You have been ninja'd by the Winds, goblin.You are her champion, the knight of armour, yes?
That might work.
The goblin looks hopeful.
Edit:
The goblin, trembling with awe at the situation, holds out one hand to Jack for the phial.
JH places the phial in the goblin's hand but holds his own over it, and stares deep into the creature's eyes.
These tears are more precious to me than your lord can ever know. Keep them pure.
The Command complete, he releases the creature.
Saying nothing, motes of sunlight descend or ascend to Alaina has lain.It has begun. She will become my herald and be reborn.
The sunshine from Sunny's orb bathes the wood chysalis in a warm glow. Suddenly the wood spilts and recedes, leaving the naked form of Alaina laying on the ground.
Her friends can recognize her easily, but much has changed. Her Earth tattoo has now spread to envelop her from ankle to neck and down to her wrists. Her skin is a burnished bronze underneath the colorful tattoos. Circling her right eye is the tattoo of a golden sun with eight rays trailing her face. On her forehead between her eyes is a small red dot. A closer inspection shows the dot is actually a miniature red flaming flower tattoo. Her hair is now almost fully blonde, with highlights of brown and red. Her body, though still lush, looks more slender than before, less curvaceous.
Devlyn gets his feet under him and goes over to her. Pulling out the same tunic from when they first met, he respectfully places it over her to preserve her modesty.
"We have to stop meeting like this" he says quietly to her unconscious form, softly chuckling. "Welcome back, Alaina."
On some distant plane...
Denied. Another foe has been born.
Saying nothing, motes of sunlight descend or ascend to Alaina has lain.It has begun. She will become my herald and be reborn.
The sunshine from Sunny's orb bathes the wood chysalis in a warm glow. Suddenly the wood spilts and recedes, leaving the naked form of Alaina laying on the ground.
Her friends can recognize her easily, but much has changed. Her Earth tattoo has now spread to envelop her from ankle to neck and down to her wrists. Her skin is a burnished bronze underneath the colorful tattoos. Circling her right eye is the tattoo of a golden sun with eight rays trailing her face. On her forehead between her eyes is a small red dot. A closer inspection shows the dot is actually a miniature red flaming flower tattoo. Her hair is now almost fully blonde, with highlights of brown and red. Her body, though still lush, looks more slender than before, less curvaceous.
Only Alaina can hear the voice of her new patron in her head.
Alaina, my cherished rose of the sun, you have recieved a great boon. Use your health vigorously but wisely in the days ahead. Expect to meet a new chaperon soon.
Plantjack stumbles in.
"It is over. The Clubhouse is gone. I tried to save it, but it was rash and foolish. Had it not been for Frogskin's intervention, I would have been destroyed. It is quite fortunate that he found me in time. He came carrying a message, he left carrying me. Actually, he brought two messages. One may be of interest to you all: Candle Lighter has returned."
He sighs, and disappears.
Alaina's thoughts float up to Sunny
Thank you my Lord
"Okay - since my head's clearing, I'm going to guess that whatever ritual was going on is over" Devlyn says as he goes back over to Allura. "I'll need to be mindful of that stuff if it happens again - that was quite the fuzzy-headed feeling."
Welcome back, Fire Flower. My granddaughter is very fond of you, so I am glad to see that you yet remain in the land of the living.
To JH, Bring Lynora nearer to Yggdrasil. It may help you. You must call her back. Star Song is lost in whatever place she has fled to and cannot find her way.
A large lizard leaps in. Electricity pulsates around it.
"Yip, yap, yippity yap."
A small piece of parchment is attached to its tail.
Welcome back, Fire Flower. My granddaughter is very fond of you, so I am glad to see that you yet remain in the land of the living.
To JH, Bring Lynora nearer to Yggdrasil. It may help you. You must call her back. Star Song is lost in whatever place she has fled to and cannot find her way.
Alaina opens her emerald green eyes and smiles
"Thank you Wind Duke. I survive, but much has changed."
She looks around.
"Does anyone have a change of clothes? I am feeling a bit exposed here."
Candle Lighter has returned."
Kiba looks up suddenly, then shifts to his wolf form and charges through the portal.
