Turning to Stone 4: New Leaders (Rewritten)

Chapter 8: Wublin

"How exactly are we supposed to get out of here without a skyship?" Jerrick pointed out once they were all relaxing in the larger spare room again. "Th' blue guy's right. How are we supposed ta get out'a this place without a ship?" Bertilda echoed. "I have a name, you know." Jerrick snapped. "I know, I know, I'm messin' with ya." Bertilda gave him a light nudge in response.

Ailura thought for a moment. I can't teleport close enough to the island, so we're going to need transportation. "We'll go to Plant Island and get a new ship there." She mumbled from where she was napping, nestled on Ephex's shoulders like a partly transparent feather boa. "As far as the Wublins are concerned, we've got all the time in the world."

The Wublins! She remembered, lifting up her head. We left the statues back on Water Island! She slithered off of Ephex. "We left the statues behind on Water Island, but getting them through two portals will be a lot more difficult than just one. We'll go to Plant Island first, then make a portal to Water Island from there."

"If we're going to Water Island, can't we just use our former ship?" Jerrick pointed out. "Well, maybe I want to catch up with my friends that are on Plant Island, y'know, the ones that sent me on this mission in the first place. I sent them a letter, but I should update them on how we're doing in person." Ailura's sarcastic tone turned genuine about halfway through.

"Let's go. We don't have much stuff to bring, and the Ghazts will recover just fine here without us." She began opening a portal, beckoning the kids through one by one. Xander was the last of the little ones, hanging around close to Ailura until they absolutely had to go through. Ephex was after them, but they didn't leave before Ailura gave them an affectionate headbutt, like a cat would.

She slipped through the portal and it faded out behind her. The smell of fresh air and flowers made her purr. "It's good to be back." She thought aloud.

"Agreed." Ephex turned to her with a smile. The vines of their crown, which they hadn't taken off, didn't glow as brightly with the sun above them, but the crystals reflected the sunlight and made it just as shiny.

Ethereal Island may have been home to interesting plants and monsters like Ailura, but Plant Island was her home now. Her family was here.

Bertilda and Xander seemed glad to be back on the green grass as well. They were both born here. Ailura remembered. And someday, Bertilda will be the first real leader of this place.

"Xander, keep an eye on everyone else. I'm going to go talk to Basilio." Ailura instructed, and the smaller Ghazt gave her a nod and a salute. "I'm coming with you." Ephex gently grabbed her hand.

Instead of walking into the castle, they walked around it to Jolthead's shed. Inside was fairly empty and quiet, Chomp and Mooper must be somewhere else.

"Ailura! Ephex!" She looked up at the familiar sound of a deep, T-rox voice. Basilio appeared from around a corner, rushing up to the two. "How have you been? I got your letter, Ailura, although I assume that everything's going better now that Ephex is here."

"Partly." Ailura looked away. "We... haven't exactly dealt with Gullit yet, but we managed to free Ephex and everyone else who was stuck on Earth Island. The entire island is under his control. We're going back as soon as we wake up the Wublins."

"We are?" Ephex asked. "Of course we are! There's no way we're leaving that island alone!" Ailura gave them a determined smirk, but she gave their hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Do you have the Wublin statues ready?" Jolthead asked, seemingly appearing out of nowhere and startling Ailura and Ephex. "Don't do that!" Ephex exclaimed. "Sorry, sorry! Just excited!" Jolthead put their hands up.