YES!
Yuan: What's up with you?
Me: You know how the beginning of this story totally sucked?
Yuan: Huh? Oh yeah, with the whole being made a Seraph, not getting slaughtered and being called- (Snicker) 'Twilight
angel?'
Me:...
Yuan: HAHAHH! I mean, how pathetic was that!?
Me:...Yeah, I know it was pathetic, which is why I'm happy right now.
Yuan:...You've lost me.
Me: I found a way to make how bad it was make sense!
Yuan:...Eh?
Me: Well, it was completely unrealistic- even moreso than the rest of it- and it totally screamed mary-suedom run of the
mill self-insert.
Yuan: Yes...?
Me: I found a way to make it seem not so lame!
Yuan: You're going to rewrite it?
Me: Nope! I'm going to- ah, just read, you'll figure it out.
Yuan:...I'm sensing one of her 'pull out of the ass' plot twists...
Me: Hey! People like my plot-twists! ...Well...some of them do.
Yuan: Right.
Me: Just say the disclaimer!
Yuan: Whatever, Freakyanimegal owns nothing.
The Tower of Mana...filled to the freaking brims with books, in the room we could see, anyway. The shelves were about ten feet tall,
stretching across the walls stacked with books of every shape and size.
"OH! WHAT KNOWLEDGE-!"
I automatically tuned out the rest of Raine's rant as I looked around some more, spotting the circle apparatus on the floor. Colette
noticed the oracle stone first and was over by it looking at it while I put my foot on one of the circles, which began to glow.
"Woah-! ..."
I made sure the others were occupied and began putting my foot on and off the platform, mentally giggling as it lit on and off and on
and off and-
...Right.
"OH!"
Raine had finally noticed the circle, dashing over to it with a frenzied look of joy in her eyes, the norm for these situations.
"Jaela! Stand on that platform! Genis! On that one!"
I simply did as I was told and Genis dashed over to do as he was instructed, Raine pausing a moment before standing on it as well.
The door opened.
"Hey! It worked!" Lloyd grinned.
"Cool-!" Genis ran off.
The door closed.
"Huh?"
"I'm guessing three of us will have to stay here," I stated.
"So we're splitting up again, huh?" Lloyd frowned.
"Chosen, would you choose whom to accompany you?" Kratos asked.
"Um...Lloyd! Why don't you choose who'll come with us?"
"Me again? Uhm...all right..."
"You should probably take either Kratos or Raine," I stated, "you'll need a healer with you, but personally I'd take Kratos..."
"WHAT?!" Raine shrieked.
I flinched, doing a double-take as she banshee-yelled at me.
"N-no offense, Raine!" I cried, "It's just, let's face it, if they have to get into some serious fights they need a healer, sure, but they'll
need fighting power too... Then, they could probably take you both, but then the group here wouldn't have a healer..."
"...Good point," she muttered, directing her fury away from me.
I breathed out in relief.
"Hm...well..." Lloyd frowned, "okay...uh...Kratos..."
"As you wish," he stated.
"And...uhm..."
Lloyd thought for a moment...
"Don't think too hard, you'll hurt yourself," I smirked.
"HEY! Shut up, Jaela!!" he snapped.
I grinned at him, Genis laughing into his hand in an attempt to hide his delight.
"Hmph, let's see..." Lloyd frowned, "um...this is the light seal, right?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "...woah! How'd you know that?!"
"I listen to Remiel sometimes, you know," he muttered, "well...if this is the light seal...dammit, I'll take you, Jaela."
"Me?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Light's the opposite of darkness, right? Since you can use dark magic and stuff, won't that be good against the monsters here?" he
blinked.
I swear my jaw dislocated.
"...W...what...?"
Everyone with the except of Colette was staring at Lloyd as if he had grown another head, though Kratos wasn't staring so much
as...well, yeah, he was surprised.
"HOLY CRAP! LLOYD ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS!!"
"Shut it, Genis!" he snapped, his cheeks flushing.
"Very logical reasoning...I wasn't expecting that," Kratos stated, "well done."
"Heh, thanks-...hey, whaddya mean you 'weren't expecting that'?!"
"We should get moving, Sheena, Professor, Genis, would you mind...?"
"Oh, right!" Sheena said.
I moved off the circle as the onmitsu took my place, the Sage siblings taking their positions as I followed Kratos toward the door,
Colette and Lloyd following after.
