James Crow

Then James walked into the room wearing....a waiters outfit! “Sorry about the commotion,” he said with a sly grin. At that moment James was tackled by a shadowy blur. “James!” said Scheherazade as she embraced James in a hug. “I missed you. Cool watch,” she said noticing the watch on his wrist. “Why is it counting backwards?” “When it hits midnight I turn back into a pumpkin,” he replied. “ohhhh,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. Then she perked up and said, “When that happened I'm going to carve you into a james-o-lantern!” “Why did I have the Shadow save you again,” he said letting out a sigh. Cause you lovvve me,” she teased, then added, “and I've got powers now!” James glared at the Shadow. Then Scheherazade whispered something into James' ear and his eyes grew wide. Then he looked at Scheherazade and shook his head. She just grinned and nodded vigorously saying, “Yep! ” She was so proud of herself. James sat her down and walked over to the Shadow and Brighid. He looked the Shadow right in the eyes, Brighid could see a flash of.....she wasn't quite sure what it was, in James' eyes. Then James sighed and said, “The owner of the cloak will come back soon. And then you will be...” “I know,” said the Shadow, looking down. Brighid could hear the sadness in his voice. “But what am I suppose to do?” James looked at his watch as a let out a sound, the sound was a that of large, leaden, mournful bells. “Not much time left,” he said, “Come with me Shadow.” The Shadow looked at him with surprise. “I can make you whole again.” The Shadow looked at him slyly, he had been bitten once by this snake abd intened not to be bit again. James only shook his head and sighed, “No trick you filthy ghost, and no time.” The Shadow looked at Brighid, she could feel his grin, and the hope in his eyes. Then he turned and went with James. James, Scheherazade, and the Shadow headed for the door. Brighid stood there, watching them leave, a chill ran up her spine. Something was wrong. James stopped and turned, saying, “There is one catch.” The Shadow face palmed. “Brighid needs to come with us.” She looked at James and saw a wicked grin on his face, he was planning something. “So, what do you say, Brighid, will you join us on the adventure?”

“BRIGHID!” came a familiar voice as a shadowy blur zoomed across the dance hall and gave her a hug, nearly knocking her off her seat. Brighid look at the smiling face of Scheherazade. “I have powers now!” “Scheherazade, what's going on, why are you in that cloak?” Brighid asked, hoping to get a straight answer for once. Scheherazade let go, took a step back, took a deep breath and said, “James is dead...ish. He explained it to me once that when he dies he can come back, for a price. He never went further about it. But I am wearing his duster under this cloak, and he loves this duster, so he will come back for it. Now let me ask you a question. What if the shadow creatures were not after you, but what you protected? Maybe it was....” “Stop it!” barked a voice from inside the cloak. It was the voice of the Shadow. “Whyyyyyy,” Scheherazade whined, “You got to sleep with Br......oops, did I let that slip?” Brighid eyes grew wide in surprise. Scheherazade put her hands up to cover her mouth, but the ecsaping grin showed that she did it on purpose. Then she rushed over to give Brighid and gave her another hug...but this time the cloak just stayed there. Scheherazade smiled and whispered, “I think he likes you.” Scheherazade once again let go of Brighid, who was stunned. With a grin Scheherazade started to go around the room in a shadowy blur, trying to help Muse infect everyone with the few remaining jitterbugs. Brighid and the Shadow just stood there, looking into each others eyes, maybe hoping for a simple answer.

In a small corner of the Mighty Pen a portal opened up, bathing the surronding area in a crimson light. And from this portal a figure was thrown out. The portal started to close as the figure stood up and shouted, "How dare you kick me out of the underworld, you filthy half goat!" At those final words the portal vanished into nothing once more. "The least you could have done was given me some clothes." He was naked except for a watch on his left wrist that was ticking backwards. He let out a sigh and finished the conversation with himself saying, "I don't have much time. I need to find my corpse before it starts killing off those close to me." His eyes traveled to a time long ago, and he was off. Praying that no one would see him in his 'condition'.

The storm picked back up, as a strange four legged figure, no bigger than Scheherazade, waddled up to a corspe. It recognised the lifless figure of James, holding a revolver and smiling. The figure let out a greeting, "squeek!" But got no response. That must mean only one thing....James is actually so sad that he is delusional and smiling. He needs cheering up! So the figure went in search of the Butterfly of Happiness!

For a breif second the lights flicked and then a spotlight came on. In the center of the spotlight was a shadow, a shadow of a bat! Then a deep voice said, "I am the terror that flaps in the night. I am...Scheherazade!" At that last word the voice changed to that of the young girl and the lights came back on. Scheherazade was wearing the cloak of the Cloaked Figure, but the hood was down. She skipped over to Zool's table with a grin, "Glad to see that you are getting into the spirit of things." Zool shot her a cross look, he wasn't to fond of jitterbugs. Scheherazade looked around and asked, "Have you seen Brighid? I have some juicy secrets to tell her." "YOU WILL NOT!" boomed the voice of the Cloaked Figure...coming from inside of the cloak? Seeing the look of puzzlement on some faces Scheherazade smiled and said, "He isn't done fixing me yet!" Then leaning in close to Zool whispered, "and he is scared of his mistress." "LADY Fate is not a mistress and I was tricked by that pain James!" growled the voice. "She gets off on suffering I think that puts her out of the Lady class. Anyway James said we are all Fools, and fools are not governed by fate. So you did nothing wrong." The Shadow in the cloak growled in disagrement. "So," Scheherazade pouted, "since I don't see Brighid anywhere and you are dancing the...." she gave Zool a puzzled look, "...not familiar with that dance. I am going to cause havok caus I now have..." she sweeped the cape over the lower part of her face and finished in a deep voice, "powers!" Then with her best evil laugh streacked across the room in a shadow blur.

