"I don't like things inside of me that I've no control over."
"It's that mindset that can earn you the medal of trouble, dear foolish Teela. Now I see you are acting your age. Think ye know everything."
"I will never know everything, but I can learn a lot," she semi-corrected as Kamek laughed uncomfortably. "I'm interested in learning about this place... It's me, but it is not me."
"It merely... is."
They began walking through the field, Teela breathing slightly off rhythm. Kamek was walking and stopping every now and then, he taking deep breaths, smelling absolutely nothing but the musty scent that he held.
The sun was beating down on them, Teela pausing as she stared directly into its burning light. She stared, and it didn't hurt. This was sunlight- but it wasn't real, she realized. Kamek was kneeling down slowly, examining the flowers. They were clearly tulips, their red tips unmoving.
Teela then paused suddenly, as she looked around. It seemed familiar enough, and yet too far away.
"This isn't right," she merely stated, Kamek only nodding. "Wait a minute," she ordered, Kamek now unmoving. Teela had begun a sprint as she dashed around the field, nothing out of the ordinary happening.
"What're you doing?" Kamek asked, Teela stopping, glancing to Kamek. She shrugged.
As if on cue, though perhaps it was, a lightning bolt suddenly struck the ground, less than a foot away from Teela. She jumped back, her entire head recoiling. As Teela toppled backwards, she was sure she saw Kamek trying to scream. Though now, it seems she failed to realize her own mouth was open and yet no words or sounds came.
Gaping, both Teela and Kamek looked to where the lightning had torn. It was a burning red sort of color, now bleeding up from the ground as though some force was pushing it up. It was red, almost like blood. Teela backed up, scrambling up, conspicuous as she tried to get away from the blood-like substance.
"KARMA!" The only sound, a dark voice yelling as Teela looked around frantically, looking for which way the voice had come from. Yet no one was here but Kamek and herself, she realized. No one visible at least.
Darkened hands began to tear through the sky as Teela tore after the door through which she had entered. The door, however, had vanished. She screamed, turning her head to steal a glance as Kamek was running the opposite direction. He was running randomly, it seemed, toward the horizon. Teela steered herself around, completely bolting now as soon her entire gaze was filled with red. She saw Kamek stop suddenly; it was as though the horizon in which he was running towards was more of a wall than anything. It was seemingly an entire wall of red, the blood-like substance starting to fade into silver and split into blue. Teela took note it was becoming more of a rainbow-like substance.
Kamek looked around, his eyes scanning for some sort of way out of this sudden room of color and insanity. He opened his mouth, trying to yell, but couldn't. The very air around him seemed to constrict as he took note that Teela was running towards him. He also took note that the hands seemed to be reaching for her from a distance, swarming, two large and dark hands.
"K-KARMA! I TOLD YOU NOT TO! I TOLD YOU! YOU CANNOT CONTROL!!! WHAT YOU HAVE IS ONLY MINE!" the voice now called, chilling laughter heard as Teela felt the ground beneath her begin to quake. "AND NOW WHAT IS YOURS IS GOING TO BE MINE! I'LL TEACH YOU NOT TO DEFY MY REALITY!"
Kamek reached out his hands, as though to try and stop the ones coming after Teela. Red slashes were everywhere, bleeding only a rainbow substance. As Kamek tried now to yell once more, he saw Teela now attempting to yell, regardless of whether she could make a sound. The ground began to quake beneath Kamek, though it seemed more as though something were traveling under him, heading after Teela.
There was no noise, and there was not a single gust of wind blowing. The hands flew down, clasping around Teela, she herself perhaps already knocked unconscious by being thrown around by the ground. Kamek had merely fainted the moment he watched those "phantom hands" grab Teela. Lightning began to brand the very ground around everything, the screams that were once trying to fill the air now doing so.
