FOREVER DESTINY : Ancient Era Arc 1
Before the Beginning
Episode 10:
"Ancient Problems"
Story Focus: Shedosh and Acuashy
By Nekochan
Author's Note
Yay! Now we're in the eighth episode, and you know what that means . . . It's Shedosh's turn! What will his Artifact be? We've had a decent range of items so far. So, what could our Mystic-Angel have for an Artifact? (Confused Face) Hmm . . .
Arigatou Minasan! (Thanks everyone!)
Nekochan
(-)(-)(-)
1:45 PM Sunday- Mysecuamaja, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
With Shedosh leading the way and Hariel not far behind, then T'myra at his heels, the only people left to awe at the Capital City of Mycuaja were Kokuen-oh, Lord Saberstryke, and Rafakoh. All having grown up in G'gonstrm, Mysecuamaja was a very strange place to them. For starters, the trio soon remembered why Mysecuamaja had been said to have one of the best defenses: it was on an island in the middle of Lebamenacuam, a giant inland sea, and consumed most of it save the forest they'd just left.
The city was surrounded by fairly tall walls made of stone, sentries patrolling high above them. Shedosh spoke to the guards and paid for everyone's entry, motioning for his companions to follow him into the city.
Very few of the buildings looked like they'd been built by mortal hands save a couple of smaller ones. Most walls had smooth surfaces and rounded edges. The roofs were perfectly angled slants. Even the roads looked like they'd been made by magic - the roads were made of stone and there was little dust to be seen at all, but most peculiar was how smooth the surface of the road was despite the odd shapes of the stones used to make it.
R'rafko habitually adjusted her cloak to make sure her wings couldn't be seen and Lord Saberstryke made sure his wings were snug against his armor, in the resting places built into most armors made for Demidons, which he managed to cover up with his long cloak. Kokuen-oh, meanwhile, was continuously moving his head from left to right, taking in the sights.
It's been so long since I was last here, Kokuen-oh realized. I was still the boy noble known as Ch'tsu back then-
"-Right up there!" Shedosh pointed to the top of a tall building made out of a cool-gray colored stone. It was obviously one of the more important buildings as it had been given a wide berth on all sides, which was being filled by short grasses and flowers.
Hariel read the sign out front, "Balde Cuella Narro. ("(Great Book Room)") Shedosh! This is Mysecuamaja's library! What are we doing here?"
Shedosh shrugged and replied, "Tell that to The Prophecy. All I know is that up there is where I saw the blue light." He pointed in the direction of one tower in particular that was a little taller than the rest.
"Um . . . How are we going to get up there?" Hariel asked.
"Well, we could fly up-" Saberstryke began.
"I don't know about you, but I had enough trouble gliding while holding onto someone," Kokuen-oh replied. "Plus T'myra and I are already weakened in power!"
"Not t' mention that w' might get in a wee bit o' TROUBLE!" T'myra pointed out. "Fly spells the locals would understand, but flying Demidons? No . . . G'gonstrm an' Mycuaja aren't exactly on the best o' terms."
"Then . . . how do you propose we do get to the top?" the Lord asked.
"I have an idea," Shedosh remarked, "How about we take the stairs?"
"Must we resort t' such a mundane means o' travel?" Tamer whined playfully.
"(Pardon me, sirs and madams . . . )"
The Conduits and Rafakoh turned to see what they could've sworn was some kind of priestess, from her dress - it was an ornate design made from simple cloth - standing in the doorway of the library. Her skin was a pale yellow and her eyes matched her hair - a golden blonde that sparkled in the sunlight
"(I do not mean to intrude, or be to rude towards anyone present, but you are making quite a scene . . . is there some dispute among you?)"
"Huh?" K'kedki and R'rufu gawked at her speech as Kokuen-oh scratched his head.
"She saw that we were making a scene and wants to know if we're arguing, not meaning to be rude," Hariel translated.
"(Well, sort of, Miss . . . )" Shedosh began.
"(Acuashy Jymejyma.)" The girl bowed.
"(Acuashy . . . the very 'beautiful star', indeed,)" Shedosh noted the meaning of her name, causing her to blush. "(Anyway, Miss Acuashy, we are trying to get to the top of this library.)"
"(Can you not use the stairs?)" Acuashy wondered.
"(Well . . . We thought we had an easier way to get up there, and that's what our dispute was about. However, I think we have agreed to take the stairs,)" Shedosh replied, turning to his companions.
"Her name is Acuashy Jymejyma, and she wanted to know why we didn't want to take the stairs like everyone else," Hariel informed the three who didn't know Mycuajan.
"(I know the way around within; would you care for me to be your guide?)" Acuashy offered.
"(I think we would appreciate that very much. Thank you, Miss Acuashy,)" Shedosh answered.
"She can take us to the stairs and then-" Hariel stopped, because Shedosh interrupted him.
"Enough with all of this back and forth translation!" Shedosh burst out then turned back to the young woman. "(One moment, Miss Acuashy,)" he requested and cast a Speak Language spell.
"(Trinity language do we live in,
but not all of us know.
Imbue our souls with the three tongues of Cheakir
so that we don't put on a show!)"
A pale blue aura outlined Kokuen-oh, Lord Saberstryke, and Rafakoh.
"(Can you all understand me?)" Shedosh inquired.
"(Why, yes! We can!)" Rafakoh marveled.
