As Luck Would Have It
A/N: Thought I'd say a few things to my reviewers, but as I'm upstairs and ff.net is downstairs, I cant remember who said what, so I'm gonna set it all straight.
A) I know very well exactly what Djinn can do. I had a plan to incorporate that into this very chapter, actually. And, if Torrent was unconscious then she couldn't very well do anything, and Zoe holds her weapon with two hands, making it impossible for her to carry something and fight at the same time.
B) I'm trying to deviate from the storyline as much as possible without wrecking the entire story. And
C) After this got deleted by my very evil computer once, I'm frustrated, so I might come off as harsh, but I'm not trying to be. That's Kaede's job ;). So now to continue.
Chapter Nine: Djinn In Bilibin (as far as I can tell, this rhymes)
Ivan was up early. The sun was up, but only just, and as far as he could tell no one else was awake. Since he knew breakfast wouldn't be ready for a while, he decided to look around town. Then he looked at himself and made a face. Inside the cave it had been dark enough not to have to look at how dirty he'd gotten.
After a quick bath, Ivan quietly went down the stairs and walked outside.
"Hmm. It's cool out this morning," Ivan mused as he walked, and became so lost in thought that he almost walked into a large golden statue of a woman that was in the center of the town.
Standing near the statue, he thought he could feel a cool breeze coming from somewhere. But that can't be, he thought as he located the source of the wind. Air doesn't blow from under statues.
"Unless," he said aloud, and experimentally pushed the statue. It slid back rather easily, revealing a ladder descending into the ground. "Wonderful. Another ladder." Ivan rolled his eyes and began the climb down.
At the bottom of the ladder was a large sign that said, 'McCoy's Hidden Warehouse. Do Not Enter!' "A little late for that," Ivan commented, smiling. The small cavern he was in seemed half-full of water, so that he had to jump the gap between dry areas. The strip he stood on now had another golden statue at the end of it. It would be easy to reach either of the two dry areas on the sides once the statue was moved.
"This should be easy. It's just like the one above the ladder, only I'll have to pull it." Grinning, he wrapped his arms around the statue and tugged, expecting the statue to slide right out of the way.
Nothing happened.
"Ack! This is heavy!" Ivan moaned, pulling again with all his strength. But the statue failed to move. Glaring at it, Ivan gave one final, all-out pull. The statue shifted quickly, and Ivan stumbled back, landing hard and doing a backwards roll, then coming to a dizzy stop. Holding his head and sitting up, Ivan now saw a definite problem. He couldn't get around the statue.
"All that shoving for nothing," he said miserably. Then a thought occurred to him. Whoever this 'McCoy' was obviously couldn't get around this statue either. So there had to be another way in. Climbing back up the ladder, Ivan looked around for anything that might help him find the second entrance. Seeing stairs, he decided that was a likely place to start, though after yesterday stairs were not his idea of a good time. He climbed them anyway and found himself on a ledge surrounding the town. Walking along it was pleasant to say the least, as up there the winds were stronger and whipped Ivan's hair and clothes about.
Eventually he found himself walking across the top of the wooden 'gate' that was the entrance to the town. Now on the other side, set into the wall he could see some hanging vines, and he smirked. "Secret entrance ha."
Approaching the vines, he held his hand toward them. "Whirlwind!" A small-scale tornado appeared and blew the vines away, leaving the opening visible. Descending the stairs with a defeated sigh, Ivan now found his way clear and, using the speed of a Jupiter Adept, quickly hopped across the spots of dry land and over to the other side.
"Maybe I'll find a cool sword!" he said excitedly, the thought never crossing his mind that he might not like what he found. "Or some decent armor, or treasure, or…" he trailed off as his eyes caught sight of what was waiting for him around the corner. Grinning widely, he cried, "A Djinni!" At those words the Djinni before him dissolved into swirling winds, which surrounded him. He felt something change inside him, and smiled when the Jupiter Djinni appeared on his shoulder.
"I am Gust, Jupiter Djinni, bound to the power of the Wind," she said, jumping up and down a few times. "And you are Ivan, Jupiter Adept, master of the powers of the Wind."
Ivan blushed. "I'm not a master of the wind. But I am a Jupiter Adept…how did you know?"
"You don't know about the bonds between Djinn and their partners?"
"Should I?" Ivan asked as he climbed the steps out of the 'secret entrance.'
"Yes you should! All of your companions have Djinn! Don't they know? Oh, that's a silly question, they must know something, but do they know exactly what we can do?"
"Doubt it. Maybe Isaac knows about Flint. But…what exactly can you do?"
