A.N. Many apologies for being so late in posting this. Most of this was already written but then I just couldn't think of what to write. Either way, enjoy!
F'rus smiled as she lounged on her special Weyrleader's chair. She had been up early filling everyone's boots with goodies. Back home, this would be done for Christmas in the wintertime but she felt they needed a holiday after the disappearance and reappearance of Ramoth's Queen Egg, thought to have been stolen by Southern Weyr where the Oldtimers lived.
"F'rus?" N'eel called out, the first one to enter.
"Mmm?"
"Why was there jerky in my boots?"
"Merry Christmas N'eel."
"Pardon?"
"Siddown and shaddup."
As he did so, the Weyr poured in. As per F'rus' request, everyone had spent the night and L'ssa had brought F'lar.
F'rus chuckled at the Weyrleader's awed expression before getting up and extending a hand. "Thank you for coming F'lar, I have a seat for you between myself and L'ssa."
F'lar took the offered hand and stared at the Riders, Trainees, and Pre-candidates. "This is…"
…
When everyone was settled, F'rus stood up, causing everyone to look up. "Back home in the dead of winter was a magical holiday. Gifts were exchanged, good deeds were done, it was a time to make merry… without wine." She winked at R'ton. "Before we start the celebration, I have some business to cover. Most of you have been wondering who stole Ramoth's egg and who returned it. While I was unable to identify the three thieves, I was able to identify the savior. He is not of Benden, nor of Moons, and he is not in a Weyr position of power. With that, the betting pool is open, you may use chores, money, or goods from your Weyr of Origin. I'll reveal the person later."
With that, people began scribbling bets on slips of paper which were handed to Hibiki. Within ten minutes, the big screen that had been recently installed showed a graph of guesses, putting a Telgar bluerider in the lead.
"Now then." F'rus said when she noticed the bets winding down, "I have decided after speaking to the Fairy Tailers to mark everyone in Moons with our symbol. Default location will be your strongest shoulder however you may have the mark anywhere on your person." F'rus then pulled out a special stamp that filled with red ink. Holding it out to R'ton, she pulled her hair away and then took the stamp, marking her right eye with a red crescent moon. With that done, she turned to R'ton.
…
As each person was marked, they were handed a wrapped gift. At last, the Fairy Tailers were called up, people she had saved for last. Deciding to work backward, she called Lyon up. With a grin, the man pulled off his shirt and turned his back to the Weyrleader. With a smile, F'rus stamped him, the color changing to a light green. Hibiki was next, lifting a pant leg to be stamped. Jellal had his done on the nape of his neck.
"Could you do my palm?" W'mar asked.
F'rus obliged before turning to Gr'ster who turned his unmarked ab to F'rus. G'fox had his done on a cheek, N'eel had his on his chest, E'scar's wound up on her neck, and L'fil had the back of her unmarked hand done.
…
As everyone sat down and opened their presents, F'rus stood up once more and spoke up, "And the winner of the betting pool is…" She paused, scanning the list, "R'ton, N'ton, and N'eel. I was able to identify Lord Jaxom of Ruatha, a Fort rider returning the egg."
F'lar swore while L'ssa turned to F'rus, "Go on… I know that look."
"Well he'd make a good…" F'rus broke off at the sound of a loud klaxon. "Thread!"
F'lar sat up with a jolt, ignoring the mass exodus that was occurring around him, "I want to fly!"
…
As the Months flew by, Pern became a place of many revolutions. With the help of Benden Weyr, the original settlement of the Ancients, the ancestors of the Pernese people was uncovered. In that dead city, a wonderous computer was found, giving birth to paper, advanced medicine, even a possible solution to Thread. In Moons, F'lar became a reoccurring visitor, eventually made an honorary member of the Weyr. Laxus became a brown rider known as L'yer while Lyon Impressed Blue. H'ki, once known as Hibiki, became known as the head technological advisor while J'fer, formerly known as Jellal was the Bluethird, one of the best leaders in the Weyr. Yet with the changes, F'rus became more worried for her Weyr, remembering a promise she had made to herself, a promise to return the Fairy Tailers to their own world. Now, with nothing scheduled for the day, she decided to do something she had never gotten around to, visiting the computer known as AIVAS.
…
In a large metal warehouse, a small red light came on. The intelligence behind it had noticed a strange figure padding through the corridors in the compound and was now busy scanning the stranger.
Hair: Red
Eyes: Blue
Height: 5'3"
Race: Caucasian
Name: Unknown.
The consciousness, AIVAS was confused. It had been told the identities of every dragonrider on Pern and had gotten the impression that dragonrider names were extremely important… so who was this?
F'rus stopped, looking at the huge blank screen. The reports from N'ton and L'ssa were correct, it was a computer. Luckily, she was from the 21st century and knew how to speak to computers. "Computer, I am Weyrleader F'rus, rider of Bronze Caramath and leader of the covert Moons Weyr. Identify."
With that, AIVAS spoke up in a metallic voice. "I am the Artificial Intelligence Voice Address System. Please forgive me but I have not come across any mention of a Moons Weyr."
"Moons, by its very nature is shrouded in secrecy. In fact, if you had known about it, I would be surprised." F'rus replied. After a few minutes, she stared straight at the screen. "AIVAS, during my tenure as a Weyrleader, I have seen many things, gone through many. One of these things is the appearance of ten people from another world." A tear fell on her cheek. "I know what it is like to leave home to come to another place without your knowledge or choice. I can only guess how their families… and mine… feel. After Thread has been halted, I ask you this." F'rus paused for a moment before speaking. "AIVAS, please research methods to teleport people to the time and place whence they come from."
"Understood. Alternate means of transportation is now queued." AIVAS said.
"Now then, my Gold and Bronzeleaders tell me that you have found a solution to the problem of Thread?"
With that, AIVAS began to speak…
…
The stars glittered across an empty sky. The only planet with any signs of life, Pern, was 18,000 years too early for space travel and around 20,000 years too late. Suddenly, the serene sky was filled with dragons of every color; green, blue, white, brown, bronze, and gold. The fleet, save the white dragon, stayed in a formation that they seemed to mentally adjust to.
…
F'rus smiled down at her riders, taking mental stock of them. L'ssa kept her riders firmly around her, the ladies marking their position by the stars. Br'k had pulled her own riders out of formation, the team now circling their target, one of the three "Dawn Sisters" as the airships that once had brought people to Pern were called. L'fil had the task of leading the golds in their own time so her riders were absent. Similarly, the bronzes were separate as well, with only N'ton's group remaining. This group was currently busy helping F'nor's group free the airlock, a task that was made complex by the discovery of an alarm system. Hovering below them, M'rim's group had bags to keep the workers from dropping something and causing more problems. Finally, the blues, led by P'mur were reviewing the plans that F'rus had copied and distributed, detailing AIVAS's plan. It was simple really, go back in time to blow up the engines of the ships at critical times to shove the planet out of the way. When F'rus had discovered it, she quickly split her riders into three, sending each to a separate ship and time.
The door is free, Weyrleader.
"Party time." F'rus muttered before taking Caramath down to the uneasy Jaxom. When she got close enough, she lightly poked the boy, letting him know that it was time for him to slip in and set the self-destruct.
…
With a loud boom, the ships engines exploded, one in each time. As they had returned back to their present time, F'rus, Moons, and Jaxom witnessed the final one. Glad that their work was done, done forever, the riders cheered and screamed, nine Weyrs showing millennia of longing in those cheers. However, only F'rus was quiet, her eyes turning to the sky, wondering what the riders would do. At last, she looked down at her riders and said the words they all were looking forward to, "Last one has to do the dishes!"