31Disclaimer: I don´t own WITCH. Its characters are property of the mighty Disney Company.
So, here is the second chapter; People in cages. This ne is going to be focused in Meridian and its principal inhabitants; both heroes and antagonists of previous seasons. Enjoy your read and leave a review if you feel like it.
WITCH
A different story
Chapter 2: People in cages
The world of Meridian (Metamoor)
The world of Meridian; house of the Galhot, the Shapeshipter, the Lurden, and the human. Ruled by the heralds of the Hearth of Meridian, the Queens of the Escanor bloodline.
This world had suffered a lot recently. The death of one the best queens that it had ever have; a tyranny by the hand of an egotistic psychopathic brat; the kidnap of its current queen and the steal of its Hearth away from it by the hand of a sorceress; the re-establishment of the tyranny; and it goes on.
And now, it seems that this world can finally achieve peace. Its corrupters and monsters are locked up. Nothing more than tiny people in cages; condemned staying in a shadowy cell.
This is the destiny of Prince Phobos Escanor; the traitorous man that gave away his family just because he thought of himself better to rule than the rest. Which in the end; didn´t prove true at all.
Now he and his minions pass their days in the magical cells of the Infinite City. One of those minions is called Frost, nicknamed The Hunter, a former bounty-hunter that made himself some sort of "regular employee" to the crown when the Prince stole the throne.
Though more muscle than brains, everyone knew that Frost was a very competent hunter. The only thing that kept him out of the top of the Prince´s enforcers in the eyes of the former rebellion was that, albeit competent in his job; the moment that you have to compete against a being simply called The Tracker (and his nightmarish dog) you can only hope to be second best. Within the court with Tracker, in the Knights of Vengeance with Raythor… always at the shadow of other men. Hell, even when Cedric betrayed the prince he had hoped for being a trusted ally for the snake. But he looked to that spider girl better, even giving her a fragment of all the power that he had stolen. The fact that they seemed to be in love with each other seemed to have helped to Cedric´s decision. This actually agitated Frost´s mind. He knew that shapeshipters could live centuries, but he also knew that they reached an adult form before their time stopped. This meant that Miranda was still a fourteen years old child. And that Cedric could be incredibly older than her. The fact that they seemed to actually care for each other only reassured the bounty-hunter´s thoughts on them. "They are perverts."
At least, thought Frost, that undead was now gone for good. Frost never liked the Tracker. For some reason, the bounty-hunter seemed quite wary of a being that only worked for its masters because they gave him permission to "hunt". Frost also found ironic that Tracker, an undead, was one of the few that never returned from their attack on Kandrakar.
Maybe he had been too greedy at the moment to submit himself to the prince. The Hunter leaned himself against his rhinoceros-like pet Crimsom. He thought about the times when he was just an inexperienced bounty-hunter, alone with his animal companion in the wild, hunting thieves, killers… Those were good times.
He closed his eyes and wondered to himself. "Was the undead just like me in the beginning?"
In another one of the cells, this one quite bigger, two individuals were talking to each other. They were two members of the Shapeshipter race. Their names, Cedric and Miranda. One a Beast type shapeshipter that could change into the form of a man; the other one a Human type shapeshipter that could change into a four legged, black furred and giant spider-like creature.
And they were having, in the terms of a normal person, "couple conversations".
"Why didn´t you destroy the Aurameres?" asked Cedric, currently in his snake form. His tail was waving calm and quietly.
"Well" answered Miranda, in her human form "why didn´t you kill the Guardians when they were still human?"
"Conquering Earth was the priority. Also I thought that an empowered giant version of you could manage destroying a bunch of jewels. But no, you got defeated by a bunch of walking sand."
"Oh yes, conquering Earth" mocked Miranda. "If for conquering you mean seer destruction of a bunch of constructs. And also, Sandpit is quite strong. I bet that even you could be defeated by him the way you are now"
The two of them felt silent. They had have this same conversation countless times. The two of them had decided that it was useless to be angry to each other after something that now was irremediable. Cedric embraced Miranda from behind, and made her sit into a seat made by his tail. The little girl leaned against the giant snake´s abdomen. "I miss being big. Just when I thought that finally life was paying back all that it took from me, I got punched in the face by a pile of sand"
"Ah, do not worry about being big. The moment that your maturation comes to an end your beast form will be very similar to what you were while empowered" Cedric consoled her.
"You think?" asked Miranda, still in the same position.