In the sewer the Butcher found the valve he had been looking for. With a grin he slowly turned it, and out poured a bright, pink ooze. Then a giant head appeared. The Butcher took a knee and in his voice oozed the words, “Command me, my Lord!”

James finally collapsed, his sight was almost completely gone, all things were now blurs. The sores had spread to all corners of his body...and I mean all. His voice was just that of a whisper, from the virus or scream for days, he didn't know. Scheherazade lay in his lap, lifeless...no she was still breathing! James didn't want to question his luck, for bad things come to those that do. The the Cloaked figure appeared. “not fair,” whispered James. “I bring good news James, I can save you,” said the all to familiar voice. “save her,” he said, pointing to Scheherazade. “I can only save one, and Fate has chosen her to die. I can't alter the choice of Lady Fate.” It almost seemed if the Cloaked figure regretted those last lines. James look at the young girl in his hands and said, “give me the revolver.” He couldn't see the Figure well but from the hesitation knew it was confused. “you still have it, right....you know I can't see you.” “Yes I have it. Why do you need it now? I can save you!” boomed the cloaked figure. Without taking his eyes off of Scheherazade, James replied, “i can't let her suffer. So please.” The Figure understood and handed James the revolver. “i'm so sorry Scheherazade.” Then in the middle of the storm, a loud, sharp crack of unusual thunder, echoed through the Keep of the Mighty Pen. And for a moment, the storm stopped...as if it wanted all the Pen to hear the sound.....

The fake James looked at Zool for a long while. 'The fool is outside of Fate?' he puzzled. “That's it!” he shouted and gave Brighid a kiss on the lips. He then turned and bowed to Zool saying, “Thanks to you, I can save the Fool.” In an instant he became the cloaked figure, then nothing but thin air...he was gone. Brighid looked where the Cloaked Figure had been, she was almost sure now. Zool just smiled and shook his head, “Fate is cruel though, and may not let him go.” Brighid looked at Zool, puzzled, then with horror. Somehow a jitterbug had found its way into the picture with Zool!

James carries Scheherazade around the Pen, desperately searching for help. His condition worsening. While a new group of shadowy figures stalk the Pen in search of prey. One is slowly sneaking up on the Professor as we speak. And in the sewers stalks the Butcher, seeking to free the Banned so they can help destroy the Pen. And from inside the Tavern of the Quill a mighty roar leaps out of Scheherazade's room.......*squeeeeeeeeeeek*

The fake James smiled and escorted Brighid back to her table. Along the way she tried to pry out answers, but James merely grinned and said, "In due time, my lady." Finally they made it back to the table, Zool looked at them and smiled, "Glad to see you making friends so quickly my dear." She turned to the thing that wore a James face and wondered, "Is he a friend?” James smiled at her and replied, “Such a lovely creature, how could she not make friends. Unless, it is just a cruel hand dealt by Fate.” She let out a small gasp and looked at pseudo-James, his smile showed it was merely a joke. Yet his eyes....his eyes reminded her of her past, reminded her of...his eyes. She could feel a tear run down her face as she turned away from him. “What, only one....?” She glared at him, while he still smiled at her. Then turned to Zool, “...card?” That smile just refused to die! “What is your take on Fate and the hands she deals?” James asked to Zool, or anyone that could still move after the jitterbugs. *shudder* “Like that card in your hand,” Zool looked at the card of the fool he was given, “The dealer puts the worth on that card when it is dealt, so what is its worth to Fate?”

'Good a distraction,' thought James and in a split second he was up and bolted for the door. But Brighid stood in his path, tapping her foot. “What a pleasant surprise,” said James with a slight bow. “What are you and what is going on?” she demanded. James could tell she was serious by the look in her eye and gave out a heavy sigh and revealed his form as the Cloaked Figure. “I am a shadow, a herald of darkness. I can be whoever I want. I put fear in the hearts of people and prevent them from doing anything. And I came here to destroy the Mighty Pen, and the Pen will fall. The army of darkness waits outside. Scheherazade and James will open the gate for them. It is their fate. Like Zool's was to be trapped in a painting. And much like yours is to be alone.” Brighid slapped the thing across the face, and it looked down. “It is their fate and we can do nothing tho stop them nor can we help them.” Brighid could hear the sadness and anger in the things voice. But in a blink it was gone and he turned his face back up to look at hers, a smile playing across his face. “So what are you going to do? Are you gonna waste your time out there,” he reached out a hand changing back into James, “or take my hand and come back to the table and act like nothing happened?”

