4Evermonkeyfan-Thank you! (Oh, I do hope that I don't mess this up.) Enjoy!
Frus: Hello Adriana! I'm glad that you show such enthusiasm in a temp job for this lunatic.
Me: Now, here's your complementary muffin and some soap.
Adriana: Soap?
Me: Trust me. You're going to need it later.
Beastfire-Frus: We've got to help Ivy!
Me: Dude, I'm like half asleep, do what you want.
Frus: -Rushes off to help Ivy-
Saga: -Crunching bones in his teeth- Fear and sorrow are great seasonings. Not that bones aren't tasty by themselves. And I heard a recipe where one dumps sauce on a small creature and feel them squirm down one's throat. I hear it's a favorite of snake people. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Me: Now he's starting to freak me out. I'd better start the story.
Adriana belongs to 4Evermonkeyfan.
Chapter 10-Storm Rages
Once Saga's ship was prepared, some Formless came to his quarters to escort him to the hanger. He donned a coat and went with them. It was a small, one man craft, just the kind Saga would expect Skeleton King to get for him. He boarded the ship and lifted off.
Once in space, and far enough away from the Citadel of Bone to keep Skeleton King's magic from interfering, he placed his hand on a control panel and let his will flow into the circuitry of the ship. The scanners that would usually help him to follow enemy vapor trails (is that what they're called?) instead warped and twisted. They became magic scanners, which he set to Light Type and activated. A flood of information came directly to Saga's mind.
"Hmm…the most powerful user of the purer magics in this sector is named Adriana. She is currently right here in Shuggazoom. I believe I'll pay her a visit," said Saga.
As his ship was not made of bone or in any other way easily distinguishable as one of Skeleton King's, Saga decided to simply land inside the city, as any other traveler. He filled out the paper work and started into the city, making sure to keep his face hidden.
'Before I visit this girl, I should try to do something about the way that I look,' thought Saga. He stopped at a grocery store and went over to the magazine rack. He watched as various people read through their favorite magazines. Eventually, he noticed that every girl who entered seemed to take a glance at the cover of one particular periodical and sigh. Saga decided to take a look. On the cover was a picture of some handsome actor.
'Females seem to like males who look like this…' thought Saga. He studied the picture, then left the building. He walked into an alley and looked around. Seeing that no one was watching, he began to use his dark powers on himself. He needed to both change his appearance and hide his powers. However, he couldn't just copy the image he saw. He began to rip and alter his flesh, changing it so that he was on the same level as the man in the picture, but looked different. Also, he left his hair bushy and silver, and his eyes deepest crimson. The process was extremely painful, and Saga was not surprised when he passed out.
A few hours later, Saga awoke in a strange room. He groaned and got to his feet.
"Hello. I found you in an alleyway, out cold. I trust you're feeling better?" a woman spoke as she came into the room.
"Uh…thank…you? If I may ask, what time is it? I have to meet someone," said Saga.
"It's about five o'clock. So, who are you going to meet? Let me guess-she's a girl, right?" said the woman.
"Yes, she is. I need to go now. Goodbye, miss…" began Saga.
"Oh, call me Alexandra. And you should stay a while. I can't let you go see a girl dressed like that," said the woman.
"I couldn't impose," said Saga.
"Don't be silly. You have on a tattered trench coat and an old shirt and pants. Not too impressive," said Alexandra. She then led Saga upstairs to a blue room that obviously hadn't seen use in a while.
"This is my son's room. He's a head taller than you are, so these clothes that he outgrew should fit you fine. I meant to give them away, but I never got around to it. In case you're wondering, he went off to college on some planet called Earth," explained Alexandra. Saga simply nodded and allowed her to explain how he should dress. She gave him semi-dress clothes and sent him on his way. Just before he left, he put a mark on her forehead.. It was painless and would be invisible to all but him.
'I'll have to make sure not to kill her,' thought Saga. He then went to find this Adriana. When he finally caught up to her, she was in a restaurant owned by an organization connected with some hotel. She was very beautiful; Saga felt something he never had before. 'I guess that I really am a male,' he thought. He then walked over to the girl.
"Excuse me, are you…Adriana?" asked Saga.
