Chapter 2 Part 3

Iris wakes up sleepily, and she surveys the area. Nothing seems to have happened after she told the stone her wish, and she is relieved. She knows wishing will not change her uncle’s mind; she needs to do it with her power. Iris gets up and heads back to the village, hoping that her uncle isn’t still at Elder’s house.

The walk back to the village is different. Iris feels heavier, and she is having a hard time keeping her eyes open. Her legs feel like they have heavy weights, and her heart rate increases rapidly. Even more surprising, Iris is nervous around the dark foliage. Iris cannot figure out why this is happening. She needs to tell Elder or Boss immediately. Iris reaches the forest entrance, but the sight that greets her is not what she wanted.

The village is covered in snow and surrounded in a blizzard. She knows it’s a natural phenomenon because only the village is getting snowed.

“What’s going on?” Iris wonders bewildered. She runs quickly to the village hoping the people are safe.

Iris enters the village and is immediately overwhelmed by the blizzard. She walks in small steps looking for anyone who can help her or needs help.

“Boss, Ruby, Rose, Sliver, where are you?” Iris calls “Uncle, Elder, if you can hear me, say something!”

“Iris!” Elder calls, “Follow the sound of my voice! Meet me at the Village Hall!”

Iris, joyed, runs to Elder’s voice. Even though Elder is only three feet, Iris can always remember Elder’s deep blue eyes which can install fear in anyone of needed.

“Iris, come inside quickly!” Elder ushers Iris inside the hall. The Village Hall is where everyone votes and discusses on how the village should thrive better. Of course, it’s big enough to fit everyone. Iris is relieved as she finds almost everyone. Bruce is still out cold, and his men surround him with concern. She can’t seem to find Uncle Zorro, but she knows he is safe. Iris grins widely at more recognizable faces.

“Iris!” Ruby and Rose run up to Iris hugging her waist. Iris ruffles their red hair until they protest. Boss and Silver join up with them as well.

“Boss, what happened to the village?” Iris ask as soon as Boss is within earshot.

“I don’t know,” Boss replies equally as confused, “The weather was clear until this happened. It’s summer. I can only deduce that this is the work of magic.”

“And you’re absolutely right,” Elder’s voice fills the room, and the villagers are completely silenced. Elder is on stage with Zorro (of course) right next to her.

“I can sense a strong magical energy the moment this blizzard. I can only think of one object that is able to cause this blizzard: the Blizzarorb.

“Wow, that name is so creative,” Iris comments sarcastically, and a few chuckles rise from the audience. Elder glares, and the chuckles die down.

“As I was saying, the Blizzarorb may sound ridiculous, but its powers are no joke. A long time ago, an alchemist, who the one of the Void creatures affected, created an item which has the power to create any natural disaster at its will. The alchemist made it in rage for the people insulting his abilities, and the creature used his rage to its advantage. Once the item was finished, the creature left the alchemist to rain terror on the village. However, there was a defect. Apparently, the alchemist’s emotions were too powerful, and the creature died as the orb absorbed it.”

Everyone was quite shocked at the story. To think there was item strong enough to kill a creature of the Void”

Elder continues, “Now, the Blizzarorb is safely locked away in an altar in an area of the Evergreen Forest. There’s a rare area where the light sleeps through the deep foliage, and it can counteract any negative energy the orb releases.”

Iris’s heart races as Elder ponders, “There’s a reason why we declared the Evergreen Forest was forbidden. And even if he didn’t listen, I thought the area was secluded enough for anyone to miss. To think, somebody would find such a place.”

“Can you find where the orb is now?” Zorro asks.

“Pft! Of course, I can,” Elder closes her eyes and opens them immediately. “Strange the orb is very close. In fact, it’s inside the orb.” Elder glares at everyone. “All right! Who has the orb? You can’t run so just confess.”

Iris sighs and heads up on stage. She reveals the orb inside her pocket, and the audience have mix reactions.

“It’s the orb!” “We’re doomed!” “This can’t be happening!” “I don’t want to die!” “This is all Iris’s fault!”

“Everyone quiet!” The villagers stop ranting. “Right the village is at a very dangerous point. We all need to calm down. There’s a way to fix this mess. When the creature left the alchemist, the alchemist woke up to see what his item had done. The villagers begged him to stop the blizzard, and he did. He created another orb, the Sun Orb, and as the name described, the orb reversed the effects of the Sun Orb.”

“However, there are two problems. One, the Sun Orb is not located near here. It’s actually located in the Serpent Temple which holds Harmonia’s worst enemy, Diablos.”

The audience gasps in shock. “After the battle, the Gale Hero sealed Diablos’ soul inside the temple, and the temple has been abandoned for years. This blizzard may be a sign Diablos is awakening once more.” Uncle Zorro clenches his fist, and no one seems to notice. “We need someone to go to the temple and grab the orb. And, that also may require battling Diablos. Any volunteers?”

The villagers stay silent. Each one of them knows he is not capable of fighting Diablos. Iris sees this as her chance.

“I-!” Iris raises her hand, but Zorro immediately stops her.

“Absolutely not! Did you not see what you did?! You are not ready for this!” Iris and Zorro glare at each other, but Elder interrupts them.

“Actually, that question was rhetorical,” Zorro is shocked while Iris is surprised like the other villagers at Elder’s statement.

“You see, when the alchemist was making the Sun Orb, the villagers, who insulted his talents, apologized to him. With the love he received from them, the alchemist finished the item and got rid of the storm. In other words, the person, who caused the storm, is the only one who can stop.”

Iris smiles. “That means-?”

Elder turns to Iris smiling, “Iris, go to the temple, retrieve the orb, and stop this blizzard.”

“YES!!!” Iris jumps spinning around and around laughing like a maniac. Everyone laughs having fun at seeing Iris' excitement. Zorro glares at Elder, but Elder is not affected by it.

Iris stops catching her breath. “Thank you, Elder. You won’t be disappointed!”