and the earth with her starkness
'Dancer blinked awake when the sun moved across her face. Yawning, she stretched and knocked Zelgadis's tunic to the floor. Still yawning, she stood and picked up the repaired shirt she'd fallen asleep working on. Folding the garb she knocked on the guest room door before she entered.
"Buenas, Zelgadis. Are you hungry?" Zelgadis opened one silver eye and fixed her with a sleepy look.
"No thanks." He yawned as he rolled over.
"Donna do that, it's catching" 'Dancer scolded, yawning. Zelgadis just snored. 'Dancer left his tunic on the dresser next to the bed.
The blinking of the answering machine caught her attention as she walked into the kitchen. Feeling a little guilty I should have noticed this a long time ago. she pressed play.
> Beep < " Hi 'Dancer, This is me, Katy. I know that you're busy, but could you watch my place for me for a few more days?"
'Dancer rolled her eyes. You might as well let me move in.
"There's a little problem here and I'm gonna stick around for a few more days. If I don't hear anything from ya, I'll take that as a yes. Thanks a mil, and don't forget to water my plants. Bye!" > Clink <
" Wonder what sorta trouble she got into this time." 'Dancer mused aloud to Katy's plastic garden. "Still..." 'Dancer glanced around thoughtfully. Her gaze fell on Zelgadis's cape and she went and poured herself a tall glass of milk. After guzzling the moo juice she rinsed the cup and refilled it for Zelgadis. Taking the cape and cup, she tiptoed into the guest room and left them beside his tunic.
Then she took a sinfully long shower and changed into her oh so sophisticated black jeans and blue silk blouse. Picking through her portfolio as she munched on a green pepper, she located the three cartoons she'd drawn for the Willamette Weekly. After adding a few finishing touches she carefully placed the cartoons into a manila envelope and got her stuff together.
"Oye, Zelgadis" She knocked gently on the door before she entered. It didn't look like he'd moved, but the glass was empty.
"Yes?" Though his voice was soft as always, 'Dancer detected a note of peevishness. Perversely, it made her happy.
"I'm gonna run some errands. I'll be gone for a couple of hours. Do you want anything before I go?"
"No." 'Dancer shrugged, but before she left she placed a pitched of milk just inside the door. I know your type, Zel. You donna handle being sick well and you definitely don't admit that you have needs. 'Dancer smiled slightly as she left, he was beginning to remind her a lot about herself.
In this fateful hour
'Dancer stepped off the Max and trudged back to Katy's apartment. Working for the media was depressing. I gotta find someplace that needs a graphic artist She had planned to just drop her pix off at the front office, but Danny, the graphic editor, had waylaid her and kept her for three hours trying to get her to stay on another season. Well, at least I got a free lunch outta the deal. She sighed mightily. But I really do need the money...
Something glimmered in the alley, and somewhat belatedly 'Dancer remembered Zelgadis for the first time in four hours. Now what do you suppose... Feeling uneasy, 'Dancer walked down until she came to the half hidden object. It was a long sword, nestled among the refuse of the alley. A little farther down 'Dancer could see it's sheath poking out of another pile.
This, this must belong to Zel. She thought picking up the elegant weapon. Nice balance, too.
Her feeling of general unease became a full blown panic and she rushed into the building, sword in hand.
The apartment door was ajar.
Using the sword as a lever, 'Dancer quietly opened the door and slipped in. Her eyes quickly became adjusted to the late afternoon gloom, and she moved silently to the guest room sword, held out in front of her. Silence greeted her as she peered into the guest room. The room was wrecked, the bed sheets in a corner, the lamp knocked over, photos laying on the floor and the pitcher on it's side.
But most importantly, Zelgadis (and his things) was gone. After a quick check 'Dancer knew she was alone. Numbly she sank into the couch.
Where-? In the midst of her confusion she noticed that her portfolio was scattered across the living room. Hesitantly, she went through them as she gathered them together. All her sketches were there, except... 'Dancer checked again. She was certain that her drawing of the Japanese Courtyard was missing. 'Dancer sighed. It wasn't much of a clue ... but it was a place to start.
I call on nature with her power
The air was growing colder with each step, but Zelgadis didn't dare stop. How could he have found me so soon? Zelgadis wondered as he leap from train rail to train rail on the underside of the Fremont Bridge. And I didn't even have my sword! This bothered Zelgadis almost as much as his loss of magic. Oh, why hadn't that clumsy girl 'Dancer brought his weapon as well? A grim smile flashed across his face. At least 'Dancer, for all her hysteria at the sight of lifeblood, was a cool head in a confrontational situation.
With a grunt Zelgadis lept off the bridge onto the western bank. Pain flashed through his side as he jarred his injuries. The world swam for several minutes. As he waited for the nausea to subside, he prayed his hunch was right.
He didn't have much time left in this magic dead world.
And the rocks with their steepness
'Dancer stood impatiently on the Max, drumming her fingers on the rail as she waited for the last of the passengers to board the train. Zelgadis's sword hung at her side, under her long black trench coat. The was soothing, even familiar.
