Something Magic....(8)

Something Magic....(8)

KaraS -- *CRACK! KaBLAM!!!*

Lightning forked across the sky and the clouds opened up to pour buckets of rain down on the climbing party. Within minutes they were soaked to the skin. Spyral quickly landed on a small ledge where he and Mouse crouched and tried not to be blown off by the fierce wind. Everybody held on to their ropes and tried not to slip.

KaraS looked down. They had already ascended a good distance and the ground looked very far away, very hard and strewn with sharp jagged boulders.

The gale force winds swirled around, picking Kara up and lofting her away from the cliff face. She screamed and closed her eyes but did not let go of the rope. The wind eased and she smacked back into the rocks with punnishing force.

"We can't take much more of this!" Ragnar yelled to Sixth.

"I know!" Sixth yelled back.

"We have a choice?" IQ asked.

Thunder rumbled and a bolt of lightning struck the rocks, barely 100 feet from where the party crouched. The air sizzled with ozone and a sharp tingle of electricity traveling across the wet rock made everybody gasp.

"He's trying to kill us!" Kaybe wailed.

"Hey!" Drumheller shouted. "Where's Lurkingghost?"

Indeed, their semitransparent friend had vanished.

"Did the lightning get her?" Spyral asked.

"No, here I am." 'ghost said as her head poped out of the rock right next to the angel.

"AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!" Spyral and Mouse yelled as one, almost catapulting off the rock face in their alarm.

"Don't DO that!" Mouse screamed.

"Sorry." the ghost said contritely. "I've found a cave inside the rock. You can all get in through a crack off to your left."

Trying desperately not to slip and fall, the party moved across the rock face to the left in search of the cave and it's promised shelter...

artickat -- <SHUDDER>

Artic huddles in the closet with Saber, her hand over his eyes so he wouldn't have to witness the gory scene that was taking place. "Yuk! Don't look or you'll go blind...I think I may...ugh...I think I'm going to be sick!" Artic whispers and Saber let's out a little moan in response.

Lockinar pulls away from the Scarlet Lady breaking off the gruesome kiss "Did you hear that?"

"No...I didn't hear anything." Scarlet replies, while he is preoccupied she steps behind a desk putting as much distance between them as she can. Trying to avoid another unwanted kiss...without being obvious...she gives him something else to chew on "If the others reach the Castle it would be disastrous. With they're combined powers they could..."

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!" Lockinar screams forgetting about the sound he heard "That's why I have to marry Artickat as the Oracle says...when I do there won't be anything the other's can do to hurt me." Lockinar hugs his Teddy Bear tight and Artic gives Saber a look because she hadn't noticed the T-Bear before that moment. Artic and Saber watch in total amazement as Lockinar begins to speak in a voice that a parent would use with a child "Noooo...those good people won't be able to do anything to stop me...will they? You'll be safe...my widdle wuvy duvy!" Lockinar rubs his nose against the bear's nose.

In total shock, Artic and Saber watch the unbelievable scene "Did you see what I just saw?" Artic jabs Saber in the ribs and he nods his head as if to say 'yes'. Artic begins to shake with suppressed laughter...as hard as she tried, she was unable to resist the urge to look at Saber to see if he was laughing too...once they made eye contact Saber let out a loud *SNORT!* and they were both unable to contain they're laughter any longer.

"BBBAAAWWWWAAAAA!!!!" Artic rolls out of the closet and onto the floor holding her stomach "Ouch...ouch...my stomach hurts! HA,HA,HA,HA!!! Ouch!" Saber begins to howl at the top of his lungs. "Stop....ha...looking at...ha...me...ouch...or I'll never...ha...STOP...ouch...laughing!" Artic tries to push Saber away from her so that she can get some control...suddenly the gigglers' notice that they have been made.

"Rutrow Rastro!" Artic mumbled when she noticed Lockinar frowning at her "How's it going Split Chin?"

