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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:28 pm
The forest? The forest to reveal something important? The forest around Barton Town was a pretty impersonal place to get to know someone and learn about them. No, Aylin wasn't going to take the girls to the forest. No sir, they weren't going to the forest. For Aylin there was only one place to do anything like this around Barton Town. It was time to introduce the girls to Aylin's favorite tree, the one that had people around Barton Town wondering if she wasn't all that right in the head because she spent far too much time talking to a simple tree. Still, the space around the tree was better for what Aylin wanted to show the girls than any random forest.
"Ladies, why don't you take a walk with me to my favorite place in all of Barton Town. And as we do I'm going to impart a little legend my grandmother drilled into my head while growing up. You see back when the Gaian landscape was young and savage and the world was recovering from a great war the gods created beings that embodied and empowered the best traits humans had to offer giving them the tools and knowledge to create great civilizations. However, humans and the weaker beings on Gaia still needed defenders to watch over and protect them," Aylin began as she lead the girls from the high school towards the Village Greens.
My people and my ancestors were far from being the race of mystical beings we are today back then. Only a small handful of pixies had the ability to use the magic we are capable of using today. And as a dark influence fell over Gaia, the gods selected certain individuals for their unique talents and bravery to protect the humans from being overtaken by the darkness. My ancestor was one of those chosen and under the command of their leader these ancient magical warriors gave the humans and the weaker beings on Gaia a fighting chance."
The war between the dark influence and the chosen warriors of Gaia lasted for years. During that time my ancestor fell in love with a brave pixie soldier, married, and gave birth to a son. However, before the child could even speak his first words a great war erupted between two demigods. As the darkness overtook the demigods, the warriors were called by the gods to help bring an end to the war. The female warriors of Gaia did all they could to stop the war but it was to no avail as one by one they lost their lives. As she lay dying in the arms of her husband my ancestor passed her power into the simple broach that allowed her to use her warrior's magic. Her last dying act and wish was that someday a successor to her power would be able to use the magic within that broach. Then with her last breath she asked her husband to pass the broach on to their son when he was of age and to make sure it stayed within their family. For centuries the broach passed hands within my family from one generation to the next waiting for the day when her successor would be found," Aylin concluded her tale as the trio arrived at the Village Greens and at a very specific tree.
The Village Greens with its vast stretches of lush green grass and small hills was dotted with several large oaks and elms that provided people with shade as they sat beneath them. The trees themselves were fairly ordinary and normal to the average person around town but they still provided the perfect location for picnics and the occasional quiet spot to read and relax. However, for Aylin the Village Greens and one particular oak tree held a special place in her heart. People in Barton Town thought Aylin had a very strange relationship with the tree. Even her closest friends would joke Aylin took her tree hugging a little too far. But if they knew what the tree meant to her people wouldn't consider Aylin to be odd.
It was under the branches of her favorite tree after trying to get her husband out of an arranged marriage where Aylin realized she was in love. And it was there where she and Orrin had spent many hours together whenever they visited his family in Barton Town after they were married according to the traditions of her clan. Turning to face the girls Aylin greeted them with a warm bright smile that appeared to reach from ear to ear.
"Welcome to the Village Greens and to the place where my husband and I spent many hours together when in Barton. Here is where I'll answer all of your questions," Aylin told the girls.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:36 pm
Seren laughed a little at her comment about school and smirked Yeah what can I say, sometimes it's pay's to know schedules to a tea makes it easy to sneak out if needed.Listening to her as she typed away on her phone, Seren was awestruck by how determined Lunette seemed to be about the strange happenings, as she was handed back her phone she decided that not just she needed a break so did Lunette Hey after I buy this, I'm going to head back to school after buying some lunch want to join me?
