Chapter 3: Into the Depths
Gentle sunlight streamed into the hospital wing, as Aisha lay in her bed and observed stray particles of dust as they gently floated through the air. Glim was laying on the windowsill, seeming a bit bored. There was a knock on the door and Aisha said: "Come in".
"Hello, Aisha," Faragonda greeted as she entered. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling just fine, thank you," the princess said. "There just isn't a whole lot to do here".
"That's just part of being hospitalized I'm afraid," Faragonda said with a kind smile. "Now, I've been in contact with your father and he agreed with me that it would be best to keep you here until we are certain you have recovered".
"If he thinks that it is for the best," Aisha said neutrally.
Faragonda looked at her for a few seconds with an unreadable expression, before asking: "How is life back home?"
"It's going as it should, as far as I am aware," the brunette said.
"Care to elaborate?" the headmistress asked.
"I'm doing well in my classes and everything else seems to be in order," Aisha replied.
Faragonda rubbed her chin for a moment, before asking: "And what have you learned in school so far?"
"Lots of very important things," Aisha said. "Like, what kind of dress is important for what occasion, what type of cutlery to use for certain dishes, how to talk to people based on what they are, a bit of magic and how to properly dance".
"I see," Faragonda said, her tone very even. "Do you have any friends your age?"
"Well, I talk a lot with my cousins when they visit," Aisha said. "So I guess they're my friends".
"I see," Faragonda replied once more. "By the way, Ophelia and I have been talking and while you haven't entirely recovered, we believe that there's no longer any need to keep you here. So if you want to have it, we have found a room for you".
"Oh. That's good," the princess said.
"One of our students was kind enough to offer to show you your new room," Faragonda continued. "Normally, it would have been one of the teachers' job, but we have a very important meeting coming up".
"That's okay. Meetings are important," the princess said understandingly, though also a bit redundantly.
"You have a good day now," Faragonda said as she turned to leave the room.
"Will the pixies be rescued?" Aisha asked concernedly.
"The pixies?" Faragonda asked, turning around.
"I only managed to get Glim out, more by luck than anything else," Aisha admitted. "The others are still kept prisoner by Darkar. It doesn't feel right to just leave them".
"I know. And we do not plan on just leaving them down there," Faragonda said comfortingly. "Don't worry, we have several people who are already working together on a proper plan of action".
"But how long will it take?" Aisha asked insistently.
"I can see where this is going," Faragonda stated. "You're concerned for the pixies and think something should be done now. Once upon a time, I would probably have agreed with you. But experience has taught me that it is best to plan things out. A failed operation might be infinitely worse than a delayed one".
"But... It just doesn't feel right," Aisha said sadly.
"I know," Faragonda added sympathetically. "It never does. Sadly, I doubt it is as easy as just waltzing in and grabbing the pixies. And now, I really must be going". With that, the headmistress left.
Aisha rubbed her chin before quietly asking herself: "There must be a way?" She suddenly noticed that Glim was staring at her. "What?" she asked.
"Bad idea," the pixie warned.
...
"Alright, so what do we know of this... Darkar?" Palladium asked. He and the rest of the staff had assembled in Faragonda's office.
"That whomever named him was as subtle as a brick to the face," Wizgiz commented.
"It would not surprise me if it turned out that Darkar named himself," Faragonda stated. "From what I have heard, he has a sense of theatrics".
"Do we know where 'e's from?" SeFogelia asked.
"Yes," Faragonda sighed sadly. "Everything indicates that his lair is somewhere in Underland".
The teachers exchanged glances. "That's where Avalon was sent on his mission," Griselda realised. "Because that director's expedition had gone missing".
"Indeed. And I suspect these facts are all related," Faragonda said while pacing back and forth. "Worse, not only is he powerful, he's also very bold. We have confirmed that he attacked and kidnapped several pixies as well as the princess of Tides. But not only that. I got a call from Griffin earlier". She stopped pacing and turned to the staff. "Darkar attacked Lightrock Monastery in the middle of the day. And he took Icy, Darcy and Stormy with him when he left".
"And everything was going so well," DuFour sighed while glancing at the ceiling.
"Do we have any idea what his plan is? Do we even know what he is?" Griselda asked.
"I have sent requests around for information. Until we know more, we can only wait," Faragonda said. "I've also talked with Saladin and he's planning preliminary operations. His advice is that we have to remain calm, but also that we must be on guard. Whatever this Darkar's plan is, he has shown that he is willing to use overwhelming force. He may be insane, but that does not diminish the threat he poses".
