Memoirs of a RAFian

[Cloak]

Okay, gonna try a second chapter today.
 

CHAPTER FOUR:
The True Meaning of Fear

It was a peaceful day. Days as bright and enjoyable as these didn't come around RAF too often. So, naturally, it wouldn't last long.
 
Suddenly, the forum was inundated with a strange gas. It was difficult to tell whether it was green or yellow, but at the moment it really didn't really matter. There is no telling if the Mark would protect the RAFians from whatever effects this gas has.
 
"What is that stuff?" Parker asked, fully decked out in his usual armor.
 
"What makes you think I know?" Cloak countered.
 
"You're usually the man with the answers," Parker pointed out.
 
The gas flowed and filtered into RAF, and it didn't seem to be anything any different than a colored fog.
 
"I can't see anything!" Estelore cried out.
 
"Where is everyone?!" Richard demanded.
 
"Dunno!" Shadow cried out. "Uncle!"
 
"I'm here, Shadow," Cloak said, his voice calmer than he felt. "Rely not on your eyes, but with your Earthsight."
 
"Oh. Right."
 
But soon all this confusion ended, when the gas, evidently having done its work, began to dissipate. The five looked around, thinking this was rather anticlimatic.  Then, in the forum . . . the scariest thing ever. Every other RAFian had turned into a five-year-old -- or their species equivalent of a five-year-old.

Cloak looked on wide-eyed. "And I thought babysitting Shadow was bad."

"HEY!" Shadow protested. Then she thought a moment, and conceded the point, "Okay, you may have a point there."*

"This is a problem," Parker said.

"You think?" Esty countered.

---
*Taken, and paraphrased a little, from our talk last Monday.

[redtailedsaffa]

I don't know about everyone else, but kids scare the crap out of me.

[Cloak]

Well, don't worry, Saffa. In the terms of the story -- you're now a five-year-old.

Now another chapter -- which probably will get the "modified-post syndrome", if you know what I mean.
 

CHAPTER FIVE:
Overstretched

Utter pandemonium.
 
Just utter pandemonium.
 
The RAFians seemed to maintain their previous mindsets while in this deaged form. Then, ten minutes later, they devolved into the childish mentalities to reflect their body. There was so much noise, so much chaos.
 
Cloak raise his right index finger and middle finger, and created scarlet and gold sparks of energy from them. This seemed to draw the attention of the kiddy RAFians. Cloak relaxed a bit, but it was a bit premature. He forgotten that children of that age had a predilection for having short attention spans -- Cloak had only bought a few minutes of peace.
 
"Parker, you take of that helmet," Estelore said, afraid the gas may still linger, "and I will personally kill you."
 
"I'll help," Cloak said, seriously.
 
"Hey, it's not THAT bad." Shadow protested.
 
Then the crying and fussing began. It was like 500-part harmony.
 
"I stand corrected." Shadow admitted.
 

***

It took a while to get all the RAFians settled, many napping. Naturally, Rotiart proved to be the brattiest of the bunch, so he got to spend his day sitting in a corner. Cloak was rather tempted to put a dunce cap on his head, but had to remind himself that he was now a five-year-old boy, and to do that would simply be cruel.
 
The five met up, all exhausted.
 
"Still want to have kids, Cloak?" Estelore asked.
 
"Not that many!" Cloak retorted. "Do I look like a masochist to you? Or Pongo, for that matter?"
 
 "Quiet!" Richard hissed. "You want to wake them up?!"

"The question is," Parker said, "why this happened? Who is behind this?"

"Malice." Shadow said immediately.

"What makes you say that?" Estelore said.

"Well, isn't she always?" Shadow asked.

[Cloak]

Okay, currently planning through Book CCXCV ("Another Body-Swapping Story"), which is much, much darker than the title lets on.
 

• BOOK CCCVIII: "It's a Vladat World, After All!" -- The RAFians must deal with the last Vladat, Lord Devimpayl.

I am pretty confident that that one hadn't been done.
 

CHAPTER SIX:
Curative Case Study

"No, Shadow," Cloak said, heavily, "she's isn't always."
 
"Just usually," Richard added.
 
