Connor Had been at it for four hours already, duking it out with Ayato for one of the scenes in the movie. Both novas had immense varieties of powers, and it was obvious they both hated to lose. Hazuki and Minazuki sat with Darren underneath one of the tents on the Island with Netherworld as the camera crews all continued to watch the two young novas pummel each other.

Hazuki looks to Darren. "He's always been like this. At least they're getting some great footage of him fighting the main villain."

She winces when Connor finally has enough and quite literally bats Ayato away and into a crater. "CUTT!!!"

The Directors voice rings out as Connor looms over an Unconscious Ayato, the sword in his hand held high.

Connor nods and the sword vanishes. "That was great Connor, and it gives us a great reel for that scene. He looks over to Darren. "Here's where you get to come in and save the day." He looks to the Ladies. "Weren't you both supposed to be in your own scenes?"

Hazuki smiled. "Yes sir, but my opposite hasn't arrived."

"I see." He looked to Connor who shook his head.

"Then perhaps we can do the Castle scene with you and Netherworld." It was an important scene as it established the Shadow ninja's loyalty to his Master, The Dark Shogun, and the Shakier faith The temptress had in the cause. Hazuki looked to Netherworld and smiled. "It would be my pleasure."

He looked to Minazuki and Darren. "I think the Priestess and the Loyal Samurai have a scene at the Shrine we can shoot with you as well."

Minazuki was quite normal-looking compared to the other novas present, and she smiled at Darren. "We could do that, it will give the hotheads a chance to cool off."

Connor chuckled. "Yeah I could use a break. Ayato's really something. He can't possibly get that power just from his mother."

Both Hazuki and Minazuki stiffen. "He's sensitive about that Connor. I really wouldn't mention it when he's around and awake."

Darren watches the long fight somewhat in awe, as his powers fall far short of that displayed by the two more experienced novas.

Despite feeling inadquate tn the task his reply to the director is still enthusiastic, "Sure boss, I'll head over to that set now. Coming Minazuki?"

Netherworld watched in mild fascination the pseudo-violence that Raged between Connor and Ayato. He hoped his didn't have to actually hurt someone in the filming of the movie. His mind raced for ways to accomplish his goal without causing any harm.

"I will try to create the shadow castle for you." Netherwold had been briefed by the set directors about what they wanted, and he would do his best to create something with more order than the shadows usually afforded: Shadowstuff was chaotic by nature and needed a lot of guidance.

Netherworld looked at Connor. "Your set director told me he wanted something that looked like a Medevial Japanese castle. While I can do such a thing, might it be closer to the reality of shadow-stuff if I let it manifest as it really is." Netherworld looked a little nervous. "It doesn't like to be molded into right angles and wishes to do skew itself at odd angles." He wondered if Connor understood what he was trying to tell him about the nature of shadow-stuff.

Minazuki smiles to Darren and nods. "Of course." She lead him to the shrine set and the Filming cre was getting set up.

"It's so hard to compete with them isn't it?"

She looks at Darren. "I don't have big showy powers like Connor and Ayato or even you and Netherworld. I'm really smart and can control electronics, pretty much useless here on the set of this movie."

Connor and Netherworld and Hazuki meanwhile wereall gathered near the Cliff they'd chosen to be the site of the Dark Shogun's castle.

It was Half hidden in shadow already due to its facing. Connor smiled. "Plenty of medium to work with, just try to make it vauguely ominous and oriental in style and we'll be good to go."

Darren laughs at her comment, "Yeah, you could say that, but I learnt not to bother trying the first time I met Connor. I'd only just erupted and went on-line to a Nova message board I had been told about. While there it came about that I suggested surfing in Hawaii. Connor was the only one to take me up on it, and when we get there I find that he doesn't know how to surf! So I spend a bit of time teaching him, and within an hour or two he's surfing better than me."

He had been briefed on oriental architecture and had several templates in his mind. The templates were just that though, and would change and morph as Netherworld forced his will and energy to exert his influence on an unwilling substance. For several minutes, he surveyed the palette of shadows with which to draw from: a light shade in diffuse areas, a 'broken mesh' grey created by the sum of the individual grass blade's shadows, a deep medium grey of the cliff itself, and finally the darkest of night shadows, which lived in the deeper recesses and holes of the cliff wall.

Netherworld started waving his arms like a conductor. His finger would pick a large 10 meter section of cliff shadow and stitch into it smaller pieces of his other shadow colors from his palette: much like laying bricks and holding them together with morter. He moved the shadow blocks with fluid grace across the landscape, guiding them by his inner creative pleadings. At times, the shadows protested being moved. And other times, the shadows were over-eager participants, and he had to reign them in before they sought to overrun the castle and onlookers. Shadows were always unpredictable and chaotic.