"Why, yes, I am, and you are…?" asked Adriana.
"I am Rand. I am a bit of a Jack of all trades, and I was looking for some help with a job," said Saga.
"I don't know who you think you are, but I am NOT some kind of mercenary and-" Adriana stopped when she saw how handsome Saga looked. He decided to use her hesitation to smooth things out.
'Oh, no, that's not what I meant at all. It's just that I need the power of light magic for a special purpose. Don't worry, it isn't anything illegal, but it is a little private. Maybe I could tell you later, when there are fewer people around? You know that I know that I can't try anything," said Saga.
"Um, maybe…oh, here's my food. Please, sit with me. Maybe you can tell me some more about yourself," said Adriana as a waiter came over to her table. The waiter asked Saga if he wanted anything, and he simply asked for some water. He and Adriana talked for a while; Saga had prepared a story, and he was able to fill in any holes quickly. Such are the perks of having a computer-like mind. Adriana agreed to meet him there later to discuss his problem.
A while later, Adriana returned -- Saga hadn't moved in the first place. It was near closing time, and there were only a few people around.
"Adriana, you see, I need you to use your magic to release me from servitude. There is an evil power mingled with my aura, and I am bound by it to do the bidding of a dark master. The only thing allowing me to be here is that he can think of no tasks for me at the moment. Your power is my only hope," said Saga.
"Oh, Rand, I will help you. All you had to do was ask. Hindering the plans of the forces of evil is reason enough," said Adriana. "Now, kneel down."
Saga did as he was told. Adriana placed her hands on his forehead, and he once again felt the strange emotion from when he had first laid eyes on her. Adriana began to speak in an arcane tongue and pure white energy began to surround both her and Saga.
After a short while, it was done. Saga felt as if shackles had been removed from him. He stood up to see a beaming Adriana.
"Thank you," said Saga. As he spoke, his voice returned to normal, as did his body (still not bad, but it's creepy). His left eyes faded away, leaving his face as it was originally. Dark energy began to well up in his body. Several waiters, who had been watching the magic, as they didn't often get to see it being performed, gasped. This was a mistake, as it brought Saga's attention. He quickly floated over to them and messily ripped through all but one, splattering blood everywhere. She prepared an attack, but it seemed to fizzle out as it neared Saga's dark aura.
Author's note: I think that I need to pause here. I'm not saying that Adriana is weak or anything, it's just that well… Hmm, how to explain. Have you ever played Zelda? If so, you probably remember Link and Ganon, and the Master Sword and Triforce. (WARNING: The following may contain spoilers.) And maybe also light arrows. You see, even if you started the game with the skill to fight Ganon, you'd still lose. He has the Triforce of Power. However, since he's evil, the Master Sword, the Blade of Evil's Bane, is the perfect weapon for fighting him. And even with it, you probably need some special arrows to pierce his armor. I'm not sure if that holds true for all of the games with Ganon, but I'm pretty sure that it's true of at least two. Saga is extremely powerful. Where did that power come from? It doesn't really matter, he has it now. So desperate measures must be taken to defeat him. In fact, the process that gave him some of the power in the first place may be what defeated him the first time (as in he got stronger as a side effect, but the heroes had no choice, or no time to check). Adriana might best him later, but as for now, especially since she wasn't ready, he can defeat her. Also, consider how much energy the healing spell must have taken. (NOTE: Spoiler warning over.) Now, back to the action.
Saga went over to Adriana and grabbed her shoulders. "Thank you," he hissed. He then began to laugh hysterically. When he calmed down, he looked at her with a perverted expression. He then licked her cheek slowly. When his mouth neared her ear, he whispered, "My dear, I can't thank you enough for freeing me to do as I please, and not have to listen to Skeleton King's orders. I will not kill you, and I'll even give you a few days to get your family underground where they can hide! I'll see you then!" He released her, cackling again. He then faded into the shadows.
And that's it for now.
Adriana: Must…wash…
Me: I told you you'd need it. The bathroom's that way. Now, I must ask, how was that, and what would Adriana do next?
Saga: -Rushes past with something in his hands-
Me: That was a video camera, wasn't it?
Frus: -Nods-
Me: -Grabs Saga and drags him back-