Diversion To Urasha
Chapter 14

With his clothes thankfully dried off, James sat with his legs crossed around the warm purple flame. Occasionally, the fire would spit out the odd little spark here and there, releasing it back into the dark nighty air until it evaporated away amongst the sparkling night time stars.

James looked up above him, ignoring the rocky trench-like walls which surrounded him and his companions. James could see the sky at last, properly, in her fullest glory. There were no longer trees to obstruct the view. Leaving the forest was a bittersweet feeling.

On one hand, James had adored the forest. It wasn’t easy to travel through, by any means, but it was beautiful, breathtaking. There was no place like it. These new rocky lands were liberating, easier to travel upon, but they were not as picturesque. The barren landscape was dead compared to the lively, vibrant Urashan forest. James loved being able to see Anscus and the stars, but he missed the sight of the glowing plants. He missed the softer forest floor, not to mention the furleaves. Tonight, James would have to sleep in this trench-like ditch. He was relieved that the ditch was fairly clean, free from mud and dirt. On the other hand, the ditch was hard, rocky, and very uncomfortable to even sit on. James could already feel his bum cheeks aching against the cool hard rock. Phil and Zach had even gone as far as testing the surface with their own buttock’s.

As far as James could tell, the place was safe, with its tall walls surrounding everyone, protecting them from any potential predators which might be lurking around.

Unfortunately, the effects of the gold fruit had completely worn off by now. James’ senses had fully returned to him, and he was unsure of Crystaline’s reaction to the whole drunken bonding session. She seemed quieter than usual. Not that she wasn’t usually quiet anyway, but there was something different about her. Crystaline seemed puzzled by her own thoughts, and she appeared to be quietly brooding over them as she sat around the fire with the rest of the group. Every so often, Crystaline would throw James the occasional glance. He couldn’t work out if it was a look of bemusement, or a knowing smile.

James grinned at his own knowing memories. He remembered that moment, where he, Chugga-Chugga and Crystaline had rejoined the others. The looks of bafflement on each face was amusing. Phil’s was the funniest. Crystos, Morcees and Borcees had recognised the gold fruit pouch, but Phil and Zach had no idea what the golden pouch was. Crystaline had wanted to keep their suspense going, hushing James and her fellow Urashans from discussing the matter any further. James smiled at a memory, the look on Phil’s face as he had drunkenly hugged him, ridding the atmosphere of the previous argument. Hugging Phil was awful but seeing the man so completely and utterly perplexed gave James satisfaction. Maybe it was the lack of control that Phil had had to suffer at that point? Or maybe James had just had such a good time with Chugga-Chugga and Crystaline, ebbing away any ill feelings he had towards any of his group members, and that included Phil.

James dug his thumb into the golden bruc, using it to pull apart the spongey food. It really was mouthwateringly delicious. Soft and delicate in the middle, chewy and crunchy on the outside. Then again, the bruc was nothing compared to the gold fruit, and James wondered when Crystaline would unveil the fruit to the others.

James gave Crystaline an indicative look, inclining his head towards the fruit containing supply bag. Crystaline’s lips unfurled into a subtle little smile. She understood exactly what James was trying to say.

“James,” she began, perhaps a little too casually. “Why don’t you grab that bag with the golden pouch. I think it’s time your friends discover the gold fruit.”

As James used the strength in his arms to hoist his body back up onto his two feet, the little chugga was by his side in a flash, greedily following him as he wandered over to the bag. Grinning, James grabbed the bag, handing it over to Crystaline as he repositioned himself around the fire.

Zach began to rub his hands together, either to keep them warm, or to release some of his anticipation. “Man, I’ve been wondering what was in that handbag all day.”

James’ eyebrows furrowed. “It’s not a handbag, Zach. It’s a pouch which came from a tree.”

“And who’s to say that trees can’t grow handbags? Dude, we’re not on Earth anymore, remember?”

Phil rolled his eyes. “Look, let’s just get on with this, shall we? What’s in the bag, Crystaline?”

“It’s not a bag!” James and Crystaline said together, pausing to blink at each other as they realised they’d spoken simultaneously.

“Just be patient and you’ll see,” James added, watching as Crystaline began to open the pouch. Her hands were white, delicate and careful. Who’d even be able to suspect that Crystaline’s dainty little hands could be so lethal? Wielding a weapon with such skill, such precision? James’ grin grew, watching as the golden balls of fruit glistened against the purple firelight.

