Wisps from the past. Bits and pieces. Unsorted thoughts. Memories? But whose? Some... own. Others... not. How? Why? "None of us have full memories, not since the Council was shattered and turned on itself." *I think she really would conquer the world, if she had the chance. The World. Not that she could keep it.* In the ancient days, there was only one person who could tell the king the truth without fear. The court jester. "Actually, we're embodiments of the archetypes of the arcana. There are 78 cards in a Tarot deck, but the number cards don't actually have archetypes or people like us. Then the court cards have people, like me, and the aces are like the ultimate of that suit. So there's 20 minor Arcana, and then 22 Trumps, like you." "I don't know of any time when all 42 Arcana were active at once. The Minor Arcana are almost always around, but the Trumps don't seem to reincarnate all that often. And some of them, I'm pretty sure, won't ever walk around as people again. Like the Tower... I can't remember if the Tower ever even WAS a person, but now, all of that magic and the soul are bound up here, in the Tower Reversed." "So... there are up to...42...*potential lunatics* out there with magic powers and the ability to trap me in a little bubble universe?" "... Basically, yes." "Disaster and dissolution, choice and change, the Fool and the Magician in the same circuit," the figure muttered in a voice wizened with age. "This is not the way it should be. This is the only way. The only way!" And more... many, many more... A caleidoscope of moments... snippets... Simultaneously confusing and explaining... * * * Arcana Chapter seventeen: Chaotic Patterns created by Scott Schimmel this chapter by Joachim "JoPf" Pfeiffer * * * "STOP IT!!!" Hotaru pressed her hands on her ears as she cringed under the assault on her senses and mind. Suddenly, everything was silent again. Slowly, she relaxed a bit and lowered her hands. *Looked*. All around her was only silvery, luminous mist, allowing her to see only a few feet. A cool, metallic taste hovered in the air, incongruously accompanied by a unfamiliar, but not unpleasant scent. Somewhat aromatic, but not flowery... For a few moments, she tried to identify the scent, letting herself drift away from the chaos just seconds ago. It felt like hours ago already... The scent was pleasant, somehow familiar... A weak chuckle shocked her back into alertness. She gazed around wildly, trying to locate its source. But all she could see were cloudy wisps of fog. There... a silhouette? No... it faded away just as she tried to focus on it. Over here... a face! No... just the mist. "Now, now, don't get so panicky, little firefly!" She almost didn't recognize the voice. "Joker." "Not quite, little firefly, not quite. But not wrong, either." From the mists, another chuckle sounded. From behind her? She turned around. Nothing. At least, nothing visible... A pair of chill hands grasped her shoulders. From behind. Hotaru shrieked, as she was whirled around and pulled into a close, cold embrace. She had to look up to see his face... but almost didn't recognize him. He wasn't the same Joker who had arrived recently at her home. He looked pale and tired, but there was an insane glow in his eyes. His features were haggard, even more edged and sharp than earlier. His hair was the shade of clotted blood rather than the red she had seen before. A cruel smile danced over his pale, almost bloodless lips once again. "I have to admit, you are really pretty like this. A pity..." "What do you mean...?" "You *are* a little self-absorbed tonight, aren't you?" With a dancing motion he twirled her away from him, holding her left hand tight with his right. The cool, strangely smelling air had felt pleasant on her skin before, but now it had a chill touch. _Then_ she noticed. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!" Her rail-thin pirouette partner just laughed again and pulled her back into his arms - and cloak - again. "Oh, so confused and helpless again. I think I really love you, little firefly. Really a tragic waste to take your life, but... well... that's life, love, fate and duty for you, my dear. I fear now is your time..." * * * "I told you, I didn't do anything! I don't know where we are and why, either! All I know is that I too can *feel* she is here, and that she may be in danger, too. And that we are not alone here also! So could you let go of me now... please?" A shrill, sharp scream of panic echoed through the mists from far away, followed by a brittle, too-high laughter. "There! You see? I'm here and that was her and elsewhere and that means... oh shit." * * * *Hmmm... not quite what I intended. The powers interact in unusual ways. Oh well... if she... if *they* survive, maybe the time has come at last - for real this time...