A/N: This is Brea's point of view. SkekSil is now causing more harm.

The purple creature stared at them for a moment. Several thumping noises were heard as it made its way to the nearest door. It shrunk down to fit through the doorway just as she and Seladon began to argue. The fight continued for a while until their mother finally came onto the scene.

"What's going on?" The All Maudra's voice cut through them like a blade. She stared in shock at what she was seeing. "Brea! What is the meaning of this? Why aren't you at the Order of Lesser Service?" She pointed to the bird that rubbed against Brea's leg. "What is that thing?"

"Mother!"Seladon marched up to her mother. "Brea has been talking to a strange stone monster beneath the throne. It speaks of heresy!" She then pointed to the purple bird. "Then this 'thing' showed up!"

The All Maudra's eyes burned with fury. "Brea! I can't believe you. First you cause an incident with the Sifans and now you run off from the Order of Lesser Service just to find some unknown thing in the ground. You have done disservice to me! To the Skeksis! All for the sake of self-righteous disobedience."

A fire lit in Brea. "I value truth and knowledge!" She could feel something tingly in her mind. It felt like a friend was coming in and saying hello. Brea ignored Seladon's scoff as she pointed to the throne room. "Right now, an ancient creature with a message is hiding underneath your throne! Don't you want to hear what it has to say?!"

"Mother…" Seladon walked over to her mother. "Don't forget your duty…"

The All Maudra was silent for a moment. Then, she turned to Seladon. "Seladon, I want you to go with some guards and explore this blight that's upon us." She went over to Brea. To her surprise, the mysterious bird hopped onto Brea's shoulder. "Your…little friend can come too."

"But mother-" Seladon looked at her mother with a saddened expression. "I don't understand."

The All Maudra hugged Seladon. "You will when you're All Maudra someday." She turned to Brea. "Show me the creature." With that, she went with Brea to stairs underneath the throne. Leaving Seladon alone as silence ruled the halls. She journeyed down a few steps. She gasped in shock at the sight before her.

An immense room with several pillars had carvings of the Gelfling Clan symbols. In the middle of the large room was a beast made entirely out of rock. "I never even knew that this was here this entire time." The rock beast turned its head toward the All Maudra. Its unseen gaze trying to understand this new presence.

Brea gave a small smile. She even giggled as the purple bird warbled and preened her hair. "Oh! Your name is Merlin. Nice to meet you." Brea froze in place. "Wait…How is it that I can understand you?" She shook herself as she recalled what she came here to do. "Mother, this is Lore."

"Hello Lore." All Maudra Mayrin turned to Brea. "Brea, how were you able to do this?"

Brea held out her hand. "It's kind of a long story."

All Maudra Mayrin smiled. She held up her hand. "Then let's get started."

The two touched hands. Their dreamfasting ran its course. Brea's memories spun around them. Brea's encounter with Ghost. Onica's fortune telling. Her tasks. The puzzle she had to solve in this very room. The All Maudra investigating a broken Landstrider pen. Then finally, the argument between Seladon and herself. When it ended, the two stared at each other for a moment.

All Maudra Mayrin gave a sad smile. "Brea…I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you." She hugged Brea.

"It's ok, mother." Brea hugged her mother back. "For now, we should plan something."

"What foolishness is this?!" A gruff voice echoed into the chamber. The two Gelfling looked up. It sounded like an angry old woman. "You dare keep Mother Aughra from seeing the All Maudra? Pressing times are upon us!"

All Maudra Mayrin's eyes grew wide. "Mother Aughra! Here?!" She began moving swiftly toward the stairs. "If she's here, then Thra might be in more danger than we've realized!" She vanished in a matter of minutes.

Brea only took a few steps before she turned back to Lore. Merlin clung onto her shoulder. "Lore. Wait here. I'll be right back." She moved as quickly as she could. By the time she was up the stairs, she was surprised at what she was seeing. An old woman with a large head with ram horns stood before them, wearing a blue dress with stars. "Mother Aughra."

Mother Aughra turned to Brea. "So…Things truly have changed. Two princesses I see. One All Maudra. I wish to speak to you about pressing matters."

All Maudra Mayrin bowed. "Yes. Very pressing indeed." Before she could say anything the doors were slammed open. Angry voices of castle guards echoed through the halls. Footsteps growing louder with each second. She raised her brow in surprise when she saw The Chamberlain stand before her. "Chamberlain? What is going on?"

Brea stared at Chamberlain. She's heard about him. He's the Emperor's right hand man. She even recalled Ghost saying how cunning he was. Creating trouble wherever he went. The Vapran Princess felt her heart coil as she heard the signature "hmmm…" A faint hiss reached her ears. Sharp talons clenched on her shoulder. She turned to Merlin. The bird's feathers were puffed out as if he was trying to make himself bigger.

