| Brendan stood outside the Xornon mine and gazed past the opening and deep into the blackness. Lemmins pressed a hand to Brendan�s shivering shoulder. �You must face it in order to find out what it is that pains you so.� Lemmins spoke as the Gathering entered the mine. They all entered the mouth of the mine. A soft blue light glowed from within as they approached the pit where Vincent had forced Penelopie in six years before. Though the light laminated the entire mine, the giant pit was black. They all turned toward the blue object that emitted the flowing light. Slowly, Brendan picked the blue stone from its sanctuary in the wall and stared into its depths. Inside the amazing stone, Brendan saw himself; only, there were five of him. Then, the image slowly faded. A short, bright flash of light erupted inside the mine. �I knew you�d find it for me, Brendan.� A voice flowed past them as the light faded. �Vincent?� Brendan sputtered as he stared toward the middle of the mine. Vincent slowly stepped into the soft blue light from the shadows. �I knew you would find it for me.� �You can�t have it!� Brendan clutched the blue stone. �I won�t let you!� Vincent laughed evilly. �Why don�t you come meet Mother?� Brendan�s expression twisted. �She would convince you to join us. It�s where you belong, with Mother.� Vincent stepped toward Brendan. �Mother misses you.� �My mother died when I was two.� �As did mine. Have you ever noticed how well we used to get along?� �Leave him alone, Vince!� Penelopie shouted. �Penelopie, Penelopie.� Vincent grinned. �Caught in the middle of yet another mess.� Vincent approached her and stroked her hair. �You still haven�t revealed your secret to him, have you?� Penelopie bit at his hand and Vincent pulled it back quickly. Vincent gazed back at Brendan. �You�re so unfaithful to Mother.� Vincent sneered. �You should be ashamed.� �Stop it.� Brendan trembled as he whispered. �Mother wants that stone. You should give it to her.� Brendan trembled harder. �Stop it.� His vision grew blurred. �Mother should rule.� Brendan could feel his arm rise to meet Vincent�s hand. He could not stop it. He could feel the stone slip way and out of his grasp. �Mother will be very proud.� Vincent taunted as yet another bright flash covered the tunnel. Brendan placed his hands on the side of his head. �What have I done?� He fell to the floor. �Nothing, Brendan.� Penelopie spoke as she kneeled next to him and stroked his hair. �Nothing.� Brendan slowly faded away. �What have I done?� �You betrayed your fellow travelers.� �No.� �You gave Vincent the only thing that could give him the power.� �No.� �But what did that image within the stone mean?� �I don�t know.� �You�ll find out soon enough.� �When?� �Soon.� �When?� �Wake up!� �I hope he wakes soon.� Penelopie spoke. �We must proceed.� Penelopie gazed toward Brendan and noticed him slowly and painfully open his eyes. She rushed to his side and grabbed his hand. �Are you all right?� Penelopie gazed into his eyes. �Yes.� Brendan whispered almost inaudibly. �We received the next step while you were gone from us.� She hesitated. �We must proceed if we wish to beat Vincent to the next point, Brendan.� Brendan placed his hands over his eyes. �What did I do?� He sat up. �It�s my fault Vincent is so far ahead of us. I gave him the power.� "No, Brendan.� Penelopie stood. �He manipulated you. It wasn�t your fault but, in order to fix it, we must hurry. Vincent can get all the maps faster than we.� �Where are we?� Brendan gazed around. �Back in the Xornon Inn. After you collapsed, we brought you here.� Kean entered the room. Penelopie reached into her pocket and pulled out the golden chain and pendant. She placed it inside Brendan�s out-stretched hand. �You are the real Guardian. You can protect it far better than I.� Mallowry. Brendan thought as he rose from the bed. �Well,� he spoke as he walked toward the door, �we had better move because now, it�s personal.� Latroth slowly approached Selphar who was bent down in front of a pile of broken stone. �I�ve got bad news, sir.� �What is it, Latroth?� Selphar turned and scowled. �Can�t you see I�m quite busy?� Selphar held the piece of Le Femme Blanche that was shaped like the Eye. �This is sort of important, sir.� Latroth paused. �It seems that the group is not only trying to destroy Flottantville but have now acquired another goal.� Selphar dropped the stone and stood. �And what might that goal be, Latroth?� �Well,� Latroth hesitated, �it�s relevant that they have been tailing Vincent Vanderchauff in the process and�� �I thought he was dead.� Selphar grinned. �Now we have the perfect plan, to force Vincent to aid us to Flottantville before those Guardians can reach it.� �But, sir,� Latroth interrupted, �there is technically only one Guardian. The others are just mere pieces.� Selphar�s grin grew. �Even better.� �So,� Penelopie began as they all flew through the air on the three giant dragons� backs, �exactly where are these Telphobian Falls?