Mine Imagination: Flight of the Hummingbirds
By: T. M. Ashley
Flower 0: Betrayal of a Masterpiece
Six centuries ago the sweet scent of fresh rain and the squelch of the soft soil filled the world beneath the tangerine sky and its scattered purple clouds that still lingered with the threat of more rain. A man pushed through the thick foliage toward a structure that jutted from the towering trees. Something impeded the light of the emerald sun before an explosion flattened the trees and sent the man flying into a stone pillar with a loud crunch that was deafened by the ensuing sonic boom. The man struggled to his feet and was wracked with pain. He instinctively snapped his fingers and cursed himself as his body was healed. He sighed heavily as he removed his circle framed glasses and cleaned them.
“Captain Mine,” someone called out to the man, “This way.”
Mine placed his glasses back on and could barely see through the dust cloud that was kicked up by the explosion. All he could see was a dim light glowing over his head, a hand gripped his forearm and pulled him through the dust cloud.
“What happened?” Mine asked as he was pulled into the building. He brushed the residual dust from his frock coat and was awed by grand hall he found himself in. “Where are we?”
The door was slammed shut and Mine whirled around to see his savior. A man with a literal sun for a head turned to face Mine with a cloud like scarf wrapped around his neck, “The Tapja of the planet showed up of course. You can’t expect to steal the riches of the planet without some kind of trial.”
“Trial or not my Charm was ahead of me and would have noticed it sooner,” Mine snapped.
The man shrugged, “And where’s your Charm now?”
“I lost contact with them,” Mine stated.
The man clapped his hands, “Ah, so they couldn’t have notified you of the danger. Maybe they were defeated.”
Mine scoffed, “You wish Elliston.”
“Oh my, to think I’d want you to fail. It hurts my heart Mine. I thought we were on the same side.”
“Same crew, different sides and you know it,” Mine said. He twisted his wrist and a cane appeared in his hand with a glowing yellow orb for the handle. He never liked the sun headed, Elliston Frame. A man who’s features couldn’t be seen wasn’t to be trusted.
“Sides don’t matter, as long we collect the treasure for Admiral White we’re on the same side,” Elliston said, “Besides you’re lucky I found you. How many dolls do you have left?”
“All I need is one,” Mine quipped.
Elliston chuckled, “Always keeping your hand close to your chest. The fact that you cursed when you healed yourself means you have less than five.”
“Something like that,” Mine said, “Why so interested?”
“Just curious, you know how things get the closer you get to the prize. A lot more perilous things get.” Elliston said and added, “The last thing I need is a useless old man slowing me down.”
Mine snarled and he raised his cane and wagged it in front of Elliston’s sun head, “Who ya calling old? I’m sixty-seven and still in my prime. Don’t go flapping your gums at me young’n.”
Elliston started to laugh and threw his hands up, “Forgive me, I just don’t want nothing happening to Admiral White’s favorite treasure on my watch.”
Mine lowered his cane, he hated being called a treasure but knew there was some truth to Elliston’s words. If something were to happen to Mine, Alistor White, his leader and benefactor would eviscerate anyone and anything responsible. He huffed and said, “Where’s the treasure. The quicker we claim it, the faster we can end this.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Elliston said as he and Mine stepped into the giant hall. He looked down at his wrist and whistled, three small orbs zipped towards him and began to orbit around his head. “I’ve already scanned the building with my sattelites, apparently there’s a temporal nexus at the heart of it.”
“A temporal nexus?” Mine asked as he followed closely behind Elliston.
“A gathering of time, this planet must be at the center of the galaxy and the civilization that used to live here must have built around it to keep it hidden from their enemies.”
“Or considered it to be some kind of sacred entity to be revered and protected,” Mine said.
Elliston scoffed, “Yeah right, people only hide things they want to keep from others. We’re gonna take a right here,” he turned down a narrow corridor that would have been hidden if it weren’t for a frayed banner that hung from the ceiling in tatters.
At the end of the corridor they found themselves in a throne room with a domed ceiling and agiant suit of armor sitting in the crystal throne. The suit of armor was covered in a thick layer of dust that made it look gray and cobwebs connected it to the walls marking it’s time unmoving. Mine and Elliston were like children at the feet of the giant suit of armor and moved around it with the gentleness of mice around a slumbering cat. Once behind the throne they sighed with relief.
“I thought it was going to wake up,” Elliston said.