"Be careful, guys," Genis said.
"You too, don't get hurt, got it?" Lloyd grinned.
"Yeah, if you die I'll go down to hell, drag your soul back, then kill you again," I smiled innocently, "so don't do it."
"..."
"...What?" I asked after the silence went on a little too long.
"Ah...let's go." Lloyd said.
I shrugged and followed him out of the room. Now see, there are few things that annoy to the point I want to bash my head in. Some
of which being polka music, my brother singing, and preps with sorority accents. However, one thing not mentioned will get at me just
as bad. Stairs. STAIRS. STAIRS! UGH! I didn't mind the fights, but STAIRS! They went on and on and on...I mean, this people
had warp pads that could blast you from here to there and all, but they didn't have a damn elevator?! Ugh...
"My feet are killing me..." Lloyd moaned.
"Stop complaining and it won't hurt as much!" I snapped.
"Geez-! What's your problem?!"
"Shut up! I don't have a problem!" I roared.
I stomped up a few more steps, muttering to myself.
"...I think she's grumpy," Colette said.
"No crap..."
"I HEARD THAT!"
I heard Lloyd mutter something along the lines of 'bitch' as we continued on, well, at least he didn't complain anymore...God my feet
were killing me... After what felt like a year, we made our way to the innermost part we could before we stopped to wait for Raine
and the others to join us.
"It should be a fair while before we can proceed any farther," Kratos stated, "you three sit down and get some rest, I imagine you're"
The last word was cut off when all three of is hit the ground, groaning as we rubbed our feet and muttered various phrases I shouldn't
repeat. (RHYME!)
"...Tired." Kratos finished.
"God..." I groaned, rubbing my feet, "Ay, los pies duelen me, Dio..."
"I don't even know what you said and I agree with you..." Lloyd moaned.
"Are you two okay?" Colette asked, forcing a smile.
We replied with a dual grunt.
"..." Kratos shook his head.
So we waited...and waited...needless to say, after ten minutes I was bored out of my mind, and naturally, if I'm bored that means
Lloyd is too.
"Aw man...this is so booorrrinnngg..."
"Complaining won't make it go any faster." Kratos stated.
"Mmeeeeh..." I spat, "...I wish I had some paper..."
"Paper? What fun can you have with paper?" Lloyd stared.
"Drawing, what else?" I rolled my eyes, "Man...I could draw such a kickass picture right now, I'm so bored..."
My sketches are nothing to laugh at, though they aren't mastery level or anything I've met only ONE person who can draw better than
me, so...I guess they're not bad. Granted some of my old ones SUCKED, but some of my old writings did too, if not all... You get
better the more time you spend on it, y'know?
"...Some people settle for the typical things..." I mumbled, sing-songing under my breath, "spendin' all their time waitin' in the wings..."
"Jaela, are you singing again?" Lloyd sighed.
"Wh-what?!" I snapped, blushing, "I am BORED! SORRY!"
"H-hey, no offense, it's just...well, you're always singing..."
"Fine. I can think of other things to do with my time, I'll whip up a rhyme."
"...Hey! Time, rhyme!" Colette grinned.
"...Heh," I grinned, "Why wouldn't you know it, I'm a poet!"
"You did it again!" Colette chirped, clapping her hands.
"Oh brother..." Lloyd sighed.
"Said Lloyd as he sighed in his exasperation," I said in a mock announcer voice, "greatly agitated by his companion's frivolous
actions."
"...Uh...what?" Lloyd stared at me.
"A look of dumbfoundment resonated in the boy's brown eyes," I said deeply, staring at him with mock intensity, "confusion evident
in his expression at the sudden use of words he found too large to comprehend."
"...What the hell are you talking about?" he blinked.
Kratos sighed.
"The eldest member of the group let out a sigh of exasperation, shaking his head as he listened to the dark-haired girl's ludicrous
diversions..."
"What is she doing?" Lloyd asked Colette.
"I think she's narrating." Colette giggled.
"...Narrating...?"
"Like telling a story, she's pretending she's telling a story of what's going on."
"As the blond proceeded to explain their comrade's bizarre actions to the dull knife of the group, the stoic elder began to develop a
twitch is his left eyelid," I said.
It was true, Kratos' eyelid was twitching somewhat.
