Fan Fiction ❯ The Path to Adventure ❯ Preparations ( Chapter 8 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Hey it’s me again...I wish more people would review....im putting so much and getting so little.... anyways I hope you all enjoy my story, whether you review or not :( ENJOI!



Chapter 8: Preparations


Karl, Laura, and Kira all stood in the gigantic willow tree that served as the meeting area for the Mages of Azul. The short mages paced back and forth while stating their opinions.

“We should surrender,” a woman said.

“Surrender?” a plump male questioned, somewhat irritated, “to the darkness?”

Soon a chaotic argument took place. Every mage had a different idea of what to do. Some said fight, others said surrender. Some suggested hiding or fleeing. It became madness as voices were rising and staffs were waving about.

“ENOUGH!” the Elder exclaimed, “We WILL fight, and with the intent to win. We just need the final ingredient. If we could find it, the battle would surely be secured for us.

“Elder,” a scholarly looking mage began, “we need to prepare in case we cannot complete the illusion. Perhaps we should seek battle aid.”

The elder scratched his shriveled chin. “Who do you have in mind?”

“The Wizards of Nox.”

Quiet murmurs arose throughout the listening mages.

“They would not help us,” the wise elder proclaimed, bitterness could be sensed slightly within his voice.

“You’re right...unless we have something they need...” the scholarly mage said as gestured his arms toward the brightly glimmering neon green crystal in the center of the Elder’s staff.

“The Nox crystal?....yes....I do believe it is rightfully theirs. Very well, I will trade the Nox crystal for their aid. But, how do we contact them?” the Elder questioned, “They have turned off their communication crystal to us.”

“Simple, we send someone.”

The quiet murmurs became louder and more distinct now.

“Send someone? Ha, the Ikon Path is not the safest place for travelers.” someone stated.

“Besides, the Heartless roam freely there.” another mage shot in.

“This is all true,” the Elder stated, “but, we possess not only the poisonous Nox Crystal, but the Pacifist Emblem as well.”

Now the murmuring stopped as mage after mage began to see an effective plan in formation.

“While someone in getting aid, the rest of us will summon.”

The nearby teens were still following the rapid conversation.

“What are you going to summon?” Karl asked as he stepped toward the small Elder.

The elder gave the simple smirked reply, “Woodland creatures, what else?” as a few mages laughed at the remark.

“Right, now will anyone volunteer to go?” the Elder questioned. No one stepped forward. No hands raised.

“I’ll do it”, a voice that did not come from a mage said. It was Laura.

“Are you serious?” Kira asked, but reconsidered seeing her friend’s determined expression.

“Good, then let’s go get you ready,” the Elder escorted Laura away from the others.

After about fifteen minutes, he and Laura returned. Laura had a few new accessories than before. She was now wearing a light tan leather vest along with matching leather pants. A sturdy belt was wrapped around her waist. From the belt, a small pouch hung. Inside the pouch was the Nox crystal and the Pacifist Emblem. There also was a small rolled up letter, which was meant to be given to the wizards of Nox.

As they approached, the Elder continued talking, “Remember I also put a spell on your shoes, so be careful if you find yourself moving too quickly.”

“Alright, it looks like I’m ready now.” Laura stated while receiving numerous good lucks.

“Be careful,” Karl said while putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked into his ocean blue eyes and replied, “I’ll try.” With that she walked toward the balcony, but looked back momentarily toward Karl. Was she falling for him?

She turned and leapt out of the Willow Tree. She hit the ground softly, even though it was twenty or so feet below her. “The shoes must be helping”, she thought as she dashed off into the night.

“So, what about us?” both Karl and Kira asked.

“You are welcome to fight too if you wish. We have weapons and armor in the storehouse.”

Kira and Karl suited up. Kira sported light metal armor while Karl wore no armor. Kira equipped herself with an impressive longbow and an equally amazing long sword. She attached a quiver of arrows onto her back, while Karl picked his weapon. He chose a deadly crossbow for long range, and would fight unarmed for close combat.

As they joined back up with the mages, they felt something different. They suddenly felt more awake and ready for battle.

“An illusion,” the Elder explained, “it tricks the mind and body to feel awakened and prepared.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want to fall asleep in a fight!” Kira joked.

“We have put new illusions on the forest. The old ones haven’t been changed since.... we put them on, which was ages ago,” the youngest mage informed the two teens.

