Author's Note: Hey everyone. I feel compelled to put this out even if I'm certain you've all noticed. This is a fic, containing almost everything not desired in a good story. Sporadic writing, inconsistent and glaring plot errors, self inserts, obnoxious paragraphs centered and not centered and bolded, updates not consistent, outright telling you all I'm not serious about this fic, at all. Yeah, the Rules of Fanfiction on my profile and all that are everything I wholeheartedly embrace and I dislike everything the rules go against. However this is my junk bin of thoughts. And if somebody gets a bit of pleasure from trying to untangle it then I'm that much happier. ONWARDS.
The Dimming Stage
"Eragon?"
"Yes?"
"What do you suppose we are made of?"
"Flesh and bones… Blood mixed with iron." Eragon waved his hands around vaguely.
"Legolas?" Alyss turned to him next.
"Much the same as what Eragon says." He inclined his head towards the half elf. "But he forgot something."
Eragon turned an inquiring look towards him.
"There is our fea."
"Our what?"
"What you mortals… would call a soul. The part of us that will rise up and enter the halls of our fathers."
"That is a beautiful thought." Alyss rested her chin on the palm of her hand as she appraised them seated before her.
"Well don't bother asking me."
"Do you have anything to say, Draco Malfoyson?"
Draco smirked at Alyss (he still hadn't forgiven her for the dirt incident) and cocked his head. "Nothing at all."
Eragon rolled his eyes.
"Why do you ask?" Legolas ran his hands over his bow absentmindedly.
"I don't know… all of this talk about love, and crazy people interfering with our minds, making us do stuff, experimenting on us and watching us spin in circles… I think it's finally caught up with me and I was pondering what would happen should we die in this mad venture."
"We won't die." Eragon grasped her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. "We will not."
Legolas murmured an agreement.
Draco looked on. A thoughtful shadow had entered his mind and wondered at it. But only briefly before his mind turned back to his home where, he had to admit, he was not keen to return to.
Six months passed.
The end of summer, fall, the beginning of winter… The cold bothered them all to varying degrees.
Draco complained less, and his shoulders began to slump in what might have been humility or exhaustion.
Alyss grew less talkative and hopeful, but her stride lost none of its certainty.
Legolas never changed. His thoughtfulness and wit were ever present. In subtle ways if one watched you could see him giving each of them an extra boost. A word of comfort to brighten their thoughts.
Eragon of them all retained his bright personality the most. He still talked and occasionally laughed. But the ache inside of him… Saphira's absence… The pain of being incomplete had begun to take its toll on him physically and mentally. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he went mad.
"What are we here for?"
The sudden cry of anguish from the dragon rider startled all of them.
They stared at him. Snow fell about them where they had paused to rest. They would continue on shortly for a couple of hours before searching for shelter.
None of them answered.
The Authoress tapped her fingers in varying rhythms. Her shoulders were sagging.
Then something golden occurred. And she realized she could make something come out of this, something more than just a result of an experiment.
The next morning a letter appeared by their diminished fire. It had the trademark aura of sparkles, and the blinding white glow.
Everyone brightened upon seeing it.
"Finally!" Draco ran his fingers through his hair. A spell to keep it in place and glossy kept his fingers from mussing it.
Alyss read it aloud for them:
My dear younglings,
You have all held up admirably, faced with an impossible challenge, I am forced to commend you for your fortitude.
The challenge I gave you really was quite ridiculous, and none of you have been cheerful in any way. It's awfully dull. I would say boring but then BrightWatcher would latch onto me with her "Boredom is a choice, not a life circumstance."
Who could ever be expected to have the last laugh? I mean really. Still, if any of you do find it, let me know.
I offer you the opportunity to return to your lives. Exactly as you were before with no memory of this venture. Everything will proceed in your stories as has already been ordained.
However, I mean it when I say everything will be the same. Your characters will remain just as they were, any changes in your demeanor, or growth in your spirit will cease if it is connected in any way to this experiment.
Thank you for your time. Crush the roses if you wish to return to your lives.
Seek out the meaning of life if you wish to remain in this venture.
Author's Note: Well… This was all made up tonight in the spur of the moment while I simultaneously worked on my historical fiction novel which is in present tense. So if you spot any errors in that regard please feel free to let me know. Thank you, hope you enjoyed and if you have any thoughts on this distinctly Sane update let me know. By the way... if anyone knows of some good fics regarding SifxLoki (From Thor or the Avengers world), do tell. ;)
