Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 16:21:48 -1000 Subject: [ffml] [MW] Waiting... From: Schala The dust stirred up by the soldiers as they worked on the fortress was thick, almost choking. Work was almost done, though, so Schala knew the dust should be settling soon. She sighed. She hadn't seen Frog since she had returned to camp with him. For that matter, she hadn't seen Bacca for some time, either. Her eyes roved around the camp, taking in all the activity, looking for anyone she knew. Where *was* everyone? She had the curious sensation that she was alone...all alone... Chaos and Lorak were gone. They had taken several key people with them. What they were trying to accomplish, she didn't know, but she had a feeling that they were at least *doing* something. It was this inertia that was really getting to her. Then she smiled grimly. At least it's better than getting killed, she thought. Then again... Schala looked off into the distance. She thought she saw two figures through the swirling dust. Maybe it's that creature that Lady sent out, she thought. Then she looked harder. "But who's that *other* person?" she asked aloud. A passing Henrickson heard her. "What other person, my lady?" he asked. "Nothing...just wondering if anyone was approaching camp," Schala replied. The man looked in the same direction. "I can't be sure," he said. "But the sentries will alert us if anyone is coming." Schala nodded curtly, and the soldier left. She stood there for a few minutes, staring off into space. Suddenly she recalled herself with a start. She had felt a twinge. What *was* that? Schala frowned. Whatever it was, it possessed great power. Whatever it was...it was approaching the camp. Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 22:44:20 -1000 From: "Beth Davis" (Ah! Thank you Schala!) George hummed to himself, eyes squinted with pleasure. The Chia bounced along with joy, extremely happy that his mission was coming to an edge. Stone Cold Steve Austin looked at him in annoyance. " it, I already told you to stop that!" George gave him a feline, one-toothed grin. "Oh, George is just so happy that his journey is at end and he can return to his napping!" The wrestler growled, "Hell, I noticed. And those guards just noticed us. What the are those birds they're riding?!" The Chia lazily opened his eyes wide. "Those are chocobos. I hope my mistress is at the fortress, otherwise they may try to take the gifts from me. That wouldn't be wise." He yawned and continued plodding forward, his paws heavily clicking against the turf with each step. Five chocobo-mounted guards rode up to odd pair. The soldiers gave each other's puzzled looks, and finally one spoke up. "Lady Paladin and High Lord Bacca just arrived back at camp a few minutes ago. We are to escort the two of you to them at once." "Oh goody goody!" purred George, dancing from paw to paw. Stone Cold opened his mouth to speak but then said nothing. A crowd of curious soldiers paused in their duties to gawk at the bald wrestler and the 10-foot terra-cotta kitten. Schala silently trailed them to where Bacca and Lady stood, conversing in the shade of a newly-repaired arched corridor. "Ah, Schala!" called the healer, acknowledging the Mystic first of all. "We just arrived back. It's good to see you again!" Schala gave her a silent nod, her eyes concentrating on the burlap bag bouncing along on the Chia's back. "Hello George, we haven't met in a few years," greeted Lady Paladin with a smile. The Chia managed an awkward bow. "I see you have returned from the so-called lost city of Jask, and with a new companion, too." "Ma'am, I'm Stone Cold Steve Austin, the baddest man in the universe. I can kick the out of any that you're fighting against, and this clay thing said you could teleport me home, too." The white wizard looked appalled at his language, but was too anxious to see her gifts to correct him. Somewhat hurriedly, she said, "These soldiers will escort you to a room so you can rest now. We can speak later this evening unless -- or Bacca, do you want to talk to him now?" Bacca shook his head. "No, not yet. I think dinner is best." The warrior smiled at the enthusiasm that his lady was showing. The wrestler looked annoyed by this decision made on his behalf, but he grudgingly permitted himself to be led on inside by the guards. Lady Paladin eagerly turned to the Chia. "Please, let me see the treasures you've found!" Schala and Bacca drew close. With a showman's flare, George flung the satchel onto the ground and each of the contents spilled into view. The healer gasped and turned as pale as the undead. "Heaven help us! Oh, George what have you done?!" MISSING POST: Moogles' attack on fortress? Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 15:09:27 -1000 Subject: [ffml] [MW] The Mystic's Power From: Schala On Fri, 7 Aug 1998, Beth Davis wrote: > With a showman's flare, George flung the satchel onto the ground > and each of the contents spilled into view. > > The healer gasped and turned as pale as the undead. "Heaven help > us! Oh, George what have you done?!" > Schala had been following the creature's movements with the bag so closely that she jumped back at Lady's cry. All she could do was stare at the healer, until she saw a rather large rock roll away from the rest of the stuff that had been in the bag. She stooped and picked it up. It had deep red flecks scattered throughout its black surface. When she held it in her hands, the stone seemed to glow slightly. Then her eyes widened. No...it couldn't be! she thought. Slowly, Schala turned the stone over and over in her hand. The ensuing argument a few feet away faded and disappeared from her consciousness. All her mind was now locked in her gaze as she examined the stone. The turning became a strange rhythm that she could not seem to control. Her feet began to