His services. Ash considered his offer but was hesitant about accepting. Him following her on the quest would prove slightly difficult for her. Looking at Hugh, she could see that he too seemed unwilling to look Azrael in the eyes.

"I accept your offer and thank you for your kindness in assisting," she finally spoke meeting Azrael's gaze. "We shall leave now, then." Moving towards the house, Ash made to get her weapons. She strapped her belt with the sword around her waist and slipped on the bronze band on her right arm.

She looked into the mirror and retied her hair into a ponytail, mentally preparing herself for the task at hand. That done, Ash went back out and squeezed Hugh's large hand. "I promise we will find the objects and defeat Garthox," she whispered. Hugh placed his other hand over hers, acknowledging her words before she departed.

"Shall we then?" she asked Javo and Azrael as she walked towards the sliver gate that led to Earth. Placing the orb into the dent on the side of the gate, Ash watched as a bright blue ball of energy formed in the centre of the gate to slowly expand out into a portal. She waited for Javo and Azrael to enter before she did. Beyond the gate was an attic. The portal led to the attic of Ash's old abandoned home.

Night was but a pleasant reprieve from the chaos of the world. Forest burning, and animals senselessly slaughters freshly flashed in his mind’s eye when he was awake, but as he slept his mind blocked out those images giving him the peace he need to rest. While the others had chosen to sleep inside, he had found a tall tree to rest in; the branches cradling him above the restless waves of life and life problems below.

The tree of wisdom had granted him the knowledge of nature, and life. Making him not only one with nature, but nature it’s self; being able to communicate and feel its presence all around him. He now was nature, and now nature was him and took care of him as if its child.

The sun peaked across the horizon, its gentle rays casting dancing shadows across his skin. The warmth caused him to stir, finally waking him his eyes once to adjust to the new light. Stretching quietly, he reached up to the sky then
to his toes. Looking down he saw the other guardians beginning to gather.

Putting his knife inside his mouth he climbed down the tree face down, flipping his feet over his head once he was close enough to the ground. His feet made almost no sound, the sound being dampened by the soft dewy leaves that
had fallen during the night.

Walking over to the other guardians that were gathered, he stretched his arms across his chest. Their faces were solemn, determination the canvas for their features. Wrapping his tail loosely around his waist, he smiled trying to give them some comfort in what was to come.

Javo simply watched everyone come out, trying to remember names...And worlds...And just what they could do. In his pocket he had a small notepad and the stub of a pencil, something he always carried with him, where he had written down everything he could about them. This was simply his way of dealing with all of the unreality of, well, everything that had ever happened to him. If he looked at the shy guy who wanted to go with, and thought of him having powers over darkness and shapeshifting, there was a niggling doubt in the back of his head. But when he opened it up and wrote it down on paper, everything felt much more real. He kept a strict journal, where he recorded all of his thoughts and actions, and kept it safe and hidden for only his eyes.

The fish-man wasn't the only one staring. Javo found his eyes wandering closer and closer to the merman, unable to stop himself from looking. He wanted to come over and starting asking a bunch of questions, like if he could breath underwater, how deep he could dive, what the heck SCALES felt like...And also to say that however he looked, it was pretty awesome. But even the teen had the sense not to ask anyone such things, for fear of looking like, well, an ass.

He spotted more and more people, but one caught his eye in particular. Azrael was his name, wasn't it? Yeah, that guy was wrong. He couldn't place WHY he felt like that, but intuition had saved his life on several occasions. In his head, his 'bullshit' meter was going off the charts with that guy. But he couldn't just pull out a gun and shoot him right here for no good reason--okay, he COULD--and besides, sometimes that intuition was wrong. Still, he felt glad that the guy was coming with Ash and him. That meant a closer eye on him. And he'd make sure the guy was NEVER out of his sight, until his suspicion had passed.

