Home
Portal
Latest images
Register
Log in
Here 'tis, way ahead of time. I went for really a foreboding mood in this one. Next chapter is where the real action starts. Rigs should read and review chapter 2 before reading this.
- Spoiler:
- Gaia: Wake up! Come on, get up Angonce!
The Great Being’s eyes snapped open. He looked around him. Sitting hunched over a table piled high with parchments and stone tablets, Angonce must have fallen asleep at his work. Then he remembered what had awakened him. The voice in his head had been unmistakable. Gaia had reached out to him with her mind. Quickly, he put on his traveling cloak and moved toward the door.
Avi: Going somewhere, master?
Makuta and Avi had doubtless kept going about their work through the night. They never tired.
Angonce: Most likely, Avi. Don’t wait up for me.
Makuta: Not a chance.
Avi: What are your orders then, master?
Angonce: Nothing today, Avi. Power down and wait. There seems to be something urgent at hand.
Avi: With you there always is.
Gaia was waiting patiently outside his chamber. She beckoned him to follow.
Gaia: Walk with me.
As they hurriedly descended the staircase, she explained their purpose.
Gaia: Sorry for the rude wakeup call. You know you slept soundly through some important events.
Angonce: Oh really? I hadn't noticed. But please go on. I appreciate knowing whatever it is that I'm supposed to be doing.
Gaia: Yesterday, all of the Element Lords met in Atero.
Angonce: That is odd. But what is the significance? We don’t keep up with Spherus Magna’s governing any more.
Gaia: Well, by The Elder’s order we are now. As I said, they had a gathering in Atero. As you said, a rare occurrence. But it ended with all the Element Lords storming off in anger back to their own kingdoms.
Angonce: That’s hardly abnormal behavior for them.
Gaia: There have also been unwelcome… movements, since this development. Agori trade has slowed between the six provinces. And they’ve started fortifying the cities.
Angonce: I did sleep through a lot. How did this happen?
Gaia: Apparently, the meeting was about a new material found in the province of the Ice tribe. It is liquid, and has caused the death of several who tried to touch it… “changing” others.
This immediately triggered Angonce's active mind. The first thought he had was of his new, and still secret, mask of power project. What followed that was a jumble of questions.
Angonce: What? They found this in the White Quartz Mountains? What altitude? How large is the source? When... That can wait. How do we know all this?
Gaia: Kyry listened in on the meeting and came here immediately.
Angonce: He operated without our consent and of his own accord? Good being. I wonder how he can still remember the way here. I suppose I am to try and relieve some of the pressure in this situation. It’s been so long since we’ve had to use diplomacy. Who else is working on this?
Gaia: The Elder has assigned you to go to the Jungle and Water Lords, and Morkoth to the Ice Lord, while Kyry, in recognition of his brave exploit yesterday, will travel to meet the Lord of Fire. The Elder himself convenes with Element Lords of Rock and Sand even now.
A snort escaped Angonce.
Angonce: Morkoth an envoy to the Ice Lord. That’s very fitting. And what will you be doing in the meantime?
The female Skrall smiled.
Gaia: Haven’t you guessed? I’m coming with you.
***
An instant of teleportation later, the two were in the main city of the Water Tribe- Tajun. It was a beautiful site. The intertwining canyon streets carved out where water once flowed were covered in the glittering rock sediments, and beyond those walls rock formation towered above the city.
Gaia: I sense that the Element Lord of Water is here, the Jungle Lord too. That’s convenient. They’re in the Garden of Fountains.
The Garden of fountains was just what its name implied. Streams of water trickled, or poured, down from the rock walls enclosing a roughly circular small valley. At the bottom, pools formed below the gushing fountains, which fed the many species of flora in the chamber. They said that the only place more fertile was the forests of the Jungle tribe. Here the Water and Jungle Lords were conversing. The former looked up at her unexpected guests.
Water: I am sorry, but you will have to leave. We are a little busy trying to rule our kingdoms. What are a pair of Skrall doing in Tajun?
Angonce: I’m-
Gaia stopped Angonce.
Gaia: I think I can handle this better.
Turning to the two temporarily bewildered Element Lords, Gaia focused her gaze on one, then the other, staring- hard. After a moment the recipients of her mental implant shook their heads.
Jungle: I… see. This is a… welcome surprise.
Gaia: Good. Now that you know our business, we must know yours, as the intentions of two of the six rulers of this world could, obviously, escalate the present situation.
Now Angonce smiled. Gaia had never been on a diplomatic mission, yet she sounded more confident than he himself felt, and she was taking the lead. And she was right. No point wasting time while peace may very well hang in the balance. Their host looked at leaf-covered counterpart.
Water: We thank the Great Beings for taking time to be concerned about our affairs. But I think we have it under control.
Angonce: How so?
Jungle: We have just reached a mutual agreement. Neither of our lands will trade with or accept goods from the Ice tribe. We will hold this in place until the Ice Lord sees reason and shares his substance with us- all of us.
Angonce: That “substance” kills or alters everything it touches! What good could it possibly accomplish if everyone has it?
Water: How much less good could it do if it was under the control of just one?
Angonce: Understand that we do see your point, but we are here to ask for your assurance that no hostile action will be taken on either of your parts.
Jungle: As long as the rights of our kingdoms are respected, we would not dream of it. Otherwise, we will have no choice.
Gaia: The Great Beings had a choice when they made you rulers. Look where that choice is leading now.
Water: But you are not a Great Being, and you have never had to rule a people. And what business do the Great Beings have in our affairs now? We govern these lands now, not by conquest, but because you saw fit to appoint us. If my people are threatened, I must, and will, strike back.
