Will Death Do Us Part?

[Nayr]

Ishazi stopped cold as Pluto laid out her point in very succinct language and made it known unmistakably what would happen if he were to go about this harebrained scheme of his. Not because he hadn't thought about those consequences, although he hadn't. It was because the scheme she laid out wasn't his plan.

"Is that what you think this is about?" he asked flabbergasted.

He shook his head for emphasis, then continued.

"To be absolutely fair, I definitely considered that. She's one of a very small number of people for whom I'd be willing to trade myself regardless of what horrible fate I'd be throwing myself into. I won't deny it, and I've even seriously considered it more than once since this whole mess began. No, I'm not interested in martyring myself to try to bring back someone I don't even like. Regardless of what I sounded like, I'm seriously not about to die for that person's sake."

He paused a scant instant to catch up with himself before shifting gears.

"I admit I have a poor sampling, but in my experience deities are much like the rest of us. The difference between you and me is that you operate on a larger scale and make decisions from that perpsective which naturally make only limited sense to me. Uncle Chronos is on a level higher than both of us, and is likewise incomprehensible. The thing that unites the three of us and every other being out there on every conceivable level, however, is that we're all alive. In our own ways and from our own perspectives, we're all doing the best we can with what we've got and furthermore we're all greater than the sum of our duties. In that regard, everyone wants something, and I'm entirely more resourceful than most mortals and even some avatars. My plan isn't necessarily ironclad, but it doesn't involve dying. At least not without concrete and measurable advantage in my favor, which doesn't seem likely in this scenario."

His words echoed in his head for a second.

"That probably made no sense, but I don't know how to explain it better."

With any luck, they really were talking about different things. If the situation was as he was reading it to be, his admittedly convoluted reasoning might get them into a place where they could perhaps talk without maligning each other and saying things they'd regret.

[Mini]

For a moment, Pluto was just as flabbergasted as he was. What did he mean with that question and head shaking? Had she been wrong about something? It certain;y didn't seem that way, at least to her. Ishazi wanted to break the laws of the universe to bring somebody back to life, a feat that simply could not be accomplished no matter what he thought, and she had thought she had done a good job pointing out just one of the hundreds of thousands of millions of things that could go wrong if he started trying to bring someone back to life, so where was this supposed confusion coming from? Confused, she simply stood and listened, waiting for him to start making sense.

He never did.

She stared at him with wide eyes. After she had stared at him for an uncomfortably long silence, she blinked several times and shook her head slightly. "Hold on. Just... Just stop. Stop right there," she said, holding her hands up for extra emphasis. She took a moment to mentally replay all of what he just said, hoping it would help. It didn't. Heaving out an equally frustrated and angry sounding sigh, she leveled her somewhat fiery gaze on him. "Ishazi Nolasta Kanchito... did I really hear you correctly? I'm starting to think that I might have a bit of dark matter plugged in my ear or something, because I could have sworn you just said that you were actually thinking about trying to bribe a god or goddess into helping you break the Laws of the Cosmos?!?!"

The curtains rattled and fluttered and thumped against the windows. The bookcase shook, sending small pillars of dust up into the air. A small book shook free and fell to the ground with a loud bang. The few forgotten chairs and desks wobbled precariously. A stack of rubbish fell over in a messy heap in the far corner. The floor itself even trembled ever so slightly. And in the middle of it all, there stood one very perturbed demi-goddess.

[Nayr]

The room shook, things began falling over and breaking and such, and Ishazi could swear her hair was starting to drift upward as though some sort of wind were blowing that hadn't quite decided to gust in earnest just yet. The spectacle combined with the yelling and the glare that dared the unlucky mortal speared by it to defy the goddess standing pristine amid it all was enough to make any reasonable mortal quiver with fear and repent from a lifetime of sins, relevant and otherwise. Reasonable mortals hadn't gone on hijinks with said goddess to the edges of creation. That said, this was a bit scary even by Ishazi's standards. She was genuinely mad with him this time. More so than she was when she'd come barreling in from wherever she'd just been. He didn't quaver or anything, although he probably should have, but he did feel quite intimidated and took a moment before he was gathered enough to respond to the accusation.

"Exactly," he said, managing to sound relieved, "Now we understand each other. Although bribe is a bit strong a word. I'm not so great at anything that I'd presume to have something a deity would want so badly that they'd be willing to defy the natural order of things. I was more thinking of trying to reach some kind of arrangement. There has to be a death god out there as crazy as I am."

He took a breath and his demeanour changed entirely. Gone was the madman who stood up to a goddess and made veiled threats regarding overpowering her. In his place stood a simple mortal with power beyond the scope of his surroundings, but with problems beyond the scope of his means. A mortal who'd reached a wall he couldn't lie, cheat, or force his way past. A man, plain and simple, beseeching his goddess for aid.

"In all honesty, Pluto, I'm at the end of my rope. I just want to do something to make her smile again. Even that twinkle in her eye returning would be enough. I've lived far too long and achieved far too much to just sit back...AGAIN...and watch her suffer. I feel like I was born for her, Pluto. I feel like being her strength is part of the reason I'm here in the first place. So far, I've lost her to Gahagga, gotten captured trying to rescue her and nearly dying in the process, gotten hijacked by someone who cursed her and stole her power, and followed her to the domain of some crazy elder evil only to watch helplessly as she almost destroys everything. Now she's mourning someone I don't even like but for whom she feels so much that she won't even eat without him. I know I'm stronger than this. I know I could have done better for her. I still can, but I have to hold back."

Ishazi grumbled a little, his irritation rising again.

"It's like I'm in a world made of paper. Can't let myself get too worked up, can't let them see what I'm really capable of, can't even tell anyone where I was really born. Can't let anyone know my proper age, assuming I even have one anymore, and certainly can't bend a few stupid rules for the sake of someone who means the world to me. Above all, though, I am never to exercise whatever the full limits of my strength are and certainly never to try to bring one lousy soul back from the dark river. I'm getting tired of it, Pluto. I'm getting tired of never being able to cut loose and really give my all. More than that, the guilt is riding me so hard it's becoming difficult to conceal it. Every time something like this happens, every single time, I always have to silently bear the burden that I really could have done something. I'm strong enough to change the fabric of Ethera, albeit on a small kind of level, and instead I'm physically walking to a library I already know doesn't have the answer I'm looking for because that way I don't look like a blithering idiot when I ask my best friend for help solving an unsolvable problem."

The tears were back, and this time Ishazi couldn't prevent a few from escaping.

"What am I supposed to do? Why did the Library bring me here if I'm only supposed to watch yet another tragedy?"

The High Wizard of Ethera collapsed to his hands and knees, defeated and unable to hold his defiant darkness-may-care attitude.

"Sometimes I envy you, my goddess. Your perspective must at least provide some meaning to all this death and destruction."

His eyes were on her feet, not because there was anything in particular about them but rather because that's as high as he could raise his gaze. Were it not for the beneficent and most recently rather fearsome owner of those feet, he likely would have shot himself off to parts unknown to try to bargain with Death. She was right, of course, that such a bargain couldn't possibly have ended well, but what else was he to do? He'd told Rini that he'd make it right somehow, knowing well that such a feat was likely beyond his ken let alone his power. Was this to be yet another broken promise? Some ridiculous trinket wasn't going to fix this, nor any sleight of hand or skillful misdirection. Maybe this was just another notch in his proverbial belt. Teranui, Norheart, Akaratia, Voln, Giris, and now Ethera. Only this time he couldn't just walk back through a doorway and retreat into research.