"Yes. And do not worry about being here, either" said Cedric, assuming his humanoid form, still embracing Miranda. "I can witness that we will be free"
"How can you tell?" asked Miranda, which now was rotating her body to face her beloved. Blue eyes against blue eyes.
"Who knows?" retorted Cedric, who was now leaning his back against the floor of the cell, making the still embraced Miranda lay on top of him, like using his body as a bed. "Maybe I can smell it in the air. Maybe is my animal intuition. Or maybe" said Cedric while making a few magical sparks with his hand and moving it in the back of Miranda, making her shiver "It´s my compensation prize, telling me to wait patiently"
The two of them kissed. Cedric transformed his tongue inside Miranda´s mouth. She loved him when he did that. When they broke the kiss Miranda asked "And then, what?"
"Then" said the snake man with his trademark smug grin in his face, "we will kill them all." And the two monstrous lovers kissed again.
In another cell, this one small, even smaller than Frost´s; was another prisoner. This one was quite important, and maintaining him in that imprisoned state was top priority for the guards.
After all, this one was the now two times deposed tyrant, Phobos Escanor, former Prince of Meridian. The vigilance upon him was now doubled, and it was quite obvious that the guards and chiefs on the duty of taking care of the prisoners were much more wary of him that of everyone else. After all, even deposed and caged, the Prince had proved quite resourceful in the past. Even if he was a wimp in comparison with his sister, Elyon Escanor, current Queen and bearer of the Hearth of Meridian; he was still a man of magic. Or so believed his custodies.
In truth, Phobos Escanor was now weak. His physical condition was at its worse. After all, he was almost digested after all the time that he spent inside Cedric´s stomach. The "diet" that was provided by prison food was not helping in the recovery. But the worst part of all was that Phobos had not power left in him.
In his past imprisonments, even without the power of her sister… No! Even without his rightful power, he still felt magic inside him; a power that he could increase using his own natural and unique ability, the power of siphoning energy from other magic constructs or biological life.
But now he felt nothing, nothing at all. His power was gone. All his magic abilities were disappeared. And he knew where they have gone. He had seen Cedric looking at him smugly over the initial weeks after their re-imprisonment. And one day he had made magic with his hand. Just a little sparkle, enough for the guards to not notice, but also enough for humiliate the Prince. Even in defeat like him, Cedric had fall in a higher place than him. And Cedric knew that the prince wouldn´t say anything to the guards because that would imply a bigger wound in his already demolished pride.
He wondered if that had been his sister´s idea. He was now in the most low of the magical cages of the prison, alone and bad illuminated. Even Frost, the Lurdens and Tracker´s dog were in better cells than him. And Cedric was high, and with Miranda partaking his place.
Was that, to put him with his lover, some sort of gratitude from Elyon to Cedric, for doing to him what she couldn´t? Phobos didn´t know. The only thing that he knew was that he was alone in a messy cell. And that the only thing that he had left was his pride.
So he grabbed to that pride. To the pride of being still a royal, something that none of his enemies will ever be. To the pride of have ruled Meridian for more than a decade, something that not even his sister could still say.
Of being the first male Escanor wielding the Hearth of Meridian!
But still, with all of that pride, the fallen and pathetic prince hid himself in the shadows of his cell, only protected by his now ragged royal robes. Now, he was nothing, nothing at all.
And sometimes, some guards could swear that a few sobs came out of those shadows.
Far away from that prison, up and outside the Infinite City, stood the capital of Meridian. A quite large and beautiful village; and crowning it, was the royal castle. And from that castle, the current Queen, Elyon Escanor, governed Meridian, like many before her.
Elyon was now attending a meeting. Some of the architects and the engineers of the kingdom were now talking with her about the reconstruction of some of the villages that her brother and Nerissa had destroyed while using her Hearth. Even if she was almost a god in Meridian, she couldn´t go around and around, using her powers to patch down some buildings. People will become dependable. The architects and engineers were providing with construction plans, asking for financing, showing her the prospects of the built…
Not long ago, Elyon could have dispatched these responsibilities to one of the ministers, or one of the chiefs of the former rebellion. She could have fallen asleep in one of her meetings with a member of the court, always dreaming of being a princess in a fairy tale. But now she knew best. And she really had been an idiot to not know better sooner than now.
What had been necessary to awake the princess and transforming her into a proper Queen? Almost nothing! Just being stripped of her power twice (one of them by her own brother); be trapped inside a jewel alone for months without eating, sleeping or the need or force to cry; and be deceived for almost anyone that had been around her.
