The Meaning

by Queen of the Faeries1

They had defeated Fate once before. They had stood against the might of Soa and Destiny. But could they face a stronger enemy this time--Death itself?

1. Of Trust and Betrayal

Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Dragoon. The gods are not that kind. Some of the ideas seem to be in the back of my mind, as if I'm copying from some movie, but I assure you that I do not intend to. Everything is a creation of my own imagination; otherwise I would say so.

Author's Notes: I'm not sure why I wrote this story, but Calliope yelled at me when I wouldn't, so that might be the reason. I made Dart a bit nasty in this one because you've been influencing me in some of the other story reviews, saying that he wasn't good enough for Rose. So I decided to run with the pack and see where it led me. This is a new sort of story for me, a new idea, and foreign to me. Please review so I know what's going on.

Everything in here is a work of fiction and created by the author's imagination. Any connections to any persons you know, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The Meaning

"Dart!" The voice was light and feminine. "Dart!"

The warrior looked up from the wall that he was repairing. "Yeah. I'm over here!"

Shana appeared from around the corner, waving something in her hand and smiling widely. She had conquered her insomnia last night and had finally gotten a good night's sleep. "Dart, a messenger bird just arrived from Serdio."

Dart gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and then took the letter. Albert's slanted handwriting was neatly printed on it.

"It's an invitation." He said. "Albert and Emille are inviting us, and the rest of the team back to Indels Castle to celebrate the anniversary of our saving the world."

"The rest of the team!" Shana gasped. "Oh, it'd be so wonderful to see them again! It's been months since we've all been together!"

"So I take it you want to go?"

"Of course! We can get Father and some of the villagers to finish this wall. It's a small repair; it'll be done far before that predicted storm comes. I want to see the others again. I didn't have a chance to get to really know Miranda." She paused. "Or Rose."

Dart's smile faded slightly. It had been two weeks since he had seen Rose, since she called him from town to her meeting spot. She had persuaded the guardians of the dead to let her shade out for one night, and they had spoken of many things.

"I was so mean to her…" Shana's hands were at her throat, something that she did when she was nervous. "I thought she was trying to get you to notice her and I was jealous. I was so nasty…"

"Shana." He wrapped an arm around her. "I know that Rose isn't angry with you. She never was. It was just a stone farce to keep her cold and alone. Someday, when the time is right, I think I will explain to you. But for now, let's celebrate. I want to see the others too. So cheer up, hmm? We'll fly there."

His wife smiled. "Do you think Emille will let me borrow one of her dresses?"

"Of course. Let's go."

Meanwhile, in a little town far away…

"Look at the legs on that." The group of men was gesturing toward a woman sitting at the bar. She said something briefly to a man sitting next to her, an man with pearl-colored hair and wrinkles in his skin, and then turned back to her drink, finishing it in one gulp.

One of the men got up and sat down in the empty seat next to her. She gave him one glance and ignored him.

"Lemme buy you a drink, sweetheart." He offered in a voice that was meant to be sultry.

She shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

He signaled to the bartender, who handed him a drink. The woman took it from him, allowing her long fingers to linger against his for a moment before lifting the drink to her lips and downing half of it without a grimace.

"What's your name?" He asked her.

She finally looked at him full on. "What's yours?" She purred.

He turned and grinned to his friends and then replied, "Orten." Encouraged by his friends, he rested a hand on her thigh, caressing suggestively.

She smiled at him, teasing slyly, with her eyes lowered demurely.

That was easy. And they said I couldn't do it. He thought, returning the smile.

A smile that quickly faded when her leg snapped up, and kicked his face. His head snapped back and he clapped a hand over his nose to keep the blood from gushing. "You—!"

Her eyes were narrowed, the flirting grin gone from her lips, replaced by a wildcat's snarl. "Don't ever touch me without my permission." She growled. She nodded to the old man that she had spoken to and they both left the bar.

"You don't mind that, do you, darling?" She asked him.

"Of course not, my love. You only wanted a free drink, and he deserved it."

She laced her fingers around his arm. "Now, we have a party to get to…"

"Dart!" A floating mass of blue fairly flung herself into Dart's arms. "Hi!"

"Meru!" Dart laughed. "It's great to see you again too. Now let go before your fiancé and my wife get jealous."

The Wingly released her death grip as Guaraha walked over. "Hello, Dart, Shana."

"Hey, Shana!" Meru threw her arms around Shana. "Hi!"

"Hello, Meru." Shana laughed. "You look different…A dress?!"

Meru frowned. "Albert's advisors thought it wouldn't be good for political reasons if one of the King and Queen's best friends were seen being dressed in, and may I quote, 'such a wildly ridiculous and scanty costume'. Costume, my wings!" She smoothed down a wrinkle in the long blue silk dress. "I can't run or even dance in this! It's long and it's heavy and I don't like it."

"You'll get used to it after a while. I have to wear that kind of dress every day of my life." Emille said, coming up. The queen had not changed a single bit since the last time they saw her, two years ago, while Meru, whom they had seen only months ago, had grown and matured.

Albert stood next to his queen, dressed in an immaculately tailored green royal outfit. A heavy gold circlet rested around his forehead, and his green cape was back from his shoulders.

The colors of their Dragoon elements were also their favorite colors, like Miranda's white gown, proven by their personalities. Meru was volatile and clear/honest like water, Albert was as gentle yet powerful as the wind, Kongol was strong and reliable like earth, Miranda warm and sharp as light, Haschel loud and brightening as his lightning and thunder. Their colors were unmistakable, representing their Spirit and their dispositions. A sensitive mind or a well-trained magic user—like the Dragoons—could identify a Dragoon by the color the mind emanated itself.

"Hello." Albert extended his hand to Shana, and gave Dart a warm hug. "You're late."

"We're not late. You guys are all early." Dart shrugged. "It's not my fault. Shana demanded a new dress, and she had to search through Emille's wardrobe to find the right one. Women."

Shana however, had her attention on a child that was balanced on Emille's left hip. A boy, perhaps a little over a year old, with his arms around Emille's neck, stared back at her.

"Is this your son, Emille?"

"Yes. His name is Tesalor." The baby had his mother's forest green eyes and his father's soft caramel-colored hair.

"Isn't he just totally darling?" Meru exclaimed. "He always gurgles when he's trying to laugh."

The rest of the Dragoons came over, and after the hugging and welcomes, Emille, the calmest of all of them, led them over to an intricately decorated table set for the heroes and their guests.

It was during dessert that they made their appearance.

Meru held a fork in her hand, jabbing it into the delicious pastry that the cook had especially made for her. She encountered nothing but air and the ceramic plate.

Automatically, she turned to her left, where Haschel was grinning around a mouthful of cream puffs and sticky pastry.

"Haschel!" Meru shrilled. "That's not fair!"

"Poor little Meru. You still that the world should be fair?"

The voice was of cool femininity, like a dark arctic wind. The person who the voice belonged to was the same. Slender, tall, dark, and mysterious, the newcomer looked all-too-familiar.

Rose smirked.

The entire room was silent. The band had stopped their music, and the talking had ceased. Even the people who didn't know her were nervously quiet at either her unearthly beauty or at the sight of their King looking so shocked, clutching the arms of his chair.

Dart recovered first, standing up, his chair falling. "But…you're dead!" He yelled. "I spoke to you not two weeks ago and you were dead!"

Rose took a step forward. "Many things can happen in just a second, Dart. In two weeks, maybe even the dead could be resurrected." She looked around herself at all the gaping mouths and shocked eyes. "What?" She asked innocently. "The invitation said to dress formal. This is formal." She indicated to the long dress she was wearing, floor-length and form-fitting, dark violet, her eternal color.

When no one, not even Dart, spoke, she sighed and shook her head. She ducked past the guards without seeming to move and walked up to the raised platform where the heroes were seated.

She ignored all of them and floated over to the child sitting between his parents. Gently she took his chin in her hand and smiled. "Hello, little dear. I suppose that you're the prince of Serdio and Tiberoa that I've heard about?"

The child gurgled, and his eyes shone bright.

"He likes you." Emille said quietly. "I remember you. You were the magical one, one of the heroes that freed me from my astral prison. You were at the party as well, and you were the only one who didn't dance. You stood to the side the entire time."

Rose bowed low. "My apologies for being tardy, Your Majesty."

Albert grabbed her wrist; his eyes showed fear and wonder. "How is this possible?"

She detached herself without exerting any force. It was as if she had simply slipped through his grip and ended up in front of the table without even moving. "Nothing's impossible, my lord. It's just unlikely."

"You spoke of an invitation. However, I did not send an invitation to you. One does not usually send a ballroom invitation to one's deceased friend."