[Mini]

The thick-headed numbskull actually had the audacity to stand there and look relieved. If Pluto hadn't been in such a state of disbelief, she may have very well jumped on him and strangled him until he passed out from lack of oxygen. She had half a notion to actually do that to see if it would actually work to quell the idea from his mind. Besides, it would also make her feel pretty good. She'd regret it later, sure, but for now? Oh, it would feel great.

Then, just like that, the wind blew out of Ishazi's sails. He went from being some slightly deranged, stubborn headed know-it-all madman willing to risk everything and lose everything to being a crumpled heap of a mess. She watched him fall to pieces right in front of her, and it broke her heart to see him that way. Ishazi was one of the strongest people she knew. To hear him speak so openly and honestly about how he felt about the insane amount of powers he had been blessed with was almost too much for her to bear. His voice was nothing but anger, hurt, angst and deep-seated bits of sorrow and rage all mixed together into heart-wrenchingly terrible words. The anger left her eyes as she listened to him continue, but nothing could have prepared her for what he said next.

" I'm strong enough to change the fabric of Ethera, albeit on a small kind of level, and instead I'm physically walking to a library I already know doesn't have the answer I'm looking for because that way I don't look like a blithering idiot when I ask my best friend for help solving an unsolvable problem."

Best friend.

He just called her his best friend.

He had never said anything like that to her before, nor she to him. Not out loud, at least. For the longest time, she had tried so hard to keep a purely professional relationship with him, but after everything they had been through, how could she? She, who was so lonely it very nearly tore her essence apart, and he, with all his warmth and love and kindness...

Pluto's heart quivered in her chest. Without her even realizing it, one of her hands flew up to her face. Just as it did so, Ishazi, with tears streaming down his face, fell to his hands and knees in front of her. A moment later, she was on her knees in front of him. Very slowly, almost timidly, she reached over and placed one of her warm hands against his cheek. Her thumb very gently brushed one of tears from his eyes. Gently, she slipped her hand down to his chin and lifted it up a bit.

"Get up, you fool," she whispered. Her bangs had fallen down and covered her eyes, but if Ishazi glanced up, he could see the sad smile on her face. "I assure you that my perspective is no different than yours. I'm just a demi-goddess, remember? I'm not privy to the secrets of the universe like you seem to think that I am. I don't have tea and crumpets with my father every morning while we sit around and discuss casual things, like alternate dimensions and life and death. I don't have an inner circle of friendly gods and goddesses to turn to. I don't... I don't have an answer for you, Ishazi, but please don't think even for a moment that I feel differently about the situation than you do. You think I wouldn't like to bring the light back into Rini's eyes? I saw her for a few fleeting moments when she was with that man. I've never seen her happier." She paused to gently wipe away another one of his tears with her thumb. "But do you really think you've done nothing to help her so far? You didn't stand by helplessly when she almost destroyed everything. In the end, you managed to save her and stop her both, all by risking your life to do so. I'm not even sure how you managed to stop her, but you did. You don't think that's important? If you would have let loose with everything you had before that moment, think about what could have happened. You could have been responsible for accidentally killing Korrino. You could have hurt Rini. You could have destroyed the very place you all were gathered. You have an incredible gift, Ishazi, but you must know that there is a time and place to use them. I promise you that someday soon, that day will come. Until then, you just have to continue to carry the burden of your wonderful, incredible, and terrible powers. It's a heavy burden to bear, I know. Trust me, I know all about it," she sighed.

"You think I like standing around in my little corner of the cosmos, knowing that I have the powers to come in and stop all the bad things that I can see happening to you, to Rini, and to this kingdom, yet also knowing that I'm helpless to do so? I'm trapped on the outside looking in. At least you get to live here in this world made of paper. I... I can't even..." Her voice cracked, and she allowed her sentence to trail off without finishing it. Her hand trembled against Ishazi's cheek and started to slip away.

[Nayr]

The feet he beheld bent, bringing the goddess' knees into view. A soft hand came gently to his cheek, thumb carrying away a tear. Gentle pressure under his chin. Ishazi, tears not yet stopped, looked now into the sad smile of the goddess who had followed him into madness beyond measure, always intent on bringing him home by any means necessary.

"Get up, you fool," she whispered, "I assure you that my perspective is no different than yours. I'm just a demi-goddess, remember?"

While he was no expert on the technicalities of divinity, he did remember that his dear friend had a mortal mother. As she explained that many of the perks of being a goddess were denied her, his heart went out to her. In many ways, her existence was much lonelier than his. Too much a goddess to walk the realms and have friends and family around her, too much a mortal to walk among the gods and partake of their camaraderie or politics or whatever they shared. Her post was a doorway in the mists, bereft of any company save her father's and the occasional traveler who held a key to that doorway. Ishazi'd had the privilege of walking that pathway previously. One could not approach the door without a key, issued by Chronos himself to carefully chosen individuals who could be trusted with access to the roads between time and space. Each key was unique and only worked for the one for whom it had been made, and only if that person spoke the incantation first to gain access to the misty realm where Pluto stood sentinel. The goddess was often seen there holding a staff which, unbeknownst to most, was a sort of master key that led anywhere the demi-goddess wished to go. Despite infinite access to all of time and space, despite her father accepting her and making her the gatekeeper of arguably the most important door in all creation she still stood alone, trapped between gods and mortals forever.

"I don't..." she continued, "I don't have an answer for you, Ishazi, but please don't think even for a moment that I feel differently about the situation than you do. You think I wouldn't like to bring the light back into Rini's eyes? I saw her for a few fleeting moments when she was with that man. I've never seen her happier."

She paused, catching another tear with her gentle finger.

"Do you really think you've done nothing to help her so far? You didn't stand by helplessly when she almost destroyed everything. In the end, you managed to save her and stop her both, all by risking your life to do so. I'm not even sure how you managed to stop her, but you did. You don't think that's important? If you would have let loose with everything you had before that moment, think about what could have happened. You could have been responsible for accidentally killing Korrino. You could have hurt Rini. You could have destroyed the very place you all were gathered. You have an incredible gift, Ishazi, but you must know that there is a time and place to use them. I promise you that someday soon, that day will come. Until then, you just have to continue to carry the burden of your wonderful, incredible, and terrible powers. It's a heavy burden to bear, I know. Trust me, I know all about it."

He completely believed that last part. She was more powerful even than him, and with more rules governing her actions to boot. She sighed heavily. An idea began to take root in Ishazi's mind as she spoke again.

"You think I like standing around in my little corner of the cosmos, knowing that I have the powers to come in and stop all the bad things that I can see happening to you, to Rini, and to this kingdom, yet also knowing that I'm helpless to do so? I'm trapped on the outside looking in. At least you get to live here in this world made of paper. I... I can't even..."

Her voice cracked, her composure unequal to the task of finishing the thought. Her hand trembled and started to slip, and he caught it.

"You can, my friend," Ishazi said, his voice stronger now, "You have."

With his other hand he reached out and touched her face, the mirror of her comforting gesture.

"You've followed me to strange and wondrous places, some of which were not much fun I'll admit. Each time I'm lost you come for me. Each time I cast myself unto the cosmos you're there to bring me home. You say there's a time and place for this power of mine. Half goddess or whole, it matters not to me. I trust you. I..."

