Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 6
Memory 4: A Snowflake within A Snowflake part 4
22 December 2051
Arendelle Sewers
Scala District
Full Dark
"Relax Mother, I dunno the meaning the word 'fear'
"Say your prayers icewraith!"
"Fear noun, a state of terror, AHHH!"
"Incoming!"
KABOOM!
"YAAAAAHOOO!"
Tiri and Diana reacting to a Templar ambush while with The Light Dragon
The sewers of Arendelle were a maze, Arendelle itself was built layer upon layer as well as the sewers below, yet with all the shadows, two dragons matrialised into being within the passage around the corner from their prey. The Queen of Arendelle, within their grasp at last!, they were closer to their Mother then they had been in years! Nasty peeked around the corner, Her black eyes filtered through the shadows before their lumicent green flickered into view. A evil smile graced her face. Pulling back behind the corner she leaned against the shadowy wall next ot her twin "They're there, about twenty paces away from us. Possibly more" She was giddy with anticipation, "With the Queen in our grasp, we're closer to Mother then we have ever been!" She was all but jumping up and down with joy over such a thing.
Sutri smiled at that thought; finally...their mother...after so long. Her heart ached softly, but she hid that fact. "You attack from the far wall, I'll stay on this wall...try to seduce her protector." She smiled, melding slowly into the wall they leaned against, a shadow among shadows forming along the wall that moved slowly and silently around the corner and towards to where Elsa lay in Mark's protective embrace.
Nasty snickered, Nodding she held up a hand, "OK, far wall, box them in, seduce the guy, we want them both alive, and no not for eating Papa will want to talk to them I think" She had no idea how right or how wrong she'd be, but honestly, they were iSo very close/i to finding their Mother, If Papa didn't want to talk, they could get the info. After all, Papa was after something a bit more important.
That made Nasty halt briefly, for a brief second scared. What if iShe/i came ? Papa's most hated enemy ? The fear faded as quickly as it came and Nasty melted into the shadows and very briefly green specs of light were seen across from Mark, dancing in the shadows
Mark's eyes flitted to the green specs as he held Elsa in his arms still. He squinted but could see nothing. His jaw opened slowly as he began to form words to speak. The wind came from his lungs, rumbled in his throat, and his soothing, yet intimidating voice came out. "Who goes there?" she asked. He blinked, and it was then that Sutri's pair of arms, as well as her head came from the shadows. They draped themselves seductively over his shoulders and her lips brushed against his cheek and lips.
"Shhh..." her voice came soft, gentle, and with a twist of one hundred romantic and lust filled emotions. "Worry not who we are...for we are only here to help..." she whispered into his ear gently. The Shadows danced around them and from the ceiling of the sewer tendrils slowly hung, coiling and uncoiling gently as she spoke. The power of illusion clouded Mark's mind, but not without some difficulty. The remnants of the sleep-dart was still in his system, though Kaldakava kept him awake. Mark's own fatigue however betrayed his mental strength, and his grip over Elsa's body began to falter, his arms relaxing as he slowly leaned his head back into Sutri's chest, her hands caressing his body gently and smoothly. If she had a tail it'd be twitching like a cat's ready to pounce.
Drot...Boy...
Kalda's voice rumbled in Mark's mind, and Mark blinked, his eyes opening. "N-no...no one can help...Only me..." He quickly stood, still holding Elsa as he turned, his stand wide and firm.
Sutri emerged from the wall, she shadows slowly flowing down her body, revealing skin in her effort to seduce him as she walked slowly towards him as if on a catwalk; hips swaying, hands on said hips, lips gleaming in the dark. "Oh, come...surely you're not...frightened? We can help~" Her whispering voice lulled Mark again, and his stance faltered once more as his eyes began to close again, but he was fighting hard.
Across the sewer from Mark as her sister was behind him, when he stood the twin green orbs danced more before another woman, identical to Sutri faded into view. "Yes" She said as the parrot all but fell from Elsa's grip onto a log with a sleepy "Whose a sleepy bird ?" and floated atop the crap. The second woman stepped across the surface of the shit and went right up to Mark, her arms out, as if offering to take Elsa, who was actually hugging Mark, and thanks to Sutri, was starting to slip from his grasp as he held her
But it was as Nasty reached to take Elsa when everything changed.
Within a heartbeat what had been the Arendelle Sewers was replaced briefly by a snowy mountainside in all directions as snow pelted down around them. The Shadow dragons looked the most out of place yet Elsa looked the most commonplace in such a location. But there was something... someone with them Nasty turned slowly, taking it all in, where was the sewer system they were just in ? Who was with them ?
Mark's eyes blazed Bronze as soon as the scene briefly shifted. His grip on Elsa's body tightned agan and he stepped back from the Shadow Dragons. In his place stood Kaldakava, his robes pristine and flowing. However as he lifted his head they were quickly replaced by scaled armor, eastern in design. That then fell away and Mark's full set of iDuradaeden/i armor appeared on his body, glowing fiercely.
Mark didn't even question it; he was straining hard enough to just stay awake.
"Begone from this place, Shadow bearers..." Kalda growled as a sword materialized slowly in his hand, and he took his trademark Stance; the same as Mark's. The one that made him known as The Scorpion.
Nasty growled something, a pair of ink black steel swords formed in both hands as she took her own defensive stance to counter the stance that Kaldakava used. This was not to plan. She made to rush and strike at Kalda to get at Elsa but something halted her, something unseen stopped her in her tracks, her body not responding to her desires or needs as another voice broke in on them all. A voice she found herself dreading. "I heard you needed some aid dear boy!" A sword of brass slid into Nasty's view as it slid over her left shoulder, her green eyes stared intently before dshifting to their natuiral purple, filled with fear.
Jarius had arrived.
"Pray tell I am not too late ?" The Elder Brass dragon had a oddly serene and happy look on his face. Yes, Kaldakava was doing his job, however, this sudden world was not either of their doing. In Marks arm's Elsa shivered slightly, her eyes blazing a brilliant silver pink before she fainted in her friends arms. Jarius could feel Xeir Zith all around them. He nodded. "Soon my dear lad, soon! For now, we got a party to crash!" With that he let Nasty go from whatever magic he used to hold her before her twin tried to strike at him.