So now the Queen took her duties seriously in order for that not to happen again; with quite actually a success. The people of Meridian trusted and loved her and the court appreciated her upgrade in what concerned to regal duties; but not anyone seemed like that. There were some village chiefs that looked a little down in the Queen, like waiting that she would make another mistake. Not with mischief or bad intentions; but with sorrow and worry for their world.
And then, of course, there were her parents. Not her birthparents, which were death by the time she was just a baby, but her adoptive parents Miridiael and Alborn; also known as Elanor and Thomas Brown in their time of Earth.
They were worried. Behind the calm demeanor and the better Queen that everyone else saw; they just watched a colder and more distant version of their daughter. Her new maid, Irvine, was made to walk three steps behind the young ruler; and Elyon almost never talked to her aside from instructions and vain commentaries.
While Meridian had now the Queen that it deserved in the form of Elyon Escanor; Elyon Brown was disappearing little by little; every moment that passed her hearth a little bit more caged into cold stone and iron. One day, Miridiael approached Elyon alone, when she was into her private chambers, reading a bunch of papers that Caleb had left there for her to inspection.
"Hello sweetie", presented herself Miridiael.
Elyon seemed a little surprised for being called that. But she didn´t exhibit it in all the capability that she could have.
"Hello mom" the last word sounded a little forced. "What do you want?" the Queen raised from her seat; putting aside a list of names and a map of the country with some sort of design on it.
"What is that?" asked Miridiael, looking at the map and the list.
"Ah, some sort of design map of the engineers to made a bunch of connection roads for the most important cities of the country; and a list with names to form a "elite squad" that Caleb gave me; for my approval. Do you now that Raythor is in it? I never thought that Caleb of all people could see the old captain´s potential, but I suppose that after all those times fighting him, he must have ended with a very good idea of what Raythor is capable of. So, I am going to give thumbs up to him. We need an elite squad to deal with nuisances without being to resort to the Guardians almost daily."
"The Guardians are your friends" remarked the meridianite. She didn´t like the way that the conversation was taking.
"Yes; but they are the Guardians of the Infinite Dimensions. Not of Meridian. I would like not to have to wave my hand to Kandrakar like a damsel in distress every time that we have a problem. This is our world, not theirs. I should take care."
"We" said Miridiael.
"Excuse me?" asked the Queen.
"We should take care. You said I; but we are part of this world too. We are as responsible as you are. You can trust your people."
Elyon made a strange face at the sound of the last sentence. Then she smiled and, putting her hands in front of her mouth, tried not to laugh.
"What is so funny?" asked concerned Miridiael. Every moment that passed she was more and more worried about Elyon. She was acting in a way that she never saw before.
"No, I can´t!" said Elyon, finally able to contain her laughter. "Every time that I have trusted someone, that I have become friends with anyone without thinking; I ended betrayed!"
"If this is for what happened with Trill and Phobos…"
"There was no Trill" remarked the Queen, in a dry tone, almost word by word the same sentence that Nerissa told them when she revealed herself.
"Well, if this is for what happened with Nerissa and Phobos; it is not your fault. They lied to you, deceived you. It is their fault that our world suffered, not yours. It is normal to feel anger at them, but there is no reason to start to distrust every person around you!" said Miridiael, trying to make her daughter out of her new cold self.
Elyon made the same face than before, trying again not to laugh into her mother´s face. "It´s not only for Nerissa and brother" Miridiael was surprised to hear that. Elyon never referred to Phobos as brother since he revealed himself to be the monster that he is. "It´s also for Miranda, for Cedric, even Cornelia and the others. Even father and you" that last word had venom in it. "Everyone backstabbing everyone, lying, hiding information. Trying to justify themselves saying that they are doing something great. That is reality. And it was my fault for being and idiot."
"You are not an idiot…" almost whispered the Queen´s adoptive mother. She was losing strength every moment that her daughter spoke.
"No, I am not. Not now. That is the reason that I´m actually thankful to all them."
"You are what?" again, almost a whisper.
This time, a wide smile appeared into Elyon´s face, while she started walking without direction inside the room. "Yes, I am thankful. To Nerissa, to Cedric, to Miranda and even to my brother. Their… nature, if you wish to call it that; it actually helped me to become a better ruler. That is the reason that, in the end, I cannot be angry to them for what they did to me. Could you be angry at a lion that takes advantage of a prey that doesn´t see it coming while peacefully laying in the savanna? I have learned more about how the life of royalty works from them that from any other. That is the reason that I allowed Caleb and Julian to keep that jewel instead of crushing it. That is the reason why brother and the shapeshipters are allowed to be alive; yes, in prison, but alive; instead of having their bodies hanging out of their throats like many of the citizens and the ministers want." Elyon made a pause and looked at the ceiling, her back facing her adoptive mother.