"Though he made an effort to mask it, the man's annoyance was becoming evident to all present, a rising tension in the air as the
melancholic mercenary's patience began to ebb, his stony features feigning defiance to his obvious irritability..."
I distinctly heard teeth grinding.
"What would set him off?" I continued, grinning from ear to ear, "Would it be the narration of the current events? Or merely the
'authors' chipper attitude to the situation? The way she reaped her enjoyment via the torment of those around her..."
"Jaela..." Kratos stated coldly.
"The warning was clear by his tone, yet the girl paid him no heed, too enthralled by the possibility she might in fact cause the stoic man
to show emotion..."
Kratos sent me a glare that almost made me wet myself, I yelped as I fell over backwards from my sitting position on the floor, feeling
my heart rate race.
"That's enough," he hissed.
"Y-yes s-sirr..." I barely choked, feeling my body tremble.
"..." Kratos sighed again, rubbing his forehead.
Well...it was fun while it lasted...damn that man is scary...
"HAHAHAH!" Lloyd laughed, "That was funny! I don't know what she was saying, but she actually got Kratos mad! AHAHAHA-!"
Kratos glared at him.
"DON'T HURT ME!!" Lloyd cried, shielding himself with his arms.
"Ahahahah!" I laughed, "Now THAT was funny!"
"Oh shut up!"
There was a silence for about another minute.
"Oooooh!" I sang, making my voice high-pitched and annoying, "I once had a piece of cheese I named Bob! Bobert lee Jones Bob,
Kabob-!"
"ARGH!!!" Lloyd cried, "Can we go YET-!?"
There was a flash of light as a bridge appeared to the right of where we sat.
"..."
"...AHAHAHAHAHAH!" I laughed, falling over again.
"Wow, nice timing!" Colette chirped.
"Thank Origin..." I heard Kratos mutter.
We proceeded to the top, where the Sages and Sheena waited for us.
"Sorry it took so long, guys," Genis smiled sheepishly, "we had to uh...diver Raine's attention from a few things here and there-"
SMACK!
"OW!"
"I did nothing of the sort!" she snapped.
"Oh yeah you did..." Sheena muttered, glancing aside.
"She went ruin-mode on your hides, huh?" I grinned.
Sheena glared at me.
"Go to hell." she hissed.
"I take that as a yes!" I sing-songed.
"Okay, shut up or I'll-!"
"Cut a hole in my chest, pull out my still beating heart and then hold it to my ear as you stab it so I can hear myself die?" I said, smiling
brightly.
There was another silence.
"...That's...ugh..." Sheena shuddered, looking at me with disgust.
" Oh?" I lowered my eyelids, allowing a slightly manic smirk to tug at my lips. "Because I think it'd be rather fun to feel the beating
stop..."
Everyone, with the exception of Kratos, scampered to the opposite wall.
"What?" I chirped, smiling innocently.
"Th-that's freaking creepy!!" Lloyd pointed at me.
"Aw, thank you..." I smirked, putting a little purr in my voice.
Lloyd blanched and backed against the wall, staring at me as if I had just grown another head and some tentacles. I held the face for a
second before I burst out lauhging, clutching my gut at the looks on their faces.
"That's HILARIOUS!" I cried, wiping a tear from my face, "Did you HONESTLY think I was serious?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAH-!
OW!"
Raine had smacked me across the back of my head, growling.
"Don't do that again!" she growled.
"But it was FUNNY! Come on, Raine! Geez..."
"I have to agree, there is little to gain by messing with the heads of your comrades," Kratos stated cooly, "if you must, taunt enemies."
"Yeah, I'm gonna stop and talk to them during a fight..." I rolled my eyes.
"Though..."
"Huh?" I looked at Genis.
"As much as you talk, you could probably make them run away!" he grinned.
I sent him a death glare and he froze.
"Would you like ME to perform previous said gruesome act on you?" I hissed.
"N-no..." he shuddered.
"Then shut up."
"Y-yes ma'am..." he trembled.
"...So!" I grinned happily, "Are we gonna get going, huh?"
"...Er...yeah, let's go break the seal!" Lloyd grinned.
"All right, let's do our best!" Colette chirped.
"Y-yeah!" Genis cheered.
"Right!" Sheena nodded.
We headed for the warp pad, my smile slipping the second the teenagers were not looking at me. Soon...this was the last
seal...soon...I'd...