move, taking her away from the camp and into the forest a short way off. Schala stared ahead, still rotating the stone. Something in the distance was calling her, speaking in a voice that was faint and jumbled, but got louder and louder and more coherent as she walked on...and on...She *must* know what the voice was saying...And so she continued... The world around her became a sea of green splashed with brown. The green slowly faded into a light blue. It became darker and darker, running from midnight blue to deep violet to black. And still she walked on. Schala walked faster...faster... The black became lighter. In its place was a light red, becoming stronger and deeper and harsher, until Schala could feel the heat surrounding her. Her eyes stared unseeingly at something that was still far, far away. And yet she felt as though she'd been traveling forever... A streak of yellow to her right startled her. Then another streak, to her left. Then another, and another...They came from somewhere in front of her and disappeared behind her, some moving like wriggling snakes in the desert, others shooting through like a stream. The stone glowed. Her hands glowed along with it. Then she clenched them into a fist, holding the stone ever tighter. She felt the rough edges pierce into her skin. It pulled at her, as though it were sucking out her very soul... The pain grew. Suddenly she lifted her head and screamed into the air, a scream of a dying animal, of one whose power is fading from its grasp... Then it became a different sound...it became the scream of one who is all-mighty and is well aware of it...A scream of triumph, of strength!...The scream of the One who has won the survival of the fittest! The emotions coursed through her body so fast that she could not even begin to feel them before they flowed out again... Her hands flew apart. She released the stone... Its light burst forth, freed from the confines of her mere mortal hands, and bathed Schala with bright red...bright as blood... The light disappeared. The stone fell with a dull clunk on the ground. Schala collapsed. Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 16:20:39 -1000 Subject: [ffml] [MW] The Summoning From: Schala When Schala opened her eyes, at first she could not remember where she was or how she had gotten there. All around her was the forest. The light was dimmer than she last recalled it. She sat up and looked around, and she saw that it was late afternoon. Quickly she got to her feet. The she swayed and stumbled. "Ugh..." she said aloud. "What's wrong with me?" Schala saw her pendant glowing on the ground. "Hmm...how did YOU get there?" she murmured as she picked it up. "It must've fallen or something...the clasp has broken off..." She felt weary and confused, but felt like staying away from camp for a little while longer. Slipping the stone into her pocket, she walked deeper into the forest. The day had been a very nice one, and Schala always enjoyed communing with nature whenever she could. It was also an escape from the terrors and death of the Moogle war, if at least for a short time. The forest thinned out, and she saw that she was coming to a cliff. She stood near the edge, looking out at the land...Only a small area was left untouched by the ravages of the War...the rest...She sighed. Schala dropped her head, and she had a shock. There, still around her neck, was her Dreamstone. She quickly removed the pendant and dove into her pocket for the stone she had placed in there. She held them side by side, and their glows increased. Except for the clasp and string attached to her pendant, they were exactly alike. Another Dreamstone? It was impossible. Schala rummaged around and came up with a sharp rock. She scratched at the second stone, then looked at it carefully. It remained smooth. It *had* to be a Dreamstone. No ordinary ruby could give off such a fiery light. But where did it come from? Why had it been embedded in the rock? And why was it...alone? Suddenly she gasped as she realized its significance. "This...THIS is what I have been looking for," she said softly, her voice excited. "This might turn the tide...how many days has it been since Chaos and Lorak left?" It was the second day. Late afternooon on the second day. *Would* their prophecy come to pass? She did not know. Schala brought the stones closer to each other. Again their red glow burst forth, stronger than either one alone. She parted them, and the glowing decreased. **If I have a little more time, I can practice with them...** Schala held the stones cupped in both her hands. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Their glows reached a blinding level. Suddenly a blast of fire shot up from the ground to her right. Startled, she dropped the stones, and the fire died away. She shook her head. Slowly she picked them up. First the loose stone, which she put in her pocket. Then her pendant, which she slipped around her neck again. She must have space to practice, away from camp to avoid endangering anyone's lives. I'll try it later tonight, she thought. Quickly she returned to camp and slipped into her tent. Schala fashioned the second Dreamstone into a tight armlet. She slid her sleeve up and put it around her upper arm. She smiled grimly, then let her sleeve drop. She removed her pendant and studied it. It was dangerous to leave Dreamstones lying around, and now that she had two of them...Hmm, better not, she thought. People will definitely recognize the change. Schala put on the pendant again. When she peeked out her tent, the sun was beginning to fade. She walked out and saw Bacca and some other people gathered at a peak. She joined them. Bacca nodded at her arrival, and they all stood silently looking out at the battlefield. Tonight... Tonight I will know the extent of the power I now hold... The sun bathed the plain in a fiery red.