The Adventures of Trina: The Awakening: Part Seven

     "Again!” Pat shouted as she pointed at a bush on her right. It was lit ablaze, and all that was left of the fruit was a cloud of smoke.

     “Like that?” Cassie asked, Pat’s wand in hand.

     “No! Absorb them! Like this…”

     By the tiniest flick of her wand, a dozen lemons fused together, and then were stretched into a single thread that resembled melted cheese. Then, in a blink of an eye, the yellow string was sucked into the green wand, as if the space itself was being compressed.

     Cassie was stunned with amazement and uncertainty. “Are you sure that’s safe?”

     “I hope so,” she replied. “I can feel the power in the wand. Wild, but I think we can tame it.”

     So they returned to their work, amassing every lemon, no bush or tree would be left untouched. Wandless, Linny could only watch from the sidelines as her friends took turns using Pat’s wand, as if in a relay race; the task required enormous strain on the body and mind, and they were running out of time.

     Nearly an hour went by when a flash of lighting hit the ground not too far from where they stood. Before they could identify the light, bands of pirates entered the field, speeding toward them.

     All eyes fell on the jelly Scorchio. The incoming crowd looked more frenetic through his translucent red skin. “I’m out of potions, remember?” he said frantically. “Guess it’s time for emergency measures…”

     Right when Tomaru pulled a brown wand from behind him, a pirate Lutari swung a mace. A burst of red light aimed for the weapon, but missed. Luckily, the Scorchio leapt out of its path just in time. The Lutari lashed out even more, and Tomaru was quick to counter him with simple magic. Cassie joined in, twirling the wand constantly to send a shower of light at the enemy. At first, the pirate recoiled, but once he realized Cassie’s attacks couldn’t do more than pinch him, he advanced, swinging the mace more rigorously than Tomaru’s spells could handle.

     “This isn’t working!” Cassie cried, backing up and glaring at the wand in Tomaru’s hand. “Think of something!”

     “I can’t,” he said quickly while circling the pirate, mindful of his own sloppy footing. “I’ve only ever used this to make people laugh!”

     “Quick! Do something! Anything!”

     “That’s it—quicksand!”

     A flicker of red struck the ground beneath the pirate, and his boots were swallowed by the soil. Dropping his weapon, he stumbled and fell on his claws as his great weight worked against him.

     “Agh!” Tomaru heard Linny yell.

     He then noticed he was somehow shorter, and something soggy was filling his shoes. He let out a sharp gasp as the quicksand was slowly pulling everyone under.

     “Oops!” he said, mouth quivering.

     “Try something else!” Pat demanded.

     “L-Like what? Maybe I could try to turn the ground into a giant bowl of soup and use the noodles to pull us to safety, but I’ve…I’ve never—”

     He still felt the lightweight stick in his hand, while Cassie’s wand was nowhere in sight. Pat’s wand was off limits; they couldn’t afford to lose the power they collected, and it couldn’t be more obvious he didn’t possess the skills to restrict its output to a minimum. He asked Pat to fly, but she only shot him an angry glare as the soil crept up to her waist.

     But he had to stop panicking to assess the situation closely. One wand, one trapped pirate and more on the way, they couldn’t run, they couldn’t fly…or could they?

     “Linny!” he called to the Chia, who was inches from a set of spikes poking through the surface. One zap and the head of the pirate’s mace lifted itself from the quicksand. “Grab it!” he shouted, and a series of strange events unfolded before him.

     Without delay she secured the handle of the mace, and she rose from the quicksand, dangling feet above the ground. The enchanted mace became a balloon, inflated enough to keep Linny afloat, without growing enormous in size. Only a short chain connected the handle to the mace. The Lutari seized his opportunity to claim the mace for his own, trying to shove Linny aside, but it was nothing a good kick couldn’t handle; her large feet always compensated for her lack of leg. If their future hadn’t depended on it, it was rather comical, Tomaru thought.

     “Linny, take this!” Pat shouted. Extending her arm to the limit, she offered her green wand. Linny grabbed it by the tip, and tried for Pat’s hand unsuccessfully. Instead Pat turned to Tomaru, who was clearly lost in thought, planning his next move. “Just go! Find Trina!” she cried.

     Linny desperately sought to protest, but it would have been futile; the mace was ascending higher and higher, beyond her control, and in no time at all her friends became nothing more than drops of color against a monochromatic backdrop.

