I still can't believe it. I replay the events in my mind, but even though I KNOW they're right, they seem disjoint and wrong. We had just left Mercant... */ \* ================================================ Saving the World Again Interlude: The Madness of St. Gideon Started by Thomas Wilde This Interlude By W4 ================================================ */ \* "This is not only insane; even with the existence of magic, it's downright impossible," Aquila muttered. Hans turned to Aquila and asked, "How zo?" Aqulila motioned to the two imps and two metal slimes in front of them, their backs turned to the group. "We're walking along the path, minding our own business, and WHAM! These monsters appear out of nowhere." "Yah. Zo?" "So why the HELL did they ambush us just so they could ignore us?" Hans shrugged. "Vy ask vy?" he asked as he grabbed one imp and bowled him into one of the slimes. They shrank and became gold coins. "BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!" Aquila screamed as she cleaved the other imp in two, causing it to turn into a healing herb. Julian struck the last slime, killing it. He faced Aquila and said with a shrug, "Monsters aren't particularly bright. If they want to throw away the advantage of surprise, that's all the better for-" "AAAAAH!" Julian, Hans and Aquila turned to Arica, whose face was deathly white. With a shaking hand, she pointed at where the last slime was. Julian turned and muttered, "...Shit." Hans and Aquila looked at the staff that hovered above the ground. It was an ivory staff. On its top was a blue crystal carved in the shape of a cruelly smiling human head. The head seemed to be looking straight at Arica. "It's... it's the Staff of St. Gideon," Julian murmured. Arica backed away from the staff and mouthed, "...No." "It'z juzt a staff," Hans remarked. He reached for it. A bolt of electricity shot out from the staff's head and struck Hans in the chest. He was knocked back several feet. In his dazed state, he could have sworn that he saw the number "100" appear above him. Aquila looked at the staff, at Hans, at Arica and at the staff again. "Isn't that one of the weapons you used to slay Brandonmere?" she asked. Julian nodded. Arica was too stunned to reply. "So why the HELL was a common slime carrying it around?" she blurted out. "Come to think of it, HOW the hell was a common slime carrying it around? That slime was 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 foot, and that staff's almost as tall as I am!" Tears forming in her eyes, Arica screamed, "GET IT AWAY FROM ME!" She ran to Julian, burying her sobbing face in her chest. Hans sat up, shaking his head. "I feel tingly," he mentioned. Aquila took a step towards the staff, looking with confusion at the staff and Arica. "What... what's the... what's going on?" "Forget it. Don't touch it. We're leaving it here," Julian commanded. Aquila protested, "Leave it here? If it helped destroy Brandonmere, don't you think it would-" "WE'RE LEAVING IT HERE." "But you just can't-" Hans put a firm hand on Aquila's shoulder and shook his head. Aquila bit her tongue as Julian and Arica walked off. Hans followed, and Aquila just stared at her three companions. "Idiots, the whole lot of them," she grumbled to herself. */ \* I never understood how and why my world's various monsters and enemies carried such an eclectic mix of treasures. Mechanized warriors have no need for potions that restore one's magical abilities, and I don't even want to know why a Dread Lord had a silk negligee in its possession. However, I gradually learned to accept it. After all, getting supplies from slain goblins and devil bunnies was often cheaper than buying them in town. But... the Staff of St. Gideon? That defied any degree of acceptance I ever had. But that was not the end of it. */ \* "AAAAAH!" Arica screamed, hiding behind Julian. "VAT? ANOZER ZTAFF OF ZT. GIDEON?!?" Hans shouted, pointing at the staff that replaced the destroyed floating top hat. Aquila sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "Isn't that the fifth one we've seen today?" she asked out loud. "This is getting pretty strange," Julian remarked. "GETTING?!?" Arica and Aquila shouted. "Ya. Et haz been ztrange zince vee left Mercant," Hans explained. "Ve've found three Excaliburs, a pack of crayonz, two War Rezpites, a mop, twelve Ambrozias, three bottlez of mouthvash, one Legendary Blade Lamnanti, a zpoon, and five ztaffs of Zt. Gideon." Julian briefly patted the sheath of the Legendary Blade Lamnanti. "Well, some of those are pretty handy. And ambrosia is a very potent curative item. So having a surplus of them is a good thing, right?" "I think what Hans is trying to say is that there's no way that fourth-rate monsters should have this booty!" Aquila shouted. "Would you have gone through all your quests for your holy weapons if you knew that