Terrance slowly approached Mr. Cupcake, watching the other beasts, who all seemed to be watching him back. I bet they can smell fear, he thought. Evil things can smell fear. No, wait—dogs can smell fear, and they’re good, I’m pretty sure. He stared into Mr. Cupcake’s red eyes, with their slit black pupils. Yeah, he can smell fear.
The hangar door began opening. Shannon ran back toward Mr. Cupcake. “Come on!” She jumped on the weird hairy back without a moment’s hesitation, taking her place on the saddle. Terrance followed more cautiously as Mr. Cupcake followed him with those red eyes. He moved between two of its thin insect legs and tried to climb up the side. Its hair was much thicker and coarser than any hair he had seen on an animal before, and for some reason it made him think of a tarantula, which made him shudder. Yet he fought through the disgust and climbed up onto the large back of the beast, settling right up behind Shannon, as that seemed safest. The chimera skittered toward the open hangar on its six legs, then Terrance heard something behind them.
“Stop!” Lacey cried as she sprinted to catch them. With a dive, she grabbed Mr. Cupcake’s alligator-like tail just before it jumped out of the hangar. Terrance turned ahead to see that he was staring into nothing but stars below. The skies had now flipped; there was the sun and the blue of day above and the star-studded black nothingness of night below. For some reason, falling into the black eternity was an even more frightening thought than falling into the infinite blue of day.
And falling was a good possibility, as Lacey was now standing on the chimera behind him, flaming sword in hand. Terrance uneasily turned around, stood up, and said, “I got this. Just try and keep him flying level.” Shannon nodded, and Terrance stared at Lacey’s cold, determined face and the sword in her hand, and realized that “I got this” was a really stupid thing to say and much better would have been, “She’s going to kill me! Please help!”
Terrance pointed his sword at Lacey, too afraid to move, since he didn’t feel that he had very sure footing on the back of a flying chimera. Lacey smiled at him. “I’m going to make this as traumatic an experience as possible for both of you.”
“You’re mean,” Terrance rejoined, and finally found the courage to strike at her. She easily deflected the blow, but Terrance persisted, pressing another immediately. It was a quick series of blows that Lacey seemed to fend off without much difficulty, but suddenly the movement of the chimera caused her to stumble. Terrance saw an opening and swung with all his might into Lacey’s unguarded torso. She cried as dark fire erupted from the wound and she fell back, and Terrance came at her again with a strong downward blow. Lacey was too slow to block, and the sword sliced through her head. And then she was nothing but flames falling away into the night sky below.
Terrance could hardly believe it: he had defeated an enemy all by himself. Maybe he was finally becoming the warrior against evil that he felt he should be. He returned to his seat behind Shannon, but realized that he shouldn’t brag to her. “Sorry, I know she was a friend of yours.”
Shannon shrugged. “It’s been happening.” She got Mr. Cupcake to quickly climb. Terrance glanced behind them to see the Zeppelin they had left. It was enormous, almost like a flying city, and around it he could see flying figures that definitely weren’t the chimeras. Below him, he saw the frightening drop of the black nothingness of space, but he spotted the full moon almost directly underneath, and for some reason it was a little less frightening to know that if he fell, he might land on the solid moon.
They passed up through the clouds, and soon Terrance saw the blue sky and the warm, welcoming sun above them. This made him feel much better as long as he didn’t concentrate on the clouds and darkness below. “I really can’t wait to get back over solid land,” he told Shannon.
“This stuff is much more dangerous over solid land.”
A creature emerged from the clouds below. It had the head and wings of a giant eagle, but appeared to have the body of a mammal. On it sat Randolph, who waved happily at them. He moved the griffin closer as it and Mr. Cupcake kept a wary eye on each other. “So you guys got out by yourself? Great!” he called to them. “I really didn’t want to have to try to go into that thing to get you.”
“Bad childhood memories of the Hindenburg disaster?” Terrance called back.
