My Neighbor Tonkii - Invitations and Visitations
by aightaight2
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Making her way forward Silica took note her new surroundings. The grey flagstones covering the floor were unmarred by any greenery, while the walls and the ceiling seemed to be formed from the same type of wood as the door. Ahead the path curved gently down and away.
The stone began to peter out until it was fully replaced by more of the same impenetrable wood, glinting with a dull sheen as it reflected the ambient light. There was no dust or footprints to show that anyone had passed this way before.
So this is what it feels like to be a Clearer. Breaking forward into the unknown, following the path untrodden.
Her hand strayed briefly towards the hilt of her dagger before returning to her side.
Pina had draw her tail feathers up, curling them beneath her wings, her neck twisting from side to side as her red eyes restlessly scanned the corridor ahead and behind.
Silica paused, raising a nervous hand to stroke Pina's side.
Am I giving comfort, or taking it? At least I know that Leafa and Yui have been this way before.
Fluorescent mushrooms growing at the edge of the path provided just enough light to guide her on her way.
Chasing an albino-elephant-isopod, she thought, is surely no more dangerous than following a White Rabbit. Maybe there'll be a Wonderland waiting below for me to explore?
Bolstering her courage once more, she hefted the sack over her shoulder and strode forward with a determined tread.
Ten minutes later, Silica had descended quite a distance below the streets of Arrun. As she progressed the incline of the passage had increased, the slope sprouting steps, the steps converging into stairs, and the stairs eventually joining up in a single curving staircase interspersed only by an occasional landing.
The air, which had originally been quite balmy, had cooled appreciably along the way, causing her to shiver as it took on a chill edge.
Pina's feathers rustled occasionally as she shifted her weight, her movements subdued as she weathered the change of environment. Discomforted by the confined space, it was clear that Feathery Dragons enjoy the open sky much more than enclosed tunnels.
They were both familiar with the dungeons of Aincrad, but this lengthy downward spiral had long since surpassed the depth of any dungeon on that sky-bound Castle.
Ahead of them a spray of flickering light appeared, reflected along the walls of the tunnel. Slowing her pace Silica prepared herself, passing the sack to her left hand while her right gripped her dagger, prepared to draw it at an instant's notice.
A few more steps...
*Wow*
Her breath caught in awe.
The walls ahead disappeared abruptly, as if the path had reached the bottom of the earth's crust before projecting through a hole into the Underworld beyond. The stairs continued onwards, carved into the side of one of Yggdrasil's roots, thrusting downward into a vast cavern.
She made her way gingerly around the last few turns of stairs, discovering a platform suspended around the tapered point of the root. The floor of the chamber could be seen several hundred mails below.
There appeared to be no way down.
Taking stock of the panorama around her, she wondered what Leafa and Yui had done after arriving at this isolated outpost.
Well, in some ways I was right. A Wonderland of Winter awaits, if I can only find some way to get there.
Above her, small points of light flickered against the canopy like stars in the night sky, the soft luminescence sourced from thousands of icicles hanging suspended from the roof. Each emitted a faint white phosphorescent glow, with an added tinge of color reflected from a series of yellow-green and purple-blue bonfires burning on the floor far below.
League upon league of tundra was spread out before her. Frozen white lakes, ice-crusted rivers, snowy mountains, stark cliffs and deep ravines were all scattered across the frigid landscape, interspersed with fortresses of stone capped with more of the frosted icicles. Directly below stood a broad, dark lake, deep enough and still enough to take on the appearance of a bottomless black void. The edge of the chamber was beyond her sight, shrouded in dim shadows.
To her right a series of roots wove together like a basket, supporting a block of translucent bluish ice several stories high that was shaped like an inverted pyramid.
"Kyyyaaa"
On Silica's head, Pina flapped her wings energetically, pleased to have open space before her once again. Launching herself into the crystal clear air she began to glide away towards the suspended block of ice.