Angonce: Wait friends! No one has threatened anyone yet. My brothers are at this moment asking the same of the other Lords as we are of you now. All this ill will is over a mere pool of hot liquid.
The Element Lord of Water’s eyes lit up for a moment.
Water: Not just a liquid- pure power and energy. Such a resource should be shared amongst us all. And one pool of it, if it is as remarkable as my cold brother said it was, could still provide more than enough for that frostbitten excuse for a being to use.
Angonce: But can we expect cooperation from you and those you command? Will you consider resuming trade with the Ice Tribe?
Jungle: You have heard our answer. We will do what is best for our people.
Gaia: Don’t you see, d*a*m*n it!? What do you think we’re trying to-
Angonce: Gaia, we leave.
Angonce turned and strode out of the Garden of Fountains.
***
For the second time that week, Kyry was miserable. The Element Lords were known to be stubborn, but this bordered on stupidity. Technically, he should have had an advantage with the Fire Lord, being of the same tribe. Kyry thought wryly that this may have influenced his masters to assign this task to him. But so far, no such advantage had been forthcoming in showing itself.
Fire: …As I said little Agori, I see no reason why I should back down to just one of my brothers, when doubtless all the others are in agreement with me.
Kyry(struggles for right words at first): My Lord, you are one point on a six-sided stone. If one point were to become heavier than the others, the stone could roll in an undesirable direction.
Fire: *laughs* Truly spoken, envoy! But I should think that it is my icy brother that would be the side that does the tipping.
Kyry: But my Lord, if you just gave him some time, I am sure that he would reconsider his decision.
Fire: You obviously don’t understand my brother. He will not reconsider anything he does… unless he is forced to see his fault.
This was getting harder all the time.
Kyry: Lord, I am here to make sure no one forces anyone to do anything. I’m sure that if you just give it time-
Fire: Time? Time is precisely what I am wasting now! I know what my brother will be doing with his time. Finding ways to use his newfound power, no doubt. And if the Great Beings were really serious about dealing with me, they should have sent one of their own. Ah, I’ve had enough of this. Go!
The swiftness with which Kyry was ushered out of the palace surprise him. He stood shocked outside the large entrance.
Kyry: Uh oh.
Raanu: I am afraid “uh oh” is appropriate.
The voice made Kyry jump. He swiveled to see a Fire Agori like himself, standing by the gate. He recognized him as the Fire Lord’s servant, Raanu.
Raanu: He’s not happy at being burned by the Ice Lord, especially since he’s the one who usually does the burning.
Kyry: I can see that.
Raanu: Anyway, I waited here to tell you that I- we- appreciate what the Great Beings are trying to do, the villagers I mean.
Kyry: Thanks, but that doesn’t provide much comfort when you have six power hungry titans staring each other down. Why don’t you come with me? Why don’t you come with me and aide the Great Beings? The world would be better off for it.
Raanu: I must obey my master, as you do yours. It is not a matter of choice, but of honor. That being said, we can both still do what is best for the world.
Kyry understood what Raanu was saying. He walked slowly away, then turned.
Kyry: Thanks you, friend.
Raanu: And I will remember your offer… friend.
***
Angonce knew everything was unraveling when he found The Elder sitting on the domed roof of the Great Tower. Kneeling, and with eyes closed, the greatest of Angonce’s species remained perfectly silent. He did not move.
Gaia: What’s he doing?
Angonce: He’s opening himself. Letting his being touch others’. That way he can get the general feeling of this planet. You might call it an amplified version of what you can do naturally. He used this often when we used to govern these lands. I have tried to do it, but every being is separate, and trying to feel them all can be-is overwhelming. But he can do it easily. Hmph. We were given the power of Gods but not the desire to use them. All we ever wanted was science, and now we must be the all-knowing leaders again.
Gaia: But why is he doing this now?
The kneeling form opened it eyes and answered Gaia’s question.
The Elder: Because in this time of crisis, it is better to know the will of all, than that of just six warlords.
The two bowed their heads in acknowledgement of The Elder’s wisdom.
The Elder: May I ask how your mission went?
Angonce: I am sorry. We failed to convince either Element Lord to remain passive. They have stopped trade with the Ice tribe.
The ancient-looking Great Being looked very tired when he heard this. Strange, Angonce thought, that he should choose to look old. For it was a choice. Their species did not age.
The Elder: That news is unfortunate, but not unexpected. The story is much the same with the two whom I visited- Sand and Rock.
Gaia: There is still the chance that none of them will do anything and then they’ll all realize how… stupid this is.
The Elder: You were ever the optimist, Gaia. Perhaps. Though I could not use that reasoning to convince the others that action was the worst course of action. Each mistrusts the other, and fears that an advantage for one will mean a betrayal for the other. Even Kyry, with his kinship to the Fire Lord, could not do much more than making him more angry.
Angonce: And Morkoth?
The Elder chose not to answer that question. Angonce could guess the answer to it. The Ice Lord had held his position on withholding the precious metal from trade. It was strange that Morkoth, so skilled in manipulation as he was, could not sway him. After a moment, The Elder resumed speaking his thoughts.
The Elder: In my meditations I found that the people of this world do not want a conflict, but they will follow their leaders to any end even so. If a war does come, it will not be one of justice. There will be no right side. The silver liquid is the prize each one seeks, and it is hard to turn a fool from his folly.
A chuckle with no humor in it came from the wise one.
The Elder: And maybe we did give this world to fools.
Then Angonce knew that he feared for the future of his world, but now he didn’t know precisely what it was that sent the shiver up his spine. He just feared.
Last edited by GoldenTahu on 9th March 2012, 1:00 pm; edited 11 times in total
