𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕞𝕡 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕦𝕣𝕪𝕠𝕕𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕒

Ch. 03

Aru was scared about this entire thing. Sheela had written down the prophecy on a piece of paper before they had left to see the Council, and she kept on reading it over and over again, replaying horrific scenes in her mind. In each scene, a sister, a Rudy, and a certain Pandava Adjacent were trapped in time. Aru shuddered, and she needed time to think.

While the others were talking about ways to trap Kiera in the lamp, Aru was thinking about how the others would be trapped in time. The prophecy Aru had spouted out also said that SHE would save the day, and that there would be more sacrifices. Like seriously? Did the universe have to hate her this much?

Aru stealthily walked behind the rest of the Potatoes, now joined by Rudy. Where he came from, honestly, no one knows. Aru took a little trip into the city of Amaravati. Heaven still as beautiful as ever, Aru had to stop and stare at the gut-wrenching beauty of the place. She quickly shook herself and walked to the fake Kalpavrikha tree. They still hadn't gotten the means to bring the REAL giant tree back to Amaravati.

Anyway, Aru sat down under the tree, spread out her legs, and leaned her head against the trunk. Then, she let the emotions flow. Her anger, sadness, and fear, all flowed freely out of her through the form of tears. She let herself unwind, until she had no idea what to do anymore. There was no doubt that the rest of the Potatoes and Rudy would be looking for her by now, but she still had time.

Aru looked up at the gorgeous Amaravati sky and whispered, " Father. I know that you can hear me and that you might not really care, but I need your help right now. I know I'm not your real daughter, but I'm your soul daughter, and I guess that should count for something right? Please. Please."

When she didn't get any type of response or sign, she sighed. She looked down at the green grass until a memory, that was buried deep inside her, clicked. She remembered a prayer that her mother taught her when she was younger. She had gone to many Indra Poojas (a word to describe when Indians pray to god) with her mother, and since she didn't know any prayers herself, her mother taught a small prayer to invoke Indra. Aru sat up in the lotus position, and put her hands together in reverence and respect as she chanted, "Om Namo Bhagavate devarajaya."

That got Indra's attention. Indra realised that Aru must be desperate enough to invoke him with a powerful mantra. His head rang as she chanted the mantra more and more times, until he couldn't take it anymore. Indra used his own mantra to teleport to the seven gates of Vikhunta: the home of the Lord of the Universe. The Lord of Preservation himself: Lord Vishnu. Indra walked through the gates, being allowed through the last gates by the two gatekeepers: Jay and Vijaya.

"My Lord. Preserver of the multiverse. I sit on the throne of Amaravati with everything because of you, and I know that it is not my place to ask you anything more. However, I humbly request. Please. Allow me to see Arj-Arundhati," Indra prostrated(paid respects) at the feet of the all-knowing Lord.

The Lord smiled down at the King of the Gods. When he spoke, the three worlds trembled and shook greatly, "Indra, my humble devotee. I give you the permission to help your soul daughter on her quest to stop the new holder of Duryodhana's soul. However, I will restrict you from saying anything about how to stop the girl. You may tell your daughter the powers her mother's necklace holds. That is all. Now go."

Indra prostrated to the Lord once more as he said his thanks and walked out the seven gates of Vikhunta and to his daughter. The moment he left Vikhunta however, his head buzzed because of the mantra his daughter kept chanting. Indra almost collapsed at the amount of power. He teleported to Aru.

"My daughter. I have heard your prayers. Rise," Indra almost sighed in relief as his daughter stopped chanting.

"Father. I request your guidance. I don't know what to do anymore. My life is a mess. The universe seems to hate me. I have to stop Keira. Alone. At least that's what the prophecy says. I think," Aru groaned and pulled her hair in frustration, "I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE!"

Indra stood there smiling sadly, "Daughter. Prophecies are...tricky. I can not tell you what is going to happen, for I am bound by the ancient laws and...other things," he said looking up, "Although, I can not tell you the future, I CAN give you some guidance. That necklace of yours. The one that Kritika gave you. It holds Suyodhana's memories. As you know, the past affects the future. Time itself is a confusing thing, but this is clear: your necklace gives you the power over time because it holds memories. Memories are some of the most powerful things in the universe. They hold the answers to many of the riddles in life, though you may not know it yet. The four sapphires that fill the necklace each represent something related to time. The small one on the right represents the past, whereas the one on the very left represents the future. The one in the middle represents the present, and finally, the main gem, and the largest, represents a way to stop time. I can only tell you that much due to my...restrictions. I hope you fare well with the guidance I have given you daughter. Good luck, and may the gods be in your favor," Indra blessed the young young girl before turning into a blinding light and teleporting out of there.

Aru stood there in shock thinking about what to do next. She had to stop time to trap Keira in the Lamp. The prophecy also said that she had to make Keira mad to trap her. If anything, Indra's advice made everything even more confusing. Aru pulled her hair again as she sat down and hit the back of her head against the tree trunk multiple times. Aru finally stopped after she got a headache and closed her eyes, her exhaustion taking over her, and right before she fell asleep...

"ARU! Guys, I found her, " Aru heard Mini scream, and jolted awake, Vajra shocking her in the process.

"Mini! What's wrong? What's going on, " Aru asked looking around, frightened, but all she saw were the concerned looks on the Potatoes' (and Rudy's) faces.

"Where'd you go, Shah," Brynne looked mad, GoGo glowing as she held it on her shoulder.

Aru smirked nervously, "I needed some fresh air?"

Aiden stared at her, worried, and at that, Aru laughed, "Something on my face again, Wifey?"

Aiden blushed, but quickly shook his head and went up to her, "Aru...you need to tell us what's going on with you. I know Keira might've shaken you up, but this isn't like you. Tell us. Tell ME. What's going on," Aiden asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Aru shook it off and mumbled, "I would tell you if I wanted to, but there's nothing to tell. It's not like I know anyway. This world is messed up, and there's nothing you guys can help me with to fix it," Aru walked past Aiden saying the last sentence deathly quiet, though the Potatoes' still heard it. Rudy couldn't care less, as he was playing with a ruby he found in his pocket.

Aru walked away without saying another word. She didn't look back, leaving the others dumbfounded. Even Rudy was surprised, though he was barely paying attention. What they didn't know was that tears were streaming down Aru's face like coursing rivers. Aru, for the first time in a while, felt like she was lost and alone.

~~

Hope U liked the chapter peeps! 

Luv, 

PLB ( Painted_Ladybug) And Trips ( TripuraSai10)