“Oh. Ha. Well, good to see you have a sense of humor. Wasn’t sure what they were doing to you in there.” He looked them over. “They gave you pants.”
“Where are we going?” Shannon asked.
“Just follow—”
Another chimera broke through the clouds and charged at them, Randolph’s griffin barely dodging the swing of an axe by the chimera’s rider. The chimera continued up toward them, one of its scorpion-like claws grabbing onto Mr. Cupcake. Terrance turned to see that he was face-to-face with Chet. “Did you really think you could run? Now you’ll—”
Anger flared in Terrance upon the sight of Chet, and perhaps it was that, combined with feeling cocky from his first real victory in battle, that caused him to immediately embark on a really stupid course of action: leaping from his chimera onto Chet’s with sword in hand. Terrance bowled into him, his sword piercing Chet’s torso as they collided, and the two of them fell off the chimera and tumbled into the blackness below. Chet tried to wrap one of his gauntleted hands around Terrance’s neck, but Terrance kicked him away, freeing his sword from Chet’s chest and sending Terrance falling solo, away from the Dark Enforcer.
Terrance slammed into something, bringing his fall to an abrupt stop. He felt he had done a lot of slamming into things lately, and hoped it wouldn’t have any permanent repercussions. But none of his bones seemed broken and he was able to get to his feet, picking up his sword that was still lying beside him. He looked around and saw that he was back on Swaggerty’s boat, with Swaggerty himself at the helm. “This counts as another trip, so I get paid again,” the bear informed him.
“Do I get three more dumb questions?”
“No, that was a one-time thing. That one just cost you five bucks.”
Terrance peered over the side of the boat. He could see the black of night and numerous stars, and he couldn’t help but smile thinking of Chet tumbling into that.
A number of griffins began landing on deck, carrying Curtis, Talia, and Joyce. Travis and Erica were on another griffin together, Erica behind Travis with bow in hand. Finally, Randolph landed, with Shannon. She jumped off and rushed to embrace Terrance. “Don’t do things like that!”
He squeezed her tightly and smiled. “I was just really tired of that guy.”
“Mr. Cupcake flew away,” she told him, as if that was something he cared about—which he only vaguely did.
The rest had all dismounted their griffins. “Sorry to take so long,” Curtis said, “but we had to borrow some griffins to come after you.”
Joyce chuckled. “There’s not a griffin rental for miles around here.”
“So what did they do to you?” Talia demanded, looking only at Terrance.
“Threatened me and stuff. Said they’d destroy everything I care about, which sounded pretty scary, but I also got the impression that it was pretty boilerplate for them. And a she-demon tried to seduce me, which was weird.” He looked at Shannon safe beside him and thought of his recent victories in battle. “But I’m doing good now.”
“And how are you?” Erica asked Shannon.
“I’m fine. They just tried to tell me how much I was giving up by defying them—that sort of thing.”
Talia went to the edge of the ship to look out for enemies. “Their power is illusion, and their promises are worthless.”
“They’re definitely still after us.” Curtis looked at Swaggerty. “How far are we?”
“We’ll be there soon.”
“Hey, how come he gets to ask a question?” Terrance said.
“Because it wasn’t a stupid one,” Swaggerty answered. “Five bucks.”
“Malcus!” Talia shouted. “He approaches!”
&n
bsp; Once again Terrance could see a giant dark mass coming at them through the clouds. He grabbed Shannon around the waist with one hand and a rope on the railing with the other as the ship shot upward, tilting back. They soon emerged through the top of the cloud layer, and ahead, Terrance could see it: the floating palace of crystal, glinting like a jewel in the sunlight. A terrible screeching roar made Terrance look behind, and there emerged Malcus, his awfulness now fully visible in the light. He was larger than the whole ship, and covered in black, jagged scales and spikes, none of which reflected the sunlight. The only thing that glinted in the light was his eyes—six of them, two large ones under four smaller ones. As he stared at Malcus, all of Terrance’s happiness and feelings of security disappeared, and the only thing left was a feeling of doom.
