This part is basically an origin story of Sapphire and Sofia's amulets, and how they tie into the story. Sorry for lame opening. This is the only time this story will have an off track chapter.
Book 3: Origins
A long time ago, long before the time of civilization, the gods ruled the world. They lived in luxury in their castle in the clouds, while the humans continued to live in squalor. The humans despised and feared the gods with all their hearts, but there was on goddess they loved the most. Mother Earth.
She was the queen of the gods; an elegant woman who would bless mankind each year with a bountiful harvest and protect them from the harsh winters that killed half of the population with each storm. Mother Earth loved each and every human she saw, and often walked among them, exotic flowers and grass forming in her wake. But she was unhappy despite being ruler of mankind and the gods. She yearned for a child to call her own, but never could produce an heir.
Fed up with not having children, she went to a seer, and asked if Fate would be kind enough to grant her a child.
"Aye, your majesty," the seer said, green mist forming around her. "You will be blessed with five children, all of them female. But be forewarned: one of them will seek your throne; her heart will be blackened and scorched by the lust and hunger for power. This child will be your downfall and doom. However, there is hope. There will be another who will destroy her and bring peace to the world."
Mother Earth was shocked to hear that but was also happy to hear that she will be blessed by Fate with five children, all destined for greatness except the one child that would destroy her. After coming to her senses, she asked the prophet when to expect her children.
"Watch the sky for the alignment of the five major stars. That will be the sign that they will arrive in a flash of light." And with that the seer disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Mother Earth alone.
The day she waited for had finally arrived one wintery afternoon. She was mending a young purple flower that had fallen prey to a trampling horse, when a sudden light appeared, which made her shield her eyes. When she blinked the spots out of her eyes, the Queen of the Gods saw five stones floating in a circle. They were cut like diamonds, with a light brighter than anything Mother Earth had seen in her immortal life.
My dear Queen of the Gods, a voice like milk and honey, I present to you your heirs and sires. Each of them will possess a unique gift that will set them apart from other spirits and gods, and these stones will help provide an outlet for their power. The stones dropped gently to the ground forming human shapes. When the light around the shapes disappeared, there stood four young girls but the Queen had sworn there were five stones, each with the same features yet differences all the same.
They all bowed to the Earth Mother, before they straightened up, so that the Earth Mother could look at them. She smiled warmly before opening her arms.
"Daughters," She said as she strode over the children. "I am your mother, Mother Earth, queen of the gods and giver of life to mankind. Do you already have names?" The girls stared at each other as if asking each silently what this strange woman was asking. Those looks the Queen got told her enough. "Very well. I will take you to my home where you will be introduced to the court. "
And with a wave of her hand the Queen transported her new children to the Palace of the Gods.
It wasn't very long until the queen noticed the differences in her children. The eldest was the kindest and gentlest of her five children, and also had a knack for leading her other sisters in activities, whether it is leading her sisters in battle or training. Her eyes were like a river, her hair and skin as white as snow. The Queen decided to name her Corundum (1). She controlled the ice and water, and was known among mortals as the powerful Ice Sorceress, and she watched over the season of winter, and the guardian of love. An amulet of the bluest stone on a silver chain was her mark of power and her symbol of kindness to anyone she met.
The second eldest was constantly angry, and she always tried to usurp her oldest sister, claiming that she was the one who was destined for the throne. Her younger sisters were afraid of her, but Corundum and her constantly butted heads on different views. The mortals feared her, more than any god in the Palace of the Gods. Mother Earth kept a constant eye on her, remembering the prophecy of one of her daughters with a blackened heart would destroy her. The Queen named her, Ruby due to her yellow eyes, black hair and dark red bangs. Ruby controlled the elements of fire and heat, watching over the season of summer, and was the guardian of strength. Her amulet was dark red, on the blackest chain, just like her heart was slowly becoming.
The third daughter, the most intellectual of the five, was very curious and inquisitive. Jade, a name the Queen always liked was seen to the mortals as the wisest and most knowledgeable of the any of the sisters. She preferred to stay in the safety of the forests and jungles creating more species of plants and trees than spend her time in the Palace of the Gods stuffing her face with ambrosia and nectar (2). Her hair was as brown as an oak tree, her bangs greener than any leaves in the summer. Jade watched over the season of spring, the season of life, as well was the guardian of knowledge. Her amulet was a jade stone, which sat on a bronze chain.