     Treetops brushed the pads of her feet as she drifted over a forest. Up ahead were trees that were tall enough to snag hold of a branch and climb to the ground. Her tender hands longed for it so much, so dreadfully…Had she ever wanted anything else more? Yes…yes, she did…So she let the trees pass her by, and let them become the darkness once again. She was going to deliver the wand to Trina.

     She was sure she was a hundred feet in the sky when something orange hurled in her direction. It zoomed by a second time. The pirates were shooting fireballs at her! Eyes closed, she could only hope that the magic would carry her to safety. Tomaru didn’t use the wand, and she could not betray him, so she felt the heat once more…

     Finally, she left the forest behind, and she was above the battlefield again, but there was zero sense of relief. Upon entry, the descent of the enchanted mace had begun…and fast…

     “This ends here!” Trina declared, her eyes plastered to her enemy, tiny specks of magic already spraying from her wand.

     This enemy was cased entirely in black armor, tailored to be both massive and menacing. Each section was outlined in green—the same shade as his eyes. The Dark Depth’s insignia—the green Draik skeleton head and two crossbones—was imprinted on his shoulder plates. A black cape moved wildly behind him as he bore a long staff in one hand which stood to half of his height, suitably matching his armor with the same emblem on top.

     The pirate Draik ignored Trina’s remark and instead put on a wide smirk. “So, I see that Evilrin has failed me. No matter—he will be dealt with soon enough. You, on the other hand, are too late…”

     She peered straight into his fearless green eyes. “You’re wrong. It’s over.”

     He laughed menacingly. “That’s what you want to happen. Open your eyes, little Wocky. You’re weak, the Arugahians have no defenses, and finally after three-hundred years, their precious civilization is being torn apart as we speak.”

     “Why…?” Trina began.

     “Why? Because of dreams—the bane of our existence! They twist our thoughts, bind us to irrational goals, and impair our judgment! We cannot be something we are not, yet dreams make us question the eternal fact! So I will change the facts! With great power, anything will be possible! Petty dreams cannot exist in a world where my imagination becomes reality! Only I have the power to defy it, to set things right!”

     “You’re wrong! Dreams, the act of dreaming alone…is necessary. Even if they won’t come true, it’s the dreaming that’s really important! It’s dreaming that give us power! Not the other way around!”

     “I think not,” he said with a scowl.

     “How many dreams will you take away for good if you destroy the island? They aren’t what caused your misery, if that’s what you’re saying; you brought that on yourself!”

     “No, it seems that your dreams have led you to your self-destruction, the same fate as everyone on this battlefield! How sad!”

     “The only thing that’s sad,” Trina grumbled, “is you!”

     “Absolutely not!” he giggled madly. He smiled as if it was the very first time he had ever had fun. “In fact, there’s no curse! There never was! It’s all in their imagination! It’s their dreams! Oh, the irony—all their desperate little dreams to get rid of their curse are really causing all their misery! All their efforts to gain power they can’t have—it’s just too hilarious!”

     Proudly, the pirate captain shouted a few words into the sky and a thick, green flare materialized from the tip of his staff, accelerating towards her at once. But nothing ever came. A flash of sliver appeared, and the flare whizzed over Mevolin’s head, fading in the night. A petite Yurble with a sword now stood facing the Draik.

     “Mevin, I always knew you would betray me someday. You want to stop me so you can take over my crew, I see. So sad—you could have ruled the island by my side.”

     “Rule with you?” the pirate Yurble chuckled. “Yeah right! With all that power, you’ll have no use for a sidekick!”

     “Good for you, Mevin. You have finally figured that out. Too bad for you though, you’re also too late! Your fate is now no different than everyone else.”

     “That’s what you think! You know, I wasted many nights thinking I would be your successor! Yet after all those ingredients I’ve retrieved, all the missions I’ve commanded, I got not one ounce of respect from you!”

     “And yet you stuck around,” Mevolin said. “That was your own mistake.”

     “Finally, I’m going to take what I’ve fought for all these years: my place as the rightful ruler of pirates!”

