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Ianna Umbridge Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:15 pm
The Wings of a Horse - Part One
Ianna was starting to get used to her quiet wand-finding free days - so of course, Matilda would just have to step in to make it clear under no uncertain terms that she was, as she always was, her tool.
She was in the middle of rocking Coailiann to sleep when the familiar tingling in her chest started up. "Mother...."
A sigh was Ianna's first response, her silver eyes closing as she stroked Kay's soft white hair which had grown out to her shoulders. "Of course, right when I get comfortable, right?"
"Well, yes. But there are three wands that have all awoken at once...It's never happened before, mother."
Ianna stopped in mid-rock, her eyes snapping open. The "Never happened before" was never even heard. Three at ONCE?! "You expect me to go running off after THREE wands tonight when ONE is dangerous as it is?!"
Her shouting seemed to wake the slumbering Coailiann, causing her to whimper and her lower lip to jut forward. She was about to start out in a full out wail - and would have if Ianna hadn't quickly grabbed for the teething ring and shoved it in her mouth, instantly stopping her whimpering in its tracks.
"Now, mother, you knew..."
"I knew what I signed up for, and it wasn't an 'endanger my life every time Matilda called' type deal, and DEFINITELY wasn't three times in one night. If I almost died on a ONE wand expedition...."
"You won't. I'm...Coming physically with you."
Ianna paused. "P...Physically? How dangerous IS this thing, Matilda? What about Coailiann?!"
There was a long stretch of silence. "She'll be safe alone in my realm. Nothing can get to her."
Truly, Ianna knew Matilda was right - even if she didn't like it. "Well....I...Guess I have no choice, do I?"
There was yet another silence and Ianna sighed. "Very well."
The young woman stood and walked to the small portal, sliding the slumbering Coailiann in. It went straight into the crib Matilda had set up, and Matilda slid out, standing beside her mother looking more tired than ever.
"Very well then," Matilda said softly. "Shall we go?"
Ianna glared at her daughter. "You look as though death hit you, woman. What the hell is wrong?"
Truth be told, three wands awakening at once had shattered three shards of her very soul from her at the exact same time, causing her to almost collapse and pass out from the fire hot and excruciating pain. It also had greatly weakened her. Her decision to come with her mother, however, was purely selfish. Matilda wanted to get the wands which caused her so much anguish herself.
Of course, she could have done that WITHOUT bothering Ianna....but where was the fun in THAT?
"Where's the first one, Matilda?"
The tired Ancient eyed her mother for a moment before closing her eyes. "Mt. Olympus."
Ianna was silent and for once she did not argue. Matilda looked rather shot as it was. "Okay, lead the way."
With a pop, both of them arrived at their first destination.
The first wand, Pegasus, was surprisingly easy to find. Buried beneath a few boulders at the very top of the mountain.
"It's buried, Matilda."
Matilda gave a soft sigh. "So dig it out, mother."
Ianna shot a glare towards her daughter. "Easy for you to say Ms. All Powerful Ancient! Those boulders are three times my size!"
The Ancient stared at her mother for some time, looking rather pained and weary as she lifted a hand, the boulders lifting a few feet into the air. Her face contorted in some sign of discomfort and she let out a struggled "Hurry."
Noting her daughter's state, Ianna zipped beneath the boulders, half afraid they would fall on her, and snatched up the beautiful pearl wand. A minute later, the boulders started crashing down - Matilda's strength was failing her.
"Ah ********!" Ianna screamed, dropping to the ground and rolling down the rocky mountain side a few feet to escape certain death from the falling rocks. Sure, she tore up some skin and hurt her back - but at least she was alive.
"You okay?" Matilda asked, her face pale, her eyes half sunken in.
"Yeah...Are YOU though?" Ianna asked, painfully standing up with the wand clutched in her hands before making her way to her daughter. "You look..."
"Horrible? Yes, getting three pieces of soul torn from you at the exact same time does that to a person...."
"There's no need to snap. You need rest before we find the others."
"No s**t." Matilda grumbled, "Even if I wanted to go right now, I don't think I could...."
