I'm back! Kinda sick, but back! Enjoy!

Squint and Gupta had arrived back just in time. The anchor was just being raised as they hurried on deck, Raz happily being pulled behind them in a little sled made of an especially big banana leaf and a vine. The baby giggled as they came to a stop, clapping her tiny hands as she looked around in amazement. She'd seen more of the island in the ten minute ride back than she had in the seven months of her life. She leaned over the side of her leafy ride, staring at her reflection in the ice. "Oh…" what was this bluish shiny stuff that looked kinda like her mother's silver mirror and let her see herself? She leaned side to side, giggling as her watery, distorted image ripple and flickered, bending. "Ooh…"

Her new friend chuckled and she felt a hand on her ears. "Ya like lookin at yerself, huh Razzie?"

She babbled happily, bobbing her head. The magic royal blood she possessed had her further progressed than most joeys her age; most joeys of seven months old would still be living in their mothers' pouch. She already understood a good deal of speech, recognizing many simple core words.

He laughed, and she joined. "Yer gonna love it here Raz, I promise. An' I'm sure th' others'll like you!"

…

"So yeah, that's how I found 'er."

"Oh… you say she was abandoned."

He nodded. "S'right. Far as we could tell, she was." His eyes became faraway as he became speaking of his sister. "There wadn't anyone around, an' she looked all sad layin there by herself… I just had ta bring her home."

"If I may-"

"There she is!"

Opal squealed in surprise as suddenly, a Yana plunged through the foliage, hooked around her middle, and yanked her upward. "H-Hey! What's going on! Put me down!"

"Hush child; we aren't going to harm you." She found herself blinking up at a kangaroo, his fur sandy and eyes bright and blue. "I just want to take a look at you."

Another appeared at his side, his fur fading and changing colors. "You are certain this is the child, Savas?"

"Positive." Answered the one holding. "Her aura matches exactly. It is so pure… I never dreamed of seeing such white essence." She squirmed, uncomfortable. "Oh, my apologies, my dear!" summoning a small cushion into hand, he gently set her on it, patting her head twice. "Child"

She looked up at him. She was prepared to flee at any time; but they'd made no mood to yet harm her, and if she'd heard correctly, claimed blood ties to her mistress. They deserved at least a bit of respect, she reasoned. "Yessir?"

"Savas, please." He insisted gently. His intense blue gaze stared at her awhile, searching into her eyes. Savas silently zipped through her memories; not a single shameful deed he could see. And with the white light energy aura she gave off… "What is your name, dear child?"

"O- Opal."

"Ah, the White Jewel. Quite fitting."

"Actually I-"

"We must return at once! Perhaps you can solve our problems."

"Break mothers' curse with your purity!"

"But I-" she had no time to react as, suddenly, Savas's form flowed, and the group disappeared in series of colored flashes.

…

Effortlessly, Zalim had restored beauty to his beloved's resting place, and the glade looked as peaceful as ever. After the terror and drama of the day, everyone had left their gifts and respect, before returning to their own places in the world, be it magic, or mortal.

"Oh darling…" he was set beside her on her pedestal, one hand cradled in his larger ones. He counted her fingers again and again, taking time especially to admire her long, elongated ring finger; perhaps, had things not gone this way, it would have bared her wedding ring. He'd been designing it when the news came to him. He'd rushed to her chambers, desperate to save her, remove the poison from her veins, but he'd been too late. He'd found her icy blue, her white eyes wide open in a horrified stare. The little rabbit kit and pesky little sprite had been confined in the corner, bound magically and unable to speak.

Desperate, he'd removed the poison from her body, trying again and again to will her beck. But he knew as well as anyone; once a mortal life was lost, absolutely nothing could bring it back. Nothing. All the magic in all the universe, woven in every one of the eleventh dimensions couldn't fix a mortals fragile life broken.

Bitterly, he'd released the two children and demanded who was responsible. Both traumatized, he'd hardly gotten a word out of either one with their consistent blubbering, both already in hysterical tears. He'd restored Raz's natural looks, before summoning the ever annoying sprite nobility. They'd wept at her death, but, he knew, they were natural gossiped. If anyone could spread news, it was sprites. Within hours he was receiving condolences and promises to be at her funeral.

The longer Zalim watched her face, still as serene and sleepy as ever, the further his anguish deepened. The first time in the five millennium he'd been here, then first time he'd been able to find a truly wonderful woman that he was quick to fall in love with- it was only typical that someone would poison her to death.

With misty eyes, ye lay a hand over his chest, forcing a heartbeat, it brought him pain to do so, but it was one of the few things he knew that truly pleased her. "For you, my darling."

Taking her face in his hands, he watched her awhile, before slowly, silently, bending down and pressing his lips to hers. 'I will forever love you.'

And here we go! Oh dear, where did Opal go?! Where did they take her? Poor Zalim! Please review!

Update rates may decrease; I'm really not feeling very well. Some kind of end-of-winter cold or something. I always get sick this time of yer, right around the beginning of spring. Behr :P please review; it might make me feel better!