The kite landed softly on the plain, green grass. The two bodies fell onto the grassland. After a while, one pair of eyes opened.
Pasu lifted his head up softly, for he was very tired. He saw birds flying in the air, grass and flowers all around him. He smiled. He was dreaming again. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked again. He saw the same birds, grass and flowers. He blinked. He was not dreaming.
"Shita!" he said with a start. He felt someone lying next to him. It was Shita. She was not awake yet. He shook her shoulders softly. There was a low moan. Shita slowly opened her eyes. Like Pasu, Shita eyes grew wide, then blinked again, and again.
"Shita," Pasu laughed, "this is really grass. We're saved from the storm."
"Really?" Shita said.
Pasu and Shita stood up on their feet. They looked around, and saw clouds and birds. Pasu and Shita looked at each other with their eyes opened wide. Suddenly, Pasu held Shita and carried her in his arms. He ran around the grassland. He came to a cliff and stopped. Pasu and Shita looked down, and saw not a hole, but a castle made of bricks, bridges, and stone walkways. There was even a little river surrounding the castle, and a big tree that stood in the middle of the castle. Pasu and Shita smiled at each other.
"We're here!" Pasu cried.
They laughed happily. Pasu swirled Shita around and around. Shita felt like she was flying. They both fell down on the grass, and looked up at the quiet blue sky.
"We're finally here," Shita said quietly.
"We made it to Laputa. My father did not lie. There really is a castle in the sky," Pasu said.
They both smiled.
"Now we can find out if you are really connected to Laputa!" Pasu said.
Before Shita could answer, they heard a large noise. They turned and saw a robot, just like the one at the General's mansion. The robot was standing just inches behind them. There was a red light on its head, which was where the beeping sound came from.
Pasu and Shita let out a cry. They both started to run, but the string that tied them together stopped them. Hurrily, Pasu lift Shita up again, and he ran to a distance from the robot.
"Hurry up, Shita! Untie the string!" Pasu said. Shita quickly put her hands on the knotted string.
"I'm trying! I think I tied it too tight!" Shita said.
Pasu reached for his knife in his back pocket. He cut the string quickly. Pasu and Shita figured that they were too late. They squeezed their eyes shut. The robot was in front of them, getting ready to destroy them.
But the robot did not come to destroy Pasu and Shita. Instead, it walked to the direction of the kite. The robot slowly removed the kite from the grass. Under the kite was a little bird nest, where a crying bird and its eggs laid.
Pasu and Shita smiled. The robot was kind enough to save the bird. They were so foolish to think that it was here to destroy them!
The robot looked at Pasu and Shita. The red light on its head sounded again. The robot walked toward the bridge, which led to the inside of Laputa.
"I think it wants us to follow it," Pasu said.
"But I don't have the levistone," Shita said.
"I guess it doesn't recognizes its master by the levistone, but by its presence," Pasu said with a shrug.
Pasu and Shita followed the robot cross the bridge. They saw fish in the river, old houses surrounding the castle, and a small waterfall in front of the castle.
"Look, Shita!" Pasu gestured, "There's even a castle inside the river!"
They continued to follow the robot, pointing and admiring the beautiful sights.
"I never saw such wonderful things on earth," Pasu said.
The robot led them to a forest behind the castle. They walked for a long time. The robot stopped. Its head turned to its right side. Pasu and Shita looked at their right side. They saw a huge marble grave, surrounded by flowers and trees.
Pasu and Shita ran to the grave. They saw a symbol on it.
"Pasu, that's the symbol on my necklace...and on my fireplace at my house!" Shita pointed out.
"How can that be possible?" Pasu asked, "this grave was here for years...hundreds of years!"
Shita turned to the robot. "Whose grave is this?" she asked. The robot gave no respond. Shita looked down at its feet and gasped.
"What's the matter?" Pasu said, holding Shita's hand.
"Look at the robot's feet!" Shita said.
Pasu gasped, too. This robot was not the same as the one before. This robot made no movement, for its feet were grown into the ground. The grass was covering its feet.
"This robot guarded the tomb," Pasu said.
Shita stepped closer to the grave. She looked at the white writings carved on the marble tomb.
"Pasu!" Shita cried, "I understand these writings! My grandmother used to teach me this language!"
