The Unusual Occurrence Of Mote

Alice, Mei, and Eary found themselves standing once more amid the icy ruins. The magic inside the jewel had transported them back to this desolate place, but this time, they were determined to find Mote, the small blue moteling who had been Eary's constant companion and friend

The ruins loomed like frozen sentinels, their secrets hidden beneath layers of ice and time. Eary led the way, his footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. He knew they had to be cautious, for they had no idea what dangers lurked in this forsaken realm.

As they ventured deeper into the ruins, their surroundings grew darker, and the air grew colder. Alice shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her. "This place gives me the creeps."

Mei nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. "We need to find Mote quickly and get out of here."

Just as the tension in the air reached its peak, the ground beneath their feet rumbled. Five massive stone statues, each resembling a fearsome warrior, burst from the icy ground, surrounding the trio. Their lifeless eyes glowed with an eerie blue light.

Eary's voice quivered with fear. "We're trapped!"

The statues moved with mechanical precision, their movements unnaturally fluid as they closed in on Alice, Mei, and Eary. It seemed that escape was impossible.

But just as despair threatened to consume them, a flash of blue light filled the air. Small, furry, bat-eared creatures appeared in a blur, darting between the statues with remarkable speed. They were the motelings, Mote's kind, and they had come to the rescue.

With acrobatic grace, the motelings leaped onto the statues, distracting them and knocking their stone forms off balance. Eary couldn't help but gasp in amazement at their agility and bravery.

Alice seized the opportunity and pulled Mei and Eary away from the encroaching statues. "We need to move!"

The motelings continued their daring assault, chattering and squeaking as they fought the statues. It was a chaotic and surreal sight, but their determination was undeniable.

Finally, one of the motelings managed to disable a mechanism within a statue, causing it to crumble into pieces. The others followed suit, and soon, all five statues lay in ruins.

Breathing heavily, Alice, Mei, and Eary turned to the motelings with gratitude. Eary's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, all of you. You saved our lives."

The motelings chattered and hopped about, seemingly pleased with their heroic efforts. One of them, slightly larger than the others, approached Eary and extended a tiny hand. Pointing at Eary, the little moteling called out, "You! You're one of Mote's friends. Anu wants to see you."

With the motelings leading the way, the trio soon found themselves in front of a series of small, shrine-like houses, each adorned with intricate carvings and symbols. The tiny holes in the walls hinted at their occupants' small stature.

As they made their way to the largest of these shrines, a sense of wonder washed over them. The path leading there shimmered with enchantments, revealing a hidden entrance. The motelings beckoned them forward.

Inside the grandest shrine, they were met by two motelings, one smaller with a radiant soft red glow and the other larger and more blue and familiar. It was clear which one was Anu, the leader.

Anu's voice was surprisingly deep as she addressed Eary. "You are Eary, the one connected to the Claris powers, yes?"

Eary nodded, feeling a mix of awe and trepidation. "Yes, I'm Eary, but i know nothing of this,'Claris'." Eary exclaimed, thinking back to the voice in the jewel. Could it be the same thing that burned in he and Ilia? "We've come in search of Mote, our friend." Eary stated as he scanned his moteling pal. His light was dimmer, as he sat, floating, in a meditative position. Not moving or showing any signs of awareness.

Anu nodded solemnly. "Indeed." Anu said as she floated closer to the party, Mote, staying in place. "Mote has undergone a ceremony to cleanse himself of toxins and evils. The world outside can be corrupting to our kind. But Mote is the Legendary Royal Moteling and can not be taken down so easily."

As she spoke, Eary's heart sank as he remembered some of his more embarrassing moments with Mote. And some of his best. Eary firmly replied back to Anu. "I like Mote the way he was! He doesn't need all this. I need his help! We have a lot of questions for him." Eary explained as the stoic Mote awoke from his meditation. Flying over to the rest of the group, Mote greeted Eary "Hello my child." Mote's voice, once boarish and mocking, with his thick accent. Now, he was etherial and stripped of all personality. Eary replied in confusion. "Mote?" Mote's face gazed down at the boy. His serene aura was both comforted and disappointed, Earhart. Mote spoke, "I see you are having trouble with my natural state. I apologize, my child." Mote's voice stilled the darkness and commanded the attention of all. He continued, "I am the Legendary Royal Moteling, Mote. It is my duty to instruct and train the bloodline of Claris. However, 13,000 years ago, all of that changed." Mote's tone taking a somber vibe."The last of the Claris, or at least by my understanding, left us here to guard these ruins. As the tomb of her people. I could never have dreamed another Claris would be found thousands of years later."

