Protectors of Atlantis – Part 2

—Z-Zephyr… I know what you are up to…

The scary voice resonated all over the dark and drowning place. Zephyr wasn’t conscious at all of at least knowing that they were dreaming. An unlikable, overwhelming and otherworldly fear came over them. They felt like shaking and wanting to fight, but they couldn’t. All they could do was speak.

—W-Who are you? Show yourself!

A bright flash engulfed him, and all of a sudden, they find themselves back in the deep ocean. Or was it the ocean they knew? All they knew was that the body of water they were in had no beginning nor end. It was an infinitely deep ocean with no bottom. Zep thought that they might drown, but instead, they were breathing just fine. The place was dark, so dark that they could barely see the surface.  

Rapidly, they tried to swim up to the surface — the only source of light there was, until they were grabbed in a blink by something, that let them gasp in fear. It felt like a really cold hand. A dark, monstrous figure which they could not identify appeared before them. It was pulling them back to the dark abyss below. As Zep struggled to get to the top, the light started to vanish, more and more, until Zep lost all the sight and tried to scream out to no avail. They couldn’t even scream underwater.

—W-what do you want from me? Who are you!?!

—I know what you’re seeking… I know your purpose in this land where you don’t belong… Don’t try to finish the disasters that I didn’t begin. I promise you. If you want to survive… Don’t. Come. Back.

—W-w-what… Stop it… Ah!

As Zephyr struggled to reach out to the surface, they looked down below, and they would have wanted to never have done that. The dark creature opened eight bright yellow eyes, eyes which would have instilled fear on any atlantean who would gaze upon them as Zep thought. Zep tried to gasp, and closed their eyes as to not give in into the nightmare that was now occurring in their mind. And as the moment Zep tried to close their eyes, a sudden series of thoughts came in like a flash. It seemed like some memories. Worse than that. It looked like premonitions. But the images were pretty quick for Zep to remember completely.

A ghost with a dark smile, and another small one, trapped. Two more aquatic dragons, just like Spyro, but one was blue, and the other, black. One of the guard ghosts, Spunky. Something in the shape of a narwhal. A big, good-looking fountain. And lastly, what it seemed a family of dolphins. Zep felt at that time that their head was hurting. It was too much to process. Until there came the weirdest thing for the last. Something that lasted way more than the other visions. Zep saw three people. They seemed so familiar. They were bunnies — mermaid bunnies. They obviously looked like Azure. In fact, they actually had the essence of Azure. These people were so bright… Zep couldn’t believe it. What was going on?

Since then, it felt like another thing was grabbing them. Then another. More and more. It never seemed to stop. It felt like being suffocated. Zep tried everything to escape. They struggled, they fought, they tried to scream, but no sound came out of them. They didn’t know what to do now. It felt like no usual thing ever before. It felt like an enormous fear caused inside their own soul. It felt like…

---

—Z-Zep…? Hey!

…a nightmare.

—*gasp* AAAH! Eeh… Wa—

At top of Zephyr, her friend Kiya stood up, out of her bed earlier. She has been trying to wake them up for minutes.

—Zephyr, hey! You’re finally awake!

—Uh, K-Kiya?! What are you… *yawn* Hold on. It’s too early.

—Please, listen to me, Zephyr, I’ve got a totally weird dream! I know now where we have to go, and what’s waiting us… It was a real scary experience, to say the truth. I’m going to talk to our friends about this, I have to warn them to—

—But Zep couldn’t listen to even a word that Kiya said, since they went now back to sleep. That tiring nightmare left them really drowsy. Kiya stared angrily.

—Arrrh, come on! Zephyr, why of all times…!? Come on, this is important! Our friends had the same thing too!

Kiya could not stand it anymore, so she grabbed their feet and pulled their legs out of the bed, carefully not trying to hurt them. Unfortunately for her, Zephyr was surprisingly heavy, considering it was a fit weight for a dragon hybrid. Once Zep was lying now still asleep on the floor, she tried with all the strength she could have to pull them out of the hotel’s room, they being dragged from the feet, into the other room.

—Hrrrnnn! Get… Up! Y-You… Have to… Help… Y-Your… F-F-FRIENDS…!! Uh! Oof… Darn, you’re heavy… —she said exhausted.

