Well, if anyone is still out there that are not spammers ((huoqiu, couhuo, & fasonfa)), just letting you know that the site is going through a complete tear down and overhaul fix up. Due to the production company name change I have neglected my duties. I really didn't want to redo all that work I put into graphics and the angelfire website. But, since classes are over, and after a really great 10 year anniversary reunion party, I am inspired to get back to it. And make things better. I mean seriously that site is crappy looking. Now that my skills in web design have improved (sort of) it'll be even better. This board won't disappear to the four winds, even though it has the old company name. I have plans, oh yes! And they require sleep, so good night to you all! Happy 10 years!
Diana Random Extra Editor of the Sacred Scripts member is offline
Joined: Dec 2004 Gender: Female Posts: 3 Location: a comfy chair Karma: 0
Re: Suggestions « Result #3 on Feb 19, 2005, 11:35pm »
I'm not sure--I mean, some of the EEnt stuff is old enough that I'm sure everyone has discussed it all half to death, but maybe discussion areas that are more general than just fanfic? At least for the major 'verses. A place for questions like "What's with all the bad dads, Yibble?" and dream casting, that sort of thing.
Or not. There aren't many people using this place, yet, so you could always just see what develops.
Most of the Erion Crew aren't on an Internet Journal or really have the time to read the hundreds of updates a day. So, here you can keep in contact with each other and, of course, your fans!
Re: A Holiday to Remember By Eleanore Stasheff « Result #6 on Feb 7, 2005, 7:39pm »
CHAPTER 8
The snow had finally stopped leaving those who weren't magical stranded there for the night. Most of the guests had gone and it was very late. The children were in bed, the fire was burning low and Maria and Terri brought in a tray of mugs filled with hot cocoa for the three people who remained awake, sitting beside the fire.
Skyler, Mordecai, and Zelda each gratefully accepted a mug in turn and Maria and Terri joined them were they sat. For a long moment there was silence as they all stared into the little flickering flames of the dying fire. Terri was the first one to break the silence.
“I thought the Primes didn't interfere with us mortals.”
“Rarely,” Mordecai agreed. “Unless they're asked to by the G.O.”
“Why would they save me?” Skyler asked.
Mordecai shrugged. “Clearly you have something left to do. Something very important.”
“It wasn't your time tonight,” Maria agreed. “Smile. It's a good thing.”
Skyler did smile at that then turned to Zelda. “I notice you didn't come until AFTER I almost froze to death.”
“Would you rather we didn't come at all?” She mocked. “Cause we can throw you outside in the snow and lock the door anytime you want.”
“That's okay, really.”
Silence as they sipped their cocoa. Maria looked up at the star glittering on top of the tree, then out the window at the dark night.
“Merry Christmas, everyone.” Almost in unison they all replied.
“Merry Christmas.”
“And God Bless us,” Terri added in a high pitched, Muppet voice. “God bless us every one.”
The others glared at her.
“Sorry, I had to. It was too schmaltzy to go out on that note.”
CHAPTER 7 pt. 2 « Result #7 on Feb 7, 2005, 7:36pm »
* * *
He had lost all feeling a long time ago and had finally succumbed to the overwhelming desire to close his eyes and fall asleep. Now he was drifting, feeling himself fly from earth and through the stars towards a point of pure light. He had never traveling this way before.
Then he felt it. One tiny tear landing on his face and sliding down his cheek.
No, it wasn't a tear. It was a snow flake.
But it was so soft and warm. Even the cold air didn't chill it on his face. Out of sheer curiosity he opened his eyes another feeling another one land on the bridge of his nose and discovered it wasn't snow.
It was a feather.
A white feather.
He looked up at the cloudy, dark skies and a face swam into view. A beautiful Native American female face that glowed with a warm white aura around her. A face he had never seen, but he somehow knew who it was. Who it had to be.
White Feather.
Then he felt warmth seeping into his body as the smell of burning wood drifted towards him and he turned his head to see a ring of fire surrounding him, but it wasn't hot to the touch – merely warm and burned with a soft golden red flame that seeped through the snow and into his toes and fingers. Another face appeared next to him and this one he did recognize. The shock of red hair and pale white face belonged to Red Fox.
