by Patrick Hatt
“I passed. I knew I was the best.” Madar cheered and jumped up and down as his lantern lit up. He then spotted Dina trying to hold back her tears while staring up at her lantern. “I even beat Miss Know It All. I am the best. Better luck next year, sucker.”
“But I got each one right. I know I did,” Dina whispered to herself.
“What happened, Dina? You knew all of your fates.” Mr. Lions shot a rainbow light from his head and it entered the lantern. He scoured through Dina’s fates, trying to decipher where she went wrong.
“I was right. Every single one was right,” Dina insisted.
“No, Dina. They weren’t.” Mr. Lions homed in on her error. “Max Blizzard’s fate was wrong. You said that he saved Camelot from a third threat. A rather larger threat at that. That never happened. Camelot succumbed to its fate and so did Mr. Blizzard. You should have known that.”
“No way. That never happened. Max and his friends stopped them. You and this test are the ones that are wrong.”
“Dina lost and now she can’t take it.” Madar laughed at her while a few other students snickered along with him.
“Enough, Madar,” Mr. Lions scolded.
“Honey, there is always next year.” Trinny wrapped her arm around her daughter after stepping up from behind her.
“To all the graduates, let’s head to the Hall of Momentus where new secrets lie for you to learn. The rest of you will hone your knowledge for another year. I hope you do better next time.” Oxom eyed Dina, showing his disappointment in her.
“But I was right. Max Blizzard doesn’t die when Camelot gets attacked. He stops…”
The entire crowd scattered as an elephant stampeded through the courtyard. It grabbed Dina, threw her on its back, and then used its trunk to grab Mr. Lions. It squeezed him so hard that his bald head lit up and created a doorway. It then stampeded through as the council yelled and the doorway closed behind them.
“Dina! That thing took my daughter.”
“I demand to know who changed and isn’t following our rules. Transmutation is forbidden. Who did it?” Oxom glared at every Momentium in sight. A light then flew from his head and covered the entire courtyard. He then focused solely on Mr. Lions. “So you did know who she was. Momentus guards, take him!”
Two rainbow light strands wrapped around Mr. Lions’ arms and two guards dragged him away. Oxom turned to the stunned crowd, most still in shock over seeing an elephant in person.
“And now to bring you back down to size, you all just failed.”
“What?” Madar asked.
“This was all a test to see how you’d react. You all did nothing, which goes to show you that you all have a lot to learn. Don’t ever forget that. You can always fail even when you pass. Now let’s get the graduates to the Hall of Momentus.” Oxom smiled and twirled his fingers through his moustache as the students believed his story. He opened a doorway and the graduates began to run through.
“Was that true?” Trinny asked, hoping so for her daughter’s sake.
“Of course not. Find out what Mr. Lions knows. Find that being and put it down. We can’t have anyone entering Momentus ever again.” Oxom stomped away as Trinny and the council listened to his mumbling. “I got us off the Pedestal of Realms. This shouldn’t be possible. I won’t be letting them ruin my home again.”
“You heard him. Get to searching. I’ll question Mr. Lions,” Trinny said, as Oxom stepped into the doorway and it closed behind him.
She and each of the other council members opened doorways and went in search of answers, each determined to track down Trudesile before she upset the delicate balance of Momentus and revealed the truth about their realm to all who lived there.
Chapter 2
Twisted
Max stared at a wall mirror as his thoughts distracted him from his crooked bow tie. He still feared the extent of his imagination power and longed for the days of less responsibility. His distaste for what had transpired remained on the forefront of his mind. He refused to let it occur again. He snapped out of his daze as footsteps that had become common to him approached. A sense of calmness filled him after his mother wrapped her arms around his neck. Her long dark hair blinded him until she pushed it aside. She ran her hand through his mop of brown hair, sensing the weight of his thoughts.
“Max, I hope you know how proud I am of the young man you have become.” Evienne straightened up Max’s bow tie and kissed him on the cheek while still hovering over him. She hated that she had missed most of his life and made sure to enjoy every moment with him over the last six years.
