Home Sweet Home - Ch.53 - What Would Pinkie Do?

=::= Jenna's PoV =::=

I couldn't help feeling anxious as I stared at the guy... hiker... person... entity. Meanwhile he smiled quietly at us while he sat crosslegged just inside the mouth of the cave.

It was bad enough that he somehow knew my name, but then he had to go and recite those lines of poetry. I'd almost forgotten about that Petunia greeting card, since it happened so long ago. Except now I remembered the whole thing, including the stuff Vikki said at the time, about how it seemed like some creep was magically spying on us. And now that creep was right here in front of us, only I still didn't know what he was. And that was maybe the most worrying thing.

I could usually tell what any supernatural was just by looking at them. Even when they were completely impossible, like the demon goddess girl at school. But when I looked at this being I got nothing at all. Not like he wasn't there, if he'd been hiding his nature from me then I'd have known that even if I couldn't tell what he was. This was different. It was more like there was nothing but static when I looked at him. Static, plus a sense of something unfathomably old and immensely powerful.

After a few more seconds I finally realized the guy person entity thing seemed to be waiting for me to respond, based on the expectant look in his eyes as he watched me. I didn't really want to hang around and talk with him though. I'd have been much happier poofing my girlfriend and I back home. Or maybe to the French Riviera, or some nice Caribbean island. Somewhere far away, where we could relax and forget this encounter ever happened.

Except I had a feeling this not-hiker being would know where we were, no matter where I took Vikki. So I figured the second best thing would be to talk with him a little and get it over with. Then hopefully he'd crawl back into his cave hole and leave my girlfriend and I alone.

"You're the one who sent me that Petunia card," I finally addressed him. I tried not to let on how uneasy I was as I continued, "Those lines you just said, they're from the poem in the card. But why? Why send me the card two years ago, and why reveal yourself now?"

Before he could respond my girlfriend stepped out from behind me and asked, "You called Jenna your child, does that mean you're actually her father? Are you another genie?"

I'd been hoping to keep her shielded from the stranger, whatever he was. Unfortunately it seemed like Vikki was determined to involve herself in the conversation. And while I usually loved how brave and selfless she was, sometimes I almost wished she'd be a little more careful around unknown and potentially dangerous supernaturals. And as far as I was concerned, supernaturals didn't get any more unknown or potentially dangerous as this one.

Standing in front of him left me even more nervous than when I accidentally ran into the demon goddess girl in the college lunch room. Not knowing what he was meant I couldn't guess what he might do. And so far I had no idea what he wanted with us. About the only thing I knew for sure was if anything happened to Vikki or myself it would all be Professor Adams' fault.

If Adams hadn't made such a fuss about only wanting pictures of local subjects we could have been ten thousand kilometres away from this creepy cave and its weird occupant. We'd be doing something way safer, like trying to make friends with another giant poisonous spider or a cute venomous snake. If my prof had just said 'domestic' instead of 'local' then we could have been up north playing with cute cuddly polar bears.

But no, Professor Adams insisted on local flora and fauna only. And now thanks to him, my girlfriend and I had to deal with some sort of eldritch entity masquerading as a harmless hiker.

With that in mind I slipped an arm around Vikki's waist and pulled her in a little closer, so I could protect her if the stranger tried anything. Then I quietly told her, "That's no genie. I don't know what he is, but he's definitely not like me."

"It's true that I'm no djinn," the entity-guy responded in a calm relaxed voice. "I'm not your father either. Or your mother, for that matter. At least not in any sort of biological sense. I did create you though, and that makes you one of my children. As are the rest of your kin, Jenna."

Then he went on to answer my earlier question, "As for why we're meeting now? The timing was determined by you, my child. This is the first time since your birth that you've visited any of the portals to my domain."

"Stop calling me your child," I stated firmly. "A real parent doesn't abandon their child in a cave then disappear without a trace for almost thirteen hundred years."

I gave him a suspicious frown as I added, "And what exactly is your domain anyways? You still haven't told us what you are, or what you want with my girlfriend and I."

Eldritch-guy watched me for another second or two then sighed, "Fine. People today are so impatient, no interest in riddles or puzzles or mysteries. Just get to the point then move on to the next thing."

"I am the embodiment of chaos, ancient and primordial," he stated with a little shrug. "I've been around since before language existed, I watched humanity evolve and develop. I predate both gods and demons. I come from a time when magic flowed through the world as common as the wind."

His expression fell slightly as he continued, "Due to some unfortunate events that began roughly seventy-two thousand years ago there's barely any magic left in the world nowadays. Those same events left me bound too tightly to my domain, and as such I'm limited to subterranean places like this cave. As for what I want with you..."

Hiker-guy's voice trailed off and he smiled at me, but it didn't seem like he was trying to be creepy. It still sent a chill up my back, but I had a feeling he was trying to be friendly rather than ominous.

He continued with another shrug, "I've been creating djinn and setting them loose upon the world for aeons, that they might sow some chaos and keep the humans, gods, and demons on their toes. Each of you is born with but a fraction of my power, yet your ability to remake reality rivals that of gods and demons."

"In the beginning your kind were unfettered by any rules or restrictions," he smiled like he was thinking about happier times. "Unfortunately the gods took notice, and despite my best efforts they found a way to limit your kind after all. They couldn't interfere with your power directly, as it comes from something older and stronger than any of them. Instead they came up with a way to contain you."

"They made all genies into slaves," my girlfriend stated angrily.

"Correct," the not-hiker guy nodded. "That happened millennia ago, but I've continued to create and release my children into the world regardless. I knew they'd still be a force of chaos in the world, despite any rules and restrictions imposed upon them. And I hoped that some of them might find ways to free themselves."

