My stories a unique one. And the funny thing is it is my story, I mean it's about me, but it doesn't feel like mine. I haven't made any of the decisions. I 'm just a pawn trapped in my own fate. So when I finally made one small choice and everything fell apart, I didn't feel guilty about it. Because it was at that point that the story truly became mine.
It all started when they found me again, 20 years after they left me. I guess their mission had to be completed. They were guardians after all, and their only purpose for existing was to protect...me. But what happened in those twenty years was never intended to take place. I was to be an infant for eternity, as long as the Infinite Statue was around. But due to the dark powers changing tactics, gaining the upper hand, and killing my parents, I was separated from the statue and allowed to grow. The statue was taken to the place it was created, the only place it could be kept safe. I was passed from guardian to guardian, until I was taken by the witch Hansel. She hid me away and began to teach me about myself and my abilities. When the guardians found us, I expressed my desire to stay with Hansel until the time was right. These were the freest years of my life. Hansel, in a sense became a mother to me. And the guardians left to abide their time. But the knowledge they gained of the world away from me would prove to be more important than the thousands of years they protected my parents.
Despite the motherly figure Hansel was, I felt it important to stay shut off from her. She was not to be trusted. I closed off to everything. Not letting anyone, even myself, know my true potential. I had a feeling that I would have the opportunity to explore that on the journey to come. Which was inevitable. While stuck in a cottage for 20 years, the guardians were out exploring what they never dared set foot in before. Each day I knew they'd come back for me. And that they'd have the Infinite statue. 20 years on the day of when they first found me they came. Hansel was gone. And so we went.
We had many trials among the world. It seemed that my existence did not go unnoticed. We were hunted by authority figures, magicians of all sorts, and bandits. One magician released the blue plague, which covers your skins in symbols. Once fully covered, the wearer died. But we pushed through always just barely getting away. But none the less we got away.
So why on the day we felt most safe I decided to leave the group? All I can tell you is because I needed to. I couldn't be a pawn in my own story anymore. I wanted to decide my our fate. And sadly the only way to get free of those protecting me was to fall into the hands of those hunting me. And so I did.
We were at an abandoned ship on the sea shore. The guardians instructed me to stay hidden in the ship. I watched from the shadows as they basked in the sun. I remained neutral in my judgments, I was not angry at them. If this was indeed my story I should be in the sun? However, I obediently stayed in the boat, because I knew it would be my escape. I always seemed to be more aware of the situation than the rest of them were. And I knew exactly what was about to happen. And right then two bandits came from behind and snagged me. I yelled out, because it was what I should do. The guardians did their best to get to me but they did not prevail. As I suspected.
I was taken to the authorities barracks. And this is were my story begins.
I walked as two bandits held onto my arms guiding me through the entrance of the enormous building. The walls were of white marble as were the tall pillars that lined the walk way we were on. The vaulted ceilings were fifty feet above us and made of glass. Two men in dark uniforms approached and without words exchanged me for a leather bag filled with some sort of contents. The two men lead me up stairs, down hallways and through rooms. I noticed many security guards in every place we went through. They all had the same uniform and demeanor, and they all held weapons.
I was led to a small room which had a small window on the far end. Sun light shown through. They two men led me inside, walked out and locked the door. I sat in the floor when the sun rays hit and looked out the window. I was completely calm. There really was nothing they could do to me and the guardians would find a way to free me. They always did.
Then something happened that I did not expect. I heard the shuffling of materials in the far corner of the room were it was the darkest. It was hard to see what is was but I believed I saw long dark hair and dark baggy clothes. Could it be...
"Hello?" I said.
The clothes tightened up.
"Excuse me, but I think we have met before."
I could tell that the woman's head lifted to see who I was. She stiffened and sat up.
"So," She said, "They finally got you huh?"
"Well in was inevitable." I smiled.
"How were they able to get you?"
"I let them. Bandits were clearly hanging out in a place we took refuge and I just lagged behind."
"Psh, why didn't you let me catch you? Would have saved me all these beatings."
Oh right! She's the shadow bender we ran into, she was a hard one to get by.
"So you were trying to catch me for them?"
"Everyone is, the authorities are the only ones that want you. They offered a bounty that was irresistible to pass up."
"What is it?"
"The Infinite Statue."
