h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*Cara steps through the doorway in his room and exits inside the chapel*

*no matter how many times he visits he is is always astounded by the size alone, the ceiling must be a thousand feet or taller, the main chamber is over 500 ft wide and straeches for miles beyond sight, in the centre there is an altar, 200ft wide and 100ft long it stands at least 20 ft high and beyond it lies shadows*

*Cara looks to the body of Rin behind him and whispers*

Welcome to your new home child.

*Cara walks towards the altar and is stopped in his tracks by a sudden booming voice*

WHO DARES DEFILE THE DRAGONS GRAVEYARD.

*Cara looks towards the direction of the voice and sees the head leave the shadows, the head is that of a dragon, a big dragon, the largest of it's kind, covered in scales larger than Cara himself each of which glow with a silvery/platinum light*

Good Day Sire.
*Cara bows deeply before the Dragon*

AHHH MAGE, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I LAST HAD THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY.

My apolgies sire, if I had known you missed me that much I would have come sooner.

HA HA HA, YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ALWAYS DELIGHTS ME MAGE.
SO MAGE, TELL ME WHY DO YOU GRACE ME WITH YOUR PRESCENCE.

I have come My Lord Dragon to ask a favour.

*Cara pauses awaiting a response*

GO ON.

I come my Lord, because of him...
*with a wave of Cara's hand the body of Rin floats forward before The Platinum Dragon*
Well more for his mother and possibly the saftey of a realm I have come to enjoy.

YOU, THE GREAT CARA, HAVE YOU BECOME SOFT IN YOUR OLD AGE MAGE.
YOU DO NOT USUALLY CARE ANYTHING FOR THE AFFAIRS OF MORTALS, WHY DOES THIS BOY BOTHER YOU SO MUCH.

This boy is the child of a woman I......
*Cara pauses as he says this, he knows he can not lie to the dragon but he is still not willing to admit what he feels deep in his heart*
..... I care a lot about..

YOUR SOUL BETRAYS YOU MAGE, YOU CARE MORE THAN YOU ARE WILLING TO ADMIT AND YOUR MIND IS IN TURMOIL OVER THIS.

*Cara bows theatrically before the dragon*

As always sire, you are correct but I did not wish the affairs of a mere man like myself to bother a god such as yourself.

A MERE MAN.. YOU.... HA HA HA HA
MERE IS CERTAINLY NOT A WORD I WOULD PERSONALLY USE TO DESCRIBE YOU CARA.

WHAT IS THE FAVOUR YOU ASK OF ME MAGE.

Well sire, this boy was killed in order to bring back a powerful evil, and I believe that sooner or later that evil will need him again.
I do not wish that to happen.

AH THE DEMON BRENA... YES...

*Cara looks shocked at the dragons knowledge of the shadow realm and asks*

Yes Sire, do you know of him..?

I AM THE GOD OF DRAGONS CARA, NO SIGHT IS BARRED TO ME, YOU KNOW THAT.

Yes Sire, but I did not think that a small realm such as that would interest yourself.

ACTUALLY I WAS FOLLOWING YOUR EXPOITS WHEN YOU ENTERED THE REALM, AND I HAVE TO ADMIT AFTER THAT I WAS HOOKED, I NEVER KNEW MORTALS LIVES COULD BE SO... EVENTFULL.

Yes Sire, but we are getting of the subject.

YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, PLEASE DO GO ON..

Well Sire, as you know the demon warrior Brena was reborn from this childs life, I have found out that now that the princess Ena has left the realm he plans to take it for his own.
I believe this child although dead may still be instrumental in these plans and I do not wish for his mother to be put through any more pain over her son.
It is time for this child to be put to rest and I need somewhere that he will never be found.
That is why My Lord I ask if I may inter this childs body within the graveyard where no man or demon will ever find him.

*There is a long pause and Cara begins to get nervous, if he has angered the Dragon he may never leave this place let alone get what he wishes, and then the Dragon answers*

HMMM, WHAT YOU ASK IS INDEED A GREAT FAVOUR MAGE, NO MORTAL HAS EVER BEEN INTERED WITHIN THE DRAGONS GRAVEYARD, NOT TO MENTION ONE WHO IS TAINTED BY THE BLOOD OF DEMONS.

