Authors Notes: I take NO credit whatsoever for characters that I did not create. They are (c) they're creators. I created Cheza, Ramei, Nagra, Tojo, and Cheza and Raimei's mother.
Cheza was created February or March '99. She is, as of right now, my favorite RolePlaying character. Most of the contents of this story happened in the RP Chat Room on AOL, The Pridelands. Some was made up, just because of lack of memory. ^^;; This story goes from Cheza's entrance to the Pridelands and Outlands (although the very first paragraph is around Cheza's teen years) up until..big spoiler, click here. Or click here to skip the spoiler.
It ends at Cheza's death and the reunion of her mother in heaven.
If you want to use any of my characters in a SL or story, please ask permission first. All questions, comments, complaints, etc. are welcome. :) I love to hear from you guys. Notes from me are put in parenthesis with Author-sama: -what I'm putting- inside. i.e. (Author-sama: Blahblahblah.) would be an author's note. These will probably just be little funny remarks I make here an there.
If you offended by swearing (I'll try not to put anything TOO bad in..) or reading about extensive abuse and fighting, please stop reading now. There are also a few graphic births that happen..so if that grosses you out..sowwy. ^_^;;
E-Mail: SailorMoOMoO@aol.com
Okay. You're probably dying because of suspense, so I'll shut up and let you get to Act III.
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ACT III
When Angels Cry
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Raimei bawled and mewled pitifully. "Please hurry..."
"I'm coming for you.."
Cheza still had dreams with Raimei calling for her. Cheza promised she'd rescue her, but from what she didn't know for sure. She knew that Tojo abused little Raimei, but why was the question. "Why does he abuse you so badly?"
"Mchawi says it's revenge, but I don't know what for."
"Raimei."
"Yes?"
"Tell me about yourself."
"My mother died giving birth to me. Tojo has always hated me. He said he found me outside his lands in mother's dead paws. He took me back home and has tortured me ever since."
"But..wouldn't you have grown some since then? I've had this dreams for a very long time."
"Tojo said Mchawi put a spell on Mother when she was pregnant with me. He said I'd be a cub until the spell was broken. I don't know how to break it." Cheza could hear her crying in the endless darkness that was their place, the only time they could communicate.
"Cheza..Cheza..don't leave yet..Cheza..CHEZA!"
But it was too late. Cheza was spinning uncontrollably in the darkness until she woke up, crying. "I'm coming Raimei..I'll be there soon.." she whispered to the moon.
~~~
After walking several weeks through various forests, deserts, and savannas, Cheza arrived in a desolate land she recognized in the depths of her heart, from dreams to memories of before her birth, Cheza knew.
Mchawi appeared in a puff of black smoke, sneering at her. "Well if it isn't little Cheza," he laughed cruelly. "I remember you. Your mother tried to run off before she had you. King Tojo was very angry. He said the next child wouldn't be so lucky." An insane laugh escaped his throat.
Cheza remained unemotional, except for the blazing hatred in her eyes that she could not control. Already she was beginning to twitch uncontrollably. "Where is my sister?"
"Oh, little Raimei?" Mchawi said slyly. "She's in her room, as she always is."
Cheza began to choke up and twitched madly before falling to the ground. She rose, huge black wings arched over her back. She took Mchawi's neck in her powerful paw. "I said where is she?" she hissed.
"Oooh hoohoo..impressive," Mchawi complimented. "So you do have your father's spirit in you."
Cheza was unfazed and tightened her grip.
"Wouldn't you care to know why you are like this? With your..split personalities?"
Cheza continued to be silent, squeezing tighter ever so gradually.
"I'll tell you," Mchawi didn't seem frightened in the least. "You have your mother and father's blood in you. Your mother had a good heart and loved everything. She was always happy. Her mother and father betrothed her to Tojo, whom she didn't like because of his love for destruction. He raped her twice, that's where you and little Raimei came from. She ran away each time to try and get her cubs to escape his wrath. Only you made it." A sneer was formed on Mchawi's muzzle. "Yourmother died giving birth to Raimei. Your father was..quite angry. And since Raimei is an exact replica of your mother..."
Cheza's eyes widened, her wings fading to gray, then to white. "Oh Gods..that's why.." Cheza gasped. "Raimei is..Raimei is my mother reincarnated, isn't she?"