you could just come here and beat up a few frogs?" Julian blurted out, "N-no..." "Besides, what if Damane and his crew get a hold of any of these items?" Arica meekly answered, "They can't... can't touch the Staff of St. Gideon. It only..." Julian sighed as Arica fell silent and embraced him. "Listen... it's been a long day. The sun is setting, so we should set up camp here. Perhaps things will be less... taxing tomorrow." Hans nodded. Aquila grumbled. "I just hope that whatever monster we kill next has some headache medicine." */ \* I was at a loss. Every third group of monsters had that accursed staff! Just the sight of it made me feel like my insides were tying themselves into knots! By the time I managed to calm myself, it was nightfall, and the full moon was shining brightly in the sky. I excused myself from my companions, planning on taking a bath in a nearby pond. When I reached it, I looked into its clear, clean water. It struck me as odd that there were no animals around it. And how would a pond surrounded by dirt, foliage, fungus and animals be so clean? However, my desire for a relaxing soak outweighed my curiosity. I removed my clothes and hung them on a nearby tree. When I touched it, I heard a voice ask in a booming voice, "DO YOU WANT TO SAVE?" I fought the urge to scream. I neither saw nor sensed anything nearby. I figured that I was still unnerved by seeing... THAT... again. I stepped into the pond, its refreshing waters draining the stress from my body. I looked up at the moon, smiled, and closed my eyes. Minutes later, I heard chanting. I opened my eyes and saw five Staffs of St. Gideon hovering over me. They flew towards me. The last thing I remembered was screaming. */ \* Julian and Arica were in the forest on a hunting trip. "Hey, Julian," Arica called out. "Yes, Arica?" Arica straightened out her robe and gazed at her feet. "Um... what do you want to be... you know... when you grow up?" Julian looked skyward. "Hmmm..." he pondered. "I think I'd like to be a piece of bacon." Arica smiled warmly. "Yes. I'd like that, too." */ \* "My God!" Julian gasped as he and Arica looked at the ruins of Donnell's Lake. "It's... It's..." Arica stammered. Julian, tears flowing down his face, screamed to the heavens, "IT'S COVERED IN BACON!" */ \* Darrow eyed the adventurers before him warily. "You have got to be kidding me," he snidely remarked. "Darrow, we need your help," Julina pleaded. "Without your assistance, we'll never be able to track down the Bacon of Aegis." "I'M NOT GOING TO FOREFIT MY LIFE FOR SOME DEAD GOD'S BACON, YOU FOOL!" Darrow shouted. Arica pouted at Darrow. "Please, Darrow?" Darrow's resolve melted. "Damn it all. This had better be some good bacon." */ \* "Look at that!" Arica shouted, pointing towards the bar where a large, muscular figure was single-handedly dispatching a gang of bandits. "My god! That man is decimating their ranks with nothing more than bacon!" Arica nodded. "Let's assist him anyway. He might prove to be a great ally." */ \* Alan gathered Hans, Darrow, Arica, Llewellyn and Pine around a large map. He pointed to a road which was pencilled in red. "There," Alan remarked. "We'll gather the troops and attack the enemy at this location. If we're successful, their supply of bacon will be cut off." The others nodded. */ \* Julian, stood before Darrow, Hans, Alan, Pine, Scuzzbuff, OORT-12, The Soaking Terrence, Mr. Pincher, Earthe, Josef, Randall Sprague, Mae, May, Mei, Mey, Cid Rey, Tatt and Kensuke. "Dear friends," Julian spoke. "I will forever be indebted to you for your selfless and tireless assistance. However, the time has come to face Brandonmere. For this, Arica and I will go alone. A small group will have the advantage of surprise. Also, should we fail, your hometowns will need you to protect them." The crowd murmured in mixed reactions. Some, like Darrow and May, were eager to return home. Others, like Hans and Mei, wanted to stay with their friends to the bitter end. "Friends," Arica pleaded to the group. "Please. Pray for us. Lend us your bacon." Within a minute, the friends that Julian and Arica made held slices of bacon in their right hands and extended their arms towards Julian and Arica. */ \* Julian and Arica stood at the door leading to Brandonmere's chamber. "We're in over our heads, Julian," Arica sighed. "We have been for quite some time," Julian said. "It's too late to turn back now." "I know." She kissed him, once, fondly. "Let's go get bacon." He smiled. They'd been saying that to each other for a while now, like they were trying to bluff Bacon, and so far, it'd worked. "Let's." */ \* I opened my eyes. Before me was the spirit of a man I hoped never to see again. "St. Gideon," I spat. He grinned, showing off his white teeth which faintly resembled fangs. I stood up. "Why are you doing this to me?" I shouted. "Why do your staves keep popping up? And