--Alan -- CELEBRATION! The Fanfic Ends. ###################################################################### The Daughters of Strongbow, Part Two: Chapter 4 Installment 2: The Actual EQ Fanfic A Self-MSTing By Alan (John Alan Riggs) ###################################################################### Door 8: The Tunnel of Golden Light! Major flashback... Door 7: A brown stone wall that dissolves as it is approached. Door 6: Imitation rain falls as they go toward a black portal. Door 5: Above an ordinary wooden door is a four-fingered hand made of stone... Door 4: A curtain of beads. A vague elven figure can be seen behind it. Door 3: A sealed door of gray stone. They climb through a tiny hole several feet above it. Door 2: A metal door that operates with a crank. It opens toward them. Door 1: A massive mouth filled with white teeth. -- (The three take their seats.) >Letter Four: Joy at Last > >Stormbringer's final letter begins, "I have decided, Chief Treefall. >I will not join your tribe. My reasons are personal, for I have been >thinking of these last two seasons' events. As I will tell you in >this letter, I have nothing to hide." > >She begins to piece together the years, MIKE: [singing] Holding back the years... >how they have gone by. Things have not been easy anymore. There are >so many "new" elves among them, so many new responsibilities, so many >choices.. would it be better to find a new tribe? Or would that bring >even more hardship? Stormbringer begins to write out her life once >again... > >*** >Foxfur and Stormbringer had gone first into the woods. TOM: Only to run into some princesses on the run... CROW: A kid wandering around with a milky-white cow... >The others were simply too pucker-headed to deal with these important >things. Over the last two days, they had tracked the running creature >to this northern forest. Now the two Wolfriders had entered it to >hopefully trap the creature, while the others did "rear guard duty." TOM: [Dobil] Lunch break! > >The scents of elves were all over these woods. Foxfur could name >almost everyone who had been here, because she still remembered the >years with the Wolfriders - over thirteen seasons ago. So the past >was not far ahead. But neither Foxfur nor Stormbringer actually saw >or heard anyone they knew. The woods were empty... > >"Except these talking flies," Stormbringer complained. Whatever they >were, the "flies" had made something of a cocoon out of the forest. >"Notice," the cub continued, "they don't make webbings MIKE: [flat voice] Welcome to Preserver dot net. Please make a selection from the toolbar... >around themselves." > >Foxfur did not hear her - she had seen something new. In fact, there >were two somethings. Two ugly humans. Foxfur Sent to Stormbringer, >**I think they're alone. Well, if you ask me, the humans won't be >around for long.** > >Her adopted daughter was offended. **Mother! How can you stand to >hate or kill everything? CROW: Anyone want to guess who the humans are? TOM: I'd say Malak and Selah. They're the only two - from this time period - who got into the Grove. MIKE: But why would they be called ugly? >What about Jieta? What about Dobil's cubs? What about Karyk? And me, >too!** > >**Never mind, Stormbringer. In my life, there have been many things >that have made me bitter,** Foxfur somberly Sent, **and I still have >private grudges. You may do what you want.** > >Stormbringer was pleased by this. She hushedly told Foxfur, TOM: No sending in the library! MIKE: Knock that off, guys. It looks like this story is starting to improve. >"Thanks a lot. I'll tell the others, and... uh... how about we live >here until the Wolfriders come back? You know, they are our >relatives." It was a different idea... and Stormbringer had been >wanting recently to meet these mysterious ones. > >Foxfur agreed in silence. Her cub was far wiser than she was. > >*** >Stormbringer remembers that for the following season, Foxfur had >been unusually quiet and morose. What affected her "mother," she >could only guess. But the others remained the same as they always >had been. However, those two young humans were never seen again. CROW: [Selah] We got our paycheck -- let's go. TOM: [Malak] Hey baby... how 'bout we have a little fun off-camera? CROW: The "Wrapstuff" skit, ladies and gentlemen. > >One day! Stormbringer remembers it well - one day. It had been one >of the last warm days before the Deepcold season, just like any other >day in these misty woods. This day was the day when the Wolfriders >returned. For some of them, it was the longest day in thirteen turns. > >Stormbringer writes, "The return of my tribe brought different >feelings for each elf. I will try to describe it, but it is not >easy..." > >*** >The Blood of Ten Chiefs, Cutter, was more than surprised MIKE: [mock-dreamy] He's wonderful! CROW: Um... Mike? >to see other elves awaiting him in the Forbidden Grove. Now a >Recognized adult with twin cubs, Cutter had seen a lot. But this, >now? He decided to sit down with his family and try to think this >over! > >Skywise knew exactly what he had to do. Upon hearing her name, he >sought out Foxfur at once. He figured that the bond of hate must be >broken TOM: [singing] Seeds of hate blossom further... CROW: [attempting to sing] When everything's made to be broken... >at once. For when he had looked in her eyes, he had seen one who was >bitter and lonely. But had she lovemated with this Go-Back? > >Strongbow looked for his youngest daughter. Essentially, they had >never met. Did she know the truth about herself? Perhaps. MIKE: It's possible. CROW: Answer fuzzy. Try again later. TOM: Outcome uncertain. >It had taken him quite a long time to come to peace with himself. >So, what had really happened to Stormbringer? > >Among the Wolfriders there was one named Leetah. She was not a true >Wolfrider, but had become Cutter's lifemate and the tribe's healer. >As the tribe scattered into the forest, the peaceful Leetah held her >twin cubs (Ember and Suntop) from going to these outsiders. She had >seen too much to be naive any more, much like Cutter. > >Foxfur felt exhausted. So it had all come down to this - a >confrontation between her and Skywise. CROW: You know, even with all this halfway-decent introspection, an action scene couldn't hurt. MIKE: I think you're right. Let's see what happens. >She waited for him, sitting motionless on a rock. Skywise was just >about the last one she wanted to see right now - so why did she just >let him come? Something was terribly wrong. > >Today, Dobil did not feel sociable. There were two Go-Backs among >the Wolfrider group - named Skot and Krim - but so what, asked >Dobil? He only wanted his Jieta, and his "cubs" Vaun and the newly >born Angru. And no one could take them away. TOM: [Dobil] I said, nobody can take them away! Do you hear me? Nobody! > >Karyk was the most vocal member of the big family. Though he barely >spoke the elven language, he still tried to talk with the Wolfriders. >Most of them didn't speak the human language, or weren't interested >in him. Still, Karyk was impressed by the Wolfriders. They didn't >treat him like some kind of stupid person. MIKE: Elfquest - we treat you right! > >*** >Strongbow had not been in a forest for over thirteen years. But this >was far from the familiar old Holt... instead, this forest was >filled with the nuisances known as Preservers. He brushed a group >of them off a log and sat down. Stormbringer followed suit, trying >to ignore the creatures' comments. > >The first thing that Strongbow did was study his daughter's eyes. It >was a mark of great importance to the Wolfriders - no matter what the >other tribes thought. CROW: Not only that, there'll be a quiz later. >Let them have their own lives, the archer figured, for my cub's eyes >are like my own... her mother is not completely gone, but at least >the curse is not so terrible that I must have a reminder in my child. > >Stormbringer commented, "So, what is going on here? I seem to be the >object of much interest here." What did this adult male know? TOM: [Petalwing] Silly adultmale highthing! > >Strongbow came back with, **What have your mother and father told >you about... yourself? Can you tell another... such as myself?** He >didn't dare say "father" yet. > >"How should I know?" the Forbidden Join-Child stated, "My mother... >her name is Foxfur. She has been bitter and cold most of my life. And >my father... Dobil... he has found another woman that he gets along >better with. CROW: Stormie's been cursed with bad grammar. >I can not imagine that I am truly their cub... but it must be true, >right?" > >It was not true at all. **No, it is not, Stormbringer,** Strongbow >firmly Sent, **I tell you the truth: I am your father, and my name >is Strongbow. You were born because of my own anger. I took revenge >foolishly, and I Joined with the chief's lifemate, Joyleaf. You >never knew her, for she fell half-dead in a battle after that, and >died just after your birth.** > >Stormbringer interrupted her ...father..., "Where were you? Could >you not even protect me?" TOM: I hate to interrupt this scene, but... why can't Stormie *act*? >The elder archer silently replied, **It was my own stupidity. We all >wanted to think that Joyleaf was dead, but I found out later that it >was not true. You see, Stormbringer, Foxfur is also my daughter. I >looked all over for her after that battle... everyone said that she >had died. But I found Foxfur alive, with Dobil, and keeping watch >over Joyleaf. I consented for them to MIKE: [silly accent] Mawwy! >take care of you, because I knew that they were not like the other >Wolfriders. The others would probably have scorned you, having been >born to an un-Recognized couple. But now, we have put it all aside.