"Better I should explain it to all of you at once. But before we go any further, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do all adepts talk to themselves, or is that just Jupiter Adepts, or is that just you? That's a sign of insanity, you know."
Instead of answering, Ivan laughed.
***************
Zoe was halfway finished with breakfast by the time Ivan returned. Eagerly, he filled a plate with food and sat across from Zoe, who smirked at him.
"You're late," she said, a mocking glare in her eyes. "Where did you go?"
"Looking around a bit. Found a cave." Ivan paused, taking huge bites of his food, swallowed, then went on. "Found a Djinni in said cave."
"You did? What does it look like?"
"I," Gust said, appearing out of nowhere in a flash of violet light, "look like this. I'm a Jupiter Djinni called Gust."
"How did you do that?" Zoe asked, amazed. She was positive Torrent couldn't do things like that. "Is that a Jupiter Djinni trick?"
"No. It's a Djinni trick period."
"What?"
"Long story," Ivan said, finishing his food. "Maybe you should tell us now, Gust."
"Alright. First things first—we feel what you feel. If, for example, you're tired, then any Djinn joined with you will be tired as well. The same works with emotions. If you are, for instance, very excited, all your Djinn will be excited too. Also, all Djinn can disappear and reappear at will. Well, when they're joined with a person and they disappear, they sort of become a part of that person, but I don't want to get technical."
"Oh no, we wouldn't want that," Ivan said sarcastically. Gust shot him a glare but continued.
"We can speak in your minds too. Well, Jupiter Djinn can at any rate, but I'm pretty sure it's the same for all Djinn. And, as a final and rather depressing note, if you die, so do we."
"So technically," Zoe said with a grin, "Djinn can't die unless the one they are bound to dies?"
"Well…not exactly. Djinn can still die, but their doing so won't affect you…not physically at least."
"And Torrent never told me this why?" Zoe asked, looking up at the ceiling. Gust snorted.
"Mercury Djinn. Think they're so superior to all us other Djinn just because they're Mercury Djinn!" At those words Torrent appeared on Zoe's shoulder, and Gust looked down sheepishly.
"Know-it-all Jupiter Djinni," Torrent shot back, then looked up at Zoe. "The need never arose to tell you, and I was perfectly fine with staying visible. As for speaking in your mind, yes, I can do it, but I never really needed to. I'm pretty sure Flint has told Isaac these things, but I'm positive Garet doesn't know."
"Where is ol' fire-head anyway? Hiding from me and my zapping power?" Ivan laughed.
"He is late for breakfast, and from what I've seen it's not like him to sleep in, or to skip meals." Zoe leaned her head on her hand thoughtfully. "But then, yesterday was pretty…exhausting."
"Today's about to be even more so," Torrent said, glancing out the window. "If my memory serves me correctly, you need some practice, Zoe. And you too, Ivan."
"But my sword would cut through his Shaman's Rod," Zoe protested, in truth not wanting to tire herself out again. "Really, I want to look around town, maybe find something useful in one of the shops."
"I want to check out that weird tree I saw at the entrance. I swear it looked almost human. But maybe we should wait for Garet?" Ivan frowned. "He sure is taking a long time getting up and ready."
"Let's just go do our own things today," Zoe said. "If Garet wants one of us, it won't be hard for him to find us. It's a small town as far as I can tell. Let's meet back here for lunch."
"Ok," chorused three voices, and Ivan, Zoe and their Djinn left the Inn, nodded to each other and split ways, Zoe heading right and Ivan heading straight.
***************
"I wonder if Garet'll ever come out," Zoe mused as she looked up at the sign on the door of one of the shops. "Torrent?" she asked, and the Djinni appeared on her shoulder in a flash of blue light, startling her. Zoe didn't think she'd ever get used to that. "Where are we?"
"It's a weapons shop," Torrent said, studying the symbol on the sign. "I'm not sure you need a weapon. The one you've got is good enough, right?"
"It is for now."
"For now. Sure. Like you could lift anything heavier."
"Why you little!"
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, but that doesn't meant you rub my face in it."
"Would you rather I rub Ivan's face in it? Though rubbing one's face into a sword might not be the best idea." Torrent smiled, and Zoe laughed. By this time they had reached a different shop, this one built into the cliff face. "The sign on this one is that of a store for traveler's gear. You might want to go in there, actually. Many useful things are in there. Many useful things."
"Alright then. After getting those coins from the mayor in Vault, I feel almost rich." Zoe pushed open the door and walked inside. The shop was lit by burning lanterns and a fire in the back.
"Hello," said the woman at the desk, giving Zoe a friendly smile. "Is there anything specific you're looking for?"
"Well…I'm kinda new around here. I'm not sure what anything's for."
"Alright then. We carry four basic items here. Herbs, antidotes, elixirs, and sacred feathers." Quickly the clerk explained to Zoe exactly what each thing did, and Zoe paused a moment, thoughtful. Torrent had by now disappeared, and Zoe knew the Djinni's incessant popping into and out of visibility wouldn't be something she adjusted to quickly. After a moment she made her purchase, paid the woman and left the store, smiling and humming a little. For some reason she was suddenly in ridiculously high spirits.
Ivan chose that moment to come running up to her, out of breath and very excited. "What is it Ivan?" she asked, a puzzled frown appearing on her face. Instead of answering, Ivan grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the entrance gate where a small tree stood.
"Really Ivan, I don't see…" Zoe started, but trailed off as Ivan cast his Mind Read Psynergy on the tree, still clutching Zoe's wrist. Zoe's eyes widened when she actually picked up thoughts from the tree. Trees don't think, she scolded herself. Then she remembered Ivan's words from earlier.
"I want to check out that weird tree I saw at the entrance. I swear it looked almost human."
"Ivan, you don't think…"
"I do. I'm almost sure of it. This tree used to be a man. But I don't think it has anything to do with the lighthouse we're looking for…too bad. I'd like to know what's going on that makes people turn into trees."
"Speaking of the lighthouse," Gust said, popping up on Ivan's head, "wasn't it supposed to be near here?"
"You'll be looking for the Mercury Lighthouse, then?" asked a voice behind them, and they turned to find a man whose face was partially covered by a cloth.
"We don't know for sure. Is that the lighthouse close to here?" Ivan asked, feeling dwarfed by the tall man.
"Nearer than any of the others. The Mercury Lighthouse lies to the north of Imil." Ivan turned to Zoe then, and she caught the look in his eyes. He wouldn't be too affected by the cold, but he knew Garet would, and the thought made him grin. Turning back to ask the man how to get to Imil, Ivan found that he was gone.
"Now that's odd," Gust said aloud, taking the words right from Ivan's head. "But is it just me or is it time for lunch? Now, that's a silly question. Of course it's time for lunch, if I'm hungry."
"Tell me one thing Gust," Ivan said, a playful light in his eyes.
"Sure."
"Do all Djinn talk to themselves? Or is it just Jupiter Djinn? Or is it just you? That's a sign of insanity, you know."
"You stole my line."
"You bet." At those words, all four of them exploded with laughter.
***************
Garet had barely slept the night before. He couldn't. Something was stopping him. And he had skipped breakfast as well, and wouldn't be going down to lunch. He knew he was hungry, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the room. Not with Isaac looking so pale and…Garet shook his head. He would not think like that about his best friend.
Forge looked up at Garet and sighed. He felt all the emotions that Garet did, after all, and didn't like it much at the moment. Of course, the Djinni had his own worries, watching Flint being the main one. The Venus Djinni was as still and silent as the adept he had joined.
The sound of the door opening startled them both, and Garet fumbled with a smile when he saw Zoe enter. "Ivan's saving a table for us," she said quietly. "We waited for you this morning, but you never came down, did you?" Garet shook his head, glancing over at Isaac again. Zoe put a hand on the Fire Adept's shoulder. "What did they say yesterday?"
"They said he wouldn't be up for at least a day," Garet said, meeting Zoe's level gaze. "But that he'd be alright, eventually."
"Do you trust their judgment?" Zoe asked evenly. Garet's mind took him back to Vale for a moment, to an old friend of his. Best Mercury Adept he'd ever know. She had had the same kind of calming voice and serious eyes, though hers had been deep blue like Isaac's, not striking violet like Zoe's.
"Yes."
"Then what are you doing up here all morning? Come on down to lunch with us. It's stupid to skip a meal."
"You sure have an odd way of trying to cheer people up," Garet said, standing. "Forge, stay here."
"Will do, captain," the Djinni said, bringing himself up straight and looking very professional. The sight of this startled a laugh from Garet, and behind him Zoe smiled warmly at the Mars Djinni, who winked at her. Garet rolled his eyes and followed Zoe down the stairs, where Ivan was grinning at the Jupiter Djinni on his shoulder.
"Ivan! Where did you get that thing?!" Garet asked, astonished, and Ivan smirked.
"Under the town," he replied, and Gust giggled. "Though earth isn't really my specialty…anything for a Jupiter Djinni."
"There are some things you should know about Djinn," Gust added, and proceeded to explain all to Garet while he, Ivan and Zoe ate. Garet almost choked when Torrent flashed into visibility on Zoe's shoulder, and the others could barely contain their laughter.
