For Rodlox: Pride and Prejudice (Mai, PG)
Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Cyloran
TV or Book verse: TV
Characters: Ancient Mai, Morgan, Amber, Guest Star
Recipient: Rodlox
Assignment: Ancient Mai - not a dragon, but with ties to things far more powerful.
Word Count: 1,826
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The Dresden Files do not belong to me. Just passing through.
Notes: Takes place immediately after the events of Things That Go Bump
The instant the wards to the Council safe house dropped into place, Mai turned on her chief warden. "I told you to tell him nothing!"
It was no more than Morgan expected. "He had a right to know," he said stoically, his tone saying quite clearly that he didn't like it any more than she did.
"Dresden has no rights!" Mai snapped. "He cannot be trusted!"
"Morgan didn't have any choice," protested Amber. "Without Harry, we'd all be dead."
Rather than be grateful for the support, Morgan glowered at the apprentice warden. "I am perfectly capable of answering for myself."
"Nor was I speaking to you." Power gleamed in Mai's dark eyes as she narrowed them at the girl. "You still have much to learn about discipline and the order of things. Now be silent!"
Amber quickly looked away. The last thing she wanted was a soul gaze with Ancient Mai.
"Dresden has no right to know Council business." To know MY business, Mai seethed.
"Agreed," said Morgan briskly. "But Amber is correct. In this instance there was no other choice. Divided, we were accomplishing nothing." He grimaced as if he had bitten into something sour. "As much as I hate to admit it, Dresden was instrumental in the solution and the dracoform’s destruction.”
Mai dismissed the Warden’s words with a curt wave of her hand. "Only because his own neck was at risk. Under any other circumstance he would have been more than happy to see all of us dead."
Who can blame him? thought Amber. The subject of the files she'd been given to study and the man she had met were two entirely different people. Harry Dresden was not their enemy, no matter what the Council documents would have people believe.
As if she had heard, Mai turned to regard the novice with a cold, unfathomable gaze. "You wish to say something?"
Amber glanced at Morgan, saw no support there, and shook her head. "No," she said softly. But for the first time since being called to service, she was having serious doubts about the Council and its motives.
"What's done is done," said Morgan reasonably. "Even were it possible to make Dresden forget this day's events, it would be impossible to alter the ghost's memory."
It was a simple, irrefutable truth that even Mai could not argue; which meant she hated it all the more. She was used to being in control of any given situation. It was bad enough that the wardens had seen her helpless, but knowing that Dresden now realized that she was not indestructible was intolerable!
She would have to find a way to remedy the situation.
"Leave me," Mai growled and abruptly turned her back on the wardens, dismissing them as if they were no more than personal servants.
~ ~ ~
For centuries, green tea had been revered for its medicinal properties. Mai drank it because the lǜchá was soothingly familiar and helped her to think.
If she allowed herself the luxury, the mixture's delicate flavor and warmth could transport her mind from the cold, harsh modern world of concrete and steel to one of rolling green hills and simple huts made of wood and mudbrick. Closing her eyes, she could visualize the mountains in the far distance, their peaks shrouded with glistening snow and gray-blue clouds. It was said that the Eight Immortals lived on those lofty heights but Mai, a very practical girl, had refused to believe in such fantastical beings. If it could not be touched or seen or tasted, it did not exist.
A soft breath of sound, like a low chuckle very close by, instantly dispelled the ancient past and brought Mai to her feet in one fluid motion. The ceramic cup fell to the floor and shattered, splashing tea and shards across the polished wood. Long shadows fell across the room, cloaking corners and furniture in varying shades of gray. Mai slowly turned, arms rigid by her side and fingers flexed as she extended her senses, seeking the origin of that sound.
Another huff of breath, like a badly concealed snort, came from her left. Mai’s head snapped in that direction, her dark gaze piercing the shadows. “Show yourself!”
The reply was a furtive rustle and then a sudden flash of darkness as something sped from one shadow to the next, tumbling a box in its passing. Mai turned with it, quick as a cat as she tried to keep it within her sight. It succeeded in eluding her, once more vanishing into the gloom.
“I will not ask again.” Mai raised her hands, the black lacquered nails extended like claws. “Come out!”
“Or what?” came a muffled reply. Far from being belligerent or fearful of the implied threat, the tone was playful and teasing. “You will bite my head off? Is that still your favorite threat?” The voice had shifted, now coming from a bit lower. “Or will you turn me into something hideous?” Now it was immediately behind her, cheerfully taunting. “Oh, wait. Too late for that!”
“Enough!” Mai raised both hands, blue-white energy arcing between her fingers. “No more games!”
“But life is a game, Mai-lin.” The voice was above and to the right, close to the ceiling. “Who among us knows that better than you, my sweet little flower?” A soft cluck of disapproval. "Ah, but not so sweet anymore, are you?"
