Chapter Eighteen: Trials of Virtue

Stan was sleeping. He only slept if he actually needed the energy, and this time he did.

To his surprise, it appeared he was dreaming. Stan didn't dream often, not counting the dreams that came from the Necomortis. Dreaming, true dreams were rare for the Shadow King.

He was aware of a sort of whitish mist; it swirled at about chest level, obscuring everything below him. He thought he saw something pink, but then it was gone. Before he could speak, someone else did.

"You intend on waking up anytime soon? You have things to do! My death better have been worth it, you stupid Evil being."

"Rosalyn?" He asked in disbelief.

"Stan!"

Stan sat up, opening his eyes, staring at Ari who had just shouted his name.

"Gotta get up." Ari muttered, turning around and shaking Big Bull. They had a brief breakfast before Ari removed the map of the "friendly" Shapeshifters Beiloune had magically drawn up for them.

"Here it is. Let's try Tenel first, near the Big Tree Hole."

"We sure he ain't tricking us?" Big Bull asked.

"He wouldn't put Marlene in danger," Kisling explained.

The friends set off in silence, plugging in the fake disc to activate the Stone Circle. They warped quickly, and then before everyone was even fully there Ari was already walking off.

"Wait up!" Marlene complained, rushing after him. The others quickly followed, and it wasn't long until they all had to jog in order to keep up with the sprinting boy.

"Why's he running so fast?" Stan grumbled, sprinting after his slave.

"That's not fast." Big Bull scoffed, running backwards and keeping pace with Ari.

"Slave! Slow down! Tiring ourselves out isn't going to-"

"Oh shut up and run."A voice snapped close to his ear.

Stan almost tripped over his own feet, and was secretly grateful when Ari finally slowed down since he was probably making Marlene tired, not that Stan cared.

"Did you hear that, Slave?"

"What?" Ari replied.

"That voice." He stared around and saw everyone else was looking at him like he was crazy. He crossed his arms, vanishing into Ari's shadow, just so he could avoid their stares.

This is impossible, that couldn't have been…

"And why not? Now you're hiding? Get up; you guys have some Shapeshifters to get!"

Rosalyn? Stan thought.

"No, it's your dear departed mother. Yes, it's me!"

Stan popped up out of Ari's shadow as they raced along, searching left and right. He thought he caught a glimpse of someone running next to Epros, but when he looked harder nothing was there.

Rosalyn, what are you doing here?!

"Running," came the sarcastic reply.

Are you in my mind or something?

"Of course not, you're still as brain dead as ever, but if I was in there, I'd have a lot of leg room."

Aggravated, Stan fell into a moody silence as Ari and the others came to a halt near the Big Tree Hole.

"Hey, I was here, I don't see nothin'." Big Bull said simply.

"That's because we necessitate Coracinus to do a spell?" Kisling hazarded a guess.

The Shapeshifter blinked his great green eyes, and then he walked forward, still in his preferred crow guise, and spread his wings. Jade runes appeared across his body, glowing brightly before removing themselves from his feathers and plastering themselves to the humongous tree stump in front of them.

It hissed like fire, then, the hole in the side of the stump glowed a bright, blinding blue. Raging like a storm, the blue swirled angrily before calming down.

The crow hopped back onto Epros's shoulder, and they looked at the nexus entryway. Stan stepped out of Ari's shadow, looking at the gate.

Ladies first, Stan thought, wondering if Rosalyn was still around. He was rewarded with a shove from behind, the hands he had felt on his back were warm, unusually so, like embers almost. He thought he heard her laugh.

Deciding to not look foolish, the Evil King strode toward the portal and turned impatiently around. "Are you fools coming?"

A brief pause, then Ari stepped past him and into the maelstrom. The others did the same, and Stan followed last.

There was an uncomfortable period of coldness. It leeched away all the warmth from Stan's skin, and he involuntarily shivered, closing his eyes against the blinding, cold blue. Finally, it peeled away, reluctantly snaking back from his clothes and body to reveal a simple, circular room with grey stones and a single burning torch.

