LNR Universe
:: The Book of Veronica ::
LNR Universe :: The Book of Veronica
Cerone J. Kircle

    Table of Contents
    =============
    Chapter 1 : Into the Past
    Chapter 2 : Locating the Tenth Planet
    Chapter 3 : The World of No Return
    Chapter 4 : The Compromise
    Chapter 5 : Return to Earth
    Chapter 6 : Formation of the Island
    Chapter 7 : Birth of the Monsters
    Chapter 8 : The Human Inhabitants
    Chapter 9 : Sage Creel
    Chapter 10 : The Lightning Palace
    Chapter 11 : Creating the Deity
    Chapter 12 : Deity’s First Strike
    Chapter 13 : Stopping Deity
    Chapter 14 : Restoring Sage
    Chapter 15 : Back to the Origins
    Chapter 16 : Return to the Island
    Chapter 17 : Four Years Later
    Chapter 18 : Preparation
    Chapter 19 : The Jackal Arrives
    Chapter 20 : The Master Ideya
    Chapter 21 : The Eternal Corridor
    Chapter 22 : Back to the Future
    Chapter 23 : The New Future

    Chapter 1 : Into the Past
    	Veronica Creel is the daughter of
    Synan and Zoe. She has an older brother,
    Sage, and a younger brother Kail. Unlike
    Sage and Kail, Veronica was born with
    psychic powers. Since as long as Veronica
    could remember, the world was ruled by
    an evil trickster from beyond, who referred
    to himself as The Jackal.
    	Veronica came up with the idea that
    she could use her psychic powers to transport
    herself into the past, to a time before The
    Jackal has ever taken over the world. Veronica
    and her family have been in hiding in the
    Sahara Desert. It is one of the few places in
    which The Jackal has not explored.
    	Veronica’s plan was that she would
    go into the past and find a way to prevent
    the world from being taken over. Veronica
    climbs the sand dunes to the top of the highest
    one. The sun shining over the desert is unbearably
    hot. Veronica’s dark brown hair blows in the
    wind. She climbs to her feet and stands stretched
    in the air, arms toward the sky. Kail watches
    from below the dunes. Veronica soon transforms--it
    seems as if she is engulfed--in a pure black
    shadowy form. The shadowy figure floats into
    the air a few feet and then vanishes in a flick
    of light.
    	Kail knew about Veronica’s plan,
    and he knew what she was doing. He knew
    that Veronica had decided to go into the past,
    to try to save the future.
    	Veronica appears in an area that seems
    much the same as the one she had left. Veronica
    looks around, and discovers that Kail is no longer
    at the bottom of the hill. The dark shadow had
    disappeared, and Veronica now stands once again
    at the top of the tallest sand dune, her hair flying
    in the wind. Veronica had to think.
    	Veronica remembers that her parents
    both had lived in Vatican City. A very small
    place in Michigan that didn’t even show up on
    any maps, nonetheless ever heard of by anybody.
    She remembers Synan telling her that that is
    the area in which Jackal had entered the world.
    Veronica decided that is where she should go.
    	Veronica once again took the shadowy
    form with bright purple eyes. She floated up into
    the sky and dashed off toward the west. Her
    shadowy form flew through the clouds at an
    amazing speed. She traveled mostly through the
    clouds as not to be seen by any humans in this
    form. She was afraid to scare anybody. She was
    afraid herself.
    	Flying through the clouds, it quickly
    got dark. The sky was turning black as Veronica
    pressed on toward Vatican City. By the time she
    had finally arrived, it was black outside. There
    were few lights still on throughout the entire city.
    She stopped near the outskirts of the city and
    landed, taking the shadowy form back into her
    body. She decided to explore; to find something
    she could use as a clue as to what to do next.
    	Walking along the side of the road, she
    passed by many houses as she neared the main
    city. She sensed the presence of Synan and Zoe
    nearby. She couldn’t understand at first what it
    meant. The senses drew her to two houses, side-
    by-side. Veronica concluded that the people she
    sensed were Synan and Zoe as children. Synan
    Creel and Zoe Aidenn.
    	Veronica walked into the main city. It
    was quiet, with few lights on and an occasional
    car driving by. Veronica stopped by a local
    library. The library seemed to be open still. The
    sign over the door read “The Book Temple.”
    Veronica entered.
    Chapter 2 : Locating the Tenth Planet
    	Inside the library, there were few lights
    remaining on. It seemed as though it was nearing
    closing time for the library. Veronica walked to
    the center and noticed a girl, about twelve years
    old, organizing books. Veronica spoke to the girl.
    	“Excuse me.” Veronica says slowly,
    breaking the dead silence.
    	“Yes?” the girl replied.
    	“I would like to study some geography
    books here.” Veronica said.
    	“Go right ahead. Closing time is in an
    hour. My name is Sarah. Sarah Croft.”
    	“Thank you.”
    	Veronica started searching the library
    for books about the world of 1999. She would
    also need information about the undiscovered
    ‘Planet X.’ Veronica remembers Sarah from
    the future. Veronica picks up a book. Opening
    it, she uses her psychic powers to flip through
    the pages rapidly, absorbing the information on
    each page. Returning the book, she picks up another
    book It is labeled “The Science of Space.”
    Veronica proceeds to absorb the information from
    the book. She determined that Planet X seems to
    be just outside of Pluto’s orbit, causing the planet’s
    orbit to seem a bit awkward.
    	Having all the information she required,
    Veronica starts going through other informational
    books, gaining every bit of information about the
    world of this time. Sarah noticed how Veronica
    goes through the books.
    	“Hey!” Sarah yells. “What are you doing?”
    	Veronica looks back, startled. Sarah
    had left a while ago and then all of a sudden she is
    standing right here by Veronica, her blue eyes
    shining with curiosity. Veronica replies, “Reading?”
    	“You have a very strange way of reading.
    Are you a witch, or a psychic?” Sarah asks.