He felt a warm hand on his forehead and turned to see a tall, slender black woman sitting by his shoulders, glowing with golden light. Gold Ring. He recognized her too. She helped him as he struggled to sit up, watching the fire melt into his clothes and warm him without the pain that usually accompanies warming of limbs. At his feet knelt a young woman, no more then sixteen or seventeen who was decidedly Asian in origin and wore a green kimono type of robe embroidered with flowers of all colors. A green glow surrounded her as she set her hands on the earth and the snow melted, the grass became green and lush, the earth warm like a sandy beach on a summer day, and flowers sprouted between his fingers.
Standing behind her was a tall man with a long white beard, though he himself looked aboriginal or Hawaiian. He wore nothing but a dark blue loin cloth and tattoos of fish, shells, waves, and seaweed all over his body in various shades of blue and green. He held a mug of steaming liquid which he passed to another man who stood between him and white feather.
This man was small with jet black hair, silver beard, and deeply tanned skinned – looking definitely middle eastern. His clothing was shades of gray and reminded Skyler of carvings of characters from the Epic of Gilgamesh. He passed the cup to White Feather who set it at Skyler's mouth and Skyler took a deep drink, still starring at the woman in white beside him.
The liquid was warm and comforting like a mixture of flowers and soup and sunshine all at once. He looked down at himself and realized that his wounds were gone, completely healed.
“Thank you.” It was all he could say. They simply smiled and nodded then stood up and stepped back, fading into the snow storm that blazed around him like he was inside an inverse snow globe.
Mordecai, Maria, Zelda, and Terri arrived just in time to see the six figures – all glowing in various colors: white, red, gold, green, blue, and silver – disappear. Mordecai and Zelda exchanged glances as Maria and Terri ran to Skyler and helped him to his feet.
“Are you okay?” Terri asked.
“I think so,” Skyler replied. Then nodded. “Yes. I'm fine now. But I wasn't a minute ago. White Feather was here and Red Fox and Gold Ring..”
“All the primes,” Mordecai finished for him. “We saw them too.”
“Good, cause I thought I might have imagined it.”
“Let's get you inside fast,” Terri insisted as Mordecai and Zelda linked hands around the small group. Within minutes they were back inside the front hallway of the mansion.
Re: A Holiday to Remember By Eleanore Stasheff « Result #8 on Feb 7, 2005, 7:31pm »
CHAPTER 7
It was still snowing. Two hours and the snow drifts were higher then ever. The driveway that led from the road to the house looked icy and slick. Terri stood by the front window looking outside, searching for any sign of Skyler. She glanced back into the room but everyone else was talking, laughing, playing board games and cards. No one but her seemed worried.
Of course she was the only one here who didn't have some sort of magical powers, inherited or begotten or merged – well, except for being able to see ghosts. She was mortal. So was Skyler, and that's what worried her.
“Any sign of him yet?” Maria's voice asked from behind her. She turned to see Maria looking as worried as she felt. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one concerned after all.
“No. He should have been here by now.”
Maria nodded and took a long drink of eggnog, obviously lost in thought. At last she spoke again. “I'll see if Mordy can locate him.”
From the other side of the room Zelda watched Maria and Terri talking over by the window. She knew what they were talking about.
Skyler.
He should have been here by now, she was certain of that. She knew something had happened to him, but she also had that deep sensation throughout her – almost like a voice but never that tangible – telling her not to worry about it. Everything was as it should be. Of course that could mean that he was lying somewhere in the snow dying, but if that's what was happening then that's what the GO wanted and she couldn't interfere. It was best to keep the children distracted while the parents chatted and fretted, so that's what she was doing.
“Tell us a story!” Zoey exclaimed, resting comfortably in Zelda's lap as she sat by the fireside. Aglia and Morpheus were seated in front of her and little Zora was sitting in Aglia's lap.
“What kind of story?” Zelda asked, always amused (and terribly indulgent) of her god-daughter.
“A Christmas story, silly!” she replied.
“Tell us about a Christmas from when you were a child,” Aglia suggested.
“Yeah, what was it like for you having a spirit sorcerer father?”
