by Martha Carr
She could feel their energy smoothing out as she passed through the tree again and found herself standing back on the ridge with Bernie. The trees listened to me.
"Did it work?" Bernie looked at her anxiously.
"Not exactly. They can talk to him, but apparently he's not listening. The Kashgars really knew how to sell their lies." The feeling of the trees trusting her lingered in a peaceful moment she knew couldn't last.
"Tall dirty bastards." Bernie shook his paw in the air. "I guess we're on to plan B. We need to call my brethren and let the mechanics help us."
"I already thought of that." Maggie pulled out the puzzle box. "This works for any Huldus, right?"
"That's the idea, but you'll also be putting a big red X on your back for the ship to wake up and wonder what you're still doing here. I'm surprise it's been so quiet. Only thing I can figure is the trees' distress is distracting the Earth for now."
"We don't have any other choices that I can see."
Bernie nodded, throwing up his paws. "Then, let's get started and get this over with. You remember how to do it?"
"Yeah, it's pretty simple. I just hold it and let it do most of the work."
"That last part is key. The box does the work. But you have to be clear about what you want it to do. Everything is connected."
Maggie let the box rest in her open hands as the box began to vibrate, unfolding and refolding itself into different shapes, finally coming to rest as a square box. Maggie waited for a moment to see if anything else was going to happen. "Was that it? Everything else has been so dramatic."
"Nope, that's it. Trust me, they got the message. They'll be popping up any moment. Good job, kid."
Simon Wesley was lost inside the dark magic. Inside his head it sounded like crackles and pops and had the scent of burned sparklers. It felt like more than one entity was occupying his space and he was the one being shoved out. He whispered a spell, leaning over a dark pool of water created by bubbles. Images began to form, and he instantly knew where to find the Dirt Elemental. McKinney State Park. The darkness inside heard every word and smiled. A large grin appeared on his face as well. He looked down again and saw who else had already arrived. Maggie and her compass accompanied by a squad of Huldus.
"Looks like it's gonna be a party." Simon let his followers look into the pool, oohing and aahing at the visions. "Time to go devoted ones. Don't want everyone to start without us." The door must be nearby.
He let out a loud cackle as he blew out a stream of blood red bubbles, encircling the group as they all joined hands, disappearing from the remains of the old warehouse.
27
"See? Here they are." Bernie stood up on his hind legs, excited to see Jack again. They popped through the ground like so many whack-a-moles but Jack was nowhere to be seen. Bernie's whiskers twitched and Maggie was sure if he could have, an entire cloud of lightning bugs would have erupted from his mouth.
"Where's Jack?" he asked the nearest gnome.
The round Huldu with a snow white beard looked Bernie up and down. "Bernie, is that you? I mean, I heard the rumors but..."
Bernie waved a paw in front of the Huldu. "Focus Larry! Focus! Where's Jack? There's no way he wouldn't have come."
A wave of blue bubbles rolled across the grass, coming to rest near Maggie and Bernie. They lay still for a moment, but quickly began rolling back and forth, foaming as they rose, higher and higher.
Maggie watched, her fingers dancing across the top of her gun and one hand hanging loosely at her side, ready for anything. "What a beautiful color of blue and green. Reminds me of the ocean." She glanced at the other Huldus, her brow furrowing. They were gathering closer, standing in a semi-circle, their eyes wide, watching the very top of the bubbles.
Maggie looked back and at the same moment felt the buzz of energy pass through her and a cool thread slither down her spine. The compass in her pocket began to vibrate and she took it out, looking at the dial. Four of the five needles were tick-tick-ticking themselves closer together, all pointing at Maggie. She looked back up at the top, not sure what to expect, watching as the bubbles foamed even more as water cascaded down the sides. The bubbles continued to roll in place, blue green balls spinning in foam as a water spout appeared at the top, shooting into the sky and cascading down, giving off a fine spray and dissolving the bubbles.
A female with green scales up and down her arms and neck and long, flowing brown hair towered over Jack, who was standing right next to her, looking pleased with himself.
