Legend of the Seven Lights

32. Mother of Shadows

Today's code uses both the Caesar and A1Z26 Cipher, with the latter being reversed. Can't make these codes too easy!

Chapter 32: Mother of Shadows

Pennsylvania; Twilight Forest

Sector V landed the C.O.O.L.-B.U.S. deep within the dark forest and stepped off. The sun was halfway over the horizon, giving the sky deep shades of orange and magenta. The trees were very shadowed under the branches, and an eerie chill fell down their spines as the wind rustled the leaves. "Why couldn't we land close to Twilight Town?" Dillon questioned.

"Because it's a secluded setting." Midna stated. "You think any aircraft can just fly there willy-nilly? Well, yes, but show a little more respect, why don't you."

"I wouldn't mind a quiet stroll." Django stretched his old bones. "Cold breeze, darkness. Think we can see some predator action?"

"I came here with my mom to train, so I kind of memorize the way." Dillon mentioned. "There's just a few creatures we have to watch out for."

"I'll provide your shadowbending on the way, but don't get steam-headed." Midna told him. "Or I may just up and leave like Mario." (Play "Forest Interlude" from Donkey Kong Country 2.)

"Wait, wasn't that the same music for Forest of Darkness? Why couldn't we just make them one in the same?" Dillon questioned.

"Looks like I need to go over the fundamentals of shadowbending again so you understand why it's HARDER to bend at nighttime." Midna stated.

"Alright, never mind."

Stage 41: Twilight Town

Mission: Make it to Twilight Town.

Not many areas of ground were touched by the orange sunlight, but as they followed Dillon through the trees, they spotted shadows in those sun patches, who perked and sunk away when the humans looked at them. The team encountered a group of jagged rocks blocking their way, however one of the stones was movable, Dillon remembered, as he extracted Midna's big ponytail hand to push it forward. The group entered a clearer part of the forest, where Hyper Clefts – green, spiked stone creatures – charged out of bushes to ram the kids. "Just so you know, I can make new inventions, too." Harry announced as he placed his boombox on the ground. He turned it on, and its loud tunes shook the ground forcefully, flipping the Clefts upside-down so that Chris and Sheila could punch them senseless with their fists.

Shadows appeared on the sides of trees and rocks, grinning Cheshire-style at the kids before swooping away. The group stepped up a few short mounds before getting to a narrow pathway within the grass. Crazee Dayzees leapt out from the sides and charged at them, Kirie thought fast and tossed flower shurikens to knock them out. The path led to a barren tree, where Murkrow swooped down at them from its branches, Mason and Haru shot gas puffs to put them asleep. The path turned rightward, ending at a vast trench chasm. They questioned what to do, until Dillon punched the tree, and a swarm of shadows flew out of its shadow and down the cliff. They gasped with horror when Dillon jumped down, but the child stopped partway down in midair.

Sheila was obviously next to jump down, then the others followed suit—they realized those shadows were forming a midair pathway. However, they were against the cliff, so the kids' shadows stood on them, making it seem like they were standing on invisible ground. Dillon assured it was fine and kept leading them forward. They had to jump square-shaped lumps in the shadows, over a slight hole, then carefully jump a series of separate platform shadows, before Wall Jumping parallel columns of shadows, landing on a dead-end shadow-platform. "Then my mom would Shadow Glide us to that path." Dillon pointed across the trench.