He looked up at Ash, knowing that he'd need to convey this to her, too, but for the time being showed no sign. "Yeah, I'm ready...Though why the heck an underwater cavern?" Or, perhaps he should have said 'Why couldn't it have been in some place cool, like NY?'

Kairen stop up, finally realizing that it would be the proper thing to do in such cases; it had been years since he had required to speak with others, and he did not feel comfortable in large groups. After all, very few predators of the sea were known for their social skills; the Great Sharks of Solas hunted alone and that suited them just fine. His voice was powerful, not loud but powerful, and rough. "I'll be going alone." The statement was not intended to make it sound as if he wanted to be alone (which he did) or would not accept any help, but rather because the mer-man could not think of anything else to begin a conversation. "My home is almost entirely underwater, those without gills would be at a very serious disadvantage." Solas, home of the Merfolk, was a vicious world of predators. Contrary to belief, living beneath the massive waves did not provide any protection, but only added to the dangers. Actually, those humans, fairies, or pixies that managed to somehow breathe underneath the water would likely be killed and eaten by the denizens of one of the underwater kingdoms. That was the way of Solas.

He noticed that one of the people in the group outside, he didn't know his names because names were insignificant to him, looking at him. Kairen applauded the man for his way of sneaking looks, but the merfolk were rather skilled with their senses. Well, at least those who were not in the beuracracy were. Kairen's gills opened slightly, as if they were flexing. It would likely prove to be...disturbing for those around him due to the sucking sound that followed. As a result of the mucus membrane that covers him, his gills are normally sealed away when they aren't needed; opening them was just a way to be prepared once he arrived on his home planet once more. Of course, Kairen was also tense with anticipation; his lean muscles were coiled, as if from instinct, and he appeared to be somewhhat jumpy now that the time for them to depart had come. He spoke up once more. "Oh, and yes, I can breathe underwater."

Joshua had arisen several hours ago. He sat under a tree that lay near Hugh's abode. The air was full of mystery. When he had woke up, he had seen all the other Guardians resting. Immediately after he had awoke, he sensed an air of deceit. Where it came from, Josh had no idea, but it was strong... As the other Guardians arose and came out to meet the sun, Josh observed each of them. They were such a diverse folk, including a man who looked so young, a merman, and a fairy. Josh sighed. He thought that he might as well make his way down toward the rest of them.

As he approached the home of Hugh, he saw that Ash, Javo, and Azrael were beginning their departure. He nodded at Ash and said in his deep, soothing voice, "Be strong Ash, you are wise I know, but ther are some things that even the wisest of people cannot avoid." His eyes lingering on Azrael only long enough so that Ash could see. "Keep your friends close..." He added trailing off.

Josh was debating if he would want another person to come with him or not. The Elven world of Jagantha was overall a peaceful place, but the Elves did not take to outsiders easily. They always felt the sense of betrayal coming towards them in the eyes of other beings. He figured that it would be simpler if he went alone as well, therefore, his travels could be made by his own means and he would not have to wait for the other to catch up. " I too shall travel alone..." Josh said out loud. "Jagantha itself is not a place of war or vicious creatures, but the Elves do not invite strangers into their homes" He included. "Also, as I saw in my vision, my object seems to be in one of the Dark Forests. These are the most dangerous areas of Jagantha. But I can understand why the object was placed there"

"I accept your offer and thank you for your kindness in assisting. We shall leave now, then."

Azrael straightened as Ash went to retrieve her weapons and placed his left hand casually behind his rapier on his sword belt. Flashing Javo a disarming smile, he waits for Ash to return from inside. As Ash returned and prepared to depart, the other guardians began to speak up, some discussing travel plans, others offering words of support to Ash. Some even went so far as to imply she watch him, as they did not seem to trust him. This group was far more perceptive than most others he had dealt with. Ash placed that opaque stone in the silver arch, the same stone he had left for Claudius to obtain and use to move his armies, and a blue sphere appeared in the center. Small at first, then slowly expanding until it filled the entire archway.

