Chapter 7- horrific revelations
Several days have passed since Obi Wan and his group's arrival onto the Land Domain from the Narnian Moon and the group had decided to stay to do some investigation on the land to collect some data regarding Asgard Sky City's mysterious closure and isolation from the outside world to further their investigations. While they did this, Quaoar and his group but mostly Naihanchi and the four Cardinal Beast members Aang the White Tiger, Crimsonandil the Vermillion Bird, Morla the Black Tortoise and Moana the Azure Dragon, continued to analyse their collected data including Bluebell the Budgie's report, the assassination of the king's only son by the Great River and the drips from Spot's Wish Potion, and now the mysterious reasons Asgard City had closed its borders as well based on Obi Wan's report. It was hard work and a few had even been up all night trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and there were a LOT of complicated pieces to place as well. There were the groups of Talking Beasts savagely attacking humans like dumb animals, Siveth being missing for months and Quaoar and his group had assumed that she must still be in Asgard Sky City (after all, Asgard was the last place she had left for before the city closed its borders), the Wish Potions and their horrible side effects, and heretics coming to indoctrinate Land Domain Narnians with heresies such as the evolution story of the Narnian world and the many of the heretics were of the Noodle-and-Meatball Monster species since after all, these Sky and Moon Domain Monsters were renowned for disbelieving in the Lion and the creation account of Narnia, preferring to use purely scientific explanations for Narnia's past instead though not all Noodle-and-Meatball Monsters mocked the Lion and actually believed he sung Narnia into existence. These individuals were often ostracised by other Noodle-and-Meatball Monsters and treated as outcasts as it was out of place for the species to believe in Aslan in their snail-like eyes.
Quaoar continued his investigations while Moana and her chemistry team continued their investigations on Spot's potion in their lab, some of the chemists tired because they had been up all night, clearly keen on finding out what was actually in the liquid causing the wish-granting effects along with the horrific side-effects. While they did this, a search-and-capture group lead by Caesium the Chroma Cat and Thunderbolt the Raiju had managed to capture a group of Talking Beasts waiting to attack a group of human travellers and their families and had hauled them back to Seresute's Cave for interrogation. Quaoar was glad as this will help unearth some answers to some very serious questions.
Outside the entrance to Seresute's Cave, Quaoar sat, his white and ivory tails sweeping at the air from his rump like a Peacock's train as he watched the captured Talking Beast criminals, two Wolves, a Crocodile and two Bears, being interrogated by Caesium, Aang and some large Dinosaurs. Three Triceratops, an Ankylosaur, a Stegasaur, two Glyptodonts (Armadillos with a spiked tail club) and a Ground Sloth stood with the suspects to prevent them from bolting or fighting back while stationed at the entrance of Seresute's Cave, a group of Terror Birds stood like guards as backup.
"Have you brutally attacked ANY Son of Adam or Daughter of Eve before?" Aang asked in a serious voice tone. However, none of the suspects responded; the only answers they gave were silence or 'No comment.' As Quaoar watched on, a scowl on his face, Crasher Wake the Star Person walked in, his glowing aura lighting the shadows of the trees somewhat.
"How are the interrogators doing with that band of suspects, Quaoar," he asked.
"Well, Caesium and Thunderbolt's search-and-capture group have managed to source those Wolves, Croc and Bears and the rest of their comrades during their ambush," the Kitsumiho replied, "They were lying in wait like predators for some human travellers journeying along a road and that group included some women and children."
Crasher Wake flinched violently when he heard this. "That band of Talking Beasts was planning on attacking and killing human women and children as well!?"
"That's what we're trying to find out through this interrogation," Quaoar replied, his angry and disgusted look on the defiant suspects, "But those five are proving to be as stubborn as bad-tempered Bull (male) Minotaurs."
