Gaia's Champion Ch. 29

"OK. I will draw upon Gaia's power to remake the stone as it was, but I will need everyone's assistance to make it whole. Follow the directions I give, so that we may make use of it once again," Felicitae told them as she took her place on top of the central stone.

Nodding, everyone stood ready while Felicitae reached into her magic once more. Her entire body flared to life, suffused with the raw, unfettered power of Gaia. As it coursed through her, the Nymph Matriarch began using the magic to form the runes needed to bind the stone together. Slowly, piece by piece skittered or flew over to where the central stone sat, slowly finding their way to the platform and attaching to it.

More and more pieces of the portal stone were pulled out of the ground by the torrent of magic that Felicitae commanded. Sensing her need, the Nymphs opened themselves up to the magic, following their Matriarch's lead in repairing the stone. Jason followed suit soon after, with Sheena right behind him as she opened herself to the powers of the Wolf.

Their apprentices, the Marston women, followed their teacher's lead and mimicked the magic they used to aid the Nymph Matriarch. The Fairies, Darren and Xaera, offered their help via raw magical power, which Felicitae used and shaped as she needed. Everyone else who didn't command magic stood back, letting their friends and lovers work, not wishing to interfere in this.

The remnants of the stone eventually came together like a crude but massive jigsaw. Each piece flickered intermittently until it was rejoined with the greater whole of the stone. The flickering then became a soft yet steady glow that lit up the inscribed lines and runes on the stone. With magic now present in the stone, all they needed to do was give it the jumpstart it needed.

Felicitae directed the river of magic she commanded into the stone itself, slowly pulling each piece together. Once the stone was tight, and every piece had come to it, the edges began to melt together, almost as though the stone was now clay. Moment by moment, the fracture lines which had permeated the stone faded, soon leaving the stone whole as it had once been.

The magic within the stone was potent once again, but now it needed the final push to bring its power back to where it was. Using a full circle of runes, Felicitae pushed as much power as she could muster into the stone itself. The glow that came from within became brighter until it was as luminous as the sun at noon. Felicitae then brought her hand down on top of the stone, causing it to flare just like the sun would, blinding everyone!

It took a few moments, but the second they all got their sight back, they noticed Felicitae was gone. Before they panicked, the stone flared, but in a way that told them that a traveler was coming through. Not even three seconds later, a magical column appeared out of the stone and from within it came Felicitae, stepping out from it and back into the grove.

"I'm guessing that the stone works now?" Jason wondered, seeing how the Nymph Matriarch was still in one piece.

"That it does! I went to a grove that looked like it was in a cave. Where is that one? I'm not familiar with its location," Felicitae asked.

"That would be in the cave where I make my home. It used to be above ground centuries ago, but an earthquake changed the landscape to where it was buried beneath tons of rocks and dirt," Xaera explained.

"Oh! Well, it certainly is a beautiful place now! The glowing moss and fungi in there are a nice touch," the Nymph commented.

"Well, if you were able to travel straight to Xaera's cave, then the stone is not only repaired but also activated! This certainly makes it easier to get back to the mountain grove now!" Emalia said excitedly.

"No doubt. Hey Amy, I noticed that when we were helping Felicitae with repairing the stone, that your magic looked... well, different," Sheena mentioned.

"Different? Different how?" Amy questioned, curious about what Sheena had seen.

"It seemed like it was... less the sort of magic I recognize from a Shaman. It seems almost... wilder than it should be," Sheena stated.

"That is because of me. When we were bonded and inside the tree, it wasn't just a body that we were sharing, but magic also. My Nymph magic may have affected Amy more profoundly than I thought," Felicitae mused.

"How so?" Eva questioned,

"When Amy was... assisting me, my magic reached out instinctively to help her as well. With what I needed to become whole again, Amy was going to need some magical help, which my magic provided. As a result, I now believe her to be what would be called, Nymphtouched," Felicitae explained.

"So, that explains why her magic looked and acted wildly and seemed a bit off?" Sheena queried.

"Yes. Though with time and proper training, she will grow to be quite powerful. Among the most powerful among all the Shaman, past and present," Felicitae stated.

"You can see that?" Darren questioned.

