Boxed Set: Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood: [The 12 book 1st adventure + the series prequel]

by Robert Iannone

  “How old was she when she first kissed him?” asked the girl with a little gleam in her eyes.

  “SYLVIA . . . I didn’t ask.”

  “Yes you did.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just know. What did she say?”

  “She wouldn’t tell me. She said I’m too young to ask.”

  So they talked about Z’kkk and Zeke and boyfriends and such for a few more minutes until Sylvia finally asked, “So what happened to Ss’ong?”

  “Mobius turned her into a F’aeri . . . with green wings.”

  “Is that bad?”

  “I guess being a big green butterfly isn’t bad, except Mobius forces her to do bad things to people.”

  “Oh the poor thing.”

  “Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell you the most important thing . . .”

  “What?”

  “I asked Dazzle if you could ever see and talk to her, and she said ‘all things are possible’.”

  “REALLY . . . what does that mean exactly?”

  “It means that maybe someday you’ll be able to. She just wasn’t sure when.”

  “Oh . . .”

  “Well, it’s better than a forever no isn’t it?”

  “You’re right, it is. Thank you for asking her.”

  “Anyway, that’s all the interesting stuff. But I should tell you about the whirling tree and crystal egg . . .” and Egg told the rest of Dazzle’s story as well as she could remember it.

  *****

  They were at Egg’s house and it was raining. Ashley was in her room talking to a friend and her mom was out. So, with nothing else to do they decided to try a little television.

  “What do you want to watch?”

  “Ummm . . . there really isn’t anything on.”

  They were scrolling through the schedule on the TV. “Hey, look it’s a movie about dragons. Let’s watch it. Maybe it’ll be like Aerianna.”

  So they turned it on, sat back with some popcorn they had made and watched a movie that they really shouldn’t have been watching. But no one was around to stop them.

  It was called War of the Dragons and the biggest, meanest dragon was bright red . . . just like B’ludd. It was all kind of scary – actually, it was way too scary for young girls. So they sat very close to one another holding hands.

  And for the next hour, they watched in horror as battle after battle was fought. They screamed, closed their eyes, and screamed some more as dragon fought dragon; wizards fought dragons and everybody fought everyone else.

  When it was over, they turned off the TV and just sat there thinking about what they had just seen.

  “Do you think Aerianna is like that?”

  “Probably.”

  “Do you think you and I are really going to fight dragons like that?”

  “Probably.”

  “Do you think we’re going to fight sea serpents that are even meaner than those dragons?”

  “Probably.”

  “Do you think we’re going to have to battle wizards and wraiths that are ugly and dangerous and have magical powers that could turn us into snails or flying pigs or ugly toads?”

  “Probably.”

  “Do you think you and I are crazy to even think that we could do all this and actually win?”

  “Probably.”

  “Do you think we should tell Dazzle that we’re way too young and that she needs to find somebody else?”

  “Probably . . . but I’m not. If she thinks I can help her, then I’m going to try.”

  “Aren’t you scared out of your mind?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m not on Aerianna yet.”

  “Egg . . . I need to think about all of this. Would you be terribly mad if I changed my mind and gave you back your ring?”

  “I wouldn’t be mad, Syl . . . just humongously disappointed. Knowing that you were going to be there with me makes it seem a little less scary.”

  “I just need to think about this a little more. Okay?”

  “Sure.” But Egg was afraid . . . if her friend didn’t go with her, she wasn’t sure she would have the courage to go by herself. Then what would she tell Dazzle?

  *****

  That night Dazzle appeared only briefly.

  “Egg, you have doubts. Tonight you must look into your heart. If you cannot find the desire to help me and my people, then I will leave.

  You are young and I will not think unkindly of you, if that is your decision. But know this . . . within you is the courage that is needed to face this danger. You are very special . . . unique in all the universe. Mobius cannot stop you. In the end, you will win.”

  “How can you be so sure? I’ve never hurt anybody in my life.”

  “It has taken a thousand years . . . and I have waited patiently. But now you are here. I can sense within you all that I have strived to create. Have faith in yourself and trust in me.”

  “But Dazzle, without Sylvia, I would be so afraid.”

  Dazzle didn’t answer; she had gone.

  *****

  That same night, Sylvia went to bed dreaming of giant red dragons and wizards and horrible evil. It gave her nightmares. And the nightmares allowed Mobius to enter her mind . . .

  She tried to scream . . . but you can’t when you’re asleep.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  She just stared into those horrible eyes.

  “Answer me.”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “I am Mobius.”

  “Nooo . . . you can’t be.”

  “I am Mobius.”

  She believed him. “What do you want?’

  “Return the ring.”

  “What?”

  “Return the ring. Do not come to Aerianna.”

  “Go away . . . you’re just a bad dream.”

  “If you try to find me, I will turn you into a spider. Do you like spiders?”

  “I hate spiders. But you knew that, didn’t you?”

  “There is nothing that I do not know . . . when it involves Aerianna.”

  “Why are you so mean?”

  “You meddle in things that you will never understand. But know this, your friend is doomed.”

  “NO . . . don’t you even think about hurting her.”

