The Council

by Phoenix Willow

  “O-kay. So, no pressure or anything.” Jewel chuckled nervously, gaining a sympathetic look from the woman.

  “We know you have questions, and we can lead you in the right direction for what is to come, but ultimately the choices will be up to you. First, however, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Ariel, and this is my partner Xander. We are here to help you with the Ancient Corruptible, and to also give you a bit of wisdom for what you will face in the coming months.”

  “Are you angels?” Jewel inquired, still unable to figure out who or what kind of magical being they were.

  Xander nodded. “Some have called us that, but we are best known as the Guardians of the Light. Our job is to aid those who follow the light so that the Light Bearer’s plans are carried out.” He explained in a voice that was both rough and smooth at the same time.

  Jewel shook her head. “This is all a bit overwhelming, and more than a little confusing. Not trying to sound dense, but what is a Light Bearer?”

  “The Light Bearer is eternal and the creator of all things.” Ariel stated, a serene smile on her face as she did so.

  “He is the one responsible for all things good and the one whose plans we should all follow.” Xander chimed in.

  “He is love and mercy personified.” Ariel added.

  “And he is the one who has chosen you, Jewel, to be a leader that will bring unity and peace to all worlds.” Xander finished.

  “Will I ever meet this Light Bearer? Because he seems to have a lot of confidence in my ability to do something that seems impossible.” Jewel asked.

  Ariel chuckled, but Xander said, “You will meet him once you have passed from this life to the next, but he never makes mistakes and never gives a task to someone that is impossible. He chose you because, while you may not be perfect, you are still merciful, empathetic, and have a great regard for others even when you have been shunned. These are characteristics of a peace-maker, and of a true sovereign.”

  “And you are protective of and willing to fight for your friends, family, and for strangers who you want to help free from the clutches of individuals like Gertrude and Shade. And that makes you a mighty warrior.” Ariel stated.

  “I’m sorry to say that I’m still not convinced.” Jewel replied honestly with a slight shrug.

  “That is why you must have faith and hold on to the truth. Here. Consider this a gift from me to you.” Ariel said, handing Jewel a flat grey and black stone. “This will help you gauge what truth is. Faith, on the other hand, is something that you must decide to have. It is a choice to believe, and there is nothing I can do to assist you with that. I can tell you, however, that you have never been alone. Not in your darkest hour or your brightest moment, whether it is past, present, or something to come. And should you ever find the need to vent, the Light Bearer is always listening.”

  Jewel nodded and said a thanks as she rubbed her thumb across the stone. It was strange, and almost seemed to be thrumming in her hand, much like a cat purring.

  “Now, we don’t have much time, but we will come to your aid again, should you ever truly need us. For now, however, let us have the chest holding the Ancient Corruptible.” Xander said.

  “We will make certain that no one can ever find it and that the one spreading the Darkness within the worlds cannot use it.” Ariel finished.

  Jewel handed over the chest, glad to finally be rid of Slayer and the responsibility that came with guarding it. “Thank you for helping. It seems like I should bow to you or something but I’m not sure what the protocol is for beings such as yourself.”

  “There is no need for that, dear Jewel, for we are all followers of the Light Bearer. We are no better than you, merely closer to him.” Xander said as he pointed upwards.

  Ariel beamed and pulled Jewel into a hug. “You are beautiful, my dear, inside and out. I look forward to seeing you where you belong.” She said as she let Jewel go.

  “Words of warning though….do not trust all on the Council for they are not all who they appear to be. Some who seem like an ally are foe and some who seem like foe may be your greatest ally. You must open your mind to truly see, and the gift that Ariel bestowed upon you will help you discern between what is truth and what is not.” Xander said, tucking the chest under his arm. Jewel immediately noticed that it appeared way smaller with him holding it than it had when she had been.

  “And I will leave you with this…..the Darkness has descended and is manipulating those with nefarious plans and intentions. Do not succumb to it, but follow the Light, no matter what may happen in the coming months. And remember to forgive those that wrong you or have wronged you, not for them, but for you, for not everyone is as pure of heart as you are.” Ariel said, a sadness showing through her amber eyes as though she knew of something but couldn’t say.

