Episode 10: Lance
For I had expected always
Some brightness to hold in trust,
Some final innocence
To save from dust;
That, hanging solid,
Would dangle through all
Like the created poem
Or the dazzling crystal.
Stephen Spender
Blu's pad
Blue Side, Tennkliomer-Mrey
I turned and smashed the radio with my fist. Who the hell was David Duchovny?
I swept the radio bits off the desk and sat down, contemplating. I didn't particularly enjoy thinking on this subject, but it seemed necessary. I tried desperately to decide where I should start looking for Lance. The TDT was no help at all. I was not going to the freaking psychics. Most psychics wanted to hurt me for some reason.
I stared out the window. The blue, snowy mountain peaks shone like a blue paintbrush dipped in golden paint. It was very pretty, and unfortunately distracted me.
They always said that you don't need to go looking for trouble, but that it would find you. I didn't know who they were, but they seemed to know what they were talking about (hehe..). But in this case... Well, THEY didn't know Pheobe.
I looked around. The golden light seeped in through the blue-tinted windows, played on the blue aquarium with a miniature Kinjit swimming languidly inside. Probably the loneliest Kinjit anywhere. Maybe I should get it a goldfish lady-friend.
What was I trying to do again?
Oh.
I decided that instead of think, I would go through my TDT inventory and clean up the clutter of all the things I had accumulated in the past few months. The things that caught my eye..
Item#204740[Vail'sBeret] I laughed out loud. I had kept the poor guy's Rocket beret.. I think I should keep this, for some perverse reason.
Item#204784[TheGoodStuff] That was my coffee. Keep.
Item#204783[TDT/GJacket] Ah. Keep.
Item#204779[FlashyThing] I wished I could conjure those.. Oh well. Tis the price I pay for being blue, hehe... Keep.
Item#204735[Zairacia] Oooh... I zapped the blue stone pendant and looked at it. It was in the shape of Silverstreak island, the Zairacia shape, and reflected the now golden-white sunlight into blue-tinted rainbow about the entire quiet room. It was supposedly made of blue diamond from the Dream Mountain in Dragonspace. Cobalt had sent it to me a few years ago.
My house.. My near only sanctuary anywhere. It was quiet, only a cold, snow-smelling breeze drifting from the other room where I had the window open. The walls were white, the floor made of bluewood and covered by no rugs. The furniture was scarce; a plush pillow in the window sill for reading, ornate bluemetal sconces on the wall, a clap-on-fire spell Lance had once set up for me. The ceiling was smooth and covered in silver stars, set to the constellations of Lylat, as seen from Corneria.
I looked back at the silver-chained blue diamond and stood, conjuring a simply hook. I reached to the ceiling and ended up hanging the pendant on the ceiling where it refracted the light everywhere, in the shimmering patterns of the Flux on a calm day.
Item#204786[unnamed]: What was that? I keyed it, and a mirror pane appeared. I grabbed it, and saw it was melting in acid. Oh yeah, I remembered that. I zapped it back in and deleted it. Who needed a half-melted mirror? Who needed mirrors?
Item#204787[Silverice] Silverice deserved a place outside of TDT storage space. The sword appeared and felt great in my hands. The handle was polished blackwood, the blade made of what looked like layered siverstone. I stared at it, gazing at my reflection, willing it to tell me where Pheobe was.
The reflection flickered. My eyes widened, I watched intently. I then realized that Phoebe was staring back at me. Her eyes were wide in surprise as well, white hair wild and relatively careless, black streak jagging through at her temples. Her eyes were gray, she was dressed in the standard Aliroo humanform clothing. Why the Pheobes were always in humanform I never understood. Maybe her parents were crazy and gave birth in humanform (shudder).
"Phoebes?"
"Blu!" Her voice had changed, it was easily distinguished from Pheobe's now, I could tell. She looked as if she had taken a good beating, and had lived through it. Good for her. I wondered if she was still the innocent, naive little thing she had been when I showed her how to use a gun. Sheesh. She was perfect for Lance. "By the Isles, it's you!!"
