A/N:

Go into the Cheagle tree and look near the save point. There is a pink cheagle standing there. If you speak with it, first it replies "…." And then "Mieu…". This cheagle always intrigued me. What was it thinking? Why was it so cynical? It just seemed to have a bit of an edge to it, in spite of being pink and adorable. I decided to appropriate it. I shall call her Max, and she shall be mine…And I do have to apologize to anyone who finds cheagles insanely annoying. Like Tear, I think they're too cute for words and…I enjoy irony.

Also…I like Peony. I feel very bad about what happens to him here, but…he really needs to remember who Vilo's father is.

As always, thank you so much to those who have been reading so far. I've really enjoyed being given a chance to tell this story and you guys are fantastic for taking the time to read it.

Chapter 21

No one knew about the photograph.

It wasn't that Peony was ashamed to have it; he would have happily shared it with anyone who asked. It was simply he didn't think anyone would be interested in it except for himself. It had been so long ago, and who really remembered all the pictures taken of themselves? Peony didn't even remember now who had taken the photograph; some assistant of the professor's, perhaps.

Jade was in the middle, in front of Professor Nebilim, who had one hand on his shoulder (in appearance of affection but in reality because she was determined that he actually be in the photograph; he'd kept conveniently vanishing every time she brought up the subject). He was gracing the camera with a half-smile, trying to portray the image of someone who was humoring the professor and really had no interest at all in this kind of nonsense.

Saphir was next to him, crowded as close as he could get without actually blocking Jade out of the photo. His white hair was longer in those days, and in the picture blended at points with the snow on the front of the building. His smile was genuinely happy, although it probably had more to do with Jade's proximity than any delight over being preserved for posterity. His brown overcoat, a cast-off of Jade's, was way too big on him and hung down to his knees.

On Jade's other side was Peony himself, the prince-in-merchant-son clothing, who was just happy to be out of the mansion and in the cold sunlight on that day. Right before the picture had been taken he'd thrown an arm around Jade's shoulders, and Jade had rather rudely shrugged him off. The ice cycles in Saphir's glare had rivaled any hanging on the buildings around them. Part of the reason Peony had done it, in fact, was just to annoy the younger boy.

We always knew exactly how to get each other riled up. All I had to do was remind him that Jade liked me too. All he had to do was remind me that he and Jade spoke the same language, one that I would never be able to understand. And in the middle of it all, there was Jade, just smiling like a maniac and enjoying every bit of it.

Saphir…why, man? Jade called you a cockroach because you always managed to survive whatever came you way. Why now?

Peony signed and slid the picture back into his pocket and walked over to the window, staring out at the streets of Grand Chokmah. The water was drained, but the damage remained. Some homes had been completely destroyed by the water; Jade's little cottage among them. Virtually all of the ones who had survived were still pretty heavily damaged.

St. Binah, Engeve, and even Baticul had opened their doors to the survivors, but most of the citizens had stayed where they were, living in the remains of their homes or with those who were a bit luckier, and everyone had pulled together to try and rebuild their city in the aftermath of what had happened. It was a beautiful thing, really, and he'd never been prouder of the people of Malkuth than he was at this time. Still…at last count over four thousand people hadn't made it to this point. Most of the bodies were still uncounted for.

Saphir… your family is falling apart without you, man. Jade and Vilo need each other more than ever right now and they're barely speaking. The little guy is so sure you're alive, so adamant about it. He just keeps talking about this dream he had and that he knows you're okay somewhere. And Jade…Jade's been like a zombie since it happened. He hardly says a word; just leaves in the morning to help with the clean-up. He can't take Vilo's faith, and Vilo gets so angry with him for doubting. As far as he's concerned Jade should be out there turning over every rock in Auldrant to find you.

