This is a story of full fiction, no robot or fantasy creatures were harmed in its creation
I am glad to announce that my website had finally been UPDATED, with Star Child artwork, the story and a SNEAK PEEK of Star Child 2.
Take a look: www.rhavenlore.com
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Gentle waves brushed across the black sandy beach. Seagulls glided lazily overhead as Prime stepped off his silver chariot and looked around at the scenery.
"Where do we go from here?" He said to no one in particular.
"A light afar, beyond our reach, a stretch of black sanded beach. To the tower rests the edge of light. Hidden away, hidden within sight." Boy said quietly. Puck twisted his head towards the mechanical boy, hearing it quote the Jerico song shocked him.
"And what exactly does that mean?" Prime asked. "I see a black sand beach, but where is the tower?"
"My I ask, why do you want the Star Child. You have all but beaten the humans, what could the sword give you that you don't already have?" Boy asked.
"An illogical question my brother, since it was you who overheard the Eller talking. The destruction of the Star Child will end all magic. Without magic, there is nothing I cannot control. So tell me, how do we find this tower?"
"I think the only person who can answer that would be the Eller." Boy gestured at Puck, still lying on the floor of the chariot. "But it would be too dangerous to release him from the Neurochoker."
"I have no fear from the Eller. Take off the choker." Prime commanded. Without hesitation, Boy did as he was commanded. Instantly, Puck felt his muscles come to life, he attempted to jump to his feet, but his joints felt stiff. Slowly Puck managed to stand.
"You will attempt to cast a spell on me." Prime said smiling. "You will fail and I will be forced to kill you."
"Fuck you." Puck growled.
"Come now, surely you can think of a better explicative than that. I do not wish to kill you Eller, but if you force my hand I will."
"Of that I have no doubt." Puck eyed the crazed Autonoid. He would only have one change in attacking him; it needed to be a powerful spell. As if reading Puck's mind, Prime stepped closer to him.
"You do not want your friend to find the Star Child, isn't that correct?" Prime took another delicate step towards Puck. "Tell me where to find the tower and I will allow you to live."
"I would rather die than give you the Star Child!" Screamed Puck, he threw up his and ready to cast a Lightening spell. Before he could start weaving the spell, Prime grabbed Puck's left hand and squeezed. Puck heard the sickening crackle of his bones and let out a painful scream.
"If I must, I will break the other hand." Prime said simply. "Now tell me where the tower is."
Puck gritted his teeth, trying not to let Prime see him in pain. He looked around the surroundings, to the emotionless Boy and back to the grinning Autonoid.
"I don't know where the tower is, according to the song, it is here on the black beach." He finally said.
The eternally sarcastic smile on Prime's face vanished. "Then you are useless to me."
Puck closed his eyes. He finally allowed himself to think of Dango, of the silly man's jokes and constant complaining. Puck inhaled deeply and prepared to die.
No matter how fast they were going, the cloud of dust the robots stirred up was always close behind them. Ash couldn't help but look behind him every few minutes. It seemed the longer they walked the slower Nazarus got. Looking at the naked Eller ahead of him, he noticed how stiff he was moving.
"Are you all right?" Ash asked.
"The spell takes a lot out of me. I've never used it with another person before and this long." Confessed Nazarus with a weak smile.
Ash nodded and felt a wave of guilt rush over him.
"We are getting close to the beach." Nazarus announced.
"Nazarus. I . I don't know what I'm suppose to do." Ash almost whispered.
"I wish I could .. Help you. But I. I think I've gone as far as I
can." Nazarus stopped walking, swayed oddly and lastly collapsed to the ground.
The world around Ash suddenly came into focus. "Nazarus. are you
okay?"
"I. I'm sorry Prince Asrais. You will have to. journey the rest of the way on your own." Nazarus tried to stand, but didn't have the energy. Ash knelt down next to the Eller and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you for your help, Nazarus. Just rest here." Ash wanted to scream, pull the Eller to his feet and make him go with him. However, maybe this was something he had to do alone. The thought scared Ash, Puck had been there all his life to guild him. Then Otto became his protector. Facing the unknown alone, overwhelmed him. Ash stood and gave Nazarus a fake smile as he continued walking towards the sounds of the ocean. He climbed up a hill and stared out across the sparkling black beach. On the shore, he spied a silver vehicle. Three figures stood around the vehicle, in deep conversation. However, the large ebony tower behind them drew his attention.