Crasher Wake glared at the five suspects as they continued to refuse to answer Caesium and Aang's questions. Being an interrogator required a LOT of patience, especially if the suspect being interrogated was stubborn and mocking but sometimes, even the most patient of interrogators had breaking points. Quaoar remembered one time when he interrogated a Black Dwarf still roaming the Narnian grounds despite the vast majority of the Black Dwarves fleeing the country following the death of their Mistress, the White Witch and her accomplice, Dimitrescu Dokuringu the Scarlet Fox-Witch, and he snapped when the Black Dwarf scornfully mentioned that if he had some Candy Woodland Creatures with him, he would have them eat him alive and immediately, Quaoar had incinerated the Dwarf with his fire breath in a fit of rage. Quaoar, as well as his fraternal twin sister Siveth, ABSOLUTELY ABHORRED Candy Woodland Creatures with a VOLCANIC passion and the twins had met a band of these colourful and cute-but-violent and blood-spilling loving rats when they were still single-tailed Kitsumiho when they tortured and killed some regular Talking Beasts for the fun of it. That encounter had since traumatised Quaoar and Siveth, leading to their vitriolic rancour for the creatures. After all, Candy Woodland Creatures were an UTTER insult to regular Talking Beasts with ABSOLUTELY NONE of them being Aslan-loyal and sometimes, Quaoar had been comparing the regular Talking Beasts going around killing humans to those VILE roadkill rats. Even though he was now Nine-Tailed and over 9 Narnian centuries old, Quaoar would NOT hesitate to kill a Candy Woodland Creature on the spot with whatever first means came to him, be it his max-powered foxfire, fire breath, telekinesis or physical means such as a weapon or his own teeth and paws and he will ABSOLUTELY not stop until they were dead. Candy Woodland Creatures were FAR lower and worse than animal dung to the Kitsumiho and something to be killed there and then. Thankfully, there was almost none of these vile creatures and Talking Beast insults roaming the country of Narnia now as either they had fled the country to live somewhere else or, as Quaoar had hoped, been driven to extinction.
Quaoar and Crasher Wake continued glaring at the interrogation scene as the Wolves, Bears and Croc continued refusing to answer Caesium and Aang's questions with one of the Bears even smirking at the interrogators. However, Quaoar, who had become good at reading body language and facial expressions of various different Creatures and deducing motives based on them, could easily tell that the five suspects were indeed intent on murdering that group of human travellers, possibly including the women and children travelling with them, with their comrades and the very thought of a band of Talking Beasts doing such a wicked deed, especially to human women and children made the Kitsumiho's stomach lurch. While Quaoar and Crasher Wake continued overlooking Caesium and Aang's interrogation of the five suspects, an Azure Dragon and a colourful Nekomata walked in. Both of them wore VERY serious looks on their faces.
"Quaoar," called the latter, Naihanchi.
"We have managed to identify the main ingredient of these Wish Potions such as the one Spot had purchased from that Chimp at the market and consumed to immediately boost his cooking skills to expert level," said Moana.
"What have you found, you two?" asked Quaoar, Crasher Wake looking on worriedly. But nothing could prepare the hybrid Kitsune-Kumiho and the Star Man for what the Nekomata and Azure Dragon replied in their answer.
"It's made from blended Garden of Youth apples," Moana replied. Quaoar's mouth dropped open and he gazed at the pair as though they had sprouted two more heads. Crasher Wake also flinched violently.
"You're KIDDING ME!" the Kitsumiho retorted incredulously. However, Naihanchi and Moana indicated that they were not with headshakes.
"The magical effects of this potion on the consumers such as the instant granting of their greatest wishes," continued Naihanchi, "along with the NASTY consequences reaped alongside them... they are the VERY same effects that come with consuming those Garden of Youth apples straight from their trees in the Garden for selfish purposes."
"The VERY effect the etchings in the gate to the Garden which speak, 'Come in by the gold gates or not at all, take of my fruit for others or forbear, for those who steal or those who climb my wall shall find their heart's desire and find despair' the latter line which can take on any set of consequences depending on the selfish consumer's greatest desire," added Moana, "That Otter with the desire to see his wife alive again and his driving to madness by the apparition of his wife generated from his own mind from the potion... that Greyhound's instant getting rich based on her desire to do this and her receiving of UTMOST misery and physical illness... that Elaphocentaur becoming VERY handsome based on his desire to be this and his consequences of EXTREME pride, bitterness and using female Elaphocentaurs he had attracted the wrong ways in a vain attempt to fill that self-inflicted void within him... and Spot the Cheetah's immediate maximising of his cooking skills only recently (his consequences are yet to manifest)... these all fit the effects they would have obtained if they had eaten of Aslan's Garden of Youth fruit directly."
