Stone is in his seventh school in four years.  Unfortunately, this unstable routine is just an old hat. As his eyes look gravely around his new sterile bedroom, he can’t help but feel desperately lost. Unlike years before, this is first time he won’t be sleeping in comfort of his own home.

With bitter means, his new room isn’t so bad.  It has needed necessities.  Two beds, two splintered wooden work desks & several gray cork boards randomly hanging about otherwise barren starch white walls.  

The faculty must expect me to do homework, he chicken scratches into his rusty leather diary, maybe they want me to hang my agenda on these blank crooked corks. 
But, since recently, agendas are last priorities on Stone’s boggled, heavy mind.  Locking himself in his room, he attempts to choke down his lunch slop, although he’s not hungry.  
I’m surrounded by a community who knows my name, he lethargically scribbles, Yet, I’m all alone.  I just want to go home.  I don’t want to be in this prison these strangers call, "boys’ school".  
Stone’s large eyelids hold little strength, allowing him to look through no more than a slit.  Listening to crowds of voices passing through halls, he concludes:

These aren’t my friends & certainly not my family.  All I want is my family!

Stone hasn’t always been this way.  On contrary, his lively personality has always exuded strength, potential, creativity, good grades & ambition.  

Stone is a medium size boy with dark, disheveled, auburn hair.  He has soft yet strong facial features, defining his young characters' depth.  He has inherited both of his parents’ looks.  Most specifically, their emerald green eyes & golden irises.

To understand Stone, you must first understand his background.  His father, Alex, a hard working traveling salesman, recently moved them to this new town.  They move often for his father’s work, but this last year his father retired, finally settling in a small quaint neighborhood to reside permanently.  His mother, Janette, is an artist.  She  paints life size portraits of people for commission.  Like most people, Stone has always admired both his father’s work ethic & his mother’s talent.

Growing up, when Stone was a child, his mother would entertain him with fill in blank coloring books.  He always filled them in spotlessly. But as books got more complex his parents took note, yet swayed his artistic knack in other directions, such as building projects.   In one case, Stone craftily welded, with his father’s assistance, a very impressive steel vault for this mother’s art & supplies.
Janette painted some of most spectacular scenes on canvas; However, unlike portraits, she never exhibited or sold them.
“I don't like to boast,” she'd say, “but pictures hold key to my heart & I hold key to vault.”

Six weeks prior to entering this new school, Stone was found wandering streets looking for his parents.  Many days passed before officials heard about missing family.  They searched laboriously for them & all they found was dirty, tattered lost boy.
evening before Stone's parents went missing is where following story begins.  Nothing was out of ordinary.
As usual, Janette hums happily in kitchen, cooking family her famous potato casserole.  She looks outside often to admire Alex & Stone’s latest project, assembling new & highly complex patio awning.  When oven alarm rings six o'clock, three gather in kitchen for supper.  Throughout their meal they exchange jokes, laughing freely at humorous daily events.  Afterward, Stone's mom & dad tutor him on his math assignments, just before tucking him comfortably into bed for night.

When Stone rises next morning, he expects usual, but an eerie feeling looms over house. Typically, a pot of coffee is brewing, mom & dad are chatting at kitchen table & a hardy breakfast is prepared, waiting for Stone; but, not on this day.  Instead, an uneasy, deafening silence fills house.  Like a scene from an old movie, just clock ticks.   Uncertain of exact change, Stone wanders through house calling for his family.  Initially, he scans kitchen,  living room, bathrooms, & then finally all bedrooms.  Scratching his head, he's puzzled to notice their beds are already made .  He shuffles to his mother’s art room.  From time to time she'll leave him a note on her vault, but peculiarly no letter is written.  Still, Stone remains optimistic, assuming all will be normal when he returns home in afternoon.  He makes himself a bowl of cereal, gets dressed for his day & leaves for bus stop.  

While locking his front door he spots something peculiar.  Two bats, black & fuzzy with pale brown bellies with an emerald tone, dangling  from porch ceiling.  Being new to area, Stone doesn’t know if this is a normal site or not.  Goosebumps move up his arms.
They're watching me with their eyes, he thinks.  Then he realizes, That's ridiculous! Bats are more scared of me than I am of them.  They're only watching me for their own safety.  He scrambles on his way, avoiding hanging entities all together.

Twiddling his thumbs in class, day goes by very slowly.  When final school bell rings, he darts home, almost forgetting about abnormal morning.  As usual, when he  arrives home, he gets a snack from pantry to enjoy on couch.  Preoccupied by homework, Stone occasionally glances out window for his parents return.  When daylight dims & they're still not home, he nervously paces from room to room.  
Maybe they're hiding!  Stone alludes to himself.  
He opens every cupboard in house, turning over all beds & looking in all crevasses.  
If something is wrong, how can they disappear without any sign of struggle?” He wonders, “Not even a noise.  Where's note they should have left me?”  

Stone doesn’t know layout of city or neighborhood very well, but its night & he's waited long enough.  
If I don't do something soon to find them, I'll go mad.  
With no one else to call, Stone packs a few items in a small duffel bag & leaves house in search of his parents.  

Exiting porch, he pulls out his flashlight & notices bats again. Shining light directly at beady eyed creatures, they still appear to be staring at him.  
Or, Maybe like moths they're attracted to light, he thinks.  He notices they've moved across ceiling, (no comma) to corner of window where he's been peering out all night.  Aren't they supposed to fly after dawn? he wonders.  
Stone contemplates a far fetched notion to himself, & approaching bats he cautiously whispers up to them, “MOM? DAD?”
He waits for a response.  Getting a little too close, bats become flighty.  Stone then daringly reaches to touch them.  Simultaneously both bats bolt from under porch & eerily flutter in front of him, & He lingers behind hoping they'll stay low so he can follow them.
Maybe they're a sign, he ponders.  
Then off they fly, into night, landing upside down on tallest tree; still seemingly watching him.

Stone begins his journey, or crusade if you will, to find his parents.  He walks down street, up hill & around block.  Slightly feeling blind from dark night, he doesn’t know where he's going.  But, his desire to find his parents overrides these concerns.  Stone searches through countless parks & dingy alleyways, with no sign of them anywhere.  

Stone glances up repeatedly with his light, variously seeing same two bats around what seems to be every corner.  Although he was initially hoping to follow them, he now speculates they may be following  HIM.  
No, that's ludicrous & delusional, he thinks
At first, their presence somehow made him comfortingly hopeful, but now he's feeling slightly self-conscious about it.

He taps on strangers doors asking if they know anything about his parent’s whereabouts, but no one does.  He borrows a phone from neighbors to call home from time to time, but there’s no answer.  He returns home in evening only to be disappointed before heading out again.  Stone wanders streets for not just hours, but a few days. 

Finally, a patrol officer spots Stone in street, & officer points a spotlight in Stone’s eyes.
“What's your name son?”
Stone squints blindly at light.  “My name is Stone Caton Nicolai, Sir.” 
officer calls into patrol unit & discovers Stone is a member of missing family who officials have been searching for.  The officer kindly escorts Stone to his car.  
Stone gets in & overhears unit over radio.  “The entire Nicolai family has been missing for a few days now.”  
Officer drives pass Stone's home.  
“This is my house!” Stone says trembling, “I want to go home.”  

Chapter 2 -

Stone's smile is a distant memory.  His sadness permeates like dark air.  He feels helpless, like a lost soul with nowhere to go, nothing to look forward to & no one to love.  Aside from his parents, Stone has only a few fleeting memories of relatives.  Due to  their constant relocation, they have regrettably not remained in close enough contact with any outside family for him to have anywhere to go;  consequently, the  State places Stone in Scottsbury all Boy’s Academy.  

School, what a joke!  I don’t want to be at school.  He thinks.

To make things worse, if it is possible, only student without a roommate is Drake Demion.  Drake is a first class bully.  He is a freckle faced redhead with an overtly arrogant demeanor.  He often gets away with his actions because he knows how to work system & kisses up to adults & teachers.  Still, this menace has been kicked out of numerous schools due to poor conduct.  So of course, like smoke to a fire, Stone is left no other options but to room with this deviant.

Rumor has it Drake is a wealthy boy, whose father went to penitentiary for killing Drake's mother.
One gloomy night however, his father escaped from his jail cell; Disappearing entirely, never to be seen or heard from again.  Consequently, Drake gets enjoyment preying on vulnerable kids.  & like hungry vultures his friends urge him on.

Their first meeting isn’t so bad.  two boys shake hands in principal’s office.  Drake fronts his introduction as a nice guy.  With a wry smile, Drake puts his arm around Stone.
“Don't you worry Stone.  You'll feel right at home with me.” 
Stone, aware of Drake's reputation, remains uncertainly optimistic.

Throughout day Stone attends teacher conferences & student activities.  idea is to get Stone acclimated to his new environment.  Obligated to continue, he forces his way through whirlwind of a day.  When final tower bell chimes, Stone is officially drained & ready to rest in privacy.

Muffled distant laughter rings from schoolyard, but gratefully he sees quiet, oak hallways of his dorm.  Stone opens his door & peaks his head in first, not to surprise his roommate in case he is in room.  Looking around, he sighs in contentment.  He is alone.  Noticing a drop of blue paint on floor, Stone dismisses it & grabs a comic book from his desk to  relax on his side of room.  Seconds after reclining on his bed, he hears a shuffling noise coming from his closet.  Curiously, he stands up to investigate.  He opens closet door.

 “BOO!”

Stone jumps back.  Out pops Drake laughing, with a can of blue paint in his hands!  A few seconds later Drake's two goofy friends race into room.

“Are you ready?” They ask.

“Are we ready for what?” Stone replies. 

Drake tells Stone game plan.  “At dinner when everyone is eating, we're going to break into  Simon Jacob's room. We'll go into his drawers & get all of his underwear & soak them in paint! This will teach him a lesson for glaring at me in gym class.”

“He glared at you?” Stone asks.

“You bet, don't ask so many questions,” Drake replies. 

Drake high fives his buddies & looks at Stone, “So are you in?” 

This whole plan makes Stone's stomach churn.  He understands he needs to stay on Drake's good side, but Stone has no problems with Simon Jacob's.  Actually Simon is a nice kid from what he knows. 

Stone forces out his answer, “Not tonight, I'm tired.”

“Oh boo-hoo, are you feeling blue!?” Drake says, pointing at can of blue paint.

“I'm just not up for it tonight,” Stone replies.

“Your mother is a painter isn't she?” Drake says.  

Mentioning his mother causes Stone to clinch his teeth, but he remains silent. three boys walk out of room in excitement.  Drake pauses & turns to Stone.

“If you tell anyone about this, you're dead.”  door shuts behind them.  

Stone shakes his head & mumbles, “Unbelievable,” & goes back to his bed.

In night, Stone waits up for Drake’s return.  Although this courtesy is unjust, he feels he needs to maintain good rapport with him.  However, like heavy bricks, his eyelids can remain open no longer & he falls asleep. When morning breaks Stone notices Drake has come in during night, but left much earlier than usual for breakfast.  Stone stumbles to his closet to dress, but finds his clothes have been swapped & replaced with smaller items.

“How can I be so dumb, how?” He shakes his head to himself.

Stone remains in only clothing items in his wardrobe that fit him properly, his pajamas.  Multiple teachers approach him throughout day, concerned about whereabouts of his uniform.  But, talking to Stone about this is like talking to a wall.  He knows better than to tell on his devious roommate.  & truly, he can almost care less, it can't get much worse.

Class, in general, is especially difficult for Stone. His attention span isn’t in his control anymore.  His mind is either in dreamland or inner turmoil. When not in class he spends most of his time in library searching for unanswered questions, looking for his parents.  He reads articles about his town & his missing parents.  He scans images of loving couple who raised him, & can’t believe that he is now without them.

Meanwhile, a few of younger students have caught onto what has happened to Stone's clothes. They have been swapped with a smaller boy, Cameron O’Neil, a kid who Drake often picks on because he is small for his age. Poor Cameron has been walking around in Stone's oversize apparel, struggling to keep his jeans up all day, but afraid to tell on Drake. When teachers discover on their own what has happened, they promptly exchange boys’ wardrobes. Drake & his friends didn't cover their tracks well.  Blue paint droppings pave way to Drake's two week detention.

After two weeks are over, Stone avoids Drake completely. During lunch Stone remains close to older classmates in hopes of deterring conflict.

One night, while trying to sleep, Drake stares at Stone.  Feeling Drake's eyes on him, Stone glares back.

“I know you're one who told on me,” Drake says, “All I have to say is, duck.”  

In silence Stone looks at fiery haired boy. He knows he has done nothing to Drake, but he is warning Stone anyway.

Chapter 3 -

The next morning Stone knows to keep his head up. With both eyes open he walks through his day glancing over his shoulder. He prays for protection & avoids Drake all together.  He asks for angels to guide over him. To keep him near & dear, keep him safe & alive.

Then it happens. Stone is on a mission to library to do some research.  He crosses his fingers hoping today is day he’ll figure out what happened to his parents. With a slight skip in his step he knows it, it’s a gut feeling.  Excitedly, he jogs down an open pathway to front door of school, slips down freshly waxed hallway floors & skids around corner to library. 

Then, just as a bird smashes into a window, something slams into Stone’s face.  Reeling in sharp pain, he remains standing.  He shakes his head & squint’s his eyes to see glass wall he assumes must be before him.  To his unpleasant surprise he is surrounded by laughing bucktoothed boys.  

Drake struts up, invading Stones personal bubble.  Laughing, he nudges Stone & his friends, “Hey!  Break it up!  Break it up!”

Then, with no warning, Drake shoves Stone against brick wall.  All awhile, screaming profane allegations at Stone.  Stone's backpack flings against his side.  Unpleasant foam spits through Drake’s teeth along with hard to decipher screams of allegations.  School books & papers fall about floor in disarray as Stone drops his bag & quickly pushes Drake away, standing with fist in air.  

Stone ducks to dodges first punch. Attempting to take a shot back at Drake he throws a blow, but it’s blocked by oppressor & returned with a jab to his mouth.  The hit throws Stone back & he stumbles slightly just before a stray assailant swipe kicks back of his knees, knocking him to ground.  Rumbled, he grabs a book to protect his head from several dirty tennis shoes stomping his direction.  Drake is on a mission for pain, punching Stone in ribs like an untrained speed bag.

All is lost, but pain in Stone’s seemingly abandoned heart trumps any physical pain Drake could ever apply. Stone rolls on ground, cringing blow by blow attempting to protect his ribs between each lost gasp of air from this unpredictable attack with his forearms.  

As sudden as this assault happened something equally as stunning occurs next.  The bulldozers freckled face tenses like a coiled spring & vaults wildly backwards into midair.  Stone’s abdominals constrict one last time before realizing red head is no longer above him.  Drake plummets high & hits burnished brick wall he had just shoved Stone against moments before.  Except for their chattering knees laughing menaces silence, beholding their leader slide down obstruction & sprawl on floor like a lump.  

Drake shakes his daze, dusts off his legs & springs to his feet.  He looks around & runs like a scared jackal in opposite direction, any direction.  He paves a spiral patterned path all way to nearest exit.  

Stone looks up at one who has baffled crowd.  A white haired old man wearing a clean white shirt & khaki pants stands over Stone.

With rough hands & oversized forearms he reaches for Stone before crouching down, “You’re coming home son.”

Stone doesn’t know much, but he knows he’s safe with old man. Wide eyed, he staggers up, gathering his books & follows.  His angel has arrived.

man kindly puts his arm around while escorting him to office, “We’ve been looking for you.”  Stone caught himself staring at sturdy old man while also being distracted by throbbing ribs he felt still vibrating against his innards & temporary, but annoying high pitch ringing noise coming from his ears.  Although Stone can’t quite put a finger on man’s face, he doesn’t really care who he is.  For first time in a long time, he’s just glad.

When they make it to office Stone flops back with a sigh of relief on a typical stale wooden chair with orange padding while old man signs release papers.  Then, with no reservations as well as no desire to say farewell to old school, old man leads Stone to his car.

“It’s about a three drive, but it’s a cozy one,” old man assures, “You can call me Papa, Stone.  You’ve grown so much & you look just like your mom & dad.  We haven’t seen you since you were just a little tike.  Your grandmother is waiting at home for you.  She’s been very worried about you once we were notified of your parents disappearance.”

Family, Stone pinches himself, Is this a dream, am I really going home with family?  

The clock clicked by three hours just as assured & it was as cozy of a ride as Papa said it was going to be.  Nearing, Stone waits in anticipation to see his new home.  The old neighborhood is full of plush trees & each house has a unique charm.  Pulling up drive, Stone is baffled by beauty of this quaint area.  To him it’s like a dream.

Neighborhood boys toss a football to each other & little children happily play hop scotch in street.  A little girl is sitting next door reading a book on her porch.  She is wearing a plain blue dress & has long, shiny, brown hair & sky blue eyes.  She waves & smiles sweetly to new arrivals.

Papa walks Stone to his new front door.  Cheerfully, his grandmother greets them with open arms.  She is most beautiful, white haired lady Stone has ever seen.  Wearing a white & red checkered dress, her skin is clean & as white as milk.  She wears her hair pulled back in a bun & has a broad smile from ear to ear.  

“Call me Nana” She says, hurrying him into house. “Oh dear child, you look horrendous. What happened?”

“He was in a fight,” Papa replies.  

Squinting one eye, Stone says “Surprisingly, it doesn't feel as bad as it looks.”

Nana takes Stone to sink to clean up, “We’ll make you good as new!”

They show Stone around his new home. “This is your room.  It’s room your mother grew up in.” room smells of fresh vanilla & roses, but is converted into a boy’s room just for him.

“You don’t have to worry about clothes. You have a closet full.” 

They have planned ahead.  Everything Stone needs is here… and only one bed!

“Ohhh… one bed,” he smiles, “No more sleeping with a crazy roommate.” He notices a gigantic white blank parchment paper on wall, hanging from ceiling to floor & taking up entire width of bedroom.  It’s curious, but he doesn’t feel need to ask questions, “It's better than those sterol walls & cork boards.” 

At suppertime, they sit Stone down to a welcoming feast.  

Halfway through dinner Stone asks, “How did you know to come looking for me?”

Nana softly lowers her spoon, “We received a mysterious note & all it said was you needed us. We didn’t know where you were & it took a long time, but we found you.”  

Stone hangs his head “My parents are gone, they’ve disappeared.”  

“Your parents love you very much,” Papa replies, “We don’t know where they are, but they didn’t leave you on purpose. We're looking for them too.”

With a sigh of relief, Stone takes last few bites of his warm meal & then heads to bed.  

Chapter 4 -

Early next morning he hears, “Rise & shine!”  It’s Papa’s voice ringing from hallway.  “Your first day at Caveridge, it’s time to go!”

With utter dread, Stone dresses slowly. After so many schools, one thing Stone has learned is that  all schools are similar.  He just hopes clothes his grandparents bought him are trendy at school, or at least acceptable.  Each school is different, each school is pretentious & at each school, choice of labels matters.  He has never had a lot of money so his options have always been limited, but being new kid is always a big deal. clothes fit, which is great, but real test will be when he gets to class.

“Eight schools in four years,” he breathes deeply.  

It’s still dark outside as Stone looks around his comfortable new room.  He can’t help but feel support from his new found grandparents.

School is only a block away, but Papa insists on driving him first week.

“Son, I know it’s hard right now, but this is good for you. You won’t be switching schools again.”

With a little comfort, Stone goes to class hoping & needing to just blend in.

Magnifying his already awkward feeling, Stone notices many eyes observing him.  Lost most of time, he fights through vast hallways to find his classes.  Lunch time is always uncomfortable in a new school.  Today is no different.  Eating by himself in corner, he tries to avoid being a sitting target.  

To his left he watches a team of jocks laughing, high fiving each other as school cheer team walks by.  To his right he speculates conversation gangly pimple faced band geeks where mouthing to each other while pointing at music sheets.  You’d think they were swarming around Beethoven himself.  It probably isn’t as interesting as it looks from afar, but they sure appear to think so.

Ah, I think I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have real friends. To be part of a group. To fit in.  To be normal.

His favorite class so far, by far, is history.  The teacher is interesting.  She schmoozes like an over aged teenager & her extreme passion for subject inspires whole class to silently sit with a cloud of overactive images bubbling from above their heads into one big picture. 
If only every teacher were more like her, he wouldn’t have to rely on his personal overactive imagination getting best of him in his five other… hour long courses.  Just thought of other classes makes him bored.  This most likely goes for half school too.  It’s also a breath of fresh air because students are preoccupied with her, leaving him room to be himself.  She takes specific note of Stone throughout class, talking like she’s talking directly to him.  Her soft eyes speak as though she knows him better than he knows himself.  That comes with a special life understanding & age.

Speaking of age, this day seems to go on for ages & when it is finally over after decades seem to have passed in blink of six hours, Stone relics in heading home.
Stone havens to his room & falls asleep second his head hits pillow.   Stone is master of dreams.  If he could sleep walk he’d probably put on a show. he loves to imagine fantastic worlds.  An art piece his mother used to work on almost every night for as long as he can remember is center of his conjuring’s, which makes sense.  This particular drawing has always been a mystery to him. She would touched it up for so many years, & then suddenly one evening she ripped it in half & threw one half of it in fire.  She never explained exactly why. ; & she never wanted to explain why. 
When Stone awakes from his nap following morning, he scribbles down his dream in his rusty notebook.  I dreamed I was outside in a pasture trying to fit two sides of my mom’s dark castle picture together.  A wind storm began to brew but I had nowhere to run.  A strong cloud of dust swarmed me & I gripped onto her pictures with all my might.  I didn’t want them to wrinkle though.  A gust of wind knocked me to dirt & one of pieces ripped from my fingers & blew away.  I tried to chase it down & catch it in air & when it landed on ground I pounced on it with my foot & smeared image & it ripped again & it blew away. I lost it in ocean of dust, but I still had remaining half. I tried…
Nana taps on door & pushes it open.  Stone sets down his pen.
“How was your day yesterday?”
Stone shrugs.
Nanna walks over to his chest of draws.  “I wanted to show you something.”  She pulls out bottom drawer.  In it is are every drawing utensil fathomable & more paints than rainbow has colors. paint than a tropical rainbow has colors.
She motions to large parchment on wall, “This was your mother's. You should give painting a try.  Do what you want with it, anything you want.  You may like it & it could make you feel a little better.” 
Nana adjusts journal by his bed.  Calmly she kisses his forehead & walks out room.

“Hmmm…” Stone carefully stares at parchment. It’s so huge.  Where to begin? I can't fill up this whole page.  It takes up whole wall. 

After visually analyzing it he gets up & tears off a two foot by two foot section on bottom right of parchment.  He steps back.  This parchment is still too big.  It's overwhelming just to look at, so he tears top half of it off.  He takes another step back, blowing air inside pocket of his upper lip; Still too big.

He continues tearing sections off wall & taping them back until he has five manageable canvases of different sizes. “Yup, five, this’ll work.”

Thinking about dream he just had, Stone grabs darkest chalk he can find.  Starting with top right corner parchment, he draws a line. Then he draws another, then another, then another. He thinks about half ripped castle he couldn’t hold in his grip & sentimental attachment he felt for it at time wind took it from his fingertips.  It was just a dream, but he still felt devastation of losing it in whirlwind.   He thinks about his mother's castle he couldn’t hold in his grip.  He realizes he was  sentimentally attached to it, & actually  felt a little devastated when his mother ruined it without an explanation. (He wasn’t devastated she ripped her own work, it was hers.  He had no sentimental attachment to it then, she did.  He was devastated in dream when he couldn’t hold onto picture he associated to her which was why it was sentimental to him in dream.) He presses chalk as hard as he can on paper, feeling it scrape across page with each stroke.  He draws a dark, crumbling castle starting from right, walls almost look like coal black sulfur.  He was treating each line as though he was resurrecting lost piece of puzzle himself.  Hours pass & when he finishes, only right half of it, he takes a step back to examine his work.
Bewildered, he’s amazed to see it looks exactly as he envisioned it.  It’s so real, so dark & taunting.  Letting out a sigh of relief, he admires broken half of dark missing piece & is content with finishing his first night of work here.  Tired, he goes to bed, dreaming about his vision of torn dark castle.  

Chapter 5 -

The next morning Stone rises rouses early with a small sense of release.  His grandmother comes into his room to wake him, but finds him lying pensively with three pillows crumpled under his head.  His arms crossed behind his head. 

