WARNING: For details on overall warning, see Chapter One. The regular
innuendo, general mayhem and sanity-damaging material, as per normal.
Enjoy, enjoy!
Author's note: Hey, I've just been informed that it's Easter and I have train tickets! (I so love catching trains. so many hours of telling boring seatmates silly stories of my life that never actually happened. I think I'll get into the movie business this time.) Thus I admit that I kind of rushed this chapter, and probably aren't too happy with it but I hope you like it all the same. I also wish to warn you that because of this train- ticket-derived absence, in addition to coming up to the end of my Trimester, updates may further be sparsified (note: not a real word, please don't use at home) even further, but in about a month or so we should be running back on full steam. I make so many futile promises. Oh, Happy Easter I guess..
Response to Reviewers!:
Staci/Nadia: I have only you to thank for that. Quite frankly, I never understood Don Perry at all. I'm not too sure what possessed me to make Hawk flirt with the Fairy, perhaps it was my evil other personality, but people seemed to like it so it's all good.. Thanks as usual for your great review, and enjoy your Easter.
Solarious: I did like your song, of course, having it in text just isn't the same.. The fireplace idea is a good one, but I thought that you had hero-impersonating shadows in the Mana Holyland so I thought I'd save it for then (if I get there in this lifetime). You have a point, though, since when DID I care about rules? Hmm.. You may have just inadvertedly begun an avalanche, Solarious.. Heh heh, I love the dialogue you wrote between Bigieu and Hawk, but I just couldn't use it because it's yours and I actually already have some ideas about Bigieu, but I'll certainly be considering it. thank you for such a constructive musing session!
Rosa-Aquafire: I was wondering why you always seemed to be a chapter behind in reviewing - I can't believe you go to the trouble of reviewing even chapters you miss! (Cries- I don't deserve a reader as good as you.) Hmm, lots of people seemed to like those bits (scribbles on notepad - this could be helpful in taking over the world some day, I'm sure of it..) Yes, we have class changes, and I must ask people, do they want Riesz and company to class change as well? I wasn't originally going to incorporate that, but if people really want it I can.. One step closer to Rogue, Rosa, one step closer..
TenshiNoAkuma: New reviewer! Throw a parade! I admit that your explanation of this fic's humour confused me (no easy feat, I take my hat off to you) sorry about the classes, I should have held the votes a little later than I did in retrospect. As for Kevin, well, he's only said about two sentences thus far, so.. I do not deserve your high praise, but this unworthy one is grateful. Hope you keep reading!
ChibiCharizard: Actually, Solarious deserves credit for the idea of selling the Diamond Missiles. Liked your random rant, it brought some disturbing truths about RPGs to light for me. I think when I finally graduate and get a job at Squaresoft (dreaming? Me? And yes, I AM going to rule the world one day.) I will have to address these issues you speak of. (Walks off, highly disturbed.) Thanks very much for your review!
Wingnut: I never knew that Tyrannosauruses could talk.. (Or is it Tyrannosauri?) Glad you liked.. Um (flips through thesaurus) I now express my gratitude for your kind-hearted appraisal of this work.
Serenity-Wheeler: I hate to be anywhere nearby after you get your hands on all that Easter chocolate. But thank you for your review - look, it's Mr Whippy the Ice-Cream Man! (Sneaks off with a cup of sugar.)
Empress Faria: Another new reviewer, welcome! Lots of people liked the omnivorous bit, I'm glad, considering it was one of those things that kind of just happened. I am humbled by your high praise, and amazed at being introduced to the very first reviewer NOT in love with Carlie (this calls for an EXTRA parade). As for your English, well, heck, you speak it better than I do. Thanks a mil.
Slash The Ironman: Yes. Tzenker arrives. And it will protect me! (I hope). Uh oh, it seems as though many of my reviewers are developing split personalities thanks to this fic. (Holds out rubber businessman). Stay back! I have a lawyer!
Ff.net surfer: I was just kidding. I really did send that E-Mail to your brother. Are you checking under your pillow each night for booby-traps and spiders? Thanks for the review. And have a happy Easter with your brother. Yes, happy..
ANOTHER extremely long response to reviewers, jeez, I'm out of control! But thanks for all your support guys, it means a lot, it really does! Hope you enjoy this chapter and have a good holiday, those of you lucky enough to have one that's more than four days long (grumbles).
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Another Witchmaker
Chapter 21 - The More Things Change, the More they Stay the Same
By Sinnatious
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After yet ANOTHER tiresome boat ride to Palo - as painful as the cannon 'experience' was, they all had to admit it was about five hundred times faster - they were finally nearing their destination. It was late evening, the sun having sunk into the ocean, and the coast was coming into view.
Angela emerged from her cabin and stretched. Duran and Hawk were talking by the side of the boat. Curiousity piqued, the Princess casually ambled over to them, and was none too surprised to see the Fairy perched on Duran's shoulder joining in the conversation.
The magical being turned on the magician as she arrived. "Angela! About time you got here! We're trying to figure out how to get Hawk through Palo again."
Hawk was looking annoyed. "I am not dressing up in some stupid disguise."
Duran looked like he agreed. "It wasn't a very good idea, Fairy, I'm really sorry."
The tiny deity wrung her minscule hands. "I'm not good at planning these things! The Mana Goddess never really thought we'd have to worry about things like this!"
"Maybe not, but dressing up like a rabite? That was just crazy," Hawk muttered. "If not for the fact that they don't have human-sized rabites, then for the fact that they don't have rabites in Rolante."
"They're a lucky kingdom all right," Angela agreed. Even in the harsh Altenan snowfields one always had the chance of coming across the odd rabite, as unusual as it was. Of course, in the Altenan snowfields rabites were usually the least of one's troubles.
The docks were looming close. Hawk sighed. "Look, I can get through Palo, but it'll be a lot easier if I just split up and meet you on the other side on the 'Path to the Heavens' as Riesz calls it."
Angela blinked. "What exactly do you plan on doing different this time?"
"Um.... I was going to get you to create a diversion, Angie! Would you mind flashing the guards for me?"
Face burning red, Angela forwent her staff and instead belted the thief with her fist instead. "I'm gonna hit you!"
Hawk massaged his head. "I wish you'd tell me that BEFORE you hit me!"
Well, in a way having Hawk run off for a while would be a good thing, right? Quality time alone with Duran at last! -For just a little while, anyway. And come to think of it, the damn Fairy would still be along, however it was still a good opportunity. But then, why did she feel so uneasy? Did she actually care that the thief might get caught without backup and be killed?
