Menewsha Avatar Community - Aeon [Chapters 1&2]

Pip fell out of the portal onto the lush grass. He looked around but saw that he was on a road that ran over the top of a hill overlooking a small town. As he started to walk to he like all the newcommers a small note with wings attached to it flew out of the sky. The note had instuctions telling him he was in a small town, Abizobene in a New World called Aeon and that he was to go to the town's Tavern. Being that he or any of the others that came to Aeon had nothing else for information the decided to follow it's instuctions. Following tha path ahead of him the newcommers found a fountain in the center of the town. This fountain had five pillers of water: out of the column in the East the water puring out shined green and had an embedded emblem with a flower design, the column of water in the West shined blue and the emblem featured waves and the Moon, the column in the North shined yellow and had and emblem with a cloud and lightning design, and the last in the south shined red and the emblem was a flame. The center column was not working at the moment and this column also had no emblem on it as well. Puzzling he thought as he continued past the fountain and saw a building with a sign above it - TAVERN. He was the first to reach the tavern but it quickly filled with villagers and the fun was about to begin.

:: The Tavern - Party of Eight Friends or Foes?

Pip entered the tavern, took a quick look around and headed up to the balcony he spotted on his way in. Leaning over the railing he sighed as he watched the people as the walked into the tavern. Iris was second to reach the tavern and at first she thought that she would be alone but with her amazing hearing she heard the man on the balcony sigh and she spread her angelic wings, flying to him. Maybe he has some answers she thought at the least he'll give me some company. A little farther back down the road Maraxus saw Iris fly to the balcony. "What the heck is THAT???" Not believing his eyes. "DIE-- " Wait there is no need for violence yet. Just regain your bearings he thought as he entered the tavern. "Your no fun, ya know that!" Jedit replied. Arya entered the tavern unnoticed by everyone a few hours later and sat down at a table in the farthest corner of the room. From here I'll be able to keep an eye on everyone. The tavern started filling up with people who looked like villagers and she thought it wise to keep an eye on them all. Across the tavern a girl was he handed a drink. The girl then swallowed a shot of something that was engulfed in flames. The villagers began taking bets on how the girl would fare. "She obviously won't be able to handle it. Did you see that shot it was on fire!!" said a farmer. "But she looks so confident." said a teenage boy who couldn't stop staring at her. "You all don't know me so don't start making opinions on me. You don't even know my name!!!! Well it's Kaye Ristina and for all you know I could be some insane psycho killer!" she screamed at them all. "And stop staring at me you pervert." she said to the boy. He ordered a drink and turned around. That's what I thought! No Guts! She thought to herself. "And what are you looking at!?" she said to Maraxus who had been examining her. "Come on Mr. Man make my day!" Then Maraxus's dark side, Jedit, took over. "Ok Miss I'll take you on!"
Outside Viorie had made it to the tavern but was just waiting outside. She looked at the sky and noticed the sun was setting. Should I go in? she thought.
The bartender at this point began getting angry at a vampire who had begun sucking the blood out of a drunken farmer. "What have I told you Koji!!!! No sucking the blood of my customers!!! I don't care if you are a good vampire!!" he screamed at Koji as he picked him up by his neck and threw him out of the tavern. Koji landed right in front of Ichigo who after jumping in surprise said to Koji, "Oh no! Are you hurt? I know!" He materialized his wand, which he called The Wishing Star and then said "MOON TWILIGHT FLASH" and a stream of light rose from the star at the end healing all of Koji's wounds. Ichigo winked at him and opened the door to the tavern.
In the commotion of people entering the tavern and the people getting seriously smashed on beer, a hooded figure sitting by himself at the end of the bar looked around. A hood shadowed his face and he thought to himself. Things seem to be going well. He let out a chuckle. Once the others arrive we will begin our little game. He stood up and headed towards the storeroom door. When he opened it there was a darkness greater then a room usually has and he walked into it closing the door behind him. When the bartender opened the door directly after him to get more beer for his customers the room was actually well lit and the hooded figure was nowhere in sight.
"Did you see that?" Iris said to Pip after they had been sitting together for some time. "Did you see that guy in the hood?"

