Stranger in a Friendly Face; Friend in a Strange Place

Future Redcliffe

'Isaac.'

Shaehari was frozen in place as Bull and Sera moved around her to release him. She couldn't speak or breathe as Isaac quietly thanked them for getting the chains off. His face had a sunken look with his skin clinging to his bones. As he stood, she could see his ribs through the tears of his shirt. He turned back to her. "Shae?" His smile dropped. "Are you okay?"

She nearly choked. 'Am I ok!?' She took a step forward and swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Isaac?"

He held his hands up as if presenting himself. "The one and only." His attempt at humor didn't reach his eyes. They had brightened upon seeing her, but still lacked the hope and determination she had come to associate with him. "I'd love to just kick back and spend what time I've got left with you but seeing how the last few years absolutely sucked I would rather get you back to the time you came from." He moved to pass her but she reached out and grabbed his arm. The red lines gave off an unnatural heat while the black lines felt cold as ice. Isaac's eyes widened and he jerked his arm away. "Let go!" He put a couple of paces between them as soon as he was free.

"Sorry," he frowned when he saw the look she gave him, "but it's not safe to touch me. You should probably burn that glove." He looked at the black lines and then back to her.

She nodded and removed the glove to burn it. Looking back, she found him already at a chest in the back of the room, digging for a weapon. "Isaac, what happened to you?"

Isaac seemed to find what he was looking for as he nodded to himself and stood up, longsword in hand. He closed the chest with his foot and gave the blade a few experimental swings. "Isn't it obvious? I lost." His voice dropped as he lowered his head. "I failed. And if we don't get moving yesterday, you won't be able to fix this."

Dorian stepped beside Shaehari. "He's right. We can catch up on the way." Shaehari fumed but relented, leading the way out of the room. Dorian and Sera were right behind her blocking Isaac from her view momentarily. She could only barely hear Isaac whisper to Bull, "¿Sabes qué hacer si pasa?" Bull was quiet for a moment.

"Sí jefe."

There were only a few groups of guards on their way up into the castle proper. Seeing Isaac beaten and broken had been disturbing; seeing how he fought now was only slightly less so. The first time they ran into a pair of Venatori she fully expected Isaac to wait for her lead, or at least for Bull to take the front; however, what she witnessed was Isaac charging into the fray and taking the Venatori head-on. His face had contorted into a snarl and even small movements of his blade produced a loud clang when they struck either blade or armor. The Venatori had just enough time to reach for their weapons before Isaac began cutting them down: pointedly hacking off one or two limbs before finally delivering a killing blow. A red haze surrounded Isaac in battle; his bloodlust was almost palpable.

Once the last Venatori was killed, Isaac straightened and the haze fell away. When he turned back to her, there was no remnant of the monster that had been unleashed save for the splatter of blood across his form. Seeing the horrified look on her face he grimaced. "Sorry for the mess. Once I get into it, well, it's easier to simply cut loose."

Shaehari shook her head. "I…I don't know you. What happened to you?"

Isaac recoiled as if struck. "What do you mean? Shae, it's still me."

She opened to continue to Bull simply put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and he shook his head. "Later."

She gave an affirmative huff and walked past Isaac, pausing briefly to whisper, "I'm sorry. I just…don't understand."

He sighed and joined her as they led the way, the others hanging slightly back to give the semblance of privacy. "Past me will understand why I'm aggressive, and he'll have more time to explain."

She shook her head. They continued in silence until they came to a rift within the castle. Seeing the sparks of demons appearing she called up her barrier. "Ready Isaac?"

He held his sword ready. "Just say the word." The five of them quickly cut down all of the demons that appeared. Shaehari held her mark up to the rift and looked at Isaac. He simply gave her a bemused expression, holding up his stump for emphasis. Seeing her face fall he reassured, "Give it a try. I think it'll work."

Shaehari turned back to the rift. She held up her hand to the rift and pushed. The rift began to give way, relenting easier than the first time she tried it alone so long ago. 'Come on, come on.' Seeing it begin to spark again she growled. 'I've had it. Isaac and his ridiculous secrets, Venatori and their stupid elder one. Ridiculous, stupid, reckless, helpless shems!' Her mark sparked in response to her anger and the rift gradually gave way. With a final shove, the rift closed entirely.

