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Chapter Fourteen: Well, that was unexpected…

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547 Vende Dynasty (V.D.)

–

Two weeks passed quickly in her father's country home, and before she knew it Aislyn had arrived back at the school. After seeing Arten off she hurriedly unpacked her travel bag and headed to the faculty building, intent on finding Lesin. She didn't even care if he was in his rooms and not in his office. Luckily, she found him in his office, skimming a sheaf of documents and swearing under his breath about paperwork.

She knocked against the doorframe and he looked up sharply, dark eyes made darker by his typical irritated glare.

"Permission to enter, sir?"

"Granted," Lesin growled. "What do you want?"

Steeling herself, Aislyn took a deep breath and took the seat in front of his desk. "I want to take the examinations for advanced level magic."

A harsh laugh erupted from Lesin's throat. "I told you at the end of last session that you haven't the control, girl. What makes you think two weeks will have made a difference?"

"I've been training," Aislyn replied, gritting her teeth. Lesin wasn't quite cruel, but he was unapologetically a man of sharp edges. "Hard. I want to take the exam."

Lesin ran a critical eye over her form. She sat stiffly, glaring as best she could at his face. Finally, he seemed to make a decision and shoved his papers out of the way.

"I'll take any excuse to stop this kreshed paperwork. Come on."

Aislyn followed him to the training grounds with a relieved smile. As long as she could pass this, when the session started tomorrow she could start the advanced magic classes, and that meant working in a specialized class with someone who wasn't Lesin. There were simply too many classes for him to run them all. Instead, a handful of well-trained Fae taught advanced work once Lesin was satisfied that he had satisfactorily pounded the basics into his pupils' heads.

Lesin planted himself at the edge of the dirt training field, motioning Aislyn onto it and crossing his arms.

"When I give the required working, I expect no delays. Real combat offers no such luxury."

"I understand." She also realized that Lesin expected workings useful for offense or defense, not a neutral creation like her favorite light-sparkles. If he wanted light, she would have to make the air glow along the lines of a flashburn. Fine. If he wanted to smell ozone, so be it.

Lesin grunted noncommittally. "I still give you an icicle's chance of surviving an inferno. Begin — heat."

Aislyn raised a hand with the first two fingers upright, the position she had found helped most in focusing her concentration. With the help of a gesture, she raised the temperature of the air around his hand to be hot enough to burn. He moved the appendage away in an instant and inspected its reddened skin, but gave no reaction on his face.

"Light."

True to her decision, Aislyn forced a surge of power at a vertical plane of airspace between them, and covered her eyes with an arm just in time to avoid temporary blindness.

"Dust devil."

With no time to pause, Aislyn twitched her hand while still covering her eyes. A wind funnel rose from the dirt, picking up the dusty ground and flinging it in Lesin's direction.

Lesin continued biting out commands and Aislyn rushed to keep up with them, mindful of Arten's training towards control.

Precise gestures. Minimal energy. And never let him see how hard it is.

At last he fell silent, and Aislyn stopped. She watched his face, tense with anticipation. The critical look in his eye remained, and Aislyn's stood straight and silent, not daring to interrupt his deliberations.

"You've certainly been working, at the very least." After an excruciating pause, he turned and began walking away. Aislyn's mouth dropped open. Not even an evaluation?

"Start moving, girl!" Lesin barked gruffly over his shoulder. "You need to find that idiot Fleurs and tell him that you'll be in his class group this session. Become his problem, not mine!"

Aislyn froze for a moment, eyes wide. Taking off at a dead run, she quickly passed Lesin on the path to the faculty building. She paused at the door, waved, called a heartfelt "Thank you!" and disappeared inside to see if Fleurs was in his office.

Summer session was going to turn out well after all.

–

Three weeks later, Aisyln wasn't so sure any more. Fleurs drilled the students mercilessly, and even practicing extra with Dierdre left Aislyn feeling permanently in danger of being in over her head. She felt like only sheer luck ensured that she managed to survive both advanced magic and weapons in addition to the usual academic work.

Exhausted, she dragged herself from her last class to the smaller training field where Fleurs held sway every afternoon. Hope bolstered her energy, however - Fleurs had mentioned second forms during the last session. If they were lucky then today they might actually get permission to determine their second forms. It was an important decision to make, because an unknown genetic factor restricted Fae to a single form shift of another species. Still, most Fae had pondered their choices since they were old enough to know about it, and already knew their preferred form.

Slumping on the ground, Aislyn tried to calm her nerves as she watched her groupmates chatter and work off anticipatory tension. Everyone was hoping Fleurs would teach them, but her stomach was twisting in knots for another reason. Already fourteen, and she still hadn't made up her mind about her second form.

