This tale has been moderately modified from its original storyline. You'll find that the Episode breaks are the same, but I have added some Titles. There may be a little bit of additional information here and there, and possibly additional pictures as well.
Please enjoy the updated version.

The Legend of Lakia and the Great Sea Monster

Episode One: The Great Beginning

"Gather around children! I, Shuka, daughter of the Great Mountain-Climber, will tell you a great tale! Gather around, and I will tell you the tale of a Great Leader and a Great Sea Monster!" Shuka was holding a fish in her hands. She was the most dramatic of all the storytellers.

Many of the children went running to listen, but little Lakia Waterfaller stayed at the beach and danced. She didn't like any kind of activity where she had to sit still for very long. (She also tired of hearing stories, since her grandparents were always telling her stories about the "Old-Tribe" and how life here is so much different from where they came from before the waterfall incident.) However, her best friend Dodo Firestarter (short for Doctor, since his genius parents had high hopes for him), was fascinated at the idea of beast of the ocean, so he went running over and sat down next to Lakia's older sister Jem.

"Long, long ago, long before the people came over the waterfall, Totem Poles of the great Leaders of the past lined the northern beach." She pointed to north end of the beach and moved her hand slowly to the south side as she spoke. "Near the water at the south end was the Great Library, where all the Scrolls of Knowledge were once stored."

"During one successful harvest season, the great Leader Hong, who wore a beautiful medallion around his neck," Shuka stood pointing to her chest, "would walk along the beach every evening to praise the Guiding Hand for all the blessings of his land. All was well until one day he received news that he would be the father of his 15th daughter. Since he and his wife were too old to try again for a son, he realized there would be no heir to take his place as Leader. In grief and anger, he flung his medallion into the sea!" Shuka continued in a deep voice, "The great Leader cried out, 'May Isola herself chose a new Leader, and may the Great Ocean bring the medallion to him!'"

"Suddenly, a storm beat down hard on the beach." She bent down low and pounded the earth by her feet, "It's fierce waves smashed up all the Totem Poles, and washed all the huts out to sea. As great wave after great wave pounded the surf, Hong simply stood in awe." She stood again. "While everyone else fled to higher ground, he watched as the storm carried in a great sea creature right up to the shore in front of him..."

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Episode Two: Hong's Family Builds the Great Southern Palace

Shuka stretched her arms out wide and rolled them over like a wave crashing to the shore. "The Great Sea Monster splashed as he landed on the beach. The great Leader Hong stood eye to eye with the tremendous fish. Some say that it was the wave going back out that picked up the great Leader Hong and took him away. Others say the Great Sea Monster himself stole him right off the sand and took him out to sea. No one has ever seen or heard from him since. Later on that year his wife bore not another daughter, but his first son."

"While the rest of the tribe worked at building new shelters, Hong's family built The Great Southern Palace. They painted the story of the Great Sea Monster right on the floor. It stood tall at the southeastern end so that whoever would become the tribe's Leader could always watch the sunset over the water and be reminded of what took place that day."

Some of the childrens eyes started looking around trying to decide if the story was true. One thought, "What if the sea monster comes back?" and got up and ran off to the beach to look there.

Shuka continued. "Once the Palace was built, and while the Leader's son wasn't yet two years old, the tribe was undecided over whether someone so young should be named Leader. Those who wanted him to be leader arranged a great party. On the day before the ceremony, the medallion washed ashore on the beach at the baby boy's feet. Many saw and took it as a sign that the Great Ocean had chosen the Leader's son. The little boy reached down to grab it, but the great sea monster came in the next wave..."

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Episode Three: The Leader's Son

"A little bit of water splashed the toddler and made him move back, while the Great Sea Monster snatched the medallion necklace between its teeth and took it back into the water with him. As the creature swam away, the water pulled back from the beach. The boy's mother quickly took him in her arms and everyone once again ran for the far side of the land. Believing now that they were mistaken, Hong's wife made the Elders promise not to make her son Leader."

"The next wave flooded the entire southern end, destroying the Great Southern Palace, and leaving bits and pieces of wood in piles at the shore. It broke apart the Great Library, leaving only a handful of scrolls behind." Shuka sadly shook her head. "The only scrolls that remain are on relationships, families, and spiritual guidance."

"That is why to this day, mothers carry their children until they are old enough to run, and couples go to the old Library to find guidance when they have their families. We have to work hard to relearn all the old skills and find new ones."

"And to this day, the tribe has not decided upon a single Leader. None of Hong's daughter's were chosen and the Leader's son's family also has had only daughters. The Tribe is now ruled by our Esteemed Elders. And the beautiful Leader's medallion is lost forever to the sea."

Shuka bent down low and whispered the next part to the children who were still there. "But every once in a while a storm beats down hard on the beach, and villagers who look closely enough can see the eyes of the Great Sea Monster peering onto the shore. Some say he brings a blessing of many fish, while others say that he is looking for the next great Leader." Then Shuka dusted herself off and said out loud, "That is all for today children." and then walked away.

Jem puckered up her face and waved her hands at her cheeks like fins and turned to Dodo, "Me sea monster! Me watching you!" The two of them laughed really hard and then ran off to tell Lakia of the story. Along with them came Ima, City, and Piku.

Piku told them all that his uncle was a man from the Leaderson clan. "His name is Samar Leaderson. I never thought of him as being a Leader's son. And my uncle has seven daughters and no sons! Hmmm." He pondered. "Uncle Samar is always saying the tribe needs a way to protect the shore. I now wonder if he believes that the sea monster would steal away the next Leader?" Although Piku was serious, the others all laughed at the idea. Lakia wasn't listening at all. She just wanted to dance. "Maybe if the shore could be protected, then we could have another Leader!" he continued. "Oh, yes," Lakia muttered, but was actually just laughing at the sea waves.

Lakia Waterfaller, who was almost old enough to work, was the grandchild of the people who came down the waterfall. She liked to run and dance, but she didn't see very well so she was often caught doing strange things. For instance, sometimes she would play hide and seek with the giant butterflies. She might be found from time to time studying the rocks as if they were flowers. Other times she just couldn't stand still very long.

And so, she often would skip her lessons, including one very important one on the day they learned about the Totem Poles...

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Episode Four: Samar's Totem Pole

"Today we are going to learn about totem Poles." Said the teacher. "Our newest Esteemed Elder is being honored next week by the tribe's people with a Totem of his own. And so we are going to learn how to cut, carve and paint wood. We want it to look realistic, but not too realistic. Let's get started." As the teacher went on, Samar Leaderson came by to visit and tell about all the hard work that goes into becoming an Elder. Now that he was an Elder, he hoped that the tribe's people would go ahead and make him Leader.

Weeks had gone by when Samar and the team of tribe's people working with him, finally finished his Totem Pole. Although he had earned the Totem through hard work and skill, he chose a particular design that he felt would honor his father who was washed away in the horrible storm many years ago. He placed it at the seashore and asked the Guiding Hand to bless his family, and then he left.

Lakia, lost in thought, went looking for fish with her best friend Dodo, her sister Jem, and a few of their friends. "The waves are splashing wonderfully today. Wouldn't it be neat if we found something on the seashore?" one of them said.

Just then one of them noticed that the waves were splashing around something sitting on the beach. Suddenly one of them realized that eyes were staring out at them from the waves. The others ran off, even Dodo, though he soon after came back for her. But as the waves died down, Lakia got as good a look at the creature as she could and she stood in awe as her heart started pounding...

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Episode Five: The Pet

Dodo thought that Lakia was right behind him. When he realized that she wasn't there Dodo turned around to get Lakia, just in time to see the big eyes staring at her. He suddenly felt something for her that he never felt before, and he was scared that he would lose her forever. As he rushed back to the shore the waves gave up the beast.

Lakia thought her heart would pound right out of her chest. The eyes waffled back and forth until the waves sat their owner down on the beach. With the waves splashing against the blue-ish thing, it looked quite awesome and fierce. The children kept running until they realized that it wasn't going anywhere. It was Samar Leaderson's Totem Pole, which was shaped like a large snarling fish. But with her poor eyesight, Lakia didn't know what it was. She saw big eyes and a smile. She found something in the grand fish-looking statue that stole away her heart and so she just stood and stared at it. She decided that she would name it and make it hers, because she was in-love. And Lakia was sure that the blue creature was in love with her as well.

For the next few years, Lakia would run to the seashore every morning to see her wooden sea monster. Even when she became old enough to work, she became a farmer so that she could spend time at the shore. Sometimes she would drag the pole to her favorite spot to keep her company when she was lonely. Whenever a seashell would wash up on the shore she was certain that it was from the wondrous blue statue.

Early one hot summer morning, Samar's wife announced that she was again with-child. The whole family had a little celebration by the waterfall. Later that afternoon, Samar's mother passed away. The entire village held a grave-site funeral for her as the sun was setting. Afterward, Samar, his wife and his seven daughters went to the beach to pay honor to Samar's father at the Totem Pole.

When he arrived at the beach, he found Lakia playing make-over with the Totem. She had made a wig of flowers and covered the top of the totem with it. She had made a paste of crushed red flowers and clay and applied it to the Totems lips. She was in the process of weaving a grass skirt for it as well when Samar approached. In grief and anger, he yelled at Lakia. Startled and scared she fled toward the sea. Then Samar Leaderson cried out, "May Isola herself choose a fate for this disrespectful child!" As he walked off, he added, "I don't want to see her again until she learns respect!"

Suddenly, a storm beat down hard on the beach and the waves pulled frightened Lakia further out to sea. She could hardly swim in the raging water. The rain poured down more than anyone standing there had ever remembered. Its fierce wind knocked over Samar's Totem Pole and the next tide took it out toward Lakia. She clung onto it as tightly as her wet hands could. As another large wave smashed down on the beach, Samar simply looked on in awe. His family fled to higher ground, while he watched the waves carry in a huge fish right up to the shallow water just off the shore.

To everyone's surprise, the sea creature looked right at Samar, eye to eye. Then, with the next wave, the large fish turned around and swam over to where Lakia was. Just as Lakia lost her grip on the Totem Pole the large fish grabbed Lakia's clothing and the two of them disappeared out of sight...

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Episode Six: Gone

As the sun was setting, Dodo dove into the water and tried to get to Lakia. But the large fish had swam under Lakia and pushed her up onto its back, and then swam quickly away into the night. Dodo could barely hear her cries for him and her parents as she hung on for her life.

In great love and sorrow, Dodo walked out of the water to the edge of the shore and sat down alone. By this time everyone else had gone to the village center to decide what to do. Dodo hid his face in his hands and cried. When he finally could form words, he gently whispered "Guiding Hand do with me as you will, but please protect Lakia from the great sea monster." A wave came up and tickled his toes. In it was a shiny broken necklace. It resembled the emblem on the gong. Dodo put it in his pocket and carried it to his family's hut. He decided he should ask Shuka, the story-teller, about it. However, after he put it away, he forgot about it.

In the months that followed Dodo began to routinely study medicine. He spent so much time going from herb to herb, this that his family and friends starting calling him Doc instead of Dodo. Eventually, he would spend all his free time researching. Before long Dodo mastered both medicine and science. He missed Lakia terribly, and believed that she would have wanted him to be the best doctor he could be.


The evening that the fish carried Lakia away, she started off scared, but then suddenly realized that things were different. She could see! For the first time in her life she could see everything! As the sun was setting the fish swam close to a beach just off the coast of Isola, and he spoke to her. "You will be safe here for the night. I will be back for you in the morning." The great fish dropped her off on the beach, grinned at her, waved his fin, and swam into the night. She was so tired that she crawled under a nearby bush and went to sleep.

It was morning when she was suddenly awaken by an old man. "Hello there little darling," the long bearded fellow said. He reached out his hand to help her up. "My name is Hong..."

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Episode Seven: Why Are You Here?

When Hong awoke young Lakia, he had startled her. As she lay there, she wasn't really listening to what he said since he sounded just like Samar. He bent down to give her a hand up off the ground.

Lakia pulled back, "Please don't hurt me! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to mess up your Totem Pole, Elder Samar! I'm sorry!" she pulled back further and started to cry.

"Little one, I assure you that I intend you no harm." He paused for a moment, took a step back, and sat on the ground. In a soft and gentle tone he asked her, "You don't look like any of my tribe. Are you maybe from the Tribe of the South Ocean Wind? What is your name darling?"

Lakia wiped her tears but was still a little puzzled. He looked a bit like Samar (although she wasn't truly sure what Samar looked like since she couldn't see him well before) and he sounded just like him, but he spoke much sweeter and softer. This man was much older than Samar could be, so she decided to answer him.

"No, but my grandparents were from the Tribe of the South Ocean Wind. They were exploring one day and fell down the waterfall into the Tribe of the Setting Sun. That is where I am from. My name is Lakia Waterfaller, after my grandmother. Well, sort of, her name was Leia. Anyway, my father says I look just like my grandmother. My grandparents are always telling me stories about the old tribe."

