Yaxoc's Adventure: Act 5

The morning sun filtered through Yaxoc's curtains, casting streaks of light across his cluttered room. The clock on his bedside table blinked 7:30 AM, its alarm having failed to stir him. Instead, it was a faint noise—like something falling—that yanked him from sleep. Groggily, Yaxoc sat up, rubbing his eyes. The sound hadn't come from the street below. It was inside.

He threw the covers aside and wandered across the room, half-expecting to find a misplaced book or one of his knick-knacks on the floor. Instead, a small object caught his eye. It was unlike anything he'd seen before: a ruby shaped like a cherry, glowing with an intense red light.

"What the hell…?" Yaxoc muttered, crouching to pick it up. Its surface felt warm, almost alive. He turned it over in his hands, frowning. "Who dropped this thing?"

Before he could examine it further, the door to his room swung open. Moonlight strode in, her usually calm demeanor replaced by something bordering on urgency.

"Yaxoc? What are you—" Her gaze fell on the ruby, and her expression shifted to shock. "Wait a minute…"

"What? You know what this is?" Yaxoc asked, standing up and holding the ruby higher for her to see.

Moonlight didn't answer. Instead, she closed the distance between them in a few quick steps and snatched the ruby from his hand.

"Hey!" Yaxoc shouted in protest.

"Shut up," Moonlight shot back, holding the ruby close to her face and studying it. "Let me check…" Her eyes narrowed, and after a few moments, she nodded to herself. "This can only mean one thing."

"What thing? Care to explain?" Yaxoc asked, crossing his arms.

Moonlight lowered the ruby and looked at him seriously. "This ruby is supposed to summon someone. Someone important."

"Wait, summon?" Yaxoc raised an eyebrow. "And it's a she?"

"Obviously. You wouldn't understand." Moonlight didn't give him time to respond. She stepped back, tossing the ruby into the air. Its glow intensified as it hovered, and Moonlight's voice rang out, clear and commanding.

"Cherrystone, I summon you with all my might!"

The ruby shattered mid-air, sending shards cascading down like glittering rain. As the fragments hit the floor, they began to vibrate, each piece moving as if alive. The shards connected one by one, slowly building a humanoid figure. A few minutes later, the glow subsided, leaving behind a fully formed entity.

Standing before them was Cherrystone, a striking figure with long red hair cascading down her back, red fox ears twitching atop her head, and a matching fox tail swaying behind her. Her eyes, a piercing ruby red, matched the shard embedded in her chest. She wore a sleek red jacket, black pants, and red shoes that added to her fiery appearance.

Cherrystone looked around the room with wide eyes, taking in her surroundings before they landed on Moonlight. A smile lit up her face, and she rushed forward, throwing her arms around her.

"Sister!" Cherrystone exclaimed, hugging Moonlight tightly.

Yaxoc's jaw dropped. "Wait… that's your sister?" He turned to Moonlight in disbelief.

Moonlight nodded, her arms still around Cherrystone. "Yeah, she's my sister. I know it's hard to believe."

"Hard to believe?" Yaxoc snorted. "She's a fox, and you're a cat! How does that even—"

Moonlight interrupted him with a chuckle. "My father was a fox hybrid and a magician, remember? He had a knack for bending the rules of logic. That's how Cherrystone came to be."

Yaxoc squinted at her. "I still don't get it. Magic or not, a fox and a cat… that doesn't add up."

Moonlight shrugged. "You're overthinking it. My dad didn't care much for biology when he had magic to rewrite it. That's why Cherrystone is... well, Cherrystone."

"If that's the case," Yaxoc began, still skeptical, "then how does she remember you? She's been locked in that ruby for 15 years. I don't even remember my cousin from last summer."

Moonlight laughed lightly. "Well, Cherrystone had advanced vision. She could see us the whole time, even while she was sealed."

Yaxoc's face twisted into a mix of confusion and discomfort. "So… basically, she was in spectator mode the whole time?"

"Exactly," Moonlight said with a smirk.

"That's both disturbing and kind of cool," Yaxoc admitted.

Cherrystone stepped back, her expression turning serious. "Where's Luna?" she asked.

"She's at the hospital," Moonlight answered. "She's staying with Marcus."

Cherrystone frowned but nodded. "Alright. I have something important to tell you both."

Yaxoc and Moonlight exchanged glances before focusing on Cherrystone.

"What is it?" Yaxoc asked, but Moonlight quickly corrected him.

"Her name is Cherrystone, Yaxoc," she said with a sigh.

"Right, right. Cherrystone. So, what's the big deal?"

Cherrystone's gaze turned solemn. "There are seven gems scattered across the continents. You need to find them."

