The bells were tolling. Deep, ominous tones rang throughout the minute like the heralds of doom that had already fallen. Then, a voice started speaking. The Cult of Gaia was announcing their dominance over Nakama World.
As final preparations for departure were made, Colin Rivers stood alone at the docks of Ocean Tower and felt a profound silence fill his soul. This was a quiet corner of the harbor, the place where the smaller boats were waiting, not the towering piers at the center where the big ships arrived.
Over the same broadcast that sounded the bells, some voice was telling the whole world that the Gaians were now in charge. Most of the people around here were either reeling in shock, or completely indifferent, not caring as long as it didn't bother them. A small number were even celebrating.
{I might have joined them.} Colin reflected. {The Gaians always cared for the environment and nature. They'd probably set up rules to take care of the Forests. I might have been happy, maybe even asked them to help with some Forest problems… if I didn't know better. But I do know better. I know the truth.}
{The Cult of Gaia isn't here to take care of our ecology. They're not here to promote green technology or educate people on how to stop pollution. They're here to hunt three kids… and one of them is me.}
{I agree about taking care of the environment. I like the idea of green technology and stopping pollution. I totally don't believe their religious views on planets being gods… I don't think even they believe that. But in the end it all comes down to what they do and what they've done. They've kidnapped my friends, wiped their memories… and they want to do the same or worse to me.}
{They are my enemies. And that's final.}
From under his visor, Colin eyed the flying Saucer hovering over the nearby shores of Lamico. It was more than sheer misfortune that they'd picked this island and this city of all places to set up their new Headquarters. They claimed it had to do with it being the cartographic center and therefore supposedly most accessible city of Nakama World.
The truth was they wanted it not for where it was, but for what it was. There were bigger cities, with land access routes, but Lamico, after recently having been flattened, had sought to rebuild bigger and better than before while at the same time being very careful to care for the natural richness of the island. Being right next to the throne of the Ocean Princess and having a Mountaineer and a Forester left in charge of the place would do that.
It was no exaggeration to say that New Lamico City was currently the most ecologically friendly city in Nakama World. This, of course, endeared the place greatly to the Cult of Gaia. They had an airport and a seaport, a great many facilities aimed toward worldwide tournaments and large numbers of guests and entertainment... everything the Cult wanted for their HQ. They even had deluxe broadcasting utilities being built.
{Wonder what they'd do if they found out that one of the guys they've been hunting so hard for was practically on their front doorstep?}
The bells stopped tolling. Colin felt the hair on the back of his neck try to stand. Even in a Dream, the tension was bad enough with the bells ringing doom. Now in the following silence, Colin felt more hunted than ever (and he had plenty of reason to feel that way!)
He searched for Alicia with his mind. There she was, headed back with six different pamphlets in her hands, all given by a single Gaian guy standing at the corner of Ocean Tower's dock with a pair of his buddies talking to everyone who passed by. She was carrying Blackswirl in her arms… being newly transferred, the Shadow Hawk who had been given up by Katrin was feeling really bad and needed extra care and attention to recover.
Alicia stopped. She was on her way back, unbothered by the Gaians handing out pamphlets, and they were already delayed enough for their trip as it was, but she stopped. Colin frowned. [What's the matter?]
[Colin…] Her thoughts were in a whirl. The feelings suddenly arising in Alicia could only be described as raw panic. [This… this is…]
[What happened?!] Colin began to worry now. [Are you all right?!]
[It's not me who's in trouble! Colin, they have her. They HAVE her!] Alicia choked.
[Who? Who's in trouble?!]
Alicia sent him an image in response. The reason why the Gaians were so triumphant, so confident that they were clearly the utmost authority in this world.
Colin saw it and he felt like he was about to explode. He saw it and he couldn't believe it, but it explained too clearly, made too much sense, for him to deny it. The Cult was broadcasting worldwide a most shocking image.
Sitting in a cage, gagged and bound to a chair, was Lynn, the Forest Princess.
***
"Lynn?!"
{She went with Satrox to talk to Iylara... they must have gone toward the comms center, right? Alicia went there to call Larry too... but... what happened? How did Lynn get caught? Alicia had no idea...}
Colin was on the verge of freaking out when a familiar voice beside him said, "Huh. That really looks real."
He spun around to see her there. "Lynn?!"
There on screen was Lynn, tied and gagged... and there standing right next to him was Lynn.
"How...?" Colin stared.
"It's a fake." Lynn shook her head. "But it's a good one. If I didn't know I was here myself, I might believe it too."
"But you're not there. You're okay." Colin said, relieved. Sensing his thoughts, Alicia's thoughts turned relieved also.
"For now." Lynn said grimly. "But this is bad, Colin. This forces my hand."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"By showing this, they force me to respond. If I don't, everyone will think they've really beaten me." Lynn's mouth twisted. "Sorry, Colin, but I'm going to have to call on the Forest Lords for help. I've used up all my power as Forest Princess, but I think for the sake of old times and new enemies, they would help me in this."
"They will." Colin assured her. "Tell them I said so. Better yet, I'll..."
Lynn barked a laugh. "No, Colin. You have to do what Philip's doing. You have to get out of here before the Cult gets you. Use the Arch if you have to. But don't fall into the trap set for me. I am forced to fight them. You are not."