� Brendan sighed. �They are on the other side of the Soir Vert, our home.� The air was unusually quiet. �Brendan,� Thetric broke in, �something�s not right.� �It�s not going to be right, Thetric.� Brendan answered sympathetically. �The Golleths burned our home,� they flew over the ashes of Vecrive, �and Vecrive. It won�t be the same.� The emotions built up inside their bodies and, though they tried to hide it, Kean, Thetric, Trek, Lemmins, and Brendan�s faces all showed their pain as the dragons flew over what was left of Soir Vert. Towers of smoke still rose from the few still burning buildings of the valley. �Why would they�� Thetric�s voice cracked as he paused and a tear rolled down his face. �They had nothing to do with this!� �You knew it was going to be like this!� Brendan turned toward Thetric. �Kean told us all what had happened!� Thetric sobbed. �But no one else in Soir Vert had anything to do with it all! They didn�t even know!� He turned his head toward the destruction as they flew farther away from it. �But you�re right, Brendan.� He turned back toward Brendan. �Now, it is personal.� Suddenly, a slight roar escaped from Nalmon�s scaly mouth. �What the�� Trek cried out as a swarm of squawking Wiffer Eagles soared past them in the air with their red claws and beaks and all their yellow feathers zooming through the big sky as they looked on with their giant white eyes. �I wonder what could have scared then so badly to force them to leave their caves in the Falls.� Leosat commented as they all stared back at the giant flock. �Why do you say that?� Farshen questioned him. �Wiffer Eagles are nocturnal.� Orson added. With frightened stares, the Gathering gazed toward the Telphobian Falls. Hovering just above the deep canyon and mist escalating from the falling clear waters was Diego, the blue dragon from the Mir. �How are we supposed to get past him?� Brendan stared fearfully at Diego. �He almost killed Thetric in the Mir.� He sighed. �I don�t want to take a chance like that again.� �But, Brendan,� Lemmins stared at him, �we must.� Brendan sighed again as Nalmon, Yoni, and Mauwri all dived swiftly toward the descending falls. Unsettling feelings settled deep within Brendan�s mind as they dove closer to the falls where certain and present danger hovered just above. Diego�s eyes shifted and focused on the ten riders on the three dragons plummeting toward him. A slight roar slipped from Diego�s lips as he rose his head and pulled back his gigantic ears. The riders were so close now that they could feel the current from Diego�s flapping wings. As the Gathering drew nearer, Brendan�s unsettling feelings grew stronger. Suddenly, a blaze of red shot from Diego�s mouth and hit Yoni on the side of his neck. Yoni roared painfully and without warning, the two masses of blue and purple engaged in combat. Screams erupted from within the fight. Both dragons shot flames and both plummeted into the glistening blue waters. �Penelopie!� Brendan yelled as they all could do nothing but watch Yoni and the three riders fell past the mist. �Penelopie!� Brendan reached a hand out past the dragon he rode as though trying to pull her back. Lemmins placed a hand on Brendan�s shoulder. Soft roars still rose from the steam as Brendan watched the five figures fade away and blend into the river. �No.� Brendan whispered as two tears rolled down his cheeks. He glanced up and noticed that he was not the only one crying now. The rest of the Gathering also had very noticeable tears streaming down their faces but through the havoc, Nalmon and Mauwri still drew even closer to the Telphobian Falls. Slowly, the dragons softly landed on a small piece of island on the top of the Falls. Within all their minds, the Gathering wandered if there was any way she could have survived again. They slowly dismounted Nalmon and Mauwri and sat to mourn on some boulders and logs nearby. There seemed to be a distance in their gazes as they sat in silence on that small island. Brendan�s dreams flashed through his mind as he wept. Slowly, he looked up toward Lemmins whose face was filled with an agonizing hurt. Actually, most of the others� faces were. Although most of the group had only known Penelopie for a day or so, they felt as if she had been with them forever. Brendan shoved his face within his hands. Why? He asked himself. Why did I have to lose her again? He closed his eyes and tried to picture everything about Penelopie that he could remember that always made him smile. He pictured her smile and how soft her skin would be when she touched him but now that was all gone, gone in a flash of fire and water. �Are you all right, Brendan?� Kean sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Brendan wiped the tears from his eyes and gazed at Kean. �I�ll be fine.� �Are you sure? You really don�t look well.� �I�ll be fine just as soon as we finish this stupid journey!