Thanks to those who reviewed, I appreciate it lots! Anyways, this
part you get to find out what Allen's home life is like, that could get
interesting.on with the show!!!
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A large house at the edge of a small town came into view around lunchtime; a barn in behind it that looked like hadn't been used in years. Years ago, it had been thriving pixie ranch, having raised some of the best-known monsters of the ring: Slasher, Bluedevil, Poison Stinger, Jumpinee, Little Witch, all these and more had been some of the top monsters in their class. But the ranch had died with Allen's grandfather when he passed away, being the last of his family to run the place.
"When are we going to eat, ma?" whined Ice, "I'm starving."
"You'll have more vittles that you could ever eat real soon, Ice. That house is mine, and mom should be finishing her baking for the day right about now," replied Allen, "She always keeps the larder full incase of company."
"Yeah, goodness knows who you'll drag there this time," teased Lili, flying overhead. Her wings had dried out a few hours ago, and she was enjoying the sensation of floating in the air once more.
"You mean like a half crazed, barely alive pixie-look alike?" asked Allen innocently.
"No, you've already done that," replied Lili evilly, "But what about an army of monsters and humans?"
"What's that black stuff in the sky?" asked Temi.
"You mean the smoke?" replied Lili, "That's Allen's father's forge, he makes the best metal weapons and tools around. He even invented an alloy that can absorb monster attacks and release them later, all of my weapons are made of it."
As they neared the house, they saw an older woman with silver hair and twinkling eyes on the front porch watering some flowers. "Allen!" she cried when she saw him coming up the path in the lead. She barely even took notice of the others. "Why are you back so soon? We weren't expecting you back for another two or three weeks, you were going to visit.Lilianne!" The small woman swept Lili up into a tight hug and looked like she might never let go. "Lili, dear! You haven't been back here for over a year, maybe two! But what are you.is there trouble in the valley?" Her eyes widened in hope suddenly. "Did Allen finally."
"No, René," interrupted Lili quickly, " I'm just on another journey and it brought me and Zephyr here."
René's face fell slightly, but she gave the tan Tiger a hug anyways and invited them all inside. The door was so huge even Golem could easily fit inside. Once everyone was situated in the kitchen with some food, René asked, "Who are your friends, Lili?"
She set aside her bowl and started going counter clockwise around the room. "This rascal is Genki, my cousin. And he was here a few years earlier looking for the Phoenix with a few from this group and some others. The brown-eyed beauty to his right is Holly, the holder of the magic stone. The giant statue is Golem, and the rabbit and eyeball beside him are Hare and Golem. That's Tiger, Storm, their pups Temi and Ice and their adopted kids Slip and Mayfleur."
"It's very nice to meet all of you," said René sincerely, "You're all welcome here as long as you want."
"Which probably won't be very long," said Lili. She pulled out a dart and added, "I noticed Jack's forge is open."
"Go and visit him, I'm sure you need him to make something for you," said René in mock exasperation. "His forge won't be open tomorrow and you never stay very long." Lili smiled and quickly left the room. Zephyr, for once, stayed behind to the surprise of everyone.
"Aren't you going to follow her?" asked Ojo after a few minutes.
"Why?" asked Zephyr, "It's safe here and she doesn't need me following her around all the time." He grinned childishly and added, "Besides, there's food her to be eaten." He dove back into the mound of meat René had set before him.
The sound of slow footsteps coming down the stairs could be heard. "Who's here, mom?" called a young woman's voice.
"Meg! Didn't I tell you to stay up stairs?" admonished René as she got up to let her daughter in the room.
Allen turned around to greet his sister, a blue haired silver-eyed knockout that had just gotten back from a nine-month business trip with her husband. "Hey sis!" he said warmly, "How are you." Upon catching sight of her, his mouth dropped open in surprise, she was about six months pregnant with her first child!
"Surprised, big bro?" teased Meg as she hugged him affectionately.
"Meg? You're going to have a baby?" said Allen in amazement.
"Isn't that obvious?" she asked.
"Why is her tummy all stickin' out like that, mom?" whispered Ice in puzzlement.
"That's what humans look like when they're going to have pups," explained Storm, "They call them 'babies'."
"Who are all these folks?" asked Meg as she looked around the room. Of course intros were made once more, which you've already heard before and I'm not repeating it again. Meg politely responded to all the guests and even scratched the pups behind the ear before she spotted Zephyr in the corner.
"How's it going, Z?" she asked as she petted him gently. "And where's Lili? I know she's here because you are."
"I'm doing fine, thanks," replied Zephyr as he put the bone back on his plate. "And Lili's at the forge with you dad, she had to get some more darts and some other weaponry."
"Will you go with me to see her, Allen?" Meg asked eagerly.
"Sure, sis."
"I don't think that's such a good idea." broke in René, "What about the baby and your health?"
"He or she's not coming for another three months or so, Mother," replied Meg impatiently. "Nothing's going to happen."
"Alright, then. Just be careful," warned René, shaking her head.
"Yes, ma," replied Meg, glad to finally get out of the house for a while.
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Lili worked the bellows whiled Jake banged away at a few more disks of the special alloy he had created. Satisfied with his work, he plunged the red- hot metal into a bucket of water on the floor, sending up a huge cloud of steam in the process.
"Pa? Lili? You in there?" called a voice from the front.
"In the back, son!" yelled Jack as he lifted the cooled discs onto his worktable. Lili picked one up carefully, not wanting to cut herself on its keen edge.
"This is good work, Jack," she commented lightly as she looked it over. "I know some of the others say you're loosing your touch, but I think they're lying."