She held up her hand and a small white card was clutched between her fingers. "I have one, that cannot be argued."

"Rose?" It was Shana who spoke, in a voice like a mouse. "Is it really you?"

"I think so." She answered dazedly and then caught herself. "You're Dart's wife, Shana of the village Seles. The Moon Child."

The silence continued to reign.

Dart remained standing, his hand in a puddle spilled by his wine cup. How the hell did she manage this? I know she's powerful and the guardians of the next life respect her, but this is…impossible!

As he studied her carefully, he realized. It's not Rose. It can't be. The Rose that I knew, even the one two weeks ago, was quiet and alone. This one seems almost charming, friendly. And Rose most certainly didn't respect royalty and she hated kids. And of course she hated dresses. She would never wear a gown like that. She wouldn't even go near it when we were in Fletz. And even Rose was never this mystical or magical. And where is her sword? She'd never go anywhere without a weapon! Besides, Rose is dead! I saw her ghost only two weeks before! Ghosts are dead! …Aren't they?

The woman standing before them sighed and tilted her head back, letting dark raven hair—just like Rose's—fall down her back—straight and proud, just like Rose's—and reach her waist. On her face was an expression of mock-exasperation. Another thing, Rose never showed any expression except for anger and coldness. "What will it take, Dragoons, to prove that I am the one from your memories?"

"As you said, memories." Albert said, his head lifted proudly as if this was a trial. "If you are really our Rose, you will know things that she did."

She shrugged. "As you wish, Your Majesty King Albert. However, I may embarrass some of you, and I do hope that you don't hold blame on me." She paused, turning to face each one in turn. "Haschel, your daughter was Claire, Dart's mother. You were too rough on her in her training and she ran away because she couldn't stand it anymore. She was killed during the destruction of Neet. Kongol, you served Emperor Doel as a friend because he saved your life when you were but a child. You loved him and his dreams supported your own. You are the only living Giganto that has come forward. The axe that you are gripping now belongs to your heroic brother, Indora."

Haschel's face relaxed, and Kongol released his axe.

"Meru, you are a Wingly female who goes against tradition, as the Archangel in your challenge told you. The man sitting next to you is Guaraha, your fiancé. You called me Sissy before, because you said that we were like sisters." The woman smiled—Rose never smiled!—and then turned to the next person. "Ah, Miranda. Hello again. You are the First Sacred Sister of Mille Seseau, something that you hold pride and responsibility in. Your mother named you after the goddess Miraroshi, and she left for a better life when you were a child. Queen Theresa raised you after that." She paused thoughtfully. "And you slapped me in the Death Frontier.

"Albert, you are the king of Serdio and you were captured by Fruegal. That was when our journey began. You were to be executed, until we saved you. I was the one who cut the bonds on your wrists after Lavitz died. Lavitz was your best friend and a loyal knight. You gave me your cape in the snowfields."

The king sat back in his chair, breathing out slowly. "Rose?"

She smiled once at him and then walked up to Dart, leaning over the table to whisper in his ear. "And you, Dart, I've always admired your passion. You were the one who held the team together and taught me that no matter how dark the day is, there will eventually be light in the sun. I'm afraid of the dark." She spoke so quietly that not even Shana, sitting a foot away could hear. And this time, her fear was spoken without a trace of embarrassment. She straightened then, one eyebrow raised. "Have I passed your little interrogation?"

There was another few seconds of silence before there was a clatter of dishes and chairs and Rose found herself in the embraces of her friends.

"Gods above, Rose, how did you find your way back here?"

"Are you all right? You look even paler than usual."

"You witch, if you'd been alive, how come you didn't contact of us?!"

"Why are you wearing a dress? You don't even look like our Rose anymore!"

"Rose, my gods, I'm so glad you're back."

"Welcome back, Rose. You were greatly missed by everyone."

Rose looked up at the last speaker, an immense Giganto dressed in a tailored suit. "Good grief, Dart, you were right. Kongol, your speech has improved greatly. Nice suit." She paused. "Dart, aren't you going to say hello?"

He walked up and hugged her tightly. "You stupid witch, don't ever scare us like that again." He adopted Miranda's nickname for her.

Rose slipped out of his grasp again. "Before everyone gets all weepy over me, I've a guest with me." She disappeared down the carpet and through the heavy doors, which were quickly opened for her by the guards.

"Dart, that's really Rose!" Shana gasped. "But she's so different!"

"I'll say. She's polite, respectful, wearing a dress, and she likes kids!"

"And she doesn't have the Dragon Buster." Albert murmured. "Could that be…"

"No. Rose didn't have the Dragon Buster after her…death. I spoke to her ghost two weeks ago and she didn't have the sword then."

The doors were opened again and Rose came back with her hand tucked into the arm of someone who Dart had not expected to see.

Zieg was as they had seen before, old, wise. But smiling.

"Father!" Dart ran forward and Rose stepped out of the way so that Dart could embrace his father.

"Is that really Zieg?" Meru whispered.

Zieg overheard her. "Please. I've heard the questions you had Rose answer, and I don't plan on going through the same thing. I'm getting old."

"Not as old as I am." Haschel said, coming up beside Dart. "So you're the man that married my daughter?"

Meru saw Rose's face darken slightly at this.

Zieg bowed. "Greetings…Father-in-law, I suppose. Yes. My name is Zieg."

Emille clapped her hands sharply. "Well. This night has had some very nice twists. But there are people staring and we're blocking the dance floor. As Queen, I'll have to ask all of you to seat yourselves at the table so that my subjects aren't gaping like fools. Libria, would you get two extra settings, please?"

The handmaiden nodded quickly.

Rose and Zieg were quickly given seats and bombarded with questions from the team. All they would say was that they had returned and they were glad to see everyone. They gave no explanation on how they had came back or even why.

Rose ate everything on her plate, a welcome change.

"What happened, Rose? You're so different!" Meru asked.

She raised one eyebrow. "You would prefer my other self?"

"Uh…probably not. Are you wearing perfume?"

"Yes. Jasmine and roses. If you like, I'll let you borrow it sometime."

"Gosh, thanks. Why are you being so nice?"

Rose laughed. "Meru, still so curious."

"Yep! Where's your Dragoon Spirit?"

Her hand automatically flew to her throat.

That was what was different about her! Meru realized. Rose's throat was bare of all accessories. The immortality choker was gone! The Dragoon Spirit as well!

"I-I don't have it anymore." Rose muttered.

One of the nobles came up to the table then, cutting off any further questions that Meru had. "Are you his daughter?" he asked Rose, gesturing to Zieg.

Rose's polite smile faded. "No. This man is my lover."

"But…" The nobleman looked at where Rose's hand and Zieg's hand were intertwined, then at the obvious differences in their age. "But you're too young to be Lord Haschel's daughter, surely."

"She is not Claire. Her name is Rose." Zieg said quickly.

Meru noticed that Rose had taken her hand away from Zieg's at the name of Claire. The (previous?) Darkness Dragoon's eyes narrowed the way they had done before and the noble bowed and returned to his own table.

"Is something wrong?" Meru leaned over the space separating her and her "sister" to whisper quietly. She forgot all the suspicion that had been in her mind.

"Something is always wrong. Of course, Meru, what do you think? Zieg was my fiancé, and yet he married someone else and had a son." Rose said bitterly, stabbing her steak savagely. Meru winced, remembering how Rose had fought in battles, fierce and deadly.

"You can't really blame him, Rose. He thought you were dead. He had no way of knowing that you could have survived the eleven thousand years." Meru said practically. She felt slightly triumphant. Guaraha was always calling her silly, fondly, but she didn't like it, though she never told him that.

Rose sighed, remembering a few people her heart had been moved for. "I know. It's just…you know?"

"I understand." The dancer replied, and she meant it.

This is going to be a vacation. This is going to be a vacation. This is going to be a vacation! Meru repeated it again and again in her head until it was a prayer to keep her hopes up. It was supposed to be a vacation, really. Albert and Emille had invited them to stay for a while.

Miranda had sent word to Deningrad, and Queen Theresa had granted her permission very quickly, saying that the Sacred Sister needed a vacation and that Deningrad was doing very well. Everyone had their schedules cleared and even Guaraha had agreed to stay. Rose was back, and so was Zieg. Everything should have been perfect! She should be happy, giddy, doing a little dance, but… something was wrong. Just off…

She sighed and turned over in the water-blue canopy bed. Sleep took its time flying to her.

"Father?" Dart knocked on the door carefully, straining his ears. "Are you awake?" He didn't hear or sense any motion inside, but hoped that his father was awake, and alone. The last thing he wanted was to walk in on Zieg and Rose if they were in there.

Good grief, if Rose actually married his father, she'd be his looks-the-same-age-as-he stepmother. One of his closest friends was going to be his stepmother.

