Turning to Stone 5: The Shadows Fall

Chapter 5: Everything Here is... Alive?

"I... haven't been here in a while." Split admitted. "I haven't been here at all." Laskell couldn't tear her eyes away from the sunrise. "I've never seen the sun before. Is it always this beautiful? And bright?"

"Bright? Yes. Beautiful? Matter of opinion." Split sat next to her, Glowbe moving to her other side. "I've traveled here only a couple of times. For work reasons."

"Work? You're barely older than me at most." Laskell finally turned to look at him. "Well-" Split shrugged, failing to come up with a good excuse. Laskell sensed the nervousness coming from him and decided to drop the subject.

Glowbe, however, didn't. "What exactly do you do?" He asked. "That's classified." Split snapped back, tails swishing. "Alright, enough." Laskell put her hands up, stopping the beginning conflict.

"Where should we go now?" Split questioned. "Felix told us that we had to warn the monster world. I say we go on out there and see what Plant Island looks like, and tell everyone there what is happening." Laskell turned around, heading for the castle.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Most of these monsters probably haven't seen a Xyster or a Glowl before, and I'd... rather not go out there. Too many people." Split ruffled her feathers.

"Then I'll go, and Glowbe can stay here with you." Laskell turned back, seeing Glowbe's expression of absolute indignation at having to put up with Split again. "Trust me, I'll be right back."

Going inside the castle was the quickest route to the front, and fortunately (or was it unfortunately?) there was no one around to interrupt her. The front of the island was busy and bustling, with colorful monsters doing their daily tasks and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

"Woah, I've never seen a Ghazt like that before!" A small Furcorn remarked. "That's not a Ghazt." The Oaktopus beside them stared with narrowed eyes.

"What are you?" She felt another monster poking her, and soon she was surrounded by curious Plant Island residents, until someone's voice broke up the crowd.

"Settle down, settle down." The crowd parted to reveal a familiar face, although they had certainly aged. "You..." Laskell mumbled. This is the Wubbox I saw in my dreams. The one that shoved me through the mirror.

"Who are you, and why have you come to our island?" The Wubbox asked. Laskell stood up as straight as she could. "My name is Laskell, and I bring a terrifying message, but it's one that must be heard."

She heard whispers around her, sensing fear and confusion from the monsters surrounding her. "What is the message?" The Wubbox asked.

Laskell cleared her throat. "There is a threat growing on Ethereal Island. A Boodoo named Vidaloc is raising an army of possessed monsters, and I have no doubt that he will find a way out of the Pocket Dimension. The monster world is in danger." She held her breath, hoping that the Wubbox would believe her.

Their expression signified that they were thinking about her words. Curious, she tried to read their emotions, but she couldn't find anything. It's like they've got a wall around their mind. They must have trained their mind well against Psychic powers, although why would a Psychic monster be on Plant Island?

Something distracted her, but it wasn't the Wubbox's emotions, or even their thoughts. Yet she was able to hear something else, a voice whispering in a language she couldn't understand. Laskell tried to listen in, but a wall of roots seemed to form in front of the voice, and she shook her head to reorient herself.

"How exactly did you get here?" The Wubbox questioned. "A Ghazt rebelling against Vidaloc helped me and my friends escape from Ethereal Island, and we ended up here. His dying wish was for us to spread the word about Vidaloc." Laskell explained.