Princess Iba Algi - Was Tired

Iba Algi was tired. More tired than usual. Maybe she'd overdone it. But what else could she do? Nothing else. That's what. Under-doing wouldn't have done anything. There would still be a big old giant wall of magic rock in the way. Besides, by overdoing it, she got to ride in Renjie's bubble-bottomed Bon Bao's great big arms. Despite being a great big hunk, Bon Bao's skin was soft and he moved gently. That was good! If Renjie's bubble-bottomed Bon Bao wasn't gentle, Renjie would probably have been crushed to death already. Still very much alive, Renjie ran around telling Bon Bao not to drop Iba Algi. 

Iba Algi knew Bon Bao wouldn't drop her. He was big and strong enough to hold up the entire world.

"Aren't you a bit delicate for a divine talent?" asked Muscular Brute.

"Well," said Iba Algi, "I'm only ten."

"Almost eleven!" said Renjie.

"Are we going to have a birthday party, Iba Algi?" asked Nin.

"Of course we are," said Harlecuin Sols.

The prospect of a birthday party excited Nin. Her excitement was contagious. Iba Algi felt a lot less tired. She pretended otherwise, however. That allowed her to ride in Bubble-Bottomed Muscular Brute's great big arms all the way to a comfy chair next in the expedition camp down by the stream. It wasn't as comfy as the chairs back home, but they were in the field and Iba Algi didn't complain.

"What are we going to find at the other end of that hallway?" asked Renjie.

"I'm not going to ruin the surprise," said Iba Algi.

"Do you know?" pressed Renjie.

"Of course I do," said Iba Algi. "You big silly."

"Really?" teased Renjie.

"I wouldn't have gone to all this trouble if I didn't know!" said Iba Algi.

"Checkmate," said Snowblind Tigress.

"It occurs to me now," said Renjie, "that you could just have teleported her here."

"No," said Snowblind Tigress.

"Why?"

"She wanted your bubble-bottomed Bon Bao to carry her," said Snowblind Tigress plainly.

Bon Bao looked so over the moon after being referenced by his goddess, Iba Algi wondered if he was going to forget to flex his great big muscles. He did not forget.

Parsifal, Esmaralde, Alistair, and Giselle showed up. Their arrival caused a stir. Alistair and Giselle called the assassin Whisps off to a secret huddle.

Nin circled around Parsifal with great big eyes.

"He's almost as handsome as Imojean," she whispered to Harlecuin Sols.

"I think so too!" the boy emperor agreed.

"He's the Third Prince," said Iba Algi. "Seiryu-no-kami Parsifal."

Parsifal looked around in confusion. Then he saluted Consort Chen.

"Have you told Renjie about…?" he asked her.

"No," she replied. "But it's time. Does this naughty girl want to tell him herself?"

"Well…," said Iba Algi. "Nin can tell him!"

"Me?" squeaked Nin excitedly. "Who am I telling what?"

"Nin is one of the little ghosts?" Parsifal asked Garrett.

"Yes," replied Garrett. "She thinks you are almost as handsome as someone called 'Imojean.'"

"Can you see them?" asked Parsifal.

"I can see and hear Nin," said Garrett. "I can almost see, but can't hear, Harlecuin Sols."

"That boy is very hard to hear," agreed Iba Algi. "Nin, tell Renjie what happened when we were playing Make A Pretty Picture."

"Oh my gosh it was so exciting!" said Nin. "We were playing Make A Pretty Picture and Iba Algi was sitting there and Harlecuin Sols was sitting there and I was sitting here…."

Garrett narrated for the benefit of people who were not sensitive to the language of ghosts. Nin and Harlecuin Sols positioned themselves where they belonged. Garrett helped the audience visualize by placing to large, shiny pebbles on the ground.

"But then Iba Algi said 'I see you Mr. Sorrow' and she pointed her finger," continued Nin.

Iba Algi pointed her finger.

"Just like that!" said Nin.

"Mr. Sorrow?" asked Renjie.

"Let her finish," said Iba Algi.

"Harlecuin Sols and I looked where Iba Algi was pointing but we didn't see anyone," said Nin.

"Nobody at all!" agreed Harlecuin Sols.

"But suddenly we saw Iba Algi!" said Nin.

Snowblind Tigress teleported Iba Algi to the other side of the table.

"Just like that!" said Nin. "So her finger was pointed back the other way. When Harlecuin Sols and I looked back the other way, we saw the tip of a sword sticking out of Imojean's back!"

"What?" cried Renjie, leaping to his feet.

"You sit back down and let her finish," said Iba Algi sternly.

Renjie sat.

"That didn't bother Imojean one bit," said Nin. "When he flexed his abdominal muscles…."

