Chapter 16: Control

Anais: "That bitch, we were trying to saved that overgrown piece of broccoli, wait until I get loose."

Nathan: "Calm down, Anais.”

Anais: "Oh, I’ll calm down, after I rip all the flowers, off her head.”

Nathan: “You’re really upset huh?”

Anais: “Of course I’m upset, we’ve been captured, by someone we were trying to save and also, you.”

Nathan: “Me?”

Anais: "You had it, one swing would have split that tree in half, but you froze up and now we're caught.”

Nathan: “Sorry.”

Nathan decided it was best to let her vent, who could blame her. It was his choice to save the girl and his choice not to slay the tree. He had a reason, but it seemed that if he tried explaining, it would fuel her anger. He had a more pressing issue. For some reason, Iris was not with them, with his hyper senses, he had her scent and knew her general area, but no specific.

Anais: “Hey, where’s that stupid fairy, she hasn’t contradicted me at all.”

Nathan: “(You really just notice) She was taken, when we were captured.”

Anais: "What, why would they split us up, not that I’m complaining.”

Nathan: “I don’t know, but I hope she’s okay.”

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Iris: "Hero, Hero, can you hear me, where are you?”

Iris struggle to free herself, worried at the fact that she was separated from the Hero. She was distraught, ever since they left the study she had failed in her duties as guardian and the constant failure was taking its toll. She continued to scream out for him, until the branches begin to move, bringing her along with them. Lifting her high above the tree line, where she was met once again with the light of day.

Her eyes adjusting to the bright sun, she surprised to see several girls floating. Besides some differences, they resemble the girl they attempted to rescue earlier. However, there was one thing that drew her attention away from their appearance, not a single one of them, were wearing clothes. Why were a group of girls, in the middle of a forest, roaming around without clothes? She came to a quick answer.

Iris: “Could they be the “Perverts?”

Among the books, she read to take care of the Hero, “Lady Amelia” mentioned something that is reminiscence of this moment, she didn’t understand why, but she did not won't the hero to see this. One of the older looking girls approached, she was more developed then the ones behind her. Beautiful, pale-skin, with silver hair that blew around, where there was no wind, as if it had its own air current, though her hair did cover some essential spots, it still something she felt, the hero shouldn’t see. She stared at Iris as if she was, trying to see through her, then a smiled crossed her face, she turned to the rest.

Saria: “Celes, has successfully rescued our sister.”

The statement was immediately met with cheers and applause, Iris stared on dumbfounded. She didn’t understand what was going on, however if this girl was foolish enough to turn their backs on her, she was not going to waste the chance. Almost immediately upon invoking a spell, did the nymph move closer.

Saria: “Calm yourself sister, there is no need to fight, the enchantment the intruders have placed, on you shall be removed.”

Iris: “I Don’t understand what you speak of, however, I have every intention of-”

Before she could finish her sentence, the girl placed a hand to iris’s head. Her hand begins to admit a light, prompting Iris to move back, as to avoid attack.

Saria: “Huh…….what is this, sister, you aren’t under any spell?”

Iris: “I was never under any spell, nor am I any sister of yours.”

Several of the girls let out noticeable gasps.

Saria: “Inconceivable, surely you don’t mean to say, you were helping them, of your own free will?”

Iris: “I don’t have time for this, if we have no quarrel, then I shall take my leave.”

Iris turned and attempted to leave, when several of the other girls moved to impede her.

Water Nymph: “You have betrayed us, you side with the intruders?”

Iris: “As I explained, I haven’t the faintest, to what you are referring, but if you continue to impede me, then you shall be moved.”

The nymphs of the forest were not sure how to react towards Iris. Though they bicker from time to time, never has a sister been so incline to raise their hands to another.

Saria: “Enough!”

The girl from before floated between iris and the rest.

Saria: “Sister, what have they done to you, that you would raise your hands against us?”

Iris: “I am not your sister, move or be moved?”

Saria: “…………………..”

The Nymphs of the forest stood their ground, though they were not used to battle, they believe they could best one of their own.

Iris: “Very well, you're end shall be swift.”

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Celes touched her side, pain shot through her. She had never been kicked that hard or at all before. She cringed at the thought that happening again, but as luck what dictate, she might not have to. On the off chance, while visiting her Treant friends, she was surprised to find that the intruders who wreaked havoc on their home. She immediately thought to leave and let Saria know, but by the time she returned they would have escaped the forest. The river on the side, connects directly to their home, surely, they would find it.

