Palmu Chronicles, Pt. 1, 
By J. Pardo libguy3@yahoo.com
A Queen is lost, a Princess found, a Protector discovered.


"Her name is Timi Johnson and she will change the world."

Timi was surprised to find this written about her. She never felt special,
never did anything Earth-shattering, never even had a date, so why did this
show up in her mailbox?

The letter had no return address, smelled slightly sweet, and was made from a
very lightweight paper. She carried it around while she read it, accidently
running into the stove. A corner of the letter touched the flame coming from
the bottom of the boiling pot. Timi jumped back expecting the letter to
ignite, but she found no damage at all. On a whim, she intentionally passed
the letter through the flame. Other words appeared under that fateful
introduction.

"In order to save it, she must destroy it!"

"What in the world is going on here?" Timi said to no one in particular, since
no one was there.

"Not in the world, out of the world," Zemus said.

Timi spun around, not expecting to get any response.

"How did you get here?" Timi yelled.

"You released me," he said as if this answer should suffice.

"Released you from what?" Timi asked.

"The letter's spell, of course!" Zemus added with a smirk. "You can't tell me,
you've forgotten the messenger curse. I was asked to make sure the letter got
to you, and tried to leave it in your mailbox, but when I tried to leave I
became part of the letter, until you figured out a way to release me. I told
Zehro that you were brilliant, he just didn't believe me. Ready to go?"

"GO?" Timi yelled in surprise. "Go where?"

"To change the world," Zemus explained. "Did you think the letter was lying?
You are the only one who can do it."

"Why?... How?... What's going on? Is this a trick?" Timi said, thinking that
April 1 is over a month away., "because if it is, I ain't falling for it."

"Falling for what? Oh, dear! I didn't realize you wouldn't come willingly. Now
I will have to resort to Plan Bee."

"What's Plan B?" Timi asked.

"Not Plan B, Plan Bee," he opened a small bag he was carrying and out came a
large bee. It buzzed over to Timi who swatted it away. More bees came from the
bag until Timi had 50 angry bees surround her. She could not escape and became
frightened.

"Ready for Plan See?" Zemus asked.

"What's Plan C?" Timi asked, then a hole began in the middle of the bees until
she could see a way of escape. "Oh, not Plan C, Plan SEE."

"Now you're catching on," he said with a grin.

"I'm ready, just get rid of Plan Bee," she insisted.

"Very well!" he said, opening his bag. The aroma of honey was overwhelming as
the bees made a beeline for the bag.

After the last one entered, he closed the bag and reopened it. Reaching in, he
pulled out a small door. He pulled on the corners of the door and it stretched
and lengthened. When he was satisfied that he could fit through it, he
motioned for Timi to follow then opened the door. Timi could not see anything
except a swirling mirror.

"Hold my hand," Zemus said, "I don't want you to get off on the wrong
juncture."

Timi grabbed his hand and felt a jolt of power. She expected this
frail-looking fellow to have soft, feminine hands like hers, but his were
strong, as if he could knock down mountains. He walked through confidently,
with Timi in tow. Timi saw the shimmering lights flying passed her, until they
stopped abruptly. The trees ahead of them were tall and fluffy. Their pink
trunks glowed.

"Pink?" Timi said.

"Don't dally," Zemus said, "there's much to do."

Timi stopped staring and ran after Zemus.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To the Inner Circle, of course. Did you forget everything you knew?" he said
exasperated.

"What are you talking about?" she cried, "How can I forget what I did not know
in the first place."

Zemus slapped his head.

"I must be losing it in my old age." Zemus said. "I forgot to recite the
remembering spell."

"TIMINETUS NONFORGETUS!" he yelled.

Timi dropped to her knees. She felt as if a heavy weight were put on her
shoulders. A jumble of memories were pouring into her. Memories of her life as
a child. She was Princess Timinetus, heir to the Matriarchy of Palmu. Her
mother, Queen Taminetus, was in grave danger from marauding mercenaries sent
by the evil Draconix. She barracaded herself in the castle, and sent her
daughter away for safekeeping. Zerho, the great wizard, disguised her as a
peasant girl, and cast the forgetting spell on her, giving her a false memory
of a Terran child. She was Timi Johnson, named after the family whom Zerho
convinced with a believe spell. He told them that Timi was their daughter
given up for adoption when she was a baby. Timi's mother, Peg, wept at the
news thinking that her daughter had returned, and so it was to be until Zemus
and his message.

"Zemus Strengthmaker," Princess Timinetus spoke, "why have you brought me
here? Where is my mother?"

Zemus averted his eyes as he spoke. "Your mother has been taken captive. The
castle is overrun with Urfs, led by Draconix. We needed your help to defeat
them."

"What can I do? I have no training in the killing arts. I have no dextrous
skills at all." Timi said matter of factly.

