Something Magic.... (conc)

“How do they keep doing this??” He growled. “These outworlders don’t have a clue as to how to use the magic they have. How can they be surviving after all that I have done to them?? I’ve got to think of something quickly.” *And if she harms one hair on Mr. Snuggles she won’t live long enough to see the outside again.* Lochinar snarled to himself as he sat in his throne type chair and thought. “I’ve got to start the spells that will bound us together in marriage. Then when they bring her to me I will have only to say the words and she will be mine.” He rubbed his chin roughly as he spoke to himself. Feeling better with every passing moment, Lochinar goes to his cabinet of charms, herbs, and powders and starts preparing his spells.

Rae and the others looked skepticle. "Look at it this way gang, if the magic was useless then he wouldn't fear it so. Besides we have a possible advantage here. If he uses physical resistance you can cast a spell, if he starts casting a spell one of us can poke him in the nose. The trick is to satay free long enough to manage it."

Of Lochinar's private bedchamber, there stands a beautiful handmade armoire, made of rare hardwoods and glass, polished to a brilliant hue. In the armoire is Lochinar's private collection of antiquities, magic items and ancient spellbooks. But built into the armoire, in a secret hiding place unknown to anyone but Lochinar and the cabinetmaker (who was disposed of immediately after Lochinar took possession of the armoire) is a small cubbyhole. The cubbyhole is just big enough for the beautiful, stoppered, handblown glass bottle that is nestled protectively inside it. The glass bottle, in it's own right, is beautiful - a rainbow of swirled colors and shapes, glowing from the inside. But the air around the bottle shimmers and dances, silently but clearly proclaiming the powerful nature of whatever is contained in the bottle.

amused Ragnar start through the double doors, Sixth, Mouse, Kara, Spyral, Ghost, IQ, Jila, and Kaybe split into two groups (did I miss anyone??). IQ, Kaybe, Ghost and Sixth went to the left, as Mouse, Spyral, Kara and Jila took off around the right. Luckily the corridors surrounded the throne room, with exits on both sides.

Kara and IQ had been huddling before spliting up, and Mouse assumed they were discussing spell strategies. Mouse still had her silver sword, Kara carried her staff o' destruction, Spyral had his bow, Sixth had her mace, and the others carried whatever The Major had provided. In short, they were ready for one hezmana of a battle. But this would all be in vain if Lochinar's magic was more powerful than Rae and Drum's.

Mouse couldn't help the feeling that this wasn't going to be good, and confided her fears in Spyral. He assured her (with his eternal optimism) that they were going to be just fine. Mouse tried hard to believe him, but was distracted when she felt an urgency to go farther down the corridor, into the depths of the castle. She shook off the feeling and tried to focus, but it was back, and stronger this time. She whispered to Kara, "Do you feel that...something?" "No time for vagueness, Mouse," Kara whispered back. "Let's stay focused." she replied. Mouse had no time to think, as Rae and Artic were roughly pushed through the doors and the scene began.

especially not the poor drudges who had been enslaved to work for Lochinar. A small group of them waited in the shadows, watching the adventurers as they split into two groups. The sevants gestured silently to each other, agruing without words as to what they should do. Finally, one of them shook her head and threw off the clinging, fearful grasps of the others. She stepped from the shadows and silently followed Mouse, Spyral, Kara and Jila.

In front of them stood a woman, medium of height, but thin, oh, so painfully thin. She was wringing her small pale hands, the coarse dark fabric of her sleeves falling away to reveal her skinny arms. Her skin was drained of color and health, her dark hair had been roughly cut short and lay limply on her head. Hers eyes were what haunted the group, they were dull pools of grey hollows surrounded by a face that was drawn and worn out.

The woman looked startled at this question and frowned. "I don't know," she replied in a hoarse voice. She cleared her throat as if talking was not something she did very much. "None of us know who we are. HE took who we are." She gestured behind her and for the first time, the Scoobies noticed the other servants, huddled together gazing at them fearfully. All of them looked as wan and as colorless as the woman.

as she continues her quiet chant. Something in the balance of magic in the room is not quite right, and she has every intent of using that fact to her advantage. The only problem, of course, lies in the difficulty of casting a spell (especially in concert with another) while attempting to free one's self of rope bonds tied with just enough complexity to be convincing. Too much attention to one or the other, and both are ruined.

Just as the spell reaches completion and Rae and Drum ready themselves to release the gathered energy, they become aware of another force in the room, infinitely more powerful than either of them. Drum, still guilty about turning Kara into a frog, refuses to be distracted by it. Rae however IS distracted by it, and releases her energy a moment too soon and in precisely the wrong way...

rushes in at the noise, and quickly drawing their weapons, hurry to the aide of their friends, battling against Lochnar's goons. Seeing more of the feeble servant's gathering at the door, with a look of hope in their eyes, Kay grabs one by the arm, and shouts "Go find our friends, and bring them in here quickly. And the rest of you, help us. We will help you in return. Hurry!"

