One of the most important chapters in this book...
CH. 11 Summary: Aerobolt and his long time rival met each other while the trinity was traveling through the remainder of the desert, and things happen... Now he is locked in a dream... and in that dream...
Here is chapter 12 of my first book...
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The Guardians of Life: Justice- (Book I)
Chapter Twelve-
The Prophecy

Aerobolt dreamed. He dreamed he was being taken back to Hydyraen in Isrir’s possession… Dragged along carelessly over rugged terrain in the desert. He felt that was real. He felt he was not dreaming. Had he come all this way, only to be dragged back to Hydyraen by the one he hated most second to Arcane? No, it couldn’t be! But it all seemed so real…
He could see Shade and Storm running after them. They were firing various Forces of differing color at Isrir. They all missed. And they fell further and further behind. No. All this way. Was his flight to escape Arcane’s clutches really futile? This couldn’t be! He couldn’t let it be! He tried to fight his way free of Isrir’s grasp, but for some reason he had no control in his body. He was totally limp! Was this real? Or was this a dream? Aerobolt was so confused; he just wanted it all to stop.
It didn’t take much longer for Shade and Storm to fade away, and not much longer for their cries to fade as well. He and Isrir were alone. And Isrir took no care for him. Aerobolt was tied by the arm, and was being dragged along the ground the whole time. Aerobolt realized there was a gash along his arm where the rope was cutting in. Yet he felt no pain. In fact, he didn’t feel anything. It was as if what was happening was really just an illusion after all. He tried to speak. No words came out. He was completely immobilized. He was helpless… Alone… at the merciless mercy of his enemy… Please be a dream… he pleaded silently. Don’t be reality, I beg you. But he had no idea who he was begging to. There was no one else besides him and Isrir. How long is this going to take…?
Ryanda Forest began to take shape around him. What? It had taken him, Storm and Shade two day to get this far. How had Isrir covered so much ground in so little time? So this WAS a dream! But why can’t he wake up? What was going on in reality…? And how was this not real? What happened to him? What happened to Isrir? What about Shade and Storm? What the hell was happening?! The answer refused to come, and that made Aerobolt upset. Never had he felt so lost before. Except when he was still in Hydyraen as a cub… He remembered how Isrir used to torment him everyday… And how much they hated each other. Seeing him “killed” before his very eyes the night he escaped filled him with inexplicable joy, despite being sickened by the sight of death at his paws. Happy to see death… Was he really becoming more like them? No! It can’t be… could it? Isrir has been messing around with his emotions for years; he can’t be sure what he feels anymore. He knows for sure that he hates Isrir and every other Shadow Vulpine on his side. Uukai… Arcane… all of them! He wants them all to suffer!
“That is not a noble way to think…”
What the--!? Who said that!? Aerobolt tried to voice that, but could not. That voice, though! It seemed familiar… Where had he heard it before…?
Without warning, the entire scene had flashed white, and now he was in a forest that he’d never seen before. Fog swirled all around him. The image around him was so vague and shadowy, he was uncertain if it was real. At least he knew he was dreaming- is dreaming. He looked straight ahead of him, and jumped backward in surprise. A path snaked in front of him. Several yards away, he saw a pure white vulpine figure standing there, looking at him. He saw the sapphire colored glint in those eyes from where he stood. Was that…?
“You want to hurt all those Shadow Vulpines, do you not, Arrabalta…? Your thirst for revenge is nothing more than the blood of the Shadow Vulpines in your veins trying to drag you back to their ways…” she continued.
Huh? My thirst for revenge…?
“No matter how bad a deed was, retaliation is never the right answer. It will only lead to further strife, until much life is lost forever,” she said, a voice so ethereal sounding, it sent chills through his spine with every word. “Is that what you wish, Arrabalta?”
Arrabalta? Why was she referring to him as Arrabalta…? My name is Aerobolt, he tried, but failed, to say.
“I know your name, Aerobolt, but you are Arrabalta… Savior…” Iridescence said quietly. Her voice was like wind, but not like any wind Aerobolt had ever heard. How did she know what he said? He didn’t hear himself say anything!
“Surprised you cannot hear yourself? You are indeed dreaming, Arrabalta…” Iridescence stated.
Of course he knew he was dreaming now! There was no doubt in his mind about that anymore? But why is he here? What is going on?