Hong's face lit up, "How very fascinating! I would love to hear about them. But first, why are you here?"

Feeling a sense of comfort now, Lakia stood to her feet, and began to tell the story of finding the beautiful sea monster totem pole. "And then, yesterday evening, while I was weaving a grass skirt for it, along came Samar Leaderson..."

"Wait!" Hong halted her. "Leader's son? Who is your leader?"

"Oh, no. We don't have a leader. I think Samar was the old leader's son, or something like that. He has 14 older sisters! I have one and she is always telling me what to do! No wonder he left me in the ocean!" Lakia looked around the little stretch of grass where she could sit more comfortably. She almost didn't see that Hong had tears rolling down his cheeks. She noticed them as she sat back down. Then he stood up. He felt that he needed to interrupt her story.

"I am Hong. I was once the great Leader of the Tribe of the Setting Sun. My tribe was full of success and honor. I was the father of 14 beautiful daughters but alas no sons. On the day I was told that I would have my 15th daughter, I was angry and full of pride. I terribly regret it now, but I threw my magic medallion necklace into the sea. A horrible storm started to tear apart the island and pulled me out to sea. I was saved by..." Hong wanted to continue but checked to see if Lakia was listening.

For the first time in Lakia's life, she was listening...

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Episode Eight: The Decision

A cool breeze swept eerily through the village as the Council of Elders decided Samar's fate. Lakia's parents were blaming Samar for their daughter's disappearance. They had waited by the shore every day hoping for her return, and finally decided that it had been long enough. The Elders questioned Samar over why he didn't go after Lakia himself. Embarrassed but honest, he admitted that he had been too frightened by the sea creature to move. The more he was questioned, the more Samar withdrew from the others, and the Elders were undecided over whether he was guilty or not.

Shuka shook her head as she listened to the dispute there in the research hut. Only a generation ago the elders were discussing whether baby Samar should be made leader. Today they were discussing whether not to give him the Burning Stew.

Dodo, who was working late at the research table couldn't take anymore of the debate inside. He walked over to the stream to cool his feet. While he was there the idea hit him! A way to find Lakia! Dodo paced back and forth in the village center. How would he build a floating hut to take him on his voyage. He was not a trained builder.

So Dodo approached the village builders one by one and requested help to build his floating hut. They were all too busy making repairs to their own huts. Most of them believed that the sea monster ate Lakia or that she drowned. But Dodo felt in his heart that she could still be out there somewhere. And he would find a way to find her.

Finally, he decided to go to the council to ask for help. On his way to the door, Shuka was leaving. "Elder Shuka! I've been meaning to talk to you. I want to show you something!" Dodo took the story-teller to his family's hut, all the while telling her of his plans to learn to build a floating hut so he can search for Lakia. When they arrived at his hut he took out the broken necklace and showed her.

"Wow! When? How? Where did you get this?!" she asked in surprise.
"On the night that Lakia was taken away by the... I mean out to sea, it washed up the beach and landed on my toes."

Shuka fell to Dodo's feet. "You are the chosen one! This is the medallion of the Great Leader Hong! See the Gong? The gong was made in the necklace's image! It possesses the same powers. We must tell the other Elders immediately, Great Leader Dodo..."

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Episode Nine: Sacks!

Dodo shook his head. "No! I don't want to be leader right now." Although Dodo had mastered two skills in a short time, he was still young. In fact, he was only a couple years older than Lakia. On the beach he could hear villagers rejoicing, "Sacks! Several of them!" Dodo shook his head again. "I don't have time, Elder Shuka. I need to find Lakia. Besides I only have part of the necklace. If I were the chosen one wouldn't I have received the whole necklace?" Dodo paced in and out of his doorway.

"But the Elders need a wise man to lead them. They can't even make a decision on Samar's fate!" Shuka reminded Dodo. Shuka, the most widely respected woman in the village, was now on her knees, pleading with Dodo.

"Please get up. Can't we talk about this later? I can't be concerned about the things of the village just yet. Right now I need a floating hut. Right now, I need to find Lakia. Right now, I'm, ah, I think I'm in love w..."

Jem came running toward them and nearly knocked Dodo over. "Doc! Doc! The beach! All the villagers!" Jem had to catch her breath from running, "Come quick! Sacks and sacks! Rats and ants! It's horrible!" Jem grabbed his arm and started pulling. "The other doctors were called there also, but most of them have been bitten too. We need you to hurry!" Dodo slipped the necklace into his pocket.

As he started off toward the beach Dodo turned to Shuka, "Tell the council about the idea of the floating hut and rescuing Lakia. Do not tell them about the necklace! Not yet, please!" He started off again, but remembered something else, "Elder Shuka," he called out, "Stop the Burning Stew!!"

When he arrived at the beach, he was amazed how many villagers were sick or wounded. He went to work. But then he saw his old friend Piku laying very still on the ground. Ima and City were at his side weeping. Dodo's heart broke. It was almost more than he could bear...

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Episode Ten: The Fallen Coconut

Hong's words were interrupted by a coconut falling on his head.
He was completely knocked unconscious. Lakia didn't know what to do. First she yelled out for help. No one answered. Then she ran through the coconut grove, and over to the other side of the tiny island. No one was there either. She hurried back over, checked on Hong, and then dove into the ocean to see if the large mysterious fish were nearby. Still no one. She came back to the shore and kneeled beside the old man. "Hong! Hong!" She started to cry.

Then something shiny caught her attention on the shore. She didn't want to leave Hong so she tried her hardest to ignore it. Another wave came and washed the shiny piece right on top of her foot. It reminded her of the village gong, only on a leather strap, and a piece was missing.


Shuka had hurried off to see the Council of Elders, just as Dodo requested. Dodo realized that his heart was filled with compassion for Piku, Ima, City, and the villagers he had helped. Many of the other doctors had recovered and were preparing the Healing Stew and bandaging up the wounds of the remaining villagers. By the time Dodo arrived at Piku's side, Piku didn't appear to be breathing at all.

Shuka entered the research hut again. By now some of the Council of Elders were arguing, some complaining, some telling jokes, while others were telling stories. Shuka stood on the table in the center. Shuka's mother was Hong's eldest daughter and her father was the great mountain climber from the northern shore. So when Shuka spoke, everyone listened, and now the entire building hushed.

Back on the beach, Dodo knew he might be too late. He wept a little at the thought of himself being so selfish just a little while earlier. He prepared himself to give the bad news to City and Ima, as he checked over Piku's bite wounds.

As dramatic as she was, Shuka never interrupted council meetings without just cause. She announced, "Samar Leaderson should not be given the Burning Stew. Strip him of his Elder status if you must, and send him on his way. There are more important things at hand right now. I need a team of builders to assist Dr. Dodo Firestarter on his mission to find Lakia. She is alive..."

Dodo bent down to put his head on Piku's heart and listened for beating. While Dodo still had one hand on Piku's chest, the medallion necklace slipped out of his pocket. Dodo caught it in the other hand and it immediately started to glow. Dodo insightfully held it over Piku's heart. Piku was completely restored.

Then the gong sounded.

Shuka and the elders quickly got up and looked to see who rang the gong, but no one was over there. They heard noise at the beach, so they hurried there. Everyone was watching in amazement. Dodo was glowing...

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Episode Eleven: The Dream!

Lakia reached over and clutched the medallion piece in her hand. As it started to glow, she held it up against Hong's head. Hong began to shake and without opening his eyes, he began to mumble, "There are many useful spots to which you can drag gamers."

"Huh?" Lakia wondered.
Hong continued, "Your gaming community can grow to a large population. Final exams can be hazardous to your gamers' health."

"Hong? What are you talking about?!" Lakia was getting scared. She began to shake him.
"If your hand gets tired, give it a rest. Gently selecting gamers doesn't disrupt what their doing. Sick gamers tend to hang around the forums." Hong opened his eyes and smiled. "And, sometimes gamers stubbornly do what they want."

Hong sat up and rubbed his head. "I'm fine. I just had a VERY interesting dream. Can I tell you about it?"
Lakia was still looking at him puzzled. "Um, sure."

"I was sitting in my hut with a moving painting in front of me. I could pick up the people in the picture and move them around. Their village was made up of a hut next to a hut next to another hut, with no room between them. And their school is a bunch of huts too. And their homes are huts with walls between where they sleep. And where they work... it's ALSO A HUT! Everything was inside!"

"It was strange. The people were called 'Gamers.'. I put the man gamer next to his son, and instead of telling him a story he put him into a cart with wheels and rolled down the village to the school. I picked up the boy and put him in the school, and he said, 'No.' What child doesn't want to go to school?!"

"Um..." Lakia blushed.

"Anyway, then the man rolled to work, but had trouble getting inside. So I had to purchase "Education" through Exam Points. Then I picked him up and put him in the work hut. A box on his work table made light and he waved his arms at it. It was funny.

There was a woman too. I picked her up and put her in her hut next to the laundry. She kept shaking her head at me. I really thought she would enjoy the laundry. However, instead she walked off over to a similar box in her hut and waved her arms at it. The painting beneath her read, 'Reading Fan Fiction in the Games Forum.' ...What's a forum?! ...What a strange dream!" ...

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Episode Twelve: At The Gong

As Dodo glowed, he felt an urgency to move toward the gong. The entire village followed him. He picked up the mallet and struck the gong. Immediately, they all could see a cloudy image of Lakia and Hong talking. Samar saw the man who looked just like him and fainted.

"Are they alive or dead?!" shouted one villager as they continued to watch.

"Alive!" Dodo replied. "See that there, in her hand? That's the rest of the medallion that I'm holding right now!" Dodo held up the broken necklace for all to see.

When he held it up, a creaking sound began slowly behind the gong. Then suddenly, there was this loud slamming sound. Dodo was so startled that he stopped glowing. He ran behind the gong to see what it could have been.

As Dodo ran for the back of the gong, the villagers continued to watch the cloudy image of Lakia and Hong as it started to fade. They watched as the large fish came right up to the shore. The last wisps of the cloud showed the creature getting incredibly close to Lakia and some of the villagers started screaming.

Dodo had almost reached what appeared to be a doorway into the back of the gong's statue. Dodo called out to Shuka to find out why the people screamed and to return quickly because he found a doorway. As he reached for the door's handle, Shuka ran in behind him, "NO!! Don't go in there!" ...

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Episode Thirteen: Called

When Hong finished his story, Lakia showed him the medallion piece with it's broken strap. "So that's why you are here!" Hong began a little dance. "Wait here. I have something for you." Hong ran into the bushes and brought back a carefully woven cord and attached it to the medallion piece. Hong carefully placed the little broken necklace around Lakia's neck. Lakia started glowing. Hong let out a victory cry and jumped up and down on the beach. But Lakia felt strange.

She suddenly felt the urge to walk into the ocean. "Lakia? Where are you going?" Hong started after her.
"I feel at peace with the ocean." Lakia replied, and she walked into the waves. She swam out a few steps and then then stood up. Lakia was completely under the water by the time that Hong caught up with her. Although she was breathing under the water, Hong caught her by the arm and guided her back up onto the dry land.

"I saw him." Lakia told him. "I saw the great fish. He stared at me. We were face to face. It was as if, um, as if I knew him already." Lakia still felt strange as she talked to Hong, though her glow was fading. Hong began to try to explain to her the legends of the island.

As they talked a large wave washed upon the shore, and covered their feet. Lakia was sure she heard someone calling out her name from the ocean.

She looked out across the water, but didn't see anyone. The voice grew increasingly closer to her each time she heard her name. When it finally got to the point that it was like a whisper in her ear, she understood that it was saying, "It's time to go, Lakia." And then the voice disappeared...

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Episode Fourteen: The Mirror

Shuka ran into the statue as quick as she could to catch Dodo before he went through the doorway, but she was too late. Dodo barely heard her as he strapped the partial medallion around his neck, pushed the ancient door open, and stepped into the darkness. As Shuka approached the doorway, Dodo let go of the door to turn around, and it slammed shut!

It was completely dark beyond the door. He could hear the howling of wind blowing. He had no idea what was around him, and didn't know if it was safe to move. For a while Dodo just stood still and listened.

Shuka turned around and in tears, she walked back out of the statue. The Elders surrounded her and comforted her. "He has to go through this," said Tarik, the chief Elder, "it is the only way for him to pass through. Was he wearing the medallion?" Shuka nodded.

"But he doesn't have the entire medallion!" worried Amaca. "He can't make it through without the entire medallion... can he?" The Elders knew that once the owner of the medallion put it on, he, or she, would have to face himself in order to become leader. The opening behind the Gong was carved out by the people of the Northern City. They didn't know why, but each leader eventually ends up there. Some never come out. They decided that the only help they could offer would be to occasionally ring the Gong.