"Surprising, I know," Torrent said smugly. Zoe giggled, and Torrent shot a spray of water at her.
"Hey! No fair! I don't have any way to retaliate!" Zoe cried, not really minding as her extremely good mood had returned and she felt as though she was floating on air.
"That's the idea."
"Here's a better idea," said Ivan, glancing outside. "We have the whole afternoon to do…something. I say we make it something worthwhile." Ivan and Zoe caught Garet's hasty glance at the stairs, but he quickly looked back at the two of them. Ivan continued, "I was thinking, Zoe could use a little practice with her sword…" Ivan grinned at Zoe's glare. "And I could do with a little brushing up as well. So, Garet, what do you say? Zoe and I, and you take the winner?"
"Well…" Garet trailed off, but the others knew it was no real decision for him. "Alright, sure. But I won't go easy on either of you!"
"Like we expected you to," Ivan and Zoe said at the same time, and for a moment they stared at each other, mouths agape, while the Djinn and Garet laughed. Then they laughed too, and, happy if only for just that moment, they walked outside to find a suitable place to hold their little competition.
***************
"Ha!" Zoe cried as a quick twist of her arms wrenched Garet's sword from his hands. She grinned smugly at the shocked look on Garet's face and the equally surprised looks on the faces of Ivan and the Djinn. "You didn't think I could do it, did you?"
"Garet's stronger than you are," Ivan said plainly. "Anyone watching would have expected him to win."
"That was…wow, Zoe, you're getting fast. I didn't think you could do that with a sword," Garet said. "Good job, seriously."
Zoe grimaced and rubbed one wrist. "I didn't think I could do it either, but the opportunity came…and I just took it." She looked confused when Garet began to laugh. "What?"
"That's half of what sword fighting is, Zoe! Seeing the chances and taking them when they come!"
"Uh, yeah. I knew that. Really."
"Man, I'm hungry," Ivan said, looking toward the sky. "That took longer than I thought. It's late. Let's go eat dinner!" Zoe and Garet nodded, sheathing their weapons and heading for the Inn.
Dinner was wonderful, better than breakfast or lunch, according to Ivan. The mood was light and happy, even if Garet kept shooting glances at the stairs and Ivan was falling asleep in his dessert. Gust was already asleep on his shoulder.
Taking the Djinni's hint, Ivan rose and went up the stairs, with Garet and Zoe following soon after. Ivan was asleep by the time Zoe made it up the stairs, so she took a bath and took her time brushing her hair. She didn't find it nearly so annoying anymore, and in fact was starting to like it. Though she didn't feel very tired, she lay down and closed her eyes. Sleep claimed her in minutes.
***************
The sun was shining on his face, so he knew they'd made it out of Goma Cave. It felt like he was in a real bed, so he was pretty sure they'd gotten to Bilibin. But the dull ache in his shoulder and the throbbing in his head told him he probably didn't want to be awake just yet. But try as he might he could not fall asleep again, and so opened his eyes slowly. Blinking a few times, he found that he was staring into the worried brown eyes of his friend.
"What did I miss?" he asked, sitting up. He didn't feel too terrible, actually, and his headache was beginning to go away. Garet's smile was one of absolute relief. "You look like I died and came back to life. It couldn't have been that bad, Garet!"
Garet said nothing, only looking at the ground. Isaac's half-smile faded to an uncertain frown. "Really that bad?"
"Yes," Garet said softly. "It was worse the farther we went. Ivan was so worn out…Zoe was too, and even I was running out of steam…but Isaac, you looked so pale…I thought you'd die."
"So I was right in assuming we're in Bilibin. How long have I been out for?"
"About a day and a half," said Ivan, entering. "But we've entertained ourselves. There's a tree that looks like a man, or, that once was a man, and I found a Jupiter Djinni, and I know how to get to the Mercury Lighthouse…well, sort of."
"That's a lot to have happen in one day. Alright, how does one get to Mercury Lighthouse?"
"Well…what I meant was, I know where it is. It's just north of Imil, wherever that is."
"I know where it is," Zoe said, coming in with Torrent bouncing on her head. "And none of you are gonna like it."
"Tell us, then, and let us judge for ourselves," said Flint from where he now stood on Isaac's good shoulder.
"We have to go through Bilibin Cave."
***************
Vil: At long last, I am finished! Chapters may come a bit more slowly now that school has started, but I'll do what I can when I can. Chapter ten, they're going through Bilibin Cave and into Imil. Mia won't show up until chapter eleven probably. But, as always, the more reviews I get the quicker chapter ten shows up!
||
||
||
\/