"Thank you, Lili," Jack replied humbly, "Now what else was it you needed?"
"A short sword and a dagger for my cousin," Lili murmured as she glanced up at Meg and Allen as they walked in. "Hey Meg." She quickly did a double take and stood still on shock for a moment before breaking into a smile.
"This is what happens when you leave and don't; come back for more than a year," teased Meg as she gave the dumbstruck Lili a hug.
"No, that's what happens when you get married, hon," replied Lili matter-of- factly. "This would've happened regardless of whether or not I was here. But Tai must be ecstatic!"
"He is, but he had to go back out of town for business for a few weeks, and of course I couldn't go like this so I'm stuck here with mom until he comes home," replied Meg. "Can you imagine Allen as an uncle, though?"
"I still can't believe my little sister is pregnant," stated Allen with a grin, "There's going to be little kids running around the house again."
"And yours will join them someday," added Meg as she poked him in the stomach, glancing over in Lili's direction. Lili tried to glare back, but couldn't so she just shook her head.
"Git outta here and go bug yer ma," growled Jack good-naturedly. "I need Lili's help with her order and you two are distracting her."
"Sorry, dad," apologized Allen. "We'll leave."
"Yeah, we'll se you both at the house for dinner," added Meg as they walked out the front of the forge.
"Now how long did you want that short sword?" asked Jack, always getting straight to the details.
"Lemme see.about six inches for the handle and hilt, and don't use the wire wrap I want it to be a leather grip. and, oh let's say 26 inch blade or so.straight sword of course."
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Holly helped bring out dishes to the large dinning room beside the kitchen, placing them carefully on the long, oak table that could easily seat twenty and maybe even thirty.
There were mashed potatoes, mounds of beans, corn soufflé, country fried chicken and steaks, a pile of rocks just for Golem, pitchers of iced tea and milk, baskets of fresh bread, a platter of cookies and two pies. Genki and his friends sat with their mouths watering as they waited for the meal to begin. Besides them and Allen's father, mother and sister there was also his older brother Jon and older sister Jackie, who were twins and worked at local shops.
At last everyone was seated at the table and waited for the go ahead from Jack. "What are you waiting for?" he asked when he noticed 19 pairs of eyes staring at him. "Dig in." And they did with a will, doing René's marvelous cooking justice.
Golem munched happily on his rocks, commenting these were the best he had had in a long while. Lili and Zephyr were racing through a pile of fried chicken, trying to eat more than the other did. Genki and Holly talked with Allen and his siblings across the table and learned a lot about the town they were visiting in.
"They have a town garden?" asked Holly, "That must be beautiful."
"It is," replied Jackie. "The pine grove with the flowers every where, it's simply beautiful."
"Wow, I really wish I could see it." said Holly wistfully. She missed her own garden back home and wondered how it was doing.
"Why don't we go tonight?" suggested Jon, "The garden is lit and we could go and show you the fountains in the center of town. There's not much else to do besides that, our town is very small, but at least you'd get to see it before you left."
"That sounds like a great idea," agreed Genki. "What do you think, Lili?"
Lili paused long enough to reply, "Have fun, that place it gorgeous and you guys will love it, but I got some stuff I have to take care of."
Genki nodded and turned to Tiger and his family. "Would you guys like to come?"
"Sounds like it'd be fun, Genki," replied Storm. "We'll be there."
"And you Golem, Hare and Ojo?"
"Golem loves flowers.he will come."
"I guess I'll go," sighed Hare.
"No one's forcing you to go, Hare," said Holly gently.
"What's wrong? Is the dumb bunny afraid of a little pollen?" teased Tiger. "Ow!" His wife had hit him soundly on the head and he shook his head to make his ears stop ringing.
"No," said Hare slyly, "I'm not afraid of pollen, Tiger. Garden's are known for being." Golem quickly covered Hare's mouth with his hand.
"There's children present.Hare."
"Oh, sorry." Hare sweated and kept eating, trying to sink lower in his seat.
Lili sat back and wiped her mouth with a sigh. "I am very stuffed," she commented lightly.
"Next time don't try to race me at eating," cautioned Zephyr as he gulped down a few more rolls.
"Shut up, you bottomless pit," groaned Lili as she got up out of her seat. She took her dishes and glass to the kitchen, placing it in the sink for René. She came back in with a short sword and dagger and belt with black leather sheathes.
"Since you lost the ones I gave you before, here's some new ones," sighed Lili as she handed them to Genki.
"But these are so nice," objected Genki, "How could you afford."
"I can't," admitted Lili, "But he can." She pointed at Jack and sauntered out of the room with Zephyr behind her before he got all mushy on her and stuff.
"You made these for me?" Genki asked Jack.
"With Lili's help, kid," replied Jack. "We all owe her a few, I was just paying back some debts."
"What kind of debts?" asked Holly curiously.
"Every time she's here she's working around this place and helping me fix all the problems with this house," explained René. "That girl can lift things that give Jon problems, and with those wings of hers she can get to the roof without using a ladder. We've offered to pay her before, but I think she still thinks she owes us for helping her before, when in reality she's paid us back a hundred fold already."
"She's certainly an amazing person," admitted Genki.
"Truly one of a kind," murmured Ojo.
"Truly," agreed Allen under his breath as he lost himself in thought.
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Allen helped his mom wash the dishes an hour later, the delicious still fresh on his mind and stomach. René, being the mother that she was, brought up her favorite topic to pester her son about once more.
"You know, Allen, with Meg's baby on the way I was thinking."
"Don't even start again, Mom," broke in Allen, knowing exactly what his mother was aiming for.