I'm really worried about Jade. I'm afraid he's going to do something stupid like try and go after Lẽtum alone. He keeps having these private little meetings with Kratos and that Noah guy, and he won't tell me what they're talking about. I was so worried I told him I was making it an Official Order that he not try and remove the Fon-slot seal. The last thing we need is for Lẽtum to take him down again. I know he wants revenge, but that's not the way to get it… I've got them both living here with me on the upper floor of the palace. Bet you never thought my room could be more of a disaster than it already was, but the bottom part is pretty wasted. I can just picture you walking through here, looking down your nose at it, and demanding to know how Perry's holding up. He's fine, by the way. He lead the others to safety, in fact. You'd be so proud of him…

I miss you. Never thought I'd say that, but it's true.

There was a knock on the door of the spare chamber Peony and his pets had chosen to hole up in.

"It's open. Hey, Vilo. How are you doing?"

The boy stood still for a moment, staring at Peony from eyes way too old for his face. Poor kid, the Emperor thought to himself. First his mother, and now this. Two parents in one year…possibly three if we can't stop Jade from going off the deep end. The boy was wearing some spare clothing his cousin Charlie had outgrown and it was too big on him; it reminded Peony too much of Saphir in the photograph and he had to blink rapidly.

Not only has he lost Saphir, but everything else he owns as well. At least the clothes and toys we can replace.

"Hey, Peony…" Vilo never called him "Your Majesty" and Peony never expected him to. "You got a minute?"

"For you, always. Come sit down."

"Nah, it's okay. I need to ask you something…well, I need to ask you something and then I need to ask you for a really strange kind of favor. It's okay if you say no." The boy was looking down, toeing the carpet with the tip of his boot. Gelda wandered over and head-butted his leg, and he smiled, reaching down to scratch her ears.

"Ask away."

Vilo looked up at him again. "Do you really think Saphir's dead? I mean, really?"

"Vilo…we used to call him the cockroach because he could survive anything. I know that sounds cold, but it's the truth. Nothing ever was too much for him; he was a lot tougher than he looked. But this…a lot of people think if he's alive he used this as a chance to escape from Malkuth custody. I don't. Kiddo, I think he's gone, and I know you don't want to hear that, but it's been a week. If he was alive I think he'd have found his way back to us by now. He'd never have stayed away from you and Jade voluntarily; he's nuts about you guys. You know that better than I do."

Vilo nodded reluctantly and blinked a few times. "So…anyway, that brings up the favor I need. See, Saphir and I spent a lot of time together and we talked a lot. Sometimes he told me about when he was a God-General and he told me all about his chair, how much he liked it, how easy it was to control, how much fun he had in it. I wanted to see it too, and right before he.." Vilo make a choking noise. "Anyway, he said he'd talk to you and see if you'd let me go for a ride in it, just for a few minutes. And I keep thinking that he never got the chance, and maybe…maybe it might be a way I could…you know…say good-bye…" Vilo's control broke and he began sobbing loudly.

His heart breaking, Peony pulled the boy into a tight hug. "Hey, it's okay. We'll go right now. The room it's in survived the water okay and it should be fine. I've got nothing planned for the afternoon. Come on."

Vilo sniffed and nodded. "Thanks. I know you guys fought a lot but I think he actually liked you. I don't know why, I just kind of feel like he did. He was trying anyway."

"Well, I liked him too. Let's go find that chair."

********************************

The Emperor and the boy stood in the grass outside of Malkuth Military headquarters, the ugly chair in front of them. One of the nice benefits about being the one in charge was that you could order people to carry ugly chairs outside for you; the two soldiers Peony had drafted to the job might have disagreed, but had been wonderfully obedient in the matter.

"I've never been able to figure out exactly what to call the color." Peony finally spoke. "Sort of an orangish, rosy, rust…nah, that's not exactly it. Beats me. I always wanted to take a spin it in myself, but I figured he'd go through the roof if he found out. At least once a month he writes…wrote me a letter demanding I return it. I've still got them somewhere."

Vilo nodded absently, and walked over to the chair, sitting down, his legs sticking out over the end. It was of course way too big for him, like the clothing he wore. "And you're sure you know how to work it?" Peony inquired.