There were simply too many experiences she wanted to have that only her other-form could give. For a long time Aisyln had been inclined toward a horse, with the prospect of feeling the wind whipping through her hair and the pounding of hooves on earth. Then three years ago Dierdre had related one of her cousin's descriptions about the sensation of true flight – no magic, just the sun above, the landscape below, and the rush of air beneath your wings.

It was very, very tempting.

"Class, attention!"

Aislyn started to her feet on pure reflex, nerves and muscles reacting before her conscious mind even processed the words. Fleurs was there at the edge of the field, a friendliness in his smile that belied his strictness as a teacher. The dozen students immediately spread out across the training field, ready and waiting.

"Quicker, next time, if you please. Today we'll begin second-forms. This will occupy your full attention for the next eight weeks and beyond, do you understand?"

He began to walk as he lectured them, prowling back and forth like a hunter watching his prey.

"Choosing a form is the easy part. Relearning basic movement and coordination will be your true challenge. If you are lucky, by this session's end-exams you will be able to move smoothly, and attain permission to change outside of this class period. Before then, the chance of injuring yourself or your peers is overwhelming. Transformation previous to this licensure will merit serious punishment."

Fluers' lips formed a parody of a smile; his eyes were deadly serious. "Among other things, you'll be demoted back to beginning magic under Lesin for at least two school sessions, or until he thinks you've gained the intelligence to match your strength. And believe me, he won't be happy to learn that he promoted someone who couldn't handle the responsibility yet."

A shudder ran through the class. Aislyn glanced at the trio of fae who usually ran the gauntlet of Fleurs slow-boil temper. The leader, Tieg, had the thoughtfully narrowed eyes of one who was planning to break the rules and get away with it. Haku was trying to catch Fiche's eye to mutter something, but the spaced-out distance was impeding his efforts.

Aislyn stifled a groan, imagining the mischief already being planned. More often than not, she had the dubious honor of being victim. And they were getting good at covering their tracks. She glared at them out of the corner of her eye. I hope you're caught and get set a back by a full year!

Ignoring the reaction of his students, Fleurs continued in his lecture and straight on through the basic steps of second-form. Aislyn and the others followed along.

First came the quiet of the mind, almost a blanking of the thoughts, then finding that internal spark of magic that ran along her veins and rested behind her eyes. Before doing anything else, Fleurs was insistent that the students know their desired form. Supposedly, an indecisive student had once become a useless amalgamation of fur and feathers; another lost himself in the change and slipped into a coma.

Warning over, he continued the explanatory demonstration. Grab the spark, and make something within go twist. Aislyn saw in her head what Fleurs was explaining and eagerly responded. There was the tingle in here mind there, so touch it with thought and pull it this way…

Aislyn abruptly realized what she had begun just as the overwhelming feeling of loss-of-self took over. She was holding the ideas of both horse and eagle in her consciousness. Her body was starting to tear itself apart in this millisecond of non-self that was stretching on and on.

No! I will not be lost here! Dierdre would never let me hear the end of it, let alone Arten, if I lost myself like this…

Consciousness faded and instinct took over, moving magic and thought and control in ways Aislyn had never even dreamed about, all in the work of a moment. An instant after her panicked transformation began, Aislyn found herself standing just where she had been, watching Fleurs. The only exception was a pervasive numbness. And Fleurs was staring right back at her.

Wait a minute… didn't he used to be taller?

"Bisht!"

Aislyn heard a student behind her swear, and Fleurs seemed to be trying to say something. Her nerves were starting to work again as well, letting sensations start to seep back into her brain. Head, shoulders, two arms, four legs —

Four legs?

Aislyn looked down, then over her shoulder, then back at Fleurs, letting her jaw drop open. She had to be in second-form, but it made no sense! From the waist up she was still human, complete with tunic. And from the waist down…

"Creator, Aislyn," Fiche breathed from her right, his young voice nearly cracking in disbelief. "You're a nurned Centaur!"

The other students, already fae again, gathered around her and Fleurs in a loose circle.

"I thought second-forms with fae parts were a myth," whispered one of the other boys, watching her in awe.

Fleurs finally found his voice. "They have been, for a very, very long time."

"But —"

Aislyn stepped toward him unthinkingly, and immediately lost her balance as forelegs advanced and hind legs remained immoble. Her arms proved useless for regaining equilibrium, and as she desperately tried to keep from falling, another set of extremities snapped outward.

Fleurs cleared his throat, eyeing the new development. "My dear, when this is over you and I are going to have a long talk about decisiveness."

