The Star Prophecy: Part Three

     "GET AWAY!" I shouted, and somehow a purple orb exploded around me, knocking the crates of fruit to the floor and ripping the tent to shreds. Panting, I dashed into the street.

     All three pirates were in hot pursuit. I weaved my way through the crowd, dodging and shoving shoppers away. All the while, the pirates were gaining ground, as frightened shoppers cleared a path for the sword-wielding maniacs. Once we strayed from the crowd, I shook my wand and a set of fist-sized orbs flew their way. They dodged them easily. They were so close now I could count the scars on their face.

     My legs burned, now ready to give in. The gleam of a sword's tip passed by me, and I winced as fabric from my new clothes took to the air. At that moment, I spun around and from my wand burst a whirlwind of purple and black. Two of the pirates were thrown several feet away. Their weapons clanged to the ground. I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short lived—the Bori slid right behind me. Red flames were rising from the blade of his sword, until every inch of metal was consumed in it. My wand, too, was covered in black flames. But I felt no heat from them as they rose inches, then feet, encasing my whole body, its electric power racing through my veins. He paused for a moment, and his eyes darted between me and my wand. His trembling lip revealed the truth: he was afraid.

     Still, I wanted nothing more than to flee. Suddenly, the world around me was lost in a blur of darkness. Silence fell around me, save for my pounding heart, and I no longer felt my feet on the ground. I blinked, and then I found myself taking a mouthful of dry grass. Lifting my head, I saw that the sun was still out, and the sky was still blue, but now I was right in front of a hut. This one looked much larger than Kisa's, but was more run-down.

     Before I could get to my feet, a royal boy Mynci in dark red robes burst out of the door and hovered over me. He was drenched in dark red by his robes, ornamented in gold stitching and purple lining. Someone had expensive taste.

     "So that's what that noise was—you," he spat.

     "W-where am I?" I grasped my head to stop it from spinning.

     "You've must have teleported here, like all of the others," he replied, shaking his head.

     I looked up at his small beard. He looked to be at least twice my age. Then I noticed it: he was pointing a staff at me. A pink orb was pointed downward, glowing menacingly.

     I raised my arms in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll get off your lawn."

     "That would be wise. You've crushed my blossoms."

     I looked below my knees and saw yellow petals among bent stalks of grass. "Oh, my bad. Where am I, again?"

     "At my residence." His tone lightened, but his staff was still in my face. I could feel its heat on my nose.

     "But why?"

     "You desire power. It merely answered." He pointed his staff at my wand beside me. It was a mere branch again. "Magic is influenced by your thoughts."

     "Who are you supposed to be?"

     With one twirl of his wand, the teardrop-like blossoms repaired themselves, and a field of yellow daisies now tickled my fur. "Why, you've must've hit your head in the fall. Magician Master Iko, in the flesh. Who else would I be?"

     "A pirate," I said painfully, sitting up.

     He scoffed. "A pirate, you say? Hogwash. Don't worry about them here. The barrier always keeps this valley at bay. None would dare set foot on my lawn."

     "If you can avoid trampling my garden," he said while looking down at me again, "come on inside and I'll treat that wound of yours."

     It's hardly a garden, I thought. Most plants were dry and withered, indistinguishable against the brown weeds prickling my knees. Yet he cared about his daises. What a weirdo.

     Inside, my senses were overwhelmed by the sheer number of objects stuffed everywhere. Loose pages and books were stacked on every flat surface. Open cabinets revealed bottles stuffed to the brim, with a rainbow of solutions inside of them. It was the exact opposite of the library: a vibrant mess.

     I took refuge in his raggedy sofa. With two fingers, he carefully poured a flask of green liquid over me. I expected it to splash all over my new shirt but he was precise. It was icy cold for a brief moment before it started glowing. The sweet smell was calming my muscles. Already I could feel my strength returning to me.

     "Wow! What's in this stuff?"

     "Essence of Mortog Tongues, dried Snorkle ears, and a pinch of watermelon, for the scent."

