Alone and completely surrounded by darkness, Heather's eyes slowly fluttered opened as she moaned softly. The first thing she felt was pain shooting through her head. She raised a trembling hand to her pale forehead as she tried to sit up. After a moment the pain stopped, and she blinked her eyes in complete bewilderment and confusion. Where...where am I? What happened? the blonde girl thought. Even though she couldn't see that much, she could tell that wherever she was, it was really damp....as she heard water dripping off walls and into a body of water. And it was cold...so very cold. She couldn't help wrapping her arms around her body and shiver. Confused, she stood up on trembling legs and looked around, but the most she could see in the low light was that she was in some sort of underground cave, the walls black and damp, water trickling in small trails down the walls and collecting in small puddles.
As far as she could tell, the cave was VERY big, looking to be about the size of a medium-sized American football field she'd seen on television. But she couldn't be sure, it was so dark! Swallowing a lump of fear she felt in her throat, she looked up, and what she saw made her gasp in surprise. What was supposed to be the ceiling of a cave was replaced by a body of water, but as if by magic and shielded by glass, it stayed on top, and shadows of the rippling waters played across the dark cave ground. Memories of going to the aquarium with her sister filled her mind, and she couldn't help but stare at the many fishes and other strange water creatures swimming above her....some looking at her strangely, others just moving on, not paying her any attention.
Suddenly, she thought of what happened to her by the lake and the strange woman. Oh no, the others! Panic set in her heart, and she looked around to see if Angeni, Jeneta, Prya, and Ling were here with her. "Ling? Jeneta.....Angeni? Djoser? Anybody?" she called out in a trembling voice. Her voice echoed softly in the cave, but was answered only by silence. "You...you guys? Are you there? Please answer me. Anybody! I don't...I don't want to be alone...I'm scared of being alone..." Tears filled her eyes as she crouched down and wrapped her arms around her knees. For all the show of strength and intelligence she tried to show everyone she had, there was always one weakness that always plagued her...being alone. From ever since she was a child and her parents practically abandoned her, Heather always had the fear that if they had left her, her own parents, then everyone else eventually would. It was something she never told anyone....was afraid to tell anyone. And now...now it was coming true, and there was nothing she could do about it. She shivered harder as a blast of cold air that had nothing to do with the cave washed over her. "Come on you guys, where are you?" she whispered. "Please come get me out of here..."
The moments seem to drag on, until suddenly, a soft light flashed a few feet away and slowly started moving towards her. Heather looked up and her eyes widened in surprised. The light didn't seem very threatening, but she stood up on her feet and backed away slightly as the medium sized light stopped directly in front of her, illuminating the whole cave. The light hovered in front of her for a few seconds, then began to grow bigger and bigger. Then it began to take the form of a woman, and when it finally stopped growing, it dimmed until the same woman who had captured her and brought her under the lake stood before her, her black hair flowing in an unseen wind, and her blue eyes bright and full of wisdom.
"It's...it's you!" Heather said, backing away more. "Why have you brought me here? What do you want with me?"
"Do not fear, young one," the woman said, taking a step foreword. "I mean you no harm. I have looked into your heart and soul, and I know what your purpose here on our world is."
The woman smiled ever so lightly at Heather, calming the girl a bit. "I am the Lady Liandra, the Mistress of the Lake here. For many thousands of years I have protected the Mystic Lake and watched over this forest. But ever since that monster, Kumraa has broken free, evil has desecrated this land." Sadness entered her eyes then, as though remembering the events as it was happening right now. "I was also one of the protectors of the Sacred Medallions. Only those who were worthy are able to even see it. But now, as Kumraa grows stronger, he seeks all of the medallions to strengthen his hold on our world."
The woman nodded her head as she reached foreword and placed a hand on Heather's shoulder. "That is why you are here, to help free our planet by finding the Sacred Medallions. You and your friends..."
"Y..Yes." Heather replied, still looking at her cautiously. "My friends and I have tracked the second medallion somewhere around here. Please...if you know where it is..."
"It is not that simple." Liandra said, her musical voice growing sadder each moment as she folded her hands over her chest. "In order to keep Kumraa from finding the medallion, I hide it deep somewhere within the bowels of this planet....far beneath this lake. But in my last fight against him to protect it and keep it's hiding place a secret, he placed a strong spell on me to make me forget where I myself have placed it. It could be anywhere within this region....this planet. He made sure that if he couldn't have it, no one would."
"But that's terrible! If you don't know where it is, what hope is there left?" Heather hung her head in despair, but Liandra shook her head and placed a finger under Heather's chin, lifting her head up.