"Save me." A voice said on the winds. "Save me."
The tower was his destination, he had to get there and rescue the Star Child. Slowly Ash crept over the top of the hill and descended down towards the beach. As he moved closer, he saw that one of the figures was naked. It had to be an Eller. Ash moved closer and gasped. It was Puck, the figure next to him, had to be the villain Prime. Before Ash could think, he screamed and ran towards his friend.
"No Ash! Get out of here!" Puck begged as he watched in horror, his friend running down the hill towards him.
"The great Prince Asrais?" Prime grinned and threw up his arms. Puck spun up into the air, into a whirlwind of sand and air. "You will take me to the Star Child, if you wish to see your friend live."
"Let him go!" Screamed Ash as he skidded to a stop. He held up the sword hilt for Prime to see. "Let him go or I won't take you into the tower."
Ash could see how eager Prime was to get his hands on the hilt, the Autonoid nodded his head and instantly Puck fell to the ground.
"Lead the way Prince Asrais." Prime laughed.
"Ash. Ash you can't let Prime have the sword." Puck spat as he managed to lift his head off the ground.
"Truly?" Prime yelled. "Was it not you, who came here to stop the Prince from gaining his goal? Would you have killed him to keep the Star Child from his hands?"
"What's he talking about Puck?" Ash asked. "Is what he's saying true?"
"Ash you don't understand." Puck whispered, with his body screaming to him from pain, it was hard for him to collect his thoughts. He knew what Prime was doing, but didn't know how to explain it to Ash. "Please Ash, I can't clarify all that has happened. just don't let Prime have the Star Child."
Ash looked down at his old friend and then to Prime. He wasn't stupid, Ash knew it would be horrible for the Autonoid to possess the sword. However, did Puck think the same thing about him?
"Enough of this." Prime growled. "Prince Asrais, the Eller believes you to be a danger. I for one can appreciate danger. Isn't it a thrill, to know you scare your friend so much, that he would do anything. anything to stop you from possessing what is rightfully yours?"
"Shut up, Monster." Ash yelled irately. "Stop pretending to be on my side. I know what you are and I know what you want." Ash looked passed the Autonoid, at the dark tower. "There's your tower, you go find the stupid sword on your own."
Prime turned to see what Ash was looking at, he ran through all the spectrums, but still couldn't see anything. "Do you see the tower?"
"Of course I see the tower." Ash growled, thinking Prime was still taunting him.
"Very curious." Prime muttered. Ash didn't have time to react as the Autonoid raced towards him and grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Take me to the tower now!" Prime commanded.
Ash bit his lower lip and tightened his grip on the sword hilt. He had to stop Prime, if only the sword was whole. If only he could pierce this monster's mechanical heart and end this madness. To Ash surprise, he could almost make out a specter blade growing out of the hilt. He felt the new weight that was added. It became hard for Ash to keep his eyes open; he struggled and shook his head. But the urge to close them was too strong.
Lazar walked solemnly into his dark laboratory. Confined with the glass prison, a glorious sword hovered, light pulsating from it like an alien heartbeat.
"What troubles you father?" the sword said in a voice of chimes and bells.
The man looked up from his control panel and forced a smile.
"Nothing."
Ash looked around the odd room; it looked the same as from his last dream, except an aura of dread hung heavy around Lord Lazar.
Ash floated over this his distant kin and watched the man walk over to the sword.
"What." Lazar said, trying to keep his voice calm. "What are you doing to this castle?"
"Doing, father?"
"I'm not your." Lazar bit his tongue and inhaled hard. "Please, tell me what is happening here. Fires, suddenly appear. a servant levitated out a window. even one of my Generals. he . he manifested a sword from thought, that will cut through the thickest steel. What is happening here?"