James and Scheherazade walked and walked, taking this turn and that. Finally, Scheherazade just fell to her knees, sobbing, “w...w...we're n..never g..going to g...g...get out of h...h...here.” James stopped and gave out a long sigh. He spun on his heel walk over to Scheherazade, got down on a knee, put his hands on her shoulders and calmly said, “Look at me.” She slowly looked at him, tears pouring down like waterfalls from her emerald eyes. “We are heroes, you and I. And heroes don't die.” She wiped her tears, gave a weak smile and repeated, “heroes don't die.” James grinned then saw movement outside the circle of light they where in. It looked to be a large cat like creature, sporting wings. It just circled they, just out side the light. James kept an eye on it then heard a female voice say, “What is standing in the light, and taste good with ketchup?” “I am allergic to ketchup,” replied James. “WRONG,” roared the voice, as a blur streaked out of the shadows. “I am allergic to ketc......what?” It slid to a stop, a clawed paw inches from James' face. “How did yo.......” “What is it,” interrupted Scheherazade. James gave thing a quick look. Body of a cheetah, wings of a vulture, face of a beautiful woman with long blonde hair. “I believe,” he responded, “that it is a sub specie of sphinx. Plains region, I would guess.” “Neat,” replied Scheherazade, “Can I keep it?” “How did you...” tried the sphinx “No,” replied James. “But.....” Scheherazade pleaded, but James just shook his head. “HOW DID YOU KNOW?!?” barked the sphinx. James rose to his feet and replied, “It was an easy riddle. One could say childish almost.” Then he started to laugh thinking to himself, 'Like hell I'm gonna tell you it was just the truth.' “Now what am I suppose to do?” puzzled the sphinx. James and Scheherazade gave each other a sly look and wicked grins, and in unison said, “Show us the way out!” ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ After awhile they made it to a door the sphinx opened and ran through it. They were greeted by fresh air, and the storm. James looked and realized they where outside the Mighty Pen, but that was okay, he could just open the gate. Then he heard Scheherazade scream. He spun around seeing figures obscured by the storm grabbing her. As he tried to go save her something hit him on the back of the head and he was out. When he woke he was being held by some of the unknown, villainous, assailants. And in front of him he could see more of them inside the storm. “JAMES!” cried Scheherazade. He turned and saw that she was being held not but a few feet from him. “It's gonna be okay Scheher.....” started James, then he was punched in the gut. “Yes,” oozed a voice, “Lie to her. It makes it all the sweeter.” James looked at the speaker and said, “It is not a li,......” He was cut off as the Figure that spoke drew a sword and gabbed it into James leg. “Now open the door,” oozed the voice. “N....” the figure twisted the blade. “What was that?” oozed the voice. “JAMES!” cried Scheherazade. “NO!” James barked and looked the figure in the eyes. The figure sighed, pulled out his sword, looked at one of figures holding James and nodded. James felt a sting in his neck then let out a howl of pain as his blood felt like they were on fire. “They call me the Butcher,” oozed the figure with the sword, “And you has just been injected with an alchemical poison, a virus.” He grabbed James by the throat and looked him right in his eyes. “First it will take your sight, then your voice. You will become just like one of the Banned. But,” he grinned, “with some added features. First you will develop painful, festering, sores. And the virus will spread to any that touch them. AND,” he drew James close to him, “There is no cure.” He let go of James and started to laugh. “There might be some doctors in the Pen that can save you,” the Butcher shrugged. “All you got to do is open the door.” James tried to stand up, but felt the hands of his oppressors restrain him. “If I have to die to save the Mighty Pen, then so be it.” The butcher sighed and shook his head, “I thought you would say that.” He drew closer to James and got his sword ready to stab. James closed his eyes, then heard the scream. The scream came from Scheherazade!!! James opened his eyes and saw the sword of the Butcher impaling Scheherazade through the belly. “Now tell me what I want to hear!” oozed the Butcher. “Please sto...”started James. The Butcher twisted the blade making Scheherazade scream again. “I couldn't hear you!” “STO....” Again the Butcher twisted the sword. “Still can't hear you!” James tried to look away, but the figures holding him twisted his head and held open his eyes. “watch...watch...watch...” they repeated over and over. He watch her twist in pain as the Butcher repeated his question over and over. After what seemed like eternity, the the sun came out and the Butcher and his army vanished. Scheherazade collapsed onto the ground. James hobbled over to her, and almost threw-up at the sight of the wound. She had a hole through her belly, and had gone pale. He started to cry then heard her weakly say, “h..e..r..o” He looked at her once more. He could see her fighting to stay awake, tears staining her cheeks. He nodded, “that's right, heroes don't die. So hold on a bit longer.” He went to pick her up then saw his sores and stopped. He couldn't touch her, the virus would spread. So thinking quickly he removed his duster and wrapped her in it. He stood up, then fell right back down. He was weak from blood loss also. But he took a deep breath and stood up once more. This time he was able to hobble towards the gate. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ The gate was a large blur to James, noting that he was losing his vision. He pushed it open and went as fast as he could to find a doctor for Scheherazade. Behind him a figure appeared. “All according to plan,” oozed the voice that was lost in laughter that shook the Keep of the Mighty Pen like thunder.

