Nuile the Paracosmic Tulpa

It's not late until the deadline's past. XDInside, reviewed. Thank the SSCC for choosing you. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Nuile reporting to present an official SSCC Charity Review.I always like this sort of literal interpretation, whether as of electronics, as in this case, or as breaking down the fourth wall in books, movies, television, et cetera. Every one has a different way to interpret it, and I enjoyed yours.I liked the plot, too. My main complaint is that it was a little too big to squeeze into one short story. It didn't have the time it required to develop, it lacked elaboration. Given those drawbacks, you executed it as best as you could in so little time. Naturally if you're only going to pick a piece of a story, you want to pick the climax; and though there may be exceptions, this wasn't it.And despite your short format you still managed to fit in that attribute that is, in my opinion, among the most important to any story: peripeteia. I can't recall if I saw it coming that Neka created the virus; it seemed so natural and obvious afterward that, even if I hadn't expected it, I feel now as if it was there the whole time. And that's good! In a case like this, that's what you want. But there are cases when you don't. Take, for example, a mystery: you want the murder to be surprising, you want the revelation to be shocking; but the difference is that you want the murder to seem, even subsequently, unexpected, while the murderer should seem as if they were there the whole time, as if it was obvious, as if the reader came very close to identifying them--yet didn't. The latter form of peripeteia is what you used and what, I think, was best suited.I liked your characters. You didn't try to crowd in any more than were necessary; you kept it simple with those three. It wouldn't have felt quite right without David, but with a third friend it might have been too much. Neka was necessary, but not a whole army behind her. Now, in a short story, it's very difficult to give characters life and detail, I admit that. But I feel that personality is the easiest to give, and that Mark was just a little bit lacking. Neka was not, but she did lack detail, where Mark did not. Mark had detail--he was a musician and not at all tech savvy, and just those two points branch out to give him flesh. Neka had a sufficient personality, but she was just sort of there. She made the virus, it was her life's work--but, really, why did she? She had her function in the story, but she didn't have a character.I think the way you started out was excellent. You introduced us to David and Mark, showed us the basics of who they were, and carried us on into the digital world. From there you kept it fast-paced and exciting right until the very end. I'll pause here to say that Neka's end was just a little abrupt; it was a fine conclusion to her part in the story, but it was delivered too precipitately. But the ending itself was perfect--not too short, not too long, with the extra little flavor of David's parting words.Now let's you and me have a little talk about style.In a way I like your simplicity, giving what's necessary and nothing more. But sometimes you didn't give what was necessary. For example, when Mark met Neka, we were told of his impression, not shown it. Subconscious memory resurfacing here--didn't Legolover already say, "Show, don't tell"? That's the rule I was driving at. There were several times that you were lacking in detail. I think when he first entered the world and perceived his surroundings for the first time, you gave us just the right amount of detail, though I still think it was a little too dull. There again, show us these things, let us see them with Mark; don't tell us they were there.My last comment in the regard of style is the flow of your words. Sometimes they gushed a bit too much. Punctuation is a tricky thing to get the hang of, but they are the most powerful grammatical tools. They're the nuts and bolts that really hold writing together. You don't want to overuse commas and semicolons and what have you, and thus render your prose choppy, but you need to know when they are necessary.Just a few grammatical nitpicks: That should be a comma. At the end of a quotation that flows on to become part of a greater sentence (as in this case), a comma should replace a period. As an example, this is correct: Exclamation points, question marks and so on--these should not be replaced with commas. They're funny in that they can act as either a period or a comma. You're missing an a there. And just a side note, I like the way the viruses run. Odd, almost gross, but clever. Better had come. Wait, this isn't grammatical. And I'm not very tech savvy, so I may be wrong; but socket doesn't sound right to me. Should still be were. Technically it's a singular noun, but it refers to two persons, and therefore should be regarded as plural. Think of it this way: "The couple was kissing under the tree." It sounds almost like they were kissing under the tree, not like they were kissing under the tree, doesn't it? And who wants to kiss a tree's roots? So better, "The couple were kissing under the tree." There the meaning is unequivocal. Another neglected a.So yes, there were errors here and there, and I am very nitpicky; but the more I have to say about a work always reflects how much I like it. Unless it was perfect, the more I tear it apart the better it was. When I see a good story that makes me believe in the writer's skill and potential, I goad them to improve themselves. Writing, I always say, is an endless journey to improve oneself.All is so much as to say: I enjoyed your story, I loved your characters, and you did a fine job. Never stop improving,Never stop writing, Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

So I had the song from Disney's Mulan stuck in my head, and suddenly in place of "how could I make a man out of you?" I started singing "how could I love any one but you?" And so the irresistible urge to rewrite the whole song to suit these lyrics struck me, and so here it is. . . . I really have no excuse to give. I've got news to tell you So lend me your ears Remember all the things That I told you dear You're the prettiest girl I ever met You're so sweet And charming, too How could I love any one but you? Tranquil as a garden But aglow within From the day I met you Your heart was mine to win Mine is yours and it Will ever be I have always loved you true How could I love any one but you? Your splendor always caught my breath Only you who ever knew me Boy, was I a foolish mule to let you go Now that I have got you back I'll show you only the true me Just say Yes and I swear I'll never say No (I love you) You're beautiful as a glowing sunset (I love you) With all cadence of a songbird's tune (I love you) With all the grace of a prancing pony Mysterious as the dark side of the moon Time is racing toward us till you'll be my bride Not very long to go now till the knot is tied From this day forth and forevermore Now until my life is through How could I love any one but you? (I love you) You're beautiful as a glowing sunset (I love you) With all cadence of a songbird's tune (I love you) With all the grace of a prancing pony Mysterious as the dark side of the moon (I love you) You're beautiful as a glowing sunset (I love you) With all cadence of a songbird's tune (I love you) With all the grace of a prancing pony Mysterious as the dark side of the moon Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