Yet as the hands embraced Teela, a heartbeat began. A heartbeat that pulsed and beat, a heartbeat that started out slow and barely heard but progressed in seconds. (Things were happening at a much faster rate than actually listed.) As it grew louder, the screams that now echoed back and forth throughout the color-filled surroundings were muted out.
A few more moments, and the heartbeat was the only thing heard. The rainbow colored substance began to form back into tulips, the sky returning to its blue. Within a few more moments, another pair of hands, five fingers on these hands, white and glowing, came toward the ones which had collected Teela. The new pair of hands had long, slender fingers and were rather smoot looking.
The struggle had then begun, the white hands clasping onto the shadowed ones, driving them a ways into the sky. The darkened ones then, taken rather off guard, dropped the unmoving Teela, one of the white hands catching her. Her fall wasn't softened, but she hadn't fallen to the ground which surely would have taken whatever she had left.
Teela's body was beaten badly; bruises had already formed upon it, her left arm bent completely out of place as a result of the grip of the shadow hands. As the white glowing hands shrank, Teela was placed upon the ground. As the hands embraced her, she began to glow a greenish sort of color, her arm falling back into place, her bruises vanishing.
"I don't think I'm ready for you to leave yet," the voice said calmly, its tone light and welcoming. "Because I'm not going anywhere. Yet." With that, the hands merely vanished, the surroundings themselves beginning to twist...
_
Setting: Kamek's Tower
Time: 6:03
Larry knocked upon the rather large, wooden door. He waited for a moment before knocking again once more.
_
Setting: Inside Kamek's Laboratory
The beating, the pulsating, the pounding...?! Kamek's eyes opened abruptly as he looked around rather frantically. Test tubes boiled, their regulated temperatures the same, the bubbling noises concentrated as though they were one orchestra. Sets of cauldrons fizzed, one of them letting out a whistle now and then, Kamek looking now to Venoma, his eyes fixating upon him.
Venoma had a frozen expression upon his face, one that had fear and bewilderment plastered upon it. The knocking noises resounded once more, the claws rasping against the door. With a sudden realization, Kamek stood up, rushing to nowhere. He grabbed his wand from out his sleeve rather suddenly, his body sweaty and cold for some reason. He was lost for a moment, before gathering himself in a still very lost manner.
"Uh... COME IN!!" he yelled, waving his wand and hiding the motionless Teela and rather frightened Venoma. Larry stepped in the room as he glanced to Kamek suddenly, his expression rather curious as he glanced around. "Young Larry, may I ask what you wanted?"
Kamek's face tried to hide his fear- he felt his mind clashing, he felt his own heart pounding against his chest. He prayed that Larry hadn't come to deliver a message that Bowser had a task for him. Kamek frowned, staring onto Larry. Larry couldn't see behind Kamek's spectacles, couldn't see the panic and discombobulation that covered Kamek's insides.
"Have you seen Karma and Ludwig? Everyone is kinda... getting really, really, really-"
"Spit it out," Kamek snapped; he had no need for interruptions here. "I mean, I'm busy, young Larry. Scurry along. I've not seen heads or tails of Karma and Ludwig." Which sort of was the truth. With a nod, Larry pulled himself toward the door, closing it suddenly as Kamek waved his wand, locking the door. No more interruptions- and he definately didn't want any visitors coming in to find two people in his laboratory- one could only imagine what Lord Bowser would do to Kamek if he found out he was housing intruders.
Kamek then uncloaked Venoma, who was staring at Kamek through wide eyes. Kamek held up a hand, motioning to him not to ask a thing. Venoma merely nodded, letting out a long and dramatic sigh. Kamek then took his wand, placing it upon Teela's head. He wasn't stopping to think- he knew he wasn't where he was supposed to be. Somehow, he had been knocked right out of Teela's mind. He had been knocked right out- was that even possible? Kamek pondered it for a moment. Of course, what was NOT possible in Teela's head? Kamek wouldn't even stop to think about WHAT had knocked him out. He didn't want to recollect- he wanted to get back to Teela, get back to making things better again.
