The Warden's fate is a (Completed!!) fanfic, which yes, I am finally done with!
For the Sequel: I Tell of Harmony, Still a WIP.
For a side story that goes deeper into the Character of Nemo, I Tell of Nemo.
the characters (most of them) are here:
Alpha-the Astral warden.
Gale-Alpha's half brother
Omega-Alpha's Great-grandfather
Florian- The Pizza Loving Earth Warden
Ada- The calm Ice Warden
Lina-The Storm warden (She is technically canon, but I gave her a name)
Tinya- The Fire Warden Who cooks good pizza. (According to Florian)
Adam- The Water Warden, (He doesn't really like Florian that much...)
Prologue[]
Alpha tossed and turned on the floor of the Archives, deep in his dreams. Every moment or so, he let out a small groan. He was surrounded by man open books, their old pages still in the dim light, then suddenly fluttered to life as a small gust of breeze from a pair of wings fluttered by. Silently, a set of grey feet landed on the creaky wooden floors.
"Alpha." A voice whispered. "Alpha." It persisted. Alpha shuttered in his sleep, then shivered from the cold. "Alpha, you shouldn't be down here this late!" the voice said.
Alpha shuddered again, then slowly opened his eyes.
"What." He muttered sleepily. "Oh, It's today, isn't it." He didn't get up, still in a groggy trance.
"Well, no- wait yes. Technically. It's just past midnight. You should get up to our room and get some better sleep that isn't on the floor." Gale stated.
"Fine, fine." Alpha sat up and shakily stood to his feet. His pale blonde hair was ruffled and his eyes were sleepy as he followed Gale through the twisting halls of the Archives, up the stairs, and through a small side door that lead to thier that lead to their large bedroom. Gale tucked Alpha under his deep blue, star speckled blankets, then hopped into his own bed.
"Good night Alpha."
"Night, Gale..." Alpha trailed off.
Chapter 1[]
(It picks up, I promise)
Alpha
Chapter One
Alpha
The early morning sunlight shone in through the stained glass windows onto the chestnut wood floor as Alpha opened his eyes again. Gale was staring him in the face.
"Yarg!" He yelped, starting back and almost rolling off of his bed.
"Alpha." Gale stated. "I'm sorry for waking you up, but we have a lot of work to do. People are already starting to gather on the Academy grounds." He pushed Alpha the rest of the way off of his bed. Alpha hit the floor with a thud and immediately jumped to his feet.
"Stop waking me up!" He shouted. "Not gonna lie, but you have got to be the most annoying brother ever."
"Half brother," Gale corrected.
"Not true!" A high-pitched voice said from the window. Gale and Alpha whipped their heads towards the window, and saw a pale green face with bright green hair framing it.
"You should meet Florian." She said, then flapped off the windowsill and out of view. They looked at each other. Alpha shook his head rapidly.
"Ok, What?" He asked.
"Perhaps," Gale said, "We should lock our windows." There was a moment of awkward silence between the two before Gale continued talking. "Anyway, you ought to get ready. Like I was saying before. Alpha, get your hair fixed up and put on your ceremony robes." Alpha sighed.
"Yay. Ceremony robes." He mumbled. Gale, who was already ready, promptly exited the room.
---------
The Academy grounds were filled with many people, all prepared to watch the ceremony. The five keystone-chosen wizards stood before Alpha, Gale, and Noot. Last month, Gale had traveled around the island with the Warden Keystones, letting the gems choose who they wanted for the wardens. Now, it was time to test the worthiness of the wardens and give them their official wizard names.
Noot looked down at his clipboard, then looked up at the sun. "Alright Alpha. Lets begin." Alpha stood up straight in his Astral Robes. As was tradition, he had dyed the tips of his hair cyan blue. The robes were very hot.
"Alright." He whispered, then cleared his throat. "Greetings, Wizards." He called in a loud voice."We are gathered here today to test these future wardens" He continued, motioning towards the five before him. "We will now begin. Florian of Firefly Forest, come forth- wait, Florian?" He cut off.
"FLORIAN!!" Yelled the high-pitched voice from somewhere amongst the crowd.
Oookay.. Alpha thought. Her brother, I guess, then. This ought to be... interesting.
"Florian. Please show us your abilities." He said.
Florian jumped forth and brandished his staff. The wind brushed his brown hair back, revealing an emerald green streak that tossed in its waves. Florian grinned.
"Hello, everybody!" He yelled. Alpha flinched. "First of all, I would like to thank the Earth Keystone for choosing me, it is an honor to be with you all today! Thank you, thank you!" He bowed to the crowd. "Now, behold the power of earth!" He brandished his staff in front of him, and with a wave of it, made a giant red bloom sprout from the ground. It's petals unfurled, revealing a green, fox-like creature with two flower buds for ears and a giant flower bud for a tail.
"Behold!" Florian announced. "Florafox, reborn!" Alpha turned to Gale.
"Is that legal?" He whispered in his ear.
"I see no rules against it." He whispered back.
"But summoning an Epic? Are you sure?"
But Florian had already continued, using multiple different Earth spells against scarecrows now. Florafox was by his side, attack after attack until the scarecrows were battered to stray bits of hay and canvas. Florian finished up with a grand finale, flying high up in the air with his translucent wings, then letting out a burst of flowers from his staff, backflipping in the air, and recalling Florafox into her flower bud. He stood to his feet and brushed some dirt off of his pants, shook off his hair and looked at Alpha. "Wooo! What a workout!" he sighed. "I'm hungry after all that! Hey, Flora, would you get some pizza for me?"
"Absolutely not!" The high pitched voice said, fluttering her way to the front of the crowd. She was shorter than Florian and had pink, gem-like wings. "That was a workout? Seriously?" She turned to Alpha. "You don't even want to know what he does at home!"
"Flora, It was only that one time."
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Was Not!"
Gale held up his hand for silence. "Florian did an excellent job during his test. The keystone did not choose wrong. Florian shall be the next Earth warden!" He proclaimed.
"YEAAAHHH!!!" Florian yelled at an extreme volume, flying up into the sky like a jet. Alpha put his hands over his ears and turned to Noot, who was holding a clipboard. Noot nodded.
"SILENCE!" He Screeched at an absolutely ear shattering volume. There was silence. Florian landed.
"Florian, you have earned the rank of Earth Warden." Alpha stated. "You have proved yourself worthy of an official wizard name to be recognized by the Academy. Noot?" Noot flew towards Florian with his clipboard.
"You have earned your wizard name. What would you like to be known as?" He held out his clipboard to Florian, who took it.
"Hmm... Nope... No... Ew... Not happening..." He looked up at Noot. "Got anything else? Florian Pizza lover? Florian Pizza eater? Florian of the Pizza? anything?" Noot shook his head. Flora facepalmed herself and groaned.
"Oh alright." He sighed. "I guess I'll go with this one..." He tapped one of his fingers on the clipboard. Alpha peered where Florian was pointing.
"Oh, PLEASE don't be something stupid." Flora groaned. Alpha stood up straight and cleared his throat.
"Wizards of Prodigy, I give you, Florian Leafsmith."
Florian bowed to the left and right again as the crowd clapped. Flora fainted from relief.
"We will now continue. Ada of Silverchill Mountain, Come forth." Alpha continued while Florian Celebrated in the background.
A tall yeti stepped forth. She looked to be almost seven feet tall, and her thick, pure white fur blew
in the midday breeze. She held a staff in her hands, with an arrangement of crystals at the end that looked like a snowflake. There was a small white rabbit nestled in her hair, which was pulled back into a high, loose ponytail.
"Greetings, Astral Warden." She said, bowing before him. Her voice was comforting, and made him feel safe, despite her tall stature and cold gaze. "I do not have much to offer you, but my power and wisdom."