"But son! It's time for you to marry and have a family. You're 27 for goodness sakes! Your sister Meg was married when she was 19."
"I've got a wandering spirit, Ma, and no average woman will out up with that," retorted Allen, "Besides, who would be enough like me to want to marry me? No one in this village, that's for sure."
"What about Lili?" questioned René.
"She doesn't like me that way, mom," sighed Allen. "We're good friends, yes. But she's fairly mad at me at the moment, and in case you haven't noticed she's part monster."
"I don't see what that has to do with anything."
"You're right, it shouldn't. But Lili is still not completely secure about her new 'form'; I of any should know that. She won't accept anyone else like that until she's learned to accept herself."
"You should still apologize if she is mad at you."
"She went to town on some business."
"No she didn't," interrupted René. "She went to fly the course."
Allen raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Did you set this up?"
"Why would I do that?" replied René innocently.
"You tell me."
René smiled, laughing. "Get going," she teased, "Before she flies off again."
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Lili stood at the rim of the ledge, staring off into the sky, deep in thought. Zephyr lay behind her patiently. He sniffed the wind and could tell Allen was coming. Silent as a shadow he slipped away as René had told him to, not letting Lili know he was leaving. She would've normally noticed Allen's coming too, but at the moment she was too preoccupied in her thoughts to notice much at all.
She spread her wings and prepared to fly, but a hand shot out and grabbed her elbow before she could jump off the ledge. "What, Allen," she growled, knowing instinctively who it was.
"Where are you going?" asked Allen.
"To fly the course," replied Lili frostily.
"Without a spotter?"
"I know it like the back of my hand."
"More than one pixie said that to my grandfather and he had to drag them out on stretchers. Besides, I need to talk to you. Just give me a minute."
"Meet me at the end of the course. If I make it, you can have all the time you like," replied Lili, yanking her arm out of Allen's grip.
"And if I don't let you?"
"Then I'll refuse to listen and wait until it's dark to fly the course when it's dark." Lili stuck out her chin stubbornly as she crossed her arms.
"Fine," relented Allen as he turned around to leave. "I'll be waiting."
"You do that," muttered Lili, planning to cut out the last half of the course and head to the house.
The course was a tunnel through the caves below the ledge on which Lili had stood. It was lit by holes in the ceiling that lined the entire length of the course, and about half way the hole was large enough for a monster with wings to fit through.
Lili reached the point and went up to the ceiling, intent upon leaving Allen hanging. But it looked like it was covered over with something.sort of like glass.She reached and up and touched it. it was hard and cold.
'Thought you'd skip out on Allen, huh?' said Zephyr telepathically. She could see him through the ice, grinning evilly.
'Dang it, Zephyr!' replied Lili with a frown. 'I'll get you later for this.'
'Better get going before the boy gets worried," reproved Zephyr jokingly.
'If it weren't for the fact that it would attract attention and collapse the tunnel, I'd blast right through that ice and wring your neck, Z!' threatened Lili as she flew on, vowing to give that monster a good kick later on.
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"There you are!" cried Allen when he finally spotted her emerging from the cave's tunnel. He had been waiting for almost a half an hour and had been worried.
"I'm fine," answered Lili, brushing him off as he tried to put his arm around her and she answered his unasked question.
"Then you've got a minute?" asked Allen hopefully.
"I made you a deal didn't I?" replied exasperation.
"Let's go sit in the old pixie barn," suggested Allen.
"Your mean in our old spot up in the rafters?" Lili perked up with interest, that having been a favorite spot of hers for years.
"Yeah, where you can't be seen from the ground."
"And it'll be fairly quiet in there," added Lili.
"Exactly! Shall we?"
"I believe we shall." The two friends chatted amiably about weaponry and fighting tactics as they made their way there, their friendship patched up momentarily.
Once they were seated in the rafter, high above the floor, Allen sighed and knew if he didn't do it now he never would. "Lili, I'm really sorry about what happened the other day," he apologized, hanging his head slightly.
Lili's face twisted slightly as she remember the pain she had been in. "Allen."
"No, wait and let me finish. I know I scared you, rushing headlong into battle without being completely prepared. I almost cost myself and you our lives. But what about my fear afterwards? Those needles could've killed you too."
Lili snorted slightly. "Unlikely," she stated calmly. "My wings make the best shield in the world."
"Stop kidding yourself, Lil."
"Ok," admitted Lili, "I know there was a risk, but I stood a much better chance of surviving than you did."
"I'm just ever so slightly curious as to why you didn't use a shield," inquired Allen.
"Simple. By the time I would've been able to set up a shield big enough and get it in front of you, you'd have been a living-yet-more-likely-dead-human- pincushion," replied Lili.
"Still, Lili, most friends wouldn't."
"Most friends are not as loyal as I," interrupted Lili. "And therefore would not do as much as I do for my friends. Heck, I've got nothing to lose, Allen, so I might as well give everything I've got to those who are close to me."
"Just as friends, though?"
"Just as friends. You're going to have to tell your mom to give up her match making."
"You know she never will," commented Allen.
"Shh!" whispered Lili, "Somebody's coming!" She lay on her stomach and peered over the edge, making sure she couldn't be seen.
"Lili? Allen? You in here?" yelled Genki as he walked in with Zephyr and Holly in tow. Lili motioned for Allen to follow her, and she led him to the window up near the rafters. Shrinking her wings quickly, she shinnied down the drainpipe outside with Allen right behind her. They then sprinted for the house and snuck into the kitchen, setting up a game of cards like they had been playing for hours.
The trio came in twenty minutes later, finding the two playing a version of Uno and sipping glasses of water.
