Chapter 25: The Infernal Goddess

Quest for the Gems: Day 2

Location: Somewhere in the Sea, Southeast of Ooo

Time: 7: 22 AM

Flame Princess awoke to the same sounds that she heard before going to sleep. A mixture of the ship's endless creaking and the waves crashing against it from the outside. Despite this, spending an entire night within such a confined room was probably the thing that should have bothered her the most. After so many years in a lamp, such places never failed to make her uncomfortable, no matter how many times she was subjected to spend time within one.

Fortunately, such feelings weren't much trouble this time around. The events that had transpired the night before had left her in a good mood, and any thoughts regarding the state of the ship, or the fact that they were in the middle of the ocean, were pushed out completely.

The fiery woman stretched after sitting up on her bed, followed by a few yawns as she allowed her body to prepare for the day to come. When she felted strong enough to move, she left her bed and began to get dressed, while also maintaining her messy hair in front of the mirror. Once all was done, she smiled and made her way up to the ship's deck, where the fresh morning winds blew the smell of salt against her face.

Even if it was still some ways from being fully visible, what little sunlight was already peering its way around the red sails was enough to make Flame Princess feel instantly invigorated. Some workers were already making their rounds, chattering with one another or muttering a jolly chanty as they went about their work. As she went over the starboard railing, making sure not to step on any crates or rope that she might trip over. Along the way, some of the sailors turned to see her walk by, but it only lasted a split second before they resumed their duties.

Looks were something that Flame Princess was used to getting while walking around in public; it was part of being the ruler of an entire civilization. But the men on the ship in particular gave her an uneasy feeling whenever she met their eyes during her first hours aboard. And she would often hear whispers and chuckles as she walked by them. Luckily, the captain had a keen eye and noticed the gawking, almost instantly ordering every single one of them to behave in her presence, lest they get kicked overboard. Afterwards, no one dared to end their work just for a quick peek. It made the princess feel secure, but she was uncertain if she liked the fact that they were being respectful out of fear.

In any case, she refused to dwell on it. As she reached the railing, she was instantly mesmerized by the deep blue ocean that stretched out before her. The wind was strong this morning, so the brig was travelling at a reasonable speed. Below, where ripples formed in the water, she thought she could see small fish swimming out of the way as fast as they could. But what really caught her attention was the small island in the distance, getting closer by the second as they prepared to make a pass-by. A small cloud of smoke rose from a volcano in its center.

As she enjoyed the view for a few minutes, Flame Princess was slightly startled when another elemental stood next to her, but she was quickly reassured when it turned out to be a female elemental, broad of chest and with a hard face, but with eyes that showed kindness along with her smile.

Captain Emberly had been very generous in accepting the young monarch onto her ship, but it wasn't just because she was obligated to. From what others said, Emberly was someone who yearned to be out on the open seas as fast as she could. Her entire family had been sailors, and even though it was one of the most dangerous professions a fire elemental could have, for obvious reasons, the entire species was nothing if not courageous and daring.

"Have a good sleep, m' lady?" she asked with a deep voice and thick accent.

"It was okay," replied the princess. "I honestly got used to the swaying pretty quickly."

"Aye, I know the feeling. It was the same when I first took to sailin'. But now, I can hardly sleep if I'm not out in the open water." She chuckled. "Weird for a fire elemental, no?"

Flame Princess nodded. In many ways, she was glad that the captain was another woman. She was afraid that she would be the only one aboard, but somehow felt like she was in safer hands this way. Maybe Cinnamon Bun had chosen the ship for that very reason.

"I bet you must be proud of your accomplishments," she told the captain. "The Ashen Maid is a fine vessel."

The older woman looked up the kingdom's flag flowing on top of the mast. "I am, and she is. She's been passed down through four generations of my family. And if the wind stays as strong as it is, we should be arriving at the Diamond Kingdom on the morrow. She's as strong as she is swift, even if she's no Celosia's Fury."

Flame Princess smiled with Emberly, and looked over the railing once more. She knew the Celosia's Fury well. The pride of the Fire Kingdom's armada; the biggest and most heavily armed frigate in their possession, with over a dozen cannons on each side. It hardly ever saw the open water, however, and was kept regularly maintained in its port until times of war arrived. Its name was derived from Queen Celosia, the sixth queen of the Fire Kingdom, which is said to have had such unmatched beauty that men would fight each other just for the chance at being anointed as her knights and servants. But history also says that, hiding underneath all of that beauty and elegance, was the fearless commander that led the kingdom's troops to victory after the king had fallen in battle, and was immortalized as a heroine.