"Wait, Pina – we don't know what's out there! There might be bats! Or Vampires! Or Vampire bats!"
As she craned her neck to watch her familiar, a frisson of warning traveled up and down her back, her tail flaring straight out.
A moment later, something furry nuzzled that very appendage.
"Gyyah!"
Leaping in the air, the Cait Syth's hands flew to her backside. The sack arced upwards, spilling its contents, the two melons splattering as they hit the platform.
Landing in the midst of the reddish carnage, Silica looked around frantically. Behind her, a large chuck of watermelon had wedged itself into the tip of a long, fur covered trunk which had snaked up over the edge of the platform.
A chirping "Hyuruhyuru!" sounded from below.
Floating out from beneath the platform, like a leviathan surfacing from the sea, an enormous beast emerged.
If the isopod she had followed was a chibi-elephant, then this one was super-jumbo sized.
Her eyes widened at the sight before her. Large ears, a long fur-covered elephant-like trunk, and a body over 10 mails long were supported by eight white, glowing, radial wings. Below the animal dangled a score of smooth white tentacles, while it gazed at her out of three dinner-plate sized jet-black eyes lined up side-by-side at the front of its face.
With a soft "Hieeee!" the long nose gently wound back down, placing the wedge of watermelon in its mouth.
"Yurururuu!" With a cry of delight, the flying elephant-jellyfish flared its wings in exaltation.
Stretching out its trunk, it began to gather up the rest of the smashed fruit, causing Silica to jump backwards to avoid being swept off her feet.
The dark eyes blinked comically in pleasure as it scooped its new find into its mouth. It was clear to Silica that she had chosen correctly.
In Aincrad, taming was a matter of chance and preparedness. On rare occasions, small monsters would show an interest in players, and if you happened to feed it its favored food then it would serve you as a valuable ally.
In this new mix of Alfheim and Halkegenia, taming no longer caused a familiar bond to form, but a creature's stomach was clearly still the best way to gain its loyalty, and she had once again hit the jackpot.
Hyah! Dragon Tamer Silica is back in business!
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Standing near the stairs leading down to the platform, Silica watched as her new acquaintance finished its treat before hovering in front of her.
Since I'm the visitor, it's only polite that I go first.
Bowing low, she introduced herself.
"I'm Silica. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"
"Yrrruu-?"
"Oh, that's Pina."
She waved her hand at the blue feathered head peeking out above her shoulder. The feathery dragon had returned after Silica's earlier startled shout, but was clearly uncertain what to make of the furry flying-beast before them.
"She's happy to meet you too."
"Yrrwwn?"
"No, she's just a little shy around strangers."
Fortunately, the beast's expressive eyes, along with her own «Familiar Communication » skill, were enough for her to keep up her end of the conversation.
"What should I call you? There aren't too many flying beasts in Wonderland. Maybe 'Gryphon'?"
The white creature's ears drooped, its tentacles shaking in disapproval.
"Oooo-n."
"Sorry, sorry. You're much more friendly than a stuck-up Gryphon anyway. I suppose you already have a name?"
This time, a gentle "blururururu" came from the beast like a soft susurration.
"Of course you do. Maybe you can spell it out for me?"
The creature started crooning, a series of long, low pitched tones, repeated thrice over. If she hadn't worked so hard on her Music Skill, she may have missed the subtle undertones. As it was, however…
"tttoooo, oooonnnn, kkkkkyyyiiiiiiiiii"
"Tooo-oonn-kii… Tonkii? Your name is Tonkii?"
"Kwoo-n!"
With a quick flirt of its trunk, it was clear that Silica had guessed correctly.
"I'm sure we'll be great friends, Tonkii!"
As they conversed, Pina had not been idle. After dropping down from Silica's back, she had been carefully sneaking up on her fellow avian.
From the corner of her eye, Silica saw her just as she reached out towards one of Tonkii's hanging tentacles.