* * * * In panic Hotaru tried to free herself from Jokers grasp, but his grip was stong as stone - and still cold as ice. She tried to summon fire, to call lightning from the clouds, finally to contact - and alter - his mind, but - nothing. As if she never had become the Magician, as if she were the Hotaru from old. It didn't feel like a pocket dimension, either. What was happening? Was that really the same person she had *kissed* the evening before? Joker on his part just held on to her, embracing her in his dark, shadowy cloak. Then he lifted one hand, softly stroking her face. His nails appeared longer, pointed, like claws. "Hopeless. You can't hurt me anymore, but I can hurt you." Slowly he spread his fingers, and now she could see clearly. His fingers were really shifting... into long, sharp, bladelike claws! "And as much fun it is playing with you, the toy always gets broken once I'm through with it. And I think I'm ready to end this now..." Hotaru was paralyzed with unreasoning fear, as she watched him flex his fingers, the claws getting longer and longer. Slowly Joker drew his index nail along a thin, reptilian tongue, when a stray thought suddenly shot through Hotarus mind, energizing her again. *This isn't just weird... this is like a bad horror movie!* Just as suddenly she pushed away, to both of their surprise breaking both his hold on her and through the fear that held her captive as well. Not caring about her being clothed in nothing more than a flimsy, translucent wrap, she took a few steps away and turned back towards this monstrous 'Joker', facing both him and the fear. "You are not Joker! Who - or what - are you? What do you want from me? And where are we?" "Oh, my little firefly, but I *am* the Joker. The Fool. The free Agent, who follows his own whim. More than this pathetic shadow of a person Ishido Usono ever was! What I want is to taste your blood... your soul... your life. And where we are... A place where I am now more powerful than you, a place you know even though you don't recognize it yet. And now... finally... the Game is over." "And that is the *only* thing you got right, buster!" Hotaru just stood there and blinked, as a glowing shape blasted out of the mists, charged at Joker and toppled him with ease. "Natsu...?" "To be exact, I... no, *we* also intend it to be the *last* thing you ever were right about!" Ishido added calmly, as he stepped out of the glowing silver mists. He grasped into nothingness... into a swirl of mist... and pulled out a long, thin, gleaming knife. Hotaru blinked again, as he walked over to the two shapes grappling. He *did* just take *one* step to bridge several yards of distance, didn't he? But he did look more like the Joker... no, Ishido... from before tonight. Not like this... Movie Vampire there, fighting with a glowing Natsu... Natsu! Glowing? Huh? Then someone decided for her to take a few seconds' time out. It didn't seem to be her. * * * Natsu (it was Natsu, wasn't it?) had Joker in a firm grip, twisting one of his arms around while keeping the other away from her face. He had gotten in a few scratches, but she didn't appear to feel pain, even if some kind of glow drifted away from her. Ishido twirled his knife and slashed and thrusted toward his twisted mirror image, rarely going for a lethal attack, but always forcing him to pull away into a convenient direction, opening another venue of attack for the shimmering Natsu to make excellent use of. Natsu moved with inhuman grace and strength, keeping the Joker - Monster with Ishidos assistance easily under control. But she didn't look like she had an easy time... The thing was able to shrug off blows Hotaru could *hear* impact on bones and flesh. All else she could hear was insane hissing and growling from the Joker creature and sharp intakes of breath from Ishido. Natsu was completely silent. Several moments passed, a few heartbeats. Then Joker got a kick through to Ishido, knocking him back and giving Joker the opportunity to wrench away from Natsu. With a sharp crack, one of his bones broke. Natsu flinched and let go. Joker leapt away, seemingly oblivious to the pain, and disappeared into the mists. From nowhere his voice spoke once more. "You had help again, little firefly. But we will end this. Not here... not this time. Just wait a bit longer... I'll never be far away." * * * Everyone was silent and unmoving for a few moments. Then they all started up at the same time. "Hotaru!" "Natsu..." "Hotaru...!" "Joker... no, Ishido..." "How..." "Are you..." "Where..." "Who..." "Why..." "ENOUGH!" Hotaru panted and gestured wildly - with the one arm left free from Natsu's enthusiastic embrace. "Natsu... let go of me, please. And could you please try to explain to me what happened... but slowly, and please one at a time?" Joker took a breath, while Natsu finally noticed her skin glowing like Hotaru's namesake. She blinked twice and went on staring just a moment longer. "Well, little