lnr/Originals/Books/Synan/15-JACKAL.txt

Synan, Zoe, and Unamed continue

walking through the Gap. After the brutal

death of Clawz, Zoe is very quiet.

“The exit should be right up ahead,

guys.” Unamed says. They turn and walk

down another tunnel.

“There’s the exit!” Unamed says.

“But, nothing’s there.” Synan says.

“Exactly. The exits are always hidden.”

“Oh.”

“Come on. Walk through and get

to the other side.”

Synan and Zoe walk down the hall

and soon vanish. They appear in the same room

that they left. The book to get back sits on

it’s pedestal ahead of them.

“I don’t get it. We’re back where we

started.” Synan says.

Zoe just shrugs and picks up the book and

warps. Synan follows.

They both meet up in the Book Temple

again.

“Sarah!” Zoe says her first word in quite

some time.

“Zoe, I thought you and Synan were captured

by Jackal.”

“Who the hell?” Synan says.

“You know, Jackal! The one who defeated

Deity and took over the island!”

“Jackal?” Zoe says.

“Yes. So, how’d you escape?”

“Well, we’re from the other dimension which

Deity is about to destroy.” Zoe says.

“And we need the Star Stone that only exists

in this dimension.” Synan adds.

“The Star Stone? I thought that was in your

dimension.” Sarah says.

“Our dimension??” Zoe says.

A dark shadow appears at the gate to the temple.

The shadow takes the form of Veronica.

“Alright, Synan and Zoe. You thought you were

going to get the Star Stone, right? Ha, you can’t fool me.

I know everything!”

“Then what happened to my Clawz?” Zoe says.

“Your claws? What, did they break? Hahaha...”

“You don’t know anything!!” Synan says.

“Oh, okay. Three of the Star Stone halves are

in your dimension. One is with me. The last one is with

Jackal.”

“Take us to Jackal!” Synan says.

“I don’t know, Synan. If Jackal defeated Deity,

it might not be too wise...” Zoe says.

Sarah throws a book at Synan’s face. “There!”

Synan opens a book. Inside is what appears to

be the location of Wizeman’s Fortress, but there is a

giant crater that goes out to where the lava moat was and

in the center floats an island. Sky Island. But the Lightning

Temple is now a small Castle.

Syrus warps into the Book Temple.

“Hey Synan!”

“What are you doing here?!”

“Do you think I could miss an adventure like this?

No way!”

“Why did you follow us?”

“Because I could. I captured a really powerful

monster back there in the Gap! Beat that, Synan! I bet

you couldn’t even fight one!”

“What monster is it?!” Synan yells.

“I ain’t telling you!”

“You better tell us!” Zoe yells.

“Hey Zoe. Could you mind NOT entering our

conversations uninvited?”

Syrus takes out a purple book and warps.

“Ha!” Sarah says, “That book must’ve been

from your dimension. He just warped his little ass back

there!”

Synan and Zoe enter the book to Jackal’s Castle.

They arrive next to the large crater.

“Synan, I don’t think this is a very good idea.” Zoe

says.

“We’re going to have to fight Jackal eventually to

get that stone. Might as well be now.”

“Okay. I hope you’re right.”

“...me too.” Synan says. Zoe summons Skyber.

Skyber flies them over the castle wall and into the

courtyard.

“Looks like this is the place...” Synan says.

“Hey, look over there! In the corner!” Zoe yells.

In the corner sets a pile of golden treasures and jewels.

“Wow!” Synan’s eyes get real big as he dives into

the pile.

“Synan, wait!”

“Come on, Zoe! It’s fu--” Synan chokes

on one of the jewels. He manages to recover it.

It is a small purple stone, about the shape of a

cube. It’s edges and corners are rounded.

“Cool!” Synan says as he pockets the

jewel. Zoe pulls Synan out of the gold. They

both stand at the entrance to the tower. Synan

slowly opens the creaky door. Rust particles break

off the old hinges as the door makes its way open.

Inside is a familiar object: The green crystals that kept

Sky Island floating.

Along the walls are all the writings from the

Lightning Temple. A locked gate prevents them from

going higher in the tower, so they decide to go lower

instead. They soon get to a small underground cavern.

Steel bars are placed in the ground covering smaller

caves.

“Hey! Over here! Get us out!!” A voice says.

Synan and Zoe go to the cage. The people inside look

exactly like Synan, Zoe, and James.

“James?” Synan says.

“How do you know my name? Oh wait, everyone

does! I was a real famous villain here. For a time, at least.”

“Where is the key?” Zoe whispers to the Synan

inside the cage.

“I don’t know. Maybe Jackal has it.”

“Jackal again. How powerful is Jackal?” Zoe asks.

“More powerful than Deity, that’s all I know.”

Synan notices that the Synan inside the cage has

a necklace on. It’s a purple stone almost identical to Synan’s,

but there is black leather holding it in place.

“What is that purple stone?” Synan asks.

“Hello! It’s called a Dark Stone! James has one. It

gives you mega-monster powers. I still can’t figure it out,

though.”

“Dark Stone... Isn’t that what Wizeman had?” Zoe

asks.

“Wizeman had one. That’s how Jackal escaped into

the world.” James says.

“Well, we’ll try to get you out of there!” Zoe says,

“Come on, Synan. We need to find Jackal.”