Clearly it isn't just Cait Syth who are amused by dangling threads.
A moment later a startled "Kwoon!" echoed as Tonkii lifted the tentacle out of Pina's reach.
Thus began a spirited game of keep-away, the feathery dragon flitting about chasing tentacles as Tonkii tried to avoid her. Silica couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
Yes! Fly, Pina! Be the instrument of my revenge! That's what you get for pulling on a Cait Syth's tail!
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Eventually the game ran down, Pina clasping one of the tentacles with all four limbs as it curled up around her.
Looking at the world below, Silica realized that her ticket to further exploration was floating right in front of her. All she had to do was convince Tonkii to be her Tour Guide.
"Your world looks wonderful, Tonkii. Do you think you could show it to me?"
Tonkii blinked slowly, then extended its trunk, picking her up and depositing her on its back.
She clasped the fur beneath her just in time. Four pairs of white wings fluttered, and with a swooping dive the aerial tour began.
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By the time they returned the three had become fast friends.
Between praising Tonkii's world and expressing her delight at the sights before her, Silica had chattered away about her experiences in Alfheim.
"I don't suppose you already know a couple of my other friends? They're faeries just like me, named Leafa and Yui. They might have come down this way yesterday?"
"Kwoo-n!"
This time Tonkii's ears flipped up, its eye squinting in obvious pleasure.
"Uuuuuooo Kwwwiiii!"
"I know! She's even cuter when she turns into a pixie!"
Hovering in front of the platform once more, Silica realized that she had a very important question to ask before she headed back to the surface.
"Thank you for showing me your home, Tonkii. Has Leafa invited you visit ours yet?"
"Yyrruu-n?"
"Oh, I'm sure she'd be delighted. It's just that she's trying so hard to be mature that she sometimes forgets… I'd be happy to show you around though. Arrun's nice and warm at this time of year, and the World Tree is simply amazing."
Perched once more on Silica's head, Pina stretched a wing towards the hole in the roof and made a plaintive "Khyaa!"
"Oh." Silica's tail drooped in disappointment. "You're right, Pina. That tunnel is way too small for Tonkii."
She turned back to the creature in question.
"Unless you can phase through the wood like that chibi-isopod, Tonkii?"
"Ooooo-n"
"I don't suppose you know another way up?"
"Hyyrburu."
Silica wasn't quite sure what to make of that response.
"Could you show me?"
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A minute later Tonkii had coasted around to the other side of Yggdrasil's roots, reaching a point roughly the same distance from the centre of the suspended crystal pyramid.
Rather than a platform and a set of carved spiral stairs, this time the roof was pierced only by bare, smooth-bored shaft.
"Does it go all the way to the surface, Tonkii?"
"Bruru…"
As they approached, it became clear that the shaft was wide enough to fit several Tonkii's side by side.
Fluttering its wings a few more times, Tonkii ascended rapidly, the walls of the tunnel scooting past in a rush.
A minute later, Tonkii abruptly slowed down.
The reason for the change of pace became quickly apparent – the shaft was capped. Just like the entrance she had used earlier in the day, a smooth circle of unvarnished wood blocked the exit to Arrun's surface.
"Do you know how to open it, Tonkii?"
In response, Tonkii floated to the centre of the shaft before pointing several of its tentacles at the perimeter of the shaft.
Without warning, the tentacles began to shift color, emitting a blue glow…
"Kwooon!"
A massive crackling thunderbolt was released from each of the legs, drawn to a metal band that encircled the shaft just below the wooden cap.
A series of engraved swirls began to glow, reaching three-quarters of the way up the band before gradually dying down again.
Tonkii sounded a sad "Oo―n"
"I see."
"Don't worry, Tonkii, I'm sure that if we work together we'll be able to find some way to power that hatch."