This is the result of my first Ambage Write-off. Just managed to finish in the fifteen minutes allotted. Theme: Passion Twinkle, Twinkle The fading sunlight shimmered on her dancing hair, turning her raven-black head to an aureole to frame her cordate, angelic face. I swung my short legs off the edge of the bench as we leaned back, laughing at the joke I had just told. “Patt,” she giggled, “you’re such a dork.” I grinned. “But I’m an amusing dork.” She tossed her head, and the hair danced even more. “So you say.” “You’re the one who laughed.” “I only giggled.” “You were amused.” “Oh, shut up.” We swung our legs in synchronization as the sun continued to sink. The gently blowing breeze was growing in strength and lessening in temperature, carrying night in on black wings. She raised a hand to point at the first star that appeared. “Look! I love it when the first star appears, don’t you?” I nodded. “It’s like—like a promise. Of the coming night.” Her head bobbed eagerly. “Most people wish on it, but my mom says that’s stupid. She says it doesn’t grant wishes; it keeps promises.” “How so?” “Like you were saying. It’s a promise of things to come.” I looked up. “So . . . it keeps promises?” “Yup! You make it a promise and it keeps it for you. So then you have to come through on it. So you can only make promises you truly believe in.” My head was on its side, regarding the star with a sudden interest. I had never heard it put that way before. “It’s magical,” she went on. “Stars have always been seen as magical.” “I’ve never heard it put like this, though,” I said. “But it’s a beautiful way.” “Do you want to make a promise on it?” she asked. “Yeah. Like—like—oh, I don’t know. I’ll promise that I’ll never give up on my dreams! I’ll always write! Someday, someday I’ll write a novel.” “Well, that’s a boring promise.” “I believe in it.” “But it needs to be something that you need it to believe in. It can’t be something easy.” “Well—like what?” “Something dramatic. Like you’ll—you’ll never tell a lie.” “But that’s impossible.” “Well . . .” She bit her lip, considering. “Okay. I’ve got it! Let’s make a promise together!” “Together?” “Yeah! We’ll promise each other that we’ll never be apart, and that we’ll always be friends!” “But what if--” “Promise!” she snapped. “Okay, I promise!” I conceded. Then I added, more slowly, “And let’s promise—that when we are apart—because we will be, someday—that we’ll always be thinking of each other.” “Yeah!” “I swear it.” “Me too. I promise.” And she smiled at me. And I smiled back. And we went back to our stargazing, as more heavenly luminaries began to show their faces. As enough began to appear, we started pointing out constellations. I watched her eyes light up at the sight of each one. I watched her lips curve at their shapes in that way that always made me happier than I could ever understand. And I promised, silently, I’ll always be with you; we’ll always be friends; and someday . . . when the time is right . . . we’ll be more. Opinions--positive, negative or optimistic--are welcome, and appreciated, as always. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I lost count of how many times you insulted me, and how many times you complimented me. Maybe I'll tally them just to be sure. But there was a thanks buried in their somewhere--in bold, I think--so you may consider yourself welcome. Looking over your list . . . I definitely think you made the right choice. ;P And I didn't realize you were a brony. *hoof-five* *or high-hoof* *or congenial collision of hooves* *or something like that* Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

. . . It's a little slice of heaven secluded in an unassuming pocket of the world I never before ventured to. I've lived in this town most of my life, and never been there. Now I'll never go to another bookstore. My pickings: By Agatha Christie: They Came to Baghdad The Blue Train Mystery The Labors of Hercules The Secret Adversary The Secret of Chimneys Murder at Hazelmoor The Witness for the Prosecution and other stories Cat Among the Pigeons Curtain And: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (because I wanted a personal copy) Two-Minute Mystery Collection by Donald J. Sobol After trading in some old P.D. James I despised, the total came to $9. Not too shabby! On that note, I also owe you reviews of 100%, The Red House Mystery, and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Challenge #4 v. intrans. 1 : to speak, sing or play with liveliness and rhythm. 2 : to move with lightness or buoyancy 2 : recurring daily; diurnal Submission for challenge #3 is now open. You still have two weeks on #4. You will have until the end of this month to enter this challenge, which is a little shorter than usual. We have some new and revised features on the way that we're all looking forward to, and we hope that you will all enjoy them. From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Our hearts are connected. Whatever distances may separate us, no matter how far we roam, we are never apart. I will fight for your honor; or maybe I already have it. I will give you my heart; but has it not always been yours? The stars are not so unreachable as they say: They are just worlds waiting to be touched. We'll reach them together. It's amusing how the strangest things will come back to you at the strangest times. Take, for instance, these words:"All imbalances must be destroyed."My mentor's last words to me before Lydia and I set out for the light realm, where we belonged. This was the memory that came to my mind as pain pervaded my body, radiating from the blade imbedded in my back. It was twisted in its place and ripped free, and all I could do was recall that statement as I groaned and gasped and crumpled.A high, feminine voice tinged with malice whispered, "Die for me, my sweet, as you always swore you would do."She stepped out from behind me, brandishing her keyblade. Silken hair of ebon cascaded around her shoulders, crowning her graceful figure. She was my shadow, but she looked nothing like me. She resembled more closley the girl standing nearby, looking on in horror. Her own shadow--my own semblance--stepped into the light. A smile played across his features."Foolish Mike," he chided. "You should have been watching behind you."Lydia regained her wits. Her face contorted in fury. "I'll destroy you both for this!"Idalyx rolled her eyes. "Do you really want to fight me again? I certainly don't want to fight you. We're too wearyingly equal. It gets tedious."Lydia took a ferocious step forward, hissing, "Then I'll make it more interesting for you."But Kexim stepped between them. He lifted his dark echo of my keyblade into Lydia's face. "Want to see how equal we are?" he menaced.Lydia raised her blade to Kexim's. "Gladly."He hunched his shoulders and said grinningly, "This is a match I've been waiting for.""No!"The cry was mine. Before either could strike, I gathered every last ounce of energy in my body and hurled myself at Kexim. At my command a portal appeared to the dark realm and, our limbs interlocked, he and I fell through it.The light realm vanished and we plummeted into darkness. I knew Lydia could handle Idalyx. Even as I felt my heart fading, my strength ebbing away into my Nobody, I knew Lydia's tenacity was insuperable. I just hoped that I was right. . . .I turned to her Nobody, falling beside me--and not a moment too soon. I raised my keyblade and caught the blow from his just as it was about to land."You think I'll be trapped here?" he snarled. "You've only delayed me. And when I get back, I'll steal her heart, just like Idalyx is already getting yours. And what are you going to do about that?"I did the only thing I could do. I closed my eyes. . . . ~ * ~ It was to my shock that my eyelids opened again and light poured into my retinae. When I sat up, the pain was gone. The wound in my body had healed, somehow. My mind brimmed with questions. Where was I? Where was Kexim? How was it I was not dead? When my eyes adjusted, I looked around myself in bewilderment; a survey that answered this last query and raised two more.Idalyx lay on the floor nearby, fading. Her life force was draining into me. This was Lydia's doing--but how? And where was Lydia?I peered into the darkness. And then I saw her. In an instant I got up and ran to her side. She was writhing about and moaning, clutching at her sides. I shook her gently and tried to help her up. She continued to cringe and quiver in my arms."Lydia! Lydia, what's wrong? What's happened?"She choked, "K-kexim!"Immediately I understood. All imbalances must be destroyed . . . suddenly the words had a much graver meaning.But balance wasn't my concern. "Lydia! Fight him! Don't give in.""I--I can't!" she gasped. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She looked up at me. "Mike, I--" But a screech split her words as another spasm shook her body.I rocked her in my arms, trying to think. Kexim would kill her if I didn't do something about it. But what could I do? How could I stop him? How could I save her?Only the same way she had saved me. And there was only one was I could do that, I realized.Swallowing hard, I put her down and rose to my feet. I didn't bother to ask myself the difficult questions: Would it work? Could I do it? Was I brave enough? For Lydia's sake, I had to be. It was the least I could do; my heart had always belonged to her, anyway.I stepped over to where my keyblade lay and picked it up. For a moment, only a moment, I almost didn't want to do it. But I remembered the words: all imbalances . . . And when I looked down at Lydia . . .There was no choice to be made. I inverted the blade and plunged it into my chest.But it was a different kind of pain. It didn't feel like dying, this time. This time it felt like a heartache; a bittersweet feeling of mingled pain and relief, fear and comfort, joy and sorrow. I felt myself falling; only I didn't feel the floor beneath me. I just kept falling. And I could have sworn that, before the world went black, I saw my heart floating away from my body, drifting off to attach itself to the nearest source of life. . . . ~ * ~ This time I expected to open my eyes, and I did. An endless void of darkness stretched all round me--except straight ahead. There I saw light, untempered and pure, in its most potent state: the heart.But the heart before me was throbbing in great agitation. The light was obtunded. Purple veins were creeping their way through it like a spider making a web, diverging from the blade plunged into its center."Get away from her heart." The order was calm and quiet, though it was like a thunderclap in the silence of the void.Kexim started in surprise. When he turned around, he instinctively drew his keyblade from the heart to direct it at me. "H-how did y-you get here?" He quickly steadied himself with a breath and smirked to cover his discomfiture. "You've come to stop me, have you? Come on. We've been through all this before.""That's true. We're an even match. It's always been a battle, between the two of us, that can have no victor." Now I smiled. "But this time, I won't let you win.""Oh, you won't let me. Well, that changes everything," he fleered. "Am I to understand you were holding back before?""Lydia can only have one shadow, Kexim. And she deserves a better one than you.""And where do you expect to find one of those?""I'll just have to be that shadow myself."Kexim scoffed. "Are you really as foolish as that? You exist. You can't be a shadow. You have your own heart.""I know. That's why I gave it up."Kexim's eyes widened. "Did you really? Well! . . . then you're even more foolish than I thought.""You would never understand, Kexim," I replied. "How could you? You've never had a heart. You've never felt love."The wide eyes narrowed to slits. "That's not true!" he hissed. "It only shows how little you understand!"His weapon arm was shaking. I could have sworn I saw something glinting at the corners of his eyes. Tears? Was that possible? Perhaps it was. . . ."Idalyx," I murmured."She destroyed her!" Kexim bellowed. "Your Lydia--destroyed my Idalyx! And I--I loved her!" His grip tightened on his keyblade. His knuckles became white. "She'll die for what she did to her!"I took a step forward, reaching a hand toward him. "Kexim," I pleaded, "Listen to me. You thought you loved Idalyx--but you couldn't have. Don't you see that? You can't feel anything. You're just deceiving yourself. All you ever felt was a shadow . . . a shadow of how Lydia felt for me; how I felt for her. You don't know what real love is. But I still remember it.""You're lying!"I moved closer. "I can still taste it, Kexim. I can still remember--I can remember what it was like. . . . Please, don't destroy that. If you ever thought you cared for Idalyx--think of how I care for Lydia." I took another step. "Please. Stop this."Kexim lowered his blade, brow knitted in confusion, a deep frown on his lips. He took a hesitant step--then another. He came nearer and nearer. He was only a few feet from me when he halted. Precipitately he threw his head back and cachinnated. Like a man gone insane he laughed himself hoarse, doubling up, nearly falling over in his mirth. When at last he could straighten body and face, he cast me a derisive grin.When he spoke, his voice was thin and strained from the laughter. "You fool! You idiotic fool! You want me to sympathize with you? You expect me to relent? Why should I? Out of the kindness of my heart?" He spat out the last word with particular vehemence and scowled, as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "Or had you forgotten? I don't have one. But how could you forget? You don't have one either!" He raised his keyblade. "So come on, then. If you're so anxious to fight, let's have it out right here, a fight to the finish! I never existed, and now you don't exist, either. I've always wondered if nothings actually die, or if they only sort of vanish." Another laugh shook him. "Let's find out!"He lunged at me, riving the air with his keyblade. The weapon I lifted to defend myself was not my own; it was the mirror image of Lydia's. It was the keyblade that had belonged to Idalyx. Now I was truly a shadow.As our sabers met, Kexim stared. I saw something stir behind those eyes; but it was distant and almost unreachable. It flickered, then died, and a fire sprang up in its place.Kexim raised his keyblade and brought it down toward my head. I raised my own to parry and swung it round at his head. He blocked and swept it around his head for a diagonal slash. I deflected the blow and riposted. He diverted it to the side and thrust his blade at my head. My nose quivered in the rush of air that accompanied my narrow counter.I kneed Kexim in the ribs and he staggered. I raised my blade over my head. Before I could strike, he lunged. I had to twist my body to catch the attack in time. He pulled back and swung again, and again, and again. He had me stumbling backward, barely able to maintain defensive maneuvers, much less offensive.Then I tripped and fell on my back. His blade plunged toward me. I raised my own in time to knock it aside. I kicked out at his knee and he reeled.Back on my feet, I cast a barrage of icicles at him. He dodged to the side and hurled a fireball. I deflected and summoned a bolt of lightning, which struck his uplifted keyblade. It absorbed the surge for him to redirect it at me. I dodged to the side. Then I hurtled toward him.The conflict continued. We matched one another blow for blow, parry for parry. We both knew what the other was about to do before the other did it. At one particularly heated point I barely raised my keyblade in time to block a wild swing, deflect it with its own momentum, and make a counterattack. He flicked the thrust off to the side and made a riposte. I brought my blade across my body to push his off to the side, where our blades locked in a tense struggle as we lowered into each other's faces. Then we fell apart, chests heaving."Is that--all--you've got?" Kexim taunted. "You're--slipping! Without--your heart--you are nothing!"I didn't respond. I knew this was getting us nowhere. He was right; my advantage in the past had always been my light. Now I was only a shadow. Only . . . a shadow. . . ."Then maybe," I cried, half to myself, "maybe I need to borrow someone else's!"I dropped my blade and turned. And there it was; the light I needed, though it was rapidly darkening. I ran headlong toward it. I heard Kexim following behind me.I arrived first and threw myself into Lydia's heart. For a moment I hung there, as if stuck halfway through a gelatinous wall. Then I sank into it; it absorbed me. It began to glow brighter. I heard nearby a deep scream and, more distant, an alleviated gasp. I felt a gentle warmth where the empty cold had been in my chest. I smiled as everything became lighter. . . . ~ * ~ Lydia was climbing to her feet. I offered her my hand and helped her up. She looked dully up at me, dazed. With a start everything rushed back to her."Mike! What happened? Where's Kexim? Why did he stop?"I staunched the questions with the flat of my hand. "You first. How did you defeat Idalyx?"She looked at me in puzzlement. Presently her face cleared. "Oh--oh, yes. Well--I knew I couldn't win. We were too evenly matched. Everything she did, I knew she was going to do; and everything I did, she knew I was going to do. She thought like me--so instead of thinking like myself, I thought like you.""In one of my more clever moments, maybe.""But what did you do? What happened to Kexim?"My shoulders rose and fell. "I only did what you did for me.""So--you--you--""No, actually. You did. Kemix is gone.""But how? I felt him--it was like my heart was being stabbed from the inside. And then it stopped. What did you do?""I went to him and stopped him. But it was actually your heart that did it."She put a hand over her chest. "You went--to my heart?"I nodded. "In the end your light was too powerful for him. He underestimated you.""But how did you get--inside?""I lost my shadow. You needed a new one. So I became it.""But how did you do it?" she