FanStory.com - Echo's Missionby davisr (Rhonda)

Background
Years after a fire took her parents lives and devastated her home, Echo worked at a small town newspaper. She was rescued from danger by her old friend, Theo, who took her to a new life in his world.

End of Last Post:

"Have you thought any more on your horse name?" Theo asked.

"Some. I'll figure it all out sooner or later," Echo replied.

"Aren't you curious?"

"I'm an investigative reporter," Echo said. "Curiosity is my normal operating condition. My mind has just been overwhelmed with so much else. For a beautiful valley, I've found little so far that's peaceful."

"You aren't exactly catching us at our best."

"Nor you, me. The funny thing is, we've only known each other when things were out of sorts. Do you think we'll like each other when they're normal?"

"I'm counting on it," Theo said. "Now, let me show you the rest of the house before I take you to Mary's."

Beginning of new post:

"Is there anything else you need before I go to bed?" Mary asked after Echo was settled into the guest room.

"Not that I can think of," Echo said. "I'll probably be asleep before you close the door."

"Well, don't rush out of bed tomorrow. I usually take my grandkids to school, but they're out for Christmas break this week."

"What time do you normally get up?" Echo asked.

"Daybreak."

"Daybreak? That's pretty non-specific."

Mary leaned against the door frame. Her hair, once dark and full, now framed a warm face with graying waves. Always slightly plump, her skin was beginning to wrinkle and her hips widen.

"We aren't slaves to clocks around here. There are a few in the village, but most folks rely on the sun to judge when they're supposed to be somewhere."

"Y'all don't care about time?"

"I didn't say that, we just aren't imprisoned by it."

Echo sighed deeply. "Mary, thank you for taking care of me tonight, and thank you for letting me stay after Theo rushed off in such a hurry, but I'm too tired to even take that conversation further."

"Good idea," Mary said. She sat on the bed beside Echo and stroked her hair.

"I'm sure I'm not the first to suggest this to you, but try not to overthink things. If what Theo said about you is true, you're where you belong, even if our ways seem odd to you."

"You're not the first, but I appreciate the advice. I guess I'll see you at daybreak."

"Or later..."

"Or later."

Echo closed her eyes, and true to her word, was asleep before she heard Mary's footsteps lead off to her own room.

For the first part of the night, she didn't dream at all. The restorative power of sleep granted healing and rejuvenation to ward off fatigue.

As night deepened, though, dreams began to trouble her mind. At first they were just odd, with strange mythical beings dancing about an enchanted garden until a tall blonde guy with huge wings came to chase them away.

Once the whimsical dreams ended, she found herself standing in a cave under the earth. She was emotionally despondent and physically cold, so cold she shivered violently. A man approached and touched her arm. She instantly warmed, but didn't feel comforted the way she had done when she put on Theo's sweater in the woods.

The stranger was tall and broad, with the same powerful look in his eyes as Phoebus, but without his compassion. He had wavy black hair and strong, distinct features. If his appearance weren't so sinister, he might have been considered handsome.

"Who are you?" she asked the dream figure.

"Do you need ask?" he said. He stroked her face like a lover. "I thought we knew each other well."

"I don't know you," she countered, trembling at his touch. She was simultaneously intrigued by the powerful man and disgusted, and the trembling a mixture of the two emotions.

"You'll come to know me well," he said.

He grabbed Echo by the hair and pulled her head back violently.

"Now the question is, whose side will you be on?"

Echo jerked up in bed, squelching a scream. The room was dark and there were no sounds of movement in the house. For a while she leaned back against her pillow and stared at what shadows she could make out.

Her heart thundered painfully and her breathing grew shallow and rapid. She wanted to get up and run, but didn't know where to go. Rest was what she really needed, and so she eventually closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

This time, she dreamt she was in a huge room full of light. There were several people milling about and looking anxious. They were muttering about something worrisome and would occasionally stop and talk to one another.

She wandered around the room with them until a man approached with familiar green eyes. He had a distinct smell Echo couldn't quite pinpoint, but found it pleasant and calming. It reminded her of a cool night on the beach watching the sun set over the ocean.

The man drew near to her, so close she could feel his breath on her face. "I am Poseidon," he said. "Are you the one who was sent?"

"I'm Echo," she said, "and I don't know how or why I came to be here."