"Jaela? What's with that look?" Raine asked me.
"..." I frowned, "they're incredibly gullible, aren't they?"
"Well...yes," Raine sighed, "but we manage..."
"Right..." I trailed.
We found ourselves on the brightened building top, the air swirling around us. It smelled absolutely wonderful, with no pollution
around...made me smile.
"Here it comes!" Genis cried as mana poured from the altar.
"Okay..." I stated, pulling out my weapon. "...Sheena!"
"Yeah?" she looked at me, cards poised.
"Cover me, would ya? I wanna get this in early." I said, beginning to chant.
"Got it." she nodded.
The seal's guardian appeared and I began to focus, closing my eyes. Darkness was all that was visible, with eyes closed, thus it was
easy to focus on dark.
"Cast the wedge of freedom to those who would be captured..."
Okay, focus, focus focus focus focus- what was I doing-? No! Focus focus focus...dark, sword shaped, darkness sword shaped...
"NEGATIVE BLADE!" I shouted, directing my hand at the monster.
By some stroke of luck, the spell hit the beast straight through it's stomach, it began thrashing about, letting out some kinda demonic-
equine cry.
"Psi tempest!" Lloyd cried, going for it's eyes.
"Pyre seal!" Sheena shouted, knocking it over.
"Aqua edge!" Genis cried.
"Thunder blade!" Kratos cast.
The spells collided on the pegasus-being, which began to screetch, flapping it's wing violently hurling razor-sharp feathers every
where-
"GAH-!"
One of the feathers cut across my cheek, leaving a bleeding gash. I quickly moved to get behind the monster so it's wings wouldn't be
a problem, then stabbed it's hind leg with my saber. It reared up in anger, leaving it open for Lloyd and Sheena to attack it's frontside
as I scampered away from the back legs, almost getting hit by it's hooves. That would've hurt, as I'm sure everyone knows... My
heart was pounding in my head once again, as it always did...adrenaline is just a RUSH, a plain and simple rush! You feel so
alive...ironic, because you feel so alive when your life is on the line...
"Jaela-!" Genis cried.
I turned.
"Oh shi-!"
I barely dodged one of the shadowy images the beast would shoot off every now and then, before it turned and charged at me again-
...Wait...these things are shadows...?
I quickly closed and opened my eyes, and yes, they were indeed shadows...
"Oh yeah!!" I grinned.
It came for me and I simply sidestepped it and swiped my hand through it like a claw- (which my hand actually did look like, seeing
as my nails on that hand were still long, honestly, I see my hand's shadow sometimes and I'm like: 'EEK! CLAWS!') and then almost
fell over as the entire illusion collapsed into a small ball of dark mana in my hands. HAH!
"This is gonna be fun..." I grinned.
I turned to the monster, which was preoccupied against Lloyd and Kratos, Sheena summoning Corrine from the side. I ran at it while
it backed up from our swordsmen, finding the wound I left in it's leg-
and rammed the dark mana into it.
"AH!"
The sound it made honestly almost made me wet myself as it fell, only being supported up by it's front legs. Lloyd took this moment to
stab it through the head.
Needless to say, we won.
"AW RIGHT!!" Lloyd cheered.
Colette made her way to the altar and prayed. As expected, Luna popped up asking for Aska-...that sounds...funny...eheheh...er,
right, anyway, Remiel gave us his spheal about the 'end of the journey' and I tried not to laugh. Right, we were far from the end...
Anyway, the group turned to head back down the tower...
"..."
I stood at the edge of the platform, looking out onto the continent. Though...truth be told, I'm terrified of heights, if it's a strait shot
down and nothing is there to stop me from falling. However, I stood there and looked over it all...then closed my eyes and thought of
the tower beneath me. This would be gone, sooner or later...and...this whole world...it was so clean, because of the primitive
lifestyles... Everything changes...no matter what you may do, no matter what you may try, no matter what you may think, may cling to.
That's just how it is...but...but it's if we try to make the changes good, if we make the most of them, if we start changes the way we
want for our future, that's...that's what's important. I felt the wind on my face and took a deep breath, allowing myself to divulge in the
beauty of it's serenity, one more time...
"...Jaela?"
I looked over, Genis poking me in the shoulder.
"What?" I snapped, a little irritated from being broken from it.
"...What are you doing?" he asked, frowning.