pressed."I gave up my heart."She put a hand over her rounded mouth. In her shock she did not speak; then, "You gave it up--for me?""I had to. It was always yours to keep." I turned away. In dull, insipid tones I whispered, "I loved you.""'Loved'?" she repeated. Sadness choked her voice. "You--you can't feel anything any more. You can't . . . can you?"I shook my head. "I can only remember. It seems like an old dream, or a distant memory. It doesn't feel real anymore. But all I can tell you is how deeply that heart cared for you, Lydia."I felt her hand brush my arm, then tighten, and pull me around. I looked down into her tear-stained face, with its shimmering eyes and glowing smile. How I yearned for that same feeling to be ignited . . . but I could feel nothing."You gave me your heart. . . ."Her hands pressed against my chest for balance. She stood on tiptoe, tilted her head back, and whispered, "The least I can do to thank you is to share mine."And she pressed her lips firmly against mine. I wrapped my arms around her and let her kiss me. And somehow, somewhere deep within my body, I felt a little glimmer--just a faint little glimmer--of light. . . . ~ * ~ Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Eleven years. Was it really that long ago? . . . And yet, was it truly so recent? Eleven years. I was a mere child. I had no idea what was going on. It didn't affect me. Now I look back, I recollect the memories of others; and I think. I wonder: What are we really remembering here? An evil deed. A horrific tragedy. A good deed. A great wonder. An evil deed. I won't delve into that. Iniquitous men sacrificed themselves for their beliefs; it's a twisted act of distorted heroism. But while there is a nobility in war, in fighting for your country, terrorism is an act of cowardice. A horrific tragedy. People died--good people, bad people; but innocent people. But all life ends, after all. It was untimely and tragic, but I've never been one to lament for the dead. They've moved on to a better place. So let's dig a little deeper at the truly great things this day stands for. A good deed. I recall the story of the plane that didn't hit its target; of the people who . They died not as villains, not as victims, but as heroes. Veritable, real-life heroes. A great wonder. What really happened that day was not a falling apart but a pulling together. People died, but an army stepped forward; a tower fell, but a nation rose to the challange. What really happened was we proved, as we have proved time and again, that we are America, and that there is only one of us. Eleven years. Eleven years of recovering, of pulling together, of falling apart; of generally doing what we always do, what we have always done. We are America; we're one great family. We have our disagreements, we may not always get along, at times we may find ourselves unable to stand one another; but when the going gets tough, we pull together, and we pull through. We are the United States. We share one heart, one destiny; one nation. Eleven years ago many people were killed. They deserve their moment of silence, and I won't deny them that. The heroes, the victims; let's honor them all. . . . That day, eleven years ago, was a shadow. But shadows serve to prove that the light is truly there, and not a mere illusion. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Yes, I'm complacent; and yes . . . NUILE JOINED SKYPE Big, bold letters, as promised, Aderia. To Ambage letters at large, I hope to see you all soon and enjoy a few write-offs. In the near future I'll also be hosting as occasioned. I'm looking forward to it! I'll see you tonight, if I can get that infernal "loading" wheel to stop spinning eternally. . . . Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Agreed. I mean, how could anyone knot love the pit sequence? ;P That was the best part of the movie. And Owl has never been portrayed as a better character. And Rabbit had a bit of a Tigger moment when they were baiting the trap, which was hilarious. XDAnd for days after watching, I couldn't get Tigger's "It's Gonna Be Great" out of my head. The song was surprisingly . . . well, great. XPSincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Two figures stood on the beach. Two figures, one's hand gently ensonced within the other's. The waves lapped the ankles above their buried feet. The full moon shone down on the scene from above, imbuing the sea with silver.The shorter one turned to her companion, her pale blue armor shimmering in the moonglow. Her own gave off a mild, intoxicating luminescence. A smile crept across her mask; like a constellation spread across the sky."It's been a beautiful night." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Thank you." When you walk away You don't hear me say She retrieved her feet from the sand, let go of the Le-Matoran, and turned to walk away. But he touched her shoulder."When we see-meet again?""I--I don't know." She laughed a little. "I guess you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" "Please, oh baby, don't go" He watched as her gracile figure moved so smoothly across the sand it seemed to glide; he watched the light dancing on her armor; he watched her mount the dune, and turn; he watched the glow in her eyes as she waved; and he watched her vanish over the hill.Suddenly the night seemed much darker. The stars no longer sparkled with the same charm. The moon was duller. The sound of the sea became an insufferable drone.He turned and walked away. Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight It's hard to let it go ~ * ~ Le-Wahi was an inelegant, insipid tangle of weeds. The trees among which free spirits flew, swung or brakiated were the bars of a cage that kept him from Ga-Koro.The only wings of freedom that carried his spirit away from this dismal prison were the snatches of paper that bestrewed the desk. He glanced through them; "How are you doing?" "I miss you," "." These banal phrases had a palliative effect upon him. Yet it was the feelings behind the words he wanted more than the words themselves.In frustration, he swept a hand across the table, scattering the letters. He didn't want paper. You're giving me too many things lately You're all I need He wanted to be with her. He wanted to see her again. Her words may have been as beautiful as she was, they may have contained her effervescent tone; but he didn't want her paper. You smiled at me and said "Don't get me wrong I love you, But does that mean I have to meet your father?" In his last letter he had invited her to Le-Koro, but she was hesitant. She had never been there before. She had no idea what it was like. And looking around him, he wondered: Why would anyone want to come here?The only reason he had invited her was to see her. But he didn't care where he saw her, he just wanted to see her. So he picked up a fresh sheet of paper and began writing. ~ * ~ When we are older you'll understand What I meant when I said, "No, I don't think life is quite that simple." "I need see-meet you again ever-bad." The words began to blur before her eyes as she read the letter over again. She smiled wonderingly to herself. How were six short words such poetry? The careful selection, the rhythmic blending, the dialect she found so tasteful, all permeated by the poignant meaning; how was it contained all within one short sentence? When you walk away You don't hear me say, "Please, oh baby, don't go" She envisioned him, leaning over a table, scribbling down the words she saw before her. And the tears flowed more freely for the knowledge that she would have to envision a little longer. Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight It's hard to let it go She folded the new letter and clutched it her chest, wishing she could have written something else. But she knew he would understand.And yet, it was a smile on her face. The mere thought of him . . . ~ * ~ The daily things that keep us all busy Are confusing me He withdrew his hand from a Kewa that tried to snatch it up along with the feed. He took up another handful and flung it at the creature with distaste.After the last of the beasts had been fed, after they had all been groomed, after all their nests had been freshened, he at last took his leave of the eyrie and went home.At his door he found a letter waiting for him. With excitement he took it inside and opened it. That's when you came to me and said, "Wish I could prove I love you But does that mean I have to walk on water?" He tore it up in frustration. It took extra effort to tear it into fragments small enough to sever the message itself: "Ever-soon." He fell on his bed, head clutched in his hands. He wanted to find some magical way to fly to her right then and there. He wanted to part all the trees and the mountains so that he could at least gaze upon her from a distance.Instead, he wrote another letter. "How I make more ever-soon?" ~ * ~ When we are older you'll understand It's enough when I say so With a thrill she held his latest letter in her hands, savoring each word as if it had come from his own lips, as if she had heard it carried on the air by his own tenor.Laughing blithely, she sat down at the table, snatched paper and utensil, and wrote. And maybe some things are that simple "Tonight. Sundown." When you walk away You don't hear me say, "Please, oh baby, don't go" ~ * ~ They met at the beach without a word. They didn't need to say anything. The messages that needed relating were on their Kanohi. Anything else would have spoiled it. Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight It's hard to let it go Hand in hand they strolled along the shoreline, listening to the dulcet rhythm of the tide. They watched the sun turn the water golden, orange, red, pink, and finally leave it in a deep blue until the moon rose over their heads to bathe the world in silver.Her eyes on the sky, she didn't notice a seashell, and she stumbled. Her hand so tightly enmeshed with his pulled him down with her. Thus ridiculously entangled, they laughed, long and hard, until they lapsed into contented sighs.And there together they lay, counting the stars as they began to appear in the heavens. Even as the hours ebbed and the tide rose, they stayed, letting the water wash under and around them and then recede. When at last they rose, it was to wade deeper into the water, to stand there together and admire the sky. Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning Is a little later on It was not until the sun began to lend its light to the darkness that either of them spoke.It was the Ga-Matoran."I'm so sorry it had to be so long."The Le-Matoran squeezed her hand with a tender pressure. "Was worth ever-wait." Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all Nothing's like before They were silent for some minutes longer. This time the Le-Matoran disrupted the quiet. Turning to her suddenly, he said:"I love you. Did you know?""Yes, I did." She rocked back and forth on her feet. "But you shouldn't have told me.""Why not?""Well--it was a sort of a secret, wasn't it?""But I wanted you know.""I did. But now the thrill of the mystery's gone.""Don't want a know-nothing mystery. I want you know--want you heart-know."She turned her Kanohi up into his and smiled charmingly. "And I'm glad." When you walk away You don't hear me say, "Please, oh baby, don't go" All too soon, it seemed to them, the sun appeared on the horizon behind them. They felt its warmth on their backs; a rough but loving hand."I've never had a night like this before," she whispered, suddenly putting her head against his chest. "Thank you."She made to pull away. Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight It's hard to let it go The Le-Matoran stopped her."When I see-meet you again?"She shrugged her shoulders. "When I see you.""When that be?" Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning Is a little later on Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all Her tinkling laughter lent its melody to the dawn. "Every moment of the day. . . ." Nothing's like before ~ * The End * ~ I was actually listening to a different song and trying to make a songfic out of that when I wanted to do this song instead. Hope you enjoyed it. I don't think it's my best work, but I had what I can only refer to as a warm time writing it. As always, comments are much appreciated, especially any constructive criticism you may have to offer.And as a disclaimer, the song Simple and Clean was written and performed by Utada Hikaru, as the theme for Disney's Kingdom Hearts. (Great game, by the way; brilliant storyline.) Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Four The Avatar State "In order to master the Avatar State, you must master all the chakras." - Guru Pathik "So what do you think?"Wuqing and Tobi had shuffled away to stow the books they did not need and to prepare the training room, leaving Jenny and I alone. Immediately she had turned and posed to me this inquiry. My answer was this:"I still think I'm dreaming.""Jacob, I'm serious.""Then I'll be serious. I think it's all mad! But it doesn't matter what I think. I don't think there's much of a choice. But the important thing is what you think.""I think you're right.""Then I think we're agreed.""I think so.""Good. All this thinking is giving me a headache.""But Jacob--" Jenny hesitated. "You still don't have to--I mean, I'll understand if you don't want to--"I silenced her with a hand on her shoulder. "But I do have to--at the very least, because I want to. You're my friend, and I won't let you down. Besides, our parents would murder me a collective four times over if I let you do it alone.""Our parents! What are they going to think of all this?""You think we should tell them?""Don't you?""I guess you're right. Let's tell them. And maybe they'll give us neighboring cells in the sanitorium.""I can prove it with my bending.""And make our parents think they have lost their minds. And they probably will lose them, whether from shock or worry. Safest, I think, to keep it a secret for the time being.""I guess you're right."I leaned closer. "So how are you feeling about all this?"She clutched her head. "Excited. Frightened. Bewildered. Confused. I'm feeling so much--I just don't know what to feel, or to think."I nodded. "I know the feeling. I feel the same right now. But I realize that it's no use to fret. The winds of destiny have caught our sails and are taking us in a new direction. We just have to cope with it. So we will.""I guess you're right.""I know I am. You'll leave Koh flat on all his stolen faces."She smiled at me. "Thanks."I shrugged. "We're a team, you and I--along with your pet ghost and little Miss Jackie Chan. We're Team Avatar!" I paused, considering. I repeated it, slowly mulling it over with each syllable. "Team Avatar. No, that's a rotten name. I can come up with something better. Tyro Team? Sells us a bit short, that. The Koh-Kicking Klub? Spelled with a third K, of course." In response to the droopy-lidded glare Jenny was returning, I said, "I'll think on it. I'll come up with something.""It is time to begin, Jenny."Jenny hopped up from her chair. I followed her across the chamber to where Wuqing and Tobi waited inside a large circle that encompassed two smaller circles. Wuqing took a cross-legged position within one of them. He indicated the other, and Jenny seated herself."Before we begin," said the spirit, "it is necessary that you understand. All the Avatars who have passed before you are a part of you, and yet they are not. They reside in the Spirit World, but they are still one with you. The Avatar State is the result of allowing all your past lives to enter your body simultaneously. All their powers become yours, and their skills become natural to you. At this point you are no longer yourself, but truly the Avatar. Your mind is no longer yours. It is incredibly powerful, but also incredibly dangerous. Unrestrained, everyone around you is at risk, both foe--and friend." His eyes rested briefly on me before he went on, "The Avatar State is a natural defense. It is triggered by adrenaline. It is ruled entirely by instinct. But it is possible to trigger it at will, and to rule it yourself. And I will teach you how to do this.Almost hesitantly, he added, "But--there is--a disadvantage to the Avatar State. For all its strength and formidability it leaves you exposed. If you are killed in the Avatar State, it is not you who will die. The death will be the Avatar's. There will be no reincarnation.""Okay," said Jenny. "Don't die. I think I can remember that."Wuqing continued, "To master the Avatar State is no easy task. It will take great strength of mind, will, body and spirit. The four elements of qi, if you will. Controlling your ability will require mental exertion, force of will, physical endurance, and unbreakable spirit. But before these are needed the cosmic energy within you must flow. As adrenaline triggers the Avatar State, so does cosmic energy. Jenny, do you know what a chakra is?""Um--that's a kind of baboon, isn't it?"I suppressed a laugh as Wuqing shook his head