"Very respectful!" Noot whispered in Alpha's ear.
"Here is what I will offer," She planted her staff in the ground in front of her, then clasped her hands together, Ice magic gathering between her palms.
"A hand spell!" Noot whispered, more excited. "And with Ice magic too!"
As Ada continued, delicate snowflakes flew through the air as she opened her hands. The snowflakes swirled around her staff, enveloping it in a small flurry. Ada seized her staff and twirled it around it her, before aiming it at a scarecrow and freezing it solid in blast of ice magic. She continued to gracefully swirl her staff through the air, new snowflakes fluttering down from the sky with every twist of her staff. She finished by thrusting her staff into the ground, letting a blast of snow spiral from it. The snowflakes glinted in the sun for a split second before disappearing into the air. Ada stood at attention, then bowed.
"She's good! Let's hire her." Noot stated. Alpha glared at him out of the corner of his eye before looking to Gale, who nodded.
"You have proven yourself worthy of the place of the Warden of Ice." Gale called.
"Ada of Silverchill, you have earned the rank of The Ice Warden!" Alpha proclaimed.
The rest of the day proceeded in suit, testing the strength of the other three, who, in the end were all worthy.
around the time when the sun reached the highest point in the sky
"WIZARDS OF PRODIGY!" Noot screeched.
"THE WARDENS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN! BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU,
FLORIAN LEAFSMITH,
ADA FROSTKEEPER,
LINA LIGHTNINGGEM,
TINYA FIRESTORM, and
ADMIRAL ADAM WATERWAKER."
"HEY! Can we just go with Bolt-Head Lina? " Lina shouted. Her dark curls whipping back and forth as she jumped. "Well, I know I chose LightningGem, but hey, it was the best one? But seriously, just Bolt-Head Lina, or Lina. I don't care that much. Lina. Yup. Lina." She finished before slowly stopping, noticing all the looks she was getting. There was a moment of silence.
"Yes. Thank you, Lina, but your ppll.
"The Academy will return within the year." Gale announced. "Thank you all for coming. Farewell."
"THANK YOU FOR TAKING FLORIAN AWAAAAAY!!!" Flora screeched from somewhere
in the crowd.
"I'm offended." Florian said, making a face.
Alpha sighed. Well at least the rest of the wardens seemed... normal... But to be honest, none of them seemed truly what somebody could call, normal.
Chapter two[]
Gale
It wasn't long after the Warden ceremony that there was a change in Alpha. He just seemed different. He talked more, he grew more confident, and he grew in a deep relationship with the other wardens. Not to mention actually waking up before me! I've never seen him so happy.
As I peeped my head through the door of the Academy that day, I saw a small Floatling wandering around in the main hall.
"Hello?" I asked. The floatling turned toward me and said,
"Hello! I come to sell my wares! Is this fine Academy looking for a merchant?"
I looked at him, not sure what to do. Did the Academy need a little walking gift shop? Probably not. But would it hurt anything. No.
"You can stay, I suppose," I said. "But there won't be any students here for another few months. Are you ok with that?" But the floatling had already settled down in the upper corner of the main hall.
And that my friends, is the story of the Academy Merchant.
That is also irrelevant to this story.
Anyway, I proceeded into the hall of Keystones. All five were glowing brightly, looking very healthy. Ok, nothing wrong there... I continued up the long stairs into the hall of wardens. All five were there except Alpha. The once bare stone doorways were again filled with life as the Wardens added their personal touches to them.
Florian was making tiny flowers bloom up and down the vines that now twisted across the moss covered stone.
Ada was covering her doorway with snow, of course, and shards of ice edging out from the edges as frost creeped its way around the doorway.
Lina.. Lina... Oh my. Lina was wearing a welding mask and was welding several bits of red and silver metal together. Strands of wire hung out of holes that had been drilled into the doorway, absent sparks shooting out of them. I had no clue whatsoever she was doing. I had only fixed keystone pedestals, which did not involve wires or electrical shocks or welding on the carpet- WHY IS SHE WELDING ON THE CARPET!?!?! I rushed over to her and almost yelled to her face, when suddenly, she lifted her mask and stared me in the face.
"Oh! Hey mister Gale! What are you up to today?" She asked, smiling brightly. I looked at the floor and hovered in place for a second.
"Are you sure it's safe to be welding near carpet?" I inquired. Lina looked around her then back at me.
"Oh sure it's safe, mister Gale! I've done this millions of times! never caught fire once! and besides,
Adam is right over there," She looked to the Water Warden. "If anything goes ya know, outta control, he'll probably splash it and it'll be all good." She grinned.
If you say so... I thought, walking over to Tinya, the Fire Warden. She was an orange slime with scarlet slime-hair pulled back in a bun that looked like a Spire Bloom. She was pouring lava over her doorway- WHA- IS EVERYBODY A WALKING FIRE HAZARD TODAY OR SOMETHING?!?!
"Tinya, are you sure that's safe?" I asked. Tinya looked at me with a bit of pain in her eyes.
"I- I am right next to Adam... I'll be fine. The lava will dry soon." She whimpered. I sighed quietly, feeling guilty.
"Alright. I trust you." I whispered and turned to Adam, who was bandaging bits of coral to his door frame. Small bubbles floated out of the door. He looked up at me, gave a nod, then turned back to his work.
Okay? Well, that's what's happening in that room. I flew out of the room and into the Astral Tower. I pushed open the beautiful gold and blue doors and walked into the star speckled inside of it. The walls were painted a midnight blue, dotted with Astal symbols painted in gold. I entered the
elevator and ascended to the seventh floor. Unlike the other five towers, Alpha's office was on the very top floor. I stepped out of the elevator and closed my wings quickly to
prevent them from getting crushed in the elevator doors. Alpha's office took up the entirety of the seventh floor. Stained glass windows lined the curved walls, and golden light shone through them onto the blue carpeted floor. Aside from the Hall of Keystones, this is my most favorite place in the Academy.
In the center of the circular room was Alpha's desk. Behind Alpha's desk, was Alpha himself. He seemed deeply absorbed in some golden pages laying around on his desk. He was humming softly.
"Hey." I said. He looked up from the pages.
"Hey." He replied then looked back at the pages.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Nothing much. Just putting some of these together." He held up a few pages, which glimmered in the soft light of the office.
"Oooh! Golden pages! May I touch one?" I had always loved golden pages from what I heard about them in books, but could never find any. Alpha gently handed me a page. As I carefully took it from him, I felt a shiver go down my spine. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever held. It had words from a strange alphabet on it, which slowly re-arranged into text I could read.
Founding of the Academy. Log day seventeen.
Our journey continues further as we seek a place to build our Academy. We have the magic to build it. we just need a place to build it.
"Whoa. This is so cool." I said, amazed. "But where did you find them? I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find a single one!"
"In the Archives." He answered, taking the page back.
"I searched the archives-"
"So did I, but after the Wardens came, I took a trip down there and found these, hundreds of them, sitting on pedestals between the bookshelves."
"That's crazy! So, uh, what are you doing with them now?"
"Organizing them. These are the writings of my great great grandfather, over two hundred years ago." He said, straightening a stack of pages. "I'm going to make a book. Of these writings, you know."
"And then?"
"And then..." Alpha sat back in his chair for a moment. "And then, I'll entrust it to you."
Wait- me? A firework went off in my head as I tried not to jump up and down, spin around in circles, or do anything else crazy.
"Thank you! Thank you thank you!!!" I squealed. "I'll take good care of it! I promise!" I held out my hands in front of me, palms open for the book. Alpha gave me a look.
"Uh.. I'm not done with it yet..." He said, trailing off. My face felt hot for a split second and I
instinctively ran my hands through my hair in embarrassment.