"Where did Imojean show you his abdominal muscles?" demanded Renjie.

"At the hot springs of course," said Nin. "When Imojean flexed his abdominal muscles, which are amazing, the part of the sword inside him disappeared. The tip sticking out fell and made a noise. That poor Mr. Sorrow, he was left holding a useless little hilt. Then Imojean hit him. Pow! That sent Mr. Sorrow flying. But Mr. Sorrow conjured shadow clones that tried to attack Iba Algi again! They surrounded her in a blink and got ready to stab…."

"What?" cried Renjie.

"Hush!" said Nin. "The shadow clones were going to stab Iba Algi but I had already cast my ghost wires spell! Iba Algi says I'm pretty good at it now."

"Nin has the strongest ghost wires in Great Yao," said Iba Algi.

"Really?" gasped Renjie.

"Wow!" said Harlecuin Sols. "You're amazing, Nin!"

"Thank you, Harlecuin Sols!" said Nin.

"What happened next?" asked Bon Bao.

"The shadow clones got cooked right there!" said Nin. "Zot! So did Mr. Sorrow."

She giggled. It was kind of spooky.

"That's amazing!" said Renjie.

"I told you Nin is amazing!" said Harlecuin Sols.

"I think so too," agreed Iba Algi.

"What did Mr. Sorrow do next?" asked Renjie.

"He threw his umbrella into the air!" said Nin. "The whole sky went dark!"

The whole sky went dark. Very dark. Pitch black. Except for Iba Algi, her little ghosts, and Consort Chen, most people in the camp fidgeted anxiously. Of course, it was almost impossible for most people in camp to tell what everyone else was doing. Iba Algi thought that was kind of funny.

"Um…," said Renjie. "This is actually ancient magic. Was Mr. Sorrow capable of…."

"No," said Iba Algi. "However, his umbrella was an artifact created by First Qianqiu Emperor's Adjunct Preceptor Maginobilius thousands of years ago."

"The dots connect," said Snowblind Tigress.

"That's cool," said Bon Bao. "But then who is using ancient magic now?"

"It's Harlecuin Sols, you big silly," said Iba Algi. "Go on Nin!"

"The whole sky got dark just like this!" said Nin. "Then it rained daggers!"

"Let's skip the rain of daggers," said Bon Bao.

"Well, Imojean stopped the daggers with his cape, anyway," said Nin.

"Does Imojean wear a cape?" asked Renjie.

"He does when he needs to stop a rain of daggers," said Nin. "Then terrifying fanged specters…."

"Let's leave the terrifying fanged spectres out too," said Bon Bao.

"Oh, piffle," said Nin. "But they were there. They opened their mouths to bite Iba Algi… and then burning lances of sunlight cut them all to pieces!"

Before Bon Bao could object, burning lances of pure sunlight cut the darkness to pieces.

"Is this also ancient magic?" asked Bon Bao.

"Yes," said Snowblind Tigress.

"Good to know," said Bon Bao.

"Harlecuin Sols again?" asked Bon Bao.

"Yes," said Snowblind Tigress. "I mentioned that Harlecuin Sols is the Last Qianqiu Emperor."

"But his magic is stronger than all the others," said Iba Algi. "Including the First."

"I don't know if that's true, Iba Algi," said Harlecuin Sols.

"I know it's true," said Iba Algi.

"If it's true," said Bon Bao, "why was he the last Qianqui Emperor?"

"Because Harlecuin Sols is a big sweetheart and he didn't want to hurt anyone," said Iba Algi. "You can't be emperor for long if you don't want to hurt anyone."

"Couldn't someone like Snowblind Tigress hurt people on his behalf?"

"He wouldn't let me," said Snowblind Tigress.

"What happened next, Nin?" asked Iba Algi.

"Mr. Sorrow's umbrella fell onto the table!" said Nin.

A tattered umbrella fell onto the table. Almost everyone jumped back. Giselle stepped forward and picked up the umbrella.

"Is that actually Mr. Sorrow's umbrella?" asked Bon Bao.

"Yes," said Giselle.

"Where did it come from?" asked Bon Bao.

"Imojean dropped it," said Iba Algi.

"This Imojean fellow is invisible?" asked Bon Bao.

"Yes," said Iba Algi.

"Can he show us his abdominal muscles?" asked Garrett.

"Imojean is very shy," said Iba Algi.

"Hah!" cried Renjie. "Is that the first time you've ever lied?"

He pinched her cheeks and deformed them.

"I'm exaggerating," said Iba Algi. "Go on, Nin."

"Then Mr. Sorrow tried to run away," said Nin. "I caught him with my chain! I tried to pull him back, but he pulled me instead! Then he pulled Harlecuin Sols too! Luckily, Imojean was there. He grabbed the chain and yanked. Mr. Sorrow came back, crashed into a wall, bounced off, and then lay there on the ground and twitched a little."

