Kyngdom Survival Guide
*TALE: TWO KYNGDOMS
Chatterbox: KYNGDOM™ Power of Hoof
*TALE: TWO KYNGDOMS
*TALE: TWO KYNGDOMS
A Tale of Two Kyngdoms, Part One
By Zephyra
It was the worst of times. That much was obvious. Chaos everywhere. Claaws was dead. Jaaws roamed our land, jaws dripping with Brazen Goo. Catastrophe was always lurking, ready to fight anyone at the slightest provocation. I heard whispers of a “Mutant Army.” And B.I.G. crept ever closer to finding and activating all four of the Powers, which would lead to--what? Utter global destruction? To be honest, I was finding it harder and harder to go to sleep. Dark thoughts swirled through my brain at all hours of the night.
On one particularly hopeless mornings, as I was drooping over a mug of oak root coffee at the Bog & Burrow, I received word from my faithful network of spies that Dr. Cornelia Hornshaw was heading north, toward the Decoy Forest. My go-to tech wiz, Techibeetle, quickly tapped her phone and, after listening to a very disgruntled conversation she was having with one of her chief scientists, we learned that she believed the fourth Power--the Power of Hoof--was located there. In the forest.
Now, this was a little too close for comfort for me, my fellow spies, and the other Guardians. Because we knew that while the fourth Power wasn’t actually in the forest, it was nearby--very nearby, on the hoof of Regina the Silver Reindeer herself. I sent a message to Regina begging her to retreat to her mansion, and then I began planning my trip to the north.
(Another complication: I was supposed to be planning my nephew Little Crow’s Naming Ceremony. It was time. He was of age. But the party would just have to wait--and I felt terrible about it.)
After another mug of oak root coffee, I hit upon a plan that was simple, but so daring that it made me nauseous. I was going to do the unthinkable. I would try to intercept Cornelia before she went into the Decoy Forest, and I would…talk with her.
Yes, talk. A dialogue. I figured that I could use B.I.G.’s technology to make Cornelia understand what I was saying, and then I could explain how dangerous her behavior was. How it would put us all at risk--animals and humans. Naïve? Maybe. But sometimes the best route is the most direct, no? There’s a reason for the phrase “as the crow flies.”
Of course it was a terrible shock when, while flying over the Labyrinth, I heard something rustling about in the suitcase that was strapped to my back--and out popped Little Crow, squawking that he couldn’t let me go alone and he was practically an adult and why did I get to do all the fun stuff? I was furious that he’d snuck along, but it was too late to turn back. Cornelia’s train was literally zooming below us as we flew. Besides, I’ll admit it: sometimes it’s nice to have a sidekick.
When we arrived at Jökull, the mansion of the Silver Reindeer, Regina greeted us joyfully and gave us each a huge, steaming mug of Black Winter Cherry cider. Little Crow was shivering. I was exhausted.
“She’s coming,” said Regina, giving me a meaningful look.
“I loathe Cornelia Hornshaw,” spat Little Crow.
“Little! She’s done some terrible things, but she is a very lost, very confused woman,” I said.
“She thinks we’re stupid. She doesn’t respect the world we’ve built. Why do I have to like her?” said Little Crow.
I was flustered, jet-lagged, but Regina jumped in with grace. “You don’t have to like her, Little Crow,” she said, her mother-of-pearl horseshoes twinkling. “But what Cornelia Hornshaw lacks is empathy. She can’t put herself in our horseshoes, so to speak. So she’ll never truly understand us--or anything about the world, really. Zephyra is saying that if you try to empathize a little with her, no matter how much it angers you, then you will have already won part of the battle.
“And for the other parts--if empathy and reason fail, at least you have an entire network of spies and warriors on your side,” I added.
Little Crow’s eyes were drooping.
“Let’s go to bed,” I said. “Cornelia is probably staying at that human eyesore, the Wayward Villa, tonight, and won’t be striking off toward the Decoy Forest until morning.”
After Little Crow went to sleep, I turned to Regina.
“I’m worried,” I said. “The Decoy Forest never shows travelers the truth. But who knows what she’ll see there? Sometimes half-truths and white lies can lead to the real thing.”
