The Next World

By David Romo

The battle is going full force and nothing is being held back. Steven Boyd and the Blufirs are attacking with everything they have to defeat Pedro and his friends. Meanwhile, Pedro and his group are doing all they possibly can do to hold them back until reinforcements arrive. With the help of some of their allies, Pedro has been able to stay one step ahead of the enemy but time is quickly running out. With all the new weapons being used, no one can predict what is coming next. If something drastic doesn’t change and fast, it might be too late for anyone else to stop Steven Boyd and the Blufirs from taking over the Earth, destroying it, and eventually every other world, realm, and empire that exists as well. Pedro and his friends are well aware of the consequences if they fail to stop their enemy from advancing. With limited weapons they are forced to depend on their allies’ resources which have so far turned out to be odd but effective.

Although Jim Davis is a royal pain in the rear, he has finally proved his worth as a valuable resource and gained everyone’s respect. However, David is the real star of the group. With his surprising knowledge, skills, and resources, he has allowed the others to take full advantage in their decision making and, so far, it has continued to keep them alive. Steven Boyd believes Pedro is some kind of a good luck charm that continues to allow the others to remain safely out of his grasp. With the assistance of a new acquaintance he meets, Steven Boyd decides to use black magic as a new weapon against Pedro and his friends. With deadly results, he attacks and it appears he might be winning the war. He should be happy but is surprised and horrified to discover that there will always be a price to pay for using black magic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669835608

David Romo

The Author set out to create a special story the that would be unique, entertaining and enjoyable. In this trilogy, there are new creatures, worlds, challenges, and more friend’s as well as enemies along their way to discover where the clear crystals are located, and to learn what secrets they possess. In this third book, Pedro who is the main human character, with his alien friends Red Eyes, Chris, and Grey Skin are put to the test when it comes to their relationships. In addition, their enemies have begun attacking in new ways, forcing them all to make difficult decisions on what will be best solutions for them to pursue. They are all aware that with every choice they make, there will be a lot of things to consider that might affect their futures, as well as their families and friends.

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Copyright © 2022 by David Romo.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

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without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 07/06/2022

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Mexico Surprise

Chapter 2 Return to the Land of Secrets

Chapter 3 The Lost Souls

Chapter 4 David

Chapter 5 The Third Compound

Chapter 6 Mytizer Returns

Chapter 7 Steven Boyd

Chapter 8 A New Romance

Chapter 9 The Corridor

Chapter 10 Forbidden Realm of Oyie

Chapter 11 Enchantress Zepta

Chapter 12 Little Secrets

Chapter 13 Change of Plans

Chapter 14 Back to Normal

Chapter 15 Alone

Chapter 16 Always the Good Guy

Chapter 17 Sass

Chapter 18 Now, it’s my turn!

Chapter 19 Now What

Chapter 20 Orlanden

Chapter 21 Clear Crystals

Chapter 22 Friends

CHAPTER ONE

Mexico Surprise

As everybody reached the mirror Jim Davis was already there waiting and he quickly started complaining, `It’s about time you decided to show up. I’ve been trying to contact you for days, but for some strange reason this mirror’s been blocked and I couldn’t use it. I had no idea what was happening and I’ve been worried sick about all of you. By the way, where is my good friend Grey Skin?` Jim Davis joked. Pedro quickly let him know, `He decided to spend a couple of weeks with Queen Goria. Just to make sure everything gets back to normal and there’s a smooth transition.` `I see, and what about the King? Does he approve of his decision to stick around for a while?` `The Queen had him locked up in prison, so it doesn’t matter what he thinks about Grey Skin helping her out.` `Well that sounds convenient for Grey Skin and why did the Queen have him looked up?` `It’s a long story,` Pedro remarked. `Okay, but you say he’s only going to be there until things get back to normal. Are you sure that’s not the only reason why he wants to stay?` `What do you mean?` Chris asked. `Who knows? He might be sticking around to make sure the Queen notices him and everything he has to offer. Perhaps, that’s the reason he’s been so willing to go out of his way just to make sure she stays happy,` Jim Davis laughed. `Trust me, there’s absolutely nothing going on between Queen Goria and Grey Skin,` Red Eyes stated. `It’s just in his nature to help anybody who’s in need of assistance.` `Sure, if you say so,` Jim Davis replied with a skeptical tone in his voice. Pedro didn’t want the conversation to turn into an argument, so he changed the subject and mentioned, `I just remembered something. I never got the chance to ask Lori about those wedding rings Riko bought for him and Lola when they were in Mexico.` `What’s so special about them?` Jim Davis asked.

`Eric said there were special symbols engraved on each of the rings. He also mentioned they had some type of magic that caused Riko and Lola to act strangely after they put them on,` Pedro stated.` `Oh well. I guess I’ll just have to ask her about them when we return.` `That won’t be necessary,` Chris responded. `I knew you wanted to see the rings but wouldn’t get around to asking her for them. That’s why I had her give them to me instead.` `Are you serious?` `Yes, I have them right here inside my pouch,` and she started rummaging through it. `Here they are,` she said happily and handed both of them to Pedro. The moment Pedro saw the symbols on the rings he commented, `Some of these symbols are the same kind of symbols I saw on that huge door at your compound.` `They’re also the same symbols that are inscribed on the clear crystals we found as well. I wonder what they all have in common?` `Pedro said. `We have all been trying to figure out what those symbols on that door mean for thousands of years but haven’t been able to break their code,` Red Eyes said disappointedly.

