Welcome to Gaia! ::

Chapter 3: First Green

Bass'ken Lake

Morning dawns in the land of Gaia, the rosy light of the sun sweeping into every dark hole and crevice, and brings a smile across the face of a young man. The light shall be his ally, and together history will be made this day. Trusty rod and pail in hand, he swipes brown hair out of rust-hued eyes, searching for the spot, the perfect spot in which the Candy Striper will at last be caught, but frowns. Not many fishers are out this early, only a scarce, dedicated few like Logan and himself, yet they instantly reveal to him what the problem has been. All have tried catching the Striper from the docks, where it pulls out into the depths of the lake and snaps their lines. This won't do, He thinks. I need to get into the middle of the lake, where there is less room for the fish to run.

Logan is fishing up a Green Bass, warm-up work for him, but between Logan and the young man is Logan's rowboat docked at the pier. The young man raises a pale skinned hand to cover his eyes, as turning to Logan he was looking into the sharp eye of the sun. "Hey, Logan!" He calls, then nods to the boat. "Mind if I borrow that?"

The old man pauses in his casting, and raises a snowy eyebrow. He didn't see the point; there was fine fishing from here, but try telling that to impertinent youths. "I s'pose, as long as ya bring the ol' girl back ta me in one piece, boy."

Lord TinDragon, or Tinny as he was known to his friends at the Poll Central Guild, snorts, not taking the 'boy' comment favorably, though anyone was practically a child to Old Logan. "Candy Striper hasn't been caught from a pier, old man." He states boastfully, dropping his rod and pail into the rowboat, and pushing it out into the softly lapping waters. Logan shakes his head, chuckling about the brashness of youth these days, and casts another line as the black and silver clad young man rows further out. Yes, history would be made today.

---

Numinous whispers, their owners unseen, float in the air like the finest feathers.

"She's a pretty girl. Not a great beauty like her mother was, obviously, but pretty enough."

"Don't be cold, Phrigustus. Her life has been difficult, and besides, a haircut and something other than rags can do wonders. Her appearance shall not affront our worshipers."

"I still think I should have woken her up with all my bright solar glory."

"Oh, yes, and if Eirmehz was doing it he'd say 'Cower Brief, Mortal'. Honestly, you'd blind the child."

"I would not have said that."

"Yes, you would."

"I don't see why we all can't speak with her now."

"Because Vulcagni, mortals can barely handle one of us at a time. If we rush it we may loose our chance. But hush! No more words, she wakes now. 'Tis better if my brother just speaks with her alone. Give her a taste a power... for we must see if she can handle it, after all."

---

Curled up by the warmth of the coals and cinders of last night's fire, Aislinn's mind drifted in strange state of being asleep and being awake. It was a most curious dream she had, for she did think she heard people speaking. No matter, the daylight streamed through the musty window, making patterns on her closed eyes, reminding her that 'twas time to begin her daily tasks. Yawning, and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up, gazing blearily around her small shack.

There was a man in here, standing in the light, the glow of which played on the red highlights of his dark blonde hair and seemed to be cut sharply by his fine, chiseled features. Seeing that she was at last awake, his mouth curled into a vague smile as he turned to her. Realizing suddenly that having a man in here was not a normal occurrence, her eyes went wide, and struggling to speak, she pushed backward until her back hit the wall and there was no place left to run. Gods, protect me...

At the sweet sound of her prayer, the glittering aura of light surrounded Apollus once more, and intensified as he moved to the trembling girl, kneeling down to her level. It was clear that she was terrified, not for being in the presence of a God but for her honor's sake, as he learned from her feverish appeals, and taking pity on her, with a tanned hand reached out to stroke her face.

"Be not afraid, Aislinn, daughter of Analise." He intoned softly. "Your prayers have never gone unheeded. You have never been alone."