She made her choice, she would attempt to capture them and with some minor setbacks, she was successful. First and foremost, she immediately separated her sister from the two others, now that Saria has arrive she can undo the control they have on her. So, for now she will watch the other two, until Saria’s done.

Anais: “A voice in your head, that’s why you stopped?”

Nathan: Yeah right before I swung, I swore I heard someone yell stop.

After Anais calmed down a bit, so Nathan explained his actions from before.

Anais: “So, you led us to be captured, all because you heard a voice, in your head, urge you not to kill, the thing that was trying kill us?”

Nathan: “When you put it like that, you make it sound like I’m crazy.”

Anais: “Oh good, I’m glad you understood, that’s exactly what it sounds like.”

Nathan: “Yeah, I deserve that.”

Anais: “You deserve a lot more, but it can wait until we get out.”

Nathan: “Yeah, we need to find Iris; I have a filling they were targeting her.”

Anais: “Who would target the fairy, more, why would anyone targeting us, we didn’t do anything.”

Nathan: I don’t know but, we’ve been having too much bad luck, too be calling it coincidence…. huh? *Sniff* *Sniff*”

Nathan looked around, it was pretty dark besides the small areas where sunlight showed through, but he didn’t really need to see what he was smelling. He knew exactly what this scent was.

Anais: “What are you doing?”

Nathan: “I smell flowers.”

Anais: “Of course you do, idiot, we’re in a forest.”

Nathan: “Excuse me I know your there, could you come, we want to talk, if we’ve done something wrong, could you please tell us?”

Celes nearly jumped out of her skin, was she addressing her, she must be, there’s no one else in the forest.

Anais: “Who are you talking to?”

Celes didn’t want to show herself, but she does have them trapped, what could they do to her.

Anais: “It’s that broccoli bitch, wait until I get loose, I’ll kick your ass again.”

Nathan: “Anais, calm down.”

Anais: What!?”

Nathan: “Clearly theirs some, huge misunderstanding going on and you threatening to beat her up, is not helping, look.”

Several tree limbs have reason from the ground and were aimed right at the two.

Anais: *Whisper*“How do you plan to clear it up?”

Nathan: *Whisper* I’ll just talk to her, we need to clear the air, until we can move or arms, we’re at a disadvantage, violence want help.

Anais knew he was right, right now trying to fight their way out would prove fruitless, more so when one of them were missing, so for now she would bite her tongue. Nathan looked down at the young girl, she stood peeking out from behind a large branch, most likely retreating from Anais’s threat.”

Nathan: “Hey there, my names Nathan and my angry friend is Anais.”

Anais: “Tch”

Nathan: “Can you tell me your name?”

She shook her head no, though he couldn’t get her name, the fact that she acknowledged him meaning she was willing to listen.”

Nathan: “My friends and I are new to the area, we not sure what we did to offend you, are you willing to explain?”

She moved into plain view, she stood staring at Nathan, as if she was trying to see if he showed any signs of deceit. With a waved of her hand, the branches lowered to the ground, they unravel from around the two, although a wall of tentacle like branches, stood between the two and the girl.

Nathan: “Thank you very much, now what exactly have we done that offended you so.”

The girl shook her hands and head vigorously, followed with movements, similar, to dancing.

Anais: “The hell, wrong with her?”

Nathan: “Maybe, she communicates through dancing?”

Celes, nearly toppled over from them misunderstanding, her face flushed from embarrassment. She pointed to her mouth and shook her head once more.

Nathan: “Could it be, you can’t talk?”

Celes nodded in confirmation.

Anais: “Now what genius, if she can’t talk, then we can’t talk a way out.”

Nathan: “No, we just need to keep our questions simple.”

Celes was shocked at her bravado, directly in front of her stood the intruders and yet she didn’t feel frightened in the least, well she was still scared of being struck by the smaller girl, but the tall girl was much, more pleasant. She didn’t seem dangerous in the least, now that she thought about it, when she was grabbed by her earlier, she didn’t feel fear at all. Though that could all be hearsay, it most likely because she had complete control over the situation.

Nathan: “Well, I’ll start off simple, is Iris okay?”

