Mythlands: THE HEIST

Part Two: Signs and Portents

*** *** Weekend Write-In for 13th Jul 2018 *** ***

"sign": In 500 words, tell what happens when there is a sign

REUNION

'Goosey!' The Hare greeted his best friend with overwhelming affection as the two groups met up on the Apex. The Golden Goose had led the animals towards Hare's group, without incident.

Or so he thought.

In the sky, the Moon watched. The corrupted version of The Magic Mirror spied upon them from out of a shiny surface and The Mouse led his minions to the portal.

The mysterious black cat known as SC knew all of this - he'd seen similar events play out before and he knew what to look out for.

There would be a sign.

Schrodinger's Cat looked around him - all the players had been gathered. Mouse had succeeded in betraying Loki - the Time Machine of HG Wells was almost powered. If only that were enough, but there was one more thing to do if they were to succeed and not have all their efforts undone.

'Griffin.'

The grey tabby from the mortal realm looked up. 

'I need to tell you some things and then I want you to act. Don't think, don't pause. Just do whatever comes to mind.'

'Erm, ok,' The tabby trusted his friend implicitly - in fact was in awe of the all seeing cat.

SC's eyes were sad. 'There will be death, there will be betrayal ... the signs are all there, but this time there are differences. Two Goldie Lochs. The aid not antagonism of the Gingerbread Man. Bambi guided us. George was rescued and provides the way back. Ariel stands ready.'

'I ... I don't understand.'

'It is not your place to young feline. You are the x factor - all else will change the past but your presence here is new. A simple action may save us and put us on the correct path, but there is also danger. The Mouse has become aware. He knows his path and has planned accordingly. He will use the waters from the wood between the worlds, he will use the wand of Bad Merlin and his prescience, limited as it may be. The dark magic mirror aids him unwillingly - it is a broken thing. Our Magic must never become him.'

'Uh ... ok.'

'Worst of all, the creature is insane. Unlike Loki, he seeks the nihilism of total destruction - like the Caesar of old, he will laugh as reality burns, tears of mad delight rolling down his cheeks. And yet a part of him thinks of survival and dominance in a new reality. Only with the advent of absolute destruction can we be born anew like the firebird - the phoenix, risen from the ashes of the end, and the cycle began once more. Then the loop will be broken.'

Griffin gulped. He didn't understand any of this but ...

'Ariel!'

The small fey flew over. 'Aye puss. What be thy bidding?'

SC looked up as the fey hovered beneath his bright eyes. 'One of two paths lay before us. Attack or flight. I do not believe the machine is powered enough, but one surge of energy could achieve two results. We can over-power the portal and temporarily cut off control from The Mouse - this will delay his ability to summon the Great Old Ones but it will permanently fire up the portal to all realities. We can use the surge to enable the time machine to puncture the gap between this reality and the last one, if we can connect the two with some of the spare induction coils he keeps, but ...'

Griffin spoke excitedly. 'If I can get up to the rafters above, I'm small enough to drag the coils unseen and drop them down above the portal. Oh, but then ...' the tabby's face fell as he realized the flaw in his plan.

Ariel landed on his nose. 'Nay master greypuss. Thy stratagem hath merit and twill be mine own second task to seize the end and fly into the maw.'

SC was overwhelmed with sadness. 'You realize what that means Ariel?'

The Elizabethan fey nodded. 'God grant us favour that in another life, none of this shall come to pass and I will recall naught of pain. In truth these energies burn mine frame from within. I am not long for these realms. Remember me.'

'Forever dear one,' replied the black cat. 'And now ...' he turned to look at the Hellz Rabbitz, Icarus, Pegasus and the others, 'We shall need a diversion.'