Trials of a Planeswalker Ch. 02: Fall

"Twelve minutes! You're older by twelve minutes!" She said, stamping a foot.

"Robin, come on. I won't kill him." Blayne said.

"You're not the only problem!" Robin squeaked, looking flatly at Varia. She was looking at Varia, who was looking at Henry with a smile like she had just figured out how to stop Christmas from coming that year.

"Oh come on, why would I kill him now? I think this is great! It means I was right and it has the promise of future entertainment!" Varia laughed loudly.

"Fine, two minutes." Robin said, walking away, "And not a scratch Varia!"

When the bedroom door closed, he turned to Henry, his face serious. He and Varia sat down on the couch on opposite sides of Henry, and crossed their arms simultaneously. Henry squirmed on the couch nervously, looking back and forth between the two. He began to wish he were back on Innistrad fighting Liliana's ghouls, it would be more peaceful than the tension in the air here. He also wished he was wearing more than just pants.

"How long?" Blayne asked sternly.

"Not long. Just since I got here." Henry admitted, looking down at his knees.

"But I think you've liked Robin for a bit longer than that, haven't you?" Blayne continued.

Henry nodded silently.

"Did you fuck?" Varia interjected with her usual abject bluntness.

"Varia." Blayne groaned. The image of his little sister being plowed was not something he wanted in his head at the moment.

"What~? It's a perfectly relevant question!" Varia exclaimed, her hands held out expressively.

"Yes." Henry sighed, burying his face in his hands to conceal his burning cheeks.

"Ha! Told you!" She said, slapping Henry's shoulder and looking across the couch at Blayne, "I told you Blyane; 'If Robin has Henry to herself for a whole day, she won't be able to keep her hands off him'."

"And I told you 'If something happens between them I can handle it'." Blayne replied seriously.

Henry turned on Varia accusingly "You set me up?" He asked, annoyed.

"Oh don't pretend like you're the victim here." She said dismissively "I've seen the way you look at her. You've been wanting to jump into Robin's bed since you met her."

"It wasn't a set up. The council with Avacyn was real and it was just Varia and I. On top of that, I wanted someone back here as soon as possible to look in on Robin. I've learned to never be too careful." Blayne told him.

Henry fumbled with his hands and he turned to face him "Blayne, I made the first move, not Robin." Henry said honestly, watching apprehensively for Blayne's reaction.

Blayne pursed his lips and took a deep breath in and out through his nose. Henry flinched involuntarily when Blayne put his hand around Henry's shoulder. But when Blayne spoke, it was in a calm, sincere tone.

"Listen Henry, I like you. I think you're a good man and after all we've been through together, I consider you a true friend."

Henry let out a relieved breath he didn't know he'd been holding in. "Thanks Blayne, I think of all of you as my friends, even you Varia." He added. Varia scoffed and rolled her eyes.

Blayne continued, "I know I've got no right to tell Robin how to live her life, and I trust her to make her own decisions. However, if you two are going to continue being intimate, then as her older brother I am required to let you know some very important information." Blayne said, leaning closer to him, "Since our mother died, Robin has not had an easy time getting over it. Her heart is very fragile. This isn't just going to be a causal hook-up for her, you understand? If she's letting you into her bed, that means she has serious feelings for you. If you don't feel the same way about her, you need to walk away right now."

Henry smiled "You don't need to worry about that Blyane. Robin told me how she felt about me the night I got here. She told me that she was jealous of the passion and caring you and Varia have for each other, and she wanted to share that passion with me. To tell you the truth, I wanted to share it with her too." Henry said before looking away. Varia scoffed loudly and tapped her fingers on her arm.

Henry went on, ignoring her "I knew Robin was special from the moment I first saw her. Over the past two weeks I've really come to appreciate just what a wonderful girl your sister really is. I can't stop thinking about her and she really means a lot to me."

"Good." Blayne said, tightening his grip on Henry's shoulder "Because she means more to me than the entire Multiverse and I will defend her against anything. So if she sheds one tear because of you, if she is sad in the slightest way because of you... there will be no where you can hide."

Henry's eyes widened as he noticed a faint aura of mana radiating from Blayne. He sunk further back in the couch.

