Chapter 12

As Crystal and Bliss tried to get the griffin to let go, Crystal noticed Breeze flying behind them.

Crystal sighed in relief as Breeze caught up to them.

"I'm going to distract it." Breeze said. She flew in front of the griffin and fired a strong gust of wind at it.

The griffin dodged it and continued flying.

Crystal took her wand and shot the claw holding Bliss.

The griffin let go and Bliss fell.

"Are you crazy!" He screeched.

Breeze flew out of nowhere and caught him.

Crystal did the same to the claw holding her and was caught by Breeze.

"Oh thank god-" A powerful blast hit Breeze and they fell into the water below.

As they resurfaced, a figure in a cape put his hand out to help them.

"Oh hell no, I'm not taking your hand!" Bliss snapped.

Crystal raised her wand.

The figure took his hood off.

Breeze's eyes went wide as she realized who it was. "Mantis?"

"Hello Breeze." Mantis said.

He was barely recognizable, his bright green hair was a dark muddy color, and his eyes were red as fire.

"What are you doing wearing that cloak?" Breeze asked.

"I'm here to take you and your group into custody." Mantis said.

Breeze's eyes began to well up with tears. "Why?"

"Because, I had a vision." Mantis sighed.

"What vision?" Crystal asked.

"Where you all die and the governess takes over all the realms and has full control." Mantis said.

"You betrayed us, I thought that we could have a life together." Breeze cried.

Crystal pointed her wand towards Mantis. "How dare you, I trusted you, Breeze trusted you."

"Which is why I've come here, let me take you and I will ask for your friends to be spared." Mantis offered.

Crystal's face turned red, "Never!"

"Well, you brought this upon yourselves, dark mages, attack!"

Mages jumped from the trees, lake and the waterfall.

Bliss placed his hands on the ground. His eyes illuminated a bright pink and everyone fell onto the ground.

"Earthquake!" Breeze screamed and flew up into the air.

Crystal had one hand on a tree branch and another on her wand. She fired sharp blue transparent spikes at the advancing mages.

Mantis placed his hands on the ground and like Bliss, his eyes illuminated a dark green.

The ground began to rip itself apart. Cracks appeared all around.

Ash popped out of the lake shaking and gasping for air.

"Holy crap!" Breeze gasped.

"We came as fast as we could." Ash said.

"We?" Crystal asked.

The rest of Crystal's team popped out from the lake.

"Ok everyone, let's destroy these boys!" Ash said, pumping his fist into the air.

"Like the enthusiasm." River said.

Crystal saw Mantis circling Breeze.

"Give up Breeze." Mantis made the earth shake again.

Bliss fell onto the floor but stood up and continued to fight off the dark mages who were trying to grab him.

Crystal and Breeze tackled Mantis to the ground.

"I see one of my hunters left his mark." Mantis laughed.

Crystal covered the eye patch and placed her elbow on his chest. "Help us, and we'll let you go."

"No, I will never help you traitors!" Mantis disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"He's gone!" Breeze gasped.

Ripple, Icy and River all searched for Mantis.

Ash and Bliss chased off the remaining mages.

"Go to hell!" Ash yelled.

The mages scurried away as fast as they could.

"Is she ok?" Ash asked.

"The leader of the Governess army is Mantis." Crystal explained.

"Who now?" Ash and Bliss said together.

"Ah boys, so clueless." River laughed.

"He's Breeze's boyfriend." Ripple said.

"You mean was." River patted Ripple on the back.

"River, don't be rude." Crystal snapped.

River raised her hands defensively. "Just trying to make a point."

Crystal took the eye patch and took it off.

"Ah, goddamnit put that thing back on!" Ash screamed.

Icy hid behind Breeze. "Please put it on."

"She's really quiet, I forgot she was here." Bliss said.

"She hasn't said anything since Crystal lost her eye." Breeze said while she hugged Icy.

Crystal felt something buzz from her pocket, "Aspen!" She took out a disk and placed it on the floor.

Aspen appeared in a hologram. "Hey Crystal."

"What's that jerk doing here?" River asked, crossing her arms.

"I need to talk with you, alone please." Aspen begged.

"Fine fine, but Breeze needs to come with me." Crystal said.

Aspen rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

Crystal carried the disk to a small cave. "So what do you want?"

"They're starting the execution soon, like really soon." Aspen said.

"We're days away from the dark mages territory."

"I know, I can fly there!" Breeze said.

"Yeah, and another thing, Crystal what happened to your eye?"

"A hunter took it out." Crystal explained.

"Ew, gross!" Aspen said.

"Oh Aspen, go and ask her." Someone said.

"Dad, get out of here." Aspen groaned.

"Ask me what?" Crystal asked.

"Oh nothing." Aspen said, shaking his head rapidly.

"When you deny, you make me think something's up." Crystal said.

"Ok, thanks a lot dad!" Aspen said. "I, have a-"

"Crush on me?" Crystal asked.

Aspen was so taken aback. "Um yeah, what gave it away?"

"You never tried to hide it." Breeze laughed.

Aspen looked away, "You obviously don't like me so there's no point of asking you out."

"Yeah, I don't."

Breeze looked between the two. "I think you broke his heart."

"Well, he kind of deserves it." Crystal said.

"Well, I got to go, so bye." Aspen sighed.

The hologram faded and Crystal picked up the disk.

"You turned him down, I can't believe it."

"He actually took it quite well." Crystal said to herself.