     Mevin slashed his dagger forward while wielding a black wand in his opposite hand. He did many maneuvers and special techniques that Trina had seen him do during training sessions back on the Dark Depths, and it was even more amazing, more frightening, to see it carried out in battle. In one string of summersaults, he managed to barely evade a series of sharp disks, inches from charring away his loose cloak. And just as before, he had unbelievable control over his weapon. She had never seen anyone fight so ruthlessly, so relentlessly with a dagger, while at the same time, able to counter the fury of a magical staff. The difference between the fighting styles in Neopia opposed to the islands’ was never more evident. But as Mevin was thrown to the ground, she was glad that this brutal fighting style didn’t exist in her world. And she believed that such shouldn’t exist in this one, either.

     Mevolin froze. He concealed himself in his cape and stared directly upward, not making a single sound, a single movement…

     “Stand back! He’s planning something!” he warned. He alertly exchanged a fleeting look with Trina and shuffled into a defensive stance. “No…not now…”

     A half-moon began to shine through the remnants of a passing cloud. Its white light cascaded down on their horrified frowns, looking as if the sky was about to fall…

     Trina let out a sudden gasp. It was happening. After three-hundred years of fear and despair that she could never even imagine, it was happening before her very eyes. Pirate troops rushed down steep hilltops and flooded the valley. From behind Trina, another armored force—the Arugahians—poured down the hills like hundreds of tumbling weeds. Their swords shone with the moonlight as they raised them high in the air.

     The freezing winds picked up speed and the roar of pounding footsteps amplified. Without any more delay, Mevolin pulled the Ancient Book of Code from under his cape and flipped through the pages. Trina immediately aimed for the book, but Mevolin had been prepared, and her magic evaporated against an invisible barrier. From a corner of her eye, she saw Mevin scramble from the scene.

     He held his wand high above his head and a bright purple aura emerged from it, mixing with the wind. Suddenly, a black cloud of magic swirled around the pirate Draik, who began to hover a few feet above the ground. Once his feet had situated he shouted a long spell to the open sky, sporting the most evil, crooked grin Trina had ever seen. Just a glimpse of his face made her want to run away as the words she never wanted to hear slipped from his rotten teeth.

     “I thank you, Trina, for bringing me, Lord Mevolin, this spell from the Ancient Book of Code!”

     He waved his staff sternly, pointing it at an empty patch of ground. It glowed for a brief second, and then the mud rose from the surface, morphing into monsters that looked like giant Sludgies. The Sludgies prowled the plains ruthlessly, and more and more were taking shape every second, dispersing into the battlefield behind him.

     “I am now unstoppable!” Mevolin swaggered, swinging his staff once more. “Now, TASTE MY WRATH!”

     The staff was now at its brightest, so intense Trina had to avert her eyes from it. But as Trina expected, the height of its power would be short-lived. The light flickered, and Mevolin’s smile vanished. Finally, for the first time in the night, she saw horror strike the pirate captain.

     He tried to tamper with his weapon, shake it until the light would stabilize, but it proved stubborn; it did not restore its power.

     “What…did you –” Mevolin snarled, shaken, trying to keep his attention on his menace.

     A Mynci, draped in purple robes, marched onto the scene, placing himself right between her and Mevolin. He was armed with nothing more than a wooden staff. A pink flame was ablaze at its tip.

     “She helped me to stop you, that’s what!” he said as declaration of war.

     The presence of the Mynci caused Mevolin to cringe. “Well, well, well…the great Master Iko has finally made an appearance! Come for revenge, I see?”

     “I gave up on revenge long ago,” Master Iko said gruffly. “You should have done the same!”

     “And so I have! The laws of nature are at my fingertips! Settling for revenge is pointless! Well then, what are you waiting for? Let’s see what powers two full-fledged magicians are capable of!”

     “Don’t you dare claim to be involved in the ways of magic! We warned you, but you refused to accept your place! Time is NEVER to be tampered with! You’ve disregarded everything by acting as a seer!”

     ”And how many lines have you crossed looking for that precious grandson of yours? Hmm?” Mevolin smirked.

     “Silence!”

     “You have no authority to give me orders! I can do and see as I please!”

     The Mynci remained still. “You’ve seen the future. Tell me, what do you know about the stars?”

     “Stars? After tonight, I’ll be the brightest one of them all!”

     Master Iko quickly turned his head to see Trina close behind him. “Stand back, Trina,” he murmured while the pink flame on his staff intensified, out of control. The flames ran down the entire wood, yet did not affect Master Iko at all.

     “Do you really think that’ll—” the Draik began, interrupted by a blast from Iko, sending him leaning backwards.

