SkyFall

Phase Two: Complete

"This one? Nope. This one? Nah. This one... Maybe... Yeah!"

I crouched down next to the large flower pot, reading the label of the small sapling. "Paulownia... Adult tree leaves are 6-16 inches long, 6-12 inches wide.... Sapling leaves can be twice as large... This is perfect!"

I snapped off several of the leaves, all of them being much larger than my face. I saw a small plastic container, one that evidently used to contain a small plant. I took it with me and after practically leaving the Paulownia saplings bald, I jogged back to the right side of the island.

"Let's see..." I fumbled with the string of an egg bomber pouch, placing three eggs onto a leaf. Next, I poured Magician's smoke onto it, using the giant leaf as pouch. Cringing, I took out a Morpher bone and a piece of Protector flesh from the plastic bag, also placing it in the makeshift pouch.

"Back at the Base, when we were training," I mumbled to myself. "Someone -maybe a trainer?- mentioned that itch powder not only had an itchy effect on things, but also sped things up." I tried remembering more. "Of course back then I thought that they were all insane... but the powder definitely made nonliving things stronger and more durable, kind of like upgrading it. I think..." Shrugging, I gathered the edges of the leaf, creating the small sack. I wrapped wire around the sack, being careful not to rip the leaf, but also assuring that the contents would stay completely enclosed.

I twisted and clipped the wire, successful with my creation. "One down, a lot more to go." I quickened my pace, fearing that someone would catch me midway into my scheme. After making about twenty, I had ran out of egg bombers and the other items used. Grabbing the plastic container and the thick elastic that I had taken from Malin's tower, I made my way to two adjacent trees, both close to the shoreline.

I wove the elastic through the container's handles, tying both ends onto the trees. I sealed everything with acid spit, similarly to how one would seal something with fire. Pulling the itch powder vial out of my pocket, I sprinkled some onto the whole extension of the elastic and onto the container. "To make a stronger slingshot, and to hopefully throw those leaf sacks farther."

I placed the leaf sacks next to the slingshot and pushed my raft and makeshift paddle even closer to the shore, being careful not to touch the invisible force field. This force field will soon be gone; then, I'm busting my way out of here.

The book about Pobel Vean Insula mentioned that angered fairies break any enchantment they encounter. So by tricking them into thinking that they are being attacked, they will all come into Dark Forest Island, break the enchantment that is keeping me bounded, and destroy the island altogether. When I launch the leaf sacks, the egg bombers will go off and stimulate the Magician's Smoke, creating the sound of a huge explosion and a giant mass of smoke. The Morpher bones and Protector flesh will make the fairies think that one of their own was killed by the explosion. Twenty of these explosions, and I'll have a giant mass of fairies coming my way. After that, all I'd have to do is slip away on the raft, unnoticed. Damn. Beth would be so proud of me if she knew that I came up with that idea all on my own.

I closed my eyes and made the sign of the cross. After a few seconds, I picked up a leaf sack and placed it onto the container in the slingshot. Holding the container tightly, I stepped back as far as the thick elastic would allow. I let go of the container, making the leaf sack shoot out like a bullet. I held my breath in anticipation, but I didn't hear the egg bombers explode, revealing that the leaf sack didn't travel far enough and had only sunk into the water. My heart sank as my high hopes began to slip away like water cupped in someone's hands. I looked down at the itch powder vial on the ground, a few wisps of hope still fluttering in me. I sprinkled what was left of the powder onto the remaining leaf sacks. Now maybe the sacks will fly out at least a little bit father... And any close-by fairy will get crazy itchy, making them even angrier.