Many thanks to: Meg, Kira and Spongey, who once again delight me with their kind comments. Wouldn't it be great if we can get to 100 reviews with this chapter? Just 8 reviews, that's all we need. Come on readers, do your bit! Let us know you're out there!! A special prize (of sorts) goes to number 100!
Random Quote: Why is it the world never remembered the name of Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfernschplenden-Schlitter-Crasscrenbon-Fried-Digger-Dangle-Dongle-Dungle-Burstein-von-Knacker-Thrasher-Apple-Banger-Horowitz-Ticolensic-Grander-Knotty-Spelltinkle-Grandlich-Grumblemeyer-Spelterwasser-Kurstlich-Himbleeisen-Bahnwagen-Gutenabend-Bitte-Ein-Nürnburger-Bratwurstle-Gerspurten-mit-Zwei-Macheluber-Hundsfut-Gumberaber-Shoenendanker-Kalbsfleisch-Mittler-Aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm? (Monty Python's Flying Circus)
Despite the horrific recent events, spirits had been raised slightly ever since the combined efforts of Riven, Timmy, Anyuna, Flora and Delphi had put Tegryn back on a relatively even keel, although he was still decidedly woozy. He still lay where he was before, his head nestled comfortably in Anyuna's lap, with Musa and Irma in close attendance. His left leg, all three or four pieces of it, was now cleaned and patched up. A web of large and very noticable scars was now adorning the front of his shin, which had taken on a mixture of black, blue and red shades just to let everyone know he was in far from tip-top condition. The patch of ground around him was still stained red, although the blood itself had been washed away thanks to Irma.
The debate, which up until now had been how to save Tegryn from bleeding to death, had now changed to what should be done with him. Tegryn was still adamant about helping the others, but Musa was having none of it. Just when it looked like a lover's tiff was on the cards, Layla stepped forward.
"Look, guys, whatever we decide to do, we can't move Teggy as he is. His leg's barely holding together - one wrong move and it'll be back to being just as bad as it was."
"So what do you suggest?" asked Sky.
"We need to put it in a cast - and I'm just the girl to do it. Can you guys just roll his trouser leg up a bit?"
Tegryn giggled. "Oh Layla - any excuse to get a better look at my leg!"
Layla blushed slightly at this unexpected remark before she re-composed herself. "Oi! Patients aren't meant to talk... well, not in my hospital anyway!"
As the group laughed at this light-hearted banter, Layla got to work by creating a pink ball out of nothing which rippled gently between her hands. Irma stared wide-eyed at this.
"What is that? It looks like water."
"It is, kinda. It's called Morphix. It's a special fluid that I can mould in pretty much any shape I want... like the leg of a certain mouthy young man!" Irma looked over at Tegryn and smiled somewhat nervously before quickly looking away. Layla continued, "Maybe I can teach you a bit when we're done here."
Irma looked on fascinated as Layla wrapped the ball around Tegryn's knee, then carefully ran her hands down the length of his calf and around his ankle, spreading the cast as she went until she reached the end of his foot, leaving just his toes poking out.
"There!" she said as she allowed it to set rock hard. "That ought to do the trick."
Tegryn peered down at it. "Nice job Layla... but did it have to be pink?"
"I happen to think it looks rather fetching on you!"
They were suddenly interrupted by the familiar high-pitched voice. Tegryn, with his leg and ankle now neatly encased in the cast fashioned by Layla's expertise, looked up to see a very welcome face indeed - a pixie dressed in her usual flambouyant black and purple outfit.
"Discorda!" Musa exclaimed with equal helpings of happiness and surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I must say, it was rather strange. There I was, sipping my afternoon tea and reading the latest edition of Pixie Mode - it had a rather interesting article called 'This Season's Top Ten Must-Haves for Pixie Elders'. It's ever-so-important to keep up to date on fashion issues, don't you think?"
"Wow - a pixie after my own heart!" Cornelia remarked. Discorda looked at her and smiled pleasantly before continuing.
"Anyway, when all of a sudden I felt this terrible pain, like someone was screaming right in my ear. It was like nothing I've ever felt, and as it went on, I just knew it was something to do with Tegryn. That boy has a nasty habit of getting into scrapes, as I'm sure you all know. How did this happen... and more to the point, what are you all doing down here anyway?"
