Sup everybody?
Sorry for taking so ling to update... but with graduation creeping up, it's really eating up my time... :(
Also, I'd like to personally dedicate this chapter to Winddragon Eternal, thanks so much for all the help you've given me with this chap... and thanks for letting me co-write with you!
On with the show, shall we?
Of Good and Of Evil: The Final Stand
Chapter 8 – The Blessings of Earth and Nature
The youngest two chipmunks were calm as they floated within the void of space. The gentle golden breeze and the strong silver bolt of lightning brought feelings of nostalgia to them, bringing them to a state of calm that infants would usually feel when they're with someone familiar to them.
Their orbs, like Brittany's and Jeanette's, had already merged into one gargantuan orb before they made contact with it. This time, the combined orb looked entirely similar to the Earth, only much greener, the leaves of the trees spreading out wildly, covering the entire circumference of the sphere, while Earthly formations began to form within every nook and cranny the trees would leave. Their eyes grew wide as their hearts filled with worry, wondering what will happen when they enter such a strange and unknown "thing".
"I'm so scared, Teddy…" Eleanor mumbled, ringing her arms around Theodore's neck as they neared it. Large formations of mountain ranges spiked around the orb, with vines stretching so wide that they were already floating into space as they continued to float drudgingly close.
Theodore felt as though his heart would burst from his chest, but for the sake of his beloved Eleanor, he decided not to show it. He would be brave, he told himself, even if the fears and challenges ahead were very likely to kill them both.
With fear covering them, a sudden gust of golden winds and a silvery glitters encircled them, giving them a nostalgic sense of comfort; they felt as if they were bring "hugged" by these things. They felt so…familiar…so… warm…
'Paz,pequeninos,nenhum malviráparavocê...estamosaquiagora...'two familiar voices called out to them, making them gasp in shock as the sound rang in their ears.
"W-who was t-that?" Eleanor asked, tears trickling down her eyes as she tightened her grip on Theodore. Theodore was totally speechless; he hadn't a clue either on who the voices were, or how they were familiar to him. A violent wind suddenly swept them across space, and the sudden pull of gravity dragged the two youngest chipmunks to the sprouting orb, tossing and turning them as its pull became stronger.
Eleanor was completely taken aback as she gripped her claws tightly on Theodore's right arm, almost to the point of ripping it off. Theodore didn't mind, he was far too scared out of his wits to even notice!
"Whoa!" They both screamed as they entered the orb, which lit up bright green once they made contact.
The two then suddenly felt warmth suddenly encase them, wrapping them in a tight, comforting hug.
(I suggest you listen to "If Everyone Cared" by Nickelback before continuing. It'll help… =))
They suddenly saw images of silver and gold, and the piano and guitar playing in the background. The youngest two chipmunks then opened their eyes and saw a grand hallway. Like their siblings, there were thrones at the end of the hall, where two older, armor-clad chipmunks awaited them.
The older chipmunks seemed to be discussing amongst themselves, whispering things in sing-song tune. Curious, Theodore and Eleanor slowly approached them, keeping their breaths steady, when suddenly, the ground beneath them cracked, and the two fell into a deep pit, screaming at the top of their lungs as the light left their eyes.
"Theo!" Eleanor screamed, extending her paw to Theodore.
"I gotcha Ellie!" He screamed back, grabbing her paw with his and wrapped her in a loving hug.
As they fell, images of a war erupted into their minds. They could hear the screams of the women and children, the clanging of metal blades and blasts of explosions echoing through the air. They tried to cover their ears in futile resistance, but the horrible sounds continue; bringing them to tears as fear began to tear into their very souls.
They then saw a familiar silver-clad chipmunk; limping slowly across a barren plain, his left hand gripping tightly over his right shoulder, preventing it from bleeding. He then began mumbling as he passed the two chipmunks.
"A-Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive…
A-Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive…"
Twice did he repeat himself, and he looked directly at Theodore, their eyes meeting like dagger tips at each other. Theodore immediately gasped when he looked at the chipmunk's face and eyes. Silver robe, crispy brown fur, hazel brown eyes… it can't be, can it?
"M-Max?" Theodore mumbled, hoping his call would be answered.