  “I have to ask….what is this Darkness that you’re referring to? Is it a being like the Light Bearer or is it even tangible? Ella made a reference to it as well, and I thought she had just lost her mind.” Jewel said.

  “The Darkness itself is in direct opposition to the Light Bearer. It takes many forms and is as ancient as the worlds themselves. The one currently being led by the Darkness is by far the strongest individual we have ever encountered, for he is laden with evil and opposes everything the Light Bearer stands for. He thrives on the pain of others and will stop at nothing to ruin the Light Bearer’s plans, which includes either turning you or taking you out of the equation.” Ariel explained.

  “The one who is being led by Darkness is a Hybrid named Malum and he is the one who is running the show right now. His childhood was much like yours, full of pain, fear, and anger, but the difference is that while you have chosen love as your compass, he has chosen hate. You see, Jewel, Malum has a very unique ability. He can take an individual’s deepest hope, darkest desire, or fear, and use it to manipulate those around him. He can make even the strongest minded individuals go crazy by stripping them of their hopes, thereby allowing them to become obsessed with their own fears and the darkest desires of their hearts.” Xander added.

  “His powers are not to be taken lightly, Jewel, for his powers are wide-reaching and strong. And the Darkness itself can never truly be killed, but it can at least be contained for a little while, so your first task will be to figure out what Malum has planned, how he has leaked more Darkness into the worlds than anyone has ever done before, and how to contain the Darkness before it overtakes everything. Should you succeed, you will usher in a time of peace and unity unlike anything the world has ever seen, but should you fail, all will be lost. For make no mistake about it, Malum has let loose a plague of evil upon the worlds, the likes of which has never been seen, and he is using countless followers of his own to spread discord, hate, and fear. It is up to you to thwart his plans and bring the Light Bearer’s plan to fruition.” Ariel stated.

  “But how do I do that?” Jewel asked, completely thrown off by the onslaught of information.

  “By figuring out a way for Light to do what it has always done best- pierce the Darkness. And by being yourself. By showing the worlds that you are not who they think, and by showing how being different should not equate to being separate.” Ariel answered.

  “Is there any way you could be a little less vague?” Jewel asked tentatively. “I mean, no offense, but I do better with things just being straightforward.”

  “Most do, but one of the greatest gifts the Light Bearer bestowed upon your kind is the ability to choose, and that is something we cannot take away, and by giving too much information, ultimately- we would.” Xander explained.

  “Don’t worry, Jewel. You are in the best hands possible.” Ariel said confidently. “And because of your steadfastness towards the truth and all things good, the Light Bearer has given us two gifts to bestow upon you.”

  “The first is a healing for you. A complete healing, for although you didn’t know it, Gertrude didn’t just feed you a suppressor potion, but she also embedded a dark curse that
keeps your powers from reaching their full potential. What you felt in the Pixie realm when the renuviants helped you was only the tip of the iceberg. However, you will need to be careful with your powers and to keep your emotions in check.” Ariel started.

  “The healing for you will also take away the polarrier effects for good. You went through that polarrier in order to help your friend’s mom. It was a sacrifice to free her, so the Light Bearer feels that it’s only right that you shouldn’t have to deal with that anymore.” Xander smiled.

  “And the second gift is one you will find when you return to the Hospitable Suite in the land of Fairies. I believe you will be quite pleased.” Ariel said, happiness radiating from her.

  “Thank you. And please tell the Light Bearer thank you for his help and for the gifts.” Jewel said sincerely.

  “We will, future Sovereign.” Ariel said as she moved Jewel from under the umbrella that a very frozen Galadriel was still holding. She then, along with Xander, placed hands on Jewel’s shoulders.

