The Last Hope for Atlantis

Fandom: Ogham-Duir (original fiction verse)

Prompt: The Tales of the Seven Keys

WC: +3K

The Last Hope for Atlantis 

"Captain! There's something floating in the water!" The lookout called from the crow's nest. 

Captain Warden walked to the rail and raised his scope. "Haul it out and bring it on board." He looked around. "We're close to where Atlantis fell. It might be something important." 

Two sailors dived in and put ropes around the crate and secured it. They climbed back aboard and hauled the crate up on the deck. 

The crate was wooden and covered in a strange writing. 

"Should we open it?" One of the sailors asked. 

Captain Warden ran his hand over the top of the crate. "No. We'll take it to Ogham-Duir. The High Priestess may want to look at this writing first. We'll sail into Dragontail Cove. We can take it on shore there and send word to Lady Aura. Secure it on deck." 

An hour later, Dragontail Cove came into view. A familiar ship was already anchored there and unloading cargo. Captain Warden smiled when he saw it was his friend, Captain Grim Ranger.

"Bring the ship alongside Captain Ranger's vessel." Captain Warden instructed the helmsman. 

Grim Ranger waved as the ship came alongside. 

"Warden, what brings you to Dragontail Cove? Don't you usually dock at the harbor at Ren?" Grim called out. 

"Yes. We found something in the water and I need to show it to Lady Aura." 

"What is it?" Grim leaned against the rail. 

"It's a crate with some kind of writing on it." Captain Warden pointed to the crate on deck. "We found it in what should have been the location of Atlantis."

"Atlantis?" Grim frowned. "Have your men lower it onto the longboat and I'll contact Lady Aura. Her grandparents lived on Atlantis." 

"Really?" Captain Warden scratched his head. "But Atlantis exploded decades ago…."

"Draconians live longer than you think." Grim smirked. 

Captain Warden shook his head and waved two sailors over. "Lower the crate onto the longboat." 

"I'll call out to Aura. Get on the boat and I'll join you in a minute or two." Grim walked below deck until he was in shadow. "Aura! Aura, can you hear me?"

In the sitting room of her chambers at Crystal Palace, Aura looked up from her book. She looked in the shadow in the corner "Grim? Is that you?"

"Yes. You need to meet me at Dragontail Cove. Captain Warden has something for you to look at." Grim told her.

"I'm at the palace. I'll be there in a half an hour. I'll be riding." Aura put her book on the table and rushed down to the stables. 

Grim came back on deck then climbed down to the longboat to join Captain Warden and the crate. "Lady Aura is on her way."

"How…? No, don't tell me." Captain Warden sighed. "It's one of those shadow walker things."

Grim laughed. "Yeah." 

Aura nudged the pony that she was riding into a gallop. She turned off the main road and onto the path to Dragontail Cove. She slowed the pony when she spotted the two men standing on the beach. She guided the pony up to them and dismounted. 

"Hello Grim. Captain Warden, it's nice to see you again." Aura smiled. She handed the reins to Grim and went to look at the crate. She traced a word on the crate. "Its Draca. I'm not not very proficient. I can speak a little but reading it is another thing. My father would be able to read it or Aunt Benna. Can we load it onto a wagon and take it to my father's house?"

Captain Warden nodded. "Yes. I want to know what it says." 

Grim whistled and motioned for two of his men to load it on one of the empty wagons on the beach. "Horace is just going to have to wait on his ale." 

The trio took a path to the Draconis house. Aura dismounted and went inside. She returned with a dark haired man. Captain Warden dismounted his borrowed horse as Grim jumped down from the wagon.

Grim bowed. "Lord Draconis." He nudged Captain Warden. 

Captain Warden bowed. "My Lord." 

"Gentleman, I hear you've found a crate with writing on it. Aura says it looks like Draca." Lord Drake Draconis climbed up on the wagon and looked at the crate. "She's right, It's Draca. Where was it found?" 

"My Lord, it was found in the location of Atlantis. Do you know what it says?" Captain Warden asked. 

Yes of course. Drake read the lid of the crate out loud.  

"'Seven keys turned as one

Reveals the fate of the Atlantis. 

A key for each of the seven beings of magick. 

Each pure of blood and true of heart.'" 

"What is it talking about? What keys and what are the seven beings of magick?" Aura asked. 

Lord Draconis jumped down. "When Ogham-Duir was established, each of the races were given a key by the Council of Atlantis. Those may be what it's speaking of. The Dragon key is at the sanctuary. I have no idea where the others are." 

"I'll have to ask Endora if she knows where the Fae key is." Aura thought for a moment. "Pure of blood? That would mean…."

