We land on the island, and all but Butler head into the castle. Falls is waiting for us in the foyer. We all pop in the room of light. I figure we would be a little cramped, but the room adjusted to accommodate us all.
The room is full of the moving lights when we all get in it. After a few seconds the color clears and Balthazar stands against one wall. I expected to see myself, but I see someone different.
An extremely fair skinned man stands before us. His hair is white with a hint of black streaks. His frame is thin and almost skeletal. His face looks like a boy with very wise eyes. His posture is that of authority with a hint of sarcasm.
When he talks it sounds out of place. It sounds more like a big gruff bouncer voice. I find it odd that the voice I hear is not what I heard in my dream. “I'm glad you figured out my little puzzle. I was not sure Drako would agree to come. I'm sorry for my attitude, Drako, but I had no choice.
The desert has suffered for my actions. I hope you can forgive me,” Balthazar says.
“The desert suffers because of me, not you,” Drake says.
“But I am the one who put you through it. You were the one who I had hoped would take the council head. I think things would have turned out differently if you had taken it,” he says.
“Wait, I'm confused,” I say, “You can hear us?”
“Yes Jode, I can converse with you. It is odd for me to be telling myself what I did.”
“But why all of this? You could have canceled the curse whenever you chose,” I say.
He smiles, “You are me when I was young. I miss my naivety. I am only a fraction, in this image, of who I was. I only have the information I am to pass on nothing more.
I couldn't cancel the curse because the repercussions were too great. If I had canceled the curse the intricate web created by it would have collapsed. It would take longer than just a few years to stabilize the fabric.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Forgive me I forget magic is reduced. All magic is part of a fabric that entwines many worlds. Our use did not only affect our world and the other, but many many others.
I had to reduce or stop all dimensional magic. I knew that it could cause a cascade that would be almost unstoppable. I had planned for every eventuality except a change of heart.
I knew of Bena's change, it was Vena I did not anticipate. I was hoping she would hold true to protocol. But alas even I cannot see into someone's heart.
I held Vena stable for longer than I should have. I tried to keep her here, but she would not let me,” he says then looks directly at Star, “Elisa you would be proud of her. She endured more than I would be willing. She told me it was for you.”
Star cries uncontrollable, You would expect some sounds from her, but there was silence and tears. “I told you she was a great woman,” she says.
“I never doubted you. I just hoped she would hold to protocol longer. She was the only link I could not cover. I left her and fate to decide. I could not tell her that the destruction of the human race was because of her alteration. She held the fate of life in her hands.
I think she realized what she had done though. It was her idea for the second curse. She actually saved life as we know it, not me. She made me hold her life in flux till she could recite the curse.
She swore me to listen. I could not let her go,” Balthazar pauses to hold his voice steady, “But she would not let me. No one should go through the pain she went through. I could not see how any world could be worth her pain,” Balthazar stops and cries.
“She always thought life was more precious than her,” Star says, “She agreed to it all only to save life. She told me that life is precious, even in a grain of sand.”
“But to sacrifice so much. She was my greatest regret. If I had but known she had planned this all along I would have found another way.”
“Vena was your greatest admirer Balthazar. She told me many times how much you sacrificed. I did not know what she meant then. It was not till you were gone that I realized only part of your sacrifice. Butler told me.”
“How?” Balthazar asks.
“I don't think you truly realize who they are. You talk of sacrifice, but you will never know sacrifice till you truly know a watcher. Just knowing that you were never alone,” she says.
“You already know?” I ask in disbelief.
“Not all, but most. I and the watchers are bound by a law that is unbreakable. Perhaps one day you will see that law, but till then I can only watch never interfere,” she says with a tone of authority not even Balthazar could match.
“Then you know what I had planned before I did?” Balthore asks.
“No,” Star returns softly, “You hid that well from even the watchers. It was your innocence that drew them, but your perfect secret that intrigued them.”
“You're linked too?” I ask.
“No, not as you know it. I am now like the watchers. I reside outside the in,” she replies.
“You knew what needed to be done, but never said?” Rock asks.
“No, Balthazar is the only one who knows what is going on and his knowledge is now trapped in Jode.”
“Great I am a safe without a cracker,” I say.
“I set it that way,” Balthazar says.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because to lift the curse I needed to have my power, but not my knowledge,” he says.