His voice failed him. That was something he could not say. Not aloud. At least half of the rules surrounding them spoke very clearly about relations between mortals and the divine. Some gods believed more than others in the value of intervention with their followers, but all were in accord on the subject of attachment. Immortal lives were hard enough without growing attached to creatures who wouldn't share even a portion of that span, and any children that arose between gods and men would be cursed creatures, belonging in neither world. Pluto was living proof of that. It didn't take a genius to figure out why they shouldn't be friends, should definitely not allow that friendship to grow into anything. His hands wavered. He pulled her hand from his cheek to his chest, placing it over his heart. He smiled, letting the moment speak for itself, for he knew he wouldn't be able to form the words if he tried. He touched her shoulders and pulled her close, embracing her warmly. Uncle Chronos could watch from his throne if he felt so inclined, but he could also go sit on something else if he thought that Ishazi was going to dance to his tune for all of time.

"Let me show you," he whispered in the ear of the goddess of time, "Come with me one more time."

He closed his eyes and reached out with his energy and felt something he hadn't found since leaving the Library: invisible confluences of energy that could function as a sort of anchor. If one knew the trick, one could pull on them with enough magical force to fly through the bounds of space and time. Always before he'd had a doorway to work with, a realm outside all others that could connect him to where he wanted to go. This time he had a goddess guiding him, although she was probably unaware she was doing it. His target was a marketplace in the middle of the day, far from the dusty side room of the Etheran Royal Library and into a realm where none would recognize the daughter of the God of Time unless she were to exert her power. He envisioned the sights, smells, and sounds of the place, releasing those of the realm he was leaving. A slight wrench under his heart and he felt heat on his face. The sun was out today. He opened his eyes and released the goddess so he could look at her. He already knew they'd arrived precisely on target, and already knew that she wouldn't be terribly happy with him, but he wanted to give her this small gift before Uncle Chronos tore them apart again. It so happened that they were in a shaded side street, near enough the market to hear the crowd but enough removed that no one had seen a man wearing a green cloak appear out of nowhere holding a woman in a white dress.

"Have you ever been to the market?" he asked softly, smiling warmly.

[Mini]

Ishazi's warm fingers caught her hand as it slipped away from his face. Her hand stopped inches away from him, caught in his grasp. A moment later, his other hand was resting against her face. He cupped his fingers against her cheek until they were almost touching her hair. His hands were so warm against her own cool skin. His touch had urged her to glance back up at him, and so she did. Ishazi's piercing blue eyes appeared as if they were staring right into her soul. Instead of waiting for her to try and regain her composure, he started to speak. His words, his tones, his expression... the fire had suddenly come back into him.

Just what was happening?

Ishazi went on to talk about all of the little misadventures the two of them had shared. "Each time I'm lost you come for me. Each time I cast myself unto the cosmos you're there to bring me home." She blinked just once as he said that. Strange that she had never really thought about it that way before, but it was true. She had quite literally gone to the ends of the worlds for him, and not once had she ever hesitated to go after him. When she stopped to think about, she realized that there was nothing she wouldn't do for him. At least, nothing she wouldn't do within her realm of powers.

"Half goddess or whole, it matters not to me." Her breath shuddered ever so slightly as she breathed in sharply. It was almost a gasp. Almost. "I trust you. I..." As his voice faltered and trailed off, she simply stared at him with wide eyes. Oh, there were so many things she wanted to say. So many things she could say, yet so many things she mustn't say. What could she say to him? She searched her heart for the right words, and still nothing came. Perhaps she didn't need to speak, though. Not yet. Wordlessly, Ishazi took the hand that she had been resting against his cheek and moved it down to his chest, holding it ever so gently against his heart. She felt the soft, rhythmic, and oddly soothing thumping of his heartbeat against her hand. His smile was so genuine. Tears welled up without warning in her eyes.

"Ishazi," she whispered, barely able to get his name out. There was so much emotion in her voice that it was difficult to tell what she was feeling. Before she could say anything else, his hands rested on her bare shoulders and then pulled her in close, enveloping her in a warm embrace. When was the last time anybody had held her? Rini always gave her warm little hugs, but those had been different. Besides, it had always seemed to Pluto that Rini was the one who needed the hug more than she did. Had Chronos ever once hugged her? Was it terrible that she couldn't remember if she and her father had ever embraced in such a manner?

"Let me show you," he whispered softly into her ear. "Come with me one more time."

"Ishazi," she whispered a second time, trying desperately to not sound as torn up and conflicted as she felt on the inside. She shut her eyes, willing herself not to cry. Such behavior was beneath her, or so her father would say. But her father wasn't here. It was just the two of them. They were alone, Ishazi with his arms wrapped tightly around her. "Ishazi, I..."

She felt heat on her back. An odd prickling sensation ran down her arms. The soft murmurings of a crowd could be heard in the distance. She didn't need to open her eyes to see that they were no longer in Ethera.

As he released her, she stood up and glanced down at him, trying to look angry. By all accounts, she should have been furious. He had somehow just tapped into her powers and transported the two of them off to somewhere-that-wasn't-Ethera without any warning at all, and by doing so had broken about fifteen different rules and regulations. How he had even managed to do so was a bit of a mystery. He probably shouldn't have been able to do so. Hadn't she all ready risked enough by coming in person to see him? It wouldn't take her any more effort to branch out with her powers and locate where and when they were than it would take a normal person to lick their lips, and it probably wouldn't have taken any great deal of energy to grab his arm and teleport them straight back to Ethera, but she didn't do a thing. Instead, she simply stood there and crossed her arms.

"No. I've never been to the market," she finally said, able to keep the stern look on her face but unable to keep the twinkle out of her eyes. "However, it would be my guess that people who go to the market don't exactly go there looking like this."

[Nayr]

It helped that he was expecting her ire. Or rather it would have if she'd done a better job trying to be professionally outraged. As it was, she did her best to be stern and angry and put on a good enough show to fool essentially no one. She stood, crossing her arms, and brought up a very good point.

"No. I've never been to the market," she said, "However, it would be my guess that people who go to the market don't exactly go there looking like this."

An excellent point, really. He didn't tend to stick out much, although his garments were a little unusual now that she brought it up. Hers for certain would catch some attention. When he'd brought them here, he'd chosen this place because no one would know her face. He hadn't thought about her dress.

"Hmmm, very true," he said, pondering, "Let's see what I can do about that. If you'll permit me..."

Not that he'd be able to get up to anything if she didn't want him to, but it was always polite to ask someone before you started using magic on them. He reached out with his power and began to weave an illusion around her of more simple clothing. Not shabby clothes, but those belonging to a lady of respectable station but without lots of money. No sense introducing her to street thieves in addition to marketplaces. Once that was in place, he wove a similar illusion around himself, appearing as a man of similar station dressed somewhat less stunningly. His outfit would compliment hers without drawing attention away from it. He extended his elbow to her in as dapper a manner as he could manage.

"Shall we, my lady? A little stroll is all I'm asking. If you don't use your power the illusion will convince everyone that you're just some travelling lady accompanying some low station noble out of pity or something. You're definitely socializing beneath your station, but I'm definitely honored by your presence."

He smiled at her, and his eyes were laughing at the obvious hilarity of his words.