"But..."
"It is obviously and definitely a trap for me. But it's one I must fight lest everyone think I was defeated without even a fight. No. I have to give them a fight that this world would remember for years to come." Lynn straightened. "And then I'll have to slip out of their grasp just as they think they've won, just to spite them all the more. I'll escape and they'll be left empty handed for all the losses they've taken. Don't worry, Colin, I'll be fine. But this also means that I won't be able to help you."
Colin nodded. "You gotta do what you've gotta do."
"I guess this is goodbye. At least, for now." Lynn said softly.
She hugged him. Gently, but with swift certainty. Colin hugged her back, feeling sad that they would have to part like this, that they had so little time to Dream together. In many ways, she was like another elder sister to him, just knowing she was around and in charge had been a great reassurance to him.... and he owed her a great deal that he hadn't even begun to repay... but worst of all, he was already starting to miss her.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Colin asked. "Anything at all?"
"Call me." Lynn whispered in his ear. "When all this is over. On Trans-planar comms, so you'll reach me no matter which Dreamworlds we are in. Let's keep in contact so that someday, somewhere, we can meet again."
"I will." Colin said, feeling a bit better. "I'll even mail you while I seek out the End of the Journey. And you can do the same while you fight the Cult."
"Sure." Lynn laughed. "If I have time. Meanwhile... are there any last questions you need to ask? Anything at all?"
"Well... I was wondering..." Colin paused. "How did I create Sanctuary? I mean, even you couldn't fix the Forest of Myth and I'm nowhere near as powerful as you were. I don't even know half as much as you do."
Lynn paused at that. She tapped her watch, frowned at a little projection that came up, and at last, she said, "Two edicts."
"What?" Colin blinked.
"You used two Edicts to turn the Uber Marshes into Sanctuary." Lynn told Colin. "See?"
She showed him a projection from her watch. It looked like a stone tablet with writing on it. The header at the top proclaimed, 'Edicts of Colin Rivers, Forest Prince'.
There below were listed;
1. Cour is Pardoned from Frenzy
2&3. (Fenria's and Asblar's wishes granted) Sanctuary is established
4. Gracie Rivers will never be Forest Princess
Colin groaned when he saw that last. "I wasted a whole Edict on Gracie! I only have seven of those, right?"
"Right. And then your reign as Prince is over." Lynn said.
"And of all things to use one on..." Colin facepalmed.
Lynn grinned at that. "We all make mistakes. I mean, compared to my whoopsie Edict..."
"What? What did you do?" Alicia chipped in.
"I said hair bands should be banned." Lynn burst out laughing. "For a while there, Nakama World didn't have any hair bands. I had to spend another Edict to lift the ban on hair bands!"
Colin allowed himself a small chuckle at that.
"Whatever you do, Colin, make sure you use one Edict on my successor." Lynn told him. "You need to appoint the next Forest Princess. Save one Edict for that or else we have absolutely no idea what's going to happen."
Colin fell silent.
"Don't worry about what the Cult's doing here." Lynn told him, guessing his thoughts from his face. "There should always be a Forest Prince or Princess of Nakama World. There must always be one. You have to make sure that happens. And you have to do it tonight, before you leave. Give her my contact number. She'll need all the guidance she can get."
Colin frowned.
Lynn allowed herself to indulge in another guess at his thoughts. "Katrin or Alicia? What about May? Or Lucy?"
"Which would you choose?" Colin asked.
"Alicia." Lynn said without a moment of hesitation. "Because of her psionic abilities. Like you and me, she can mind-talk, and she can understand the Wilds in ways others just can't. I mean, most people would be able to understand the Lords of the Wilds without much trouble, but to understand all the Wilds and all the Comrades... that's something only those of us with such abilities can do."
"That's why you chose me, isn't it?" Colin guessed.
"It wasn't the only reason, but it is a huge advantage." Lynn mentioned. "Of course, I wouldn't never have accepted you if you did not have a love for the Forest. But you... your connection with the Forest runs deeper than anyone else I've ever met. More than mine, even more than Sekai or Raen."
"Raen?" Colin blinked.
"The Forest Prince before me. The one who gave me Nightwind." Lynn explained. "Strong and silent type. I should introduce you two one day. You'd like him."
"I think so." Colin trailed off. There was nothing more to say... no farther reason urgent enough to make her delay her battle any longer, to stay with him just another few more moments.
She stayed a few more moments anyway, just looking at him, and smiling. "I'm glad I chose you, Colin. It's been a short run, but a good one. Journey bravely, and always keep the forest in your heart."
Colin found his throat tight. He was barely able to speak. "You too."
Once more, she hugged him, swiftly, decisively, and he returned the hug, and then she was gone, tapping her badge and calling to the Lords of the Wilds across the world, great creatures of power the likes of which Colin had never even heard of or met. They came to her eagerly, and they called their kin with them so that Forest Wilds were filling the docks as people started running and screaming.
{Oh, Lynn. Always ready to wreck another town.} Colin gazed at her back as the chaos and screaming intensified. But it was a fond gaze.
And then Alicia's thoughts exploded with surprise.