Salamanders are aspected to fire, Undines to water, Sylphs to air, and Gnomes to earth. Imps favor darkness, Spriggans illusion, Pucas sound, and Cait Syth nature. For lightning… maybe a Leprechaun? They're supposed to have an affinity for crafting though...
"I may need to get some help. Could you take us back to the other entrance, Tonkii? I promise that we'll visit again soon."
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Fortunately, the door at the top of the passageway opened from the inside without any need for a key or a note to be played. Peering through the gap, Silica checked that no one was visible in the kitchen or the bedroom above before exiting into the little backyard garden.
As Pina gamboled toward the kitchen door, she mused on the day's events.
Every time I solve one problem, it seems that another crops up in its place. I wonder if this is what Alice felt like by the time she met the Queen of Hearts? I could ask Leafa and Yui to help… Maybe this time they won't just give me riddles to solve like the Hatter and the Cheshire Cat.
Neither of them are Leprechauns though…
As she entered through the back door, she could hear familiar voices coming from the front parlor.
Is that… Lisbeth? Wasn't she learning smithing from that crazy sword-smith in Goubniu?
Entering the room, the pinkette in the red dress was easily identifiable.
Well, she's obviously here now.
Together, I'm sure we can find a solution.
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As Silica entered the parlor both Leafa and Lisbeth turned towards her.
"Silica-chan! It's good to see you."
"Thanks Liz. It's good to see you too."
"Kyah!"
By now Silica had a fairly good appreciation of the subtle variations of Pina's calls. That was Kyah-type-seven: "Don't forget me!"
"I'm sure a good friend like Liz hasn't forgotten you, Pina," she said to her feathery friend.
"Of course not! I was just talking to Leafa right now about this great grocery store I found in the lower Ring – they even had peanuts!"
That was Liz, always ready to play to the customers. At least when she wasn't complaining; or treating you like you'd just done something stupid.
"Kyyah!"
And that was Pina for "Gimme!"
"I'll take you there tomorrow, Pina. I'm sure Liz will be happy to tell me the address."
As Liz nodded her confirmation, Leafa re-joined the conversation.
"What have you and Pina been up to today, Silica?" she asked, adroitly avoiding Liz's mistake.
Hah! The game's afoot, little-miss-secretive.
Silica had been planning this conversation since Tonkii had dropped her off at the platform. Liz's presence simply added an extra dose of spice.
Start with the hook…
"Oh, Pina spent the day playing with a friend of hers."
"Really? Is that black dragon visiting Arrun now?"
Let the line play out…
"No, as far as I know Schwarz is still with Botan in Tristania. It is someone you know though."
"Really? Who was it – or do you want me to guess?"
A little more…
"A really great guy. He's strong and powerful, and pretty good with his wings too. He said you'd been seeing him pretty regularly."
"OH? Leafa-chan has a boyfriend now?" Liz chimed in with perfect timing.
"O-o-of course not!" Leafa stuttered. "What's his name, Silica?"
And sinker!
"He said his name was Tonkii."
Leafa froze, mouth agape, her complexion draining to an even paler shade of white.
Silica turned to Liz, refusing to let the opportunity go to waste.
"See, Liz! I told you she knew him!"
"Oh ho – so he really is your boyfriend then!" Liz directed back at Leafa, a glint in her eye as she tracked her new prey.
"N..nn..no –"
Silica interrupted once more.
"He was so sad that Leafa had never invited him to visit her here. He wouldn't let me go until I promised to help him out!"
"You've been visiting regularly but you haven't even told him where you live, Leafa? What's the problem?"
"I.. I… he's not…"
Fortunately for Leafa, Yui entered the room at that moment.
"What's wrong with Aunt Sugu?"
"She's about to tell us about her new boyfriend. What was his name again, Silica?"
"Tonkii"
"Tonkii?" Yui's face took on a distracted look. "But… the only Tonkii we know is –"
She stopped herself before she could let out the secret. "How do you know about Tonkii, Silica?"
"Pina and I visited him today."
