The start of a new story -- this one by a friend....
by
Hi all A friend of mine, Lord Rees, has been writing some stories involving some of the Dsnger Mouse characters as well as my own. He is VERY good I thought I might try and post the latest one up here...before I post it on my site. (I really need to do an update ) Please let me know what you think so I can send the word on to him Enjoy
Story summary:
Agatha Redstone, an American professor, invents a time machine that allows her to travel back in time to King Arthur's court. But what appears to be a simple exploration mission has disaterous results in the present when Aggy attempts to kill Morganna. Can Danger Mouse and Ruby stop her in time? And what happens to Penfold and Phileana who remained in London?
Times A-Wasting
Written by Lord Rees
In this episode we meet Professor Agatha Redstone (Aggy to her friends). A sweet, unassuming, easy to get along with American Physics Professor from a well known yet exotic place called Iowa State University. Yes, the dreaded Iowa State, center of weirdness and unusual thought process's (with beautiful women and really wild Friday night parties!)
Chapter 1
An Experiment Unknown
England...
On a near forgotten English hillside two figures moved quietly through late evening mists. "Aggy, are you really certain this is a good idea? I mean, messing with our past and all that," the larger figure, a male groundhog wearing huge glasses asked. His voice though urgent was soft. Almost a whisper, as though he feared he might wake someone. Or something.
Professor Agatha Redstone, a slender somewhat mousie looking black mink, herself wearing tiny 'granny' glasses, looked over from her consul. She pushed her glasses up a bit with one finger, studying her assistant as if he'd just appeared from nowhere. The groundhog was nervous of course, he had been since their chartered boat had sighted England's Atlantic shore. "Pat, this is what?" she asked, "Nineteen billionth time you've asked me that? It's just an experiment. I go back, take some pictures, make a few sound recordings of the language and return. No more than an hour. You're my control. You can yank me back at any moment, negating any changes I may have accidentally made."
"Thirty-third," the groundhog corrected, staring about as if a full regiment of Highland Guards were about to jump them. "We're illegal Aggy. We snuck in. We don't even have passports for Gods sake. You know how stuffy these English are. What is the Dean going to say? And what if your changes don't just 'go away.' There's that anomaly in your equations remember?"
"Your God or mine?" Agatha asked calmly as she picked up a long metal pole. An oval spun aluminum ball was mounted on its top. Setting the device deeply into English soil she bent down to make adjustments. "When I'm done it won't matter if we were legal or not. And that anomaly. It's a statistical glitch. A glitch that requires magic to exist. Magic doesn't exist, not outside of fantasy stories and we both know that's just fiction. Now get some more emitters please? I'm almost out." She gave her assistant a pitiful look, as if she herself weren't able to make the trip. As always it worked. In seconds the groundhog was hurrying towards the two American semi-tractor trailers parked several dozen meters below them. "Besides" she continued, watching Pat as he returned to their trucks. "Every since I started dreaming about this place I couldn't get it out of my mind. It's so perfect."
Chapter 2
DM's Briefing....
London, a few hours later....
"That's the gist of it DM," Colonel K grunted, picking up his pipe as he laid down his few papers. "Word is some American scientist and one assistant slipped into England last night. They had two lorries, big American ones. I think they call them eighteeners, and absolutely tonns of equipment. They were talking something about time travel. I'm afraid we simply weren't able to get anything else from the ship's Captain. I'm afraid his lawyer arrived then. Lawyers... Should string the lot up I say."
"I see Chief," DM replied, ignoring his commanders comment about lawyers. Not that sometimes he felt the same. He regarded the two photos in front of him, his chin in one hand. "They're called eighteen wheelers," he corrected absently. "Or Semi's. So you want us to find this scientist, arrest him and his pretty assistant? Certainly sounds easy enough. Why not just send Ruby? She's more than capable."
"First, it's a she DM. You've the bloody photos backwards again. One Professor Agatha Melanie Redstone. Rubella will be going with you. So will Penfold. There's simply no idea what she might be up to. Why, with twenty hours head start she could be anywhere. And that equipment? Time Travel?"
"I think I get your drift Chief." He turned his attention to the delicate mink staring out from a crewman's snapshot. She was laughing, her hands holding her stomach as someone was fighting to get their foot out of a bucket. "Very pretty. I can't see that I'll need the team sir. She certainly doesn't look the type to resist. Still, you insist so all right then. We'll get right on it sir."
Colonel K nodded, shuffling his papers a moment. "Ah yes. Do be certain you see Penfold's Phileana first. She mentioned something for you three. Could prove helpful."
"Yes sir." DM turned and, with a nod to Ms. Boathook, rushed from the room. He waved to Penfold and Rubella, calling for them to follow as he headed for the teddy bear's lab. Since joining their agency the alien woman had proven the agent's suspicions completely unfounded. She had already more than proven her worth. Her personal upgrading of the Mark III's computer and radar was one of the changes DM found he really appreciated. What had really brought the master spy to her side was when she'd spent almost a full day with him and his crew going over every little change. Answering every question as clearly as she could, even Penfold's odd ones.
Of course, it didn't hurt that when the teddy bear was around, Penfold simply refused to tell any of his very bad jokes. Or that she'd managed to get that Mark III that the American Inspector Gadget had destroyed off his tally.
....Well, that flopped. Oh well, if any out there'd like to read the rest of it, please feel free to do so. It can be found at www.redpaw.org/TimeChapter.html. Later all.
When we last left Ruby, she was awaiting trial for the theft of secret blueprints. Yet much to her surprise, the main procecutor is none other than the very rat (and I do mean that literaly) who is the cause of all her trouble.
Stoneclaw was Stokener! It couldn't be! I had to defend myself against him! My body began to shake and I started to sweat. I didn't even have a lawyer to help me. I was unable to afford one on my meager assistant's pay and the government was unwilling to pay for one in this instance. Among us animals, if one of us commits a serious crime like treason, or is even suspected of such, all our rights as subjects are striped away. I didn't even posses the ability to speak my case myself. My stomach began to do its sinking act again.
The trial began. I could tell it was hopeless from the start. They started right in, naming my many faults; my short temper, my habit of questioning orders, my independent nature. All things that I must admit, are parts of my personality. Things that I had always thought had served me somewhat well were now being used against me. For while these are good traits for an agent to have, they are considered troublesome in an assistant. That is one thing I have never understood for don't all agents start out as assistants?
After they were finished bashing my character, they produced the tape as evidence. This video showed me, or I should say Elaine disguised as me, rummaging through the blueprint files. She eventually removed one and, after turning to look straight at the camera, left with the file secure in her grasp. After the video ended, there was much whispering among the room. I can't say I blamed them. If I didn't know the truth I would have been taken in as well. Once the room began to quiet down, Stokener stood to address the court.
"There can be no doubt that that hound," he exclaimed as he pointed an outstretched arm at me, "is responsible for the theft of secret blueprints. Blueprints of a device that, if built, will give the builders unlimited power. Not only has she violated the Official Secrets Act, but her deed has also jeopardized Queen and Country! So, with that knowledge, we have no choice but to find Assistant Rubella Jane Pyrenees guilty of High Treason!"
The court then erupted into a clamor of voices. Some of them spoke out in agreement, others in opposition. I saw my friends and family attempting to make themselves heard over the roar of the rest. The prisoner box was next to the judge's stand. The judge's stand was equipped with a microphone. Knowing that I had nothing left to lose, I leaned over and, getting as close to the device as possible, stated my case.
"It was not me who put us all in danger but you!"
At those words everyone stopped speaking. Even my Chief stared at me in astonishment. Stokener just looked at me, a conceited smile plastered on his face, daring me to go on. I took the bait and continued before the Judge could stop me.
"You're the one who stole that blueprint, Stokener. Or should I say, Stoneclaw? You and your lady friend are the cause of this," I cried as I brought my hands up, making the chain binding my wrist together clank in emphasis. "You beat me upside the head! You took me captive! You starved me while your friend took my looks and my place. And now you stand there accusing me and calling me a traitor!? How dare you!"
By this time the Judge had shaken off his surprise and was attempting to regain control of the court, which meant silencing me. But despite the banging of his gavel, I was not willing to stop.
"You call me a traitor despite all I have done?!"
Bang! Bang! Went the Judge's gavel.
"I've given four years in the service of this country…"
Bang! Bang! Sounded the gavel again.
"Now I'm suppose to just stand here quietly as you sentence me?!"
"Just because I'm an assistant doesn't mean I shouldn't have the right to defend myself!"
"Enough!"
"Tell the truth, Stoneclaw!" I screamed at the top of my voice, my face contorted in rage. "Tell them the truth!"
"I said enough!" the Judge shouted as he banged his gavel against the stand so hard I feared it would break. But it held, and the next moment I found it waving in front of my face, dangerously close to my muzzle. "Another peep out of you and I'll find you in contempt!"
"But…"
"You've no rights as far as this court's concerned, assistant!" he said my rank with a sneer, as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.
I stood there dejectedly as my anger ebbed.
At that my sister stood up. "I ask to speak."
"Are you a subject of this realm?"
"Well no, I'm an American. But…"
"Then sit down!"
As she did so, DM stood. "Your Honor, I ask to speak in Rubella's defense."
"And you are?"
"I'm Agent Danger Mouse, her Chief."
"Very well Agent. Speak."
"I've been Rubella's Chief for four years now," he began as he walked towards the box where I stood. He then went on to relate the events of the past few days to the Judge.
While my Chief continued to talk, I looked over his shoulder and watched the expression on Stoneclaw's face. The rat stood there clenching his fist, his face disfigured with rage. I began to feel safe. I trusted my Chief wholeheartedly.
"A few nights ago, I noticed something else. Ruby has a small scar on her right palm," he said as he took hold of that hand and held it up for the Judge to see. "This scar has been with her since childhood. Yet on the third night after the mission, I noticed that it was gone. Also, this morning I received a replacement service collar. I had ordered it for Ruby due to the fact that, after the mission, hers was missing. Yet now she has her collar on," he said, drawing attention to the band of gold about my neck.
Stoneclaw decided to try and cross-examine DM. "You say that she has her collar on now, but how do we know that's not the collar you received this morning?"
At that, Penfold came forward to stand next to our Chief. As he did, he withdrew the spare hoop of metal from his jacket pocket and gave it to DM who, in turn, gave it to the Judge. The albino mouse then looked at the brown rat as if to say, 'Nice try, but you'll have to do better'. But Stoneclaw, alias Stokener, was not finished yet.
"This scar you speak of," he began. "Where did you notice it was missing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Was it by any chance dark when you noticed this?"
DM, always prone to telling the truth in all matters, said, "Yes, now that you mention it, it was a tad dark."
"And couldn't your judgement be affected by that fact?"
"Well…um…"
"That's it. I've heard enough," the rabbit judge said. "Agent Danger Mouse, if you cannot provide some concrete evidence then I must ask you to sit back down."
"But Your Honor…"
"Your reputation for protecting your assistants precedes you. What you say may be true but it may also be nothing more than an attempt to save her. And, since you have no hard evidence, I am inclined to believe it is the latter. And as to this collar," he continued as he picked up the spare hoop of gold plated iron and handed it back to Penfold, "numerous amounts of them are ordered every month. Based on the evidence provided by Stokener, I find Assistant Rubella Jane Pyrenees guilty of treason. The sentence shall be decided on tomorrow. Court dismissed!" he said as he lowered the gavel with a thunderous boom.
This is a scene from my Mulan fic....... eh.... from a later part.. hehehe
And here's the same pic with some words thingers on it:
And here's Kuan [the one chick from da other pics]:
And again:
[Dun ask..... I was bored. eheheheheeeee ^_^]
I gots another one, but it's sucks, even though it took me eight friggin hours.............. ehhhhhhh... I'm not gonna post it unless someone wants me too.
You've got the Mulan-Look down pat there, but maybe her lips could be a bit fuller? That's the first thing I noticed about her (besides her total lack of profile), is that her lips were incredibly pouty. Almost like Pocahontas.
You know what, I think you have the same problem I have. It's not a bad problem, actually quite useful to have, sometimes. See, generally, when I'm not careful, I fixate so much on the head and facial features, that the face comes out fantastic, and then the body ends up out of proportion. I've yet to figure out how to draw the body first, and then get the head right, but what I find helps me with body-shape/pose/weight, etc, is to just roughly sketch out the bone-line, sometimes the outline of the rounder body parts, like the hips in women, the calves, that sort of thing. It gets to be a real habit.
Grnrnrn... Shoopid parents, locking me away from my precious HoND! I only rented it for two days, you know! I don't have much time! **Rants.**
Most of this crap's in the genre of HoND(there's one Tarzan pic in there, too, I think). Some of it I'm content with, most of it I'm not, so I figured, "Why not inflict this upon my hapless fellow AL-goers, and see what they think?"
So, like, uh, tell me what you think, eh?
Dig my bad computer colouring skills, eh? Ain't they just a riot?
Everyone loves Clopin! Those two crazy idiots in the corner are Eilis (Well, a clothing design of her), and Gael. Oi, Athena, if you're here, this's what he looks like! -Sorta.
Isn't it amazing the way I can even screw up things like a simple scan? Zaroses, a la TLK-style. Yes, she's sort of a TLK character... Long story, never mind.
Crouchy little picture of Tarzan, crouching. IRL, it looks better because it's twice as big and you can see what's happening(his arm is kinda supposed to be like that. Motion thing. I'm not good at it, so shoot me. Now), so I'm kinda proud of it. Let's just say it's the first time I've been able to draw ape-boy here without making him look like some kind antelope, and leave it at that.
Comments, pleease? Pleeeaaase? Don't make me beg, here!
You are soooooooo good!!!!
I think your 'puter coloring skills are darn good!
Hehhee.... that one w/ Clopin is kinda funnny
And.... I like that last one of Tarzan. I can sooooooooooooooooooo not draw him.
Hey, you gots to do one of Shang!!! Pweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?
**Shakes Network.** Hmm... **Experimentally bashes it on a rock a la Meeko.** Maybe it's Freeservers. Maybe I'm just going nuts -or blind. Hey, can everyone else see broken graphic links here?
I'm actually quite proud with the way Clopin's face turned out. Methinks it's because he's such a flexible character. You can make his nose four inches long and turn his mask into something from Batman, but it still looks like him. Whereas Phoebus..... **Glares at Phoebus.** Mr. Solid-As-Iron-Can't-Ever-Crack-A-Smile-Because-It-Would-Ruin-His-Image....
Ah, I guess I could try Shang. He has a weird head. They all have weird heads in Mulan. Couldn't be much worse than Tarzan and his Neanderthalic brow...
**Fastidiously wipes the sword off and hands it back.** What's really odd, is that I can click on a link to one of the messages with pics in 'em, and see the image perfectly. Unfortunately, when the page is refeshed, the pic's replaced by a broken image icon... Probably just recognizing my computer, though. Grarr.
I guess I can just forget the idea of using Freeservers as a storage server for Snag Studios when it's up on Virtualave. Gnyerr. **Rushes off to upload many piccies to Geocities.**
**Furiously uploads.** If this doesn't work, heads will roll!
by Eilis
BTW, Geish, you wanna give me your character's description for that pic of Shang? I'm in the habit of including the worshippers of a certain character into his or her pic.
**Slaps head.** Duuuhhhh. 'Leeshie's a little slow tonight.
by Eilis
**Hugz back.** I draw immediately! Immediately later. Now must work on fic. Must stop listening to Rocky theme.... Must find HoND playlist. ... Where the *(@#&*)&)#@ did the (*^@#(*&#@)(*&@#)#@ thing @(#*&)*&#)@&#@ go? **Searches.** Ahh, here it is!
Morning in Paris, the city awakes
To the bells of Notre Dame....
Okay, here's the finished rough draft of my last chapter in my story "Welcome Home Tamir"! Of course this is only a rough draft, so I should be making some changes before I send it to Kat...
I hope you'll let me know what you think!...
CHAPTER 3
By the power of Ra... Mut... Nut... Khnum... Ptah... Nephtys... Nekhbet... Sobek...
Sekhmet... Sokar... Selket... Reshpu... Wadjet... Anubis... Anukis... Seshmu...
