Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Rachael: "I won't leave my friends behind!" *She started to warp out of the white nothingness.*

  ?????: "How are thou using that forbidden power?! You can't use that!-"

  Rachael: *She suddenly opened her eyes and glared at Zazark.* "Krh!" *She wheezed and a sheet of rock shot up underneath her, stopping her legs from dangling.*

  Zazark: "Hmm?"

  Rachael: *She raised her arms, causing two arms made of stone to erupt out of the ground.* "..."

  Zazark: *He stared at the stone arms in shock.* "What kind of Rostical is that-?"

  Rachael: *She punched forward, causing the arm to suddenly smash into Zazark, loudly cracking several bones.* "..."

  Zazark: *He slid back on his feet, dropping his whip in astonishment.* "How-?"

  Rachael: "Grahr-" *She violently kicked the ground, causing a massive rock pillar to arch out of the ground, smashing up Zazark's face.*

  Zazark: *He leant back, spitting out blood and stone.* "Strong-?!"

  Rachael: *She sprinted towards the arched rock pillar and a small line of stone shot underneath her, allowing her to jump high into the air.* "..."

  Zazark: *He touched his nose, noticing blood pour on to his hand.* "That power-"

  Rachael: *She landed heavily on the ground in front of Zazark and swayed to the side, causing a bus-sized brick to sweep Zazark off his feet.* "...-"

  Zazark: *He tumbled across the podium and suddenly gripped onto the edge, as he almost fell off.* "Ah?" *He looked down, staring at an enormous drop into darkness.*

  Rachael: *She elegantly raised her arm, causing swirls of sand to stream into the air.* "Hmrf-" *She clicked her fingers, causing car-sized boulders to explode from the clustering sand streams.*

  Nathan: *He opened his eyes, noticing the floating boulders.* (Where-?)

  Rachael: *She pushed her arms back and slid across the ground towards Zazark with an emotionless face.* "..."

  Zazark: (I'm the most physically defensive out of the brigade, but this dirty lamp has somehow-) *He pushed himself back onto the podium and looked up, noticing spears of boulders shoot down, jabbing into his hand.* "Argh-"

  Rachael: *She continued to slide towards Zazark, ignoring the spears which continued to jab up his arm.* "..."

  Zazark: *He looked at Rachael, noticing she slid on a wave of rock.* (How-?)

  Rachael: *She nudged her elbow out, causing a massive rock to suddenly erupt on Zazark's side, flinging him to the other side of the podium.*

  Zazark: "Argh!" *He shouted in agony, as he watched four large gaping wounds appear on his arm.* (That pillar ripped the rock spears out-)

  *Zazark looked up and noticed Rachael above him, staring down at him on a floating boulder.*

  Zazark: "Is this some sort of Grand Rostical or Ougi-?!"

  Rachael: *She clapped her hands, causing the boulders to suddenly explode into sharp star-like crystals.* "..."

  Zazark: "The rocks? They're crystalline now-?"

  Rachael: *She punched towards the ground, causing a thick rock pillar to erupt directly underneath Zazark, blasting him high into the air.*

  Zazark: "Ka-rgh-" *He coughed out blood and started descend.*

  Rachael: *She looked up with an open hand and suddenly squeezed it.* "..."

  *A massive rock arm shot out of the ground and suddenly opened its hand, catching Zazark in mid-air.*

  Zazark: "Argh!" *He punched the rock arm's fingers, trying to release himself from them.*

  Rachael: *She clicked her fingers, causing the nearby star-shaped crystals to explode, shooting shards of crystal at incredible speeds.* "...-"

  Zazark: "STEELIGHT RETENTION-" *He blocked several crystals with his steel pole, watching them spiral past him.*

  Rachael: *She swayed her arm backwards, causing the crystal spikes to unnaturally spiral back, jabbing into Zazark's shoulder blade.*

  Zazark: "Ar!" *He dropped the steel pole, grunting in pain.*

  Rachael: *She rocked forward and spiralled on the floating boulder so its base faced Zazark.* "..." *She pushed with both feet on the boulder, violently smashing it into Zazark's face.*

  Zazark: *He fell out of an expanding dirt cloud and landed heavily on the ground.* "I-"

  Rachael: *She fell towards the ground, queuing an enormous boulder to shoot up, catching her in mid-air.* "..."

  Zazark: *He looked up and watched Rachael float on the boulder.* (Where did she obtain this power? She's captain levelled-)

  ?????: "That's as far as you go!"

  Nathan: *He watched Ordin point a large sword at the back of Zazark's head.* (Ordin?)

