The After Party - An Epilogue
The After Party - An Epilogue is a short story from Shimmering Skies. It was written by Chris Page and published on the official website on September 3, 2024.
Set after the celebration, the story follows Martin's Basil glimmer as he catches the unwanted attention of a rogue Jafar glimmer.
Story
- A celebration hides a hypnotic turn of events
"Fascinating. All the clues lead to...an empty room?" The Basil glimmer was perplexed. In the distance, he could still hear the sounds of the celebration, which was already beginning to wind down.
The room was dark, one of many curious places in the Great Illuminary. Hadn't he just told Dawson the other day that one could wander these halls for a hundred years and still not see everything?
Basil stepped into the room, his eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness. It wasn't entirely empty. An old lectern lay on its side in the middle of the room, and a few dried-out strands of seaweed wafted in the breeze from the newly opened door. The smell of salt lingered in the air. He turned to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" The voice had all the menace of a coiled viper.
Basil stopped as a larger glimmer slid out of the shadows holding a snake-like staff. The staff's eyes began to glow.
"The Hexwell Crown. You have a piece of it. Show me," the other glimmer demanded.
Basil's hand acted almost on its own, producing the miniscule scrap of the crown that he'd found earlier.
"Now, my miniscule companion, you will find the rest of it. And bring it to me."
"I will bring the crown to—" the words escaped Basil's lips before he had a chance to think. "Wait, what if I can't bring it?"
"I will have that crown! If acquiring it is beyond your meager skills, then you will tell me where it is, and I shall obtain it myself."
Basil's feet were already moving. He felt his considerable mind go blank. Yes, he would find the crown, just like he was asked.
The Jafar glimmer smiled as he watched the little mouse depart. "I must have patience," he muttered to himself. "Let the fools celebrate. Once I have the Hexwell Crown, Lorcana shall be mine."