Meshkent... Hemsut... Tefnut... Sokar... Selket... Seshmu... Reshpu... Sobek...
Wadjet... Heket... Mafdet... Nephtys... Nekhbet... Ra...
So you think you’ve got friends in high places
With the power to put us on the run?
Well forgive us these smiles on our faces
You’ll know what power is when we are done
Son
You’re playing with the big boys now
Playing with the big boys now
(Oh that’s pretty)
Every spell and gesture
Tells you who’s the best
You’re playing with the big boys now
You’re playing with the big boys now
You’re playing with the big boys now
Stop this foolish mission
Watch a true magician
Give an exhibition how
Pick up your silly twig boy
You’re playing with the big boys now
By the power of Ra... Mut... Nut... Khnum... Ptah... Sobek... Sekhmet... Sokar...
Selket... Anubis... Anukis... Hemsut... Tefnut... Meshkent... Mafdet...
You’re playing with the big boys now
You’re playing with the big boys now
By the might of Horus
You will kneel before us
Kneel to our splendorous power
You’ve put up a front
You’ve put up a fight
And just to show we feel no spite
You can be our acolyte
But first boy it’s time to bow
(Kowtow)
Or it’s you’re own grave you’ll dig boy
You’re playing with the big boys
Playing with the big boys now
(Song from Dreamwork’s “The Prince Of Egypt”)
Mirage smiled cruelly as she surveyed the ruined kingdom of The Land Of The
Black Sands. The time was almost at hand... The tribe of Asiyah was less then one
day away from here... and with them was the boy...
“Arise”, she commanded, raising her hand. At once an unseen figure emerged from
the darkness.
“Ahhhh”, she hissed, “Still here I see”.
“Of course I am”, the figure shot back, “You know I cannot leave this place thank’s to
that accursed Fasir!”.
She bared her fangs at him. The time to strike is almost at hand, and I have given
you all the power you need to distroy him... Be patiant. You know the prophecy...
Once the boy finds this place he also finds his memory... and once he finds his
memory then he is yours... I shall have the satisfaction, and you shall have the
revenge and the power you seek...”.
“Revenge”. Oooo I like that part”, came the sinister chuckle, “He is on his way here
then?”.
Mirages eyes narrowed and her cruel, icy smile returned... “Yes”...
Tamir could hardly believe his eyes as he followed Nefertari, Sadira and the others
towards the site of their new, temporary camp. Anciant looking ruins, just as anciant
and dillapitated as Sadira’s old home, loomed just ahead of them.
“It’s incredible!”, he breathed, “What is this place?. We don’t even need to set up
camp tonight. That old palace looks large enough for everyone!”.
Nefertari put down her water flask to give her camel a drink. “It does”, she smiled
wisely, “But it would be much safer to stay the night in these abandoned houses...
They look far more secure...”.
Everyone agreed to this, and within minutes The Tribe Of Asiyah had secured their
animals in nearby makeshift corrals, and had unpacked their belongings in the small,
but still solid houses. Tamir, Sadira and Gabrielle decided to share a two room
abandoned dwelling.
“Who do you think once lived in that palace?”, The boy asked later that day as he
and Sadira shared an afternoon meal. He was still immensely curious about this new
place... Something about it... Like Agrabah, he had a feeling he had seen it before,
been here before... It was a dark, empty, feeling...
“I don’t know”, Sadira admitted, “Nefertari called it “The Land Of The Black
Sands...””.
“That is a perfect name”, nodded Gabrielle with a grin, “Because there is black sand
all around”.
Tamir laughed and embraced the child, relieved that the earlier episode in that
accursed Agrabah had not served to undo all the good he, Sadira, Nefertari and the
whole tribe were trying to do for her.
Sadira chuckled as she sipped her tea. Seeing Tamir and Gabrielle toegether was
her life. She had not been with them, and The Tribe Of Asiyah for very long, but they
were already becoming the family, and the home, she had never had. She shook her
head as she remembered the royal wedding, and how she had expected to feel
miserable, regretful, as she watched Aladdin and Jasmine pledge their love. But the
truth was, she didn’t. She could only feel happiness now that she and Tamir had had
finally admitted their feelings for eachother, and now that they had Gabrielle.
Later that evening, Tamir found himself nearby the old ruins. Nefertari had called it a
citadel. He folded his arms around himself for warmth as he wandered down an
empty, musty hallway. Completely shut off from the light, it was cold and dark... It
gave him an eerie feeling... like some half remembered nightmare...
Tamir self conciously entered a room that appeared to be nearly completely
distroyed. There were books, scrolls, broken remains of what looked like scientific
objects and tools. The roof was half gone, and the boy could see the goldon desert
sunset. It comforted him and gave him enough courage to continue with his
exploring.
He made his way over to what looked like a rotted shelf/cabinet unit, and opened it...
He widened his eyes in surprise... Inside was a small ruined portrait... He took it out
to get a better look at it... The face of a beautiful woman smiled back at him. She had
pale skin and thick dark hair that formed gentle curls around the peaceful, soft
expression on her lovely face, which belied the fire and the strength he noted in her
clear black eyes... It was the same expression he had often seen on Gabrielle.
Dispite her outward timidness, there was some spark of fire in the child that refused
to be quenched. Nefertari and Sadira had noticed it too... Gabrielle and that woman
in the portrait, they resembled eacother he thought...
It was then he felt something at the back of the portrait... He turned it around and
saw a bit of yellowed paper sticking out from between the picture and the tarnished
frame. Carefully, he slid it out and found a folded letter... Curious, Tamir began to
read the nearly faded writing...
My Dearest, Darling Basimah,
I painted this portrait of you myself. I know I have very little artisitic talent, but I
wanted to give you something from my heart to celebrate the glorious news. What a
joy that we will soon be parents again, and that our precious little Meri will soon
have a younger sister or brother. Boy or girl, may it be as sweet and as wonderful
as it’s mother.
All My Love,
Your Nadim
Tamir looked up from the letter. Basimah... Meri... Nadim... Who were they?...
Where were they now?... Judging from the faded letter and the half distroyed
portrait, this must have been a very long time ago. He wondered what had happened
to them all, and how old the children in the letter, little Meri and the unborn child,
would be by this time... “Meri”, he tested the name on his lips... It sounded familier...
Where had he heard it before?... Then he remembered. Gabrielle, on that fateful day
Sadira and he had rescued her from the slave traders, had told him that her mother’s
name was Meri... He shook his head, deciding not to speak a word of this to anyone
yet... This awful place confused as well as frightened him... Quickly he shoved the
portrait back in the cabinet and got to his feet, eager to leave these dark ruins as fast
as he could.
Mirage sat back on her throne with a cruel smile of satisfaction as she surveyed the
scene before her... The frightened boy running as fast as he could out of the old
laboritory... Everything was going according to plan...
“His heart is remembering, even if his mind is not...yet...”, she thought to herself... It
was time now... Time to begin this weakened mortal’s distruction... This time noone,
not even her treacherous minx of a daughter and her ragtag band of outcast misfits,
could prevent it...
He was picking lush, exotic flowers near the oasis. It was a bright, warm sunny day.
A cool breeze shifted through the leaves of the palm trees surrounding the crystal
clear lake which sparkled under the desert sun.
Tamir layed back, enjoyinfg the beauty and the peace that surrounded him... He felt
as if he could stay in this paradise forever...
“Hello little brother!”, came a sweet voice.
Not even startled, he looked up to see a pretty young girl, a trifle older then he was,
smiling down at him... He smiled back...
She laughed, and gestured for him to follow her. “Come, come”.
Happily, the boy got up and followed the girl through a garden of flowers... out of the
oasis... and towards the ruins of the citadel... Tamir hung back, frightened... but the
girl still beckoned him... “Come. Come with me”.
All at once the citadel changed... It became beautiful and shining. The damage was
gone and flowers bloomed all around it... The boy blinked in surpriseas a tall man
and a beautiful young woman came out of the citadel entrance and joined the girl...
“Hello my darling!”, the woman called to him.
“Come with us”, smiled the man, “Come, come”.
Loosing his fear, the boy followed them into the citadel. “I’m coming”, he called as
he ran up the stairway towards the entrance... But before he could reach them,
they faded away...
“No!”, Tamir cried, “No, please wait!. Wait for me!”. He ran into the citadel and
down one of the elegant, torchlit halways... searching desperatly for his lost family...
“Come back! Come back please!”.
As he ran, the citadel started to decay around him once again... The halls grew
dark and shadows filled the empty spaces... The walls and floors were cracked as
well as the ceilings...
Shuddering, but still determined, the boy entered the ruined former laboritory... It
looked the same as it had earlier... Then he noticed that same portrait was on the
floor near the cabinet... Now that was odd... Hadn’t he put it away after he had
found it and read the note?... He picked up the portrait, once more gazing upon the
face of that mysterious woman... Was it just his imagination, or had he failed to
detect that pained sadness in her eyes before?... Just then, he opened his mouth in
shock as tears, real tears, started to trickle slowly from the woman’s eyes and
down her pale face... “No!”, he screamed, and in his terror he dropped the portrait
to the floor and bolted out of the room... He ran down one dark halway after
another, trying to find some way out of this awful place... this place which seemed
so full of tragedy and secrets... It was then that he tripped while running down one
of the citadel stairways... He scrambled to his feet, dusting himself off... Then
something on the wall cought his eye... It was an old, rusted, full length, gold
rimmed mirror, cracke din to many places to mention... Tamir looked at it
strangely... For staring back at him was not his own reflection, but the pale, gaunt
face of an angry looking older man... He wore fine, yet eerie, dark colored robes
and a jewled turban... But the most chilling part of him was his eyes... Dark, cold
and empty as this accursed citadel...
Tamir stared at the strange looking reflection in the mirror... Was it real?... Or were
his eyes just playing tricks on him?... As if in answer, the man in the mirror
narrowed his eyes with an evil smile... Tamir gasped and backed away in fear, but
the cruel looking reflection reached out from the mirror, seizing his shoulders
roughly... The frightened young boy screamed when he saw it... That same bone
arm as he had...
“Let me go!”, he sobbed, trying to fight this monstor man’s strong, bony grip, “Let
me go! Please!”...
But his captour just laughed scornfuly... “You’ll never escape this place boy!
Never!. This is your home! I am your only family!. The curse! The curse!”...
“Tamir! Tamir wake up!”, came Sadira’s voice.
He opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face. “Sadira!”, he gasped, suddenly
comforted by the firmness of her hands on his shoulders. He looked around,
surprised to find himself just outside the entrance to the ruined city... The moon
shone over the black dunes of sand, and the stars were mirrored in the waters of a
nearby oasis... “How?... how did I get here?...”.
Sadira shrugged. “You must have been sleep walking... When you didn’t come back
from the citadel I wanted to look for you there. But Nefertari said I should come out
here first...”. She noticed that Tamir was shivering with both cold and fright, so she
took off her shawl and put it around his shoulders, dispite his protests. “You were
having a nightmare”, she said gently, “I heard you scream...”.
Pale, wet and exhausted, Tamir wiped the tears off of his face, saying nothing.
Sadira’s heart ached to see him like this. “It was the curse”, he whispered, “The
curse”, his gaze fell apon his hidious bone arm... the same deformity that evil old
man in his nightmare had shared... “I keep seeing faces...”, he sobbed, “So many
faces...”. he then fell into Sadira’s arms, still shivering, the tears still flowing down
his cheeks.
In response, Sadira pulled him closer to her. “It was a nightmare”, she whispered
soothingly, “It’s alright. You’re safe now”.
For a few moments they remained that way, her holding him close and stroking his
hair as he cried quietly into her shoulder. Finally, she adjusted her shawl around his
shoulders and helped him to his feet... “Come on”, she gave him a kiss on his cheek,
“We’d better get back now. It’s getting colder out here”...
Unnoticed from where she stood on the black sand dune, blending in perfectly with
the darkness of the night, Nefertari let out a quiet sigh of relief as she watched
Sadira and Tamir make their way back home. They were safe... for the moment...
“Not yet Mother”, she thought to herself, “Not while they are under my protection... I
I served you, and I left you. I will not let you have them...”.
“Do you want to talk about it?” the girl asked, handing Tamir a warm cup of tea.
The boy glanced at the lighted candles placed about the room for light and warmth,
then his gaze shifted towards the window... and the cold desert night outside... The
citadel was out there... He shuddered again... “I was in the ruins of the citadel...”, he
bagan, and continued the story all the way up to when he had been attacked by the
evil man in the mirror... “He said I couldn’t escape this place... He said it was a
curse...”. Tamir then shook his head with a rueful smile, “I just want to forget all
about it. I cannot wait until we leave this place”.
“Me too, to tell you the truth”, Sadira nodded, then a small grin slowly spread across
her face, “You know, the first time I saw that citadel I thought it looked like it was
haunted or something... I guess maybe it is... in a way...”.
Tamir’s frightened expression suddenly changed. He smiled and the two of them
laughed together.
“Speaking of all that”, the boy said, “Gabrielle is alright isn’t she?”.
“Yup, Nefertari and I put her to bed before I came out looking for you”.
Tamir nodded, “Good, I would hate to have her know about all this... Something tells
me, the sooner we all get away from The Land Of The Black Sands the better...”.
“Yeah”, the girl agreed, “This place gives me and Gabby the creeps too...”, then she
looked at him seriously, “Tamir, did you say that you saw the people who you thought
were your family in that nightmare?...”.
“Yes I did... I saw them... I only wish I could remember them, and that I knew who
they were...”, the boy’s voice trailed off sadly... Then he smiled, “But at least I have
you now, and Gabrielle and Nefertari, as well as the whole tribe of Asiyah...”.
“I feel the same way too”, agreed Sadira, then she smiled and took his good hand in
hers. “Tamir”, she said, “I... I know that you can’t remember your real family... that
you lost them somehow... But I... I’d like to be your family... Because... because I
already feel like you and this tribe are mine...”.
Surprised, Tamir’s eyes widened, shining with the same happiness and anticipation
that mirrored her own. Knowing what she was asking, he answered her question by
reaching out lovingly to touch her face... but once again he drew back once he saw
the hand he had been going to touch her with... But Sadira only smiled warmly and
gently took his bone hand in hers.
“I love you”, she said, and to his surprise she lifted his bone hand to her face,
unafraid, still smiling, “You don’t ever have to pull back from me”.
Beaming, and with tears of joy streaming down their faces, the two embraced, and
shared a tender, loving kiss.
All of my life I’ve been searching for someone to find me
I have been lonely, waiting for your arms to hold me
You took me in from the cold, and out of the dark
You have taken me into your heart
You are my home
You are the one that I come to
You are the shelter I run to
To keep me safe from the cold
You are my home
You are the love that completes me
You are the touch that has freed me
I look in your eyes and I know
You are my home
You were the light in the window when I couldn’t find my way
You lead my heart to a wonderful place here beside you
You are all that I need
You are where I belong
I’ve been looking for you for so long
You are my home
You are the one that I come to
You are the shelter I run to
To keep me safe from the cold
You are my home
You are the love that completes me
You are the touch that has freed me
I look in your eyes and I know
You are my home
(Song from Columbia Picture’s “Dance With Me”)
The sun’s morning rays shone through the window and landed on Tamir’s face,
waking him from his sleep. The boy smiled, thinking of how overjoyed Gabrielle and
Nefertari had been last night when he and Sadira had asked consent for their
engagement. He gave a contented sigh. Tomorrow the tribe would leave The Land
Of The Black Sands for good, and in a few weeks he and Sadira would marry, and
Nefertari had assured them they would always be welcome in the tribe of Asiyah.
He leaned over and kissed Sadira, who lay asleep beside him, gently on the cheek.
“Good morning little star”, he whispered, “I love you”.
She smiled in her sleep and stirred.
Putting his robe over his shirt and trousers and slipping on his boots, Tamir made
his way out of him and Sadira’s room and passed Gabrielle’s. She was still asleep
too. He smiled and tucked the covers over her shoulders, then headed outside of the
abandoned dwelling they were using as a temporary shelter. The fresh new morning
greeted him as he walked outside, making his way towards the makeshift paddocks
the tribe had made for their animals outside the ruined city last night.