Celes looked confused, Nathan took notice of this.”

Nathan: “The fairy you separated us from, she our important friend, is she okay?”

Celes nodded in confirmation, now realizing he was referring to her sister she rescued, but something was wrong. This human looked genuinely relieved to hear that. Was she not their captive?

Nathan: “Thank goodness, so is there any chance you could bring her here?”

Celes expression turned stern, shook her head vigorously. They both were a little taken back, she had looked nervous since they begin talking, but now she was adamantly denying their request.

Nathan: “Is there something about bringing her here, that you don’t like?”

Anais: “I tell you what it is, she’s keeping her hostage.”

Nathan: “What?”

Anais: “Think about it, as long as she holding the fairy, she’s in a position, to get whatever she wants from us.

Nathan had no reason to contradict Anais’s assessment. That would explain why she let them down so easily, if she has Iris, they couldn’t risk starting a ruckus. Her nervous demeanor slowly evaporating, her facial expression, indicating how angry she had become. She stared daggers at Anais, who did the same. It was as if she was throwing the accusation right back at them.

Celes: “(How dare you, I would never do such a thing. You two are the ones holding hostages.).”

Nathan: “Huh, that voice in my head, it was you.”

Anais: “Nathan, this is no time to be going crazy.”

Nathan: Hey, how you doing that?”

Celes: “(What is she talking about, I haven’t done anything)”

Nathan: “See, you did it again, talking in my head and I’m not a girl.”

Anais: “What are you talking about, I don’t hear anything.”

Nathan was sure she was the one, but it seems the girl was unaware of what she was doing.

Nathan: “Hey try saying hello to me, but do it inside your head.”

Celes didn’t understand what she meant, saying hello to someone in your head didn’t seem to make sense. Nathan listened for anything, but nothing came through.

Celes: “*sigh*(So, this girl is crazy as well, so much for getting information.)”

Nathan: “That was more of an insult, but at least I heard you and I’m NOT a girl.”

Celes: “(What, y-you can really hear me)?”

Nathan: “Yes, it was really clear that time.”

Celes: “(A-Amazing, you can actually here my thoughts).”

Nathan: “Yeah, and I think I’m starting to understand.”

Anais: “Will someone please explain, what’s going on?

Nathan: “So I can hear her thoughts, but only when their directed at me, like if we were having a normal conversation When she yelled stop, though she did it unknowingly, but since she directed toward me, I could hear it.”

Anais: “Okay, Mr. cozy with the enemy, I get it, just ask her about letting us go.”

Nathan: “Right, so uhh, what should I call you?

Celes: “(Ah, yes, I am Celes.).”

Nathan: “Well Celes, what exactly have done to offend?”

Celes: “(Well, let me ask you this, how did you to end up here)?”

Nathan: “We don’t know, after leaving the study, we just walked around for weeks. We tried to leave but, the areas, encased an impassable mountain range.

Celes: “(Study, surely you don’t mean Lady Amelia’s home?”

Nathan: “Oh, you know Amelia, well that will speed things up.”

Anais: “Hey, what about Lady Amelia”?”

Nathan: “She knows who she is.”

Anais: “Hey do you know, where she Is?”

Celes: “(I don’t know, no one has seen her, since she left the “Garden” years ago, but if what you say is true then).”

Nathan explained to Anais what Celes said, though she was unhappy being unable to discern Amelia’s whereabouts. Celes was not sure what to believe, if they are telling the truth then, how exactly did that creature end up here? But all thoughts were silence by a sudden mana surge, a spell so strong that Nathan and Anais felt it as well. Nathan recognized this energy immediately.

Anais: “What the hell is going on, you planning to attack us?”

Nathan: “No, Anais, this is Iris, she’s fighting someone, above the forest.

Anais: “How did she escape?”

Celes: “(She did not escape, I’d never hold my sister prisoner, I was just trying to separate her from you two).”

Nathan: “Your sister!?”

This was news to Nathan, Iris never mention the fact that she had siblings, did she not know, but that didn’t matter right now.

Nathan: “Listen, there are some big misunderstandings between us, but you need to let me go, right now. Iris is undoubtedly looking for me and whoever or whatever is in her way, will be removed.”

Celes: “(Then removed the spell you have on her).”

Nathan: “What spell?”