As Azrael looked at the viscous surface of the portal, it seemed to flow and slide across itself, giving it the appearance of living quicksilver. Noting that Ash was waiting on her companions to enter first, he nods to Javo and steps into the portal, the blue glow adding an eerie hue to his features as he neared. Azrael's foot broke the surface first, and the portal began to extend to his leg, wanting to envelope him and pull him into the place to which it lead. Without hesitation, he continued through, becoming completely lost to sight to all still left on Arilt.

The portal closed around him, enveloped him in a warm, welcoming cocoon. It made him want to retch. All the joy of life, the happiness that brought hope to the worlds, all of it flowed through him as he approached Earth, his former home. All of this joy that belonged to others, not to him. He had no source of happiness left. It made him feel all the more hollow inside. It fueled the hate he held for the pathetic scum the guardians wished to save. He wanted to scream, to lash out and destroy the Gate, to let no others feel the ecstasy he could no longer have, but he controlled himself, as he always did.

Stepping out the other side, Azrael emerged in a darkened attic, lit only by the blue glow of the gateway. There were none around, it was a sense he had developed, but even still, he silently drew his blade, readying himself for a possible ambush. He stepped to the side of the gateway to make room for the other two and knelt, preparing to spring at any attackers laying in wait for Ash and the peculiar young fellow that followed her.

Kiana walked into the huge library of her castle, a library most would view as the most dangerous library in all of the worlds. It was packed with dusty scrolls and tomes of necromantic text, some even written by the necromancer herself. She placed her pack on one of the many tables, and moved over to a shelf. Her fingers kissed the spines of the books as she searched for the right one.
Finally, she grabbed one of the dusty tomes and pulled it from the shelf. She moved over to a table, a work table where she practiced whatever necromancy she could do inside. She flipped open the book, her fingers flipping each rasping page. She settled in the middle of the book, finding the spell she wanted. It would require many items.
She snapped her fingers, and a slave stumbled forward on rotting feet.

“Bring this to me.” Kiana said, then she started to recite the ingredients. The dead thing melted into the shadows, heading for a secret room only Kiana and her slaves knew about. It returned within a minute, bearing a silver plate with all the ingredients on it. Kiana took the plate, carefully placing it on the table.
She sprinkled some herbs coated with dried blood into her mortar, and used a pestle to grind it to a fine smooth dust. She sprinkled in more, different and odd smelling herbs. She took the vial of fresh blood from the plate, and poured the contents over the concoction. Smoke rose in light pink waves, the smell like aromatherapy to her.
She pulled over a metal bowl, and poured the liquid inside. Small bits of herb floated in the deadly substance. She placed the metal bowl on a fire, it would need to boil to be truly potent.
She snapped her fingers again, and a slave appeared.

“Go out to the castle graveyard.” Kiana whispered. “And dig up twenty bodies.” She smiled as the slave registered the information and went to fetch help. Not only did Garthox give Kiana a world of her own, but he also supplied her unlimited resources. The dead slain in the battle for Belluvier.

Javo wasn't at all fazed by the smile, even giving one back. Mainly because that same smile had been used by just about EVERYONE who'd lie to their own mothers. The smile of a politician. Maybe it was just his paranoia towards, well, anyone. (Espeicially someone with that sort of sentence structure, he thought. God, who in the world talks like fuckin Mary Sue? But, paranoia or not, he could still see the little signs that marked him as the odd man out. What was the saying? 'It's a lot easier to find something when you're looking for it.' Yeah, that's the one. It fit really well here. Yet there was the niggling doubt that maybe he was being overzealous, just waiting to shoot a rat from the woodpile. Well, better to shoot a log than let the rat come out and maul your face to pieces.

