PART TWO: THE LOST VILLAGERS ...Because you're unforgiven too ... By dr. Beruga     The inside of the Pandora was remarkable. From the outside it was a ten by ten centimetres box, but the inside was as big as a house. The room they entered had book closets, a desk, a jewel box, and even a strange-looking plant. The floor was chequered with blue and white squares, and the walls existed form blue marble pillars. There were also three wooden doors, each with another sign that had been cut out. One looked like a spear, the other like some kind of clothing -probably an armour- and the other wasn't really clear to see what it supposed to be.     "As you can see, this is the inside of the Pandora," the creature started, as he flew towards the desk. "I'll explain the rooms in this box.     This is the Centre Room. It is the room were important notes must be stored, like the journeys of other Keepers of the Pandora. A long time ago this box was found by a young boy named Will and never noticed me inside. And before him, someone who's name is lost by the loop of time used the Pandora to save the world. All the Keepers will do that in the end... The Pandora wasn't as developed, to say in human terms, like it is now. But that's enough about the past. The Pandora of this time has in total four rooms, you'll go explore them all in a sec.     At this desk you can right down your adventures, like in a diary. The logbook is already there. A book for special notes you must add by yourself.     In the closet over there, a very highly qualified Atlas of the World is stored in it, a three-part encyclopaedia about the places of the world. In the other closets a description of the enemies you meet is placed. But only from the first dungeon you'll enter. You'll find out soon enough. The other enemies you must add by yourself.     This little box here is the Jewel Box. Magirock are stored in it, and also magic spells. Rings and pins which contain a Magirock have a magic power within. Once released it can help you defeat your enemies. You should ask about the Magi Shop's owner about it.     Now. The next room we'll enter will be the Weapon Room. Follow me." Ark followed the creature to the upper most left door. The room looked exactly the same as the first, but there weren't closets or a desk or something. Only standards, the looked like they were for guns and so.     "So this is the Weapon Room. Weapons are stored in those standards."     "You don't say those are for guns, do you?"     "No, they're not. The magic of the Pandora is so old that modern science can't exist inside it. They're for rods, spears and pikes. During your journey you will find a breed collection of weaponry."     "What journey anyway? And what's your name?"     "So much to tell and so little time. My name is Yomi -didn't I say that?- and everybody who owns this box will be sent on a journey."     "Great. Exactly what I wanted."     "The inner you did… Anyway, the next room will be the Armour Room. Follow me, it's the right door."     They stood inside the Armour Room. This one also looked like the Centre Room, but only the furniture was removed. Small pillars were placed in two circles.     "This is the Armour Room. Armoury is stored here, on those pillars. You'll find lots of armoury as well. And to dispose of it, just throw it away in the Whole Hole. It's that black hole on the floor, and there's a Whole Hole in every room except for the Centre Room. But if you dispose of something, it is gone forever."     "Seems clear to me," Ark said, and followed Yomi inside the middle door.     "And this would be the Item Room. Items are to be placed in the closets. You can equip an item, and if it were an item you often use I would do that, for it might be annoying to jump in the box every time.     That's kinda it, really. You should go explore this box by yourself."     "I'll go do that..." Ark said, amazed. He must be dreaming. Was he? He felt the cold of the stairs, he felt the pain of falling on the ground. He felt that he was tired. What time was it anyway?     He went into the Weapon Room, and saw a strange, small light emerge from one of the standards. He walked towards it, and it seemed to be able to speak.     "So you're the new Keeper of the Pandora?"     "I guess..."     "Then I belong to you. I'm made from the lightning of Zeus and from the thunder of Thor. I will heal your wounds and clear your mind. As it is my task to protect the Keeper, I will do that."     "Thanks, I guess," Ark said confused. How could this light protect him.     "But I've waited a long time. Do you dare to carry me like an equal?"     "What if I say no?"     "Then your no other then a weak, in-understandable human."     "Then I will carry you."     "In that case, take me in your arms as your soul desires, and I will take a form that suits you." Ark found out that he was holding a weapon. It was a blue spear, made of deep blue crystal, and inserted with indigo blue and red crystals. Ark felt like he was reborn, the force of the spear was coming over upon him.     "That's the Crystal Spear, you know. It was a flute once, a long time ago..."     "What d'you say?"     "Nothing, never mind it." Suddenly, there was a sound from outside. "Hey, there's someone. We better get out." They jumped out of the box, and it was Elle who was standing there. She saw Yomi, and gave a shocked look at it - pardon me, him.     "What is that?" she gasped, looking at Yomi.     "Didn't expect much of a great welcome, but this is beyond of what I thought it would be. Honestly, have you people no manners?"     "Don't mind him. This is something, excuse me, someone that was captured in this box." He let her see the box.     "Sjeesh, it's beautiful, isn't it? I understand why the Elder stored that away."     "Let's go upstairs before he returns."     "But how are we going to explain to him how the others disappeared?"     "I don't know, Elle, I don't know."     They walked to Ark's room, and looked at the Pandora. Yomi went outside, exploring the village he had only heard with his rabbit-like ears.      "But Ark, I'm scared, you know. Can I sleep here tonight?"      "Yeah... guess so. There's a mattress in the attic, I'll go get it..."     As always, the sun shone upon Arks' head. He woke up. Something was different. It wasn't the sunshine that woke him, it was a strange feeling that made him shiver. What was it?     He saw that in stead that Elle was lying in her bed, Yomi was making himself comfortable in the pillow.     "Were's Elle?" Ark asked.     "Don't know. She was gone when I came in this room."     "When was that?"     "Just a sec ago."     "Ow. I'll go look for her." He went out, but only to see the village deserted. There was no living soul there. Except for on his hill. An old man was standing there. Ark ignored it, but when he looked back, he saw that the man seemed to be vanished. Was it the Elder? It sure didn't look like him, though.     And what was going on here? Where were the villagers? Had they just vanished, like the old man seemed to have? And, if they had, why? And how?     Then a terrible shock went through his back.     Was this one of the consequences of opening the Forbidden Door? Or was this an unknown magic power of Yomi, or the Pandora. Was it his fault, then?     Walking back to his house, he saw the Elder. And the Elder saw him.      "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU DID?" the Elder yelled at him. "HAVE YOU? YOU MADE ALL DISAPPEAR!"     "Like I didn't notice that one. What happened?" Ark asked calmly.     "You opened the Pandora, which I had carefully hide behind the door, the blue one none is allowed to open. It's opening will not only disturbe the village balance, but as well the natural balance of the entire world. You let the Hope dispappear."     "What?"      "The Box was once opened and all terror within were released. Pandora tried to close the box but it was too late, the damage had been done and only Hope remained in the Box. You let it get out."     "Are you telling me that there was Hope in this box?"     "Yes."     "Well, granddad, now I'm sure. You are weird. You actually believe a fairy tale like that?"     "You prove it isn't true."     "And if it's true, what must be done to save the world?"     "Capture the Hope. You must fulfil a journey, a quest to the shade of Hope, to save the villagers. Will you agree?"     "I guess. But you prove it first."     "Good. At the front of the house is a gate, a gate to the Outside. There are five Towers, each containing the souls of some villagers." The Elder walked away.      "Hey, granddad. What do you mean by towers?"     "The Gate is open. But will you have the ability to succeed?"     "What..." But the Elder already entered the house.     "In front of the house, right? Well, I'll go anywhere to save my Elle." He went in his house to get his stuff and then saw the Gate. It was huge, and weird. He entered it, not frightened at all. A strange world went open. He seemed to be sucked in. But it didn't scare him. He was about to save Elle. Save the village. Save the world. Dr Beruga, MAGIROCK PRODUCTIONS, ©2001. ONLY PUBLISH THIS FANFIC IF THE AUTHORS NAME IS ADDED (although I can't imagin someone would use this)