"If you're feeling really adventurous, I might even be persuaded to teach you one of the more entertaining games we mortals ever invented."

[Mini]

Pluto couldn't help but roll her eyes as Ishazi remarked that he would be more than happy to help take care of her wardrobe if she would let him. Hadn't she just essentially asked him to do that? Indirectly, sure, but the point was still the same. She supposed that it was polite to ask before just magicking someone's entire appearance up, even if it was only an illusion. She gave him a soft smile and uncrossed her arms for him, supposing that it might be easier to create an imaginary set of clothes if her arms weren't crossed. The demi-goddess actually knew nothing at all about this sort of magic. In a way, it was just as exciting for her as opening presents on a birthday might be for a young child.

A slight tickling sensation and a warm, almost soothing sensation wrapped itself around her in a swift flurry of energy. Ishazi's energy was invisible to the naked eye, but she could sense it wrapping itself around her like a warm blanket. Smiling a bit more, she closed her eyes for just a moment, allowing herself to be caught up in the moment. She felt his magic fade, but not disappear. It was still there, clinging gently around her body, but she only really noticed that it was there if she thought about it. When she opened her eyes and looked down at herself, she gasped.

Her normal stunning white gown had been transformed into a square-neck dress of simplicity. The body was a dark shade of blue, and the long sleeves were a sky blue tone. The sleeves were long and flowing, nothing at all like what she was used to wearing. A simple white sash was tied around her waist. It was plain and simple, yet elegant in its own way.

She looked up at saw Ishazi standing there, wearing a simple dark blue tunic, dusty looking boots, and a slightly worn looking cloak. Gone was his rather fancy High Wizard cloak and tunic and other royal attire that made him stand out from the crowd in Ethera, but she knew that if she wanted to, she could easily look past the illusion and see it. She didn't want to, though. The blue of his tunic and her dress somehow perfectly matched the color of his eyes. She looked back down at herself for a second time, scarcely daring to believe her eyes. Here she was, standing in an alley of some strange new land, dressed like an ordinary woman, standing with a man who could have easily passed for just another face in the crowd.

It was the first time in her life Pluto felt like a normal person.

The floodgate of her emotions was threatening to burst open any second. Thankfully, Ishazi spoke up and gave her a wonderful distraction. She gratefully took his arm and just smiled at him. For the first time in a long time, she looked truly happy.

"It may be a little stroll to you, Ishazi, but to me, it's so much more," she said, finally speaking after a long silence. For a moment, it looked as if she might have been close to shedding a tear, but the moment passed in the blink of an eye. She turned to him and grinned. "Come on. Show this travelling lady that there's a good reason behind her momentary lapse of sanity in her decision to accompany a man of such obvious low standing," she laughed, her eyes twinkling as bright as the sun.

[Nayr]

Ishazi smiled warmly as the goddess spread her arms in tacit invitation. It was already obvious that she wanted him to disguise her, but it was polite to ask and rather nice to have permission granted. It was these little gestures, he found, that made trust between two people feel more real. He admired his illusion while she looked down at it to size her new persona up. It was good, even by his standards. Master Irizui would have laughed to see it, though. The traveler through that mystical place of his youth was a master of such magic, and always pressured the young man who would one day be High Wizard of a land he hadn't even heard of at the time. Irizui never had a positive thing to say about young Ishazi's progress, but if one looked closely enough the truth was plain to see. Much like with the illusions they studied together, now that he reflected on it. The praise the traveler offered was hidden beneath his rampant perfectionism. The smaller the criticized detail, the better the illusion could be said to be overall. While the illusions Ishazi placed over himself and Pluto were probably his best work so far, a trained Illusionist would no doubt spot those little details. In all honesty, if they encountered such a person the least of their worries would be Ishazi's lack of mastery over this magic.

After Pluto had sized up both of their new appearances, she appeared almost overcome. He hadn't noticed until after he'd spoken, however, and so didn't get to really experience that tide that had rushed up in her. More was the pity.

"It may be a little stroll to you, Ishazi, but to me, it's so much more," she said after a long silence. For a moment he thought he spied a tear in the corner of her eye, but it was gone before it formed.

I'm aware, he thought to himself, choosing not to give voice to the fact that she'd spoken the very reason he'd brought them here in the first place. She turned to him and grinned, either oblivious to his thought or choosing to ignore it.

"Come on," she continued, "Show this travelling lady that there's a good reason behind her momentary lapse of sanity in her decision to accompany a man of such obvious low standing."

Her eyes glistened, and she seemed to glow with the kind of happiness that he only ever guessed was inside her heart. It wasn't a particular secret, of course, but this was easily the most candid they had ever been with each other. He offered her his arm.

"Shall we then, my lady?" he said with as much courtly grace as he could muster, "The market is just here, and there is much to see."

The next part he thought to her, just in case anyone was particularly attentive as they rounded the corner.

The illusion should hold just fine as long as you don't use too much energy. I can protect you a little bit as we are now, but I'd have to focus specifically on maintaining your cover if you intended to do anything rambunctious.

While she had likely reasoned this out already, the words bore speaking regardless. In keeping with the rest of their experiences that day, Ishazi was finding words for so many of the things he'd always wanted to tell his lonely friend.

They turned a corner and the afternoon sun shone down on them. It was high enough in the sky to not blind them completely, but moving from shade into sun always took a little adjustment. Down the street was a collection of market stalls, each with at least one merchant calling out to the passing crowds to attract customers. The middle of the street was reserved for those passing through, while the sides were for perusing the wares of each of the gathered merchants. It extended down the street to where Ishazi knew the town square to be. He'd brought them to the edge of the market both because people appearing out of nowhere caused more ruckus than they were wanting on this day and also because it would be better to start on the fringes where there were less people rather than plunging the demi-goddess straight into a crowded market. She was a creature of incredible grace and poise, even when battling nightmarish creatures the likes of which would haunt the nightmares of sane mortals, but every composure had its limits and Ishazi was not at all interested in finding out what Pluto was like when in over her head. At least not there and then.

[Mini]

With a smile on her face that could have easily outshined the three suns of Midorika, Pluto slipped her arm through Ishazi's and allowed him to lead her out of the alley and out into the start of the marketplace. Her eyes widened ever so slightly as she saw the first glimpses of this strange, new place. It was so different from anything she had ever seen. Most anywhere was different from her quiet, lonely little corner of time and spice, truth be told, but this place had an almost exotic feel to it somehow that was very different from Ethera or anywhere else she had ever been.

Ishazi's gentle voice in her mind distracted her from the sights and sounds of the marketplace. It was sweet of him to say that he would protect her if he could, and she almost said something about it, but chose not to. Had he ever said anything like that to her before? No, he hadn't. Today was quite the day of Firsts, it would seem. He kept talking, and she simply kept smiling. She almost laughed out loud as Ishazi warned her against doing anything rambunctious. Just what was he thinking she might do?

"Rambunctious? Like what, summon forth a giant orb of dark energy and smash it straight down the middle of this street like it was a rubber ball?" she asked out loud, only quiet enough that only Ishazi would be able to hear it. "Or maybe I could speed up the flow of time and age everybody around at an incredibly fast rate so that we're surrounded by an angry, terrified hoard of screaming, bleeding, decaying people who are hell bent on ribbing us both limb from limb. Then maybe it would feel more like one of our more usual treks around the universe," she chuckled.