"I can... sense it. But that is not the only thing I sense. Here, with us now, there are two who will dwarf Amy, but I cannot say who. Not yet, anyway," Felicitae finished.

"I feel such things will become clearer, in time. Now, how about we get back to the house and get these two some food?" Phalmina suggested.

"Maybe some clothes too? Though I enjoy being out in my own skin, I still like the feel of clothing on my body," Amy said with a smile.

"Oh, I don't know about that, babe. You look pretty damn good, just as you are," Elizabeth replied in a husky voice as she licked her lips suggestively.

"Save that sexy time for tomorrow! Or did you forget about the Solstice party that we're having?" Jason asked.

"Oh! Right!" Elizabeth replied as she facepalmed herself.

"Wait, a Solstice party??" Felicitae inquired as excitement overtook her.

"Yeah! After you were defeated and the Dark Heart was contained, we felt we should celebrate it! It just so happened that the Summer Solstice had passed us by as we were busy cleaning things up after the battle. While the Solstice has passed, we felt we should celebrate it anyway," Jason told the Nymph.

"You were going to have a party... without me?" Amy accused, almost glaring at Elizabeth.

"We didn't know what you were up to or even if were even going to come back!" Elizabeth pleaded, looking a bit hurt at Amy's accusation.

"All right, I'll let you have that one!" Amy replied with a smirk, to which Elizabeth sighed in relief and tackled Amy, tickling the woman for her remarks.

"OK, OK, OK, Liz! I'm sorry!" Amy shouted as she laughed at the tickle assault. Elizabeth huffed happily and got off Amy, then helped her to her feet. "So, who's coming to the party, then? More importantly, when is the party?"

"Tomorrow, starting at noon. Everyone from your camping trip, everyone here, the detectives, a couple of Jason's friends from his old work, Carlotta and even a few of my old friends," Sheena replied happily.

"I would imagine that it was a sizable undertaking in getting all the food and drink for it?" Felicitae asked as the group left the grove.

"Not really, Liccy. These days, it takes maybe a couple of days to get everything organized for such an event," Amy told her.

"Really? Humans are that much more effective in getting things done?" the Matriarch asked.

"I think you could use a proper look at what humanity has become since you've been locked up here. There is so much that you have yet to see and understand," Sheena stated.

"Why don't me make a whole thing of it then? I mean, these two have been cooped here as well, and I'm sure they'd like to see, well... everything!" Jason put in.

"Yes, please! We would love to go out into the world and see all things we have only heard about!" Patrok said exuberantly. Vahlen made his opinion known as well, with equal fervor.

"What about their skin tones? They'll stand out and some really awkward questions may come from any observers or passersby," Elizabeth mentioned.

"Silly human! I can fix that!" Felicitae stated as she waved her hands, magic forming around them.

Seconds later, runes formed, and she directed them at the male Nymphs. The moment the runes hit them, they began to change physically, making their skin tones and features more human. Patrok looked more tanned and exotic, like the perfect hybridization of Bruce Lee and Chris Evans. Vahlen, on the other hand, looked like a much younger version of Idris Elba!

"Damn!!! Even with the magic disguising you, you boys look all kinds of scrumptious!" Amy mentioned, eyeing the pair up and down.

"You're not wrong! There will be staring for sure, but of the more friendly, feminine kind!" Sheena agreed as they stood on the path with the house in sight.

"Might have to fight them off with a stick! Especially you Vahlen!" Eva commented while looking the Nymph up and down appraisingly.

"Why? Women would find me desirable in this human form?" the Nymph questioned.

"More than desirable! In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you are propositioned, many times! By both single and married ladies alike!" Amy stated.

"Hmmm! So, when do we get out of here and head into this... city?" Vahlen asked with a lascivious smirk.

"As soon as we get some clothes for both you and the ladies here! Can't very well have you lot prancing about naked now," Jason laughed. While the Nymphs didn't like the idea, they understood humans were in control of the world as it was. Thus, they had to play by their rules and how they did things.

