PPC: TM. Chapter Four.
Previous chapter
The Song Disclaimer
Song List of Chapter Four:
7) Look At Me
Drink With Me
Les Misérables
8) A Little Motivation
A Lotta Locomotion
Starlight Express
Disclaimer: Spells used belong to J. K. Rowling.
Part Two: She
It was dark again. Dark and damp.
"Anyone else feel queasy?" groaned Spot.
Four people's moans were the only answer she got for a few minutes while the travellers calmed down their upset stomachs. Then they began to look around. They were standing in a corridor that smelled of fresh paint and the same cleaning detergent used in the cell. It was lit up by a dozen flame torches, but even so it was freezing cold. On each side of the corridor were thick wooden doors, numbered and extremely locked. In the middle of each door was a small window, clearly only able to open from the outside.
Zit looked inside one of them. "Cells," he reported, his breath coming out in white puffs of air as he smoke. "Just like ours. This one's empty."
"So's this," said Blessie, looking into number four.
"This one isn't." Nea was peeking into the cell, which was marked with a shiny brass '2'.
This door had more signs on it, all of them stating things like: DANGER and YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. YES, THAT MEANS YOU.
To the collective gasps of the MSTW, Nea knocked on the door.
"Hello?" she whispered.
"Who is it?" a remarkably cheerful voice on the other side replied.
"I'm Nea," said Nea. "Am I correct to assume that you are Newmoon?"
"That would be me. Hm, Nea... I've heard that somewhere."
Nea grinned. "I used to work with Ekwy Fields."
"Oh yes! Good ol' Eks. How's she doing these days?"
"Quite fine, actually. Hey, do you want some help with getting out of here?"
"That would be nifty."
"Good. Stand back!"
There was some clinking from a chain as Newmoon moved away from the door. Nea raised her wand.
"Silencio," she mumbled at first, to make sure that no one would hear the bang to follow. "Reducto!"
The door exploded without a sound. Sadly, the alarm that went off merely seconds afterwards wasn't very silent.
"Oh yes, this is fantastic," said Newmoon (or yelling, as a matter of fact; the alarm was REALLY loud) as Cornelia and Nea helped her out of her chains. "What an amazing rescue. Not flawed at all."
"You're NOT helping," muttered Nea, raising her wand. "Anyone seen them yet?"
"If they come, I suggest we don't stay here and wait," said Zit. "Let's just run, yes?"
"Good idea."
So they ran. The corridor led out into a room. It was a bit brighter than the dreary white-painted rooms. It had curtains, even though there was a definite lack of windows. That was all Nea noticed, since there was also a Sue in there. It was a warrior.
"Impedimenta!"
It was an unconscious warrior. Nea didn't even slow down.
"This way!"
The world turned into a confusing, whirling maze of corridors in different colours. Nea tasted blood in her mouth, but she didn't dare to stop running. People were coming up to her. She pushed them aside, clearing a way for the people behind her. Doors burst open with just one flick of her wand. And they kept running still.
* * *
Ekwy, Milano and Loki had found a way towards the castle, and they were feeling rather optimistic about the whole deal. It would only be "get in, grab Nea, get out." No muss, no fuss.
"Wands at the ready?" asked Ekwy cheerfully.
And then She turned up.
It was the most beautiful thing any of them had ever seen. That was pretty much all that could be said about it. If you squinted and tilted your head a bit like THAT, it sort of looked like a gigantic ball of swirly pink energy, like a dream trapped in glass or a petrified wish.
But looking the other way, relaxing your eyes, you saw something similar to a woman made out of golden mist. She smiled when She saw the agents, and then She opened Her mouth... Whatever it was that came out smelled of roses and vanilla, and it lay over their eyes and penetrated their brains. She was everywhere. She could see everything.
She was evil. They could sense it. But they couldn't escape Her.
Look at me and say what's there
In my eyes and be aware
Can you hold my gaze and remember your name?
And behold my face, even yet sense my game?
Do you know, and do you dare?