Arendel
Wolfe District
Wolfe Manor
At that same moment
Getting to the third floor Olaf started ambling in a random direction. with nothing else but to follow the aimless Snowman, Tiri said softly to Diana, "We're getting help, from... a snowman." It was odd, it felt weird in a way of a sort to the Icewraith. Somehow Olaf... felt ... did she make him ? Well sorta, Elsa did, in a way herself. But then. It was still wierd. Scary too. "You do realise how weird this is right ? I mean, I know I'm not human myself, but a talking, walking snowman ? How do we know he wont lead us into trouble ?" Tiri might have been created of magic, dragon magic, like Olaf, but even then. This was weird, in this world of all places too.
As they passed a door which was broken and rotting off its hinges, Tiri noticed the colors in the room beyond and went to look closer, finding all sorts od paintings, well kept, in storage apparently. The templars, she mused, may be bad people, but they are good tennants. Rather then destroy the ancient and rather pricey paintings, they had stored them in that room. Dozens of extremely expensive paintings filled the room in neat careful stacks with paintings also leaning against the wall and each other
Tiri noticed there was enough paintings there that could make any Templar want to sell them off for the money they'd make, but she also knew the Templars wouldn't dare for some other reason, codes could be stored in the paintings, depending on where each painting went. Out of curious musings Tiri went to the paintings leaning upon the wall and gently went through them, coming to a halt she murmured softly, loud enough for Marion to hear her "It cant be." Sure there were dragfons in paintings, but, not like her. The beautiful golden and silver dragon on the massive canvas made Tiri go pale, it was so lifelike! It was so beautiful, it was possibly the only painting of someone Tiri felt she knew, somehow.
It would be then that Tiri would notice the presence behind her, sitting in an arm chair. Female in figure, a humanoid shape sat with one knee over the other, and its hands on the arms of the chair as it leaned back. "I knew you would return one day." Its voice, also very feminine, called out, not to Tiri, but to Diana-Marion. The glow that emanated from the figure began to fade leaving in its stead a beautiful woman with auburn hair and dimly glowing golden eyes. Her skin was fair and flawless, and lightly colored, and she wore long, flowing white robes that hugged her body.
She didn't move, nor did she remove her gaze from the painting of the Dragon Tiri seemed to be in awe with.
Marion entered the room and a hand went to the hilt of one of her swords, which only then caused the woman to move, only to raise a hand. "There is no need for violence, Silver Descendent." she called softly, still not turning her head nor her eyes to face the girl.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in ...this place?" She asked, knowing if Olaf heard that she was a Wofle, he'd be spilling it to Mark within minutes. Or to Sven, which would be overheard by Kristoff, who'd mention it to Anna, who'd talk to either Mark or Elsa, who' d tell Mark. And if Mark new, he'd be on a warpath. So to speak.
"That is not of importance as of...yet...In fact I was hoping to meet you sooner; or more specifically, he who is more directly descended." Now her eyes shifted with her head turning, and in a blink her eyes focused on Marion's nervous form. He? She must have meant...Marion shook her head.
"How did you find this place?"
"My dear child...I am why this place hasn't fallen into Darkness yet." she replied calmly.
Tiri heard the voice, It felt just like it always had, gentle, loving, motherly, the sense of pure safety washed over the icewraith as she gently laid the painting back against the wall and turned. Her silver eyes shining brightly, Oh how she wanted to run and dive into her mothers arms in a hug! But no, she couldnt, it was odd, but. Well it was true, this woman, this beautiful young woman, A name washed over her, Light, yet Tiri knew her only as...
"Mother ?"
Wait... What ?
The woman's eyes flickered back to Tiri. "Yes, Tiri; shattered child...how you have grown..." She smiled, a warm, welcoming smile. She turned to Marion again as she drew a sword finally.
"You didn't answer my first question."
"I am...The Light. I am the one who keeps the Darkness at bay, the mother of all Dragons, which by extension makes you my Daughter as well; though your biological mother is also your mother." she smiled and switched the knees that were crossed. "Not a lot of sense, I know, but you'll come to understand eventually; when your minds have been unlocked. When ihis/i mind has been unlocked. You know who I speak of, Marion Wolfe. I speak of Kaldakava your brother." she stopped as the entire manor creaked and lurched at the utterance of that name; one of many entrances to the Wolfe Vaults beneath was unlocked.
For once in her long life, Tiri felt isafe/i Her mother was right there, within arms reach! Yes, Tiri was safe, So was Marion... Wait, Marion was her sister ? In a manner of speaking. that also made Chairty her sister too, oh man, long tangled up family tree.
She felt something however at the edges of her senses, pain, darkness, then strength and protective embrace. the mere mention of Kalda made Tiri smile. Yes, she remembered him, remembered him, and her together, well, before her rebirth at least. She remembered being with Kalda, on the slopes of a meadow at the top of a hill overlooking a vast city being built eons before. She remmerbered the two of them wandering its streets, learningthe name of the growing kingdom
Arendelle
But that was ages ago, in fact it was before the fight... the fight with... no, she dare not think of that one again! It was his fault!
With a sudden shake of her head Tiri broke apart into shards of ice and flew to her mothers lap, shaking madly at a unwanted memory, The collapsing of a cave, the covering of a beautiful egg. Tiri was remembering Xier Ziths memories! And oddly, the most painful ones at that. The poor Icewraith had no idea whatsoever what happened to her child She and Kalda were to be parents! And yet that darkness came, and she had to hide her egg... she never could find it after the fight.
Tiri felt in her long life, something she never felt before.
Shame.
Arendelle Sewers
Or thereabouts
At that same moment
Mark's eyes continued to blaze bronze as he looked on in awe at what he could see: Four Dragons in human form, dueling each other in a magnificent dance to the death. And one of them...one of them had come from no where, and the other, from ihis own body!/i How it had happened he had no clue, but he wasn't questioning it at the moment.
Kaldakava turned his head. "Drot, zhaan! Run! We'll handle these two." he called out before moving to strike out at Nasty before she could turn towards Jarius. He was intercepted however by Sutri as she parryed with her dagger, spinning to try and stab him with her sword in the other hand. Kalda countered with his own spin, his armor deflecting it as he spun and backhanded the young Shadow Dragon with his free hand.
Mark took a few steps back, but found that he could not run; something urged him to stay put. Part of him wanted to set Elsa down and join the fight, but something else told him that if he did he'd die. He couldn't do that. Arendelle wasn't free.