“I knew one day you’d come…” Iridescence started. “I knew that you’d come, and save Nyethra from a threat so great. A threat you had been under for sixteen years…”
Shade told him Iridescence knew about him before he was even born. But what exactly does she mean by saving Nyethra from a threat so great? And that he was raised under it? Does she mean Arcane? Of course that’s what she means. What else…? Interrupting his thoughts, the Goddess of Life suddenly began reciting something in an even more chilling voice.
“Our Arrabalta has come…”
And why does she continue calling him Arrabalta?
“The one whose life was once shrouded in tribulation has come. Our Arrabalta has come to coalesce his powers, and purge the Unknown Enemy in his own perpetual darkness and sorrow…”
What? What is she talking about? Unknown Enemy? Is that supposed to refer to Arcane?
“Our Arrabalta will become our divine God of Justice. Our Arrabalta will replenish Justice in its rightful place… Our Aerobolt will be our savior…”
Aerobolt thought his heart skipped a few beats when he heard his own name.
“The Divine spirits of the Ethereal Sky call forth Arrabalta from the depths of tribulation, so that he may quell it, and rescue the noble spirit of life itself.”
Aerobolt could barely understand anything she was saying. Somehow he knew, that she was referring to Hydyraen just now.
“Eternal justice, divinity, love, life… Our Arrabalta shall revive those that were lost in the Unknown Enemy’s rise to power, for he does not permit iniquity, profanity, hate, or death…”
What does she mean by all of this!?
“Our Arrabalta shall deliver us and bring upon our solace, our salvation, when he discerns his rightful place in existence…”
What?
“He shall bring damnation on all who oppose… And the Unknown Enemy shall be purified!”
Arcane… should be killed by him…? Is that what she is trying to say…?
“Our Arrabalta has come… Our God of Justice has come… Our Aerobolt has come…” And suddenly, she went back to normal, whatever normal was. She spoke in the same ethereal windy voice as before. “That is the Prophecy of Justice… A prophecy realized to me many years before your birth, Arrabalta…”
But what exactly does it mean, he tried but failed to say aloud again.
“Simply put… it means you will save us all, and bring back the concept of Justice, a once great thing that was stripped away from us the moment the Unknown Enemy was born…”
Arcane…?
“We do not know his real name… We do not call him anything but the Unknown Enemy for that reason…”
Aerobolt didn’t respond. So Arcane is the Unknown Enemy to those in the Ethereal Sky? If they know about him, then it is obvious Arcane is indeed plotting something against the Guardians!
“Arrabalta, I beseech you… Eliminate the threats to justice, my legacy… if not, Nyethra shall drown in the blood of all who oppose the Unknown Enemy!” Iridescence suddenly said a little louder. There was a hint of desperation in her voice. Was Arcane just that strong…?
“Like you, Arcane has a thirst for revenge, and think about, who he is today… is that what you wish to become, if you continue thirsting for revenge…?”
Aerobolt had never thought of that before! She was right; if he continued wishing harm in retaliation on the Shadow Vulpines, soon he’ll turn as bloodthirsty as Arcane! But wait… why does Arcane want revenge…? And on whom…?
“He wishes revenge on the Guardians… he wishes to drown us and Nyethra in darkness for preventing him from initially raising power… our efforts failed, yet he still wishes us harm… but that is not the only motive in which the Unknown Enemy carries… he wishes revenge for multiple reasons…”
What? Like what?
“The answer… it shall be revealed to you soon… Do not forget…”
Why not now? Don’t you know why else Arcane wishes revenge?
“…I do… but now is not the time for revelation… it will not be much longer, but I must ask you to wait just a trifle longer…”
Aerobolt was desperate to know more about his greatest enemy. But he had no choice but to accept her terms.
“One day, all will be revealed to you. Do not forget the ones that love you… and soon… you will see more light in the darkest of times…”
Aerobolt still didn’t understand the cryptic ways the Goddess spoke, but he had to trust her. He knew he could. Before he could “speak” another word, the Goddess began to fade with a few parting words.
“Our Arrabalta has come… he is coming home… back home…” And with that, she was gone, and Aerobolt was alone. Her parting words echoed in his mind for so long, he was sure he’d never forget.
