Celestri chuckled as he whistled, creatures beginning to pour out of buildings and from around the area.
"Wow," Jacob breathed, unable to figure out which way to look. "Everything looks just how I imagined it and how I dreamed it!" His face lit up and grabbed Eldoria's hand. "Just like my drawing!"
All the creatures stopped at his word, except for one: a bearguin, a stunning creature with the fur of a bear in a large, rounder penguin-like body. A white patch outlined its intelligent eyes and down its face, the creature tilting its head as it walked towards Jacob.
"How often do you have these dreams and imaginations?" he asked, Jacob gulping and stepping back.
"I have them every night"
"He could be the one," the bearguin mumbled.
"The one?" Jacob asked, confused as he tried to understand everything happening.
"Yes. Legend has it that our creator, a human, will reveal themselves to us one day. A human born of light and dark magic that will unite both sides of the forest in peace," Celestri said, looking him over more closely.
"You think that's me?" Jacob asked, eyes widening.
"With all you've said, and your presence, I believe it so," the bearguin nodded.
Dave scoffed. "Please. There's just one little problem. The kid doesn't have magic and doesn't know how to fight. He's a kid! He doesn't even know how to lead!"
"I- he's right. I don't have magic. Magic is a myth where I come from. I'm sorry," he admitted, a sense of relief and disappointment mixing in his own mind.
A collective sigh and saddened expressions followed, but Eldoria piped up to break the silence and mood. "It's not your fault and there is still hope for another day. You're still the first human."
"Indeed! Let's feast and show Jacob how beautiful the city is," the bearguin announced, wrapping an arm around Jacob and patting his shoulder with his paw. Everyone's spirits immediately lifted and the creatures swarmed around them. Jacob found a new sense of energy as every creature vied for a chance to embrace him and share their lives.
Any unease Jacob had waned in the presence of his new friends. He felt at ease, embraced by the happy community as though he'd known them his whole life. He listened with eagerness at every story and watched the city in awe. The colorful lights and shops filled him with a sense of joy. A large feasting hall sat near the center square, and he was ushered inside to join the creatures for a large dinner.
Everything was a blur of laughter and fascination, the moments flying by until the feast ended and the creatures began to head to their homes. Jacob searched for his mushroom friends, ready to find where his own bed would be as he was desperate for some sleep. Spotting the three, he jogged over to them, pausing at distant lights in the sky.
The lights began to grow brighter and watched curiously. "What are those lights for?"
"What lights?" Eldoria asked.
"Look." He pointed towards them. The three mushrooms looked out, squinting before their eyes widened.
"Celestri, take Jacob inside immediately," Dave instructed.
"What's-"
"No time for questions! Just come with me!" Celestri grabbed Jacob's arm and pulled him into a nearby home, pushing him down into a corner.
"Why am I hiding?"
"Sh-" Celestri hissed. "Those things you saw are dragonbirds."
"Coo-"
"Sh! Not cool! They belong to the dark master and his men! He's coming with an army and the only reason I can think of, is for you. A scout must have seen us and reported back. Now stay quiet, stay hidden, and no matter what you hear, don't come out!" Celestri's stern voice left no room for questions before she left the home. Jacob huddled in the corner, dread filling him as he started to question this nightmare he'd found himself in.
Outside, the dragonbirds landed, the army and Dark Master entering the city. Anyone still outside shrunk back, their hearts in their throats as they watched the terrifying parade march through the streets. Everyone knew the stories of the Dark Master; they knew he had no soul and only a black hole where a heart should be.
The dragonbirds were reined in and settled as silence fell over the city. The Dark Master descended from his mount, boots hitting the ground with an audible thud. He glanced around, his dragonbird snapping at the nearest citizen who was luckily out of reach.
"Well, well, well. People of the light city! I hear you have a guest in your midst, and a human at that. We all know the rules. Anything and anyone that comes into this forest is to be reported to me!" He yelled, everyone shrinking back further. "Can someone please tell why this has not happened?"
"We have no idea what you're talking about," Celestri spoke.
