Disclaimer: I don't own the Nine Muse. That would be the Greeks. Oh and I
don't own the song sung and I don't know how to spell fahrdarren (?) like
from "Luck of the Irish". I don't own the idea either, but if anyone knows
how to spell it, I'd appreciate you helping me out.
Shattering the Spell
"You?!" cried Seamus. "Not you! How could you come here?! You can't break through the barrier!"
"Quite obviously, I can," Jonathan said quietly, with a careless shrug. "I'm here to save Celaeno and the other poor people trapped here."
"Never," spat Seamus. "You can't have her! You can't save any of them, least of all her!"
"Can't I?" replied Jonathan, still speaking softly. "She may not be able to dance you, but I can. Verily, I can save her."
"You? Dance against me? Hah! The very idea is laughable!" snorted Seamus contemptuously.
Jonathan just shrugged again. "I understand that you're afraid of losing, but really," he said pointedly.
"Me? Afraid of losing to you?" scoffed Seamus. "I could beat you with my eyes closed, even were our dances judged by the Nine Muses themselves!"
"Then do you accept my challenge?" asked Jonathan. "I dance against you, and the best two out of three wins the freedom of Celaeno, her friend Holly, and all the dancers in this forest, judged by the Nine Muses?"
"I accept!" said Seamus impetuously. "Oh Muses!" Immediately the Nine Muses appeared.
"We are prepared to judge the competition of dances that shall take place here," the first said.
"Excellent," declared Seamus, turning to Jonathan. "You think yourself to be ready for this?"
"I know myself to be ready for this," Jonathan replied. "There's just one more thing. Take on your true form. The form of a fahrdarren. Show Celaeno what you really are."
Seamus just looked at him before saying, "You know full well that she wouldn't like what she'd see."
"Do you think I like what I see now any better than whatever you truly are?" asked Celaeno. Seamus looked at her, then smiled sinisterly.
"As you wish," he sneered. So saying, he passed his hand before his face at it, the rest of his body, and his clothes changed. His skin became a mottled, sickly green. His hair was bright orange-yellow-red. His fingernails were like claws, chipped and disgustingly filthy. He was no longer wearing the tunic getup, but a loose red shirt and a pair of black leggings and boots. His clothes were the cleanest, most pleasant thing about him. Celaeno made a revolted face and tried to draw back from him. He smirked at her.
"You see Lae?" asked Jonathan gently. "This is what has imprisoned you and countless others here and appeared as me."
"I can see why," Celaeno replied.
"Shall we just begin so I can defeat you and return to my former matters?" said Seamus. Jonathan made no reply, just briefly inclined his head. Seamus clapped his hands twice and glowing arrows appeared on the floor beneath the two. Celaeno looked at Jonathan, knowing he knew what he was doing, but still apprehensive.
"Wait," she said. Seamus and Jonathan looked at her. "Where's Holly? I want her to be here too to see this." Seamus scowled, but snapped his fingers and Holly appeared next to Celaeno.
"Celaeno? What's going on? Who's that, is that Jonathan? Ugh, what is that? It's hideous!" she said.
"It's Seamus," said Celaeno quietly. She quickly filled Holly in on everything she had missed. "And now there's nothing left to do but just dance here, wait, and hope for the best," she finished.
"I thought you had given up on hope," commented Holly quietly.
"I've decided to give it another try," replied Celaeno. Music began to play, other than the music they heard in their minds, and they watched as a monster and an angel started to dance. Their dances were unlike any DDR dance either of the girls had seen before, with jumps and spins and such intricacy it made them dizzy trying to follow them. Finally the music stopped and the men looked to the Muses for judgment. The Muses conversed amongst themselves for a moment, then turned to pass judgment.
"We deem Jonathan the winner of the first dance," the first said. Holly and Celaeno cheered quietly, Jonathan just smiled, and Seamus cursed.
"Don't dwell on it," he said shortly. "Let the next dance begin!" And so it did, catching Jonathan off guard. He missed the first few beats of the song, while Seamus hit them perfectly. The two danced, a faster and harder song than the first. It lasted longer too, but that could have just been because the girls were so anxious for the winner to be determined. After an eternity the music stopped and the dancing with it. The panting dancers looked for a verdict from the Muses once again. And once again they conversed amongst themselves before the second stepped forward.
"We find Seamus the winner of the second dance," she said. "Now let the third and final all-determining dance begin." Seamus grinned to himself as the music began to play. The new music, however, didn't seem to have a danceable beat to it. Seamus just stood for a moment trying to find a beat, while Jonathan tried to dance without one. However, once Seamus had found a beat, he danced better than Jonathan. Celaeno knew that if Jonathan lost, it was all over. She had to help him somehow, but how? And why did she feel she knew the song? And who was singing...?
"Tomo-o-o-row will take us away!
Fa-ar from home,
No one will ever know our names!
But the bards' songs will remain..." sang Holly.
"Tomo-o-o-row will take it away
The fear of today,
It will be gone..." sang Celaeno.
