Chapter 29: Millennium Door 5

"Finally!" Nazz said in glee upon returning to Rougeport. "SUN!"

"I have to admit, I never thought I'd be so happy to see daylight." Double D said with a smile.

"…so, what now?" Eddy asked.

"To the Thousand Year Door."

"What!" Vivian asked suddenly. "You've found the door!"

"Yes." Double D said. "Is something wrong?"

"No…" Vivian answered quietly, looking away.

Double D looked back to his group who looked concerned, except for Rolf who still growled.

Beep. Beep. Beep…

"That's my cue." Mario said. He opened his mailbox and read his message. This one was only two sentences long:

"Dear Mario,

Quick! The thing behind the Thousand-Year door is a thousand year demon! Be careful, please!"

-Peach"

"What made her-a write so little?" Mario asked.

At the same time, Double D's lap-top sounded. He opened it and noticed the two messages. He read his:

"To my Muffin!

There's a demon behind the door! And you're not going to believe this: May Escaped! Keep an eye out for her!"

"WHOA! May escaped!" Double D exclaimed, sounding shocked.

"Incredible."

"I wonder how she managed it?" Jimmy said.

"We will have to keep an eye out for her…" Double D said.

"So, this is that door you were talking about?" Kevin asked, looking at the Thousand-Year Door with a mildly impressed face.

"Yes." Nazz answered.

They approached the door.

"Would you do the honors?" Double D asked Vivian, who was currently holding the star.

"No!" Vivian shouted suddenly. "I mean… It's better if you do it."

"Hm… very well." Double D accepted.

Vivian handed him the star. They all crowded around the podium. Double D stood at the top, holding out the star. The lights appeared again, and the designs that glowed light blue etched themselves on the ground.

He looked over to Vivian, who seemed to be quite nervous. 'What is going on with her?'

"WHAT!" Frankly shouted after he was told that there was demon behind the door. "Th-That was what was written in Princess Peach's email?!"

"I'm afraid that's what we learned." Double D answered.

"Oh dear…The legendary treasure is actually the spirit of an ancient demon" Frankly said gravely. "And those fiends want to use the power of the Crystal Stars to resurrect it? How bone chilling…Sadly, it does seem to be consistent to what I have uncovered. I was afraid of this. I have heard rumors of this, though didn't suspect them true."

"What have you found out, Professor?" Goombella asked.

"It's rather long but you best listen." Frankly answered, turning to the book on his desk. "Are you all ready? The great cataclysm that I read about in that book may well refer to this demon. It says that a monster destroyed a large town that once stood on this very area. It ALSO says that the seven Crystal Stars were actually created by this monster and that this thing tried to use the Crystal Stars to control the world. According to this book, the demon was defeated in the end by four heroes. But only the beast's physical form was destroyed…It's spirit could not be eradicated."

"So, what did they do?" Nazz asked.

"So, the heroes used the Crystal Stars, which they had stolen from the demon and they cast the evil beast into the depths of a maze and sealed the exit." Frankly finished the tale. "From this, I gather that the Crystal Stars cannot distinguish good from evil. So, if they are all united they could either seal away or resurrect the demon. It seems that those who wields the Crystal Stars determines if they are used for evil or good."

"If that's the case, maybe we should stop collecting the Crystal Stars then." Nazz commented. "We'd be doing the bad guys work for them."

"Sounds good to me." Eddy shrugged. "We stop looking for them and keep the ones we got, no one gets the monster."

"Or better, we destroy the stars once and for all." Rolf offered with a stoic look on his face.

"That was my first thought as well, but further research suggests we cannot do that." Frankly replied. "There's a slight possibility that the Thousand-Year Door is weakening. It seems the Crystal Stars hold the power to seal the beast for a thousand years. So, once a thousand years pass, the power to keep the door sealed shut will fail. And unfortunately, this year may be the thousandth year. Bad luck, huh?"

"Yeah, real bad luck." Eddy groaned.

"So, we have no choice then." Double D brought a hand to his chin. "We have to get the other stars and we can reseal the door for another thousand years. Hopefully we can leave behind a warning to those that come after of the door and the demon to prevent it from being opened."