"Oh, going to play dumb, are we, Celestri?" The Dark Master laughed as Celestri's eyes widened. "Didn't think I knew your name? I know all of your names!" He gestured to the terrified crowd. "I know the names of your families and where each and every one of you lives in this gods forsaken city! So, if I were you, I wouldn't play games!"
The bearguin shouldered his way through the crowd and approached the man, head high.
"Ah finally, someone with a little courage. Let's hope that courage comes with some sense," the Dark Master spoke, watching the bearguin.
The bearguin stepped up to him, gazing into the lifeless, empty eyes that waited. "We don't have any human here."
"We're doing this the hard way, huh? I would say I was disappointed, but I do love to do things my way." He turned towards his men. "Destroy their water supply and torch their homes. Once you're done, bring me their children."
Immediately his men took flight on their dragonbirds. Half flew to the water supply, freezing the tanks and water systems. Everything iced over as the tank and pipes burst open with the expansion, destroying any hope of an easy fix. The other half spread out across the city, the men landing and dismounting to bring torches to the houses. Creatures rushed from their houses screaming, the children that came out grabbed and pulled from their crying mothers. Many began pleading and begging for mercy, clinging to each other as the Dark Master watched on with a smile. In the chaos, a child bearguin was brought to the Dark Master, thrashing against the hold of the soldier as she kicked and screamed.
"No!" the bearguin yelled in horror at his daughter's capture.
The Dark Master strode towards the bearguin and grabbed him by his throat, lifting him off his feet as his hand slowly began to tighten around his throat. The bearguin clawed at the man's arm, but to no avail as he desperately tried to gasp air through his closed throat.
"Let him go!" Jacob burst through the door of the house, anger mixed with terror at the atrocities he'd witnessed through the window. "Let him go and I will come willingly!"
"Jacob, no!" Celestri called, only to be dragged back by Dave.
The Dark Master looked the boy over and smiled, releasing the bearguin. "As you wish. That wasn't so hard, was it? Join me." He gestured towards his dragonbird.
Jacob said nothing as he walked past. Reaching the saddle, he clambered on and situated himself, keeping his gaze as far from the Dark Master as possible. The man chuckled, mounting the dragonbird behind Jacob.
"We're done here, men! Fall out!"
With that command, the Dark Master and his army took back to the skies. The further they flew, the darker the forest became. A dead stillness laid over the land, no movement visible to Jacob. Even the trees seemed sparser and less healthy. They opened to a massive, dark palace, thousands of soldiers standing guard, training, and working through the nights.
"Don't you even care for your men?" Jacob asked in horror as the dragonbird landed and the Dark Master dismounted. He gestured to the soldier taking the reins to guide the creature to its holdings.
"My soldiers work day and night. There is no time for rest and as I give them purpose, what else can they do? You see boy, their life is meaningless without me."
Jacob slid off the saddle and crossed his arms. "You treat them like animals and make them do horrible things and think they'll be loyal? Even I know better than that!" Fury had taken over Jacob as everything sank in, the atrocities done to his friends, this horribly run palace, and this cruel man.
"Watch your tongue, boy!" The Dark Master grabbed his arm and yanked him forward, shoving him towards the doors. "You think I need to question their loyalty? They know the consequences of failure. Betrayal is not an option." The Dark Master began to cackle, shoving Jacob with every step down the hall.
The throne room itself wasn't massive, but it held a lot of space, the walls dark and shadows seeming to bend to create their own decor. The Dark Master crossed the room to his throne and sat down, looking Jacob over. "Jacob, I believe I heard. Now, I have questions that need answering."
"And if I don't answer them?" Jacob lifted his chin defiantly.
"You are welcome not to, but let's just say that what you saw in the city was child's play, and I have no problems going back. Now, how did you get here?" The Dark Master leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand.
"I don't know. I got lost, met the city creatures, and was getting ready to go home!"
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know what the legends say. I know who you are, so tell me how you really got here and why. Because humans from your realm don't come here."
"Well, that's what happened! I don't want to be here. I just want to go home! I didn't ask for any of this!" Jacob objected, crossing his arms again.