A pair of massive wings had previously been folded tightly against her sides, inconspicuous compared to the oddity of simply a normal centaur. Now they were unfurled to their full length, having narrowly missing several of her groupmates in the process.

Aislyn remained frozen, unwilling to move her unfamiliar limbs again for fear of what else might surprise her. Desperate for a semblance of normality to return, she grasped her magic and pulled at it again. The air blurred, and she crumpled to the ground, completely drained from the strain on her body, mind, and magic all at once.

Thank the Creator for normal legs…

Letting the darkness sweep over her, Aislyn fainted.

–

"You're telling me that she melded aspects of three forms into one, and one of those is Fae?"

Dierdre's incredulous voice was the first thing Aislyn heard as she regained consciousness. Eyes still closed, she let her other senses filter information. The odor of medicinal herbs, the muffled sound of controlled chaos, and a bed that felt like it could rival sheetrock. She was definitely a resident of the medical wing.

"Yes, I am."

That voice was only vaguely familiar; she'd heard it before, but not often. Male, deepening from adolescence, smooth, and confident without cockiness. Not one of the infamous Trio, then, but they were unlikely to visit her in the med-ward in the first place. Curiosity overcoming her lethargy, Aislyn cracked one eye open to spy on her companions.

There was Dierdre to the right, sitting in a bedside chair with arms crossed and an incredulous look on her face. She wasn't paying much attention to the bed, so didn't notice Aislyn's movement.

"She's awake."

Aislyn turned her head toward the boy, then winced in pain from the sudden movement.

"Lan'n?" Her throat caught, dry and scratchy.

"Whoa there, girl," Dierdre protested. Helping Aislyn sit up a little, she handed over a cup of water. Aislyn sipped it gratefully, watching her unexpected guest.

"What're you doing here?"

Landon smiled in an irksomely superior way. "After you fainted I told Fleurs I'd take you here, so he could keep training everyone else."

"Which conveniently gave him an excuse to skip the rest of the lesson himself, of course," Dierdre interjected.

"I'm not about to complain. I have my second form, and missing a few hours of instruction in moving around on four legs won't kill me."

"Why stay?" Aislyn interrupted the exchange. She grimaced, not having meant to sound rude but unable to say it any differently.

"At first, in case you woke up before someone else showed up," he waved a hand at Dierdre. "Then because she wouldn't let me leave without telling her what happened. We had just finished that when you woke up, because she hasn't been here long."

"That's right, make it sound like I don't care," Dierdre said irritably. She tapped Aislyn's temple to grab her attention, then explained the horrible series of delays that had conspired to keep her away for nearly the entire afternoon. Aislyn listened, grateful for the distraction from the more pressing circumstances. Unfortunately, she couldn't avoid them for long.

"So that's it," Dierdre concluded. "I got here, and Landon told me an outrageous story about your second-form, which I still don't believe, by the way. What actually happened?"

"Um…" Aislyn look to Landon for help. Raised eyebrows denoted a distinct lack of assistance from that arena. "From what you said when I woke up, I think he was right. It's kind of hazy, but I remember trying to do too much, and panicking, then being whatever you call what I became. Didn't Fiche call me a centa, Landon?"

"Centaur. It's an ancient mythical creature, so I'm not surprised you aren't familiar with it."

Landon leaned forward in his chair, finally looking interested in the conversation. Aislyn made a mental note that this particular classmate seemed to enjoy myths. Maybe he even knew some of the real versions of old history. But she couldn't do anything with that idea, and he was continuing to speak with much more pertinent information.

"Fiche obviously knows a little, but he was only half-right. A centaur is just horse and fae combined, and you had wings. I don't think I've ever heard of something like that, actually." A smile ghosted across his face – a real one, not the smirk Aislyn usually during training sessions. "I think you created a new species."

Aislyn let out a small squeak, half from surprise and half from Dierdre's grip on her shoulders tightening painfully.

"But how could she do that? I mean, no offense Ais," Dierdre offered an apologetic look, "but while I know you have some talent, I didn't think you could do the impossible."

"Fleurs didn't say much after she fainted. He was just as surprised as anyone else, because wondergirl here didn't give us any warnings either about her abilities or her uncertainty."

"That's because I didn't know!" Aislyn burst out. "Lesin said I had some potential, but he didn't say anything more about it! He was always ragging on me about control. Maybe this was why," she added bitterly. "Trying to keep me from doing something this idiotic."

"Why are you complaining?" Landon demanded, brown eyes turning hard. "You made a mistake when you didn't tell Fleurs you were indecisive, but you've done the impossible and made something greater than anyone's ever seen. You've proven you've got a lot to give — what's so bad about pushing yourself and trying to find your limits? Or are you afraid of the attention, or maybe you turned lazy with your magic?"

