The Darkwing Series: Rise of The Darkwing Colony

Chapter Five: The Darklight Cave

Ari opened her eyes slowly. Her vision is blurry at first but her senses are starting to return. An unfamiliar ceiling comes into view. She thought she was back home but the room looked different. The walls are powder blue and the lights are dimmed.

"Oh, good you're awake", said Leon.

Hearing a voice calling out for her, Ari shot into a sitting position on the bed. She moaned softly as she touched her forehead.

"What happened? Where am I", she asked softly. Leon sighed. "You fainted so Julien and I carried you back here. How are you feeling now?", he asked.

Ari scratched her hair as she sighed.

"A little dizzy but I feel fine", she said. Leon came closer, reaching out to touch Ari's forehead in his hand. His beautiful hazel eyes staring into her brown eyes made her heart pound.

"You don't seem to have a fever...and you're not as pale as you were earlier", he said. Ari swept her bangs.

"Do you remember what happened?", asked Leon.

Ari tried her best to remember but it was a blur.

"Um...", she muttered until her words were interrupted by a knock on the door. Leon and Ari turn around. It was Julien.

"Hey", he said as he enters the room.

"Well, how'd it go?", asked Leon.

Julien sighed as he brushed his sleek, black bangs.

"Let's just say it didn't go so well, but they want to talk to her as soon as she gets up", he said.

Getting confused, Ari interrupted the conversation.

"Uh...not to be rude or anything but you didn't answer my other question: where are we?", she asked.

"We're at the Darklight Cave", said Julien. Ari became curious.

"The Darklight Cave?", she asked.

"It's home to the Darkwing Colony and it's the only place that keeps us safe", said Leon. Ari couldn't believe it. In fact, she remembers hearing about the Darkwing Colony when Jenna showed her the book.

"I think you said too much", said Julien. Leon sighed sadly. "You're right. We should go", he said as he got up. Wanting to know more about the Darklight Cave, Ari tries to speak.

"Wait―", she said when Leon left the room. Ari couldn't believe it. She thought Leon was a kind person but he became a totally different person. Maybe he has a mysterious persona or maybe he's shy like her. Julien turns to Ari.

"Sorry about him, he can be a little downcasted at times", he said. Ari sighed sadly.

"No, it's my fault, I shouldn't ask that question. That was stupid, I'm sorry", she said with guilt. Julien smiled.

"Don't be, you don't have to apologize", he said kindly. Ari gave Julien a shy smile as she brushed her bangs.

"Anyway, I got a change of clothes for you here, whenever you're ready", said Julien as he pointed to a stack of clothes that were sitting on top of a dresser.

Before Ari could thank Julien, he closes the door quietly and leaves the room. Now feeling alone, Ari sighed with relief. Curious to find out more about the Darklight Cave, she quickly got up and took off her clothes and shoes. Then, she put on a burgundy designer hoodie, dark gray leggings, and black lace-up military knee-high boots. Now fully dressed, Ari slowly opens the door and what she saw made her heart skip a beat.

The cave has shiny rocks and that is glowing in the moonlight. There are many tunnels that you can enter in and there are many crystals decorated on the walls. Also, there is a waterfall where the water falls down as it ripples. Ari is amazed. She thought the Darklight Cave is just an original cave but she's wrong. As she looked around the crystallized walls, she stops and gasps when she locked eyes on a teenage girl coming out of the room.