"But those X-Nauts know, and they want to let the demon out." Jimmy pointed out.

"Yes, the fact that those goons want the stars now may be a coincidence…but maybe not." Frankly muttered. "In other words, we must be ready for the demon's return, even if the X-Nauts fail."

"I guess that means we have to find the rest of the Crystal Stars, huh?" Nazz asked rhetorically with a sigh.

"What I find amazing is that May managed to escape. Where could she have gone?" Double D asked.

"We'll deal with her later." Frankly suggested.

"So, where to?" Eddy asked.

"Yeah, where's the next star?" Nazz asked.

"According to this map…" Frankly examined the map for a second. "The star is on an island very far south from here."

"Can you clarify?" Koops asked.

"Keelhaul Key." Frankly said.

"Oh!" Jimmy said. "I've heard of that place before!"

"From where?" Rolf asked.

"Well, it was quite a few days ago, on the night before we were headed for Glitzville…"

Flashback

"I wonder how Glitzville will be. Hopefully more enjoyable than my experience earlier."

Jimmy couldn't sleep. It wasn't just Rolf's annoying snoring, or Double D staying up to type a message, but it was the feeling of fear that kept him up. He decided maybe a full stomach would help him out, so he traveled downstairs.

"Sorry kid." Podley said when he walked downstairs. "We're closed from the rest of the night."

"Please, I just need a drink before I head off to bed."

"Very well. What can I get ya?"

"Medium sized Chuckola Cola, on the rocks."

"Yes, sir." Podley reached into a counter and pulled out a bottle. He looked over to the only other person in the room.

"Mr. Flavio? Care to go home?"

"What? Can't a guy sing a song in peace?" Flavio complained.

"It's 11:00 pm, sing at home." Podley said, handing Jimmy the bottle.

"Alright, Flavio's going." He got up out of his chair and held his red, skull shaped gem.

"Ah, very interesting gem." Jimmy said, looking at it carefully.

"Ah, thank you." Flavio said.

"How many karats?" Jimmy asked.

"Search me." Flavio shrugged. "This is my family heirloom."

"Very interesting." Jimmy said with a raised eyebrow. "Where is it from?"

"Quite a story, truthfully." Flavio said. "I don't want to brag, but my ancestors got this from a pirate years ago!"

"Oh dear!" Jimmy said.

"Yes, an epic battle it was!" Flavio started proudly. "The evil pirate Cortez and my brave ancestor dueled to the death, for rights of his stolen riches. My gallant predecessor bested him, taking riches of unspeakable fortune, among those, this!" he said, victoriously showing Jimmy the gem.

"Very intriguing!" Jimmy explained.

"Of course, he didn't get all of the treasure, but he surely got enough to make my family as rich as it is today. It is because of him that Flavio is the richest man in all of Rougeport!"

"And what became of Cortez?" Jimmy asked.

"The cowardly fool sailed back to his hideout at Keelhaul Key in disgrace! Though he swore vengeance on anyone who comes to take the rest of his fabled treasure!"

End Flashback

"This this Flavio clear knows about Keelhaul." Double D said.

"Then that's our play." Kevin said.

"We shall-a meet him immediately."

"To Marie Kanker:

Incredible! May escaped? And you have uncovered that a demon resided beyond the door? These events help us all take a big step towards ending this. I urge you to keep up the good work, as we can all go home at last. I will keep out an eye for your sister. I hope that you remain safe. Be careful, and be safe.

-Edward"

"There, you sent your message." Eddy groaned. "Can I go to bed now?"

"No. I want you to respond to Lee."

"Come on. She doesn't deserve to talk to me. Not after what she's always doin' to us."

"Come on, Eddy. Besides, what can she do to you if she's captive. You at least owe enough to talk to her." Double D scolded.

"Fine." Eddy said. He jumped into the chair and began typing.

Double D walked away from the room. Besides himself and Eddy, no one else was awake. The rest of the day exhausted them. Double D was surprised after he told Flavio what was occurring.