Regina looked down at her fourth horseshoe--the one that was old, rusty, nondescript.
“I am prepared to fight,” she said, simply.
submitted by Zephyra, Decoy Forest
(January 4, 2017 - 1:39 pm)
(January 4, 2017 - 1:39 pm)
I walk through the Decoy Forest, but I don't see anything.
I have desires and pain. But I have learned how to block these things out.
I am nearing the Citatel, all covered in snow.
Soon that sword of such immense power will be mine.
(January 6, 2017 - 6:15 pm)
You should have him see Celesti...;D Like so; 'standing in the mist I saw her, the erdge was too great...I had to talk to her..to opologize for killing her. The guilt seeped deep and blinded me...' just an idea. Make for good drama!
(January 6, 2017 - 6:18 pm)
As I near the Citatel, I see something out of the corner of my eye. It's Celesti.
I try to go on, but I stop instead. I watch for a moment until she dissappears.
I really did love her. Shame she was such a monstrous traitor.
Now I am entering the building, where it is quiet. Monks roam through the halls, arranging books as part of the giant library, polishing the wood cases where tomes are stacked nearly to the ceiling.
I go right through. The monks are silent, having taken an oath of silence.
I walk right up to a door, embellished with the six Powers. As soon as I have the sword, that's the first thing I'll destroy. I walk through the doors and see it.
It is inside a giant crystal, but the handle juts out. I can easily grab it and go.
Or I could if the Ravenmore guards were bearing down upon me.
I fight them off and grab the handle. A electric shock goes through my body. I swing the sword---
---and the world shatters. The doors fall. The shelves explode. Stone and paper, cloth binding, wood.
Monks are running, getting crushed by the large amounts of stone.
I am untouched, and finally the roof collapses.
I am in possesion of the Sword of Ravenmore. The first step of the Master Plan is complete.
Now I go back to my army and show the great, terrible weapon I have gotten to them.
(January 6, 2017 - 6:32 pm)
Oooooh!
(January 6, 2017 - 6:38 pm)
I would have assumed only the shield provides protection. Or did you use the sword to destroy anything that threatened you?
Mexi says fyzc. Mexi, are you telling Catastrophe not to ignore physics, or saying something about the kind of physic that's a sketchy potion or something used by olden-times midwives and doctors for healing?
(January 6, 2017 - 7:54 pm)
I fly from the resistance base to the Citadel just to see it destroyed. I fly up too high to be seen on the ground, and watch the destruction stop. Then, I swoop down abouve the army, and fly away, once again out of sight.
(January 6, 2017 - 11:34 pm)
Oh Glaux, I hope I don't sound snobbish or anything, but—as you know, I created the Power of Hoof, as well as its guardian, Blazing Star. I know I've been inactive, but my character Blazing Star is most certainly not dead. Also the relic is a drum, not a horseshoe. I hope nothing else to my story gets changed, and I also hope this comment isn't too pushy or entitled. I just wanted to restate these details of the Power and I hope they're not disregarded.
On the other hand, thanks for including its name at all! It makes me happy to see that my idea was included, even if the story itself was.. disregarded...
(January 6, 2017 - 7:10 pm)
1. Who's Glaux?
2. You have not been disregarded. My theory is that Regena's horseshoe is a fake Power, meant to distract from Blazing Star's real one.
(January 6, 2017 - 7:50 pm)
Glaux is just.. a god of sorts. Nothing relevant.
(January 7, 2017 - 10:43 am)
guardians of ga'hoole?
(June 27, 2017 - 11:13 am)
How long until Catastrophe finds out that Regina's hoof was a fake, what with all of us talking about it and all.
(January 7, 2017 - 2:17 pm)
Jaaws~
Jaaws appeared in Catastrophe's office, preferring not to show herself to anyone else. When Catastrophe entered, Jaaws appeared behind his desk, fingering a skull that sat there.
Catastrophe stopped, looking the dragon up and down. "Jaaws," he said. "What brings you here?"
Jaaws pulled her wings in close, her ruby eyes looking deep into Catastrophe's. "You'll need much strength on your quest for the shield and the crown."
Catastrophe smirked. "I am already strong. My army has destroyed Jokull. I have retrieved the Sword of Ravenmore."