"Goood kitty," Mchawi drawled. "Of course. Tojo would recognize her persona anywhere. After she died, her spirit refused to go to heaven, so she inhabited Raimei's body, to try and free her. I put a spell on her to keep her a cub, so that she could never fight back."
Cheza snarled, wings instantly turning back to jet black. With all the built up rage, Cheza dug her claws into Mchawi's flesh, penetrating his windpipe. She snapped his body bag like a rag doll. A sickening snap was heard as Mchawi's neck broke.
Mchawi was shocked, to say the least. As he lay dying, gasping for breath, he sneered. Then with his last ounce of strength, before fading into darkness, he said "You'll..never..break..my spell.."
A large, bulky shadow made its way to them. Cheza snarled, claws dripping with fresh blood. "Who goes there?"
"I'm shocked," Tojo sneered as he erupted from the shadows, pinning Cheza before she had a chance to react. "You don't recognize your own daddy?" he asked, his voice mocking her as he placed his paws at her throat.
Cheza writhed under his grip, wings pinned under her, gasping for breath.
"Die," Tojo said as he pushed with all his might on Cheza's exposed throat.
~~~
Cheza felt warmth on her hide. White wings hung delicately at her sides. She was floating, and suddenly, Cheza awoke with memories. She remembered Tojo trying to break her neck, her wind pipe, and then blacking out. "Where am I!?!" she cried, thrashing this way and that, looking around at her surroundings.
It was an endless sky of pastel colours, swirling together to give the place a warm, cheery glow.
"Cheza.." a soft voice said. A dark grey lioness with white undersides, etc., dark blue eyes, and grey wings, floated over to her.
"Mother?"
How Cheza knew that this was her mother, she'd never understand. Cheza never knew her mother, and she'd never seen this lioness before. But it rung so clear in her mind...
"Daughter," the lioness persisted. "My name is Raimei, and yes, I am your mother. I have a story to tell you, which could change your fate, and mine."
"Raimei?" Cheza questioned. "Isn't that..my sister's name?"
Raimei nodded. "Yes. Your father knew she was I reincarnated, and just named her that." She closed her eyes to keep from letting the tears fall. "This is my story."
"Tell me."
~~~
My mother and father weren't the best of parents. They thought of me more as something for their own personal gain. Tojo's parents used to rule these lands, before him. They were good people, and since my parents didn't think much of me, I considered them more my parents.
I alwys loved nature and watching things grow. I spent my days watching the wonders of nature, since I didn't have any friends. I was happy, though. Happy to be alive.
I was a freak of nature, yes, born with wings. My mother admitted having winged lions in her genes, but she had thought it was long ago buried. Apparently, she was wrong.
Mother and Father announced that I was betrothed to Prince Tojo, and that I would one day be Queen.
"It's good for the family," Mother said.
"You'll be a wonderful Queen," Father said.
Tojo and his best friend, Mchawi, hated me. Mchawi practiced all sorts of magic, but was only an amatuer at the time. Tojo and Mchawi were always torturing me after our betrothment.
I begged, I pleaded, I even ran away, so I wouldn't be near Tojo and his love for destruction. I was always answered with harsh beatings from him and my parents.
When Tojo's parents passed away and we were given the throne, things happened almost immediately. The lands changed. Herds moved on. Many lions died, until only a scarce few were left.
Tojo raped me, and I ran away to have you. I didn't want to abandon you, but I prayed and I prayed that you would be guided to safety, and you were.
Mchawi, who had become a master of magic, brought me back. Tojo was enraged, and beat me so badly, I nearly died several times. Mchawi always healed the life-threatening wounds, and bandaged some of the worst non-life-threatening gashes.
Again he raped me, and I ran away to have my other child. I died giving birth to her, but my soul was unsettled. I couldn't go to the heavens. I had to know my second daughter would make me. She never ran off, like you did, and when Mchawi found her in my paws, I had inhabited her.
Mchawi at first, did not pick up on this, but Tojo did. He named me Raimei, and made Mchawi put a spell on me to be a cub for all of my life, so he would have no trouble beating me.
~~~
Cheza was crying as her mother finished her story.
"I have saved you from death," she said. "Go my child, save me and save all of Tojo's lands from his hateful wrath..."
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End Act III
