Disclaimer: I own the plot and many characters, however Tammy owns the rest. *sigh* you can never win. Hey one moment, I own the way the Realm of the Dead is run, score!
I haven't updated in about a week, bad Sarai, ne? BTW, Hollie and Les Yeux Violets, stop reading my mind, you nearly hit the nail's head and my brainwaves do not feel safe any longer.
Listening to bond again, 'cause it was in my brother's walkman. I think it influences my story, hmmm, we'll see. Now the long awaited Chapter 10 (or at least I'd like to think so).
The Wave Warrior Chapter 10
She lowered her head. He was gone, but if she was quick enough maybe she could save him, in a way. With that decision, the sea goddess was enveloped in silver light a disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~
Light had faded and he was left in the dark. No way of knowing where he was. Looking about he saw other forms about him, the majority having a bent look to him. Not knowing what to do, he simply floated there in the black. After what seemed like an eternity, a glimpse of silver caught his attention.
Half-turning to it's source, he saw a humanoid figure in a cloak and cowl of the deepest black Zak had every seen in this dark realm. The figure was edged with silver light and held a scythe of gleaming silver in their hand. The figure seemed familiar. Then it hit him…he was dead. The ever-nearing figure was the Black God, ruler over the Realms of the Dead.
As the light neared, he saw that the forms about him were other people, or their souls at least, the majority being elderly people. He looked about himself and took in the sheer number of waiting souls around him. All these people had died when he did. He saw Yamanis, Carthakis, Scanrans, and various other races. The K'miri souls huddled together and paid no heed to the Black God, they would wait for their lord of the dead.
The god then stopped and regarded the dead around him.
::Welcome to the Realms of the Dead. I trust that you will enjoy your stay here.:: Turning he motioned for the souls, with exception to the K'miri, to follow him. Zak, seeing nothing better to do, followed.
~~~~~~~~~~
"What do we do?" Selenia asked voice quivering as she looked at her companians wide-eyed.
"Bury him." Ailin answered matter-of-factly as though the body in Selenia's arms was not dead or of any one of importance to her.
"How can you say that?" Derrin asked, his temper flaring as he looked at the white haired girl incredulously.
"He had no right to interfere. Alas now that he has passed and our fight is ceased, we cannot wait here with a bloody corpse." The ancient warrior replied coolly, in a kinder voice she added, "Zak wouldn't want us to be troubled by his passing; fretting over his body is being troubled. Selenia, I suggest you clean up, Derrin will help me here."
"Al…alright," the cat-girl agreed setting the cold Zak on the floor. Standing she looked at herself. Her arms and sleeves were covered in her silver and Zak's crimson blood. Said sleeves were also in tatters as well were her breeches from mid-thigh and downward. Looking at Ailin once more, she backed up and then turned and proceeded to make her way back to her room before the rest of the palace awakened.
Ailin then turned to the trembling Derrin who was trying to stare her down.
"I don't know why I helped him, I knew this would happen." The boy said, "She told me, Wave Walker that is, that 'he must not fail but if he immersed himself too deeply it would be the end of his time in this realm.' You knew didn't you?" Reaching over and grabbing the girl's hands he looked at her searchingly, "You knew that he would die?"
"I knew that he would be in danger, so I pushed him away from the battlefield. I did not know that he would die. He died because of his own random, unforeseeable mistake." Ailin answered sharply. "Now will you help me or not?"
Sighing, Derrin released her hands and picked up his knives that lay on the floor where Selenia threw them.
"What should I do?"
~~~~~~~~~~~
::But you don't understand.:: Pleaded the relatively young water goddess. ::Kidunka, both of our champions are alive, but our vessel is not. Do you realize that without the 'mortal boy', as you like to call him, Selenia would not have found Ailin, hmm?:: Looking up at the large snake that was in essence her elder brother, she struck an impatient pose.
