It's Only Forever.....
Chapter 1- The New Battle
by: Asurahime
-Let's remember those days...-
A green-haired girl suddenly threw back the sheets of her bed, trying to orient herself. Her crimson eyes were wide open with dilated pupils, which were in defiance of the light which streaked relentlessly through the window. A scarlet sword, carefully hanging on the back of a chair was radiating a light which seemed to respond to its wielder's abrupt urgency.
-Not again... please...-, the girl hugged her knees to herself as a breeze cooled her body.
Soon, she finally calmed down enough to get out of bed and fix herself. Putting on the same red dress she always wore, she looked into a mirror and tried to asses how much she has changed over the years. Her childish figure has completely disappeared, her face is more pointed and sharp, and her cyan hair now fell to her waist.
_No matter what you're thinking, under no circumstances will you cut your hair.... don't look at me like that, because I am not going to cut it for you._
Picking up her sword, the girl's eyes lost their despair and she smiled. "I wish that you would stop reading minds."
The sword simply replied, _It's not my problem! I have this gift, and I will use it whenever I need to. I won't ask now, but sooner or later you will tell me why you were tossing and turning while you were asleep._
"Thank you." Sheathing the sword, the young woman picked up her few belongings and left the room. She nodded to the innkeeper, who smiled back, half nervously. When she smiled back sweetly, he calmed down and gave her a genuine smile that told her to come back another time. When she stepped out of the inn, she immediately headed for the Port of Owmi.
_Where are we going?_
_You know very well where we're going, so why are you asking?_
_Child, I am just a sword... how would I know? I am only supposed to kill things, remember?_
The girl looked around the bustling port and saw that the only flights in the schedule were headed for Koorong and Nelson. -Where could he be.....?- Then, she caught sight of an orange-haired pilot, who was looking as if he was suffering from complete boredom. She went up to him, and the pilot just surveyed her curiously.
"Sir, could you help me?" asked the girl.
The pilot grinned broadly. "It's been a long time, Asellus!"
"You remember my name?"
"Of course. Not many crimson-eyed people ask me to take them to Facinaturu, you know?"
Asellus sighed, a little confused. "Oh."
The pilot then pointed to his ship. "Time for you to return to Facinaturu again?"
Asellus grinned and nodded. "I'm ready."
-^+*+*+*+^-
In Facinaturu--- Rootville.
Princess White Rose and ex-Princess Rei were waiting at Gina's house in Rootville. "It's been a long time, hasn't it Rei."
Rei has now gotten older, since she had been reborn as a human. "Yes, too long if you ask me. It's probably about ten years since we last saw our half-mystic sister."
White Rose sighed and began to work a few of Gina's roses into a wreath to calm her nerves. "Ten years..... nothing to a mystic, but if you spend most of that time waiting... it can take its toll on you."
The ex-princess simply replied, "True, but remember that you mystics have all of eternity..."
"And so do half-mystics..." finished another voice which was edged with sarcasm. A figure approached the two women, and was revealed to be Zozma. "She hasn't arrived yet?"
The two shook their heads. No.
A swarthy man with green hair, blue eyes, and black wings landed next to Zozma. "Why has Asellus been avoiding all of us?"
"Who knows, Ildon." answered White Rose. "But in truth, I feel kind of jealous, because our wandering princess never fails to visit Gina at least once a year... and I know that she's coming today."
A few minutes later, Mesarthim entered through the gate, and later on, Silence followed. "Is Lady here yet?" asked the mermaid.
"No." replied Zozma as he crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. "What could be taking her so long?!"
Ildon sighed deeply, hiding his own impatience. "She has her own reasons, Zozma. After what all of us had gone through with her, you should have realized that by now. I must admit it though... it took me a long time to do just that."
"Well, I for one would like to know what those reasons are, Prince of Darkness." said another voice, and Rastaban entered the gate.
-By the flame of Facinaturu!! I hate that damn title!!- thought Ildon.
