Infinity Tree. An equine In Merville

       Imagine that your flying through space. Stars, nebulas, planets all fly past you at blinding speeds. Now remember you can't close your eyes to visualize this, so just keep reading while staring at your screen. It would also help to read the next few paragraphs in Morgan Freeman's voice. If you don't know who he is, look it up. You obviously have Internet access.

        Now....back to hurling into space. The stars fly past you so quickly that they seem to stretch like taffy as your vision blurs from your gaining velocity. Did I forget to mention your moving faster?

       All of reality around you seems to cone inward around you, squeezing you into a tunnel of intertwined colors of infinite space. The vortex grows in intensity. All the colors upon the visible light spectrum begin to mesh and collide like a kaleidoscope of design. If this was a movie and you were epileptic, you would be having a seizure. That's how colorful it is.

       Then suddenly

       The world goes white. Quite all around you. Existence of everything has ceased except for you. Then a thought pops into your head and the universe flys back into in an explosion of motion! You can't even blink without passing through entire galaxies as you hurl into another universe.

       Your journey is soon coming to an end for you have finally reached the world of which our story takes place. A world known only as kharr. The magical land of elves, or people with just really long and pointy ears.

You may stop imagining Morgan Freeman narrating this story to you now.

       Like an image from google maps, your omnipresent sight reaches over a never ending grove of trees. Beyond that a village. A peaceful village of mostly Elvin lineage. A village known as Merville. This village will be the home of our main character. No, not that weird old man by the coffee shop. The young lad at the bar side of the village inn.

       His name is Nipoh. It is pronounced like "knee" then "Poe" as in Edgar Allen Poe.

He is young adult elf. A skinny kid, and very unpredictable. He sat by his best friend in the whole wide world. The strong, bigger, and much more handsome and muscular elf, Brearious. Pronounced " bri- are-e-us", get used to this, because there will be some wired names in this story.

       "Hey Brearious." Nipoh said in his surprisingly shrill voice. "What would be a really lame super power?"

       Brearious ponders for a minute, rubbing his completely non exsisting stubble on his chiseled face.

       " I don't know." He said, scratching the top of his shoulder length blonde hair. "Maybe the ability to melt?"

       Nipoh let out a laugh. "Oh Brearious. You crack me up." He then brushed a hand through his spiky short hair and took a sip from his root beer.

       "How about...." Nipoh started by putting his hands up, ready to make gesticulations. "...the ability to posses people's bodies, but only if they feel sad, and be able to walk through walls, but only wood." Nipoh grinned to himself at thinking of such an impractical super power.

       "Gosh, that sounds lame." Brearious gasped impressed by Nipoh's non exsistant wordplay. Can't blame him though, Brearious is easily impressed.

       "Here ya go Bre. A fresh low fat flafalla shake." The bartender, Mr Bakersfield, came up to the counter and handed Brearious a tall glass full of white cream. Brearious took it and paid him a silver bastion coin.

       Mr Bakersfield, a man in his early thirties, tall, and lanky was the owner of the baker inn along with his wife, Mrs Bakersfield. It was a very lovely and homey place, with an atmosphere they just says in a cute little voice "welcome! Make yourself at home." That's why this is a popular hang out for the two friends.

        Get used to this place. It will come up often.

       "How about the ability to make rope appear, but you can only tie some ones hands if there behind their back." Brearious continued. Mr Bakersfield propped his elbows on the bar and listened to their conversation because Nipoh, and Brearious are the only ones in the bar right now.

       "So Brearious, who you taking to the summer sun solstice festival?" Mr Bakersfield asked, scratching his auburn stubble.

       "I'll be taking my cousin." Brearious said with a smile.

       "Which one." Mr. Bakersfield said flatly. "You got like thirty of them within a hundred mile radius of you at all times."

       "I'll be taking  Natalie."

       "The blonde one?"

       "Mr Bakersfield...we're all blonde."

       One thing that should be known is that it would be an understatement to say that Brearious had a big family. Brearious's family owns a geology foundation, and they have mines all over the world. They're not exactly a house hold name, but almost all walks of life find value and use in the fine rocks of which his family mines.

