Born In Flames

  The words hurried out of her as she stared into

  my eyes.

  I took a calming breath, overwhelmed with

  gratitude to see her friendly face. I had come so

  close to losing my life. And now Zordon knew

  who I was.

  “He knows my name,” I said, eyes focused

  on the rotting forest ground. I was still trying to

  grasp everything that had just happened, my

  mind scanning through a million mental images. “Who?” she asked.

  “Zordon…he saw me. He wasn’t supposed

  to, but Zane went back and-” I felt panic rising

  up once again at the pained memory. “And Lexi,

  he tortured him and it was so much power that it

  consumed me, and then I fell, and then they both

  saw me. Lexi, Zane is coming. I don’t think he

  will fail this time.”

  Her face went white.

  “That shouldn’t have happened. You should

  have been protected. Aurora, if something had

  happened… You should have said something.

  Your life is my responsibility,” she scolded, turning her face away from me.

  “Lexi, I’m sorry. It all happened so fast.” I

  stood, brushing the leaves from my pants, not

  knowing what else to say. The sun was already

  gone, the moon rising off in the distance. How

  long had I been gone?

  “I know,” she said. Her voice was full of regret. “I saw you disappear and had to do a little

  magic of my own so no one else would notice.

  You were gone forever. It was the worst few hours of my life,” she broke off, staring ahead to where the group was. “And there was nothing I could do to help besides hope that you’d find

  your way back.”

  “Why was I gone for so long? It didn’t feel

  that long,” I said.

  “I don’t know, Rory. I guess time runs differently between realms.” She looked vacantly

  around, seeming lost in thought.

  “The Dark Saar was with Zordon and

  someone by the name of Kaede? Do you know

  him?”

  She nodded. “He’s one of the four Lieges,

  like Zordon, but over in the Orient part of the Rebell Islands. They must be planning the war

  together.”

  “I’m so sorry, Lexi.” We started to move

  forward. I didn’t know what else I could have

  done to prevent the war.

  “It’s not your fault. We just really need to

  find the last key in time for the full moon. I

  thought we’d have more time than this. And since they know where we’re headed…who’s to

  say Zordon won’t want to come himself?” I shook my head confidently. “He won’t

  come. I heard him tell Zane it was his last

  chance. Besides, he has more important things to

  worry about.”

  “Either way, we need to be even more cautious now.”

  We caught up to the group. Everyone was

  happily talking in front of a campfire that was

  close to where we had met Soothe the day before.

  There were only a few hours left until the full

  moon.

  The forest was lined with many types of

  trees, the rising moon’s glow filtering through. I

  almost felt protected by the coverage and prayed

  that it would keep us out of sight.

  Lexi and I couldn’t help anxiously looking

  around every few minutes, searching for Zane. “We have to look relaxed,” Lexi said, interrupting the quiet of the forest.

  “I’m trying, Lexi,” I replied, rolling my eyes

  in the process. The strain on time was too much. “Look,” she said, holding my arm. “I don’t

  blame you. I blame myself. And you coming face

  to face with Zordon…” She bit her lip. “That

  never should have happened, but you got away.

  You escaped his wrath. You’re our only hope.” “I appreciate the pep talk, really, but I don’t

  know what you’re hoping for. The only reason

  why Zordon didn’t kill me was because of some

  mysterious beam of white light,” I amended

  quietly. “The chances of me stopping him are

  getting slimmer by the minute. His power is too

  strong.” I pulled my arm out of her grip. “A beam of light? That’s odd. And you

  didn’t produce it?”

  “No, I didn’t. I was preparing for my death,”

  I pointed out bitterly.

  She let out a small huff. “Sounds like

  someone helped you,” she said thoughtfully, ignoring my attitude. “Someone extremely powerful and all knowing…” she trailed off.

  “Lucky me. If only they had shown up sooner. If only someone would just get me to the damn cave so I can at least have my full powers and make it back. And…” I said, trying to level my heightening voice, “if only this whole wild goose chase—finding all the keys before the full moon—weren’t wouldn’t be in wouldn’t know my face or my name.” I let out a

  pent-up sigh.

  Lexi frowned. “Look, dwelling on the past

  won’t change anything,” she said, her tone reproachful. “We have a mission and we need to

  succeed. Right now we need to get away from

  this group and get to the cave.” She lifted a brow

  and then moved away from the fire towards the

  waterfall.

  “…Ready to roast marshmallows for the full

  moon tonight?” Matt congenially chatted with the

  group. “The waterfall provides a perfect clearing

  to see the sky away from all the light pollution.” happening, then maybe we this predicament and Zordon I quickly followed Lexi as we tip-toed away

  from them, anxious to get this part over with. We

  stripped down to our underwear, and I shoved

  our clothes into my backpack, thankful that it

  was waterproof. I would not be leaving it on the

  bank, and the only way to the cave was swimming and then climbing up the algae-covered

  rocks that were continually sprayed from the oncoming rush of water. Could they have made this

  any more difficult?