"Stolen," corrected Jaaws.
Catastrophe waved his hand dismissively. "You never answered my question."
"I've come to give you more power. Power you created for yourself. But you can only get to it through me."
Catastrophe thought about this. Jaaws giving a gift? She could only have her own intrests at heart. "What is your reason for this...gifting?"
Jaaws knew her reason. Catastrophe collecting the crown and the shield would wreak more havoc on Kyngom. Perhaps, she reasoned, the more chaos there is, the easier it will become for me to become my own being.
"We made an agreement, yes?"
"Yes, I remember," Catastrophe replied.
"You fulfilled your promise...so I need to...help fulfill mine."
Before Catastrophe could argue, Jaaws breathed a puff of pure black smoke onto him. "There. That's the chaos and evil you created and expended, returned to its owner in the form of power. Use it wisely."
With that, Jaaws disappeared.
-------------
I hope I didn't control you too much, Catastrophe!
(January 7, 2017 - 9:59 am)
Power of Hoof Care Package
Just for future reference, here's Blazing Star's character sheet, a summary of the Power of Hoof's origin, and a description of Sylvia and her drum.
NAME: Blazing Star
SPECIES: Horse (Equus ferus caballus)
JOB/TITLE: Guardian of the Power of Hoof
APPEARANCE: Chestnut mare with white patches, white blaze on face. Dark, leaf-green eyes. Very fast runner.
PERSONALITY: Whenever she's scared, she runs. And fast. But if her friends are in danger, she'll fight to protect them.
HOME: The Hoofbeat Forest
MOST OFTEN SEEN AT: The clearing in the middle of the forest that, according to legend, is the birthplace of the Power of Hoof's instrument.
FRIEND OR MENTOR: Zephyra's her closest friend (If it's alright) and her mentor was Rippling Mane, the previous Guardian of the Power of Hoof.
ENEMY OR RIVAL: She rarely leaves the forest, so she doesn't know many other creatures, but because they kidnapped Zephyra, she would say B.I.G.
FAVORITE POSSESSION OR OBJECT: The Power of Hoof's container, a conga drum
MOTTO OR FAVORITE SAYING: "Fear is a stone, may yours be light."
STRENGTHS: She's very devoted, protective, and would do anything to keep her Power and friends safe.
WEAKNESSES: She's somewhat cowardly and flighty.
BACKGROUND: Blazing Star was born to the Spirit Herd (the herd of horses living in the Hoofbeat Forest) and was elated but also sad to be selected by Rippling Mane as the Power of Hoof's guardian. It meant she would be isolated from her family for the rest of her life. But she always reminded herself that protecting the Power from the world was important. She studied hard with Rippling Mane so she would be an adequate Guardian. After he passed, Zephyra helped her greatly until she was captured by B.I.G. After that, Blazing Star stayed in the forest, trying to hide her Power from the scientists, in fear that they'd take it, too.
★
A unicorn mare (presumably Sylvia) had been shot by an unknown hunter (presumably Catastrophe) and collapsed in a clearing in a forest (the Hoofbeat Forest, presumably part of KYNGDOM). As she lay dying, she cried a single tear into the earth. As her spirit ascended into the night sky, the tear became a giant golden flower. The flower glowed brighter and brighter until dawn arrived, and when the moon was gone from sight, a petal fell from the flower. During the drop to the ground, the petal transformed into a small conga drum.
★
Sylvia's very elegant with legs a little longer than a normal horse's. Her long, silver mane flows in waves down her neck and forelock and her tail is unusually long. Her coat is a pearly white, and a silver horn spirals from her forehead. Her big eyes are a deep violet and her hooves are a gleaming silver.
★
The drum is about 7" tall, made of oak with hide stretched over the top. On the hide is an image of a dark violet flower. The drum hangs from a silver cord that adjusts to fit its wearer. When it is played the hoofbeats of all its previous guardians can be heard.
★
Thanks for reading this information!
(January 7, 2017 - 3:28 pm)
COOL!
(January 7, 2017 - 5:50 pm)
That was very, very helpful. Thank you.
(January 7, 2017 - 6:41 pm)