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Hot Caffeinated Cree Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:48 am
Prim gingerly followed behind the pixie. The Village Greens was home to whimsical creatures, gorgeous greenery, and powerful magic users.Prim's heart was beating rather quickly, not because she was nervous; but because her intrigue kept growing as the story progressed. This place was ebbing with magic and a warm, much like a mother's embrace. It was serene, unlike the chaos of Barton Town. Prim continued to listen to Aylin's words. Mentions of the dark influence and the chosen soldiers sparked a memory that was feint but familiar. Prim recalled her younger self; she was talking to an older female figure, who seemed to be mouthing something before handing young Prim a crystal butterfly charm. The older female figure's face had been blocked in her mind, but pale pink lips only mouthed those same words. Prim tried to make out what the woman was saying, but to no avail. Prim blinked from her mind's wandering, to focus on the rest of Aylin's story. Her memories of the were becoming clearer. Prim assumed that butterfly charm was most likely the source of her power and was passed down from that woman much like Aylin's grandmother's broach. There was a certain comfort knowing that Aylin could relate to her, and would take two teenagers to a place she called "home". "Thank you for taking us here, Aylin. Is it safe to say that we're allowed to train here? Pretty nice tree, I think it's sturdy enough for a secret base. I'm sure we could plan a little more, but it'll be perfect. Maybe we can use it as a sort of clubhouse?" Prim figured that was reason Aylin brought them to the tree specifically.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:01 pm
Seren's number was now safely entered into Lunette's phone, which helped to quell the woman's anxiety to a degree. Strange as it was, the manner in which two individuals who had never met before could be inexplicably bonded in friendship in a mere day, it was a turn for the better where Lunette was concerned. Years of having no one to talk with or turn to can lead to unhealthy traits of character. This had been the unfortunate path down which Lunette had been traveling since she could remember. In a sense, this new friend was a blessing in disguise. Looking up at Seren's offer of lunch, Lune perked up a bit, a cocky half smile curving her lips. A cup of tea early in the morning could hardly count as sustenance, and it was very near the noon hour in any case. Nodding her agreement, Lunette walked with Seren over to the registers, which weren't overly busy. This would probably be the case for a few days while people went through the process of shaking off their fears and braving the outside once more. Lunch is actually sounding like the best thing since toast right about now. Heck, never had dinner or break- Oh snap! Berkley never got his dinner last night or anything this morning. I'm in for it now!
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Celestine Ravencroft Crew
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:02 pm
 Charm was not in the practice of following orders strictly. She much preferred to do her own thing. So being scolded was certainly not her cup of tea. "Well if you hadn't summoned me I would've found her." She whined. "You know very well what I asked you to do." A man's voice dryly said to the angel imp. "But then again you're stuck in that form doing my bidding because you're not one to follow the rules." Charm didn't need to see the man's face to know how he was. Her master was under a cloak again, insisting on dramatic fashion. She wanted to roll her eyes but while this person usually dealt with her sarcasm, he was strong enough no delusion of Charm's teenage snark could even ignore. He must have been angry to bring up Charm's penance...but she had agreed to this arrangement to redeem herself. "You shouldn't have lost her in the first place. Why didn't you just stay with her? What, is she that much of a pain to you?.....wait don't answer that I don't need your sarcasm right now. My scouts tell me there are some curious things going on in Barton Town. I can't go there myself right now, as you know. Take this and give it to her." "Isn't this something you should give yourself? It's pretty nice." Charm gawked a bejeweled circle that was being held out to her. Magically taking it and storing it safely, she looked up at the hooded man. "There isn't time. She'll need it. GO". And Charm found herself flung back into the airspace outside Barton Town from where she had been magically plucked from. Dizzy from the second forced teleport, she searched for a place to land for a moment. Surely there was nothing happening in the next few moments that wouldn't allow her a moment for her bearings to straighten out.
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:17 pm
Smiling with an absence mind and a large backpack packed to the brim with personal belongings Leif looked at Barton slightly awestruck at all the changes it had from home. It had been one long journey but with his small trustworthy companion he was at-least glad to be at the end of it all.
Wow, So this is Barton? well i have to admit its alot nicer looking then home. and ill even bet theirs more to do. He said with a bit of enthusiasm as a small Hedge hog popped out from the top of Leif's backpack with a cricket in its mouth much like a dog with a bone. Both stared at the vista for a while wondering what to do next. Find a place to live was way up on the list but so was getting a solid meal again and then getting work. After all several days and nights of pre-cooked food got old for anyone and Leif wasn't inclined to try cooking again after last time.
Oh the awkward conversation about how the house burnt down and the lawn scorched to perfection as-well to his parents. It was one of those days etched in to memory as he slowly drew closer towards the entrance of Barton teeming with questions.