"(You are a Mystic of extraordinary power, Sir. May I inquire as to some names I may call you and your companions by?)" the young Mystic wondered. She looked to be nineteen or twenty.
"(Yes, Miss Acuashy. I am Shedosh Gysea. This young Angel, here, is Hariel Akuen. This strong man, here, is called Saberstryke, with his beautiful lady-friend called, Rafakoh. We also have this older Angel, Kokuen-oh. And lastly, but certainly not least, is the charming young girl . . . err . . . Tamyra. We all go by the general term of the Conduits, for simplicity,)" Shedosh introduced everyone respectively. I hope T'myra realizes I changed her name to protect her . . .
What the- T'myra gasped, looking strangely at Shedosh, who merely smiled at her, though he did look a little embarrassed. I guess I'm 'Tamyra' fo' a lil while . . .
Acuashy bowed again and spoke loudly, though still very politely, "(Honorable 'Welcome's are extended to Mr. Shedosh, Mr. Hariel, Mr. Saberstryke, Mr. Kokuen-oh, Ms. Rafakoh, and Ms. Tamyra.)" She stepped aside and motioned to the hallway behind her. "(Please, enter the Great Book Room.)"
"(How very formal; thank you Miss Acuashy,)" R'rufu noted and smiled.
"(You may call me simply Acuashy, Miss Rafakoh,)" Acuashy insisted as she bowed once more.
"(VERY formal!)" Saberstryke agreed.
Acuashy led everyone inside, but they immediately noticed that the library rang with her name.
"Acuashy! Cuandy Acua!" came a high-pitched feminine voice, calling for her "(friend)".
"(Where are you, Friend Acua?)" another voiced sounded, but this one was a little deeper than Acuashy's.
Acuashy looked embarrassed by this event. "(Please forgive my friends. They are . . . not as well mannered as I-)"
"(Friend Acua!)" The owner of the first voice screeched as a dark green blur scooped up the petite woman and hugged her, "(You worried the Head so much! Not to mention us; where were you, Friend Acua?)"
Another woman walked up, but she was decked out in dark blues and grays. She did not run up as quickly as the 'blur', but she was very friendly. "(Yeah, you had Friend Sashy really concerned. What happened?)"
"(I heard some commotion outside the walls of our library and went to investigate the disturbance. These people were the ones outside and wish to visit the High Tower,)" Acuashy responded.
"(THE HIGH TOWER?)" the first girl gasped.
"(But- but the Head has specifically told everyone that it's off-limits, Friend Acua! You know that!)" the second one insisted.
"(Friend Sashyrary Barycue, Friend Najyana Cuorytacua, meet the Conduits.)" Acuashy introduced each of them as they bowed, and her friends bowed in response.
The Conduits looked at the two new girls about the same age as Acuashy and were clothed in the exact same style of outfit as well, but in different colors.
The first girl, Sashyrary, had forest-green hair, as well as eyes, and pale leaf-green colored skin. Her attire was dark greens, but sported some lighter reds here and there. The second girl, Najyana, had a very dark shade of aquamarine-colored hair and pale cyan eyes. Her skin shone in the color of silver, tinted slightly blue, and her attire was in the navy and gray spectrum with patches of black.
"(Pretty weird bunch, aren't they, Friend Sashy?)" Najyana whispered to Sashyrary. Najyana was the tallest of the three by a few inches, but even Sashyrary was taller than Acuashy by about two inches.
"(Yeah, it's like they've never seen Book-hands before! They obviously don't live in town, Friend Najy!)" Sashyrary whispered back.
"(I could tell that by their look!)" Najyana hissed. "(That one,)" she motioned to 'Tamyra', "(looks like she could be Mycuajan . . . and that one,)" she looked at R'rufu, "(seems to be Sahngellian, as well as those men, there,)" she pointed to Kokuen-oh, Shedosh, and Hariel.
"(But what about him?)" Sashyrary asked of Lord Saberstryke.
"(I want to say his armor is the make of G'gonstrm . . . but why would a Demidon or Monster be stupid enough to come here? He must be Sahngellian, too, under all of that armor,)" Najyana replied.
"(But it's so dark!)" Sashyrary gasped, "(the colors clash so viciously, it's disgusting!)"
"(Many say that of the clothes you wear, Friend Sashy!)" Najyana chuckled.
"(They just don't understand fashion-)" Sashyrary insisted, flaunting her dress' beauty.
"(Can we go to the tower now?)" Lord Saberstryke asked, ignoring the low conversation between the two girls.
"(I dunno' . . . the Head - that's the Head of the Great Book Room - did say it was off-limits . . .)" Najyana shifted uncomfortably.
"(Oh, how about it, Friend Najy?)" Sashyrary offered, "(We haven't seen the Head in a while-)"
"(Because I've kept you out of trouble ever since you broke that vase!)" Najyana pointed out.
"(It was an ugly vase, anyway! It begged to be put out of it's misery! Someone was going to remove it eventually, Friend Najy!)" Sashyrary defended herself.
"(But it was the Head's favorite! Hand-crafted in Sahngell many years ago!)" Najya argued.
"(He'll find another one,)" Sashy commented as she held out her hand and examined her fingernails.
"(Like that one?)"
"(I see them in the market all the time.)"
"(THOSE ARE IMITATIONS!)"
After a bit of thought , Sashy agreed, "(You're right.)"
"(I am?)" Najyana gasped. I mean, I know I am, but why is she saying so?