When Azrael stepped through, Javo was granted a little time with Ash. He looked to her, with a straight face, and said only one sentence. "That guy's not right. We are NOT letting him out of our site...And never go unarmed." Unable to resist, he got one final look at the fish-guy, who was now flapping some sort of gills and making a weird sucking sound...And yes, he could breathe underwater. "Now THAT'S fuckin sweet..." he muttered under his breath, hopefully so no one could here him, before stepping through himself.

The trip was nice; definitely the best one he had had between worlds, other than the one used to come here. Normally, he would be in one place, then blink, and be falling into another. Funny the first time, sucky the next nine. Not fun at all...But this was rather cool, getting wrapped up all warm and toasty like he was in an oven, but one that didn't go above eighty and dispensed sugar or something random like that. Whatever it was, he liked it. When it ended, though, he snapped back into reality, placing his right hand on the butt of his Ruger, grip tightening around it at seeing Azrael with a sword. He'd be ready to draw on command, if needed.

Claudius waited outside the volcanic and blasted location, having nothing better to do without orders from Gorthax and help from the other minions. He was supposed to be on the offensive, but his backup was yet to arrive.

He had no idea what he should be doing until the time arrived when the guardians came or when he was to spearhead the military force that would bring another world under the control of Gorthax.

He and his small twenty man force were camped out on a jagged bluff above the portals, taking the advantage of stealth into account, and hiding their position behind a tangle of vines and other junk. The group of tents were standard canvas military tents, painted green and Grey in a camouflage pattern, instead of the usual bright yellow and dark black striping of the main army.

He had followed the same routine day after day, training and working on his strategy for the campaign ahead. A pile of charts and maps inside his tent was accumulating slowly up as he tried to think of way to defeat the guerrilla tactics of Magic using fairies. This was one of his major hitches, defeating the fast and agile heavy hitters in conditions where deep ranks of pikemen and riflemen wouldn't do.

No, No, No!

He yelled as he crumpled another yellowing paper chart of the battlefield at the portal entrance. He had made a terrible mistake, leaving his left flank open to attacks from the low lying brush in that area... But there was one thing he could do. Uncrumpling the chart, he marked a few lines across the brush, signitfing that it was another target for the magical firebombing that would come first, before his troops moved in.

“My minions…those who oppose my will, the Guardians, are gathering strength even now. Crush them…shred their flesh from their bones. Drink deeply of their sorrow; blacken their worlds with the spread of my will. Trample their fragile hopes and allow the mourning of their dead to caress you and give you strength. This time we shall win…”

As the last fleeting echoes of his master’s commands dissipated in his dark mind Grim neared his small dwelling. Even on this half dead planet, controlled almost completely those he would call allies he preferred his privacy, or as much as he could get. Digging through his odd collection of trinkets he finally retrieved the select few items he wished to bring on this most important of journeys. Of the greatest note were his blade, HellGrind, and his scythe, Thatanos. Each bore it’s won purpose and strengths; Thatanos was a relic of his past, and had grown and changed as he had these last few millennia, while the blade, HellGrind, was a gift from the great Lord Garthox, recovered from the ancient tombs and treasuries of a far off place, bearing both control over magic, and an unyielding hone.

Yet even before his journey had begun an obstacle had to overcome. He would not, could not, leave Kiana here unprotected, yet just the same leaving a part of himself in the form of a Breaking would likely attract Garthox’s attention to the matter, and that could be dangerous. Therefore all he could do would be to leave a summoned, or in this case, an avatar. There were advantages in the likelihood that it would go unnoticed by Garthox and Kiana, yet it could never be as strong as the full breaking he had intended. Breaking had been an ability he’d just uncovered about a century ago, and involved splitting oneself into multiple parts. Each fraction contained a part of the original, physically exactly the same, yet spiritually incomplete. It was dangerous, painful, and dehabilitating in the short term, yet far more powerful than any summoning spell. At a later time the two halves would combine, leaving a single whole, with the memories and experiences of both.

