Lost In Time Chapter 13:
"Alright, we need to make a plan to find the time crystal," Sophie said when she concluded everyone was well rested. "Biana said Vespera had it, so we need a group willing to go look for her." Wylie, Tam, and Dex's hands immidientely shot up.
"I know the Neverseen well, I can check in different hideouts they have set up in our time." Tam said, shaking off the looks everyone gave him when he reminded them he was kind of working with the Neverseen.
"I can use my tech skills to make something to track down the crystal, and when we retrieve it I'll work on how to manipulate it." Dex explained, happy he could finally contribute something.
Wylie slowly put his hand down. "I was just going to go for protection, but it sounds like you have everything covered." he stated. Biana shook her head.
"I think you should go, Dex and Tam will definitely need your protection... no offense." she added when they both raised an eyebrow at her.
"Vespera is still a respected member in the elvin society though, how will they get her alone?" Keefe added, making Sophie rethink the plan they had.
"She would recognize me and Marella," Fitz added, "if Vespera sees us walking around Atlantis, she would definitely try to kidnap us again."
Sophie sighed, "That would work, I just don't want you guys to get hurt again." Marella had to laugh at that.
"How many times have you thrown yourself into danger to protect us? We may not be as powerful as the moonlark, but we can definitely hold our own. Just trust us," Marella said when she noticed the doubt in Sophie's eyes.
"Alright," she said after some major convincing, "let's go find Vespera. Linh and Biana will scout from above while me and Keefe from below. Wylie, Tam, and Dex will hide in the shadows while Marella and Fitz grab her attention." Sophie took three deep breaths, telling herself the plan would work. They were so close to getting home, so why did she feel like something bad was going to happen? Suddenly the bushes started to move, and two figures jumped out.
"You aren't going anywhere," someone said, who's voice Sophie recognized but couldn't place. "Wha-" she was cut off by something electrocuting her. Falling face first into the grass, Bronte stood above her. "We are taking you to the council."
Sophie, Sophie, SOPHIE!
"What?" Sophie asked, sitting up. Her friends beside her had the same confused face. "Thanks to Bronte and Luzia, we have finally caught you nine trespassers." someone said, but Sophie couldn't see their face. Her head was throbbing, and her legs felt like jelly. "What just happened?" Sophie whispered to herself. Looking up she saw three elves. She focused hard on one of them, he strangely looked like… oh wait.
"Fitz!" she transmitted when she realized where they were. "This is the original tribunal hall, those are the first three councillors!" She knew he received her message when Fitz suddenly yelled out "Fallon?" The three figures stopped.
"How-what-since when-do you know my name?" Councillor Fallon asked, shocked. "I'm your-er-a friend," Fitz responded, catching his almost-slip up. Fallon continued to look dumbfounded at Fitz. "Listen, please don't arrest us. We didn't come here to destroy you, we promise we didn't mean to trespass! We are elves, and we are trying to-" Fitz was cut off by Bronte electrocuting him again.
"We need the washer in here immediately." Fallon whispered to Bronte. Giving a glare to Fitz, he towards the other two councillors. "Yes sir," Bronte bowed, quickly leaving the hall.
"Wait, they're retrieving a washer Sophie!" Linh whispered with fear in her eyes. Sophie looked down at her hands, which were tied with silver rope. There was no way she could escape this one. Looking desperately around the room, she spotted a window right behind Keefe.
"If I could climb out of the window, I could teleport to Atlantis!" she thought, but the idea was shot down. She couldn't leave her friends here. Sophie glanced at Keefe. He was sitting right by a table with fancy ornaments on it. "I need a distraction," she thought, making eye contact with Keefe. He gave her a puzzled luck, but when Sophie drew his focus to the table, his face lit up with mischievousness, obviously on board with Sophie's plan. Keefe kicked the table causing all the ornaments to break and crash onto the ground.
"No!" Fallon yelled, as he and the other councillors ran over. "These were centuries old, you idiot boy! It's ruined!" Keefe shrugged, "hasn't been the first time someone's said that to me." That was Sophie's cue. She wobbled over to a sharp piece of glass. Sophie had just started to cut the ropes off when Fallon walked over to her. Her heart dropped to her stomach as he glanced to her ropes. "Are you the ringleader?" he asked raising an eyebrow. Sophie gulped, "I have no idea what you mean sir." she said, refusing to look down. She bring his attention to what she was doing. Fallon grumbled, and walked back to Keefe. Only then did Sophie look down at her rope. The ornament was covered by a shadow, thanks to Tam's quick thinking.
"Finally," she thought when she broke the ropes in half. Turning to Fitz, she began to cut his when Bronte burst open the doors, followed by a nervous-looking washer. "I have him sir. I suggest you start with the brown eyed girl," he said, coldly pointing to Sophie. Fallon pulled her upwards, and Sophie did her best to keep the ropes on her wrist. Right as the washer leaned forward to touch her head, she brought up her fists and knocked him out. "Now!" she yelled at Fitz, who jumped up with both hands free. He grabbed one of the councillors, pinning him to the ground. Sophie ran to Linh, untying her ropes.
"Stop, in the name of the law!" Fallon yelled, but it was no use. The nine "fugitives" were standing tall and proud, ready to fight.
"Not today," Bronte said, pushing Fitz off the councillor and blinding them with a yellow light.
When it faded, the whole group found themselves standing on wet grass. Humans were walking around, but when they saw Biana and Fitz they stopped and cheered. "Long live the King and Queen!" the citizens of Mont Saint Michel yelled. Sophie wanted to cry, they were so close! "Not again," she groaned, falling into Keefe's arms. "How are we going to get back this time?" Biana said, tears filling her eyes. Dex walked over and grabbed her hand. They were right at the beginning, and no one had an answer. How were they supposed to fix this?