Alaina opens her emerald green eyes and smiles
"Thank you Wind Duke. I survive, but much has changed."
She looks around.
"Does anyone have a change of clothes? I am feeling a bit exposed here."
"Well, I have the breeches that go with that tunic draped over you" as she hears Devlyn's voice off to the side.
"I guess I really need to freshen up my wardrobe - especially if you're going to keep doing this," he says with a smile as he brings them over, and pulls out a cloak.
A raven flies in, clutching a strange orb.
[Sniff] "What...?"
Devlyn turns his gaze and tracks the raven, trying to make out any details in the orb it is carrying...
"Put me down, you thrice-cursed piece of roadkill!"
"I guess I really need to freshen up my wardrobe - especially if you're going to keep doing this," he says with a smile as he brings them over, and pulls out a cloak.
Alaina nods gratefully
"Thank you Devlyn"
Everybody hears a familiar voice in their heads.[/i]
Alaina nods gratefully
"Thank you Devlyn"
"Anytime," he says with a nod as he turns his attention back on the raven. "Did the voice coming from that orb sound familiar to anyone else?"
He fingers a dagger at his belt.
"Yes. But I can't quite place where I've heard it before."
Alaina looks a bit puzzled
"What voice?"
"Yes. But I can't quite place where I've heard it before."
"Damn it! Isn't anyone here familiar with me?! Morons."
Looking over at the Tree Emperor:
"I really don't like ravens right now, and since it's chuckling in a way I've heard before, I'm tempted to drop the thing. But this is your place - if you have a better way of restraining it, I'm all for it."
Alaina looks a bit puzzled
"What voice?"
"That Raven's chuckling (in a bad way), and that orb its carrying is mouthing off and sounding like KC. And I smell another trick brewing..."
"Yes. But I can't quite place where I've heard it before.""Damn it! Isn't anyone here familiar with me?! Morons."
"Sigh. Look, nevermind, okay? I'm getting out of here, I'll be back."
......"Dammit, you idiotic bird, will you get going already? Arg!"
"That Raven's chuckling (in a bad way), and that orb its carrying is mouthing off and sounding like KC. And I smell another trick brewing..."Alaina looks a bit puzzled
"What voice?"
"I AM KC, you utter imbecile! And this incredibly annoying bird is Frogskin! By teh Board, I'd forgotten how annoying you people are!"
"Yes. But I can't quite place where I've heard it before.""Damn it! Isn't anyone here familiar with me?! Morons.""Sigh. Look, nevermind, okay? I'm getting out of here, I'll be back."
......
"Dammit, you idiotic bird, will you get going already? Arg!"
Tired of waiting, Devlyn leaps up and snatches the bird, orb and all, out of the air, landing gracefully on his feet and avoiding beak and claw.
"I AM KC, you utter imbecile! And this incredibly annoying bird is Frogskin! By teh Board, I'd forgotten how annoying you people are!""That Raven's chuckling (in a bad way), and that orb its carrying is mouthing off and sounding like KC. And I smell another trick brewing..."Alaina looks a bit puzzled
"What voice?"
"Hey, it isn't my fault that you're trying to leave. Departing too often is too risky, the Mask could find you. And you aren't nearly powerful enough, especially without your Cleaver."
Tired of waiting, Devlyn leaps up and snatches the bird, orb and all, out of the air, landing gracefully on his feet and avoiding beak and claw."Yes. But I can't quite place where I've heard it before.""Damn it! Isn't anyone here familiar with me?! Morons.""Sigh. Look, nevermind, okay? I'm getting out of here, I'll be back."
......
"Dammit, you idiotic bird, will you get going already? Arg!"
"Okay, sorry, I'm gonna have to blast you now."
A blast of arcane energy hits Devlyn."Never attack a Lord of the Boards, pal, even a weakened one. Especially when he's pissed."
"Hey!" Allura exclaims, leaping forward to heal Devlyn. "I don't care who you say you are, that was uncalled for. How can you expect anyone to listen to you or respect your words when you treat people like that?"
Tired of waiting, Devlyn leaps up and snatches the bird, orb and all, out of the air, landing gracefully on his feet and avoiding beak and claw."Yes. But I can't quite place where I've heard it before.""Damn it! Isn't anyone here familiar with me?! Morons.""Sigh. Look, nevermind, okay? I'm getting out of here, I'll be back."
......
"Dammit, you idiotic bird, will you get going already? Arg!""Okay, sorry, I'm gonna have to blast you now."
A blast of arcane energy hits Devlyn.
"Never attack a Lord of the Boards, pal, even a weakened one. Especially when he's pissed."
Devlyn reels back at the blow, then slams the two of them into the ground - hard.
"If I was attacking you, you self-aggrandizing, egomaniacal twit, I would have skewered you in midair. Now pack the attitude in and tell us what in the Nine Hells is going on" as he pats down the singing.
"Hey!" Allura exclaims, leaping forward to heal Devlyn. "I don't care who you say you are, that was uncalled for. How can you expect anyone to listen to you or respect your words when you treat people like that?"
"I am a Lord of the Boards, miss. I can do whatever I want. I'm one of the nicer ones, too, you should see ABERZOMBIE when he gets mad. Or Callous Jack.
"Now, look, you look like nice enough kids, but you don't understand what's REALLY important. There's a lot of threats here that you don't want to deal with, and that's why I'm back. Took a lot of damn work, too, the Mask doesn't let his prisoners go lightly."He ignores being slammed into the ground, the raven disappears.
"Stop that, you moron. I'm a Lord of the Boards, attacking us is very dangerous."
Another blast hits Devlyn, though this one is made not to kill.
"Hey!" Allura exclaims, leaping forward to heal Devlyn. "I don't care who you say you are, that was uncalled for. How can you expect anyone to listen to you or respect your words when you treat people like that?""I am a Lord of the Boards, miss. I can do whatever I want. I'm one of the nicer ones, too, you should see ABERZOMBIE when he gets mad.
"I think you have an inflated opinion of your niceness then. Being a Lord of the Boards doesn't count for much if nobody wants to help you. And if you could do whatever you wanted you wouldn't need that bird to carry you around. And as for threats, we know there are threats. But what reason do we have not to think you're one of them?"
"Hey!" Allura exclaims, leaping forward to heal Devlyn. "I don't care who you say you are, that was uncalled for. How can you expect anyone to listen to you or respect your words when you treat people like that?""I am a Lord of the Boards, miss. I can do whatever I want. I'm one of the nicer ones, too, you should see ABERZOMBIE when he gets mad.
The blast knocks him back, but he holds his ground. He furrows his brow and his wounds heal.
"Hmmm...A 'Lord of the Board' who got duped, killed and imprisoned, if I remember correctly. Most impressive..." he says with just a bit of sarcasm.
"Respect's a two-way road, pal. It's earned, not granted by a title. Something to think about."
"Now how about we all calm down and talk about this like civilized folks, neh?"
"Hey!" Allura exclaims, leaping forward to heal Devlyn. "I don't care who you say you are, that was uncalled for. How can you expect anyone to listen to you or respect your words when you treat people like that?""I am a Lord of the Boards, miss. I can do whatever I want. I'm one of the nicer ones, too, you should see ABERZOMBIE when he gets mad."Hmmm...A 'Lord of the Board' who got duped, killed and imprisoned, if I remember correctly. Most impressive..." he says with just a bit of sarcasm.
"Respect's a two-way road, pal. It's earned, not granted by a title. Something to think about."
"My title has been earned. I am the one who freed Lynora from the Goddess, who beat Candle Lighter back, who protects the Board. I am incredibly powerful, normally. Now, watch it. I have to stay here for a while, and without my transport, I'm screwed. But I CAN beat up whoever tries to attack me. I'm a Lord, and a Servant, and I am Kobold Cleaver. Now, shut up and let me rest. I'll wait for someone IMPORTANT to come along."
She swirled among the stars, dancing to the music she heard from them. She stopped. There was a hole in the song. She didn't know what to do. There was somewhere she was supposed to be, but she couldn't quite remember. Where was she? Where was she supposed to be? Why couldn't she remember?