"What's going on? I.. I thought you were..." Dead. I had seen her drop dead. I had seen her head practically cut off by Pheobe.
"I very nearly was," she said. "But then I thought no, I'm going to fight."
She was quoting News Radio. She wasn't going to tell me. She certainly HAD changed. That was fine with me, I didn't need psychos asking me about MY secrets. But it bugged me that she wouldn't tell me.
"What gave you the strength to go on?"
She sighed, and looked serious as she looked away from me in the axe-blade. The words were repeated, but she seemed to mean them. "Blu, there are some things in this mortal world that are uncompaired to anything the Great Beyond has to offer."
I continued with the News Radio, since I had nothing else to do. But I did really ask, sincerely, "Love?" If it was love, maybe she could fill me in.
She looked back at me. Something in her eyes told me yes. But the brief moment of infinite deep thought and pain, she laughed. "No, coffee."
I didn't grin or laugh, I almost smiled. "Phoebe, where are you."
She shrugged.
"Can I get you out?"
"I think so, Blu.. Do you know what a trump is?"
I nodded. I kinda knew.
"I think Pheobe inscribed my trump into the axe. You concentrated on contacting me, and you did. The blade works as a trump now, I suppose. With trumps, you can simply hold out your hand and bring me through.."
It took no more, I held out my hand to her. To my surprise, she clasped it firmly and then stepped.
She was my height, her wild white hair spiking over her forehead. Her gray eyes blinked hard, then she grinned broadly and hugged me shortly.
"God Blu, thank you! Where are we?"
"Tennk-Mrey," I said. "Where were you?"
She took a breath and sighed. "I still don't know. It was.. very odd. Everything always seemed two-dimensional; I haven't used my depth perception in ages.. Damn, Blu, last time I saw you.."
I looked at her. I remembered.
**
Pheobe hovered from her central position towards the other Pheobe, and passed through the magical field. She stooped gracefully and picked up the axe.
“This is a nice piece,” she remarked innocently, running a finger down the blade. A trickle of black blood streamed down the blade and splattered on Phoebe’s face. She raised the axe to the side then, and let the blade rest on White Phoebe’s shoulder, near the neck. She slid the axe downwards, and a sparkling stream of white appeared on the white Roo’s neck.
Pheobe held out a hand, and Katt placed a small vial in her hand. Pheobe bent, and allowed the vial to fill with the white blood, shimmering like silk. She leaned in closer, and whispered in her opposite’s ear,
“Die knowing that you did it...for your world. For..My world.”
Pheobe smiled, and slid the axe further. There was no satisfying scream of pain from the White one. Lance narrowed his eyes as the immense power that was Pheobe intensified. Pheobe flashed brilliant white, and then returned to her previous black
tire, a white-filled vial hanging at her belt.
She shook her head, as if just emerging from a refreshing shower.
“Who’s next?”
**
"That was a while ago," I said. A very long time ago. I shook my head. "I still can't believe you're alive!! Lance'll be so happy, and of course we have to bring you up to speed.. SO much has gone on while you've been gone.."
"I know a lot of it," she said. "I can see through her eyes when they're white and mine are shut."
I swallowed. "Thats... actually kinda freaky," I said. "So.. But Phoebes, why're your eyes gray?"
"You remember what happened to Lance?"
"Yes." Lance's eyes used to be blue, I think. Gray-blue. But not any more. Phoebes didn't need to explain further.
"That's a good thing, sorta, right?"
She shrugged. "Yes." She flopped on the couch and shook her head. "I haven't had a real night's sleep in years."
"Be my guest."
"Thanks, Blu.. But.. before I go.. Pheobe.." She closed her eyes. "Oh my god.."
"What??"
"She's.. Blu, I.." even with her eyes closed, her face seemed to twist in horror. "I think she..she just.." She opened her eyes.. "I can't see him anymore. He's gone. I.. She blinked, but.. Blu.. I think.." Her mouth opened and closed (I love the retarded fish simile for some reason, LOL).
I lunged forward and grabbed her shoulders and shook her more violently than I had intended. "Where are they?!"
