Chapter 11- Quaoar's mission starts
"Ever since Kurama took over our home in the Sky Domain," Ozone explained, his cloudy hand clutching the page with the image of the rogue Nine-Tailed Fox, "Some of us, such as myself and Glitterwing have been trying to escape Asgard to seek help to put a stop to his evil cult but we kept getting caught, incarcerated and tortured by Kurama's assistants and guards for disobedience. We were VERY rarely allowed to attend the Gathering House for the regular cult services but we have never seen Siveth."
"Due to us being preoccupied with trying to escape Asgard Sky City or being held in a prison or our own homes throughout most of the year and the half Kurama had been in power since usurping the throne," put in Glitterwing before the female Cherub turned her gaze to the picture of Kurama held by Ozone and sighed. The listeners including Quaoar, Obi Wan, Crasher Wake, Naihanchi the Nekomata, Morla the Black Tortoise, Crimsonandil the Vermillion Bird, Moana the Azure Dragon and Aang the White Tiger looked on.
"Do you know anything of Kurama's earlier life?" asked Quaoar.
"Or even his life before he turned Nine-Tailed?" asked Naihanchi.
"We have not heard much of Kurama's earlier life or much of his pre-Nine-Tailed life as, like we've said before, we have been frequently confined to our homes or the prison for trying to escape," said Ozone, "But during one trial following my capture during one escape attempt, Kurama explained to me that he and his family and village were ravaged by a group of humans called Telmarines centuries ago, resulting in a nasty famine hitting his village and the forced consumption of some of their fellow villagers due the severe food shortage. It was at that time that he turned against the real Aslan and forsook him and it also lead to his hatred of humans. Maybe that's what partly lead Kurama to go downhill?"
When Quaoar heard these words, he drifted into thought as this sounded familiar.
"What is it, Quaoar?" asked Obi Wan.
"That sounds eerily similar to what happened to Goldleaf Village which would have been my and Siveth's birthplace and home," said he, "It was violently invaded and pillaged by a group of Telmarines leading to the inhabitants hastily evacuating, among them our Kitsune mother Leia. During the evacuation, she gave birth to us. She told us about it on her deathbed when we were approaching our one hundredth birthday..."
"What happened to your father?" asked Naihanchi.
"Our Kumiho father Branco died while helping the inhabitants, including his wife and our mother, to escape, and to ensure my and Siveth's survival," said Quaoar, "Thus we had NEVER seen our original home throughout our long lives. Leia told us the reason why that band of humans destroyed our village was not known. Only our Kirin leader would have known but he was killed by the Telmarines during his meeting with them."
"We may have had sparse incidences of a group of Telmarines roaming our territory throughout the Dark Age period but they had since decreased to almost zero," said Caesium the Chroma Cat, "I just hope that they are staying within the boundaries of their own country..."
"Do you know if Kurama has any plans regarding the future of his cult?" asked Naihanchi. Ozone and Glitterwing shook their heads to reply nonverbally that they didn't.
"All we know is that he has turned our home into a base for his wicked false Aslan cult," said the former.
"And has corrupted EVERY fabric of our society with it," added Glitterwing, "But one of the WORST things Kurama has created when he established his cult is these worship services he has ordered to take place at Asgard Sky City Gathering House and ONLY that Gathering House, every Seventh Day. The Gathering House is only big enough for the citizens of Asgard but those outside the city had been forced to go there resulting in it becoming overfull each week."
"Worship services?" asked Morla the Black Tortoise. Near him, Moana and Crimsonandil exchanged looks and shrugged while nearby, Bentley the Giant looked on.
"Yes," said Glitterwing before a look of disgust crossed her face, "He has turned Asgard's Gathering House into some sort of AWFUL party centre where everyone is allowed to dance madly as though at a wild party. Ozone and I have only attended a few of the gatherings but during those times, Kurama had used some sort of smoke to make it more enjoyable..."
"What colour was this smoke and what did it look like?" asked Quaoar.
"Was it some sort of party steam intended for aesthetic effect?" asked Crimsonandil.
"Kurama does use party smoke but that's white," said Ozone, "But this smoke is another sort of smoke."
Then Glitterwing's face fell as regret took her over as she began to explain what that smoke was, describe its appearance and what it did to those that inhaled it. "This smoke was gold coloured and saturated with golden star-like bits. I think it was deployed by some sort of source but we can't remember what it is but... but..."
"But what?" asked Quaoar.