`Who knows, maybe we will all discover that answer when we return to Mexico,` Pedro remarked. `What makes you think that?` Chris asked. `We don’t know who inscribed those symbols on that door at your compound or the clear crystals. So we can’t ask anybody about them. However, we do know where Riko purchased those rings. We also discovered the individual who carved those symbols on the rings is somebody who lives somewhere local in Mexico. So, it shouldn’t be too difficult for us to locate him. Once we do, hopefully he will be able to tell us what all those symbols represent.` `You’re right,` Chris said excitedly. `It appears we’re all leaving on a trip to Mexico. So, don’t forget to bring your sombreros,` she laughed.` `Okay, and I will let Jim Davis know what we are planning to do, Pedro said. He then walked up to the mirror to call out to Jim Davis. Just as he was about to holler out his name Pedro noticed he was already inside of the mirror listening to their conversation. Jim Davis quickly stated, `I can get all of you to Mexico, but once you get there you’ll be on your own from that point on.` `Why? what’s going on?` Pedro asked surprised by his remark. Jim Davis swiftly explained, `The last time the ship docked in Mexico. The magic in that town was too strong for me to handle. I couldn’t use any of their mirrors to travel inside the entire city. In fact, I had to wait in the ship’s mirror until everyone returned before I was able to find out anything that was happening,` he complained.

`If that’s the case. How are we supposed to find that shop where Riko bought those wedding rings for him and Lola?` `Maybe we can help,` Riko said as he and Lola unexpectedly appeared. `How did you know we needed your help?` Pedro asked. `We heard you mentioning our names,` Riko answered. `I thought you were only able to help Lori whenever she’s in danger,` Pedro said confused.` `That is only part of it. We can always help Lori whenever she is in any kind of trouble, and that includes anybody else who is helping her stay safe. With that being said, we are at your service,` Riko informed everyone. `That’s fantastic news. Do you remember how to get back to that shop where you purchased your wedding rings?` Red Eyes asked him. `Yes, I do. It was somewhere close by to where all of the cruise ships dock.` `Great. Jim Davis get ready to take us there,` Pedro said as he pulled out two tracking crystals. Next, he recited the words for the Enchanted Path. He then set the tracking crystals inside of the mirror and sat down to wait. Without saying a word, Jim Davis vanished and the mirror opened up a minute later. `I can see the Enchanted Path, let’s get going.` He then jumped through the opening with everyone else following closely behind him.

It took almost twelve hours for them to finally reach Mexico. After they jumped out of the mirror on the ship, Jim Davis wished everyone good luck. He also let them know he would be waiting patiently inside of the same mirror whenever they returned and said goodbye. As they were walking away from the mirror Riko spoke up and informed everybody, `We will need to hop on a bus in order for us to get to the jewelry shop.` He then warned, `You better hold on tightly to anything you can grab that is attached to the bus. The drivers in Mexico drive exceptionally fast and recklessly.` Then they all waited for the next bus to arrive, and they all quickly jumped on board as soon as it drove up.

After the bus stopped and dropped everybody off, Red Eyes asked, `So which way is the jewelry shop you were telling us about?` `It should be up ahead a few more stores,` Riko informed him. About ten minutes later Red Eyes began to complain, `I thought you said that jewelry store was only a few stores down.` `I could have sworn it was right around this area, but obviously I was mistaken,` Riko mumbled loudly. `Are you sure we’re even in the right place?` `I think so, but let me ask that woman over there who’s selling some kind of potions. Maybe she will know where that jewelry store is located and he walked away. As Riko entered the tent the woman quickly introduced herself, `Hello, my name is Madam Stella. What kind of a potions are you interested in purchasing today?` `My name is Riko, and I don’t need any of your potions. I just want to find out where the nearest jewelry store is located around here. The woman immediately began to frown and let him know, `There is one about block away from here,` and she pointed in the direction. `You can’t miss it.` `Thanks,` Riko said and as he was walking away the woman called out and asked him, `Are you certain there isn’t anything in here you might be interested in buying? `Yes I am, because I doubt you would have what I need.` `Are you positive, because I have a large selection of all kinds of potions. Why don’t you give me a chance to see if I might have something after all?` `Okay, I’m looking for special crystals.` `Well you’ve come to the right place. I have plenty of crystals I can sell you,` she informed him. `You don’t understand. These are unique and special crystals.` `So are mine,` she insisted. `Yes, I’m sure they are, but these crystals have special symbols engraved on them.`

`Symbols like these?` Madam Stella said as she used a key to opened up a long drawer. Then pulled one out and held it up for him to see it. To Riko’s amazement it was a large purple crystal with strange looking symbols engraved on it. `Yes, those are exactly the symbols I was talking about. Do you know where that crystal came from?` `Yes I do. We buy them from the local stone cutter for sells them to us every now and then.` `Do you know who he is?` Riko asked. `Yes, I actually know him personally.` `That’s fantastic. Do you know what any of those symbols represent? `I’m sorry but I don’t,` she admitted. `I understand, but do you know where the stone cutter lives?` Riko asked.` `Why do you want to know that?` she asked suspiciously. `I would like to meet him and ask him what those symbols represent. `I’m sorry, but I can’t help you,` she said, and quickly put the crystal back into the drawer, turned the key and locked it. `Why not?` Riko asked surprised. Madam Stella hesitated for a moment before answering and said, `It’s nothing personal. I’m not allowed to tell anybody who he is,` she stated. `I understand, but this is an emergency,` Riko insisted. The woman looked at him irritably for a moment and then she replied, `Maybe I can find out what some of those symbols mean, and let you know the next time you come back,` she suggest. `Please don’t get offended but I would prefer to talk to him in person,` he insisted. `In that case, I can’t help you,` and she turned her back to Riko and started sorting through her potions.` `I’m truly sorry if I have insulted you in any way,` Riko apologized to her. `Oh. I wasn’t offended. It’s just that the people in this town are very secretive and they don’t like strangers coming around asking all sorts of questions.`

`What’s taking you so long?` Chris asked as she, Red Eyes, Pedro and Lola all walked into the tent to find out why Riko hadn’t returned. `Hello, can I help you?` Madam Stella asked. `No thanks, we’re just here to pick up our friend Riko,` Chris stated. She then turned to him and asked, `Were you able to find out where the jewelry store is located?` `Yes, Madam Stella says it’s about a block over in that direction.` `If you already know where it is, why are you wasting your time standing around talking? Let’s get moving,` Red Eyes said irritably and he started to walk away. Riko swiftly answered, `I’m standing here for a good reason. He then turned to Madam Stella and asked, `Would you please let me see it again.` `Certainly,` she agreed as she opened up the drawer and handed it to him. `Isn’t this what we’ve all been trying to find?` Riko asked as he held up the purple crystal for all of them to see the symbols that were engraved on it. `Where did you get that?` Red Eyes asked happily. `She knows the stonecutter who engraved these symbols on this crystal.` `That’s fantastic. When can we meet him?` `That’s going to be a problem,` Riko answered. `Why, did something happen to him?` `No, but the people in this place don’t like talking to strangers.` `Okay, is there anybody in this town who would be willing to talk to us about what any of these symbols mean?` Chris asked.