“He wasn't nearly as good a father as you have,” she declared, then fell silent as her mind drifted back to a time she had always tried hard to forget.
“Mommy when are you coming home?”
“Not for another month. Don't ask again.”
Zelda sat on the bed of the guest room Cory had decorated for her. She practically lived here now since her mother was rarely in the country for more then a few weeks at a time. She held the cordless phone tightly in her little hands and spoke into a receiver that was almost a size too big for her head. Cordelia stood next to her bed, looking down at her with concern and compassion.
“You said you'd be back in time for Christmas. You promised!”
“I said I'd try. I didn't promise.”
A tear rolled down her cheek as she stared out the frost covered window. “Mommy, do you love me?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment, then her mother spoke again. “Pass the phone back to Aunt Cory.”
Tears were falling like a hurricane now as Zelda screamed and threw the phone at Cory who dodged out of the way then picked it up. “Zandra, I'm calling you back in five minutes and you better answer the phone.”
She hung up and tried to comfort Zelda as the little girl plunged under the covers, pulling them over her head as she cried into the large, soft white bunny rabbit Cory had given her for Easter. Cory tucked the covers around her and sat on the bed beside the sobbing bundle.
“Whatever she said, I'm sure she doesn't mean it,” Cory told her quietly.
“She hates me!”
“She doesn't hate you.”
“Then why isn't she here?!? Why are dead people so much more important then me?!?” Zelda cried. Cory tried to hug her, but Zelda pushed her off from under the covers.
“I hate her! I HATE HER! I HATE HER! I HATE HER!”
Cory simply sighed and turned off the bedside lamp. “Good night. Aunt Maria will be here tomorrow, you'll be better then.”
“No I won't!” Zelda screamed. “I hate her! I hate all of you!”
Cory sighed again and left the room. Zelda's sobs began to quiet down as she listened to Cory dial the phone, heading down the hall. She could hear the conversation even as Cory headed back downstairs.
“Zandra, do you have any idea what you're doing to that poor girl?!? She's your daughter for god's sake!” There was a pause, then Cory spoke again. “I don't care who her father is, she's YOUR DAUGHTER! And you're treating her like trash! If you don't care then do us all a favor and don't come back next time. That will be a hell of a lot easier to explain. Don't you dare hang up on me! Zandra, I'm warning you...”
The conversation faded as Cory moved out of Zelda's hearing range, leaving her all alone, crying in the dark on Christmas Eve. Zelda knew there was no such thing as Santa – she never had believed in him, even though Cory had tried her best to make her, so even that simple distraction was gone.
Eventually her tears dried and she ended up staring at the shadows on the wall from the lights in the hall and outside the windows. Suddenly the shadows started moving and she smiled, knowing her dark friend had come to visit. Though never more then shadows on the wall it was the only friend she felt she had. It moved and stretched and formed into a face that grinned at her, then became a jester image juggling bowling pins and dropping them on its head. She giggled watching the play.
It stopped and motioned for her to keep watching as it changed into the shadow of her mother, then into another shadow joined in, shaped like an older woman with snake like braids in her hair. The younger shadow woman pointed a gun at her mother and Zelda grinned. The young shadow turned to her and shrugged, waiting for her to give the word. She nodded and the shadow shot the shadow of her mother. Her mother gave a silent scream and shadow blood oozed on the floor as the other shadow continued firing. Zelda began to laugh and clapped her hands as the mother shadow lay prone on the ground and the young shadow bowed to her.
Then the shadow looked up at the door to the hallway with a start, then turned back to her and put it's finger to it's mouth in a gesture that told her to be quiet. Zelda quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep as the door to the room opened a little more, letting in more light from the hallway. She could feel people standing there watching her and then heard Cory's voice.
“She's finally asleep, poor little dear.”
“Thank the gods that she has you at least.” Another woman's voice. Maria. Aunt Maria was here.
“I swear if Zandra doesn't clean up her act I'm going to try and adopt Zelda, then at least she'll have a mother.”
“How does Richard feel about that?”
“Richard can deal.”
Silence.
“Have you talked to Zandra?”
“I gave her a serious chewing out tonight. Maybe it will do some good.”
“With Zandra? Not likely.”
