~1~ Worlds to Remember
Queen Alisandra sat upright on her throne.
She wore her signature dress of bright red sleeves, an open lace rear, and a golden chest plate. She scratched at the throne’s arms, kicking her leg up and down anxiously. She scanned the ballroom, her gaze bouncing from head to head.
Below her, the many Wolf-Bats, Dancing Contortionists, and Skeleton Men -- some previously from the Stal District -- hosted a banquet for her. Mages from Ratelle District filed in through the main entrance. They had walked many feet through the long sandstone hallway of the Pyramid of Pitch.
Mages ranging from Charlat, Sorelle, Suelle, distant Unricks, and many more began to revel in the Bubbled Green Juice and the Red Smash Liquors. As they tossed them back, a couple of Fortana mages in white lab coats embraced each other with drunken affection.
They had started to cry happy tears, unable to hold back their merriment. The drinks helped to relax their inhibitions. One of them trickled his fingers out from his back pockets and conjured up a guitar. He sang a song about reunification. Other Fortanas began to gather around, clapping and crying all the same.
Alisandra smiled meekly, looking down at her knees. She put a hand to her stomach, drawing in a deep breath. As she let out a dreary exhale, a head of finely trimmed auburn hair caught her gaze.
The hair belonged to an elven man who had a heavy sword draped across his back. He stood by an elven woman who wore a circlet full of dark blue gems. The auburn haired elf did his best to scurry between the crowded ballroom that smelled of Blue Pumpkins, Currants, and Dahlia. He shimmied through the Fortanas and Charlats. The Fortanas and Charlats continued to drink ’til their eyes went cross and lazy.
“Queen Alisandra! I’ve an important message for Queen Alisandra! Um… excuse me, sorry! Oh, wait, is that Cocoa Beer?” Daelyf Gaedunn shimmied through the crowd.
His hurried demeanor sank the queen’s already anxious heart. No. I don’t like the sound of this. Please don’t tell me… that my husband didn’t--
Helleska Gaedunn -- Daelyf’s distant, distant cousin -- put a hand on his shoulder. “Daelyf, you’re scaring everyone within a mile of the Gasping Forests!”
“I’m sorry, but we’re Jarret’s Honorary Knights now, aren’t we? I thought I’d be the one to tell her first.”
The queen got to her feet, her thigh-high boots glimmering in the violet glow of her ballroom. “Tell me what… first?” She glared.
Daelyf immediately knelt. “U-- Um! My Queen. King Jarret--” He paused, catching his breath. “King Jarret has made it back safely.”
Alisandra rolled her eyes, sighed, and then ran over to hug them both. She laughed in delight as she embraced the two elvish warriors. She ran her hand through Helleska’s hair and fell the fine ends. “Oh, thank my lucky clouds!”
As he stepped in slowly from the entrance, King Jarret Ko-Ret had his hands in his pockets. He let his long blond mane of hair swoop down to the side. His thin-framed glasses drooped down his nose just a little bit.
Unlike Daelyf, Jarret simply walked with an organizing command. Everyone made way for his modest black jacket and tight jeans. Even if he didn’t dress as sultry as Alisandra -- nor as bombastic, but we love our Phoenix Queen all the same! -- Jarret was still the king. With his piercing blue gaze, he wasted no time in taking Alisandra’s hand. He drew his thicker lips closer to hers, ready to taste the skin of his queen.
“My Queen,” He said calmly. “I am sorry I was gone for so long. The Voran District… has now been successfully liberated from the Revellichs.”
Alisandra’s eyes moistened as she wrapped her arms around Jarret’s neck. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you!”
“Hm. I reckon I must face a grave punishment from you now. For bringing my queen to such distress, I relish myself less of a man. A true gentleman does not lead his queen to worry.” Jarret brought his hand up to her cheeks. He dried her tears and kissed her tenderly. He cupped his hand around her hips, drinking in her fragrance.
“Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.” Alisandra rasped a low rasp. “I’ll absolutely make good work of you… later. In the meantime…” She put a hand to her stomach again. She chuckled at the realization of almost forgetting. With her arms still around her husband’s neck, she tilted her head from side to side. She gestured to a steady bulge in her stomach.