"I didn't see anything" said Pip. "So why are you molesting my tail?"
"No reason," she said as she petted his tail, "They sure are loud down there."
"I think they are having a drinking contest," said Pip. I am thirsty come to think of it. "I think I'll go down and get some water."
"I'll get some for you." offered Iris as she spread her wings and floated down to the front door and walked in. As she reached the bar she asked the bartender for a glass of water and a strawberry margarita. Then she realized she had no money. "Ummm... wait I don't have any money." she explained. He gave them to her with a smile on his face. "Your tab has been paid for by the guy at the end of the bar." He pointed to the end of the bar but no one was there. Funny he was there a minute ago The bartender thought. His smile faded as the innkeeper came over. "You know the rules Cedric! All drinking contests are to be held outside!" he yelled to the bartender. The innkeeper was tall with long white hair and big fin-like ears. "If any of these people lose their alcohol on my floors then you will all be cleaning the entire inn - Including the attic and the basement!"
Cedric began packing some bottles in a box then said to Kaye and Maraxus, "I'd listen if I were you. There are rooms in the tavern that haven't been cleaned for centuries." Jedit and Kaye exchanged glances of disgust for one another as they headed outside. A crowd formed outside and a man began collecting gold in his hat as bystanders made wagers on the outcome of the event. This is going to be easy thought Jedit. Cedric came out of the tavern again, this time with a special tray and mitts to hold the extremely hot, flaming drinks. Kaye gulped one down and slammed it on the table. Then Maraxus took over again. WHAT!?!? A drinking contest? I can't hold alcohol!!!!! he thought, I just need a distraction. He saw a man walking down the road with a bow. "Mind Control" the man then shot an arrow at Kaye. Maraxus then jumped in front of her. "Shield" a force field was created and the arrow was deflected. That should buy me some time he thought. Then he said, "Umm...IT WAS AN ASSASSIN RUN!!!" and he escaped the drinking contest.
"WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE??" the innkeeper yelled into the crowd. Maraxus on his way back in the tavern bumped into him. "Hey kid, watch were you are going?" the innkeeper scolded. "Die you cranky old fish-man!" Jedit yelled as he lashed out. The innkeeper suddenly went limp and fell. Maraxus then took back control. "I'm so sorry! It's not my fault." Maraxus tried to explain as everyone moved in on him.
Iris after going back for another drink was starting to get tipsy. She floated out the door and as she tried to fly up to the balcony she passed out in the dirt by a tree. Viorie seeing this rushed over to help. She put Viorie over he shoulder and carried her up the stairs inside to the balcony hoping that Pip would still be there to take her, but by this time Pip had jumped down from the balcony and asked the bartender for some sake. The bartender handed him one and he went back inside. He sipped his drink then fell into a deep sleep.
Kaye rushed over to Maraxus and grabbed him by the throat lifting him up with amazing strength for her size. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" she yelled pushing him against a wall. "What happened to the innkeeper?" Yanking himself out of her grasp he explained to her that he is tormented by both good and evil and that his evil side Jedit had done the damage to the innkeeper. "Look, watch this! HEAL!" the innkeeper stood up again once more as if nothing had happened. Maraxus then sat on the floor next to a tree and began meditating. This should at least ward off Jedit for a little while he thought.
Kaye leapt up into a tallest tree near the tavern balcony and laid herself on a branch. Meanwhile, Viorie handed the now waking Iris a warm rag for her headache. "Sorry," explained Iris, "I have a low tolerance for alcohol."
Lily at this time was walking down the road humming a song that she used to sing to Tsubomi back in her world. She arrived at the tavern only to see a crowd of people outside, a collapsed bartender, and a girl sleeping in a tree. Whoa! What happened here? she thought as she drew her sword. "You girl in the tree! What happened here?" she called to Kaye. "Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" she yelled back. "Looks to me like your looking for business!" Lily shot back at her. At this Kaye jumped out of the tree and got right into Lily face her body became engulfed in flames. She was so hot that Lily had to take a few steps back. This is why Kaye wore very little clothing. She is half fire demon and if she becomes too hot she will die but at the same time she must never get too cold. "Are you calling me a prostitute?" she replied in shock, "How dare you!? I don't even need to look for business because it comes to me!" "Can you just tell me what's going on here?" Lily inquired. "I'm sorry about what I said before. I'm just a little out of it since I came here." "Well that doesn't mean you should wake someone up, call them a whore, and point your sword at them." Kaye replied.
The moons were now beginning to raise in the sky and an ominous voice found its way into the heads of all the newcomers. The voice spoke in such a soft tone it was almost inaudible yet they all heard it. None could tell if it was a girl or a boy only that it said to them, "Go to the Fountain of the Four Nations, further instructions will be given there."