Lockinar screams "GUARDS!" and soon running feet could be heard coming closer "Now we will see how you get out of this one!"

Artic and Saber begin to run for the door…but the guards are already there...turning around Artic thinks fast and grabs the Teddy Bear from Lockinar's hand. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! GIVE HIM BACK TO ME!" Lockinar screeches as he tries to grab the bear away from Artic.

Twisting away from Lockinar, Artic turns towards the room filled with guards and holds the Teddy Bear up for everyone to see "GET BACK! OR THE BEAR GETS IT!"

JilaCosa -- “Rae, look! They’re gone Rae!”

Jila says, with an edge of panic in her voice. She twists to look at Rae and points at the rock wall that their friends were climbing. As the rain continues to pour down in torrents and the winds to blow, Jila and Rae each look like drown rats.

*Geradan, we've got to see if they are okay. Fly us around the rocks. We've got to know if anyone lived through that last bolt of lightning.*

The dragon flies low around the base of the rock wall and then makes a few passes parallel to the wall. The only evidence to be seen that the rest of the group had been there was the dangling ropes and pitons left in the rocks.

"What do you think happened Rae?"

"I don't know. Perhaps they found shelter but had no way to signal us about it. We have been flying quite a distance away from the group. Give me a second, I'll try to locate them." Rae huddles down in her cloak and relaxes as much as possible. After a couple minutes she straightens again and says "Look, over there. That strange looking dark spot in the rock wall. It must be a cave because they're in there."

*Geradan, we need to join the others. If they've found a dry place then Rae and I need to be there too. Is there any way you can land by that entrance?*

*There is no ledge for landing,* the dragon roars through the wind *but I can land on the wall itself.*

*oh gods* sighing Jila turns to Rae "Hold on tight. Geradan says there is no ledge to land on so he is going to land on the face of the wall."

Rae gives Jila a nervous look as she realizes how rough this landing will be.

With that said the dragon flew straight at the wall, going vertical at the last minute. Clinging by his talons he bends down to lay on the rock face. As Rae and Jila slip of the dragons back and find their on places to hold on, Jila gives the dragon a pat on the neck *Find a good place out of the weather. I'll yell when we need you again. C'mon cat, let's get out of this rain.*

Finding themselves just a little down and left of the opening it takes them only a couple minutes to get to the crack and through to the cave in the wall.

"By the way Rae, here's your ring back. Thanks for you help but I think, somehow, The Major fixed whatever it was that was giving me the headaches. I hope it wasn't too hard on you." Jila gives Rae a big hug and then turns to the rest of the group. "Hey, that's one Hezmana of a storm out there, don't you think!?!"

Spyral -- New Secrets?

The cavern shook as the storm raged outside. The crashing of thunder blasted around the walls of the cave in waves of echo and the lightning created a blinding strobe effect, casting the 'Scapers shadows along the walls in grotesque shapes. But it was dry, although the chill rain had dropped the temperature. The group huddled together for warmth, by a magically crafted fire, courtesy of Rae and Drum.

"What the Frell do we do now?" Sixth asked. "We take one step out of this cavern, that damn wizard is just gonna find another way to blast us off the side."

"Well, at least we're safe for now," Jila said. "Maybe we can come up with something else."

"What about Geradan?" Drum asked. "Can't he just fly us all up?"

"He was taking an awful beating out there," Jila replied. "I really don't wanna take a chance on him getting seriously injured."

"So we try and wait out the storm?" Drum asked. "Anyone got a few centuries?"

"Yeah!" Kara agreed. "Lochinar can probably keep this up for quite awhile."

"At least he doesn't yet realize where we've gone," IQ chimed in.

"That we know of, at least," Ghost replied.

"And he won't," Rae added. "I've placed a spell on the opening of the cavern to shield us from him. It should keep us safe for a little while."

"Do you think He might think we're dead?" Kara asked.

"If he did, this storm wouldn't still be going," Rae answered.