"Sure I'm sure. Saphir told me all about it. I just use my fonon frequency to make it move. See?" The chair rose gracefully into the air in front of Peony, and then spun around a few times. "Neat. No wonder he liked it so much."

Peony watched the child zip around in Dist's old throne for a few more minutes. "Okay, you better come down now. I don't know how your Dad is going to feel about this."

Vilo paused, with the chair hovering a few feet above Peony's head. The look on his face was peculiar, regretful but determined. "I'm sorry, Peony. I hope Dad doesn't get too mad at you."

"Well, I'm sort of hoping he doesn't find out. Come on down now."

"Sorry, no can do." Vilo shook his head. "You and Dad may have given up on Saphir, but I haven't. If you won't go find him, I'll do it myself. Sorry I had to trick you like this."

"Trick me…Vilo, what are you talking about?"

"I'll be back as soon as I find him. Tell Dad I love him, and not to worry." Vilo raised his right hand and waved, and then the chair took off into the distance like a cork from a bottle.

"VILO!" Peony ran after it. "VILO, YOU GET BACK HERE! THAT IS AN ORDER FROM YOUR EMPEROR!"

But the boy was long past hearing him.

********************************

Jade stood up from the sodden mess at his feet, his back cracking in protest. In front of him were two piles; things that could be salvaged from the remains of the home and things that could not. The second pile was much larger.

The walls were completely gutted and removed, only bits and pieces of the framework remaining. The basement lab was still completely filled with water, all of the gadgets and inventions and research drowned well beyond salvaging. The room where the library had been was shambles of torn and damaged books. Irony of ironies, the new sofa from the living room was completely missing, washed away by the flood. He couldn't think too long on that without struggling not to laugh and cry at the same time.

He knelt down again as a flash of color caught his eye, and picked it up, wincing at the smell of mildew that assaulted him. A bathrobe; blood-red and satin.

"It's beautiful…"

"I thought of you when I saw it. Not exactly my style of course, but you're always complaining about being cold. I swear there are times I could set the house ablaze and you'd still complain about the chill in the air."


"Very funny, but I'll forgive you. This is too lovely of a gift for me to be mad at you about anything right now."

"Hmmm, I'll keep that in mind…"

He forced himself back to the present with a mental slap. He had a job to do. He had to see what he could find to save out of this mess, for Vilo's sake if not for his own.

"Jade! Jade, thank goodness I found you!"

He turned around to see Peony running toward him at full tilt. For just a moment, he let himself hope. Maybe…no, the look on the Emperor's face was anything but joyful.

"Jade, I'm sorry. It's Vilo…he flew away!"

"My son did what?" Jade asked very calmly, staring at Peony as if he was waiting for the punchline any moment now.

"Flew away! I told you! He flew away! I couldn't stop him!" Peony was gasping for breath and nearly hysterical, which for the laid-back man was something of an accomplishment. Peony prided himself on staying calm when at all possible. This appeared to be a special occasion.

"Vilo…does not know how to fly." Jade tried to wrap his brain around what Peony was saying, and was failing miserably.

"In the chair! He took the damn chair!"

"What chair?"

"Saphir's chair. He wanted to see Saphir's chair; he said he wanted to say goodbye to him and we had the chair taken outside and then he said he was going go look for Saphir if we wouldn't and then he flew away! I'm sorry, Jade! I thought it might help him…"

"You allowed an 11-year-old to manipulate you?" Jade's voice was rising slightly.

"It was your 11-year-old!"

"Exactly why you should have been suspicious! You know how much he wanted to believe that Saphir…" Jade stopped, and Peony could see him struggling for control.

"Relax. He can't be far. We'll get the Albiore up and go after him. Jade, we'll find him."

Please let us find him. Please let him be alright because Jade can't handle losing both of them.

***************************************

It was about a week into her epic adventure that Max started thinking maybe she'd made a mistake.