Where he didn't have the required color or type of shadow he wanted, he created it. Large globs of uniformly shaded shadowstuff erupted from his hands, and hung in the air until he pushed it to where he needed it. Most of his created shadows went into the finer details, as they were easier to control. These spawned shadows obeyed without question, forming into whichever shape or form desired.

It was tough work, and he had to stop repeatedly to replenish himself. After 3 hours, the castle walls were almost completed: its walls stood 20 meters high, and spanned almost 150 meters a side. he was spent, collapsing into an exhausted heap. Sweat had miraculously beaded on his alabaster marble-like skin.

"I will have to stop for the day." he said weakly to Connor and the others.

Minazuki laughs. "It's never been quite like that with Ayato. He's just always been better than Hazuki or I at everything except what we're good at."

The Director finally came and got them into place For the Scene. "Now Remember, The Priesteess while young is known for her gifted insights, and Our Hero is loyal and honorable."

Meanwhile, The others were touring and Filming the magnificent castle. Baseline cameramen toured the outside recording everything, while Connor Flew inside recording the interior and not disturbing it.

Afterwards he smiled to Netherworld who'd been relaxing. "That's simply amazing my friend. Truly amazing."

"It's not done," Netherworld said listlessly. He felt funny when others saw his unfinished work; there was still much to convey creatively. He wanted to tell the camera crews to stop filming the castle, but was too tired.

"I will need another day or two to finish." After that he figured they would have 4 days to film the castle shots until he needed to make repairs. The shadows liked hiding in the darker areas, and even though Netherworld had forced them to do his bidding, they would return. He would have to urge the shadows to stay which usually required a small amount of energy.

Darren tries to listen carefully to what the Director wants and prays that he can remember his lines. Although he is a complete novice he began taking acting lessons as soon as Connor had invited him to join the film and he tries to get his lines over with some conviction and keep his movements to what he can imagine the person doing in that space and in responce to the conversation.

Elspeth was happy. The time since her confrontation with Jarutu had been grueling work even if it was just political maneuvering. She felt like a Katana, the traditional Japanese sword that only the warrior class was allowed to wear. Forged in an intense fire and hammered repeatedly until at the hand of the master polisher all of the fire-scale and tarnish was removed to reveal perfection of form. It was what her parents had intended her to be. It was what they had trained her to be. It was what they had bred her to be. And now here she was revealed at last to the world, the perfect blade. Certainly, she could improve still in many areas, but that would come in time. There were centuries ahead of her to master herself. For now she was content with what she had achieved in all respects. Now it was time to have some fun. It was night in Sierra Leone, but day where the movie was being filmed. Some might have considered such a thing a chore, but after all she had been through recently it sounded like fun.

She shifted her eufiber into a traditional Kimono since this was to be a period film. The artistic directors would no doubt want her to alter it to suit their vision, but at least she would arrive in style. Sending a casual thought to her knight, that it was ok to enter the room she waited until he strode in smiling. Knowing what they were about to do he wasn't surprised to see that Elspeth had completely changed appearances. At such a critical time it wouldn't be appropriate for it to be known that the Queen was spending her evenings as a movie star while by day she was ruling her kingdom. The very idea brought a smile to her face. It's not like she ever needed to sleep anyway.

Seeing that Darres had altered his own appearance she reached out her arm to him as if to be escorted. Once she had her hand placed delicately on his arm she embraced him with her quantum signature and with a deft touch made bent reality to her will and so they stood on the grass in the sunlight looking at the beginnings of Netherworlds beautiful shadow castle.

"Konichi wa." She greeted everyone quickly as Keiko and introduced Darres as his own assumed persona name. In English she added, "I so look forward to participating in the project. What would you have of me and my noble protector?"

Connor was mildly alarmed when two novas appeared unannounced before him, and was actually marshalling what remained of his reserves when he felt the familiar contact of a nova he knew. He looked down at Keiko and her companion and arched an eyebrow, then nodded.

"I was starting to wonder when the two of you would arrive. Welcome to our Island getaway."

After the introductions were made, he pulled them aside.

"There is a third faction in this movie, and that is of the Royal Family. At a point in the movie the Princess is captured by the Dark Shogun and educated on just what her father did to fuel his rise to power. She replies with how he is no better and in disgust the Dark Shogun locks her away in a tower as a hostage. She is kept within the highest spire of the castle itself, and only one of the Dark Shogun's own loyal samurai guards her. As the days and weeks go by she opens a dalogue with the Shadow samurai, culminating in him agreeing to free her and doing so, only to be cut down by one of her own Father's loyal samurai during their escape."

"I would like you to play the part of Princess Hikari, and yor guardian the part of of the shadow samurai who guards her. I felt that due to certain circumstances you two could make that performance far more real than any of the others could."

"How does that sound to you?"