"(Yeah, the 'real' one shattered into many more pieces than the ones in the market. So it must've been more fragile,)" Sashyrary reasoned.
Najyana and Acuashy hung their heads in shame.
"(Friend Sashyrary?)" Acuashy piped up.
"(Yes, Friend Acua?)"
"(For the sake of our living herein, please do not make such a fool of yourself-)" Acuashy pleaded.
"(But she is a fool!)" Najyana argued.
"(I am not!)" Sashy wailed.
"(Yes ya' are,)" T'myra spoke simply.
"(WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO INSULT ME?)" Sashy lashed out at her, shaking her fist.
"(Ladies . . . If we could please get to the tower?)" Shedosh pleaded.
Sashyrary immediately became cheerful again. "(Okay, this way!)" Sashy grabbed onto Kokuen-oh's hand and began dragging the startled Seer towards some stairs.
Acuashy turned to Shedosh and looked a little pink in the cheeks. "(Please forgive her. She is very . . . spontaneous when she gets excited.)"
"(So I can see,)" Shedosh chuckled his agreement.
(-)
2:10 PM Sunday- Mysecuamaja, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
"(Why do there have to be so many STEPS?)" Sashyrary whimpered.
"(You're one to complain! At least you have plenty of energy!)" Najyana turned a concerned look to Acuashy, who was behind her, "(Are you okay, Friend Acua?)"
"(I am in fair condition, Friend Najyana . . . I am a little tired, but I had already exerted myself earlier this day. There is no need to worry on my account,)" Acuashy insisted.
"(Are you easily tired?)" Shedosh wondered as they climbed.
"(I am of a weak body, inherited through my family lines. Our breath is short and our skin is thin. Our stature is short and our limbs are not strong, but all of that is a description of our everyday condition,)" Acuashy sighed.
Before the small Mystic could protest, Shedosh had taken her into his arms, and was carrying her up the stairs with little difficulty.
"(Please, Mr. Shedosh, I do not wish to be a burden on our city's guests. You may let me walk, Mr. Shedosh.)"
"(You wouldn't be such a lady that would refuse my humble assistance, would you?)" Shedosh asked. It's not like she's really that heavy . . . about Hariel's weight, even!
Acuashy blushed.
"(Don't think of it as being a burden on me; think of it as my repayment for the kindness of taking us up here. It means very much to our cause.)"
"(Your- cause?)" Acuashy inquired in wide-eyed fascination.
"(Yes, you see . . . we were chosen to complete a very important task, part of which is discovering lost items to help us. Each one of us has one and we're looking for mine right now. We believe it might be up in this tower,)" Shedosh answered as he climbed. He went a little slower, just to make sure he didn't lose his footing.
"(Well, then I am very glad to be able to help you, Mr. Shedosh,)" Acuashy said and smiled.
"(Please don't call me that . . . I'm not worthy of such a formal title,)" Shedosh pleaded.
"(Oh, but you are! I can see inside you, and you are a very noble person, Mr. Shedosh. A strong soul and a powerful one as well, I can tell!)" Acuashy insisted.
"(Thank you,)" Shedosh responded and smiled.
What is with Friend Acuashy? She never acts like this around other guests! Najyana thought. "(Here's the door to the High Tower,)" she spoke up.
"(You think it's locked up enough?)" Kokuen-oh asked sarcastically.
The door was actually a large, wooden double-door with iron reinforcements and a large lock on it.
"(It's easy to get through if you know how, Silly!)" Sashy laughed.
Kokuen-oh didn't appear to be thrilled that he had been called 'silly'. T'myra noticed a small blush creeping across his cheeks and smiled, I wonder if 'ee likes 'er . . . She's a ditz, fo' sure, but that might be just the kind o' person Kokuen-oh needs . . . especially nowadays . . .
Sashyrary held her hand out to the door. Her hand glowed a reddish-orange color. "(High Tower, open!)"
The large wooden door unlocked and opened, all on it's own. Inside were numerous empty bookshelves and one tall window.
"(There's-)" Shedosh sputtered as he put Acuashy down, "(There's- nothing here!)"
"(What's the deal?)" Rafakoh demanded to no one inparticular.
That's why the door's alarm didn't go off . . . Normally only the Librarians can open that lock . . . Najyana groaned, "(Today must have been a Check!)"
Sashy addressed Kokuen-oh pointedly, but spoke loud enough for everyone else to hear; she spoke as one talking to a child, "(That's when the Grand Librarians take all of the really important books out of here and check them for any damage.)"
Shedosh's mind was racing, "(I- I don't understand it . . . I could've sworn . . . Could it be the other spot I saw glowing? Is that where it is?)"
"(Do you believe your item is here, Mr. Shedosh?)" Acuashy asked him.
"(I could've sworn-)" Shedosh began.
"(No, Mr. Shedosh, right now. Do you believe that your item is here?)" Acuashy inquired with a strong tone.
"(I- thought . . . Yes, I'm sure it's here, Acuashy; it must be!)" Shedosh replied.
"(Then think, Mr. Shedosh. Think of other possibilities. Where do you think your Artifact is exactly?)" Acuashy wondered.
"(At the top of this tower,)" Shedosh responded.
"(Then there is your problem, Mr. Shedosh.)" Acuashy nodded to him.
"(What?)" the Conduits gasped.
"(This isn't the top of the tower,)" Najyana stated.