“What. Are. Those?” Zach asked, pronouncing each word slowly and separately.

“So, it’s true,” Crystos whispered, awestricken. “You really managed to replace some gold fruit?”

Crystaline looked up at her brother incredulously. “Of course, Brother. What did you think we’d found?”

Crystos shook his head, still stunned into a whisper. “I don’t know. I just thought...I just thought that this was too good to be true. Gold fruit, it’s so rare.”

“Well we found some, a whole tree’s worth not far from where you were waiting.”

Zach gave the back of his head a little scratch. “So erm, those things are some kind of food, right?”

“They’re actually edible?” Phil added.

James couldn’t help but snigger surreptitiously. Maybe Phil was having those same doubts that he’d had? Wondering if he would break his teeth on the golden fruit? “Why don’t you see for yourself?” James suggested, coaxing his captain.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure this stuff’s for me. I think I’ll give it a miss.”

“Me too,” Morcees growled, pulling both himself and Borcees to their feet. “Borcees and I are tired, we’ve had a long day. We don’t have time to waste ourselves away like you.”

Crystaline glared back at Morcees, looking slightly taken aback. “Suit yourselves. You know as well as I know how nutritious this fruit is, so we will not be wasting ourselves away, thanks.”

Morcees raised a sardonic eyebrow. “Won’t you? You’ll be wasting your time, put it that way.” He and Borcees left the fire, replaceing their own spot to rest in.

Once the moaning twosome were gone, James turned to Phil, his tone serious. “Are you sure you don’t want to give it a try? I had some earlier. It’s fine to eat, seriously.”

“I don’t know if I agree with that, James. You were off your head. You and Crystaline. That damn chugga wasn’t right in the head either.”

“It’s not harmful,” James insisted, his voice slightly raised. “If you don’t want some, then feel free to join those two bozos over there, but don’t start getting on your high horse.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t try and ruin everyone else’s fun.”

Phil let out a bewildered gasp. “And how am I doing that?”

“You’ll try and stop Zach and me from having any of the fruit.”

“Boys!” Crystaline interrupted, attempting to placate the flaring discussion. “This fruit is special, so let’s not get into an argument about it, please! And for your information, Phil, gold fruit is very nutritious, and not even remotely harmful. That is of course, unless you were to take too much and go and do something stupid. However, that will not happen on my watch. I’ll see to it that we’re all careful. Now if you wish to decline this wonderful opportunity to have a good night for once, then please, by all means, feel free to replace a quiet corner and sleep, just like those two over there. On the other hand, if you wish to change your mind and actually give this fruit a chance, then please, feel free. As much as it pains me to say this, you won’t regret it.”

Phil bit his lip, assessing Crystaline’s sincere expression. “Oh, go on then,” he sighed.

“Go on then?” James was looking for further elaboration from his captain. “You’ll try a piece?”

“Yes. I’ll try a piece. But I swear to you now, this thing had better be edible. It looks a little too solid for my liking.”

James gave his captain a genuine little grin, pleasantly surprised by Phil’s newfound willingness to loosen up and join in for once.

As his captain took a piece of the fruit, James watched as the man held it to his teeth, refusing to leap headfirst, refusing to take a careless bite into the golden fruit. James hated to admit it, but he’d done the exact same thing. He could not blame Phil for being so apprehensive.

All in a matter of moments, however, James watched as his captain’s expression changed. He saw how it lit up as soon as the man took his first tentative bite. Phil’s second bite wasn’t even remotely hesitant, and the little ball of fruit was gone in seconds.

“Man,” Phil sloshed, still searching his mouth for any remnants of the fruit. “This stuff’s actually real good. Try a piece, Zach, it’s fine, I promise.”

Zach scrunched up his eyes, scrutinising his captain’s sudden change of behaviour. “You sure you’re okay, man? You seem a little different?”

“Different? In a bad way?” James challenged Zach.

“No...just different.”

Crystaline rolled her eyes, proffering the fruit to Zach this time. “Just do as your captain says and try a piece, will you?”