While the group was talking, Spyral, Mouse and Ragnar were exploring the perimeter of the cave, each carrying a small torch for light.

Ragnar examined the walls of the cavern, running his hand over the smooth surface and marveling at the lack of imperfections in the rock face, which was almost like glass.

"Y'know?" he ventured, "Call me crazy, but this cavern don't look very natural to me. It reminds me of a Frellin Fish bowl."

Mouse promptly started whistling the notes to "Under the Sea". "When in Rome," she said, wandering further along the wall. "AAUGHH!!!" came her voice after a few steps.

"MOUSE!?!" Spyral called out as he ran to his friend. "You OKAY?! WHAT HAPPENED?"

As the angel reached her, he found Mouse sitting on the floor of the cavern, holding her left foot in her hands and rocking back and forth.

"oooooooo my toe..........I stubbed it HARD.......oooooooooooo.........ouch..........OWIE!" she whimpered.

"What did you hit?" Spyral asked, his hand on her shoulder. "Lemme see,"

"DON'T TOUCH IT!!!!!!" Mouse screeched as Spyral reached for her cradled foot. "I hit it on something over there," she added pointing to the wall."

"woooooooooo!" Rgnar whistled. "Take a look at this," he said shining his torch over a large section of the wall.

As the rest of the 'Scapers ran over, Rae bent down to attend to Mouse and Spyral moved to join Ragner, adding his torchlight to that of the Vikings. The light revealed what looked like a huge ancient disk of stone, set against the wall. Strange icons and abstract figures covered the disk in old, chipping paint.

"That looks like a cover-stone to a tomb," the angel said. "I've seen enough in my time recognize one."

"Seems like a strange place to bury someone though," IQ said.

The angel turned to look at him. "Not if it's someone that somebody else doesn't want found. Ghost? Care to make a recon?"

Drumheller -- “Wait a minute.....

I'm not really sure how, but I can make out some of this

writing!", Drumheller said as he made his way to the front

"Well, what does it say?", asked Ragnar.

"I can't make out all of it, but it says something about

an 'Eternal Champion', the 'Defender of the Realms'.", Drum

said staring at the symbols. "I think it's the tomb of some

great hero of this land! Maybe Lochinar chose this place

for his fortess to make sure nobody found it!"

"'Eternal Champion', eh." Ragnar said. "Not a very accurate

description if this his tomb!"

"Well," Ghost said, "there's only one way to find out for sure." With that, she walked through the disk.

The rest of the group waited, anxious for Ghost's return...

Kaybe0 -- While they wait anxiously

for Ghost to come back, Kay looks around to see what else they may find. As she makes her way around the wall with the torch, she notices a crack running down part of the wall of the cave. Concerned that they could be in danger of a cave in, she looks more closesly for any other cracks. She spots one a couple feet past the first one.

"What is it, Kay?" asks Rae seeing the frown on her face.

"Well, there are a couple cracks here, that may be dangerous." said Kay, examining the crack. The others come over to investigate. Tripping in the dark, Jilla falls against Ragnar, who, in turn, lost his balance and fell against Kay, who put her hands up to catch herself against the wall. With the force of the three of them together falling against the wall, It creacked and groaned. "What was that?" asked Kara. "The wall!" Kay exclaimed. "It moved!" "Where?" asked Drum coming up for a closer look. "Right there, by the crack." Kay said. "See? It isn't even any more. It's pushed in a little bit." "Let's see what it is", said Sixth. "Maybe we should wait till Ghost gets back", said Mouse. "We don't know what's happened to her."

"We can at least look at what's behind the wall, can't we?" asked Jilla. "Ok, on three", said Ragnar, and the group all pushed together. Groaning loudly, the wall moved between the two cracks, and an opening appeared. Shining the torch in through the opening, they could see a tunnel of some sort.

Raven Kat -- “Guys, do you feel that?” Rae asks

quietly as they peer down into the tunnel.

