Darkness Impending

Dinner was a pleasant affair for the most part. Ealdor ended up chatting with DemonInuyashaX, who liked to be called Inu, about Battle Dome tactics. Fiyrelement, or Fiyre as he preferred, and Maestitia got on right away and were discussing a large variety of things. Leoht and Kanshashimasutwo, called K2 to prevent tongue ties, were relaying numerous pranks they had both pulled. While Aisa and Hryre talked about other things.

Scinan watched them with only half of his attention. The rest of his mind was focused on the storm that was growing around them. "Whats on your mind?" Asked a light, musical voice.

Scinan jumped and turned his head to see that ArizonaSpirit, who was seated next to him, was watching him intently. "As you're obviously not paying any attention to the dinner conversation." She commented, her light blue eyes glinting, "what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Scinan said gruffly, unwilling to talk to her.

"Well it obviously is something." She retorted, "you could have just said, 'go away Spirit, I don't want to talk about it'."

Scinan was slightly taken aback. "That's not what I meant!" He said, hurriedly. Spirit only raised an eyebrow at him, and he dropped his gaze. "It's just that I really don't know how to describe it."

Spirit rested her chin on her paws. "Well you must have some idea how you want to say it. You probably just think I won't understand, or I'll think it's stupid, try me Scinan."

"I can feel the storm growing, a very not natural storm." He looked at her with eyes slightly lost. "It feels like something to me, something I should know, but I just can't remember." He shivered as he remembered the cold feeling. "I don't like it, it feels so ominous."

Spirit opened her mouth to reply but just than the lights flickered and died. "Ack!" Cried Hryre's disembodied voice. "Just a sec I'll find some candles." Soon everyone retired to the Lounge and Hryre lit a fire on the hearth.

They sat on various articles of furniture and spots of floor listening to the storm. "This is really strange." Hryre said she nibbled a thumbnail, her forehead creased in worry. "I don't think you guys should go back to the ferry in this storm, let alone fly." She turned to Aisa. "But I've got plenty of couches and you could stay in the guest room. Inu could room with Eal, Fiyre with Maest, K2 with Leo, and Spirit with Sci."

Aisa smiled in gratitude. "That would be great Hry. Are you sure it's not too much bother?"

Hryre shook her head. "None at all. Come on I'll get you all set up."

Scinan stood nervously in his doorway holding a candle as Spirit looked around it. "It's not much." He mumbled. "Kinda plain."

Spirit smiled. "It simple, I like simple." She took the candle as Scinan unrolled a sleeping bag. She placed the light source on his bedside table.

"You take the bed." Scinan said, gesturing at the Tyrannian Fur Bed. Spirit nodded and sat on the smooth bedspread. She then noticed something. Sitting on a shelf was a roughly carved wood flute. Spirit slid off the bed and went to examine it.

"This is really nice." The yellow Lupe commented, her paws itched to pick it up and play it.

"Oh that?" Scinan said casting a glance at the instrument. "I found that washed up on the beach a couple months ago. Do you play?"

Spirit nodded. "I was taught when I was really young. I've been a master player since I was just a pup."

"Well go on, let's hear it." Spirit looked back at Scinan. He had sat up in the sleeping bag and was looking at her expectantly. Spirit lifted the flute from the shelf. It felt so natural in her hands and she smiled, running her paws over the wave beaten wood. A shiver ran down Spirit's spine she raised the instrument to her lips and began to play.

The resulting sound was round and rich, just the way she loved it. As her paws darted around the shaft of the flute playing a song that was an old childhood verse, Spirit felt herself fall into the music. The melody redoubled in beauty as Spirit belted her heart and soul into the song. The yellow Lupe was no longer in Scinan's room, no longer on Mystery Island, no longer in Neopia. She was the music, the flute on her lips was her voice. Her voice that could be harsh or soft, loud or quiet. Spirit danced within the song, spinning and whirling until, quite abruptly, the song ended.