...
Bloom looked up from the newspaper she was reading, as Stella entered the common room, followed by Aisha.
"Listen up, Bloom," Stella said enthusiastically. "Aisha is going to stay here".
"Really? That's great news," Bloom said, folding the paper. "I would have thought you would have been sent home".
"They say I'm not done recuperating just yet," Aisha replied. "So they gave me a room here while I recover".
"How long will you be staying?" Stella asked.
"Five minutes," the dark-skinned girl replied matter-of-factly.
The two other girls stared at her for a couple of seconds.
"Wait, if you're only here for a couple of minutes, why even give you a room?" Bloom asked, thoroughly confused.
"It's not because I'm healthy. It's because I must save the pixies," Aisha insisted.
"Come again?" Stella asked, scratching her head.
"The pixies are in danger because they tried to attend a meeting with me. As a royal, I have a responsibility to provide protection when I ask for a meeting," Aisha explained. "I have failed at that task and must make up for it".
"Well, aren't Faragonda going to do something?" Bloom asked.
"She's busy talking with people about planning," the brunette said. "But my Dad has always taught me that in these cases, you have to act decisively, otherwise your enemies will see you as weak".
"So your plan is to, like, just storm off to wherever this Darkar guy hangs out and then free the pixies all by yourself?" Stella asked incredulously.
"I don't have time to wait for another escort," Aisha stated. "Besides, as long as I stay away from Darkar and his monsters, I should be safe".
"Should being the operative word," Stella remarked.
"Well, that's just too dangerous for you to do alone," Bloom said. "We're coming too".
"That's right. You can't... I... Wait... Huh?" the Solarian princess asked, turning to Bloom. "Did... Did you just volunteer us to go to some madman's castle to free a bunch of pixies?"
"I would be most grateful for the assistance," Aisha said.
"Aisha's right, we can't just sit here and do nothing," Bloom insisted. "Come on. It can't be worse than our trip to Domino. Or Cloud Tower. Or Melmamora. Or the other trip to Cloud Tower. Or the other trip to Melmamora, you know, the one with the Red Willow".
"That's, like, so not comforting," Stella sighed. "Look, don't get me wrong, I tots think those pixies should be saved, pronto, but I'm not that sure that we're qualified".
"All we gotta do is sneak in and break the pixies out," Bloom said. "Aisha's right. As long as we don't challenge Darkar himself, I'm pretty sure we should be okay".
"I must admit, last year totally managed to deflate the whole idea of 'charge straight into adventure';" Stella said. "But I guess you're right. If everyone else are just twiddling their thumbs, then I guess we have to do something".
"Exactly," Bloom said. "Should we bring the others?"
"Both Flora and Musa will tots inform the teachers if they find out," Stella said. "And Techna went off to buy something in town, so she won't be home for a couple of hours".
"Not good. The longer we wait, the bigger the risk of us getting caught," Bloom said, her brows furrowed. "We should get dressed, get some survival gear and then go".
"Survival gear?" Aisha asked. "Like what?"
"Well, what would you bring to an expedition underground?" Bloom asked.
"My chef," Aisha earnestly replied.
The redhead stared for a moment, before advising: "I think you should give her a hand, Stella. We can probably use some of the gear Flora advised us to get".
...
"These clothes are awful," Aisha insisted as they sneaked out through the main gate. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in a proper fashion magazine".
All three were clad in thick, warm khaki-coloured clothes, solid boots and hardhats with flashlight on.
"I know," Stella sighed. "But it's tots better than being gnawed by bugs, soaked to the bone and then losing your shoes to a mud pool".
"Did... Did that really happen?" the brunette asked.
"It did," Stella confirmed. "When we went to Melmamora. It was horrible".
"Did you ever get your shoe back?" Aisha asked concerned.
"Nope. It's still out there," Stella said sadly.
"My condolences," Aisha said sympathetically.
"It's just a shoe," Bloom grumbled while pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Don't mind her. She means well, but she tots doesn't understand," Stella said to the brunette, causing the redhead to groan.
The group found a forest trail and followed it until Alfea disappeared from view.
"Okay, so which direction?" Bloom asked as they continued down the trail.
Aisha looked at the two, before she admitted: "I'm not entirely sure".