"Feel what?" Ragnar asks.

"Yes." Jila says at the same time.

"What?" Mouse asks. "What do you feel?"

Rae shrugs. "Something. Something's down there... waiting for us."

"What is it?" Spyral asks.

Destiny." Drum whispers.

Rae casts a spell so she can see in the dark and starts down the tunnel. "Come on."

The others follow at a slight distance, and Rae is the first one into the large crypt where not one but several stone sarcophogi lie. Rae peers into the first one and pulls back quickly. "Oh, holy mother!" she gasps.

"What? What is it?" Ragnar shines his torch into the coffin and gasps. "It looks like you."

Rae nods from the next coffin over. "This one is you." she announces before retreating into a corner to throw up.

Mouse2000 -- Mouse refuses to go any further

having NO wish to see where her final resting place could be. Instead, she thought for a minute.

*Eternal Champions? Does that mean we're successful in our quest? But how would anyone know that? And why would coffins be down here waiting for us, already carved? Especially if we are the "Eternal Champions"? Aren't we just supposed to poof out of here when we defeat Lochinor? Is there a time warp type of thing going on here? Or is someone just trying to intimidate us?*

Her head swimming with these questions, Mouse wanders back towards the main chamber and takes a seat on the cold floor. "I'm too young to die.." she whispers to herself. Trying to keep it all together is getting more and more difficult.

Jila sits down next to Mouse, and Mouse asks her, "Just curious, but what did the Major tell you before we left that had you looking so pleased?"

"Just that all I had to do was call out his full name and some of his friends would be available to help us if we needed them." Jila replied, still shocked by what the others had found.

"Good to know..." mused Mouse.

Rae stumbles out of the tunnel looking a little chalky. "Ok?" Mouse asks, feeling stupid for asking such an obvious question. "Just peachy," Rae answers as she takes a seat next to Mouse. Mouse gives Rae a hug, and after a few minutes they start to brainstorm with the rest of the group about what to do / how to do it / when, and how NOT to occupy those charming coffins.

RagnarRB -- You’ve got to be kidding Ghost...

Even Ragnar felt a strange chill run down his spine....but blast it! Maybe this was like the ghost of x-mas past or something.

The whole gang seemed subdued. A far cry from the dancing and singing of nights before. He shook almost imperceptably.

"Well I for one don't buy it. I'm not dead yet nor do I intend to die on this dirt ball....They don't have any Farscape to watch...getting stuck here would be pure dren!I just know my vcr has run out of tape by now!"

The others just looked at him.

"Well I mean it, just becasue there is some likeness of us in that chamber doesn't mean it is us. Besides how can we be in there and hear at the same time? Besides i don't look that bad."

None answered so he continued on.

"The old toad played with out minds before. I think that's what he's doing to us now. Trying to throw us off, makes us fear him."

"I don't know...it looked awful real in there to me." IQ ventured.

Ragnar shook his head," no, nope I refuse to believe it. How can any eternal champion die? He wouldn't be champion then." He really was trying to be encouraging. Not much luck.

His eyes rose at a motion in the darkness of the cave.He squinted his eyes then widened him as he realized what he was looking at.

He stood up straight in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding?"

All heads turned. Ghost waved one hand weakly at them and did her best to smile. But it wasn't Ghost that commanded their attention. It was her companion...

Ragnar was shaking his head. "That's not?..."

Ghost shook afirmative.

"The great champion?"

Ghost looked like she had her doubts as well but sort of gave an uncertain nod all the same. "Thats what the script said. It became legable as soon as I touched him. He woke up and..." Her voice trailed off.

There before them, clutching loosly Ghost's other hand, was a small whisp of a child. Couldn't be more than three by the looks of him...or her...not really evident. The real shocker was what WAS effident.

Now just where in this realm would a kid get a one peice PJ outfit with Pokemon pasted all over it?!