For all that they had to fear at that moment, Jila felt the effervescent touches of joy bubble up within her. This was nature dancing and swooping; she cocked her head to sounds of birds singing, lions roaring and dogs barking. There before her was the color of sea water caught in sunlight and the shadows of mountains, the golden glare of deserts. Jila and Mouse arose and laughed in delight.

With that, she scooped up some of the malestrom in her arms and ran out the door. Mouse and Jila looked at each other for the merest moment and copied her actions. The magic they held did not harm them, rather it was like being warmed by the sun and kissed by the softest rain all at the same time. They followed the woman past a surprised Spyral and Kara and burst into Lochinar's throne room.

watched as NoName (who had recently discovered her name, but had yet to reveal it) stood amid the fighting, yet was unharmed and bascially went unnoticed, until she started spinning. She spun around and around, and the magic in the room got caught up and dispersed throughout the room, and out the windows. Mouse ran across the room to see the magic starting to slowly reanimate the barren landscape, and felt a joy inside her that she had missed since she got to this strange land.

Spyral's well-timed bellow of "Get Down NOW Mouse!!" alerted her to the danger still going on and she dropped to the ground just to see two spears go sailing over her head and out the open window. She pulled out her silver sword and tried to engage a palace goon, but he suddenly slowed his approach, looking at the sword in his hand as if it was a foreign object. Mouse noticed the other combatants were also slowing, with the exception of Rae, who was still wailing the tar out of Lochinar.

Rae was dazed and a little confused and everyone was off guard. He'd deal with that damned slave later but now it was time to teach that miserable little witch to beat him around. This was his Castle and he still had some magic left. With all of his remaining strength he summoned up all of the magic he could and aimed it straight at Rae.

Seeing that his own power and fate are at stake, Lochinar sends another ball of power at the Scarlett Woman. Seeing the shimmering ball coming quickly, artic manages to break the Scarlett Woman's hold at the last minute and jump to the side, out of the way. The Scarlett Woman screams in pain as she falls face first to the floor and dies.

Lochinar picks himself slowly off the floor. He twists his neck slowly from one side to the other, grinning as the vertabrae in his neck snap rather loudly. "So you think you have beaten me?" He says to the unbelieving 'Scapers. Lochinar limps his way over to his throne and sits down quickly. "You may have, somehow, found a way to get my slaves to revolt against me and free the magic but, you haven't beaten me yet." Lochinar grins a very evil grin. "Now..... who shall be next for me to take my revenge upon? Guards, bring me the one they call 'artickat'. My revenge shall not include her."

6th ran for the boy, who was struggling with the doorknob. The lightening arced towards the child. 6th reached him just ahead of the lightening, scooping him up and rolling to the side. She felt a searing pain in her back as the edge of the lightening glanced across her. The main force of the evil magic smashed into the door, blowing it apart.

6th leapt to her feet and jumped through the hole which was once the door, the boy in her arms. Lochinar's wail behind her told her that she was definately onto something here. She ignored the red-hot pain in her back as she ran, the boy giggling and pointing the way, one thumb in his mouth, the other arm firmly around the bear.

Lochinar ran after her, screaming obscene things, his despiration clear in his voice. His MUST get that bear back! It could not be allowed outside. Already, too much good magic had been released into the outside world, beginning to restore things to their natural goodness and beauty. If the bear were allowed outside his castle..NO! he wouldn't allow it. He'd fry that red headed wench first...

The gang started to follow Artic down another hall. Ragnar glanced back down the hallway his friend had taken with the boy. He shook his head, hoping 6th would make it. Of course, SHE hadn't seen the wound on her back. Ragnar had glimpsed it as 6th had leapt through the door hole. He just hoped she didn't catch sight of it before she got out with the boy. He had a grim feeling that 6th was running on pure adrenaline...

Jila yells as loudly as she can. The group had just come out and around Lochinar's Spire when Sixth tripps, rolls, and lays flat on her back in the grass with the boy in her arms. Steeling herself from the pain in her back, Sixth slowly rises from the ground and hugs the boy tighter in her arms. The "mother" thing is now tightly wound around her fighting spirit.

"It may take some time for the Dragons to gather," Spyral said to the others, pulling an arrow from his quiver, "so we're going to need to slow Lochinar down for awhile." The arrow takes off with the speed of light and lands with an added explosion at Lochinar's feet. Lochinar jumps with surprise having forgotten about the others in his haste to get "Mr. Snuggles" back.

"Come on you guys." Spyral called over his shoulder. "We're going to need everything we've got to distract him from Sixth until the dragons get here. Jila, go with Artic and help Rae. Kara, we are going to need you and your mace in the distraction. I've seen what kind of reach that thing has, just keep aiming in at Lochinar. Drum, IQ, let's see what kind of magic you can throw at him."