The Dark Master's eyes narrowed as he bent closer to Jacob. "Here's what I think. I think you used your powers to come here. I think you're the one people whisper about, the savior here to unite us all, the one who is threatening to take everything I built away from me."
"You've got the wrong person!'
"Oh no, see, I don't think I do. Everything here belongs to me, and I won't let you take what I've built. Legend or not. I bow to no one." He grabbed Jacob, pulling their faces close before pushing him back and releasing him. "Someone kill him for me."
Jacob stumbled back a few steps, eyes widening. "No! No, I promise I'm not the one you're looking for! Really!"
A soldier stepped up to him as he tried to back away and pulled out a blade. In a quick motion, he stabbed it forward towards Jacob's gut. Jacob curled in fear, awaiting the blow but nothing came. His eyes opened as he stood on the other side of the room, the soldier far away looking around in disbelief.
"What witchcraft is this?? I knew you were the one! Soldiers!"
A group of soldiers came rushing together, Jacob turning to run. As he did, he was faced with another hoard running his way. "No! Please! I don't know what happened!" The soldiers closed in on him, a small opening barely visible between two soldiers. In desperation, he closed his eyes and launched himself towards it.
His body smashed into another, Jacob and the man tumbling onto... grass?
"Hey! What gives!" Jonathan's voice caused Jacob's eyes to open. He looked around, fingers digging into the grass as he made eyes contact with Jonathan sprawled on the ground next to him. "Where did you come from??"
"I-" Jacob cut himself off, mouth falling open at the forest around him. A small amount of daylight still filtered through the trees and the birds chirped to welcome the coming night. "Jonathan! You won't believe what just happened! I chased after a blue squirrel but I got lost and then got tired so I sat next to the giant mushroom. But the mushrooms were alive and they took me to their city. It was a light city and it was huge and had all kinds of creatures, like a bearguin! And then the Dark Master, this really evil guy, showed up, and he burned everything down and took me to his palace. He tried to kill me, and I don't know what happened but I was about to get killed and I jumped through an opening between guys and here I am!"
Jacob panted with his review of everything that happened to him. Jonathan blinked, staring at the child like he'd grown two heads. For a moment, they stared at each other in silence before Jonathan stood and pulled Jacob up with him.
"Did you fall asleep in a tree or something?' Jonathan tilted his head back, trying to assess which branch Jacob could have fallen from.
"It actually happened. I wasn't dreaming!" Jacob insisted.
"Giant mushroom people? A dark palace in our forest? You were dreaming. Don't tell your parents this either, or they'll think I'm the one telling you crazy stories. Now come on, everyone is worried sick about you," Jonathan said, ignoring the irritated huff from Jacob. He reached down and ruffled the boy's curls, earning a sound of protest. "We're not far from the castle."
"Why can't I just tell them though?"
"They'll think you've gone crazy is why! They'll never let you back out again!"
"Well, I'm telling Oscar!"
"Don't you dare! You tell Oscar, and then he'll tell your parents, and you'll still never be let out again, even with him!"
Jacob huffed and crossed his arm, mumbling under his breath.
It didn't take long before the castle started to come into view, someone shouting that they could see the prince. James, shoved past soldiers, stopping for a moment to be sure it really was Jacob and Jonathan.
"Essa! He's over here!" James called, coming up to the boys and grabbing Jacob's face. He looked him over with a sigh of relief. "Thank heavens you're okay!" For a moment, he narrowed his gaze on Jonathan but clapped the teenager's shoulder anyway. "Good job. I'll overlook your blatant disobedience."
"Jacob?!" Essa called out, holding up her dress skirt as she rushed forward. "My boy! Oh, my boy you're alright!" As soon as he was within reach, Essa grabbed hold of him and pulled him close, squeezing him for dear life. "Don't you ever do that again! Ever! You could have been killed or lost and never found!" Tears poured down her cheeks.
"I know, mom. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It won't happen again."
As the group began to head inside, James turned to Jonathan. "Where did you find him? Did he say anything when you did?"
"He must have been asleep in a tree. He fell on top of me," Jonathan chuckled. "He must have had some crazy dreams is all I can say." With that, Jonathan grinned at Jacob and walked off.