The chipmunk in front of them then suddenly vanished, with only a soft 'sigh' left from his disappearance, causing little Theodore to panic.
"No, Max! Don't go!" He cried to the wind, causing warm tears to stain his walnut brown fur; Eleanor acting quickly to comfort him.
"Shh, it's okay, Teddy…" she cooed into his ear, "I'm here… I'm here…"
The couple then saw more images of the barren plain they were in.
Everywhere they looked they saw people crying out for help, with flames of darkness and high pitched screams echoing throughout the plains; blood splattering across the field, forcing the two chipmunks to wrap their arms around each other in a hug, as their faces turned pale while they shivered in total fear.
"W-what's going on?" Eleanor asked between her tears. She couldn't take it anymore; she just didn't have the heart to see anymore suffering, anymore pain… she wanted it all to end.
'P-please… stop these images…' she screamed in her thoughts, resting her head on Theodore's shoulder.
A sudden eclipse in the sky made the two jump, as they saw that the desert had turned a dark red, and everything around them had frozen in time; their actions totally ceasing.
They then heard the sound of clanging footsteps from behind them, making them freeze in fearful anticipation as they turned back to see the very same silver-clad chipmunk; this time, fully recovered and standing proud, but, he was not alone. Beside him came a golden-clad chipette; her armored dress chiming with her steps. Eleanor's eyes widened in shock as she studied the chipette in front of her; Gold dress, emerald green eyes, blond fur…? No, it's impossible…
"C-Christie?" Eleanor uttered, with her eyes not leaving the chipette's as the sky began to darken, and stars formed in the sky.
The silver clad chipmunk then began singing, singing along with the music that echoed their minds.
"And as we lie beneath the stars,
we realize how small we are,
if they could love,
like you and me, imagine what the world might be."
The two chipmunks then turned around and pointed ahead of them, and a bright emerald green light shimmered through the desert plain. They then looked back at the younger two, giving them loving smiles before vanishing; the chipmunk turning into a silver bolt of lightning, and the chipette turned into a bright golden gust of wind. A silent whisper echoed as they vanished.
"We'd see the day… when nobody died…"
Silence.
The bright green light had turned into a portal and, curious, the two green-clad chipmunks walked into it, and once more they arrived at the hallway where they started. This time, they managed to gain a better look of their surroundings.
All over the walls and flooring, there were vines and greens sprouting from every nook and cranny of the hallway, like some ancient Mayan temple of some sort. There was a dense forest of small trees that acted as pillars on the left side of the hall, while pillars made of brimstone stood on the right. Like the others, there was a long carpet at the center of the hall and, at the end; two thrones and two chipmunks would await them.
Seeing the thrones made the two chipmunks downright nervous! They gulped as they took small, slow strides toward the two chipmunks that sat on the thrones. When they were close enough, they saw that the two chipmunks had soft, bright smiles on them, giggling and chuckling at the younger two's shocked expression on their faces.
"Oh my…" the chipette on the right throne giggled, covering her mouth to try and conceal her laughter. "I see that they went a little overboard with their 'presentation'…"
The chipette had soft honey coloured fur, and short hair that was tied in a ponytail. She had brown eyes with small flecks of green in them. She was generally tall (for Theodore and Eleanor anyway), standing at Brittany's height and having almost the same body. She was clad in an almond brown armored suit, but unlike other female warriors, she wore a robe made entirely of leaves and peacock feathers, resembling somewhat of a dress.
"Look, we're sorry for scaring you two like that, but it was kinda necessary… especially since you two are going to succeed us," she nodded respectfully at them.
The green-clad couple only exchanged confused looks as they looked with awe at the armor-clad chipmunks.
"Um, I'm sorry…" Theodore mumbled, "But we don't know what you mean…"
"Forgive us…" the chipmunk smiled, standing and walking toward them. "We were supposed to explain things before we tell you about you succeeding us, right Amanda?"
Amanda sighed in disbelief as she slapped her palm on her forehead.
"You really have no sense of fun, don't cha CJ?" She asked, clearly annoyed.
CJ was as tall as Simon, clad in a bright amethyst violet jacket and midnight black pants. His calm demeanor bringing out a halo on his black hair and dark fur; the white stripe on the back of his fur giving him a dark appearance; that, and his silvery gray eyes.