That loser, no way, Angela thought stubbornly, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the Fairy looking at her worriedly. The Princess fervently hoped that the being wasn't using her eerie telepathic powers again, damn Mana tricks! Well, she really couldn't pick on Mana tricks, since those same Mana tricks were among her slowly growing arsenal. Still, it would have been more comforting to have the thief around for protection, if nothing else. Duran might have been unbeatable against other soldiers and swordsmen, but ninja fought dirty.
Of course, she realised belatedly, that was exactly why Hawk was taking a one-person detour through Palo. The blank-minded ninja wouldn't even bother them if Hawk wasn't there to attract their interest. He was risking his own neck to save theirs, in a way.
Once again shaking her head to clear it of various confusing thoughts, Angela finally said, "If you can manage it without a diversion, then go for it. It makes a lot more sense than dressing up in a rabite suit, of which where I don't even know we'd get one." The Princess eyed the Fairy who groaned in embarrassment. Angela was determined that even if it was one stupid idea, that one stupid idea would be used to humiliate the Fairy for a very long time....
The boat finally pulled up at the docks, and they hurriedly disembarked, thankfully no ninajs confronting them this time. Once they were back in the shadows, Hawk gave them a cheery wave. "This is where I leave." With no further ado than that, the thief silently vaulted on to the nearest roof, using a barrel as a step, and began to stealithy run along the rooftops.
Angela and Duran watched blankly. "Well, I'll be," Angela commented at last. "I didn't even think of that."
Duran nodded his agreement. "None of the ninjas have really been watching the sky, have they? We'd better hurry through Palo if we're going to meet him on the other side of town."
Angela smiled, restraining the urge to latch on to the Knight's arm, knowing that such flirtation had already failed her many times already. They hurried through Palo, once or twice catching a brief glimpse of a figure darting over the rooftops not far away, before losing sight of the agile thief altogether. Their passage was unobstructed this time, but they didn't dally anyway, Angela still feeling her skin crawl at the sight of the expressionless ninjas.
She didn't truly relax until they had made their way out of Palo and on to the Path to the Heavens. Sure enough, there was Hawk, waiting for them with that wastefully cheerful smile ever plastered on his face. Angela felt an immense wave of relief at the sight of him, and never being one to miss an opporunity, gave him a generous hug, hoping to invoke some sort of reaction from Duran. "Hawk!"
"Gee, Angie, I was only gone an hour, but I missed you too," Hawk said.
Apparently her ploy to make Duran jealous was again ignored as the Knight gave Hawk a cheerful slap on the back. "That's a relief. Getting around on the rooftops, what DIDN'T they teach you in the thieves' guild?"
Hawk rubbed the back of his head, a brief scowl dancing across his face before being replaced by the usual grin. "How to resist hypnotism, apparently."
Before the usual uncomfortable silence could settle, Angela grabbed Hawk's arm and began to lead the trio up the slope once again. "Let's not sit around discussing the mechanics of sneaking through towns under siege, let's go get Jinn already!"
The Fairy emerged from hiding, clearing her throat. "Um, shouldn't we go talk to Riesz in the underground resistance first?"
The Princess dismissed the notion with an airy wave of her hand. "Nah, why bother? It's our quest to find Jinn, not theirs! Besides, do you REALLY want to have Riesz and Carlie and probably Kevin too wanting to tag along?"
The Fairy thought this over at length. "You have a point. And they wouldn't be able to benefit from Jinn's blessing anyway...."
Duran was inclined to disagree. "But their assistance wouldn't go astray - a soldier from Rolante's skills in battle would be helpful."
"That's not their only skills," Hawk remarked with a devlish grin.
Angela swung at the thief for the implied comment, but he knew it was coming and quickly sidestepped it as usual. Heedless, the magician continued, "Riesz'd be too busy organizing her army for the re-take. Let her be! She has enough stress without having to worry about you!"
"What about the tiny terror and Riesz's lapdog?" Hawk pointed out.
Duran, obviously unable to think of any reply to this, simply shrugged. The Fairy muttered something along the lines of those two being part of the stress.
"Get over it already, we can handle this one on our own! Heads up, here comes one of those birds!" Angela announced.
So the second trip up the 'Path to the Heavens', not being very heavenly, passed somewhat uneventfully with the exception of the odd flock of needlebirds harrassing them. They were lucky enough to not encounter any patrols of ninajs, thus not having to endure another treacherous climb. Under Riesz's direction, they eventually entered a cave that they hoped to be the Corridor of the Wind.
"More caves," Angela muttered, annoyed. "Faiiiiiiry? We need a lamp!"
The small deity scowled. "I refuse to be demoted to a light source again! Just use Wisp's magic, Angela, it's a simple enough spell!"
"Yeah, but nowhere near as fun," Angela pouted, but gave in and called upon a miniscule amount of Wisp's power to light their way. Leading the way, she cautiously stepped through the entrance to caves, and was surprised to be buffeted by a slight breeze. More disturbing was the painful moan that echoed throughout the long cave.
"What's that sound?" Duran asked, cautiously resting a hand on the hilt of his sword.
The Fairy was smiling, obviously sensing Mana presence nearby. "It's the wind howling through the corridor. Jinn, the elemental of the Wind, resides near here."
Angela snorted. "And here I was just thinking it was the sound of air passing through Hawk's hollow skull."
"I had to make my skull hollow so I could fill it with more thoughts of you, Angie," Hawk replied, winking in the Princess's general direction.
Duran's eyebrow twitched. Angela was almost gleeful - she didn't even have to flirt herself anymore, all she had to do was leave it to Hawk and Duran would get jealous! "You flatter me, Hawk. Remind me to give you lots to think about later," Angela retorted slyly.
"Is anyone but me paying attention to the floating zombie Knight coming our way?" The Fairy shrieked.
Duran dispatched the phatom knight without too much difficulty. "I guess if those things are wandering around here, Jinn and the Wind Mana Stone must be in trouble. Princess, please lead the way, and hurry!"
Well, hurry wasn't the word they really followed as they ambled somewhat aimlessly around the caves, though they did seem to be working their way vaguely upwards. Angela was attempting to follow her magical senses towards the Mana Stone, which the Fairy assured them was nearby, but they kept running into walls and dead-ends and wound up having to take quite a roundabout way to get even close to the stone. Not to mention that all the while their way was impeded by zombies, needlebirds, and some weird sort of possessed magic armour.
Needless to say, the Princess was becoming frustrated by their inability to reach a destination that she could sense on the other side of the wall. "I've had it with this! Stupid walls! HOLY BALL!"
The magician used Wisp's magic to literally blast a hole in the wall. The thief and Knight stood by, eyebrows raised.
