by Lizzy Ford
“Reading. You’re a gypsy?”
I roll my eyes. This is never going to work. Neither of us will ever figure out how we’re connected. I’m more interested in surviving.
I walk away, as fed up with him as he seems to be with me most of the times.
“Last night, I dreamt of a forest,” he calls after me.
I turn.
His eyes are on me. “It was snowing. I don’t know what snow is, but I did at one point.”
The tranquil scene outside my window on the Centennial Eagle is in my thoughts. I recognized the place easily – but it has to be a coincidence he dreamed about something similar.
“We didn’t meet there,” I reply.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Lightning shows the frustration on his features. I feel it, too. If he’s the villain, then what am I supposed to be doing? Am I supposed to push him off the first cliff we see to save the world? Honestly, I don’t think I’d have a problem with that. He’s kind of a jerk.
We’ve gone from space to a desert to a crystal forest. I can’t predict what the younger version of myself has planned or understand why the character walking beside me doesn’t fit in. Then again, I know I wasn’t in the original story. There’s a chance me being present now is changing the narrative in all sorts of ways.
We’re soon drenched and shivering. I walk with my arms crossed and glance frequently at the sky. It’s impossible to tell if or when this storm will end or to gauge the movement of the moons.
I’m getting a handle on my journey. I have to travel through danger and avoid monsters to find a ring guarded by a demon before the three moons align. The man beside me is interested in galaxy domination, the Bobbits in stopping him, and the Skyscraper siblings in hiding the unicorn that’s supposed to help him locate said ring.
I must be the heroine destined to help the effort to prevent Dark Invader, also known as Evil-Jared, from achieving his goal. Everything is connected – even Evil-Jared and me. Maybe that’s another mystery we’re meant to solve.
“Did you hear that?” he stays, stopping abruptly.
I listen. The tinkling of rain on crystals is soothing.
A high-pitched shriek comes from the distance.
“I think they found us.”
“Who?”
“Creatures like the one we just evaded.” He begins jogging.
Several shrieks sound at once, this time louder. I hurry after him. There must be half a dozen of them!
“You found the fridge. Do you see any place to hide?” I ask anxiously.
“Ask your –” The ground beneath Evil-Jared collapses, and he drops into the dark depths of a hole beside a sign that clearly warns, Danger – hole!
“Stupid sign.” I don’t want him to conquer the galaxy, but I also don’t want to face the Skeksis alone. “Are you okay?” I shout and drop on my knees beside the hole. I wait impatiently for another flash of lightning.
He’s fallen about ten feet and is at the bottom of the hole, unconscious.
“Hey!” I yell.
The shrieks are getting closer. I have no rope or vines or anything to lower down to him and even if I did, he’s out. There’s no way he’s hauling himself out of that hole before the creatures reach us.
I wipe my face. I have a feeling there won’t be any miraculous rescues in this version of the story.
“Think, think, think,” I mutter and sit back.
A shriek sounds from above me. A flash of lightning. One of the creatures is framed against the dark sky. It’s circling above my location.
I can ditch Evil-Jared and run.
The same instinct that warned me that Evil-Jared was about to take off my head tells me not to leave.
“Wake up!” I shout into the hole.
He doesn’t.
Maybe I can climb down there and –
Talons snake around my torso and wrench me off the ground.
I scream. The Skeksis gives another shriek and soars above the crystal forest. Our ascent is fast and nauseating. I cling to its talons, terrified of being dropped. The crystals all have sharp points. Dream, story or otherwise, I already know I feel pain here and am not about to get myself killed.
My initial panic wanes as we travel. If it wanted me dead, it would have dropped me on a sharp crystal point. I’m needed alive for now, which means things will probably get much worse once we land.
With a death grip on the creature’s talons, I sneak a look at the landscape beneath us. We’re bypassing the crystal forest and heading towards a mountain with a single peak. Behind me, another vulture is clutching Evil-Jared. I shouldn’t be relieved to know he’s alive, but I am.
The Skeksis take us closer to the mountain. My hope they plan on flying us all the way there fades when we descend towards a large bonfire inside the crystal forest, around which another dozen vultures are gathered. They’re ten feet tall and hideous.
I’m dropped six feet from the ground near the fire and grunt when I hit. I’m not sure how I’m going to survive this adventure. Every time something happens, I end up banged up and bruised.
Before I can crawl to my knees, furry hands grab me from every direction. With shadows and fire beside me, and the night and rain obscuring most of everything else, I struggle to make out what’s happening, and who has me, when I’m flung on my back. I’m tied to a large stick, and dread fills me. The furry bodies and hands step away.
Ewoks. They’re all frowning and angry. I loved these critters when I was little. Why did I turn them evil for this story?
Evil-Jared groans from nearby. He’s about to get a really rude awakening.
Two Skeksis heft me up and take me towards the bonfire. I wriggle, freaking out, but am unable to budge the rope around my wrists and ankles. They place me on a spit six feet off the ground beside the bonfire, and I quickly look away.
Something – or someone – is already roasting in the fire.
“Breathe,” I tell myself. There has to be a way out of this.