“Same here dear,” Mine said before he waved his cane creating a yellow orb that surrounded him and Elliston. The yellow orb was hit with such force it was sent flying across the room. Due to it’s stickiness of the orb, it stuck to the wall and inside of it Mine and Elliston groaned. “Spoke too soon.”
The suit of armor was on it’s feet and brushing the cobwebs from its body. Behind the mask of the helmet a growing red orb hovered inside of it. It closed it’s hands as if it were praying and as it pulled its hands apart a giant blue metal sword formed.
“Is that-” Mine started to ask when the suit of armor vanished and reappeared in front of the orb and jabbed the tip of its sword at it. Mine released the orb just in time and they fell towards the floor. His eyes started to glow and his shadow reached up and slowed his descent.
Elliston created steps with his cloud scarf and walked down them leisurely, “Ho boy, that cane of yours never fails to impress me.”
“Neither does your scarf,” Mine said as he rolled up his sleeves and regrouped with Elliston, “I’ve always wanted to fight against Kingston.”
“I’ve always wanted to avoid it,” Elliston said and looked toward the suit of armor. He released one of his satellites and zipped around the room.
“You know my name,” a voice boomed from within the suit of armor, “I thought my name had been lost to time.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Kingston the Living Armor,” Mine scoffed, “Yeah right.”
“Tucy’s greatest warden. I would never have imagined you being stationed here,” Elliston said, “You must have pissed someone off to leave you here.”
“I was charged with the greatest task,” Kingston said.
“What’s that?” Elliston asked.
“Annhilate anyone who dared come here.” The suit of armor vanished again and charged at Elliston with its shoulder lowered. Elliston started to spin and redirected Kingston toward Mine.
Mine shook his head and created another orb with his cane and welcomed the suit of armors attack. The orb burst as if it were a bubble and ensnared Kingston in a thick sticky substance that glued it to the ground. Mine sighed and sai, “I honestly expected you to be a tougher opponent dear.”
“I found a door,” Elliston said as he waved to Mine from behind the throne.
Mine narrowed his eyes at him as he approached and said, “You did that on purpose?”
“Oh my, did what? I would never put you in danger,” Elliston said with a false sincerity in his voice. He placed his hand on the back of the throne and swiped his hand over it and a door appeared.
Mine pushed past him and pushed the door open revealing glowing crystal steps that descended in a spiral. He turned back to Elliston who made a gesture for him to go first. He grit his teeth and started down the stairs into whatever trap awaited them.
At the bottom of the stairs Mine and Elliston found themselves of a hundred floating doors. As they moved through the room they noticed the doors seemingly led to no where. Mine reached for the knob of a door when Elliston swatted him and pointed at the ceiling. Hanging over the hall of doors was large circular door with heavy chains and vines wrapped around it.
“That’s the door to the nexus,” Elliston said. His cloud scarf started to grow around his neck and slowly created a staircase that led to the door on the ceiling. “No worries, I’ll go first.”
Mine rolled his eyes and waved him forward. When they reached the top of the stairs gravity seemed to reverse and they stood on the door instead of looking up at it. Elliston crouched over the door and touched the knob but the chains and vines moved toward him as if they were serpents. Mine stopped him and pointed out the creeping vines and chains.
“What do you think Mine?” Elliston asked.
Mine scratched his chin and placed his palm on the door and his eyes started to glow. His yellow heart shaped irises started to pulse and he unleashed a bit of his aura. The vines and chains responded and started to retreat. Mine stepped away from the door with Elliston as it opened on its own. As the door opened a oily black liquid spilled from threshold as if it were a waterfall. The liquid spilled over the hundred doors below them and a deafening cackle filled the room.
“Yes, yes, yes, free that which was lost and come forth,” a woman’s voice cried out.
Elliston clapped his hands and said, “It’s just as you said Cassidy.”
Mine whirled on Elliston with his cane aimed for his head. However, Elliston anticipated his attack and turned up the heat being emitted from his sun and melted the cane’s yellow orb. He laughed as Mine snatched the cane away and took the opportunity to kick him in his chest as he reversed gravity again and Mine plummeted towards the pool of black liquid that pooled around the doors. He resurfaced and stood up in the black liquid as it swirled and swished around him.
A small woman sitting on a giant crystal ball hovered beside Elliston Frame as he stood on a cloud. She glared down at Mine and said, “I knew you’d be able to crack it open for us.”
“You called it,” Elliston said, “I’m happy I followed your plan.”
