Jakovi Poza: Shadows Of The Past

Chapter 18

It was dark, Gold put on a warm jacket, then left the house. As she headed towards The Sisters camp, she saw Fauna from The Sisters looking expectantly at Gold. Gold already knew it was time for The Sisters to help them stop Foxy.
“Good morning, The Sisters.” Gold greeted them with a smile. Fauna nodded respectfully.
"Hello, I've been waiting for you." Fauna said.
"For me? Why?" Gold asked quietly.
Fauna signaled Gold to follow her, Gold started following Fauna looking around. Curiosity got her, does Fauna have a plan? Fauna led her to her home, Gold looked at the tall pink house. Fauna opened the door of the house with the key, Gold went inside first. She saw how tidy Fauna's house is. When Gold stopped looking at Fauna's house, she looked at Fauna who looked worried.
"What's happening?" Gold asked. Fauna was silent for a moment, as if she was hesitating.
"You know how grateful I am to you for saving our situation...but..." Fauna paused, Gold noticed the unfamiliar emotion in Fauna's eyes. Gold raised one eyebrow, she gave Fauna a confused look, is the message Fauna has for her bad or good?
"But I need your help again." Fauna said bravely. Gold made a serious face, she walked over to Fauna's desk, staring up at the ceiling. She was relieved that The Sisters were not afraid to ask for her help.
"Sure, what’s the problem?" Gold replied.
"There is," Fauna began to say calmly, "It's about Tara."
Tara? Gold remembered how Tara had always been reluctant to help her gather herbs or use her powers. Why is this about her?
"Since we've known Foxy, Tara seems reluctant to help, especially now." Fauna said. Gold didn't know what to do with it, she didn't know Tara well and didn't want to meddle in her business, but if Fauna asks her for help, she's determined to help her.
"Okay, I'll talk to her." Gold agreed.
Fauna smiled slightly, then nodded. Gold waved goodbye to her, then left Fauna's house. Gold began to look for Tara, she did not see her among The Sisters in the camp, or anywhere nearby. She must be home. Gold thought quickly. She quickly turned left going towards Tara's house, on the way she saw the house of Gestra and Aura. Gold sighed heavily, feeling better when she noticed Ella talking to Ash and Sting. She suddenly remembered what happened yesterday, Dark loves Roxanne, however Roxanne rejected his offer. Gold promised to help him, but she wasn't sure if she should have stayed out of it herself. She felt guilty for advising Foxy who loved Roxanne, Gold thought Foxy would make her friend happy, but Foxy brazenly left their group without a word. Gold made a sad face as she looked ahead as she walked. When she was near Tara's house, she stopped thinking about the past. She knocked quickly on the door, then waited impatiently, but no one answered. Gold was disappointed before she was about to go towards the forest when she heard the door open to her surprise. Gold saw Tara in the doorway, she looked tired. Tara brightened as she realized it was Gold.
"Oh, it's you, hello." Tara spoke in a polite voice.
“Hello Tara, can we talk?" Gold said. She tried to sound calm and nice, she didn't want Tara to suspect anything.
"Come in." Tara replied shortly.
Gold reluctantly stepped inside, and Tara closed the door behind her, smiling. Gold felt uncomfortable when she noticed Tara's house was so messy, she suddenly wondered why Fauna was so worried about Tara. Tara seemed to avoid Gold's gaze as if she didn't want to talk to her, which made Gold feel more weird.
"Look, I've noticed how you've been acting lately." Gold said calmly.
Tara looked quickly at Gold with a scared look. Gold hesitated, she thought Tara was mad at her, she just didn't show it. Gold took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I've seen how unwilling you are to help." She said seriously to Tara. Tara stopped looking at Gold as Gold's eyes landed on her.
"Will you tell me what's going on?" Gold asked.
Tara made a sad face, as if she didn't want to talk to her about it. Gold was sure something was wrong with Tara, had Foxy hurt her in the past as well? Gold began to empathize.