"We know that, your highness," Zemus said courtiosly, "that's why we need to
go to the Inner Circle."

Arriving at a clearing, they found a large crop circle. Zemus jammed his Yew
walking stick into the exact center of the circle.

"PORTUS OPENUS!" he shouted, and the ground shook. "Come with me, child!" he
ordered, and Princess Timinetus ran to the center. The circle descended into
the ground like an elevator stopping on the floor of a brightly lit cavern.

The Yew glowed as it sensed the presence of other wizards. One by one, they
appeared each with their own Yew stick. Each of the sticks went through the
naming, bonding with its owner.

ZeZu Pitts lived deep in the forest in harmony with the great beasts. He
called his stick MeAnn Yew.

ZeIte Geist's stick is Yew're Okay.

ZeRho Nihil called his stick Yew're Nothing

ZeFroz Coldfinger named his I only have ice for Yew

ZeRocks Copier got his Mountain Yew.

They met in the great circle, each of the wizards affectionately greeting
Timinetus.

"The time grows short," Zemus said, "we must perform the awakening. Hold my
rod firmly."

Timi playfully reached for his robe.

"Not that rod," he said with a grin.

Timi grew serious as she grasped Zemus' Yew firmly.

"I will give you the strength of a bear," Zemus shouted, "URSULATUS
FORTEGOTUS!" then grabbed the Yew. A power arc shot through his arm into the
stick.

Timi felt a great shock as that power transferred to her.

"I give you power to be nothing," ZeRho shouted and touched the stick,
"VISIBALUS NOSEEUS! Now no one can see you, if you wish it."

Timi became a shadow, then returned to visibility.

"I give you the swiftness of a cat," Zezu shouted and grabbing the Yew,
"FELIXICIUM COMEONUS! Now you can run miles without stopping, and see in the
dark."

Timi's eyes became catlike with slits that opened and closed.

"I give you the power of beauty," ZeIte shouted, holding the glowing rod,
"APHRODITUS VEXICUM! No man can resist you."

They all gasped as Timi became a Siren, they wanted to stop the ceremony and
just enjoy the sight.

"AHEM!" she yelled, breaking them from their pause. They all turned red with
embarrassment.

"I give you the ability to freeze your enemies with a touch," ZeFroz shouted
connecting with the pole, "FRIGIDUS WITHINUS!"

"I give you the power to tap the energies of the earth," ZeRocks shouted
grabbing the Yew, "ELECTRICATUM NEXUS! Your strength and abilities will
multiply as you need them. Use this power sparingly, only in emergencies,
because you will drain the lifeforce of your enemy, and it become a part of
you."

Timi was writhing on the ground on agony with these new found powers.

Zemus ran to her, "PAXUM RESTUS!" he shouted, and touched her forehead. She
calmed immediately and went to sleep. He carried her to the wizards quarters
as the rest followed along. No one saw the stranger who was watching the
proceedings, and waited for the wizards to leave.

When he was certain they had gone, Tuckerby ran to the Yew grabbing it firmly.
Its glow was fading, but Tuck could still feel its effects on him. Strange
feelings came over him, but he could not, would not release the stick.
Finally, his mind was overwhelmed and he dropped off to sleep.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Zemus asked, returning for his Yew.

Tuck woke with a start. His hands left imprints in the wood as he released it.

"I'm here to help you," Tuck said more confidently than he felt.

"You impertinent young man!" Zemus yelled. "Who asked for your help?"

"I overheard everything. I know about the Queen, I saw the ceremony, and I
knew I wanted to help." Tuck bravely answered.

Zemus could not help but smile. "So you know what you've done?"

"I hope I get what Princess Timinetus got," Tuck said smiling.

"You get some of that, Mr...."

"Tuckerby Freelander, at your service," Tuck said.

"Freelander, you have no GraClan?" Zemus asked.

Tuck looked away. "My village was attacked when I was small, Draconix's men
killed my parents. Everyone thought I had the hex and avoided me, all except
Zebo."

"Zebo the Grey?" Zemus asked.

"Some called him that. Some called him healer. Some called him old fool for
taking me in. He raised me, teaching me simple earth magic to help me survive.
I loved that old guy. He died protecting me." Tuck said wiping a tear away.

"Zebo dead? Who would want to kill Zebo?" Zemus asked.

"Not a who, a what. We were attacked by a werelion. It was ready to pounce on
me, but Zebo jumped in front of me. I ran away, here to the Inner Circle. Zebo
told me of its location. I didn't know where else to come." Tuck wept openly.

Zemus threw down the Yew and embraced this pathetic boy. If Zebo, that
crotchity old man, saw something special in him, then there must be.

"You will stay with me. I will teach you the old ways, and you will protect
the Princess. No longer Tuckerby Freelander, I name you Tuckerby Zemusclan."

Here ends part 1 of the Palmu Chronicles