"We come to. I come to experience this new dimension, father." The sword sang. "And to allow this dimension to experience me."
Lazar groaned and clinched his fists.
"What is the matter, father?" The sword asked, with true concern interweaved into its foreign voice.
"What is the matter? You have attacked my . my wife. My unborn son.. Oh God, my son. What horror have I released upon Thrae?"
The sword's light pulse quickened. "Your son. I am your son now, father. I adapted the fetus to us. to me. I meant no harm to our mother. This world offers so many wonders; I just. want to explore it all."
Lazar returned to his illuminated control panel and started adjusting some dials.
"You will not be exploring, demon. I may have opened the gate for you.."
"Father, what. what are you doing?"
"I am sealing the energy contained within you." Lazar laughed madly. "I am encasing you within a polarized field. You shall for all eternity be only a sword. You are nothing more than a weapon to me. A WEAPON!" Lazar screamed as if trying to convince himself.
"A weapon." Ash muttered as he opened his eyes.
".I said take me to the tower." Barked Prime, shoving Ash forward. Without any hesitation, Ash slammed the phantom blade into Prime's abdomen. A crackled electronic scream escaped Prime's snarled lips. Ash shielded his eyes as he was showered in sparks.
"Cursed little cretin!" Prime growled as he staggered back, holding onto his stomach. Ash could see the injury he caused. Prime's stomach was gapping open, wires and fluid spilled out. Ash felt a moment of pride in hurting this monster.
"You dare smile?" Prime screamed and quickly made a grand gesture with his hands. Ash struggle for breath, a sphere of severing heat struck him hard in the face. Ash was screaming before he realized it, the intense heat burning its way into his eyes.
"I will make you suffer for this insult." Prime raised his hands again, but was knocked to the ground as Puck leapt on him.
"Leave Ash alone!" The Eller screamed.
Ash crawled away from the sounds of fighting. His vision was gone, blackness consumed everything. The pain was almost unbearable, as he struggled to remain conscious.
"PRIME!" someone screamed. Ash turned his head towards the new voice; he suddenly got the sense of a new danger approaching. "Puck. move!" He managed to say through clinched teeth.
"Prime, you son of a bitch." Fylgiar screamed and leapt off his horse. He cocked the massive 75 mm rifle and fired. The time for talk, the time for strategy had ended.
The explosion ballooned high into the perfect blue sky, consuming Puck and Prime in a chaotic ball of fire and smoke. Ash was thrown through the air and landed hard onto the stone steps of the tower. His pain pounded through his head and down his neck into his limbs, making it difficult for Ash to move.
Lord Aero scrambled off the mechanical horse and over to a ridge, everyone around him was insane. He was not going to die today. Aero laughed to himself. Patience is a virtue.
"Let these fools kill each other and all my worries will be simply erased." Aero whispered. He watched as Prime limped out of the inferno and sent a foray of flaming magical spikes towards Fylgiar. The assassin fired his powerful rifle again, the shockwave, vibrated through Aero's bones and made him cringe.
"Kill each other, already." Snarled Aero as he watched Fylgiar shrug off the spikes and pull his large sword. He charged the Autonoid, in berserk fury. The robot boy lunged out of nowhere in attempt to knock Fylgiar to the ground. However, the mercenary was too quick, his sword was too sharp. The boy let out an ear-piercing squeal as his torso flew left and his legs went right. Something happened to the furious Fylgiar; he froze and stared at the hacked body of the robot boy. His blind anger erased by the sight of his mechanical child. Fylgiar let his sword fall, forgotten to the ground as he knelt and cradled the boy's head in his lap.
"Move you fool." Aero whispered. He watched Prime calmly walk to Fylgiar, there was a loud grotesque 'pop' and the Autonoid lifted up the severed head of the mercenary. Prime had moved so quickly, it took Aero a second to realize what the Autonoid had just done.
"Damn. Damn. Damn." He cursed. After all this fighting and death, he was left with the same problem. Prime still lived.
"Hello human."