     “You talk too much!” he sneered. He spun his wand to send dozens of orbs showering the Draik, who then shielded them by a flick of his wrist. “If I were you, I’d make your last words count!”

     Devoid of speech and battle cries, the two wizards conversed solely through blows, fiery explosions illuminating the night. Clearly, both were masters, too focused on their opponent to be distracted by the vicious monsters rising from the flames and dispersing into cinders before they could take shape. Only silhouettes could be spotted among gaps in the flames for brief seconds at a time, but Trina was confident her wand, an extension of herself, would know the enemy. One breath of stifling air and a swing of her arm sent a stream of light into the chaos.

     She repeated the attack over and over, more rigorously each round. Mevolin’s green orbs and fireballs occasionally targeted her, but they were easy to dodge. He must have thought she wasn’t worth his time.

     The loose soil rumbled under her feet, and it tore open where Mevolin was standing. He leaped to safety, laughing. “You may be full of surprises, but so am I!”

     She heard Master Iko’s hoarse voice insult Mevolin and release a fury of orbs. There were cracks in Mevolin’s armor, and he was panting, but for the most part he was unscratched, unlike Master Iko. Being over twice the age of his opponent, Master Iko struggled to stand, and the scorching heat was wearing him down. When she thought the battle couldn’t get any worse, it intensified.

     For less than a second, a blinding stream of green light appeared, and when the light cleared, only Mevolin was standing. Somewhere, Master Iko was coughing.

     Trina’s head throbbed. The wall of flames fizzed out, and she rushed forward, eyes fixed on Mevolin, who was embracing his victory, arms in the air.

     Trina growled as she charged at the towering figure, but found herself coming to a sudden hault.

     Master Iko was lying on back. His robes were burned in places, loose strings flailed in the wind. His breath was uneven and hoarse, but he was unharmed—and he was even smiling—purely overcome by exhaustion. She thought he smiled at her, but his pair of purple eyes was looking elsewhere.

     She felt a hand on her shoulder.

     “It was me,” Linny said, shaken. She held up Pat’s wand. “I stopped the attack. I absorbed it.”

     That very instant, emotion and confusion flooded her beyond words. She and Linny exchanged hugs, and for the time being, oblivious to their enemy’s impatient snarl and the chaos around them.

     “I can’t thank you enough, but you need to get Master Iko to safety. It’s time for the islands to move forward, not apart.”

     The camouflaged Wocky took Pat’s wand in her left hand, brought her own wand to her chin, and the showdown exploded to life. Immediately, a dozen blasts of light pursued the pirate Draik. Mevolin extended his arm out in front of him and instantly, Trina’s attack disappeared. Trina gasped and repeated her movements. The result was the same. His strength was unreal!

     At once, magic shot out from the tip of her wand, forming a sword of blue fire. Not wasting a moment, she charged forward. Just by opening his palm, Mevolin armed himself with a thick, fiery, black sword. Their swords clashed, and Mevolin forced his toward Trina’s effortlessly. Feeling her sword faltering, she pulled back her weapon. She then charged at him again, her wand burning even brighter, larger than just moments ago. But yet again, Mevolin defended the blow, and summoned an attack at the last second. Trina reached for her right shoulder as the fiery sword reconverted itself and extinguished the flame.

     Mevolin spun around and another swirling wave of black magic appeared. Luckily, she managed to summon shield around her right before it caved in. Then, a globe of dark purple was sent after Trina, and while her shield held up, the blast threw her far away. Only the outlines of his massive armor were visible from where she lay in the mud.

     From there, the crowd was getting significantly louder, and fast. More pirates—hundreds or so—were pouring into the valley like series of irrepressible waterfalls. How could she have let this happen? She realized the truth among the deafening roar—the real truth.

     Yes, she had brought the book into Mevolin’s arms, but he was the one to point fingers at, not her. She didn’t mean for any of this to happen, Mevolin did. She didn’t command an invasion, Mevolin did. If anyone was a failure, without a doubt, it was him. It was because of him that her friend and every citizen of the islands, were in danger. Evrilin’s forged smile drifted in her thoughts. It was because of him, that many dreams were left shattered and twisted into wilted roses without their petals.

     It was because of him that the fate of the island hung on a thread, and the citizens were giving it their all to not let their beloved home crumble, despite the grisly odds. The faint cries she could hear over Mevolin’s laughter saturated into her soul. If they knew her, they would hate her, shun her from their hearts, but that didn’t matter anymore. Dreams drew people together more than hatred could tear people apart.