firefly..." "Please stop calling me that!" Hotaru interrupted, shivering. "Oh... okay. Now, I don't know exactly why or how either, but what happened is that your friend and I found ourselves somewhere else in this mists, where she immediately called foul and accused me of playing my tricks with you two again. I tried to explain, but as I didn't know exactly what was going on either I wasn't very successful at this and just as she threatened to become quite... physical about it, we heard your scream, she began to light up like she does still, and we rushed to your rescue. So far so good?" Hotaru just stood there, baffled. "Umm... okay. And who was *that*?" She pointed vaguely into the mists. Ishido scratched his neck. "Ehm... I... that... he... 'twas me, more or less... and not..." Hotaru almost screamed again. "And what is that supposed to mean?!" Suddenly, Ishido began to freeze up and just stare blankly ahead. Then he shimmered and blurred. Then he split up. "Well...", the first Ishido said... "We have...", added a second... "Never ...", the third stated... "Been alone.", a fourth finished. Then, multiple Ishidos began bowing to Hotaru, throwing kisses to her, making eyes at the still glowing and still silent Natsu, cleaning their nails threateningly with knives, beginning to cartwheel around... until Hotaru raised her voice again. Only slightly. "Stop that immediately." "But, my dear, I *am* the Fool. Why should I...", one said. "Now." He shut up. Seconds later, there were only three Ishidos left - one with a blank stare, one who just sat in the air and grinned, and one who looked old and calm. Then the elder Ishido spoke. "I guess I can explain a bit more, if you are willing to listen." Natsu spoke again, a little uncertain. "Can you explain what happened to me?" "Mmm...maybe." * * * Hotaru felt strange. On one level she was extremely confused. The events didn't feel like following any normal pattern, rolling over her - and probably Natsu - like a steam roller on kerosine. On another level, she felt detached, as if she was only watching, not involved. And finally, she felt out of control of herself, reacting in unfamiliar ways to all this weirdness. Apparently a feeling she shared with Natsu too, who had also changed physically. Not only that she glowed like a nightlight - in a weird, bluish green glow, that seemed to shine from deep within her - but her features also had slightly, subtly changed. Her eyes seemed larger, her ears smaller - no, just thinner, but longer - and her limbs seemed more delicate, but still filled with unusual strength. And she seemed to have noticed just now... "Okay, I'm here - wherever 'here' is - and I'm looking like I'm the one you should call 'firefly'. But don't... I'm feeling strong enough to trounce all three of you at once if you do! So what happened? And understandably, please! As far as I know, I'm not one of you 'Arcana', so I shouldn't..." "You're perfectly right, Miss Forrester", the old one interrupted. "But please, if I may... Isn't there something familiar about your new look?" With these words, he produced a mirror and held it towards her. Natsu looked and froze. "But... that was only a dream..." "Exactly." "Huh?" both girls stated intelligently. "We all are in a certain kind of dream." "But... the dream realm always looked... another way... There was the other Magician... and I learned...", Hotaru stammered. "And dreams are just dreams... they don't..." Natsu added. "Tut, tut, tut. There you are, the Magician and her friend, and you think the realm of the mind has no power and static rules?" laughed the grinning Ishido, flipping over a few times. "The realm of the mind...?" "You see, we... Ishido Usono is the Fool. That means, he is one of the strongest Arcana, for he stands outside of several rules, but he is vulnerable in unusual ways also. There are reasons for the Fool bearing no regular number in the Tarot, you know." "There also have been numerous other Fools before. And due to their... interesting... position, the Fool's memories are also... unusual", the grinning Ishido - the Fool - added. "He is many, but still we are one." "For there can be only one!" the Fool dramatically stated. The old Ishido rolled his eyes. Then he tried to continue. "You remember, Hotaru? When you were visited in your dream by him? You won, because it was *your* mind that shaped the background. Your memories had strong influence. But now he has learned from this, and when we... you... we all went to sleep, he built a mind trap. He was able to isolate you from your power and take you into his own. We were in discord, so he could go through with this, but there was one factor he didn't control. You, Miss Forrester." "Me?" "He means you're our dream, babe!" the Fool quipped. Natsu sweatdropped... luminously. The others less so. "Err... If I may continue... Just because, as you