"What is it," Brea whispered. She followed the creature's gaze to the floor. Her eyes landed on his shadow. It looked normal. Then, it flickered and a pair of red eyes appeared. She bit back a scream. Then, her heart thundered as she saw something bulging underneath the hem of his robes.

"Oh terrible news!" SkekSil said. He placed a hand on his head. "Ghost has all Skeksis under her spell. Traitor has injured and killed our most loyal guards."

Brea's eyes went wide. "But wait- Ghost wouldn't-"

"Bah!" Mother Aughra swung at SkekSil's head only to miss. "You expect Aughra to believe such terrible lies? I've seen the girl myself and I know that she has done no such thing!" She pointed a finger at SkekSil. "You on the other hand have done nothing but-" Her words were cut by a sword.

Brea leaned close to her mother. "Mother…" She whispered, praying that Chamberlain wouldn't hear. "Something's wrong. We need to get out of here now!"

Seladon marched angrily toward Brea. Her face was a bright shade of red. "That's enough Brea! You've caused enough damage as it is?!"

"But Seladon-" Brea's words were cut off with a slap. Brea stood there, stunned. Merlin shrieked and clawed at Seladon.

"Seladon!" The All Maudra glared at her eldest child. "What has gotten into you? I have seen many warriors act like this but you-"

"You never see me!" Seladon spoke. Her voice became raw. Tears began to leak in her eyes. "You never notice what I do. Even once…" Suddenly, something small leaped onto Seladon's back. Her mouth opened in horror. Golden eyes wide with pain. Viens pulsed a sickly green color. She slumped to the floor along with several guards.

Mother Aughra smacked a rat-like creature away. "You stupid, vile sack of Fizzgig spit! You dare attack Aughra?!" She turned around just as a mysterious figure loomed before her. It was no bigger than she was. "Stealthy aren't we?" To everyone's horror, a blade plunged into her side. She gaped, eyes wide with shock and pain as metal sliced through her skin.

"NO!" The All Maudra yelled. She tried to reach for Seladon, but Brea pulled her back. One look at the collapsed Seladon and she knew there was nothing she can do for her eldest daughter. The rat creature had already burrowed deep beneath the golden eyes turned black.

Brea turned to the throne. "Lore! Lore help!" She barely had enough time to dodge a blade. A chunk of her hair fell onto the floor. Brea grabbed a hold of her mother as they made their way to Mother Aughra. She checked the injury. She tore a piece of her dress. A strip big enough to apply pressure to it.

Merlin squawked in the air. He soon grew into the size of a Land Strider. Wings smacked Chamberlain away just before he could thrust the blade into the two Vapran royals. He let out an ear piercing screech. Feathers flared out. He glowed for a moment. Then, the floor beneath him began to rumble. He smashed his head against the wall. He looked at Brea and screeched again.

"You fool!" SkekSil hissed. He turned to their mysterious assailant. "What have you done?!"

"Mother Aughra had too much rage…" The attacker answered. "Her emotions are what plague this land?"

"What nonsense is he talking about?" The All Maudra's voice was barely heard over the rumble.

Boom! The throne exploded to pieces as Lore rose above the floor. He lunged at the attacker. His arms deflected the wicked blades. The rat-like creatures tried to burrow, but their claws couldn't break his stony skin. Lore made his way to Brea and grabbed her. Glass shattered as he made his way to a window. He ran by the villagers, knocking carts over.

"Lore stop!" Brea shouted. She turned her head to look at the giant. "We have to get my mother and Mother Aughra out of there!" Another crash resounded. Brea tried to look over Lore's shoulder to see what was happening, but was only met by a flurry of purple feathers. The city began to shrink as Brea went higher and higher into the sky.

"Brea!" The All Maudra was seen on top of Merlin's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"What about Mother Aughra?!" Brea shouted back. The wind grew louder in her ears. Suddenly, something whizzed by her head and was met with a large thunk. Brea's world began to wobble. Merlin's shriek and a sensation of pain enter her mind. "Merlin! Get us to safety! Hurry!" She didn't know how long they've been up in the air, but the madness below was starting to get out of hand. Brea could only imagine the chaos and confusion. Guilt pained her stomach as she thought of Seladon. We should've taken her with, she thought.

Suddenly, they began to plummet. Greenery surrounded them. Everyone screamed. Brea felt Lore hugged them tighter. She also felt two other bodies, no doubt her mother and Mother Aughra, pressed beside her. The air knocked out of her lungs as she felt impact. Her vision was slightly hazy. She tried moving her limbs, but she could only hold her mother's hand as everything began to sink.

—-

A/N: Happy Halloween everyone! I hope this chapter was a little spooky.