#she showed up @ the campsite and i was like :O we need a squirrel !!!!!!

[ginnyzero]

Completely Harmless Ch. 48

Completely Harmless An SSO SilverGlade Re-imagining Story (Or Fix it Fan Salt fic) By Ginny O.

When Lily and her friends wanted to buy horses and were directed to the Silverglade Manor and its myriad of problems, they didn’t expect to start a revolution. They were just a bunch a stable girls. Completely harmless. Right?

A/N: Things are only canon if I say they’re canon. Pre-Saving the Moorland Stables compliant for the most part. Posted in its entirety on my website. Posted in 2000 to 4000 word bits here. Rated T for Swearing Word Count 177,577

Chapter Forty-Eight The Evergray Nights of Midsummer

The Baroness declared to them that she liked the cloud light displays in her stable better than the bubbles and jelly fish. However, she seemed amused rather than annoyed, so they took it well and promised it’d be down at the end of the week.

They all went over to the opening ceremony for the Midsummer Festival. There was a huge maypole, traditional music played, there was a special shop with traditional Jorvigian dresses in all color combinations and gear to go with them. Everyone cheered as the Master Ranger from Goldcroft and Loretta lit the bonfire that was to last all week together. There was food from the Summer family spread out all over the tables, traditional Jorvigian fare including a large pot of crawfish boil.

They ran around and gathered the flowers so they could try the dream tent. No one was willing to say who’d they’d seen when they came out flushed and giggling. They fished for prize tokens at the fishing tent. (They’d have to come back every day to get them all.)

The table had a map of the South New Jorvik County and the locations where they could find the flowers for all the different wreathes they could make around the county.

There was also the schedule of the Dew Family Race Challenge.

Because there wasn’t as much to do except to visit the parties to get vials of sand and make wreathes, it felt like a much more relaxed event than Rainbow Week. It helped that there weren’t rainbows crashing everywhere and leprechauns to chase around. They were able to take their time and enjoy it more.

The artists had come back and set up more art in Fort Pinta square. It was all beach themed, of course. Tim wanted help with selling beach balls and setting out towels and collecting the dirty ones. He also needed help mixing the drinks.

One of the girls asked him why he was making them one at a time? Multiple drinks! Multiple. You didn’t shake any of them with the soda in it. You put the soda in last. Really, the drinks didn’t need shaking but if that’s how he was going to be with the ice.

But he did have streams of customers and people were tearing up on the floor under the pale yellow and green cabana to the tunes of DJ Kai. (Apparently hearing she was being broadcast around to the different parties, she and Syntax had agreed to move to a new party each day.)

People were having fun and that’s all that mattered.

They did have to take a couple hours each day in the evening to make more food for the parties. And run around and refill the snack buckets. (Loretta had definitely come through with snacks and bread, and the things for sausages and s’mores.) It was a good thing they had extra shells and crystals and beads. People wanted to make their own embellished shells rather than take the ones that were decorations. (And the lace sailboats too.) So they set up a crafting center in the Baroness’ new Pavilion and announced it on Jorvikgram.

At least they’d decorated it!

Elsa stared at the happy tourists gluing rhinestone trim onto sea shells with glue guns. “We should have predicted this.”

“We can’t think of everything,” Linn chided.

Elsa gave her a flat look.

“We can’t!”

Elsa raised her hands above her head, waved them around, and stomped away.

--

They’d invited Linda and Alex to join them on their rounds. Though there were times Alex had made some rather thin excuses.

“Just admit you’re off to run races with Justin!” Lily shouted after the retreating Alex.

Alex waved at her and flushed but didn’t respond.

“Go dance with the idiot!” Linda shouted.

The two girls laughed as Tin Can broke into a flat out run at Alex’s urging.

“They fool no one,” Lily said as the two continued to trot through New Hillcrest.

A cough interrupted them from a man standing near the bus stop. “Excuse me,” he said and coughed again.

They stopped.