As the wand touched Teela's head, Kamek recited some more words under his breath. Added to the original phrase was perhaps merely a prayer that she be ok. Venoma just stared, his arms crossed. He knew this was taking all too long- but by now, all he wanted was Teela to be ok- but what else could he do but wait?
_
As the surroundings began to twist and
shape themself around, Teela's body remained motionless.
The grass seemingly melted as metal
panels began to cross upon them. Tulips turned gray, molding together to
build metal machines, the darkness becoming eminant. Teela's body was surrounded
by machines, her eyes failing to even twitch.
It was as though invisible movements were drawing this all together. Two doors appeared, one of them vanishing, leaving only one to be seen, a single panel of levers, each with seemingly minute pictures upon them, from colors to sheer gray and black. A single light then sprouted overhead, no switch to be seen however, but the light shone done on Teela.
Muffled noises came from Teela's mouth as she moved slightly, merely shaking. As the room itself pulled together, everything "solidifying", Teela opened her eyes slowly. As she opened her eyes, she merely just lay there, afraid almost to move at all. She blinked, realizing she could. She had waken up, yet still not in her own reality. She had waken up... in a very gray room. It was darkened, the floor cold. Teela placed a paw onto the floor, feeling something materialize within her hand, something forming from her very palm, something... protruding... intruding. Teela groped for the side of the machine, her hands slipping off of the metal. It was almost as though it were symbolizing her life. She was slipping away from her very life. Teela let out an odd chuckle, grabbing the top of the machine, pulling herself up now.
Her gaze met each and every control panel. She didn't know what it was, didn't know a thing about it, but she did see the door. She looked around for Kamek momentarily, realizing he wasn't here. She knew he could handle himself, but where was he? What had happened to him? Teela refused to remember what had just occured, refused to even be the slightest bit curious about how she had gotten here, for fear she might just find out what had caused her to blank out. It had simply been too much for her own mind, her own sight. Whatever had occured, Teela knew it was long gone. She sensed no danger, however, as her gaze met the only door within the room, her own feelings began to pulse... A dragging sort of feeling... A feeling that would simply command her like a dog. Come, Come, I shall lead, and you shall follow... were the words she always heard late at night, the time of recollectance, the time of sheer memory. Teela dragged herself to the door, her body weak and heavy.
Teela's shadow lingered, Teela staring into it before she turned to look upon the door, before turning the handle. Teela stared into the blank figure, stared into its "eyes". She stared upon the fangs of the figure, and she scowled. She felt that tug of curiousity belt at her again; it had taken its toll. Teela already knew she was in for something more, she just didn't know what it quite was. Something aweful, she knew, as it always was. It probably always would be. She frowned, turning the handle in a relentless manner...
Inside, shadows stirred, but they were not her memories this time. Teela almost shut the door, but realized it was not the shadows that were moving; it was merely light that was shining through, something moving within it.
Many long and rather colorful "strings" were tied; the entire height of the things Teela was viewing was much taller than herself. They were curved pillars, slanting everywhere, colorful. The substance floating inside of the large tubes somewhat resembled the inside of a lavalamp. Teela looked curiously at it, her eyes growing large. It only took one door to get here, one door only, and she hadn't even wanted to go through it, and now she didn't want to do what she was going to, but the feeling called for such actions.
With her eyes shut, Teela walked forward, reaching her hands out. She was quite a distance from the tubes, but regardless, she walked forward at a hesitant pace.
_
Setting: Teela's Mind
Kamek took note that the corridors were all free now, no energy locking Teela's mind. He also took note that this time he had not been placed within a darkened area, the place where he had originally stood.
"Teela?!" he called, listening. There was no reply. He instantly began dashing towards the largest door at the end of the hall, not caring anymore for any of the other doors. He tore it open, caring less if there was some beast inside; he didn't care what had happened. If Teela was there, he would find some way to save her.