After a moment of silence, she spoke once more. "Captain, do you know what's on that island?"

Emberly turned her gaze to the piece of land in question. "Couldn't tell ya. I've sailed by it many times, but never bothered to dock at its beach. Nor have I seen anyone walking along its surface. But from what I understand, all locations like it along the borders of Ooo are relatively safe, and are neutral ground. There's not much reason to visit them,"

"What do you usually make these trips for?"

The older woman looked to the opposite side of the ship. "There's a reef not too far from here with many mineral deposits, which can be sold for a high price to the right buyers. Mostly blacksmiths and the like. Some of it is stored within old naval vessels sunk during the Great Mushroom War. Me and my crew personally volunteer to go swimmin' for them every time using special diving suits."

Flame Princess was shocked. "You go underwater?"

Captain Emberly nodded. "Aye. It's dangerous, yes, but not many others are willing to do it. But the reward is worth it. Plus, you would be amazed at how gorgeous the bottom of the ocean is, m' lady. There's all manner of creature down there, and many vibrant colors."

Flame Princess could only imagine such wonders. Apparently, according to what she heard, there was a time when Finn himself was afraid of the ocean, but he eventually got over that fear. That was one less thing the two of them had in common. At least now he could see those wonders for himself; she could not.

"It must be quite the experience, to go where most of our race can't," said the young ruler.

Emberly's only response was her undying smile and nod. As the two elementals stared over the side of the Ashen Maid for a while longer, they suddenly heard an extra pair of footsteps right behind them. Turning, Flame Princess was surprised to see Leif up and about.

The Diamond Kingdom messenger had insisted on being left undisturbed once he was introduced to his own cabin, working on his own kingdom's business no doubt. He and the princess has shared a very little amount of words since their meeting in the palace; the only time she caught sight of him was when he needed a new layer of flame shield. They had only spoken when meeting to board the vessel bound for his home, and even then, the words were few. Judging by the look on his face, it was clear that he was not one to sail across the ocean regularly, especially given his rather tenuous nature.

"Good morning, your highness," he said, being respectful as always by bowing his head.

"Good morning," she said in kind. "Did you have a pleasant sleep?"

His gaze immediately responded that he had not. "It was…manageable. It's not the first time I've set sail and was forced to sleep under these conditions. Though a warm bed under a stable roof would be nice."

Emberly chuckled, and Flame Princess simply smiled. The man joined them in admiring the distant blue horizon.

"I can't wait to go back home," he said. "I mean, do not mistake me, your land is a sight to behold, but nothing can ever quite replace the beauty that I've witnessed by living in the Diamond Kingdom all my years." He turned to the two women. "No brag intended, of course."

Flame Princess slightly bowed her head in understanding. "I'm as eager as anyone to see it. Though I imagine a person made of fire would draw a bit of attention from the locals."

"Yes, but you shouldn't let it disturb you during your stay. Our borders may be closed off to outsiders, but that does not mean we're unwelcoming of any that come when invited; even if you are made of fire. And besides, you won't be the only princess attending, so I figure that the attention won't be on you alone."

"I see." She gazed over the flowing waters in silence for a moment. "What can you tell me about the king's heir? Valkrin, was his name?"

Leif nodded. "I've never spoken to him myself; only observed from a distance while performing my duties. But those who have spoken to him say that he resembles his father in many ways. He cares deeply for those who will soon be under his rule, and wants nothing more than for there to be peace between our lands."

"Would her highness like to ask if he's handsome or not as well?" Emberly whispered into her ear, smirking. The princess blushed and gently shoved the captain's shoulder.

"What? No! I already have a suitor. And besides, I don't think Diamond Kingdom law would allow anything between us."

"Aye. But I never said anything about being with the man. Your eyes are meant to experience the beauty of the world. To maintain them on just one person for the rest of your life, that would be a waste for vision such as ours."

A chuckle escaped the princess' lips, even if her mindset was not exactly the same as the other woman. "Do you have anyone you love back home, Captain?"

Her smile seemed to drop, but not entirely. "A little girl. Gonna be eleven years old in a few months. My sister watches over her while I'm out in the sea, since her father died of sickness shortly after she was born."

