Writer Lady Takes Command

 

The room grows dim as the light fixtures glow with a deep gray light.

“Attack on Castle Gris to commence in 10 minutes 59 seconds,” echoes throughout the room as a countdown begins.

“There's no time left to find the little monster.” Tinkletoes says.

“We should probably get going.” Dobby Cat agrees.

“Orders M’lady?” Diomedes asks again.

“Spots! Smudge!” Writer Lady calls. The litter mates appear at her side in a matter of seconds in their usual Stephen King-ish horror story way.

“Yes?” Smudge asks.

“Mommy/Food Lady.” Spots says.

“Come on.” Writer Lady orders. Turning her attention to Diomedes as she returns to the back wall she begins, “What I need the three of you to do is to guard this wall. If anything from Faerie tries to enter the house send them back. Nothing is to enter unless I'm with them.” All three nod. “What's your job?” She asks.

“To not let anything in.” Smudge says.

“No matter what.” Spots replies.

Diomedes nods.

The phrase, When there is war there is sure to be those seeking shelter from it, pops into her head. Crap. “If anyone approaches who says I sent them only trust them if you see…”

“...her magic on them.” T.P. says as he apparates next to her.

Writer Lady looks at the faerie and says, “You’re forgetting, no one can see my magic.”

“T.P. fix.” The faerie says. Reaching out he places a hand on Writer Lady’s upper arm. Her faerie tattoo becomes visible, the “WL” in stylized script glows with faerie dust.

“There.” He says.

Writer Lady looks at his work. “What does amping up the energy on a magical tattoo do to help this situation?” She asks.

“As long as your tattoo can be seen all who look upon it will see the power of a queen.”

“How about if she just looks like a badass warrior that I don't have to come save all the time?” Tinkletoes asks as he tosses a large gear bag onto the floor next to Writer Lady's feet.

“What about the rest of us?” Aunt Purdy asks.

Writer Lady turns her attention to Aunt Purdy. “Would you and T.P. please lead a search for Lady Gray’s messenger? When you find him or her tell them we know what's happening in The Graylands and that we're on our way?”

Writer Lady looks at T.P. “I need you to return to Faerie with the messenger once you find them.”

“Carp, Daemon, Dobby Cat, Tinkletoes and I are headed for Castle Gris.” Writer Lady looks at Aunt Purdy and Ray. “Keep yourselves and the kids safe. I may have to send Lady Gray here before this is over. She’s never been to our world. She’ll need help acclimating to it.” Writer Lady looks at T.P., “If the enemy doesn’t capture Lady Gray The Graylands can’t be conquered right?”

T.P. nods. “No leader in your hands means no taking over their lands. It’s the rule.”

The self-proclaimed mercenary looks up at Writer Lady. “How did you know that?” He asks. 

“Because that's the way Writer Lady would have written the rules if she was in charge.” Carp says.

 Writer Lady's eyes search the room, “Is everyone clear on what they need to do?” There are nods all around. Writer Lady accepts the pack Tinkletoes is holding out to her as she reaches out for the glowing knob on the bright gray door that has appeared before her.

“Aren't you forgetting something?” Carp asks.

Writer Lady looks at the line of soldiers behind her. Tinkletoes, Dobby Cat, Daemon...she looks at Carp who’s bringing up the rear, “No.”

“We are facing ninja-zombies and we’re missing a key player.” He sings. Carp holds up a picture of Monitor Man. It's a photo from his most recent movie. The actor is smoldering in front of a camera as a city is going up in flames behind him. The picture is framed. Carp is holding it next to his cheek like a prized possession.

Writer Lady looks from Carp to Tinkletoes.

“Let's go.” The self-proclaimed mercenary says.

“Smoldering expressions aren't going to save The Graylands.” Writer Lady points out.

“They won't.” Carp agrees. “Monitor Man fought beside you when you were alone.”

“A fight I wouldn't have been in if he hadn't been so full of himself to begin with.”

“He did rise to the occasion when it really counted.” Carp replies.

“6 minutes 15 seconds.”

“There's no time.” Writer Lady says as she grasps the knob and turns. It's the last thing she remembers before her world turns to gray.

The Writing On The Wall

 

Writer Lady raises the light to the gray wall.

To Writer Lady. Greetings my friend. Apologies for the dramatic method I am using to reach out to you but The Graylands have been attacked and my means of communication are currently quite limited. My magic has become erratic due to the evil that has infiltrated my lands. I have little control over the results of its use. The enemy has taken over most of my kingdom. I find myself surrounded, only Castle Gris and the woods encircling it remain under my care. Will you please send help in battling this new enemy? As it appears he is from your world, not mine, I feel that the only way I can defeat this human is with the help of other humans. Will you help me win this battle and restore The Graylands to her prior glory? Please respond with great haste as I am not sure how much longer I can hold the castle on my own.

Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady and grins. “You stay here.” He says. “I've got this.”

Writer Lady's eyes shift to the other adults in the room gauging their reactions.

“Stand Down Dipshit. She said she needs someone to outwit another human not spill ninja-zombie brains everywhere,” House responds. “When it's time to make a mess she'll call you.”

Tinkletoes’ upper arm muscle flexes in anticipation. “War is messy,” He says. “I make great messes.”

“He's not wrong.” Paige admits.

“Mi’lady more information has arrived.” Diomedes announces as he gestures to the top of the wall which is now glowing bright gray.

Writer Lady moves the beam of light from the base of the wall back to the top.

P.S. The enemy’s armies consist of wild ogres and ninja-zombies. If the warrior known as Tinkletoes would escort you here it would be most appreciated. His skills in defeating the ninja-zombie army is legendary here in Faerie.

The self-proclaimed mercenary does not speak a word. A quiet calm radiates from him. He looks at Writer Lady. “Legendary. I told you I had skills.” He says as a grin slowly crosses his lips.

“You have skills.” She agrees.

“That have made me legendary.” He says, finishing the sentence.

“He's going to brag about this all day long.” House comments.

“Not all day.” Tinkletoes counters. “Just long enough to make sure everyone knows I'm a legend.”

Writer Lady trains the light back on the wall.

Your assistance is most desperately needed. Castle Gris and all who reside in it await your arrival. Please make haste before it's too late.

Most Gratefully yours Lady Gray

Writer Lady watches as the words disappear from her wall and the color returns to it.

The heavy sole of a boot scrapes against the linoleum as Tinkletoes shifts his weight.

“Orders?”

Writer Lady looks at Diomedes, whose color has changed from the neon glow of earlier to a more subdued but still dramatic warm orange.

“Your orders M’lady?” He asks.

Writer Lady looks from Tinkletoes to Daemon and Diomedes to the other people in the room. “I'm working on them,” she says. “I need a little more information before I give any orders.” Writer Lady looks in the direction of the ceiling and calls “TP!”

The faerie pops into the room next to Writer Lady, he's wearing a Jester hat and is giggling. When TP sees that something important seems to be going on, the faerie’s giggling diminishes, flowing into a “Yes?”

“What's going on?” She asks.

“What?” TP responds.

“If Lady Gray is at war, if The Graylands are in trouble, why didn't you say something?”

The faerie did not speak at first. “TP's been…… busy.” He says. He looks at the bell from the hat he's wearing dangling in front of his eyes and quickly removes it.

Tinkletoes approaches shifting his gaze back and forth from the hat in the faerie’s hand and the baby dragon. The self-proclaimed mercenary stops next to Writer Lady. “Where'd you get that?”

“What?” TP asks as he hides the hat behind his back.

“The thing with the bells on it. The hat."

"I found it.”

Writer Lady studies TP closely before shifting her attention to Furnatche. The baby dragon is sniffing at the floor. His super smeller nose is working at full throttle as he slowly meanders closer and closer to the ground below TP's fluttering form. “Where was it? Where did you find it?” She asks.

TP looks at the ceiling before answering, "In the wallway.” He says.

“Wallway?” Writer Lady repeats.

“It's a walkway through House. Between her walls.”

Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady, “Told you something was wrong.”

“How long has it been here?”

“Not long.” TP says.

“House why didn't you say something?”

“I didn't know it was there until now. Let me take a look.”

“It's Faerie magic.” TP calls.

“Clearly.” House agrees. “Just what I thought. It's very sophisticated faerie magic. More sophisticated than the rest of the magic that flows through me. Whoever did this is powerful and highly skilled.”

“Are there any remnants of the magic left from Lady Gray's message?” Writer Lady asks. “If there is please see if it's the same magic.”

“It is not.” House responds.

“Great.” Writer Lady says looking at Tinkletoes. “Now we have two problems.”

“Not necessarily.” Diomedes says as he approaches. The dragon ducks under lighting fixtures, his wings tucked safely in being careful not to damage anything in his esteemed creator’s home. “What if the correspondence on the walls was her second attempt to call for help? What if her first attempt took place before much of The Graylands had fallen? When her magic was stronger?”

“We aren't looking for an intruder.” Carp says as he approaches the group.

“We're looking for a messenger.” She says.