Being the first one up, he was the only one to see Lana, Gabrielle’s small lamb, stray
away from the rest of the sheep and duck under the paddock ropes.
Shaking his head with a rueful smile, Tamir followed the lamb up into the rockier
areas away from the paddock. “It’s to early for this”, he muttered to himself as he
cought up with Lana. He gently picked up the lamb in his arms and started to head
back to the paddock... It was then that he spotted something in the sky, heading
towards him... As it grew closer, Tamir could just make out two forms, a young man
and a woman, close to his own age... riding on a flying carpet?. Now that was
unusual!...
The young man on the flying carpet came closer into view and Tamir recognized him
immediatly... The future sultan of Agrabah and newly wedded husband of the
princess, who now rode at his side. Tamir remembered seeing them at their
wedding, and now he eyed them cooly as they landed. He had only cought a few
glances of them, but it was enough for him to know that he did not feel comfortable
around them... almost cross in a way... Never the less, he gave a polite bow to then
royal couple as they approached. “Good morning Your Highness’s”, he said quietly,
hoping his long sleeve concealed his bone arm completly.
The young woman, Princess Jasmine, forced a smile. “Good morning...”, she began
awkwardly, “Is this where the tribe of Asiyah is camped?... We have business here”.
The young man, Aladdin, and Tamir eyed eachother coldly, with barely masked
contempt... There was an awkward silence between the three of them for a
moment...
Finally, Tamir nodded politely, “Yes, I was just bringing this lamb back. We are
camped further down. I will show you the way”.....
Aladdin and Princess Jasmine were warmly welcomed by Nefertari and the others,
who invited them to stay for dinner before they made ready to leave The Land Of The
Black Sands in the morning. All through the evening meal they talked easily with
Nefertari and little Gabrielle, and Sadira was of course glad to see her friends so
soon after their marriage. But Tamir rarely found himself able to speak more then
two sentences to them... and he could not bring himself to like them as Sadira did...
which was strange, because try as he might, he could not find a single reason to
dislike them... As he took a slow sip of his spiced tea, he studied Aladdin... He was
handsome, yes very handsome, and with a winning smile made of perfectly flawless
straight, white teeth. But there was a feeling of cockiness about him whenever he
flashed one of those perfect smiles to the princess... Princess Jasmine was as
beautiful as her new husband was handsome, with the same soft, brown eyes that
he had. She was blessed with thick, silky black hair which looked as if it were
brushed every minute of her waking hours, and a face and build that could rival a
goddess’s. Her clothing was all blue silk, but done in a simple, yet elegant style, and
she wore a gold necklace. A tiara with a blue jewel in it completed the effect.
“A jewel has radiant fire”, he thought to himself, “But gives no warmth”.
Just then, he smiled as Sadira entered the room. She had offered to cook dinner and
was carrying a pot of steamy hot soup.
“Who want’s the first taste?”, she asked, setting the soup onto the table.
Aladdin and Jasmine looked at eachother. “After you”, Aladdin grinned.
Jasmine just glared at him.
Tamir frowned. “That was very rude”, he said.
A worried look appeared on Sadira’s face.
Jasmine gave an embarrased smile. “Oh, we’re very sorry... It’s just that... well... we
know Sadira is not much of a cook...”.
“Yeah”, Aladdin chuckled, “Remember that time you messed up that soup that
turned Iago into an hourglass”.
“I remember”, Sadira answered with a rather forced smile, “But... well... my cooking
has improved a little since then... Tamir and Nefertari have been helping me...”.
Tamir turned to Aladdin angrilly. “Look, I know you two are probably used to servants
bringing you exotic delicacies on silver and gold platters, but this is not the palace!”.
“Tamir!”, Nefertari said firmly, “There was no cause for that!”.
The boy said nothing. He folded his arms across his chest like a child that had just
been scolded.
Nefertari sighed and shook her head. “I think I had better go and see if your bread is
ready Sadira. I will be back in a moment, come with me Gabrielle”, and with that she
and the child left the room.
There was a heavy and awkward silence between the four remaining people... then
Jasmine decided to break the silence... “Sadira, I want to talk to you about
something”, she began, “I... well... we found your note the day after our engagement
banquet... We were very worried about you...”.
“Worried about her?”, Tamir thought angrilly, “They were worried about her, and yet
it took them this long to bother finding out if she was alright?”.
Sadira nodded, “Yeah, I thought you must have found it when I didn’t see it there the
last time I was in Agrabah, for your wedding... But you left the dress I see...”, a small
smile played about her lips.
“You looked beautiful in it, and we were glad to see you at our wedding”, Aladdin
said, then he cast a wary glance at Tamir, “But Sadira... I... I think we should tell you
something...”.
“Me first”, interrupted Sadira, smiling in anticipation, then she took Tamir’s hand,
“Aladdin, Jasmine, it looks like you two aren’t the only ones getting married...”.
The princess and the hero looked at eachother...
Beaming, Tamir squeezed Sadira’s hand, “Sadira and I just became engaged last
night”, he announced proudly.
Aladdin and Jasmine’s mouths opened in shock and astonishment. “What?!”, the
future sultan gasped, “But...but you can’t!... I mean... I know you’re over that stupid
crush on me... but... why did you leave Agrabah that night?... was it because of
him?...”, he pointed to Tamir.
The young man’s face hardened as he fixed his gaze angrilly on Aladdin. “When you
turn away a gift, it goes to the next person who will accept it and appreciate it”, he
answered coldly, “What did you expect her to do?, just wait around to be a part of
your royal harem Sultan Aladdin?! One of your concubines?!”.
“Woa! Easy!”, Sadira put a restraining hand on his shoulder, “Calm down Tamir,
there’s no need to start a war here. Aladdin and Jasmine are my friends you know”.
Jasmine looked uncomfortable. “Sadira... I think Aladdin and I need to talk to you for
a minute... in private”, she looked at Aladdin, and he nodded.
“What about?”, Sadira raised her eyebrows.
“Just please come outside with us”, Jasmine took Sadira’s hand and Aladdin
followed.
“I’ll be right back”, the girl assured her Tamir. He nodded, frowning.
Once Sadira was outside the old abandoned house, she pulled free of Jasmine’s
hand and crossed her arms. “Alright, what’s the big idea you two?. What’s going
on?”.
“Sadira”, Aladdin began, “Don’t you know you’re in danger?”.
“Danger?! From what?”, she demanded. She had never heard of anything so
rediculous.
“Don’t you know?”, Jasmine answered, “Tamir... He... he is not who you think he
is...”.
“What are you talking about?”.
“I know him”, Aladdin stated firmly, “He’s evil, a creep!, no matter what he’s done to
trick you into thinking he loves you”.
Seeing the shocked and disbelieving expression on Sadira’s face, Jasmine spoke
again. “Sadira, has Aladdin ever told you about Mozenrath?. He was once the lord of
these lands, but he was a terrible, greedy and power hungry monstor. More then
once he tried to distroy us so he could rule Agrabah, and if it hadn’t been for Aladdin
he would have succeded”.
“So?”, Sadira snapped, “What happened to this Mozenrath guy? And what does this
have to do with Tamir?”.
“I defeated him”, Aladdin said, with more then just a hint of cockiness in his tone, “Or
I guess you could say he defeated himself, and lost his power and his kingdom in
the process... We thought we’d seen the last of him... until a few days ago...”.
Sadira narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?...”.
“It was the day before our wedding”, Jasmine explained, “The gaurds told us they
had seen a young man... fitting Mozenrath’s description in the marketplace...”,
Jasmine’s voice trailed off...
“So what?!”, she snapped, “Just because Tamir looks a little like this great enemy of
yours dosn’t mean he is!”.
Aladdin and Jasmine looked at eachother again... Then Jasmine showed Sadira a
familier object... “Is this Tamir’s glove?...”.
Sadira gasped... It was that same glove Tamir used to cover his bone arm... he had
lost it back in Agrabah...
“Mozenrath’s glove was magic... and he traded the flesh off his own arm for the
magic, and the power, in that glove... but in the end, he lost his power because of his
own greed... He was still alive when we saw him last...”, Aladdin explained, “And we
knew the moment we saw that bone hand Tamir was trying to hide...”.
Still refusing to believe that her beloved Tamir was evil, and a danger to her, Sadira
snatched the glove from Jasmine. “No!” she interupted Aladdin, “It can’t be!. Tamir
was found far, far away from here, by a river... He dosn’t even remember anything
before that... He...”.
“He’s probably been lying to you since you found him Sadira!”, Aladdin persisted,
“Weather you believe us or not, that fiancee of yours is dangerous!. You’ve got to
stay away from him, and protect everyone here from him as well!”.
Sadira was just about to open her mouth in protest, when she heard a muffled gasp
behind her... She, Aladdin and Jasmine spun around to see Tamir by the doorway...
It was obvious from the hurt and pained expression on his face that he had heard
everything...
“I’m... I’m evil?!...”, he sobbed, tears streaming down his face, then he looked at his
hidious deformity, his bone hand... “I’m a monster!, a freak!”.
“No!”, Sadira cried reaching out for him, but he just backed away, shaking his head
in confusion and fear. “You had better not touch me Sadira”, he whispered, “I’m
dangerous”, and with that, he slowly began to dissolve in his tears, sobbing, untill he
had become sand... then the sand fell into a pile on the ground...
“Tamir!”, Sadira cried.
“What?!”, gasped Aladdin in shock, “What just happened?!”.
Sadira shook her head sadly, tears welling up in her own eyes. “It’s sand magic...
I’ve been teaching him stuff like that... He’s been getting better at it...”.
“What! Sadira are you crazy?!. Now Mozenrath will probably use that magic you’ve
tought him to try to gain more power for himself! I’ll bet that’s what he’s been
planning all along!”.
At this, Sadira became enraged. She stood up and looked Aladdin full in the face.
“Don’t you dare say anything more against him!” She growled angrilly. Then she
snatched her cloak from the doorway, “I’m going after him!”.
“Sadira you’re our friend, we’re just trying to protect you”, Jasmine insisted, “You
don’t know Mozenrath like we do!”.
Her blue green eyes flashing, Sadira shook off Jasmine’s hand from her shoulder.
“And you”, she said coldly, “You don’t know Tamir like I do!”. She then darted away
from the abandoned house, heading out of the city to the open desert, certain that
was where he had gone. As she ran, she tried to forget and block out Aladdin and
Jasmine’s words. Tamir was not evil! He could never have been the cruel, power
hungry monster they had described!... And yet... something about him... Something
about how uneasy The Land Of The Black Sands made him, made both of them,
sparked a memory... A dark, cold, lifeless city... An evil socerer, capturing her and
imprisoning her... A pale young boy, purposely allowing her to escape... In her mind
she saw that boy’s face, pale and unhealthy looking, eyes full of pain... then it slowly
and gradually became another, more familier, older face... Happy, gentle and loving...
Tamir’s...
The dark figure watched the scene from his hiding place in the shadows as the sun
began to sink lower into the desert sky... A sly, evil smile spread across his face...
The boy had his memory back, he knew of his past... Now it was time to strike...
Blinded by his tears, Tamir ran aimlessly through the streets of the deserted city...
Aladdin’s words ringing in his ears... evil, dangerous, greedy, power hungry... Maybe
he was right... He turned to look back at the ruined citadel in the distance...
Memories were coming back to him every minute... A frightened, lonely little boy... an
evil, cruel wizard... a portrait of his long dead mother.... Basimah... That evil sorcerer
had caused his mother to die... and then his long lost older sister... Meri... They were
both murdered trying to save him... It was then that Gabrielle’s face appeared in his
mind... Gabrielle was Meri’s daughter... He then glanced down at his bone arm...
Another face haunted his memory... Aladdin... He and Princess Jasmine had been
his enemys, distroying his numerous plans to conquer the lands of the seven
deserts... uncovering his painful handicap... “No!”, he sobbed, remembering the
tyrant, the monster, he had been not so very long ago, “No! No!”. He collapsed to his
knees, burying his face in his hands... What was the use of this happier existance if
he was only going to remember his old one now?... What was the use of this love
and peace he now felt if he was only going to remember the hate and the greed of
his past?...
Getting to his feet, he made his way over to a nearby stream, in the shade of a few
small palm trees... He sat down by the river, folding his arms around his legs...
“Tamir?...”, a familier, soft voice came from behind him...
He turned to see Nefertari approaching him... An expression of worry and concern in
her eyes...
“Hello”, she smiled gently, I thought I might find you here”.
Tamir gave a halfhearted smile in return. “Why not?... After all, It was by a river that
you and Sadira found me...”.
“Yes... But we would rather not lose you by a river as well...”.
Tamir was silent... This meant that she knew about what Aladdin and Jasmine had
told Sadira...
Nefertari sat down beside him... “You know, you should not let it bother you, what the
princess and Aladdin said... It makes no difference what you were in the past...”.
“How can I stay though?...”, the boy demanded, “It’s like... everything... everything I
thought... everything I am now... It is a lie...”.
“No, you are one of us now. You belong with us, with Sadira, Gabrielle, and all those
here who love you”.
Tears were still streaming down Tamir’s cheeks... he turned away slowly... but
Nefertari touched his face gently, and lifted his head up, so that his gaze met hers.
“Tamir”, she said, “Do you know what my people, the Egyptians, believe about the
sun?’.
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “No”, he whispered.
She smiled and pointed to the bright, colorful, desert sunset in the distance. “It is
believed in Egypt”, she began, “That the sun has a life of it’s own... and every night it
sets, sinking into the earth... and dies”.
In spite of himself, Tamir had to smirk. “Well... that was quite cheering”.
The Egyptian woman laughed warmly. “Ahhh, but wait. This story has a happier
ending... After the sun dies, the night comes... but then, just when the world seems
darkest, the sun rises up into the sky again... for it has been reborn”.
The boy shook his head with a sad smile. That was a lovely fairy tale, but not at all
practical. He didn’t see what it had to do with him either. “I don’t deserve what I have
now”, he sighed, “You should have just left me by that river... Why... why did you
chose me?...”.
Nefertari smiled gently. “We didn’t... Fate did”, then she got to her feet, “Tomorrow
the tribe of Asiyah leaves The Land Of The Black Sands... I know how heartbroken
Sadira and little Gabrielle will be if you do not come with us... But of course it is your
descision...”. Then she started to make her way back to the ruined city... Leaving
Tamir with his thoughts, his memorys and his choices...
This is your home my son
Here the river brought you
And it is here the river meant
To be your home
Now you know the truth love
Now forget and be content
When the gods send you a blessing
You don’t ask why it was sent...
(Song from Dreamwork’s “The Prince Of Egypt”)
Tamir slowly opened his eyes to find himself still by the river. He remembered falling
asleep here as the night was approaching, now it was here. The moon and stars
shone as they had last night, mirrored in the clear water. A cold wind shifted through
the leaves of the palms.
The boy shivered, putting his arms around himself for warmth. Hot tea annd a small
fire back at camp would be a welcome sight right about now... especially if Sadira
and the others were there to share it with... Then he shook his head. How could he
go back?. How could he possibly face them?. How could he ever face Sadira again
after he had run off like the cowardly weakling?... as bad as... yes... as bad as the
boy he once was... “But I’m not the boy I once was”, he thought to himself... He
glanced down at his dry, bone arm... Memories still coming back to him... He
remembered the night he had lost his arm for the power in that accursed gauntlet...
Tears started to run down his face again as he remembered his long lost older
sister... Meri... whom he had also lost that night... Her face flashed in front of his
eyes... then slowly became Gabrielle’s face... Another face appeared in his mind... A
young girl... with dark skin, startling blue green eyes and smoky black hair... Sadira...
It was her... the young girl whom Destane had captured, and whom he, Mozenrath,
had let escape... “But I am not Mozenrath anymore”, he thought , brushing the tears
away from his eyes, then he went to wash his face in the clear stream... He studied
his reflection in the water... “I am Tamir”, he smiled to himself, “I know who I am
now! I am Tamir!”. He laughed for joy as he dried the cool water off his face. He then
looked back the way he had come... Back to the camp... His home, his family, were
all there... They would be leaving this place tomorrow... and they were waiting for
him...