"It's nothing." Tara mumbled.
“Did Foxy do something to you?” Gold asked quickly.
She saw Tara freeze when Gold said his name. Gold had a questioning look, suspecting more that Foxy had hurt Tara's feelings as well. However, she was shocked when she heard Tara's answer, "No."
What does she mean now? Gold thought.
“Foxy was never an enemy to me…he told the truth about me.” Tara stuttered uneasily.
Gold felt surprised and angry inside. How dare Tara consider Foxy not an enemy? Did she forget that he was the reason Cristie died?
"What truth?" Gold asked menacingly.
Tara was silent with a serious face, Gold couldn't take her eyes off Tara, she wanted to know what Foxy had told her.
"That I am unfit to be a sorceress." Tara answered.
"What?" Gold asked quickly. She couldn't believe her eyes what she heard. Gold dreamed of spilling all of it on Tara, but she knew it wasn't a good idea.
"You won't understand, I'm not good at collecting herbs, I'm not even good at healing." Tara started saying, “Foxy showed me that I could choose a different path.”
"Does anyone even know about this?" Gold said.
Tara sighed softly.
“Only Shiver knows about it.” She replied in a low voice.
Gold didn't know what to say, she felt like she had been defeated by an army of a hundred knights.
"I don't want to be a sorceress, I feel like this is not my life." Tara said grimly as she left her house. Gold followed her, but when she left the house, there was no sign of Tara as if she had disappeared. Gold called Tara, but heard no one. She was angry with Tara, Gold wanted to tell her that it's not worth trusting someone you only know for a few days. Gold wondered if she should tell Fauna about this, she didn't want to hide it from everyone. She was only afraid that her final decision would change The Sisters more. Gold had the impression that she would have to hide everything again and she would reveal it to everyone at the right moment. What am I going to tell Fauna now? I don't want to lie to anyone. Gold thought desperately. She started to walk back towards the camp, but stopped, she thought she heard someone calling her. She entered the forest, which made the call louder.
"Fauna? Is that you?" Gold called. Then the calling stopped, only the singing of birds could be heard. Gold looked around, it seemed to her that these calls were only her hallucinations. As she was about to head back to camp, she heard a familiar voice this time, "Gold, can you see me?”
Gold quickly turned around, her eyes were seeing Zack standing up straight. Gold walked quickly over to Zack, giving him a questioning look.
"What are you doing here?" Gold asked in surprise.
“Things are getting worse in the Void.” Zack said in a static voice.
Gold shuddered, could it be worse? She wondered what had happened in the Void world.
“Why and how did you get here?” Gold asked.
"I used my powers, the Void world is slowly turning into a white hole." Zack replied quickly.
Gold didn't know what white hole he was referring to, but the very word "white hole" gave her chills. Zack looked exhausted, Gold saw him barely standing, is it really that hard for ghosts to get into the real world?
“You think Foxy has something to do with this?” Gold asked uncertainly. Zack tried to catch his breath as he stared at Gold and nodded.
“Act quickly, please. I don't want my world to be destroyed." Zack said, then he disappeared like mist. Gold shivered, began to walk quickly back to The Sisters camp, looking here and there. Suddenly, she collided with someone and fell to the ground. Gold clutched her forehead, her eyes later seeing Sting who was surprised.
“Gold! I..I’m so sorry." Sting said quickly.
Gold hesitated as Sting extended his hand to her, remembering how Sting used to help Gold with everything. It wasn't such a good time for her, Foxy laughed that Sting loved her but he was supportive to his friend. Gold sighed heavily, she knew she had to trust Sting now, she believed Sting had changed over the past few months. Gold shook his hand and Sting helped her gently to her feet. Gold looked serious, wondering what Sting was doing here.
"I’ve been looking for you, will you come with me?" Sting said calmly.
“Is it something important?” Gold asked.