He was definitely an odd looking gentleman. He wore odd dark grey robes, and carried a staff with a couple of mysterious blue stones dangling from it. His black hair was a mess and in the lines of the left side of his face there was the distinctive pink glow of pandoric energy. “I am Evergray. I’ve come from the Evermist Forest in the far north in search of the Soul Riders and a girl named Lily. Some girls told me that they’d be here today. Have you seen them?” His sentences were punctuated by coughs.

Linda and Lily looked at each other.

“Well, we are them,” Lily said.

“You just missed Alex. I’m Linda,” Linda said. “Um, we can protect ourselves.”

Evergray leaned against his stick and laughed. It devolved into a coughing fit. Squatting down his coughed until he could barely breathe.

Lily and Linda got off their horses. Linda reaching into her saddlebag, pulled out a water.

“Here, take a drink,” she held it out to him when he was breathing again.

Evergray wiped his sweating forehead on his robe. “Thank you. You’re most kind.” He took a sip.

Lily rubbed his back. “What happened to you?”

“I have Pandoria sickness. This is what happens when you spend too much time in Pandoria. Yes, I am a great explorer of Pandoria. So much it’s like a second home. I once longed to be a Soul Rider and weild magic instead of keeping it, protecting it. I studied more of the ancient secrets than any other druid before they kicked me out. And I’ve come to talk to you, tell you what the Druids may not.”

“You aren’t a druid.”

Evergray stood. “I was. They exiled me.”

“Exiled you?” Linda blinked. “For what?”

“Asking too many questions.”

“That’d do it.” Lily stood and brushed off her knees. “They don’t seem the type to like those who ask questions.” She glanced at Linda.

“She always shuts me down.” Linda shrugged.

“Ms. Sunbeam, she’d tell you not to trust me.” Evergray half smiled. “Peh.”

“If you’re exiled. You aren’t supposed to be here.” Lily gestured around. “I mean, exile is just saying ‘eh, you’re someone else’s problem now.’”

Evergray grinned and coughed again. “I have heard tales of a rebellious leader of stable girls who is causing quite a ruckus.” He touched Lily’s chest with the head of his staff.

She cocked her hip. “Have the squirrels been talking? Or the chipmunks?”

“Both. They are great gossips squirrels and chipmunks. They know I’m trustworthy to tell things that might upset the druids. They’re very loyal to you. Made me swear many oaths I wouldn’t harm you in any way.”

Lily had been being sarcastic given she didn’t quite believe the squirrels and chipmunks had enough intelligence to actually spy. But if he was being serious, she had to go along with it now. “Well, you’ve found me, now what?”

“I’d like to show you someplace,” Evergray said. “It’s where I’m going to stay, tucked out of the way, where no one would think to look for me. Would you help me there? I brought some luggage.”

Lily took Evergray and texted the rest of the club she’d met a friend and be a bit late. Linda took his luggage. He directed them through the Mirror Marsh.

He coughed. “I don’t remember it being this tidy.”

“The Bulldogz have been doing trail rides around it and cleaned up the roads. Apparently one of the delivery carts got into a wreck and Bernadette finally saw reason and let them take ropes and at least get the logs out of the road.”

Evergray grunted in approval and coughed again.

They went through the Eastern Expanse. Evergray could see the beach. “What’s going on down there?”

“More counter insurgency against G.E.D.,” Lily explained. “One of our club leaders had the idea to do a charity race event. People get sponsors, and depending on how many races they run, they get money. The money goes to the Dew family to pull them out of foreclosure so they can have their farm back.”

Evergray coughed again. “How out of hand has it gotten around here since I’ve been gone? Leave a place five minutes and it becomes a mess.”

“I don’t know how long you’ve been gone.”

“Take the dirt track above the road,” Evergray instructed and didn’t answer her question. At the top of the track overlooking the hills down to the sea was a campsite. “We can leave my luggage here,” Evergray said. “Yes. This will do nicely. But do continue onwards.”