what the hell is with all the bacon?!?" St. Gideon chuckled. "My Dear, The Bacon Is YOUR Doing," he answered with a cackle. "DAMN YOU!" I screamed as I pointed at him. "You're messing with my mind ag-" I looked at my hand. A piece of bacon rested on it. Angrily, I flung it off. It struck St. Gideon in the face. "For Me? You Shouldn't Have," St. Gideon laughed. He took off his headpiece, placed the bacon in it and threw the headpiece over his shoulder. His white hair hung past his shoulders. "What... what do you want of me? I demand that you stop toying with me at once!" St. Gideon laughed again. He took a step towards me. I backed away. "What Indeed? Why Do You Think I've Returned To You?" I shook my head. "It... it doesn't make sense. We destroyed Brandonmere. We returned you to your rightful place. You shouldn't have been disturbed for 1000 years. That's what the legend said!" "My Dear, I've Been Disturbed Long Before You Came Along. You Would Be, Too, If Your Body Was Ground Into Ornamental Artifacts." I rubbed my face. Tiredly, I said, "I don't need you." He wrapped his arm around my waist. I tried to pull it off or squimr out of his grasp, but he held on too tightly. "Perhaps, My Dear. But I Need You." "Let... go... of me!" "You Don't Understand. Before You Came Along, I Never Dreamed That There Would Be Anybody Worthy To Wield My Power. But You Came Along And Proved Me Wrong. Your Strength... Your Spirit... Your Will... They're All So Strong. So Amazing. So... Desireable." I nearly gagged at that. "You don't... You can't!" St. Gideon was close enough for me to feel his breath against my cheek. "Yes, Arica. I Love You. And I Want To Be With You Forever. No Matter What The Cost." I struggled to free myself from his grasp, but he would not give an inch. "NO! I can't! I won't! I love Julian! And I hate you!" I cried. "Julian?" St. Gideon laughed. "Julian Is Nothing. He Dismisses You. He Uses You. He Will Never Understand You. I, However, Have Peered Into Your Very Soul. No One You Will Ever Encounter Will Know You As Well As I Do." "No..." I whimpered, crying. "Please... please stop. Don't do this to me again... I don't want this. ...I don't need you." "It Matters Not, Arica Llewellyn. I Need You. And I Will Never Let You Go. Never, My Love." I shut my teary eyes when his lips touched mine. And e v e r y t h i n g u t r s o n e s i d e J u l I a n o o v S t G i d e o n a r e G i d e o n t e p o w e r n a d l o v e s t e r m i n a t e i D a m a n e y t G i d e o n s v m e r y t h e l p i n g J u l i n a G i d e o n t t h G i d e o n s n e */ \* "I theenk I underztand now," Hans remarked to Aquila. Aquila rolled her eyes. "This ought to be good," she thought to herself. "Monzters attack merchantz and zteel their goodz," Hans proudly proclaimed. Aquila sighed and remarked, "I have NEVER seen a wandering merchant sell one Excalibur, let alone three. And that doesn't explain how small creatures like slimes carry large implements of destruction!" "They are ztrong." "STRENGTH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! Small creatures cannot just tuck away items that are three times their own size! It's just not-" Aquila's rant was cut short when she and Hans noticed Arica walking back to the camp. She had the Staff of St. Gideon with her. "Uh... Arica," Hans started. Arica nodded to Hans. "You're naked az a jaybird," he blurted out. Arica looked down at herself. She rubbed the top of the staff and was surrounded in a glow. Julian joined the group as the glow subsided. His eyes fell on to Arica, and he dropped his newly-acquired blade. "You... you're... that staff... and... dressed like..." "Like St. Gideon, Boy?" Arica snarled tersly, turning to display her dark robes which looked like those of a bishop. Julian grabbed Arica's shoulders. "GIVE HER BACK!" he shouted. A ball of light impacted with Julian's chest. He fell to the ground in a heap. "No. She's Mine. Now And Forever." Hans and Aquila stood up, drawing their weapons. "Sleep," Arica commanded, waving her hand at Hans and Aquila. The latter yawned loudly, curled up in a ball and began her slumber. Hans blinked in confusion. "SLEEP!" Arica commanded, waving her hand again. Hans blinked. Arica hit Hans over the head with her staff. Hans blinked again. "You're not ahcting like yourzelf, Arica," Hans told her. Arica summoned another ball of light which struck Hans in the chest. Hans belched once. "I think you zhould get some rezt. You'll feel better in tha morning," Hans commented, pulling out a bag of Morpheus dust and throwing it in Arica's face. Arica fell asleep, tightly clutching the staff. Hans tried to remove it from her grip, but it shocked it again. "Vat iz with thiz thing?" he asked. */ \* Author's Notes: It's not big enough to be a chapter, and it focuses mostly on Arica. Hence, it's an interlude. ^_^ Send c&c to indiemadw4@home.com.