Just then, a small yellow moteling approached the pair, it whispered something, and Anu excused herself.

As she departed, Mote approached, and his demeanor dramatically changed. He now spoke with a thick Boston accent, his voice dripping with melodrama. "Eary, my friend! How could ya leave me in this godforsaken place, surrounded by these pint-sized weirdos? I've been starvin' for some decent food, and don't get me started on the lack of door dash and Netflix. It's barbaric, I tell ya, just barbaric!"

Eary's eyes widened in surprise as he struggled to contain his laughter. "Mote, I missed you too! But we're in the middle of something important. We have a ton of questions. "

Mote continued to whine dramatically, his tiny moteling arms flailing. "Important, shmimportant! I've been bored outta my mind, and these guys have no sense of humor. You gotta get me outta here, Eary!"

Despite Mote's theatrics, Eary knew he had to be reunited with his moteling friend. With a smile, he reassured Mote, "Don't worry, Mote. We'll find a way to get you out of here. Just hang in there."

Alice chimed in, elated to see Mote. "We gotta lot of questions. But first, 13,000 years ago?" She asked, her voice betraying her cool exterior. Mote's grin widened as he replied, "Yep! And I was already old back then. The other Moteling's gave me an ass adjustment." Mote said as he turned to expose his large glowing posterior. "Turns out, my ass was outta alignment! And we Moteling's have a collective memory. So essentially, my ass was on the wrong frequency, so I couldn't remember nothin'."

Eary looked at Mote in shock. He wondered just how much he may have ACTUALLY preferred the fake Mote. The moteling twerked his behind, shimmering with sacred light, to demonstrate the difference.

"This is serious, Mote!" Alice, interrupting his little dance, stated firmly. Mote, glancing over knowingly, replied, "Isn't it always?" Alice straightened her posture and pressed on."We talked to a woman's voice. Someone named Ilia." Mote's ears sprang up,"Ilia? What did she say?" Alice flashed Eary a knowing look, and then she replied. "She told me to tell you to behave yourself and to explain the situation. But most importantly, she wants you to help Eary." Eary looked over at Alice in surprise. "Really?" He asked. As she looked at him, he knew it was true.

Mote paced back and forth on his small furry legs. His mind clearly raced with implications. He muttered to himself. "Anu DID say she felt it." And "That great big pull when the kid went off." Mote continued to pace as Eary slowly approached him and asked, eyes full of concern."Mote? Am I different?" Mote sighed, a sigh that spoke of only grave news. Looking at Eary, Mote, somberly replied, "Yeah. You're different, Eary. Anu told me, but... I've always known, somewhere, insides me." The little moteling continued. "Ilia, is an ancestor of yours Eary, Yeah, and I mean Ancient. Queen Grumpy-Pants and I saved the world and stuff, some 13,000 years back. AND I did the same with your GREAT grandpa 13,000 years before that! Now it's your turn. I guess you drew the short straw again, Eary. Josh woulda been a shitty Claris anyway."

Mote exclaimed as Eary interrupted, "What IS that? What on earth is Claris?" Mote toted back."You are! And there is only one of you out there. Everyone else is just piggybacking off of you! I mean powers wise, that is. You're the source, Eary!"

Eary felt numb. He had no idea how to interpret something like this. He stood in a daze until he heard Mei ask, "Where does Eary's power come from?" Eary heard Mote's voice reply."It comes from Claris themself! The creator of the cosmos, and my boss to boot! Yeah, they sent me here with a piece of themself in tow! It used to be a large brilliant gem, then, it was broken into four gems. Each of the four shards can only be possessed by one of the blood of the Claris. The Nocopo created 3 civilizations, each with their own Claris god-ruler." Eary looked at Mote in awe."God-ruler?" Mote scoffed."Don't go taking it literally. The only special power a Claris has is their ability to master other powers rapidly." Eary replied in enthusiasm."Like in the research facility." Mote nodded "and with Ephraim. You musta been chosen around then." Alice replied."Chosen?" Mote nodded in shimmering enthusiasm."Yep! I know it first hand! Only a handful of the Nocopo and the humans that lived there survived. I know that for a fact! I counted them myself. So you'd have to be one of many possible candidates. Ergo, ya must be chosen." Mote examined Eary. "I thinks you got the shard of life, Eary." Mote's expression shifted. "No, no, it couldn't be the same."