** > >Glad to hear that, Stormbringer thought. She asked Strongbow, "Who >is your lifemate, father? Do you have any other cubs?" CROW: Ask Jerelyn Parker. > >Strange question... Strongbow answered, **She is called Moonshade. >And you have a brother - older than you, younger than Foxfur. He is >Dart, and we left him back in a place far away. He wanted to defend >his childhood home... and I hope that he has been doing well.** > >"That's about all I need to hear," asided Stormbringer. She quickly >surveyed the setting. So ordinary... her head was spinning... > >Strongbow actually spoke, TOM: He must have dog blood, too. >hurriedly asking, "What? Do you even believe me, my daughter??" > >She turned to him casually. "I must hear this from Foxfur as well. I >have grown up to trust her, and I will only take this as a partial >truth until she has told me." Stormbringer rejoined the tribe in the >Grove, as did Strongbow. MIKE: That scene wasn't all that bad. But why would Strongbow just walk back? CROW: He's trying to imitate Darryl. > >*** >Stormbringer admits in her final letter, "I talked with the elf who >was my real father that day. He told me all I needed to know about >my origins. But the truth did not exactly set me free. I needed to >hear it from my adopted mother... And she would be busy for a while." > >*** >A loud, obnoxious TOM: I'm just wondering - what was with that "noboxious" line? >voice was shouting in the forest, "Ayoooah! Come on, all you crazy >Wolfriders! It's the contest of the season: Skywise versus Foxfur, >and no insults barred!" Of course, this was the Wolfrider Pike, who >had already elected himself judge of the insult contest. MIKE: Is this how they're going to settle their differences? CROW: I guess. MIKE: Well, if nothing else, it's wacky... CROW: Just give up, Nelson. > >Foxfur happened to be nearby. She was exhausted, her conversation >with Skywise had turned into a bitter argument. He couldn't even >remember her name, by all the High Ones. And she didn't care if he >let his wolf devour himself. But what was it that prevented them >from going to blows? Every time that Foxfur tried to strike out at >Skywise, something held her back. What force was at work? It was no >invention of elvenkind. TOM: Think about this one, guys: Jedi Wolfriders. MIKE & CROW: Scary... > >Skywise came by, ready for the challenge. But he did not celebrate >his coming. No, not even if the others would let the Preservers >throw in any comments, would Skywise allow them to humiliate Foxfur. >For he, too, felt that something was terribly out of control. And so >Skywise sat down next to Foxfur, a rock between them. The crowds >would soon arrive. > >*** >Within minutes, they came. There were twelve Wolfriders, including >Stormbringer, and the six Go-Backs. They arranged themselves in a >curiously broken circle, CROW: Someone didn't want to let the circle be unbroken. >so that everyone could have a view of this event. The "relatives" - >Skywise's soul brother Cutter, and Foxfur's father, mother, and >sister - took close seats, for they had someone to cheer on. > >Pike yelled in his most theatrical voice, "Round one! Foxfur, begin >now!" > >She stared at her opponent, growling, "For the last thirteen turns, >I've been wishing you dead. Dead as your mother." TOM: [mysteriously] Did they *find* the body? MIKE: [stoically] He's dead, Fahr. CROW: There's a good "Yo Mama" joke waiting to get out... >The only reaction from the shocked audience was Treestump hanging >his head. > >Skywise, intimidated, said, "And I thought you were my life... um, >I mean lovemate," rather pathetically. The audience laughed with >him! Cutter even gave off a good howl. MIKE: [quickly] No, Crow. CROW: What? > >Pike interrupted, "Skywise wins round one! In round two, he gets to >begin! Good luck, Skywise!" > >Uh-oh, he thought. "Well, how many Go-Backs does it take to kill a >Sun Folk? None, really - they aren't at war." TOM: [singing] It's just a shot away. >No one was laughing. Dobil was terribly confused, but none of the >Go-Backs actually got the joke. Strongbow applauded for about a >second, but that was all. > >It was Foxfur's turn by default. She tried to calm herself down, >roughly saying, "What happened to ... the one who tried to charge >Madcoil? ... Well, he found himself ...out of credit." It was a >spontaneous, pointless joke. MIKE: I think the narrator's pretty much given