But the guardians have the statue. Maybe they have a decoy.
"You know they are bad. And cruel. You shouldn't be here."
"But you were trying to capture me."
"Yeah well that was before the beat me and left me here to die. I bet what they have in store for you is worse."
"What do you think they want with me?"
"They want immortality."
So they want me and the statue.
"Ah!"
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"I hurt."
"Here let me help you. I can heal flesh wounds with light."
"But I'm a shadow bender, you might hurt me more."
"You are also mortal, and made of flesh. Besides there isn't a lot of light in here to have a concentrated doss."
The shadow bender allowed me to help her and we began talking about our fates here. We concluded that letting the authorities have their way was wrong. So we planned away of escape.
We didn't eat our food rations, because they were drugged, and we waited till they would finally come to retrieve me. In two days time they did.
We were ready as the door began to open. Two guards stood in the door way. Kristi, I learned was the shadow bender's name, cast a shadow tentacle over the eyes of the guards. After a split second of panic from the guards she released her cover and in the time I had built up the brightness of the room. The contrast blinded them. We pushed passed them and ran.
We went up stairs using similar tactics, to get passed the guards. We made it to the mid-level of the grand entrance. By this point the alarm had been going off for a while and we knew many guards were following us now. We ran from platform to platform using light and shadow to through off the shots. The room became more and more concentrated with guards. I felt defeat and in doing so let me guard down. Pain rushed through my body as I was shot in the arm. I fell down, considering myself done for. I was calm and at peace even with the adrenalin rush from the chase. But as I looked up at Kristi I saw she did not share the same demeanor. Fear shown on her face as she saw me fall. But that was not it, some other emotion ran across her face in the split second she had to evaluate the situation. Determination. I could tell she was not defeated. She turned to the numerous force approached us. I watch in amazement as five, ten, fifteen, and more shadow tentacles formed out of her being. With fierceness she lunged her shadows into the bodies of the guards. When a tentacle entered a body it messed with the molecular structure of the person. They would freeze and shake, until the tentacle left the body at which point they laid on the ground twitching till the body reassemble itself. This could take seconds to hours depending on how long the shadow tentacle were in the body. If they were in for a long time, the person could even potentially die. I sat in awe as I watched her battle the mass, stunning them in place.
In this moment I saw something I never did before. Kristi was determined to have her own life controlled by only her. And she was going to give her all for her freedom or die. That is what I am missing, the fight for my freedom. But in this moment, Kristi was not only fighting for her own freedom but mine as well. I began to feel the fires of freedom burn inside me. Now was not the time to give up.
Right then Kristi fell to the ground. All her shadow tentacles recoiled back inside her as she lay unconscious. I saw some of the guards twitching on the ground, and some were dead. Others began to get their strength back and stand up to continue the pursuit. The leader was there amongst them unharmed. He shouted at he men to get up faster as he too trudged forward.
I crawled over the Kristi grabbing her arm. And feeling the fires of determination inside of me I stared at the Head authority as he approached. But of course he'd never reach us. I closed me eyes and focused on the fire inside as well as the brilliant sun rays outside, concentrating the brightness on me and Kristi. A bright flash appeared and we were gone.
I teleported us out of the building, near the guardians in fact. I could sense their closeness to the barracks. They were surprised to see Kristi and I both unconscious on the ground before them after a flash of light. because of the energy used Kristi soon awoke and shared our tale. The guardians believed her and they picked me up and put me in a wagon they had and they all began running from the pursuers. For there were many.
I was a bit confused at this point. I wasn't sure were I went but I could see my friends and my unconscious body. But I still had no fear. I was sure everything would work out. My gaze seemed to follow that of the sun's light moving across the earth bringing morning to the new locations. I knew where my friends were, but the sun light was not there yet. I waited patiently for the light to reach them so I could see what was happening. I was aware of the grand force pursuing them. And right when the enemy reached my friends so did my gaze and I disintegrated those of evil designs. Sun shone on those lands as evil was vanquished.
I closed my eyes and focused on my body and with a bright flash. I was there inside my body again. At that point I realized that I was a moment ago apart of the sun. And in this moment I realized my full potential.
We all were in awe at what just occurred. For it was indeed a defining moment. All that we were now changed. The guardians eternal purpose was now gone. And I was now a guardian of the earth.