Chapter Two: And so it Begins

As the group gathered around the fountain, colorful lights started to swirl out from it. The lights form their names in the air and stopped in pairs, matching the color of the word with the color of the light in the pillars of water. When everyone had arrived from the Tavern, the voice spoke again.

“You have been chosen to prove yourselves in this world,” the mysterious voice continued. “You will split into the groups formed around the fountain and explore the four different regions of this world.” At this, he names started to glow brighter and everyone walked around to find their own name. “After you meet your partner, go into the shop closest to you and pick another companion.” The voice stopped and the group turned to look at the shop by the fountain. There was a large sign over the door and, although they couldn’t read the symbols of Aeon’s language, they could tell by the pictures of little animals that it was a pet shop.

“OH HOW CUTE!!!” Ichigo squealed as he walked in and saw a cloud sprite floating around. The little cloud darted behind a big bag of pet food at the sudden loud noise. Maraxus walked in behind him covering his ears. I can’t believe we got paired with him, Jedit thought. Oh shut up. You really need to stop complaining, Maraxus thought back. “Don’t be scared,” Ichigo said to the cloud as he took hold of it and gave it a hug “I’ll name you Toff.” Maraxus looked into the same area the cloud had come from, “What’s that?” Maraxus said as he passed by a little purple and yellow creature. The creature was a thunder sprite and it seemed to have an evil smile, but it was still almost cute. In response to Maraxus’ question, the thunder sprite simply reached over and shocked him. I like him already. Jedit thought. The next two in the shop were Pip and Arya, followed by Iris and Viorie.

“Man, I didn’t get any sleep…” Pip said, as he dragged his way around the room. “I’m so tire- ooh! What’s that!?” He had spotted a sea creature sitting half way in a pool of water and laying the rest on land. It looked like a dog with a mermaid’s tail. The fur around its head was thick and fluffy, and parts of its face had scales. “I’ll take this one.” Iris walked past the water section where a small area was covered in grass and trees. As she arrived she eyed the increasingly adorable seed-like sprite and tackled it. “You are so mine!” Are you sure that is wise? She looked down at the doe-eyed seed. Yes, the other one is a fox, and I already have you so… Hmm… She hugged the little seed. “I think I’ll name you… Squall,” Iris said. Viorie rushed by and saw the forest hound sitting in the area where Iris was still hugging her seed. It had very fluffy fur and a big fluffy tail with little flowers in it. “Oh! A forest hound! I want one,” she said, and reached over to pick it up. As she did, he opened his mouth and playfully bit her finger. “How cute!” she said. “Now, what should I call you? How about ‘Rue’? ” The hound wagged its tail in approval. Arya didn’t really seem to care too much about the pets, but when she saw the water sprite she quickly took it. She let out a smile and it hopped into her arms. She quickly put it back on the floor and hid her excitement. “You’re not getting a free ride,” she said looking down at it. “Just walk along side me… or roll, in your case.” The sprite, which looked like a water droplet, rolled along with Arya as they headed toward the counter with everyone else who had found the pet they wanted.

