Welcome!

So it's been what, three weeks since I've updated? I apologize for it, *sad face* but I must tell you, I WAS going to let this story drop dead, and remove it. I couldn't exactly pinpoint where to go next in my story. Then, I started to re-read the reviews all of you have given me, and I was thinking, 'Now, I can't do this to my reviewers, this is too cruel!' Thus, I'm keeping this up until then. *small smile*

Disclaimer: What? Do I look like Tetsuya Nomura to you?


Accalia finished scripting the final few letters in her memoir for the day. She closed the book soothingly for longer preservation of one of her most treasured items. Situating her pen aside, she transported herself to her land of relaxation. Snuggling under, the corners of her lips lifted. She thought about all the possible things she could do now, and how providential her life was. As tired as she was, she needn't to count sheep to drift to sleep.

At the shop, the amount of customers was moderate, but most came in here for the shade from the scorching sun. They examined the various cloths and clothing pieces, and one man in particular was raising tension in the room.

"What is the price for this cloth piece?" The man pulled out silky fabric swathed around a soaring cardboard pole among the towering assorts of textiles.

"About fifteen dollars (U.S. currency) per yard, sir" responded Natalee swiftly.

"What?!" The middle-aged man's brown eyes were threatening to pop out. "Are you trying to take my money?!" His hand roamed through his left pocket and he yanked out a handful of change. "Eight-fifty or nothing, lady."

Startled, Natalee endeavored to change his mind. "Uhh—but sir, this type of cloth is imported—straight from Pulse! And-"

"I don't give a damn where it came from! I just know you're trying to rip me off. Now do you want the money or not?" People, if you were in Natalee's position, you would make with the offer, wouldn't you? Some money is better than none at all, right?

Natalee sighed. "Okay, I guess we'll take it your-"

"Hold it" interrupted Accalia. She snatched the feathery and lightweight material that was clearly underpriced from her mother's hands.

"What the hell do you want?!"

Accalia jumped down from the counter. "I've been watching you two. You're the one who is trying to take advantage of us."

"Oh shut up, what do you kno-"

"Just look at how these cloths are crafted. It's manufactured with the finest threads, and the design is rare. Fifteen dollars or nothing."

The man proceeded to leave the shop.

"You do realize that we're the only fabric shop in Cocoon, right? You can't get cloth from anywhere else."

"…Fine, fifteen dollars, is it?" The man sighed, defeated

Natalee smiled at her daughter, her sales savior.

"I sometimes wonder how you do things like that. You make me so proud." hugged Natalee.

"Oh, I read in a couple of psychology books that you'd have to be as convincing as possible to persuade someone to buy your products. You'd also have to make them believe that we're the best to buy from. Hmm, at this rate we'll be able to pay off the debts to that Crystal Company sooner than we've expected!" Both of them were so joyous at the thought that their grins crinkled their eyes.

"Okay, I'm going to go for a walk now. I'll see you in…an hour?" Accalia quickly pecked her mother on her cheek, took a nearby basket in case she bought items and left in a jiffy.

Natalee contemplated while she worked behind the counter.

"I'm so happy…before long I won't have to deal with such a thing as the 'Crystal Research Production', then Accalia and I would be able to get on with our lives—with no problems whatsoever."

Sauntering down the street, Accalia twirled her basket around. She studied her background; jewelry laid out on tables to attract patrons, children running with sweets held in their hands, and the blistering sun which never seems to set down. A precise store had captured Accalia's interest. All of a sudden, she had wandered to the window of the store mindlessly.

Gawking at the mannequins, she observed their flamboyant wardrobes; the one-of-a-kind motif…the attractive shade…and the glimmering sequins. Accalia stepped into the store, taking a closer examination of the magical apparel. Window-shopping was becoming a hobby for her, and how time-consuming it was.

Hours past, as the time was five o'clock in the afternoon now. The rush of customers in the shop had decreased, and the shop was nearing closing time. Each moment the red needle ticks constantly on the colossal clock, it adds concern to Natalee as to where her daughter is at the moment. She paced the store: north five steps, south five steps. Finally, fret had overcome her, and the instant the last person left her shop, she darted outside to find Accalia. She met with floods of amblers—and a rifle.

She glanced left and right, up and down. No sight of Accalia anywhere adjacent. Natalee decided to walk up to nearby strollers and ask if they had seen a "teenage girl carrying a basket". That concluded to be a ravage of valuable time.

Ammunition was loaded into the rifle…

"Excuse me, have you seen…"

The grip of the rifle was grasped…

"She's about this high, and is wearing a skirt." The elderly couple shook their heads in response.

When Natalee was alone, the aim of the gun was focused…

The trigger was deliberately pulled…

And a solitary bullet was fired.

Natalee fell to the ground subsequent to experiencing an acute pain on her temple, earning screams and many pedestrians scurrying for a safe haven. Crucial ruby fluid streamed down her face almost as fast as her tears. Natalee grasped the rocks within hand's reach and formed a fist. Pain struck her everywhere—her head, her heart, and her hand. Her drowsy eyes focused on a familiar figure, and she smiled.

'She's alive.'

Petrified by earlier street affairs, Accalia, too had hid away from possible peril. Almost immediately, she detected an incalculable crowd. The horde became the center of gravity, and one-by-one, everyone began to take a glimpse of what was inside. Curiosity indulged Accalia, and she was compelled to follow the gathering.

Small whimpers exited Accalia's mouth, as her eyes amplified in skepticism.

Shambling to the scene, she tumbled aside her mother's lifeless corpse.

Cradling her mother's upper body, salty liquids surged from her eyes like the Nile River. Accalia unlocked her gaze from Natalee's closed eyes and directed her vision to the gossiping audience. She lightly slid Natalee out of her arms, and onto the uncomfortable soil.

"Please! Someone get the paramedics! She could still be saved! Please everyone, please!" she bowed her head down until her forehead touched the crusty earth.

"What, are you fucking stupid?! She's dead already, can't you tell?!" The woman who had said this pulled her nose high into the sky fanning herself thanks to the searing weather , and her clones had followed suit.

"NO! No, she's not dead! Please, can someone just help her?!" Accalia's voice strained, producing a raspy noise. Denial crashed into her like an angry wave, and she refused for it to depart.

She began to crawl on her knees to the audience. Accalia tugged on a man's shirt, hoping for him to provide assistance.

"Get off of me!"

She also inched towards the other members, desperate to find others whose actions would be diverse. Unfortunately, similar reactions were spat at her.

"Why me?"

"What the hell?!"

"What's wrong with you?!"

The crowd soon, but slowly diminished, jaded of Accalia's actions.

She dragged herself back to Natalee. Mixed emotions nibbled at her: anger for whoever has done this, forlorn for such a loss, confusion at why this has happened. Her head swayed at her surroundings, and nausea was just around the corner. Accalia's eyes smoldered from the tears, which had also hardened and tainted her face. Holding her mother's glacial cadaver, she leaned her mouth towards Natalee's ear, and whispered:

"Karma will surely get them back; I'll make sure of that."


Well…I was going to end here, but I realized that I have been neglecting you all for too long, and here's a small additional section, just for you all!

-Four years later-

Gloved hands clenched into firm fists collided with a marble table, generating a violent shake felt by his comrades.

"Whoa! Calm down, Noct, don't become the Hulk over this."

"Shut up, Claude," the angered Prince scolded at the blonde. "I have hell to pay if I don't get the Crystals back."

Claude sighed and rolled his eyes. "Look, don't worry about this! Me and the other two lame-Os will help you figure this out, alright?" He eyed the other two companions, winking.


And, that's about it for now *smiles*

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!