"So, life was okay. Okay? Good. Anyhoodle... "CHIMA returned peaceful, and my life seemed like everything I ever wanted. To this day, I still believe I jinxed it. One night, I was woken up to a horrific scream from Lionel's room, right down the way. Rushing over, I found--absolutely nothing?! He was sleeping peacefully. "That next morning, he seemed like a different lion. Snapping out, temper, crazy stuff. That afternoon, I was sure he had lost it. He reported seeing a black cloaked figure landing a few bills away, with one other, who he believed to be an Eagle. Elgor." I look pointedly at Gail, then Telan. His yes widen. He's making the connection. "The next night, well, we know what happened then. Telan was captured. That...power, the one he mentioned, intrigued this new Lionel. He wanted this power. Telan refused, and escaped, using his power. My bet is you used this same power to shield us from his forces." Telan nods. Now he turns to Gail, and with controlled words, asks what the tension in this room has been leading up to. "So you were the cloaked figure. Everything makes sense now. The signs... It's time. I have lied. My name is not Telan. Nor am I the Crown Prince of the eagles. Though, I am a prince." With a sigh, Telan shivers and blinks out of existence. A moment later, a young lion appears that can only be described as impossible. It's Lionel.
Editor's note: Back to Gail's POV. Before anyone can say anything, Lionel holds up a paw. "Please. I promise that it's a short story. When I was attacked, sleep still clouded my mind. Seeking escape, I--errr, jumped out the window." Lakota giggles. "Cavora, Lionel, you are amazing." He grins at her, and for a moment, the worry and pain leaves his face. "I predicted you would say that! Anyway, I escaped. I landed bad, and would not have made it, had I not uncovered my talent then. Though not majorly hurt, I could not move fast, and a patrol would have caught me. Assuming the worst is my specialty, so I assumed that this fake me had taken control of the lions, or worse. I wished to myself, ha! If only I could look different. Like that impostor... "Then I felt shifting. Looking up, I saw the nearby plants stretching towards me. From them began to drop water, like dew. But not water. Life source. Chi? Soon, I looked like an eagle, sort of. I did go to the Spires for a while. I did become friends with Elgor. Everything else is true too." Lionel lowers his head. I'm feeling brave, and decide to break the silence. "Good to know! I was wondering what type of eagle had a name starting with 'T'!"
As we register what Lionel had said, a boom shakes the cottage. With a low roar, Lionel arches his back, and great feathered wings, like mine, come from his back. "Call me Avian," he grins. Who HADN'T heard of the mythological winged lion? Even I have. As a young kid, I heard about an outcast that looked kinda like me. When he pulled that stunt with Strainor... I've always dreamed of meeting him. Another shake rocks the house. Lionel jumps out the window, circling back just in time to dodge a streak of red. King Hot Head and Co. had arrived. Swearing words that even impress me, Lionel rapidly tells us the problem. "When I revealed myself, the magic somehow attracted the impostor." His voice is drowned out by the chandelier falling. "We need to move! Now!" Complying, with a snarl of effort I jump up, spread my wings...and get totally trucked by a piece of plaster. Brilliant. Crashing to the ground, I lay stunned for a second, making sure nothing is too badly broken. Finally, after a lot of trial and error, I arrive outside. Lakota looks fine. Not even a little plaster dust? Come on. Not fair. Lionel is flapping a few feet off the ground, glaring at a figure, a black silhouette against the sun. It's Pretty Boy himself. And he is fighting with Lionel. I can see it. Their eyes are locked, narrowed, and 100% cold. Pretty Boy...magic? That makes our job a LOT harder! He could be from any tribe...brick, he could be a she! Suddenly, Lionel crumples. His wings disappear, and he rises towards Pretty Boy. Upon landing, Lionel is swarmed by red vines of CHI power, and held down. Triumphantly, the impostor plugs CHI. I run. Over my shoulder, I watch in horror--which turns to shock. The impostor's CHI avatar is not a lion. Not even close. It's an eagle.
If I thought I was devastated, Lakota is absolutely stricken. She refuses to cry, she just sits there. Shock is the hardest part. Her rage will be furious, that's for sure. We have to make a move. Then Cavora sends our miracle.