Daelyf looked at Helleska, shrugging. “Should we, uh, like, get back to the party, or--”
“Definitely. Definitely wanna do that, yeah.”
“Yeah, good call.”
And, so, the two elvish warriors walked back into the fray of drink and song.
Alisandra smirked with mirth. “My love, do you remember, the night before you left, how we both lost ourselves blissfully in my Pleasure Room?”
Jarret blushed. “I could never forget. Though I tried to always remember more regal things, like how you commanded me that I return from this mission alive. Of course, I’d be remiss to not say how I’ve been unable to purge the image of your breasts from my mind.”
“Good. Don’t. I command you to never purge that image.” Alisandra drew closer to Jarret’s lips once again. “Jarret, I understand you’ve been ready to be a King for so long, but… are you ready to be a father?” She pressed his hand to her bare stomach, lifting up her dress.
Jarret’s eyes widened. He couldn’t avert his gaze from hers. His heart raced in his chest. He could feel a subtle swirling in his wife’s stomach. A second pulse. A soft kick. A tender jolt. And then… a satiated and settled pause.
A couple of tears raced down his boney cheeks. His lips trembled as precious laughter escaped him. Alisandra laughed in time, and the two of them were a pure wholesome mess of laughter and tears.
“My… Queen.” Jarret shuddered, his throat catching. He got to his knees, still holding Alisandra’s hand. He kissed each knuckle, then pressed her backhand to his forehead. “My Queen.”
________
Eleyron Pohsai, Lia Requiette, and Aspha Siam-Rogue had traversed west from the Malhana District of the Undertow. After Eleyron glided the two women over a fin-shaped surfboard, they then bounced across the Abizon Rivers.
Even as the waters looked deep and black, they were still much safer compared to the Abizon Seas. The near-infinite void of murk that extended beyond the observable Undertow gave every elf, mage, and Merphonai a run for their money.
Lia coughed up the salty water. “Ugh! I knew I should’ve used my Fire Powers to get us across! Now my friggin’ hair’s a mess.” She grabbed at her locks. Once, they had fiery flaming highlights. Now, the water had dampened them to a dark maroon. “And I smell like… oh Gods! Fish eggs.”
“Hey! I’ll have you know my people happen to like the smell of Fish eggs, alright? I just also happen to like the more earthly smells, too.” Eleyron crossed his arms.
“You’re a weird one!” Lia glared at him. “But… you seem safe enough.”
Aspha cackled, elbowing Eleyron in the shoulder. “He’s as harmless as they come. Those are the eyes of an innocent playboy, not a mermaid serial killer.”
Lia shrugged. “If you say so. One of these days, we should put our powers to the test. See who’s stronger: Water or Fire?”
Eleyron pointed. “Oh, you’re on!”
“Please don’t tell me you’re getting competitive with a fifteen-year-old right now.” Aspha’s shoulders slumped. She had her body wrapped over in a slap-dashed dress of sparkling green. It was much the same color as her hair. Even as the edges had ombres of orange and floral blues.
“I’m not getting competitive.” Eleyron forced up a smile. As he turned back around, he saw Lia charging up a streak of flames down her Victorian button-up. He then charged up a wad of water in his palm. “Okay, um, I might be getting a little competitive.”
Aspha facepalmed. What a numbskull.
“And besides!” Eleyron said, propelling into the air from a geyser of water and fin shells. He then landed right behind Lia. “We gotta train our powers for when Balkrias comes, anyway, don’t we? This now-vacant Stal District that we’re heading to is the perfect place, eh?”
Lia simply put the bottom of her palm forward. A hot rope of flames mixed in with Eleyron’s water. It all turned to steam, knocking Eleyron back about five feet. She then blew on her knuckles like some sort of quick-draw actress in a Spaghetti Western. “I think we all know who’s got a lead here.” She winked.
Aspha pursed her lips. “Alisandra’s mirth, it would appear, is not lost on you, child.”
“Damn straight.” Lia giggled. “This is fun!”
