Through the Looking Glass Part Two:
"Elven friends," Zubeia addressed Tua, Hestia, Hakucho and Drayleen. "You must go to your homes and warn them of what's to come. Tell them to beware of dark riders,".
"You have our word, great dragon queen," Hestia bowed.
"But with all due respect, we wish to protect Caroline, for she is our friend," Tua gently requested with deep loyalty.
"The queen is right, guys," Carol joined them in a circle. "You all need to warn your homes and families, and I will be alright,".
"Okay. But please let us know if you all need our help," Hakucho requested.
"Soren," Tua called to him. "Look after her,".
"Don't worry. I will," he promised, giving Carol a side hug. Raylan, nearby, was venting with jealousy. Stella screeched, and it took her person's constant stroking to keep her from attacking his former enemy from two years ago.
"Drayleen, I need to ask you to go and protect Ethari," Carol implored. "And you must warn Queen Janai and Aunt Amaya of this threat,".
"Don't worry. I will warn my home, then go straight to them at once,".
"I have seen in my head a vision of conflict between humans and elves in the camp," Willow announced. "And Ethari and our Aunt Amaya will need your help to straighten it out,".
"I will gladly do that, princess," Drayleen bowed.
"Good luck, young riders," Zubeia bid. The elves mounted their dragons and took off as a pack, all their human friends and allies waving out to them with hope.
The Sunfire brothers wiped their eyes and saw the embers were starting to get a bit vigorous. "The candle flame must burn through the night," Yonnis said.
"Then I will get Sunus. Her wings will stop the embers from spreading,". He walked off to go find their dragon.
"Put out the flame!" shouted two voices. Yonnis turned and saw the hefty husband and wife running towards him with waving hands.
"Put it out," Lucia ordered. "Or you'll set the whole camp on fire,".
Yonnis blocked them from the soul flame. "No!".
"What are you? Deaf?" Tom insulted. "Put out that flame! Now!".
"What place do two very rude humans have telling me what to do?".
"We are the architects who designed this camp, and we built half of it with our own hands. Open flames are off limits,"
Ethari was enjoying a peaceful sit-down. He was about to head back to his tent when he heard loud shouting from nearby. Tents were waking up, and people were swarming outside to see what the whole commotion was about. He decided to investigate.
"My mother passed away today. This is her spirit flame. It has to burn through the night so that at dawn, her spirit can return to the light of the Sun," Yonnis's explanation was not heeded.
"You are giving us a headache," Tom ranted impatiently. "Nothing gets to burn through the night,".
"Please!" Yonnis begged. "My brother is getting her dragon so she can shield the soul flame's embers, and nothing will burn. I promise, there won't be a single spark or ember,".
Still, the stubborn architects refused to leave him in peace. "No! We can't endanger everyone's lives because of your superstition!". Lucia's insults hurt Yonnis terribly. The elves who had gathered glared darkly at Lucia for insulting their cultural custom.
"Don't you gawk at my wife like that!" Tom warned.
"She has no respect for our ways," a mother shouted.
"Make her apologise to Yonnis,". A father warned.
Carol, Soren and Caldor walked up to the looking glass. "There it is, the mirror,".
Soren looked at it with grim eyes. "My father was so obsessed with it,".
"That's why he interrogated Runaan about this,". As she mentioned his name, Soren hung his head. "I know what he did …,".
"You can't keep keeping this a secret from your siblings. If you don't tell them sooner or later, and they find out through Willow's visions or something ….
"Soren," Caldor hissed. "Don't make it harder for us as it already is,"
Soren growled at himself and shut his eyes. "I'm sorry, Carol. I just… I know your father, if he were alive, couldn't bear for you three to fall apart when you all need each other for what's about to happen,".
"I know. And I'll tell them soon," she repeated her promise. "I just need to find out how to. But for now, what we're facing is more important,".