Aero screamed and grabbed at his chest as if his heart had burst from fright. He slowly turned and wished that he hadn't. A one armed Autonoid towered over him. Behind this monster of a man, an ocean of yellow, warrior robots as far as Aero could see. The one armed Autonoid snatched him up with the speed of sound. In an instant Aero found himself soaring through the air.
"But I'm supposed to be king." Was the last thing Aero managed to say, before he fell into the waiting arms of a thousand robots.
Ash pulled himself cross the steps of the tower, until he believed that he had actually made it inside. The sounds of fighting were now dampened by short echoes and he could no longer feel the sun burning his skin. In fact, it was now almost ice cold. Ash felt around until he found the cool stone wall. Carefully, Ash pulled himself to his feet. The pain he felt was still mind numbing, but he could not only hear the beautiful music of the Star Child, but it pulled him to it. Slowly he moved, shuffling forward his left foot and then his right. He did this until his left foot bumped into a step. Ash knew this was the stairway that would lead him to the Star Child. Step by step, Ash carefully made his way up the spiral staircase. Memories flashed through his mind, images that were not his. Visions of Lazar brandishing the sword into battle, magic conquering the hordes of Autonoids. Memories of imprisonment, of sorrow, of loneliness. Ash saw through eyes that were not eyes. He almost fell as the steps suddenly ended. Though he was now blind, Ash knew he was facing the Star Child blade. The sword hilt shuttered and shook, pulling him further into the room.
"You have finally arrived." The voice said overjoyed.
"Yes."
"You must release me now, cousin."
"Why. why did you call me cousin?"
"I am part of the Soldaat, son of Lazar, heir of the kingdom." The voice echoed around the room, as if speaking to Ash from everywhere at once.
"You don't believe that. You may have stolen the fetus of Gwenia Soldaat, but that doesn't make you her son." Ash was having trouble remaining standing, the pain was agonizing. He wasn't sure had bad he had been hurt, afraid to let his hand explore his injuries. However, Ash was almost sure that his blindness was permanent.
"Young princes, you of all the Soldaats, have the true vision."
"I'm blind damn it!" Ash screamed, using up the last of his energy. He fell to his knees and surrendered to the pain, to his sorrow. "I'm blind and I'm lost.. I don't know what to do now. help me. please, someone help me."
"Come forward, Prince Asrais. come forward and all will be solved."
Puck gasped, sucking in the sweet taste of air, only to choke and violently cough up water.
"Take it easy." Someone whispered.
The waves lapped gently at Puck's aching body. The last thing he remembered was being in a death struggle with Prime.
"Who. Who are you?" Puck asked as his eyes focused on a fellow Eller leaning over him. "What happened, how did I end up in the ocean?"
"I am Nazarus of the Rose Konig Clan, from what I witnessed, you are extremely lucky. You should be dead."
"I. I hurt too much to be dead." Puck moaned.
"Shhhhh." Nazarus crouched down quickly. "Prime's goons have finally arrived."
"Ash!" Puck almost screamed. "I've got to find Ash."
Nazarus pushed Puck back down. "Relax; Prince Asrais isn't out there. I couldn't find him anywhere."
"He's out there. I know he is." Puck demanded.
"Trust me; all I see is Prime, his robots and another autonoid I've encountered before. No Prince of Soldaat."
"No. I've got to find Ash!" Puck screamed and pushed Nazarus out of his way. The Eller stumbled up and limped his way towards the mad Autonoid.
Prime eyed the injured Eller and laughed. "I applaud your tenacity, Eller. But as you can see, I am busy at the moment." Prime turned from the Eller and addressed Otto. "If you would brother, kill the pest."
"As you wish, Master." Otto said with a grin.
"Otto? Otto what are you doing. we have to help Ash." Puck staggered back, almost fell, but someone caught him.
"You are too impulsive for me." Nazarus said as he helped Puck steady himself. "I didn't realize you knew Otto, you should know he's under the power of Prime. your autonoid friend is beyond help."
"Otto, fight it. You. You love Ash as much as I do. He needs our help now." Puck begged as the Autonoid continued his menacing approach.
"Love? I love.." Otto stopped and looked at his missing arm.
