Bottomless chapter 3

"Do you have the coin?" Simple enough of a question, I couldn't seem to get rid of the damned thing. But as I searched myself, it dawned on me that I had left it in my pocket. The jeans I had been wearing. The ones that had disappeared.

"Quickly, give it to me, we have need of it now. There's no time to waste!" Holding out his hand impatiently for it, I could only pat myself down in confusion.

All this time that thing had hounded me with every breath I took, and now when it was needed most, it was nowhere to be found. Apparently it had a will of it's own. "I don't seem to have it, sir." I nervously stated.

"That's impossible," he snorted, "you would not be here now if you didn't have the coin! You cannot prevent the disruption of Time without it!" Now that didn't sound good, and I wished that I had that coin in my sweaty little palm.

No sooner than that thought had flown through my head, then that now familiar sensation gripped me again. As I clenched my teeth in frustration, I heard the words,"Here we go again, grab the bucket, QUICK!" but I managed to choke down the bile that seemed to be ever present upon my arrival here.

The flash of light almost ignited the room it was so bright, and as it faded leaving behind spots in my vision, I felt the object of my desire firmly gripped in my hand. Still reeling from the sensations that assailed me, I shakily handed it over to him. I should have thrown it, but I wasn't very steady at the moment.

Taking the coin from me, he grabbed my arm and rushed me out the door. Muttering something under his breath that I couldn't quite make out, I began to get angry. Very angry. But before I could say anything to him, he spun me around toward the center of the village.

Now I noticed that the horse had been fed, and groomed. It also had a saddle and bridle. Without releasing me, he marched me over to that creature, and ordered me to mount. I balked at that, no way in hell was I getting on that thing! With the way it looked at me in return, I am pretty sure we were in agreement.

The old man began rubbing the coin and muttering under his breath again, and then that flash of light. Only this time I didn't feel sick. The next thing I knew I was on that horse. Not really clear how I got there either. But the old man looked pale and shaken.

Another whisper, another flash of light and he was holding a sword. Taking the coin he placed it into the rounded groove on the blade.Then held it out to me, saying:

"Blade of Truth, Sword of Might, Call upon the Ancient Rite.
Blessed Tears, continue to weep, Bottomless Source of Wisdom Deep.
The Powers Ancient that hath Prevailed, To seal the Rift of Time Derailed.
Guide Us now, Our Hearts are Pure, With Lightning swift, and Aim that's Sure.
Call upon the Ancient Rite, Blade of Truth, Sword of Might."

The last thing I saw was the girl rushing to her father, crying out, but that was no longer my concern. A strange feeling engulfed me. I felt all powerful. Nothing could stop me.

And I kicked the horse into motion. Galloping away from the village I had no idea where I was going, only that I would be there when I was needed. Urgency shot through my veins like ice water, and nothing else mattered. Without thought I placed the sword in the scabbard at my side and leaned into the horse. It seemed like we flew over the ground. Speed was of the utmost importance.

Up ahead I saw a horrible sight. It looked as if a hole had been literally ripped into the very fabric of Life. It was glaringly obvious that this was where I was supposed to be.

Not that I knew what I was going to do about it. I noticed that the closer we got to it, the more it seemed to pull us into it. And for the first time in my life, I felt fear. For between me and the Disruption of Time, Pure Evil was standing in the way.

I wish I could describe it to you, but there are no words for what I was witnessing. I wanted to slow down and not rush headlong into certain death, but that feeling overwhelmed me, and in horror I heard my voice bellowing out in challenge.

Everything happened in a blur of motion so quick that my brain couldn't process anything more than the thought of 'what the hell?' I distinctly remember pulling the sword and rushing at that thing. I felt the impact of the blade as it hit.

Then everything went white. There was blinding light all about me, and I felt as if something took over my body.

When I came back to myself, I was covered in sweat and gore. But that thing was gone, and the rift was sealed. I was breathing heavily, and I hurt.

Searing pain throughout my entire body. I fell to the ground and curled into a fetal ball. I couldn't do anything else. For the first time in my life I prayed. I don't know to What or to Whom. I just prayed. Almost wordlessly, just putting it all into emotions that I was unable to express.

Then I felt as if someone laid a cool, comforting hand upon my head, and the pain seemed to melt away. I was swathed in an intensely powerful coccoon of unwarrented, unconditional love. I found myself weeping at this beautiful sensation. I didn't even resist the whisper that touched my mind, telling me that everything would be alright. That I had done well.


I managed to open my eyes a little, but all I could see was the figure of a woman, kneeling at my side, bathed in all the colors of a rainbow. Then I slept.

When I awoke, the first thing I noticed was that I was alone, except for the horse. It stood a little way off with it's head hanging, looking about like I felt. The intense pain was gone, but I felt as if I had been run over by a steam roller.

Standing, which was once a very simple task, now took everything I had in me to accomplish. But somehow, I managed. I even got back up on the horse. Still so tired I could barely see, I gave the horse it's head and slumped over the horses neck, trusting it to get me back to the village.

Images in my mind kept trying to surface, but I couldn't make sense of most of them. Only one thing stood out clear in the chaos of my thoughts. The woman, and how I had felt for those few brief moments.

I felt tears slipping down my face at that memory, I didn't even bother to wipe them off.
Soon enough we arrived back at the village. Good horse. Knows where the food and shelter were kept.

As I lifted my head and opened my eyes, I couldn't miss the torm emotions playing on the faces of the villagers. Both elation at my victory over evil, and something else. Grief? Now why would they be grieving?

Then I saw the preparations of a pyre and the body of the old man laid out on top. All of his material possessions laid around him. His daughter emerged from their hut, and I could see that she had been weeping. Hard. Sliding off the horses back, I made my way slowly over to her. The question in my eyes didn't need to be voiced.

Taking a deep calming breath she answered. "When Father cast the Ancient Rite for you, it required a sacrifice. There was not time for a proper ceremonial ritual, and so he paid the price. For You, and for All of The People in Time.

Do not not be disheartened, he paid the price willingly and without reserve. Just as you answered the Calling of the Champion of Time.

" I just stared at her, probably looking as miserable as I felt. This would weigh heavily on my soul forever. I felt so worthless at that moment.

Some of the village women led me to a stream where I could clean myself, then I attended the lighting of the pyre for the old man.

Afterwards we ate. A feast worthy of a Champion. These people had so little and yet gave so freely.

I was ashamed to be in there presence.

As the evening wore on, I noticed the quality of the atmosphere was clearer, and no longer looked as if it were under water.

The moons were both out full in all their glory. The stars were shining so brightly I could almost reach out and catch the beams of light in a cup.

Breathtakingly entrancing. I almost drifted off to sleep just laying there looking at the heavens.

But as all good things must, it came to an end. I felt the unconditional love spilling all around me, and saw the woman, bathed in the rainbow standing before me, and softy she spoke.

" Bottomless, Eternal, Deeply Sublime.
Ageless, Fathomless, Forever Entwined.
Destiny calls, Your Fate you must Keep.
The Well of Remorse is Endlessly Deep.
Ageless, Fathomless, Forever Entwined.
Bottomless, Eternal, Deeply Sublime."

I was home. And now that I have recounted this story to you, I sit back and think only truth can be stranger than fiction. It took me a long time to come to this realization. I am recording this here in my journal for posteritys' sake, so that it will always be fresh in my mind, and close to my heart.


If you doubt my story, as I am sure you will, for I still do, I will pull out the coin, and the sword and show them to you. I look at them everyday, and remember, that everything has a price, and only Unconditional Love is Free.

The end.... (or is it?)