There's not really any Sparksize in this first post, but there will be in the following part(s). Y'all know how I am about writing long things. XD Same universe as TL&F; this takes place after they returned to the Realm of Mianite.

*? POV*

A certain unease hung in the air as I set out with my basket to pick mushrooms and herbs that made me think this day would be anything but routine. To all appearances, it was just another in a long line of quiet mornings. Some would even consider this place dull. The weather here never changed, nor did the black, starless sky. Somehow there was a distinct day and night cycle, though the days neither grew longer nor shorter in season. Indeed the seasons themselves depended on the goddess's mood and power. Not so long ago, this forest had been sealed in perpetual autumn by Ianite's capture and waning. As her powers returned, so had the life of this place, bringing it into a vibrant spring. Evidence of damage and decay remained in patches and corners, but even this served to fuel new life, like the mushrooms I was after.

I smiled to myself at the optimistic thought as I listened to a gentle breeze brush through the translucent, green leaves above me. I walked a familiar path between the base of an emerald hill and the edge of the forest. I reached a branch off this path that led into the trees and paused to pick some early valerian in the partial shade. Tucking the pale flower into my basket, I took the narrow, nearly overgrown forest path.

I was not terribly surprised when I found someone in the forest before me. When unease hung over Aethoria, it could only mean Ianite was troubled. Since her return, I'd often found her walking her lands when such a mood took her. Today her wandering crossed mine, and I was not one to believe in chance.

Ianite stood beside a stream a short distance from the path, oblivious to my presence. She was intent on the running water as if the pattern of riffles held an answer she desired. "Good morning, Lady Ianite," I greeted with a voice scratchy from disuse. There weren't many people in Aethoria to start with, and no one had ventured near my home in over a year. Ianite smiled at me and beckoned me over. "What chases you so far from your temple?" I asked as I stepped off the path to sit on a boulder next to her and rest my old feet.

I set my basket down and rubbed at a corn on left foot that had been bothering me. Ianite noticed. "Are you sure you won't take my offer of a room at the temple? It's the least I can do after all your help."

I shook my head and replied, "No, your temple is no place for a non-follower. You granting me sanctuary is enough." I had been banished during the early years of the war for healing a few mortals who had been grievously wounded. Their being bystanders didn't matter to my panicked coven and our wizard allies. Those generals told me they'd count me an enemy if they ever saw me again. I was furious and just stopped myself shy of cursing them. I'd wandered the Realm until stumbling upon a way to Aethoria. I presumptuously made myself a home here. When Ianite began to regain some of her strength, she sensed me here and contacted me. I was able to help her communicate with her new champion in exchange for continued refuge. I had once been bitter about my exile. Now this place was my home, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I grinned at Ianite and continued, "Besides, you know what they say. If I stop moving around so much, my body might realize just how old it is. Then I wouldn't be able to move at all."

A hint of humor touched her eyes at my comment, but the unease remained. So I asked again, "Now what troubles the goddess of balance in her own home? Hm? Perhaps our meeting today has a purpose beyond friendly talk."

Ianite considered this for a moment before sighing and looking back to the water. "I am concerned for my...follower. Do you remember Sparklez?"

That had been the name of the lad she wanted to talk to over a decade ago. "Aye, I remember your champion. Is he no longer?" She had just called him a follower. Ianite didn't seem so fickle as to change a champion after such a short time. Unless he'd done something terrible. What could have happened?

"Eleven years ago, he and his friends freed me. When they tried to return to the Overworld, there was a...disturbance in the Void. They did not return to our Overworld, but that of another dimension, and their counterparts from that world came to ours."

I hummed in acknowledgement. I had seen some of this with my crystal ball, but what she said gave those scattered pieces a proper form to fill. Ianite had been very weak then, newly released and lacking a champion once again. If Dianite had not been killed by his own champion, he could have easily retaken or killed his sister then. Ianite had wisely accepted Spark as her champion in Sparklez's absence and had regained much of her strength in the following years.

"My champion's alternate is robust. I can see why Spark's goddess named him champion." Ianite grinned here as she thought of the elderly Ianitee. "He has served me well, though I know his heart never ceased longing for his home and family," Ianite paused, and the leaves on the tree beside her turned orange, betraying how worried she was. "But I never thought Sparklez would let him keep the champion title when he returned."

