Prologue

Back from the Undead

In the dark and cold depths of the Frostfest Mountains, the freezing temperatures are cold enough to make anybody freeze at the slightest touch. It's a sub-zero freezer with a deathly grip. Within the grasp of death's cold hand is none other than Jason. His body is pale; pale enough to camouflage within the very snow he's underneath. His thoughts are focused on death. How could he lose so badly? He was so close! But it is at that moment that he feels his body get pulled from its icy tomb.

It hurts… It hurts a lot… It feels like a tourniquet trying to turn him into a purple and bloated mess, but how could that be anymore? He's dead. Even if he is, how can he still hear everything around him? Is he really dead? Better yet, what was that humming?

"Portal Master… Oh, you are unlucky,

Seems that your luck was lacking,

Don't fret as I can help you breathe.

Your style is quite unnerving,

Yet you are also hurting,

Allow me to help you on your feet."

Such a melody. Jason could hear humming in the background. This wasn't a regular song - not with the extreme eriness… Who was this woman?

"My puppet, as I call you to be.

My puppet, loyal servant to me.

My puppet, it is quite plain to see.

The only chance to live again… is me."

What kind of ritual song was this? Whatever it was, Jason started to feel his fingers moving again. His skin had filled with the regular peach pigment and his heart began to feel heavy. He could feel it! He could feel the snow beneath him!

The voices grew heavier after each second, becoming clearer as well as the Fire/Light Portal Master regained his sight.

"Now let's get talking, please.

You have just the thing I need.

With two great lights that shine over the masters,

We'll take their souls to use for much greater pastures…"

Jason smiled at the softer tone of the song. He could feel the sharp claws of his saviour wrapping around his hand as the strings around his body loosen. He felt another hand, and another, and… another… Four arms; this saviour isn't human. The sensation of soft breathing in his ear overtakes his mind and he opens his mouth subconsciously to greet his saviour the same way.

"Yeah, that's great, I really love it. I have a master's soul you can take for your profit."

"How brilliant! Who's soul am I winning?"

"A fake Portal Master, and his name's Ei Simmings."

The music around him stops and he feels himself being caught in the warm embrace of his saviour. Through his closed eyelids, he can see the faint colour of purple alongside the black that his eyelids provided. He swore he could feel her smiling, but even he didn't know much. In fact, he didn't know what was happening.

"Hmm… The Water/Dark Portal Master, you say? It seems that there is much to do. Tell me, young Portal Master, what is your name?"

"Jason…"

"Jason, you say? Well, allow me to free you from your torment, Jason. You'll be singing a new tune soon enough."

No pain, no torment, just sweet relief. He finally opened his eyes and found his vision to be red. He looked around before seeing his saviour - Mesmerelda. Her piercing purple eyes met his red ones.

"You'll do quite well as my next stagehand, Jason. Just look at how adorable you are." Her tone joking with a sinister undertone.

"What did you do to me?" The Portal Master gasps as his voice. Is he… singing? Why was he singing?! "I feel so light. It feels like a feather, baby!"

"Just as I hoped you'd be!"

"Oh no! What's happened to me?!"

"You're beautiful. Now, my loyal puppet, we have some plans to make. Are you with me?"

"Do I have a choice?" Most likely not, but… Who is he to rebuke? What can he do now?


"Hey, Dad, look what I can do!" Harmony, Ei's eldest child, was now starting to speak at such a young age. The little dragon wiggled as she tried her best to shoot a note out of her mouth. The bubble popped immediately, making her whine and groan in frustration.

Her mother, Echo, just laughed and pat her back. "Don't worry about it, kiddo. Trust me, I didn't get it on the first try either. I can be a real pain in the butt, but you'll get it soon."

"But I wanna do it now, mom!"

"Harmony Rhythm, listen to me. You wanna make a note like me, you need to focus on your vocal range properly."

The young dragon groans; this time, in annoyance. Echo cringed inside of her head. Seeing her own daughter act like her when her family would keep her from singing back in her earlier days in the underwater kingdom made her look back and want to slap her younger self.

"Hey, don't worry. This'll be your shot to practice. The Frostfest Mountains have a lot of entertainment value for people and creatures like us. Right, EI?"

The Water/Air/Dark Portal Master nods in response. "You bet. And I bet Suki would love it as well, but she needs the practice with her elements before she can really go out. It's a shame, honestly."

Symphony looks down. Today was just not her day... "I really wish Aunt Suki could join us. She's so cool on her skates."

"Trust me, honey, I know." Ei matched her disappointment on missing out on the fun with his cousin, but what could he do? Suki needs the training, and she has a home life on Earth in 2076. "Hey, at least we have the time off to be with each other am I right?"

Before they could respond, they hear the music from afar. Ei smiled at the euphoric melody reaching his eardrums. Echo looked at her back to see Note and Symphony sleeping softly before she turned back to see the fireworks emitting from the village.

"Whoa... Is that it, mom?"

"You bet, Quart."

Ei taps his daughter's head and grins in her direction. "Race ya!"

"HEY! NO FAIR! DAD!"

Ei laughed like fool to their king as he ran through the snow to get to the village first. Symphony is on his tail in no time, but he still keeps up the pace as Echo just shook her head to their shenanigans. Even then, she couldn't help but smile. She walks through the snow inorder to catch up with them and join in with the music going down at the village within the Frostfest Mountains. However, what they didn't know is that the music shouting throughout the Mountains was not from the village but from somewhere else.

A shadow is cast over the village as the familiar laughter rings out to echo over the mountains. Jason is right beside her as her right-hand man as he accompanies her in a very eerie tone... He felt himself becoming more and more unsettled, but could he really fight it? He was literally being used as a wooden puppet to this feminine arachnid, and there's nothing he can do about it... At least, not yet.

End of Prologue