"You're not?" Stella asked surprised.
"Well, I was somewhat confused at the time. Glim might have remembered it better than me, but I'm pretty sure she would have tried to stop me," Aisha explained.
"Alright, but do you at least have an idea of where you came out?" Bloom asked.
"Vaguely," Aisha replied.
"We did bring a map," Stella pointed out.
"Alright, so if we know roughly the direction, then we could check for landmarks that are likely to have caves," Bloom suggested.
"Like the nearby gorge," Sky suggested.
"Right, that would be a good place to start. Thanks Sky," Bloom replied.
"No problem," the blond prince said.
Then Bloom froze, looked to the side and asked: "Sky?"
"That's me," he said cheerfully.
Walking parallel to the group was Sky, Riven and Brandon, who had managed to sneak up on the girls.
"Out for a picnic?" Riven cheekily asked.
"Yes. Yes we are," Stella said.
"You're going on a picnic... Wearing hardhats?" Sky asked slightly confused.
"It's one of those hardcore picnics you hear about all the time," Brandon jokingly explained. "Seriously though, where are you going dressed like that?"
"What's it to you?" Stella asked.
"Let's see," Riven replied, adopting an exaggerated thinking pose. "You're bringing along spelunking equipment and the girl who was kidnapped and brought to Underland alongside a bunch of pixies. Could you possibly be staging an improvised rescue mission?"
"And what if we are?" Bloom asked. "Somebody has to do something".
Brandon sighed and said: "And what do you girls think we're here for?"
"Wait, did Saladin only, like, send you three?" Stella asked. "Why would he only send you three? There's no way you're qualified for this".
A moment of awkward silence followed.
"Gee, sorry that our two years in a military academy doesn't make us nearly as qualified as your one year of learning how to make your hair smell like flowers," an obviously insulted Riven mocked, to which Stella responded by sticking out her tongue.
"Though my comrade lacks tact, he does have a point," Brandon brought up. "You three are not qualified for this, even though you did get some experience last year," he quickly pointed out. "But the fact is, us from Red Fountain have both experience and military training. Something Alfea does not provide".
"Also, we're not out here to free the pixies," Sky pointed out. "We were sent here to scout out nearby cave openings that once lead to Underland. See if they're still a viable point of entry".
"See, so don't you three worry, we're on the case," Brandon said.
"That means you ladies can go home now and have a tea party or whatever," Riven said dismissively.
The three girls responded with very dissatisfied looks.
"You're not leaving, are you?" Brandon asked in exasperated realisation.
"You know, we could always bring them along for the mission," Sky suggested. "I mean, they have some experience and if it helps convince them that things are being taken care of, then that would be great".
"Dragging civilians along on a military operation. Are you even listening to yourself?" Brandon asked. "I'm pretty sure we could go back a grade for pulling a stunt like that".
"Then what? We fling them over our shoulders and haul them back to the ship?" Riven asked.
One look from the girls convinced the boys that that solution was less than healthy.
"Well, if we don't let them tag along, they'll go anyway," Sky pointed out.
"Point taken," Brandon sighed. "Alright, how about this. You can come along on our scouting mission, if you promise to do as you're told and come back with us once we're done. If you refuse, then I don't care if you set me on fire, I'll drag you back to Alfea like a sack of roos".
"That's, like, probably the best offer we'll get," Stella said.
"Alright, we promise," Bloom said. "I assume you know the way?"
"That we do. Let's move out," Brandon said.
As they walked up the trail, Bloom asked: "So, where is Timmy by the way?"
"He's back in the owl," Sky explained. When he noticed Bloom's confused look, he clarified: "That's the standard Red Fountain vessel. You've seen them a couple of times".
"It's a lot bigger than I remembered," Aisha said, staring down the massive rift in the earth.
The group had made their way into a more hilly area, where they had found the gorge Sky had mentioned earlier.
"If you were carried by the stream at the bottom of the gorge, then you probably ended up in the low end, down there," Brandon said and pointed. "Now, Riven, you're on relay duty".
"Huzzah. I love telephone-pole duty," Riven mumbled without an ounce of enthusiasm.
"Relay?" Stella asked.
"Caves often cause signal interference," Brandon explained. "Which means that odds are we won't be able to transmit directly to Timmy. Now, since we're just going to take a peek, we can instead transmit to Riven, who will then send any messages to Timmy. That way, we can stay in contact".
