Willow Bloom and the Dream Keepers

by E. V. Farrell

  “What’s happening?” Willow asked, jumping to her feet and instinctively turning towards them to see.

  “Do not look at them!” Minna reminded them. “You will be drawn back into a hypnotic state. They are communicating with each other. They act as a collective and have received new orders.”

  They all kept their eyes on Minna as the dull drones eventually faded, followed by a long silence.

  “Do you think they’re gone?” Jessie asked.

  Atlas turned to check the entrance. “They are no longer present.”

  “Great!” Willow exclaimed and turned to where the Vraag had been. “But why would they do that? They had us trapped in here.”

  “They have new orders and only time will tell what those new orders are,” Minna said. “For now, they have done all they can here.”

  “Will it be safe to leave the chamber?” Willow asked. “What if they’re waiting for us further down in one of the passages?”

  “They are currently retreating. In a short time you may safely leave,” Minna answered. “You all did a wonderful job.”

  Willow gave Minna a curious look. “What do you mean? We didn’t do anything. Well, at least I didn’t.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Minna said.

  “Actually, Willow, we all did something,” Avari put in. “We all, in our own way, focused on getting out of this situation. We all wanted the same thing. And even though we did not do anything obvious, our combined energy was focused on getting out of the chamber, safely.”

  “It is not necessary to have all of the details or to know all of the outcomes possible in a situation,” Minna continued. “What is required is your conscious attention to the moment. There was always the possibility that Maliceius could order the Vraag to leave. And that possibility became more probable when you all focused on the same outcome. It could have been a different situation entirely but today it unfolded in this way.

  “It is the same in your world, Willow,” Avari said. “It is just more amplified here.”

  “So if the Vraag have gone, where to now?” Jessie asked.

  “Now that the Vraag are no longer a threat, I may remove the security field and offer you my final assistance,” Minna told them. “On the other side of Thera, the Elder, Oron, is waiting.”

  The idea of going to the other side of Thera to meet with Oron again was pretty exciting but Willow couldn’t see how that was going to be possible. “But Mondria has been attacked and all of the portals are down,” she objected.

  Minna smiled. “I am your way through. My purpose here at this time is at an end. I will extend the frequency used for the security field to create a portal but it can only hold for a short time.” With that she placed her hand on a silver amulet hanging from her neck and closed her eyes. “Perhaps we shall all meet again …”

  The space in front of Minna began to move, like ripples of heat coming off a hot surface. The ripples multiplied and grew large enough for them to step through.

  “Where exactly are we going?” Willow asked.

  “I am not sure,” Avari said. “There are nine Elders on our planet, but to actually visit one at their dwelling is very rare. They are mostly reclusive; however, they do come to Mondria to advise High Council on matters, as you know from Oron’s recent visit.” She gestured for Willow to pass through the portal. “Quickly, we must leave.”

  Elder Oron

  Willow stepped through Minna’s portal with the others close behind her.

  A short distance away were a series of white dome structures, with mountains of blue and purple trees spread out far in to the distance.

  “Now, this is cool!” Hugo said, although his eyes were struggling to process the vibrant colours. He shielded them with his hand. “My eyes … I feel really weird.”

  “It will take time to adjust to our colour frequencies outside,” Atlas said, and held Hugo’s arm to steady him.

  A middle-aged woman wearing a green robe headed towards them.

  “Welcome,” she said. “I am Brilla. Please, come with me. Elder Oron has been expecting you.”

  They entered the first dome building and were struck by the quality of light. High above them was a glass ceiling that resembled honeycomb and light refracted from every glass cell to a central point, creating the most incredible chandelier.

  Brilla led them to a room decorated in hues of yellow. “Oron will be with you shortly,” she said, and promptly left.

  Every single thing in the room was a different shade of yellow: books, cushions, lamps, paintings, furniture – all ranged from bright canary yellow to white with a hint of lemon. Willow squinted at the glare from some of the cushions. “Guess he really must like yellow.”