"All is not lost, brave one. Kumraa sent one of his many disciples here to find the medallion. He is called The Black Knight, and is rumored to have been one of the many kings that fought against him. If he is defeated, then the spell over me would be broken. But alas...I haven't the strength to fight him anymore. He has even resorted to terrorizing a small village not to far from here when he couldn't find the medallion here in the lake. Many have tried to defeat him....all of them failed."
"So that's why you brought me down here, isn't it? To try and fight him." Heather said, looking straight into her eyes. "But...if you and the others couldn't defeat him, what chance do I have?"
"Because I saw how pure your heart is, I saw the strength you have deep down inside you. I will lend you what strength I have left, but I cannot defeat The Black Knight alone." Liandra said. "And because for some reason, there is a connection between you and the medallion, I can feel it. This is your destiny, young Heather. Will you help me?"
For a moment, Heather looked into the demi-goddess's eyes, and saw how desperate she was to find the medallion. But she herself was a mere mortal, what could she do? But she also know she couldn't leave this beautiful woman helpless. She had to help in anyway she could! Heather sighed, knowing that she couldn't turn down a plea for help, no matter how difficult it seemed. She raised her head in order to tell the woman that she would indeed help, but before she could even open her mouth, a strong blast of frigid air blew across the immense cave. When it died down, a loud and fast galloping could be heard coming towards them. Moments later, out of the shadows, a large figure sitting atop a black and snarling horse came riding up, its nostrils flaring and eyes wide. The figure on the horse was dressed in jet black armor, complete with a flowing black cape that blew about wildly in the wind. Its underlining was silver and was in stark contrast to the rest of the shiny, black armor. Where the eyes should be were two, blazing red dots, boring down on Heather and Liandra.
Heather gasped in fright as the horse stopped just in front of her, nearly making her fall back. The horse stood up on its hind legs and neighed long and loudly, kicking up its front legs wildly in the air. When the horse set its legs back down, The Black Knight expertly dismounted it and walked towards where Heather and the woman stood. Heather couldn't help but shake in fear as he got closer and closer, for he looked to be well over six feet tall and very well muscled under the armor. Oh boy! Heather thought, I am NOT going to like this at all!
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Djoser had just finished cleaning up the camp area and packed up all the supplies when he heard Prya moving behind him. He turned to see her sitting up, looking rested and much better than a little while ago. "You're up. How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Much better, thanks." Prya smiled weakly. "I...guess I caused enough trouble for everyone, haven't I? I'm very sorry about that..." She looked away, trying not to let him see her embarrassment.
"No, it was no trouble at all." Djoser shook his head, trying to reassure her she was no trouble. "As a matter of fact, the girls went to get some water for you and..."
He never got to finish as Jeneta, Angeni, and Ling came rushing through some bushes, their eyes wide with fear.
"Djoser, you have to come with us, someone took Heather! We have to find her, now!" Jeneta said, rushing up to him and grabbing his hand. "We were at the lake, and this lady showed up, and Heather just disappeared, and...and.."
"Hold on, hold on!" Djoser said, waving his hand to slow Jeneta and everyone else down. "What's this? Heather disappeared? At the lake?"
"Yes," Angeni said, stepping foreword. With a calm voice, the Native American girl told all what happened at the lake...including how Jeneta's medallion glowed green right before the strange woman appeared.
When she was finished, Djoser narrowed his eyes in anger. "Damn! I should have remembered that was the Mystic Lake, guarded by the Lady Liandra. She is rumored to be one of the protectors of the Scared Medallions too. Zain and his army could be there. Come on, we have to see if Heather is alright!"
With that, they all rushed off, but not before Angeni went to Prya, took her hand, and helped her keep up with the rest of the group. When they got to the lake, all looked quiet and serene, but they knew that the quietness only hid what dangers lay underneath with Heather.
"But where could she be? We can't see her!" Ling said, looking with worried eyes at Djoser.
"I'll take care of that. Otum nevus revealitum!" With a wave of his hand, there was a bright flash, and right above the lake where Heather disappeared, a holographic projection appeared in a round bubble, revealing all that was happening under the waters of the ancient lake.
"It's her! Bring her out!" shouted Jeneta, stepping forward towards the lake.
"I can't. As long as I know where the person is, I can create a spell to see what is happening to them, but I can't teleport them. I...I didn't reach that far in my training..." Djoser tried to explain, but he couldn't say anymore as right at that moment, a very large man wearing a heavy looking black armor walked up to where Heather and a black haired woman....being none other than Liandra...stood in fright.
"Oh no, Heather!" Jeneta clenched her fists in despair. Right then at that moment, she wanted to shout out to her that she was sorry she got into a fight with her, sorry that she got so angry as to forget their friendship. But she couldn't, she could only watch helplessly as the immense man walked closer and closer, and finally reaching to his side for his sword.