up. >Still, Stormbringer applauded enthusiastically, because she had >heard stories about Marcis CROW: Marcis... Marcis... From "Peanuts," right? MIKE: That would be *Marcie*. TOM: I wouldn't mind *Marius* from "Les Miserables" right about now... >from Foxfur. > >Pike stated, almost bored, "Well, round two was almost a draw. Now >for round three, and don't forget to insult each other. Foxfur, go!" > >Trying to strike down Skywise, Foxfur blurted, "You're so pucker- >headed, you eat these talking bugs each day." TOM: [Petalwing] Eep! Petalwing not tasty, bitterrough highthing! >Surprisingly, Leetah and Cutter applauded, though few others did. > >Skywise responded, "Well, Foxy, your cub is the ...best hunter since >Redmark became Redlance..." Luckily for the stargazer, many of the >older Wolfriders howled (in good taste) at this nostalgic old story. > >"Sorry, but Skywise has won round three," Pike said with perk, MIKE: --Plus, the two-in-one shampoo! For all your hair care needs. >"And unless Foxfur pulls ahead, Skywise will take it all!" > >It was Skywise's turn again. He seemed out of jokes as he said, "Uh, >em, how many Go-Backs does it take to make a Joining circle? Anyone >know? Well, uh, it's two - that's the answer. But, I think, they >have to be flexible..." Dobil booed, hurling several cobwebs at >Skywise. The other Go-Backs went up in fury - the joke was a little >old by now. Even the Wolfriders groaned in chorus. > >Foxfur had to top that - not hard. CROW: Easy. TOM: A cinch. MIKE: Simple. CROW: Lacking in difficulty. TOM: Soft. MIKE: ... >"Skywise," she said in an overly pleasant voice, "What would you if >we were Recognized?" The Wolfrider's mouth dropped, and everyone was >enthusiastically clapping as she bowed to the crowd. > >The famous announcer declared, "It's Skywise 2, Foxfur 1. Remember, >one more win for Skywise will do it for him! Round four - Foxfur, >go!" > >She looked briefly at her audience. They would betray her at the >drop of a twig - TOM: C-r-a-c-k! >so she had to pull this off. "How many elves does it take to go on >a quest?" Foxfur only paused for a moment... > >Skywise shouted, "I know!" ignoring the dumbstruck Foxfur, "Only two, >provided that they are Cutter and me!" All the Wolfriders broke out >into hysterics. Foxfur just stood there, as her enemy was declared >champion. Now she was truly finished... CROW: [deeply] Excellent. > >*** >After that, Stormbringer remembers that things calmed down. The >Wolfriders settled down among the wispy woods. But for her and >Foxfur, the "lost" elves, there was much reconciliation to be done. >Even the simple Dobil required some help. For the next two years - >up until this day - that would be done. > >*** >Dobil sized up Skot and Krim. MIKE: [profoundly] What is your quest? >In his years of wandering, Dobil's appearance had scarcely changed. >He was thin and mellow, and still dressed for the Deepcold. However, >the other two looked suspiciously like Wolfriders. Dobil thought it >strange that he had never heard of these two before. > >"So," challenged Dobil, "How's Guttlekraw these days? Had any live >entertainment lately?" CROW: He should have left Vaya alone and killed Kahvi. TOM: Hey! > >Skot plainly responded, "He's dead, Dobil. Dead as a head on a >stick. MIKE: [singing] Your wisemen don't know how it feels... >That's pretty dead, you know." > >"Not bad..." remarked Dobil. > >Krim added, "Your name is Dobil? Never heard of you. Got any >relatives? Lovemates?" > >He proceeded to tell them his story in brief. TOM: Except for that swimming episode in Part One. CROW: That's your way of getting revenge, isn't it? >The two Go-Backs were sort of impressed, and told him what had >really happened to Orash... > >*** >Elsewhere in the Forbidden Grove that day, Foxfur and Skywise were >Sending. And they were not infuriated with each other. Furthermore, >Stormbringer had been sent away. What had happened?? TOM: [overly dramatic] What's this? Our intrepid heroes... > >*** >Stormbringer's writing pace slows. She tries in her mind to >comprehend this... because it went against all she was brought up to >believe. "It," however, is not the bane of her existence. >Stormbringer is proud to have a life of her own. MIKE: She's Virginia Woolf. CROW: Just change it to "a life of *one's* own." >She writes, "This was a turning point in my 'mother's' life. Her >anger had disappeared, all of a sudden... I do not understand it, >either. How can such a thing happen, after thirteen turns of >bitterness? I know, and am convinced, that Someone else is at work >here. Jhorof TOM: Jhorof's a deity? CROW: No, he's the elf who brought some sort of new beliefs to Stormie. TOM: Well, at least he gets more than a crappy cameo here. >is an educated and reasoning elf, and he has never lied. Anyway, >here's what happened..." > >*** >Skywise admitted, **You're the last one I thought that I'd meet >here. But why did you hide yourself, Foxfur? You are the cub of >Strongbow. He did not forget you. And we could have used you in so >many ways...