"I simply wish to finish our business without scaring the heck out of them…" he replied calmly.
"But where's the fun in that?"
"There is clearly no reason for you to -"
They were going to continue when a small cough from Eleanor interrupted them, causing the two to stop in their tracks.
"Anyway, we should be getting back to business," muttered Amanda apologetically, keeping her hands behind her back in an authoritative manner. "Since you're the smart one, CJ, why don't you tell them?"
"I'd be more than happy to," smiled CJ as he placed a paw on both Theodore and Eleanor's shoulders.
"Theo, Elie," he began as softly as he could, "you stand before us because you have been summoned here by the call of your siblings, Max and Christie."
"You mean, they're still alive?" Theo's green eyes widened with hope.
"Yes they are, and still fighting strong," beamed Amanda.
Eleanor didn't say anything, but her eyes were filling fast with tears as she pulled Theodore into another hug. "Oh Theo, I'm so happy! Our Max and Christie! Alvin was right; they're alright!"
Theodore was just as overjoyed as she was, but something else snapped to his mind. "But if they're doing fine, then why do they need us?"
"Because, my young chipmunks, you have been called to undertake a task that very few have the privilege to be a part of," replied CJ. "Your destinies lie ahead of you, and only you can fulfil them yourselves."
"There is a battle coming, a storm that is raging slowly across the horizon," said Amanda, her voice drifting away as though she was lost in a dream. "And when it hits us, we have to face it with all of our strength. But, CJ and I are not strong enough."
"Which is why we've turned to the two of you, Theodore Seville and Eleanor Miller…" CJ spread his arms out wide as he motioned with his head to the two thrones awaiting them. "I hereby grant you the powers of Father Earth and Mother Nature, to be wielded at your grand disposal."
"But why us?" asked Theodore, clearly still confused with taking in all the sudden information.
"Theodore, you are truly a perfect example of the earth type," CJ told the green-clad chipmunk. "On the outside, you appear to be gentle and somewhat fragile, like the grains of sand. But deep inside, your heart is as strong as a mountain, and you will let nothing tear you down, no matter how strong the challenge is."
Eleanor put an arm around Theodore, attempting to sooth him with just the comfort of her touch, when Amanda addressed her.
"I'm beginning to like you already, Eleanor," said Amanda. "Like the gentle touch of Mother Nature, you learn to become one with everything. Your love and care for all living things, big and small, brings out the best in everybody, and there is no one else who deserves to wield the powers of Nature as benevolent as you."
The two elder chipmunks then joined arms together, chanting a series of foreign words…
"Innominelucis…tibibenedicimus…naturae vires…etterram…"
When they had finished speaking, two orbs engulfed both Theodore and Eleanor; both were green, but Theo's was a shade darker.
CJ and Amanda's voices resonated as one.
"Let the ceremony of your enlightenment begin..."
Immediately, the two chipmunks felt as though they were being pulled apart by an overwhelming force. The ground shook and crumbled beneath them all like the force of an earthquake. Eleanor watched in horror as Theodore was pulled down by the ground's gravitational pull.
"Teddy!" sobbed Eleanor as she watched him being swallowed up by the very earth.
"Be strong, fellow chipmunks," CJ's voice rang clear. "Be strong."
Before the rubble of sand and dirt covered him completely, Theo reached out his paw in a desperate attempt. "I love you, Ellie!"
Now he was being engulfed in a wall of sand, which slowly began to form a suit of armor around his body. As the sands made its way up to his face, the green-clad chipmunk started to panic. He couldn't breathe!
The sand armor began to harden, turning into a more solid-like shape as it fuelled Theodore's body with newfound strength. He could feel his veins throbbing like crazy, but he couldn't see that they were glowing from within, changing rapidly from earth-like brown to forest green hues.
Eleanor fell to her knees and burst into wreckful sobs, her heart filled with dread. For a while, she feared that this would be the last time she would ever see Theodore again.
Then the earth shook violently once more, and Eleanor stumbled, before getting back quickly onto her feet. Could it be, she wondered with a wild sense of hope, that her beloved Teddy had survived his terrible ordeal?