    	“Neither of those things. Forget what you
    saw, Sarah.”
    	“What’s your name?”
    	“Veronica Creel.”
    	“Creel? It seems that I’ve heard that
    name before. Somebody at school. Maybe it
    was you?”
    	“I don’t know. Maybe a relative?” Veronica
    replies, trying not to sound suspicious.
    	“Well, Veronica. It’s closing time. You’re
    going to have to leave.”
    	“All right.” Veronica responds, starting for
    the door. Sarah watches her, strangely curious of
    her actions.
    	Veronica exits the library and walks outside
    of the city walls. She now has all the information she
    should need to begin her plan to stop Jackal. Taking
    her shadowy form, Veronica travels into the air and
    then jets into the sky, like a demon into the heavens.
    	Veronica, in her shadowy form, doesn’t
    require food, oxygen, or water. She pauses in
    outer space, by the moon. Veronica determines
    the direction of Planet X and jets off into that
    direction.
    	On her trip through outer space, she
    begins to think more of her plan. She plans to
    take a piece of Planet X, about three miles in
    diameter, and hover it above Vatican City to
    monitor its progress. She finally gets to the
    ninth planet, Pluto, after what seemed to be
    days. Landing on the planet as a shadowy
    monster, she looks around to find any sign of
    Planet X. In the far distance, Veronica sees
    a light that is flashing a purple-blue or a
    blue-purple.
    	Veronica hovers cautiously into the
    direction of this light. She soon discovers
    that it is actually a planet. A strange planet.
    The ground appears to be a purple color,
    with blue water. Veronica has found Planet
    X, and is the first to do so in this time era.
    Chapter 3 : The World of No Return
    	Veronica begins to be slowly pulled
    into the gravity of Planet X. She eventually
    starts flying to the planet, hurling in the
    hundreds of miles per hour right into the
    surface. The tries to fight the planet’s gravity
    but fails. She flies directly into the courtyard
    of a castle, leaving a huge gaping hole in the
    ground.
    	Veronica rolls over, dazed, and looks
    into the sky. Her shadowy form has left her.
    Veronica tries with all her power to stand.
    She grabs all the loose rocks and stones
    around her. All different colors, most of them
    a dark purple or dark brown. One of them is
    a lighter, clear purple rock.
    	Straining with all her might to stand,
    a sudden golden-yellow flame appears around
    her body and she is suddenly fully energized.
    She now has a little bit more power than before.
    	She looks at the clear-purple rock
    glowing in her hand. She assumes that this rock
    is the source of this new power. Veronica looks
    around the courtyard. The walls are in a square-
    shape around a large tower in the center. There
    are four towers in each of the corners. She enters
    the center tower.
    	The circular room is completely empty,
    with a staircase circling upward in the tower toward
    the top, where it goes higher than the ceiling of this
    large room and ends suddenly. With her new-found
    golden strength, Veronica flies up toward the top
    of the staircase.
    	At the top of the stairs, there is a door that
    goes into a room above the one she was just in.
    She slowly pushes the door open and walks inside.
    	Inside the room are bright lights and blood-
    red carpet. There is a person in here who appears to
    be a king of some sort. He is dressed in the darkest
    robes and wearing a very reflective golden crown,
    lined with jewels of all sorts. The face inside the robes
    is shadowed, only the glowing yellow eyes visible.
    Chapter 4 : The Compromise
    	The king-like figure notices Veronica’s entrance.
    As Veronica takes a second look at the creature, it
    begins to speak.
    	“Ah, so you are the object that was hurled
    into my castle. My name is Atis. I am the king of The
    World of No Return. What is your name, stranger?”
    	Veronica, now weary by the pull of this planet’s
    gravity, even in her super-powered form, tries to speak.
    	“I am Veronica Creel. I have come from the
    future on a mission to save my planet from a very
    powerful monster called The Jackal.”
    	“The Jackal?!” the king says, startled. “So, I
    guess that he WILL eventually conquer the universe.”
    	“Well, If it is okay with you, I would like to
    use a three-mile section of this planet to monitor the
    Earth from the sky.”
    	“Ah, yes. You can have your demands. We
    at the World of No Return know that if Jackal has
    conquered your planet that he will eventually make his
    way here. Take what you need and try to save the
    universe!”
    	“Thank you, Atis.”
    	“I will have your Land of No Return ready
    by tomorrow morning. That should only be about
    ten hours away.”
    	“Ten hours?!” Veronica yells.
    	“Yes. The night is half over as it is.
    Well, I see that you have discovered a Dark
    Stone. That gives its bearer a golden-flame
    strength. Unfortunately, as a human, the
    golden-flame form, or Mega form, will not
    help you against the gravity of this planet.
    I will give you a Stone of Shining. That will
    boost you up to the next level.”
    	The king throws a clear cyan-colored
    stone. On contact, the flame around Veronica
    flashes a blue color and Veronica is powered
    up with even more strength. That should last
    her through her ten-hour wait.
    Chapter 5 : Return to Earth
    	Twelve hours later, Veronica is traveling
    through outer space back toward Earth; riding
    on her new possession, The Land of No Return.
    This island as it is is barren. There is a canyon,
    a small forest, and a huge volcano in its center,
    with a rock structure branching from its side.
    There is also a small blue cave on one side, and
    a river filled with lava.
    	The island is floating slowly toward the
    Earth. Veronica will have to wait patiently to
    continue her plan.
    Chapter 6 : Formation of the Island
    	After six weeks, The Land of No Return
    finally reaches the Earth’s atmosphere. Veronica,
    back in her normal form without any powers or
    magic flames, steers the island to enter the
    atmosphere above Vatican City. It is once
    again night time over the city. Veronica needs to
    go to work quickly and prepare the island.
    	With her psychic powers, Veronica
    fills the canyon with water and creates a bridge
    over it, she puts a bridge over the lava river,
    and creates Elemental Barriers. One on the front
    of the volcano as the Barrier of Fire; one on the
    blue cave as the Barrier of Water; one on the rock
    structure as the Barrier of Earth; one on a smaller
    floating island on a temple as the Barrier of Thunder.