“I’m glad you two seem to be getting along. We need to continue Due North.” Aspha said. She looked ahead at the piles and piles of old scraps, metals, linens, and glass in the now-vacant Stal District. “So, this is the Stal District now? A continent where, for approximately two light years -- and not forgetting that time passes differently across the Abizon Rivers, too -- there’s just nothing but junkyards. The land where the Undertow goes to forget about its outmoded inventions… but a land that won’t let them just vanish so easily.”
Eleyron went to search one of the junkyards. He ran his hands over obsidian grains and shrapnel. Up above, the sky thundered and roiled with a constant storm. Over the Stal District, it appeared as if all the worst sorts of clouds in the Undertow gathered to partake in shouting matches. Eleyron jumped up a bit, startled by each clap of thunder. He kept his gaze forward, rummaging for old weapons, inventions, shovels, or even some snorkels.
Behind him, Lia did the same. Well, almost the same! She focused her Staminance over another bundle of ashes, wires, metals, and bones. A coiling strand of flames channeled itself into veins of muscles, palms, and long fingers. It basically sutured itself into a creature.
A large Fire Hand went to meticulously pick through the different metals, string, and bone. Lia then gently lowered herself over the lifeless ground of the continent, resting on her palms. A yawn escaped her as she watched her conjured up Fire Hand.
Aspha watched them for a moment. She had a grimacing look of disapproval, crossing her arms over her heavy chest. Her eyes went up mid-twitch as she noted the parallels between the fiery girl and the watery manchild.
Eleyron swooped his purple bangs back, sticking out sharp fins from his palms to act as scalpers and digging appendages. Aspha could only smack her knee and laugh, then, opting to find her own pile of junk in the junkyard.
She turned around, to the left of Eleyron, and placed her palms over the ground. Her eyes glowed a Spring Green color with a dash of white. Roots and chutes began to pop up from the barren soil beneath them.
Eleyron turned around. His eyes widened, with their purple hue, as he paused his digging. Lia still kept up at her work, unabated. Aspha continued to kneel forward in her green and white sleeveless dress.
Chutes of bamboo rose to triple their heights. In her palm, Aspha held a twenty-four-leafed clover. It had white streaks that sprang out from its center. As she trickled and twinkled her fingers, one of the leaves disintegrated. Her breath hitched for a moment. She put the clover up against her collar, smiling as it melted back into her skin.
And yet, for a moment all too brief, Eleyron’s heart went wild. It was like he had watched a firework display. Even the thundering and bolt-lightning sky of the Stal District didn’t faze his nerves. His bangs swooped across his face as Aspha stood tall again, mirthy and coquettish. Eleyron drank in every inch he could get of her.
The way her dress couldn’t hide the weight of her hips. The way her hair fell down in baguette-shaped braids over the small of her back. The way her fingernails glistened with a smooth and pastel gloss.
The way her bare feet curled against the rock. How her hands had this delicate strength. Like she could strangle a mouse, only to restore its health in the same breath and with the same thick embrace.
“Holy--” Eleyron couldn’t finish saying ‘Shit’ before--
“You forget, Eleyron Pohsai,” Aspha pursed her lips. “That I am the true Progenitor of Shamrock District. I am not a substitute for Lady Shariandry. Many know of the White Queen because of my hands-off approach. But it is I who can bring to life nature where there once was none. Such is the magic of the nomads of the Al’Kem District.”
Eleyron ran over. He watched as the bamboo chutes pushed up the piles and piles of junk in the junkyard. The chutes lifted the pile, shook it around, and separated the silks, metals, and wood. He put his hand over Aspha’s bare shoulder then, smiling. “You know how to party, that much I can tell.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aspha chuckled, walking into the bamboo.
“Dunno, it just felt like the right thing to say. Something about all these bamboo chutes reminds me of beer siphoners. Say, when all this bullshit blows over, I’m gonna have a big festival over in Nedrique District. You wanna come by and say hello?”
Aspha turned her head, nodding. “I think I would be honored.” She said as a tiny blush crept across the bridge of her nose.
“Sweet! And, hey, uh, Aspha?” Eleyron asked.
“Yes?”
Delicately, Eleyron placed both of his hands around her right one. He cupped his left hand around her backhand and softly stroked her palm with his right. He looked down at the skin, noting tiny green freckles in her otherwise orangeish skintone. Aspha smelled of clovers, daisies, and lilacs. She let him softly caress her hand, giving him a knowing stare. Eleyron’s body warmed as he stood close to her. Despite this, his smile faded.