Loki couldn't move, couldn't think. His mind was completely focused on the... thing in front of him. She was so beautiful. She was perfect. She was... important, and she stirred something within him that he had thought he'd forgotten. It wasn't like the tender love he felt for Nea, or even the passionate feelings he'd had for Virginia once. A long time ago.
Look at me and say what's there
Close your eyes and don't despair
Will the world remember your sacrifice?
Will it matter if you gave in once or twice?
Don't you think that it's unfair?
She looked at him and took a step forward. The air hummed when She floated towards him. Some fog whirled around, shaping itself into a golden arm, reaching up to touch him. A part of him wanted to draw back, but his body was numb. He couldn't react, even though that itty-bitty part of him screamed to reach for his sword. But she was so beautiful... Surely, no one that lovely could be evil?
Look at me and say what's there
Don't you think you've done your share?
I'll make you an offer you cannot refuse
I will give you some time but then you must choose
Look back, do you still care?
Loki looked, his eyes glazed over. He looked at Ekwy and Milano, who were lying lifeless on the ground behind him, both pale as death and not moving. And he felt nothing. There was a strange relief in not feeling anything. He felt happy, almost euphoric, life was easy and wonderful. And he looked at Her, and Her smile was all that mattered. He opened his mouth and sang to Her.
Do I care if I should die
Now that I have seen your face?
The side I picked it was doomed to lose
And now you know, my muse, that it's yours I choose
Take me in. I'm yours. Your Grace
He could hear a voice. It was distant and sounded like it came from the back of his own head. It wasn't important. Suddenly things were so blurred, but he didn't care, for he could lose himself in Her eyes. There was a cool sensation on his skin as She reached out to touch his face.
"You are one of us," She whispered.
Her hand rested on his cheek, and it was like it was digging into his brain. It caressed its way down to his thoughts, his most precious memories.
The voice again. He pushed it back. Not important. The hand inside his mind shivered, as if it hurt it to touch some of the things in there.
"So much pain," She purred. "How was it like, finding out that you weren't real?"
It had been horrible, he remembered. For a brief second he had been completely lost, stared at the lifeless body of the only woman he had ever loved until then. Virginia Weasley. They had been inseparable, and now... It hadn't been real. None of it had been real.
"You can have that again. Get her back. You can get it all back, be the most beloved again, if you only say the word, my darling."
Please say naught, my darling...
Hm. The voice was singing. Odd. But it became harder and harder to push it away. A part of him wanted to hear it, to drown in that voice, to have his mind cleared.
"You have hurt us more than you could possibly imagine, my sweet. Killed your own sisters. Even killed your beloved, again and again. Why? Because it is your job now? It doesn't have to be like that."
Golden mist swirled in his head. He grinned. Pretty. All shiny and pretty.
"All you have to do is to tell me that you want it. Crave it. Need it."
"I... I..." He tried to form his mouth around the words, but they wouldn't come out. Something inside him resisted. It had been so much easier when he had been singing.
"What could you possibly have that we can't give you?"
Catcher in the rye, and never say goodbye...
"Who are you?" whispered Loki.
"It doesn't matter, my sweet. Just say it."
"Loki!"
Loki turned around. Some of the mist had lifted from his mind in the same moment he'd heard that voice. He knew who that was. But what was her NAME?
"Loki, I'm over here!"
Five or six shapes in the mist. One of them was running. Loki met Her gaze again.
"I should go."
"You'll come back."
When Her hand left his mind it felt like She was ripping out his heart through his neck, and it hurt like nothing had hurt before.
"Loki?"
Was he screaming? Because someone was, he could hear it ring in his ears, but all he felt was pain. He had lost something that was so important that he might die if he didn't get it back.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The spell sizzled over his head, passing through Her and hitting the castle wall. It left a hole in the bright purple stone. Someone hissed, and then the golden light was completely gone. Loki blinked. He was lying on his back, his head was in someone's lap, and that someone was stroking his hair tenderly.
"How are you feeling?"