know, there are the Arcana, doesn't mean there are no other powers. The Arcana are living proof that magic is real, but they are not the only magic around!" "So your dream was more than 'just' a dream. And now and here you are a dream within a dream, so to say." "Our minds are connected, and he... we... has major access, so we can see your soul. You may not be Arcana, but your soul wields power. You wield a kind of 'wild magic', as I'd call it. Maybe the Magician can learn more, once she gets around to it. And if we all get out of this alive." "So if I understand this correctly, this Joker has built a trap for our minds, where he was supposed to be the only one with power and control, but because he included Natsu, who is full of some 'wild magic' which he (and she) can't control, he lost his advantage?" Hotaru tried to summarize. "Aaand... the eyes have it! Full points for our pretty magical girl! And the great bonus question is..." The Fool suddenly faced Hotaru squarely... from barely one inch away. "Are you a good witch or a bad witch? Witch is it?" * * * While the Fool was trying to get his head out of the nebulous ground, Natsu was gazing at her glowing fist. "Wow...!" * * * Somewhere in some mists, a robed figure focused on a single card. The Fool, numbered 0. Zero. He murmured... *... So we have to combine our strengths to dissolve this trap and wake up. Leave Joker to us... to himself. We will regain control. It is...* * * * "... to himself. We will regain control. It is high time anyway to build a new allegiance", the old one said sagely. "Allegiance? New? What do you mean?" "We have not been allies of the Queen forever, you know. The council hasn't been there always either. Actually, during the history of the Arcana, several different groups have formed and dissolved again." "The deck gets shuffled and redealt more often than one might think." "There was the Darkness, when Death, Devil and a few others united. That was about a millennium ago, I think. And the Kingdom, when Emperor and Empress were together with almost all of the lesser Arcana. And it is said, the Golden Age was when the Lovers, Temperance, Star, Moon and Sun were in dominance together. But my memories are just as incomplete as most of the others'." "But deeper and wider, we like to think. After all, the Fool also is associated with wisdom, isn't it?" the Fool added with surprising seriousness. He eyed the old Ishido with suspicion. "And then there's the Prophecy...", the old one trailed off. * * * * 'For when the time comes, all the Arcana will be incarnate again, in spite of all tries to prevent this. The circle of incarnations will force itself to completion, and everything will change.'* The solitary figure in robes stopped silently reciting. *Or something like that... the translation is difficult and unfortunately incomplete.* * * * ... * * * "Uhh... whuthappn'd...?" Ishido came to again. The others had reunited with him and disappeared. "Time to wake up, Joker... Ishido. Or... Friend, maybe?" Hotaru softly said. "Umm... I might like that." Joker grinned weakly. "Almost a pity to wake up now..." Natsu stretched. "I might get used to this. (Except for being a fairy- glowworm crossbreed...)" * * * And then they woke up. * * * * * * * * * * * Afterwords: Well, surreal, wasn't it? Okay, that was the purpose. Really. I think if the mind gets free reign on several levels, things are bound to become weird. Very. Apparently I'm thinking not only in circles or spirals, but also in fractals. On another note: as I was seriously pressed for time (unfortunately a condition of unpleasantly increasing probability), I hadn't got the time to ask prereaders. So, excuse my English (it's my second language anyway). Besides, some 'errors' might actually be language experiments... ^_^. Can you believe I began writing _this here_ earlier than the episode proper? I admit I thought about some of the elements I wanted from the start, but as I didn't begin seriously before my episode came around, all I could think of was how to apologize if I messed up. So much for self-confidence. O_o; Well, I hope I haven't messed up things too much. If you think I did, I apologize. If that's not enough for you, well... Unless you arrive at my home and visit me personally, that's probably all you'll get. ^_^ But I wrote what I wrote, if not backing every quote. What I did to the plot may be a Gordian knot, but you know just what to do if that doesn't appeal to you! Raise your keyboard high and proud, do not complain but say it loud, don't talk as if you'd never known, make another part your own! Gah! Bad Poetry! Soorree! ^_^;;; This is/was my first try at Improfanfic, but I hope it won't be the last. I just hope I haven't shot my chances to hell with that so-called poem... Oh, yes... Good luck to the next few authors - SD Ryukage, followed by (and for the 3rd time, yay!) Delfina.