Time: 5:28
Kamek sent his Toadies after her, although they weren’t as fast as they used to be, and so they couldn’t catch up with the fast footed Karma. She ran on, into the castle halls. She ran into Ludwig’s lab, panting like there was no air left on Plit.
“Karma. What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re running from a monster.” Ludwig had been sitting in front of his screen, and had noticed someone scrambling into the lab door.
“KAMEK! HE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT TEELA!” Karma was panicking as she hid under his desk.
“That one girl who rescued King Dad?”
“YEAH! THE YOSHI WITH FANGS! TEELA!”
From outside the lab, Kamek had heard it all. He had heard that name somewhere. Somewhere, but where? He walked into the room, and Karma stood behind Ludwig.
“So. Karma. What does this... Teela look like?” The name… he had said it before. Where? WHO? WHEN?
“Teela? Teela who?” Karma played it innocently, and if Kamek hadn’t heard her, he would have bought it.
“The person with fangs.” Kamek awaited the reply eagerly.
“Just tell him. What harm will it do?” Ludwig turned to look at her. She sighed, and decided what she was going to do…
_
Time: 5:30
“Hmm… Chirpy? Where are you?” Teela looked around. In the distance she saw a red dot flying across the horizon. It gracefully flew towards her, the sun shining on its lovely feathered body.
Teela then closed her eyes, as the winds spoke gentle messages to her. “You… Can… Fate … Fairy… Fang.” The winds echoed further, going where no one had ever even dreamed of going. Teela sighed, the winds in the riddles had always made sense to her. She then opened her eyes as Chirpy gently landed on her head. Teela rolled her eyes upwards, and shut them. She began to concentrate on the castle. Kastle Koopa. She felt the wind pick up all around her. She then glowed a shining silver color, and felt the winds lifting her, lifting her up into the air. Chirpy seemed to know what was going on. It stayed still, calmness flowing through its eyes. Teela panicked, and then opened her eyes. She fell downward from so high in the clearness of the sky. She was falling! FALLING TOWARDS AN ISLAND!
Now Teela thought this was going to be fun. She then spread her arms out, and let herself freefall. She concentrated on hovering, and she felt the energy. IT WAS GREATER THAN EVER! She stopped falling, and was practically flying. She wasn’t feeling tired either. She knew that dream had done something. She then decided to have a little more fun with this so-called training. She stopped the hovering, and closed her eyes. She pictured Kastle Koopa once again. She grabbed Chirpy; the little bird’s heart seemed to have stopped beating from this sudden amazement of seeing a Yoshi that could stay in the air. She felt the wind pick up around her, and she was lifted even higher into the air. She then disappeared into thin air.
She felt herself become the wind, flow with the wind. Her and the winds were one. THIS IS AMAZING!, Teela thought to herself. Then it ended, she was landing softly on her feet at Kastle Koopa. The setting sun had cast a grim shadow over everything. Teela looked up in the sky in wonder. One minute she was on the other side of Plit in an uncharted sea with the salty blue sky, and now she was in the darkness in which she had once found happiness. The sun, however, was still her friend, with the shadows, and the beauty of all of it. It would have been a perfect day, if only life wasn’t so hard. Then Teela walked up to the door.
_
Time: 5:30
“Well. You really wanna know?” Karma said. She knew she was trying to buy some time. Yet what was going to save her?
“RING WAHAHA!!!” The devilish laughter they used for a doorbell echoed freakishly throughout the even more demonic castle. Purple flames, ghosts, and who knows what else lurked through it. This was Bowser’s castle. Kastle Koopa.
“Saved by the bell,” Ludwig said as Karma raced ahead of all, a happy feeling leaping into her throat. She opened the door, and there was Teela showing a pass to the guards.
She had a laminated piece of paper with the Koopas' symbols on it. The guards then went away as the door creaked open. Karma had a grin spreading across her face as Teela smiled back. Kamek walked in from behind Karma, and his jaw dropped to the tiled floor. Teela stared at him, and then backed away.
“Kkkkaaarma? You... you have a freaky Magik..kkk.. koopa behind you!!!”
”Freaky yes. I know he’s behind me. He lives here as well. Unfortunately.”
Kamek couldn’t speak. His tongue was practically tied to his teeth. Teela was still afraid. After all, these evil creatures were one of the only things she was afraid of. Karma, on the other hand, pulled Teela inside. Teela’s eyes grew wide as the decorations she had seen last time she was here were no longer characterized your average castle. This was a demon’s dream home. Teela actually liked this type of decoration. It definitely was out of the ordinary. Karma didn’t seem to take notice. She did, however, notice the look on Teela’s face.