While inside of Topaz’s room, she saw Kiya dragging the sleepy Zeppy inside.

—Uh, what’s going on? Wait, why is Zep still asleep?

—The same obvious reasons. —said Kiya sarcastically.

—Wow, no doubt about what you said about Zep liking to sleep. Looks like it turns out to be really true. —said Griffon.

—Can’t… you say… something not totally obvious… P-PLEASE? – She said fiercely, while trying to pull Zep inside by their tail. But then, she accidentally tumbled a desk, with various stacked books. They all fell over Zephyr’s face, which made them finally wake up.

—OW. What? Wh- Uh! Where am I? Who turned off the lights? —they said, with a book covering their eyes. They removed the book in front of their face, looking confused and a little exhausted. Then they let out a yawn, as usual.

—It was already time! —Kiya said. —We were waiting for minutes!

—Whoa. W-what a nightmare I had…

—I know —Topaz said. —We all had it too.

—You what? How…?

—No one of us knows.

—It all was so weird… I think that eel… has just… But how? Does it already know about our plans? It scares me to think of that.

—Wait, the eel… knows our plans?

—It said it already does…

—Oh dear…

Kiya was looking at the time through her phone in the middle of the conversation. It was 6 o’ clock. The sun was about to rise once again.

—I think it’s about time we go to Tory’s warehouse again; he might need us. —she said.

—You think?

—Yes. And I feel we have to go as quick as we can if these nightmares really could mean something bad.

—Then let’s waste no time. —Topaz agreed.

—Let’s go!

—Wait… I… Can’t we sleep a little more? —Zep said.

—Argh, Zephyr! Come on! We have no time! Don’t make me drag you again!

And they left the rooms, closed them and went on. Zep was walking kind of like they were dizzy, but trying to keep up on their friends.

—But… That means I won’t sleep?

---

Once they all were next to Tory’s house, looking as small and old as it was looking on the outside, Tory answered the door, along with Rio.

—It’s you again! Nice. You know some of us kind of had a rough and busy night. While my friends were all in the Ninth Cloud, I tried to work some more for our raid to a temple. I suddenly feel asleep once I finished. I just reinforced the submarine and added some better weapons. Also, I have to show inside something special for you, phoenix lady.

—Something… for me? —Kiya was confused.

—Yes. I’ll show you once we get inside the Metal Shark. But there’s some other two things I just remember now. My friend Rio… you see… he had a weird dream.

—Oh, not him too. —Zephyr said before yawning again.

—I don’t think it was just a dream… —Rio said. —But what it was a… memory? I just don’t think it was exactly a memory, but there might be a… little… tiny… chance?

—…You remember it? —Zep asked.

—It was all hazy… But I remember myself… all fine in my beloved ship… sailing like the happy sailor I am. And I was… with Azure!

—What?! —they all gasped.

—What would Azure do there? I mean… she’s a mermaid princess, so I assume she wouldn’t have her important royal duties to do or something…? —Kiya questioned.

—I haven’t got a clue, either. But she was there with me, believe me.

—O-okay… So, what happened then?

—That monster spawned outta nowhere. And destroyed my ship! It ended up pretty… destroyed. I didn’t think I would survive. But I did… She… Azure saved me from that crash… I saw her face… It was so beautiful like the freshiest oyster’s pearl! Oh… she saved me from that chaos. And… I remember nothing else… My memory is getting hazy. All I want to think now is her… I want to dream of her…

—He’s becoming romantic again and I kind of hate that. —said Kiya, seeing Rio is having already hearts on his eyes.

—I… think you might need to sleep some more, Rio. Just in case. Get comfy in that bedroom over there. —said Tory before making a small laugh. Rio just walked back inside.

—Tory, you’re being no fun…—he said.

—The other thing I forgot to tell you... Someone just came here to my place asking for you, so I invited him to my house. This youngster…

—Y-youngster? —Zep asked, pretty confused.

—You might want to come inside and say hi to my guest. He’s been waiting like… all night.

The four of them had no idea who this guest might be. They got in the house, as small and poor looking as they remembered. Then, closing the door shut and using that TV remote, Tory once again triggered the elevator to the secret warehouse.

—A youngster? —said Griffon. —What would a youngster want of us in our… I don’t know, “summer vacation quest”?