  “Yes, I do,” a deep voice said from the Doorway. “However, not receiving many visitors, I do forget that others may not be as fond as I am.” With that he waved his hand through the air and instantly the room’s decor changed to multiple colours and shades like a normal room back on Earth. “I hope this is more comfortable,” he smiled.

  Willow blushed, meeting with the glistening purple eyes of the Elder Oron, who was dressed in yellow. “I didn’t mean to …”

  “No apology required,” he said stepping towards her. “Welcome to my home, Willow.” He then shook all of their hands vigorously. “It is most exciting to have visitors! But I am aware that this visit is not for pleasure.” He gestured for them all to sit down.

  “We came through Minna’s portal,” Avari told him.

  “Yes. I have been sensing your arrival for the past twelve hours.” Oron sat in his yellow arm chair and beamed at them. “Such youthful and vibrant energy! Unmistakeable and unmissable.” He reached over to the side table near to him, picked up a tea-pot painted with lemons, and began to pour tea into a matching tea-cup shaped like a tall cylinder. “Lemon tea anyone?” he offered. “I am sure you could all do with my magic lemon tea.”

  They each received a tea-cup that exuded a magnificent citrus aroma. Willow put the cup to her lips and immediately her whole body felt restored and her mind, relatively calm, and she hadn’t even drunk a sip yet!

  Oron beamed. “It does wonders, yes?”

  Willow couldn’t argue with him, and the others appeared to be equally impressed.

  Composure swept across Oron’s face. “I am aware of what has happened in Mondria and the damage that has been done. This Quest is very serious to involve such young people. But the times have called for it.”

  “We’re trying to locate the Prophecy Book as quickly as we can,” Willow told him. “Minna said you could help us.”

  “Yes. I too have a role in this Prophecy – as do the other Elders who are currently assisting the situation in their own way, mostly by protecting the energetic infrastructure where human dreams are stored.” Oron sat back deeply in his armchair and the fabric magically changed from a creamy yellow to an emerald green. “You are all aware of Maliceius’s attempts over countless tarons to bring darkness to the Universe. The Ancients knew he would not give up. It was not a question of ‘if’, but more a case of ‘when’. He cannot resist his very own nature. Such is the Law of this Universe.”

  Listening to Oron speak, once again Willow felt his presence to be heartening. And right now, with everything that had happened, she just wanted to sit in his company and pretend that everything was fine. She leaned in a little closer.

  Oron turned to Willow. “It is your burden to find the Book, Willow. Now is the time to step up and trust in the connection you have with the Universe. Allow its nature to come through you so that it can help you on this Quest. Only your mind holds you back.” Oron looked to each of them. “You all have this ability within you. Some more than others, but it is there.”

  Oron then shook his head with a sigh. “Now that the Vraag have begun their war path, the Book’s contents are crucial and will play a major role in stopping them. Within its pages is the antidote to their toxins – a Sceptre, gifted to humanity many millennia ago, d
uring Earth’s darkest times. It is known as ‘The Sceptre of the Ancients’.”

  Willow was baffled. “You mean a literal sceptre? Like, one of those fancy rod-things that royal people used to carry in the olden days?”

  “Indeed,” Oron confirmed. “Where do you think the tradition of these sceptres came from in the first place? Of course, The Sceptre of the Ancients is no ordinary sceptre. Once assembled it becomes a very powerful tool.”

  “And that’s what will stop Maliceius and the Vraag?”

  “That is the Sceptre’s prime mandate, but it is capable of much more,” Oron said. “However, the Sceptre’s further purpose is not the main consideration right now. What is important is that you understand this: when the Sceptre was dismantled, its individual pieces were scattered across the Earth amongst families who guarded those pieces through the generations for thousands of years, until the time came to gather them together and reassemble them.” He gazed into Willow’s eyes. “That time has arrived. Locating the Book is not the Prophecy. It is only the first step. Finding and assembling the pieces of the Sceptre – that is the Prophecy. That is the Quest to be undertaken.”