Bernie rolled his eyes but still looked relieved to see his friend. "You always did love an entrance. I gotta give it to you. This was one of your best, Jack. The Water Elemental. How did you pull this one off?"
"It is you," said Maggie, her eyes wide in amazement. "Your skin, it... sparkles. You're not an elf."
"She's a mermaid, of sorts. At least that's what Peabrains have called her for hundreds of years." The Fire Elemental appeared out of the woods, blue flames dancing along the edge of her skin as she came and joined Maggie and the mermaid, standing between them.
"I didn't call her," said Jack.
The mermaid interrupted, staring at Maggie. "I've always wondered what the Elemental who guides the compass would look like. A Peabrain, how perfect. Your people conduct energy the easiest of all of us. My name is Cassie and I came here from the North Atlantic where my kind find flourish in the cold, dark deep undisturbed. Fire is correct. My kind are known as mermaids but we stand on two legs." Her skin appeared to be perpetually wet, shimmering green, blue and gold in the sunlight. "I received a signal it was time to come. We are putting the great machine back together again?"
"What are you doing with Jack? You don't even like to take baths," said Bernie, climbing up onto a large rock to put himself at eye level with the others.
Cassie looked at the raccoon, puzzled. "What kind of magical are you? Are you the Air Elemental? There were no stories of talking animals."
"Don't mind him. He's a Huldu with a glitch," said Jack. "She showed up just after the crew left, looking for who sent the signal."
"It didn't stay long enough to give me an exact location. All I had was Austin, Texas."
Maggie's hand began to shake trying to hold onto the compass. She peeled back her fingers, letting it take flight, hovering in the center of the circle and turning in a circle.
Cassie smiled at Maggie and held out her hand. "We don't have time to get to know each other better. The compass senses that a majority of the Elementals are close together and the energy is growing. Where's the Dirt Elemental or Air?"
"Dirt is in allegiance with the Kashgars," growled Bernie. "Tall bastards."
"They're nearby, approaching the door," said Maggie, taking Water's hand, curious to know what her skin felt like. It was cool to the touch and she could feel scales, but it didn't feel wet despite the water still flowing along her skin. Maggie gasped, squeezing Water's hand as Fire grasped both their hands and the energy began to circulate through each of them, making a closed loop. The compass stopped spinning, pointing straight at Maggie and emitted a pencil beam of light, straight at the hollow of her neck, passing through her skin.
There was a pressure inside Maggie's body that didn't ache and seemed to be looking for a place to go.
"It's all true," shouted Bernie, hopping off the large rock. "The energy is connecting them, one to another."
"It's not enough," said Larry. "The parts won't appear without all five."
Bernie let out a large tsk. "You're missing the point. Their energy grows and they can sense what each other is doing. In case you missed what I said, the Dirt Elemental is giving away the secret of this ship to the Kashgars. We're gonna have to stop them and it's not going to be easy. Gear up everyone!"
The Huldus came into formation pulling out oversized hammers and wrenches and hoisting them into the air, shouting and grunting in unison. It was a fierce, rumbling noise that sent the grackles in the trees rushing into the air, circlin
g and adding their own noise. Bernie climbed back onto the rock and shouted with the Huldus, beating his furry chest and throwing back his head to yell louder.
The ground shook under Maggie's feet, almost knocking her over and she pulled her hands away, breaking the circle. She wanted to be ready if someone was attacking. The energy subsided and the compass came to land gently in her hand, folding up its wings as she placed it back in her pocket.
Jack raised his hand to silence the Huldus. "I think the Dirt Elemental knows we're here, which means our cousins, the Kashgars are aware as well."
A scream went up from the Lower Falls down below as Maggie's eyes glowed, backlit with a blue light. "Something has changed," she said, pressing her hand to her chest. I can feel the connection, but it's not just the trees or the Elementals."
"It's to magic," said Water. "That's why you're the necessary Elemental. You're the only one who can connect everything and put the pieces back together. Your gift is your connection to all of us." She took Maggie's hands in hers, putting her face close to Maggie's. That's when Maggie noticed the water swirling in her eyes. "Tell me what you see," said Water.
