1,970
edits
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
=== Chapter 1 === | === Chapter 1 === | ||
Raven wanted nothing more than to be a famed Sol Guardian, like her idol Blaze the Cat. How could she ever keep away from the training grounds if she wanted any chance of being like her? | ''Whack.'' Once again, Raven hit the training dummy with enough force that a real enemy would have hit the opposite wall. She was only fifteen years old, yet the fierce combat training required of her made her stronger than many twice her age. She wanted nothing more than to be a famed Sol Guardian, like her idol Blaze the Cat. How could she ever keep away from the training grounds if she wanted any chance of being like her? | ||
But every once in a while, she had to admit that it was nice to pop over to Earth. It was quiet, grounded. Less exciting in some ways, but strangely comforting in others. After all, a little fox named Vultro lives on Earth. There was no way that she was going to let him go more than a ''few'' days without checking on him. | |||
Though she liked to act tough and pretend that all that emotional stuff didn't matter, deep down she really valued the friendship she had with Vultro. She didn't have many friends in this life, but friendship was what made the sleepless nights of training worth it. | |||
" | Vultro seemed unusually excited today as she strolled into his little cave. "Hey, Vultro. What's up?" she said as she sat on a large rock. "Well... I have an idea. A really cool idea." She braced herself. "Hit me with it, bud." Vultro's wide and somewhat awkward smile grew. "I want to go to space!" Raven took a moment to process this statement. She cleared her throat. "Space? Like, outer space?" Vultro nodded. "Yeah!" He scurried over to her side. "I want to go to space, and I want to build my own spaceship too!" Despite wanting to roll her eyes, she just stared at Vultro. "Yeah... yeah, you should. Could be cool." Deep down she doubted if a thirteen-year-old could even draw a spaceship, let alone build a working one. Yet, she would never shoot down something Vultro was this excited about, so she let it slide. | ||
'' | "I'm gonna go to Techtown, I'm gonna find an engineer, and I'm going to do it." Raven let out a chuckle. "Sounds great. I can come if you want." Vultro smiled. "Yeah! Remember Wreck? He said he knows someone who could help!" Raven returned his smile, something she was trying to be better about. | ||
"Alright guys. We should be arriving at Ethos within the hour!" Vultro said. Wreck | ''That was three years ago'', Raven thought to herself. She could not believe that she was now sitting on the very ship Vultro had dreamed of making that day. | ||
"Alright guys. We should be arriving at Ethos within the hour!" Vultro said. Wreck chuckled to himself. "Finally." Despite Vultro's giddiness, his voice was grating to his ears. "Frankie," he mumbles as he turns to his partner, "''Now'' will you tell me what we're going here for?" Frankie chuckles. "Just a bit longer, sweetie." Wreck rolls his eyes and leans back in his chair. | |||
Cyncatia is standing next to Vultro, looking out the front window of the ship. Her triangular ears twitched as she stared out into the vast emptiness. Finally, Vultro's words register with her. "Vultro, didn't you just say we're almost there? At Ethos?" Vultro looks down at the dashboard, only to look up again in confusion at the empty space. He thumps on one of the radar displays with his finger. "What the..." | Cyncatia is standing next to Vultro, looking out the front window of the ship. Her triangular ears twitched as she stared out into the vast emptiness. Finally, Vultro's words register with her. "Vultro, didn't you just say we're almost there? At Ethos?" Vultro looks down at the dashboard, only to look up again in confusion at the empty space. He thumps on one of the radar displays with his finger. "What the..." | ||
| Line 67: | Line 69: | ||
Raven, now fully alert, jumps out of her chair. "Vultro, how did you miss that giant planet? It's a ''planet''!" Vultro is looking around frantically at his instruments. "It's not on the radar Raven, it wasn't even there a minute ago! Ask Cync!" Raven exchanged a concerned frown with Cync, turning back to her seat. | Raven, now fully alert, jumps out of her chair. "Vultro, how did you miss that giant planet? It's a ''planet''!" Vultro is looking around frantically at his instruments. "It's not on the radar Raven, it wasn't even there a minute ago! Ask Cync!" Raven exchanged a concerned frown with Cync, turning back to her seat. | ||
She fiddles around in her bag for a moment and looks up again. "Look, I have the Sol emeralds," she admits. "Tell me right now. Are we crashing?" Vultro continues to fiddle with the landing controls, trying to prepare the ship for a proper landing. "Vultro!" she barks. "Tell. Me. Right. Now. Are we going to crash?" "Yes! | She fiddles around in her bag for a moment and looks up again. "Look, I have the Sol emeralds," she admits. "Tell me right now. Are we crashing?" Vultro continues to fiddle with the landing controls, trying to prepare the ship for a proper landing. "Vultro!" she barks. "Tell. Me. Right. Now. Are we going to crash?" "Yes! I mean, probably!" he snaps back after a beat. "I can't get the landing sequence to activate!" he yells. Vultro shut his eyes, full of fear and regret for bringing his friends along to die. ''I guess this is it...'' he thinks as he awaits the inevitable. | ||
