By: Jy Hung Ong

For two decades, a hiding place near the tip of Icalantis was abandoned, buried in snow with almost no way to enter. However, there stood a very concealed hiding place. To someone outside, it would blend in with the rest of the environment, but if someone looked in the right direction (which is nearly impossible, considering the weather in Icalantis is always a blizzard), they would walk inside a dimly lit room that could fit a small elephant.

Inside, there were portraits of famous Samurais and Ninjas, and there were fragile vases decorated with snakes. However, the room created an uninviting atmosphere with its black-and-white wallpaper and seemed to hold a sense of secrecy. It was no wonder that three men had chosen this place to meet.

“Let’s review what our plans are again, for the hundredth time,” said the eldest of the group. He was large, in his mid 70ths, with wrinkles on his skin here and there. He wore formal clothing, a suit and a tie, which were black and white respectively. His name was Aston Sanfrint.

“I’m looking at you, Jistant, the king of not paying attention,” Aston said.

“What?” replied Jistant innocently, or too innocently.

Jistant was, in many ways, the opposite of Aston. He was a young adult, in his 30s. He was dressed like most teenagers, in casual jeans and a sweater. He was also, of course, looking at a portrait of a Samurai while Aston was talking.

“Never mind.”

“We have collected some of Dark Crystal’s magic,” Aston said.

“Check!” the others agreed.

“We have a metal tube,” he said.

All three of these men were sons of the famous Samurais on the walls. They have come from various parts of the world and have met on the tip of Icalantis. They are here to create an invention: the gun.

“What should we call it?”

“We’re checking, Naster, not naming things. Besides, you have no authority,” Aston snapped.

“L-l-let’s continue t-t-t-then,” Naster stuttered.

“Let’s try that again,” Aston said with a commanding tone this time.

“We have a metal tube,” Aston said.

“Check!” the others agreed.

“We also have a chemical that the Chinese had invented,” Aston said.

“Saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur,” the second eldest said, who seemed to have read every single book in the world, according to Aston.

“Shut up,” Aston said.

“I think it was called gunpowder,” Jistant said, who apparently hadn’t heard Aston.

“I SAID SHUT UP!” Aston roared, knocking one of the priceless vases onto the floor. It shattered.

This time, Jistant heard him, and cowering, he said, “Continue.”

“We also have a chemical that the Chinese invented,” Aston said, still with a bit of temper left in his voice.

“Check!” the others agreed.

Suddenly, a crystal as large as an elephant came crashing in from the roof. The collision knocked over several portraits, and many of the vases crashed. The crystal was colored pure gold. It looked like a golden rectangle, if not for the pure black eyes, golden arms, and usually smiling mouth. However, you couldn’t find even the slightest trace of a grin on this menacing figure.

Aston knew exactly what it was, and why it was there.

It was the legendary Dark Crystal. It was here to reclaim its magic.

“GIVE ME BACK MY MAGIC NOW!” it screamed.

“I shall, after we use it,” Aston sneered.

“What part of magic do you not understand,” the crystal said, taking several deep breaths, which sucked in a couple of the vase pieces. It sneezed.

“Fine,” Aston said, but not before whispering to Jistant and Naster, “Hurry, grab some and get out of here.”

“Here, your stupid magic,” muttered Aston.

Aston carefully handed some of the magic inside a cleverly disguised book to Jistant and Naster. Then he revealed what looked like a pile of gold dust from one of his thirty-two pockets and threw it hard at the crystal, which obviously didn’t move at all because of its size.

“Thank y-” the crystal started, soon realizing that something was wrong. Where were Jistant and Naster?

Hit with understanding, the crystal whispered an incantation too soft to be heard. Instantly, Jistant and Naster came flying back, with the book in hand. The crystal recognized the book as Famous Samurais and Ninjas of Our Time. There was something off about the book, however. Putting two and two, it realized what was going on.