"It's not what I see, it's what I know. A dark magic is nearby and it's big and nasty." She looked at Bernie. "I think it's Simon Wesley. We need to go down there."
There was another wail, crying out from below where they were standing and the smell of burning flesh reached them on the crest.
"Maggie, you should stay to the back. You're too precious to the cause to risk injury... or worse," said Bernie, remembering his promise to her mother.
"Not even a chance of happening, my friend," growled Maggie. She held out her hand to create bubbles and put herself instantly down by the falls but Fire grabbed her hand, pushing it down.
"Too many unknowns to that method of travel in the middle of a battle between strong magicals. We have to go there on foot and survey the area."
"This isn't your first battle, is it?"
"It's been my destiny to be witness at some of the worst over the years." Another cry went up and the sound of swords clashing against each other as Maggie grit her teeth. "You're ready, trust in that when you get down there. Don't question it." She let go of Maggie's wrist and started to make her way down, followed by Water who seemed to glide over the ground with every step.
Maggie took a different route, easily finding her way down to the Lower Falls, using the pathways she had learned as a child with Diana. She knew it would get her there that much faster, ahead of everyone.
Bernie ran behind her, catching up as the Huldus fell in line. "Worth a shot, kid. Kind of knew the answer," said the raccoon, easily making his way down.
"Spread out!" yelled Jack, as the Huldus broke ranks and moved forward in lines of four, scrambling over the rocks. They were used to the terrain after so many years underground.
Maggie's heart rate was up even as she was taking in each breath easily. She was catching glimpses of Kashgars raising their swords against Simon's followers. It was hard to tell who had the edge. "Get to a tree when we get close and climb up till you can see the entire area. You can be our lookout."
"I plan to fight!"
"Surveillance is part of fighting and will help keep more of us alive," she shouted, running on ahead, pushing off of rocks she had known for years wouldn't budge as she crossed the remaining ground. Trust the magic. Even as she ran, she held out her hand to create a weapon built from magic. She knew her gun would only get her so far. The bubbles swirled out of her mouth as she leapt down, swirling around in the palm of her hand as they formed a clear sword, harder than any steel. Her hand fit easily around the handle and she ran the last few yards. Trust the magic. Two Kashgars ran at her, their teeth bared, towering over and wielding swords. They swung and she felt her arm take over, lifting the sword and turning it at just the right angle, pulling her back to the right to block the next swipe.
Her arm yanked overhead, slashing down in a wide swath, catching both of the Kashgars off guard and easily cutting through their armor, digging into their chests. They fell like oversized trees whose roots had been pulled out of the ground, toppling into each other and hitting the dirt with a clash of weapons and body parts. There was a pool of blood already gathering around them. Maggie hesitated for a moment, surprised and felt the magic pulling at her, unsure what to do next.
"To your left! To your left!" Bernie was shouting from a tree as the Huldus finally made their way onto the battlefield and Fire and Water flanked a squadron of Kashgars, entwining them with fire that ate at their flesh and drowning them with water that filled their nose and throat.
Maggie looked to her left and saw the ground ripping apart as the Dirt Elemental rose out of the ground, his arms wide and his face twisted in rage. Her arm pulled up, the sword raised to defend her even as doubt still meandered through her mind. Trust the magic. But she was no longer sure it was enough.
Dirt raised a clenched fist, a shower of silt and rocks pouring off his arm as he raised it higher to bring down on top of Maggie's head. She stood her ground, staring up into his face, hoping the trees' message had reached him and wondering one more time, if this was the last moment.
But instead of bringing his fist down the Elemental suddenly cried out in pain and anger, raising his fist even higher as he picked up a foot, a red slim bubbling and sizzling on the bottom. Maggie recognized Simon's handiwork immediately and took to higher ground away from the red slime. "Sorry I didn't ask Wilmark about that spell," she muttered, as the Dirt Elemental sunk back into the ground, rumbling the battlefield as he moved far away from the dark menace.