=== Chapter 2 === | === Chapter 2 === | ||
| Line 73: | Line 75: | ||
Jenny has always been incredibly interested in the world of magic. Her mother, a very powerful sorceress fox, would teach her little spells and incantations every weekend. | Jenny has always been incredibly interested in the world of magic. Her mother, a very powerful sorceress fox, would teach her little spells and incantations every weekend. | ||
One | One subset of spells that she was always curious about was Chaos Magic, the magic harnessed from Chaos Emeralds. "Chaos magic is too dangerous," her mother would tell her every time she asked. "Even the passive energy spells can be trouble." Jenny would ask every week, regardless of how many times mother said no. This went on for what seemed like years, with her always getting the same response. "No, it's still too dangerous." Eventually, she stopped asking. | ||
One time, the week of her twelfth birthday, her mother sat her down. "It's time," she said. Jenny's eyes lit up. Her mom sat down behind her, holding her arm up. "Stick out your pointer finger, honey." Jenny did so, and her mother began to guide her arm into a strange series of arcs. A bubble-like purple shield appeared around them. "It's a protection spell," she said quietly. "Your first tase of Chaos magic." Jenny giggled. "I hope you never need to use it, but I also never want you to be in danger." She had a hint of concern to her voice, though she tried her best to mask it behind a smile. | |||
As she went to smile back at her mother, a loud noise snapped Jenny out of her daydream. | As she went to smile back at her mother, a loud noise snapped Jenny out of her daydream. | ||
| Line 81: | Line 83: | ||
She slowly opens her eyes to see Raven diving into her seat, strapping herself in and securing her bag. Wreck straightens up in his seat and checks his seatbelt, looking over to make sure Frankie is safe. It takes only a few moments to figure out what's happening. As if her mother was still behind her, her arms begin to form a magic symbol in the air. A purple bubble expands to cover the entire ship, as the ship plummets towards a murky body of water. | She slowly opens her eyes to see Raven diving into her seat, strapping herself in and securing her bag. Wreck straightens up in his seat and checks his seatbelt, looking over to make sure Frankie is safe. It takes only a few moments to figure out what's happening. As if her mother was still behind her, her arms begin to form a magic symbol in the air. A purple bubble expands to cover the entire ship, as the ship plummets towards a murky body of water. | ||
There is a blinding flash of light, paired with an ear-shattering explosion. Ship parts were scattered high into the air, raining down like tiny meteors. Miraculously, Jenny's spell seems to protect everyone on board, plunging them into the swampy water | There is a blinding flash of light, paired with an ear-shattering explosion. Ship parts were scattered high into the air, raining down like tiny meteors. Miraculously, Jenny's spell seems to protect everyone on board, plunging them into the swampy water. | ||
Raven and Cyncatia are the first to surface, the latter surfacing in the form of a dolphin. "Where's Vultro! He can't swim!" Vultro's hands barely break the surface, thrashing towards Cyncatia. He scurries onto her back, coughing up water. "Thank you, Cync." Raven looks around for the rest of the crew. "Where is everyone else?" | Raven and Cyncatia are the first to surface, the latter surfacing in the form of a dolphin. "Where's Vultro! He can't swim!" Vultro's hands barely break the surface, thrashing towards Cyncatia. He scurries onto her back, coughing up water. "Thank you, Cync." Raven looks around for the rest of the crew. "Where is everyone else?" | ||
A short distance away, Wreck and Frankie both submerge from the swamp. "Yuck, so much for a surprise date..." Frankie said under her breath. Wreck blinks and shakes his head. "''This'' was your idea of a date?" Frankie frowns. "We were supposed to be going to | A short distance away, Wreck and Frankie both submerge from the swamp. "Yuck, so much for a surprise date..." Frankie said under her breath. Wreck blinks and shakes his head. "''This'' was your idea of a date?" Frankie frowns. "We were supposed to be going to-- You know what, just forget it. Let's get over to Raven." | ||
"Where are we?" Cyncatia asks as she scans her surroundings. There are low trees, slippery rocks, and lots of murky swamp water. She notices Vultro staring at what's left of the ship. "Wherever we are, our way out of here is busted," he said. Nearby, Tracker | "Where are we?" Cyncatia asks as she scans her surroundings. There are low trees, slippery rocks, and lots of murky swamp water. She notices Vultro staring at what's left of the ship. "Wherever we are, our way out of here is busted," he said. Nearby, Tracker pops out from under the water, flailing around until he reaches a fallen tree to stand on. Evidently, he had been in such a deep sleep that he hadn't even awoken during the panic. "So much for a warm Ethos welcome," he said. "This isn't Ethos," Vultro said. "I actually have no idea what this place is." | ||
