Disclaimer: Why oh why oh why do I have to do this? *Sigh* All characters belong to Marvel and are not used to make me a profit. The following text belongs to me and should not be used without permission or altered in any way. You should also never run with scissors in your hands. However, you should write to me at [email protected] and tell me what you thought of the story. I promise to reply ASAP.

Amities, RogueStar

The air was warm and scented with sulfur, increasing in heat and stench as the Avatar and the Sorceress wandered ever farther into the cave. The gloom was lit by several torches placed in alcoves in the wall, glowing, flickering, casting grotesque shadows on the rocks.
"It be gettin' hot."
"Phoenix is a creature of fire and flame - this temperature suits her perfectly."
"Pity ‘bout de rest o' us," Remy wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Ya be a weather-worker, can't ya do anyt'ing ‘bout dis?"
"No. It would anger Phoenix to tamper with her domain - we would prefer to encounter her in a good mood rather than a bad," Ororo's white robes were soaked with sweat, clinging to her despite their loose folds.
"Hmmm. Let's see if I can' do anyt'ing ‘bout it," Remy smiled and the air began to shimmer around them. An energy field formed, solid around them, trapping air inside itself.
"For someone who professes no knowledge of the Avatar's skills, you are performing admirably."
"Now, c'n ya drop de temperature jus' inside dis bubble?"
"Easily," Ororo lifted a hand and muttered a few words.
Suddenly, cool air surrounded them as fresh and delicious as rain on a torrid afternoon.
"What ya said ‘bout me performin' admirably, chere. . . ." Remy paused, "I don' know how I know t'do dese t'ings. I . . . jus' do - it be scary actually. Wish I was jus' normal Remy du Melas - de highwayman."
"You have been chosen for greater things, Avatar," a voice echoed from within the cave, "Child of energy, son of a goddess, love of the Great Sorceress . . . ."
"Quoi? Ororo?"
The tunnel opened out in a large chamber. The walls led up to a high-vaulted ceiling and were encrusted with precious gems of all colors. Green-copper veins ran through them, shimmering, reflected by the pools of cerulean water that hissed and steamed in white gouts. Crude steps were carved into the floor, leading up to a twisted throne of what once had been magma. On that throne was sitting a young woman with flame-bright hair, encircled by a bronze coronet. Her blue eyes, as blue as the pools, smiled in pleasure and in welcome. She was dressed in a loose robe of fire-shot silk, all reds and golds.
"No, not the Weather Worker, although she too has a part to play in the upcoming events."
"Who is the Great Sorceress, m'lady?" he said, going down upon one knee.
"Stand, my champion. You should not bow before your equal. Your spirit-sister."
"Den . . . ."
"Be still and I will tell you the legend-prophecy of the Great Sorceress. . . ."
"As all true legends go, the hero has a female counterpart - an anima to his animus so to speak. The Avatar's counterpart has always been the Great Sorceress. A lovely woman ruled by the Pale Lady and marked with her sign. Throughout the ages when the Avatar is reincarnated in a new body, the Great Sorceress is as well. Usually, they are separate, working for different goals in different lands. Whereas the duty of the Avatar is to vanquish evil, the duty of the Great Sorceress is to cultivate good. She is the most talented of all magicians - the most beautiful of all women."
"Ya be th' Great Sorceress?"
"No, I am merely a pawn in the great game. She is the Queen to the Avatar's King."
"Ya said ‘usually'. Why?"
"This time is the time spoken of in prophecy when the Avatar and the Great Sorceress shall join to vanquish the evil in the land."
"Haven't heard dat story."
"Few have - the most powerful Great Sorceress is usually simply acknowledged in common prophecy as the love of the most powerful Avatar. His woman. The truth is lost to all but the leviathans and dragons. The immortal ones who keep the knowledge hidden in their hearts."
"Tell me."
"There was a time when evil overran the land, when men's cups were filled with gall instead of wine, when they drunk deeply of hatred and were filled with it. To this time, the most powerful Avatar was born and grew, unaware of his true nature, unwanted and unloved. As in history, the Great Sorceress was born to the same time - a woman birthed of gypsies and a child of the moon. This reincarnation of the two immortal heroes was different, however, instead of being born as far away as fire is from water, they were brought to the same place, for the evil there was strong enough to require their combined powers. Drawn together by their opposing natures, their complementary souls, the Avatar and the Great Sorceress fell in love - which is the greatest mystery of all."
"What was the evil?", asked Ororo, rapt.
"The god of Earth\Sky, who had been killed all those millenia ago by the first Avatar, had not truly been destroyed as it had been thought. His essence had floated around the ether of the world-between-worlds, waiting for a host so that he could be reborn. There was only one evil enough, whose heart had been corrupted by greed and anger, who could serve as his host - a black Mage."
"Magnus."
"Not yet . . . he has still to be tainted by the dark god's touch, but he will be."
"Mes dieux an' we can't stop him?"
"No - it has been foretold by the most ancient of all seers."
"Carry on . . . ."
"The Mage had decided to take the Great Sorceress as his wife for he recognized the power within her even if he did not know her true nature. This served the god of Earth\Sky admirably as he had had similar motives within his own first reincarnation and the thought of having the Great Sorceress as a wife was irresistable. The Avatar, however, was called upon again by the Great Sorceress to go on a quest to seek his true nature."
"Does he succeed?"
"The prophecy is unclear. The remainder is lost to everyone."