"Hey guys, wanna play?" asked Lili when she saw them come in.
"Depends. What are you playing?" asked Genki readily, looking at the cards on the table.
"Dirty Uno, it's a card game I picked up from those lovely peoples in America when I went there for a visit a few summers before being sent here. The cards never leave my bag except when being used, and consequently got sent here with me," explained Lili as she picked up the cards to deal a new hand.
They joined the duo at the table and listened as she explained the rules of the game, plus the extra rules to make it 'dirty', such as: slapping nines, passing all cards one hand in the direction of play when a seven in played, stacking draw twos and fours and blitzing cards, etc.
"What are you guys playing?" asked May a few hours later as she trundled into the room.
"Dirty Uno," replied Lili as she began to deal a new hand.
"Can I play?"
"As long as you remove your wedding ring, you slap lefty and I got cut last time on that thing." René and Jon joined the group a few hands later, and they played until the sun had begun to peak its sleepy head over the horizon. Everyone staggered drowsily to the rooms that had been showed to them earlier, falling on their beds fast asleep before most hit the pillow.
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Tiger sighed contentedly as he stretched himself out in the sun. Storm lay beside him, napping quietly as their pups romped around the field in front of them. The rest of their group wasn't expected to wake for hours and they were taking advantage of the time off while they could.
Golem could be seen a little way off, picking flowers and placing rocks into a bag to eat later on. Hare was beside him, talking on and on about how much his Gracie liked flowers and she and Golem would have to get together so they could talk about them some time.
Ojo and Jack sat on the porch together, taking about the things they had done when they were young and drinking tall glasses of cider that Jackie brought out periodically. They were enjoying the older end of their age the best way they could, by relaxing.
Genki rolled out of bed a few hours later; it was noon and his stomach complained loudly at having missed breakfast. He threw on a pair of pants and a shirt, hoping to grab a shower before getting some food.
Outside in the hall, he met Mayfleur and Holly, who were already waiting by the bathroom door so they could take their showers. "Who's in there right now?" asked Genki as he strolled up, running a hand through his hair.
"Lili. She's been in there for only 10, maybe 15 minutes-" Lili waked out, hair damp and dirty clothes under her arm. "And is now done." She eyed Lili in amazement. "That was one fast shower."
"What can I say?" replied Lili, shrugging, "I'm a speed demon."
Mayfleur smiled and walked into the bathroom, being next in line. "How long have you been waiting?" asked Genki as he leaned against the wall.
"Probably almost an hour," sighed Holly. "Allen spent 45 minutes in there just washing and fixing his hair! He said he'd only be a few minutes, but I guess our meanings of 'a few minutes' are a little different."
Genki lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "45 minutes on his hair? My hair will never do what I want it to, so I just let it be."
She reached up and brushed a few stray hairs out of his eyes with her free hand. "It's certainly not as untamable as when you were younger. But I still like the way it looks, it suits you."
Just then Allen walked by, his hair back in a ponytail with a few strands framing his face. "It took you 45 minutes to do that to your hair?" asked Genki as he passed them.
"No, it only took 15 minutes to do my hair, the other 30 was spent plucking my eyebrows and polishing my nails," replied Allen dryly. "You try living with hair that stick out in all directions.well you do too but it looks ok on you."
"Right." Holly giggled slightly as Genki rolled his eyes as if to say 'now that explains everything'.
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"Look who decided to join the land of the living," commented Jackie as Holly, Genki, Mayfleur and Lili came downstairs to eat.
"Hey Jackie. What ya got to eat around here?" sighed Lili as she say down at the table.
"Hot porridge with honey and syrup and some biscuits with butter to go with it," replied Jackie as she got out 4 extra bowls with spoons and cups.
"Sounds good," said Holly as she plopped herself down, stomach rumbling.
"Yeah, I'm starved," added Genki as he sat down next to her, scouting his chair closer to hers.
'That was real inconspicuous, Genki,' said Lili in his mind, making his redden slightly.
"No one else seemed to notice," grumbled Genki under his breath, darting a glare in Lili's direction.
"Something wrong, cousin?" asked Lili innocently as she smiled sweetly.
"Nothing as all, dearest Lili, nothing at all." Holly glanced between the two and wondered what she had missed.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Hare stood on the path with Ojo, Slip, Mayfleur, Tiger's family, Golem, Genki, Holly, Lilianne, and Zephyr, tapping his paw impatiently.
"C'mon, Allen!" yelled Hare irritatedly, "If we don't leave now we'll have hardly six hours before the sun goes down!"
"Coming!" Allen gave his parents and siblings one last hug before bounding down the path. "Let's go!"
It's about time," muttered Hare as he led the way into the forest.
"Some bodies in a bit of a hurry."
"Can it, Tiger!" retorted Hare. Tiger was about to add a retort of his own, but his wife shot him a look and he shut his jaw resentfully.
"Holly, check your pendant-thingy to check our direction," advised Lili as she drifted lazily above her.
Holly did as she said and the Phoenix pointed a little to their left, so they'd be heading NE, back towards the mountains.
"What's in that direction, Genki?" asked Holly as he studied the map.
"Just another valley, no town or nothing," mused Genki. He shrugged, and added, "Maybe there's something there for us to find."
"C'mon peeps!" yelled Slip from Zephyr's back. "Get a move on!"
"Oh hush you young twerp," joked Zephyr. The searchers were on the road again.
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Hello again. This segment was an idea given to me inadvertently by one of my friends, thanks Bren-Bren! Anyways, please review and let me know what y'all thought of Allen's family and his house and such, etc. The next one has some more action, so please let me know what you think so that maybe it'll come up faster, please?
