OMG! I am so sorry I haven't updated in like a gabillion years! Well, now I have a chance to update! Finally! Well, enough of this chitter chatter….let's get on with the show….
Disclaimer: I own everything in this chapter! Thanks for understanding!
We left off: Kichi turned around to find everyone was waiting for her answer.
Amulet of the Generations
"Um, well…..I...…I wasn't really ready for a question like that," Kichi said trying to resist the pull of the crystal ball and managed to get away. The crystal ball closed and so did the book.
"You mean…," Kia said cutting off the steady flow of good conversation.
"Well, did you check that box…ya know, the one sitting in that corner over yonder?" Kichi suggested pointing to the big square lump.
Lotus tried to avoid her saying that because all there was left to look at was a necklace left by her mother.
"A necklace, you say? Did you at least take one examination at it?" Kichi said disappointedly.
Lotus began to stammer, "No, I…I…"
"You do know that that necklace is not like them other necklaces, right?" Kichi said a bit confused.
Lotus tried to answer back, "Um, I thought it was just-"
"What, just a piece of jewelry that makes no difference then all them other necklaces?" Kichi said in such a rage that everyone was silent, "do you know that that necklace is a real piece of work? That necklace is the Amulet of the Generations!! "
Ilani was frozen, "Come again."
"The Amu- of the Whatywhat?" shouted Kia.
"Kichi, is there something I'm not getting here? I mean nothing came with the necklace to inform me that it was the Amulet of the Generations," Lotus said defensively.
"Is there someth- oh dear, that amulet is a special kind of necklace. It contains powers that will protect you from all evils if used properly. That amulet has been passed down from daughter to daughter in your family and you are the next heiress to that amulet. It cannot be passed down to a brother or son for the powers will drain and just return to the rightful owner." Kichi said so passionately that everyone could not help but listen in.
Lotus startled, "The heiress?"
"Why, yes! Open your eyes, love! That amulet left by your mother has such a rare beauty. A beauty no other could posses!" Kichi then stared blankly out the window with furious eyes, "but with every beauty, there is one that seeks its power!"
"You mean someone is after that amulet?" Lotus asked glancing quickly at the box that the amulet was in.
"YES!!!!! The whole world of the Bliss Islands fears him!" Kichi yelled, surprised at her naïve sense of mind. "Some call him the Destroyer, but he goes by the name Sir Jaxler."
Ilani rolled her eyes and said, "OOOO Sir Jaxler!!! Spooky!! Probably a pathetic, sensitive little baby who is scared of spiders and probably makes all his prisoners do all of that stuff that men do that he's too "weak and fragile" to do because he's afraid his hair will come undone or somethin'! PSH! He's probably a little pretty princess that still sucks his thumb!"
Maxus gave a look of disapproval to Ilani, who just shrugged. "Lotus, I don't know…this Jaxler guy and that amulet makes a recipe for a box of serious trouble," he stated watching Lotus approach the box and picking up the amulet.
Lotus placed the amulet around her neck and felt a brief force surround her. When it went away, she fell to the ground.
"LOTUS!!!!!!!!" The other three teens yelled in unison.
"She's okay! That was actually a good sign," Kichi assured.
"A GOOD SIGN THAT THIS SHOULD BE CALLED OFF!!!!!!!" Maxus demanded.
"Maxus, NO! I must do this…this is my future, my…my calling! I can't spend the rest of my life running away from me, that's just not right!" Lotus scowled back getting up from the floor. She walked to the mirror.
Kichi decided to jump in….a little bit delayed, though, "No! A good sign that she is the rightful heiress!"
While all of the commotion was going on, Lotus was staring at the amulet in the mirror. It was a silver tear-drop shaped pendant with a clear diamond in the center, surrounding the diamond were engravings of the 5 elements' symbols in kanji writing.
"It's so beautiful," Lotus said to herself with a fiery gleam in her eyes.
