The Burning Empire

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

"He is gone now, Criss. I don't know why you ever thought you could calm him. What did you come up here to tell me anyway?" said Aeris in a nonthreatening voice. The world around them slowly began to turn back to normal speed, but Strexan was gone.

 

Meanwhile...

Zan was trying to talk to a guard, but the guard seamed frozen in place.

"Levy! Get out here."

Levy burst out of his room almost immeadiatly, "What now?!"

"Look, this guard is mot moving."

"Hmmm, his heart is still beating though. Very slowly, almost like... time has slowed..." Levy said, stunned.

"What cold have caused this?"

There was an incomfortable silence while Levy remembered what happened that day, so long ago...

"...but Fyora, there must be another way." said a short, red Wocky. Her concern was filled with utter sadness.

"I'm, sorry, Mesa, but there is no other alternative. You will have to 'lose' him. Keeping him here will only cause pain. He is destined to be powerful, but if his gifts are contained the whole world will feel the impact. In the wild he will be able to release his ferociousness without harm to himself nor others." said Queen Fyora.

"I, I understand." said Mesa, trying hard to hold back tears, "I will do what you ask."

"Please Mesa, it is for the greater good."

"Levy... Levy!" shouted Zan

"What!" replied Levy with annoyance in his tone.

"You looked lost in space there for a minute, the guard is slowly starting to come back to normal speed now."

"That's good," Levy thought for a short time, "We need to call off the assault on Faerieland."

"What?! Why?"

"Don't question me! Just do it!"

"Fine, fine. I'll call off the strike now." said Zan, running toward the exit.

When Zan was out of sight, Levy shifted his foot and the cage with Falvair thrashing around inside suddenly shot up from the ground, "They'll come here whether or not I have you here. I'm going to send you back to Neopia Central, you had better hope they will be there to catch you."

Levy jumped up in the air and thrust his feet hard on the ground and the cage, with Falvair inside, went straight up through the ceiling and straight to the deserted city still known as Neopia Central.

[The Nova ROX]

Robasia felt a sharp pain in his throat and quickly, without telling any one what he was doing, flew towards Neopia Central. When he got there, Falvair was falling quickly towards the ground. I always said he could always land on his feet! He spoke the word that would undo the spell and Falvair reverted back to normal and started Flying towards Robasia.

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

((Isn't everybody still in the house from the begining? Tanori, Trek, Marseba, and Takinito never left the house.))

[The Nova ROX]

((Let's go with that,))

 

Robasia grabbed Falvair and hugged him as hard as he could. "C'mon dad, we have to get back to the house!" Said Falvair.

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

"Ok, should we wait for Criss or just go to the tunnel through the mountains?" said Takinito, aloud in the neohome.

[The Nova ROX]

Falvair and Robasia flew back to the house just in time to help decide what to do next. "Criss. We should wait for Criss." Robasia said. Falvair was watching with a falling face.

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

Criss was completly silent, so Aeris asked again, "Criss, why are you here?!"

[The Nova ROX]

In Falvair's head. Thoughts were spinning. Levy is with Zan! Where is Criss? What's going on?!?

[Pancreatic dragon]

((When can I come back?))

[Empress Keiko]

Criss came back to life. "Aeris. You're going to be attacked. Or at least you were...I don't feel any movement in the air any more. No water droplets are being disrupted. Zan and Levy were going to ambush you if it wasnt for Strexan!"

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

"Yes, if it weren't for his 'time-freezing' trick, they would come here and we could stop them. You don't think, Criss. Now we will have to stop them at the place they are most powerful. Do you know why they chose Altador? Because it is the most spiritual place in all of Neopia. We'll have to think up a strategy. Let's go to Neopia Central, maybe some of the still remaining millitant survivers could aide us." replied Aeris.

[Empress Keiko]

"I think perfectly! If it wasnt for the time freezing trick, you would have been caught off guard. I want to help but you know why I haven't been involved in anything? It's because you guys are too obsessed with land. Land that doesn't have much meaning? And I'm the only one that thinks, I'm the only one to notice things? I know things about all of you that you guys don't know? I know that you guys want to kill eachother. But I know that that can never happen! You guys don't know that if you do kill eachother, then the world will become worse. And I beg you goodbye!" Criss made a bubble, walked through it, closed it, and found herself in her secret city, Golden Maraqua.

