What does this word "love" mean?

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 53743

Sigin

I have a few concerns here. No, it has NOTHING to do just how "Pronky" got his little toy here. Frankly, I'd wager he'd gotten it like how Gilmuriel's and E'eysha's : a mad expedition to the ruins of Atlantis or whatever. I don't care enough to even try a necromantic spell to commune with his dead spirit. (Hah! Like I could even manage that school of magery).

I just feel a need to be . . . cautious.

Hm, given all the trouble that the senior member of my old Dragon Circle had with one of these (re: 2540) can one be blamed for wishing to take this slow and careful? Oh, I remember that the clock is ticking, not only for Regent Helia back on Terra Prime but for the unicorns before me! If I dally too long, before we know it the unicorn who'd been named Astra might decide that Amalthea or Ariel might be a name better suited for her new self. Then there is the fact that a Crystallic actually IS the little magic dynamo, packing enough power to be able to level a city if someone should be so foolish as to somehow break it (though the wards against THAT should be rather hard to overcome) and . . .

Well, there is the fact that I am still rather taken aback with the lack of a doppleganger reaction I am familiar with between the elves and the unicorns! Might that mean that by just "diving in" to this mess might prove more harmful than helpful?

There are two ways to find out immediately I can think of, and being that I rather loath to talk to an Atlantian artifact (still have memories of the nightmares I got from tales of old Atlantis back in the hatchery) I will speak with the unicorns. I just have to find a way of wording it . . .

"Hey, Sigin!" my wife whispers to me. "What's the holdup?"

Sigh, then again mustn't risk appearing indecisive and unsure of myself. Taking too long to compose the "perfect" line to break into this touchy subject I see is risking much, alas. That risk would be that to the unicorns perhaps losing faith in the very person entrusted because of that appearance! Let us get down to it, then!

Pardon, I begin, both addressing my wife and the unicorns. Before we begin I must ask some questions, one of which may prove important in overcoming some obstacles here. If I feel that something is amiss from what I learn next with the Crystallic here, I fear that I shall NOT use it to undo certain transformations.

The unicorns nod slightly at that, glancing over at the young, scantily clad women and then back at me (missing the glances that the girls give the unicorns). By all appearances, if I don't miss my guess here I do actually believe that the unicorns . . .

No, one thing at a time. That shall be one of the last things I ask before moving on this.

First, I need to let you know something about the 'doppleganger reaction' that usually happens between analogs, I begin. That was discussed just moments ago, but we know that the usual business of instant love or hate had not happened.

Yes you did at that, the male unicorn interrupts. However, while I have vague memories of such a term back when human, it . . . now doesn't make . . . sense to me.

What is this word you call "love", the female unicorn asks, blinking those odd eyes of hers.

Why can I not see myself in them?

. . .

And . . . while I'm asking stupid questions why not just overlook the obvious answer to my concerns! The answer here is right in front of me! The laws of magic are not in some kind of flux like they'd been back earlier when we had been walking the very world that reflected Inquirer's Torg game! No, nothing like that which could cause a snafu with me using one magic method to try to accomplish one thing like the transformation of the "bawdy girls" back to their rightful form but instead turning them into human torches! No, instead it is both simpler and also . . . . eerie.

The laws of magic appear to be in place and God is in his Heaven. That's good for this dragon mage, let me tell you. However, the creatures before me, the unicorn couple, are like no intelligent entities I have ever met before today. Yes, I have heard it being possible and hear that there are such races like that out there. And while I'd always wondered just why God had done that (sure He‘d had is reasons but I‘m not privy to it), created such people (and not allowing ALL to enjoy such a wonderful emotion) I've never met one before so it takes me aback.

See, even though all the non-human races (dragons included) don't have emotional responses and concerns like your average human being we all DO have basically the same feelings. Unicorns back on Terra Prime, for this case to answer your question I'm sure you're asking, have the emotion known as love. If you've ever met Urnath and Hannah, you'd know that.