He didn't know whether to laugh or shudder.

The door opened and a sleepy-looking Zieg yawned. "Dart. Hello, son. Isn't it a bit late?"

"Can we talk? Is this a bad time? Is Rose in there?"

Zieg frowned. "No. She's…we're…" he gave up trying to explain. "She's in the room two doors down. Is something wrong?"

"Um…I kinda wanted to catch up on the times that we missed."

"Sure." Zieg waved him in. "What happened after we were separated?"

"I found your Dragoon Spirit and kept it. I hitched a ride on a traveler's cart and I ended up at Seles, Shana's hometown."

"Shana…is that the girl who had her arm around you?"

"Yeah. She's the mayor's daughter. She's also my wife."

Zieg raised his eyebrows. "Well. You neglected to tell me that I had a daughter-in-law."

Dart laughed. "Dad, you have a daughter-in-law. Her name is Shana of Seles and she's beautiful and kind and gentle and I love her."

Half the night passed as Dart told his father about his life, about what had happened. When he had picked up his first sword, when he had almost fallen off the canyon, when he defeated his first monster. Zieg listened with interest, laughing alongside his son.

"You know, I truly do regret not being there for you, Dart. I'm sorry."

"Dad, you were there for as long as you could be… What happened afterwards anyway? You were unconscious for nearly twenty years?"

"Not exactly. I woke up in my own body, but with someone else blocking my way in my mind. I couldn't control myself. Do you understand what I am saying? I saw what my body did, but I couldn't stop Frahma." Zieg's hands clenched into fists. "I saw him blast you in the city of Mayfil. I wanted to kill him again."

"He blasted Rose in Zenebatos as well."

"Yes, her…" Zieg's face changed. "Many times, that woman tried to get into my mind and bring me back."

Dart studied his father's expression. Why does he falter whenever anyone mentions Rose? "And you are grateful for that, of course?"

"Yes."

"Dad, how come you and Rose are arguing?"

"Who told you that, son?" Zieg said wearily.

"No one did. I'm not five anymore, Dad. I can tell when something's wrong. What happened?"

"There's just…some issues that need to be settled."

"You mean, like Mom?" Dart asked carefully.

"Yeah."

"Did you see her?"

"Yes. She misses you."

Dart paused, choosing his words very cautiously. "I know you love Mom and Rose, Dad. I love them both as well. But Mom is dead. Nothing can change that. Rose is alive and she loves you. Just…make the right decision, okay?"

Zieg let a small smile creep onto his lips. "I'll do that, son. Now go back to your own room. I'm tired. These old bones get so tired so easily."

"All right. Good night, Father." Dart left the room, closing the door quietly. He turned left, meaning to head back to his own room, but somehow he turned to the right, down two doors.

He paused outside the door. I shouldn't bother her.

The door opened.

"Hello." Rose didn't seem sleepy at all.

What? How is it possible that she knew I was here? She's not a Dragoon anymore, I think. She's mortal!

"It's a nice night. You want to come in." It was a statement; she already knew he did. "I could hear you all the way down the hall. Two years have dulled some of your abilities."

"Though obviously, not yours." Dart slipped in and she shut the door. "How are you?" He asked.

"Fine. A little tired." She was wearing white cotton pajamas that made her look like a child. No, the white long sleeves and pants, with her black hair ruffled by the wind…it made her look like a prisoner.

Something tickled his mind, something just out of his reach. A prisoner…of life and death? He shook his head. He really did need this vacation.

She tilted her head, gazing at him. "Is something wrong?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Ah." She gestured to the open balcony doors and walked over, unembarrassed by the fact that someone might see her. "The night is very beautiful, isn't it? The air is so cool that you almost drink it." She turned to look at him. "You wanted to talk about my resurrection?"

"You speak about it so casually."

She shrugged, tilting her face up to the dark sky, her eyes closed. Her lips parted slightly, and she breathed in deeply. "I'm not easily surprised."

Dart paused. "How come you're not down the hall with my father?"

Her serene posture froze for a second before she dropped it to glare at him. "First of all, we are not married. I don't believe in premarital sex. Surely you and Shana didn't make love before you were married?"

Um…that's right. "I don't mean that you necessarily had to sleep with him. But…don't you want to be with him? What's second of all?"

"Second of all…it's none of your business."

Dart smiled. "You haven't changed as much as the others think."

She leaned in, smiled, as if teasing. "You only think differently because I told you about all my secrets." Her voice was low, breathy.

"You haven't changed that much in the way you are, you just changed in how you show it." Dart gestured to her. "You were wearing a formal dress before, and you were charming to the nobles. And you laughed. You were smiling the entire evening. You were happy." He paused. "You're very beautiful when you laugh. You should try it more often."

"Thank you. Before, I couldn't show any of you who I truly was because I was the original, the one who had lived longest. I had to keep a cold front because that would show the rest of you to do the same, to be alert and ruthless, as Dragoons must be on the battlefield. Had I become like this, all of you would have undoubtedly followed and Soa knows if we could have saved the world as that."

"But now you can show your feelings?"

Rose toyed with a strand of her dark hair. "I suppose so. There's nothing left for me to do. I've paid penance for what I have done. There is no more Moon Child. The Dragoons are unneeded. I think I can finally have some time to calm myself."

"That's good." Dart went back to his first question. "Are you going to marry my father?"

Again her eyes narrowed. "That is really none of your business, Dart."

"If you did, you would be my stepmother. I could say that would be my business."

Rose laughed, a tranquil beautiful sound. "Dart, you have not changed either… I don't know, honestly. Our engagement was never actually called off, so I would suppose he is still my fiancé, but…"

"Why won't you marry him? Is he getting too old? Are you afraid to hurt the rest of us? Is it because of my mother?"

She put on his cheek one of her hands, cool and smooth, delicate. "Dart, calm down. It's not any of that. I've never been too much on what others think, so I don't care if the people talk about how he is old enough to be my father. Or so it appears anyway. And I know the rest of you are strong enough not to be hurt if I had truly wanted the marriage. As for…Claire…" She shrugged. "As I told you two weeks ago, I don't care. If he choose her, then that's that. It's not my decision to make." She gestured helplessly with her small hands. "It's just that…it doesn't feel the same as it once did. Look, what would you do if I told you that I loved you? How would you feel?"

"I would feel…very awkward."

"Exactly. I don't love him that way anymore. I mean, the terms are still there. I called him darling not a few hours ago, but that's just habit. I don't know, Dart. Love has always perplexed me. Your father…" Rose shook her head. "You should get back now. Shana will be worried on why you are out so late at night."

Dart didn't move. "I told her I was talking to Dad. Technically I was."

Rose smiled sadly. "Tomorrow's another day. We can talk then. I'll still be here."

"You'll still be there tomorrow? You're not going anywhere?"

"I'm not going anywhere." She assured him. "I'm alive now, and I'm staying right here, with the rest of you."

"You promise?"

"I promise, Dart. Now go back to bed. I need my rest now that I am mortal." She waved him off and he left, turning back to make sure that she had snuggled into her dark violet bed properly.

Mortality… Something about that word unnerved him.

"Hi-hi! Good morning, everyone!" Meru was flying in circles near the ceiling, landing to give a hug to every person that came in before continuing to fly. Guaraha watched her fondly, smiling.

"Dear Meru, still as hyperactive as ever." Haschel said, sitting down in front of his breakfast. "Albert, Emille, we really must thank you for allowing us to stay here."

"Nonsense." Queen Emille said immediately as she fixed a bib around her son's neck. "You are Albert's close friends and the heroes of the world! We are honored to have you here."

"So can we eat now?" Dart asked, anxiously staring at his plate.

"Please wait. I don't see Rose. Is she here?" Albert glanced around the table, which was void of their dark beauty.

Zieg appeared at the doorway, coming in and sitting down in an empty seat. He was obviously still half-asleep and not a morning person, as he only mumbled something to Meru's chirping greetings.

"Zieg, is Rose still upstairs?" Albert asked.

The Fire Dragoon looked up. "What? Oh, I guess so. I don't know."

"You don't know? She wasn't with you?" Haschel asked, to be nudged sharply in the ribs by both Miranda and Shana. Dart admired how he did not hold a grudge against Rose on being the one to succeed his mother as his father's love.

"No. She's in the room two doors down from mine." Zieg rubbed the last webs of sleepiness out of his eyes. "I don't know if she's awake yet."

"Rose was always the first one up when we were on our journey." Kongol said. "She was always up with the sun. She cannot still be asleep."

"I'll go look for her!" Meru volunteered, darting through the doorway and up the stairwell.