  Zazark: "Fufufu, you can't stop me-"

  Ordin: "Quick Sword." *He twitched his wrist, causing Zazark's left arm to slice off and roll in front of him.*

  Nathan: (I didn't even see his sword move!-)

  Ordin: *He looked up, staring at Rachael in a curious-like manner.* "It is over now. I now have this under control."

  Rachael: *The boulder she stood on fell to the ground, allowing her to casually step off of it.* "..."

  *Lezard and Trevour staggered behind Ordin, instantly noticing the floating boulders.*

  Ordin: "It's a felony to enter restricted Reality Marbles or Spacial Funnels." *He spoke to Trevour and Lezard without moving his head.*

  Trevour: (He knew we were here-?)

  Lezard: "Ooo, yes sir!" *He giggled and hobbled over to Nathan, spreading his arms out.*

  Nathan: *He looked up to Lezard, shaking his head.* "Heal Twortz first." *He spoke on his breath, as if it was a struggle to talk.*

  Lezard: "Okies." *He nodded his head and turned around, hobbling towards Twortz.* "HEALING IMPLOSION"

  Ordin: *He glanced at the light Lezard produced.* (Radiatons-?)

  Zazark: "Fufufu!" *He quickly grabbed his arm off the ground and suddenly disappeared in a flash of purple light before Ordin had a chance to react.*

  Trevour: "He got away."

  Ordin: *He sheathed his sword and turned around, causing his armour to rattle.* "Due to unseen circumstances, The Agoura Marbles has finished."

  *Ordin shouted out with a stern voice, as if he knew the people watching could hear him.*

  Grey: "That concludes this year's game!"

  Man: *He nudged a small woman next to him, pointing at Rachael.* "Did you see her go?"

  Woman: "What a powerful Rostical User."

  Man: "Did she win?"

  Woman: "I don't know."

  Ordin: *He frowned, glancing at each party member.* "What are your names?"

  Trevour: "Sir." *He lowered his head for respect.* "My name is-"

  *Rachael fell to her knees and lost consciousness, causing the car-sized boulders to suddenly fall on to the ground, shattering along the party's feet.*

  Trevour: *He gasped and looked at Rachael, ignoring the rumbling podium under his feet.* (Rachael?)

  Lezard: *A boulder smashed close to his side, causing him to jump in fright.* (They were heavy!)

  Trevour: "Rachael?" *He started to hobble closer to Rachael, avoiding the falling boulders.*

  Rachael: "..." *The sounds around her became muffled.*

  Trevour: "Rachael?!" *His voice faded with an echo from Rachael's perspective.*

  Rachael: "..." *She listened to her breathing, as everything turned to black.* (Why can't I move? Why can't I speak? Why is everything black? Why.. Am I so.. Sleepy..?)

  Chapter 10: The Song's Decision

  *Rachael opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of a small flowery meadow, surrounded by a blurred environment.*

  Rachael: "Where am I?"

  ?????: "The third time thy've come to visit thou."

  Rachael: "Who-?" *She spun around and stared at a woman dressed in white garbs with blonde hair.*

  ?????: "It does not matter."

  Rachael: "Where am I?"

  ?????: "Thy see it.. Thou will one day be here again."

  Rachael: "Be here?"

  ?????: *She nodded her head and observed Rachae
l with widening eyes.* "Are thou complete? Or perhaps beyond the limitations?"

  Rachael: "Who are you?!" *She spoke in an annoyed-like manner.* "I'm not keen for games!"

  ?????: "Thy see." *She spoke in understanding, as if she knew of Rachael's sudden frustration.* "Thy'm known as Arcadia."

  Rachael: "Arcadia?"

  Arcadia: *She took several steps closer to Rachael, staring at her with different coloured eyes.* "It seems this isn't your time."

  Rachael: "What are you-?" *She noticed Arcadia's eyes, causing her to stop in mid-sentence.* "One of your eyes is red, and the other is hazel?"

  Arcadia: "That is due to my abilities."

  Rachael: *She touched her head.* (I'm so confused.)

  Arcadia: "Thy can feel thou confusion."

  Rachael: "How can you feel that?"

  Arcadia: "Thy am more curious as to how you warped out of the Astral process?"

  Rachael: "I have no inkling idea what you're talking about."

  Arcadia: "Ooo, jinkies, Razzypoo, open your eyes!"

  Rachael: "Jinkies? Razzypoo?"