       "That's a shame." Mr Bakersfield continued. "You see, my daughter Jaleen has a bit of a cru..." Before he could finish, a knife wizzed by his nose and stuck into the wood with a loud thunk. Inscribed on the handle In cursive was "If lost, please return to Jaleen."

      "What was that you were saying?" Brearious asked, completely ignoring the knife. Mr. Bakersfield's long ears just twitched and he plucked the knife out of the wall.

      "Uh...nothing." He mumbled. "But...uh... I'll be taking my wife as usual this year." Then he looked around to see if any one else was looking. When the coast seemed clear, he leaned in closer to the two elves. His voice a hushed whisper. "If I wasn't married, I'd take a woman with a bigger rack."

      "I heard that!" A woman called from upstairs. Obviously the Mrs. Using her super wife hearing.

       "Crap!" Was all Mr. Bakersfield could say as his formerly calm face was now stricken with panic. "If you boys need me...I'll be in my favorite hiding place known as the " pickle barrel." In a rush Mr. Bakersfield ran out of sight, leaving the two elf friends trying to suppress there laughter.

       In seconds, a woman in her late twenties came walking down stairs. Her long black hair was tied back in a pony tail, and she wore a black tang top with tan cargo pants.

      "Have you boys seen my husband?" She asked them.

      "He's in the pickle barrel." Nipoh said trying not to burst out laughing.

      Mrs. Bakersfield then rushed into the back room where a muffled scream of "traitor" was used then the banging of other stuff followed.

       "So Nipoh. Who are you taking to the festival?" Nipoh just slouched a little lower in his seat.

       "Uh....I don't have a date."

      Brearious's jaw hit the floor. His best friend is dateless!? Not on his watch!

       "Don't worry pal!" He exclaimed patting his friend on the back. "I'll help you find a date!" He pulled a small scroll from his satchel and unrolled it. "I can hook you up with one if my cousins."

       "Brearious.... No" Nipoh tried to refuse.

      "Let's see here." Brearious mumbled to himself as he put on his reading glasses and examined the list. "Gertrude has a date, Jane has a date, Mary has a date...." He continued down the list until he reached the end and gave Nipoh an apologetic look.

       "We'll buddy. It looks like all my female cousins are taken."

       "All of them!" Nipoh exclaimed.

       "Yes." He looked at the list one more time then took of his reading glasses. "Even Beatrice."

       "Beatrice too?" Nipoh replied in disbelief. "Wow...."

       Nipoh started to feel a little worried. Even his best friend, and all of his cousins have dates, and he didn't.

       "Don't worry pal," Brearious said patting Nipoh on the back and giving him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you'll find someone soon. The festival is next week."

       Nipoh let out a groan and put his face into the fine lacquered bar table. He would rather die then be a dateless wonder. It's not like he didn't like girls, its just he never found him self a ladies man. He was small, and as much as he hated to admit, he was one of the shortest guys in the village. All traits that elvin women seem to find unattractive. Not to mention the fact that he was a cursed one...

       "Well, well, well. If it isn't dumb and dumber." A snarky voice called from the bar entrance.

       "Oh no..." Nipoh groaned.

      Oh no indeed, for the woman who has just stepped in and insulted our two heroes was none other the the village alchimist, Stardust. One of the most powerful, and the youngest, sorcerer in the land.

      She walked like she owned the place, her straight black, and perfectly cut black hair bounced with ever step she took. And that wasn't the only thing that bounced.... She wore her usual magicians attire, a leather body suit, with inter threaded armor plated on her large breasts, forearms, and shins. They where all of a mixture of deep shades of blue and black, her favorite colors. She didn't wear the cape since they where out of season.

      "So what are you two morons talking about? Not like I really care." She said in her trademark snobbish tone. She took a seat next to Brearious who almost felt like he wasn't worthy of bieng in her presence.

       "Nipoh doesn't have a date." Brearious said pointing a thumb at Nipoh. Nipoh threw his arms up in the air and gave him the "what the heck are you doing man?!" Look.

       Stardust's green eyes flashed. "Is that so?" She grinned, hardly suppressing her giggles until she burst into a fit of laughter.