Kalda growled and swung again at Sutri, who casually dodged this strike before following up with her own to counter.
Jarius sword came up as Nasty brought down both her shadowy weapons at him, catching the two blades from the much younger, and much more spry shadow dragon. the two soon began a deadly dance in the driving snowfall, Snapping out his hand as their blades once more caught he nailed Nasty dead in the face, shadows converged while a pained shriek as she was knocked backwards a pace or two, allowing the more skilled Brass to get a brief breather before snapping out the other blade he carried and blocked a strike, oddly from Sutri as Nasty didn't see Jarius but dove at Kalda.
It was for a moment, like a hilarious to watch tagteam battle. Four mortal enemies, in the snow, dancing with each other. Jarius quickly spun on his heels and slammed full force towards Nasty, his brief strike on Sutri allowed a brief respite for Kalda in the driving snowfall. Flicking his foot Jarius kicked up more snow towards where Mark was carrying Elsa, to keep the two safe, he created something akin to a brief barrier of ice and snow between Mark and the fight.
Nasty shrieked something untranslatable and slammed into Jarius dead on like an american football linebacker sacking the quarterback. Sadly it did not work for two reasons, one, Jarius was twice her size in bulk alone, and two, well, Jarius was also twice as experienced. However, he was taken by surprise as the much smaller woman tackled him off his feet into the snow and ice. They both lost their weapons briefly and were soon tussling on the snowy rocks.
Kalda growled as he heard Jarius hit the ground, and with a snarl, stepped in and grabbed Sutri, who began to pound on his face with her fists in order to make him let go. But alas it was no good as he chucked her like a snowball dead into Nasty, knocking the two of them off of Jarius. Kalda then ran forward to jump and aim a stab right for Nasty's shoulder. It would be intercepted by Sutri as she in turned slammed into the Silver Dragon. They tumbled to the ground only for Kalda's foot to find its way to Sutri's stomach, allowing him to kick her back before rolling onto his feet with a snarl.
Sutri let out a feral snarl, her shadows appearing off of her body as she began to lash out at Kalda with tendrils. He either cut them, dodged them, or was hit. But he did not waver. He eventually lashed out with his own magic. His eyes flashed silver and he dropped into a low stance, smacking the ground before lifting his hand up quickly. Sutri would freeze before suddenly being flung into the air about twenty feet; her shadows falling off of her body; leaving her bare to the snowy world. She landed with a crack and a scream.
Shadows immediately formed her clothing again and she hopped up, her arm hanging limp at an awkward angle. She let out a feral roar akin to what she'd sound like in dragon form and began to back away while Kalda returned the roar.
Nasty fell off Jarius as her sister slammed into her like a fastball. For a brief moment she was dazed and laid in the snow. But her senses came back to her when she saw Kalda coming at her before her sister intercepted the strike at her arm, but it did not stop Jarious from coming at her. A flick of her wrist and she flung ice in his face and scrambleld for her fallen swords before blocking first one, then the other strike with one weapon. using her shadow magic she flung a ball of ink black fire at the Brass before diving for her second wepaon. As she picked it up however she started when she heard her sister sscream and felt a brief pain in her shoulder.
Ah shadowspit!
Sutri was down, Nasty was still on her feet. She threw another shadowfire ball at Jarius and ran madly at Kalda, fast as she could, which in the blinding ankle deep snow, wasnt fast as she had like. Nevertheless she still slammed into Kalda like a freight train, as she did so they slammed into the glass barrier Jarius had created, but when she did she had transformed into her natural form. The minivan sized black dragon drenched in shadows slammed into Kalda full force and roared directly in his face.
That was her sister he was roaring at!
Kalda crossed his arms out in front of him as Nasty slammed into him, and was able to absorb most of the impact before slamming into the barrier. He landed on his feet and looked up at the roaring young Dragon. He bit his bottom lip, and shifted to his own Draconain form, a beautiful Silver Dragon bristling with spines and scars; evidence from his battle that ended in his death long ago. He roared back at Nasty, and while he did, used one of his breath-weapons, the cone of Paralyzing Cold.
From his mouth, the snow hardened to pure ice immediately, locking Nasty's feet into the ice and dropping her body-temperature dangerously fast before shifted back into his human form and stumbled, shaking his head as he panted. He'd used too much energy for not having complete control over his...Mark's body. And the fact that he was beginning to blink in and out of existance slowly meant he didn't have a lot left in him.
It was time to finish this.
Sutri eventually pulled herself together and leaned agaisnt her sister's side for a second. "We need to leave...It's two on one with me out of commission; I will not further humiliated by these ...old fools. Father will never let us live it down." She growled.
With their brief respite seemingly granted from nowhere, The minivan sized shadow dragon got into a guarding stance as her feet froze in the ice, but it was short lived as she saw their enemy sudden return to his human size. Well... that was... odd ? What the hell ? With her sister now out of commision, it now left, as Sutri had dsaid, two on one. But seeing how the Silver was acting...
Nasty took her chance. Her shadows snapped the ice holding her feet and her tail swung hard and fast, she slamming her tail first into the barrier, then into Kalda. Her aim was simple, get him off his feet, the silver was weak, Nasty could see it, But what she didn't see she felt from her sister. Jarius was not a dirty fighter, he had rules of his own when it came to fighting other dragons or foes. Among them was to not strike a defenseless enemy. And oddly, it included Sutri.
So why was he waiting for Nasty to turn her attention on him directly ?
Kalda let out another massive roar and icaught/i Nasty's tail as it slammed into him. A few drops of blood streamed down his chin from his mouth as he coughed up the red liquid, but otherwise, he tightened his grip on the youngster's tail, and though the barrier was cracked, it wasn't broken, yet. Kalda's eyes blazed silver as he manipulated the gravity around Nasty, and then threw her as hard as he could into the barrier, smashing her practically face-first through it before letting go, and letting her fly down the sewer and into the foul-smelling liquid.
He drew his sword once more, and lowered it at Sutri. "Leave. Now.." He snarled.
With a startled and then gargling, roar Nasty went flying unexpectedly with a very hilarious splashing were there any to watch it, deeper into the sewers. With it was followed by a brief "OW!" Then some draconical swearing that even could make the most well sworn sailors blush.