“I never did apologize for using my Fin Powers on you during that time Balkrias attacked. It must’ve been so startling and painful. It was the only way I knew how to stop the spread of his Madposons, but… I never did apologize.”
At this, Aspha chuckled and rescinded her hand. “Don’t go all White Knight on me now. You did what you had to. Although the Shamrock District is a peaceful district nine times out of ten, I’ve undergone my fair share of pain. Even as I’ve kept my distance from certain… events.”
“Hey, um, what was that clover you used just now? Why did-- Aspha, why did it lose a leaf when you used it? It was a twenty-four-leafed clover, but it just lost a leaf!”
“Eleyron, you don’t need to concern yourself so much with my well-being. I’m the Progenitor of the Shamrock District--”
“Bullshit. I don’t care if you were Alisandra herself. I care about my comrades! If I’m going on this journey with you two, I need to know how best I can accommodate you and keep you safe from over-exertion. Aspha, I--”
“Eleyron, I understand your lust for me, alright? But… I don’t need--” But at this, Aspha’s throat caught. She clenched a fist and kept her back turned. She looked up and squinted as the bamboo continued to separate the materials of the junkyard.
“Aspha?”
“It’s called a Factorial Flower. It had twenty-four leaves, as you saw. It was a factorial of four. There exist twenty-three more of them, all hidden throughout the Shamrock District. They’re vital points of Libidinous Staminance that act as arteries for… me. The factorial of twenty-four is too huge of a number to conceptualize. However, I did a very foolish thing a long time ago. I tied my Life Force to this specific Factorial Flower in particular. If I use all of its leaves, then--”
“Then we won’t even think about it because it’s not happening.” Eleyron said sternly and walked over. He kept a few feet of distance, allowing the woman some space. “Don’t you have any other way of using your powers?”
Aspha’s lips trembled, but she still stood tall. “I have my hair itself. Just a single strand alone is enough to fertilize plants. But I can’t fertilize what’s not already there, which is why I needed to use the Factorial Flower first.”
Eleyron suddenly smiled brightly. He patted her back as if she were a male friend and gave a thumbs-up. His demeanor changed, turning back into the bright-eyed playboy. “Alright! Well, just between you and me, I thought whatcha did was pretty cool, mamasita, buuuuuut we gotta stay in tip-top shape, yanno? Wouldn’t want Lia to scramble around on her own.”
“Eleyron,” Aspha sighed in relief. “Thank you. I don’t normally use my powers in my own district. There’s simply no need--”
“I heard that, by the way!” Lia’s eyes glared a flaming red. She now stood behind the two older adventurers. Flamebolts hovered underneath her hands. “Y’all gotta work on not talking about someone as if they aren’t literally right behind you.”
“Fair enough, hotshot. So, made any progress on your own piles?” Eleyron asked.
Lia simply pointed to a pristine rack of brand-new swords, drills, screwdrivers, and nuts and bolts. She couldn’t help but have a challenging and mirthy smirk. Even as her face proved more delicate and her eyes a bit more slanted, one could easily see how she was Alisandra’s adoptive daughter.
She put a hand to her hip then, just like the queen. “Actually, I did ya one better. I have fire powers, and we’re surrounded by scraps. Ever heard of welding?”
Eleyron just stood there, dumbfounded. “No way.”
“In fact,” Lia blew off a flame from her fingertip. “I could build all of us a hot air balloon.”
________
Off in the distant parallel land of Earth #10,642, a familiar group of six heroes threw their individual powers at a gang of Revellichs and Penreshes. Liana De’Marquis sprinted on her tip-toes across a knocked-over tree. She brought an Imp Oil Sword down over a Lesser’s head, severing it to death.
The body limply staggered backward, knocking into another tree. Tall weeds of white fleabane swayed across an afternoon’s wheat field. Liana flicked the orange-colored blood off her button-nose and her round freckled cheeks.