—I think I might have a feeling that I know who he is… —said Zephyr.

—Wait, you know?

As soon as the elevator reaches the bottom floor, the big door in front opened for them. That moment was when the four heroes were presented by someone. Someone that only Zep knew. They were surprised to see them unexpectedly in the city they now were. The new guest Tory moved in… was a small, tan colored goat child. It looked like a satyr. It had a small backpack made out of leaves and rope strings, which could somehow be able to carry stuff that could fit in. They looked at him and recognized him at the moment.

—A-Aorix? You’re…

—Hey it’s you! The one goat boy with that fairy! —said Griffon.

Aorix looked at Zephyr.

—Hey, Zep. I have been looking for you all this time. Where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone for the entire day and night… What were you doing in Red Shores all this time?

—*sigh* I’m sorry, Aorix… I can explain this…

—Wait, who is this boy? —Kiya asked. —And for serious Zephyr, quit for once keeping secret people for yourself by showing friendships to people I just don't know.

—Ack! Kiya, I…! I can explain it! Wait… haven’t I said that before? I’m… so confused… Arrhk…! —Kiya and Aorix looked at them confused. —What I meant was… I had an adventure with him down in the woods with puzzles and fantasy stuff. And now I would like you all to say hello to him. This is Aorix. He likes to go around studying stuff around and discovering magic. Plus, he plays the pan flute really well. Aorix, these are Griffon, my one friend Topaz, and my one other friend Kiya, and she really likes to meet friends from friends so I have to reveal them every time for her.

—Sooo… You like music? —Kiya asked.

—Yeah, we can say that. —said the little boy.

—But why have you moved here to the shores?

—There’s all out in TV now. There are sightings of anormal stuff here in the shores this summer. Something like a massive eel I’ve seen in books. And even that crazy rabbit over there; they told he was jumping off the water as of nothing! What’s gotten into him?

—Wow, so Rio got in the news?!? —thought Zep.

—The thing is, I’ve somehow sensed these fluctuations of anormal energy around the seas. So, I had no other choice but to go here.

—Sensed? —said Topaz.

Aorix pulled a rather large book out of his leaf bag. It was of a dark brown color, and seemed kind of old. He used that same book to put important notations, like the records of his adventures so far, and his magic researches.

—The talisman in my record book I have here… —He pointed out the golden talisman on the cover of the book. —It reacts to magic like some sort of compass.

—And… somehow it brought you here…?

—Totally. I’m pretty sure something big is near the sea.

—Hmm… —Zep wanted to talk the truth to Aorix, holding back all fear behind. —Telling you the truth… I have a theory of what it might be. Can I tell what we have been doing yesterday?

—Zephyr, are you gonna…? —Kiya was thinking of interrupting them, but she kept them just go on.

—It’s a huge… Important quest. And this world, along with the another one we went today… It all depends on it.

—You were all busy… because of a… quest? What kind of quest was that for being too occupied for a whole day and night?

—Well… we… uh…

When Zep had just the words in the tips of the tongue, they just didn’t want to say them, even if they had to. It’s already known that Aorix liked myths for them. But telling they were just occupied for going to that alternate aquatic dimension would be like telling to their teacher that their homework got eaten by a dog. He wouldn’t believe a thing. —Why am I again just being like this? —they thought.

But Kiya, in the other fact, didn’t want to hold it enough. Impatient for Zephyr to just say it, she went on.

—Have you ever heard of Atlantis, the lost underwater city?

—Huh? The big, submerged island city? I’ve heard enough of it. I’ve seen it too. With my own eyes.

—You’ve seen… it? —said a confused Zep. —Wait… don’t you mean that…?!

—Yes. I’ve been there on my own! Was that… why you were so busy that day?

—You’ve BEEN there TOO?!? —Kiya stood with her feathers of her hair pointing straight up. —How did you get in there?

—Well… I just remember the moment I went there when I was so little… We fauns know a secret entrance to this legendary city. But it was not so pleasing… I just had to put on a helmet, just to at least be able to breathe underwater. And I… I just entered into a toilet and flushed myself in. It might look disgusting. But I made it without any difficulties.

—Wait… EEEW! You entered your own feet… INTO A TOILET?!? THAT is how you got to Atlantis?

