Author note: I know that in-game it's Big Sar who comes up with Saradush being the next destination, but since he did not spend all that time in the Abyss, he had no way of knowing about that, so I gave the task to the blue-skinned celestial pest, so that she could be useful for once.

oxoxoxoxoxo

She must have lost consciousness, because when she opened her eyes she was not in the forest anymore and she was lying on a rocky floor, one strangely familiar, as familiar was the stench of sulfur, blood and death: she looked around and recognized her pocket plane, though it was slightly different from the last time she'd been there.

For starters, now the portal was surrounded by marble statues depicting various kinds of demons, one uglier than the other; the stairs leading to the challenge rooms weren't there anymore, but there was a long wall at her left with five magical barriers closing a room each; the place seemed to be definitely bigger and most important of all, there was a Solar standing in the middle of the room where she and her party members were.

"Greetings, Godchild", the celestial said in a voice like the tinkling of a crystal glass, her eyes made of pure white light looking down at the Ilmatari, "I was waiting for you". "Uh, hello", the human replied, surprised, "So…What's going on? Why are you in this place? Last time I checked, the Abyss did not house any celestial". "I am here to help you, Child of Bhaal: all the Bhaalspawn carry the spark of divinity in themselves and the time for the final battle is close at hand…". "Well shit", she sighed, "I had hoped this could be avoided, I have no wish to become involved in a full-scale war".

The Solar narrowed her eyes slightly, irritated at the interruption, "The prophecy foretold this time and I am here to give you the education you need to better face it", she snapped. Meg groaned inwardly, Oh, come on! I thought I had gotten rid of stuffy bitchy teachers when I left Candlekeep and Ulraunt behind and now this? Why do the Gods hate me so much?, she thought and the Slayer chuckled. They hold little love for your kind, you should know this by now, little Goddess. But we could at least get rid of this annoying pest. Don't tempt me, she replied as her lips curved in an amused smile, "So what will you teach me exactly?".

"You need to be prepared to wield the power that runs in your blood and power goes hand in hand with knowledge. Saradush is where your journey shall begin. I will say no more for now, but we will meet again soon. In the meantime, know that you don't stand alone, Godchild", the Solar said, vanishing in a flash of light. "Wait!", the Ilmatari called, but in vain and she looked heavenwards, "Wonderful, just wonderful. More riddles and an annoying celestial to pester me. What more could I ask for?", she wondered aloud.

A flapping noise came from the darkness and everyone tensed, weapons at the ready, but they stared in puzzlement as the source of it turned out to be a small green-skinned Imp with huge sparkling eyes and a wide smile on its leathery muzzle. "Oooooh, you came!", it squealed happily, flying straight to her as its tail flipped back and forth, "Welcome, Great One! Cespenar was waiting for you!".

She blinked, "Hello, Cespenar. So, uh…Why were you waiting for me?". "Cespenar serve the Great One!", the Imp answered, "I served great Bhaal for lots of time, me was good butler, yes? But Cespenar has had no master for long, long time…", it added sadly, then its muzzle lightened up, "But now you're here! Cespenar has new master!". "Ah. Well, I've never had a butler before...What is it you do exactly?".

It made a vague gesture with a clawed paw, "Oh, I clean stuff. I go and pick up the little things that fall into the Abyss. And I use my recipes to make the shiny things". "Shiny things?". It nodded, "Oh, yes! Call me you can. Does Great One want Cespenar to make shiny things for her?", it asked hopefully and she found herself smiling at the small creature. "Well, why not?".

"Oooh, I must check your stuff! See if there's anything I can use!", without warning, the Imp flew into her pack and began rummaging through her belongings, humming to itself and muttering comments, "Many trinkets…What's this? Shower curtains? No, cloak. Ugly, ugly cloak. Nice robe…Long, though, hides legs. Jealous boyfriend, yes, yes. Ooooh, chocolate! Can I eat some, Great One?", it asked, poking its head out and making puppy eyes at her and Meg nodded. "Sure, help yourself".

"Thank you! You is kind to Cespenar, poor, poor Cespenar!", the Imp beamed and disappeared into the pack again and there was a munching noise, "So good! Not often that chocolate ends up in Abyss, no, no. Uhm…No, nothing I can use my recipes on". "It's okay, Cespenar, thank you all the same".

It emerged from her pack and suddenly its gaze fixed on Anomen's belt, "Ooooh, Flail of many heads! Many heads better than one, eh? I have recipe for that. If you find the other two heads, I can fix them to it". "We'll try to find them, then", she said, chuckling as she saw her beloved knight clutching the flail protectively against his chest, "Now, can you tell us how to get out of here?". Cespenar pouted, "Want to leave already? You've arrived just now!", it whined.

Yoshimo intervened, "We should explore the place before leaving, sekai no hikari: this…This pocket plane has changed since our last visit and the more we know about it, the better". "You have a point. Okay, then. Cespenar, what can you tell us about this place?".

The Imp mulled over the question, "There is five rooms with challenges, Cespenar can open only first one, though", it said, then extended a paw and pointed it at the first barrier on the right: a shot of lighting hit the wall of energy, dissolving it, "If you win challenge in it, you can use the portal to leave. You is also master of pocket plane, it can be shaped by your will". The Ilmatari's eyebrows rose, "Really? Shape it how?". It shrugged, "Make walls, rooms, stuff, whatever you wants, Great One".

"So I can create bedrooms, washrooms and a kitchen for us, like in a luxurious inn?". Another shrug, "All you wants to make, you can make". "Great! How does it work?". "Dunno, sorry, Great One". The Slayer spoke up, Just focus on your power, little Goddess: see them in your mind and then make them real. You can do it.

She closed her eyes and tried to call back the memory of the bedroom she and Anomen had shared in Ust Natha, focusing on every little detail, then she imagined nine separate rooms like that, each one of them with a personal bathroom and to the shock and worry of her companions, the golden glow was so strong that it could be seen even from under her closed eyelids. She then focused to create a huge kitchen like the one in the Sea's Bounty and a living room with three huge comfy sofas and twelve armchairs covered in fine creamy-white velvet with fluffy pillows.

"Oh. My. Gods!", Imoen squealed, stunned, "It worked!". Margaret Dawn opened her eyes and her jaw fell as she realized that everything she had seen in her mind was now there for real, "Wow. That's…Did I really do that?". "You did, Maggie", Sarevok smiled warmly and slipped an arm around her shoulders, kissing her temple, "I'm so proud of you". "Thank you, big brother. Gods, I'm so tired now…", she added as her vision swam, her head felt dizzy and her knees nearly gave way from under her.

You have used too much of your strength, little Goddess, the Slayer intervened, its own voice sounding tired and strained, Shaping a plane is draining even for a full deity and you're only half, at least for the moment. You'd better rest now. "But our half-siblings…", she tried to protest, but it cut her off, shaking its head. You're useless if you barely have the strength to stand. Go and rest. Eight more hours will not make much difference in the current situation.

"If you say so", she muttered, then explained the matter to her companions, "We need to face the first challenge anyway, so we need to be fresh and clear-headed, no?", she added and they all agreed. Anomen lifted her in his arms bridal style, carrying her to their room and when he gently lowered her onto bed, she smiled softly. "You know…I'm tired, but I have enough energy left to enjoy our wedding night", she purred and his heart skipped a beat as he smiled back. "I had hoped you would say that, my love".