"Oh. That pretty smart," Bloom said.
"Yeah. Unfortunately, it requires that somebody stays topside and babysits the phone," Riven grumbled.
"You're only complaining because the babysitter is you," Sky pointed out.
"True. And?" Riven asked.
Sky mulled over the question before replying: "And I got nothing. Just wanted to point it out".
"If you're done stating the obvious, could you help me with the rope?" Brandon asked as he unpacked a rope from his backpack.
"Sure thing," the Eraklian prince said as he started assisting.
"Okay, here's the plan," Brandon began as he fastened the rope. "On the side of the gorge is a cave that's believed to be an entrance into Underland. We're going to scout it out, check if it's a viable opening, report and then go home as heroes. Understood?"
"Yes, yes, what do you take us for?" Stella asked.
"Three teenagers who thought they alone held the power to defeat the bad guy and rescue the innocent," Riven snarked.
"I think I saw that in a movie once," Bloom commented.
"Alright, rope is ready," Brandon said. "Who goes first?"
"I'll do it," Stella said.
"Right. Use this belt to fasten yourself," Brandon said while handing the blonde the equipment in question, before empathetically adding: "And please be careful".
"Don't be such a worrywart," Stella said nonchalantly. "I tots got this. Okay, here we go". Slowly, she lowered herself down the edge of the gorge. Moments later, she suddenly screamed.
"WHAT'S WRONG?!" Brandon asked as he more or less threw himself to the edge so he could look down.
"I lost it," Stella wailed.
"Lost what?" Brandon asked.
"My make-up kit," came the reply.
Neither Sky nor Bloom could help but bend over from laughter, as Riven called: "Quick, Brandon. Dive into the gorge and save your beloved princess' make-up".
"Dear, I'm sure you have thousands of make-up kits," Brandon said in an exasperated tone while rubbing his temples.
"But I only brought one," Stella argued.
"Please just get down to the cave," the squire groaned.
Minutes later, everybody sans Riven had made their way to the rocky shelf that allowed them to enter the caves.
"Alright, I'll take point. Sky, bring up the rear," Brandon said as he turned on his flashlight. "And everyone, be quiet from now on. We don't want to risk being detected".
"So, how deep are we going?" Bloom quietly asked as they entered, the flashlight casting sinister shadows on the walls around them.
"We have to make sure this isn't just a dead end," Brandon explained. "But I can't give you specifics. We'll just have to see what we find".
"Ouch. Can't you, like, turn that light up a notch?" Stella asked. "I just banged into one of those pointy hanging rock thingies".
"Sorry, but we risk enough as it is," Brandon replied. "The more light we spread, the bigger the risk".
"My ankles are getting sore from mis-stepping on this uneven floor," Aisha complained. "Seriously, whomever lives here should get it fixed".
"See, I'm not the only one suffering," Stella pointed out.
"Sadly, the military doesn't care a lot about comfort," Sky added, rubbing his knee. "I just banged into something too, but that's just how it has to be. We want to be subtle".
"Right. Subtle. I think we caWHOA!" Stella yelled as she stumbled over a rock and crashed to the floor. Furiously, she exclaimed: "THAT'S IT!" while getting up. "I WANT LIGHT!" With a flash, her ring shifted into a sceptre, which glowed, illuminating the entire cavern. "See, much better," she said with self-satisfaction.
Suddenly, there was a roar, and from the dark opening in the cavern walls slithered forth Darkar's shelled monsters.
"Yes. A real improvement," Brandon said dryly.
"Ups," Stella said, embarrassedly twiddling her fingers.
The monsters reared their long, wormy necks, before launching globs of slime at the intruders.
"Those are the same monsters Darkar had at his castle," Aisha pointed out as the group took cover behind large rocks, globs of glue-like slime splattering against their surroundings.
Bloom peaked out and sent a fireball through the air, which incinerated the head on one of the monsters.
"Keep them back," Brandon ordered while activating his communicator. "Riven, do you read me?"
"Loud and clear," came the reply. "What's going on down there? I'm hearing a lot of really ugly noises".
"Darkar has posted guards and we have been spotted," Brandon said. "They outnumber us and have cut us off from the entrance. We're falling back deeper into the caves. Send an SOS to HQ, stat".
"Will do. Good luck," Riven replied.
"Alright, follow me," Brandon called, and the group rushed deeper into the caves, the pale monsters scurrying after them.