The befuddled mess that was his mind provided him with a name. "Nea?"
"Hi honey."
Loki sat up, ignoring the sharp jabbing headache and turned to look at her. She seemed all right. Sure, maybe a little bruised, she had a nasty bump in the head and she was awfully dirty, but she was all right. The wave of relief washed all his pain away.
She frowned at him. "Loki, are you OK?"
He grinned, and it felt like his scull was going to crack open. "I know it sounds cheesy, but I think I am now. You had me worried there for a bit, darlin'."
"Sorry." She got to her feet and helped him up. "Hey, where's Ekwy and Milano? Because there's just no way that they'd allow you to go after me alone."
Someone groaned.
"We're here," muttered Milano and got up from the ground. "And thank you EVER so much for noticing us right away," she added sarcastically.
"Give 'em a break, Mil," said Ekwy and rubbed her temples. "They're in LURVE!"
Newmoon and the MSTW, who had caught up with Nea, stepped up shyly. Newmoon brightened when she spotted Ekwy.
"Hiya Ekkers!"
Ekwy grinned. "Hi Moons! I see you're out now?"
"So it would seem!"
Loki looked at the MSTW. "I don't know you," he said conversationally.
"Guys," said Nea and pointed at the ex-prisoners, "these are Zit, Blessie, Spot and Cornelia. They were in jail with me. Or at least, something that very closely resembled a jail. Other guys" she turned towards the MSTW "these are agents Ekwy, Milano and Loki. Ex-partners and current partner. Oh, and Newmoon of course, but I trust you already know her."
Something hummed nearby, and the air shimmered ever so slightly. Loki looked around nervously.
"We should get out of here," he mumbled. "I've got a feeling She'll come back."
They could actually hear him capitalize it, and even though most of them had an idea of who he talked about, no one asked.
"We could go to by old apartbent," whispered Blessie. "I lived there before... before they took me away. It's dot far."
"Good idea," said Ekwy, nodding appreciatively. "We need to regroup. Consider our next move."
They began to walk. And shortly after that they began to run.
* * *
Blessie's old apartment was located in the worser parts of Sparklee, not that anyone would notice. It was a nice enough neighbourhood, with a lot of trees and flowers, and birds flying around all over the place.
Blessie bit her lower lip. "C'bon," she said, sneaking into the building. "We hafta hurry. They can spot us."
They followed her in silence, all the way up the stairs. Apparently the place was located on the top floor of 66 Greenleaf Avenue. They were all out of breath when they finally reached it, and poor Cornelia looked like she might faint from the extra weight she was carrying.
Blessie opened the door. The apartment was tastefully decorated in white and light green. The room that they came in to was big and airy, with a gigantic white couch in front of a big-screen TV. Everything was very clean, and it smelled fresh.
Ekwy whistled. "Not bad," she said, eying the television. "How come you don't lock your door? Someone could sneak in and snatch this beauty right under your nose."
Blessie looked confused. "Huh?"
"You know, snatch," said Ekwy. "Like stealing?"
Still not a sign of recognition from any of the MSTW.
"Taking something that doesn't belong to you?" tried Milano helpfully.
Something dawned on Spot. "Oh," she said, smiling. "Oh, you see, in Sparklee, taking things that don't belong to you is illegal. Maybe it's different from where you guys come. Here we just don't do that."
The agents blinked.
"Ohhh," mumbled Newmoon. "Of course. Yes, it's illegal here. That's why they don't do it. Makes perfect sense."
"If we went around locking our doors, people would think we were up to sobething," said Blessie and nodded seriously. "Everyone leaves their doors open. That's cobbon courtesy. We are a very civilised people."
"That's logic, that is!" said Ekwy cheerfully. "If you leave your door open, people won't think you have anything worth stealing. If you lock it, they'll try to break in on principle, to see what you're so keen on hiding." She tapped her head, nodding. "Simple headology."
"Too bad it won't work in the Real World," muttered Milano. "Anyway, nice place. And you said you lived here by yourself?"