The little child was busy sucking his thumb, but careful not to loose the tiny blankie that draped over his shoulder, the corner clutched permanently in his grasp .He eyed the group in exchange. Haunting piercing eyes.

"Peepee.!" it announced. "Got to go PEEPEE!!! NOW!!!"

He skipped over to 6th..."PeePEE now!" He began tugging on her clothing. "PEEPEE!!!!!!"

Sixth Sense Dreamer -- Ummmmm....

6th looked down at the kid, then up at the gang.

"Mommy! Peepee, now!" the kid danced in place.

"um,o-k..." 6th ventured, ingoring the snickering that came from the viking's direction. She led him back into the cave he came out of.

"Just...um do your stuff over there." 6th gestured towards the wall and the kid ran for it.

"So um, what's your name?" 6th asked.

The kid ignored her, but ran back over to 6th.

"Up!" he cried, holding his arms up to her.

"I, uh, don't usually..."

Up, mommy, up, up, UP!" the kid pouted, looking like he would erupt in tears. 6th sighed and picked the tyke up, carrying him out to the gang.

She sat down with him in her lap, but he struggled out of her grasp, and ran to the still snickering Ragnar. The kid stood in front of the viking, sucking his thumb, and eyeing Ragnar's helment. The smile went off Rag's face as the kid reached for the shiny thing.

"NO." Rag said firmly.

"Mine!" the kid cried, grabbing for it. Ragnar leaned back, his hands clamping his helment firmly on his head. The kid nimbly darted closer, climbing up to stand on one of Ragnar's legs, and tugging on the helment, trying to pull it off.

"SO what should we do with him?" Mouse asked.

"Take him with us, I guess." 6th shrugged.

"Lochinar's castle is no place for a child!" Jila said. She was a mom, she knew.

"But if he's the eternal champion, I think we might have to take him with us." Rae said.

None of the gang relished taking the child with them, but they couldn't very well leave him in the cave alone.

Meanwhile, the kid had succeded in getting Ragnar's helment off if the vikings head, and was perched on his shoulder, the helment sitting jauntily atop his shaggy haircut. Ragnar wore a look of dismay.

Pony ride! Pony ride!" the kid cried, kicking Ragnar in the ribs with his little feet. "Pony ride, daddy, I want a pony ride!"

"Aw geez..." Ragnar sighed, and it was 6th's turn to snicker.

"Go on, big guy, give the kid a pony ride, while we find a way out of this cave." she laughed, earning a dark look from the viking.

Raven Kat -- Curiouser and Curiouser

Rae mutters as she watches Ragnar give the kid a pony-ride around the cavern.

"That's one word for it." Mouse whispers.

"I'd have others," Rae explains. "but there IS a kid present." Shaking her head, she gets up to go look at the coffins again.

"Rae!" Mouse calls. "Don't do this to youself..."

Ignoring her, Rae walks into the tomb and stares down at 'her body'. It looks like her, except for the purple robes. She grabs the body by the arm and pulls up the sleeve. The tattoos are identical to her own. Slicing away the robes, she searches for more identifying marks. They're all there...

A tug at her robe attracts her attention. "What's a matter, auntie?" the little boy asks.

"That look like me to you?" Rae asks, pointing into the coffin.

"Uh-huh." the boy reaches in and takes a dagger out of the body's hand. "This is yours, too."

"No, no it isn't. I don't own one like that."

"You do now." The boy holds the dagger out to Rae.

"GUYS!" Rae calls out.

"What is it, Rae?" Ragnar and Sixth come running. None of the others seem to want to re-enter the burial chamber.

Rae grabs Ragnar by the arm and pulls him to his coffin. "Are those your weapons?"

"What?" Ragnar looks at her carefully. "Are you okay?"

Rae nods. "Are those your weapons?"

"But not the rest? Why?"

"I'm not sure I follow, Rae..." Ragnar begins.

Sixth nods in agreement. "What's it matter, anyhow?"