Ianna gave a nod of her head. "Then rest, we'll get the others tomorrow."
"Good idea."
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:19 pm
Well - One down, three to go. The Succubus, the Pegasus and the Nymph-thing wands had still yet to find homes. Then again, she had only just returned so the owners should just start feeling the tugs.
Wyvern was the first to go. Ianna's eyes turned to look at the three remaining which were sitting prettily behind her desk, where she was sitting. "Wonder which one of you will find your home now." she murmured, stroking at each of the 'shiny' wands she had.
Coailiann was napping in the headquarters - so she didn't have to worry about her acting up. This in itself was a blessing. The poor woman's arm still hadn't quite healed from the arrow it had received.
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Ianna Umbridge Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:10 pm
Yachiru whined, sulkily gave up trying to pry herself free from Kierla's grasp, and snuggled in the embrace. Maybe it'd be best she just go to sleep, this was so boring. Who knew shopping trips could be so dull?
Just as Yachiru fell asleep, suddenly she felt a change in pace and direction. Blinking her eyes open, she observed that Kierla had stopped in front of a building, with shapes on it like in that - what was it? - that's right! book. "Murr!" she shrieked.
Kierla didn't hush her, gazing at the building so intensely, she might had distintigrated it right there on the spot. Instead she opted to just open the door, and step in. "Hello?" she greeted whoever was there. Standing in the doorway, dressed in black, she looked like an omen of death.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:17 pm
Ianna's silver eyes looked quietly to the woman and the child. "Well. Hello there." came her voice, head nodding slightly. "Come in, what are you waiting for? You're letting the heat out."
A little snappy and rude still - you would be too if your arm was in a sling for the second time in a few months. "Now. Welcome to Ghosts of the Past."
A long pause as she seemed to be listening to someone who wasn't there. "Matilda, I'm NOT stupid."
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Ianna Umbridge Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:37 pm
Stepping farther in, complying to the woman's orders, her eyes roved over the contents of this...place. "Isn't this 'The Wand Shoppe?'" she asked nonchalantly, as she set Yachiru down and observed the area.
Then her gaze flickered back to the woman. "My name is not Matilda. And I never said you were stupid."
The second she was in contact with the floor, Yachiru skittered off with glee, shreeing joyfully as she went, fluttering her wings slightly, causing random gusts of wind to twirl through the dust. "Murr!" she screeched again.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:41 pm
"It's Ghosts of the Past." Ianna said again, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath - before sneezing from the upraised dust. "And Matilda is my daughter, I was by no means talking to you when I said that."
A pause. "Come closer."
She knew the woman who had entered the room was a guardian - but to who? It seemed it would be the succubus...but...Who knows.
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Ianna Umbridge Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:47 pm
Kierla held a pause to match the Ianna's own. "Why?" she questioned, a subtle layer of suspicion weaved in her tone. "What is your name, anyhow? And where is this, Matilda?"
Yachiru, meanwhile, didn't seem at all cautious of the woman. Sure, it was a stranger - fearsome strangers! - but her curiousity overrided her paranoia, and she hopped over and jumped up on the stranger's desk.. "Muuurrrr?" Was that the only word she could say?
Giving the barest suggestion of an exasperated sigh, Kierla moved forward, picking the bat girl up in her arms again. "Don't bother her, Yachiru."
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:48 pm
Ianna eyed the woman quietly for a long moment before answering her - "Ianna. And Matilda...Is not here. She's in another realm. I can, however, speak to her through a mind link."
She didn't seem phased by the little girl jumping on her desk and she chuckled softly. "Lo there sweetheart."
Perhaps she had a soft spot for children? It seemed so. "It's fine, I don't mind. But come closer, please. I'm sure you have questions and the book will answer."
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:15 pm
"Ah." Kierla nodded. "That explains it." She did not seem surprised by the concept of daughters in other realms and 'mind links'..and why should she? She had only recently moved to this world of Gaia, but already she was getting familiar with this wide variety of its inhabitants.