  I glanced up at the moss-green rocks and

  winced as a vision of me slipping paraded

  through my mind. But not even fear could keep

  the shadow of the cave behind the falls from calling my name. I ran towards the water and dove

  in.

  After the initial gnawing chill of the water,

  tiny voices sprang to life underneath, humming

  something that I couldn’t quite understand. I

  looked for Lexi and found her to my right. I motioned to my ear, asking her if she could hear it

  too. She shook her head no.

  I hesitated, listening more closely, and then

  surfaced for air. She popped up next to me,

  shouting above the waterfall, “What’d you hear?” “A humming sound but not from the waterfall. More like a choir?” I shouted back, treading

  water.

  “Could be the spirit of the Natives, follow

  it.” She went back under. I took a deep breath

  and followed her, swimming towards the rocks

  that would lead us to the cave.

  Moments later I swam up to the surface near

  a rock and took in a huge gulp of air. Lexi surfaced as well.

  “This is it,” I shouted, ready for the next

  step, trying to find a grip against the slime on the

  rocks.

  I noticed her face tilt up, sniffing the air as

  her eyes moved back an
d forth, scanning the

  area.

  “He’s here, isn’t he?” I stated more than

  asked.

  “It’s only a matter of time until he finds us,”

  she answered. “His energy is strong, like he’s

  laced with something.”

  “Drugs?” I asked, not sure what he could be

  laced with.

  “A potion,” she replied. She quickly found

  her grip and pulled up, extending her hand for

  me.

  “Oh right, a potion,” I muttered darkly as

  she pulled me up and helped me find my footing.

  Being so close made it real. I definitely did not

  want to die before my time.

  The humming picked up as we carefully

  climbed each rock, in constant danger of slipping

  from the heavy spray of water.

  I could now make out what was being said.

  “Come, Aurora. Your fate awaits you.”

  We were as high up as we could go, pulling

  ourselves up onto a thin ledge. “We have to scoot

  towards the cave. Be careful,” Lexi stressed.

  “Pay attention, and do not lose your footing. My

  magic can only do so much.”

  I nodded and kept my back as far against the

  rock wall as possible, gripping the sides with my

  hands. Inch by inch we made our way until we

  were behind the falls, the water plummeting serenely away.

  “Wow,” my voice echoed off the cave walls

  as we came around the corner. It was full of giant

  sparkling crystals that hung from the ceiling. I

  had never seen anything like it, besides in my

  dreams.

  “Keep moving,” commanded Lexi as she

  came up beside me. “The key is in here

  somewhere.”

  It was so enchanting, like a small piece of

  heaven. The distant drips of water, falling from

  the ceiling, played like an orchestra.

  There was a hole somewhere near the back

  where a small beam of the moon’s light shined

  through, illuminating the crystals into millions of

  tiny jeweled stars.

  I moved closer to the middle where Lexi

  stood. I couldn’t feel the vibration like I had with the other two keys. The annoying humming

  sound was missing.

  “What?” she asked, noticing the puzzled

  look on my face.

  “Are you sure it’s supposed to be in here?” I

  asked, moving slowly about the cave.

  “Yes, Rory, you saw the map. This was the

  last marked spot,” she replied.

  “But I don’t feel it,” I admitted, trying to

  push down the dread. “Lexi,” I began, turning to

  face her, “there is another map out there…what

  if…” I broke off.

  “No. Don’t think like that. It’s here. It has to

  be,” she went on, but her tone was skeptical. I wasn’t convinced. I knew that it was gone.

  I slowly slunk to my knees, sitting in a heap on

  the damp floor.

  “That’s it, Lex, no going back for me,” I

  said ruefully. I reached into my bag to pull out

  my clothes. Suddenly I felt cold with despair. “Here,” I said, tossing Lexi her clothes as

  well. She was still walking around, searching for

  the key.

  “Aurora, just take a deep breath. We have at

  least an hour until the full moon is at its peak.

  That gives us plenty of time,” she tried to encourage, but there was a transparent sadness in her

  voice.

  “You know you’re just as annoyingly optimistic as Fenn was,” I said, feeling a tantrum come

  on. “This whole thing was a joke. To think that I,

  Aurora, could actually be useful…what was I

  thinking? You know I might as well…” I broke

  off as footsteps echoed off the walls.

  “Hide,” Lexi whispered, shoving me behind

  a crystal. Her hands instantly lit up. “Who’s

  there?” she called out. “Show yourself.” We both waited, my mind racing with possibilities. I peeked around the crystal, anxious to

  know who was in here with us.

  Soothe stepped out. Lexi and I both exhaled

  at the same time.

  “Soothe, what are you doing? Are you

  crazy?” asked Lexi in a weak voice. “Don’t answer that, we all know you are,” she threw in

  with a wink in my direction.

