International Legends

Chapter 39 - Ozara

The hazy skyline illuminated the mountain landscape that came before us as I rubbed my eyes, realizing that where I was going was all a dream. Yet it was very much real, especially from the way that Jasper was acting. I hadn't seen him for a while and the two of us were debating on whether or not we should fight, but Leo raised his finger to his lips, telling us to be quiet.

There was a calm about these mountains, and they were unlike any I had ever seen before. I recognized this place from the pictures we were able to look at on the ship - Iceberg Natl. Park. It wasn't exactly an iceberg, it was more ice that had formed itself into mountains that stretched across the rolling green hills. Nevertheless, it was beautiful and obvious that Leo had been here before.

I felt a sigh of relief. Axel was not with me and for once, it felt good to not have that being tied to me. As we made our way up the mountain, I felt comforted by the presence of my friends. Jasper was not being held by Satan, I was not being forced to initiate a nuclear apocalypse. Suffice to say, life was feeling pretty good. We even had a few laughs, though I'm not sure what they were about. They were probably about how ridiculous this all was.

It was a strenuous climb up a slippery slope. We meandered our way around rocks. Jasper tripped a few times. I was tempted to fly, but Leo shook his head. He said that the experience would be better if I was in the present moment. So I hiked on behind him, feeling the blood pool in my head, as we made our way up the mountain. The higher we climbed, the more I felt the strain on my body. It felt extremely real.

Then Leo held his hand up and we stopped, frozen by the moment. A group of big horned sheep were passing by, and we had to make our way off the trail. They were able to detect our scent from far off however, and they raced across the pathways. It was breathless to watch them, and I only felt barely protected by the patch of trees that lay beside us.

We continued moving, and pretty soon we made it to the top of Mount Siyeh - the ground being hardly covered at the top by nothing more than dirt. Sitting in the middle of all of it was none other than Mama Earth herself.

I felt my insides crawl as she laughed at my sour expression. I stared her in the eyes. How dare she laugh at me, as if she were coming to float in the face of my pain and confusion. It took everything to keep myself from launching myself at her in an attack at that very moment.

"So, the motley crew has made their way up to me," says Mama Earth, laughing. "I must say I am impressed with the way you three have continued to fight each other. It appears you have learned nothing while continuing to fight each other, acting as if your entire lives are nothing but a consequence of a larger picture. Frankly, I find it pathetic."

None of us were able to speak to her, which made me all the more frustrated. I walked around, trying to figure out what it was that she wanted to show me, as she laughed heartily at my failures. Near about to give up, I find a mirror that is facing her throne. I peer into it, only to see that it is me sitting on the throne, laughing at myself.

You have the power dear, said my mother's voice. Why don't you use it?

Angels are chasing me, trying to grab at me, saying, "You have a destiny! You cannot escape what you are meant to do."

I seep down into the ground, watching the ground turn into a liquid pool around me, reflecting my body, until I can no longer tell the difference between myself and the ground. Then I am falling through what seems like a Sea of Stars, which I can only assume is the Vortex Sea. I hear the voices of so many around, and I am able to decipher some of their differences. Some being the voices of the Wizards whom are on the cruise, others being the voices of the Guardians and the Gods themselves.