InsaneJournal

Ah... I think this is the point you must go alone. I cannot approach the door.
Who: Kitty, Emma, Gaz, Obi-wan, Illyana. With guest appearances by Nathan and Faiza
What: Kitty accidentally draws some of her friends into a fantasy adventure! Obi-wan and Gaz face tests of character.
When: 5/5 late at night
Where: Fantasy Fairytale Land
Status: Complete
Rating: Pg-13 for killing things



Kitty had been up late with the twins, watching disney movies, and some of her favorite old cartoons, with an emphasis on fantasy. It had been a lot of fun, and she was grateful for the time she got to spend with them. The bluray was looping in the menu, as she lay fast asleep on the couch, Leong and Nga tucked against her.

When she opened her eyes, however, the sun was shining down on her and she lay in a field of grass. She got to her feet and shielded her eyes. She was wearing a long tunic and leather armor.

She looked around, seeing a castle in the distance, banners waving proudly. “Son of a bitch.”

“Such language. Kitty, is never appropriate. I think in this case, Goddammit is more correct.” Illyana stood nearby, clad in a flowing green dress, shimmering with darker reds, horns growing out of her head and her eyes a shining red.

“We are to be waking up now, yes?”

Emma frowned, straightening her ridiculous white and blue robe as she stood. She had a staff with a crystal top, and her hair was now a shimmery shade of silver. “Obviously you people have a fetish for interrupting my time with Scott. What the Hell is all this?”

There was a loud clanking noise from behind them all as Gaz stalked up, outfitted from head to toe in black plate armor, carrying a battle axe. “I don’t know, this part’s pretty okay.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s auburn head suddenly popped up from the grass, his eyes wide with a rare look of utter perplexity. There was a jingle with his movements, as he was neck-to-toe in chainmail, and a long white surcoat that hung from his shoulders. He looked down at his gauntlet-cased hands and the helmet on his lap. A sword and white shield lay beside him.

His brows fell to a heavy scowl. His eyes moved from person to person and finally fell on Kitty. “This is all your fault, isn’t it?”

Kitty looked at all of them, her mouth hanging open. She closed her mouth, and fought back the urge to laugh. "Probably. I just spent the evening watching fantasy cartoons and stuff with the kids. This kind of happened before."

She flexed her fingers in her leather gloves. It was supple and soft and she liked the feel of it. "Though last time I think I was the princess. ...so ...demon sorceress, check, mage check, death knight check, knight, and rogue, check."

Clearly, they were on a quest.

Illyana was glancing around them and thinking something similar. “So if we are not waking, can we find a purpose for us being here? What happened last time?” Illyana had a strange half-memory, but not quite of a story she was told.

“Maybe we’re looking for another princess.” Emma mused. “If this is all in your head that would make a fair amount of sense, all things considered.” She wondered if Kitty’s psyche was playing out Xi’an’s death in a way that would allow her to live. This would be an interesting trip on quite a few levels.

Gaz pushed up the visor on her helm. “Ugh, princesses. Always in another castle.” She sighed, looking around. “If I know D&D, and I think I do, we should probably start looking around for villagers to ask about monsters and crap.”

Obi-Wan stood, attaching his sword to a loop on his belt and trying to figured out what to do with his shield next. The Jedi didn’t wear armor. They didn’t need it. He felt like he was carrying a lot of noisy, dead weight as he jingled forward and stopped beside Kitty.

“I suppose I should just be grateful you didn’t fall asleep watching pornography,” he said dryly. He was clearly disgruntled, unsure if he was back home in a coma or had vanished completely. What would Faiza and Loras do, if that was the case? “Onward to the castle, then?” The sooner they did whatever they had to do, the sooner they went back home.

“Come now, that would be a lot of fun too,” Kitty flashed him a grin, bravado covering up a distinct unease. Why them? Her eyes fell on the castle in the distance. “The castle, yeah.... There’ll be a town around it and we can figure out what it is we need to do to end this and wake up. Just be on your guard. There are probably dragons and grues about.”

Illyana nodded, and hmmed as she set forward. She was already wondering what her own little place was to be in this mess. Demon Sorceresses never fared well in fairy tales. She internally ran over a few spells, and felt a surge of power within her, which made her eyes widen. “One second.” She concentrated, and then cast a spell, and a nearby rock rose to her palm, tugging toward Kitty. “Okay, so that works.”

Illyana glanced at the others. “Perhaps we should be sure of what we can do here before we actually go among others.”