    	At the north end of the island, Veronica
    creates a moat of lava surrounding an island, where
    she forms a castle that resembles the one she saw
    on Planet X. It is now time to breathe life into this
    island.
    	With her powers, Veronica begins to create
    monsters to rule over the island and defend it.
    Chapter 7 : Birth of the Monsters
    	Veronica first creates monkey-like creatures
    with large eyes. These will be called Monk, and they
    will inhabit the forests and be the guardians of it; and
    they shall not allow passers-by to reach the castle.
    	Veronica then creates a red oval-shaped
    monster belted with eyes, and she called them the
    Prisems. They will be the protectors of the Water
    Barrier. And their focus? Veronica created a diamond-
    shaped monster to be called Crystal. They will live
    inside the blue cave, and it will now be named Crystal
    Cave. This will attract the Prisems, as when these
    monsters are combined, they will become Emerald,
    a completely new monster.
    	The volcano will be the attraction of Emeralds.
    It will be called Emerald’s Crater. Veronica created
    Koda, a gray dragon-like soldier who will be the
    guardians of the volcano. Veronica then created Mr. I,
    who will be the guardians of the Fire Barrier.
    	Veronica created the lightning birds, Skyber
    and Skybree, whom will be the guardians of the Thunder
    Barrier. They will reside at the tops of the rock towers
    rising from the volcano. For the lake, Veronica
    created monsters that were like electricity in glass balls. They
    were called Orb. Thus, the lake was called Orb Lake.
    	Also for the lake were created Jelly-Fly, whom
    will be looked up to for its amazing healing ability. Also
    will be the tadpole monster Octa, and it’s octopus evolved
    form Octo.
    	As a major attraction for the rock structure,
    Veronica created two one-of-a-kind monsters, named
    Myst and Clawz. Veronica created a monster that will
    follow explorers and threaten them to a life as a monster.
    This monster will be called Twilite.
    	Veronica created a super-monster who will be
    the combined form of Monk, Mr. I, Emerald, and Spyke.
    The monster’s name is Wizeman. Spyke was a monster
    orbited by spiky eyeballs. Veronica created Ico to be
    Wizeman’s loyal assistant. Wizeman’s quarters would be
    in the castle, and he would be the lord of The Land of No
    Return. Thus, the castle was called Wizeman’s Fortress.
    Chapter 8 : The Human Inhabitants
    	With all of the monsters completed, Veronica
    would now need some humans to serve
    her on The Land of No Return. Veronica
    enters Wizeman’s Fortress and goes into
    the meeting room. Using her psychic power, she
    teleports into the room several humans. She
    teleports in Sarah from the Book Temple, and
    some people from the future: Joseph and James.
    Joseph is a master of illusion. The three humans
    are startled with their new surrounding.
    	Sarah speaks, “Veronica! I knew it, you
    ARE a witch!”
    	Veronica gives Sarah a long blank stare.
    “Right. Anyway, I have brought you three here for
    specific purposes. Sarah, you will build a Book
    Temple where you will write books of power for
    uses by Lord Wizeman and myself. Joseph, you
    will inhabit the rocky structure, hereby known as
    Illusion’s Maze inside of Illusion Cave. James, you
    will become a guardian of The Land of No Return.
    Here is a Dark Stone.”
    	Veronica tosses a Dark Stone to James.
    	“Thanks, but, how do I use it?” James
    asks, staring into the shimmering purple stone.
    	“I will teach you,” says Veronica, “as well
    as I will teach Sarah how to write the magical books.”
    	Veronica continues. “Sarah, I will create
    your Book Temple and teleport you there now.”
    	Sarah starts to fade and disappear. “Joseph.
    Your illusion funhouse is already set up. It comes
    with a cloaking machine and lots of fun tricks. Check
    it out!”
    	Joseph fades and disappears.
    	“James. I suspect you will have a job to
    do shortly.” Veronica tosses James a walky-talky.
    The radio starts speaking:
    	“We have a 24-14 crisis here.Spyke-012334
    requesting backup.”
    	Veronica smirks at James. “That is Syrus.
    He just arrived on The Land of No Return.”
    	“I don’t know how to use the Dark Stone!”
    James screams.
    	“It is triggered by anger. Go and settle Syrus.
    That should activate your powers.” Veronica laughs
    and teleports James to the guardhouse of
    The Land of No Return.
    Chapter 9 : Sage Creel
    	Veronica looks over to Lord Wizeman.
    	“Wizeman. Do you think you can handle
    things here? I’m going to return to the future for
    a moment. I’ll be right back.”
    	Wizeman nods and speaks in five voices
    at once, “Yes. I’m sure nothing will get too out-of-
    hand while you’re gone.”
    	“Good. I knew I could count on you,
    Wizeman.”
    	Veronica takes her shadowy form and
    flashes away in a flick of light. She appears up
    in the sky above a badly destroyed Vatican City.
    The Land of No Return is below her, crashed into
    the ground.
    	“Well, at least I know I changed the
    future...somewhat. I need to get back to the
    Sahara, or better... I can teleport what I want
    to me!”
    	Veronica teleports her older brother Sage
    to Vatican City. The Jackal senses the energy
    used for this and notices Veronica hovering above
    Sage. Veronica lands.
    	“Sage! I need your help!” Veronica yells
    desperately.
    	“What is it?” Sage asks.
    	Veronica notices The Jackal coming toward
    them, throwing razor-sharp cards in their direction.
    	“I’ll explain later! Let’s go!”
    	Just before about a hundred cards slice
    right through them, they both disappear.
    	“Hmm...” Jackal says, “That was weird.”
    	Sage and Veronica appear back at Wizeman’s
    Fortress.
    	“So, what’s going on, Veronica?” Sage
    asks.