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Before Heather could say anything, Liandra stepped protectively in front of her and raised a hand. "Unholy creature, depart from these sacred grounds, now!" A bright flash of strong energy erupted from her hand, and raced towards the advancing Black Knight. But before the energy blast can reach him, the knight unsheathed his large sword and batted away the beam as if it was nothing more than a fly. The beam blasted into the black wall of the cave, bounced off, and slammed right back into Liandra, throwing her back a few feet and slamming her into the wall behind her.
"Lady Liandra!" Heather shouted, and rushed up to her. She gathered the woman into her arms and tried to sit her up. "Lady Liandra, are you going to be okay? Please, answer me!"
The woman opened her eyes a little and looked up at Heather, a little blood trickling out of her mouth. She raised a hand and touched Heather's forehead with her finger. "Y..you..must take...take the last of my...strength." she croaked out. "You..must fight..on." Her finger glowed, and before Heather knew what was happening, she felt strength and power like none other flow through her. Heather's body glowed slightly as the pure energy invigorated her, giving her confidence and hope. When the glowing dimmed, Liandra smiled slightly as she then held up both her hands.
"Some...thing else...I was able to keep from...Kumraa.." She coughed once, and with a bright flash, a large sword appeared in her hands. The blade was silver with the sharp edges trimmed in gold, and the handle was carved out of pure gold with the shape of a lion looking to the side. "This...is the sword..Lumias. Take it, and....fight for our..freedom." With that, Liandra coughed one last time, and fainted away, her face pale and her chest nearly still.
"Lady Liandra! Lady Liandra! Please, I can't do this alone, wake up!" Heather tried to shake the woman awake, but it was no use. Laying her down gently, Heather picked up the large sword as she rose up on shaky legs, and was surprised at how light it felt in her hands. But she had no time to admire it more as without warning, she was backhanded across the face by a large fist and slammed against the damp wall of the cave. Her glasses flew off her face and onto the wet ground with a clatter. With a painful moan, Heather shook her head to clear her vision, but could only see with blurry eyes as The Black Knight stepped closer and closer, his metal feet crushing pebbles and pieces of rocked beneath him.
With a gasp, Heather brought her sword up just in time to block a strike of the sword as it swooped down towards her. When she pushed the sword away with her own, she rolled to her right, grabbing her glasses as she did so. It was just in time, for the knight brought down his sword on the spot she was just in a moment ago, and the cave echoed loudly at the sound of metal hitting rock.
Heather stood up from her roll and turned to face The Black Knight as he looked at her with blazing red eyes. For a long moment, the two regarded each other in complete silence, tension filling the whole area. Finally, The Black Knight raised his sword to point at her. "Give it up, child. The Sacred Medallion is mine, and you will never defeat me." he said in a deep, metallic voice.
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that!" Heather said with more bravery than she felt. But with Liandra's strength flowing through her, she knew she had at least a chance against this thing, she just had to!
"We shall indeed." the knight replied. With a loud roar, the immense black-armored man rushed forward, his large sword high in the air. He brought the sword down and aimed for her heart, but missed by mere inches as Heather jumped high and out of the way, doing a sideways double spin in the air and landing expertly in a crouch.
But not even a moment passed before the knight turned again and charged, this time going for her head. The blonde girl ducked down just in time and rolled again on the ground away from him. The Black Knight roared again, and for long moments, the cave rang with the sounds of metal upon metal as the two fought.
But soon after, unexpected to Heather, the knight did a fake lounge to the right, and she did a one handed cartwheel sideways to safety. But when she stood again, he lunged again to where she was and swiped with his sword. The girl screamed in pain as she felt the tip of the sword gash her side. She fell to the ground and clutched her side. When she looked down at her side a moment later, she saw blood already soaking through her clothes and fingers.
Frightened and helpless, Heather could only stare as the knight walked slowly forward, his laughter filling the whole cave. This wasn't supposed to happen like this! Jeneta...guys, where are you? She tried to think of her friends being there for her, helping her like they did when Jeneta was fighting Sekheti, but her fear of being alone filled her heart then, making her feel as though she was drowning in her own despair.
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"We have to do something!" Jeneta shouted, looking back at Djoser from the projection with panicked eyes. "She's going to die!"
"I think there might be something we can do, but I'm not sure if it'll work." Djoser said, "We can probably send her our thoughts...our own strengths to help her..."
"Then let's do it!" Angeni said determinedly, "Whatever it is, we have to try!"
"Alright, we have to hold hands." Djoser quickly led everyone in a circle, then began muttering a soft spell to himself. Soon, a soft glow surrounded everyone, filling them with a tingling sensation. Although it felt strange at first, they knew that this was the only way to help their friend fighting for her life.
Hang on Heather, we'll to help you, I promise! Jeneta thought as she felt her strength and thoughts flow through her.
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