"It worked, didn't it?" Angela protested, stepping outside onto a previously concealed plateua. Just a stone's throw away was another cave entrance, which Angela was certain she could feel Mana energy coming from.
Hawk and Duran diplomatically decided not to comment on that, but stepped through the breakage all the same. Almost immediately, a power of the wind escalated so much that it felt as though they were about to be blown off the mountain. The Fairy shrieked, leaping and disappearing into Angela's head, being the nearest, before the gale could blow her away.
"I'm pretty sure Jinn's not far away!" Angela called out over the screaming wind.
"You think, Angie?" Hawk called back sarcastically. The Princess bit back a growl. How was she supposed to know what the damn thief was thinking? He would flirt with her one minute, insult her the next! Ah, who cared what he thought? Duran was all that mattered.
'Hypocrite,' the Fairy commented from within the sanctuary of the Princess's head, obviously not frazzled enough to stop making snide comments.
'Since when did I care about what you think?' Angela retorted, leading the way towards the next cavern, being careful of her footing in the powerful gale. Hawk and Duran followed equally carefully, not relaxing until they reached the cave.
Stepping inside, Angela re-ignited her simple illumination spell on the tip of her staff, but found it wasn't necessary. The entire cavern was glowing. "Is that.....?"
"The Mana Stone," the Fairy confirmed, as they all gazed in awe at the wedge-shaped floating crystalline creation. It was their first time actually seeing a Mana Stone after all, the opportunity being denied them for the Mana Stones of Light and Earth. Angela could feel Mana's energy soaking the cavern, but somehow, something didn't feel quite right....
Looking suddenly panicked, the Fairy floated over to the stone, zooming up and down. "It can't be! No! We're too late!"
"What? Too late?" Duran asked, again resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, visibly uptight.
The Fairy almost wailed in response, wringing her hands together. "The Mana Stone's energy has been released! They must have cast the spell on it already!"
"That's bad, right?" Angela surmised.
"More than bad! The seals on the other Mana stones will compensate for a while, but if all the Mana Stones have their energy released, then the God- Beasts will break free and the earth will be finished!" the Fairy proclaimed melodramatically.
"Well, that sucks," Hawk stated empahtically.
Before they could continue their uplifting discussion on how the world was going to end, though, a powerful screech sounded off to the right. Automatically turning towards the noise, Angela cursed to herself. "Jinn!"
Hawk slid his kodachi from hiding, and ready for action, quickly ran over to the other side of the cave. "Footprints! Looks like a Knight of sorts, big guy," the thief assessed, glancing up at them after a moment. "Fresh. Looks like whoever released the energy on the Mana Stone just did it recently. So...."
"We can't let them get away!" Duran announced, striding towards the exit of the cave.
"What? What good is that going to do? Hey! Since when did we start challenging people we haven't even met yet?" Angela demanded, but her arguments fell on deaf ears. Even the Fairy looked a cross between distraught and murderous at the revelation of the state of the Mana Stone of Wind.
"Look, Angie, I don't like it either but if we're going to get to the Mana Holyland and get the Goddess to help us it doesn't work having someone running around releasing the energy on the Mana Stones on us. We'd better stop them while we can," Hawk counselled her calmly.
Still fuming, Angela muttered, "Fine, but whoever he is he's getting a piece of my mind."
The thief smiled charmingly. "I'm sure none of us would have it any other way. You're so cute when you're angry, Angie!"
Caught between denial and the inexplicable urge to blush - just hanging around Riesz was obviously a bad influence on her! - Angela opted to ignore the thief and stormed outside after Duran, cane at the ready.
Once again outside, they were confronted with the sight of what had to be Jinn, the Wind Elemental, being harrassed by a Knight clad only in midnight- black armour. Angela felt an ominous shiver down the back of her spine at the sight of the black Knight, but stepped forward alongside Duran determinedly, Hawk bringing up their rear.
"Hey! You! Get away from Jinn!" Duran ordered, unsheathing his sword and taking a threatening stance.
The dark Knight seemed to regard them for a brief moment, tilting his head aside in a somewhat delicate manner, then shrugged and began walking away, apparently deciding they weren't worth the trouble.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
The mute black Knight insisted on ignoring them, and soon disappeared from sight. Angela wasn't sure whether to be relieved or insulted - after a long debate, settling for relieved. Duran just looked angry. However, none of them really had the chance to dwell on this for more than a moment, because the next instant, an ear-piercing shriek shattered their eardrums, obviously the same screech that had brought them running out here in the first place. Jinn seemed to have vanished somewhere along the line - probably fleeing for his sorry hide like most other Elementals and Fairies seemed to do.
Led only by instinct, Angela ducked as a bird.... human... thing.... swooped by, the Princess able to feel the wind of its passage as it narrowly missed her. "What the hell?!"
Duran and Hawk had both armed themselves and were at the ready now as their foe flapped her - at least, it looked vaguely female - wings and screeched at them again, the ground practically shaking from the noise and Angela feeling as though she had to fight for balance. "The Fairy's saying it's called a Tzenker!" Duran called out, fending off the slashing claws with his sword. The creature let out a shriek as the Knight sliced off two claws, and wheeled back into the sky.
"I don't care what it's called! Kill it!" Angela demanded.
The Knight looked frustrated. "It's out of my range."
"Not out of mine!" Angela announced, calling upon Wisp's power. "HOLY BALL!"
The Tzenker shrieked in pain and the balls of holy magic pummeled it, singeing its feathers. Shaking off the energy, it zoomed back down towards them. Duran slashed haphazardly ith his sword, managing to damage its wing, but the Tzenker didn't slow down. Hawk bent over backwards as it accelerated towards him - the sound of tearing fabric could be heard in the same instant, even as Hawk's kodachi raked the underbelly of the beast. Screaming and bloodied, the monster retreated back into the sky.
Angela's heart leapt into her throat for an instant, but she relaxed when she saw the Tzenker had only ripped the fabric of the thief's tunic, and Hawk was untouched. Then she had to brace herself as they were buffeted with a powerful gale, obviously hinting the Tzenker had some of Jinn's power. Angela dropped to the ground to keep from falling over, Duran and Hawk doing the same.
As their assailant screeched again, the magician hurriedly clambered to her feet, and held her staff high in the air. "DIAMOND MISSILE!"
The Tzenker never knew what hit it as the gemstones spars all impaled it, bringing it to the ground with a decisive thump. Duran stepped up and delivered the final blow with his sword to the struggling monster. It fell limp and silent.