Malcus opened his mouth, but it wasn’t a regular jaw. Instead, the bottom part of his face split apart on a vertical seam. These side-opening jaws were filled with black teeth, and between them was a long pink tongue sticking out through a throat that was covered in more teeth. Something glowed down the throat, and Terrance realized Malcus was about to breathe flame onto them. He looked at Swaggerty, but the bear was concentrating on keeping a steady course. He turned back to Malcus just as the black flames spewed forth from its mouth, directly at Terrance and the ship. All he could think to do was to hold Shannon tightly and close his eyes as the end came.
After a couple of seconds passed without his obliteration, he opened his eyes to see that there was a pink glow between the ship and Malcus, as if there was some barrier shielding them from the demon dragon. The massive creature stayed on the other side, roaring at them, but seemingly unable to attack.
“And this completes our trip,” Swaggerty announced. Terrance turned to see that they were pulling up to a crystal dock that extended from the palace.
Terrance took another look at the nightmare flying near them. “It can’t attack us here?”
“The power of the faeries holds it back,” Curtis said. “The barrier they make is the only thing we know of that its flames can’t destroy.”
Malcus roared once more, then dove under the clouds into the darkness of night below and was soon out of sight. Terrance let himself heave a sigh of relief.
Shannon was staring at the palace, whose spires soared hundreds of feet above them. The translucent crystal it was composed of made it seem like you could see inside, yet the interior was a mystery that enthralled Terrance. “I guess this is it,” Shannon said. “Do we just enter?”
“They will let us in,” Curtis answered.
“I still don’t trust you.” Talia approached Shannon. “You try anything here, you don’t know how quickly I will end you.”
Shannon rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the warning.”
From out of windows high up on the palace, faeries floated down toward them. There were a dozen of them, hovering gently in the air as they fluttered their thin wings. One came close and looked down at Shannon. “We know you.”
“Yeah.” Shannon scratched the back of her head. “Sorry. I’m here to change myself back…if you’d help.”
“You may enter,” the faerie said. At the end of the crystal dock, a door parted, creating an entrance into the palace.
“Do we just wait out here?” Curtis asked.
Another faerie floated above them. “You will stay.”
“That is not a good idea,” Talia told the faerie. “These things are treacherous. You should have someone watch her—defend you if needed.”
A faerie glided down toward Terrance. “Terrance Denby, you will go with her.”
“Okay.” Terrance took Shannon’s hand and smiled at her, but she looked apprehensive.
“Good luck. Hopefully this will work,” Joyce said to both of them, though somehow it seemed directed more at Terrance.
“We’ll see you soon,” Travis called out.
“Everything will work out. You’ll see,” Erica added.
“I hope this succeeds,” Talia said, “but lop her head off if she tries anything. That’s the surest way to kill her.”
Randolph touched Shannon on the shoulder, his face strangely serious. “Shannon, you’re a pretty girl, but I can’t wait to see you when you are whole again.”
She smiled at him, and then she and Terrance stepped off the ship onto the dock. Through the crystal beneath his feet, he could see the clouds moving below. It seemed like something that should be scary, but it was strangely reassuring now. Terrance kept a tight grip on Shannon’s hand as they headed inside the palace. It was brighter inside than out, the crystal of the walls somehow amplifying the sunlight that poured through, bathing them in a warm white light. They were in a hallway with perfectly curved walls that seemed molded from the crystal. Ahead, Terrance could see a bright purple light. He heard a sound, and turned to see the entrance close behind them.
Terrance looked at Shannon. “Are you ready for this?”
She chuckled. “I’m a bit nervous. I’m not sure what this will do.”
Terrance kissed her. “I don’t know what lies ahead for us, but I…know what’s right, I guess. We certainly need to get you away from those people, from that darkness.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Ance.”