Beside her, Mikaiah Zirie flew into a Penresh with a pair of pseudo-wings made from white scales. He bit into its waxy and paint-made arms. The horrid smell of the varnish made him gag. He spun around in the air for a moment, only to claw at the collar of another Penresh.
He then focused his scales to pierce through the Penresh’s stomach. More varnish plopped out of them and onto the grass. Mikaiah’s yellow energy sifted across his white scales, charging up a gaseous implosion inside the rest of the nightmarish and ravenous paint-beasts, known as Penreshes.
Drusilla Valcyon flapped through the air with her ankle-wings. She wore a maroon colored Diklo around her head. She clawed at a Penresh, only for its paint to wrap around her wrist and draw her in.
Annoyed, Drusilla let out a loud scream of echolocation. It sent a series of cracks throughout the Penresh, causing its varnish to crumble to the ground. As Drusilla went to turn around, letting her brown skin get even more of a tan underneath the summer sun, the Penresh began to reform itself behind her.
Drusilla just brought down her Valcyon Family Sword across its neck. Paint splattered over the fleabane weeds. The Penresh melted back down into the ground. It retreated in acceptance of the fight’s futility. Drusilla had the upper hand.
Lahwin Requiette kicked into two of the sternums of the Lessers. The vampiric beasts fell back onto the ground. He then held up his hands. His two trusty boomerangs flew right into his grip. He slashed the sharp sandalwood through the air, cutting his two enemies at the knees.
The Lessers tried to crawl away. One of them grabbed a rat by its fat ribs. As the Lesser brought his fangs over the tiny rodent, ready to delight in the fat sack of blood, Lahwin threw his boomerang forward. It collided with the Lesser’s back. As the wind got knocked out of the vampiric humanoid -- who likely was, in fact, once human -- their spine cracked viciously.
Regen Buirell glided across a platform of ice. It also had steaming water that curled around its edges. The Lessers and Penreshes tried to jump at her, but the water boiled their paint to smithereens. Regen continued to fly ahead, currently in her Cloud Form.
A layer of clouds had covered her slim-curved figure with an opaque comfort. She welded a rod of hot ice and shot it forward. It slammed into eight Penreshes, skewering them like beef. Regen clapped her hands. Then, she gritted her teeth before the rod exploded and took out the Penreshes.
“Ya know, ya gotta wonder,” The voice of Lynar Unrick teased below her. “Just what kinda isotope of ice that is to have to be boiling.”
“Good question! I dunno. I’m not a chemist. Yet.” Regen winked at her boyfriend. She then cupped her hands around her mouth, startled. “Hey, on your left!”
“Got it!” Lynar happily jumped.
As he held his new green staff, he focused a zap of red energy in his other hand. The unique signature of electricity ricocheted off of a few Penreshes. Out from their melted bodies, a Lesser Revellich sprang forth. It had its fangs bared.
Lynar made a pinching form with his hands. The red zaps from seconds ago began to untether themselves from his very Staminance. Autonomous and unstable, the zaps went into the ground. They ruffled through the soil for only a moment before dissipating. The soil, at least in this area, was a very poor conductor. Still, Lynar now only had a single Lesser Revellich to ascertain.
‘You have much to learn about how electricity works. I suggest both you and the girl learn more about weather and chemistry the old-fashioned way. Through books.’ An old, stern, and somewhat raspy voice spoke from Lynar’s new staff.
“Aw, hush! It was cool looking! For, uh, a moment.” Lynar said, embarrassed. He brandished his staff against the air. It let out a rod of black, red, and white energies. The energies vaporized the Lesser’s head in one go, leaving Lynar to stand there dumbfounded.
A few feet away, Mikaiah was starstruck. “Holy shit! Bruh. Bruh!”
“Why does he keep saying ‘bruh’?” Regen’s forehead creased. Still, she couldn’t help but chuckle. She relaxed her powers, letting the Cloud Form dissipate. It returned her old clothes. She had worn a pair of black short-shorts and a pink shirt with silver bedazzling. Her light blue hair now touched down to her collarbone, and she just had a light touch of mascara. “The best catchphrases aren’t usually just one word, ya know?”
“I blame Liana’s apps.” Lynar closed his eyes. “Sup, bruh!” He shouted back at Mikaiah.