"(Yeah, there's the spire. But only those who can cast Fly could reach it,)" Sashy pointed out, again speaking to Kokuen-oh.
She is a strange girl . . . Kokuen-oh though, But . . . then why . . . She makes me a little uncomfortable when she looks right at me! Great, I sound like Hariel . . .
My portion read, 'If you confine your thinking to what you know and you see, you won't find anything easily . . .' "(I'm going up there,)" Shedosh moved to the window.
"(But- Can you cast Fly, Mr. Shedosh?)" Acuashy asked him.
"(I don't know . . . When I need to cast spells, I make something up and hope it works,)" Shedosh admitted, moving to jump onto the window-ledge.
"(That is too dangerous, Mr. Shedosh! Please do not endanger yourself like that!)" Acuashy begged, walking towards him.
"(You were the one who said I needed to get to the spire!)" Shedosh said as he laughed.
"(Did you not say that you had ways of getting up here, but they were not the best ways?)" Acuashy reminded him.
"(We can not use that method, Acuashy. It would create a public disturbance, I fear!)" Shedosh insisted.
"(Why?)" Najyana wondered.
"(Let's just say we're not what we appear to be, Najyana,)" Kokuen-oh cast her a wary look. "(Should we tell them?)" he asked his companions
The Conduits and R'rafko shrugged.
"(It's not like they haven't been suspicious already . . . I don't think they'll give us any trouble about it-)" Shedosh started to say.
"(What, are you all girls or something?)" Sashy giggled.
Everyone else found it hard to believe that Sashy actually spoke those words; was she really that dense, or just acting like it?
"(Sashy, that's . . . not quite what I meant . . .)" Kokuen-oh put a hand on the shoulder.
Sashy put a finger to the side of her mouth and looked at the ceiling. "(Oh I see . . .)"
"(Good,)" Kokuen-oh smiled.
"(You're the only one!)" Sashy poked him in the nose and laughed.
"(NO!)" Kokuen-oh yelled and glared at her.
Sashy merely smiled at him and he blushed for having made such a scene without getting through to her.
He's so much fun to tease! Sashy giggled noticeably.
"(What we meant was- well, not many of us are from Mycuaja,)" Saberstryke noted.
"(Or even Sahngell . . .)" R'rufu put in.
The three young Mystics gaped, "(You can not be . . .)"
R'rufu nodded and slid her cloak down a little, so that you could tell she had wings. Tamer grinned, innocently displaying her fangs. Saberstryke took off one of his gauntlets, revealing his brown skin and slightly longer, clawed hands.
"(You are . . .)" they gasped.
"(I'm a 'Alf-Breed Demidon-Mage,)" T'myra spoke, "(Lord Saberstryke is a Demidon, Rafakoh's a Monster, an' Kokuen-oh's Demidon blood was drained from 'is body.)"
Sashyrary paled, backing away from Kokuen-oh and behind Najyana. But- but- but, he's too cute to be a Demidon! And what does she mean by 'his blood was drained', anyway?
"(You're part Mage?)" Najyana asked 'Tamyra'.
"(Yep,)" T'myra answered.
"(I am honored,)" Najyana bowed.
"(Not frightened?)" Rafakoh inquired.
"(No, but she is,)" Najyana motioned to Sashy, who's head was peeking out from her friend's side.
Sashy squeaked in a high-pitched voice and then resumed hiding behind her friend.
"(Mr. Shedosh?)" Acuashy gasped, sticking her head out the window.
Everyone turned their heads to the window. The Mystic-Angel was gone.
"(Where is he?)" Acuashy wondered, panicked.
"(Up here!)"
Acuashy looked up and saw Shedosh, holding a long, black staff with a golden tip. "(I think this is it!)"
Najyana and Sashyrary laughed as Acuashy hung her head.
"(That's the spire of the High Tower!)" Sashyrary blurted out.
"(I am so relieved! You managed to cast the spell successfully, then, Mr. Shedosh?)" Acuashy asked. I did not hear him cast a spell . . .
"(Sort of . . .)"
"(WHAT?)" an even paler Acuashy demanded.
"(It wasn't quite strong enough, so I had to pull myself up a little ways, once I got to the top . . .)" Shedosh answered. "(Come on up! I think I found where the other spot I saw is!)"
"(Isn't it a little pointless to go up there if you have your Artifact?)" Kokuen-oh wondered, peaking his head out from behind the three girls.
"(I'd still like to check it out . . .)" Shedosh mumbled.
(-)
2:40 AM Sunday- Mysecuamaja, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
It took a few minutes, but, R'rafko and Saberstryke managed to shuttle their friends onto the roof of the tower and next to the spire while concealed by an illusion so as to appear that they were only under the effect of a Fly spell. Then, they had the trouble of getting the three girls on top . . . especially since Sashyrary found out she had an extreme dislike for heights.
"(AHH! WE'RE UP TOO HIGH! PUT ME DOWN! PUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWN!)" She screamed while kicking her legs back and forth.
"(Stop fidgeting, you silly Mystic!)" Hey! I just thought of a nickname for her . . . "(You might fall!)" Kokuen-oh insisted as he held Sashyrary's hands while Rafakoh lifted her up and onto the tower.
"(AHHHHHHHH!)" Sashy wailed.
When Rafakoh landed on the roof, Kokuen-oh held the whimpering Mystic close, "(Don't worry . . . I would never have let you fall, Mysti.)"
"(Mysti?)" Sashyrary asked through watery eyes.