The fourth daughter, girl who Mother Earth named Argenta, was the most battle smart of the three. She commanded over the armies of the gods as Second in Command, only bested by Mother Earth herself. Argenta had grey locks, and pale skin, her grey-green eyes startling and stormy making any man, mortal or otherwise, wilt in terror. She was a little more serious than her older siblings, and always kept a straight face, her eyes always narrowed as if she thought something that angered her. She wore a diamond around her neck on a platinum chain. Argenta was charged with being guardian of the fall and used the power of air to her advantage.
The youngest child was never found. The Queen and her armies searched high and low for her, no one could find her. Mother Earth decided to erect a monument in her honor, symbolically naming her the guardian of magic and friendship, and officially named her Iolite.
"Mother will we search for her?" Corundum asked one evening while they were alone.
"No," the Earth mother said, a tear springing up in her eyes. "But the stone that vanished will be sought after by mortals and gods alike. It will be named the Amulet of Avalor, and hopefully when the time was right, it will chose a new person, one whose name will ring throughout history."
Years passed and the girls grew into beautiful warriors, legendary throughout the world. And they watched as time passed and kingdoms grew from little villages of thatched huts, they watched as the world of man forgot the worship of their ancestors and they faded into nothing.
Ruby's heart grew darker and darker as time passed, and soon she spoke out against her mother and queen in front of the court. One day everything came to a head.
"Our beloved queen has prophesied that the Amulet of Avalor will resurface, and will usher in a new age of peace," she said in front of the council of Gods. "The fates have granted me a vision, showing me what the future holds under the rule of my beloved sister Corundum. The day will come, my fellow deities, when the mortals will toss us aside like garbage, and when that day comes I will certainly promise to rid ourselves of those who wish to fight us and ignore us."
"A war with mortals is out of the question sister," Corundum argued stepping out of the shadow of the throne, walking straight into the trap that was set for her. "Many innocents would die if there were a war between us sister. You will be arrested and charged with being a warmonger."
"On the contrary Corundum." Ruby said removing her double-headed axe from on her back. The doors burst open revealing the army of the Gods rush in their weapons out and pointed at the council members.
"Ruby! What in the name of Fates is going on!?' Mother Earth cried standing up. Ruby smiled, her red amulet glowing sinisterly, as she motioned for one of the soldiers to bring her mother right in front of her.
"I am simply doing what I am destined to do." Mother Earth tried to hide her shock from her evil daughter but it showed on her face, and Ruby smiled as she slide her fingers down the sharp blade. "That's right. I went to the Fates, and they told me my destiny. 'One of them will seek your throne; her heart will be blackened and scorched by the lust and hunger for power', I believe those were their words. And now mother dear, I will strike you down and take the throne." She raised her axe.
"The throne will not accept you as its rightful queen Ruby," Her mother said when she was forced on her knees. Even though Ruby and her traitors were looking at her with a blood lust, the queen looked calm as though she was an infant. "Nor will the Gods accept you either. You will be forever fighting to keep the throne until the day you die."
"Oh but that's the best thing about be a goddess," she said lifting up her axe. "You live forever." She brought down the axe, but Corundum closed her eyes as tight as she could. The true heir to the throne was brought forward, and forced on her knees as well. When the eldest opened her eyes, she saw Ruby stroking the golden armrest of the throne, its luster fading with the sunlight as thunderclouds over took the sky.
"After all these years," the second eldest whispered, taking a seat. She took a deep breath as though the throne infused all its power into her, and was calming down. "At last the power is mine!" Suddenly she was thrown forward, landing on the council table the ancient oak furniture breaking into a thousand pieces.
"WHAT?!" She demanded standing up. Ruby stalked towards the throne, which was glowing gold. The second eldest touched the throne, but she didn't get very far. The throne that has held the power for the world of the gods was protected by a golden umbrella of light. "NO! THIS CAN'T BE!"
"It is just like mother foretold," Corundum stated coolly. "Only the true heir can sit on the throne. You will never have that throne!"