     And she was not afraid to follow them.

     “You’re finished,” she heard Mevolin yell as he lifted his staff. An enormous black sphere covered with white lighting formed above the tip of his staff, growing larger every second. “These islands belong to the darkness! They belong to me!”

     Trina bit her lip and growled. There was no way she could strike him from such a distance. The Wocky’s fur stood upward like a field of needles. Her unsheathed claws sunk into the mud as she stared ferociously at the bright figure straight ahead.

     Trina tried to stand, but her body remained firmly on the ground. It was exactly as she feared; she was under the control of the curse! A grunt of distress escaped her throat.

     Realizing what was happening, Mevolin withheld his attack to speak. “Now, do you understand me, Wocky? That’s not just the island’s wrath you are facing! You have been cursed by Teruku!”

     “A…curse by Teruku?” Trina echoed, struggling to maintain control. “What are you trying—”

     “Like I said, Teruku told me everything! When you were stupid to be led to him, you wanted so desperately to trust others that you’ve wished for one of his abilities! And it looks like the darkness has granted your wish! You will see the snapshots of painful pasts among your own! Slowly but surely it will destroy you!”

     The heavily-armored shadow Draik cackled again, looking up at the spherical mass above his head, waiting for the right moment…

     Even under the curse, she pieced together a plan. It was only a hunch, but it had to work. An entire culture depended on it.

     Trina let her inner thoughts pour out into the atmosphere. Her emotions, her memories, her dreams were all in her paws, glowing brighter each second. Childhood memories flashed behind her eyes as if they were fresh and recent. The smiling faces of her father, friends, the hopeful islanders, and herself assured her that nothing would go wrong. Wonderful images of the beginning of her summer vacation reminded her how precious time was. It must be protected! How dare he try to take those away!

     Mevolin let out a thunderous roar and thrashed the tip of his staff into the ground, releasing the sphere, now the size of the abandoned hut that had begun her quest to the island. The black-and-white sphere gleamed wickedly with the moonlight as it rolled in a perfect line, accelerating, growing larger and larger after every second, every short breath.

     When the sphere was close enough to see her own reflection—a camouflage Wocky with disheveled, muddy fur, bearing a stubborn gaze—she knew it was now or never. Snapping her eyes shut, she skimmed over the last images that resided deep within her soul.

     She saw herself on a podium, speaking to an audience listening with great intention. A large, golden trophy rested in her paws while she spoke. It wasn’t just any trophy; it was a trophy she had long sought. It was the Golden Archeologist Award; the greatest honor only given to the best of the best. She commenced giving the usual, eloquent speech, until she stopped dead during the acknowledgments. At that moment, she hauled the trophy to her ear, and tossed it over her shoulder, watching its twisting journey to the floor.

     An image of younger Mevolin interrupted her. She could see it as clear as a memory—not a man, a leader, or anyone’s friend; a façade. Pushing others aside, clawing his way to the top until he stood above whole world, while the ladders of his past were crumbling below…

     She wouldn’t let her past destroy her future.

     She was not afraid.

     With that, the surface of the sphere collided with the Wocky’s figure, and using every muscle, she stabbed the sphere with Pat’s wand with both hands, locking it between her fingers, struggling to endure the jagged lightning bolts and the spiraling air current that was being sucked into the green wand. The electric energy stung her palms as it was vacuumed. After what felt like an hour, a minute passed, and the black matter was consumed in its entirety, converted into power that pulsed between her sweaty fingers.

     But it wanted nothing more than to be freed from its container, to take the path of least resistance. She had a burning urge to release it back where it came from, but that wouldn’t do… So she brought out her own wand, and slammed it against the other, absorbing three centuries of darkness, three centuries of pain...

     It must end.

     A vast, brilliant yellow then soared into the valley. It shone on every inch of the soil, over the darkest shadows, and in the darkest hearts. Fatigued soldiers paused, dropping their weapons, surrendering their thoughts to sheer joy that had been lost for three-hundred years.

     The camouflaged Wocky watched the purifying light fill the battle until it became too bright to see. She closed her eyes, tranquil and slowly like drifting into a night’s sleep, and then, like her fears, her consciousness faded away.

