I'm home...
CH 24 Summary: The foxes make the final stretch to Castla nu Craara. Home.
Finally we make it home in Chapter 25 of my first book.
My longest chapter yet too...
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The Guardians of Life: Justice (Book I)
Chapter Twenty-Five-
Castla nu Craara

It reached far into the sky. It dug deep into the earth. There it stood, day and night, enduring relentless rain, snow, lightning, hail, wind, every last Force of Life to stand as the vanguard of the Guardians, the protectors of Life itself. Now Aerobolt shall become a new member of these Guardians. He would now live the life he never knew was possible. His home stood there, waiting for him. Waiting for him to be free at last. His home stood a tantalizing mile or so away still, yet Aerobolt never stopped. He could wait no more for his happiness to finally begin. He found the lack of sleep hindering his energy, but with his home standing right there before him, he could never consider stopping now! The sight of Castla nu Craara alone gave more than enough energy to plow through the remaining distance to freedom.
“Aerobolt! Wait up!” Shade’s voice was distant. How far had he sped ahead of them? Just up ahead, he could see the tall doors of the stronghold opening to welcome him. He couldn’t see all that was inside; all he could see was a mass of orange, black, and white. His brethren. His real brethren. Aerobolt felt compelled to stop when one vixen began walking out of her home, and into the valley to meet him. Aerobolt saw her looking at him. Aerobolt saw a white scarf and a white cape. Was this their leader? Was this the Fielra he has been hearing about? The foxes he left behind caught up to him, gasping for breath. At the same instance, Fielra began to advance towards them, walking in such a graceful manner with the scarf and cape billowing behind her that made Aerobolt think she was spirit from the Ethereal Sky.
“That is Fielra. Our leader. Please be as kind as you can,” Shade hissed, as Fielra got ever closer. Aerobolt nodded.
Fielra, when she got close enough, threw her arms wide. “Welcome to the Guardian citadel Castla nu Craara!” she called warmly. “We’ve been expecting your arrival!” she finished her trek towards the foxes and addressed Shade first. “I see you were successful, Shade. It took you ten years! I thought you had said you couldn’t find him! So is this who he became?” she was inspecting Aerobolt closely. Aerobolt tried not to seem nervous. “I can sense immense power flowing through his veins. Is that…?”
Shade interrupted. “Yes. It is Hyda nu Craara. He and Arcane share the same power. One uses it for its purpose while the other seeks to use it for the pursuit of truth and justice.”
Fielra continued to eye Aerobolt closely. “I see. Well with that kind of power, we will stand a much greater chance of dealing with Arcane.”
Aerobolt couldn’t help but feel a little fretful. “He is actually going to attack us!?” he exclaimed.
“He did it twice. He can do it again. Especially now that everything he wants is here all conveniently situated in one place,” Shade said darkly.
“Indeed. That is why we need to be prepared for him as soon as possible. It is not unfeasible for the Unknown Enemy to be on his way here as we speak,” Fielra replied with regret.
“No way. He couldn’t be!” Aerobolt exclaimed. No way. He just got home! Arcane surely wouldn’t be marching with his huge army in tow right now!? Could he!?
Fielra shook her head, “Whatever the case may be, we need to be prepared at a moment’s notice. We have no time to lose.” She looked past them. “Oh? I see you have found our lost cubs. They have been a pawful lately. I must express gratitude for a deed as such. Those two are in big trouble,” she added sternly to the two cubs Cloud and Iris. Fielra looked around realizing someone was missing. “Where is Plazma? He did go with Storm to fetch you after all.”
A melancholic look crossed Shade and Storm’s faces. “I’m sorry. He’s dead,” Shade said quietly.
Fielra frowned. “Dead? What has happened to him?”
“He was defending me when a Shadow Vulpine anticipated our departure from Hydyraen. Like a fool, he was not wearing his Shade Scarf,” Shade explained shakily.
Fielra sighed and looked down. “I see… Well, he was rather foolhardy as a cub. Now it would appear to have been his final downfall…”
“Plazma did bring a spare of every Force Scarf with him for Aerobolt… except…”
“You can’t ever know your Bane safely until the Iridescent Waters washes the black pad color away… or not…” Iridescence finished. “Plazma has always been kind. He tries to be thoughtful and intelligent, but he always overlooks and either over or under thinks things…”
“Oh Plazma… why did you decide to be so…” Shade didn’t seem able to find the right words.
