Act 29.

Linda braced herself for the blow, but it never came. She opened her eyes to see the clubs and swords of their attackers, only inches from her face.

She turned her head a little in the direction of Mikako, who had her hands , with the fingers splayed out, pointed in the direction of Linda and Margaret. She mumbled a few words that Linda could not make out, and spread her arms wide.

The shield that surrounded the two women on the ground, shimmered and expanded quickly, pushing the creatures that surrounded them back. The creatures were surprised by this. Some were just pushed back, but the smaller ones were knocked off their feet and a couple hit the walls of the cave hard.

The two warriors quickly scrambled to their feet and moved to either side of Mikako and to further surround the Queen.

Mikako was breathing heavily. Linda knew that magic took energy and every mage had their limits. Mikako was nearing her’s.

The creatures were regrouping. They showed wounds and the women could see that they were starting to make an impression on them, but the facts were that unless they got out of there quickly the creatures would eventually outlast them.

Linda and Margaret stood in front of Mikako and the Queen, to let the mage get some energy back, if she could.

The creatures seemed to be communicating, though Linda could not make out anything of the noises they were making. If she hadn’t heard the pattern there was in the grunts, she would have put it down to just noise making.

The group with clubs moved to the front and the others with swords moved in behind them. Now there were two lines of creatures facing them.

"This is not going to be easy." said Margaret.

"That’s for sure." said Linda.

Both rows of creatures ran at them screaming and brandishing their weapons.

Linda and Margaret readied their swords.

Just before they reached the warriors the creatures slammed into an invisible wall. they shook their heads and screamed out in frustration, smashing at the wall with their weapons.

Linda looked back at Mikako, who seemed to be surprised by what had just happened.

"You didn’t so that?" Linda asked her.

The mage shook her head.

"I did nothing." she said, "I haven’t the energy to make something that big and powerful."

Some of the creatures were climbing on top of each other to see if they could climb over it, but it turned out to go up quite high. Others were trying to see if they could go around it, but again it stretched the length of the cave. The frustration was evident on the creatures’s faces. Some still flailed at the barrier.

"It is rather big and powerful." said the Queen, "But if you did not do this Mikako, then who did?"

"I cannot answer that."

"Now now, dear sister." said a soft voice in the darkness, "That is not a nice thing to do to your daughter’s friends."

Everyone in the room, turned to the voice.

"What are you doing here?’ asked the Black Mother.

Out of the shadows stepped the Earth Mother. Everyone in the place stopped breathing for a split second upon seeing the beauty The Mother exuded.

Her hair, the colour of firelight, flowed in waves around her shoulders. Her skin had the deep brown colour of those who spend their days out in the sun. Like her sister’s, it too was unblemished. Her pure blue eyes seemed to shine in the darkness.

"Can’t a woman visit her sister without having to endure an inquisition?" She said.

"Not when she is you." said the Black Mother.

Her sister laughed and kissed her on the cheek, the frown of frustration never left the Black Mother’s face.

The creatures were now standing quietly in a group a little ways away fro the Earth Mother. They seemed to be afraid of the light that shone from Her. The warriors put their swords away. Mikako leaned on the two warriors.

"So I ask you again, why are you here?"

"I wanted to see how grown up your creation had become." said the Earth Mother, "I heard that you had called her here and why, so I felt like coming down. And then I find you being a very bad host."

That last was said in a mock reprimanding tone, that the Earth Mother delivered with a pouty look. She seemed to be the more playful of the two Goddesses. The Black Mother, rarely smiled and looked frustrated with Her sister’s attitude.

"Well you’ve seen her." said the Black Mother, "You can go now."

"Excuse me." said Mikako, "But I was wondering something."

Everyone turned to her. Some with looks of surprise that she would interrupt a Goddess, some with looks that said they had wished she had not brought attention back to them.

The Earth Mother smiled at her.

"What is it dear?"

"Your sister has referred to me as daughter and you have talked of her creation, which I am assuming you mean to be me."

The Earth Mother nodded.

"But how is that possible?" asked Mikako.

"I know it is a little hard to believe," said the Earth Mother, "but my sister did give you life."

She looked at Her sister who sat still looking frustrated.

"As you all know, my sister has always made the creatures of the dark, and I have always created you and other creatures of the light. This frustrated my sister, who vowed she could make a creature as beautiful as mine were. So she set out to do so."

The Earth Mother looked Mikako in the eyes.

"One day a few years ago, she came to me proclaiming victory, and you were the result. I had to admit she was right. You turned out wonderfully."

She gave them another of Her smiles.

"So that is why when I would do the ritual, you seemed far away."

The Earth Mother Nodded.

"I am sorry." She said, "But you are my sister’s creation and that is where you get your powers. You really should change the ritual a little, you will find that your powers will be much improved if you do."

Margaret cleared her throat.

"If she is a creation of the Black mother," she said, "Doesn’t that mean that she is, you know, evil or something?"

"Margaret!" shouted Linda.

"What? I’m just asking?"

Both Goddesses laughed.

"Silly." said the Earth Mother. "That would make your lives much simpler. But you all have choices, and you choose to be evil or not. It does not matter where you came from. Why do you think so many of my creations become evil and kill and desire power? They chose that path themselves."

"That is true," said the Black Mother. "Whatever path Mikako follows is of her own making. I do not tell her what to do."

Both Mikako and Margaret sighed.

"So you brought me here just to see me?"

"Not exactly." said the Black Mother, "Some of my people need help, and I have asked you here to ask your help in aiding them."