Trials of a Planeswalker Ch. 01: Rising

'Do you wish to go there master?' Shyara asked.

"Oh god yes! I have to stand up and walk around." Blayne exclaimed happily.

Shyara flew straight towards the island, getting closer and closer. The island-turtle grew massively in size as they neared.

"That tower looks as good of place as any to land!" Blayne called, "Best meet the locals. Let's hope they aren't hostile!"

'I will protect you from anything that might attack master.' Shyara promised.

The temple they saw was made of beautifully carved would, painted deep crimsons and shining golds. Deep bronze tiles covered the tiered roof. As they flew over the island, they saw an impressive village spread all around them.

"They're furry creatures!" Varia exclaimed as they flew down low over the trees.

The island in total looked like it supported a village for maybe a thousand inhabitants. It seemed very peaceful. Some colorful kites fluttered in the breeze above the widely spread houses. A large spiralling garden and rice paddy covered one corner of the turtle's shell.

"Right there, at the foot of the tower on the stone." Blayne called, pointing down at it.

Shyara curved downward and hit the heavy stone with a thunderous landing.

"Sweet ground!" Variaa called happily, sliding out of Shyara's saddle.

She slumped to the ground, her legs seemingly unwilling to support her. Blayne got out of the saddle and was relieved to feel his legs holding him up again. His back hurt a bit, but it felt good to stretch it out.

"Greetings strangers." A voice above them called.

Blayne glanced up and was quite startled to see a large panda bear walking towards him. The bear wore full length blue robes embroidered with beautiful silver designs. He walked with a tall, curled staff and his claws clicked on the stone lightly.

"What?" Varia said, looking up.

She forced herself to her feet and pulled out her sword, pointing it at the panda. Two other pandas, both wearing white leather scale armor jumped forward, their paws raised in unmistakeable martial art stances.

"Varia, stop! Put away your sword." Blayne exclaimed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Why? These creatures could kill us!" Varia exclaimed.

Shyara growled deeply, her fiery eyes staring straight at the elder panda.

"No, they won't. This place... it teems with life. Not in the normal way. It's a place of peace and tranquility. They mean us no harm. We were the ones that dropped from the sky in the middle of their home." Blayne said, squeezing her shoulder.

"Tch, you're too trusting." Varia huffed, slowling lowering her saber.

"I'm sorry about her. I've met monks before and it's not the kind of aura you easily forget. The air here is much like the monestary I spent time at a while back. It's calm, as if the world cannot touch you here." Blayne said, stepping forward to address the elder panda, "I am Blayne Abasset."

He put his hands together as he did back with Nishok and bowed.

"Good to meet you Blayne, I am Master Yu Mossthorn." The panda returned the bow.

"What are you blabbering about Blayne, what is so weird about the air here? I don't feel anything." Varia said impatiently.

"Varia, I will try and explain it later. It's not important." Blayne said over his shoulder, "Master Yu, I apologize for landing so suddenly in the middle of your home, but any place seemed as good as any other. My friend and I have been flying for almost two days and we needed to rest."

"You are welcome here. I can sense much about you. You have come from a very long journey and you are weary. For now, why do you not come inside and have a cup of tea?" Master Yu suggested.

"What is it with you monk types and your tea?" Varia huffed.

"Don't mind her, we'd be honored. Shyara, would it be too much to ask you to remain? I could probably summon you again, but I think it would be simpler if you just rested here. Would that be alright?" Blayne asked, looking up at her.

'As you wish master. I too find this place one of unique tranquility. I think I nap on these warm stones would be quite nice.' Shyara said, walking slowly to one side of the large entrance way.

She sat down and laid her powerful body down on the stone as a cat would, wings furled at her sides.

"It speaks." Master Yu said with a tone of surprise.

"Shyara is a new friend of mine. We have not been through much together, but I greatly appreciate her company and she is very wise." Blayne told him.

"Welcome Shyara, if you need anything, just ask one of the temple priestesses." Master Yu said, bowing to the lioness, "Come, I feel that you have a story to share."

*******

"Anyway, the place was called the Garden of Idena. It was a very nice place and I'm sure, looking back on it, I could've enjoyed it much more under different circumstances." Blayne said, finishing up his story.

He felt as though he shouldn't share what had happened on Azeroth so far. He just kind of skimmed over that part, making it sound like a simple trip from north to south.