Just then, he heard a rustling in the reeds by the stream... Startled, he stepped back
as a small creature emerged from it’s hiding place in the grass... It was an eal... It
looked at the boy with a mixture of fear and curiosity on it’s face... Then to Tamir’s
surprise, it flew up to him, studying his face... “Master?’, it croaked...
At once the boy put the last peices of his memory together... and one more face
became clear... “Xerxes!”, he cried, “Have you been here all this time? What
happened to you?”. He reached out to pet his old familier... but the eal backed away
timidly...
“Master not angry?...”, he asked, bewildered, “Master look and act different?...”.
Tamir gave a wry smile. “Yes Xerxes, and you don’t have to be afraid of me anymore,
though Allah knows you have a right to be... I used to take almost everything bad that
happened to me in my life out on you didn’t I?...”.
Xerxes nodded... “City empty... Citadel distroyed... Xerxes think master dead... Went
to live here... Xerxes lonely without master...”.
Tamir smiled and petted the eal, who did not pull away this time. “You don’t have to
be lonely anymore old friend. I have a family and a new home now. You would be
welcome among them”, he offered.
At this, Xerxe’s face brightened. “Family?... New home?... Mozenrath not lieing?...”.
“No Xerxes”, the boy laughed, “I am not lieing, and my name is Tamir now”.
Happily, the eal nuzzled his bone hand. “Like that name better! Like new master
better!. We go now? We go now?”.
Tamir chuckled, and was about to say yes... when he heard a strange, almost
ghostly sounding voice... It seemed to come from all around him...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice blended in with the rustling of the palm leaves in the wind...
With a yelp of fear, Xerxes took cover in Tamir’s long, thick sleeve, as he used to do
in the old days...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice came again, as a thick, eerie mist surrounded the oasis...
The boy suddered, backing away in fright when he saw the strange figure emerging
from the darkness... “Who... who’s there?... Who are you?...”.
“I think you know boy”, came the chilling reply... and with that the unseen form
stepped into the faint light... At first it resembled a hidious zombie... a mamluk... then
slowly it began to change shape... becoming a familier form... Even it’s voice began
to change as it spoke...
Tamir’s mouth opened in shock as he fought back a gasp of fear... The being before
him was the one from his nightmare... All at once the last peices of his memory, and
of his past, fell into place...
“Your lordship”, came the all to familier mocking hiss, “Look at what the years have
done to you... You the great sorcerer and lord of The Land Of The Black Sands all
dressed up like a common, vulgar peasant shepherd boy! What a funny sight!”.
“That face...”, whispered Tamir...
“Last seen on a night like this one...”.
The boy’s eyes widened in recognition... “A curse”, he glanced down at his bone
arm...
“Followed by a tragic night in the desert... Remember?!...”.
“I remember you all to clearly”, Tamir answered coldly, his fear slowly being replaced
by anger, then he gave the newcomer a mocking bow, “I wondered where you had
gone, not to Hell as I had hoped. But here, may I be the last to welcome you back to
The Land Of The Black Sands... my dear uncle Destane...”, he sneered, his voice
heavy with scarcasm.
“I think you have it wrong my dear boy... It is I who should be welcoming you back
home, after all I have never left this kingdom...”.
The young man’s face hardened. “This is not my home you old fool. Allah knows, It
never was to begin with”.
“Ooo wrong again child”, his former master smirked, making his way menacingly
towards him, “The Land Of The Black Sands is indeed your home... in fact, it is the
only home you will ever know...”, he then produced a familier object from his
sleeve...”I even have a welcome home present for you... Recognize this?...”.
“The gauntlet?... but... but it has no power anymore... All it’s been good for is
covering my...”.
“Stupid boy!”, Destane laughed cruelly, “You forget, your master has friends in high
places... friends who can restore the power in this glove!... Surly you remember my
old aquaintance... Mirage...”. As he spoke, he placed the gauntlet on his own
skeletal arm...
Tamir’s eyes widened as he backed away in horrer... He could feel poor Xerxes
shivering with fear beneith his sleeve... That familier bluish black light radiated from
the glove and surrounded his evil former master...
Summoning up all of his nerve, the boy clenched his teeth and took a defiant step
towards Destane. “I’m not afraid of you!”, he yelled, raising his fist.
“I shall remedy that!”, sneered the sorcerer, and with that he raised his gauntleted
arm...
The earth under Tamir’s feet shook and moved... The boy looked down just in time to
see the earth seperating underneith him... eroding into a deep, bottomless gorge...
He just barely managed to save himself by grabbing onto the ledge... He struggled to
pull himself up, but he was slipping... slipping...
“Master!”, came Xerxe’s frantic voice. Tamir looked up with relief as the eal grabbed
onto his sleeve and desperatly tried to pull him up.
But Destane, furious, roughly slapped the eal away, “Treacherous no legged lizard!”,
he snarled, then he turned and grinned menacingly down at the boy who was still
struggling to hold onto the edge of the cliff. “Say your prayers boy! Noone can save
your worthless hide now!”.
“Wanna bet!”, came an angry voice behind them... Tamir gasped when he saw...
Sadira... all to familier rage burning in those beautiful blue green eyes... She raised
her hands and at once a sandstorm surrounded Destane, throwing him to the
ground.
Sadira then ran to where Tamir was losing his grip on the ledge. “Give me your
hand!”, she cried, stretching her own hand out to him.
The boy was grasping the cliff with his good hand, so he had no choice but to reach
out with his bone hand. This was no time to be self concious. He clung to Sadira’s
hand as she helped him to pull himself up.
“Sadira you have to get away from here!”, he gasped, trying to catch his breath as he
climbed back up onto solid ground.
“No!”, she snapped, putting her hands on his shoulders to steady him, “I’m not
leaving you!”.
“Ooo how enchanting!”, hissed the sorcerer as he got to his feet, recovering from
Sadira’s little sand storm, “So sorry I will have to come between you two!”...
The magic light was radiating from the gauntlet once more... Destane raised his
arm... preparing to aim another fatal blast...
“Look out!”, the girl screamed. She threw herself against Tamir, shoving him roughly
out of harms way.
The boy fell to his hands and knees on the ground... “Sadira!”, he cried turning
around... His eyes widened in shock and horor... The girl he loved... the girl whom he
was going to marry... she lay wounded and bleeding on the ground, writhing in pain...
“Nooo!!!”, he screamed. He ran towards her... but Destane seized him and shoved
him off the of the cliff... The boy just managed to save himself again by gripping onto
the ledge...
“Now when did you start caring about street rats boy?”, the man said as he stood
over him with a cold, tight smile, “Do not fret though... You will soon be joining her...
and the rest of your dispicable family as well!”.
He raised his gauntleted hand again... “Shalom... Mozenrath!”...
Just then, Xerxes flew at Destane, attacking his hand, trying to rip that accursed
glove off the sorcerer’s arm... as Tamir struggled to climb onto the ledge...
“You stupid fish! Get away! Get away!”, but Xerxes finally managed to pull the glove
off... but in the struggle the gauntlet was thrown to the ground... Destane lunged for
it... He reached out to grab it... But then a booted foot came down on his skeletal
hand...
“I’ll take that, thank you!”, hissed Tamir, narrowing his eyes with an icy smile... He
reached down and snatched the gauntlet from his old master...
“Give it back!”, snarled Destane angrilly as he tried to grab it again, but the boy was
to quick for him this time. He pulled the glove away from Destane’s grasp and raised
it above his head.
“I’ll tear you to peices!”, screamed Destane.
But the boy did not hear him... Instead his gaze shifted to where Sadira lay...
motionless on the ground... Enraged, he ripped the gauntlet in half. “This is for
Sadira!”.
“Nooo!!!”, screamed Destane, who fell back, writhing in pain... That strange eerie
bluish black light surrounded him... eating away at him...
“This is for my family!”, Tamir ripped the gauntlet into peices and stepped back,
slightly startled, as his former master dissolved back into a hidious mamluk zombie...
then decomposed into a pile of black sand in the desert...
“And that, that was for you... Shalom...”, the boy said, darkly calm as he stared with
contempt at the pile of sand as it blew away into the wind...
“Master alright?”, croaked Xerxes as he swam up to Tamir. The boy nodded and
stroked the eals head, “Yes Xerxes...”, he said softly...
He then turned to where Sadira lay... He knelt by her and felt her wrist... Nothing...
Overcome with greif, tears streaming down his cheeks, he cradled her in his arms...
gently pressing her head against his heart and stroking her thick cloud of dark hair...
He had lost her... Like his mother... his sister... all of them had lost their own lives
while trying to save his... It wasn’t fair... This was all his fault...
“Girl gone”, sniffled Xerxes, “Girl gone”.
“It should have been me...”, Tamir whispered through his tears, “It should have been
me all three times... Mother... Meri... Sadira... They would all be alive today if it
hadn’t been for me...”.
“No brother”, came a sweet voice, “Please, you must not blame yourself”.
Tamir looked up... A familier and beautiful figure with long black hair and a flowing
white gown was coming towards him... She seemed to shine in the darkness... a
serene and angelic smile on her lovely face...
“Meri!”, the boy whispered... He couldn’t believe his eyes... “Forgive me... I... I’m so
sorry...What happened to you that night... It was all my doing...”. In dispair he pulled
Sadira closer to him, tears still streaming down his face... He truly had lost
everything now...
His sister’s eyes shone with compassion as she knelt down to lovingly touch his
cheek, lifting his head up to meet her gaze, just as Nefertari had done... “Brother”,
she said gently, “Here what I say... I had been looking for you all my life... and my
prayers were never answered until that night... You were saved from Destane, you
were saved in all your wanderings through the years, and even now you are saved
from the judgement and punishment of the royals of Agrabah... Please do not give
up hope now...”.
Tamir could only look away and bury his face in Sadiras hair... shutting his eyes,
trying to squeeze back the tears...
“Tamir?...”, came a weak voice...
He looked down where Sadira was cradled in his arms... Her wounds were healed,
and those beautiful blue green eyes were opened, and looking up at him...
“Sadira!”, he cried, joyfuly embracing her, “I thought I’d lost you!”.
She chuckled weakly and gave him a faint, good natured smirk, “You can’t get rid of
me that easily”.
“I’ve noticed”, the young man grinned as he helped his love to her feet, dispite her
protests that she could do it herself... For a breif moment Tamir gazed at the spot
where her had seen his lost sister... She was no longer there... Had it been a vision
he had seen?... Or was it something more?... Smiling, he raised his eyes towards
the Heavens... “Thank you”, he thought...
“Tamir!”, came Sadira’s gasp, “I don’t believe it! Look!”, she pointed to his arms...
The boy looked down at his bone arm... He too gasped at what he saw... His arm too
was healed. Instead of the dry bone there was now an arm and a hand of flesh and
blood... He embraced Sadira and the two of them laughed for joy with tears of relief
and happiness shining in their eyes...
“Girl alright!”, came Xerxe’s groggy voice, “Master’s arm alright! Everything alright
now!”. The eal swam about happily in the air.
Sadira’s eyes widened. “Tamir?...”, she asked...
The young man chuckled and stroked the eal’s head. “This is Xerxes... It’s rather a
long story...”.
She smiled, “I’d like to hear it... In the meantime, everyone’s getting ready to leave
this place back at camp, I think we’d all better get back now”.
At this a look of worry came across Tamir’s face... “Yes... but Aladdin and the
princess are still there, aren’t they?...”.
“I don’t know”, Sadira answered, “But it dosn’t matter. If they are then we’ll face them
together right?”. She offered him her hand...
He smiled. “Yes, just like we’ve faced averything else... together”. Then he took her
hand in his. “Let’s go home”...
Nefertari smiled as she watched them... unseen from where she was standing...
“Well done”, she thought to herself, “I am so proud of you. You know, you are, in a
sense, both my children...Although, I can see that you are not children anymore...”.
“Splended work indeed”, came a calmly furious voice from behind her, “I must say,
you have got allot of nerve ruining my plans like this”.
Not even startled, the middle aged woman turned to face the newcomer... “Hello
Mother”, she gave Mirage a quiet smile.
“Hello kitten”, hissed the cat sorceress, “Still the do gooder as always I see”.
At this Nefertari laughed softly, “Oh no, what just happened was none of my doing.
The credit goes to Sadira and Mozenrath... or should I say Sadira and Tamir”.
“Just like your father!”, Mirage growled, “You seem to have made a habit out of
rescuing these pathetic mortals!. It’s a mystery how we can even share the same
blood kitten”.
“And why not?”, her daughter answered calmly, “After all it was Fasir who helped
young Mozenrath by taking away his memory temporarily. He helps all those in need,
just as he helped me...”, then her quiet smile slowly turned into a smirk, “But then
I’ve always been “daddy’s little girl” havn’t I?...”.
“You treacherous little minx!”, Mirage clenched her claw like hands in rage, “Have
you forgotten who raised you? Who tought you? It certainly wasn’t your father! And
yet you are following in his own weak, overly merciful footsteps?!”.
“You’ve just answered your own question Mother dear”.
Mirages eyes burned with fury at her daughter’s calmness... so like Fasir’s... “Think
well kitten before you defy me again”, she hissed menacingly.
But Nefertari only smiled at her calmly, not the slightest bit intimidated. “Ahh, think
well before you risk my defiance again Mother... or the defiance of any of my
family”...
Later that morning, as Nefertari and the tribe of Asiyah made their way farther and
farther from the remains of The Land Of The Black Sands Tamir made a silent
promise to himself... never to look back...
He smiled as he watched his little neice Gabrielle talking and laughing with the other
children as Lana trotted at her heels and Xerxes flew behind her. The eal and the
little girl had struck up a friendship quite quickly Tamir noticed with a chuckle.
Gabrielle looked so much like Meri he thought, and so much like Basimah as well...
One day, when he felt she was ready, he would tell the child about her mother and
grandmother...
He then felt someone take his newly healed hand, and turned to look into the eyes of
his beloved Sadira... She smiled at him and squeezed his hand... He smiled back
and kissed her as they walked with the others... heading towards the mountans in
the far distance, shining in the light of the rising desert sun...
Remembering Nefertari’s words, the young man smiled to himself as he watched
the sun rise higher and higher into the desert sky... “The sun is reborn again”, he
thought...
Many nights we’ve prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song we barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there’s much to fear
We were moving mountans long before we knew we could
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proved in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds, to swiftly flown away
Yet now I’m standing here
With heart so full, I can’t explain
Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I’d say
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail, It’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe
A-shi-ra la-do-ni ki ga-oh- ga-ah
(I will sing to the lord for he has triumphed gloriously)
A-shi-ra la-do-ni ki ga-oh- ga-ah
(I will sing to the lord for he has triumphed gloriously)
Mi-cha- mo-cha ba-elim adoni
(Who is like you o lord among the celestial)
Mi-ka- mo-cha ne-dar- ba-ko-desh
(Who is like you majestic in holiness)
Na-chi-tah v’-chas-d’-cha am zu gal-al-ta
(In your love you lead the people you redeemed)
Na-chi-tah v’-chas-d-cha am zu gal-al-ta
(In your love you lead the people you redeemed)
A-shi-ra, a-shi-ra, a-shi-ra
(I will sing, I will sing, I will sing)
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe
You will when you believe
When we last left Ruby, she'd been arrested for the theft of a certain set of plans. What will DM think? Will he believe her story? And just who is Stoneclaw? For answers to these questions, read on
Double Trouble
Chapter 4
Bruises and Scar
I sat in a stupor in my cell, cursing my fate. I'd tried to explain my story to the Bobbie, but he was less than sympathetic. I'd been sitting alone in the room for a few hours before I saw a familiar face.
The Chief stood outside the cell. With him were Penfold and Professor Squakencluck as well as a guard. DM exchanged a few words with the jailer and was soon allowed to enter. While I was glad to see him, I was unsure of what to expect. Did he suspect me too? I simply remained seated; watching with head lowered to see what he would do.
