New chapter *Writer Mode Activate* Woot Woot. BTW I changed the summary a bit. Please don't hate.

Alex-Kurotani,
That sounds freaking amazing lol XD. Sadly I'm not allowed to dye my hair anymore *crying sad face*. That's good. And I can't wait to write a chapter ;)... please don't report me XD.

Tessera,
Thanks lol. I plan to keep writing this story for a while. And as for the other immortals; I figured that Skips had to learn to be immortal somewhere. Hope you enjoy this and future chapters.

People fear what they do not understand.
-Unknown

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
-Confucius

I have feelings too. I am still human. All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent.
-Marilyn Monroe

Strength was the virtue of paganism; obedience is the virtue of Christianity.
-David Hare

AUTHOR'S POV

Egon was pressed into the corner of the alleyway by some unknown force. He had been walking alone, despite his mother's protests, to go to his wife and child's grave when suddently he was pushed into the dark alley. He couldn't see anyone or thing besides the wooden cart that now blocked the only exit .

A cloud a white smoke and glitter sprung up from the disgusting stone floor. Within seconds it faded, leaving the well-known immortal Kenyangi.

"Spider prince, we must speak immediately. You are aware that your father sent the outlanders to their possible demise, correct?" Kenyangi asked, her eyes glowing as bright as the river.

Egon regained his normal relaxed atmosphere when he saw that it was just Kenyangi, not some other immortal. Would he ever admit that Kenyangi was the only one that did not frighten him? No, he was a prince, he needed to seem fearless for his subjects and ancestors. "I will admit it was a thought. My father has my support, he has made grave sacrifices before yet the kingdom still stands today."

Kenyangi sighed. "Do you know what will happen if they die?"

Egon shrugged. "No. Enlighten me, do they get a funeral? Bound in the cave with Scar?"

"Do you believe in destiny or, as you once put it, Fate's predictions?"

Egon laughed bitterly. "Fate is just another immortal that rules over my father. Why should I believe what she believes will happen? She could very well be pulling the stings in her favor or we could all just be puppets that she uses to amuse the other immortals. The raven and the blue jay, for instance, I could practically smell a love spell or was it a tragic ending? I can never remember."

"The prophecy of the realms rests in the hands of the raven and her company. We all are just a piece in the puzzle of life, she will need all the help she can get to unravel the future in store for us all, including your beloved Summerbarrow." Kenyangi stated.

Egon scoffed. "My kingdom has been through worse, I swear."

"Truly? Then how is it still standing?"

"Goddess, you are dancing on my last nerve and I believe you have overstayed your welcome."

"I will take my leave then, my prince. Just think of what I've said." Kenyangi pivoted and summoned her glittery cloud. "If you so not wish to do it for your kingdom, do it for the wife and child you lost when Scar attacked. If you do not align yourself with the immortals, Summerbarrow shall perish. Would they want that?" Kenyangi stepped into the cloud, leaving the young prince to weigh out his options.

"Why must the immortals meddle in the affairs of the Summerbarrowians?" Egon cried out, sinking to the ground and letting his thoughts torment him to what he thought was the brink of insanity.

The river's glow lit the path in front of Hope. Hope hadn't slept a wink that night, she was up thinking about how to deal with Scar and not upset Kenyangi.

'Kenyangi has been my protector since I was sucked into this realm, if not before that, I at least owe it to her to not slay her only living brother.' Hope thought, continuing on her way. Hope was drained after walking for the whole night, taking a break once in her journey to snack on stale bread and some walnuts. Her eyes were glazed, her mind hazy, her feet sore, and her feathers dull.

She saw a black carriage off in the distance and dashed to it, happiness softening her tired features. "Guys! I found you guys; are you okay?"

Kenyangi appeared in her cloud of glitter in front of Hope as she reached an empty carriage. Kenyangi held a hand out to Hope, beckoning her closer. "You're late." She stated apathetically.

"Yang, please tell me what I have to do to keep the peace between the immortals!" Hope pleaded, distress etched into her face.

Kenyangi looked at Hope, eyes full of pain. "Hope, there is no way to keep the peace that I know of. You can either free Scar or you may end his suffering. Just know that whatever path you decide to follow, most of the immortals will stand by your side til the end."

