Disclaimer: Don't own! Don't ask.
I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. Tons of things have happened since I last wrote and everything. I'll try to keep up more with writing. K? Enjoy!
Bring Life HitherMint clamored into the room that was now hers in the Inn. She was so tired by now that she could barely keep awake. She managed to stumble to the bed and flop on it before falling fast asleep. Sadly she wasn't sleeping for long. Mel crashed into her room in a panic.
"MINT, MINT!!! WAKE UP!" She yelled and ran into the room, her heels making an annoying clatter on the floor.
Mint pulled the pillow over her ears. "go away…" she grumbled.
"Mint! Get up!" Mel went to the bed and shook the girl viciously. "I-I-It's a miracle!!! He's about ready to wake!!!"
Mint's brain was far too tired to comprehend what the hell was being said. "mmm?"
"RUE!" Mel yelled at her. Mint's eyes flew open and she sat bolt straight in Mel's arms that were still shaking her. Mel stopped and moved out of the way before Mint jumped up and ran into the other room. Mel followed and watched from the door as Mint sat by Rue's bedside, holding his hand.
Mint was utterly confused. Just the day before she left he had been near the brink of death. Now, he was about to wake up and be normal like nothing had happened. Then again that wasn't true. The battle with Valen was over and Claire was living, she was in the house across the street for Heaven's sake! Rue had been out for three days and had come near death, while Mint had realized that she did love Rue and she was going to have to face the fact that she had to tell him or she would have burst into a million pieces. She turned to Mel standing in the doorway with a perplexed look in her eyes but a smile on her face. "Are you sure he's going to wake up soon?"
Mel nodded and grabbed a handkerchief from her sleeve while walking toward the bedside. She patted Mint's shoulder and handed her the hanky. "Wipe your eyes dear. You're looking about ready to cry." Mel smiled in a kindly fashion as Mint took the hanky and did just that. Afterward, she gave Mel a big princess smile.
"I can hardly believe how relieved I feel. It like the weight of the world has lifted." And just as that sentence came out of her mouth, the reality of everything hit her. Here she was sobbing with Rue passed out. But from what she knew, the last thing Rue knew was that Claire was the reason in his life that he ever came here. And she had been the last one in his arms. Mint remembered that the last time they had talked sure she was a friend but not the one ready to confess her feelings of love to him. She mentally slapped herself. She couldn't have Rue come back in a strange place. She was going to have to remove herself and return in her old shoes. She gently put Rue back on the bed and got up. "Mel, I can't. I can't do this. He has Claire. I can't interrupt that."
"But Mint you worked so hard just for him! You can't give up now!" Mel said running over to see if she was sick.
With tears in her eyes Mint grabbed Mel's hand and gently put it down. "No Mel. I'm not like that. Rue won't like it if he wakes up to this strangeness between us." And with that she walked out of the room. Once the door shut behind her, she ran out of the motel and next door to see Klaus. When she ran downstairs she saw Claire awake and sitting up in bed. Mira, Elena, and Klaus were standing there and turned to see Mint. "Ah, Mint. Just in time." Klaus said walking over to the distraught girl.
Claire leaned toward Mira and whispered in her ear. The woman turned and smiled at Mint, "That's Mint. She helped rescue you and Rue. Mint, this is Claire."
Mint nodded to her and turned toward Klaus. "When did she wake up?" Mint begged the tears in her eyes to go away, so not to look weak in front of anyone. Most of all Claire, this woman didn't need the impression that Mint had been a priss this whole time.
Klaus looked over at Elena. "Elena, how long were you down here?" Elena made a mad face and turned back to Claire. "Eh-heh. We had an argument last night, just like her mother. Well, I'd say she's been awake for about half an hour now." Mint nodded.
"I see." She said rubbing her chin. "I heard that Rue was suppose to wake up soon too." She told Klaus and began up the stairs. "I'm going to see my sister at the hotel if you need me." Mint waved her hand and continued. When she was out of the basement she ran through the house and outside.
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Rue's brain cleared some of the fog away and he began to open his eyes. 'Where am I?' he asked himself. Slowly things began to clear, then… 'CLAIRE!' Rue jumped up in bed.
