Trial21: Siblings
Soaring over this beautiful place
The air splashing against my face
Leigh's grip begins to loosen
As I sense her smile
This might be the first time for her inquite a while
After twenty minutes
Our ride's over
Landing, Leigh groans “Did ithave to be that close?
That was actually kind of fun.
Please, can we go again?”
She almost sounds like she's ten
Jack and I look at each other
As I'm starting to feel like a bigbrother
“Less than half an hour agowasn't she crying?”
Jack gives a grin “Yeah, you'dthink she was dying.”
“And now look at her.” Ismile “She had so much fun.
But sadly, Leigh I'm afraid we're done.
For now.
We've still got a kid who's missing.
Please don't lose sight of themission.”
“Lets go you two.” Jacksays with a firm tone
And we follow her down a path linedwith stone
I feel Leigh pouting
But I keep my mouth shut
Better not to risk getting punched
As we approach a giant marble door
Two fairy guards begin inching forward
“Halt!” They call “Whyhave you returned?”
The air around Jack begins to churn
“You know the price!
But you obviously haven't learned.
Leave now
Or risk our scorn!”
Suddenly they flap their wings
Four each
As the song from earlier sings
“Perhaps you've forgotten,”Jack barks as the air starts to freeze
“To whom you are speaking.
Now be silent and get on your knees!
Your wings may be your pride,
But do not underestimate one whose havedied!
I can still kill you without my wings.”
She raises her arm as if ready to swing
Instantly, the guards cower
With eyes of shock in the presence ofJack's power
“Thank you.” She says as wewalk through the doors
Into a beautiful blue-torch linedcorridor
“So,” I say “I guessyour reputation is big here too, huh?”
“No.” Jack replies “Here,they're far too dumb.”
“And the deal with the wings?”I ask
She takes a breath and then she speaks
“A fairy without wings isconsidered weak.
For most fairies their wings are theirpride,
Lose that and you might as well die.”
“And yours?”
“Mine were taken as punishment.”She says cold
“In a time long, long ago.”
“And...”
“Nate, enough questions.”She cuts me off
I think about how much she's lost
Finally, we arrive at a blue crystaldoor
“You two might wanna guardyourselves.”
Instantly, I'm sure
She doesn't like it here
Leigh and I step back
Jack starts to freeze the door
It gets so cold so quick that it cracks
More and more, the structure giving way
Until the foundation begins to quake
Finally, the door shatters
Shards crashing to the ground
Like wind chimes, it's a beautifulsound
“Chop chop.” Jack says, theshards crackling beneath her feet
“Nice to see my empty seat.”
“You dare!” Booms a voice
“Frost! Why have you returned?!”
There are seven crystal thrones
Six of which are filled with a fairy
But these fairies are scary, very
Their wings are massive, not to mentionmajestic
At the very sight, I feel restless
If the mana in the woods was dense
The mana in this room I can see, butnot sense
It fills me with dread and fear
Even Leigh knows we shouldn't be here
As she clings to me, shaking to herbones
I can't even speak
Which is good, I know
If we were to utter a single word
It's likely, from the inside, we'd burn
A seventh throne stands vacant
Somehow it makes me feel complacent
“Hold your tongue Zathiel!”Jackbites back
“The council finds your respectlax.
Know your place sister!
Or shall I teach it to you?”
“Xemnas. Little brother.”Jack's tone firm “You speak half truths.
It's true I don't respect any of you.
As for teaching me anything at all,
Do not forget that I can make thischamber fall.”
“You think you still intimidateus?” Asks a female voice
“It would very well,” Jackresponds “be a prudent choice.
Minora. dear sister. Always the bravestof us
But foolishness confused with braveryis not just.”
Minora gives a wince
Instantly, the magic of the room beginsto flare.
Each a different element withoutcompare
Water, earth, lightning and fire
This magic is a hundred levels higher
All I can do is shiver and stare
The fire in particular puts Leigh's toshame
Zathiel, I believe was his name
“Enough!” He calls
As they each let off a blast
Each one so potent it would result in aworldwide bloodbath
I'm starting to get weak in the knees
Tell me Jack survived that please
The smoke lingers for what feels likeeternity
Finally, it starts to settle
And I'm not the only one surprised tosee
“How is it you survive?!”Cries Zathiel
“Why does Mother Nature protectyou every time?!”
“Because,” Jack states“unlike you I feel.
Now that you know that's a waste oftime, let's get down to business.
And please don't bring up my crimes.”
“What business could you possiblyhave with us?” Snaps Zathiel
“Have you forgotten that you werebanished from here?!
That you committed the ultimate sin!
You meddled in human affairs!
And to make matters worse
You came to care
For a human more than your own peopleor family.
You married one and had offspring.
Now you come here and dare startasking?”
The disgust in his tone as he mentionedJack's heirs
It is a loathing without compare
Jack's temper begins to spark
As ice again forms on the air, hard
“I have come to collect on yourdebt Zathiel!”
“My debt?!” He barks
“Yes.” Jack's tone stark
“My banishment does not void anydeals made with me.
No matter how old, no matter how weak.
So, you will grant me what I'm owed
Under fairy law and fairy code.”
“And just what is it that youdesire?”
Minora asks
Jack watches Zathiel's confidence crack
“I simply ask for the location ofone human child.
Leo The Toll.
And I don't have time to wait awhile.”
“Why do you seek the child?”One of the other fairies asks
“Because Luxord, the child isplanned to be used to attack.
The mortal plain
May be turned to black.
My companion here wishes to stop it.”
Gesturing to me, Jack goes quiet
Followed by the rest of the room
Finally, Zathiel says with a boom
“You brought humans here!”
As his mana shakes the ground
I do my best to stand proud
“You have defiled our chamber,you wench!”
Minora chimes in once again
“We will send you three straightto the child,
But promise me this dear sister.
Swear you will never again return tothis realm, or else suffer the fires of hell.”
“Done.” Jack repliesstraight
“Good.” Minora says “Thenbe on your way.”
Suddenly, the floor is gone
As we begin falling fast and long
So, that was Jack's family
I learned more than I could've hoped
As finally our decent begins to slow
I guess we're about to find the kid
I guess we'll see how it goes