Dodo held out his hands and tried to feel his way through the dark enclosure. After a few steps he found a wall. Inches away he came upon a flat smooth surface. He pressed his hand against it and the medallion began to glow. It was a mirror and Dodo saw himself. The image faded away and he saw Lakia. He saw that she had a piece of the medallion around her neck and was heading straight into the ocean. Dodo suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe. Dodo felt his legs grow cold. He was standing in water and it was quickly rising. A vial floated over to him, just within the light of the medallion. He looked closely at the contents trying to determine what color was the fluid inside. But the light was too dim.

The water reached his chest and the howling turned to a whistle. He knew he didn't have much time before the air would run out. Dodo faced the mirror and closed his eyes, "Guiding Hand, have mercy on me. I didn't choose this for myself. Please guide me out of this cavern, and help me lead your villagers." he opened up the vial and drank it. The last of the water came flooding in and filled in the room. Dodo was able to breathe under the water. He opened his eyes and looked into the mirror. Dodo saw Lakia under water also. She was staring at right at him! Then he heard that someone rang the Gong ...

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Episode Fifteen: Amazed

As the gong sounded a light flashed brightly in the inner chamber. The gong granted sight and wisdom. Before the light went out, Dodo could see a long narrow corridor leading away from one corner of the inner chamber. He wondered where it led, so he tried to swim out to that end of the chamber.

The next sounding of the gong shook open the door leading into the statue. The flood of water washed the young doctor out of the inner chamber and washed him right up against the gong facing that door. The water washed out onto the grass outside the gong's statue, and all the flowers there suddenly bloomed.

Dodo looked up as the door slammed shut again. He saw writing on the inside of the gong wall. They were directions. There was a little poem written about a capital city and the roadways to get there. There were instructions on how to build something called a boat, and where to sail in order to get to certain places in the Isolan area.

When Dodo came out from behind the gong, he found the villagers staring at him, again. They jumped up and down when he came out. With all the water, they were almost certain that the esteemed doctor and scientist had drown, so they were very happy to find that their new leader had survived. Dodo looked back inside and the words were gone.

The Elders pulled Dodo back out and wanted to talk to him about a ceremony to introduce him as Leader. But Dodo suddenly remembered that he never found out who had been in the inner room before him. All he could think about was whether he should hurry back in...

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More pics:

"In great love and sorrow, Dodo walked out of the water to the edge of the shore and sat down alone. "


"For the first time in Lakia's life, she was listening..."

Episode Sixteen: Not Ready To Celebrate

As the daylight slipped off to an afternoon dim, Lakia began to feel cold. "Hong, do you have a fire going? It's kind of cool for Summer, don't you think? Perhaps it's the ocean breeze here."

Hong patted Lakia's hand. "You better sit down. Let me get you a blanket." Hong gave Lakia a blanket, the same one she woke up on that morning, but hadn't really noticed. "You have been sleeping for months. It's almost winter time and the rains will be upon us soon."

The young woman stared at him as if she were waiting for the rest of the joke to be told. "Go on." she replied, but soon realized that that he wasn't joking.

"When you arrived here you fell fast asleep in the coconut grove. The Great Sea Spirit comes here every few days to see if you're awake. He will be back again soon."

"Great Sea Spirit!" Lakia was a little scared. "What does he want with me?"

Before Hong could continue, the large sea creature slid softly up the shore and touched Lakia's foot. In fear Lakia lifted her hand to her heart and ended up touching the medallion piece around her neck. A cloud of sparkles filled the air as the great fish began to transform. Hong stepped between her and the monster and moved Lakia backward...


"I'm not ready to celebrate." Dodo told the Elders. "There will be time for that later. Right now, I need to find out who is in that statue! There is a winding passageway inside and I'm certain that he either is still in there or we can find him if we go after him." Dodo looked through the crowd. He felt alone. No one stepped up to go with him. "Go home everyone and get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day." Dodo hugged Shuka and thanked her for the warning. After she went on her way to start plans for the floating hut, that they are now calling a large boat, Piku and Jem approached Dodo.

"I'm going with you." Piku declared. "I owe you my life."

"And I'm going too." said Jem. "I believe that Lakia's life is at risk, and that inner room has something to do with it."

Both Dodo and Piku stood in awe of Jem's statement. "Well, then we should pack up some things and prepare to leave right away." Dodo looked over to the clearing and saw Samar awakening from his earlier fainting. "We should take Samar too." Dodo decided.

"What?!" asked Jem. "You saw how Samar froze in the face of uncertainty. What if something happens to one of us? Are you sure that you want to invite him on your dangerous journey?" Piku agreed that that didn't sound like a good idea.

However Dodo had a different thought. "Samar is a direct decendant of this shore's greatest leader. Perhaps he will come in handy..."

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Episode Seventeen: Isola History

Shuka knew what she needed to do. She quickly gathered up all the herbs and food she needed for a Revitalizing Stew, as was customary when visiting the elderly. She placed a large amount into a carrier and took it to the hut of the Waterfaller Family. She was invited in by Lakia's grandparents, Leia and Weeko, and sat down with them and their son and daughter-in-law, Akio and Kali, Lakia's parents.

"I need your help. But first, my grandmother had always wanted to share with you her story," Shuka began, "and I think it's time that you know the truth anyway."

The Waterfallers all looked surprised. They respected Shuka and her family very much. When they had discovered her and her family hidden in the wilderness, the village was barely thriving. There were a lot of questions about their disappearance, but no answers aside from the occasional story telling by Shuka of the olden days. Some believed that she was indeed the granddaughter of a great leader. Others simply admired her for her leadership skills.

"Go on, dear, please." said the grandmother, Leia.

"The medallion was given to our first Leader by the Great King, and the gong to the whole village by the Great Queen. But we haven't seen the King and Queen since then. After my grandfather Hong died and Samar was not choosen to be Leader, the people rang the gong over and over to try to get help. Without the medallion the gong was unpredictable and the villagers became weary. They started packing up their things to seek out the King and Queen for help. Many of my married aunts and uncles went with them with their families. Some fashioned rafts to go by sea and others made hiking gear to go over the mountain.

"As you know, this western shore is only one part of Isola. However, the various shores of the island and inner villages were connected to one another, and had a purpose. For instance, where you two lived on the south side, was where we used to hold our yearly religious ceremonies. Villagers from all over the island would come there. When the volcano errupted on your ancestor's island, Isola was greatly shaken. A huge boulder fell over our passageway and we couldn't get back to our Ceremonial Site.

"Anyway, a few families stayed in the village to take down and break apart the gong, and hide it's pieces. They purposely planted thorny briars to keep anyone from returning the gong to it's proper place until the King and Queen could be found."

Shuka had a far away look on her face. Then she looked as if she were about to cry. Kali handed Shuka a cloth to wipe her tears.
"One day we heard the gong sound. But this wasn't possible so we all went running to look. A cloud of sparkles and smoke filled the air just outside the statue. In it we could see a large group of people and a little boy, who looked just like the King, wearing golden clothes, walking across the water of the Ceremonial Lagoon!"

"The Golden Child!" whispered Leia to Weeko.

"My family and the other families wanted to see what was going on at the Ceremonial Site, so they packed up a week's worth of supplies and left through the passage in the statue. Because some of the little ones didn't need to make the short trip, the Elders put their youngest adult, Tofo, in charge of them..."

Weeko jumped up, unable to take the suspense, "So what happened to Tofo?!"

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Episode Eighteen: The Great Sea Spirit

A sudden wind blew across the tiny island. It blew in dark clouds. Before they knew it the heavens poured down heavy rain on them. The sky was filled with thunder and lightning. In moments they were completely drenched. Even yet, they could not help but be still.

The great beast of the ocean transformed into a majestic young man. Hong and Lakia stared on in awe. His tail became a long white robe of colorfully woven kelp and flowers. On his head sparkled a crown of shells and coral. The air became electrified as he raised his scepter to them and a lightning bolt flashed down toward it.

His dark hair and bright eyes reminded Lakia of Dodo, though only for a moment. "I am Blanne, the Great Sea Spirit. I have come a long way to find you, Lakia of the Mountain People; Lakia, descendant of the South Ocean Tribe." he said, in a voice that boomed like thunder.

Lakia pulled the yellow and red patterned blanket tight around her shoulders and stepped out from behind Hong. With all the courage she could find inside her, she managed to speak, "What do you want with me?"

A tiny shaft of light broke through the clouds and streamed across the majestic one's face. As it reflected off his shiny crown, a rainbow could be seen in the rain over his head. Hong fell to his knees, and Lakia soon followed. The sparkling spirit continued, "We are going on an mission. We leave first thing in the morning."

Lakia's heart was filled with compassion and so she cried out, "And what about Hong, Your Highness? Must Hong be left here to perish all alone?"

Blanne softened his voice somewhat and replied: "No, my dear Lakia, Hong is going with us. For it was his cry to Isola many years ago that brought me here for you today." The Great Sea Spirit walked over to Hong and gently touched his shoulder. "You have done well, Great Leader Hong. We did not want to replace you." He turned to Lakia. "The King and Queen desire to see you both!"

And with that, the majestic young man turned around and opened his arms and carried fruit and honey to the island's little inhabitants. "Let us eat and sleep, for tomorrow will be a day to remember!" ...

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Episode Nineteen: The Invitation

A soft, gentle mist of rain fell on the village and darker clouds could be seen in the distance as the sun set completely over the ocean. While leaving the gong, Dodo noticed the villagers quickly retreating into their huts for the night. A few of the children felt the Guiding Hand urging them to pick some mushrooms. Dodo wished Jem and Piku a good night, and they left for their huts. On his way he watched the kids run to the food bin with their gathered goodies. The last one tripped and dropped his in the fire. Embarrassed, the child got up and ran home. That's when Dodo saw Samar sitting alone in the rain.

Dodo carefully approached him. "He's alive, Dodo! My father is alive and so is Lakia!" Samar had tears of joy streaming down his face. "Do you know how old he must be?" Dodo shook his head. "He would have been 60 when I was born, and I am 42 now, so he must be 102!" Dodo was a little stunned, but he let Samar continue. "They're alive! They're alive! Can you believe it?!"

At first Dodo just stared at him in disbelief. Then he looked around the island and recalled the evening's events. "Well, stranger things have happened."

Samar chuckled. "I guess so. So what happens now?"

"The village may be in danger. So, we find out who was in the statue. Once we know that the village is safe, we'll leave to find Lakia and your father."

"We?" asked Samar.

"Yes, we." replied Dodo with a smile and helped Samar get up. Then he patted Samar on the back. "Let's go pack. We leave in the morning."

As they walked back to the village center Samar shared with Dodo why the Elders locked the door in the first place, and why no one is ever told about it. He told him about the King and Queen, their disappearance, and the failed search. Dodo requested that Samar tell the whole group about it while they are on their mission. When the two men parted ways, Dodo felt like it had been a very long day. But before he could call it a night he needed to catch up with Shuka.


The storm ended when Blanne stepped up onto the shore. He and Hong started a fire, and Lakia wrapped herself in the warm blanket. They ate quietly and then prepared to sleep. Lakia watched the flames dancing on the beach and missed her family. Their hut was closest to their firepit. She motioned for Hong to come over. When he had sat down, she turned to Him and offered him a smile. "Hong? I'm sorry that you had to be replaced. If the western shore is getting a new Leader, I hope he is as nice as you are." Blanne grinned delightedly at her from the other side of the fire. Hong put his arm around Lakia for just a moment, smiled and replied, "I hope the new Leader is as precious as you are right now." Then they all said goodnight, Hong found a place of his own, and the three of them slept.


Shuka jumped up and threw her hands in the air, "No one knows what happened to Tofo! It's like he disappeared into the wind!" Then she sat down and leaned over and whispered, "But that's why I need a favor from you four."

They were suddenly interrupted by a knocking on the door of their hut. "Dodo! Come in!" said Weeko as he motioned for their new Leader to come inside. They offered him a little late-night stew, but he politely declined. He only stopped in to give Shuka the plans for the boat. Then he left to his hut and fell fast asleep. Shuka, Leia, Weeko, Kali, and Akio talked late into the night about Shuka's plans.

Jem could hear them talking as she gathered what she needed from the other side of the hut. However, she couldn't quite make out everything they were saying. She packed her belongings, ate a small snack, and then went to sleep.

In another area of the village, Piku had gathered up everything he needed in his hut, but fell asleep while packing it up. During the night he had a dream about Biggles...

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Author's Note:
I want to thank all my faithful readers! Here is the much awaited transition into the new version of the story. Enjoy!!
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Episode Twenty: The Journey Begins

During the night Piku had the same dream over and over. "Let me do what I need to do!" yelled Biggles. He pushed Piku aside and reached for a bundle of herbs lying on the research table and mashed them into a bowl full of water from the waterfall pool (as well as some other things Piku couldn't make out). Piku called for a couple of the men to help him stop the stranger. Biggles grabbed the concoction and ran away. When Piku awoke in the morning, he was tired from running in his sleep all night. He quickly finished packing and left for the Gong of Wonder.

Now Piku was special. From the time he turned old enough to work, it was clear that Piku did everything a little differently - a little faster than everyone else. Piku walked faster, talked faster, worked faster, danced faster, slept faster, and even dreamed faster than everyone else. Eventually Piku was nicknamed The Village Runner. He liked that.