::Very well, Wave Walker, I relinquish my claim to the islands, if your motion passes. You better talk this over with the Black God, before our vessel is completely submerged in his realm. I will speak to the other Great Ones; shall I send my messenger to retrieve the body?::
The blue-skinned goddess nodded, as her silver light enveloped her as she transported herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Zak floated after the other souls. So, this would be his new life, an existence in this plain of darkness. That was when a new flash of silver, caught his attention. The silver surrounded a slender blue form that torpedoed toward the Black God. As the flash slowed, it took the shape of a young woman in a deep blue toga with cerulean skin, Wave Walker. The thought came without any action on his part really, but why was she here?
Their procession halted as the water goddess met the Black God. The two seemed to converse silently, finally when their communion was complete the Black God turned to the souls and spoke to them.
::Wave Walker has informed me of a unique situation. Apparently, one of you is to have ann audience with the Great Gods soon. Will Yamazaki of Queenscove please come here?::
The crowd of souls bustled and whispered as Zak floated forward. No one could figure out what the soon-to-be thirteen year-old had done to earn a meeting with all the Great Gods. When Zak reached the two Great Ones, he bowed and turned to Wave Walker.
"Milady, what is this for?" he asked his voice sounding small.
::You will find out soon enough, I'm sure you will be pleased.:: Taking Zak hand she turned back to the Black God, ::Hurry up with these ones, okay? Remember to tell your daughter, the Hag to come as well.:: With that the two puffed away in silver light, to Zak it was like mist hitting as a wave crashed below him at the cove where he had lived most of his life. Thinking, about his mortal home he did not acknowledge the releasing of his hand, nor the divine hosts about him.
~~~~~~~~~~~
As Ailin and Derrin cleaned up the semi-destroyed part of the Gallery and the soiled floors and walls with their magic, Selenia returned washed and bandaged to tend to Zak's bloody body. The three worked in silence as the dawn brightened into morning and the servant's chime was sounded ever so quietly. Soon the Gallery was back to rights except for a missing statue (Ailin) and a corpse (Zak). That was when a slight flapping was heard, Selenia noticed it first a few moments before a slender, dragon, a winged and legged serpent really, glided into the room though one of the larger windows. Settling down on the marble tiles, the pale green serpent-dragon regarded the three seeming-to-be teenagers with it's chrystalline stare.
"Master Entrek, what a surprise." Selenia said pleasantly as she stood a bowed to the creature.
::No need to be pleasant, feline. I've come for the mortal boy, Yamazaki.::
"Oh," Selenia replied as the other two present regained there wits, "There may be a problem with that, because…um…he's…he died." Selenia blurted out as her eyes burned with fresh tears.
:: I know. Is that his body?:: The dragon indicated Zak's corpse that had recently been cleaned, upon Ailin's nodding, Entrek picked up the body carefully in his two front paws. ::Do not be sad, he is to meet with the Great Gods.:: With that the dragon flew out the window with Zak's body in his arms.
At that moment, the general bell sounded causing the three to jump, Ailin in surprise, the other two in realization. They still had training and what would they say to Padraig.
"Leave the training master to me," Ailin cut in amicably. Rubbing her ears she continued, "Who knew the bell would be so much louder, when you're in the flesh and blood?"
"Thank you, but I do not know if I can train to be honest." Derrin replied.
"Same here, especially after what I did." Seconded Selenia as the three entered the hall.
Showing Ailin the way to Padraig's office, the two pages returned to their rooms not feeling quite the best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
::Yamazaki:: a powerful, nearly painful, female voice spoke, catching the reminiscing boy's attention. ::Do you know why you're here?::
The awed boy shook his head no, as he regarded the Great Gods gathered about him in the courtyard of columns. Was he in…the Divine Realms? Impossible.
::Actually it is quite possible, laddy:: an elderly voiced responded to his thoughts, he looked at the speaker. ::That's right, boy, I am the Graveyard Hag and you are about to regain your body…in a sense:: Laughing harshly the Hag indicated Mithros who was standing and waiting for decorum before he spoke.