"It's alright, It's alright. I should be done with it by the end of the month, I think I have all the pages. Then you can have it."
We both laughed a bit.
"Alright, I'll leave you to your work then!" I said, stepping into the elevator.
"See you soon!" Alpha called back, waving as the doors pulled shut.
Chapter three[]
Noot
Noot flitted through the trees of Pallet Pass. The Academy had opened only a month ago, and it was already full of students. This early morning, Alpha had asked Noot to fetch a certain apprentice, somebody he wanted to see before the rest of the students arrived. He had said she was the one who he had chosen to receive the free junior tuition or something like edth that.
He rounded the bend and came to a small, lone house. He knocked on the door with his tiny fist. The knock echoed through the house, big and booming. Footsteps creaked from inside the house, coming closer to the door. The door swung open, revealing a girl only a little taller than Noot himself.
Her blonde hair was in a ponytail, and she was wearing the Magi's shroud, a typical outfit for ordinary wizards. It looked as if it had been hastily thrown on, because it was covered in wrinkles .
"Hello?" She mumbled, looking at Noot.
"You've been chosen to come to learn at the Academy!"
"What? That fancy place in the sky? Whoa. I've always wanted to go there... but... I'm not nearly old enough yet... I'm only seven!"
"Well, the Astral Warden himself has chosen you to get the free junior tuition for the year!"
"OH MY GOSH! NO WAY! I'll be right back." She rushed back inside her house and emerged several seconds later, wearing a cleaner Maji's shroud and a training wand tucked into her belt. "Woooo!!" She yelled. "LET'S Goooo!" She grabbed Noot's hand and ran off down Pallet Pass, suddenly scaring five small creatures out of the bushes. The girl came to an abrupt stop in front of the pets. They looked up at her with their large eyed gazes. Noot wrestled his hand out of hers and flew closer to the pets.
"Perfect timing!" He said. "These, are perfect candidates for starter pets! You can choose to adopt one for now!" The girl jumped up and down, squealing, then crouched down to eye level with the pets.
"Hmmm..." She murmured. "Tough decisions.... tough decisions..." Five minutes past. Another three ticked away before the girl reached out towards a small, bright yellow, bird like pet. It chirped and hopped towards her. "Aww! it's so cute!" she whispered. "This is the one! Yep. I'm sure we'll be lifelong companions!"
"That Is a Sorel." Noot informed her. "Oh and by the way, what is your name?" But the girl had already run down the path. "Waaaait! Noot yelled, chasing after her.
Chapter four[]
Gale
I felt a strange presence fill the air before in a sudden burst of purple magic, a dark figure appeared in the center of the main hall, cackling. I couldn't help but respond quickly, posing in a battle stance. I had no weapon, but I could use magic.
"Who are you?" I sternly asked in my I'm-the-boss-voice. The figure turned towards me and I began to sweat.
"I won't go into introductions right now, fairy." He shouted, aiming a blast of dark magic at me. I barely jumped out of the way before he had shot another blast at me. It didn't hit me vitally, but it hit the book of golden pages that I had been holding in front of me like a shield. The book was knocked out of my hands and I watched in horror as all the golden pages fluttered out and down the stairs of the Archives, disappearing as the stairway was clouded with a dark purple mist.
NO. Alpha, I failed you... The momentary shock left me unguarded as the Shadow figure shot a final blast of dark magic, hitting me in the chest.
"No..." was the last thing I heard myself say as the world around me darkened to blackness.
Chapter five[]
Noot
Noot had finally managed to get the girl hold still for a long enough to get her name and zap them off to the the Academy with an Academy amulet.
As they walked through the front gate, Adrianna, (That was her name) spun in a circle in the front hall, giggling with excitement.
Noot looked around, failing to notice Gale crumpled up behind a large urn in a corner of the hall. "Stop." He said, holding up his hand.
"Why? We're here!" Adrianna squealed.
"I- I feel something strange in the air..."
"Perhaps, It's my excitement echoing through the air!" She cried, spinning in a circle again.
"Come on." Noot said as he flew through the doors and into the hall of Keystones. Everything seemed in order, and all the Keystones were in place. He breathed a small sigh of relief. "Ok, everything is A-ok!" Suddenly, a rumble coursed through the halls, and a blast of shadow magic fell like lightning from the roof of the hall, blasting the core of the keystone pedestals. One by one, all five disappeared into thin air.
Oh no.
"Where did the Warden Keystones go?!?" He shouted instinctively. Adrianna backed off, frightened.
"Ok, what just happened? What are Warden Keystones? WHAT is HAPPENING"
"I don't know, I don't know!" The small fairy put his head in his hands. "Oh, come on, I have to tell Alpha." He motioned for her to follow him up the short staircase that led to the grand stairway. They had only just stepped up the first step, when a dark fog suddenly clouded down the grand staircase. A terrible echoing laugh filled the Academy as a figure of shadow floated down the steps.
"Oh no." The apprentice squeaked as the Shadow advanced.
Florian
I was seriously just studying in my office. Waiting for Tinya to finish cooking some pizza in fact, (She cooks the Best pizza. Like, ever) when all of a sudden, I feel this weird jolt. So I grab my staff and fly out the door, and there I see a tall, cloaked figure surrounded by some purple mist stuff. I see my fellow wardens beside me, ready to annihilate this shadow. He muttered something about us Wardens. (Words not even I would repeat.) We tried our best, we fought bravely, but he overcame us, trapping me in a dark purple orb. I can't move. I cannot move. I am trapped in my office. There is no one here. There is NO PIZZA.
Ada
I was in the main hall of the Ice Tower, surrounded by it's familiar frost covered walls, listening to the silence of it, when suddenly, I feel a strange feeling, like an ice cube had slid down my spine, cold and chilling. I patted Blizz, my rabbit and marched out the door. It felt almost like a dream as I saw the tall, cloaked figure blasting out rays of shadow magic towards us. All of us Wardens gave it our all, but in the end, we failed. And now, I find myself trapped here, in the silence of my office, with the key on the top floor and nobody to save me. I seem to have been captured in some sort of bubble, trapped in stasis. It is lonely and quiet, like my life before becoming a Warden. On the outskirts of Silverchill, just Blizz and me, and my magic, and my books. And sometimes Bok. This feels different. My other life held freedom, while the life inside of the orb is nothing, emptiness. Stasis.
Lina
Oh, that cloud-brained rock faced- Never mind, it's no use. I didn't even have a chance to turn on Big Hex, an unfinished robot I found in the Storm Tower and rebooted. I was just about to test it
when this very strange sensation came over me, like a lightning bolt hit me smack on the head. But why didn't our magic do anything to him? That shadow-faced storm cloud! Literally, I can hear my dad shouting at me, "Lina, If you don't stop this bad habit of name calling, I'll send ya to the snow machine!" I honestly wouldn't mind getting sent to the snow machine right now, because anything, would be better than being trapped in this... thing. I seriously can't move a muscle! I love moving! I can see my wrenches and power tools on my desk, but it's only too far away... Oh the pain! No power tools! I wonder when this will end...
Tinya
Could anything have gone different so that I wouldn't end up in this trap? As a slime, I am constantly moving, and it is quite unpleasant being stuck in this immovable state. I can't help but think of my darling little Slurpy back at home. I promised him I'd visit often, but who knows when this trap will end? As I look around my office, I suddenly notice that something strange in my office, shadow accumulating near the corners, and all of a sudden, there in front of me is Celleboni my rival. But... not. He's a dark shade of purple, like the Shadow Figure that trapped me here. It just stands there, watching me. Making me feel very uncomfortable. His eyes stare straight into nothingness, right through me. What does he want. Why is it here. Who was the Shadow?