Madam Stella spoke up and said, `Normally, I wouldn’t even suggest anything like this, but maybe we could all walk over to my house. By the way, there’s something very familiar about the two of you,` Madam Stella said to Red Eyes and Chris. But to be honest, I’m not comfortable with the other two or that human coming along with us. `Are you telling us you’re not a human?` Red Eyes quickly asked. Madam Stella smiled, and then she looked around to make sure nobody else was watching as she transformed herself into an apewoman with long silver hair. Then changed back into her human form a few moments after. Red Eyes and Chris both looked at each other totally confused, and Pedro asked, `Is she one of your relatives?` `That’s a good question, because I’m not really sure,` Red Eyes answered. `I have never seen her at our compound, and then he asked Madam Stella, `Are there others like you in this city?` `Don’t act so surprised. I know the two of you can transform yourselves as well,` she remarked.

`I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was pretending to be a human,` Red Eyes apologized. `It’s just that we’ve never met any of our kind who didn’t live at our compound in Alaska. We have always believed that we are the only ones who were living on this planet.` `Well, to be honest, we believed the same thing about the citizens in our village.` `So, now that you know there are others, what are you planning to do next?` Pedro asked confused. `I think the first thing we should do is introduce ourselves to each other. `I agree. My name is Madam Stella. `It’s nice to meet you Madam Stella. My name is Chris, and this is my mate Red Eyes. I believe you’ve met Riko, and this is his fiancé Lola. Finally, that handsome gentleman in the back is our good friend Pedro.` `But he’s a human, and they can’t be trusted,` Madam Stella said surprised. `I totally agree with your assessment of most humans, `Red Eyes stated. `However, Pedro and a few of our close friends who are human are the exceptions to the rule,` he stated. `That might be true, but I’m not certain if any of our Leaders will agree with your point of view, or if they would be willing to accept him.` `We understand, but if there is anything you can do to help make that happen, it would be greatly appreciated,` Chris mentioned.

`I’m not sure if I can and I will need to give that some thought. Why don’t you follow me back to my house, where we will be able to speak more openly, if you know what I mean,` she whispered. That’s fine with us, but I want you to know that we won’t go anywhere without Pedro,` Chris commented. `I understand, and that’s not a problem for me. Luckily, my house is close by. It’s on the outskirts of the town where most of my kind don’t live. So, I doubt we will have any problem getting Pedro there, but I can’t promise how far he will be allowed to go once we enter into the forest.` `We understand,` Red Eyes answered. `Follow me,` Madam Stella said, and she walked out of the tent. `Wait, aren’t you going to lock up your things?` Pedro reminded her. `Why would I need to do that? Whenever anybody steals anything from my tent, they will always need to come back to buy the antidote. Of course, I end up selling it to them for ten times the normal price. So, whether they buy or steal it from me, I always end up the winner,` she laughed loudly. `Let’s get going.`

After passing three different clothing stores, Madam Stella unexpectedly turned a corner and hurried into a small alley. She then got down on her knees, crawled underneath a large thorny bramble bush, and disappeared from view. `Pedro wanted to ask the others if they thought Madam Stella might be a little crazy. Then decided not to say anything, when he saw Red Eyes and Chris getting down on their knee and they crawled underneath the bush as well. Next, Riko and Lola followed after them. As soon as they vanished from sight, Pedro swiftly got down on his knees and began crawling underneath to catch up with them. Because the bramble bush had long sharp thorns, Pedro had to keep his head down low and he closed his eyes as he slowly crawled along the ground. When he felt the warmth of the sun on the back of his neck, he knew was on the other side and opened his eyes. Where did everybody go?` he thought as he looked around and realized he was alone. After standing up, he looked around and noticed he was standing in an empty field of overgrown weeds. `Is anybody here? Where did you guys go?` Pedro call out. When no one answered, he figured he must have made a wrong turn. He then crawled back underneath the bush to see if there was another way whey might have taken. This time with his head down low, and his eyes wide open he began to look around. He quickly noticed there was a trail the others probably had used and headed in the same direction. A few seconds later, he was caught off guard when a large hairy arm reached up, grabbed his waist, and it yanked him through a trapdoor underneath him. `Where are we?` Pedro asked loudly when he realized it was Chris who grabbed him.

`Be quiet before you alert the entire town where we are,` she warned him. As soon as Chris closed the trapdoor, Pedro whispered, `Where are we?` `We’re in a secret tunnel that leads into their underground village. What took you so long?` Red Eyes asked. `When I came out the other side of the bush and didn’t see anybody, I had to backtrack and that’s when I noticed there was a path and followed it to find you. `Didn’t you see us crawling down through the trapdoor?` Chris asked. `I must have been looking the other way,` Pedro lied.` `All right, but didn’t you notice that long bright yellow rope hanging down from the middle of the bush?` `What long rope?` he asked. `The one you’re supposed to pull to open the trapdoor.` `I guess I missed that too,` Pedro said embarrassed. `Just follow me,` Madam Stella said as she walked over to a hole in the ground hidden behind a large rock. She then proceeded to jump into it and disappeared. Chris was next to go, and then it was Pedro’s turn. After glimpsing down into the hole, he noticed it was too dark for him to see anything. After taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and jumped. As he did, he braced himself for a hard landing that never came. He was completely surprised, because he immediately began sliding down a steep tubular tunnel at a high rate of speed. A minute later, he unexpectedly slammed into a wall of water that slowed him down. When he finally stopped, he was still coughing and spitting out water as he tried to catch his breath. Madam Stella took one look at Pedro, and whispered to Chris, `Doesn’t that human have enough sense to close his mouth when he sees a wall of water coming at him?` `He probably had his eyes shut,` Red Eyes chuckled, and Pedro nodded his head he was correct.