Jarius stood by, watching everything, even inspoecting the now destroyed barrier he'd briefly made. Nasty's sheer weight alone had broken the barrier completely. At least the barrier did its job, it protected Mark, and Elsa.
But wait, if they were in a area created by Xeir Zith, in this case Elsa, it might explain why she was so limp at that moment.
Jarius merely observed, One dragon was dealt with, the other still had to leave. But then, was that other one dealt with completely ?
Nope
Shadows exploded around Kalda's feet and snaked their way towards their true targets beyond him, as Nasty sprang back into view, she reeked of raw crap, and she was not going down without a fight, Kalda was weak, and she could see it clearly. Yet Jarius stood back. Children were impish creatures, and sometimes it took their own experiences to learn when enough was enough. And apparently Nasty's rage at her sister injured was fueling her, her face was a mess of icy cuts, which later could heal, she reeked, and looked as if she went through a meat grinder, but she was intent on her target
Kalda vanished completely as the shadows exploded at his feet, retreated back into Mark's body, gone for now physically but still conscious within Mark's mind. Mark opened his eyes again and set Elsa down gently, but quickly. He drew his sword and turned towards the Shadows . They'd kill him, and worse, Elsa, if they hit, regardless of his armor being there. It'd be fine, sure, but he wouldn't. His eyes blazed bronze and all he could think of was "STOP' as he held up his left arm, palm extended with clawed fingers curled. He glared at the shadow, and just as it was about to hit, he closed his eyes.
And waited...
He was still alive... He opened his eyes, and noticed that the Shadows had stopped. He blinked a few times and moved his arm, the shadows moved with him. He got an idea then. He began to move his arm in circles, making the shadow corkscrew within itself before he pushed forward. There was physical resistance. He pushed hard, and the shadow rocketed back, straight past Sutri by a few inches, and past Nasty's head, pulling some of her hairs off of her head.
Mark panted; that had taken a lot out of him. He gritted his teeth, and assumed his...Kalda's signiture stance.
Nasty span on her feet as her own shadows wer repelled, forming her twin swords in her hands she span, her arms swinging with all her magic behind them at Mark, seeing only the creature that hurt her sister in that stance. But even with her power slamming into the lone human man their swords locked solid. Light and dark magics screaming at each other in a upending ice, snow and rock. Pure rage filled Nasty, yet she was indeed starting to tire, but her anger fueled her tired limbs with renewed energy.
At the energy explosion Jarius simply raised an eyebrow, he'd seen it many times with other dragons, and other foes besides dragons at that, but what was most amusing to observe was the raw anger being burnt off by a young woman. In a seemingly bored mood Jarius went and instead of attacking Sutri, he sat down next to her on the ice and watched the other two fight it out, It was odd in a sense, a ancient Brass with a young enemy dragon.
And not attacking her at that
Most unnerving!
"If you're going to kill me do it...I'd rather die than have you sit anywhere near me..." Sutri snarled, though she was in no position to threaten anyone at the moment, what with her useless arm that will take some time to heal. She attempted to scoot away, but the pain in her arm kept her put. 'Fuckin' hell...my father best not be watching...'
Jarius had a set of rules by which he lived, worked, and fought. As did Mark, but only when it came to Living and working. When it came to fighting, Mark had one rule: Remember the objective. If his objective was to capture the target alive, he'd do so. Otherwise, kill it. So Mark moved to do just that. As Nasty charged him he intercepted her strikes with his iDuradaeden/i clad left arm, tucking them under his arm and coiling it around before grabbing the blades tight; she wasn't going anywhere he didn't want her to.
He did have one more rule: KIll with an amount of brutality equal to the threat they posed to Elsa. As he saw it, Nasty was one hell of a threat; bigger than any he'd encountered. So there was no rules. He lifted his back leg and using her swords as leverage and balance, slammed his foot directly into her chest.
"Now why on Earth would I kill you when You cannot so much as dress yourself at this moment ?" Jarius simply asked, it was hard to take when another dragon wanted to be slain rather then spoken with, but, no, Jarius was not that kind of dragon to simply slay someone and that'd be it. Instead Jarius liked to talk. and talk he'd do as they watched the fight before them. "It is quite amazing to learn such news you see. Your father so secretive never told me he had children of his own." Now how did he know Draco was her father ? What had given it away ?
As Mark kicked her in the chest her swords shattered in his arms, the shadow swords broke apart and reformed as she flipped backwards and with all her weight came straight back on him in a frenzy of strikes. Some were blocked, a few made their marks on his arms, but did no harm whatsoever thanks to the armor the man wore, but the last strike hit home with a very reasuring THUD as Nasty used her fist and bare knuckles dead at Marks nose.
It was either one of two things that THUD, her hand breaking, or Marks nose breaking and Mark getting a hell of a headache. {or both} One of those things at least.
drip...
Mark's nose was broken. His arm was too slow in deflecting her punch, and he wheeled back in pain, dropping his sword as he grabbed at his nose. "Son of a-Fuck!" He screamed. With a twitch he put his nose back in place and charged Nasty. He resorted to a wild flurry of punches and swipes with his claws, most of them all missed or were blocked, which in and of itself hurt like hell. However Eventually Mark stepped in and hooked Nasty's right leg with his own left, and while he dodged another punch from her, he grabbed her extended arm and pulled her into it, his fist landing on one of the ribs he'd cracked with his kick, breaking it, he then reached out with his other hand while his other hand smacked her arm up. His free hand was open, and his claws raked across Nasty's skin through whatever she was wearing.
Mark's only issue was that he was so rage blinded, he forgot to aim for her face or neck, and raked her straight across the chest. He pulled both arms back then and slammed two more hits into her torso, one at the solar plexus focused with his knuckles, and the other in the gap between the shoulder and chest, right between the muscles. In addition to just hitting, his muscles twitched, and his knuckles dragged across the nerves themselves, upsetting them to no end causing unbearable nausia, dizzyness, and an instant loss of breath. Beyond that, he just kept pushing with his punches, and likely sent Nasty flying a good ten feet back.
Sutri ignored his question, but as he mentioned her father she got up, and stumbled away. How'd he know? What the hell? She turned and ran without another word; so delirious of this fact that she didn't even see the smack down Mark gave her sister; and likley was pushed out of the barrier along with her sister as she stumbled backwards away from Mark from the punches.