"When that golden smoke with the stars is inhaled, it makes you greatly elated," Glitterwing explained, "It's like... it's like you're flying as HIGH as the Celestial Domain. You feel euphoric... heavenly... dreamy... sort of like a manic happiness... and you start dancing like an ABSOLUTE maniac. It's like being ABSOLUTELY drunk and up in the clouds. However, extreme euphoria isn't the only effect this smoke has on you when you inhale it. For some, it is EXTREME sadness and sobbing and for some more, drowsiness and for yet some more, other effects such as hallucinations and terror; for still some more, a combination of these effects. For me when I inhaled the gas, it was the feeling of being drunk and acting drunk and laughing uncontrollably..." she then bowed her head in shame over her stupid behaviour while under the influence of the gas.
"That golden star swathe gas is VERY potent even in small amounts," said Ozone, "It's hard to explain but essentially, all your rational thinking goes when you inhale take just one small puff of the stuff. This stuff can also cause you to see things that aren't there or even behave like a dumb animal, as well as make you suddenly drop to sleep. I suffered from these effects and pretended to be a domestic housecat. Then I passed out but when I woke up (I couldn't tell how long I have been out cold but it must have been a few hours), I couldn't remember what happened but I felt an ENORMOUS weight of guilt in my head..."
As the Cloud-Man and Cherub explained the effects of the golden glitter gas, Quaoar and the other listeners exchanged dreaded looks.
"Has anyone at ALL heard of this kind of gas?" asked Thunderbolt the Raiju. As the group continued to talk, one of Obi Wan's Grey Man assistants came in to speak with the lead Grey Man about the Flying Saucer.
"Is the Flying Saucer ready to go?" asked Obi Wan to the assistant. As he asked the assistant, Quaoar gave his answer.
"I've heard of other gases such as the Blinding Smoke and Red Sleeping Gas Potion but NEVER this," said the male Kitsumiho.
"It sounds similar to the latter but the only effect Red Sleeping Gas Potion does is put you into a vivid-nightmare-saturated sleep," said Moana.
"But the effects of the golden glitter gas seem to be similar to the Red Sleeping Gas Potion but with a LOT more to it than just putting the inhaler to sleep," added Morla. The other listeners also shook their heads including those part of Obi Wan's group including Crasher Wake the Star man to show that they had NEVER heard of this golden glitter gas at all.
"I don't think anyone of us has EVER encountered such stuff," said Naihanchi, "Not even Quaoar who is FAR older than all of us."
"Do you know where Kurama got that stuff?" asked Aang the White Tiger.
"No," said Ozone with a headshake. Glitterwing also shook her head.
"We don't know what it is OR where or how Kurama had sourced it," said the Cherub, "But all we know is that this golden star smoke has very serious behaviour and mind-altering effects when it is inhaled."
"Yes, you do UTTERLY stupid things while under its influence," added Ozone.
"Well, even though we have never heard of such a gas, the fact that it has those effects and that Kurama is using them during some worship services in Asgard Sky City Gathering House is VERY serious," said Obi Wan with a frown after he had finished talking to his assistant, "But let's leave that for now. Gris here has told us that the Flying Saucer is prepped and ready for our trip to the Sky Domain."
"That's excellent news, Obi Wan," said Quaoar also with a frown, "I think it's time to get moving and sort out the mess Kurama has turned Asgard Sky City into and liberate the citizens before he does ANY more damage to them with whatever means he is using with his cult. Furthermore, we must rescue my sister Siveth who I believe has become trapped in Kurama's established cult bubble..."
"We will NOT be going to Asgard Sky City directly, though," said Obi Wan.
"Yes, as we've stated before, Kurama will have HIGHLY skilled lookouts keeping an eye out for any outsider vehicles attempting to gain access to the city and will NOT hesitate to take action," added Gris, Obi Wan's assistant, "Even if we use the invisibility cloaking device on our ship, they would still be able to spot us with special sensors."
"We'll have to take the long route," added Crasher Wake.
"Yes, as Kurama has only taken over Asgard Sky City and its surrounding towns and areas and not the areas of the Sky Domain further out from the region," said Ozone, "Which is actually good news."
"We should enter the Sky Domain via one of the areas Kurama hasn't yet touched," said Glitterwing. Quaoar nodded, not minding this. Even if it meant taking the long route into Asgard, the Kitsumiho was determined to enter the city and deal with Kurama's cult for the sake of its citizens and his sister Siveth. Then as soon as Quaoar was satisfied that there was no need for anything else important to be discussed, he thanked Ozone and Glitterwing and dismissed everyone. However, he commanded that his higher ranking assistants, among them Naihanchi, Aang, Crimsonandil, Moana, Morla, Thunderbolt, Caesium and Fenghuang couple Adamans and Iridia to prepare for another meeting, this time to sort out who will be going and who will be staying to look after the community while Quaoar and his group were away.