“Ignorant?” Fielra tried.
“Perhaps,” Shade said stiffly. “And to think, the Shadow Vulpine he was fighting was still alive… for the same one attacked us just outside of Uron and injured Storm pretty badly. He’s fine now, but…”
“Oh really? Would you explain everything that happened? Later of course,” Fielra requested.
“Of course Mistress Fielra,” Shade bowed.
Fielra looked up. “Good heavens! Is it evening already? Come on you five… Aerobolt, it is time to meet your new family.” Aerobolt just realized the valley was turning orange in the dying sun. She turned her back and started back towards the majestic stronghold. Aerobolt followed her eagerly. Shade kept her distance. Fielra turned back to address the runaway cubs. “You two! You are on kitchen duties for five days!” Instant outbursts from the two cubs.
“No way! No fair!”
“Oh come on! Seriously!?”
Fielra’s stare hardened. “You had us all worried sick for five days, and therefore you assist our cooks for five days. You two straight to the kitchens when I order the Guardians to disperse, got it?”
“Yes Mistress Fielra,” they muttered.
“Excellent.” She turned once again, back to Castla nu Craara. “Follow me if you please. When Fielra was the one walking to the great entrance to liberty, she made it seem like they were only two steps away. Walking with Shade and the cubs, the stronghold took two steps back for every step forward for Aerobolt. Before Aerobolt could complain, however, the ground turned to cobblestone. The doors were right there, just yards away. Fielra held up a handpaw to call them to halt. She turned back to the doors, which were still cracked open only slightly Aerobolt could see the huge group of foxes just inside, peering at them curiously. “Guardians of the Seven Forces of Life! I give you, our Arrabalta! Our savior! Aerobolt!” Fielra howled to them.
The doors exploded. All at once two thousand Guardians bombarded the doors away and flooded out into the entranceway in a brilliant sea of orange, white, and black. They performed Aerobolt the loudest and longest ovation they could muster. Aerobolt felt his heart skip a beat with happiness. They’ve accepted him. In fact they worshipped him! Many of the Guardians shoved there way up to him and bowed at him. A few decided to kiss the ground around his paws. He could have sworn he felt them actually kissing his paws, but he didn’t pay attention. All he could see, was the spirit they had for him.
“No way…” a voice said in awe behind him. It was Cloud who spoke.
“So you are the miracle fox!” Iris breathed.
Aerobolt barely heard them. Is this what it is like to have someone supporting you? Is this what it feels to be loved and adored by many? He never felt so happy before! This! This is where he belonged!
“Well, well, it would seem you have fans,” Fielra smiled at him cheerfully.
Aerobolt laughed, unsure of how to respond. All he could manage was a wave. That did something, for the Guardians got even louder, which Aerobolt thought was not possible! Any louder, he was sure he was to go deaf!
“Silence!” Fielra seemed to roar even louder than the crowd itself, making Aerobolt jump. It took several seconds for the cacophony to die down. “I thank you for making our grand savior feel welcome here at our humble abode, but please do not be a nuisance! Treat him as he was a special visitor such as Kyaeta!” she called out. The crowd burst into applause, but much quieter this time.
“Kyaeta comes here?” Aerobolt hissed to Shade.
“Of course he does. The Kobold Warriors are our greatest allies after all,” Shade hissed back.
“Ever since the Prophecy of Justice was given to Shade thirty years ago, we awaited our so called God of Justice to appear to us. When Arcane was first a part of our lives, we had thought he was to be our deity. But 25 years ago, he had done something so unforgivable, he had to be evicted! At age five! We knew instantly at that point that he was not the one, and he continued to prove so when he pilfered one of our cubs sixteen years ago and dropped him at the gated of Hydyraen! While he was at it, he immediately tried to steal away the Iridescent Orb, the commander of Life! That cub… that cub had spent his entire life living under the hell that Hydyraen is, in corruption and hate. So many Guardians have believed that even he had become corrupted in the bowels of the Hellgates. But they were wrong, for our Arch Guardian of Darkness has found him again! And now he’s come home!” Fielra yanked up Aerobolt’s arm as the Guardians exploded once again. Out of the corner of eyes he saw Shade looking down at her paws. The truth was out that he was born here, but Shade does not realize he already knew.