"Thanks to them all, now I can see a deception or scheme kilometers in the distance; because now I know how deception and scheming works. If anyone wants to play with my mind again, they will not succeed. No more lies, only the truth. And don´t think that I am going to become a paranoid. That would be ridiculous. I know quite well that there are thousands of people in this world that are loyal to me. The former rebels, Caleb and the village chiefs, Raythor after his realization that I am better than big brother… But that is loyalty. Not trust. Now I can count the people that I trust with the fingers of one hand. And it is better that way. Loyalty leads to strong and united entities; trust only to suffering and deception."
Miridiael played her last card now. It was her only hope to reach to her daughter. She has to be inside there, somehow "Your mother trusted people".
It didn´t work.
Elyon turned around and faced her adoptive mother "My mother is dead. Probably because of that way of thinking"
That defeated completely Miridiael. She felt how her spirit was shattering like glass that you smash against the pavement. Elyon put her hands in the shoulders of the older woman. The Queen was cold. They looked to each other and Miridiael felt herself to be small, incredibly small, almost like a bug in comparison with Elyon, her baby, who now appeared like some sort of god-like statue in front of her. The god-like statue was smiling.
"We have to work hard, in order to make this world prosper; in order to take steps to the future and progress ourselves. I want this world to experiment the same evolution that I have experimented. I want the people to be safe and happy, to them to be as strong as I am now. But for that they need something to believe in. And I want to be that, I must. Not like some sort of prophecy about a child destined to depose her evil brother or the Light of Meridian. I want to be Elyon Escanor, the Queen that this world deserves. And I need all of you to work alongside me to be that. Do you understand?"
"Yes" was the only response of Miridiael.
"Good" said Elyon, breaking the physical connection with her adoptive mother and returning to her desk. "Is something more troubling you?"
"No"
"Well then, you may leave. I have a lot more of work to do and I know that you have your own responsibilities, as one of the captains of the Guard."
Miridiael opened the door of the Queen´s chambers and, just before she left, she directed herself to the girl that had played with tiny "Sailor Moon" dolls while sitting on her lap not so many years ago. "Have a nice day, my Queen."
"You too; Captain Miridiael"
And the door closed behind the woman, leaving the Queen alone.
Back in their private chambers, Alborn, husband of Miridiael and adoptive father of Elyon, was waiting for his wife to return. They had agreed that Miridiael should go alone to their daughter. She was the closest one of the two to Elyon. That didn´t mean that he didn´t care for his daughter. It was just that he didn´t know how to approach her like Miridiael did.
Then the door of the chambers was opened, and Miridiael entered the room. Alborn said nothing. Miridiael just stood there, silent.
"So, how was it?" asked Alborn, to receive no response. "Miridiael?" asked the man again.
His wife only looked at him. And that was when Alborn saw that her eyes were almost lifeless.
"Miridiael, what happened?"
"I have work to do…" said the woman, and tried to leave, but Alborn stopped her in her tracks and made her look at him. Something was wrong, very wrong.
"Miridiael! What the hell happened?!"
Miridiael´s eyes then became alive again; but it wasn´t with life but with the most painful of suffering instead.
And Miridiael screamed, screamed like someone had just impaled her stomach with a sword. She screamed and screamed, until she almost lost her voice. And Alborn just looked at her, not knowing what exactly to do, not knowing what was going on. The only thing the he could do was hold the love of his life tight to him, trying to contain her screams.
"What the hell happened?" this time, the question was directed to himself.
Outside the castle, more precisely at its foot; there were some barracks for the City Guards and soldiers for the purpose of training. At that moment of the day, a young man was training his swordsmanship alongside his father. The name of the young man was Caleb, leader of the former rebellion, now one of the high commanders of Meridian´s militia; and the Queen´s own right hand man. Also, he was the lover of the Current Earth Guardian.
Crossing swords with him was a bearded man that resembled him. This one was Julian, father of the young man; a village chief that, during the times of the tyranny, had spent most of his days working as a slave in the underwater mines property of the Prince. Also, years before that, the universe liked to play a cruel joke on him, by having he falling in love with a good natured and caring woman; who resulted not to be that woman at all.