“It’s fine!” Phil scoffed, sensing Zach’s hesitation. “C’mon, Buddy, you and I have been through a lot, seen new worlds together. When have you ever not trusted me?” Phil scraped his behind on the floor until he was right up close to Zach. Like a drunken fool, the human captain placed his arm around his loyal comrade. “Just do as you’re told for once, will you? Try a piece. Don’t be a wuss!”

Zach took a piece of the fruit, still shaking his head in uncertainty. With a tentative bite, Zach’s mind began its journey towards his captain’s, gone on the fruit only seconds later.

James watched smiling as the two men hugged one another, laughing at how good the fruit tasted. As if the fruit’s taste was the funny part! Its side effects were what James was yearning for. James couldn’t help but feel a little jealous as he watched the chugga taking its second piece of fruit for the day. Within moments, the little creature was gone - gone to Cloud Cuckoo Land with Phil and Zach.

Next up was Crystos! His demeanour had already changed. James had never seen that look on Crystos before. The man had a glint of excitement in his eye, with a fleck of mischief too.

Crystaline mirrored her brother’s expression, offering a little round ball of fruit to her brother as their eyes danced mischievously together.

Without hesitation, Crystos accepted his sister’s offering. He rolled the fruit around on his tongue, savouring it before completely and utterly devouring it. In moments, the fruit was gone, and Crystos’ mind had dissolved away with it.

“James next!” Crystos began to chant, inducing a round of claps and “James! James!” chants from all of the others, gone on the gold fruit.

James grinned, unable to prevent his ravenous tongue from caressing his lips as he eyed Crystaline, and then the little round golden ball in her hand. Her lips remained silent, but her eyes were as encouraging as everyone else’s. She knew, as well as James knew, how awesome this fruit was.

As James took the fruit from Crystaline, he couldn’t help but let out a little laugh. Even though he’d not taken a bite of this fruit yet, his body was already beginning to feel lost in its effects. It was like the gold fruit had some sort of special pull on his body. Like Jupiter pulling against its moons, affecting them, heating them. James felt his body being pulled towards the gold fruit. He felt the gold fruit pulling on his lungs, making them release themselves into laughter.

Savouring the fruit like Crystos, James rested the fruit on the top of his tongue, relishing this moment of him and Crystaline being the last ones sober. As he grazed the fruit with his teeth, James felt as if he were about to cross a very long and challenging bridge to somewhere wonderful. “See you on the other side,” he said, sinking his teeth into the gold fruit.

The effects were instantaneous, washing through James’ body like a tidal wave. He had little ability to notice Crystaline guzzling down her own piece of gold fruit, until she was right there, engulfed deep within that same wave of euphoria with him. The duo let out a cathartic laugh, making their very own presences known on Cloud Cuckoo Land.

The next hour flew by. It was true, time really did speed up during the funnest of moments. When James looked at Phil, he no longer saw a man he loathed. Instead, he saw another person to mess around with, to have a laugh with. He’d even sat there for a while, arm over arm with the man he would usually recoil away from upon the first instance of touch.

Then there was Crystos - the life and soul of the party. Crystos was no longer timid, no longer restrained. Instead he was loud, getting into play wrestling fights with Chugga-Chugga and Zach. He even got into a mini food fight with Crystaline, tearing off pieces of bruc to launch at his sister. Crystaline and the little chugga were only too happy to play along, enveloped deep within the effects of the gold fruit themselves.

At odd little intervals, between the games, the play fights and the continuing banter, James would look at Crystaline and her brother. He would notice how liberated they both looked, each of them free from their troubles which would usually imprison them. It was a sight to not only relish, but to cherish, too. It warmed James’ heart to see the pair of them like this, and somewhere deep within him, James’ mind was still present, endeavouring to hatch up a plan to permanently free these two tortured souls.

James took a swig of water. The drink tasted strangely sweet tonight. Perhaps it was the gold fruit, enhancing not just his mind, but his taste buds too? As James felt the water trickling down into his stomach, a thought hit him, or more, an idea of entertainment lit up like a bulb inside that drunken brain of his. “Hey, you guys! Do you wanna know what I reckon?”

Crystaline rolled her eyes, grinning. “What, James? Please enlighten the rest of us on what you reckon.”

“I think, that we could all use a bit of sworsha training.”

“True,” Crystaline drunkenly pointed her finger at James. “It’s true that you, Phil and Zach could really use a bit of sworsha training.”