"Oh my!" Fancy Mel yelped. "That's quite the awakening." She leaned over him.
"Fancy Mel… Where am I? What's happened?" He asked looking up at her. Then he noticed that he was only left in his boxers.
Mel smiled and turned around with her eye's closed. "Don't you remember? You were in Valen's Fortress. You used the Dewprism and got Claire back. She's over at Klaus's house right now resting. When the Fortress exploded, we didn't think we'd find you alive. Both you and Claire were near the lake, luckily in one piece. We brought you both back to town and healed you."
Rue had gotten up and grabbed his clothes; Currently he had gotten to his pants by the time Mel finished. He grabbed his shirt, "How long have I been out?" He was almost afraid to ask. He remembered Psycho Master and the smell of Claire's perfume, then he heard the explosion and the smell of disaster before going black.
Mel turned to him with a sly smile, "You've been out for 3 days Rue. We went through a lot to make sure you survived."
Rue put his shirt on and grabbed his hat. "Thank you very much Fancy Mel. I'm sure Claire and I would have both died has it not been for you and your skills."
Mel laughed, then snorted and laughed again. "Oh Rue, you're too much really! It was the least I could do. After all the things you went through for Claire, that sure is a lucky woman." She made a mental note not to tell him that Mint had spent the most time worrying about him.
Rue put his hat on and grabbed the Arc Edge, "Well, thank you again Mel. If Claire and I ever need to travel, we'll be sure to come back and visit you."
"You're welcome Rue. Take care." And Rue walked out the door. Mel sighed when he was gone, "Poor Rue, you won't know who really helped you more until she fesses up to herself that she loves you."
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Mint opened the door to Maya's room. "Maya, I need to talk to you."
Maya turned to look at her sister. It had been a long time she had heard that somber tone in her sister's voice. The last time, Mint had broken one of their mother's vases. "What troubles you sister?" Maya moved to clear a spot for Mint to sit.
"Maya, I think I want to go home. I think I've had enough adventure for now. I miss father, I even miss your sniveling about my manners." Mint said staring at the wall before her.
Maya looked at her sister. "There seems an aura of pain and resentment around you sister. I don't think missing home is what this is about. You love him don't you?"
Mint turned a glare on her sister. "What are you talking about? Rue is my friend, not my secret lover. And I do miss home, more then you could imagine." Maya gave her a look of disbelief and shook her head. "What? You think I'd lie about something like that?"
"You always had this look when you were telling a lie; especially to father. You try to tell me that with a straight face but your poker face just doesn't hold up to the truth. Have your things ready and we'll leave for home ASAP. I still have plenty of business to attend to back home. I shouldn't doddle like you do." Maya said grabbing some clothes from the dresser nearby.
Mint bolted up. "How dare you! I'm your older sister damn it and I am not telling a lie!" She stomped on the ground. "You're just trying to be righteous because I want to come home for a while!" With that she burst out of the room and bolted out of the hotel. Maya began to pack a bit angrily as her servant opened the door.
Mint headed for the docks. She could see the Royal Ship off shore, their little ferry to the ship sat in the normally empty dock. Mint climbed on the ship and looked around. This was it, thought she was pissed at her sister for, well, being a sister, she was finally going home. She would be back in East Heaven, back to her purple room with the feather pillows. Back to a cook always on duty, willing to serve. Sure, she'd be away from her friends… and Rue. But maybe things would be easier this way, she did still plan on being the ruler of East Heaven and she had to find a loop hole.
She had calmed enough for her mind to be clear. "I suppose since I'm going home I should tell everyone goodbye." She climbed off the little boat and began up the hill into town. When she got to the top, she saw Klaus's door open and Rue walked out. Mint stopped in her tracks. That white ponytail bobbed with his movements, those yellow ribbons moved so slightly, the small gleam from the Arc Edge. All of it made her heart thump. She shook it off once she saw the look of disappointment on his face.
"Rue!" She yelled running up the hill toward the fountain where he was standing now. She smiled brightly, "Finally got up huh? You were sleeping so long I thought you were gonna die in bed!" She joked, lightly giggling more to herself.
Rue heaved a bit of a sigh. "Thanks for worrying about me."
