2. Mary Sue and Imoen Too

Upon Gorion's bidding, Onyx and Jade were headed from the library to Winthrop's store, and just passing under the archway to the outer keep when they spotted two figures, one young man and one young woman like themselves. This was made easy by the fact that the young man was wearing full plate armor that was so shiny it reflected the full sunlight right into the twins' eyes as well as if a second sun had been standing there in the courtyard.

Shielding his eyes from the young man, Onyx groaned, "It's Gary..."

Noticing the young woman next to him, Jade winced, "And Mary..."

The young woman wore no armor at all, but rather an immodestly form-fitting bold red fighting suit, which proudly proclaimed to the world both the athletic and alluring aspects of her physique, which were both immaculate. She stood an exact 5'9", with body proportions that looked somewhat gravitationally unstable, but were held with perfect poise, and she had long, shoulderlength spun-gold hair, bright baby blue eyes, deep tan skin, and ruby red lips around a pearly smile.

Gary Stu more or less fit the same description, but stood 6'6" and was as muscular as a statue of a god. He had a long mane of golden hair, the same eyes, and a strong, proud chin and generally a perfectly chiseled face. He seemed more like a man of paint on a canvas.

And, Onyx had decided, was about as much fun.

It was indeed Gary Stu and Mary Sue before them. Gary Stu, like Oynx, was a paladin, but a few years older, and an number of inches taller and carrying more muscle on that 6'6" frame. He had been ordained as a Paladin of Tyr at a precocious age, quickly proved himself to be a prodigious swordsman, moral philosopher, and obviously a legend in the making. He had been an adventurer for a number of years now, and a renown hero since several years before Onyx's current age. It seems there was no foul dragon or twisted wizard he could not slay, virtually every royal court within a thousand miles had had one of its fairer princesses rescued from some such danger by him at one point or other, and every single one of them now very much desired him in marriage (among other things). He had also had no shortage of fawning attention from female fellow adventurers, who fit roughly into three categories : (1) sweet, innocent, virginal, and usually blonde good girls whom Gary taught to grow strong but remain charmingly 'dependent' in a more stylistic sense (2) endearingly tough and bitchy warrioresses who sometimes carried internal conflict or tragic pasts, but dealt with it in an undeniably strong-woman manner (3) deliciously wicked bad girl temptresses, usually evil tight-leather-clad rogues or dark priestesses or sorceresses, who had racked up an endless arsenal of naughty idioms and unique carnal techniques in their extensive experiences, but were, underneath it all, just naughty girls with hearts of gold.

Most importantly of all, as a Paladin, Gary Stu always did the right thing. He seemed to be completely immune to armor-polish/fascism jokes, and no matter how morally sticky some of the situations he found himself in were (though most were of the straightforward paladin/princess/dragon variety), Gary Stu always managed to find some way out that would both show how compassionate and big-hearted and willing to forgive a misguided foe with a bad childhood he was, both also how adept and ready he was to slay evil for the common good, and he always managed to achieve both these Good ends within perfect Lawfulness, because he was a Paladin and Paladins believe that Good and Law are intrinsic. And since he believed this, he could always reconcile them.

Jade groaned as she looked down at Mary Sue. Mary Sue was a stronger and far better swordswoman than Jade was, and had been since well before Jade's current age. Nevertheless, she was not quite as large, but rather more feminine and perfectly proportioned and sculpted for optimal attractiveness to the opposite sex (whereas Jade and most other athletic females had, consciously or not, made some trade-off between these ends) but this didn't hinder Mary Sue's abilities, and despite her succubus-league looks she semeed to remain immune to any sort of bimbo/priss jokes, because she wasn't feminine in any of the bad ways; she was in fact also very smart and clever and streetwise, and a shining people of Girl Power that no one except the crassest and most chauvanistic (and usually noble/wealthy) of villains could possibly attempt to debase, which would in due course earn them the emasculating wrath of Mary Sue. She was the (very attractive) embodiment of the throwing down of oppressive patriarchicies on both sides of the moral spectrum, and despite the fact that her modernistic beliefs frequently clashed with the Establishment's, she always seemed to get away scot-free, and indeed with grudging respect. She had since leaving Candlekeep overthrown a number of slaving cartels, deforesting or otherwise environmentally destructive concerns, and other evil and, more importantly, discriminatory sects, all of which seemed to trace their allegiences back to greedy money-grubbing nobles invevitably pulling the strings, who generally found coming onto Mary Sue upon meeting her to be their last mistake.

But, during her adventures, Mary Sue had not been without a generous share of more desirable male companionship, genererally fitting into the categories of (1) musclebound, stoic, and charmingly simple shining nights, rugged woodswoman, or other mighty warriors, all wielding very large weapons (2) dashing, debonair, and formerly charlatanous but now quite willingly monogamous rogues (3) introverted, maniacal or even insane - but either endearingly or reformably so - wizards and sorcerers, whose deep, analytic minds were able to probe and appreciate her in ways no others' could.

