Adventures in Parodyverse: Elemental, Part 1


    Faite turned around in the office chair located in her temporary quarters at the Lair Mansion to greet a guest that she knew was already coming.  Not because of her finely tuned ability to see events that had yet to occur - it this case, it was because that guest called first to ask if she could stop by and ask some questions.

    Liu Xi Xian gently closed the door behind her as she entered.  She looked and behaved like she was a little embarrassed to be there.  It made sense that she was, since she was there to ask questions about herself that everyone assumed she already knew the answers to.

    The cosmic being anticipated the first question just as Liu Xi sat down in a wooden chair Faite placed there in anticipation of her arrival.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You’re not the only elementalist, but you are the last.”

    The phrasing of that was curious.  Liu Xi had to ask, “What does that mean?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Exactly what I said,”  Faite replied.  “You are the last one born.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh, chronologically.”

    Faite nodded.  “It also means more elementalists depend on descendants.  Yours, or others’.  If none of you produce offspring, there will be no more elementalists.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Of course.”  Liu Xi nodded.  But then she turned sad when she realized what Faite was implying.  “But we’re a dying breed, aren’t we?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“On this planet, yes.  Elementalists are gifted by their host planet at a period when they’re needed.  Earth seems to have decided it no longer needs elementalists, so no new ones have been granted.”

    The Chinese girl nodded.  And then in more hushed tones, she asked the question that she didn’t really want anyone else to know.  “Why am I better at some elements than others?”

    Faite smirked at that questions.  She loved giving these abstract demonstrations.  

    The light in the room dimmed, and the two of them were surrounded by four glass pillars.  Atop one was a flame; another was a small cube of stone, rotating, suspended in midair; yet another was a glob of water like a perfectly round marble; and the last, smoke wafted vertically, very slowly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“That’s Fire, Earth, Water, and Air.”  Faite explained.  “Those are what are known as root elements.  Each one is a representation of nature.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What do you mean ‘root elements’?”  Liu Xi asked.  “I thought there were more.  And what about Void?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“There is also Metal, it’s a form of both Earth and Fire.  A Storm elemental is born of both Water and Air.  It was once thought that Fire and Water could not combine, but they now do - there are a few Nuclear elementals in this universe.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Our friend Lara is an energy elemental, she is a combination of Fire and Air.  That’s why she can transform herself to energy.  She is powerful as fire, as eternal and boundless as the wind.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You didn’t get to Void.”  Liu Xi prodded.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Void, Liu Xi,”  Faite began to delicately explain, “is the opposite.  You can add root elements together.  You can also subtract them.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“...subtract?”

    The cosmic being nodded.  “Subtract even one single element--”

    She reached toward the small cube of Earth, and it vanished, leaving a dark hole in its place.  “--and you have Void.  The absence of what that element used to be.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“So that’s why it’s so dangerous,”  Liu     Xi noted, observing the darkness left behind.  “Because it leaves a hole, and things normally blocked by nature’s elements can get through.”

    Faite nodded.  “Void is the absence of nature.  It’s unnatural.  It must be created.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Are you saying...?”

    She nodded again.  “You created it.  As did the Void Scholar, and scores before who used Void until it created a collective space of nothingness within the universe.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.”  Liu Xi replied sadly.  “I’m sorry.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Don’t be,”  Faite told her.  “Because you’re also the first elementalist who has begun turning a lot of that collective space into physical elements again.  Like Visionary’s new bathroom.  Unfortunately, this is also partly why those who hide in the Void wish to kill you.  You’re destroying their home.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I thought they were plotting to destroy this world.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“That’s the other part.”  Faite added.  “Though if you were locked in the Void until someone opened the door long enough for you to sneak out, you would be a little psychotic too.”

    The Chinese girl laughed.  “So um...how will I free myself from this and be able to use Void again?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Two things,”  Faite told her.  “Enlist Vinnie’s help; and improve your mastery of all the elements.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m pretty good with all of them but Air so far,”  she noted.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Get even better,” the teen said.  “Also, Air is by far the most important.  It’s the part that makes Lara so powerful.  It’s the part that makes nature unstoppable.  Nothing can stop a powerful storm, after all.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Air makes her powerful?”  The elementalist shook her head in confusion.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“As I said, she’s a combination of Air and Fire.  Lightning, it’s kind of like setting fire to air, and there’s an explosion from it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Can I learn from her?”

