Abbey stepped through the threshold of the chamber. The treasure vault was lined with a series of blue lights, through which sunlight streamed in. Abbey padded into the darkness of the vault, looking closely at what treasures lay within, studying each one for some familiar feeling.
A variety of coins, chests, and rings were clumped in the corners of the room. "Come on, I know you are around here somewhere…" As she pawed at a pile, a shimmer of silver caught her eye. She made her way to it. As she uncovered it, a wave of memories surfaced. A city of stone, standing proud and tall, stood before her eyes.
"What the? Where am I? Is this…" She looked around at the bustling street. There were so many people. Had she been teleported outside? No, the clothing the people wore was far different from those of the visitors. And the buildings were intact, with monuments of art placed around the place. The grass and various plants of the city were well managed.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the crowd dispersed to the sides of the road. A palanquin, with four carriers, made their way down the street. The palanquin was a vivid red, with gold trim, and a faint blue cloth draped between the roof and steps, shielding the occupant from view.
Abbey quickly stepped off to the side to avoid being stepped on by the carriers. The drapery shifted a bit as something poked its head out. The small, cat-like creature glanced out at the crowd. It's big, blue eyes connected with Abbey's for a brief moment. Time seemed to slow, and the city around them silenced, as a sense of familiarity washed over her.
She watched as the palanquin strode past as it seemed to pick up speed, and the murmurs of people returned. The palanquin rounded a corner, and Abbey gasped in realization, yelling, "Hey, wait!" as she dashed into the street.
The palanquin passed beneath a large gateway as Abbey reached the corner. She made a mad dash towards the palanquin and slipped through the gateway as the guards began to close the gate behind her.
The tall walls of the royal quarter blocked the sounds of the city, leaving a vast open courtyard with nary a spot of green at the front.
The occupant within the palanquin began to speak. Her voice was soft and caring, yet firm. Abbey had to get closer so she could hear what was being said. "-is running out. But don't worry, my dear, you will be find without me. You have been with us for so long." The woman inside, likely the queen of the city, was petting the mew as he lay on her lap, looking up at her worriedly, "You know far more about my lineage, and of the city than anyone ever will. Just remember, even though I may die, I will always be with you. And no matter what may happen, be sure to live your life to the fullest, and be happy, even if the places you roamed are no more."
Abbey stepped up to the palanquin as it was carefully placed on the ground at the steps of the castle. Abbey took a step onto the palanquin, attempting to get a better look at the mew, but recoiled when her paw fell through the wooden step.
Around her, the city began to fade. "No! No! Don't disappear! Show me more!" She prodded the pendant again, trying to bring back the vision. When her pawing failed, she looked around. She was back in the treasure vault, surrounded by small piles of coins and rings. These were the royal belongings of the ruling family.
Slipping the pendant around her neck, the lioness emerged from the treasure vault. The room beyond hadn't changed. The Unown were still collapsed on the floor, and the Sigilyph lay defeated just before the vault's doors. Off to the side, Sarah and Vigil stood together, talking.
Abbey frowned, "Hey, you two, let's go." They looked up.
"Was it there? The thing you were looking for?" Sarah inquired, climbing on Vigil's back as he lifted into the air.
Abbey paused before answering, "Yes. It was." She began to walk back into the hallway.
"So we can go now? Vigil kept his side of the deal, and I'm still breathing."
"Yeah, do what you want. I'm finding my way out of here." Abbey's steps faltered as she stepped into a different hallway, her face hidden from them. Vigil and Sarah paused to watch her for a moment before setting down the hallway they had come from.
They pair traveled in silence as Vigil carried the mouse down familiar passages. Sarah adjusted her position on the giant moth. "Something was wrong with her. I can feel it. Something happened in the vault, Vigil."
Vigil kept his eyes on his path as he swept into the narrow passage of the crevasse. "Did not notice. She got what she came for."
"Yeah, that shiny silver pendant. She seemed to have grown attached to it very quickly. She seemed a bit emotional And that's saying a lot for a cat who was always hostile." She glanced at Vigil, catching the depths beneath them. "And here I am, trying not to look down. Vigil, don't let me fall."
"Keep a grip on me. You won't fall." The pair flew higher and higher, and soon could see a faint light in the distance. "There is the light. We are close to the passageway."
"Yeah, I see it. Just a little higher. There." Sarah tapped Vigil in the direction of the passageway. A passage on both sides loomed into the darkness. This was the spot where Vigil nearly was blown away. But now that he was a giant moth, the winds hardly affected him.
Vigil set down the passageway, with the eerie light to his left. "New eyes. I now appreciate the world around me. I can see like everything else, now." He rose up to perch on a building. Just below, only half a day before, the trio had been walking. Just half a day ago, they walked this path, with Sarah in great pain, and Vigil being forced to cooperate with the lioness' demands.
The city now lay before them. Massive beams of light shone through the cave ceiling as it illuminated the city. There was not a ghost in sight. For once, the forgotten city was serene, peaceful, empty.
"We are almost free, Vigil." Sarah commented in a calmed voice.
"Anything you needed before we leave?" Vigil inquired.
"No…" Sarah replied. "I wound up here by accident. I'm ready to leave." Vigil nodded, and took to the air.
Vigil flapped towards the massive pillars of light. The duo entered one, letting the sunlight slip across their bodies. Carefully, Vigil raised them upwards, towards the ceiling of the cave. The warmth soaked into them, as Sarah laid her head upon Vigil's back and sighed in content.
It seemed almost impossible, and joy swept over them as the earthy walls of the massive hole stood around them. The vegetation sank into their sight, as they rose higher. With the final flaps of Vigil's new wings, the pair rose, and emerged from the ruins, free of its grasp.
The sun beamed down upon them from above, and a light wind coursed through the air, as a vast forest stretched beneath them, rolling down the mountain, and into the distance.
Vigil glided on the currents, around the mountain, watching as the ruins entrance slipped into view. Crowds of people bustled below, unimportant to their flight of freedom high above. The world below was unimportant, and insignificant.
They drifted on the wind, free of their earthly burdens, and free of the shadow that loomed within the ruins. Vigil glanced back at the yellow mouse that slept content upon his back. He would take her to a medical facility, just as he had been in the past, but with the warm summer breeze, and the lake pulling into sight, he decided that he would let her stay, if just for the moment. They were carefree for the first time in their lives, and it was good.