  Jewel shut her eyes, feeling the effects of the polarrier already taking a toll on her body, but concentrated on the language that the Guardians of the Light were speaking. It was a language that Jewel had never heard before, but it was beautiful and as they continued to speak, Jewel’s body began to vibrate, and a buzzing feeling took hold of her. She felt like waves of something were pouring out of her body until all that was left was a feeling of lightness. It was like a literal weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and Jewel beamed as she breathed in deeply, feeling like she had just been born again. She felt Ariel and Xander’s hands lift off her shoulders and she opened her eyes to thank them, but they had already vanished.

  That didn’t deter Jewel in the least however, and looking up into the sky, Jewel said a thank you, knowing somehow that they would hear her.

  “Green! Green? What are you doing? Get back under the umbrella.” Galadriel ordered, panic in his brown eyes.

  Jewel chuckled. “I don’t need it anymore.” She said, gaining more than just a few quizzical looks in response. “Let’s just say that you five missed a lot. A whole lot.” She said, a smile plastered on her face, as she began to explain what happened with the Guardians of the Light, and what she had just learned.

  “Can I see the stone you were given?” Sage asked.

  “Sure.” Jewel said as she handed it over. Sage sat and inspected it, turning it over in his hands. He frowned and handed it back to Jewel with a shrug.

  “Must only work for you. It doesn’t feel any different to me.” Sage admitted, obviously displeased with the results of his inspection.

  “Huh. Yeah, maybe, because I can definitely feel it thrumming.” Jewel stated. “Ariel said it would help me, and I quote, ‘guage what truth is’.”

  Understanding immediately lit up in Zephyr’s eyes. “If that is what I think it is, then you just got a huge advantage.”

  “Why?” Rain asked, her curiosity piqued. “What is it? What does it do?”

  “I believe it might be a truth stone.” Zephyr said excitedly. “Only one way to test it out.” He said, standing up and making his way over to sit closer to Jewel. “Ask me a question. Any question.”

  Thanks to the potion, Jewel caught on quickly to what Zephyr was implying. “Have you ever thought of what your life with Raindrop will be like, you know, marriage, kids, the whole shebang?”

  Zephyr’s face reddened, and he took a deep breath before answering. “No, I haven’t.” He replied and Jewel yelped as the stone turned cold as ice in her hand.

  “Liar.” Jewel grinned.

  “No way.” Rain said aloud.

  “Yes way.” Jewel replied back. “Zephyr was right, well about this being a truth stone. O-kay, let’s try someone else.” She said, looking around the group. “How about you, Trickster?”

  “What about me, Green?” Galadriel asked, a smirk securely in place.

  “Do you ever think about the future, a wife, kids, the whole thing?” Jewel asked, the stone once again its normal temperature and thrumming happily.

  “Absolutely.” Galadriel answered and the stone warmed in Jewel’s hand to a wonderful temperature, much like a nice bath.

  “Holey buckets. This gift from Ariel changes the whole game.” Jewel smiled as she glanced around the group. “I think it’s time to go back and meet with the Council again. Only this time, I want to meet with everyone. Well, maybe not the Pixie King, but the others for sure.”

  With a round of nods and sounds of agreement, Jewel opened the portal to the Djinn world with little effort, thanks to the healing from the Guardians and thanks to the potion she had ingested. Her mind had a clarity that she had never experienced before, and she knew what she needed to do without a shadow of a doubt. When the frame had fully formed from the cirrus clouds, Jewel stepped through to the familiar barren orange and red wasteland she now knew as Jinnia. Nothing had changed. The heat was stifling, and when everyone was through, Jewel closed the portal and called out for Alani.

  “Yes, Sovereign?” Alani said, popping into existence right in front of Jewel. He was still wearing the same outfit as last time, but his eyes that had been a bright cerulean now looked a little duller, and there were definitely dark circles under his eyes that had not been there prior. His smile, while still showing his dimples was also not the same and seemed sadder than anything else.

  “Uh, Alani. Is everything okay?” Jewel asked.

  “Uh, err, yes. Yes, of course. Everything is fine.” Alani said, his eyes darting back and forth.

  The truth stone turned ice cold in Jewel’s hand, and she knew Alani wasn’t being honest with her. “Liar.”