James sighed as he escaped Brighid question for him. But this jitterbug poison was really annoying, but as he tried to resist it he noticed his form flicker, and shimmer, like that of a mirage. With a slight hiss of hatred he let the poison take its full effect, as long as he didn't stand out he would do fine and no one would notice. Then James realized what dance he was performing, and at the gasping breath of some of the others, he knew that they knew it too. He was doing that dance. A dance of such fierceness that it was forbidden on countless worlds, the destroyer of many others, and the mating dance of one. The dance known only as....as....DISCO!!!

Out of the shadow, stepped a figure. He made his way to Zool's table, dodging the rubber eggs . Most of the table guest saw a cloaked figure approach from the corner of their eyes. But as they turned to confront it, then found themselves looking at James Crow. “sorry about my disruption earlier,” he said with a bow, “What I said was in jest, but it was rude of me.” He looked up to Zool, “Can you find it in you to forgive me, and may I join you? I...don't want to be alone right now.” The way he said it made a chill run down Brighid's spine. Zool nodded, and James took a seat. “Where is your friend, the little girl?” asked Yasmina politely. “Heading off to meet her death and that of the Mighty Pen's,” James said with no remorse. Yasmina quickly covered her moth in shock. James looked at her from the corner of his eyes and responded, “Don't worry, her partner in crime is with her,” he picked up a glass and examined it, “So atleast she won't die alone.” He sat down the glass, stood up and said, “But that is enough sad talk, I came here because I heard there was a party! Sooooo....” he eyed the girls at the table, “the ladies look worn out so if I may,” he extended his hand towards Zool with a sly grin, “May I have this dance?”

It took James and Scheherazade the better part of a day trying to find a secret entrance into the tower, and failing. “I give up,” sigh Scheherazade, “guess my toilet will never be fixed.” She then plopped herself down onto a nearby rock, and it did the most unrockly thing. It sank straight into the ground leaving Scheherazade with a shock expression and a secret door opening. James and Scheherazade gazed blankly at the sudden opening. Then grinning at each other, they made a bee line towards the door. “STOP!” bellowed a familiar voice from the shadows. They did and greeted the Cloaked Figure as he stepped out of the opening with glares and curses. “Fools,” it started, “This is a trap. If you go in there, then the Mighty Pen will be destroyed!” “And why should we trust you,” retorted Scheherazade, “You have made it clear that you aren't are friend and I want my toilet BACK! Come on James.” With that she walked past the Shadow and James followed. And as the door shut behind them he hear the figure say, “By your hands.” And with that the light from outside all but vanished. The only light now came from the torch on the wall. He took it and continued down the spiral stairs with Scheherazade, thinking 'something smelled, and it wasn't that of a sewer.' Outside the Cloaked figure let out a huge sigh and said to itself, “I am not going to spend my last hours alone, I'm going to a party.” And with that, it was gone. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ “WHOA!!” gasped Scheherazade as they got to the bottom floor, and saw the basement of the Tower. It looked like a normal sewer, a stone walkway on either side of a brown 'mystery' liquid. But it was HUGE! It stretched on for miles and miles. They made a turn here, a turn there, and on, and on, till they were at a dead end, and hopelessly lost. The water, and that term is being used very loosely, flowed under a grate that made up the entire floor of this room. “Well, I think were lost,” said James. “Thank you Mr. Points-out-the-obvi.......what's that,” she ended, pointing at a shadowy figure moving just out of the torchlight. Then a light bulb came on and her face contorted into anger as she marched towards the shadowy figure. “I'm going to give that cloaked pile of toilet flush a piece of my mind!” she roared. James followed her trying to calm her down, but he gave up hope and followed. But as he drew closer he realize it wasn't their adversary, but something else, but what! Scheherazade got right next to it when James finally got a good view of the thing. It had long, unkept white hair on a skin and bone frame. Its' finger and toe nails were long, jagged, and yellow. On its' wrist were blood stained, rusty shackles. As it moved its' head, James saw it s face and froze in terror. Its' eyes and mouth were sown shut! Reilization hit him like a ton of bricks, it was a Banned, a tratior of the Mighty Pen. Forbidden to ever say another idea or see anothers. That ment this was no sewer and in fact was the Dungeon! With a gasp of horror he threw the torch behind him and ran to Scheherazade. He got to he just as the thing lunged at her. She jumped back and screamed. James grabbed her as the chains on the creatures wrist reach their limit. He quickly carried her to the center of the room, where the torch landed and held her close, “i..i..i...i want to g...g..g.go home,” she cried. “I promise, I'll get you out of here Scheherazade,” James said, comforting her. But over her sobs he heard more chains rattle, and the words of the Cloaked Figure echo in his head. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ Outside the gate of the Mighty Pen, a figure watched the scene that just played out, on a crystal ball. “There is always a backdoor,” oozed a sinister voice. Then laughter, laughter that drowned out the thunder of the storm.

Out in the woods, feeling so alone.Never had a girl, to call my own.Lost out in the trees,no one will come searching for me.But it is better this way,to just end it all today.Yet as I close my eyes,I'm awoken by a surprise.You where next to me,saying you will always be.