Rei replied. "Knowing how reserved that girl can be when she wants to, not even the Time Lord, or Virgil, or Kylin, or Orlouge, or even Hell's Lord can crack that facade."
"Yes, that girl can be as stubborn as Orlouge used to be... when he was still alive." agreed Rastaban.
Silence smiled inwardly. -They haven't the slightest idea what's in store for them, do they?-
Zozma grinned slyly as the rest back away from him and Ildon, but they continued to watch with interest. "I would say that Asellus is equally as stubborn as Ildon, actually." The others tried to smother their laughter as Ildon glared an If-you-go-any-further-I'll-enjoy-killing-you look at the reckless Zozma. Mesarthim found the sky just fascinating; White Rose's wreath was made up of three of Gina's rose bushes; Rastaban was busy smoothing the creases of his flawless cloak; Rei was clutching on to her robes as if they were the only things keeping her on the ground; and Silence's wings were opening and closing of their own accord.
"Well, it's true!..... Hey, ya know? Ildon and Asellus would make a pretty good pair if you think about it! Yes, I can just see it now... the Princess of Alabaster and the Prince of Darkne----" The impudent orange-haired mystic didn't even bother to lower his voice when he said this, and the next thing he knew, he was buried face-first into a tree trunk that he was blasted violently against.
Ildon was not at all amused with Zozma's comment. "You were saying?"
Zozma turned back to face Ildon. "My, my!! He's not even denying i---" All of a sudden, he found himself in his former predicament. "All right. I'll stop."
There was a suppressed ack ack ack as Rastaban desperately tried to hold in his uncontrollable laughter, but the sound acted like a trigger and the five of them inevitably exploded into laughter.
The laughter stopped when the five can no longer stand. Silence supported himself against a tree and saw a green-haired girl looking startled at the sight of the company. She caught Silence looking at her and silently pleaded to him not to blow her cover just yet.
_Why?_ , asked Silence.
Asellus placed a finger on her lips and quickly, and silently went to the back of the house, where Gina and her family were. _I'll explain later Silence, please, don't tell them right now! _
-Whatever you say princess...- thought Silence as he once again studied the scene before his eyes.
-^*+*+*+*^-
_I would like to know why you have been avoiding the other mystics myself. Now that Orlouge is dead, the throne of Facinaturu rightfully belongs to you! But no, you are too cynical when it comes to that._
_I don't want it, because it doesn't belong to me. It belongs to a true mystic... like White Rose or... Ildon, he's considered the 'Black Wing: Prince of Darkness' anyway._ said Asellus as she quickly went to the garden behind Gina's home.
_You have no idea about the titles that humans and mystics have given you... haven't you?_ , stated Asura as Asellus stopped dead on her tracks. _What in the world are you talking about?! What titles have they given to me?_
_Well, where should I start? There's 'Wandering Princess', 'Daughter of Orlouge', 'Mystic-crown-princess of Facinaturu', 'Charm Princess', 'Princess of Alabaster', and my personal favorite, 'Sword Princess'._
Asellus flinched visibly, feeling more and more uncomfortable with each passing title. _What utter nonsense that is!! And why in the heck are all of them except one having to do with me being a princess?! I am no such thing!!!_
_Hey princess, don't blame me... I just kill things._
_Don't you start!!!!!_ shouted Asellus in her thoughts.
A couple of while blurs suddenly latched themselves on to Asellus's arms, crying her name and laughing happily.
Gina's grandchildren: Terra and Garr, were hugging the half-mystic with all their might. "We were starting to think that you have forgotten about us."
_Had you been a human, you would have been a wonderful mother._
Asellus lifted Terra as she smiled gently at Garr, who was now holding on to her leg. _Asura... I no longer have any regrets. Forever is not a very long time at all ._
An old woman walked around to see where Terra and Garr went. Her blurry eyes immediately focused themselves on Asellus, as hot tears began to run down her face. "La- Lady Asellus!!!"