As Kamek walked into the dimly lit room, he took note of all the machinery. He had walked into a gray room in which he saw no other way to leave or enter. The machinery flashed and blinked at every second, only one control panel with many buttons and lights. Kamek looked at the levers, taking note that each had a distinct picture upon them. Most were symbols, but as he looked closely, he realized he understood some of them. They were written in ancient magic text, Kamek smiled, now knowing he understood.
There was one that was distinctly marked something like this }~~{ which meant air. Kamek thought, What does air have to do with Teela? What... Kamek pondered, but then it hit him. It was quite obvious at this point- Kamek then sighed. Why hadn't this been here before?
Each lever was marked. As Kamek smiled, he muttered to himself.
"Air... These... These are her powers... Look at them! Marked with ghost... Each labeled..." He spoke softly, looking over his shoulder. He was hoping nothing unexpected would just pop out of nowhere... He didn't want anything to ever happen like that again.
_
Mere centimeters away, Teela finally opened her eyes, grabbing onto the pillars. Instantly, she felt the shock go throughout her entire body. It was as though it were reading her, pulling apart her every strand- She felt pain, and felt it horribly. Her first thought was, How does your MIND feel pain?!
Teela began to flail, screaming rather loudly, the images suddenly coming to her.
Images:
"KAMRAN! Want a Seraphim?" a male voice asked as a young human girl, with black hair and a huge smile, grinned even wider than what she had originally been. She nodded, reaching out her hands and taking a small, angelic-like statue. The voice belonged to a male figure, who handed it to her softly. Another, much larger figure walked within the room. He smirked, glaring in a sort.
"Fool, teaching her about those foolish angels? We wouldn't be here if such things existed. You'd have more money if such things watched over us. It all depends upon ourselves, fool." He was much older than the small girl, Kamran, and his eyes held no emotion, washed from some sort of toxins to the body, perhaps, as the way his eyes held nothing but evil and lost pleasure reflected nothing but that.
"Don't tell her that!" the younger male retorted, Kamran hiding behind him silently.
"Oh you don't know anything," the oldest male scoffed, walking away. The small girl, who was dressed in many rags, trembled, gripping the younger male's leg, her small hands digging into his leg in a rather painful manner.
"Brother, am I really going to be the best Seraphim ever? One day?" the little girl, Kamran, looked up at the boy, who looked down at her with a hurt smile.
"If you try hard enough. Don't worry, Kamran. Don't listen to him... Don't let his shadow scare you. He scares himself anyway," he assured her, bending down and embracing her. He then picked up one of the little statues that he had obviously, not to mention beautifully, hand-carved. Little Kamran's smile re-blossomed as she began to look at each different figure, each one as beautiful as the next. No one could take their happiness...
End Image
Teela was then thrown back, her eyes wide open in an almost death-like stature. She didn't scream, just merely stared. The pain throbbed within her body, her head pounding. How was it possible to feel pain... within your own... self...?
_
Kamek flipped each lever down, thinking. This was the control panel- it flipped itself, for sure. By flipping them all off, surely it would be like restarting a computer. It would correct itself, in a way, and check her current level of ability. It wouldn't be fooled once more, as surely the auto would override the manual. It was exactly like restarting a computer, Kamek thought, smiling. However, as Kamek flipped them all down, each one flipped back up. He then looked a bit puzzled. What was causing her "control panel" to continuously see that she was ready for such powers? Kamek then thought... There was no other reason. It had to be her powers, as what else would affect her so drastically?
Kamek flipped all the levers down once more, each one coming back up. He then tried to hold just one of them down, but it forcefullly made its way back to the "On" position. Kamek sighed, snorting in disapproval.
_
Teela took note that she was seeing clearly, she was seeing rather excellently. Teela took note that she felt shocked, but she felt revitalized in a way. Teela took note of everything suddenly, but also took note how cloudy her own thoughts were. She then looked around, looking to make sure. The tubes were gone, had vanished perhaps the moment she had lay her paws upon them.. Or perhaps they were never there. With a sigh, Teela pushed herself off of the "ground", now growing tired of getting thrown onto her back. She stood within the swirling shadows, just glancing for a moment, before finally deciding to give herself another chance. She placed her hands in front of her, and acted as though she were turning a door handle. Sure enough, the shadows seemed to open, allowing her entrance into a corridor in which doors resided, a rather large one on the end.
All the other doors were constantly glowing and then fading, all but the last one. Teela thought that odd, but she soon felt something else. A sort of dragging feeling... curiousity speaking to her in its always confused, almost misunderstandable way. The feeling began to scratch at her, digging, Teela now sighing, bolting towards the last door. Her head was dizzy, and she felt all wrong. Her body, real or not, felt heavy, her head hot and splattered. She felt like a pancake that had been stuck to the ceiling and had gone unnoticed for four or five hours. Heavy and droopy.
As Teela placed her hand upon the door, she walked into the control room she had awoken into. Except this time, there was only one door, and that was the one she had walked into. Kamek stood, suddenly looking at her through fearful and shocked eyes.
"TEELA! I think I've figured... figured something out," he explained hurriedly as Teela nodded, no longer wanting to speak. She was tired of talking, tired of doing anything. She now fully allowed herself to step into the room, looking around and getting a better scope of the room than she originally had.
"And I went through... a very akward... phase or something... I feel different, Kamek," Teela complained, whimpering in a way as Kamek ingored her, pulling down the levers as to show her an example.
"I've theorized that this... these are definately your... this is your control panel for your powers. I keep pulling all of them down, but, they keep pulling themselves up. I was trying to reset them, all of them, so only the ones you're actually ready for could start up. And yet they all keep happening... to come up..."
"Perhaps these are the powers I'm ready for," Teela replied, the words weak, she growing weaker. "Kamek, I'm feeling too odd... Fading, almost. Are you sure nothing disappeared when you pulled them down the first time? Can you actually understand all of the symbols? I can describe my powers.
"It's most likely the last ones you've gotten that... really threw everything off, then, hm?" Kamek asked as Teela shrugged.
"Perhaps the.. .uh... system is like... programmed to only allow you to shut a few off individually. Maybe it doesn't have a reset... button... thing," Teela suggested as Kamek nodded.
"Well, I understand most of it. Go ahead and tell me your powers again. Slowly, so I can see which one it is."
"First one was light up eyes... My eyes can light up," Teela classified as Kamek ran his fingers around each lever, coming to one near the middle of the rest. He nodded; the symbol even looked like eyes. "Next came hovering... I can sort of float."
And next to the "Light Up Eyes" lever lay the symbol for air. Another successful nod from Kamek.
"After that one came... hm... came teleportation... Kamek, personally, I think it triggered a whole line of ones that I wasn't meant to have... yet, at least."
Kamek then weaved his finger to the last lever of the set, looking at the symbol, scratching his head.
"This one... Trans... It just says trans..."
"Transport. Almost sound like," Teela replied as Kamek then pulled that single lever down. It stayed rested, Teela smiling.
"Then after that came invisibility." Teela watched as Kamek pulled the lever with a symbol which seemed kind of faded. It came back up.
"That one you're ready for, regardless of order, it seems."
"Then... uh... sort of... transparent..." Kamek pulled that lever. It stayed down as well.
"And the most recent one... sort of... melting... like... just melting." Teela sounded a bit wierded out as Kamek pointed to a lever which had sort of a blob upon it. Teela pulled it herself, as she was the closest. It rested as she smiled. "I think that's it... I think.. that's... that's it..."
Teela's figure began to slur, the very walls around her slurring as Kamek nodded. He pulled out his own wand, vanishing... It seemed things would go back to normal. Took long enough, they both figured.