...
Minutes later, the group was still hurrying down the tunnel, deeper into the earth.
"Those things are persistent," Sky noted as he threw a glance over his shoulder, where he noticed the shadows of the approaching monsters.
"Right. But they are slow. We can use that to our..." Brandon started, before he suddenly halted, staring at the iron double door in front of them. A tuck at the handles confirmed that the doors were locked, causing him to mutter: "Well, crud".
"Don't worry. I got this," Stella said and pointed her sceptre. Nothing happened. "I... I don't understand," she said confused, as the brunette squire studied the door.
"Anti-magic," he said as he noticed several sigils in the frame. "Looks like we better bring out some technology. Alright, all of you, hold those creatures off".
"Gotcha," Stella said as she hurried to the back, were the others got ready.
"Alright, you three hit them at range. I'll take care of them if they get close," Sky said, readying his sword and shield.
Bloom and Stella started launching fireballs and lasers, while Aisha pelted the attackers with whatever droplets of water that were nearby.
One of the creatures whipped its neck, launching a wad of goo that caught Stella in the chest and flung her back.
"Dear Solaris, this is disgusting!" she exclaimed. She tried to move, before noticing that the goop had glued her to the wall. "And it's tots sticky too," she grumbled as she began cutting herself free with a laser.
"Alright. V7 Barrier Buster, ready to go," Brandon called as he moved away from the door. There was a barely noticeable puff, as the lock and everything in a few centimetres around it ceased to be. "Alright, let's move, people," the squire called as he kicked open the doors.
Sky chopped of the head of one of the advancing creatures, before falling back. He blocked a shot of sticky slime with his shield, before following the group through the door, which he and his squire then immediately forced shut. Brandon attached another gadget to the door, which detonated seconds later, covering the iron in fuchsia gel. There was a banging on the door as the monsters tried forcing their way through. "Morphix grenade," the squire explained. "Good for gluing things together".
"And it's pretty," Stella said gleefully.
"Didn't those barrier busters use to be a lot more powerful?" Bloom questioned.
"The V7 version has more refined fine tuning of the explosion," Brandon explained. "In this case, I just wanted the lock gone. Alright, enough chit chat. The morphix will dissolve in ten minutes. I suggest we get moving. With luck, we can find another path to the surface".
As the group moved down the underground path, away from the banging at the iron door, the tunnel began changing. Set in the walls were crystals in all the colours of the rainbow, which was reflected on the cavern walls as the light from the flashlight hit them.
"This place is pretty," Aisha said. "I wouldn't mind having a couple of those as decorations for my room".
"I wonder if they would look good incorporated into a dress," Stella pondered.
"If you could get the colours to match for once," Bloom cheekily suggested.
"Right, keep hitting the sore... Can you hear that?" Stella asked.
"Sounds like wind. Or maybe water," Brandon guessed The group exited an opening and found themselves on a rocky shelf above a deep hole.
"Long fall," Sky commented as he looked down over the edge.
"There are more shelves up the sides of the shaft," Brandon said as he pointed with his flashlight. "We could probably use our..."
His suggestion drowned in the snarling of beasts, as two of the turtle-esque monsters made their way towards the group from the tunnel they had just exited.
"Not this again," Bloom groaned as she threw another fireball.
The first of the monsters withdrew its neck into its shell, causing the flames to dissipate harmlessly against it.
The other launched one of their characteristic balls of goop, which sailed over the heads of the group as they ducked.
The first rushed and tried to get to Bloom, but Sky tackled it with his shield. Pressing it against its side at an angle, he managed to tip the beast over with a grunt of exertion, allowing it to be easily dispatched.
The other swayed its head to dodge a blast from Stella, before it rushed towards Brandon, who was standing between it and the blonde. It reared up on its hind-legs and tried to smash Brandon to the ground with its considerable bulk. Brandon adjusted his sword, causing the beast to impale itself, the creature roaring in pain as the blade pierced its shell.
"Alright, got it," Brandon wheezed, the heavy weight of the impaled creature causing his arms to buckle. Suddenly, the stone under him cracked like glass. Before either he or Stella could react, the combined weight of them and the monsters caused the shelf under them to collapse.
"STELLA!" Bloom exclaimed.
"BRANDON!" Sky shouted.
With a scream and a yell, Stella and Brandon tumbled into the darkness below.