Yet he could not do this, so the avatar would have to suffice. Drawing a small dagger and slicing open part of his arm Grim flinched lightly as blood slowly began to poor out. Walking around in a circle, and then straight lines, a pattern began to form on the barren dirt floor. For an spell such as this, rituals done in ones own blood were strongest, and almost required. Completing the last parts of the massive rune Grim placed a bandage on the wound and set down on one knee, muttering a string of unintelligible word under his breath. As the last words echoed through the silent glade Grim scraped the dull side of the blade across the wound, covering it in blood, before slamming it into the center of the runic symbol.

As the tip of the blood soaked blade slammed into the center of the activated rune Grim shivered and spasmed as massive quantities of magic were sucked from his being, to sate the lust of the spell he had brought to bear. Dropping onto his side, drained heavily from his slightly overextended use of magic Grim looks up at the creature he had wrought. It was nearly an exact replica of himself, yet even in its haunting glory it was incomplete, as past the hooded visage lay nothing more than an all consuming darkness. Shakily getting to his feet Grim commanded his dark creation.

“Seek out the lady of this land, Kiana, and watch over her. Protect her from all those that would hunt her, yet do not reveal yourself without purpose, for stealth will be your greatest ally. Go now, and let none stand before you.”

As the dark incantation left on its all consuming errand Grim slowly struck out to the portals, his mind wandering as he traveled through the barren woods. It would provide all the protection he could muster while he was away, defending her from any enemy, Guardian, Minion, or even Garthox himself, if only for a moment. It was bound to his will alone, as Grim was bound to Garthox, and would follow his commands without heed for its own safety, as would Grim if a breaking had been possible. Yet he had now down all he could, for now, and his next mission awaited. Continuing on, slowly regaining the strength that had been lost in the summoning, Grim, Garthox’s Assassin, former King of Hisbanl, and secret Guardian of Kiana, trekked onward.

Kiana stood outside in the castle graveyard, a slave standing next to her. Laying almost artistically in a line, were the twenty corpses she had requested be exhumed. Twenty of her slaves, one before each body, stood before her. She smiled and nodded, gesturing toward the silver plate her other slave carried.
The twenty moved forward, each selecting a vial containing a small amount of the liquid she had brewed. Each went to a body, and pried open the mouth, letting the liquid slid down the old and rotten throats. Kiana savored the stench, inhaling deeply. These were to be her soliders, it was a spell she had made herself. Once the liquid was in, she started to chant, raising her head to the sky. Her voice was loud, the only sound in the dead lands.
The clouds shifted and broke apart at her words, even the weather effected by the power. As she chanted, the bodies started to move, to grow. Flesh grew were flesh wasn’t. Blood started to run in the dry and flat veins. Organs starting to thrum and throb with new life. Her chant ended, and she looked down.
Twenty soldiers stood before her, all eyes on her. They were alive again, but bound to her will. She snapped her fingers, and a slave rushed forward with armor and weapons. They were all outfitted, and she watched them suit up with delight.
What she had just created were twenty of the most unstoppable creatures ever to walk. Only those with necromantic experience could send them back to death, and only a weapon of fire and spell could bring them down. And even then, it would be nearly impossible.
Kiana admired her new personal guard. They would stand, four at the castle gates, two at the castle doors. The other fourteen would guard strategic areas of her castle to allow for the best security possible. Kiana felt drained, having done enough magic for the day. She was about to collapse, and she leaned on one of her slaves for support. It was composed of much strength, and could carry her if she wished.
She didn’t say another word as her slave swept her off the ground, carrying her to her bed chamber were she would get some much needed rest.

Ash turned to face the other Guardians. Who knew how long they would be apart, searching for their objects. Ash could only hope that all of them would have aid in their own Worlds. "If anyone of us finds the item first, we'll come to aid the rest of you." She acknowledged Joshua's warning with a nod of her head before stepping through the portal.