"Carol made Ethari a promise, and she intends to keep it," Caldor said firmly. "Now, let's load this mirror onto Pyrrah," he lifted the mirror with ease. Carol packed her most important items in her knapsack: her spell book, her birthfather's journal, her sketchbook and an empty journal.
"Do you always have to take so many books?" her best human friend complained.
"Absolutely,". Carol pulled on her new blue cloak and buckled her dagger present to her hip. She then went to the corner and grabbed her mother's spear. She stared into its golden blade reflection. She never imagined she'd have to use it again after that great battle but with what was about to happen, she was desperate to wield it again as she did before.
They loaded the mirror onto the red dragon. "Carol, you should sit with your siblings and Benji on Zubeia,". Caldor suggested.
"I can fly on my own,". She assured.
"You must be exhausted from before. The least you can do is rest your arms,". Soren advised.
"Fine. But Raylan has to fly on his dragon or sit away from me,". She turned her arms into wings and shot off.
Soren and Caldor exchanged sad looks. "It's gonna take some time. They just have to work things through," the Crownguard said.
Moono and his elves eyed the group, leaving Katolis by air. "It seems we'll have to take matters into our hands differently,".
"My lord," an elf informed. A Moonshadow elf is with the queen. He passed the king a telescope, and he glanced through.
He saw long white hair flying in the wind in a braid ponytail, much like Runaan's. "Raylan," he seethed. "He thought he could keep us sidetracked, but he couldn't. When they come back to Katolis, we'll get him as well. And he can watch his girl be killed in front of him,".
Zubeia, Pyrrah and some of the recovered Sky Dragons flew across the night sky. Raylan, of course, rode Thaisan, and his dragon tried to keep him beside the queen so he could see Carol. But Carol didn't send a glance over to him much to his sorrow. Soren and Caldor rode Pyrrah with the looking glass.
"Caldor asked to come because there's something he wants to tell us. About why he left the Cult and how they came to be,". Carol informed. "But he thinks it's best if Zubeia explains first who Aaravos actually is,".
The children, including Benji, desperately wanted answers because nothing Ibis mentioned in his message made a lot of sense. "So, this Fallen Star person who's returning, if they're a Fallen Star, was there a time when they were just a star?" Ezran asked their carrier awkwardly.
"His name is Aaravos. And yes, he was a star. A Startouch Elf. One of the Great Ones, respected and loved by all until we uncovered long-hidden treachery,".
" 'Long-hidden treachery'?" Willow repeated. As she spoke, Caldor, sitting further back, closed his eyes, his mind flashing with dark memories.
"I will explain everything,". And so Zubeia began the story. "Hundreds of years ago, before Avizandum and I became king and queen of the dragons, Xadia was ruled by the Archdragons of the Moon: Umbroradii and his mate Luna Tenabris. But one day, Luna and their unhatched egg mysteriously died. Consumed by grief at losing his mate and unborn heir, Umbroradii hid himself from the world, stepping down as king. But without him to lead us, the other Archdragons fought bitterly over who should ascend in his place. As the conflict swirled into inevitable violence that threatened to tear the land apart, the great leader of the Sunfire Elves, Queen Aditi, stepped in to broker peace. The Archdragons trusted this wise and kind leader and agreed to abide by whatever she decided. But before she could bring peace to the world…Queen Aditi went missing,"
"Missing?" breathed Willow, her face turning pale as she remembered dreaming of a Sunfire Queen.
"No one knows what happened to her. But the world faced greater conflict, as the elves believed the dragons had killed her. But the truth came from an unexpected source. A young human girl. A dangerous deceiver was revealed: It was one of the Great Ones, the Startouch elf: Aaravos! For a thousand years, Aaravos had been pulling invisible strings like a puppet master. Every great crisis the world faced seemed the work of some ingenious and powerful leader. But in each case, it was secretly Aaravos...whispering in their ear,".
Aaravos had been the one orchestrating all these conflicts, every war, every crisis, every loss. It was here who had started the wars. And now he was returning to continue what he had started.