It had sounded like so much fun before she left the woods and went off in search of romance, excitement, and glory. Everyone loved to hear Mieu talk about his epic adventure; all the things he'd seen and done; all the interesting people he'd met along the way. The Elder was always praising him for his bravery and telling all of the little cheagles that they needed to strive to be just like Mieu when they grew up.

Frankly, it got a little stale after a while.

So, bored with sitting around and listening to Mieu crow about his achievements ("And then I flew Master up onto a tree branch!" and "Then I helped Master with his homework") Max had decided enough was enough. If Mieu (whom she had always thought was a little soft in the head) could go out and have an epic adventure then so could she.

Of course, she hadn't really taken into consideration that Mieu's adventure was in the company of humans. Big, strong, well-armed humans who could fight off monsters that might find cheagles tasty, and who could be counted on to feed you on a regular basis. Lighting out alone, with only your own (admittedly powerful) fire-breath to protect you, was a lot more difficult. So far she'd been lucky; the monsters around here weren't very tough and most of them were scared of fire, but she was starting to think that maybe, just maybe it was time to head back. Or find a group of adventurers in need of a cheagle's help, but there really weren't that many of those around.

Plus, she was getting a bit tired of the vegetation that grew in Runica Plains area. Not that it was bad…just that there wasn't a lot of variety. Maybe there would be something a little more appetizing closer to the water. She carefully moved through the tall grass, following her nose toward the shoreline.

Well, there was something near the water, and it wasn't better grass. A group of smaller monsters were crowded around something laying face-down on the shore, sniffing it carefully, trying to make up their minds about whether or not it looked delicious.

Max turned to leave with a shudder. Hopefully they'd fill up on the whatever and if they happened upon a lonely little cheagle later on they'd be too full to care.

The lump on the shore groaned, and Max turned back, startled.

It was a human. Well, it looked like a human, anyway. A soaking wet man covered in salt and slime and now probably monster drool. The creatures sniffing him backed away at the noise, but when it wasn't repeated returned again, considering their options.

Max had seen enough. Pulling herself up to look as intimidating as possible she bounced forward and let out a stream of hot flames at the creatures. They turned on her, startled, and she let out another burst. At that, they turned on their claws and ran.

Cautiously she moved forward, cursing her stupidity in not snatching the Sorcerer's Ring before heading out. "Hey, you! Human! Are you okay?" was what she intended to ask. Of course, it came out "Mieeeu!! Mieeuee Mieeeu!"

The man groaned again, and made kind of a sick, whimpering noise.

Max considered her options right now. She could run off and try and find other humans to help, but it was doubtful they could understand her enough to know what she was trying to tell them. Plus, he didn't look safe to leave alone. They were so fragile, Mieu had always said, very easily broken, and this one looked pretty broken. He also looked cold. His teeth were chattering like crazy.

Well, that she could solve, anyway. She hopped away and began gathering up dry sticks and branches, throwing them into a pile. When she was satisfied with the size of the heap, it only took a quick breath to catch it aflame.

The man turned his face toward the blaze, and whimpered again.

Max patted him on the hand in comfort, all she could think to do. "Mieeuuu?" His skin was clammy and cold under her fingers. Poor thing, probably wouldn't live through the night, she thought sadly. Some cheagles could use the 7th Fonon but she'd never had any luck with it.

Well, at least she could make sure he didn't die alone. She snuggled up closer to him, ignoring the damp against her fur. He seemed to like that, inching closer to her warmth.

His steady breathing and the flames of her fire were making her sleepy. She tried to stay awake and keep watch in case the monsters came back, but her eyes kept drooping closed. Oh, well, maybe it wouldn't hurt to rest for a minute.

When she woke up again it was dark, and the fire was nearly out. The human was still alive, still managing to hang on somehow. He made another whimpering noise when she got up and stretched her legs, but she ignored him and found more sticks and leaves for the fire, only settling back down when it was blazing again.

As the little cheagle and the broken human slept, some monsters did creep up on them, but the smell of the fire and the smoke kept them at bay. Every now and then the human muttered in his sleep, the same word, again and again.

"Jade…."