“Trust me, Mom. I know.” Max loved that his mother had become a part of his life, even if she doted over him every day.
“I know today is hard for you, especially after what happened to Trudesile, but we have to stay strong for the realms. They look to you for leadership more so than even Arthur. You never asked for it and I wish you could have had a normal childhood, but you are Max Blizzard. The one who stopped Sir Dreadvent and the Sevesties along with saving all the rulers and your mother. You even got a little peach fuss coming above your lip. That is going to drive the girls crazy.” Evienne smiled and hugged Max tightly.
“But every year they expect me to show off my power. I can’t do it, Mom. I won’t do it. After what I did, even if most times I can control it and make only figments appear, I don’t want to create life ever again. What if…”
“Max, you are going to drive yourself crazy with all the what ifs. Your mistake resulted in something wonderful. You freed Trudesile from her dark side. Whether or not you can get back to the sandwich, as you call it, I’m sure she is at peace. Give yourself a little credit, Max.”
“I can’t, Mom. If I let my guard down I could create the next Sir Dreadvent. All from a dream like…”
“Max Merlin Blizzard. You listen to me. You are only fifteen years old and already acting older than your father. If you insist on stifling your power instead of learning to control it, you are going to have one miserable life, and I don’t want that for you. So learn to control it and don’t let it control you. If it gets out of hand and you create the next Sir Dreadvent, we will deal with it together. Do you think this was easy to master?” Evienne placed her hand over Max’s head and drops of water flowed from her fingertips.
“Mom!” Max slung his hand through his hair and wiped the water away.
“If that had happened when I was your age I would have just killed you. My imagination power isn’t as great as yours, but it was no less hard to handle. I thought I had everything in control, but one night with your father I almost drown him in our sleep.”
“You did? How did you get over that?”
“She didn’t right away.” Merlin stepped into Max’s room, smiling, while straightening his best long hat and white robe. He stroked his beard while Max sought answers from him.
“Your father, no matter how much it pains me to admit, is right. I wanted to let it control me like you do now. But what he said spurred me on and without those words, there may not have ever been a you. Do you remember them?”
“I haven’t the foggiest.” Merlin pretended that he had forgotten as he wanted to hear Evienne tell them to Max. He loved the sound of her voice, even more so now that she had returned to him, and never tired of hearing her speak.
“He told me that life is full of mistakes. Some mistakes are big, and some mistakes are small, but if you aren’t making mistakes then you are never learning anything truly worthwhile. Such power comes with no instruction manual. You are the one blazing a new trail and with each mistake the path becomes clearer. You learn, you grow, and you make more mistakes. Eventually the big become less and the small are all that remain. Mistakes are as much a part of life as the beating of your heart. So make them, learn from them, and grow.”
Merlin extended his arm for Evienne and she wrapped hers around him. He kissed her, and Max smiled while mulling over her words. He broke from his thoughts as Mimi ran into his room. Her w
ide blue eyes and scraggly blonde hair capturing his attention over the cute blue dress that she wore.
“Max! Max! Max! Uncle Lester is here.” Mimi jumped into Max’s arms.
Max held his nearly five-year-old sister, letting his thoughts of concern flow from his mind.
“By me pot of gold, you sure look ready to go.” Lester leaned against the doorframe, grinning. His green top hat and green suit giving off almost the same shine as his golden hair and beard.
“How are you, Lester?” Merlin asked.
“Fine. I got lots to report after the celebration. A few realms need a swift kick or a pot of gold dropped on their head.”
“Don’t go doing that. We don’t want a war of the realms or anything.” Max laughed and placed Mimi back down on her feet.
“Me? You’re the one that ticked the Briloos off. They even made a song about you. Trust me. It isn’t one that you want to hear.” Lester laughed along with Max and then the room grew silent as a shadow covered him.
“Come on, chicken legs. We have to put on a show for the crowd.” Trudesile grinned, causing Max’s stomach to turn at the very sight of her. She had grown, nearing adulthood, spiking her brown hair up and plastering her face with piercings. She flaunted her new look whenever she had chance, knowing that it made Max and Lester cringe.