Claudia was snoring loudly. So were the three other brothers. Viren was asleep, too, glad he could have some peace. However, Terry's constant sniffling kept Castor awake. The green-haired elf walked to the entrance to be alone, but the Cult leader would not let him. "Why are you crying, Earthblood elf?" he asked.
"That Skywing elf. I don't think he wanted to hurt us. I mean, we were stealing from the Spire. And all those riders …".
"They had something that belonged to your girlfriend's father, in case you've forgotten,".
"But there had to be another way!" Terry's shouts nearly woke up the camp. "Killing people doesn't get us anywhere. It leads to nothing but revenge and more revenge,".
Castor narrowed his eyes. "Did someone tell you that?".
"Yes. A human girl who travelled through Xadia years ago searching for her lost love and learning magic,".
Castor knew exactly who she was talking about. "Hear my words, boy. You have never seen elves as they truly are. You don't know how cruel and oppressive they truly are. And dragons are just as bad. The Sun Archdragon destroyed my life. My brothers' life. We lost our parents because of Sol Regem and his arrogance. So why should we not expect elves and dragons to attack us when we do what is necessary to complete our goals? So, unless you wanna get yourself hurt, I suggest you go along with what we do. Never, ever question my actions again," he warned.
Terry gulped.
Castor walked back inside. He pulled out a locket and opened it. Inside was a small painting of himself amongst his brothers. And Aaravos was above them. "Hold on, Father. We're going to free you,". He concentrated on one particular facet of the shortest in the group and narrowed his eyebrows. "She may have escaped us today. But she will fulfil her purpose,".
Ethari was gently pushing his way through the crowd of elves and humans. Meanwhile, Lucia was pettily groaning. "You ungrateful elves. We humans are here to help you rebuild! Put the flame out. Put the flame out!"
Yonnis begged her to leave. "I can't do it. I told you, I can't,".
"Either move aside, or I move you," Tom threatened.
When Yonnis refused, he marched forward, but Ethari blocked Tom and pushed him away. "Hey, stop that! Leave him alone,".
"How dare you touch me," the moment Tom and his wife took a clearer look at the white-haired elf.
"Oh, look a Moonshadow elf. The worst kind," Tom snapped. "Just like his wretched kind who came to Katolis years ago to kill our king,".
"My people sought to bring justice for a great wrong done to Xadia," Ethari defended. "Now leave the elf's soul flame alone,".
"If he won't put it out, I will," Lucia grabbed a bucket.
"No! Don't!" Ethari tried to stop her, but Tom wrestled him off. Yonnis tried once again to stop Lucia, but …. Splash! The sacred candle was snuffed out, lightless, appalling the crowd.
Yonnis dropped to his knees, crying. Ethari, shaken with guilt, tried to comfort him. He glared at the two humans. "Do you not realise what you have done?".
"My wife stopped that candle from burning up the camp," Tom retorted.
"You have disturbed a sacred ritual. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Look at this poor elf,".
"What is going on? Why is the candle out?" Sunus appeared with Cyrus. People shuffled aside, and Sunus's hands flew over his mouth. He eyed his heartbroken brother and saw Lucia holding a wet bucket. His fingers curled into his palm. His skin glowed bright, and his eyes flashed red.
Lucia became scared. "Tom …,".
Before Tom could react, Sunus launched at his wife and grabbed her hands, burning them. Lucia screamed, and tears streamed down her face as her hands burned red and the bucket lit on fire.
"Lucia!". Tom grabbed another bucket and threw it over Sunus, who fell to the floor in pain. Yonnis, outraged by his brother's pain, tried to stop Tom, but the architect kicked him back. But he made a big mistake.
Cyrus roared, standing on her feet and fanning her mighty wings. The people screamed and scurried. And slash!
Tom fell back beside his wife, clutching his wound. Blood leaked between his fingers. Cyrus tried again to attack them, but Ethari quickly got up and held his hands out. "Easy girl!" he shouted. "Don't make this worse,".