`How much longer until we reach your house?` Red Eyes asked.` `It’s not much further. We just need to follow this path until we get to the huge door that leads into our village. If you don’t mind me asking. How did you find out about our crystals, and why are you so interested in them?` Madam Stella asked. Riko informed her, `The last time Lola and I were here, I bought our wedding rings at a jewelry store. I believe it’s the one you pointed out to me, when I asked you about it earlier in your tent. Both rings had a green crystal with different shaped symbols engraved on them. Unfortunately, after we put them on, both of our personalities swiftly began to change and it nearly caused us to break up for good.` `That’s odd. I’ve never had anybody complain about any of my crystals affecting them in a negative way.` `We believe your crystals have special powers,` Riko stated. `Yes they do, but I don’t understand why they would alter either of your personalities in any way,` Madam Stella said confused.` Lola immediately explained, `We’re not human like Pedro is. We are also completely different beings than Red Eyes and Chris are. `Yes, I could sense that the two of you were not of the same species as our kind. If you’re not human, and you’re not like the rest of us, then what exactly are you?` she asked. Lola explained, `We were both humans at one time, but chose to become dolls in order to stay together forever. We believe the combination of your crystals and our magic is what changed our DNA and caused us to act so strangely.` `So how did you figure out what was happening to you?` Madam Stella asked. `The moment we took our rings off, we both immediately realized how abnormally we had been behaving towards each other.`

`If that is the case, why are you still trying to locate more of these crystals?` `It’s not the colored crystals we are interested in obtaining. We just want to understand what the strange symbols engraved on them represent, so we can figure out if they can help answer some of the mysteries about our past, present and future,` Red Eyes explained. `Well, I think you’re in luck because the stone cutter is the most knowledgeable individual in our village. If anybody will know how to interpret those symbols, it would have to be him.` `I hope you don’t mind me bringing this up, but there is something about you that looks strangely familiar to me,` Riko mentioned to Madam Stella. `Although, you do look much younger than the other woman who sold me that powerful love potion and the antidote the last time we were in town.` `I can assure you I have a great memory. That is why I know for certain I’ve never met you, nor have I sold you anything before. However, I’m fairly sure I know who that other person is who sold you them,` she stated.` `Really, who was it?` Riko asked. `It’s my cousin Paula, but she’s likes to call herself Madam Mindy. She sells potions by the port. Unfortunately, she’s getting on in years, and sometimes she makes her potions way too powerful. I can’t tell you how many times we have had to do MAMA’s on the locals,` she admitted sadly. `So what happened after you took the love potion?`

Riko chuckled for a moment as he thought about it, and then he explained what happened to Eric and all the different girls who fell in and out of love with him. `Is he all right?` Madam Stella asked concerned. `Yeah, he’s fine.` ` Well he is one of the luckier ones. In the past, we’ve had several different men who have ended up in the hospital, because of broken bones and deep lacerations. Those women can be vicious after they’ve gotten their hearts broken,` she stated. `Do you sell your potions to support your village?` Chris asked. `No, we do it to keep an eye out for anyone who might be asking too many questions, and snooping around where they shouldn’t be. To be honest, our village is self-contained. We always use the money we make to pay off the local police, to help keep the townspeople away from our village and out of our hair. By the way, you never mentioned why you’re working with a human. It seems strange to me, because we normally avoid them at all costs.`

Chris explained, `After our compound was bombed by the human’s military, we needed to discover who was responsible for selecting our compound as the target. We knew we were going to need some humans to help us get around in their world, because we didn’t want to stand out like a sore thumb. It was only by accident Red Eyes and I happened to meet Pedro’s father. Since that time, we’ve been working with him, his family and a few of their close friends. Trust me, that is the only reason why we are working with humans.` `Now I understand,` and she pointed her finger ahead and said, `My house is just around the next curve. A few minutes later, they had all stopped in front of a huge door in the side of the wall, and Madam Stella announced, `We’re home.` Red Eyes, Chris and Pedro all stood speechless as they stared at the different symbols covering the entire surface of the door. About a minute later Pedro remarked, `I recognize a few of those symbols. Whoever made that door are probably the same beings who created the one at your compound as well.` `I would have to agree with you, but now I’m totally confused,` Red Eyes stated. `What does it all mean? And I wonder if there are any other doors we don’t know about,` he remarked.

`Wait here, I will be right back. I need to inform my leaders we have guests,` Madam Stella said as she placed a gray colored crystal into the center of the door. `I thought we were going to your house?` Pedro questioned her. `I just said that to see if you were really interested in meeting the stone maker, or just trying to find out about where we get our crystals,` she confessed. She then pushed the door open, walked through it, and shut it behind her. `I’m so nervous. Do you think her leaders will accept strangers coming into their compound?` Chris asked Red Eyes. `I’d be surprised if they do. It was strictly forbidden, and our leaders never allow us to bring any strangers into our compound.` `Do you think they will hurt us when they find out we’re here?` Pedro asked. `We wouldn’t have followed her if I did,` Red Eyes answered and they all waited patiently. Several minutes later Chris warned, `Get ready. I hear lots of footsteps heading this way.` Then with the sound of a loud clack, they watched as the door swung open wide. Before any of them had the chance to escape, a dozen guards came rushing out, surrounding everybody and one of them said, `Follow us. We will escort you to the leader’s chambers, where they’re waiting to speak to you.` As they began walking along side with the soldiers, Pedro quickly noticed Red Eyes and Chris were both looking around nervously and appeared to be concerned about something they were seeing. `Are you two going to be all right?` he whispered to them. `I’m sorry, did you say something?` Chris replied.