The adrenaline rush over, Angela sank to her knees, relieved and somewhat impressed once again that they had come through. They were really getting quite good at this fighting stuff - she always knew that Duran, being Duran, could fight like a solider, but she never thought that she had it in her to fight off anything larger than a zombie or a rabite. It was starting to become a habit, even.
Duran resheathed his sword, and Hawk was inspecting his loose and torn tunic with distaste. "Good thing it wasn't mine." He shrugged it off, revealing a more snug sleeveless one underneath.
The Fairy energed now that the coast was clear. "Great work, team!"
Angela gave the entity a dirt look. "Team? I didn't see you doing anything."
"I told you its name!"
"And that was so instrumental in defeating it. Why, if it weren't for you we'd have been doomed," Angela commented sarcastically.
"Thank you so much!" Another voice added to the argument. Moments later, with a gust of breeze for dramatic effect, Jinn, the Elemental of Wind, appeared before them.
"Let me guess, you're Jinn and the Tzenker was keeping you prisoner, right?" Angela said, hoping to avoid a lengthy preamble.
The Wind spirit blinked at this frank introduction, but agreed, "Well, yes, that was the case, until the Darkshine Knight came along....." Jinn shivered. "There's something especially nasty about that Knight, I don't like the look of him."
"So he's called the Darkshine Knight, huh?" Duran mused.
The bumbling Wind spirit didn't seem interested in discussing that, though. "You got it! Hey, Fairy! If you're with these guys, then I guess I'm supposed to give you my power, huh? Oh, Angela over there! You can have my magic, too!" Angela once again felt the rush of gaining a new magic ability.
The Princess was actually gracious enough to thank the Elemental this time.
"No problem!" Jinn announced. "I failed to keep the Mana Stone safe, it's the least I can do! But even if the energy is released, you could still class change there!"
Duran blinked. "Class change? Wasn't that what the High Priest of Wendel was talking about?"
The Fairy nodded. "You can all become stronger by using the Mana Stone's power to class change. I think you're ready for it - you've come a long way from when I first met you already, and I think that as Mana powers wanes and the obstacles you face become more difficult you'll need it."
"I'm never one to turn down more power," Angela agreed, cheerily turning to head back towards the cavern.
Duran and Hawk weren't far behind, Jinn and the Fairy following at their own leisurely place, probably talking about them behind their backs.
Once they were all gathered in front of the Mana Stone, Jinn and the Fairy floated to the forefront. Jinn looked at the stone somewhat sadly, but then said, "Well, I've granted you my assistance, the rest is up to you, Fairy!" In a gust of wind, the Elemental vanished from sight, though they could all still feel his presence, along with that of Wisp and Gnome. Angela gritted her teeth at this realisation - at this rate, she'd NEVER get any alone time with Duran!
At least magic was worth it. Putting up with the Fairy and Carlie simply wasn't.
"Duran," the Fairy suggested, "You should go first. Stand in the light of the Mana Stone, open yourself to its power, and concentrate on becoming stronger."
Duran nodded, moving as directed and planting his sword in the ground, closing his eyes. Even as they watched, he seemed to glow.
"You can choose your path," the Fairy continued, narrating the whole thing. "Light or Dark? It will determine how your power grows."
Duran frowned, then after a prolonged moment of strain on his face, the room was encased in a blidning white light. Moments later, after Angela had blinked back all the multi-coloured spots from her eyes, Duran was standing there again, for all practical purposes appearing the same... but there was something different about him. A new sort of energy, a strength..... oh wow, Angela felt her knees just about ready to turn to jelly. He'd been hot before, but whatever this subtle change the class change had caused had a massive effect on her.
The Fairy seemed to applaud his choice. "You've become a Knight, Duran! I always thought you would!"
Duran blinked in momentary befuddlement. "A Knight? I thought I was already a Knight...."
"In name, not in nature," the Fairy told him. Duran still looked puzzled, muttering that he felt different but otherwise.... "I'll explain it to you later," the Fairy finally amended tiredly, before turning on Hawk. "You're up next."
Hawk grinned at her, then winked at Angie, casually strolling forward and mimicking Duran's move, settling into what seemed like some sort of weird desert Zen trance. The Fairy repeated her steps, saying, "Choose light or dark - do you want to become a Ranger in nature or a Ninja? The choice is yours."
Another retina-scorching flash of light later, a subtly different Hawk was revealed. Again, he winked at the Princess. "I'm a Ranger! Do I get a horse? Chicks dig horses."
The Princess rolled her eyes. "I can see the class cahnge has done nothing for your maturity. I thought for sure you'd be a ninja, why choose to become a Ranger?" The Fairy was busy applauding his choice, but no one took much notice.
Hawk looked momentarily unsettled, distracting himself by flipping out his weapons to see if his speed or agility had changed much - which it had. "I trained most of my life to be a ninja, but after seeing what the other Navarre ninjas had become...."
Nodding her head in understanding, Angela flipped her lavendar hair over her shoulder and turned on the Fairy determinedly. "Well?"
"Go right ahead, do I really need to explain it?" the Fairy asked.
"I guess not." Figuring it shouldn't be too difficult, the magician stepped into the light of the Mana Stone and focused her thoughts, holding out her staff as if she were in position to cast a spell. She felt power building up around her, growing stronger and stronger, but it didn't seem to be doing anything else.
"Concentrate!" The Fairy ordered.
"What does it look like I'm doing? Eating cake?" Angela snapped back, frowning as she attempt to center her thoughts and stop daydreaming about Duran and how much more inexplicably handsome he had become since class changing.
The power seemed to at last snap into place, swirling about her. "Now choose! Dark or Light? Do you wish to become a Delvar or a Sorceress by nature?"
The choice was almost entirely unconscious. Already felt her own power swell, almost as though she was growing more mature, more adept.... it was beyond description, a bigger rush that getting any of the Elementals' power! Another classic flash of light later, she knew the process was complete. The potential of magical power in her was almost dizzying she thought, compared to what she was used to. She thought she was tough before, but now Koren was a dead man!
"I did it!" Angela shrieked in happiness. The Fairy merely raised an eyebrow.
"A Delvar? Emphasising the power of magic rather than its purpose. Somehow I'm not surprised," the Fairy commented crossly.
Angela just poked out her tongue at the minature deity. Meanwhile, Hawk was busy scrutinising her. "You know, Angela, I can't quite put my finger on it, but you look even more sexy than before."
Duran was busy blushing, which Angela took to be a good sign, but more importantly, the wily now-Ranger had given her an opportunity. "Oh Hawk? Seeing as you think so highly of me, there's something I could use your help with."
Bowing charitably, he replied, "It would be my pleasure, of course."
Angela held out her staff, fire glinting in her eyes. "AIR BLAST!"