The elders asked the Guiding Hand to guide Dodo's way and bring his team home safely. Then the Highest Elder rang the gong and they waited for a sign. The gong granted food in the food bin that was twice the amount of what the four had packed for their mission. Everyone felt that this was a good sign. The Highest Elder, Tarik, went into the statue, opened the door and handed Samar the key. Piku, who was holding a lit torch, carefully stepped inside first. The others followed. A gust of wind blew the door shut.

After they had gone inside Shuka gently pulled Elder Tarik aside to speak to him quietly. "Tarik, I recognized the coconut grove in the gong's vision last night. It was Paco's Island." Shuka looked at Dodo's drawings in her hand. She remembered her father, who climbed over the North Mountain to be with her mother. She thought about her grandfather, Hong, whom she now knew was still alive. She did not like the idea of waiting. "Dodo was right. We need to build a floating hut or a boat or a raft, or something to get my grandfather, and Lakia, home safely!"

Tarik had a gentle but firm manner about him. His tall thin frame stood over hers, and he shook his head quietly. "Shuka, building a boat isn't enough. We can't send our villagers out at sea with the sea monster lurking about. We need to stop the sea monster first."

"I agree." Shuka already had a plan in mind. "That's why I want you to stay here and get together with the builders to determine if any of these plans will get a small group of our villagers to Paco's Island and back." Shuka handed Tarik Dodo's plans for the floating hut, the boat plans from the gong wall, and her own plans for a simple raft. Then very carefully, the lively story-teller looked Tarik right in the eyes and declared, "I'm taking the Waterfallers back to the Southern Shore to get the Black Pearl of the Queen's Golden Scepter, and the Magical Fruit of Longevity."

"No!" cried the Highest Elder in shock. "It's too dangerous! They can't go back! And if they find out the truth, it will change everything."

"I will be careful." Shuka replied with a smile. "The Waterfallers are the only ones who the Mountain People will trust. They can easily harvest the Fruit of Longevity, and shouldn't have a problem getting the Black Pearl for the Queen's Scepter."

"That is true." Tarik agreed. "But then who is going to find the Queen?"


Dodo's team began searching the inner room, studying its rich detail. There were paintings all over the walls. There was a small table at one end, over which hung the mirror. On the floor were vials and bowls, as well as old little wooden boxes. "Let's start down the passage." Dodo told them.

"I overheard Shuka tell my parents last night that some of the passageway is a steep uphill climb." Jem said. "It breaks off into many other paths further along, so you have to know where you're going."

"Then one of us needs to keep track of markings along the way so we can return." Dodo decided. Piku volunteered.

The stone passageway was roughly cut from the mountain beside their village. It was quite large for being a hidden passage. When they had gone as far as the village's waterfall they were already walking uphill. At the top of the climb, found a wooden flap on the side of the wall next to the waterfall. When everyone had passed it, Jem turned the wooden handle and lifted up the flap. Sparkling water started pouring into the passageway...

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Episode Twentyone: A World Away

After Dodo and his team went through the gong statue early that morning, the Waterfallers began gathering what they needed. Kali was one of the Forgotten Five that Weeko and Leia found when they came down the waterfall. Akio was Weeko and Leia's only child. Shortly after he married Kali, the Great Ocean delivered a crate full of kids. Between the children and the work that still needed to be done, Weeko and Leia began to forget about their old home. Akio found Shuka's family in the forest near the southwestern ridge of the shore. They have been like family ever since.

Weeko, Leia, Akio, and Kali Waterfaller, met Elder Shuka by the gong shortly after breakfast. Seeing that they had gathered food, blankets, walking sticks, and several torches, Highest Elder Tarik gathered the second group of adventurers together for words of encouragement. He warned them that they needed to succeed in their mission because the future of the Western Shore was at stake.

Shuka carefully opened the ancient door. A rush of water came pouring out. This time the water that flooded the area caused the coconut trees to produce extra fruit. Even though they were now all wet, they were still as excited as ever to see how the Southern Shore was doing.

Tarik rounded up the builders in the village center, and discussed the plans with them. After seeing the vision that the gong granted them, they knew that they needed to rescue their loved and lost tribe-members. Realizing that the island wasn't that far away, they agreed that the simple raft would work. If there was time they would build the larger boat.


Early that same morning, Blanne, the Great Sea Spirit, hurried into the ocean. He pulled out a golden medallion from under his garment, held it up to the sky, and waited. The remaining clouds whisked away, and the sky became a beautiful shade of blue. When the sunlight hit him in just the right way Blanne transformed back into the great fish. Lakia wrapped the blanket that Hong had given her around her waist like a skirt. Hong helped her to sit upon the back of the great fish. Then he climbed up and sat down behind her, and then Blanne emerged himself under the water and swam quickly on their way.

Blanne brought them to the shore of the southernmost tip of the island. Lakia again touched her heart and held the medallion, and Blanne transformed again into a man. They rested on the beach and ate breakfast. Meanwhile Blanne explained about the King and Queen. "Normally, they eat of the Longevity Fruit and live a long time. But their highest councilman, Paco is trying to overthrow the throne and had been destroying all the plants that bear that fruit." Blanne told them. "He also stole medicinal plants, herbs, and flowers from all over the island. He had been trying to make himself strong and fast. Some of his combinations have worked, and others he just puts into vials and throws them into the river or ocean."

Hong and Lakia listened carefully as Blanne went on. "One night Paco stole the King's medallion. After that the King and Queen were afraid for their well-being and fled the palace. They knew it was time to train one of their sons to take over the throne. They went deep into the Darkened Forest and hid there for years. Many villagers believed that they passed away. Others believed that Paco was given the throne." Blanne paused a moment.

"I have tried unsuccessfully to stop Paco in the past. So the King and Queen have been in hiding, waiting for help to arrive. That is why I am here to bring you to them. But Paco might be watching. We will have to sneak in to meet them." Blanne finished.

"Forgive me for asking, Your Highness, but if you couldn't defeat him before, what makes you think that Hong and I will be enough help to you now?"

"Because we're not alone." Blanne replied with a smile. "We will soon have help. They are on their way now and will meet us further along."

Jem quickly closed the flap that let the water pour out. "Let's keep going." she said. Before long, they started seeing cracks in the ceiling and beams of mid-morning sunlight broke through. Yet, Piku, who struggled with moving so slowly, did not put out his torch. An hour or so later, they were out of the tunnel-like part of the passage. In front of them were three separate walkways: one straight ahead, which led to another tunnel, one that turned off left and to the north, turning back a little bit the direction that they came, and one that turned right and to the south, leading up a little hill.

"Leader Dodo? Which way do you want us to go?" asked Piku.
Dodo turned to Samar. "Do you remember which path leads where?"
Samar looked every which way, trying to remember...

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Episode Twentytwo: Someone's There

Autumn clouds blew in overhead. Piku inserted the torch on a small holder just inside the tunnel's opening to keep the flame from blowing out. Then he took out a piece of parchment paper and tried to make a drawing of where they were. Samar walked around for a couple of minutes, trying to look over the area.

Then he pointed North, "That way has, or had, a seashore village and a few inner villages along the river. But they were empty and no one has seen anyone there for a long time." Then he turned around toward the hill and scratched his head. "There is something familiar about this road, but I don't remember what it..."

There was a noise in the tunnel ahead and they all could hear footsteps.

Dodo dropped his bag and ran off into the tunnel.
"Where does the tunnel go?" Jem asked Samar as they picked up Dodo's bag and ran after him.
"To the eastern villages." Samar had a hard time breathing as they ran. "We shouldn't go that way! Even the Guiding Hand doesn't go to the east side of Isola!"

Dodo ran as fast as he could, but couldn't catch up to the footsteps he heard. He saw that part of the passageway dropped off and so he stopped short. Piku was taking a little longer to catch up since he had to grab the torch and run carefully. Soon Jem and Samar caught up and nearly pushed Dodo over the edge of the little ledge. "Where is he?" Jem asked.

"He got away." Dodo said as he was catching his breath. "But I saw him! It was..." Just then Piku ran into them all and Dodo went over the ledge...


There was a path that led away from the shore that was narrow and overgrown. Blanne pulled out a tool from under his robe and began cutting away as they went. "Be as quiet as possible." Blanne told them. "We don't want Paco to find us." So Hong and Lakia kept a look out for movement in the brush.

A dense fog came over the land and Lakia began to feel a little cold. When she pulled the blanket up over her head and shoulders she tripped and fell. She took a hold of a branch as she went down, and let go when it didn't support her. It flung back into the air, hitting other branches. The chain reaction of sound caused a number of animals to take flight in the brush. Before they knew it, Hong, Blanne, and Lakia were surrounded by a group of angry young hunters and gatherers from the nearby village.

Hong leaned over to Blanne, "Aren't you going to do something?" Blanne leaned behind him and brought Lakia forward. Then he pulled the blanket off her head to reveal her face. The villagers all gasped, fell to their knees and began to cry out to them. "We're sorry!" "Have mercy!" "Forgive us, oh Queen!" ...


After Shuka and the Waterfallers dried off they started once again to go into the gong statue. To their surprise the inner chamber's floor was already dry. They walked along the corridor carefully and quietly. Every once in a while they stopped and took a break, and looked at the beautiful paintings on the walls, which seemed to sparkle ever so slightly. The passageway felt like it went on forever, and to the older, slower villagers, it felt like they had gone miles.

They decided to hurry up down the passage when they heard a whistling sound ahead. The tunnel was cool and dark, except for the dim light of the torches. The eerie whistling sound seemed to follow them. They came up to the opening where the path broke into sections and were met by a gentle wind and dense fog.

Shuka motioned for them to turn right and walk toward the south. The fog made it hard for them to see, and the light of the torch was only a little bit of help. When they reached the top of the hill, Shuka stopped them all with a cry, "Oh no!" ...

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Episode Twentythree: What Do You Want?

"I'm not a queen. Why are they saying that?" Lakia whispered to Blanne and Hong.
"She is not The Queen." Blanne told them, "However, she is related to the Queen. Please take us to your leader." Lakia was confused, but decided not to ask just yet.

It was a short walk to their little village which was by a beautiful and quiet stream. As they walked, the fog began to clear. The hunter and gatherer villagers brought the trio to a little girl dressed in a vibrant outfit of gold and scarlet, and told them that this was their current Leader.

Blanne got down on one knee and bowed before the Leader. "Great Leader, Amaci! It is a pleasure to see you again. It is I, Blanne, Sea Spirit of the Western Shore. I bring you good news from the King and Queen!" Blanne then paused and waited for her reply.

"Arise young prince." She began. "And tell me of your good news." 'Young?' Lakia thought. However, when the little girl spoke, she sounded a lot older and wiser than Lakia imagined that a little girl should sound like.

"I have brought Lakia of the Mountain People. She is going to help us rescue the King and Queen, and return peace and harmony to the island of Isola. She has shown herself to be brave, selfless, and honest."

"Very good! And what of this other gentleman?" Leader Amaci asked him. Blanne could not hold back his smile. "This is Hong!"
Everyone in the village gasped, and then they bowed down before him, including the little Leader. "Great leader Hong! We have heard so many wonderful stories about you! You are legendary in these parts! We are at your service!"


The bridge that crosses the Hope River was broken. "What are we going to do now?" Shuka cried out! The Waterfallers looked over the hill and saw the fallen apart bridge.

"How deep is the water? Maybe we can swim across."
"It's too deep." Shuka told them. "We'll just have to repair the bridge."
"But the only one among us with building skill is my Mother," Akio protested. "and she is too elderly to do all those repairs!"
"Nonsense, dear." Leia said with a firm voice. "I have plenty of life left in me!" Leia smiled a bright smile that made everyone feel hopeful.

After Leia looked over the bridge, she gave orders to the others about what to bring her. The five of them scattered to find wood, stones for cutting, and stones for hitting. Leia was proud of her little building team, and Weeko was proud of her. Akio admitted that he was wrong, and was proud of her too.

They worked together for about an hour or so, when they heard a rustling in the nearby bushes. Because she was concerned that it was a wild animal, Shuka gathered the Waterfallers together, and they hid in another set of bushes nearby.

A group of twenty men, all wearing the same outfit, came running out of the wilderness, just in time to miss Shuka and the Waterfallers hide in the bushes. They were all runners. "I wonder what they want." Kali whispered to the others.

As the men quickly approached the bridge, one of them turned to the man who seemed to be their leader and asked, "The bridge is in disrepair. Should we fix it or go on to the next bridge?"

"We should fix this one." He replied. "I feel magic nearby. I have a feeling that it is the Western Medallion."

The runners quickly went to work on the bridge while Shuka and the Waterfallers remained quiet in the bushes. They were very pleased that these men were rapidly rebuilding the bridge. But they were also worried about Dodo. What if these men were the ones he was chasing in the statue, and they want his medallion? They just had to wait. Before the hour was over, the bridge was done, and the men went across.