“That’s not a bad idea.” Emma noted. She tried to think of a harmless, minor spell. Something inside her brain clicked into place, and the terrain around them shifted, at least in their own perceptions, to that of a bustling city. She laughed a little. “Oh, that’s interesting.” She dispelled the effect with an amused chuckle.

Gaz grinned, knowing exactly what she was. Death knights were fun. Suddenly the ground around them turned a sick purple black, grass and flowers withering. With a swipe of her axe, a tree in the distance cleaved in two, and she nodded to herself. “I could do worse.”

Obi-Wan watched as the others tested their powers, one after the other, each talent more impressive than the last. He lifted his hands and aimed directly for Kitty, ready to give her the Force push she deserved. ...Only nothing happened. He tried again. The air before his palms popped with static. “Oh, you’ve got to be joking,” he muttered, mostly to himself.

“Templar? Or wait, Paladin!” Kitty laughed, and turned towards the castle, spinning daggers in her hands before sheathing them again. She inspected her pouches and pockets. Lock picks, flash powder, some kind of salve and a potion. “Looks like I’m equipped to rob people and do all kinds of tricks and traps.”

“So you are the thief? This is an odd group.” Illyana was perplexed, not having been a real fan of Dungeons and Dragons. “Let’s go find out what we are here to do.” Surely whoever brought them here would want them to actually be involved, actually accomplish something.

There was a town in the distance, so Emma started off in that direction. “We are an odd group. Maybe we’ll be picking others up along the way.” Or losing people. Did they need two knights and two magic users? “I never played this game before.”

Gaz nodded. “I’ll tank.” She wasn’t really designed for a lot of damage anyway. Call it instinct. Turning to look at the other person in armor, she raised an eyebrow. “If you’re a cleric, you have to think about your faith when you cast.” Her visor went back down over her eyes and she picked a direction and started to walk. It happened to be toward the town.

Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow. His faith? He tilted his head. Clearly thinking about the Force wasn’t working, but other than that, Obi-Wan wasn’t exactly sure what he was at this point, faith-wise. He was an amalgam of beliefs. He’d have to give all this more thought. Until then... he’d practice with this new sword.

It didn’t take long to get to the town proper. Kitty felt like they’d stepped onto the set of some movie or television show. Or one of the cartoons she’d been watching earlier. She tried to find someone she could flag down in order to ask questions, without appearing too suspicious, although she figured they’d draw enough attention on their own.

“Usually there’s someone who’ll set us up on a quest. That’s how these stories usually go.”

Illyana looked around, confused. “So, where would we find someone like that? What sort of person usually is the setter-upper?” She wanted to learn this and win it, and then go home to Clarice.

“Well, if I had a quest I wouldn’t be wandering around town aimlessly. I’d be looking for someone to do the work for me. Are there. .. job listings or something similar?” Emma made a face. “Dammit, telepathy would really come in handy right now, but the spell version isn’t as good.”

“Tavern.” Gaz pointed at the place with the bat-wing doors and women in corsets. “Taverns and inns. It’s like you guys don’t know what a RPG is.” The purple haired death knight grinned at Kitty. “You hang out with not geeks? Shame on you, Kate.”

Dungeons and Dragons? RPGs? By now, Obi-Wan’s face had gone rather blank, almost fish-like as he felt like a fish out of water. His metal sword was cumbersome and heavy, and hardly useful; his ability to use the Force was gone. Hadn’t there been a time once when he despised his powers? Now he wasn’t sure how to function without them.

He shrugged. “Just... someone explain to me what to do once they’ve figured it out. Until then, I’m going to have a drink.” He opened the Tavern door and disappeared inside.

Kitty smiled. She always enjoyed when Gaz called her Kate. She followed Obi into the tavern, looking around. With her luck, Alicia would be a serving wench.

Actually, she was half-hoping....The woman was built for the job. "Sorry Gaz. They're geeky in other ways. Obi-wan is a Jedi."

Illyana followed Obi-Wan in and sighed as she glanced back. “Come. Even I know that splitting the party is no good.” And she vanished inside, keeping her eyes on Obi-Wan before the crowd got too rowdy. She was sure it would get so.

Emma followed along, though she could think of few places she wanted to be less than a generic fairy tale tavern. The place was a lot cleaner than she expected, but she still kept her eyes down to watch for spills and drunks. “This is why white is a terribly impractical color for clothing.” She eyed the benches, certain they’d mark up her ridiculously decorative robe.