“Yeah. I see you’ve noticed the romantic decorations.” Karma laughed at her joke. Teela was still being led by Karma, Kamek fallowed wanting to ask questions.
Outside, the night grew freezing cold, and the winds picked up. Two figures emerged from the trees. The moon was once again full, and shadows reached a bit farther than usual. It was going to rain soon.
_
Time: 5:36
Karma led Teela to the lab. That was where she usually hung out to pick on Ludwig. Kamek followed like a little puppy. Teela had finally gotten used to these neat decorations, although she kept looking back to make sure the Magikoopa wouldn’t turn her into stone, or something.
They had wandered up some stairs when they reached a huge metal door. Karma turned the handle, and kicked the door. It opened, and there was Ludwig.
“K-Karma. Why is this Magikoopa following us?” Teela shivered as she watched Kamek closely.
“His name is Kamek. Ask him.”
”Why don’t you ask Karma why she wanted to keep you secret from me?” Kamek added coldly.
“Karma? You… wanted to keep me secret from Kamek? That sounds like… two-faced.” Teela had a sorrowful look in her eyes.
”No! You’ve got it all wrong! Would you like to be in a glass tube right now, Kamek doing tests on you?” Karma had a low tone in her voice that made Teela understand.
“Well… she’s right,” Kamek admitted as he still wondered where he had met her. Suddenly, it hit him. “Teela Marie Yoshi. Daughter of Leeta and Teel. Your father… sold me my wand. Now I remember you. They called me when you got your fangs. Remember my face?”
”No. Yet… how do you know of my parents?”
”They told you that I was a doctor, yes?”
”Yeah. I believed them. All along it was you?!”
”Yes.”
”THEY LIED!” Teela yelled in frustration and anger.
“No! It’s not like that. They knew you were afraid after… well… why don’t you tell the story?”
”Um… very well then,” Teela said as they all sat down, only to hear a shattering scream that echoed through the stillness of the castle halls. Teela was a bit devastated, but then she got up and tore through the door. Karma got up to follow.
Teela practically jumped down the staircase as she tore open the main door. There were two creatures surrounded by zombies. One was a boy, and had been slicing dead falling flesh with three huge massive claws. The other was a girl, and looked exactly like the boy, except that the boy had fin-like things that were on his shoulders. Teela then realized that the boy was in the scene the fairy had shown her. She then knew she had to help. There were too many of the dead creeps, and Teela could see that. Yet how to get rid of them all at once? Karma was just watching. She had never seen the dead rising before.
“How? This is the magic of the Forest of Illusions! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!” Teela wanted to help. Yet how? Karma had already started to kick the rotting flesh apart. Kamek, still wanting to ask questions, decided to fire some things up as well. Ludwig ran back inside, and came back out. He had a gun. He fired it, but it didn’t do anything to the dead zombies. Teela then decided her powers weren’t any use for fighting. She went out there and started to use her hands and feet. She tore off heads, and started to kick anything that moved. The boy and girl had stopped momentarily, and then started to fight once more. Teela knew this wasn’t supposed to happen. The only weakness was magic stronger than that of the forest. Sunlight. Teela then stopped to look around. The zombies were mostly just bones and rotting flesh. Yet they were eerie, and could probably wake the devil himself.
There are only a few types of magic that force the dead out of eternal sleep, and the one that Teela knew is not good, nor evil. The magic of illusion is what she called it. It happened at night, every night, in the Forest of Illusions. The Forest of Illusions is an eternal void of magic. The trees themselves have magic essence flowing through them! The magic, however, is forced to stay dormant because of sunlight. It is strong at night, and even can lure people out into the forest. Teela was drawn into the forest, yet she often wondered, was it fate, or magic? The zombies had to be from something else! Yet what?
“I’M SORRY!” the boy creature yelled as he hovered slightly into the air. His fangs were gleaming in the beautiful moonlight that seemed like it would glow for an eternity. He waved his arms, and the zombies were gone.
“Um… We’re sorry?” the girl spoke up as she looked slightly embarrassed. “My brother. Ask that Magikoopa. He should know of the fangs.”
“YES! Yet there are two of you. WITH FANGS! How?” Kamek seemed to be slightly confused.
“Um… If you will. Let me explain. You see, I… am from about one billion years from now... the fanged one of the future. I was separated from my parents when some guy on the street messed with our time machine. We were sent flying into different time streams, and now I’m here. Make sense?”