"I.. they're.."
"WHERE?"
"The.. The Black Isles from what I can see.."
**
Aliroo Headquarters
I stormed down the hall. My permit to the Black Isles had expired, and I needed at least two authorizations from AHQ High Council Staff to renew it. Mine counted as one. I wanted Kiv's. And I needed it now. If she'd killed Lance.. I slammed a fist in the wall outside the Council room to let them know I was coming. The door opened and I ran into something furry.
"Outta my way, dam-" I realized it was Fink. He didn't look happy. I wasn't happy either. "Sorry Fink. Later," I smacked him on the shoulder (maybe a bit too hard, but I was in a hurry) and brushed by him and entered the Council room.
"Kiv, sign here, pass to Black Isles, NOW." I slid my TDT across the table towards him. The various Council members picked up their papers as it slid by. He caught it and let it scan his ICF, renewing my pass. He stood and met me at the door. Even in Rooform he was taller than me.
"What do you need to do at the Isles?"
"Pheobe. No time." I looked at the TDT, and flashed out.
**
Black Isles
Wy-Ink'mer (the 2nd Isle)
The ever-present black clouds over the Isles looked like killer sheep. Killer sheep with rabies, even. They ran around in little circles over the Isles. It was raining. Already I was drenched in black rain. I looked like I had been tarred.
I had arrived on the coast of the Second Black Isle; the largest one. It was in a basic teardrop shape. The wider part was a circle of jagged black spikes, crowning a yin-yang sign. Pheobe had made that. I looked at the stony engraving and decided that Pheobe had been born to a humanform 'Roo. Doubleshudder.
I trudged and splashed through the two-foot-deep half-circle that made up the yinyang. I kicked ineffectively at the water. A dark hole up ahead in the rock showed a rocky passage. I followed it.
I found myself in a small chamber, lit by a single candle. Pheobe was there, holding the candle at chin-level. All I could see were the highlighted portions of her porcelain features, eyes white. She was staring at me.
"Hello Blu."
"Hi."
She smiled beautifully and dropped the candle. It flared, and a quick ring of fire ignited around the perimeter of the room with black fire. I saw that Justynn was there. An etched pentagram was inscribed in the floor. I managed to catch a weak-sounding noise in my throat; the golden-white 'roo dead in the pentagram was sadly familiar.
"What a lovely reunion," Pheobe said.
I was going to swear at her, but my eyes were locked on the head of so much fur and feathers nearly at my feet. I was not going to throw up, I was not going to throw up.. Even better, try This is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream..
I couldn't close my eyes, I couldn't turn my back, I couldn't kneel down. Any of the above exposed myself to the two sociopaths across the pentagram. I instead did something halfway smart. I stepped forward and ran a foot along the edge of the pentagram, breaking the symbol. Pentagrams.. human as far as I knew. I didn't glance another look down.
Pheobe stuck out her bottom lip. "I'm sorry, did I kill someone important?"
"I have a question," I said finally.
"Yes?"
"Why won't you die?"
She laughed, and not by coincidence a stampede of rabid sheep thunder resounded through the cave. "My secret. Any more questions?"
I thought I had been fast. I'd perfected the conjure-throw manuever of the knives.. Pheobe cocked her head as she looked at the knife that was lodged in her throat, dead-center. She didn't die though. She took the knife out and dropped it, then swallowed and chuckled.
"Try harder," she said. "Kill me."
I furrowed my brow in a sarcastic 'eh!?' "How can you even talk?"
"You missed my throat by...eh," she made a distance between her thumb and pointer finger.
I rolled my eyes.
"Shall I kill her?" Asked Justynn.
I swallowed. I didn't like to admit it but.. Pheobe had near killed me last time we'd met up, and Justynn was no stragler in the Art. If I didn't do something quick, I was going to die.
Pheobe held a finger to her chin, looking at Lance's still body. "I suppose. Have fun, darling."
**
Sunsnest Peninsula
Tigen was looking at the ceiling, when suddenly he ran into Jacey infront of him. She was doubled over, the infinity Hoop hovering worriedly near her shoulder.
