Part 3: Castle of Guilt

Chapter 11: Prophecy

Date: May 5th 2042

I stared in pure shock at the sight before me. A small town was settled in the middle of two mountains. I glanced to Carly, who was on my shoulder, and faintly smiled. She flapped her wings in joy and gave a happy screech.

"A town! Finally, something decent to eat!"

"What's wrong with my cooking…?"

"Nothing! It's just… I guess it is just old news now."

"Oh, gee, thanks."

"Anytime!"

I gave a sigh as I began to walk into the town.

It wasn't really a town, so much as a group of houses crammed together. The flowers around her beautiful neon colors and gave a sweet aroma. I glanced to my left and noticed an elderly woman picking fruit and placing it in a basket.

"Uh… excuse me…?" I said as I lightly tapped her shoulder.

She glanced up at me with a face of pure shock at first then frowned.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"I was wondering… where am I?"

"This is the Town of the Blades."

Carly frowned. "Town of the Blades?"

The old lady nodded. "The Town of the Blades is home to the Blade Temple, where The Prophecy is kept. Unfortunately, outsiders are forbidden."

"Is there anyway I could see or hear this 'prophecy'?"

"No. You could talk to our elder though. He lives in the tallest house, naturally." I nodded and smiled.

"Thank you." I turned and walked away. I frowned to myself as I thought she stared at my swords.

I opened the door with a slight creak and slowly stepped in.

"Hello?"

"I will be with you in a sec lad. Let me finish tightening this screw… ah there we go, friend. I'll be down in a minute!"

I frowned and faintly smirked to Carly as she yawned and lay on my head, lightly digging her claws into my scalp.

"Sorry about that… I have been working on-"

Everything else in the world stopped as the old man came down the stairs. I stared in utter shock and felt like I was going to drop on the ground. Why did I feel this way…?

The man wore circular glasses and had laugh lines that were easily noted. He wore a lap coat with pens and pencils sticking out of the pockets. His hair was grayer than mine, but it was still rather white. He paused as he saw me, frowned for a second and smiled again.

"Pleasure meeting you. I must say, you are rather young to be adventuring the world." He shook my hand with a calloused grip. "Though my son was adventuring the world around age 12!" He gave a laugh. "Oh, excuse my poor manners! Come, come, make yourself at home. I'll have my robot feed you and give you something to eat. Why, you must be famished!"

"N-No not really-" I said as he lightly shoved my back and into a chair. Before I could say any more a robot came in with a cup of water and forced to into my hand. I frowned and glanced to Carly, who had awoke during his shoving. She looked around and sat on the chairs armrest, blinking up at the man.

"I am Julien." He said as he smiled at Carly petting her. I stared wide eyed.

"J-Julien!?" I shouted. He widened his eyes as though he made a mistake and stepped back. "I thought you-"

"Suffered a heart injury and died, yes, that's what everyone thinks." I frowned and tried to speak but I couldn't find the words. "I only needed time to cooperate when my son, Zane died from that blasted-"

"Guilt?" I said as I stared into Julien's eyes.

"No." He said frowning. "That blasted Sensei, Wu."

I frowned. Mom never mentioned a sensei named Wu. "Excuse me.. Julien… is mo- er… Asuna your daughter…?"

"Yes… do you know her…?"

"Heh, yeah… little bit… she's my mom."

"So you're little Frost Garmadon!" He exclaimed. I nodded. He frowned and glared at my swords. "You're not going to Guilt's Castle… are you?"

I nodded. "Yeah… he got mom and dad… and Milla… and her parents… I have to save them."

Julien growled lightly then glanced into my eyes. He formed a small smile then grabbed my wrist, pulling me from the house and into the open world. Carly struggled to keep up with his swift pace.

When he stopped we were standing in front of a tall temple. I frowned and he continued to pull me inside.

I stared in awe and utter shock around me. The temple around me seemed to be made of pure marble. It resembled a church, with the multiple rows of benches and an alter at the end of the rows. The alter was strange, and seemed to have a statue of a young boy, holding two swords, ready to attack an unseen enemy.

The statue wore a long white over coat just like mine, with the same dragon on the back. He wore everything I had, but the lack of colors made me wonder if I was wearing the clothes depicted. However, his hair was short and spiked down his neck and nearly over his eyes. His face was soft, and young, yet serious and mature.

