Lotti: Sorry for the lack of introductions lately my darlings I've just been concentrating on the writing :P But never fear me and Mr.Fluffy are here to save you!

Mr Fluffy: that's me!

Both: Cookies for anyone who can guess what Mr.Fluffy is!

Mr.Fluffy: And anyone who reviews!

Lotti: So proud! :D

Chapter 9. The New Mage.

I groaned as I raised my head from the toilet, Great! The first time ever in my life I get travel sick! How am I supposed to get away before the funeral if I can't stop puking up Gyhsal rolls!

I told you not to eat them…

Fenrir unlike you I have to eat vegetables and bread not just meat!

told you not to eat it…

Madeen!

Yes Eiko?

What am I going to do?

You'll just have to wait until afterwards Eiko, I think you should anyway, it'll help you heal.

The rage now constantly bubbling beneath my mask rose up again. I DON'T NEED TO HEAL! I'LL SAVE HIM! ILL SAVE THEM ALL!

Eiko he is gone. He is dead And it was not your fault.

I felt like screaming. How can Madeen be so bloody calm all the time! It was fault and he can't be dead…Not really….not Vivi…I don't ant to be alone…

You won't be alone Eiko you have the others, you have us! I grinned as I felt the warm soft embrace of my eidolons crowding into my soul, so many friends and yet…my heart still feels cold. My grandfather once told me that the destiny of a summoner was one that was never walked alone and yet we are the loneliest of all. I used to think it was because we were so different. Our horns singled us out, but now…

I'll bring him back you know Madeen, I'll find a way to save him. If Zidane came back he can!

Of course you can.

Don't condescend Madeen I know you don't believe me but..I stood up from the toilet and poured out a cup of minted water to clear out my mouth looking fondly at the costume pieces laying out on my bed-my disguise. This will work…it has to…

I sat at the edge of the clearing later on as Zidane slowly finished dressing the scarecrow in Vivi's last garments, garnet sitting next to me her hand resting on her already distended belly. It only hardened my resolve to go, this wasn't just for us it was for the next generation of heroes. I wiped roughly at the tears on my face and scowled. The time for tears was over, I had a plan! And yet they wouldn't stop falling…

I waited until everyone else had left and then crouched low to the headstone bearing Vivi's name and let my tars drop onto them muttering under my breath. A soul should not be contained-lesson number 1 in summoning. Well not number 1 but you get what I mean! When a soul is released it has the opportunity to be reborn, or live forever in the stars as an eidolon…Ii pulled the small parcel out of my pocket. Wrapped clumsily in leaf mould paper and twine it was undoubtedly Vivi' work, and 

now it was the time to open it. Not the last goodbye, but the last part of my life as Eiko would be remembering him. Soon I'd have to leave it all behind. Pulling apart the twine I gasped at the small delicate ring as it fell into my palm. Vivi always made me jewellery for my birthday, using firaga and other spells to manipulate the metal into the most amazing shapes but this…A twining lily shaped flower in silver with small glass beads embedded throughout the silver.

"I dare you to love me" I laughed and blinked away the fresh tears. "You didn't have to dare me Vivi-you know I already did…."

I don't understand Eiko

The Lily means I dare you to love me. Hilde made me learn about flowers as part of the whole princess thing. It's a bloody ring! Vivi must have meant it in that way mustn't he? Mustn't he?

Don't ask me to reassure your doubts Eiko. I don't know. I'm not Vivi. I snorted at Madeen and hooking the ring onto my horn for safe keeping turned back to my cabin to prepare for departure.

I will save you…

Later that night a lone black mage left the village, a normal enough occurrence except this mage held a summoner's staff…


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Lotti the Rebel and Mr.Fluffy