“That makes no sense,” I say.
“I can only tell you what I know. I am a reflection of Balthazar, not him. He made me in his image, but only gave me knowledge he wanted me to have. In the end I am Balthazar without the knowledge and ability to learn. Once I am deactivated I will cease to exist.”
“So you are just here to apologize and say you have no clue what to do?” I ask.
He laughs, “No I have the next puzzle, but I felt that apologies were needed. I am still Balthazar in a practical purpose.
Drake I gave you the knowledge of the city because it needs to be fully activated. The staff is back now. The arbitrator can take care of the city once activated, but you are needed to activate it.
Avoid any dimensional magic. The use of it is what caused the whole problem. I know through the city that you have not used it since I left. But to keep the web intact you can never teach it to others.”
“That will be easy. I hate dimensional magic. Most dragons did. It was too messy,” he replies.
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“I thought that is how dragons thought. I always knew dragons held balance among everything, and you must teach that. Balance is more important than pride,” Balthore says.
“That may be hard to teach to the council” Rock says.
“Not as hard as you think. It was not pride that provoked their deceit, it was fear.” he says.
“How did you know of that, and what fear?” Rock asks.
“I know of it because the city knows. Besides, I anticipated it. The fear is of me,” he says.
“Fear of an image or the city?” Rock asks.
“Neither,” Balthazar says, then looks at me. “They saw the power I had in you, Jode. They feared of my implied hatred of dragons would resurface.
I never hated dragons. I envied them. I could never be such a noble race. I did get flustered that they let us humans influence their decisions. I know they did their best though. I believe the loss of all human magic was a benefit in the end though. I just hope the loss of life is worth it.”
“Why did you make us think you hated us?” Drake asks.
“Because if even one of you knew that, you would not have questioned my motives. And your fear and animosity towards me was needed to fulfill the curse.”
“No human wanted to be god did they?” I ask.
“No, It was all my deceit from the beginning. Humans and dragons admired each other. That in the end was all our downfalls.
We both strove to know it all. That is why I turned out the way I was. I tapped into the forbidden knowledge. Brock was with me at the time. We both were subject to its wrath,” Balthazar says.
“But why did he act as a God?” Star asks.
“Because he chose that path. Either I or him had to play the part to start the course we chose.”
“Who is Brock?” I ask.
“The renegade human claiming to be god,” Star answers.
“So he allowed himself to die also?” I ask.
“Yes,” Balthazar responds.
“Why? To be labeled a renegade was the worst insult,” Drake says.
“Yes and well worth it. I actually said I would do it, but he said I would play the benefactor better. Everyone liked me more than him.”
“He was right,” Star says.
“I know, but it didn't make it any easier.”
“But this means we still have not found the final answer,” I say.
“I'm afraid not. I was merely put here to direct you on,” Balthazar says.
“To where?” I ask.
“His next puzzle and more information,” he replies.
“Which is where?” I ask.
“Right here in the city.”
“What?” I blurt.
“Drake needs to activate the city and It will be your bridge,” Balthazar responds.
“Bridge?” I ask.
“I cannot easily explain. Once activated you will see.”
“Great just send us off on another wild goose chase,” I say.
“Never,” Balthazar says and vanishes.
“How rude,” I say.
“That was you,” Rock says mockingly.
“I know, I am so rude,” I reply.
Drake looks at us strangely, then looks at Star, “Once I activate the city I cannot leave. I will not be able to go on our date.”
“That's okay. We can move our date here,” Star replies.
Drake looks at us all, “It will take several hours to fully activate the city. If you have prior engagements or loose ends I would deal with them now.”
“What do you mean loose ends?” I ask, “Are we going somewhere?”
“I can't be sure, but when fully activated the city functions as a transport. Where it will go I cannot even guess,” he says.
“Well, I would say bye to everyone in town but that will take longer than a few hours.”
“Well just cut the conversation short,” Drake says.
“Short?” I ask, “It will take us several hours just to get there.”
“Just use the transporter. Grab the locators and use them to return,” Drake says, a little confused.
“The what?” Oaky asks.
“The transporter. The one every city has.”
Star puts her hand on Drake's shoulder, “They don't have them anymore. All travel is on beast of burden or walking.”
“What, did the council abandon all the old ways?” Drake asks flustered.
“No, they have only lost the knowledge of magic use. After Balthazar died the curse went rampant and took all the high magic. All magic is the simple commoner magic,” She says trying to comfort.
“By the three lights of a dream, dragons are back in the wild age,” he says exasperated.
“Close,” Star responds.
Drake looks at me defeated, “I wish you could have seen it long ago. Dragons are a shadow of ourselves. After we clear up this puzzle there are going to be changes made.
Just say 'Transporter Room', then walk into the wall. In the room you will find a table with several white balls. Take one then envision where you want to go, then say transport. When you are ready to come back just squeeze the ball and say Mount Poo Poo.”
“Okay see you in a bit,” I say then add, “Transporter room,” and walk into the wall. I appear in the room about the size of the original room with the lights. A small table contains ten to twenty balls in a tray. I grab a ball and say transport in my head and envision the town.
I appear in the town facing the small city I had created. I hear a squeal and turn around to see a fairy in demon form. “Is Shadow of the Moon at his house?” I ask.
She nods yes slowly and points me in the direction of his farm, “Thank you,” I say and go to his farm.
I look around and realize that nothing has changed. No one seems to be interested in rebuilding the burned houses. I get to his farm and knock on the door. I don't expect an answer, but try anyway. To my surprise it opens.
“Yes?” their daughter asks. She then recognizes me and says, “About time, mom wont shut up about you. Go tell her you are all right so she will shut up. She's in the garden probably crying.”
“Hi to you too,” I say.
“Yeah hi, now hurry up I can't take another day of her crying,” she says and closes the door.
I laugh and shake my head. I get around the building to see Myst standing over the barrel she puts the parasites in. As I get closer I hear whimpering. “Myst,” I say softly.
She turns and her face is a blur of smoke. “Jode you are okay. They told me you went home to the human world.”
“Only to find someone,” I say.
“Are you done? Are you staying?” she asks.
“Sorry no on both accounts. Drake is activating the city and we don't know where it will take us, so I wanted to come and say goodbye.”
“But you just got back. Can't you stay a while?” she asks.
“I can stay a few hours or at least for a bit I mean. Then I have to leave.”
“Lets go to the chamber. Others want to hear what is going on,” she says. And heads to the center of town. She brushes her hand through my cheek as she walks by.
I had forgotten that gesture. She did it when she was worried about me. I follow her to a shack slightly longer than the others. As I approach I see Gushes and Shadow waiting at the door. They shift aside and let me enter. I enter a small room with several tables and chairs.
I take a chair and wait for the others to get in. Myst, Shadow, and Gushes walk over to the side of the room. I was about to say something when Lady Light comes in. Then the line doesn't seem to end.
I don't know everyone that came in, but I recognize the fairy I scared when I popped in, because she was still in demon form. Ghost, Shade, and Forms under a rainbow were among the crowd. Just when I thought all was done a tree spirit walks in.
“We only got bits and pieces from Falls,” Shadow says. “Then when she got kicked out of the city we thought all was lost.”
“Well that was my fault, I got a bit moody and kicked her out. She is back in the city. I don't know if she is coming to visit or not.” I say.
“What do you mean? Isn't she with you?” Shadow asks.
“No I teleported in or in other words I was in the city and with the word transport I was here,” I say.
I hear a lot of murmuring and Shadow asks, “You mean the city can transit you from one spot to another fast?”
“Yes the magic to do that still exists, how to do it was lost.”
More murmuring and Shadow asks, “What else have you learned?”
“Many things. I will have to sum up quickly,” I say. I tell them first that no one actually wanted to be god. It was a ploy by Brock and Balthazar to try and stop dimensional magic. I tell them of Vena's sacrifice so she would never be forgotten again.
I made sure they all understood that humans and dragons never really hated each other. Balthazar had to cause a rift to stop dimensional magic from harming other worlds.
I told them of the city and all the beauty and magic. I then tried to fill in as much of my adventure as possible. I felt I only had a few things left to say when I hear Drake in my head.
It is about time, come back please.
“I have to go now,” I say, “Drake is about done and when he is done the city will move, but we don't know where. I will try to get info back to you if I can.” I say.
“Do you have to?” Gushes asks.
“Yes, you will get to see me teleport back to the city with this,” I say and hold out the ball. I squeeze it and say, “Mount Poo Poo,” and I find myself in the teleporting room.