"This tells us something."

"WHAT?" they both demand.

"That's a bad word-" the little boy begins.

"Hush." Rae tells him. "Look, guys. These aren't exact replicas of us, so they obviously weren't put here to scare us."

"Maybe Lochinar just doesn't know us all that well." Sixth suggests.

"No. They have all the details. Only the big things are wrong." Rae snatches the dagger from the little boy and waves it at Sixth. "I've never seen this before! It isn't mine! But it's BURIED with me! ME! A me with all my tattoos and childhood injuries. Why?"

"Who knows." Sixth shruggs. "It probably doesn't matter, anyway."

"Like hell it doesn't. We take the weapons when we leave."

"Are you insane?" Ragnar demands.

Rae nods. "Probably, yes. We take them."

"Why?" Ragnar asks. "Give me one good reason why."

"They're ours." Rae mutters. "Meant for our hands. Look, don't ask me why or how, but I know we have to do this. We take the weapons before we go. It's the only way."

"Maybe we should talk about this." Sixth says. "As a group."

"Fine." Rae agrees. "Bring them in here."

Kaybe0 -- While everyone discusses their situation

their small companion explores each person in the group. While he was playing with the tassle on Kay's tunic, she says "I don't know if we should take these weapons or not. Yes, we could sure use them. But, (with an earie look toward the coffins), I'm not sure if we would be upsetting destiny. You know what I mean? But, then, again, maybe they were there for a reason. To help us." tousling the little boys hair, she gets up and walks to the entrance of the tunnel. "You know, maybe this tunnel is a secret entrance into the fort. And these were put here to scare us off. Or maybe they were a sign of what will happen if we proceed to look. Maybe they were added after the fact by a different source, who knew we would need them. And, is this sweet little boy a ghost? How can he be real? And who is he that such pains were taken to hide him in here? Maybe he is the key to the whole thing. Oh, I don't know!" she says throwing her hands up in the air, and sitting next to Jilla.

"This quest has become very serious and dangerous. I do know that we have no choice, but to proceed with it. And, if those weapons will help us, then I say let's go for it."

Spyral -- Conclusions

The Angel, sitting alone atop a small rock and staring at one of the caverns walls was approached by Mouse.

"Angel, what do you make of this?" she asked Spyral.

"It doesn't make sense....." the angel replied. "Let's just say for a moment that those bodies are really ours. How can they be here when we are still alive? If we haven't actually dies yet, then how can they be here?"

"I don't know Space/Time stuff angel," Mouse replied. "But I know my scars and that......thing over there has 'em. Right down to the smallest detail."

"Scars................" Spyral trailed off in thought. "THAT'S IT!!!!" he shouted, making Mouse jump with a small squeak.

"WHAT?!?" the 'Scapers shouted out as they ran after the angel, who made a mad dash to the coffin that bore his "body".

"HE HAS 'EM BOTH!!!!" was the only reply from the angel until he reached the coffin.

Quickly but gently, the angel reached into the coffin and rolled "his body" over onto it's (his) side, and that's when realization came........

"TWO WINGS!!!!!" the angel proclaimed, lifting his now missing right wing (yet fully intact wing on the other body) for the rest to see. "I knew something wasn't right with this. He has, that is I have.......er.......will have both wings." the angel whirled to face the other 'Scapers. "This isn't now. It can't be. Not for a long time."

"What are you talking about?" Sixth asked.

"Once I die, if I succeed in earning another pair of wings, which obviously I will," the angel paused and gestured to the two-winged body, "I'll imediately regain my Harpers position in the High Realm. There is no way that my body could end up here with two wings unless sometime in the future, I returned to the mortal realm as a mortal once again with both wings intact and somehow died. It's Impossible. The "Man In Charge" does not let go of his charges. Certainly not to some small-time wizard with delusions of Grandeur."

"What are you saying?" Rae asked. "That somehow our bodies were returned here in the future. After we've died?"