The power Mai had gathered vanished as she curled her long fingers into fists and hissed, “You.”
“Of course me!” laughed the voice with delight. “My Mai!” it giggled. “It certainly took you long enough.” The sound leaped from the right side of the room to the left, still high above the seething wizard’s head. "But I guess that's only to be expected. It has been a long time since I paid a visit. Far too long a time."
A shimmer of pale bluish light drew Mai's gaze to the top of a bookshelf. The shadows swirled and solidified into a small brown monkey with large, intelligent brown eyes. It wore a red vest embroidered with glittering yellow Chinese symbols and a tiny, thin golden circlet upon its furry brow.
"Sun Wu-Kung," said Mai, her expression bitter.
"That's my name! Don't wear it out!"
"What do you want?"
The monkey's eerily expressive features showed hurt. "Mai-lin! Is that any way to greet an old, old, old friend?"
"You are no friend of mine."
"Not even a little bit?" The monkey lifted his hand, thumb and forefinger held a hair's breadth apart. "Not even a teeny, weenie bit?"
Mai replied with a glower that would have turned a lesser being into a quivering pile of nerves.
"Still the same, charming young lady I remember. It's nice to see some things haven’t changed." Those intelligent brown eyes met hers without fear or hesitation. "Or have they?"
"I don't know what you're referring to," she said tersely. "And get rid of that ridiculous aspect."
"Why? You talk to the Wizard Council every day and most of them are asses. I'd think you'd prefer a monkey." He grinned. "Call it a refreshing change of pace. I like the Amber child, by the way. There is light inside of her. The Nubian, not so much."
"They are not your concern."
"Now this Dresden fellow … there's someone worth watching. All different kinds of light inside that one," Wu-Kung continued conversationally, as if he hadn't heard. "Could go either way. Probably won't, though. He knows his path. He even listens to his guides. Smart boy."
Mai's dark eyes narrowed. "Dresden's 'guide' was a dark wizard; one that he murdered."
"Self defense," Wu-Kung corrected, "And I wasn't talking about the fat one. I was referring to the other."
"There is no other. Dresden is alone."
"No. Not alone. Never alone." The monkey tilted his head a bit to the right, as if he might see Mai more clearly by looking at her from a new angle. "He has you to thank for that, in part."
"You mean the ghost," said Mai with disgust. "Another dark wizard."
"Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on who's looking."
"He is no different now than he was eight hundred years ago," said Mai, coldly dispassionate. "He can never change."
"So. Eternal damnation and slavery. Still a reasonable solution?"
"Yes," said Mai with conviction.
"Ah." Wu-Kung sadly shook his head, clearly disappointed. "Then you have not yet learned."
"Not learned?" she demanded and laughed her contempt. "I've learned more than you ever dared teach me! I have power greater than any living wizard. I have the knowledge of centuries. I have the experience of centuries. Those that do not respect me, fear me. It is everything I craved and aspired to. Everything that I worked for. Not you! Not them!" She nodded toward a painting of distant mountains on the edge of green fields. "Me. Myself."
"But at what price? Love? Compassion? Remorse? "
"No price is too great for what I have achieved." Mai's dark eyes glittered with determination and hunger. "I will have more."
"And by so doing, will have less," said Wu-Kung grimly, "Until there is nothing left except an empty shell carved from ambition."
"If I have lost anything it was not worth keeping in the first place."
"So speaks the wisdom of a fool." The monkey's image shimmered, blurring into a new form and shape. The man who took his place was middle-aged with short, close-cropped black hair. The golden circlet still adorned his brow over the monkey's dark and ancient eyes. The vest was now a robe of rich red silk embroidered with fine golden thread. Shorter than Mai, still he towered over her with a vibrant presence that spoke of eldritch power.
Defiant, Mai faced him. Belligerent, she tried to meet his gaze but found that she could not hold it. The Monkey King's eyes were a mirror that would reveal more of herself that she wished or cared to see.
"When I look into your soul I no longer see any shred of compassion or joy. Love is little more than a glimmer, quickly dwindling into shadow. But hatred and anger and pride … those you still have in abundance." Sun Wu-Kung sighed. "I had hoped to find that the years had given you wisdom. Instead, I see the same foolish child who craved power at the expense of her humanity. For every century that passes, your power grows and your chi dwindles."
"I do not regret my bargain. This is exactly what I asked for." What Mai had in fact begged for so very long ago. "I do not need your pity. Take it back to your Mountain."
"As you wish." Wu-Kung's image shimmered like smoke on a gentle breeze until only his voice lingered, growing distant. "How ironic that you can take pride in damning another," he said, "Without once recognizing the curse you have placed upon yourself."