At night, I am keeping watch when a shape crosses my vision. I sit still, knowing that if I play dumb, I might get a chance. The figure creeps up behind me, and I spin around, hooking IceFyre's string around it's neck, pulling tight. Whispering I say, "Okay, you're going to walk nice and easy into the firelight." He does, and I do the world's best double-take. It's Avian. The Griffin. The one I thought didn't even exist. He flashes a cocky grin. "Satisfied, my dear?" The only person I've ever known who uses that much sarcasm is...me. Lakota stumbles out and sees him. Her face brightens for the first time. "You will help us. Lionel will return! Thank you. The impostor will fall--" "Um, sorry sister, I hate to burst your moment, but how, may I ask, did you find us, Mr. Flying Fuzzball?" Avian cracks another one of those grins. "I have been lying low ever since the Phoenixes went away. When Laval...was lost, I began watching the new Prince. And when things went out of control...and ta-da!" His eyes widen with a silent laugh. I rub my hands together. "Well then, we need to get started, don't we!"
Editor's note: Okay, so, Eris00 explained to readers that Lionel and HyperSonicOne's character, Avian, are two completely separate characters. I'm not sure why Lionel called himself Avian in that one chapter, but ignore that part, I guess. Also, Lionel either wasn't actually captured, or escaped capture, and is now back with the group, apparently. (Trying to fill in the gaps here... )
So, there are three gryphons in this story: Lionel, Avian, and Gail; all aiming to stop the FAKE Lionel, who is an eagle disguised as a Lion King.
Also, since I'm going on a trip for the next five days that'll likely render me inactive here, and since there are only six posts left in this story, I figure I ought to finish posting it today. So, sorry for the bombardment of posts on this topic all in one day, mods.
Editor's note: The writing style switches to past tense in HyperSonicOne's chapters, but remains first-person. Also, since he isn't given context here, I'll explain who Dark is for anyone interested: an eagle inventor with extremely dark blue feathers, sometimes stated to be an eagle-raven hybrid, created by HyperSonicOne's friend speedorzmaster (who doesn't appear to have ever been on LMBE ).
Additional trivia: speedorzmaster submitted Dark for multiple stories that were accepting character "submissions" on the original LMBs, which included both this and my own story, "Legend of the Time Chi". Dark became a prominent character in my Chima stories after that, as you'll see ifwhen I finally get around to doing the partial rewrite of "Beyond the Beyond".
In fact, Gail also appeared in "Legend of the Time Chi", but with a different backstory, heritage and appearance to fit into my series' lore, and with her named spelled "Gali" the whole time, since Eris00 had misspelled it on the submission, and I'd assumed it was supposed to be spelled that way. Anyway, enough reminiscing about the days of old...
(By HyperSonicOne)
Avian's PoV (Point of View):
Something moved in the bushes behind Gail. She turned instinctively, but I said, "Don't worry, it's just Dark." Dark stepped out of the bushes. "Whoa," Gail said. "Don't worry, the shock wears off after a while," I said, smirking. Gail grinned at me. "Alright, we need to get back to the Lion Temple," I said. "I have a plan. Lionel, disguised as Telan, will distract as many guards as possible. I'll push through the front entrance, while you guys take the roof." "But how will you even make it close to the front entrance?" I walked outside and fired a golden chi blast that knocked three trees over. "Does that answer your question?" I grinned. "Alright, lets get moving," I said, and we all left towards the Lion Temple. It only took a couple minutes, because we were all flying, and we split up once we saw the Lion Temple. Gail and Dark disappeared over the top of the roof, and Lionel/Telan did a great job distracting most of the troops. I took a deep breath, and plunged down towards the bridge...
Editor's note: Okay, it seems the story changed entirely from present tense to past tense.
(By Eris00 - Gail's POV)
The wind, even, seemed against me. Rearing up at me, pushing me. The impostor knew we were here. Dark struggled beside me. I took one last look at the main gate, where Lionel...err Telan...err...never mind, allowed Avian and Lakota to slip through the gates. If only that blaster came with a stealth mode. Once again, I ran the plan throughout my head. Go through the CHI falls. We will storm the gates. One way or another, the impostor must fall. The lions will become the fair tribe I know. This power must be destroyed. With a roar that sounded like a lion, I dived at the opening, the doorway that had caused me so much pain, hate, and anger. The water lightly sprayed me as I dived parallel to the CHI water. Today, I dived for revenge.
Editor's note: No, back to present tense... A bit confusing, but oh well.