Evil-Jared hangs from a spit perpendicular to me. He’s dazed and meets my gaze briefly.
“Which should we eat first?” one of the Skeksis cackles.
Two others shout out their suggestions, which both happen to be me.
The original speaker pokes me with a stick. “Fat on this one.”
“Hey!” I exclaim. “I’m not fat.”
He pokes Evil-Jared. “Mostly muscle,” he says in approval.
“Fat tenderizes meat,” Evil-Jared responds quickly.
“Seriously?” I glare at him.
The crowd of Skeksis laughs.
“He wants the Ring of Magic so he can take over the galaxy,” I tell them. “He’s the dangerous one.”
They fall silent.
“The Ring?” their main speaker echoes.
“Yeah. The Ring,” I reply. “It’s why we’re here.”
They huddle to converse.
“Everyone wants the Ring,” I say as much to myself as Evil-Jared, who is watching the creatures. “Any ideas how to get out of this?”
“I have a plan,” he replies.
I’m not sure I trust him. My eyes linger on the Skeksis, and I pick up parts of their conversation.
“We seek the Ring,” one says.
“We can’t enter the labyrinth, but –”
“– they can.”
“It doesn’t take two to fetch it.”
They fall silent and look at us. My heart is pounding, and I eyeball the fire with no small amount of alarm. Evil-Jared thinks we’re in this together, and so do I. But what if our joint path ends here?
“Eat her,” Evil-Jared says in the heavy pause. “I command legions of warriors and ships. I’m strong enough to withstand the labyrinth. I’m a space knight.”
“With no laser sword or army,” I say hotly. “Eat him. I’m the last of the Power Users.”
“You’re a poser,” Evil-Jared retorts. “You have no idea what you’re doi
ng!”
“Silence!” the vulture leader shouts.
I turn my attention to him, concerned about being left behind and eaten.
The Skeksis leader moves towards us and studies each of us.
“A space knight and Power User,” he says slowly. “You are useless alone. The labyrinth will destroy you. But together …”
I’d rather work with Evil-Jared than become the vultures’ fourth course at dinner. I hold my breath.
“We will take you to the entrance,” he says. “You will return to us with the Ring, if the labyrinth doesn’t kill you.”
I’ll take my chances.
Two Skeksis cut me down while another two free Evil-Jared. Before either of us can ask questions, we’re clutched in talons and hurtling towards the sky once more. We don’t go far.
The creature begins its descent where the crystal forest ends and quite a distance from the castle. It drops me the last six feet or so to the ground. The rain continues, though the light of two of the three moons penetrates a few clouds. Hopefully, the storm ends soon.
The creepy Skeksis land around us.
Their leader speaks. “There is but one entrance and exit to the labyrinth, and only death if you remain in the mountain,” he states. “We will be waiting here. Bring us the Ring, and we will let you live.”
By Evil-Jared’s expression, he’s has as much faith in being spared as I do. He looks ready to throw up.
The Skeksis monsters part to create a path, and we walk through them to the labyrinth, whose craggy stone walls rise twenty feet into the air. The entrance is conveniently marked by a neon sign with the word Entrance. We walk into it – and the rain stops. The clouds remain.
A second sign in front of us conveniently shares the rules.
You must collect ten crystals to reach the next level, twenty to reach the castle, fifty to face the demon. Double points for pacballs. If you die or get wounded, you lose a crystal.
“Eat her?” I ask, facing Evil-Jared, who is studying the rules. “That was your plan?”
“We can’t both have the Ring.” He shrugs. “Which way?”
“Why do they want with the Ring anyway?”
“I don’t care,” he responds.
I lift my hand and face one way then the other. One route appears narrower, dimmer, with roots and bushes sticking out at odd angles along the way and crumbling walls. The opposite direction is open and bright without foot impediments.
“Red and green,” I say.
“Red.”
Of course, he’s chosen the scary path. “I’m not doing that again. You fell in a hole and we ended up kidnapped last time you chose red,” I retort.
“We were captured because you didn’t use your ring!”
“I have no idea what this thing does!” I exclaim and hold up my hand.
“Then give it to me!”
“Take it!” I pull the ring off and hand it to him. “I’m not going with you. I don’t trust you after your last plan. Good luck collecting your crystals.”
Spinning on my heel, I start walking down the wider, brighter, happier direction. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’ve made it this far. Maybe there are signs or … something. Anything. I need to find that ring before everyone else. I’m not even sure why, except that – if the entire galaxy is looking for it – it must be important. I have as good a chance as anyone, seeing as how no one else has any idea what they’re doing either. When I complete this journey, I’ll wake up. I have to. Nothing else makes sense.
“You won’t make it far without me!” Evil-Jared shouts after me.
I face him, walking backwards. “Then come with me, if you’re so concerned!”
“I want to reach the Ring before you do.”
“Then stop talking and start walking.”
He glares at me once more. His jaw ticks. He’s hesitating. He feels what’s between us and is as clueless about how to handle it as I am.
I face the direction I’ve chosen.
“Later, hoser!” he shouts.
