Welcome to Gaia! ::

The forests of Urania. They were vast and deep. You could be mistaken for believing that they covered all the surface.

If you looked out from where you stand, you cannot see past them. Even if you got as high as you could, you would not see anything but the trees. And if you could get as low as you could, you would only see roots.

But, at the center of the world, there was a large area of mostly stone. It was on the outskirts of this area that you now stood, on ground of a fine and dark dirt. It is as if you stand on the last bit of ground before the untamed wilderness.

This area leads to the Creators Ward.

———

“Welcome to Urania. This sphere here… well, it used to light up this section of the forest! Which section is this? Oh, yes. This is the Creators Ward. Oh! I should explain why it’s called that. The constellation Capricorn had that title on my world. But it also represented a clan, the Creators clan, represented by the Goat. There was also three tribes under them, Lyra, the Lyre; Auriga, the Chariot; and Triangulum, the Triangle.

See! They are right here on the sphere…

Oh, perhaps I should explain why I’m explaining all this.”

The senshi touches the sphere’s stars in a certain order. Nothing happens for a moment. And then you see the stars shift and move before forming the words:

Are you ready?

“You see, on my world, before I was allowed to leave and explore beyond Urania, I had to complete a challenge from each clan. Which I did! But, um, this thing doesn’t seem to remember that. It won’t let me turn on the light until I do it all over again! I mean… the two things — lighting the way and the challenge aren’t even connected! It must be broken…”

She looked sad and her wisp appeared and tried to comfort her by doing all it could which was spin around her head. Then she looked to you.

“And I was much stronger than… you see. I’m not at the same stage as I was then. So, if this does what I think it does, I’m going to need some help.”

Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?

The stars keep reforming and asking the same thing over and over, like it’s broken or something and stuck on repeat. The wisp circles the sphere excitedly as if also asking…

Are you ready?


❂

The knight had many questions and she asked them in quick succession.

This was also very much Urania’s modus operandi. And so she was equipped to handle it. Well, sort of.

She was usually the one asking questions not answering them.

“Well, you’re going to have to complete the challenge. But I’ll be completing it with you. So you won’t be by yourself. The light, when we turn it back on (not sure how it got turned off!), will light the pathways in this section of the forest. It will stop being so dark and, hopefully, clear that fog as well. As to if we can’t do it… I’ve actually never thought of that.”

The starry-eyed senshi stopped to ponder it. Would the light not come back on if they failed? Would it just refuse to ever turn on again if the challenge wasn’t complete?

“Not sure. I did complete these once before. But it was a long time ago. The Creators were always about creativity. Mostly using your head to figure things out, you know? It certainly won’t be dangerous… or, at least, these challenges aren’t supposed to be.”


❂

“You won’t be alone. Like I said, you’ll have me. This was one of the nicer clans.”

Urania touches the sphere and it sputters to life. Lights begin to appear on its surface. It shakes for a second. Then it says, like a bell:

Welcome to the test of the Creators!

Your first task is…

You hear the voice cut out for a moment. It seems the sphere is… struggling. This is old technology, after all. It floats above its pedestal and, for a second, it looks like it is going to fall. But whatever anti-gravity magic is holding it up prevails. Still, you only get the second half of the message:

Found in crown, in dirt, or in humble ring—just a pebble, really, but a splendid thing.

“This one is more broken than the others, but I think this is a riddle.”


❂

“Oh. Yeah. All kind of gemstones were popular here. We usually preferred ones that glowed. It usually being dark and all.”

The sphere spun and lit up. A bit of static could be heard before the voice started to work again.

… second task…

I have teeth yet cannot bite… have no blade, yet I'm worth more to… than any knife.

“Another riddle. It sure is having trouble though.”


❂

“Not a blade. So it isn’t a weapon. But its valuable… yet the last riddle was a diamond so I don’t think we’d do gems or jewelry again.”

Urania pondered out loud.

“It can’t bite. So it isn’t an animal.”

But it had teeth. A comb had teeth, but not in the literal sense. Mechelen was on to something.

“What other objects have teeth in the same way a comb does? A cog? No. Wait. A key! A key has teeth and is more valuable than anything if you really need it!”

The sphere chimed:

Correct!

Your final task…

For a second the sphere whirled and buzzed, like it was taking everything it could from its broken form to finish the job it had started. But, finally, it said:

Just under your nose, on the tip of your tongue.
Don't take a guess, because that wouldn't be fun.
There could be many answers, but I'm looking for just one.
What am I?

“Not another one. Well, this is the Creators. They were always the craftiest clan. But my brain hurts already. Mechelen, do you have any idea what this one could be?”


❂

“I’m glad you’re here, too. I need someone to bounce ideas off of. Hrm? But what could this be…

Urania put a finger under her chin for some hard thinking. But it wasn’t necessary. Just as Mechelen said the word ‘riddle’, the sphere lit up in response.

Correct! Challenge completed. Rebooting…

“Mechelen! You did it! The last riddle. The answer was ‘riddle’! Imagine that!”

The fog lifted and you could see into the forest of lilac trees.


❂

Urania early shook her hand.

“I sure will! Thank you again! If you ever need help, just let me know.”

And with that she teleported them back.


❂