Quest for the Crystals chapter 34

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See ya later Iggyfeathers!

 Chapter 34 The Second Crystal

“I have to warn the villagers!” Marina said, as she raced outside the castle's gate and jumped into the water. They could see bright blue swirls all around her as she transformed into a mermaid. 

“We need to get that crystal before Opal does!”  Kalmar said quickly. 

“We can't just take it like we did with Ember Island, we don't need more people wanting to hurt us.” Janner said, knowing exactly what his brother was thinking and trying to avoid doing that. 

“There's no other choice. Do you really think she is just going to let us take the crystal after everything she's been through? Do you really think she's going to trust us enough to handle the thing that she cares about most besides her family?”  Kalmar argued, 

“No but we can't just….” 

“Janner, your brother's right, unfortunately, there is no other way. Marina is never going to let us take the crystal and we can't risk letting Opal get it. There's no telling what she might do if she gets all five crystals.” Nia said, 

“She probably won't be back for a while," Leeli said cautiously, thinking that this was probably one of their worst ideas; although, they've had a lot of bad ideas. 

“I'll check!” Kalmar said. 

“Wait Kal!” Janner interrupted, but it was too late. Kalmar had dunked his head into the water to see an underwater Kingdom. There were shops and houses made out of coral, and  there were churches and schools made out of clam shells and other types of shells, and most of all there were hundreds of mermaids and mermen swimming across the village. They were just like humans, some even walked their seahorses like dogs on leashes. It was truly one of the most beautiful and magical places Kal had ever seen underwater. 

Kalmar popped back up out of the water and said, “Yeah, we have time, there's about a hundred (actually more than that) mermaids down there. It'll take a while for Marina to tell them all.” 

“What did you see down there?” Sara asked, as they all walked into the palace. 

“Imagine Anniera underwater and everything made out of coral and shells.” Kalmar explained, thinking of the wonderfully beautiful world he had just seen. 

“Okay, there's only one slight problem with  this plan… we don't know how to get to the top of the castle.” Esben said, as they all realized that they didn't know how to get to the top of the castle. 

“Well, let's take the staircase; maybe, it will lead us to the top.” Janner suggested. 

So they all walked up the big huge staircase. It was a silver color, and it was very glittery like sand as it sparkles on the beach as the waves crash down on it. It led to a ton of rooms and some more hallways. They got lost a few times in all of the rooms and hallways, but eventually, they winded up in a hallway in which the walls were a purple color and there was a long purple velvet rug on the floor that led to a little tower with more stairs inside. They walked up the stairs to see a little blue door. 

“This must be it.” Nia said, as she walked over to the door and opened it. It led to a little balcony and sure enough there on the very tippy top of the spire was the crystal. It was a dark blue color like the color of the night sky, it was very glittery and it was glowing. 

“I'll get it.” Artham said, as he stretched his wings and flew up to the top of the spire and carefully, making sure not to drop it, lifted the crystal off the spire. When he landed he opened up Janner's pack and placed the crystal carefully next to the Ember Island crystal. 

“Well, two crystals down three to go!” Kal said excitedly.  

Exactly when he said this, coming from the mouth of the cave was a bluish green flaming fire. Fire that by now they knew very well. It was Opal's fire! They started to see dark purple swirls throughout Misty Scales Palace and all around the cave. The glowing bioluminescent mushrooms started to fade as well. 

“Oh no! It's because of the crystal. Remember, Marina said that the crystal will hold a protection spell on Biolumia and without it Opal can get in!” Sara exclaimed nervously. 

“We have to go now!” Nia said, as they all raced down the tower stairs into the maze of a palace and then rushed down the palace stairs and out of the gate. When they got to the stepping stones they saw that not only Queen Marina was staring at them but also the entire mermaid Village. 

“What have you done?” Marina shouted, face full of worry, then she looked up at the palace to see that the crystal was not there. “I-I trusted you! I told you my entire life story. I showed you my castle. I trusted you with everything and now you betray me! Anniera must be a horrible place!” Marina shouted as she changed back into a human, lifted her arms and curled her fingers. 

Suddenly, the whitish blue blast of power came surging through her fingertips. She raised her hands and the waves moved with them. 

“We have to go right now!!” Janner screeched as he saw out of the corner of his eye from the mouth of the cave Queen Opal was entering Biolumia. They ran out of the stepping stone path to the edge of the cave and raced to the entrance, hoping and praying to The Maker that Opal would have already left or entered. 

But she had not. They ran to the entrance but when they got there they were greeted by one tall dark haired, hurt evil Queen. 

“Oh hello, my little Iggyfeathers. So kind of you to save me all the trouble of getting Biolumia's crystal, and Ember Islands as well.” Opal said calmly. 

“You used us!” Janner said, amazed at the fact that he hadn't seen that she was doing this. 

“Yes, I knew that  if I tried to get you to come with me to steal all the crystals with me watchin, you would just try to escape. So taking you on a boat against your will, knowing far too well how scientific the little Cobbler is, would mean that you would escape the boat and sail to Ember Island. That’s where you would plead for protection from me and of course after stealing Ember Island’s crystal you would run straight into the Twisted Tree Forest. Then of course you would find the right path that leads to Biolumia. Then I started to threaten Biolumia and I sent my right hand woman to go scare Marina. After that you would snatch Biolumia’s crystal. Simple, really.” Opal said, as she grinned an evil grin. 

“So what are you going to do with us now? Take us to the Emerald  Kingdom?” Janner asked, hoping and praying that the answer was “no.” 

“Oh, no we're not going to the Emerald Kingdom, but I have someone there who gets me that crystal, and is going to a place that you know very well, actually.” Opal said with a smirk, 

“No!” Janner said, realizing what Opal meant. 

“Oh quite, yes, little prince, there is nothing you can do to protect your home now for the fourth crystal is in none, other than The Shining Isle of Anniera.” Opal said coldly.  

“Never in all of Aerwiar would I side with you to attack my own kingdom!” Esben said, stepping in front of Janner and Kalmar searching for a sword, yet, he did not have a sword.  

“This is what you get, Esben, maybe things would have turned out differently, if you wouldn't have attacked my kingdom 15 years ago! And ironically now you're attacking your own kingdom! You just really can't help yourself! Can you?” Opal said happily as two Shapeshifters came next to her with chains in their arms. 

“Shifters, take these pests to the boat. We're taking a little vacation to The Shining Isle of Anniera.” Opal said, as the Shifters took the chains and tied each one of the Wingfeathers to them and took them to the boat.