“He won’t be going anywhere anytime soon,” Aoife smiled. “Don’t worry, James. We’ll catch him.”
James looked his friends, who offered him encouraging smiles. “We just know that when you’ve got an idea, there’s no way in stopping you,” Bella said. “And honestly – it would’ve been a good plan if he hadn’t escaped.”
“But how did he escape?” Thomas said, inspecting the coffin the Master had lay in. “I thought you said this chamber and coffin would leave him unable to use his powers.”
Ince blinked, and swallowed fairly audibly. “So thought we,” he said, “but apparently, he’s grown stronger than we anticipated. We underestimated him.”
Samira put a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Well, what are we going to do now?” she said. “We don’t know where the Master went.”
She wished she wouldn’t have said that, as it instantly gave James an idea – it wasn’t about playing the hero, but redeeming himself to his friends. Despite their reassurances that they didn’t blame him for what had happened, James still blamed himself, and he wouldn’t rest until he’d made up for what he’d done.
“He can never have gone far if that barrier holds him back,” he said. “I am responsible for this happening. I’ll go out and find him.”
James turned around and started walking while reaching for his sword, but he was stopped in his tracks by Thomas. “And where do you think you’re going?”
James looked at Thomas. “Step aside, Thom, please,” he said. “I’ve got to do this. I know I can do this.”
“You can’t, Dad,” Luke said, joining his uncle. The boy was starting to get convinced that things were serious. “Not without our help.”
James looked at his son; by the look in the boy’s eyes, James knew that Luke was filled with determination. He turned around to see his friends and family stand in half a circle, all smiling determinedly.
“There’s eleven of us and one of him,” Marco said. “If the eleven of us together can’t do it, then no one can.”
“Eleven?” Aharnish chuckled. “Hey, kid, you weren’t thinking of leaving us out of this, now were you?” he said, ruffling Marco’s hair.
Marco shrugged with a crooked smile. “Guess that makes sixteen, then,” he said.
“Seventeen.”
A figure had appeared in the doorway of the Master’s cell. A slender, small woman, not much taller than Tony. She had long, silver hair, that peeked out from underneath the green hood she was wearing.
As she took off the hood, the figure revealed her face; a golden headpiece with a bright silver stone shimmered on her forehead, and her hair was tucked back behind her pointy ears. Her blue eyes were shimmering with mischief. “Long time no see, Guardians.”
“Violina!” Antonio shouted happily, and almost ran over to the Fixie to hug her. “Yes, it’s been a long time, indeed. Almost... too long.”
“Antonio,” Violina said, as the two let go of each other. “You got older.”
Antonio chuckled, nervously rubbing the white-blond beard that was growing on his chin. “Yeah,” he said. “And you... didn’t.”
“I told you, a thousand fairy years equals one of yours,” she said. “I wasn’t kidding.”
“You sure weren’t,” Antonio said. “Why are you here?”
“I attended the ball last night, incognito,” Violina said. “But – not in this dress, of course. And... I decided to stay, because I believe you lot look like you could use some help.”
“We do, Violina,” James said. “We most certainly do.”
“Well, luckily, so do I,” Violina said, taking off her cloak. “I need to free my sister from a spell, and I most certainly think you guys could help me do so.”
“Although we’d love to help, Violina,” Bella said, “don’t get me wrong, we really do – we’re kind of in a situation here...”
“Yeah, I heard,” Violina said. “Guess the Master’s on the loose again and out for revenge, huh?” She ran her fingers through her silver locks as she spoke. “That’s most certainly a sticky situation, indeed. Especially if you consider all the trouble you guys went through about two and a half a decade ago to defeat him.”
“Can you help us, Violina?” Thomas asked, scratching his neck. “All we really need to do is to capture the Master so Akilah and the Spirits can destroy him once and for all.”
Violina shrugged. “I don’t know, Thomas,” she said, sounding genuinely reluctant. “The nonchalant tone of your voice makes me slightly worried that you’ve forgot about all that happened last time.”
Thomas raised his palms in defence. “Oh, no, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I know that things are going to be a lot more difficult than I just made them seem to be. I know how dangerous the Master really is. But what kind of power could he possibly have left over this world? All of it was taken from him.”
“Well, if your long-term memory isn’t broken, then your short-term has to be,” Samira told her husband. She sounded exasperated. “Did you forget what just happened ten minutes ago? The Master escaped from a seemingly inescapable prison! He’s stronger than ever, Thom.
“We don’t know why or how, but he is.”
“I believe that Thomas meant that we’re in the advantage as long as the Land of Light remains light,” James said quickly. “A well-plotted plan could work.”
“What are you getting at, James?” Samira said curiously. “Do you have any ideas?”
“And please make sure that this plan is better than your last one,” Antonio said. James could tell by the tone of Antonio’s voice that he was merely joking, but the nasty sting it left wasn’t lost on James.
“We... could try to lure the Master into a trap. There’s still at least seventeen of us, after all,” he said carefully, part of him already knowing this plan wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“But how, then, Dad?” Luke said. “If the Master can outsmart the Spirits of Light, then he’ll be able to get rid of us without breaking a sweat!”