I don’t need to look to know he’s not coming with me. I’m kind of glad. Being around him confuses me.
I round the first corner of the maze and gasp.
A pacball floats in the middle of the path. I run up to it and stop in front of it. Uncertain how to claim it, I end up waving my hand through it.
Two crystal symbols pop up on the Swatch watch I’m suddenly wearing.
“This is going to be so easy!” I exclaim. I’m hungry, but all I have to do is pay attention as I walk in case another fridge appears like it did in the forest. I wring out my clothing the best I can as I start forward and then notice my socks are wet.
I glance down. I’m not wearing jelly shoes anymore but tennis shoes with Velcro straps. They’re more practical for sure but can’t I get a raincoat? Umbrella? Map with directions?
“Stupid author,” I grumble and continue onward in my squishy shoes. I walk for some time. There are no corners or entrances leading elsewhere or more pacballs and crystals. It’s … straight. I’ve never heard of a labyrinth without twists and turns and slow down to observe my surroundings and make sure I’m not missing anything. The path behind me appears the same as the one before me.
How do I find my way to the center of a maze with no turns?
Everything about this situation was wrong. Dark Invader felt it as strongly as he did the compulsion to accompany Elf. He wanted to believe his relief at the Skeksis sparing her had nothing to do with the unusual sense of protectiveness he’d been fighting since shortly before his cruiser crashed into the desert. He shouldn’t want to protect a Power User, an enemy to the order and obedience of those who ruled the galaxy.
It was hard for him to convince himself of anything as he watched her walk alone into a labyrinth, except they were in danger whether or not they were together. This place was mentioned many times in the legends of this planet, and none of the references were good. Thousands of people had sought the Ring only to disappear into the maze and never return.
He clenched his fists.
His mind hadn’t felt like his since he met Elf. All had been clear before their first encounter.
No space knight would consider turning back or saving his enemy, especially when the Ring of Magic was at stake. Then why was he planted in place and considering the idea he should turn back?
He observed the gray stone walls on either side of him warily, fed up with the thoughts he couldn’t make sense of. Life was simple before she appeared.
Was it possible she was using her power against him without him sensing it? Confusing him on purpose?
He turned his back on the direction she’d gone and hesitated once more.
The idea he was in any way weak or susceptible to another’s power infuriated him. He’d had those parts of him crushed during all his years of training. He had outlasted twenty other competitors to become an apprentice to the most powerful man in the galaxy.
Facing her direction once more, he spotted the first crystal. It lay directly in the path she’d taken, near the first corner where she’d turned.
“No,” he said beneath his breath.
He stalked down his path, senses alert, and followed the walkway around two corners. He started past an intersection.
A flash of white distracted him.
He started toward the direction where the white had appeared.
The flash came again, this time disappearing down another intersection.
A floating orb appeared in front of him. He stopped in front of it, unafraid, and waved his hand around it.
Two crystals appeared on the face of his Thundercats watch. He considered them, recalling the rules written at the beginning of the labyrinth. While he’d never heard of a pacball, he could assume he’d just encountered one by the crystals it gave him.
He hadn’t had to follow her to earn his own crystals.
Pleased, he continued down the direction in which he’d seen the flashes of white. He pas
sed through three more intersections before turning a corner and nearly running into what he thought was an apparition.
“You!” he exclaimed. He reached for his laser sword only to recall it had been lost on the ship when they crashed. “I should’ve finished you off the last time we met!”
Princess Layla, dressed in white with her hair in braids, glared up at him. “You’re too late.”
“That’s impossible.”
“You failed.”
A flicker of ugly emotion stirred within him. Not quite anger, not quite fear. He didn’t have time to identify it.
“What will your master say when he finds out?” she shouted
The space knight had failed his master once with disastrous results. He’d spent a year in prison being tortured. “I will not fail again,” he said through clenched teeth. “Where is my unicorn?” He reached for her, not about to let her escape this time as she had the last.
“Some place you’ll never reach her! You’ll die here!” Princess Layla danced away from him. “There he is now. Tell him how you failed.” She was looking past him.
This time, he identified his emotion as fear. Dark Invader whirled.
His master, a hunched, hooded figure, walked slowly towards him. Alarmed, the space knight knelt quickly in respect.
“Failure?” his master asked, disapproval in his tone.
“By the power of greyskull, I will find that -”
“Not even greyskull can help you now. Did you not learn your lesson the first time?”
Dark Invader’s surroundings grew suddenly dark. His breath caught in his throat as the familiar world took shape around him. He was back in the prison where he’d learned the last lesson his master taught him. Four of his master’s top torturers awaited him, prepared to strip him down and tie him in place for another year of pain. The aliens were twelve feet tall, burly, and armed with weapons of torment he recalled all too clearly: lightning rods, jagged daggers, shock tools.
“I’m not going back!” he exclaimed and stood. “If any of you come near me, I’ll take off your heads!” He reached once more for the sword that wasn’t there.
“You have failed me for the last time,” his master said from his position at the entrance to the dungeon. “You are worthless. I’ve wasted my time with you.”