CRACK
Something gave way with a gut wrenching crack. But in her anger fueled rage Nasty didn't notice until she was flung backwards, her swords by then had faded away and she traded blows a bit until Mark hit her nerves directly. With a terrified shriek right in Marks face, loud enough to break glass at that, she flung out with both hands all the power she could muster, which wasnt much at that point, but oddly somehow, she flung Mark back, or had he run back to his presious friend ?
It didn't matter, she had a respite, but it didn't last as that crack filled her ears. Did he just ?
She went flying backwards, again, this time directly into her sister with a pained crashing noise she spat up blood onto the snow, which by then had reformed into the sewers steel and stone, their snowy mountainside faded away, leaving the fivedom in the sewers. Her body still stank, and now... Nasty growled and pulled herself to her feet. With her last ounce of energy she struck her unijured hand against the side of the sewer tunnel, her shadowmagic went right to work, collapsing it as she turned to help her sister.
At least they managed to walk away from this fight. But they'd need Jr and Taris, maybe if they could get Brutus away from his bar long enough, before they could take on the thrice damned Silver again.
And thankfully, their father was never going to find out just what happened to them.
After all, there was more then two Silvers their father hated. And he respected the Brass too.
Though it was odd, as Sutri stumbled away from him Jarius simply asked "Was it something I said ?" But when he received no answer he made a mental note to speak to Draco concerning their family tree., Maybe ask him how the wife was too.
Mark panted as he stood there in his stance for a bit waiting for the two Dragons to disappear. He blinked when Sutri left finally after glaring dumbstruck at both him and Jarius, and after he did, he turned and shoved his face into the snow to slow down the bleeding in his nose while also screaming out a string of curses so colorful it made the one the young Dragon had sprouted earlier seem like childsplay. After a while he pulled his face out and shivered before moving back over to Elsa, gently nudging her cheek with his knuckle.
"Elsa? You alright? My Queen?!" he gave her a shake. He looked to Jarius and stood. "Thank you, Jarius...but...how'd you know we were here?" he asked.
Using his own magic Jarius stepped across as the tunnel ceiling caved in between them and the seemingly only path out. "That is the most interesting thing isn't it young fellow" Jarius mused thoughtfully. "I didn't. I was merely curious of why the fighting upstairs in the street and naturally wondered where you had gone off to. I felt her troubles. And sought to help. She invited my aid. I am glad to see it came through" He nodded towards Elsa, who was thankfully still asleep, yet now soaking wet with ... well. Jarius didn't want to even try to think of what Elsa was now soaked in, Mark too was up to his knees in the crap. "Shall I get a towel ?"
Mark blinked as suddenly the barrier world fell away, and despite his efforts to catch Elsa she wound up soaked in it anyway. "Y-yes...Make that two or three, one for her hair, another for her body, one for me. Screw it, the other two for her until I can get her to the palace to get her bathed." he said. He could throw her into the fjord, but she might not wake up again. Sighing he picked her up and rather unceremoniously tossed her over his shoulder as his armor slowly vanished. "For now, let's get out of these damned sewers; I can't smell anymore but if I could I'd be puking." Mark said.
"I agree, come with me" With that out of nowhere Jarius produced a little bit of candle light from his own magic off his fingers and it floated overhead, he then lead the way through the sewers to another entry as the patrh they had used originally had collapsed in on itself. As they walked he spoke "I think getting her cleaned up will do first and formost. And I know just the place! Dont worry I can inform my gentleman to be a gentleman, come come, this way!" Jarius lead them into daylight. It was... oddly still morning. Maybe a bit before elvenses actually.
Keeping to the alleys Jarius lead Mark to his home. He held up a hand as if to keep Mark quiet, but it was actually to keep hidden as a truly massive Templar patrol went past. at least thirty two men went by andwere scrunking their noses as they passed the alley, infact the sheer stink on Elsa and Mark together made them move faster to get away from it. it was then a nice clear shot to the home of Jarius, a modest two level home at that. Not too large not too small, perfect for a Brass Dragon that loved history so much! After all his basement was jam packed with information and history books. Hell, he even had somewhere down there the exact date and time of Arendelle's inital founding!
"Up those stairs the bath should be drawn by now judging by the speed of carrier birds. Yes I hear water running, dont bother to worry of getting her undressed just drop her in and make sher her face is above water I'll get the towels and meet you in the guest bedroom. I think some of Taz's things may fit you for time being to change into" Jarius said. Taz was his only suriving offspring from his first and only mate from eons before.
Jarius pointed up the stairs "Up those stairs, around the corner, second door on the left, first door on the right, make her her face is above water. May can handle the rest." May was the housekeeper for Jarius, a dark haired older woman with a nose for detail.
Mark nodded to Jarius' instructions, and carefully put Elsa back into a bridal-style carry. Luckily no one saw them as they headed to Jarius' house, which made his job easier in the long run. Anyway, up the stairs, 'round the corner...second door on the left. He found the bathroom and nodded to May. He turned and set Elsa in the tub gently, making sure her head was above and resting on the edge of the tub so she didn't fall into it.
"I assume I don't have to tell you if I sense anything wrong..." He said to May calmly before turning to meet Jarius in the guest bedroom, knocking and entering. "Might want to wash my face when she's done...get the blood off. But I'll worry about that later. I need cleen pants and to let my boots out to dry and get rid of the smell." He began grumbling as he sat on a chair and took off his boots after opening a window.
Arendelle
Scala District
Meanwhile back above ground at the sewer entry
The last Templar was driven off, and the CIA by then had packed up and took off with whatever was left of their van by the time the fight was done with the templars, seeing Snowfeather trash ten men on her own made the CIA rethink their plans carefully. Finally it was over. And that was when a sudden rumble went off. The hell ? Struggling to keep her feet, Snowfeather feared the worst and scrambled to where the rumble came, dust cloud poured from the sewer entryway. So focused was she on the sewers and the dust she never heard her twin sister show up with a few other Assassins.
"The hell just happened here ?" Blackmane asked calmly, as if she had seen it before. which she had on many occasions thanks to the Twins belonging to her sister, Serena and Serenity were destructive against the Templars, many times to the point of completely demolishing buildings quite large
"Mark, who else ?" Snowfeather replied
"How do you know ?" Blackmane asked
"Who else would make this much of a mess over one person '?" Snowfeather answered
"... point taken" Blackmane said, remembering clearly the events back in Alexandria and Cairo when Snowfeather found out about Marks first time love so long ago.