This was going to be so much fun.
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C'mon, review, please? Don't make me beg.
Author's note: Hey, I've just been informed that it's Easter and I have train tickets! (I so love catching trains. so many hours of telling boring seatmates silly stories of my life that never actually happened. I think I'll get into the movie business this time.) Thus I admit that I kind of rushed this chapter, and probably aren't too happy with it but I hope you like it all the same. I also wish to warn you that because of this train- ticket-derived absence, in addition to coming up to the end of my Trimester, updates may further be sparsified (note: not a real word, please don't use at home) even further, but in about a month or so we should be running back on full steam. I make so many futile promises. Oh, Happy Easter I guess..
Response to Reviewers!:
Staci/Nadia: I have only you to thank for that. Quite frankly, I never understood Don Perry at all. I'm not too sure what possessed me to make Hawk flirt with the Fairy, perhaps it was my evil other personality, but people seemed to like it so it's all good.. Thanks as usual for your great review, and enjoy your Easter.
Solarious: I did like your song, of course, having it in text just isn't the same.. The fireplace idea is a good one, but I thought that you had hero-impersonating shadows in the Mana Holyland so I thought I'd save it for then (if I get there in this lifetime). You have a point, though, since when DID I care about rules? Hmm.. You may have just inadvertedly begun an avalanche, Solarious.. Heh heh, I love the dialogue you wrote between Bigieu and Hawk, but I just couldn't use it because it's yours and I actually already have some ideas about Bigieu, but I'll certainly be considering it. thank you for such a constructive musing session!
Rosa-Aquafire: I was wondering why you always seemed to be a chapter behind in reviewing - I can't believe you go to the trouble of reviewing even chapters you miss! (Cries- I don't deserve a reader as good as you.) Hmm, lots of people seemed to like those bits (scribbles on notepad - this could be helpful in taking over the world some day, I'm sure of it..) Yes, we have class changes, and I must ask people, do they want Riesz and company to class change as well? I wasn't originally going to incorporate that, but if people really want it I can.. One step closer to Rogue, Rosa, one step closer..
TenshiNoAkuma: New reviewer! Throw a parade! I admit that your explanation of this fic's humour confused me (no easy feat, I take my hat off to you) sorry about the classes, I should have held the votes a little later than I did in retrospect. As for Kevin, well, he's only said about two sentences thus far, so.. I do not deserve your high praise, but this unworthy one is grateful. Hope you keep reading!
ChibiCharizard: Actually, Solarious deserves credit for the idea of selling the Diamond Missiles. Liked your random rant, it brought some disturbing truths about RPGs to light for me. I think when I finally graduate and get a job at Squaresoft (dreaming? Me? And yes, I AM going to rule the world one day.) I will have to address these issues you speak of. (Walks off, highly disturbed.) Thanks very much for your review!
Wingnut: I never knew that Tyrannosauruses could talk.. (Or is it Tyrannosauri?) Glad you liked.. Um (flips through thesaurus) I now express my gratitude for your kind-hearted appraisal of this work.
Serenity-Wheeler: I hate to be anywhere nearby after you get your hands on all that Easter chocolate. But thank you for your review - look, it's Mr Whippy the Ice-Cream Man! (Sneaks off with a cup of sugar.)
Empress Faria: Another new reviewer, welcome! Lots of people liked the omnivorous bit, I'm glad, considering it was one of those things that kind of just happened. I am humbled by your high praise, and amazed at being introduced to the very first reviewer NOT in love with Carlie (this calls for an EXTRA parade). As for your English, well, heck, you speak it better than I do. Thanks a mil.
Slash The Ironman: Yes. Tzenker arrives. And it will protect me! (I hope). Uh oh, it seems as though many of my reviewers are developing split personalities thanks to this fic. (Holds out rubber businessman). Stay back! I have a lawyer!
Ff.net surfer: I was just kidding. I really did send that E-Mail to your brother. Are you checking under your pillow each night for booby-traps and spiders? Thanks for the review. And have a happy Easter with your brother. Yes, happy..
ANOTHER extremely long response to reviewers, jeez, I'm out of control! But thanks for all your support guys, it means a lot, it really does! Hope you enjoy this chapter and have a good holiday, those of you lucky enough to have one that's more than four days long (grumbles).
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Another Witchmaker
Chapter 21 - The More Things Change, the More they Stay the Same
By Sinnatious
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After yet ANOTHER tiresome boat ride to Palo - as painful as the cannon 'experience' was, they all had to admit it was about five hundred times faster - they were finally nearing their destination. It was late evening, the sun having sunk into the ocean, and the coast was coming into view.
Angela emerged from her cabin and stretched. Duran and Hawk were talking by the side of the boat. Curiousity piqued, the Princess casually ambled over to them, and was none too surprised to see the Fairy perched on Duran's shoulder joining in the conversation.
The magical being turned on the magician as she arrived. "Angela! About time you got here! We're trying to figure out how to get Hawk through Palo again."
Hawk was looking annoyed. "I am not dressing up in some stupid disguise."
Duran looked like he agreed. "It wasn't a very good idea, Fairy, I'm really sorry."
The tiny deity wrung her minscule hands. "I'm not good at planning these things! The Mana Goddess never really thought we'd have to worry about things like this!"
"Maybe not, but dressing up like a rabite? That was just crazy," Hawk muttered. "If not for the fact that they don't have human-sized rabites, then for the fact that they don't have rabites in Rolante."
"They're a lucky kingdom all right," Angela agreed. Even in the harsh Altenan snowfields one always had the chance of coming across the odd rabite, as unusual as it was. Of course, in the Altenan snowfields rabites were usually the least of one's troubles.
The docks were looming close. Hawk sighed. "Look, I can get through Palo, but it'll be a lot easier if I just split up and meet you on the other side on the 'Path to the Heavens' as Riesz calls it."
Angela blinked. "What exactly do you plan on doing different this time?"
"Um.... I was going to get you to create a diversion, Angie! Would you mind flashing the guards for me?"
Face burning red, Angela forwent her staff and instead belted the thief with her fist instead. "I'm gonna hit you!"
Hawk massaged his head. "I wish you'd tell me that BEFORE you hit me!"
Well, in a way having Hawk run off for a while would be a good thing, right? Quality time alone with Duran at last! -For just a little while, anyway. And come to think of it, the damn Fairy would still be along, however it was still a good opportunity. But then, why did she feel so uneasy? Did she actually care that the thief might get caught without backup and be killed?