"I will make you regret every moment you're alive. I will make you suffer a lifetime of agony for every tear she sheds and when I'm done with you, I will give you to my wife." Blayne said, glancing at Varia, "And her torture will not end with death. Do you understand?"

"Blayne, I would never dream of hurting your sister." Henry said, sitting up with a little more confidence.

"There's something else you need to remember Henry; She can't travel the planes. She can't go and live with you on Imriel. If you want this relationship to work, you better remember to make time to visit her whenever you can and stay as long as she needs you to." Blayne commanded strongly, crossing his arms again, "And that's the important part Henry, as long as she needs you to, not as long as you feel is good enough."

"I will stay anywhere for her. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you about it, but with all the time I spent with her on Innistrad we've really gotten to know one another. When I saw her last night for the first time... I... You know what? Let me take away any doubts you might have." Henry said, standing up and calling out towards the bedroom door "Robin, come out here please."

"Yes?" Robin asked as she opened the bedroom door a little too quickly for them not to realize she had been listening. Henry looked her straight in the eyes as he walked up to her and grasped her hands. She looked back at him with a mixture of confusion and wonder as he started speaking.

"Robin, I've never loved anyone else like I love you. After last night, you're the only woman I want to be with from now on. Please, be mine forever." Henry said, "Let me take your spirit to the most beautiful sights the planes hold. I will always be there for you." He didn't wait for an answer as he leaned down and kissed Robin full on her gaping mouth.

Robin stood still for a moment, her eyes wide open with Henry's tongue in her mouth and her head almost steaming with embarrassment. Then she started to shake and, after a second more, her eyes rolled back in her head. She went limp and collapsed into his arms.

"Well... fuck." Henry groaned, gently scooping her up in his arms, "That's not what I meant to happen."

"Yea, but it was pretty funny." Varia snickered.

Blayne smiled widely, "Alright Henry, you've convinced me. When she wakes back up though, you've got to explain all of this. Go ahead and put her on the couch. I'll cook breakfast."

*******

"So... so you... want to marry me?" Robin stammered, fiddling with the edge of her shirt. Blayne had made them all waffles for breakfast, but Robin hadn't touched a bit of food. By the time she woke up they were almost done with it and she didn't even get off the couch. Henry was sitting next to her on the couch while Blayne and Varia sat at the kitchen table.

"Of course Robin." He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Last night is just the beginning."

"Eeeep!" Robin squeaked loudly and her face blossomed with embarrassment again.

"So are you going to do it or not?" Varia asked bluntly, her mouth full of bacon and waffles.

"Varia!" Henry said, glaring at her.

"Yes." Robin mumbled, "Yes, I will Henry."

"Really?" Henry asked grasping her hand.

"Of course!" Robin exclaimed and she threw her arms around him, "Of course Henry! Just be sure you make time for me here... or maybe you could learn to summon me."

"Blayne?" Henry looked up at him.

"She's all yours. Good luck to you man, hope you can survive." Blayne laughed, waving him off, "The spell is just concentrating on your memories of her and using your white magic to try and reach out to her."

"I'll have to try that some time. I think I've got some pretty good memories." Henry chuckled.

"Henry~!" Robin exclaimed, smacking his shoulder, "Don't talk like that!"

"So does this mean we're going to be leaving again soon? Because honestly, I'm more excited than ever to go out and see the Planes." Varia chuckled, stretching her arms above her head.

"Hey, now that you bring that up, I do have to let you know Robin, I want to try and settle things on my world first. In order to do that I need more strength." Henry said, looking at each of them, "I need to find a Black Lotus. It's the only way I can think of to bring an end to the conflict there. We talked about them much on Innistrad and I want to go find one."

"You want to find a Black Lotus? It's said they take hundreds of years to grow to fruition and no one on Innistrad has ever seen one. I suspect that my old master Sorin likely found and nurtured the one on Innistrad to create Avacyn. He's powerful, but I've always thought it difficult to believe he made her on his own." Varia explained, putting down her fork, "So I bid you good luck."

"Wait, Black Lotus... Hang on... Idena! That's where I've always been thinking of! Nishok and the monks of Idena! In their garden they grew a gorgeous pond full of white lotus flowers, but that's not what I remembered. What I just realized was that the first day I saw him, he had a Black Lotus in his hands. He was meditating with it and he guarded it closely. Whenever it wasn't in his hands, he had it in a small jar in his room." Blayne exclaimed, jumping upright.