Her eyes flew across his handsome features, and got lost in haunting, cerulean eyes. In them, she saw that when the Creators caused the first day to rise on Gaia, he was there. When the Creators finally go broke and have to pawn their motherboards, and the final sun sets, he will be here still. And always, always, he is here every day, bringing light and warmth to the world. Suddenly more afraid than before as she realizes whose presence she is in, she cast her gaze down.

"L-Lord Apollus," she croaked out finally, scrambling to her knees and bowing her head in reverence. Apollus beamed at her devotion, his aura at full strength, and smoothed her long auburn hair. "You have been faithful... most faithful, in spite of your suffering and while many have left us. For that, you are to be rewarded and given a most vital task."

"L-Lord," she stuttered, eyes welling with tears. "I... I cannot do as thee asks. Let thy grace fall upon another, I am not worthy of thy attention." Never to be denied so easily, Apollus lifted her chin to look into her eyes again.

"Sweet child, have we not looked after you, as your father did plea on his dying bed?"

"Always, Lord but..."

"And have you ever had cause to doubt our wisdom?"

"Never, Lord..."

"Then trust when we say that you shall be the greatest prophet Gaia has seen." He soothed. "No tears, now... one gift, and one gift only at this time. By the end of the day you will understand that you are worthy to be our Chosen." Her protests silenced, Aislinn shivered, biting down on her lower lip nervously. Apollus placed on perfect hand over her eyes, as he began to whisper in a language she never heard before, and could not understand. Had he not, she may have been blinded, as light in all its infinite variety seemed to swirl around her, warming her to the core. Tingling and reaching every cell, the immortal supernova of power flared into sudden existence, causing her to cry out as her fragile, human senses were overloaded.

As soon as it boomed, the divine-light dimmed, and the God removed his hand. Her green eyes gazed glassily at the God of the Sun, before fluttering close, fainting from shock. Drained from this act of power, but still stronger than ever as a result of the girl, Apollus kissed the girl's brow, murmuring, "Rest a little longer, my prophet. We begin soon." With that, he stood, vanishing back into the sunbeam.

---

Lord TinDragon sipped leisurely from his coffee mug. Except for the full bucket of Blue and Grey Stripers he had landed, which proved that the A Bait was doing its job, the young man had little to show for his toil. Glory naturally never came easy, patience, 'twas said, was a virtue, and as fair-weather fishers and lake-goers were arriving around noon, it seemed he'd have a nice crowd to impress when he caught the Candy Striper. Grinning, he cast out his line once more.

---

Morning passed the overwhelmed girl by and it was not until noon that Aislinn awoke once more, groaning at the sharp pains in her head which made her light-headed. Gazing nervously around her cabin once more, she breathed a sigh of relief to find it empty. She had been dwelling too much on the shower of gold, hadn't she? Her mind played tricks on her. Though her brain felt as if it was on fire, she stood, shakily, and went to fetch a pail of water to boil.

Logan hailed her as she drew lakeside, reeling up a Striper with ease and grace. "Mornin', lass! Bit late for you to be startin' the day, eh?"

She offered a frail smile, wincing painfully in the noon light, and crouched by the water's edge, filling her bucket. "I had the most frightening dream... or delusion... or a dream in the middle of a delusion." She crinkled her nose with confusion. "Do those even happen?"

Logan laughed, fully and hearty. "Wouldn't know. Why don't ya come get a cuppa tea after I finish this bucket? Somethin' strong'll wake ya outta yer haze."

Aislinn cupped her hands, filling them with cold lake water, and splashed her face, rubbing her closed eyelids gently. Though she didn't like to impose on Logan, his offer was extremely tempting after this morning's hallucinations. Perhaps she'd be overdoing it; maybe she even ought to take the day off. It seemed like most people were. "I think," she said finally, glancing down the way to see Miss Ruby with her young son, Peyo feeding the ducks, "That sounds wonderful."

---

...nibble, nibble... SNAP.