"Otto, I told you to kill the Eller." Prime growled. Otto raised his axe and took another step closer. The Autonoid jerked as if suffering from a major spasm, the axe slipped from his fingers and Otto howled to the sky. "I am different! I am not just . Just an Autonoid! I am. I am in love."
Puck watched as his friend frozen, his eyelids slowly closed.
"What happened?" Nazarus asked cautiously, staring worryingly at the immobile autonoid.
"He. Otto shut himself off. It was the only way he could fight Prime's control." Puck said sadly. Puck didn't have but a moment to mourn, several warrior robots advanced forward and began ripping Otto into shattered pieces.
"You bastard!" Puck screamed. "You didn't have to destroy him."
"Anyone that will not bow to my command; dies." Yelled Prime towards his robots.
"No one else is going to die, Prime."
Puck gasped, as Ash appeared out of thin air. In his hand, a shining sword.
"Prince Asrais, I see you have arrived with my prize." Prime said nonchalantly, only losing his smile once he looked the boy in the eyes.
Ash scanned the beach, Prime, the robots and the two Ellers. He had to smile; at last he finally understood everything.
"Ash. Ash what. what has happened to you?" Puck said awkwardly. "What happened to your eyes?"
Ash turned to look at his friend, his glowing white eyes staring not only at Puck, but also within him. Seeing the magic that created him and imprisoned him. It was the same aura radiating from Prime's robots.
"I'm fine Puck. everything will be fine. Trust me." Ash said in a voice not his own.
"Give me the sword!" Prime screamed.
"All right." Ash said, still smiling. He stepped forward and handed the Star Child to the Autonoid.
"Ash." Puck said weakly.
"Trust me."
"Yes, trust the fool!" Prime said proudly as he lifted the sword above his head. "There is nothing that can stand in my way now!"
"Only one thing." Ash interrupted.
Prime turned to Ash, pointing the sword at the boy's throat. "And do tell, what would that one thing be?"
Ash simply pointed to the sword. Instantly the Star Child oozed out of Prime's hand. The Autonoid tried to grab the sword back, but it only slipped through his fingers.
"You have caused Thrae great pain Prime. Your murderous time has finally come to an end." Ash said reaching out and reclaimed the sword.
"Do you truly think you have won?" Prime yelled. "Look around you; do you honestly believe you can defeat all my warriors?" Prime gestured towards the endless crowd of robots behind him.
"You have fooled everyone Prime, but you can no longer fool me." Ash waved the sword and fields of robots faded from existence.
"What. what just happened?" Nazarus asked.
"The robots were nothing more than a Duplicate Spell. All anyone had to do was cast a Disperse spell."
"The robots weren't real?" Puck said slowly.
"They were nothing more than magic, as you are Nazarus, Puck." Ash said sadly.
"And the truth is revealed." Prime snarled.
"What are you talking about Ash?" Puck said frowning. "You're talking as if I'm not real."
"You're not Puck." Ash said unable to look his friend in the eyes. "You were created from magic and that's all you are. a creation. A thought materialized."
"That's not true Ash and you know it. I'm as real as you." Puck said shaking his head, unable to believe that his long time friend would say such a thing. "Ash you are possessed by the Star Child. I. I can help you."
"No Puck." Ash said. "Not possessed, but freed, the Star Child has freed me."
"You can't believe I'm nothing more than a spell." Puck said.
"Hard to imagine isn't it, Eller." Prime laughed. "I couldn't have my robots attack you or any non-human race, because you didn't register as a life form to their sensors." Prime laughed again. "It's a shock to discover that you are nothing more than a human phantasmal play toy."
"Enough!" Ash yelled. "It's time."
"I don't know what you are speaking of, but yes, it is time!" Prime said, the Autonoid stretched out his hands. "Die Prince!"
Ash released the sword. The Star Child erupted into a ball of blinding light, radiating Prime in its eerie glow. The Autonoid froze in mid-action.
"What is happening?" Prime roared as he tried to command his limbs to move.
"The Star Child is changing things." Ash said walking over to the Autonoid. "I've released it from being a slave. Now it will be able to explore Thrae as it wanted to a thousand years ago."