::Queenscove, after much discussion we have decided your new place in the world, if you decline you will return to the Black God's realm. Do you understand?:: The boy nodded and Mithros continued. ::Because of your sacrifice and the testament of the two gods involved you will receive an unique chance. This only occurs to those who prove themselves worthy. I you accept you will no longer be, Yamazaki son of Nealan and Yukimi of Queenscove, you would be a child of Father Universe and Mother Flame. We are asking you, if…::
::Zak, do you wish to be the lord of the islands?:: Wave Walker cut in, approaching the boy. Seeing the shocked expression on the boy's face she smiled, ::Not many twelve-year olds get to be gods no do they? But if you do accept, you would no longer be twelve, you'd be an adult. Do you understand?:: Turning her mind speech just to Zak she continued, ::We need a god of the islands, it was to be me or Kidunka, but we have chosen you. Do you accept?::
Turning the idea over in his mind, he realized that on one hand he would never see his friends again, while as a god he could at least observe them grow. Looking into the Wave Walker's deep blues eyes, he nodded. Turning to the rest of the assembly, he corrected his posture.
"I accept your gift." His voice rang clear as the serpent-dragon, Entrek, landed with Zak's mortal body in his arms front paws. Setting the body down at the Graveyard Hag's feet the green dragon then sat behind Kidunka.
Zak looked at his mangled body, first the Great Mother Goddess allowed her glow to wash over the body and heal it, than the Graveyard Hag, placed a gnarled hand on the shoulder. Zak felt a tug and then was momentarily blinded. He looked at himself; he sat at the Graveyard Hag's feet and felt…whole. Pulling himself to his feet, he was met by Shakith the Seer who held a large mirror up to him. Gone was the lanky boy of twelve in his place was a well-built young man with the same physical features. Looking down at himself he realized that the grown-up body was indeed his. Half smiling, he turned to face the rest of the Great Gods. Tapping into his new powers his grin grew.
::So, where do I sit?::
~~~~~~La Fin~~~~~~~~
Yes it's done. I may do an epilogue so you find out what happens to those left in Tortall, but may be not. So yes in a way both Hollie and Les Yeux Violets were right. Zak's a god now, no more Black God's realm for him. Hmmm, it's about 11:00 Eastern time so I may as well say 'Thanks' those who reviewed.
Emily of Duranan: Thank you for your comment, now I've updated my fic, it's your turn.
Les Yeux Violets: You read my mind! My thoughts are no longer safe *hides momentarily, but comes back out to thank the others*
: I have no clue whom you are but thanks, I hope this chapter is what you would consider 'happier'
Felix Da Feline: Well I updated twice, does mean I can get the snicker doodles? (Thank you)
Storm Mage: Thank you for reading; I love your stuff. That reminds me, if you read this update, the suspense is killing me.
Rinamin: I updated and you never came back. *tear* Thank you any way.
Miss-Sexy-Ass-Kicker: Another one who did not come back, Thank you still.
Galenbrethil: Thank you, and I love Derrin's ears to, but they just become irrelevant to the story.
FyreDragon: I worked a bit on the originality thing, but it didn't turn out to well. Thanks for your review and minute bit of advice.
And finally to the two I've been in minor correspondence of sorts with:
Annison Crane: My first reviewer, and someone who returned often. Thak you Annison for all of your support.
Hollie: You reviewed nearly every chapter I think. Thank you so much for everything, from being a source of amusement to being a source of a bit of self-esteem. Thanks for putting my fic on your Favourites list, but I must ask you, the wonderful LotR author you are, when will you update, you Lian or Eldarion fic, ne? I'm a bit impatient and all the waiting is getting to me. *fidgeting* Update please a thousand fold.
To anyone who reviews on this chapter that I haven't mentioned, thank you for taking the time to read this it is much appreciated.
S'you,
~Sarai I-E