"Yes, you're the one," he said. "I can see it now. An Echo is a reflection of sound."

"I'm not sure what that has to do with anything."

"I knew the nymph after whom you were named. She got herself into a bit of trouble with Hera."

"For what?"

"For asking too many questions."

"So, I'm not supposed to question things?"

"Oh no, indeed you should. The nymph, Echo, was a chattering little thing with a beautiful voice. You have to be you."

"Why must everyone in this place talk in riddles?"

The large man shrugged. "You're here to fulfill a vision and a prophecy," he answered. "Now go and do what destiny calls you to."

"I don't know what that is. No one will tell me."

"Seek the one who will," Poseidon said. He waved a large hand over her head.

In a flash of light, she found herself in Theo's garden. She walked around until she found a secret path near the back. It felt dark and lonely, but she was compelled by some secret power to explore it. Logic told her to run and hide, curiosity drove her forward.

How did she know that the menacing man from her dream stood waiting at its end? Why did she care that he wanted her to come to him, and why was she tempted to give in and go?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A ray of morning sun found its way through the bedroom window and tickled Echo's nose. She left her nightmares behind as she woke to a new morning. With relief to have escaped the dreams, she sat up and stretched.

After dressing, she walked into the kitchen where she could smell bacon frying and the aroma of freshly baked biscuits.

"Well, good morning," Mary said. She smiled at Echo. Her gray hair was pulled up in a loose bun. "How'd you sleep last night?"

"Pretty good, except for some really wacky dreams," Echo replied.

"That's to be expected," Mary said. "You've been through a lot, but do you feel more rested?"

"A bit, and I'm ready to start a new day."

"That's the spirit, now sit and eat so you can be prepared for it. How do you like your eggs?"

"Still in the chicken," Echo said. "I'm on a diet."

"Not in my house you aren't. You're much too skinny as it is."

"Theo likes me this way," Echo said.

"Did you ask him?"

"No."

"Then how do you know he does?"

"I don't guess I do know," Echo answered. "All men like thin women, don't they?"

"You know, honey, I've found men aren't as shallow as we think they are. Sure, they can see a pretty girl and think she looks good, but the woman they love always looks beautiful to them. Don't starve yourself or you'll be weak, and the men you and I are attracted to prefer strong women."

"Good point. I know Theo's going to need my help soon, but I don't know what good I can possibly be. I can't do anything special. I can't even ride a horse by myself."

"You'll be fine," Mary chuckled, "but not if you don't eat right. So, how do you want your eggs?"

"However you want to fix them," she replied.

Once they had eaten heartily and talked long, they got up and washed the dishes. Afterwards, they went outside to hitch up a team of horses to a wagon. Mary had promised to take Echo shopping for Valley clothes.

Before they finished lacing the leather straps onto the harness, they were interrupted by an animal scampering from the garden. It was a plump, auburn rabbit who seemed to be on a holy mission.

"Neptune!" Echo called out as the rabbit drew closer, "Mary, this is one of Hannah's babies."

"What does he want?" she asked.

"I don't know," Echo said. She stooped down to touch the chattering animal. "I don't speak rabbit."

"Me neither," Mary said.

Neptune raised up on his haunches, his legs crossed in front of him, and chattered even louder.

"What is it?" Echo asked. "What are you trying to tell me?"

Neptune looked her right in the eyes and then let out a piercing scream. Echo fell back on her bottom in surprise.

She touched the rabbit on its head. "Is it Hannah?" she asked.

Neptune leaped straight up in the air and turned around facing away from Echo. He looked back over his enormously fuzzy shoulder, seeming to plead for her to follow.

"I think he wants me to go with him," Echo said.

"I think so, too," Mary agreed. "Echo, it has begun."

"What has?"

"Your mission," she answered. "Why you came here. I'm too old to go with you as I did with Diantha long ago, and we don't have time to find anyone else. You'll have to follow the rabbit on your own and seek your destiny. Good luck, child."

Echo froze for a moment in indecision. What was she to do? She was a mere orphan, standing in the shadow of gods. What difference could she possibly make?

And then the rabbit screamed again. This was little Hannah's rabbit. The sweet little girl with a grown-up mind. Theo's baby sister.

"Come on Neptune, at least you aren't a horse."