** He began to recall all the memories: the fateful >human encounter, the desert trek, MIKE: Scotty, beam him up! >the long seasons among the Sun Folk, the lost humans, the whole of >the recent quest... and all there was to Skywise's life. > >Foxfur was unnervingly calm. No suspicion or sarcasm could be found >in her Sending. This was anything but ordinary. **Now the truth >can be told,** she Sent, **because I was almost a completely >different Wolfrider back then. Ever since our eyes met in the troll >cave, I have become... lonely. No other word describes it. Perhaps - >the thing I hope to not happen for so long - it has happened. >Perhaps we have finally Recognized.** (All sit in stunned silence.) CROW: So *that* was what happened in the cave. TOM: Why then? Why didn't the story have them recognize back in Part One? MIKE: For continuity purposes, I guess. TOM: But more likely--to spite us. > >Slightly humored, Skywise Sent back, **And maybe you were suffering >from Recognition sickness all this time.** > >**Perhaps,** Foxfur pleasantly Sent, **But tell me: has any elf ever >Recognized twice?** > >Skywise carefully replied, **Not that I know of... but I wouldn't >rule it out. Many Wolfriders - and other elves - have had multiple >mates. MIKE: Is this relevant at all? CROW: Skywise is trying to imitate Savah at the end of Book One... I guess... >Why?** > >She responded - unnervingly calm - **I don't think that I would be >the lifemate for you. There is so much hostility between us... I >remember it even now. Maybe this is a lesser form of Recognition. >Maybe there is another one for you in the future. Maybe I have >destined myself to be a regular drow... TOM: [panicking] NO!! MIKE: Oh, man... TOM: I can't take it any longer-- (Tom's head explodes in a shower of sparks.) >hateful and bitter. And think of the cub, Skywise.** > >**I am, Foxfur. I don't know what this means, either, but how could >we know? How can we see that far? CROW: And no Amy Grant quotes! MIKE: Tom had better recover soon. There's a few more pages left. >Perhaps it is times, lovemate. This forest had many private places >within it... and your cub probably wouldn't mind.** > >Foxfur had to confess. He must know... **Skywise, the cub, named >Stormbringer... is not mine. She is the product of the dark days - >the Forbidden Joining. But let us not bring this up now, OK?** But >even now Foxfur did not know the true soul name of Skywise. She >was willing to give hers... If only she could know if the risk was >worth the price of self-denial. CROW: [singing] Paying the price of love... > >**Sure, Mieje.** So THAT was Foxfur's soul name, Skywise realized. > >--Character Profile 17: The Reconciled Foxfur.-- TOM: W-what? MIKE: Welcome back. >Gender: Female. Race: Wolfrider. Age: adult. Soul name: Mieje. >Relatives: father Strongbow, mother Moonshade, brother Dart, sister >Stormbringer. Love/Lifemates: Skywise. Likes: Hunting, fighting, >family, free will. Dislikes: none. Other info: Foxfur, despite her >bitterness and love of freedom, has consented in "Reconciliation" >to not be bitter towards Skywise. Everyone hopes that this will last. >Quote: "What will become of us?" > >*** >Stormbringer writes, "My mother and her old enemy 'Reconciled' that >day. CROW: To summarize... Foxfur hates Skywise. They separate. He forgets her, she goes through angst sessions. They have some sort of messed- up eyes-meet-eyes, and reunite after a brief quarrel. What sort of story is that? MIKE: It could be worse... >I know no better word for it, because it was a highly unusual union. >My mother's new friend knew her soul name, but she did not know >his. But this idea of Reconciliation is not just half-Recognition. >Since that time, she had her new mate have not been bitter or >argued at all. How long will it last? I would guess a lifetime - >but I am not sure, having not yet Recognized. But what about my life? >Many things have happened over the last two turns of the seasons, >starting when I met a young elf called Suntop..." > >*** TOM: Dramatic scene, break! MIKE: Let's go, guys. We'll finish this one up in a few minutes. (They exit the theater.) -- ~To Be Concluded!~ -Alan Disclaimers: "Elfquest," its characters, etc., are copyright 1978-1999 Warp Graphics. "Mystery Science Theater 3000," its characters, etc., are copyright 1988- 1999 Best Brains, Inc. This MSTing was created by Alan (John Alan Riggs) on April 21, 1999.