"Gosh, are you okay?"
".. no.. I.."
Jenny had meanwhile trotted back to the group, Njangu close behind.
"What's wrong?"
Jacey crumbled to the floor. Then, she simply faded away. As the Hoop spun, bright as ever in the air, another portal opened. The figure who rushed into the crowd, weilding a Hoop as well, was in human form, black hair spiking over her forehead, a silver streak sprouting from her left temple. She was dressed in a stiff black uniform, a silver hoop emblem on her left collar and a row of slashes on her right collar. A saber handle hung at her belt, along with a wicked looking blaster. She had a scar down her right hand, it shone silvery in the low light of the Moon Gardens. She seemed to be Blu's age
It was Jacey Blue.
** The living are the only dead; The dead live, - nevermore to die; And often, when we mourn them fled They never were so nigh!
Anonymous
Jenny looked at the newcomer. She looked like the Jace who had just... disappeared.. But something was different about her. She looked younger, yet older at the same time.
"Jenny Murphy?" Asked the Jacey that was standing there.
"Y-yes..?"
"Did.. Shit." Jacey stepped towards the abandoned Hoop, which was flickering nervously. "Too late.."
"What's going on?" Asked Njangu. "Who are you?"
"Jacey Blue; but not the one you knew, the one that was with you just now. It's too long a story, I have to find Blu Flyer. You know where she is?"
"No.."
"Fricking lines are being a pita," Jacey muttered, rubbing her temples. She reached and touched the hovering Hoop. It sparked in recognition, and hovered to her shoulder. "Stay safe you guys, I have to go make sure I don't cease to exist. K'k'dah, al-bri." She turned, and in a liquid movement, disappeared.
**
Justynn was giving me a funny look. I didn't like it much, I know he wanted to kill me.. I also know he COULD kill me. Maybe. Yes, I think he could kill me. How could he have done that, though, kill his own father? Whatever happened to, like, no killing relatives?
Speaking of relatives, I wondered what was happening to Jacey.
Justynn didn't hesitate, and he stepped around Lance's body on the ground towards me. I noticed that. Fyne, if he wasn't willing to step over dead bodies of people he probably helped killed, I'd use it. I silently thanked Lance, wherever he was, and paced around the pentagram. I was too angry to be sad right now, or else I might have melted into a puddle of 'why me' phrases. Lance.. I bit my lip.
As I kept my eyes locked on Justynn's, I did feel however that something was missing. Rather, something that was supposed to be missing was missing. I'd never had an extremely close friend die.. I suppose maybe Phoebe counted, but never someone as close as Lance (BTW: Blu STILL doesn't know Strype is dead, I think, LOL).. But I had had family die. Terribly. And when things like that happen.. it's like a chunk of your heart gets torn out. And I didn't feel that.. Either I was in terrible denial or something in my brain knew.. KNEW that Lance couldn't possibly be dead.. Not MY Lance, not any friend of mine. Pure Evil is infectious, right?
I drew my sword. If he was going to hit me with psywhatnot, good for him. Otherwise, I'd beat the living crap out of him.
He drew his own sword.
His stupidity amazed me.
I clashed my sword against his a few times, blue and white sparks seeming to fly from the blades like they do in movies. I finally managed to smash my fist into his face. He stumbled backwards, and had blood on my knuckles. I kicked his fist, hard, and his sword went flying. I held my sword then at his neck and was about to de-throat him when I realized he was crying. Something in me made me hold my arm. I, paranoid me, looked behind me. Pheobe was gone, and so was... so was the body. I looked back at Justynn. He was crying.
"Don't.."
"What is your flipping PROBLEM??" I screamed at him. "You KILLED LANCE." I pushed the blade against his skin, and blood dribbled down. My words brought me to my senses. Lance had been very dead. He was dead. damnit, he was dead! I was currently too pissed to contemplate the meaning of life.
"I didn't kill him!" Said Justynn, in pain. I enjoyed the pain on his voice, perversely it made the hurt in my heart feel better.