“Obi-Wan?” Gaz mouthed it to herself, looking somewhat reverent as she went into the tavern. She looked at Emma, then turned her back to her. There was a cloak there. “If you can figure out how to get it off, it’s all yours.” She couldn’t even reach her back.

Gaz looked around, trying to see if there was anyone else around that had maybe a sword or something like that. Maybe they had failed a quest and they could pick up after that.

Obi-Wan fit in easily among the other vaguely disgruntled looking, bearded men, and there were many of them. He sat the bar and signaled for a pint of whatever it was they were pouring on tap. He'd have a drink and he'd adapt to surroundings, in that order.

Hm. What they had on tap was pretty good.

Kitty looked around, trying to find a mysterious stranger, or someone with an odd aura. She knew they were in the right place. Her gut told her so. She edged away from the others and towards a shadowy corner, wishing Alicia were here. Maybe she was the Princess.

Or maybe Xi'an was. The conflict made her chest ache.

Illyana caught her shoulder in a light grip. “Damnit, no splitting the party. Even with tricksy gifts.” Illyana shook a finger at Kitty, then glanced around. Then, somehow, in the midst of the party, there was another. “Good evening, travelers. You look lost and without guidance. Perhaps I can lend you a hand.” A young man looking an awful lot like Nate Summers, and yet not was standing there, one hand holding a staff.

“To get where you wish to go, you must take on a quest. The beginning of it lies not far from here, but will require great courage from all, and for one, a test of what is held most dear.”

Emma facepalmed. “What is our quest?” Of course Nate was in this too.

Gaz was in the middle of a fight with a halfling who was trying to steal her axe, but she was listening.

The not!Nate sighed and nodded. “You must go outside the city, to the place where no man would go, but one man must, and one of you must face temptation to get the weapon only he can wield from the hands of that which he cannot lose.”

Not!Nate smiled. “To speed you on your journey, you will find that these will help.” He held up a bag that had not been there a moment before, bulging with a few items, and lay it on the table. “Go well, and wisely, Adventurers, for danger lurks everywhere...” and between one blink and the next, he was gone.

Illyana stared and then shrugged. “A riddle, and a quest. This does not bode well.” She nudged the sack, and then reached into it, and blinked as she pulled out a ring, one that slid onto her finger as she held it. A voice that was not a voice said simply “Sorceress.”

The whole thing was getting ridiculous, in Emma’s eyes. “Well, thankfully we only have one man.” She reached into the bag and removed a bulky tome. It was wrapped in belts, with a strap which she presumed would go over her shoulder. Disembodied voices were nothing new to Emma, but the idea that she was a “wizard” was amusing.

The death knight (what, she was a specialty class) pulled out a shield decorated with human skulls. “Huh.” That was just cool looking, and Gaz knew she’d be painting this later on.

Obi-Wan continued to quietly drink his ale and come to terms with his diminished skill-set. Without the Force flowing through him, he felt naked, and it surprised him how different the world seemed, even a fantasy one. He’d forgotten what it was like to feel normal. Truly, it irked him that he’d ever thought himself special or more deserving in some way.

He looked over his shoulder and shooed a busty wenchy admirer before rising to his feet to join the group. So, what did I miss? his eyes seemed to say.

Kitty finally reached into the bag, herself, wondering what sort of weapon she'd get to complement her daggers. She pulled out ... a pen. A quill, really, and a matching journal and ink. She got a very dry look on her face. "They do say the pen is mightier than the sword."

She turned to where Nate had stood, her expression curious. "Obi's the only 'he' here. The Temptation of the Jedi?"

Illyana shrugged. “Go where a man would not go, but must, and face temptation to get the weapon he can wield from the hands he cannot lose?” Illyana shook her head. “It sounds weird, but at least we know where to go. Outside of town. We just need to figure out what’s outside of town that men would not enter.”

“A salon.” Emma said, with a chuckle. “Perhaps there’s a convent? Men wouldn’t normally go in there.” She tapped her finger on her staff. “Damn, I wish I had my powers. Spells aren’t nearly as good for gathering information.”

“Graveyard?” Gaz shrugged. “Nobody wants to go there but has to. Hands of god, all that crap.”

Obi-Wan scowled. Clearly, he’d missed quite a bit, but he’d needed a few moments to center himself. He was older than everyone here, less emotionally flexible, and prone being irritable. But the ale had relaxed him. “What’s in the bag?” he asked, his hand already moving into it. He pulled out the last object inside, which was... a white scarf.