"But that brings us to the matter at hand," Parker said, arms folded and head bowed slightly in thought. "Is there a way to cure this?"
 
"Add to that, 'Is there a time limit?' and 'Did we already surpass it?'" Cloak added.

"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" Estelore said.

"That's your schtick, remember?" Cloak said, with a small smile, that vanished at once, when he considered the seriousness of the situation.

"But both are valid points," Richard sighed heavily.

A few napping RAFians stirred, and the five were silent, watching them intently.  They relaxed when it turns out they were just turning over and going back to sleep.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Parker said. "One kid, sure. Two, yeah.  Three -- maybe. But they outnumber us a hundred to one. And if you add in the city, that's like ten thousand or so to one."

"We know that it's less than ideal, Parker," Richard said.

"Well, what about this then?" Shadow said, indicating to something rather large and shapeless.

Cloak looked miffed, and spoke derisively. "I thought that thing was destroyed a long time ago."

It was the Prophecy Stone, back from before the Realm-Walker-formerly-known-Abomination first came to RAF.

"Why? I could be useful." Shadow said. She didn't sound hurt -- but then again she was one of the most resilient kids Cloak had ever had the pleasure of knowing.

"Only fools rely too much on prophecies," Cloak said mulishly.

[redtailedsaffa]

Didn't that show up in a later book too, other than the first book? Or I might be confused.

[Cloak]

The very first book, Saffa. Chapter Two. More book ideas!
 

• BOOK CCCIX: "Oh, Zs'Taryr*!" -- The RAFians must deal with a powerhungry Ectonurite who seeks the secret of the Mark.
• BOOK CCCX: "Underseen's 'Brothers'" -- Underseen meets his 'brothers', who are devoid of conscience, mercy and morality.
• BOOK CCCXI: "Dark Hearts" -- A new emissary of evil appeals to the darkness in others' hearts.

*Pronounced as "the terror".
 

CHAPTER SEVEN:
Ingredients Itinerary

"Still, Uncle, it could be useful," Shadow insisted.
 
"Fine," Cloak relented, but remaining distainful of the stone. "Read it. But don't put too much faith in it."
 
"Thank you," Shadow said, but not frostily at all. She read and exclaimed, "The writing changed! There's nothing here that wasn't on here before."
 
"Coincidence," Cloak said dismissively. "It's been a while since we've seen or read the Veiled thing. Change is the only thing that is unchangeable, and unavoidable."
 
"Oh, Cloak," Estelore said, with an amused smile, "give it a chance, will you?"
 
Cloak said nothing, but looked rather severe and cross.
 
"What does it say, Shadow?" Richard asked.
 

"To undo what has been done
With time under the gun,
To turn Hebe into Geras,
To right what went admiss --
A metal with unique properties.
Wood from well-read and known Asgardian lore.
Soil from ground of many sanctuaries.
Waters from Dreams that have come before.
Finally, add in the heart of Kracko."

"The last line didn't rhyme." Cloak said, scathingly, as if the Prophecy Stone could feel ashamed or hurt.

"Oh, Uncle." Shadow said, in a benignly chastising way.

"I think someone's grumpier than the fleet of five-year-olds." Richard smirked.

As if they heard this, many fussing sounds were heard throughout the forum. Richard rolled his eyes, and muttered, "Wonderful."

"Shadow, would you be so kind to collect these ingredients?" Estelore asked.

"Me?!"

"It was your idea, after all, my dear niece." Cloak said, trying to hide a mischievous smile.

[redtailedsaffa]

That wasn't the same thing.

[Cloak]

It's supposed to be. Maybe it was an error on my part.

[redtailedsaffa]

Or - I just thought of it as being an extension to what was already written, as in, Book 1 didn't give the whole prophecy.

*Memoirs geek mode on*

[DinosaurNothlit]

They'd better hurry.  Before there are diapers that need changed.  *shudders*

[Cloak]

Just don't have the time to write up the new chapter and post it today, guys. Sorry.

Or - I just thought of it as being an extension to what was already written, as in, Book 1 didn't give the whole prophecy.

*Memoirs geek mode on*

That's hitting the nail on the head, Saffa. The prophecy on that stone was never complete, but mercurial, and changeable.