Blessie shook her head and blew her nose in the handkerchief again. "Not so much. My-my mother used to live here with me."
"Oh? And... how long has it been since...?"
"I've been away for almost a year."
The agents looked around. The apartment was way too clean to have been standing empty for a year. Milano frowned and touched the soil in the nearest flowerpot.
"It's moist," she mumbled.
"I suppose she still lives here, then," whispered Blessie. She had suddenly gotten very pale.
"Is this a bad thing?" asked Nea, remembering her first fiery meeting with the redhead and wondering silently to herself if the fire was a result of the mother or the father's genes.
"No... yes." Blessie bit her lower lip again. "It sorta depends on how you look at it. See, I... My mother was the one who made sure I was put there." She sighed when all eyes went to her. "But it's not what you think! She did it to help me, really. I would have been bullied beyond belief if it hadn't been for her."
"For being normal?" wondered Loki. "What's so wrong with being normal?"
"I'm normal by YOUR standards. By Sparklee-standards we're all dysfunctional. Here NORMAL is being perfect, and I wasn't perfect. My mother did it for my own good, to protect me."
"Is she dangerous?" Milano raised her wand cautiously.
"She isn't a warrior, if that's what you mean. But her magic is very strong, so..." The redhead shrugged and patted her swollen nose with the handkerchief. "Yes, I suppose she is."
Milano smirked. "No worries, we'll see who swish-and-flicks first. Think she's around here right now?"
Blessie looked uncertain. "I don't know. Back in the days she used to work in the temple. If she still does that, I don't think she'll be home yet for a few hours."
"Don't worry," said Ekwy and smiled. "We're gonna be ready for her when she comes. But until then, we have to prepare. We have things to do. Agents to save, Suvians to... render harmless," she added after a look at Blessie.
"What can we do?" asked Zit, who had been keeping quiet for a while now. "I mean, we can't do much."
"We ain't got no special talents," agreed Spot in a low voice and blushed faintly.
And before anyone had the chance to react, the MSTW started to sing.
A little motivation, that's what we need
From a motivator who can take the lead
Winning combination, just to make us see
That motivation's gonna carry me
A little motivation, that's what we need
If we're gonna make it then we must succeed
A little motivation, and the right approach
Then all we need is just a helping coach
Blessie, who looked slightly surprised at the beat, stepped forward and smiled nervously at the agents.
For me, I'm Blessie, I'm the newest here
I used to be a real Sue but got put away last year
Don't know what really happened
Must have failed to get a spouse
She paused, frowning.
Or maybe, there was this time when I burned down the house
She stepped back, allowing Spot to take the scene.
I'm Spot, at your service
My problem's kinda clear
My fam'ly didn't want me there so BOOM, I wound up here
A little motivation will do the trick
So that one day I shall find them
And then poke 'em with a stick!
She grinned. Zit took a step forward, taking her place.
My name's just Zit
And I'm the only guy
I don't know how I got here, and I never found out why
I tried the best I could to be a suave and sexy male
Got nervous, started to sweat
Guess I was born to fail
He shrugged. He didn't seem to care much about that, really. It wasn't his thing, and so therefore he didn't bother with it. By all four of the MSTW, Zit seemed to be the one who was most comfortable with being who he was.
A little motivation, it'll take you far
It makes you stronger, just follow a star
Some determination and a little prayer
Motivation's gonna take you there
Cornelia was pushed forward, blushing wildly. She didn't sing, but her friends told her story anyway.
Cornelia, was best in all
She did have a ball as I can recall
Didn't mind Elves, didn't mind pink
"Then what was wrong?" asked Nea curiously.
Cornelia gave her a tired look and motioned towards her horn.
"What do you think?"
A little motivation, that's what we need
If we're gonna make it then we must succeed
A little motivation, and the right approach
Boy, was that white room freezing!
The food was less than pleasing!
"I just couldn't stop from sneezing!" cried out Blessie, and the rest of the MSTW giggled at her.
Stop from sneezing?
