, hitting it in its face. The shadow slunk out through a crack in the rock roof, getting away.
"Blazier!" Laarina said, her and Sidney running to check on Blazier. She brought his head up to her legs, but he didn't move. Laarina started to fear the worst. "Blazier! Please, wake up! Don't go where I can't follow." She pleaded. Blazier still didn't move. Laarina looked at Sidney, who looked right back. Laarina looked back down to Blazier. "Blazier, I know I'm not as brave as Maxxor when it comes to confessing my feelings. But I figured you should know this. Through every battle we've faced together, through every trap we've escaped, I never changed the way I feel about you. I love you, Blazier, and I always will. Even in death." Laarina said, letting tears fall from her eyes and pressing a kiss on Blazier's forehead. Sidney started to tear up as well.
Suddenly, Blazier's hand slowly moved up to Laarina's, grasping it. Laarina felt it and looked to see Blazier's hand grasping her hand. And just then, Blazier started coughing. "Laarina?" He asked. Laarina and Sidney gasped. Blazier slowly sat up. "Do you really mean it? You love me?" He asked. "Yes, Blazier. I've loved you for years." Laarina said. "But why me? I'm just a reckless cowboy with a knack for cartography." Blazier asked. "Because all that recklessness has a real effect on my heart." Laarina said. "I love you too, Laarina. As much as you love me." Blazier said. "Oh Blazier." Laarina said, bringing Blazier into a big hug. Sidney looked on, wiping a tear from her eye. "I saw that, lil' miss Majors." Blazier said. "Yeah I know." Sidney said.
Afterwards, they walked back to the city. "What happened?" Laarina asked. "Well, Grook contacted us from the Pits. He said he thought he saw someone sneaking around. So, Maxxor sent me down here to investigate." Blazier explained. "Why'd he send you?" Sidney asked. "Well, back during the war, I've stolen maps to secret entrances into the UnderWorld." Blazier said. "Which is why Maxxor picked you for this mission." Sidney concluded. "Blazier, I don't know what I would've done if I lost you." Laarina said. Blazier took her hands. "You're never gonna lose me, Sugah Bug. Know why?" He asked. "Why?" Laarina asked. "Because when we stick together, nothing will drive us apart." Blazier said. "Oh Blazier." Laarina said, bringing him into a hug.
The shadow just turned up to a place that was supposedly deserted. Gothos Tower. Former home to the UnderWorlder deceiver once turned M'arrillian, Lord Van Bloot. Inside, the shadow approached the throne where a silhouetted Creature sat. "My lord, I have bad news. Blazier is still alive. Laarina saved him." The shadow said with a deep whisper-like voice. "No matter. Anything else?" The Creature asked. "Laarina was accompanied by a human girl. I believe she is the daughter of MajorTom." The shadow said. The Creature stood up from the throne. "So, Tom's daughter has finally come to Chaotic. Fear not, Shadlocke. Failure of one mission does not lose the war. Those who have betrayed me, Takinom, Agitos, H'earring, Ulmar, Khybon, all of them! They will pay for their betrayal, the Tribal Alliance will be destroyed, and all of Perim will be mine." The Creature said, stepping out of the shadows and revealing to be the former leader of the UnderWorlders, Chaor.
New Card:
Creature: Shadlocke
UnderWorlder Scout
Courage: 45
Power: 50
Wisdom: 25
Speed: 40
Elements: Fire, Earth
Mugic: 0
Energy: 45