That loser, no way, Angela thought stubbornly, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the Fairy looking at her worriedly. The Princess fervently hoped that the being wasn't using her eerie telepathic powers again, damn Mana tricks! Well, she really couldn't pick on Mana tricks, since those same Mana tricks were among her slowly growing arsenal. Still, it would have been more comforting to have the thief around for protection, if nothing else. Duran might have been unbeatable against other soldiers and swordsmen, but ninja fought dirty.
Of course, she realised belatedly, that was exactly why Hawk was taking a one-person detour through Palo. The blank-minded ninja wouldn't even bother them if Hawk wasn't there to attract their interest. He was risking his own neck to save theirs, in a way.
Once again shaking her head to clear it of various confusing thoughts, Angela finally said, "If you can manage it without a diversion, then go for it. It makes a lot more sense than dressing up in a rabite suit, of which where I don't even know we'd get one." The Princess eyed the Fairy who groaned in embarrassment. Angela was determined that even if it was one stupid idea, that one stupid idea would be used to humiliate the Fairy for a very long time....
The boat finally pulled up at the docks, and they hurriedly disembarked, thankfully no ninajs confronting them this time. Once they were back in the shadows, Hawk gave them a cheery wave. "This is where I leave." With no further ado than that, the thief silently vaulted on to the nearest roof, using a barrel as a step, and began to stealithy run along the rooftops.
Angela and Duran watched blankly. "Well, I'll be," Angela commented at last. "I didn't even think of that."
Duran nodded his agreement. "None of the ninjas have really been watching the sky, have they? We'd better hurry through Palo if we're going to meet him on the other side of town."
Angela smiled, restraining the urge to latch on to the Knight's arm, knowing that such flirtation had already failed her many times already. They hurried through Palo, once or twice catching a brief glimpse of a figure darting over the rooftops not far away, before losing sight of the agile thief altogether. Their passage was unobstructed this time, but they didn't dally anyway, Angela still feeling her skin crawl at the sight of the expressionless ninjas.
She didn't truly relax until they had made their way out of Palo and on to the Path to the Heavens. Sure enough, there was Hawk, waiting for them with that wastefully cheerful smile ever plastered on his face. Angela felt an immense wave of relief at the sight of him, and never being one to miss an opporunity, gave him a generous hug, hoping to invoke some sort of reaction from Duran. "Hawk!"
"Gee, Angie, I was only gone an hour, but I missed you too," Hawk said.
Apparently her ploy to make Duran jealous was again ignored as the Knight gave Hawk a cheerful slap on the back. "That's a relief. Getting around on the rooftops, what DIDN'T they teach you in the thieves' guild?"
Hawk rubbed the back of his head, a brief scowl dancing across his face before being replaced by the usual grin. "How to resist hypnotism, apparently."
Before the usual uncomfortable silence could settle, Angela grabbed Hawk's arm and began to lead the trio up the slope once again. "Let's not sit around discussing the mechanics of sneaking through towns under siege, let's go get Jinn already!"
The Fairy emerged from hiding, clearing her throat. "Um, shouldn't we go talk to Riesz in the underground resistance first?"
The Princess dismissed the notion with an airy wave of her hand. "Nah, why bother? It's our quest to find Jinn, not theirs! Besides, do you REALLY want to have Riesz and Carlie and probably Kevin too wanting to tag along?"
The Fairy thought this over at length. "You have a point. And they wouldn't be able to benefit from Jinn's blessing anyway...."
Duran was inclined to disagree. "But their assistance wouldn't go astray - a soldier from Rolante's skills in battle would be helpful."
"That's not their only skills," Hawk remarked with a devlish grin.
Angela swung at the thief for the implied comment, but he knew it was coming and quickly sidestepped it as usual. Heedless, the magician continued, "Riesz'd be too busy organizing her army for the re-take. Let her be! She has enough stress without having to worry about you!"
"What about the tiny terror and Riesz's lapdog?" Hawk pointed out.
Duran, obviously unable to think of any reply to this, simply shrugged. The Fairy muttered something along the lines of those two being part of the stress.
"Get over it already, we can handle this one on our own! Heads up, here comes one of those birds!" Angela announced.
So the second trip up the 'Path to the Heavens', not being very heavenly, passed somewhat uneventfully with the exception of the odd flock of needlebirds harrassing them. They were lucky enough to not encounter any patrols of ninajs, thus not having to endure another treacherous climb. Under Riesz's direction, they eventually entered a cave that they hoped to be the Corridor of the Wind.
"More caves," Angela muttered, annoyed. "Faiiiiiiry? We need a lamp!"
The small deity scowled. "I refuse to be demoted to a light source again! Just use Wisp's magic, Angela, it's a simple enough spell!"
"Yeah, but nowhere near as fun," Angela pouted, but gave in and called upon a miniscule amount of Wisp's power to light their way. Leading the way, she cautiously stepped through the entrance to caves, and was surprised to be buffeted by a slight breeze. More disturbing was the painful moan that echoed throughout the long cave.
"What's that sound?" Duran asked, cautiously resting a hand on the hilt of his sword.
The Fairy was smiling, obviously sensing Mana presence nearby. "It's the wind howling through the corridor. Jinn, the elemental of the Wind, resides near here."
Angela snorted. "And here I was just thinking it was the sound of air passing through Hawk's hollow skull."
"I had to make my skull hollow so I could fill it with more thoughts of you, Angie," Hawk replied, winking in the Princess's general direction.
Duran's eyebrow twitched. Angela was almost gleeful - she didn't even have to flirt herself anymore, all she had to do was leave it to Hawk and Duran would get jealous! "You flatter me, Hawk. Remind me to give you lots to think about later," Angela retorted slyly.
"Is anyone but me paying attention to the floating zombie Knight coming our way?" The Fairy shrieked.
Duran dispatched the phatom knight without too much difficulty. "I guess if those things are wandering around here, Jinn and the Wind Mana Stone must be in trouble. Princess, please lead the way, and hurry!"
Well, hurry wasn't the word they really followed as they ambled somewhat aimlessly around the caves, though they did seem to be working their way vaguely upwards. Angela was attempting to follow her magical senses towards the Mana Stone, which the Fairy assured them was nearby, but they kept running into walls and dead-ends and wound up having to take quite a roundabout way to get even close to the stone. Not to mention that all the while their way was impeded by zombies, needlebirds, and some weird sort of possessed magic armour.
Needless to say, the Princess was becoming frustrated by their inability to reach a destination that she could sense on the other side of the wall. "I've had it with this! Stupid walls! HOLY BALL!"
The magician used Wisp's magic to literally blast a hole in the wall. The thief and Knight stood by, eyebrows raised.
"It worked, didn't it?" Angela protested, stepping outside onto a previously concealed plateua. Just a stone's throw away was another cave entrance, which Angela was certain she could feel Mana energy coming from.