“All we need now is one more ingredient before Omega will be ready.” the scholarly mage stated.

“Well if there is any thing we can do to help...” Kira was politely cut off.

“Oh no, the spell is our problem. It’s already kind enough for you to fight our battle,” the Scholar intervened.

“Now for the summoning,” the woman mage, who appeared to be called Mira, said.


~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~


Elsewhere, in a place known only as the World of Darkness, two boys trudged onward through endless waters.

“Do you think there is anything else here besides just water?” Katsumoto questioned his friend.

“I have a feeling there is something else out here, I’m not sure what though,” Shuijin responded. “We’ll just have to keep walking.”

As if on command, the boys could see that there actually was more than just water and sky here. They saw the waters running off over the edge of a deep crevice. As they approached they saw that it was deeper than they could imagine. It was twenty feet or so wide. The bottom could not be seen.

With a quick inspection, Shuijin noticed a weak looking rope bridge swaying over the steep canyon. Kat and Shuijin gave each other uneasy looks before jogging to the bridge. The bridge had wooden planks for bottom support, with a few missing. Each of the planks was about three feet long and one foot wide. This would not be an easy crossing.

Shuijin led the way across the twenty foot crevice. He cautiously stepped onto the first plank. It held firmly. He made another step forward, over the empty space before him, onto the next wooden plank. Kat followed suit and was always a step behind Shuijin.

The bridge did not sway much, for there was little to no wind anywhere in the purple skied world. About halfway across the suspended monster, Shuijin came to a abrupt halt causing Katsumoto to practically slam into him.

“What’s wrong?” Kat probed, “Afraid of a little heights?”

“Actually yes,” Shuijin responded, shocking his friend. But as Kat peered around Shuijin, he himself felt terror. The place where the next four or so planks should been was bare, nothing was in the space but air. They would have to jump at least four feet from and onto a weakly hanging bridge.

Kat took a step backward onto a previously crossed plank while Shuijin prepared to jump.
Shuijin took another look into the blackness that inhabited the void. He forced a gulp of oxygen down into his lungs and leapt.

He soared through the air. Kat watched nervously at the unnerving sight. Fortunately Shuijin had made it. He landed with a thud, on a sturdy looking plank. He landed one plank further than he had planned on.

Shuijin looked toward the uneasy Katsumoto and said, “Just for precaution,” referring to his over jump. Kat bit his lower lip. He planned out the maneuver carefully, contemplating the possible outcomes, which were either landing safely....or not at all.

“Just give it your best jump,” Shuijin verbally helped.

Kat stole a look backwards at the already passed part of the bridge. He looked toward the sky at the three full moons. He looked to the dark waters and the purple clouds. Then he turned back around and looked into the dark pit.

He took his last breath and leapt. Time seemed to slow as he hovered through the air. He hit his target, the plank before Shuijin’s. When he landed the breath was whooshed out of him from relief. All was fine, until the plank broke.

Katsumoto’s expression quickly changed from relief to terror. The plank which he had landed upon creaked for a couple of seconds and snapped, too quickly for Kat to move. The wooden board fell from the bridge into the dark hole. Katsumoto also fell.

As he fell he grabbed hold of the plank ahead of him.

“Aaaah, Shuijin!” Kat frantically called out.

Shuijin ran to the plank’s edge and reached down to his friend. His arm was almost at Kat when his actions were in vain. Kat fell.

“KAT!!!” Shuijin yelled, as the crevice echoed his words.

As his friend’s shadowed form passed from view into the deep crevice, he stood up on the bridge, alone. He peered around. He looked at the three full moons in the upper sky and at the dark waters.

He looked to the purple clouds and to the Shadow Abyss. When he was getting his revenge on the Dread Lord, it told him that it would “send him to the dark abyss”. This had to be what he was referring to. Never before had he been here, yet it seemed strikingly familiar.

The waters, the sky, the purple tint, the Shadow Abyss...all of it seemed familiar, or like he had seen it in a dream. He gazed into the abyss. He thought about Katsumoto, how they had met and the times they’ve had.

He leapt forward, off the dangling bridge, and plunged himself into the Shadow Abyss.


~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~Chapter End ~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~_*~



Whew! I finished! Yay......ok I’ll stop that now.... hope you liked this little chapter. PLEASE!!! REVIEW!!! Enjoi.