`I was asking if the two of you are feeling all right, because you both look like you’ve seen a ghost.` `No, we haven’t seen any ghosts, but I think I would have preferred to see one instead,` Chris whispered back. `What do you mean?` Pedro said suddenly alarmed and worried. `It’s this place.` `What about it?` he asked as he started looking around. `I’m surprised you haven’t noticed it yet?` Chris remarked. `Noticed what?` he asked as he continued looking around trying to figure out what they were talking about. `Take a good look at this place,` Red Eyes whispered to him. `Don’t you see it?` he asked. Pedro was getting more frightened by the minute, and then he complained, `I’m sorry, but I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. In fact, I think this place looks the same as your compound probably did, before it was bombed.` `That’s exactly what we’re talking about,` Red Eyes answered. `Why are there two identical compounds, and yet we never knew this one existed.` `All these years we’ve been so focused and interested in learning about the cosmos, we never thought to look anywhere else on this planet for other citizens like ourselves.` `It’s really bizarre. I’m amazed we’ve never come across any of the other citizens in this tribe while we were traveling inside of the mirror world. Do you suppose they use a different dimension?` `Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to wait and see what their leaders can tell us, before we start jumping to any conclusions,` Red Eyes remarked. `Although, I can’t help wondering how some of our own relatives have managed to live here without Steven Boyd and the Blufirs realizing they exist.

`Please remain quiet,` one of the guards instructed everybody when they stopped in front of a tall metal door. He then knocked and waited. A moment later, Madam Stella walked out and shut the door behind her. `Follow me inside, but don’t speak until after you’ve been asked to do so by one of the Leaders,` she warned everybody. She then opened the door and motioned for everyone to enter. `Have a seat,` one of the ape-men who was already sitting down motioned with his hand. After everyone was seated, he remarked, `And now I think it’s time for us to introduce ourselves to each other. I will go first. My name is Broseul. I am one of the five leaders of our commune. This is Menlilt, Hartrach, Chantize, and Bereniz. I believe you’ve already met Madam Stella. May I ask who you are?` `It’s nice to meet all of you. My name is Red Eyes, this is my mate Chris. These are our good friends Riko, Lola and Pedro.` `It’s nice to meet all of you as well. Now that we’ve all been properly introduced to each other, I have a few questions I would like to ask you,` Broseul stated. `That’s fine, and we have a few questions of our own we would like you to answer in return,` Red Eyes informed him. `Fair enough, and maybe you and I should be the spokespersons for both our groups. That way we can take turns asking each other questions, if you wouldn’t mind.` `I think that’s a good idea,` Red Eyes agreed.

Broseul cleared his throat and asked, `Why did you come, and what are you hoping to gain while you’re here?` `We want to talk to the stonecutter who engraved the strange symbols on some rings we purchased.` `I see. Do you have the rings with you?` `Yes we do,` Pedro replied and handed them over to Broseul who took one look at the markings engraved on the rings and commented, `I don’t see what’s so special about any of these symbols. What makes you think they are anything more than just symbols engraved on these rings?` Red Eyes replied, `Believe it or not, some of those symbols appear on that huge door we saw before we entered into your village. They’re also the same type of symbols on a huge door at our compound. Although, a few of them are the same symbols, some are similar and others quite different. Even so, they are also engraved on the clear crystals that hold the answers to our past, present and future. That is why we are trying to discover what they mean. So, can anyone here tell us what any of the symbols represent?` Red Eyes asked.

`The stonecutter who carved them is the only individual who is familiar with their true meaning. Even so, before we get to him I need to ask you a few more questions.` `I understand, but now it’s my turn to ask you a question, Red Eyes stated. `All right, what would you like to know about?` `Who built your village and how long have you been living here underground?` `Our village has been here for thousands of years, but no one knows who built it,` Broseul informed him. Next, Broseul asked, `Where is your village located, and how long have you been living there?` `We call it a compound, and it’s located underneath millions of tons of snow in a mountain range in the state of Alaska. We have been living there for thousands of years as well. As I already mentioned to Madam Stella, it was bombed by the military and most of it was destroyed. Soon after, we were all forced to choose between rebuilding it, or moving up to the surface to live among the humans. While we were trying to decide, we happened to meet Pedro’s father and we’ve been working with him, Pedro and his family ever since that time.`

`I see, and have they proven to be reliable? ` `Yes they have, and I would trust them with my own life,` Red Eyes stated.` `I find this situation intriguing,` Broseul replied. `In the past, we have never been able to find a single human who we could trust. I would love to know how you managed to find an entire family of them.` Red Eyes thought about it for a moment, and then he responded, `I suppose when your family’s life depends on you being trustworthy, it’s a great incentive.` `Why would the lives of Pedro’s family depend on them being loyal to you?` `Oh, it’s not just his family, it’s the entire human race. It’s also, the citizens of my compound, your village and every other living creature on this planet,` Red Eyes informed him. `What do you mean?` Broseul asked suddenly alarmed.` `It all has to do with our enemies the Blufirs and one of our kind named Steven Boyd, but I can’t get into it at this time.` `I understand, so what is your next question?`

`Do you know about mirror travel. If so, how do you get around because we’ve never seen anyone in your village traveling inside of the mirror world we use. Do you a particular dimension you use to travel outside of your village?` Red Eyes asked him. `I wasn’t aware there was another dimension,` Broseul answered. `But to answer your question, yes, we know all about mirror travel. However, we never use our mirrors for that purpose.` `May I ask why not?` `Of course,` but before I do, I’d like to ask you another question. When Riko purchased those wedding rings, did any of you know about the stonecutter or our village?` Broseul asked. `No we didn’t,` Red Eyes admitted. `That is exactly my point, and now you know the reason why mirror travel is forbidden in our village. We as leaders have always believe it is much too dangerous to allow any of our kind to travel inside the mirror world. As I already stated, we have been here undetected for thousands of years, and we would like it to remain that way. Just think about it this way. If we were to allow our citizens to use the mirrors. Who knows who might be able to find us if they did? Besides, lately we have seen some of the strangest looking creatures that are moving around inside of the mirror world.