Suddenly he heard a familiar voice that jarred his mind back to reality. The first thing he saw was Shade’s concerned face looking down on him. She was shaking him, trying to get him to wake. When Shade saw his eyes open, she lifted off him and breathed a sigh of relief. He was lying inside the tent Shade sets up every night. He realized he was panting and sweating, as if he had a powerful nightmare.
“What’s happened to you? You were muttering something about ‘Our Arrabalta’ in your sleep!” she said, still panicked.
“She- she-!” Aerobolt gasped, finding it hard to breathe.
“Try not to talk so much! Take deep breaths. Do not overexert yourself yet!” Shade responded apprehensively.
Where-?” he began.
“At the start of Marsh Plains,” Shade interrupted. “You were scarcely breathing. I can’t believe the three of us survived! That Isrir is one piece of work now…”
Each breath was painful, but Aerobolt had to know, “What happened- to him…?” he choked out.
Shade shook her head. “I don’t know… You probably managed to fend him off somehow.”
“Before I blacked- out. I remember- seeing the sun- how bright- it was. I saw- bright flash- of light- before I- passed out,” Aerobolt struggled to speak.
“Ah… you pulled a defensive Light Force on him… Imagine if you didn’t. I’d be scared of what would happen to you. I never saw so much hate in anyone’s eyes except Arcane’s,” Shade decided.
Iridescence. She came. To my dream.” Aerobolt stated.
Shade reacted with a surprised gasp, “She DID!? Wh-what did she say to you?”
Aerobolt took a while to regain his breath. Shade didn’t press on during the pause. When he found his breath at last, he recited the prophecy to the best of his ability to Shade.
Shade sighed. “So she’s given you the Prophecy of Justice, right?” she asked in a grim tone.
Aerobolt nodded. “Yes. She did. But what does it mean?”
“Arcane. It means you are destined to kill Arcane, and protect the Guardians’ legacy. Iridescence gave me that prophecy before you were born. She gave it to Fielra and all the other Arch Guardians as well,” Shade explained.
“Iridescence also said something about Arcane wanting revenge. Do you know anything about that?”
Shade’s eyes widened. “He does? Really?”
“Do you know anything about that? Anything at all?” Aerobolt repeated.
Shade thought for a moment, and replied fretfully, “No. I-I do not know anything as to why…” she replied in such a way that made Aerobolt convinced she was lying. She knew exactly why Arcane wished revenge. She wasn’t telling him something very important. He had to know what! Then he remembered someone that drove that desire to the back of his mind.
“Storm! Is he alright!? Where is he!?”
Storm was nearby, apparently asleep. Was asleep anyway. “Oh… Who is being loud? I am trying to sleep…” he groaned, sleep filling his voice.
Aerobolt sighed in relief this time, his heart racing in worry. “Thank Goddess we’re all okay…”
Shade looked away regretfully.
Aerobolt grew sullen at that. “What? What’s wrong Shade? Aren’t we though?”
“When Isrir raised those spires of Earth under Storm, they jarred his ankle so bad, he can’t walk,” she said sadly.
“What? I-is he going to be alright?” Aerobolt asked worriedly.
“Mister Aerobolt? Is that you?” Storm was too groggy in a sleepy daze to fully comprehend what was happening.
“I numbed him. He was in a lot of pain when he woke up. But yes… he will recover, but it will take time,” Shade replied. “Go back to sleep, Storm… you need a lot of rest. So do we Aerobolt. That encounter was harrowing and exhausting.”
Aerobolt realized how tired he was when Shade mentioned rest. He yawned. “Yes we do…”
Shade shook her head. “We are in a tough spot. Storm is injured, and we are still really far from Castla nu Craara…”
“We’ll figure everything out. Don’t worry,” Aerobolt tried to reassure her.
“I hope so, Aerobolt… I hope so…” Shade said quietly.
Aerobolt didn’t say another word. The drowsiness was taking him back into sleep. Natural sleep. A dreamless one as well. Despite the situation, he still wanted to know Arcane’s true nature, and his true intentions. Someday he knew he’d find everything he is looking for. Someday he would be free. Someday he’d preserve Iridescence’s legacy like she said he would. Someday he knew he would be the deity of Justice. He’d bring it back, and make it his own. He thought that over and over as he fell asleep, just wondering about what it all would be like…
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Want to start from the beginning? Here is chapter one! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11187661/
Here is the book's index! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5340298/