    	“I’ve made an important discovery!” Veronica
    says. “I got this Stone of Shining and when it combined
    with my psychic ability, it increased them. I now have
    a full understanding of everything that has, is, and will
    happen. I have located the Deity Stone!”
    	“What’s that?” Sage asks.
    	“I’ll start you out with a Stone of Shining.
    You’ll then slowly move up until you’re strong
    enough to use the Deity Stone. That will get you
    powerful enough. That will help us stop Jackal in
    the final fight!” Veronica says.
    	“Man, you’re crazy!” Sage mocks.
    	“Shut up, Sage! I have a training course
    set up in the basement of this castle. Go there.
    Meanwhile, I need to make a visit to Lightning
    Palace and etch some information about this
    island into the walls.” Veronica says.
    	“Why don’t you just use your psychic?”
    Sage asks.
    	“I don’t know. It seems better if it’s
    hand-written. Now go.”
    	“Whatever, Veronica.” Sage says, leaving
    the room. Wizeman talks.
    	“He’s right, you know. With your psychic
    power you can do almost anything with this island.”
    	Veronica looks at Wizeman dumbly. “You
    think I don’t know that? I like to do things the
    hard way....... Kail’s here. He must’ve followed me
    with his time machine!”
    Chapter 10 : The Lightning Palace
    	Veronica turns into a shadowy form and
    flies out the window and down toward the forest.
    She stops in an intersection of pathways and looks
    around. It is very dark here.
    	Veronica hears talking coming from down
    one pathway, and soon the sound of footsteps
    running. ‘Here comes Kail,’ Veronica thought to
    herself.
    	A shadowy figure runs out from the pathway
    and steers past Veronica and continues running.
    	“That Kail. He can run but he can’t hide.”
    Veronica says quietly and begins to follow him.
    Just then, another shadowy figure runs out from
    the same pathway and tackles Veronica to the
    ground. The figure gets up quickly and talks.
    	“Kail! Why did you stop?”
    	Veronica replies, “Kail? What do you
    want with Kail? You should watch where you’re
    going!”
    	The figure, now clearly known that it is
    Syrus, talks, “Sorry. Did you see a boy run past
    just now?”
    	Veronica replies, “I don’t know.
    Who are you looking for?”
    	“Kail.”
    	“Oh, yeah. He just went by here. My
    name is Veronica Creel. What’s yours?”
    	“Creel? Are you related to Synan?”
    	“Oh, so you know Synan. You’re Syrus,
    right?”
    	“Yeah.”
    	“So Synan is here. Kail is probably
    afraid Synan will ruin his plan.”
    	“What is his plan?”
    	“Kail is here to find Sage. Did he tell
    you that?”
    	“I don’t remember.”
    	“Anyway, he’s heading to the castle.”
    	“Oh really.”
    	“Yep. Well, I’d like to stay and talk,
    but I have things to do. See you later, Syrus!”
    	Veronica turns and runs down a pathway.
    She hears Syrus yell “Wait!” after her. Veronica
    runs to the entrance of a temple and summons
    a Linking Book that Sarah had just finished writing.
    Veronica opens the book.
    	On the first page of the book is a window-
    like panel that has an animation of an angle circling
    the Book Temple. Veronica brings her hand close
    to the book and golden sparkles appear. She is
    sucked into the page and appears at the Book
    Temple.
    	Veronica stands in the center of the Book
    Temple. It is a golden-yellow, circular building with
    arches. In each arch is a pedestal containing Mystery
    Books. Mystery Books sometimes act as Linking
    Books that teleport you to random locations. They
    may also teleport monsters to you. Veronica walks
    to the desk, where Sarah is writing.
    	“Sarah. Give me the Lightning Key and a
    Linking Book to Sky Island.”
    	“Right away, Veronica.”
    	Sarah takes out a shiny yellow key with a
    lightning-bolt symbol on the handle. She also hands
    Veronica a purple-leather Linking Book that reads
    “Skyber’s Fortress.” Veronica takes the key and
    opens the book.
    	“Let’s see if it works.” Veronica presses
    the panel and links to Skyber’s Fortress. She
    turns into a shadowy figure and flies up to Sky
    Island, a small floating island that orbits the mouth
    of the volcano. Veronica unlocks the Thunder
    Barrier and enters.
    	The walls are already written on. Veronica
    adds a few extra lines by using her powers. When
    finished, Veronica exits the temple and locks the
    door, tossing the Lightning Key down to Skyber’s
    Fortress. Veronica looks down at the Book
    Temple. Synan and Zoe are down there. Zoe is
    reading the introduction book of the Book Temple.
    	Veronica chuckles, still in her shadowy
    form, and flies down to the castle.
    Chapter 11 : Creating the Deity
    	Veronica walks down the stairs of Wizeman’s
    Fortress into the basement, where the Deity Training
    Room is located. Sage is down there experimenting
    with the Stone of Shining.
    	“Sage! How far are you?” Veronica asks.
    	“Veronica, I can go PAST the blue-flame
    stage! Look!” Sage powers up higher and the blue
    flame turns purple.
    	“Good job, Sage. Keep practicing! I
    have an idea. I’m going to summon Myst here.
    Myst is more powerful than I am even, and I’m
    almost to the purple-flame stage.
    	Veronica meditates for a moment.
    	“Done. I have contacted Myst and told him
    to come. You will fight him, and it will make you
    stronger.”
    	Sage continues trying to increase his
    powers and fight the robots Veronica created for
    him to train against. After about an hour, Myst
    finally arrives in the room. Myst looks like a
    cat-like monster with large claws and blue eyes.
    Myst’s color is a very light pink, or opal.
    	“Myst. What took you so long?” Veronica
    asks.
    	“My apologies, V-girl. I was on my way
    out of the Illusion Maze when I saw it!”
    	“Saw what?” Veronica asks, challenging
    Myst. Of course Veronica already knows what
    Myst is going to say.