I gasped as I saw the swords in his hands. Frost Bite and Guilty Blade…

"Is… this me?" I stuttered as I stared into the statues eyes.

Julien nodded. "Mmmhmm." He hummed. "Yup. The prophecy is written in the language of our ancient ancestors, though… Zane could reach it, since I programmed it into him… I forgot it over the long years."

"So you and the villagers do not even know what it says!?" Carly shouted. I blinked twice and stared into his eyes. He nodded faintly.

I looked to my side and gasped as I saw Uncle Zane step out from behind a pillar. He still had his wings and halo. He silently walked over to me and looked at the statue, then looked up to the prophecy with a smile.

I repeated what Zane said to Julien.

"Fore once the Nephew of Ice discovers his destiny, his loved ones shall disappear. Fore once he finds love, shall she disappear and strive him to his goal. Fore once he discovers his swords potential shall he stand a chance against the darkness. And fore once he finds his potential will he truly win the battle, and complete what his uncle began…."

Julien stared at me in utter shock. "You truly are Zane's nephew aren't you!" he said with a chuckle, lightly smacking my arm. I gave a small smile and looked over to Carly, who purred as she sat next to the statue of 'me'.

"I knew that I liked him. So you're the future hero of the world? Sweet." Carly said as she licked one of her short paws. I gave a short laugh and lightly pat her soft head. She gave a loud purr and rubbed her face on my gloved hand. Julien gave a chuckle and walked to the nearest bench, sitting down and staring up at my eyes. I turned and stared back. I slowly stopped petting Carly, so she crawled up my arm to my shoulder. I followed Julien and sat next to him.

"I… am sorry… do not worry… I will save everyone, and keep the peace that your son tried to keep."

Julien gave a short smile and nodded his head. I smiled and stood.

"Well, the prophecy said 'Fore once the Nephew of Ice discovers his destiny, his loved ones shall disappear.' That would be mom and dad… so that's already happened. So has 'Fore once he finds love, shall she disappear and strive him to his goal.' Which means I have to discover my swords' potential." I said as I helped him to his feet.

"So you have to find out how strong they are?" Julien frowned.

I shook my head.

"I do not think this is a manner of strength. Before my parents were taken I had a dream… and the… person… in the dream said that he gave me Frost Bite, and that it was not just a sword. Maybe that's what I have to discover… what it truly is."

Julien laughed. "You are so much like Zane!"

I looked to Carly.

"Am I really?" I whispered.

"I don't know. Do you want to be?" Carly whispered back as she climbed to my head.

I looked to my feet. Do I? I thought to myself, lightly frowning.

"How am I like my Uncle?" I asked as Julien stood. We walked towards the door. We stopped as he put a hand on the door. "You are smart, and know what to do before anyone else. That is a quality I designed Zane to have, along with your Do-gooder attitude to put others ahead of yourself."

"Oh."

He smiled and opened the door, stepping ahead of me and into the sunlight. Carly smiled and flapped over to him and screeched with happiness and she flapped around his head. I stayed in the shadow of the temple, staring at my feet.

Julien is wrong... I didn't think about the people of this village when I came… If Guilt knew I was here, and found my long-lost Grandfather…

I squeezed shut my eyes and made fists.

I thought only about getting Uncle Zane's revenge. I never thought about what Guilt would do to these innocent people… I have to make it look like I do not care about them… including Carly…

I took a deep breath to relax lightly before stepping down the steps and onto the dirt path. I began to walk to my next destination.

"Frost?" Julien asked as he stared at me. "Come, take a rest. You must be exhausted!"

I bit my lip and made fists.

"No. I am not a child. I am stronger than you take me for."

Julien stepped back. "What? I was simply-"

"Being a no good do-gooder. I don't care for people like that. They are only slow, and would get in my way of my revenge on Guilt. If you say I am like Zane, then I guess that you must be disappointed in him, as you are to me."

I said as I continued. I heard Carly flap her wings to follow me.

"That includes you, you brainless bird!" I snarled. She yelped as I swung my fist towards her.

"B-But Frost!" She shouted, landing on the ground safely, tears in her soft red eyes.

I simply continued walking, not noticing the tear stream from my eye as Julien shouted something to me.

You are no Grandson of mine!