"Yea, yea. Peaceful garden with all the flowers and that crap. Those monks could really fight though, I'll give them that." Varia sighed, waving her hand about.

Varia, Blayne and Master Yu sat on three red cushions near a warm coal brazier on the second floor of the temple. A beautiful cherry tree grew up the middle of the temple, in full, beautiful blossom.

"That is quite the tale. You have been through quite a bit. It must be very exiting to see worlds outside your own." Master Yu nodded, taking a sip of tea.

"It has certainly been something. So from there Varia and I decided we wanted to try and explore this undiscovered land called Pandaria. Is that where we are?" Blayne said, realizing that it would make sense that these pandas were the natives of Pandaria.

"No, this is The Wandering Isle. We are Pandarens here, but none of the inhabitants of this isle have ever been to Pandaria. Shen-Zin Su has not been back to Pandaria in many, many generations. Not since his old friend Liu Lang passed away a few thousand years ago." Master Yu said, "Since then, Shen-Zin Su has become the home to the descendents of Liu Lang and many creatures of Pandaria itself."

"So how does this happen? How does a turtle grow this big and how do you just sprout a village on it's back? What happens if he decides to roll over?" Blayne said, the last part with a slight chuckle.

"Shen-Zin Su knows we are here. He cares for us as we are the descendents of his old friend. Some say that Liu Lang's spirit itself is what caused this land to grow so bountifully." Master Yu said, "Whatever the history is, we enjoy a peaceful and joyous life here on his back."

"That is very interesting." Blayne nodded, "I couldn't imagine what it's like, living on an island that just moves through the ocean."

"You know, I have a question. How does any creature live this long? Anyone I knew who could live for a thousand years was already dead in body." Varia said, looking over at Master Yu.

"Shen-Zin Su is an ancient turtle born of Pandaria. The powers of Pandaria inhabit his body and the spirits of all past Pandaren of the isle course through this land. He remains healthy and swims on." Master Yu said simply.

"I suppose I could see how a few millennia could build this much dirt and stone on a turtle's back." Blayne said, "I suppose much of the stone is actually his shell though."

"It is. That is why we are careful as to what we build and what we take from the land." Master Yu nodded.

"Alright. Well I have been sitting for too long after being on Shyara for this entire trip. I think I could go for a bit of exercise." Blayne said, pushing himself to his feet.

He finished his tea in a single gulp and set the cup next to the pot at Master Yu's feet.

"Feel free to go wherever you will. You are welcome to stay here in the Temple of Five Dawns. There is space and I'm sure we could come up with some beds." Master Yu said.

"Actually we have some bedrolls on Shyara that will do just fine. Would you have any objections to us remaining here for more than a day? I think it would be interesting to see what life is like on the back of a turtle." Blayne asked.

"Not at all friend. If you are hungry, my home is just down those stairs and about an hour's walk up the path. My old teacher Master Shang Xi had a training school up there. I am now the master of it." Master Yu said, slowly getting upright, "If you wish, you can join me for dinner later tonight when the sun sets."

"That sounds nice." Blayne nodded.

Master Yu bowed to them before turning and leaving.

"God Blayne, are we really going to stay with these boring furballs?!" Varia growled as soon as the Pandaren was out of earshot.

"Yes, we are Varia. It's a wonderful place and I think we could have some fun here. You need to loosen up. I understand you wanted excitement and adventure, but this is nice." Blayne said, leaning close to her, "And it'll give us time together before we set off again."

He kissed her on the cheek and she blushed, looking away quickly.

"Alright, fine. We can stay." Varia huffed.

"I'm going to go and get our stuff off Shyara. I can't imagine it to be very comfortable having that saddle on if we're going to be here overnight." Blayne said, "Care to help me? I don't know much about saddles."

"They're so simple. What kind of a fool are you." Varia groaned, following him down the stairs to the main floor of the temple.

"A fool in love." Blayne said cheesily.

Varia, however, blushed deeply and looked down at her feet as she walked behind Blayne.

Outside they found Shyara napping soundly on the stone while a number of young Pandaren stood nearby watching her in amazement. Blayne just stood in the doorway watching them with amusement.

"What do you think it is?" One asked.

"I don't know! It's huge and it's wings are kind of on fire." Another exclaimed.

"It's tail too! And it's paws are glowing!" The first said.