"...I was...just enjoying the air up here," I said, "...it smells good."
"It smells good?" Genis tilted his head to the side, snickering a bit. "Geez, Jaela...you're a little weird-...wait...why were you enjoying
the air?"
"Because..."
I paused. Why DID I do stuff like that? I...I guess...
"I want to make the most of my time," I stated.
Things change fast, things precious disappear, become memories...and you'll regret every moment you didn't cherish, once you look
back...
"..." Genis gaped at me, his face pale.
"...What?" I asked.
"...You're gonna be leaving soon, aren't you?"
I jerked, turning to look at him fully, his blue eyes wide.
"I..."
"...Are you...gonna miss this world?"
I couldn't bring myself to look at him, turning instead to look back out at the view... I had climbed a mountain, once, with my
cousins...the view was...amazing. Gorgeous. Simply...beautiful, and this... The trees stretching beyond the horizon, the sea sloshing to
the side, the air's sweet, soft, legato currents...
"...Yeah," I said, "...I'm gonna miss it."
"...Do you have to go?" he asked.
"...Eventually." I said. "Eventually...I want to go home."
"...Oh," he trailed, "...Jaela?"
"Yes?" I asked, looking at him.
"...Are you gonna miss us?"
I felt a choke rise up and die in my throat, gaping at him as I fought back the tears threatening to spill up in my eyelids. I tried to say
something, but I just couldn't make the words come out. The look on his face...sadness, apprehension...the gleam in his eyes...was
enough to throttle me. With some difficulty I swallowed, my eyes going blurry, but I still hadn't cried. Miss them? Would I...miss
them?
"...More than you know," I whispered, "more than you know..."
"...I'm gonna miss you too," he whimpered, his eyes watering.
"...Genis..."
I put my hand on his shoulder, smiling softly as I knelt down to eye level with him. After all, Genis is VERY short.
I mean...Raine was like five three or something, and I was a few inches taller than her...in fact, Lloyd and Kratos were the only ones
taller than me, though I was pretty equal with Sheena. Anyway...
"...Genis, listen to me," I said, "...please."
"...Yeah?" he asked, looking at me.
"...You all are...so precious to me," I smiled, my eyes watering more, "I...I love the time we've spent together, and I cherish every
moment I've been with you. Every time Colette's tripped, every time Lloyd's laughed, every time Raine's ranted, Kratos has dot dot
dotted, Sheena has gotten mad and every time I've seen you smile." I grinned, "I'll cherish you always...simply because you're my
friends..."
"..." Genis whimpered, trying not to cry.
"..."
My friends are precious to me, as are my family, as is...everyone. The people who looked at me, who noticed me, who
acknowledged me, who willingly spent time with me, who cared for me, when the rest of the world left me in my corner... They will
never, ever know how much they mean to me...how I cry when I think of them, because I'm so happy I can't contain it. They...they
made me want to live, they made me want to keep going, they make me so happy just by existing there...they make me so happy, that
they care at all... I will never be able to put into words, how wonderful they make me feel, how I smile at the more thought, how I
sniffle like a baby while I grin about the memories. I love them all, and I say that not because I'm a bisexual cheater, it's just I can't
find another word that can come close to how wonderful they make my life. And Genis...now, like it or not, he was my friend...and I
cherished him, cherished him like a little brother, though that panged at me again... I missed my real brothers...so so much...but...for
now...I could be apart of Genis' and the others lives, while I was here...and once I got home, I was hugging those knuckle headed
brothers of mine so hard they'd break a rib.
"Heheh," I smiled, ruffling Genis' hair, "aw, come on...don't be a sissy."
"..." Genis nodded, smiling, "r-right..."
"Well, let's go," I said, walking by him for the warp pad, where the others were waiting before they left themselves.
I smiled as I walked towards it, feeling happy...truly happy, for the first time in weeks.
That is, I was happy until we got to the bottom of the tower and Colette collapsed. That's when it hit me. Tonight...Sheena would spill
the beans about the relationship of the two worlds...and Genis would round on me. I had to think of a story to give him. Now.
But...what could I tell him? That I didn't KNOW about the relationship? That I didn't know that this journey would decline
Tethe'alla? ...That was the only thing I could really think of, but...he would see right through me. Dammit...
"Everyone, I have something to say."