       "It doesn't surprise me that a wimp like you couldn't get a date!" She laughed as she pounded her fist on the table.

       "Go ahead...laugh it up!" Nipoh said sarcastically. "Like you've got boys lining up at your door!"

       "Actually I do." She said as if it where inevitable. "I am the town alchemist after all, very popular around these parts." She put a hand to her chest to further emphasize her high stature.

       Yes. Stardust was a little full of herself. Though she did have bragging rights. Other then from being the village Medicine and potion maker, she was also a close descendant of a highly respected family of wizards known as the Astrals. Stardust was a very powerful magician, and her skill in magic is almost unmatched. With all this power and respect, it can go to your head.

        "Don't bother trying to get a date now. Every one is taken." Stardust said.

       It's times like this that makes Nipoh wonder why he's still friend with her, but then he remembers they have been friends since childhood, and she was one of the only people that didn't look down on him because he was a cursed one at the time. But now she just looks down to him for any other reason.

       " I bet I could get a date." Nipoh said, defying Stardusts's will. She only scoffed.

        "You? Get a date? Nipoh, you have been dateless since you were born, what makes you think a girl will fall for you now?"

        "You want a wager on that?" Nipoh replied standing up.

        "Them's fightin' words! I accept!"Stardust also stood up, looking Nipoh into his crystal blue eyes.

       "If I win..." Nipoh said pointing a thumb to his chest. "You have to be my slave for a day!" He smiled to himself for coming up with such a cruel punishment.

       "And if I win..." Stardust said with a sly grin. "I'll find a date for you."

      "What?" Both Nipoh and Brearious said in unison.

       "If you can find a date by sun down, you win, but if any later, then ill find a date for you."

       "What?" Nipoh said again completely flabbergasted by his odds. Isn't it win win? But it's coming from stardust so there must be a catch.

       "That's it? By sun down?"

       "Yes, I'll find you a date, a cute one too, but on one condition." Oh boy. Here it comes.

       "You have to drink red whine before hand."

       "NOOOO!!!!" Nipoh screamed at the sudden realization of the situation he was now stuck in.

       "I'll never drink it! Never! You can't make me!" As long as the sun shines, Nipoh will never consume grapes or any of its byproducts. But...if he wins this bet. He can finally prove his dominance over the one chick that he couldn't beat. He let out a sigh and held out his hand.

        "Fine. It's a bet. I hope you'll enjoy doing my laundry tomorrow! It's been piling for weeks!" Stardust took his hand, gave it a shake, and the deal was done.

      "Nipoh, where are you going?" Brearious asked as he walked out the bar door.

       "To find a date! I've only got till sun down!" And with that Nipoh was gone. Stardust began to snicker.

        "What's so funny?" Brearious asked.

       Stardust just shook her head. "He's going to have to have a girl fall right out of the sky if he ever wants a chance at finding a date."

       Brearious leaned back and put his hands behind his head.

       "You know what happens when Nipoh consumes or even comes in contact with grapes. Right ?"

       Stardust just giggled a menacing giggle.

        "I know exactly what happens, and I know just the person who is still needing a date."

She let out a cackle like a witch, only this sounded more beautiful then frightening.

       "How am I gonna get a date in only a few hours?" Nipoh thought to himself as he walked through the village. It was late afternoon and townsfolk where bustling about the dirt road of the Village of Merville. Elvin merchants sold their wears at beautifully decorated stalls, wears varying from fruits, and vegetables, to jewelry and armor. It was a very busy week for one of the biggest celebrations were coming up next week. The summer sun solstice festival, as well as the Orbital pairing coming up in a month. So that would mean just about everyone was preparing for the holidays. Blacksmiths made arms and armor for gifts as well as decrotive steel nick naks while farmers harvested the finest produce of their crop for the season, streamers and lanterns hung from lantern poles with banners that read "Praise Akilurous" the Orbital god of the sun.

        Nipoh walked about the street pondering to himself wondering how he's going to find a date in such a small amount of time. He can't just walk up to a girl and ask her out since possibly ninety percent of the female population in the village had dates, including ones who are visiting from other villages for the festival.