Adam
The Old One. Spoke of in legends. In front of me... But I am helpless. Even as a child, I was never helpless, unable to move. unguarded. * Yet, it seems as if the Old One is guarding me, prepared to report to his captain if I so much as move. Not like I can move... There is nothing I can do for myself or for my friends. I had always dreamed of a great sacrifice that I could perform to save my
friends. To be remembered. This was my opportunity, but there was nothing I could do. We are all trapped. Prisoners in our own offices. I've fought the most powerful pirates and sailed the harshest seas, but I've never faced this kind of power before. The power of shadow. Power that only Astral could vanquish.
Chapter six[]
Alpha
I banged on the door of the Astral tower. I was shut in, trapped. As soon as I felt that shiver run through my bones, I knew that something was not right. I didn't make it in time and now, I'm trapped. The seven floors that once delighted me now seemed like a curse, trapping me in. Everything had seemed to lose its color, toning down to a dismal gray blue and drab gold. The chestnut floorboards seemed to be always covered in dust, no matter how much I swept them. There were a few cabinets on each floor, every one filled with several hundred perfectly preserved croissant rolls. So I wouldn't starve.
But I couldn't stand being alone.
Chapter seven[]
five years in the future
Adrianna
The years skipped by as I continued my journey around the island. I was pretty disappointed I didn't get to go to the Academy, but I was honored that Noot chose me to save it. He said I had absolutely exceptional skills I'm magic. That I was a natural. By now, I had built up my inventory a decent amount, with wands and robes, relics and hats. And so many pets! I love love LOVE pets!
They're just so cute and cool! But also extremely powerful. By my side was Goldling, my Solarix- or Solarasis, I always get the two names mixed up... whatever. Goldling has grown big enough for me to ride, in fact. I love soaring through the air, Goldling's sky blue crest tickling my face. I've collected all five of the keystones.
It was about two years ago when Noot said he received a message- A message that the Academy would open again soon! So of course I was excited! we went right away- I spent my time in the Archives mostly. It's like, a maze, but like, a library, under the Academy! Very cool. Gale, (He's the fairy that seems to run the Academy) Was overjoyed when I brought him a small bundle of Golden pages in the Archives. He said He was working on a project of some sort... so that I would be able to officially save the Academy! And I am on my way right now!
Three years in the past
Alpha
I was cleaning off the bookshelves in my office (for the millionth time) when I found something that wasn't there before. A golden page.
That's strange. I didn't think I was missing any. I wish I could give it to Gale...
Walking over to my chair, I sat down and began to read it.
Tales of the Academy- Year five, week twenty-six, day six.
Today, I tell of Nemo.
Remember him? He is the student that entered three years ago, an orphan, as you might recall. He's grown even more power hungry these past few weeks. I could not figure out why though, try as I might. Today, I made my move before he should grow any more powerful. I see danger in his heart. It turned out, he had been practicing shadow magic behind my back. The simple training wand that I carved for him with my own hands has grown to a harsh gnarled staff, crowned by a crystal. A crystal Nemo created. He calls it the Shadow Keystone. We wardens know that the keystones are not physical objects. We made the decision last night to cast him out. Here is my telling of this day.
He knew we would do it. We took him by our magic and attempted to seal him out. However, he threw himself into a fit like a small child, screaming at us like there was no end. He rebelled against us. He tried to remove our precious work from the minds of all. But in the end, we succeeded. But not before we had all been wounded. Danji got half her leg blasted off. It is probably the worst out of all of us. She is lucky that her broomstick will heal itself. Her leg, I fear not. Circe was blasted deaf in both his ears, but some simple magic might heal him. Hesissa nearly broke her neck, but escaped with only a broken arm. Acoia dislocated her shoulder. Merka Got a severe concussion, but he will soon heal, I have no doubt. As for myself, I was cast blind in one eye and am not able to heal it. I fear I will never.
----
I had a vision of some sort. Just a moment ago. I saw Nemo. Cloaked in darkness, surrounded by monsters, taken by his control. Nemo. I feared he would take this path. Then, I saw us wardens, slowly disappearing, one by one, as the Keystones disappeared in Alpha's time. Will disappear. Alpha, please turn around.
What. The- Why did It feel like he was just talking to me just now- surely, he couldn't be talking to me-
"But I am."
I stood up and turned around so hard that my chair fell over.
There, blind eye and all, stood my Great-grandfather,
Omega.
One year in the future.
Florian
I've been stuck in this orb for so long, almost four years I think. Not like I can tell. I sleep when I'm tired, well, not exactly sleeping. Just, resting, or that's what it feels like. I'm always tired. But never hungry. I really wish I could have eaten that pizza first... If I had only gotten to the pizza fast enough, we probably would have won the battle!
Two years in the past.
Alpha
"I still don't understand. How is this possible" How are you here- that was one hundred years in the past-"
"I know you want to ask more questions," Omega said, "But we have more important matters to discuss. Nemo is back, and I are both powerless as we are. We cannot help ourselves, but the Wardens, and the Keystones, can. As for my presence here, I was- or I am, the Astral Keystone."
"The what?"
"The gem you keep on the pedestal behind your chair."
I looked at the now empty pedestal.
"It still doesn't make sense-"
"Nemo." The past Astral Warden said coldly. "Nemo's curse."
"Pardon? What's this about a curse?"
"The final curse of Nemo. As for what it is, You shall find out soon enough." He paced around the room. "A hero is coming soon. The Prodigy."
"The Prodigy? Like the Island?"
"Grandson, I appreciate your curiosity, but you must let me explain. The Prodigy. The girl who you called here. Remember?" I thought for a while before turning back to him.
"Yes, I remember her. But that was the morning I was trapped in here... The day Nemo attacked..."
"I did not think that he would come back." Omega walked over to the elevator door, examining the many buttons on the panel. "But I suppose he has trapped himself with the blessing- or more accurately, the curse, of Immortality. He feeds off his vile magic and it keeps him alive. Me and my fellow wardens have also fallen under this curse, but Nemo cast that curse upon us without even knowing he did. The real curse... It is a different story. I am sorry to leave you in suspense, But it is a story for later." He took a breath. "And you too, one who reads our story." He murmured.
"What?" I asked. "'Who reads our story?'" Omega looked back at him.
"There is always a fourth wall to break, Astral Warden."
"No offence-" I started. "But you are quite possibly the most interesting person I've ever met... Very cryptic and secretive and all."
"I see no offence in that remark." He laughed. "It is time for my current departure." He looked to the empty pedestal behind me. "Just remember, you'll find me there." And with that, in a swirl of tiny multicolored squares, he disappeared in a glow. And suddenly, on the pedestal, was the Astral Keystone.
Three years in the Future
Gale
It had been five extremely long years. I had tried everything, and now I had finally managed to fix all the pedestals. It had been no easy task. Whenever I just thought I was done fixing it, a magical wire snapped between my fingers and I had to start all over again. It was torture. But at last, all of them were finally done, all performing in unison. Now, I am writing a letter to Noot, telling him to come at once. It was time to place the Keystones. Yet, I was still worried that they would fail... What if they broke again? What if the pedestals crumbled into nothingness?
In my spare time between the stress of fixing the pedestals, and the stress that came from hundreds of letters that Academy students had sent my, yelling at me to "JUST FIX THE PEDESTALS ALREADY GALE, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING THAT KEEPS YOU FROM WORKING ON THEM!?!?" Yeah, the answer to that question is: I AM WORKING ON THEM!!!!