The princess felt saddened. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thank you," the captain said, with her smile now fully gone. "But he at least got to see her as a babe, so I suppose that's one upside. She's always askin' me if she can come with me on trips, but even if I wanted to, this is not something I want her to experience just yet. She's too young, and much is prone to go wrong when surrounded by nothing but water."

Emberly's worry was understandable, and the subject was dropped while they continued to admire the view. The small island that had once been distant was closer now, and several seagulls could be seen flying along its coast.

Flame Princess eyed the island curiously. Everything seemed normal enough; a beach with clear sand, several mossy rock formations, palm trees covering everything beyond it. But for some reason, there was something…uneasy about the shadows cast by the dense vegetation. For a brief moment, she could have sworn there were pairs eyes staring directly at her from the dense vegetation, but found nothing when she scanned the area where they had been.

"Come…"

A light gasp escaped the fiery girl upon hearing the voice. It was low, practically a whisper, but it was there nonetheless.

"Captain Emberly," she began, not taking her eyes off the coast. "Are you sure no one inhabits that island?"

There was only silence for a few seconds as the question was pondered. "Like I said before, no. At least, as far as I know. I doubt anyone would want to make their home near an active volcano. Why do you ask, m' lady?"

There was no immediate response. Instead, Flame Princess continued to stare forward, trying to catch another glimpse of the eyes, but to no avail. "It's…nothing."

A cloud of smoke kept coming from the volcano, but it was small and white, indicating that it would be a while longer before the mountain erupted.

"Come to me…"

Now Flame Princess knew she wasn't crazy. The feminine voice was clear as day this time, and there was no doubt that the source was coming from the island. She could feel it…somehow.

Taking Leif and Captain Emberly by surprise, she took to the air, using her powers to fly herself over the Ashen Maid's railing and hover over the water's surface. She then faced the people behind her that were looking in confusion. "I need to go check something out. I won't be long."

Dumbfounded, the two still on the ship looked at each other.

"Um, I don't think this is very logical, your highness!" said Leif.

"Agreed," said Emberly. "There is no need to this, m' lady! Come back aboard where it's safe, so that we may continue towards our destination!"

Flame Princess understood their worry, and for a second, she thought about complying with their desire. But then the mysterious voice echoed in her mind once more.

"We have much to discuss. Come forth…"

Try as she might to resist it, it was more than just the voice itself that caught her attention. It felt as if some greater power was tugging at her, beckoning for het to fly in the direction of wherever the strange force was coming from. Before she knew it, she was already flying at full speed towards the island, paying no attention to the shouts coming from the ship now far behind.

Below, Flame Princess could see the small waves crashing against the sandy shore. Several small crabs were walking along, quickly digging holes right beneath them and hiding once the fiery girl made her descent.

Some of the particles at her feet turned to minute shards of glass upon coming into contact with the heat, leaving behind a small but noticeable reflection in the footprints. When she looked behind, she noticed the Ashen Maid had retracted its sails and lowered its anchor, allowing the vessel to come to a full stop. For a second, she thought about flying back, but once again, she felt drawn to follow the voice within her head.

"That's it. Closer. Into the forest."

"Who are you?" the princess asked, but there was no answer.

She kept walking forward, until she eventually reached the vegetation that led into the wilderness. Being doubly careful not to start a forest fire, she did her best to not touch any leaves hanging from above, and kept her feet in the small patches of grass that extinguished almost instantly once she walked past.

It was hard to tell where exactly the path was leading, but she was somehow sure that it was the right direction to go.

Suddenly, rustling coming from some of the nearby foliage caught her attention, prompting the princess to rapidly form a flaming sword with her arm. But the noises were coming from multiple directions, and it was hard to pinpoint where her attention should have been focused. Expecting the worst, the sword was raised in a defensive stance. As it was, glint of yellow pierced through the bushes, but it was gone only a second after it appeared. Then another, but orange instead, followed immediately by the incoherent chatter of whatever was hiding itself.

"Enough of this," she said. "Show yourselves!"

Flame Princess' breathing halted as the noises did as well. All of a sudden, the only sounds were the low chirping of birds, and the soft rustling of the leaves. For a moment, everything seemed safe, until something peered its eyes through the leaves, and then showed itself.

The princess tried to keep herself from smiling, but there was no helping it. As she lowered her sword, the small creatures that had been stalking her for all this time slowly waddled their way towards her. Flamelings, they were called; a docile race of small creatures that inhabit the Fire Kingdom. They very closely resembled armadillos, in terms of both size and the armor that covered their entire backs (though theirs was made of coal). Their reddish skin made their bright yellow eyes stand out more than anything else. When they got excited, small bursts of fire shot out of their noses, startling even them at times. They were quite the famous pet among the fire people.