A little while later
Quaoar's group got prepared for the next upcoming meeting though some have already decided that they will go with Quaoar to the Sky Domain to help deal with the cult Kurama had established in Asgard. Among them were Adamans and Iridia the Fenghuang. While Quaoar instructed the Rainbow Phoenix husband and wife to gather the necessary equipment they will need for the journey, the male Insect Rabbit-Dog walked in and called the Kitsumiho.
"Quaoar," he shouted. Quaoar, together with Adamans and Iridia, turned to him as he fumbled in a satchel he had brought with him during his and his group's journey from the Narnian Moon to the Land Domain via the Flying Saucer. This satchel was made from the skin of an Arrowtongue, an apex predator native to the Narnian Moon that was sometimes hunted for its skin as a resource, such as clothing, curtains and making carrying bags such as satchels.
"What is it, Weywot?" asked Quaoar. Then the Insect Rabbit-Dog, Weywot, continued to fumble in his satchel and soon pulled out an object. This object resembled an ovoid rock but it functioned like a long-range communication device humans used in our world called a walkie-talkie or mobile phone. In fact the ovoid rock was designed to be such and it also had its own aerial, a crystalline spike standing from its top and served as a transmitter. Several crystalline buttons were hammered into the rock and these served as the dialling buttons for the call codes with two very specific ones serving as 'Call' and 'Receive call' buttons. After he had managed to pull out the phone-like object, Weywot handed it to Quaoar.
"It's a distance-verbal communicator, or DV communicator for short," said the Insect Rabbit-Dog, "We use these for long-range communication but with spoken words only rather than visually AND with words such as via the screens formed by the crystalline communicators. I just had a verbal call from Xenon."
Quaoar, Adamans and Iridia shot the Insect Rabbit-Dog a surprised look.
"You managed to get into contact with King Lightning-Bolt's only surviving family member!?" asked the Kitsumiho.
"No, he managed to get into contact with us," replied Weywot, "Some of us such as myself are friends with him and we have kept our DV communicator call codes (these work like our phone numbers) so that we could keep in touch with each other. It appears he has managed to remember mine..."
"It's a good thing he did," said Adamans with a jubilant smile, "He will be an ENORMOUS help."
"We're gonna need it," added Iridia, "Since after all, he had managed to escape his family's slaughter at the paws of Kurama and has become the last surviving member of the Cloud-Man royal family according to Ozone and Glitterwing..."
"Has he told you where he had fled to following his escape from Asgard Sky City's takeover by Kurama?" asked Quaoar as he took the DV communicator device from the Insect Rabbit-Dog.
"No, he won't say and has told me that it's a secret spot," said Weywot, "He doesn't want to be hunted down and killed by Kurama's assistants and he wants to ensure that you have an effective guide for when you arrive in the Sky Domain."
As he said this, Glitterwing and Ozone came in, UTTERLY jubilant looks sparkling on their faces.
"Xenon's managed to contact Weywot, one of Obi Wan's assistants!?" the white Cloud-Man blurted out.
"Now THAT is one piece of good news and the REAL Aslan's doing right there," said Glitterwing.
"Indeed it is, you two," said Weywot. Just then, the DV communicator began to shudder and emit a squeaking noise. Like our world's phones, distance-verbal communicators emitted noises when there was an incoming call. Immediately, Quaoar pressed the 'Receive call' crystalline button and immediately but the device to his ear and mouth.
"I have asked him to call back in a little while and I think he's doing that now," said Weywot as Quaoar began to talk with the caller on the DV communicator
"Hello, Quaoar here," the Kitsumiho spoke. The caller replied with jubilation and relief in his voice.
"Quaoar, oh, I'm SO glad Weywot and the others with him have managed to find you on the Land Domain. I was hoping that you'd still be around..."
"I believe you're Xenon, the nephew of King Lightning-Bolt, am I right?" Quaoar asked. As he said this, Aang the White Tiger walked in.
"Quaoar, we're ready..." the Cardinal Cat spoke but Quaoar shot a paw up to tell him to be quiet as Xenon, the speaker on the other end of the DV communicator, replied to his question.