(By Eris00 - Avian's POV)
Gail is a streak of black, dropping into the throne room. I run up to the main door, and knock out a few guards on the way. The impostor sits on the throne, lazily draping over it. I feel Lionel stiffen beside me. Glancing over, I see the disguise melting off until only dark blue wings are left. "Copy Cat," I grumble to myself. Looking back to the impostor, a sight fills me with horror. While we had been waiting for Dark, the impostor had silently risen from the throne, and is now holding Gail in his fist. She struggles, but needs air. "Hey! Loser! Over here!" Dark plunges from the chi-falls he was supposed to come through, and bravely calls out. The impostor turns, dropping Gail with a thud. She curls on the ground, still clawing at her throat. I rush over and prop her up as she takes deep raspy breaths. Lakota breaks out of her trance, and runs lightly up behind the impostor. His full attention seems to be on Dark, whom he is treating like a fly, swatting at him with a giant eglaxxtus. It makes me think of what Gail described when we first met--how the impostor's avatar was one of an eagle. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces all fit together; how the tribe has been in disarray; the 'rouge prince.' He is insane for power, some said. He has had a way of getting what he wants, others added. I can't believe I didn't see this before. From my spot couched on the ground, I whisper to Gail. "The impostor. It's Erik."
I take deep breaths as Dark plays his deadly game of wack-o-mole with the impos--Erik. How can this be possible? He, the big hotshot eagle prince, was given a power like this? Able to bend the life force of things to do his will? Why not give it to Lionel? Speaking of him, it now makes sense why he lost that fight back at the lake. His power is only a fraction of Erik's... My eyes widen as I have the most amazingly stupid idea ever. Running over to where Erik is standing, I hover over him, just out of reach. "Oh, make things simpler, just come down." He looks irritated. Dark takes the distraction as an opportunity to swoop over the CHI pool, and grabs two orbs, presumably for Avian and himself. Erik grins at me, the smile like that of a maniac. "You may be too fast for Lionel, girl, but what about Avian?" With a roar, giant wings come from his back, until I am looking at double Avians. The real Avian in the corner stands, and raises his head. His eyes are a swirling purple. He sticks out a hand, and an evil looking spear flies to him. I motion for him to stop. Suddenly, light dawns in his eyes. He sees what we must do. I turn my attention to Erik...too late. He barrels into me, sending me hurtling into the wall. Pain lances through me. My consciousness fading, I hear Avian screaming in rage, Lakota crying my name, Lionel shouting some spell. My last thoughts are, Please destroy him. Avian. Lionel. Lakota. Then everything blinks out and I know nothing more.
Editor's note: I don't think it was mentioned before, but it seems Erik had created clones of himself as well.
(By HyperSonicOne - Avian's POV)
"Graaaaah!" I shout, sending my double spinning into a nearby wall. Seeing Gail lay there, doing nothing, was the last straw. All bets were off. I run toward the other me and send a golden chi blast at it, sending it flying through the wall and outside. Lakota and Lionel are handling the other Eriks--This one is mine. I dive outside after it, and hit it with another chi blast, sending it flying down into the ground. I pulled out my dual scythes, and they started flaming with golden chi energy. I throw them both at my double, and then there is a small explosion, and he is gone. I fly back in to the main room, where Lakota and Lionel finish up. I now see Erik for who he really was, for the first time. Then I remember Gail. I run over to her, and pick her up. Lakota and Lionel looked over to me, and I shake my head. Then, a small golden ripple of energy moves across her body, and she opens her eyes...
I drift through emptiness, peacefully quiet. I can't move anything. Then I feel it, swirling around me. My eyes flare open. Three colors, swirling around me, pulling me. Blue, Orange, and Gold. Lionel, Lakota, and Avian. They did it. The swirling intensifies, and I can't breathe. Just as my eyes are about to close once more, the colors drop, and with a final push, throw me out of the nothingness of destruction, sealing themselves in. With a gasp, I shoot up into a sitting position, taking a huge, raspy breath. Feeling the cool air on my feathers. Feeling life once more. Avian, Lakota, and Lionel crouch around me, and envelope me in a giant hug. In that moment, every misery I had ever suffered, every thing ripped away from me, doesn't matter. No matter how hard anyone could ever try, no one can ever break me. I have the Wings of a Lion and the Roar of an Eagle.
)
).
A bit confusing, but oh well.