Deet held back Rian. "No Rian, don't!" She tried her best to hold on to the young Stonewood warrior. Her voice tried to be heard over his frantic shouting. Ghost close beside him. Eyes wide filled with tears. The white Gelfling began to glow a strange, orange-white halo. Before Deet could ask her anything, she heard a growl behind her. She turned around. Several Felidawn stood there, blades raised high. A large shadow overlapping them all.

—-(Mother Aughra, somewhere in Thra)-

Mother Aughra moved up the stony path that she was on. The cool night air revealed stars, all of them silent. She tried hard to find the Song of Thra. It had been days, but she had no result. Just silence. She had only seen signs of rot, creatures turning mad and seeing things that were not of Thra. She left her body for nine-hundred years and Thra is in shambles. All because she left her care to the Skeksis.

"I wonder how Ghost is handling herself…" Mother Aughra spoke aloud. Suddenly, a loud roar was heard in the distance. One of pure rage and sorrow. "Oh dear…I fear things might not end well for the poor Gelfling…"

—-(SkekEkt, Stonewood Forest)-

Run! That was what was screaming in SkekEkt's head at that very moment. His feet thundered the ground. Leaves and twigs tore at his clothes. Normally, he would be fussy but his very life was in danger. Memories of his imprisonment came flooding back. His claws scrabbling the rock walls. The stench of decay. Malevolent voices jeering at him from every corner.

"Awww! Is the lowd of the cwystal gonna cwy?"

"How pathetic! He had so much strength earlier."

SkekEkt's leg hit a log, causing him to tumble until he landed in a small ravine. He clutched it. Mute whimpers came out of his throat. He looked around. Hoping that SkekAyuk or SkekVar would be close by. No one was there. Not even the crazy Podling with a spoon. His mind flashed back to Ghost. How badly he wanted to see her, but not in this miserable state. The words of what he needed to say to Ghost jumbled in his brain. He voicelessly called out to her. He looked but no sign of her was found.

The Felidawn that soon came to him. The maroon mixed with stripes of orange made them bizarre in the subdued greens and blues. Each of them moved stealthily. All five of them backed SkekEkt into the corner. Teeth glinted in the remaining light. Weapons raised.

SkekEkt opened his mouth to scream. He closed his eyes. Arms raised. They were going to beat him like they did before. He suddenly heard a roar. In a heartbeat, everything went still. The Felidawn. The trees. Even the wind itself stopped howling. SkekEkt opened them. He saw the cat-like creatures stare in pure horror at the sight before them. Their shapes were engulfed in shadow. A growl vibrated in the forest. Before he could move, a large orangish-white paw went between him and the attackers. The Ornamentalist watched in amazement as his attackers fled in pure fear. Suddenly, the shadow shifted. A large feline stalked toward them. A blazing mane of fire surrounded it. Underneath the paw, smoke rose from it.

A mighty roar soon followed. The fire around its body blazed brighter. Almost as bright as the three suns in the sky. Fangs barely seen in the glare. SkekEkt was so overwhelmed he let out a squawk and squinted his eyes. When the light died down, he soon found the large cat looking at him. One blue eye glowed with concern. It turned to him. Its face was so close to him that the Ornamentalist nearly fainted at the smell of fire, smoke and…He sniffed. Wait, he thought. He sniffed again. His nostrils picking up the sweet smell of flowers and incense. It can't be…

The creature's one eye began to dull. Now becoming an orange eye. Both of them have star-shaped pupils. "Eeeeektyyyyyyyy…."

SkekEkt blinked. Finally, it sunk in. He flung himself at her. His thin arms tried to find her neck but could only cover her face. To his surprise, the fire didn't burn him. It simply wrapped him in a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. He brushed his beak against the soft fur. The smell of fire and flowers tickled his nose. His ears picked up what was a mixture of sobbing and purring. His tiny, malformed upper arms wanted to touch her too. SkekEkt took notice of the one blue eye that had been wet from crying. Something was wrong to get Ghost to look like this. Before he could respond, Ghost picked him up and hid him in a hollow that was big enough for him to crouch down.