  *Rachael suddenly gasped into consciousness, finding herself on a single bed inside a small room.*

  Lezard: *He stood over Rachael's bedside with his arms spread across her.* "Y-You're awake!" *He spoke in shock, as if he wasn't expecting Rachael to be conscious.*

  Rachael: "Lezard? Arcadia?"

  Lezard: "Nope, it's me, Lezardy, bwarharh." *He smiled in relief and lowered his arms, causing a constant light to fade away from Rachael.*

  Rachael: *She looked down and touched her warm clothes caused by Lezard's light.* "Thank you, Lezard-"

  Lezard: *He accidentally staggered forward and placed his hand on the side of Rachael's bed.* "Beg your pardon, little monster-" *He paused to take a deep breath.*

  Rachael: (He's so out of breath-) "What happened?"

  Lezard: "Grey and Ordin essentially cancelled the games."

  Rachael: "Weren't the games really big? I'm mean, really big?"

  Lezard: "Yes." *He spoke with a smile and leant back.*

  Rachael: "What's with the smirk then, Lezard?"

  Lezard: "Ooo, it's a plot twist." *He giggled and started to spin out of the room like a ballerina.*

  Rachael: *She observed the room and leant up, dangling her legs on the side of the bed.* "We're in the castle."

  Lezard: *He stopped just outside the room and glanced to each side, observing the hallways on the level.* "Bingo."

  Rachael: "At the Inn-like rooms."

  Lezard: "Correctamotto."

  Rachael: "Where is everyone."

  Lezard: "Correct-, oh.. I mean." *He coughed to clear his throat and faced Rachael, leaning on the door frame to the room.* "They're scattered in the castle."

  Rachael: "Am I right to get up?"

  Lezard: "I sure hope so, little monster. I've never put so much effort in keeping a consistent Remenistal active to heal someone before."

  Rachael: *She smiled and jumped onto her feet, taking the time to get used to it.* "I really appreciate that-"

  Lezard: "Naw, shucks. It's fine." *He giggled, watching Rachael walk towards him.*

  Rachael: "About what happened after-"

  Lezard: "Well-" *He raised his arm and bent his elbow, implying for Rachael to wrap hers around it.*

  Rachael: "Well?" *She wrapped her arm around Lezard's allowing him to escort her out of the room.*

  Lezard: "I healed Twortz and Nathan to the point of walking."

  Rachael: "This was back in the games, right?"

  Lezard: "Yuppers. After healing them, I inspected you, and you were stiff like a log, bwarharh! Trevour and Ordin had to carry you out of the Spacial Funnel."

  Rachael: "Oh." *She started to walk up the steps, trying to gather a mental image from Lezard's tale.*

  Lezard: "We got you here and I offered to look after you."

  Rachael: "What about the games?"

  Lezard: "Despite the games being cancelled, the people were still satisfied."

  Rachael: "They were satisfied? How?"

  Lezard: "The spectators can track each contestant through screens, so, we saw what happened."

  Rachael: "Isn't that an invasion of privacy-?"

  ?????: "Yes."

  Lezard: *He stepped onto the next floor, noticing Ordin walking towards him.* "He's here, everyone act casual." *He looked away from Ordin and lifted one leg behind him.*

  Rachael: "Hehe, you're so weird, Lezard."

  Ordin: "Young teenagers are part of our audience and watch the games-" *He stopped in front of Rachael and Lezard.* "Some contestants in the past were seen doing adult related stuff. That is why we implemented one of the core rules, to always move forward."

  Rachael: "Oh?"

  Ordin: "Regardless. I'm very impressed with you-....?"

  Rachael: "Rachael."

  Lezard: *He giggled, nodding his head.* "You gave everyone a massive performance."

  Ordin: "Yes. I was coming down to check on your progress."

  Lezard: "She's all dandy now, mister."

  Rachael: "Yep." *She smiled and formed a fist, as if she was feeling refreshed.*

  Ordin: "Despite not officially being a winner, Grey has decided to offer you a feast for such a splendid performance, and to show his appreciation for your friend's efforts."

  Rachael: "Wow, thank you!"

  Lezard: "Wowza indeedly-doo."

  Ordin: "A few of your companions are in the research facility. The remainder is in his majesty's presence."

  Rachael: "That's awesome."

  Ordin: "The feast commences in one hour." *He turned around and started to walk away, causing his armour to rattle.*

  Rachael: "So, off to the research facility?"

  Lezard: "Oh.." *He spoke with no morale.*

  Rachael: "What's wrong?"

  Lezard: "The groundshaker is there." *He rolled his eyes.*

  Rachael: "Who?"

  Lezard: "You know, hahahackee!" *He purposely laughed like Twortz.*