Musa sighed. "It's a long story. You see these guys here?" she said, pointing at Irma, Cornelia, Taranee and Hay Lin. "Well, they're from Earth, and yesterday their friend Will got accidently transported to Alfea. She got hurt and had to spend the night in the infirmary, so Teggy went and found them and brought them here, and we all had a nice little sleepover..."
"Which I wasn't invited to." Tegryn grumbled.
"I wouldn't have thought girly sleepovers would be your thing Tegryn." Discorda chuckled. "The image of you after a makeover is really quite frightening. Carry on."
"Anyway, we took the girls out shopping this morning, and Will got snatched by this big nasty working for Lord Darkar and brought down here, 'cos she's got this ultra-powerful jewel which, surprise surprise, Darkar wants to use to take over the universe. So, we came down here and we got ambushed by our three least favourite witches. Icy did that to Tegryn."
"Speaking of Icy, you're not planning on leaving these three where they are, are you?" Discorda asked, pointing at the witches all lying prone at the other side of the room, with Icy still glaring angrily at them from within her makeshift prison.
"Oh man, she's right!" Bloom gasped. "The moment they wake up they'll be back on our cases, and that's the last thing we need!"
"Don't worry," Tegryn said as he sat himself up with a groan, struggling to steady himself before Anyuna did the honours by placing her hands behind his back. "Thanks Yuni. Right, let's ditch these three!"
Tegryn raised a hand, and three portals opened up in the floor to gobble them up.
"Nice one Teggy!" Anyuna said, giving him a little congratulatory pat on the back. "But where did you send them?"
"Oh, just a few random dimensions, one for each witch." he said as he turned toward the ITCH girls. "It ain't just your friend Cedric who can do random dimensions, you know!"
The twins tittered.
"Yeah, and when it comes to getting lost"
"...no-one beats our Teggy!"
"Well, that's one problem taken care of," said Tecna, "But that still leaves us with a question - what do we do with Teggy?"
Tegryn sighed "I thought I said I wanted to carry on and find Will."
"And I said you're going back to Alfea." Musa replied, almost in tears. "I'm not having you getting hurt again. I can't stand it! I can't..." she yelled as slowly but surely she broke down. Tegryn held her gently as she wept uncontrollably into his chest. "You big dummy! Don't do this! Please... don't do this."
Tegryn stayed silent for a moment, gently stroking the back of her head to try and calm her down.
"But Musie, I can't go back to Alfea knowing you're still here risking your neck. Besides, how am I supposed to get back? I can't teleport back, and I sure as hell ain't walking."
"Wait a minute... how were you able to teleport those three witches if Darkar's got that portal blocking spell in place?" asked Tecna. "That doesn't make sense."
"Hmmm, I didn't think of that." Tegryn mused, pondering this conundrum. "Maybe Darkar's spell only applies to portals between two points in this one realm - a block on site-to-site transport. Maybe it doesn't apply to interdimensional portals."
"A portal-blocking spell? Well that explains why I couldn't travel all the way here like that." Discorda explained. "I only got as far as a mile from this mountain, then I had to fly the rest of the way here. My wings are knackered!"
Just then, an idea shot into Irma's mind, which up until now had been filled with feelings of worry and guilt. "Hey Teggy, maybe you could go to Heatherfield and then go to Alfea from there."
Tegryn looked deep into her big hopeful eyes, then shook his head. "It's a good idea Irm, but I'm staying with you guys and that's that. Will's my friend too you know - we're all in this together!"
"But Teggy..." Musa pleaded.
"Now now dear." Discorda cut in. "I'm sure you know more than anyone just how stubborn Tegryn can be. Remember when we tried to get him to wear anything that was in the slightest bit interesting?"
"Excuse me Dizzy, I'm right here you know!" Tegryn spluttered.
Discorda gave another one of her pleasant pixie smiles. "The point is, once Tegryn has decided on something, it'll take a hell of a lot to talk him out of it, and from you've told me, time isn't on our side."
"Great, so that's decided then - I'm coming with you guys!" Tegryn said triumphantly.
"Uh-huh? And how you plan on getting around?" asked Musa.
"I could... ummm... hey! Maybe you could carry me! I've given you plenty of piggy-backs in the past, so it's about time you repaid me!" he said, grinning cheekily. "Or failing that, Layla could make me a crutch."
"I have a much better idea." Discorda replied. "Tegryn, have you learned how to fly properly yet?"
"Not really, no. I've never been able to figure it out, so I cheat. I just cast a telekinesis spell on myself."
"Well it's about time you learnt. It's not really the ideal setting for a crash course, but..."