Warmth filled her as the energy enveloped her. As the scene of Arilt vanished behind her, the view of the attic appeared before her. Stepping forward, Ash stepped through onto the other side.She pulled away form the portal and her feet landed on the hard floor. She watched as Javo tensed at the sight of Azrael's hand on his weapon. Javo was also suspicious of him and had said they would keep a close eye on the man. But Azrael's back was to them, meaning he was looking out for possible attackers not getting ready to attack them.

Ash looked at the mirror through which they had come out of. Instead of a gate on this side, Earth's 'gate' was a mirror. The blue orb slowly appeared on her side and she lifted it away from the mirror's border. Stuffing it into the pouch at her waist, she looked at her two comrades, or she assumed one to be.

"I suggest we head on down to the library first," she thought out loud, gazing out of the small window. This had once been her home. But her parents had been mysteriously killed here and Ash had been whisked away to live with Hugh and Farath. She had never found out what had happened to her family and being in this house was not boding well with her.

"Let's just go," she said softly. The house was on the outskirts of New York. They would head on down to the the NY State library to see which cave it was they were supposed to head on down to.

Azrael makes a mental note of each of his concomitants as they exit the portal, his mind chuckling at the boy who thought his weapon could really affect him. Yes, he had noticed the small tensing Javo had made as he stepped through the gateway to find Azrael with blade made bare, and he knew what the boy was thinking. Ignoring him for the moment, Azrael focused on Ash, now stepping through and retrieving the stone from the mirror's frame, replacing it in her pouch and peering out the window to the streets below. He stands slowly at Ash's words, letting the blade fall to his waist, still ready for use at a moment's notice, and walks over to get a better view out of the window at the world he had returned to after so long away.

What he saw gave him pause almost great enough to shake his constantly serene visage. The buildings outside the window were much taller than any he had before seen, and they were made from steel and glass. There were strange objects moving about below, faster than the swiftest steed he had ever seen, and more bulky and cumbersome. It was a wonder they moved at all. The air, however, was comfortingly putrid, the pollution giving the place a darker aura. The people were dressed in such strange garbs, and none carried the slightest hint of a weapon, it made Azrael almost want to laugh. His consort on Earth had kept him informed of the status, but he never fully grasped the extent to which his former home world had changed.

Looking further into the distance, he saw the sprawling metropolis of New York, assuming that must be where Ash was talking about. All knowledge was held in the large cities, that was a fact no matter the world you were in. Azrael returned his rapier to its place at his hip and turned towards the staircase leading down from the attic.

"I assume this is the way out, unless you intend to leave via the window. If so, please allow me to reach the ground first, that I might catch you." Azrael chuckled lightly at his own joke, trying to ease the tension still hanging in the air between the three of them.

Anila tossed gently as she rolled over, falling promptly onto the cold, hard floor and waking with a sharp yell. Having been one of the few to manage the comfort of a bed, she was a tad more well rested, despite the fact that her sleep had been plagued by dreams of the day before, and of Josen. Groaning softly as she scrambled to her feet, rubbing her now tender head, Aline stumbled forward, stepping on someone’s hand in the process.
With a hasty apology to the half awake Guardian, whose name Anila couldn’t quite remember, Anila made her way outside, hovering above the ground every few steps as her subconscious tested her powers gently.
Her attire was once again changed, how it was done when she carried so little was left a mystery. The white material fluttered about the legs as she walked, the early morning sunshine saturating her creamy skin with a passion fruit gaze. The traditional time of mourning was coming to a close, but the sorrow still lingered deep within the young girls heart. Looking about in time to see Ash pass through the gate, Anila moved towards Hugh, tilting her head back to see the Brother’s face properly as she came to stand beside him.
“I take it it’s time for me to return home, then?”

No one seemed to note his presence, spites where never popular among other races; their lack of action, and their passiveness, usually pushing others away. It seemed that action and power was the only thing that made you noticeable in this time and age. Keeping himself relatively concealed as he watched the other guardians pass through the portal, and move to their respective worlds. Over all it didn’t matter though, each one seemed nice enough. He would have liked to spend more time to get to know them, but unfortunately in depth one on one personal questions had to wait; they just simply didn’t have time to deal with anything but gathering the artifacts.
Moving out of the shadows, he moved towards the still open portal, slipping threw the metallic surface. It was a smooth transition, almost as if moving through a curtain, or veil.