  “What did you just say?” Alani sputtered.

  “I called you a liar. You are clearly not okay, and things must not be fine.” Jewel stated.

  “You shouldn’t have come back. You shouldn’t be here.” Alani said, fear in his voice.

  “Why? I completed the task. I am here to speak to the Council.” Jewel said.

  “You should be running from the Council. I believe in your goodness, and I know everything is not as it seems, but the things that have transpired since your last visit have others doubting it. Please, Sovereign. Please. Just go.” Alani pleaded.

  “I have no intention of leaving. Please take us to see the Council.” Jewel stated.

  “Very well, but don’t say that I didn’t warn you.” Alani said, as he waved his hand, transporting Jewel and her friends from the barren wasteland to indoors and right in front of a big red door with orange accents.

  King Jazere must really love those two colors, Jewel mused to herself.

  “Wait here.” Alani instructed as he entered the doors, closing them tightly behind him.

  “Something is off, Green.” Galadriel said. “He’s acting weirder than last time and that is saying something.”

  “I agree with Trickster, Spitfire.” Rain said, her body tense. “Maybe we should come back a different time.”

  “That’s the problem, Raindrop.” Jewel began. “We don’t know that there will be a different time. If what Ariel and Xander were saying is true and I’m pretty sure it is, time is something we don’t have a lot of. If we allow the Darkness to take over, we are going to be fighting an uphill battle. For now, maybe, just maybe, we are close to an even playing field. I’d rather not allow the Darkness to gain any more advantage than it already has, and we are going to need allies to go against this Malum character.”

  The doors opened and Alani came out, face reddened, and a look of pure fear on his face. “They will see you now.” His voice shook.

  “Thank you, Alani.” Jewel said, but as she passed him, she added quietly, “We will be fine. Don’t worry.”

  He gave her a pained expression in response but nodded his head before walking away.

  Jewel wasted no time walking towards the Council, who seemed to all be in attendance this time around. Well, all except for the Pixie King and King Finley. But Queen Nerissa was there in
all her sparkling glory and boy did she look mad.

  “You have a lot of nerve showing your face to us again.” King Jazere hissed as he threw the long braid of inky black hair that hung over his shoulder to his back.

  “Excuse me?” Jewel asked, befuddled as to why the King of the Djinn seemed so surprised and upset that Jewel had returned, when that had been the arrangement to begin with. She was starting to feel like maybe Alani had been right and that this was a bad idea, but there was no turning back now. She needed to figure out what was happening, and she needed that potion they had promised to give her to save her Dad.

  “How can you stand there and act innocent when we all know now that you are a monster?” King Jazere sneered, his blue eyes with red tones flashing in anger.

  “Not everyone agrees with you, Jazere, so perhaps you shouldn’t include everyone in your statements.” The only Council member that Jewel hadn’t met with before, stated in a feminine voice. Jewel tried to see who was speaking, but the woman was shrouded in a shimmery cloak with the hood strategically covering her face.

  “Yes, well I speak for most of us, and of course, you would be the one that disagrees.” King Jazere spat.

  “Okay, that’s enough. I have no idea what everyone is so upset about, and I have no idea why you would call me a monster, as I along with my friends just risked our lives to get rid of the Ancient Corruptible, which we did, by the way, thanks for asking.” Jewel rolled her green eyes. “But seeing as that was the end goal that we all agreed upon, how is it that I am suddenly such a monster?”

  “Don’t you dare play dumb with us.” Queen Nerissa chimed in angrily, her bluish-green hair falling in wisps from her brightly colored coral reef shaped crown, and her bright blue eyes showing a clear level of disdain for Jewel. “Well, maybe you aren’t playing that dumb as I know you to be quite dense, but you have been causing problems wherever you go. I will admit, that at first, I didn’t like you, but then I thought that perhaps I had been too harsh. Especially since my Finley had me convinced that maybe you had truly just needed our help. Now, however, I see that my first instinct was right about you. You are a plague on our worlds, and you must be stopped before you can hurt anyone else.”