Flame Princess knelt down to greet the little creatures as they gathered around her, sniffing at her dress and chattering amongst themselves excitedly. She chuckled as he petted the head of one of them. From what she could tell, there were at least eight currently surrounding her, but there were probably more still hiding.

"What are you little guys doing here?" she asked. "I've never seen any of you outside of the Fire Kingdom."

She expected no response, of course; they couldn't talk. But seeing a group of them so far away from her home made her extremely curious. Perhaps it was the volcano? It was the only logical conclusion she could come to.

She leaned in to pet another. "Where do you guys live, huh?"

Surprisingly, they must have understood her to some degree, because the question made them look at each other curiously. They seemingly conversed to one another, but she couldn't understand what was being spoken. Once they were done, all of them scattered at the same time, morphing into their ball form and rolling away in the same direction, further inland.

"Follow them," said the voice inside her head.

Despite being hesitant, that is exactly what Flame Princess did. Going through more foliage, she followed the burnt trail left behind by the flamelings.

Eventually, she reached the base of the volcano that she had seen from the Ashen Maid, with the small creatures waiting for her. In front of them, carved into the mountain's side, was a doorway that led into the lava-filled chasm below. There were strange carvings etched into the rock, but the fiery girl had no knowledge of any of them.

"In there?" she asked.

"Yes," replied the voice.

The flamelings seemed frightened for whatever was beyond the doorway, shaking and remaining in their ball forms for the entire time. However, not letting herself succumb to the same fear, she took a deep breath and walked inside.

A dense layer of smoke kept Flame Princess from being able to see what exactly awaited on the other side, but that didn't stop her. Any other person who tried to walk in as she currently was would no doubt be severely overwhelmed by the heat, but in her case, it was no bother in the slightest. Putting her hand in front of her, she reached the other side of the smoke cloud, and found herself in the volcano's crater.

The pillar of smoke made it difficult to see, but it was clear that clear the crater at the very top of the mountain was directly far above her. On her own level, Flame Princess stood at the edge of a crevice, where a large pool of magma was accumulated at the bottom. Try as she might to look around, there was no sign of anyone else in the vicinity.

"Hello?" she shouted, waiting to see if anyone responded.

"Ah, so you made it," said the mysterious voice. "I hope my dear flamelings treated you kindly. Some of them tend to bite when hungry. They're adorable, but can be scared so easily. They see me as some sort of infernal goddess."

"Where are you? And how are you speaking to me?"

"Such an eager child. We haven't even had the chance to be introduced properly. While it may seem like it, I don't actually know much about you. I feel it's only customary. May you tell me your name, dear?"

Flame Princess hesitated. "Phoebe. Ruler of the Fire Kingdom in Ooo. Now you tell me who you are."

The entity chuckled. "Very well."

An instant later, the ground beneath her feet began to tremble, and she had to extend her arms to maintain balance. The magma pool below began to bubble greatly, until a sudden pillar of the scorching substance was propelled up instantly. Along with the sound of the magma itself was the loud cackling of a female, whose features became apparent as the pillar fell back down into the crater.

A fire nymph had risen from the fiery depths, tall enough so that her lower body was still covered by the magma, while her upper body reached a point just above where Flame Princess was. Her body was extremely emancipated, from her torso to her arms, and seemed as if she were nothing but a skeleton covered with a thin coat of fire. Long, swaying yellow hair covered most of the nymph's facial features, showing nothing but her small mouth twisted into a light grin. When the large entity leaned forward, Flame Princess had to balance herself once more when her thing hands rested upon the craters edge, right in front of her.

It took the young ruler every ounce of her willpower to not ready her sword, out of worry that the nymph would be angered.

"The name is Antorcha." Her voice was different; it had become raspy. "Nice to meet you at last, Phoebe. I have awaited this day for many moons."

Flame Princess took a second to gather her thoughts. "You've been…expecting me?"

Antorcha nodded. "I have foreseen many things during my years. Mostly flashes, but they were clear to me nonetheless. I knew you would come; I just didn't know exactly when. Oh, how joyous I felt when I saw you aboard that vessel in the sea. It's been centuries since I've had a visitor. The last ones keeping me company on this island are the little flamelings. The ones before them all perished or fled when the mountain erupted and burned their homes. But that was so long ago."