The sky was dark, and fires burned dimly in the village down the mountain. The bright full moons were casting a brilliant light over the pathway leading down the hill towards the town, making navigating the path down easy and less treacherous than during a new moon. In this lighting he had no doubts what so ever that his world was the most beautiful of the eight. Its lush green forest accompanied by it fresh streams and lakes, left most visitors speechless.

Moving down the incline at a light run, he made it down the hill in less than a minute. The cool air flowed around him, and each rustle, or creek seemed amplified for some reason. Each sound coming as a full blown orchestra as moved through the town. By the time he reached his small cot he was at a full fledge run, his eyes wide with fright at the new feelings and movements he was now painfully aware of. Ripping open the door, he flew to his thatch mat, burying himself in the covers in a pitiful attempt to close out the sounds swarming around him.

Josh turned to the rest of them. "I guess I will take your leave..." He muttered under his breath. Something was wrong with that Azrael character, the look that he gave to everyone as he passed through the portal, it was unnerving. Even Hugh could sense that there was something different about him, not necessarily bad, but something that set him apart from the other Guardians. Josh had half the mind just to follow them so that to keep a closer watch on them. But he knew that there was his own destiny to fulfill, he had to get the Bow. It was instrumental to his success.

Joshua acknowledged the sprites and the fairy's arrival. He shrugged as the sprite concealed himself and slipped through his own portal. He figured that most of the Guardians werent as accustomed to meeting new people so suddenly and not getting a chance to no them before trusting their life in your hands. Joshua could understand this feeling. When he had first arrived there, he was also that way, not speaking to anyone or discussing anything about the recent times. But as the hours passed, Josh slowly got used to the personalities of each of the others.

He decided to openly say it now that they had left. "I believe there might be a corruption in the being known as Azrael. Its nothing guaranteed... I just sense that there is something leading him the other way" He said. "At all times, I wish that you all make sure you keep in good contact with Ash. I dont want anything happening to her." He added. "Now, I shall leave... Stay strong everyone, stay in good contact, and if any trouble arises, message me, I will always come to your assistance." He finished. He turned back around and set his orb onto the gateway.

He stepped through, closing his eyes as the the veil became a liquid, and arrived on the other side. As Josh fluttered his eyes opened, he breathed a sigh of relief, nothing had changed. He had arrived immediately outside a waterfall. The waterfall in fact was the portal. It was a special waterfall though. At night, the waterfall would begin to change colors and was extremely soothing to the magical beings. Josh grinned. He was glad to be home.

"We go by the way that results in less pain," she simply commented before stepping away from the window to walk down the old stairs that creaked under her every step. The entire stairway was covered in a layer of dust. So no one had moved in here after the death of her parents and her disappearance. To everyone she had known, Ash had simply vanished.

Opening the door, she entered the corridor of the second floor. She kept her head lowered not wanting to see anything. Increasing her pace, Ash headed to the stairs and practically ran down. She averted her eyes from the walls that were filled with pictures of her as a child together with her parents. They were memories she had tucked away in the back of her mind and they were something she did not want to visit anytime soon.

Reaching the main door, Ash turned the knob and stepped out into the open. The streets were busy with children playing and cars moving, attempting to get to their destination. Everthing was as she had left. Nothing much had changed in those 13 yeards. That was when it first hit her. Turning, she looked at the attire Azrael was wearing. It was not of this time; it was of the 16th no 18th century? But he couldn't be from that time. He looked to be in his twenties just like her. Her mind reeled at the possibilities of what he could be when she caught herself.