Cyrus, recognising him, calmed down. Warveth and Gren arrived on the scene. "What is going on here?" the mage demanded.
Yonnis and Ethari helped Sunus stand up. "That blasphemer extinguished our mother's soul flame!" the former pointed to Tom, who was helping his still-crying wife up.
"That fire was destroying the camp!" the husband ranted. "Then their dragon tried to kill me!".
"You attacked my brother!" Yonnis defended.
"He burnt my wife!" Tom yelped at Cyrus's sharp teeth, biting him for what he and his wife had done.
"Stop! All of you!" Gren ordered.
"Because of their callousness and disrespect, our mother's spirit will be lost forever," Yonnis cried. "She deserves to be punished,".
"You must inform the queen at once," demanded Sunus.
"I will sort this out," Warveth promised. "But until then. Keep your distance, all of you. What you have done tonight shouldn not have happened. It is a fire that must be extinguished,".
Tom, cradling Lucia in his arms, glared at the elves. "You pay for what you've done to us. And you," he pointed at Ethari. "You'll be sorry you ever intervened,"
Warveth pointed his staff at him. "This Moonshadow elf is our guest, and you do well to remember you both are guilty of causing this feud,".
"Guilty? Look at my hands" Lucia cried angrily.
"I will bandage them,".
"No. Keep your filthy hands away from my wife. I can look after her myself better than you can,". Tom guided Lucia away, but as they did, dark gazes were glued to them from the faces of angry Sunfire Elves.
After all that Zubeia had told them about Aaravos, the siblings became desperate for answers. "If these leaders were ingenious, why were they listening to someone so evil whispering in their ear?" Ezran wondered.
"Aaravos was able to give them something they wanted very badly. He chose as his instruments people who had strong minds and strong hearts... but who had an insatiable thirst and fascination with magic. " Zubeia's grim voice sent tingles down Carol's spine. She pulled out the Key of Aaravos from her pocket and spun it in the air. "Aaravos could offer them access to the great mysteries of the universe,".
"Mage," Raylan's guess was correct.
"Yes. Mages were his prey,".
"How did you all stop him?" Willow asked.
"A Startouch Elf is no ordinary enemy. Our adversary was a being from the heavens with vast and mysterious powers. Even after Avizandum and I allied ourselves with the other Archdragons, we could not risk a direct confrontation. We had to beat Aaravos at his own game. We could not let on that we knew of his crimes and treachery. We had to conspire, plot, and deceive this deceiver so that at the exact right moment, he would lower his guard, and we could imprison him forever. A magical prison was created, meant to hold this villain for eternity. Part of its power is that no one knows where it is. Each of the Archdragons had a clue, a piece of the puzzle, but not one of them had the complete picture. Avizandum was given an enchanted looking glass so he could keep watch on Aaravos and make sure he remained trapped and helpless".
Carol was consumed by fear. She cuddled Felix and Ghost close. Aaravos was the elf in the mirror. Her siblings saw her panic. "Carol?" Ezran asked. "What's wrong?".
"Yesterday, I was investigating the looking glass with no knowledge of what it actually was. And when I made everything go dark so that it could show me the image of what there was on the other side, I saw him. And he knew who I was,".
"It's alright, sis," Willow rubbed her back. "He can't harm you. He's in the prison. But we must ask you, why were you investigating that looking glass? Why didn't you return it to Zubeia the moment you found it?".
Carol bit her lip. She couldn't tell them of her promise. It would hurt them, and they had to stick together for what was to come. Before the siblings could wonder why she was so quiet, Yonas shouted: "The Spire!" from the dragon he and Caelus were riding on.
Under the night sky, they saw the top of the Spire above the clouds. "Someone's up there!" Raylan shouted. But when they got closer and closer and saw who it was …
"Ibis!" Carol flew off Zubeia and shot down to the platform, Felix sitting on her back and Ghost flying beside her. She landed beside the bleeding body of Ibis and cradled his head. "No," her lips quivered, and her tears rained.