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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:03 pm
Aylin let out a small chuckle at the thought of building a clubhouse in the branches of the tree. While it was a good place to do training by it certainly wasn't big enough to house the kind of clubhouse Aylin figured the girl wanted. As she watched the girl's reaction to her long winded tale Aylin had to smile at the awe and wonder upon her face. However, there was far more that Aylin needed to show and tell the young teen. The question of how Aylin was familiar with transformations and how she was able to tell that girl was able to transform still needed to be answered. With a single silent leap Kai removed himself from his perch upon Aylin's shoulder moving out of the way so Aylin could make her demonstration to the two teens.
"Now then about those questions you say you have. I know you're wondering how I know about transformational magic. I told you about the broach my ancestor insisted remain within my family line," Aylin began, “When I was no older than you are for the first time that I could recall my grandmother did not wear the broach she was never without. For my whole life I was fascinated by her broach. The stone was a color I had never seen on any other jewel and the gold was the color of the pinkest rose. Something about that broach called out to me that day and my curiosity getting the better of me lead me to my grandmother's room where I saw the broach upon her dressing table.
The moment I placed my hand upon grandma's broach a bright light filled the room and when it left I was wearing an outfit unlike anything I had ever seen before. I could feel powerful magic running through my body and the thought of that much magic in my hands scared me to the point where I screamed at the top of my lungs. When my grandmother saw what had happened to me she knew the broach had found the successor to my ancestor's great power. After that I spent the next six years of my life in constant lessons with my grandmother trying to learn how to control the power this thing gives me. Yesterday was the first time since I was fourteen that the broach acted on its own begging me to use it in response to your transformation," Aylin concluded as she showed the girls the broach.
Aylin took a moment to collect herself and let out a calming breath. She knew she was going to actually have to show them her transformation in order for the girls to believe her story. Aylin also knew she was going to have to tell them about Kai's recently acquired ability if they were going to work with them. She was so eager to get things over with that Aylin had completely forgotten to ask who these girls were. It was a small matter she was willing to put aside in order to finish her demonstration to the young teens.
"It seems since I was in range of your magic this broach has come alive and decided to take matters into its own hands because earlier this morning I learned there was more to Kai then him being a simple house cat. Some of us who are born with the ability to use magic aren't always perfect in our magic and it can and will go wrong on us. Sometimes what happens is a one time thing and temporary but it seems in Kai's case it might be permanent. I'm guessing the broach in its need to protect me after what I went through yesterday decided to give back something Kai had lost when he turned into a cat, his voice. I know talking cats are commonplace in Barton but one that was something else first, that isn't," Aylin went on.
"What race of mystical being I once was along with my last name isn't important anymore because what's important now is getting you two to work together as a team. That's something I can help you with among other things," Kai said speaking for the first time, "Aylin, I think you better get it over with and show this young lady how that broach works."
"All right them let's get this over with,” Aylin commented as she took the broach off her pink shirt, “Ventos Alnair!"
As the bright gray light from the stone on the broach began to envelope Aylin a rush of magical lines hit her all at once. There was something above them watching over the entire exchange with strong lines of magic connecting whatever it was to someone or something in the square radiating with a very dark power. That was when the power of whatever was in the square hit her like a tsunami jolting her eyes wide open in shock. As the transformation ended and Aylin stood before the girls in her magical warrior outfit of the sleeveless off white bodice with its matching bows, arm length gloves, gray collar and skirt, tiara with a rose colored gem, rose gold accent at the waist and gray shoes with off white stockings, the dark power became too much to take sending Aylin to her knees in pain.
"Something's gone very wrong in the direction of the square. I can feel the lines of a very dark magic pouring out of it. I don't know what it's from but it's bad it's very bad and we need to do something about it," Aylin managed to get out as she held her arms across her chest in pain.
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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 4:31 pm
Laughing at that Seren paid for her CD and then proceeded to to lead Lunette out of the store intending to walk across the plaza towards a shop, as she reached into her bag to get her phone to show Lunnette the menu her hand jingled the charm her grandmother gave her and she suddenly felt that going across was a bad idea. Ah hey.... she began a little nervously do you mind if we go this way to a little cafe I know? she asked as she pointed down the first side street to the right.