“Speaking of someone I should drop a pot of gold on,” Lester muttered.
“She’s harmless, Lester. The constraints I put in place when Max created a body for her still hold. She has no imagination power and never will,” Merlin assured them.
“She’s scary, Mommy.” Mimi hid behind her mother’s leg.
“I still don’t know why we can’t chuck her in that pocket realm like we did Vlad and the others,” Max mumbled.
“Max, you know those don’t exist any longer and, as much as we want to be rid of her, she is now a life form all her own. She is no longer Dark Trudesile. She simply is Trudesile. She has the darkness and whatever light Bandaid and God could give her. You know this.” Merlin could sense the disgust oozing from his son.
“Max just has a lust for my dead half. Especially now that his ba…”
“That is quite enough of that.” Evienne grabbed Trudesile by the arm and dragged her out into the courtyard.
“Max, this is the only day of the year that we must endure her. You three saved the realms, but getting them back in order and working together is a whole other matter. Having a strong united front in the three saviors is all that may stand between peace and chaos. We must endure for peace, my son. No matter how much it pains us.” Merlin hugged Max and Mimi hugged Merlin’s leg, not wanting to be left out.
“But if she gets out of line, I’m still going to drop me pot of gold on her,” Lester added, snickering to himself.
“What do you say we get this thing on the road, chaps?” Bazooka asked, as he strolled by with his two kids.
“At least we have a giant rabbit. Maybe we better rub his foot for luck. We’re going to need it to make this all go smoothly. Remember last year?” Lester rolled his eyes and then began chatting with Bazooka as the pair strolled to the courtyard.
“If those few remaining Freleom try again this year, Brozen and Dregg have a surprise for them.” Merlin smiled, knowing he piqued Max’s interest.
“Can we go to the party now, Daddy?”
“I haven’t the foggiest. Ask your brother.”
“Max?” Mimi pretended to pout and stared wide eyed at Max.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure you’re old enough to party.” Max grinned while Mimi began to pout for real. “But then what do I know. Let’s go, pipsqueak.”
“Yippeee.” Mimi sprinted from the room.
“Don’t leave our sight.” Merlin sighed. “Kids. They keep a man young.”
Merlin wrapped his arm around Max. The pair hurriedly strolled to the courtyard, not wanting to let Mimi get herself into too much trouble.
The pair surveyed the courtyard while standing in the doorway of King Arthur’s throne room. The Pedestal of Realms shined brighter than ever and before it sat a staging area. Lights flickered in the sky and all in attendance held a lit Camelot Candle. Shimmer circled overhead and spurted little waves of fire from her breath. She then flew down toward the crowd and let loose a big wave of fire just over them as King Arthur strolled through the Pedestal of Realms. He had on his most regal armor and a golden cape, standing with Excalibur planted firmly in front of him.
“Sure knows how to make an entrance, huh, Dad?” Max snickered to himself as King Arthur eyed the crowd.
“He can be a bit of a show off, but if anyone deserves a bit of recognition, it’s him. He held this place together until you came along. I fear thinking of where we’d be now without him.” Merlin pushed such thoughts from his mind and then flung his arms in the air. Confetti fell from the little lights in the sky and covered the courtyard. He then nodded to King Arthur.
“I, Arthur Pendragon, am here today not as a king, not as a ruler, but as a fellow being of the realms. I stand here as someone who realizes it takes more than a ruler to create the peace we’ve had since Sir Dreadvent and the likes of Eve and the Freleom. It takes a hero. A hero that can come from any background or realm. The only being that can stop themselves from becoming such a hero is themselves. One only needs the wish to do good, the determination to try and keep trying, and the imagination to do so. These three have all of that and more. They are the reason we are here today. Not a ruler chosen by the Cup of Kings and not just a Hero of Imagination Lore.” King Arthur watched the Heroes of Imagination Lore turn to Max along with the rest of the rulers who had gathered. “Their names not be spoken, yet all know who they are. These three beings showed us that it doesn’t take a giant, a ruler, a wizard, or even a dragon to save the realms. All it really takes is letting your imagination lead the way. Please join me in welcoming once again Max Blizzard, Trudesile Marick, and Lester, as we honor their accomplishments on another Realms Day.”
