The Soul of Maraqua: Part Two

      "Where will we take them?" Atom fretted. "We can't take them to the hospital-it sounded like someone was looking for them. And this little one will not let go of that box."

      Cyn shook his head practically. "They must come from a very long time ago," he suggested, "preserved by stone. The little one and this one here will have an interesting explanation for us. And besides, what is the Heart of Maraqua? The Soul? The Body? The Depths? We do not know what these are, and you are the smartest in all of Maraqua, Atom."

      Atom blushed but no one saw in the gloomy darkness. "We must take them to my house. I have a very large first aid kit. And you know how many bedrooms I have."

      Cyn nodded. "All right. Let's get them there."

      It was awkward traveling through the busy city of Maraqua. Many of the citizens whispered about the Eyrie and the Uni carrying two unconscious Peophins on their backs. It was a great relief when they reached the shelter of Atomasphere's magnificent underwater home.

      "Put the little one here, and put Fardeep here," Atom instructed, gesturing towards her largest Guest Room. Two beds on opposite sides were there, blankets at the ready for guests.

      "Stop calling her that," said Cyn crossly. "Her name is Naracissus and Aresto said that she was very important. Or that box is. Whatever."

      Atom lay down the delicate Peophin under the covers and sighed. She had still not released the box. Atom wondered what would happen if she tried to remove the box from Narcissus's hooves, but decided against it. She tucked the covers up to the White Peophin's chin and tucked it in.

      "Sleep well, rest up, and when you awake, have a good explanation for us," she murmured softly.

          xxx

      When Fardeep awoke, he was surprised that he felt good. Not good, in fact-great. Better than he had felt in a long time. Then, he blinked. He was in a beautiful room, in a comfortable bed. But where was he?

      "Mirilin!" he bellowed, after looking around the room and seeing no one. He ruefully realized that his call had awakened Naracissus.

      The small Peophin rolled over and yawned. "Fardeep?" she asked nervously.

      The brown Peophin swam strongly over to her and looked at her gently, his expression gentle yet sorrowful, his muscles bunching and rippling powerfully. "Don't worry, Naracissus," he whispered softly.

      The little Peophin's eyes filled with tears. "Where's Mommy?" she asked.

      Fardeep's breath caught. "You don't know where she is?" he breathed softly.

      "No," said the Peophin tremulously, "Mommy told me to keep the box. So I did. But where's Mommy?" Naracissus started to cry.

      The crying roused Atom and Cyn, and they hurried into the room, gasping. "You awoke," she gasped.

      Fardeep frowned, narrowing his solemn eyes. "Were you our rescuers? Do you know where Narcissus's mother is?"

      Atom and Cyn exchanged wide-eyed glances. "Aresto?" she asked. "Or Mirilin?"

      "Mirilin," answered the Peophin, holding his breath.

      "Aresto, the multicolored rainbow one, told us that the Fate of Maraqua depended on HER, the representative of the Soul of Maraqua," Atom said, jabbing her head crossly at the little Peophin, cowering behind Fardeep. "We had no idea that Mirilin was Narcissus's mother. If we had known, we had have brought-"

      "She's not here?" the white Peophin asked, her voice trembling.

      "Ahhh," stammered Cyn, "she is. But she isn't. I mean, she's here, but you can't see her right-"

      Atom jabbed her friend with her tail and fibbed cheerfully, "Little One, Naracissus, you're mother is at the grocery store, buying ingredients for your favorite soup. She'll be right here soon, but we need to ask you what happened. How you got in that stone state. And what that box means for Maraqua."

      Fardeep shook his head. "That is for me to explain. Not Naracissus."

      Atom and Cyn shrugged. They did not care who told the story, only that it was told.

      Fardeep sighed and took a deep breath before saying, "Very well. If you two want to hear, you shall be told."

flashback

      Fardeep of the Depths paced the room nervously. He could not believe it-no, he would not believe it.

      King Kelpbeard was dead. King Kelpbeard, so merry and jolly, would never be laughing at the great banquet again. Now, Aegean, his graceful Peophin friend, would rule over Maraqua. Aegean, so quiet and studious, such a rule abider, was about to be crowned Queen. Aegean, her fiery red Peophin coat burning like a sunset, her mane rippling like a bright ray from the sun up above. The three parts of Maraqua, the Depths, the Heart, and the Body... Aegean, his best friend... of course, she wasn't his best friend anymore.

      Aegean and Fardeep had grown up and grown apart. Fardeep, so whippet quick, so strong, always planning mortally dangerous adventurous such as crashing through whirlpools and awakening the giant Slugawoo, whereas Aegean was quiet and gentle, like a fragile seashell and a sister, always ready to chastise her daredevil friend.

      Of course, it was this that was their undoing. Fardeep had managed to convince Aegean to come with him to the very tops of Maraqua, where the ocean met the land up above, the land that Fardeep had so longingly wanted to visit.