As I was saying, I spend my spare time organising golden pages that Adrianna has been giving me every time she comes up from the Archives. It brings me joy with every bundle she hands over to me. The reason I can't go into the Archives is because I can't. Every time I try to fly down there, the purple mist that clouds the entryway pushes me out. And If I somehow do manage to make it down there, there is a strange wobbliness that falls over me and I get terrible motion sickness. Dark purple smog floats around in the air and I usually end up passing out. For whatever reason, Adrianna doesn't get pushed out when she tries to enter, and when she does come out, she is conscious, not unconscious like the condition I'm in whenever I come out.
I sealed the letter shut and with a small spark of magic, sent it to Noot. I do not doubt that he will also be overjoyed at my completion.
Chapter eight[]
The Wardens
Florian
All of a sudden I was in a place, like a forest glade, filled with bright light.
Ada
I saw Florian, Lina, Tinya, and Adam. Free.
Lina
We were all wearing really ceremonial looking outfits. Even Tinya, which is weird, because Slimes don't usually wear robes.
Tinya
Then suddenly before us, I saw the five keystones, glowing brightly as the hottest lava.
Adam
Then, there were five wizards in place of the five gems.
Alpha
And suddenly, I was there. Omega was by my side.
Florian
We were all floating several inches off the ground, trust me, I'm not flying.
Ada
All six of us Wardens were there, but who were the other six?
Lina
Small firefly-like things floated gently around the edges of the clearing, hundreds and thousands
Tinya
Fog floated here and there, but most around the six others, hiding their faces.
Adam
The others began to walk out of the fog, revealing their faces.
Alpha
Omega led them. Then I knew who the others were.
Florian
These wizards...
Ada
Could it be?
Lina
Who else could it be...
Tinya
Other than...
Adam
It can't be...
Alpha
The First Wardens.
Omega
Welcome, I say to them, proceeding foreward.
Acoia
Greetings
Circe
Fellow Wardens of ages future
Danji
We welcome you to our realm
Hessisa
It is where we live
Merka
In our time together
Omega
Almost never. You see, we are often separated
Lina
I find it a little strange you are all continuing each other's sentences
Florian
Yeah... Please explain what's going on, I'm confused, oh and Adam, do you still hate me?
Adam
Yes.
Alpha
IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS, WHY DO YOU STILL HATE EACH OTHER?!?!
Lina
FIVE YEARS? WHAT ON EARTH?
Ada
Yes, how do you know how long it's been? Have you been roaming free?
Florian
And what happened to your hair?
Alpha
Florian, my hair is not important right now. Ada, not exactly. I was trapped in my tower. What were your fates?
Adam
I've been trapped in some sort of a shadow orb-
Florian
Me too! Anybody else?
Ada
Yes. I believe it was the same for all of us
Danji
What. Is. Happening.
Lina
What happened to your leg?
Danji
I looked at my leg. Or half leg. My leg had been blasted off up to my knee. Umm... Said I.
Long story.
Lina
I can make one for you! I've always wanted to make a real mechanical limb!
Omega
Would you stop chatting right now? Nemo- the Puppet Master- is running rampage. The Prodigy is coming soon. She is on her way right now. To set you free.
Florian
Is that all you wanted to tell us? Ok, nice. Can we walk around here for a while? Haven't gotten to move around in what, five years or so?
Danji
No, You! We each have something to say to you!
Florian
And what is that?
Ada
Oh do be quiet Florian. Do you have anything else to do other than being a sass king?
Florian
GROAN. It must be, oh, I don't know, the five year isolation that I've just experienced?
Omega
And another five years would be just perfect for you right about now. Don't tell me to tell the Prodigy to skip the Earth Tower.
Florian
Alright, alright already!
Omega
Come, friends. Acoia, go with Florian-
Florian
WHAT? I have to go with HER? She looks just like a sassier version of my sister!
Acoia
I can be sassy when I want to. Come along.
Florian
Alright, whatever you say.
Omega
Now, where was I... Ah yes. Circe, join Ada. I know you two will get along with each other.
Circe
Come with me.
Ada
Yes, sir.
Omega
Danji, you-
Danji
Who? Who? Who?
Omega
Sometimes you remind me of that green fairy.
Danji
He's already been taken by Acioa! Who do I get? Who? Who?
Lina
It's me, isn't it!
Danji
Oooooh! Yeah! Lets go! Lets go!
Omega
I have no clue how you guessed that, but yes Danji, you go with Lina.
Tinya
That leaves just you and me Adam.
Adam
Yes.
Omega
I might as well send you away at the same time. Hessisa, go with Tinya. Merka, Adam. You know what to tell them. And Danji! Don't get off topic!
Danji (from somewhere in the woods)
Yes Master!
Alpha
Now what?
Omega
I've already discussed this with you at length over the past four years. You know who I am.
Alpha
It would help If you set a bit of a topic... Oh, right. Oh! That was Nemo's curse. I cannot believe you held me in suspense for all those years and I'm seriously just figuring this out myself...
Omega
I must say, I did enjoy our little talks. It drove me mad to see you talking to yourself all day.
Alpha
What else was I supposed to do while you were gone?
Omega
Clean the bookshelves? Sweep the floors? Clean the windows?
Alpha
That's what I did for only the first two years
Omega
You also need a haircut
Alpha
I do not. What on earth makes you think that?
Omega
You haven't bathed in five years and your hair is two and a half feet long.
Alpha
I did to wash myself! there are bathrooms! With showers!
Omega
I honestly don't remember adding those when I built the Astral Tower.
Alpha
Nice.
Omega
This conversation is getting a bit off topic. Would you like to be taken out of this dreamspace and into the Astral Tower?
Alpha
I'd stay here forever if I could... The Astral Tower Is not what it was before the Shadow Came. Nemo. The shadow is Nemo.
Omega
Yes. My star student. He was also quite skilled in Earth magic I might add.
Alpha
Sigh. I want to go home. I want to see Gale again. Please take me to the Astral Tower. If the Prodigy is coming, I want to be there when she comes.
Omega
Let's go home then.
Chapter nine[]
Alpha
Suddenly, I was in my office again. It seemed so different. It was flooded with sunlight, the rugs shone a brilliant navy blue and every gold star painted on the walls and ceiling glimmered with new light.
"Why is it so different?" I asked.
a voice from the gem behind me said, "Because you realy are in the Astral Tower again. The one you were trapped in before was only a shadow. I kept you there to keep you safe.Now that Nemo has given up searching the real tower, it's safe to come back. Oh, look at your desk."I looked down at my desk. On it was a shiny gold pair of scissors on top of a small scrap of paper which read, You still need a haircut! In Omega's neat penmanship.
"Not yet." I said, turning around to face the Astral Keystone. "I'd like to show Gale first." I flipped my long, well groomed hair. In all these years, I'd always kept it nice and brushed. (Yes, of course I keep a spare hairbrush inside my desk drawer.)
Turning back to my desk, I saw another note:
Gale would say you looked like a girl.
I snatched it up and crumpled up the scrap and heaved a sigh. I shoved the scissors in my drawer and slammed it shut.
Sigh. With my office restored to its former glory, it felt like home. It felt like I could go down the elevator and walk out of the doors of the Astral tower and roam free in the greater world. Free.
And yes, in case you were wondering, my hair is two and a half feet long. The tips were still Cyan from the ceremony. SO LONG AGO- Why is there another note on my desk. Omega, what are you doing...
You look like a vagabond
"Seriously? Am I going to have to yell at you for the rest of eternity?" I shouted to the air. But I did look like a vagabond, didn't I? My clothes were pretty raddy, and the only thing I've been eating while trapped in here was the croissant rolls. They get old after a while, and by now, I'm downright sick of them.
"And just in case you want to tell me again, I don't need a haircut. Not yet. And if I did it myself, I'd probably end up looking like a Clip Clop. I'll have Florian do it or something-"
Another note.
Florian will make it look exactly like his. I'm sure you'd look great with his hairstyle.