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

The highest mountain in the world, no one has yet to climb it. But, there was a figure standing on top of the peak. It was Strexan. His fury has reached a new level. Blackish gray clouds circled above him. Lightning circled him.Then the mountain shook vilantly then an avalanche began. A wall of snow soon shot out from the epicenter. The entire mountain chain was loosing its snow cover. And the surrounding areas became covered in snow.

 

Aeris felt horrible, yet there were still secrets which Criss didn't know. Strexan won't stop. Before Aeris was born he could control fire, air, water, and earth. When Aeris was born he could only control fire, water, and earth. Then Levy was born, Strexan could only control fire and water. Strexan was abandoned just before Zan was born, then Strexan could only control water. After Criss's birth, Strexan controlled nothing. By some amazing feat, he managed to kill the space faerie. He gained her power. He then killed several light faeries, increasing his power over energy and space time. He has more than enough power to kill the other 4 siblings and become a god. Aeris doesn't know how to stop him. She hoped Criss would be able to help, but it looks like Criss has decided to flee. Aeris took to the air and quickly flew to Neopia Central. She would need all the help she could get.

[Empress Keiko]

Criss was back in the queen's chair. It was time to stop hiding. It was time to stand up to her siblings. "Sandrick," and maraquan Acara came in. "It's time to make us known. Get the army together. We need to go back into time." Sandrick bowed and then swam off. Criss made a mirror and contacted all four of her siblings. 'Hello?"

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

"HE ALIVE!" shouted Zan.

"I know, I can't believe it either. And with the ability to freeze time, he'll be looking for us!" said Levy.

"Call back all gaurds patrolling the perimeter, we need the upmost defence!"

"No, Zan, that won't be nessisary." replied Levy, he placed his hand on the ground and it flashed into metal. The entire fortress was now metalic. Then Levy lifted his hands and the metal molded around his hands, "He won't stop us, we'll stop him."

[Empress Keiko]

"Siblings? I need to say something. Would you please listen?!?!" Criss was angry after all he fighting with Aeris.

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

"I can hear you Criss." said Strexan in a scary voice.

 

Aeris had landed outside of a neohome with several pets outside looking like they were waiting for someone. Criss maybe? Oh well. Aeris approached them.

((Everyone, your back in the story. Sorry it took so long.))

[The Nova ROX]

((Finally!))

 

Falvair walked up to Aeris. "Who are you? We, don't have a name as far as I'm concerned. But I know we're against Zan. Are you with us?" Falvair faced Aeris

[Guest Christmas Trace (Not Tree)]

Aeris paused for a bit and looked around then replied, "My name is Aeris, I would love to help you guys. What's the plan?"

[The Nova ROX]

Robasia stepped forward. "As of now, we don't have one. But my son has the most knowledge of Zan's castle."

[Empress Keiko]

"Good. Strexan, you're the only one to reply. I need to avert this war. Bu it won't happen. You guys wouldnt listen about my peace plan I brought up years ago. Will you know? All I want is to split the land fairly. Yet, no one listened. I want to see my other siblings. I have news for them."

[Guest Tyler]

"Oh Criss, controller of water, mover of the ice sheets, and healer of the world. I once knew what it was like, one being able to make life and the ability to take it away. How much I want it back!" shouted Strexan, then sparks of electricity began to flash next to Criss.

[Empress Keiko]

Criss looked at the sparks. "What's up with you? Are you trying to flatter me?" Criss was curious.

[Guest Tyler]

The area then exploded with energy and electricity, Strexan slowly formed inside. "I want my gifts back Criss, even if I have to kill my entire family!"

[Empress Keiko]

Was Aeris right? "If you lay a spark on me, I will kill you. Remember, I can take life away. Water makes us live...I could, theoretically, take in out of your body. I've done it before. And I know all of your tricks. I know how to use your power, except not in lightning form." Criss sheilded the explosion and made it dissipate. "Stop now or else. Remember, I'm in my domain. I'm under water. I'm in Maraqua."