"Are you meaning to say that someone could be robbing that garden that is strictly the owner of the Great Lion of its fruits and turning them into these potions to sell!?" Crasher Wake demanded. However, Quaoar immediately felt an idea go off in his head as he pictured a spotlight shining on the suspect behind these criminal potions.
"Shenron, the current secondary Guardian of the Garden of Youth," the Kitsumiho spoke. Naihanchi and Moana flinched.
"My brother and Aslan's appointed secondary Guardian from the Azure Dragons following the death of the White Tiger Guardian from old age," the female Azure Dragon whispered in dread. She had hoped that this was NOT true. After all, it was an ENORMOUS responsibility being the secondary Guardian of such a restricted Garden as well as the only source of one of the Nine-Realms Potion ingredients and if that Guardian EVER robbed the Garden for selfish uses, the consequences can be UTTERLY dire, probably even MORE so than for any visitor that steals from the Garden.
"Well, if HE is responsible for this criminal act..." Crasher Wake said but Quaoar cut him off.
"It's time we called a meeting about all this, I believe," the Kitsumiho said. He then immediately turned to Naihanchi and Moana, a VERY serious and severe look on his face. "Moana, Naihanchi, you gather the rest of the Justice Enforcement team and command them to make their way to the Meeting Area immediately unless they have good reason not to such as illness."
"Got it, Quaoar," said Moana and Naihanchi together and with that, the pair darted off to carry out the command, the latter lofting into flight by spinning her tails. Quaoar then turned his attention to Aang and Caesium as they continued to interrogate the suspect Bears, Wolves and Crocodile.
"Those two are currently busy with that important task so I'll have to talk to them after the meeting," said he, "I daren't interrupt and cause any complications seeing how UTTERLY defiant and even scornful those five suspects are," he then turned and went off to gather some of the other Justice Enforcers, Crasher Wake following him.
"Can we help in any way?" asked the Star Man.
"You report to Obi Wan and tell him everything Naihanchi and Moana has told us about these Wish Potions, Crasher," Quaoar commanded and with that, he darted off to start up the VERY important meeting. Crasher Wake immediately left to find Obi Wan.
A little later
The Meeting Area was once again alive with the presence of many of the Justice Enforcement members including their leader, Quaoar. Crimsonandil the Vermillion Bird, Moana the Azure Dragon, Naihanchi, Morla the Black Tortoise, Adamans and Iridia the Fenghuang couple, Spock the Pegasus, Thunderbolt the Raiju and Jumba the Elephant were present and were among the Enforcers. Only Caesium the Chroma Cat and Aang the White Tiger were absent for they were still carrying out the important interrogation of the two Wolf, two Bear and Croc suspects back in Seresute's Cave with their group. Quaoar, who sat on his Leader's Rock then called the group's attention to him to begin the meeting. Once all eyes were on him, Quaoar began the opening speech,
"Thanks for coming to this meeting, all of you," the Kitsumiho said, "I'm so sorry for any interruption or inconvenience I may have caused but this is urgent. As you may or may not have noticed, Aang and Caesium aren't with us in this session as they are still dealing with a VERY important interrogation back in Seresute's Cave but I will be talking with them once they have finished that task and we have finished this meeting."
Crimsonandil, Moana and Morla gazed at the spot where Aang normally sat and saw that it was empty. Quaoar continued, a VERY serious look on his face.
"Moana, Naihanchi and their chemistry team have managed to identify the basis of these Wish Potions being sold through the markets up and down our country as I believe that our local market isn't the only one to host a stand of these potions," he spoke, "They are made from the fruits from Aslan's Garden of Youth."
HORRIFIED gasps rolled through the group except Naihanchi and Moana, who already knew, and some of them even flinched or nearly fainted.
"THAT is one of the GREATEST offenses you could EVER commit against the Lion King," said a Komainu or Lion-Dog member.