"You were THERE."
"I.."
"You were there, Justynn. Now it's time for you to die."
He closed his eyes, he was sweating like crazy; his hair was almost matted down with tears and sweat. He was the complete vision of what somewhat who felt pity for him would leave him mercy. I, unfortunately for him, was not that person. I was disgusted at this utter display of submissiveness. He was fairly shaking in fear. I watched him for a few seconds. He slowly, slowly rose his shaking hand. In it was a black bag. I looked at it.
"God I'm sorry.." he whispered. His hand began shaking violently because of the awkward muscles it took to hold it out. I finally snatched the bag from him and hooked it on my belt. I wanted to kill him. The order was off in my brain, KILL HIM. I wanted to.
What had I become? I'd become an emotionless killing machine. I didn't mind killing. I wondered if I had even started enjoying it. The thought revolted me, yet looking objectively.. I looked at the mass of pitiful flesh before me, waiting to die by the hand of his dead father's ex-girlfriend. He couldn't be more than 20 years old. I stood there for many minutes, with my sword at his neck, his eyes closed and me staring at him. The sweat on my hand was gross inside my glove.
"She.. left me to die," Justynn said then. "She hates me. She knows you'll kill me, that's why.."
"Shuttup!" I screamed. "What kinda crap you tryin' to pull??"
He swallowed and continued to talk.
"She killed him, but.." swallow, "I.. I saved him.." He still hadn't opened his eyes.
"SHE KILLED HIM. You cannot save a DEAD PERSON!"
His teeth chattered as I yelled at him. He shook his head. He began to stutter. God he was pitiful!
"HOW saved him? HOW Justynn?"
More stuttering. He managed an "I"
I was about to draw my sword away. I couldn't stand such a display of.. ugh. Even Vail had never done THAT. Which was why he got Brownie Points. But this... this...
My elbow drew back to sheath my sword. A gloved hand then shoved my elbow forward. I gasped. The sword pierced Justynn's neck. I whirled then, my sword hand flying in an arch. I cut Jacey on the cheek.
"SHIT! WHAT was THAT?"
Jace licked her lips in defense. "He required killing, Blu."
I turned back on Justynn. He was dead. Just like that. And he thought I had killed him. A tremendous guilt built in my throat. I felt like I was going to throw up.
"Don't, 'he required killing, Blu' me!" I yelled at Jacey. How could she have done that? I looked at her and saw something different about her.
"It finishes the loop," Jace said finally.
"WHAT FREAKING LOOP?"
"I can't explain. Directive."
I slapped her then, hard. "Tell me."
"I can't. You have to trust me." She winced then. She kept her eyes closed. And then.. she disappeared. I heard her whisper two words,
"Trust me."
**This is where you start the music if you want, hehe
Phoebe was still asleep when I got home. I straightened the blanket she had conjured and went out to my balcony overlooking the mountainside. The cold was biting. But I needed cold, I needed numb. My friend was dead, and I had indirectly killed a guy who conceivably was a good kid at heart. I felt terrible. I took a breath of cold air, and it hurt my throat. Snowflakes stuck to my skin and hair. I remembered the bag Justynn had given me. I opened it, and reached in. On a long chain was a sparkling golden diamond in the shape of a crystallized teardrop. I held the pendant up high so I looked into it without touching it. I didn't want to touch it, it was so beautiful. I didn't deserve to touch it.
Something firelike danced inside. It was almost ghostlike in form, a negative and positive light simultaneously. I was hit by flashbacks as I looked at it. I recalled the time we met the first time, me being oblivious to the fact that we had been born on the same planet. I remembered seeing Ripley the first time.. I remembered the day he'd visited my office on Katina and I had been such an idiot! The flights through the Lylat system were as vivid in my mind as the training course on Corneria. The awkward comm transmissions on Venom.. The games of Prelude, Poker and Hearts.. The moments of pure understanding, however fleeting.. We may have been brought up on separate sides of the world, but I had considered him one of my closest friends.