Thinking logically, she reasoned that he was probably one of those humans whose parents shifted out of Earth during that time just before travel to other Worlds had been permanently stopped. But still, the very first thought that had popped into her head, remained there.

"We probably have to get you changed Azrael," she indicated his outfit. her gaze then fell upon Javo. He was fine but she herself had to hide the sword she had. People would become worried if they saw her carrying a dangerous weapon out in the open.
...........................................................................................................................................

"I understand your concern and it reflects mine as well. I will be keeping close communication with her," Hugh nodded his head at the young elf's request. "Ash will be fine." Hugh watched as one by one, the Guardians took their leave, each one stepping through the gateways back to their own Worlds. He wished he could follow them and provide extra protection but it was impossible. Garthox had completely dominated one World and he was probably spreading his rule in another right now. No, he would have to stay here and meet with the High Kings first, decisions had to be made and Hugh had to be there.

He smiled as the petite fairy stood beside him. He believed that despite her fragile size and delicate features, Alina was strong and very capable. "Yes, it is time. be safe as you travel back to your World. Keep an eye out for the enemy and keep your allies close," he advised her.

Javo noticed just how shaken the guy was from seeing Earth. Once again, his 'bullshit' meter rose, and he found himself thinking Alright, the guy looks like a freaking de-iced caveman. Isn't THAT enough to shoot him? While his gut said 'hell yes', his mind said 'not quite'. There was no excuse for it (he didn't know quite as much as Ash did about this universe), but still that good little Samaritan in the back of his head wouldn't let him pull the trigger just yet, despite the red guy kicking the gimpy angel in the balls with logic. However, he knew a quick and easy way to tell if the guy was faking being from Earth (in which case, he could be lying about any number of things), or was genuily just another stranger out of time.

When they reached the street, and the realization was made, Javo swore under his breath. "Ah man, I don't have a gun licence...Or a sword licence...Or a driver's license...I'm a freaking illegal immigrant!" He groaned, but got over it quickly enough.

As they walked down the street, Javo made a casual comment, pointing to a tall building on the skyline. "Man, that Jersey Tower's still one helluva building. Just can't forget it, can you?" Of course, he was talking, really, about the Empire State Building.

Azrael stopped laughing when he realized no one else found his joke to be particularly amusing, and followed Ash down the old staircase. The dust covering everything lay so thick that it muffled nearly all sound of their passing, and their footfalls made barely a mark on the dulled floors. He saw pictures of a child and her parents, what he could only assume was Ash and her family, and it brought back haunting memories of his own. Flashes of his childhood raced through his mind, so powerful he almost saw himself running across the hall being chased by his father, the both of them laughing and without a care in the world. He turned his head forward and blocked out all except Ash's back following her through the decrepit house, shoving his memories back into the recesses of his mind.

As Ash opened the door, bright sunlight flooded the entryway, and Azrael had to squint to let his eyes readjust. He stepped out onto the sidewalk as one of the children nearly ran into him. The boy apologized and began to run off, and Azrael chuckled that it was no problem at all. In truth, had he not been creating his ruse, the boy would be on the ground groveling for forgiveness, not merely apologizing and running off. Sighing, his smile giving it the appearance of joy at the wonders of youth, Azrael turns back to the other two.

"We probably have to get you changed Azrael," Ash indicated his outfit. Azrael looks at his own garments and looks about at the general populace roaming the streets, sighing again. "You're probably right, guardian, but where am I going to find attire suitable for this place? And alas, I have no currency of the realm." Just then, Javo spoke up pointing to a tall building off in the distant skyline.

"Man, that Jersey Tower's still one Helluva building. Just can't forget it, can you?" Looking to the building indicated, he nods. "If that's what it's called. I have not been here in many long years, as I moved away shortly after the passing of my parents. Time moves differently between worlds, and I have been away a very, very long time it seems." Azrael assumes a look of nostalgia, then shakes his head, as though trying to remain in the present. This boy was pretty smart. He'd have to watch him.