Introspectively staring at charcoal drawing he made night before, he asks, “How did you know drawing might help?”

“A hunch, my son,” she winks, “Your mother has same strange gift.  It’s good to bring to life what’s in your head.”

“My mother.  Yep, she was a beautiful artist.”  He looked at his castle as though she was a part of it.   He says, staring at her half-castle, feeling her soul through it, knowing that is closest thing he has to her now.  (She literally is in it, that’s why I preluded “As though she was a part of it.” It has double meaning.)

He’s not as reluctant for second day of school as first. 

Throughout day he daydreams.  Dreams of new life he’ll have in his grandparent’s home.  Not being little man on campus, but being creator of a whole community he’s never known in this life.  He dreams of making solid pals & best friends.  He could almost touch fun & hear laughter; what a concept from darkness he’s felt for what feels like two lifetimes.  Hope doesn’t seem so far away now, possibly even a normal life again.

These ideas make this second day go by in a breeze, & end comes much sooner than expected.   Instead of waiting for his ride home from school, he runs.  Jogging down block he meets Papa at car just as he is casually reversing from driveway. 

“Woooow boy!” Papa whistles through a grin as Stone runs past driver’s side window, “I’ll tell you what, you can run if I ever saw someone run!”

Stone hot foots himself up stairs to his room, looking forward to coming up with next page of his parchment creations.

He grabs drawer handle where his art supplies are hidden, & without hesitation pulls out entire drawer & places it on floor in front of parchment. He plops on floor with both legs crossed & grabs first color his fingers touch, gray. Looking at long horizontal section in front of him, he studies it as if it’s a large book needing perfect words.  He touches dense paper with his fingertips, placing mental images of his ideal landscape on it before he gets started.  He tilts his head to see how to blend all of dimensions.

Limestone seems to be appropriate rock needed to build homes in his mind. It’s a strong mineral, & from what he’s learned in history, it’s rock of choice for Egyptian pyramids. Stone has no desire to draw pyramids, however. His dream is a community of peace, friendship; & most surreal to him, timeless forever-ness. homes he formulates are rounded octagon mounds, avoiding sharp corners & blending in beautifully with nature around them. Instead of cement, mulch & small self-sustainable gardens are perfect filler between each row of limestone cracks.

Why not pick a carrot from your roof, he muses.

The front doors are hinged flowering bushes, acting more as screens than barriers. Encompassing land is bright green, fertile grass.  The skies are blue & highlighted by a yellow & white sun beaming over land. He draws a scattered village with friendly neighbors.

Ah, I’ll line back with hemp plants so they can use it to make fine hemp pants to build their own clothes with, materialism at its finest. 

And little people!  Why not have an equally shared society between tall & small people, working together. Why not have a peaceful, sharing society of tall & small people, working symbiotically together.  For little people, little homes to fit their little bodies perfectly.

Surrounding big homes are large gardens with colorful fruits & vegetables galore. Fat dandelions, jagged grasshoppers, lady & gentlemen bugs, brown moths & butterflies, all living together in perfect harmony, of course.  Each house has its own flag, as every populace needs an artistic flowing representation of their individuality.  He draws a flag perched on nearest house & colors it deep blue, embodying a confident abode.  It’s made of a dense cloth representing strength, & has a golden infinity symbol in center symbolizing infinite unity.  I’ll place this next to garden of largest mound, as a gift to a neighbor.

“How well thought out,” he laughs to himself.

Hours pass before Stone takes a step back to stare.  Too astonished to pat him-self on back, beauty of his image baffles him. community looks alive & flows like smooth glassy waters. It looks so real, so vivid. With stillness, he yearns to escape into this ideal enchanted land. This is his dream & he made it a reality, on parchment. But something is missing.  

There are no birds in sky, but wait…  Not just birds, but lurking & assailing Fairies too.

He adds several tiny flying people with white, glossy wings.  Their hair & skin luminously shine & change hue based on direction of sun, & color of sky.  

Then he points to most beautiful fairy & says “Glow,” as he surrounds her with a beaming yellow halo.

Rising up, his feet stagger backwards & he sits on bed.  Holding back both a smile & a tear, he sees this new ability as a tool to vent his mind like a lifeboat for a drowning sailor. he sees his surprisingly delightful new ability as a tool to vent his imagination & rescue his worries, like a lifeboat to a drowning sailor.  It doesn’t fix what has transpired in his young life, but it gives him hope for a fuller tomorrow.



He sprawls on his bed, with arms crossed behind his head.

Chapter 6 - Capatians & Diminunatives 5152 (GLOW)

This night Stone sleeps soundly. A small light enters room & hovers over his eyelashes.  Rubbing them he rolls to his side.

Seconds transpire & a whisper “Stone,” stirs him slightly.  

I’m hearing things, he thinks.  

He puts pillow over side of his head to deafen his ears. His nose tickles, naturally he swipes at it. A pinch on his hand, then his foot, then his leg startles Stone.  Suddenly, realizing he isn’t alone in his room he jerks up, whipping his head towards door hoping to see Nana standing near.

Uh, no, he analyzes, looking around confused & half awake.

Then a voice shouts, “STONE!”

Now he is fully awake, so, what is going on?! With immense hesitation he musters up courage to utter, “Wh… What?” into what appears to be, thin air.  

Like a ballerina on a trampoline, a tiny Glowing pixie size of his pinky finger falls from above & lands on his nose.  Then just as quickly, bounces backwards with a laugh to avoid another swipe from Stone's flailing arms.

“Hello!” She says.  

“This can’t be real.  Seriously, this must be a dream,” he mutters with his brow squinting full force in total befuddlement.  He stares.

Laughing, her aura glows with each word, “What! What? What! You should ask.. What!!”

In utter confusion, his catatonic expression doesn’t change. 

“I said hello, aren’t you going to be polite & reply?”

“Um, Hello?” he replies, trying to control his voice & thinking he is going crazy talking to himself, & a pixie.  “Umm…” he murmurs.

 “Um, Um, Um, What, What, What, Um, Um, Um!!” she giggles.  

“How, errr what, whooo… are you?”  he asks.

“GLOW!! Stone, I’m Glow! You know me!” she giggles, slapping her forehead & falling back stiff as a board to playfully mimic ludicrously of question.  She hovers on her back in midair & returns to his nose as a plank.

With a transfixed stare, he glances with his eyes rapidly to his painting & back to pixie again. Glow is no longer on parchment.  She is now in his room.

“I’m here to get you, we’re waiting for you!”

She holds out her tiny hand as a gesture for him to take it. When he doesn’t respond she flies down, & with a stern yank grabs his hand.

“Manners!” with all her energy she pulls him up by his hand & walks him to his art work.  She is a surprisingly strong a little pixie.

“Ha!” he breaths, happily realizing he isn’t in control of what is transpiring.

Glow points to picture & says, “You’re going to Land of Enchantment.”  

She places his fingertips on newly painted ripped parchment.  He bends down on his knees & notices consistency of paper no longer has a leathery feel, but more of a soft airy sponge, like a liquid that is also solid, if that is possible. With both hands he presses against image.

Softly Glow whispers softly, “Go.”  

As though she just said magic password, he tumbles through opaque picture as though it is a cloud.

Blue skies, he is falling one minute in his bedroom next through blue skies. Frightened, he looks down to see where he’s about to land & with a sudden yet soft jerk at his neck, he sails smoothly to ground. hands of several Fairies lower him down with grace.

With an abrupt drop, he stumbles to his knees.  Startled, he looks around.  It is beautiful. It is perfect.  Transcending before him is his mind’s eye, in flesh.  With his jaw dropped, he spins to wrap his brain around surroundings.  It is real & true to details & dimensions of his imagination. land encompasses all of his senses, & then some.

“Is this heaven?” he asks Glow.

She smiles with a wink, & from behind him he hears a booming voice, “Welcome to Land of Enchantment, my friend!”

He turns to see whose voice it belongs to. “Welcome, we’re so glad to have you, Stone! Jack Lofty is my name!”

A handsome, strong, broad fellow with dark, curly hair stands before him. With a toothy smile & a confident stance Jack puts out his hand for a shake.

“It’s about time! We’ve been waiting for your arrival!”

Stone reaches for Jack’s hand, & with a solid grip Jack pulls him in & raps his other arm around Stone’s back for a manly hug.

“My friend!” Jack says, “How was your trip!?”

Getting pun, Stone’s posture erects. “Unexpected.”

land is more complex than he envisioned. Not less beautiful than his painting, but different. air is so fresh & crisp, ground so soft & light. & scent, scent is like honey suckles directly under his nose.  Jack picks two apples from a tree & tosses one over, & without effort Stone catches fruit.

“Hungry?” Jack slurs through his crunchy mouthful.

Stone looks at shiny, plump morsel & with gratitude nothing to lose takes a bite. It is most luscious fruit he has ever indulged in.  Sweet like candy, yet ripe like finest melon. He wipes his chin with his sleeve, expecting to clean a lake of juice off his face, but to his surprise, his chin is dry. fruit is so tasty that he can’t help but take bite after bite down to heart of apple, until he eats apple core. feeling in his stomach is so nourishing, he wonders if he’ll ever be hungry again.

“Are we gunna stand around eating fruit all day?” Jack laughs with his toothy grin.  

With an upward nod Jack beckons Stone to walk with him.

Jack is a talker with genuine wit beneath each word. Stone walks in amazement, admiring himself every detail, knowing coming to terms with fact he himself is most literally artist of this great land.  Jack begins proceeds to show Stone around, introducing him to all creatures & features of his world, all awhile knowing more about his friend than he lets on.

As fast as lightening, a little person sprints towards & past them, then a second & a third. Curiously, Stone watches in anticipation.  The third one bounds up in air & does a flip, landing softly & gracefully with a very brief second of a halt to nod touching brim of his hat. 

“It's a little person,” Stone nods back, as though little guy was still in their presence.

“Those are Diminutives.” Jack replies, “They may be little, but they sure are quick. They're friendly & handy too.  Look!” Jack points to a limestone dome house being built.  Surprisingly workers are all Diminutives. “They do building because they’re fast & agile.  We, Capacians, do farming because we’re bigger & stronger. Well, at least I’M stronger! HA!!”

“Humble?” Stone laughs.

“Ah, Ha Ha, that’s what I like to hear!” Jack replies jokingly flex’s his lats.

“One would think it would be reversed, stronger build & agile farm.  But, it appears your reverse routine is more efficient.”

“We do assist with each other’s work when needed.” Jack explains, “We Capacians help them with heavier jobs & Diminutives help us with less accessible gardening.  They have more energy than they know how to deal with.  It’s high maintenance to keep them busy.”

Not today tough, they have been busy as bees.  In a flash, word spreads throughout land of new visitor. Every dome door has flown flies open wide & all of village people, big & small, peak out at new arrival.

“Come friend! Meet my parents!” Jack speeds to a firmer walk.

The two walk to a beautiful circular limestone gray cottage encompassed with vines, cucumbers & carrots. homes agriculture seems to be sipping directly from a purified mote surrounding back & side of house.  mote appears to be flowing from a clear underground spring. front door was a perfectly thin round hinged flowering bush acting as a screen. To Stone's surprise & delight, luminous town’s flag, which he gave as a gift to one home, is standing in front of house behind  Jack’s parents, but in front of a smaller almost identical abode in back. (describe house & surroundings more.)

“Everything is so harmonious.  Just curious, what is hierarchy among people in town?” questions Stone.  

“If anything, hierarchies are town’s elders who speak with wisdom & understanding,” answers Jack, as they nearing his parents’ home.

They enter front room & walking towards kitchen they hear a woman‘s voice, “Celebration!”

With an abrupt entrance, kitchen doors swing open.  In walks Jack’s lively, larger than life mother, Florette.  She is very animated. She talks with her hands & laughs with her hands, all awhile baking a dozen pies & sweeping floor. She has a sturdy build, like her son, & her swaying lime green apron cozily wraps around her full hips.  Curly, auburn hair, with gray streaks is piled messily on top of her head. Like her son, she has a toothy gleaming grin.

“Let me take a look at you, young man!”

She grabs his face, turns his head from side to side, then takes his shoulders & swirls him all way around clockwise.

“Yes!” she says, “You're exactly how I envisioned you! But cuter.”

Holding back laughter, Stone beams openly.

“Ha! Young man, Charis poked her head through our kitchen window & said you've arrived! You should see town’s people hustle outside, we're preparing a surprise!”

He notices people looking at him. He glances out open front door & low & behold, hundreds of people, big & small are running, chatting & carrying things from house to house. Not accustomed to treatment such as this, Stone enjoys reception.

“I suppose you don't get visitors to your town often?” Stone asks ponders aloud.

With an outburst of laughter, Florette throws her hands in air & looks at Jack, patting his back tenderly.  Quickly, with her arms over her head she runs into kitchen.

 “So much to do, so much to do! Jack, find your father!”

Slowly, Jack gestures in her direction, “That's my mom.”

Knowing exactly where his father is, Jack walks Stone through a hallway of pictures, each one looking significant. Generations of family’s life is laid out. There are pictures of Florette as a young girl standing with her parents, wedding photos of Florette & Jack’s father, Jack's first steps, & so on.  Jack notices Stone's interest & guides him to browse a wall boasting of framed images of himself.  Jack apparently has won many contests, boulder carrying contests to be exact. With ribbons of all colors around his neck, it appears Jack's been in competitions since early childhood.  It is assumed that this friendly fellow must also have a powerful hand.  

Pondering through a lifetime of images, Stone scratches his head, a simple yet puzzling query comes to his mind.  What came first, parchment art or village? 

Jack steps Stone into a large spiraling room.  It has an unusual smooth pressed, fresh yellow clay floors with a soft buoyance it, rock walls & a billowing bed. In center of room is a large wooden ladder made of oak. Steps rise up along wall. They’re wide at bottom & become narrower as they approach top. ceiling has a round opening hosting in a passage of sun rays.

“This will be your room, Stone” says Jack.

Without hesitation Jack climbs ladder, squinting at light above as he leads Stone. When they reach roof Stone hears an upbeat whistle.

“Oh, you came to give your dad a hand!?” says a voice on roof.

“Nope!” Jack chuckles.    

Stone peaks his head through roof & sees a sight to remember.  Two men, almost standing eye to eye, look as though they’re same person only decades apart.  One has salt & pepper colored hair, thick weathered skin & other one is Jack.  

Stone nears two as Jack yells out to Stone, “This is my Dad,  jooo…”

Before he can get last word out Jack's father thrusts a large floral cucumber vine at Jack & Stone.  Blitzing them both in chest, they swing & fall off roof.   Then, splash!  They land into water.  Reaching down, Jack’s father, Camble, grabs Stone’s hand with a hardy laugh.  Without effort he pulls Stone up onto secure footing.  

Camble dismissively winks assuredly, “Don't you worry it’s just a mote.”

All around rooftop are bright fruits & vegetables, intermingled throughout them are ample plants of Manna, (what is manna?) which produce freely. Manna is white & looks like a small seed, but tastes like delicious wafers with honey.  It is a heavenly plant you grind & pound into cakes, perfect for all seasons, especially when you’re in need of a lot of food on short notice. (describe more.)

Wet, muddy & grinning Jack crawls back up to roof, “Apparently, we were in need of a crisp bath.  As I was saying, Stone meet my father jokester. Dad, Stone.”

Jack grabs hands full of manna & throws it into a burlap sack like it is popcorn.  Stone looks onto town admiring view.  It is picturesque.  The air of gratitude is all around. Children are playing in streets, skipping freely with their archaic toys. women are spectacular.  They float & dance while they work. Walking down street their feet almost appear to be gliding. Diminutives, darting in enthusiasm, are assembling large structures. Stone feels as though he is a part of something momentous. (describe more)

“It's an honor to have you Stone.” Camble says, “You two have a lot to do, we have a big night ahead, we do.  Jack, bring your mother manna. Then shower! How did you get so dirty?”   

Jack looks down at his wet clothes dripping with thin green mossy vines, pretending to stumble, he replies, “We took a trip!” (what does that mean?) Grabbing his father in a bear hug, they tumble down side of house into mote.

“Boys!” Florette shouts from window.

Stone grabs a full burlap sack & totes it down roof onto grassy land below. Florette looks at Stone through her window, shrugging one shoulder.

“Boys will be boys,” she cringes, placing pie after pie on window sill.

Soaked again, Jack runs to collect rest of bags of manna.  Heavy as cement, Jack throws each down one by one. Stone places them in an orderly fashion on lawn. When last bag of Manna is dropped, Jack jumps to ground.  

Florette calls from window, “Jack! Get inside & take a shower. What are you doing, putting our guest of honor to work?” Jack & Stone run inside.  

Florette pulls Stone to closet, “Come here, I have a special outfit for you to wear.”  Merrily, she takes out a pair of white, light weight hemp pants, a tan baggy shirt & a long brown hemp cloak, “Now go wash up & then put these on.”

Freshly clean, Stone drapes himself in interesting yet hip attire.  The clothes fit like a glove.

Waiting for Jack, Stone sits outside on a wooden stool & watches sun lower slowly from sky.  A multitude of most radiant, but subtle colors emerge in sunset, like a water painting melting from heavens.

Quickly, a hustle & bustle of neighborhood children swarms around Stone. They bring gifts & juice of every flavor to newcomer. Energy boosters, calming extracts, strength tonics, hair growers, even love potions…oh my! Being polite, Stone takes small sips from each juice container. They all taste of sweet berries & fresh vegetables. Jack comes out to greet Stone, his eyes sparkling with humor.  

“You're going to be one energetically calm, strong, loving, hairy fellow by time they're done with ya!” Jack says, “They're not actually potions, we just tell children they are to get them to take their vitamins.”  

Stone chuckles under his breath, “Interesting, they're so easy on taste buds.”

Seconds after last sun ray falls beneath hilltops, town’s people become silent & search to find North Star.  Florette runs from kitchen to grab Stone & Jack. Holding their hands, she stands silently & winks at both boys with delight.  A loud noise springs from distance, then clears into a low hum which grows louder & louder.

“Get ready boys,” Florette says, “They're coming!”

Suddenly over hills thousands of small lights appear all over night sky. Like a flood of small, flickering candles they swarm hilltops for miles. Calmness lingers in air outside. Like foam floating on a wave, gleaming luminous lights move together, taking shape of a flood of water bursting its way down grassy range. Their swift tempo quickens & a beautiful melody harmonizes with their bright patterns. Entering city, each one of these little lights dodge & dart their way around everything in its path. In sequence each house goes dark moment lights pass by. radiant flying entities grow brighter, lining streets like touchable stars. In a flash, thousands of tiny beacons swarm Lofty family home. Their distant hums turn into a distinguishable song & lights reveal what they are, brilliant fireflies. Circling home first, they enter front door & swirl through house. Leading army of fireflies are male Fairies. Glow darts towards Stone & lands on his shoulder. little creatures hold out their hands towards Stone & beckon him to follow.

“Go on,” says Glow.  

Dazzled, Stone follows.  The Lofty family accompanies him close behind & town’s people pursue.  Strolling through town, fireflies separate like parting waters, leaving a clear lit path for everyone.  They flow to center of city & halt before a giant pile of lumber.

Horn birds, with beaks shaped as a trumpet, fly into sky. Sounding through air, they create a loud melody unlike any other.  In a blink, hundreds of fireflies zoom straight up to sky, simulating most magnificent blazing fireworks display Stone has ever witnessed.  Amidst display, falling sparkles dim & dart downward past Stone into wooden pit.  Like blazing, dancing lights they transform lumber into a roaring bonfire.

Camble Lofty climbs to a rooftop & hollers, “Let festivities begin!”

Laughter rings & town’s people begin celebration. With skirts twirling, women place stupendous platters of sumptuous food of all types & quantities on tables.  Based on that single sweet apple Stone ate earlier, he knows food could taste like anything.

Dancing girls of all shapes & sizes scurry towards Stone & he enthusiastically swings himself along for ride. Diminutives flip & twirl, some dangle from rafters & others jump from high posts like trapeze artists. With a turkey leg in his mouth, Jack hops through crowd jumping like a frog, flipping up skirts to watch girls dart.  One of these girls catches Stone's eye.

He spies a radiant face, a girl, calmly walking through dense crowd. magnificent wonders around him muffle as though time stops.  He recognizes her from somewhere, but where?  Passing, her eyes are equally transfixed on his.  Stone shivers, goose bumps travel up his spine.  Her brown hair is held by a perfect, blue bow in middle of her back.  Like breathtaking diamonds, her eyes shine with blue hue of morning sky.  She's so close, but there are too many people between them.  Playfully, she peeks around overflowing crowd of dancers to look at him. Stirring, he works his way in her direction.

And suddenly, without warning, he hears “STONE!”  A Beaming Jack grabs his shoulder, “There you are!  The men are looking for you. We have games!”  

Stone turns back to look at girl again, but in blink of an eye, she's gone.

His friend pulls him in opposite direction towards a slightly open field.  Scratching his head, Stone looks back, disappointed he cannot see her.

They proceed past tables of food to a platform where folks are playing games of all sorts. Crowds gather around different posts hooting & hollering. One game is dice, but instead of throwing dice it's played with what looks like frogs legs.  Next to them others are playing Horse shoes, but instead of horse shoes they use circular hardened squash rinds.  Nearby are men, women, & children are running potato sack races.

“We're going to a more difficult game,” Jack says.

Nearby is a long track which sits in center of a grassy field packed with people.  On either side of track are multiple miniature cannons.

“Those cannons shoot are Granutes at us” Jack says, he walks Stone to a little shed & pulls out a couple of large brown leather pouch slings. “The sling straps behind your back & around your arms. (describe EXACTLY how it works) It helps you hold a large, heavy boulder.”  Jack tosses one at Stone, “This is yours.”  

Closely examining strange contraption, Stone asks, “My boulder?”

Jack explains game, “Each player gets a boulder of equal weight to their body.  The player puts boulder in sling & carries it on his back.”  Jack points to a chalk line at their feet, “This is starting line,” he then points to another line fifty meters down track “that's finish line.”

Examining both lines, Stone asks in a sarcastic tone, “So essentially, premise of game is to race to finish line with a boulder strapped to our backs?”  

“Yes!” Jack exclaims, “But, you can't forget Granutes.  Each Granute has three hundred rounds of shells in it.   They're walnuts. (Could we brainstorm something cooler than walnuts?)  As we race, walnuts will be shot at us.  See that line?” Jack points to a red bumpy log across grass. (how far in race does this line start?)  “When you pass that, that's when shells are released.”  

“Oh good, Granutes!” Stone says, shaking his head in his hands, “So let’s restate. Hundreds of walnuts are shot at us as we race with boulders as big as us on our backs.  You realize this is barbaric, don't you?”  

Jack pats Stone on shoulder, “It'll give us a few aches & light bruises, but that's about it.  Plus, it's great survival practice, Stone.  It separates men from boys! So, are you in?”  

Crossing his hands behind his head, Stone shrugs both shoulders, “Well, it can't be worse than anything else.”  

“Great!” Jack says, “Let’s suit up. We have two other fellows competing with us.”

Both boys weigh on a scale. Jack’s brawny build weighs Jack is brawny & weighs more than Stone.  Consequently, he has a larger heavier boulder customized for his weight. boulder is jagged, but works perfectly for him.

Stone, on other hand, has a lighter boulder based on his weight & height, smooth like an elongated bowling ball.

other young competitors, Zach & Shane, are different sizes. Zach is skinny, so as a result he has lightest boulder of all, & Shane's powerfully built so he has heaviest one.

Shaking his head, Stone stands at starting line, shaking his head in disbelief that such a game exists, with his boulder lying on ground, leaning against his legs. Zach, Shane & Jack approach ready for competition.  Elderly Diminutives stand with stopwatches, ready to regulate & load Granutes. Crowds gather on either side in anticipation. Stone flings boulder behind his back & straps his arms in tight.  Like bulls eager to charge, Zach, Shane & Jack hold a low, strong stance, & Stone mimics.

(describe who says it) A frail leather skinned white haired elderly diminutive creaps up to a podium.  “That’s announcer,” Jack says.  “He sure is taking his time for a diminituve! A stern voice rings out, “On your marks. Get seeeet.”

Suddenly, all of Granutes sound off with a large boom. Zach, Shane & Jack all begin to plow forward. Going against grain, (?) Stone joins group with equal enthusiasm.