If she was at all overwhelmed or overcome by the merchants shouting and thrusting things into their general direction or the growing number of people of all ages starting to move all around them as they went on their way, she didn't show it at all. She did step back a bit when a rather smelly hunk of raw meat was shoved into her face, but she simply gave the man a polite smile, declined his offer, and wished him a good day. This left the merchant feeling oddly giddy the whole rest of the day, as if he should thank his lucky stars that he had even crossed paths with such a lovely lady.

There was a bounce in her step that normally wasn't there. Her hair glistened in the sun. She seemed to thrive in the open air and the sunshine. For the first time since Ishazi had ever seen her, she actually looked alive.

"So why not tell me where we are, anyway? And then you can tell me how you came to be familiar with such a wonderful little place," she said, her eyes lighting up as she spotted someone across the way selling chocolates of all shapes and colors and designs.

[Nayr]

As they walked, Pluto was drinking the place in with ever increasing enthusiasm. What started as a smile as she took his arm blossomed into something he'd never seen from her. In all their adventures, she'd been more occupied with the task at hand then with actually just enjoying her time out in the worlds. She made a jest about their usual time together, and he chuckled along with her.

"True," he said, agreeing with the sentiment, "but I'd appreciate it if you didn't."

If she heard him, which he was certain she did, she showed no sign. They were entering the market now and there were other things vying for her attention. A meat merchant thrust out a cut of meat towards her that none of the people milling about the market could possibly afford and in response she gave him a polite smile, declined, and wished him a good day. If she'd known what he knew about that particular cut of meat, she might have paused a moment to consider. Ishazi might otherwise have investigated the cut of meat, but the man seemed a bit too euphoric to disturb with practical matters. Pluto walked on, following his lead only in appearance. In truth, she was as much leading him. He was less a guide and more an escort, and it didn't bother him in the slightest. He was enjoying the bounce in her step, the shine of the sun on her hair, and the air of life lived with hitherto unknown vigor. He drank her in as if she was the sweetest nectar and he a shabby beggar. It was a little bit of an effort to maintain the attitude to fit his disguise, but her enthusiasm was contagious and he only partially succeeded. At least he managed to look like he was the more knowledgeable of the two, which was in this case true.

"So why not tell me where we are, anyway? And then you can tell me how you came to be familiar with such a wonderful little place," she asked as she continued looking around.

He smiled, wondering how she'd react when he told her.

"This is the market of the capital of a land called Aurora. To the east of us up a hill is the upper town where dwell the Auroran nobility. Noble men and ladies aren't usually seen in the public market, but this market is the largest in the land, so the merchants always keep some things on hand that might interest more well to do folks."

He saw her gaze alight upon a seller of chocolates. Chocolate was in some lands a commodity only readily consumable by the nobility. It took him a moment to recall how common chocolate was here, but he managed it before the pause grew too great and slowly maneuvered her closer while seeming to not pay attention to where they walked.

"As to how I came to be here, it was some years ago. I excused myself from the court to pursue a personal matter of some urgency. As you know, I like to keep myself apprised of the goings on of certain lands here and there, and one of my friends reached out to me. While I was near the capital I recalled that a certain young lady's birthday was fast approaching, so I found myself here searching for an appropriate gift. It was shortly thereafter that we met in that 'garden' you like to remind me of."

He kept the emphasis subtle, but to someone like Pluto he might just as well have shouted it. To use the word garden was to do a great disservice to that horrible place, but it was true that she liked to bring it up because it did happen to be one of the more exciting adventures they'd had. Hadn't one of them almost been eaten on several occasions? Nearly everything there was sentient to some degree and everything without exception was both hungry and not too picky as to what it wanted to eat. He'd never admit to having nightmares about the place, but he did try not to let people see how wary he still was of most every kind of plant.

He spoke mind to mind as they approached the chocolate stand.

I want to show you one of my favorite games. I'll try to walk you through it, but do pay attention.

"Pardon me, good sir," he said aloud to the merchant, "I wonder if you could help me."

The way he said it and the subtle look he gave the man spoke clearly of what could be assumed of his intentions. He didn't try to hide it from Pluto, but also tried to seem like he was.

First you find something you want, and make a guess in your head about what it might be worth. Doesn't especially matter how close you are at this point, but it's somewhere to start from. I let him know that it was for you so he doesn't offer me some of the rubbish over there. In this case, I'll thank you to let me know which item I'm eventually going to settle on but in most cases I like to have something picked out before I start talking so I know what to say to prompt them. It's a game of manipulation and some trickery, with money to keep score.

"I see," the merchant replied amiably, not failing to catch Ishazi's meaning. He sized both of them up discreetly while fiddling with his stock, spending more time on the unearthly beauty than on her somewhat plainer escort. The lad was aiming far beyond his reach, and it was an endearing sort of idiocy. Still, no reason to waste his best stock on a hopeless cause. He selected a decently fancy box and held it out so the light would fall on it. He'd done this so many times he had memorized the exact place where the sun would be at this time of day and exactly where to hold the sweets to display them to best advantage.

"How does the lady favor these? You won't find better for a thousand ri in any direction."

Ishazi didn't doubt that. They were rather nice, but not what Pluto had indicated. He took a sidelong glance at Pluto as if measuring her reaction. He broke away from her to lean in for a whisper to the man.

"I need help," he said to the man, providing full access should Pluto care to listen in even though he couldn't stop her if he wanted to, "My father will kill me if I don't find a lady of high station, and this is my only chance. Her tastes are a little exotic, and money is no object."

We'll be doing a lot of this. When you play to your opponent's humanity, it gives them a chance to look magnanimous and thus gain an advantage. A lot of people using this move will be flat out lying, but some of the stories we tell are true. Not that one in particular, but some of them.

The merchant nodded. Maybe the little stripling was more of a payday than he'd suspected. He put the box down and offered another, this one twice as valuable at least.

"Try these," he whispered back, "They will melt in her mouth, just as she will in your arms. A bargain at any price, but yours for thirty thousand yura."

He's trying to test the waters. Apparently I don't look like big money. The stuff he's showing you might even be worth that much, but he's got better and I can get a better deal.

He made a show of considering both the merchant and Pluto.

"What about those?" he asked innocently, indicating Pluto's selection.

The merchant suppressed a smile. Like a moth to flame.

"Those are very rare, sir. Are you certain your father won't object to your purchase of such valuable merchandise?"

Ishazi made another show of both pondering and being nervous about how much they could possibly be.

To be fair, I'm not all that knowledgeable about how much trouble he went to in order to get these, but this is the fun part.

"How much?" he asked, slipping some nervousness into his voice.

"Seven hundred fifty thousand yura." the merchant replied, concealing his tension as he waited to see if he'd gotten the young man on the hook from everyone who didn't have divinely aided senses. Or a tendency to cheat.

What he just did was to name a price well in excess of what he's expecting to get to get us started. If he's way out of my range, I'll walk away and he loses the game. If I can barely afford it, he's got a good advantage on me. What he's counting on is that he at least managed to get over half my pocket money in that sum. He can't raise the price after we've started playing, so he has to name a number above what he has to get in order to cover his costs and expenses and whatnot so that he can at least avoid losing money. The trick for him is to size me up and decide what I can afford. If he names a price that's within my available funds but as close to my limit as he can get, he'll be winning from the start. What he doesn't know is that I cheat.

