Book Three Chapter Forty Four: TT_Stage Two

Book Three Chapter Forty Four: TT_Stage Two

There exist no words to describe the array of emotions that Qube experienced as she watched the kingdoms Saviour toss the realms princess over the wall into the alleyway behind the manors.

There were too many to experience one at a time, so instead her brain decided to experience them all at once, nearly causing her to have a total meltdown at the sight, and freezing her for long enough that she missed her window of opportunity to cast [Lesser Shield] on the child before she disappeared out of view behind the stonework.

Why would you throw the princess? she nearly yelled at the Chosen One as the last pink bow vanished out of sight.

That was some impressive airtime, he happily replied.

My palatial petal! Wait for me! Sencha Bard cried, shoving past the Hero and racing out of the current garden and into the next doors backyard.

Oh, of course! Qube forced herself to reprioritise. She took off running after the Bard. The Exiled Princess might be hurt! Or worse, have landed badly and died! Hoping against hope that the protective poofiness of her dress had saved her from serious injury, Qube scarcely noticed whether or not the rest of the party followed her as she chased both the older and the younger Bards through the next door neighbours house, past the Royal Guards (who were now, for some reason, facing the front door and holding out their spears) and round towards the alley where theyd first spoken to memory-Sencha.

The princesss dress had held. She was standing in the alleyway, staring straight ahead. Qube gave a sigh of relief. They hadnt accidentally committed time-treason. Not seeing any obvious signs of injury, Qube held back on casting any spells on the little woman-child, afraid of doing mental damage to her.

Shes so pwetty! the mini-Bard said in awe-struck tones as he beheld the Exiled Princess.

Theres traps! she exclaimed. The mini Bard timidly crept closer to her. As soon as he was within touching distance of her she seemed to snap her out of whatever fugue state shed been in.

Greetings, she said regally, before bestowing her hand on the urchin. You helped save a princess today. Thank you, kind sir. Your loyalty to the crown will not go unrewarded.

The little boy clutched at the delicately-gloved hand, and executed an awkward but earnest bow over the back of her hand.

As thanks, you will be given a place in the Bard Academy, the princess continued, despite the fact that she was supposedly being held prisoner and thus should have even less ability to grant access to places than her future self. I hope one day you will prove yourself worthy of serving the realm.

The manner in which the Exiled Princess spoke was grand enough to suit any Royal enthusiast but, Qube had to admit, the content of the speech didnt seem very gracious. For starters, the rest of the party had just appeared and she didnt seem interested in thanking any of them, or Sencha Bard, whod been standing there the entire time.

On the other hand she was probably still somewhat annoyed by being thrown over the garden wall, and didnt seem to be holding it against the Chosen One. Perhaps if she hadnt been catapulted around she would have given a better thank you. At least they now knew how the Bard had gotten his education, for all the mystery of how she was able to grant such favour was still unsolved.

Make sure to thank her, Sencha Bard coached himself.

Fank you, he replied cutely. The princess inclined her head, and withdrew her hand.

Here, you should give this to her, Sencha Bard said, producing the lute. Qube had thought the Chosen One had claimed it and, from the look of surprise on his face, the Chosen One hadnt noticed the Bard taking it off him. Mini-Sencha clutched the lute, which looked ridiculously oversized compared to the version his adult self used, and offered it to the princess. She casually waved it away.

Keep it, kind stranger, the Exiled Princess intoned. As a memory of the time you helped save the kingdom, and upheld the virtues of order.

It didnt quite line up with adult Sencha Bards description of being given the lute by a mysterious kind stranger, but then memories were a funny thing, especially when the Chosen One or the Golden Prophecy were involved.

Nothing in the mausoleum had changed. The exit was directly next to them and the creature drawer, just as it had always been. For a second, it seemed like only the gem colour had changed.

Except they hadnt been standing directly next to the entrance when theyd come back. And, spinning around to check back where the Bards drawer had just been, they were still standing at the foot of the coffin, as if theyd just entered the mausoleum. All evidence that they had travelled the entire length of the vault was erased.

Looking further down the walls, Qube could see hints of red near where the prior drawers had been.

Did you use a save scum attack? Qube asked the Chosen One, uncaring about how personal a question that was.

No, I didnt do this, the Hero said, all traces of earlier unease wiped away as he relaxed at the confirmation that something extremely strange had just happened. This is probably just the time part of the Time Temple. Finally; I was wondering when it was going to kick into gear.

Qube found she was worrying at her bottom lip, biting it slightly as she tried to unravel what had just happened.

There must have been something we missed, she said.

Ah well, you know what they say, the Chosen One said, tapping the panel and watching it slide back to reveal a small stone otter. If at first you dont succeed, try, try again!

Thats a terrible saying! You cant just keep trying Temples! Qube said, before the Hero touched the statue, the walls and floor fell away, and everything dissolved.

---

They were back in the room in the Water Temple where young Otto had been bullied by those other otters. Only this time, there were no otters to be seen. In fact, much of the floor was missing too.

Qube (keeping a cautious eye on the Chosen One in case he decided to think fast her) sidled up to the edge of one of the pits, and peered down into the seemingly bottomless abyss. Fortunately, despite popular belief, it didnt peer back.

Looking around, she saw the only way through to the edge of the pond where the memory of Otto had been bullied was a narrow stone pathway. It was a bit maze-like, with several branching single-tile offshoots that abruptly stopped, the lack of railing meaning an incautious traveller would have nothing to stop them from plunging into the darkness.

Another difference was that this room wasnt grey. It was hard to tell at first, given the gloomy lighting, but it was much closer to its original appearance, aside from the missing chunks of floor.

Interesting, the Chosen One said, approaching Qube to join her in looking into the pit. She hastily backed away from the edge. He grinned at her. What, you dont want to see whats down there? he asked her innocently.

No, she replied bluntly. The look of amusement in his eyes deepened, but he focused on tracing the path to the pool of water.

Hang on a minute, he said, shrugging off his backpack and rummaging around in it. What would they put it under? It was a unique, hmm, Otto, hourglass oh! Creature!

With a flourish he pulled out a small hourglass.

Check it out, he said, handing it to Qube. The others clustered around her, trying to examine the object. In small writing the word CREATURE was branded into one of the thin wooden pillars holding together the two glass globes of the hourglass. The bottom was full of grey sand, and on the empty top half the word FORESIGHT was scratched into the glass.

The Chosen One reached over and tapped the top of the mini-Ottos inner loot. He nodded sagely. I think I know how this Temple works now, he said, and took the hourglass off Qube. With a flick of his wrist he turned it, and suddenly they were back in the grey version of the Water Temple, the sounds of baby Otto cries echoing around the room.