“Aerobolt, would you like to say something?” Fielra asked suddenly. Aerobolt felt a twinge of stage fright tighten itself in his stomach, but FIelra already backed up a few steps.
“I-uh…” Aerobolt stuttered. What should he say? What would these Guardians want to hear from him? Something about how he’d stop Arcane? Yeah, maybe that could work… “Living in Hydyraen has taught me much!” he began, trying to sound as confident as he could. “Among these lesson I learned was that you should always take a stand for what you believe is right! I stood up to every fox in that place that questioned my beliefs. Or rather… tried to… in the end I was victimized… for many of them did not take to well to my thoughts! That however, only motivated me further! That taught me that no matter how small, weak, insignificant you think you are, you can make a difference with enough determination to carry you along! I never gave up; I strove to find a way to escape Hydyraen all these years to live, as I wanted to! Of course, I never did! And even when Arcane took over, and all hope seemed lost, I never quit! I never stopped! I knew that someday I would have my rightful liberation! That… was when I met Shade! This vixen did whatever she could to get us out of Hydyraen, for she was just like me! Raised into a life that was never meant to be! And that goes for all the other Shadow colored vulpines here! She could not let that happen again, much less to someone as apparently important as I! For ten years she searched! She searched and searched for me in Hydyraen and yet she never found me, for I was hiding from every Shadow Vulpine myself! Meeting her served as another lesson! No matter where you are, who you are, what you are, there is always, always someone out there to support you through thick and thin no matter what! It is because of her, Storm, Iridescence, and even the deceased Plazma that I stand here today! The Shadow Vulpines indeed attempted to influence my assimilation to their dastardly ways of life! They failed! I was never meant to live their life! I was meant to live yours, to preserve, and protect the Forces that make up Life itself! But now that I know that these Forces are being threatened by the same life I left behind, I feel it is my responsibility to assist in the salvation of these Forces, just as Iridescence foretold I would! Just as Shade supported me all this way, it is my turn to support each and every one of you, to eliminate the threats that are my fault! Arcane’s odium shall last no more! Hear me, my fellow Guardians, for we shall all be victorious in the battle against the Unknown Enemy! Justice shall be served to him in its rightful form! The Unknown Enemy has twisted Justice, and made it full of iniquities! I-no-we shall restore Justice to its original and pure state! And the Shadow Vulpines of Hydyraen, of all Nyethra, who oppose the purification, shall hark to the divine retribution they deserve! I am Arrabalta! Aerobolt! And I shall live up to my name, and engrave a legacy of Justice, just as Iridescence engraved a legacy of Life, Protection, and Tutelage! And when my time comes to join her ranks in the Ethereal Sky, still I strive to never quit preserving our legacies! Still I preserve the Justice, the Seven Forces, and more importantly… each and every one you! In the end, it is us who shall be victorious in these dark times, no matter how much we lose, no matter how much they take! Justice will always find a way to coalesce its Forces to purge our iniquitous enemies with divine wrathful retribution! Behold Arcane! You have met your match! Your downfall! Our victory!”
Castla nu Craara exploded in noise. Aerobolt never even realized that such a speech was lying deep inside of him, just waiting to be heard. He meant each and every word. No matter what happens, Arcane will get what he deserved, and it shall be delivered from Aerobolt himself.
Fielra tapped Aerobolt’s shoulder. “That was a wonderful speech, our Arrabalta,” she said. She held a handpaw up for silence, but the cheering did not die down. She turned wide-eyed back to Aerobolt. “Too wonderful! Now look what you made them do!” she laughed good-naturedly. When she raised her paw again, Aerobolt saw the white pads that indicated the ultra rare Bane of Light. If Light could be a Bane, how does it work? How does any benevolent soul fall to the Force that represents all things good and benevolent?
