The Lost

The Lost

Part 1, Arrival

Chapter 1, 18 West

Time: Unknown

Place: Unknown

The falling sensation Willow felt upon the activation of the teleportation portal or gate that brought her to this place ended abruptly. Being used to teleporting she suffered no ill side effects. She was instantly alert and ready for anything, although she did pause a moment to mourn the loss of her best friends sister.

"Oh, Dawnie, I'm so sorry . . ." she muttered sadly.

Willow reached out with her mind, looking for a clue as to her location in the world. What she found shocked and astonished her.

First, not only was she not on Earth anymore, she wasn't even in the same dimension. For these reasons she couldn't pinpoint her location as she had no point of reference.

Second, the magical resonances were much stronger, pure and far easier to tap into here. They were neither black nor white, just there for the using. As an experiment she reached out to pull in a little bit of the magic she felt. What she got though was a tidal wave that slammed into her, leaving her swooning and light headed. Shockingly, however, she didn't feel any of the temptation or need to use the magic as she had in Sunnydale. Easily she released the magic from herself back into the environment, yet didn't feel any sense of loss.

On a higher plane far from Willow, in her Citadel known as DweomerHeart, Mystra Goddess of all magic was in con with Azuth God of magic users.

"Did you feel that Azuth?" Mystra asked.

"Indeed Goddess."

"A power has entered the Realms, wait it's gone, I lost it. Where did it go?" Mystra questioned. "We must find this new power and confront it."

"Yes, it felt quite powerful."

On a higher plane still, beyond the consciousness of the other Gods of Toril sat the Over God of the Realms of Toril, Lord Ao.

"It looks as though I will have to intervene sooner rather than latter." With that Load Ao set an aspect of Himself to Mystra and Azuth in DweomerHeart.

Third, and of much more immediate concern, there was a strong buzz of evil that permeated everything and everywhere in this place. Luckily it was only a back round noise and nothing in the vicinity.

"Where have I been sent Dawnie?" Willow quietly asked.

Willow then did a quick self pat down. 'Everything present and accounted for, including most importantly my fanny pack.'

She then began looking around, realizing that even though she appeared to be underground she could see without any aid.

Looking over to what her senses told her to be the West wall; she reached out and touched it.

"Must be some form of light generating lichen or fungi native to this place," she muttered to herself. Glancing down at her watch, she noticed it read 9:06AM. Looking up from her watch and around at her new surroundings, she saw that she was now in a very large natural cavern with steep walls and a high ceiling, from the ceiling hung numerous stalactites. A closer look revealed that several stalactites had what appeared to be bridges or walkways connecting them. Concentrating upwards she was able to determine that something or things up near the ceiling were emanating a low grade generalized evil buzz.

"Not much of a threat."

Listening, Willow could hear what sounded like a waterfall and running water further to the South. Thirsty she decided to head south. The further South she went the louder the sound of running water became, until she was standing on the banks of what amounted to an underground river complete with an eighty foot waterfall.

"Now there's something you don't see every day."

Squatting down Willow cupped a handful of water and tasted it. The water was fresh, clear and most importantly wet. While drinking she noticed the direction the water was flowing and when she was finishing , decided to follow the river and see where it lead. The further East she went the more distant the sound of the water fall behind became. However, she noticed that there seemed to be the increasing sound of a waterfall in front of her.

Along with the sounds of the approaching waterfall other sounds assaulted her senses, the sounds of a fight. Quickening her pace Willow shortly reached a large crevasse and was shocked and horrified by what she saw. Before her were three of the strangest creatures she had ever seen and that was saying something.

What they amounted to were large floating brains with a bird's beak, no eyes she could discern and hanging below was many tentacles. As she was trying to discern more details about the creatures and what they were doing, movement and sound caught her attention. There was a dark haired woman charging between two of the creatures with a sword in her hand and not just any woman. She recognized Faith as she dodged the other two's tentacles trying to reach a third creature she hadn't seen earlier. A quick glance showed her three dead creatures lying on the ground and five more farther beyond that were now turning towards Faith to attack, apparently responding to the bird-like squawks and chirps' coming from the one Faith was trying to get to.

Faith easily evaded the first two and leapt up to attack the third creature which was a good ten feet in the air. As she watched in horror it happened, lightning fast the third creature struck out with six of its tentacles straight at Faith. She didn't stand a chance. Two of the tentacles wrapped around her torso, one each per arm and one each per leg totally immobilizing Faith, It then began pulling her toward its beak which was snapping open and close making clicking sounds. Willow knew immediately what she had to do. She started gathering her power readying to strike.

Mystra began her scrying of Toril looking for this mysterious new power she sensed. Finally she got a lock on its location. When she zoomed in for a closer look she was surprised as nothing before could do.

