Quest for the Crystals chapter 54

Hey featherheads! Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, I've been working on a fantasy book called Legacy and the Legend of the Seven Keys. That's not a fanfic of anything but a original thing and it's uh, way harder that writing fanfiction....But anyways enjoy the next chapter because it's almost done.

Chapter 54  “We're Finally Home” 

When they finished hugging The Maker, all of them smiled up at Him. Then The Maker said, “Janner Wingfeather, step forward.” Janner didn't know why The Maker was asking him to do this but Janner knew that whatever it was, he was going to do it. So he stepped up in front of them all and joined The Maker. 

“Janner Wingfeather, you've had quite a journey haven't you?” 

“Yes Sir I have,” he answered. 

“I have been testing you on your character throughout this journey. Look back on your life, just two years ago, you felt burdened when you were asked to take care of your brother and sister. To you, having to watch over them felt like an annoying task that someone else should do. But now you feel a respect and a leadership towards your brother and sister to protect them and to keep them safe. You have been so loyal to your brother and sister, even when times were as tough as when you all were separated. You were so loyal and so brave to your brother that you were willing to take the price of healing for him instead of him taking it for you. That is a true sacrifice, young one.” 

“Thank you, Maker,” Janner gratefully acknowledged. 

“That is one of the many reasons why I am so proud of you, and that is why you will now be known as ‘Janner the Loyal’. ” Janner bowed to his new royal name and stepped back to be with the rest of them. 

“Kalmar Wingfeather, step forward.” The Maker requested. Kalmar stepped forward as he waited for what The Maker was about to say. 

“You, Kalmar, have been extremely brave. Just look back from when you  lived in Glipwood. You were afraid of heights back then, now look at you, you've crossed all of Aerwiar and even beyond. You went to places you never even knew existed, and you coped with challenges that you didn't even know how to face. That is why your royal name shall be ‘Kalmar the Brave’.” 

“Thank you, Maker,” he responded after taking a deep breath. It was so unreal to be talking to Him that he almost felt like it was a dream. 

“Leeli Wingfeather, step forward,” The Maker requested. She stepped forward. 

“Leeli, there is no doubt that you have a sense of compassion like no other. For even people that no one else has had compassion for, like Slarb or your uncle back when he was Pete the Sock Man, you had compassion for them. You have a gift of feeling compassion for people who no one else can be compassionate to. That is a true gift, Leeli. That is why your royal name shall be ‘Leeli the Compassionate’.” At this she beamed as she curtsied and said in a dreamy voice “Thank you, Maker!”

“Sara Cobbler step forward forward,” The Maker requested. 

“Me? But I'm not royal.” she said with a confused look though she did step forward. 

“You may not be a royal by blood, but as long as you are my child you will always be royal. Plus one day it will be you, who will be sitting on one of the thrones of The Shining Isle of Anniera.” He said, looking over towards Janner with a wink. Janner’s eyes grew wide and he turned very red as he realized what he had just heard. Sara didn't get it right away but when she did, her cheeks turned very red. 

“Sara Cobbler, throughout your life and throughout this journey of the past 2 years you have proven yourself faithful. I've put you through many challenges, the black carriage, the Overseer, even getting separated from your parents and from the Wingfeathers. However, through all of these trials, you have proven yourself faithful. The first thing that you did when you started these challenges, is you talked to me and you put your faith in me. And for that your royal name is ‘Sara the Faithful’.” He said, smiling at her. 

Sara didn't even know how to respond. She was so surprised by what The Maker had said. The only thing she could do was curtsy and say, almost in a whisper, “Thank you”. She went back to standing by Leeli, not looking at Janner for fear that she would turn back to blushing.  

“Nia, Esben, Artham, Podo, Oskar step forward.” 

They all did so and looked at The Maker in amazement. “You all have done a wonderful job with these children. You have raised them right. and taught them everything they need to know and will continue to do so.” He turned to Nia and Esben and said, “I know you two have been separated for a while. Now you have found each other again, and I know that you both will continue to raise these wonderful children in the same manner and thereby, Glorify Me.” They nodded at The Maker and said “Of course, with all our love.” 

“Artham, you've been through a long hard journey, haven't you?” He asked. 

“Yes, your majesty, but it was worth it, I just have one question.” “What would that be, child?” The Maker asked.

 “Back at the First Well I didn't tell anyone this but, I dipped my hands into the water. Why didn't it heal me?” he asked, looking down at his claws and then turning towards his wings. 

The Maker looked at him sympathetically and said, “Artham, even though you might not know it, your wings and claws are a gift. They may feel like a burden, but they are a gift.” 

“But why can't you heal me?” 

“I can do anything I want.” 

“So why won't you heal me?” Artham corrected, tears in his eyes. 

