The Sketch: The Voyage of Soal

Porter's Council

As Wacky settled in a white chair that looked like it belonged on an old porch of earth's old days, the first of many meetings began. Anter started.

"I was the first kiwi of all to meet Soal. He's quite easygoing," she murmured. "Speak up!" someone whispered.

"I was putting up an act, pretending to be afraid of Shadow Hand, which all here trust I never am, but I didn't expect it would get him (literally) in the hands of that stupid glove. When he started to choke him, I shot an arrow, although I knew it wouldn't do anything, and Retna shot a dragon. Then Soal was freed and ran to us on the porch thing, as Shadow Hand broke through a wall that slid closed. Retna used Pure Light to dispose of that glove for the moment and he flew back to his swarm. They're headed for the Outlands, towards the desert." Then Porter joined in.

"The battle for Kiwi City is over," he began, "But the battle for the Eras is about to begin. Soal, do you know the Eras?" He shook his head. "There are three more eras- Rexen, The Kyle Bros., and The Mooray, not to mention the Dimensional Afterlife. Right now we're in the Kiwi Era, the main era. But now to the first main point of today's meeting. We know Magical Hands, the hands that govern the characters (us), but we've never seen hands this destructive before, except once. When Retna and I were investigating Volkien the dragon with Kiwi, a hand just like the ones that attacked us last night, or a Dark Hand, as we will name them from now on, took control of her instead of a Magical Hand. She almost killed Kiwi. So we have come to a conclusion. When the Hole destroyed the Okay Sea and Great Hand a while ago, there needed to be a hand to fill the gap. So Shadow Hand and the Dark Hands were created by some villainous foe. These hands corrupt their 'puppets.'

"Now to the next subject- Soal himself. His arrival indicates a new age in the history of the seas, as Moth's gave rise to the age of kiwis. Now we are in danger of being killed off by the Anakians. Which is another problem. Soal, the Anakians were once the inhabitants of a thriving kingdom. But war and greed led to their demise and exile. Now a few leaders and their army remain in undead form. But thanks to Kiwi, we've taken care of that," Kiwi smiled at Porter. "Although their army remains. Without General Ranklonnus, they're extra angry. But who's leading them? This is the same question of who created the Dark Hands. It could be the Millennium Eaglet, the overpowered brat who created the universe just so he could destroy it later. But it's probably the same vile worm I've faced before." Porter cringed at his words. "Articulus."

Retna and Anter frowned, and Beak looked concerned. Everyone else just turned to those next to them in confusion, especially Soal. "Soal," Kiwi explained, "Lubreigha was a prosperous kingdom with happy citizens and a strong government. They followed a special religion, following the god Ethau, worshiping the Eagle of Creation and despising the god of death, Articulus. So imagine their surprise when just after Moth, the first Un-Character, showed up, Articulus appeared in real life and started wreaking havoc. He had one plan: to break the Fourth Wall, which was tougher then, and use the portals beneath to conquer the Genesis Stories. Soal, you live in the Genesis Stories, and so did Moth. If they were to be salvaged, the entire fabric of our universe would unravel. In other words, if Articulus makes it to the portal, we're toast. But before that, he would become a cloud, and if he grew large enough he would make it to the portal. Kind of funny if you think about it. To stop him, the Great War began. Moth and Porter led the armies and were successful, and Articulus was sealed inside a painting, which was broken into thirds. Each third was protected by his shadow guards in each of the Ruins of the Ages, sitting in the Void between here and the Outlands. Later on, when Retna and Anter were young, Lubreigha was sunken underwater because the Anakians were causing trouble. (The Lubreighan Royal Family had the gift of near-immortality.) Now that Articulus thinks we've forgotten about him, he's launching a counter attack, and now he has a friend, Shadow Hand. But we have faith in you, Soal, to stop his armies before he makes it to the gateway."

"But why am I so special?" Soal nearly gave up. "Why do I have to be the one? Why me? Why am I the Un-Character? What is an Un-Character?! Why can't someone like General Wultzen be it and not me?! That would be a lot more convenient!!"

"Well," Kelly tried to answer him, "All characters are controlled by Magical Hands. And you're technically a character when you're here. But you can't be controlled by Magical Hands or Dark Hands like us, which makes you the only one capable of defeating Shadow Hand and his army. So that also makes you a good bug-spray for Articulus as well."

"Don't I need to learn how to battle and all if I'm ever going to even kill a beetle?" Soal reminded everyone the obvious.

"Ah yes, that," Retna was enthusiastic. "I'll teach you at daybreak tomorrow. You'll be a natural. For now though, get acquainted. You'll need the training. We won't want a failed Un-Character. You can rest in here, as this is the only place in the city large enough to fit you. Once we get to the Outlands later, you'll have a lot more space. But for now this is okay, right? Alright."

"So where do we start?" Soal asked, suddenly filled with a burst of determination.