If you don’t like the idea of a Harem fic, I suggest leaving now…

Pairings: Ash x Lance, Hotaru, Setsuna, Rei… more to come!

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for some thoughts, italics for most non-human languages…

Chapter 48 – Ash (still)

 

            After a few minutes, our eyes adjust to the dark. “Setsuna?”

            “I-I’m frightened, my lord.” She whispers. Faint wing-beats and chirping come from close by.

            Crystal, can you see?

            Yes… so can Coral. There are only a few bats flying around. Nothing dangerous has approached yet. Should I eat them?

            If you want…

 

            Setsuna shivered slightly. Ashura was a kind lord and good husband-to-be, but he could speak in tongues, and sometimes it scared her…

            Still, her future with him was a happy one.

            They followed the sound of running water to a stream.

 

            Well… here goes. All I have to do is pour the water in, right? So I do… and then I scatter fifty rune stones into the stream. They form a sort of holy barrier…

            Good! Now the border will be safe.

            I see several dark shapes snarling around the other side. No wonder… they look kind of scary! I know I’m a powerful wizard but I still don’t like scary stuff!

            Anyways… after a few minutes, the stream is now silver… ooh, how pretty…

            Setsuna nods as she bends down and scoops water into her hands, closing her eyes. Her aura flares up for a few seconds, before she starts to speak. Her voice sounds older, more powerful now…

            “Ashura… for twelve and twelve and twelve days thou shalt stay in a world not thine own, and not a moment shall pass in thy world… beware the crone, Ashura… and beware the fox… trust in the squirrel, though weak he may seem… and remember, above all, love is shared by many, not just one…”

            Well, that was a weird prophecy.

            Setsuna hesitates for another moment. “Do not worry about his fate, or hers, Ashura… all shall be well…”

            Huh?

            Was she talking about Lance and Charlotte? Ron and Hermione? Misty and Brock? Who knows? At least it’s over, the voice was starting to creep me out…

            Silver light fills the cavern as we walk back out. Rei and Hotaru are having a picnic, how fun!

            Hotaru smiles as she passes around butter and strawberry jam sandwiches, and we eat our fill before leaving this place and heading back to Varrock for the reward.

 

            What? That cheap old king only gave me two hundred gold coins! Oh well, at least I gained some experience, I think…

            The priest did give me something useful though. It’s a dagger called Wolfsbane. Apparently it keeps werewolves from transforming when you attack them.

            So there are werewolves in this game…

            I hope I don’t get bitten!

 

            At least part of the prophecy was clear. Twelve times twelve is a hundred and forty-four, what’s that multiplied by twelve again? Let’s see, I should have a calculator…

            WHAT?!

            That’s almost five years of time! I thought this was a short trip! But not being able to see Lance and Charlotte again for five plus two years…

            I won’t cry! I won’t! Maybe they can come see me in another world.

            I will be strong!

            It’s not manly to cry. Plus, I have three girls watching out for me right now. I really don’t want to cry in front of them.

            They might blame themselves.

 

            Well, now where to? Oh? King Raoul is giving me yet another quest?

            How many quests does he have?

            Eh? He wants me to talk to the Duke of Lumbridge, his brother, for the next quest? Okay then. Let’s walk to Lumbridge. I could stretch my legs some more.

            First though, something else…

 

            I’m sure a few people are staring at us as we walk on. I’m dressed as a commoner, and the three girls are following me – three wives is fairly normal, but…

            Their clothes… all look really expensive.. so? Girls like pretty clothes. I remember Charlotte told me. So in Varrock, before we left, while I was researching in the library, I gave them each a hundred gold coins and sent them to the fancy dress shop.

            They seem to have made good use of the time. 

            Anyways, I stole a book on different races and another one on silversmithing. Even though my jewelry-making skills are nonexistent, it might be useful in the future.

            Oh, and… another book on how to make Elemental Shields. Cool… unfortunately, they can only be made in the town of – the Seer’s village. Maybe Setsuna would like to visit.

            It’s three weeks away by foot, through several mountains. Luckily, I can fly… ah, I love magic…

            It’s all over the place here, I’m getting stronger just by absorbing it form the environment. I’m soaking up magic like a sponge, really but no one notices.

            They’re just game characters, though… but I’m glad mine have some personality.

           

            “Hey, wench, bring me a beer! Make it fast!

            Rei stiffens as she turns to glare at the farmer who said that. “Excuse me?” She takes her position as a priestess very seriously.

            “Quit looking so high and mighty, wench! You’re just some farmer’s daughter!”

            Now Hotaru looks quite insulted.

            “And you! You’re a slave, aren’t you?”

            Setsuna’s normally calm face has distorted with anger.

 

Great… sigh. “You three, deal with him as you wish..” Apparently I can attack just about everything in this world, including most other humans…

            Well, this man deserves it!

            Besides, they’re kind of pets, right? So they can attack too.

            Rei grins nastily as she begins chanting a curse that will cause his legs to lose their function, as Hotaru pulls a saucepan out of her pack and gives him several good whacks over the head. Setsuna is smiling serenely as she begins to predict the man’s death in a gruesome manner, watching him change color fast…

            Note to self. Never get a girl mad at you. But I know that already, from past experiences with Misty.

 

            Soon, the poor man was left lying unconscious. They hadn’t killed him, but his legs would be paralyzed for a good three or four weeks… a fitting punishment.

            No unnecessary death…

            Ash helped himself to some of the potatoes in the fields. He liked potatoes. Hotaru made really good fried potatoes too. Maybe she could cook some tonight, later.

            Mmm!

 

            Well, now what? He had another weapon to add to Excalibur… and of course his many others…

            “Hotaru?”

            “Yes, lord?”

            “It’s getting late. Let us set up camp.”

            She nods as she unpacks what looks like a tent – only it’s about four hundred square feet in area, from her pack. Interesting.

            Maybe the game modified itself with his knowledge?

            Nah…

 

            Rei went to gather some firewood while Setsuna went to fetch water, and Hotaru began to cook…

            This world is pretty good, though… I won’t mind staying here for a while longer…

 

End Chapter

Completed 4/7/05

Ash: *grins*

Phantomness: *yawns* Stupid papers… and I should quit jumping POVs while I write these chapters…