     Trina heard whispers in her sleep. For hours she could hear them. Sporadic and harsh, it was as annoying as crumbs on bed sheets in the middle of slumber. How dare they disturb her! She couldn’t tell where the mumbling was coming from, but whoever was there, they deserved a piece of her mind. Her eyes peeked open, just enough to see a stone wall and a couple of blurred shapes. No people. Perhaps she dreamed them up. It had been a long night, hadn’t it? She considered going back to sleep, until she noticed a window high on the wall that letting sunlight into the room. Radiant sunlight…

     Before she had to chance to see anything more, she felt an Usul’s arms around her shoulders. “Trina!” Cassie cried with happiness.

     Feeling a sharp tingling at her shoulder, she was forced to keep her eyes open. She made an effort to speak; however, her voice came out uneven and raspy. “Cassie? What…happened?”

     “We did it!” she applauded. “I mean – you did it! We’ve been saved! Everyone’s safe!”

     “Safe?”

     “Yes! Because of you and Tomaru! His quick thinking saved us from quicksand, by turning it into confetti! Of course, there were a few failed attempts…”

     She shifted her head to the left, just enough to see Pat and Linny turn their heads, all wearing formal dresses and combed hair, and just in time to see Master Iko limp through the doorway.

     “What’s all the ruckus?” he whispered loudly. “I thought I told you to wait until—”

     “Trina’s awake!” Cassie interrupted, not removing her attention from the sluggish Wocky while speaking.

     “So she is!” said the Mynci. He then murmured something to a Techo guard behind him, who rushed out of the room right after.

     Suddenly, Trina saw Queen Vioe walking briskly to the scene. Her dress was a lot more elegant than she remembered. More purples and embroidery, and a breathtaking silver and gold crown, encrusted with red gems. Gold necklaces jingled together with her every move. She kneeled beside her bed. Trina couldn’t help but gasp. What had happened while she was asleep? Engage in a battle of wands? Defeat an evil villain? Save a whole civilization? Wands. Now that sounded oddly familiar…

     Noticing Trina’s blank stare after she greeted her, she spoke. “Do you want me to explain what happened?”

     Trina nodded, and tried to sit up, but plopped on her pillow when she realized she was sore.

     “Take it easy,” Master Iko said. “That shoulder of yours needs much rest.”

     The Queen straightened her throat and unexpectedly, curtsied at Trina.

     “Your strength and courage saved us all, Trina. Both islands are now free of danger and the three-hundred year curse. And thanks to you, the pirate militia has been defeated. Our land has taken a devastating blow from the battle two days ago, but we can rebuild. We have awaited your awakening for two days now and we’ve more than glad to see you. I cannot thank you enough.”

     “It was Pat that allowed us to win, and Linny, Tomaru, Cassie…everyone”

     “Yes, of course.” She smiled at the Shoyru, who was shocked. “Because you and Pat knew yourselves best, and each other, everyone’s clever teamwork prevailed against the lone tyrant.”

     “Whoa, wait a sec! The prophecy—it said I was going to fail!”

     Trina expected Queen Vioe to reply, but Linny replied instead. “Remember those documents I found? Well, someone was kind enough to decipher them for us and that’s when we came across the real prophecy!”

     Queen Vioe pulled out a small note from her dress and read it aloud:

     Master Iko took a few steps forward to clarify. “That devious pirate captain knew this all along and changed the words, hoping you’d give up! Of course, he was the one that failed in the end.”

         “I’m sorry,” Trina apologized. “I should have tried to find this out instead of fantasizing about this place…”

     At that moment, a great smile, like none that Trina has ever seen before, appeared on the aged Mynci’s face. “Don’t be, young one; you’ve helped us more than we ever can thank you for. You’ve saved us all! Please keep your wand. You’ve done more than enough to prove that we can trust you to use it wisely. As you have seen, that wand has the potential to produce enormous power. Unfortunately, because of your encounter with the pirate captain, there is only about 25 percent of its magic left. This magic has chosen you to protect from grave harm and only works for you, but be sure that you are aware of this precious artifact at all times.”

     At the sound of the word “artifact,” Trina’s ears perked up.

     “Even though the wand ultimately loses power over time,” Master Iko went on, “it will respond faster and more efficiently the more it is used. As long as you keep being yourself, young Wocky, the wand will continue to serve you.”

     Trina lifted her head slightly to shake her head. “I’m afraid I can’t accept this.”

