It was not such a very long time before she was exiled that Scintilla had a name, a family, a life of her own. But her powers of suggestion, light dancing illusions and all made her the target of a terrifying hate campaign. Not even her considerable charisma and sway over the oppposite sex could stop the angry mob of people from wanting to burn her as a witch.

So if they wanted a witch, she gave them one. She became an enchantress, seductress, sorceress. She hated the first few months, but shortly after got quite used to the servants and the fawning-over-her and treats. But the running away part still gets her angry.

And this time was no exception. She'd been enjoying a perfectly good castle near a huge barbarian stronghold, when one of those jerks from her past managed to show up and ruin everything. Even though she was a powerful enough sorceress she could only do so much to defend herself, and frankly those spells had mostly eluded her during her time studying magic.

Jealously guarded secrets like defensive magic were among the things that Scintilla decided were going to have to come her way some day. But for now, she escaped the fiery death the only way she knew how - by transporting her spirit away and out of the world, across vast distances to an unknown host. She would take over, and everything would be fine again.

Or so she hoped.

I cannot believe this awful little body. How do you work in it at all?

"Shut up," growled Sarah, "I'm trying to concentrate."

On a video game. How noble.

Scintilla, if you don't shut up I'll have to do it for you. Spoke the musky, dangerous Summoner. She had been in the body with them for about a week, and had come close to revealing their little secret to the man whose home they plundered. But it was mostly threat, Scintilla knew it, because if she'd really wanted to damage their digs, she'd have done it the moment she entered the body.

Scintilla wandered back into the musty recesses of the stoner's brain, and watched distant images dancing through Snowbird's visual centers. She liked watching some of these games, the bright colors and the violent images were quite captivating. But they also reminded Scintilla that her time on this planet, in this body, might get cut short if she couldn't live up to the expectations of the men around her.

They were hungry, these men. They had very high standards indeed - and that went double for the women. They had to preen and make themselves beautiful, or they were considered 'second rate' or 'dogs' or whatever the slang term du-jour was. Scintilla had never been ugly - in fact she'd never even been 'plain'. She was always a beautiful girl, young woman, or adult - and she liked herself that way.

Her wildly out of control ego would have to catch up with her some day, but for the moment Scintilla contented herself with watching from the corner and sulking. She was so much better than all of this. She deserved to have a body of her own - and she spent a lot of time looking for one.

So did Summoner, for that matter. They might have to fight over the next available body, if one came open. That would be an unlikely event here on this planet. Earth had so many variations in the depths of time, space and dimensions, but this very earth ... While it did have its share of interesting manifestations of power - the super heroes were coming into their glory days - it didn't have much else. Magic was nigh upon unknown, or if it existed it was a fable told to children.

Disappointed by that fact, Scintilla wondered if their tales of witches and magic were only the early sputtering manifestations of their current psionic-superpowers. It was likely. It'd happened before. It would doubtless happen elsewhere.

If only there would be a body open somewhere...

While she slumbered, allowing Snowbird to play her game as the man of the house was out at his job and keeping Summoner off her back, Scintilla dreamed of fire, dreamed of flight...

She woke abruptly when she realized that there was another spirit dangling itself into the picture. Her mind was open - but it was Sarah's body that was attracting spare people to it like a lighthouse. Damnable bitch! Couldn't she shut this power off?!

Who are you!? Demanded Scintilla, suddenly awake. The flame-haired young woman was obviously from this very world - possibly a local heroine herself by her dress. Scintilla dragged herself to her feet and stood warily in the darkness behind Snowbird's consciousness, as Summoner came stomping by to see what the commotion was about.

Auh, damn, Summoner said, turning directly around when she saw the red-headed woman manifesting in the psiscape. Not another one.

That's what I said when you arrived sweetie, Scintilla said, honey-laden voice and false smile plasted on.

Who are you? Where ... where am I? Is this hell? Or --

No, it's not. Summoner spat, turning. Her mane of dark brown hair blew back in a drama-show, with her violet robe. It's someone else's body you've gotten into now. Who are you, yourself?

What are you, squatters? The flame-tinged woman asked, with a half grin. She didn't seem much impressed by anyone around just yet.

Then she vanished, was replaced by Snowbird.

Awwww.... I was just about to win! She whined. Who was that, if you two are both here now?

The pair of 'body squatters' groaned and turned to watch what might happen now.

***

They had to convince Scarlett that it was in her best interests to refrain from showing off her fire-based talents. Why? Because of course that would attract attention to her - and she was meant to have died, been vaporized, in a battle just a couple hours before. It was all over the news, and the world would surely mourn her passing.