Hope's bewitching purple eyes started to water, making Kenyangi wish that she could offer the chosen one comforting words. "Yang, please you must help me! I don't want to hold the power of life and death in my hands, I want everyone to be free and not be at war with each other or their inner demons. What if I accidentally kill Kris or Mordecai o- or Pops? I couldn't live with myself!"

"Hope, you must be strong. I know that you will do what you deem the right thing; otherwise, I wouldn't be here to encourage you. If you back out now, many will be sentenced to death as a reaction to your cowardly deed. If you do spare my brot- Scar, the others, Chishiki and Fate, will hunt him into oblivion. If you end him, this realm will be cleansed of the possibility of the pain and damage he could cause free. I will stay your guardian and adviser no matter what choice you make." Kenyangi grabbed Hope's right hand. "Let's finish what I should had done twenty years ago."

Kenyangi guided Hope through the cave's barrier and into the depths of the cave where she had sent Hope's friends after giving them all a similar blessing to the one that she had given Hope and Mordecai on their first day in the realm that she called home.

Kenyangi personally thought that the fact that Hope was drug into the mess with the prophecy was idiotic, Hope wasn't even ready save anything or one, she needed to mend her relationship with her friend and sister. She had doubts that Hope wasn't going to make the right choice when it came to Scar and his followers; she had a good head on her shoulders but she had proved multiple times that her desire to return to her world could and would cloud her judgement when the stakes were at their highest. Hope stopped suddenly and pulled out a dying flower from her pocket.

"What does this stand for? The spider king said that each flower had a way of giving us a, let's say, power-up." Hope asked, picking at the bright orange petals.

Kenyangi gave a slight grin and a light chuckle. "It doesn't allow you to back out of your task. If you were to attempt to run out of the barrier, the flower would create a chain reaction that would cause the barrier to teleport deeper in the cave than were you turned back at. Seems Fate has her doubts about you and the prophecy."

Hope did a crude snort. "I can't really blame her, I don't even want to be the child of the prophecy. I don't even have a choice; otherwise, I'd be at my motel room right now."

Kenyangi pulled Hope's hand towards the lighter part of the cave. "I'm aware. You were chosen for a reason, remember that. He is through there, I will stay hidden in the shadows of the doorway in case you need me. Only if you fear for your life, and your life alone, are for you to call for me."

Hope nodded. "Do I have to... kill him?"

"Only you can decide that; regardless of what you choose, I will continue to watch over you."

Kenyangi released Hope's hand from her gentle grip. Hope hesitantly walked into the large untidy, candlelit room away from Kenyangi's comforting presence. Upon entering the room, Hope could tell that whatever this room was it was important to the inhabitants of the stone prison. It had many bookshelves filled with ancient books and tables covered in faded scrolls. Hope went and examined a scroll that had found its way under the table. Hope folded it and stuck it in her pocket just as a hooded man emerged from behind a bookshelf, holding a flaming staff.

"State your purpose of defiling the palace of Scar and his pure followers with your unworthy eyes." He demanded, shaking the staff at Hope.

"I was told to discover the legend of immortality by the immortal Chishiki and pointed here by spider king's scribe. My friends were already sent into here without me." Hope said, shrinking away from the flames.

"So you are the one of the prophecy we've learned so much about. The one who led a tortured life and was sent to other worlds to be shown that life is worth living and that she deserves to be cherished and wanted. I must say, I figured you would taller or I expected that your existence was simple rubbish. And your friends? They have already be sent to Maric." He said, shrugging.

"Maric? As in Maric Lithis? Can I be taken to him as well?" Hope questioned, her already bewitching purple eyes becoming more alluring as giddiness flooded them.

"Who do you know his name, bird?" He barked.

"That was harsh! I spoke to him and Ivy in my dreams while I slept." Hope explained.

"I... suppose it couldn't hurt. If you become unbearable, I will burn you to a crisp!" He threatened.

The hooded man led Hope through countless tunnels until they came into a place that seemed to be an arena. He had Hope to step onto the platform that was in the center of the arena floor. As she stepped onto it, it rose seventeen feet into the air.

The hooded man chuckled. "Whichever side wins the battle, wins the rights to the bird."

"I'M NOT SOME PRIZE!" Hope shrieked in anger.