Shuka was more determined than ever to find the Queen's Black Pearl. She knew that their quest can't fail, else their village would never be the same!


"Ahhhh!!" Dodo screamed as he slid down the mountainous terrain. They looked down in time to see Dodo's left knee catch on a rock. He grabbed ahold of a large root sticking out of the ground with his right hand. "Help!! I'm ok! But I have nothing else to grab!"

The river below them raged and roared as it passed. Piku found another torch holder and placed it inside. When he did that Jem saw that a cord was tied like a guide along the wall on the path, and another one laying on the ground. Samar tied the rope to the guide and also to himself. He leaned over the edge, I can't reach him!" Samar shouted. Piku and Jem, who were smaller than both Dodo or Samar, each held onto Samar's legs so he could go further. Samar began to feel afraid but he kept going anyway. He simply lowered himself inch by inch down the side of the mountain and reached down for Dodo's hand.

When they finally got close enough to touch, Samar struggled to pull Dodo up. Suddenly, his hands began to feel sweaty and he began to lose his grip on Dodo. And in another moment, Samar lost him. Jem saw it, screamed, and turned away. Piku let go of Samar and jumped up. Samar just turned around and smiled a big smile. "He's ok!"
Although Piku and Jem couldn't see it, the mysterious stranger had climbed down the cliff and up again underneath Dodo. While cleverly clinging to the mountainous wall, he helped Dodo to the top. There Samar, Jem, and Piku helped him onto the ledge.

"It's, it's, it's Biggles!!" Piku was startled and let go. But Samar and Jem had Dodo anyway, and pulled him up to the top and to safety with the mysterious man's help.

Then they turned to the mysterious man that Piku called Biggles and asked of him, "What do you want?"

"Follow me!" Biggles yelled as he ran. "I will show you." The four of them carefully stepped across the little ledge, still able to hear the roar of the raging river below them. When they got to the other side, the tunnel opened up again and the four of them saw the most breath-taking view they had ever seen...

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Episode Twenty four: Respect

After their introduction as the Tribe of Flowing Waters, Leader Amaci offered for them to eat with her later. She told them that until then they should just relax in the village. Then she sent her hunters and gatherers back out into the wild. As Lakia looked around the small group of villagers, she noticed that they were hungry. Their food bin was low. Nor was there any sign of crops in their field. Even their berry bush was empty. Lakia turned to Blanne and Hong. "No wonder the villagers of this tribe were hunting and gathering - they have so little to eat! Is Leader Amaci going to give us the last bits of food out of their food bin? I can't take their only food. We need to do something!"

Blanne said that he will supply food for their meal the same way he did for Lakia and Hong the night before. Although Lakia was happy to hear that they would have food for the day, she was more concerned over whether they would have food that will last them much longer. "Why not walk over to the river and see if there are any fish in it." Hong suggested. "Perhaps they have plenty of fish that they just haven't caught yet."

So Lakia walked over to the river. She peered into the water and saw that the stream didn't have any fish. She looked back over her shoulder at Hong and Blanne and shook her head. Hong and Blanne grinned at each other. Lakia closed her eyes, reached down and touched the water with one hand, and touched the medallion piece with the other. Sparkles rose up from the river and it was filled to overflowing with fish. The members of the tribe were fascinated by what Lakia had done.

"She has come to bring balance back to Isola!" Many of the villagers shouted. But even more of them did not know how to fish. Lakia and Hong showed a few of them how to catch the fish, and let them teach the others. Blanne stood back smiling. He knew that the King and Queen had made the right choice in choosing Lakia.

Meanwhile, Paco's Runners had followed a path on this side of the Hope River. This path ran along the river all the way to the little village. Before the trio knew it, Paco's Runners were running through the village. Hong and Lakia hid behind a hut, and Blanne took a guarding stance in front of them while grabbing his medallion. Hong reached up and held his arm. "Please, let Lakia." Blanne agreed. Lakia was stunned. It was one thing to get the fish to return to the area, and another thing to make people go away. However, the Runners were running as if they were searching for someone or something.

"They are after you, Lakia. Or your medallion piece!" Hong told her.
"What should I do?" Lakia replied. Then she tried to get the medallion to work, but it didn't do anything.
"This time you will need to ask the Guiding Hand for help."
She could see that some of the Runners were running in their direction. Yet, Lakia stared at them in disbelief, "I don't believe in the Guiding Hand!"

The whole village stopped, even the Runners. They all looked upward, pulled out their scripts, and asked, "GH HP, LAKIA DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THE GUIDING HAND???" HP nodded, "I'm trying to fix that." Then they put their scripts away and carried on about their ransacking and fleeing.

"Ok, ok." Lakia said. Then she tried again to work the magic of the medallion, but again, it didn't do anything.
"Lakia, stop. You have to ask the Guiding Hand for help!" Hong insisted.
"No! It just doesn't make sense for someone so small to communicate with someone of such great importance!" Lakia saw another runner coming her way and jumped into the empty berry bush alongside the hut. The Runner kept going, as if he were now chasing her. "We really don't have time for this! The medallion worked before when Blanne changed, and when the fish came. I don't need the Guiding Hand to help me. I need to get my medallion to work!"


Blanne turned around and placed his hand on her shoulder and spoke to her gently. "Dearest Lakia, if you want to be captured then just sit there and be stubborn. You can't be a leader on your own. The sooner you realize that there is something out there that is greater than you, the sooner you will be rescued and the better Leader you will become! The medallion will help you help others, but you need the Guiding Hand to help you. Do you understand?"

Lakia saw the Runners destroying the village as they searched for her, and then looked up toward the sky. She began to understand that she might have been chosen to be the next Leader. This caused her to be a bit frightened. What if she wasn't brave enough? What if she made a mistake and the entire island became endangered? What if the other piece of the medallion is found and its owner hates her. What if that is who is trying to take this piece from her?

Finally, in fear and respect, Lakia held her medallion piece in her hand and whispered, "Guiding Hand, I don't know if I'm supposed to be the villager chosen to lead my tribe, but I know that I am not strong enough to do it on my own. Please guide my path and help me to do what is right. And, Guiding Hand, please save us from these Runners."

All of a sudden, Lakia felt a hand pick her up and lift her up into the air. The others saw her disappear and smiled. The grip gently let her go behind a group of trees on the village's edge. Lakia touched one of the trees as she landed, still holding her medallion close. The tree shook violently and opened up. Then she heard a noise like that of the gong. Thousands of large pink petals and pollen scattered all through the air into the village and scared the Runners, sending them on retreat. The little village gathered all around her, cheered for joy, and danced atop the lovely pink petals. Lakia had found one of Isola's hidden passageways!


Back in the western village, Elder Tarik wondered if the tribe should wait for Shuka's return. It was his responsibility to protect the village. He held a meeting of the Council of Elders and discussed another plan: While the builders work hard making the raft, the rest of the villagers should move their Esteemed Totem Poles to the shallow waters off ocean shore, as a barrier against the Sea Monster and further attacks. Once again, the elders were in disagreement. By the end of the evening, they made their decision...

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Episode Twentyfive: Look Who It Is!

As Dodo, Samar, Jem, and Piku came out of the tunneling passageway into the light, Biggles walked to the edge of the canyon and stopped. "It's the Rim of Promise!" Samar cried out and fell to the ground. "We can't go over there! We need to turn back!" Samar was shaking.

Dodo gave Jem a nudging look and she went over to Samar and put her arm on his shoulder and let him know it would be all right. Dodo and Piku walked over to the edge where Biggles was standing. The view was amazing!

There was a shimmering lake at the bend of the Rim of Promise where a lovely stream flowed out to the eastern side and over the edge. A sparkling waterfall flowed down from it into a river at the bottom. The trees were greener, and large and full of fruit and coconuts. The berry bushes were larger and fuller.

An empty grand white hut stood out among the smaller, more colorful ones. There was a nearly empty village between them. A couple of musicians played quietly. A single farmer was working at harvesting. Building were left half built and weather beaten. Large paintings were left leaning on the outside of the grand hut. It looked like the rain had washed some of the color off them. The size of the village was huge, and yet, instead of hundreds of people there, there were only a few.

"The evil councilman Paco cleared out the village after he gathered all our herbs to find a special mixture. The only villagers who come here now are his Runners who train for Paco's yearly competition, and some of their family members. We don't have anyone here who understands herbs or medicine. You see, I am also in need of a special mixture of herbs. Long ago Paco tricked me into drink a vial that made me different. So I have been all over the island searching for a cure."

Piku knew exactly what he wanted. "I brought them." Everyone turned to Piku in amazement. "It took me awhile to figure out what combination of herbs you needed from the dream, but I brought them. Oh, and I brought the water from the waterfall."

Biggles took the items and ran. Dodo ran after him. Samar, fearful for Dodo's life jumped up and tried to catch him to stop him. So they all fled down a flight of steps carved into the canyon ridge. A small fire was partway down, and the group suddenly noticed that several fires were lit here and there along the trail on both sides of the canyon. As the sun began to go down over the ridge, they were glad for this. Biggles mixed
the contents as he ran, then poured them into the first fire-pit as soon as he reached it. Then to the group's amazement, he jumped into the fire!
But it wasn't Biggles who came out of the fire...


Amaci was overjoyed at Lakia's discovery. However, she knew that Lakia should be taken to the King and Queen right away and not delay any further. She called for three of her men. "This is Elaku, Cheop, and Hokou. They will go with you on your journey, for they know the island's hills and valleys."

Blanne stepped into the passageway before the others. Elaku handed Lakia a torch. When she looked at him she noticed his eyes. They reminded her of Dodo. As Hong stepped inside, he heard a rustling in the crowd behind him.

"Wait!" The crowd held back a woman. "I won't lose him again!" They tried to hush her and tell her that he needs to go, but she cried out more. "Wait! Don't you remember me?" ...

Episode Twentysix: The Greatest Power

Shuka and the Waterfallers had waited patiently for the Runners to finish the bridge and run along, out of their sight. Then they carefully crossed the bridge. Noting the footprints on the ground, Shuka was glad to see that they took the other path. "We need to hurry." She told the others. "It is already late afternoon, and the sun will be setting before we know it." They all agreed with her.

No one but Shuka had been down this way before. Even Weeko and Leia had been caught up in the rapids of the river when they passed this way last, and hadn't noticed the trees and flowers. Kali was a bit scared. She had never been where she couldn't see the sun going down over the ocean. She wanted to believe that they would be ok, but wasn't so sure. Shuka decided to tell them more about their mission while they walked.

"The Queen's Black Pearl came from a giant clam that washed up on the shore of the city where the Palace of Prosperity is located, and is the most powerful source of energy on the island." Shuka told them in her dramatic manner. "You see, the Legend of Isola says that anyone who touches the pearl and helps another is given inner peace and hope. But anyone that keeps the pearl for him or herself withdraws from the others and his or her her heart is filled with worry and doubt."

"After it had been found, the King gave the pearl to the Queen, who cautiously held it in her scepter. One day, one of the sons of the King and Queen, Ipo and Iso, went missing, she took the pearl out of her scepter to harness it's power to find him."

"Incredible!" Kali exclaimed. "Then we can use the pearl to find the sea monster and Lakia, can't we? But why do we need the plant?"

"Well, using the powerful pearl in her hands instead of the scepter made her age very quickly. She had to be given the fruit from the Longevity Plant in order to stay alive." Shuka paused a moment before continuing. "Sadly, they never found their son before they themselves disappeared."

As the sun started to go down behind them, Akio saw that the path came close to the river again up ahead. They approached the North-West tip of the Rim of Promise, where there was a tiny little empty village with a sign that read: Fire City. The five of them peered inside the entryway, and noted a huge fire-pit that merely needed to be lit.

"I think we should build a fire here and stay the night." Weeko said. "We still have a ways to go and we are running out of daylight." The group agreed and passed through the gate. Shuka walked over to the river and sat by the shore.


"Wait! Father!" Hong remembered that voice. "Don't you remember me?" The woman who was trying to get through the crowd broke free past them and ran to Hong as he turned around.

"Onawa?" She nodded. "Onawa! Well praise the Guiding Hand and Isola herself!" It was one of his daughters. He hugged her.
"Many of the others are here too!" She told him. Then Onawa continued, "Father, this is your grand-daughter." and she placed her hand on Amaci.

Hong was very excited about finding his daughters there in the little village. He promised his daughters that he would return there as soon as he was done with the needs of the King and Queen. Young Leader Amaci urged Lakia, Blanne, and Hong to hurry.

The three climbed back into the passage along with the Tribe's three hunters, and quietly and quickly traveled toward their destination, The Darkened Forest. Partway through, Lakia began to hear the sound of water. They stopped at a wide area, that had a trickle of water flowing down into a bowl-like feature on the wall. There was a small opening in the passage that led upward. Lakia didn't go out, but looked out the opening.