     “I’m afraid it’s an order,” Tomaru said as he entered the room, in vibrant red and blue robes. “Of course, if you’d rather have my wand instead, I’m sure Master Iko would approve of the trade. I’ve improved its efficiency from 35 to 36 percent too, so there’s lesser chance of things going wonky on Wockies.”

     She giggled.

     In an instant, the Mynci’s congenial smile vanished—it seemed that Tomaru annoyed him—and it was soon replaced by a serious look. “Enjoy your wand, but I cannot emphasize enough that you must keep it out of the wrong hands. Ancient magic is not exactly well-tamed within its crystal boundaries. If someone were to discover some way to release its power, even just a portion of the small remainder, the results will be catastrophic. Again, I trust that you will use this only when the situation absolutely calls for it.”

     “I will,” Trina promised. If there was one mistake she could never make, it was being careless with an ancient artifact. Now, things would be different.

     “We’ve set up a grand feast for you, so if you’re ready,” offered Queen Vioe, “we’ll escort you down to our grand dining hall.”

     “I think I’m ready,” Trina said as she slowly sat up, letting her worries fade into the back of her mind, forgotten for the time being. Now was the time to celebrate!

     Once the heroes left the hospital wing, Queen Vioe approached the Mynci, distress spread across her face.

     “Does it hurt at all?” she asked Master Iko. “Lying to them like that?”

     “Ah, let them have their limelight,” he said, relaxed. “Knowing Mevolin’s version was real would dampen their spirits. They deserve the break, after all. And so do us.”

     “Well, I’ll admit I am a bit concerned. We know who the heir was, of course. But we have no leads as to who the failure of the prophecy even is. Prophecies—they never exist without a reason. Never.”

     “At this point it’s irrelevant. History is written by the winners. Whoever the failure is, we won’t know about it. If it’s important, I’m sure something will turn up eventually. But for now, my Queen, let’s enjoy the feast, shall we?”

     A fair-sized ship with a crew of Kacheeks waited at a dock in front of them. The sun hung in the middle of the sky, casting its warmth on the land below. The beach was as beautiful as ever. Yellow sands bordered the clear, blue waters and skinny palm trees were scattered around them. Marshmallow clouds were strewn across the blue sky. Trina turned to see hundreds of islanders watching them and cheering, including Queen Vioe. Her eyes caught a glance of a pink Aisha making her way through the crowd to get a better view of the ship. Trina waved back at Celina with utmost gratefulness. Also among the crowd was Tomaru, who was standing next to Master Iko in the front row. Tomaru, dressed in a blue, royal robe, was waving like everyone else, but seemed to be distracted by something.

     She found Pat walking beside her, and they exchanged grins. In a heartfelt catharsis, her friend had forgiven her for everything, and so had she, but all wounds need time to heal. But for now, it was more than enough.

     When the four were only feet away from the wooden ship, the noise of the crowd intensified. Trina gazed at the crowd again, but her eyes were drawn to only one. Tomaru was not cheering and had stopped waving. What was wrong with him? After a second of pondering, she realized why.

     She darted over to the crowd and instantly met up with the jelly Scorchio. The roar of the crowd dropped to whispers.

     “You coming?”

     “Me?” asked Tomaru, almost breathlessly. He glanced back-and-forth between Trina and Master Iko.

     “But…I…”

     “Go on, Tomaru,” urged Master Iko, beaming up into Tomaru’s crooked grin that was frozen in place. “I know you want to go to Neopia.”

     The Scorchio became even more bug-eyed, an expression one might have if they had just found a million neopoints on the ground. “How…How’d you know?”

     “When I asked you if you wanted to help four Neopets from the Other World, you sprang up and accepted the job in a heartbeat. Go on, you deserve this!”

     “But Master, what about you? If I go, you’ll need another apprentice!”

     “I can always find another apprentice—not as nearly as witty as you, of course—but it is not a problem, really. I must say, of all of the apprentices I’ve had, you’re the most dedicated, lively, selfless, and good-spirited. I must say, your magic skills have definitely improved to an astonishing level since our very first encounter. Keep it up, and someday your name may be among the greatest magicians in the world! And don’t forget to teach your new friends a few tips as well!”

     “Thank you, Master Iko, for everything,” Tomaru sniffled. With tears in his eyes, the Scorchio hugged the elderly Mynci for the last time. “Father…”

     “Good luck, my son…” Master Iko gently patted Tomaru’s head and leaned against his ear. “Remember what I told you. Remember to look toward the stars.”