"So I just go steal this flower from some monks then?" Henry raised an eyebrow.

"No, no. Nishok will give it freely, I know he will. Just ask him for it, tell him you're my friend and you're trying to peacefully settle a conflict on your world. If it means saving lives or giving happiness, Nishok will give anyone anything." Blayne said excitedly, "Come here, let me show you where yo can find it!"

"Are we really going back with the monks? I thought we could see some new, wonderful sights! There are countless worlds out there we haven't seen! We shouldn't ever visit the same boring one twice!" Varia complained, tapping a long nail on the table as she fiddled with a curl of her red hair.

"You don't need to come with me, if it's as simple as Blayne says, then I can handle it. I think I'd rather do this on my own anyway and if I have to have someone along, then Robin can come with me." Henry said, shaking his head as he stepped towards Blayne.

"Alright, here's my memories of where it is..." Blayne said, reaching out to Henry's mind with his own.

*******

CHAPTER 14 - GRAND SIGHTS

"Blayne, are you sure about all of us just up and leaving? Weren't you worried about this plague?" Henry asked as they finished packing.

"Oh don't worry about it. They said that they already have it contained. The government has assured the populace that the burning succeeded in killing the virus or whatever. Things are going back to normal. It's fine." Robin scoffed, "Just go and have your fun. After all that happened in Thraben, I think you guys have earned some relaxation on a beach somewhere."

"I'm still going to worry Robin. That plague and what the government has been saying just doesn't sit right with me. Something down in my gut is telling me different." Blayne shook his head.

"Here, I'll give her this." Varia said, taking off her necklace, "Blessed by Avacyn, how much better protection could you hope for." She put it around Robin's neck and smacked her on the shoulder, "All better. Now let's get going."

"As loving as ever dear." Blayne snickered and he pecked her on the cheek.

"Give me a hug brother." Robin said, holding out her arms. Blayne embraced her and she kissed him on the cheek, "Bring me back something cute."

"What about me?" Henry asked coyly, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh you get more than a hug." Robin smiled widely as she sauntered over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to bring her face up to his. Henry wrapped his arms around her waist and their lips met in a passionate kiss. They continued until Blayne coughed purposefully.

"I get it." Robin sighed as they split apart, "I'll see you all back here in a week or two."

*******

Henry grunted as he appeared on the Plane of Quilija with his feet planted firmly on the ground. The transition from the weightless, airless Void between worlds to terrestrial gravity took some getting used to. This was the first time he had consciously Planeswalked without his friends. He sighed and shook his head, adjusting the pack on his shoulder.

All around him was rolling hills and rich green pastures. Farmers could be seen tending to their animals and crops. He was standing on a dirt road lined with rustic stonewalls that came up to his waist. On one side there was rows upon rows of wheat and on the other was an open green pasture dotted with goats. It was all rather quaint, but Henry wasn't about to be distracted from his purpose in being there.

"Okay, Garden of Idena, where are you?" He said, starting down the road with purpose. The quicker he found this Lotus, the quicker he could use its power to halt the tension on his homeworld. Once Imriel was stable again, he could devote himself completely to Robin. He looked forward to sleeping easy in her bed without a care in the Multiverse.

Henry turned at the sound of a someone approaching. Soon a farmer driving a cart pulled by two oxen came up behind Henry and overtook him."Excuse me sonny." The farmer said as Henry stepped off to the side to let him pass, "Got a big load coming through."

"Sir, one quick question. I am looking for the Garden of Idena, do you know which direction I should head?" Henry asked him quickly as he rattled past.

"That's the monastery right? I heard that was quite a travel east of here, probably more than a week by carriage or horseback. I've never been that far from our little valley here so I don't know the way. Maybe if you head into town, you could get better directions. Good luck to ye." The farmer said, shrugging and snapping the reigns. The oxen snorted and picked up the pace, dragging the bale-laden cart.

"A week by horseback?" Henry slapped his forehead. "I can't believe I forgot to ask Blayne what this world was like." He sighed, "Oh well, I guess I better get walking. Robin is gonna kill me for taking so long."