"Oh, can you believe how cold it is? The News said that this was the latest freeze Portland's ever had!"
"Don't I know it. My poor daughter, we just bought her all these fantastic sun dresses and she won't be able to wear them..." Graciously the train pulled away from the Rose Quarter and muffled the conversation of the other passengers. 'Dancer frowned at the murky waters of the Willamette River as the light rail gradually crossed the Fremont Bridge to Old Town.
Why the Japanese Courtyard in the River Front Park? Is it because of that strange statue in the middle of it? She asked the river silently. The river shimmered red in the sunset and 'Dancer shivered. Looks like bloo- "Old Town/China Town, exit left." Pushing past the crush of people she jumped off the Max into the crisp evening. !Tengo ni idea! she looked around wide- eyed at the hoarfrost developing on the plants near the station. Shaking her head in disbelief, she raced towards the park.
She could see the top of the statue when she slammed into an invisible barrier. Staggering backwards covered her face with her hand, coming away with blood on them. Wiping her nose she snarled at the unseen wall. There had to be a way in. Running her hand along the barrier she began walking, searching for a way in.
Zelgadis flew back into a cherry tree. A flurry of blossoms fell with him as the branch snapped under his weight.
"Well played, worm." A grey silhouette stood over him. Have to - Zelgadis forced himself to his feet. "How, < cough > how can you work magic here?" He asked weakly.
"I tamed this world's magic a long time ago." The mage sneered. He raised his hand and pointed at Zelgadis.
"FIRE - " Zelgadis didn't let him finish, knocking the wind out of him with the broken limb. Past the mage Zelgadis could feel a familiar tug. Magic . Running towards the statue Zelgadis didn't hear the mage whisper.
"HOLD."
And the seas with their deepness
The invisible wall was a bubble, 'Dancer realized, as she stood at the edge of the river. Looking in, she noticed a sewage pipe draining into the water. A styrofoam cup bobbed gently over to where 'Dancer guessed the bubble/wall ended over the water, then disappeared beneath the surface. It popped up again roughly a meter past her and continued floating down river. So... 'Dancer looked at the dirty water in disgust. No choice. Before she lost her nerve, 'Dancer stepped into the water and ducked below. He'd better appreciate this. She grumbled mentally, exploding upward. Her hunch paid off, though. The bubble ended a the surface of the water. Quickly as possible, she sloshed back on shore.
I'm gonna freeze. She thought, trudging up the bank. A second later she forgot all about the cold.
Struggling against the hold of cherry trees and grasses, Zelgadis fought vainly for his balance. Not even thinking 'Dancer attacked the restraining vegetation with Zelgadis's sword.
"FIRE..." " 'Dancer get down!" Zelgadis shouted, trying to push her away.
"...BALL!"
The force of an explosion hurled 'Dancer away from Zelgadis, but otherwise she was okay. 'Dancer, stood using the sword to steady herself, and noticed a grey swathed man for the first time. His eyes seemed to glow red.
"Little witch, how dare you come between me and my kill!" he shrieked. 'Dancer just struck a defensive poise, the sword held before her like a shield.
"I donna know who you are, but you'd better have one helluva life insurance policy." She snarled, raising the sword and charging. At the same time in a calmer corner of her mind, she began to pray. With Zelgadis in this fateful hour
"DIGGER......BOLT!" A bolt of light flashed towards her and scattered as if reflected off a mirror.
I call Nature with her power The park become deathly silent, as if the very earth held it's breath. The sun with his brightness, the snow with her whiteness The ruby glow of the setting sun pierced the cloud cover and bathed them in a hellish light.
"FLARE..."
The fire with all the strength he hath, the lightning with his rapid wrath.
"...ARROW!" Like the bolt before they bounced harmlessly off of her.
The winds with their swiftness along their paths The clouds began to swirl in a cyclonic fashion.
And the seas with their deepness, and the rocks with their steepness 'Dancer started to bring the sword down on the grey mage when he grabbed the blade.
"MONO BOLT."
"No!" shouted Zelgadis, watching helplessly.
Pain arched through her body as 'Dancer received the brunt of the attack.
"!Diooooooosaaaaaaah!" She screamed, loosing her grasp on the sword as she collapsed in the wet grass. Nominally conscious she saw the mage step past her carrying Zelgadis's blade.
"Fitting I should kill you with your own blade." Zelgadis's eyes blazed with hatred as he snarled defiantly at the mage.
A single diamond tear fell to the ground.
And the earth with her starkness Suddenly 'Dancer could move again. Throwing herself between Zelgadis and his blade she screamed "AlltheseIplacebetweenusandthepowersofdarkness!"
Lightning crashed around them and the wind howled with tornado fury. Zelgadis's bonds spontaneously burst into flames, the hissed out as the rain pelted them. The earth shook, then split into a gaping maw, swallowing the screaming mage. 'Dancer clung to Zelgadis as the dying sun became painfully bright before extinguishing. The earth crumbled under their feet and 'Dancer lost her hold on Zelgadis. Flailing wildly her hand brushed something hard and she grabbed the sharp, cool steel of a sword blade.
Then there was nothing.