In the depths of the torch a pair of eyes blinked back at the friends before closing and vanishing from sight.

"Where are we?"

Coracinus answered Ari's question. "This is a chamber; the Shapeshifter is hiding here somewhere."

"We mean no harm," Ari raised his voice. "Please, come out."

"I agree we come in peace." Marlene sounded a little sarcastic.

The wind swished past them, then the fire flashed and met the wind near the middle of the room, transforming into an imitation of a cat like creature. It had a long, lean body with a golden pelt, white paws, and chest. The golden fur was dappled with strange swirls of glowing amber, and the creature's eyes were a fiery orange that trailed smoke from its mouth and eyes constantly. It flashed its head around to stare at Ari, standing at the same height as the boy, taking a menacing step forward.

"I am Leontore," the cat meowed in a voice like crackling flames. "What brings you to my lair?"

Stan spotted the disc then, he saw it on a glowing band of lava, hanging like a collar piece.

"We need the disc," Ari began. "Because one of our friends is captured, and we want to save her."

"Impeccable timing. She happens to be captured, at the same time Melas was here not too long ago, looking for me, and the disc?" He sneered.

"Of course," Stan snapped. "He's the one that has her."

"Because of you!" Big Bull growled, glaring at Stan with Epros casting a murderous glance his way.

"Well-"Stan started indignantly.

"Silence!" Leontore leaped forward, stopping unexpectedly in front of Ari. "A Trial! I assign a Trial. You win, you get the disc. You lose, you die!"

"What?" Marlene panicked.

Leontore whirled around, waving a paw and opening a wall to reveal another blue portal. "A test of strength!"

"Me!" Big Bull volunteered excitedly.

Leontore cackled, his breath snapping like embers. "Yes! Come, come with me!" He bounded into the blue portal, with the Bull running excitedly behind him.

"Be careful!" Ari called before the portal snapped shut.

***

Big Bull was really looking forward to this test. He was running so fast he was forced to come back to jog beside the cat, whom looked annoyed at being outrun so easily.

Pausing now in a circular arena, Leontore whirled around and spat a fan of flames in front of him that Big Bull easily dodged.

"We duel, yes, we duel!" The cat sat on his haunches, eyes narrowed in some emotion the Bull couldn't identify. "I will not shift out of this form, so do not fear." He stood up, slinking toward him now, glowing in the gloom of the dark room.

Big Bull cracked his knuckles, chuckling mostly to himself. "I ain't got a problem with bashing kitty skulls!"

With a roar the cat leaped forward, gleaming claws extended to slash the Bull's skin.

…But he wasn't there. Big Bull ran behind Leontore and snatched his tail, hauling him in a long circle before releasing him into the wall.

With a thud the cat hit the wall, slumping limply down to lie on his side with a moan.

Big Bull stalked over, smirking hugely. "Is that all?"

Right as he approached the prone form of the cat, Leontore suddenly snapped his eyes open and leaped up, pushing over the Bull with his body weight and dragged his claws across his chest.

Big Bull bucked, running around, ignoring the pain and instead rammed into the wall. Stunned, the cat stumbled for a moment before leaping clear over his head and slashing his claws at his back.

The claws left searing, burning marks that tore into the Bull's skin. With a wild battle cry Big Bull drew his fist back and let ice gather around it before punching the cat in the side.

Ice blisters formed in the fur that seemed to have trouble melting off. Leontore shot out a burst of fire that Big Bull quickly avoided, and then the cat jumped back before he could punch him again.

Leontore suddenly became invisible.

Puzzled, Big Bull stared around then stumbled as he felt razor sharp fangs sink into his arm. Flexing his muscles, which caused the blood to flow faster; with all of his strength he slammed his arm into the wall.

There was a noise like exploding glass as shards of the rock wall collapsed. With a hiss Leontore reappeared, only to get an ice punch to the face.

Crystals formed rapidly on the cat's muzzle and around his eyes. Claws scraped at the ice but during the momentary pause the Bull delivered a massive, charged up punch.