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A large house at the edge of a small town came into view around lunchtime; a barn in behind it that looked like hadn't been used in years. Years ago, it had been thriving pixie ranch, having raised some of the best-known monsters of the ring: Slasher, Bluedevil, Poison Stinger, Jumpinee, Little Witch, all these and more had been some of the top monsters in their class. But the ranch had died with Allen's grandfather when he passed away, being the last of his family to run the place.
"When are we going to eat, ma?" whined Ice, "I'm starving."
"You'll have more vittles that you could ever eat real soon, Ice. That house is mine, and mom should be finishing her baking for the day right about now," replied Allen, "She always keeps the larder full incase of company."
"Yeah, goodness knows who you'll drag there this time," teased Lili, flying overhead. Her wings had dried out a few hours ago, and she was enjoying the sensation of floating in the air once more.
"You mean like a half crazed, barely alive pixie-look alike?" asked Allen innocently.
"No, you've already done that," replied Lili evilly, "But what about an army of monsters and humans?"
"What's that black stuff in the sky?" asked Temi.
"You mean the smoke?" replied Lili, "That's Allen's father's forge, he makes the best metal weapons and tools around. He even invented an alloy that can absorb monster attacks and release them later, all of my weapons are made of it."
As they neared the house, they saw an older woman with silver hair and twinkling eyes on the front porch watering some flowers. "Allen!" she cried when she saw him coming up the path in the lead. She barely even took notice of the others. "Why are you back so soon? We weren't expecting you back for another two or three weeks, you were going to visit.Lilianne!" The small woman swept Lili up into a tight hug and looked like she might never let go. "Lili, dear! You haven't been back here for over a year, maybe two! But what are you.is there trouble in the valley?" Her eyes widened in hope suddenly. "Did Allen finally."
"No, René," interrupted Lili quickly, " I'm just on another journey and it brought me and Zephyr here."
René's face fell slightly, but she gave the tan Tiger a hug anyways and invited them all inside. The door was so huge even Golem could easily fit inside. Once everyone was situated in the kitchen with some food, René asked, "Who are your friends, Lili?"
She set aside her bowl and started going counter clockwise around the room. "This rascal is Genki, my cousin. And he was here a few years earlier looking for the Phoenix with a few from this group and some others. The brown-eyed beauty to his right is Holly, the holder of the magic stone. The giant statue is Golem, and the rabbit and eyeball beside him are Hare and Golem. That's Tiger, Storm, their pups Temi and Ice and their adopted kids Slip and Mayfleur."
"It's very nice to meet all of you," said René sincerely, "You're all welcome here as long as you want."
"Which probably won't be very long," said Lili. She pulled out a dart and added, "I noticed Jack's forge is open."
"Go and visit him, I'm sure you need him to make something for you," said René in mock exasperation. "His forge won't be open tomorrow and you never stay very long." Lili smiled and quickly left the room. Zephyr, for once, stayed behind to the surprise of everyone.
"Aren't you going to follow her?" asked Ojo after a few minutes.
"Why?" asked Zephyr, "It's safe here and she doesn't need me following her around all the time." He grinned childishly and added, "Besides, there's food her to be eaten." He dove back into the mound of meat René had set before him.
The sound of slow footsteps coming down the stairs could be heard. "Who's here, mom?" called a young woman's voice.
"Meg! Didn't I tell you to stay up stairs?" admonished René as she got up to let her daughter in the room.
Allen turned around to greet his sister, a blue haired silver-eyed knockout that had just gotten back from a nine-month business trip with her husband. "Hey sis!" he said warmly, "How are you." Upon catching sight of her, his mouth dropped open in surprise, she was about six months pregnant with her first child!
"Surprised, big bro?" teased Meg as she hugged him affectionately.
"Meg? You're going to have a baby?" said Allen in amazement.
"Isn't that obvious?" she asked.
"Why is her tummy all stickin' out like that, mom?" whispered Ice in puzzlement.
"That's what humans look like when they're going to have pups," explained Storm, "They call them 'babies'."
"Who are all these folks?" asked Meg as she looked around the room. Of course intros were made once more, which you've already heard before and I'm not repeating it again. Meg politely responded to all the guests and even scratched the pups behind the ear before she spotted Zephyr in the corner.
"How's it going, Z?" she asked as she petted him gently. "And where's Lili? I know she's here because you are."
"I'm doing fine, thanks," replied Zephyr as he put the bone back on his plate. "And Lili's at the forge with you dad, she had to get some more darts and some other weaponry."
"Will you go with me to see her, Allen?" Meg asked eagerly.
"Sure, sis."
"I don't think that's such a good idea." broke in René, "What about the baby and your health?"
"He or she's not coming for another three months or so, Mother," replied Meg impatiently. "Nothing's going to happen."
"Alright, then. Just be careful," warned René, shaking her head.
"Yes, ma," replied Meg, glad to finally get out of the house for a while.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Lili worked the bellows whiled Jake banged away at a few more disks of the special alloy he had created. Satisfied with his work, he plunged the red- hot metal into a bucket of water on the floor, sending up a huge cloud of steam in the process.
"Pa? Lili? You in there?" called a voice from the front.
"In the back, son!" yelled Jack as he lifted the cooled discs onto his worktable. Lili picked one up carefully, not wanting to cut herself on its keen edge.
"This is good work, Jack," she commented lightly as she looked it over. "I know some of the others say you're loosing your touch, but I think they're lying."
"Thank you, Lili," Jack replied humbly, "Now what else was it you needed?"