I frowned at that. That did not sound like the young man I'd seen in my scrying eleven years ago. He'd been ecstatic to find out he was Ianite's champion then. "Why the change?" I asked.

"I'm not entirely sure; his mind has been difficult for me to reach since his return. It might have something to do with the magic he practiced there, but surely he should have recovered from any residual effects of the forbidden knowledge I removed from his mind. He does not seem himself at all."

Mortals practicing magic? Forbidden knowledge? I was intrigued now. "I may have an idea on how to find out. Is he coming here for the festival next week?" Next week would mark eleven years since the day Ianite was rescued. It had become a holiday among Ianitees, and Ianite had started inviting all her followers to Aethoria for the celebration. I could usually see the fireworks and hear the music clear on my side of Aethoria.

When Ianite nodded, I let a sly grin cross my wrinkled face. "I just might attend the celebration this year."

Ianite smiled, and I saw the orange leaves return to a pale green behind her. "It will be good to have you, Winstead. There are plenty of rooms both in the temple and in the village. Redbeard claims this year's wine and rum are the best he's ever brewed."

I wrinkled my nose and said, "Considering he's only been making wine this last decade, I think I'll stick with the rum."

Ianite chuckled at that. "Very well. I'll see you at the festival," She said, turning to go. She'd only taken a few steps when she turned back. "And, Winstead, thank you." Then she was gone, teleporting away rather than walking.

I stretched and stood up. When I lifted my basket, I discovered it heavier then when I'd set it down. Ianite, I chuckled to myself. She'd magically filled my basket with mushrooms and herbs—some of which weren't even in season. I hoisted my laden basket to partially rest on my hip and started the trek home.

I still had half of the day ahead of my by the time I arrived back at my little cottage. I put my extra time to good use, hanging herbs to dry and packing mushrooms by type in burlap sacks to stow in my root cellar. My enchantments on the cellar would keep them fresh for a long while.

Satisfied with my unexpected haul, I trundled over to my arm chair and the small table holding my most prized possession—a flawless sphere of crystal. "Alright, let's see what our worrisome lad is up to, shall we?" I said to myself as I sat down. The crystal stirred with color as I spoke the familiar words to begin a scrying of current events. I cradled the warm sphere in my hands and let magic flow from me into it to power the casting. Show me the one known as Captain Sparklez.

----- (What is this? I'm using more than 1 POV in a post?! Sacrilege!)

*Jordan's POV*

So this was the place Wag built. I'd have to compliment him on it next time I saw him. I stood before an open sided structure supported by massive quartz pillars. As I walked up the front steps, I found "The Hall of Fallen Heroes" engraved on one of the columns. I stepped inside, already suspecting what I would find. Sonja had told me I needed to come check this place out a while ago, and I'd put it off as long as I could. I was leaving tomorrow for Ianarea, and I felt this place deserved a visit before the eleven year anniversary of...everything.

The inside of the structure was lit by a line of braziers following the central walkway. I spotted Steve's statue on the right and examined it before turning to the statue on the left. Capsize. Wag had captured her features perfectly, and a familiar warmth in my chest made me grin. "Haha, he got your smile just right." I sighed and stepped back from the quartz sculpture as an also familiar ache shot through my heart. It had dulled over the last year, but I still missed her. I gave the beautiful statue one last look before turning away.

I yawned and squinted as I stepped out into the bright sunlight. It was a gorgeous day, but I planned on spending most of it packing and avoiding my friends. They didn't know about the festival. I was surprised that Ianite didn't invite them. I guess tensions between the gods are running higher than I thought. I hope they can sort everything out peacefully this time.

I followed the stone brick path to where it crossed the river below my house. A proper bridge had been built in the years we were gone. I supposed Spark would have had a tough time hopping across on giant lily pads. He'd stayed at my house for a short time before moving to Ianarea to help with the rebuilding. Other than that, my house and Jerry's tree had sat much as I left them, except for a solid inch of dust coating everything and places where boards had rotted out or glass and siding had been broken by storms. Getting the house cleaned up had occupied my first few weeks back.

