Disclaimer: I don't own Legaia. Honestly, I still don't. I know, not much variety up here, huh? Sorry, I don't think there's anything to be done about it. XD

This chapter is in Gala's perspective. It's not so clear as other chapters, so I'm letting you know before you start reading. Enjoy!

Sightseeing

Chapter Eleven: Childhood's End

That night, no nightmares came, but I did not sleep peacefully. Instead, I dreamt of a memory I had long since tried to forget. A memory of long ago, in the Mist... the night that I last saw my parents.

Night had fallen, and I lay in bed with my mother, who was reading a book by candlelight in her nightgown, waiting for my father to come back with the firewood he kept stored outside. Our house was small, we shared one room and one bed; but my father had built it himself for his mother when they had left their village, and we took pride in it as it had protected us our whole lives.

It was nearing the month of Firelight, and outside, the air was sharp and chilly, but the heat from our fireplace and my mother's thick blankets kept us warm inside. My mother marked a page in her book, closed it and set it on the nighttable, and wrapped her arms around me to give me a goodnight hug and kiss, pulling me close. We were safe, and I was loved.

Until we heard that scream.

My father's scream filled my ears, and my mother and I jumped out of bed, rushing to the door, my mother with the poker we kept by the fire.

"Stay behind!" She said to me, pushing me towards the back of the room as she opened the door, but I was worried too and looked out the door from behind her. My eyes widened in horror.

My father was standing outside, except he wasn't himself; he had become a monster, his skin a greenish blue, a piercing madness filling his eyes. The Seru he normally wore to carry in the heavy stacks of firewood had expanded itself to cover most of his body with thick, jagged spikes, and the arm he wore it on had morphed into something with vicious claws, soaked in blood - and my mother was screaming and screaming, I didn't know why - she pushed me back into the house and then I noticed... my father's arm had gone through her stomach - my father let out this horrible, terrible moan and blood flew everywhere... the poker my mother had had gone straight through his head.

For a moment I was frozen there, just standing watching my parents in horror, but then I ran; ran out the door and past them out into the night, ran screaming and running running running as far as my feet could take me. My eyes were useless, a curling mist covered everything and I couldn't see anything, anything at all, and vaguely somewhere I smelled smoke in the distance, and no longer able to move, filled with pure terror and exhaustion, I collapsed.

When I came to, there was a boy next to me, taller than I was, with hair the color of my father's blood, his eyes wide and looking as terrified as I felt. We sat in a bare clearing, but all around us was fire; an endless blaze, burning houses and trees, everything in its path. The Mist was not around us, but its destruction had reached where we were. I felt disoriented, I had no idea how I had gotten there, but both of us were much too afraid to do anything other than exchange terrified glances and huddle together, gazing fear-stricken into the blaze surrounding us until we both passed out from the smoke.

I awoke alone, in my sleeping bag, to a brilliant sunrise. The fire I'd lit in the evening had put itself out, and was now blowing thin smoke high into the air. I stood up and groaned; my head ached from the memory.

What is wrong with me? I thought, staring blankly ahead across the plains. Why am I remembering these things... and now of all times? I was alone with no one to tell these things to; and the field was filled with the morning sounds of animals chattering to one another, meditating would be near impossible.

I looked to the west, at the tower of Sol standing tall in the distance. I could pray to Biron there about this. I was in no fit state to lead anyone, but... that thought trailed off. Maybe soon... I will find an answer.

Hey! This story still exists! And so do I! Oh my gosh! Can you believe it?

I'm really sorry I haven't updated in so long, I've been under a lot of stress lately and been busy with college and worrying about being able to pay my rent... and really, I think last chapter I got to that point that everyone gets to somewhere in their story where they're just stuck. I had stuff planned out, but I didn't have any inspiration to write anything... and you know, I think that's because I had planned it.

This chapter wasn't planned at all, and I feel a lot happier about it than the last one; maybe because it wasn't planned? In the beginning of writing Sightseeing, I had no idea what I was going to be writing next... and I think if I keep that feeling, the next chapters will come more easily. I am pretty busy with my schoolwork now though, but I will do my best to write when I get inspired. ^^ This story will not die!

And about Gala's parents' death... that one came out of pretty much nowhere, but... the Seru making his parents kill each other in front of him... Gala's hatred of Seru would make a lot of sense to me if it had happened like that.

I know there wasn't much action in this chapter, and it was kind of short, but I think, for me, it was a "getting my inspiration for writing the story back" kind of chapter. I promise the plot will move forward in the next chapter~ well, actually, since I'm making it random again, I don't actually know that, but I would sure like it to. XD;

And, like I've said before, I'm an artist, not a writer! One of you said you wanted to see what my art looks like, and well... here's your chance!

http:/ img. photobucket .com /albums /v127 /Barako /fanservice .jpg

That's right, this story has had over 1000 views! I can't believe it! Thank you for all your support, and I hope to keep the story interesting and going strong for all of you!

Oh god I hope the author's notes aren't longer than the rest of this chapter now... XD;