"It is, isn't it?" Kichi whispered back.
Lotus jumped, "Oh, Kichi, I…"
"That diamond you see will help you locate the treasures by changing colors and blinking lights. It will warn you of danger and protect from those evils," Kichi said, "but the only thing it can't protect is itself…and that's where you return the favor and protect it also. Lotus…….this is like your soul!"
"So, technically, I'm fighting for my life and soul?" questioned Lotus.
"Exactly…and without it, well, without it you're really nothing. That world you are going to enter can be fierce, a big challenge….a life threatening challenge. There will be many battles….mostly of mind….," Kichi said truthfully, "Are you up to it?"
Lotus grabbed the pendant and looked up slowly. In her mind she thought…Life-threatening? I can't risk- NO! I MUST! My parents fought their battles….now I will fight mine….with heart….. with soul. "What are we waiting for?" Lotus said with a smile of sheer confidence.
"I knew you would come through," Kichi said placing a hand on Lotus's back. "Well, you pretty much have all that you need…and the islands are very resourceful along with the phenomenal hospitality the people show. They'll help you…so…I think we're pretty much set to go."
Looking of the corners of her eyes, "It's time? You mean-"
"Yes, Lotus! The time is splendid!" demanded Kichi.
Frustrated, Lotus said, "But, how do I get there? I mean there's nothing in the book that-"
"Ever paid attention to the back cover of the book?" Kichi said with no hesitation-a common mistake, no need for fuss.
Lotus gave a look of shock blankness, scratched her head, and swallowed heavily "Ooh, I never…eheh…um….yeah." She grabbed the book in pure embarrassment and flipped it over. "I see a deep carve-in of a tear drop……almost like the pendant…..wait….I-"
"Yes, hold your pendant to the carving and it will transport you there….well, actually, it will bring you to Lapacoast Port," Kichi said in a reverie.
"Lapacoast Port? What's that?" asked Lotus.
"It's the airport of Bliss Islands; it's a few miles away from the actual Islands. If you're lucky, you might be able to catch one of their astounding aerobatic shows. It's quite a show! Hopefully, you'll be able to see one. They do tricks with the airplanes…..oh well, ummmm……so whenever you're ready…we can….yeah." Kichi said realizing her nonstop rambling.
Lotus looked at the rest of them and without a word said, they nodded. Kichi looked at the clock in Lotus's room. "Oh my stars! I'm late! I really must be on my way!"
"Um…Kichi, you do realize that the clock in my room is 3 hours ahead…in fact it doesn't even work. It's really 12 noon….," Lotus said quickly glancing at her watch.
"Really? So it's not 3?" Kichi asked in embarrassment.
"No, Kichi," they all said laughing.
A relieved Kichi said, "Thank goodness, well, since I have to go to the Islands, I think I can accompany you to the port. I'm gonna ask you one more time…..are you ready?"
The four teens all glanced and smiled at each other and nodded at Kichi. Kichi looked back at them adoring their maturity towards the situation and appearance with the new suits she made especially for each and every one of them.
Kia then broke the silence ", Well, then, what are we waiting for?"
Everyone snapped out of a daze. They all did some last minute preparations. Maxus placed his neck shield and biker gloves. Kia ran to the mirror to fix her hair and make sure her makeup was good and in place. Ilani just stood behind her with her arms folded.
"What? You never know if there will be hot guys." Kia said defensively.
Ilani, Kia, and, Maxus met up with Kichi and Lotus, who was holding the Shukumei in her arms. They all put a hand on Lotus's shoulders and closed their eyes.
Lotus looked at Kichi for a sign of reassurance. "Go ahead, Lotus." Kichi finally said.
Lotus placed her amulet's pendant up to the carving. A white beam of light showered over them. In a blink of an eye, they were there. The teens just froze as they stared at the extraordinaire. Nothing was like it was back in Japan. They were in Lapacoast Port, at last.