“You’re right...” James let out a sigh of defeat. “This is never going to work; the Master isn’t dumb enough to fall for a trap. We’re done for.”
“That’s not what I meant, Dad!” Luke said, but his father had already turned around and left the cell. “Dad-!”
Luke sprinted after his father, closely followed by Samira.
“Wow,” Antonio sighed, slightly starting to regret the mean comment he’d made. “I didn’t know he was taking it so hard on himself.”
“You know Uncle James, Dad,” Mari said. “If things go wrong under his supervision, he takes the blame. He won’t accept anyone else to blame themselves.”
“Isn’t that some kind of victimizing?” Marco said; Mari responded by shaking her head.
“No,” Mari said, “because the last thing he wants is pity.”
“But how do you know?” Felicity said, sounding moderately confused. “You two aren’t even related. How could you possibly know how he feels?”
“I know,” Mari breathed, “but I know because I have been doing the same thing ever since I got here.”
*
“Dad, please. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know you didn’t, Lucas. It’s not your fault.” James didn’t turn to face his son, but crossed his arms. “It’s just my own problem, I guess.”
Luke felt a tap on his shoulder, and looked aside to see his aunt standing beside him. She smiled encouragingly. “Let me handle this.”
Samira walked forward and carefully approached her brother. “James,” she said on an as calm and soothing tone as possible. “Please stop blaming yourself. You’re not to blame for this. Plus, the Spirits already took care of the situation.”
“I came up with the idea,” James said, “so that makes me partially responsible. There’s no way to change that. But...” He sighed. “I guess I should stop making a big deal out of it... I just thought things would be a lot worse.”
“We don’t know how ba
d the situation will be in the end,” Samira said, “but for now, we’re sorting things out. As long as the barrier stays up, the Master can’t harm the other Realms.”
Samira looked her brother in the eye; she knew that James would remain troubled about this for a while, and she’d have to keep an eye on him. “Come here,” she said, pulling her brother into a hug.
“It’s going to be alright, James,” Samira said. “We saved the world last time by working together. This time, we can do it again. I know we can.”
“Samira...” James said quietly. “Would you be willing to give up whatever it takes?
Just like last time?”
“Don’t make any foolish decisions, James,” Samira said strictly. “You got lucky last time. Maybe next time, you won’t be so lucky.”
James sighed. “I know,” he said. “I’m sorry for every last dumb decision I’ve ever made, and every single one I will make in the future.”
Samira chuckled. “Then you’ve got a lot to apologise for,” she said. When she looked up and saw her brother’s face, she burst out laughing. “Just kidding!”
James gave his sister a crooked smile. “Of course you were,” he said, as he abruptly pulled away from her, “but I don’t really think this is the moment to make jokes, Samira.”
Samira crossed her arms. “James,” she said, “you are allowed to have a little fun, no matter how dire the situation! Where did that jokester who used to be my brother go?”
James shrugged. “He’ll be back,” he said, while walking back into the cell where his friends still waited, “when things have been sorted out.”
Darkest Night
When evening came, James had made a choice. A choice he’d been thinking about since he’d released the Master earlier that day; he had to leave. He had to be the one to find the Master and bring him to justice – whatever it’d take.
As soon as night had fallen over the Land of Light and James was sure everyone was asleep, he left. Wearing a dark cloak to cover his identity from the outside world, he crept out through an open window on the ground floor.
He didn’t want to leave; oh no. Leaving his family and friends behind was the last thing he wanted. But there was no time left, and no other way out. James wouldn’t put his friends and family at risk again.
James mumbled a few silent apologies as he looked back into the dark castle, knowing no one would be there to listen to them, and left.
He knew exactly where to look; the Master would be most likely to retreat in his castle to prepare for war. James didn’t expect that the Master would be easy to defeat – but James believed he would be in the advantage.
James wasn’t a kid anymore; he’d be able to take on the Master if he believed he could do it. Despite not having used his magic for decades, it felt incredibly familiar; James felt the light energy that surrounded him fuel his own soul. There was no way the Master would defeat him – unless the man would cowardly retreat to trickery, which was the one thing holding James back.
The Master was known for his trickery. He was sly and good at lying; a dangerous combination, which he was well-known to use to his advantage. James had to be careful if he didn’t want to fall under the Master’s control. But, on the other hand... the Master couldn’t possibly be as powerful now as he’d been twenty-five years ago. Things were different now, and darkness no longer ruled the Realms; he had no source of power other than whatever he had put inside that stone...
...Hopefully, that wouldn’t be too much for James to handle. He was familiar with the way his own power worked now, and he was about to find out how effective they’d be against the Master.
James was ready for a fight. And he hoped that the Master wasn’t.
*
When Thomas woke up in the middle of the night, hoping to be able to get some water somewhere, it didn’t take long for him to notice that James had gone missing. He quickly went to alarm his friends and the Spirits, and gathered them in the Ritual Chamber – they had to send out a search party for James.