"Rose? Hey, Rose, are you awake yet?" Meru pounded on the door of the room, hoping it was the right one. Zieg hadn't been specific.

The door opened to reveal a very annoyed-looking Rose. "What happened, Meru?"

"It's time to get up! Up, up, up! It's already past sunrise by at least two and a half hours!" Meru floated into the room.

"What?!" Rose stared at the light filtering through her curtains as if noticing it for the first time. "Damn, and I'm still so tired…"

"That's not like you, Rose. I've seen you go nights without sleeping." Meru dragged her over to the mirror and grabbed a comb, running it through Rose's long black hair. "Hurry up and change. Everyone's downstairs waiting for you. We can't eat until you're there and Haschel seems angry about that."

Rose nodded dazedly, walking over to the wardrobe and pulling out a dark violet blouse with a tight bodice and a pair of silken black pants.

The Wingly gaped. "Rose! You're not wearing your armor! Oh my God!"

"I don't wear it anymore. Armor is to protect me in fights. I have no wish to fight anymore. All I want is some time to relax." She pulled on the clothes, slipped on running flats, and ran the brush through her hair again, leaving it loose. "Come. I don't want the others to be angry with me. I know Haschel is hungry, and I know how cranky he gets when he is hungry." Rose tossed a smile to Meru and headed down the stairs, seeming to float.

I don't understand! Rose is so different! She's like a totally different person! She doesn't have her weapon, she doesn't have her choker, she doesn't have her Dragoon Spirit, she doesn't have her armor, or her boots or her headpieces! She seems so much more mystical too, as if she floats everywhere. She's polite and she sleeps late and she's just really, really different!

Meru ran after her down to the King's private dining chamber.

"Rose, are you okay?" Several voices immediately asked in not-quite-concern as soon as the dark-haired woman stepped in.

"I'm fine." She smiled at them, a charming smile. "I just overslept."

Now they were in full concern mode. Miranda even walked over and placed the back of her hand on Rose's forehead.

"I'm fine. It's just, now that I'm mortal, I'm weaker than I was before. I need more sleep than others do until I adjust to being mortal. Being a Dragoon was easier. I didn't have to sleep for a maximum of days if I wanted to. I hate being mortal." Rose sighed. "But I don't miss the responsibility. Now, let's eat. I know Haschel is eagerly awaiting those delicious-looking pancakes over there."

"Ladies?" Queen Emille walked over to Shana, Rose, Meru, and Miranda. "It's a nice day out, and I'm going to sit in a pond not far from here. It's private. Would you like to come along?"

"Wow! All right!" Meru agreed quickly.

"I'd love to. Thank you." Rose was not quite as hyper.

"Not me." Shana said quietly. "I'm feeling the beginnings of a headache."

"Oh dear. Maybe you should go see the palace doctor. Have Libria show you his room. Feel better, Shana." Emille was the perfect hostess, and furthermore, sincere. "Miranda?"

The Light Dragoon shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

Emille led the three of them to her room, and gave them each a piece of silken clothing, like a towel that wrapped around the chest down to the thighs. "Try not to get these completely soaked. Here are some gowns. You can take them off by the pond. Clymene," She called to one of her handmaidens. "Would you take the clothing for a wash and then place them back in the rooms? Thank you."

Meru sighed in contentment as she sat on a sun-heated rock and lowered her legs into the cool water. It was a private mountain spring, meters from a gentle waterfall. The water here was pure and clean and she could feel its purity.

Emille and Miranda spoke about political things while Rose was standing in the water, ignoring the rocks. She cupped water in her palms, splashing it onto her face and smiling.

It was the first time Meru had seen Rose so happy. In fact, Rose being happy, smiling, was a concept that was the most ridiculous thing in her mind two years ago, when she was still…alive?

If Rose had been alive two years ago and then she disappeared into death, and now she was back, would that still count that she was dead? What about before? Was she alive then? Was she actually dead?

Rose had always been beautiful, that was undeniable. She had always had this exotic aura, feral sleekness, cold and apathetic. Her haughty disposition was what probably attracted half the men to her. Now…she still had her unearthly beauty, but with the smile on her face, she was even more beautiful than before, a woman who had suffered and was now content. She had very even white teeth that contrasted her dark hair, and the sky blue silken wrap tightened around her slim figure.

Maybe I should keep Guaraha away from her. Meru thought, smiling. I wish I had her maturity.

Emille shielded her eyes with one hand and looked at the sky. "The sun's rising high. I have a council meeting soon. I have to go back to the palace." She stood up from her makeshift seat, pushing her arms into a long pink robe. "You three are welcome to stay here for as long as you want. I'll send Libria or Clymene to look after you, but I must return."

"I think I'll come along." Miranda said, also standing. "I've been wanting to see the political affairs of Serdio."

Because of us, the three countries are now joined! Meru thought with glee. Emille from Tiberoa, Albert from Serdio, and Miranda and Queen Theresa from Mille Seseau. The three living countries are now in a bond. And Guaraha and I are the representatives of the Winglies. No more wars…Gods above! We've completed the utopia that Lloyd wanted.

Thinking of the deceased swordsman made her feel sad. Lloyd had not been evil as they had thought for half their journey. He was just confused in which way to go. He was also her kin, a Wingly like her, and he had only wanted the world to be happy.

"I'm coming too!" She chirped. "The water here is getting too attached to me and besides, I've gotta talk to Guaraha about something. And since this is a woman's place, he can't come, right?"

While the Queen and the Dragoons left the water, Rose didn't move.

"Aren't you coming?" Meru asked, pulling one of the robes around her. "The sun's gonna make the water really hot."

Rose sunk down to her chin in the water, ignoring Emille's words on not getting the silk wrap wet. "I don't mind. You all go on ahead. I'll head back before lunch. This is the first time I can relax. I really need a vacation."

Miranda frowned. "It's gonna be really bright with the noon sun. Lots of light."

Rose shrugged and shifted slightly, nearly losing her footing on the slippery rocks underfoot. "That's all right. I'm not irritated by light as easily now that I am no longer the Darkness Dragoon."

Meru had expected her words and yet it was still a shock. Rose, the one who was an original, who had trained them all, was not a Dragoon anymore. That's why the necklace was not around her throat. But what about the choker?

Emille began to walk, indicating that the others follow her and leave Rose to her thoughts.

Halfway up the slope, ducking around a tree, Meru felt the water change. The water was accepting something else, something that wasn't a part of it. It disrupted its flow. Frowning, she turned back.

Someone was in the water, swimming toward Rose.

Meru's eyes widened as Rose didn't get up. Of course, without her Dragoon-enhanced senses, she was only a mortal. "Rose, look out!" She screamed.

Rose yawned, lazily backstroking toward the waterfall. Vaguely she could hear the wind carrying Meru's voice, but the words were muffled, and besides, Meru was probably just anxious over something. She was always screaming something, either in indignation, excitement, or rare anger. The sun was warm on Rose's skin, and the water soft. She sighed in contentment, eyes closed. She hadn't been this relaxed in millennia.

Something cast a shadow, blocking out her sun. She opened her eyes, saw a silhouette. Shoulders too broad to be a woman.

"Hey!" She yelled, moving in battle stance, forgetting she was on water. She went underneath and came back up, spluttering for air. She treaded water for a second before swimming to shallow water, and stood up, facing the man indignantly, her hands on her hips. "What are you, a pervert? You're not allowed here; this is the Queen's private bathing pool!"

He smiled, a smile that made her forget her anger. "So you're the Queen now, Rose?"

"Not me. Emille." She frowned. His voice was familiar, as well as his charming smile. "How do you know my name?"

He feigned hurt. "You don't remember me, Lady Rose?"

Her eyes widened. There was only one person who called her Lady Rose.

The stranger saw the shocked confusion in her eyes and gave her another dazzling smile, nodding slowly.

Rose gasped. "Darius?"

Meru watched, eyes wide, as Rose flung her arms around the stranger, who hugged her back, not at all ashamed that he was gripping the bare flesh of her pale shoulders.

Rose was saying something to him, and Meru turned to the other two women, to see that they were already scrambling down the bank. Meru was glad for the low back of her wrap, as it allowed her to sprout wings and fly ahead of them.

"How did you find me?" Rose asked, letting go of her old friend.

Darius smiled. "It was easy. I just followed the trail of towns in which there were men at bars with broken noses or broken arms or broken…other things." He grinned. "It was…quite an interesting trail."

"Hey!" A new person, on wings, rammed him into the water.

"Meru!" Rose called sharply, jarring the younger girl to a halt. "He's my friend. Leave him alone."