“So, what’s stopping us?”

Phil scoffed. “In here? In this trench? This place isn’t exactly a field, is it? It could be a little more roomy.”

James shrugged. “It’s safe, isn’t it? Sheltered away I mean. If we were on an open field. It’d be a bit different, I wouldn’t suggest this.”

Crystaline raised to her feet, placing her hands on her hips as she assessed James and his idea. “Alright then, Joyce. Hypothetically speaking, let’s say I do agree to this reckless little suggestion of yours, then who would you fight? Phil? Zach? No offence but watching the three of you would be like watching a group of mubbles having a sworsha match. Bearing in mind, they don’t even have limbs.”

James let out an amused gasp, caressing the inside of his cheeks with his tongue. “How about you? I mean, what’s to stop us from actually using this time wisely? You think you’re so good, Crystaline, then prove it.”

Crystaline’s entire face creased into a massive disbelieving smile. “You’re saying that you think you stand a chance against me? Seriously?”

“Maybe, maybe not. There is only one way to replace out isn’t there, Princess?”

Crystaline shook her head, unable to stifle her giggle. “Alright then, Joyce, have it your way. This time will be different from the last time.”

“Oh, so you’re saying I’ll win?”

“No. I didn’t mean our last encounter with the sworshas. I meant earlier, from today.”

James got to his feet, cocking his head to one side. “Oh yeah? How so?”

“You’ll lose again, James. That is a fact. Only this time it won’t just be me and Chugga-Chugga you’ll have to feel embarrassed around. It’ll be those three as well, and not to mention Morcees and Borcees cooped up in that corner over there.”

“We’ll see,” was all James had to offer in return, as he stood opposite Crystaline, still caressing the insides of his cheeks with his tongue.

The truth was, James knew already that Crystaline would win. In fact, James knew that she would probably completely and utterly whoop his ass, indeed embarrassing him in front of everyone. James couldn’t even quite fathom his reasons for wanting to battle Crystaline himself. His brain was still shrouded in the effects of the gold fruit, yet he yearned for this little moment of fun with Crystaline.

As he watched Crystaline remove her very own sworsha, James felt his own trouser pocket for his, carefully removing it. The weapon felt warmer than on that first day, that first day when he had laid his hands upon this sworsha for the very first time. The weapon had been kept warm by his own body heat, and it felt quite soothing against the cold, biting nighty air.

“I think we’d better stick with purple,” Crystaline called over, setting her own weapon onto this safe setting. “Oh and remember to lock it. We wouldn’t want any unnecessary accidents to happen now, would we?”

James did as he was told, replicating Crystaline’s very own purple sworsha. As he glanced back over to his friends still huddled around the fire, James could see the excited smiles on each of their faces. They looked like a bunch of wild, drunken sports fans, ready to watch their favourite teams battling it out for the ultimate trophy.

James turned his head back towards Crystaline. She was just as ravenous for this battle as he was, and James, this time, he knew he wouldn’t hold back. He knew that Crystaline could take whatever he threw at her.

Like Crystaline had showed him on training day, James held his sworsha with both hands, using them to keep a firm grasp on his luminous weapon.

For a while, the two of them stood, eye to eye, seizing one another up. Who would strike first? Would it be James? Keen to make up for his embarrassing losses? Or would it be Crystaline, keen to uphold her flawless reputation? Neither Crystaline nor James struck first, for they both leapt free from the ground at the exact same time as one another, running, raised ready to attack until their sworshas collided with a familiar BOOMING CRACKLE!

James swiped his arms, frantically endeavouring to defend his body from the sizzling purple of Crystaline’s sworsha. Whenever her sworsha collided with his, James would feel the impact reverberating its way right through his hands, up his arms and into his entire body. Crystaline was quick - too quick, and James felt that all too familiar shock prickling through his leg. James was floored, and the chants all around him were a momentary blur.

Fighting his way through his daze, James rolled himself back onto his feet, immediately holding up his sworsha to defend himself once again. Crystaline’s strikes were relentless, pinwheeling away at him like a machine malfunctioning, swirling itself around and around at a super fast pace, which would eventually cause it to explode into oblivion. There was no way that James could contend with this. Crystaline was like a robot, going at him on some fuel which never ran out. Feeling a heavy blow to his chest this time, James felt his body thrusting away from Crystaline, into the air, and straight back down onto that rock-solid ground. Groaning, and panting, James laid there, flat out on his back.