It was several hours later when I heard that sentence, and I still couldn't think of a logical story to give Genis. But then...wait! Kratos
knew Genis knew, and he would know that once Sheena spilled the beans the kid would come at me for answers. Oh wait...damn!
He couldn't help me, it would draw attention to himself if he came to my defense...shit. I was trapped...maybe it was best to just play
dumb. That was really the only option I had...or...
"I want to explain to everyone why I tried to assassinate the chosen."
I tuned out the entire conversation, my eyes locked on a rock a few feet away. I knew Genis was glaring at me, the second Raine
deduced the journey to be reversing the mana flow. I'd have to deal with him soon-
"JAELA! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT?!"
Oh God.
"..."
"Huh? Jaela? Why are you yelling at Jaela?" Lloyd asked.
I jolted my head up, my heart racing in my chest as a stared dumbly at Genis. Oh no. Oh dear God...no, he hadn't just... Oh shit. Oh
shit...! NO! THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!! NOT YET! NOT YET!!
"You knew about this, didn't you-!?" Genis cried, pointing at me.
"Genis! How could she know?! What's wrong with you?!" Lloyd stared.
"...How COULD she know...?" Raine turned to look at me.
I felt my body begin to twitch, my breathing going rapidly as I stared at them in horror. It was like one of those dreams where
something you've been fearing happens, and you're there...but you're not. You feel your heart racing, your breath chopping, but your
mind is blank aside from the solitary phrase 'oh no...'. NO! I couldn't act like I was hiding anything! I had to play it cool! Or else
everything would-! Stop shaking! STOP SHAKING DAMMIT! YOU CAN'T SCREW UP NOW! YOU CAN'T FUCKING
SCREW UP NOW, STOP SHAKING YOU PATHETIC LITTLE WENCH!!
"I don't know what you're-" I started, unable to hide a waver in my tone.
"Liar-! You're lying...!" Genis gaped at me, his eyes wide with...hurt... "You did know, didn't you...? You...? Jaela...why didn't
you...?"
I needed to get out of this. But how? Kratos couldn't do anything or it would give him away, unless he...
It's over, Jaela. Play along.
...Unless he went along with them...
"Genis," Kratos stated, "I thought you promised not to tell."
"Kratos?" Lloyd looked at him.
"Huh-?..." Genis paled, "I...I...but she...! Wait! Did you-!?"
"No." Kratos lied. "I didn't know of the situation either, she didn't tell me that much. However, did you truly find it necessary to alert
everyone to her identity?"
"...Oh shit..." Genis whispered, looking stunned, "oh...! I-! AUGH!"
It was then that Genis stole my trademarked 'hit self hard in the forehead because you did something stupid' action.
"...Her identity?" Raine narrowed her gaze on Kratos.
"...Jaela, would you care to show them?" Kratos looked at me, "Hiding it any longer seems to be rather redundant."
...Damn...damn...
"..."
I took a deep breath and slowly got to my feet, keeping my eyes on the ground as I swallowed to try to dampen my parched throat. I
closed my eyes and took a deep breath. ...It's not easy to reveal a secret people will act differently toward you for telling, I know
that. Though I hadn't done that often, most things I'm very open about, except when it comes to things like friends and...ahem,
crushes. See...what I was feeling was equivalent to how I felt when I fessed up and told a guy that I liked him. ...It sounded easy to
do, you know? But as soon as I got the chance...
"I..." I started to say.
See, I had pinpointed my chance. It would be pretty much my only chance, when I could be alone with him and no one would know,
with the exception of my friend. There are four people in my spanish class. FOUR. No I am not kidding. We were doing one on one
testing that day, you see... One of us would be out of the room with the teacher for ten minutes at a time, or more. The guy I liked, his
friend, my friend, and I are in that class. As soon as the other guy was out I asked to speak to the guy I liked at the other side of the
room, my friend kindly staying out of it.