  Willow was astounded. She thought her job was done once she found the Book. “And here I thought I had to find the Book and hand it over to the High Council.” The burden seemed to have fallen right back into her lap.

  “This Book is part of humanity’s evolution. It will assist in bringing in a higher awareness regarding Life and the purpose of Life,” he told her.

  “Maliceius’s tampering with the Light Stream was only the trigger,” Hugo reflected. “Everything he does pushes us to step up and find out what we’re really capable of.”

  “They say ‘Necessity is the mother of all inventions’,” Jessie added.

  Oron nodded. “Exactly. You will all surprise yourselves when the moment requires you to do so.”

  “How are we meant to find the people guarding the pieces to make this Sceptre?” Willow asked.

  “The Book contains clues to help you map out where the segments are being held on your world,” he said. “It will be difficult; the Ancients have made sure of that. They have installed a number of precautionary measures to safeguard the Sceptre from falling into the wrong hands. This will not be a mere treasure hunt, of that you can be certain.”

  What kind of a Quest was this, thought Willow. What had she unknowingly signed up for? And what kinds of measures had the Ancients installed?

  Oron turned his attention to Hugo. “I was informed of your unexpected arrival here, Hugo. As we all know, there are no real coincidences. Traversing both worlds puts you in a unique position. Your role is neither Helper nor Light Keeper at this present time. You are what is known as the Caretaker.”

  “Caretaker?” he repeated. “I don’t understand …”

  Oron studied them thoughtfully. “You each play an integral part in this unfolding Quest. And when the time comes, each one of you will play your part. The Caretaker is the protector, the Guardian of each piece of the Sceptre until they have all been gathered.”

  “O-kay. So who or what exactly will I be protecting these pieces from?” Hugo asked. “Please don’t say the Vraag.”

  “From the darkness, in whatever form it chooses to take. There will be many.”

  Hugo swallowed the lump in his throat. “Great. That sounds like … fun.”

  “The Book will aid you with this undertaking, Hugo. As for you, Jessie, you will assist both Willow and Hugo in the task of bringing together the segments that will create the Sceptre.”

  “Always ready for adventure!” Jessie said. “I think …”

  “Avari and Atlas, you are the anchors for your Earthling friends. In the times ahead, you will be called upon to assist with their Quest. As humanity evolves, the role of the Dream Keeper will evolve also.”

  Addressing the Earthlings, Oron said, “Your planet stands on the edge of a precipice – as does ours. Great change is possible; but to bring real balance to this Universe, humanity must wake up to its true nature, its true potential. That,” he said, “is what Maliceius does not want you to do – at any cost.”

  Willow was confused. “But how do we do that? How will we know what to do?”

  “The Sceptre can help to restore balance during times of concentrated darkness,” Oron explained. “But for a lasting solution, humanity must fully recognise and appreciate the Light it holds within, so that it may shine as a beacon to mitigate the darkness.” He could see that they were still a little confounded. “Remember, the only way Maliceius develops any formidable power is if the darkness is left unchecked and allowed to build. However, rather then turn Maliceius into the enemy – which is precisely what he wants you to do – imagine seeing him, the darkness, as a necessary construct of the Universe that needs to be tamed.”

  Oron paused momentarily before adding, “He can only energise through dark and fearful thoughts – so why feed the monster. Stop replaying dark thoughts or you will end up hooking on to his dark energy cloud. Do this, not through the denial of dark thoughts and feelings, but through observing them like an outsider looking in, without commentary or judgement. Just stare them down. By doing so, you create a bubble of space around the dark thoughts, which in turn detaches the hook and allows the dark cloud to pass by. Then, you are able to shine your light into the darkness, and the darkness is diminished.” With that, Oron clasped his hands and placed them in his lap.