    	“I saw Synan and Zoe. They
    had a little girl with them.” Myst says.
    	“Elsie. Synan and Zoe are getting closer
    and closer to the castle. Myst! You will train
    against Sage. When Sage’s flame turns into
    a purple-orange color, give him the Deity Stone.
    	Veronica watches as Sage and Myst
    spar. Veronica senses the presence of Synan,
    Zoe, and Syrus outside. ‘The time is getting
    closer. The time when I will meet my child
    parents face-to-face.’ Veronica thought.
    	A half-an-hour goes by and Sage’s
    flame finally turns a purple-orange color.
    	“Myst!” Veronica yells, “Sage is
    ready. Give him the Deity Stone!”
    	“Yes.” Myst says, taking the stone.
    Myst puts the stone on a necklace and puts
    it around Sage’s neck. Sage is suddenly powered
    up, and the flame turns pure white.
    	“Yes... Sage is finally going to become
    Deity! Amazing! No human should be able to
    use the stone and not be destroyed! Sage is
    truly amazing! I shall alert Lord Wizeman right
    away. Myst! Your job is complete.”
    	Myst vanishes into a cloud of fog and
    floats away. Veronica turns into her shadowy
    form and flies through the floor.
    Chapter 12 : Deity’s First Strike
    	Veronica flies up through the top floor
    behind Wizeman, and in her shadow form flies
    over Wizeman’s head and turns back into a
    human. It appeared as if she came out of the
    Dark Stone on Wizeman’s forehead. Veronica
    looks at Synan and Zoe, then back at Wizeman.
    	“Wizeman! You have no time to battle
    these weaklings!” Veronica said, regretting it.
    She knew that at this age, Synan and Zoe WERE
    pretty much helpless.
    	“What do you mean, Veronica?” Wizeman
    responds.
    	“Sage is ready. Give him the command
    to destroy Earth, or he’ll destroy the entire
    universe!” Veronica yells. She knows that Wizeman
    won’t give the command. Veronica doesn’t
    really want to destroy the Earth.
    	Veronica hears Synan and Zoe
    whispering. Though she can’t hear them, she
    knows what they’re saying.
    	“So, Wizeman. Give Sage his orders
    quickly!” Veronica warns.
    	“But I have to fight these kids first!”
    	“I hope you know what you’re doing,
    Wizeman!”
    	“You’d better. I know what I’m doing.”
    	Veronica turns into a shadow again
    and sinks through the floor. Veronica flies through
    the wall and stands by the volcano and looks at
    the castle. The ground begins to rumble fiercely,
    and the castle cracks and begins to crumble.
    Synan and Zoe make it out of the castle and
    stand by the lava moat and watch.
    	Sage is up in the air above the ruins of
    the castle. The sky is dark. Sage has a bright
    white flame around his body. Veronica walks
    up next to Synan and Zoe.
    	“Looks like Wizeman made the wrong
    decision. Our universe is at stake now.”
    	“I’m assuming that is not a good thing.”
    Zoe says.
    	“No. Sage will turn into Deity and destroy
    the entire universe.” Veronica continues. Synan
    and Zoe begin talking amongst themselves. As
    they do so, Veronica looks back. She sees Syrus
    and Kail up on the volcano, watching. Veronica
    looks back at Synan and Zoe.
    	“I suggest you run, kids. I’m assuming it
    will be less painful if you’re further away.” With
    that, Synan and Zoe begin running. Veronica looks
    back again, and Kail tries to hide.
    	“Syrus and Kail! I suggest you run, too!”
    	“Dang!” Kail yells, “She caught me.”
    	“You knew I would,” Veronica says, “Now
    get going. Now!”
    	Syrus and Kail jump down from the
    volcano and start running after Synan and Zoe.
    	Veronica looks back up at Sage, waiting.
    	“So, Sage. Think you’re going to turn into
    Deity now, do you? I don’t think so. You’re not
    going anywhere. Not yet.”
    Chapter 13 : Stopping Deity
    	It has been about an hour since Sage
    had started his transformation. He still hasn’t
    become Deity yet. It is not in his power to
    complete the transformation. James appears
    as a Mega-monster and fires a blast of energy
    at Sage. Veronica flies up and deflects it.
    	“James!”
    	“What are you doing?!” James says.
    	“Sage lacks the ability to complete
    transformation. When you return, tell the
    kids that you angered Deity even more, okay?
    Don’t tell them. Keep it a secret.” Veronica
    says.
    	“All right.” James says, and teleports
    back to the Book Temple.
    	“Sage. That was the last distraction.
    Run out of energy or something already.”
    	Sage finally runs out of energy, and
    falls, not completing the transformation.
    Chapter 14 : Restore Sage
    	Sage has been out of energy for
    a few hours. Synan links in next to Veronica
    and runs over to the ruins of the castle.
    	“Veronica,” Synan says. “How did
    Deity get stopped?”
    	“I stopped him.” Veronica lies.
    	“You did not!”
    	“Did too.”
    	“But Deity is way more powerful than
    you are.”
    	“Well, I still beat him.”
    	Synan walks over to Sage and
    pulls up Sage’s sleeve, revealing a mark on
    Sage’s shoulder--the same mark that Synan
    and Kail have.
    	“What do you know about Sage?”
    Synan asks.
    	“Well,” Veronica says, “Sage was
    captured from the future and Kail came back
    to rescue him.”
    	“I saw Kail in the other dimension.”
    	“Well, he’s here on this island right
    now.” Veronica says.
    	“He is? Where is he?”
    	“I last saw him near Emerald’s Crater.
    I told him that you were in the Warp Room near
    there.”
    	“All right.” Synan says as he locates a Linking
    Book from within the rubble and links.
    	“Time to execute the next phase in my plan...
    Getting these little parents OFF of the island! I
    can’t finish my plan with them here!”
    	Veronica summons a Jelly-Fly to begin
    healing Sage. Meanwhile, Veronica gets up
    and walks toward Orb Lake. She is headed
    toward the forest.