His scowl intensified. The fabric was delicate in his hand, and yet worn as if had already seen some significant use. As he blinked, some light began to dawn in his eyes. Obi-Wan lifted the scarf to his nose and a smile appeared. ...Faiza. Without another word, he tied the scarf to the side of his leather belt.

So Obi got a favor. That was kind of cute. Kitty smiled at him as she tucked the quill and ink into a pouch and hung the book from her belt. Wherever they were, it seemed to be an amalgamation of different fantasy tropes. Everything from fairy tale books, to D&D, to World of Warcraft. She even checked her ears to see if she was an elf.

“Lets get moving, something tells me we’ll get a sign.”

Illyana nodded. “Let’s.” Of course, that was when the barfight started, with the goblin trying to get some ale, and that took a few moments to sort out, but really, who didn’t see that coming? By the time they stepped outside, and Illyana looked around, the sky was showing a lowering of light, and a single moon hung heavy in the sky.

“Pick a direction, yes?”

Emma leafed through the book during the barfight. She wasn’t interested in breaking up any altercations, she was focusing on the riddle and their goal. Obi-Wan’s item made her laugh a little. “You need to pay more attention during class. There was a riddle that you missed which seems to concern you in particular. You’re to go where no man would go, be tempted by something, and receive a sword only you can wield.”

Gaz had taken off her helm for a moment, if only to breathe. The damn thing was hot, and her blue-purple hair was sweaty. “Probably why you can’t do anything yet.” She spoke to him more reverently, what with his name being Obi-Wan.

The tone of Gaz’s voice was not lost on Obi-Wan, but without the Force to help him sense what she meant by it, he could only nod thoughtfully and politely. He looked back to Emma. “Tempted by something that I would find where no man would go?” he said, lifting an eyebrow. “Are we talking about a place where women would keep to themselves? And wait, why does this have anything to do with me? Isn’t this Kitty’s dream?”

“I don’t know what this is,” Kitty admitted. “But dreams often have greater significance. Maybe we’re all sharing it. Or maybe we got ported to an actual dimension. For all we know Mojo is watching us and laughing.” That would be the pits. “..you probably don’t want to know who Mojo is.”

Illyana facepalmed. “Does it have to be Mojo? Can’t it be Arcade instead?” She paused. “Or even Apocalypse?”

She started along one street, and nodded. “We came into the city this way, we should be able to get back out this way, yes?” Unless that sign came out and poked them from another direction.

“Let’s not summon our enemies into the dream as well. We’ll have a hard enough time just keeping everyone together and on the same page.” Emma followed along, still looking through her book. “These spells are fascinating.”

“Jungian theory could also apply, but I’d just as soon blame it on this place being what it is,” Gaz shrugged. “Whatever wavelength the dreams from the alternate realities runs on, maybe we all tapped into it at the same time. I mean, we’re all close to Kate.” Gaz smiled at her friend. “She probably needs us.”

Obi-Wan could still clearly remember what it had felt like to be linked to Kitty. He shuffled along silently for a little while, and tried to focus his thoughts on solving the riddle. In the distance, there was a church, or what looked like a church. It was surrounded by farmland and there was a high wall protecting some parts of the structure. “Perhaps we should pray for guidance,” he said dryly.

Kitty looked through the distance, eyeing the church thoughtfully. She pulled the journal off her hip, giving Gaz a fond smile. "I always need you guys."

She scribbled in the journal and then put it back to it's resting place. "Onward, ho!"

Illyana chuckled. “Forward to adventure, and all of that.” She walked with the others toward the church, and into the main yard, where a harried looking man and woman in robes were overseeing two groups. One, a group of men hoeing a field, was doing so poorly. The other, a group of woman working on repairing weapons and armor, seemed similarly unskilled. Illyana eyed them askance and sighed.

“This is not so much hopeful.”

“No, it’s not.” Emma made a face. “Please tell me we don’t have to teach peasants how to work the fields. I’m tired just thinking about doing manual labor.” Especially in her flashy, ridiculous robe.

“Wearing this outfit is manual labor,” Gaz grunted.

Obi-Wan’s eyes remained on the church. it was shaped oddly, more like a network of connecting structures than a single building. There was a sign by the door. Angelic Monastery.

His eyes brightened. “I think we may have found the place we’re looking for. There’s a cloister convent attached to the chapel. Now, what man would go in there?” He waved his hand, warding off the jokes that would surely follow. “Don’t answer that. You know what I mean.”