"And it's hair is burning too!" A third pointed out.

"Little ones, leave the creature alone." A Priestess said as she stepped up behind them.

"But I wanna touch it!" One young Pandaren exclaimed and the others quickly agreed.

"No! It's not yours and it's not just a creature for show." The Priestess scolded them.

"Awww..." The young Pandaren sighed.

"Oh I don't think she'll mind too much. Just so you know, she's not really on fire. Shyara's fur and feathers just glow and shimmer like that, it's really just pleasently warm." Blayne said, walking towards them.

'You've returned master.' Shyara said, her eyes blinking.

She raised her head and gave a great, rumbling yawn. Her body rose up and she stretched just like a cat would, her paws pushing out in front of her.

"Come on, if you want to touch her mane, I'm sure she won't mind." Blayne said, "Right Shyara?"

'It's quite alright little ones.' Shyara agreed.

The priestess huffed and nodded. The young Pandarens hurried forward, the first tentatively touching the glowing fire of her mane. They found it to really just be a pleasent warmth around their fingers. They quickly moved closer, touching her mane and paws.

"She's so soft!" One said.

"I want to ride her!" Another called out.

"No, no. Shyara's had a long trip and she deserves some rest. I'm just about to take off her saddle." Blayne said, shaking his head.

'It's quite alright master. I told you, I am tireless.' Shyara said, 'I can push myself as hard as I wish.'

"Shyara, I went along with the servent thing and all that, but I won't have you working yourself to death on my account. You deserve some rest after what you've done." Blayne said strongly as he untied their packs.

'Thank you master.' Shyara said simply.

"Lets get this armor off too." Blayne said, pointing at her paws and chest.

'You don't have to do that. I am accustomed to it being there. I have lived with this saddle and armor on me for the last thousand years.' Shyara said.

"So imagine how nice it'll be for you to get them off." Blayne chuckled.

"Start with the buckles there. This is a very old design indeed. Once you undo those, get the straps right there and the entire saddle should come lose. Be careful though, I bet that thing has to weigh twice as much as a horse's saddle." Varia instructed and helped him.

They got the saddle off her back and Blayne ran his hand through her deep ebony fur. Even for having a saddle on her for so long, her fur was no worse for wear. He had expected it to be matted and unkept beneath it, but it was as beautiful as the rest of her fur.

They slowly removed the rest of the armor from her body, the last piece being the black metal crown on her head. It had been held on with a rather ingenious series of buckles hidden in her mane instead of using a mouth piece like most sets of reigns. This left her head and mouth to move freely when it was attached to her.

'You're right master, this feels magnificent.' Shyara sighed, stretching herself out once more.

"It ought to. That armor and saddle together probable weigh five hundred pounds." Varia observed, looking at the pile of equipment sitting against the wall of the temple.

"You enjoy yourself Shyara, relax and rest." Blayne said, patting the side of her face gently.

Shyara responded with a playful roar that made the nearby Pandaren children jump. She settled back down on the ground and looked at him.

'If you need anything, just call out. I will hear you and I will come.' Shyara told him.

"It's fine. I'm not going far." Blayne chuckled.

The wall around the temple had reminded him of the wall around the Garden of Idena. He decided if he was going to stretch his muscles and work his body, he might as well do it with a challenge. A powerful leap and he was standing on top of the stone wall. He stripped off his top and tossed it on the ground below, baring his chest in the evening sun.

Varia sat down on the stone next to Shyara to watch as Blayne began to move. He first stretched his arms and legs before getting into a martial arts stance. He punched and kicked at an imaginary foe, working his way through a complex series of moves learned in a week of almost constant training with Nishok. He had grown rusty in the almost two weeks since Idena. Apparently if learning something so fast without using it very much had made him almost forget it.

He almost slipped off the wall three times before the sun began to set. His chest shone with sweat and he breathed heavily. A number of Pandarens had gathered in the temple entrance to watch this stranger perform martial arts atop a tall stone wall.

He finally submitted when he almost fell a fourth time. Jumping down from the wall, he collected his shirt and leather top.

"That was amazing Blayne. I never knew you learned that much with those monks." Varia said as he walked over to her.

"It was sloppy. I remember my last day with Nishok, I was able to do much more than this." Blayne huffed.