"Due to our magic songs," the girls harmonized. Jonathan smiled as he found the beat and danced better than before, better than Seamus. The girls kept singing throughout the very long song, and Jonathan used their voices as a sort of metronome. Seamus was thrown off by their voices and fell out of step. The song finally ended, running longer than the first two songs put together. Jonathan smiled at the girls before looking one last time to the Muses,
"We deem Jonathan the winner of the third and final dance, as well as the whole contest," one said.
"NO!!!" roared Seamus in fury, looking uglier than before.
"Yes," said Jonathan. "You lost, therefore the dancers here go free and Celaeno goes with me."
"No one escapes the Forest!" snarled Seamus. "NO ONE!!!!!"
"No one except everyone," said one of the Muses. "You lost Seamus. And we've been meaning to stop you for quite some time now, we just couldn't get through your barrier. Now that we're here though, we're going to have a little talk." Seamus looked at them as they circled him, scolding him and saying things no one but they and Seamus could understand. Jonathan walked over to Celaeno and Holly, put his arm around Celaeno's waist to support her, and whispered, "I release you." Instantly she stopped dancing, and would have fallen had Jonathan not been holding her. She held on to him, physically incapable of supporting herself anymore.
"Don't worry, I've got you," Jonathan said gently. He held her close for a moment, then extended her to someone else standing near. To Celaeno's surprise, another pair of strong, loving arms took her and held her close while Jonathan freed Holly. Celaeno looked up into the eyes of...
"Erik? Angel?" she said softly. She looked back and forth between Erik and Jonathan, and then said, "All my life I thought you were just imaginary friends, or angels or hallucinations. But you're real! You're real. You're...real..." her voice trailed off as she began to cry joyously into Erik's strong shoulder. She could feel him smile, and she did the same as he ran his gloved fingers through her hair lovingly.
"Shh, little one," he said. "It's all right. We're here now. You're free. You and your friend. There's no need to cry. It's over."
"I know," she whispered. "I'm just so happy now. I haven't been happy in more years than I can remember, and it hurts but it's so wonderful. It's real now, it's not just a dream anymore..." A beautiful blackness blanketed her eyes, and she felt herself being lifted and flying away with an angel singing softly to her as she drifted into that wonderful darkness that erased the pain and left only the warm love resonating from her Angels that enveloped her, protecting her from anyone else who would take her from them.
A/N: wow, I never thought my stories were this popular. I mean, I know people liked The Other Angel a lot, but the reviews I've received are so touching. Thanks a million! And no, this is NOT the end! I still have a few more ideas in this noggin of mine, and there's going to be at least one more chapter. Ideas, comments, and reviews are always welcome.
Shattering the Spell
"You?!" cried Seamus. "Not you! How could you come here?! You can't break through the barrier!"
"Quite obviously, I can," Jonathan said quietly, with a careless shrug. "I'm here to save Celaeno and the other poor people trapped here."
"Never," spat Seamus. "You can't have her! You can't save any of them, least of all her!"
"Can't I?" replied Jonathan, still speaking softly. "She may not be able to dance you, but I can. Verily, I can save her."
"You? Dance against me? Hah! The very idea is laughable!" snorted Seamus contemptuously.
Jonathan just shrugged again. "I understand that you're afraid of losing, but really," he said pointedly.
"Me? Afraid of losing to you?" scoffed Seamus. "I could beat you with my eyes closed, even were our dances judged by the Nine Muses themselves!"
"Then do you accept my challenge?" asked Jonathan. "I dance against you, and the best two out of three wins the freedom of Celaeno, her friend Holly, and all the dancers in this forest, judged by the Nine Muses?"
"I accept!" said Seamus impetuously. "Oh Muses!" Immediately the Nine Muses appeared.
"We are prepared to judge the competition of dances that shall take place here," the first said.
"Excellent," declared Seamus, turning to Jonathan. "You think yourself to be ready for this?"
"I know myself to be ready for this," Jonathan replied. "There's just one more thing. Take on your true form. The form of a fahrdarren. Show Celaeno what you really are."
Seamus just looked at him before saying, "You know full well that she wouldn't like what she'd see."
"Do you think I like what I see now any better than whatever you truly are?" asked Celaeno. Seamus looked at her, then smiled sinisterly.
"As you wish," he sneered. So saying, he passed his hand before his face at it, the rest of his body, and his clothes changed. His skin became a mottled, sickly green. His hair was bright orange-yellow-red. His fingernails were like claws, chipped and disgustingly filthy. He was no longer wearing the tunic getup, but a loose red shirt and a pair of black leggings and boots. His clothes were the cleanest, most pleasant thing about him. Celaeno made a revolted face and tried to draw back from him. He smirked at her.
"You see Lae?" asked Jonathan gently. "This is what has imprisoned you and countless others here and appeared as me."
"I can see why," Celaeno replied.
"Shall we just begin so I can defeat you and return to my former matters?" said Seamus. Jonathan made no reply, just briefly inclined his head. Seamus clapped his hands twice and glowing arrows appeared on the floor beneath the two. Celaeno looked at Jonathan, knowing he knew what he was doing, but still apprehensive.