As everyone gathered around the counter the shop keeper looked up at them, slightly confused as to why they were all there. Then she smiled and said, “Oh! You must be the ones I was told about. But, I’m forgetting my manners; my name is Jun nice to meet you.” She waved at them then continued explaining at their blank faces. “I was told to keep my shop open and wait for eight people to arrive. He even paid for any pet you want.” Ichigo was the first too speak up. “Thank you so much!” he said, and gave her a hug. “You’re welcome,” she replied.

Kaye and Lily walked in last, and noticed that the only pets left were in an area that looked like it was steaming. Random flames shot up from a small lava pit and a little blob-like creature was bouncing around in it. Lying down next to the pit was a fire hound. It was bigger and not as slim as the forest hound and had more of a dog-like face rather than fox-like. When Lily saw the doggy she let out a glass breaking screech of excitement and rushed over. “Oh my god!” she said. “You are so cute!” She picked up and hugged the surprised hound then continued talking. “This is going to be great! Even if I am traveling with some girl who looks like she’s too poor to buy cloths that actually cover her.”

Kaye glared at her. There is NO way I will EVER work with her. “You know,” Kaye said, “whoever thought this up really needs to rethink it before I BLAST HER HEAD OFF!!! I am too wearing clothes that cover me.” She turned to the blob-like pet and picked it up. “I guess I get you then.” She tickled its tummy and it let out a little shriek and flames shot out. “You’re ticklish? ...how cute!” She set the fire sprite back down and looked at it intently. “Now what should I call you, you little blobby-thing? That’s it! I’ll call you blobby thing. BT for short.”

I think that’s a great name, BT thought to her in reply.

“That’s good—wait, did you just THINK at me!?” she replied in amazement.

“What was that screech? Are the pets okay?” A girl had just run out from the back after hearing Lily’s cry of excitement.

“The pets are fine, someone just got exited.” Jun said, pointing towards Lily.

“Oh, that’s good.” She replied with relief. “Hey mom, are those the ones He was talking about?”

“Yes, those are the ones.”

“I guess that means I have to go with them now.”

“Yes,” Jun said with a sigh, “I guess so.” The girl hugged her mom and said good bye then headed out to where the group had wandered to.

Arya stared at her pet and a name came to her. “Jack!” she said, “Let’s go meet this partner of ours… I mean of mine. I don’t want you getting the idea that we’re friends.” She walked outside and ran into Pip who was currently letting his pet take a drink of his sake. “What do you think you’re doing!?” She snatched the bottle out of his hands and glared at him. “You’re not supposed to give animals alcohol!” He looked up at her with a blank expression and blinked.

“But she likes it” Pip said.

“She likes…” she repeated in disbelief, “I can’t believe I’m paired up with this idiot”

“Paired up? … OH! You must be Arya, my partner!” Pip said as he got up and gave her a hug. Arya gave a confused and almost disgusted look at this gesture and pushed him off then walked over to sit by the fountain and wait for instructions on where to go.

Maraxus had walked back to a backroom of the Tavern by now and was sitting there waiting for his partner to join him and talking to his new pet. Ichigo was on his way to meet him when he heard something. “What was that? Who’s there?” He looked around and then saw a familiar figure headed towards him. “Oh no,” Ichigo said, pulled his wand out ready for battle, “it’s him.” A flurry of attacks started crashing against each other as the two fought. NO… he’s too strong, Ichigo thought, I’ll never beat him by myself. The figure looked around and saw the rest of the group walking closer. If they get involved I’ll lose for sure, he thought. “I will take back what I lost,” he said to his opponent as he vanished into the shadows. That took too much out of me, Ichigo thought, I need to… but he fainted before the thought finished. Toff quickly flew under him before he hit the ground and flew him to the Tavern where Maraxus was waiting.