    Chapter 14 : Capture Zoe
    	Veronica enters Monk Forest and hides
    in the bushes. She sees Synan running through
    the forest, trying to catch up with Kail. Sarah
    links in behind him.
    	“Synan,” Sarah says, out of breath,
    “You have to come back with me.. Now!”
    	Synan and Sarah link back to the
    temple. Zoe is missing. She left to follow
    Synan. Zoe will be here soon.
    	Sure enough, Veronica sees Zoe
    wander into the forest out from Monk Garden.
    Veronica comes out of hiding and confronts
    Zoe.
    	“Zoe. Are you looking for Synan?”
    	“Yes... why?”
    	“I think I can help you. Follow me.”
    	Veronica leads the way through the
    forest. Syrus is standing at the same intersection
    in which they first met.
    	“Veronica! What are you doing here?”
    Syrus asks.
    	“What are YOU doing here?” Veronica
    replies.
    	“I’m waiting for Synan. I have yet to
    get a good monster battle in.”
    	“Oh really.” Veronica says. “You’ll
    have to wait a while.”
    	Veronica continues leading Zoe down
    through the pathways. They go down a path
    that leads into the side of the volcano. Veronica
    pulls a secret switch in the mountain and a door
    opens up. Veronica leads Zoe inside.
    	Veronica and Zoe stand on two sides
    of a round cylinder-shaped rock in the middle.
    Veronica teleports James here.
    Chapter 15 : Back to the Origins
    	Synan and Kail come in through the
    secret passage. It is now time to return them
    all back to where they belong.
    	“I will now return Synan, Zoe, James,
    and Syrus back to Earth. I will return Kail to
    the future.”
    	Veronica pretends to erase their minds
    and teleports them back to where they belong.
    Veronica teleports to the Book Temple to get
    Sarah.
    	“Sarah. Come back down to Earth!”
    	Veronica and Sarah teleport back to
    Earth. They enter the Ideya Shop where a
    shady old man sold Ideya Captures to Synan,
    Zoe, and Syrus. They wait in the corner.
    	Synan and Zoe enter and have a short
    conversation with the old man, and then go to
    reading the newspapers. All the articles contain
    things about The Land of No Return.
    	Zoe says, “Looks like people will
    believe our story after all.”
    	Veronica elbows Sarah. Sarah walks
    forward. “You bet they will. I’m Sarah Croft,
    book writer of Vatican City.” Sarah says,
    shaking Synan’s hand.
    	“Sarah...” Synan says quietly, his memory
    partly erased.
    	“I have written a story about you two.
    I have all the descriptive facts about you.”
    	Veronica reads Zoe’s mind. She knows
    Zoe already likes Synan.
    	“Yes, she does, Zoe.” Veronica says.
    	“What? Can you read my thoughts?”
    Zoe asks.
    	“Yes, Zoe. I know you like Synan. I’ve
    always known. You liked him since first grade.”
    	“Zoe?” Synan says.
    	“No! Stop it! Its not true!” Zoe yells.
    	“Please, Zoe. Stop it.” Veronica says.
    	“Make me then.”
    	“Ahem... allow me to introduce myself.
    I am Veronica. I know everything there is to know
    about everything, including your little secrets about
    Synan.”
    	“Oh, my. I have to go. A future boy is
    returning again. He’s after Sage.”
    	“Kail, right?” Synan says.
    	“How did you... oh wait, I forgot to brainwash
    you. Well, I really have to go!” Veronica vanishes in
    a flick of light. Kail wasn’t really returning. Veronica
    had to go see Syrus.
    	Veronica and Sarah are in Syrus’s apartment.
    James is here.
    	“Welcome back, Syrus and James.”
    	Sarah talks. “Hello. I am Sarah Croft. I know
    all about your adventures on The Land of No Return,
    and I’m willing to write a book about it.”
    	“And I’m Veronica Creel.” Veronica says.
    	“So, Syrus. Did you finish Cain’s Quest
    yet?”
    	“No, not yet.”
    	“Well, finish it. How much do you want
    to bet that Veronica wrote the game’s script?”
    	“Maybe later.” Syrus says.
    	“Well, if you need to confess your
    stupidity to me, I work in town now. My Book Shop
    is at 3346 Fourth Street, right here in Vatican City.
    Stop by if you want to visit sometime, okay Syrus?”
    	“Okay.” Syrus says.
    	Veronica and Sarah vanish and appear in
    her book shop.
    	Veronica says, “Syrus likes you, Sarah.”
    Chapter 16 : Return to the Island
    	Veronica leaves Vatican City and flies back
    up to The Land of No Return, in her human form.
    She gets up to the guard towers and lands. Spyke is
    here, disguised as a guard. Veronica talks to Spyke.
    	“Spyke. From now on, we aren’t taking any
    more visitors. We are running out of time. The Jackal
    will arrive in five years.”
    	“Yes, Veronica. What do you want me to
    do?” Spyke asks, obediently.
    	“You will stay here and guard the entrance
    to the island. In four years, I will give you further
    instructions.” Veronica says, flying away from the
    guard towers. Veronica flies over the volcano and
    into Wizeman’s Fortress. Wizeman is here.
    	“Wizeman,” says Veronica, “I have
    finally gotten the kids off of the island. We
    have five years until The Jackal arrives. We
    need to begin training NOW!” Veronica yells.
    	“Yes, I know Veronica. Sage is down-
    stairs training. I suggest you do the same.”
    Wizeman says.
    	“Yeah.” Veronica says. Veronica
    powers up to her blue-flame form, and then
    the flame turns purple. “Time to get going.”
    Veronica turns into a shadowy form and
    sinks through the floor, into the training room.
    Myst and Sage are here.
    Chapter 17 : Four Years Later
    	Four and a half years later, Veronica
    is now a very powerful fighter. Sage is still
    a million times more powerful, however. Myst
    has also improved a lot. Veronica talks with
    Wizeman.