Whatever, Scintilla muttered and sulked again. But you've got to remember to give me the body back when little Joeseph comes home from his job. You can remember that, can't you? We cannot risk him knowing anyone else is here.

"I get it, I get it..." Scarlett said, unhappily looking at her friends in the squad of superheroes that she'd been with. Slowly she faded back into the mind, and allowed Scintilla to take over again.

She stretched, long arms and flowing hair dancing in the slight breeze by the big windows. She saw Joe's car coming up the long twisty drive to the hilltop house, and smiled to herself. This would be a fine afternoon. She'd have him buy her things online that would come in the mail - and then she could go out on the town with him. She just couldn't stand wearing this same outfit and he did so want to see her in a skimpy bikini didn't he?

Grinning, Scintilla eagerly awaited his arrival.

***

This is disgusting! Scarlett said, watching the magic of Scintilla's seduction. I mean, it's just ...

Which is worse, Scarlett, Summoner asked with a wry grin, that she's doing it at all, or that she's able to tolerate this half-bald little squint executive? I mean, he's got mid-life crisis written all over his pudgy little face.

Would you stop that? I'm trying to concentrate!

Sounds familiar! Laughed Snowbird, and curled up in her own mind for a while.

Scintilla got her wishes, and within a couple days she'd managed to get online with Joe's bank account numbers. Shortly after that, she put a new name on the accounts via the electronic banking she'd conquered. That done, Summoner suggested a new route for them to take. A less appealing one to Scarlett and Snowbird, of course.

We could just take over, here. She suggested. It's only a matter of time before one of us slips up, and he sees us transform.

If he does, you or I could easily wipe his memories. Scintilla said, sure of herself, but eager to be rid of the annoying man.

But he's said he wants you to meet his buddies from the club. That's going to put us all on the spot. This whole time, Scarlett pointed out wisely, we've been here. Not out in the town and mingling. Not even with one or two other people. Just Joe. And you know it's been a battle trying to keep from leaping out just to stop you from harming him.

That kept the pair of magic users silent for a bit. Snowbird leaned against the kitchen table, munching on a sandwich. "I don't like the idea of killing him, or whatever you're talking about. It's wrong."

You do not know how many times I've been burnt at the stake, girl, Scintilla warned. The moment he realizes that we're more than we appear, he's bound to turn on us. You yourself said your mother was infuriated when she learned of your own powers! Why would he be any different? Or his friends at the club?

You're good with people, Scintilla, Summoner admitted. But mostly men. It would be a disaster if one of us others popped out while you're talking to his friends. Her mind got to squirming and planning.

And right about then, someone else dropped in on their minds. It was so primive, so feral, that everyone scattered - half trying to get away from her and halfway just in outright fear. The creature which jolted Sarah out of her own body and into the back of her mind hissed, dropped the sandwich Sarah'd been eating, and bolted out to the patio - she almost took the huge glass door off its hinges trying to get through it. As if she'd been unaware of glass. She might have barreled right through it but she apparently saw her reflection first.

What the hell is THAT!? They all announced, and watched helplessly as this newcomer ran down to the canyon wall near the edge of the property. There, she slowed and made a strange sound - or was it just a reverberation within the mind that made everyone think it was a sound? And shortly, half a dozen little snakes came creeping out of holes and from the ground, toward her.

Aiii! Ick!! Uncool!

Oh calm down! They're just snakes!

But they're ... they're crawling all over her! Scarlett was apparently afraid of snakes. Great. Scintilla tried to calm her down, distracting her with some shiny images. Snowbird just sat there watching through new eyes.

She's so... Raw. Summoner, you have any idea what she's up to?

She's just another spirit. Perhaps killed in action like Scarlett, or perhaps brought here after a natural death. I haven't yet figured out why we are all attracted to this body.

Well, leave her alone for a while. It's early, she can have it for a while and calm down. And besides, we'll have to get rid of the snakes before Scarlett takes over again, anyway.

Good point, Scintilla said, and all but Scarlett watched as the green-scaled woman played with her friends the local garden snakes. And one rattler. They seemed to come when they were called. That got Summoner thinking.

I wonder... I bet I can still summon my little friends to me, if she can do that. She went back into the "blind room", a little space where no one would go if someone wanted to be alone. They were never truly alone, but in that space it was like a mental version of being in the body and having control over it. A background program running in the memory of the brain. She did not come out for a long while.