“So what’s the temptation then?” Kitty started to walk. They’d get nowhere just standing still. “Gaz, I want you covering our rear. Keep the squishies in the middle, Obi up here in the front.”

Illyana glanced at Obi and at Kitty. “What is most important to the Jedi? As important as duty? Or more so?” She knew what would be important to her. “A woman?” She shook her head and wished for her soul sword.

“No, because Jedi aren’t supposed to love, I thought.” She had Nate to blame for that bit of knowledge. “Balance might be most important, but maybe the temptation is to upset the balance of things, somehow?” She fell into place between the armored men with Illyana.

Gaz still held up the rear, axe over her shoulder. “Temptation by its definition is something you’re not supposed to have. Do you love anyone, Obi-Wan?”

The formerly friendly door to the chapel now seemed quite mysterious and threatening. He listened to the words passing back and forth behind him. They reminded him of so many conversations he’d had with Meetra, and Kitty as well, about the transmogrifying code of the Jedi.

Change was difficult for him. He liked to keep things in order. But Obi-Wan had reached a point where love was as necessary to his survival as food and water. “I do,” he said. “I do love someone.” What was he about to see inside? Or better, who? Was Faiza waiting for him, was she dreaming, too?

Kitty wondered if Obi was supposed to resist the temptation or if he had to give into it. Or maybe it was more complicated than that. More symbolic. She suddenly had the thought as she looked at these people who were so important to her, that maybe there would be tests for all of them.

She had every faith in them.

Illyana nodded then and moved to open the door and found she couldn’t. “Ah... I think this is the point you must go alone. I cannot approach the door. Anyone else?”

Emma stepped forward, but couldn’t get any closer than Illyana had. “I suppose only person can enter as well.”

Gaz took a step too, not holding out much hope. “Sorry,” she mumbled. She’d tried to shrug, but pauldrons that were huge and ornate didn’t leave a lot of room for gesticulation.

Obi-Wan lingered for a moment. Truthfully, he was a bit nervous. He couldn’t fully grasp what the temptation would be either. Finally, he stepped forward, and passed through the doorway without a problem. It seemed this part of their journey really was meant for him alone.

Inside, it was a little dark, with rays of light beaming down from high windows. A figure sat at a dias at the end of a long hallway. Or rather, the figure knelt. She was clad in white and blue, and wore chainmail. A sword was clasped in either hand. One glowed like the sun.

Obi-Wan moved slowly, his own chainmail clinking with each step. There was no way to move quietly. He glanced at the rays of brilliant sunlight and at the altar in the chapel, but he was drawn to the figure. It was a woman’s form, even with all her armor. His heart beat far more quickly than his careful movements warranted.

Was it Faiza, he wondered; she was a knight, after all. He liked to think about how she looked in her dream armor -- alright, he liked to fantasize about it, and taking it off -- but it paled in comparison to what he was actually seeing now ...if it was indeed her.

Her skin was dark, not pale, and when she looked at him, lifting her head, her eyes were familiar. She stood, and looked him over sternly, and appraisingly, as if she were tearing him down with her eyes and judging. “Ser Knight.”

Obi-Wan’s hand moved to his chest as the woman’s eyes cut through him. His mind was puzzled. This was... not Faiza, and yet, their faces were one and the same. Only his heart knew better. He felt... troubled. “Yes?” he asked, with a short bow of his head.

“Are thee worthy?” She lifted the sword Excalibur, pointing it at his chest. “Or does thy heart quiver?”

“What do you think is going on?” Kitty asked, pulled out her daggers and flipping them in the air as she waited. They spun and glistened as she caught them by the points and flipped them again.

Illyana hummed, then grinned. “Perhaps he is testing the limits of temptation?”

Emma made a face. “God, we’ll be here all day waiting for him to get in and out of that armor.”

“If he’s not supposed to love, maybe we’ll luck out and he’ll have to not. Do that.” Gaz wrinkled her nose. She would’ve sat down, but something told her if she sat down in full plate, she wouldn’t be getting back up.

The mysterious woman before Obi-Wan's eyes spoke in mysterious ways. Had he ability to use the Force to , he might have made sense of it more quickly.

With a swift snap, the sword moved from his chest, and the sword of life was hovered. “Take this sword, and slay thy temptation.” What this temptation was wasn’t clear, but soon, Faiza was joined by other people. Loras in full plate, Kitty as, yes, a Princess. Jean and others. All were armed, and all attacked.