Jerry's tree still needed a lot of work. I checked the giant tree for damage the first chance I got, but I'd decided to put off renovations when I stumbled upon a forgotten chest of Capsize's things. I completely forgot she asked if she could stay there on the nights her crew was being too rowdy.

The Capsize nightmares started up again that night, and not even Martha and Wag's potions seemed to stop their coming. I told them I was fine when they asked and made sure to keep my sunglasses on and hold back my yawns when I was around my friends. They had enough troubles of their own.

At least the dreams aren't Ianite falling apart anymore, I thought as I picked out an outfit for the main festival and a few sets of traveling clothes, music blaring in the background. It helped that I now knew Ruxomar's Ianite wasn't precisely dead. I couldn't be responsible for her death if she didn't die. I was grateful that Ianite sent me that message after we beat World Historian, even if I didn't understand half of it. I hope someday she's allowed to send Spark a message like she sent me. That would mean the world to him; he misses her so much.

I finished packing and dragged my bag up from the vault to set it in the coat closet to keep it out of sight. Some of my friends tended to pop up unannounced—namely Tom. "Hey, Sparklez!" I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sudden voice behind me.

Speak of the devil's champion. I turned around, closing the coat closet behind me. "Hey, Tom," I said flatly, slightly irritated. I'd have to check all my doors and windows later to see how he got in. I hope he didn't break any locks this time. "What do you want?"

Tom put a hand over his heart and gasped dramatically. "Sparklez, you wound me! Can't a guy drop by to visit his friend?"

As he spoke, I noticed splinters stuck to his suit and a bleeding scratch on left cheek. I looked up and noticed a hole in the ceiling above my couch. Welp... The planks there had rotted out. Who knew how far that damage went? D*ng it; I thought I fixed everything.

Tom saw where I was looking and chuckled. "Oh yeah, you'll need to fix that. Can't believe you didn't hear me. I cleaned up the mess though!" He hurriedly added, pointing to the open balcony door. He had left the pile of rotted wood and debris at the edge. "Come 'ere," He whispered conspiratorially, heading back to the open door.

"Dear Ianite, what are you up to this time?" I asked, humoring him with a whisper as I followed. At least he wasn't asking about what I'd put in the closet. I'd play along if it meant he forgot about seeing anything. As we drew closer to the edge, I heard voices below us. That sounded like Sonja and Martha. Tom smirked evilly and picked up the broom he'd leaned against the wall. My eyes widened in understanding. "Tom, no!"

I was too late. In one swift motion, he shoved all the debris over the edge to rain down on the ladies walking the cliffside path beneath my balcony. We heard screams and several choice words before Tom and I leaned over the edge to see the damage. I'd heard right; Martha and Sonja were down there. Martha had already cleaned herself—with magic, I'd assume—and seemed mildly annoyed. Sonja, on the other hand, looked fit to kill. She looked up then, eyes almost blazing as she brushed splinters out of her hair. "JORDAN!" She threatened before storming towards the stair leading up the cliff to my house.

"Me?! But it was..." I turned to point at Tom, only to find him long gone. He'd left the broom leaning against the rail next to me. That was pretty damning evidence. I wouldn't be able to talk to Sonja with her this mad, and I definitely didn't want to fight angry Sonja. "Oh gods."

I rushed back inside and grabbed my travel bag from the closet. My jukebox would just have to shut off when it hit the end of my record; no time to reach it now. At least I had a valid excuse to disappear for a few weeks now. I sprinted down the path away from the cliff and turned my communicator on. "I'm going on a mining trip. If you don't see me for a few weeks, don't worry."

"What's the rush, Sparkley pants?" Tom asked over the comm, all smug satisfaction.

"You know d*mn well, Tom," I looked at my contacts to see Sonja unmute her comm as I left the path. "But where are you going to hide when Sonja comes for you? It was your prank, after all."

"What?!" Sonja yelled over the call.

"Listen, Linda. I tried to talk Sparklyd*ck out of it, but he just wouldn't listen, honest," Tom tried to weasel out of what was coming to him.

"Gotta go, bye!" I said sweetly before deactivating my comm. Now I just had to find a place to hide until the ship left at dawn.