Spirit lowered the flute, feeling almost dazed. Scinan stared open mouthed as she put it back on the shelf. Spirit coughed. "It's a very well made instrument, though it doesn't look it." Scinan scrambled out of his sleeping bag and over the shelf. The green Lupe lifted the flute carefully in his paws.

"I've played this thing before." He breathed, "I could never have gotten such a sound from a flute." He looked up at Spirit. "Not even from the highest quality one money could buy. Where did you learn to play Spirit?"

Spirit shrugged. "I've always been able to play, it's a talent. Anyway I'm sure your playing isn't horrible."

Scinan laughed. "Oh yes it is, that's why I haven't touched this thing for a long time." He held out the flute to Spirit. "Will you play again?"

Spirit smiled. "Sure," she took the flute. Fingering it lovingly, she asked. "What would you like me to play?"

Scinan thought for a moment. "Then he looked to the doors onto his balcony. "I dunno if this would make any sense, but..." his voice trailed off.

"What?" Spirit asked. "Tell me Sci, I won't think it's silly." She sounded as if she meant it.

Scinan drew in a deep breath. "Can you play this storm?" The words sounded so foolish as he said them that the Lupe regretted his request instantly. He expected Spirit to laugh and say that there was no way anyone could play a storm. But she didn't.

"Hmm," Spirit looked at the doors to the balcony, which were swaying back and forth as the wind tried to blow them open. "It would be easier to do if we were on the balcony."

"But then we wouldn't be able to hear the music." Scinan protested.

Spirit flashed a knowing smile. "Oh you'll hear, I guarantee it." Scinan opened the doors and instantly torrents of rain flooded in to soak the two Neopets. Spirit walked out onto the balcony and stood in the center. Rain and wind whipped her yellow fur darkened by the shadows of the storm. She raised the flute to her lips and began to play/

At first Scinan couldn't hear the song. But then it rose in such volume that seemed impossible for the little wooden instrument. But he heard the notes caught in the wind whirling around him. Cold seeped into Scinan, he gasped and fell to his knees. The music was all he heard nothing but the music of the storm. The rain lashed his hide, feeling like needles against his skin. Scinan stumbled sideways and fell over. Still Spirit played on, rising onto her hind legs. Lightning flashed behind her lighting up her light blue eyes so that they almost seemed to glow.

The storm bent inward, concentrating its full fury on Mystery Island. Scinan almost cried out in pain. There was something inside him. Something was tearing its way out of the darkest recesses of his heart. Suddenly Spirit cried out and dropped the flute. It fell to the ground and broke in half. The yellow Lupe sat down hard as everything snapped from roiling chaos to complete calm.

"Wh- what the?" She gasped. "Sci, what happened?" There was no answer. Spirit looked around. Scinan was lying a little ways away. His whole body was trembling. "Sci, what's wrong?" Spirit knelt down by the green lupe. "Sci?"

"It's mine..." Scinan choked. "It's my storm." He scrunched his eyes shut, gritting his teeth. The thing was still fighting violently to get out from inside him. He could feel it writhing inside his chest.

Spirit was confused. "What do you mean it's 'your' storm?"

Scinan jerked. "It's coming, I – I can't stop it." Scinan opened eyes that were streaming with tears. He had no idea what was going on, but the thing inside him, he couldn't let it escape, he couldn't let it out. "The sun's coming up Spirit."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Spirit inquired, now even more confused than before.

Scinan gazed at her in sorrow. "The darkness weeps in last remorse, for all that is gone. For life, and love, and light shall cease, in this last stretch of dawn." He recited. "This is the last," Suddenly his body relaxed and Scinan lay still. "Spirit?" he murmured.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry," Power burst forth, dark power, the darkness within, exploded out of Scinan's body. In a great wave of destruction it engulfed the world. Throwing the first kindling rays of the sun into total eclipse.