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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:26 pm
Leif having taken the time to collect himself wandered in to Barton, Oscar being slightly shy ducked back down in to the inky expanse of the backpack making a rustling in the contents of it Oscar, whats up in there little buddy? i thought the cage was fine. He asked curiously as he wasn't paying attention to where he was actively walking as he crossed the plaza. Gently colliding with someone else crossing around the same time. Gasping slightly shocked and profusely apologizing Leif offered a hand up as he glowed a soft pink with embarrassment at his absent minded accident. He should have known better but there was just so much to look at all at once and it was just a bit too tempting to stare at all the sights and new sounds.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 2:45 pm
Prim instinctively went to Aylin's side as she saw her fall to her knees. While Prim had been amused by Aylin's transformation, she knew it was now her turn to transform. She tried to mimic what she had just seen, for her own transformation. Prim pulled the butterfly charm from her bag and clasped it tightly. Please work. Please work. She pleaded to herself. Prim closed her eyes and focused her energy into the charm. Prim was unsure of the words to say for this transformation, but hoped her focus would be enough to transform herself. A pink glow began to glitter in her hands. The charm was reacting to the magic from Aylin. Prim stood and took in this new energy. The pink light became brighter, evolving into a magnificent cocoon encasing the teen. Prim emerged from the cocoon like a glorious pink butterfly. With the magic of the butterfly kisses and fluttering wings, Prim had transformed. Her hair was wrapped in ribbons. She had a white bodice with gold stitched pillars down her front, tracing to a red lace trim near the waist. Her skirt was a pale fuchsia, accompanied by a red underskirt. Upon her chest was a red bow with a golden crystal and in the center was her butterfly charm in a compact form. Prim helped Aylin to her feet and nodded. "I'm ready to help. I want to protect the people of Barton. I want to learn from you, Aylin. I know deep in my heart we will stop whatever this darkness is. I won't give up this time. Even if I don't know entirely what I'm doing, I want to save the place and the people I love." Her newly found confidence came from the energy she felt inside. It was the adrenaline pushing her forward.
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Hot Caffeinated Cree Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:53 pm
Charm, with a loud sigh, plopped down onto a tree. "How embrassing it is for a winged creature to be dizzy in the air. Know I know how she felt when I found her the first time. Then again, it was her first day. What's so great about...."
As Charm whined aloud, she glanced around. It seemed she'd landed not too far from a group of three girls...well 'girl' was a relative term for pixies. This slender winged creature appeared to be suffering from some distress. Before she assessed anything about the two human looking girls with the pixie, she looked up alarmed.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" Charm jumped in surprise from the branches. What on earth was that pillar of dark energy? How had she not notice....well she had been quite dizzy she supposed her magical senses had not quite been able to work correctly. She hung in the air near the tree, for once shocked speechless, gawking in the direction of Barton Town.
=====
The ground started to tremor in slight pulses, steadily growing in intensity as Hydro held the shield up in hopes of protecting Barton Town. She didn't know how far the shaking could be felt outward, but she wondered how persons on the ground nor in the sky hadn't reacted to this....then she heard shouts and panic from persons who had elected to return the square. Surely the last thing the clean up workers had wanted to return from lunch to is another impending disaster not but a day after the last one.
Some of the workers shouted, pointing at the strange girl in the center of the center of town. Hydro was agitated by the assumptions but her annoyance leapt to a new heightened form of panic. She looked at her ice-like shield structure and could see stress fractures crackling up the ice. The shield was losing it's effectiveness and the tremors were evidence of that. Ice shards like broken mirrors began to fall out from the failing shield, and she struggled to keep the remaining in tact. What kind of power was this that could break her shield so rapidly, meer moments after casting it. It seems she was about to get a very personal look at it.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 8:22 pm
Lunette didn't bat an eye at Seren's sudden desire to go to some other place rather than her first suggested destination. She was free to change her mind, same as anyone else. What captured Lunette's attention was the slight catch in Seren's voice, as if she was unnerved about something. To make matters worse, some lunatic boy with a back pack walked straight into Seren and then stood there apologizing profusely like a dodo. Lune gave the guy a once over. She hadn't seen him before, and there was nothing particularly interesting about him...not like the Barton Aire Defense officer she had see three weeks ago at the annual mid summer festival in Barton. Now that guy was something. A slight buzzing sound in the back of Lunette's mind brought her our of her school girl reverie and back to the present. A tingle of energy ran through the nerves in Lunette's arms. It felt exactly as the energy spike had yesterday when she had become some uber girl warrior for no apparent reason. Something in the very heart of Barton Town was very wrong. She was picking up the strange vibes now. She was sure this was what had caused Seren to become agitated. The energy pulse in Lunette was growing stronger, and she knew what would happen eventually. She had to get out of there somehow before that freak transformation happened again. Not again, not now!, she moaned internally while desperately wracking her brain for any excuse to get lost in a hurry.
