Sky and i were looking down the platform.
Me "i can't hear her screaming anymore"
Sky didn't say anything and just put an arm around my middle, keeping me in place.
Suddenly we heard Layla scream "Help me!"
I looked down over the edge "you should help her"
Sky didn't say anything.
Me "Sky, i'm serious, go help her"
Sky took deep breath "if i let go of you now will you jump ?"
I shook my head "no"
Sky "Can you promise me that?"
I looked at him before looking down.
Sky nodded "that's what i thought. now come"
He pulled me back into the tunnel.
Then he tried to get Layla off the wall. She was glued there with some kind of glue spit from the monsters.
Layla gagged out "disgusting!"
Sky tried to pull her off the wall" Hold on, Layla! Just let me get this off."
Layla cried out "My wings. Sky! My wings please!"
Sky managed to pull her off.
Layla fell into Sky's arms.
Sky nodded " It's okay now."
Layla hugged Sky who looked at me.
I cleared my throat annoyed.
Lalya looked at me while letting go of Sky " Relax, Echo, I was just gonna thank him. Thanks."
Me "How are you feeling? You okay?"
Layla nodded "I'm much better now, but what about the others?"
I walked back to the platform "They fell into the pit"
Layla "But Stella can't fly, oh."
I tried to transform but i was still to weak.
Sky "nothing?"
I shook my head "I- I- I can't do it, I'm still too weak."
Sky asked Layla " Layla, do you think you can carry me down?"
Layla tried to fly but the bile on the wings made her fall.
She shook her head " Nope, still can't fly."
Sky "Hmmm, we have to find a way down. And quickly."
Me "any ideas?"
Sky shrugged.
Layla "I've got one"
Then she used magic to make a crane.
My jaw dropped "wow"
Then i looked down the pit and sighed.
Sky put a hand on my arm "Everything's going to be okay, i promise"
I nodded.
At the bottom of the pit.
There was a dead monster at the bottom.
Sky "That's what's left of the tar monster. "
Then he looked around yelling "Brandon!"
I yelled "Stella! Brandon! "
no responds.
I shook my head "they aren't here, Sky"
Sky nodded "Good, that means they're still alive."
Suddenly i heard water running.
I asked confused "do you guys hear that?"
Layla nodded, confused "is that water?"
I nodded.
We walked over to the edge and there was a river.
Me "Hey, it's an underground river."
Sky "Oh, no, they must have fallen in there."
I nodded.
Sky " So? What do we do now?
I took a step to the edge " Well, I for one am going for a swim."
Sky grabbed me and pulled me back "hold on, Echo!"
Me "Stella and Brandon could be in danger, we can't just leave them."
Layla " I don't know, Echo. This river is probably connect to the one that carried me out. In which case, they're safe."
Sky nodded " Layla's right. We're getting worked up when it could be nothing. I bet they're back in the valley, already."
I nodded "okay, then let's all make our way back up to the surface and join them."
Layla shook her head "I don't want to leave Stella and Brandon either, but there's no time. The pixies are in danger."
I shook my head.
Sky put a hand on my arm "They can take care of themselves, they'll make it back. We'll complete the mission. Come on, let's keep going."
----
Sky" Layla, we've been walking for hours. Are we lost?"
Layla looked around, thinking " I remember this passageway."
Me "Layla, they all looked exactly the same to me"
--
We could hear water dripping, making noise.
Layla " What a beautiful sound."
I smiled " It's amazing. Musa would love it if she were here, wouldn't she?"
Sky nodded " Yes, it's music to my ears. Huh?"
Suddenly i heard monsters coming closer.
Me "Well, no one likes that noise. Quick! Let's get out of here!"
We started to run down the tunnel.
Layla " Echo, can you transform?"
I shook my head "i need more rest"
Layla nodded "Me too. We'll never be able to fight them off."
Sky "Look, there's a cave."
Suddenly i got hit from behind and fell to the ground.