“Artham, your wings and claws are a challenge, some might say a burden, some might say a gift. If I healed you right now, would that be a good story? For there are hundreds of stories where I've healed people. However, you get to live the story where I didn't heal you, but you have been faithful even though you have these challenges. Having difficulties not only makes your faith stronger in Me, it shows other people that through their struggles, through their hard times, if they have faith, they'll survive like you have. Having challenges in your life makes you stronger,  it makes you more cautious, and it makes you more faithful through the hardest of times. Now do you still want me to heal you?” he asked. 

Artham looked up at him and said, “You know what, I think I'll keep my wings and claws. I want to see what more I can do with them.” 

“Very good.” The Maker said, happily as he turned to Oskar. 

“It is my pleasure, your majesty!” Oskar said, bubbling over with wonder and excitement. “Oskar, you have been on quite the journey as well. Going from a bookstore keeper in Glipwood to a legendary adventurer, always remember through whatever you do, I'm here for you and I love you no matter what you do.” The Maker said kindly. 

Then The Maker turned to all of them, including Ruby, and said 

“You all have been on quite the adventure, haven't you? I know that some of you have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” he said, looking directly at Janner who never took his eyes off of him. “It is time to go home now. This time it's to rebuild The Shining Isle and it's time to celebrate your victory.” The Maker said. 

At this Leeli, decided to step up. 

“What is it, child?” He asked. 

“Maker, I know I should be happy that our adventures are over and I am, because that means that no one will try to hurt us, at least for a little while. I have to admit it was really fun. It kind of seems like the end though, is it?” she asked, shyly to The Maker. 

He smiled at her and said “No child, your adventures are not yet over. They have only just begun. You will have many more adventures and face many more challenges along the way, but now it is time to celebrate this adventure. It is time to go home.” 

Everyone joined The Maker in a hug and He said, “Now my children, I must go, for there are many more galaxies and worlds out there that need to know the truth. I'll be back for you all and remember I will never leave you, I am always with you. Now I must go and finish the work that I have started.” 

It was an amazing sight because after He said this, The Maker started to glow, turned around, started to walk and disappeared into the horizon. 

“Come on, it's time to go home.” Janner said in all his life he didn't think that he would actually say this. that he would actually mean their true real home. They all walked together smiling. It  almost seemed unreal to them that they were really going home.

When they arrived back at Anniera they were greeted by Maraly and Gammon rushing towards them with all of the other Annierians, Biolumians, Ember Islanders, and Emerald Kingdomers. All of them embraced them in a hug, probably the largest hug they've ever experienced. 

“Kalmar! you're okay!” Rose exclaimed, running towards him as she gave him a big hug. Then she quickly said, “I mean you and the others of course….”

Arundelle was so happy about Artham’s return that she actually burst into tears. She really had thought that she was going to lose Artham again. He saw her, picked her up and spun her around. 

They all were so happy that they were back and for the first time

 for almost two years, they were safe. 

All of the Wingfeathers walked in front of the castle, it was a mess. Boards were hanging down, the wood was burned, and it looked honestly worse than it had before. 

“We can work with this.” Sara said optimistically. 

“How?” Kalmar asked. 

“Well… we can at least fix up the ballroom.”  

“Why would we need a ballroom?” Kalmar asked. 

“Because son, you will learn that being a royal, means attending and 

hosting many, many, many balls; it's sort of a royal staple.” Esben explained. 

“A ball? But I don't want to go to a ball!” Kalmar whined. 

“That's what you do when you're a royal, you host balls. Also it's a 

good way to tell all of Aerwiar that we're back and The Shining Isle of Anniera is not just a legend, but an actual place.” Esben replied for Kalmar’s benefit.

Janner smiled widely for he could picture what the ballroom would look like as Nia, Esben, and Artham cleared away some of the debris to see what was left of their old Ballroom. 

He was so wrapped up in all of his thoughts that he didn't notice that Ruby was standing off to the side looking at the ground, as the Annierians passed by her, not even looking at her. 

He walked over to her and asked, “Hey, are you okay?” 

She looked startled as she looked at him and said, “I'm fine… I know this is how it's going to be from now on and I honestly don't blame them. I probably would do the same thing, if someone else had done those things to me.” She said, looking sadly at her feet. 

“Do you want to come help us fix up the Ballroom? We could really use your help.” 

“You really want me to help you? After everything I've done?” She said, confused at this. 

“Opal...I mean Ruby, what you did in the past is in the past, you're different now. Of course, I want you to help us.” 

He told her that he felt sad for her. He knew there were some things in his life that he wanted to forget as well. But he knew it was much worse for her as she had done some things that he knew she would never be able to forget. As a result, people would treat her differently until they realized she was made new by The Maker. But Janner knew that with a little kindness, he could make her feel at least a little better, right now.

“Come with me," he said as he waved his hand at her, motioning to her to come with him to the Ballroom.