”What is your name?” Teela was tired. Her head felt like she had beat on it with a branch.
“Venoma. Venoma Yosho,” the boy said as Karma then realized that page in the book. The one about Yoshos.
“YOSHO? YOU’RE AN EXTINCT SPECIES!” Karma blurted out as the girl Yosho was about to say her name.
“Long story short, time travel. And my name is Vara Yosho. As my brother said, we’re, well, he is from about one billion years from now. I… was created just a week ago…” The girl had no fin things on her shoulders. Her hair wasn’t exactly long, but it was a little bit longer than Venoma’s. Their noses were like an alligator’s, except much shorter and without powerful jaws. Venoma then looked to Teela. He eyed her from head to toe. Vara looked at her brother, and smiled. She even knew what that look was. She ignored it though, and looked at Karma. Karma gave her a skeptical look, and smiled. Vara shyly smiled back. Venoma was speechless. He looked up into the sky to avoid eye contact with anyone.
“What do you mean?” Teela didn’t really understand.
“Well, first, Yoshos, as that green girl with the black hair-“
”Karma.”
”Yes, Karma, was right. The species did die out, but from the future, using time travel of course, they had gone back to the past. From there, they had gathered a small number of our species, and brought them to the future, where now, a lot are supposedly living. Venoma explained this to me. When he was thrown back into the past, a few magic-wielders were trying to reincarnate a lost sage. Me. So he landed on the DNA sequencing, and it copied his DNA. That's all we know. As for why I'm not a boy, well, who knows? Who cares?”
“I understand…” Teela then turned to Venoma. “How? How did you do that? That zombie thing?” Teela knew that wasn’t one of her powers. She never even thought of that! Venoma then turned to look at her.
“Oh… that? You can’t do that?”
“No. Yet can you transport, or make your eyes light up, or hover?”
“No… I can hover, and make things move. That’s it.”
”Make things move? You mean you don’t control the dead?”
“No. I just make 'em move. I can’t control the evil in them. It was an accident. I can’t quite control the moving thing.”
“I see…”
“I… um… yes.”
“Why are you here?”
”Good question. I guess this is where we ran to when we were chased because of my out of control power to move things…” Venoma said as Teela figured that this was a place where people just seem to end up. Perhaps it was because this place was cursed, or something like that…
“Alright you guys. I got to go. Bowser, owner of this wretched castle, doesn’t like Yoshis. As for the Yoshos, I don’t think he’ll mind. You guys look fierce.”
”No. You don’t leave a… friend… behind.” Venoma shot a glance at Teela. Teela looked at him, and smiled.
“Yeah. I guess she is a friend,” Vara said, adding on to what his brother said. Teela wondered what they were going to do.
“They can stay… in my lab,” Ludwig mumbled as Karma looked at him.
“YOU? Be nice to me? ... Th... Thanks,” Karma stuttered at the shock that Ludwig was being kind to her. He smiled, and walked in, leading everyone into the castle.
_
Next Morning, Time: 7:00
Karma was sleeping in her room. Teela was sleeping on the floor, and Vara was in the corner of the room, curled up cutely. Teela woke up first, and she decided she felt like going for a walk. She snuck downstairs, and out the great big door. Not even Larry could have been as sneaky as she was. She was walking outside into the forest, which seemed to be pretty normal. She knew magic when she felt it, and this forest had nothing in it. Just your average, non-lethal forest. Teela sat down on a rock. She was thinking about what would happen to her and such in the future. She heard someone sneak up behind her, and she swerved around with a fist. Venoma grabbed it, and smiled.
“Just me. I felt like taking a stroll to check this place out. So tell me. What brings you to this dark land? I could tell you don’t live there. Why do you wander?”
”If you must ask. My parents are dead. I’ll get killed if I go anywhere in public because they all think I’m a monster. I’m not, and I can see you aren’t as well. Now tell me. Why are you here?”
“I don’t know why I’m here. I guess I just got put here. If you really want to know, I’ve only been here for a week… Oh, and I’ve one more thing to say. About these fangs. You say they are evil? No! You people sure don’t do research.”
“Tell me,” Teela said simply. She could have said a smart remark, but there was no need.