After hearing Garrett's narration, Bon Bao laid on the ground.

"Oh my gosh be careful!" Renjie told him.

"I ruined their fun with the daggers and the specters," said Bon Bao.

"Yes, yes, that's right!" said Nin. "He lay there just like that! Only not so many great big muscles. Or that great big bump in his…."

"Fast forward!" said Renjie.

"Hey!" protested Bon Bao.

"Then Iba Algi walked over to Mr. Sorrow," said Nin. "She put her hand on his face."

Iba Algi got up, walked over, and put her hand on Bon Bao's face.

"Then," said Nin, "in a really spooky voice, Iba Algi said: 'you've stolen power and lives to feed your hunger. Now that hunger only has you to devour. Nothing will remain of the soul you once had. All memories of what you did – and of the pain you caused – will fade from the world and be gone forevermore."

Renjie pulled Iba Algi away from Bon Bao.

"Oh no you don't," said Renjie. "We can imagine this part too."

"She can leave her hand on my face if she wants," said Bon Bao.

"Hush!" said Renjie. "What happened next?"

"Mr. Sorrow screamed," said Nin. "Then he crumbled into dust. Then the dust evaporated."

"Was that ancient magic, too?" asked Bon Bao.

"Yes," said Snowblind Tigress.

"Harlecuin Sols again?" asked Bon Bao.

"No," said Snowblind Tigress. "That was our little Princess. Grand Preceptor is correct. Iba Algi is stronger than Sword Saint."

"Is she stronger than you," asked Bon Bao.

"When you get yourself killed," said Renjie, "I'm going to be very disappointed."

"You'll still have me," said Garrett.

"That's right!"

"The Princess is stronger than me in some respects," said Snowblind Tigress. "Go on, Nin."

"Even though we won," said Nin, "Iba Algi was sad. She didn't understand why someone would want to kill her when all she was doing was trying to make the world better."

Renjie hugged Iba Algi so hard, Iba Algi thought he should hug her like that more often.

"The world is better just because you're here," he said.

It was so romantic, Iba Algi started to cry all over again.

"But this attack cannot go unpunished," continued Renjie.

"Almost everyone in Sorrow Woe Society is dead," said Snowblind Tigress.

"How do you know that?" asked Bon Bao.

"She killed them," said Parsifal.

"All of them?" asked Bon Bao.

"A few have been spared," said Snowblind Tigress. "Nin, you can finish."

"The Empress showed up and gave Iba Algi a hug!" said Nin. "Just like Renjie is doing! The Empress said that Iba Algi had already made the world a better place. Just like Renjie! That made Iba Algi happy."

"Just like my future husband," said Iba Algi.

"You mean the Empress watched the whole thing?" asked Renjie.

"No one with a mhoddim component is able to come onto Jade Palace Mound without the Empress feeling it," said Snowblind Tigress. "Not even Mr. Sorrow."

"And your palace is right next to Iba Algi's," said Renjie.

"I also felt it," agreed Snowblind Tigress.

"You both left Iba Algi to handle it by herself?" asked Renjie.

"We 'left' three little saints to handle it by themselves," said Snowblind Tigress, "along with the Immaculate Homunculus."

"But…!" protested Renjie.

"No 'buts,'" said Snowblind Tigress.

"Who is the Immaculate Homunculus?" asked Bon Bao.

"Imojean," said Renjie.

"Is he strong?"

"He's an automaton," said Renjie. "Only the Qianqiu Emperors knew how to make them. Imojean by himself is like the Emperor's Left and Right Attendants together."

"Is that strong?" Bon Bao whispered to Iba Algi.

She giggled.

"Very strong," said Iba Algi. "But it's hard to compare the Attendants to people."

"Mr. Sorrow was up against three little saints who could use ancient magic as well as the perfect Attendant," said Snowblind Tigress. "He never stood a chance, and so there was nothing for Her Majesty or myself to worry about until it was over."

"What did you have to worry about then?" asked Bon Bao.

"Iba Algi's feelings," said Garrett. "Nin just told us that the Princess was upset."

Renjie paced from one end of the camp to the other. He twitched and grumbled like an angry red panda kitten – or a baby tiger. More like a tiger. Iba Algi worried that her future husband's demonic side might emerge, but Esmaralde intervened. The Crown Princess picked Renjie up and started tickling him. She refused to stop tickling him until he promised to stop making everyone nervous.

"If the Goddess of Glaives tells you to stop making people nervous," said Bon Bao, "then you really do need to calm down."

"Fine," gasped Renjie. "I'm calm."