Ghost turned and faced more soldiers. One of the Felidawn, no doubt the leader, stood before them. His eyes are soulless and empty. In his claws was SkekVar. The Skeksis general was beaten. His armor was torn and bruises covered his body. Ghost growled. Her fire flared up again. "Let…him…go…" Teeth glinted through. She crouched into a fighting position.

SkekVar gasped as a blade pressed against his thick neck. Before long, they were joined by the other Skeksis, Rian, Deet and Hup. All of them were beaten and injured. The leader spoke again. "Surrender or they perish."

Ghost looked at all of them. Fear crept in, replacing the anger and sorrow in it. She couldn't lose them too. She looked around. The Starbirds were nowhere to be seen. Even Shield and Razz were hard to find. I can't…I just can't! Suddenly, a whirlwind of flame surrounded her. She shrunk down to her normal size. Her feline ears and tail were the only proof that she ever transformed. "Alright. I'll go with you."

"Ghost! Don't be-" SkekVar was cut off. The blade digging deeper. Blood trickled down his neck.

"Move out…" The creature spoke in a monotone voice. He barely moved the blade from SkekVar's neck. "Now."

With that, everyone began moving. Ghost looked down at the ground. Her footsteps slowly walked behind them. SkekEkt's heart sank at seeing this. He tried to reach out, but his body began to shrink and burn. He was now in his Podling form. His stubby fingers grabbing on some rock to climb out. Just before he reached the top, he felt something pull on his leg. He landed with a flop and looked into the faces of Tavra, Shield, Razz, Naia, Gurjin and Kylan. He mutelessly fought them, but they were all too strong for him.

Kylan helped up on his feet. "Easy…Easy…" He spoke as if he was trying to calm a frightened Landstrider. "You can't help Ghost if you don't calm down." He brushed SkekEkt off further as the Podling stared at him. "I saw what happened. The Starbird with the Crystal is safe. Just merely hiding at the moment along with Drum, Cerebrite and Spark."

Tavra nodded. "Ghost has to cooperate with them. We're severely outnumbered. The only thing we can do now is follow them and see where they're going."

"Just wish Ordon would talk some sense into her." Gurjin spoke. His eyes were cold. "I don't get why she's so protective of Skeksis…Wait…" He turned to his sister. His lips went firm. "I saw that look in Ghost's eyes. She had the same frantic when-Oh no…" He looked at the rest of the group. "Did anyone see Ordon?"

—-(Ghost, Stonewood Forest)-

Ghost walked solemnly. Her body still felt hot, but everything around her was feeling cold. Her tail and ears were noticed by the others. However, she could barely feel them. Ordon, Rian's father, isn't here because of her. The others were captured because of her. She didn't warn anyone in time. Her visions were useless. SkekMal would be here if-

"Ghost!"

Ghost blinked out of her stupor. Her eyes turned to SkekVar. The Skeksis was no longer held against his will. He was too tired to even try. His separation from the crystal caused him to grow weaker with each passing day. His eyes were filled with concern. "What happened? I know someone has died. You had the same face when Mira passed…"His mouth tightened. His heart hitting the pits of his stomach. "Where's SkekMal? He would've been here by now."

Ghost dreaded the next word to say. They were horrible, but…They deserved to know. Her voice turned raw before she could answer. "Gone…He's gone…" Tears welled in her eyes.

SkekVar stared in horror. He could hear the gasps of SkekOk, SkekAyuk and SkekLach. SkekTek merely shifted his robe. The blue Skeksis was trying in vain to hide something from everyone. SkekSo merely walked on in silence. The General was terrified of what would happen next. He wanted to scream, yell. However the pain in his neck reminded him that they were still in danger. Ghost was also unstable. Without thinking, he lifted her up.

Ghost gasped. She was about to protest, but all that strength drained that out. Tears trailed down her eyes. She leaned on his head. The blood stained her sleeve. It hurts so much that even walking was impossible now. Ghost looked around but none of the Felidawn reacted. They just kept moving until they reached a morbid tent. Black and twisted. The smells of death made Ghost want to throw up.

The tent's entrance rustled. Everyone froze in place as a figure emerged from it. The creature was a Felidawn like the rest of them. However, it was bigger. Wearing a wooden mask on its face the same way the Necromancer and King Necro. Hollowed eyes observed them in slow, bobbing motion. A long, warped tiger tail flicked with impatience. On a large belt was a sword and…hair that once belonged to the Ornamentalist. The hollow landed on Ghost. "These of the perpetrators?"

The glass-eyed Felidawn bowed. "Yes Bone Lord, Burnsui. The other soldiers are out hiding right now, but it seems we now know where the Sun Spirit's power went."

"Sun Spirit?" Hup looked at Deet.

"Do you think it's the power Mother Aughra is talking about?" Deet asked in a hushed voice. Taking great care not to be heard. She looked at Rian. Her heart twisted to see Rian drained. First losing Mira, now his father. She reached out towards him with a comforting hand. Her eyes met his. A small smile on her lips. "Hey…It's going to be ok."

Suddenly, a tail elongated and snatched Ghost off SkekVar's shoulders. Ghost screamed. Her face was soon clasped by Burnsui. The grip was so strong, she had no choice but to look at him straight in the face. She tried not to gag at the smell of death that reached her. Even the empty gaze of the mask didn't help. Her breath hitched. A puff of smoke blinded her. "So…" Burnsui spoke. "You're the one who unleashed the Shadow Madness on our throne and nearly destroyed our castle. Peculiar…You have…No…That can't be possible." He sniffed again. "You're the Blessed." He tightened his grip on Ghost. Shifting it from her face to her throat. Gasps and choking filled the air.

"Ghost! NO!" Rian yelled.

"Get away from her!" SkekVar roared. Ignoring his pain, he went after them. His bulk knocked the monster away. He grabbed Ghost and flopped back. His breathing slightly hitched due to the blood seeping out of his neck. He looked at Ghost. The white Gelfling was shaken and had a few bruises along her face and neck. He simply stroked her as she continued to cough. "You're ok, Ghost. You're ok."

Lord Burnsui tilted his head. "How peculiar? Why do you defend since you wanted to kill her?"

Ghost rose up from her spot. The silence in the air thick around her. "...What?"

Rian looked up at the Emperor. "Is this true?"

SkekSo remained silent. The Scientist however nodded.

"The one called 'Chamberlain' told me about it." Burnsui said, paying no mind to the stiffened Skeksis. "He told me that on the day that Ghost was ill, the lords decided to kill you. You were of no use to them. Yet…They allowed you to live."

Ghost looked at Skekvar. Devastation written on her face. She knew they didn't care about her, but kill her? "You…wanted to be rid of me that badly?"

"G-G-G-Ghost! It's not like that!" SkekVar got up from his spot. "I mean, yes it was like but listen please-"

"Don't touch me!" Ghost wheeled away from SkekVar. Tears streamed from her eyes. Sparks of flames erupted from her mouth again. A ring of ice surrounded her, causing everyone to back away. "I have had enough of your lies. You never cared about me, but- You know what? I've always cared about you. ALL OF YOU! I kept looking out for you since I found out you're not part of Thra!" At that moment, a roar disrupted the conversation. Ghost turned and saw something moving underneath a large piece of tarp.

Ghost and Deet ran over to the noise. With ease, the two Gelfling maidens pulled it back to reveal a strange creature. Orange with green scales running down from the neck to the stomach. Blue fins flared up like large sails of a ship. Green eyes filled with despair as the chains and wires around its neck tightened it everytime it moved. It was about as big as a Sifa ship. It bellowed again.