"Sabrina? De Great Sorceress?" He raised an eyebrow, "But . . . but . . . she be so petite. So...."
"Human?"
"Oui."
"Be assured that she is the immortal daughter of the Pale Lady. The child of moon-light."
"But she doesn't know anyt'ing about her powers . . . ."
"Nor did you, Avatar," the Phoenix looked worried, "But she is vulnerable until then - the Mage will strike now while he can."
"Mes dieux, c'n I see her?"
"Certainly. Stare into the pool . . . ."
Sabrina Parker, the Great Sorceress, was crying into the skirt of the beautiful dress that she was wearing. It had been a gift from the Mage - a flimsy, unsubstantial thing of silver chiffon and silk that floated like it was made of air. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, curling down to the middle of her back with a white streak just off center. The mark of the moon. The image in the pool was soundless and only the heaving of her shoulders gave any clue to the fact that she was in tears. Someone apparently knocked on the door because Sabrina opened it and peered through it - the look of disgust changing to a thin, false smile as she saw who it was. A woman with jet-black hair and blue eyes, surrounded by a swarm of glowing faeries. In her hand, she held a priceless pearl necklace. The woman said something and Sabrina replied with a nod of her head and a shrug. The woman then handed the necklace to the bride and left. Sabrina ran the necklace through her hands, feeling the smooth texture, and held it to her cheek. Then, slowly, deliberately, she threw it against the wall where it broke and rolled, like marbles, across the floor.
"Why, in de name o' light, did she do dat?"
"I believe the word ‘instinct' would best describe her motives," Phoenix replied.
"Instinct?" Ororo asked.
"The necklace was laced with a potent love-charm designed to make the Great Sorceress fall in love with the Mage. The other side to her nature detected it and destroyed the poisoned artifact."
Remy went pale, "She's in danger as long as she remains at dat castle."
"Certainly, but there is enough of the Sorceress in her to protect her from evil."
"Even de God of Earth\Sky?"
"Maybe not. Let us see how the Mage is progressing."
"Wit' sound dis time?"
"If Ororo assists me, it is possible."
"Certainly," the Weather Worker placed her hand on the scrying pool and it cleared again into another scene.
The Mage raised his hands to the sky in supplication, asking for help. His schemes had failed so far and he was becoming desperate. Desperate enough to damn his soul.
"I call on you by the ancient names, by those who have gone before . . . ."
"Dispense with the ceremony, I am already here."
The voice boomed like thunder, drowning out all the noise in the world.
"Oh great god of Earth\Sky, I seek your help in defeating the Avatar and . . . ."
"I know what you want. I too seek revenge on the Avatar, but it is the woman in whom I am interested."
"Sabrina? She is lovely - I can understand your . . . ."
"You fool, do you not understand? She is the Great Sorceress. With that sort of power at my disposal, I can reclaim my rightful position among the pantheon."
"The Great Sorceress? But she is powerless . . . she has not opposed me . . . ."
"She doesn't know who she is or the power which she wields in that slim frame."
"I see. You propose an alliance then?"
"Certainly. Your body and my spirit."
"Let it be," the Mage bowed his head and when he lifted it again, his eyes blazed with power.
"Non, dat's jus' what we don' need - an angry god."
"Avatar, you must seek the Horse of Another Color, the Aegis Armor and the Spirit Sword - they are your right."
"That is why we sought you," Ororo explained, "My scrying bowl showed me that you were the one who could tell us where those relics are."
"The Horse is closer than you know. Possessed by one of both innocence and courage . . . ."
The Phoenix made a pass over the pool with her hand and the face of Jubilation appeared.
"Ya mean de child had it de whole time?"
"Yes, but without knowledge of who you are, you could not have used it."
"What about the Armor and the Sword?" Ororo pressed.
"They are in my possession."
"C'n ya give dem t'me?"
"Yes, but they are locked away in another dimension where time and space are different to this one. It was only in this dimension that they would have been safe."
"How c'n I go to dis dimension?"
"Through the gateway of all realities - the Nexus - the M'Kraan which is guarded by the dragons. And a sacred keeper, Jahf, whose trust it is to ensure that reality is preserved."
"We're running out of time," Ororo confessed, "We have no time to go on another long quest."
"The quest shall be as short as a heartbeat."
"How is that?"
"I have told you that time passes differently in these other dimensions.You shall emerge only a few seconds after entering, though the time you spent in there be as long as a year."
"Where c'n I find dis M'Kraan? How long will it take us t'get dere?"
The Phoenix smiled and, for the first time, stepped off her throne of twisted rock.
"I shall transport you there," she said, "But first will you accept my blessing?"
"I'd be honored, mademoiselle."
The Phoenix leant forward and kissed him on one cheek. Her kiss burnt like fire and Remy jerked away in pain, clutching a hand to his wounded face.
"Ya blessing seems more like a curse, mademoiselle Phoenix."
She led him over the the pool and told him to look into it. His unusual eyes stared back at him from a slightly scruffy face. He had not shaved for a few days and a faint beard outlined his jaw. On a whim, he charged the follicles of hair with energy and they disintegrated, revealing a tiny mark in the shape of a star where she had kissed him.
"It will prove a blessing in time, Avatar. This mark will allow you to be identified as the Avatar by the dragons who guard the crystal. Without it, they would attack you."
"Merci, mademoiselle."
"Good luck, Avatar."
With those words, the world changed into whiteness . . . .

To be continued . . . .

Horse Index - Back to the index