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Celestine Ravencroft Crew
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:10 pm
Seren was attempting to tell the young man who had bumped into her that it was quite all right and no harm was done when suddenly the ground began to shake and a pillar of light shot from the center of the plaza, Seren grabbed the hand of the young man and began to run further down the street calling for Lunette to follow her. As they reached an intersection of street's they ran into a mob of people fleeing the area as well, and in the bustle Seren lost hold of the man and lost sight of Lunnette as she was swept along with the crowd.
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:32 pm
Chaos twice in two days? What is this place coming to? Lunette wondered internally as she was suddenly separated from Seren by as massive crowd of people trying to get out of Barton Square.
A great tremor from below the earth had set the ground shaking just moments before. Then the pillar of dark energy had erupted from somewhere near the heart of the square. The flow of dark energy felt familiar, as it had the last time, but Lune was still nowhere near to understanding why she felt connected to it. She could muse over it later. There were more pressing matters to tend to at the moment.The magical energy that had triggered Lunette's first transformation was growing stronger. Any minuter now she would go uber warrior mode right there in front of everyone if she didn't find some means to break away from the hysterical citizens running in panic for their lives once more.
Just as she was about to give up all hope of being able to let the magic do its thing with relative privacy, a small hole in the crowd was revealed in front of Lunette. She dashed through, not even noticing if she jostled anyone on her mad race for cover. There was a small gap between two stores just up ahead that would offer a degree of protection from prying eyes. Lunette just barely managed to squeeze into the tight nook before the manic energy running through her decided it was time to act and began the transformation.
Seconds later, Lune was back in that warrior outfit with the shimmering black and purple skirt, silver-detailed black boots, and bodice with the fluttering purple shoulder sleeves, once again in possession of a rather wicked-sharp scythe. At some point she wanted to get to the bottom of all the transforming shenanigans, but it would have to be put on a back burner for the time being. At the moment there was some threat once more rearing its head in Barton Town, and Lunette had a feeling she was about to be dragged into it. Lune gazed out from her little cubbie space, trying to see what was happening. It was difficult to see anything through the hysterical throng still making a mass escape from the square.
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Celestine Ravencroft Crew
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:34 pm
Aylin slowly looked up as she heard the young teen begin to speak. The girl, who she had neglected to ask what her name was, was now wearing an outfit similar to her own. Where hers was in shades of off white and gray the young teen's was in shades of white and pink. The girl, to Aylin, resembled the living embodiment of the delicate beauty of a butterfly. What the girl had said reached Aylin's ears in muffled mumble but the tone spoke volumes. What had once been nervous and scared was now brimming with confidence and strength. Whether it was because of what Aylin had said or the fact that the young teen was now transformed once again, it did not matter. What mattered was that the teen was ready to do anything she could to help the people of Barton.
Taking in a deep calming breath Aylin could feel the pain of the dark magic hitting her like a ton of bricks begin to subside. As she continued with the meditative breathing, Aylin slowly rose to her feet. Closing her eyes for a few brief moments Aylin focused on breaking the overwhelming connection to the lines of magic that had caused her so much pain and sensory overload. With the connection shut off, Aylin opened her eyes and let out a relieved sigh. However, something still didn't feel right. The ground felt as if it were rolling like waves. In fifty-eight years of visiting and living in Barton Town Aylin had never felt anything like that before.
"Uh, if we're going to do something about that dark magic we better do it now. Strange things are afoot in Barton Town and you don't need to be a living magical radar to know it," Aylin remarked trying to add a little brevity into the serious situation.
"The sooner the better," Kai mirrored in agreement.
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