“I love you, too.”
Hand in hand, they headed down the hallway toward the purple light and emerged into a large, open room with a purple flame burning in a pit at the center. Positioned around the flame were four red crystals that glowed dimly in comparison with the fire. Above, the light of the sun was an almost-blinding white glow as it was amplified by the crystal walls. From out of the light, a shape emerged, a faerie, who descended to the ground before them, her white robe fluttering behind her. She was an otherworldly beauty bathed in white light, her hair shining as if made from strands of gold. “You are here,” she pronounced.
They stood in silence for a few moments. Terrance glanced at Shannon and saw that she looked quite nervous, so he spoke. “We’re here so that you can help Shannon.”
The faerie turned her eyes to Shannon. “Shannon Anders, what is it that you require help with?”
“I…I want to be restored. Restored to what I was before I swore myself to the Darkness.”
“Why do you want that?” the faerie asked.
Shannon hesitated, then said, “I don’t feel…right, as I am.”
“Perhaps this is true,” the faerie said. “Well, Shannon Anders, there is but one thing we can do for you in this situation: we can kill you.”
“What?” Terrance exclaimed.
Shannon looked confused and a little angry. “Are you threatening me?”
“It is not a threat,” the faerie said. “We will only do it with your permission.”
“Why would I want that?” Shannon demanded.
“Because what you are needs to be destroyed,” the faerie answered.
“But can’t you change her back to human?” Terrance asked. “Make her what she was before?”
“That is beyond our power,” the faerie said matter-of-factly. “All we can do is end what she is now.” She turned to Shannon. “Is that what you want?”
Shannon stared back at the faerie, her anger slowly fading.
“Please,” Terrance pleaded. “There has to be something else you can do.”
The faerie did not look at Terrance, but kept her eyes on Shannon. “We are wasting our time here, are we not? Do what you came here to do.”
“What do you mean?” Terrance asked. He looked at Shannon, and she stared down at the floor with a sullen expression. When she looked up again, her face contained no emotion. And into her hand she summoned her sword, which she plunged through the faerie’s chest.
Chapter 29
The faerie’s body slumped to the ground, and blood spread out over the crystal floor. Terrance watched in silent horror for a moment, then Shannon finally turned to him and said, “There has been a change of plans.”
“What?”
�
��We tried things your way; now we’re going to try things my way.” With a swipe of her sword, Shannon shattered one of the four large red gems surrounding the purple flame.
“Your way? What are you doing?” It occurred to Terrance that he needed to stop her. His sword was at his side, but the thought of drawing it against Shannon was as horrifying as what he was witnessing. Instead, he stepped in front of her and her sword. “Let’s talk this through.”
“We will.” Shannon shoved Terrance out of her way with massive strength, then shattered a second of the red gems. “That should be enough to weaken the barrier. We don’t want to bring this place crashing down…yet.”
Terrance saw other faeries float in above, staring down with unreadable expressions at their fallen colleague and Shannon’s destruction. But they did not do anything to stop Shannon, and Terrance somehow knew that they were incapable of doing anything. He looked at them with a wordless apology and turned to Shannon. “I thought you were going to leave the Darkness!” he shouted. “I thought you were going to restore yourself! Were you just using me?”
“No! Not at all!” Shannon walked over and put her hand—the one without the sword—on Terrance’s shoulder. “Well…not initially. I really just didn’t want Lacey to hurt you, that was all. And when we ran off and you started talking about me leaving the Darkness, I thought it would at least be useful to know what the options are and what the Infinite are like. But when we were captured and brought to the flying fortress, I kinda told them this was all just my plan to get to the faeries and their palace.” She motioned toward the two shattered crystals and waved sarcastically at the faeries who floated above, watching. “And it was actually a pretty good plan…even if it wasn’t my original intention.”
“But we fought our way out of the blimp!”
“Yeah, that was staged.”
Sidequest: In Realms Ungoogled Page 23