Shuka sat there by the river and gently spoke to the gods of Isola. She told them about how much she missed Lakia and how she hoped to see her family again. Leia walked over to Shuka and assured her that they would do their best to find the girl. Kali came over too and sat down. Then she called into the twilight, "Lakia! We love you and and want you to come home! We're not going to stop looking for you! La-ki-a!"


Lakia sat by the opening, watched the sun go down over the mountain and listened. As the wind blew through the opening, it sounded like a familiar voice was calling for her to come home. She called back, "I'm coming! I'll be home soon!" Then turned back to her fellow adventurers. "Let's go" and they continued on their way.

Kali turned to her mother and Shuka, "Did you hear that? Lakia answered us!" But they assured her that Lakia was on another island, far from here, and it must have just been the wind. They all got up to head for the newly lit fire, when Leia stumbled and fell. She cried out in pain, for her leg was broken...

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Episode Twentyseven: Found!

Dodo and his group stared in disbelief. The man who stepped out of the fire was older and wore a bright golden outfit. The setting sun behind him made him look like he was glowing. His pale face and bald head seemed to glisten. The older man's brilliant blue eyes were calm like a still sea, and yet, they looked like they could see through you. Then he suddenly raised his arms toward the sky, and a great number of butterflies filled the air around him. The colorful flittering of the butterflies made the man look like he was sparkling.

Dodo and Piku stepped in front of Samar and Jem. "What kind of man is this who unlocks doors without a key, enters a man's dreams, and walked through the fire without being burned?" Dodo asked.

The gentleman looked at Dodo eye to eye, and said firmly and loudly, "I am Ipo, King of Isola." Samar fell to his knees and bowed his head. Then he pulled Dodo and Piku down to the ground too. "There isn't time." The king said. "We need to leave this area now." As the four were getting up, King Ipo noticed Dodo's knee. "You're bleeding!" he said to him. "Come with me!" He grabbed Dodo's arm and began running back up the ridge.

"Here we go again." Piku commented as they took off running again after Dodo.

"Paco's men are everywhere. If we stay here they may see us, if they haven't seen us already. We need to get off this ridge." The beautiful elderly gentleman man had an urgency in his voice. "I know a place that has a medical center. It's been deserted since the Queen and I had to leave the Palace. All the supplies we need will be there. I'll show you the way!" The golden-clothed man was lively and could ran as fast as Piku.

"Wait!" Dodo shouted as he was practically dragged up the ridge again. "I don't need to go to a medical center, we have a hospital in my village. And I am a doctor!" King Ipo tried to quiet him, but it was too late. A group of Runners spotted them as they reached the top.

"Villagers!" Came a cry from the bottom of the terrain. Before they knew it fifty men dressed in red and black garments, gathered in the center of the empty village below, and came running up the mountain.

"Over here!" King Ipo pointed to a narrow opening, barely visible, under the passageway. He scattered the dirt on the ground so that the Runners would not know which way they went, and then the four dove into the cave just in time.

When the men approached the top, and saw no one and no tracks, The leader of the group had the men scatter and check the surrounding terrain, and in the passageway. "I know I felt magic here. Keep looking."

Dirt fell on them as the men went into the passageway over their heads. A few minutes later the men returned and one of them reported, "Someone was at the river's crossing. They may have come from the western shore. What do you want us to do?"

"If there even is a tribe living on the western shore, King Paco won't collect them for the Great Race until after he finds the Western Medallion. For now, we return to the Palace."

Just then another Runner came up the ridge. "I just came from the Flowing Waters Tribe. I saw the Medallion!" Dodo tried to listen carefully as the men talked, but it seemed like they were leaving the area. "A young woman was wearing it, but she got away. She wasn't alone. She had help from Blanne and Hong...."

Dodo's eyes lit up with fear. "Lakia!" he gasped.

Episode Twentyeight: Princess In The Wild

"Ow!" screamed Leia. She had tripped on something and fallen down. "Ow! My leg! I can't move it!" Akio and Weeko carried Leia into the Fire City Village and set her down by the fire. Shuka did what she could to set the bone in place and wrapped it up with a piece of Leia's dress. Kali stayed by her side, while Shuka took a torch and searched around the little village for herbs to help with the pain and bring down the swelling.

Shuka had mastered every art on the island that she had come in contact with, but today, her knowledge wasn't enough. She couldn't find any herbs or special medicinal flowers anywhere. She found little holes in the ground where these plants might have been growing.

Since there weren't any herbs or flowers in the Fire City, Shuka walked over to the field along the river on the other side of the path. Suddenly she could smell Lilly flowers, but was startled by a familiar voice nearby. Shuka couldn't see who it was, but noticed a small fire flickering through the bushes. She hid the light from her torch, and ducked down low.

"King! King!" It was one of the Runners from earlier that day. "The Western Medallion has been spotted. It was hanging on a young blonde woman's neck at the Tribe of The Flowing Water. Sir, she looked a lot like the Queen."
"Why didn't you get it? or her?" A deep voice asked him. He stepped into the light of the fire and Shuka saw his face. It was Councilman Paco. She quickly blew out her torch.
"She wasn't alone. There were two others with her. One of them, I'm positive, was Blanne."
"Impossible!" Paco shouted, and then calmed his voice a little. "I saw the potion I used on him turn him into a fish with my own eyes! You must be mistaken. And what about the other person?"
"Hong, your majesty." Shuka gasped, and covered her mouth.
Paco's face turned pale. "Gather the others and meet me back at the Palace!" Then Shuka heard a rustling, as the Runner left running, and Paco put out his small fire. Shuka began to carefully make her way back to the village while pondering whether her cousin was the Great Sea Monster.

Suddenly, a man ran right out in front of her and stopped. "Shuka! My, my, it's been a long time, princess." said a deep, but familiar voice.

"Councilman Paco? What a surprise! What are you doing here? How are the King and Queen?" Shuka hadn't seen Paco since her family had gone on the great quest to search for the King and Queen, and to find out what had been happening in the Ceremonial Village.

Paco pretended to be sad. "They are gone, Shuka, I am sorry. I have taken over the Palace. I just came out here to pay honor to the Fire Idol for our yearly Great Race. What are you doing here?"

Shuka knew that the King and Queen's oldest son was supposed to take the throne. She was surprised to learn that instead Paco was acting as Island Leader. Shuka nervously replied, "Oh. I am helping an injured friend on our way back to her village. I was just looking for a Lilly flower to make some medicine from. Have you seen one?"

Paco didn't want Shuka to know that he had Lillies in his sack, so he decided that he should be on his way. "Please, visit the Palace sometime and we will have a feast in your honor, Princess Shuka. It was good to see you again, but I have to go back now. You know how it is with royalty, you rarely get a moment for yourself." Shuka, however, could smell the herbs and flowers, but decided to let him go.

"Yes, I remember." Shuka said, recalling moments from her childhood of the great Palace of Prosperity. "Thank you for your invitation, Paco. I'm sure that our paths will meet again."

Paco hurried past the village and the villagers, and into the darkness on the road leading North. Shuka came rushing into the village. As soon as he was clearly gone, she told her followers, "We need to leave now!"

"Who was that? What about Leia's leg? What about the herbs?" they asked of her. They all gathered around the fire to hear what she had to say.

"That was Councilman Paco. Something is wrong. The King's son should have taken the throne, but instead Paco did. We have to get to the Ceremonial Village at once!" Shuka kneeled over Leia to hug her quickly "Please forgive me for not explaining what I'm about to do." The four them all looked up surprised as Shuka jumped up, twirled around, and then, with her hands sparkling, she touched Leia's leg and magically healed her. "Now let's go!"...


As soon as all the Runners were gone, King Ipo led the five of them to climb out of the little cave.
"My father's name was Hong." Samar stated. "If he's still alive and on this island, we're going the wrong way."
"And if Lakia is with him, then that means that she is in danger!" Dodo proclaimed.

Ipo looked at them, and chuckled a little. "My dear children, if Lakia and Hong are with Blanne, then you have no reason to worry. And Dodo, if you are not too injured to travel then we should be on our way."

"Where are we going your Highness?" Jem asked.

"To throw a party, of course!" King Ipo replied cheerfully. But seeing that the others weren't smiling, he added, "We are going to the Darkened Forest to meet Queen Iso. She is waiting there for us with the others." Then King Ipo smiled another bright smile, dusted off his clothes, and began walking into the nearby forest. "He's alive and well and walking!" He sang. "My son is alive and well and walking!" The little flowers along the road beside him suddenly bloomed. "Let's go save Isola!" King Ipo quietly shouted. Dodo, Jem, Piku, and Samar all froze in their place as they watched him.

Finally, Piku said, "Well, I can't remember the last time anyone threw a party to get ready for a rescue. But if he's the King, we should go along with him." The four of them agreed, dusted themselves off, and ran to catch up with the golden King Ipo...

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Episode Twentynine: Just Like Me

Hong peered through the passage door and found that they had journeyed from the Hope River to the most northern edge of the western ridge of the Rim of Promise. This area was on the edge of the Darkened Forest. The Runners who were looking for them wouldn't be expecting them to get here so soon. So they lit their torches, and left the passage. Hong, Blanne, Lakia, Cheop, Hokou, and Elaku stepped out into a lush garden, with tall trees as far as the eye could see.

The hunter named Hokou knew the way through The Darkened Forest, so he took the lead. The sky grew dark as they walked in silence through the lovely shrubbery. Finally, they came to an opening with a soft flickering light just barely breaking through. Hokou pulled a tree branch to the side to expose a stone laid pathway. On the other side of a small meadow sat a woman in a bamboo chair by a fire. A heavy robe covered her small frame and her head. Just the ends of long braided hair could be seen. As they drew a bit closer, the group was stopped.

"Cheop!" came a whispered call from another man who looked like a hunter.
"Konan!" Cheop answered back excited to see an old friend.
"Why are you here? Do you have any news?" Konan asked.
"Yes. I brought Lakia the Great. She has half of the Sparkle of the Western Medallion!"
"Half?" Konan was puzzled. "And where is the other half?"
Blanne stepped forward. "The other half is where it belongs. Or it will be."
"Blanne!" Konan shouted in surprise.
"Blanne?" came a cry from the woman sitting by the fire. "Blanne, is that you?" The woman looked up and saw that indeed it was Blanne. She threw the hood of her robe off her head and came running over.
"Mother!" he responded as he hugged her. "Look who I brought here."

"Hong? It's been so long!" She hugged him as well. "When I saw you last, Ipo and I had just taken over the throne. I have been looking forward to seeing you again! Ipo will be pleased to see you again as well! You might not recognize him though. Paco gave him and Blanne potions to make them change. The King has been from village to village to find cures. He found one to help Blanne, somewhat, and he has been able to use his new abilities to his advantage. But alas, poor Ipo hasn't been able to find a cure for himself."

Meanwhile, Lakia couldn't help but notice that the Queen had long braided hair that was golden in color, just like hers. She even had the same ribbons in her hair like the ones that her grandmother Leia had given to her. When the Queen turned to face Hong, the fire lit up her face and they all could see that her bright eyes were just like Lakia's too.

Blanne motioned for the Queen to look toward the edge of the crowd, where Lakia stood. "She looks just like me!" The Queen said delighted. "I am Queen Iso. Who are you?" she asked Lakia.
"I am... you're highness, I am Lakia Waterfaller."
"Oh no, you are not." the Queen declared and shook her head.


King Ipo led his followers along the ridge, and through the lush greenery of the Darkened Forest. While they walked, he told Dodo and his group about Councilman Paco's plan to become the fastest man on the island.

"He's not really evil, like people say." King Ipo told them. "He is just a really fast runner and no one else has ever proven himself to be faster. Paco's been trying to perfect a running potion to give to other runners, so that he can create competition for himself. When I tried to stop him, he took my medallion and secretly gave me and my family potions in our drinking water. My son, Blanne, became a fish. And I turned into the appearance of another man and lost all of my magical abilities. I went by another name to keep Paco from finding me before I could find cures for all of us and get back to the Palace. Though I found a cure for Blanne, he is able to change himself back into a fish at will. And I am exceedingly grateful to be myself again." King Ipo smiled brightly at Piku.

Then King Ipo led them toward a lighted area in the forest, lifted a particular branch, and led his little group down a small stone path. "This island is just full of little mysteries." The King continued.


Shuka led her followers quickly down the remainder of the path. They all wanted to ask Shuka where her magic came from and why she never mentioned it before. However, no one asked. They were all afraid. Finally, they came to a place where two rivers met, and behind one of them was a wall of vines. Weeko recognized the place as the back of the mountain where he and Leia had been exploring the day they were swept away. "I thought we would never see this shore again." he admitted to Leia. Since the rainy season hadn't started, the river closest to the south shore was shallow and quiet. They carefully crossed over the river by stepping on the same large stones that Leia and Weeko had slipped on years before.