"Oh." Yui paused again, peering uncertainly at Leafa.
"Tonkii isn't my boyfriend!" her intervention had at least allowed Leafa's speech processes to reboot. "He's not… he's too… we were… he's too big to fit in here!"
Or maybe not.
That last comment was just too much – Silica couldn't stop herself from falling to the ground, helpless to stop her laughter.
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After Leafa had regained her composure and Silica had stopped rolling on the floor laughing, the conversation picked up again - this time interspersed only by the occasional snigger.
"So, Tonkii is a friendly giant elephant-jellyfish Mob?" Liz asked.
"Yes."
"And he can't get up to Arrun because he doesn't have enough lightning power to charge up the hatch leading to the surface?"
"Right again."
"And you want me to come up with a way to help out?"
"Of course. Everyone knows how pretty, and clever, and helpful, and just all-around-wonderful you are, Liz!"
"Don't push your luck, kiddo."
OK, Silica, don't let your success go to your head. She snickered again. Too much.
"Well… I think I'll need to meet Tonkii and have a look at this hatch-mechanism myself."
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At lunchtime the next day the four of them reconvened in the parlor. It would have been five, but Pina was comfortably curled around a bowl of newly bought peanuts, too preoccupied to participate.
"Six charging runes, equally spaced around the edge of the hatch. The problem is that a lot of the lightning energy dissipates before it gets to the correct runes," Liz said in a musing tone. "What we really need is some way to concentrate it in the right places."
"I know that lasers can be used to guide lightning" Leafa added.
"And if we could make lasers, I'm sure we'd already be using them for all sorts of things," a disgruntled Liz replied.
"Could we use something more old fashioned?" Yui asked.
"Like a lightning rod? … it may be possible if we can get them to stick in the right places."
"One of the other Cait Syth couriers was complaining about the lack of Super Glue in Halkegenia. She said that she had to use up a lot of her mana with sticking spells instead," Silica's contributed "I'm sure I could get her to teach me."
"So, six lightning rods… no, better make it twelve. If we split them between Tonkii's tentacles and the runes, I'm sure we can get enough of the lightning aimed in the right direction!"
The four of them all nodded, satisfied with this solution.
"And if we do get Tonkii out, he'll need some armor too. Just in case some of the locals get antsy before they realize that he's a friendly Mob - wouldn't want such a lovely guy to get hurt!"
"Great idea, Liz. Where are we going to get them made, though?"
"Well, the armor will have to be specially made. I took enough measurements that I can draw up some plans and send them off to my mentor Kofu. The lightning rods, though… maybe we can get a local blacksmith to make them up? I'd do it myself but I don't have access to a forge here – or the copper."
"There was that blacksmith we saw on the way to the grocers. Kazumi-san. He's got a bit of a reputation for overcharging though…" Leafa added.
Liz perked up at this. "Don't worry about that. I've been taking lessons with Agil when Kofu gives me some time off. Can't run your own blacksmith shop without knowing how to haggle as well as how to smith! Just leave all the negotiating to me."
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"Hmm, twelve conical lightning guides made of copper, each a foot long, six with an internal cross-brace?" the blacksmith Kazumi failed to hide his smirk.
"Shall we say 10 sous each… for a total of 120 sous?"
Lisbeth flinched.
That was a tactic she had learned from Agil. If you complained that a price was too high, your opponent would simply harden their bargaining position. If you flinched (whether deliberate or not), then they couldn't help but fear that their asking price was too exorbitant.
"Surely they couldn't cost more than 50 sous?" she asked, putting on a worried frown.
The bargaining had begun.
"I suppose I could go as low as 95," the blacksmith countered.
"And I'll go as high as 45," Liz offered.
"Considering my skills, they're worth at least. . . excuse me," the blacksmith blinked. "Did you say 45?"
"Actually," Liz conceded, "I misspoke."
"I thought so." The blacksmith smiled again.
"I meant 40."
