The Flaming Crocus pt 1

 It is told that long ago, in a world far from this one, there lived an old crone who held within her heart all the knowledge of the worlds for she came from the times before the worlds formed. She was young then, when things first came into being with their swirling masses of beauty and magic before beings rose up to take their various places within their respective worlds. She watched each world, through a crystal globe formed from the very essence of the Universe's own magic, as it grew from grasslands to technology. As empires rose and fell, she watch, growing older, learning everything there was to know. This lonely watcher in her own corner of the Universe. She watch for thousands of years, time seeming inconsequential, until she went from maiden to crone.

During this time, she traveled. Often, to worlds that chose to not see her for she blended into the backgrounds, nothing more than another weary traveler, drinking mead in a back corner. She had often favored The Flaming Crocus in her wanderings as they had the best mead and entertainment in 15 planets plus the company was often top notch compared to other, less evolved planets. On this night, many moons before Twanda sat down with her friends, the crone happened upon Twanda who was well into her cups and telling tales of her adventures to anyone who would bother to listen.

The crone looked up, over the top of her own cup, her glasses sliding down he nose slightly as she began to speak, "Hey, you there, Elf. What if I told you there is an adventure you have never imagined which needs undertaking that requires courage, loyalty, friendship, bravery, and above all love?" Twanda, looking at the crone while take a swill of her mead before answering. "Do tell, Crone. I have heard of you before in tales my own people tell of the world when it was formed. How you were made from the darkness but born in the light. Do tell about this adventure for I tire of sitting here reminiscing of tales of old." "Lean in close..." The crone replied, her deformed fingers showing her age as she motion for Twanda to lean in.

The Crone began her tale. "Many eons ago all of what you see was nothing, then sprang forth the first inklings of magic. They were small at first, mere flickers of light barely seen in the vast sea of darkness until they became attracted to each other. Drawn from the darkness, they formed the first stars, then the first worlds. From there, the first lifeforms came, born from the love of the light out of darkness. These lifeforms evolved, some for the better, some for the worse. All lifeforms choose if they wise to follow the path of light or darkness..." She trailed off for a moment, as if lost in thought or a memory of some sort before taking a drink then continuing. "In those days, the Universe was a lot less crowded and I never wondered if the scales would tip towards the darkness for the light always shone so bright in the dawn of the mornings. Now, however, I can see the darkness as it streaks across the morning skies. Perhaps it is just my old eyes going dark on their own but no, I feel it in my bones, the darkness creeps in."

For a few moments, Twanda looked at the Crone thinking perhaps she had gone slightly mad but knowing in her elven heart that what she was saying was true for she too had noticed in the dawn's breaking the darkening of the sky's light. "Please. Mother of us all, continue your tale." Twanda said, looking at the Crone with the up most respect as she motioned for the barkeep to refill the woman's cup. "As I was saying..." the Crone continued "for some time the darkness has been creeping in. What is needed now is for some brave adventures to find the source of the creeping darkness to stop it before it devours our Universe with its jealousy and hatred. Do you think you know of any such fine adventures?"

Twanda looked at the Crone, a blissful gleam in her eyes for she knew of just such adventures, if they would be willing. She was set to meet them two days' time henceforth. "I believe I do or at least I have faith I do..." "Good, I will meet you a week from now in this very spot to give you the details." the Crone replied, as if a very dream she seemed to evaporate from the spot in which she sat.