Obi-Wan’s hand was already on the sword before the others appeared and would have fallen if not for his quick reflexes. He saw Merrill and Frodo, too. And Dani. It seemed the small room had grown cloudy. The sun pouring through the windows was gone, but the mystery had been illuminated. Obi-Wan understood his temptation now.

He had a split second to think. Each person had their hold on him in their own way, they stretched him thin; but it was never their fault, it was his; he tried so hard to be everything to the people he cared for, that he ultimately had nothing left to give.

Like he was already dead to them.

Obi-Wan turned the blade on himself.

With a flash, the attackers vanished. Even the church seemed to fade away, until only whiteness and Faiza remained. She favored him with a smile, before she too was goner and the man lay alone on the floor, amidst pews that had long seen disuse. Whatever illusion that had held this place, was gone.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what to expect. Would he now wake up? Did Faiza's smile mean he'd passed the test? When the blade touched him, he hadn't felt any pain.

He sat up and looked behind him, to his companions clustered by the door. The hilt of his new light sword was still in his hand.

All Kitty had seen was a flash of light, and the building had turned into a much more decrepit and run down place. She still couldn't enter it, but she could see Obi through a now half-broken door.

Illyana moved to the door and peered in, seeing only Obi-wan. “Did you accomplish the mission?” Illyana smiled as she saw something in his hand.

Emma blinked, then grumbled about being unable to use her powers to check on him. “Apparently. Are you alright?”

Gaz pointed out his sword. “How’s the new shiny?”

Obi-Wan pushed himself to his feet and stretched to make sure everything still worked. As if by magic, there was no wound on him to be seen, or more importantly felt. He began to walk to the door and winced at the sunlight. “I suppose I did. I believe the point was to teach me a lesson, about how I keep repeating the same mistakes. With friendships and otherwise.”

"Very shiny," Kitty said, scribbling into her book. She closed it again. Wondering aloud, she added, "So who's being tested next? We found the sword. There has to be some clue to lead us to the next place."

She looked back at the building, and at how dilapidated and worn it now looked. Then she looked at Gaz. "I have a hunch it's you next. Maybe we should check the graveyard."

Illyana nodded. And just then there was eerie music. Piano music. She blinked, it definitely came from that graveyard, and a house beyond it. A theater house that looked almost... digital.

“This dream, it is surreal, yes? That is not just me?”

Emma shook her head. “It’s not just you. I suppose we follow the railroads wherever they may lead.” She motioned toward the theater with a sweeping motion. “After you, Gaz.”

Gaz sighed, stomping toward the theater. “I bet this is about my stupid father,” she muttered, stepping toward it. The music was baroque and fast, and made her smile to herself.

Obi-Wan followed, taking the rear. He quietly fiddled with the while scarf he’d tied to his belt, putting a loop on which he could hand his new sword hilt. It was very much like a lightsaber, but more compact; very shiney, although he wouldn’t have said so aloud.

Kitty nodded, and walked lightly. She wanted to give Gaz a hug, but didn't want to impale herself on the woman's armor. "Burying the past? Or a hatchet?" Or maybe forgiveness.

The music made Illyana curious. "The music is good. Much better than pop. I wonder if it will follow us."

“Daddy issues are so complicated, it could be both.” Emma knew a thing or two about those, though it might be more fair to say she just had issues in general at the moment.

It was weird, it kind of felt like the graves gave off a certain palpable heat. Gaz’s eyebrows knit, and she sighed. It was kind of like a game of hot and cold. She walked to various graves in a sort of morbid duck duck goose, holding out her hand to feel if each was more warm or cold. “The music reminds me of Erik, he’s a composer. I don’t know, maybe I have to let go or something before I can let him in? Don’t know.”

Obi-Wan lifted his head and one his his eyebrows. “Erik... Granger?”

Gaz nodded.

“He and I have been hired to restore an old theater,” he replied. “Small world.”

“I love him,” Gaz replied, still reaching, still looking for the warmest grave. Eventually she had to take off her helm, wincing from the heat at one of the headstones. “I think I have to do something here. May as well dig, right?”

"I think letting go might be a recurring theme, here," Kitty said, a disquiet filling her chest. Obi had to let go of the parts of himself that we're getting in the way of his happiness. If Gaz was right, the theme continued here.

She wiped at her brow.

Illyana raised a hand and spoke words that blended dark and light, the sound of them filling her ears. Broken bones and stones rolled together, and shimmered, and formed a large shovel, then another. She lifted one to hold out to Gaz and raised an eyebrow. “Do you have to do it alone, or can allies help?” She did not know this person, but here they were allies, and one did not turn one’s back on an ally.