A gentle voice wafts over the Green
Anger and arrogance has always been the provenance of the Black
"I AM KC, you utter imbecile! And this incredibly annoying bird is Frogskin! By teh Board, I'd forgotten how annoying you people are!""That Raven's chuckling (in a bad way), and that orb its carrying is mouthing off and sounding like KC. And I smell another trick brewing..."Alaina looks a bit puzzled
"What voice?"
Alaina shivers
"I don't want anything to do with Board energy. It is an evil force."
Welcome back, Fire Flower. My granddaughter is very fond of you, so I am glad to see that you yet remain in the land of the living.
To JH, Bring Lynora nearer to Yggdrasil. It may help you. You must call her back. Star Song is lost in whatever place she has fled to and cannot find her way.
JH scoops up LJ and nestles her btwn two large roots at the base of Yggdrasil.
"My title has been earned. I am the one who freed Lynora from the Goddess, who beat Candle Lighter back, who protects the Board. I am incredibly powerful, normally. Now, watch it. I have to stay here for a while, and without my transport, I'm screwed. But I CAN beat up whoever tries to attack me. I'm a Lord, and a Servant, and I am Kobold Cleaver. Now, shut up and let me rest. I'll wait for someone IMPORTANT to come along."
"Heh - sounds just like a Sembian," he says as he walks away from the orb.
A gentle voice wafts over the Green
Anger and arrogance has always been the provenance of the Black
Devlyn nods in agreement.
"Alright, since Alaina is okay, and LJ is hopefully just resting, I'll be the bigger man here and keep the peace. I'm heading back to the Oasis. Let me know what happens."As he passes Alaina he says with a wink:
"Don't scare us like that again, okay?"
He heads back to the omniportal, giving Allura a gentle squeeze on her arm and a smile, asking her if she wants to stay or come back, then heads back to the Oasis.
Welcome back, Fire Flower. My granddaughter is very fond of you, so I am glad to see that you yet remain in the land of the living.
To JH, Bring Lynora nearer to Yggdrasil. It may help you. You must call her back. Star Song is lost in whatever place she has fled to and cannot find her way.
JH scoops up LJ and nestles her btwn two large roots at the base of Yggdrasil.
You will need to call her back from wherever she has gone. She has lost her way. She has to face herself and accept the changes she has gone through. There is no more time, he says regretfully.
"Alright, since Alaina is okay, and LJ is hopefully just resting, I'll be the bigger man here and keep the peace. I'm heading back to the Oasis. Let me know what happens."
As he passes Alaina he says with a wink:
"Don't scare us like that again, okay?"
He heads back to the omniportal, giving Allura a gentle squeeze on her arm and a smile, asking her if she wants to stay or come back, then heads back to the Oasis.
Allura agrees to go back with him, shooting a last suspicious look at the orb. She stops and looks at Alaina.
Would you like to come back to the Oasis with us?
Lyn, wake up.
JH kisses her forehead.
Lyn, come back.
He kisses each of her eyes.
Lyn, here I am.
He gently kisses her lips.
Unexpectedly the song started again. As if it had never stopped. She continued on her way, but she was no longer content to simply dance between the stars. She wanted to know the answers to her questions. Who was she? What was she? Where was she going? Where was she supposed to be? She needed to know...
JH takes each of her hands into his own, and kisses each palm in turn.
Find your way back to me. I love you.
JH takes each of her hands into his own, and kisses each palm in turn.
Find your way back to me. I love you.
A familiar voice spoke. At first she couldn't make out the words through the song, but as she listened they became more clear. She knew who was speaking. He was the one who held her heart. And he wanted her to come back to him. He loved her! She sped towards the voice as fast as she could, becoming more and more herself, remembering more of who she was, where she was going, exactly where she belonged as she flew.
And then she hit a barrier. At first she did not believe it. She tried again. And hit the barrier again. She pounded on it, kicked at it, but nothing moved it.No! she sobbed. She had to get back. She had to!
Allura agrees to go back with him, shooting a last suspicious look at the orb. She stops and looks at Alaina.
Would you like to come back to the Oasis with us?
Alaina shivers, looking at the glowing orb
"I guess I should, but where's Lyn?"