"Aw man. Did you really have to say crash course?" Tegryn quipped. Discorda tutted quietly to herself, then carried on.
"...but we don't have much of a choice. Girls, could you help him up please?"
Musa and Anyuna obliged by taking an arm each and carefully hoisting him to his one remaining good foot. When he was more or less steady, Discorda flew behind him and stood on his shoulders, grabbing small tufts of his hair - she looked like a small extravagently-dressed child riding a particularly handsome donkey on the beach.
"Okay Tegryn, are you ready?"
Tegryn nodded, almost causing Discorda to lose her footing.
"You could've just said yes, you know!" she shouted as she just about kept her grip. "Now then, flying should be quite simple for you. All you need to do is focus your mind and let the energy inside you carry you along - and don't even think about flapping your arms."
Tegryn closed his eyes, breathed in deeply and allowed Discorda to guide him. He could soon feel the energies within him flowing in a way he had never felt before - it felt like they were pulling him in a forceful but gentle manner, all the while staying completely in his control. Gradually, he could feel himself getting lighter - the load on his good leg was definately shrinking until it was almost non-existant, and he could feel Musa and Anyuna loosening their hold on him.
A little rush of euphoria came over him, and he simply had to open his eyes. He turned and looked over to his left to where he thought Musa would be, but she wasn't there. Neither was Anyuna, nor any of the others.
"Yoo-hoo Teggy! Down here!"
He looked down to see Musa waving coyly up at him. He was a good ten feet off the ground - he was flying, for real! A cheerful grin broke out across his face, a natural reaction to such an amazing sensation. Before, flying had been such an effort. He had often looked up to the fairies, yearning to have wings of his own just so he could experience the ease with which they took to the air. But now, he was able to experience a little of what they took for granted.
"So Tegryn - are you ready to go forwards?" Discorda asked. Tegryn nodded. "Okay, same principle as before, but just concentrate on travelling forwards this time instead of upwards."
Tegryn did as he was told, and with minimal effort he began to sail forwards, slowly at first but gradually picking up speed.
"Good, good. Now turn left."
Tegryn nodded, and promptly turned to his right. Discorda sighed.
"I said left, Tegryn! LEFT!"
"I'm sorry. Got a little carried away there, got a little mixed up."
"Mixed up? That might explain your lousy sense of direction."
"Oh come on, I did that deliberately!"
"Yes Tegryn, of course you did." Discorda replied dryly. "Now, do you want to try turning LEFT this time?"
Tegryn obeyed her instruction and turned left, completing a little figure-of-eight.
"And for the finishing touch!" he said as he suddenly veered upwards into a little loop-de-loop, coming awfully close to crashing into the ceiling.
"Tegryn! Please give me some warning next time you do that! Or better yet, don't do that at all!" Discorda yelled right into his ear.
"Oh dear, it looks like Discorda needs rescuing!" Musa said with a laugh as she took off and fluttered towards her beau. They met up in the centre of the room, and Musa took his hands in her own. For a while, they just stayed where they were, gazing tenderly into each other's eyes before Musa drew herself forward and gently locked her lips onto his. Tegryn let go of her hands, slowly wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pressed her towards him in a loving embrace, an act which seemed to make her wings flutter just that little bit faster. It may have been just a simple kiss and a cuddle, but right now it was one that had never felt so good.
"So Teggy, how do you feel now?" she asked, licking her lips with just a hint of mischief.
"Oh, a little light-headed, but then again, kissing you usually does that to me."
This tender moment was broken by Discorda's gentle prodding.
"Ahem. As sweet as this is, I really think we should get going now, don't you?"
Musa and Tegryn's faces both turned as red as Musa's dress, and they sheepishly rejoined their friends who, after giving the two lovebirds a brief ribbing, continued on their journey. As they entered the passageway leaving the chamber, it would be fair to say that they were all thankful to see the back of that room. But that relief was short-lived. With no warning, Tegryn stopped dead in his tracks and gave a gasp of realisation.
"Teggy? What is it?" Musa asked.
"I've just had the nastiest thought."
"What? Darkar in a bikini?"
Tegryn shuddered. "No sweety, nastier than that. Discorda - you said you were able to feel my pain, right?"
"Yes, I suppose I did. It felt like someone had hit in the shin with a sledgehammer."
"But you and I only have half a bond, right?"
"Right, but I don't understand."
"So if you were able to feel all that with only half a bond, then Polli..."