Leontore flew through the air and landed heavily on his side, ears twitching in annoyance. It was obvious he still had some fight in him, but when Big Bull wearily approached, the cat simply rose to his paws and shook himself.

"Enough. I do not wish to engage myself in a to the death challenge." His voice was calmer now, and so were his eyes.

Big Bull gave a disappointed frown. "Aw, really?"

Waving his tail, the portal reopened. "I'm afraid so. This way."

Stepping into the blistering coldness, Big Bull gave a huge grin.

***

Stan hadn't expected him to win.

Big Bull emerged, bleeding badly in many places but seemingly unaware of the damage.

Marlene stepped forward and started to heal him, and Leontore paced forward toward Ari.

"I have been bested."

"Nah, you had lots of energy still in ya!" Big Bull disagreed.

Flicking his ears, the cat continued, "True, but I do not wish to permanently harm the Bull. He has impressed me as it is." Removing the disc from the band around his neck, Leontore tossed it to Ari. "That disc activates the Stone Circle of Tenel, use it wisely. The wind howls in distress at the Rising Rain clouds, are you for or against it?"

"Against. Like we said earlier, he has our friend, and we have no interest in joining him." Ari said.

A long pause, then the cat dipped his head. "I see. Allow me to help you. Bull, step forward."

Big Bull shrugged, shoving off Marlene as she tried to finish his shoulder, and approached the Shapeshifter.

Leontore raised a paw and sent out a jet of bluish fire that engulfed the Bull entirely. Before anyone could panic, it was over.

"It's like I just got a power boost!" Big Bull said excitedly.

"Fight well, O Strong One." Leontore looked at Coracinus now. "If you plan on fighting Melas, make sure your friends are with you. You are still quite young."

"Of course," he replied, nodding in respect.

Leontore gestured for them to leave, then he leaped into the air, seemingly straight for Ari, but he vanished in a puff of smoke before then.

***

After a brief period of rest, the friends now headed for Madril, and the Stone Circle near it.

"Who has the Highland's disc?"

Stan shrugged. "How the hell do I know?"

"You don't know anything, you stupid Evil King."

Ignoring Rosalyn's jibes, but a little uneasy at the fact that she seemed to be just a little clearer now as she walked a little to the right to him, in her usual position just behind Ari.

No one else saw her, even when Marlene passed right through her to tap Ari on the shoulder.

"I bet Melas has the disc for the Highlands. How boring to have to fight these Shapeshifters."

Coracinus clacked his beak. "It will be necessary to save Linda."

"Of that I quite agree, it's not a matter of secrecy." Epros still sounded faintly irritated, and as far as Stan knew he hadn't put down that card yet.

The Madril Stone Circle was rather desolate looking, but when the friends approached it they noticed a sort of glow around the edges.

"The heck?" Big Bull grumbled.

Stan suddenly noticed Rosalyn was kneeling down around the edges, studying something.

What are you doing, you ghost of a Hero?

When Rosalyn lifted her head, looking straight at him, Stan felt surprised to see her eyes weren't their usual light yellow, but a gleaming silver. "Tell Coracinus to do the spell right here."

"Hey, Shapeshifter!" Stan ordered. The crow bobbed his head up and down in response. "Do your spell thing, right here!"

Coracinus leaped down and performed his spell, red runes appearing in the mess of black feathers on his body before flying around and plastering themselves to the gear door entrance of Madril.

When the gears opened, the runes sliding off like water, they saw a swirling blue portal inside.

"That's just marvelous," Stan complained. "We don't know if this is a friendly Shapeshifter or not."

"Only one way to find out." Rosalyn informed him, walking inside. Not to be outdone, Stan vanished back inside Ari's shadow as the boy and his friends stepped into the twisting energy.

This time Stan didn't feel the cold as they warped, but when he resurfaced he saw a bright, foresty environment with plenty of glowing flowers and bright sunshine. A single blue torch stood out on a tree, and Ari addressed it.

"We come in peace," he joked.

The blue swirled, the wind swished, and a figure appeared out of the gloom. She had blue hair in a ponytail, with dark eyes and pale skin. She was wearing a green dress, and a single butterfly was perched delicately on her finger. She let it go, and addressed them calmly.