"A short sword and a dagger for my cousin," Lili murmured as she glanced up at Meg and Allen as they walked in. "Hey Meg." She quickly did a double take and stood still on shock for a moment before breaking into a smile.
"This is what happens when you leave and don't; come back for more than a year," teased Meg as she gave the dumbstruck Lili a hug.
"No, that's what happens when you get married, hon," replied Lili matter-of- factly. "This would've happened regardless of whether or not I was here. But Tai must be ecstatic!"
"He is, but he had to go back out of town for business for a few weeks, and of course I couldn't go like this so I'm stuck here with mom until he comes home," replied Meg. "Can you imagine Allen as an uncle, though?"
"I still can't believe my little sister is pregnant," stated Allen with a grin, "There's going to be little kids running around the house again."
"And yours will join them someday," added Meg as she poked him in the stomach, glancing over in Lili's direction. Lili tried to glare back, but couldn't so she just shook her head.
"Git outta here and go bug yer ma," growled Jack good-naturedly. "I need Lili's help with her order and you two are distracting her."
"Sorry, dad," apologized Allen. "We'll leave."
"Yeah, we'll se you both at the house for dinner," added Meg as they walked out the front of the forge.
"Now how long did you want that short sword?" asked Jack, always getting straight to the details.
"Lemme see.about six inches for the handle and hilt, and don't use the wire wrap I want it to be a leather grip. and, oh let's say 26 inch blade or so.straight sword of course."
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Holly helped bring out dishes to the large dinning room beside the kitchen, placing them carefully on the long, oak table that could easily seat twenty and maybe even thirty.
There were mashed potatoes, mounds of beans, corn soufflé, country fried chicken and steaks, a pile of rocks just for Golem, pitchers of iced tea and milk, baskets of fresh bread, a platter of cookies and two pies. Genki and his friends sat with their mouths watering as they waited for the meal to begin. Besides them and Allen's father, mother and sister there was also his older brother Jon and older sister Jackie, who were twins and worked at local shops.
At last everyone was seated at the table and waited for the go ahead from Jack. "What are you waiting for?" he asked when he noticed 19 pairs of eyes staring at him. "Dig in." And they did with a will, doing René's marvelous cooking justice.
Golem munched happily on his rocks, commenting these were the best he had had in a long while. Lili and Zephyr were racing through a pile of fried chicken, trying to eat more than the other did. Genki and Holly talked with Allen and his siblings across the table and learned a lot about the town they were visiting in.
"They have a town garden?" asked Holly, "That must be beautiful."
"It is," replied Jackie. "The pine grove with the flowers every where, it's simply beautiful."
"Wow, I really wish I could see it." said Holly wistfully. She missed her own garden back home and wondered how it was doing.
"Why don't we go tonight?" suggested Jon, "The garden is lit and we could go and show you the fountains in the center of town. There's not much else to do besides that, our town is very small, but at least you'd get to see it before you left."
"That sounds like a great idea," agreed Genki. "What do you think, Lili?"
Lili paused long enough to reply, "Have fun, that place it gorgeous and you guys will love it, but I got some stuff I have to take care of."
Genki nodded and turned to Tiger and his family. "Would you guys like to come?"
"Sounds like it'd be fun, Genki," replied Storm. "We'll be there."
"And you Golem, Hare and Ojo?"
"Golem loves flowers.he will come."
"I guess I'll go," sighed Hare.
"No one's forcing you to go, Hare," said Holly gently.
"What's wrong? Is the dumb bunny afraid of a little pollen?" teased Tiger. "Ow!" His wife had hit him soundly on the head and he shook his head to make his ears stop ringing.
"No," said Hare slyly, "I'm not afraid of pollen, Tiger. Garden's are known for being." Golem quickly covered Hare's mouth with his hand.
"There's children present.Hare."
"Oh, sorry." Hare sweated and kept eating, trying to sink lower in his seat.
Lili sat back and wiped her mouth with a sigh. "I am very stuffed," she commented lightly.
"Next time don't try to race me at eating," cautioned Zephyr as he gulped down a few more rolls.
"Shut up, you bottomless pit," groaned Lili as she got up out of her seat. She took her dishes and glass to the kitchen, placing it in the sink for René. She came back in with a short sword and dagger and belt with black leather sheathes.
"Since you lost the ones I gave you before, here's some new ones," sighed Lili as she handed them to Genki.
"But these are so nice," objected Genki, "How could you afford."
"I can't," admitted Lili, "But he can." She pointed at Jack and sauntered out of the room with Zephyr behind her before he got all mushy on her and stuff.
"You made these for me?" Genki asked Jack.
"With Lili's help, kid," replied Jack. "We all owe her a few, I was just paying back some debts."
"What kind of debts?" asked Holly curiously.
"Every time she's here she's working around this place and helping me fix all the problems with this house," explained René. "That girl can lift things that give Jon problems, and with those wings of hers she can get to the roof without using a ladder. We've offered to pay her before, but I think she still thinks she owes us for helping her before, when in reality she's paid us back a hundred fold already."
"She's certainly an amazing person," admitted Genki.
"Truly one of a kind," murmured Ojo.
"Truly," agreed Allen under his breath as he lost himself in thought.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Allen helped his mom wash the dishes an hour later, the delicious still fresh on his mind and stomach. René, being the mother that she was, brought up her favorite topic to pester her son about once more.
"You know, Allen, with Meg's baby on the way I was thinking."
"Don't even start again, Mom," broke in Allen, knowing exactly what his mother was aiming for.
"But son! It's time for you to marry and have a family. You're 27 for goodness sakes! Your sister Meg was married when she was 19."