They'd better hurry.  Before there are diapers that need changed.  *shudders*

I thought five-year-olds were all potty trained, usually, Dino. They're only two years old if they are younger than five -- and we don't have any RAFians younger than five (relative to human years, anyway).

[redtailedsaffa]

Yeah, five yea olds are generally potty trained unless they have really lazy parents.

[Cloak]

Okay, sorry about that. Internet was down.

New book ideas!

• BOOK CCCXII: "Mascot Madness" -- The RAFians must deal with high school mascots who are not what they appear to be.
• BOOK CCCXIII: "An Oozy Doozy" -- Underseen mets a monstrous man who claims to be his father.
• BOOK CCCXIV: "A Conflict of Interests" -- Thirteen ragtag Yeerks are looking to start up the Yeerk Empire again. Where will the RAFian Yeerk's loyalties lie?
• BOOK CCCXV: "Holiday Hearts and Holiday Spirits" -- Darkshroud seeks to "dethrone" the spirits of holidays and take their powers for herself.
• BOOK CCCXVI: "Emotions of Extremes" -- A mysterious, shadowy villain seeks to eliminate all emotions.

That's all of them for now.  Don't think I actually repeated anything, though I realize I may have come real close. As always, the titles are subjected to change.

Now another chapter, I think.
 

CHAPTER EIGHT:
The Most Sought After Water

"Why did I agree to do this?" Shadow muttered.
 
She was in Florida, or thereabouts, looking for this fabled fountain. She wondered idly why she couldn't simply have just gone to the Kirby universe and took water from there. But why would she have to go to another realm to retrieve an item, an ingredient for a potion to heal what has gone on here?
 
This marshy environment made Earthsight difficult, if not practically impossible. But she could be as obstinate as her uncle -- and that was saying something. She knew that this was approximate location, and she would not leave until the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to the fact that she was wrong.
 
"This is not easy," she said, but taking up the challenge just the same. She looked around with her Earthsight, but it was like trying to see through oatmeal, or something like that. But she "saw" the well-hidden tunnel, even if it was a fleeting "sight".
 
"There," Shadow said. "It's there."
 
She entered the the cave, but the Fountain of Youth wasn't anything like the legends. There weren't no great and ornate structures, no water being piped up into a manmade pool. It was water that bubbled up from the floor in a small pond -- no, puddle is more accurate.
 
The water wasn't as appetizing as it was said in the legends, either. The water was a brackish color, and disgusting to look at. Shadow was so put off that she thought that she had surely made a mistake. . . . But she could sense the power of this water . . . and Shadow realized why it looked this way.

It was a defense mechanism, as silly as it sounds. It was a precaution to be taken against those that would use the waters as a Lazarus, as a way of achieving eternal life -- as well as near-eternal youth. Clearly, the water does not stop time, but reverses it on the drinker, and there is no way to undo that.

Shadow, using her energy and Mastery over Water, filled a flask with the potentially-dangerous liquid. She treated it as a live grenade, though it wouldn't have any affect on her, being a Realm Walker.
 

***

Meanwhile, back at RAF . . .

"No! Don't do that!"

"Get that out of your mouth!"

"Don't put your hoof there!"

"Rotiart, stop it!"

"Hey, hey, HEY! No hitting! Saffa, Faerie, that goes for you too!"

"What did I tell you about doing that, Demos?!"

"Hey! Break it up, you two!"

"Don't put that up your nose!"

"Don't eat that!"

Suddenly, Cloak and the others would rather be fighting Malice again. Or nearly dying again. Or . . . ANYTHING ELSE!!

"That's it! Time out! All of you!" Estelore said, somewhat hysterically. "ALL of you! I mean it!"

[redtailedsaffa]

Underseen mets a monstrous man who claims to be his father.

This is the only thing that I can think of.

"Yes, Underseen. I am your father."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOO"

[Cloak]

Underseen mets a monstrous man who claims to be his father.

This is the only thing that I can think of.