Jenny is the last to surface, joining the rest of the group. She takes a moment to catch her breath. "I... | Jenny is the last to surface, joining the rest of the group. She takes a moment to catch her breath. "I... uh... I hope everyone is okay." She tries to catch her breath as she treads nearby. "I think so," Raven says quietly. She looks down at her now soaked bag, still slightly open, and her eyes go wide. "Where is it?" she yells as she rummages through the bag. "Where's what?" Wreck asks. "The silver emerald!" She dives under the water, but the murky swamp water stings her eyes. She resurfaces, coughing, and spins in circles trying to find it. She yells in frustration. "The silver Sol Emerald is gone." | ||
After a few deep breaths, she collects her thoughts and treads over to Vultro. "I knew I shouldn't have brought these." She rummages in the bag and pulls out the green emerald. "Vultro, this place gives me bad vibes. I want you to hold on to this until we get the silver emerald back." Vultro's concerned expression intensified. "Wouldn't it be more safe with you?" he asked. "Like I said, I just have a bad feeling. If something happens to me or this bag, then they'll all be gone." Vultro nods, placing the emerald in his pouch. He puts his hand on Raven's shoulder. "First, we have to try and fix the ship. Then, we'll find the emerald. I promise." Raven nods silently. | After a few deep breaths, she collects her thoughts and treads over to Vultro. "I knew I shouldn't have brought these." She rummages in the bag and pulls out the green emerald. "Vultro, this place gives me bad vibes. I want you to hold on to this until we get the silver emerald back." Vultro's concerned expression intensified. "Wouldn't it be more safe with you?" he asked. "Like I said, I just have a bad feeling. If something happens to me or this bag, then they'll all be gone." Vultro nods, placing the emerald in his pouch. He puts his hand on Raven's shoulder. "First, we have to try and fix the ship. Then, we'll find the emerald. I promise." Raven nods silently. | ||
Vultro and Cync turn around, heading towards dry land. He climbs off and surveys the area. Even on land, there's nothing but trees and muddy pathways in every direction. He sighs and pauses to think. Suddenly, the group is disoriented by a blinding flash. "Wh-What was that?" Vultro asks. "Haven't the foggiest..." Tracker mubles nervously. Vultro looks at the group and notices | Vultro and Cync turn around, heading towards dry land. He climbs off and surveys the area. Even on land, there's nothing but trees and muddy pathways in every direction. He sighs and pauses to think. Suddenly, the group is disoriented by a blinding flash. "Wh-What was that?" Vultro asks. "Haven't the foggiest..." Tracker mubles nervously. Vultro looks at the group and notices something missing. After a moment, it registers. "Raven? Raven!" he yells. "Where did Raven go?" | ||
"She was right here next to us!" Cyncatia | "She was right here next to us!" Cyncatia said as she spun around. "How did she disappear?" Vultro shakes his head. "I don't know." Suddenly, a distant scream echoes through the forest. "Raven?" Vultro yells. In a panic, he turns to Frankie. "Where that scream came from?" he asked. Frankie gulps. "That way," she says, pointing towards a muddy path. | ||
The group heads in the direction of the scream. They approach a cliff face, with a large cave opening in front of them. "I hate to say it, but the echoes of the scream would suggest it came from in there," Frankie says. Vultro shakes his head in disbelief. "Alright. Tracker, you stay out here and stand guard." He nods silently. "We'll be right back." The rest of the group enters the cave. | The group heads in the direction of the scream. They approach a cliff face, with a large cave opening in front of them. "I hate to say it, but the echoes of the scream | ||
would suggest it came from in there," Frankie says. Vultro shakes his head in disbelief. "Alright. Tracker, you stay out here and stand guard." He nods silently. "We'll be right back." The rest of the group enters the cave. | |||
The entrance is faintly illuminated by the light outside, but it's hard to see very far. "Man, this is creepy," Wreck says. Frankie steps further into the darkness, before stopping dead in her tracks. "Guys, something's not right here," she whispers into the darkness. "What do you mean?" Wreck asks. "I am hearing some really weird sounds, and footsteps that aren't ours." She goes silent. "Frankie, come back, I can't see you." No response. "Frankie?" he asks. A second blinding flash fills the cave as the group cover their eyes. "What the...?" Wreck says as he opens his eyes again. "Hello? Frankie?" He steps forward towards where she was standing, but there is nothing there. | The entrance is faintly illuminated by the light outside, but it's hard to see very far. "Man, this is creepy," Wreck says. Frankie steps further into the darkness, before stopping dead in her tracks. "Guys, something's not right here," she whispers into the darkness. "What do you mean?" Wreck asks. "I am hearing some really weird sounds, and footsteps that aren't ours." She goes silent. "Frankie, come back, I can't see you." No response. "Frankie?" he asks. A second blinding flash fills the cave as the group cover their eyes. "What the...?" Wreck says as he opens his eyes again. "Hello? Frankie?" He steps forward towards where she was standing, but there is nothing there. | ||