Alex rode up over the ridge panting. “I’d just met with Justin and you said I need to be here on Soul Rider business.”

“This is Evergray, former druid,” Lily introduced the man on the back of her horse. “He’s going to show us something.”

Whickering, Starshine came over the hill too.

“Ahh, and where are the others?”

“In Pandoria, all three of them,” Alex said grimly.

Evergray nodded. “Continue along the track. You’ll know where we’re going when you see it.”

The trail twisted back and forth with trees and bushes. The rocks close in above them making it dark. They pulled out their cameras for light holding them above their heads.

The trail opened up into a huge dale in the mountains. Above them, a small crack let in light.

To either side of them were four huge statues of horses. They rode through them to where there was a set of steps and on platform in front of those steps broken off rocks of what could have been more hooves.

Evergray jumped off the back of Lily’s horse. “Have a look around,” he said. “This is Guardians Dale, a place of great significance for the Keepers of Aideen. Or should be.”

They dismounted and wandered from statue to statue trying to take them in.

“Are these supposed to be the Soul Horses, the original Starbreeds?” Linda asked snapping pictures. Each of the horses lit up with the purple pink of pandoria with designs on their sides. Designs that were the symbols of the four circles. The star horse had a horn. The one with the sun had wings. The one with lightning bolts had cloven hooves. And lastly, the one with the moon had a beard.

Starshine huffed.

“He doesn’t see the resemblance,” Linda translated.

Lily leaned back to look at the horned horse statue. “I do,” she said.

Starshine struck a pose. Clearly, he was far more handsome.

“Well, this was you back then when you didn’t have so many other horse lines influencing your bloodlines.” Lily gestured. “It’s still you.”

Starshine huffed again and tossed his flowing mane.

Lily went over to the winged horse. “So, this must be Concorde.”

Meteor nodded rapidly.

“Interesting.” She spun on her toe and returned to Evergray. “It’s certainly impressive enough.”

Evergray coughed and eyed her. “You aren’t impressed.”

Lily looked down her nose at him. “You have your reasons.” She shrugged.

“This place is a gateway to Pandoria.” Evergray gestured at the stairway going up and ending in the side of the mountain. “A gate that Aideen can use to enter the final battle with Garnok.”

“Sounds pretty definitive.”

“You need all the Soul Horses, but, as you can see, many years ago the forces of Dark Core destroyed the fifth statue, the horse of Aideen. And now this place has become forgotten, and disregarded by those who haven’t read the ancient histories or know the secrets of the Keepers of Aideen.”

“So, you’re saying it’s not completely useless,” Linda said. She adjusted her glasses and looked around. “It’s awe inspiring. Think of the history.”

“There are other ways to open gates and portals into Pandoria. I would know. I am the one who learned how to seek them out and have travelled many places, many ages, and epochs of that cursed and yet blessed place. I sought a secret so that others could travel Pandoria safely. It was almost in my grasp, but if I return to Pandoria now I would die.” His speech was again punctuated by coughing.

Alex stepped forward. “So, you’re saying if we needed to, we could use this gate to rescue Anne, Lisa, and Concorde.”

“We’d have to know where they are,” Evergray said. “And there is an artifact that the druids wouldn’t hand over to just anyone. I think I know where it is, but, I am missing some of the pieces of the puzzle.”

“Would the Pandoria Codex help?” Linda asked.

Evergray’s eyes widened. “How did?”

“I borrowed it from Fripp. We can make you a copy.” Linda shrugged.

“You would just hand it over to me,” Evergray pointed at his chest with his thumb.

Linda sucked her cheeks in. “You’re the first person who has given us any hope that we could rescue Anne, Lisa, and Concorde. They are in Pandoria and now they’re out of reach of the Weeping Widow.”

Evergray tucked his chin down. “It will be dangerous. There can be consequences. Terrible consequences for Jorvik. The fabric between Pandoria and this world is fragile and tears easily. Rescuing your friends could upset that balance of energy.”

