Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (the lemonade war series .TXT) 📖

if they had one.” Panther laughed. He kissed Marie. “I seem to recall the Crusades, when Sabrina gave birth in the Outer Realm.”
“Yeah, it didn’t even take two weeks for her.” I remembered that, too. “I know now it takes at least two weeks of Outer Realm time to conceive in the Dream Realm.”
Now, Marie was confused. “I don’t get it. I’m a human, not an animal.”
“You’re a Companion, nonetheless,” I reminded her. “Not to mention, you live in the Dream Realm as one.”
Marie looked sad, and fearful.
I hugged her shoulders. “Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful mother.”
She stared at me. “Do you think I’m ready?”
I nodded. “I may not know you all that well, but I’d have to say yes. As a Companion, you’re ready. As a woman, you’re ready.”
She smiled, placing her hand on her stomach. “I sure hope so.”
I sensed something in the air.
“Listen guys, I’ve gotta go.” I told them, leaving the Castle and taking flight.
I was needed at the Mystic Palace once again.
The Mystic Palace looked deserted, and the door was open, so I went in.
“Sisters? Enchantra? Challandra?” I called their names into the air, but got no answer.
Where could they be?
On an urge, I walked over to the Mystic Mirror Room, where I saw the door closed, and a glow coming from the bottom of the door. I tried the knob, but it was locked.
Wait, I thought. Each time I came here, the Sisters sung a melody to open its doors. What was it?
I remembered, and closed my eyes. I opened my mouth to sing it, and found it worked.
In moments, the door to the Mirror Room was opened, and I saw where the glow was coming from.
The Mystic Mirror itself was glowing in a bright rainbow of colors, as it always had before. This time, it was much brighter.
I stepped over to it and stared into its image.
To my surprise, I saw a vision of my future self, leading the Dream Realm to peace in another senseless War. At first, I thought I was watching Anna, or even a younger version of Mother, but found the Locket around the neck was identical to the one I had around my own. Reaching my hand out, I almost dared to touch it, curious.
“No!” I was startled by Lord Maximaniac’s voice behind me, and I turned.
“Lord Max!” I cried. I snatched my hand away, just in time. “What are you doing here?”
“I was to ask the same of you, but instead find you almost taking yourself to the future.” Maximaniac explained.
I recalled when Luna, Kelly, and I had our visions together. Luna had tried to touch the Mirror when she saw older versions of our sons playing. Enchantra had warned us not to touch a future image, for even now our powers weren’t strong enough to bring us back to the present.
“My apologies, My Lord Maximaniac.” I held my chest, feeling my startled heart slow down to its normal pace. I shook my head out of my startled daze and nodded my respect to him. “Where are the Sisters, and why have I been summoned here?”
“Who called you to the Palace?” Max asked, curious.
“No one, unless someone made me come using their own power.” I shrugged, exiting the room with him following me.
“My hunch is O’Dell and the Sisters.” Max smiled. “Come into the den. I believe they left something for you.”
I wonder what it is, and why they didn’t give it to me themselves.
In the den, I found an old-looking book. On the cover was the symbol of the Dream Realm: five small jewels surrounding an eye with a rainbow around it, incased in a dream-catcher’s webbing. The words I made out were my title: Young Guardian.
I picked the book up and opened it to the first page. On the first page was the Mystic Oath, complete with the dos and don'ts of the Magic. I’d never seen a book as curious as this before. Flipping through its pages, I noticed one thing. All the spells I’d cast over the years were here, including the Blessing Spell.
“Is this my Spell-Book?” I asked in a whisper.
“I knew you would find it.” I heard Enchantra’s soft voice beside me. I looked over my shoulder and saw her smiling.
As if he were never there, Max was gone.
“That is not all we have for you.” Challandra replied. She seemed excited and headed back to the Mystic Mirror Room.
This was very unlike level-headed, always frowning Challandra. What could make her this happy? I decided to tell them of my experience a few moments ago.
“I saw a vision of my future self, years from now, fighting against unknown demons in a senseless war. Why did that come to me as I glanced at its reflection?” I asked, following the Sisters.
“She saw it?” Challandra clapped her hands. “Wonderful.” She turned to me. “That means you are truly ready to receive the Mystic gifts.”
I didn’t understand. “Mystic gifts? What are they?”
“Young Guardian, it is truly an honor to be bestowed upon you.” Enchantra told me. “I feel you have grown enough in your Magic to have this in your possession.”
She reached into the air with her eyes closed. I held my Spell-Book tight, amazed still at what the Sisters could do. They had so much power; I could never have as much as they do.
I wouldn’t want that much responsibility.
Out of thin air, there was a bright light, then...
Nothing.
I shook my head when the Sisters smiled at each other.
“What happened? Whatever it is where is it?” I asked them.
Enchantra smiled. “As you awaken in the morn, you will see a new vanity in your room. It is a gateway to the Dream Realm, or wherever you wish to go.”
I listened closely, but she wasn’t done yet.
“To come here, all you have to do is close your eyes with your ringed palm against the pane.”