Initially, it was a little startling. weight of boulder on Stone's back is quite heavy & walking forward is a work out. They've only taken approximately twelve steps forward so Granutes aren't throwing walnuts yet. Shane's in lead, Jack is second, Stone third & Zach fourth.

Then it happens, Stone hears first boom of a Granute.

Within seconds he hears Shane shriek, “Aaah!”

Shane must have past Granute line, Stone thinks.

Glancing ahead he sees Jack pass line next, then he sees him get pelted a few times with walnuts. Unlike Shane, Jack makes no noise.

Now Stone watches Shane get hit, one strike after another. With each shot, Shane whelps & grabs at where he is hit, as though it will stop more walnuts from hitting him. That doesn't work, so as he trudges forward he bends farther down, almost walking on all fours in hopes walnuts will hit his boulder instead of his body. This slows him down tremendously, so Jack steadily passes him. Step by step, Jack keeps his head down, not allowing walnut stings to affect his focus.

Stone prepares himself to cross Granute line, with only somewhat of an understanding of what's going to come next, he springs over line & prepares for worst. Stone sees first shell fly past him at massive speed.

Another grazes his calf, frightening him a bit. A sudden burst of adrenalin makes his vision blur & running at an abnormal pace, his five senses take over. Stone realizes he mustn’t think about boulder on his back. His peripheral vision becomes clearer than he's ever known it to be, as though it's his only ally.  Inadvertently, he gains a heightened state of consciousness. Examining next small object flying at him, something odd occurs. object appears to enlarge closer it comes.  It appears equal to size of a pineapple. It's rapid pace slows, looming leisurely in his direction.  Instinctively, Stone pauses in his tracks. pellet floats in front of him & within seconds after shell passes it resumes it's explosive speed. Stone looks back & sees next walnut plummeting towards his head, ducking slightly it hits his boulder & smashes into little pieces. Getting hang of it, he labouriously hops & dodges his way through wanut warfare, managing to not get  hit even once.

To Stone's left, Shane is crawling on all fours towards finish line, making loud “Ouch” noises with each hit.

With a bursting hurdle over a flying walnut, Stone passes Shane. crowd of Diminutives,
Capacians & Fairies cheer & scream wildly in excitement.

Stone looks ahead & sees Jack's muscles bulge like a like a determined Clydesdale as he plows forward with force. Not knowing where Zach is, but assuming he's close behind, Stone picks up pace, jumping & dodging flying walnut rounds. With another great leap of superhuman strength, Stone passes Jack, but as his front foot lands, a shell hits Stone's Achilles tendon. Stumbling with sting, he regains his footing & Jack's competitive tempo increases, closing gap. Neck & neck, they fight for finish line which is only ten steps ahead. Jack, being competitor that he is, attempts to hit a flying shell with his hand & ricochet it towards Stone. Back firing, walnut bounces off his hand & hits his own head directly in temple, making Jack wobble dizzily. Stone seizes opportunity & surges ahead to cross line first, yet falling forward on his side with boulder on his back. Jack follows suit.

Stone's vision reverts to normal.  The crowd goes crazy chanting his name. “Stone! Stone! Stone!”

Out of breath & lying on his side, Stone looks back at his remaining opponents on field. Zach, who has remained in fourth place, didn't make it five steps past Granute line before surrenduring to shells. Shane was still crawling in third place, but still not giving up.

Totally exhausted, Stone stands, baffled at what he's just accomplished.

A Diminutive referee approaches Stone, “We've never seen anyone dodge virtually all walnuts before. & with such grace & ease!”  

Feeling slightly bad for beating his friend, Stone grins & helps Jack to his feet.

“I can take it like a man, no worries,” Jack says begrudgingly.

With zealous enthusiasm, crowd rushes two players.  Providing & splashing them with much needed water.  

Recovered, Jack approaches Stone, “Good game, friend!” Jack Says, “I don't have a metal or souvenir to give you, but I have something better.”

Jack reaches behind his neck & unlocks a chain, which has been hiding under his shirt. Dangling from black leather strap intertwined with a gold chain is a small, but perfectly sculpted silver cylinder tube with two holes on either side. Jack hands Stone gift. (describe what whistle looks like)

“A whistle?” Stone asks.

“Not just any whistle, Stone. Anytime you ever need me, just blow it & I'll be there for you my friend,” Jack says in a seriously tone.

Graciously, Stone hangs chain around his neck. Then he puts tubular piece in his mouth & blows. A sublte, bland flute sound exits it's chambers. Jack squints his eyes & nose close together, pensively turning his head slightly to right.

“Yes Stone. I'm here!” Jack says with a chuckle, “It's not designed for  when I'm standing right in front of you, brother.”  

Stone & spectators watching knowlingly crack up from simplicity of error.

“Thanks man, this is awesome!” Stone exclaims with a big smile.

Stone & Jack leave park & walk towards food tables to sample all many treats available.  

Jack plunges for pies, “We have to regain our manly strength!”  

Stone stands on top of a large barrel at end of a long wooden table, grabbing rafter above his head.  He scans crowd of feasters for blue eyed girl.  She's nowhere in sight.

For hours boys enjoy a spicy brew while joining in noise, joy, dancing & banter. Midnight ensues & party becomes sparse.  Raindrops fall softly on bonfire, bringing it to a low simmer before fully extinguishing.   Capacians grab big items & Diminutives clean place up in a matter of minutes. Lofty   family packs up to return home.

Thanking everyone for festivities Stone, Jack, Camble, Florette & a group of friends walk home in dark. Fireflies remain out & about lighting paths for town’s people.  Jokes & taunts are thrown about, as boys do, with billowing laughter.  Stone & Jack follow behind group of people.

“What was meaning of this celebration, Jack?” Stone asks.

“To celebrate your coming, we've been waiting for your arrival for a long time.” Jack says.  

They continue home, eating handfuls of dried fruit as they hop over Diminutive domes & dodge gardens.

When they reach Lofty house, Florette greets boys at door, “You know where your room is Stone, Jack has his own flat on side of house.”

“Thank you Florette,” Stone says.

“I hung your mattress in sun today so it would be to fluffy tonight, it should be extra soft for you.”

Not fully understanding what she means, Stone heads to his room.

Stone's mattress is puffed up like a huge marshmallow.   He changes out of his borrowed clothing & folds them neatly on floor, then puts back on his original attire.  

Like a bolt, Glow darts inside from open shaft in ceiling. Giggling, she bounces from Stone’s shoulder to his face & grabs his nose with a big hug.

“Hello!” She says.

“Hello,” Stone replies.

She swings around & bounces on fluffed mattress, sinking deep inside, as though she was a heavy pebble plopped into a cloud. Glow climbs her way to top & flies out of fluff laughing, goose feathers encompass her head. She lands on a nearby window sill & dances, spinning around. Jack bounds into room, & with a leap, flings himself onto mattress. First bouncing a little, he sinks in comfortably.  Small white feathers float around him as well.

“This may be softest bed I've ever laid on,” he tells Glow.  

Smiling at Stone, Glow rests her head on a cotton ball Florette so lavishly left just for Glow. A crack of moonlight falls on pixie. Stone folds his arms behind his head, looking at ceiling.

"Well. You look tired. I'll catch you later, Stone." Jack says, & bounces out of room.

Glow is drowsy as well. “Good night.” they say to one another.

“This was best day of my life,” Stone says, closing his eyes.

Chapter 7 -

Bing, bing, bing, bing alarm clock goes off. Stone hits it with his fist & rolls over.

His eyes still closed, he stretches with a crooked kindred smile, “Good morning Glow.”  He rubs his eyes, noticing no reply, he repeats “Glow?”

Stone moves his hands & peaks to window sill, Glow is gone.

She must have left early, he assumes.  

In a morning haze, Stone stretches his stiff arms & neck, & then rises to his feet. He looks around his room & to his surprise he's standing back in front of his seven piece parchment.

“Umm” he murmurs, darting his eyes around room & realizing he's no longer in Lofty family home.

Knock, knock, “Rise & shine son!” Pappy says through door.

Stone stumbles back & sits on his bed. With his jaw dropped open, he stares at art in front of him.
He can't believe it.  He just can't believe he's back in his room. He can't believe he just experienced what just ensued. Was it real? He asks himself. Supporting his upper body with his arms, he lowers his head & glares through his eyebrows at scene he drew just previous night. It seems he drew it weeks ago.

“It was all a dream,” he says to himself in disbelief.

Dumbfounded, he musters up strength to rise from his bed. Laboriously, he walks slowly through his grandparent’s hallway to bathroom. Drawing water from sink, he looks at himself closely in mirror. He bends down & splashes water several times on his face.

“How on earth did I just dream this?” He stares in mirror asking himself.  He splashes his face again & raises his head. This time a reflection in mirror gleams at him. light from small window reflects off of something on his chest. Like sun, Jack’s necklace is beaming! Without hesitation, Stone looks down & grabs dangling whistle. He places it softly in his hands, staring.

“It was real? Stone pauses, it's real!”

For a split moment Stone waits, taking a second to think. Then, he bursts into air running. Sprinting through hallway to stairs Stone slips & slides to bottom of staircase. He races into kitchen where his grandparents are.

“It was real!!” Stone shouts, “It's real!!”

“Heavens child, what is real?” Nana asks.  

Pappy, who was sitting at breakfast table reading his newspaper, is now curiously watching Stone approach him. “Do you see this too? Do you see this, Pappy?” Stone eagerly asks.

“The necklace, son?” Pappy replies, “Yes, I see whistle.”  
“Yippee!” Stone cheers.

His grandparents look at each other perplexed. With a gallop Stone heads back up stairs to  his bedroom. Hardly  able to contain himself, Stone looks around  room as though he should be doing something, but doesn't know what. He darts in front of parchment & bends down, examining his work of art. He puts both hands on canvass & enthusiastically smacks a dry kiss on parchment.

Realizing what he just did he composes himself & coolly stands with his eyebrows lifted high, “It's real.”

Stone gleefully rushes to his closet to put on his clothes for school. While tying his shoes he sings “I have a whistle, whistle, whistle, magical whistle!”  He wistfully whistles a humming happy tune as he buttons up his shirt, straightens both sides of material (what material?) so it falls gently on his jeans. He grabs his whistle,   kisses it, and  sounds “Fweeew!” with his mouth. Stone drops necklace securely down his shirt & pats it with his finger tips to make sure it's nice & cozy on his chest.

Confident, Calm & collected, Stone regally walks back down stairs. 

“I'm ready for school, Grandfather,” he says to Pappy.  

“Grandfather, I see. Well dear proginy, I'm happy to oblige” Pappy jokes, as Stone struts to car with perfect posture.

Pappy pulls up to school & drops Stone off at front, “I hope you have a better day today, Stone.”  

With a skip, Stone leaps from car, “It's definitely going to be a better day today, Pappy.”    

front of school is consumed by it's huge wooden  double doors.  The mascot, a stuffed bear, stands in caged glass to greet arrivals.  Stone moseys to his locker, noticing fewer eyes transfixed on him than usual & that his top locker is perfectly located in middle of all his  classes.  He collects books he needs, & while fumbling to lock his top locker, first warning bell rings.  The lock slips & hits back of girl’s head whose locker is under him.  

Thump, “Ouch!” she says.  

Stone's jaw & neck muscles tense quickly, “I'm so sorry!”  

Rubbing her head, she smiles with understanding & hands him his lock back.  “Yeah, that hurt. You're new here aren't you?”  

 “It's obvious isn't it,” he replies.  

“Na, I've known all these kids since kindergarten,” she scans halls, “New faces always stand out.  I'm Cora Garrison, nice to meet you.”  

“I'm Stone,” he replies, “Nice to meet you too.”

Cora is a pretty girl with tan skin & long ash blond hair.  Her locks fall in perfect natural curls down her back, messily enough however, to make her look like a lioness.  

“You're in my history, homeroom  class. I remember you.  We better hurry, lets go.”  Rushing through halls as well, a herd of jocks pass by, nudging Cora in shoulder with their arms.  “Jerks!” She says, “They think they own this school.  A big bunch of bully's, if you ask me.”  Stone makes a mental note of group.

They enter classroom, right when final bell rings.  Cora hurries to back of class, holding a seat for Stone.

“Here, sit with me.” She calls out.  Stone directs towards her, patting whistle under his shirt as he sits.

History is his favorite class because not only is information interesting, but teacher Ms. Morgan takes great pride in her craft.  She's a friendly heavy set woman, fair skinned with natural, platinum blond hair wistfully framing her face.  Ms. Morgan has been awarded town's best teacher of year three years in a row for a reason.  She takes great pride in her student’s academics. She charismatically animates her lectures & always makes certain each student has a clear picture of events she perfectly describes by providing pictures of what she is talking about at any given moment. Surprisingly, class also has less homework than other classes, which is always a bonus.   However, she makes sure students learn properly, by providing difficult tests at end of semester, which they always perform swimmingly at.

Ms. Morgan turns off lights in class & has teens sit in dark with their eyes closed as she verbally takes them back in time.  Viking wars are current topic & with great visual detail she walks them through battle scenes.  To Stone, this is best way to learn. He can smell salty ocean breeze as she describes Vikings setting sail.  With each war scene, it is as though he's watching from a birds eye view.

“Through Dark Ages, war was just a fact of life,” Ms. Morgan says, “The Vikings fought because they were barbarians.  Fighting for pure evil like this is always a loosing game.  Vikings only knew fearful battle.  Their men often marched off to war just to die.  Norway, Sweden & Denmark made laws stating every person needed to own weapons according to status.”  She went on graphically discussing their weapons.  Giant swords, axes, stealthy spears, iron helmets, shields & of course immense battle ships. “Violence is no way to live, & as always, good wins out over evil in end.  Viking civilization was annihilated, their warring ways eventually died out by assimilation.  In other words, remaining Viking minority gradually adopted customs & attitudes of prevailing cultures around them.  At time this was European Christendom.”

War didn't appear to be a topic of interest to Cora. She was busy drawing an array of flowers on her notepad.  

“Pssst,” she says to Stone, “Here!”  She passes Stone a letter:  We're going to blue minerals watering hole after school, want to join us?  

Who's we, Stone writes, passing note back.  

My best friend Spade & I, Max Spade, she returns note.  

Smiling, Stone nods yes to Cora & continues listening to illustrations of great wars.

class is over & bell rings.  Ms. Morgan turns lights back on.  

“Okay class, now go out there & get along with others!  That's moral of story,” she says jokingly.  Everyone laughs as they leave for their next period.  

“We'll meet you in fishbowl after school, Stone,” Cora says as they part ways.  

At end of day Stone searches for 'fish bowl.'  He notices a circular lower station in center concourse where kids congregate after class.   Assuming this is place, he waits for his new friend to arrive.  

A tall, older, slender fellow earnestly approaches Stone, “You must be Stone.  Cora told me you're new guy.  I'm Spade.”   

Spade is tall & slender with broad shoulders.  His spiky dark copper hair works well with his loose eclectic attire.  Cora races through crowd of classmates & jumps on Spade's back.  

“Are we ready to make a splash?”  Cora says enthusiastically.  

Stone heads forward, throwing his backpack on.  “Ready as we'll ever be!”  

Passing bear mascot, Spade leaps in air & hits dangling school flag with his hands, as they exit large wooden doors.  Nearby teachers yell out at him to stop, & other students don’t follow suite.  Laughing, three jog to Spade's old roofless junker of a car.  

Opening car door, Spade pats his front window, “It isn't much, but it gets us where we need to go.”

 “It's awesome!” Stone replies as he hops in back.

Sliding around corners & over dirt mounds through an unbeaten short cut, dirt & rocks fly behind their muffler.  They enter a wooden area surrounded by trees.  Stone hears music playing in front of them & assumes they're headed towards that direction.

They drive to a dirt parking lot where other students have already started mingling.  Spade pops trunk & gets out two pairs of swim trunks, throwing one to Stone.  

“Here you go man,” Spade says.  

Catching it, Stone walks up to water hole. It's a small, green lake surrounded by bushy, weeded hills.  The vegetated  circumference of pond doesn't seem to provide a direct way to enter water.  

“See that rope?” Cora says, “We swing on it to get in water.”  

Seconds later two boys (mention that there were other kids there & how many there are & what they look like)  jump on rope at same time. Apparently attempting to swing together, they clumsily slip.   One boy grabs onto his friend who's still desperately holding on, & together they plummet down into a tidal wave.  Onlookers roar in laughter, as boys proudly swim to top & bow (bow? describe how it all looks). They front stroke to a nearby wooden landing.  
“Well, of course you can always take ladder instead,” Cora points to three girls exiting water, climbing a rusty ladder.  

“Na, let’s swing!”  Stone says.

Prepared & ready to go, group walks to rope.  Cora, being a brave soul, takes first plunge like a champ.  Holding tight knot in rope she walks backward & with a running start swings high into air.  She releases her grip, at just right moment, to fall gracefully into water.  Her curly hair drenched, she swims to top beckoning guys to come in after her.  Spade enters next, also with a running start, but instead he does a front flip into water making a cannonball splash.  

Patiently waiting for two to get out of way, so he can enter water, Stone looks behind him. He sees additional cars pulling up with their radios blasting.  A group of girls get out of one of vehicles & walk toward him, or rope, that is.  In middle of girls he sees a familiar face.

Squinting closely to see her clearly, he  exclaims, “The face!”  

It's same exact enrapturing face from land of enchantment.  Without a care in world, beautiful, blue eyed, brunette walks towards him.  Unaware of his presence she laughs with her friends.  From Stone's perspective, wind seems to be flowing perfectly through her hair, like an angel.  

How can she be here too?  he asks himself in a confusing manner.  

Flustered, Stone hears his friends from below calling out to him, “Go Stone!  Go!”  

Quickly,  a couple thoughts run through his head, all at same time, “Oh my gosh, how'd she get here?”  Is first.  “Look cool, impress her!” Is second, & then he hears again, “Go Stone, Go!”  

Stone pulls rope back as tight as he can & sprints to edge of mound, holding on extra tight.  He flies through air & at perfect moment to release rope!  He doesn’t (why not? explain. maybe he is nervous trying to think of something fancy to do).  The rope swings backwards & flies over dirt mound again.  Still holding on Stone tries to push forward again exerting his strength.  With slight success Stone hovers over water, releases rope & drops.  Involuntarily his arms & legs fling about in every direction, & it happens.  He belly flops into water, almost with a bounce.  Cora & Spade look on with tense faces.  

“A nightmare, a total & utter manly nightmare,” he thinks as sharp pain pierces his skin & leaves just as quickly as it came.  Trying to keep his cool Stone swims to surface, towards his friends.

“It's alright man, it's just your first time,” Spade says reassuringly, as his chin crinkles from holding back laughter.  Stone didn't look back.  He didn't want to know if radiant girl saw him.  

“Did that hurt?  Your stomach is cherry red,” Cora says to Stone.  

Rolling his eyes Stone splashes his face with water, hoping to wake from this nightmare.  It didn't work, he's not sleeping.  

“HA!  That was fun.  Let’s do it again!”  Stone says in hopes of changing topic of his current demise, & wanting to redeem himself in eyes of his peers.

three swim to ladder.  Climbing to top Stone follows  last, looking behind to watch girls swing into water.  

“Of course, they're all doing a great job.  Of course.” Stone thinks, puckering his mouth like he just bit into a bitter lemon.  

He turns completely around holding rusty ladder with back of his elbows facing front & center to see blue eyed girl go next.

While rest of world became shaded, clouds seemed to part with just a crack of sun rays, falling directly on only angelic creature in universe.  As she approached rope, like a spotlight, sun seemed to move with her.  Souring through air she glided with invisible wings on her back, flying through air in a swan dive.  Well, not really a swan dive, but she looked like a swan, diving feet first into musty water.  Well actually, it doesn’t look musty in her presence.  It’s more like clear, blue, glassy water.  Splashing perfectly as she enters, waves somehow transform into hands, thanking heavens for sacrificial gift.  But, she isn't being sacrificed, it's voluntary.  She springs to surface of water like a motion picture, her hair glistening from rays & her eyes gleaming with smiling delight.

“STONE!  STONE!” Dazed, Stone looks up towards sound of his name.  “STONE!  What are you doing down there?  Climb up!”  Cora yells from above.  

Shaking his head side to side he comes too & continues up ladder, still watching his dream girl swim to nearby wooden plank with her friends.

“I think belly flop got to you buddy,” Spade says.  “Yeah, belly flop,” Stone replies, “Oh, belly flop!”  Putting his hands in front of his face, Stone cringes.

three walk barefoot on a low wooden beam around pond, passing through bushes to get to other side.  

“Oh great!” Cora says sarcastically, looking behind her, she catches expressions of her friends.  Standing before them are jocks from hall.  “Why is it we can never get away from them?” She asks.  Like a group of fools, boys take hold of a smaller boy who's struggling to get away.  Two of them grab boy’s arms & two more grab his legs.  Laughing, they walk squirming boy to edge of dirt & on count of three toss him into water.  “They're so cruel!” Cora says.  

Falling from up high boy hits water hard & sinks downward, without coming up like everyone else.   Stone leaps forward toward bush blocking his view.  Realizing boy may not surface Stone begins to run around bushy pond, searching for a landing to dive from.  In mid stride he sees blue eyed girl.  Without hesitation she springs from wooden plank into water after boy,  Swimming underneath without a sign.  Stone anxiously sprints, afraid she too wouldn't come back up.  He gets to roped landing, back peddles & with a spiraling leap he plunges deep into water.  They reach boy at same time & together pull him up.  Gasping, boy reaches air.  “That’s my  little brother!,” she says in a panic.  Stone grabs boy from behind, with one arm under boys arm & around his other shoulder.  The boy coughs as Stone back strokes to ladder.  He places boy in front of ladder to climb up.  “Thank you so, so much!”  she says to Stone.  She follows behind boy while her friends wait above ladder with towels.  Amazed by what has just happened, with one hand on bottom of ladder, Stone sinks down under water to clear his mind.

Chapter 8 - Lake

“It's getting late, let’s head back,” Stone suggests.  Agreeing, they jump into old car.  

“My hero!” Cora says, “Can you believe those jerks!  Oh, I'd like to get my hands on them.”  

“That was pretty impressive Stone,” Spade agrees.  

Stone, still in semi shock, appreciates night sky & embraces wind in his hair.  “I'm just glad boy is okay.”

They pull up to Stone's drive & wave goodbye to their friend as he jogs to his front door.

“I'm Home!” Stone yells out to his grandparents mid stride up stairs, “I went to blue minerals watering hole today with some friends!”  He says as he runs up stairs.  

Grinning, his grandparents look at each other.  “He's going to be just fine,” Nana notes to Papa.

In deep thought, Stone sits on end of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his head dropped, running all ten fingers through his hair.  

What a crazy day.  He looks up at his seven pieces of parchment & wonders if or when Glow will show again.  Thinking of his eventful experience at pond, he imagines what his ideal retreat would be like.   escape would have crystal, clear water.

clock turns eight, still no sign of Glow.  He walks up to land of enchantment touching it softly.  Its leathery texture is as it's supposed to be.  Waiting in hopes Glow will arrive again, time creeps by. passes for what seems like days.  Stone grabs a small stool from corner & brings it to wall.  He leers at three canvasses, yet to be stroked by a brush.  Stone selects lowest paper on right, just above enchanted land.  Preparing to draw picture in his mind, he tilts his head to right, closes his eyes & visualizes entire scene.  Opening his eyes, it's as though it's already come to life, he just needs to paint it.

first & most obvious color of choice is blue.  The paintbrush might as well have picked his hand it so perfectly brushed crystal blue water with shimmering rags rippling on surface. With his brush he begins to paint crystal blue water with shimmering rings rippling on surface.  A brilliant sunrise slowly enters sky, shining light on clean, white sand.  Fresh seashells scatter about among lively crabs & palm trees with coconuts are gripping backdrop.  

“A strong wooden deck is perfect to fish on,” remembering how wonderful it was to fish with his Dad.

 Stroke by stroke he creates details of light oak deck with supporting beams.  Vines grow up each pillar like a lattice.  Next, he places a large rock nearby in water, lavishly adorned with moss.  Seagulls fly above, as well as, sit on beams.  Then he draws a light, open, slender boat with pointed ends.  Fish jump & swim through crystal water.  Imagining ideal, he creates silhouettes of seahorses splashing under water.  Getting creative he draws frog like creatures with them & mermaids, why not.   