“You came anyways. You gave us this hope.” Linda lifted her chin. “What would you do to save your friends?”

“I find I no longer have many.” Evergray scratched his chin. “If I did, I would travel to any realm they might be in to save them and die by their side if necessary.”

“Any realm?” Lily asked.

“You think Pandoria is the only realm.” Evergray coughed. “How foolish.”

Lily put a hand on his arm. “Thank you, for showing us this place. For giving us hope.”

Evergray coughed. “We still need all four Soul Horses. I only see three. It isn’t much hope.”

“It’s more than we had before,” Linda said firmly.

“Are you sure you don’t want to enjoy the party?”

“I may wander down to see the show,” Evergray said. “But I don’t want the druids to catch wind that I’m here.”

“Understandable,” Alex said and mounted Tin Can.

“We’ll get you a copy of the Pandoria Codex,” Linda added and mounted Meteor.

Lily stared at him. “Could the Star Circle help you with your sickness?”

“They wouldn’t, even if they had the power or knew how,” Evergray said.

“Maybe one day you can lead us to the point where it eluded you and we’ll figure out a cure,” Lily said. She mounted her horse. “Do you need a ride back to the camp site?”

“I’d like to meditate here if you don’t mind. It has been a long time since I’ve been on such a sacred site.”

“Evergray,” Lily paused. “Do you worship Aideen?”

Evergray coughed again. “No. Why would I?”

“I was simply curious. I know nothing of this land. Aideen may have been an extraterrestrial person, but to me, that makes her a person still. Not an infallible being. It would seem she is more like the gods of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, rather than, say, the god of Jews and Christians.”

Evergray tilted his head.

“She can make mistakes,” Lily explained.

“You have been thinking a lot about it,” Evergray said and coughed. “I came to much the same conclusion. Aideen was a person, limited and flawed.”

“But the other druids, ones like Elizabeth, they worship her?”

“Some do, others mostly desire the knowledge that the druids possess.” Evergray shrugged. “But they are not so willing to ask questions.”

“I don’t think Moses or Abraham got as far as they did without asking questions and arguing with god,” Lily said dryly. “It was like god approved.”

Evergray eyed her. “I don’t know of these men or the god of which you speak.”

“Not really important. I don’t think I would be part of a religion or organization where asking questions isn’t allowed. Asking questions is how we learn. Babies and children ask questions and do things because they’re exploring their environment and learning. We aren’t supposed to ever stop learning. Keep asking your questions, Evergray. I’d dearly love to hear the answers one day.” Lily nudged her horse around. “If you can’t ask questions, it sounds more like a cult.”

Evergray stared after her.

“But what do I know, I’m just a stable girl, completely harmless,” Lily called over her shoulder.

Evergray coughed again and snorted.

FOR THE ACCOMPANYING IMAGES PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE MY WATERMARK AND CONTACT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. I get it. Some of you might get excited and want to see this stuff in the game, especially the clothes, tack, and pets. However, the only way I want to see this in the game is if I get paid for it. If I see it in the game and I’m not paid for it, there will be hell to pay. You think I’m salty. I’d be angry. Personally, I’m not going to send this info to SSO. If you do, leave my contact information there! Don’t give them any excuses to steal.

Now, I’ll know you haven’t read this note if you leave me comments about how ‘salty’ I am about the game and if I hate it so much I should do something else. I am doing something else. It’s called Mystic Riders MMORPG Project. Mystic Riders however is a very baby phase game. You can check out our plans on the game dev blog. (Skills, Factions, Professions, Crafting, Mini-Games, 25+ horse breeds!) If you know anyone who would be interested and has money or contacts about game making, direct them to the blog.

#star stable #sso #star stable online #fan fic #jorvik reimagined #star stable salt #completely harmless #silverglade reimagined #evergray the honest #at least he's honest #the only honest one so far #Many nods to ruth westside