"Now, see here – " the blacksmith began.
"Look, Kazumi," Liz's expression hardened for the first time since entering the store. "You have three choices. You can make them for me at a price we can agree on; I can send the designs to my Gnome friend Kofu to make for me when she's no longer busy; or I can hire a forge for a couple of ecu and sell whatever else I make in competition with you. Even at 35 sous you'll still make a profit. Don't look at this as a chance to make a quick windfall, look at it as a chance to prove your skills and stop a potential future customer from going to a competitor!"
Of course, she thought, Kofu would never agree to make something as mundane as a lightning guide. She forcefully suppressed a shiver at the thought of trying to convince Kofu to make twelve of them. But Kazumi doesn't need to know that!
Kazumi thought about it for a few moments.
"Very well," he said, grimacing. "40 it is."
"I believe the figure under discussion was 35," Silica piped up.
That earned her a black look from the blacksmith.
She pretended not to notice, turning her body at an angle with her arms crossed behind her back, right toe swiveling against the floor as she glanced up at him through her lashes. On her head Pina did her part, widening her eyes and lowering her wings as if to say "surely you're not angry at a cute little dragon like me?"
The dragon on the head seemed to do the trick.
"35," he said, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. "Payable in advance!"
Lizbeth studied her adversary for a moment, then conceded.
As Agil had also told her on one memorable occasion "After victory, let your defeated enemy carry his dignity from the field. Just don't let him carry off anything else!"
"We'll be back to collect them at noon tomorrow!"
No sense letting him get in the final word though.
The four girls and one feathery-dragon turned as one.
Just one more day, and Tonkii will be out and about in Arrun!
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Over two weeks had passed since the intrepid foursome had collected the lightning guides from Kazumi. They had visited Tonkii to check that he could grasp them by the crossbraces, but they hadn't been able to proceed beyond that point.
The following days had been busy in other ways. Leafa had learned from Argo that the Dunkirk raid had been launched, and they had all gone to Tristania to await the Operation's outcome.
The subsequent Victorious Return of Tristain's fleet, carrying with it a full complement of SAO and Royalist survivors, had been wonderful to witness. From Silica's perspective though, Asuna's safe return and her heartwarming reunion with Yui had been even more important – a vindication of her decision to log into ALO to help Kirito find and rescue her.
After a month of strain and uncertainty the Fae had grabbed the opportunity to celebrate with both hands. Yes, there had been losses, but in the month since the Transition over forty Fae had already died fighting on their behalf as part of the Mob Patrols. A resounding victory against a Tyrant who had threatened to dispossess them and drive them from their homes… that was worthy of the fireworks and banquets that had followed.
After returning to Arrun they had all remained busy. Leafa had introduced Asuna to Tonkii, Silica had learned the necessary sticking spells from her fellow Cait Syth courier, and Yui had been spending time at Maya's store after stating that they needed to have proper back ground music on hand for Tonkii's first foray into the world above.
Kirito had spent quite a lot of time closeted in Arrun Tower – Silica had even seen him disappearing into a heavily warded room with Argo and the Count of Gaddan while she had been dropping off a missive from Tristania as part of her courier duties. Somehow Kirito had also managed to scrape together enough Yurudo to pay for Tonkii's armor – with the necessary funds in hand Lisbeth had returned to Goubniu to help Kofu craft it.
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Silica was currently exploring Arrun's «Central Markets », this time of her own volition rather than in pursuit of an errand given to her by one of her housemates.
The previous evening they had received word from Lisbeth via Dragon Post that she would be returning to Arrun with the Tonkii's new barding.
She had felt a number of emotions at the news – pleasure that another goal had been reached, relief that Tonkii would be protected enough to visit Arrun's skies, and an overwhelming sense of sympathy for her Leprechaun friend (who must have been working with Kofu around the clock to have completed the armor so soon).