Jack caught up with Maggie, shouting at her, his hammer already bloodied. "Make up your mind, Maggie Parker! The ship has to be defended or more will die. Everything is connected. Get to higher ground if you can't do it!"
Maggie shook her head. The image of her father smiling and laughing played through her head, but was abruptly interrupted by a second image. Her own memory this time, and not one provided by the trees. She knew it was hers as soon as she saw it. His broken and battered body being carried home and she saw who was holding him. "Bernie," she muttered, her eyes shining. This is what Diana meant. The time has come. Forgive everything and fight.
She raised her sword and let out a cry that started in her belly, running to the aid of a Huldu pinned down by Kashgars. She tore through them, leaping around the creeping red ooze, even as Simon's followers were abandoning him, running off into the woods. Simon's thin, pale body was translucent, the black spidery veins covering him. He stood at a taller vantage point, watching the mayhem, a look of delight on his face.
He looks like he's waiting for something.
His smile froze for a moment and he twitched as something disturbed the dark magic spreading across the battlefield. Maggie whipped around to see what was getting in his way and saw Wilmark slowly coming down the hill, grimacing in pain even as he muttered the spell over and over again, pushing against Simon's energy.
She saw Simon's attention getting pulled away and made her way across the falls, carefully choosing where to step. Her foot slipped for a moment and she fell on her knee, bashing it against a rock, as she pulled herself back up and kept running, ignoring the pain. Wilmark will not last much longer.
She got to the last rocks to climb to reach Simon just as she was confronted by more Kashgar, pinning her down. The sword moved swiftly taking out the first wave but they were coming at her too quickly and she couldn't get any further. They pushed her back toward the water falls, even as she did her best to focus, letting the energy flow into the sword.
The Dirt Elemental resurfaced, but he had changed targets closing in on Fire and Water, roaring at them even as they tried combining forces. As the blue flames licked at the bottom of his feet, he pulled up more dirt from the ground, extinguishing the flame, growing larger. The water had no affect on him, turning the silt into dirty water that only poured off him, harmlessly into the ground.
"We're l
osing," muttered Bernie from his perch in the tree as he looked around at the battle in front of him. "Those dirty bastards are winning again." He saw Maggie pinned down and remembered the battle from so long ago. "Marcus, this one's for you," he shouted, climbing head first down the tree, teeth bared. He clawed at the ankles of a Kashgar, tearing his Achilles and sending him to his knees, racing toward Maggie, ducking between a Kashgar's legs and biting the hand of another, satisfied at the crunch of bones and a Kashgar crying out in pain.
He stopped, startled at the sight of a fallen Huldu, leaning over to feel for a pulse. It was all the time it took for the point of a sword to dig into his shoulder, even as another Huldu ran through the Kashgar before he could drive the sword entirely through. Bernie fell back against the body of the dead Huldu, breathing hard, his stomach souring. He forced himself to his feet, determined to get to Maggie. "I made a promise," he muttered through clenched teeth, the blood loss making his head swim.
28
The Dirt Elemental brought down his fists, pushing Water into the ground, drowning her in dirt. Maggie could feel the drain on their energy and the surge inside of the larger Elemental. She was tiring as well, even as she drove her sword through another Kashgar and spied Iliad in the back, battling with Jack and another Huldu.
I'll fight till the end. Diana will understand. The compass left her pocket, swirling around her, distracting the Kashgars who dove at the precious object that stayed just out of their reach, buying her time.
The sword raised her arm, swinging it down, cutting clear through the neck of the larger beast, taking his head neatly off his shoulders. Maggie gasped in surprise but didn't pull back even as more Kashgars turned in her direction.
A wind blew across the battlefield, picking up the dirt and swirling it in everyone's eyes. The Dirt Elemental looked up, surprised as Maggie blinked through the swirl, shielding her eyes. It continued to rise, even though they were in a valley, pushing against her chest, making it hard to stay upright. Dirt let go of the Fire Elemental he was holding in his grasp and let her drop to the ground below where she lay still. Water's head was barely above ground and she clawed at the dirt around her trying to dig out some space.
