TOMMY
Wondering just what Zedd will come up with after his amused assurance of seeing what he could do where a staff was concerned, I can only hope it will be a tad more subtle than what he currently carries around. After all I just need it for a weapon, not show, and a staff would be easier to have on hand than a sword. As we head for the castle ourselves, I ask, "Why did you hesitate to give me your staff?"
Glancing over at me, his grip tightening - subconsciously I'm sure - on the weapon, his answer is hesitant, but seemingly honest. "For one thing, I wasn't sure what you wanted it for. I know you wouldn't purposely use it against me, however it makes me...uneasy, I guess you'd say, handing it over to anyone after I've had it for so long and used it to keep my power stable. When you hid it, I wasn't worried about not being able to stop you, I was worried because I wasn't sure what would happen to me if it was destroyed or lost for good. For another, the staff channels much of my magic. If you accidentally tapped into that-"
Astonished, I stop and stare at him. "I could do that?"
"I don't know if you could now, but you could have when you were being controlled by the spell. It requires a dark power in the holder to access it. The spell and your past skill handling power, even if a different type, would have been enough I think to let the power in it latch onto you. In short, you need to be somewhat 'evil' to use it."
"But you're not 'evil' so..." Letting the statement hang, I look at his tensed posture and suddenly diverted gaze.
"I'm- who I am, Thomas. I don't know how to explain it any better. I've done many, many things, and held this power for a very long time. Zordon's little attempted self-sacrifice helped to pull me back somewhat to who I used to be, but I...think of it like breaking a mirror, you can put all of the pieces back together, but there will always be those breaks in it, regardless of how well it's fixed." Suddenly looking very serious, he shakes his head. "For what it's worth I would have rather had you destroy the staff than use it while you were under that spell. If you had-" He stops abruptly and turns toward me, hand reaching out to caress my face. "If you had, you'd have most certainly been lost and probably forever."
I can't help the shiver that runs down my spine at this information. I know I was headed into a downward spiral of evil - and I really don't want to know what all I could have done. "But not now, right?"
"If you could use it, no, I very much doubt that you'd be lost as you aren't evil anymore."
I can't stop the words from coming. "Well, at least no more than I was before." I can feel his questioning look as I turn toward the castle. "Come on. I could really use a cup of coffee and some breakfast."
It's almost amusing to hear his stomach rumble right on cue as he follows me. "Thomas-"
I sigh. "Not right now, Zedd. Soon, but not now." As we join Pina and Dar in the kitchen, I'm surprised that neither Jason nor Andros are here. Dar, as usual, sets plates in front of Zedd and me. "Pina, did you figure out how many more of those damn shots I'm going to need?" There is no answer and I look at her in surprise.
Her brow is furrowed and she's obviously deep in thought about something. The rest of us exchange looks. Dar addresses her. "Pina?"
Then Zedd. "Scorpina?"
Abruptly, she looks up at me. "What do you know about the place where we found you?"
I'm surprised by the unexpected question and it takes me a moment to answer. "According to the bird, a very long time ago it was a sacred place and linked to Phaedos. He said that there was a time coming when that place could be used as a portal to the great temple and if I was ready, I could travel there. He said that it would be available for three days."
Pina nods as apparently something I've said has clarified something in her mind. "That explains the magic." At our confused looks, she explains. "It's very old magic - going back to a time before it was corrupted by good and evil. That's why the powers at the great temple have to be guarded so carefully. The magic doesn't bond to someone based on good or evil - it's about how well matched you are to a particular set of powers - usually determined by one's spirit animal. Those powers aren't dark or light - they just are and it's up to the holder of the powers how they are used."
"That's why I couldn't place it," Zedd mutters looking suddenly thoughtful himself. "It didn't agitate me like Rita's magic, or call to me like my own. Interesting."
"Stay away from it Zeddic." Looking at him seriously, and I know irking him a bit with the use of his full name, Pina at least seems to get his focus and attention. "Whatever you're thinking, don't. It's not the kind of power you know or need to be tampering with." When he looks ready to protest she continues in a tone I've not really heard from her before. "I mean it Zedd, Tommy was right when he said the bird wanted him alone, chances are it feels the other power in you and is concerned about you trying something that could backfire and hurt you and Tommy. For now stay away from it."
Watching the exchange with me, Dar thankfully interjects before it can turn into an argument. "Did the bird say when the portal would open? Or just that there was a time coming?"
"Um, something about when the three moons align or something."
Pina frowns. "But what three moons? Phaedos has two and this planet has two, but there are hundreds between here and there." I shrug. After all, how would I know?
The kitchen door swings open and our missing guests come in. This time, Andros appears to be the one who hasn't slept well. Jason cuffs my shoulder on his way by. "Morning, bro. What's up?"