He pulled the straps on his pack tight and headed for the group of small buildings he could see in the distance. It was probably more than a mile away, and Henry knew he was going nowhere fast.

*******

"Blayne this place is giving me the creeps." Varia said as they walked through the thick fog. All they could see were the gigantic boulders that loomed up around them and created an astounding maze with no end in sight. They had appeared right in the middle of the thick fog and there was nothing else for them to do but keep going on until they found their way out of it.

"I get what you're saying. Something about this place... it's like we're ebbing away here. Like time itself is just forgetting us." Blayne said, his voice echoing in the eerie silence.

"There's mana here though, no doubt about it. Rich mana, all the colors." Varia said, a small swirl of purple spinning around her fingers as she touched the mana, "But even that feels off."

"Come on, I think I see a rise ahead." Blayne said, taking her hand. He lead them up a steep slope, damp from the fog and made of the same dark, smooth stone. Slowly they rose above the level of the fog until they stood on an even larger stone. All around them, boulders filled a completely endless valley. Thick clouds passed overhead and the whole world was covered in a dull grey. The fog rolled along the ground and between the boulders as though it were a thick soup.

"We shouldn't have gone as far as we did." Varia said, referring to how they had walked in the Blind Eternities for nearly an hour before reaching this strange world. With their preparation and all their magic at their disposal, they traveled through the AEthers far longer than ever before just to try and find an interesting world.

They had certainly found one. Now neither of them was quite sure what to make of it.

"Can you feel that?" Blayne asked, looking at his hand as he waved it through the air, "The very fabric of this universe is positively ancient. Older than anything or anyone, so impossibly old."

"It feels like we're violating some sanctuary or hallowed ground." Varia whispered, scooting a bit closer to him, "Should we leave?"

"No, there's something curious about this world. I want to know the mysteries here, I want to know why it feels like this." Blayne said, looking up at the passing dark clouds above. Even though they could see the clouds moving, there wasn't a speck of wind and absolutely nothing but their voices made noise. He could almost hear his heartbeat in that silence.

"That's because you are young, especially for a Planeswalker." A smooth voice rolled out of the darkness. Varia's head shot up and she looked around wildly, her eyes wide.

"I know that voice!" Varia called, clasping Blayne's hand.

"Yes you do young Varia, hello again." Ahead of them a dark figure seemed to waltz out of nothingness, striding on the surface of the fog itself. He stopped on top of the nearest boulder to them, his hand resting on the silver pummel of his sword. His deep gold eyes peered at them and he gave a smile that didn't exactly comfort Blayne.

"Lord Sorin, how did you find me?" Varia asked, stepping forward and giving a small bow.

"Oh I have known of Equilor for many centuries. It is one of the few places of the Multiverse that can make me feel like just a child. The age of this plane, the fact that it is still clinging to existence is quite the miracle. I am more than three thousand years old and compared to this Plane I was just born an hour ago. It is ancient beyond all other Planes, the oldest I have ever seen or visited." Sorin explained, a few strands of his pure white hair falling across his face.

"So you're Sorin. I've heard much about you, especially considering my wife was trained by you in her magic." Blayne said, looking over the powerful vampire. He wore heavy black pants and a shining silver breastplate with a spectacular ruby set in the center of it. A heavy black coat ruffled around his shoulders and thick silver plates covered his wrists. His eyes stared into Blayne, seeing far more than just his outward appearance.

"Sorin Markov, Vampire, Planeswalker and Lord of the Plane of Innistrad." He bowed with a flourish, "At your service."

"I'm Blayne, a human of Earth." Blayne replied. "So you know about this world, what do you mean it's a miracle?" He was looking around at the lifeless area around them as he spoke.

"It's a miracle because, just like an island in the ocean, the waves of time eventually wear away all Planes and they dissolve back into nothingness. New ones come into existence all the time and old ones disappear with naught but a whisper. Yet out of all the Planes that have ever been, this one stands firm, seemingly immune to the ravages of the eons passing. Whoever or whatever lived here cast spells over the entirety of this plane, anchoring it to the Multiverse for eternity" Sorin said, raising a hand. A burst of rippling black and white magic appeared in his palm. It erupted towards the heavens and the clouds were burned away on contact. More and more of the clouds melted away above them, laying the heavens bare.