Pauline cleared the mist, rising up on her feet. "What do you mean the Jade Realm has fallen?" asked Ashara as Pauline sat.
"I was in the bathroom one second and then the next, I'm in the Nether Realms," explained Pauline. "I met Aragah, he told me that the Jade Realm had fallen. And as my duty as the keeper of the Nether Realms, I have to go."
"Hold on a second," said Zoey. "I thought you weren't the keeper yet."
"Yes, I wasn't, but Aragah informed me that it was time for my newfound abilities to be put to the test."
"When will you come back?" asked Zaya.
"I do not know," Pauline replied in a sad tone, "but what I am sure of is that it's not going to be any time soon." Pauline looked crestfallen, her head nodded to the ground.
"We'll figure this out," consoled Zaya as they all stood, along with the others, tossing their graduation hats into the air.
*** A few days later.
Zaya walked into the well-crafted office, sitting behind the table while typing on a computer was a red-haired woman. A smile spread across her face as she spotted Zaya.
"Well, if it isn't Zaya Lexington, congratulations on your graduation," the red-haired woman spoke smiling.
"Why am I here?" Zaya asked in a grim tone.
"That is no way to speak to a mother figure," Chinami winced while shutting the laptop.
"What do you want from me?" Zaya questioned coldly. "I've continuously asked for your help on many missions lately and you've declined each and every one of them. Any reason in particular?" queried Chinami. Her fingers folded together, squinting at Zaya.
"They all seemed reckless," answered Zaya, rolling her eyes. "After all, you enjoyed sending Nyx and Korin to their death." She added.
Chinami shrugged, standing up from her seat. "I know you are going to college in a few days, Zaya, so earlier I was going to ask what your plan is in taking down the Viking, so I could support you. But turns out that isn't really a choice now."
"Am glad you know that," Zaya said, turning to leave. "But you do know, Zaya," Chinami abruptly spoke, stopping Zaya in her tracks. "You will need me, and I will be there."
Zaya felt something struck within her as Chinami said those words, she remembered she'd also said it once to someone a long time ago, but to who and why?
"I understand," she then walked out of the office, carefully shutting the door.
That night, the Phantom Paw could be seen walking into an abandoned building. She went down the elevator, going straight to the center of the Phantom Paw headquarters. Just as she had expected, all of her companions were seated around the oval futuristic-looking table with one chair on the left upper edge empty.
Zaya sat on the seat, her hands placed against one another as she began speaking. "It's been a wonderful year to spend with you guys." She then proceeded to mention their names. "Zoey, Ashara, Natasha, June, and Pauline."
"It's time for our hard work to pay off, we've set the foundation for our empire, it's time we built it and take our world back from the Viper Viking." Zaya further explained, "The WMCO was one of our greatest chances in winning the war against the Viper Viking, but after what Chinami coded to me today, I realized there's a power tussle amongst the federal government. Soon enough, they are also going to send us on a deadly mission or at most, try to kill us instead."
"So, just as Nyx had told me, it's time for us to split up."
"June," she called, "where's the map?"
June then handed the map over. "Golden map?!" Zaya called. "Reveal the location of the last gems."
The golden map glowed, two images appeared side by side on it, one was a pyramid while the other was a large rock.
"A pyramid and a mountain," Ashara spoke. "Anybody have any idea where that is?"
Zaya asked, staring at the map with a thoughtful look.
Natasha then collected the map as she spoke. "This pyramid looks exactly like the one in Birk, while the mountain is the Scaflfell Pike."
"Thank you, Natasha," Zaya spoke joyfully as she walked towards the wall, tapped on a switch. The lights in the phantom quarter all went off, and everything stopped working.
"Alright, girls, rise," they all rose, anxious looks on their faces, surprised as to what Zaya was about to do. Zaya walked back to her seat.
"It is time," she said as she looked up to Pauline. "Pauline, you shall now be referred to as 'The Unknown One'. Your mission is to restore the Jade Realms from destruction and return as soon as you can to support each and every one of us."
Her gaze shifted to Ashara as she spoke, "Ashara, you shall now be called 'The Cat Lady'. Your mission is to retrieve the gem trapped in the pyramid of Birk and keep it hidden."
"Zoey, you shall now be called 'The Inevitable'. Your mission is to gather an army of half-breeds, train them, and prepare for battle against the dragon clan. When the time comes for war against the clan, you will know."
"Natasha, you are 'The Fate Queen'. Your mission is to intrude the dragon's den, release Korin, find Nyx, and prepare them for war."
"June, you are 'The Blade of Zorro'. Your mission is to learn the ways of magic, casting spells, and becoming a mage. We'll need your help in fighting the battle."
Zaya then smiled as she said, "Are we all in this together?"
"Yes!" they all replied in unison. Zaya then tapped on the switch, the lights turned back on.
"Sorry, girls, for being creepy," Zaya spoke with a rare smile sweeping across her face. "They are watching us. That's why I had to turn off all the electricity. So, what do you think?"