The others felt that two hours of this was enough. Snowbird was elected to take her body back, since she wasn't afraid of snakes and had a little experience dealing with them having lived in the canyony area of her town. Scintilla made Scarlett sit alone, away from the other minds, because she might freak out.

The scaley woman arrived into the mind scape, and almost immediately fell asleep. Well that settles that, Scintilla said. Look at her, she's like half snake. Her arms are all flexy. She picked up one of the arms, and dropped it down, it was almost rubbery.

Stop that! She'll wake up! Scarlett whined, but Scintilla aimed a nasty look at her.

This would go on for a while. Snowbird cleaned up the snakes, and then let Scintilla take back over.

It would be another three weeks before the end of their little world. But what a couple weeks they would be!

***

Read Sabre first - to understand what's going on.

***

The darkness of the mindscape was pleasing enough, especially compared to the bright exterior of Azon. All the people made Scintilla wary - in fact, they made her quite nervous. She didn't like crowds at all, barring the one she was made to share her life with.

I cannot wait for this to be over, she announced, as Snowbird stood around waiting for the eggs to break. They had been near the eggs several times in the last few days, but this time apparently the eggs were meant to be hatching. The dumbfounded look on the host body's face was mostly because she was excited and had no clue what was happening, but also because the others were peering out and occasionally making her eyes drift off the eggs and onto the people in the stands. There were so many!

Scintilla kept being drawn back to a man who was obviously a rider, whose blue dragon seemed interested in sniffing at her. At least, she recalled the same look on the other blues who searched out Snowbird and Sabre. Perhaps they would all find places.

When this turned out to be another false start, Scintilla took over and walked toward the man. He smiled, and introduced himself as R'lan of Serventh, a search rider. The dragon dropped to the sands, as the other candidates grumpily milled about wanting their bonds to break through the shells.

"I've been watching your ... um, unusual body here. There are more than one of you in it?" He asked.

"That's right. Snowbird there, is waiting for a dragon here at Azon, and another place has 'claimed' Sabre. So... what about you? Where are you from? Your dragon is lovely."

This time, Scintilla wasn't fooling - the blue was amazing, strong. Made her wonder what kind of dragon would be waiting for her.

"Lao Daemia, the Pelar Protectorate. You should come there. Um, I guess after you've ... after whatever has happened here, happens..." He laughed, and they made more arrangements. Somehow, they would have to get from one place to another - with perhaps more than one dragon in tow...

Scintilla was unhappy with the wait. She watched from the shared eyes of her body (they all got so bored they started to do things separately again, and it was their dragons who suggested...) as two other candidates went away to Abri.

"They have beautiful dragons. But I've been hearing about certain... other kinds." She pondered. The Cy dragonstake Bipedra/Hydra flight would do. They would do nicely. If she could come back with a proper dragon - not these nice little sweet things that Snow and the rest liked.... yes. She'd be taken seriously. Indeed.

***

To Scintilla's great pleasure, the place was already filled with people, and the eggs were literally shaking. She barely had time to settle in and get her bearings, when the hatching was declared. The first couple hatchlings broke their shells and started fighting, which was to be expected out of such violent creatures as hydra. Among them, was a beautifully green 5 headed female who lept upon another candidate nearby and began trying to tear her throat out.

The girl that got attacked managed to shove the dragonet off her, and onto Scintilla. She was bowled over, and hit the ground unceremoniously, Scintilla was about to strike the hatchling with a powerful blast but...

The dragonet was watching her, not trying to eat her like she was with the other girl. Snakey heads wove around the bigger central head, all of which still focused on Scintilla's face.

"Saeora," Scintilla said with both love and anger, "GET OFF!"

The hydragon complied, but she'd already gotten the beautiful dress Scintilla had worn completely disgusting with blood. "Damn," she muttered, dragging the 5 headed green off to the real food.

Now you know, Snowbird said, with a mental grin. They're not as easy as you think. The others giggled - all but Summoner who had not yet found a place, and Scarlett. Serpentina hissed in agreement with the hatchling.

Name: Saeora
Gender: Female
Size/Shoulder/Length: large biped 14' hip
Colors: Leafy Green
Features: 5 headed Bipedra as shown
Powers: Winged Flight
Bipedal walking
Verbal Speech, Telepathy
Teleportation
Photosynthesis
Parentage: Red marked Black Bipedra Ignioas (Birana+Dohosh HD) + Saelm (venus flytrap flower)
Origin: Cy Dragonstake
Other Info: Now look, there might be some compelling connection between Grim Corrolary and her. >_> though she is a bit... spicy