Celes: “(The one you’re using to control her, release it and she won’t attack.).”

Anais: “What’s this about a spell?”

Nathan: “She thinks were controlling Iris, with a spell.”

Celes: “(Why else would she ally herself with you)?”

Nathan: “She said she was assign to be the Hero’s guardian.”

Celes: “(The hero’s guardian, you’re the Hero!?)”

Nathan: “That what she, keeps telling me.”

Celes: “(Ridiculous!)”

Nathan: Really, I am.”

Anais: “I know how she feels; it was so hard was so hard for me to believe you were the hero as well.”

Nathan: “Not helping.”

Celes: “(Then if what you say is true, you would have proof, otherwise I cannot allow you to leave.)

Nathan: “As of matter of fact I do, all I need are my weapons back.”

If Nathan could get her to give “Origin” back, he could not only prove who he was but also allow iris to locate him.

Celes: “(No.)”

Nathan: “Why not?”

Celes: “(Though don’t seem to be a bad person, it would be foolhardy, to return your means attack.)”

Nathan: “I won’t attack.”

Anais: “I just might.”

Nathan: “Again, not helping.”

Celes: “(I’m sorry, but I can’t risk it, I will not relinquish control, over the situation.)”

Nathan sighed heavily and lift his arms into the air. As he did a snyare plant shot out from beneath Celes and curled themselves around her legs. The Treant tried to react, but the snyare had already launch her into the air, tossing her towards Nathan. As she flew, more branches attempted to catch her, however each branch had been met with a snyare that would coil itself around them, preventing her from being rescued. Celes fell towards Nathan, and with open arms he, received her. Anais looked on awe struck, she was surprised how easily he caught her.

Finesse Increased+4

Charisma Increased +5

Celes: “(W-What how did you-)”

Nathan: Ever since we entered the forest, no, after since we were attacked by those “Uzy”, I been spreading these seeds around, just in case something or someone, decided to attack us.”

Nathan set Celes on the ground. Her fear had frozen her in place, her nervous demeanor had returned, no longer did she have the protection.

Nathan: “Sorry about that but, this was all could come up with. If I wanted to harm you or escape I could have, the moment you put us down. I stayed to clear up any misunderstandings you have about us.”

Celes thought she had understood her position, everything happened so fast, she never had any real protection, she never had control, the entire time he was allowing her to hold them. She looked around at her forest, everything was now entangled with Nathan’s snyare plants, she was completely at his mercy.

Nathan: “Listen if you please return my stuff, I can clear up everything, you don’t have to trust me, let me earn it.”

Celes was sure she had a choice anymore, she raised her hand and the branches covering Nathan’s weapons were removed. He walked over and picked up both and immediately removed the scabbard from one sword. Celes immediately forgot everything else, her attention was immediately drawn to the blade.

Celes: “(Amazing)”.

Nathan immediately sheath the sword, allowing Celes to come to her senses. If she was Iris sister, he was confident that, it would have the same effect on her.

Celes: “(That was Origin, it was…. It was, Simply breathtaking.)”

Nathan: “Now do you believe me?”

Celes: “(Yes, there can be no mistake, you are, who you say you are.)”

Nathan: “Good, then about letting us out.”

Celes: “(Y-Yes, right away.)”

A wave of her hand and the trees parted, allowing light to shine in freely once again. Nathan was amazed as how just how much of effect “Origin” had on fairies. Just seeing it would make them wholeheartedly commit to it.

Anais: “Finally, took you long enough, let’s get out of here.”

Nathan: “Yeah, all the fighting stopped when I pulled out Origin, but I really hope she didn’t hurt anyone.”

Nathan and Anais rush out of the forest, with Celes following close behind.

Anais: “What the Hell!?”

Nathan: “Whoa!

As they exited they, the area filled with girls, like Celes. Some floating in midair, other semi submerged in the river and others just standing around. But the most surprising thing to Nathan and Anais, not even one of them were wearing clothes, everything out in the open, all for Nathan to see. A moment later, Nathan spotted Iris who sped towards Nathan, at a blinding speed and at the same time Anais jumped at him.

Iris and Anais: “DON’T LOOK!”

Nathan reflexes took over and he completely dodged them both, sending them crashing into one another. He turned back around to the field of women and smirked.

Nathan: “Way too late for that.”