A group of about ten recruits quickly made their way over to Blackmane, careful not to knock her into the hole Mark and co. had created. "W-whoa!" one called out. "What the hell? Mark did this?"
Of course they knew who he was. He idid/i kiss the queen after all.
"Smells great."
"Oh shove it"
"Um... Mentors... what are we to do?" One of the more responsible of the recruits walked up to Snowfeather and Blackmane while the others discussed how in the hell Mark was able to make such a mess.
"Have four check the houses near here for stablity issues, if there are any, have the homes in question cleared of inhabatants and belongings" Blackmane said as Snowfeather dropped to a knee and inspected a broken stonework pattern. "Otherwise have two check for templar patrols in the area. the rest to mark off this hole."
Snowfeather inspected the rocks, the strange pattern left mostly intact construction of the paved roadtop. But there was magic she did not understand or like much if at all at work toi cause such destruction. She tossed back the stone. "Mark it off, ready it for reconstruction. Soon as the homes are checked spread into pairs and search for Mark and Elsa, they were here last I saw them. Go!" Snowfeather said, giving the same orders, mostly, that her sister had given.
They had no idea how safe Mark and Elsa were at that moment.
The recruits all nodded and split amongst themselves, a comedic bumping and grunting ensuing for a good few seconds before they all found their marks. Some families indeed had to be evacuated, the area was soon marked off, and Templar patrols were taken care of if they were found. Needless to say, this area would be templar free for as long as it needed to be for the rebuilding to occur.
When the thought of how safe Mark and Elsa came to Snowfeather's mind, it seemed to call as if on cue to Ulnaus, who landed on a crooked street-lamp and chirped a few times, tilting his head as he preened his feathers before looking to Snowfeather. If Ulnaus was here, then Mark was at least conscious and awake. He let out a small screech and flapped his wings a few times. He hopped down into the rubble, and began to dig through it, clicking his beak a few times as he moved rocks out of the way.
"Who's a sleepy bird?"
Ulnaus turned his head and clicked a few times, awkwardly walking closer to the source of the sound.
"GONERS!" WHAM! something screamed one word that nobody could ever wish to understand and then bonked into Ulanus massive forehead with a rather comicaly spreadegle likeness on the massive eagles face before hitting the ground as a seagull alighted again saying simply "mine!" Of course poor Ulnaus did not understand either of them very well if at all and just looked between the Gooney Bird and gull as if they were drunk, which the Gooney was but the seagull was a given.
"Sleepy Bird! Sleepy bird does not want cracker... "The last rock was moved and the MaCaw, Henry, was laid on his back, his wings spread wide, and he was sleeptalking. when Ulnaus nudged the parrot Henry said softly "Five more minutes Ma, why not blanket Ma ? Sleepy bird needs his blanket!"
Doubtless the screeching of Ulnaus normally woke up stuff, but somehow the parrot was not waking up anytime soon.
Oh dear. Snowfeather stepped up to the out cold MaCaw she turned to Ulnaus "Find Mark, circle the location so we can find you. I need to find a friend... I hope." She handed Henry to one of the recruits with orders to care for the bird carefully before heading off towards a certain part of town.
Wolfe Manor, at that same moment
The friend she sought lay within the Wolfe Mansion. Sitting cross-legged with a bird on one corner of the chair she sat on, and a cat on her lap. She knew Snowfeather was coming; she always seemed to know something. She didn't look up from the cat in her lap as the feline humanoid entered the room. "Tastatie alttahadduth 'amam al'umm" she said in Arabic. "You may speak before The Mother." she called out, petting the cat's ears that sat on her lap, smiling softly.
Snowfeather stepped into view of the other woman, cats were a way of life in many respects. "Hello Al." She said. "I need your aid. It concerns my son, and our Queen, their safety actually. And where they are." She then detailed the magic she had found. She had no idea that Marks sister was in the bedroom upstairs waiting with Tiri for Light to return to answer a rather important question of just how the hell a beautiful woman with dark hair could be the mother of a woman with silver hair and muchless turn into nothing but ice shards. "How shall we proceed on repairs to the Scala District sewers ? Or should we simply fill it in and reroute it ?"
The Light was quiet for a moment before she finally looked up to Snowfeather. "They are in good hands, rest assured. The one whom owns the hearty blacksmith shop that never closed down has them in his care; I believe you know of whom I speak of?" She asked calmly. She spoke of Jarius, of course. "As for the sewers, do what you think is best for the People of Arendelle." She said calmly. She scratched behind the cat's ears that sat in her lap. She then gently lifted it and gave it a small kiss on the forehead before setting it down and petting it twice more. She stood.
"I must go; honored guests are awaiting me." And with that, she was gone. A small flash of light, and she was gone.
They were safe, that was good, that was what she was hoping for a long time, for her son, and her queen both safe and sound. But she had no earthly idea who Al meant whatsoever. The fact remained that Mark and Elsa were safe. She nodded, the dark magic was spent and could fade away with time, but getting the area rebuilt would still take some time. But Snowfeather thought it possible to rebuild and maybe simply make it into a park or something. But it connected directly to the sewers. Which stank.
Snowfeather was about to ask more, but said softly as Light left her "Honored guests ?" Again she had no idea who Light meant as she snuck from the Manor grounds as swiftly as she snuck onto them.
In the Wolfe Manor
Third Floor
Marions Old Bedroom
In many areas the room had fallen into disrepair, since Marion was quite young at the time, the paint and wallpaper were splitered and peeling, in many cases the floor itself was rotted through to the lower floor. The bed was broken and trashed in a corner. part of one wall was gutted to get to the eletrical and studs that were rotted. It seemed that even in the ancient past this home had technology born of ages past. The two women stepped lightly and carefully within the room to remain on the floor and not damage anything. They had to bust the door apart, thankfully they could still close it. Tiri stepped over to the wall near the fireplace, every major bedroom had one. She could see how Marion seemed to be walking in a memory of a sort. "What is it ? Do you see something ?" Tiri had no idea of the room they had entered. They were trying to find Olaf who'd snuck off. Possibly chasing a butterfly again.
"This...this is my bedroom." Marion said softly. Her hand hovered over the mantle of the fireplace as she looked at it. There was an old music box on it, but it was long dead. The bed lacked any bedding; just an old, smelly mattress.