“What plan? What is this? Are you claiming the treasure for yourself? Admiral White will hunt you down to the ends of the universe for treason,” Mine shouted up at them.
Elliston shook his head, “No, she won’t she’ll be much too busy to worry about me. Besides, she’ll prioritze finding you.”
“Finding me?” Mine started to laugh, “If you think either of you are walking out of here alive you’re dead aready.” He snapped his fingers but nothing happened. He did it again to the same affect and he looked down at his hand. “What have you done?”
“The problem with you people with Sway is that you rely so much on your power and never think what would happen if you didn’t have it,” Cassidy said. “The liquid your standing in was a potion concocted over eleven billion years ago to cut off the Galva, the most dangerous race of beings from sway. To forcefully sever their ties, they had to be baptized in it for centuries.”
“The Galva?” Mine asked, he racked his brain trying to make sense of what he was hearing. “The mythical race of beings said to rival the Stars themselves?”
“Yes, yes, yes, the Galva are far from myths,” Cassidy said excitedly, “Thanks to you, the legendary conquerors of Tucy have been freed to resume their work.” She clapped her hands and spread her arms.
The doors all around Mine started to open and from within massive bipedal beings with black and white striped hair, and three black crystals lining the bridge of their noses appeared. They ranged in skintone from red to orange, from pale green to blue to the most vibrant purple. All of them were well over seven feet tall and each of them had a unique weapon fashioned to one of their wrists. The Galva had bright silver eyes with black scelra and after a few moments all of their eyes landed on Mine.
“Fret not Children of Tucy’s ancient past,” Cassidy called out to them, “That man is your benefactor and the key to your freedom.”
Mine started to laugh hysterically, “You’ll have to kill me.”
“Not really,” Elliston said, “You already made the exchange. When you unlocked the door you gave the Nowhere Nexus permission to keep you instead.”
“You underestimate the power of Burden because you have Sway. If learned properly one could alter the fabric of reality,” Cassidy said, “You missed all the signs thanks to a simple masking charm.” She spit and a blue light moved through the room revealing all the warning signs that had been invisible a moment ago. She cackled and clapped her hands together, “When you study burden you learn to read languages that not even the Tulpa can translate.”
Mine was surrounded by the Galva and his lip quivered with rage. He jumped in the air and Cassidy’s eyes widened as Mine snapped and reappeared in front of them. He twisted his wrist and swung his can like a bat.
Elliston blocked his attack effortlessly and turned to Mine and said, “I’ll be sure to let your Charm know you didn’t go down without a fight.” He impaled Mine’s chest with a spear shaped cloud and growled, “Admit it, you only had one doll left.” He opened his hand and the cloud spear vanished leaving a hole in Mine’s chest.
There was a loud snap before Mine fell in the black liquid again with a huge splash. He resurfaced thrashing and gasping for air, he touched the place where the hole in his chest was and glared up at Elliston. Mine reached into his coat pocket and brandished a hand axe.
“You sure about this Mine? Every bit of the hurt is for you to endure. No more dolls to soak up your damage,” Elliston said.
Through clenched teeth Mine roared, “Die!” He hurled the axe at Elliston and dove into the black liquid. He started to swim through the Galva toward the door stairs they descended. Mine cursed himself repeatedly for not having more dolls. He promised himself to never have less than a hundred dolls at his disposal.
Elliston caught the axe and Cassidy shook her head, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, retreat is futile.” She began to whisper an archaic language and the black liquid waterfall reversed. The black liquid rushed back to the door on the ceiling and dragged Mine along with it. He swam against the current but to no avail and was pulled back and up toward the door. Elliston continued to laugh as Mine reached for him through the torrent of black liquid. Cassidy floated up to him and caressed his cheek, “You’ll be a myth before anyone finds you.”
Mine pulled away, he wanted nothing more than to slit the woman’s throat and watch her essence pour from her bing. “I refuse to be forgotten! I am Mine Heart! The Nowhere-Man! I will return! Mark my words! You’ll both rue the day you betrayed-” before Mine could finish the door on the ceiling sucked him into the abyss and closed. The vines and chains crept across the door again and regained their firm grasp over the door.
In the darkness Mine could barely move, his body no longer complied with his thoughts, he floated in the blackness unable to speak or voice his frustration. His desires burned from within and lingered unanswered.
“I need to tell Alistor… I must warn the Charm… I have to get back… I want to go home…”