Below the floating platform, two gates opened, allowing Hope's party and another team to flood into the battlefront. A wall of weapons rose from the middle of the arena floor.

"The Park workers, as the prize's companions, will get first choice of weaponry." He boomed.

Kris was fidgeting nervously in her spot. Kris wasn't one for violence nor had she ever used a bow, sword, staff, or dagger. 'Maybe I could get out of this...' She thought to herself.

"Now you have a minute to choose; GO!"

'Or maybe not!' Kris shuddered.

Mordecai, Benson, and Rigby chose a sword and a round shield as their offense and defense. Skips chose a glowing gauntlet that had a enchantment craved into it. Pops and Kris chose magical staffs. They then took their positions; swords in front, unarmed on the side, and ranged weapons in the back.

"Now, followers of Scar, decide your weapons!"

They all chose daggers and a shield, and lined up beside one another.

The hooded man started telling them the rules of the match.

HOPE'S POV (Getting tired of writing in 3rd person t(-.-)t)

As the man told them the rules, I started whispering Kenyangi's name over and over, hoping for her to appear and knock them out.

"Stop." Kenyangi whispered in my mind. "If they know I am here, you all will be slain. I will conjure up something you can use to defend your friends. But with every use you must pay a price."

'What is the price?' I mentally sighed.

"You shall see. Behind you there is a magic hunting bow and a quiver of dragon-bone arrows. These are the most effective against Scar's minions. Good luck." Kenyangi wished.

As she finished the fight had started, seeing that the hooded man was absorbed into the match, I grabbed the bow and notched an arrow and waited for an opening.

I could see Mordecai and Benson slashing at their opponents, hitting their shields or their swords. As one went to strike Benson down as he dropped his shield, I released the arrow. The man gurgled and fell, dropping his dagger and shield when the arrow embedded itself into his neck. Benson picked up his shield and bashed it into the attacker's ribs, stunning him. Mordecai then proceeded to use the hilt of his sword to knocked her out by hitting her in the head with it.

I notched another arrow and turned to Kris and Pops, knowing that they were not one for fighting. Just as I was about to let the arrow fly, Kris' staff shot a bolt of lightning out of the tip and at a woman that was swinging at Pops. The woman fell to the ground, shaking profusely while gripping her twin blades. Since she was shaking and holding her blades, she left deep gashes in various places on her body. Seeing the girl suffer, Kris sent another bolt at her. The sickening smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Pops was sent green balls of healing magick at Skips and Rigby, who were back-to-back, taking on four enemies. I turned on my heel and sent a arrow into one of the bad guy's backs that were too close for my liking to Rigby's side. Skips slammed his gauntlet into the ground and caused the last of his enemies to the ground in a fit of pain.

"Argh!" Mordecai cried painfully.

I spun around to see Mordecai on the ground holding his side, which was oozing blood, and the hooded man standing over him with a great-sword held above his head, preparing to strike the killing blow.

"Hope, do something!" Rigby begged, running at the final and most worthy opponent.

Everything was in slow motion. With every second the blade came closer and closer towards Mordecai's chest. By pure instinct, I notched an arrow and sent it flying towards the man's head. With a crack, the arrow went into the man's temple, for a moment he was frozen, then he fell and went still.

The hooded man turned to me. "I see you are loyal to your allies. You have proven yourself worthy of meeting Maric, the God Scar's most dedicated follower." He then muttered some ancient language. The corpses of the vanquished foes turned to dust and the minor injuries my friends had received vanished.

"So everything that just happened wasn't real!" Rigby stated angrily.

"Pretty much." The hooded man chirped.

"Wow. Just. Wow" Kris breathed, clutching her weapon to her chest. "I thought we were going to die, and it turns out to be just a test? This is bull!"

"I know right? I don't want to live on this planet anymore." I mutter.

The hooded man let the platform sink to the ground and put us in a line.

"I don't want any of you touching anything, clear?" He said.

We all nodded.

"Let's go."

I'M SO SORRY! I'M NEVER ON TIME ANYMORE! Coincidence? I think not! Well, to tell you guys the truth I'm in a rough spot. I just started high school in a new town, so I have like no friends. Also guests, readers, or people who simply skim the chapters, drop a review. I don't care if it is simply telling me who your day was, drop it. Reviews are motivation to me.

Kisses,
AntionetteEva