I cried out.
Sky yelled "Echo!"
Then he drew his sword and stepped in front of me.
The monsters cornered Lyla.
Layla " If only I could transform. Faragonda's seeds!"
She took out the seeds and threw the in the middle of the way" Take this, you monsters!"
Nothing happened.
I stood up ad stayed behind Sky.
Layla "No! There's not enough light for them to grow!"
Suddenly we heard "Hold on, I've got all the light you need."
Stella flew in.
I smiled "Stella!"
Stella "Let me handle this!"
Then she used her magic to first attack two monsters, then she activated the seeds and helped them grow.
Layla smiled "Hey, the seeds."
The seeds grew into blue plants, that shined brightly, and melted the remaining monsters.
Sky cheered " Nice work, Stella."
I rushed over to her and hugged her "Stella!"
She hugged me back "Echo!"
Suddenly the floor started to shake.
Sky "It feels like an earthquake."
Layla "What do we do?"
Stella yelled "run!"
Layla "This way quick!"
We ran further into the caves but stopped when the split into three directions.
I froze "Which way?"
Layla pointed in one way"This way!"
We ran into the tunnel.
We ran out of the cave and were now back in the valley.
The entrance broke down, closing completely.
Stella looked at the entrance "Now what do we do? There's no way we can get back in there."
Sky " Stella, can you teleport us into the cave using your scepter?"
Stella shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest "Nuh-uh, no way, not unless you want to end up in that creep's bathroom."
Sky looked at me confused.
Me "She needs to know the destination very well. Or teleporting could land us anywhere."
Sky shook his head "This isn't going to be easy. Layla, you think you can guess how far underground the citadel is?"
Layla walked over to the edge of the valley and looked down " Well, it's pretty deep. Let's see. I'd that it's below the bottom of this valley, but I'm not sure."
Sky "Then let's get down there. It's too risky to use the Demolecularizer from up here."
--
Sky "We'd better watch our step, it's easy to slip on the sand."
Layla " I don't like the sound that's coming from this place. But there's nowhere else to go."
Stella looked over the edge "Woah, looks pretty bright down there. Anybody got sunscreen?"
I sighed "Stella, it's okay if you don't want to go back underground."
Stella "Hey, I'll go first, if you want."
Sky " Stella, it's probably not good for you to get out of the sunlight, right now. Play it safe, wait for us up here."
Stella "No, I can do it. And I'm not waiting for anyone. I won't leave Brandon in the clutches of that fish faced tramp."
Layla picked up a plank of wood "Hold on! I just found a faster way to get down there."
Stella and i looked at each other.
At the bottom of the valley.
Sky and Layla were the first to arrive at the bottom.
I was able to keep myself steady on the board but i don't think i can stop it.
Sky and Layla were in front of me.
I could hear Stella panicking on the board behind me.
Sky looked at me amused and got in position "i'm gonna catch you, Echo, don't worry!"
I slid to him and snuck his arms around me to lift me off the board to stop me.
The board crashed against the stone.
I smiled at him "thank you, my prince"
Sky smirked "anything for you, my princess"
I went to kiss him but Stella's screaming stopped me.
Stella landed on her ass right in front of our feet.
I asked amused "you okay?"
Stella growled "This is ridiculous. Brandon's better buy me a new dress to thank me for this."
Sky picked up a stone from the ground "Hey, look, you were lucky, Stella. You could have broken your neck. The rock here is dangerously brittle, but this is the perfect spot for us."
Then he dropped the stone.
Me "The Demolecularizer. Do you think we should go in pairs?"
Sky shook his head „ No, we'd better go all together, Echo. The magic will only last 25 seconds, and there's a lot of rock to get through. Are you guys ready?"
Layla gave him a thumbs up.
Sky turned on the thing.
Stella " Are you sure that dehumidifier is safe?"
We all took each other's hand.
Stella "Echo?"