"(Yeah, that's my nickname for you now, little Mystic,)" Kokuen-oh chuckled.
"(Thank you!)" Sashyrary hugged him, "(For trying to keep me calm and safe . . . I've just never been up this high and I've never even been in the effect of a Fly spell, so I was really scared.)"
Kokuen-oh's eyes went wide. What the- "Uh, you're welcome," he said simply and let her pull away.
Sashy grinned up at him, then took his hand and pulled him to another edge of the tower to look out at the view. Kokuen-oh let her drag him along, and smiled a little as he gripped her hand firmly.
T'myra poked Hariel in the shoulder and then pointed to Kokuen-oh and Sashyrary. They smiled at one another and walked over to where Shedosh was. Hariel took T'myra's hand as they did so.
"(So, where is this other area that you noticed prior?)" Acuashy wondered, looking at Shedosh.
"(Over there . . . See?)" Shedosh pointed to a large body of water.
"(In Lebamenacuam? Are you sure, Mr. She-)" Acuashy stopped and blushed, "(I should not be asking such a silly question, for I know how positive you are of yourself and what you know. You have shown that here within the past few minutes.)"
"(Well then, let's go!)" T'myra laughed.
"(My spell should be strong enough that we can just glide down there without either of you trying to Manifest again so soon,)" Shedosh stated, and started to cast his Fly spell, his aura flaring.
"(On invisible wings,
With the invisible wind,
Soar through the skies,
And please do not bend!)"
"(Ready, Mysti?)" Kokuen-oh asked. At a nod from the young Mystic, he squeezed her hand and led her to the edge.
T'myra held onto Hariel as they glided over the city of Mysecuamaja. Kokuen-oh picked up Sashy and walked off, imagining he really had wings. Shedosh carried Acuashy to the edge and leapt off, his aura flaring behind him as they slid down a slide of wind. Saberstryke held onto one of Najyana's hands and Rafakoh held onto the other as the trio set off.
Najyana gave off a great laugh of excitement, "(WAHOO!)"
Needless to say, the four groups received quite a few stares from the civilians far below them.
"(Mr. Kokuen-oh?)" Sashy asked.
"(Yes, Mysti?)" Kokuen-oh replied playfully.
"(Will you promise to take me flying more often, this is so much fun!)" Sashyrary shouted, letting the wind blow her hair back, "(And can I at least call you Kokuen-oh?)"
"(I thought you didn't like being up this high, Mysti?)" Kokuen-oh laughed, "(And 'yes'.)"
Sashyrary pressed her nose against his, "(Not if I have confidence in the one who's flying, Kokuen-oh.)"
Kokuen-oh blushed and Sashy giggled.
How can she make me feel like this?
Oh, he's going to be fun to play with!
(-)(-)(-)
3:15 PM Sunday- Mysecuamaja's South Shore of Lebamenacuam, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
"(It sparkles like diamonds!)" T'myra awed. "(Just like I remember!)"
"(Lebamenacuam - the lake said to protect anyone within its waters. Healing touch is also said to be the benefit of the waters of Lebamenacuam,)" Acuashy explained.
"(Hey, Shedosh?)" Kokuen-oh asked.
"(Yes, Kokuen-oh?)"
"(Did anything happen when you found your Artifact?)" Kokuen-oh wondered. "(Did you feel anything?)"
"(Not really . . .)" Shedosh murmured, "(Why?)"
"(Well . . . I know this may not necessarily be the case, but . . . Hasn't some kind of power or energy always been released when someone found their Artifact?)" Kokuen-oh replied.
"(Yeah . . . I know what you mean . . . I wonder what's wrong,)" Shedosh looked at the black staff he held in his hand. He's right . . . I don't feel anything coming from this staff . . . Could I have just torn off the spire for no reason? "(Maybe by coming here, it'll answer that question, Kokuen-oh.)"
"(I hope your right, Shedosh, 'cause that just has me worked up for some reason . . . Like it's important,)" Kokuen-oh insisted.
"(So, now what?)" Hariel questioned.
"(I'm going to have to go into the lake and take a look around using an Elemental Protection spell,)" Shedosh answered, holding his hands out in front of him.
"(Surround me with a bubble of air,
So that I may dive and discover down there
Without be hindered in the least bit.
Hold back the water, don't let it penetrate it!)"
"(Friend Acuashy? What're you doing?)" Sashyrary gasped.
Shedosh turned around and realized she had just mimicked him as he cast his spell. Now, she was also surrounded by an aura, in the spectrum of purple instead of blue, though.
"(Acuashy?)" Shedosh whispered, his voice carrying outside his orb.
"(I wish to assist Mr. Shedosh in his search for his Artifact,)" Acuashy's voice echoed through the bubble.
"(Acuashy, you can't. I have no idea what's down there. I cannot let you go,)" Shedosh insisted.
"(But-)"
"(No, Acuashy,)" Shedosh begged. He moved towards her and held her hands, their bubbles merging to form a larger one that shimmered pale blue then magenta, back to blue, and so on. He whispered into her ear, "(You are too sweet a person to risk something this big for a perfect stranger.)"
"(You are perfect, yes, but a stranger not. No longer.)" Acuashy blushed as she said this.
Go on, pretend we're not here! Najyana sighed, I've never seen Acuashy be so forward with a man before!