Author: Cyloran
TV or Book verse: TV
Characters: Ancient Mai, Morgan, Amber, Guest Star
Recipient: Rodlox
Assignment: Ancient Mai - not a dragon, but with ties to things far more powerful.
Word Count: 1,826
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The Dresden Files do not belong to me. Just passing through.
Notes: Takes place immediately after the events of Things That Go Bump
The instant the wards to the Council safe house dropped into place, Mai turned on her chief warden. "I told you to tell him nothing!"
It was no more than Morgan expected. "He had a right to know," he said stoically, his tone saying quite clearly that he didn't like it any more than she did.
"Dresden has no rights!" Mai snapped. "He cannot be trusted!"
"Morgan didn't have any choice," protested Amber. "Without Harry, we'd all be dead."
Rather than be grateful for the support, Morgan glowered at the apprentice warden. "I am perfectly capable of answering for myself."
"Nor was I speaking to you." Power gleamed in Mai's dark eyes as she narrowed them at the girl. "You still have much to learn about discipline and the order of things. Now be silent!"
Amber quickly looked away. The last thing she wanted was a soul gaze with Ancient Mai.
"Dresden has no right to know Council business." To know MY business, Mai seethed.
"Agreed," said Morgan briskly. "But Amber is correct. In this instance there was no other choice. Divided, we were accomplishing nothing." He grimaced as if he had bitten into something sour. "As much as I hate to admit it, Dresden was instrumental in the solution and the dracoform’s destruction.”
Mai dismissed the Warden’s words with a curt wave of her hand. "Only because his own neck was at risk. Under any other circumstance he would have been more than happy to see all of us dead."
Who can blame him? thought Amber. The subject of the files she'd been given to study and the man she had met were two entirely different people. Harry Dresden was not their enemy, no matter what the Council documents would have people believe.
As if she had heard, Mai turned to regard the novice with a cold, unfathomable gaze. "You wish to say something?"
Amber glanced at Morgan, saw no support there, and shook her head. "No," she said softly. But for the first time since being called to service, she was having serious doubts about the Council and its motives.
"What's done is done," said Morgan reasonably. "Even were it possible to make Dresden forget this day's events, it would be impossible to alter the ghost's memory."
It was a simple, irrefutable truth that even Mai could not argue; which meant she hated it all the more. She was used to being in control of any given situation. It was bad enough that the wardens had seen her helpless, but knowing that Dresden now realized that she was not indestructible was intolerable!
She would have to find a way to remedy the situation.
"Leave me," Mai growled and abruptly turned her back on the wardens, dismissing them as if they were no more than personal servants.
~ ~ ~
For centuries, green tea had been revered for its medicinal properties. Mai drank it because the lǜchá was soothingly familiar and helped her to think.
If she allowed herself the luxury, the mixture's delicate flavor and warmth could transport her mind from the cold, harsh modern world of concrete and steel to one of rolling green hills and simple huts made of wood and mudbrick. Closing her eyes, she could visualize the mountains in the far distance, their peaks shrouded with glistening snow and gray-blue clouds. It was said that the Eight Immortals lived on those lofty heights but Mai, a very practical girl, had refused to believe in such fantastical beings. If it could not be touched or seen or tasted, it did not exist.
A soft breath of sound, like a low chuckle very close by, instantly dispelled the ancient past and brought Mai to her feet in one fluid motion. The ceramic cup fell to the floor and shattered, splashing tea and shards across the polished wood. Long shadows fell across the room, cloaking corners and furniture in varying shades of gray. Mai slowly turned, arms rigid by her side and fingers flexed as she extended her senses, seeking the origin of that sound.
Another huff of breath, like a badly concealed snort, came from her left. Mai’s head snapped in that direction, her dark gaze piercing the shadows. “Show yourself!”
The reply was a furtive rustle and then a sudden flash of darkness as something sped from one shadow to the next, tumbling a box in its passing. Mai turned with it, quick as a cat as she tried to keep it within her sight. It succeeded in eluding her, once more vanishing into the gloom.
“I will not ask again.” Mai raised her hands, the black lacquered nails extended like claws. “Come out!”
“Or what?” came a muffled reply. Far from being belligerent or fearful of the implied threat, the tone was playful and teasing. “You will bite my head off? Is that still your favorite threat?” The voice had shifted, now coming from a bit lower. “Or will you turn me into something hideous?” Now it was immediately behind her, cheerfully taunting. “Oh, wait. Too late for that!”
“Enough!” Mai raised both hands, blue-white energy arcing between her fingers. “No more games!”
“But life is a game, Mai-lin.” The voice was above and to the right, close to the ceiling. “Who among us knows that better than you, my sweet little flower?” A soft cluck of disapproval. "Ah, but not so sweet anymore, are you?"