I looked at her "mhmm"
Stella "if something happens, you can have all my outfits"
In the caves.
I appeared in a cave and saw Sky in front of me.
He shot me a wink.
Layla showed up and looked around confused.
Me " How much time left?"
Sky shook his head "I have no idea."
I froze "Stella! She was too weak-"
Suddenly Stella appeared, distraught .
I asked worried and amused "Stella, are you alright?"
Stella "There was this worm and it passed right through me."
Sky chuckled " To thank you, Brandon had better buy you some new shampoo too."
Stella nodded, amused "Yes, apple-scented, that'd go with the worm."
We all laughed.
Layla " Guys!"
I asked confused "what?"
Layla looked at the opening "Incredible! We've already reached the Shadow castle."
My jaw dropped.
The Citadel was upside down. And it was big and scary.
I shrugged "Looks friendly."
Stella joked "Plenty of sunshine."
Layla " The pixies should be up there."
Sky gestured over to the very unstable rope bridge "So, does this mean we have to take the rope bridge?"
I shook my head "oh hell no!"
Stella "Of course not, we'll fly. Listen, Sky, why don't you play it safe, huh? And wait for us here."
I snapped a little "we'll go on foot"
Stella poured mockingly "Oh, well, scared to part from your lover?"
I raised an eyebrow "tone down that attitude, Stella. Just because you're missing Brandon doesn't mean you can be an ass to Sky and me !"
She crossed her arms over her chest, pouting.
Sky sighed "Echo"
Me "Besides that, think about it, if we transform now, we may not have enough power when we really need it."
Layla "She's right. Let's go"
We walked over tot he long rope bridge.
Layla "But hang on tight. That bridge is gonna swing like a boat in a hurricane."
I shrugged "I mean, we've fought Stormy's hurricanes so..."
Stella "First, we've gotta get the pixies, and we've gotta do it on foot, how long will Brandon have to wait? We'd better get there before he says "I do"."
Layla was the first to step on the bridge "I'm going ahead, you guys help Stella."
Sky followed, then me and then Stella.
Stella "I don't need any help. Is a sliver of sun too much to ask?"
Layla used a rope to swing up onto the Shadowhaunt castle and climbed inside.
I looked after her impressed.
Sky "come on"
We walked to the other side of the bridge and got off of it.
I looked back to Stella " Stella, are you alright?"
Stella nodded " Yeah, feeling great, I'll be there in just a sec."
I nodded "Good, let's go get Layla."
Suddenly i got shot from the back and fell to the ground.
Sky's jaw dropped "Echo"
Suddenly something shot him in the back and he fell down next to me.
I tried to see who it was but my sight was too unclear "What are those things?"
Stella made it off the bridge "It's the Trix!"
Darcy "Darcy."
Stormy "Stormy:"
Icy "And Icy."
Sky " Weren't they shipped off to Light Rock?"
I nodded "Faragonda said it's impossible to escape from there."
Icy chuckled " We were given special gifts that makes everything possible."
Stella asked annoyed "Will she ever stop laughing?"
Darcy snapped " Who asked for your opinion?"
Stormy " Can't you see we're gloating here?"
Icy "And getting ready to settle old scores? We'll finish you off for good. Icicle fury!"
icicles attacked us three but Sky and I quickly ran behind a pillar.
Sky "Stella, watch out!"
Stella stood still and the icicles landed all around her.
She yelled " You should not have done that!"
I yelled "Behind you!"
Darcy was ready to attack Stella but i ran over there and shoved Stella out of the way.
Me "We have to transform."
Stella nodded "let's go"
I threw a fire ball at Darcy but she disappeared before it could hit her.
Stormy "Shadow Whirlwind!"
She directseda twister at Stella, who protected herself with a gold shield.
Stella got thrown on the ground.
Sky "Stella!"
Then he looked at me "Echo, watch out"
He ran to me and shoved me out of the way before an ice block could hit me.