The group continued their walk, eventually reaching the house as they meandered on. Amy's eyes were wide at all the changes she saw as they traversed the grounds. The dead and dying foliage was long gone and replaced by green and healthy growth. Much of the lawn ornaments were repaired or replaced, as everything looked new. The biggest surprise was the trees that now dotted the landscape, heavy with ripe fruit.

"Wow! You guy shave been really busy since I was gone!" Amy remarked.

"Yeah! Once the Dark Heart was contained, much of the damage it had done and was doing stopped right in its tracks. There were some areas that had to be burned out, mainly because the level of rot there was too great. Since the end of the battle, we've been working nonstop to make this place livable again," Sheena said as they walked on past the trees.

"Obviously! Planting new trees for fresh fruit though was an inspired idea!" Felicitae stated as she strolled up to an apple tree, plucked a ripe one from its branches and bit down on it. She moaned in delight as the juice hit her tastebuds and filled her mouth, happy to be tasting food for the first time in centuries!

"Pass me one?" Amy asked, who was more than a little hungry herself, having been trapped in that tree with the Nymph. Felicitae nodded, picked another ripe apple and lobbed it to Amy. She caught it easily and bit into it, munching on the apple so fast that it was a core before long.

"Easy there, you two! We'll get ourselves some food when we're out in the city!" Jason laughed.

"Jay, let them eat! Wouldn't you be hungry if you were stuck in a tree for three weeks?" Sheena playfully admonished him.

"Fair point. Grab a few bits of fruit that you'd like and come inside. We need to get you lot set up with some clothes!" Jason responded.

Nodding, the women grabbed a couple more apples, some pears, plums, and cherries from the nearby trees. Everyone else helped themselves, as there was little on earth that tasted better than fresh fruit. They all piled inside, while Jason, Sheena, Xaera and Phalmina ran upstairs to get some clothes.

Since Carlotta had every intention of giving them the house, the four of them practically lived there. They'd even taken to moving some of their things in as they spruced the place up, making it more like a home. It didn't take long for the quartet to come back with some clothes for the others to wear.

The male Nymphs found that Jason's clothes fit well enough, if a little baggy for them. Not that they minded, as the clothes were clean, fairly new, and stylish. Patrok opted for a blue microfiber t-shirt and khaki shorts, while Vahlen picked a green long sleeve with a pair of gray jeans. Thankfully, Jason had several pairs of shoes they could wear, until they were able to get some footwear for them later.

With Amy and Felicitae, finding something that fit them was a bit more challenging. Amy and Felicitae had to opt for clothing that came from Sheena's pile, as they now had assets that were more like hers than the others. There were a few items from Xaera's pile that worked, considering how brawny she was in comparison.

In the end, Amy settled on a purple top that was Phalmina's, and a pair of black shorts from Xaera's pile. Felicitae had picked a long, patterned flowing skirt that Sheena tended to favor, along with a green spaghetti strap that also came from Sheena's pile. They all did a quick stroll around the house to make sure they liked the way the clothing felt.

"How does it feel?" Sheena asked the Nymph Matriarch.

"It feels... nice! Much better than I thought it would!" the Matriarch commented.

"Just wait until you see all the types of clothes that are available out there! So many choices, that you won't know what to pick!" Sheena giggled.

"I like the sound of that! When do we go?" Felicitae asked.

"Shouldn't we seal the grove first?" Eva asked. "You know, so no one who isn't a believer of Gaia doesn't just... stumble in?"

"That is something we don't have to worry about. When the grove was restored and the portal stone fixed, something else happened. Something I hadn't felt in a long time. The groves and glades of Gaia are now... protected," Felicitae told them.

"Protected? Like they were in the old days??" Phalmina asked, looking excited.

"Yes. Now that enough of Gaia's defenders and champions are awake and aware, the magic that protected such havens has been called back into service. Now, only Gaians or Gaian allies will be permitted to pass into them," she said.

"Oh, my... this is wonderful news!!" Phalmina cheered.

"So, such active defenders of the groves aren't needed?" Jason wondered.

"Oh, they will still be needed, but they won't need to be there all the time! Suffice to say that they can now live outside the groves and enjoy life, as they used to," Felicitae said with a smile directed at Phalmina and Xaera. Those two women smiled back, happy to not be so heavily tied to the groves now.