"Seven hundred fifty thousand yura?!" Ishazi gasped in shock, still whispering.

"I have lesser treasures here if sir cannot afford the best for his beautiful lady," the merchant said silkily, closing the trap around the young dandy.

"Nothing of the sort," Ishazi said, seeming to recover somewhat, "It's just that I saw three ladies on my way here with identical chocolates, and thought perhaps that the cost was somewhat more reasonable."

The merchant's expression carried surprise and irritation for a fraction of a second. Maybe the dandy was lying, but maybe he had competition. Azim always found a way to pursue his vendetta against him, and if the rat had found a cheap supplier, he could offer the exact same wares at a considerable discount. Rotten bastard son of a filthy slattern.

"Perhaps I could be persuaded to go as low as seven hundred thousand in exchange for where you saw these ladies," the merchant replied.

"If these truly are as good as you say, I'm not sure you would have given up fifty thousand yura so easily. I'll give you three hundred thousand and the name of the merchant I saw selling these."

For my first turn, I compare my guess to his first offer. If his offer is higher, my guess might be right. If it's lower, I overestimated it. Once you have a guess as to its worth, name a figure slightly above it. Reasonable people never start below half of the merchant's figure, but I have practice with sweet talking people out of being angry at me.

The merchant's eyes narrowed. Someone needed to teach this brat some manners.

"Don't insult me," he said, "Offer at least what these are really worth, or get away from my cart and to puvi with your one chance."

Ishazi tried to look stung.

"But sir," he pleaded, "The men in the upper district told me they only spent two hundred fifty thousand yura. Please, sir, you're saving my life here."

The merchant didn't waver. Blast that Azim. If he was really up there sniping his customers for a third of his asking price he was going to skin the gutter roach.

"Look," he said to Ishazi, "I have a family of my own with two beautiful daughters and a wife who will hang me from the high tower by my balls if I don't bring home enough to feed and clothe them."

Ishazi didn't bother feigning scandal. The merchant was talking man to man now, which was a fairly good sign.

"I can give you five hundred thousand and the name of the little snipe stealing your business, but any more and my father will notice," Ishazi offered.

My guess is that his number is somewhere around four hundred fifty thousand, so we'll probably agree on six hundred twenty five thousand. A decent profit for him, and a wonderful box of chocolates for me.

"Make it six hundred thousand and a name, and perhaps we'll have an arrangement IF I like the name."

That was unexpected. This is the part where I cheat. I know the name he's thinking about even though he's trying to hide that he's rattled. Usually I'd probe the item for some imperfection or insult his spot or his clothes or something to bring down the perceived value of the thing I want, but I got lucky here. Someone's after this man's business, and I was lucky enough to say the right things.

"If you like the name, five hundred thousand. If you don't, six. Deal?"

He offered his hand to shake. The merchant considered it a moment.

"Throw in where he's set up," he said. He'd have that Azim's filthy skin yet.

"Done," Ishazi said, shaking the merchant's hand, "He's a filthy little troll up on Polia street. Name of...Akim? Azir?"

"Azim?" the merchant offered, not quite able to contain his energy on the subject.

"That's it. Azim. You know him?"

The merchant took a breath to steady himself.

"If he is still there, you have done me a great service. Five hundred thousand yura and my thanks for both the information and for not mentioning any of this to your friends."

"My word on it," Ishazi replied, extracting a pouch from some hidden pocket or other and passing it to the merchant, who inspected it carefully before giving the box to Ishazi.

He stepped back to Pluto and handed her the chocolates with a flourish.

"Though these be but a paltry gift for one so magnificent, I hope they bring you joy."

It would have been quite suave if it weren't for the mischievous gleam in his eyes.

[Mini]

Pluto raised a curious eyebrow as Ishazi gently guided her towards the colorful, quaint little stall where the good smell was coming from. As they walked, Ishazi quietly explained how he had come to be in Aurora long before they had met. Well, possibly not long for him, but the days before her magical friend had entered her life seemed like eons ago to her. A hint of a dark glower crossed her face when he suddenly mentioned the word garden, but before she had a chance to verbally assault him about using a word that was meant for happy, pleasant places to describe that accursed place, they had reached the stand.

Game? she mentally replied, casting him a curious look as he got the merchant's attention. Odd sort of place for a game to take place, but all right. I'll let you have your fun, she said with a chuckle.

While Ishazi was busy talking, she glanced down at all of the chocolates on display. Some were smaller than marbles, while others were nearly as large as her forearm. The chocolates came in a variety of shapes and colors, too. She spotted several that looked like they were created to resemble animals, though they were no animal she had ever seen before. One cute chocolate was shaped like a dancer, and another cute chocolate came in a star shape.

The merchant had just gestured to some small box of three square lumps of dark colored chocolates that honestly looked like hardened blobs of mud. Both Ishazi and the merchant glanced up at her to see her reaction. Knowing that Ishazi had just started his little game, she made no effort in hiding her mild disdain at the offered sweets.

While Ishazi went back to haggling, she continued exploring the stall. The ones that really caught her attention, though, were a collection of an assortment of small balls of chocolate. Some were lightly colored, others were darker colored. Some had sprinkles, some had been drizzled with different colored chocolate or some sort of icing. These chocolates were all daintily displayed in their own pastel-colored pieces of paper, and they rested in a bright yellow box. A quick scan of them counted about fifteen chocolates in all.

Another box of chocolates was offered, these ones shaped in little cubes. Pluto simply shrugged, glancing casually at Ishazi. He had noticed her eyes fall onto the yellow box of chocolates and inquired about them. A rather large number was tossed out, and even though she had no idea how much ri and yura were worth, the number still made her raise her eyebrows a bit.

I just hope you know what you're doing, my dear friend.

It seemed that he did. The exchange between the two was quite humorous mostly in part due to knowing that Ishazi was making things up as he went, his story growing more elaborate the more he talked. Pluto had to turn to the side to keep her smile hidden from the merchant as Ishazi continued his playful haggling. Hopefully the merchant would take that as a sign that she was growing bored and Ishazi needed to seal his deal soon or risk losing fair maiden's company.

A few moments more and her mage-in-not-very-shining-robes had returned, box of chocolates in tow. She gracefully and slowly whirled around, casting a backwards glance at the merchant, who was probably too busy counting his money to even notice. "Chocolates for me? Why, you shouldn't have," Pluto said, trying to sound the way she imagined rich, lavish women might sound when receiving a gift from a suitor. She made sure to speak loud enough for the merchant to hear her. "You'd better hope your father doesn't find out about this. Come, let us find a quiet retreat someplace other than... not right here," she said, faltering a bit as she started to crack up.

"I don't know what kind of strange games you play for fun, Ishazi, but I rather liked that one. That poor man Azir, or Azim, or whoever he is," she laughed as they walked out of earshot. "You're lucky I don't know the running exchange rate for ri and yura, you know. The cost of this box of chocolates sounds like they'd better be the best chocolates in all the land," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, by the way. Nobody has ever bought me a box of chocolates before." Pluto looked down at the box of chocolates in her hand and smiled softly. There was a short pause, during which a sad look entered her eyes. "Nobody has ever really bought me anything before, actually." Another short pause followed. Pluto took a deep breath and smiled. Just like that, the sad look in her eyes had vanished. "Did you know I've only ever had chocolate once before? And it was only because Rini, when she was much younger, was absolutely appalled when she discovered that I had never tasted chocolate before. The next time she came to visit, she brought me a big hunk of milk chocolate. She even wrapped it up. Well, she tried to, bless her heart. I will admit, it was one of the tastier things I've ever had," she said, smiling softly once more. The demi-goddess turned to her friend, sharing that soft smile with him. 