I smiled at him "Thank you"
Suddenly i got frozen in the air by Darcy's magic.
Sky tried to attack Darcy with his sword, but Darcy flew away. She tried to attack back with magic, but Sky used his sword to jump out of the way.
Icy " Are you getting cold feet yet?
She used magic to freeze Sky's feet.
Sky gasped "What the- stop it!"
He pulled out a boomerang and threw it at the bridge, breaking it in half, and causing one side to swing towards Icy.
She froze it before it could hit her, before exploding it.
The ice continued to climb up Sky's legs and onto his torso, stopping at his shoulders.
Icy pouted at him and scratched his cheek with her nail " Aww, you're so cute. Too bad 'cause your games up."
Suddenly Layla showed up "Hey! Someone say game? 'Cause I'm a big fan of ball games myself!"
Layla threw an energy ball at Icy, but the witch caught it, and made it disappear.
Icy chuckled "Pathetic."
Darcy attacked Layla and she hit the ground.
Suddenly a man in golden light appeared.
Icy asked confused "Who is that?!"
Darcy "I can't see anything?!"
Stormy " What's going on?!"
The man healed Layla, then flew over to Sky and melted the ice.
He flew behind me and undid Darcy's spell.
I looked at him.
a man in golden light with wings.
He healed Stella before flying away.
Stella jaw dropped as she looked at him "Would you look at that? A superhunk."
I looked at her amused "already forgot Brandon? huh?"
The man casted a spell on the Trix "Suphera Capulan Strega Sepherom!"
The Trix disappeared.
Sky and Stella cheered.
I walked over to the man "On behalf of everyone I'd like to thank you."
The man nodded "I really couldn't allow those witches to hurt you."
Sky kneeled down "Are you... one of the Master Templars from Light Rock?"
The man shook his head "No, that's not the case."
Me "What's your name?"
The man "you'll find out soon enough."
Then he flew away.
Layla, Stella and i looked after him.
Sky shook his head at us "I just don't understand girls at all. "
Suddenly he yelled"Look out! More monsters! Quick in here! Before they see us!"
Everyone but Layla hid behind a pillar.
Sky hissed "Layla! Hurry up!"
Layla " Wait! It's only the pixies. At last."
The pixies yelled "Layla!"
Layla's eyes widened " Huh? Wait a minute!"
The pixies flew into Layla's arms, knocking her to the ground.
--
Layla " Pixies, these are my new friends: Echo, Stella, and Sky."
A pixie flew over to Stella " Oh, what a wonderful person."
Stella smiled "My, she's adorable."
Sky asked surprised "Stella's returning a compliment? What's going on here?"
Layla "That's the bonding, it's like love at first sight between a fairy and a pixie. Their bond will be unbreakable."
Amore "I'm Amore, pixie of love."
Stella "And I'm Stella, the most loved fairy."
I added "Right after me"
Stella flipped me off.
A little red haired pixie flew over to me.
I smiled at her "look at you, pretty pixie "
She smiled "hi, i'm Caramel, the pixie of super strength. Will you protect me from now on?"
There was this connection- this bond forming between us. I loved that feeling.
I smiled at her "hi, I'mEcho, the fairy of the Dragon Fire. of course i will protect you "
Caramel sat down on my shoulder and gave me a peck on the cheek "you can call me Cara"
I smiled.
Sky raised an eyebrow at us.
I asked him amused "what? jealous?"
Sky rolled his eyes.
---
Me " And that's how we were rescued."
Layla "Speaking of rescued, how did you manage to get out of the cage?"
Digit " It was easy, all of a sudden the barrier was deleted."
Layla "So you weren't rescued by our paladin?"
Stella "I'm sorry, but I'd like to remind you that while we're sitting here chatting, Brandon is probably walking down the aisle. Let's hop to it!"
Sky nodded and helped me standing up " Stella's right. Come on, girls, there's no time to lose"