Both of the men had tried to appeal to the woman´s hearth when they discovered the truth of their relationship, but it was no use. Even if she wasn´t willing to accept it; Nerissa´s only real love was power and control.
But the aftermath of the conflict had helped to strengthen the bond between father and son. Also, it made Caleb a little bit more mature. Long ago he liked to think that everything had an easy answer. You choose black or white, evil or good. Upon seeing her mother and the fact that, albeit her means were cruel, her final objective was noble; Caleb had began to think. Maybe people who did wrong didn´t have a choice after all? Was people driven to villainy or born with it? Or was it just that he didn´t want to think about her mother as a monster? What she had told him back when they met at Mount Thanos had left a mark in him. Were they really not so different? After all, he still remembered Sonder Hill. Was that for good or not?
His thoughts were banished when his father was able to disarm him of his sword, and push Caleb to the ground. "You are death" said Julian while pointing the weapon to Caleb´s chest. Noticing his son had his mind in other places, Julian lowed the sword.
"Are you feeling good? You seem quite deconcentrated."
Caleb looked at his father. His caring father, who had raised him alone. But, even so, he was not willing to share his thoughts with him there, alongside a multitude of soldiers, Place Guards and former rebels that were training just like him.
"Nah, mind in deep places" said Caleb.
His father, being his father, took notice of it and, after helping his son stand up; marched with him across the streets of the village. They stopped by a tavern and shared a couple of glasses of beer in a table that was in a corner. When they were for the third one, it was time for the father to speak.
"So, tell me, how is that "elite" thing going?"
"Good. I have the names given to the Queen. Just waiting for her approval, but that´s the easy part. Making the parts work with each other will be more difficult. Especially with Raythor in it.
"You put Raythor in it? I will admit that he is good with the Guards because he was one of their commanders in the past, and a pretty good one I must add; but are you sure of putting him in a team alongside people like Vathek? They tried to kill each other."
"Well, Raythor and I tried to kill each other a lot in the past months and during the times of the rebellion and that is precisely what has leaded me to put him in. His experience and strength will be good for the team. And he will do whatever the Queen says him to do. If there is a trait that never changes in him whatever the side he is in is his loyalty and nobility."
"Yeah, that loyalty part is what worries me the most."
"Why do you say that?"
"Haven´t you noticed that the Queen is acting a little bit strange lately?"
"Ah… I will speak plainly. Yes, she seems a lot different. The ministers are delighted with her new self, and I will admit that she now shows the demeanor and way of thinking of a proper Queen, but…"
"But she seems cold" ended Julian
"Some of the Guards and the majority of the service that interacts with her have started to call her Iron Queen, father. I don´t know how to feel about it. She is much more competent know, and I am grateful for that; but she seemed much more alive before…
"Before your mother put her on jewel?" ended again the father.
"Yes. I don´t want to feel prideful about her majesty´s development knowing that the reason behind it was mother´s… plans. Especially considering that she is…"
"A friend of the woman that you love?" ended Julian for the third time.
"Could you stop finishing my sentences?"
"No. As your father, it is my duty to know how the inside of your skull works. And, also, if you are so worried about her majesty, why don´t you talk with Cornelia about it? You are going to see her soon, aren´t you?"
"Yes, in Christmas"
"In what?"
"An Earth celebration day. Much like we celebrate the solstices. It´s apparently a ceremony in honor of the family and charity. Matt informed me that the tradition is to gave a present to the people you care about. I am going to give one to Cornelia this year"
"Really? Sounds quite charming. But speak with her. If they are so good friends, Cornelia will now better than us what troubles the Queen´s hearth".
"You know, hearing you speak like that makes me think why don´t you leave the militia and become a chief of a village or an advisor in the court. You are pretty smart, old man."
"No, that life is not for me; too much complications and mannerism. I like the life of the ordinary man precisely for its simplicity. You have a house, a son, a job to take responsibility for. I wouldn´t change it for anything else. Even for a comfortable life, sitting in a seat of the court. Hell, do you imagine someone like me in the court? I would probably offense someone because I didn't bow in the specific way to some ambassador!"
The two men laughed, and excited the tavern after paying. Then Caleb made a risky move.
"About that Christmas thing… Do you want to come along with me to Earth?"
"Excuse you?" asked Julian a little astonished by his son´s invitation.
"To that Earth celebration, you could come with me. I think that Cornelia´s family is going to be in a party in Lady Yan Lin´s restaurant. It would be good for you all to meet."