     Forget I asked. I tried to brush away the goop on my fur, but it was already absorbed.

     "Name's Rorren, by the way. Rorren Willicks. So tell me, as a magician in training, can I learn how to do that?"

     "I'm afraid not all of the magic's in the bottle. Healing is quite a complicated art. Very few can do it, and even less can do it well. It requires a clear mind and years of diligence, just as with controlling any magical object."

     "You mean there are other magical things besides potions and wands?" I asked eagerly.

     His brown eyes widened and a laugh escaped from under his breath. How embarrassing, I thought.

     "Oh, there's plenty. Take a look around. See with your own eyes. Just don't touch anything."

     With a snap of his fingers, the room came alive, like an opening number to a musical, except without the music. Enchanted books flipped pages on their own, back and forth, while glass beakers jingled in the cupboards. Silverware leapt out of half-opened drawers. A grandiose display of Mynci statues on a shelf sparkled and swayed. Tiny fireworks exploded near the ceiling, where mobiles of celestial bodies danced. It was nothing short of an amazing sight. Yet, my attention moved to a nightstand that remained still, a jarring display amidst this sea of animation.

     It was completely crammed with pictures, paintings and sketches of various Neopians overdressed as if important. I held up a frame with a smiling blue Mynci standing beside Master Iko, in the same robes but in blue. He was at least a head shorter, further highlighting how abnormally tall this wizard was for a Mynci.

     "This your apprentice?" I said, hopeful.

     "No, that's my son. Sadly, the gift of magic eluded him, but in spite of it, what a fine fellow he's become."

     I found another picture with the same Mynci, next to a beautiful purple Mynci, caressing something cocoon-like in her arms.

     "A family, huh? Seems like a boring way of life. I wonder how they put up with this mess of a place..."

     "They don't visit," he said with a tinge of bitterness in his voice.

     I backed away from the frames and returned to a state of awe. "It looks like you can enchant anything, really."

     If this is what real magic was, I was eager at what I could do, and who I could become, with a little training. Perhaps, I could even become a legend, the star of my own heroic tale.

     "Including, say, artifacts?"

     Master Iko froze. "I'm afraid none of those exist anymore."

     "What a shame," I said, remembering what Kisa had said about heroes using artifacts to save civilizations. "I suppose I can always make new ones."

     A volley of tiny purple bubbles now encircled my wand, calling to me. An awkward silence fell, interrupted only by the ticking of a grandfather clock. I slouched in my sofa as the wizard loomed over me, displeased.

     "That's dark magic that you are tampering with!"

     My mouth fell open, flabbergasted.

     "Where did you learn to perform such vileness?" He pushed his staff forward again, this time pressed against my cheekbone.

     "Whoa, relax, they're just bubbles. But really, I'm not from around here!"

     "An agent of Arugamere, perhaps?"

     With that, his personality switched on me. Lights in the room vanished until only the red glow of the staff's orb remained. I could see the silhouette of his furrowed eyebrows, the gleam in his angry eyes vexing me.

     "I don't know what I'm doing, please, just chill out! I just found out I could do this today, and I ended up here, honest! Get that thing outta my face!"

     "If you're not a spy, then where do you hail from, Mr. Willicks?"

     "N-Neopia Central. No spies there, honest!"

     "Why—and how—have you come to this island?"

     "I just found myself here, through teleportation. I needed to learn to control my powers. I needed guidance. M-my powers lead me here, like you said."

     "The only thing you need to do is abandon them," he said sternly. "Abandon your dark magic. All it will do is hurt others and bring about disorder. You will do more harm than good, mark my words."

     Who was he to judge? I haven't hurt anyone yet... except maybe a few pirates. I would never hurt anyone otherwise.

     "It will take hold of you and never let you go; it might even possess you, until no longer resemble yourself. Dark magic can have a will of its own, and you've welcomed it inside. It breeds selfishness, destruction..."

     "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Entropy of the universe, energy pockets, pure evil, instability, yadda yadda."

     After the word energy pocket, he fumed. "Where'd you learn about energy pockets?"