To Azuth she said, "It's a just mortal girl."

"Indeed Goddess, but how can a mortal channel that much magical power from 'The Weave', it should kill her," Azuth responded with a touch of surprise tainting his voice as well.

"I do not know, however I intend to find out." With that Mystra and Azuth began to the short process to send down an Avatar to confront this supposed power. They were instantly stopped from doing so by a strong, commanding voice from behind.

"HOLD."

Both Mystra and Azuth turned prepared for battle as no one should have been able to so easily and undetected penetrate her wards. As soon as they turned they recognized who had spoken and dropped to one knee bowing their heads in supplication.

"Lord Ao," they spoke as one.

"Rise and tell me exactly what were your intentions." Both Mystra and Azuth slowly rose to face the Over God.

"Lord Ao Azuth and I detected what think is a new very powerful magic entity in the Realms and going to confront it to determine its intentions."

"I see," Lord Ao responded thoughtfully, "I cannot allow you to do this."

Shocked Mystra responds, "My Lord, it appears to be incredibly powerful and may in fact be able to destroy Toril."

"I understand your concerns, however as I have said you cannot."

"But . . ."

"ENOUGH, I have spoken you will not under any circumstances make initial contact with anyone in that area or face a wrath so terrible and painful that not even you would be able to comprehend it. I'm I understood, Lady Mystra . . . Lord Azuth?"

"Understood My Lord," Both responded.

"That is good," Lord Ao relaxed somewhat and smiled slightly, "Now with that understanding you may observe and watch, but Not interfere, either directly or indirectly with their chosen actions until such time as one of them calls you by name and then you may manifest yourself to that person and that person only."

Both Mystra and Azuth look at each other then to Lord Ao, drop to one knee saying, "We understand My Lord."

"Excellent, now I have other pressing business." With that Lord Ao takes His leave and Mystra and Azuth turn to look into their scrying bowl to observe these new mortals that has so interested Lord Ao.

Faith got nearer and nearer to the creatures snapping beak.

Willow could feel her hair and eyes turning black, but was absolutely amazed, she felt none of the overwhelming hunger and need she felt in Sunnydale to destroy, just magic to be used to help her friend. She'd have to take a closer look at this, but later, for now she prepared to release her power and strike.

She heard as Faith yelled in defiance, "I HOPE YOU CHOKE!!"

With that Willow released her power. It struck true, the creature started to vibrate, an instant later the brain thing blew up, dropping Faith unceremoniously to the ground covered in brains and guts.

Willow immediately noticed with the death of the creature trying to eat Faith that the others were becoming disoriented; she quickly deduced that creature to be the leader with some sort of telepathic control. Again she was amazed, even though she knew she looked like Darth Willow she was in complete control of herself, the magic wasn't controlling her anymore she was controlling it. That thought aside she wasted no further time, immediately zeroing in on the remaining creatures she let loose with seven magical bolts more powerful than any she'd loosed before. The remaining seven creatures exploded spectacularly in short order, sending blood and guts over as very large area.

In DweomerHeart Mystra and Azuth looked at each other in something akin to shock and disbelief.

"She's more powerful than I thought; I hope Lord Ao is sure about her."

"As do I, however Goddess did you notice that for all her power, she is raw and basically untrained, only able to use the most basic of abilities. That being said those abilities far outstrip anything any mortal should be able to accomplish."

"Indeed I did, it's an enigma, however an enigma which must, by the command of Lord Ao, go unanswered . . . for now.

Detecting no further immediate threats Willow took a deep breath and calmed down allowing herself to return to normal, yet another in a long string of shocks to her. After the use of so much offensive magic she didn't expect to be able to let it go so easily, even more surprising, she did feel drain or tired, but energized and alive. She really needed to look into this when time permitted, but first. She looked across the crevasse and saw Faith slowly standing and looking around at the devastation with the help of her sword so she called to her.

"Faith . . . ?" Willow sees Faith turn to look at her.

"Red, your timing couldn't have been better."

"Faith, what the . . ." Willow began, but didn't finish as her eyes widened, then narrows as she spots movement behind Faith, a lot of movement.

At the same time Willow sees Faith's eyes widened in shock then narrow.

'I've got really bad feeling about this.'

"Behind you," they both shout at the same time.

Willow quickly turns around and begins gathering her magic to defend herself. At seeing all the movement Willow lets go a sigh, "Oh, crud."

TBC

A/N #1: Just wondering if anyone has figured out where they are yet, besides just Toril. They are in a very specific location. Also, next chapter the meetings begin.

A/N #2: Next chapter is a little more complex than I thought it was going to be. It's taking longer than I thought.