"I am Abterqen, Why do you disturb my rest?"

"We got an upstart Evil King to overthrow." Stan snapped. He looked through the forest for Rosalyn, but he didn't see her.

Abterqen nodded. "I see." She reached around her neck and pulled out a necklace on an ivy chain, complete with a red disc. "You want this, correct?"

"Yes, please." Ari spoke up.

"A Trial, will you mind?"

"Of what?" Marlene said uneasily.

"Intelligence."

Kisling, whom had been unnaturally quiet, suddenly grinned that silly, goofy smile that Stan hated. "I judge you are discussing about one solitary individual such as me. I'd be privileged to execute an analysis of astuteness."

Abterqen bowed. "Yes, so you would. Allow me to ask you, then." She looked thoughtful, and then said, "What English word is nine letters long, and can remain an English word at each step as you remove one letter at a time, right down to a single letter. List the letter you remove each time, and the words that result at each step."

"Eh-what?" Big Bull said in confusion.

Stan pulled back in surprise, his shadow form twitching in annoyance at the fact he didn't get it. Ari just stared, looking blank, Marlene had her arms crossed, huffing and grumbling about how useless it would be to know a word like that. Epros looked thoughtful, and Coracinus kept scratching out words in the dirt.

Eventually, all eyes went on Kisling. The professor was thinking hard, still grinning, and obviously enjoying the challenge.

"Ah, I've reached the answer to this quandary. The response is moderately undemanding really, and I might have even addressed a parallel conundrum in my manuscript 'Assessing the tribulations of the human mind'."

"Get on with it," Stan growled.

Kisling nodded, adjusting his coat. "The word is "startling." Remove the "l" and it becomes starting. Then remove the "t" and it is staring. The rest of the changes are as follows: string - sting - sing - sin - in - and finally, I." Looking smug beyond all conceivable measure, the professor grinned triumphantly at Abterqen.

She blinked in surprise, and then bowed. "Truly you are a professor of great cunning. I award you the disc of Madril." She removed the disc and handed it to Ari, then removed a book from somewhere behind her.

Taking the book in surprise, Kisling studied the ancient lexicon and noted the strange letters and runes across it.

"Once you understand it, it will make sense. You will know where and when to use it." The female Shapeshifter said. She paused, and then added, "That book is not for fighting. I hope you will have the knowledge to use it when the time comes."

Kisling and the others thanked her, and then they left.

"Well, you crackpot, you're useful after all." Stan said grudgingly to Kisling, who snickered in response, obviously still pleased.

"One more friendly Shapeshifter," Coracinus told them. "Sargarious. I think he guards Rashelo."

"Let's head over there," Ari replied, reaching for the Watcher's temporary discs, obviously deciding to just warp there instead of walking.

"Maybe you'll actually be useful in this Trial."

Annoyed, Stan looked around and spotted Rosalyn standing next to a tree across from them.

Where were you at, thunder thighs?

Ignoring the comment, the Heroine replied, "What do you care?"

Just then Ari asked, "Stan, are you ready?"

"Eh? Oh. Of course I am, Slave! Get on with it; the landscape ain't gettin' any better!"

***

The waves of the ocean nearby sounded broken and distorted thanks to the wrecked landscape. It annoyed Stan to no end. The torn up environment made it difficult to find a proper place for Coracinus to perform the spell.

Once the glowing blue runes had stuck themselves to the rock beside the Stone Circle like ice, another portal opened and howled into life.

Stan still didn't see Rosalyn as they entered.

The small cavern they emerged in was freezing cold, puffs of frozen breath appearing in front of the friends. Marlene was about to complain but evidently decided to shut her trap.

Which was good, or Stan would have did it for her.

Nothing was there, at first, but they saw what looked like frozen, grey fire in a torch on the wall. The sconce was shaped like a dragon's head, and in a whoosh of wind and ice without Ari having to speak, a polar bear appeared.