"Yes, I am," replied he, "I am in hiding but as I have explained to Weywot, I will not tell you where as I do NOT want that murderer Kurama and his wicked assistants to find me and have me killed like they did the rest of my family but that's not currently important right now. Anyway, now that I have finally got to speak to you directly, I wanna tell you what has happened to Asgard Sky City and how Kurama has taken it over..."
"You don't need to do that, Xenon," replied Quaoar, "Glitterwing the Cherub and Ozone the Cloud-Man have already done that. Those two have managed to escape Asgard Sky City and descend all the way from the Sky Domain to the Land down here."
"Two of the citizens of Asgard have managed to escape Kurama's dictatorial bubble?" Xenon replied with surprise. Glitterwing and Ozone exchanged looks and shrugged as Quaoar replied, "It's a long story and gladly, they are right here with us. I know you are ringing us to ask for help and we were about to leave for the Sky Domain via Obi Wan and his group (including Weywot)'s Flying Saucer but I would like to do a few things first and one of them is establish who will serve as Justice Enforcers before we leave. Now if you don't mind, and sorry to cut this call short but I have to get my group prepared for the trip and I'll call you back once we are ready to leave the Land Domain for the sky via the Flying Saucer."
"Okay, speak to you soon," said Xenon and with that the pair hung up. Quaoar put the DV communicator into the fur of his tails and turned to Weywot as he handed him another piece of rock.
"Here's Xenon's call code," said the Insect Rabbit-Dog, "Dial the code once you are ready to call Xenon again."
Quaoar took the little rock and placed it into his tails' fur as well.
"Thanks, Weywot but it's time to get things moving," said the Kitsumiho firmly and with that, he dismissed Weywot, Adamans, Iridia, Ozone and Glitterwing and the group scattered.
Later
After finishing the second meeting and once the members of Quaoar's Justice Enforcement Team had established who will be staying to look after the community and who will be going to the Sky Domain, the latter group packed their appropriate equipment for the trip. Among those that will be going with Quaoar were Naihanchi the Nekomata, Morla the Black Tortoise, Crimsonandil the Vermillion Bird, Moana the Azure Dragon, Aang the White Tiger, Adamans and Iridia the Fenghuang couple, Thunderbolt the Raiju, Spock the Pegasus, Caesium the Chroma Cat, Bentley the Giant and obviously Ozone and Glitterwing who have decided to help alongside Xenon in the travels. Obi Wan and his group will also be leaving for the Sky Domain for they too, have decided to help sort out Asgard and liberate it from Kurama's evil hold. A few more of Quaoar's Justice Enforcers including a female Golden-Egg Goose (a Magical Goose that laid solid gold eggs; males or Ganders were completely golden while the females were white with golden wing flight feathers) named Orchid, a male feathered Bird-Snake creature called an Occamy (which were serpentine creatures with feathers, hooked beaks and feathered wings and that laid silver eggs. Both sexes had metallic sea blue plumage and metallic magenta wings but males also had red in their wings) named Griffin and a Gold-Fleeced Ewe and a descendant of a Gold-Fleeced Ram named Chrystós named Heather. Unlike Gold-Fleeced Rams, the Ewes did not have the curving head horns.
Quaoar and company continued to pack the appropriate equipment for the journey such as weapons and stocks of food. Crimsonandil packed her signature battle weapon, her string flywheel while Heather the Gold-Fleeced Ewe checked her medical kit. She had a small bottle of fire-flower cordial (not Queen Lucy's and the red juice was now EXTREMELY expensive these days as it was VERY rare, Heather had spent half a year's worth of wages on this bottle and wanted to ONLY use it sparingly) in her kit alongside a few other potions and basic medical items like large sterile leaves to serve as slings in the event that someone injured their wing or arm during the trip. While Quaoar's group packed and Obi Wan and his group including Weywot, Crasher Wake and the Luminos got ready for their trip, the community members gathered round to see them off. Among the community members were some of the Justice Enforcers who have chosen to stay and look after the community, among them a Centaur who will take over Quaoar's role as temporary leader until he returned. Alyssum the Beaver stood among the crowd, sourly watching on as Quaoar's group continued packing. The Sow Beaver had been prevented from joining the group due to her bad attitude and Quaoar had commanded her to stay behind and help in the community to her chagrin. Also while Quaoar and company continued to pack, some of the community members issued their goodbyes and bade them Aslan-speed.
Then as soon as Quaoar and company were fully packed, they got ready to leave the forest for Obi Wan's Flying Saucer with the Grey Man and his group. The community members all looked on, cheered and waved in a final goodbye and Aslan speed gesture as they walked away. Quaoar and company waved in return while Quaoar himself flashed the Centaur he had put in charge as temporary community leader a smile before leaving, the Centaur nodding in return.