Eary looked down at the blue imp, who, up until now had always been slinging wise cracks, 'how could this be true?' Eary though to himself. With a heavy sigh and heart, Eary inquired, "So what do I have to do?" Mote, with a big mischievous grin, smiled."That's the spirit, kid! And don't you worry! I've been doin' this a long time, and I ain't lost no Claris yet!" Mote's reassuring did help a bit as the moteling continued."First! You gotta know there is a bit of a war going on for this here world. It being on the edge of contested territory and all that." Mei piqued up."Contested territory?" Mote continued."Exactly! There's been a war going on in our universe since the beginning of time! Between our good creator itself, Claris! And the dark one, Eldris."

Alice interjected, "Hold up, few questions." Mote looked back to her."Shoot." Alice continued."So why is Eary called a Claris, and there's some sorta God out there named that as well?" Mote grumbled."Yea, the ancient Nocopo reveared their royal familys as descendants of Claris, so it sorta became their title." Alice continued."Okay, so why did 'Claris' send you then?" Mote cringed as he was reluctant to explained "It really wasn't that big-o-deal, honest. They blew things way outta proportion!" Eary folded his arms."What ya do?" Mote scoffed."Really? You just assume..." Eary pressed further."Mote..." Mote rolled his eyes and explained."Okay, so a few of my buddies and me had a wee bit of a party. I mean my whole damn department and several others. Nothing too big now. And the next day, there were a lot of call in's, a few billion galaxies fell to Eldris, it was a mess." Mote scratched his large ear. As he continued, "So, anyway, because I diligently showed up the next day, they stationed me here, on this cozy little back water. With all my party guests." Mote shrugged. Alice, Eary, and Mei began to giggle when Alice said, "You got demoted." As she finished, the three burst into laughter. Mote cocked his head and grumbled, "You three should be thanking me! I've saved this whole rock twice now." Mote crossed his little arms and huffed.

A faint glow of red light caught the corner of Earys eye. In a moment, Anu was amongst them once more. She spoke, "Ah, Mote. Have you filled the Claris in on his role?" Mote, instantly returning to his serene state, replied,"I, uh, was, umm, getting there. Eary, my child, you must defeat the three dark scions of eldris. Only then will our world be safe, and the law of Claris will fill the land once more." Anu nodded, her melodic aura radiating, stated."Indeed. The boy has yet more to unlock. He will need more training." Mote quickly and melodicly replied."Ah, yes. Indeed, Anu. I shall once again leave the moteling sanctorium and brave the mortal world once more." Mote declared. But Anu gave concern. "Mote, you have been away already. Surely another moteling can take your place?" Mote shook his head."Mmmm, I'm afraid not. For I have much to teach this young one. Much combat and magical stuff, Yes. I must go, only I can teach him to tap into his true power." Anu asked."Exactly what kind of magic? He is of Claris stock, we serve as guides, little more Mote." Mote, with the same mischievous glint in his eye, replied."Ah, but are you familiar with the powerful magic known as A-ma-zon?" Anu looked back, puzzled."No, where have you..." Mote immediately interrupted."You are unfamiliar? Yes, it is ancient forbidden magic, and only I know how to access it. Without me, Eary will never have its power." Anu sighed and looked at Eary."I can always tell when one is being dishonest. Is it true? Do you need Mote to access the power of A-ma-zon?" Eary knowing full well that Mote knew his dad's Amazon password replied."Yes! I absolutely need Mote to access Amazon." Mote quickly muttered to Eary."A-ma-zon." Eary looked to Anu and repeated "A-ma-zon. "

Anu sighed. "Mote, are you really teaching the new Claris to lie?" Mote shook his head."It's no lie. Just ask the humans. Anu scoffed, "Mote, I have known you forever! I can tell when you are up to shenanigans. I'm afraid, this time things are too important." Mote whispered "Anu, toots! You know I'm the best moteling for the job, always have been." Mote boasted as he crossed his arms confidently. Anu was not hearing it. She summoned forth a band of motelings from the shadows. "You will speak to Lorcan." Mote groaned,"Lorcan?! That dweeb? C'mon, Anu, that guy is a loser! Just let me and the kids skidoo..." A voice ranges out from the moteling gaurds."Enough, be mindful of whom you speak, royaling!" A dark red moteling glimmered up to Mote, restraining an arm behind his back. "Ouch! Rowan! Knock it off now. We's used to be roommates. Don't you remember our college days?" Rowan tightened his grip."Quiet, you will do as my sister orders."

Anu glimmered towards the three teens. Reassuring them that Mote would not be harmed, Anu, Rowan, and the other motelings escorted Them into the largest of the shrines.