� Brendan stood and walked toward the edge of the island. Pulling the Eye from the pocket of his shirt, he turned back toward the Gathering. There were only seven of them now, seven brave souls left to finish the quest without knowing if the rest could survive. �Where are we supposed to get the next step?� �Well,� Lemmins glanced around, �right here.� Suddenly, a wave of red and white erupted from the pendant and the force threw Brendan backwards. Soon, he was engulfed in a wave of color. Hurtling through the rainbow-like place, Brendan could see scenes of Penelopie. �Stop.� He whispered to himself as he grabbed the sides of his head. �Stop, please.� A bright white light grew and grew at the end of the tunnel of colors. After a few seconds, a building appeared surrounded by patches and patches of pinder-flowers. What is this place? Brendan asked himself as the scene slowly faded. Then, it was gone and he was left staring at Lemmins, Trek, Thetric, Kean, Leosat, and Farshen. �That was odd.� Thetric helped Brendan stand. �Yes.� Leosat stared. �You vanished for a few seconds, my boy.� �I was in the Eye.� Brendan stared at Leosat. �What did you see?� �I saw what was in my dreams and what the Eye saw. I saw reality.� He paused. �I also saw where we were going next but I have never seen it before.� Lemmins grabbed the Eye from Brendan�s hand and raised it to his eye but lowered it quickly afterward. �What it is, Lemmins?� Brendan noticed Lemmins�s expression. �Do you remember,� Lemmins handed the necklace back to Brendan, �when you left for Vecrive and I never arrived?� �Why, yes.� �Well, this is where I went. It is called the Memory for it holds books and documents that lay out a history forgotten by others.� An owl wooed somewhere and flew overhead as they all climbed back onto Mauwri and Nalmon and flew into the sky. �Selphar!� Latroth landed next to the group of thirteen Golleths standing beside the Falls. �I have wonderful news.� �We just missed them.� Selphar growled as he turned to Latroth. �They left only moments ago.� �All may not be lost, my lord. They are heading to the Memory. It should be easy for us to stop them there.� �Ignorant Lemmins,� Selphar grinned evilly, �leading them straight to me.� Selphar laughed and motioned with a gray hand toward the other Golleths. They all rode toward the Memory with Latroth flying above them. Riding upon Nalmon and Mauwri through the woods, the Gathering was silent. After a few seconds, Thetric finally spoke. �Why are we riding rather than flying?� �It would be easier for the Golleths to spot us if we were to fly than to crawl.� Trek responded with a sigh. �Oh, all right.� Thetric adjusted on Nalmon�s back. Birds chirped in the wood and the riders could all hear some type of animal scurry along the forest floor. Slowly, the forest thinned more and more as they drew ever closer to the Memory. In an instant, there they all were, standing in front of the towering building and gazing at its spectacular height. �Wow.� Thetric glanced around. �Look at all the pinder-flowers.� Thetric picked a flower and raised it to his eyes. He stared solemnly at the bright petals. �Do you think we�ll ever get the chance to use them again?� �No,� Selphar growled as he stepped from the shadows of the wood, �I don�t think you will.� Lemmins stepped forward but stopped when Selphar raised a grotesque hand. �Don�t do that.� Twelve Golleths emerged from the trees. �It could mean all your lives.� Suddenly, an owl landed between the Gathering and the Golleths and slowly transformed into a hideous Golleth. �Oh, by the way,� Selphar motioned to the creature, �this is Latroth. He has been kind enough to inform me of your whereabouts.� �I knew there was something strange about that owl.� Kean snarled. Latroth grinned as Selphar took a step toward the frightened travelers and reached out a hand. �Give me the Eye.� Selphar demanded. �Never!� Brendan clutched the pendant on the chain around his neck. �You shall never find Flottantville!� �Just because you refuse to hand it over,� Selphar stepped forward again, �does not mean that I can�t take it from you.� �Actually, sir,� Latroth interrupted as he pulled out a tattered leather book, �the book says that the Guardian must give up the Eye in order for it to still receive its maps.� �It also states that in the event of the Guardian�s death, whoever picks the Eye from his dead body first is dubbed the new Guardian; good or bad.� Selphar took another step toward Brendan. Suddenly, a flash of bright blue light engulfed them all. All closed their eyes for the glow was too bright. The blue light was fairly cold and Lemmins and Kean shivered. The Gathering slowly opened their eyes and noticed that the light seemed to be like water over them. A swift river of sparkling blue swept swiftly over them as the light illuminated all their faces. The Golleths slowly opened their eyes as the light faded and a figure stood in front of the Memory. �Vincent?