Shedosh pressed his cheek to hers by the ear he had been whispering in, "(I care too much for you already, Acuashy. If you were to go down there . . . I could never forgive myself if anything happened-)"
"(Nothing will,)" Acuashy insisted.
"(Please-)" he kissed her on the cheek.
The large bubble shimmered and became pure blue.
When he moved away, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "(Be careful, Shedosh . . .)"
"(I will, Acua.)" Shedosh turned and walked into the water, the bubble following him. "(Keep an eye out for anything strange,)" he announced before disappearing underneath the small wake.
(-)
3:20 PM Sunday- Jyraculato, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
"+Are we going to just wait here for them to show up+" Antulpan questioned.
"+Yes+" Badamon sighed.
"+Why+" Arago asked.
"+We can catch them by surprise that way . . . I have a wonderfully wicked idea+" Badamon hissed.
"+What kind of scheme could you possibly enact from these docks with the Chosen so far away+" Arago demanded.
Badamon's smile widened, displaying his fangs. "+One that will put the Chosen right into the palm of our hands. Now, follow me and don't say a word.+" He turned away from Arago and began to walk off towards one of the more extravagant ships docked there.
Antulpan looked less than convinced. "+I don't think so, Badamon+" he cried, moving in front of Badamon. "+I want to know what you're up to; I'm a part of this, too, ya' know+"
Badamon sighed, then pulled his hood over his head and adjusted the cloak over his arms. "+Arago . . . You need to learn patience. If you will merely wait about five minutes, you will see my plan begin to take shape. Once it has begun, I will explain everything to you; you must learn to trust me.+"
Arago groaned in frustration, "+Fine; fine. If you're not right about this, I swear I won't forget it+"
"+You need not worry, Arago+" Badamon assured him. He walked past him and in the same direction he'd been heading beforehand.
Grudgingly trailing behind him, Arago cast a glance up at the ship to his right, the one Badamon had been aiming for. The Kahroh, huh? Sounds Sahngellian . . .
"(Hail, Sailors!)" Badamon called to the three men sitting on crates near the gangplank. "(Is this a shipping or traveling vessel?)"
"(Apologies, sir,)" the oldest explained in practiced Mycuajan, "(We can't speak Mycuajan very well. Do you speak Sahngellian?)"
"Of course," Badamon responded, nodding his head. "Is this a shipping or traveling vessel?" he repeated his question.
"Both, for the right price," the youngest replied quickly.
"Might I ask to see your vessel before I decide to hire your services?" Badamon inquired politely.
"As long as you don't mind us escorting you," the third one answered, standing up and holding his arm out towards the gangplank.
"Of course." Badamon motioned for Antulpan to follow him. "Specifically, I'd like to see your cargo hold."
"No problem. I can show you; follow me," the small boy offered, rushing ahead of them.
Badamon and Antulpan followed him with the other two not far behind.
"How does it look?" the oldest sailor asked, crouching near the opening into which Badamon, Antulpan, and their young companion had already descended.
"+Perfect+" Badamon responded as he began casting a spell, taking all four by surprise.
However, only Arago recognized what Badamon was doing. It was the same spell he'd used on the two S'srut brothers.
(-)
3:45 PM Sunday- Lebamenacuam near Mysecuamaja's South Shore, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
Boy, am I glad I don't have to swim through this . . . The air pressure alone would probably suffocate me! Shedosh thought as he willed the bubble to descend deeper into Lebamenacuam. "(What's that?)" He had spied a small, twinkling star of energy.
As he started to move towards it, a great wave came rushing against his back, sweeping him closer to the energy. Shedosh tried to stop his air bubble from flowing with the current, but it was absolutely futile.
"(Ahh!)" he cried as he was tossed onto the lake's bottom, near the twinkling energy.
The pressure on his back was so great that he couldn't stand up; he could only lay on the lake's floor.
Good thing this bubble protects me from getting wet, too . . .
Shedosh peered over at the underwater star and was amazed at what he saw. It was some kind of ornate, gold ornament, he presumed. It was shaped very much like a handheld harp but, in the center, was a cylinder of gold that extended to the top of the 'u' shaped formation. At the top of that golden cylinder, was a ball with wings outstretched to be parallel with the 'u' of the 'harp'. On each of the handles of the golden harp were four or five rings.
He reached out to touch it.
As soon as he managed to grab it, he had to hold onto it with all of his might, for the current had shifted upwards. However, it wasn't the shift in the current that concerned him, it was the fact that his bubble was beginning to crack like a crystal.
Protect me? Yeah right! I wouldn't be surprised if there were some kind of fountain on the lake's surface from all of this water swirling around.
(-)
3:50 PM Sunday- Mysecuamaja's South Shore of Lebamenacuam, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
"(What kind of demonic fountain is that?)" Kokuen-oh yelped from in front of a frightened Sashyrary.
"(I'll bet Shedosh 'as somethin' t' do wit' it!)" T'myra grumbled.
"(Do you think that he is in trouble, Ms. Tamyra?)" Acuashy whimpered.
"(I hope not,)" Hariel gulped.
Acuashy looked at the lake with frightened, watering eyes. Visions of the day passed through her head, from the time she first saw Shedosh to when he kissed her cheek. Shedosh, you said you would be careful . . . You lied.
Acuashy's eyes became focused as her lips mouthed the words and mimicked the hand gestures to form an air bubble. As the energy flared, everyone demanded what she was doing and tried to stop her, but she ignored them and walked to the lake's shore.