The half-mystic looked up and saw Gina trying to run to her, despite her age. "Gina!!"
Gina overbalanced and tripped. Asellus saw what was happening and caught her before she hit the ground.
Asellus's red eyes were wide with concern. "Gina? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Just kind of tired..." replied the old woman.
The half-mystic turned to the two children behind her. "Terra! Garr!! Help me, please?" The two children led Gina to her rocking chair in an instant. Asellus grinned in spite of herself as she told them to go play somewhere.
_How long will you stay this time?_
_Who knows? If I stay here, I am endangering their lives, but I do have to tell them what happened, and what they have to expect._
_The mystics too? About the dream, or the mysterious knight?_
Asellus nodded hesitantly. _I have to let the others know about this too. I have to tell them both of those factors._
Asura suddenly gave off a mischievous shine. _How long do you think that Zozma will last before he kisses that tree again, via Black Wing Airlines?_
_For a sword, you are so damn immature!_
_Thirty seconds._
The half-mystic sighed, exasperated. _Shut up, will you?!......... Five seconds._
Asellus turned back to see the other mystics still arguing.
_One... two... three... four... five... _
"Yeowch!! I think I've had enough." said Zozma's voice.
_Told you so._ , laughed Asellus as she walked back to Gina.
Gina smiled quietly. "My dear, it's been so long that I was starting to think that you have forgotten about me."
"Don't be silly, Gina! How can I forget all that has happened when Orlouge was alive?" replied the mystic.
"... Lady Asellus... why do you avoid the other mystics? Do you think that they will still reject you?"
Asura supported Gina. _See? Even Gina knows._
The crimson-eyed girl shook her head. "Gina, if it were only as simple as that. I have cause enough trouble in Facinaturu; but that isn't really what I cam here for today."
Gina's eyes widened. "What's wrong, Lady Asellus?"
The girl curled her fingers in a fist. "I'll start from the beginning..."
-^+*+*+*+^-
Ildon, just as grim as ever frowned at Zozma, who was busy dusting off his clothes from coming too often in contact with the tree. -Idiot!!.... But Asellus should have been here by now... where in the heck is that girl?!-
Out of the blue, Mesarthim saw that Silence was even more silent than usual. "Hey, Lord Silence? Is something wrong."
Silence clamped his teeth together. -Should I at least tell her? No.... Asellus will definitely pluck my wings, curl my antennas, dye my hair, and then cleave off my head within seconds if I tell anyone without her permission..... Zozma's right, she and Ildon would make a great couple...-
White Rose and Rei now saw Mesarthim's interrogation of Silence, so they both followed the suit.
"Silence, you're hiding something... I know you are." whispered Rei, as her voice became deadly.
Silence swallowed, aghast. _What do you mean? How and why would I be hiding anything?_
"Because your wings are opening and closing frantically. By themselves?", White Rose put in her insight and just added more fuel to the fire.
Silence began sweating and blushed a bright blue. _I'm not hiding anything!!_
Mesarthim smiled wickedly. "Then why would you deny it so forcefully, Lord Silence?"
"Honestly Silence, you're acting as if someone will pluck your wings if you revealed what you're hiding." glared White Rose.
Silence continued to hold back until Asellus's voice floated through his mind.
_Silence, it's all right now. I already spoke to Gina; you can tell them._
Silence breathed a sigh of relief, but turned away from the others, trying to buy some time in case Asellus needed it. _Are you leaving before they see you again?_
Asellus hesitated to answer. _.......... I should..._
For the first time in his life, Silence growled with exasperation. _Princess... don't leave yet! The others have waited ten years to see you again... besides, they'll torture me when they find out that I saw you and kept it to myself._
_What makes you so sure that they'll find out?_
_I'll have to tell them sooner or later, especially since they already suspect something._
Silence heard Asellus sigh deeply. _... I guess you're right. I'll be there in a whi--!!_
_Asellus? Princess!? What happened?!!_ screamed Silence telepathically.