"Don't you dare," Aislyn hissed angrily, eyes narrowing. "Don't you dare accuse me of being lazy or a coward. I worked hard to get where I am. Even if my second-form is ungainly and useless, I'll work around it. I'm going to be the best there is."

Landon's face abruptly cleared, good humor returning. "Good. I know you can be one of the best. I just wanted to make sure you did."

"You — you're impossible!"

"And you're unobservant," Landon retorted mildly. "A lot of power went into that second form of yours. What makes you think the wings will hinder you when you run, or the horse's body when you try to fly?"

"But it was all so massive. I felt too heavy to move! Why wouldn't one part get in the way of the others?"

"Have you ever heard of the Pegasus?" Aislyn shook her head. "It's the name of a winged horse, which could both run and fly without a second thought. You'll have one more set of limbs than him, but with enough practice I'm positive that you could move just as easily as Dierdre's form, whatever it is."

"It's an eagle," Dierdre proclaimed haughtily, not unreasonably. Flying forms were far more difficult than land animals, and she had mastered the shape in good time.

"Oh, so you're why Aislyn went tripartite."

Dierdre straightened instantly, incensed. "How dare you say that!"

"Aislyn's wings may be the same cream color as her coat and immense to boot, but they needed inspiration from somewhere. You're an eagle. I'm sure you've had enough rudimentary logic to be capable of reaching a conclusion."

Aislyn had also noticed similar mercurial dispositions in Landon and her friend, a temperament that tended to be exacerbated when provoked. Landon seemed to enjoy being provocative.

Before Dierdre could launch over the bed at her target, Aislyn grabbed the older girl's wrist, shaking her head. "Stop it, Dre. Landon, thanks for bringing me here, but you should probably go. I'm sure you have other classwork, and Dierdre can find a nurse to tell me I don't need to stay here. I want a nap in my own bed before I finish the rest of my work. I will think about everything you said, though."

"As you command, lady-fair." Landon bowed in a mockery of formal behavior, then headed out the door. "Don't forget to decide what you want to call yourself," he called over his shoulder. "Like I said, I think you created a new species."

"Boys!" Dierdre growled once he was gone. "Insufferable creatures, the lot of them."

"Mm," Aislyn agreed absently. "Could you get a nurse, Dierdre? I'll get a lecture if I find one myself."

Dierdre acquiesced, leaving Aislyn to ponder everything Landon had told them. When she looked past the barbs, there really was a lot of useful information.

"I think," she said finally to the room at large, "if I truly manage to master it, I'll give it a name in celebration. But not before."

-

Training under Fleurs became the most difficult and frustrating part of Aislyn's education, but she found a good deal of satisfaction as well. The second day she could only change and maintain the more draining form for the entire session, watching as the other students hobbled, stumbled, limped, and fluttered about the field. By the next week, she could differentiate between all the extra sensations and organize twice as many limbs, enough to take her first halting steps.

Landon had thrown a cocky grin her way at that point. Rather, the stag that was Landon had bared its teeth at her, head tilted at an angle of inquisitive satisfaction. She couldn't really hold it against him, though. He'd been right about her form. Difficult to master, certainly, but not a useless monster like she had first thought.

Movement gradually quickened as her mind adjusted to an alternate body and began reacting accordingly. Four legs was simple enough, so long as she didn't try to use her other limbs at the same time. By the end of eight weeks she could transition between walk, canter, jog, and dead-run in horse's hooves. In the end-session exam she even managed to open her wings against the wind to pull off nearly an instant stop.

Fleurs had smiled when she pulled it off, and promised intensive focus on flying for her once the next session started up. Once she could properly fly she'd learn how to transition between modes of transportation, and then she could learn how to do something like wield a sword without getting her legs all tangled up in the process.

Better than that, he granted her permission for out-of-class transformation. Ayslin had never been happier when Arten arrived at school to bring her home. His face when confronted with her still-unnamed species of centaur was priceless. Until then she hadn't believed he knew how to look shocked.

And now, she could finally stand taller than he did.

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A gusty breeze swept around the cottage in defiance of the summer sun's heat. From the orchard beyond the cottage's fence and the further removed forest, the trees trembled in a chorus of leaf-songs. Occasionally a leaf swirled over the fence and landed among the growing garden plants along its edge.

One in particular settled beside a sunbathing rabbit. Ears twitched and her nose wrinkled, but otherwise Iris didn't bother moving. Summer was drawing to a close, and the autumn sun never warmed the dirt in quite the same way. She wanted to enjoy herself as much as possible before it ended.