Deet put a tender hand on it. "Oh, you poor thing." She tenderly rested her head on the creature. Her hands tried to remove the wire. She gasped as the wire gave a sharp pain. Deet pulled it away to see that it was bleeding.

Ghost solemnly turned to the Bone Lord. "How long have you kept it here?" She took a step closer. "What have you done with it?" Her eyes began to glow brightly. "ANSWER ME!"

"Rage…What an unnecessary emotion.." Burnsui extended his claws. Boney spikes erupted from his back and tail. "It brings nothing but pain and misery. What do you hope to accomplish with that, little Starkissed?" He crouched down. Then, he leaped forward. Before he could get far, a light blue shape crashed into him. The Bone Lord was pinned down, revealing Nova.

The Starbird hissed. Feathers flared. With her tail feathers, she smacked away several Felidawn that came at her. She pecked at Burnsui. The mask broke upon impact, a cat-like skull filled with little emotion. Nova cried out as some claws slashed at her side. Before anymore damage was done, smoke bombs exploded all around them.

"Now!" SkekTek yelled. "Go! Go! Go!" He ran as fast as he could.

Ghost took the opportunity to find a nearby sword and snatched it. Her arms complained as she tried to lift the weapon that was bigger than her. Deet also found a nearby weapon and began cutting away at some of the thinner ropes. Rian helped her. Suddenly, she heard her dagger tossed in front of her. She didn't have time to register what grabbed it and began to cut away at the ropes. The chains were more difficult. Sparks erupted. "Come on! Come on!" Ghost begged. "Break!" Her fears soon manifested into ice. The frost covered the metal, making it brittle. She looked into the large eye of the creature. "I'm not leaving you."

The creature huffed. Suddenly, it began to glow. It began to pull. Hard. Flares flared, scales taking on a golden aura. It let out a roar. With one more lurch, it broke free. Then, rearing, it ran forward. Ghost and the Gelfling barely had enough time to move away. The large creature knocked several Felidawn as it continued to run deeper in the forest.

Ghost gave a small smile. At least I saved someone today… Her thoughts were cut when she felt metallic claws snatch her. She struggled and thrashed. "Let me go! Let me go now!"

SkekTek ignored her. SkekVar tailed behind him along with Deet and Rian. His eyes focused on the Emperor and the others making a mad dash for the woods. His prosthetics carried him as fast as he was able. His joints aching with every step. Ghost is right, he thought. I really needed to modify my limbs if I really wanted to run in all terrain. Suddenly, he felt something pierce his mind. A scream. Shrill and pain. He grabbed his head in pain. Suddenly, Nova crashed in front of them. His heart sank as Lord Burnsui loomed over her.

"Surrender the Miracle or this Starbird perishes." Lord Burnsui now had a cat-like skull gleaming in the sunlight. Red eyes glowing in the dark holes.

Miracle? Ghost? What's going on here? "She's not your concern. This Gelfling isn't a threat!" SkekTek tried to bite back the other words in his mouth. What nonsense had Chamberlain been saying to them?

"I guess half souls like you would never understand the depth of her power. The Miracle is a threat to our great master." He raised his claws. "That's all you need to know." Suddenly, Razz appeared. The Bladewing clawed and screeched. His feathers turned hard as he dived-bombed. Fizzgigs Grumble and Fearless rolled in as well. The two creatures bit his legs every step he took. Burnsui growled and flung his tail. Suddenly, he felt it being grabbed by SkekVar. The general gripped his tail tightly. The Bone Lord let out a roar. A puff of sulfur hit SkekVar's face. "Fool. If you intend to kill, why do you try in vain to protect that weak child?"

SkekVar grunted. His stomach turned. His throat clenched. His hands screamed in pain as he tried to block out the sensation. Heat swelled in him. He couldn't explain why, but touching Ghost again after being away from her for so long brought life back into his soul. Blood seeped out of his fingers. "Ghost may be weak, but she doesn't let that stop her! Neither will I!" His muscles rippled as he lifted the creature up and tossed him away from Nova. "She means everything to me!" He began to breathe heavily. Suddenly, he began to cough violently. With one more effort, he coughed up a key. It settled on his palm. The metal curved into the shape of a bull with rattlesnake skin at the end. "What is this?"

Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Birds began to flee into the trees. Grumble and Fearless backed away, rolling towards SkekTek and Deet. The strange dinosaur creature ran out of the brush. A large shape followed. Smells of sulfur hung in the air. Smoke began to form around them. When it turned its head, the mysterious creature was over them in a matter of minutes. It had the body and head of a bull. A long tail that resembled a rattlesnake. Fangs jutted out with the length of SkekVar's swords. Purple eyes stared out at them. Then, it sniffed. Eyes focused on SkekVar, Rian, Deet, the Fizzgigs, Ghost and SkekVar. It let out a bellow. In slow motion, the monster reared up and smashed the ground hard.

A wave of earth came at them. Screams of panic were heard. Ghost, Rian, Deet, SkekTek and SkekVar tried to run. However the wave was too much for them. Fire began to surround them as they traveled down a makeshift stream. Sticks and debris scratching their faces. The heat clung to their bodies. Ghost soon felt a familiar weight. She looked over her shoulder and realized that Lazul had come back to her. "How did you find me?" She coughed as a chunk of dirt went into her mouth.

"I had felt your fury and have come to soothe it. Apologizes for not being there sooner." With a flash of light, Lazul managed to stop the flow of earth and drenched the ring of fire. He ignored the horned beast hissing at him.

Ghost turned her focus on the creature. She didn't know how far they were from the others. The smoke became a large curtain. Especially since it was radiating off the beast. She saw SkekVar getting up. I'm confused, she thought. Why would he actually say that my problem wouldn't stop me?

"Truuuuuth…"

"Did…that thing just spoke?" Rian asked. Deet nodded while SkekTek merely gaped.

"What are you?!" SkekVar roared.

"What…is…your truth?" The creature asked. Venom dripped from its fangs and onto the ground. Each word it spoke came out drained as if speaking might kill it.

"My truth?" He shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about!" He dodged the horns. The impact nearly impaled him. Suddenly, he saw the creature heading straight for Ghost. His heart leaped into his throat. He grabbed the tail and tried to pull it. He was dragged a few feet, but was able to stop once the creature realized that the General touched his tail. "Don't you hurt her!"

Scientist glanced at him. "SkekVar! What are you doing?"

"You're not the only one who likes her around."

"Because I clean up after you?" Ghost growled. Her ears flat against her head.

"Because you're my strength, Snowflake." The moment he said those words, the key glowed in his claws.

Deet's eyes brighten. "I have an idea!" She looked at SkekTek. "Do you have anymore smoke bombs?"

SkekTek nodded. He pulled them out of his robe. The dirt-like orbs sat in his palms.

Deet took two of them and handed one to Rian. "We'll distract the creature long enough for an opening." She turned to Ghost. "Ghost, get Lazul to zap the creature with your magic."

Ghost nodded but part of her couldn't listen. Her thoughts were still on what SkekVar said. The risk he took to get that monster's attention. Everything didn't make sense. He wanted to kill her just like the rest of them. "What…What is he talking about?" She whispered.

"Ghost!" SkekVar roared. "Snap out of it!" He turned to face the creature again. His eyes laid on the light on the keyhole that settled on the creature's heart. Suddenly, smoke flashed before them. Seeing his opening, he ran to it as fast as he could. He narrowly avoided the hooves as they came down on him. With one final jump, he launched up and placed the key into the hole. He landed on his back, but rolled out of the way as best as he could. He picked up Ghost just as another wave of earth came at the group.

Before they were buried, they saw the creature's body begin to crystallize. Bright rock rolling over the decaying skin and dark scales. The red eyes glazed over. The roar turned into a high pitch. Then, the world went dark.