He was overjoyed and said he was prepared to get a crew together for a treasure hunt voyage first thing in the morning.

Creak…

Double D looked up. He heard the noise of a door slowly closing. He looked and saw where it lead. He walked over and opened the door. It led to the roof of the Inn. The cold, brisk air hit him. He noticed on the opposite side of the roof was another person.

"Vivian."

She looked at her. She looked back at him, her pink hair flowing in the cold wind.

"Double D."

"Vivian, we need to sort things out." Double D walked up to her. "Why where you so afraid at the door?"

She turned away. "I don't know what happened to me in there. A panic attack."

"Why did you have to hide it?"

"Because I don't want you to worry about me." She said.

"Vivian." Double D walked up to her, with his hand on her shoulders. "There's something we need to clarify. Remember when I… lost my hat?" Double D asked.

She nodded slowly. "You said you recognized me? But you realized much later that I was Double D."

"…you must understand." She said. "While I was with my sisters… every night, I saw someone. In my dreams… more of a silhouette, in truth, along with a symbol. I could see the outline of a person in the shadows… and when your hat fell off… I knew you where the one I saw in my dreams. The symbol matched the 'eye' thing under your hat."

She looked him right in his surprised face. "I have to tell you the truth. The truth about your powers."

"My fire ability?"

"I gave it to you…" Vivian answered.

The truth suddenly made sense. "I understand now. Before, in Boggly Woods, you gave me the power to harness fire… but why?"

"My sister, Beldam… I also had another dream. Thunder roars, everything feels cold, though fires are burning everywhere. There's a monster, a demon, laughing wickedly… and in the palm of its hands is Beldam."

"Vivian…" Double D said quietly.

"You see, each of the shadow sirens has three abilities. Two are obvious for each of us… mine are fire and shadow. But for each of us… there is a third, hidden ability we never share to anyone. Mine is prophecy through my own dreams…"

"Then the vision you had of Beldam… may have been a sight of the future." Double D recalled and deduced.

"Yes…" she said. "And when I heard you standing up to Beldam, I hoped you would be able to stop this from coming to pass. So I gave you all the help I could at the time… my power of fire."

"Thank you…" Double D said.

"Listen." she said, looked at him more concerned than ever. "I have never shared this with anyone else before. Please keep it secret from the rest."

"You have my word. And speaking of keeping secrets." Double D said. "You are the only one aside from Eddy and Ed who has seen me without my hat. Please, keep this a secret as well."

"You have my word."

"Vivian… thanks." Double D said gratefully.

"There has been something else that has been bothering me." She said.

"Yes?"

"Before, Rolf said…"

Flashback

"YOU!" Rolf shouted suddenly, running towards her. It took about half of the group to hold him back.

"It's one of those creeps we met at Boggly Woods!" Nazz shouted.

"Rolf shall never forgive you for attempting to take over the tree!" Rolf was growling like a monster.

"Yeah, take a hike!" Goombella said with an equally angered look.

Vivian didn't say anything.

"Do us a favor and just return to the shadows where you belong!" Rolf snapped.

End Flashback

"Rolf hasn't gotten over what occurred in the woods." Double D said. "He needs time to get used to you."

"I hope you're right. I never felt so bad after I heard that." Vivian admitted with a saddened face.

Double D lightly tapped her, and she looked back to him.

"Everything's going to be alright." He said.

"You mean, you don't mind me being here?" She asked.

"Mind?" He asked. "Quite the contrary, I-"

"WHOA, WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?" Eddy's voice interrupted them and they both gasped, blushing.

"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Eddy said with a smile, standing at the door.

"How long have you been here?"

"I came in at "' never felt so bad after I heard that.'" Eddy chuckled.

"What do you want?" Double D asked with a sigh.

"I was just here to say I'm done with the message."

"Good, now go to bed."

"Whatever. Don't stay up too late, Romeo." Eddy chuckled and walked away.

Vivian turned back to Double D.

"It's late. We should sleep as well." Double D said.

They walked back into the Inn.

"Good night, Double D."Vivian said, walking towards her bed.

"Good night." he said, walking over to his own.