"(Hey, Acuashy.)"
She turned to look at Kokuen-oh.
"(I think he's going to need this.)" Kokuen-oh tossed Shedosh's new staff to Acuashy.
Acuashy held it in her hands and nodded. For the first time in her life, she was going to repay someone . . . she was going to be brave. She backed up a little, got a running start, and dove beneath Lebamenacuam's surface.
"(Something's really wrong with her,)" Najyana shook her head.
"(Friend Acuashy's never looked so . . . so . . . uncalm!)" Sashyrary gaped.
"(I believe the word you were looking for was 'determined', Mysti,)" Kokuen-oh suggested.
Sashyrary immediately began chasing the former Demidon around the south shore, never seeming to quite catch up to him.
(-)
3:55 PM Sunday- Lebamenacuam near Mysecuamaja's South Shore, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
"(Hold on, Shedosh!)"
Could that be . . . no, she wouldn't. I told her to stay on the land - she wouldn't . . . would she? Shedosh thought. He gasped as a tiny trickle of water began leaking through the side of his bubble on his right. His grip on the golden ornament was also loosening.
No, the ornament was being pulled out of the lake's bottom.
That can not be good.
"(Shedosh! I am here to help you, Shedosh!)" Shedosh turned and saw the small Mystic descending towards him. She was moving very slowly, against the current. "(Hold on! I have your Artifact!)" Acuashy held up the staff.
My Artifact . . . but, if that's my Artifact like I thought, then what could this be? Shedosh pondered. Wait a second . . . my part of The Prophecy almost sounded as if there were two parts to it . . . If there were two parts to my section of The Prophecy, then could there be two parts to my Artifact
Shedosh gazed up at the staff in Acuashy's hands, and it seemed to glow a bright blue as everything around it grayed. He turned his head towards the ornament he was clutching so dearly, as it did the same. It began to give off a blue aura as everything around it seemed to be grayed. out, as if it were not important, except that Acuashy also emitted a soft pink-purple aura.
"(Shedosh!)" Acuashy screamed as his bubble began to take in more water. I am so close to him . . . if only I can get to him . . .
Lebamenacuam's floor suddenly released its hold on the ornament. Shedosh was repelled up at Acuashy with the ornament in his hands, the rings waving mutely in the water. His bubble was going to dissipate any minute; Shedosh and Acuashy both knew it.
Acuashy held the staff out in front her, as it magically penetrated her own bubble. Shedosh reached for it, chanting as he went in a final attempt to keep his bubble from breaking.
There was a bright flash of white light as Shedosh grabbed onto the staff with his other hand. No- the light was a very pale blue color.
(-)
4:00 PM Sunday- Mysecuamaja's South Shore of Lebamenacuam, Mycuaja May 8th- 981 D.A.
A bright blue flash of light erupted from Lebamenacuam as all of the Conduits stumbled backwards. When the water calmed, all that the people on land could see was a very pale colored sphere. It shone almost like a star, it was that bright. The sphere moved to the shore and stopped directly in front of the Conduits.
When the sphere dissolved, the Conduits saw two people who looked very much like Shedosh and Acuashy . . . but . . .
"(Mr. Shedosh? Friend Acuashy?)" Sashyrary stopped dead in her tracks from running after Kokuen-oh.
"(Yes, Friend Sashyrary, it is us,)" Acuashy smiled.
"(How can that be?)" Najyana asked.
"(What do you mean?)" Shedosh inquired.
"(Shedosh and Acuashy . . .)" Rafakoh began.
"(Are Mycuajan,)" Saberstryke finished.
"(But we are Mycuajan,)" Acuashy insisted.
"(No longer!)" Najyana laughed, hands on her hips.
"(What do you mean?)" Shedosh pleaded for an answer, his staff moving as he adjusted his grip on it. The rings of the staff jingled for an instant, calling everyone's attention to it.
"(Ya'- uhm- ya' look a lot like Cotton and Kokuen-oh,)" T'myra responded, the first to reclaim her attention from the staff.
"(You mean-)" Acuashy gasped.
"(We've become-)" Shedosh managed.
"(Sahngellian?)" They asked together.
Everyone else nodded solemnly.
Shedosh now looked much younger; they would have guessed him to be in his early twenties now, and no older than 23 or 24! His hair color had not changed, but his ears were no longer pointed and his skin tone was lighter. His outfit had also changed slightly; on top of his off-white robes he now wore a blue tabard that was kept in place by a piece of cloth tied around his waist. He now had wrappings around his lower arms and legs, though he also had a bit of padding on his lower arms, under the wrappings. He sported a pale brown pouch that hung down from around his neck and a wide-brimmed, straw-woven hat that concealed the upper part of his face from the angle of his head at this time.
Acuashy did not appear to have experienced any aging effects, but she now had light peach skin and slightly darker golden-blonde hair. Her eyes were now pale brown and her ears were not pointed. The transformation did not appear to have affected her clothing.
Healing Waters, huh? Shedosh sighed heavily, "(Well . . . At least I have my complete Artifact.)" Shedosh held up his now ornamented staff, which chimed in response to the movement.
"(Complete Artifact? What's that supposed t' mean?)" T'myra demanded.
"(Exactly what I said. See, my part of The Prophecy actually had two parts and so did my Artifact, it turned out,)" Shedosh reasoned.
"(Then I was right!)" Kokuen-oh gasped.
Shedosh nodded.