It had thick, white fur and massive paws and claws. The eyes appeared to be constantly shedding slow, clear tears. The bear loomed over them all, and Stan was tempted to adjust his size just so he wouldn't be shorter than it.

The bear blinked mournfully, its voice depressed. "My name is Sargarious. What brings you to my lair?"

"Why aren't you in Pospos?" Big Bull interrupted before Ari could speak. The redhead cast an irritated glare at the Bull.

"I was banished from there as punishment, sent to this tropical paradise." Sargarious bowed his head bitterly.

"We're sorry," Coracinus said sympathetically. "But one of our friends is captured. May we have the Stone Circle's disc to rescue her?"

"How many do you have?" The bear moaned, resting his head on his paws in a tired and bored fashion.

"We have…Tawnvele's disc, Abterqen's, and Leontore's." Ari replied.

His constantly weeping eyes soon shed enough tears to cause a frozen waterfall to appear on his muzzle. With a swipe, the bear removed the icicles. He studied it idly before tossing it aside.

"I see. What's left?"

"Yours," Marlene began. "Melas's and Infernose's."

"There's six Stone Circles," Sargarious sounded emotionless. "And seven of us. Coracinus don't have a disc, right?"

When the Black Shapeshifter agreed, the bear gave a bored nod of his head. "Ah. Okay. Tell ya what. Give me a rhyme on the Arctic and I'll let ya have the disc, I don't need the old thing anyway, just doin' my job." He heaved a sigh that sent ice creeping toward them.

Ari looked at Epros. "Sounds like your thing."

For a moment Epros didn't say anything, and then he put away his card, which had begun to freeze over, and pushed a strand of hair from his eyes.

"The Polar Bear never makes his bed;
He sleeps on a cake of ice instead.
He has no blanket, no quilt, no sheet
except the rain and snow and sleet.
He drifts about on a white ice floe
while cold winds howl and blizzards blow
and the temperature drops to forty below.
The Polar Bear never makes his bed;
the blanket he pulls up over his head
is lined with soft and feathery snow.
If ever he rose and turned on the light,
He would find a world of bathtub white,
and icebergs floating through the night."

Sargarious cracked a smile, revealing fangs made out of pure ice. "That's pretty good."

Epros said so low that only Ari and Stan could hear, "That's by a poet named William Jay Smith."

"I don't care if it's by a homeless peasant, as long as that bear likes it." Stan hissed back.

Sargarious snapped off the blue disc and flipped it into Ari's hands. "Be careful," he intoned mournfully, lowering his head again. "Melas is terrible, and Infernose is a great fighter too."

"Can you tell us anything on them?" Coracinus asked. "I've barely met the people."

"Infernose isn't fire, ironically. That's Leontore. Infernose is lightning." The bear said. "Melas is the same as Coracinus, and he should know, he used to work with him."

"We know, he used to." Ari looked at him. "But I still trust him."

Coracinus spread his wings and bowed low. "Thank you." Strangely, the ice had yet to form on his wings.

"Let us depart, swiftly we must, may the Gods help us, our cause is just." Epros turned and floated away, with the others quickly after him.

Sargarious put a massive paw out to touch Ari with a surprising gentleness. "Give the magician this." He dropped a strange, silver card that seemed to be made out of ice. "It's sharp and will never melt, may he add it to his deck."

"Good bye and thank you." Ari said before they left the frozen cave. The outside air was startling warm in comparison, and Ari turned to face the gang.

"We've only got Infernose, and then Melas is next."

"I think we've got a chance at beating him," Coracinus explained. "As long as we take down Infernose."

"Will he not become stronger?" Kisling asked.

"Yes, but so will I. And with the gifts we're getting, we have a decent shot at victory. That book Kisling got might even help us against him."

"Then let us travel to Pospos, it's the only one left, besides the Highlands." Ari sighed. "We've gotta rest first to be in any condition to battle him."

"That's the spirit, Ari."

Everyone jerked in surprise, except Stan who thought he was still the only one who saw her, and as their eyes fell on the spectral form of Rosalyn Ari took a step forward and gasped:

"Rosalyn!"