"I've never seen anyone fight like that with their hands and feet." Varia said, "I didn't even know you could. I thought you were just a squishy fool with a good bit of magic."

"Thanks." Blayne chuckled, "Come on, let's go to dinner. I want to speak with this Pandaren more. Shyara? Would you like to come along?"

'If you wish for me to master.' Shyara said.

"No, I asked if you wanted to. Would you rather stay here or come with us to Master Yu's?" Blayne said.

'If it's not too much trouble, I am comfortable here. Although I am getting hungry.' Shyara said as she looked over at him.

"Talk to one of the priestesses. Master Yu did say to ask if you needed anything. See you later Shyara." Blayne waved as he started down the steps.

'I'll be here master.' Shyara nodded.

Blayne slipped his hand into Varia's and they walked down to Master Yu's together.

*******

CHAPTER 20 - RECUPERATIONS

Varia and Blayne sat on the low cushions around Master Yu's small table. A bowl of steaming rice buns and a pot of soup sat on it. It was the first time Blayne had ever eaten oriental food and he quite enjoyed it. The rice buns were a little bland, but tasted very good when dipped in the soup.

"So I was told you were performing martial arts outside the temple today. You should've told me. We have many students here who would be willing to spar with you." Master Yu said, eating another rice bun.

"Oh it was nothing like that, I was just trying to work my muscles after flying for so long. It's rather uncomfortable to sit in that saddle for more than a few hours." Blayne said, "I'm definitely going to sleep well tonight."

"Most assuredly. I do apologize for all the questions, but it is rare that anyone comes to the wandering isle. Even rarer so that someone from another world comes here." Master Yu said, "But I must state my curiosity friend. Where does one learn to be a world-traveler like you?"

"Well I've only been one for a little more than a month." Blayne said, "But it's my understanding that you are born with this talent, although it's unimaginably rare."

"Interesting." Master Yu nodded.

As the meal was finishing up, Master Yu brought out a new pot of tea. This one was a sweet mint tea that cooled Blayne's throat as he drank it. His breath also grew cold and he smiled.

"This is very good." Blayne complimented him, "I never drank tea very much back home, but I find myself enjoying it more of late."

"That's because you've practically become a monk yourself Blayne." Varia said, looking sideways at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Blayne asked her.

"It's just you seem to take the fun out of everything and you're into all this peace and love crap." Varia said, "It's like you're not you anymore."

"Really Varia? How much do you really know about me? You never want to talk about anything personal and your first instinct upon seeing me was to try and kill me." Blayne pointed out, taking another drink.

"Oh... Well... Shut up!" Varia exclaimed.

"You two have the most strange relationship for traveling companions." Master Yu observed, "It seems to me that you might be happier apart."

"What? No!" Varia cried loudly, "I wouldn't leave Blayne!"

Her tea cup clattered across the floor, spilling it's contents on the wood boards.

"That would be because we're lovers." Blayne said, "Well I'm a lover and she's... A bipolar goofball."

"Blayne!" Varia screamed, clenching her fists as she stood up.

"She? Sit down Varia. You're big and scary, ahhh!" Blayne feigned fright at her anger.

She looked at him open mouthed and then sat down with an angry huff. She crossed her arms and stared at the floor as Blayne rubbed his forehead.

"Master Yu, thank you for your hospitality. Let me clean this up and we'll go." Blayne said.

"No! No, it's quite alright. I'll take care of it. You two go ahead." Master Yu said, "It would be impolite for me to make my guests clean."

"Alright, thanks for the grub." Varia said, getting to her feet.

"Thank you." Blayne bowed to Master Yu before following Varia out the door.

They walked down the short hallway and out the front door.

"Blayne, what don't I know about you?" Varia asked as they walked into the dark of night.

There were a number of small candle lanterns lit alongside the path, hanging from thick wooden posts. It wasn't bright, but it lit the pathway nicely.

"What?" Blayne asked flatly, "I'm not hiding anything, what do you mean?"

"You mentioned I don't know you. Blayne, that kind of bothers me. What don't I know?" Varia asked again.

"Well I had meant my past. Anything about my family or my home. You don't know my favorite color or the kind of music I like. You probably don't remember my last name." Blayne said, "Hell I don't even know that stuff about you."

"Bassty!" Varia exclaimed, "See? I do know. What does it matter anyway, I know you. I like you. Who cares about those other things."