A Mystical Sea, the picture of luxury perfection!  He thinks as he finishes up his second masterpiece.  He remembers, Of course!  A swan, how can I forget?  He draws first swan, & then a second, swimming side by side.  He takes a step back to appreciate his work.  I hope Jack gets to see this, he wishes.  He looks at clock again, time has flown by.  It's already eleven p.m. Wondering about Glow, he lays on his side & stares at panting, silently falling into a deep sleep.

“Stone!” a little voice says to sleeping boy.  “STONE!” Glow says as she pinches his nose & flies backwards.  “Wake up!” she giggles.  Stone startles awake, sitting straight up in a hurry.  “It's time to goooo!”  she says.  Stone stands on his feet & walks to Parchment.  Leaning down, he touches land of enchantment with his palms.  “No, No, No!”  Glow says, slapping Stone's hand away from image.  “Here!” She flies up & points to sea.  

“But?” Stone says.  

“But, but, but!  No, no, no!” Glow replies.  

“But, what about Jack?” Stone asks.  

With a giggle she replies, “Jack is happy.  The water is waiting for you!”  Glow grabs Stone's finger & with a nudge she points him in direction of sea.  She whispers “Go.”

Stone falls, plummeting through painted material, flying down through sky.  Looking below, he still has a ways to go.  He assumes his two options, plunging into clear water or landing onto soft, white sand.  Water is probably closest & best bet.  Stone closes his eyes tightly & holds his nose with two fingers.  

Suddenly, he hears a screech “Caw! Caw! Caw!” Stone jerks up swiftly, a giant seagull takes hold of back of his pants, steering him toward beach.  Gliding, with only eleven more feet to go before landing, bird releases him.  Flailing his arms, Stone drops his hands to break his fall.  PLOP!  He hits rigidly onto sand.

Stone stands up, shaking sand out of his pants.  Wiping his hands together he looks around island.  The air is warmer, sound of insects move freely about.  The large seagull lands on nearby wooden deck staring at Stone, only to be distracted by a single local bug, that looks like breakfast for seagull.  In awe, Stone soaks in golden rays of warm sun, mixed with cool coastal breezes hitting his face.  Looking around, he notices no one else is on beach with him, except for several tiny ocean creatures scattered about wide stretch of sand.  Then he sees, two swans swimming side by side, & a large flock of seagulls gliding smoothly over sea & then disappearing back into sky.

Stone approaches wooden landing near seagull.  He sprawls out comfortably on edge of landing, dangling his feet in cool water & soaking up his surroundings.

“Uh, ello!” Stone hears.  

Moving his head about, Stone looks to see whose voice it is.  “Glow?” he says, with no reply.  

He could have sworn he just heard someone.  Seeing no one around he stares at Seagull above him. Thus far, nothing seems impossible.  He is sitting inside his own painting & all.  

Staring up at bird he asks, “Did you just say something?”  

“I say ello!” seagull replies.  

“Well, hello Mr. Seagull, how are you today?” Stone laughs, splashing water between his toes.  

The bird steps off beam landing next to Stone, “I'm jus' fine. Me alfie is Gameble, I 'ave been waitin' fer you.”  

“Gameble, is your name?”  Stone clarifies.  

“Yea, I'm frilled you 'ave arrived,” Gameble says, ”Ye sure are tardy awright!  They sen' me ter get you.  I was up all day an' all nigh' waitin' fer you Stone.”  

“Wow, that's nice, welp, here I am!  I too am sorry I'm late, it sure is beautiful here,” Stone says.  

“Nuff said, yeah?” says Gameble.  

Without warning, Gameble flies off to nearby canoe.  Perplexed, Stone watches.  

“Well I guess he wasn't too eager to see me,” Stone says to himself.  

Leaning back Stone feels a group of smooth pebbles crunch under his hand.  He grabs a few of them, tossing each one with a flattened surface across body of water.   The pebbles hit in such a way, as to skip on water’s surface multiple times before sinking.

Moments later Gameble arrives back from boat, this time with a single fishing pole.  

“That ain't nice.  Thou shouldn't lob rocks lad,” retorts Gameble. Stone sets remaining pebbles next to him.  Gameble drops fishing rod on Stone's lap, “I got dis fer you, yeah?  I 'ope you like fishin'.”  
“Yes I do, very much.  Thank you,” Stone says.  

“You won't need bait in dis sea,” Gameble says.   

Stone examines wooden contraption “Fascinating, it doesn't need bait?” Stone thinks. He holds tight to rod, leans back & casts line far out into water.

Stone hears 'plopping' sounds from fish breaking waters surface, hosted next by widening ripples.

 “Maybe we'll get lucky Gameble?” asks Stone.  The tide unusually increases steadily as Stone waits for a nibble.  “This must be a good sign,” says Stone.  

Gameble’s knees jitter uneasily as he eyes water’s subtly changes, “Blimey! Look at da time. I've got ter go!” Gameble flaps his large wings & glides off, showing his reflection in water until he lifts into sky.  Moving swiftly, his silhouette appears smaller & smaller until all Stone sees is a small dot, slowly disappearing into clouds.

Moments later, Stone notices two little eyes peaking through a crack in wood.  Leaning, Stone peers at it.  

“Glow?” Stone asks.  Glow peaks her head around wooden dock with moss on her head.  

“Hello!” She says.  

“Have you been here whole time Glow?” Stone asks.  

Glow shivers, “Yeees!  Birds like to eat small flying things.”  

“Ooooh!” Stone laughs, “You were afraid Gameble would eat you!”  

“Pixies are tasty,” replies Glow.  

“Good to know!” Stone says, as he grabs at his speedy little friend.  Glow giggles & playfully flies up to air faster than Stone could touch her.

Stone sets down his fishing rod as they cheerfully chase each other on dock.   The tide moves in & out accompanied by an unanticipated moaning noise echoing over waters.  Simultaneously, two stop in their tracks.  Stone looks at Glow, entranced by waters.  Out of nowhere, a beautiful sound arises over air;  a voice, singing most seductive yet lonely song Stone has ever heard.  Standing at attention,  Stone draws his eyes & ears towards irresistible melody.  A woman sits on nearby rocks, swaying side to side with a commanding harmony.  Lavishly draped in pearls & gold, (what is she dressed in?) she is slightly hidden by a faint hazy mist.  Her extraordinary long, thick eyelashes blink sadly against her teary, dark eyes.  Her raven black hair drapes all way down her long, slim, fair body.

Captivated, Stone sways on dock engrossed by woman.  

Barely moving his lips, Stone whispers, “I have to go to her, she needs me.”  

“No Stone!  Stay here with me!” Glow says earnestly.  

The sound is too irresistible.  His eyes transfixed he says, “A mermaid, she must be a mermaid.”  

Countless bubbles begin to rise from water.  Stone looks down & watches one pop.  Paralyzed, in fascination he looks back at woman.  

“A tail, I see a tail.  She's a mermaid.” He says.  

“No she's not, Stone!” Glow spouts.  

“I'm certain of it,” He replies.  The fog (I don’t think you mentioned fog first time you mentioned mermaid) lowers slightly just enough for Stone to be sure it's a tail.  Abruptly, Stone jumps back.  Focusing his eyes, he realizes beautiful woman has a.. a..  “A tail, a skeletal tail!” Stone shrieks.  

“A Siren!” Glow yells.  

Looking about Stone realizes he has nowhere to run.  (I don’t think you mentioned siren was moving towards them) At once, tide plummets forward towards them.  The moving wave transforms into an enormous hand, clutching Stone with just enough time to hold his breath, then pulls him into waters.  Glow darts over rushing waters and  looking down through streaming glass,   she  frantically  helplessly  waves her arms at Stone, as he sinks deeper & deeper.  

Tossing & turning downward, Stone clenches his eyes shut, while keeping both hands over his nose & mouth.  As he falls, waters calm slightly enough for Stone to  dare to  open one eye.  Desperately, he tries to swim upwards when he realizes he doesn't know which way is up or down.  Bubbles swarm all around him.  Not able to hold his breath any longer, Stone lets all of air out of his lungs, but to his shock & delight,  bubbles merge instantly into a gigantic air filled orb sheltering his entire body.  Desperate for oxygen, Stone takes a critical breath.

Floating in enormous air bubble, it quickly drifts him lower & lower into water.  Stone's hands tremble, trying not to touch thin iridescent walls, in fear it might pop.   Then, its rushing speed adjusts to a gentle drift.  Calmly encased in clear bubble, Stone looks about at dramatic open view in every direction  from all angles.  Large & small, brightly colored marine life swim all  around.  Mesmerized by beauty of coral surrounding him he feels serene, but at same time, feels a conflicting panic.  Looking up he sees sky’s permeating light in still water, below him is total darkness.  

How am I going to get out of this?  Stone wonders despairingly.  

Out of darkness Stone sees something speedily hurrying towards him.  He discerns it as a herd of galloping stallions.  

No, that's  impossible, Stone thinks.   With a closer look Stone realizes they’re not stallions,  but  brilliant seahorses.  Swimming with great force, they circle him. Wide eyed Stone's heart races, as they   escort  his vessel down through  a void darker than he’s ever  experienced.  Did we enter into a cave? he wonders.

Just then a single violet light appears, then a lime green one, & then a cobalt blue.  One by one, an orchestra of florescent, colored lights shines brightly all around.

Like a rising mountain, an entire underwater city appears.  Baffled, Stone decides it’s safe to touch orb wall with all ten finger tips.  

“It feels more like soft plastic to touch,” making him feel more secure.  In total awe, Stone presses his nose against clear wall.  “Just when I think things can't get any more indescribable, they do,” he murmurs to himself.

Stone's orb begins drifting sideways towards an oversized, intensely yellow dome.  Nearby, brilliant jelly fish weave in & out, going in different directions.  The plant life simulates an immense garden.  Just as an elevator travels along its shaft, orb appears to know where it's going; However, it also takes sharp left & right turns.  The strong, sturdy seahorses glide along by its side.

Frightened, Stone sees what he thinks is a group of Sirens.  With a second look he realizes they're not skeletal figures, but instead have scales on their fins.  

“Mermaids!  Real mermaids!” he says in relief.  Mer people swim by his orb curiously waving.  Stone shyly returns waves.

Zig zagging through city, they approach large dome.  Strange beige skinned sea monkey’s stand waiting on a plank circling dome.  As he floats closer, his orb begins to slow down.  The sea monkeys grab orb with their hands & push it inside   the dome.  Just as it enters.. POP! Stone flinches, as water gushes everywhere.  Standing in a warm, dry room, Stone is surrounded by sea monkeys, all sitting silently on floor with their legs crossed & their eyes closed.  Short in stature, they each have three tentacles protruding from top of their heads, almost crown like.  Each has bulbous bellies, webbed feet & a long tail which look like rubber paddles.  However, none of them are identical.  They each have specific features of their own.

“Um, Heeello?” he says, hearing his voice echo as though he's in a vast canyon.  No one replies.  “Um, I fell through the…” echo's vibrate, “the.. the.. the.. the.. the.”  Hence, Stone stops.  He eerily stands in  puzzled silence, for several minutes, in center of sea moneys.

Slowly, a door, which just seconds earlier, looked like a brightly lit wall, opens.  Out walks a female sea monkey with bold, elegant features.  Unlike other silent sea monkeys, she has rose colored tentacles, which happen to match her flush cheeks & puffy lips.  At top of each of her tentacles are shiny red rubies.

Facing Stone directly, she puts one webbed finger in front of her lips & mouth, “shhh,” she mouths with no sound exiting her vocal cords.  

She turns & walks back through door she came from, Stone follows. They enter a second room, majestically furnished in royal purple eggplant, with brightly jeweled accents of topaz, yellow, sapphire blue's & burgundy.  The ground is intricately lined wall-to-wall with a unique, lavish, emerald green rug.  The over-sized furnishings are made of plush soft fabrics & dark woods.  The walls however are all glass, showcasing ocean scenery overlooking magnificent, illuminated city of rainbow lights.  On opposite sides of room, two long, but very thin waterfalls gently stream down inside of great domed glass, dripping into a controlled pool of watery pearls.   

Unusual astonishing fish, sea life, sea monkeys & mermaids nonchalantly peek in, as they pass by outside encasement.  

“This gives a whole other meaning to fish tank,” Stone says disconcertingly.  

“Do you like?” lead sea monkey asks.  

“It's spectacular,” Stone says.  

“We've been waiting for you, hoping you would arrive soon.” She says, “I apologize for unusual greeting, you appeared during our meditation hours.  My name is Raptious & you are Stone.”  

“Yeah well, I sort of had no choice,” Stone says, “I was on beach looking at sirens, when a big wave turned into a hand, & I ended up in a giant bubble.  Oh, never mind, thank you for having me.”  

“Ah yes, sirens.  Don't worry, as long as you don't intentionally go to them they're harmless,” Raptious says matter-of-factly, “As for wave, that was my father’s doing, he controls all waters.  He is why you have come.  You have been looking for him.”  

“I have?” Stone asks, becoming conscious of fact. There's more to parchment paintings than what he actually paints.  

Grinning, Raptious picks up a golden cup & sips from it, “You have.” “Oh, well good,” Stone says, “I'm glad I found him then, or he found me, that is.”

Raptious opens a small container, familiarly resembling a box of chocolates.  “Would you like a snack?” She asks holding food out towards him.  Stone inspects offering, to his dismay they're not sweets at all.  Instead, they're plump, brown worms squirming about.  

His wide eyes squint, “Mmm, they look delicious, but I'll pass.”  

“Suit yourself,” Raptious says.   Protruding her long tongue out of her mouth, she engulfs one of worms, & slurps slimy grub into her mouth.  

Utterly disgusted Stone shivers, trying not to look, “So, am I going to meet your father?”

Raptious,  wiping her lips with a silk cloth says, “King Rebus only meets with those who earn right to see him.  This even includes you.”

Stone shrugs both shoulders, “I haven't earned my way yet? how's this possible?”  

“Your deeds have been honorable Stone,” She replies, “But you have not proven yourself worthy, as of yet.”  

“Well paint me blue & call me a sea monkey,” Stone says sarcastically.  

“No need,” Raptious says, taking his words seriously, “You have another option to earn right to see king.  Based on wit.”  

“Okay, throw it at me,” Stone says.  

“Throw?  There's no throwing in our waters,” Raptious continues, “Speaking of which, my father was saddened by your decision to drop pebbles on our city.”  

Stone freezes in place, “Pebbles?  You mean when I was skipping rocks?  I had no idea, I'm terribly sorry!”  

“That's quite alright,” she says, “Luckily local angelfish stopped them before they could vandalize property.”  

“Vandalize?” Stone says, “Uh oh.  That wouldn't have been a very welcoming first impression, would it?”

“You must decipher an ancient riddle for King Rebus,” Raptious says.  

“Are you sure I need to see King Rebus?” Stone asks.  

Laughing at ludicrous question Raptious replies, “He is all knowing. There isn't a single question you can ask him, which he doesn’t know answer.”  

“How's that possible?” he asks.  

“King Rebus controls all water, every raindrop has eyes & ears,” she claims.

Perplexed, Stone draws his eyes away from wet windowed view.  Stone sits on a cushioned chair, stroking his chin with his hands in quandary.  

“A riddle,” he says, “In history class I learned that  people  in  Middle Ages played riddle-game around their hearth-fires for more than five hundred years.”  

Meanwhile, Raptious walks to one of thin streaming waterfalls.  (this is first time  mentioning waterfalls so describe them better)  As she touches water, visible words appear across flow.  

It reads:  A wonder on wave, water became bone.  

Stone repeats question to himself and  asks, “What happens if I don't answer correctly?”

Directly she replies, “You simply won't be allowed to see king.”   

“After all this?” He asks her sarcastically. He ponders, “Fish, or dead fish,  would have bones, but it won't be a wonder.  A ship has wood, but a ship isn't water.”  Listening to Stone contemplate a maze of answers, Raptious remains silent.   “Water becomes a bone” he repeats, “Water becomes a solid.  Water becomes Ice.”  Stone looks at Raptious for reassurance, “Ice” he says.   

“Is this your final answer Stone?” she asks.  

Stone nods yes.  

Raptious approaches thin streaming waterfalls & speaks to it, “Ice!”  Mysteriously, waterfall parts in middle mimicking open hanging curtains, then curtains freeze into place.   Behind glazed icicle drapings, a glass door opens, leading to a snow white cylinder hallway.  “Follow spiraling stairwell down,” Raptious says, pointing through door, “You will find King at end.”  

Stone steps over pearls & under frosty waterfall draping.  The door quickly closes behind him.  Alone, Stone slowly tiptoes down stairs.   A stale dripping noise echoes with each step.  Stone enters into a large white sterile room.  The ceiling is  covered with thousands of pin holes, drizzling water through them like tears.  

“Stand where you are,” a strong voice  commands.

Stone halts, barely avoiding droplets as they fall inch's in front of his nose.  Each droplet mirrors Stone's reflection.  

In center of room is a large, kingly sea monkey, sitting cross legged on  a rock floor  rock flooring.  He has a wise solemn face, with aged skin & dull silver gray tentacles.  

“Each droplet represents a thought, a voice, an image, a memory,” King Rebus says, “Water knows all.  Each raindrop has a purpose for world.”   

“I was told you know answer to any question I have,” Stone says.  

“This I do.” King Rebus replies, “And you boy, have a very important question to ask, don't you?”  

 “How will I know if answer you tell me is true?”  Stone asks.  

“Truth always prevails Stone,” King Rebus replies, “Ask your question.“  

Clenching his jaw, Stone looks down, then quickly back up, looking King Rebus directly in eyes.  “Where are my parents?”  

“Oh yes,” King Rebus replies, “The question issssss.  Where. Are. Stone's. Parentsssss.”  

Each word King Rebus speaks provokes water droplets to shift.  The water scrambles first, before consolidating together into a glassy wall, words momentarily appear on it.  

It reads: Two gifts equal six plates, bound together opens gate.  

“Another Riddle?” Stone asks Rebus in frustration.  

King Rebus smiles, closing his eyes in certainty.   Just then words merge into a massive orb, circling Stone with great force.   A flood door quickly  opens & Stone is swept in tides.  Moving rapidly, Stone's orb rises upwards, back in direction he originally came.

Reaching surface of water, Stone emerges in middle of sea & bubble pops.  

“Well that was fast,” Stone says.  

It is   nighttime. Stone recognizes lifeboat he drew in his picture, & treads alone towards it. treads alone towards lifeboat he had drawn in his picture.  With all his strength, Stone hurls himself onto boat.  The boat has no oars, so Having no other options he lays his head down, gazing up at night sky.  Like a black piece of velvet vast, nightly sky is littered with a million  twinkling stars.  

Two gifts equal six plates, bound together opens gate, he thinks to himself.  Engrossed in riddle, Stone follows lines of big dipper with his eyes.  Rocking in boat, like a dream, he envisions blue eyed girls face in stars.  “Two gifts equal six,” he says out loud.  

Suddenly, “Hi, Hi, Hi!  You're back!”  Stone hears.  

“Glow!  My friend!” he says with relief.  Glow bounces on Stone's stomach with a hug & lays her head down to hold him while he falls asleep & says, “Night, Night, Night!”  

“Good night Glow.”  He replies, as they drift down waters flow along lake.

“Wake up!  You're going to be late for school.  You forgot to set your alarm,” Papa says to Stone as he pulls sheets off of him & opens curtains.  

Outside window are those three homely bats, again!  Papa & upside down dangling mammals inspect one another, equally threatened with equally threat.  Papa opens window & shoos them away.  

“Darn bats!” Papa says, lightly securing window, “They sure are creepy critters.  Hanging around here where they're not welcome.”

Only half listening, Stone wakes spellbound, wondering if he's still in dreamland.  He can't explain, even to himself, how his artwork comes to life each every night, much less all way to deepest depths of sea.  

Getting ready for day, bats return to window & Stone senses their vile eyes on him.  Thinking it bizarre, he slams curtains closed, in hopes of getting rid of them all together.
Stone arrives at school just in time, as first warning bell rings.  He jogs quickly to class, passing his locker, in an effort to not be late.   Plopping his backpack on desk next to Cora, Stone notices an abnormal chill in air.  

Ms. Morgan waves her hands for silence. “Class we have a surprise,” Ms. Morgan says, “A new student has arrived today.  Please give him a warm welcome.”   

Stone shakes his head in horror.  A fiery red head stands up in first row, directly in front of Stone.  

“Drake Demion is his name,” Ms. Morgan says.  

“Ugh, he's back,” Cora sighs, “He's a relative of three of malicious jocks.”  

“He's come all way from Scottsbury boy’s academy,” Ms. Morgan continues.  

Stone & Cora look wearily at each other, stone looks wearily at cora  “You know him too?”  They ask each other at same time.  

“Yes!” Cora says, “Drake went to junior high with us before he was kicked out.  Isn't Scottsbury school you just came from?”  

“Yep,” Stone says disgruntled, “Let’s just say, we don't get along.”  

Wearing a dull pink polo shirt, Drake stands in front of class, with a sinister smile, “Thank you Ms. Morgan.  I look forward to being here.”  

“Riiiggghhht!”  Cora moans sarcastically.  Stone rolls his eyes in agreement.  Drake sits, dropping a note card on ground.  “I bet he rehearsed his speech from that card,” she remarks with a grin.  

Throughout class Stone stares at back of his rivals head in disbelief.  He thought of chain of events, which would have had to occur to bring Drake to same town, same school & same class, as he.  This couldn't be worse, much less in his favorite class.

After class, Stone lingers in back of room, pretending to fumble through papers, & crossing his fingers that Drake would leave room first.  No such luck.  Tapping her foot, Cora waits for Stone by door.  Drake approaches Ms. Morgan to expound on what a fine teacher she is, so far.  Acting quickly, Stone attempts to slide past door.  

“Stone!” Ms. Morgan says, “Come here & meet our new student.  I believe you two have previously attended same school.”  

Drake's loathsome eyes light up with enthusiasm, “Why yes, Ms. Morgan, we were roommates!”
Shamelessly wheedling a staring contest out of Stone, he asks, “How are you Stone?  It's been too long, you should have written.”  

Stone irritably replies “Crafty Drake.” Correcting himself, “I mean, I couldn't come up with anything crafty to write.”  

“Well you boys catch up!” Ms. Morgan suggests, taking a bite of red apple Drake placed in her hand.

 “Oh, we will Ms. Morgan, thank you so much for everything!” Drake says with a crooked smile.  

Stone has other plans. He & Cora vacate toxic room, cringing from head to toe.

Later that day, as Stone makes his way to lunch room.   He spots mysterious blue eyed girl again. Determined to find out how she's both in land of enchantment & Caveridge High, he  approaches her.  Tapping her on shoulder he finds himself transfixed in her smiling eyes.
“Hi!” He stammers.

Tilting her head curiously she replies, “Hello, Stone.”

Beaming happily, Stone says in a welcome tone, “Stone, you know my name!  You know me?”  

“Yes, everyone does,” she says with a nod, “You're my new neighbor whose parents are missing.”

 “Neighbor?” Stone asks.  Hazily, he recalls first day he pulled up to his grandparent’s driveway.

 “Of course, you're also girl who waved from your front doorstep while reading a book, aren't you?”

“I'm also girl?” she rebuttals, laughing through her fingers, “Yes, I assume, I'm also her.”  

“Charis!” shouts a stout girl from other end of hall, “Come on, we're leaving for lunch.”  

Flipping her hair, Stone takes a whiff of her sweet perfume.

Then she says, “Nice to meet you Stone!   Thank you so much for helping my brother other day!  I've got to go.”  

“Wait!”  Stone calls out, feeling his face turn red.  Contemplating confronting her about her possibly being in his secret parchment, he shifts his feet in hesitation, then opts not to ask question. “See you later,” he says, kicking himself.  

“Charis, what a pretty name,” Stone murmurs with soft eyes, “Maybe it wasn't her in land of enchantment?” Again he ponders, “But, how am I supposed to bring it up without appearing totally loony?”

Throughout day, Stone, Cora & Spade are contemplate plans to bring about bullies’ demise,  wincing every time a jock high fives Drake.  It wasn't until after school that Stone noticed Drake  also  has a special appreciation for Charis,  however  in a very non-admirable way.  

