Brankyledon

Argiana picked up the key with a surprised look on her face. As she stood staring at the key, Pix said, “You better not open that case.” He wore a mischievous look on his face as he said it again, almost as if willing her to open it. He then bobbed over to the case and plunked himself in a cross-legged sitting position on top of the lid that held enormous amounts of power inside. Argiana picked him up by the back of his green jacket and placed him on her shoulder, Pix struggling against her in frustration of being so small. Argiana then put the key into the keyhole slowly and hesitantly. Pix put his hands over his eyes and squealed with anticipation, “She’s going to open it.” She turned to look at them all watching her, and as she looked back at the case with the key in place, she saw the key turning all by itself. Silence surrounded them, and eyes grew big. Then they heard a click. The case lid started to rise, hinges creaking with age. There before them was the wand, a long slender stick that was of a bright deep purple color with a gold tip. The same colors as the robe Argiana wore, the one her mother left her. Argiana and the group were surprised at the case opening by itself. Pix had his hands over his eyes, but of course, he peeked through his fingers. As soon as it opened, the dogs cowered and hid behind the back of the desk. Maiden Tippy kept peeking over the top of the desk, wary of what might happen next. On the desktop, amid old papers and recipes, was her father’s crystal ball. It stood on a golden stand and was usually covered by a purple velvet cloth, but her father left quickly and forgot to cover it in his haste. The ball was dark right now. She had seen him use the ball many times, and when in use, it was crystal clear and had a bluish tinge to it. It seemed to absorb some kind of energy that made it progressively look like a blue light was inside it. Argiana was about to drape the purple velvet material over the ball when the wand moved ever so slightly in the case. Pix said, “Oh no, it wants you to pick it up. It’s been in the case for ten long years since you were two years old. But don’t you dare to touch it. It’ll only mean trouble.” Argiana, drawn to the wand, picked the wand up gently, almost fearful of it and its powers but curious of how it would feel in her hands. Holding it in her hands, she moved it ever so slightly. But as she did this, she accidentally touched the wand to the dark crystal ball. All eyes were on her, and Pix’s eyebrows were furrowed with serious concern over the top of his wide surprised eyes. First off, there were a few bright yellow sparks, then thunderous wind noises closed in around them, but there was no wind to be felt. A calm void filled the room. Then it came suddenly, furiously whirling around them and the desk, like a tornado in the making. Pix tried to hold on to the case, his little fingers clenched tightly to the edge of the box as his legs were lifted straight out behind him by the powerful wind. The dogs cringing underneath the desk were now terrified and whimpering at the force around them. Blue flashes whirled around the room as well as decorative gold leaves from the outside of the box. The thunderous roar was ominous, and then it was as if they ran into something big. There was a bump, and they all tumbled in a big heap downward. Luckily Pix landed on Argiana. They were in shock and shaken up. Argiana started to focus on her surroundings and realized that they were no longer in the castle lab but outside and had landed in a forest full of overgrown foliage. It was a dark looking place, or did time go by and it was nighttime? Had they been in this forest a long time? Her dad would be worried. Maybe they were gone for days or years. Maybe this was just a dream she was having. Argiana got up, straightened her robe, and looked down at Pix, who was just brushing the dust off and picking up his hat. “Where are the animals?” she said to nobody in particular, more a question to herself. Pix started to reply, when they both heard a deep breathing noise of huge, huge breaths, as if something gigantic was behind them.