"How long will we be away?" asked Naihanchi.
"Depends on how long it takes to sort out Asgard Sky City's situation," replied Griffin the Occamy, "Could be days, maybe weeks."
Though they were serpentine creatures, Occamies did not hiss their 's' sounds like most Snake species did.
"It's gonna be UTTERLY complicated, I can tell you," said Heather the Gold-Fleece Ewe nearby, "Kurama has been in power in that area for over a year and a half according to Ozone and Glitterwing."
Griffin and Naihanchi gazed at the Cloud-Man and Cherub as they also bade Quaoar's community members goodbye with waves. As Quaoar and Obi Wan's group continued their departure, a shout flew from one side of the crowd, seizing Quaoar and company's attention and stopping them.
"Quaoar," called the shouter and as the shouter yelled Quaoar's name, some of the community members parted to allow the shouter, Jumba the Elephant, to have access to the Kitsumiho and his group.
"Quaoar," called the Elephant, "I have something for you!"
Quaoar looked on as the Elephant continued to approach him, something clutched in his trunk. It was a large sword but it wasn't just any sword and its hilt and handle were white. The sword also had a belt-type strap to allow the user to carry it. Naihanchi saw it.
"That's my ancestor Kushanku's Gladio-Captionisse sword," said she.
"Yes, the special sword that is actually a sword-within-a-sword with the larger blade serving as a sheath for the smaller one," said Caesium.
"REMARKABLE piece of engineering," breathed Spock as he admired the amazing weapon. Jumba handed the Gladio-Captionisse or GC sword to Naihanchi.
"This weapon is part of your family heirloom Kushanku had passed down to his descendants," said the Elephant, "Starting with Peter, his and his second wife Padparadscha "Paddy's" only son named in honour of the High King who ruled during the Golden Age centuries ago with his brother and two sisters under him."
Naihanchi took and examined the sword and took out the smaller sword from its larger counterpart, amazed at how it was made as both blades glinted in the sunlight. Jumba continued, "None of Kushanku's other descendants from his kits he fathered with his first wife Alexandrite or the descendants of two of his siblings Ryn and Satoshi wanted the sword so he instead gave it to Peter. However, the sword eventually fell out of favour from Peter son of Kushanku and Paddy's line. My herd soon received it from a Little Green Man who found it lost and we took it in for safekeeping. But since it was Kushanku's sword to begin with, I'm giving it to you, Naihanchi, to carry on his legacy."
Naihanchi continued examining the two swords and eventually placed the smaller one back into its larger blade counterpart. She then gazed at the sword itself, lost in thought. Finally she spoke, having made her decision.
"I would rather not wield such a tricky sword," said she, "And secondly, swordfighting is NOT among my skillset or favourite methods of combat. In fact it NEVER appealed to me one little bit..." she then turned to Quaoar as he walked in. Naihanchi extended her paws clutching the GC sword to him, "I think Quaoar should take and wield it and carry on Kushanku's legacy for me. After all, he is a better swordfighter than I will EVER be."
Quaoar hesitated a little before finally taking the sword from Naihanchi's paws. He took the smaller sword out of its larger blade hilt to examine the two swords together briefly before re-sheathing the smaller one back into its larger counterpart.
"I think this would make an effective sword for the journey," said the Kitsumiho, "And since this sword is so rare and difficult to forge, I think Kushanku's GC sword deserves an owner and I am more than happy to carry on his legacy on your behalf."
"It's hard to believe that it's lasted for this long anyway," said Moana nearby as she stood with Crimsonandil, Aang and Morla, "In fact I'd say it's far older even than Quaoar."
"It IS older than Quaoar. Kushanku was gifted it when he was just a preteen kit," explained Jumba, "That was during the Age of Winter when Jadis the White Witch dominated our lands. I hope he bears it well."
"I shall," said Quaoar and with that, he lead his group on with Obi Wan leading his alongside.
The group was soon out of the forest and was now on its way to Obi Wan's Flying Saucer parked not too far away from the forest. Quaoar's community members continued waving and cheering as their Kitsumiho leader left. The Centaur put in the lead spot by Quaoar himself also looked on and smiled. Then after issuing his community one final goodbye speech, Quaoar boarded the Flying Saucer with his group and Obi Wan and his as well. The Saucer was large enough and strong enough to carry Giants such as Bentley and he boarded the vehicle with the others, his club on him.