"What are you talking about?" Mint battled the light blush on her cheeks. "I wasn't worried about you, why should I be?" She stuck her nose in the air a bit. Rue let out his breath and shook his head, to which Mint nearly melted. Then she remembered, it was time to leave; time for goodbyes. "Well, this is it. I'm leaving." She turned away, hoping he'd care.
"Where you going?" He asked cocking his head. He didn't think there'd be a certain place for her to go. She had said that she was a princess.
"I'm going back home." She shrugged. "Maya's going back so I might as well too. I haven't been back for 2 years; my ships leaving in a few minutes." She turned to face him and put her hands behind her head. "After I kick back and relax for a while I'm going to go relic hunting again. I'm going to find a relic more powerful then the Dewprism; then the world will be mine!" She put her hands on her hips and laughed evilly. Part of that had been true, but most of it had been acting. She didn't want to go without telling him, but faith wasn't playing her game.
Rue rolled his eyes, 'Geez, she never gives up."
"Hey Rue," Mint decided to look in his eyes for the last time.
Rue turned his attention back to her. "Yeah?"
"You better help me with my next relic hunt." She gave him a wink.
"What?!" Rue yelped a bit surprised by her words. 'Not another one.' He mentally begged. "Why?"
"Because you owe me." She said non-sealant. "You got Claire back with the Dewprism and I got nothing! It's not fair!" She stomped her foot angrily. "I worked just as hard and you got all the reward! So next time you have to help me make my wish come true." She pointed her finger at him and poked his chest a few times.
Rue looked off a bit at the ground. "I don't know…"
Mint backed off and waved her hand. "If I find out anything about any relic, I'll contact you ok? See ya!" She spun around and ran back to the docks.
"Hey wait!" Rue yelled but she kept going. It made him chuckle, "She bossed me around till the end." He made a wave as if she could see it and then turned toward the hotel.
Mint spied from dock gate. Once Rue was out of sight, she went around and said goodbye to everyone. She even made peace to say so long to Belle and Duke at the Tavern. When she went to Klaus's house, she spied Claire looking upset. When Klaus went to talk to her, she held up a hand and walked over to Claire. "You keep an eye on him." She said looking down at Claire sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up with anxious eyes. "He's a dear friend. So don't go getting him killed." With that she went up stairs to talk.
Prima followed her outside. "Do you have to go Mint? I mean you may be ignorant but I like you being around." He made a circling motion around his head, "Elena isn't the brightest person to talk to."
Mint giggled and patted him on the head. "We'll see if I come back brat. But I think I'll miss you a bit." Prima smiled and hugged her leg before running back into the house. Just as she was turning to the motel where Ms. Cartha stood sweeping, there was a bark and everything went sideways. "Johnny Wolf!" She yelped and held the dog. "You won't know what to do without me."
Rod walked out of the alley. "He can smell you a mile away." He chuckled. "Don't tell me you're leaving too." Mint pushed Johnny away and nodded. "I guess I'll go too. Nothing much left here for me without some people to pawn ahem I mean challenge me."
Mint laughed a hearty laugh. "Thanks Rod, I'll miss you that much too." They both shared in some good laughter while Johnny barked and ran around in circles. Rod helped Mint up from the ground, "think you got enough time to walk around with me while I get some supplies?"
"Nah, I need to finish up here and get back to the boat."
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Rue walked out of the tavern and looked around. He remembered chasing Mode Master down here thinking she was Claire. He walked out of the alley and into the square. Looking at the Klaus's house with anticipation he caught a patch of red hair and royal purple robe floating toward the docks. Suddenly for some reason his heart thumped loud against his chest. He covered his heart with his hand and glanced back toward the dock. His feet began moving without his will.
Soon he was walking down the hill and he saw Mint standing toward the end of the docks where a royal float sat tied up. He walked down and talked with the dock master for a bit. Rue made his way to Mint, he could feel his pulse in every inch of his body. He reached out and tapped her shoulder lightly, "Mint" he said almost afraid of what she'd say.
"Oh Rue." Mint said forgetting her motions for a moment. "I forgot to tell you, I'm kinda glad I met you. It's been fun."