"Ibis!" Yonas flew down to him and saw his weeping batfish, picking him to cuddle. "Oh, my dear friend. What happened?". His pet screeched tearfully. "Come on, Ibis. Say something," he begged.
"It's too late," his friend cried, placing his head down gently. "He's gone,". Yonas sobbed, and his wet face fell against Carol's chest as she cried into his hair. Felix and Ghost shut their eyes. Zubeia hovered in front of them as she was too big to land. Ezran and Willow's hands flew over their mouth. Ezran scrunched his eyes and embraced his weeping sister. Caldor covered Benji's eyes so he and Pliph couldn't see the hurting sight.
Zym flew down and purred, pressing his head against Ibis's unmoving chest.
Raylan jumped off Thaisan and fell to his knees. "I am so sorry, Zym," he stroked the dragon, and Zym accepted his offered hug. Earlier, he was so angry at Raylan for abandoning Carol that he didn't want to speak to him. But right now, he was too heartbroken to reject this act of comfort.
Caelus closed his eyes and pulled off his cape, draping it over Ibis's body. "Rest in peace, my dear friend,".
"My Queen!" another Skywing elf shouted. Zubeia descended through the clouds and saw bodies sprawling on the plains below the spire. Her mouth dropped at the sight of such a massacre.
Hours passed, and everyone was silent. Carol sat away from every one, with only Felix, Ghost and the Adoraburrs for company. Raylan, keeping his distance, stroked Zym for hours.
"I can't believe he's gone," Yonas wept, Caelus holding him in his arms whilst he cuddled his batfish.
"Ibis was more than a great mage. He was a great friend," Ezran wiped his face. Bait croaked sadly, and Serena rubbed her face against Ezran's to comfort. Pyrrah growled softly, and Willow kept stroking her scales, hoping the affectionate touches could make her tears go away.
"He was indeed a beloved friend," Zubeia lamented. "And those Skywing soldiers laid down their lives trying to stop our enemies from gaining that staff. They must be avenged. The world will face cascades of heartbreak and loss if we don't stop Aaravos,".
The name haunted Carol's mind again. She stood up and walked out of the chambers. Raylan tried to follow her, but Soren stopped him. "She needs to be alone for a while. Let her be,".
Stella chittered sadly, agreeing with him. Raylan sighed and nodded. He went back to sitting next to Zym so he could keep comforting him. Caldor licked his lips and stood up. "I know this isn't the best time. But I need to tell you all now, or I may never tell you now. I wish to talk with just Ezran, Willow and Soren,".
Zubeia nodded, and the three named humans and Bait and Serena followed him into another chamber. "Caldor, whatever you tell us, we will not think any less of you," Ezran promised.
Carol and her animals were behind a hidden corner. And she could hear their voices very clearly.
"We will not tell anyone anything you tell us this night," Willow promised.
"Thank you. It has been many years since I last talked to anyone about this. Your mother, Sarai, and Aunt Amaya were the only ones to know until now,".
"Then let's get to it. How do you know Aaravos so well?". Soren asked.
He closed his eyes as dark memories resurfaced in his mind. "Because he raised me,"
The group were flabbergasted. "It was he who taught me and my brothers magic, all primal magics. And dark magic,"
"What?" breathed the young children together, eying each other in terror.
"Did you know who he was?" Soren narrowed his eyes.
"No," Caldor confessed with guilt. "Not until after he was imprisoned,"
"Wait a minute…" Ezran said suddenly. "That would make you…hundreds of years old,". No confirmation was needed.
"How did you become like this?" Willow asked.
Caldor sat down on some steps, Skyros perching on his shoulder. "It all began a thousand years ago when Sol Regem, the Sun King, had destroyed a human city called Elarion that once stood in Xadia. Many humans died when he destroyed the city due to Ziard's actions of refusing to give up on dark magic, which humanity needed to survive. My brothers and I were the only survivors. We wandered alone as helpless orphans,".