� Brendan asked and stated at the same time. �Mother wanted to save you.� Vincent grinned. �Stop it, Vincent.� Brendan�s expression twisted as he paused. �Did you summon Diego to the Falls?� �Penelopie would have distracted you. Mother wanted it this way.� �The famous Vincent Vanderchauff.� Selphar stared at Vincent. Vincent returned Selphar�s gaze with an expression of anger upon his face. �I must destroy you for you wish to harm Brendan.� Vincent reached into a pocket and pulled out the glowing blue stone that he received from the Xornon Mine. Selphar fearfully stepped back from Vincent. The stone glowed brighter as Vincent rose it higher into the air. Selphar stepped back again, nearly knocking Latroth down. �By the power of the stars!� Vincent yelled as he pointed to the Golleths. �Secholia catolas!� Suddenly, a white light shot from the bright stone and covered all fourteen Golleths. Painful screams erupted from the light. Soon, the glow faded and nothing was left but ashes being blown about by the breeze. Slowly, Vincent placed the dimming stone back into his pocket and turned toward Brendan. �Now to get what I traveled here for.� Vincent spoke as Brendan shrunk back again. As Vincent neared, Brendan muffled a scream as he imagined what Vincent could be thinking of doing to him. Pushing past Lemmins and Brendan, Vincent walked toward the largest pinder-flower among the millions surrounding it. Vincent bent down and picked the flower from its sanctuary in the ground. He reached into its center as he stood and faced back toward the Gathering. Vincent dropped the limp flower and now held a glowing red stone within his grasp. �Perfect.� Vincent growled as he placed the stone into his pocket. �Now, to continue.� Vincent laughed evilly and another flash of white light filled the air. The light quickly faded and Vincent was gone. �Lemmins,� Brendan turned toward Lemmins with a curious look on his face, �what are those stones and how many are there?� �Those stones, are called Ultimate Power. There are seven all together.� Lemmins raised his staff into the air and it glowed as he spoke. �They give the holder seven different powers of magic.� Slowly, seven stones appeared in the air. There were seven separate colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black. They all glowed immensely. �The red allows the power of life, the orange allows the power of truth, the yellow allows the power of lightning, the green allows the power of healing, the blue the power of burning ice, the purple the power of moving the earth, and the black the power of death.� Lemmins paused as the stones moved closer together. �If one could obtain them all, they would have the Ultimate Power.� The stones fused together and formed a glowing white stone. �Instead of using that power, though, one could sacrifice it to power up the tower on Flottantville or to extract the tower�s power and become invulnerable.� Lemmins lowered his staff and the stones faded away. �If Vincent got a hold of all seven, he would be unstoppable.� �Brendan.� A voice called from a stone bench in front of a towering tree in front of the Memory. �Brendan.� Slowly, Brendan walked over to the bench. A shrouded figure appeared there and wearing a long white dress and a baby blue robe that draped over her shoulders. �Brendan?� Kean�s voice seemed so far away. The woman slowly gazed up at Brendan. His face froze, an expression of pure terror showed. �Give me your hand, Brendan.� The woman spoke as she slowly raised hers. The woman�s skin was white as clouds and lips as red as a pinder-flower�s petals. She seemed almost dead to Brendan as he stared unbelievingly at her. �Brendan, are you okay?� Kean�s voice faded even more. The Gathering could all see that his gaze was fixed upon the bench but, why? Slowly, they all approached him. Brendan raised a shaking hand toward the woman�s pale palm. As their hands touched, a flash of light erupted in Brendan�s brain. He released the woman�s grasp and staggered backwards. Kean caught him by the arms as he began to fall. Shaking, Brendan stood and faced them. �What happened?� Thetric pushed his way past Kean. �It was my mother.� He paused as he bowed his head. �She touched me and gave me her memories. I saw her with me and then Vincent.� He closed his eyes. �Crenta.� He opened his eyes. �Mother.� He laughed hysterically. He trembled even more but soon stopped. �It was Mother.� �Mother?� Lemmins whispered as he bent down to Brendan. �Are you all right, my boy?� Brendan stared up at Lemmins and quickly shook his head. �I�m fine, why?� Brendan stared oddly at him. �What is it you remember?� Lemmins spoke as he gazed quickly at the rest of the Gathering and then back at Brendan. �I remember seeing my mother on the bench and touching her cold hand but that�s all.� �All right.� Lemmins grabbed Brendan�s arm and they walked toward Mauwri and Nalmon. �Just making sure, was all.