"Are you… arranging a meeting between them and me? Are you going to propose to Cornelia?" asked Julian.
"What?! No! I just think that it will be a good idea!" Caleb made a pause. "Also, Lady Yan Lin and Lady Cassidy are going to attend, and I think that it would be a good idea if we have the opportunity to talk to them about mother"
"Is that what was troubling your mind earlier?" this time Julian sounded concerned.
"Yes. I just remembered when we met her at Mount Thanos and what you said to her. For a moment, she looked so…"
"Sad and vulnerable? Son, let me explain you something about the thing that we call "evil". Evil does not exist. Deep down, it is only pain. Only real monstrosities delight themselves in destruction, control and abuse; but for the majority of the people evil is a form to cover your weaknesses; like an armor made of excuses in which you bury your soul. I am not excusing what she did; but I think that it would be a good idea to comprehend her. That being said, I think that I will accompany you to Earth. It will be good to speak about Nerissa with someone who knew her before us."
"Thank you father" said Caleb. And the two men walked again the streets of the village, but separating their ways. After all Caleb was still a captain of the militia and had duties to attain with his men. Apparently the Queen was going to move herself to a city away from the capital between today night and tomorrow; to attend the inauguration of a new building in the city of the miners.
So Julian headed to his house and upon reaching and entering it, he headed to his dormitory. It was rater plain, just like his son´s. Just a bed, a little desk and a closet for his robes. The house could have used a little of a feminine touch. Julian searched under the bed and pulled out an ornamented black wood box of. He opened it and, while sitting in his bed, let it lean in his lap.
Inside the box, there was a jewel of an aquamarine tone. Julian stared at it oddly. That was the very jewel that his "wife", for the lack of a better term, had used in order to steal the power of the Hearth of Meridian and kidnap the Queen. And now, in the words of the sages of Kandrakar, it was her prison. For how much time? He didn´t known. He thought that even Kandrakar or the oracle himself didn´t known.
"Hey, you" he said to the jewel, not knowing if his words could reach the inside. "The boy is… troubled, a little, because of you. I talk to him and we are going to speak with your… former companions in order to know more about you." Julian made a pause. "Did you really loved me, or was it just part of your plans? I know that I loved you, if what I loved was the real you; and no the impersonation of the Mage that you were making." Another pause was made by the middle aged man. Julian took the jewel from inside the box and held it in such a manner that it was facing his face.
"You know, it´s not easy to raise a son by yourself in a world like this. I don´t think that it could be easy in any other world, although. There were moments that made me think that you just didn´t care, albeit I knew that you were busy with the duties of the Mage. But when I got freed by our son and he told me how you aided the rebellion, how you encouraged and supported him; I thought… I believed that you were caring about him. That you really loved me." Julian put the jewel in his bed´s pillow and he himself laid in it.
"Then I discovered who you really are and the fact that you thought about Caleb like a "Product for being the Rebel leader"; and I hated you with every bit of my soul. And I still hate you, woman. You used me" Julian said this not with rage in his voice, though his eyes flared, looking at the ceiling. "You used him, and still, I know that those emotions and caring that you showed in that mountain were real. I tried to talk to you. I tried to understand you, and to make you understand. But I will never be able to forgive you. Even for the boy´s sake. I will speak with your former friends. Maybe they can tell me if what you showed for me was real or not…And maybe I will be able to understand you better."
He took the jewel and, putting it back in the box, he put it again under his bed. "Have pleasant dreams Nerissa. I wonder if I would be able to meet the real you someday"
Albeit with the best of the intentions, Julian´s speech didn´t reach the interiors of the jewel. Inside it, a happy world built in dreams was being played, like some sort of twisted theater play. Its protagonist was Nerissa Crossnic, former Keeper of the Hearth of Kandrakar; and a traitor in the eyes of so many people that it would be pointless to name them here.
But in her eyes she had been a victim; and now, she was a hero. A hero of a fake universe now united in peace thanks to her efforts. And, of course, she had been rewarded by it. Crowned leader of the universe; her old companions by her side and having finally accepted the reason of her actions, and of course, a supporting husband and a caring son ruling by her side.
Today, her son was suit in regal robes, a beautiful, blond haired woman dressed in a white dress standing before him, the two of them in an altar, prepared to being married, by the hands of her friend Yan Lin, no less.
Her husband at her right and Cassidy at her left; Nerissa watched how her son Caleb married Cornelia Hale, the love of his life.
"So, how are your grandchildren going to be named?" asked her the dream Cassidy.