"The Garden of Youth is STRICTLY the property of Aslan," added Crimsonandil.
"Just like the other eight Nine-Realms Potion ingredient sources like the Moon's lunar mushrooms in the Forbidden Cave of the Treasures of Vanity and the Rainbowberry Orchard outside Asgard Sky City in the Sky Domain," put in Thunderbolt the Raiju.
"And it is a BIG responsibility to be the secondary Guardian of that Garden," added Morla.
"We'd better let the other communities know about this horrendous finding," growled Adamans angrily. The other members also uttered a cacophony of angry, horrified and worried comments but Quaoar yelled to get them to fall silent and they did. Once things were in order, Quaoar continued.
"I know how UTTERLY enraging and acrimonious this is but we need to do things one at a time," said he, "Right, first things first, we now know that the basis of these Wish Potions is the Garden of Youth fruits and as Vulcan there said," he nodded to the Komainu, "It is indeed a VERY serious crime against Aslan."
The others looked on as the Kitsune/Kumiho hybrid continued, "and the moment Naihanchi and Moana delivered to me the results of their chemical investigations on the remains of Spot's Wish Potion drink, Shenron the Azure Dragon and the current secondary Guardian of the Garden of Youth immediately came to mind."
"How can Shenron be behind this?" asked Iridia but Quaoar put a paw up and told her to be quiet before continuing. "Normally, a Cardinal Beast, male only, appointed by Aslan as the secondary Guardian of the Garden of Youth takes his role VERY seriously as Morla correctly stated, that role is EXTREMELY serious indeed..."
Morla listened on and nodded in agreement as Quaoar continued further. "And Shenron, who is the current appointed secondary Guardian as it is an Azure Dragon's turn, SHOULD be aware of this ABSOLUTELY but it seems to the contrary. Now I know I have no evidence to back up Shenron's possible influence behind these illegal Wish Potions but I only hope he isn't deliberately getting involved."
"He could just be faltering," said Spock, "I know secondary Guardians of the past have sometimes had intruders slip past them and enter the Garden illegally and not via the golden gates. After all, no secondary Guardian is perfect..."
"Yes but then he usually steps into the Garden to deal with the intruder or intruders with the primary Guardian of the Garden, the Garden Phoenix, helping where needed," said Crimsonandil.
"Indeed," said Quaoar, "And the Guardian Phoenix will NOT hesitate to take action itself as well. Remember how the Cartoon Shadow Cat was attacked by it when it intruded into the Garden to eat some of the fruit to obtain a power boost centuries ago, resulting in a permanent wound on its shoulder that will NEVER heal as a consequence of consuming those fruit for personal gain..."
"Then that means if Shenron is taking those fruit to make these potions, abusing his position as secondary Guardian in the process," said Moana, "Then my brother will be at the wrathful talons of the Phoenix... not to mention the wrathful teeth and claws of the Great Lion..." the Azure Dragoness' face then fell as the serious implications of this possibility such as the marring the good reputation of the Azure Dragons of the East, her species, boiled in her mind.
"Correct, Moana," said Quaoar, before turning to the rest of the members in attendance, "So that is why it is time we did something about it and QUICK, and unfortunately, that means opening up yet another route of investigation..." as he spoke, the sounds of thumping of large footsteps coursed through the earth under the Enforcement Team. Quaoar immediately looked up and saw a Giant Humanoid as tall as a small tree armed with a club come in.
"Sorry to interrupt the meeting, Quaoar," the Giant spoke, his voice deep and thunderous, "I was gonna rustle a tree to alert you of my coming but of course, my big feet often do that for me..."
"What is it, Bentley?" asked Quaoar. The Giant named Bentley replied.
"Obi Wan has sent me for you, we have two more visitors, this time from the Skylands themselves," said he, keeping his voice down so as to not to assault the ears of his smaller friends. After all, Giants, especially the males, had voices like thunder. "They are a Cloud-Man and a female Cherub and they are residents in an area close to Asgard Sky City. They have somehow managed to escape the Skylands and have descended ALL the way down here from there. The Cloud-Man's name is Ozone and the Cherub's name is Glitterwing and I think they may have a lot of the answers regarding Asgard Sky City."