"I've got a wandering spirit, Ma, and no average woman will out up with that," retorted Allen, "Besides, who would be enough like me to want to marry me? No one in this village, that's for sure."
"What about Lili?" questioned René.
"She doesn't like me that way, mom," sighed Allen. "We're good friends, yes. But she's fairly mad at me at the moment, and in case you haven't noticed she's part monster."
"I don't see what that has to do with anything."
"You're right, it shouldn't. But Lili is still not completely secure about her new 'form'; I of any should know that. She won't accept anyone else like that until she's learned to accept herself."
"You should still apologize if she is mad at you."
"She went to town on some business."
"No she didn't," interrupted René. "She went to fly the course."
Allen raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Did you set this up?"
"Why would I do that?" replied René innocently.
"You tell me."
René smiled, laughing. "Get going," she teased, "Before she flies off again."
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Lili stood at the rim of the ledge, staring off into the sky, deep in thought. Zephyr lay behind her patiently. He sniffed the wind and could tell Allen was coming. Silent as a shadow he slipped away as René had told him to, not letting Lili know he was leaving. She would've normally noticed Allen's coming too, but at the moment she was too preoccupied in her thoughts to notice much at all.
She spread her wings and prepared to fly, but a hand shot out and grabbed her elbow before she could jump off the ledge. "What, Allen," she growled, knowing instinctively who it was.
"Where are you going?" asked Allen.
"To fly the course," replied Lili frostily.
"Without a spotter?"
"I know it like the back of my hand."
"More than one pixie said that to my grandfather and he had to drag them out on stretchers. Besides, I need to talk to you. Just give me a minute."
"Meet me at the end of the course. If I make it, you can have all the time you like," replied Lili, yanking her arm out of Allen's grip.
"And if I don't let you?"
"Then I'll refuse to listen and wait until it's dark to fly the course when it's dark." Lili stuck out her chin stubbornly as she crossed her arms.
"Fine," relented Allen as he turned around to leave. "I'll be waiting."
"You do that," muttered Lili, planning to cut out the last half of the course and head to the house.
The course was a tunnel through the caves below the ledge on which Lili had stood. It was lit by holes in the ceiling that lined the entire length of the course, and about half way the hole was large enough for a monster with wings to fit through.
Lili reached the point and went up to the ceiling, intent upon leaving Allen hanging. But it looked like it was covered over with something.sort of like glass.She reached and up and touched it. it was hard and cold.
'Thought you'd skip out on Allen, huh?' said Zephyr telepathically. She could see him through the ice, grinning evilly.
'Dang it, Zephyr!' replied Lili with a frown. 'I'll get you later for this.'
'Better get going before the boy gets worried," reproved Zephyr jokingly.
'If it weren't for the fact that it would attract attention and collapse the tunnel, I'd blast right through that ice and wring your neck, Z!' threatened Lili as she flew on, vowing to give that monster a good kick later on.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
"There you are!" cried Allen when he finally spotted her emerging from the cave's tunnel. He had been waiting for almost a half an hour and had been worried.
"I'm fine," answered Lili, brushing him off as he tried to put his arm around her and she answered his unasked question.
"Then you've got a minute?" asked Allen hopefully.
"I made you a deal didn't I?" replied exasperation.
"Let's go sit in the old pixie barn," suggested Allen.
"Your mean in our old spot up in the rafters?" Lili perked up with interest, that having been a favorite spot of hers for years.
"Yeah, where you can't be seen from the ground."
"And it'll be fairly quiet in there," added Lili.
"Exactly! Shall we?"
"I believe we shall." The two friends chatted amiably about weaponry and fighting tactics as they made their way there, their friendship patched up momentarily.
Once they were seated in the rafter, high above the floor, Allen sighed and knew if he didn't do it now he never would. "Lili, I'm really sorry about what happened the other day," he apologized, hanging his head slightly.
Lili's face twisted slightly as she remember the pain she had been in. "Allen."
"No, wait and let me finish. I know I scared you, rushing headlong into battle without being completely prepared. I almost cost myself and you our lives. But what about my fear afterwards? Those needles could've killed you too."
Lili snorted slightly. "Unlikely," she stated calmly. "My wings make the best shield in the world."
"Stop kidding yourself, Lil."
"Ok," admitted Lili, "I know there was a risk, but I stood a much better chance of surviving than you did."
"I'm just ever so slightly curious as to why you didn't use a shield," inquired Allen.
"Simple. By the time I would've been able to set up a shield big enough and get it in front of you, you'd have been a living-yet-more-likely-dead-human- pincushion," replied Lili.
"Still, Lili, most friends wouldn't."
"Most friends are not as loyal as I," interrupted Lili. "And therefore would not do as much as I do for my friends. Heck, I've got nothing to lose, Allen, so I might as well give everything I've got to those who are close to me."
"Just as friends, though?"
"Just as friends. You're going to have to tell your mom to give up her match making."
"You know she never will," commented Allen.
"Shh!" whispered Lili, "Somebody's coming!" She lay on her stomach and peered over the edge, making sure she couldn't be seen.
"Lili? Allen? You in here?" yelled Genki as he walked in with Zephyr and Holly in tow. Lili motioned for Allen to follow her, and she led him to the window up near the rafters. Shrinking her wings quickly, she shinnied down the drainpipe outside with Allen right behind her. They then sprinted for the house and snuck into the kitchen, setting up a game of cards like they had been playing for hours.
The trio came in twenty minutes later, finding the two playing a version of Uno and sipping glasses of water.
"Hey guys, wanna play?" asked Lili when she saw them come in.
"Depends. What are you playing?" asked Genki readily, looking at the cards on the table.