He must have sensed my wariness, for he simply sat down beside me on the lumpy cot and began to tell me everything was going to be O.K. Soon I was crying and attempting to explain what had happened all at the same time. Once my story was finished, DM looked towards the Professor as if asking for his opinion.
"She seems quite sincere about de vhole ding, DM," Squakencluck said in his thick, German accent. The Professor then turned his attention to me. "Now mine Frauline, I vill examine your knogin unt zee if dere ist eine lump, ja?"
I nodded my consent and leaned over so the short mole could reach the back of my head. I felt him parting my hair and feeling about my skull. When his hands reached the swollen mound of pain on my head, I gave a sharp intake of breath just as he let out a shout of exclamation.
"Donner unt Blitzen!"
"What's wrong, Professor?" DM asked.
"Der ist eine very large lump on her head along with massive bruising."
"I could have told you that," I said sarcastically through the pain. I looked over to see Penfold watching me, concern evident on his brown furred face. I immediately gave a small smile. "Hey Copper Penny. How ya doing?"
He smiled back, replying, "Alright. You?"
"I've been better," I said before taking another sharp breath. I knew that the Professor was being as careful as possible, but it still hurt.
"It didn't look like that yesterday. Is there any way the swelling could have appeared overnight?"
"Nein, DM. Look at de colorings of der bruises. De've already started to heal. I'd say it's about drei to vier days old."
"Three to four days. That sounds about right," DM mussed as he reached over for my right hand. "Ah ha!" he said as he looked at my upturned palm.
"What is it, Sir," I asked.
"The scar. It's still here."
"Of course. Where else would it be?"
"Last night it was gone and now it's back. That and the lump should be evidence enough to prove your innocence."
"Does this mean you believe me?" I asked hopefuly.
"Of course we believe you," my Chief replied. "The only trouble now is making sure everyone else does. You're scheduled to appear in court tomorrow."
During this exchange, the Professor had left. He came back soon after with some sandwiches and milk for me along with a pill that would help me get some rest. I quickly ate the sandwiches, drank the milk, and swallowed the pill, and was soon wrapped in a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next day was an eventful one. It was the day I was to appear in court. The doors opened into a brightly-lit courtroom that I was lead through to the prisoner box. My ability in self-defense was clearly known, for my hands and feet were chained together. When I reached the box I stood facing the numerous creatures in the full room. Many of them were people I knew; fellow assistants, chiefs and agents that I respected, even the cat who had been my teacher in the assistant training program. Towards the front sat DM and Penfold with my sister, Elizabeth, next to them. Colonel K, the Head of the Animal Agency, was there as well, as was his secretary, Mrs. Boathook. All of them seemed to be looking at me as if demanding an answer and I was unsure if I would be given the chance to tell them.
Soon the prosecution came in. One of them carried a videocassette while another wheeled in a cart containing a television and a VCR. After a few moments more, the herald entered and announced the arrival of the judge.
"Hear Ye! Hear Ye! All rise for the Honorable Judge Hoppner and the Head Prosecutor Stokener!"
We all stood, or I should say everyone else stood. I had already been standing, as the prisoner's box didn't come equipped with a seat. Comfort of prisoners isn't deemed important in the animal world.
When I looked over to where the Judge and Prosecutor were entering, my eyes widened in surprise. The Head Prosecutor, the one the herald had called Stokener, was none other than my captor, Stoneclaw!
This is Britt's character ShaKhan is anime style.. don't you feel like that sometimes?
This is an old one... I was trying to do perspective, eh, whatever that is.
This is a fire sprite. hehe. She has spikey hair. It is red. I had fun with my markers today. Please hit me to make me shut up.
BE WARNED...
THE NEXT PICTURE IS KINDA GRAPHIC...
IF YOU DON'T LIKE BLOOD, DON'T LOOK......
DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU...
LAST CHANCE.......
GO BACK.......
EEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM.......
HERE'S THE PIC...
This just came out. This is really eerie.... it looks kinda like Mulan, doncha think? It wasn't intended to..... it was the PENCIL'S fault!!! I swear! Ehhh... I really have no life... it's 4:32 in the morning...... Z-.-
WAIT!!!!!!! Now it's 4:33
Well, hope I didn't bore you guys.
G'night!
Hi all - I'm working on updating my site, it's long over due, and decided to take a small break. And, what better thing to do on a quick break than annoy a tallented group of people with one's writting. Alway's a source of entertainment
Ruby's in a lot of trouble folks. Having a double running about and stealling things is no fun. It's even worse when you're left to take the blame. Can the spunky little hound talk her way out of this one? (Quick someone - cue the corney dramatic music )
So, anyway, here it is folks - chapter 3 of "Double Trouble". Enjoy
It had been a long past few days. I couldn't tell night from day down there. There were no windows. It was cold in the basement and dank, not to mention down right dull. Once a day Stoneclaw would come down to check on me. He'd untie me, allowing me to walk around for a bit. The large length of pipe he carried with him stopped any thoughts I had of escaping. All in all I figured I had been hit on the head a total of three times already, each one causing more pain than the last. My head still throbbed from the blow I had received last night and I had blacked out quite a few times over the past few days. Fearing I had a mild concussion, I was determined not to give that rat a reason to strike me again. I behaved myself.
After allowing me a small taste of liberty, he would give me some water to drink and, after retying me, leave me alone again. My stomach rumpled and I felt light-headed from lack of food.
Most of the time I spent in fitful sleep, plagued by fears of what the future would be. I wondered if I could convince everyone of the truth; that Elaine, and not myself, had committed the crime. I was doubtful. I knew the penalty for treason was severe; the fact that I am merely an assistant, a member of a rank that is considered of little importance and worth, would only make my case harder.
It was on the morning of the fourth day when Elaine returned, bearing the news of my doom. She had succeeded in stealing the blueprints to a very powerful weapon, Invention 378X9. Professor Squakencluck, like most geniuses, invents things at random, whenever the mood strikes him. A few of his devices are wonderful, such as the lift that is built into the couch back at the flat and all the modifications he has made to the Mark III car over the years. But most of his inventions are of the other, darker variety. He doesn't mean to create such earthshattering devices, he just has the need to invent and doesn't think of the consequences. Why the government doesn't just destroy the plans I don't know. We never build them. They just sit in filing cabinets taking up space. I guess like all bureaucracies our government can't bring itself to throw anything away.
Of all the blueprints to steal, my double had chosen one of the worst. My Chief, along with all the other agents, had received a warning brief about the 378X9 a while back. And, like any well-informed assistant, I sneaked a look at it. This device was capable of inducing a powerful signal that could render a strong man as weak as a baby. Don't ask me how, it's too complex for me.
My two captors were ecstatic. They danced around, talking about the riches and power that would soon be theirs. Oh, did they have plans! They intended to make Buckingham Palace their private residence among other things. I won't even say what they planned for the populace. Let it just suffice to say that it would not be a pleasant reign. After a time, their attentions turned back to me. Elaine spoke of putting the next phase into motion and, before I knew what was happening, I was promptly struck on the head again and sent back into darkness.
I came to in a car that was moving along at a rapid rate through the streets of London. I was dazed and unsteady, wondering where we were headed, when the car banked quickly towards the curb and, without slowing down, the door was opened and I was unceremoniously pushed out. I hit the concrete hard, rolling with the impact as I had been taught. When I finally came to a stop, I laid upon my belly on the sidewalk, staring at the ground before my nose. Soon, I realized that a pair of shiny black boots had materialized before me. I looked slowly up their length and saw a Bobbie scowling back down at me. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket, looked at it, and then looked back at me.
"Are you Rubella Jane Pyrenees?" he asked of me while he returned the slip of pulp to his pocket.
"Yes, Governor," I replied slowly, wary of what was to come.
On hearing my answer he promptly reached down and, grabbing a hold of my service collar, roughly lifted me to my feet. He then slapped the handcuffs on my wrists and commenced to say the words that I most dreaded to hear. "Rubella Pyrenees, I arrest you in the name of the Queen for the crime of High Treason."
Okay, as the title says, this is where Xerxes, Mozy boy's pet eal, comes into my story. I have been trying to work him into this chapter and now I finally have the chance to!.
Tears were still streaming down Tamir’s cheeks... he turned away slowly... but
Nefertari touched his face gently, and lifted his head up, so that his gaze met hers.
“Tamir”, she said, “Do you know what my people, the Egyptians, believe about the
sun?’.
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “No”, he whispered.
She smiled and pointed to the bright, colorful, desert sunset in the distance. “It is
believed in Egypt”, she began, “That the sun has a life of it’s own... and every night it
sets, sinking into the earth... and dies”.
In spite of himself, Tamir had to smirk. “Well... that was quite cheering”.
The Egyptian woman laughed warmly. “Ahhh, but wait. This story has a happier
ending... After the sun dies, the night comes... but then, just when the world seems
darkest, the sun rises up into the sky again... for it has been reborn”.
The boy shook his head with a sad smile. That was a lovely fairy tale, but not at all
practical. He didn’t see what it had to do with him either. “I don’t deserve what I have
now”, he sighed, “You should have just left me by that river... Why... why did you
chose me?...”.
Nefertari smiled gently. “We didn’t... Fate did”, then she got to her feet, “Tomorrow
the tribe of Asiyah leaves The Land Of The Black Sands... I know how heartbroken
Sadira and little Gabrielle will be if you do not come with us... But of course it is your
descision...”. Then she started to make her way back to the ruined city... Leaving
Tamir with his thoughts, his memorys and his choices...
This is your home my son
Here the river brought you
And it is here the river meant
To be your home
Now you know the truth love
Now forget and be content
When the gods send you a blessing
You don’t ask why it was sent...
(Song from Dreamwork’s “The Prince Of Egypt”)
Tamir slowly opened his eyes to find himself still by the river. He remembered falling
asleep here as the night was approaching, now it was here. The moon and stars
shone as they had last night, mirrored in the clear water. A cold wind shifted through
the leaves of the palms.
The boy shivered, putting his arms around himself for warmth. Hot tea and a small
fire back at camp would be a welcome sight right about now... especially if Sadira
and the others were there to share it with... Then he shook his head. How could he
go back?. How could he possibly face them?. How could he ever face Sadira again
after he had run off like a cowardly weakling?... as bad as... yes... as bad as the
boy he once was... “But I’m not the boy I once was”, he thought to himself... He
glanced down at his dry, bone arm... Memories still coming back to him... He
remembered the night he had lost his arm for the power in that accursed gauntlet...
Tears started to run down his face again as he remembered his long lost older
sister... Meri... whom he had also lost that night... Her face flashed in front of his
eyes... then slowly became Gabrielle’s face... Another face appeared in his mind... A
young girl... with dark skin, startling blue green eyes and smoky black hair... Sadira...
It was her... the young girl whom Destane had captured, and whom he, Mozenrath,
had let escape... “But I am not Mozenrath anymore”, he thought , brushing the tears
away from his eyes, then he went to wash his face in the clear stream... He studied
his reflection in the water... “I am Tamir”, he smiled to himself, “I know who I am
now! I am Tamir!”. He laughed for joy as he dried the cool water off his face. He then
looked back the way he had come... Back to the camp... His home, his family, were
all there... They would be leaving this place tomorrow... and they were waiting for
him...
Just then, he heard a rustling in the reeds by the stream... Startled, he stepped back
as a small creature emerged from it’s hiding place in the grass... It was an eal... It
looked at the boy with a mixture of fear and curiosity on it’s face... Then to Tamir’s
surprise, it flew up to him, studying his face... “Master?’, it croaked...
At once the boy put the last peices of his memory together... and one more face
became clear... “Xerxes!”, he cried, “Have you been here all this time? What
happened to you?”. He reached out to pet his old familier... but the eal backed away
timidly...
“Master not angry?...”, he asked, bewildered, “Master look and act different?...”.
Tamir gave a wry smile. “Yes Xerxes, and you don’t have to be afraid of me anymore,
though Allah knows you have a right to be... I used to take almost everything bad that
happened to me in my life out on you didn’t I?...”.
Xerxes nodded... “City empty... Citadel distroyed... Xerxes think master dead... Went
to live here... Xerxes lonely without master...”.
Tamir smiled and petted the eal, who did not pull away this time. “You don’t have to
be lonely anymore old friend. I have a family and a new home now. You would be
welcome among them”, he offered.
At this, Xerxe’s face brightened. “Family?... New home?... Mozenrath not lieing?...”.
“No Xerxes”, the boy laughed, “I am not lieing, and my name is Tamir now”.
Happily, the eal nuzzled his bone hand. “Like that name better! Like new master
better!. We go now? We go now?”.
Tamir chuckled, and was about to say yes... when he heard a strange, almost
ghostly sounding voice... It seemed to come from all around him...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice blended in with the rustling of the palm leaves in the wind...
With a yelp of fear, Xerxes took cover in his master's long, thick sleeve, as he used to do
in the old days...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice came again, as a thick, eerie mist surrounded the oasis...
Okay, as the title says, this is where Xerxes, Mozy boy's pet eal, comes into my story. I have been trying to work him into this chapter and now I finally have the chance to!.
Tears were still streaming down Tamir’s cheeks... he turned away slowly... but
Nefertari touched his face gently, and lifted his head up, so that his gaze met hers.
“Tamir”, she said, “Do you know what my people, the Egyptians, believe about the
sun?’.
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “No”, he whispered.
She smiled and pointed to the bright, colorful, desert sunset in the distance. “It is
believed in Egypt”, she began, “That the sun has a life of it’s own... and every night it
sets, sinking into the earth... and dies”.
In spite of himself, Tamir had to smirk. “Well... that was quite cheering”.
The Egyptian woman laughed warmly. “Ahhh, but wait. This story has a happier
ending... After the sun dies, the night comes... but then, just when the world seems
darkest, the sun rises up into the sky again... for it has been reborn”.
The boy shook his head with a sad smile. That was a lovely fairy tale, but not at all
practical. He didn’t see what it had to do with him either. “I don’t deserve what I have
now”, he sighed, “You should have just left me by that river... Why... why did you
chose me?...”.
Nefertari smiled gently. “We didn’t... Fate did”, then she got to her feet, “Tomorrow
the tribe of Asiyah leaves The Land Of The Black Sands... I know how heartbroken
Sadira and little Gabrielle will be if you do not come with us... But of course it is your
descision...”. Then she started to make her way back to the ruined city... Leaving
Tamir with his thoughts, his memorys and his choices...
This is your home my son
Here the river brought you
And it is here the river meant
To be your home
Now you know the truth love
Now forget and be content
When the gods send you a blessing
You don’t ask why it was sent...
(Song from Dreamwork’s “The Prince Of Egypt”)
Tamir slowly opened his eyes to find himself still by the river. He remembered falling
asleep here as the night was approaching, now it was here. The moon and stars
shone as they had last night, mirrored in the clear water. A cold wind shifted through
the leaves of the palms.
The boy shivered, putting his arms around himself for warmth. Hot tea and a small
fire back at camp would be a welcome sight right about now... especially if Sadira
and the others were there to share it with... Then he shook his head. How could he
go back?. How could he possibly face them?. How could he ever face Sadira again
after he had run off like a cowardly weakling?... as bad as... yes... as bad as the
boy he once was... “But I’m not the boy I once was”, he thought to himself... He
glanced down at his dry, bone arm... Memories still coming back to him... He
remembered the night he had lost his arm for the power in that accursed gauntlet...
Tears started to run down his face again as he remembered his long lost older
sister... Meri... whom he had also lost that night... Her face flashed in front of his
eyes... then slowly became Gabrielle’s face... Another face appeared in his mind... A
young girl... with dark skin, startling blue green eyes and smoky black hair... Sadira...
It was her... the young girl whom Destane had captured, and whom he, Mozenrath,
had let escape... “But I am not Mozenrath anymore”, he thought , brushing the tears
away from his eyes, then he went to wash his face in the clear stream... He studied
his reflection in the water... “I am Tamir”, he smiled to himself, “I know who I am
now! I am Tamir!”. He laughed for joy as he dried the cool water off his face. He then
looked back the way he had come... Back to the camp... His home, his family, were
all there... They would be leaving this place tomorrow... and they were waiting for
him...