       Nipoh let out a sigh. "This is hopeless" He said to himself. "If I'm going to find someone, I'll need help." He knew just the person who could help his dilemma. The village priestess, Morningdew.

       Morningdew would help him for sure! Morningdew is one of Nipoh's good friends, also for the fact that she is celibate due to her commitment as a priestess, she may know a few single girls. Nipoh then started to walk on over to the village temple with a slight spring in his step. He closed his eyes and smiled in contempt at his plan, which was a bad idea to close your eyes while walking into a busy street.

       He then suddenly bumped into something hard and scaly, causing him to fall back on his hind quarters.

       "Oops,my bad." A deep voice came from the tall black figure that towered over Nipoh as he sat on the ground. At a first glance, the figure was terrifying. His skin completely black and plated with shiny onyx scales. His body was thin, but muscular as if to hide his unnatural strength. With an elongated snout, and beady yellow eyes, the figure was quite a sight. But Nipoh wasn't scared. In fact he stood up, brushed himself off, and greeted the figure.

       "Hey Jake! How's it going?" The tall black figure took his clawed hand and shook Nipoh's.

       "After noon Nipoh, fine day to be walking around with your eyes closed."

       Jake was a dragonite, a humanoid, and far more intelligent descendant species from dragons. Most of the townsfolk call him Jake the drake since he had no last name. He was holding the handles if a pull cart filled with assorted boxes of candy.

       "Are those for your date?" Nipoh asked, pointing at the cart Jake had in tow.

       He let out a low growl, which was technically his laugh. "No Nipoh. I'm just making a delivery." He took one clawed hand and scratched his shirtless, black chest. Since he was a dragonite, his body is resistant to temperature, so the only clothes he really needs to where are his cotton long shorts for obvious reasons.

       "You feeling okay Jake? You don't look so good." Nipoh noticed that the dragonite's eyes were fluttering slightly, and he was swaying dangerously back and forth, threatening to fall over.

       "I just have a bit of a cold," he sniffed. " I must of came down with something from the forest, I'll feel better in a....ah....ah!!!"

       Nipoh jumped back from Jake at the anticipation of what he was going to do.

       "Achooo!!!" Jake let out a thunderous sneeze. A flash of light, and a raging fire ball of death hurled out of jakes nose and blew a crater into the ground at his feet. He sniffled and wiped his nose with a clawed finger.

       "Sorry about that." He said looking at the smoldering crater on the ground. Nipoh gave him a nod and a wave and both Jake and him went about there business

       The village temple was atop a hill on the east side of the village. It was a beautiful building, with marble tiles along the interior, and artistically painted designs of trees and nature all along its infrastructure. A row of pedestals sat in the center room, each pedestal a statue of one of the Orbital gods. Not many people were at the temple today except for a few priests dressed in white robes doing the daily chores and prayers. Some of the priests greeted Nipoh as he enters through the open double doors since any one is allowed in the temple at any time. Though....some just ignored him or just refused to shake his hand because Nipoh was a cursed one.

       As he walked into the shrine room, the atmosphere, and the pressure of the air changed dramatically. The feeling of energy pulsating through the room was evident to any life form. The power of magic and nature flowed through this room like rivers of the great jungles of the south. A pedestal, and upon it a statue of the Orbital god Akilurous. The Elvin god of the sun.

        Nipoh usually felt uneasy presenting himself to the shrine. It just radiated power and majesty, that even priests, who were highly respected members of society, and went through years of training and practice to achieve religious purity felt small to even this statue that represented there beloved lord.

       A young priestess in an elegant white robe was making prayer to the massive shrine, lighting one of the many candles that surrounded it. Nipoh knew not to interrupt her as she placed her offering bead upon the pedestal, mumbling a prayer of an ancient Elvin language, long forgotten and only known by the holy ones.

       After she bowed she pulled back her hood, turned around and gave Nipoh a beautiful smile.

      "Greetings brother Nipoh. Are you here for an offering?" The priestess was utterly devine. Her natural beauty shined through every pore of her fair skin. Her eyes like pools of crystal clear water, oceans that you can lose yourself in if you stared to long.