"Oh, I think that it is a little soon to be thinking about grandchildren, lady Chacon" said the dream Julian. "Don´t you agree, my dear?" referred to his wife the man.
Nerissa said nothing, her senses completely concentrated in the couple delivering their first kiss as matrimony. When the kiss ended, she was the first one to stand up and clap her hands to wish them the best.
"You know, is incredible how you founded the correct way to turn the girls back to human. It´s miraculous" continued Cassidy. "Almost God-like"
Nerissa continued to watch her son and her new daughter-in-law. They looked back at her and smiled. It was their way of thanking her for what she had done. But of course, she was the source of all the happiness; so it was normal for everyone to thank and love her back. That was truth. So, the imprisoned woman who didn´t know about the beautiful cage around her just smiled back to her new and imaginary family; and let the happiness to posses her.
"I know" was her only response to her imaginary friend.
Far from the capital, and from almost any meridianite village, deep in a dark forest; at the feet of an ugly, dry and distorted black tree; laid a sword.
The hilt of the murder tool was shaped as a branch of the same tree on which's feet rested. The blade of the sword was of a wary mixture of dark-green and some black. It looked like there were faces inside that blade, contorting and screaming.
The sword had been there for so long, that no one knew of its existence. And even if someone knew, they would never found the place of its rest. Only the chose could access to that forest, and that tree. And the sword had been waiting, until its master´s return and appointment into a new mission. Today, that waiting was coming to an end.
From under the roots of the tree, came a whimpering sound. And then, a hand exited from the very same roots. Then a head, a body and a pair of legs and feet. The humanoid being then rose to its feet, as long as it was.
There was, in all his glory, the Tracker of Meridian, with his rotten green akin, his lean body and nightmarish face with two bright red eyes and exposed teeth. He lacked his trademark hat; actually, he lacked any clothing at all. The lack of clothing always happened.
He looked at his hand. "Alive again" he said to nobody in particular with his raspy voice. It was always the same. Eternal returning, was that how it was called? It didn´t matter how many times he died. He always returned, always the same way, always in the same place. The same tree where he had died for the first time. This time´s dead had been fun. Ripped from the inside, quite entertaining, and innovative, he must add.
What was the name of the man hat had killed him this time? Dracorn, Blake, Drake? It didn´t matter, but if he encountered that boy again he was going to kill him.
And the sword was still there, no one able to pull it out but him. He would like to wield that sword again and hunt with it. But it was not the time. So he started to walk. He would have to find new clothes and a new weapon. And a new hat. He liked his hat.
"No, Eternal Hunter, not this time." said then a collective voice that was carried by the wind that passed between the branches of the tree.
Tracker recognized it. He then fell to his knees, palms and forehead down in the ground. It was them! This only could mean…
"Yes, Eternal Hunter, the time has come. Pull out the sword from the dirt. Wield it again to hunt again, like you did in the old days" said the voice, almost like it was coming from the sword now. The Tracker obeyed, and rising again, he put his right hand in the weapon´s hilt. The sword recognized its master and shivered at the contact. Then the undead tightened the grip and pulled the sword from the ground.
The weapon´s blade exploded in a storm of green and black flames; and the faces inside it started screaming in agony, each one of them burning. The fire engulfed Tracker and when it dispersed, he was dressed in his usual hunter attire, hat included.
Images flashed in the undead creature´s mind. It was a location, a mission, an objective. A prey.
He smiled. He would be able to regain his hound. "But," the undead questioned "what about the Light Queen? And the defenses?"
"Do not worry, Eternal Hunter. We shall provide. Also, she is called Iron Queen these days."
The Tracker smiled to himself, for the first time in ages, when a new set of images flashed through his mind, these ones containing information about the many people of Meridian, including the Queen. "I understand" said the creature. Finally, this was his moment, their moment. "When shall I proceed?"
"Wait until tomorrow, when the young Queen is away from her citadel. Then, you shall do what you do best. And when you are finished, do whatever you want until we reclaim you again. Then you shall come here again to meet with the other hierophant."
The undead then made a reverence and, using the sword in hand, he teleported to another section of Meridian.
Away from that deep dark forest, back into the castle, in the dungeons, there was an enormous crack that was called the Abyss of Shadows. It was believed to not have an end; and during the rule of Phobos it had been usual to thrown on it the majority of the rebel prisoners. Under the Queen´s rule, she had rescinded from its use.