"Okay, you return to Obi Wan and tell him that I will be there once I have finished this meeting," Quaoar replied, "I have to get this sorted first."
Bentley nodded, turned round and carefully walked through the forest, his feet slightly shaking the earth with his every step. Quaoar resumed the important meeting immediately.
After the meeting
Quaoar had dismissed the important meeting once he had finished and as soon as he had done this, he left to meet with Ozone the Cloud-Man and his Cherub friend, Glitterwing. Ozone was waiting with Obi Wan and his group including Crasher Wake the Star Man. Accompanying the Cloud-Man was a Cherub, a Humanoid with feathered wings and based on the dress attire, shining white hair and metallic blue underwing coverts, the Cherub was a female (males had metallic yellow underwing coverts, silver hair and male clothes). Quaoar arrived to meet the two new visitors with Crimsonandil, Morla, Moana and Naihanchi accompanying him.
"Quaoar, this is Ozone and Glitterwing," said the Grey Moon Man with a gesture to the tall, lanky, fluffy white Humanoid with two black eyes and the female Cherub, "They are from the Skylands."
Quaoar immediately shook paws and hands with the newcomers as did Naihanchi, Morla, Moana and Crimsonandil who used a foot for true birds weren't often very dextrous with their feathered wings. Ozone had to duck down to shake hands and paws or talons with the smaller Land Creatures for adult Cloud-Men were often tall creatures like Giants. Ozone was as tall as Bentley nearby though there were some male Cloud-Men that grew taller than him.
"Sorry my other Cardinal Beast inner circle member, Aang the White Tiger is missing," explained the Kitsumiho, "He is still dealing with a VERY important interrogation with some rogue Talking Beasts in Seresute's Cave at the moment with Caesium the Chroma Cat, another of my Justice Enforcement group."
"It's a good thing you're dealing with those rogue Talking Animals who are acting against the true Aslan's commands that they not be like their dumb counterparts," said Glitterwing, "But that's besides the central reason for our descent to here from all the way up in the sky."
"Something HORRIBLE has happened in Asgard Sky City and the surrounding Skyland Towns and countries," added Ozone.
"Do you two live in Asgard Sky City itself?" asked Morla.
"No, we're from one of the lesser towns but they have been isolated from the rest of the world along with Asgard," said Ozone. He then gazed down at his Cherub friend who was far shorter than he was. Although he was as tall as Bentley, Ozone was very lightweight and this had been especially useful for Glitterwing in transporting him out of the Skylands down to the Land without the need for the Bifrost Transporter, a Flying Carpet or a Flying Saucer, quicker transport methods to other Domains that had been HIGHLY restricted. However, manual transport via wings took several hours and only certain creatures like Cherubs could achieve this.
"How have you managed to escape the enclosed Skylands?" asked Moana.
"It had NOT been an easy thing to accomplish," Ozone explained. He then sat down onto a large rock so that he could talk to Quaoar and his group more comfortably. Quaoar jumped onto a large earth mound next to Ozone's upper body and head so that he could look at him at his height. Ozone continued. "In fact, it had been a life-risking act in sneaking away from the Skylands. Had we been caught, we would have been severely punished or even dead on the spot."
Quaoar and the others flinched when they heard this.
"Yes, a group of guards had been stationed around each of the Skyland towns and sky country habitats to stop anyone... ANYONE... from leaving the Skyland area and Asgard Sky City and from anyone outside from entering," added Glitterwing. Obi Wan and his group exchanged looks.
"That would account for the lack of people going in and leaving Asgard Sky City like what we observed from our Flying Saucer," said a white Lumino.
"Do you know who has closed Asgard City and the surrounding towns' borders to the rest of the world, Ozone?" asked Quaoar.
"Eighteen months or one and a half year ago," Ozone began, "A group of Talking Beasts and Creatures came to Asgard Sky City and our towns. They were lead by a Nine-Tailed Fox named Kurama and they invaded our city and towns just as Siveth was about to depart for the Narnian Moon for her temporary job as teacher to the Narnian Moon younglings."
"Quaoar's twin sister," said Naihanchi.