These unicorns? Well, further questioning just nails it down good and right. It appear that this reality's version of the unicorn has a narrower emotional range. Their relationships can include friendship. Mating, however, is something on the frivolous side (i.e. nothing lasting and deep). They can like and dislike something, but they do not really . . . .

. . .

They cannot love or hate. Anger, yes (just ask my mate how the unicorns had been). Hatred, no. It's not in their makeup, now. In a way, this mage took away a bit of their humanity . . . Oh, they are people, but . . . it just "creeps me out" shall we say for some reason.

"Oh my God," Allan whispers, stunned and a bit sickened.

Yes, he'd been a bit taken aback back when he'd discovered (when I'd asked in curiosity) about his emotions. See, as an aside (not that it's really important but since you asked) I'd been curious about something. See, dragons do not love another dragon (mate to mate wise, husband and wife like the bards sing and all that) until "Eye meets Eye" takes place. Then and only then it happens (and with only that one other dragon and never again with another). Allan (and Mina) had loved others (man and wife deal) before their transformation. Now, they'd had fond memories of having loved (past tense) others, but it a shadow of feeling (a shadow of an emotion).

These unicorns don't even have THAT. And because of that, the "spark" between analogs could not happen because the flame (as it were) cannot just spark up in one but not the other. It must be both . . . or not at all. As it was, it broke the spell upon their minds (releasing memories) . . . but it went in other directions than the usual.

And when the unicorns and we learn just HOW it went, it is a matter of concern. See, there is a bond between rider and mount for unicorns (broken upon the status of virgin is broken for the rider with the act of . . . sex to be blunt). If the former rider (or ANY non-virgin) should even TRY to touch them and make contact?

Well, back in my youth I'd heard tales (and laughed at the ridiculousness of it) of people's hands being turned into donkey hooves (continuing on if they keep it up with the complete transformation into that domestic equine).

In this case, the tale is reality here!!

Just is that a bond happened here between elves and unicorns, but . . . Well, by now I DO hope you figured out that Artizza and Fertal "know" each other very well . . . . but that bond is still there between unicorn and their "riders". And being (according to the now frantic unicorns) that it was a major health problem if the rider and mount don't ride (a synergistic health benefit from the normal bonding), then eventually both would wither away and die....

Wouldn't happen (death) for Fertal and Artizza, but cannot say the same for the unicorns.... and I do not want to even THINK what will happen when that transformation effect fails and rebounds upon the unicorn mounts here! Something lethal, I fear.

However, as I fear they do NOT want at ALL to return to humanity! Maybe it is that narrowing of their emotions, turning away from obligations and duties.

Or most likely the siren call of their new forms is too strong and they're too far into it to back out safely with sanity intact. Must remember THAT danger, old boy!

Besides, who am I to even THINK about going against their wishes in this matter? Dangerous enough as it is with just this "slight" modification, which (I pray) will reset this rider/mount nonsense BACK into the more familiar analog sister/brother routine!!

It is just . . . . they look so beautiful as they are, strong and proud. Puts the Terra Prime variety to shame, really.

Well, there are ways around this dilemma. Honestly, I must admit as much of a bastard as the mage who'd transformed them had been he was something of an artist! I could just turn them into your "average", all white and gold Terra Prime unicorns. I can, however, just change them just enough to where they are Terra Prime unicorns . . . . just built along the lines of the war unicorns that they are now . . . .

Or had been as they (and I from the toll the magicks take upon me in sapping my strength for a time) stagger as the Crystallic does it's thing! As emotional ranges broaden and unicorns shake and shiver in reaction at regaining what had been lost (and not missed up until now), I then turn to the bawdy girls . . . who are pointing at something in fright. . . . .

  1. Great! Just what we don't need! Giant spiders . . . . and elves?!

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11/23/2005 1:34:12 AM

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