James saw Crystaline walking over to him, standing above him, straddling her legs over his. She was panting too, and her being stood there over him like that, and breathing heavily, well, it was not a sore sight for the eyes - far from it in fact.

“James, James, James,” Crystaline’s voice was triumphant and breathy. “Do you give in yet? For we could continue. But that...that would just feel cruel. You don’t stand a chance.”

James sighed out a cough. Although he didn’t like to admit it, Crystaline was right. James was never a quitter, but this fight with Crystaline, he’d already lost. There was just no way that he could even get a strike in against her. Or maybe he had subconsciously still been holding back a little bit? Yeah, James, just make excuses his subconscious taunted at him.

James gave another little groan, raising himself into a sitting up position as Crystaline un-straddled herself from him.

“Fine then,” he rasped. “You’re right, I’m no match against you. I’ve not had years of practice like you have, but...”

“No, but I have,” Crystos interrupted, caressing the sworsha in his trouser pocket. “You want to see a sworsha fight, then witness a real one.”

James sat there, momentarily gobsmacked. Did Crystos intend to fight him or Crystaline? “Er, what are you proposing exactly? I mean er, who are you wanting to fight exactly?”

Crystos grinned into the eyes of his sister. “No offence, James, but if I fought you or any of your other human friends, that wouldn’t exactly be a real fight, would it? If you want to see a spectacle, however, then myself, and Crystaline will be more than willing to provide that for you.”

“But Crystos,” James began to protest, “Crystaline’s er...she’s a er...”

“A what?” Crystaline asked, her eyes filled with that same lust for a decent battle as her brother’s.

“Nothing I just...I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Crystaline.”

Crystaline grinned, oozing out both her competitiveness and her confidence. “Oh please! As if I would let such a thing happen. You’re on, Crystos, and I hope you’re prepared.”

“Oh, this is gonna be great!” James heard Zach squealing, as he joined both of his comrades on the sidelines. Zach and Phil both gave James a sympathetic pat on the back. “Could’ve happened to any one of us, Bro, could’ve happened to any one of us,” they said.

As James watched Crystaline and her brother seizing one another up, Zach’s words hadn’t exactly been of much comfort. Yes, he had been expecting defeat, but the whole ordeal was still highly embarrassing. To add further insult to injury, Crystaline was having to face off against her brother, a huge hulk of a man. It was true, James’ apprehension was starting to break free from the veil of the gold fruit. James was worried, genuinely worried.

James imagined that he would have looked like Crystos, seizing Crystaline up, ready for battle with that same hunger. The siblings circled one another, their eyes taunting one another and never breaking contact. Then, without warning, Crystaline was the first to spring her body forwards. She crashed into her brother, commencing the battle.

For a while, the two siblings sparred, each pulling out such an array of impressive moves, which James never even thought were possible. Crystaline was fast, incredibly agile, swiping her sworsha around far more deftly and beautifully than her brother. Crystos, on the other hand, he had strength on his side, dealing blow after blow of powerful hits to his sister’s weapon.

As James continued to watch the wielding pair, he couldn’t help but feel a little mesmerised as he watched the dreamy bright purples swishing their way through the air. It was a surreal sight, not something you saw every day, put it that way.

With a humungous thunderous crackle, which even James felt, Crystaline was tossed up into the air, and nanoseconds later, she was floored by her brother’s mighty strike.

James winced, watching as Crystaline dodged her brother’s next strike by rolling herself back up onto her feet. To James’ surprise, Crystaline ran, not to her brother, but to one of the walls. As she reached the wall, she jumped at it with her feet, running along it as she headed back towards her brother. In one, great big giant leap, Crystaline freed herself from the wall, somersaulting impressively over Crystos as her sworsha once again met with his in midair.

As Crystaline landed back on her feet, she and her brother continued to spar once again, and this time, Crystaline was able to deal the next powerful strike. Only instead of being floored to the ground like his sister, Crystos was merely flung backwards, still managing to remain on his feet.