That was one great thing about her, if something happened concerning one of her friends, she didn't tell a soul unless the friend asked
her to tell someone. Something I severely needed to work on... At any rate, I pulled him aside and I...well, I spilled my guts. I told
him I had liked him for a long long time, and I just wanted to tell him. I didn't ask him out or anything, in fact, I apologized that I liked
him because that would freak most people out... Right, um...I was stammering the whole time, shaking, and I started to cry a little, but
I told him. Then of course, afterward he asked if I was okay and I replied by shrugging and going 'oh I'm good, I'm fine, of course I'm
fine, don't I look fine? I'm good, I'm okay, why wouldn't I be?' even though it was obvious I was crying. See, I wanted to tell him
because I figured...the sooner he rejected me, the sooner I could get over it, you know? Or if by some miracle he did like me...then
hell, awesome. See, if he rejected me I could've just been like 'fucker' and gotten over it, right? But he didn't do either. He rejected
me NICELY. NICELY! Not even fakey nicely, genuinely nicely! What could I do?!
I was so pissed off! I couldn't like him, because he didn't like me, but I couldn't hate him either! I-! I-! GRR! God dammit! And I felt
so pathetic afterward...I cried, God dammit I CRIED! I swore I wouldn't but I...heh...I suck, geez I suck, plain and simple...no
wonder he didn't like me...how could anyone? But...I felt a little better once I fessed up, you know? I didn't have to hide it anymore...
At that moment I just keep repeating to myself 'do it do it do it!' and I did, because that was the only thing that made me. I refused to
chicken out, I REFUSED to back down, no matter how pathetic it made me look...so did it. That's what I was trying to do now, just
do it. Just show them your wings...just do it and get it over with.
"..."
Do it.
"...I'm sorry..." I choked.
I closed my eyes and sighed in relief as I felt my wings sprout from my back. Just having them out was soothing...wondrous, even... I
had...always, always wanted wings...because I...I have problems, all right!? That's all!
"Wh-what the-!?" Lloyd cried.
I opened my eyes slowly, looking up at them as my vision blurred from the tears I wouldn't allow to fall.
"Y-you're a-!?" Sheena gasped.
"...Jaela..." Raine whispered, staring at me.
"...I'm an angel of Cruxis," I stated, my voice surprisingly clear, despite my condition...which was the case for the last time I did
something like this, coincidentally, "...I was sent to make sure Colette completed the journey."
I moved to hang my head, so I wouldn't have to look at them. Then stopped. ...I would face them, now matter how weak I
looked...like I did with him, like I did when my Dad called my siblings...something, and I told him that they weren't, even though God
knows I was scared to death to look him in the eye and say that.
"..." I swallowed.
I stood up straight and proud, my eyes open and looking at them via all the determination I could muster despite my tears seeping
down my cheeks.
"...I didn't tell you...because I thought it would be better that way." I said.
"...Genis...you knew about this? Kratos too?" Raine snapped.
"I...I found out on accident," Genis muttered, "...Jaela didn't want me to tell, because she...she didn't want us to treat her different,
after she made friends with us...and she didn't want to draw attention..."
"I was asked when she arrived on Sylvarant to pretend to be her mentor," Kratos lied, "in order to cover up what would have been a
suspicious cover story. Not many would be gullible to believe a young solo female mercenary traveling about."
"...I did know about the worlds," I said, turning my gaze from Colette to lock eyes with Lloyd, "but I was sent to make sure Colette
completed the journey and...and...in all honesty..." I turned to look at Sheena, "I don't know what to do either."
"..." Sheena gaped, staring at me.
"W-wait! So you're a-!?" Lloyd stared at me. "Why didn't you tell us?!"
"I wasn't supposed to reveal myself," I stated truthfully, "...and...once I started traveling with you all...I honestly didn't want you to...to
look at me like that, Raine."
She flinched, as I had looked at her while she had been glaring at me with suspicion and anger at my deception. ...I did respect her so
much, she was like an older sister, really...and...the way she was looking at me just made my tears fall faster. I forced a smile in an
effort to draw attention away from my tears.
"...I didn't want you to hate me," I smiled, my voice choking, "...I liked you all...you're all so...so kind, so amazing...all I wanted was
for you to like me too."
...That, at least, wasn't a lie. I wanted them to like me...I wanted them to be fond of me, to respect me, like I did them...
"I'm sorry..." I whispered, my voice cracking, "I'm sorry...I am, but...but I..."
Colette grabbed Lloyd's hand.
"Huh-? I- t- s- Oh! You're spelling something?" Lloyd blinked. "a- l- l-...It's all right...Jaela? I...under...stand...?"
Silence fell like a hammer.
"Colette..."
Then I snapped.