  “You are nothing but an insect, a bothersome little pest. Do not ever tell me what I may or may not do.”

  “You’re just a nasty old man. Go away.”

  “I will not warn you again. Return the ring and save yourself.”

  *****

  Sylvia called Egg the first thing the next morning.

  “Mobius talked to me last night.”

  “WHAT?”

  “I had this awful nightmare and I saw him.” She described the eyes.

  “Oh my gosh, that is him. How can that be?”

  “I don’t know. But he said to give you back your ring or he would turn me into a spider. Then he said you were doomed.”

  “Oh, Syl . . .” She knew what her friend was going to say. And she, Egg, would have to fight this battle by herself.

  “Egg . . . I’m keeping the ring. Tell Dazzle that the Hameggattic Sisters are ready to teach this mean old man a lesson. He shouldn’t have threatened you. No one messes with my sister. NO ONE.”

  Chapter 9 – The Millennium Egg

  “Dazzle, Mobius told Sylvia to give my ring back or he would turn her into a spider. Then he told her I was doomed.”

  “That cannot be. Your Feminion must have had a nightmare from all this talk of Aerianna.”

  “She described his eyes perfectly. I never told her what he looked like.”

  Dazzle paused to consider this. “He knows.”

  “Knows what?”

  “Of my plan. I underestimated him . . . again.”

  “This isn’t good, is it?”

  “I would not lie to you, my sister. This is deeply troubling.”

  “What do we do? Syl told me to tell yo
u that the Hameggattic Sisters are ready to teach Mobius a lesson.”

  “Egg, you have chosen your friend wisely. I would very much like to meet your Feminion. As I have said, we will find a way.”

  “She really can’t wait for that to happen. But what do we do now?”

  “I will finish my story. As for Mobius, now that I know he knows, I will protect Sylvia from harm.”

  “She won’t dream about him anymore?”

  “He will continue to invade her mind . . . but I will be there to stop him.”

  “Why doesn’t he do that to me?”

  “You are too strong; he can sense your power. Sylvia is brave and loyal, but she is not you. Without our help, she could not fend off Mobius.

  *****

  “Mobius moved swiftly to eliminate all opposition. With the power of the Crystal Egg, he could not be stopped. But the truth was that Aerianna had been at peace for a hundred years and we had no army, no defense. We were unprepared for such evil and had no means to defend ourselves.

  It happened at Mystivus, the festival that celebrated the end of the Old One’s contest and the awarding of the Egg by the Myst Tree. All three races participated because it was the day we truly became one world.

  Though every city and village held its own celebration, the most lavish was the one on Q’umulus. All the kings and queens were in attendance, along with their families and all those of royalty or high rank. It was the perfect moment for Mobius to seize control.

  As fate would have it, I was not there. My father had sent me to visit each of the major cities. My good friend Storm had agreed to take me and so, upon his back, I flew to Fire’s Breath, Crag’s Leap and Talon’s Perch . . . the three principle castle-cities of the Dragons. We traveled to Kelp’ernicus, See’enna and Nau’tika in the realm of the serpents. Then we flew to N’imbus, S’irrius and River’s Edge . . . the three most important cities, besides Q’umulus, of we humans.

  We had just finished our good will mission and were about to leave River’s Edge when my friend Kl’air brought the news that was beyond comprehension . . . Mobius had taken control of Q’umulus and the Crystal Egg. Aerianna was his.

  My first reaction was outrage and I commanded Storm to take me back to Q’umulus. He wisely refused. He counseled that since I was now the ruler of Aerianna, my life was too valuable to risk on a foolish gesture.

  Much to her surprise, Egg had been listening with great interest to Dazzle’s story. A lot of the earlier stuff was a little boring. But the more she heard, the more fascinated she was becoming. And the reason was simple . . . somehow all of this was leading up to the reason why and how she, Egg, had become Flying Girl. She actually had goose bumps in anticipation.

  Her mind had wandered for a second and she missed what Dazzle had just said. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “I chose to accept Storm’s advice. So instead of attacking Mobius, we met with a handful of friends that had also escaped and devised our plan. I would ask the Myst Tree to transfer my essence into the flying suit. And together with the jewelry, all would be taken to Earth.

  But before I allowed myself to be transferred into the suit, I set out to rally the people. I promised them that one day I would return and save them from the evil that had befallen them.

  Then, Storm and I made one last attempt to steal back the Crystal Egg. But Mobius anticipated my action and sent K’aos – my beloved Z’kkk - to intercept us. That is when I knew the fight was truly over. Shortly thereafter Storm and I flew to Sighing Whorl and the rest, as you humans would say, is history.”

  There was such sadness in Dazzle’s voice that Egg almost cried. “Oh, Dazzle, I’m so sorry.”

  It took the Princess a moment to regain her voice. “Thank you for sharing my sorrow. I would finish my story quickly for it grows late. The jewelry was not only a test, it was also a way to give the One, whomever she turned out to be, the power to fight Mobius.

  The necklace would allow you to talk to the creatures of my world and for them to understand you.

  The ring gave you great strength and the ability to change shape . . . two weapons that you would need against the power of Mobius and his evil followers.

