(Nice. The five-day spell where I'm totally busy, Funny Thing gets its own thread and everyone dumps me back in the bookstore )

While the rest were getting sick in their stomach and holding hands while being teleported far away, I was happily oblivious and was washing my hands in the bathroom. There was a gust of wind. Where did that come from?

Suddenly I felt like my stomach wanted to obey the Reverse Law of Gravity: what goes down must come back up.

And then I fell right onto my Gluteus Maximus in... What the heck? I mean, I was in a bookstore, right? So... what. Was. THIS?

Suddenly I was in Esteë. It was gorgeous. I felt sick to my stomach, but hey! I had just watched The Fellowship of the Ring the night before and it looked like Rivendell. Way cool.

"I'm Tina." I volunteered for anyone's benefit. Just cause.

As Drake teleported us, I felt my grip on the others' hands loosening. I tried to grip tighter, but the hands seemed to turn into vapor. The next thing I knew, I was floating in some weird white-blue void all alone.

"This isn't right," I said aloud. (I usually talk to myself out loud when I'm alone.)

It's time for you to go, Zack

I whirled around, not really standing on anything. I had heard a voice, but I had no idea where it came from. It seemed to come from everywhere at once.

"Who's there?" I called out. Suddenly, a green, glowing humanoid form appeared in front of me, just out of arm's reach. It slowly became more distinct, and I gasped when I saw the Green Lantern insignia become clear on the form's chest.

"Alan?" I asked. "So you did join the rifts! I figure Genocron did too, then?"

We became part of the Time Vortex he said. As long as I'm here, I can keep Genocron from interfering with the physical universe. But that doesn't matter now. I've pulled you out of that timeline. It's time for you to go back to your world.

"But... I just got to Ditto Town!" I protested. "Why can't I stay?"

You know why, Zack, Alan replied kindly. Your time in Ditto Town is ending soon. This is the first step for you in a much greater path, the Real World. You have things you need to do there, but you can't if you stay in Ditto Town.

I hung my head. I knew he was right. It was time for me to go.

"What will happen to you and the others?" I asked, looking back up at Alan Nalum.

We will still exist, but not like this. Most of us will simply disappear, just like Saxon, Fitzhedge, Raphael and others before us. But I think that some of us will continue, though in different forms. It really is up to you.

I nodded. If any of my characters would have an insight into my future plans, it would be him.

"I guess we'll see what happens, then," I said. "It was great writing for you and everyone else. I'll miss you guys."

We'll always be a part of you, Zack, Alan said. Now, go home. He raised his hand towards me, and an emerald light grew at the end of his fist, nearly too bright to look at. The world around me began to fade, and a sudden thought struck me.

"Hey, can I at least have a souvenir?" I called out. All I heard in reply was Alan chuckling in amusement.

"Ah well, worth a shot," I said with a smile. Suddenly, I realized I was back at the job site. The puddle was gone, and I could hear my coworker's truck coming up the dirt road. I quickly pulled out my phone and went to the picture gallery. My heart sank as none of the pictures I had taken in the Realms appeared in the list. The only proof I would have of my brief time in the real Ditto Town would be fond memories.

With a sigh, I opened up the job trailer and started getting out my tools as my coworker pulled in. The first thing he said to me was that President Obama had gotten the Nobel Peace Prize.

Hmm... I could make a great YouTube video out of that, I thought with a smile. The Real World wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Welcome, Tina," Neíhudir replied, bowing slightly in her direction when he reached the bottom of the stair. "And welcome to you, elf-friend, Drake. Your search was communicated to me by my sisters. Where is your young friend, the one who wishes to see the parchments?"

I managed not to barf everywhere, but I didn't feel very good. I was more than happy to let everyone else do the talking.

"She's right over there," Drake replied, pointing at Ryan.

I realized suddenly that I was being talked about and snapped to as Drake pointed at me.

"Huh, what? Oh, right. The parchments. Uh." I cleared my throat. "We, um, I mean I am looking for information about Le Loup Noir. Um, Drake said you guys had something . . .?" I looked at the elves uncertainly, feeling greatly outclassed by them.