Lord Draconis nodded. "You would not be able to handle a key. You are neither dragon, fae or witch. But you're the high priestess. That means that you must put a call out to the other races to bring their keys. Victra would know where the Witch's key is. That leaves Human, Phoenix, Druid and Shadow Walker. 

The Druids key might be at the cloister and the Human key at City Hall in the City of Man or possibly Ren. I hope its not Ren. They might have destroyed it." Aura looked at the men around her. "That leaves two keys unaccounted for. The Phoenix key and the Shadow Walker key. Grim, do you know anything about a key?" 

Grim frowned. "I'll have to ask Jonas. If there is one in this realm, he might know where it is. I didn't come to Ogham-Duir directly. I came here from Vusamsern with Lady Darkstarr."

"Are there phoenix around here?" Captain Warden asked.

"There's a nesting ground on the mountain up there." Lord Draconis pointed up near the peak of Dragon's Peak. "I haven't been up there in years. Not since Phoenixpyre died." He turned to Aura. "I'll take the crate to Tuathan Hall. Have the races gather there? We can open it when everyone is present with the keys." 

"Where is that?" Captain Warden asked. 

"In Crystal Spires. It's the Fae village." Aura told him. "I'll send messengers to everyone so we can get this done. I have a feeling it's important. It's strange that it has surfaced now. There must be a reason." 

"I agree." Lord Draconis looked at the other two men. "We will take it from here gentlemen." He handed Captain Warden a bag of coins. "This should compensate you for your time." 

"Thank you, My Lord." Captain Warden bowed. "I had better get back to my ship. I have cargo to off load in Ren." He looked at Grim. "I'll see you on my next visit, Captain Ranger." He mounted his borrowed horse and left. 

Grim and Lord Draconis took the crate off the wagon and put it in the barn. Grim left with the wagon soon after. 

"Father, Endora and Victra won't be able to handle keys either. We are all of mixed blood." Aura reminded him. 

"That's why the three of you can use each other's magick as the Triquetra." Lord Draconis caressed his daughter's cheek. "I didn't believe the prophecy until it came true. My daughters and their fae sister with the power of fae, elemental and dragon magick combined into one ultimate magick." 

"I know what you mean. We weren't sure it would work either but it did. I better go send out the messengers and you need to get the crate to Tuathan Hall." Aura mounted her pony. "I'm not sure what we will find inside but if its from Atlantis, we may find out what really happened when the city fell into the sea." 

"It would be good to know the fate of those we lost. My parents especially." Lord Draconis smiled. "Give Dragas my good wishes." 

"I will. I'm at Crystal Palace with him now. I long to get back to our cottage. The Royal Court is so stuffy and everyone is so formal. It tries my patience."

Lord Draconis laughed. "I hope your stay is short for their sakes. Goodbye my child."

"Goodbye Father." Aura waved as she rode off. She turned west toward Zestra when she reached the main road even though she longed to head east and back to her cottage in Una. 

When Aura reached the palace, she sent out messengers to ask for representatives from each of the races to bring their key to Tuathan Hall in Crystal Spires in two days. 

The messenger sent to the City of Man came back with a message saying there was no key in their city. Aura sent a messenger to Ren next to find the human key. She was surprised when the messenger returned with a message saying they would come with the Hunan key. 

Ren was the last place Aura expected the key to be. All magick was banned in the Republic of Ren and magickal creatures were executed on sight. Aura thought it odd that the Council of Atlantis would give the Human key to them. If there was a reason, she couldn't think of it.  

Two days later, Aura greeted the seven keyholders in Tuathan Hall. Some of the races came in groups. Victra and Klaus as well as Dragas, Lord Draconis and Endora with two Fae guards in attendance. 

Aura stepped forward and cleared her throat. "Welcome to you all. We are here to see what is inside this crate and why it was necessary to bring our keys out of hiding. Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind opening the crate." Aura stepped aside to let Dragas and Klaaus open the crate. 

The two men gently opened the square crate and exposed a circular chest with seven keyholes. They gently lifted it out and put it on the floor next to the crate. Dragas and Klaus moved the crate out of the way. 

There is writing next to the keyholes. It's in different languages but I recognize them. I guess that's to tell us which one is which." Aura looked around the room.  "The first key is the Dragon key. The second looks like Fae, then Human, Witch, Druid, Shadow Walker, and this last one is Phoenix. Please step forward and present your keys." 

"I am Lady Benna, a caretaker from the Dragon Sanctuary at Aster Cliffs and I am here for the dragons." Lady Benna stepped forward and held up the Dragon key. "I brought the key from the Sanctuary's Reliquary." 