It took Fielra several minutes to finally get the Guardians to all quiet down. By that time, the valley was colored with the most vibrant and vivid orange. “Guardians! Disperse! Dinner is now ready!” she turned to Cloud and Iris as the Guardians gave one last ovation to Aerobolt before starting to pile back into Castla nu Craara. “You two lucked out for cooking today, but that does not mean you are free from other duties such as dish cleaning,” she said. The two cubs’ intertwining protests were impossible to understand. “Go!” Fielra commanded, pointing towards the crowd of Guardians still piling through the majestic doorways.
Slumping the cubs replied with a saddened monotone, “Yes, Mistress Fielra…” before following the crowd back in.
Fielra turned back to the trinity. “You must all be exhausted from your journey. I heard the winds were very strong today! Believe me when I say Sylph is going to get an earful! But please bear with me just a little longer. Aerobolt still has yet to see his new home from the inside.”
Aerobolt was far from tired now, “It’s no problem for me! But these two—“
“Are fine. You are going to love this place, Aerobolt. I just know it!” Shade said cheerfully.
“I already do,” Aerobolt sighed.
Fierla chuckled. “Of course you do. Now how about that little tour? The place is huge, but that is mostly to accommodate for the large number of Guardians here. There is not too much to show you.”
“Oh yes… please! And don’t worry about it; I love this place enough already!” he repeated with eagerness.
Fielra laughed again. “Well let’s stop standing around here then. Follow me, if you would.” She turned around and began to move towards the stronghold. Aerobolt was literally on top of her tail. “If you don’t mind, please keep your distance,” she said calmly in front of him, not looking back. Ashamed of himself and ears burning, Aerobolt backed off. Soon the doors were right before his eyes. The other Guardians had left them wide open. Aerobolt treasured that brief second of when he stepped into his new home for the very first time. The floors of the place he stands now were made of marble. This marble seemed to shine with every color in the spectrum it seemed. It was impossible to determine one color to describe it. They were in a circular hall, much like Hydyraen, but he knew this particular hall serves a better purpose than a daily gathering place to hear malevolent and cruel speeches.
“This room is the very acceptance chamber to Castla nu Craara. This is where each of the Seven Spires met. Therefore this place is called Crossroads. You must have seen each of them jutting from the mountain. Each Spire, as you would guess represents one of the Seven Forces, and serve as training facilities, living quarters for Guardians who wield the Force as their Dominant, the Arch Guardian offices, and most importantly, the housing of the Force Orbs,” Fielra explained.
“Force Orbs?” Aerobolt echoed.
“That’s right. These Orbs were granted to us by the Gods of these Forces and requested us to safeguard them from threats that wish to contaminate them. These Orbs are said to be the very control center for their Forces. These Orbs are said to keep each of their Forces in balance throughout nature. It is said whoever holds one of these Orbs, can wield its Force with infinite control. If just one Orb is put into the wrong paws, the other six will collapse and plunge the world into utter ruin.” Fielra’s eyes darkened. “We believe that Arcane wishes to spirit away the Aether orb or the Nether Orb, the commanders of Light and Dark respectively. It does not matter which Orb he steals, the end result would be the drowning of Nyethra in perpetual darkness,” she said.
“Believe me, I will do whatever it takes to keep him from getting his paw prints all over them!” Aerobolt vowed. “Hm? Hey what is that fountain in the center of the room?” he just now noticed the massive fountain in the center of Crossroads. The fountain had a statue of a vixen standing in a gallant pose as seven water spouts at along the rim sent jets of multicolored water close to the top of her head. The bottom where the water pooled was the same indescribable iridescent color as the marble floors.
“That is Iridescence Fountain. You should know that vixen is Iridescence, right?” Fielra prompted.
“Yes… I knew it was her,” Aerobolt said.
“That is good. Each of the different colored waters is the essence of the Force of which they represent, and also represents a component of the Iridescent Waters of Revelation. Yes… this is the water that reveals to us our undoing, our Bane. Present yourself to this Shrine of Life, and you shall know what you should prepare for. So Aerobolt, do you wish to confirm your Bane Force? Do you wish to be officially recognized by Iridescence as a Guardian of Life? If you wish to… submerse yourself in the Iridescent Waters of Revelation, and become one of us,” she said.
Aerobolt didn’t need to think. “I won’t be a Guardian in Her eyes until I do so? No question. I will do it.”