Sting nodded, Gold reluctantly agreed and started walking alongside Sting. She didn't pay attention to Sting, she was looking at the sky. As they left the forest, Sting went first to have Gold go with him. She noticed that they are walking towards the end of the Starforest territory, Gold felt a little uneasy as she lowered her head, looking at the ground. As they entered the woods again, Gold felt a chill on her face, does Sting want to talk to her?
"Here we are." Sting said.
Gold then looked up, noticing Dark who looked impatient. Gold was surprised to see Dark, Sting gave Gold a little push, signaling Gold to come over to Dark. Gold obediently approached Dark, she smiled at him friendly.
“Hi Dark.” Gold greeted him. “Do you need something from me?”
"Yes, you promised to help me." Dark answered in a serious voice.
Gold lowered her head, now she wasn't sure if she should help. She helped Foxy once, but she failed.
"Gold, what happened?" She heard Dark's sad voice.
Gold suddenly felt Sting behind her, who had a worried look.
"Nothing’s happening." Gold mumbled calmly.
"Are you sure? Because every time I mention it, you're trying to change the subject." Dark replied.
“Is something bothering you?” Sting asked thoughtfully.
Gold shook her head violently, but Dark didn't seem to believe Gold's words, which made her embarrassed.
"Tell me what's going on." Dark said bravely.
"I said nothing is going on." Gold replied quickly.
“Sure, and the hedgehogs will fly.” Sting said impatiently.
Gold didn't want to say anything about the mistake of the past. All she needs is that she regrets it and would like to fix it, but when she looked at Dark, she saw fear in his eyes.
"I am just scared." Gold said.
"But what?" Sting asked.
Gold hesitated again.
“I'm afraid to help, I…I don't want Roxanne to get hurt again.” Gold replied.
“Do I look like Foxy to you?” Dark asked accusingly.
Gold shook her head, Dark is good and helpful to her, she wasn't surprised why Ella chose him as her deputy.
“Gold, I need your help, Roxanne has been avoiding me since yesterday. I know you'll fix it because you're a good adviser." Dark said honestly.
Gold brightened, giving Dark a grateful look.
“And this is the Gold I know!” Sting said happily.
Gold sighed heavily, suddenly remembering that they were about to leave for their house.
“But help will have to wait, we'll be going to home soon!” Gold screamed quickly.
“She's right, Fauna is about to call everyone to a meeting, let's go." Sting said to Dark then ran past Gold. Dark ran a bit further from them with a nervous expression on his face. By the time they reached the camp, Gold had seen everyone gathered. Gold quickly entered the tunnel, then quickly exited it and took a seat next to Ella and Roxanne.
"Oh there you are Gold, we were worried." Ella said.
"Sorry for being a little late, but I had some business to attend to." Gold replied. Ella laughed, but Roxanne was staring straight ahead. Gold was worried, it seemed to her that if she helped Dark, she would lose Roxanne's trust. She stopped thinking about it when Fauna stepped onto the boulder with a menacing expression.
"It's time to stop Foxy once and for all!" Fauna said, then she added, "remember the battle moves Clio and Aura taught you."
Gold remembered how Shiver had taught her how to dodge yesterday. I'll have to learn them, and the exile spell to the Void world. Gold thought seriously.
Gold tried to learn the spell, but none of these attempts were successful.
"We're leaving now." Fauna announced.
Gold looked at Shiver who was standing next to Roxanne. Her friend looked quite nervous and quiet. Fauna climbed down from the boulder and nodded her head as a sign that they were leaving.
“Finally we are coming back to our home!” Gold heard Ash.
Gold became alarmed when she noticed Whiteflower staring up at the sky with a menacing expression. Gold woke up from her bad thoughts when Shiver overtook her.
"Come on Gold, we'll go ahead!" Shiver screamed happily.
Gold smiled and raced after Shiver.
It's time for them to go home and stop the band of rogues.