patiently and said, "No. A chakra is a pool of energy, and there are seven within the body. Alone, the chakras provide energy for different things. But when allowed to flow together, the seven chakras become one; a river of energy. Before they can do this, each of the seven pools--the chakras--must be unlocked."I interrupted, "Let me guess. We have to circumnavigate the globe, traveling from ancient temple to ancient temple, gathering the seven magical keys that unlock these chocolates.""The energy within our bodies is not physical, but spiritual. The keys are inside us. The chakras can only be unlocked through meditation. You must search deep inside yourself for the key and use it to unlock each chakra. It requires mental assertion of the spirit. It will not be easy. But I believe in your ability to succeed, Avatar.""Are we going to start meditating now, then?""For the moment, we will have a brief session. You are not yet ready for the process of unlocking your chakras. First I must train you to meditate." He beckoned to Tobi and I, then folded his hands and closed his eyes. "Join us, both of you. Meditation is beneficial to all."We obeyed, sitting cross-legged outside the circle."Calm your body," Wuqing began. "Calm your mind. Breathe in through your nostrils, and let it out through the mouth. Slower. Do it again. In through the nostrils--out through the mouth. Breathe in fresh air--breathe out the old. Slowly. Let the air sweep away all thoughts. Let it flow through you like energy. Clear your mind.""That shouldn't be hard for Jacob," Jenny murmured."It wasn't hard to release you from my mind," I retorted.Wuqing hushed us. "Breathe in through the nostrils--out through the mouth. Breathe in--breathe out. In--out. Clear your mind. Nothing exists outside this circle.""I'm not in the circle," I objected."Shut up."Rude spirit, I thought. Then it occurred to me that I wasn't supposed to be thinking. I then wondered how it was possible to force oneself not to think, before I realized that thinking about not thinking would get me nowhere. Then a fly buzzed in my ear, and I was reminded of the scene from Karate Kid when the sensei caught the fly with chopsticks. I attempted to try with a hand, and missed. I tried again with both hands. The clap resounded through the chamber like a clap of thunder. Flushing, I opened one eye. I could have sworn that Wuqing's hair was fluffier, and that his back was slightly arched."In," Wuqing growled, "out. In--out. In--out. Exclude the world from your mind. Expel all thoughts. Relax."My mind began to empty and dull. I realized how tired I was after all that had happened that day. The stone floor was soothingly cool. Wuqing's monotonic instructions droned slowly, steadily. Beneath my eyelids it was comfortably dark.The next thing I knew, I was being roughly shaken, and I heard Jenny's voice. "Wake up! Jacob, come on, wake up!""Stop the tubas!" I moaned. "Turn off the fans!"She shook harder. "Wake up! We're done meditating!""Five more minutes," I pleaded."No, wake up now! You won't want to miss this! Wuqing's going to teach me to bend!" Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Alex Humva, I'm assuming you're joking . . . ? XP Correct, Mentos; move noted, retaliation effected. King's pawn to E5. And Tekulo, I know that's true . . . but it's my blog, and I can play chess the way I want. ;P I mean, really, how else could it work on a blog? But I feel really dumb as concerns the colors . . . I'll fix that now. XP Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Dear readers, I challenge you to a game of chess! Yes, that's right, all of you. At once. How does it work? Simple. I'm black. The rest of you are white. Therefore, if it's white's turn, comment here with your move. Just to be fair, I'll say a given member can not move more than twice in a row. Okay, so this eye test chart below is actually a makeshift chess board. E for empty. N for Knight, because King got K. So on and so forth, see? The bottom right square is A1; the upper right corner is H8. Gold is white. Got it? Good then. Let's play! R N B Q K B N R P P P P E P P P E E E E E E E E E E E E P E E E E E E E E E E E E E N E E E E E P P P P P P P P R E B Q K B N R White first. Your move, BZP! Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Somehow, I thought you'd be on board with it. XP And I doubt Blue will object. I don't know; can biomechanical beings even die of old age? Maybe, after enough time passed . . . but that time would have to be more than 100,000 years. And haven't there been Agori and Glatorian--even more organic than Matoran--who survived for longer than that? Somehow, I think that if the Atero Eight knew where the mask was, they would want to use it. You would think their leader would wear it as a badge of office; which is why I don't think they should know. I think it should be a secret deeper even than them; though certainly they were considered in the hiding, even if as unwitting guardians. As for the Mask's hiding place itself, yeah, we would probably be looking at a great opportunity for a little Indiana Jones action. XP Flying arrows, giant boulders, spinning saws . . . the decrepit guardian who can hardly lift a sword. We can easily have some (more original!) fun there. I'm not sure how the Toa losing their powers would fit. It just feels out of place. How would that have a place in the story? Yeah, I like it. I want to say that he should be part of an underworld plot to steal the mask, but maybe I'm getting a little obsessed with all this corruption and evil. XP Okay, so say he's an archaeologist of sorts; the Atero Eight have him; the underworld kidnaps him to use his knowledge to locate the mask. Karattru and Larche follow. But when the criminals reach the mask's hiding place, it won't present itself to them; only to the pure of that. Excalibur-type thing, you know? I'm much liking the idea of Atero being a combination of Metru- and Mata-Nui. A high-tech city mixed into all these natural surroundings . . . sounds like one of the most awesome things I've ever heard of. I agree to the criminal underworld; haven't I already mentioned it more than once? Not only do we have the corrupt government, but also the corrupt criminal depths, not to mention the corrupt evil coming to try and make Great Beings of themselves. This is going to be fun. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

. . . "Well-played" hardly seems apt when there were only two of us. XPBut anyway, you know what they say; no losers makes a good loser . . . or something like that. Felicitations to the winners who shined so clearly above all the rest . . . because they actually bothered to enter.I hope this doesn't quell the chances of another Library Olympics any time soon; it may not have been as successful as last time, but I, for one, had a great time.Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

At least the reasoning behind my name is better than yours. XD Aybabtu: All Your Bases Are Belong To Us. . . . We can think of something better than that if we want, but we can have our fun here and there in ways that work so well, can't we? XD Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Three Legends "I'm the avatar! You gotta deal with it!" - Korra The White Lotus Kwoon was an establishment on the outskirts of downtown, a school of the Chinese martial arts. From the front window I had always found it difficult to believe that there could be a room in the back of a sufficient size for training. But the reception room's diminutiveness of size, as I now learned, allowed for a larger space beyond. Wuqing transformed into a human in the rear alley to unlock the door, leading us into a long, though still rather narrow, chamber. A stairwell led on to a second floor above, allowing for further training space.At the foot of this stood a girl, one foot still on the last step. She was of an age somewhere between, by my estimate, Jenny and myself; fifteen or sixteen, I thought, maybe even my own age. She pulled auburn strands of hair out of her face to regard us with curiosity."Which one?" she asked, walking over to us.Said Wuqing, "The young lady."The girl looked Jenny up and down. "So you're the Avatar? I was expecting someone . . . well, older."Jenny took a step closer. They were equal in height, inch for inch. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. You look pretty young yourself, for a spirit."Wuqing interrupted. "She is no spirit. This is Tobi, my assistant and my star pupil. Tobi, this is Jenny, and this is Jacob." With this introduction, he shuffled over to a corner and began peeling back the mat."Nice to meet you," said Tobi, extending her hand to Jenny, who received it with a shake. Turning to me, Tobi went on, "And--you are?""Jacob, bulletproof vest," putting forth a hand.Tobi arched an eyebrow. Jenny explained, "He's just a friend."She nodded, and the three of us followed Wuqing to the corner, where he had exposed a patch of bare wood flooring. Jenny's and my confusion became surprise when the bearded man depressed a brick in the wall and a seamlessly blended trap door fell open to reveal a ladder leading down into blackness."Secret door," I breathed. "I admit, I'm a fan of the secret door."Wuqing descended first, followed by Jenny and myself, and finally Tobi, who pulled the mat down over the opening and closed the door above, leaving us in utter darkness. I felt my way downward rung by rung, and I'm proud to say that I only stepped on Jenny's head once. Her hands . . . well, that's a different matter.I heard feet on stone, and there came a glow from near below us. Wuqing had reached the bottom and turned on a light. Grateful for the illumination, Jenny and I quickened our pace. A short, narrow corridor at the base of the ladder led on into another room. I shielded my eyes from the sudden brightness; when my pupils had contracted, I surveyed the chamber in awe.It was as large as a football field, and twice as wide. The majority of the stone floor was adorned with chalk markings, designating areas for various training. At the far end of the chamber tables and chairs were clustered, strewn with papers, books, writing utensils, and other objects. But what interested me most was that which lined every foot of the walls, floor to ceiling, all round the room: bookshelves, teeming with their titular contents."There's a secret kung fu training room and library beneath the dojo?" I gasped. "Don't tell me there's an Italian anarchist outfit beneath the pizza parlor next door. And what about the bridal shop? Does the Matchmakers' Cult meet in the basement?"Wuqing led us to the tables at the far end. "Lift your feet, please," said Tobi, "don't shuffle. I just redrew the marks this morning."I looked back at the wake of scuffed chalk behind me. "Um--right. I'll do that."Wuqing gestured us to chairs around the center table, while he circumnavigated the room, gathering as he went an armful of books and scrolls. I idly reached for a tome resting on the table that caught my eye. Suddenly Wuqing's voice screeched, "Don't touch that!"I looked over my shoulder. He wasn't even watching. His senses were--well, cat-like. I shuddered. It felt like I was being watched even when his back was turned.Wuqing continued, "These books are ancient." Look who's talking, I observed silently. Sir, I added respectfully. "They are very delicate.""Do you have any ancient novels?""Quite a few.""The Tale of Genji?""The original manuscript, in fact, written by Murasaki Shikibu herself.""You're kidding!" I gasped. "I didn't think it still existed!""That's what the dim-witted fools of the world believe."I blinked, wondering if I had been insulted or if the whole world had.Wuqing at last completed his circuit and halted at our table. Tobi helped him clear space, but when I moved to lend a hand, Wuqing hissed, "Don't touch that!" I withdrew my hand. When the table had been disburdened, it was sprinkled afresh with literary items."I have spent years collecting these texts. Some I have obtained from ancient tombs and temples; most I obtained from the Knowledge Spirit's own library, though not without difficulty. I have gathered them all so that all the information you may need in your quest, Avatar, is here.""Information," I said hungrily, leaning forward. "That's exactly what we want.""With all this information," said Wuqing, sifting through his bookstacks, "I find it difficult to choose where to begin.""Begin with me!" Jenny pleaded. "The Avatar! Who am I?"He nodded. "Very well." He rolled a long scroll onto the table. It spread from his hands, coming to a rest before Jenny and myself.I observed, "It looks like a genealogy.""Of a sort. It is, in fact, a record of the Reincarnation Cycle. Here"--he touched the top of the scroll, where was depicted a man more unshaven than any man I had ever met--"is the original Avatar, most powerful of them all. And the cycle has progressed on through the ages, up until the most recent." He pointed to the bottom of the scroll, at a mass of muscle buried in which I distinguished eyes and other facial features. "Though the surroundings and conditions of the Avatar have changed over time--and with these, the Avatar's methods--their role has always been the same. The Avatar is keeper of balance, forger of ways, guardian of truth, protector of life, champion of all. That is what it means to be the Avatar. That is what you are, Jenny.""Hey, wait," said I, as Wuqing began furling the scroll. "There's more to it." I touched the end and unrolled it further to reveal a round, youthful face with black hair and a wide smile."Wow!" Jenny breathed. "It's--me! But--but how old is this? How can I be on it?""The Avatar is timeless," said Wuqing, as if it explained all, though it explained nothing."That's the end of the scroll. Why am I the last?"Wuqing ignored the question. As he rewound the scroll, he went on, "The Avatar is the only bender capable of controlling all four elements. This is their greatest gift, and their greatest responsibility. It is what empowers them to accomplish their duties. But control is not something that comes naturally. Mastering the elements is a task that requires hard work, dedication, and patience.""But why could I control the elements so well today? I've never been able to do that before.""Today is your twelfth birthday, is it not? On the twelfth of August? In the two thousand and twelfth year? It is no coincidence that Koh found you on this day. But the strength this day brought you will not last. You will need to train to maintain it.""You mean that now, on top of training for my black belt, I'm going to have to spend my spare time learning to bend for years?""I only wish it were that simple."Wuqing leafed through the pages of a thick tome until he arrived at the page he sought, then laid it open before us with a thud that reverberated throughout the large chamber. To the left were rows of Asian characters I was incapable of identifying. To the right was an illustration of a nightmarish creature with the gray body of a caterpillar, its mouth closed around the neck of a man, leaving nothing visible but the face. This was brightly painted and wore--though one would expect something more alike to Edvard Munch's The Scream--an unnaturally dull, lifeless expression.The guardian spirit explained, "This is Koh, a spirit known as the Face-Stealer. He robs mortals of their--""Visages?" I suggested."Precisely. And he keeps them to wear for himself."As I looked closer at the picture, I realized that the creature was not eating a head, but that the head was its own; that was not, indeed, its mouth, rather a giant eye socket."You're asking me to believe that this--this--this Jabberwocky exists?" I shook my head. "Nonsense!"The man faded before my eyes. The cat that now stood on the table mewed simply, "Yes.""Oh. Right.""But what does this have to do with me?" asked Jenny.A long beard hovered in the air above the dimming cat. I blinked, and there was Wuqing in human form. "Koh has faced"--I silently marveled at the pun--"the Avatar before. You have met him in past lives. And you have met him today.""The man with the mustache!"He nodded. "Yes. You also met a small number of his victims.""Victims?" I repeated. "You mean--those masks covered their--their--" I choked on the words. "Their lack of faces?""But why did he try to kill me?""An eye for an eye," said Wuqing. "The Avatar once tried to slay the Face-Stealer. And he very nearly succeeded. Koh knows that you are the only one who can interfere with his plans. He cannot afford to allow that.""What are his plans?"Wuqing's head swiveled from side to side. "I cannot say. But I can tell you this much: Koh is out for revenge. And he will stop at nothing to achieve it."He folded his arms and cleared his throat. Jenny and I listened attentively. Here at last we were getting to the juicy stuff."Koh is one of the oldest of all spirits. In an eon long forgotten, when the Earth was very young, it was his duty to watch over the Mortal World. He soon lost interest in the affairs of humankind. He did not care about their