Crowds of teens eagerly rush to front of schoolyard, delighted for end of week.  Stone & his two friends (mention their names again, but don‘t say two friends, list names of three friends) sprawl out on front lawn of school squeezing jelly beans  together  & laughing at combinations they come up with.  

Mixing a popcorn & black liquorish jelly bean together, Spade jokes, “mmm, this tart burst reinvigorates my taste sensations.”  

Cora points to jocks as they exit school, too disgusted to speak.   Ahead of them, Drake elbows people away  as he forces his way  through crowd to get to Charis.  

Hot all over at thought of Drake getting to Charis before him makes Stone angry.  Stone stands & edges his way forward to monitor happenings.  The jocks, however, cut Stone off in his tracks, blocking his passageway with their husky bodies.

Through crowd of students, Stone watches as Drake picks Charis up from behind & swings her around.  

“Drake, stop it!”   she shouts.  

Her friends, too timid to do anything, helplessly watch with their books in hand.  

“Come on sweets!  Miss me?”  Drake says distastefully.  

“I haven’t missed you a day & I don't miss you now!” She declares, attempting to squirm from his grip.

Venturing to kiss her, Drake puckers his lips, pulling her close.  Charis pushes his chest away with all her might, barely blocking his lips with turn of her cheek.  

“Let me go!” She screams, as jocks circle around two in amusement.  

“Drake!” Stone calls out assertively, “Let her go.”

With a burst Stone shoves two of broad shouldered jocks out of way.  (comma) Standing bull eyed towards Drake.  Drake slowly turns his head in direction of Stone's voice.  

“Stone, my old friend.  Did you come out to play?” Drake hisses, roughly tossing Charis to ground.  

“She asked you to stop.  You're not welcome here Drake.“
“I'm not welcome, is that so?” Drake laughs, looking around at his friends.  

Each jock pounds their fist into their hands, as a gesture of warning.  Cora & Spade linger behind dense wall of bullies, incapable of getting to their friend.  Stone, for a brief moment, wishes he too had big friends to back him up.

Drake bends down & grabs a rock from ground.  

“Hey Stone.  Duck!”

Drake leans back & pitches rock with great force towards Stone's head.  The entire crowd of onlookers  flinch, putting their hands in front of their face in empathy.

At this moment,  something incredible occurs.  Instinctively, like riding a bike, Stone envisions  the Granutes pelting walnuts.  Stone gains his heightened state of consciousness, as he examines examining rock as it flies towards him.  To just Stone, rock appears to enlarge in size; closer it comes, slower it moves through air.  At just right moment, Stone gracefully steps gracefully to side.  As it passes, hurled objects speed increases again, pelting a jock behind him in eye. 

Stone's successful maneuvering at their friends’ expense enrages bullies.  Grunting, each jock steps closer, still pounding their fists.    corners of Stone's mouth quirks upward as he pats whistle on his chest.  He knows he could blow it & have a strong opponent by his side; But, this is a fight he needs to stand alone, to prove his courage to himself, as well as to defend Charis.

Drake takes two steps towards Stone with his cocked back & swings without hesitation.  Now Stone heeds Drake's advice & ducks!  Now, with all his new found force, Stone seizes opportunity.  He immediately left hooks Drake's ribs followed by a right uppercut to his chin.  Drake stammers holding his stomach & flies backward with both blows.  

Together all of jocks attack, swinging at Stone simultaneously.  Trapped, Stone's eyebrows furrow & his lips press together.  Adrenaline flowing, Stone dodges, bends & springs out of way of several blows.  In a huddled furry, all jocks humorously hit each other instead, & Stone skillfully maneuvers his way out of line of fire. Then, maneuvering his way out, Stone jumps from line of fire.  

Now, as a spectator he can't believe his eyes.  Each jock  becomes  mad at other for hitting him, & they begin to fight each other.  A bruised & messy gang fight against them-selves ensues.

From afar, Cora jumps up & down, cheering in excitement!  Smiling from ear to ear, & Spade punches at air as though he's winning side of it.

Stone approaches Charis, still on ground, & he reaches out his hand to help her up.  

Chapter 10 -

Stone's grandparents greet him as he enters front door.  

“How was your day?” Nana asks.  

Stone hangs his head down, “Good, until I got in a fight.”  

“A fight!  Oh my heavens, what for?”  She asks in a worried tone.  

Stone turns to Papa, “Drake was transferred to Caveridge today.”  

“Oh!  Drake.” Papa says, turning sideways away from Nana to ask, “How'd it go?”  

“I won!” Stone laughs.  

“That'a boy!” Papa cheers enthusiastically.  Nanna spins a dirty look in Papa's direction. “What I mean is,” Papa corrects, “We're going to have to talk to school about this,” patting Stone on back.  

“Well heavens to Betsy,” Nana replies, “You just can't get away from that boy now can you?”  

“No ma'am” Stone frowns disgruntled.  

“Well we're glad you're okay.” Nana leads Stone into kitchen.  “I fixed you a hot meal & you can tell us all about it.”   

Stone does, between each bite.  Between each bite, Stone Hums them every detail of event & fills them in about Charis’s connection with Drake.

“We're proud of you for standing up for yourself Stone.”  Nana says, “And Charis is a sweetheart.  We've watched her grow up next door.  That was very brave of you.”

Stone finishes his supper & with last bite of pecan pie, he scrapes bottom of dish with his fork & mentions, “You know, I really cherish my new friends at school.  They're really great friends.”  Feeling slightly guilty he continues, “But during fight, they couldn't help me when I needed them.  I guess because of their size.  I was successful today, but next time I may not be so lucky.   It would be nice to have a bigger friend to watch my back, ya know?”  

“Yes, we know.  That would've been nice to have.”  Papa agrees, “Appreciate your friendships & seek out more to add to group.  The more merrier.”   

With reassurance, Stone washes off his dishes & heads to his room.  “I love you” he says to them with a warm heart.  

“We do you too,” they reply.   
 
Sitting on his bed post, Stone flicks open his notebook & writes:  Two gifts equal six plates, bound together opens gate.  

He rips quote out of pages & pastes it to his wall next to parchment.  

Shaking his head vigorously Stone clenches his face, “What heck does this mean?  Two doesn't equal six.”  
Bitterly exalted by day Stone pinches an olive toned pencil in his hand.  He randomly selects left parchment scrap second from top, & draws.  His initial thought is to compose something big, someone big.  

With an upward turn of mouth he thinks, if I want to know how Drake thinks, I've got to learn how to think from big boys.  

Pulling out a ruler Stone measures diameter of paper.  Unlike his other paintings, he includes mathematical calculations on this sheet.  Dotted lines & numbers for each shape, size, height & length are important to this land, ensuring everything is sized exactly as planned.  With each figure he intrinsically scales silhouette of an enormous man with broad shoulders, an overall stout build & thick warn skin.  Using musty browns, profile of face has wide thickset eyebrows matching a wave of bushy hair on top of head.   He uses mild, coral hues creating a wide voluminous mouth & ripe cheeks, overshadowing olive skinned wide pug nose.  With great detail, Stone includes weathered personality lines & creases, adding character to face.  

Narrowing his eyes, Stone makes whiskery arms & legs brawny with shadowed detail.  The powerful hands are as large as their feet & their fingers are sturdily bound by bulbous knuckles.  

Their clothes  are humble.  Like a master seemster,  Stone weaves hemp earth toned material around giant of a man.  Loosely, clothes appear long, light & comfortable.  The feet are cradled with leather sandals, which wrap & tie only once around foot & ankle.   

“Beautiful!” Stone says, taking a step back wiping black paint off his cheek.  

Momentarily refreshing himself, he takes a crisp drink of water & continues.  Drawing stature by stature, different Giants come alive, male & female.  All have similar qualities, but very different features & personalities.

“What do Giants live in?” he asks himself.  

Taking a deep breath & a long thought he ponders question.  An idea pops into his head like a light bulb.  Standing side by side, Stone draws multiple tall & massive trees, two for every giant.  The leaves aren't just green, but all colors of every season.  Then, like a thick spider web, Stone intricately creates one hardy hammock after another wrapping firmly to two tree trunks at a time. ground has bright green lush grass with patches of wildflowers for  their  leisure time.  “Giant people need giant animals,” Stone assumes.   With a jet black marker he drafts a feathered condor with wingspan of nine feet, in proportion to rest of images.  The feathers details are so real, that he could almost see wind they were blowing during mid flight.  They appear to be blowing in wind during mid flight.  
“And one last thing!” Stone decides, “Mans best friend.  Just one will do trick.”  One single, enormous, drooling, golden blond, Newfoundland breed.  Adding a hint of extra vitality to people.

“There we have it.” Stone says out loud, “This should be veeery interesting!”  

Stone has yet to figure out when, if or how Glow decides to come  get him.  So, eager to see his new creation in person, Stone does only thing he knows how  to ensure her coming.  He gets ready for bed, turns sheets down & goes to sleep.

It felt like only a matter of seconds of lying his head on pillow before he was awakened.  

“Twinkle twinkle little STONE!”  Glow sings, tickling his rosy cheeks with her wings.  Rising up, Stone wonders if he had even fallen asleep.  Sometimes illusion of time is faltered by sleep & in this case it has, as Stone sees by clock on wall that he has slept nearly three hours before Glow's arrival.  “Stoney Coney, time to Gooo-ney!” She giggles.  

“Okey Dokey, no more Jokey!” Stone humors along.

At this point Stone has caught onto groove.  Holding out his palm for Glow to land, Stone slides on his slippers & walks to painting.  

“Where to little bug?” he asks.  

“You know!” She replies.

With questioning fingers, Stone points to his newest creation & looks innocently at Glow.  Giggling Glow flies on back of Stone's left shoulder, & with a mammoth shove she hollers, “GO!”   Stone plunges through head first.

Stone falls only a few feet before landing on a soft pasture of short grass.  He stands up & looks around.  Quickly around to look, he notices something peculiar.  There is no one in sight, no livestock, no farming, no homes & no Giants.  

“Where are all Giants?” Stone asks Glow.  Glow hinders in silence, but answer comes much more quickly & differently than he expects.

Just seconds after entering land Stone’s nerves leap six feet into air, as a blaring horn sounds across land.  Blasting his ear drums, Stone presses his palms against his lobes & frantically looks about.  Like ghosts in night, two massive  Giants appear, standing erect from a crouched position behind a nearby hill.   Stone’s heart jumps into his throat as he witnesses Giants split second reaction moment they have clear sights on Stone.  These friendly Giants don’t look so friendly.  Silently, without even a mere battle cry, Giants hurdle violently over mountaintop in Stone’s direction.  From a run to a sprint, they move faster than anyone he has ever seen.  The sheer length & mass of their legs & mass propels their bodies down hill at the  speed of an avalanche.  Each step as sturdy as a bear, they reach behind their backs & unleash mammoth sized clubs & axes high above their heads.  Panic encompasses Stone’s blood vessels as he realizes… they’re running after him!

Breathing rapidly as he perceives his brisk doom, Stone turns.  Like a hedgehog evading cougars, Stone bounds in opposite direction as fast as his little legs can take him.   Stone sprints, leaping over small bushes and  turning back only to see how much ground Giants have gained.  Wind wildly blows through their tasseled hair.  The barbarian’s  scowls & crazy wide eyes only feed Stone’s terror.  Blazingly, Stone has one last thought.   Realizing this is life or death & he has a major size disadvantage, Stone does only thing he thinks may give him a shot at survival.  He reaches down with fumbling hands and, hesitantly,  blows Jack's whistle in mid sprint.

Instantly Jack appears, innocently standing only meters ahead of Stone.  From joy to query to dumbfounded, Jack shakes his head wildly to grasp magnitude of situation he is suddenly plunged into.  Stone passes Jack with great speed yelling, “Run!”  Jack turns with stealth & sprints next to his friend with equal force.  

Giants are gaining on their pray like greyhounds to a rabbit.  They’re only a few arm lengths  from  impact.  Suddenly like a child, one giant screams bellows out a blood curdling scream.   

Almost of warning, “SHILCORES!!”  

In sky, flying at immense speed are two colossal sized, wrinkly birds, zooming in their direction.  Their wing span is easily size of giant’s height.  The birds remain high above, dropping massive, bulky nets precisely on top of Giants.  Flailing to free themselves, two Giants let out bellowing howls of terror as birds lift them like frightened caged animals & flying off into horizon.  

Stone & Jack’s frantic run slows to a bewildered jog.  Stone stops, exhaling wildly while watching their hunters fly away as prey.

“Brother!”  Jack yells, “What are we doing here!?”  

Stone nears Jack, trembling in shock, “The land,” Stone pauses taking another breath, “of Giants.”  

Glow lands on Stone's head, using his hair to simulate reins.  Their eyes peeled wide for any other signs of nearby movement.

Jack’s face falls, stopping in his tracks, he whispers, “I see something.”

He subtly points to a nearby lump of grass in field which appears to be lifted slightly by five very big fingertips poking through.  Two humongous eyes leer out of its crevice, looking in their direction.  Jack crouches to gain focus, slowly backtracking from lump.  Stone remains only a step behind.  Suddenly, Jack's voice screeches as he disappears, falling in a deep trap door hidden by foliage.  With no time to react Stone steps down, diving directly behind Jack.

Dropping at least twenty five feet downwards, they land on a mattress littered with dirty fur.  

“Um..” Jack coughs uncomfortably, “I think this is a dog’s bed.”  

They hastily slide off, quietly slithering behind a crack in dark, gray, rock wall.  Out of breath, their lips zip tightly, trying to control their loud exerted breath. A mammoth, long, blond, furry dog nonchalantly appears from around corner, sniffing his bed.   He sneezes from new odors, then yawns, showing his wide mouth & sharp teeth.  
Jack whispers, “Those choppers could swallow us in one gulp.”

“Moppy!  Come here boy!” a booming voice calls from another room.  Moppy, dog, pounces joyfully around corner.  

“Moppy?”Jack crackles, “That beasts name is Moppy?  Some guard dog he is.”   They remain still until dog is totally out of site before venturing forward.  “I've heard many great tales about Giants,” Jack says, “I was told they where a peaceful civilization, but went extinct decades ago when Lord Hhhh…” Jack pauses, realizing his voice is getting too loud, “I can't believe we're actually here, & Giants are alive!”  

“Not so peaceful,” Stone sighs, “Yep, they don't appear extinct either, but we can always hope for best now that we're here.”

Silently, boys zigzag through a very broad & tall underground cavern.  They're guided only by high, dimly lit lanterns & sound of far off voices.  Dripping noises echo as they splash through small pools of water drizzling onto ground.  Doors & a maze of passageways appear every few feet.  They tip toe towards a room full of banter, volume increases closer they come.  Stone & Jack peak through an oversized  cast iron door into a massive sooty room full of dozens of giant men & women, all sitting comfortably at bulky wooden tables.  

“A tavern,” Jack whispers.  

Glow darts through cracked door, into room & then lands on a pillar attached to ceiling.

“She looks size of a ladybug next to everyone,” Jack mutters, “Is she crazy!?”  

Stone & Jack leer in a dark shadow, crouching next to door.  In an effort to not  be seen, they subtly gesture to Glow to come back.

dog, Moppy, & a beastly, brown haired man stand guard next to door, seemingly awaiting their arrival. Suddenly iron door slams wide open  and giant grabs boys by their necks without hesitation, throwing them like twigs further back into cavern.  The giant & his dog steps forward into hall with them, closing door behind him.  Stone & Jack stand as tall as they possibly can, indiscriminately flexing their muscles in a vain attempt to look bigger than they are.  Comparing size, boys stand as tall as dog & just under knee height of giant.  

Closing door behind him, giant pounds a large club into his hand, “I'm Sagrum, I watched you outside,” giant says in an alarmingly forceful voice, “Nobody walks on open lands.  Who are you?  Why have you come?”

“We come in peace!”   Jack shrieks.  

“I'm Stone Nicolai & this is Jack Lofty, Sir,” Stone says through uncontrolled chattering teeth, “We've come because, I fell through my parchment.”  Stone explains, realizing  he is stumped as to precisely why they've come.  

“Stone is your name?  You're nothing but a grain of sand,” Sagrum growls, “Answer my question or I'll feed you to Killer!”   He interrogates, pointing to large snarling dog.  
“Killer?  I thought that was Moppy?”  Jack says to Stone.  

“Answer my questions!”   Sagrum yells.  

“I'm painter of your land.” Stone spits out.

“Lies!  Tell me who sent you.” Sagrum scowls, striking club repeatedly on floor, “We lost two great warriors outside seemingly because of you!”  

“No one sent us!” Stone yells, “We're lost, warriors were chasing us!”  

“No one sent you?”   Sagrum asks, looking for certainty in their eyes.  

“I'm from land of enchantment!” Jack replies quickly, controlling his shuttering knees, “We're your friends. We're here because,” Jack stops & looks at Stone with unsettled eyes, “We're here because Stone is only hope you have!”  

Stone, facing Sagrum directly, eyeballs Jack in horror.  Having no clue what Jack means by last statement, Stone nods in agreement anyway.

“If you're from land of enchantment,” Sagrum says, leaning down to take a long, hard sniff of Jack, “You’ll smell as sweet candy.”  Jack opens up his arms & briskly airs out his shirt with his hands, in hopes giant smells scent he's looking for.  “Peaches & carrots,” Sagrum says, “And you!  What does he mean you're our only hope?”  

Frozen & perplexed, Stone's tongue flops out of his mouth as he tries to speak.  In desperation Stone turns to Jack for answer to question.  

Jack interrupts, as last ounce of color leaves his now pasty, white face.  “You & I both know what this means.  He's your & our only hope.”  

giant taps his large finger on his chin.  “I see,” he says, “I believe you believe what you’re saying.” His rough demeanor softens slightly, “Come, tell me more.”

Stone, who's been holding his breath virtually entire time, releases a gasp of air in relief.  

“Come on Moppy,” Sagrum says to his dog that’s now wagging his tail.  The boys look at each other,

“I knew his name was Moppy!” Jack whispers.  

“What's going to happen now?”  Stone asks.

Sagrum opens door, & with blind faith boys follow quickly behind on heels of giant.  The hustling noise in tavern screeches to silence.  All of Giants crane their immense necks around to look at newcomers.  Three young giant women stand on their stools, as though to evade mice.

Pausing only for a brief moment, a snaggle-toothed female giant yells, “Intruders!”  All of Giants menacingly rise from their chairs.  

“Halt!” Sagrum commands, “They've come in peace.”  

The Giants sit gradually, grimacing steadily at boys. Sagrum leads them to a large table.  He picks boys up from under their arms & sets them on tabletop.  “Don’t mind them,” Sagrum says, “We don't trust strangers in these parts.”  

“We noticed,” Stone replies, “Two giant warriors just tried to kill us above ground.  Luckily birds saved our lives.”  

“Is that what you think?”  Sagrum scowls in frustration.  He stands & yells out, “Get these boys two goose berry brews to drink, in a sipping glass!”  A giant woman plops down two beverages in front of Stone & Jack.  Both mugs are size of their torsos. “They weren’t going to kill you,” Sagrum continues, “they were going to capture you.  Those were good men protecting our land, & those wretched birds are enemy.”

An old grey skinned giant with warts on his nose and  smoking a long pipe with green smoke exiting its chambers, approaches table on his way out of room.  “Are you Diminutives?” warty man asks through slimy teeth.  

Understanding confusion Jack replies, “Capacians.  Diminutives are much smaller than us.”

 “Smaller than you?”  Sagrum says, his eyebrows lift in surprise, “That's too bad, I hear Diminutives are some of swiftest people alive.”  

“So you do know about my homeland?”  Jack asks two men.  

“Indeed we do,” warty man says, leaving room trailing a smoggy scent behind him, “We used to visit from time to time.”  

“Peaceful people I hear,”   Sagrum says, “You aren't subjected to wrath of Haddez.”  

“Not yet,” Jack says, “But we're preparing for day he comes.”  

Stone takes a gulp of his drink, “Who's Haddez?”  

“Haddez is…” Sagrum stops his words & then snaps his mouth shut and, motioning to Stone, asks Jack. “You're telling me, he's our only hope, yet he doesn't know who Haddez is?”  
“He's link,” Jack replies earnestly, “the link between two worlds,”

“Come boys, I want to show you something,” Sagrum says, gulping down his final sip, “We need to be where other ears aren't listening.”

Stone & Jack also take their last large gulps, but they still have ninety percent of their drink remaining.  Sagrum hoists them down to ground & walks them to a painting of an eminent civilization.  

“This is what once was,” he says, “Before our people were overrun.”  Sagrum slams his fist against a small round plaque hanging on wall, or actually, a secret button.  The wall shakes, but no one in room falters.  Gradually, painting rises above button, leading into another passageway.  “This is our neighborhood,” Sagrum says, “If you want to call it that.”  Glow bolts towards boys, lands on Stone's shoulder & hugs his neck.

Inside is an underground city interconnected by numerous homes & shops.  The walls are primarily of red clay.  The ceilings tower high above giant’s heads & streets are merely narrow walkways.  Sagrum directs them to walk beside him.  He pulls them into first shop & picks up two ruffled red & yellow pieces of material.  “Here, put these on,” Sagrum tells them,  “These sashes show you're peaceful visitors.  They'll keep people from approaching you as spies.  Or, at least keep you both safer, while in our quarters.”  The boys wrap & tie material around their waist as belts.

Stone & Jack run along side Sagrum, twisting & turning through winding corridors.  With every  step Sagrum strides on cobblestone walkway, boys trot twelve.  Staring more than ever, giant spectators watch as they pass, each reacting differently.  Giant playing children run up to poke their dirty fingers down at boys in curiosity, & an elderly giant woman shoos Stone & Jack off with her broom.  Darting through hustle & bustle of large feet, they notice Sagrum is tallest Giant they've seen yet, surpassing average height of other Giants by at least five inches.  “This is so spectacular!” Jack exclaims to Stone, as they look about at their unique surroundings, “I've heard of underground bases before, but they're always in reference to gnomes or other miniature entities, but never Giants!”

Activity is all around them as they pass dozens of sites, all dug out of underground rock & red clay.  Ice stands, book stores, clothing caches, hair boutiques, all catering to giant everything.  Most prevalent seem to be rodent & vegetable markets; a little stinky, but there seems to be no lack in food.  Somber sounds of rushing underground springs echo in distance.  

Leaping over massive cracks in ground, they turn down a dark alleyway to a neighborhood.  Small gardens of vegetables line walls.  

“How do they grow without sun?” Stone asks.  

“These types don't need sun,” Jack answers, “Just water.”

“Home sweet home!” Sagrum says as they approach a large blue door.  Entering house they notice how normal it feels, although it has no windows.  “I dug every inch of this house myself,” Sagrum says, with his chest puffed out like a balloon. “It's a little dusty, but really very cozy.”  

The moist walls are lined with war history & subterranean gardening books.  Each book is enormous in size & stands three quarters as tall as Stone & Jack.

“Why are you underground?” Stone asks, sitting on floor next to Sagrum’s rugged oversized chair. “There's no sign of life on land.”  

“It's been this way for decades.” Sagrum replies.  “We only step foot on land for emergency purposes, protection, or to collect berry's, berries one day a season.  Berries are rare & it’s very dangerous to go above ground to pick them, but they're equivalent to gold to us.  Speaking of berries, would you like one?” Sagrum opens up a container full of a variety of big & small berries.  “I store them in bulk.”  Stone & Jack each grab one, taking a bite as though it where a delectable, rindless watermelon.  

“We used to live in homes above ground where we could see sun.”   Sagrum explains.  “I was just a boy when it all changed.”  Sagrum points to a picture of himself much younger.  His mother, father & two siblings stand next to him smile delightfully in front of a beautiful lodge home with plush gardens in background.  “Lord Haddez is evil wizard of our lands.” Sagrum continues. “Before his father, Ice King, King Esten, passed away at ripe age of nine hundred & eighty two, our civilization prospered & thrived under his great ruler ship.  

King Esten had two sons, Vazner, first born, & Haddez.  Both are ice wizards, but Haddez had more interest in honing his powers in opposite direction, fire & evil.  After King Esten's death, his eldest son Lord Vazner was crowned king, but only for a week.  Lord Haddez’ jealousy took over castle.  In night Haddez locked his brother in a dungeon of ice surrounded by fire so he couldn‘t escape, leaving himself to rule over land.  The day Lord Haddez came to power was day we were all doomed.  Like light to darkness, our world was transformed from freedom to utter fear.