"When our Cloud-Man king, King Lightning-Bolt, met Kurama and his group," Ozone continued, "Kurama behaved as a friendly Nine-Tailed Fox but that friendly front was a mere facade to hide his true colours as a manipulative, cunning Fox. For several months, the Fox kept his friendly front up while behind that facade, he formulated his plans to take over Asgard Sky City with his minions, all of who had also been acting friendly. Eventually, he achieved his goal and eventually killed King Lightning-Bolt with a blast of his foxfire over a false and staged accusation of plotting a war against another domain."
Quaoar and the others flinched violently, especially the former but then Glitterwing continued. "And once he had disposed of King Lightning-Bolt, Kurama and his minions went round and disposed of as much of the rest of his royal family as possible to prevent resistance and competition. Only one relative and an heir to the Asgard Sky City throne, Xenon the Blue Cloud-Man who is one of King Lightning-Bolt's nephews has managed to escape with some help. As soon as Kurama was sure that ALL of Lightning-Bolt's family members, that is EVERY... SINGLE... ONE... had been disposed of; he took the crown and became leader and king of Asgard Sky City; that happened the year and a half ago. It was from that moment on that he began to rig the whole political and societal system in Asgard and the surrounding Skyland towns and sky countries in the worst ways possible."
"For example, Kurama had bestowed upon us with EXTREMELY strict curfews. We had to be back in our homes at a strict time or face punishment," Ozone added, "And another way, he has closed off the borders of our Skylands to the rest of the world so that no-one can leave or enter, but those two are only the offshoots of his true agenda," Ozone's dark glare then hardened, "His true and central agenda involved the establishment of a cult he has called the Cult of the Lion in our area, claiming that Aslan had told him to do this."
"You're KIDDING us," Obi Wan retorted in disbelief. Thunderbolt shot the Grey Man a look and gazed back at the tall Cloud-Man.
"Aslan would NOT approve of such an act," put in Quaoar, "And certainly NOT from a Nine-Tailed Fox. We are SUPPOSED to be Aslan-loyal creatures, especially in the Nine-Tailed stage such as myself and Siveth."
The others exchanged looks and Bentley the Giant looked on, not wanting to believe what he was hearing from the two Skyland escapees. However, based on the looks of the Cloud-Man and Cherub's faces, what they were saying was all true.
"How did some 'Aslan' appear to Kurama and tell him to establish this blasphemous cult?" asked Moana. Ozone continued.
"Based on the Kitsune's own account, he had had a powerful spiritual encounter with the Lion in the form of an incredibly vivid vision while visiting the Northern Tundra down here on the Land Domain and in that vision, the Lion told him to establish a cult in his name in Asgard Sky City and get ABSOLUTELY everyone within it to join and follow it WITHOUT question. The 'Lion' also told Kurama to rewrite the Book of Narnia, Aslan's written word, and give it a major overhaul as it is wrong. Shortly after taking over Asgard and the surrounding Skylands after killing King Lightning-Bolt and his family, Kurama had done just that and had had the inhabitants throw out the TRUE Book of Narnia so that they can be replaced with copies of the false one."
"Every single household MUST have this copy WITHOUT question," added Glitterwing, "And if ANY copy of the original, and right, Book of Narnia is found, that household is punished severely."
"That's just part of Kurama's dictatorial cult," continued Ozone, "You see, Kurama has practically forced everyone in the Asgard Sky City area into following him and this false Aslan without question, objection or hesitation, even if it is wrong, including studying this counterfeit Book of Narnia Kurama had written and made hundreds of copies of. To add, anyone who has any desire to do things for Aslan must go to Kurama to discuss it with him. If they don't fit in with Kurama's cult rules, they are forced to reject those desires and follow with Kurama's vision for them instead."
"Even if their desire was given by the TRUE Aslan?" asked Bentley in a low voice so as not to rattle the air and the ears of his smaller friends.
"Yes," said Ozone.