Yachiru babbled at Kierla, making a face, as if saying Seeee? She doesn't mind! Now let me go! Then she wriggled her way out of her auntie's hold, flopping back on the desk. She laughed gibberish until something caught her eyes. "PR'TY STICKSES!" she chittered excitedly, pointing one clawed wing at the wands.
Following Yachi's gaze, Kierla wondered privately how many more questions were going to surface during the time she remained here. That being so...
'The book will answer,' Ianna had said.
She came closer. "And, now what?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:29 pm
"Yes, Pretty wands," she answered the little girl, "But they're not for you to touch."
Ianna smiled warmly and stroked at the girl's head gently before turning and looking to Kierla. "Touch the book."
The minute she would touch the book, the cover would fly open, an invisible wind winding through the pages and blowing them rapidly open until it landed, quite suddenly, on a well-worn page. On this page was a very realistic sketch of a wand with wings - the copy of which sat on the desk.
Under the picture read:
"Mt. Olympus. Wand ID 00012. A Soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand. Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck,
Matilda."
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:42 pm
Her gaze darting from the indicated book, to Ianna, to the wands, then back to the book again, she warily reached one hand forward.
Then, hesitantly, she placed it on the cover.
Immediately, it responded by flying open, the pages riffling through to a seemingly predetermined spot, before the invisible whirlwind stopped.
Yachiru, eyes wide, backed away and fell off the desk, to bump her head rather painfully. With her mouth open in a silent cry, she ran off to the nearest corner.
There, she proceeded to make her opinion of this strange and sudden occurence known, in the form of one long -
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
The pages settled, revealing a picture of...
A wand?!
There was text below, which Kierla proceeded to read aloud. "Mt. Olympus...wand ID 00012...a soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand." Kierla looked up at Ianna, careful to keep her face composed, despite the commotion. "Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck, Matilda."
She stepped back, mind reeling with the impact of...well, everything. For the first time in a very, very, very long time, bewilderment was expressed quite plainly on her features - gaping mouth, startled deer-in-the-headlights eyes, face draining to an even paler white than it had been before.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:49 pm
Ianna smirked a little bit at the woman's reaction - she did however squeek and cover her ears from the loud squeel. "YOU'RE A MOTHER!" she yelled over the loud noises that the child was emitting.
It wasn't as if she hadn't had to deal with ENOUGH the last week, but hearing the loud noises just made her head pound. "CONGRATULATIONS!"
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:57 pm
A mother.
Kierla = mother.
No, no, NO! That was wrong! It did not fit! It was like shoving water and oil in a bottle and trying to blend them together!
Her eyes now carried an almost crazed look now, and when she opened her mouth to utter a sharp, barking laugh, it came out strained and unusually high pitched. "WHAT IS THERE TO BE CONGRATULATED ABOUT?" she screamed back, completely ignoring the rising bawling of her niece.
Hey, congrats to Ianna, and Matilda, and the soul in the wand. You have just caused Kierla to completely lose her temper - and mind - for the very first time in her life.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:02 pm
Ianna winced and clenched her fists, her one good arm's hand clinging to the desk, digging her fingers into the wood. "WILL YOU SHUT THE MOTHER ******** HELL UP!?" came the irrate woman's response to the hysterical one's screaming.
"I DO NOT NEED TO HEAR YOUR ******** SCREAMING AND FREAKING OUT I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF A TIME THIS ******** WEEK ROLLING DOWN A ******** MOUNTAIN."
Okay. VERY few people had ever made Ianna yell - but the combination of screeching child and yelling woman and the bad week? Well that put her over the edge.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:12 pm
Kierla calmed down. Instantly.
"Sorry," she said meekly, dipping her head in an apology.
Wow. Two firsts in five seconds; first time shouting like that, and now first time actually apologizing. This Ianna deserved a medal.
"Um." Kierla cast around for something else to placate the rather irritated woman. "So. How'd you get to be...rolling down a mountain?" She edged over to the screeching Yachiru, patting her head hastily in a feeble attempt to quell her crying. She recieved a bleeding hand for her trouble.
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