Cross legged & enthralled, boys sit still, listening intensely to every word Sagrum says.  Sagrum pulls out a history book, dusts it off & places it in front of boys.  

“He rules only by fear & greed for power.”  Sagrum explains.   “He wants to control everything, food, land, water & all life forms.  I'll never forget first day he sent his troops to get us.  It was a beautiful day & my mother had just cooked us a feast for Jamen, my eldest brother’s birthday.  We where all outdoors enjoying our meal when a flock of giant birds, Shilcores, swarmed sky. birds caused a huge shadow to cover earth.  My peaceful village became chaotic unlike any we had ever seen.  Lord Haddaz sent out his colossal birds to capture & enslave us.  The birds threw down strong, enormous nets entangling people & then lifting them into sky towards dark kingdom.  Although we fought back, they had advantage & caught us off guard.

I'll never forget, my brother Jamen was first to go.  They swooped down & captured him in an instant.  My father grabbed his gun to shoot large bird, but before he could fire he too was trapped, netted & taken.  My mother grabbed my sister & I, pushing us into house to hide.  A  bird poked its head through our door, grabbing my mother just as she hid us under her bed.  When we emerged hours later, our family & half of our society was gone.  Just gone.”

“That's saddest story I've ever heard,” Jack says, “Why did they take them?”  

“At time, his army was only an air born fleet,” Sagrum says, “He captured my people to turn men into vicious gladiators & women into his servants.  Lord Haddez’ army didn't stop coming.  They came every day.  We quickly learned they wanted every one of us.  So, we all did only thing we knew to do to be safe.  We dug, secretly in night.  At first it was just a small hole for everyone, but we just kept digging.  We wouldn't come up except to disassemble our entire above ground village, inch by inch.  We brought everything underneath to provide for our new dwellings, as well as  to leave behind no sign of life from above.  Now our homes are underground & have become who we are.  This is why we only walk on land with extreme calculation, but birds still come.”

“Your father & brother are both Lord Haddez’ gladiators now?”  Stone asks, “Who do they fight?”  

“Each other for now,” Sagrum answers, “They fight to train for Lord Haddez’ malevolent entertainment.  Eventually they'll come back to fight us, & rest of world.  Lord Haddez wants to rule with vengeance.”  (explain how he brainwashes them)

“When are they coming?” Stone asks.  
“Lord Haddez has a son, equally as twisted & evil as his father.  Lord Haddez is ensuring his son will rule after him & breed more kings.  He’s waiting for his son to come of age so he can ensure his evil legacy continues.”

“What are you going to do?” Stone asks.  

Jack eyes turn to Stone, “I don't know Stone, what are we going to do?”   

Stone turns his head back & forth in both of their directions.  

“Me?”

“You're our only hope, Stone,” Jack replies, “You & Lord Haddez, are only two who hold key to both worlds.”  

“I am?  I am.” Stone admits,  taking a deep breath, “Alright, I understand.  I'll figure out a way to help you.”
 
A drop of water drips on Stone’s elbow, wiping it off he looks up at an uneven crack in ceiling.

 “Ugh,” Sagrum says, “Another leak in my roof.  I thought I fixed this thing.  It must be raining outside.  It’s not so bad, earth eventually closes itself up.  Well, as long as there’s not a root, but that’s a whole other story.”  Sagrum gets a bag of red sand, clay & a bottle of collected water from a rain spout in kitchen.  He slops a batch together, mixing it briskly.  He glides mud over thin crack with a spatula shaped tool.  Sagrum whistles while hole virtually disappears.  “You learn a lot down here when you have no choice.  We do basically everything for everything!”   

Stone’s eyes are zoned out.  He pauses in deep thought, “I need to go home & plan.”  Stone turns to Glow, “Must I fall asleep to get home?”  

Glow knows just what to do. She giggles & flies past Stone to Jack, and gently touches his face & whispers, “Go home.”  Jack disappears into thin air.  

“Magic!”  Sagrum says with an astonished luster in his eyes.  

Glow flies towards Stone & stops, “Thank you for having us, Sagrum,” Stone says, “I’ll return for you.”  

“We’ll dig & prepare,” Sagrum says with a twinkle of hope in his eyes.  

Glow touches Stone’s face in same way as  she did to Jack.  

Instantly, Stone finds himself on his bedroom floor.

Stone ponders, A plan.  

Unfazed, he looks about, realizing he is no longer in land of Giants.  Glow zooms in front of Stone to gather his awareness & says, “Sleep.”

Chapter 11

A restful night’s sleep, this is not.  Tossing & turning in his sheets Stone sits up to gaze at his mother & fathers bedside photo.  

“Mom, Dad, where are you?  weight of world is on my shoulders, I need your guidance.”  

As first  sun rays enter his room, he hears calming sound of his grandparent’s voice’s downstairs.   He slowly gathers himself together & complacently strolls into kitchen.

Popping bread into toaster, Stone looks at his grandparents through silver mirrored reflection.  

“I want to go see my parent’s house!” Stone spouts, turning to gain their full attention.  “Just for today, can you take me there?”  

With a calm glossy eyed pause, Papa replies, “If you think it’ll help you Stone, of course, we’ll take you there.”  

Papa hitches trailer to truck (why did he hitch a trailer to truck?) while Nana makes sandwiches for long trip ahead.  They gather into vehicle & hit road.  During  their long drive on deserted highway, they sing to modern tunes on radio.  Outside city limits static fills airwaves & Stone reclines, pulling out doodle paper & a pencil.   Studying landscape & colors around him Stone reflects on his adventures.  

What does this all mean, he wonders, how is all of this actually happening to me?  

The reality of it all is clear & importance of his talented discovery is astronomical.  Stone’s art is to him, as a baby is to a parent.   He takes magnitude of Sagrum & Jack’s words quite seriously, repeating them over & over in his head like a broken record waiting to be mended.   

Clarity is what he needs now.  The homes he has shared with his parents have always given him mollified sanctuary.  Wherever they are, he knows their spirit is with him.   Although officials have conducted an investigation & thoroughly checked over house to gather clues of  their whereabouts, Stone has a suspicious feeling inside his core where they might be.  They have always had answer to everything he has needed & he is hoping for more, once again.  

While he is sketching a few  lines with his pencil,  something outside his peripheral vision catches his attention.   

Again!?  Stone ponders.  

Two bats vigorously fly in front of car & land upside down on a nearby green sign.  Moments later, two more appear ahead, & then two more.   This common occurrence is getting all too familiar.  Stone scratches his upper lip with pencil eraser & shrugs it off, but draws creepy critters on his pad.

What odd beings these ugly black winged creatures are.  I bet they smell bad.  He pencils in fumes at their aura.  

Nearing his home town Stone prepares himself.  He closes his eyes & waits blindly while approaching house.  As soon as they park in driveway, Stone bobs out of car & hurries to door steps.  Wishfully thinking they have returned home  preoccupies back of his mind, but he knows he needs to be realistic. As Papa opens solid front door, Stone covers his mouth with his hand as memories flood into his mind.  

“Everything is in its place just as we left it,” Stone says.  

Reminiscing, he meanders through home.  With his finger tips, Stone passes from table to table, tracing clean lines on dusty table tops.  He approaches old coo-coo clock which has rung every hour, on hour, since he was an infant.   Next to it, on a nearby shelf, sits a corn cob pipe belonging to his dad.  The scent on it still has a mild fragrance of tobacco.  Next to it is a delicate crystal rose his father gave to his mother, one of her most treasured possessions.

Stone cranes his neck to look into next room, art room.  Stone’s new found appreciation for his Mother’s work illuminates through lines in his face.   His feet guide him in direction of his peering eyes.  He slowly traipses through dim lit room, opening ruffled curtains, as Papa & Nana observe from afar.  Like a priceless photo locking an image in time, her paintings are a true testament to her tremendous heart & skill.  Second to her family, art was everything to her.  Although he shows no apparent tears, an involuntary gulp shivers down Stone’s Adam’s apple as he remembers something.  

“The vault!” he whispers to himself.  (describe what vault looks like. Is is a safe or a whole room?)  As he begins looking for a key, he notices something odd.  The vault door is already open, although just a crack.  She never leaves vault unlocked, much less open, it’s a rule.  He thinks. He tenderly opens door, realizing he has actually never actually looked inside.  Brilliant, he thinks, exploring first of multiple images.  

He intricately scans his way to bottom of what seems to be last of hundreds of magnificent pieces.  Finally, he notices a large manila pouch lying in a slightly hidden compartment.  He pulls it out & sets it on floor.  He carefully opens top and  papers slide out, parchment paper.  

Nana mentioned this, he remembers, She & Pappi gave her parchment to draw on as a child.  

A stack of charcoal images rest on each page. (?)  Stone begins to fumble as he sifts through course material.  When he gets to last image he abruptly notices something uncanny.  He focuses his eyes intently & his begins racing. He picks it up & brings it close to his face.  Blinking rapidly, his pupils dilate to gain clear focus.  He thinks he is inaccurately perceiving what is before him.  This can’t be, he thinks, examining paper.  Unexpectedly he realizes, “My God, this is it. other unfinished half of black castle.”  

After Pausing to find words for his scattered thoughts, he cries out, “Papa!  Nana!”  Stone pauses blankly again, at what exactly he’ll say next, “May we, can we, Can we, may we bring Mom’s artwork home with us?”  

They too have their own specific mourning, but to his query Nana replies, “Of course we can!”  

Stone’s demeanor kindles with encouraging composure.  “Let’s go home now,” he says.  

Pacing back & forth in his room Stone clasps his hands in excitement.  Carefully, he pulls out parchment of other half of black castle.  Examining it, he tilts his mother’s art near his.  

“The second half of puzzle,” Stone says, envisioning his next move.  

Pressing new found missing link parchment to wall, Stone opens art drawer with his toes.  Like a monkey he loops center of a scotch tape roll with his big toe & goofily wrenches it to his arms reach.  Ogling at full castle, Stone uses his teeth to bite off first link of tape.  He pastes his mother’s side perfectly to wall, abreast to his half.  He notices perfection between two castles that now make one.  His half is very dark & crumbly, but his mothers is crisp. His mother’s is very dark & crisp.  He breaks off another piece of tape, & pasts pasting it carefully to bottom of two images.  To be sure they maintain a strong link in perfect harmony, he frugally secures each corner of her piece with excess tape.

Just then as he finishes, Glow flies out of parchment.  It was first time Stone has ever actually watched her protrude through paper itself.  It wasn’t at all what he had envisioned, or even how it feels it could look like when he transcends from his room to new lands.  Her dimensional cartoon first twinkles with a slight wiggle.  Then, she emerges  out of paper, twisting slowly up, like a sped up video of a pixie-shaped mushroom growing out of ground.  It is quite breathtaking, almost like witnessing formation of a natural rainbow from start to finish.    

Stone’s appreciation for his little friend is heightened each day he sees her.  “That was really cool,” Stone says to Glow, with an open smile captivating his face.  

“Thank you & thank you!” Glow says.  She joyfully zooms upwards.  Spinning in mid flight she frightfully does a double take at Stone’s new full Castle.  “The sulfur…”  She idles in place until her wings suddenly stop flapping, & she falls down through air.  

Stone’s reflex catches Glow, cradling her with his cushioned palms.   Slowly he elevates her up to his cheek bones with a puffed grin.  Eye to eye he looks at his dramatic little friend.  

“Glow,” Stone says calmly, tickling her ribs with his pinky.  She laughs, pushing his finger away, correcting her expression to a pout.

“No!” Glow says, “Nooooo. Yes Capasians, yes water, yes Giants.  Nooo… dark castle.”  

“For a lady with few words,” Stone replies, “you sure know how to get your point across Glow.”

 “They see you,” Glow says with crinkled eye brows, “They see me, they capture us forever!”  

Stone absorbs her statement & shrugs, “We have no choice Glow.  We have to see & understand what they’re all about.  What they’re doing.”  

“Many of pixies captured,” Glow replies, “My best friend is.”  

Stone looks at her softly, “Well, that gives us more initiative Glow.  I need your help.  I can’t go there without you.”  

“Shucks!” Glow replies, snapping her fingers she crosses her arms in protest.  She looks at Stone with irritable burning eyes, “Ok!  I help.”  Glow grimaces at herself for making such a dangerous statement.

Heeding moment Stone yells, “Great!  Let’s discuss.”  

two huddle together, talking out a calculated game plan for hours.  

Stone has learned hard way, “We won’t know exactly what to expect when we arrive, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!”  

Thinking ahead they decide a good tactic will be to draw a sturdy black lattice in crack between his mother’s half castle & his.  This will allow for ample outside wall access, acting as a ladder of sorts. They also weigh pros & cons of having just two of them in dangerous land vs. beseeching Jack’s assistance.  They opt for just two, this time.

Stone carefully designs intricate lattice from ground all way to highest towering rooftop.  Malleably twisting & bending to form of castle structure.  Included in construction are billowing black roses.  

Thinking ahead he thinks, “Silk with no thorns.  This will hopefully aid as a visual shelter from any lookouts.”

Finished, Stone steps back.  “Are we ready!?” He asks Glow.  

Glow takes a deep breath.  Stone reluctantly reaches up to touch black painting.  Glow leaps forward, stopping his hand.  Without a sound, she grabs a hold of his pinky & with other hand she points her teeny-tiny finger, exactly where she wants them to land.  It’s precisely at bottom of black floral lattice.   Stone squint’s his face, flinching at what’s to come.  Glow with her unusual strength presses her hand through art, heaving Stone behind her.  

They land within an inch of their destination.  They quickly look around to gather their bearings.  Windless rain showers down from miles of dark storm clouds.  Stone walks backwards towards lattice.  Shivering uncontrollably Glow straddles Stone’s face.  Pinching both of his cheeks with her clutch, she burrows her head in crease of his nose.  Stone crosses his eyes to check up on his frightened pixie.   
   
Tap - he feels on his shoulder.  Startled, he instinctively swipes at his shoulder, hoping to get something off.  Then, he feels tap-tap-tap again on his other shoulder.  Stone freezes in place, mortified to greet inquirer.  With great force, Stone is whiplashed backwards against charcoal colored shrub of roses.  His legs jolt in front of him, his back colliding against rustling leaves who swaddle his sudden stop.  Harsh acrid fumes emanate from castle walls. Thick black vines circumference his body for safety.  

Reactively, he attempts to scream, while swinging his arms with great force.  Glow shuts his lips with might of her entire body.  Foliage batters all around him.  Like water rushing through a garden hose, head to toe, Stone feels life force flowing through each black veined rose stem.

“Sssshhhhhhhh” Stone hears, not coming from lips of Glow.  

“Well, wouldn’t you know it, a boxer,” Stone looks to his left in amazement.  A rose bustlingly wipes dust off it’s peddles.

“I think he’s cute, how about a kiss?” To his right, another rose maneuvers it’s peddles in a puckering formation.   

“Are you crazy?” One jitters, “Stay in here where you’re hidden!”

Soaked from downpour Stone notices rain is now only falling in front of him.  He looks up to observe a blanket of vines, acting as a short roof shelter, just for Stone & Glow.  

“The water told us you’d be coming,” says a wrinkly rose.  

With a “Heave-Ho!”  Stone is elevated involuntarily upwards while being turned towards stocky lattice.  Inch by inch leaves toil to push him until he gains solid footing to climb on his own.

“Ouch” – “Umph” – “Push!” – “Hello” - “Move over” – “Help his heels” – “Shame on you!”  Multiple flowers say, all unveiling individual personalities.  

Stone grasps tight with each step, being conscientious not to ruffle too many petals.  Not knowing exactly what lies ahead or where to start his quest, he obliges their assistance & climbs.   Vertically, several windows are jaggedly arranged in order.  Taking sight on first crooked window above, light blares out, making it easy to become transfixed on destination.

After only four or five steps, a swooshing noise jars Stone to a still.  Glow hardily pinches Stone’s hand for a warning.  Stone knows danger is around every corner, he isn’t going to take any chances.  He remains relaxed with caution, looking backwards under his outstretched arm.  

Large armor adorned birds fly in a circling motion around a nearby clearing.  Stone presses as close to wall as possible, evading their view.  Hundreds of charcoal black roses bush over two as camouflage.  birds change pattern, flying in a double filed line, enclosing direction of castle.  roses’ chatter breaks abruptly, from inquisition of Stone’s whereabouts, to wistful random banter.

As birds near, roses heckle, “Have a nice flight?” – “Don’t you have mother's?” – “You smell like tuna!”  Thousands of condescending phrases spit out in war birds direction.  “Oh, tough guy!” One yells at another, thinking it was he who insulted him, “Come fight me, I dare ya!”  Two roses high five each other, “Reverse psychology, works every time!”  

Stone, not clear on why behavior of these ghastly birds has changed, can’t help but nervously chuckle internally.

 “Shhhh,” Glow says to a few of louder characters, pointing to a couple birds nearby.  

“Who?  Them!” A cranky rose replies, “They’re just babies!”  “Plus,” whispers a rose bud to Glow, “We have you hidden from their sights.”

lead bird grunts through his nasally beak, pretending to not hear dark roses, “Those weeds are such nuisances.”  

“The bane of my existence,” another bird replies, “They never die, they just keep growing!  More grow every day!”  

The last bird whimpers, “Yap yap yap!  Do they ever silence?”  

Stone remains mum & motionless, pressing his face closer towards sulfur castle rock.  Waiting a few minutes, but what seems like hours, flowers begin to sing humorously in chorus.  The distracting tune encourages him to continue scaling.  The flowers jiggle & sway back & forth in harmony, only to become still for random soloists who belt out frighteningly ample chords whenever one deems inappropriately fit.

“Ouch!” Stone retracts his arm towards his chest, “You bit me!”  

A sly rose recoils into itself, “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”  

Stone looks at it with only corner of his eye & snaps, “I’ll bite you back!”  

The rose jerks frightened, retreating under its nearest friend.  Stone shakes his head at silliness of such a serious occasion.

Nearing first window, Stone pulls himself up with his forearms, peaking in with just a sliver of his eyeball.  

“Wow!”  

The first floor was full of horses.  His jaw drops, “Wait, not just any horses, Pegasuses.  They live.”    Entrenched in surroundings unfit for a scrounger, beautiful golden Pegasus stands enraptured amongst slithering reptiles up & around their feet.  “Half snake, half centipede?” Stone analyzes.  Four sharp toothed trolls guard stall doors as others sit laughing on each winged horse.   Brushing & braiding their smooth manes with ridged constraint.   Stone attempts to count number of Pegasuses  in view.  “one, two, three, four, five, six, & 7.  Just seven?”  

Glow whispers, “Seven’s a lot!  Pegasuses are almost extinct.”  

Stone lets out a deep sigh, shaking his head with shame, “I can’t bare to watch anymore.  Lets climb.”

Inch by inch they weasel around exterior.  The black roses shuffle with his careful pace, arguing amongst themselves about who gets to cover which part of Stone’s body.  A little tiff brakes out between two roses covering his ankle.  

“No, no Buds,” Says a third rose protectively, “No need to push.”   

Stone zones out chaotic rants, thrusting readily to next window.  Opened at a slight axis, Stone feels stale air exiting windowsill.  The second window is quite a bit larger than first, with a belt of dingy stained glass surrounding outside rim.  Inside is a wide room, cut short by two massive dark walnut doors.  The ceiling is so high it’s out of view.

Wall to wall room is covered with an array of ornately framed art pieces.  Every portrayal can only be under-described as a masterpiece.  Each virtually touching, they hang with only half inch gaps from one another; Mapped almost like wallpaper, enveloping every square inch of surface.   
On right side of room is an opulent spiraling staircase, passing through lower to upper floors to upper floors.

Stone’s mouth bows, mesmerized by collection.  Holding his ear near opening, he listens for a to hear for sound.  

“Glow,” Stone says, “Can you fit through this slit?”  

Skeptical of request, Glow meagerly slips her body through.  As quickly as she enters, she strains to exit.  The double doors slam open into Stone, & he plummets back in their direction.  Stone plummets back.  Direly dangling with one hand, he barely hangs from outskirt of windowpane.

A tall man (describe him) cyclones in, red faced with fury.  Long, dingy red & grey hair falls wildly around his head.  His silver & black silk robe flings with every sudden movement.  He violently thrusts his pale, blue veined hands at his two side kicks; Ceasing briefly only to clutch his large, black gemmed rings; each of which glide loosely around his bony fingers.

Two short, stumpy, pointy eared men follow behind, like pets.  Their beady eyes shift madly in all directions.   Each cower under their ragged black capes, shivering like scared rats.

“But, But, But Lord!”  The two wild eyed men plead.

Stone leans towards Glow, “Lord Haddez!?”  

Intermediately, Stone briefly looses grip.  He swings his freefalling arm to a drooped vine, unfavorably located at bottom center of window pane.  The black roses jump to action, straining to help rustle him back to one side of window.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE HE IS!”  Shouts Lord Haddez .  

Standing side by side, one nervously wrings his hands, “We, We don’t know Lord.” 

“YOU FOOL’S!  I GAVE YOU ONE JOB!  YOU COULDN’T EVEN DO ONE THING!”  Lord Haddez yells, flailing his arms about room like a spoiled child.  

One of jittery wild eyed men siphons words through his pointy teeth, “One moment he’s there, next he’s gone.  Like a ghost.”  

“A GHOST?!  He’s no ghost!” Lord Haddez agitatedly exclaims.  

“No need to be so upset my lord!  We’ll find him.  It’ll never happen again!  Never.”

Lord Haddez storms down spiral staircase, his arms & robe frighteningly swooshing through air.  His two minions timidly skedaddle behind, pleading for forgiveness with excuses.  Their voices grow quieter further away they get.

Stone wipes his brow, “Few!  Now that was close call.”  Stone waits, listening for complete stillness.  “Glow, coast is clear,” he says, pointing to opening  between doors, “Gather as much information as you can.”  

Glow’s nostrils flare, puffing hot air out her nose with an open sigh.  She counts to ten to gather courage, & holds her breathe she dashes quickly into room.  She glides through double doors as high & as fast as her wings can carry her.  Stone watches intently, prying at window with a branch, trying to widen it to his size.  

Suddenly, he hears more footsteps coming up stair cases.  Stone shrinks from sight again, crossing his fingers for his little friend’s safety.

Then, Step by step he watches a person appear, first seeing top of a head before he realizes it is a woman. Catching her profile, Stone’s sweaty palms clench vine.  Like a mummy in a daze, her knees slowly bend with each step & her arms lifelessly dangling by her side.  Her crystal blue eyes, shiny brown hair & blue nightgown are unmistakable.  Crushed & confused, Stone’s heart sinks into his stomach.  

He murmurs, “Charis!?”   

She rounds stairwell up to next flight.  Stone, in desperation, looks upwards to next window,  which seems like it is miles away. distance between he & window seems like miles; Yet he knows he must climb.  Reaching as far & as fast as his arms can carry him, he scrambles upwards.

 “This can’t be!  Charis?!  How is it that Charis is here?”  Anxiety rushes through his bones as he tries to answer these questions.  “Is this a joke?  First my neighbor, then land of enchantment… & now this?”  

Rubbing his eyes he hopes all this is one bad dream.  It’s not.  Charis really is here, & although he doesn’t want to think of her as an evil accomplice, he now has almost no doubt in his mind.  It’s all a set up.

He scales wall, looking about at environment around him.  He is now in full view of multiple cages.  Unusual creatures move about, soaking wet, in environments similar to what he imagines would be their natural habitats.  

“Lord Haddez really IS taking over this world.”  

He wonders if land of enchantment is next, but he knows they’re not yet captured.  He reaches third window & looks in just as Charis enters room.

room is full of hundreds of tiny fluffy beings adorned in golden headpieces & colorful attire.  Several grungy looking women sit around a large dark crystal basin, drawing a bubble bath.  Two of them run towards Charis, grab her hand & escort her complacent shell to water.  Charis drops her gown to floor & slips her toes into bubbles & calmly submerges her entire body, sitting upright to keep dry hair.  Another  servant woman scampers into room to pick up fallen robe, folds it tight & lightly places it on a nearby pile.  

Stone stares in at Charis’ glistening skin.  She looks like an angel, but he feels so disillusioned.  Charis sits expressionless as helpers brush her hair, sponge her arms & legs & pour oils into bath.  Stone’s drooping face reveals only a hint of his inner anguish.           
After Remaining stagnant for several minutes, Charis turns her blank face towards Stone  and gazes directly into Stone’s dewy green eyes.  Her callous face is void of expression, as though she is in a trance.
An inner chill buckles Stone’s knees and he looses grip & slips.  Grinding his body against rough lattice, he falls several feet before catching himself.   