Not being used to having magic Kaybe realizes that there is something she can do. This is what her magic is for. Without taking the time for explanations, Kaybe plants her staff firmly on the ground and tips it slowly sideways. The actions of the people around her slow and the stop. Carefully holding the staff at a tilt, Kaybe hurries over to Sixth and then to Ragnar. When she takes their hands they are immune to the affects of her Time Staff. Still holding hands they return swiftly to a position beside the Major and then Kaybe straightens her staff to return time to normal speed.

to help Rae feel better, Kay and Ragnar knealt over the injured Sixth, who was still clutching the little boy with the teddy bear. As Ragnar gently tried to dislodge the boy from Sixth's arms, she grabbed him tighter, her motherly instinct the only thing on her mind at the moment, keeping her pain at bay. "No! Must protect him." She got out through clenched teeth. "Come on Sixth," said Kaybe in a soothing voice. "He is quite safe now." She moved aside slightly so that Sixth could see the brick wall around Lockinar, and the villagers standing guard between the wall and her. "We must look at your wound." As Ragnar again tried to take the boy, this time Sixth reluctantly released him, but kept her eyes glued to him as she moaned in pain. Gently, Ragnar rolled her over so they could have a look at her back. With a hard look in his eyes he looked at Kaybe, who smiled at Sixth, and jumped up turning quickly so that Sixth wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. Kay rushed over to the group and let them know that Sixth was hurt badly. Very badly. The little boy wouldn't leave Sixth's side, as Ragnar, trying to keep her mind occupied, pointed out to her the once more beautiful countryside, and the villagers, who now had color to their faces, and hair. And the smiles on all the faces of the once captive slaves of the evil magician. As the group starts back to Sixth, wondering how to save their friend, an old man in a ragged white robe stands in front of them. He has a tired but kind face, etched in wrinkles, and walked leaning on a long stick. "I can help your friend." he stated softly, but confidently.

Rae, feeling better, thanks to Drum and Kara, was still being supported by IQ, and said, "If you can, then help her. She doesn't have much time." "I used to be a healer, before our magic was taken from us." He stated. "And, allthough I am old and frail now, I feel the magic growing strongly within me again." As Spyrel motioned the group to stand back, Drum helped the old man over to Sixth's side. Artic glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Lockinar was still safely trapped, the others made a protectice circle around their friend. The secret of the teddy bear was important, but, nothing was as important as their friends life. As the old man smiled at Sixth and examined her wound, Kay put her arm around the little boy, who looked at Sixth with worry and fear in his eyes. "I can help her, but she is going to feel much pain." Said the old man. Drum takes one of her hands in his and squeezes it, as Ragnar takes the other. The old healer starts moving his hands over her back and across the wound. Sixth lets out a horrible scream, and then slumps over. "What have you done!" yelled Ragnar, grabbing the old man. "Wait!" said Jilla, pointing to Sixth. Looking down, they see Sixth move slightly, and moan quietly, but, her face now has a look of peace on it, as if the pain is gone. There is a slight scar where the wound used to be. The old healer nods his head and smiles.

Rae laughs and hugs her as firmly as she can (which is not too firmly at all). "You'd make a great mother, Sixth. I envy you that quality." she whispers, making Sixth blush. Then, she turns to the rest of the group. "We still must decide what to do with Lochinar. And there is the small matter of finding that misbegotten dwarf..."

"WATER!" Mouse cried as a torrent of water rushed over the rocky cliffs in the distance, shooting out from the rock face creating rainbows in the sky. The torrent slowed down as it continued flowing. By the time the water reached the Scapers, it had become a normal, and beautiful river,leading back to a high, majestic waterfall. It flowed past them in a gurgle, fish leaping out every so often. A deer paused to drink from it, hardly noticing the group that stood on the river's banks.

The Scapers turned around in wonderment, jaws dropping, happy smiles all around. As the rumbling continued, 6th shouted "Look!" Everyone gazed up at what was once Lochinar's spire. The spire had split down the middle, shivering and shaking, as a huge castle grew up out of the ground. The black spire crumbled to dust and the shimmering white castle stood tall against the sky. Ivy grew up its sides, a glistening green, and over Lochinar's prison, hardening into a dull iron color. As the rumbling dies away, Ragnar walked over and rapped on one ivy branch covering the magician's prison with his knuckles. "Solid iron." he chuckled.

A tall, handsome young man stood there instead, his long brown hair pulled back, leaving the ends to trail back over his princely robes. In his arms was a beautiful woman, obviously a princess. Her silvery dress glittering in the sun was dull compared to her golden curls, her astonishingly beautiful face, or her radiant smile.

"You have saved this land." he said, "And I can never thank you enough for that. But on top of all that you have done for us, you have given my wife back to me after so many years. We were cursed by my brother, the evil Lochinar, many years ago. He was jealous of our love, and decided to destroy it and take over our kingdom. He transformed me into the child you found, and kept my wife with him as the bear you saw. He took our lands, put my people into slavery and tried to destroy everything good and beautiful, so filled with anger was he, that he decided if he could not have what was most beautiful in the land, then no one would have anything of any beauty or goodness."