All of a sudden, a shadow fell across the garden as a black bolt of lightning with crimson edges struck the ground at Ildon's feet.
Ildon looked up in cold fury and saw that the bolt belonged to a man wearing black and red armor. A blood-colored cape was hanging from his shoulders, and was shredded from what seemed like hundreds of battles which all ended with a bloody victory. A red glint was visible under the helmet and strands of long, silver hair billowed around the figure.
The black warrior drew a silver sword from the sheath at his side. "Well, well, well... if it isn't the mystics who killed Orlouge."
Rastaban glared at the knight and started forward. "Who in the hell do you think you are!?"
"He's just another shameless bastard!" growled Zozma.
Rei started her 'Reaper' spell, but it was blocked by a shield of glass. White Rose cast 'Fascination', but it failed; as did Mesarthim's 'Maelstrom', Silence's 'Hand Blaster', and Zozma's 'Death Curse'.
Ildon saw the others fail in their attempts of attacking the dark knight, and so he attacked with his 'Mystic Sword'.
The adversary merely smiled in contempt as he met Ildon's mystic sword by using his own mystic sword.
Rastaban gasped in shock. "He-he's a mystic!!"
The others fell back from the knight, quite surprised with Rastaban's outburst.
The dark knight looked into the area past the group and waved his hand; a young boy and a young girl appeared. He then pointed his sword towards the children.
"One move, and these children's blood shall stain the ground."
Rei froze. "What do you want from us?"
"I want the mystic crown-princess."
A figure hidden by the shadows was seething with fury. When she saw the two children motionless, her sanity snapped as her crimson eyes darkened in rage.
Ildon hissed. "I am the crown-prince of Facinaturu, and believe it or not, there are absolutely no crown-princesses!"
White Rose, Rei, and Rastaban promptly exchanged glances as a cold chill ran down their spines.
Silence remembered something and the thought caused him to gasp. _He can't mean that--!!_
Gina suddenly came out of the back garden as she looked around for her grandchildren. Her sight was immediately captured by the black knight in the middle of her lawn. "TERRA!!! GARR!!", she cried and began running to her beloved grandchildren, who were unconscious with a sword ready to take their lives.
The girl in the shadows entered into a berserker rage as soon as she saw Gina. She cursed under her breath and focused on her target.
Zozma yelled. "Gina! STOP!!"
The black knight saw the old woman racing to him. "Too late, their lives now belong to me."
White Rose held Gina down, and pleaded to the knight. "Have mercy!!"
"Mercy is only for the weak, who the parasites of any world." As he raised his sword, Ildon jumped and covered the children with his body and his jet-black wings.
The others cried out in shock. "Ildon!!"
They didn't realized that another voice also called out his name as that person unsheathed a scarlet sword. A sudden rush of wind confirmed another presence as the being ran towards the knight.
"Foolish prince, you shall share their death-- even if you cannot die!!"
The silver sword descended at Ildon and the children with a speed to rapid to follow. No cry sounded, only a loud crash was heard, and the dark knight found himself looking into the berserk crimson eyes of a green-haired mystic.
The knight dropped his sword and fell back a couple of steps. "..... Asellus."
The half-mystic cut a back-handed slash too fast to see, which caught and threw off the other's helmet.
"Begone..... Ciato."
-^+*+*+*+^-
The others gasped, not knowing which was the greater shock: Ciato's reincarnation, or Asellus.
Ciato reached a hand to touch Asellus's hair, but she moved away before he could.
"I'll be back, you know." he whispered.
Asellus glared daggers at him. "Don't you think I know that? Next time.... I'll make sure you stay dead. Don't ever touch anyone in this family again, or any innocents. If you do, by my guardian Asura, you'll wish you are able to die." she whispered coldly back at him.
Ciato just smiled. "I am looking forward to it, princess." Then, he disappeared.