“Oh dear!” A black rose says, “Who’s holding him up?  We can’t let him fall again!”  Another agrees, “You dummies!  Hold him up where he needs you!”

“GLOW!” (glow!) Stone thinks.  He rustles downward to window.  He sees his little friend investigating nearby room.  “Glow!” Stone whispers, “Let’s go!”  Glow flinches at sudden voice, & wide eyed,  peels close to wall.

With a sigh of relief she darts in his direction. Just then,  two wild eyed sidekicks briskly walk up stairs, ranting & raving to each other about their problems with Haddez.  As they enter room they see Glow in mid flight.  

Hand in glove, they point to her, “INTRUDER!!”  As Glow glances back at them, a mist of green steam emanates from their bodies.  Covering their eyes with their cloak, they rapidly spin in place.  Beholding distressing occurrence, Stone impulsively grabs a stick to break glass.  Shrinking as fast as they spin, two men transform into an unsightly phenomenon.   No longer in human form, two bats appear, Black & fuzzy with pale brown bellies & an emerald tone.

Like a bullet shooting through a gun, a terrified Glow keeps her sights fixated on Stone as she darts towards him, looking away only to hook a sharp turn down towards small outside crack in window.  The bats pursue, flying with equal swiftness. As Glow emerges through broken glass Stone lets go of wall, falling only a few inches, before vines catch him.  

“Release me!”  

The black roses immediately part & Stone uncontrollably cascades all way down, with Glow slowing his fall with all her might, until he hit’s ground with a thud, right next to a narrow cellar window.  Falling, Stone escapes cascading down.  Glow reaches for him with all her might as he plummets.  He lands hard on ground next to a narrow cellar window.   Inside hundreds of corralled Giants, cuffed to walls, hear thud & stand.  

bats descend at them with great velocity.  A deafening whistle sounds in air & hundreds of armed birds fly stealthily in their direction.  The moment Glow finally Glow touches Stone & screams touches Stone, she screams “GOOOO!”

Stone gets up, & jumps back into his room just before bats & birds arrive. How does he jump into his room? Concurrently, bats hit ground head first, where Stone once laid.

Chapter 13 -

Rubbing his shoulder from his fall, Stone sprawls on floor & shakes his baffled head at how closely they evaded capture. 

“They know!” “Gadezz knows!“ Stone wipes beads of sweat from his forehead, “They now know we were there.” “He knows now we are here”.
 Glow drapes her little body over a rip in carpet floor.  Breathing rapidly she doesn’t reply, allowing her heartbeat to slow.  “Thank you, Glow.  I know how much you didn’t want to come.  You where amazing.”  
Glow nods her head at Stone.  Taking deep breaths she rolls over, picking herself off floor.  She sluggishly walks towards his bedside table.  After slightly jumping up & down a couple of times in an effort to fly, she falls lethargically to floor.

“Can you believe nerve of those bats?  They’re spies - no wonder!”  Stone grabs a few markers & juggles them to ease his fidgety hands.  “And Charis!  Now, she’s last person in world I would have expected to be a spy too.  She’s good, really good!  Maybe she’s Queen! She weaseled her way to my neighborhood, my school & into land of enchantment.  Goes to show, you can’t always trust a pretty face.  And just think, I thought I was one seeking her out.  She’s good.  She’s really good!”

“I saw…” Glow tries to speak.  Stone leans in intently.  tired pixie musters up enough strength to flap her little wings just enough to coast on top of bedside table.  She rests her elbows on her knees & looks deeply into Stone's eyes, almost right through him.  She attempts to hold back her words, but then blurts out, “Sulfur castle has a painting!”  

“Yes,” Stone replies, not impressed, “I saw them too.”  

“No,” Glow says.  Sitting next to her is picture of Stone's mother & father.  She points to it.  Confused, Stone‘s eyelids qualm, as though batting layers of dust off his lashes. 

“What about them Glow?” Stone’s face hardens to be expressionless. 

“I saw their emerald eyes in a painting of three.” 

Stone looks away to hide site of his eyes filling with water.  Glow quietly assesses Stone with empathy. 

“OF COURSE!”  Stone shouts, “Of course, they’re in a painting!”

Angry, sad, happy & mad Stone can’t find words for many agitations rushing over him.  He belts out a wordless cry of frustration.  His distressed heart howls  a tortured wrenching bellow.  His hollers ring through house, rattling pictures on wall.  Papa & Nana startle from shrill.  He lies on his back, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.  His shuddering fingers thread his hair & clutch his head.

jolting news emanates his being for several minutes.  After initial shock ends, Stone gathers composure. 

“This changes everything,” he sighs, “Ah!  Thank you my little friend.” He picks Glow up & kisses back of her head.  “We've got to get them!  We’ve got to get their portraits from him!”  

“Is everything alright?” Papa utters through crack in door as Stone grabs pencils from his drawing kit.  

“Yep!” He answers, “Everything is wonderful.  I’m just drawing a castle for my parents!”
Papa quietly closes door behind him, asking no questions.

“Don't look Glow.” He says, “It’s a surprise!”  Stone applies his heart & soul into new image with profound details flowing directly through his fingertips. 
“Warriors.” He winks at Glow, “We need warriors to guard castle.”

Glow laughs, jumping on desktop radio, blasting music in his earphones to inspire. 

Hours pass before Stone says, “I'm done!  Are you ready?”  Glow puffs her cheeks full of air to simulate holding her breath,  holding out her arms in his direction. “Let’s go!”  Stone says. Down they fly into painting, like paint drops from a brush.

“Haaa” Glow gasps! 

Words can't explain beauty of this revised majestic mystical kingdom.   Warmth & light embraces them like a fervent hug.  castle towers 20 miles in sky, it’s marble walls sparkle like white, glistening snow.  Cliffs surround half of castle, shielding it like protective armor. In center, castle structure poises as stout as an eminent mountain, yet so whimsical it can almost float.  It doesn't appear to have doors, however a row of glassless open windows encircle center & top floors.  Roaring waterfalls flow down it’s numerous summiting spires.  waterfalls feed dark fertile soil with moisture so bountiful it could spawn new birth of any bloom.  fresh scent in air is as pure as the shining drops of waterfalls & as fragrant as a field of flowers.  Floral plants layer it’s mountainous ridges while cheerful bugs of all shapes & sizes bounce about plants.

bottom of this mountain-castle has cave openings, each guarded by tall, thin pointy-eared men on steeds.  They’re positioned motionless, like live chess pieces, yet each has a favorable disposition about them in such a way it's almost calming to just look in their direction.   Their skin is pure albino, camouflaging them almost like a chameleon to snow covered mountains.  Their chests are layered with dozens of belts, all strapped in intricately woven vertical axes.   Each strap appears to harness something on their backs in place.

As Stone & Glow approach castle walls, they jump back.   Large limestone slabs, sitting before them, shift & move on their own.  First spinning in midair, they turn into floating stairs, from Stone  to castle.  doorless wall converts into what appears to be a glowing wall of energy before it morphs into an opening just above stairs.   

Standing in new doorway, afresh as though they've never been there, are two more tall pointy-eared albinos; One male, one female. They both look exactly as previous albino cave dwellers did, However, their coal black shiny long hair flowing over their white skin strikingly separates them from others.  Loosely draped in white linen, they too are  wearing  multiple belts.  These two new figures also wear multiple belts, but are dressed in stunning white linen. All of belts are patterned in an artistically sophisticated manner, yet are so tightly woven that they act almost as armor for their torsos.   

They see Stone & Glow, & Their peaceful faces grin as they step down stairs towards them.  

Reaching out their hands, female approaches them first, “Welcome to Heavia!  I’m Morizon & this is Drift.”  She says with a warm face. Her male counterpart bends to bow.  “We’ve been waiting a very long time for you two.” He says.  “Each day has felt like years.”  

“Boy, am I glad to meet you!”  Stone replies, zealously shaking Morizon’s hand up & down.

 “You’ve traveled a long way,” says Morizon, “Are you thirsty?”   Morizon & Drift guide them towards nearest trickling waterfall.  Morizon cups her bare hands under falls, leaning forward to sip wet refreshment.  Stone & Glow do same.   The cold, tasteless beverage moisturizes his lips, splashing droplets about.  

“You’ve come here to Heavia for help.”  Drift says, “There will be a great war.  You will fight for our world’s salvation.”  

“Yes!”  Stone replies, “How do you know?”  

“Water knows all,” Drift says, “It hears, sees & feels everything.  We listen to it when it speaks.  This is purest water in world.  It keeps you young & has tremendous healing powers.”   Glow looks down at her reflection in water.  

“Does it know how to fight a war!?”  Stone asks with a hiccup, as he laps water from his cupped hands.  

Drift & Morizon chuckle, “Water doesn’t have to know how to fight.  Water gives & receives.  But, we Heavians know how to fight.”  

“Great, let’s get started!” Stone says vigorously, rubbing his hands together.  

“First, I guess we’ll need weapons,” Stone plans, “Then, we need to gather all people from every land together, here!  Then, we’ll see.”  

“Hold up here, Stone.” Drift interrupts, “You don’t know?  The lands don’t meet.”  

Stone quiets, squinting his left eye & cheek in question, “What do you mean?”   

“Only you, your guide Glow, water & Lord Haddez hold secret power of transporting to other lands.”

  “Transporting?” Stone asks, “Don’t you mean traveling.”  

“No one can travel to other lands Stone, via land, sky or water.  After Lord Haddez’ father, King Esten died, a gap appeared between all lands.  It’s like a vortex, which separates our lands like a dense wall.” 

“Well, this is a good thing to know!” Stone says, rolling his eyes.  

“Only you hold key to porthole,” Morizon ensures.  

“What do we do?  My mother & father are trapped in castle!  How are we going to free slaves & get my parents out of castle?  We don’t have warriors on our side!”  

“You’ll have warriors Stone, we’ll help you.  You have key that opens gate.”  

Just then a gush of wind blows through air, shifting their clothes two & fro like waving drapes.  They all look up to sky.  

“Shilcores?” Stone quivers.  Dozens of large flying objects swoop over mountaintop.  

“No” Morizon corrects, “We’re Heavians.”  
“Heavians?” Stone asks, “Now they look like white angels.”  

They’re all albinos, so graceful, perfectly gliding through air.  They’re so graceful, perfectly gliding in air.  “No, not angels either.”  Morizon turns & walks towards castle, gesturing for them to follow.  As she leads, Stone notices wings on her back too. He peers closely at unusual way they’re strapped down by many belts, he peers closely.  The many Heavians ascend to ground.  They hover first, then get their footing on uneven ground.  The many straps hold bows, arrows, swords & daggers in place on their backs.  Then, with a brisk whipping motion Heavians strap their wings, harnessing them like a horse bridle.  This illusion aids in hiding their weapons.

“If you’re not angels,” Stone asks intrigued, “what are you?”  

“Heavians, Stone,” Morizon replies,

“We’re of same breed as pixies, but larger. We’re like Capations & Diminutives.  Capations are same breed as Diminutives, but larger.   Pixies are more in scavenger family, but very fast & helpful.  Heavians are more like warriors.”  

“Oh!” Stone says, “This must be why Shilcores haven’t captured any of you.”  

Drift replies, “They’ve tried!  Oh, they’ve tried.  We wait for them above clouds.  They use sneak attacks is as their method when they attempt to ambush our people.”

Stone asks, “Do you strap your wings just to hide your weapons?” “No,” Drift replies, “That’s just convenient storage.  We strap our wings so we can walk.”  Morizon winks at Stone’s new found knowledge.  

Stone’s bottom lip droops down his chin, “Huh!  Who knew?”

Stone looks back, noting army shift about, like several live chess pieces.  Soon, new men stand comfortably at attention.  

Morizon leads Stone up stairs, as army follows behind.  With each step he takes, stepping slab behind him shifts & moves back into its original place on ground blending in to garden rocks.  After army passes over stepping slabs, they move back into their original places on ground blending into garden rocks. Drinking in environment, Stone looks at waterfalls & brisk moving slabs.  

Feeling slightly overwhelmed, a brief moment of déjà vu takes his mind back ocean. “’Two gifts equal six plates, bound together opens gate!’  Wait!  I hold key!” Stones eyes are fixated on Glow.  “I know answer to riddle!!  Take me home!”  

Stone runs up steps towards two dark haired Heavians, “I’m sorry!  I have to go.  I’m sure castle is beautiful inside.  I look forward to seeing it!  But, I know answer to riddle!! He hasn’t mentioned riddle to them.  They nod at him with a warm smile.  Stone attempts to run back down stairs, but stairs he has just climbed have moved & are no longer there.  He falls flat on his hands & knees in grass.  “This staircase is much better than a mote!”  Stone yells up to Heavians.  They stare out door, & before they can say anything door disappears as though it was never there.  It’s as though door was never there.

Glow giggles, taking Stone ever again, to his room.

Chapter 14 -

“OK!”  Stone says, giddy with enthusiasm, “Two gifts equal six plates, bound together opens gate!’ That’s it, that’s all I needed to know!”  Stone grabs scotch tape & explains, “I have same gift of art as my mother, & together that is two gifts!  I have five parchment papers, with her half parchment of sulfur castle is six!  Bound together, opens gate.  That’s key to bringing lands together. Of course!”

Stone carefully & briskly tapes each of his ripped canvases together.  Like puzzle pieces, he precisely tapes each ridge to its twin, leaving no gap unnoticed.

Busily working on his life’s mission, Stone turns to Glow.  “Glow, go tell water, tell Jack & Sagrum.  Let them know barriers will be opened & to head to location of White Castle of Mountains.

Like a fish leaping from fish bowl to fish bowl, Glow plummets head first from one parchment to next.  She jumps First into waters watery world, emerges wet some time later, then jumps into land of enchantment, then land of Giants.

Hours pass before she finally returns to Stone, Stone waits who has been waiting patiently, readying himself for what’s to come.

When Glow emerges, she pulls up her pair of stalkings & says, “One Night.  We need to give them one night.”  

Stone rubs dark circles under his eyes, “Alright, 6 am prompt Glow.  No later.” (maybe we should include in story why it is so imminent. Perhaps Drake threatened to kick his ass since last time they met, or something)

Glow leaves to Heavia for night.  Stone opens his closet & dresses for next morning, then lies in his bed to get rest for morning’s.
alarm goes off at 5:59 am, & Stone fosters composure, attentively waiting for Glow’s arrival.  As soon as she springs through paper, he grabs a hold of her & picture of mountainous castle & shouts, “LET’S GO!”

They land precisely in front of castle. stepping slabs move, diving into air to align before Stone, creating a new doorway.  This time, in a different location than before.  As door opens he is floored to see a friendly familiar face greeting him.  

“A beautiful day isn’t it,” Jack yells from above, “Nothing like a beautiful day, for war.”   

Stone jogs up steps, as he does, each passing slab drops back into place.  

“You’re swift man!” Stone yells, “You arrived before me.” 

Barefoot, Jack laughs, ringing out dirty water from his socks.

“I walked all night.  I wanted to be first one here!  The others are on their way with weaponry, they’ll arrive shortly.”  

They walk inside castle & to Stone’s pleasant surprise it wasn’t at all what he had envisioned, but as usual, much, much more impressive.  inside is like tallest cave he’s ever seen.  Hot springs glide down a round ridged rocks adorned by small cottonwood trees adorn each one.  Inside trees are little monkey creatures whom Stone recognizes as some of captured at Dark castle.  They’re fuzzy, & their huge eyes glow shine beams of light like flashlights, taking up half their face.  You can see where each one is looking by landing of their glaring illumination.

“Lanters are their breed,” Jack asserts.

feeling of air isn’t humid or dry, it’s perfect.  Limestone slabs adorn ground, just as they do outside.   Rising High above it all are additional floors supported by pillars lined with linen.  Large staircases begin to descend before them, starting high above them at top & leading down, as Albino Heavians walk down.  Their faces are less warm then day before, replaced instead with a fierce knowingness.  Merizon & Drift intermix in group of Heavians as equals.  A swarm of Fairies glide & hover over heads of everyone.

A deep rumble shakes ground like a humble earthquake.  Stone & Jack step outside to witness a powerful site.  For miles, land mass is filled with thousands of Jack’s people.  Both Capacians & Diminutives migrate with reverence.  In front is Jack’s father Camble, waving their blue flag high above everyone’s head.  Armed for war, they all carry slings, swords, axes, spears, blades, crossbows & all forms of arrowed weaponry.  Diminutives are first to arrive at castle, followed by Capacians.  Within an hour entire army is assembled before fortress steps.  Yet, as they calmly station in place, ground‘s rumbling doesn’t cease. Instead, the  volcanic groan increases in earth beneath them.

Pebbles at their feet slowly begin to shift & jump about like scattered bugs.  curious crowd parts & circles around unstable terrain.  A small hollow hole breaks surface from below, and Light siphons into shaft.  A large finger pokes through it, then two, then with a single sledge, a giant hole is formed.

A radius of misty dust scatters ground’s atmosphere, and Sagrum emerges from newly formed shaft‘s mouth.  One by one, Giant boys & men hoist themselves up to land behind Stone.  Their savage demeanors turn into relieved splendor, taking in extensive impact blue skies have on their haggard pale skin.  As each one appears, their faces expressions light up like children.  

Jack whispers to Stone, “Who knows how long it’s been since each one of them have experienced warmth of a sun ray.”   

Bathing in blazing outdoors, giants squint to adjust their eyes, shielding their lids with their hands to shade their vision into focus.

Minutes pass as Hundreds rise from beneath, one by one.  Then, sturdy like a boulder, an elderly Giant woman emerges.  Grabbing dirt to hoist herself to her feet above ground, her soft muscles ripple back to life.  Stone turns to Sagrum with slight confusion, as to why, not just a female, but an elderly lady would be here.  

“Don’t underestimate her strength,” Sagrum notes with a grin of certainty, “She’s a tough one.  She’ll fight to death.  Her newborn son was captured years ago.  We couldn’t stop her from coming if we tried.”  Tasseled & dirty, dozens of women, both young & old begin to spring forth to stand strong with men.  “This war is personal.”

Stone & Jack remain at foot of stairs.  Thousands of Heavians stand behind them while more circle outside of cave.  The Capacians & Diminutives stand before them.  Each passionately facing impending war knowing they might not survive.  

With army Looking at Stone as leader, young man stands tall.  Jack sits next to Stone, awaiting his words.

“Fellow Giants, Diminutives, Capacians, Heavians & Fairies!”  Stone yells out to them, “This revolution didn’t start from peace, it was spurred by the  unjust king‘s greed.  Haddez didn’t dawn this war with weakest.  He started with biggest & strongest by conquering & defeating our valiant giant’s, their land & their independence, and  He won’t be stopping there.  He is coming for each one of you, he wants you all!  He wants everyone & everything.  He is smart & keen.  He’ll pick EVERYONE off, one by one if we don’t ban together.  He isn’t scared of us, but we will MAKE him scared!  We’re fighting for our land, but most importantly, we’re ALL fighting for our families. Our friends. We must unite & ban together.  As ONE world!  We’ll win back this entire whole world.  It’s OURS!”  Stone pauses, taking a deep breathe into his lungs for reality of his next words, “You will be fighting your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons & daughters.  Know, they’re brainwashed, but this battle MUST be fought. Know this as you go, & fight not for he saddness of lost souls of their brethren, but to remind them of where they come from!  only good fight is fight for good!  It will be most painful fight we’ve ever seen, but you must have heart. We will finally be alive again.

Sagrum yells out from crowd, “You do not know grief as we do, until you mourn death of a loved one who still lives, like we have!  Nothing compares to this misery, nothing will.”  

An elderly woman interrupts, “You do not know grief until you’ve lost your child & your spouse.  This will never happen to us again!  This is only way to regain what we've lost.”  The crowd begins to feel encouraged out of their forlornness & turn their hearts & minds to a new page.

Stone’s uncertainty as young leader enters his mind just as fast as it leaves.  He didn’t choose this life, it has chosen him.  He knows he doesn’t know everything, on contrary.  But, he is committed to guide it with best possible outcome, for lands of parchment & for his parents.  No world holds no impossibilities.  The crowd splits & Stone walks through.  

They set off on foot.  Camble, Jack & Sagrum stand on either side of Stone.  The Heavians fly high above clouds, looking out for threat of birds.  Marching with out without much jibber jabber, they have a long way to tread.

In face of danger & a torrential rain storm that is now accompanying them, light hearted humor cascades about army.  Jack jumps on Stone’s back like a horse & jokes, “I need to save my strength.”  Sagrum’s two fingers pick Jack up by his back collar & drops  him flat on ground.  “HA!” Jack laughs, “Tough guy, eh?”  Jack reveals a walnut in his pocket & pitches it at Sagrum’s heal.  Sagrum simply lifts & shakes his foot in agitation & leans his giant head down to Jack, “BOOO!”

Jack jumps back into Stone.  Afer a few moments Jack regains courage & begins to jump about Giant, humorously picking up fallen granutes that are scattered about while beating his fists to his chest.  Sagrum does same, yet when he does it, a hollow noise echoes & crowd of Giants follow suit.  Jack does it again a bit louder & Capacians follow suite, then Diminutives, however With less noise. Jack bows to Sagrum, “You WIN!”

They forge ahead, capering amongst each other.  They set sites on a dark hill before them which is blocking view of sulfur castle. reality of this dangerous situation begins to dawn on them, mostly for Giants, due to their dark past & possibly bright future.  Their eyes dart upwards at any sound, aware of power of Shilcores.  

As they enter deadly grounds, they slosh through soaked soil beneath them. poring rain comes to a screeching halt, as if water knew they have arrived, assisting them in a much appreciated way.

Looking about grounds they notice an unimpressive group of troll guards on lookout, playing cards on castle roof. 

“That’s it?  That’s all they’ve got?” Jack ponders.

“They’re not aware we’re coming,” Stone says.

They walk free-range into soon to be battlefield.  Sloshing through muddy pastures they glare at stronghold doors, baffled at ludicrous guardians of castle. (describe guardians)

Just as they begin their battle-charge, dark clouds part slightly, prickling Heavian’s albino skin with a sparkling hint of sunrays. (describe before this how they are nocturnal)  A slight skip in their step, then a jog, Capacians & Diminutives speed their pace ahead of Giants.  Heavians remain foot born, not to attract Shilcores before time is right.

A yard away, Stone smells mild odor of moving sulfur.  Then clattering of chains clicks loudly & spiked gate creakily opens out from cubed walls.  Giants root their feet in ground & deploy their mammoth weapons from behind their shields. 

As there’s only one entity (describe) at opening, Capacians charge  as an unhindered force.  Next  Heavians unleash their wings & swiftly rocket upwards.

A foul sound blares in sky, followed by rush of enemy army as it emerges from gates, frantically slashing swords, trying to stop onrush of hundreds.  Trolls (describe these guys first time they are mentioned) rush out first. Stone reaches for his spear, lying it at his feet & waits until last moment, & Just as underestimating Troll is about to reach him, he swings spear across troll‘s belly, gutting him & he falls with a shriek.

Two more trolls bound towards him together.  Stone faces them, as he gathers momentum in his bolas, which is a weapon of two rocks connected by a rope, rises slinging his rope rock whirling it in air.   He releases it just in time to madly wrap around two of enemy’s necks & pinning their heads together.  Jack calls out, “HA!  Two heads with one Stone!”

black roses stick their faces up to issuing war.  In a frightened hurry, They uproot their vines from dark walls & scatter downward.  Chattering complaints, they tuck in their leaves & hustle like strewed old women.  Once Detached from wall, they race towards direction of white peaked mountains evading  to evade war.  Huddled together, they scurry through clamored stomps feet, big & small.

farther escaping roses get from harms way, lighter overcast skies become.  As they approach sunnier plots of land, once coal black roses begin to change shade. Starting from front row & slowly moving to back,  an array of pastel colors grows out from their dense vines to their petals.

“I’m tired!” - “Let’s rest!” - “We’re out of danger!” - “I’m hungry!” - “Ooh, pretty colors!” - “We haven’t gotten exercise like this in years!” - “We never have you buffoon!” - “Let’s stop & continue tomorrow!”  They clamor.