"It's late. "Shuka said. "We don't want to cause any alarm to the Mountain People, so let's camp here in the cave for the night." Although Weeko and Leia were anxious to see their tribes' people again, they were also tired. Everyone agreed to rest for now. Kali could not sleep. She kept seeing the drawings on the side of the cavern and wondering what it meant. On one hand, it looked like a warning so that people wouldn't fall into the river. On the other, she wondered, if someone hadn't been planning for them to fall. After a couple of hours Kali finally fell asleep. During the night she dreamed of a small, bright child.

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Episode Thirty: All Boxed Up

That night Kali dreamed about a time when she was nearly 3. Mommy and Daddy had left with many of the other villagers to find out what was happening on the Ceremonial shore. Meanwhile a handful of children were left in the care of a single guardian. It became nighttime in her dream, and all the little children were gathered inside the Hut of Decisions to sleep. It was the only hut that wasn't destroyed after the Great Sea Monster tried to reach Baby Samar. Kali didn't like it in there, but she was cold and tired, so she followed. However, she couldn't sleep much.

It was the rainy season, and had rained so much that when the fire went out their guardian couldn't re-light it right away. The guardian told all the children that as soon as the rain stopped he would re-light it again. Soon after she fell asleep, little Kali dreamt about the little golden boy that the village saw in the Gong's cloud. She awoke when she heard a noise on the beach. Hoping that her parents had returned for her, Kali pulled her ragged blanket around her and sneaked around the side of the hut to see. She saw her guardian walk out to the shore to see what it was.

Her guardian was overjoyed to discover that it was a crate with food inside, since they were also low on food. He carried some of the crate's contents to their food bin and then returned to the shore. As he was picking up more food, he saw and reached over for a large vial of oily blue liquid, that was also on the beach. After he drank it, her guardian began stumbling around. Then he fell into the crate. Kali almost burst out in laughter. But then, he started changing. She saw that his hair turned from golden yellow to dark brown, and that he was getting smaller. Soon his clothes barely clung to him and he wrestled to get out of the crate before the next wave came in. Kali laughed out loud and thought this was the funniest thing she ever saw. But the rains poured down again, and before she could let out another little giggle, the lid of the crate fell down on the poor little man and a wave took the crate away.

Little Kali ran to the beach to help him, but she didn't know how to swim. She ran back to the hut and tried to wake up the others. They were fast asleep and wouldn't wake up for her. Finally, Kali went back to the ocean shore to look for him. When she couldn't even see the crate in the darkness of the night, she began to sob. "Don't go! I' sorry! Come back!" she cried quietly over and over for hours, "I' sorry I not help you! Come back Tofo! Come back!" But her guardian never returned.

Before the morning sun arose, she saw a pair of eyes looking at her from the ocean waves. "Don't be afraid, child." said the gentle voice from the eyes. "What is wrong?" he asked. Kali told him her story in the best words and gestures that she could put together. "I'm afraid that he has probably washed up on another shore by now. I'm sorry." said the voice in the water. The sound of his voice was warm and thoughtful. When Kali realized that it wasn't a man talking to her, but a fish, she wanted to see what he looked like. The great fish swam up as far onto the shore as he could, and as a gesture of kindness, he tickled her toes with his fins. Then he told her, "I'll try to get help. You and the other children shouldn't stay here alone."

Then the fish swam off to the south, and Kali went back to bed. In the last part of her dream, she dreamt again about the little boy who walked on the water of the Ceremonial Lagoon. She whispered in her young little heart, "Oh bright boy, please keep Tofo alright."


King Ipo was excited about finally arriving home. He ushered in Dodo, Samar, Jem and Piku into the secluded garden. As he walked up, he heard that Queen Iso was talking to Lakia.

"You are PRINCESS Lakia!" The Queen told her, and gave her a ruby ring for her finger. "You are my descendent."
"Really? How?" asked Lakia. But the Queen had turned to the group coming through the bushes. "And that is King Ipo." Queen Iso then realized that King Ipo was back to his old self and she rushed to him and greeted him.

Dodo rushed over and hugged Lakia. "Lakia! I've missed you so much!" Dodo told her. Together they both said, "You wouldn't believe the day I've had!" And then they both giggled.
"Oh, you have the other half of the medallion I'm wearing." Lakia said to Dodo. He looked at her puzzled.
"You can see the medallion?"
"Yes." Lakia smiled brightly. "I can see everything now."
Just then Jem came up to her and hugged her. "I'm so glad that you are safe! We have been so worried about you! But I knew there was something special about you." Jem told her. At that point, Lakia wondered why she had been chosen and not Jem. Why isn't the Queen coming over and calling Jem a princess also.

Around this same time, Samar and Hong found each other. Tears flowed out of their eyes as they talked about their lives. Hong told Samar about how he ended up on the little island. Paco was meaning to giving Hong a potion too, and possibly put an end to his whole family. Without the medallion, Hong would not have made it through. Blanne acted quickly to get him out of the storm, but could not find the medallion for years. It wasn't until King Ipo, as Biggles, found the cure, that Blanne also found the medallion. But lightning struck it before Blanne could give it back to him. It split into two pieces. Queen Iso said that the power of the medallion had been transfered to two others, and that Isola herself would give the pieces to them. When the time was right, Blanne knew who to give the pieces to. Then it was time to come home.

Piku, who was related to Tarik, the Highest Elder, saw all the meeting and greeting, and started asking why they had all been gathered together. King Ipo spoke up. "You have all been chosen by Queen Iso and myself, to complete a mission together. The balance of Isola has been upset, and needs to be put back into harmony. Paco needs to be defeated and the medallion brought back here to us. All the herbs need to be returned to their rightful places on the island, and someone to tend to them, and someone to teach others about medicine. And then..."

Before the King could finish his sentence, Paco showed up in the meadow. "And then what?"

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Episode Thirtyone: Into the Light

Paco threw a potion bottle down on the ground, and a puff of smoke and light came out. "And then," they all heard him shout as he stepped into the garden, "all of you are invited to the Great Race, where one of you will run against me. Winner takes all!" Paco laughed loudly. Blanne grabbed his mother's and father's hand. Together, they caused a storm to start and lightning flashed around them. However, the quick Paco threw down another potion bottle. After the smoke cleared, both him and Lakia were gone.

The worried villagers began to pace back and forth across the center of the garden. Finally, King Ipo and Queen Iso spoke up and assured them that they needed to rest. The Great Race happens the same time every year, which happened to be the next day. They planned it so that everyone that they needed would be there with them. King Ipo turned to Piku.
"Young man, you are the fastest runner I've ever seen. I am putting my trust in you. My kingdom is in your hands. Isola herself will be grateful for your service to her. You were brought here for this moment."
Piku paused a moment and then replied. "I have spent many years trying to slow down. You're Highness, it will be an honor and a pleasure to run in the Great Race, and run my fastest."

A great feast had been prepared. After everyone ate, Dodo found Jem at the edge of the garden where Paco had stood. "Something about Paco is very familiar to me," she told him. "In fact, the king and queen seem familiar too." Dodo was a little puzzled.
"Of course, aren't you a princess also?" he asked her.
"No. I'm not even related to Lakia. I was 4 years old when arrived in a crate and was found by Lakia's parents. She had just been named."
"Well, you have been a great sister. Lakia has never treated you like you were different." Dodo commented.
"Lakia doesn't know." Jem replied.

Then King and Queen gathered everyone together to say good night. The royal attendants showed the ladies and gentlemen where to sleep. If they hadn't been so worn out from their long day, none of them would have slept at all. Blanne couldn't sleep at all, and decided to go for a swim.


As soon as the sun came up, Leia and Weeko were awoken by children standing in the entryway of the cave. Among them was a little boy in golden clothing, who woke up Kali. "I see that you received help." Kali tried to wipe the sleep out of her eyes. "When I found out from my brother Blanne that you were all alone, I quickly opened up the boulder and asked for volunteers. While we were still deciding who to send, Leia and Weeko went into the cave," he continued. "Only, I didn't have a chance to warn them about the water."
"It was my fault they fell!" Shuka cried out! "I was playing in the stream, looking for the pearl, and had splashed the stones." Shuka let out a deep breath as if it had been a heavy weight sitting on her chest.

"Shuka!" cried out the little boy. "I didn't recognize you!"
"Do I know you?" Shuka looked over the golden child's royal clothing and bald little head.
"We used to play tag together when I was little." Everyone around them laughed. This seemed like a funny statement to everyone since he seemed to only be 5 years old for over 40 years. "Shuka, it's me, Moki! The King's son!" Shuka screamed in delight. "Mother finally found me. The pearl had changed me. I promised her that I would stay here and protect her people, the Mountain People. And so I feed them and heal them every day." Shuka was speechless. She simply hugged him really tight, as if he were her own child. "I have one more thing I must do." Then he pulled Kali by the hand and rushed through the village.

As the light of dawn peeked over the mountain, Kali found a man, about her age, harvesting crops. He had dark hair, but a soft sweet smile. "Tofo!" She cried! The man turned around, and as if a dream had ended, he suddenly realized who he was. Flashes of his past came pouring into his memory. Kali spoke to him again, this time a little softer. "Tofo?"
"Kali?" he asked unsure.
"Tofo!! Yes, it's me, Kali!" She hugged him. She was very excited about finding him healthy and strong. They talked as Moki gathered the everyone together near the village center.

"We need the pearl and some branches of the Longevity Plant." Shuka replied when Moki asked why they had come. The five of them told the others about their adventure. In return Moki told the Waterfallers about Queen Iso.
"King Ipo is from Isola, and Queen Iso, is from The Mountain Island. Many years ago, they brought along their firstborn, Keiki, while visiting there. Her daughter became separated from them when the volcano erupted and everyone fled. Keiki ended up here on the southern shore, but was still a child. Queen Iso discovered she was here while looking through the crack in the boulder one day. Back then she didn't have a way to move the boulder since it was so large. She came here often to look through the crack." Moki stopped and pointed at the cave.

"But how did you get here?" Kali asked the golden child.
"One day, I was playing in the stream nearby while she wished on the medallion that someone would take care of her little girl and her people. It took a long time for us to figure it out, that I was lost into the stream. When she used her pearl to find me, it only made me more and more young. When the faith of the Mountain People grew strong, the Guiding Hand chose a mother for me. I was so happy to free from being a spirit in the water, I promised that I would take care of the Mountain People! Now I am a spirit of Peace and Happiness!" He waved his arms in the air and butterflies gathered around him like little sparkles.

"Anyway, Keiki grew up, got married, and Leia is her only daughter." Moki finished.
Leia was quite surprised. "I'm the granddaughter of the Queen?!" she fainted for a moment. Someone brought over a bunch of Longevity Plant leaves, and Leia felt better than ever.

Then Moki went into one of the huts and came out with the pearl. "You are welcome to stay, but if you must leave, you will also be welcomed back." Leia and Weeko decided to stay for awhile. Shuka told Moki about the Great Race, and how she suspects that Paco is up to something. She would take Akio and Kali to the palace and see if the Queen shows up there. There wasn't much time left, since it was a long journey and the Great Race would start before the sun set again.

Just then, there was a splash at the beach. The villagers backed away as a pair of eyes were seen in the waves...

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Episode Thirtytwo: To the North Shore!

When Lakia woke up that morning, she discovered that she had been taken to what was once the Northern Palace. She saw the remains of many huts, and no other villagers, except Paco. "Perhaps, the storm washed everything away," she thought to herself. Then she realized that Paco was running around, putting things down in various places around the village.

Suddenly Paco took her by the arm and led her to the alchemy lab of the village. He gathered a couple of jars in his arms. "These are to mark the path of the Great Race." Paco told her. "Up there," he pointed at the worn down hut they had just come from, at the tip top of the mountainous terrain that overshadowed their surroundings. "That's where the great Palace of Prosperity used to be. But you can watch the race from the Amphitheater. Meanwhile, stay here." Paco then offered her to sit down at a beautiful wooden table with several lovely chairs, and then he left again to continue his quest. Lakia watched as he ran about the village setting them down. Where would she go anyway?

In the lab, she saw a large grey kettle atop a small little fire. There were herbs on the table so she thought she would make a stew. She was very hungry, so she looked over the bamboo walls to search for food to put it as well. Bees were building a new hive nearby the shore, but she wouldn't know how to collect it, even if she could get past Paco. There weren't any coconut or fruit trees except the tree that sat way up on the ridge on the other side of the village as well. "Snap!" A large snapping clam, snapped open and closed by the seashore. The coral was beautiful! Lakia considered fishing until she saw the sharks in the ocean. A little nervous, but definitely starving, she decided to mix the herbs at the table where she sat, and taste to see how it was.

The mixture exploded, breaking the kettle and setting the lab on fire! Paco hurried in and carried Lakia out and to safety. He saw that she was a little bit weakened from it and took her to the village hospital. Lakia was very surprised. "That was kind of you to save me like that." she told Paco gratefully.
"Hmph!" Paco pouted. "I'm not trying to hurt you." Then he left again, first to make sure the fire was out, and then to finish putting out his race markers.
The mat where Paco had laid her was merely a wrapped stack of dried leaves and branches. It was much like what she slept on at home. All along the edges of the room were little sacks. Some of them held seeds, and some of them held little herbal plants. The fragrance was delightful. The room didn't have a ceiling, and she wondered what she would do if it started to rain.