"Dirty Uno, it's a card game I picked up from those lovely peoples in America when I went there for a visit a few summers before being sent here. The cards never leave my bag except when being used, and consequently got sent here with me," explained Lili as she picked up the cards to deal a new hand.
They joined the duo at the table and listened as she explained the rules of the game, plus the extra rules to make it 'dirty', such as: slapping nines, passing all cards one hand in the direction of play when a seven in played, stacking draw twos and fours and blitzing cards, etc.
"What are you guys playing?" asked May a few hours later as she trundled into the room.
"Dirty Uno," replied Lili as she began to deal a new hand.
"Can I play?"
"As long as you remove your wedding ring, you slap lefty and I got cut last time on that thing." René and Jon joined the group a few hands later, and they played until the sun had begun to peak its sleepy head over the horizon. Everyone staggered drowsily to the rooms that had been showed to them earlier, falling on their beds fast asleep before most hit the pillow.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Tiger sighed contentedly as he stretched himself out in the sun. Storm lay beside him, napping quietly as their pups romped around the field in front of them. The rest of their group wasn't expected to wake for hours and they were taking advantage of the time off while they could.
Golem could be seen a little way off, picking flowers and placing rocks into a bag to eat later on. Hare was beside him, talking on and on about how much his Gracie liked flowers and she and Golem would have to get together so they could talk about them some time.
Ojo and Jack sat on the porch together, taking about the things they had done when they were young and drinking tall glasses of cider that Jackie brought out periodically. They were enjoying the older end of their age the best way they could, by relaxing.
Genki rolled out of bed a few hours later; it was noon and his stomach complained loudly at having missed breakfast. He threw on a pair of pants and a shirt, hoping to grab a shower before getting some food.
Outside in the hall, he met Mayfleur and Holly, who were already waiting by the bathroom door so they could take their showers. "Who's in there right now?" asked Genki as he strolled up, running a hand through his hair.
"Lili. She's been in there for only 10, maybe 15 minutes-" Lili waked out, hair damp and dirty clothes under her arm. "And is now done." She eyed Lili in amazement. "That was one fast shower."
"What can I say?" replied Lili, shrugging, "I'm a speed demon."
Mayfleur smiled and walked into the bathroom, being next in line. "How long have you been waiting?" asked Genki as he leaned against the wall.
"Probably almost an hour," sighed Holly. "Allen spent 45 minutes in there just washing and fixing his hair! He said he'd only be a few minutes, but I guess our meanings of 'a few minutes' are a little different."
Genki lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "45 minutes on his hair? My hair will never do what I want it to, so I just let it be."
She reached up and brushed a few stray hairs out of his eyes with her free hand. "It's certainly not as untamable as when you were younger. But I still like the way it looks, it suits you."
Just then Allen walked by, his hair back in a ponytail with a few strands framing his face. "It took you 45 minutes to do that to your hair?" asked Genki as he passed them.
"No, it only took 15 minutes to do my hair, the other 30 was spent plucking my eyebrows and polishing my nails," replied Allen dryly. "You try living with hair that stick out in all directions.well you do too but it looks ok on you."
"Right." Holly giggled slightly as Genki rolled his eyes as if to say 'now that explains everything'.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
"Look who decided to join the land of the living," commented Jackie as Holly, Genki, Mayfleur and Lili came downstairs to eat.
"Hey Jackie. What ya got to eat around here?" sighed Lili as she say down at the table.
"Hot porridge with honey and syrup and some biscuits with butter to go with it," replied Jackie as she got out 4 extra bowls with spoons and cups.
"Sounds good," said Holly as she plopped herself down, stomach rumbling.
"Yeah, I'm starved," added Genki as he sat down next to her, scouting his chair closer to hers.
'That was real inconspicuous, Genki,' said Lili in his mind, making his redden slightly.
"No one else seemed to notice," grumbled Genki under his breath, darting a glare in Lili's direction.
"Something wrong, cousin?" asked Lili innocently as she smiled sweetly.
"Nothing as all, dearest Lili, nothing at all." Holly glanced between the two and wondered what she had missed.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Hare stood on the path with Ojo, Slip, Mayfleur, Tiger's family, Golem, Genki, Holly, Lilianne, and Zephyr, tapping his paw impatiently.
"C'mon, Allen!" yelled Hare irritatedly, "If we don't leave now we'll have hardly six hours before the sun goes down!"
"Coming!" Allen gave his parents and siblings one last hug before bounding down the path. "Let's go!"
It's about time," muttered Hare as he led the way into the forest.
"Some bodies in a bit of a hurry."
"Can it, Tiger!" retorted Hare. Tiger was about to add a retort of his own, but his wife shot him a look and he shut his jaw resentfully.
"Holly, check your pendant-thingy to check our direction," advised Lili as she drifted lazily above her.
Holly did as she said and the Phoenix pointed a little to their left, so they'd be heading NE, back towards the mountains.
"What's in that direction, Genki?" asked Holly as he studied the map.
"Just another valley, no town or nothing," mused Genki. He shrugged, and added, "Maybe there's something there for us to find."
"C'mon peeps!" yelled Slip from Zephyr's back. "Get a move on!"
"Oh hush you young twerp," joked Zephyr. The searchers were on the road again.
*~~~&~~~*~~~&~~~*~~~&~~~*~~~&~~~*~~~&~~~*~~~&~~~*
Hello again. This segment was an idea given to me inadvertently by one of my friends, thanks Bren-Bren! Anyways, please review and let me know what y'all thought of Allen's family and his house and such, etc. The next one has some more action, so please let me know what you think so that maybe it'll come up faster, please?