She had been so busy thinking about their next visit to Tonkii that only an accidental flick behind the ear from Pina had alerted her to Kirito's quiet conversation with Asuna. Keeping an ear trained on them, she was only partly surprised to learn that the urgency of Liz's work was due to Mortimer's decision to fund the Armor as a Priority War Project. Apparently Kirito had convinced him that it was worth investing in the friendly "Evil God" as a potential Guardian for Arrun. Certainly his presence would be a nasty surprise for anyone trying to raid Arrun, and Silica was sure that they could count on Tonkii as an ally.
Liz's tireless efforts were certainly worthy of a gift of appreciation though.
Walking between the colorful stalls, Silica checked looked around for a suitable present… something that Liz would enjoy.
She did say that she liked sweet foods… but chocolate is so rare at the moment… too expensive for me to afford…
Turning around a corner, her nose caught the particular scent of fresh baked goods, drawing her gaze to a patisserie stall.
Perfect
Behind the stall stood an old man dressed in a dark green suit. The sun shone upon his bald pate, while a set of thick black whiskers covered his cheeks and chin. He stared hard at Silica as she approached, before peering at Pina with equal intensity.
"So, young Cait Syth. What can I do for ya today?"
"I'd like something special for a friend of mine. Something sweet."
Leaning forward, he spoke once more in a slow and creaky tone.
"I have just the thing. And if you buy six of them… I'll even throw in this extra-special reagent as part of the deal, my dear."
Reaching into his pocket, his wizened hand pulled out a small paper bag.
"See this?" he whispered, waving it in front of her. "Take a look. Inside is something wonderful, perfect for yourself or ya friend."
Tilting the bag towards her, she could just make out a mass of small green crystals, each one about the size of a grain of rice. They seemed strangely bright, as if lit with an inner luminosity that caused them to sparkle.
"What are they?"
"Magic. Magic and power, mystery and wonder. A thousand crystallized crocodile tongues, steeped in a special witches brew. A creation of my own mother - just waiting for the right person to come to collect them. And that person… that person could be you! Six pastries for your friend, and I'll give ya these too!"
Moving his hand up and down, Silica could hear the grains rustling against one another, the sound much louder than the small grains should have been capable of making.
"But… what am I supposed to do with them?"
The old man stopped rattling the bag, standing straight again and smiling.
"All you hafta do is take a large jug'o water, pour the little green things into it, then the person who's going to use it needs to slowly add ten hairs from their head. Only one at a time, mind you. That'll set them off! In a couple of minutes they'll froth and bubble. As soon as that happens, you've gotta quickly drink it all down - the whole jug-full mind you. After that, marvelous things will start happening to ya – fabulous, unbelievable things! But you'll never have such an experience if you don't take my offer!"
Oh. Silica realized. It's a drug.
She was clever enough to realize the dangers of trying such substances, her own parents having driven home the "Just say no to drugs" message... but she couldn't just say no here. This unscrupulous merchant would just try to pass them off to some other less discriminating customer!
I'd better accept the offer – then I'll take them straight to the Arrun Street Patrol, so they can stop him selling any more of it!
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With her bag of pastries in one hand and the small pouch of grains in the other, Silica dodged around the other shoppers. Her eyes were quickly scanning the crowds, using her perception skill to seek out one of the Street Patrol. On her shoulder Pina was looking too. Thus far, however, the duo had been unsuccessful.
They were just passing one of the World Tree's buttress-like roots when the crowd shifted around them.
In front of them, two newly arrived Albionian sailors had decided to do some busking to earn a little extra money. One of them took up a dancing stance while the other brought his lips to his pennywhistle.
As the hornpipe began Silica discovered in an instant that Pina considered the music to be a close cousin to the pan pipes.
A quick "Kya" and the little Dragon was off, twirling in her own aerial dance above the crowd.