“You see, no one knows why one is chosen. Yet we know that there are powers involved. They have to do with the person’s emotions, and how they act. Sometimes a certain situation can awaken a new power. Yet the fanged bearer can only turn into a monster if the fangs are pulled. The fangs grow back, but they’re then pure evil. I’m not saying they’re good, but at least you can control them. The evil essence is there with the fangs, but it is not strong enough. Eventually it goes away, but if the fangs are pulled… let's just say all you know what will break loose. The fangs are like a time bomb, a bomb which you have control over. These are all facts. Any questions?”
“Yeah. So you’re saying I have a bomb attached to me?”
”Sort of.”
“Oh good. But what would happen if the fangs came in contact with evil? Say, if the person had some type of evil injected into them?”
“It would be like a bomb against another bomb. It’d cause something huge, and deadly.”
“Yeah. I believe that’s true.” Teela smiled as she got up and headed back towards the castle. “Coming?”
“I’ll catch up.” Venoma smiled as he continued along the path. Teela knew the rules of the forest…
“Buddy system.”
“What?”
“You don’t go into the forest alone,” Teela insisted, Venoma smiling.
“If you wanna come, don’t make up an excuse.”
“WHAT? I-I- I’M JUST STATING A TRUE FACT!”
“The saying is to not go into the forest AT NIGHT without a friend. Anyway, I’d like it if you came. I’d like someone to talk to.” Venoma smiled again as Teela shook her head.
“No. I’ll… go back to the castle. Wait! WHERE IS CHIRPY?” Teela panicked. She had forgotten all about her bird! Some friend she was.
“You mean a red bird with a blue beak, and orange feet?”
”YEAH! WHERE IS IT?”
“It wouldn’t let Ludwig sleep last night...”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll go find it. Don’t get lost.”
”I won’t.” Venoma flashed an awkward smiled, and continued along down the path.
_
“WHERE WERE YOU?” Karma yelled as she handed Teela a bowl of cereal.
“For… ME?” Teela looked stunned.
“I don’t think anyone could ignore your stomach last night. I thought it was you snoring, but instead it was your stomach. I know Bowser told me not to feed you... oh great. Now you sound like my pet or something. Anyway, who cares? Just eat, and stop starving yourself!”
“Thanks!” Teela practically ditched the spoon. She drank out of the bowl, and she almost ate it as well. Vara came out with a bowl too.
“Wow. That cook was nice!” she commented.
“He was afraid of you,” Karma said as Teela laughed.
“Afraid? Of HER? HAH!” Teela giggled as she then started to gulp down the rest of the cereal.
“Look at those deadly massive claws though,” commented Karma.
“They’re not much use, though. I can’t really hold a spoon with claws,” Vara said, disappointed.
“That’s true,” Teela said, as she then saw something in her head.
Zombies. Everywhere. Illusion Village. Thousands of zombies were in the village obeying some type of shadowy figure. They had knives, and spears. They started to kill everyone. Blood, and corpses lying everywhere.
“Oh no!” Teela said, as the others had watched her gaze off into space for a moment. Venoma suddenly came running.
“TEELA! THEM! ZOMBIES!!” he exclaimed as Teela looked at him silently.
“You saw it in your head as well?”
Suddenly an arrow shot threw the air, narrowly missing Teela. Teela looked behind her, and watched as in a second the arrow hit Venoma right in the chest.
“It’s over alrea-“ he said as he fell to the ground. An evil figure stood before them. The figure was a very creepy one that could make the devil seem small. It had a blood red cape, and its outfit was as black as midnight. It laughed evilly as it took off a purple, majestic mask to reveal a young female with golden red hair. She laughed once more before yelling out something in a most demonic voice that made Karma cringe.
“HA!!! LONG LIVE LORD CHAOS!!!” she said, her arm reaching for her cape. With a swish of the cape, she disappeared. Teela had jumped after her, a moment to late. She turned to look at Venoma; he was barely breathing. Teela rushed near him and put her head to his chest.
“Still beating. Didn’t hit his heart, but came deadly close,” Teela exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.
“Venoma! Please! Can you hear me?” Vara had been holding his hand.
“Karma. This arrow… had magic liquid on it. Go get the Magikoopa. The one we threw out of your room last night,” Teela said seriously, she herself not understanding why she was crying. She hadn’t even known the Yosho for too long. Karma headed into the castle, moving faster and faster. Chirpy was staring at the open wound in Venoma’s chest, green blood leaking down it like a river raging down a waterfall. Teela tried to remember what type of magic this was. All she knew was that even if the arrow didn’t kill, the seeping magic poison would. Yet which one was it?