Undeterred by her brother’s strong foothold with the ground, Crystaline ran at the bulky Urashan, digging her heels into the ground, and tilting her body back so that she slid right underneath Crystos’ two vulnerable legs. Crystos was flung into the air, forced into an involuntary somersault as he plummeted his way back down onto the ground, losing grip of his weapon in the process.

As Crystos clawed at the ground to right himself, his eyes locked first with his disarmed grounded weapon, and then with Crystaline’s golden eyes. She wanted his weapon, too, and now this battle had turned into a race.

Not wasting a further second to stare at one another, both brother and sister sprang for Crystos’ weapon, with speedy agility winning the race.

As Crystos came to a halt behind her, Crystaline reactivated his weapon, using both his weapon and hers to surround his neck. Instead of lopping her brother’s head off, Crystaline grinned victoriously at him, her chest heaving. “So then, Brother, do you surrender?”

Crystos rolled his eyes, shaking his head in defeat. “You may have won the first battle, dear Sister, but you have not won the war.”

With a swoosh the purple beams vanished, and Crystaline returned Crystos’s weapon to him, still beaming triumphantly.

As she and her brother repositioned themselves around the fire, Crystaline turned to James, her voice still exhausted and breathy. “Never ever underestimate a woman’s skill, James.”

James could only nod his head, both relieved and gobsmacked with this evening’s turn of events. Now he didn’t feel so embarrassed for getting completely and utterly destroyed by Crystaline.

After the reckless battling, the group had settled around the fire, eating bruc and drinking water as they all conversed with one another.

Crystaline smiled down at her chugga friend. He was laid on his back expectantly. She stroked his belly, watching as he purred in delight. The gold fruit was beginning to wear off now, Crystaline could feel her mind returning to her.

As the evening wore on, Crystaline began to notice how heavy her eyelids felt, and how tired everyone else looked. Once she’d proclaimed her intentions of turning in for the night, Crystaline decided that she would take a look over the wall, checking to see that no harmful predators were waiting to ambush the sleeping group.

Crystaline walked over to where Morcees and Borcees were both sat. Both had their backs propped up against the wall, as their silver irises followed her every move.

Crystaline dug her feet into the grooves of the wall, hoisting her shoulders above the the top of the rocky mass. The coast was clear. There appeared to be no harmful creatures lurking around.

Crystaline freed herself from the wall, landing back down on the ground on her two feet. As she started to walk back to the group, the raspy voice of Morcees caught her by surprise.

“Seeing if your infantile behaviour caused a bit of a stir amongst the wild creatures?”

“What?”

“Your little sworsha fighting with the humans. If I were a dangerous predator, I’d be stirred by that.”

Crystaline placed both of her hands on her hips. “Actually, Crystos and I did most of the fighting. And for the record, I just had a look up there, and there’s not a creature in sight.”

Morcees sighed. “Well, I hope it was worth it, Crystaline. I hope you had fun.”

Crystaline’s mouth creased into a smile, though her eyes remained fierce. “Actually, now that you mention it, I did have fun. Maybe the two of you might like to try it every once in a while. It could be good for you.”

Not wanting to converse with Morcees or Borcees, Crystaline began to turn away from the duo. However, before she could escape from the pair, she was halted, crippled by Morcees’ next words.

“Your father! Wouldn’t it be interesting if he could have been here? Or if he could have seen tonight’s events unfolding right in front of his very own eyes?”

Crystaline turned to face the snidy man who was now up on his feet, his words penetrating her heart like the sharp blade of a sworsha.

“I mean, if you, Crystos, myself, Borcees, and maybe even that little chugga. If we had all eaten the gold fruit, and if we had all had fun, then I am sure your father could put up with that, he could stand for that. But the fact that you chose to fool around with them, haha! Your father would not be happy, he wouldn’t be happy at all and you know it.”

Crystaline’s heart was racing, and her palms were beginning to sweat. Morcees, he would not stop.

“Dear, oh dear, oh dear! My dear, Princess, what have you become? Do you not feel it?”

“Feel what?” Crystaline whispered, her heart writhing and convulsing inside her.

“Do you not feel lost? Poor Princess Crystaline, she got lost in the forest, and I’m wondering if she’ll ever replace her way back home.”

Crystaline’s breathing hitched, just as she felt her heart collapsing right in on itself. Abruptly, she turned on her heels, briskly walking away from Morcees as quick as her legs could carry her.