King Arthur bowed, and the crowd followed his lead. Max and Lester hated all the attention while Trudesile lapped it up. Merlin nudged Max forward, watching proudly as he slowly crept toward the stage area with Lester.
“I’m so glad we only let her out once a year,” Lester mumbled, as Trudesile strutted across the stage like she owned the castle.
“Once a year is still too much.” Max stepped up beside her, cringing over her sly smirk.
“Get to it, chicken legs. I only have one day to stretch mine and I don’t want to waste it listening to another pathetic speech from you. I wonder how many umms you’ll say this year.” Trudesile giggled and stepped to the side while Max took center stage.
“Don’t let her get to you, Max. If she tries anything me pot of gold is ready.”
“I had a speech prepared…” Max stared at the speech he had in his hand as the crowd stood up. He then crumbled it in his hand. “But you can’t prepare something like this. Just like you can’t prepare for what life has in store for you.” Max tossed the crumbled speech into the air and Shimmer burned it with a fireball.
“That was cool.” Mimi smiled happily at her brother. She giggled as Max winked at her.
“King Arthur is one of the wisest beings I have ever met and yet, today was the first time I actually ever found him wrong.” Max grinned at King Arthur as he stood before him confused. “He said it takes your imagination leading the way and that is true, but that is not all it takes. As I look around I see what all else it takes.”
“He sure has grown,” Bandaid whispered to Evienne, sensing the calmness within Max. He playfully swatted Mimi away as she stood over him, tapping his balding head and waving her finger in front of his tiny glasses, loving being bigger than him, as he stood the size of a human shoe beside her and her mother. “Keep it up, dearie, and I’ll feed you to Shimmer.”
“Mommy!”
“What did I tell you about bugging Mr. Bandaid?” Evienne smiled as Mimi peeked out from behind her leg. She th
en whispered to Bandaid as Max continued, “He truly has Bandaid. He truly has.”
“It takes a young girl willing to believe in a guy who spoke of mermaids. It takes a trio of saviors bringing us to where we belonged.” Max looked to Lempilightess, Pemestra, and Bandaid, but refused to acknowledge Trudesile as he spoke of his true friend. “It takes an eager leprechaun, fathers who had the foresight to hide their children, a giant, brainless or not, a pirate blob, a man who became a giant bunny…”
“He’s talking about you, Dad.” Bazooka’s son sat proudly by his father as the pair and his sister watched from the castle wall above.
“I owe him far more than he ever owes me.” Bazooka wrapped his paws around his kids, cherishing every moment he had with them, seeing his wife in their cheery faces.
“It takes a rather pushy Atlantian, a couple of hermit fairies…”
“Fairies with an ego more like it.” Lester snickered and shrugged as Oberon glared at him.
“In short, it took everyone here to make this come to be. Without all of you I’d have just been a boy thrown into an institution for thinking such thoughts. Imagination and us coming together, looking past any differences, putting everything else aside in the fight for the common good. That is what it takes to be a hero, which is something all of you have, whether you truly believe it or not. A hero is not just one person. A hero is a collective. A hero is a realm. A hero is a universe. That is why we must fight to keep everything we hold dear in place. Peace is a luxury that should not be taken for granted. We must fight to keep it and be the hero of our own story. And we mustn’t only do it just for peace, we must also do it for all those heroes that lost their lives giving us this peace. Never forget and we shall never again let evil gain control.” Max bowed as the whole crowd began to clap and cheer.
“Way to go, Max. I guess rubbing that rabbit’s leg really works.” Lester snickered as he eyed Bazooka, who gave him the thumbs up while his kids cheered.
“Not bad, chicken legs. Not bad.” Trudesile tried to pretend he failed to impress her. She then grinned and patted him on the back, whispering in his ear, “But evil has already gained control.”