—We can say it was a little awkward entrance. But I got right there in no time via the pipes. All it took for me it was a single magic flush powder thrown in. It’s a special powder that’s used to create portals.

—Oh… Well, about that… —Kiya said. —We just enter this city just by using an elegant stone gate that all of us just got guided in.

—Listen, Aorix… —Zep talked. —Our mission here is of very great importance. The future of this ancient city depends on us now… This beast here is trying to tear into the world. Torment everyone. Destroy… and consume. It’s real. We know it.

—B-Beast? —Aorix and Zep made a short pause. Then Zep continued.

—Thalass’eell.

—O-Oh?!? Th-Thal- Uh… —Aorix was shocked to hear that, that he looked like he was shaking.

—Woah. What happened?

—T-The… That… Impossible…! As far as I know… There are not many stuffs known about them… But I know that Thalass’eell… has a very dark story.

—Oh?

—It is known that Thalass’eell was once, a very long time ago… A powerful atlantean hero. They’re too well known for their immense ability to channel the sky’s lightning at will, anytime it wanted. But… they got punished, being turned into an immense monster with the length of a blue whale.

—Wait. Thalass’eell was AN ATLANTEAN?

—That’s something I think I’ve discovered a time ago.

—Whoaaaa.

—But… You’ll be telling me that you have to fight… Thalass’eel soon?! That feels… like a hard thing to do! It’s an absolute suicide mission! You’ll be fumed into dust before you can even move a muscle…

—Don’t worry, that monster is not alive… not yet. —said Topaz. —It’s true that it can torment our dreams, but their soul is still sealed somewhere. And that somewhere, is where we have to go. That somewhere, is by crossing the portal gate. We all know.

—Ok… Then… If what you try to do is pretty simple just to try and seal away that beast for good… Then count me in. I want to join your team, please.

—Yeah, you seem to make a good use for this mission. —said Kiya. —You already know lots of stuff. So, whatcha say, shall we get this little guy in?

—Sure! —said Griffon.

—Not sure… —opposed Zep. —What if… What if the Queen doesn’t want us to bring anyone else than just us in her world?

—But you heard what she said, Zep. —said Griffon. —She accepts anything we can do to fulfill the mission. And I think our new friend is pretty helpful in these “mythology” cases…

— “Mythology” …?

—Yeah, but we better tell him what we know at the moment.

Zep headed over to Aorix, and started explaining.

—You know, the first time we went there, we met the princess.

—The Princess? Of Atlantis? —Aorix looked in surprise. —What does she look like? She doesn’t get too publicly known in exception of big events in there, you know…

Then, Rio interrupted their conversation, out of his bed.

—She’s a beautiful looking mermaid rabbit! Just like me, but brighter and more beautiful! Just wait until you see her… She’s pretty nice!

A fierce shout pierced from outside the room they all were now in. It was Chunks.

—You PUNK RABBIT! Tory told you to sleep, then SO YOU WILL SLEEP! Go BACK to your BED, and STOP YOUR ANNOYING ROMANCE at once!

—AHH! —Rio screamed at the sight of the aggressive Chunks and instantly went back to his room and slammed the door. Everyone, including Aorix, was confused.

—Just… forget… that you have seen this. —Zep just said.

—So… Did you all meet the princess, Azure? She’s kind of famous in there. —Aorix continued.

—She was the one who called us to this mission and even gave us some special abilities. She gave us brand new aquatic bodies with just the use of her magic! We got fins, gills, mermaid tails… I even had these super-fast legs, I felt like I had flippers! And Griffon can use a super fiery spear! And Topaz can use her lunar magic…

—Whoa! This sounds super awesome! I wonder what I can be able to with powers just like these. I mean… I’m just a forest being… I haven’t got much time to explore the underwater ocean.

—Well… —Topaz thought. —Do you know the Capricorn constellation? This might sound a little off… but. I can imagine you with a tail just as the Capricorn are depicted.

—Huh. Nice imagination.

—Yeah. It’s still nice for you if you had your own aqua form. —said Kiya happily. —Like everyone else. Except… me. —Her happiness looks faded away little by little.

—What’s wrong? You… didn’t transform?

—It’s hard to explain it. I-I-I… can’t s-stand water.