"Your brother is safe...for now." The Light appeared in front of the door. "So is..." she bit her tongue for a second, "So is Elsa." she continued. She watched as Marion looked around, and tilted her head.
Marion's eyebrows furrowed and she flipped her matress; it had been lopsided the whole time. Something was underneath it. Upon flipping it she assumed a fighting stance, hidden blade out and hand on one sword. "Paintings?" she relaxed and reached forward to bring them out from their hiding place. They too were in remarkably good shape.
"Paintings ?" Tiri asked confused, she briefly shattered as the mattress was flipped nearly ontop of her and she reformed next to Marion. There were about two dozen paintings of various sizes, all of them very old. But one in particular caught Tiris eyes directly, even though old as all hell, the painting looked... oddly new. Tiri stared. It was... well, it looked almiost exactly like Elsa, only in a gown not of ice, but of silver and beautiful silver dragon scales upon her shoulders and about her neck. Tiri remembered hqaving tp pose for so long for the painter. It had to be hundreds of thousands of years old!
Which it was, it was painted just before Kalda had died! The two people in the painting, a man and woman, had just announced their betrothal, hence the design of the clothing the two wore. Wedding ready garb. Tiri smiled seeing the painting of herself, of who she once was. "I remember this. I remember being nervous, not liking the dress. But for it to be in such good condition after so many generations... Why keep it hidden under a bed ?"
Arendelle
Scala District
Home of Jarius
A few moments later
She felt... wet. soaking wet, yet clean ? Laid in the tub, which frothed with warm water and other required items felt like she was in the castle bath. Her eyes opened, and she found herself staring at a ceiling that was not her own. Where was she ? This was not the castle! But the water felt good, it smelled good too, and her hair she felt had something that shouldnt be in it. So she relaxed and when the maid arrived, she knew she was cared for.
In another room Mark had been given clean clothing, a new dry hood as well while his normal one was being cleaned. A young man was with Jarius and Mark in the room, He had returned home rather unexpectedly. "Ah, Father, I am glad to see you home for once, May said you had gone out, So I went to find some more faberics and histories to note down. Ahh hello Master Wolfe, It is good to see the District getting light again!" Taz was a upbeat young man of about thirty, with pale green eyes, and a well worn face showing decades if not centries of experience, yet there was something else about the guy, how did he know Mark was now the Master of the Wolfe Manor ?
Mark turned to Taz as he said his name. His eyes narrowed. How did he... "Yes. Always a relief to have light; especially in dark times." He answered softly. He felt...out of place in these clothes. They weren't his to begin with, and he felt...off, wearing them. Better than being naked though, he supposed. He found a mirror, and looked at his nose; the thing was massively bruised; broken alright. However it didn't look broken. It seemed the twitch had put it back in place almost if not perfectly. It'd heal soon enough, though he'd have trouble breathing thorugh his nose too heavilly for a bit. It'd hurt as well when expressing emotion, or ...well, doing most anything with his face.
"Jarius...you wouldn't have something cold to slap on my face to ease the pain in my nose would you?" he asked. Then he turned his head to Taz.
"How do you know of my position within Wolfe Manor?" he asked calmly.
"Well for one thing its the gauntlet you have on your arm there. And the fact that all the workers refered me to you directly" Tas replied, he explained then he was into the histsories of the Manor, and those involved with it, and its construction, history, Taz said, was his hobby. Otherwise he was the Guild Overseer for the informants and homeless in the districts. His guild, imformally called Caregivers, simply looked after those displaced by the Templars, known as the Darkness. "Besides, All the workers in the District refered to you as Master Wolfe." Taz said nothing of what Mark and Elsa did with their dance.
Jarius nodded, he felt Elsa waken, at least briefly in the tub across the hall. "Yes, a moment and I shall have one of my butlers, whoever is in at the moment, get the healing salvs." He said, he stood from the seat, Mark looked good in the clothing, oddly it fit him perfectly. Taz, for being only a few hundred years younger then Xeir Zith herself, apparently had the same size as Mark all his life. As Jarius left the room he poked his head back in broefly "Dont worry, I'll send a man to the Castle to inform of your safety." He said nothing of the fight they were in just moments before.
Thankfully the bathroom window was wide open, but being on the second floor it merely looked out on the courtyard below, thankfully so, Since the wimndow was open and only the maid, May, was in there, the sudden arrival of a minivan sized bird on the oppisite side of the House belonging to Jarius startled briefly the maid, before the woman realised who the bird was after. "Madam, I shall leave the window open for your... feathered... friend to see you are unharmed. Please remain in the tub a bit more, the stench still lingers in your hair." Elsa nodded her thanks, and smiled when she saw Ulanus across the way through the window
Now she felt safe.
But where were they ?
Mark nodded to Taz, sufficiently satisfied with his answer. He then nodded to Jarius. As one of the butlers came in with the healing salvs Mark took a glance at them and quickly went to work administering amounts of medicine not normally reccommended for a man of his size or weight, but doing so anyway, waving away the concerned butler. After he was done Mark shook his head and he blinked a few times.
His eyes flashed bronze and he looked to the bathroom door.
"Bird! You'd best not be bringing something dead into this house!" He yelled loud enough for half the city block to hear. He was met by a squawk from Ulnaus in protest. "Don't you sass me!"
SQUAK PRETTY BIRD! Rang out from nowhere as Jarius returned, with Petunia on his arm, he was feeding her as he entered the room. "It seems we have some feathered guests paying us a visit. May said she had the window open, it seems our larger feathered friend wishes to keep a careful eye on our Queen" He said as Petunia squaked again and preened and when she saw Mark she flapped her white wings repating "Pretty bird, happy bird! Pretty woman happy bird!"
Oddly she seemed to know better then to swear in front of Jarius, or at least call Mark a funny name, such as crazy human. But then again, Petunia was more focused on her happy state as Ulnaus never ate her "It seems" Taz said thoughtfully, "that our guests, dear father, are rather... improtant."
"You bet your history crystals they're important my boy!" Jarius said. Should things go as hoped, then all would be well. Jarius noticed that Mark seemed to look a lot better, "How are you feeling ? The girl got you good, here" He held out a hand, a silver rock, a crystal of some sort, was in it, "Hold this to your nose for a few moments, it might sting a little as it heals the bones, but your nose will be back to its old self in no time!"