Ruby turned around, her yellow eyes flashing in anger. She held out her palm, and a little flame appeared, moving like a dancer.
"Well, then," she said gesturing a traitor soldier to hand her his axe, which was made of Celestial Bronze (3). "If I can't have the throne then no one will."
Corundum struggled against her captives, knowing full well that if the throne was destroyed then the entire world of the gods will crumble, falling piece by piece into chaos and disorder, then the gods would start to disintegrate fading into nothing. As Ruby raised the axe, Corundum finally snapped, letting a burst of magical energy so great it made walls of solid ice. Unfortunately as her anger and power grew, so did the chance of her dying due to her exerting herself.
"I will not endanger my people because you choose to let the lust for power over take you and blacken your heart," she said, her body surrounded by a soft glow. The heir to the throne cupped her hands and a small orb of blue light appeared between her hands. Ruby launched herself at the glowing heir, but she wasn't fast enough, as Corundum launched the sphere, ice spreading like ivy on her chest, wailing as it burned her like fire.
As Corundum collapsed, drained of energy, Ruby took this chance to egg her soldiers on, screaming, "Get them you fools! Don't let them escape! Block all exits and entrances!"
Argenta and Jade carefully picked their sister up and quickly ran out of the council room, with the last few remaining loyal guards protecting their rear.
The girls sough refuge in the human world, knowing full well that now that their mother was dead, the war between the Gods and Mortals was inevitable. They were currently in the home of Godwin the Good, with the eldest sister critically weakened by her burst of power. His son, Gaius, took immediate interest in the goddesses.
"I need you do me a favor Argenta," Corundum whispered as she awoke from her pained sleep. Argenta, who had been pacing the floor, quickly went over her sister, tears in her eyes. Since she was the commander of the army she was not allowed to show any emotion, but now that her sister was dying despite the ambrosia they had given her.
"What is it sister?" Argenta asked, clutching her hand worriedly. Her voice shook like a godling, but she didn't care. That serpent was going to pay for what she did the their family. "What do you want me to do?"
"Listen careful sister, for I shan't have the strength to repeat it." Before she continued, Corundum broke into a coughing fit. Argenta worried she might disappear right here and there, but it soon subsided. Corundum looked at her with tired eyes. "I will soon join mother, but while I rested, the Fates granted me a vision. There will be another, who will wear the amulet again and defeat Ruby in a battle for the throne. But you must be there when she arrives."
"How long will we have to wait Corundum? Without the food of the gods, we will slowly fade into nothing."
"Her fate is tied to us. This new Ice sorceress will break the cycle of pain and death and bring back peace to the gods."
"What will her name be sister?" Argenta asked noticing her sister's eyes starting to droop and glaze over.
"The Amulet of Avalor... where is it?" the dying goddess asked all of the sudden. Argenta looked over at her younger sister who was taking all of this in with difficulty. Tears brimmed on the edge of her eyes; she turned away and went to another room to cry in private.
"It was lost eons ago, Corundum," Argenta replied gently. Her river blue eyes were brimming with tears as everything came back to her.
"She is the one who the Fates talked about, the one who will bring back order and harmony." Corundum said grasping Argenta's collar. Tears started to form in her eyes as she clutched her sister's collar harder. "I'm sorry I was unable to save Mother and prevent Ruby from taking over."
"It's okay Corundum, don't blame yourself. Ruby brought this on herself and she will pay dearly for this." Argenta said, clutching her hands, tears brimming in her green grey eyes. Corundum, smiling weakly and her eyes half closed, gave her sister's hand one more squeeze before the grip loosened and the eldest breathed her last breathe.
Argenta finally let the tears flow, and the last of the loyalist to the throne took of their helmets or bowed their heads in respect. As Corundum faded into sparkles of blue magic, Argenta stayed focused on that face, knowing full well she wouldn't see her sister's face for a long time. The last of her sister disappeared into nothing, leaving only her amulet, which practically glowed in the candlelight.
The now next in line turned to the human family, delicately holding the necklace as though it would disappear as well. "I, Argenta Silvermoon, charge you with the task of watching over this amulet, until the time is right to give it to the next in line."
The wife looked startled but nodded all the same, grabbing the amulet and storing it in a lock box. Argenta turned to the last loyalists and her remaining sister.