    	“Wizeman. I think now is the time.
    The Jackal will be here in six months, and
    we still don’t have what it takes to defeat
    him.” Veronica says, worried.
    	“Veronica. Jackal is immortal. It
    doesn’t matter how powerful you are, he’ll
    slowly wear you down.”
    	“Yes, I know, but being more powerful
    anyway should help a great deal in defending
    against his attacks. It should buy us lots of time.”
    	“Yes,” Wizeman says, “But how will
    you actually go about saving the world? Your
    powers aren’t great enough to imprison an
    immortal!”
    	“Imprison.... Wizeman, you have
    given me a great idea!” Veronica yells. She
    forms a black glowing marble in her hands. It
    is the Master Ideya Capture. Unlike the red
    Ideyas, the Master Ideya will capture anything
    without failure.
    	“If I can capture Jackal with this thing,
    then we can banish him to the Gap between
    dimensions. I might need the help of Synan and
    Zoe. I’ll be back.” Veronica takes the form of
    the shadow and exits the castle and travels
    down to Earth.
    	Veronica first goes into the Book Temple.
    Sarah Croft is inside. She is now sixteen years old,
    and making tons of money from selling books about
    The Land of No Return. Synan and Zoe, both fifteen,
    are here also.
    	“Synan, Zoe,” Veronica says, “you have to
    help me.”
    	“What is it?” Synan asks.
    	Veronica looks around. “It may sound crazy
    to you two, but I am your daughter.”
    	“What?!” Synan and Zoe yell together.
    	“I came from the future. In my time, the
    world has been taken over by The Jackal. You
    two met him, he lives in the other dimension. I
    devised a plan to come back into the past and
    try to prevent Jackal from getting a chance to take
    over.”
    	Veronica continues, “I have come to the
    year 1999. It is now halfway through 2003, and
    Jackal will arrive in six months. I need your help.”
    	Veronica pulls out the Master Ideya and
    talks, “This is a Master Ideya. It will capture
    ANYTHING without the slightest chance of
    failure. While Sage and I distract Jackal, you two
    will try to sneak up on him and throw this marble
    at him. If he sees it coming he’ll block it.”
    	“So, what do we do now?” Zoe asks.
    	“Right now, you must come with me to
    The Land of No Return. You will stay there for
    six months and prepare for Jackal to arrive.”
    	“Okay.” Synan and Zoe say simultaneously.
    	Veronica teleports the three of them, and
    Sarah, to The Land of No Return’s Book Temple.
    Chapter 18 : Preparation
    	“Sarah,” Veronica says, “You will prepare
    a series of Linking Books and spread them around
    the island. Here is where I want them.” Veronica
    says, handing a list to Sarah.
    	“Synan and Zoe,” Veronica says, “You will
    stay here in the Book Temple. I will give you both
    Stones of Shining. The Stone of Shining is much
    easier to work than the Dark Stone. Synan had a
    Dark Stone but never found out how it was used.
    The Dark Stone is activated by anger.”
    	“Oh.” Synan says, receiving the Stone of
    Shining. Veronica gives a Stone of Shining to Zoe
    also. Immediately Zoe gets a blue flame around her
    body; Synan’s flame turns yellow for a second, and
    then blue.
    	“Well, Sarah. Get on it.” Veronica says.
    Sarah grabs a handful of Linking Books and teleports
    away through another one.
    	“Synan, Zoe. I have to go to the castle and
    train. You two stay here and practice your new
    powers. I will send James over to watch you two.”
    	“Already here!” James yells, falling from
    the sky. “Well, look, it’s Synan and Zoe.” James
    is now sixteen years old, and looks more muscular
    than the last time they met.
    	Veronica turns into her shadowy form and
    flies away toward the castle. In the sky, Veronica
    can see Sarah linking to the various places, leaving
    Linking Books behind.
    Chapter 19 : The Jackal Arrives
    	Synan and Zoe have been training with
    James, and are both now at the purple-flame
    stage of power. Sarah has been watching. Veronica
    appears.
    	“The time has come. Jackal is due to
    arrive shortly.” Veronica says.
    	Synan looks over, “Is he coming through
    the Warp Ring?”
    	“No,” Veronica says, “I would also assume
    that is where he’s coming from, but no. He has
    been waiting just outside in the Gap. Waiting for
    a tear in this dimension. The tear is going to happen...
    now!”
    	Up in the sky, a giant fissure is torn out
    of the stars. Inside are flashing purple lights and
    strange patterns. Out from the fissure comes Jackal,
    the evil trickster from beyond. Jackal has the head
    and hat of a trickster, no body, and he has hands
    and feet hovering there. Attached at his back is
    a large yellow cape with orange designs on it.
    	“Well, well, well.” Jackal says, “I didn’t
    expect there to be a welcoming crew waiting for
    me. Ahem... I am The Jackal, an evil trickster from
    the Dream World! I have come to invade the
    real world.”
    	Veronica and Sage power up, Sage to
    a purple-orange flame and Veronica to a bright
    purple. Veronica signals to Synan and Zoe.
    Zoe pulls out the Master Ideya to make sure
    she has it, and quickly puts it away. Synan takes
    a Linking Book from the desk, and they link.
    	“Now, Sage!” Veronica yells. Sage’s
    flame turns white, and he begins his transformation.
    Veronica begins battling Jackal while Sage
    finishes transforming into the mighty Deity.
    	Synan and Zoe link to Monk Forest.
    Jackal senses the power of the link, and looks
    over in that direction, only to be punched by
    Veronica.
    	Synan and Zoe link from the forest
    to the castle, again confusing Jackal. Jackal,
    not paying attention, is attacked again. Synan
    and Zoe link to the guardhouses of The Land
    of No Return, once again leaving Jackal
    vulnerable. Synan and Zoe finally link to
    Skyber’s Fortress. Jackal is tricked once
    again, and by now is getting the idea that
    he should be ignoring the forces.