(A thousand years ago)
Young Caldor, his four older brothers and his younger brother wandered in the wilderness alone, tired, hungry, and thirsty…they collapsed on rocks. They lay there for hours, unable to do anything. As they regained consciousness, Caldor saw the youngest of their family wheezing terribly, his sickness taking hold. "Callum?".
"I can't… can't breathe,". He lost his strength.
"Callum!" Caldor caught his brother, who passed out in his arms. "We've got to hurry, guys. If we don't find help soon, he's not gonna make it,".
"But where are we gonna go?" Tellus asked. "There's no human settlement for miles,".
"And that dragon could come back again," Laius panicked.
"He'll die," Caldor cradled his brother in tears.
Castor bent before him and hugged them both. "We've already lost our parents. We're not gonna lose anyone else,".
"Guys…" Delmar was looking outwards, frozen like a statue. "Someone is coming,". Quickly, Castor picked up a large stick and moved in front of his family. "Come out! I've got a stick, and I'm not afraid to use it,".
Twigs snapped closer, and a black-cloaked person appeared. He had sparkly purple skin.
"It's an elf!" Laius shouted.
"Don't be afraid," the purple elf genuflected. "I won't harm either of you,".
"But you're an elf," Caldor freaked out. "And elves and dragons hate humans. They persecute them,"
"Not me. I love humans,".
"You're a liar!" Caldor swung his stick at the elf, but the elf grabbed it gently.
"Please calm down,".
"Why should we believe you? After a dragon just destroyed our home!".
"You mean that Sun Dragon?" Aaravos spoke with disgust. The boys glanced at him with enchanting shock. "Oh no. I promise you, children, my hatred for that dragon runs deeper even than yours,".
"That can't be true," Tellus denied. "That dragon destroyed our home. Took away our family,".
"You're not the only one who lost a loved one because of that monster,". The way he spoke, the children were touched. Castor lowered his guard. "What is wrong with your brother there?".
"He's sick," Castor cried. "Can you help him?".
"Bring him to me,". The boys tried to move Callum, but Caldor kept a protective grip over him. "I promise you I won't harm,".
"Please, Ihar," Castor begged. "He's Callum's only hope,".
Against his better judgement but choosing love over doubt, Caldor gently laid Callum in front of the purple elf, who pulled out a secret ingredient and chanted an ancient incantation.
Purple magic flowed into Callum's throat, and his eyes opened. He breathed heavily. "You're alive!" Caldor embraced him. "It worked!".
Aaravos smiled as he watched the youngest of six embraced by his loved ones. "What happened?" Callum coughed.
"It was this elf," Laius cheered. "He healed you,".
Callum blinked at the kind elf. "Thank you," he coughed.
"No child like you should have ever had to die so young. Come on now. We must leave before the dragon comes back," Aaravos genuflected and picked the six-year-old boy, who was still a little weak, into his arms. "Rest, little one. I'm going to take you all somewhere safe,". The kid yawned and fell asleep again. "Follow me," he offered a hand, and Castor took it. He guided the orphans safely through the forest away from the ruined city.
So Caldor, Caster and the brothers were raised by Aaravos. How shocking. What did you all think?
And Raylan is jealous of Soren. Oh dear. And thank you, everyone, for the ideas of this chapter, including the former Moon Archdragon king. He will make his first appearance in Season 6. And don't worry about Tua and the others. They will appear again soon. I just didn't want to be writing too many characters in one scene. Spoiler: Tua and (perhaps Hestia as well) will appear in Umber Tor and the Drakewood forest.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I have enjoyed writing it. The next part should be up very soon. I can't believe 2024 is ending, and 2025 will be beginning shortly. See you all soon. And if I don't update you on New Year's Eve, I wish you all a Happy New Year.