Chapter 109: Back to the Future
Luster had stared at the rubies on the hourglass all night, willing Rori's to go on again. The more time passed, the more he found himself spiraling. Something was going terribly wrong with his friend, and he wanted nothing more than to help, but he didn't know what to do.
Try as he might, Kipling had been unable to find where Eclipse had been imprisoned. He had searched all night, and he was exhausted. Not to mention, he was worried about Rori. He hoped she was okay. It was all too easy to imagine all of the terrible things that could have happened to her at the hands of such a prejudiced and hateful clan.
By dawn, he realized he needed the help of his friend if he was to succeed. At any rate, he didn't want his friend's life to be the cost of bringing home a moon warrior. That was too high a price to pay. There must be another way.
Settling on a decision, Kipling stretched his aching wings and made his way back to the clan. As soon as he entered the town again, a ridgeback guard saw and sneered at him.
"He returns. What a betrayal you are to your flight to come back for your light friend." The ridgeback sneered.
"I'm from the wind flight!" Kipling protested. It was as true as far as he was concerned. It's not like he remembered being in any other flight, Windkeep Tower had raised him.
"Not according to your eyes, bucko." The ridgeback pointed out. The guard seemed to grow larger.
"Please, let me friend go." Kipling stood his ground, trying very hard not to flinch away from the guard's leer.
"We've got a brave one here!What's your name, little one?" The guard asked.
"Ty." Kipling lied, pulling the first name he could think of out of his head.
Alright, you want to save you friend Ty? I'm sure we can strike up a deal." A crooked grin crossed the ridgeback's face as he stared down his long, sharp nose at Kipling. The young fae began to wonder what he was getting himself into.
After a conversation with the head elder, it had been agreed that Rori would be released if he could do away with Eclipse. He had been entrusted with a tiny trident and was escorted to the cave in which the moon warrior was imprisoned. All the way, his spiral escort was laughing. It was clear the clan thought he would for sure be unsuccessful. After all, how could such a small, inexperienced dragon kill something as powerful as a moon warrior?
Kipling vowed not to let the spiral's jibes get to him. This was his only chance to not only save Eclipse, but also Rori. Everyone was depending on him, and if he failed... he didn't want to think of what would happen to his clan back home.
The spiral waited outside, nestled in the undergrowth, and Kipling entered the cave.
When Kipling entered the cave, he heard the scrapping of chains against stone. They rattled harshly, sending shivers down his spine, and he had to restrain himself from turning tail and running, but he was not going to let anything get in-between him and saving his friends. He would face any challenge thrown at him.
"Who goes there!" Kipling called into the darkness, not allowing his voice to waver. He drew his trident, bracing himself for an ambush. But none came. He strained his eyes in the darkness, wishing he had Rori's light orbs to help him see. It sounded like something big was in this cave.
Suddenly, from the darkness, a voice rang out. "Leave this place. It's full of dark magic."
"What?" Kipling asked.
"This cave is designed to drain the magic from a dragon until they are nothing but a withered husk." The voice explained, sounding very weary.
"Do you need help? I am here to free you!" Kipling called out.
The other dragon simply laughed. "You're not from around here, are you. Everyone in the village knows better than to help a moon warrior."
"I need your help." Kipling admitted.
"Yeah, right, you don't want to help a moon warrior." Eclipse snorted. "We are the disgrace of the shadow flight. We have forsaken the darkness to join the light. If you were smart, you'd leave here, before it's too late."
"I'm not leaving without you!" Kipling vowed. "This is wrong!" He was very aware the sands in his hourglass was running short. he could not stay much longer. He needed to get Rori her hourglass back before she was trapped in the past forever.
"Haven't they sent someone to ensure you finish me off? I assume that's why you've been sent." Eclipse sighed, defeated. "The elders always win. You were at the trial, weren't you? You heard what happened to my great-grandfather and the rest of the moon warriors."
"Yes, but their history does not have to be your story too. Come back home with me. You will be welcomed, and you won't have to worry about any of this ever again." Kipling urged. "You can't just give up, there is so much out there to live for!"
"I find it hard to believe such a place exists." Eclipse snorted. "But I guess anything is better than this cave. Alright, I'll trust you. Just get me out of here."
Kipling felt around in the dark until he found her chains. Using his trident, he picked the shackles holding her limbs. Then he seated himself on her back so as not to lose her.
"I don't have my sword." Eclipse suddenly realized.
"Don't worry about that." Kipling urged. "We can figure that out that later."
"Let's get out of here before they realize what you have done." The warrior urged, spreading her wings. She made her way out of the cave and burst into the sky, rushing over the head of the spiral escort before he had a chance to react. Kipling looked back, and saw the escort giving pursuit.