My vision on the stone became singular, undivided. My eyes hurt, but if I blinked I would fall apart. I think I cried. When I could see again, the stone was waving on the chain in the wind, firey core burning invisibly. I hurt pretty bad inside. I replaced the stone in the pouch, tied it, and threw it from the balcony. The bag lost itself in the snow. I heard a sound that sounded like a cry. The wind was deafening, and then it was all I could hear. I stood there, staring after the wind, and wondered. I crossed my arms and gripped my shoulders. A wind picked up and I was cold. But it didn't really matter. I needed the time by myself. I looked up as the sky moved into it's blue cycle, an energizing effect in itself. I slid down the wall to a sitting position and cried.
**
Saveen watched as James and Gobrianna rooted about the general area, attempting to locate the little one called Tag. The Roo had never particularly understood infants, they tended to bug him terribly. After all, he could not recall a time in which HE had been an infant could he? Taking care not to be seen, Saveen turned on his heel and left his friends to their own devices.
“Yo TDT, flash me to the residential area, I need some sleep.”
::Oh sure, YOU need a rest. Do you know how long it’s been since I was allowed to simply allowed to sit and recharge? I’ll TELL you..:: Without hesitation, Saveen deactivated the AI module and flashed to the Residential area. He had had the foresight to install a switch to deactivate the AI module after the little incident with the Federation.
“Thank you..” The Roo made his way down the hall, it was getting pretty late anyway. Saveen had almost reached his destination when he heard it, somebody was weeping in Blu’s quarters. The Roo found himself hesitating, who would want to break into Blu’s quarters anyhow? He couldn’t quite grasp the idea that Blu herself might be weeping. Stepping over to the entrance, Saveen quietly rapped the door with his knuckle. The weeping stopped, then a cracked voice came over the comm,
“Yeah what?” It was Blu alright, her voice was wavering. The Roo wanted to run away right there, he wasn’t sure that he’d able to handle what he might be seeing next. But then.. he was a caring soul as well, and the Roo stood his ground.
“This is Saveen. Can I.. Come in?” There was a very long pause, then at last a deep breath over the intercom as Blu fought to compose herself.
“Yes.” The door slid open, and Saveen entered. The Cabin was bathed in darkness, much like Fink’s had been. Somebody stirred on the couch, obviously asleep. But there was another.. Blu sat hunched against the wall, her sunglasses were still there, but the skin beneath it was tear stained.
“What.. happened?” Saveen stammered, he had no idea what to say to his friend. What could he say? The Roo felt painfully aware of his own shortcomings.
“He’s gone.. Lance.. Lance..” The Roo waited for a fresh flood of tears, but none were forthcoming. Instead, Blu simply sucked in a very deep breath and let it out again. Taking care not to bump into Blu, Saveen quietly took a seat next to the female.
“Ya know.. I’ve seen what the loss of a friend or loved one can do to ya.. I’ve had it happen to me more times then I count. It tears you apart because it makes you forget that you aren’t alone.. I’ve lost my Mom, my Dad.. But I’ve carried on with my life. I mean..” Reaching over, Saveen gently pulled Blu’s head level to his eyes.
“I didn’t know Lance too well, but I know that he would want to carry on, ya know what I mean? I mean, damnit Blu, you’re larger then life!” The Roo licked his lips, he didn’t feel like this was going too well, “But.. But.. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.. I guess.” Blu let out a long shuddering sigh, and pulled Saveen close into as much an embrace as she could endure. The Roo didn’t resist, he could feel another teardrop fall from her face and sprinkle to his fur, dampening it.
“I miss him so much..” Blu whispered.
“As it should be.. As it should be..”
**
I looked about. Bells chimed, I heard the wind blowing. The cold was biting, but I couldn't feel it much through my thick fur. Ears flat against my neck, I squinted through the blinding light reflected off the miniature mirrors of falling snow. Where were my sunglasses? I looked around. The wind pushed and tugged at my wings, and I folded them flat on my back and crouched in the snow. I crouched for a long time, and the snow washed over me like a desert rain. The sun was blocked out. The wind howled above the snow, but I found myself burrowing. Deeper and deeper into the snow. I shoved it out of my way, searching for something. The snow went deeper and deeper, and colder and colder. I didn't know what I was digging for, but it was important. The snow ahead was pulsing. Suddenly Pheobe's head pushed through the snow to my left. She was laughing at me. I punched her in the face and she turned into a three eyed koala and scurried into the ceiling.