"Seven gems?" Yaxoc asked, his interest piqued.

"Which gems?" Moonlight asked, leaning forward.

Cherrystone sighed deeply, her voice heavy with the weight of her words. "Determination, Justice, Bravery, Kindness, Integrity, Perseverance, and Patience. Each gem holds immense power and is crucial for what's to come."

Yaxoc's face lit up with recognition. "Wait a second, aren't those the—"

"Shut it, Yaxoc," Moonlight hissed, cutting him off.

"These gems are located across three continents: United Chronic, Urchin, and Masoquest," Cherrystone continued.

Yaxoc scratched his head. "Well, if we need to get to Urchin, that's gonna be a problem. We don't exactly have the cash to book a flight or a boat."

"We could just fly there ourselves," Moonlight suggested.

"Not happening," Yaxoc shot back. "My teleportation range maxes out at 500 kilometers. That's, what, 310 miles? Urchin is way beyond that."

Moonlight frowned. "Then what about Urantica? That country's part of the Urchin continent, and it's the closest one to us."

Yaxoc thought for a moment, then nodded. "That's an option. But even Urantica is, like, 60,000 kilometers from here."

Moonlight did a quick calculation in her head. "That's around 37,282 miles."

"And getting to the center of Urchin from there would double the distance," Yaxoc added.

"74,564 miles," Moonlight muttered under her breath, her frown deepening.

"Exactly," Yaxoc said. "And that's assuming we don't get sidetracked by whatever nonsense waits for us along the way."

Before they could continue, the door to Yaxoc's room slammed open, and Yaxocara strode in. Her hand flew to the hilt of her sword the moment she saw Cherrystone.

"Who is this intruder?!" Yaxocara shouted, pointing her blade at Cherrystone.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Yaxoc yelled, stepping between them. "She's not an intruder! She's Moonlight's sister!"

Yaxocara's face twisted in disbelief. "How the hell does that make sense? She's a fox, not a cat!"

"Will you both stop fighting?" Moonlight snapped, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Cherrystone was trying to explain something important."

Yaxocara hesitated but lowered her sword, still glaring suspiciously at Cherrystone.

Cherrystone took a deep breath, regaining everyone's attention. "The only way to reach the continents is by air or sea. But considering your financial situation, flying seems out of the question."

"Obviously," Yaxoc muttered.

"So, what's the plan?" Moonlight asked.

Cherrystone smiled faintly. "We'll figure it out together. For now, we focus on preparing for the journey. These gems aren't just keys—they're the only hope we have of stopping what's coming."

Yaxoc sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. But this better be worth the trouble."

Cherrystone's expression hardened. "Trust me. It is."

The group of four—Yaxoc, Moonlight, Yaxocara, and Cherrystone—had finally arrived in Urantica, their exhaustion palpable from the grueling journey. Yaxoc, drained from continuously using his angelic essence, plopped down onto the soft grass with a groan.

"Ugh, what a long journey," Yaxoc complained, stretching out his legs.

Moonlight brushed some dirt off her jacket and turned to Cherrystone. "Is this the place you mentioned?" she asked, glancing at the dense forest ahead.

Cherrystone nodded, her fox ears twitching as she scanned the scenery. "Yes, this is the Forest of Yeosic. The gem should be located somewhere within it, most likely near that mountain in the distance."

The group began their trek into the forest, its surreal atmosphere quickly engulfing them. The trees glimmered with an otherworldly blue hue, their leaves shimmering like sapphire fragments under the faint sunlight. The air grew noticeably cooler, and the grass emitted a faint, almost ghostly glow.

Yaxoc frowned as he walked, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "What's with all this unnatural weirdness? This forest feels like it's straight out of a dream—or a nightmare."

"It's because of the Yeosic magic users," Cherrystone began, her voice calm and explanatory. "Centuries ago, the Yeosic tribe lived here. They were a group of powerful magic practitioners dedicated to awakening their latent magical potential. They believed their abilities were blessings from their gods. However, in the year 50, their awakening magic spiraled out of control."

"Spiraled out of control?" Moonlight echoed, her interest piqued.

Cherrystone nodded solemnly. "The magic didn't just awaken—it transformed the forest entirely. The plants, trees, and even the soil were imbued with magical properties, turning the forest into the enchanted scene you see now. But this transformation came at a great cost. The enchantments devastated the local agriculture, making it impossible to grow food. The Yeosic tribe ultimately starved to death."

Moonlight placed a hand on her chin, her gaze thoughtful. "That's tragic. I've always wondered what became of the Yeosic tribe. What happened after they disappeared?"

