"Revealshipping"
I invented a new pairing, guys! 8D This quirky little story has been floating around in my head for a while - my mind always linked these two together, and so it evolved into a love story. Do you think it could be canon, these mysterious Reveal-users hiding a past together...? It loosely follows the Purpleshipping fic, too. Please enjoy!
The full moon's light cast a silver glow across the rolling hills of Osenia, illuminating the secluded village of Garoh. The lonely flags whipped and fluttered in the perpetual breezes from the plains near Air's Rock. Their reflections shimmered in the clear pool of water, the colours of the banners overlapping the moonlight in the pond's surface.
It was a beautiful night, and all the people of Garoh were celebrating for the sheer joy of celebrating. They sang and they danced, yipping and howling as they wove in and out of the lit torches. Firelight played on their glossy fur, glinting off of their curved claws and fangs. The werewolves were out to play...
There was one who did not dance, however. He was seated wearily on the trampled grass, leaning against the large rock that concealed his home. His shaggy violet fur was far longer than any other in the village, and the tips had all but faded to white with his venerable age. He was the village elder, Master Maha. His bright crimson eyes swept across the scene below him, as his black lips curved upwards into a pleased smile.
"Our home is no longer in danger," he rumbled, his voice a soft growl. "Felix and his friends restored the natural balance. The outsiders don't blame us for their misfortune any more. We are safe. But there is still one more question..."
His wolf's ears settled back against his narrow skull, and he sighed, massaging his temples with a paw. He felt so old. It wasn't fair. He had been a young man when he scaled Air's Rock, powerful and exuberant, eager to become a hero. When he found that the Psynergy of Reveal left him trapped as a lycanthrope, unable to reclaim his human form, it had been no huge loss. He could better lead his people this way. He had his whole life ahead of him, he thought, and surely there was a way to reverse the transformation. He simply had to find it.
Maha had never taken into account the possibility that being a wolf was more than just a furry coat. Wolves do not live as long as humans. Even wolves with the power of the wind, he admitted ruefully. He had aged much faster than he should have. As a human, he should have been entering middle age. As a wolf, he was in his golden years.
It wasn't such a bad way to go, Maha thought bitterly. He'd lived a full life, he supposed, and having met the heros, "Adepts" they called themselves, was enough to make his sacrifice worthwhile. His knowledge had helped them, and they had given him great insight to the powers of his people. Yet... there was someone he wanted to see again. He had promised. But once he lost the power to become human, he lost the power to leave his village. As their leader, his guidance and supervision was constantly required as well. It would be impossible...
"Master Maha, my little brother says I'm too clumsy to dance! He's always mean to me, but my mom and dad only ever yell at me!"
The werewolf sage glanced up and saw the second-youngest pup of their village clambering up the hillside. His words were still snarls and whines to the uninitiated, but with a wolf's ears, Maha understood perfectly.
"Come sit beside me, little one. Perhaps you are a bit uncoordinated," he added with a kindly smile. He was fond of the youngster, the same pup who had led Felix, Jenna, Sheba, and Kraden to his lair some months ago. They maintained an odd friendship, Maha enjoying the company of the high-spirited boy, and the imaginative child loving the many stories that the elder could relay.
The boy crinkled up his muzzle, about to protest, but Maha raised his paw to calm him. "Easy now, child, I meant no insult. Instead, join me beneath the moonlight, and I'll tell you a special story... One that not even those in the village know. It happened many seasons ago, long before you were born. Your parents were your age, so they wouldn't remember..."
The wide-eyed lycanthrope sat quickly on his haunches, wriggling with excitement. A secret story, this must be great! His brother would be so jealous when he found out that Master Maha trusted him with a secret from his past!
"Felix and his friends are not the first elemental humans that I've met. I had never heard her use the word 'adept', but she clearly was one. She had mastery over the powers of the wind, just like myself..."
His scarlet gaze had a faraway look in it, as long-forgotten recollections began to resurface. It had been many years. Perhaps she had forgotten him, as humans were quick to move on. But he still thought of her, to this day.
"...It was before I scaled Air's Rock. I was still able to transform, just like you. I was a handsome, dashing young fellow, believe it or not," he joked with a wink. The pup giggled, unable to picture the Master as anything other than the old werewolf he'd known all his life.
"What did she look like?" he piped up, eyes bright with curiosity. Maha sighed happily, her image still fresh in his mind.
"She was beautiful," he growled softly, a gentle smile on his muzzle. "She had violet eyes - like a thistle flower! And her hair was almost the same colour as my fur," he added, running a claw through his shaggy purple pelt. "She had the sweetest smile, and when she laughed, I couldn't help but laugh with her. She made me so happy. Someday, child, you'll find someone like that for yourself. When you do, stay with her! You don't want to leave someone like that, not ever..."
The pup furrowed his brows. "But - girls are gross! I wouldn't wanna stay with one!"
Maha ruffled his ears affectionately. "You'll change your tune when you get older, trust me. Everyone goes seeking a mate sooner or later. But anyway, where was I? Ah, yes. I met her in my travels. I used to go on trips, exploring the land and charting maps. Garoh had a different alpha then, and since I was just his apprentice, I could leave for months at a time without a problem! She was on a pilgrimage... She was traveling by herself to scale Air's Rock. She had come all the way from Contigo, she said, although I'd never been that far in my journeys. I asked her why she wanted the power so badly, and she said that the wind showed her a vision, that she would one day need to pass that skill to someone else. She was so brave... She was willing to climb that mountain all by herself, and not even for her own gain, but to help someone, someday!"