The nymph studied the princess further, seemingly interested.

"I must say, you are much lovelier in person. Such delicate eyes, hiding so many emotions at once. Love, confusion, fear. Yes, all traits of someone who has the wellbeing of an entire civilization resting upon their shoulders."

Flame Princess took a few steps back. "Why did you make me come here?"

Antorcha leaned back, seemingly in thought. "Like I said, it's gotten rather lonely here. But more than that, I'm very interested in learning more about you, my dear. I have many visions of things that have happened or are yet to come. And or some reason, I always find you among them. I see you, but I don't know why. With your presence here in my home, I may be able to finally get those answers." She moved closer. "I would like to see why you are of such importance."

Confused, Flame Princess took a few steps forward. "You…want to see my future."

"If you will allow it. I cannot say exactly what, but a fate of outmost importance awaits you in the future. I promise I won't tell you if I see anything…unpleasant. Once I'm done, you will be free to return to your vessel, if you so wish."

There was silence for a minute as the princess considered the offer. It might be dangerous for her to know some details about her future, but at the same time, there was no denying that the thought intrigued her.

"Okay," she said. "But make it quick."

Antorcha smiled widely, and used her hands to move her long strands of hair from her eyes. Flame Princess was taken back when they turned out to be completely white, and glowing like beacons. Shortly, the magma at the nymph's lower body began to glow brightly, and the smaller elemental felt something tugging at her mind. It was subtle, but there nonetheless.

"Let's take a small peak at your history, shall we?" No words were spoken for a moment. "Oh…so much sadness during such a young stage of life. A mother lost, and forced to live out your years in a cramped lamp. Many years spent in just one place…it's no wonder the ones that follow are filled with such joy. Being freed, learning about the world, experiencing great love for a human, and then taking charge of your people. So many accomplishments in such a short span of time. You must be very proud."

Flame Princess smiled, but quickly went back to showing no expressions as the nymph continued.

"Now, about your future…"

She eagerly awaited whatever response was coming, but there was none for the span of a few minutes. And in that time, the smile on Antorcha's face was gone, replaced with a look of unease.

"I see…I see…"

Flame Princess leaned closer. "What is it?"

"I see…people screaming in terror, within walls made of shining jewels, and a man…with a crown upon his head…looking down upon them all with a lifeless stare. I also see…a little girl, with eyes that are not her own, walking over the rubble of a city sacked by monsters…and she is facing another woman accompanied by a falcon. There is also…more screaming, and people falling into the scorching waters of a steamy isle. A city of happiness and joy…reduced to a haven for cutthroats. Amongst the pain, a familiar face shows itself, covering his surroundings in green flames with his dead hands, and yearning for destruction. And…in the middle of it all…you may lose someone very close to your heart."

"What?" the princess asked, mortified. "What does it all mean? Who would I lose?!"

Antorcha did not respond, continuing to look upwards with her dead eyes, while the bright glow of the magma pool seemed to intensify. When the fiery ruler stepped forward, a sudden gasp from the nymph made her jolt back.

"Doom is coming. Oh, so much death and fear and despair. And the one responsible for it all, it's…it's…HIM!"

Right as Flame Princess was about to ask who she meant, the ground began to shake, and the lava began to bubble.

Turning her gaze to the princess, Antorcha's next words managed to sent chills right through her.

"Mertens…"

Once the name was uttered, the entire ground began to tremble, and the lava where the nymph resided began to bubble relentlessly. At the same time, a sharp pain shot across Flame Princess' head, making shout out in pain while gripping her head. Her vision began to blur as well, and her legs became too weak to support her, making her fall on her knees. But even through all of the blurriness, there was something there in her line of sight. It was faint, but she could make it out nonetheless. A pair of purple eyes, with one of them slightly covered by a strand of black hair, staring right into her soul.

As the pain reached its peak, she fell to the ground completely, and her vision began to fade into darkness. But before it did so entirely, she saw Antorcha still staring at her.

"I'm so sorry," she said, sounding desolate. "But I refuse to remain in this prison any longer…"

Note: Hmmmmm…nope. Got nothing new to say, really.

-Guest: Patience is a virtue.

-Ooobserver: I guess we shall find out.

-Fiery Crusader: Thanks. I had a ton of fun writing that entire conversation.

Next Chapter: Foreboding Stones