“So that’s why he was acting so strangely all evening,” Antonio said angrily. “He just wanted to go off on his own.”
“I don’t believe that’s it, Antonio,” Violina said. “This doesn’t sound like James at all...”
“Violina’s right,” Samira said. “James would never go off on his own just so he can be the hero. There’s more behind this.”
“We’ve got to go out and look for him,” Bella said. “Akilah, can you watch over our kids while we’re out there, and keep them safe until we get back?”
“Who says we’re not coming with you?”
All adults turned their heads to the Ritual Chamber’s entrance – Luke had silently entered the room. Fully-dressed, armed and determined to go along. “We’ve got to fight, too.”
“Lucas, I believe you don’t understand,” Samira said. “We’re not going to fight – well, not yet. We just have to find your father, and then we’ll be coming back to discuss a plan of action.”
Luke crossed his arms. “I believe we’ve wasted enough time discussing plans, and I believe that that’s the exact same reason why Dad went off on his own.”
“The kid’s got a point,” Aharnish said. “We’re running out of time here. And as time slips through our hands – so do our options. We don’t have long until the Master executes whatever plot he’s planning.”
Violina and Samira exchanged looks. “Look,” the Fixie said, “I can look after your kids while you’re out there. You’ve got to find James – and quick. The bigger your search party, the better.” The Fixie turned her head toward Akilah. “I think you and your siblings should go along with them. They’re going to need some backup.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Akilah said. “What do you think, Guardians?”
“Since I am a Guardian, too, I believe I have a say in this as well,” Luke insisted; the Spirits couldn’t do anything but nod approvingly.
“Well then,” Ince said, “what are your thoughts, Guardian?”
Luke smiled mischievously. “I suggest we form two search parties,” he said, “a search parties consisting of five – two Spirits and three humans, and two humans and three Spirits, to even out our chances.”
Aharnish nodded. “Seems like a good plan,” he remarked. “So you’re suggesting your friends stay here?”
“Yes,” Luke confirmed, “they stay here with Violina. If we haven’t found Dad by the time they wake up – which honestly, I highly doubt, they can head out with her to search, too.”
“Clever plan, kid,” Aharnish smiled. “I must give you that.”
Thomas chuckled. “He must take after his father,” he said. “Don’t worry, kid. We’ll find her.”
Luke looked at his uncle. “I know,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I have no doubt we will. I’m just worried whether or not we’ll find him before the Master does.”
“You’ve got a point there, Luke,” Bella said. “We should waste no more time and head straight out there.” She looked at her friends. “Antonio and I will go together, Samira. I think you, Thomas and Luke should stick together, since you’re, well – family.”
“You shouldn’t think like that, Bella,” Samira said. “You and Antonio are just as-”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Sam,” Bella said, sounding slightly agitated. “I meant that James will be more willing to listen to the three of you than to us. You’re the only one who’s always been able to talk sense into him whenever he has moments like these.”
Samira raised her eyebrows. “Oh. You’re right.”
Thomas nodded at Bella. “That settles it then,” he said. “And – I believe that we should let Akilah and her siblings decide who of the Spirits go with which group.”
“I suggest Ince and I go with you,” Akilah said, nodded at Thomas, “and that Aharnish, Aoife and Aine go with Bella and Antonio.”
“Seems like a good plan to me,” Antonio said, placing his hands on his
sides. “Let’s go,” he said, as he reached for his sturdy glaive, “right now. We’ve got absolutely no time to waste, now do we?”
*
“No, indeed. You don’t.”
The Master had, as James had already predicted, retreated to the safety of his dark castle, and had spent most of his time spying on the Guardians while planning his attack – the first strike. He was confident that a single attack wouldn’t do the trick, so he had to plan three strikes – third time’s a charm, after all.
Plus, this time, everything would be different. If the Master’s theories were true, he’d have the most powerful Guardian of all Guardians on his side. And, something the Master found very pleasing, was the fact that this, if done right, would be irreversible – incurable. Another clever – even if only the Master himself thought it was – change to his plan, was the complete destruction of the Spirit Castle. He wouldn’t leave a single wall standing this time; no Ritual Chamber, no Altars, no Ritual, no way to bring back the Light to Lunaria.
And honestly, the Master found this new plan of his so clever that he wondered why he hadn’t done it this way the first time; it would have saved him a lot of trouble.
But then again... he never would’ve been able to enslave a creature as strong as he was about to now.
It was time to bring the plan into action; the Master had wasted enough time spying on the Guardians.
*
James had come far. He’d almost made it to the Master’s Castle, even. But whether he would’ve made it before the Master had put his plan in motion or not, it didn’t matter. The Master wanted to speak to James anyway.
The last thing James could remember, was black fog surrounding him, accompanied by a sinister laugh sounding in his ears before blacking out.
When he regained consciousness, James found himself lying on the cold stone floor of a terrifyingly familiar room; he was inside the Master’s castle, in the same room as he and his sister had been trapped in during their last visit. Somehow, his cloak had vanished; the Master had probably taken it.
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