He shook his head with a smile, still impressed by her stubborn desire to make the trip by herself. She was so selfless, so willing to devote herself to a life of helping. It would not surprise the old werewolf to learn that she went on to found a temple.
The pup scooted closer on the grass, fascinated by this account of the mysterious purple-eyed woman. "You went with her, right? You protected her?"
Maha grinned. "Yes, of course! Garoh's pack have the ability to use Whirlwind, yes? I had to convince her, but we scaled the great peak together, using our powers to defeat the monsters and unlock the ancient traps. It was a grueling task, to be sure, but she and I were both very capable adventurers. We became very close on that mountain. She was not afraid when the moon's light transformed me before her, and in fact, that only deepened our bond. I'd tell you more, but you're a little young for that part of the story," he added with a wink. The boy pouted, but did not argue. He didn't understand all this "bonding" stuff, anyway.
"Well, when we reached the heart of the Rock... there was the tablet before us, engraved with the ancient script, waiting for the both of us. She needed the power to protect our future, and I needed it to protect my people and surpass my master. No one ever said that the pilgrimage had to be solo. So she took my hand in hers, and then we both touched the tablet together..."
There was a long moment of silence. The pup's tail stirred impatiently, listening to the shouts and cheers from the dancers in the center of the village. Maha's face was unreadable, lost in a memory all of his own. Finally, the boy could wait no longer. "Well??" he demanded. "What happened next? What did you and the pretty lady do?"
Master Maha gazed up at the stars, the silver light bleaching his canine muzzle white. A sad smile eased its way onto his aged features, a weary light flickering in his eyes.
"I was trapped in this form, of course," he murmured. "I never realized that my teacher never assumed his human form. I thought it was his preference, somehow... I was too caught up in my thrill-seeking to question it. So I could not become a human, not ever. She... She had to leave. It did not bother her that I was a werewolf - like I said, she'd seen me that way before - but she had her own duties to fulfill. She was a servant to the future. She had to be in certain places at certain times to ensure Weyard's safety. And I could no longer leave Garoh..."
The child's ears fell back unhappily. "So you never saw her again? But why not? Weren't you two best friends? I mean, surely once she was done with work she could visit you... right?"
Maha simply sighed. "No... I fear it was not meant to be. But being so young, so ambitious, we did make a promise. We wanted to find each other again, like you said... And that's why..."
That's why I built my home the way I did. I can only be found by using "Reveal". It was my half-hearted attempt to bring her back... I always hoped that one day, I would wake up with her beside me again...
"That's why I chose the name I did. Little one, you may not know the custom, but when one assumes the duty of leader, one chooses a new title. I cannot even remember the name I was born with, it was so long ago. But when I returned to the village, trapped as a wolf for life, I needed some way to hold onto her... So I took the letters of her name and created my own. I hoped that, too, would lead her to me, but... of course, I haven't seen her since that fateful day in Air's Rock."
"Maha isn't your real name?" the pup squeaked with excitement. Boy, would his brother be jealous!! "So - her name has an M, an H, and two As? What was she called? Tell me her name! What's the lady's name?"
The night was cool and clear in the dusty town of Contigo. Stars twinkled in the deep black sky, framing the bright white disc of the moon. Ivan and Feizhi stood outside, watching the tranquil sight. They were joined shortly by their teacher, Ivan's older sister. After a long and peaceful silence, she serenely spoke.
"The full moon is a beautiful sight, is it not? To those of us blessed with the Psynergy of Jupiter, it is very symbolic to us. Ivan, we are descendants of Anemos... It is said that our people lived on the moon."
Feizhi giggled, her glossy purple hair rustling as she shook her head. "But Master, that just a myth, yes? The moon too high, you fall off if you live there!" The girl from Xian had improved her English somewhat, but still spoke with the lilting oriental accent.
Ivan liked to hear her speak. He thought her accent was somewhat endearing.
"Well, I knew a girl who fell from the skies. It's not impossible, Feizhi!" He smiled, relaxing in the moon's silver light. Even if the civilization of Anemos was just a myth, he couldn't deny that the moon was always very comforting to him.
The girl stuck her tongue out at him cheekily. "So you say, little Ivan! If you fell, you hit your head, that is why you so short all the time."
"Hey!" the Adept exclaimed indignantly, caught off-guard. "You're the one who got hit in the head by a Psynergy stone!"
His sister shook her head with a smile. These two were a joy to work with. It had been awkward at first, with just Ivan, because she felt guilty for having given him up as a baby. But she had her duties to fulfill, and there were many places she had to be before she could support a little brother. But now, with Feizhi living in Contigo as well, her empty life had finally become a bit brighter. Feizhi reminded her so much of herself when she was younger... Stubborn and brave, but happy to laugh and enjoy herself. Once upon a time, she too had been adventurous.
"The full moon truly is a wonderful sight to behold," she repeated softly, for a different reason this time. The silver light washed over her delicate features, illuminating her beautiful face.
Are you gazing at it too, my old friend? The same brilliant moon that we swore on, so long ago, to find each other again? Perhaps you've forgotten, with your duties as leader. But I still think of you, especially now... I became a leader, too, you know. So that I could go through the same responsibilities as you. So that I could be worthy of you. I wish I could see you again, if only for one last time... Maybe you took a wife, a mate, from your tribe by now. I've considered taking a husband, but... I don't think I can ever love someone as much as you. So for now, I'll settle for looking after my village of Contigo, and looking out for my two apprentices. And one day, if the future wills it, we will be together again...
Maha smiled, finally closing his eyes. "Hama," he growled softly. "Her name was Hama."