Vikki's arm wrapped around my shoulders at that point, and she gave me a gentle comforting squeeze. My arm was still around her waist so I returned the gesture. I didn't know what else to do or say though.

Then my girlfriend asked, "You said you're some sort of primal chaos being, does that mean you're familiar with our local goddess of chaos? If I remember correctly, that poem you sent seemed to suggest Jenna shouldn't be afraid of her?"

"Of course," eldritch-guy chuckled. "I can't take all the credit for their existence, but I certainly played a part in their creation. And now both Cass and Cassandra are working for me. They and the rest of their friends are going to help me topple the status-quo, put some selfish greedy gods in their place, and restore magic to the world once again, as it was in my time."

I could tell from the way my girlfriend's muscles tensed that she was more than a little shocked by what the stranger just said. Not that I could blame her. The whole situation had me on edge, and hearing him casually admit he was involved with the impossible demon goddess girl only made me even more wary.

Vikki asked nervously, "You created the goddess of chaos? You actually created a goddess? How powerful are you, that you can make gods?"

The not-hiker guy smiled and shook his head, "As I said, I only played a part in their creation. And that didn't happen overnight, the demon goddess you know is the result of a two-hundred-year project. When you've existed as long as I have though, a century or two is nothing. As is knowing what to tweak, where to push, and who to nudge, to ensure I achieve my desired objective."

"If you have that kind of power then why haven't you..." my girlfriend's voice trailed off, as if she was afraid to put the rest of that thought into words.

I already knew at least part of the answer to that question. With my arm still tightly wrapped around Vikki's waist I guided us both back a couple steps, further away from the cave mouth. Then I reminded her, "He said he's stuck in his own domain. That's why he's sitting inside the cave, because he can't come out. So his magic or influence probably can't leave the cave either."

"I'm happy to see your two years of college education is paying off," eldritch hiker guy responded with another little smile. "You've obviously been paying attention. And you're correct, my powers are limited outside of my domain."

His grin got a little wider as he added, "Fortunately caves are still quite popular in certain circles. Spelunkers obviously, and geology students of course. That's how I came by this form. And some supernaturals still like to perform their magical workings from the safety of an isolated cave. Like I said, a nudge here, a push there, a little influence in the right direction is all it takes. A few subtle mistakes introduced into the right ritual at the right moment can be enough to eventually change the world."

By that point I felt even more anxious, and I couldn't help wondering if basements counted as being part of his domain. As much as I liked our games room I'd probably be too anxious to go down there again if I knew this guy's power could reach us there.

Then my girlfriend spoke up with another question, "So what do you want with Jenna?"

"For now," he replied, "I want nothing more than to see Jenna go on being her wonderful self."

He addressed me directly as he continued, "Keep using your magic as you see fit, but don't let yourself get caught. And do not reveal yourself to the public, keep your nature secret for as long as the status-quo remains in effect."

"After that," he added with yet another little smile, "Once the status-quo has been shattered and magic returns back to the world in force, then perhaps you'll consider helping me in my cause? If nothing else, it would be nice to see the rest of your kin freed from their shackles."

Eldritch hiker guy looked at me like he was waiting for me to respond, but I hesitated. I didn't trust him, he made me nervous, and half the things he said felt like what Ember would call 'red flags'. On top of all that, finding out that the impossible demon goddess girl was working for him didn't make me feel any better either.

After a few more seconds I still didn't really know what to say or how to react to anything my alleged parent said, and I found my thoughts drifting in a very different direction instead. I thought about my big pink plush pony as I asked myself, what would Pinkie do in this situation?

Throw a party, obviously. She'd make a big deal about finally meeting my parent after all this time, she'd say it was a family reunion and she'd insist on inviting all my friends for a huge get-together. And she'd ask Mr. Eldritch Hiker Guy to invite any other relatives he hasn't mentioned yet, so we could all get to know each other and become best friends.

Except that's a terrible idea Pinkie. Why? For all the reasons I was already thinking, silly pony. Anyways just because he claimed to be my parent doesn't make it so. Sometimes people lie Pinkie, like I do every time people ask if you're really real or if you actually talk to me. So no, we're not going to throw a big family reunion party. Or a little reunion party. No party at all! Sorry Pinkie.

"Well it was interesting to meet you," I told the stranger once I'd finally made up my mind, "But it's time Vikki and I got going."

I guided my girlfriend back another couple steps away from the cave as I continued, "You know how it is for us busy modern folks. Things to go and places to do and all that."

Luckily he didn't seem angry or upset that I wanted to leave, or that I hadn't agreed to help with his scary plans. Instead the stranger simply responded, "Very well. I hope to see you again some time Jenna, but either way I want you to know that I'm proud of you. For being a good person, and for lasting so long after being freed."

"Remember not to reveal yourself to the public," eldritch guy added. "Otherwise keep up the good work. And maybe introduce yourself to Cassandra? I promise she won't hurt you. I have a feeling you two would be good friends, if you gave her a chance."

I just nodded as my girlfriend and I continued to back away, "Uh-huh. Bye now, whatever you are."

"Fare well my child," he replied. "Oh and if you're still looking for salamanders, they're gathering in a pond about two hundred and seventeen meters to the north-west of here."

That confused me for a few seconds, like why would I be looking for salamanders? Sure they were cute, but... Then I glanced down at the camera I was still clutching in one hand.

"Right," I nodded slowly. "Local fauna. Thanks."

** This chapter is brought to you courtesy of Meg, who commissioned it! **