"Basically, the evil Nine-Tailed Fox has established a set of EXTREMELY strict rules which he claimed Aslan told him and they are written in his counterfeit book. Other rules include the strict curfew, no-one leaving the boundaries of the area or making contact with ANYONE outside Asgard and the surrounding towns and sky countryside," added Glitterwing, "and strictly scheduled group gatherings that everyone MUST attend. The gatherings have a list of rules everyone must follow as well; giving a sum of money to Kurama and his higher ranking assistants and listening to the fake Aslan sermons preached by him or one of his assistants to name a couple. There are other rules Kurama had written and it would take too long to describe all of them but they are all anti-Aslan. Disobedience in ANY way to ANY of the rules would result in SERIOUS punishment, even death. So to ensure these rules are followed and enforced; Kurama has stationed powerful guards around the boundaries to our city, towns and sky countries to prevent anyone from leaving or from outsiders from entering. Even use of the Bifrost Transporter and other modes of quick transport such as Flying Saucers, Sky Carriages and the Magic Carpets have been restricted. One restriction of their use is the 'special trips and missions only' restriction."
"That explains why we have detected limited Bifrost Transporter activity with our Flying Saucer," said Crasher Wake, "And also the absence of interchange within the area with the outside world."
"Go on," Quaoar said, the others listening.
"What are the results from Kurama's establishment of this detestable 'Cult of the Lion' and turning Asgard Sky City and its surrounding areas and rigging their system into a dictatorial one?" asked Thunderbolt.
"Oh, TERRIBLE results," Ozone replied, "For eighteen months, everyone except Kurama and his group had been suffering greatly. One consequence is food shortage for most of them as like everything else in the area; the distribution of food is strictly controlled by Kurama and his group. Food is given to the people ONLY if they follow his cult rules. Another is frustration at not being allowed to leave your home freely due to the strict curfew and for a few months, Kurama had kept us confined to our homes with VERY few exceptions on leaving them, such as going to the cult meetings and to get food. Being confined to our homes had caused a LOT of hassle for a LOT of us during that horrific time. For example, a family of a friend of mine, a Talking Sky Whale, had been having frequent arguments and fights due to the severe restrictions. There is also frustration with getting jobs, buying food, and what to teach the younger generation especially regarding Aslan and the history of Narnia. That confinement to our homes had also affected the younger members of the population. Being not allowed to freely go out and play and been UTTERLY frustrating for them and many had been forced to seek entertainment via the crystalline pads."
"It's honestly like trying to breathe in a narrow crevice," said Glitterwing with dread, "And that is not all that is driving the frustration and desperation of the people of Asgard and its surrounding areas. Here's where another sickening method of exploitation Kurama has established comes in. Kurama has invented a sickening game series based on a set of children's games but with a detestable twist and with a large some of cumulonimbi (Sky Domain currency equivalent to the lions and trees and other divisions on the Land Domain. The Sky Domain inhabitants used cloud types for their currency) targeted at the TRULY desperate groups. The participants play these games but if they disobey the rules or fail to make it to the end in the allotted time, they lose their lives. Only one participant can win the VAST sum of prize money. The deceased's bodies are then used for heinous things and the prize money is increased by 1000 cumulonimbi."
Quaoar stood there, his mouth agape while on the ground, Morla, Naihanchi, Moana, Crimsonandil and the others looked on appalled. This was ABSOLUTELY not right at all.
"All that sounds incredibly like the detestable Massacre Event games the White Witch invented during the Age of Winter as a means to further oppress the inhabitants in the areas she had taken over and ruled for a century," said Crimsonandil, "And like that Massacre Event, there was a prize of a better life in the form of moving into better housing and being given better food."
"Sounds eerily similar, doesn't it?" asked Obi Wan.
"And even more disturbingly, from a Nine-Tailed Fox," put in Crasher Wake.
"Do you know what has become of my twin sister Siveth?" asked Quaoar, "Obi Wan down there has been asking me after her," he nodded to the Grey Man from the rock for he was stood at the lower elevation.
"She was supposed to have turned up to the Narnian Moon those months ago," Obi Wan called to Ozone.
"We don't know, we hadn't been allowed to enter downtown Asgard City to find out due to Kurama's EXTREMELY strict and oppressive rules," replied Ozone, "But I believe she may be either held captive or is forced to stay in her stay-place for FAR longer due to Kurama's banning of leaving Asgard, especially with the confinement rules bestowed upon all of us."