Now you're just teasing...
Motivation's gonna carry me
"Motivation, you said?" asked Nea and grinned a bit. "We can do that. We do need you. No one knows the ways of Sparklee like you do."
"I suppose that's true," muttered Zit, but he looked a bit cheered up. "One picks up stuff in there."
"Let's make a list," said Ekwy and clapped her hands together. "Blessie, you got some paper?"
The redhead nodded and went to the kitchen. "You guys can sit down for now. I suppose we're gonna be here for a while."
The agents and the rest of the MSTW sat down on the fluffy white couch. It was like sitting on a cloud, they sank so far into the pillows that it felt like the couch was going to swallow them whole. It took them a while to get comfortable. Blessie returned with a notepad and a frilly pink pen.
"This was all I could find," she excused herself.
"'S quite alright," said Ekwy kindly and tried not to gag at the strong scent of lilacs from the paper. "This'll do just fine. Lesse now."
"Somebody has to try and get back to HQ," piped up Newmoon and raised her hand. "I volunteer!"
"Good." Ekwy nodded. "We're gonna need some backup in this, is my feeling. Bring a lot of weapons."
"Gotcha. Anything else?"
Tentatively, Nea raised her hand. "There are children in there," she said.
Milano coughed. "Pardon me?"
"I said there's children in there. Suvian children. They make them in the laboratories."
Zit nodded eagerly. "'S true, we heard about it."
"Well, we can't have that." Ekwy turned towards Newmoon. "Moons, contact Bleeding Hearts as well. They might take in those kids, should it come to that."
Spot, who had kept a low conversation with Cornelia, piped up. "Eh, d'you think you could perhaps take Cornelia with you? She... er, she doesn't weigh much, she wouldn't be a problem, and, well she can't- she doesn't..."
Newmoon just nodded. "Sure. I could use some proof of this crazy story anyway."
Cornelia gave her a faint smile and mouthed a "Thank you." She didn't look like she was feeling well. Her head was resting against a cushion, her muddy brown eyes were half closed, and she was breathing heavily, like she had exhausted herself.
"Great, then it's decided," said Ekwy and made a note out of it. "That leaves seven of us. Blessie, since this is your house I'm putting you in charge for getting us stuff that we might need. Food, supplies, things like that. If we... dress you up a bit, you could pass for a real Sue."
"Mother has a bunch of dresses," thought Blessie out loud. "I could st- I mean BORROW one from her."
Milano glanced over at Ekwy. "Hey Eki, who died and made you boss over this operation anyway?"
"Well," beamed Ekwy proudly, "I AM the oldest agent present, I think. Don't make a fuss, Mil, I've got a mission for you too."
Milano was curious against her will. "Which is?"
"You're going to help me and Zit with freeing more agents, while Nea, Loki and - Spot, was it? - tries to find the kids. Savvy?"
Milano muttered something incoherent.
"So that's all then?" asked Loki impatiently. "Can we move out?"
"We need to rest, baby," said Nea softly. "Why in such a hurry?"
He sighed and closed his eyes, leaning back into the couch. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I'm just so... I don't know."
He wasn't sure he could tell all of them about Her, or the influence She'd had on him. He felt filthy, as if She had tainted him with Her touch. It bugged him. It had been a long time since something had bugged him that much.
He interrupted Blessie, who was bossing them around on the couch trying to find places for them all to sleep in it. "Hey, do you think I could use the shower?"
She nodded eagerly and pointed. "Over there. Feel free to use up all the hot water."
Loki smiled faintly and disappeared into the bathroom. Nea's eyes followed him out. She frowned.
"Something's bothering him," she sighed. "I can feel it."
"He's just tired," said Ekwy comfortingly. "He'll be fine once he gets freshened up. Don't worry, dearie."
"Speaking of which..." Milano yawned audibly. "What do you say about a nap? Just a few hours, to feel on top when the Mothership gets home."
No one argued. Snuggling into the couch, it took them all about ten seconds to fall asleep.
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