"How can that be?" Pasu asked, "These writings are old, they were written by Laputians...but you should know the writings. After all, you are part of Laputa."
Shita began to read, "King Edward. Buried in...Pasu, this grave was seven hundred years old!"
"They had this technology seven hundred years ago! I guess it was possible then to make a city float in the air!" Pasu said.
Shita was looking at the grave with a sad expression on her face. I guess it is hard to learn that your ancestors was king of Laputa! Pasu thought, I should cheer Shita up.
"Shita," Pasu said and grabbed Shita's hand, "Let's go visit the castle!"
Shita's face brightened up like the sun. "All right," she smiled.
They ran around the forest. Pasu noticed there were no clouds in the sky. The sky was clear blue.
"Shita, look at the clouds!" Pasu said.
Shita raised her head. "The clouds are all cleared up!" she exclaimed, "Is it because of my spell?"
"The castle has awakened, because the holder of the levistone approached, riding on the storm," Pasu explained.
On the way to the castle, they heard a loud explosion.
Pasu and Shita stopped running.
"We'd better see what is going on!" Pasu said.
Shita nodded in agreement.
They ran to the direction of the loud noise. They stopped at the cliff, and looked down.
"It's the General and Mooscar!" Pasu cried.
"What are we going to do?" Shita asked.
"Look, there's Big Momma and the gang! Mooscar captured them all!" Pasu pointed out.
The big airship was parked close to Laputa. Soldiers were rushing out of the plane to enter the city. They were exploding the castle, and carrying treasures and jewelleries into the airship. Big Momma's ship was blown to pieces, her and her gang were sitting on the ground with their hands tied together.
"I can't believe they are doing that to the castle. I have to free the gang," Pasu said. He started the climb down the cliff.
"No, Pasu, it's too dangerous!" Shita said.
"You stay here, all right? It's safe here," Pasu said.
"Pasu!" Shita cried.
Pasu kept climbing down the cliff. The cliff was high and narrow, but that did not stop Pasu. He reached the ground, and let out his breath. Big Momma and the gang were at the other side of the castle on the bridge, where there was a big gap between the two bridges. Pasu backed a few steps, and ran toward the bridge. He jumped and let himself fly toward the foot of the bridge. His hand quickly hang on to the tip of the bricks. He was close to falling from the sky.
* * * *
"Pasu, be careful! Ahh!" Shita cried as she watched Pasu jump. But Pasu made his way to the bridge, and was climbing up to the small tunnel under Big Momma.
Shita let out her breath. That was close.
Shita heard a voice behind her.
"Princess, princess, are we lost in our own kingdom?" the voice called.
Shita turned around. It was Mooscar and his men.
"Mooscar!" Shita whispered. "Where's your little friend?" Mooscar asked.
Shita closed her mouth. She did not say anything.
"Very well, come with us. You might be able to help me!" Mooscar said. He gestured his hand to his guards, and walked away.
The two guards dressed in black walked towards Shita and held her arms tightly behind her, pulling her to follow Mooscar.
"No! I'm not going!" Shita yelled, "No!"
* * * *
Pasu let out a gasp. "Shita!" he cried. But it was no use, for they were too far. Shita could not hear him.
Pasu watched in despair as Shita followed Mooscar helplessly.
Do not worry, Shita, Pasu thought to himself, I swear I will save you.
He continued to crawl in the tunnel until he reached the spot where Big Momma and the gang were seated. He used his hands to separate the bricks above him, one by one. He arranged the bricks until he saw sunlight.
"Big Momma!" Pasu called softly.
Big Momma thought she was dreaming. Then she had the voice again.
"Big Momma!" Pasu continued to call.
Big Momma stared down, and saw a hole between her legs. It was Pasu.
"Pasu, my boy, you are here, too?" Big Momma said happily.
"Mooscar got Shita," Pasu whispered.
"Why, that...," Big Momma could not say those words in front of a young boy.
"Look, I am going to free you first, then I'll find a way to save Shita," Pasu said.
He pulled out his knife from his back pocket and reached his hands into the hole of bricks he dugged. Big Momma looked around her curiously, and put her tied hands into the hole. Pasu quickly cut the ropes on Big Momma's hands, and handed her the knife.