At her side was a fellow lump of fur, this one a fuzzy black. It yawned, revealing a tiny blood-red mouth full of teeth, and blinked amber eyes against the sunlight. Seeing nothing interesting, the young cat curled up again for another nap.

"Midday is ready, Iris," Miki called from inside. "We can eat outside if you like, but you need to come collect your food."

Reaching into her mind, Iris touched the familiar shock of power and just like mama had taught, pulled and twisted and shoved

There.

Iris quickly adjusted to her fae form's longer limbs and colored sight. It had been nearly a year since mama had taught her the animal-change, and letting her form morph from one to another had become almost as natural as breathing. This one was her favorite, though.

"Coming, mama," she replied. "Come on, Mau." She picked up the kitten, marveling again at how in just a few months her pet had grown from barely filling her hands to sitting comfortably in her arms.

"Mau," the cat protested, loathe to be moved. Iris scratched her behind the ears as she mounted the stairs to the back door and headed to the kitchen.

"The yard is wonderful warm, mama. Can we make it a picnic?"

"All right. Take your food, and I'll get a blanket." Miki smiled.

Together they carried food and an old blanket outside to spread on the grass. Mau followed behind, tail waving in interest at the smell of food.

"Will papa be home soon?" Iris asked hopefully. Aran had been gone for almost a month, a combination of hunting and news-seeking. Such long trips occurred rarely, and Miki was glad for it. Iris grew restless when he was gone.

"I think so. I know he's missing you, so he'll be back as soon as he possibly can."

"Goodie!" Iris laughed, teasing Mau with a shred of fishmeat. The cat batted at her hand, trying to reach the treat. "Do you think he'll bring something nice home with him? Maybe a friend for Mau?"

"Maybe." Miki's non-committal answer went unnoticed by Iris' distractible attention span. Aran had a soft spot for strays and those who were helpless; Iris had had a fair amount of pets, although most were wild at heart and lived beyond the cottage's outskirts, appearing only for an occasional meal. Mau was one of the first to stay so close, probably because Aran had found her so young.

The afternoon passed in a pleasant sense of quiet peace. Miki watched Iris and Mau play together, willing to let lessons slide in favor of such a beautiful day. Routine was all well and good, but some things took precedence.

Like the sound of laughter, echoing the nearby rhythm of water over stones. Like the chance to watch a child full of light and innocence see the small wonders in the world. To see the world through her eyes, when she brought those wonders back. And to know that here, hope remained safe, sleeping until the time came to wake.

TBC.

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I finished this fic on my birthday and wanted to post it, but had no beta, and no internet. :sigh: Well, this is my belated birthday gift from me to all of you. I feel like a hobbit.

A little bit of Iris, and probably another scene soon. Will Aran bring something home this trip:) Sorry for any who want more of Iris/Usa, but she has less life-changing events. She's important, but the story revolves much more closely around the other characters right now. (As you can see, a little inspiration bug bit my Mina-muse, and wouldn't let me go.)

Four cameos this chapter, and a fifth name-twisting but I'm not sure if I actually borrowed his personality. Last chapter's cameos were Arten-Artemis and Kari-Hikaru (Ami look-alike friend of Mina's from Sailor V). Dierdre still hasn't finalized herself as a cameo (if she is one) and Landon is unquestionably Nephrite. Chocolate-chip coolies to everyone who guessed right.

About four years have passed in this story since it began, and time is flowing ever onward. I don't think it plans on pausing particularly often, either. I think I'm finally starting to see the rhythm of the story. Here's hoping, at least.

For some reason I can really see Nephrite pushing Mina to do her best. It's something he probably picked up from hanging with the other boys (if they were in the real world), because he seems balanced in that respect. Jadeite would either be spread out among lots of fields or completely lazy, depending on which portrayal you chose; Zoisite will be a genius on a few things to the point of ignoring everything else; and Kunzite would need reigning back from his obsessive perfectionist tendencies toward what he thinks is important (i.e., almost everything). Nephrite is the right guy for being "Jack of all trades, master of one." (Which is the proper quote, btw.) He'll be balanced, overall, with a few specialties. And the whole point of that rant was to justify Landon providing Aislyn with something to push against after her perceived setback, to get her back on her feet and moving towards her goals.

I may actually understand Nephrite's character, someday. Huzzah. :)

Hellos to everyone who still reads this fic, especially the lurkers; I've never quite understood what quality in fics leaves people without motivation to review, but I've experienced it myself enough to know that it happens. Hail and well met:) Hope you're enjoying this, because I know I am.

That's all for now. See you next time!

Ocianne

4/06

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