  Willow let out a long sigh. Feeling overwhelmed was an understatement.

  Avari and Atlas seemed calm; their purple eyes were a deeper hue, and they looked like they were in a trance-like state. This task was way more intense than Light Keeping … way more intense than finding a Book that had been hidden for thousands of years. Everything her parents had taught her over the years was in preparation for the possibility of entering the Light Keeper world, but even they could never have imagined this. She was thirteen, and on a Quest of epic proportions.

  “Tell me, Willow,” Oron said suddenly. “Where do you think your higher-sense abilities come from? The skills that you have, but did not know you possessed until you discovered them? Were they given to you as a gift one night while you slept? Or were they already there and you just weren’t aware of their existence?”

  Willow’s eyes were wide, as if a very big light bulb had just switched on. Now she knew why the High Council couldn’t interfere … why things had to unfold as they did. Telling her things before she was ready to hear them wouldn’t work. It was a bit like when her parents had told her that she was good at horse riding, but it wasn’t until she had come first in an event that she started to believe that for herself. And all the things that had happened since becoming a Light Keeper … she hadn’t known what she was capable of until she had taken action and dealt with the unfolding events. Somewhere inside of her, she was accessing a deep pool of knowledge and possibilities. That meant that there was still so much more to discover.

  Oron smiled at her recognition. “Yes, Willow. Now I can see that you have grasped what I am saying. That is the true power held within all of humanity. This truth, once properly acknowledged, will eventually be realised by all Earthlings.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “I understand now.”

  “Then I have completed my task,” Oron told her. He stood up from his armchair.

  “It has been an honour to be with you all.” With a steady gaze upon each of them, he said, “When you can feel your inner potential – when it resonates within you – the Sceptre will be revealed.”

  Brilla entered the room as soon as Oron had departed. “I trust your visit has assisted your Quest,” she said. “I have spoken with the High Council and Mondria is now secure. A safe portal has been opened for your re-entry to the city. Please follow me.”

  “That was awesome!” Hugo said as they left the room. “How cool was he!” Brilla turned to him with a knowing smile.

  “So, a Caretaker!” Jessie said. “Who knew they even existed?
”

  “I know,” Hugo marvelled. “I’ve never heard of them.”

  “I think there are going to be a lot of firsts on this Quest,” Willow said.

  Back in Mondria the chaos had subsided. High Chancellor Antoy ushered them away from the portal and relayed what had happened during their absence, including how the Vraag had abruptly left the city, but not before draining much of the energy from the blue crystal inside the Crystal Chamber that Willow and her friends had worked on. This meant that the city had to re-route some of its energy sources to hold the security fields in place. It would be some time before they could replenish the crystal so that they could re-establish a portal connection to Earth.

  “Please excuse me,” High Chancellor Antoy said, “but I must attend to on-going security matters. It is essential that Mondria remains secure for your continued search of the Book.”

  “You know,” Willow said after the High Chancellor left, “I’ve been thinking about all the clues we’ve found and there’s one that keeps coming back to me. Remember the clue about, ‘being hidden in plain sight’? Well the ‘plain sight’ bit got me wondering. What if it really was hidden in plain sight – like normal sight?”

  “You mean like somewhere obvious that we can all see?” Hugo commented.

  “Yes. And there’s a place that I keep seeing when I think of ‘plain sight’ too.”

  It was strange being outside again, knowing that not very long ago the city had been under attack. Willow breathed in deeply. She had missed the fresh air.

  Hugo stopped a short distance away from the white and gold doors of the Halls of Mondria. “Wow!”

  “Spoken like the new kid on the block,” Jessie grinned.

  Hugo turned to Atlas. “Promise me you’ll take me on a tour some time.”

  “Should events allow it, I will do so,” he said.

  Jessie gave Atlas a playful punch on his arm. “My work here is obviously not done. I’ve been teaching Atlas the art of Earthling exchanges,” she said.