“You never know. It's Christmas. Miracles happen.”
The door closed again almost all the way and the voices receded down the hall. The shadow formed on the wall again and made a gesture of putting both hands together under it's head, telling her to go to sleep. She took the hint and settled down for the night.
“Um...Aunt Zelda?”
Zelda was brought back to the past with a start. She looked at Aglia and smiled. “Maybe that's not the best story to tell. How about I tell you about the time your mother and her best friend, and me of course, stopped the world from ending?”
“Is that the one where you hid under a table where everyone could see you and somehow didn't get caught?” Morpheus asked. Zelda paused, then nodded.
“Yup, that would be it.”
“Oh goody, I like this one,” he announced and settled down as she began.
Meanwhile Maria had asked Mordecai to check up on Skyler. He conjured an image of where Skyler was and Terri gasped at the sight of Skyler bloodied, bruised, and turning blue as he lay unconscious in a snow bank several feet from an over-turned car.
“My god,” Maria exclaimed. “Is he dead?”
“He's not on my list.” Atropos walked over to them with Baste beside her. “Not that I collect everyone, but I will collect him and his time is not tonight.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Zelda asked. She'd been watching them out of the corner of her eye and as soon as she saw Skyler she left the children with Zora to watch over them. “Let's grab coats and go!”
CHAPTER SIX pt. 2 « Result #9 on Feb 7, 2005, 7:20pm »
The winter sky flashed with streaks of lighting and blazed with bursts of fire bolts. Mordecai huddled under the thick fur and held his little sister – his only younger sibling – close, covering her ears to the deafening sounds of the supernatural battle that raged outside. The only sound louder then the battle was the screaming of their father and mother as they fought each other in a rage worse then ever before. Shialiu was crying in his arms, her face turned away from the noise. His eyes were grim, his jaw set as he stared past the three siblings standing guard over the huddled group of children, frozen to their spot in front of the cold fireplace, shivering and tearful, worried and scared under blankets that gave them little warmth and even less comfort.
Zora, Trilan, and Julian stood in front of the nine frightened children, dressed in armor, holding enchanted swords and spears, protecting their siblings and waiting to see who won.
Two stray lighting bolts flickered dangerously close to the group, followed by half a dozen fireballs that forced the group to scatter and set the blankets ablaze. Zora leapt into the burning pile, pulling out the children as Trilan and Julian cast spells to put it out. Mordecai threw off the fur and grabbed Shialiu, pulling her to safety and dousing her burning nightgown with a dousing spell, then helped Zora as she pulled the last one from the burning pile. Any burns were quickly healed as the older children hurdled the younger ones into another room for safety. Zora and Trilian barked orders as Julian conjured strong, warm cloaks for everyone and within minutes all twelve siblings were ready to flee the castle.
But flee to where? The Council? Zora knew the head Amar well and knew he would protect them but before they could leave their was a horrible scream and then there was silence. Zora and Trilian left the group in Julian's care and the siblings huddled together in fear. A moment later the two eldest siblings were thrown back into the room, hitting the hard stone wall hard enough to knock them out as their father entered the room, brimming with newly gained power and grinned so widely his face was almost split in half. Mordecai would never forget that moment, staring into his father's eyes gleaming with power and madness. The man let out a deep laugh that chilled his children to their core, then gazed at them hungrily.
“Merry Christmas, children. I've just killed your mother. Now, who's next?”
There was a flash of light and Mordecai was brought back to the present with a start. “Um...I think I blinked.”
“I totally blinked,” Danea agreed. “Quick take another one.” They all plastered smiles on their faces again and moved closer, arms around each others shoulders then there was another flash.
“I think this is the first time we've all been together in what is it? Seven years?”
“Something like that,” Xianling replied. “Who wants fruitcake?”
“Did you make it?” Julian asked.
“No.”
“Okay, then I'll have some.” He received a smack on the back of the head as the others laughed and headed for the buffet. Maria walked over to Mordecai and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He smiled.
“You looked lost for a moment there,” Maria murmured to him.
“Memories,” was all he said and Maria knew to ask no more.
“Howdy stranger,” Zelda called out across the room, then ran over to Mordecai and hugged him.