       Morningdew is by far the most beautiful girl Nipoh has ever met, and probably he will ever meet. Even for as long as he knew her, he still had trouble forming words because of her captivating beauty.

       "Uh.....uh...." He stuttered to find words until his brain clicks. "I have a problem Morningdew."

       Morningdew tilted her head and made a concerned face. "What ever is the matter?" She said.

       Nipoh just scratched the back if his head as he thought of what to say. He also started to think that this was a bad idea. Morningdew obviously had better things to do then help him with his girl troubles. Better make a better excuse.

        "I was just wondering if you knew any single girls that might need a date for the festival?" Gods that sounded so shallow. He already regrets asking such a thing to a girl he doesn't even deserve to be in the same room with.

       She just smiled. " I'm guessing you don't have any one to take to the festival." She said in her lovely, quiet voice. She was so soft spoken, it was wonderful to just hear here voice.

       Nipoh just nodded his head, and Morningdew giggled making Nipoh blush.

       "I understand. No one wishes to be alone on such a time like this, but I'm afraid I can't help you."

        She then rolled up the sleeves of her robe and took Nipoh's right arm. She delicately rolled down his sleeve revealing the tattoo on his wrist. It was a heart split in half with one half upside down.

       "I can how ever assure you that girls are not avoiding you because of this."

       The heart tattoo, actually it was more like a birth mark that Nipoh had been born with. It is the symbol if his curse, a curse that no level if high magic can remove. Often times people shunned him because if his curse, ostracizing him and his mother because of what he was. It wasn't until they moved to Merville, when people began to accept him.

       Her hands were smooth as the marble floor of which they stood on.

       "If it makes you feel better, I hear Gizmo isn't taking anybody either."

       That made Nipoh's ears perk up. Someone else is dateless too? Some one he knows! Thank the gods he won't be alone on this. Morningdew let go of Nipoh's hands leaving small tingling sensations on his skin. Because of her power of a priestess, she withholds powerful light magic, magic that his curse reacts negatively to.

       "If you have any other questions, feel free to ask." She gave him a warm smile. Her smile was contagious as it caused Nipoh to smile too. The cursed one, and the blessed one. The outcast, and the respected. Yet both the two share a friendship that has no end. Nipoh bid his farewell and bowed as he left the temple. He could finally breath now that the magic pressure has lifted off his chest. Like most of the townsfolk Nipoh didn't know magic, nor was he gifted to practice it. At times he felt his curse was the cause, but only few can withhold magic, and use it.

       The day was bugging to wind down. The sun was slowly receding near a mountains far off to the east. If he doesn't find a date soon, he'd going to have to...,he shuddered to hemself, refusing to think of what he would have to do if he lost to stardust.

       "So you don't have a date eh?" In Gizmo's work shop Nipoh sat on a mechanics stool as he watched his friend repair the inside hatch a large metallic thing that Nipoh had no idea what it was. Gizmo, a technician, and mechanic, climed out of the hulking beast of steel. His body and clothes stained with soot and oil. He hoped down from the hatch and landed on his feet upon the concrete floor. He turned to Nipoh, taking off his work goggles.

       "Dating's overrated." He said as he took a swig from a water bottle on the work bench. "I've got more important things to do then go walking around with a girl I barley know." Nipoh tried not to laugh as he noticed that Gizmo's face was completely black except for the rings around his eyes where his goggles were. He looked like a reverse raccoon!

       "I wish I could believe you." Nipoh said, stifling a laugh. "But unfortunately, I made a bet with Stsrdust, and if I don't get a date by sun down she'll find a date for me."

       "That doesn't seem so bad." Gizmo replied, ratcheting a bolt into an engine.

       " she's going to make me drink red whine before hand."

       Gizmo froze in place. He turned around and gave Nipoh a concerned look. "That's just diabolical." He said in a hushed whisper.

       "So you think you can help me?" Nipoh asked with a shy smile.

       At first Gizmo didn't know what to think. All he could do was remember the last time Nipoh came in contact with grapes. It made him shudder at the thought if it happening again.