BUT YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT MANY FAVOURS FOR MY KIND AND THAT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED, BUT WHAT YOU ASK IS GREATER THAN ANY TASK YOU COULD EVER PERFORM, FOR ME TO ALLOW SUCH A THING I WOULD NEED A PROMISE IN RETURN.

Ask my lord and I shall gladly accept.

DO NOT BE SO HASTY MAGE, YOU DO NOT YET KNOW WHAT I ASK.

I REQUEST THAT WHEN YOUR TIME IN THIS LIFE DOES FINALLY COME TO AND END, YOUR MASK AND ALL THE POWER THAT COMMANDS BELONG TO ME.
THINK LONG AND HARD MAGE DOES THIS WOMAN MEAN ENOUGH TO YOU FOR YOU TO BE WILLING TO GIVE YOURSELF TO ME.

*Cara hangs his head and thinks, the feelings and emotions running through his mind confuse him, he considers how quickly she had changed everything, at first he just had the urge to save her life, then he takes her as his apprentice, and here his is considering giving up his immortal life for her*

IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE THAT UP MAGE THEN I WILL OFFER YOU ANOTHER DEAL, IT IS NOT BEYOND MY POWER TO RETURN THIS BOY TO YOU, EVEN WITH HIS DEMON BLOOD I CAN RESSURCT HIM BACK INTO HIS MOTHERS CARE, AND I WILL GRANT THIS SMALL BOON IN GRATITUDE OF YOUR PAST DEEDS AND ASK FOR NOTHING MORE.

*Cara is shocked, he could bring him back, bring Rin back to Lil, reunite them both, but he remembers her wishes that Rin be at rest now and end the heartache once and for all and he steel himself and becomes calm*

*he mutters under his breath*

I made a vow and I will fufill that, what the lady..... no what MY lady wishes my lady will get.

*he lift his head to the dragon and in a confident voice he speaks*

I agree to your request Dragon, that when my time is finally over the mask is yours.

*there is a large booming laugh and the Dragon speaks*

EXCELLENT....
I AM IMPRESSED MAGE YOU HAVE CHANGED MUCH SINCE LAST WE MET, AND FOR THE BETTER, I DO HOPE IT IS NOT JUST A PASSING FANCY. HA HA HA.
THEN GO MAGE, LAY YOUR BOY TO REST WITHIN THE GRAVEYARD AND HE IS GRANTED THE PROTECTION TO ALL THOSE BURIED THERE, NO DRAGON IN EXISTENCE WILL EVER LET ANY HARM BEFALL THE GRAVEYARD AND ALL THOSE WHO REST WITHIN.

*A large door open in the far wall and beyond it lies the most beautiful sight Cara has ever seen.*

ONE THING MAGE BEFORE YOU DO ENTER MAGE, THE MAGIC OF MEN DOES NOT WORK WITHIN THE GRAVEYARD *the dragon points to the disk holding Rin*
I CAN ARRANGE FOR THE BOY TO BE CARRIED TO THE PLACE YOU CHOSE IF YOU WISH.

Thank you but no My Lord, I will carry him.

I RESPECT YOUR WISHES MAGE, CHOOSE WHERE YOU BELIEVE HE BELONGS AND HE WILL BE SAFE THERE FOR THE REST OF TIME, THAT I PROMISE.

Thank you lord.

*Cara steps into the graveyard, gold and silver and other valuables lie in great piles, the hoardes of every dragon that had ever died paid as tribute for entry to the graveyard, and beyond lies the bones of thousands of dragons, he remembers the rumours that every dragon in existence comes here to die and he realises that the rumours are true*

*He walks for what seems like hours, past row upon row of skeletal remains and then he sees it, a single flat rock raised slightly off the ground, he walks over and gently lays the body of Rin on top, it is the perfect size and seems to close in around the body as if holding him, hoding him safe, he kneels down and spots a flat stone on the front of the rock, he takes out a knife and starts to carve the rock, after a few hours he stands and looks at his work, carved in an arcane language it reads.

RIN - SON OF LIL - SLEEP SAFE CHILD AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN YOUR MOTHERS HEART.