Fielra nodded. “Very well. Simply step into the fountain. Let the Goddess’s power flow into your powers. Let those powers become one with who you are. Let Iridescence grant you her legacy.”
Aerobolt stepped up to the fountain. So this is where he’d officially become a Guardian. The second he steps into this glowing pool he’d be a Shadow Vulpine no longer. This was when and where his new life would begin. Without further hesitation, he stepped in. The second his paw touched the water it was blasted by its intense power. He yanked it out instinctively. He heard FIelra’s voice behind him.
“I must apologize. I’ve forgotten to warn you that the imbuement of this power will be painful.”
He was right here. No way he was going to let a fountain stop him. Without thinking of the potential pain, he leapt from the rim of the fountain into its powerful waters. The force of the manifestation of Iridescence’s powers slammed his body hard enough for him to open his muzzle to cry out in pain. The water submerged him up to his neck so everyone around him could hear his scream. He could feel something flowing into his veins. Something powerful. And painful. Was this the Goddess of Life’s amazing powers? Was he being granted her powers of preservation and benevolence? The pain was beginning to ease up as Her powers began to glow around his body in a bright white light. Aerobolt began to feel increasingly more powerful as the new power surged through him like electricity. In his mind, he could see the Goddess smiling down on him. She had blessed him. He could tell she blessed him with more than just her powers.
“This power you’ve been blessed with,” Fielra began in awe, “is much more than just the Guardians’ power. This. It is Arrabalta nu Craara. The Savior of Being.”
Aerobolt only heard that distantly as he clambered out of the fountain. He yelped in surprise when he found his pelt completely dry. “S-so is that it? A-am I a Guardian now?”
Shade walked up to him, and grabbed his arm. She turned it over so the palm of Aerobolt’s handpaw was facing up. Aerobolt’s eyes lit up in shock. His pads were a bright ruby color. No. More like the color of a wildfire. Or perhaps was a bright scarlet? Or even the color of blood… Whatever shade of red they were, they meant one undeniable fact. “You Bane Force is indeed Fire. You were right all along, Aerobolt,” Shade said.
Storm immediately rummaged through the pack that Shade had asked him to hold for her, and came back up with the same colored Scarf as Aerobolt’s paws. He walked over and gave it to him. “Salamander Scarf,” he said. The Salamander Scarf felt very warm in Aerobolt’s paws. Just holding it made him feel more secure at the thought of Fire. He began to ravel it around his neck when he stopped and closed his eyes. The smell… it smelled like a burning campfire. The sound… it sounded like a small crackling fire. Aerobolt smiled to himself as he wove the Scarf around his neck. When done, he reopened his eyes and looked around. Somehow, he felt much better, much safer, and much happier.
“How do you feel?” Shade prompted.
“Incredible!” Aerobolt breathed. “I feel like I can take on Arcane right now!”
“I would not be surprised. You have both the polar opposite powers in you: Hyda and Arrabalta nu Craara. With as much power as that, you may be as powerful as even Iridescence herself!” Fielra was still in awe.
“Is that so? I highly doubt it, but if I really am that powerful, then Arcane better take care if he shows his ugly tail around here! He will have to go through me!” Aerobolt said confidently.
“Yes. You seem perfectly prepared! Aerobolt, I must admit. You might not need a mentor at all,” Fielra said.
“Oh come on… I am not that powerful…”
“All right. Thor will train you. Or rather he will evaluate you,” said FIelra.
“What about--?” Aerboolt began.
“Shade? You two do need catching up, but Guardians are now to be trained by a mentor with the corresponding Bane Force. This we believe will bring out a Guardian’s maximum potential,” Fielra explained.
“I see.” He decided it was time. He didn’t know why. But he knew now was the time. So he asked. “Why do we need to catch up though?”
“What? Do you not know? Did Shade tell you?” Fielra was surprised. Aerobolt looked over to Shade, who was shuffling her paws, in pure nervousness.
“I do know. I do know the truth. Shade just doesn’t know I’ve known all along.”
He paused.
“Shade. I know you are my mother.”
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Wanna start from the beginning? Here is Chapter One! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11187661/
Here is my series' index! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5340298/