Captain Fawnard stepped forward the glanced back at Endora. "I am Fawnard, Captain of the Tuathan Guard and consort of the Queen. My Queen has appointed me representative of the Fae and given me the key from the castle vault." He held up the Fae key.

Jonas stepped forward and held up the Shadow Walker key. "I am Jonas Bagdar and I am a shadow walker. I wasn't sure why I had this but it came with me from the Shadow Realm." 

A short bald man in white robes cleared his throat. "I am Buu the Bard. I have the Druids Key from the Cloister." He held up the Druid key. 

A woman dressed in sky blue stepped forward. "I am Sister Nightingale of the Holy Isle. I bring the key of the Witches." She held up the Witch key.  

Aura looked around the room. "Who is here for the Phoenix?" 

"That would be me, High Priestess." A young man stepped forward and held up the Phoenix key. "I am Voca and I have the Phoenix key. I was sent by General Pyro. He sends his regrets. He is in negotiations for peace with the Thunderbirds at present." 

A man dressed in rich purple robes stepped forward and held up the Human key.. "I am Counselor Walden of the Ren Republic. Can we get on with this? I am uneasy in a place with so many….  unnatural creatures."

"Well then." Aura stepped aside. "Insert your keys. They must be turned together for this to work."

Each representative stepped up and inserted their key in the corresponding keyhole. 

Aura nodded. "Turn your keys."

The top of the device slid away into the device and three palm prints were revealed. 

"Well that was useless." Counselor Walden threw up his hand and stepped away. 

"Maybe not." Aura said as she looked at the device. "Victra! Endora! I believe this is for us." 

The three women stood around the device. Aura put her hand on one of the palm prints then put her hand on Victra's back, Victra put her hand on the second  palm print then put her hand on Endora's back. When Endora put her hand on the last palm print and closed the circle by putting her hand on Auras back a beam of light came from the center of the device. 

A face materialized in the beam of light. 

"Father!" Lord Draconis looked at Aura. "That is your grandfather. I thought….."

The man started to speak. "Beings of Ogham-Duir, Atlantis needs your help. If you are seeing this message the Prophecy of the Triquetra has come to pass. Please help us. We are trapped beneath the sea. We need the power of your combined magick to raise the city. All of the races must join with the Triquetra in order for this to work. The humans will hesitate but you must convince then to join you. Atlantis was once the gathering place of the races as Ogham-Duir is now. Our history and fates are as interwoven as the fabric of magick itself. Bring us back into the world for all our sakes. There is a device here like the one we have sent you. Send you magick through to us. Please. Do it quickly." 

The image faded and the light faded. 

Aura pulled her hand away. Victra and Endora did the same. 

"Do you think it's real?" Endora asked. "Could they have survived?" 

"I don't know." Aura turned to her father and aunt. "You two were the only ones alive to witness the destruction. What do you think?"

Lady Benna looked at her brother. "We should do it. I stood on the cliffs, watching as Atlantis shook, the great towers fell then the ocean covered it. I think it's possible. Atlantis would have had some form of magickal protection just as the Fae do now."

Lord Draconis shook his head. "Benna, it's been almost a century. Why now? Why not when it happened?" 

"You heard our father." Benna pointed at the three women. "The Triquetra is needed to channel the magick to them." 

"What if this is just some kind of plot to steal our magick?" Victra asked. "Are we sure this is safe?" 

"Victra has a point." Endora frowned. "If magick leaves Ogham-Duir, we all will be unprotected. The Fae most of all." 

"I say we throw it back in the ocean and get back to our lives." Counselor Walden suggested. 

Aura sighed. "I say we take the chance but only the key holders and the three of us. If that's not enough to raise Atlantis then we will let things stand as they are." 

"High priestess, we are not that strong." Sister Nightingale looked at Victra. "Lady you know I am but a novice. My powers are weak." 

Victra looked at Aura then back at Sister Nightingale. "We will be stronger together than we are individually. We have to be." 

Dragas stepped forward. "Aura, we need to move people to higher ground. And clear the boats from the harbors on that side of Ogham-Duir. That will take a day at least." 

Aura nodded. "You're right. We will meet here in two days to do as they ask. Counselor Walden, you will be the guest of the Fae. I believe they have a lovely tower room you can stay in." She glanced at Endora. "I will send any message you require to your government to help them prepare."

"I don't want to go with those creatures." Counselor Walden shook his head. "Maybe some alternative accommodation can be provided?"

"You'll be safer with the Fae." Aura assured him. 

Counselor Walden frowned but didn't continue his protest.