Hawk and Duran diplomatically decided not to comment on that, but stepped through the breakage all the same. Almost immediately, a power of the wind escalated so much that it felt as though they were about to be blown off the mountain. The Fairy shrieked, leaping and disappearing into Angela's head, being the nearest, before the gale could blow her away.
"I'm pretty sure Jinn's not far away!" Angela called out over the screaming wind.
"You think, Angie?" Hawk called back sarcastically. The Princess bit back a growl. How was she supposed to know what the damn thief was thinking? He would flirt with her one minute, insult her the next! Ah, who cared what he thought? Duran was all that mattered.
'Hypocrite,' the Fairy commented from within the sanctuary of the Princess's head, obviously not frazzled enough to stop making snide comments.
'Since when did I care about what you think?' Angela retorted, leading the way towards the next cavern, being careful of her footing in the powerful gale. Hawk and Duran followed equally carefully, not relaxing until they reached the cave.
Stepping inside, Angela re-ignited her simple illumination spell on the tip of her staff, but found it wasn't necessary. The entire cavern was glowing. "Is that.....?"
"The Mana Stone," the Fairy confirmed, as they all gazed in awe at the wedge-shaped floating crystalline creation. It was their first time actually seeing a Mana Stone after all, the opportunity being denied them for the Mana Stones of Light and Earth. Angela could feel Mana's energy soaking the cavern, but somehow, something didn't feel quite right....
Looking suddenly panicked, the Fairy floated over to the stone, zooming up and down. "It can't be! No! We're too late!"
"What? Too late?" Duran asked, again resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, visibly uptight.
The Fairy almost wailed in response, wringing her hands together. "The Mana Stone's energy has been released! They must have cast the spell on it already!"
"That's bad, right?" Angela surmised.
"More than bad! The seals on the other Mana stones will compensate for a while, but if all the Mana Stones have their energy released, then the God- Beasts will break free and the earth will be finished!" the Fairy proclaimed melodramatically.
"Well, that sucks," Hawk stated empahtically.
Before they could continue their uplifting discussion on how the world was going to end, though, a powerful screech sounded off to the right. Automatically turning towards the noise, Angela cursed to herself. "Jinn!"
Hawk slid his kodachi from hiding, and ready for action, quickly ran over to the other side of the cave. "Footprints! Looks like a Knight of sorts, big guy," the thief assessed, glancing up at them after a moment. "Fresh. Looks like whoever released the energy on the Mana Stone just did it recently. So...."
"We can't let them get away!" Duran announced, striding towards the exit of the cave.
"What? What good is that going to do? Hey! Since when did we start challenging people we haven't even met yet?" Angela demanded, but her arguments fell on deaf ears. Even the Fairy looked a cross between distraught and murderous at the revelation of the state of the Mana Stone of Wind.
"Look, Angie, I don't like it either but if we're going to get to the Mana Holyland and get the Goddess to help us it doesn't work having someone running around releasing the energy on the Mana Stones on us. We'd better stop them while we can," Hawk counselled her calmly.
Still fuming, Angela muttered, "Fine, but whoever he is he's getting a piece of my mind."
The thief smiled charmingly. "I'm sure none of us would have it any other way. You're so cute when you're angry, Angie!"
Caught between denial and the inexplicable urge to blush - just hanging around Riesz was obviously a bad influence on her! - Angela opted to ignore the thief and stormed outside after Duran, cane at the ready.
Once again outside, they were confronted with the sight of what had to be Jinn, the Wind Elemental, being harrassed by a Knight clad only in midnight- black armour. Angela felt an ominous shiver down the back of her spine at the sight of the black Knight, but stepped forward alongside Duran determinedly, Hawk bringing up their rear.
"Hey! You! Get away from Jinn!" Duran ordered, unsheathing his sword and taking a threatening stance.
The dark Knight seemed to regard them for a brief moment, tilting his head aside in a somewhat delicate manner, then shrugged and began walking away, apparently deciding they weren't worth the trouble.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
The mute black Knight insisted on ignoring them, and soon disappeared from sight. Angela wasn't sure whether to be relieved or insulted - after a long debate, settling for relieved. Duran just looked angry. However, none of them really had the chance to dwell on this for more than a moment, because the next instant, an ear-piercing shriek shattered their eardrums, obviously the same screech that had brought them running out here in the first place. Jinn seemed to have vanished somewhere along the line - probably fleeing for his sorry hide like most other Elementals and Fairies seemed to do.
Led only by instinct, Angela ducked as a bird.... human... thing.... swooped by, the Princess able to feel the wind of its passage as it narrowly missed her. "What the hell?!"
Duran and Hawk had both armed themselves and were at the ready now as their foe flapped her - at least, it looked vaguely female - wings and screeched at them again, the ground practically shaking from the noise and Angela feeling as though she had to fight for balance. "The Fairy's saying it's called a Tzenker!" Duran called out, fending off the slashing claws with his sword. The creature let out a shriek as the Knight sliced off two claws, and wheeled back into the sky.
"I don't care what it's called! Kill it!" Angela demanded.
The Knight looked frustrated. "It's out of my range."
"Not out of mine!" Angela announced, calling upon Wisp's power. "HOLY BALL!"
The Tzenker shrieked in pain and the balls of holy magic pummeled it, singeing its feathers. Shaking off the energy, it zoomed back down towards them. Duran slashed haphazardly ith his sword, managing to damage its wing, but the Tzenker didn't slow down. Hawk bent over backwards as it accelerated towards him - the sound of tearing fabric could be heard in the same instant, even as Hawk's kodachi raked the underbelly of the beast. Screaming and bloodied, the monster retreated back into the sky.
Angela's heart leapt into her throat for an instant, but she relaxed when she saw the Tzenker had only ripped the fabric of the thief's tunic, and Hawk was untouched. Then she had to brace herself as they were buffeted with a powerful gale, obviously hinting the Tzenker had some of Jinn's power. Angela dropped to the ground to keep from falling over, Duran and Hawk doing the same.
As their assailant screeched again, the magician hurriedly clambered to her feet, and held her staff high in the air. "DIAMOND MISSILE!"
The Tzenker never knew what hit it as the gemstones spars all impaled it, bringing it to the ground with a decisive thump. Duran stepped up and delivered the final blow with his sword to the struggling monster. It fell limp and silent.
The adrenaline rush over, Angela sank to her knees, relieved and somewhat impressed once again that they had come through. They were really getting quite good at this fighting stuff - she always knew that Duran, being Duran, could fight like a solider, but she never thought that she had it in her to fight off anything larger than a zombie or a rabite. It was starting to become a habit, even.