       "You know there is an old legend that I've read on a while back." Gizmo said as he sifted through tools on the work bench. " legend has it that a hundred years ago, upon swiftly hill..." He pointed out the circular window, showing the tall cliff off in the distance. "A brave warrior, and a magician came up to that very hill searching for love."

       Nipoh listened entently at his friend's story. "The warrior wore armor made of the purist onyx stone, while the magician wore the most elegant ivory jewelry. The legend has it that the warrior and the magician offers their stone and ivory to the shrine atop the hill were bonded for life."

       Gizmo climbed up a ladder to the upper loft of the workshop. The light that shined through the found window ingulfed him like the halo of an angel.

       "As the story goes, if you take a stone of pure onyx, and take it up to the hill, then luckily another woman will be there making a similar offering with ivory."

       Now Nipoh wasn't one to believe in legends, but he had no other choice. No matter what he will not lose to Stardust!

       "Oh yeah....I almost forgot, you have to go there at sunset or it doesn't ....." Gizmo noticed that Nipoh was gone and the entrance door was swinging ajar. "...Work.....and I'm talking to my self again."

        "This is stupid." Nipoh said to himself out loud. He trudged up the trail with a polished onyx stone in his hand. The stone was generously given by his friend Brearious, along with five of his cousins. The trail was a long trek to the top. Nipoh's strapped sandals began to scuff as he dragged his feet from exhaustion. The sun was already half way behind the horizon, the light of day was fading quickly.

       After a trip on the well beaten trail, Nipoh made it to the top. The sun has almost completely disappeared now. The stars shined in the night sky like diamonds on a black piece of cloth. Atop the hill was a steep ledge that was impossible to climb. A small statue of a woman sitting cross legged upon a pedestal sat amongst a group of trees. A bronze offering bowl lay at her feet. Nipoh recognized the statue to be Avial. The Orbital god of love.

       Nipoh looked at the offering bowl, then at the onyx stone in his hand. The bowl was empty, apparently no one came here looking for love.

       He let out a deep sigh and put the stone as an offering anyway. What a disappointment. He knew he should have known better then yo trust some legend, but it was his only chance to win the bet. He sat on a stone pillar by the statue and looked up at the stars. "Will I ever find a woman to call my own as beautiful as those stars?" He thought. Not likely. He's a cursed one after all. Destiny has dealt him a hard hand, and Lady Luck showed a blind eye upon him.

       The stars twinkled in the night sky, but one star shined above the rest. A star glowing in viscous intensity shined a deep violet color. It was strange since he never noticed a star like that before. He would have remembered if he did.

       The star seemed to grow brighter within seconds. "Is it coming closer to me?" Nipoh thought as he squinted his eyes to look up at the burning star. The star grew hotter and hotter and soon it was flying at an alarming speed. Nipoh could only stare in horror as an explosion of violet light completely surrounded him, blinding him, and making him fall to his knees. A thunderous roar, and screeching of metal on natal erupted from all directions. He covers his ears to drown out the terrible noise. A viscous wind cut through the air, slicing at Nipoh's exposed skin leaving small cuts and scrapes.

       "By the gods! What is happening!" Was all Nipoh could scream.

      But suddenly, every thing went quite.

      Above, in the light. Some one was descending from the heavens.

       Nipoh was completely entranced by the majestic being that was falling slowly from the sky. He held out his arms to catch her, was it an angel? The wind began to die as the light faded away. A woman fell in Nipoh's gentle outstretched arms. No. Not a woman, at least not an elf for that matter.

      She was unconscious, and weighed less then a feather pillow. Her naked body was wrapped in what appeared to be a thin blanket with stars and swirl design.  Nipoh felt his hands on her exposed back, she didn't have skin, but instead, a coat of velvety purple fur. A horn protruded through her deep violet hair, her face unlike any creature he had ever seen. It was elongated into what seemed like a horses snout, but was rounder, softer, and much more human like with delicate lips, full as the new moon.

      The creature was beautiful with out a doubt, but her body shivers in controllably as she gripped Nipoh's shirt.

      "She must be cold" Nipoh thought as she tried to wrap the blanket tighter around her plump yet thin body, as he carried her back down the hill.

       He didn't notice that an elegant ivory quill pen had now joined his onyx stone in the offering bowl.