"Me too Mint. I'm glad I met a princess, even if you weren't what I thought you were." He chuckled and mentally slapped himself for it.
Mint ignored it. "Dang what's taking her so long?" She breathed and tapped her foot a bit. "She's slow as ever… When I look for the relic again I'm going to ask for your help." A small gust of wind blew through them both. A bit of her hair caressed his face in the breeze.
"You can count on me. I'd love to help you." Rue said taking a small step toward her.
They both felt heat rush through them. 'Rue… hold me, kiss me, anything… just let me know you care about me more' Mint said mentally. She could almost feel his hands grab her and bring her close. She could almost smell his musky scent filling her and comforting her.
"Are you ready to go Princess?" Asked the servant as Maya boarded the small vessel with her belongings. Mint blinked away the imagination and nodded. She turned to Rue and said a silent farewell. Rue watched her climb into the vessel and the servant after her. He wanted to climb in after her for some reason, but he watched at the end of the dock. When he saw them board the main ship he turned and went back to Klaus's house.
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Rue opened the oak door and walked inside. The musty smell of artifacts filled his nostrils, Klaus sat on his stool where he studied some of his findings. "Hello Rue." He smiled.
"Hi, is it okay for me to see Claire now?" Rue was almost desperate, he hadn't seen her in years. 3 days ago he carried her in his arms but this burning need to see her was tearing at him.
"OH! Ah…" Klaus was almost nervous to answer.
Mira walked through the door way, "I'm sorry Rue, can you wait just a little longer?"
Rue was ready to explode! But he knew that Mira was taking good care of her and maybe Claire just wasn't decent. "Ok. I'll be back again later." He turned and walked out the door. Mira looked at Klaus as he looked back. They were both worried, Rue had become like a son since they met him. They hated seeing him upset.
Rue walked over to the water fountain in the square. He looked toward the sky for answers, "What's going on? Why can't I just see her?" When the clouds gave him no answer he looked into the water. "Claire…" He whispered, fist clenched.
"Rue…" A soft voice came over him like a warn blanket on a cool day. He turned around and found Claire, Elena and Prima standing in the doorway. Claire looked bashful but still the same as when he last saw her. She was radiant with her long brown hair in it's pony and her long bang. He took a long moment to drink in Claire and then another to regain himself enough to speak.
"Wasn't she unconscious?" He managed.
Prima hopped happily, "Actually she woke up a little bit before you did."
Elena clapped her hands in front of her, "Sorry Rue. We were going to tell you sooner but Claire told us to wait."
Rue eyed Claire, "Why?"
Claire looked for an answer, taking a step forward. "Because… I don't know. I got scared, it's been 3 years and I just wasn't ready to see you." She walked a little closer to him.
"Girls are weird huh Rue?" Prima asked with a funny smile on his face.
"While she was hesitating, mom and I prettied her up." Elena said dropping her hands into her pockets.
"Oh," he sighed in relief mentally.
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting." Claire rolled her head.
"It's okay," he assured, "I just wanted to see if you were alright." He suddenly felt bashful and ashamed at the same time. 'Gosh what's wrong with me?' he asked shaking his head. 'We're finally together again and suddenly my heart feels funny. I can't even look at her.'
Elena put her finger near her mouth, "Geez, why are you crying Rue?"
"Shh! Leave them alone Elena!" Prima tried hussing her.
Claire walked over to hug him. "Rue it's okay. I feel the same." She batted her long lashes. "You know I was really worried before seeing you. It's been so long since I last saw you. I was worried that after 3 years maybe you had changed. The thought of that scared me. I'm so relieved now. Looks like you've grown a little," she shut her eyes lightly "otherwise you're just like I remember." She opened them and backed off.
Rue reached out to her but then withdrew. His head suddenly said Mint but Claire blind sighted him. 'I don't know what to do…' Mint's perfume permeated his mind, lilies and daffodils. Her red hair bounding down the cliff side, her robes floating. He shook his head again.
"What's wrong?"
He blinked away the ideas and remembered the agony he had think of Claire. "I fantasized about this day so many times. I thought about what I would do, and what I would say to you. I had it all planned, almost memorized. Now I can't remember a thing. My mind completely blanked out. I don't know what to do or say." He held his head lightly.