"Good luck, Big Momma, I'm going to save Shita," Pasu said.
"Wait!" Big Momma called.
Big Momma put her leg into the hole, and shook it. Pasu looked in surprise. Inside Big Momma's oversized pants was a gun and five bullets. Pasu smiled happily.
"Thanks, Big Momma," Pasu said. He put the bullets into his pockets, reached for the gun and crawlled out of the tunnel.
"Why, my babies suddenly grew into adults," Big Momma said happily to herself.
The gang beside her looked at her questionably.
"Don't give me that look. Now give me your hands, and look around you!" Big Momma said angrily.
* * * *
"Where are you taking me?" Shita cried.
"To a place where you originally belonged," Mooscar said.
"What are you talking about?" asked Shita.
"You're see," Mooscar smiled mysteriously.
Chapter 9
Mooscar, Shita and Mooscar's men went around the castle. The castle was built elegantly at the top, but at the bottom were dark blue metal walls surrounding the castle, which were very hard and were bullet-proofed. Mooscar was moving his hands on the metal walls. Shita wondered what he was trying to find.
"Ah-ha! I found it! The castle and the treasures above are just rubbish! The entrance into the nerve centre of Laputa is here!" Mooscar cried. His finger was pointing to the little symbol on the middle of the metal wall, which looked exactly like the symbol on Shita's necklace. He placed Shita's necklace close to it. There was a small light shining from the necklace into the little symbol. The metal wall slid open. Mooscar led Shita in, and left his men outside.
"Sir!" the men cried.
The metal wall closed.
* * * *
Pasu saw Shita and Mooscar going into the metal door. "Shita!" Pasu shouted. He had to save Shita. He quickly climbed out of the tunnel in the bridge. He started to climb up the tree roots to save Shita.
* * * *
Inside the metal wall was black space. There were black blocks floating everywhere, as if there were some kind of magnetic force between them.
Shita was shocked. Who would have thought an old and beautiful castle would have such high technological devices under it?
"What...what is this place?" Shita asked slowly.
"This is the heart of Laputa. The science of Laputa. This is what Laputa really is," Mooscar said, "Only the royal family is allow to be in here."
"What do you mean?" Shita asked.
Mooscar held Shita and they stepped forward onto one of the floating blocks, which moved like an elevator. The block floated them to another door with the symbol of the necklace on it.
"You see, Lushita. I, too, have an old family name," Mooscar smiled devilishly, "I am called Romooska Paro Ul Laputa."
Shita was shocked. "Laputa?" Shita cried, "You are from Laputa, too?"
"Yes," Mooscar said, "In fact, you and I are blood-related."
"I do not believe it," Shita shook her head stubbornly.
"You will believe everything when the time comes," Mooscar said to himself.
Shita did not understand what Mooscar meant.
Mooscar placed the necklace close to the symbol again. The metal wall opened. Mooscar and Shita walked inside. Instead of more advanced technological devices, there were tree roots everywhere.
"What...why are there tree roots here?" Mooscar cried angrily, "Never mind, I will burn them all later!"
He walked quickly through the roots. He came to another metal wall. He placed the necklace on the symbol on the door again. The wall slided opened. He gazed in.
"More roots?" Mooscar cried.
Inside the wall was a forest. Tall trees and grass filled the ground. There was a huge tree in the middle of the forest.
Mooscar walked quickly through the grass, his hands protecting himself from the tall grass. Shita followed him. He ran to the tree in the middle, and snatched the branches off the tree one-by-one.
"It has to be here somewhere...it just has to be," Mooscar murmured. Suddenly, he stopped breaking the branches.
"It's here...my kingdom is here," Mooscar said excitedly. He laughed loudly.
Shita heard Mooscar's voice, and peeked behind him. She gasped when she saw what he was pointing at. Inside the huge tree was a large diamond-shaped blue crystal. It was slowly rotating itself in strong light.
"This is the source of Laputa's power," Mooscar said, "I have been waiting for seven hundred years!"
"Seven hundred...," Shita said slowly.
"That is correct. Seven hundred years have I waited. Now the king has returned. Laputa will rise again!" Mooscar cried.
"Who are you?" Shita asked Mooscar.