      There, he brought a very reluctant Queen to the dangerous shores of Meridell, and Aegean's new Prime Minister and Advisor had been waiting for them and had shielded Aegean from the "dangerous" Fardeep, accused Fardeep of treachery, and chased him out of the Depths of Maraqua. There, he fled to the Heart of Maraqua, where he stumbled wearily upon a silver Peophin who introduced herself as Mirilin-who brought him home to her father and let him stay with them for a while.

      There, Fardeep stayed, until he was fully-grown and impressively strong and skilled. Then, Naracissus had been born to Mirilin, and only a few years after that had Aegean called on Fardeep. He may have been banished from the Depths of Maraqua, but Depth blood coursed strongly through his veins-nothing could deny him his birthright. Mirilin had also been called upon, for she was one of the few Heart of Maraqua residents whose blood ran only with Heart blood, not mixed with any other. It was dangerous times and Mirilin had insisted on taking Naracissus with her, and Fardeep had not protested much.

      There, Fardeep was reunited by Aegean, but she was so worn and tired, so weary-and Aresto, representative of the Body of Maraqua. Aegean explained that Maraqua was falling apart. For all these years, it had just existed. It had no soul. But more than a thousand years ago, a certain Faerie named Fyora presented the ancient forefathers of Maraqua with a box and prophesied: "When all seems lost and friend is fighting friend, assemble a group of five from every three and divine a soul."

      Aegean took this to mean that a group of five nobles from every three parts of Maraqua must be gathered to determine the soul.

      Fardeep was placed with a group of four other nobles from the Depths of Maraqua whose veins ran thick with Depth Blood, but the box shone for him only. The same happened with Mirilin, and Aresto was already chosen to represent the Body of Maraqua.

      The others were dismissed and Aegean gathered Aresto, Fardeep, and Mirilin for a meeting. The little Peophin Naracissus made her way to the wooden box, but the others paid no notice until the box erupted in a bright light, flashing here and there, illuminating the tiny white Peophin.

      Aegean declared that the little Naracissus was to represent the Soul of Maraqua, and no one could argue with her because they knew she was speaking the truth. A great responsibility had been bestowed upon this little Peophin...

back to the present

      "Do you understand now?" asked Fardeep quietly.

      Atom frowned and shook her head. "That explains only a mere fragment... what is the Soul of Maraqua? And all the other parts that were named? And how did you end up in your stone state? What were you doing?"

      Fardeep shook his head as well. "That I cannot tell you," he said.

      Cyn objected. "But it's too confusing-"

      "Let me explain about our thousand year slumber, then," said Fardeep quietly. "We were in the room, battling, arrows flying in the air. I knew we were hopelessly outnumbered. Already, Aresto had fallen trying to save Mirilin, and Naracissus could not fight out of fear. So I cast a spell over us all to keep us in eternal and safe slumber until it was safe for us to return."

      "So you turning back to life from stone had nothing to do with Atomasphere touching that box?" Cyn asked curiously.

      Fardeep shook his head. "Nothing whatsoever. But it is imperative that we find Aresto and Mirilin again. The Heart, the Soul, the Body, the Depths; together, they can bring an enchantment that can save Maraqua."

      Cyn rolled his eyes and shook the Peophin by his shoulders. "Maraqua doesn't need saving anymore! This is the 21st century! The need to save Maraqua has passed by a thousand years!"

      Naracissus looked shock. "A thousand years?" she asked tremulously. "But... Aegean must be... "

      Cyn quickly interrupted. "Anyways... Maraqua doesn't need saving anymore."

      Fardeep frowned, his serious eyes even a deeper color. "That's not it. All we know is that we must meet Aegean at the Marapool and break open the casket."

      This time, even Atom was exasperated. "Fardeep, WAKE UP. Maraqua doesn't need saving anymore. Aegean must have died a long time ago!"

      Fardeep shook his head. "We have said too much already. We do not need you anymore, but we thank you for your assistance. We shall find Mirilin and Aresto ourselves, and we shall break the casket like it said in the ancient readings. Aegean is not dead; merely preserved in the stone."

      Cyn frowned. "No way. You need our help. You're still injured after getting shot by an arrow, and Naracissus cannot possibly make the long journey without help, and you can't give it to her. Besides, Mirilin and Aresto might have obtained injuries. We need to come."

      It looked as if Fardeep's common sense and pride were battling against each other, but he finally admitted, "We are in your debt."

     After a minute or so of silence, Fardeep said, "Naracissus, you need to stay here with Cyn."

     "WHAT?" exploded Cyn angrily.

     "WHY?" wailed Naracissus.

     Cyn and Atom exchanged amused glances. "Because," he said in his deep and serious voice, "Naracissus is too young to see what might be waiting for us at the cove."

     Cyn's expression turned grave and understanding, and he nodded. If something had happened to Aresto or Mirilin, or if they were not there...

     "Naracissus, come with me," the Eyrie said with forced cheerfulness. "Let me show you something from the land up above that I found while searching the sunken ships." The Peophin perked up considerably and trailed after the Eyrie like a puppy chasing after its owner.

     "Shall we go?" asked Atomasphere uncomfortably.

     The Peophin nodded. "Of course."

To be continued...