Meanwhile, Iris had retreated to the top of the Lookout Tower. Squall had let out a squeal of excitement as she flew him up. She sat at the top and looked out into the trees surrounding the town. “I hope Zack is alright, he has a tendency to poison people with his cooking. She smiled sadly and started to pet Squall who looked up at her with his big blue eyes. Just then she felt someone from behind her give her a hug and a familiar voice say, “Hi sis.” She spun around and squeezed him. “Zack!” she replied. He grinned cockily then returned the hug. He was tall with black hair and bright blue eyes. “How’s it going?” he asked.

At the bottom of the tower, Viorie was pulling out scissors and hair products she had bought in the pet shop. “Okay, Rue,” she said. “I’m gonna give you a new hair style.” She snipped and cut at the curly fluffy mane-like fur then put it up in three big spikes. “There we go!” She held up a mirror for Rue to see and the hound barked to show he liked the change. “And now,” she added as she pulled out something else, “one final touch.” Viorie put a spiked collar around Rues neck and looked at him. “OH you’re so adorable!”

“How about Lance,” Maraxus asked his pet. The thunder sprite looked at him and shook his head. “I don’t like it” he said. “Well, how about Shanto?” Maraxus asked. He thought for a while then nodded. “I like the sound of that!” Shanto replied. “Good, then it’s settled.” All of a sudden the door to the room they were in opened to reveal a knocked out Ichigo being carried by Toff who was struggling to hold his new owner up. Maraxus got up and shook Ichigo until he woke up. “Hey,” Maraxus said, “are you alright?”

“Yeah,” Ichigo replied in a lightly shaky voice. The twin moons had risen and Ichigo could feel his energy replenishing. He pressed the heart-shaped gem in the center of his star wand against his chest and used a healing spell. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I just fainted.”

The shopkeeper’s daughter walked out of the shop and started heading over to Pip and Arya. ON her way she passed by Lily and Kaye in the middle of a big argument. “O.K., 4 rules for being my partner,” she heard Kaye say. “Number one: NO bouncing around like an idiot! Two: No more squealing! Three: I make all the decisions. And, four: silence is golden.” Wow, she sure is bossy, the girl thought as she continued past the increasing argument. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do!” Lily shot back. “Why do you have to be such a wet blanket? Have some fun!” Kaye started yelling back but her voice faded as the girl kept walking. She was sixteen and had long blonde hair kept up in a ponytail and blue eyes. She reached the two she was looking for and waved to get their attention. “Hello,” she said. “My name is Aurora. You two are Arya and Pip, right?” They looked up at her and stopped arguing about the sake.

“Yes,” Arya replied, “that’s us. Why are you asking?”

“I’m going to be escorting you to the Northern Ice Temple in the water territory.” She explained.

“A temple? That sounds…” Pip started saying but broke his sentence with a yawn,” that sounds interesting. Is there anywhere to sleep around here?” Arya let out a sigh. This guy is always thinking about sleeping and drinking… he’s going to slow me down for sure.

By now, Kaye had jumped up into a tree to get away from Lily who was bouncing in complete defiance of ‘the rules’ and dancing to a song she was thinking about. Pip was feeding his pet and Arya was trying to stay emotionally unattached to everyone by sitting on the opposite side of the fountain. Viorie, Iris and Zack had met Aurora as they went back into the pet shop to look for a pet for Zack only to find that they were out. Maraxus and Ichigo seemed to be getting along quite well after their chat in the Tavern, even though Jedit didn’t approve of having a partner. Maraxus had explained to Ichigo that Jedit was almost like Maraxus’ dark side, but didn’t go into the whole story. When things seemed to have settled down, they heard the voice again. “Please head to the currency exchange building by the Tavern,” the voice instructed in the same unfathomable tone. “You will need money for your travels, and arrangements have been made to supply you with some of our currency.”

CHAPTER 2 END