"It's so annoying when you're right sometimes."
Acoia
"Well, Florian, was it?" She said.
"Yeah." He looked around the smaller clearing she had brought him to.
"Ok. Let's get this over then. Omega told me to tell you a couple things." She laid her wand down on her lap and straightened her pigtails. "First of all, I tell of Nemo."
Circe
"Who is Nemo? Ada asked the tall cloaked wizard. His white coat was lined with silver fur and had pale blue snow crystal markings spiraling across its fabric.
"Nemo was an orphan whom Omega adopted into the Academy a few years after we completed its construction."
"Why do you tell of him?"
Danji
"Well, It's a long story." Danji said, rubbing what was left of her lower leg. "Ya see, he was the one who, well you know..." She kicked her leg out.
"Ouch... That must have hurt! Was he that bad all the time?" Lina sat herself down on a tree trunk next to Danji.
"Uh, no. It was only the last battle. When we kicked him out."
Hessisa
"When you kicked him out?" Tinya asked.
"Yes. He knew we were going to take action soon. That day, he showed up in the grand hall wearing those hated robes, surrounded by clouds of shadow. He wasn't fully corrupted yet, it seemed."
"Oh my! Corrupted? How terrible!" Tinya shuttered.
Merka
"And so our battle began." Merka's deep voice echoed through the trees.
"Battle." Adam mumbled. "And yet you could not defeat him easily."
"True, True, even I myself was surprised by the difficulty of our battle. Got myself a nasty concussion I did. Our battle seemed hopeless until Omega made his final move."
Acoia
"He took his twisted staff and fired a blast of the purest Astral magic at Nemo. It pierced him square in the chest. Omega never misses, I might as well tell you."
Circe
"It hit him like a spear, shadows leaked out of his chest like blood."
Danji
"Well, I was barely conscious at the moment, but from what the others told me, the shadows seemed to devour him."
Hessisa
"As the shadows consumed him, his very form twisted and changed. He began to float off of the ground..."
Merka
"Then he looked at us, eyes gleaming yellow, changed completely. Aye, more terrifying eyes that I've ever seen.
Acoia
"Omega struck again, pushing him out of the Academy doors."
Circe
"And down he fell, shadow trailing after him, far down to the ground."
Danji
"Ok, I was really unconscious at the moment, but was when they say he cast the curse."
Hessisa
"Though he had fallen down to the ground, the words of the curse echoed in our heads."
Merka
"A terrible curse was it, and to be true, I didn't understand it too well myself."
Nemo
Though you cast me out, you shall pay,
My mind illusions will pierce you to your cores ,
Nowhere to turn,
You're trapped,
I crowned my staff with gemlike form,
although you all rejected,
Six gems I see, glowing bright,
crowned on pedestals five.
You'll remain inside their cold hard forms,
And never will revive.
The gates of this castle,
still in the air,
shall be closed forever,
at least until the thrones are filled,
by wardens of great power.
And if that day comes,
if it may, I'll return again,
Then this castle,
in the air,
will crash to the ground forever.
Omega
And that is how I tell of Nemo.
The Puppet Master.
Chapter ten[]
Florian
Back in my bubble? What!? NOT FAIR. I was JUST in a FOREST CLEARING, FREE. ABLE TO MOVE. Grrr...
I was just finishing up my rage when suddenly, I felt a shiver tremor through my spine, then heard a loud Klink, like a chain breaking. And then- Well, I can't describe it, but I felt, Open. Like I could think clearly. Footsteps. Voices.
"Florian is the Earth warden... He should be here somewhere..." I heard bits and pieces of a conversation. Then, those words I felt like I had been waiting my whole life for:
"Florian? Are you there?" One of the voices said.
"Yes, I'm here!" I said, my voice free. It felt so good to talk, or at least, somewhat talking. "Can you get me out of here, if you don't mind?"
"Sure, no problem!" The other voice said. I heard the doorknob turn- Turn... Klack.
"Um, I think it's locked..." She said.
"Oh great, OF COURSE he locked me in here. You'd probably just have to battle the shadow golem, then I'd be free, but now THE DOOR IS LOCKED-"
"Wait, shadow golem?"
"Florian, now is not a good time. Where is the key?" The first voice asked.
"I don't know. Nem- The Puppet Master, I mean, probably hid it somewhere on the eighth floor, that's as high as this tower goes. I don't see why he didn't just destroy it. Then I'd really be trapped."
"Or we could just break through the door. That would work too!" The second voice said.
"DO NOT TOUCH MY DOOR. THAT IS CUSTOM MADE- Oh, whatever. You'll have to ascend to the top floor to get the key, but the elevator probably won't work unless you clean up all the monsters from each floor- I suspect he's planted monsters up there anyway-"
Shff. Ping.
Alone again. Oh, wait. I think I can still talk to them-
Nice.
I'm on my way outta here.
Chapter eleven[]
Gale
It was a great joy when I heard the clang of a lock fall. It had to be the one on the grand staircase. Sure enough, when I looked down past the hall of Keystones and up the grand staircase, there was no lock! Best. Day. Ever. Well, almost. As I flew up the stairs, I saw to my dread, that the giant lock on the Astral Tower was still there, a border between me and my brother.
Half-brother.
My mother had died soon after I was born, and it just so happened that my father remarried Alpha's mother, or at least, soon to be mother. Alpha at that time was not born yet.
And that is all I have to say about that- except, I still don't know exactly how we all fell into business with the Academy. I was young when we moved in, but I remember the day about eight years ago now, when our parents left us to attend the Academy on our own to live in a small cabin deep in Firefly Forest. For retirement, I guess.
Two days later...
"YEAH!" The call echoed through the Academy's halls as I quickly flew up to the Hall of Wardens.
And there was Florian, hovering above his Warden chair, giving Adrianna a high-five.
"Well?" He said. "What are you waiting for? Go save the other Wardens!"
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Adrianna squealed, jumping up and down then running straight into me. "Oof." She said, then looked up at me. "Ohmygosh, so sorry Gale! Did you see? did you see? I freed Florian!" She waved her hand towards Florian. "But I gotta go free the other wardens! All the pedestals are working, right?"
"Yes, but only put in one at a tiiiiiime!" I shouted after her as she sprinted into the Hall of Keystones.
"Gale!" Florian shouted, flying towards me and embracing me in a tight hug. "Am I ever glad to see you again! You have no IDEA how BORING it was in there! Wait- First things first, I am starving. I haven't eaten in, wow, has it really been five years like Alpha said?"
"Wait." I said slowly. "You saw ALPHA?"
"Yeah, in like, a dream thing, with all the other wardens. It was really weird. And has It been five years? And can I have some pizza?"
"Yes. It has been five years." I sighed. "Five extremely long, lonely years."
Klang
We both turned towards the Ice Tower just in time to see the lock crash to the floor and fade away into nothingness.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go free the Wardens. And eat pizza. Because i'm starving, I may or may not have mentioned." Florian laughed, the backflipped in the air. "Man, it's good to talk again!"
I sighed. "Ok, alright. Let's get over to Lamplight Town. There's a pretty good pizza shop there. You just have to answer a couple questions first."
In Lamplight Town
We sat at the docks by Sir Vey, who had given us the pizza after we answered a few quick trivia questions. My tail dangled into the water, wetting the tip slightly. The cool morning breeze from across the sea blew in my face.
"Can I have your pizza?" Florian asked.
"Sure. I'm not hungry." I replied.
"You miss him, don't you."
"Who?"
"Alpha."
"How did you know we're brothers?"
"We fairies know that kind of stuff. Don't tell Flora, but sometimes, while I was trapped, I did miss her- just a bit. Kinda a sibling thing. Even if you hate each other sometimes, you'll almost always get back together. Also, the way you act around him. Safer, more secure, which is kind of weird cuz you're older than him." Florian casually took a bite of pizza.
