Well what have we here...?

Night hung over the misty glade, deep and mysterious. Great, ancient trees reared into the sky, softly whispering as a cool wind rose. Below them a tiny, silver stream trickled into a deep pool which sparkled with the reflection of a thousand stars.

Suddenly, one of those stars began to grow brighter and brighter, until it outshone the full moon that rested over the distant mountain peaks. It bathed the forest with its soft, bluish glow, and then abruptly darted toward the ground, leaving a trail of shimmering dust across the heavens. With a brilliant flash, it landed in the center of the glade, right beside the pool.

As the light subsided, the star slowly assumed the shape of a hedgehog. Its body was a shining crystal blue and slightly translucent, wreathed in white flames. Its glowing eyes pierced the blackness as it looked quietly around the clearing, then approached the water's edge.

Lifting its head to the sky, it suddenly called out in a clear, echoing voice, "Come, fellow spirits and guardians, come forth to the Sacred Glade to receive a vision."

At first there was nothing but tranquil silence. Then, one by one, auras of light began to drift soundlessly through the mist. Just as the star had, they slowly took on forms as they passed out of the trees. One became a violet-blue hedgehog, with a long green dress and icy blue eyes. Two others transformed into a pair of female echidnas, one black-and-red, the other a soft white with streaks of cream on her long quills. Last of all came a tall, red hedgehog. He carried a wooden staff that was carved into the shape of a snarling dragon, and a dark cape billowed around his broad shoulders. His bright golden eyes were as fierce and sharp as a hawk's.

As the four spirits gathered around the pool, they bowed their heads in unison and said, "Greetings, O Spirit of the Blue Star."

"Welcome, Jenna and Demener," the star answered, nodding its head to the two echidnas. "And welcome Arona and Korone. My dear friends, I have called you all here tonight to witness a vision of the future, of what must soon befall the world of Mobius. For what you have seen is true. The Evil One has returned. Kovar."

A shiver passed through the spirits and they hung their heads in despair.

"Will this never end?" the blue hedgehog asked hopelessly. "We used all our force to banish Kovar before, and still it was not enough."

The star nodded gravely. "It is indeed unfortunate, Arona. But we must not lose hope."

"But what can be done?" said the red hedgehog, coming up beside Arona. "We've tried everything in our power to fight Kovar, and it has all failed. We have no options left. He has grown too strong."

"No, Korone," said the star. "There is hope, and there is an option. For we have the six Chosen Ones."

uddenly an image appeared on the surface of the pool. It showed a group of six children, all around the age of young adulthood. There was a nervous-looking young tiger, and a pair of echidnas, a boy and a girl, who stood close together. It was easy to see from their similar striped markings that they were siblings. Beside them stood three hedgehogs. One was black with dark violet streaks on his quills. The second was a dazzling blue girl, who had eyes like splintered emerald.  And the third, who stood slightly apart from the rest, was a paler blue boy. His handsome head was held high, but there was a grave look in his blue-green eyes that suggested he had fought many battles and seen many horrors. Slung over his shoulder was a magnificent sword that seemed to shine with a light all its own.

The four spirits stared down at the Chosen Ones reverently.

"We must place our faith in them," ordered the star. "They are the only ones who can defeat Kovar now, and in only one way."

The white echidna looked up curiously. "What way is that?"

"A way you may be very familiar with, Jenna. Behold."

The image on the pool blurred and changed. The eyes of the apparitions opened wider as they leaned closer to the water. Arona began to tremble. Korone just gaped in disbelief, and began to shake his head.  The only one that remained still was the spirit of the star.

When the images vanished, Arona looked up in alarm. "No . . . It can't be true. Not this . . . It's far too dangerous."

The star blinked slowly. "I'm afraid it is the only way. To face Kovar, the Chosen must face death itself."

"But they may never return!" Demener protested.

"My sister is right," Jenna agreed. "This task is extremely dangerous for healers like myself. But for mere children?"

"They'll die!" Korone cried in outrage. "We can't sacrifice them just to defeat Kovar! They aren't responsible for any of this, so why must they pay the price? If anyone should—"

The star interrupted Korone calmly. "Peace, my friend. It is a desperate task, and I deeply regret that it must be . . . But you forget that these are no ordinary children. They were chosen for a reason. Perhaps they can survive what others cannot."

This is too risky, even for them," Jenna argued. "I agree with Korone. There is no way they can survive this."

"Have they not surprised us before?" the starry hedgehog inquired. "After all, they've saved Mobius from certain doom twice now. They are young, but they are strong. They have the courage to face this. And we must trust in them above everything else."

"But what if they were lost?" Korone asked helplessly. "I couldn't bear the injustice of that . . . It's not right." He turned and looked away angrily, hands folded on top of his staff.

The star looked at him intently. "The vision does not show their death, Korone. Only what they must do."

"I don't care," Korone retorted. "I won't have them do this. It's madness."

"It cannot be helped," came the mournful answer. "It is their destiny, and no power can change that. No friends, not even ours. All we can do is guide them and prepare them for what lies ahead. They will need your help. Jenna, can you help Raena? Her skills will be needed, and you are the only one that can truly teach her."

There was a long, strained silence. Then Jenna nodded, resigned. "I can."

The star nodded gratefully and turned to the others. "The rest of you, teach the children what you can. They'll need all the knowledge they can get, before the time comes."

"We shall help them," Arona whispered. Korone and Demener simply inclined their heads solemnly.

"Thank you, friends," said the star, turning its blazing eyes to each of them. "The Chosen could not do this without you. Be prepared, for the events you've seen lie in the near future."

"We shall not fail them, O Star," Jenna promised.

"And they shall not fail us," the star declared. With that, it suddenly rose into the night, climbing rapidly into the sky, until it was nothing more than a tiny speck of light, indistinguishable from the rest of the stars.

But the four spirits remained in the glade, their eyes fixed on the pool, which was now dark and still. For a long time there was no sound but the gentle wind and the chattering of the stream.

"It's not fair that this has fallen to them," Korone said suddenly, shaking his head, "that they must bear the burdens of the past on their shoulders. Innocent children, who have done no wrong. Why must it be this way?"

"I don't know, brother," Arona whispered sadly. "I don't like it either. Fate is cruel sometimes . . ."

"Perhaps," Demener agreed. But then she turned deep red eyes toward the swath of starlight above. "Or perhaps Fate has something else planned for these children, these Chosen Ones. Their future is hard to see, even for us. Who knows what can happen."

With a heavy sigh, Korone said, "I hope you're right, Demener. They will need us now more than ever. I know one thing for sure—I'll do everything I can to help them face the dark road ahead. They will not die because of this. Not while I have the strength to fight."

The others looked and him and nodded their heads solemnly.

Suddenly Korone turned away and said, "Come. If this must be, then we must be ready."

With that, the four spirits slowly vanished into the darkness, leaving nothing but the sacred pool, the peaceful forest, and the ever-watching eyes of the stars.