"COLETTE YOU DITZ!!" I roared, startling Genis (Having three younger siblings and being loud by nature, I have a set of pipes),
"You're WAY too damn nice for your own good! You-! You-! ARGH!! How am I supposed to be all dramatically emo and shit
when you don't even hate me!? G-! GEEZ!"
I hit myself hard in the head again, aggravated.
"DAMN! DAMN IT!!" I snapped.
"...Jaela-" Lloyd started.
"DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT...!"
I continued bashing my forehead with my fist, this carrying on until-
SMACK!
"OW-! SHIT-!" I yelped.
"That's enough of that, Jaela!" Raine huffed as I rubbed the back of my head which she had bitch-slapped. "You'll give yourself a
concussion!!"
"Huh? From what?" I blinked, forgetting the situation.
"Hitting yourself like that!" she scoffed.
"Oh, no I'm fine, I barely feel it," I smiled, "I've gotta hard head-..."
I froze in mid sentence, feeling my eyes widen as I stared at her. Raine was glaring at me with her usual scoffing 'you misbehaved,
young lady!' way.
"..." I choked.
"What?" she snorted.
"...You...you..."
I felt myself smile, my eyes tearing up again as I grinned.
"You don't hate me...?" I stammered.
I was so happy...so insanely happy that...I couldn't help but grin.
"..." Raine flinched a moment, then crossed her arms with a huff, turning away from me. "Hate you? Why should I? Angry with you?
Certainly."
"...You're...not sure of what to do either, are you?" Sheena said, drawing my attention to her. "...We're in the same position, aren't
we?"
"...More or less..." I smiled weakly.
Colette smiled at me as she wrote in Lloyd's palm.
"That...doesn't...st...op...you...from being...our...friend..." he read, then smiled, "yeah...Colette's right, Jaela, you're still you. So
you're still our friend!"
"...You idiot..." I stammered, beginning to cry again.
"Right then," Raine stated, "...so...we should think of our next course of action. If what Sheena says is true, which we know, seeing as
she's from Tethe'alla and Jaela here knows it for a fact being an angel..."
I flinched.
"We should think of what to do next." she stated.
"...Isn't there a way?" Sheena asked. "Jaela! Isn't there a way for Sylvarant and Tethe'alla...isn't there a way for them to all be safe!?"
"..." I fell silent.
"...The best thing to do right now would to be to save Sylvarant from it's current crisis," Kratos stated, "then we can go about trying
to find a path for mutual salvation."
"Yeah..." I trailed, "we should go to the tower, first...then we'll take off from there, it's not like you have a better lead right now."
"I suppose you're right..." Raine sighed.
"...I hope that works..." Sheena groaned.
"...Uhm...Jaela?"
I turned to look at Genis, whom looked down right ashamed of himself.
"I...I'm sorry I...I broke my promise, I'm so sorry I..."
"...It's okay," I smiled, "I...would've been mad at you if you hadn't."
"Right, now that that's done..."
I slowly turned to face Raine, whom was eying me in a very eerie fashion. I fidgeted for a moment before realizing my wings were still
out.
Oh shit.
"AH-!" I yelped, attempting to move.
"HOLD STILL! I JUST WANT ONE FEATHER!"
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE ANY OF COLETTE'S!?" I cried.
"THIS IS PUNISHMENT FOR DECIEVING US! TAKE IT LIKE AN ADULT!"
"BUT I'M NOT AN ADULT-!" I yelped.
"YOU MIGHT BE, FOR ALL I KNOW! OOOH! FASCINATING! I WONDER WHAT THE MATURITY AGE IS FOR
ANGELS!?"
"HELP MEE!!!" I cried, running every which way I could to avoid her as I tucked my wings away, almost tripping over Kratos as I
ran.
"Raine-!!" Genis cried. "Leave her alone!!"
"This is actually kinda funny, though..." Lloyd laughed.
"I'LL GUT YOU FOR THAT, DUMBASS!" I shouted.
Then I tripped and bashed into Noishe, and let me tell you, Raine couldn't get at my feathers but she sure as hell pulled out all the
stops to make me take them out, including her...cooking...
. ...I will never...ever...eat lettuce again...ever...
Yes, I didn't say what was going to 'fix' the earlier chapters yet, sorry. But I hope them finding me out was enough of a
'twist' to make it interesting. For now, anyway...
Yuan: Whatever, it was still lame.
Me: Shut up. Review! n.n