This time, whatever, something was coming up the Abyss. Something large and multi-armed. Something old and hungry. Something enormous, with six legs and its body made of black worms; an enormous vertical mouth full of teeth decorating its belly. Three red eyes in his forehead and an eye in each one of its legs.
It was climbing the Abyss. It was the first one of a Legion to come.
A cage cannot content something forever. The storm was coming.
Prisons are the temples where devils learn to prey. Every time we turn the key we twist the knife of fate, because every time we cage a man we close him in with hate. Gregory David Roberts
Author Notes: Well folks, this was the second chapter. Hope that you really liked it. Like the first one, this chapter is dedicated to set the pieces in the board; to show how meridian and the meridianites are doing after the end of the second season. Like you just seen… it is not as good as the girl´s in Earth. This chapter was named "People in cages" to show how the events of previous seasons had caged numerous characters, both literally and metaphorically. Frost the Hunter, a character than didn´t transience from "I, STRONG DUMB MUSCLE" in canon; is caged in the Infinite City, but now is also caged in doubts about if he made a good decision joining others and bowing to their will only looking for recognition.
Cedric and Miranda are caged in a very, VERY sick relationship. Actually, their "emotions" are genuine; Cedric is not manipulating her or vice versa, it's just that their attraction to each other and the reasons behind it are warped. During the running of this story I am going to deepen in HOW MUCH their relationship is wrong between the point of view of human standards; but I am going to portray them as a couple that cares and loves each other; albeit in a twisted way.
Prince Phobos is caged in fear and despair. He had lost everything again and this time even what he believed that was genuinely his has been taken from him. Why am I portraying him like this? Well, I never liked the character. In the beginning of the comic book he looked interesting, but then he just transformed into a plane stereotypical evil character. For me, he always has seemed pretty pathetic. And that´s how I am portraying him here. As a petty man that wanted everyone to bow to him and recognize him as the pinnacle of the universe; but that instead is reduced to be a normal human being. He is afraid and beaten so hard, that he cages himself inside his shattered pride and compassion to try and feel that he still is better than others. Indeed, truly pathetic.
Elyon, oh sweet and naive Elyon… is not sweet and naive anymore. The two enormous stabs in the back that she suffered in the canon series from the hands of people she trusted, plus the time that she spend ALONE inside the jewel until the members of CHYNK joined her; left her psyche with considerable wounds. This had driven her into building a cage of iron and coldness around her in order to become stronger. And in some short of way, she had accomplished it. And now she wants her world and kingdom to experiment the same progression. She is caged in distrust against practically everyone; and is obsessed with truth and progress. How will those things come to Meridian? We will have to wait to see…
Caleb is caged in doubts not against others, but against himself. Caleb had always seen the world in black and white; light and dark. His experience with Phobos and the rebellion and how Kandrakar supported the latter only encouraged his moral view. But then, his mother came into the light and the revelation, plus her actions and motives; made Caleb start to doubt himself and various actions of the rebellion during the civil war. Because in my story the rebels did some very NASTY THINGS during the war. Because I don´t find plausible that an armed miniature army playing guerrillas is an impeccable force of honor and good.
Julian, in the other hand, is caged in hate. And when I say hate I MEAN hate. His speech to Caleb about understanding but not justifying the actions of others is genuine; but even if he is able to understand Nerissa, he hates her with every bit of his soul because, well; because she raped him. And Nerissa is still caged in her personal Lotus-Eater Machine; living a life that she doesn´t really deserve; believing that she is finally the recognized hero that she always wanted to be and loved by everyone. The fact that Cassidy and Julian appear by her sides is made intentionally.
And finally, yes it´s the Tracker. HE IS ALIVE! I always liked his design in the cartoon, and the moment that he died I was like "really?" So I decided to bring him back and give him a more important role; and also make a Sleepy Hollow reference that I hope that everyone had recognized while doing it. Also, if you had read the prologue, you may know for sure who was speaking and commanding Tracker, and know what the hell is that thing climbing the Abyss of Shadows.
Finally, the other hierophant that was mentioned and that Tracker is going to meet in future chapters is a mole inside the court. Yep, another one. His/her identity will be revealed in time, I promise; albeit tracker knows about it already, thanks to those telepathically send images.
And that is all. The third chapter will be called "Explosion of flesh and metal" and it will be… well the set in motion of the pieces presented into these two chapters. Like an explosion. And when finished, we will enter the Riddle Arc of this story, focusing more in the Guardians, but not forgetting Meridian.
Have pleasant days and nights, you all.