Hearing this news gave everyone a sense of profound relief. Knowing that the groves were now safe from prying eyes and interlopers put everyone in a much more chipper mood. With that, everyone then stepped outside and piled into their respective vehicles before leaving the house.

They made their way to the heart of the city, which was a little less than an hour away. While the house was in the heart of the undeveloped lands, that's how everyone liked it. Especially Sheena and Jason, who only endured city life because that's where the work was. Now that they didn't really have to work all that much, they could figure out alternative ways to earn what they needed, as they would never be hurting for food or shelter for a while now.

Felicitae, Patrok and Vahlen peered out the windows at the changing landscape, which soon became more and more civilized. First, they went past small clusters of homes in smaller outlying towns. Then they eventually reached the city proper, with tall skyscrapers in the distance, showing them the heart of the city itself. The three of them blinked at buildings that were so tall, believing it to be impossible.

"How?? How is it possible to build something so high, without having storms or high winds beat them down?" Felicitae asked.

"That is down to science and engineering, which humanity has gained a substantial grip on," Jason stated as he explained how, through science and technology, humans were now capable of many marvels. Felicitae took it all in, utterly amazed at how far humans had advanced as they pulled into the parking lot of a local mall.

They walked inside, with all three of the Nymphs taking in the massive hubbub that was humanity. The ladies led the Nymphs towards some clothing stores to get them some new threads. While they were off to get some clothes, Jason and Luke peeled off in the direction of the mall's EB Games to settle up the bet that Luke had lost.

They first stopped by some of the more basic stores to get the trio some essentials, such as underwear and some other basics. Eventually, they moved along to stores that were selling more summer based clothing, picking up some swimsuits for the Nymphs. Just as they walked out of the store, Felicitae sensed something, which she found... odd. She focused her senses, searching for the source of this feeling, and found it in seconds.

The odd sensation was emanating from a young couple that was walking towards them on a path towards another store. Felicitae could feel their despondence and enhanced her senses to understand what it was that was bothering them. She could feel that there was love and happiness between them, but that it was heavily strained. Since getting married, the pair had been trying to have children of their own for some time, with no success.

The Nymph sensed that the man was sterile, but that wasn't his fault, as his hormones were a mishmash that hadn't allowed him to mature like that. Though, the fault didn't lie entirely with him, as Felicitae could feel that the woman had problems of her own as well. She could tell that the woman also had hormonal problems, due to some abnormal growths within her, and any child that was conceived would be miscarried every time.

Though the couple did love each other deeply, they both felt that maybe they'd have better luck having children with someone else. Felicitae was resolute that love shouldn't be sundered like this and resolved to help the pair. She walked up to the couple, embracing the both of them like a long-lost friend. This startled the young couple, but the magic that Felicitae brought to bear calmed them, banishing any fear.

Using the magic she had been gifted with, she fed it through them, letting it pour into their bodies, repairing the damage that had been wrought to them. In moments, the magic had done its work, giving them both the health they needed to have children. Felicitae whispered a few words to them, which then ignited desire between them both. The magic then vanished, its work complete.

The woman wore a confused look on her face and blinked several times before looking down. Her chest had felt tight, as she felt her breasts had grown just then. They had gotten bigger, something which her spouse noticed, as he too, glanced downwards. His groin area was starting to feel more and more uncomfortable by the second, as he hardened at the sight of his wife cupping her boobs.

She looked over at her husband, her eyes widening further as she spotted the massive boner in his pants. Her husband was now huge, much bigger than she remembered, which left her chewing her bottom lip. Insanely turned on by this new interest, the man caught his wife's attention and cocked his head in a gesture for them to leave. She nodded vigorously, more than eager to leave and ride that monster between his legs.

"What did you do?" Elizabeth asked the Nymph Matriarch, as she watched the couple almost run towards the exit.

"I just helped a couple in need. They were more than a little despondent and needed a little pick me up. I provided that to them," the dark-skinned woman supplied.

"Be a bit more discreet when doing things like that in public," Sheena warned. "You don't know who is out there, watching for things like this."

"Groups like these... Sons, that you spoke of?" Felicitae queried, to which the women present nodded.