"Quaoar, that sounds VERY serious," said Morla.
"Indeed it is, Morla, and on so many levels but even that is an understatement," Quaoar replied seriously before he turned to Ozone and Glitterwing, "Listen, you two, it's clear that the REAL Aslan has allowed you to escape with your lives from that corrupt Nine-Tailed Fox's cult and oppressive dictatorship he has established in Asgard Sky City and the surrounding areas and to come ALL the way down here to tell us what has happened up there but I think it's time we paid Asgard Sky City a visit and investigated why EXACTLY Kurama has established this abominable cult and also unearth some possibly plans he may be cooking up to further his corrupt and VILE cult, if any..."
As he spoke, two Big Cats, a colourful one and a pure white one with pure black stripes slashing through his snowy pelt came in, serious looks on their faces. Quaoar and the others including Obi Wan, Ozone and Glitterwing turned to Aang and Caesium as they entered.
"It had NOT been easy in interrogating those five suspects over their murderous deeds against that group of human travellers and their families for they had been stubborn and uncooperative but we have managed to get something out of them," Caesium said seriously.
"They have replied that their headquarters are nowhere on the Land Domain and is instead somewhere else," added Aang, "But they wouldn't state exactly where, though."
"Um, about that," said Glitterwing, "I believe these bands of murderous Talking Beasts going around down here on the Land Domain killing humans like dumb beasts could be from Kurama's group. Before Ozone and I left our closed-off town, we overheard a Talking Bear, one of Kurama's guards, mention how well some hunters are doing on the Land with those 'filthy bipeds maggots'..."
"Then THAT is the connection we have been looking for," said Quaoar, "But we still need connection to these Garden of Youth-based Wish Potions being sold. Have you managed to overhear anything regarding these?"
Ozone and Glitterwing replied with headshakes. However, Quaoar did not react with frustration but he exhibited controlled anger. Turned to Caesium and Aang, he ordered, "Get those two Bears, Croc and those two Wolves incarcerated and make sure that they do NOT escape. If any of them do, put them to death on the spot and without hesitation. I do NOT want ANY more human lives being endangered by their jaws."
Caesium and Aang nodded obediently and left to see to the task. Turning to Naihanchi, Quaoar commanded, "You send word via communicator to the search-and-capture groups to continue their task but this time, they MUST safeguard any human travelling about our country and intervene if any of these groups of murderous Talking Beasts are either planning on attacking them or ARE attacking them. It could even mean taking some of those rogue Talking Beasts' lives but it is for the safety of their innocent human victims."
Naihanchi obediently left to find the communicator to contact these groups and pass on the orders. Quaoar then turned to the rest of the group gathered.
"I'm going to arrange another meeting sometime later once Naihanchi, Caesium and Aang have carried out their commands," said the Kitsumiho, "But in the meantime, we need to get ready for our trip to Asgard Sky City," turning to Obi Wan, he commanded, "So Obi Wan, can you get your Flying Saucer ready please?"
Obi Wan nodded and left to do just that with Crasher Wake and his Lumino, Insect Rabbit-Dog and Grey and Green Man accompaniers following him.
"We may have to find some other way to enter the close off area, though, Quaoar," said Obi Wan, "We will not be able to enter Asgard directly."
"Yes, incoming outsiders may be shot down by Kurama's watchers," said Ozone.
"Not to mention the fact that you will not be able to use the Bifrost Transporter," added Glitterwing.
"Then we'll have to find an area in the Sky Domain where Kurama has not closed off," said Quaoar, "But we'll discuss this later. We need to get prepared for the trip first," he then ordered Glitterwing and Ozone to help Obi Wan's group to prepare the Flying Saucer and also figure out an area of the Skylands that Kurama has not yet touched and the pair left to do just that. Bentley the Giant also followed to see if he could do anything to help, his large feet slightly shaking the earth with every step. Once he was left alone, Quaoar himself left to gather a few items of his own for the trip which will not go ahead until after the next important meeting. There were also other things to do first such as establishing a temporary takeover group to look after the community while he was away.