*Cara mutters a few words over the stne and the script glows faintly, he turns to leave and whispers to himself*

For you Lil, you have seen a side of me I thought dead, and you have a faith in me that I do not deserve, but I hope that some day I will be worthy of you

*he hangs his head and walks solemly out of the graveyard paying his respect to the power and reverence this place demands, he mutters prayers of thanks to each each body he passes and beg that they look over Rin as if he were there own, He steps back in to the chapel, the platinum dragon is no where to be seen and so heads back to the door and the way back to his world, the way back to her and with that thought he smiles.

<>

*stands in front of a huge statue of a dragon and places the bag on the ground by his feet*

My part in this has now been done.

*Thranduilion looks up at the dragon*

The Mage Cara has been killed by my hands, he told me to bring his mask to the graveyard to be claimed by it's rightful owner.

*The Dragons statue blinks and stares at Thranduilion*

YOUR PART HAS BEEN PLAYED JESTER AND FOR THAT I THANK YOU.
AS REWARD FOR YOUR GOOD SERVICE YOU MAY LEAVE THE GRAVEYARD UNHARMED.

*The statue opens it's mouth and a strange gas begins to issue forth Thranduilion is over come with drowsiness and he collapses to the floor, when he finally awakens he is once again in the tower of illusions*

AND SO YOU HAVE FALLEN MAGE.
AND KILLED BY A SIMPLE SERVANT, OH HOW YOU MUST BE KICKING YOURSELF RIGHT NOW.

HA HA HA HA HA HA

AND FINALLY THE POWER OF THE MASK IS MINE....

*A deep booming laugh resounds throughout the graveyard*

MWHAHAHAHAHA MWHAHAHAHAHA

*Thranduilion and Astarem step out of the portal*

*Thranduilion bows to the dragon statue*

My Lord, I am in need of somewhere to feel safe for a while, will you help me?

<>

*Shadows move and flutter around the place almost as if searching for a way in*

*Astarem wails*

*The Shadows coalasce and split apart before finally merging together near the edge of the graveyard. I step out of the shadows.*

*Astarem wails louder, she is hungry and scared*

*Tetsu and lil arrive, he stands and surveys the scene...shocked when he sees Thranduilion and Astarem*

Is that not my lady...I mean Ena's child?

*Staggers*

*Finding herself surrounded by Cara's enemies she looks at Tetsu in disbelief*


You said I would be safe.. you promised .. ..


*steps back and her bare feet become tangled in the long robe the Tetsu had given her.. and she fall backwards to the floor*

*catches her before she hits the floor*

I did not realise the jester or child would be here; pay them no mind, we are not here for them

*he takes her by the arm and leads her deep into the graveyard*

Tetsu? Thrandullion? Lil?

What is going on here?

*ignores Saiga though it pains him to do so; soon they are out of sight and in front of a huge stone slab...Tetsu murmurs and it swings aside. The body of Rin lies there*

*She has never seen anything like it. Majestic.. and yet so sad. All the skeletons reaching high above her head.. so many.*


*She is overawed by the enormity of the place.. yet, she feels peaceful here.. even though she can feel the dangerous spells in the air.. she knows that as long as she touches nothing.. she will not be harmed*


*Still Tetsu leads her deeper into the graveyard*

*as he steps up to Rin the magic tingles in the air*

Oh!.. *reaches out a hand to touch her son*


Oh Baby! *drops to her knees at his graveside*

*Looks at Tetsu*

Why?

Why are we here?

We are here for two purposes; one is a higher purpose and one is my own.

The main reason you are here is to perform the spells you have been learning to bring Cara forth from his mask; he will live again if you can do this

My reason *he blushes* is to see you happy. I have not the feelings for you I had for my lady Ena but I consider you a good friend.

My spirit has wandered long enough, it has a purpose and a use and I will finally be at peace

*Her mind is in a whirl*

But.. I can't remember.. Oh!.. and Rin?.. I don't want him disturbed.. please?


*Tries to breathe deeply to calm herself, but it wont work. She is in too much turmoil .. and knowing Cara's enemies are so close by doesn't help!*

The dddd... Oh.. I can't..!

*Breathes deeply*

*Weaves her spell with her hands*

The Dragon lies and gently sleeps
as a mother sobs and weeps
for the man who helped her son
to rest in peace before their reunion


*sparks fly from her fingers and patterns are seen being woven above Rins grave*

*Lil watches fascinated.. but also horrified that she would be the one to disturb her son's peaceful sleep*


*She sinks slowly to the ground and just watches with tears pouring down her face. Not a sound did she make*