Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 19:04:02 -0700
From: mistress_n9@juno.com
Subject: The Shadow's Riddle Chapter 6

Disclaimer: *yawns, then sneezes, then hacks, then coughs* Doe...Dick id
dot gay. Dis deva happed. I dud't readdy kdow dem. Soddy, *points to
plugged up nose* addergies od da fitz.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have found out that I am flu-ey. That was why I
only sent in option one. Here is option two. Sorry. Medicine's going to
my head.

Shout Outs: just wanna say hi to some friends: Leo, Aaron (please,
please, please continue it! Please?!), Nike (THANK YOU A LOT! *waves
through the telescope*), NCfan, Sophie, Goldie-boy (^.~*), Lucas
Thompson, Mat (*muah*), Andy, Jacqi, Steph, and all of my fans.

Now I know I haven't been shamelessly plugging in stories but I need you
guys to check out 'Watching You Without Me' If you look past the initial
shock, you might find something good in there. It's worth a look.

Also read any fics by NCfan and Sophie V. Those two are the best authors
I know.

And let's not forget Carter's 'Open Arms.' It should be updated soon
enough. At least I HOPE so.

Now in this chapter, I came up with two endings. One, he dies. Two, he
lives and yadda, yadda, yadda. Have a good read!

"The Shadow's Riddle"
Act 5; Scene 3: The finale

Option 1: Alive With the Power of Song
They creatures watched on as their friend wept for his beloved.
"Nick..." he moaned. "Our life...our plans...all gone." He stroked the
soft blonde hair. "All because of Mandah."

Nimm watched them then looked at Erin. Her green eyes sad at the moment.
But her mind wanders back to when...another death occurred. "Erin..."
she called softly.

"What?" the leprechaun replied.

"You can try to play that song. The one that brings happiness and well
things." Nimm suggested as she pulled out a small flute/fife.

Erin gasped. "No...I vowed never to use that ever again. Not after--"

"Please, Erin. It's our only chance. My spells are not to bring back the
dead. And only your song could call the soul back to its body." Nimm
pleaded.

"No, especially after that Reilly MacIrvin double crossed me. His
grandfather crafted that flute and playing it would only bring back sad
memories." Erin stubbornly shook her head full of curls.

"Erin, get yourself together. That was a long time ago. Focus on what's
here; what's now. Erin, a life is placed within our hands. We could
either save it or let it go. This soul does not belong in the world of
the dead and should still be walking on earth like the rest of them. I
know we are immortal and cannot die but he can. We need to bring him
back so Thomas will be happy. Letting that soul go would be letting half
of our best friend go." She paused. "Do you want that to happen?" she
asked softly.

Erin took deep breaths as her hand reached for the flute/fife.

*~Flash~*
"Take it, Erin! You'll be mine's forever if you take it!" screeched
Reilly. The young girl tentatively took the gift between her fingers.

"Lass, we know your gift. Take the thing and call me husband back,
please." begged an old woman.

She raised the flute to her lips and played an eerie song. The rest of
the leprechauns watched in amazement as the soul returned to its body
and the old man's eyes flutter open.

Reilly laughed heartily as a knife stabbed through him. They all turned
and saw a Ferre Derrig (A/N: how do you spell that?) gleefully running
away.

"Play the song, Erin!" the old grandfather coached.

She lifted the flute to her lips and played a hated song. A song full of
anger and resentment as if she didn't WANT the soul to come back. The
leprechauns gasped in horror as Reilly died within their stone home.

The Reilly spirit reached out and tried to choke her. "You bitch! Bring
me back!" it growled.

She stood there with tears flowing from her eyes as she felt herself
dancing on the thin line between life and death.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" raged the elderly grandfather. "BEGONE! EVIL SPIRIT!"
he shouted as the spirit receded into the ground. The old man wobbled to
her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Child, you were
blessed with the gift of song. Use that song to heal and to bring back.
Never for evil like MacIrvin, you hear, girl?"

She nodded.

~*Flash*~
She closed her eyes and pulled the flute against her lips to play the
dead song from long ago. Sweet notes poured into the silent room as
strands of green and gold light wove their way towards Thomas and Nick.
Each note rang out in the apartment like a bird's song. The strands of
light woven themselves around Nick's dead and bloodied body; cleansing
it.

Erin stopped. "Alright, lads and lasses, here comes the hard part." Erin
announced. She began to play the song again. Over and over, her fingers
slid over the holes of the flute/fife. She closed her eyes and seemed
deep in concentration upon the spell. Nothing stopped her. She kept
playing.

She finally opened her eyes, which shone a bright, almost white blue,
and watched as the spell reawakened Nickolas Gene Carter.

Nick's eyes fluttered open as he stirred. He groaned and looked up into
Thomas' crying eyes. "Thomas...sweetie, why are you crying?" he asked
softly.

Thomas wiped his eyes then turned and saw that his Nick was alive and
well. "Nick? Nickolas, is that really you?" he asked. Nick nodded.
"Honey, are you ok?" he asked concernedly.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked.

"Because Mandah stabbed you and killed you."

Nick chuckled and kissed Thomas' lips. "Darling, your love as well as
Erin's song brought me back. The song told me I have to come back and
your love led the way. Then I saw your crying face and I knew I HAD to
be there to comfort you. I HAD to be there for you. I would never leave
for the next world without you."

"Oh Nicky..." Thomas sighed as they kissed again.

Nimm nudged her best friend. "What'd I tell ya? True Love and a pretty
song DO mix."

"Yeah..." Erin sighed as Brian wrapped his arms around her.

And so, Nick and Thomas eventually got married. Erin and Brian also got
married. Nimm was there for a while until she devoted herself back to
her club. Harlequin finished a few of her books before taking a break
and watching for inspiration. And hey, what better inspiration than that
of this very romance? Turns out that it became one of her best selling
books.

And so, we will close the book upon this fairy tale. Good Night.

FIN

Flute/Fife Songs:
"Lugia's Song" --Pokemon the Movie 3 (the "healing/bring back" song)
"Peter Pan's Flute" ---Disney's Peter Pan (the rude song in the
flashback)

Mistress_N9@juno.com

Use that email, bub.