Esmaralde tickled him until he was not only 'calm,' but nearly unconscious.

"We have everyone here," the Crown Princess said. "So let's do this. What is it that we're doing?"

Giselle lifted Mr. Sorrow's ruined umbrella over her head and twirled it around.

"My understanding is that it has something about the God of War," she said.

"I am thankful to be alive at this time," said the Minister of Antiquities. "I've learned the purpose of Kadar-Jormu Citadel, seen the lich Maginobilius's dread umbrella, stood inside invocations of ancient magic – and almost witnessed a muscle hunk being reduced to dust that evaporates. Once we enter the God of War's prison, I'm not sure what will be left for me to do."

"You can always come play Make A Pretty Picture with us!" said Nin.

Garrett relayed her offer. The Minister bowed.

Returning to the tunnels, Iba Algi rode on Bon Bao's great big shoulders. It made Renjie jealous. That helped him forget to be angry. By the time they got all the way back to where the giant seal had been, he was angry about being jealous. Garrett gave him a back hug. That made Renjie melt. 

"But which one are you jealous of?" asked Garrett.

"I'm not jealous!"

"Are you jealous of Bon Bao because he is holding Iba Algi?" asked Garrett. "Or are you jealous of Iba Algi because you should be the one sitting on Bon Bao's shoulders?"

"Iba Algi can sit on my shoulders," said Esmaralde. "Problem solved."

Iba Algi moved to the Crown Princess. Renjie climbed up Bon Bao. There was harmony. That harmony lasted all the way down a long descending corridor. At the end of the corridor was a huge stone door. There was no seal. That allowed the Minister of Antiquities, Bon Bao, and Esmaralde to open it by combining their force projection techniques.

"Here we go!" said Iba Algi.

The door revealed a gigantic chamber. In the center of the chamber, a gigantic rock shaped like a sacred bronze bell hung from a chain. Four other chains anchored the rock to columns rising out of the floor. Everything was carved with glyphs and symbols – including the glyphs and symbols themselves. The bell was made of granite but it was inlaid with bronze. A lot of that bronze glowed. Mystical energy radiating from the bell made it hard to breathe.

"I am not disappointed," said the Minister of Antiquities.

"The God of War is inside that rock?" asked Bon Bao.

"Correct!" said Iba Algi.

"What happens if we break it open?" asked Esmaralde.

"I'm sure we don't want to do that," said Parsifal.

"If we break open the bell," said Iba Algi, "a shockwave of spiritual energy built up over several thousand years will expand outward from this point. Everyone without a strong enough mhoddim component will have their soul evaporated and die."

"Bad," said Parsifal.

"Define 'strong,'" said Bon Bao.

"Well…," said Iba Algi, "some of us will survive."

"We're not breaking the rock," said Snowblind Tigress. "I doubt we could."

"What can we do?" asked Garrett.

"Your Majesty," said Iba Algi, "we'll need you for this."

"The little Last Qianqiu Emperor?" asked Bon Bao.

Her Majesty the Empress appeared. Everyone dropped to the ground. Iba Algi took that opportunity to climb off the Crown Princess. She reached up and took one of the Empress's hands.

"What is it that you have in mind, Princess?" asked the Empress.

"Well," said Iba Algi, "we'll need silk. A lot of silk."

"You mean enough silk to wrap up that entire bell," said Parsifal. "Don't you?"

"I do!" agreed Iba Algi.

"Is there that much silk in all of Tianming Town?" asked Garrett.

"Yes," said the Minister of Antiquities. "Of course, it will be expensive…."

"Your plan might work," said the Empress. "Except for the chains."

"Nin and Consort Chen will handle the chains," said Iba Algi.

"Me?" squeaked Nin. "Really? Oh my gosh!"

"Harlecuin Sols will help me with the destination?" asked the Empress.

"Yes," agreed Iba Algi.

Harlecuin Sols saluted.

"It will be a pleasure to work with you, Your Majesty," said the Empress. "Again."

Harlecuin Sols melted into a puddle of shyness. 

"The Grand Preceptor will also help," said Iba Algi. "Unfortunately, I don't think he's as well practiced in teleporting as…."

The Empress waved her hand. The Grand Preceptor emerged from a cloud of billowing fabric and immediately began to investigate the symbols. The Empress tasked the Minister of Antiquities with acquiring enough silk to wrap the bell – and transporting it. She told the Crown Princess to protect the transports. Parsifal was instructed to work with the Crown Prince on figuring out a way to mitigate the economic impact of removing so much silk from the Tianming Town markets at once.

"As for you, Young Lady," said the Empress.

"Me?" asked Iba Algi.

"You're going to go home and get some rest."

Renjie squeezed Iba Algi so hard, she thought he should squeeze her that hard all the time.