"Now that that is settled, Astoria, Brimstone, the Holy Isle, and the Insecta colony need to be warned as well as the harbors of Zestra and Ren." Aura turned to Lady Benna. "Will you see to Astoria, Aunt Benna? Victra, you need to evacuate the Holy Isle. Dragas, you take Zestra's harbor. Endora, you take the Insecta colony. Father, that leaves you with Brimstone. Anything else?"

"No that should do it." Endora motioned for her guards to take Counselor Walden into custody. "Fawnard, make sure he's looked after. I'll go to the Insecta Colony now."

Fawnard nodded. He motioned for the guards to follow him as he left for the Mist Passage. 

Everyone dispersed to take care of the evacuations and prepare for the next step.

After everyone was moved and the harbors were cleared, the seven key holders and the three women of the Triquetra returned to the device at Tuathan Hall. 

Endora posted a guard outside of Tuathan Hall and more guards by the Mist Passage in case things went wrong. She was the only one connected to the protective shield of the Fae. If she was hurt or lost her magick, the Fae would be unprotected.

Outside a small dragon sat near the gates of Crystal Spires. Puff could feel the worry in the air and it worried him. Not much worries a dragon, usually, but Puff sensed the need for it now.  He wanted to be close in case he was needed. 

Aura stepped forward. "Form a circle and hold hands. Come close to us so we may touch you to complete the flow of magick." 

The key holders got into position, Aura nodded to Endora and Victra. She put her hand on the device and the other on Lady Benna's shoulder. Endora did the same putting her hand on Fawnard's shoulder. Victra completed the circuit when she put her hand on Sister Nightingale's shoulder. 

"Concentrate on pouring your magick into the device." Aura told them. 

The device started to shake then the ground shook.

"Hold on!" Aura called out. "Its almost there. I can feel it!"

Lord Drake Draconis stood on the top of Aster Cliffs. He looked toward the spot where Atlantis had been. He watched as the water swirled and a dome shape rose from the water. The iconic towers were gone but he could see the city under the dome. 

He waited until the waves grew calm before shedding his robes and shifting into his dragon form. He flew out to the city and circled it looking for an opening. In the dome. 

He was surprised when the dome retracted and another dragon came to meet him. He followed the familiar dragon down into the city. Both dragons shifted back to their human form as soon as they landed. 

"Father!" Drake hugged his father. "We thought you were all dead." 

"Some of us are." Retalion Draconis told his son. "We lost a few when the city fell. Its been difficult but we have managed. The Triquetra has come?"

"Yes. My daughters and their sister, a fae." Drake told him. He looked at two piles of rubble. "Will you rebuild the towers now that the city is once again above water?" 

"No. The Council feels its a waste of money and time. We are few now. There is no need for them. Tell me. Ogham-Duir, how does it fair?" Retalion asked.

"Strong with magick." Drake smiled. "It's grown since you were gone. Come with me and see. Meet my daughters and their sister. I have so much to show you." 

Retalion shook his head. "Not yet. Your mother wants to see you and I must tell you of those we lost before I will leave here."

 

In the Tuathan hall, the device shut down and everyone sighed in relief. Everyone was safe and their magick was still intact. 

"Did we do it?" Victra asked. "The device just shut down." 

"I'll go to Astor Cliffs and see." Endora didn't wait for a response. She disappeared in a cloud of golden shimmer to the cliffs. 

"What now?" Lady Benna asked.

"We wait for Endora to return with news." Aura started to pace. 

A few minutes later Endora returned with a smile on her face.

"It's there. We did it!" Endora told them. 

"What do we do with that?" Jonas asked as he pointed to the device. 

"Take the keys back to their hiding places." Aura suggested. "The device should be put somewhere safe. Somewhere no one would think to look for it. Endora, you should put it in the castle vaults. No one could get to it there." 

Endora nodded. "I'll have one of my men fetch a cart and take it now." 

Aura rubbed her temples. "I'm exhausted. I need to rest. Take your keys and thank you for your help." 

Counselor Walden shook his head. "I'm not taking that cursed thing back with me. You do what you want with it." He left in a hurry. 

"Aura, send it to the City of Man." Victra suggested. "That's where it should be. I was curious as to why the Human key was in Ren so while I was on the Holy Isle, I looked in the records. Ren stole the Human key during the war with Una. Return it to where it belongs." 

Aura nodded. "I'll take it on my way home. Dragas I need your handkerchief.  I cant touch it." 

"I've got it. I suppose I shouldn't touch it either since I'm a Druid." Dragas pulled out his handkerchief and wrapped it around the key and removed it. 

Everyone else took their keys and left. The cart came and took the device through the Mist Passage to the Fae castle.The task was done and Atlantis was back in the world once more.