Heroes Rising Fiction: The Missing Mythic Part 11

Nova paced the floor in the room Chase had set up for communications with BADGE.
“This is troubling. If what Gar saw is true, then this missing mythic could be any of us?” Nova stopped and let out a hard sigh, “But, which one?”

Gar asked, “Is there a way to tell?”

Chase gripped her arms against her, “I don’t think so. These people are strange and powerful. When this mythic arrived on Earth, they could have sealed that knowledge in us so we don’t know.”

Nova added, “And all three of us are suspect. You two both are oblivious to your past...” Chase gave him a surprised look, “Yes, Chase, I know you don’t know your past. That story you gave us is fake.”

Chase asked, “What about you, sir? Do you know your past?”

“Yes. I know who and what I am. However, as you said, these people are clever and powerful. My memories might be fake.”

Gar almost said something when Chase held up a hand, “Do you hear that?”

“What?” Gar asked.

Nova instantly realized what she was referring to, “I don’t hear anything...they’re all gone.”

Without another word, Nova led them out of the room.

Moments before:

Krystal Fae stood in the middle of the throne room while the heroes held out their collected pearl shards. Maneki-Neko and EB helped as she cast spell after spell.

“This isn’t working!” Krystal threw her hands in the air.

Maneki brushed her little paws together, “No. I believe putting the pearl back together is not possible.”

“What do we do?” Dr. Blake asked.

EB spent a moment looking at a pearl shard, “They still have power in them. Magic that is connecting them. If we get them close enough to him, it might undo the curse over his mind.”

Just then Director Nova walked into the room, an uncharacteristic smile on his face, “Sounds like you have a plan.”

Krystal frowned, “I sense...magic.”

“Must be all that stuff you’ve been doing in here.” Nova casually stated.

EB hopped over to Nova, bouncing around him, “We need to get the pearl shards together, and get Lord Dragon near them.”

Nova hardly glanced at EB, “Perhaps I have an idea.” He gestured out to where a bubble hovered in the middle of the pristine garden.

Maneki-Neko said, “That...might work. Even in this state of mind, he is still connected to the late Lady Phoenix. Her ashes could attract him.”

“Where?” Krystal asked.

Maneki answered, “We need to take them to a place of importance. Their first home on this world, the Ryukyu Kingdom.”

Furious Squirrel asked, “Where?”

EB said, “Okinawa.”

Nova held a hand out toward the garden, “There is no time to waste. Get moving.”

***

Krystal flew with the other heroes as they approached the now almost vacant Okinawan Islands. In her arms, she carried both EB and Maneki-Neko.

“There!” Maneki called out and pointed toward an enormous structure. “Shuri Castle!”

Krystal flew ahead and directed the others to follow her. Heroes flew down, materialized, or ran to the location of the famous Shuri Castle. They waited in the courtyard.

Dr. Blake approached Krystal, who set her two traveling companions down, “Why are we stopping here?”

Maneki answered, “This is the site of the first castle that Lord Dragon established. He helped create the Ryukyu kingdom seven centuries ago. This was where he and Lady Phoenix watched over us all for many years. Right here, in this courtyard, he and Lady Phoenix held a human wedding to celebrate their love.” Maneki’s eyes teared up.

EB hugged her. “I know. It’s going to take some time.”

“I miss her so much.” Maneki cried.

Before Krystal could help comfort the weeping cat, someone called out, “HE’S COMING!”

Krystal pulled out her comm, “all right, everyone, positions!”

In the distance, they could see the long, golden, dragon. A dozen heroes attacked him and goaded him to head this direction. Heroes with pearl shards ringed the courtyard, giving the center a wide berth.

“Are you sure about this? Someone else can do this.” Krystal asked.

EB and Maneki both took the energy orb containing the ashes of Lady Phoenix. EB said, “No, we need to do this. We need to help him.”

“Good luck.” Krystal pulled out her shard and then flew back to join the ranks of others waiting.

Lord Dragon screamed and spewed fire at heroes as he approached. Heroes following him were battered and bruised, but they maintained their vigilant onslaught.

In the center of the square, EB and Maneki stood on either side of the energy orb. They held up their paws and it lifted higher into the air. With fear in their eyes, they waited for Lord Dragon to see them.

All at once, the large, majestic dragon swooped down over the court. He roared and released a blast of fire. One of the waiting heroes formed an ice barrier that blocked the fire from destroying half of the historic castle. The heroes chasing him came around and forced him to circle high over the courtyard, not letting him get away.

“It’s not working.” Furious Squirrel stated to Krystal.

“Hold your position.” She commanded.

Lord Dragon raged and attacked the heroes spurring him and heroes waiting with shards all had to protect themselves and the palace from his wild fire. Then, in a moment of pause, he glanced downward and his chaotic focus settled on that orb. He inched downward toward it, not attacking or roaring. It was as though he couldn’t decide what to do, to rage, or to settle.

Once he had descended into the courtyard, dangerously close to everyone there, Krystal merely held up her pearl and used her power to energize it. Others took the cue and followed along. Using their powers, they enhanced the pearl shards to give off a glow. At first, it was a thousand points of light, but soon that light combined. A huge, transparent pearl-colored light radiated and covered the entire island.
Lord Dragon cried out in a rage at first, but that sound turned to a somber wail, and then a weeping cry of emotional agony. The fierce dragon melted away and a man knelt in the middle of the courtyard, cradling that orb of ashes in his arms, crying.

***

Chase, Gar, and Nova ran through the palace and back into the throne room. It was devoid of anyone, save a single figure standing with his back to them.

“Where is everyone?” Chase asked.

The man spoke, in Nova’s voice, “They have an important mission.”

Nova stepped up, “Who are you?”

The man turned around, it was another Nova. “I couldn’t let my father stay insane. I want him in his right mind when I destroy him with my own hands.”
Nova said, "It was never about Lord Dragon, you wanted him to distract us. Just like you used Krampus, Cupid, and the Leprechaun as distractions."
Jinn chortled at this, "Now you finally realize it. Poor Nova, you used to be quicker at this."

Chase materialized her blades as Gar prepped his fists.

Jinn laughed and slowly he returned to his regular form, “Your people were easily fooled. Then again, they have yet to truly see anyone as powerful as I am now. And this is only the beginning of what I shall become.”

Nova pulled out a gun, “I don’t care what you think you are. You’ll never succeed. This planet is defended.”

“Oh, my plans aren’t about destroying this world. However, I will rule it.” He casually strolled toward them, “How perfect that the place where I will gain absolute power will be in my pathetic father’s throne room. The hypocrite who made himself a god, but denied that to any of the rest of us.”

Nova stated, “Your father wanted your kind to be helpful, not gods. You know that. And you know he maintained that belief.”

“So speaks the mouthpiece of my father.” Jinn sneered at him.

“YAH!” Chase threw her blades at Jinn, aiming for two different places.

Neither blade even reached him. They both stopped mid-air and he took them, “Oh, look, more magic. The little girl wants to play with blades, then let’s play.” He threw them right back at her. Gar quickly used his wing to protect her, the blades reflecting off of him. Nova shot, but the bullets swerved at the whim of Jinn. Gar yelled as he ran to fight.

“ENOUGH!” Jinn held his hand down and all three were thrust to the floor on their knees. Their arms bound to their sides and magic gripping their necks. He came close, “I grow tired of all this talking. It’s time to harvest the only complete heart of a mythic.”