"Yes, Underseen. I am your father."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOO"

There is more to it than that. Although I have yet to plan out the chapters, I'm starting to plan out "RAFian Rangers Neo" chapters, which won't solely be based on Power Rangers Zeo, but with a bit of Mystic Force and whatnot thrown in. "Big, Bad RAFians" will be a fun one, and, at that point, the series could do with a little levity.

The previous books . . . I can't tell if they're just dark or just character-driven. Could be both.

Now a new chapter.

CHAPTER NINE:
The Trip

It was eventually decided to take the young ones to a park, as a diversion. Amusement parks and circuses were out, as the performers were deaged . . . unless they took them on a long car ride. Which was what was eventually decided. Parker and Estelore were to take the young charges out. Neither seemed particularly enthused about this arrangement.
Esty sang:

"Wake up! It's late!
It's twenty minutes after eight!
Everyone get up; it's time to go!
Up and at 'em now!
Come on; shake a leg!
Have some juice and scrambled egg.
On the floor and out the door,
Let's get on our way."

Rotiart whined:

"Hey, watch out!"

Saffa asked:

"What's the matter?"

Rotiart sniveled:

"You almost knocked me off the ladder!"

Saffa retorted.

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did; I almost fell!"

"Don't exaggerate."

"I'm not!"

"Yeah, right."

Rotiart reacted hostilely:

"Are you trying to pick a fight?!"

Saffa matched his anger within seconds.

"Will you get out of my face?!"

"Well, you're always in my space!"

Parker intervened:

"Hey! Get off each other's case!
Because we're trying to get along."

Underseen sang, sleepily:

"I want pancakes,
Or a waffle.
This tastes awful.
Is that all we've got?
Can't find my clothes,
And I need to blow my nose.
And my form is full holes,
And my shoe has a knot."

Az sang:

"You're standing in my way."

Faerie sang:

"Yeah, that's tough."

Esty sang:

"Alright, now that's enough!
Everybody get your stuff,
Because we're going out the door.
Every time we get to the vehicle,
It's so much work!
It takes us twenty minutes,
While you're driving us berserk!
With your playing and your jumping
And your running all about.
When we finally get you inside,
You always lock us out!"

Esty and Parker eventually get inside and they drive off. But Rotiart was fussy:

"I'm mad, I'm mad,
I'm really, really, really mad.
You poked me with your elbow in my side!"

Saffa, naturally, protested:

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"You did! You did!
And I'm just a little kid!
You're lying; don't deny it!"

"Oh, I'm gonna hit you!"

Rotiart scoffed:

"Yeah, just try it!"

Parker sighed:

"Will both of you be quiet?
'Cause we're driving in a car!"

But the thing with kids is that it is rarely so easy to get them to stop like that.

"Ow, he hit me!"

"Ow, she bit me!
She said he's gonna "get me"!"

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

Esty sang, now fed up:

"Alright that's it; now I forbid
Either one of you to say another word!"

Underseen sang, still somewhat sleepily:

"Are we there yet?
I'm tired.
I'm hungry.
How far?
My nose is snotty.
Need to move my body.
Gotta use the potty!
Better stop the car."

Rotiart and Saffa were getting into it again.

"Stop it!"

"No, you stop it."

Parker sighed wearily:

"Why can't you both just drop it?"

Rotiart pointed an accusing finger:

"Well, she started it!"

"Oh, yeah, I'm really sure, uh-huh."

"Na-ah!"

"Uh-uh!"

"It's your fault!"

"No, it's not.
Your leg's in my spot!"

Esty, always the displinarian, sang:

"Rotiart, you be quiet,
And that goes for you too, Saffa!
Whenever we take a trip,
It's always just the same.
With the fighting and the biting,
And the calling all those names!
Then there's pushing and there's shoving,
And there's scratching on the neck.
When we finally get to where we're going,
Everyone's a wreck!"

All the RAFian kiddies sang:

"Yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak!"

Esty said, motherly:

"We're here, we're here.
Doesn't anybody want to give a cheer?"

"You mean this is where we're all gonna spend the day?"

"At the circus?!"

"Hey, guys, look! They got rides!"

Parker sang:

"Now you're satisfied?
Alright, everyone inside.
And let's have some fun, okay?"

"Yay!!!"