     “I promise, no matter what happens over that horizon, I won’t let you down.”

     “You won’t. You’ve become stronger and grown more mature every day. You are ready for this.” A river of tears now slid down Master Iko’s face. “I've…I’ve always known that this day would come. Your destiny is not bound to these islands; it can be found anywhere you find happiness. Farewell, Tomaru. Have fun! Be happy! Enjoy life to its fullest!”

     “I’ll…I’ll never forget you,” Tomaru cried. “Goodbye, Master.”

     The two were lost in the moment, engulfed in a hug, overcome in a wave of silence.

     By the time they were all on board, they were too energized to leave to notice the ship’s details or the countless boxes of gifts and supplies Queen Vioe gave them—or rather, forced them to have. Instead, they looked down at the crowd and the island for the last time. Trina knew she would come back someday, and then she could learn everything. She could spend time exploring the villages and reading about their past, but right now, it was goodbye. She had achieved her goal of going to the island and even saved it from total destruction. More than ever before, she felt that she was one step closer to her dream of becoming the greatest archeologist. There was no way anyone could stop her now.

     The young camouflage Wocky watched the ship pull away from the dock and onto the first waves of the clear horizon. A serene wind gently pressed against her green and yellow fur as she stood. Finally, she knew the answer to a question she had long awaited an answer to. She was not a true hero. A true hero doesn’t need magic wands, nor need to do amazing things. When the time comes, they must know how to make the best choices for another, even when all the pressure in the world is pressing down on them. They must fight for those who cannot fight themselves, even though they may have to make great sacrifices to succeed…

     The citizens now were all wearing the exact same smile, as if they hadn’t smiled in three-hundred years, and waved at her. She, who was just some Wocky, had saved them all. In a way she couldn’t quite explain, they had saved her, too. Maybe someday she could be worthy those smiles, and she had a feeling that that someday was all but far away.

     Reaching into a pouch, she brought out her diary, a loose collection of pages barely strung together, scribbled front-to-back with every detail of the last few weeks. She went to the edge of the deck, and with a gust of the salty air, released her grip. The tales of the pirates, the disappearing library, friends and betrayals, and a magical island fluttered in the wind and sunk beneath the waves. There, this land can be forever protected. And the pages didn’t matter much to her, anyway, for they were only part of the story. The rest would be lived.

     Taking a final glace at the island, Trina smiled as the ship soared out into the open waters and slowly faded into the distance.

     Two months later

     In the middle of the night, Master Iko went to his desk. Once again, he had lost sleep over the mysteries surrounding the Willicks family lineage—why both of them set off a chain reaction of events affecting the fate of the islands. And why both of them caused such a mess for him to clean up. He returned to combing through the Book of Prophesies. It had been found days ago in Mevolin’s castle—where he had acquired such a treasure is unknown. He had a bad feeling in his stomach, a very bad feeling indeed. Doubts arose in his mind like gathering storm clouds.

     An image of the camouflage Wocky formed in his head. Yes, he remembers that day clearly. During her recovery, he had told Trinandra that Mevolin’s version of the prophecy was a lie, and had the Queen provide her with a fabricated one. It was done so she could leave on a good note, as her role in the island’s fate had been fulfilled—or so he thought. Now there were uncertainties, inconsistencies. They latched onto him like pesky insects, buzzing in his ears. An itch he couldn’t scratch.

     He couldn’t shake the possibility that the prophecy hadn’t happened yet. The prophecies in the book, the ones he confirmed fulfilled, were completely true. But Trinandra did not fail that night as predicted. It was simply impossible for it to be wrong, unless…

     His eyes were glued to the words he kept repeating in his mind, but no answers came forth.

     The survivor of the fall

     Will stand tall,

     The pirate with power forty-fold,

     Able of torment left untold.

     Could it be? Perhaps not two individuals were described here, but one? Did the fall refer to the fall of the pirates? If so, then it could mean the prophesized one is still out there, and Master Iko found that thought most disturbing.

     Perhaps, he had been wrong from the very start. What he had witnessed, the darkness he had fought that night on the three-hundredth year, may merely be the beginning of what was to come.

     As for its connection to the Star Prophecy, he feared the worst.

     Author’s note: Big thanks to juney4 and popit99 for helping to edit to get this published after 10 years. :)

     The End.