—Wait, what? You can't get in water? At that age and breed you have now?! Your kind is training to be able to resist electricity, water… and so little even manage Ice Resistance. Wait… Could it mean that you…

Kiya now screwed it up.

—I-It's not what you think… I… I know it's b-bad…

—Bad? That it could be…that you didn't train yourself for water?

And as soon as Aorix finished asking, Kiya started to bawl away. —Nooo… I wasn't able to do it! —she said, crying a little exaggeratedly, almost like if it was in a comic manner. Aorix got closer and tried to calm her down a little.

—Aww, don't feel bad. I know there are few people in Atlantis that may help you to train waterproof powers.

—R-Really?

—I’m sure about it.

Kiya's sadness suddenly transformed into a hope again. She desperately said. —Oh! Who is it? Please! I want to know! I need to! I have been dreaming how would it be to swim in a cold ocean without damaging my feathers to death… Pretty pleaaase tell me…! —Her eyes went shiny.

—Uhhh, ah. We'll have to look around. There be plenty of helpful knowledge in there for such a training like that. I wonder how things are now in Atlantis. It has been so long since I first went there. There must be already some new things…

In a sudden, Tory headed inside the room, saying that it was all ready. —Yeah, you know I can’t deny those nasty sharks did a considerable damage to my new marvel here, but I got it all under control and fixed it without any terrible problems. Now we can get back in action to the underseas! Y’all ready to dive in?

—Tory! —said Zep. —That… was your name, right? How did Kiya find you? —The turtle didn't find it comfortable to answer.

—Yeah, about it… Let's say your friend didn't find me, but instead, she just found my two other work pals that are standing over there. Those would be Acer the Fox and Chunks the Rhyno. — Zep took a look at them both.

—Huh. I see.

—By the way, it's finally nice to meet you all! New friends of Rio are new friends of mine, no matter if they're more than five! I mean, the first time I knew about you, you were all transformed into lil’ fishies…

—Excuse me… —said Topaz. —But what is this place?

—And I assume you're… another friend of Lady Phoenix and… this funny dragon? Nice question you made, friend!

Zep thought… —Did he… just called me a funny dragon?

—This is a (halfly) secret workshop I have for building all my gadgets. Vehicles, machines, even weapons, though I haven't tried that yet! Having an under base workshop can be useful since you don't have to worry a thing about a neighbor screaming at you for being too hell loud! Trust me.

—And that fish shaped submarine —Griffon said —where we got back here? Did… did Kiya get on that?

—She even commanded it! Rough at first, but then it was perfect!

—Whoa. —The three were surprised.

—I guess you can have fun too by just being Kiya… —Zep thought again.

—Oh, and speaking of her, I almost forgot; the surprise I had for her. Can you call her for me? Lady phoenix? You there?

—Kiya, it’s Tory’s surprise! —Topaz called out. Kiya came in, rushing excitedly for nothing. It was time that Tory gave her a gift. He had his arms behind his back.

—Youuu… called me for a surprise?

—Hey Kiya —said Tory. —I have been testing one thing all night… And I’m sure that it will fascinate you. Stand still…

—Um…? What are you going to-?

She then was interrupted by Alexis appearing from behind, and as quick as an eye blink, he suited her all up with a new outfit. It was whole suit, with bird-designed flippers that looked like the feet of a penguin or a duck. Basically, it looked like a diving suit… it indeed was. Then, Tory jumped up and shoved a helmet on her head, and adjusted it with a wrench.

Kiya was confused (and feeling uneasy because of the helmet’s pressure). But soon, she was looking happier by realizing what she had now on.

—This, my dear… not only will you be able to breathe underwater, but the suit will protect your own phoenix feathers from any cold substance, including water and, halfly, ice! It is 100% tested by my friend Alexis, who had been studying your feathers and testing all over for being waterproof.

Alexis then stood in front of Kiya, who was still trying to adapt to her new incredible scuba diving set.

—We took what remained of your loose feathers that our two idiots over there brought, and I tested them in my lab. They were a little unstable in water. So, after hours I just found a way to block the water using a thin layer of a really strong material over a piece of fabric. You can expect that suit to protect the whole kind of phoenix feathers. Young phoenixes, elder phoenixes… No matter their power, their ranks, or their magic.