Teela sighed as Kamek came out of the castle with an odd, old expression that resembled one with great knowledge. Teela was silent as Kamek kneeled down beside her. Teela didn’t move an inch, but neither did she panic. She knew he was here to help. He was not going to hurt her like the Magikoopa she dealt with long ago. Kamek looked to Teela. Her eyes were a bit red, but the tears were no longer there.
“What happened?” Kamek said as he decided to move the arrow out of his chest. He moved the arrow, and gasped at the liquid that was on it. The liquid was a gooey red-orange, with black spots. It was already inside Venoma as well. Venoma moved slightly from the pain of the arrow being removed. Vara stroked his green hair as Ludwig came out of the castle.
“What happened?” he said again as he looked at the arrow in disgust. He saw Venoma, and looked reluctantly back at the arrow. The green blood mixed with the red-orange stuff. Teela didn’t remember what this one was called. She also didn’t remember seeing it anywhere. Kamek poked it with his wand.
“Ah… Nicerier, a magic type of poison. It seems as if someone really wants to finish this guy off!” Kamek said, his face sort of amused. Teela took the arrow, and held the liquid on the tips of her fingers.
“Nicerier? What type of poison is that?” Teela remarked. Karma just watched, not knowing what any of this ‘Nicerier’ was.
“Yeah? Tell me,” Karma said as she looked back at Venoma.
“Whatever it is, can we fix it?”
”Yes…” Kamek’s expression changed into a worried one. Venoma could still hear what was going on, but he couldn’t move a muscle. His chest was burning like a thousand needles had stung him.
“How?” Karma looked curious.
“The blood of one who is evil, yet not evil.”
“You mean… like one who has evil essence, and yet is not evil?” Teela said, though she already knew the answer.
“Yes.” Kamek said gloomily as Karma decided who that would be.
“Me…” Teela almost choked on the word.
“Why not give him his own blood?” Vara suggested.
“To much time had already elapsed. All his blood would have been infected by now. There are very few with the blood of good, but evil essence still within it.
“More like only one,” Teela remarked.
“Yes. Almost exact,” Kamek replied, as he awaited Teela’s decision.
“Alright. How much blood?”
”All of it.” Kamek said, everyone’s expression changing.
“ALL? How about just enough?” Vara said, not wanting a sacrifice.
“That may work. Yet the blood would have to be drained by Venema himself. Right out of Teela.” Kamek knew that Teela would not be likely to survive.
“Alright. Now… how?”
”Tell Venoma.”
“Alright.” Teela walked over to Venoma, and frowned.
“Alright. I have to give you my blood, but now you’re gonna have to be like some type of vampire, and drain it. Got it? Blood. Almost all of it. You hear?” Teela said, her voice sounding strict.
“N..No. I shall not take your life.”
”You won’t. I assure you. If there's one thing I’ll never do, I’ll never die by curing magic. Never.” Teela was reassuring him, but most of all, reassuring herself.
“NO!” Venoma gasped for air.
“YES!” Teela yelled, slapping him. Everyone gasped.
“Alright. Venoma. Bite hard. As hard as you can,” Teela said as she pulled him up. She held him up, as he knew he had no choice. Venoma knew if he killed her, he’d never forgive himself.
He bit her. On the neck, and boy was it hard. Teela pretended like she felt nothing. She didn’t scream either, although the pain was so horrid that she fell to her knees. She was glowing a red color, and the blood trickled down Venoma’s face. Vara watched in horror, thinking How? MY brother? He’s drinking the blood… What only a horrible monster would do...
Teela saw the light, and refused. She would not leave. The fairy told her to stay alive, for Plit would be destroyed if Karma and Ludwig were. Yet who would rescue Karma? Who? She was. For Karma’s sake, she refused to leave. Teela then opened her eyes, and saw Venoma’s. Pain filled them, sorrow deeply within them, and filling even more. Teela once again shut her eyes, feeling nothing. Finally she stopped thinking all together. The light came closer. Then she saw a swirl of colors, and nothing more.
“Forever,” were her last words before she was in the light. So much blood, but not all of it.
Venoma then realized something about the blood. He liked it. He then realized this was not his mind! The fangs! THEY WERE STRONGER! Venoma tried to tear himself away from the body he was holding. He finally managed to restrain himself, as he pushed away Teela’s body. He held her fragile body, and looked to the others. Kamek was in awe.
“Well?” Venema said as he looked at the castle. “You must have medical facilities?!”
”Yes. Come, bring her this way,” Kamek said as he led Venoma into the castle. He carried Teela’s body as if it were the most precious thing on this planet.