“I'm not!” Atropos called out as she stood up. “I gotta go grab a soul. I'll be right back.” She turned and walked out through the window, disappearing as she went. Baste sighed and looked at her hosts.
“I gotta run too, but I'll be back. Gotta help deliver triplets.” She flicked her tail and disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.
“You know the coolest people, parentals” Aglia commented, waving goodbye to her favorite aunts.
Maria rolled her eyes and looked at Mordecai. “Oh now, we've become a parental unit now. Adolescence must be starting.”
“Already?”
Terri joined them and looked around. “As anyone seem Skyler? He's coming right?”
Maria nodded. “He said he was. I know he's been looking forward to it for several months now.”
“So where is he?” Zelda asked.
* * *
Skyler knew he was late, but that wasn't his main concern as he lay at the bottom of the steep gorge where his body had been thrown. Just his luck someone wanted to steal his car on this night of all nights. If he hadn't been trying to help those ghosts he wouldn't be here now. And he could have fought them off instead of getting jumped from behind.
God the pain was so intense. The snow was stained with his blood, his back was broken and at least one leg was as well. Also the cold was getting to him, each gust of snow laden wind was a dagger being shoved into his already battered body. damn criminals. damn ghosts. Don't think that, he told himself. Not when you're so close to being with her. No regrets now. Maybe it's for the best. You'll see her again. Just think about that...
Zoey wrestled with the window for several minutes before she got it open, letting in cold, crisp air and swirling snow. She searched the skies above and the ground below, but there was no sign of who she was looking for. Suddenly a dark form, silhouetted against the dim light from the Christmas decorations on the house dropped from the roof and hung upside down in front of her. The figure's eyes blazed a vibrant, pulsating red and she hissed, showing ice white fangs, then flapped her arms and revealed elegant black and green iridescent wings. Zoey's face changed from surprise to delight and she threw herself into the upside down figure, knocking her off the roof and sending them both tumbling out the window and heading for the ground.
The figure used the wings to stop their decent and pulled the little girl into a warm embrace as they landed gracefully on the snow banks below. Immediately the feathers and form melted into a woman dressed in a sultry black sequined evening gown and she winked at Zoey. “I just can't scare you, can I?”<br> Zoey laughed. “Save it for the dreamers, Tantie Z! I'm too old to be scared!”
Zelda grinned. “You certainly have grown, haven't you?” Zoey smiled proudly, then Zelda added. “You're what? Two feet tall now?”
Zoey pouted, sticking out her lower lip and frowning. “I'm bigger then that and you know it!” Zelda laughed and grabbed her in her arms, whirling her around until they were both dizzy. Zoey shivered in the cold and Zelda reached into the dark and stormy sky and pulled out two thick and soft storm grey velvet cloaks, then put one on Zoey and lastly herself. She bent down and leaned in closer to Zoey. “Do you want your present now?”
Zoey nodded vigorously and Zelda took off her cloak, then swirled it through the snowy bank and pulled it back revealing a large Pegasus – jet black with huge raven's wings of the softest feathers, purple and black mane and tail, and the sleekest coat that Zoey had ever seen. Its eyes were a dark indigo that glowed that the planets in the sky at dusk and it snort purple smoke and breathed black and blue fire when it reared it's head.
“What is it?” Zoey asked in awe. Zelda grinned and pet its side affectionately.
“It's a Night Mare of course,” she replied, then held out her hand to the little girl. “You can't keep it, but I'll take you for a ride and you'll be the first mortal child (well half mortal at any rate) to ride one.”
Zoey whooped with excitement then ran to her Aunt who helped her onto the mare's back. Zelda swung into the silver jeweled saddle behind her and took the reins. “Hold onto me tightly.” Zoey turned partially so that she was nestled inside the front of Zelda's cloak and she wound her little hands tightly in the thick fur. With a guttural sound a flick of her wrist the beast had taken flight and the land was just a dot in the distance.
* * *
The party was underway by the time Terri arrived. Maria greeted her with a yelp and a tackle of a hug, quickly followed by little Aglia and Morpheus.