  “Troubled?” he asked, staring directly at me. My head dropped in defeat. “The key is

  gone,” I admitted.

  “Is it?” he asked dubiously.

  “Umm…yeah…that’s what I said. I don’t

  feel it here. Now we’re screwed,” I replied

  harshly.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” he countered.

  “Your Oraculus?”

  “In my bag.” I pulled it out and noticed the

  quiet hum it was giving off. To my left, a reflection of light caught my eye.

  “What was that?” asked Lexi, noticing it as

  well.

  “Maybe a doorway or something,” said

  Soothe, casually resting against a crystal. “But we need the keys to unlock it, Sea

  Brain,” said Lexi.

  “Yes, but there may be something more for

  our savior to find besides her way back home,”

  he sneered. “I am after all the one who foresaw

  her future.”

  I glanced back down at my Oraculus and

  suddenly knew what he was talking about, as if

  he had planted the very thought in my mind. I

  smiled back at him and stepped towards the

  answer.

  “Fire,” I whispered.

  Chapter 29

  The Shift

  THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS lit up with the heavenly flame, energy pulsing out of me. I held my hand out towards the cave wall where I had seen the glint of a reflection. The flames jumped off my fingers and onto the wall, instantly en

  gulfing the surface.

  My fingertips sizzled, purple sparks shooting off as lettering inscribed itself into the wall.

  Lexi came up beside me, her face flickering in

  the firelight, her amazement mirroring my own. “Good job,” said Soothe from behind us,

  clapping sarcastically. “So the Progeny isn’t such

  a disappointment after all.”

  I ignored his criticism as the flames died off,

  leaving tiny trails of smoke and a glowing

  message.

  “I smell it,” I said looking back to Lexi. “The magic?” she asked. I nodded. “Everyone’s magic has a different scent,” she explained. “It smells like pine needles and a cold

  winter’s day if that makes any sense.” I leaned in

  and took a deep whiff, scrunching my nose at the

  dust.

  Then I stepped back to read.

  My Little Flame,

  I’m so proud that you’ve made it this far. Life, I’m sure, hasn’t been easy for you but has strengthened and protected you. By now you should have all the keys and will seal your fate inside this cave. This must be your choice. That is all I have wanted and now ask from you—that you choose your own destiny. I have planted all these steps to give you ample time to decide if this is what you really want.

  To cross back over, the keys must be placed inside the port key which is in the doorway below. But in order to do that you must first reunite with your powers.

  Great pain will come with this. Be brave.

  I stammered back a step before plopping onto the ground. Great pain? Lexi
walked up behind me, reading the words on the wall, and then sat down next to me.

  “That’s the only thing Astral wanted.”

  “What’s that?” I asked blankly.

  “For this all to be your choice. He made it very clear that you need to choose and not be forced into anything…no matter what.” She turned and stared at the side of my face.

  It was the only way back to Fenn. But great pain? I took in a brave breath. It didn’t matter. I would suffer anything if it meant I would have the chance to tell Fenn my true feelings.

  “Take a chance,” said Soothe, still standing off in the distance. “What have you got to lose?”

  “But we don’t have all the keys and barely any time to find the last one,” I reminded. “Do you think I would have come here if I

  thought you wouldn’t make it? The key will

  come,” he said certainly.

  “Our people are waiting for you, Aurora,

  waiting for liberation,” Lexi added, trying to take

  the edge off.

  I took in a deep breath and then gave her a

  reassuring smile. “Thanks, Lexi. Thanks for being here with me.”

  I walked past her to the wall and placed my

  hand on the hexagon etched in an ancient pattern.

  This must be the doorway. It had appeared from

  the fire, just below Astral’s message.

  My hand felt hot, and I watched as the etchings burned and sunk deeper and deeper into the

  rock, opening like a door going inward and then

  sideways, revealing a tiny hole. I bent down and

  stared into the hole, squinting to see what was inside. A small box. On the lid were two dragons

  intertwined at the neck and tail.

  “That’s your father’s family crest,” said

  Lexi, hovering over my shoulder. “Open it!” The discovery was exhilarating and scary as

  my hands trembled in anticipation. I un-clasped

  the lid and braced myself for the great pain to

  come as a white light peeked out at me.

  So far no pain. So I opened it all the way. Suddenly the box became as heavy as

  weighted lead, falling from my hands. It crashed

  onto the cavern floor as the wood splintered into

  thousands of pieces and revealed an orb. The orb

  shot into the air—a sphere of light hovering before me, illuminating the cave walls.

  A high-pitched screeching pierced my ears

  as my hands shot up to cover them. I couldn’t

  make out what it was. I’m not sure I even wanted

  to.

  I turned to Lexi. “Do you hear that?” “Hear what?” she asked.

  “The voices? I can’t make out what they’re