     "It's common knowledge where I come from," I said with a cheesy grin. "I'm quite versed in the ways of magic, as you can see."

     "Keep that to yourself, then," he urged in a hoarse whisper. "Dark magic may strengthen the body, but it weakens the mind—your conscience. Real magic—true strength—is born from self-control."

     "Then teach me how to do it your way. The 'right' way."

     "No. I've seen your kind, and the mess they leave for me to clean up. You're unfit to wield any kind of power."

     Because I wasn't crushed enough already, he continued. "I retract what I said earlier. Abandon who you are instead."

     I sprung to my feet and swatted his staff away. "Who are you to tell me who I am? Who do you think you are, hermit? How can you stand there all heroic while pirates are running free? You have the power to do something about it!"

     His calm demeanor was completely shattered, and he smashed his fist into a nearby pillow. Ominous clouds of dust, red from his glowing orb, arose between us.

     "It cannot be more evident you are a simple fool, gravely mistaken about foreign magic in a world you cannot understand. When you realize the error of your ways, it will be too late."

     His voice grew somber. "Dark magic always leads to loss. Persist and you will lose everything."

     I shivered. Still, I had nothing to lose. There was a lingering silence as I sat back down on the sofa and crossed arms in a pout.

     "For your sake and for other's sake, do us all a favor and leave this island."

     "Not happening," I said bitterly under by breath. "I've got a job to do."

     He made his way to a drawer and placed something in the palm of his right hand. "Have you a change of heart, I offer you this."

     He dropped a crummy wooden compass in my lap.

     "Here's that artifact you sought," he continued. "It has special properties. If you follow it, this compass will always lead you home. I wish you a safe journey back to where you belong."

     Compass in hand, I let out a final "hmph" and stomped toward the door. I'll show him, I thought. I'll prove him wrong. I made sure to trip over a stack of books on my way out, and while they were spilling everywhere I snatched up a few flasks on the floor. Outside, I emptied my pockets and swished the potions victoriously as I hiked toward a forest. I had just jumped a gate when suddenly, a clawed hand appeared over my mouth and I was grabbed from behind. With a panic I remembered I left my wand on the worthless wizard's sofa. The last thing I saw was a sack being pulled over me.

     I awoke to the sound of metal clinking. My hands were tied, and I could see that I was inside of a stone cell, separated from a shadowed figure by metal bars. With a key in their claws, they were tinkering with the padlock on the cell door. The only light came from a candle in the distance.

     The same pirate from earlier, the Lupe, dragged me out. Our eyes met, and he put on a wide smirk. "Wakey wakey. The captain wants to see you."

     "How did you find me?" I asked.

     "Sloppy teleportation you did there, brought me along for the ride." He grinned. "Wandered right out of the barrier, too."

     He took me down a hallway and stopped short of a staircase. Footsteps echoed one by one.

     There was enough light to see the figure of a shadow Draik, barely a teenager, peering down at me with emotionless green eyes. To avoid his gaze, my eyes traced the outline of his muscles—much larger than my own—and focused on the tattoo of a green Draik skeleton along his bicep.

     Without warning, he pulled a wand from his cloak and sent a stream of green light at me—except, it never reached its target. Instead, a massive black shield protected me just in time, its convex shape absorbing the blow. Just as suddenly as it materialized, it vanished.

     "There's no mistake," the Draik said.

     Finally, he displayed a shred of emotion through the grin across his face. "Dark magic. I will make good use of him."

     I wanted so desperately to wipe the smile off of his stupid face, but the Lupe was holding me back.

     "What gives you the right?" I spit at him.

     "I am Captain Mevolin of the Arugahi Pirates," the Draik said with pride. "Anything I command is law."

     "But you're a child!"

     He stepped forward and yanked my chin upward, his claws pressing into my cheekbones.

     "You have been gifted a great purpose, Wocky. The era of pirates is among us, and your allegiance will serve us well. In turn, I will make you stronger than you could ever imagine."

     "I'm not interested."

     He released his grip and scoffed.