“It's been forever!” Terri hugged them back, then presented the children with the gifts she had brought. They tore them open and discovered onset VIP passes to the filming of their favorite TV shows as well as other little Hollywood themed toys and they thanked her and ran off to taunt their siblings. Maria and Terri headed into the main room and Terri caught her first glimpse of the twins since their birth. Little Zora was standing behind her father, shyly peeking out from behind him at the older Zora who was talking to Mordecai, but looked at little Zora with a smile and warmth unusual for her. Little Zoey was nowhere to be seen.
Naturally most of the sorcerers had gotten there after the fashionably late fifteen minute mark. Atropos was hitting the egg nog rather hard and had usurped an entire plate of chocolate fudge over to her corner of the room where she was taunting Baste about not being about to have either due to her lactose intolerance, to which Baste kept reminding her she didn't like milk anyway, then betting Atropos she couldn't walk in a straight line, which of course she could because it would take a HUGE amount of VERY spiked nog to get Death drunk. Although considering the number of people who were sneaking over to the nog and spiking it that just might happen tonight.
Terri made her way over to Mordecai and gave him her usual greeting which consisted of running up to him and shoving a pen and an 8x10 in his face, then shouting, “Oh my god! It's Michael Marino! Mordecai! Mordecai! Can I have your autograph?!?”
He in turn wiped out a pen and an 8x10 and shouted back at her, “Oh my god, it's Terri Madison! I love all of your shows! You're my hero! Can I have your autograph?!?”
They promptly signed each others photos, then hugged as everyone else laughed. Terri bent down next to little Zora and smiled sweetly. “You must be Zora. You're as beautiful as your namesake.”
Little Zora blushed. Big Zora grinned. “Nice one, mortal.”
“I try.” She stood up and looked around. “Where's Zoey?”
Mordecai frowned. “She was here a minute ago.” Maria took the cue and went to look for her. After all, if Zoey had sneaked off on her own chances were that it was not to take a nap.
* * *
The Sorcerers' Fair was nothing compared to a flight around the world on the back of a Night Mare with her favorite Aunt, Zoey realized as they took flight again from where Zelda had explored a lost Aztec temple ruin with her and explained all about heart excision sacrifice. They'd had a tea party on top of the clouds, explored a ruin, raced with a pack of wild horses on the Mongolian planes and danced at the ghost ball in a ruined castle in Ireland. It was a fabulous Christmas present and Zoey was quite sad when the mare deposited them outside her bedroom window.
Zelda dismounted into the room, then pulled Zoey in and sent the horse flying away with a simple hand gesture, then grinned at Zoey. “Did you have fun?”
“Tanti Zelda, that was the BESTEST present in the whole wide world!” Zoey declared and threw herself into Zelda's arms, hugging her fiercely.
“Well, it's about time you brought her back.”
Zelda and Zoey both turned to see Maria sitting on the edge of Zoey's bed, legs crossed and wearing a slightly unamused expression, though clearly it wasn't genuine since it didn't reach her eyes.
“I was giving her her Christmas present,” Zelda announced.
Maria stood up. “I see. Could you inform me next time you plan to steal her away for a little while?”
“Were you worried?”
“Not really, since I know you're the only one she would let kidnap her. Still, it would be nice to know.”
“Sorry,” Zelda replied without relish. “She's fine.”
“I can see that.” Maria looked at Zoey. “Did you have fun?”
“It was the BESTEST thing EVER!” Zoey declared, almost protectively as she placed herself between Maria and Zelda. Both women were highly amused and touched by the gesture. Formality gave way as Zelda ran to Maria and threw herself into a hug. After a few moments of hugging all around they headed back to the party.
Downstairs the party was in full swing. Julian had arrived – the last of Mordecai's siblings to appear – and Zora had demanded a group photo of the surviving siblings be taken. They lined up, oldest to youngest, using the tree and fireplace as a backdrop and Baste took the picture. Mordecai stood at the end of the line, being the youngest one to survive and looked at the other four: Zora, Danea, Julian, and Xianling. All beautiful, all powerful, but all – like him – felt something missing. There was sadness as their eyes met each other while the photo was being set up. There should have been more. Twelve magical children were born. Five were left. Mordecai knew they, like him, were thinking of another Christmas night a millennium ago.