Isaac nodded. "Seems the case is the same for you as for me."

He paled when Shaehari whirled on him. She glared and demanded, "What exactly do you mean?"

"I mean that when you vanished my mark was strengthened. Suddenly I could close rifts with only mine. It looks like it works the reverse. Solas could never figure out how."

She straightened and motioned for him and the others to follow. As he caught up, she said, "Enough of the games, I want a straight answer. "She looked at him sidelong. "When and how did you get the Blight?"

He grimaced. "In the Deep Roads. Earthquakes had struck lyrium mines that were vital to Orzammar. I knew there would be a ton of darkspawn but I also knew that the earthquakes wouldn't stop until I reached the bottom. Past me could explain why. One of the fights… was worse than I imagined. Waves of darkspawn in a massive burning hall. I took a few hits which by themselves wouldn't have been an issue but…" he gestured to the blood spatter all over him.

Shaehari frowned, her anger simmering. "It won't happen."

He raised an eyebrow. She repeated, "It won't happen. I wasn't there in this time but in mine, I won't let it happen.".

"Thanks, Shae."

Isaac's Mind

"My, oh my. Your mind is an interesting one Herald."

Isaac shook his head in denial and kept running. Exhaustion and dehydration didn't seem possible here, only a fate far worse than death. Images of Adamant, the Winter Palace, and the Temple of Mythal whirled into being and faded away. Isaac felt his head pound. 'No. No no no! Force him out! Get him out!'

"Foolish of the Maker to gift you with so much knowledge. The Elder One will be quite pleased with my discovery."

Deep within the Emerald Graves Isaac finally stumbled and fell, skidding to a stop. Drawing deep breaths over and over again he began to despair. 'I can't beat him. I shouldn't have come. I failed them. I've made everything worse.'

"Twisting tearing. Mind in tangles with the hurt. 'I failed them.' But you haven't."

Isaac blinked then shook his head. "That's not going to work again Envy. Cole isn't here."

"Distrust bred from pain. 'Compassion not here; Cole not here.' I'm sorry. I wanted to help but Envy wants me to hurt you."

Isaac slowly looked up. Trees towered over him with great roots spreading across the ground like thick spiderwebs. Cole sat upon one of these roots. Unlike before, he kept his face tilted downward. Isaac asked, "Cole…is that really you? Are you here?"

"Yes. I came in here with you. Well, we came in. You're always inside you."

Isaac stood, not willing to believe it. "But Envy, he mimicked your form. He can't do that unless he got you too."

"Normally you would be correct. It is only because Cole plays such a large role in your memories of Thedas that Envy was able to mimic him. And such wonderful memories you have shown us." A giggle followed the voice and Isaac turned behind him. Another spirit sat behind him. Her form was both opaque and transparent in that peculiar manner of spirits. She seemed Elven, though she spoke English perfectly. She smiled at him, "Poor Solas was so flustered at what little he thought you knew; if only he knew just how much. Yet you were kind."

Isaac, now thoroughly confused, asked, "You…seem familiar." He thought for a moment. "Wisdom…is that you?"

Wisdom smiled and clapped. "So, you do know me! I've wanted to meet you for so long but I could never find you."

"Mirrors on mirrors on memories. A face it can feel not fake. Envy is hurting him. We must help."

"Ah you're right Compassion you're right. Apologies. So, Isaac, what do you remember about Envy."

Isaac groaned. "Only thing that I remember is…"

"All of this is Envy: People, Places Power. If you keep going, Envy stretches. It takes strength to make more."

Isaac jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "What he said."

Wisdom thought for a moment. "If this were a weaker Envy, you would have already broken out. So much of Thedas is familiar to him that it is not taking much strength at all."

Isaac nearly screamed in frustration. "Then what can I do to…" He paused. "Wisdom, could you say that last part again?" She tilted her head and repeated.

"So much of Thedas is familiar to him that it is not taking much strength at all."

Isaac's thoughts ran. "Wisdom, Compassion. Can I change what Envy makes?"

