Night Wind
By: Wilona RIva
Disclaimer: Butch Hartman does; I don't.
Author's Note: Short filler chapter to explain the story behind the second arc. New chapter next week; can't promise it will be any longer than this one.
Seeds
(Present Day - Ghost Zone/Clockwork's Tower)
Ain poked her head into the viewing room and looked around. Clockwork was nowheres in sight. Good. Walking into the room, she removed a glowing powder packet from a pocket in her robe. Sprinkling some on the past viewing portal, it lit up with an eerie green glow.
"You could have just asked," Clockwork admonished her, causing her to jump and whirl around.
"Where's the fun in that?" Ain retorted.
Clockwork just chuckled, and turned his attention to the viewing portal.
(Past - Ghost Zone/ Hall of Understandings)
A bowl of fourteen glowing stones sat on the table, while the Ancients discussed the events surrounding the war. Aviana, the phoenix, had found them in the ruins of an old garden torn apart by the fueding Wind and Ryu kingdoms.
"Night Wind," she began again, only to be interrupted ONCE AGAIN! by Pariah Dark, the Lesser Ghost King, who began shouting demands at the king of the Night Wind people.
Aviana sighed. At this rate, she'd never get to plant her seedlings. Pariah Dark was so loud; she almost missed the Clockwork Chronos emerge from the shadows and pluck the Emerald Seed from its place. A whisper of wind and an almost inaudible pop later, and he was back in his place with his brethren in the bowl.
"Yes, they have genders," she had snarkily commented to Night Wind, the night prior. "When will you make peace with Pariah?"
"Not so long as he threatens my people," Night Wind replied. " I do not wish for Lunaris to live in a world ruled by that monster. What is the nature of these glowing stones of yours?"
"They are seeds," she said. "Our people are dividing themselves into two camps these days. Seven of these stones: peridot, citrine, pearl, chaorite, yellow sapphire, coral and moonstone are linked to souls who will serve as guardians to the Day Wind, while these darker seven: emerald, carnelian, onyx, amethyst, amber, ruby and sodalite stones will serve as the guardians of the Night Wind people."
"When will they be linked with the corresponding souls?"
"First they must be nurtured. I have a nursery prepared... Night Wind, where are you going?"
Aviana brought her attention back to the present. Night Wind was loudly arguing his defense before the trio of Ancients who were judging between the kingdoms.
"Time Out!"
Immediately, everyone turned toward the oldest and youngest of all the Ancients, the Clockwork Chronos. Shifting between the various ages of life was a dizzying encounter for all to keep straight.
"Heed my words," he told them through gritted teeth. "The Wind people and the Ryu Kingdoms are henceforth to remain in their own places until such a time as the leaders can see themselves through the conflict. War has destroyed much of the Ghost Zone and threatens to spill over into the mortal realm."
Turning to the trio of Ancients, he nodded. "I assume you have an appropriate sentence in mind?"
"Yes," a blue-skinned woman with blond hair and red eyes rose to her full height. She was a small woman with a commanding presence. Her other two colleagues were of an average size and appearance: brown hair, green skin, and amber eyes. They were the Gemini-Castor and Pollux. The woman was their sister, Helen.
"The Wind people have already divided themselves during the course of this war. They shall henceforth be two kingdoms: the Day Wind and the Night Wind. The Night Wind are cursed to never see the light of day again; it shall be death to them. The Day Wind are to have no contact with any of their darker brethren." She sat down, and Castor stood up.
"When the seventh besides the first stands tall
Ryu and Night Wind both shall fall
Thrice Moon Son of the King and the Queen of Night
Shall twixt and twain, both kingdoms to unite."
Pollux rose and added his voice to his brother's.
"When the seventh by the first shall stand
Night and Day no longer apart
Emerald to sunset, and day to dawn
The war over and all kingdoms one."
(Present Time - Mortal Realm/ Amity Park)
Aviana opened one eye and glanced down at the Yellow Sapphire seed, Beacon. "Yes, my dear one?"
"Do I have to do this?"
"You are the most human in appearance," the phoenix pointed out.
He sighed. Average height for a male his age-check. Short dirty blond hair with long side bangs-check. Brown eyes hidden behind dark frames-check. Skin the color of mocha made him stand out from his brethren-the only ash in the Grove. "Aviana, I really don't want to do this."
"You can contain your gifts and glow," she reminded him. "The Emerald Seed is dangerous, and it is not known what the Night Wind have done to him and the darker guardians."
"What she's saying, dipstick," Pyre said, from the swing she has sitting on, "is that you are not to go the meeting tonight. This is just an assessment of our opposites. You're going to be passing as an exchange student at their school and Aviana doesn't want Phantom to recognize you."
"Phantom?"
"The Emerald Seed, doofus," Breeze muttered. "Geeze, you're stupid!"
"Breeze," Aviana warned. "What have I told you about calling your brethren names?"
" 'It's not nice to be called something you're not,'" Breeze quoted.
"If you can recite it verbatim, you're the doofus," Pyre laughed. "That makes how many times she's told you that?"
"Too many to count," Beacon said, trying not to laugh. Pyre was good at making people feel better. "Okay, Aviana, I will retire to the Grove if that's okay."
"Sleep well," the phoenix told him. Looking at the other two, she pointed one wing at the portal, "In for you as well."
"Night, Aviana!"
"Night!"
"Good night, dear ones."