"Ok, HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?!?!"
"I had a lot of time to think while I was in the bubble-thing." He replied, taking another bite of pizza.
"Okay... But don't tell anybody else. Kinda personal."
"Not really. For example, I'm older than Flora. Everybody Knows that."
"I mean- everybody just assumes that I'm younger than Alpha, and I just want it to stay that way."
Florian sighed, stuffing his pizza crust in his mouth.
"Arigh. I wonnf twell." He mumbled through the crust.
"Thank you." I said.
Chapter twelve[]
Noot
By the time the month was over, Adrianna had freed all the Wardens. Except Alpha. The Astral tower doors had stayed bolted shut, even after Adam had stepped foot out of the Water Tower.
Something told me that we would have to defeat the Puppet Master in order to set him free. The question was, where was the Puppet Master? It had been so long since he had appeared at the Academy. There must be some sort of a way to find him, or lure him to the Academy for a rematch.
Or perhaps, he would come by himself.
Adrianna
Darkness fell over the land as the clouds of purple shadows spilled through the Academy doors. I was ready. Lightning flickered through the sky, boldly outlining the Puppet Master's silhouette. The usual warm and bright interior of the Academy seemed cold and gray with his arrival. I stood in the hall of gemstones, watching as he slowly floated towards me. The Keystones still shone brightly through the shadows, Illuminating the room.
"I've waited five years for this moment." I whispered. Behind me were the Wardens and Gale, ready to help me. The past two weeks had been spent training, training, and more training. We were ready. I hope.
"Greetings, Foolish Wizards." The Puppet Master growled.
"We know who you are, Nemo," Ada said, confidently stepping forth.
"A-argggg. D-o no-ot call me by T-ha-at na-ame-e..." The Puppet Master shuddered, shadows suddenly enveloping him, then trailing away.
Leaving Nemo.
He was still wearing his cloak and hat of the puppet master, but he had become a human again.
"ATTACK!" I yelled.
The Wardens sprang forth, ready to defend.
I stood at their head, leading them towards Nemo.
But before we could land a single hit, the world itself began to warp around me, twisting and turning.
And suddenly, I was in a place. High up on a stone platform in the middle of a shadowy void. On one side of the platform, there were the Five Warden Keystones, gleaming on their five pedestals.
"I have brought you here for one purpose," Nemo rasped. "That is to destroy you, the Academy, and All things Good it stands for."
"Drama," I shouted back at him from across the battlefield.
"You won't be taunting me when i'm done with you!" He taunted.
"Let us begin then."
And so our battle began. I was with my two most loyal and powerful pets, Goldling and Shatter, My Acromi.
We weren't far into our fight when Nemo whispered,
"Don't hit your own friends too hard!" And a dark hand of shadow reached across the battlefield and grabbed Goldling.
"No!" I shouted as Nemo laughed.
And so I was forced to fight against Goldling. It was pain. I tried not to hit her too often, but in the end, I was forced to defeat her.
It was terrible and sad to see her fainted on the outskirts of the battle grounds.
Around the middle of the battle, When I felt worryingly low on health, Noot somehow managed to swoop by, heal me, and revive Goldling! I wanted to hug him, but I knew I had more important work to do.
Our fight lasted and eternity, it seemed, but at last, finally, I had got him down to his last legs.
Unexpectedly, the Keystones began to pulse with light. Five people appeared in their places. Aiming a final blast at Nemo, glowing ever brighter.
And suddenly, with a flash of light, Nemo was down. Not defeated but down. The world began to warp again, and with a flash, We were back in the hall of Keystones. Except, there were no keystones. Instead, there were the five people.
Nemo was still down, but getting up again. We had him surrounded. Suddenly, he took his staff and fired a ray of shadow magic up the stairs and at the lock of the Astral Tower. The lock fell off with a CLANG, shaking the Academy to it's core, it seemed. Then, he pushed past us and ran up the stairs and into the Astral tower.
"Oh no." Gale breathed.
"Well, what are we waiting for? After him!" I commanded. Within seconds, we were in the Astral Tower. It has got to be the most beautiful place EVER. No time. No time. We all crammed into the elevator, The five Wardens and the Five wizards who had been the Keystones, Gale, Noot, and me.
There was a cramped moment of aquard silence as the elevator ascended the tower, then with a ping, the elevator doors slid open to reveal Alpha's office.
Gale
Nemo was there, surrounded by shadows once more. He stood in front of Alpha and another man who looked nearly identical to Alpha. Alpha barely looked like himself, pale faced and with wild long hair. I wanted to rush forward to help him, but I knew it would not be the wisest thing to do at the moment.
Adrianna rushed out of the elevator towards Nemo, who turned around and stared her down.
"Alright. Nobody moves, or the Astal Wardens will die."
"Drama" Adrianna whispered under her breath.
"I said, YOU DO NOT MOCK ME." Nemo growled, glaring at her, then turned to Alpha and his companion. "As for you two, I have grown weary of waiting for the Academy to fall. Die knowing that." He held his staff out in front of him, shadow magic spilling out of the crystal that crowned it.
"No." Alpha breathed, trying to shove himself in front of his companion. His companion fought back, standing beside him, then flashed into a gemlike shape, then flashed back into a human. Then the gem again, hovering in the air.
"YOU HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE, BUT NOT ENTIRELY. THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THE LIGHT." Nemo roared as the shadows blasted towards Alpha.
"NO!" I shouted, jumping forward.
But it was too late. The shadow had hit Alpha, absorbing into his chest. Alpha cringed in pain, each breath heaving. The gemstone still hovered in the air, gold and blue starbits flying from it. Alpha fell to his knees behind his desk, still in pain.
Time itself seemed to stop for a moment as the shining gem slowly moved around Alpha.
"It's over." Nemo muttered. "You are helpless without your Astral Wardens. It's too late to try again." He turned to the group outside of the elevator, grinning as shadows covered him, then there he was again, levitating above our heads, gleaming yellow eyes staring down at us.
I was on my hands and knees on the floor, shaking.
It can't be over. Will we all die now?
Then a voice.
There is always hope somewhere.
I looked up and saw my mother, kneeling before me.
It's alright. She said, gently placing her hands on my shoulders. Then she faded away.
Alpha
It's pain like I've never felt before. Stinging, eating away at me. Omega is in Keystone form, floating above me.
I wonder what will happen next.
I wonder if my friends will be safe.
I wonder-
The Omega moves closer to me, his warm light somewhat easing the pain.
Suddenly,
Suddenly,
Suddenly,
The gem has embedded itself In my chest. Then lifts out again, leaving an imprint of a star and a moon overlapping on my worn robes. It presses in again, warm and comforting. And I begin to lift up. To stand up.
The Puppet Master looks back at me. Yet he does not move.
Acoia, Circe, Danji, Hessisa, and Merka begin to glow. Then they are the keystones.
Then, we were in the clearing of fog and fireflies. Nobody speaks. The past Wardens stand in a circle around me, and Omega in front of me, glowing so brightly, that I can barely see him. He comes to me, then with a spark of small, multicolored squares, he is inside me.
I am in my office again.
Gale
I look up into Alpha's eyes, filled with stars and light. He is dressed in his Astral Robes, and hovering in front of a golden hoop, in which the Keystones shine. But there is a sixth, Alpha's companion.
The best part is, Alpha has wings. Wings like mine, gold and blue, shining in the light that now fills the room.
"Nemo." He whispers.
But Nemo is already there, cowering from the brilliant light.
"Wardens come."
Florian, Ada, Lina, Tinya, and Adam stand over beside Alpha, in a circle around him.