—This… is super. It’s too… AWESOME! How can I ever thank you for this? Oh… —She then rushes over both Alexis and Tory, and hugged them. Tory felt happy, and Alexis felt a little uncomfortable, but a little happy too.

—I can now go underwater for myself! I can’t wait to do it! What are we waiting for?!

—Easy, Kiya. —said Zep. —Don’t you know if they tested the whole suit first?

—Don’t you worry, big dragon one. —Tory replied. —If Alexis tested it on a single feather, there can’t be a margin of error. I know my friend pretty well, and his hard work.

—Great! —said Topaz. —Now you can finally go on with us on that suit while we all get transformed back into our underwater forms.

—Let’s get inside. —Griffon said.

Before they got in, Chunks went to the warehouse’s bedroom, and brought Rio over. —Time to go, punk! Hurry or you lose your chance to flirt with a mermaid!

—Argh, stop, that’s not funny. —he said.

—Come on, help us load in the stuff here. —said Acer.

Tory then ordered them to carry some small oxygen containers found in a box, for he said they will be useful for Kiya’s new scuba suit as for the inside of the sub.

—Cool. More guinea pigs to carry in. —Acer groaned.

—Hey, don’t be a weenie! You could think that just because they’re heavy for you!

—Oh, shut it Chunks. As if your bulky shape lets you carry these things without trouble. Huh. Guess I have my reasons to call them Guinea Pigs. I hate doing this.

—Well, it’s better to call them that way before anything more boring. HAH HA HAH!

Kiya, who heard all that conversation, has been silent to thought. Yesterday, she recalled the mentions of squealing guinea pigs when she just followed Acer and Chunks into Tory’s house. But now, at this certain moment, she realizes… She just understood things the other way around. Confusedly angry, she complained.

—Wait just a minute! These… THESE things… They are the “GUINEA PIGS” they just talked about YESTERDAY?! THESE CONTAINERS?!? I thought you both were horrible animal abusers! I thought that… UUUGH! But… W-Why?

Chunks looked at hear with a guilty expression. Acer felt a little uneasy. Whatever Kiya was thinking of when they first met, they had no idea. Tory went easy to calm her down.

—What are you saying…? As far as I know my two working companions, I understand they sometimes can be rude and cocky. But… They wouldn’t hurt even one small innocent being! Unless…have you seen them, murder one innocent animal?

—Well… thinking about it… N-No…

—I guess you got carried on a little there. Don’t worry, young friend. Everyone commits those mistakes. Even venturous youngsters like you, and your friends. We all kind of do.

—Alright… Say, are we ready now?

Chunks and Acer finished loading these containers. —We ready now!

—Ok! Everybody on board! You too, Rio, and… little goat boy. —Tory talked to the crew, then he spoke to Acer, Alexis and Chunks. —You three stay there and watch our perimeter, record everything we may find and report anything unnatural you see.

—Aye aye! —replied Acer.

—Please, you all promise to go back in one piece? And not let Rio get too flirty on sea beings? —Chunks said.

—I told you to stop already! —Rio yelled.

—Don’t worry —said Griffon. —As soon as we all return back here, you’ll know this chaos will be over.

One more time, the Metal Shark was powered on and put back in action for the submerging. Kiya then once more wanted to speak to Tory.

—Wow, it’s incredible. You use my own feathers to fuel this machine, and now you can protect me in this sit by testing them? I haven’t thought that my single feathers were so… powerful.

—Wait. —said Aorix. —This submarine is fueled… by your feathers? That’s… awesome! But that means… your feathers aren’t very common.

—What?

—Your feathers are pretty special… They come from a breed of phoenixes that’s one of the most powerful. Like lightwings or antartics. Though I assume you are the former, right?

—Y-Yes! I am a lightwing! But you mean… I am supposed to be really powerful?

—Wow! Well, I heard they are! But… it saddens me that you can’t resist water like any other…

—Me too. I hope I can learn how to fix that soon.

Again, the mechanism that transported the submarine outside turned on. The hatch door opened in front of them, and the platform below dragged it back to it, and then the sub splashed into the water. Kiya, back once again in the command, said:

—This may be a little bumpy, so hold on everyone!

And the Metal Shark came out again ejected into that pipe, at high speed, into the ocean.