After a while of searching for Scheherazade, James was on the wall looking into the storm. “JAMES!” Shouted a voice James remembered so well. He turned just as Scheherazade gave him the hug of a lifetime. “I thought I would never find you,” she said, trying to hold back tears. “I know and I'm so sorry. It will never happen again,” James replied as he hugged her back. Just then the storm hit and a loud clap of thunder shook the Mighty Pen. And from out side the gate a sickening voice could be heard. “trick or treat,” It oozed. “Sorry your late, try again next year,” Shouted James as Scheherazade stuck out her tongue. They both grinned at each other, then a message appeared next to them. It read: Dear Mr. Crow, It has come to my attention that the plumbing needs to be fixed and I am enlisting you for the job. The plumbing is found just below the Tower, you won't miss it. Payment will await you on return, and as a bonus, a gift. A Portable Window, just throw on any surface and a window will appear, but a warning, if it is broken it will no longer operate and vanish for all time. Thank you, I know you will do your best. Sincerely yours, Wyvern, the Dragon “Well this is odd,” said James, “But it looks as if the gate has a spell on it that prevents unwanted pest to enter. So what do we have to lose?” Scheherazade nodded, and they where off. No longer feeling that the Mighty Pen was in any danger. But as they left, the storm roared, with what sounded like laughter. And a voice once again oozed over the air, “All according to plan,” then more sickening laughter. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ As James and Scheherazade headed to the Tower, they saw a stairwell they had never seen before. So they decided to go up it. (ooc: there adventure inside the Boaz Room here:http://patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?/topic/17240-the-boaz-room/#entry133441) They jumped out of the window and landed into a pile of oak leave, and as they layed there on their backs they saw a lone oak leaf go through the broken window, before the broken window vanished and was replaced by a stone wall. “Well that was a waste of the portable window,” sighed Scheherazade. “Not at all,” replied James, “How many people can say the jumped out of a window, in a windowless room? So shall we continue.” James stood up and looked down at Scheherazade, who smile, nodded, and reached out her hand. As James took it he looked once more at the perfect face of the wall and thought, 'It worked. His stuff never works. Somethings not right here.'

As James and Scheherazade went up the staircase they had found, they entered a big room. “What is this place,” wondered Scheherazade. “This is the Boaz Room. A place of the finest foods, richest drinks, and most pleasant company,” replied a very slim elven maiden, in a silken, form fitting, black gown. “STOP!!!” roared a voice from the other room. The elven maiden looked into the room, a lot of anger and fear in her eyes. She quickly turned back around, sighed deeply, and asked in a hopeless voice, “Can I help you?” James looked at her, gave a big grin, pointed into the other room, and said, “We're with them.” Scheherazade laughed as the maiden throw the guest book high in the air cursing in her native tongue, and waved them to go ahead. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ As they entered the most lavish dinning hall they had ever seen, they marveled at the scenery. Paintings and sculptures of every era, plants of long dead or forgotten species, peacocks and other marvelous animals roaming through the guest and staff, acrobats, dancers, musicians, three large squirrels, a belly dancer, an elven girl, a girl with beautiful golden-red hair, a man in a turban, a painting that moved, and.....HIM! There in the corner of the room was the Cloaked Figure. “YOU!” shouted James, pointing at the corner. Everyone turned to face the newcomers. Scheherazade waved shyly. James pointed to the moving portrait and said, “Sir, I know you are innocent, and I will prove to everyone that you have been FRAMED!” Scheherazade slapped him and he shrugged and simply said as he made his way to the group, “It had to be said, sorry. My card.” He then handed Zool, who had worked himself back into his chair, a card. As it touch the painting it somehow appeared in Zool's hand. “It doesn’t say anything,” Zool said, “It is merely the fool from a deck of cards.” James nodded and said, “But a picture is worth a thousand words, I figured you out of anyone would know that.” James thought he heard some of the ladys giggle, could have been his imagination, or something in the Swami's turban. Zool puffed up a bit. “And at some point in life, aren't we all fools.” James smiled at the portrait. “I am sorry that I can not stay longer, I would love to get to know you all better,” he slowly drew his eyes across the room, stopping once, and only for a moment. He then continued, “I am off to fix a toilet.” James pulled out the portable window,throw it against the nearest wall, smiled at Scheherazade, and together they jumped out of it. As the window broke a gust of cold storm air rushed in. Then as a lone leaf entered through the gaping hole, just as the broken window vanished. Replaced by the wall, in perfect condition. The entire place was speechless. It might have been from the sight of the Mighty Pen outside in such disarray, or the sight of a lone leaf dancing in the center of the room, or the fact that two people jumped out of a window in a windowless room. Or it could be that the Cloaked Figure in the corner was gone!