Having drifted off slightly, the tugging on his fishing line swiftly brought TinDragon back to the matter at hand. He gripped his fishing rod and pulled to the left, testing the strength of whatever was on the other end, before he determined whether to reel in or filter out. A strong fierce heave came in response, nearly snapping the line, clearly proclaimed itself a fish not to be messed with and TinDragon smirked. This... this had to be the one. The Candy Striper. Eager with anticipation, the young man stood up, bracing one foot against the inner bow to the boat to keep the fish from breaking away. Reeling and maneuvering with skill, able the see the flash of bright red scales in the waters below, TinDragon could taste victory.

At least, until Apollus, Lord of the Sun, who had been standing invisible right beside the young man and watching with mild amusement, knocked the poor fellow upside the head.

Then, of course, TinDragon tasted water, rushing to fill his lungs before he blacked out.

---

Cries of alarm broke the carefree mood of the lake goers, gasps of concern and fingers pointing to the center of the lake where the rowboat had overturned when the young man had fallen overboard. Aislinn peered out nervously, hoping to see a sheepish but otherwise healthy face reappear, yet nothing surfaced. Logan swore, and begun to drop his gear in a hurry. "Sunstroke, ya daft boy... You!" He shouted suddenly to another fisherman. "Run for a doctor! Quickly now..." The fisherman nodded and heeded to Barton, as Logan jumped in the water, swimming out to where TinDragon was last seen.

---

On his back, TinDragon opened his rust-hued eyes not to view murky water surrounding him, but a sky of grey above him, in a land of light and shadow. He sat up, blinking hazily around him. He was sitting in the middle of an empty road of dust, which went on and on into the horizon.

"It is time." A sad-eyed man in archaic grey and violet clothing was standing to his right, the white of his hair the most colorless sort of no-color, just barely lighter than the man's own ashen complexion. TinDragon got to his feet, recognizing abruptly that he wasn't breathing, and also that didn't seem to concern him.

"What lies at the end of the road?" He asked.

"You already know that." Eirmehz shrugged, and TinDragon knew that he did. Voices were behind him, and he turned. Several paces away from him were a crowd of people, though it felt like a lifetime. Color marked them all as alive, as Logan and a few other fishermen were hauling a sodden form out of the lake and placing the pallid body down on the Earth. A girl in ragged dress but mournful eyes held his hand as a doctor did her best to revive him.

"That's me, isn't it?" It wasn't really a question, but Eirmehz nodded anyway, black eyes revealing nothing. Strangely enough, TinDragon didn't feel any sadness in respects to his mortal body. That was probably because all his glands and such needed to feel sorrow were in his former body. Eirmehz walked forward and placed a hand, drained of all color, on TinDragon's shoulder, his touch cold as ice. "Come. We have a long journey."

Wordless, TinDragon let the God steer him down the road.

---

The doctor gave a heavy sigh, and closed the corpse's staring eyes. "He's gone." Muffled sounds of horror, and grief at the loss of such a young life came from the crowd. Logan was shaking his head, cursing his folly for letting the lad go out so far, and for not getting him out sooner. Aislinn looked down at the pale hand in her own, which was already going stiff, angry at the senselessness of the young man's death, when a warm whisper, the harmonics of which struck chords in her memory, entered her ear. "You can change it." How... ? "I will tell you." Frozen in a semi-trance, listening to the whisper, Aislinn spoke the words it offered her, and began to glow blue.

---

"Wait." Eirmehz paused in his walking, half-turning to view the path that they had traveled, and TinDragon followed suit. The girl in the ragged dress, glowing azure at the edges, stood on the dust path, gazing around the barren landscape wide-eyed until she caught the chalky face of the God. "Lord Eirmehz..." she breathed, shaking like a leaf.

Eirmehz might have smiled, and tilted his head to one side. "You seek a soul."

She nodded, though not without hesitation.

"You have courage. It is not easy for the living to walk in the land of the dead."

Eirmehz looked to TinDragon, releasing his grip on the young man's incorporeal shoulder. "Go with the prophet. Go and believe."