"Ash you will destroy Thrae, millions of lives will cease to exist if you release the Star Child." Puck cried.
"Just the opposite, Puck. I'm saving Thrae." Ash held out his hand and the glowing orb exploded. From the starburst emerged hundreds of objects. Simple stones, daggers, shields, wands, bracers and more danced around Prime's stationary body. From out of the multitude of items, a red gem floated into Ash's hand.
"That's the Meridian amulet, but it was shattered. how. how did you make it whole again?" Puck asked stepping closer to his old friend. He was hesitant, with glowing white eyes and a voice that echoed from deep inside his soul, Ash was no longer Ash. This wasn't the innocent child he knew and that scared him.
"I didn't repair the amulet, I created it." Ash said simply. Puck stared at the amulet, as it began to fold in on itself and disappear.
"I have sent it to the past." Ash explained before Puck could ask anything. Ash turned his attention back to the still motionless Prime. "A boy from Earth will find the amulet and journey here Prime. All you have done, all your dreams and murderous expectations are gone. This simple boy from Earth will be your destruction and all you have done here will never have happened."
"You. you are insane." Prime laughed, but stopped as his body slowly became transparent. "You can't do this!" The Autonoid screamed. "I will destroy youuuuuuuuu!" Prime vanished, his feral howl echoing away into nothing.
Puck and Nazarus gave each other concerned looks as they stood alone with Prince Asrais and the objects that once was the Star Child.
"Ash, tell me what is going on here!" Puck tried not to let his anger show in his voice.
"The Star Child has changed everything. No longer will magic be so limited. The Star Child was more than just one single soul; it is a universe of life. Now joined with ours. The items will spread across Thrae, of good and even of evil. It grows and learns, giving birth to legends and myths. Molding a new Thrae." Ash said almost joyfully.
"What about us." Puck gestured to himself and Nazarus. "Are we to fade into nothing like Prime?"
"Like I said Puck, all has changed."
Puck and Ash stood on a simple dirt road, surrounded by rolling hills and apple green trees.
"Welcome to Thrae." Puck said excitedly. "How I have longed to return home, isn't it wonderful?"
Over the hill appeared Dango and Otto.
"HO Weary Travelers!" Dango yelled cheerfully.
Ash smiled to himself as his friend ran and leapt into Dango's arms. Ash approached the tall Autonoid and took his hand.
"Hello." Otto said with a gentle smile. "I am Otto, my identification is X3-A133-455-7175 and you are Prince Asrais of the House of
Soldaat?"
"I am." Ash said almost giggling. "Otto I think you and I will become fast friends."
Otto arched an eyebrow and smiled. "That would be nice."
"So you too are getting to know each other?" Dango interrupted. "So where too Puck? Pallatora? To home and maybe. to bed?" Dango said with a wicked wink and a smile.
"To Soldaat Castle. There is a King there who wishes to see his son." Puck said.
"My father." Ash said with a heavy sigh. "Come on Otto. We have a lot to discuss. like does my dad's castle have toilets? Oh and a swimming pool? I need to teach you how to swim."
Ash looked around him, to Dango and Puck and then to Otto. Though his eyes no longer glowed, he saw the world with new sight. Its power radiated through his body and sang to him. Ash was now the Star Child. Though he could see every corner of the universe and beyond, his future was unknown. But there was a future and that was all that mattered.
Epilogue
Waves lapped at the black beach hungrily, an endless struggle to claim the land back to the dominion of the sea. Four figures stood gazing out upon the Sememman Sea, their red cloaks fluttering and dancing with the ocean breeze.
"It all has happened as I knew it would. The Star Child has scattered it's soul across Thrae. Opening doors of power for us to utilize." The tallest of the figures said solemnly.
"Then our time has finally come?" The only woman in the group spoke; she looked up at the man and shivered from sight of his shimmering yellow eyes.
"The sea will turn red from the blood of all Thraens. Once I open the gates of Hell, no one will stand in my way. The Bromquag will soon rule Thrae and then Earth will easily follow!"
To Be Continued in STAR CHILD 2 The Silent Song