The Forgotten Zodiac

'Atlantis' gave a prissy flick of her hair back, and smiled curtly. "Fashas, I have for you a vital task. The river's flow has slowed, and its waters grow bitter cold. My head pounds with aches caused by this chill! I need thee to fetch my ball of crystal, so I may see what causes this horrid affliction. Whilst you visit my room, do bring a blanket at the time." She sat back on her throne, which was really just a rocking chair painted gold and decorated. "Hurry, now, dear Fashas!"

"Of course, my dear Queen," 'Fashas' returned, standing and heading to the other side of the stage, where the lights rose on the Queen's room. At this point, the Siren began to murmur under his breath, but loud enough for the audience to hear. "She deserves niether title. Asking things of me everyday, I perform menial task after task, and yet nothing in return. Quid pro quo! What more to do can I?" he declared dramatically. He then looked around and rested his gaze on the crystal ball, and lifted it in his hands.

"Ah, seeing-glass, one most highly prized by the Queen Atlantis. Tell me, that which I can do to end this... this..." 'Fashas's' hands shook, and then the crystal ball fell from his grip as the lights on him went out, and someone backstage broke a bottle. It was a clever little trick - the audience would think the traitor had broken the crystal, but the circus needn't buy a new ball for every show.

The crowd booed and hissed at that. But the lights turned on Lilac before long; she was playing Madame Boufout, the heroic Jellyfish Princess who would eventually save the day. But for now, she was little more than a visitor to the Fish Queen. "How cold this day be, your grace! My boneless mass may not be moving by this day's end, if I'm not to have a blanket or an eel to curl in with." Lilac, in spite of her age, was a very good actor. She spoke with confidence in her part, and was excellent at acting distressed.

"Rest assured, my wobbling friend, there's not a need to cry. Sent Fashas, have I, to fetch my thickest cloth. He shalt return to us soon." Atlantis crooned. "He'll fetch the Crystal Ball just the same, so we might see the cause of this freezing."

Fashas returned to the stage and entered the light, with niether item in hand. "My Queen," he said simply, looking as if he had more to say, but did not voice it yet. He watched as Atlantis turned to face him in shock, then, when nothing else was said to him, he found words to voice. "Your crystal has been destroyed."

"What? How could this be, Fashas?" Atlantis questioned, sounding horrified.

"What has happened to break such an artifact? Was't there a robbery, a vandal?" Boufout questioned fearfully. "This cannot be, surely...you jest!"

"It happened before my very eyes," Israel recited his line, listening as the audience hissed at his half-truth. He watched the crowd warily, making sure no one was going to throw anything at him tonight.

"Then you must know the cause. Tell me, who broke mine crystal?" Ela demanded, standing up.

"I'll chase him down with mine own self" Lilac proclaimed proudly. "Run you through, I shall, with the Spectre's Blade!"

Israel spread his wings and lifted off, hovering a few feet above Ela's head. "It was I," he said, glaring down at her. He transformed to his raven form in a burst of light. "And good riddance, I say," he cawed over the din of the people's voices.

"Wh-what?!" Atlantis cried. "Fashas, how dare thee?! Guards, guards! Seize him! Treason, I say,"

"Were you not the humble slave of your queen? Why would you do such a thing?" Boufout asked calmly in spite of the noise. "It doesn't make sense..."

"It was I," Fashas repeated, his voice coming out louder and stronger in his bird form. "I was the slave, to a master who showed no courtosey to my will, supplied none of my wishes!" he hissed.

Boufout looked taken aback. "Queen Fashas is kind and just. You are fed, clothed, and sheltered, are you not?"

"And what is it that you want from me, servant? A lesson in where your place is?" Fashas snapped. "You asked nothing of me. It was my belief that you were satisfied. You made no other indication!"

"There were signs, there were more than just simple indications! I--" Fashas trailed off in a snarl, then swooped at Atlantis.

((I have discovered taht I am horrible at playing the bad guy.))

Atlantis shrieked, her hand moving to her cheek. When she pulled it away, there was fake blood on her face and cheek, even though Israel hadn't actually hit her; another quick theater trick, making it seem like the queen had been hurt. Ela looked up sharply at Israel, spotting the gleaming locket in the raven's grasp. "My amulet! Fashas, drop it, you don't know what power you're holding!"

"I'll get it," Boufout proclaimed loudly. "Spectral Sword, come forth!" Out of the curtains ran Spy, covered in soot so that he wasn't seen at all by the watchers. All they saw was the large decorative sword he was holding up. Lilac seized the sword, pointing it at Fashas at once. "Drop it, foul fowl!"

((Haha, homonyms.))

Fashas let out a caw as he gazed at the sword. "Do not dare raise your hand to me!" he said, curling his taloned feet around the locket. "You... dare!" he stammered, not knowing exactly how to end the threat.

((HAVE SOMETHING EXPLODE

8D))

"Yes, I dare!" Boufout snapped. "Now come forth and fight me, filthy Siren!"

"You are a traitor to your queen and a disgrace to your kind," Atlantis hissed, backing up behind the princess.

((BOOM. It was my brain.))

"Boneless cretin! You cannot hope to defeat me!" With this, Fashas began to sing, the low, haunting melody of the Galdr of Spirits. The amulet, a prop imbued with simple Naiad magic, glowed in response, while some pyrotechnic bacstage set off some firecrackers a few feet in front of Boufout.

((Noooo. D: ))

Boufout let out a cry of pain and fell back, but the sword stayed where it was, thanks to Spy. "S-Specral Sword, hear this plea; strike down this foe so there may be peace once more!" The Jellyfish Princess cried out, reaching towards the blade.

Little Verdi ran forward at that, throwing the sword hard; it was relatively light, so it wasn't hard to throw, and it made it seem as though the sword was throwing itself at the raven above them. Furthermore, the sword had a collapsing blade, so making it seem as though the weapon hit would be simple.

Israel tucked his wings close, catching the blade under one of them. He let out a shreiking caw, dropping the amulet as he fell towards the ground, unable to evade the "magic" sword's sharp blade.

((My apologies for the malfunctions. Not much I can do.))

Atlantis moved forward at once, picking up her locket. She held it tight, waving her hand; a cage was lowered from the ceiling, dropping over Fashas. "For your crimes, you will be banished! I do not wish to see you again!" She said, although she looked...sad. She had liked her servant, after all.

Boufout sighed, picking up the Spectral Sword. "And that's that, then..."

((What are you talking about?

And is the play over?))