"We founded this Academy." Alpha says. Around the golden hoop, there forms a rainbow, brilliant with every color, shining like crystals.
"Nemo." He says.
"Nemo." Nemo repeats.
"Prodigy, your move is now." He called. Adrianna steps to his side, prepared for anything.
Nemo is alone on his side of the room, bent over from exhaustion.
"It's time." Alpha held out his hands in front of him, placing them on Adrianna's shoulders.
Then with a glow, shining brighter than all the suns in the universe, a giant orb of light appears in front of them.
"Wardens, stand beside me." He whispered.
The hoop spins around and around, the Keystones embedded in it shining like a thousand fireworks, multicolored and beautiful.
Each of the wardens stands by Adrianna and places a hand on her shoulder, channeling magic in the form of multicolored comets, Green, Pale blue, Silver, Red, and Blue, merging with the supernova.
Did I imagine it or not? Alpha looked at me and Noot, then nodded.
We flew over to join them, strands of Astral Power channeling through the Prodigy.
"It's time." Said Alpha, but not his voice.
The supernova explodes towards Nemo,
Strength of a Leaf Wind,
Power of an Ice wall,
Prepared like the Storm's Coming,
Persistence of the Charclone,
Unexpected as a Geyser,
Leaving nothing but Zero.
Nothing.
Nemo was gone, only leaving a mess of clothing, tainted with shadows.
Then at last, all was calm.
Chapter thirteen[]
Chapter thirteen
Alpha
Back to normal again. Gale rushed over to me and hugged me. I was in my old clothing again, and the room was filled with people.
"Alpha!" Gale cried, squeezing me tighter in a hug. "Come on, come on, let's get you out of here."
I laughed. "I missed you so much! And yes, I Need to get out of here! It's been so so lonely!"
"Ahem." Omega said.
"Yes, I know, but I haven't seen Gale in five years!" I turned back to him. "You barely look any different!"
"Yes, but you do!" He looked at my hair. "How did your hair get so long? If I were Florian-"
"I told you." Omega sniffed. I groaned.
--------
We were back in our bedroom. I was sitting on my bed, or rather laying on it. In all those years, I had always slept on the floor or in my chair. It felt so good to be in an actual bed again.
Gale was sitting across from me on his bed, looking at me. I had just gotten some new clothes on and taken a shower. Yet, I still refused to get a haircut. Or go in the Astral Tower. Gale had said that I just needed some time off before I got teaching again.
I agreed, obviously.
The weeks began to pass again in normal flow, and students began to come again. Most of them went into the Archives to help Gale retrieve the Golden Pages. The Archives, which I heard from Gale had been making him feel dizzy whenever he attempted to go down. Now, they no longer pushed him out or made him pass out. He was soon happily flitting between bookshelves with me, collecting the golden pages and helping me re-organize them when the day was over. Omega often joined us, helping us place the pages in the right places and joking about the old times.
Chapter fourteen[]
Alpha
Teaching again. I had gotten into the swing of things pretty quickly. Adrianna was one of my best students, acing almost any challenge that Omega or I threw at her.
Florian was back to normal too, just a few days in a forest clearing with Omega, and he became like his old self, the kind, funny fairy with a hint of prankster in him.
That night, Ada had brought Gale to the Ice tower for a while. I guess she saw that he had my ponytail. Why, I seriously don't know. He never told me.
As for my ponytail, it had somehow gotten stolen from Gale and passed around the Academy staff that week until it finally reached back to me.
We had begun to hire a few other teachers as well, Floriel was one, an expert in Earth magic, a candidate for Earth Warden, and Florian and Flora's cousin. She had been sent to the Earth Tower to teach with Florian. Flora was invited to come teach, but she had denied. Florian said she didn't want to 'leaf' Firefly Forest. This remark received a groan from the staff, of course.
Another teacher hired was Blaize, a wizard, and true to his name, an expert in Fire magic. He also served as the medic, as he had a talent for healing as well.
Sammy was a wizard, about sixteen years old, that I had chosen to work as a teacher and part time secretary. The other part time, it was Gale who worked as secretary.
One of Lina's friends and fellow mechanics, Kiara SparkSurfer, had been self-hired in a sense, crashing through one of the windows of the Storm Tower in a test version of a flying machine. Lina immediately came to me and suggested her to me to help teach, fix stuff, etc. Yes, I hired her, and she's been helping out here and there where she can, even helping Lina build something they called, a 'Vacuum cleaner', which cleaned dust off the carpets like it was nothing. Very helpful indeed.
Hand picked by Ada herself was Frixion, a young yeti who she planned to be her apprentice.
Adam was an independent guy, but I knew he needed at least one teacher or apprentice besides Merka to work under him. So, I found somebody, Tilly, a fisherman's daughter for him to work with. It was suiting that she was related to a fisherman, because it made her feel more connected to Merka, who, long ago, had been a fisherman. Besides knowing how to fish, Tilly could also use Water magic and knew a multitude of knots.
And there we have it, most of our staff.
The Wardens of ages past had been broken out of their curse, but could still turn into the keystones, which they had a habit of doing during the early school days, when students passed through the hall of keystones to their classes. Then, when the students had gone to their classes, each of them went to their respective towers to help teach.
The Academy has been so far stable, all the elements balanced properly.
I tell of our fate.
So now what?
Afterward[]
Adrianna
I stepped out of the elevator into Alpha's office. He's thoughtfully looking over some papers, Gale on one side of him, Omega on the other, both looking over his shoulders. The afternoon light shines through the skylights, bathing the room in a brilliant golden light, catching on the gold stars painted on the walls and the threads in the rugs, making them glimmer. Some of the light caught on Gale's wings, reflecting specks of gold here and there on the walls. There was a calm and serene feeling that drifted through the air, and the whole room smelled of old books and cinnamon. The whole place seemed frozen in time, peaceful and glowing.
"Hello." I said, breaking the mood.
The three looked up at me. Noot flitted out from behind my back. All was still for a moment.
"Come." Alpha beckoned to me, getting up from his desk. "I see that the cleansing of the staff is going well," he tapped the gem on the top of my staff- the Puppet Master's Staff. Tiny leaves had begun to sprout here and there, and the dark, withered wood of it had begun to grow lighter, filled with life again. The gem that crowned it had started to shift from a dark black-purple to a shining amethyst purple. "So, what do you have to tell me?"
"Oh, right. I- I felt something."
"Nemo." Omega whispered, a look of anger crossing his face.
"No- no. I hope, It was different. Like a glow inside me, and a voice."
Alpha looked at Gale, then at Omega, his face questioning.
"An island has seemed to have risen from the sea." Noot stated, unrolling my map and showing it to the trio.
Omega gasped, then looked up at me. "Adrianna, you must set out to this island at once, at once. This is a huge discovery."
"What?" Asked Gale.
"You may have read about it, Gale. About the one called..."
"Who?" I interrupted. "And why do I have to go to them?"
Omega gave me a look that chilled me to the bone.
"Take note of this Gale, do you have paper?"
"No. But I can get some realy quick-"
"Here." Omega handed Gale a Golden page, shining in the light that filtered through the skylights.
"Oh!" He exclaimed, holding it in front of his face.
"Not now. Take note, please."
"Go on." Alpha whispered, looking at his great grandfather.
"Listen, all of you," He continued.
"The one called, The Ancient. Adrianna, set off at once. If she has raised her island from the sea, then there must be something wrong with her. Perhaps a disbalance of the elements, perhaps-" He turned away.
"Yes, I agree." Alpha commanded. "It's time. I'll do more research on this subject, and maybe we'll find out more. Gale, you got that all?" Gale nodded.
"What are we waiting for then? There's always another adventure somewhere! Come on Noot,
Let's go!"
The end
For now...