"Ideas are loud here. If you want your ideas to be real, make them louder."

"Compassion is right. What are you thinking Isaac?" For the first time since arriving here, Isaac felt a smile spread across his face as hope surged through him, then it turned into a predatory grin. 'Get ready for the headache of your life motherf*****.'

"Wisdom, how would you like to see something that you may never see again?"

Without waiting for an answer Isaac took off in a sprint. As he flew along the path he focused on his time on Earth. 'Let's see, how hard for you can we make it…got it.' All around Isaac the world began to morph and the familiar buildings of Houston began to take shape. All were off in one way or another: the angles wrong, the styles wrong. Orlesian here, Fereldan here. Isaac focused on the city, molding his thoughts like a potter molds clay.

"Gah, what is this? Is this you?"

Isaac felt a laugh bubble up. "You're in trouble now." He began filling the streets with vehicles of all kinds, from the smallest smart cars to the largest semis. Deformed they ran amok, passing each other and crashing. Another blink, and the streets filled with people. Dozens, then hundreds. Isaac visualized them in the cars, on the sidewalks, and in the buildings. More and more. Envy began to scream.

"No! You will show me your face. You will let me know you!" Demons dropped onto the streets, clawing at Isaac.

He laughed. "You call those demons? I'll show you demons!" Dredging up another memory the streets vanished along with the people, leaving the demons in a clear area. The buildings merged and formed a dome overhead. Racks dropped from the ceiling and bright lights filled the area. Wrecked cars shunted into lines and Isaac felt lifted into the stadium stands. The shades summoned by Envy began to move his way but paused as an incredible roar echoed through the stadium.

Monster trucks barreled into the stadium, crushing cars and demons alike. Envy tried to make sense of them, but only added the features of true monsters: fangs and scales. One even began breathing fire. Isaac began cackling with laughter as Envy's fury turned to confusion. "What? What manner of creatures are these?"
Isaac grinned and shook his head. Turning he saw Cole and Wisdom sitting nearby. Giving them a thumbs up he changed the scene again, leaving behind the flattened demons and entering a high-tech classroom. Students all around were typing on laptops or writing across tablets. The professor was gesturing to a large whiteboard, tapping directly on the icons on the screen and swiping his hand across to move and close windows. Cole found a seat near Isaac while Wisdom darted back and forth across the room like a kid in a candy store.

Envy's grumbling filled the background as Cole turned back to Isaac. "Go higher. Up and up." Isaac smirked. The room began to shift once again causing Wisdom to pout. "I'll explain it later if Solas lets me. Cole wants high? We're gonna go high."

The room shrunk and lengthened as seats sprang up into being. A window formed near Isaac, and a voice came over the intercom. "Please ensure your seatbelts are fastened and tray tables locked into the upright position." Across the aisle Wisdom and Cole sat. Cole maintained the quiet peace he had since entering but Wisdom looked around curiously. "Where are we now?"

Isaac simply smiled. The engines roared and the craft propelled itself forward. Isaac kept an eye on Wisdom as the craft accelerated far beyond what the spirit felt it should be capable of. 3…2…1…' The plane tilted up and the ground fell away. Wisdom's expression when she turned to him was priceless. Isaac turned his attention back to the window and forced the view to expand, further and further as the plane rose into the sky. Suddenly the seat before him morphed into a dark green copy of himself. "No! Such magic is not possible. Give me you! I deserve your face!"

Isaac grabbed Envy as the wall morphed into a door. "Have a nice trip asshole." He twisted and threw Envy out of the plane. The world morphed again and both Wisdom and Cole disappeared.

Therinfal Redoubt

Envy flew out of Isaac at speed. Lucius barely dodged in time as Envy smashed through the keep's door. The templars around backed away and Envy retreated behind a green barrier. Lucius rose again and drew his blade. Iron Bull and Cassandra stepped in front of Isaac while Vivienne asked, "Are you quite alright dear?"

Isaac stretched. "Going to need some therapy after that but I'm fine. Don't think I'll find a good one in Thedas but…" He glared at Lucius and Envy. "I think beating some catharsis out of these two will be a start."