"You forgot, have you not? Or did you precious queen mother not tell you?" Mooscar roared, "You are my cousin, my blood-related cousin! You and I are both descendants of Laputa!"
"No...no!" Shita cried.
"Yes. Your queen, seven hundred years ago, accused my ancestor of murdering the king! We were banished from Laputa! If it was not for your queen, my ancestor would have been king of Laputa! I would be king now!" Mooscar shouted.
"You are lying! My ancestors never accused your ancestor of murder! It was the Prince that killed the King, and declared war on earth, and started the battle of the robots, and...and...," Shita was startled. How did I know all of this? she asked herself. She tried to remember. "I dreamt about this!" Shita whispered softly.
Mooscar laughed. "You have finally recovered your true self, have you not? You see, our royalty is in our blood! No body can take Laputa from us! We are Laputa!" Mooscar said.
Mooscar looked around the tree. He spotted a tall black marble stone next to the huge tree. He quickly walked toward it. He brushed the roots off the marble, and began to read the writings.
"It is here. Just like what my father told me. The power is here," Mooscar said.
"Your father?" Shita asked.
"Yes, my father. Also, my grandfather, my great-grandfather. Through seven hundred years of generations, we were all taught to hate our other part of the royal family. You were the ones who banished us from our homes!" Mooscar said.
Mooscar moved the necklace on his hand close to the marble stone. There was a great light from the writings of the stone. Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
* * * *
"Hurry up, get more bombs!" the General cried.
The soldier carried the bombs to explode the metal door Mooscar and Shita went into. But not one bomb made a scratch on the metal wall.
"Open the door, Mooscar!" the General shouted at the door.
A loud voice suddenly called out.
"Why, General, what a delight it is for you to attend our celebration," the voice called out. It was Mooscar.
"Mooscar, where are you?" the General called loudly.
"I am right here," Mooscar answered.
Moments later, Mooscar and Shita were in the air above the General and the soldiers.
* * * *
Pasu was in the middle of his climbing. He heard the voice, and turned to look at what was happening.
"Shita!" Pasu whispered.
* * * *
"You have finally showed up, Mooscar," the General said.
He quickly got his gun and shot at the sight of Mooscar. But Mooscar was just an image, the bullets did not hurt him.
"No, no, no, General. Look, I am just an image. Nothing you do can hurt me," Mooscar laughed.
"What in the world are you doing?" the General asked.
"I am celebrating the rebirth of the monarchy. From now on, the earth will be under one king," Mooscar said.
"Are you mad, Mooscar?" the General cried, "You will never be king!"
"Well, you will just have to get used to it," Mooscar laughed, "Let me show you what Laputa is really made of."
In a moment, there was a sharp metal point coming out at the bottom of the island. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion.
Pasu shut his eyes at the presence of the bright light. Afterwards, he looked down, and gasped. Mooscar had shot a nuclear bomb into the ocean under Laputa. There was fire on the top of the ocean. The water was still shaking. Just how powerful can Laputa really be? Pasu thought.
The General and the soldiers were shocked.
"Now, are you satisfied?" Mooscar asked, "Who is king?"
The General did not answer. He cried to his soldiers, "Back to the ship! Immediately!"
The soldiers quickly followed the General to the airship.
* * * *
"No, no, General. The game is not played this way," Mooscar said. He continually moved the levistone on the marble carved writings.
"What are you doing? Have you not done enough?" Shita cried.
"You stay out of this!" Mooscar shouted.
* * * *
The ground slowly split two, all the metal walls slid open. The General and the soldiers fell into empty air.
"Ahh!" they cried out.
Pasu was still in shock as the soldiers fell into the deep ocean. He considered himself lucky he was still hanging on the tree roots. He looked around him and saw an entrance into the dark space Shita went into. He nodded to himself.
"I still have to save Shita!" he said.
* * * *
Shita ran to Mooscar. She opened his palm and snatched the necklace away.
"You little...," Mooscar murmured, "How dare you interrupt me?"
Shita ran to the metal wall as fast as she could. She put the necklace close to the symbol on the door, just like Mooscar did.
"You can't run away, Lushita. You and I are one. We conquer Laputa!" Mooscar said behind her.
"No!" Shita cried.
The metal wall slid open. Shita ran in
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