Another small squawk came from Ulnaus and Mark was about to yell at him again when Jarius cut off his attention, and he looked at the crystal. He took it in his hands; his hands cracking a few times as they were healed as well. "Ow..." His eye twitched. He put it to his nose, wincing as a sickening crack healed his nose, his nostrils flaring as he took a clear breath. It also made him a tiny bit loopy, and he blinked a few times.
"What is this wonderful thing, may I have it?" He placed it then to his wrists, each of them cracking; as well as his elbows, shoulders, knees, hips... Mark was a mess it seemed. Only his nose was broken, but the sheer amount of Microfractures and bruises and cracks in his bones meant he could probably fall apart at any minute...well, not so much anymore. He let out a loopy chuckle, hearty and amused, as if Jarius had told him the best joke of the week.
"No seriously can I keep this?" His face went serious for a few seconds before the corner of his mouth pulled into a smirk.
"Not quite yet" Jarius said as Taz stifled a laugh, it took about ten minutes for the crystal to completely heal Mark, all those hits and other crap thrown at him a feather could have killed him outright. "This crystal, well, this one at least... " Jarius smiled "Was given to me as a gift from a dear friend. I do believe you know her ?" He meant his own mother, Light., in the disntant past Light had given heach Dragon race a certain gift, some got healing cystals, others got healing gifts directly without the crystals, like the whites and greens, but the brass and silvers were mostly given crywstals,.
Taz spoke up "Perhaps when... well, if it happens." Taz was referring to a note left in one of the scrolls he'd read.
But it was a moment later when everyones attention was drawn to the door as Ulanus was pretty much thrown through as a soft voice asked. "Keep what ?" Elsa stood in the door, a towel drying her hair, she was nice and cleam, and her dress was just slightly darker red and not because of being damp still. She saw Jarius and Taz, but at first did not recognise them. But somehow she knew she was safe. "I take it you own this home ?" Jarius nodded "Thank you. Your maid was kind enough to leave me a towel. What happened ?"
Mark slapped at Ulnaus as the fool of a bird nearly slammed into him. "This isn't the palace you fool! You can't just..." he continued to lecture the bird, trying to make him go back out side. "Don't you have a job to do? Like circling ominously or some random ..." he held his tongue, Elsa was awake...she didn't particularly care for swearing. After Ulnaus went to do his job, Mark came back and sat again on a chair, letting out a sigh of disappointment at how incredibly dull his bird was.
When Jarius made allusion to the Light, Mark's eyes narrowed, and after a second, nodded. If his hunch was right; the Wolfe Clan should have many healing crystals in one of their vaults around the Kingdom; and in yet another vault, a place to recharge the healing energies.
Mark had yet to find all the other vaults, or at least a map of them. There were still many rooms he'd yet to refurbish, or even open in the Wolfe manor; they might be in there. Shaking his head he stood and looked to Elsa.
"Glad to see you're awake, and in much better shape than I was about...twenty minutes ago." He sighed. "As for what happened, I'll give you the short version: CIA showed up, tranqed you, me, and the bird, I woke up, had some fun, Snowfeather and co. showed up, had some fun, I carried you to the sewers to escape...then it's a blur. some snow, shadows, screaming, my getting my nose broken...you falling into the ...well, shit, and then Jarius took us here..." he shrugged. That was about it. Dumbed down to the extreme though.
Elsa listened as Mark gave her a brief run down on what happened since they were knocked out, but when he spoke of his nose getting broken "Your nose was broken ?" She nodded at the mention of falling in the crap, she felt crap in her hair when she woke up in the tub and saw Ulnaus outside, the maid was able to help her clean herself off well. But when he mentioned the home they were now in and the fact that there were two men there Elsa did not yet fully know, "Jarius, as in, the Landscape Painter ?"
"The one and the same" Jarius said with a slight bow in greeting, he motioned to Taz "Allow me to introduce my son, Taz. Taz, Queen Elsa, you already know Mark." Taz actually also knew Mark, and Kalda, but from so long ago. Taz never could find out who wrote that note in his scroll. Taz nodded to Elsa in greeting when he was spoken to and Elsa looked his way.
She finished cleaning out her ears of water making sure she heard everything. "Thank you Jarius, for letting us stay here briefly, but we... Mark are those your clothing ?" Oh crap, Elsa was pretty much the car that had the deer, in this case, Mark, in its headlights dead on... she just had to mention the clothing not being his. was it because it stank ?
Mark blinked as Elsa brought up the clothing. He smiled. "For the time being, it is...Just til my boots are dry and my other clothes cleaned." he said calmly. "Which shouldn't be that much longer?" he turned his head to Jarius.
He cleared his throat. "Anyway; I suggest we stay here; Snowfeather will undoubtedly come looking for us pretty soon with Ulnaus circling above. Not a good thing to not be where she expects you to be outside of stealth training." He said, recalling the numerous times he was scolded for not being where she told him to stay put so she could come back to him.
"Not much longer" Jarius said with a nod, he briefly left the room however as there was a nock at the door and the butler called for him. which left Elsa, Taz and Mark in the upper spare bedroom.
"What time is it ?" Elsa asked out of the blue, it was a little after noon last she recalled before getting knocked out. Was it still that time ? It didnt really matter, but if they could stay a bit, perhaps even until dinner, Jarius was a good man, Elsa remembered him from her childhood when he came to make landscape paintings and she and Anna would watch over his shoulder.
Speak of the devil, Elsa thought as Jarius returned, though he had a young lady on his arm. A young lady that Elsa recognised. "Georgina ? What are you doing here ?"
"I thought I'd find you two here" Georgina replied. Jarius was nice enough to guide her through his home. "Your sisters are going crazy trying to find you, but I told Anna to let me try and find you first, if I cant find you before dinner, send out the soldiers, so I started looking in the last place you guys were, and then followed my nose. And man I need to clear it." the raven haried chinese woman had followed their trail the old fashioned way, and was regretting it greatly.
For the moment though Mark still had the crystal, well, had was the keyword there, as he'd somehow lost it as Taz held it out to his father, who in turn handed it to Georgina who just all but stuffed it up her nose trying to get the sewer smell out. A moment passed and Georgina went to go tell Anna that Elsa was safe, Mark too, as his sisters were worried.
At least they were safe. That was what counted
Memory Sync Verified, Seqeunce 6 complete