In the four months that have passed, the fires that raged throughout the Mighty Pen have died out. Partly due to the efforts of the pennites, and partly due to the fact that no one fixed Scheherazade's broken toilet. Scheherazade woke outside in a pile of leaves near the large oak tree in the courtyard. She had dozed off after helping raking them. “So,” started the short gnomish girl Minta “what gonna be for Halloween?” Scheherazade just shrugged as she stood and stretched. “I bet we could ,ahem, borrow some of the make-up from the girls at the Scarlett Pen. Scheherazade blushed a bit but nodded. “Okay I'll go get them.” As Minta ran off, with a sly glee in her step, Scheherazade thought about it and realized she hadn’t seen James in a while. 'He must still be in his room asleep,' she thought, 'I should go wake him.' And with an evil grin she was off. As she went to the Tavern of the Quill she noticed everyone preparing for Halloween. Pumpkins littered the steps of many of the buildings, cobwebs hung from doorways, even the sheets hanging out to dry looked like ghost, and everywhere leaves of many colors fell. Making Scheherazade feel as if she where in a rainbow of autumn colors. And as she spun with glee in this rainbow she noticed Tzimfemme and Wyvern. “This is outrageous!” roared the almost dragon Wyvern, “Did you see how much this water bill is!” “Well you did let the water run for four months and exactly twenty two days.....” responded the naked mage Tzimfemme. “I knew you would agree with me,” said Wyvern, “and I am honored that you are so nice as to pay the bill.” “......and six thousand milliseconds and......WHAT!” “You said you would pay the bill and I side that was so kind.” “I NEVER SAID SUCH A THING YOU STUPID WANNA-BE DRAGON!” Scheherazade stopped paying attention to their banterings and wondered what Tzimfemme would wear for Halloween. Maybe should would go as the empress in her new clothing. Scheherazade giggled and continued on her way. The Tavern was lively tonight. Newcomers told there tales as the others listened. Snypiuer was at the bar with his two friends Pith and Silvia, who had just came back from a mission across the sea to form an alliance. Mr. Moog played the old piano in the corner. Scheherazade went up to him with a smile and said, “Play it again Moog.” “I don't know what your talking about,” responded Mr. Moog. “You know the one.” He let out a sigh, cracked his finger and started to tickle the ivories and sing, “I've got a lovely bunch of pumpkins, here they are sitting in a row....” “Not that song silly,” she said laughing. Mr. Moog just smiled as Snypiuer replied,” He is upstairs waiting for you.” “Thank you!” And with that she ran up the stairs, not noticing that everyone in the tavern was watching her. She got to James' door and opened it. “JAMES!” She cried out when she saw him. He was sitting on the foot of his bed looking down at the floor. “james?” she called out once more, noticing something was wrong. Slowly James rose from his bed, still looking down. Then she noticed an inhumanly evil grin spread across his face, as a black, shadowy cloak formed around him. “Your nOT JAMES!!” she yelled. Then shadows reached out the cloak for her. She ran to her room and made it to her bed as the shadows caught up with her. They started to choke her, gasping for breath she started to loose concusses. Then she woke up........ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ It was the smoke that was in her room choking her. It had all been a dream. The Mighty Pen was still ablaze, and her toilet wasn't fixed. She started to cry, then like magic, the fires started to vanish. 'Maybe', she thought,' It wasn't a dream but a vision.' “It was a dream little girl,” came an unknown voice. Scheherazade looked for the source and saw the Cloaked Figure. “The fires are running away, they sense the evil that is coming.” “James will stop it!” she shouted at the figure. It just started to laugh. That fool,” it chuckled,” He is probably drowning in self pity and doubt. He is probably right know planning how to kill himself best.” Then continued to laugh. “shut up,” she said as the figure laughed, “Shut up, just SHUT THE HELL UP!!!” The figure grew silent. “I'm going to find him and we will stop this threat like we did last time!” With that she stood and ran to the door. As she reach the door the figure said,” And what if you can't find him?” She stopped and without turning responded, “Then I will do it myself.” With that she left. The figure stood alone in the room and said,” It will take more than just two of you to stop this new herald.” And with that he vanished, and the room was empty except for the few flames and cause of a raising water bill. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ On the other side of the Mighty Pen, along it's mighty walls, stood James. He stood in front of the Piazza of Portraits, looking at the unblinking eyes of his peers, holding a revolver in his hand. Slowly he rose the gun to the side of his head, closed his eyes then...came a voice. “”Going to do it this time,” it said. James let out his breath and lowered his gun spinning on his heel to face the voice. “What the hell do you kno....” He stopped when he saw that there was no one there, only a mirror. “I think I know it all,” said his reflection, “I know.” James took a step back in horror. “You lost your job, your dog is dieing, your friends won't leave you alone, you are a romantic with no one to love, and no matter how much you want to scream you can't. And when you do, no one hears. Is that it.” James turned his back the reflection. “You know what I think, that you don't want to do it. You will come up with an excuse, cause you are the damn Lord of Excuses. Well shut up, stop it, and look up.” James just stood there, duster blowing in the wind. “I SAID LOOK UP!” James obeyed, opening his lifeless eyes, and saw the faces of so many pennites, both old and new. Staring at him, judging him. He quickly looked back down. “James, james, james. They are not judging you, you have the same gift they do.” He looked back up and saw them, but this time saw the looking at him, kindly waiting for another tale. “Most people take drugs to see what you can, people dream they can create what you can, just by closing your eyes you can create worlds and living beings. You are, like all of them, a Pennite. So go and live a tale worth repeating, and put down that gun.” James let go of the gun and it hit the cobblestone street. “Good, now a new Herald of the Darkness is coming and Scheherazade is going to face it, on her own if she must.” “She won't,” spoke James for the first time during this encounter. James ran off without looking back. A storm once again raging in his eyes. So he never saw his reflection just standing in the mirror, smiling. Then a cloak appear around it as it stepped from the mirror. “All is going as planned,” it spoke. As it approached the gun it looked at it. “Such a babaric tool” With that the figure and the revolver, vanished. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ Outside the Mighty Pen, a mighty storm raged. And in a mighty bolt of lightning a large shadowy force stood ready for the war that was coming, at this forces head stood it's leader, the new Herald of the Darkness. Then as sudden as the apparitions appeared they where gone, engulfed into the storm once more. And then came the loud boom of thunder, as if a million creatures where laughing.