Just then, he heard a rustling in the reeds by the stream... Startled, he stepped back
as a small creature emerged from it’s hiding place in the grass... It was an eal... It
looked at the boy with a mixture of fear and curiosity on it’s face... Then to Tamir’s
surprise, it flew up to him, studying his face... “Master?’, it croaked...
At once the boy put the last peices of his memory together... and one more face
became clear... “Xerxes!”, he cried, “Have you been here all this time? What
happened to you?”. He reached out to pet his old familier... but the eal backed away
timidly...
“Master not angry?...”, he asked, bewildered, “Master look and act different?...”.
Tamir gave a wry smile. “Yes Xerxes, and you don’t have to be afraid of me anymore,
though Allah knows you have a right to be... I used to take almost everything bad that
happened to me in my life out on you didn’t I?...”.
Xerxes nodded... “City empty... Citadel distroyed... Xerxes think master dead... Went
to live here... Xerxes lonely without master...”.
Tamir smiled and petted the eal, who did not pull away this time. “You don’t have to
be lonely anymore old friend. I have a family and a new home now. You would be
welcome among them”, he offered.
At this, Xerxe’s face brightened. “Family?... New home?... Mozenrath not lieing?...”.
“No Xerxes”, the boy laughed, “I am not lieing, and my name is Tamir now”.
Happily, the eal nuzzled his bone hand. “Like that name better! Like new master
better!. We go now? We go now?”.
Tamir chuckled, and was about to say yes... when he heard a strange, almost
ghostly sounding voice... It seemed to come from all around him...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice blended in with the rustling of the palm leaves in the wind...
With a yelp of fear, Xerxes took cover in his master's long, thick sleeve, as he used to do
in the old days...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice came again, as a thick, eerie mist surrounded the oasis...
Yeah! I'm finaly caught up! HeeHee! And Xerxes is here! For some reason I've always thought that little eal was cute - please don't ask me why. I've no idea. but he's such a little cutie! I wanta hug 'im and squease 'im, and hug 'im, and..... ah hem...yea. Sorry folks. I lost control there for a moment. Anywho - great writing!
Okay, as the title says, this is where Xerxes, Mozy boy's pet eal, comes into my story. I have been trying to work him into this chapter and now I finally have the chance to!.
Tears were still streaming down Tamir’s cheeks... he turned away slowly... but
Nefertari touched his face gently, and lifted his head up, so that his gaze met hers.
“Tamir”, she said, “Do you know what my people, the Egyptians, believe about the
sun?’.
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “No”, he whispered.
She smiled and pointed to the bright, colorful, desert sunset in the distance. “It is
believed in Egypt”, she began, “That the sun has a life of it’s own... and every night it
sets, sinking into the earth... and dies”.
In spite of himself, Tamir had to smirk. “Well... that was quite cheering”.
The Egyptian woman laughed warmly. “Ahhh, but wait. This story has a happier
ending... After the sun dies, the night comes... but then, just when the world seems
darkest, the sun rises up into the sky again... for it has been reborn”.
The boy shook his head with a sad smile. That was a lovely fairy tale, but not at all
practical. He didn’t see what it had to do with him either. “I don’t deserve what I have
now”, he sighed, “You should have just left me by that river... Why... why did you
chose me?...”.
Nefertari smiled gently. “We didn’t... Fate did”, then she got to her feet, “Tomorrow
the tribe of Asiyah leaves The Land Of The Black Sands... I know how heartbroken
Sadira and little Gabrielle will be if you do not come with us... But of course it is your
descision...”. Then she started to make her way back to the ruined city... Leaving
Tamir with his thoughts, his memorys and his choices...
This is your home my son
Here the river brought you
And it is here the river meant
To be your home
Now you know the truth love
Now forget and be content
When the gods send you a blessing
You don’t ask why it was sent...
(Song from Dreamwork’s “The Prince Of Egypt”)
Tamir slowly opened his eyes to find himself still by the river. He remembered falling
asleep here as the night was approaching, now it was here. The moon and stars
shone as they had last night, mirrored in the clear water. A cold wind shifted through
the leaves of the palms.
The boy shivered, putting his arms around himself for warmth. Hot tea and a small
fire back at camp would be a welcome sight right about now... especially if Sadira
and the others were there to share it with... Then he shook his head. How could he
go back?. How could he possibly face them?. How could he ever face Sadira again
after he had run off like a cowardly weakling?... as bad as... yes... as bad as the
boy he once was... “But I’m not the boy I once was”, he thought to himself... He
glanced down at his dry, bone arm... Memories still coming back to him... He
remembered the night he had lost his arm for the power in that accursed gauntlet...
Tears started to run down his face again as he remembered his long lost older
sister... Meri... whom he had also lost that night... Her face flashed in front of his
eyes... then slowly became Gabrielle’s face... Another face appeared in his mind... A
young girl... with dark skin, startling blue green eyes and smoky black hair... Sadira...
It was her... the young girl whom Destane had captured, and whom he, Mozenrath,
had let escape... “But I am not Mozenrath anymore”, he thought , brushing the tears
away from his eyes, then he went to wash his face in the clear stream... He studied
his reflection in the water... “I am Tamir”, he smiled to himself, “I know who I am
now! I am Tamir!”. He laughed for joy as he dried the cool water off his face. He then
looked back the way he had come... Back to the camp... His home, his family, were
all there... They would be leaving this place tomorrow... and they were waiting for
him...
Just then, he heard a rustling in the reeds by the stream... Startled, he stepped back
as a small creature emerged from it’s hiding place in the grass... It was an eal... It
looked at the boy with a mixture of fear and curiosity on it’s face... Then to Tamir’s
surprise, it flew up to him, studying his face... “Master?’, it croaked...
At once the boy put the last peices of his memory together... and one more face
became clear... “Xerxes!”, he cried, “Have you been here all this time? What
happened to you?”. He reached out to pet his old familier... but the eal backed away
timidly...
“Master not angry?...”, he asked, bewildered, “Master look and act different?...”.
Tamir gave a wry smile. “Yes Xerxes, and you don’t have to be afraid of me anymore,
though Allah knows you have a right to be... I used to take almost everything bad that
happened to me in my life out on you didn’t I?...”.
Xerxes nodded... “City empty... Citadel distroyed... Xerxes think master dead... Went
to live here... Xerxes lonely without master...”.
Tamir smiled and petted the eal, who did not pull away this time. “You don’t have to
be lonely anymore old friend. I have a family and a new home now. You would be
welcome among them”, he offered.
At this, Xerxe’s face brightened. “Family?... New home?... Mozenrath not lieing?...”.
“No Xerxes”, the boy laughed, “I am not lieing, and my name is Tamir now”.
Happily, the eal nuzzled his bone hand. “Like that name better! Like new master
better!. We go now? We go now?”.
Tamir chuckled, and was about to say yes... when he heard a strange, almost
ghostly sounding voice... It seemed to come from all around him...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice blended in with the rustling of the palm leaves in the wind...
With a yelp of fear, Xerxes took cover in his master's long, thick sleeve, as he used to do
in the old days...
“Mozenrath...”, the voice came again, as a thick, eerie mist surrounded the oasis...
The baby certainly wasn't going to stop crying. Obelix clamped both his hands over his ears while Asterix pondered over what to do with the baby.
"We really must find out where that baby comes from Obelix." Muttered Asterix after a while, "And why it was so pointedly left outside OUR hut..."
Obelix looked at his friend,
"So where should we start?"
"WAAAHHHHH!!!!"
Asterix clamped his hands over his ears,
"Anywhere!!! Look..." He pointed to the babies nappy, "It's clothes are made of finr linen..one you would expect to find in a rich Roman family.."
Asterix paced up and down.
"WAAAHHHH!!!"
"Well to start with we can feed him!" Cried Asterix, picking the baby up. "here Obelix.." He handed his friend a gourd. "Go fill this up with some cows milk..that'll clam him down."
Obelix returned a few minutes later with the cows milk...handing it to Asterix, he held it up to the baby who immediatly stopped crying and started drinking contently.
"You see Obelix?" said Asterix..rather relived, "Just a bit of initiation that's all!"
All was fine till the baby stopped drinking. he didn't start crying again, but his eyes were filled with a mysterious glow, one that suprised even Asterix..something wasn't right.
"Stand back!"
A shrill cry came up and the small figure of Impedimenta hurried into the hut.
"that's quite enough!" She informed, "What that baby needs is a mother's tender care..you're lucky I heard about this so quick!"
She wondered over to Asterix and the baby.
"Your a sweet little thing aren't you?" She cooed..smiling into his face.
WHAM!
Impedimenta was sent flying across the room.
"What the...?" Asterix jumped up and saw the baby gazing down at his wrist. "Oh no!"
He gazed down at the empty bottle,
"We just used a gourd that was still half full of magic potion!"
Obelix smiled and picked up the baby,
"You know..you and me have a lot in common!"
Asterix helped up Impedimenta,
"I'm so sorry...we were just about to make some investigations about the babys whereabouts anyway!"
Impedimanta shrugged him off.
"You better make sure you do! I don't want that baby following Obelix's example!"
After Impedimanta had left asterix had an idea.
"That baby has obviously come from a rich Roman fmaily..so lets start off by investigating the Roman camps!"
Obelix's face lit up,
"Oh..I love investigating Roman camps!" he had allready left the hut.
Picking up the baby, Asterix plonked him down in front of Dogmatix,
"You look after him Dogmatix OK? We'll be back soon!"
They had just left the village when...
"Halt Gauls!"
Asterix and Obelix looked up..to see a rather important Roman Officer sitting astride a horse..with a whole cohort of legionaries behind him.
"I am Crismus Cactus, Prefect of Gaul, and I have come to investigate te whole of this conquered territory and take a census of all the Gaulish villages!" He continued.
"You've got one thing wrong Roman!" Cried asterix, blocking his path, "This village still holds out against the invaders.."
"And we're the ones doing the investigating!" Added obelix cheerfully.
"We'll just see about that!" The Roman cried, turing his horse around.."READY MEN! AT THE WORD!"
"This is a great start to our investigations Asterix!" said Obelix, rubbinghis hands together as Asterix took a swig of magic Potion.
The Prefect shouted out the attack..
"SIGNA INFERRE! PRAEGE! CONCURSU! AD GLADIOS! INFESTIS PILUS!"
Little did he know that behind him his legions were being beaten to smithreens.
"Dismount!" Called Obelix..grabbing the prefects cloak and pulling him face down off his horse.
Obelix scratched his head and pulled the semi-concious Roman up again.
"Since were making investigations, do you happen to know of any Romanswo abandoned their baby outside our hut?
Aterix hurried his friend on,
"Don't bother Obelix..anyone can see their new here, lets go to Compendium!"
-------------------------------------------------
More to come........when I get round to it!!!
I've been on holiday! And yes..a nappy is a diaper..I was going to write it as diaper but I wasn't sure if I had spelt it right! So nappy kinda stuck....Damn different continents...we all speak English..why can't we all speak the same???!!!! :)
There hasn't yet been a movie made about this episode yet, I was inspired by the Asterix book 'Asterix and Son' So if any bookstores around you sell that then that's where this story comes from!
Hi all Here's the next chapter of the story Can't talk too long - storm outside's getting pretty violent. Rain's good for the corn though Take care
Double Trouble
Chapter 2
Mole
"Rubella, where's your collar?" Danger Mouse asked his assistant after they'd arrived back at the flat. He almost never saw the redhead without the collar that all hound agents are required to wear. He noticed that she looked at him in a strange way as if confused. He repeated his question. "Your collar? Your gold service collar? Where is it?"
After a moment, understanding dawned and she replied, "Oh, I must have lost it."
"Lost it? How?"
"It must have fallen off," she said in an offhanded tone. "I'm hungry. Anyone want anything from the kitchen?" she asked as she walked towards the hall on her left, away from the kitchen and towards the bedrooms.
The two males looked at each other and then at her, confusion evident on their faces. "Ruby," Penfold began, "the kitchen's that way," he said as he pointed to the hall on the right.
"Oh, yes…of course. How silly of me," she replied slightly flustered as she turned toward the right direction, leaving the agent and his other assistant alone.
"Cor, that was weird," Penfold observed in his squeaky voice.
"Yes. Ruby's never acted that way before. She doesn't seem herself."
"She must have been knocked on the head hard."
"Hmmm…" was all the white mouse said in response. He had wondered that himself, but if she had truly been hit hard, she would have a bruise or a lump, and he had seen no sign of anything of the sort. Concerned, he turned towards the videophone and punched in the codes to reach the office of his Chief, Colonel K. As an afterthought, he also put in a request form for a new service collar.
The next few days were more of the same. Danger Mouse and Penfold couldn't help but notice a change in the young hound. She kept forgetting things and making mistakes. Even the simplest jobs seemed to bring about disaster. After she froze with fear during a mission on the second day, DM asked the Colonel for a few days leave to ensure that Ruby was all right. The Colonel, also concerned over the hound's strange behavior, agreed. After the third day, the white mouse's suspicions had grown enormously. There was still no change. That night, he slipped a sleeping drug into Ruby's tea. After she had fallen asleep, he checked the back of her head. There was no bump to be found, not even a bruise. Looking down at her right hand where it laid next to her head on the pillow, he noticed something else peculiar; the scar she had across her palm was missing! He remembered Ruby once telling him how she had fallen off her bike as a child and had needed stitches in her hand. How could a scar that had been with a person from childhood simply disappear? Unless…
No, it couldn't be. It was half-dark. Maybe he'd been mistaken. But, just in case, he closed the door behind him, locking it from the outside. He would deal with the situation in the morning. But when the morning came, he found that the woman was gone and that the Colonel had some serious news.
I did this piccie of Britt's character, ShaKhan:
[I'd say more 'bout her, but since she's Britt's character, I'll just shut up now. ]
And this one is another one of her characters, named Madeesha:
[the quotes in the bubble say: "Get 'em, ShaKhan! Blow his guts out!!!" (this character acts like me, Britt says. She's blood-loving and tomboyish. ]
[BTW, Britt, hope you don't get mad at me for posting these!! `^.^]
Well, it's 3AM here, so g'night; so bye byes. I really have no life.
Of course I'm not mad, I just didn't kow you'd post em!!! Say all about em you like, I dun care And that percent chance went from 3% to 7& of you seeing my version of the two, I'm extrememly bored today.
Hey, here's something from chapter two of When Worlds Cross!
__________________________________________________
Sherrie crept around, looking about. If she didn’t want to cause the animals danger, she’d have to go back the way she came. A bird, one that looked like the one’s that flew over her that day, was asleep on a tree branch, not far from her head. “Um, excuse me,” Sherrie whispered. The bird awoke and looked at her. Frightened the bird was about to take off. “Wait,” Sherrie said, “I’m, I’m a friend, a human friend. I won’t hurt you. I can talk to you; see? I just want to ask you something.” The bird stayed where it was. It cocked its head from side to side then said, “How do I know it’s not a human trick?” Sherrie could tell it was a female by the voice. “I promise,” Sherrie said, it was the best she could answer. “I was just wondering, a flock of birds, like you, were flying a while ago. Where you flying from something?” Sherrie stood still as soon as her question was over. “Yeah,” the bird answered, “we were flying from something. It was an alligator.” “An alligator?” “Yeah, it almost ate someone of our flock, and one freaked out bird can drive the rest of us away.” “So you were apart of that flock?” “Yeah, we’re resting now.” “But,” Sherrie didn’t get it, “You flew the other way!” “It’s a bird trick,” the bird answered, “once we’ve got the predator off the trail, we’re done. We rest.” “Thank you miss bird,” Sherrie said once she got it all through. “Oh no,” the bird said, “that’s okay, just don’t plan on striking us with the fire stick!” The bird flew up to the top of the tree.
Timon’s eyes were closing, and closing. They were almost shut when he heard a noise. “Pumbaa,” Timon whispered when he saw Sherrie, “She’s back, the murderer’s back. Now we do have proof that she maybe kills animals. Let’s go Pumbaa we’ve got to tell Simba right away.” Timon turned to a sleeping Pumbaa. “Come on, we can go in the nice, warm den,” Timon whispered to Pumbaa. Pumbaa quickly got up and Timon got on. They sneaked up to Pride rock and ran inside.