"Since you're the apparent expert on Auroran chocolates, would you pick out two good ones for us both?"

[Nayr]

Apparently the large numbers they'd been throwing around concerned the demigoddess, because she expressed a hope that he knew what he was doing. Fortunately, he absolutely did. He wasn't going to say that he cheated a little to come up with the correct style of currency for the box, but he was willing to wager that also was known to the goddess. She played along quite nicely, although her composure was starting to slip. Clearly he'd made the right choice including this in her whirlwind tour of actually living.

"I don't know what kind of strange games you play for fun, Ishazi, but I rather liked that one. That poor man Azir, or Azim, or whoever he is," she commented with a laugh.

He smiled back, enjoying the sound of that honest and untroubled laughter.

"It helps that being High Wizard gives me plenty of freedom to play this particular game."

In truth, without the stipend his position afforded him he would have had to resort to more exotic and considerably more inexpensive methods of amusing himself.

"From the impressions I got from our friend there, Azim is some fellow who has it out for him and comes up with astonishingly resourceful ways to pursue that vendetta. As we left he was thinking about what sort of truly inventive thing he would do first when he caught up to the little troglodyte. Either Azim is getting some just desserts, or he's just going to keep on antagonizing that man. It isn't really something I'm worried about. Besides, I honestly have no idea where he is at this moment anyway."

Pluto also had another concern which she voiced at about the same time.

"You're lucky I don't know the running exchange rate for ri and yura, you know. The cost of this box of chocolates sounds like they'd better be the best chocolates in all the land."

"Truthfully, my lady, I have only slightly more knowledge on the subject than you. Ri is a unit of measurement, and a thousand of them is rather a long way. Yura is their unit of currency, with the smallest denomination commonly carried being a hundred, I think. That said, this is very good chocolate and worth every coin regardless of the actual exchange rate."

He examined the contents of the box, finding them poor competition for her smile. Still, he had a job to do. He chose a lighter colored chocolate with darker drizzle upon it and gave it to her, going even so far as to feed it to her if she felt so bold. For himself he took one of the lighter brown ones with darker drizzle and popped it in his own mouth at the same time the lighter one entered hers. Upon taking a moment to taste it, he nodded with a look of great satisfaction.

"Oh my. Definitely worth it. I'd probably call it a good deal at twice the price. That man's going to tan my hide if he finds out what I did."

Not that he especially cared. One angry seller of chocolates didn't even register on his scale of frightening things, although he'd be among the first to admit that his particular scale was a little skewed. Still, it was nice to spend time with Pluto without something trying to kill, eat, or maim them. It was so pleasant, in fact, that he'd almost forgotten about the reason why he'd called her in the first place. Were it not for a corner of his mind still dedicated to the peaceful slumber of a princess worlds away, he would have forgotten entirely and reveled completely in the unmitigated joy of the company.

[Mini]

Hazy sunlight flitted in through the stained glass windows that rested high above the cozy little study Rini was cooped up in. The idea of signing and making out papers didn't seem like a lot of work, but it really was tiring. One of the servants had been kind enough to bring her up some piping hot chicken noodle soup earlier, and a few other of her friends had also checked in on her during the day. Running a kingdom was no laughing matter, and she was learning the hard way. She didn't know how any monarchs got any time to themselves, and with Korrino gone, she scarcely had time to get a decent night's sleep.

That's right. Korrino was gone. Rini's hand stopped midway through signing off on a paper about farming permits. He was gone... but he would be back soon enough, right? A half smile crossed her face as she thought of him. His bright smile, his even brighter eyes, the way that he made the whole room brighter simply by being in it. Oh, how she missed him.

After signing off on a few more papers, the young queen leaned back in her seat, stretched her arms up high, and let out a mighty yawn. "Ugh! If I sign one more paper, I think I'll go crazy," she complained out loud to nobody. At least she had talked the guards into staying outside of the study. They always made her feel super self-conscious when they stood in the same room and just stared at her, but after all of the crazy things that had happened in the kingdom (and specifically to her), who could blame them? Just as she was trying to decide whether to sneak off for some fresh air and see what her restless personal guards were up to, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," she called, then immediately wished she would have said something that sounded a bit more regal. Her mother always managed to sound impressively regal and sublime when saying the simplest of phrases. Somehow, she just hadn't inherited that from her.

The door opened, and a young servant poked his head in. "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but your presence is requested in the Royal Gardens."

Someone wanted her in the Gardens? That was certainly a strange meeting place. Rini stood up and brushed her skirt off. "Really? In the gardens?" she asked, confused. "Just who exactly is it who is requesting my presence in the gardens?"

"I am afraid that I do not know, m'lady. I was simply asked to relay the message. I was told, however, to request that you make haste. The request is unorthodox, yes, but there was a hint of urgency made as well. Oh, but, ah, nothing too urgent, of course," the servant replied, bowing twice as he spoke. "If thou wishes, I would be more than happy to escort you there myself."

"No, that won't be necessary, thank you very much. There are soldiers and guards stationed all over the place. I'm certainly able to walk the short distance from here to there myself." She started to move towards the door but noticed that the servant was still awkwardly standing in the doorway. She glanced around, cleared her throat softly, then finally remembered what she was supposed to say. "Oh. Umm... you're dismissed. Thank you kindly for relaying the message."

"Of course, Your Majesty," the servant replied, bowing his head before vanishing from the doorway.

A request to meet with somebody in the Royal Gardens? Whatever could be going on? There was no way that anyone from outside of the castle could simply sneak into the gardens, so she doubted very much that there was anything foul afoot. The thought of some sort of prank being played by Raja crossed her mind. He certainly was one to enjoy a good prank, and this did sound like something he might concoct. Chuckling to herself, she slipped outside of the study and walked down the hallway. Even though it was an indoor hallway, it somehow seemed hazy. Walking to the gardens should have taken no time at all, but it felt like she just kept walking and walking, twisting and turning down hallway after hallway.

Finally Rini reached a large, bright doorway. Hazy sunlight was streaming in through it, making it nearly impossible to see anything beyond the doorway. This was the way out into the Royal Gardens. It had to be. Taking slow, cautious steps, she silently stole out into the serenity of the garden. Designed to trick those inside that they couldn't possibly be in the middle of a castle, flora and fauna covered nearly every square inch of the place. Trellises covered in climbing trumpet ivy, clematis, honeysuckle, and roses lined every wall of the castle, creating the perfect illusion of a garden paradise. A few larger trees sprung up here and there, and an exceptionally beautiful weeping willow blossomed in the distance. Exotic and tropical looking shrubs and bushes were scattered all around, all in full bloom with flowers in every color imaginable. Small bunches of different colored flowers sprung up all over the place. Tulips, lilies, Large hedges weaved gracefully throughout the whole garden, creating little hallways that led to different sections of the garden. Some were covered in naturally formed arches of wisteria, aubrieta, and bleeding hearts hung over some of them. River pebbles had been scattered between the small patches of different breeds of flowers, and large pieces of smooth, water worn glass had been placed to create stepping stones throughout the pebble paths. She could hear water running in the distance and knew that there was a pond filled with fish somewhere nearby, but she couldn't see it from her present location.