     "What is your name?"

     "None of your business."

     "Speak your name!" Mevolin demanded.

     "Rorren Willicks," I said as if vomiting.

     "Such a dreadful name. I can give you a new name, one that shines with my likeness."

     "My mind is made up. The answer is no."

     With that, the pirate Lupe ascended up the staircase, leaving the two of us in a staring contest.

     Finally, Mevolin approached me and spoke. "Minds are weak. Unlike the darkness. Unlike me."

     Then I witnessed the wickedest smile I ever laid eyes on.

     It felt like hours had passed when Mevolin began dragging me back to my cell. I guessed it was late into the night, because more candles were lit. That's when I noticed something interesting—my knapsack was resting on top of a short bookcase. With a thrust sideways, I broke free of his grasp and snatched it from behind. I got enough of a head start that I was able to shuffle over to a candle across the hall. One lick of the flame and my hands were free. From reaching into my knapsack, I saw that the pirates made one major mistake: they thought it was empty. Thanks to that, I now had a bargaining chip at my disposure—a means of escape. But first, I needed to outrun my pursuer—a winged pursuer, to make matters worse.

     I found a staircase leading downstairs and followed it, hoping that I wasn't entering a basement. I had almost cleared the hallway when I was yanked backward by the shoulders. So much for that, I grunted to myself.

     "There's no escape!" he bellowed. "Even if you make it outside, you'll never make it off of this island. It's fortified by thousands of my legions."

     "You mean your fake pirates who don't even use pirate-speak? Give me a break! Soon you won't have a choice but to let me go," I smiled. "For I have something you want."

     Mevolin ripped the knapsack from his hands and peeped inside. In disappointment, he tossed it aside. As I expected, he saw nothing in it, just as I planned. When he saw I was still grinning, he frowned.

     "Lead me to the exit of this place and I'll tell you—no, show you."

     "Do you seriously believe I'll fall for a stupid bluff like that?" he shouted at me, suspending me off the ground by my shirt. For someone his age, he was ridiculously strong.

     "If you don't like what you see, consider me a pirate," I said confidently. "But I'm certain you and I can strike a deal."

     Now I piqued his interest. "This way," he said after dropping me and walking the opposite direction.

     So I was going the wrong way, I thought as I retrieved the knapsack.

     We came to a giant stone door that arched to the ceiling, two stories high. Locks were fastened over one side. A bowl of flames was on a nearby wall, low enough for me to reach. Perfect, I thought. Time for the grand finale.

     I reached into the knapsack and lifted something out. Mevolin was tapping his foot against the stone floor out of annoyance, and raised an eyebrow in confusion. Without further ado, I uttered the secret word and with a bang, a thick red book was now in my hand. I waved it over the flames.

     "This is the Book of Prophecies. Within these pages contains thousands of prophecies over the ages, many that, at the time of this publishing, have yet to be realized. Find one that you like, use them as blueprints, and voilà, you'll become someone important."

     Surprisingly, he was not impressed. I didn't anticipate this to be a hard sell.

     "I'm already important," he said apathetically. "Quit wasting my time."

     I had to improvise. "But these are on a grand scale! There are prophecies that foretell of amazing power for those who can harness it! These aren't your run-of-the-mill prophecies, you see! Civilizations will rise and fall from the rule of these written words! Whatever is written, will be law. And you, sir, will see it all. It's the ultimate book of spoilers, and this here is the one and only copy."

     He shot me a nasty stare, lost in thought. I could tell he was on the precipice of caving in.

     He raised his wand, and with a flash of green light the locks vanished. I kicked the book towards him, and he seized it with a laugh. I used the last of my strength to force the heavy door open. I had propped just enough to let in a draft before Mevolin spoke.

     "Is leaving really what you want?"

     For a moment, I thought he was joking, but his face was serious.

     "Is that what she would want?"

     My hands fell to my side; my heart stopped. The chilly night air sent a cold sweat down my back.

     "If you ever want to see your Aisha friend again, now is the time to start talking."

To be continued...