The Tops

Many of the citizens were unable to transform or pretend to be human. As a result places had to be created for them to live such as the Labyrinth, Hidden City, and the Tops just to name a few. The Tops however was one of the more unique places in Shadow Wood for them to live. It was located in a place no one would ever think to look. The sky.

Creatures that you will never see in town live in Tops. This place was built specifically for the flying type citizens. It consisted of many different platforms all connected by small bridges. This made for treacherous footing if you couldn't fly. To hide it from the humans it is surrounded by illusions. We also made sure that it wasn’t in any flight zones or there would have been some pretty tragic consequences.

I glanced around looking for the feather marks that lead to the magic portal to get to Tops. Weaving my way through the allies behind the buildings in the center of town I lost them. Yes I lost the trail that lead to Tops. [ Really… Sigh ] Looking around to make sure that no one was nearby I closed my eyes and imagined Tops. Taking a step forward the air cooled and the wind picked up.

Opening my eyes I saw that I was on one of the platforms next to an orange tree. [ Why didn’t I do this from the start? ] Shaking my head to clear my thoughts I looked for the bridge that would lead me to one of the main platforms. Trees were usually placed on the outskirts of Tops to work as a barrier against the wind. Finally spotting the way I paled. A thick rope that branched out connecting several other tree platforms lead the way to a larger area.

[ Sigh, that’s why you take the portal. ] I steadily made my way to the rope. The rope was about 50 cm ( 19” ) around getting bigger halfway down where more ropes intersected. [ You can do this. ] Taking a deep breath I hesitantly made my way across the rope. I’m not afraid of heights and even if I did fall nothing would really happen it just made me feel greatly uncomfortable. I much prefer the the ground where I can feel the steady and reliable earth not the playful pranksters wind. “Sigh...”

Thankfully my tight rope performance didn’t last long. Glancing back the way I came I let out a breath of relief. [ Next time I’ll take the portal. ] With that silent promise I moved forward to the center part of Tops. All around you could see buildings built on floating platforms listing around. Some of them had bridges to them while others just had really thick ropes. With every strong gust of wind the ropes would creak ominously.

I jumped onto a free moving platform that acted like public transport and sat down waiting for it to reach my destination. The hardest part about the public transport would be the fact that it never stops. To use it you have to time it just right and jump on and do the same when you get off. Fortunately there are no walls so you don’t have to worry about jumping into a small opening to get on. However there are no walls so nothing will stop you from falling off the edge. Yes Tops was truly a dangerous and entertaining place.

Finally I reached the stadium the Skull Ball Tournament will take place in. Taking note of the speed of the platform I jumped off. Walking through the large archway to the stands I gazed out into the Tournament’s field and burst out laughing. [ Truly this years Tournament will be difficult. ] The field consisted of seven platforms made out of see through material. One large one in the center of the stadium. The next two where just above the center one floating at the edge on opposite sides. Just above those and a little off to the side giving it a staggered step like feel are the next to. The last two are the highest of them all with the goals located on them. The way this field was set up made it so that the game would be played all over without being able to tell where the skull was going to go.

Taking my eyes off of the field I looked at the stands that the specters would sit in. They lined the outer edge of the field while extending above and below making it so that you could see the field from almost any angle. However the bottom and top was still open. This made the wind wipe around the area in strange patterns. The stands where built like old Roman colosseum seats. The stone that made it up had runes carved into it to reduce there weight. The sitting area was decorated with pillows to make the seats confutable. Carvings in the walls and on the steps depicted the brutal Skull Ball games from the past seven years.

[ There will still need to be a barrier around the field so that the skull doesn’t leave the stadium. ] Looking up I saw the sky begin to darken.

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Authors Note

Sorry this chapter is a bit shorter then the others but I hope you enjoyed it.

Charetor List

Spoiler : Kaz - Mayor of Shadow Wood

Self proclaimed 'Green Spirit'

'Embodiment of forest'

Past names: Mor, Amke, Raul

Can create Green Men and trees

Redirect Magic

Violent tendencies...

Terrry - Necromancer

Cause of the Zombies

Kaz's Assistant

Babysitter

A Bosh

'Resident' - Lives in a crypt

Friend of Kaz

Farries the Dead to the Underworld

Replacement Mayor

Door to the Underworld

Controller of Shadows

Lisa - Cat Sidhe

Kaz's secretary

Has a crow familier named Eitilt

Ali Baba - Witch

Twin Sister to Baba Yoga

'Alba'

Inta is her daughter

Usor is her son

Baba Yoga - Witch

Twin Sister to Ali Baba

'Bayo'

Jasmine - Leader of the Water Fae

Van - In control of the Power Plant

....'Human'

Alchemist

Dirk - Employees of Power Plant

Golems (created by Van)

David Baker - Mayor of Redroad

Human

Missing

Clara - Little girl from National Park

Living with Kaz

Wood Elf

Akuji - Wizard

Head of Magic clan

Looks like a little kid

Kraken Family - 3 in total

Live in the pond

From Chaos dimension

Baby Loves Ice Cream

Badru - Head of the Library

Sphinx (Cheetah variety)

Translating Kaz's Book

Seth - Alpha of Werewolf Pack

Tasked with investigating Zombies

Loves animals (especially fluffy cats)

Ching is his Wife

Constantine Dracul - Lives in a Castle

In the Court of Life

Husband to Juliana

Vampire

Juliana Ann Dracul - Necromancer

Terry's Master

Wife to Constantine

Dragon

Jared Dracul - Son of Constantine and Juliana

Chasing Viola

Half Dragon Half Vampire

Viola Heart - Daughter of the King of the Court of Life

Being Chased by Jared

Nicolas Flamel - Alchemist

1 of the Order of 9

Immortal?

Kaz's Stocker

Experiment maniac

Human?

Mori - Little girl dressed in white

Terry's friend

The Undertaker

Has a Teddy Bear that walks and talks

Corey Einar - Elf

Lives in the Hidden City

A cross between a Light and dark Elf

King of Life - King of the Court of Life

Hates anything that is Undead

In a feud with the Shadow Assembly

Grisha - Wizard

Only survivor of the wizard massacre

Jim - Old Leader of Hidden City

Zara's Master

Zara - a Caazotz

New Leader of the Hidden City

Nox - Vampire Leader

Member of the Counsel

Kígyó- Basilisk

Keeper of the Labyrinth

Referee for the Skull Ball Tournament