The Magicians Eliot's Flame Dance

Past Repeats

A/N: I'm SO SORRY to all those who have been following this, I know this is a leap for those who have been following this since 2016, I feel horrible. I am back now though and will continue loyally to my work. Sorry for such a short chapter. But there will be more. Much more

We ran through the woods, as "the Guardians", chased us, Margo barked at Eliot, "God dammit Eliot you BURNED YOUR EX? YOU'RE GOING TO GET US KILLED!" Alice, Penny, Eliot and I sprinted together, "This is NOT THE TIME MARGO" Eliot argued back. My heart was pounding out of my chest, I didn't know how to feel anymore about anything all I knew is I had to get out of this situation. A man showed up out of nowhere, "Are you guys crazy?!" He cried out.  Alice stared at him, "JOSH?!" Who was Josh? I looked at Eliot to see if he had an answer for it, his eyes fixated on the man, in shock, "Josh...Hoberman." Josh looked like the typical nerdy hipster type you'd see at Fillory, the wide rimmed hipster glasses and ironic beard, knitted sweater, though he looked a little rough, like he may have been living out here for a while, I could've sworn I seen a photo of him around the school somewhere. "This spell wears off and we don't have a lot of time. Come with me if you want to live." He simply said, "Keep up, you need to stay close to me or they will see you." He started walking, we quickly started walking with him in a circle around him, he then giggled, "That felt so badass. 'Come with me if you want to live''" I sighed impatiently, I wasn't very amused, it's been a long ass week, "Can someone please explain to me who this wanna be Robin Hood and why he's so special?" Eliot looked over at me, "He's supposed to be dead. Third year students disappeared, never to be seen again, Josh Hoberman, Victoria and a few others." I nodded, "That's where I've seen you. In the newspaper clipping from a few years back with a group.." Josh grew quiet, "Still a big deal over there...huh?" Margo scoffed, "You guys are ghost rockstars, we thought you all died." Josh mumbled, "What?" We remained silent until he brought us to our destination. He brought us out deeper into the woods where there was a small cabin, tucked away, once he let all of us in and closed the door, "What's your names anyway?" Josh's voice quipped, "You guys are fucking crazy how did you get here are you asking for a death wish?" The shelter like cabin was filled with hydroponics, carrots growing in a aquarium, tomato plants to the ceiling, and fruits, "Oh and help yourselves. Except for the carrots, for whatever reason they turned out psychedelic....Fillory is a bit weird that way." I grabbed a yellow fruit, freezing, "It tastes like pizza!" Josh grinned, "I know right! And what do you mean guys...by dead?" Penny spoke up, "I'm Penny, this is Margo, Eliot, and Max. And...well, it's been three years since you guys left Brakebills we all gave up looking." Josh nodded slowly, "Right...yeah, the time thing. Forgot about that..." I frowned slightly, "Where is the rest of your group? What happened?" Eliot looked over at me, but I refused to look at him, I was angry for him getting us kicked from the library, our only safe haven, now we're stuck with this guy who knows how long he's been here and if he's trustworthy at all. I could hear Eliot sigh but I refused to give him any mind, all my attention was on Josh as he told his story, "Victoria was a traveler, a really strong one at that, she went everywhere, explored places, fell in love with what she was and her powers, it got to the point that the teachers put a tattoo on her that prevented her from travelling because she was becoming a danger to herself, but she fucking cut it right off! Crazy right? Well, she found Fillory, she'd been looking forever and once she did, we were going to go over Spring Break. Kick it with the Centaurs right? Be back before the end of Spring Break? Well the word got out, it wasn't just a few of us, we had a group besides a few newbs who didn't get the message. Luckily, Victoria was so good she could bring all of us at once. Well... It was all fun and games, things got a little taboo with the uh, zygotes and such here-" Penny cut Josh off, "Yeah yeah you fucked half human half animals we get it moving on." He sighed impaitently, "Right... Well...we got on this...quest. To defeat Mothra, is what we call him..." Josh's tone slowly got darker, as he continued his story, "Yeah..The Beast." Penny countered. Josh nodded, "Well...Victoria said she was going to handle it, she should've been back by now... The rest of the group...Gone." He spoke simply, frowning, I could see it in his eyes. He's given up, he's accepted her death, her fate of someone he loved dearly. Penny's eyes widened, "She's the girl I've been hearing...." What? How have I not heard of this? "Wait, the girl calling for help?" Alice spoke up, looking at Penny, the whole group turned their attention to the traveler in the room. Penny nodded as a response, "Wait, you're a traveler, telepathic too?" Josh quipped, as his face relaxed into shock. "Yeah...I've heard her call for help, she's alive. I've been trying to find her before we got here..." Penny mumbled. Eliot stared at Penny, "So she could help us." Wow, I feel excluded from all this and utterly lost. I remained silent as they all worked it out, "You could take us there! Save Tori!" Josh grinned, Penny hesitated looking down at the floor in response, "About that...I haven't learned how to master...the carpool ride yet. I can't bring anyone." Josh shrugged, "So? We could just go to the Fillory fountain!" I shook my head, "But we don't know where that is, Quentin fell back in the pool with the map to the fountain when the Guardians showed up." Josh shrugged, "Well that's easy, three squares up, one square left." I stared at him, oh my god he may be our guide through all of this, everything we need, missing to get us to Fillory, to find the Victoria and take down the Beast. "Except one problem, how about the dick nuggets that are out there that want to kill us guarding the fountains? Discuss." Josh threw his hands up, already in defeat and walked out the room. I grew silent, well. That was a cheery turn.