Most of the time.

Darkness sang in her head and she did not listen.

Emma sighed, and looked under robe to see what she was wearing. It was good enough. She shed her robe, which left her standing there in light white bloomers and what was essentially a tank top. She opened her tome and recited the spell Illyana had just used, making a shovel for each of them. “We’re here, so I assume we can help. I’ve been in a situation like this before, and I know how to dig my way out.” She took a shovel up, fixing her gaze on Gaz.

Gaz took one of the shovels, working herself out of her pauldrons and her breastplate. She was wearing a white cloth tunic underneath it all, and she started to dig with all of her might. “I’m guessing this is my father. He died when I was fourteen.” She wasn’t about to tell people ‘oh, by the way, I might have helped’, but they should have at least that much information. “He was a bastard.”

To Obi-Wan’s credit, he succeeded at not staring at the scantily-clad Emma. He focused his energy on digging, though he did suddenly find he had a great deal of energy.

Kitty smirked to herself as she started to dig as well. She was used to Emma wearing very little, and what the blonde was in now was hardly scandalous at all. “If anyone sees a statue of Jean Grey, I’m going to worry.”

Illyana muttered. “Or Belasco, yes?” She dug with the others, putting her back into it, the music around them making her fall into a rhythmic pace, and with sudden inspiration driving her, to sing. Her voice rose in an eerie but beautiful song, and there was power in it as she sang.

“Work comes to claim us all,
And life ends for us all,
Eventually, it seems,
But we will not just lay down and die,
So hear now our battle cry,
As we fight for our dreams.

We may live and we may die
but we will fight when darkness is nigh
and we will not just give in when rises the heat,
We will fight and we will love,
we will dare to live, and we will push and shove
and no darkling power will find us easy meat.

When the darkness comes we will stand
and make our mark on the land
choosing to be ourselves in the face of the darkest hour
Let those who fear walk away
We’ll stand to fight day by day
and we will not give up our friends, or run and cower,

We are the dreamers, and we will not fall
we are those who will answer the call,
and whether our choice or not at all
we will not idly just stand by

when the shadows come, we’ll find our way
and we’ll chase them till the break of day
and until it’s done, we will stay
for it’s do or die,

For we are one, and we are here,
strong and powerful, without fear
we will not tremble, nor will we fall and die,
So dig my friend, and don’t be shy
don’t let them see you sweat or whine or cry
And we will find the work goes by
swifter than before...”

And energy flowed from magic, from her spell song, to the others, to swiften the work and make it easier.

“Rachel would be more problematic than Jean.” Emma noted, between shovelfuls of dirt. “Jean and I had lunch today, it was quite nice.”

Gaz didn’t know who any of the people they were talking about were. But she did notice when her spade hit something with a metallic clang. Rolling her shoulders, she jumped into the hole they’d created and started to dig with her hands.

Obi-Wan stepped back and mopped his brow. He was considerably older than all of them, but he hadn't broken too much of a sweat. "What did you find?" he asked.

“Coffin.” Gaz had uncovered a metal object that was coffin shaped, but burned her hands. She was bloody minded, however, and continued to try to unlock it with her shovel. Well. She was trying to break the lock with her shovel, but every time it sent a bolt of pain up her arms.

“I miss Rachel,” Kitty said, undisguised sadness in her voice. She looked at Gaz, then the coffin. “Maybe I could phase the lock off? You do need to learn to accept the help of others more easily, Gaz.”

Illyana hmmed. “It could be that together we can accomplish what one cannot alone?”

“Maybe we should let the past remain buried.” Emma noted. “Is there merit in opening old locks to see what we put inside them?”

“Of course there is,” Gaz murmured. The music grew louder every time she tried to touch the lock, and she sighed. “I can’t feel my fingers anymore, I’m going to stop trying.” Maybe Kitty had a point.

Kitty stepped forward, and grabbed the lock. It was immediately clear that this was a great strain. “It’s...very dense and.... magically locked, too. Ya..Yana? I think I need a boost.”

Illyana gently placed one of her hands on Kitty’s shoulder, feeling the thrum of magics through her and groaned. “Something or someone wanted to make sure this didn’t get broken.” She started speaking, twisted words and darker moans, and there came a shadowy light around her that flowed across her body to where she touched, Kitty, then across Kitty as well, enveloping her, bringing heat, warmth, and tingling power.

“Now.” The words were grated out, tension in her frame.