Some cough & dramatically gasp for air before they stop, resting….  They do stop, resting under a triad of maple trees.  Then, like a choir, they sing in harmony...well, kind of.

War cries ring for miles.   brainwashed Giant Gladiators, bound by chains & straps, hear roar & feel cement foundation shake from rumble of army, signaling them to rip themselves free from castle‘s bondage. Heading for doors, Gladiators mindlessly scream as they inhale their first breath of this civil war.  giant gladiators lunge towards Capatians, & Giants intercept just in time confront their sizeable opponents.  Clumsily Butting heads with each other, Gladiators promptly pick up weapons of their falled ex-brethren fallen warriors.

Stone & Jack run towards castle as Sagrum fights gladiators others back.  They speed to lower basement window & Jack immediately kicks it in with his foot.  Stone & Jack jump down to murky ground & sprint to free a Pegasus.  Several Diminutives pile in behind them to do same; too small to do much more than  bounce up & down, they point to a locked room & yell in unison to open it. clanging swords & battle cries ring from outside.  Stone & Jack grab small nearby boulders & bang a huge lock several times, eventually breaking it open.

They tear through dim cement hallway towards a flickering room of fire.  Beads of sweat pore down their faces from fierce heat.   Observing dimensions they notice blaze is shape of a thin cylinder sphere, with the center void.  With a running start, together they both jump through hot ring membrane of flames.  To their surprise, temperature inside is peculiarly frigid.  Standing before them is a massive frozen block of ice.  Jack leans his back behind it & begins pushing it to push it towards door with all his might, with Stone quickly following suit.  Each time block budges, their feet slip on smooth, wet floor beneath.  With bodies hot, & hands terribly cold, they slide block towards flames.  Finally pushing it above fire wall near door, they call out to Diminutives for help.  Fast as lightning they arrive, calling back for mettle stakes & hammers.

They chisel at ice block, inch by inch. Some stand on top of it & others around it,   fervently looking about for possible attackers.  

“They’re fastest ice sculptors I’ve ever seen,” Stone remarks.  

Jack & Stone stand in awe, but waste little time.  They storm again, jumping back through ring of fire towards dark spiraling staircase on other side.  Winding upward, Jack holds his slingshot readily before him them.  With any & every ounce sign of movement he fires & reloads.  After Climbing several floors Stone  begins to focus  on his personal mission.

They arrive to room of pictures where Glow recognized his parents in a painting. Stone circles room‘s walls like a whirlwind.  He focuses intently on each picture before going to next.  Hearing cries through window only sharpen their sense of urgency.  Realizing image isn’t in this room, he runs to next, just after catching something in his eye. He staggers backwards & his shivering heart jumps to his throat, “Charis!?”  

Sitting calmly entranced on a throne, Charis resides before him.  Jack dashes back into room, braking with his heals, “What are you doing here?” Jack He asks.  Charis abides silent & expressionless, like a wax figure.

“Weeeellll, hellloooo,” A slow cold voice snakes behind them.  Stone & Jack freeze in their tracks & reluctantly looking over their shoulders to see Lord Haddez.   “Are you looking for someone?” Lord Haddez says, tapping his bony fingertips together, “There’s a war going on outside, you know.”  An  indistinguishable shadowy figure manifests into view behind dark villian. 

Stone's eyes widen in disbelief as it reveals itself, “Drake?”  

“Why, hello old friend,” Drake replies, “We really do need to stop running into each other like this.  So unexpected.  Might you be looking for meeee??”  Stone looks at Charis’ still callous face.

“You know KNOW why we’re here,” Stone replies through clenched jaws.  Drake motions mirthfully in Charis's direction, “Are you looking for her?  My fiancée.”   Stone looks away in disgust.

Haddez interrupts interjects, casually directing his drifting hand to a very large painting on wall, “Or perhaps, could you be looking for this?”  Haddez chuckles, “My two martyrs, I like to call them.”  depiction has two familiar faces mounted on wall.  Stone’s jaw gapes open & his knees buckle.  

“The portrait,” Stone subtly nods to Jack, signaling that is what they’re after. (have them talk about that before)  “Aaannd, did you actually think you could have it?”  Drake chuckles diabolically.

Stone approaches picture.  It reminds him of his mother, more beautiful than any image he’s he has ever laid his eyes on.  

“She must have painted it herself,” he decides.  

It is a scene of a garden with his father standing strong as he always has did.  His mother, ironically, is painting a picture of Stone on an easle. painting a picture on an easel, of Stone.  Both parents are full of life,  yet mysteriously emotionless.  Their countenance looks same way Stone has felt since their disappearance. A wide nosed gnome cradles his head at her feet, a single tear running down his tense cheek.

“You know why I’m here,” Stone says, standing strong, “what do you want with my family?”  

“Your family, is now mine, all mine,” Haddez chuckles, as he begins to spin spinning a ball of fire between his black fingernails.  Stone Nicoli.” 

Stone repeats, “What do you want with my family!?” 

Haddez lowers his hands, “I've loved your mother since first day I met her.” Stone quivers in disgust at disclosure. “We met when she was your age, you know.  She & Tomo came to my father‘s land through one of their a pictures.”

“Tomo?” Stone repeats.  “Her gnome guide,” Haddez sneers, “Just as Glow is yours.  My father took great appreciation in her art.  Her gift is more powerful than most all wizards in this world put together.  She would entertain him for hours by creating whatever he asked for.  Through years however, her appearance became less & less frequent, as she had grown up & had a new family in her native world.  My father was more patient about it, than I.  When he died, she, like rest of our world, was heart struck.  She never took fond liking to me however, as I did her.  She decided to not visit me after my father’s death not to come visit me.  Can you image how selfish that was of her!  She kept her powers away from me.  Luckily for me, I had many art pieces that she had already gifted given to my father; so, when Drake was old enough, I sent him to your world to look for her. When he did, I followed  Drake’s mother (her name?), my poor wife, wanted nothing to do with my plan to reconnect with Janette. She wanted me to leave Janette alone, But, I couldn’t rest until I had her to myself.  The day I captured Janette, my wife (her name) followed,  & tried to stop me.  Sequentially, she had an unfortunate death.” describe death

Drake's dark eyes stare, hardened to words.  Haddez continues, “Your people captured me, accusing me of faulting me for murder.  I was just a poor widower, charged for murder.  Little did they know, years ago, King Esten had given me a small painting she Janette drew of our land land he ruled.  I used it to escape back here imprisonment & haven’t dared return since; But Drake, my son, has free range in your world.  & so do my spies, bats.  Janette has a secret gift that no one else in world has.  Well, until you where born.”

Haddez anxiously paces back & forth, “When I learned she had ripped & burned parchement of my half  of castle, to avoid me all together due to murder (explain why she tried to stop it).  So, you see, if I was going to utilize her powers of creation, I had no choice but to take her & make her to help me here.   She knew I was looking for her & had been moving, hiding from me. You all moved, for what seemed like ages.  Not allowing anyone here to know her whereabouts, not even family.  Tsk-Tsk.

So, one night, while she was touching up a painting that I too had, I reached out & grabbed her!  Your father, Alex, had none of it.  He grabbed her too, fighting to hold tight to her arm as I was pulling her through picture.  Unfortunately, his grip was quite strong.  It was a tug of war I hadn't expected,  so, as my helpers & I dragged her in, he had to come too.  Now we’re one big happy family. She is mounted on my wall, to paint for me forever! (how does she paint for him?) Isn't that a sweet story.  & now, even sweeter. I have you too.”

Jack questions, “If that's really her, why doesn't she draw herself a picture out?”  Haddez rolls his eyes, “Do you think I didn’t think of that, you fool!?  There is only one creature that can fly in & out of parchments unassisted, fairies. Haven’t you noticed that you have never crossed threshold alone? Once I kill  your precious glow & capture rest of diminunatives, you’re mine forever, buahahaha! There is one way in, but no way out for anyone, but her loyal friend Tomo.”

Stone takes a step towards his parents portrait, “I wouldn’t get too close to it, if I where you!” Drake calls out.  Drake strolls to a less impressive image of a blond woman standing in a city.  He takes out a large knife with a hooked tip & presses it through woman. picture drips blood & women in all portraits bend over in agony. bleeds.

Stone steps back from his parent’s portrait.  “You like that?”  Droplets of blood erode floor. Drake cackles, motioning to floor. “Want to see it again?” Droplets of blood erode floor. (why do they erode floor?)  Drake walks to a picture of a child.   Jack leaps over chair between them, tackling Drake to floor just before Drake had a chance to pierce infant too.

Surprised by Jack's strength, Drake struggles to get away; jumping through nearest art piece like a headless chicken.  A moment later they return back through another portrait on other side of room.  Jack chases Drake through another portrait.  “Don’t jump through, Jack!” Stone shouts, “You may not know how to get back.”  But Jack doesn‘t listen. Drake jumps into a different piece & Jack pursues.

moment Jack leaps through frame, Haddez throws a blast of fire at art, bringing it to flames.

“I’ve never liked that piece much anyway.” 

Minutes pass as fire crumbles picture to ash. (explain what happens between stone & haddez during this time) Stone’s nerves wait steadily, his eyes darting among many images on wall in hope of his friend to return through one.  Drake emerges from an image of an ancient cemetery, & within a second, Haddez aims his hands towards picture.  

Stone jumps in front of it, “You’ll have to go through me first!”  

“My pleasure!” Haddez replies with indifference.  Baring his entire presence over frame, Stone clinches his eyes tight to brace for worst.

“HADDEZ!” An unknown voice roars from behind.  Stone peaks one eye open in time to see Haddez slowly craning his neck towards direction of voice.  Wide eyed with fright, Haddez' pale skin becomes gray. “DROP. YOUR. HANDS.”  A tall white bearded old man in a light blue cloak, dripping with water, stands before him.  

Haddez minces at ghostly sight, “Vazner??”  His veins shake internally penetrating a ghastly green hue. 

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” Vazner thunders, echoes ring through castle walls.

Jack springs from protected canvas.  Haddez startles, flinging his hands towards art to cast a fire curse at Jack.  Stone topples Jack to ground & out of way & scenic cemetery behind him comes ablaze.  

“TRAITER!“ Vazner booms, hurling a cold mist from his palms, ambushing fire & bringing it to a still.  

Haddez slouches, “I – I – I thought!”

“YOU THOUGHT I WAS FROZEN TO DEATH, YOUNGER BROTHER?!”  Vazner interrupts.  

“Well,” Haddez looks at ceiling with a shrug, “yeah.”  

“What did you think?  You could kill me with my own power?”

Drake quivers in corner.  Haddez hesitantly replies, “I am King.  You can’t take my title from me.  I have an army now!”

Vazner stands erect, “I am not dead little brother.”  Haddez propels a blast towards Vazner, intercepted only by a faster hand of ice.  “Child's play!” Vazner yells.  

Haddez turns bright red & rapidly throws voluminous balls of flames towards Vazner, who shields off each burst with a barrier of ice.  The fireballs ricochet & fly in every direction, emblazing their points of impact.  Jack & Stone dodge them like granute shells.  Charis runs out of room & up spiraling staircase.  Drake shrieks & gallops into a nearby image that then immediately goes up in flames.

fire vs. ice battle continues as Vazner moves closer towards his little brother, until he corners him. Vazner corners Haddez.  At this opportune moment, Stone & Jack look at each other with a knowing nod.  Together, Jack & Stone grab his parent’s portrait & make a run for it, as they extensively dodge fiery bullets one by one.  The corner of portrait frame gets singed, but quickly goes out.

Once they exit room, They open nearest window & call down to Sagrum.  In mid barrage Sagrum reaches one arm up to them & fights a gladiator with other.  He evenly pinches picture, handing it to Camble below.  Stone & Jack climb down now rose-less lattes.  Jack grabs image, slinging it to his back, & runs like wildfire.  

Jack yells over noisy chaos, “Before we can join in fight, we’ve got to get this portrait to white castle!”  Sagrum, Camble & Stone fight to block & fight off all oncoming assailants until they create a gap for Jack to run through.

Gladiators & Shilcores may be have been under a spellbound training for war, but their it is no match when to hearts of those  who fight for their freedom.  After some time of fighting, through brainwashed chaos & violence, masses of Gladiators are jolted into realizeing who their true enemy really is, their capturerers & themselves.  Many change sides, & begin to aid their fellow Giants.  Victory is just a taste way.

Nearing edge of battlefield grounds, Stone & Jack are almost free from harms way, as Sagrum & Camble fight in front to help them gain ground.  Camble takes multiple blows for his son.  

A whale of a Gladiator, bounds from behind them.  Standing a head taller than tallest giant, his threat is unparalleled.  From castle entrance, spear in hand & running at unrivaled speed, he zooms in on his pray.  

“We’re nearing trees!” Jack calls out in relief, “Past trees we’ll be in safe  zone!”  Preoccupied with last of a herd of vicious trolls, Stone doesn’t hear Jack.  

Then, as though a bomb went off, they hear colossal impending Gladiator call out, “INVADERS!”

Jack swings his head around.  Shocked, he spots scariest Giant  he has ever laid his eyes on.  The Gladiator‘s glare is set on Jack, his metallic spear glistening fully in Jack’s direction.  Racing forward, Jack knows outrunning him isn’t an option, so he grabs art from behind his back & puts it in front of his body to protect it from impending attack.  Camble tries to block giant, but his mass tumbles him over grass like a jagged bowling ball.  

Sagrum turns around in front of them & recognizes oncoming danger. “JAMEN! NOOO!”  

With focused eyes, enraged Gladiator has his arm cocked back about to throw spear.  The dilemma agonizes through Sagrum's face to every limb of his body. Stone is salvation of all land‘s life, & Jack is his best friend.  With resigned decisiveness,  Sagrum boomerangs his ax towards imminent threat. At exact moment ax hits Gladiator‘s neck, he releases his spear in direction of Jack.  Stone watches helplessly as lance hurls towards Jack, & like a nightmare it bores through his best friend‘s armour & into his back.  Jack flies forward & falls atop portrait, protecting it with his motionless body.  

Sagrum drops to his knees before his eldest brother's headless body,  howling cries of a dying animal.  

“Jamen!  My brother!!”  Rivers of tears flow down Sagrum's swollen face.  “Why!!”  Sagrum shakes his fist to sky, “Why!!”  

Stone runs up to Jack and, miraculously, finds that he is still alive. Needing to get Jack out of battle zone, Stone picks up his maimed friend, still conscious & holding art tight, throws him over his shoulder & runs towards safety of trees.

Camble, overwhelmed with what is happening with Jack, musters up courage to sprints in opposite direction back towards to castle, to rescue towards Pegasuses. Having little care With little regard for his own life, he takes a direct root, with no concern of ignoring carnage of obstacles in his way.

Nearing maple trees, Stone hears little chattering voices.  Talking roses welcome boys.  Jack sobs out in pain with each step Stone takes.  Stone kneels, laying Jack down on his side amongst roses, not to irritate penetrating spear.  

Stone speaks to Jack, “We have a very long trek before us friend.  Can you hold on!?”  Jack tries to reply, but a phlegmed cough heaves instead.  “What can I do?” Stone asks, “How can I help you, so we can move forward?”  

Jack’s eyelids droop to a slit, & he whispers, “Charis.  Get Charis.”  He gulps, “She’s not evil.  She’s a captive, she..”  

Stone interrupts, “But, that‘s not possible.  We need to get you to mountains!  The heavians can help you.”

Jack musters a little energy, & in resigned frustration says, “Go. Don’t worry, I’ll hide your family under me & protect them with my life,” as he pats canvass with his fingertips.

“Poor boy!” a pink rose caresses Jack's cheek. “Oh yes!  We’ll all protect!” another says.   Jack slowly closes his eyes & squeezes portrait.  Torn by this difficult life threatening decision, Stone looks toward apparent endless mountainous hilltops.  

Stone reluctantly replies, “I’ll be back for you Jack, I promise!”  As he walks begins to trot backwards towards war. roses cradle his dying friend, humming softly.

Stone runs alone to Sagrum, & giant scoops him up.  With same speed as Jamen, he pilots back towards danger, to sulfur castle.

As Stone approaches bottom of castle & looks up, he sees Fearless diminutives fight in sky on backs of several Pegasuses.  Drift & Merizon exchange blunt force blows to with countless airborne assailants above castle walls.  Blazing flashes of light flicker through frozen windows.  A struggle between fire & ice looms inside castle walls.  The entire first floor of castle is unduly ablaze.  

Stone finds a path  to climb up outside of castle, using jagged rock protrusions & old vines as his grip. crackling sounds of burning castle accompany Stone as he climbs up walls.  Drift swoops down, & with one arm he grabs Stone, sailing him upward.  Charis is on top floor of castle. Her hair singed, she hopelessly looks about ghastly frontier.   Drift releases Stone in onto balcony outside of Charis’ room & blows out a horn call for assistance.  Stone grabs Charis’ frosty hand & runs her onto ice crystal balcony.  Drift scoops them up & flies swiftly toward tree line where Jack lays.

Two Pegasuses wait at Jack's feet as Camble attempts to lift his limp son onto one of winged horses, but all talking roses hurl rocks at him & bite at his ankles.

“Get away!” - “You can't have him!!” - “You're not Stone!” - “Give us Boy!”  roses call out in an effort to hold their word of protecting Jack.  

“I'm his father!” Camble yells, shuffling his feet & kicking defiant rose bed.  

They spiral up his leg to pull Camble down, “We said, you can't have him!” - “We're protecting him & painting!” They spout flapping their leaves in an attempt to hit him, & wrapping themselves around his legs.  

Drift drops Stone & Charis in a nearby landing.  Without a blink or need for explanation, Drift flies up again to keep an eye out for Shilcores.  

Drift motions to alerts roses, “Look!  Stone is here!”  The roses immediately give way & Drift gathers Jack & portrait up with both hands.  

Camble falls to ground & frees himself with a few complicated twists & a roll.  

Stone yells to Drift, “Swiftly Do something!, help my friend! My friend is dying!”  Drift jets away with Jack & portrait, at such momentum speed that within minutes they’re above snow peaked mountains.

Camble takes a sigh of relief & shakes his head at thwarting roses.  Stone & takes a still dazed Charis, & saddles a Pegasus to ride in same direction.  

“Camble!” Stone yells out, “Please, get Sagrum!”  The Pegasus spreads its wings & with a running start, lifts smoothly into air, towards ice-capped mountains.
 
Looking back, they see black sulfur castle toasting like a smoky coal.  The counterfeit ruler has brought ruin to not only his kingdom, but his own home.  

When Stone & Charis arrive at white castle they find Jack lying next to water springs.  Merizon lands next to him.  

“I've never helped anyone wounded to this magnitude,“ says Merizon.  (explain healing powers of water)

“You must MUST help him,” Stone replies, “We need NEED to make him better!”

“I’m dying, Stone,” Jack replies through a scared gasp of breath.

Merizon cups spring water into her hands & pours it into Jack's mouth.  She does same for his wound.  The wound bubbles & Jack strains, screaming out in pain.  

“You’re hurting him!” Stone cries out, as Jack squirms in distress from water that Merizon is pouring on his wound.  

“Have faith Stone, it’s helping him,” Merizon says, as she calmly pulls Jack's hair away from his forehead.  She looks at Stone & says, “War is like a flipping a coin.  On one side, you die. war is just another name for Death.  On other, you live. freedom is life. You never know what will happen”  

Merizon grips protruding spear in his back  with both of her hands, “Hold your breath, Jack.”  

Jack's chin quivers as he takes a light, but desperate breath in.  Merizon heaves weapon free from his flesh & bones with one agonizing but quick yank.  The slick crunching noise is too much for Stone to take; he covers his ears & falls to his knees.  Jack’s cracked voice moaning lowers to a moan sigh, then silence.  Stone looks into his friend‘s glazed eyes.  They look as through though stars are swirling above them.  Jack’s breath is hindered seems to stop as he looses loses contentiousness. 

“What can we do?” Stone asks, “How can I help, Merizon!?”  Merizon gently pours more water into Jack's open wound.  It bubbles & fills with turns into a clear fluid. 

“You can take your parent’s portrait into castle,” Merizon suggests, “You can keep them safe there.  There are plenty of good hiding places. You don't need to see Jack like this, not now.”  Merizon sweeps Jack up & glides him into an  opening near peak of Castle.

Stone & Charis run inside with portrait, climbing moving steps as they appear before them. castle peaks seam endless, but they continues climbing.  When they finally reach top they enter a cloth room with flowing linens scaling ceiling. Merizon is there pouring spring water into Jack’s wound.

Chapter 15 -

Meanwhile, two wars wage inside & outside of sulfur castle.

“STOP!” Vazner commands Haddez. 

Haddez leans against a wall to catch his breath & replies, “You want my kingdom. You want my world & you can not have it!” 

Haddez leans out window appearing to almost jump, but instead like a juvenile, lights outside of his own castle, & in seconds exterior goes up in a blaze.

All creatures in land turn to look at ghastly site.  Mesmerized by profound inferno.  Gladiators stop & look at each other & their rebel foe, as though a light switch goes off in their heads as to why & what their fighting for.

Vazner's eyes glaze cold as ice towards his brother, “You know not what you've done.  This is my fathers’ home, & his fathers before him!” 

Vazner raises his hands up to sky & calls out a roar, “Inferno Aqua Tsunamorous!!”  

A shivering earth quake thunders below their feet.  Then, a massive rumbling sound shakes castle walls.  Warriors, high & low, look eagle eyed towards a far off crashing noise in distance.

“Where there is light, let there not be water!”  Vazner commands.  

The clouds part on outskirts of land, shining sun rays to ground for first time in years.  light beams almost immediately bring all trees & plant life to full bloom. Heavians see oncoming threat from above.  With a blow of a horn, thousands of Heavians & Pegasus sweep down at once, grabbing all forms of life below them.  Sweeping them into air like wind to a feather.

All at once a tidal wave ambushes land like a liquid brick wall.  rush is so fierce it crashes against sun-lit obstacles like broken dams.

Haddez looks about scene below him in panic.  Realizing he has lost control of his kingdom & afraid of Vazner, he escapes into room of pictures & slams large double doors behind him.  Vazner prudently swings his hands towards closed door, sealing cracks & walls with ice.  A young Heavian circles outskirts of castle, looking vigorously for signs of life inside.  Vasner runs to windowpane, & within seconds youthful Heavian picks him up and  & they fly towards ice capped mountains.

water floods land within minutes, & then settles to a disturbing still.  entrenched castle now looks like a black porcelain sculpture standing alone in an oversized fish bowl.

Stone sturdily hammers two nails in a wall, overlooking picturesque mountainous view, hanging it on front of bed that  Jack is lying on.  Stone takes a step back, adjusting it’s placement.  Then, a hunch tells him to look outside.

He runs to terrace to witness a sight to behold.  The sky is filled with Shilcores & Heavians.  Flying what looks to be, in harmony.  One by one they set their cargo down on sunny land.  Littered everywhere are individuals of every shape & size, big & small.  They all walk like innocent children towards mountainous castle.  The wounded are flown to spring’s side, each getting proper attention.  Many of injured warriors jump up in full health with only a single gulp of water.  Many Giants, including Sagrum, carry their loved one's underground, for proper burial.

Stone runs down staircases to greet everyone.  A mood of both happiness & sadness looms in crisp air.  Just as he reaches bottom of steps, castle doors open before him.  Merizon & Drift stand saluting warrior’s arrival.  Camble heads straight to stairway, clawing his way to castle top, where he hears his son has been laid. 

young Heavian sails down to Merizon & Drift, landing Vazner to ground before flying to canyon walls.  With a few whispers among one another, Vazner turns & approaches Stone.   Vazner puts his arm around Stone's shoulder, Stone's sad eyes look to their feet.  

“Thank you Stone,” Vazner says, “Without you, our land would be in ruin forever.  You’re our prince.” 

Stone breaths a deep breath of appreciation, “King Vazner, you too are unmatched.  This land is yours; please take this castle as your new kingdom as a thank you from me & rest of world.”  

King Vazner smiles, “This is you're home too.  I am indebted to you young man.  Anything you need, I will help you.”  Stone replies, “My best friend Jack is at peak.  Please, don't let him die.”

& King Vazner replies with a nod, “You my boy, have a special soul.  Love, like a drop of water, flowing along its long journey to seashore, realizes it's not just a drop of water but, entirety of ocean.”

THE END