    All of the glass pedestals disappeared, and normal lighting returned to the room.  “No, because each control of element is sourced from you.”  Faite explained.  “It’s like a muscle, and a different one for each element and each person.  This is why you have to be born with the ability, and it can’t be taught.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Buuut you can help me discover it, can you?”

    Faite smiled again.  “I can.  And I will, because time is running out.”


---


    Lara Night was told by Flapjack, after some amount of drooling, that she was expected.  She had just returned to the Lair Mansion from a conversation with the Chronicler of stories.

    The Chronicler of Stories didn’t say anything at all, at first.  He stood with his back to Lara Night, staring off into the darkness outside of his citadel.  

    She wondered if he was psyching himself up to run at her and strangle her to death.  He didn’t seem to like her much, after all.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Do you know why I wear this suit?”  he asked.

    Lara shook her head.  “Because you want to look good?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Because this is my office,”  he replied.  “And because here, in my office, I’m the boss.  I don’t live here.  I don’t summon people and give orders when I’m at home.  I’m an executive, of sorts, and I dress to fit the part.”

    The blonde nodded, but wasn’t sure where he was headed with that.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“While in my office, I ask for respect,”  he added.

    Lara nodded, and thought she understood where he was going with that.  She looked him straight in the eye decided to try apologizing, “You’re right.  I’m sorry.”

    He paused, and then smirked slightly.  “Okay...but I was going to say for a change, you were actually respectful.  You’ve certainly shown a much better attitude than the last time we met.  Faite, on the other hands, enjoys being difficult, and it annoys me so.  I’m happy I no longer have to deal with that from both of you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Uh...thanks.”  Lara whispered, unsure if that was a compliment.

    The smirk disappeared again, and he finally said, “Enough of that.  I asked you to stay behind to tell you something only you must know.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Cool.  What is it?”  she said, crossing her arms.  And she meant it, since she was curious now.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“In a story which never became, you saved my life,”  he said.  “Marvellous Marv tried to kill me so that he could become Chronicler, and thereby take control of all the stories.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It didn’t happen, though,”  Lara noted.  “He died first.”

    The Chronicler frowned, but didn’t respond.  Instead, he continued on his train of thought.  “I know it didn’t.  The point is, I thought you were a woman who was simply here to play, and watch.  I didn’t think you would ever get your hands dirty, and get involved.  You’ve really changed.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And you’re impressed?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m surprised,”  he corrected.  “I like to be surprised.  Seeing as what my job entails, I’m almost never surprised.  Everything’s pretty much pre-determined by the time it gets here.”  He gestured around the citadel.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Thanks,”  Lara replied with a nod.  “I’ll do my best to keep surprising you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Fine, just so long as it doesn’t make trouble for me,”  he said.  “I’m a busy man, I really don’t need extra work.  And stop helping Faite with ridiculously complicated plans to thwart the inevitable.”

    Lara smirked slightly now.  “You know I can’t promise that.”

    The Chronicler had to admit she had a point.  “It was worth a try,”  he said with a sigh.  “Get going, I have work to do.  Remember, you can’t tell anyone else what I told you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I know, because if I mention it to someone else it might actually happen,”  she noted with a satisfied smile.  “I’m learning fast.”

    He didn’t reply, so Lara could tell she was starting to overstay her welcome.  She decided to quit while she was ahead, say goodbye, and go back to the Lair Mansion.

    And shortly after was when she met Flapjack at the entrance.  She knew where the meeting room was, so in spite of his insistence on escorting her there, she went herself.

    Lara entered the room and saw only a few people sitting at the table.  Vinnie De Soth was there.  Faite sat near the head of the table, filing her nails, with her boot covered feet on the table.  Anna stood at the head of the table, looking like she was trying to lead a meeting.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What’s going on?”  Lara asked.


TO BE CONTINUED?


-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2011 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin