Chapter 10 - Searching
Everyone stood about, not quite sure what to say. They couldn't look each other in the eye without turning their heads down.
Eventually Prince Aikka lifted his head up.
'We are not getting anything done this way,' he muttered angrily.
The Jordan he knew stuck his head up as well sadly.
'Well, what are we supposed to do? It is not everyday we find someone and then they disappear!' he answered.
Everyone slowly raised their heads.
'And? We could actually try!' Molly hissed.
'Yeah! What's wrong with a little hope?' Rue asked.
'We need to find out what is going on soon or maybe…' Danny sighed.
They both went to the archway.
'Aren't you coming?' they asked.
Everyone nodded and followed them. Molly quickly went to her room to get something and saw something that caught her eye. She picked it up and then left the Avatar ship and joined the others.
They reached the pond in the central Avatar ship after a few minutes.
They all searched for Canaletto.
No one could find him. They called out for him a few times. There was still no answer from him.
'He likes to keep us waiting, doesn't he?' Rick muttered angrily.
Molly turned the paper over. Her eyes opened wide in shock.
'She changed the picture?' she yelled.
Everyone stared at her. Molly quickly put the paper in her pocket and shrugged as if it meant nothing to them. They still stared.
'What did you say?' Danny asked.
'Nothing,' Molly walked off.
Everyone stood silent for a minute but then went back to their search.
Molly took the picture out and looked at the picture closely.
'Now which place has bars…she watched the whole thing!' Molly shouted in shock.
She hadn't expected it. She then realized that Eva had been destined to see it happen in front of her. Molly scowled and rolled up the paper into a ball. She chucked it behind her.
'Watch or you may hit someone,' a voice told her.
'Leave me alone. If you found out that your friend's fate could have been prevented, you would be angry too,' Molly muttered.
'May I see that?' the voice asked.
Molly shrugged. The figure looked at the picture.
'When was this done?' they asked.
'I don't know. Before it actually happened anyway. She watched all of us argue and moan at each other. She would have been so upset. I can't believe I did that now,' Molly scowled.
The figure was amazed.
'This is a strange talent for a human. Are you sure Ruby did this?' the figure asked curiously.
'She proved it with a few other drawings,' Molly muttered angrily.
She realized she had just done something incredibly stupid. She was about to ask the person to forget about it. She turned around.
'I know you thought I was the Avatar or Satis. You sometimes do not think about other people. I am not too surprised,' the figure smiled weakly.
Molly realized she would need his help too. He may not be as powerful but it was as close as she could get. She wanted so much to happen but she knew it couldn't be possible.
'Help us! We can't find the Avatar anywhere!' Molly begged him.
The figure smiled sadly.
'I know why the Avatar is dodging you. He can't do anything and he is too ashamed to tell you. I will help though. I do not believe it is hopeless,' the figure told Molly.
Molly couldn't believe the Avatar would stay away. She didn't think it was hopeless either. So why did the Avatar know it was no use? Molly knew she had to find out. She looked around but didn't see the Avatar around.
She shrugged and pretended it didn't matter much to her.
'Yeah, I guess I will tell the others that some people don't believe. I hope they will get the message. Thanks for saying you will help us. It sort of means a lot. Do you know where she is?' Molly asked.
'I do not exactly know but the Avatar is avoiding you for that reason. I am not fully sure why, but if you found out, then it would help,' the figure answered.
Molly started walking off and then turned around.
'Why are you even helping us? I mean, what we did today, you shouldn't really be doing this…' Molly muttered.
'It is my universe she came from and they care about her. It would be heartless if I did nothing. They could also let me go back,' the figure sighed.
Molly knew how desperate he must be. He had been forgotten about and didn't even know what the Ultimate Prize was himself. Molly knew she would have probably felt the same way.
The figure turned away.
'Sul! Where is the Avatar?' Molly called out.
The figure turned around.
'I think he is hiding in his chambers. I also think he accidentally said your Aikka knew the way there. He and Molly, or Ruby as you so call her, found it earlier today in fact,' Sul told her.
Molly grinned and almost yelled out a thanks but Sul was already gone. She sighed and ran off to find the others.
She ran so fast, she didn't see Aikka. They bashed into each other. Molly thought it was her Aikka.
She grabbed his shoulders
'Aikka! Please tell me where the Avatar's room is! You were there this morning and you saw him! Tell me!' Molly shook Aikka.
As soon as he got over the shock and had regained control, he pushed Molly away and raised his eyebrow. He pointed to the other Aikka.
'I think you have got us mixed up,' Prince Aikka smiled weakly.
Molly blushed and quickly got up. She turned to her Aikka.
'Uh, did you hear what I just said?' she asked nervously.
Aikka smiled.
'I did. You just saw and crashed into the wrong me. I think I can remember the way there. Just gather everyone, because I may need your help and the Jordan from this universe,' Aikka told her.
'But why…' Molly started to ask.
Prince Aikka had already gathered everyone though. Molly sighed and got her Jordan out of the small crowd.
'Where to?' she asked Aikka sadly.
'The meeting area,' Aikka simply said.
Molly and Jordan quickly glared at him. They knew he had watched them but this was just the final bit of proof they needed. Aikka wasn't bothered by their looks and waited for them to show the way.
Molly shrugged and walked towards the temple. She kicked the circle around and slid down. When everyone was at the bottom, she stared expectantly at Aikka.
'I was hiding at the time. If I will ever be able to find my way back, then I will need you to get me back to your meeting place. Then I may be able to find the room,' Aikka shrugged.
Jordan and Molly groaned but walked there. Aikka looked around and saw the small hiding place.
'This way,' he muttered.
They all walked towards the hiding place. Aikka felt the wall. It didn't move or disappear.
'Is this some kind of joke?' Maya asked angrily.
Aikka checked once more. The wall didn't budge. He then had an idea.
'Everyone lean against the wall,' he said.
Some people weren't too sure but they all leant against the wall. Prince Aikka sighed after a minute.
'This isn't working,' he muttered.
'Patience,' the other Aikka said.
Everyone was just about to get up when they fell backwards. Aikka was prepared for it but everyone else landed in a heap. They all rubbed where they had landed. They saw the wall had gone.
They blinked. It was back and they were on the other side. They saw a staircase and Aikka was at the bottom of it.
'So that is how you got out of here!' Jordan and Molly yelled.
Above, Canaletto heard them. He knew it was no use. He would have to face them sooner or later. He waited for them to arrive. He cast his mind away for a minute to see how things were below in the bird cage of Satis.
Eva crashed onto the floor. She rubbed her arm. It hurt badly but it soon hurt less. It still hurt a lot but so did the rest of her body. She was going to be bruised all over the next day.
'I see you are still not cooperating,' Satis smirked.
Eva slowly got up. She almost fell back down with pain but she managed to get to her feet. Satis had been firing beams at her for ages. It seemed like ages to her. He kept hurting her for the same reason.
'Now will you tell me?' Satis asked.
'I will never tell you! You can't get past me this easily! I'm not turning him in like that!' Eva yelled.
Satis sighed and walked over to Eva. Eva couldn't move out of the way quickly otherwise she would fall to the floor again.
'When will you let your mind slip and let me find out who the Avatar in your universe is?' he asked.
'There is no way a guy like you will ever find out! And to think I used to know the other you and he was sweet. You are the exact opposite of the kind person he was!' she spat at his feet.
Satis didn't seem to care. Eva glared at him. He didn't fire anymore beams at her. He knew that he wasn't going to find out this way.
Canaletto almost destroyed the Avatar ship with rage. He was so angry at how Eva was being treated. He let his anger go down. She was at least alive, that was what mattered.
He saw the others had arrived. He got ready. It was time to explain.