Kipling gulped. That's when he noticed the hourglass growing warm. Their time was nearly up. He had spent longer in that cave than he expected. He hadn't had time to get Rori. Feeling his heart drop, he pulled out the third hourglass and slipped it over Eclipse's neck. There was a flash of light, and the two of them disappeared, leaving the escort half blinded and barrelling into a tree.
"So, time travel." Vaughan purred. "I heard rumors of course, but I had no idea Quinnlan dear had succeeded."
"Well, he did, and now Rori is trapped in the past." Luster growled, growing impatient. "Please, you have to help me get her back."
"Shhh, be patient." Vaughan breathed. "This is a procedure that will take time."
"We don't have time!" Luster said, panicking. "The sands are running out!" Luster couldn't remember the last time he had felt so afraid. He of course had heard the rumors that Vaughan was not to be trusted, but the time dealer was the only dragon he could think of with the ability and power to even stand a chance of helping. he couldn't lose his friends, not when they were counting on him.
"No, I mean it will take time as in you must give some time to me." Vaughan purred. "I don't work for nothing."
"Wha- How do I do that?" Luster was taken aback.
"Worry not, it is not painful." Vaughan moved closer and raised her hand to brush Luster's face. "You won't feel a thing."
"Whatever, I'll do it. Just Make sure my friends get home safely." Luster said, fidgeting.
"What a brave soul. You don't even know how much I want to take." A smile crossed Vaughan's face. "Very well, I won't keep you waiting." She produce a scroll and handed it to Luster. he signed on the dotted line without bothering to read any of it. He knew they were reaching the 24 hour mark, and he couldn't delay this any further.
With that, her red eyes began to glow, matching the increasing glow of the large ruby necklace that adorned her neck. Luster felt a strange sensation of something being pulled from him. he looked down at his paws and to his surprise saw that he was fading.
"What's happening to me?!" He screeched, squirming wildly.
"Oh, nothing. You'll just cease to exist for a little while. Don't worry, you'll reappear in about six months, along with your friends. You won't even notice the difference, it will be like waking up." Vaughan grinned. "Thank you for your patronage, hasty customers like you are always the best to work with."
And with that, Luster faded entirely, leaving Vaughan alone in her shop. With a grin, she turned and made her way to a desk on the edge of the room. She made sure to scratch her beagle behind the ear before pulling out a jewel encrusted book and pulling out a quill.
It is done. She wrote.
The chosen one will be out of the way. If you want to act, the time is now.
The words faded, and were soon replaced by swoopy pink handwriting.
Very well, I shall alert the queen. Your payment is processing.
Rori couldn't sit still. She paced her small underground cell, knowing her time was running out. If she didn't get her hourglass soon, she would be trapped in the past, and things weren't looking good for her here.
"Well, would you look at that, you little friend fell for it!" her ridgeback guard sneered as he brought her an early lunch. "What a fool. Like a fae could successfully take down a moon warrior, even a weakened moon warrior! Now, what are we going to do with you..."
Just as he was contemplating whatever evil thoughts he was entertaining, there was a flash in the corner of Rori's vision. She turned, and saw a lantern alight next to curtain at the entrance of the cell. She could have sworn that wasn't there before, after all, the cell had previously been in complete darkness.
Rori didn't have time to contemplate the strange appearance further, because the corner of the curtain caught the flame, and the entire thing began to go up in smoke.
Rori backed away as she saw the fire spread, fully aware of how she had no where to go. The guard turned at the sudden flash of light and stared in mixed confusion and horror at the blaze.
"What the-" The guard muttered, and ran to put out the fire. But it was too late. It was spreading at a rapid pace. Smoke was filling the air, thick and black. The guard back out, and made to turn tail and run.
"Please, let me out!" Rori coughed.
"Yeah right, you can die as the light scum that you are." The guard sneered, and then he was gone.
From the screams of horror she could hear outside, Rori was certain the fire was spreading across the clan. She called out, running her voice ragged, hoping some dragon had a shred of kindness and would release her from her binds. She pressed against the enchanted wall, hoping it would break and let her free, but it remained as solid as ever.
Eventaully, exhaustion took over. She slumped to the ground, too weak to stand, her body wracking with coughs as she fought to breathe. That was when it agreed, glowing beside her. Somehow, the hourglass was back. She didn't have any time to question it, she just pulled it on. Just as she did, there was a flash of light and she disappeared.
In case you haven't pieced it together, the legend of 'Prince Ty' is actually the legend of Kipling and his rescue of Eclipse. I even took some of the lines from Merry's story for this update to draw a further parallel.
<- (It's Kipling's angry face. Too bad we don't have imp emojis yet.)
You'll definitely see more of these two later on!
And poor Kipling; the part where he's begging her to stay really got to me. I could almost feel the dread in those words.