When Wishes Come True

Oliver: Hey everybody! Jina just brought me in here to tell you that she, um, uh……

What was it she wanted me to say?

Loryn: She wanted you to tell the lovely readers that she does not own Fire Emblem or the Game Boy company. Or the "When You Wish Upon A Star" song by Disney. Or Monty Python and the Holy Grail (if you catch the reference). Just us, the OCs.

Oliver: Oh! Right, I knew that! Well, lovely readers, I am here to tell you—

Jina: I think they already got the point, Ollie dear.

Loryn: No kidding, I just told them!

Oliver: Shut up, Loryn! You don't know what you're talking about!

Loryn: Wanna bet?

Jina: ……… ahem………. Sorry about that. I'm just a silly author with waaaaay too much free time on her hands, and a waaaaaaay to over-active imagination.

Right…. Well, here's the next part of my story!!!!!

Chapter Two: When You Wish Upon A Star…

"Oliver, don't put Lyn there. That enemy archer has a fifteen percent chance of critical attacking!" a young female voice warned.

"Shut up, Loryn, I'm concentrating. Besides, I know what I'm doing. I'm an excellent tactician, I'll have you know." A male voice replied.

"Oh, and I'm not???" the female asked in a cool, precise voice. It was Loryn, a young teenage girl. She was in her twin brother Oliver's room, sitting with him on his bed, watching him as he played their Fire Emblem on his Game Boy.

"Well, you did get stuck on that one chapter, and had to redo it twenty-one times…"

"Shut up, Oliver! That chapter was a fluke! I've done really well on all the others, getting through on the first or second tries! And, according to the game, my tactician ratings are high!"

"Cripes, I was just kidding. Can't you take a joke?"

"Hey, you two video gamers. Did you both finish your homework? Study for all your tests? Need any help with your math work, Loryn dear?" an adult female voice said clearly, interrupting the conversation the two other voices had been having. It was Helen Carowe, the teens' mother.

"Yes Mother." The twins chorused, not even looking up at their mother as she leaned against the doorway.

"Um, okay. I'll just leave you two to play your silly game, then. Good night, children."

"Mom, it's not silly! It's fascinating! And partially educational!" Oliver replied.

' Isn't that what they said about that movie they went to the other night? The one about a holy grail, or a giant man-eating rabbit, or something'? Helen thought to herself.

"Good night, mother." Loryn said rolling her eyes. She knew it was futile to try and get their mother to understand the joys of violent videogames. Not that this one really was that violent, anyway.

"Yeah, Mom, good night." Oliver added in unenthusiastically. All his concentration was focused on the action playing out in front of him on his Game Boy.

"All right, see you in the morning." Their mother said, and then she turned and walked along the hallway to the room she shared with her husband Martin. As she walked away, though, she heard a shout of "NOOOOO!!!" coming from the room she had just left, sounding a lot like Oliver. She shrugged and continued on her way.

Sure enough, Oliver had been the one to shout. As he had watched, the enemy archer Loryn had seen and warned about before had scuttled up catty-corner to a character in his game; a teal-haired woman with a ponytail high on her head and weird blue robe things with really long slits up the sides. Confident that "Lady Lyndis", as the character was called, would avoid the archer's attacks, Oliver watched as the battle screen popped up and Lyn was officially in battle against the archer. Sure in his planning and Lyn's "avoidance" and "luck" levels, he was not expecting the enemy to pause, lean back, pull an arrow from the holder, twirl it around, notch it to the bow, and critically/fatally hit the defenseless sword-using character Lyn. His mouth gaped as he watched the little bars showing how much life was left in Lyn fly away, so that the little number next to the now empty line read "0".

"Oh….. I had so much….oh, Oliver……." the screen read as Lyn spoke her death statement, and died. The little battle figure flickered and blinked out.

"GAME OVER" was what the screen now read, with a red-black swirly background.

"NOOOOO!!!!!" Oliver shouted.

Loryn smirked. She couldn't help but feel a little smug that she had seen this coming. She was sick of having him make subtle remarks about her poor tactician skills. He was really competitive, always striving to be the best. And he often was. Other than that, he was a sweet, compassionate brother, and she loved him anyway. But sometimes, he could be really and truly annoying. In her Fire Emblem game, she was on level 25, while he was on one of the last ones, and playing through the game his second time. He had already beaten it before, as he frequently boasted to Loryn.

"Well, Oliver, I'm not usually one to say 'I told you so', but…" she teased.

"Oh, you shut up, Loryn. I made a silly mistake, that's all. It's quite out of the norm for me…"

"Oh, like it's quite normal for me to mess up, though!!!" she said, angry now.

She rarely got angry at Oliver, but today had been stressful. School had been hell that day. Turns out she had been assigned twenty-five math problems and an essay for English, both of which she had completely forgotten. So her teachers were upset at her. Then, her only two friends Lydia and Sally got in a huge fight, and they had tried to force her to pick a side, and when she refused, they both got angry at her instead. So her grades, her friends, and now her family were all messed up. She really wished she had friends instead like Lyn, or Kent, a knight from Fire Emblem as well. Even Hector, an axe-using lord, or Raven, a sullen sword wielding mercenary, would be better than her friends. She'd give anything to have friends like them.