"The forest was abandoned for decades," Cherrystone continued. "That was until Spanish soldiers arrived in the year 75. They called themselves Los Mandamientos Míticos. One of their leaders, Juan el Asombroso, theorized that a supernatural virus was responsible for the forest's transformation. His theory gained traction until the Emperor of United Chronic, Chromiam Tatsu, debunked it. He confirmed that the forest's state was the result of uncontrolled awakening magic."

As the group walked, listening to Cherrystone's recounting of history, the forest seemed to hum with a subtle energy, as if alive with the magic that had seeped into its core. After some time, the group stopped to take a break near a small clearing.

Yaxoc stretched his arms and leaned back against a glowing tree. "So, any idea where this gem is hiding?" he asked, lazily watching Cherrystone.

Cherrystone pointed toward the towering mountain visible through the gaps in the trees. "It's there, near the peak."

Moonlight crossed her arms and smirked. "That should be easy enough. We can just fly there." She turned to Yaxoc. "Your angelic essence still works, right?"

Yaxoc groaned, sitting up. "Ugh, it still works, but I need to activate it again. Give me a minute."

Yaxocara, ever the instigator, smirked and leaned closer to Yaxoc. "What's the holdup, slacker? Or are you too weak to keep up?"

Yaxoc shot her a glare. "Hah? Do you want me to beat you up, you little gremlin?"

"Beat me first," Yaxocara snapped, her smirk growing, "and then I'll beat your skull in with a shovel."

Before their bickering could escalate further, Moonlight raised a hand, her eyes glowing faintly as star-like particles surrounded her. With a swift motion, she cast a silencing spell, instantly muffling their voices.

"Enough fighting," Moonlight said sternly, her gaze shifting between the two as they silently flailed and gestured in protest.

Cherrystone chuckled softly, clearly amused by the scene. "You two argue like siblings," she remarked.

Once the spell wore off, Yaxoc rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Alright, alright. I'll get us to the mountain," he grumbled. Closing his eyes, he focused on summoning his angelic essence. A faint glow surrounded him, and two radiant wings of light unfurled from his back.

"About time," Yaxocara muttered, though there was a hint of admiration in her tone.

With Yaxoc leading the way, the group took to the skies, soaring over the enchanted forest. The view from above was breathtaking, the blue-hued trees stretching endlessly below them, their glowing grass resembling a sea of light.

As they approached the mountain, Cherrystone's ears twitched, and she frowned. "Wait. Stop for a moment," she said, motioning for the group to hover in place.

"What's wrong?" Moonlight asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"I sense something," Cherrystone replied, her ruby-red eyes scanning the area. "We're not alone."

Before anyone could respond, the air around them grew heavy, and a deep, guttural growl echoed from the mountain. From a cave near the peak, a massive creature emerged. It resembled a wolf, but its body was covered in dark, metallic scales that glinted in the light. Its eyes glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light, and its claws looked sharp enough to tear through steel.

"Is that... a guardian?" Yaxoc asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Cherrystone nodded, her expression grim. "Yes. It's a guardian of the gem. These creatures were created by the Yeosic tribe to protect their treasures."

"Great," Yaxoc muttered, drawing his sword. "So, what's the plan? Fight or flee?"

"Fight, obviously," Moonlight said, summoning her star magic.

"Be careful," Cherrystone warned. "These guardians are incredibly powerful. We'll need to work together to bring it down."

The group landed on a rocky ledge near the cave, the guardian snarling as it leaped toward them. The battle was fierce, with Yaxoc's angelic essence, Moonlight's star magic, Yaxocara's swordsmanship, and Cherrystone's fire magic combining in a dazzling display of power.

As the battle raged on, the guardian lunged at Yaxoc, its claws aimed directly for his chest. At the last second, Yaxoc used his wings to propel himself backward, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Could use some help here!" he shouted, his voice strained.

"I've got you," Moonlight called out, sending a barrage of star-like projectiles at the guardian, forcing it to retreat momentarily.

After what felt like an eternity, the guardian let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground. Its body disintegrated into shimmering particles, leaving behind a glowing pedestal with the gem resting on top.

Exhausted but victorious, the group approached the pedestal. The gem glowed brightly, its golden hue radiating warmth.

Cherrystone stepped forward and gently picked it up. "This is the Gem of Determination," she said, her voice filled with reverence.

"Great," Yaxoc said, collapsing onto the ground. "One down, six to go. This is gonna be a long journey."

Moonlight chuckled, offering him a hand to help him up. "Come on, we're just getting started."

As the group prepared to leave, the forest around them seemed to hum with approval, as if acknowledging their success. The journey was far from over, but for now, they had taken their first step toward their ultimate goal.