Before leaving the Darkened Forest, Dodo thought it wise to ask the Guiding Hand whether they really should take the challenge made by Paco to see who is the fastest runner. The Guiding Hand agreed that anyone and everyone could race to see if Paco is the fastest.

So the group packed up their things and started through the forest. King Ipo led the way, while Queen Iso stayed in the center of the group answering questions. They only stopped for lunch. The forest became thick with shrubs and trees the further north they went. The road slowly changed from grass, to dirt, to stone. They were amazed at how much color surrounded the area. Finally, they approached a range of mountains that were as far as their eyes could see, with a small valley of which their stone road was leading to. The walkway looked new. Up at the top of the mountainous terrain was the large worn out Palace of Prosperity. The King and Queen stopped for a moment to look. Queen Iso began to cry, and King Ipo gave her a warm embrace, holding her head in his shoulder. "A new day is beginning." King Ipo told her. Queen Iso smiled and nodded. They pushed away the branches that covered up the stone steps in front of them. Then the King and Queen led their little group to an area behind a large basin of water.


Shuka watched in awe as the eyes in the waves drew closer to the coast. "Run!" She finally called out. The entire group of villagers came running to the shore. "No! Run away from here!" Shuka shouted at them. The great legendary sea creature swam right up to the shore in front of her and spoke. "Good morning Princess Shuka! Will the King's sister invite me to speak with her?"

While Shuka watched in wonder, she nervously shook her head, "No," and backed away.
Moki then walked over to Blanne, patted him on the head, and said teasingly, "Don't feel bad, Blanne. She didn't remember me either."
"Really?" Blanne replied to his brother. "Oh well. Would you mind helping me out of the water?" By this time a large crowd of villagers had gathered around him, shouting, "Me! Me! I want to go for a ride!" Blanne smiled and told them all that he would be back later.
Kali walked up to Blanne and looked him in the eyes. "It's you! It's really you!" And then she hugged the great creature. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! If it weren't for you, all five of us kids would have starved! And now we all have families. Thank you!"

Moki took Shuka by the hand and pulled her over to Blanne. He placed her hand on Blanne's head. As soon as Shuka's hand touched Blanne he transformed. His coral crown shimmered in the sun. His colorful robe reflected off the ocean water, making him look like he was glowing. And yet, he kneeled down, pulling Moki down with him. "Princess Shuka, the King and Queen want you at the Palace. May I offer you a ride to the north?"

"I thought the King and Queen were dead?" Shuka said in surprise.
"No, Paco made them leave the Palace after taking my father's medallion. But today at the Great Race, we have a chance to take back the throne... your throne."
Shuka stopped for a moment and thought before speaking. "Your throne, Blanne. Yes, I'll go with you. We were getting ready to walk there anyway, because something about Paco didn't seem right. Can you take Kali and Akio as well?"
"Of course!" Blanne said with a beaming smile. "It would be my pleasure!" He held his medallion up to the sun and became the Great Sea Spirit again.

Moki, Tofo, Leia and Weeko, all waved as they sped across the water. For the first time in a long time, Shuka laughed. Before long they could see the beautiful coral reef shimmering in the afternoon sunlight...

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Episode Thirtythree: The Great Race!
The Final Episode

Runners arrived from over the mountain, ran down the hillside into the village, and carried food to where it could be prepared for everyone there. Meanwhile, the King and Queen led the others into the village center, and met up with the Runners. As the morning turned to afternoon, they expected to see villagers from other villages, but none arrived. Finally they all sat down in the amphitheater to watch the festivity. Next to them was a beautiful jade statue. Hong told Samar that it was a statue of Isola, the Queen who's beauty was as unique as a little island. Her magic was so powerful that it still inhabits the island to this day.

Paco brought Lakia out of the medical hut and took her to the amphitheater. He told one of the Runners to watch her.
"Who will run in the Great Race?" Paco asked.
"I will." Piku replied.
"Winner takes all." Paco reminded them. "If I win, Ipo and Iso stay here and their family will rebuild the palace, where I will rule. And I will be known as 'the King who is the fastest.'"
"And if I win?" Piku asked.
"Then I will turn over the medallion to the King. But no one has ever beaten me." Paco laughed and walked over to the starting line.

Suddenly, at the shore, Blanne was warding off the sharks so that Shuka, Akio and Kali could get to the beach safely. "Mother!" shouted Lakia, and she tried to get free from her Runner watcher, but could not. But Kali and Akio came running over and in moments had joined her to watch the race. After many hugs, Shuka arrived in the amphitheater as well, and carefully approached the King and Queen. "You're highness, I have come to help." Shuka kneeled before them.
"Arise, Princess Shuka!" said the King excited to see her. "I missed you. Welcome home." he said with a laugh.
"Councilman Paco has the King's Northern Medallion, and has challenged us to see who is the fastest runner. We stand to lose the entire Island if he wins, and gain it all back if Piku is faster." Queen Iso told Shuka.
"But I have the Queen's Black Pearl, your majesty! This should help you." Shuka replied with a smile, and a curtsey.

Paco heard this and tried to get the pearl for himself. Samar quickly took it out of Shuka's hand and cleverly climbed up a beautiful jade statue that was between the amphitheater and the path that led to an equally beautiful door. Paco ran up the path in order to catch up to Samar, and caught him as he reached the top. Samar stopped there and noted the lovely ocean below - which he didn't want to fall into. Paco leaped forward to grab the pearl, knocking it out of Samar's hands. Since he was at the top of the curve of the path, it bounced down the walkway and onto the coral reef at the shore. Before Paco could get down the path, the beautiful black pearl bounced right into the jaws of the snapping clam.

But this was the Legendary Clam! A powerful earthquake shook the entire island. Rocks fell from the mountain and damaged buildings below them. The great basin cracked and the water drained out. The boulders bounced and broke as they tumbled down. Then the great jade statue cracked loudly above them. The villagers all ran out to the village center, the only place that seemed safe. When the shaking stopped, Paco led Samar back to other villagers. Although many were scared, no one was hurt. They returned to their waiting place in the amphitheater.
"That was very brave of you Samar." Queen Iso told him as Paco shouted for the Race to begin.

Paco and Piku took their places by the starting jar. Paco pointed out the path they would take to Piku. When they were ready, a Runner at the top of the path, banged a small gong.

Paco and Piku raced with all their might. They even kept up even with one another the entire time. Blanne wanted to step in, but Isola had other ideas. Soon winter rains poured down from the sky. Wanting to help the race along, Lakia grabbed her necklace and spoke softly to the Guiding Hand. But nothing happened. The race continued. Dodo, seeing what Lakia was doing, tried the same. Still nothing happened. Piku and Paco continued to run the best race that any villager had ever seen. They ran through the gardens, the buildings, through the empty orchard, across the village center, up the walkway that led to the beautiful jade door and back, and even across the steps of the amphitheater!

Finally, Paco let out a burst of speed as crossed the amphitheater steps a second time. Here he slipped in a puddle and went flying into a stone seat. He twisted his ankle and became very angry as he lay on the ground in pain.
"I don't want to run anymore anyway!" He yelled out and pulled a vial out of his pocket. "I have a potion here that will make us all stop running!" Paco's eyes filled with tears and he pouted like a little child. It was then that Jem remembered where she had seen that sad face before.

"Wait!" Jem cried out. "Father! It's me, your daughter, Jem!" She ran to Paco's side and touched his hand. He looked in her eyes and realized that he knew her face. "It's me Father! I still remember the day that Mother died from the illness that everyone had and you packaged me in the crate. You gave me food and water, and then kissed me on the head. You said that Isola would take care of me." Jem desperately looked into Paco's eyes. If he threw his potion they could all become very slow if not very sick. "Please, Daddy, please don't do this!"
Those happened to be the same words that Jem called out to him when he put the last nail in the crate that held her and a neighbor's child, before they were washed out to the ocean. At the time Paco thought that he was dying too and would not be able to help her. He sought out as many herbs on the island as he had strength for, and found his cure. However, in his desire to be the fastest runner, he became obsessed with the island's herbs. He had convinced himself that Isola was taking care of his daughter, and did not expect on this day to see her grown up face.
"Jem?" Paco asked. "But how?"
"I made sure that her crate arrived into the Queen's grand-daughter's care." Blanne said. "After all, Jem is like family."
Paco set down the potion vial and hugged his daughter. "I'm so sorry! I've missed you so much! Come to the palace and live with me."
Jem let go and held his hand carefully. "No, Father. The western shore is my home. Why don't you come and live with me for a while. Teach us what you know about herbs and medicine. Teach all the villages what you know about herbs and medicine."
Paco looked around at the questioning faces and realized that he needed to make amends with many villagers. He got up and began to limp over to a rock where he could sit down Hong and Samar grabbed him by the sides and carried him to a nice place. Dodo looked over his injury, and offered to bandage him up. Lakia told Dodo where he could find herbs there in the hospital. Then the King and Queen offered to go to the alchemy lab to see if they could make a mixture to help heal him. But Shuka spoke up about having the Longevity Plant leaf that she brought back from the southern shore. Blanne gathered some water from a nearby waterfall to wash off Paco's wound. Piku tore a piece of his clothing to give to Dodo for the bandage.

Paco was surprised that everyone was being so kind to him considering all the trouble he had put them through. And so, Paco agreed to go with Jem, and began his apologies to everyone right away. He handed the Northern Medallion to the King, and the rain stopped pouring.

"How will we get home?" Piku asked. "The walkway is now blocked with all the stones from the earthquake. It will weeks or even months to clear it."
"I know a great way to travel!" Lakia said joyfully. She winked at Blanne, and he laughed.
"Alright then. I think I can transform into a large enough fish to carry everyone." Prince Blanne said.

Lakia saw that everything was done that needed to be done. She hung up her beautiful gold and scarlet garment on a hook at the amphitheater. She saw the King behind her and asked if he knew why the Western Medallion didn't help them win the race.
"The magic is not within the medallion, princess Lakia, it is within your heart." And then he turned and hung his medallion on the hook over the golden garment. "I am retiring. It's time for a new ruler."

Lakia and Dodo looked at each other and both said, "What an adventure!" and then they both laughed. Everyone gathered to the shore, and clung to Blanne, to be brought back to their respective homes.

"Princess Shuka," Blanne said, "your throne on the Eastern Shore has been empty for many years. Are you ready to come back?"
"No, but I know who would make a great leader!" Shuka said in her dramatic way. "Right now, I need to prepare Dodo and Lakia to lead the western tribe."
With that Blanne Sagawa, the Great Sea Spirit sped the great group of villagers into the sunset, leaving the northern village empty again.



Upon returning home, they found that Shuka's raft was finished. Highest Elder Tarik saw that the population of the western shore had grown beyond what the land could withstand. He proposed to Dodo and Lakia that they use the raft and allow some villagers to seek out more room on other parts of the island. It was a hard decision, but they too saw the need. They called a gathering together at the gong, and choose villagers out of those who would volunteer to go. They carefully picked a small family of three, a widowed mother and her child, one of her best apprenticed builders and the builder's cousin, and the most adventurous of the crate kids. Jem would have been proud of that little youngster.

The King and Queen decided to pass on the Eastern Kingdom to Samar for his acts of bravery. In a colorful ceremony on the western shore, Lakia and Dodo were granted joint leadership over Western Isola. During the ceremony, they were told to unite their pieces of medallion. Dodo stopped just before doing so, and asked Lakia to marry him. Lakia happily agreed and held out her side of the medallion. When the two pieces met, both Dodo and Lakia glowed, the gong sounded, and the sweetest fragrance filled the air. All the villagers turned to look at the gong when it rang. The cracks in it sealed up as if it were never broken in the first place. After that, the gong was no longer unpredictable.

Samar bravely led the Eastern Isolan villagers. When the time came and his wife presented their child, they discovered that they had a son. They named him Blanne Sagawa Leaderson. He was smart and brave, and a great swimmer. Samar moved the remains of the Palace of Prosperity and all it's belongings to the highest point at the top of the Rim of Promise. He had the royal attendants build a whole new city between the mountainous walls of the great canyon that separated the East from West Isola. Samar proudly wore the beautiful Eastern Medallion around his neck, and would walk along the rim every evening to praise the Guiding Hand for all the blessings of his land.

On the western shore Dodo did most of the leading, while Lakia loved to tell the story of their adventure. On many ocassions you could hear her cry out, "Gather around children! I, Lakia, great-grand-daughter of the Great Queen Iso, will tell you a great tale! Gather around, and I will tell you the tale of a Great Leader and a Great Sea Monster!" Lakia held a fish in her hands. She was the most dramatic of all the storytellers.

The End.

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Author's Note: Thank you, everyone, for reading my story. It was a pleasure to write. I hope you enjoyed it to the very end! - HappyPlayer