----------------

Darren nails the scene after only two takes, and it took another one for Minazuki to get her part of it right.

"That sounds wonderful. It should be quite a bit of fun. I'll be looking forward to my first oscar as best supporting actress." There was a glint of amusement in her eye as she said the words, but given her abilities, she might not be far off the mark.

"Just point us to where we need to be and feed us lines and we should have great fun. Oh and remind me later and I'll have to introduce you both to the Prince. Japan's prince that is. I haven't seen him for months and he'll never forgive me if I don't have lunch with him while I'm here."

Darren turns to Minazuki after they are finished in their scene, "Well it looks like some of those acting lessons I started when Connor first invited me out here have actually sunk in. Can I offer you a ride back to the others? I can hear the dainty sounds of Connor's flying rockets from here."

He extends an arm to her as his scenes kimono flows back into the jeans and shirt he more commonly has his eufibre in. If she accepts he will Attune her before activating his flight and heading towards the earlier sound of Connor flying. They will soon see the Shadow Castle and find the others standing nearby with the couple of newly arrived Nova.

Elspeth smiled and placed her left hand in his arm her right still holding onto Darres. "I don't need assistance, but to be escorted by two such handsome men would be most delightful."

She easily took flight between her escorts and sailed gracefully over to where the others waited. Arriving she bowed to the others and introduced herself as Keiko, but privately informed her nova friends of her real identity such that no others could over hear. It wouldn't do to allow her political enemies any ammunition to use against her.

Ayato finally wakes up, somewhat drained. The older first Gen nova thrashed him pretty good. He sent out a ping for the other novas and found them, and qucikly made his way there on foot. Looking up at the shadow castle Netherworld had fashioned he could only say "Cool."

Connor smiled at him, and Ayato nodded. "I think we aren't gonna have any shortage of action in this show."

He spies the two new novas and smiles. "It is good to finally meet you. I had heard of your troubles, but was forbidden from offering my aid by certain parties. I am glad to see things are working out for you."

With their scene done Minazuki accepted Darren's offer and flew with him to the others. She remained quiet through the introductions, as her sister Hazuki was there.

Connor smiled when Ayato finally arrived. "Well now that the gang is all here, I'd like to discuss the movie itself. We can do this standing here, or beneath one of the covered tents we've got set up with drinks and some food."

He looked down to Elspeth and nodded. I sometimes forget what you are in addition to a fellow nova Keiko..." He smiled, it was clearly not an insult."...I appreciate your offer. I heard he was a fan of my show, but actors are seldom summoned to the Imperial Palace."

Darren bows to the regal young Nova, not inappropriately as she is in Japanese form at the moment, "Konichi wa 'Keiko', a pleasure to meet you. I was sorry to see that I missed your birthday when I joined the message board, perhaps I'll be able to make up for it next year."

Turning to Connor, "By all means let us discuss things with some refreshment."
If people agree he will escort Minazuki over to the tables.

Netherworld caught his breath and replenished enough energy to head to the food tables where the others had assembled. He was motivated by hunger more than a desire to talk. Fashioning the Castle walls had been an exhausting task.

Alabaster grabbed a plate and piled lots of random foodstuffs on it. He was too tired and fatigued to care about any particular item. Most of what was on his plate was foreign to him anyways. He didn't even attempt to critique the forms or texutre of the strange meal. He sat in silence and ate.

Darren grabs a plate full, taking advice on what each dish is from Minazuki and others, before heading for a table. After a few mouthfuls he turns to Connor, "So, you wanted to discuss the film?"

The shoot continued on after the meal and the novas had a chance to rest. Ayato and Connor recorded another fight though Connor simply created a squad of Ninjas clones, which Ayato slew easily enough. Things went well and Connor and Elspeth worked out a way for her to continue being on the set when she was needed.

Netherworld retired for the day. He had exhausted himself with what he had created and needed to relax.

A driver took him to a nearby hotel where, fully clothed, he flopped onto the bed. He barely had enough time to set an alarm to get up for the the next day's work, before he passed out.

Darren spent his time hanging around the set, trying to pick up pointers on acting and how to exagerrate things for the fight scenes. When the shoot finishes for the day he Teleports home for a few hours to catch up on his own projects.

The shoot went well, and once again Ayato was showing off as he killed ninjas. He caught up with Hazuki and Minazuki later and took them out on the town for some relaxation.

For Elspeth and Darres it was a bit of fun in some otherwise unhappy days. Things back home were not going too well, and it was good to get away at nights to come to the other side of the world in order to shoot the movie. It was odd to have nearly 24 hours of straight daylight during the times when they were needed. It was like the opposite of being a vampire. For the weeks of the shoot they hardly ever saw the world except during the day. If she weren't a nova she would have had a hell of a tan by the time it was over, but instead she was as pale and perfect as the day she was born.