All was peaceful in the courtyard as Tenchi stepped in.  Part of this
peace felt like the peace of the dead - this had once been part of the
castle proper, until something blew its roof off; now, moss and vines
covered most of the walls, and someone had installed a fountain in the
center.  It was a secluded spot, well protected from what lay beyond the
castle yet still allowing one to commune with the wild spirits of nature
who would never deign to come indoors, and the peace that brought more
than soothed his mind away from imagining what conspired to create this
spot.

Besides, he had more pressing matters.  "Your majesty?"

His quarry looked towards the moonlit sky, seeming to contemplate the
only source of light for eons before acknowledging him.  "You may call
me Sylphiel."

"Sylphiel.  I'm afraid of what will happen if I keep the ring."

She turned to him and smiled, as soft, noble, and reassuring a smile as
he had ever seen.  "The Saban will continue to seek you, to reclaim what
you carry for their master.  You will face much trouble and
unpleasantness, but they will not last forever.  You will either succeed
in your quest or die trying; either way, the followers of Macek will
cease to bother you."

"What will happen to my friends?  To grandpa and father?"

"They will also face much misery.  That is the fate of all who associate
with the Ringbearer."

"I never asked for that.  I don't want it!"  He thought for just a
second before holding up the ring.  "Here, you take it."

"You offer me the One Ring?"  Sylphiel's gaze melted from compassion to
unbridled lust, her eyes focussing on one thing only.  "With this power,
I could redub any anime to my desires.  Gourry would love ME instead of
that flat chested brat."  Light flared up behind her, casting her into
sillhouette except where her skin began to glow blue.  "I could even
become the main character, the one around whom everything revolves,
discarding and editing all animation that indicates otherwise."  She
stepped towards Tenchi, causing him to instinctively shrink away even
as he held the ring towards her.  "The series would suck, but what
little glory remained would be mine, all MINE..."

As abruptly as her mood changed, it changed back, calmness flooding her
as the visible power faded in a heartbeat.  She sucked down a few
breaths, then looked away in wonder.  "I...I passed the test.  I will
fade into anime history, and go into the fanfics..."

---

Noo!!! You can't just end it!  I was getting hooked!  You will must 
continue!!!

ROTFLMAO... (At work no less)

L.S. McGill

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