Lolirock: Ephedia - Sequel to Lolirock: A New Beginning

Ephedia: Escape

-Dawn's POV- 

We all stared in surprise at Lyna, who's usual shy and quiet demeanor stayed in the background. Talia composed herself first, and nodded at her, while Carissa continued to stare in shock. 

"Lyna!" Chandler reprimanded her, while she blushed furiously. 

"What?" she questioned him with an innocent puzzled expression on her face. Chandler sighed and looked at Talia, who shrugged and listened intently to Lyna, who explained.

"You all must be wondering how we got out. My ring can act as a portal." she told us, and held us her ring shyly. 

Carissa and Auriana cheered, while Talia and Chandler smiled brightly. I, however, stayed neutral and silent. 

She tossed her ring up in the air, and it laid down, on the floor, a shimmering teal color stuck in the middle, like a giant bubble. 

Her face was serene, and immediately jumped in. Carissa followed, along with Auriana, who whooped and cheered all the way down. Chandler, however, put his hand out for Talia, who giggled, and dived. Chandler looked at me pointedly, and fell as well. 

I hesitated, not sure if I was welcome back in Ephedia. I sighed, and jumped into the slide. The tunnel began to collapse behind me, which I realized meant that the ring was back on Earth. Shaking my head in wonder, I continued to slide down. 

.        .        . 

We continued to slide down, and the world that surrounded us was nothing of that compared to Graymorr's dark and dreary palace. I shuddered, remembering all the times I had been there. 

We landed in the front yard of the Palace, while the shocked guards hurriedly opened the gates for us, the Royals. 

"Jolie!" Chandler shouted to a nearby maid, who stared at him in surprise and turned on her heel. Auriana looked on in confusion, while Talia shook her head. 

Lyna snapped her fingers, and magically, her ring was back in her hand, and it disappeared. 

Carissa giggled. 

We walked through the front doors of the Palace, and came in to see Iris staring in shock at a lean figure, his hair standing upright. 

"Iris?" I called. 

She turned, and saw us. She yelped in excitement, and jumped towards us. Talia laughed, and AUriana embraced her, screaming, 

"I knew it! You were with Lev." 

Iris discreetly brushed her forehead with her palm, and wiped it on her knees. 

"Um, no." she confessed, and turned the figure towards us. 

"Nathaniel?" Auriana screamed. He was wearing a black cloak, and his face was covered in streaks of mud. Talia scowled, and Chandler was confused, as was I. 

Iris jumped up and down in excitement. 

For some reason, she looked older, wiser, more mature. 

Cautiously, Talia began to speak. "Iris, was there a pink boom here, anywhere?" 

Iris looked nervous, as if she had been doing something unimaginable. 

"Maybe?" 

Talia glared at her, and Iris broke down under her gaze. 

"Yes. I said Proximinta instead of Froximinta." 

I gasped in shock, while Chandler wiped his brow. 

"What?" a puzzled look on her face made me want to scream. 

"You established the time spell?" 

"What?" screeched Iris. 

I began to articulately explain. 

"If you unleash the spell, the barriers between the Earth and Ephedia will close. Everyone who was on Ephedia at the time of the Blast will age spectacularly quickly, while life on Earth will still. Everyone who has a gray streak in their hair will age, and won't be able to protect anyone." 

"But," Iris protested, "I wasn't affected. Neither was my mom, or dad." 

"What? No one can escape the Blast." Chandler shot back. 

"It's true." Nathaniel confirmed. 

"No offense, Nathaniel," Talia said coldly, "but this is a conversation between experienced Ephedians." 

"I'm experienced." he retorted, silencing Talia. 

"I was here at the time of the Blast. There was a portal underneath my feet, and I accidentally stepped in it. I was here for an estimated time of 10 weeks." he confirmed. 

"Wow, I guess it's going by quickly." Chandler nodded quickly. 

"Yes. A little too quickly." Nathaniel complied. "The hours sped up more than I can count." 

Chandler and Nathaniel nodded, and started to discuss strategy. 

"I can't believe this," Talia whined, "why are you hanging out with the guy who broke your heart?" 

Iris glared at her, "The last time we were here, I recall the last time you were whining about Lev." 

Auriana stepped in between them. 

"Guys, chillax. We just got back together." she whispered playfully. 

"But, Auriana," Talia and Iris protested, trying to wiggle out of Auriana tight embrace. 

Just watching the scene unfold between me made me uncomfortable. 

I stepped outside, and bumped into a figure with brilliant white hair. 

He looked at me in wonder. 

"Who are you?" 

I curtsied.

"Dawn, Princess of Crystalla."

He bowed and introduced himself. 

"Lev, Mercenary for Hire."