"We need to leave, if we are to keep one step ahead of Ruby," She instructed and the soldiers nodded, filing out of the small hut. "There are some abandoned fortresses that even she doesn't know about, the most important being the fortress in the Northern Mountains. That should provide a key vantage point, but we must hurry if we are to get there before she does."
Jade nodded, her light green eyes red and puffy. "Understood." She walked out, leaving the family to wonder what the heck was going on. Argenta looked down at the cot where her sister once lay, feeling the eyes of the humans on her.
"You will need to pack up that amulet in a celestial bronze box," she said, her eyes still on the cot. "It will mask the magical signature until it is ready to choose its next guardian."
"Will you need anything for your journey your highness?" the mother asked, bowing her head like a servant, which made the goddess chuckle a little.
"No thank you." The young goddess turned, strapping her sword to her belt. "And it's Argenta, please." The mother looked surprised as the young woman strode out to the yard, looking up the clear night sky, and smiled faintly as she noticed two new constellations: a mother holding hands with a daughter.
"Do not worry, Corundum," she whispered to herself as she followed the others as they started on their long trek to the Northern Mountains. "I will avenge you, and I will not rest until her blood is flowing on your grave."
Enchantia, present day (Sapphire pov)…
The young sorceress looked at the young princess as she yawned tiredly, and stretched. Sofia had stayed awake all throughout the story, and was really interested when Sapphire got to the action.
"Wow, that was a great story," Sofia said laying her head down on Sapphire's bed. The not so stranger glanced at the grandfather's clock and saw that it was almost half past eleven, time for the young princess to head to bed.
"Come on sweetie," Sapphire said picking the peasant turned princess up and carried her in her arms to her room. Clover joined the trio in the abandoned halls as they walked back to Sofia's room. Several times Sofia shifted in the sorceress arms, which didn't bother the young woman at all.
After they had arrived at the princess's rooms, Sapphire pulled of Sofia's robe and slippers off, hanging the purple silk item on the backrest of a nearby chair, and tucked the young girl into bed. Sofia snuggled up, clutching a stuffed dragon, and smiled as she dreamed of elves and pixies enchanting her, letting her forget the troubles of the world.
A yawn silently escaped Sapphire's lips as she gently closed the door behind her. She was exhausted and didn't even realize it, probably running on adrenaline all day as the excitement escalated with the arrival of Greylock and the appearance of a young woman with a similar amulet like her. Sapphire heard the tale from Cedric; apparently it was an oral tale, much like her amulet that she now wore around her neck, passed down from his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, all the way down to his great-great grandfather, Gaius the First, who supposedly witnessed the whole thing in person when he was little.
Of course Sapphire didn't believe it when she first heard it, but now…now that she had these crazy people chasing her, and the incident that happened when Cedric tried to propose and after, all those years in the mirror realm, made the young sorceress believe in the impossible.
She arrived back to her rooms, at exactly midnight, tired and drained of natural energy, but something didn't exactly feel right. Sapphire felt an unknown weight of foreboding settle in her stomach, making it do rolls, and it took all her will power not to vomit. Something horrible was coming, and this tenuous peace was holding but it would soon break like a fragile vase. And whatever was going to happen, it would all fall to Sapphire sacrifice whatever necessary to win it.
"If there is anyone up there," Sapphire prayed looking up to the sky, where a constellation of a mother and daughter shone brightly. "Please give me the strength I need so I can protect the ones I love and those I have recently met. The Royal family, Baileywick, Greylock…. Cedric, keep them safe and out of harms way. " A tear slipped, and Sapphire quickly wiped it away before lying down in her bed, the darkness of sleep engulfing her.
Hey guys what's up? Hope you enjoyed the origin story of the Amulet of Avalor and Sapphire's amulet. Special thanks and shout out to Ariel-Sarina-Jen for the sweet review; I can't wait to hear from you once again. And to answer your question about the other beings with the magical amulets being Elementals, basically yes. I hope this story clears up any questions you might have. And the reason they are so long is so I can get all of the info in there without more chapters. I know that's kind of lazy on my part but hey I'm a junior in high school….so what are you going to do? If this leaves anymore questions, just PM me and I'll get back to you. Please RR, and I will see you soon with an