“Bruh!” Mikaiah snapped a pair of fingerguns. “We’re totally double-teaming these paint-suckers right now.”
’Mmm. I find your modern-day vernacular quite endearing. We had a type of shortform back in my day, as well. We used to call ingredients for potions ‘Al-Kems’. I seldom dabbled in them myself. My former lover was a secret scientist of sorts, however. What does this ‘bruh’ you speak of even mean?’ The voice from Lynar’s staff hummed in his ears.
“Uh…” Lynar put a hand to his forehead. “... It means, like, ‘friend’ or ‘pal’.” He then lowered his voice to a whisper. “I should show you some good rap music sometime. I used to love writing Speed Limericks.”
“Who’re you talking to?” Regen came up from behind, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“GAH! Regs! H-- Hah. Oh, yanno, just… myself. Just myself!”
The staff shook a bit in Lynar’s grasp. ‘Why are you so reticent to tell her? To tell any of them? These are your close friends. Perhaps only friends, I presume. Secrets do not a healthy relationship make. And I see how your heart warms at the sight of the blue-haired girl. My influence can only assist your team the more that people know of me. Why keep me a secret?’
Lynar relaxed as Regen softly flicked a ladybug off his nose. He then leaned forward, savoring her peppermint lips. Because, He telepathically responded to the staff. I still don’t really trust you. You wanna talk about reticence? How am I supposed to wear my heart on my sleeve for the voice of a staff I just found two weeks ago? I appreciate you lending me the power, but it’s not like you’ve told me much about yourself, either.
At this, the staff’s voice lowered itself to a whisper. It is… most difficult to recollect my time from when I was…. more alive, you might say. And when I do make a breakthrough with my memories, all I feel is regret.
All at once, everyone fell back over the tall weeds in the field. All six friends were struck with a wild bout of fatigue. Regen collapsed beside Lynar. Liana fell into the fleabane beside Mikaiah. Drusilla fell on top of of Lahwin, and Lahwin began to play with her hair immediately.
Regen laced her fingers tighter through Lynar’s. She squeezed his hand every few seconds, to the rhythm of some kind of Morse Code. Lynar squeezed it in response. Regen giggled excitedly, stretching her limbs out over the grass.
“We’ve been fighting these Penreshes and Lessers for the past week and a half, non-stop. I’d be lyin’ if I said I’m surprised!” Regen rasped, yawning.
“Yeah.” Lynar closed his eyes, finding her yawn contagious.
“And I can’t remember the last time I got a good amount of sleep, babe.” Regen said as she nestled up against Lynar’s chest.
“Y-- Yeah.” Lynar’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
“Liana!” Regen suddenly shouted.
“What then?” Liana shouted back in an irritated and sleepy voice.
“When we wake up, yeah? Set a course for a Vacation Earth! We all need a break. And an actual break this time!”
At this, the voice in Lynar’s staff hummed again, speaking to him telepathically. ‘I have to agree with the girl. It isn’t much of a reward at all to go and fight the grunts of your main enemies, even after you’ve disposed of the main course. Though the mind needs stimulation. Perhaps, in this weird multiverse, as you call it, Lynar, you… should visit an arcade. We had a few Pocket Dimension Arcades back in my day. Or, what about a-- Oh, what do you Modernites call it? The place where you throw rings over bottles and hit clowns with waterguns and pies?’
Lynar tiredly muttered, aloud, “Ya mean, like, a carnival?”
Regen’s eyes fluttered open as she looked at him in confusion.
At this, Lynar smiled with mirth. I should go and take Regen to a carnival! She deserves to go on a date, after all.
The voice of Annaeus Ratelle raised calamitously from the staff. ‘You mean you haven’t ever taken this girl on a date?’
Lynar’s eyes opened wide with fright. N-- No? We’ve been busy, man!
‘Lynar Unrick! I was never so busy as to try and impress my former lover with gifts and displays of romantic posturing. I command you take this woman out on a date at once! A lady is a lady is a lady. How shameful! Hmph. To the carnival with you two!’ Annaeus turned sour.
And with that, Lynar hugged Regen’s toned and soft body a little tighter. Yeah, we really do need a break, that’s for sure. Especially you, Regs.
________