There was a bend in the tunnel, and I came upon the dead body of Justynn. He was blindfolded, and he lay across the tunnel with an arm pointing ahead. I was about to pass him when he grabbed my arm and opened his mouth to speak. His mouth moved, but no sound came. Instead, blood began to flow from his neck where it was pierced. I looked away and followed where he pointed.
I hit a door. I opened it, and yiped as I nearly fell off the mountain ledge. I was overlooking the Blue Mountains. Something told me I had to find something. It was down there somewhere.
..blu..
It drifted to me, that name. I heard it on the wind.
...Blu!
I couldn't speak, my voice was lost on the wind.
Blu!
I looked around but couldn't see the speaker of my name. Something was poking my sternum. I reached behind my neck and pulled a chain. The blue Zairacia sparkled. I looked at it.
BLU!
A wind gust blew at me. I had to grip the door frame ere I fall. The Zairacia broke from my neck and flew into the wind. It whipped up, chain glittering. The light hit it, the golden-white light, and refracted in the jewel, blinding me.
"BLU!"
I bolted up in bed, clutching the sheets to my neck. My eyes darted from the black and white picture in front of me, backed by the blue setting of my room. Saveen? Where..? Oh.. I remembered...
"Bad dream," I muttered. I sighed. I licked a paw and ran it under my eyes and tried to collect myself.
"So we gathered," Phoebe said. She blinked twice. "I heard all that happened. I saw some of it."
I nodded. My nose itched and I sneezed. "How much was a dream," I muttered. I wanted to wake up and know that Lance was still alive, and that Justynn was still alive.. And..
"Are you okay, Blu?"
I nodded. I didn't feel okay. But I was Blu Flyer. I was supposed to be okay.
"What time?"
"Golden," Phoebe said. "I made you some real coffee." She turned and handed me a mug of coffee in my "Official Idiot" coffee mug. I didn't feel like drinking. I took a sip to make sure she didn't feel bad, and returned it to the coffee table near the bed. I stretched and stood, and made my way halfway depressed to the living room and looked out on the balcony. I opened the door, and closed it behind me, leaving Saveen and Phoebe inside.
The cold wind didn't bother me now. I had been built for this harsh environment. The light was gold again. I had slept for nearly an entire day. As I looked out on the mountains, I recalled my dream. It seemed silly now. But I could almost hear the voice calling me over the screaming wind.
I turned and was about to step inside when something in my living room sparkled in my eye. I looked and saw the Zairacia hanging from the ceiling. I entered, said nothing to the two 'Roos there, took the pendant and returned outside. I held the stone at arms length over the balcony, and as the wind rushed over it, I could almost hear the crystalline voices of the singing Draconae, tending the forge at the center of Dream Mountain. The singing sounded like fragile crystal bells, cascading and titillating in over the wind like airyders.
*Final Dream Mountain has not received your friend*
I didn't think I had heard that. The chiming had spoken in a voice as faint as a whisper. *He is alive.*
"Where?" I asked the wind. The Zairacia shimmered.
*The stone of Dream Mountain can show you. It speaks softly, friend of SearSky*
Something near my peripheral vision flickered.
"Iffling?"
I said the word and it was gone. I looked back to the Zairacia. What was this stone?
The sun moved slowly. The light lost its harsh golden tint and became soft and light, a bright white edged indecipherably in golden lining. The light hit the Zairacia, and the stone began to spin wildly. It was glowing with golden-white light. It suddenly flew out of my reach and hovered instantly before me, then dove down to the mountains below. I jumped then, and followed it, painfully navigating the winds that rushed through the mountain passages. The Zairacia was a white orb ahead of me, diving and twisting madly downwards. I became blind to everything but the stone, and I followed it.