Sherrie walked around the Pride lands. Trying to come up with a plan. She muttered, and whispered, and once even shouted. The animals were wondering about this behavior. They’ve known it before, though. It was when an animal went raving mad. Sherrie couldn’t come up with a good plan, and then she ran into a mad face of the lion king, Simba. “Uh, hello. I was just uh…” “Looking for trouble,” Simba said for her. Sherrie shook her head, “No, no. I’m not…” “How dare you?” Simba’s face got angry and very disappointed. “I will never trust a human again.” “But, what did I do?” Sherrie didn’t get it. “Silence!! You will talk when I say you can.” Sherrie was upset now. She’d never gotten mad at an animal before, but this guy was pushing it. “Where do you get off telling me what to do?” Sherrie asked him. Simba shook his head, what is wrong with these humans? “Get out!” Simba roared. When Sherrie just stood there and looked like she had pity on him he roared longer and louder. “GET OUT!!!!!” Sherrie got up and left. That’s what she did. Ran right off. “Don’t ever come back to the Pride lands again!” Simba called after her.
__________________________________________________
Well? What do you think? I'm almost done with chapter two, chapter three will probably the longest chapter, because, hey these are short chapters.
It's just that her font is bigger (a ger/tian rant)
by Pooky
so it looks longer... If i did that to one of my chapters it looks the same... only tian goes on and on about interesting things... i go on and on about whatever strikes my fancy at the time. I like the hot pepper eating contest, reminds me of my white grandpa who swore he could eat real mexican salsa, so when my mexican gave him some... he couldn't deal with it hehehehe... Tian has a gift for capturing male behavior, acknowledging male stupidity but not degrading them by managing to make their behavior seem perfectly logical. By Tian's writing you couldn't tell if she was a man or woman... in fact until i heard Kat refer to her as a "she" i thought Tian was a man by her writing style. Then i thought she was mean or something just by the sound of her name.. because a TianNing sounded too much like "nagana" to me from ricky ticky taby... so i never signed her guestbook or told her that i loved her work until i met her on the foru and realized to my surprise that she was funny and friendly.
But you can tell that shan has become more animistic.
oh karen... i gotta give your story a whirl, i haven't had time to catch up with all the parts you posted I've gotta print it out cos i do everything online. I'm reallyb ackwards... I need to buy new furniture so i'll feel better... hehehehe
Garshk. Thanks for them warm fuzzies, Pook and Karen. Pooky is too kind to say I go on about interesting things. I'm starting to think they're interesting only to me---but heck, that should be enough, right?
You thought I was male? That's interesting! I had a class in college in which the instructor told us at the outset of a quick in-class assignment that he'd be able to tell whether we were male or female even if the essays were anonymous. I wrote this short thing about a guy taking a shower, and at first I was very descriptive and sort of...sensuous, describing the shiny water rolling down his thighs, etc. But then, in the middle of writing it, I realized that I wanted to make the instructor think it was a male writing. So I changed in midstream, having the guy showering in his construction hardhat, singing the Star Spangled Banner in a big, bellowing voice and using Budweiser as cologne.
Strangely enough, the instructor picked mine at random, read it aloud (the class even laughed!) and then asked the class to guess whether the author was male or female. They all guessed male.
But guess what! The teacher wasn't fooled! He recognized from the first two sentences (before I'd decided to switch "voices") that I was female, and he pointed out the difference to the class.
Ever since then, I've been very conscious of the differences in male and female writing styles. You want to read a really great female author who uses the spare writing style more characteristic of a man? Cecelia Holland! (Kat put me on to her). And she's written two novels that might be of interest to Karen and Pook:
Until the Sun Falls which is about the Mongols shortly after the death of Chinghis Khan
The Death of Attila about a Goth and a Hun, both young men who become friends while their tribes are allied under Attila, but what happens after Attila's death.
She is a wonderful writer of historical fiction, and I highly recommend her!
i thought you were a big hairy chested tower of testosterone...
by Pookums
hehehehe well, you were writing a male character. So that just means you're a good writer... and of course, i read the "horses" chapter first which had all that manly banter, and you do delve into the profound male longing for sex and drink giggles... (yeah i know read in order *slaps herself*)
had i been in that class... oh man, it would have just screamed GIRL... not only girl, but girl in a frenzied emotional state. Either that or John keats attempting prose. I guess i'd better start pretending i have a P***s(that P word kat wont let me say) Maybe you need to organize a seminar, how to write non gender specifficly.
*scribbles on the list of recommended reading* I just have to read a book called "until the sun falls" because it sounds so intriguing.
Unfortunately, both are out of print, and "Until the Sun Falls" is very hard to get hold of. I received the monstrous honor of being able to borrow Kat's only copy (which is now sealed in a bank vault with silicone dessicant, and has a smudge of incense burning in front of it at all times....).
I finally scored one on eBay (which is where I also got my copy of "The Death of Attila")! Won it in the last 15 seconds of bidding and actually WHOOPED when I won! What a rush!
So get on over to ebay and put in "Cecelia Holland" as the keywords. You just never know when one will turn up!
In past life, she was a Mongolian hairy chested, golden eye sword swinging, qimish drinking khan, that's why she's so good at what she does... she's been there! She's reliving her former glory... we all know what's gonna happen next... shan's gonna go kidnap shang's white horse and sacrifice it... didn't they say the xiongnu drank the blood white horses?? that reminds me, whoever drew the butts in mulan were on something, cos fa li may be chubby but she's got back hehehehe
All right...I said I wasn't going to do it....but....
by
...I'm a ham. Can ya blame me? Please don't answer that Here's the first chapter of that Double Trouble story I posted the cover to earlier. It's told mainly from Ruby's point of view Sorry about the pink along the outside of the pic - gif files really destroy the shading and the background of my site is pink Enjoy
I am not one of those who kill and steal and stalk through the night. My guilt is of a different kind. I am guilty of impetuous behavior.
This behavior of mine has often led me into trouble. I remember one time, about a year ago, when my rashness almost got me killed.
The whole thing started out normal enough. Chief Danger Mouse, Penfold, and myself were on a mission. It was the usual case, another crackpot out for world domination. Why anyone would want to rule the whole world is beyond me. It seems like it would be too much of a hassle. But anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the mission. We were wandering around an abandoned factory, searching for the criminal in question. The factory was silent, nothing but a jumble of disused scraps of steel and rusted machinery. Through all this we walked, the Chief leading the way. Suddenly, a large beam of steel fell from a ledge above, nearly flattening us. Through the echoes that followed, I looked up to see the fiend that had sent that murderous beam our way making a run for it. I was furious when I thought of what that rat had tried to do to my two friends. Like all hounds I am extremely protective. Unfortunately, when I get angry I don't often think, and this time was no exception. I took off after the fleeing figure, ignoring my Chief's orders to stop.
I wish I had listened to him. Any other time I would have. But my impetuous nature had taken over my reason and I could not stop.
I followed my prey as fast as I could, my feet pounding the ground and the breath rattling in my lungs. I was soon lost in the many twists and turns of the old building, yet I managed to keep the rat in sight. I was so intent on following him that, to tell you the truth, I'm not really sure what happened next. One moment I'm running along, the next there was a sharp pain in the back of my head. Then, darkness.
I awoke some time later. The first sensation I had was of a throbbing in my head. I tried to open my eyes and immediately shut them again, teeth clenched in pain. After a bit I tried once more, slower this time. Once my eyes focused to the light, I saw the same rat I had been chasing earlier. My anger mounted again and I made a lunge towards him…and didn't move. It was then that I realized that I was tied to the chair.
He gave a short laugh at my exertions. "Oh my dear Ruby, don't waste your time. I've made sure the ropes are nice and secure. I'd hate for our guest to leave so soon."
"Who are you?" I asked. I must admit, I was somewhat unnerved by the fact that he knew my name. I had never seen him before in my life.
"I am called Stoneclaw," the large, brown rat said with a smile, giving me a mock bow.
I made a scoffing sound full of confidence that I didn't feel. I'd been watching my Chief and so knew how. "Stoneclaw?! What kind of a name is that?! Did your mother read too many James Bond novels?" I asked sweetly.
I watched as his smile turned into a sneer. Suddenly, his hand lashed out to strike me across the face, rocking my head back against the chair. Through the increased pain in my skull, I heard a new voice, a female.
"Naughty, naughty Stoneclaw. You mustn't play so rough with your toys."
Once the buzzing in my head subsided, I found myself faced with a shock. The creature who now walked towards us looked just like me! I didn't understand it. She was roughly the same height and weight. But what was more astonishing was that our colorings matched, right down to the blotch on the tail. I couldn't tell if she possessed a red right foot like I do. She was dressed as I, and all other assistants are, in the deep blue pants and white long sleeve shirt of our rank. The only thing missing from the look was my tag and collar. I sat there in a daze, taking it all in.
Stoneclaw saw the look of confusion on my face and began to fill me in. The longer he talked, the deeper my stomach sank. "Ah! There you are my dear! Rubella, meet your twin, Elaine."
"Hey there mutt," she said as she reached out to give my nose a painful tweak. Unable to move, I was forced to sit there and glare at her.
"That's funny. I don't remember having a twin," I said as I wiggled my nose in disgust. She was wearing some awful-smelling perfume.
"Not by birth, no," she continued. "But a little box of red hair dye and tada," she said with a flip of her thick tresses. 'So that's what I'd smelled', I thought to myself. 'Hair dye'.
Stoneclaw walked around till he was behind me. He then leaned over and, digging his claws in my shoulders, spoke into my ear. "It's amazing, isn't it? A box of hair color and some old clothes turn a raven haired beauty into an exact replica of you."
"So you made me a double. It's a little early for Halloween, isn't it?"
"What a small-minded thing you are," he replied, reaching up to pat my head. I could handle being tied to a chair and having some tramp parading about looking like me, but I couldn't take any more insults. Besides, his breath stank. So, I decided to strike back.
"Hey Stoneflaw, why don't you quit clowning around and cut to the chase?"
My bit of bravado just caused me more aggravation as he dug his nails in deeper. "It's Stoneclaw you fool," he replied angrily.
"What ever you say, Bonejaw," I said with mock cheeriness, egging him on.
"It's STONECLAW!" he screamed. "Stoneclaw! Stoneclaw! Stoneclaw!"
It was Elaine, my double, who finally managed to calm him down. "It's all right, Stoney. Soon you and I will be the most powerful creatures in the world," she cooed as she drew the rat into a hug. "And this mutt will get all the blame."
"Yes," he replied with a grin as he shot a murderous glance my way.
Any false merriment I had built up as a defense died under that gaze. I was quickly informed of their plan. My double would take my place for a few days. Disguised as me, no one would notice the difference. She was then to use my identity to gain access to certain files, bringing back the most important. I knew Elaine would meet with no resistance if she tried to remove documents from the archives. Chief Danger Mouse had me retrieve files for him often enough, so I was a regular sight in the archive's room. No one would suspect a thing.
If the first stage of the plan had made me worried, the second half filled me with cold dread. My part in the whole thing was to act as a scapegoat, a pigeon. They planned to ensure that my image was caught on camera while the deed was being done. Then, when my twin had returned safely, I was to be released and forced to take the blame. My stomach, which had already sunk lower than it had any right to, tried to go even lower, as if it wanted to hide in my shoes. I can't say I blamed it. I found myself wanting to do the same.
A while later found me all alone. Elaine had removed my tag and had attempted to take the collar as well, but the locking mechanism foiled her efforts. After many attempts and threats of harm, she gave up and left to join my friends. Soon after Elaine had left, Stoneclaw did as well. After he was gone I attempted to get loose, but it was hopeless. With no one else around, I let my guard down. Ye Dogs I was sacred. I didn't know what to do. Treason! I'd be tried for treason! I sat alone in the basement of the old factory with only my fears as company.
*
After Rubella had run off, Danger Mouse and Penfold attempted to pursue her. It was a hopeless effort; she was a much faster runner and had soon left them far behind. They searched everywhere, their mission momentarily forgotten. An hour later they found her lying on the ground by a rusty old conveyor belt. A dented segment of pipe lay close by.
"She must have taken a blow to the head," the white mouse said as he knelt next to her and began patting her furry cheek in an attempt to wake her up. After a bit, the hound stirred and let out a groan. She opened her eyes and, seeing DM, gave a weak smile. "Hi-ya, Chief," she said softly.
DM let loose a small chuckle while Penfold moved towards her, putting his chubby hamster face close until his nose practically touched hers. "Crumbs, are you alright?"
"Yea, I'm fine. Sorry, Chief, he got away."
"It's alright Ruby. He can't do any more harm right away. We found the machine he planned on using while searching for you and destroyed it," DM said as he helped his youngest assistant up. "But next time," he continued in a reprimanding voice, "when I tell you to stop, you stop. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir," she replied.
"Good. Now, lets get back to the car and go home."
"Cor, that's the best idea you've had all day!"
"Penfold. Shush."
As she walked along, allowing herself to be supported by the albino mouse, Elaine gave a small smile. Everything is going according to plan.
Here Is When Aladdin And Jasmine Come Into My Story... And Where Tamir Starts To Get His Memory Back
by
Here is more of my new chapter of "Welcome Home Tamir"... This is where Aladdin and Jasmine come into the story... and when Tamir starts to get his memory back... I hope you'll let me know what you think!
“Tamir, did you say that you saw the people who you thought were your family in that
nightmare?...”.
“Yes I did... I saw them... I only wish I could remember them, and that I knew who
they were...”, the boy’s voice trailed off sadly... Then he smiled, “But at least I have
you now, and Gabrielle and Nefertari, as well as the whole tribe of Asiyah...”.
“I feel the same way too”, agreed Sadira, then she smiled and took his good hand in
hers. “Tamir”, she said, “I... I know that you can’t remember your real family... that
you lost them somehow... But I... I’d like to be your family... Because... because I
already feel like you and this tribe are mine...”.
Surprised, Tamir’s eyes widened, shining with the same happiness and anticipation
that mirrored her own. Knowing what she was asking, he answered her question by
reaching out lovingly to touch her face... but once again he drew back once he saw
the hand he had been going to touch her with... But Sadira only smiled warmly and
gently took his bone hand in hers.
“I love you”, she said, and to his surprise she lifted his bone hand to her face,
unafraid, still smiling, “You don’t ever have to pull back from me”.
Beaming, and with tears of joy streaming down their faces, the two embraced, and
shared a tender, loving kiss.
All of my life I’ve been searching for someone to find me
I have been lonely, waiting for your arms to hold me
You took me in from the cold, and out of the dark
You have taken me into your heart
You are my home
You are the one that I come to
You are the shelter I run to
To keep me safe from the cold
You are my home
You are the love that completes me
You are the touch that has freed me
I look in your eyes and I know
You are my home
You were the light in the window when I couldn’t find my way
You lead my heart to a wonderful place here beside you
You are all that I need
You are where I belong
I’ve been looking for you for so long
You are my home
You are the one that I come to
You are the shelter I run to
To keep me safe from the cold
You are my home
You are the love that completes me
You are the touch that has freed me
I look in your eyes and I know
You are my home
(Song from Columbia Picture’s “Dance With Me”)
The sun’s morning rays shone through the window and landed on Tamir’s face,
waking him from his sleep. The boy smiled, thinking of how overjoyed Gabrielle and
Nefertari had been last night when he and Sadira had asked consent for their
engagement. He gave a contented sigh. Tomorrow the tribe would leave The Land
Of The Black Sands for good, and in a few weeks he and Sadira would marry, and
Nefertari had assured them they would always be welcome in the tribe of Asiyah.
He leaned over and kissed Sadira, who lay asleep beside him, gently on the cheek.
“Good morning little star”, he whispered, “I love you”.
She smiled in her sleep and stirred.
Putting his robe over his shirt and trousers and slipping on his boots, Tamir made
his way out of him and Sadira’s room and passed Gabrielle’s. She was still asleep
too. He smiled and tucked the covers over her shoulders, then headed outside of the
abandoned dwelling they were using as a temporary shelter. The fresh new morning
greeted him as he walked outside, making his way towards the makeshift paddocks
the tribe had made for their animals outside the ruined city last night.