“This is the fun part.” Challandra gasped. “To Earthbounds, it will look like just an old vanity, but you will know better. As will the Child when you feel she is ready to learn its secrets.”
“Challie.” Enchantra chided her sister with a smile. She turned back to me. “Young Guardian, I believe you can be trusted to keep the Mirror’s secret.”
I nodded. “I won’t let you down, Mistresses.”
“I am sure you will not.” Enchantra told me.
“Chantie, do you think she can handle the jewels?” Challandra asked her.
Jewels?
“Aye, at least smaller versions of the same Jewels.” Enchantra nodded. “Young Guardian, go straight to O’Dell’s Chamber.”
I turned to leave, but they stopped me.
“No, use the Magic.” Challandra instructed me. “You have it, use it.”
“How?” I asked.
“The same as we do. Just think of where you wish to be, close your eyes...” Enchantra began.
“And poof! You will be there in two shakes of a Companion’s tail!” Challandra finished.
I smiled.
If I’d known much about that before, I would have been able to return home when I was stuck in Damian’s Dark Tower dungeon.
Again, I nodded after paying my respects to the Sisters. “Au Revoir, Mistresses.” I called in French, and closed my eyes. I thought of O’Dell’s own Castle and disappeared.
Chapter:
Young Guardian’s Quest

I opened my eyes only to find myself in an unknown place. In front of me was a forest of trees, green with foliage. If it weren’t for the weird feelings of estrangement I perceived, the forest would have been peaceful. My Spell-book was gone.
I wanted to go to Lord Guardian’s own Castle in the Province of the Dream Realm, not wherever I was. I brought my hand up to my eyes with a flash of sunlight hit them. I found I was no longer in my jeans and sweatshirt attire. Instead, I was wearing clothes dating back to Renaissance times. I had a pair of breeches made of surprisingly comfortable brown cloth. The shirt I wore had plumy sleeves that made it easy to move. I had a thick leather belt with two pouches. The first pouch was long enough for a sword or a dagger to be kept. Inside it, I found the very magic wand Sibylline had given me. I reached to take it out and examine it, but something moved from the corner of my eye.
I looked up to see a shadowed figure of a girl with a tail. The tail was moving behind her until she stopped.
“Hello! Who’s there?” I called, frozen with fear.
“Young Guardian?”
The voice belonged to my best Companion friend, Katherine. Just to make sure, I called her name. She came running up to me, hugging me.
“Oh, Ariana.” She was shaking, scared. “It happened so suddenly. I was gardening when I disappeared, ending up here.”
“its okay, Katherine.” I said, taking her hand and squeezing. “We’re together now.” I looked around. “Do you know where we are, or why I’m wearing these clothes?”
Katherine looked me over, smiling. “What made you imagine that?”
I shrugged. “Whatever it was, I’m not complaining. It’s comfortable enough.”
Katherine began walking, surveying the area around us. “Looks like the Forest of Never-Yesteryear.”
“Isn’t that in the Grey Area?” I asked her.
“Aye,” she said, then perked her ears. Her eyes were closed and she tilted her head to listen.
“What do you hear?” I asked, staying close to her.
Katherine opened her eyes, looking at me with a frightened gleam to her. “Wolves. They are coming from the forest.”
Wolves? I gulped.
I could sense them coming closer to us, but I couldn’t move. Neither could Katherine. I saw at least seven pairs of yellow-glowing eyes before they came out of the forest. They were various colors, from brown to black to grey. Two were white with black tufts on their tails, ears and paws. The biggest one was grey-white.
My heart was pumping. I didn’t know what to do. Never in my life had I encountered live wolves! What was I going to do?
“You do not suppose they could be fellow Companions, do you?” Katherine held both my hands now and I could feel both our hearts racing.
I tried to sense them with Empathy, but found I couldn’t. “I don’t know what to think, Kat.” I whispered.
The pack of wolves was coming closer, eyes staring, lips quivering. I could hear soft growls coming from them as they surrounded us. There was a bigger one, a SheWolf, I think, that led the pack. The other six were grown pups. I noticed the green eyes of the SheWolf.
In all the books I’ve read, none of them had green eyes. I took a deep breath as the SheWolf stepped closer to me. When she barked, the pups stopped growling. I stepped back, closer to Katherine.
Without taking my eye off the SheWolf, I whispered. “Can you shift into something they’re afraid of?”
“Wolves are rarely afraid of anything.” Katherine whispered back. “I could try shifting to a Mountain Lion. Maybe it would get them to back off?”
She slowly let go of my hands. I watched the SheWolf while sensing my friend trying to use her Magic.
That’s when I remembered something. “Don’t let your fear of them hinder your thinking.” I instructed her. “They can sense your fear.”
“Aye, that I know.” Katherine supplied. “One more try.”
Goddess, give her courage and strength. I prayed in my mind. Please.
When she tried, she succeeded. I turned to see my Companion friend was now a Mountain Lion, growling for the pups to back off. Amazingly enough, they did, disappearing back into the dark forest.
I turned