  The bracelet gave you the ability to heal . . . for in battle many would be hurt. And, it gave you the power to command any creature on Aerianna . . . something Mobius might not expect.

  “What about the Flying Suit?”

  The flying suit had a much more complicated role. First, the ability to fly was a test to see if the person who wore it had courage to do what is not natural. And it allowed that person to demonstrate the nature of their heart by doing good deeds.

  But it did more. The power of the suit also powers the jewelry. Without it, they would not work.

  “I kind of thought there were batteries in it and that’s why it runs out after seven years”

  “No. The suit NEVER runs out of power.”

  “But Grammy said that in seven years I wouldn’t be able to fly. And, I would have to put it away for fifty years and give it to my granddaughter.”

  That is not so. I give each person seven years to prove if they are the One I seek. If they fail, I deactivate the suit . . . turn it off . . . for fifty years and wait two generations to try again.

  Excitedly she asked, “So I can be Flying Girl for as long as I want?”

  Dazzle hesitated. “If that were to happen, it would mean that we have failed in our quest.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Let me finish telling you of the suit. It is not made of cloth, but of Serpents’ Crystal. Its magic . . . its science . . . does three things. It cannot be destroyed and that is what protects you should you crash while flying.

  It also protects you from any environment. When you traveled high into your sky to look down on your world, without the suit you would have died. At that height, there is insufficient air, and temperatures are freezing cold. You can also swim under the water or walk on any planet. The suit will protect you.

  “What about Sylvia? How can she go to Aerianna with me?”

  As long as she holds your hand, she, too, will be protected.

  “What was the third thing the suit does?”

  I will tell you in a moment . . . then you will understand all. Two of the friends I had gathered volunteered to take the suit and jewelry to earth, along with some of my DNA.

  The science is complicated so I will tell you simply that they injected my DNA into a thousand earthlings without their knowledge. It would take hundreds of years, but over time, the bloodlines would come together and create that one person who had all of my abilities. . . and more. That person was you.

  In your veins is my blood. Whether you are my daughter or my sister, I cannot say. But we are one.

  You discovered the magic of the jewelry and were able to evoke it . . . something no one else had done. You proved yourself to be that which I had hoped. It took longer than I anticipated. Instead of hundreds of years, it took a thousand.

  As for the suit, the essence of what I was lives within the crystal. Think of it as my life force . . . my intelligence, my personality – everything that made me, me. If we succeed in our quest, I will ask the Myst Tree to restore that essence back into my own body. I will once more be human . . . and the flying suit will cease to function.”

  Chapter 10 – To Infinity and Beyond

  Egg was speechless. Sometimes when you are nine years old, you just don’t know how to react.

  “Egg, you are silent. Speak to me from your heart.”

  She wasn’t sure if she should cry, laugh or just be surprised. After thinking about it for about a half a minute, she decided that all three were called for.

  “Egg, does this knowledge upset you?”

  “Oh, no . . . no, no. I’m sorry, but . . . but . . . umm . . . it’s just . . . ummm,” she wasn’t sure how to finish.

  “May I speak what is in your mind?”

  “Okay,” she responded in a very qu
iet voice.

  “I think that you are shocked that I, Princess Dazzle, live within your suit. And, you are thrilled that if you are successful on our quest, I will live again as a woman. But, most of all, you are sad . . . terribly sad . . . that when you succeed, your reward will be the end of Flying Girl. Is this not so?”

  Before she could answer, a picture of her Grammy formed in Egg’s mind. The wise old woman smiled at her granddaughter . . . then disappeared. She hadn’t said anything; but the message was very clear.

  “Dazzle, I’ve been Flying Girl for almost a year. That’s more time than most people will ever have. And I get to help you become a real princess again and to get back your planet. For that, I’m very . . . umm . . . grateful. But mostly, I’m so proud that somehow I’m part of you . . . and you’re a part of me.”

  It was probably the most grown-up thing Egg had ever said. Ignoring the pain of losing Flying Girl was oh so hard. But Dazzle had lost everything . . . her father, her mother, her sister, her boyfriend and her planet. It would be so selfish if she thought of her feelings and not of Dazzle’s.

  Dazzle smiled at the young girl. “I wish more than anything that I might hold you. You are a very special person to accept all of this and to think only of my well-being. I, too, am proud that we are one.”

  Egg took a deep breath to clear away the tears that she was fighting very hard to hold back. “Dazzle, tell me again how you got into the suit and where is your real body?”

  “The Myst Tree will grant to any creature a wish if that person is brave and true. I asked that my being, the essence of who I am . . . all that is me that is not my body . . . be transferred into the suit. When that was done, Storm put my body in a special . . . container. He then gave it to Mobius as part of our plan.”

  “Why didn’t you just wish for Mobius to disappear?”

  “The Tree will not grant a wish that in any way harms another.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “Now you must rest. You need to think upon all that I have said and prepare yourself for the quest.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “To defeat Mobius and restore all to what it once was will require courage, allies and a plan. You have shown that you have the courage. Now you must acquire your allies and you must formulate a plan.”