I like all the new skins but I love, and I mean LOVE the DeathlyHallows! I mean it looks like the Mighty Pen is on fire. I can't stop laughing. hahahahahah Sorry got to write now! Good job, I like, it has inspired me. bwhahahahahahahaha!

Amist the quite holds of the Mighty Pen a mirror refelected another world. And from that world came four figures. An odd unwyvern, a bird man, a little girl, and finaly a man with a storm behind his eyes. The little girl pulled on the mans sleeve and asked, "What happened?""Simple Schecerazde," he replied, "we are home.""I know that James!" she said, matter of factly. "But why can't I remember anything from the other world?" "Must be one of those worlds that you can only take one thing out." He looked at her puzzled face and smiled. "You took me, and..." He took a close look at the two beast, "birdy and....Wyvern? Kept their changes.""Then what did you take?" He went to answear, but found himself lacking one. He could not remember. Puzzling, what could be more important than the reason he went in there? After awhile it seemed he had the answear on his tounge when..."CHIRP!" James glared at the foul feathered, brianed bird man that cost him his thought. And he would have yelled at him if not for seeing the reason. The Mighty Pen was ablaze! After a few minutes James realized that the fire wasn't moving. Finding himself puzzeled, for yet another time this night, he went over and touched it. It felt warm but not hot and something else. "What's going on with the fire James!" Yelled Schecerazde."It's sleeping?!?"All of a sudden a new, but all too reconniseable voice boomed once more, "WELCOME BACK. WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS THE DESTUCTION OF THE MIGHTY PEN." James turned and saw the cloaked man. Schecerazde ran to James' side."When we left it was a...""STORM? YES, FUNNY THING ABOUT THE STUFF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND. YOU MAKE IT UP. PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING. NOW WIPE THAT LIPSTICK FROM YOUR FACE."James quickly looked at his reflection in the mirror. Indeed there was bright red lipstick marks on it. For a second he remembered why. But it was gone in a flash as Schecerazde giggled. With what was left of his self esteem he looked at the little girl. A sly smile played across their lips. They both turned to the cloaked figure. "One more story," James said as the little girl nodded.The cloaked figure glared at James. Finally he sighed, "ONE LAST STORY!" Schecerazde knew the drill. And it felt good to once again be in her bed. All of a sudden the large almost_almost dragon came in. She finally got a good look at it. The beast had only one wing and a machine washing label hanging off of him. It was the stuffed Wyvern that Wyvern gave her. It had come to life. She smiled as he crawled into bed beside her. "Wonder what that old almost dragon will say when he sees you, Nrevyw?" There she waited, once again. Just as James and her did last time, half a story each night. She couldn't help herself and let out another giggle. Slowly the door opened, but it wasn't who she expected!!

As Wyvern travles down the empty halls he is startled by an unexpected figure. In front of him is a young girl, the one he just left sleeping in her room. Wyvern is just startled for a moment, then he starts back on his quest to find Geldrinhor's quarters. But Schecerazde bloocks his progress. "i need the bird," she whispers. The almost dragon looks at her, then laughs. "I said give....me.....thE......BIRD!!" Wyvern stops lauging and looks at the young girl. She has been crying, alot, and she was not joking around. "Why?" Boomed the great Wyvern. "He knows how to find James?" A tear fell from her eye. The almost dragon remembered James being dragged away by the Jailers of the Aether. The almost dragon let out a loud sigh, and let the stupid bird go. "Thank you Mr. Wyvern!" Schecerazde ran up and gave him a kiss on the cheek as she ran down the hall, followed by the stupid bid. Better without it, thought Wyvern as he countinued down the halls. Schecerazde and the pigeon zoomed into James' room. "Let's see," she said as shee garbed a bag from a shelf labled, DO NOT TOUCH. "What do we need?" The bird went brought over a potion marked, HYDE. "Perfect, a hiding potion, that will come in handy. Now we need a weapon?" She looked around and found nothing. She looked to the pigeon who only shruged. "Let the hunt begin!" "Well that was disapointing," Schecerazde said as her and the pigeon made the courtyard. "All we have is a pack, one potion of 'hyde' (when will James learn to spell), a rusty pen (with no ink), and a one winged giant plushie doll. Not the best start, but we need to go save James!" "WHY?" Came an all too recognisable voice. Schecerazde turned to see a man, cloaked in a robe dark as the night, with eyes that prophesied a storm that would soon come, the Cloaked Figure! Schecerazde stood her ground, "Because he needs me." "DOES HE?" With that the cloaked man vanished and a new man took his place. She had never seen this man before, he looked as if to be an old pharaoh. He gave her a strange look. She stuck her tounge out at him, winked and ran deeper into the keep. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ James woke in a damp, cold cell. Footsteps on the stone outside drew closer, and he could hear a Jailer's voice. "So the Queen wishes to see him? After what he did?" The footsteps grew closer, and closer. James' heart started to race as fear griped him. If only help would arive, he thought. But no time for that, I have to stop the Cloaked Figure, now that I know who it is!