Red Eyes thought about it for a moment, and then he asked, `If you don’t use the mirrors for travel, how is it you know about those weird looking creatures who have been roaming around inside the mirror world?` Broseul smiled and responded, `That’s an easy question to answer. We watch them through the mirrors we have,` he stated. Red Eyes scratched his head for a moment, and then he asked, `Aren’t you afraid one of those weird looking creatures you mentioned were roaming around inside of the mirror world might accidentally use one of your mirrors? Then discover where your village is located?` `You don’t understand. We can see them, but they can’t see us, or use any of our mirrors to enter into our village.` `That sounds similar to the mirror we came across at one of the castle we visited,` Red Eyes stated. He then explained, `All of us were able enter in through the castle’s mirror, but none of us could use it to leave. `Your mirrors sound similar to theirs. I would love to see how they work once we’re finished with our conversation,` Red Eyes requested.

`It will be my pleasure, but first I would like to hear more about that other door at your compound. You mentioned some of the symbols are the same, and others are a lot different. Would you happen to have any pictures of that door we can see?` Broseul asked. `Unfortunately, I do not. Would you be willing to come back with us to our compound to check it out?` Red Eyes asked. `I would be happy to take you up on your offer.` `Great, because before our compound was bombed, everything was exactly the same as your village. With that in mind, I think you will be amazed by all the amount of damage it has endured,` Red Eyes stated. `How is that even possible?` Broseul asked. `Believe me, we are all just as confused as you are. We had never imagined there was another place that was identical to ours.` `There has to be a reason they were both built exactly the same, and I believe fate has brought you here,` Broseul commented. `I would like to visit your compound as soon as possible. I would also like to bring the stonecutter along with us. Is it safe for us to travel through the mirror world with all those weird looking creatures roaming around?` he asked concerned.

`I can’t lie. It’s not the safest place to travel at this time,` Red Eyes admitted. `Even so, we know our way around in the mirror world. I believe we should be fine, just as long as we play it safe and don’t take any chances.` `Okay, but how long do you think it will take us to reach your compound in Alaska?` `About twelve hours at the most,` Red Eyes informed him.` `Only twelve hours? I thought for certain it was going to take us at least several days to get there,` Broseul said surprised. `Normally, it probably would have taken us that long to get there. Luckily, we are going to be using the Enchanted Path which helps speed up travel through the mirror world,` Red Eyes stated.` `I have never heard of an Enchanted Path. Is it some type of a swift moving vehicle or transportation?` he asked. Red Eyes laughed, and swiftly explained what the Enchanted Path was, and how it worked. `It sounds fantastic, but do you know what happened to the mirror world?` `I’m not sure what you mean by that statement?` Red Eyes replied.

Broseul explained, `In the past there has been little, to no activity inside of the mirror world. Now, it’s filled with all kinds of strange looking creatures. Including thousands of those huge blue creatures that seem to be increasing in numbers weekly. Do you know what they are, and where they came from?` `They’re called Blufirs,` Red Eyes informed him. `They came from another solar system, and they are the enemies I spoke about earlier. In fact, they’re the reason we are trying so hard to discover what those symbols engraved on the crystals represent, and why we are working with the humans. It’s a long story, and I can tell you about them on our way to my compound. But first, I would like to see those magical mirrors you use to see into the mirror world,` Red Eyes requested. `Of course, I will take you there now,` and everybody stood up to leave. `May I speak?` Chris asked. `Certainly.` `I’ve noticed there are several different kinds of crystals your citizens are all using, that we don’t available to us at our compound. Do you know what every crystal can do and how to use them?` `We do for most of them, but there are still a few that are so rare and unique, we haven’t been able to figure them out yet,` Broseul admitted. `We have to make certain they’re not dangerous before we allow anyone to use them. That’s the reason why we keep them all locked up. We store them with a group of clear crystals. We haven’t been able to figure out how to use them either.` `You have clear crystals?` Pedro blurted out.` `Yes, we do,` Broseul stated.

`Would it be possible for us to have a look at them?` Chris asked. `Yes, of course, and maybe we can figure out how to break their code if we work together. `How many clear crystals do you have?` `At this time, we have a total of six of them. However, only two of the clear crystals have any symbols that match some of the symbols on the door that leads into our village. `What do the symbols on the other clear crystals look like?` `It’s odd, because they’re all similar, and yet each one is unique in their own way. They all have squiggly lines, and different sized shapes engraved all over them.` `Do you have any idea what the clear crystals are used for?` Red Eyes mentioned. Broseul replied, `According to our legend, they are some type of a key that will open up the realm of all knowledge, but that is all we know about them.` `Do you think the crystals will actually open up something physical, or just reveal information?` `We’re not really certain. I wish I knew that answer, but you can be sure whatever they do, it will be something important. That’s also the reason they’re locked up as well.`

`We had a few of those clear crystals locked up in a vault at our compound a long time ago,` Red Eyes informed him. `Sadly, they were all stolen.` `Really, do you know who took them?` `Yes we do. It was our enemies the ShaPeas.` `Who, and what are ShaPeas?` Broseul inquired. `ShaPea is short for the Shadow People. They are small hideous looking creatures who live on the dark side of the moon.` `I see, and if you don’t mind my asking. How do you know they were the ones who stole your crystals?` `The ShaPeas` leader’s name is Andpaurom. He is the King of the Moon, and the one who left us a message letting us know they have them. He also threatened to attack and kill every last one of us, if we ever tried to get any of them back,` Red Eyes informed Broseul.` `Do you think he knows what the clear crystals can do, and that’s the reason why they stole them from you?` `We don’t know for certain, but that’s what we suspect is the reason they took them.` `Are you planning to try and get them back someday?` Pedro asked. `We can’t,` Red Eyes said miserably. `We wouldn’t get within a thousand miles of the moon, before they blew us out of the sky. `I always wondered why you’ve never mentioned if you were going to try to get them back from the ShaPeas.` `Red Eyes looked at Pedro with his eyes wide open and asked him, `How did you find out about our crystals being stolen by the ShaPeas?`

Pedro stuttered for a moment, trying to think of how to answer. `Chris told me about them.` he finally admitted. `Oh really,` and he looked over at Chris, crossed his arms over his chest and asked, `Is that true?` Pedro quickly realized he shouldn’t have mentioned who it was, and started apologizing. `I’m sorry Chris. I didn’t mean to get you into any trouble.` Chris started laughing and let Pedro know, `You’re so gullible. Red Eyes doesn’t care if you know what happened. It is common knowledge, and everybody at our compound already knows our clear crystals were stolen by the ShaPeas.` `Okay, but does that mean you’re still going to attempt to get them back someday?` Red Eyes swiftly answered, `It is possible, but it’s not probable.` `Why not?` Pedro asked surprised. `Well it’s obvious Chris didn’t tell you everything there is to know about the ShaPeas. `There wasn’t enough time to explain everything to him at the time we were discussing the ShaPeas,` Chris objected. Pedro quickly asked, `So what didn’t she tell me?`

`Do you really think the ShaPeas are going to roll out the red carpet for us if we try to retrieve them?` Red Eyes asked. `I wasn’t expecting a warm welcome, but wouldn’t it be possible to destroy them with a giant laser beam of light?` Red Eyes shook his head and said, `Why don’t you let me explain some of the things that Chris didn’t have the time to tell you about them. First of all, we know that during a total lunar eclipse we are able to kill the ShaPeas with a bright light. However, that is only because they are vulnerable to the earth’s gravity which weakens them. We’ve since learned that there is an entire colony of ShaPeas living above and below the ground on the dark side of the moon. Although, the ShaPeas are small in stature, they more than make up for it with their speed and viciousness.`

`Does anybody have any idea where the ShaPeas might be storing the clear crystals?` Pedro asked. `If we knew that answer, we would already have our crystals back,` Red Eyes commented. `Does that mean it’s impossible for you to get your clear crystals back?` `Of course not. Nothing is impossible, although sometimes it might feel that way.` `Okay, and when do you think you will be ready to try to retrieve them again?` `Just as soon as we figure out where the crystals are hidden, and how to reach the moon without alerting the ShaPeas we are on our way there,` Red Eyes chuckled.

`Have you ever tried using any mirrors to get onto the moon?` Pedro asked. `Yes, we have but we were unsuccessful.` `Why?` `How many people do you know who need to use a mirror to see themselves in the dark?` Red Eyes asked.` Pedro thought about it for a moment and answered, `No one. You only need light to see your reflection, so it wouldn’t make sense to use a mirror to see yourself in total darkness.` `Exactly, and that’s why we’re not sure if there are any mirrors on the moon.` `It sounds to me like you’ve already given up hope trying to get them back,` Pedro remarked. `That’s where you’re completely wrong,` Chris replied. `There are several different scenarios we would like to try. Even so, until we know precisely where the clear crystals are located, and if there are any mirrors there we can use, we will have to continue waiting.` `Are you serious? By that time, I could be an old man or worse before you ever find out that answer,` Pedro complained. `We’ve been trying to figure out where the clear crystals are located for hundreds of years. So, now you can understand how frustrating it is for us not being able to do anything to get them back,` Chris said miserably. `Although, there was one time a few of our ancestors attempted to retrieve those crystals. Though, they were unsuccessful. In fact, that is how we learned about the ShaPeas and discovered they have a large colony on the dark side of the moon. They also experienced first-hand how fast and ferocious those creatures can be. Sadly, only a few of the twenty-seven individuals who landed on the moon, lived to tell us about their tale.`

`What happened to them?` Pedro asked tensely. `After their space craft landed, they turned on the lights which allowed them to see for miles in every direction. They told us the darkness was so thick, it made their lights appear to be dim. As they began looking around, they were able to make out lots of eerie looking structures in the distance. As they continued looking around, they didn’t notice anything moving, and everything appeared to be quiet and deserted. After waiting a few hours, they decided it was safe enough for them to wander around their ship to check things out. When they opened up the ship’s main door, they had to hold their noses. There was no wind and the air was stagnant. They said the smell was overwhelming. It stunk like something was rotting, and the ground was completely wet, moldy, and cold. As they started walking around, they could feel the mud slushing underneath their feet. It was extremely slippery and difficult to move around. After a while, they decided to explore one of the strangest looking structures which was about a mile away. As a precaution, five of their crew stayed behind to make sure the ship was safe and secure. They wanted it to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Just in case anything unexpected happened and they needed to take off in a hurry. They also instructed them to leave them behind and return home if things became too dangerous for them to remain. Reluctantly, they all agreed.`

As the crew inside of the ship continued watching, the others on the ground began moving forward cautiously. They had only gone about a block’s distance away, when without any warning they were all ambushed. What they hadn’t realized, was there were ShaPeas who were hiding in the shadows of the lights. Within seconds, there were thousands of ShaPeas who were coming out of the darkness charging at them. Before any of them had the chance to run away, they were completely covered from head to toe with small creatures who were beginning to eat them. As the crew watched in horror, another group of ShaPeas unexpectantly came rushing towards the ship. There were so many of them, it appeared as if a dark mat was being rolled out to greet them. Moments after, several ShaPeas leapt on top of the ship and immediately began pounding on the glass trying to shatter it. In a panic, the crew members started up the ship and it began to lift up. However, before the ship’s tires left the ground, the other crew members outside had been completely eaten. All that was left of them were their shredded and bloodied clothes that were lying trampled in the mud.`

`They’re cannibals?` Pedro gasped. `We’re not really certain if they are,` Chris stated. `That was the only time we know of, when any ShaPeas killed and ate their victims.` `What do you mean?` `The first time they came to this planet to steal our crystals, they didn’t harm anybody. We were wondering if they. . . ` but she stopped talking when an alarm unexpectedly went off and Broseul said, `Hold that thought. You mentioned you’re interested in seeing how our mirrors work, and now you will get your chance to see them in action. Follow me,` he said and everybody hurried out the door and headed down a long hallway. `When he stopped, they were all standing in front of a giant mirror with a huge Blufir who was staring straight at them. Pedro instantly froze, not knowing what would happen next. Then to his surprise, the Blufir punched his hand through the mirror, pulled it back and walked away angrily.

`What just happened?` Pedro asked surprised by the Blufirs behavior. Broseul let him know, `Those blue creatures get upset when they discover they can’t use our mirrors. Then they get angry and try to break the mirrors by punching them with their fist. Once they realize the mirrors won’t break, they always become frustrated, walk away angrily and forget all about them.` `That’s fantastic. How do your mirrors work?` Red Eyes asked excitedly. Broseul explained, `It’s really quite simple. We place three mirrors together, which causes a null effect.` `What is a null effect?` Pedro asked. `When three mirrors are pressed together, they appear to be like any ordinary mirror. If you look at it, you will always see your own reflection looking back at you. Then again, if anybody opens the mirror, it will actually be open. However, they won’t realize it’s open, because they will be staring at their own reflection.` `If I’m understanding you correctly, you’re telling us anybody could actually jump through one of your mirrors if they knew about that trick.` `That’s correct,` Broseul admitted. `Then it is possible one day something might end up jumping through one of your mirrors,` Red Eyes stated. ` Broseul swiftly replied, `If they do, it would be the first time anybody has ever done it. So far, no one has ever figured out they can jump through them,` he said proudly. `That’s great, but do you have a backup plan? Just in case that were to ever happen?`

`Certainly we do. We have forty other mirrors placed strategically around our village. They are all monitored twenty-four hours a day. If by chance anything happens to peer into one of our mirrors as they’re passing by them. That alarm we all heard earlier will automatically go off. Then we watch and wait to see what they’re planning to do. Most of the mirrors are positioned in such a way that if anyone were to jump through them, they will end up somewhere in the upper world. We figure it would be easier for us to battle them there, if need be,` he said proudly. `I can see the reason why no one has ever discovered you’re all living underground,` Chris stated. `Thanks, and if you’re still interested in looking at our clear crystals, I can take you there now.` `Of course we are,` she answered. `Would it be alright if Lola and I stay back to have a look around?` Riko asked. `Sure, and if you get hungry, help yourself to anything we have inside of our kitchen. It’s just to the right, and down this hall,` Broseul pointed out. `Thanks.` `All Right, the rest of you can come with me. Everyone followed him through a long hall, down several flights of stairs and into a dark tunnel. It ended in front of a large metal door, where he stopped and pulled something out of his pocket. As they watched, Broseul placed a small turquoise colored crystal into the center of the door. It immediately sprang opened with a loud clang that echoed throughout the whole tunnel.`

`Where are we?` Pedro asked. `We are in a vault, deep in the center of our village. This is where we keep all of our clear and unique crystals locked up,` Broseul answered. After they entered the room, he used the same crystal to lock the door from the inside. `I can’t believe how many different crystals there are,` Red Eyes stated. `Most of them, I’ve never seen before. Where did they all come from?` `I’m not really sure. As far as I can remember, they’ve always been locked up inside of this room.` `Where do you store the clear crystals you were telling us about?` `They’re right over there,` Broseul said and he pointed the small turquoise colored crystal at a blank wall to his right. As he held it in front of the wall, a long metal drawer appeared and slid out noisily. `That’s amazing. I would never have dreamed there was a secret compartment there,` Pedro chuckled. Broseul smiled and opened the drawer, revealing the clear crystals inside of it. `I believe these are the crystal you were asking me about,` and he handed one to Red Eyes to check out. `This is great, can we see the other ones as well?` he asked. `Of course.` `I remember seeing this symbol at the top of the door when we entered your village,` Red Eyes remarked. `What about this one, do any of the symbols look familiar to you?` Broseul asked.` `Yes it does,` Red Eyes said excitedly. `Those are some of the same symbols engraved on the door at our compound in Alaska,` he acknowledged.`

`That’s wonderful to hear, and we can take them with us when we leave for your compound,` Broseul suggested. `What about this one?` he asked. `I don’t recognize any of those markings. Do you think they’re for another door that might be hidden somewhere else inside of your village? Red Eyes asked.` `I’m not sure. We’ve never thought to look for another door,` he admitted. `Then again, we don’t know if one even exists, or where we would begin to search for it.` `Maybe not, but at least these markings match some of the ones that are on the door at our compound,` Chris said happily. Broseul quickly cleared his throat and said, `I hate to say this, but we’re probably missing some of the other clear crystals we need in order to figure out what they will do. `Oh Great, and I was just getting excited. But now it looks like we are back to square one, which is getting our crystals back from the ShaPeas,` Red Eyes complained. `Maybe not,` Pedro commented. `Oh really, is there something you forgot to mention to us?` `No, but I was just wondering about something,` he stated. Chris took one look at Pedro and said, `I know that look on your face. What are you cooking up in that crazy mind of yours this time?` `I was thinking about the ShaPeas. If we can’t go to them on the moon, maybe we could get them to come to us,` he suggested. `How? What do we have, that they might want?` Red Eyes questioned him. Pedro explained, `We know that the ShaPeas are