"Obviously, since it takes you so many tries to do one simple chapter, you are not a very good tactician. If it weren't for you having the ability to press the A, B, Select, and Start buttons to restart your game, your allies would all be DEAD!" he retorted furiously. Loryn knew this, but it still hurt to hear it coming from him. She could feel him holding back, though, seeming as if he wanted to say something more, but wouldn't for whatever reason. Still hurting, she grew slightly curious. What was he hiding from her? She cocked her head to the side, as she always did when she was purposely trying to figure out what he was thinking. She listened, hard, for that little voice in the back of her mind, telling her his feelings, his thoughts. What was he hiding from her?

He hated it when she made it look like he was a fool, a selfish and immature little kid. She didn't do it frequently, and it usually wasn't on purpose, but it still stung when she did. He knew she had a harder time of fitting in than he did, as well, but she probably could be as successful as him if she tried. He was sick of defending her, sometimes. She could be so annoying, always clinging to him, depending on him, never herself. She was the selfish, immature one, not he.

Abruptly, Loryn looked at him in shock and pain. He went cold as he realized she had done the twin thing again and picked up on his thoughts. He never meant for her to know that he got sick of her hiding in his shadow in public. He couldn't help it.

Loryn felt cold, numb, and surprisingly calm. Picking up on thoughts of his was a twin habit only she could really do. He could sense her emotions, but not her exact words. She would know exactly what he was thinking, word for word at times.

She could feel him now, thinking about how he wished she wasn't such a baby, how he wished she would stop hiding in his popular, confident shadow at school, where she was unpopular and meek. It hurt, really hurt, to know the last person she had ever expected to betray her, the only person she trusted, her own twin brother, felt this way about her.

But she didn't burst into tears. She didn't hit him, or scream in rage. She merely stood there, unblinking, feeling his emotions of regret and sadness, yet secret happiness at telling the truth at last, wash over her; feeling none of her own. This day, this week, this month, these past years; ever since they left grade school their relationship had been tearing, fraying at the edges, and since then she had been slowly losing control. Her poems she wrote, her drawings and sketches, and more recently, her Fire Emblem game had helped her escape, to create a whole new world for herself, where she was valiant, and strong, and confident.

In real life, though, she had always somewhat depended on Oliver to keep her feet on the ground as her head was in the clouds. But now, now she could tell he was tired of holding on to her, wanting to let her go, to be free.

Oliver didn't know what to say, to do. He couldn't hug her in apology, she hated hugs. He didn't know how to say sorry, what exactly was he sorry for? For telling the truth at last? For wanting her to grow up and step away from his shadow? To be confident? He wasn't sorry at all for telling her these things. But he was sorry it had to hurt her so much, that even if it was true; it was heart-breaking. It hurt him, too, to see his twin, standing there, watching him with her big chocolate-brown eyes, no expression on her face. He had no clue as to what she was thinking, feeling. Was she feeling at all? All he could sense from her was cold, cool acceptance, but dark pain burrowing deep inside.

He couldn't figure out what to say, so the silence between them stretched longer and longer as they both stood there.

Finally, she spoke; and broke the silence, the stretch of coldness, the emptiness of the air hanging between them.

"Oliver…" she said sadly.

"Do you really feel this way? Am I really such a-loser, a…baby?" she went on, her voice growing louder as she continued. Her voice cracked only slightly on the last word or too.

"Loryn….. no……" he began.

"Don't lie to me, Oliver. I can see it in your thoughts, on your face. You were never good at hiding things from me, not the truth of what you think, and especially not your true emotions. I can see it in your eyes. Thoughts don't--can't lie, Oliver. I can feel it." She interrupted. Her face was still completely void of emotion. But her voice was rising, and it was filled with pain.

She then paused and reflected to herself that apparently, he had been able to hide at least a few truths from her. Or maybe she just hadn't wanted to see them.

"Loryn, I….." Oliver tried again.

Loryn just shook her head sadly.

"No, it's okay. It's true. But did you really have to hide how you felt all-these-years??? Have you felt this way all-along? Did you ever really love me for who I am, or just because I am your sister and it is your-duty??? Tell me the truth, Oliver." She said.

"Did you EVER-love me at ALL?!?" she cried out, finally breaking. "OR DID YOU LOVE WHO I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, YOUR PERFECT LITTLE TWIN??!?"

"NO! But…..I-can't lie to you, Loryn. You-you're always so meek, so timid, and so helpless-seeming; whenever it's your turn to be the strong one! I'm left hanging, yet you cling on to me! Stand up for yourself for once, Loryn! Be a true person, not the robot you pretend to be! You-you just- …God! I wish you would just me there for me, just once! But you're not, you're always behind me, playing it safe in my wake, while I fight through the hard stuff!" he stormed.

Loryn was shocked. He had kept this all bottled up for years, and it was all coming out now, the truth. And it hurt. Hurt, hurt, hurt so much……..

She felt like a million iron-hot knives were drilling into her soul, like pins and needles were being driven into her every nerve. Her brother, her twin, her other half……

How could she be so blind? How could she stand herself? How could she tell herself that she was who she wanted to be, when she was just pretending? She was useless. And now, it was so clear, the truth; that Oliver would be better off without her.

"Loryn---" Oliver said, shocked at his own outburst. What was he doing?

"Oliver, no. Looks like you're right. You're not only the better half of the Carowe twins, you're more like the better person. You never needed me, and you never will, will you? I'm a useless filler, just taking up space, aren't I? You'd be better off without me…"

And with this crushing statement, Loryn turned and ran into her room, locked both doors, and sank down against them.

So much for her hopeful, positive thoughts at dinner, huh? She had felt, during their evening meal, that tonight, something amazing and wonderful, magical even, was going to happen.

"Yeah, right; the only amazing thing that's happened is that I realize my true worth, at last."

Oliver stood in his room, frozen. Better off without her? He wouldn't be anywhere without her. What about in second grade, when she punched the school bully in the face for picking on him? What about in fourth grade, when she was the only student in their grade school who had cheered for him after his (truly mortifying and embarrassing, since he had a horrible singing voice and couldn't dance worth beans) performance at the school talent show? What about every soccer game she had gone too, no matter how snowy or rainy or cold? What about how she was at every band concert he had ever played his drums in? She had always been there, at his side, cheering him on. He needed her. She completed him. They were Oliver and Loryn, Loryn and Oliver, not Oliver Carowe and his weird identical twin sister. What had he done?

He didn't know just how much sorrow, trouble, and pain their argument would lead to, or what it would do to his sister. He could never guess just how much he had just irreversibly changed their lives, forever………………

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Later that night, still locked in her room. Loryn was standing by her window, gazing out at the night sky. She had always loved the stars, and they seemed to be shining extra bright tonight just to try and comfort her. Silent tears fell from her eyes. She wiped them away with one hand, and then glanced at the Game Boy, with Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken stuck inside it, laying next to her on the windowsill. Oh how she longed to not be real; to be a character in that game that she shared with Oliver. They hadn't been able to afford two games with their meager allowance, so they shared one, taking turns. It was hers at the moment, but she didn't feel like playing the game. She wanted to be in the game, of the game, one of the many important characters that led such wonderful, adventurous lives. She wanted to befriend Lyn and Florina, talk to the ever-chivalrous and valiant Eliwood, to tease Hector to get back at him for being so sarcastic. This was her wish, her secret dream, her deepest desire. To be someone important, someone strong, and courageous. Someone people depended on; and someone who pulled through for those people. Like Lyn, and Hector, and Eliwood. She could be that way, if only she was in the game, too.

Glancing back out her window, she noticed a tiny, falling speck of light.

"Oh, a shooting star." she said quietly, to no one. "What was that rhyme, the one to make a wish on a shooting star? Oh, yes…" she murmured.

"Star light, star bright, shooting through the sky this night; I wish I may, I wish I might, grant me my secret wish tonight…" she recited softly. She watched as the star began to fade as it died out, and sighed. Yeah, right. Like that would work…..

Then, the fading star seemed to grow brighter, stronger, a beam of light shining into her eyes. She grabbed her Game Boy off the windowsill with one hand, and covered her eyes from the too bright star with the other. Then, an even stronger flash of light enveloped her; just as Oliver pushed through her door to see what was wrong.

As Oliver entered, all he could see for a moment was bright, bright light; and then he could make out the shape of Loryn, standing in the middle of the ball of light. Sparkles began twirling around her, all different colors of the rainbow, and Oliver shouted her name.

"Loryn!!! LORYN!!!LORYN!!!!! He began shouting, his voice growing more and more desperate. Loryn's silhouette turned to him, slowly, as if every movement was made with great effort.

"Oliver…… I'm ……so…sorry………I………love………you………"

Her voice whispered, growing fainter with each word.

"NNNOOOOO!!! LORYN!!!"

Oliver cried, his heart breaking, ripping, tearing, being shred apart into pieces that were burning with a searing pain as he watched the strange ball of light and sparkles embrace her fully, and her indistinct form faded away.

&&&&&&& Something deep inside Loryn was telling her it was time to go, time to let go, so she whispered an apologetic goodbye to Oliver, and then she did let go; off to whatever fate was waiting for her next……. &&&&&&&

The End

((((((( for now… )))))))

A/N: Wow, this chapter got really, really long. Longer than I had originally planned, at any rate. I hope I didn't bore anyone who dared to read this…….

Well, readers, what do you think? Do you like it? Hate it? Want more of it? Please, review and let me now how you like it, give me advice on how to make it better, and help me improve as a fanfic writer!!!!!! I really appreciate all feedback I get, really I do!!!

Special thanks go out to magebear7 and Maxmagnus20019 for being awesome and reviewing my first chapter! You guys rock! Thank you! And to all future reviewers (if I get any) u guys rock too!!! So please, readers, feel free to give me feedback, I looooove getting it. I could use the advice to improve. Plus, I just want to know how the public generally feels about my story!!! Please review!!!