"(Guys, that's the Ancient Staff!)" Kokuen-oh pointed to Shedosh's Artifact, "(According to legend and The Prophecy, that staff's power comes directly from the Dekutan!)"
"(All I can say is this: I think we just found our Teleportation ticket!)" Saberstryke grinned and was promptly elbowed by Rafakoh. "(What?)" the Lord demanded innocently as the whole group sprung into laughter.
Hariel walked over to his mentor. "(Hey Shedosh, where'd you get the hat and pouch?)" Hariel inquired, tugging on the bag around Shedosh's neck.
"(I . . . guess they came with my Artifact,)" Shedosh chuckled, settling his staff back on the ground with a light ringing.
"(Neat - OH CUAMYJY!)" Hariel gasped as he looked up at Shedosh, then backed away into Saberstryke who held the boy's shoulders.
"(What?)" Shedosh demanded, lifting the hat up so that he could see everyone; it seemed like every one of his emphatic movements resulted in a mimicking sound from his staff.
Everyone else looked incredibly shocked and some also gasped as their line of vision followed Hariel's.
"(Shedosh,)" Acuashy began calmly, looking directly into his eyes, "(You recall your eye color is a handsome sky blue?)" That certainly has not changed . . . I am glad for that truth.
"(Yes, what about it?)" Shedosh replied warily.
"(That color has consumed your whole eye.)"
"(Excuse me?)" The staff clanged again; Shedosh was having trouble conceptualizing what they were saying about his eyes.
"(Okay, look at me, Shedosh,)" Hariel insisted and continued when he had done so, "(See how my eyes are only maroon around the black part, but the rest is white?)" Shedosh nodded, "(Pretend that the white part, maroon part, and black part are all light blue in color, no lines whatsoever. That's what your eye looks like now.)" Just like back in the caves . . .
"(Oh boy . . .)" Shedosh sighed.
"(It does not matter, my dear Shedosh; you are still handsome,)" Acuashy blushed as she pushed one of his long eartails behind an ear. His body as well as his mind are attractive - how incredible! I am the luckiest girl in all of Mycuaja, if I do not misread his actions.
Shedosh just held Acuashy close and kissed her forehead, which again caused a slight ringing from the Ancient Staff. "(Thank you, Acua. Thank you for all of your help.)"
He and Acuashy had been through a lot together that day, but he had a feeling they were going to go through much more later on. Even still, it would be together.
(-)(-)(-)
Continued in: High and Mighty
3/12/2001
(Breathes heavily) Boy! A LOT happened in this episode, didn't it? Well, I hope you enjoyed this part of the story. (Yawns) 'Cause I'm gonna' go rest my brain. (Grin) I hope to get some more inspiration from that, I sometimes do. Okay, so it's a really weird way to write, but it works, ne? Now . . . Shedosh looks like who? Oh yeah, THE ANCIENT ONE! (Smile) Could that be him . . . (Sarcasm) NAH! It's his twin brother, OF COURSE IT'S HIM! So . . . let's see . . . We've got the Ancient One, Lord Saberstryke, Hariel, and Kokuen-oh . . . Jeez! Could I cram any more original characters into this fic? (Silly grin) Yes I can . . . and I will, very soon. So I shall see you all later, in 'High and Mighty'!
2/6/2005
Well, this was a nice way to pass the time while sending laundry through the washer and dryer, especially at 2AM-4AM! Unfortunately, I have to wait for the server to post my story before I can figure out how I'm going to do my whole Language Marker fix-ups. In any case, who likes the three new girls? I think that Sashy is just so much fun to portray, because she is based off my cousin who, in my mind, is my complete opposite. Then there's Najyana; she's the observant one who's not afraid to speak her mind. (Smiles) And then of course we have Acuashy; she makes me laugh because of her formality.
I don't know about you guys, but rereading this for the first time in close to four years made me realize something: Shedosh was probably the last person I would've thought to become the Ancient One. But, then again, the Ancient One that we hear speak and watch act in the TV show has been through quite a bit more than Shedosh has right around this time, don't you agree? In any case, I guess it was a bit of a surprise that you weren't expecting, ne? Considering there's so much that you, as a reader and someone who could've seen every portion of RW / YST ever made, know has to happen. (Embarrassed look) Oh well, there's plenty for me to use to keep you on your toes! (Grin) Ja!
2/11/2005 and 2/15/2005
Now I'm kinda' glad I didn't post this immediately. Anyway, I've gone back through the episodes and done spell-checking as well as fixing the language problem. Just thought I'd give you an update. Yes, my computer is still in the shop! Grr...
2/23/2005 and 3/1/2005
I went back and clarified Shedosh's age, as I didn't make it extremely evident that he became younger during this second transformation, nor do I think that I made it clear that he was "old" to the Conduits only because of the fact that they thought he was physically older than any of the other Conduits (Saberstryke, Rafakoh, and Kokuen-oh are in their mid- and early twenties - I fixed that, too - while Shedosh was in his thirties All of those age references are in physical ages). So, I hope this little clarification did us all some good, because I know how weird you all must have thought I was to pair 19-year-old Acuashy with some "old man" named Shedosh. (Cheesy grin)
4/1/2005
The restructuring did change a bit in the fact that the opening sequence got held back in the last episode, but I did add a little more to help us keep up with Badamon and Arago, without completely spoiling Badamon's surprise in Ep. 11. (Wide grin)
Nekochan