The power Mai had gathered vanished as she curled her long fingers into fists and hissed, “You.”
“Of course me!” laughed the voice with delight. “My Mai!” it giggled. “It certainly took you long enough.” The sound leaped from the right side of the room to the left, still high above the seething wizard’s head. "But I guess that's only to be expected. It has been a long time since I paid a visit. Far too long a time."
A shimmer of pale bluish light drew Mai's gaze to the top of a bookshelf. The shadows swirled and solidified into a small brown monkey with large, intelligent brown eyes. It wore a red vest embroidered with glittering yellow Chinese symbols and a tiny, thin golden circlet upon its furry brow.
"Sun Wu-Kung," said Mai, her expression bitter.
"That's my name! Don't wear it out!"
"What do you want?"
The monkey's eerily expressive features showed hurt. "Mai-lin! Is that any way to greet an old, old, old friend?"
"You are no friend of mine."
"Not even a little bit?" The monkey lifted his hand, thumb and forefinger held a hair's breadth apart. "Not even a teeny, weenie bit?"
Mai replied with a glower that would have turned a lesser being into a quivering pile of nerves.
"Still the same, charming young lady I remember. It's nice to see some things haven’t changed." Those intelligent brown eyes met hers without fear or hesitation. "Or have they?"
"I don't know what you're referring to," she said tersely. "And get rid of that ridiculous aspect."
"Why? You talk to the Wizard Council every day and most of them are asses. I'd think you'd prefer a monkey." He grinned. "Call it a refreshing change of pace. I like the Amber child, by the way. There is light inside of her. The Nubian, not so much."
"They are not your concern."
"Now this Dresden fellow … there's someone worth watching. All different kinds of light inside that one," Wu-Kung continued conversationally, as if he hadn't heard. "Could go either way. Probably won't, though. He knows his path. He even listens to his guides. Smart boy."
Mai's dark eyes narrowed. "Dresden's 'guide' was a dark wizard; one that he murdered."
"Self defense," Wu-Kung corrected, "And I wasn't talking about the fat one. I was referring to the other."
"There is no other. Dresden is alone."
"No. Not alone. Never alone." The monkey tilted his head a bit to the right, as if he might see Mai more clearly by looking at her from a new angle. "He has you to thank for that, in part."
"You mean the ghost," said Mai with disgust. "Another dark wizard."
"Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on who's looking."
"He is no different now than he was eight hundred years ago," said Mai, coldly dispassionate. "He can never change."
"So. Eternal damnation and slavery. Still a reasonable solution?"
"Yes," said Mai with conviction.
"Ah." Wu-Kung sadly shook his head, clearly disappointed. "Then you have not yet learned."
"Not learned?" she demanded and laughed her contempt. "I've learned more than you ever dared teach me! I have power greater than any living wizard. I have the knowledge of centuries. I have the experience of centuries. Those that do not respect me, fear me. It is everything I craved and aspired to. Everything that I worked for. Not you! Not them!" She nodded toward a painting of distant mountains on the edge of green fields. "Me. Myself."
"But at what price? Love? Compassion? Remorse? "
"No price is too great for what I have achieved." Mai's dark eyes glittered with determination and hunger. "I will have more."
"And by so doing, will have less," said Wu-Kung grimly, "Until there is nothing left except an empty shell carved from ambition."
"If I have lost anything it was not worth keeping in the first place."
"So speaks the wisdom of a fool." The monkey's image shimmered, blurring into a new form and shape. The man who took his place was middle-aged with short, close-cropped black hair. The golden circlet still adorned his brow over the monkey's dark and ancient eyes. The vest was now a robe of rich red silk embroidered with fine golden thread. Shorter than Mai, still he towered over her with a vibrant presence that spoke of eldritch power.
Defiant, Mai faced him. Belligerent, she tried to meet his gaze but found that she could not hold it. The Monkey King's eyes were a mirror that would reveal more of herself that she wished or cared to see.
"When I look into your soul I no longer see any shred of compassion or joy. Love is little more than a glimmer, quickly dwindling into shadow. But hatred and anger and pride … those you still have in abundance." Sun Wu-Kung sighed. "I had hoped to find that the years had given you wisdom. Instead, I see the same foolish child who craved power at the expense of her humanity. For every century that passes, your power grows and your chi dwindles."
"I do not regret my bargain. This is exactly what I asked for." What Mai had in fact begged for so very long ago. "I do not need your pity. Take it back to your Mountain."
"As you wish." Wu-Kung's image shimmered like smoke on a gentle breeze until only his voice lingered, growing distant. "How ironic that you can take pride in damning another," he said, "Without once recognizing the curse you have placed upon yourself."