Kitty closed her eyes, straining the limits of her powers as the magic flowed through them both. The lock budged, then in a spark of light and flash of shadow, she and Illyana were thrown back. When the dust settled, she was holding the lock in her hand. She tossed it aside and groaned.

Illyana shuddered as the dark magic broke, and let her own fade, slowly sitting up. She glanced at Gaz, then and nodded, breathing slowly. “Try--” she coughed, spat, then spoke again. “Try now?”

Gaz nodded, swinging the shovel a bit like her battle axe and breaking the lock. She was pretty sure she knew what would be there when she opened the lid.

It was her father. He didn’t look skeletal as he should have. Instead he looked just like he had on the day she’d murdered him. Sighing, Gaz started to rifle through his pockets for a quest item. But she realized what she was meant to learn, smiling to herself as the epiphany hit her. “Thank you. All of you. Sometimes I don’t ... ask for help. When I should.”

Obi-Wan quietly made himself useful helping Kitty and Illyana back to their feet. As someone who had no memory of his father in either world, the moment hit him broadly. He thought about Qui-Gon... and wondered if he made the man proud now, as he was.

Kitty smiled tiredly and sagged against her friends for a few moments. She wondered if there was a clue on where to go next, or if it would be more subtle who would be tested next. She walked over to Gaz, and hugged her. “Yeah. We’re always there for you.”

Emma eyed the man in the box. “I wonder if it’s so fresh because you’re not letting yourself deal with it?” She stepped closer. She had her own father issues, and seeing him with adult eyes had helped her deal with them. Maybe that was part of the problem. With her father dead, Gaz couldn’t put her monsters to rest.

Gaz took a breath, leaning into Kitty’s touch, closing her eyes. The sound of Erik’s piano played, mournful and sweet. God, she loved Erik. He was probably the first person she’d ever loved who cared about her in return. Her father had always seen her as a disappointment, something for which she’d resented him. She’d always wanted her father to care about her. It was an admission she’d never made to herself.

Tears slipped down Gaz’s cheeks, and had her eyes been open, she’d have noticed her father’s body dissolving into vapor.

Obi-Wan finally spoke. “I think you’re meeting your task,” he said. It was still barely even a murmur.

Kitty brushed at Gaz’s cheeks, then pulled away to let the woman compose herself. Her smile was soft, and happy. So far, this wasn’t that bad at all. She’d been expecting a lot worse. She pulled out her book and looked at it, flipping through the pages and scribbling in one.

Illyana glanced around as it got a touch warmer where they were. She saw a small hillock a little ways away, and a large sheltering tree over it. “Come on. We can rest over there. Regroup ourselves for whatever else comes.” She pointed the way.

Emma shrugged her robe back on, and helped Gaz back into her armor. “We should be looking for a dragon, right? Are there some displaced dwarves anywhere around here? They would probably be helpful.”

Gaz smiled at Kitty, kissing her on the forehead. “Thanks, Kate.” She nodded her thanks to Emma as well. Plate was a pain and a half to put on, she discovered. “We could look for fires,” she quipped.

A moment to regroup sounded good to Obi-Wan. A bite to eat would have sounded even better. “Fires for cooking?” he joked, though he was not quite joking. “These old bones could use a quick rest.” He smiled.

“Rested XP is the best kind,” Kitty quipped, she started off towards where Illyana had pointed. Maybe they should set up camp for the night, then head out in the morning and see if they could find some dragons.

Illyana led the way toward the hilltop. “We should be able to make a small fire, if we are careful.”

“I think I can set up spells that will keep us safe.” Emma was grateful for rest as well.

Gaz nodded, moving to chop down a tree for tinder.

“Would anyone happen to have something to eat?” Obi-Wan asked. “Or do we need to divide the hunters from the gathers?”

“Don’t look at me.” Kitty laughed. “But I’ll give it a shot. I think I can fashion some traps!” It took her some time, but she finally returned with a couple rabbits. She figured it would be enough. She just hoped someone else knew how to cook it. “We should set a watch.”

Illyana nodded. “Yes. A watch would be good, here. I would be glad to stand one.” She examined the rabbits and cleaned them, stripping away fur and skin, and fashioning sticks to hold them, then glanced around. “Does anyone know how to cook rabbits?”

“No. Unfortunately I’m the only one in my-” Emma thought for a minute. “I do, actually. It was part of the information Nate gave me. I’ll watch these.” She looked around for more sticks to fashion a spit, and soon had the rabbits turning over the fire.