It was paradise.

Rini ventured slowly out into the garden. There was nobody in sight, so she just stood there and waited for a few moments. A gentle warm breeze tugged at her curly hair, which fell gracefully down her back. All the stress from the day simply melted away as she bent down to smell the soft pink flowers blooming on a nearby azalea bush. Smiling softly, she drifted closer towards the center of the garden. Maybe whomever had called for her was waiting there, or perhaps they were by the fish pond. Maybe whoever had called for her was deeper into the garden. Content to be outside in the sun for however long she could stay there, she walked down the path and headed deeper into the garden.

~*~

Pluto eyeballed the small hunk of chocolate as Ishazi held it out to her. It was a lighter color, and a darker chocolate had been drizzled over it. If she remembered correctly, the lighter kinds of chocolate were called "milk chocolates," but that was about the only thing she could recall about chocolates. Her knowledge was quite limited, and what she did knew came from the know-it-all mind of a then seven-year-old princess. Recalling those memories brought a smile to her face, which Ishazi might have perhaps mistaken to have appeared because of the chocolate he had just handed to her. Of course, knowing that he had just chosen a chocolate just for her also made her smile... just in a different way. It wasn't a noticeable difference, but there it was nonetheless.

The demigoddess was just a little hesitant to eat her chocolate, though. It took her a few seconds to decide whether she wanted to pop the whole thing into her mouth all at once or just take a small bite and savor it bit by bit. In the end, she chose to just "go for it," as they said, and slipped the whole thing into her mouth. Her efforts and her taste buds were handsomely rewarded. The outer layer of chocolate was made in just the right kind of way that it slowly melted and dissolved after seconds, and the drizzle only added to the smoothness of the chocolate. What she hadn't been expecting was the super sweet and doubly delicious surprise waiting inside - a layer of semi-liquid dark chocolate. It was a truffle! Sweet and creamy, positively luscious and delicious. Pluto had never experienced anything so wonderful in all her years of existence. Her eyes went wide in delight as she continued to enjoy her treat. Chocolate inside chocolate? What genius of a mortal had thought this up??

"Mmm! ... Mmmmm! Oh, Ishazi, this is wonderful!" Pluto exclaimed. She almost squealed in delight. Almost.

Long after she had swallowed the last bit of chocolate and was still savoring the memory of such a wonderful thing, she turned to him and smiled. As she did, she caught the slightest glimmer of the faraway look that had crept into his azure eyes for the swiftest of moments. It happened so fast that most wouldn't have even noticed, but Pluto had a bad habit of being very aware of things that happened in the shortest of time spans. Her smile faded just a bit as she, too, remembered that they hadn't simply come here on vacation. If only they had. If only things could be different between them. But they weren't. There were countless joys in the world from which she must always be barred, and yet here she was dancing dangerously too close to one of the biggest ones right now. It had to stop before Pluto crossed a line she could never return from. It broke her heart to think such thoughts, but she knew what had to be done. She had to return Ishazi back to Ethera where he belonged, and she had to then return to her lonely post where she belonged and pray that her father hadn't notice her absence.

But... maybe she could spare just a few more minutes. There was something she had thought of that just might yet help her dear friend.

"Is there anyplace around here we could sit down and talk, Ishazi? Someplace quiet, yet... someplace where there are still people around, if that's possible?" the demigoddess asked, glancing around at the marketplace. It was almost as if she were trying to take in as much as the world around her she possibly could, much like a man condemned to death tried to take in as much as their last sunrise as they possibly could.

[Nayr]

In the center of the garden, in a clearing next to the fish pond, a man rested. He stared up in the sky, wearing only a linen shirt and leather pants. He'd abandoned his usual finery and affectations because he wanted to forget, even for a single precious moment, that he was the king of a country that depended on him to bring them peace and prosperity. He wanted to forget all the things that worried him and nagged at his mind both waking and sleeping. So here he was, dressed in simple clothes and barefoot, lounging in the royal gardens awaiting his queen. She'd had work of her own lately, and it was his opinion that she could use a break. So, pursuant to this idea, he'd wait here for her and when she arrived she'd relax. Even if he'd have to pull her down beside him and pour the sweet wine he'd stashed nearby down her protesting throat. He smiled to himself at the mental image. Nothing said "relaxation" like pinning a queen down and force feeding her sweet wine.

His reverie carried him far and wide in the time before his queen arrived in the garden. He could hear her steps on the pebble path now, but didn't move. She'd come upon him eventually, and then he'd reveal what he'd been up to most of the day. The weather was even cooperating, offering his machinations the gift of a clear sky and a warm day. He was even proud of how he'd had the summons delivered. It was easy enough to just have someone go tell his lovely lady that he desired the pleasure of her company, but particularly cunning to make her think it was official business so she'd make an effort to appear on the scene in a queenly manner. He knew she'd drop her regal facade the moment she knew it was just them, but he liked the way she looked when she was trying to show the people that she was worth the crown she would one day wear. He'd known from the moment he met her, so it was a truly gratifying validation to see that he hadn't judged her incorrectly. Regardless, he was still lounging and looking up at the sky when his queen reached him. He'd wait to see what she'd say when what she found was someone lounging and not noticing her entrance rather than someone who was anxiously awaiting her royal attention.

~*~

It made Ishazi feel warm inside to hear her glowing praise of the sweet. He'd made the same observation himself, but it was good to hear her say it. Especially given that her access to such simple pleasures was so very much rarer than his. It was sad, really, that her duty should keep her from things like this. He wished they could freeze the universe in this moment, anchor all creation into a moment of bliss that they could share together.

Unfortunately, it was not to be.

She must have seen the fleeting look in his eye as he mentally checked on his sleeping charge, now worlds away. Her smile faded a little. Not very much, but enough. He cursed her divinely aided senses for picking out the one thing that would spoil a moment of real happiness with their seemingly infinite and eternal duties. She surprised him, however, by not insisting upon their immediate return thereto.

"Is there anyplace around here we could sit down and talk, Ishazi? Someplace quiet, yet... someplace where there are still people around, if that's possible?" she asked, glancing around as though she was never going to see it again. While that outcome was entirely possible, the gallows mood weighed on him somewhat. He'd absconded with her because he'd wanted to get rid of that doomed look about her. He'd wished for even a little while to banish that long suffering loneliness that hovered about her like a thick fog, and it hadn't been long enough yet. He nodded in response to her request and looked around briefly to remember as much as he could about where such a location might be found nearby.

He led her then to a place on the outskirts on the market, away from the din but not away from the people. Those who were out this far were usually either going to or coming from the market, and not interested in stopping off to eavesdrop on two people sitting off to the side of the street talking quietly. The fact that both looked like nobles was of passing interest, but not enough to make a scene. Ishazi let her sit down first, then sat beside her and smiled, trying as much as possible to quash his feelings of regret that their time together was drawing to a close.

"Next time you have to let me show you the hanging gardens in a place called Araje. The things those people can do will make you swear there's magic involved, but there isn't a drop of it in the whole land."

He knew that wasn't what she wanted to discuss, but he wanted to try anything to prolong this. They both had weighty responsibilities in life, and to set those burdens down was a thing precious beyond words.