"Hey there squirts," Mary Sue laughed like golden chimes as she and Gary Stu strode up before Onyx and Jade, their shiny, bejeweled equipment glinting magically in the sunlight that seemed to fall especially around them. Onyx closed his eyes, seeing sunspots from the reflection of Gary Stu's armor.

"You look like you're off to some sort of adventure yourself," Gary Stu grinned, showing off the beautiful teeth inside his prominent jaw, "Remember, when the path seems murky and unclear, just look within the many pearls of wisdom Mary and I have dispened over the years, and which might also be found in the many tales of our exploits, with which I am sure you are familiar. I do hate to have to use myself as an example, but I feel it is the best way to keep you kids from going astray, and that's what counts." He patted Onyx on the head.

"Gee thanks," Onyx sighed. "Where would I be without you?"

"Either dead beside the road, or a Fallen thrall in the grasp of some evil cult, most likely," Gary Stu answered as if reading from a textbook.

"Aw, cheer up," Mary Sue smiled up at a scowling Jade, "And smile more! Got to look our best when we act our toughest, I always say!" She laughed perkily and musically. It was all Jade could do to keep from socking her in the dainty jaw.

Onyx and Jade exchanged tired glances, mumbled a few hollow words of thanks and goodbye, and moved on past the other two, while Mary Sue looked at her reflection in Gary Stu's armor and brushed back a charmingly disobedient golden lock of hair.

------

With a slight change of plans, to help in avoiding Mary and Gary, Jade and Onyx had split up for a bit, to gather the contents of their rooms, agreeing to meet at Winthrop's in no more than one hour. Jade, packed and ready to go with time to spare, now sat on the bed of her friend Siria, a pale raven-haired girl of seventeen. She was the half-elven daughter of a visiting elven 'scholar' from Evermeet, and purportedly born of the union between her and Ulraunt, the scheming Keeper of the Tomes and effective leader of Candlekeep.

Siria took a deep puff from a rolled up wad of paper, and handed it to Jade. "If either of my parents find out, they'll kill you."

I'd like to see them try, Jade thought while taking a long drag, Especially 'Old Buzzard' Ulraunt. If I overhear him calling me a hell-bitch one more time, I'll kill him. She instead said, "Tell them to get in line. Two bungling hicks already tried today."

"Oh no," Siria gasped while Jade exhaled, "Maybe they did find out. I overhead Ulraunt telling my mom about he'd always wanted to get rid of you. Said recently he'd found some people who could do it for him, and told them 'all about you,' whatever that means. I-I'm sorry I didn't know sooner, I heard it just last night."

That does it, Jade decided, taking a drag while sneering, Ulraunt is going to f-ing DIE. For what he did to X, and what he's done to me. "Hells, Gorion said they were assassins," Jade actually felt pangs of fear as well as anger, "Could that be what this is about?" She looked at her teenage pal. "But they seemed to want Onyx too. Father wants to take both of us out of Candlekeep. Tonight. Don't know for how long."

Siria cursed and sighed. "Well, my witch of a mother is taking me back to Evermeet soon anyway. It was fun though." She took the joint back and inhaled through it.

"Maybe I'll make it out there," Jade smiled, taking the joint and another drag, "I've got no idea where Gorion wants us to go." Hopefully somewhere with more opportunities than this sealed-off corner of 'civilization'.

"That'd be neat!" Siria laughed while Jade exhaled lotus fumes. "Stuff's easier to get there, y'know."

"Anywhere'd be easier than here," Jade sighed, and glanced over at the late-day sunlight filtering through her window. "Well, I better go. Farewell, Siria."

"See you," Siria giggled as Jade hopped over to the closed door and slighlty opened it, peering out furtively. "I'll be here another week or two, then Evermeet. Write me?"

Jade was already gone.

--------

Onyx and Jade came wandering out of Winthrop's store, looking quite different than when they'd come in. In addition to the new steel longswords sheathed at their hips, Jade wore chainmail and Onyx splint, and they had longbows and shields on their backs, helms on their heads, and backpacks loaded with the most valued of their few respective worldly possessions.

"Wow," Onyx mused, "Leave Candlekeep? More bounty hunters must be coming. But why?"

Jade bit her full lower lip. "Well, there's what I told you about Siria. But then why you too? Or maybe they're trying to get back at Gorion for something. I'm telling you Onyx, he's got shady affiliations, I can just tell."

"Affiliations, perhaps, clandestine maybe, but shady, that's hardly the word I'd use," Onyx shook his head. "He's a good man."

"You're missing the point. I think he's more than just a bookworm monk, and I bet he's pissed someone off. And so they're threatening us, since we're the closest he's got to family."

"Sound plausible," Onyx nodded, "I can't think of anything better."

"Well, I can't say I liked being hunted," Jade snickered, "But at least we get outa this dusty book-warehouse, eh?" She slapped Oynx on the shoulder.

"Yeah, but what a time to venture into the world," Onyx sighed, "All these rumors I keep hearing about the iron shortage, bandits everywhere these days...and now you and I are walking steel-depots!" He looked over Jade's armor and weapons and his own with trepidation. The young paladin then looked with worry up at the bright sky.

Help me stay optimisitc, Lord. Help me perservere. Let me look not to this sunset, but to the next dawn.

And give me strength for anything that may occur between. The sun sets red, and I feel that I shall need it.

A very pleasant and familiar voice sang ahead of him.

"Heya, guys, it's me, Imoen!"

The voice was music, an endless melody, the voice was flowers, an endless field, the voice banished all despair from Onyx's heart.

Onyx's head snapped forward, looking over the multicolored flowers lining the way, to the welcome sight of his best friend in the whole world: Imoen.

Imoen. She was a cute round-faced girl with auburn hair, a warm smile, a mischevious streak, and the cunning and agility to exploit it to the max, which she did with innocent glee. Which would and did make a clever guise for a little teenaged thief, but Imoen, underneath the prankster, was as genuine as people came. In spite of the yammering lectures from established paladins and monks Onyx had recently been exposed to, he found it impossible to categorically condemn the thieving profession when the thought of darling Imoen.

She was Jade's best friend too. Although the warrioress turned her nose at the girl's pluckier, girlier qualities, she, at a level she wouldn't admit, envied the girl for her happiness, her innocence, indeed Jade saw herself, when she had once been like that.

The three of them exchanged bright-eyed gazes and smiled.

Two girls and a boy chased each other through a field of grass and wildflowers, Candlekeep loomed far behind them against the sea, its chores and lessons for the moment forgotten.

"You're it!"

"Ha! You're it!"

"Nuh-uh! No tag-backs!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Huh-uh!"

"I'll tag you both!!!"

The three of them collapsed into a bed of clover, wriggling and giggling.

Imoen's happy faced creased into a worried expression that Onyx and Jade had never seen before. "You guys okay? I heard about the thugs. You look okay. Actually, you look really amazing in full battle gear! I don't blame ya, what with what happened. I'm so..."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it," Jade rolled her eyes. "I didn't know you were capable of such a serious thought, Imoen!"

"Aw, lighten up, sis," Onyx winked at Jade and hugged Imoen. "Hey, Immy, good to see ya. Gorion said we had to leave Candlekeep, and to get prepared."

"Really prepared, apparently," Imoen looked over them, in their full battle-gear. "Wow...must be pretty serious. Ya guys look like big bad knights now! Sounds dangerous. But exciting! I'll....see you...I guess..."

"I hope so, Immy," Jade smiled at her friend, then looked up. "It's starting to get dark. Let's get going, bro."

"Okay," Onyx nodded. He hugged Imoen again, and stared her in the eys. She smiled back up at him. "See you, Imoen. I will see you. I promise."

"Dontcha worry, Ony, dontcha worry, Jadey," Imoen giggled, hugged Jade, and hugged Onyx again around the neck when he lifted her up high enough to do so, "Ya sure will!"

She bounded away, picking the a daisy and putting it behind her ear, and Onyx and Jade made it the rest of the way to the front steps of the library.

Jade was breathing deeply, and despite her recent words to the contrary, really starting to miss Candleekp even though she hadn't left it yet. Imoen always did that to her. To her brother, Imoen was a soulmate - as was she. But to her, Imoen was even more, if that was possible. She was a mirror, a mirror that showed Elysium behind you, even if you actually stood before the Abyss, a mirror that would smile back if you frowned, a mirror that would show you healed if you were hurt, laughing if you cried. A mirror that should never be cracked. A mirror that must never be cracked.

"Ah, good," Gorion nodded as they returned, "It grows dark, and the night will only get worse. We must not tarry. Come!" They walked toward the front gates of the keep. Onyx and Jade and been outside them many times before, in fact they both preferred being outside to inside and outdoors to indoors, but never had they gone without the intention of returning quite soon.

"Now, if we should get separated for any reason," Gorion told them, "Remember that even you will not be able to get back inside Candlekeep, nor should you want to. It is the first place they would look." Onyx and Jade exchanged uneasy glances. Who was 'they'?

Gorion continued. "Instead, go north to the Friendly Arm Inn - the obelisks along the road will point the way. There you must meet two...old friends of mine staying there, a half-elven couple, Khalid and Jaheira. They will recognize you." Again, Onyx and Jade exchanged worried glances. And just why would they?

The two young warriors sighed. Questions were piling up much, much faster than answers.