� Brendan stared oddly as he, Lemmins, Kean, and Trek all mounted Mauwri as Leosat, Thetric, and Farshen mounted Nalmon. The air moved by as the dragons� wings rushed against the pinder-flowers and blew some of them across the sky. Brendan gazed over toward the cold stone bench and saw a baby blue figure slowly fade away. He missed Penelopie�s gentle touch when he slept. �You�re in a lot of trouble now, aren�t you, Brendan?� �Yes.� �How will you stop Vincent? He does have a certain power over you.� �Yes, I�m afraid of what he may cause me to do if I get too close to him again.� A soft whistling came from the void in Brendan�s mind. �You should be.� A flash of bright white light erupted in his mind and soon he was standing in a forest and staring at Vincent. �I shall reunite you with Mother.� Vincent spoke to him. �You two shall live again and we will flourish in the power that I will draw from Flottantville.� �You�ll never get away with this, Vincent. We�ll stop you from obtaining the Ultimate Power!� Vincent laughed evilly and hysterically. �That�s where you�re wrong. I have the power to bend you to my ultimate whim.� �I won�t let you, Vincent!� Brendan stepped toward him. �I can resist you!� �We�ll see.� Slowly, the scene faded back to the void Brendan always saw in his dreams. Rushing wind could be heard. �You know you can�t resist him, Brendan.� �Yes.� �Then, why must you taunt him? He may make you do something that may destroy your whole journey.� �I know.� A faint white light began to fill the blackness. �Something�s wrong.� �What?� �You must realize it yourself, Brendan.� �Tell me.� �You must realize it for yourself.� �Tell me!� �Wake up!� Brendan opened his weary eyes just to be staring at the moon. He slowly sat up and noticed that he was back in the Forbidden Dragon Mir and lying on the bank of the river. Next to him lie Mauwri and Nalmon in a deep sleep and breathing heavily. Brendan could hear people talking softly. �I�m worried about Brendan, Lemmins.� Thetric spoke out. �He�s been talking in his sleep lately and refusing to wake.� �Yes, Thetric, I know.� Lemmins solemnly responded. �Everyone�s worried about him, even Leosat and Farshen. No one is happy to see him this way.� �I just wish that I could see into his dreams so I could find out what was troubling him every time he closed his eyes.� �We all wish we could, Thetric.� Leosat broke in. �Maybe once we should just try asking him about them.� �That won�t work.� Kean sat next to Leosat. �I tried at Xornon and he refused to say. He�s been so defensive over his dreams lately.� �I remember,� Kean chuckled, �when he used to stay up all night telling us about the dreams the night before whether we wanted to hear them or not. He�s not like that anymore.� Farshen stepped toward them. �Maybe this journey has stressed him so much that he feels as though he can�t trust anyone anymore.� �Perhaps.� Thetric responded. �I�m just hoping that he�ll change back after the journey is over. I don�t think I could live with him like this.� �But,� Kean began after a few seconds of silence, �he only became like this after he remembered Vincent.� �I noticed that, too.� Thetric gazed toward Kean. �When did this all happen?� �When we slept at the Cour de Fa�.� Brendan approached the group gathered around the small fire. All were silent as they stared up at him. �So, you think that I have changed for the worse.� �No, Brendan,� Lemmins, almost ashamed, stood and stepped toward him, �not for the worse, just changed is all.� �Oh.� Brendan paused. �How long have I been dreaming?� Kean stood. �Since dusk; it�s almost daylight now.� Brendan gazed toward the horizon and noticed that the sun was peeking over the top of the mountains. Brendan stared back at Kean. �Why are we here?� �Actually,� Farshen began as the sun rose higher into the sky, �the dragons refused to stop anywhere else. I guess this place makes them feel safe.� All was quiet as Brendan sat down on a nearby fallen log. �I had a very unnerving dream last night.� He hesitated. �I was back inside the Sleeping Forest and Vincent was there speaking about how he has a certain power upon me. Also about how Mother would live with me and that we shall share the Ultimate Power for all time.� They all stared for a second of silence. �The forest glowed green.� Lemmins stepped back. �The Sleeping Forest?� He whispered. �The forest only glows green when something is amiss.� A frightened expression crossed his face. �We must hurry!� The Gathering rushed to the dragons that were now stirring awake. Mounting Nalmon and Mauwri, Lemmins�s worry grew even more rapidly. I hope we are not too late. Lemmins thought as they rushed through the air. Please don�t let us be too late. |
| * Five * �E sorche fined echt su goin ca daque re su slitheta gustrad de e lacciene tactilla dashd catolas." |
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