It was then that I realized Zack was not with us. I glanced around for him but could not see him. I frowned, sure that he had been with us when we started to teleport. I hoped he had not accidentally gotten left behind. But then I figured Zacce would be able to take care of him in any case. That helped me feel better. Somewhat.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

((I'm a girl PoN just so you know :] ))

"I'm greenleaf." I reply to the girl beside me and the girl named Tina with a smile. "Or greenleaf23 if you want to be specific, but anything with "green" or "leaf" in it works." Wow, I thought, that explanation took much longer than I expected it too. I turned towards the girl beside me, "Who are you?" I asked.

I was too busy looking around at the amazing architecture to tell anyone my name. This place is incredible! was the only thought going through my head at the present time.

Once I noticed that the deep voiced Elf had walked down to where we were, I tried to straighten my jacket and look a little more presentable. Not sure how effective I was, but I finally gave up and watched/listened to what Ryan was saying to Elf.

In my less than expert opinion, sticking you head between your knees does nothing to hinder your cookies from reappearing in a totally un-fashionable... fashion. If anything, it just makes things worse by adding more pressure to your already churning insides.

Unless you're some kind of super contortionist.

Sitting down hard was my apparent option when we landed wherever here was. It seemed my legs had decided to take a break from their job of holding me upright.

Mintoo toppled off my shoulder in a limp heap.

It took me a minute for me to catch my breath before I noticed the city.

My motion sickness dissolved. "Freakin' gorgeous!" I exclaimed, scrambling up from the grass.

Following after the elves in a twirl-about manner (i.e. trying to take in every view of the city while I was walking, thus twirling), another thought entered my mind. Too many light bulbs were going off in my head, thus making me a little overly imaginative.

"Say, speaking of," I began brightly, turning on a heel so that I could walk backwards and face Nathanael at the same time, "Do you think Brutus would be up for killing more bad guys?"

Neíhudir nodded at Drake then turned to Ryan.

"We have only partially translated them. You are welcome to look at what we have now as we finish translating, although to finish them completely, we must ask you to spend the night in Esteë," Neíhudir said, extending his hand toward Ryan. "Come, I will show you the library and what we have in your tongue."

I felt awkward for a moment, not knowing whether the elf wanted me to take his hand or if he was just gesturing for me to follow. In the end I did not take the hand, simply nodded and moved my hands forward in little awkward pushes.

"Lead the way," I said with a sheepish grin.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

I raised an eyebrow at Kate and smirked.

"Of course he is. He is a sociopath. But I'm not sure I should be aiding and abetting fangurlism. They might take my shiny mod badge away from me. And does Brutus' ego really need more inflation?"

Neíhudir looked at Ryan for a second, then lowered his hand and began back up the stairs.

"This way," he said.

I scurried up by Ryan as we reached the top of the stair, not sure how many of the others would be accompanying us.

"Yeah, I guess I should have briefed everyone on the strangeness of the elves," I said quietly.

"The Library is built in many different levels," Neíhudir began as he opened the huge double doors kitty corner across the landing. "Most of the library is kept at a certain environment to protect the books. As you can tell, the light is not always the best for reading unless all the curtains are drawn back. We more often use reading rooms for translating and study."

I wasn't quite listening to Neíhudir, since I already knew all of this, and instead had already found a book to interest me, thus nearly missing the fact that the half-elf was leading everyone out another set of doors. I slipped my book back into its place and hurried to catch up with the others.

The reading room was comfortably situated, much like a family room or drawing room, with tables, chairs, chaise lounges and, of course, writing desks. Neíhudir led us over to one of the desks, where Limwen sat. She finished her sentence, put her pen down, and then turned to us.

"Welcome," she said, smiling softly. "As you can see, we are still working on your request."

Neíhudir thumbed through some of the pages, then handed several loose pages to Ryan.

"Are we supposed to follow them?" I asked in a loud whisper. I'd never really known much about Elven etiquette, and I hadn't really paid attention to the bits mentioned in Amë's posts. Whoops.

I hesitated about following Ryan and the elves, not knowing if it was O.K to tag along or not. Would it be rude to follow? They didn't say for some us to stay here.... After a few minutes, I sighed and headed for the stairs.

"Well, I'm not sure if we are or not, but I'm going to follow them. The worst that can happen is having the doors shut in my face." I said with grin to Sweeet before walking up the long staircase and following the sound of the elder elfs voice through the library.