Duran resheathed his sword, and Hawk was inspecting his loose and torn tunic with distaste. "Good thing it wasn't mine." He shrugged it off, revealing a more snug sleeveless one underneath.
The Fairy energed now that the coast was clear. "Great work, team!"
Angela gave the entity a dirt look. "Team? I didn't see you doing anything."
"I told you its name!"
"And that was so instrumental in defeating it. Why, if it weren't for you we'd have been doomed," Angela commented sarcastically.
"Thank you so much!" Another voice added to the argument. Moments later, with a gust of breeze for dramatic effect, Jinn, the Elemental of Wind, appeared before them.
"Let me guess, you're Jinn and the Tzenker was keeping you prisoner, right?" Angela said, hoping to avoid a lengthy preamble.
The Wind spirit blinked at this frank introduction, but agreed, "Well, yes, that was the case, until the Darkshine Knight came along....." Jinn shivered. "There's something especially nasty about that Knight, I don't like the look of him."
"So he's called the Darkshine Knight, huh?" Duran mused.
The bumbling Wind spirit didn't seem interested in discussing that, though. "You got it! Hey, Fairy! If you're with these guys, then I guess I'm supposed to give you my power, huh? Oh, Angela over there! You can have my magic, too!" Angela once again felt the rush of gaining a new magic ability.
The Princess was actually gracious enough to thank the Elemental this time.
"No problem!" Jinn announced. "I failed to keep the Mana Stone safe, it's the least I can do! But even if the energy is released, you could still class change there!"
Duran blinked. "Class change? Wasn't that what the High Priest of Wendel was talking about?"
The Fairy nodded. "You can all become stronger by using the Mana Stone's power to class change. I think you're ready for it - you've come a long way from when I first met you already, and I think that as Mana powers wanes and the obstacles you face become more difficult you'll need it."
"I'm never one to turn down more power," Angela agreed, cheerily turning to head back towards the cavern.
Duran and Hawk weren't far behind, Jinn and the Fairy following at their own leisurely place, probably talking about them behind their backs.
Once they were all gathered in front of the Mana Stone, Jinn and the Fairy floated to the forefront. Jinn looked at the stone somewhat sadly, but then said, "Well, I've granted you my assistance, the rest is up to you, Fairy!" In a gust of wind, the Elemental vanished from sight, though they could all still feel his presence, along with that of Wisp and Gnome. Angela gritted her teeth at this realisation - at this rate, she'd NEVER get any alone time with Duran!
At least magic was worth it. Putting up with the Fairy and Carlie simply wasn't.
"Duran," the Fairy suggested, "You should go first. Stand in the light of the Mana Stone, open yourself to its power, and concentrate on becoming stronger."
Duran nodded, moving as directed and planting his sword in the ground, closing his eyes. Even as they watched, he seemed to glow.
"You can choose your path," the Fairy continued, narrating the whole thing. "Light or Dark? It will determine how your power grows."
Duran frowned, then after a prolonged moment of strain on his face, the room was encased in a blidning white light. Moments later, after Angela had blinked back all the multi-coloured spots from her eyes, Duran was standing there again, for all practical purposes appearing the same... but there was something different about him. A new sort of energy, a strength..... oh wow, Angela felt her knees just about ready to turn to jelly. He'd been hot before, but whatever this subtle change the class change had caused had a massive effect on her.
The Fairy seemed to applaud his choice. "You've become a Knight, Duran! I always thought you would!"
Duran blinked in momentary befuddlement. "A Knight? I thought I was already a Knight...."
"In name, not in nature," the Fairy told him. Duran still looked puzzled, muttering that he felt different but otherwise.... "I'll explain it to you later," the Fairy finally amended tiredly, before turning on Hawk. "You're up next."
Hawk grinned at her, then winked at Angie, casually strolling forward and mimicking Duran's move, settling into what seemed like some sort of weird desert Zen trance. The Fairy repeated her steps, saying, "Choose light or dark - do you want to become a Ranger in nature or a Ninja? The choice is yours."
Another retina-scorching flash of light later, a subtly different Hawk was revealed. Again, he winked at the Princess. "I'm a Ranger! Do I get a horse? Chicks dig horses."
The Princess rolled her eyes. "I can see the class cahnge has done nothing for your maturity. I thought for sure you'd be a ninja, why choose to become a Ranger?" The Fairy was busy applauding his choice, but no one took much notice.
Hawk looked momentarily unsettled, distracting himself by flipping out his weapons to see if his speed or agility had changed much - which it had. "I trained most of my life to be a ninja, but after seeing what the other Navarre ninjas had become...."
Nodding her head in understanding, Angela flipped her lavendar hair over her shoulder and turned on the Fairy determinedly. "Well?"
"Go right ahead, do I really need to explain it?" the Fairy asked.
"I guess not." Figuring it shouldn't be too difficult, the magician stepped into the light of the Mana Stone and focused her thoughts, holding out her staff as if she were in position to cast a spell. She felt power building up around her, growing stronger and stronger, but it didn't seem to be doing anything else.
"Concentrate!" The Fairy ordered.
"What does it look like I'm doing? Eating cake?" Angela snapped back, frowning as she attempt to center her thoughts and stop daydreaming about Duran and how much more inexplicably handsome he had become since class changing.
The power seemed to at last snap into place, swirling about her. "Now choose! Dark or Light? Do you wish to become a Delvar or a Sorceress by nature?"
The choice was almost entirely unconscious. Already felt her own power swell, almost as though she was growing more mature, more adept.... it was beyond description, a bigger rush that getting any of the Elementals' power! Another classic flash of light later, she knew the process was complete. The potential of magical power in her was almost dizzying she thought, compared to what she was used to. She thought she was tough before, but now Koren was a dead man!
"I did it!" Angela shrieked in happiness. The Fairy merely raised an eyebrow.
"A Delvar? Emphasising the power of magic rather than its purpose. Somehow I'm not surprised," the Fairy commented crossly.
Angela just poked out her tongue at the minature deity. Meanwhile, Hawk was busy scrutinising her. "You know, Angela, I can't quite put my finger on it, but you look even more sexy than before."
Duran was busy blushing, which Angela took to be a good sign, but more importantly, the wily now-Ranger had given her an opportunity. "Oh Hawk? Seeing as you think so highly of me, there's something I could use your help with."
Bowing charitably, he replied, "It would be my pleasure, of course."
Angela held out her staff, fire glinting in her eyes. "AIR BLAST!"
This was going to be so much fun.
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C'mon, review, please? Don't make me beg.