doings. But he had a ravenous hunger for their spirits. And he fed relentlessly."You have seen what becomes of his victims. He steals their faces, but it is worse than that. Their faces become his, but so do their bodies. Their trapped spirits become his slaves. They are alive, and they cannot die. He bends their wills. They become mindless, empty husks."When the King of the Spirit World found out what Koh was doing, he was furious. Koh was banished to the dark realms of the Spirit World. His powers reduced, he could only cross to the Mortal World twice a year, on the longest and shortest days. But for all that, he continued his Face-Stealing among the living every chance he had."He soon grew famished. His lust would not satisfy with these sparse feedings. He desired the Earth to be his again. And so he rebelled. He attempted to conquer the Spirit World."His endeavor failed. His efforts were quelled. But this time, his sentence was not so light. This time, he was banished to the Mortal World."The Mortal World strips him of his powers. Between solstices, he is as a mortal. But on these days he has the power to take on his true form and resume his Face-Stealing. He has the power to gather more minions, and to assume the form of one. And then he is again powerless until the next solstice."I do not know precisely what his schemes are, or when he will execute them. But he is cunning and ruthless. If I know Koh, he has learned from his failure. Even in his weakened state, I fear that he has been building strength to a fearsome crescendo. Whatever he is up to, dire jeopardy may impend both the Spirit and Mortal Worlds."Which means you may not have years to train. You may not even have much more than four months. The winter solstice is in little over one hundred days, and I doubt if Koh will wait any longer than that to strike."So Jenny has four months to master four elements before she has to fight the caterpillar spirit and save the world. Can we go back to the part where we were wondering what in the name of all that is sensible was going on?""There is some good news.""You're one of those silver lining types, aren't you?""There is another ability the Avatar possesses, one which is quicker and more powerful than mastering the four elements. Learning to control this ability will by difficult and arduous, but it may be your only chance to stop Koh in time. It will grant you full control over all the elements at will, for it will connect you to the Avatars of the past and give you all their strength and knowledge."Jenny's eyes widened. "Is that what happened earlier when I torched Koh? It felt like my mind was being overrun by many others, and that they were taking control of my body."Wuqing nodded. "This was the Avatar State. I can teach you how to master it. But we must begin at once." Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

EMERGENCY COMMENT: Can we call the sport Aybabtu? Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Personally, I look at Tezara and see one letter difference from Tesara. XD And personally, I always hated Tridax's name. Really, Greg! But anyway, just a thought. Okay, I like it. As for Toa, from the first my idea was that the Toa had died out but for the Atero Eight, now maybe Tahu, maybe one leader of an underground rebellion in the city. Anyway, those that weren't killed by Angonce's monster were probably murdered by the Atero Eight. I like the simultaneous play. It makes it so much more chaotic and exciting. And that way it would be over faster; probably generally a week thing, but historically maybe there were instances of games lasting mere hours or a month or two. I like the volatility that suggests. Karattru and Larche, I love it. On a Toa's team? I love it all the more, though I agree it doesn't quite fit. They're fighting these guys, not with them. XD It could be an interesting point for the story, though, having Karattru playing. But maybe just better if he was watching. You're welcome to the Tales of Matero; I love the idea, and it will be a good sideline to develop the setting. I just don't want to complicate the main story by developing the world too much. It needs to be there, of course, and it needs to be explained; but it can be integrated simply enough with little complication or overabundant elaboration. I wouldn't mind keeping Zaktan as a narrator. It would be a lot of fun, I think, to do that. No, the prison was in the outside world somewhere, hidden away in secluded mountains. And anyway, one thing's missing from that introduction: the Mask of Life. That's our big connection between our heroes and villains, and I think that's where we should start. Say, as you proposed, they're on a search for a missing person; that ties into the Atero Eight. Maybe they find him, maybe they discover that the Toa are plotting to steal the Mask of Life, hidden somewhere beneath the city. That would help to thread them in; but maybe a bit too much. I like that the Atero Eight will tie into Zaktan and that Zaktan ties into the Mask, but I still think things should be a little less definitively connected; Karattru should be separately investigating the Atero Eight and the mask. So how do we get from missing person to underworld plot to steal the mask? Well, maybe that missing person had a little more business in this city than he was letting on.There, I like that. No, I don't have anything in mind, and that's still our main problem. We don't quite have our teeth into a plot yet. We know what they're doing, but not what they're doing. XD If we're lucky Blue will pop in and give us something brilliant. If we're misfortunate, maybe we should find a time when we can all three put our heads together at the same time for the specific purpose of ironing out the wrinkles in the central plot core. (Yeah, I know. At least we dropped the tags for him. Anyway, though, I was planning on writing up a recap anyway--I thought it would be helpful for all of us, and it will help to bring Blue up to date and get his opinions on all the stuff we've been debating.) Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

"Lewa? I haven't known-heard of any one named Lewa. But he sounds like a very ever-handsome, quick-thinking Toa-hero."Seriously now, I love the colors and the style, and I really do think it was a brilliant artistic addition to the mask, even if it wasn't entirely intentional. I can just see Le-Metru Matoran going out on the town with their little top hats and monocles. . . .EDIT: And I just realized the six eyebrows are an addition to the original miru. Actually, it reminds me of the 2008 Mirus. It's sort of like a conglomeration of the three. Very nice! Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Oh, I remember. I used to love that show. It's a shame they've taken so many good shows off Disney and replaced them with the stupid shows they have now.I think that the actor who portrayed or at least voiced the titular bear hosted Sprout for a while a few years ago, but that's all I know about him. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Well--um--cool. I'm famous. Although you didn't credit me. I guess one signature won't exactly get me into the uppermost echelons of BZP society, though. Naturally that's the most important part of the writing process. A plot's nothing more than the interactions of the characters; the words themselves are nothing more than descriptions of the characters. Ultimately, it's all about the characters. Okay, well, I'll admit my knowledge of your work is limited to short stories, and the one epic I read in which you partook happened to be a horror about a certain flesh-consuming cloud; a story that, naturally, centered around death and woe and the tone that seemed so vivid in you I came to associate it with you. XD And when, some months later, you mention something about a murderous artist who paints with the blood of his victims, I'm not much swayed in the tone I connect to your work. Bottom line, I'll have to withhold from making opinions until I see you write something that doesn't involve death, violence, cruor, pain, terror, grief and sorrow. Have you any such works to recommend? And personally, I disagree that woe and similar themes are more complicated. Happiness, for instance, is something very much taken for granted; that's what, in part, makes it so fascinating. I think grief is easier to deepen than most, but not intrinsically deeper or more fascinating. Oh, the write-off. I ought to get into one of those sometime. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith