Chapter 2 - The True Feeling

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Tidez and Ashelia soon will initiate their marriage ceremony, and all the Pokke villagers prepare for everything. Ashe, who is already in her traditional village clothing, looks magnificently beautiful - no one could even deny her beauty. The same also applies to Tidez; he looks really gallant with the clothing he is wearing. But a moment before the ceremony starts, a member from the Hunter's Guild approaches.

While gasping, he said, "Big trouble! There is a message from Grandpa Moogle; a Kushala and a Chameleos appeared at the foot of the mountain! I don't know why a Chameleos appeared there, but it looks like that both of them are wreaking havoc right now!"

Obviously, all of them surprised from hearing that!

"I'll go!" firms Tidez.

"But Tidez, today is..." said village chief.

With haste, he immediately goes to wear his armor and wielding his trusty Grave Digger lance. Ashelia approaches him; she decided to go along with Tidez. But Tidez refuses; this time he asks Ashelia to stay in the village.

"Believe me honey, I will return. At least I must drive them away, so that this village is safe from the monsters' threat." said Tidez to Ashe.

"But from today on, I should always be together with you. I'm going, for whatever will happen later!" pleads Ashe with her serious gaze, trying to convince her lover.

"Fine, you may come with me. I'll keep you safe," Tidez silent for a while, "I'm so sorry, this shouldn't have happened. I promise to make you feels safe and happy." said Tidez while grasping Ashe's hand.

Ashe only smiles and hugs Tidez tightly. They immediately depart to the location.

-

As they reached the foot of the mountain, Ashe stops.

"What's wrong? Why are you stopping? It's only a few more walk before we reach there." asks Tidez.

"Wait! I feel that something is following us, whatever it is…"

Tidez closes his eyes. Yes, he also feels something fishy. His sense as a Hunter is really sharp; he only needs a bit of concentration. (He is used to close his eyes to feel a monster's presence)

"Be careful honey, it might be a Chameleos!"

Tidez approaches Ashe, but behind Ashe a glimpse of shadow starting to appear; it really is a Chameleos! Ashe startled! She runs to Tidez's direction and nocks her bow to the Chameleos. An arrow is fired and it strikes the Chameleos right at its left eye. Tidez lost his chance to attack since the Chameleos immediately disappears again.

"Damn it...! Watch out Ashe, it can appear anytime around us!" Tidez shouts.

"Look out! Behind you!" screams Ashe.

Suddenly the Chameleos appears in front of Tidez and immediately attacks by waving its tail to the ground, generating a powerful dragon wind. In a flash Tidez knocked back quite far. The Chameleos then attacks Ashelia with its poison fog!

"Ashe! NOOO!"

*cough* *cough* "I'm… all right…" answers Ashe weakly.

Seeing Ashe yang struck by the poison gas, Tidez rises and goes to Ashe, bringing her further away.

"Wait here, let me finish this."

Tidez then took Ashe's bow and fires an arrow to the Chameleos' left wing. He charges to the Chameleos with anger. A fierce battle between Lancer and Chameleos occurs; Tidez fights for quite some time.

Suddenly the sky turns cloudy; there is a Kushala near them. As it approaches, Tidez makes his temporary retreat. It was also in that moment that the wounded Chameleos retreated from the area and flew far away to nowhere. Now there are only Tidez and Kushala left.

"I won't let you rampaging here, begone!" firms Tidez.

Tidez continues to fight the Kushala all alone. Even though he is already exhausted and he is distracted at Ashe who is poisoned right now, he continues to fight bravely. Suddenly in the middle of the battle, a Hunter appears and helping Tidez. He wields Daora's Ceti Heavy Bowgun, and fires some explosive rounds. Tidez quickly steps back and puts on some distance. The Kushala is unable to take on the barrage of explosives; its wings are destroyed! It quickly retreats from that area.

"Hey! Thanks for helping, who are you?" said Tidez to the mysterious man.

"You're welcome. My apologies but I don't have time to explain; that Kushala is actually my prey, I need to go after it. I'm off then, farewell."

He went on pursuing the wounded Kushala.

"(Whoever you are, thank you…)" murmurs Tidez.

-

Tidez then went to Ashelia.

*cough* *cough* "How...How was it honey…?" asks Ashe, weakening as she talks.

"Don't mind about it, everything is all right. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, I was taking too long. Let's return to the village and treat the poison within your body." said Tidez with a heavy tone.

"There is no need- *cough* I'm sorry honey, I love you so much..."

(Ashe's condition is critical, her consciousness starting to fades)

"What… what do you mean?" (Tidez looks really shocked and worried; he hugs Ashe so tightly) "No… Please… please don't leave me..."

"Who said that I'm leaving you…? You know… that love will never dies, right? I'm happy… with the path of life I walked together with you… only the two of us. In this life… there is one thing… that we can never avoid… and that is the time… when we must parts way from our beloved one… But I believe in you… that you'll never forget me… I'll always live in your mind… and in your heart… Isn't that… right?"

"…" Tidez can't answer her, as if he lost his voice - his entire body is shaking…

"Tidez…" said Ashe softly, whiles her arm reaching Tidez's face, "You made me happy…"

As Ashe smiles at Tidez, slowly she closes her eyes and her arm falls to the ground - she drew her final breath in Tidez's embrace. Her beautiful face; her pretty smile - signs her leave from the man she truly loved.

One by one, drops of tear fall on her white cheek…

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¤To be continued¤