As the group stood around the Gem of Determination, an unexpected sound pierced the serene atmosphere—a rush of wind and a sharp clang. Before anyone could react, Lucius lunged toward Cherrystone with outstretched arms, attempting to snatch the gem from her grasp.

Cherrystone stumbled back, clutching the gem tightly. "What the—?!" she gasped.

Lucius was just inches from her when a deafening, almost primal sound reverberated through the air. It was so powerful that Lucius froze mid-air, his body paralyzed, before falling unceremoniously to the ground.

Everyone turned toward the source of the sound. Emerging from the shadows was an anomaly—a figure unlike anything they'd encountered before.

The figure wore a sleek, black uniform with a matching hoodie that obscured most of their face. Their brown hair, strangely textured like bacon strips, peeked out from beneath the hood. They wore an owl mask that covered only their nose, leaving their glowing, piercing purple eyes exposed. Their black shoes barely made a sound against the rocky ground as they approached.

"Well, that was a lame attempt, wasn't it?" the figure said, laughing mockingly. Their voice was smooth yet carried an edge that hinted at danger. "The name's Nova, by the way."

Yaxoc squinted at the anomaly, tilting his head slightly. "Huh? You look like... That Bambon dude."

Nova waved dismissively. "Oh, shush. We're nothing alike. I have style."

Lucius slowly pushed himself up, his glare fixed on Nova. "You…" he growled, his voice dripping with venom.

Nova tilted their head, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, don't bother. I already know what you're going to say, and frankly, I'm going to stop you before you embarrass yourself further."

In a blur of motion, Nova charged toward Lucius. Before anyone could react, they landed a devastating blow to his chest, sending him hurtling through the sky like a ragdoll. The sheer force of the impact echoed through the forest, shaking the ground.

"W-What just happened?!" Yaxoc exclaimed, his jaw dropping.

Cherrystone clutched the gem tighter, her eyes wide in shock. "Who is this person?"

"Someone very dangerous," Moonlight murmured, her star magic flickering to life instinctively.

Nova didn't stop there. They vanished from sight for a brief moment, only to reappear mid-air, directly in front of Lucius, who was still flying backward from the initial blow. Nova grabbed Lucius by the neck with one hand, holding him in place effortlessly.

Their voice took on a colder tone, one devoid of any humor. "Now, what made you choose this option, hmm? You knew that gem wasn't yours. And yet, you decided to take the wrong step anyway. Why?"

Lucius struggled against Nova's grip, his hands clawing at theirs, but it was futile. Nova's strength was overwhelming.

"Pathetic," Nova muttered. With a flick of their wrist, they hurled Lucius higher into the sky.

As Lucius spiraled helplessly, Nova raised a finger, pointing directly at his chest. Their voice echoed with a chilling authority as they uttered the words:

"Reversal Infinite Technique: Green."

The moment the words left their mouth, a massive explosion of green energy erupted from Nova's fingertip, slamming into Lucius with unrelenting force. The sky lit up with the brilliance of the blast, the sheer energy sending Lucius careening out of sight, disappearing over the horizon.

The shockwave from the explosion rippled across the mountain, making even the sturdy trees of Yeosic sway violently. Nova floated back down to the ground, dusting off their hands as if the entire ordeal had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Well, that takes care of him," Nova said, turning to face the group with a sly grin.

Yaxoc stepped forward cautiously, his angelic wings twitching. "Alright, who the hell are you, really? And why did you just obliterate that guy?"

Nova chuckled, their glowing purple eyes locking onto Yaxoc. "Relax, angel boy. I'm not your enemy—unless, of course, you give me a reason to be. As for Lucius, he deserved it. You can't just go around stealing things that don't belong to you."

Cherrystone narrowed her eyes. "And what's your stake in all this? Why are you here?"

Nova shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, I just hate people who don't follow the rules. Besides…" They glanced at the gem in Cherrystone's hands. "I've got my eye on that little treasure of yours. But don't worry, I'm not here to take it—yet."

Moonlight's magic flared slightly, her instincts on high alert. "You'd better not try. We've worked too hard to get this far."

Nova raised their hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll play nice—for now." They turned to leave, their figure beginning to fade into the shadows. "Just remember, heroes… I'll be watching."

And with that, Nova disappeared, leaving the group standing in stunned silence. The forest around them seemed eerily quiet, as if even it was processing what had just transpired.

Yaxoc broke the silence with a nervous laugh. "Well, that was… something."

Moonlight sighed, shaking her head. "Let's just get out of here before something else happens."

Cherrystone nodded, still clutching the gem tightly. "Agreed. We've got what we came for. Let's not push our luck."

With the guardian defeated and Lucius sent flying, the group made their way down the mountain, the weight of their encounter with Nova lingering heavily in the air.