I wave my hand carelessly. "Oh, you know me - always getting into trouble."
He chuckles lightly. "No surprise there. What did you do this time?"
I'm not surprised at the edge to Zedd's voice when he answers. "He was out all night without telling anybody."
Jason raises an eyebrow at this, a small smirk still on his face. "Can't break curfew, Tommy."
I can feel Zedd's irritation - most likely at Jason's lighthearted response - and set my hand on his wrist, my thumb stroking the back of his hand in a soothing way. "Easy, Zedd. He's just giving me a hard time in his own way." I glance at Jason. "Actually, considering that I was in the woods, alone in the dark, it wasn't a smart thing to do."
Now his expression changes to one of puzzlement. "Why did you do that?"
"There is a bird here that is similar to a falcon back home. He calls to me sometimes."
"Better tell him to start calling to you during daylight hours before you get grounded," Jason teases taking a cup of coffee from Dar as Andros does the same.
"He seems to have his own set schedule of when he wants to see me, but I'll try to mention that next time as I think I'm on thin ice for losing dessert or TV privileges for a week" I tease back slightly, smirking as Zedd rolls his eyes at both of us.
"So this bird, what's he want with you, aside to get you into trouble?"
I go on to relate everything that happened in greater detail for everyone's benefit, including how and why I ended up spending the night out there. By the time I'm done, Pina's muttering to herself.
Dar nudges her. "Care to share?"
She looks up at me. "My best guess about what happened is that you were overwhelmed by the magic there since your ninja spirit hasn't awakened yet. When it is ready, then that grove is the best place for that to happen, with the exception of the great temple on Phaedos itself."
"Okay, but how do I do that?"
"I'll help you." You'll what now? How? She sighs and shoots apologetic looks to her mate and mine. "Look, I'm not full Eltarian. Zedd and Dar know this. What I've never said is that I'm also part Phaedosian. Quite frankly, I'm distantly related to Dulcea." Silence falls in the kitchen as everyone absorbs this. She fidgets nervously. "Scorpina is actually my Phaedosian name. When I turned to evil all those years ago, I was - forbidden to use my Eltarian name. As, at that point, I only had one parent left, I acceded to their wishes. Particularly since he was - ill."
Somehow, I'm not surprised when Dar asks softly, "What's your Eltarian name?"
She lowers her eyes. "I've long since forgotten it."
"Liar" he counters softly. "I was evil far longer than you and I still remember mine."
The moment almost feels - I don't know - intimate and I feel like I'm intruding on something private. I glance at the others. Jason looks just as confused and embarrassed as I do, but Andros and Zedd look thoughtful. Considering that they know far more about Eltar than we do, they probably have a better idea what's going on and just why this apparently is such an issue with her.
Dar continues, still quietly. "I changed mine to distance myself from my family by my choice."
Swiftly, she turns to him and sets her fingers over his lips, silencing him. "Don't say any more. Let it go. Goldar and Scorpina are happy together. Let the past stay the past, please, love."
I can feel my eyes narrow at this. Before I can rethink what I'm about to do, I speak. "If it's the past, Pina, then it won't matter. You two are happy together being who you are now. Do you really think that he's going to let it come between you when he loves you so much?"
As she looks at me, surprised, Goldar grins at me. "Finally, the human says something intelligent, useful and mature." I playfully spoil it by sticking my tongue out at him.
I smile lightly at Scorpina. "My treatment will wait until later. I think that you need to have a talk with your mate."
Before she can protest, Zedd backs me up. "Go. He needs to finish eating and get cleaned up anyways. We'll deal with everything else later."
They leave the room, one hesitant and one confident. After they leave, Jason turns to me. "That was…awkward."
"Yep." Giving a nod I refill my coffee cup still trying to grasp what her concern would be with her name. "But at least awkward is better than evil."
"Agreed." Nodding and handing me a piece of bacon from his plate that he sees me eyeing, Jason's next words are something I've been expecting, but am still not really thrilled to hear. "So, Andros and I were talking and - as much as I'd like to stay - you don't need me and I think that I can be more help back home."
I sigh, unable to help feeling a bit down that he is leaving so soon, but knowing he's right as Hayley does not seem to be faring well on her own with Mesogog and the kids. "Probably. So when are you leaving?"
"Unless something else comes up, tomorrow. I still have the things from the kids to give you and I brought you some things from your house that I thought you might want. Plus there's something that I still need to talk to you about. Oh, and Zedd, we're still going to want to talk to Tommy from time to time. Andros said that he'd help you get linked into the communication system that they have set up on Earth."
Zedd sighs. "I'd guessed as much." He looks at me. "Why don't you go spend some time with Jason while Andros and I work on it?"
"Sure." I wish that he didn't have to go just yet, but at the same time I'm glad that he's going.