Trying to keep track of her familiar, Silica took her eyes of the course that she had been plotting. This instant reaction was a mistake, as her subsequent step proved. Stumbling on the uneven floor she tumbled to the ground, the paper pouch splitting open and spilling the grains onto the root below her. Surprisingly, the grains were absorbed into the wood an instant later.
Oh no! Silica thought. I'll have to explain to a patroller what happened, but without any proof…
At least the bag of pastries had been protected in her other hand. She stood up slowly, watching the Hornpipe come to an end before seeking out Pina, before continuing their search at a slower pace.
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The next morning, six Faeries and a Feathery Dragon stood upon the wooden platform suspended beneath Jotunheimr's ceiling.
Silica had a sack in each hand, one with a watermelon culled from her own secret watermelon patch in lower Arrun, while the other contained the twelve pointy copper lightning rods. Yui was in her child form, a blue bottle of stored Puca music from Maya's store ready in her hand. The other four Fae, Kirito, Asuna, Leafa and Lisbeth, were weighed down with sacks containing Tonkii's new Armor. Even though it was made out of an alloy that was incredibly light for its strength, they still needed all of Kirito's Extended Weight Limit to bring it down to the cavern in a single trip.
Soon after Leafa had called for him, Tonkii arrived with an ululating "Hyuruhyuru!"
"Hey Tonkii, it's time to get that hatch working! We need to get the Armor on you first though – that way we'll know for sure that you'll be safe when we visit Arrun!"
"Kww-ooon?"
"I'm sure you'll get used to it! If you stay still while we fit it, I'll give you this watermelon when we're done!" Said Silica. Holding up the watermelon in front of Tonkii's three central eyes, she was certain that she had just ensured his compliance with their plan.
Between Lizbeth's instructions and Asuna's acrobatic skills, it didn't take long for Tonkii to be fitted out in his new gear.
"You look very handsome like that, Tonkii. Here's the watermelon, just like I promised."
With a happy hum, Tonkii swallowed his prize. "Kwoon!"
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A few minutes later, they sextet were standing upon Tonkii's back as he flew towards the hatchway.
Arriving below the wooden cap, Silica directed Tonkii towards each the six activating runes in turn. With her newly learned magic glue spell, she was swiftly able to stick one of the lightning guides to the metal band below each of the charging sigils.
Tonkii then floated back to the center of the vertical passageway, snaking six of his tentacles up above his head so that Leafa could pass the other six lightning guides into his grasp.
"Ready, everyone?"
Leafa asked, when she was done.
A chorus of positive responses came back.
"I'm ready with the music, Aunt Sugu." Said Yui, standing closest to Tonkii's head with the Puca bottle in her dainty hands.
"Ready, Tonkii?"
"Kwoooon!"
A brief pause followed, then Tonkii's tentacles lit up with a blue glow once more. This time, he pointed three tentacles towards each of the runes, each grouping centered about and upon one of the copper guides.
With a cracking roar, the thunderbolts ripped out, brighter and much more concentrated than on their previous attempt.
The runes lit up, this time charging up quickly until the engraved swirls were glowing in completeness.
Success!
With a rumbling grind, the hatchway split in the middle, the two leaves retracting into a slot in the wall just like the entrance to the other secret passage.
"Great job Tonkii!" Silica praised as her fellow Fae cheered.
"When you're ready, Tonkii, start ascending slowly to the surface! Everyone, look out for any other obstacles in the way!"
As Tonkii began to slowly rise, Yui opened her music bottle. The strains of her chosen song providing the accompaniment as they rode the air currents towards the World Tree above.
Above them, a circle of blue sky cut by a tracery of distant green leaves and branches widened as they rose.
Breaking above the surface, the World Tree soaring for miles above them, Silica couldn't help but be pleased with the outcome of their plan.
Very often challenges are merely – challenges. Precipitating no calamity, although certainly requiring adaptation. And with enough creativity, just about any obstacle can be overcome!
She found herself shouting out loud once more.
"Welcome to our home, Tonkii!"