**
"Yo, uh..." Saveen looked out the window. "Where'd Blu go?"
Phoebe joined him. "I have no idea.."
**
The wind had died down and I followed the psychotic pendant through the jagged rocked poking through the snow at the base of Mt. Teal. It suddenly dove, and melted a hole right into the snow. I landed, and sunk neck-high into the snow before the snow compacted enough to stand on. I shifted into the form of a Scairdyne, a mountain-living snake, and followed in the melted wake of the Zairacia stone. As it burned through the snow and ice, the water leftover froze, creating a sort of icy shoot that brought me deeper into the snow. I finally saw the Zairacia ahead. It had stopped spinning, and it lay, inert, next to a black bag. I blanched.
The tunnel was too small to shift form and TDT out. I took the Zairacia and bag in my mouth, and turned, and headed up, using the flat, spiked scales the Scairdyne had equipped on it's belly to make my tedious way up.
Once above the snow, I returned to Rooform, apparently the best form for this climate. I took the bag, and removed the stone. It shimmered golden white. Golden white. I looped the cord around my neck, and as soon as the stone touched my fur, I heard a voice, loud and clear in my mind.
"Thank the Isles Blu, I thought you would never come for me."
**
"Blu? Talk to me Blu.. Please.."
I blinked, breathing rapidly. I swallowed painfully. "Lance?" I held up the jewel and looked at it. The fire inside flickered sadly.
"..Yes.."
"You're supposed to be dead.."
"I don't know what would be better, Blu..."
"What.. happened to you?" I found myself choking on my words.
The fire hesitated and darkened. It was depressing.
"You know what.. what a Spirit Jar is?"
"No.." I didn't like the sound of that...
"It's a complex majik spell that allows.. the removal of a soul; a spirit.. and with majik like Justynn's, the.."
"You mean that's YOU in there?" I peered closer into the stone. "It's not some sort of communication talisman?
The fire sighed. "Unfortunately.. yes.."
I was suddenly self conscious. So he wasn't dead, just horribly disembodied? I found my grasp on the stone tightening and instantly dropped it, where it fell to rest near my heart.
"...I'm sorry, Lance.." I was suddenly very, very sorry. I had thrown him off the balcony.. I began the long way up, the old-fashioned way of jumping from rocky mountain ledge to rocky mountain ledge, instinctively using my perfectly crafted wings for balance. It was a long way up, but I didn't want to be back soon. I found something in me screaming. I didn't want to kill someone, or hurt someone, or break something, or break down in sobs.. I didn't know what I wanted. It was silent for a few minutes.
"Say something, Blu.." Lance's voice in my head made the scream worse. "I'm gonna be okay.. The spell can be reversed, we'd just have to find my body.."
I stopped and leaned on a jagged shelf. I sniffed and reported sadly,
"Can you reverse the spell with a dead body?"
He was silent then. ".. What are you saying?"
"Don't you know what happened?"
"No.. I was put under mind control.. I don't care to elaborate on what occured next, Blu.. Then she put me in stasis or something.. I.. woke up to the spell.. Justynn cast it.. And then bagged me.. I remember not a lot, until you removed the pendant from the bag yesterday. I tried to tell you, Blu.. You wouldn't touch the gem, I couldn't get through to you.."
"Pheobe thought she killed you. Justynn was trying to save you. Your body's dead, Lance.."
He was silent then. "Did you kill him?"
I took a breath. "I was going to. He gave... damnit, he gave you to me and I threw you off the balcony..." I found myself on the verge of tears again. What was wrong with me? Today was NOT my day.
"So he's not dead?"
"No. He is dead. Jacey pushed my sword hand and pierced his throat."
There was a long pause, then, and I continued upwards. My balcony was in sight again and I made my way towards it.
"Then there's no way out," Lance finally said then. "The caster has to reverse the spell.."
"Oh, god, Lance.. God, I'm sorry..."
"..You're making me depressed, Blu, stop it.." His voice was faint, but always the optimist. "There's gotta be a way.. there always is.."