"Wait," she said. Seamus and Jonathan looked at her. "Where's Holly? I want her to be here too to see this." Seamus scowled, but snapped his fingers and Holly appeared next to Celaeno.
"Celaeno? What's going on? Who's that, is that Jonathan? Ugh, what is that? It's hideous!" she said.
"It's Seamus," said Celaeno quietly. She quickly filled Holly in on everything she had missed. "And now there's nothing left to do but just dance here, wait, and hope for the best," she finished.
"I thought you had given up on hope," commented Holly quietly.
"I've decided to give it another try," replied Celaeno. Music began to play, other than the music they heard in their minds, and they watched as a monster and an angel started to dance. Their dances were unlike any DDR dance either of the girls had seen before, with jumps and spins and such intricacy it made them dizzy trying to follow them. Finally the music stopped and the men looked to the Muses for judgment. The Muses conversed amongst themselves for a moment, then turned to pass judgment.
"We deem Jonathan the winner of the first dance," the first said. Holly and Celaeno cheered quietly, Jonathan just smiled, and Seamus cursed.
"Don't dwell on it," he said shortly. "Let the next dance begin!" And so it did, catching Jonathan off guard. He missed the first few beats of the song, while Seamus hit them perfectly. The two danced, a faster and harder song than the first. It lasted longer too, but that could have just been because the girls were so anxious for the winner to be determined. After an eternity the music stopped and the dancing with it. The panting dancers looked for a verdict from the Muses once again. And once again they conversed amongst themselves before the second stepped forward.
"We find Seamus the winner of the second dance," she said. "Now let the third and final all-determining dance begin." Seamus grinned to himself as the music began to play. The new music, however, didn't seem to have a danceable beat to it. Seamus just stood for a moment trying to find a beat, while Jonathan tried to dance without one. However, once Seamus had found a beat, he danced better than Jonathan. Celaeno knew that if Jonathan lost, it was all over. She had to help him somehow, but how? And why did she feel she knew the song? And who was singing...?
"Tomo-o-o-row will take us away!
Fa-ar from home,
No one will ever know our names!
But the bards' songs will remain..." sang Holly.
"Tomo-o-o-row will take it away
The fear of today,
It will be gone..." sang Celaeno.
"Due to our magic songs," the girls harmonized. Jonathan smiled as he found the beat and danced better than before, better than Seamus. The girls kept singing throughout the very long song, and Jonathan used their voices as a sort of metronome. Seamus was thrown off by their voices and fell out of step. The song finally ended, running longer than the first two songs put together. Jonathan smiled at the girls before looking one last time to the Muses,
"We deem Jonathan the winner of the third and final dance, as well as the whole contest," one said.
"NO!!!" roared Seamus in fury, looking uglier than before.
"Yes," said Jonathan. "You lost, therefore the dancers here go free and Celaeno goes with me."
"No one escapes the Forest!" snarled Seamus. "NO ONE!!!!!"
"No one except everyone," said one of the Muses. "You lost Seamus. And we've been meaning to stop you for quite some time now, we just couldn't get through your barrier. Now that we're here though, we're going to have a little talk." Seamus looked at them as they circled him, scolding him and saying things no one but they and Seamus could understand. Jonathan walked over to Celaeno and Holly, put his arm around Celaeno's waist to support her, and whispered, "I release you." Instantly she stopped dancing, and would have fallen had Jonathan not been holding her. She held on to him, physically incapable of supporting herself anymore.
"Don't worry, I've got you," Jonathan said gently. He held her close for a moment, then extended her to someone else standing near. To Celaeno's surprise, another pair of strong, loving arms took her and held her close while Jonathan freed Holly. Celaeno looked up into the eyes of...
"Erik? Angel?" she said softly. She looked back and forth between Erik and Jonathan, and then said, "All my life I thought you were just imaginary friends, or angels or hallucinations. But you're real! You're real. You're...real..." her voice trailed off as she began to cry joyously into Erik's strong shoulder. She could feel him smile, and she did the same as he ran his gloved fingers through her hair lovingly.
"Shh, little one," he said. "It's all right. We're here now. You're free. You and your friend. There's no need to cry. It's over."
"I know," she whispered. "I'm just so happy now. I haven't been happy in more years than I can remember, and it hurts but it's so wonderful. It's real now, it's not just a dream anymore..." A beautiful blackness blanketed her eyes, and she felt herself being lifted and flying away with an angel singing softly to her as she drifted into that wonderful darkness that erased the pain and left only the warm love resonating from her Angels that enveloped her, protecting her from anyone else who would take her from them.
A/N: wow, I never thought my stories were this popular. I mean, I know people liked The Other Angel a lot, but the reviews I've received are so touching. Thanks a million! And no, this is NOT the end! I still have a few more ideas in this noggin of mine, and there's going to be at least one more chapter. Ideas, comments, and reviews are always welcome.