Instead of the usual tendrils that had bound the other chipmunks, vines with leaves shot up from the ground and begin to wrap around Eleanor's body, constricting her tightly like a python does to its prey before lifting her into the air. Sunlight shone through the vines and into her soul, and no matter how much Eleanor wanted to scream, she felt as though there was a new life being planted inside of her. She felt like a seed, ready to burst into bloom, thanks to the light of the sun that fuelled her with energy, turning her veins a light green like chlorophyll.
The last thing she remembered before her world became blank was that the vines had lowered her gently back on solid ground once more. But in that blink of a second, she had never recalled feeling so much alive than ever before.
As the last of consciousness left Eleanor, the ground opened up to reveal a sleeping Theodore, now covered in a faint layer of dirt, but nonetheless in one piece.
CJ and Amanda watched over them like a pair of sentinels as the brightly-colored auras of the younger chipmunks slowly dimmed down into their souls, leaving behind nothing but the essence of green from their clothes.
"Perhaps we should let them rest for a while," said Amanda, looking fearful. "The initiation process must've have taken a huge toll on them."
"They are young, but all the more, they will survive the destinies that lie ahead of them," said CJ, sounding very sure of himself. "Now come," he said, taking Amanda by the hand. "We will return to them once they've regained their strength."
They called on their willpowers and disappeared in a blazing light.
For right now, they had more pressing matters to attend to...
Meanwhile, deep within their silent slumber, the two youngest chipmunks were pulled into another deep void of space. Their bodies feeling so… empty after the recent acceptance of their powers. A silent brush of a nostalgic presence on their cheeks had awoken them, causing them to slowly open their eyes. It was blurry; everything was out of focus… out of sync…
"You have no idea how proud we are of you two…" said a familiar voice. The youngest two then felt something warm and caring kiss their foreheads, wrapping them in a familiar embrace.
This seemed familiar to the both of them! They remember they'd feel a hug like this when they were scared during stormy nights. Theodore and Eleanor would run to Max's and Christie's room, jump into their beds, and snuggle tightly next to their respective eldest sibling. Max and Christie would always welcome them with welcome arms, cuddling next to them and kissing their foreheads, telling them "it's okay, we're here now…"
It's here now… the same love… they're feeling it again! After an entire year of sorrow, grief, and misery, right here, right now, they can feel their eldest siblings with them.
"Shh… it's okay, we're here now…" another called out, this time coming from a warm, more feminine voice. Golden flashes surrounded Eleanor while silver sparks began encircling Theodore, and the two outstretched their paws to the void; their eyes now wide awake and open, seeing the gold and silver that had given them the same nostalgic warmth a while ago.
"Max…" Theodore called out, barely above a whisper as tears began forming in his eyes.
"C-Christie…" Eleanor cried as well, tears already leaking from her eyes.
And, without another word uttered, Max and Christie appeared in front of them, shimmering in their metallic auras as they wrapped their arms around their youngest siblings.
"Good job, you two…" Christie whispered.
"Go ahead and sleep… you deserve it…" Max continued, smiling.
The two felt complete once more. They were a whole family now. Their happiness made them grow weary, and they silently returned to their well deserved slumber.
The walls of the void that surrounded them began to crack, and in front of the four chipmunks was a large Earth-like planet. The planet orbited around a bright red sun, and with it were three other planets, two of which were pitch black with smoke and magma spurting out of the surface.
The two shared silent sighs as they drifted toward the Earth-like planet.
"That makes all three of them, baby…" Christie mumbled, pouting. Max put a finger on her chin, making her look up to him, meeting his lips in the process.
"I know, babe…" He replied with a serene smile, "Antimony may not be Earth, but I hope they learn to get used to it… we don't have time to dilly-dally anymore. It's now or never…"
They slowly continued to slowly drift toward Antimony, where stormy clouds began forming around the two dark planets, and maniacal laughter polluting the air.
And... CUT!
That makes all three pairings down and blessed with their powers!
Now, what awaits our heroes when they plunge into the world of Antimony? I dunno, I haven't written it yet... XDD
Reviews much appreciated... ;)
"Living it my way..."
~Periosha