"Me too," Claire smiled. "I was thinking about it too, but I forgot everything. I guess all I can do is tell you how I feel right now." She put her hands over her heart, "Rue… thank you. I owe everything to you."
Rue smiled at her and felt the light tickle of tears under his lashes. "Welcome back." Claire opened her arms wide, tears running down her face and a blush on her cheeks. Rue wanted to jump at her like a child but he restrained himself. He showed his maturity but walking over and hugging the slightly shorter woman.
Up on the church steps Trap master, Mode master and Psycho master stood watching. Rue was their younger brother now and they had to watch over him. Trap turned his head with a sneer; Mode dabbed her eyes and found her heart warming to the scene; Psycho watched with his eyes open (for once!) and smiled. He gently made the bells in the church swing and they began to ring. Mode looked up at Psycho and he nodded at her. She returned the nod and put her hand on Trap's shoulder. He turned and glanced one last time at Rue, then to Mode. All three disappeared in their blue light, leaving the small village. Elena moved to cover Prima's eyes just as Klaus and Mira walked outside.
Rue and Claire pulled away from their hug and started laughing a bit. Rue rubbed at his eyes and gave Claire the biggest smile he could muster. Once they had all calmed Rue walked toward the gate with Claire in hand. Klaus and his family walked to the lake.
"Do you have to go too Rue?" Prima asked.
"Yes Prima. I'm going home too, with Claire." He said picking little prima up.
"Will you come back to see us?"
"I'll write to you and well see about the visiting part."
"How are you going to get home?" Klaus asked as Rue handed Prima over to Elena.
"I was going to ask Wylaf to give us a ride. I don't have the strength to transform." Rue smiled.
"Let me escort you there Rue. You could probably use the help." Mira offered with a wink. Then a red boat came floating toward them.
"HEY!" a man with red hair and a big hat yelled waving. "What are you all doing here?"
Rue waved back at him, "Figuring out how we're going home! I thought you'd be gone by now!" Claire walked beside Rue and waved out to Rod.
Rod got closer to them and heaved the anchor over. "How about I give you a lift? It's the least I can do after all the adventures we had. I still owe you." He wink at Rue. Rue turned to Claire and then back to Rod and nodded. "Alright! Rue, you can sit with Johnny Wolf."
"Actually I think Claire should sit in the middle. I don't want her to get blasted." Rod shrugged. They piled their stuff into the Pulsar-Inferno-Typhoon-Omega and Rue helped Claire into the seat. Johnny laid in her lap and wagged his tail. Rue turned to Klaus and his family. "Thank you for your help Professor."
Klaus smiled, "Not at all Rue. You've been a great help to me as well. Be save."
"Yes, we don't want to loose a good friend like you Rue." Mira said waving.
Prima waved in Elena's arms, "Bye Rue! Bye Claire!" They both yelled as Rue got in the seat.
Rue waved back as they pulled out into the lake. Rod yelled back for them to steady themselves. The vessel suddenly jumped and speed down the river. They slowly began to take off and soon they were soaring in the sky. Once they high in the sky, Claire leaned back in the seat. "We're so far up! You can see for miles!" She laughed.
"Hey Rue! Did you see Mint before she left?" Rod yelled over the engines.
"Yeah! It was weird seeing her get into the royal float."
Rod looked down at the controls, "Did she seem a little off?"
"No. She was more princess like though."
'Maybe it was just me.' Rod said to himself. "So which way Rue?!"
"Head south east!"
"Roger that!" Johnny barked as some birds appeared in the distance.
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That's it! The last chapter! Hurray! I know the ending probably isn't what you're all looking for. I'm going to put up a bonus chapter though so maybe that will satisfy everyone. About 75 of this one was straight from the game. I had recorded the dialog from Rue's ending and Mint's ending and thus you have every word from both endings. So the whole Mint and Rue things were true to the game. I was going to put a next to those parts but I decided not to. I'm so embarrassed at the recording, I sound so lousy! Argh! So there you go. Again I was really busy and wasn't able to get to my fictions until yesterday before work. I'll try to get a whole list of people who commented on my fics in the bonus too. BYE! Read my other stuff too!