TinDragon took one last looked at the Lord of the Shadowlands, an image that would stay with him forever, before walking to the frail girl. She offered her hand, and he took it. Eirmehz watched them both fade into a blue mist, before carrying on to his next appointment.

---

Red eyes snapped open, and TinDragon began to cough, great wracking spasms, spitting out water until nothing was left in his lungs but fresh air. The doctor, utter amazement plain on her face, urged him to sit up, checking his pulse and any signs of brain damage the lack of oxygen may have created. Sweet sounds of relief filtered through the crowd, and several of the fishermen patted a surprised Logan on the back. He whistled low. "I'll be damned, boy." Breathing deep, TinDragon looked down the length of one arm, to where his hand was still clenched in another, and then up into the face of its owner. She swallowed hard, green eyes wild, afraid of what he thought and at the enormity of the act she just preformed. TinDragon smirked weakly. "That... was pretty cool."

Shivering like a rabbit, she forced a smile in return, before releasing his hand and disappearing into the safety of the crowd. Coughing some more and wiping sodden hair out of his eyes, with the help of the doctor TinDragon got to his feet. She asked him a question, and TinDragon couldn't remember what it was. Black eyes in a pale face haunted the back of his mind. Yes, he believed... He stared at where the girl had run, and then out at the lake, and frowned. He needed something to make everything sensible.

"Hey... where's my mug?"

---

Dust stirs in the darkness of Aislinn's quiet cabin, and tanned hand touches her head, stilling her tears. She sniffs, and looks up at Apollus, her voice hoarse from crying. "I understand now." Lady Lunaris's face is kind in the moon's light, and Eirmehz watches mutely. Two other gods who she cannot placed at this time, one of indigo hair and cool countenance, the other red-eyed and in full armor, stand behind them. Apollus helps her to her feet, his strong arm around her shoulders keeping her from toppling. "We knew you would." Aislinn bites her lower lip, and clasps her hands together in supplication. "I... I am ready then." Apollus smiles, and nods to the others. The night is filled with strange lights.

---

"Hey, TinDragon... Heard you had a brush with death yesterday." TinDragon paused in his Guild work, and looked over to Tindzel, and nodded. Elhana, a sweet-faced girl with blonde hair nearby, gasped. "You almost died? Why didn't you say anything?"

TinDragon shrugged. "I would have thought the 'almost' part deemed this all unnecessary."

Tindzel eyed him expectantly. "Well... what was it like?"

The pale man rolled his eyes, figuring it was better just to get this over with. "Kinda trippy... I hallucinated a bit. Drowning does that to the brain, the doctor said."

"How so?" Elhana asked in a hushed voice.

"I... I thought I was on a road," he started hazily, black eyes in a pale face making him pause again. "My... guide told me to take the hand of some girl in rags. Funny thing was she was holding it when I woke. Must live around there, poor thing."

Tindzel chuckled and agreed. "Definitely trippy. Cheer up, mate! You're too gloomy to not still be dead." The mage snapped his fingers as an idea came to mind. "I know!"

TinDragon viewed him with suspicion, asking hazardously. "What...?"

Tindzel cleared his thought, and began to croon theatrically. "It's astounding. Time is fleeting... Madness takes its toll..." TinDragon groaned while Elhana burst into giggles.

Behind them, intrigued by TinDragon's story, Mlhmagalia smiled to herself. As wild as it sounded, it was something she and Kesshutsu ought to check out...

@_@
i will read after i finish fishing. it must be something good heart

*Cups his hands over his mouth*

WOO!!! WOO-WOO-WOO!!!

I got to sing the Time Warp... blaugh

Not to sound rude, but am I gonna end up a main character? If so, I can send in a more detailed profile. 3nodding

Last of all...MOREMOREMORE!!! mrgreen

Really good. I like it. 3nodding

Boy, I hope I've been good enough to be a sexified ninja-god. whee

Great story you got there. 3nodding heart

So awesome! 3nodding heart