    	Jackal, Veronica, and Deity fight
    fiercely in a powerful battle. From Skyber’s
    Fortress, there is a zip cord connecting back
    down to the Book Temple. Zoe grabs the
    cord and slides down, the Master Ideya in
    her pocket.
    	Reaching the floor of the Book
    Temple, Zoe reaches for the Master Ideya
    and readies it. Jackal is still preoccupied
    with Veronica and Deity. Zoe pulls her arm
    back and throws the marble forward.
    	The marble hits Jackal, but he
    doesn’t notice it. The black marble bounces
    off of Jackal and the white star shines brightly.
    Jackal feels the energy of the Ideya and
    jerks around quickly.
    	Jackal flies to the side, dodging
    the white rays of the Master Ideya. The
    rays curve and follow Jackal. Jackal flies
    away, and the beams of light follow him.
    	Zoe catches the marble and walks
    after Jackal with it. Jackal screams and
    flies over Skyber’s Fortress, where Synan
    grabs his foot.
    	Being able to spare that body part,
    Jackal continues flying. The white beam taps
    the foot and sucks it in. The rest of Jackal’s
    body parts and his cape are then sucked
    quickly toward the marble, with more force
    than the gravity on The World of No Return.
    	Jackal’s figure is consumed with a
    glowing white light and he is sealed within
    the dark glow of the marble. Veronica and
    Deity catch up to Zoe, and Deity returns to
    being Sage again.
    Chapter 20 : The Master Ideya
    	“You did it, Zoe!” Veronica yells.
    “You have captured Jackal! Now, we have
    to be careful and not jerk the marble quickly.
    It will, as any Ideya does, release Jackal
    from itself. Give it here.”
    	Zoe hands the marble to Veronica,
    and Veronica places it inside of a white
    box filled with black velvet.
    	“We have to get rid of this marble,
    but we can’t destroy it. If the Spirit Capsule
    deep inside the marble is corrupted, Jackal
    can return. I have an idea.” Veronica says,
    leading Synan, Zoe, and Sage into the Book
    Temple.
    	“Sarah!” Veronica yells, “Get us a
    book to the Warp Ring!”
    	“Right away!” Sarah responds,
    handing a purple book to Veronica that
    reads ‘Warp Ring.’
    	“Sage, stay here. We won’t be
    gone long.” Veronica says.
    	Veronica, Synan, and Zoe link
    through the book. They are back in the
    Warp Room. It is a square-shaped room
    with a small square hole in the ceiling, where
    the faint red light from the volcano shines
    through. The Warp Ring is here--a large,
    stone ring with a film portal in its center.
    The three enter.
    Chapter 21 : The Eternal Corridor
    	Synan, Zoe, and Veronica are in
    the Eternal Corridor. Each room has six
    spinning tunnels going in each direction, and
    a tunnel in the floor and ceiling. Each tunnel
    leads to an exact replica of the room they
    are in. Thus, called the Eternal Corridor, in
    the Gap between Dimensions.
    	Veronica, Synan, and Zoe stand
    around the tunnel in the floor. Veronica
    takes out the Master Ideya and holds it
    over the tunnel, and then drops it. It falls
    quickly downward.
    	“The marble will fall for the rest of
    eternity. Let’s return.” Veronica says, and
    Synan and Zoe follow her back to their
    dimension. Veronica turns around and powers
    up to her purple-flame form and fires an
    energy blast at the Warp Ring.
    	“No longer will anything be able
    to come or leave this dimension through the
    Warp Ring, and the Star Stone shall never
    be completed.” Veronica says. There is a
    Linking Book here. Synan, Zoe, and Veronica
    link back to the Book Temple.
    Chapter 22 : Back to the Future
    	Synan, Zoe, James, Sarah, Veronica,
    and Sage stand in the center of the Book
    Temple. There is also a new person there, a
    man that none of them have seen before. It
    is Joseph, the Master of Illusion.
    	Veronica speaks, “We have put a
    stop to Jackal and saved the future. Synan,
    Zoe, I will leave these memories in your head.
    Do me a favor: when you have your first son,
    his name is to be Sage Creel. Your daughter
    will be me, Veronica Creel. Your youngest
    son will be Kail Creel.”
    	“Alright.” Synan says.
    	“Now, I need to return to my own
    time. Here in the past, I was unable to gain
    any more years. I am still a thirteen-year-old,
    and Sage is fifteen.” Veronica says, “Synan,
    Zoe, Sarah. You need to go back home. James,
    Sage, Joseph. You will return to the future
    with me.”
    	Veronica puts her arms into the air
    and does a psychic teleportation and returns
    everyone to where they’re supposed to be.
    Chapter 23 : The New Future
    	Veronica and Sage appear in the sky
    above Vatican City in the year 2020. The Land
    of No Return is still floating in the sky nearby,
    still running smoothly under orders of Lord
    Wizeman III. Vatican City is not destroyed,
    in fact its better than it was in 1999. Sage and
    Veronica land in the city and walk around. They
    soon find Kail wandering the city. Kail shows
    them where Synan and Zoe live. Veronica and
    Sage enter.
    	“Veronica! Sage!!” Zoe screams as
    they enter. “Welcome back! I see you were
    successful at your mission, eh?”
    	“Umm, duh!” Veronica says, sarcastically.
    Sarah is here in the living room. She gets up
    and speaks.
    	“Veronica, Sage, Kail. You three had
    an amazing adventure, and I’m sure you have
    a whole story to tell. I will write a book all about
    it. It will be called The Book of Veronica, as she
    is the main hero.”
    	The world of 2020 is finally saved.
    Veronica Laura Creel has prevented Jackal’s
    attack, just like she set out to do.

    LNR Universe : Welcome to Our World!
    ~Take a trip into outer space, to the world where monsters rule...
    The Land of No Return!~

    http://www.lnr.cjb.net/

    Copyright © 2002 Cerone J. Kircle