Being the first one up, he was the only one to see Lana, Gabrielle’s small lamb, stray
away from the rest of the sheep and duck under the paddock ropes.
Shaking his head with a rueful smile, Tamir followed the lamb up into the rockier
areas away from the paddock. “It’s to early for this”, he muttered to himself as he
cought up with Lana. He gently picked up the lamb in his arms and started to head
back to the paddock... It was then that he spotted something in the sky, heading
towards him... As it grew closer, Tamir could just make out two forms, a young man
and a woman, close to his own age... riding on a flying carpet?. Now that was
unusual!...
The young man on the flying carpet came closer into view and Tamir recognized him
immediatly... The future sultan of Agrabah and newly wedded husband of the
princess, who now rode at his side. Tamir remembered seeing them at their
wedding, and now he eyed them cooly as they landed. He had only cought a few
glances of them, but it was enough for him to know that he did not feel comfortable
around them... almost cross in a way... Never the less, he gave a polite bow to then
royal couple as they approached. “Good morning Your Highness’s”, he said quietly,
hoping his long sleeve concealed his bone arm completly.
The young woman, Princess Jasmine, forced a smile. “Good morning...”, she began
awkwardly, “Is this where the tribe of Asiyah is camped?... We have business here”.
The young man, Aladdin, and Tamir eyed eachother coldly, with barely masked
contempt... There was an awkward silence between the three of them for a
moment...
Finally, Tamir nodded politely, “Yes, I was just bringing this lamb back. We are
camped further down. I will show you the way”.....
Aladdin and Princess Jasmine were warmly welcomed by Nefertari and the others,
who invited them to stay for dinner before they made ready to leave The Land Of The
Black Sands in the morning. All through the evening meal they talked easily with
Nefertari and little Gabrielle, and Sadira was of course glad to see her friends so
soon after their marriage. But Tamir rarely found himself able to speak more then
two sentences to them... and he could not bring himself to like them as Sadira did...
which was strange, because try as he might, he could not find a single reason to
dislike them... As he took a slow sip of his spiced tea, he studied Aladdin... He was
handsome, yes very handsome, and with a winning smile made of perfectly flawless
straight, white teeth. But there was a feeling of cockiness about him whenever he
flashed one of those perfect smiles to the princess... Princess Jasmine was as
beautiful as her new husband was handsome, with the same soft, brown eyes that
he had. She was blessed with thick, silky black hair which looked as if it were
brushed every minute of her waking hours, and a face and build that could rival a
goddese’s. Her clothing was all blue silk, but done in a simple, yet elegant style, and
she wore a gold necklace. A tiara with a blue jewel in it completed the effect.
“A jewel has radiant fire”, he thought to himself, “But gives no warmth”.
Just then, he smiled as Sadira entered the room. She had offered to cook dinner and
was carrying a pot of steamy hot soup.
“Who want’s the first taste?”, she asked, setting the soup onto the table.
Aladdin and Jasmine looked at eachother. “After you”, Aladdin grinned.
Jasmine just glared at him.
Tamir frowned. “That was very rude”, he said.
A worried look appeared on Sadira’s face.
Jasmine gave an embarrased smile. “Oh, we’re very sorry... It’s just that... well... we
know Sadira is not much of a cook...”.
“Yeah”, Aladdin chuckled, “Remember that time you messed up that soup that
turned Iago into an hourglass”.
“I remember”, Sadira answered with a rather forced smile, “But... well... my cooking
has improved a little since then... Tamir and Nefertari have been helping me...”.
Tamir turned to Aladdin angrilly. “Look, I know you two are probably used to servants
bringing you exotic delicacies on silver and gold platters, but this is not the palace!”.
“Tamir!”, Nefertari said firmly, “There was no cause for that!”.
The boy said nothing. He folded his arms across his chest like a child that had just
been scolded.
Nefertari sighed and shook her head. “I think I had better go and see if your bread is
ready Sadira. I will be back in a moment, come with me Gabrielle”, and with that she
and the child left the room.
There was a heavy and awkward silence between the four remaining people... then
Jasmine decided to break the silence... “Sadira, I want to talk to you about
something”, she began, “I... well... we found your note the day after our engagement
banquet... We were very worried about you...”.
“Worried about her?”, Tamir thought angrilly, “They were worried about her, and yet
it took them this long to bother finding out if she were alright?”.
Sadira nodded, “Yeah, I thought you must have found it when I didn’t see it there the
last time I was in Agrabah, for your wedding... But you left the dress I see...”, a small
smile played about her lips.
“You looked beautiful in it, and we were glad to see you at our wedding”, Aladdin
said, then he cast a wary glance at Tamir, “But Sadira... I... I think we should tell you
something...”.
“Me first”, interrupted Sadira, smiling in anticipation, then she took Tamir’s hand,
“Aladdin, Jasmine, it looks like you two aren’t the only ones getting married...”.
The princess and the hero looked at eachother...
Beaming, Tamir squeezed Sadira’s hand, “Sadira and I just became engaged last
night”, he announced proudly.
Aladdin and Jasmine’s mouths opened in shock and astonishment. “What?!”, the
future sultan gasped, “But...but you can’t!... I mean... I know you’re over that stupid
crush on me... but... why did you leave Agrabah that night?... was it because of
him?...”, he pointed to Tamir.
The young man’s face hardened as he fixed his gaze angrilly on Aladdin. “When you
turn away a gift, it goes to the next person who will accept it and appreciate it”, he
answered coldly, “What did you expect her to do?, just wait around and be a part of
your royal harem?!”.
“Woa! Easy!”, Sadira put a restraining hand on his shoulder, “Calm down Tamir,
there’s no need to start a war here. Aladdin and Jasmine are my friends you know”.
Jasmine looked uncomfortable. “Sadira... I think Aladdin and I need to talk to you for
a minute... in private”, she looked at Aladdin, and he nodded.
“What about?”, Sadira raised her eyebrows.
“Just please come outside with us”, Jasmine took Sadira’s hand and Aladdin
followed.
“I’ll be right back”, the girl assured her Tamir. He nodded, frowning.
Once Sadira was outside the old abandoned house, she pulled free of Jasmine’s
hand and crossed her arms. “Alright, what’s the big idea you two?. What’s going
on?”.
“Sadira”, Aladdin began, “Don’t you know you’re in danger?”.
“Danger?! From what?”, she demanded. She had never heard of anything so
rediculous.
“Don’t you know?”, Jasmine answered, “Tamir... He... he is not who you think he
is...”.
“What are you talking about?”.
“I know him”, Aladdin stated firmly, “He’s evil, a creep!, no matter what he’s done to
trick you into thinking he loves you”.
Seeing the shocked and disbelieving expression on Sadira’s face, Jasmine spoke
again. “Sadira, has Aladdin ever told you about Mozenrath?. He was once the lord of
these lands, but he was a terrible, greedy and power hungry monstor. More then
once he tried to distroy us so he could rule Agrabah, and if it hadn’t been for Aladdin
he would have succeded”.
“So?”, Sadira snapped, “What happened to this Mozenrath guy? And what does this
have to do with Tamir?”.
“I defeated him”, Aladdin said, with more then just a hint of cockiness in his tone, “Or
I guess you could say he defeated himself, and lost his power and his kingdom in
the process... We thought we’d seen the last of him... until a few days ago...”.
Sadira narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?...”.
“It was the day before our wedding”, Jasmine explained, “The gaurds told us they
had seen a young man... fitting Mozenrath’s description in the marketplace...”,
Jasmine’s voice trailed off...
“So what?!”, she snapped, “Just because Tamir looks a little like this great enemy of
yours dosn’t mean he is!”.
Aladdin and Jasmine looked at eachother again... Then Jasmine showed Sadira a
familier object... “Is this Tamir’s glove?...”.
Sadira gasped... It was that same glove Tamir used to cover his bone arm... he had
lost it back in Agrabah...
“Mozenrath’s glove was magic... and he traded the flesh off his own arm for the
magic and the power in that glove... but in the end, he lost his power because of his
own greed... He was still alive when we saw him last...”, Aladdin explained, “And we
knew the moment we saw that bone hand Tamir was trying to hide...”.
Still refusing to believe that her beloved Tamir was evil, and a danger to her, Sadira
snatched the glove from Jasmine. “No!” she interupted Aladdin, “It can’t be!. Tamir
was found far, far away from here, by a river... He dosn’t even remember anything
before that... He...”.
“He’s probably been lying to you since you found him Sadira!”, Aladdin persisted,
“Weather you believe us or not, that fiancee of yours is dangerous!. You’ve got to
stay away from him, and protect everyone here from him as well!”.
Sadira was just about to open her mouth in protest, when she heard a muffled gasp
behind her... She, Aladdin and Jasmine spun around to see Tamir by the doorway...
It was obvious from the hurt and pained expression on his face that he had heard
everything...
“I’m... I’m evil?!...”, he sobbed, tears streaming down his face, then he looked at his
hidious deformity, his bone hand... “I’m a monster!, a freak!”.
“No!”, Sadira cried reaching out for him, but he just backed away, shaking his head
in confusion and fear. “You had better not touch me Sadira”, he whispered, “I’m
dangerous”, and with that, he slowly began to dissolve in his tears, sobbing, untill he
had become sand... then the sand fell into a pile on the ground...
“Tamir!”, Sadira cried.
“What?!”, gasped Aladdin in shock, “What just happened?!”.
Sadira shook her head sadly, tears welling up in her own eyes. “It’s sand magic...
I’ve been teaching him stuff like that... He’s been getting better at it...”.
“What! Sadira are you crazy?!. Now Mozenrath will probably use that magic you’ve
tought him to try to gain more power for himself! I’ll bet that’s what he’s been
planning all along!”.
At this, Sadira became enraged. She stood up and looked Aladdin full in the face.
“Don’t you dare say anything more against him!” She growled angrilly. Then she
snatched her cloak from the doorway, “I’m going after him!”.
“Sadira you’re our friend, we’re just trying to protect you”, Jasmine insisted, “You
don’t know Mozenrath like we do!”.
Her blue green eyes flashing, Sadira shook off Jasmine’s hand from her shoulder.
“And you”, she said coldly, “You don’t know Tamir like I do!”.....
Blinded by his tears, the boy ran aimlessly through the streets of the deserted city...
Aladdin’s words ringing in his ears... evil, dangerous, greedy, power hungry... Maybe
he was right... He turned to look back at the ruined citadel in the distance...
Memories were coming back to him every minute... A frightened, lonely little boy... an
evil, cruel wizard... a portrait of his long dead mother.... Basimah... That evil sorcerer
had caused his mother to die... and then his long lost older sister... Meri... They were
both muredered trying to save him... It was then that Gabrielle’s face appeared in his
mind... Gabrielle was Meri’s daughter... He then glanced down at his bone arm...
Another face haunted his memory... Aladdin... He and Princess Jasmine had been
his enemys, distroying his numerous plans to conquer the lands of the seven
deserts, uncovering his painful handicap... “No!”, he sobbed, remembering the
tyrant, the monster he had been not so very long ago, “No! No!”. He collapsed to his
knees, burying his face in his hands. He recalled the nightmare he had had the other
night... That boy in the mirror... the one who had attacked him... That was himself
before he had lost his power, before some mysterious twist of fate had blessed him
by taking away his memory, taking him from his old, dark miserable life and giving
him a fulfilling new one with Sadira... But what was the use of this happier existance
if he was only going to remember his old one now?... What was the use of this love
and peace he now felt if he was only going to remember the hate and the greed of
his past?...
Getting to his feet, he made his way over to a nearby stream, in the shade of a few
small palm trees... He sat down by the river, folding his arms around his legs...
“Tamir?...”, a familier, soft voice came from behind him...
He turned to see Nefertari approaching him... An expression of worry and concern
on her face...
“Hello”, she smiled gently, I thought I might find you here”.
Tamir gave a halfhearted smile in return. “Why not?... After all, I t was by a river that
you and Sadira found me...”.
“Yes... But we would rather not lose you here as well...”.
Tamir was silent... This meant that she knew about what Aladdin and Jasmine had
told Sadira...
Nefertari sat down beside him... “You know, you should not let it bother you, what the
princess and Aladdin said... It makes no difference what you were in the past...”.
“How can I stay though?...”, the boy demanded, “It’s like... everything... everything I
thought... everything I am now... It is a lie...”.
“No, you are one of us now. You belong with us, with Sadira, Gabrielle, and all those
here who love you”.
Tears were still streaming down Tamir’s cheeks... he turned away slowly... but
Nefertari touched his face gently, and lifted his head up, so that his gaze met hers.
“Tamir”, she said, “Do you know what my people, the Egyptians, believe about the
sun?’.
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “No”, he whispered.
She smiled and pointed to the bright, colorful, desert sunset in the distance. “It is
believed in Egypt”, she began, “That the sun has a life of it’s own... and every night it
sets, sinking into the eath... and dies”.
In spite of himself, Tamir had to smirk. “Well... that was quite cheering”.
The Egyptian woman laughed warmly. “Ahhh, but wait. This story has a happier
ending... After the sun dies, the night comes... but then, just when the world seems
darkest, the sun rises up into the sky again... for it has been reborn”.
The boy shook his head with a sad smile. That was a lovely fairy tale, but not at all
practical. He didn’t see what it had to do with him either. “I don’t deserve what I have
now”, he sighed, “You should have left me by that river... Why... why did you chose
me?...”.
Nefertari smiled gently. “We didn’t... Fate did”, then she got to her feet, “Tomorrow
the tribe of Asiyah leaves The Land Of The Black Sands... I know how heartbroken
Sadira and little Gabrielle will be if you do not come with us... But of course it is your
descision...”. Then she started to make her way back to the ruined city... Leaving
Tamir with his thoughts, his memorys and his choices...
This is your home my son
Here the river brought you
And it is here the river meant
To be your home
Now you know the truth love
Now forget and be content
When the gods send you a blessing
You don’t ask why it was sent...
Aww...don't say that. Hugs Sorry about not responing eariler - haven't had time to read much lately and I'm a bit behind But I do have some free time coming up in the next few days - will write more then
This is the start of my new story...there's only a bit though!
-------------------------------------------------
The sun was begginning to rise over the little village we know so well. The cock crowed to signal the start of another day, and the villagers were beginning to rise.
"Wake up Obelix! It's going to be a lovely day!"
Asterix stretched and jumped out of bed. At the opposite side of the room, he saw the great bulk of his friend move, and rub his eyes as the sun shone down through the window.
"I had a funny dream last night Asterix.." Obelix muttered, swinging his legs over the side of his bed.
"Really? What about?"
"Well..I dreamt these storks visited our vilage..bringing all the babies people had ordered..and I dreamt one stork dropped one to our house by mistake!"
Aterix shot his friend a sarcastic look.
"Don't tall me you still belive storks deliver babies??!"
"Well why not?" Retorted Obelix, "I deliver menhirs don't I?"
Asterix walked over to the front door and picked up his helmet.
"One of these days you and me better have a little talk Obelix!"
Opening the door with a slight creak, Asterix stepped boldly out onto hisfront porch, ready to face the world...almost tripping over the small baskt left neatly outside his door....
"OBELIX!!!!" Cried Asterix, nearly jumping back.."Look!!"
Obelix hurried to the door..and met his friend with the basket in his arms.
"WAAHHHHHH!!!!"
"The basket doesn't seem all that happy.." Obelix said..trying to be helpful.
Asterix pulled tht ebasket inside and hurridly shut the door.
"It's not a basket Obelix..I mean it is..but look inside!"
Obelix peered inside..to find the cheerful face of a baby staring up at him.
"See Asterix?" He mentioned, "The storks did bring one hear by mistake!"
Not many people from America know him...the few that do probably remember him from years ago. He's a cartoon character from comic books with the same name. He's very popular over here in Europe.I've got nearly all the books!!!
A friend of mine, Lord Rees, has been writing some stories involving some of the Dsnger Mouse characters as well as my own. He is VERY good 
I thought I might try and post the latest one up here...before I post it on my site. (I really need to do an update 
