Ch15: Helping King Pavan
It didn't take too long for my family to decide that they wanted to stay in the quiet town of Alexandria (and I had to give them some gold I had saved up from my looting to help them get housing) so our group was soon back to Ascantha and in the castle, the numerous amounts of black clothing really dampening the mood, even if no one cared about Trode's presence. "Hmm... dressing in all black is something of a ritual done for mourning the passing of someone," Angelo spoke as nighttime closed on us.
Only a little longer and soon we were all in the throne room, seeing King Pavan kneeling at his own throne and sobbing silently. "Um... excuse me? Mr. King?" I asked, hoping to get his attention. "Oh... Sasha... why did you have to leave me?..." he cried, almost as if he hadn't even heard me. "Forget it, let's just go," Jessica frowned as she led our group out. "Rgh... soft..." Stella smiled as she snuggled further into my cleavage. I placed her there before we got to Ascantha since it was probably the comfiest place a tired fairy like her could rest her head.
When we tried to go down the stairs to the 2nd floor, a certain maid stopped in front of us and looked at me with a frown. "Oh! Did you just try and meet with the king?" she asked us. "Well, yes, but he completely ignored me and went right back to crying about someone named Sasha," I frowned. "Yes... he's been like this ever since his wife Queen Sasha died... almost 2 years ago," Emma frowned.
"Two years ago? Man, talk about a crybaby king..." Jessica frowned. "Jess! Have some manners," I frowned at her. "I know I shouldn't ask, but could I ask you travelers to help me?" Emma asked. "Help you with what?" I asked. "You see... I heard a story before about a nearby hill to the west of Ascantha's bridge that has the power to make wishes come true... I'm sure that if the king could just see Sasha again, even if it were just once, he'd be able to recover from his unending grief," Emma frowned.
"Hmm... count us in!" Trode smiled out of nowhere. "COR BLIMEY!" both Yangus and I exclaimed at the same time, if only because I was actually surprised and I said it without even thinking. I didn't expect Emma to laugh, but she actually giggled a bit at this, as well as Jess and Angelo. "Okay, we're in if he says so... so west of the bridge, right?" I asked, trying to regain my cool girl image. "Yes... and if the tale is true, you'll need to go along the riverbank to reach the fabled hill. Then it's a long hike upwards to get to your destination... and it's best to get there by nightfall," Emma finished. "Got it. To the hilltop!" I smiled as I led our group down the stairs and, eventually, back into the outside of the kingdom.
Though the walk up the hill took longer than I would've liked it to, we eventually made it up to the very top by the time midnight came around. I didn't expect that I'd be very tired, but I actually yawned when we made it to the peak. "That long walk tuckered you out, Mary?" Angelo smiled at me with a suave expression on his smug face. "Heh. Don't think your suave moves are gonna affect me, bud," I smiled back at him. "Because I don't even like boys. I prefer ladies."
"Hmm... point taken," Angelo frowned immediately. "Wait... wot's this weird shadow on this rock 'ere?" Yangus pointed out when he saw the entrance to the Moonshadow World. "I think this is our destination," I smiled as I put my hand on the rock and surprised everyone when it went right through. "Follow me if you dare," I winked as I jumped the rest of the way inside and I had been instantly teleported into the magical world.
The place was beyond anything I could've ever experienced before, even if I had seen it twenty times before. The place was brimming with the same music I'd heard before when I played the game, the place was absolutely beautiful, and the pathways were made out of light. It was purely the most breathtaking place in the game in my opinion. "Whoa... to think all of this is from that window's shadow... very strange," Angelo stated as I slowly walked our group along the enlightened path. "I think I found a sweet vacation spot," I smiled giddily.
Once we entered the door of Ishmari, I instantly knew that something was off. Why? Because the person that should've been Ishmari was clad in bright orange scales, had the most gorgeous tail I'd ever seen, hair that flowed along with the music she played on the harp, and had four yellow tentacles protruding out of her back. There was no mistake. This person had all the characteristics of a Siren AND a Sea Angel. Right here in front of us was the ruler of Holy Water, Angelica.
"Hmm?... Many moons have passed since visitors have last came..." she spoke in the most soothing voice I'd ever heard as she turned around... and I was even more stunned at her imminent beauty. "Whoa... you look... whoa..." I gawked at her, completely in awe at how beautiful a monster hybrid could be. "Seems my beauty still entrances hearts in strange ways," Angelica spoke. "I am the keeper of the Moonshadow Land... my name is Angelica... though I am referred to in the monster world as 'the Ruler of Holy Water'... Why have you come through the Moonshadow Window?"
It was Jessica that tried to speak, until Angelica hushed her. "No words... your feet shall do the talking..." Angelica smiled as she strummed on her harp and a slight light enveloped my feet and hers. "I see... so Pavan wishes to be with his dearly beloved Sasha?" Angelica asked. "No way... how did you know?" Jess asked in shock. "Ah... forgive me... allow me to explain..." Angelica smiled. "Not only do humans and monsters have memories... all things have memories... your clothes, furniture, stars, and the very earth you trod... they too have hidden memories..."
"That's some deep stuff right there," I smiled. "Hmm... I cannot arouse this Sasha from her eternal slumber... but perhaps I can put an end to your friends waking nightmare..." Angelica smiled. "Take me to your world... so I can perform the wish you have requested..." I didn't even dare to ask as we all walked out of Angelica's room and retreated back through the magical window.
It was then that we were instantly teleported into Pavan's throne room and he looked at us with the saddest face in his eyes. "Oh tortured soul... may your deepest memories come into the light..." Angelica said soothingly as she began to strum her enchanted harp and do all the scenes that were shown in the game of King Pavan and his wife Sasha. I had to admit, it was all so surreal to see her be so happy even though the king was all she had left of any family. It was really the kick in the pants that Pavan needed to get over his grief. "I remember... everything you ever told me... Forgive me for being so weak... Sasha..." Pavan wept tears of joy instead of grief. It would only be a matter of time until Pavan invited us into his castle that night and would give us a bountiful feast in the morning.