So you are telling me that my poem "That Missing Piece" is, in fact, missing a piece. To me that seems poetically ironic. But I see what you mean and I have seen it in a lot of my works. Going good till that last line, it is stating to drive me mad, short drive. And to make it worse the more I think about it the worse it gets. Well that was my rant, so now I will try to fix it, and by now I mean in the mourning. Thank you guys for your advise I will take it to heart.

Schecerazde's scream of fear from the almost dragon echoed, through the halls, out of the Pen, and into the very pits of the Void. It was there that two eyes flashed open, a dormant storm once again waking. Just as the mighty pseudo dragon hid under Schecerazde's bed did James appear, but much diffrent than before. His wore more cuts , gashes, and blood than clothes. His face and hair was unkempt. And his eyes, looking as though they had not seen rest in weeks, raradiated untold amounts of rage. Schecerazde's eyes grew wide, and her voice feld in fear. Even the mighty semi-dragon was taken back. "GET OUT!!" roared "James". James closed his eyes and took a step forward, a bank of fog crept with him. Obscuring most of the room. His appearance changed with every step, slowy putting him back too the way others knew him. "stupid magic," he mumbled, "stupid wizards...next time...Mister Mogg...stuff'em.....coconuts!" He finaly was at the foot of Schecerazde's bed, and for the first time saw the fear in her eyes. "it is okay, i am sorry for my entrance. just my new 'friends' insist that i stay with them, so my time is limited. so one short story, then bed okay." Her fear vanished when she saw his smile and nodded, forgetting about the monster under her bed. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ There once was a frog, who spent all his time on a log. Some would bet it was his fear of getting wet that kept him out of the bog. Though that was not true so here is a clue, it started when the princess can down, she fell in and ruined her gown, so by royal decree she had it be that the frog would give her a cue. So he waits on the log, in the middle of the bog, for her to come back so that he may act, and then she will reword her watch frog. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ "so how was that?" James asked. All she could do was laugh, but it was soon interupted by the sound of chains. "i must go now, so close your eyes littel one, and don't open them till mourning." She quickly burried her head into her pillow. Wyvern did not, so he saw the prison chains form on James' wrist, and his so called "friends", he knew them by another name, the Jailers of the Aether. They pulled James back into the void, he did not put up a fight. Then too the surprise of many a carrier pigeon flew in and tried to pull James back. James shook his head and mouthed the word potion. The bird flew off into James' room, as James was pulled into fog. "I will be back tomorrow, Schecerazde!" James shouted, then was nothing. Wyvern saw his chance and started to move when he heard a faint sound, it was Schecerazde. She was sobbing....

The story that Mr. Mogg and...Bec, had told him haunted him. But that was nothing compaired to the words of the Cloaked Man, "Clocks ticking and there's a storm outside." He had left them there, in the tavern to do....he did not know what. "why? why me? why these games?" Before James knew what was going on, he was in Schecerazde's door. Qustions and quest had to wait, first must come the end of a story, before a new one could begin. With that, he stepped into her room. She sat there on her bed, waiting for him like she always did. Her smile, a greeting that always made him feel better. "James, where is Mister Silly? Is he not going to join us?" A look of hope crossed her face. Maybe this is the end of the danger, maybe they had won, she thought. But she saw the look on James' face, and she knew this was far from over. "He was always with us," with that James looked at her, and she saw the storm in his eyes. ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ I quickly ran out of the big tent, the echoes of laughter following me. I ran, and ran. The beating of my heart, pounding in my ears, yet I could still hear the laughter. Finally I ran into the Hall of Mirrors. In there, the laughter ended. I caught my breath and looked up. My heart stopped, the reflection, was not my own! It was that of the people I kept seeing. The faces of a family, MY FAMILY. I fell over myself trying to get out. They where there at every corner, every turn. Finally I found my way out, but I did not stop running till I was home. Running inside, I yelled, "MOTHER!FATHER!SIS!" They ran from every corner of the house, crying, happy that I was home. Mother looked at me and said, "Where were you?" I looked at her, tears stinging my eyes, "the circus." I saw her give my father a concerned look. It was not till later that I learned that the circus never made it to town. Their train had wrecked fifty miles outside of town. There was no survivors! ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ "the end," James said. "Is it?" She questioned. Her face clearly showing distress. James gave a comforting smile that put her at ease, "Of course not. This is but the begining. She smiled in return and went to sleep. James stood and walked out of the room. James walked down the stairs of the tavern, the three beings still stood there. He walked right pass them, not saying a word. As he stepped into the storm he could see faces in the clouds, horrible faces. "What will you do, James?" asked Mr. Mogg. "YEAH, WHAT?" added a voice that James had learned to hate. James could also feel the warmth and love of the goddess. "simple," James hissed, "I will repeat the mistakes!" With that said he turned and looked at the three others. They all took a step back when they saw the storm in his eyes.....