The Wingly landed next to Miranda and Emille, both of whom had come up. "Who are you?" the Queen demanded. "This is my private bathing pool. You are violating civilian laws by being here." She glanced sideways at Rose, who stood with shoulders and head thrown back in defiance, though she had nothing to defy except death. "As well as moral laws. Rose, for the gods' sake, cover yourself!"

Rose slid into a robe. "Please calm yourself, my lady. This is Darius, a very good friend of mine."

The "very good" and the way she was unashamed made Meru wonder just how good of a friend Darius was to Rose. Is he your lover? She studied the newcomer carefully. He was handsome and sexy in a polite way, with hair so blond it was almost white and soulful amber eyes. Nicely carved face, broad shoulders, lean body, narrow hips, and yet he didn't hold the dangerous look of a hunter. A farmer, perhaps?

"I got in through a cave in back of the waterfall. No one else knows about it and it hasn't been used for years." Darius was saying. "I came here to find Rose."

"My lady, can we go back to the palace and explain everything? May Darius be allowed in the castle?"

Emille regained her calm. "You are Rose's friend, Darius, meaning you are my friend, and I am always ready to help friends. Come."

She led the way, with Rose following and speaking with Darius in low whispers.

"We never heard her talk about him." Miranda said quietly.

"Rose never spoke unless she had to." Meru replied. "Of course she wouldn't tell us about the friends she had. She thought we had no business in her affairs."

"What bothers me is her initial shock when she saw him and the way she reacted. It was just that she didn't expect to see him here; she didn't expect to see him alive. Period." Miranda gazed at him. "Check if he's magical."

Meru didn't understand why, but Miranda was usually very logical, and she obeyed, scanning with her mind and probing at his thoughts. "Nope. Not even slightly. He's not a Wingly relative of mine nor is he some Dragoon friend of hers."

Miranda stopped walking. "She didn't request to see him before the final part of our journey, as we all had gone home to see our loved ones. He's a person from her past, I'm sure."

"That's impossible." Meru argued. "She hasn't had human contact for centuries. Everyone from her past is dead."

"I didn't say he was a living person of her past."

"You mean you think he's a ghost?"

"Not necessarily a ghost." The Sacred Sister tapped one long finger against her lips. "Maybe just like what Rose and Zieg are. They don't seem like ghosts, but they couldn't have survived the explosion." She sighed. "Maybe I'm just being paranoid again. I'm sure Rose has a perfectly logical explanation for this. Let's go."

Emille left them as they entered the inner walls of the castle, saying that she had to change, finish the council meeting, and then inform Albert of what had happened. Meru and Miranda watched silently as Rose spoke to her old friend as if they were not there at all.

"How are you here? Are you a ghost?" Rose asked him. "You couldn't have lived for a thousand years! The last time I saw you was a thousand years ago! I thought you were dead."

Darius took her hand in both of his and Meru felt embarrassed to be watching, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "You can feel my heat, can't you? I'm not cold. I'm not a ghost, as far as I can tell. I'm living, I think, and I came here to find you."

"How did this happen?"

"Lady Rose, are you not happy that I'm here?"

"No, I'm happy, really. It's just I didn't expect to see you!"

"It doesn't matter if I'm a ghost. I'm here for you, Lady Rose, and that's all that matters." Darius released her hand.

"I thought I told you to stop calling me Lady Rose." She muttered.

"All right. It slipped my mind. Rose, then. Have you learned to like your name better?"

"Yes, thanks to you." She smiled.

Footsteps came from the stairwell that they were standing near. "There you are, my dear!" Zieg said as he came down. "I've been looking all over for you."

Rose's smile faded and then returned so quickly that Meru thought she had probably imagined it. Rose moved forward and took Zieg's arm. "Hello, darling. Look who it is. Remember that friend I've been telling you about? The one that nearly changed my mind?"

"Ah." Zieg held out a hand and Darius shook it. "You must be David then."

"Darius, dear." Rose corrected him quietly.

"Darius. I'm sorry. I'm Zieg."

Unlike Rose, Darius's smile did not fade in the least. "Her fiancé?"

"Yes." The old man replied. "I know it looks strange, with my old age and Rose still as beautiful as she was before, but it's a long story."

"I should like to hear it someday." Darius assured them.

"You will." Miranda interjected. "Later, when everyone is free, we will meet in the King's dining chamber and everyone will explain everything."

I want to know what's going on now! Meru thought. Who is this guy?

"Rose, my love, I came down to tell you that the King is asking for you. He needs to reintroduce you to the nobles so that you're recognized and there will be no complications about your staying here."

"Of course." Rose smiled at the rest of them. "Meru, do me a favor, and show Darius to a room where he can have a meal? Thank you." She walked up the stairs, her arm in Zieg's, with such an air of nobleness that she could have been mistaken for royalty.

"Well. Hi." Meru said to Darius. "How are you doing?"

"Good I guess. I think Lad—um, Rose said something about a meal?" He smiled at her. "I've been traveling rather far to reach Rose, and I ran out of money a while ago. I haven't eaten for a while."

"Quite a sacrifice to make for someone who is 'only a friend'." Miranda said in a suspicious yet pleasant tone.

Darius shrugged, clasped his hands behind his back. "We could have been more, but…" He trailed off.

"But?" Meru prompted. She wanted to know more about Rose and her relationship with this man.

"But nothing, Meru." Miranda snapped. "We'll learn about everything later. Right now, Lord Darius needs to eat."

"Guaraha!" Meru yelled as she knocked on his door. "Guaraha, open up!"

The door opened so suddenly she fell in. Guaraha was smiling at her. "What's the big news?" He asked. "You seem anxious."

"Rose's friend is back and Miranda thinks he might be a ghost and we're going to figure about Rose's personal life in an hour when everything is done and Darius is in the dining chamber right now eating and Miranda is talking to him and let's go hear what he tells us!" Without giving her fiancé a chance to reply or to catch her own breath, she grabbed his wrist and flew down the stairs again.

"I'm not sure I should tell you much of anything." Darius said in reply to Meru's question. "Not until Rose is here and she confirms how much I can and can't tell. All I can say is that my name is Darius and I was a farmer in Ceplao for a while. My life changed after meeting Rose."

"Ceplao…Celplao…" Meru tried the word several times. "Where is it?"

"I'm afraid it no longer exists."

Miranda, as an important part of Mille Seseau, knew the small talk necessary to pass the hour until the rest of the team filed in, in one large group.

Rose sat between Darius and Zieg, her hands folded on the table in front of her. "Let me start. I met Darius after I killed one of the Moon Children, in the last few days of Michael's life. Michael went back into bloodlust, destroying everything he saw. I was caught in one of the recoils and Darius and his family brought me in and let me stay until I became conscious again."

"Family meaning myself, my sister Kata, and my brother Kristoff. Our parents had died quite a while ago. We took care of the farm by ourselves and hunted for meat." Darius said bitterly. "Rose changed our entire lifestyle. She brought life and passion to our home. And we had some good times."

"Darius helped me to stop Michael. We were good friends, even though it was only for a short while before I had to leave."

"Aw man! Why?" Meru whined.

"I hurt everyone around me. I had to leave so that Darius and his brother wouldn't get hurt."

"What about his sister?" Shana asked.

Rose cast her an anguished look.

"Oh."

"But that was a thousand years ago."

"What?" Dart leaned forward. "If he's mortal, I don't understand how he's back. Or now that we're on the subject, how you and Father are back. Aren't you all dead?"

"Dart, that's not polite." Zieg murmured. "I don't understand either. But it's a good thing, isn't it?"

Dart stopped. "All right. I suppose I shouldn't pursue this argument, but…"

Shana took his arm. "We're glad to have you back, Rose. Zieg, I'm glad to meet you. And Darius, you're welcome here. Aren't you?" She glanced at Albert.

"Of course." The king smiled. "This has turned out to be a strange vacation."

"Meru!" Rose ran into Meru's room. "Something's wrong with Shana!"

The petite girl jumped to her feet. "Come on!" Running through the enormous hallways, she asked, "When was this?"

"Just a few minutes ago. I was the one who found her, and I ran to get Dart and the others."

Shana was in her room, lying on her bed. Meru hovered over the other bodies of crowding people so that she could see. Shana looked feverish, twisting from side to side and muttering incomprehensible things.

"Shut up! All of you!" Dart yelled, gathering his wife into his arms. She clung to his neck, shivering. "Shana?"

The slight young woman eased slightly and her words became understandable.

"The silver flame will speak with those that defy fate and fight as passion. The guardians have a new trump card. Journey to the where the bonds of eternal affection were declared. But as fire must burn, and rain must fall, remember!"

She fell limp then, a lifeless doll in Dart's arms. Gently he lowered her head back onto the bed and tucked the covers around her. Making silent motions with his hands, he followed all of them out of the room and shut the door quietly.

"What did she mean by that?" Haschel asked sharply.

"Shana's…found some strange powers within her since we've separated. She had strange feelings that were connected to something that would happen. Like one time she woke up and she said that she felt dread in the air, something terrible. By the end of the day, one of the Seles children had fallen off the side of the mountain. He was all right." Dart added hastily. "And later on, she had more urgent visions. They usually come true, or are at the very least connected to something true."

"Prophetess." Rose murmured quietly.

As before, whenever she spoke, all the heads were turned toward her. Meru envied her ability to draw attention so easily. "Shana is a prophetess." Rose repeated. "An oracle, seer, soothsayer, fortune-teller, whatever. She can predict things that will happen, sometimes in ways that contradict what she actually says."

"What did her prophecy mean then?" Miranda asked, challenge in her eyes. Meru had to giggle. No matter what, Miranda and Rose were always challenging each other, never actually with malice though.

"Shana said something about journeying." Kongol spoke up. "To a place where the bonds of eternal affection were announced."

Meru saw Rose and Zieg exchange glances and the latter said, "We're heading for Gloriano."

"Why?"

"Because that's where Rose and I declared to Emperor Diaz that even if one of us dies, our bonds of affection are forever." Zieg explained patiently.

"No, I meant why." Meru repeated. "Why are we going just because of some vision that Shana had? I mean, so what? Who's this silver flame and why does it want to speak with us? If it wants to speak with us, why doesn't it just talk to us now? Why do we have to go looking for it?" Her voice rose. "This was supposed to be a vacation! We weren't supposed to do anything but relax!"

Guaraha was next to her immediately, sliding an arm around her shoulders. "Meru, we've been taught not to ignore things like prophecies. I mean, look at the Moon Child prophecy."

Meru sniffled.

"Besides, I'll travel with you, okay? It'll be a vacation, just…a moving one. There won't be any danger except for the normal monsters."

"Meru has a point however. How do we know the prophecy was meant for us? And who is the silver flame?" Albert asks.

"The prophecy was meant for you. Definitely." Rose spoke quickly. "You were the ones who defied fate and fought with passion. The silver flame…" She paused for half a second. "That must be Lloyd. I've always thought of him as a slender silver flame."

"He's dead!" Dart yelled and then caught himself. "Gods, another one resurrected? Did the guardians of the underworld take a day off!?"

"Speaking of the guardians…" Haschel looked at the ceiling. "I'm not sure which guardians she was talking about; we can ask her that when she's conscious. But she made it sound as if we were fighting the gods. 'A new trump card', that is like when someone has a trick up their sleeve. But we're not opposing the gods, are we?"

"It doesn't matter." Rose interrupted him, stepping forward in her old manner of leadership/bossiness. It was perhaps in her personality, because she was used to orders. "We have to go to Gloriano and figure out the meaning of this prophecy anyway. Stop being a baby."

Now this was the Rose they remembered!

"We'll wait until Shana recovers enough and then we'll go."

"Wait, Shana's not going." Dart said to Rose.

The woman steeled herself, lifting her head proudly in argument. "Of course she is. She's the one who made the prophecy."

"That doesn't mean she has to come. She's too frightened."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. She must come; the prophecy might have something to do with her."

"She's still weak from everything that happened."

"We'll protect her."

"That's funny, I don't remember you being able to protect anyone around you before."

Rose reeled back from that last remark as if Dart had slapped her across the face. Meru gasped and Dart looked horrified.

"Rose…" he said quietly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Forgive me."

The dark-haired woman turned her face away, so that only Meru, standing next to her, could see her grimace. "Fine." She muttered. "Do whatever the hell you want. Just don't regret it later." She stalked off down the halls and Meru looked at Zieg, but he just shook his old head.

"Rose?" Meru stood in the open doorway to Rose's room for a moment before walking in, toward the woman at the desk. She was dressed in black today, and scrawling something archaic on a piece of paper angrily.

"Hi." She said shortly, continuing to scribble.

"Um…you okay?"

"Just peachy."

Meru had to smile at the sarcasm. "Well, Dart's bringing Shana along. We managed to convince him that it would be the wise thing to do. Zieg insisted on coming too, and said that even though he's getting old, he can still handle a sword. Albert decided to come along too, because Emille's skillful enough to handle all matters of the council."

Rose stood up, the piece of paper in her hand. She crumpled it up and threw it out the balcony doors.

"That's littering." Meru reminded her.

"The servants will pick it up. That's their only purpose." Rose said bitterly, and Meru wondered what the meaning behind her words were. "Has Shana healed yet?"

"Yes. She's drinking some herbal remedy of Haschel's right now. She says that she doesn't remember anything that happened but she wants to come on the journey because she wants to know."

"Good." Rose nodded. "I'll go tell Darius and we'll start out at dawn tomorrow."

"Darius?" Meru frowned. "He's coming too? But—"

"Don't argue with me, Meru. I'm in a very bad mood." She said quietly. "Darius is coming if I'm coming. I want him along."

The dancer lifted her hands. "Okay. Your choice. Can he fight?"

"With a bow and arrow. He'll learn as he goes along. It's supposed to be an easy quest."

Meru swallowed and summoned up courage. "Why do you want him along? Do you have some feelings for him?"

To her surprise, Rose didn't whirl around and tell her that it was none of her business. She didn't glare and yell at her to get out. She simply looked thoughtful and said, "I'm not sure. A thousand years ago, I think I might have been attracted to him."

"You think?" Meru yelped incredulously.

"Yes, I think I was. I'm not all that experienced, my friend. I can't really understand. Surely you didn't know you loved Guaraha just at first sight?"

Without hesitating, the dancer automatically replied, "Yes."

She cast her a sideways glance, surprised. "You are very lucky then."

"Anyway, continue your story."

"There's nothing to tell. We were attracted to each other but we just… decided to keep it friendly as I left." She paused, swallowed. "Or rather I did. But I miss him. He's my friend, so I want him with me."

Meru shrugged. "Okay."

For the first time that night, Rose turned to look at Meru. "I'm sorry, Meru. I know that this was supposed to be your vacation. I know how upset you are and I apologize for ruining your break."

The Wingly female ran forward and hugged her. "It's all right. I'm just glad you're back! The vacation's worth it to have ya back, Sissy!"

Though it was Rose herself who said that they would leave at dawn, she was still fast asleep by the time Meru came to wake her up, with the sun already hovering a good few meters off the ground.

"Hey!" She called as she opened the door. "Are you awake?"

Miranda came up behind her. "Is she?"

"No, she's still sleeping." Meru pointed. "She looks young, doesn't she?"

"Like a kid. But we have to leave now to get a good start before we take a break at the noon sun. Wake her up."

Reluctant to disturb her "sister's" peaceful sleep, Meru flew into the room and poked at Rose's shoulder. "Hey, Rose, wake up! Time to go! You're the one who said leave at dawn!" She hissed.

"Oh for crying out loud." Miranda said in disgust. "That will only make her more sleepy. Watch and learn. Hey, Rose, wake up!"

The woman sat up immediately, reaching for something at the bedside only to come up empty-handed, groaning in frustration. "Ugh. Old habits die hard. I keep thinking I have a sword." She rubbed her eyes. "What is it?"

"You said to leave at dawn. It's past dawn. We're all waiting for you."

Rose glanced at the window. "Oh, damn this mortal body. Lousy sleep-deprived body that doesn't even have its own alarm clock anymore…" She kept muttering as she dragged herself into the washing room and reappeared ten minutes later, refreshed and revitalized. It looked like she had borrowed one of Albert's fighting clothes, bland and unfeminine, but she made it curve while he could not, thankfully.

Downstairs, the entire party was already eating breakfast and Meru was slightly miffed that they had not waited.

"Is everyone coming?" Rose questioned, most pointedly not looking at Dart. She directed her question at Albert instead, who seemed to be second in command. Actually Rose had been second in command, but with her death, Albert took control when Dart couldn't.

"Everyone except for Emille and Tesalor. Guaraha and Zieg are coming as well, and I believe you requested that Darius come?"

"Yes. Is Shana coming?"

"Yes, she is." Dart answered. "She'll be traveling with us."

"Good." The exchange of words was brief and clipped and it made Meru feel slightly upset. Rose and Dart had always been very good friends—they all were—and it pained her to see them arguing.

"What's our plan?" She said quickly, to dispel the aura that was building up.

Albert seemed relieved to have found a way out as well. "Zieg says that he knows where we are going, so we'll listen to him. We're traveling north to the ocean, where I've arranged for the Queen Fury to meet us. We'll travel past Illisa Bay and the Straits of Merzis, around northern part of Mille Seseau and dock in the north part of Ice Gloriano, crossing the snowfields on foot. Zieg will be our guide."

Rose nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "Very well. Do we leave soon? How long will this take us?"

"We leave as soon as breakfast is finished and Haschel is finished packing food for our journey. We can reach the ocean by late afternoon and the Queen Fury will take…perhaps…five days to get to the Mille Seseau stop. We'll rest there for a night and then head out. It will take a little over a day to get to Ice Gloriano. It will take us…" The young king looked at Zieg.

"About two or three days, assuming the monsters are not savage." Zieg replied. "It will be a three-week round trip, approximately."

"That's good." Rose tilted her head back and pinched the bridge of her nose. Meru wondered what she was thinking about and why she was worried about this deadline.

"What about weapons? You and Zieg are unarmed, and though Darius has a bow, we haven't seen what he can do. And Guaraha."

"Hey, Guaraha's a Wingly!" Meru retaliated defensively. "You've seen what we can do!"

"Okay, okay, take it easy. What about the rest of you?"

"Zieg and I both know empty-handed fighting." Rose replied. "We're not amateurs. Darius has a bow and he'll improve when experience. Besides, there's the whole lot of you."

Rose's eyes flickered and again Meru had to wonder.

The trip to the ocean was more like a hike.

Everyone was chattering about trivial things, and for once Meru was silent. She listened to Shana's questions instead.

"Is something wrong?" Guaraha asked, slowing the pace to walk beside her. "You're not usually so quiet."

She shook her head. "No. It's fine."

"It's not like you to hide things inside and keep secrets from me, Meru."

"Well…I'm just wondering. Three people have been resurrected and that totally weirds me out. Not a day after they arrive there's a strange prophecy that we're chasing. Tell me that's a coincidence."

Guaraha shrugged. "I don't know. You're one of them who saved the world, Meru. All I know is that I'm staying by you. Whatever weirds you out will weird me out too, okay? We'll face it together."

She grinned, gripping his hand. "Thanks."

Idly she noticed that Zieg was speaking with Shana instead of Rose. In the day that he had been back, Zieg had grown fond of his daughter-in-law and approved of her marriage to his son. Meanwhile, Rose did not spend most of her time with him, but instead with Darius.

Had their relationship been a sham? Meru wondered. That's impossible. Rose remained for eleven thousand years for him. I saw the way her eyes flashed hurt and disbelief when he blasted her in Zenebatos. I heard how she screamed at him for forgetting her in Mayfil. I sensed her sadness as she cradled his head in her lap in the core of the Moon. No, their relationship was one of the few genuine things in the world. But…now what?

It's none of your business. They'll figure it out on their own. Her mind told her. Kindly she told it to shut up and walked over to Rose, excusing her from Guaraha.

"Hi." She said. "Can I talk to you, Rose?"

Rose looked surprised. "Of course. Excuse me, Dar."

A way away from the party but still close enough not to be lost or attacked, Meru spoke. "You call him Dar?"

"All his friends do."

"You seem awfully close to him."

Rose's eyes narrowed, smoke-colored. "What are you implying, Meru?"

She almost faltered underneath the fiery gaze, almost. But she tossed her head back and lifted her little chin proudly. "I'm not implying anything. I'm asking, is your relationship with Dart's father fake?"

The other woman stumbled backwards, gripping her head in both hands.

Meru ran forward, afraid that she had hurt her psychically. "Are you all right?"

"Fine." Rose shrugged out of her grip, putting her hands loose at her sides, though her fingers were curled. "All right, you want an answer? Yes. My relationship with Zieg is a fake."

Well, she didn't expect such a forthright answer. "What?"

"It's a fake. A sham, a farce, a fraud, a fakery, a façade, a phony relationship." Rose rattled off the synonyms with devastating calmness. "You wanted an answer, you got it. It's fake."

"But how?"

"I assume you mean why. I loved him, that I will admit. I loved him with all my heart and soul when we were Dragoons. I loved him for the eleven thousand years after that. I loved him when we met again in life. But during death, I saw things I wish I didn't. I felt strange emotions and the love just extinguished, painfully, the way a candle does in a drizzle."

"Now you love Darius?" Meru could not stop the question from spilling out of her betraying mouth.

Rose glared at her. "I'm not some sort of whore that exchanges one man for another."

"I didn't say that!"

"I'm not sure, Meru." Rose continued as if the last two sentences did not exist. "But all I know is that nothing is the same as it was before."

"So why still call each other fond names? Why not just tell everyone and just cut off the entire blasted thing?"

"They all know that it was the driving force behind the reason of why I joined all of you in the journey. They would think little of me if I told them that I was ending the relationship as if it was nothing more than a simple little puppy crush." Rose paused. "Again, I admire your relationship with Guaraha. You're both honest with each other, sincere.

"Damn it, I hate this mortal body!" Rose screamed, kicking at a boulder. She limped off that foot as pain bloomed. "Stupid lousy mortal body!"

Meru blinked, stunned by Rose's sudden change in mood. She could only watch as Rose paced around like a frustrated jungle cat, ranting. "I hate being mortal! Before, I knew what I fought for. I knew what to do. Everything was laid out for me, and waiting for my help. Now I get hurt so easily and I don't know which way to go!"

Silence was for only a few seconds before Rose spoke again, much calmer. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to have an outburst like that. It's just stress. Pay no attention to it. Let's get back to the others before they wonder what happened to us."

Dazed, Meru ran to catch up.

Meru hated boats. Especially the Queen Fury, she decided with a passion.

Though ships glided on water, she hated them because it was all cramped and bunched together with terrible air and terrible food and she couldn't feel the water. And the Queen Fury was especially not-her-favorite because it was a hunk of wood and metal, and ugly, not at all like some of the boats she had seen while swimming in the ocean.

Frustrated, she spent most of her time on the deck with Shana and Guaraha. Once she and her fiancé had grown wings and tried to fly off the cooped-up feeling. But the Queen Fury had been too fast for their wings and they had to exert more energy than logical to catch up. Now she was confined to the ship, as per Dart's orders.

Making a swirling motion with her hands, she lifted ten gallons of ocean onto the deck, making it hover but not quite touch. Focusing her mind she manipulated it, first transforming it into the shape of Regole, her water Dragon, then a sleek dolphin, then a predatory hawk, before grinning and tossing it, the entire ten gallons at Guaraha.

"Hey!"

Meru giggled and ran off before he could recover.

"Hello?" She knocked on the door. "Zieg?"

The old man opened the door. "Hello…Meru?"

"Yep, that's me. I have a question."

"Of course." He held open the door and she walked in. She admired his neatness.

She turned and asked him with surprising bluntness, "You don't love Rose, do you?"

She watched him flinch at her question. "You're more perceptive than you let on."

"I talk a lot but it doesn't mean that I don't observe." Her voice was a childish giggle, but her eyes focused on him in a way that made him feel unnerved. "You don't, do you?"

"No probably not." He answered honestly.

She met his eyes directly, unafraid. "If it was a choice between Rose and Claire, which one would you choose?"

Zieg laughed and shook his head. "I've been faced with that decision more than once."

"Well, which one?"

He stared at her. "Do me a favor, young Meru, and just leave it as it is."

"No. Rose is my friend. You could be too. And I like to help people."

"You can help us by leaving us alone. We have to figure it out for ourselves. Child, you're still so young. Go enjoy your own life instead of worrying about those of people who have already died and came back."

Defeated, Meru left.

The visit to Deningrad was warm despite its cold weather. Meru loved Queen Theresa and her kindness, and she loved having her feet on earth instead of metal. She loved how the other Sacred Sisters emanated warmth. She didn't even mind the icy wind, really.

Because of their long journey before, this was a quick one, only three weeks round. What happened on the Queen Fury was boring. There were no arguments, thank the gods, but nothing interesting either, until they docked.

It was too dark to head out anyway by the time they reached land. Meru was just about to snuggle into her own bed when she heard a scream.

"Oh gods!" She had to swear lightly as she leapt out of her room and ran down the halls barefoot until she reached Shana's room.

Dart was already there, holding her tightly as she convulsed. Was she having a seizure? Meru lightly probed with her mind and recoiled.

Damn! Meru was not usually one to curse, but this was too shocking. Shana's mind was in turmoil. Obviously someone's mind was affecting her, though she may be mortal. Someone was reaching into her mind and poisoning her. It was like swimming in a void of darkness. Meru knew the feeling because Melbu Frahma had poisoned her the same way in the final battle. She had fought it off but Shana was a mortal, inexperienced.

Rose! Rose would know what to do!

Meru turned on her heel and dodged around Kongol and Miranda. Rose's room was near the deck. She burst in the unlocked door.

"Rose!" She yelled. "Rose!"

But Rose didn't hear her. Meru skidded to a stop, confused. Rose was only a meter away; it was impossible that she didn't hear her. But she was sitting on a clear spot in the floor, her legs crossed and her hands clasped in front of her as if beseeching some unknown power. Her eyes were closed and she seemed totally oblivious.

Meru calmed down enough to realize that the air was swarming with magic, so powerful that she nearly choked on it. A strange and foreign spell, full of energy and Spirit. A human could have been able to sense it.

"Rose?" She whispered. "What are you doing?"

Knowing that some spells were so powerful the caster was oblivious to the world, Meru walked over and shook her friend. Rose's head lolled on her neck but her lips were still murmuring things that Meru could not hear. Taking a lesson from Miranda, the Wingly bunched up her fingers and poked Rose as hard as she could in the shoulder.

"Ow!" The other woman became conscious almost immediately. "What the hell? Meru, what are you doing here?"

"What were you doing?" Meru retorted, her voice a quiet whisper.

"It was a spell I was casting. It's very powerful, as you no doubt had sensed." Rose answered easily. "What is it? You look ill."

Shana came back into Meru's mind and she started flying in her anxiety. "That's right! Something's wrong with Shana! Do you know what's wrong with her?"

"Calm yourself. I have to see her first. Where is she?" Rose was already moving, and Meru ran to keep up.

"It looks like she's in another trance mode…" Rose said. "But her mind doesn't feel like it. She's experiencing…something. I'm not sure what it is, but it's powerful. It's a mind that poisoning her. I think someone's attacking her psychically."

"Why would they do that?" Dart asked, his breathing uneven. "She's a mortal now, and no longer the Moon Child."

When Rose didn't reply immediately, Guaraha did. "Shana may be mortal now, but she's got a very sensitive mind. She's also a prophetess. Her Spirit being aligned with someone else's could result in a massive increase in that other person's Spirit."

He paused at all the blank faces and rephrased his words. "She's being poisoned so someone can steal her powers."

"Shana?" Dart smoothed his wife's hair away from her forehead. "Can you hear me?"

"Aah…" She was alternately groaning and screaming in pain. "It's dark in here, Dart…"

"I know, sweetheart. Can you tell us anything else? What's happening?"

Meru watched in horror as Shana's condition worsened. She twisted from side to side on the bed and her mouth stretched open in a silent scream. Her eyes showed white and her nose was bleeding. "Bad powers…" She whispered. "Evil… darkness…too strong…"

"Shana, child," Zieg said gently. "What color is it? A sensitive mind can tell who it is by mind color."

"Dark…" Shana repeated. "It's so dark…the past is haunting…and it hurts… I want to go home…why won't you let me go home? It's so dark…" She paused, tried to swallow. Meru pressed her fists to her mouth to keep from sobbing. Shana looked like she was in such terrible pain and no one could do anything about it. She was writhing and screaming and no one could help her!

"Black powers…" Shana finally whispered. Her seizure seemed to be lessening now. "Dark…violet…dark…" The twisting disappeared as quickly as it had come, as if someone had struck her mind with a powerful blow and Shana had stopped resisting, giving in to complete unconsciousness.

Dark violet? Meru turned to the only person who had that color in all of eternity.

Her mouth was open in an O but there was otherwise no expression on her face. Her voice was smooth, not nervous as she replied. "She's delirious and ranting." Rose explained calmly. "You can't possibly believe her."

Dart's face was unforgiving. Meru had never seen him look so deadly angry, except for that time in the Death Frontier, when he had told them to leave while he fought Rose. He had that same look on his face, terrible. "She may be delirious but she is a prophetess. And you're the only one who holds the dark violet Dragoon color. It's been yours since the beginning and no one else has handled it."

Rose made a sound like an indignant parrot and looked around as if she expected this to be a joke. A slight smile formed on her lips and disappeared as she saw that no one else was smiling. "You can't be serious!" She yelped, her composure lost. "You honestly think I poisoned Shana!"

Meru saw the way her eyes darted back and forth and her legs bunched like a trapped panther. She'd been through this before, she realized, being accused and frightened.

Rose glanced at Zieg but he was looking at his son and daughter-in-law. She slid her gaze over to Meru for help.

I should help her, but…maybe…it is possible…

Meru turned her face away.

Rose's jaw clenched. "I don't believe this!" She yelled, turning and walking away furiously.

Meru immediately felt guilty. Rose is like my sister! But doubt gnawed annoyingly at her mind. But…she is the one that held the Dark Violet color. No one else ever had it; no one ever inherited it. And the past…Rose was always a part of the past. And…she was always complaining about being mortal. Shana's power could make her more than mortal. And she came back from death…and she's always been a great actress. This would have been a piece of cake for her. And she was the first to find Shana with the prophecy that led us here. And…oh gods and Archangel…

"Dart," She whispered urgently. "When I went to go get Rose, she was working on a spell. She didn't even wake up when I yelled out at her. It was so powerful she didn't know what was going on."

The warrior looked at her for half a second before comprehending her words. Something flashed in his eyes, something dangerous that made Meru regret telling him. "Albert," Dart said tightly. "Station your guards around the ship. She can't leave."

The King had a pained look on his face. "Dart…"

"Albert, please. I don't trust her anymore."

The young sovereign sighed and did as his friend asked.

Darius was surprised at the hurricane of fury and tears burst into his room.

"Lady Rose!" He stood up and she ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist, something she had never done before. He stood still, stunned. "Rose?"

She was shaking with tears or fury, he couldn't tell, her face buried in his shirtfront and her fingers gripping the fabric of his collar.

"Are you all right?" Awkwardly, she smoothed down her hair until she stopped shaking in anger.

"No. I'm not all right." She said, her voice still muffled by his shirt. "I need to get out of here."

"We can go up to the deck if you want." Darius offered. "The air is better there."

She shook her head furiously and let go of him, stepping away. She looked like a baby chick, with her hair ruffled like down and a petulant pout making her look like a child. "No. I need to get away from here." She repeated. "Away from this ship, these people! I have to go!"

Surprisingly, Darius didn't yell or convince her to stay. He merely nodded and asked, "Can you get to your room?"

"No. There are guards everywhere."

"That's fine. We can use the sheets as packs and you can wear my clothes. I've got extras. We'll steal food and water on the way out. And we can hunt. I've been practicing with my bow, and I swiped a dagger from the chef. You can have it."

Rose watched in admiration as he moved calmly and dutifully, packing the bags and clothes without complaint. He didn't even hesitate or have a hint of reluctance about him. He was always doing things for her, so kindly and without thought of repayment. If she could she would reward him, but she was nothing but mortal now. There was nothing she could give him as gratitude for the things he did for her, with that kind little smile that he was giving her now as he handed her the lighter of the two bags.

She took it, feeling its rough softness in her hands. "You're really coming with me?"

He nodded and her eyes betrayed her tearful gratefulness as she embraced him tightly. "Thank you."

Darius blinked in surprise as he returned the hug. "Um…you're welcome. Don't worry about it. I came back here for you. I'm not letting you get away."

His words unnerved her and she pulled away. "Come on."

"Oh, come on, Mei," Guaraha pleaded desperately as he watched her fly around by the ceiling in rapid circles. "Stop sulking. You did what you had to do. She could be dangerous."

"I know!" Meru wailed, landing heavily on her toes. "But she's my sister and I feel like a creep!"

"She's not a Wingly; she's not your sister."

She glared at him, but it lacked force. "Family isn't always blood." She sighed. "I still feel bad. I'm gonna go talk to her."

The parchment felt suddenly cold in Meru's hands and she yelled for Guaraha.

He came running instantly. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Wordless, she shoved the note in her fiancé's face and watched him read it. She had found it in Darius's room. Of course Rose would go to the only friend who hadn't betrayed her.

There was no indication on whom the letter was for or who wrote it, but Meru recognized Rose's delicate print.

I can't stay where I'm not trusted. I thought that for the first time in eleven thousand years I had met people I could trust and that they would trust me back. I guess I was wrong as usual. But for the sake of what I think we used to have, I'm giving you a fair warning. If you send guards after my friend and I, we will not hesitate to kill, in self-defense.

There was writing but Meru couldn't read it. A drop of black liquid had dried on the very bottom, Rose's blood, she knew. It was how she had signed her papers.

She exchanged shocked glances with Guaraha for a moment and then raced down the hallway.

"Dart!"

"I had forgotten how cold it was here…" Rose shivered as she pulled her cloak closer around her. It was actually a bed sheet but she and Darius had had to make do with what was available to them. "I'm freezing, and I can't feel my hands."

Darius looked at her sideways. "It's cold, but not that cold. I would have thought you would be used to it as a warrior."

"I'm adjusting to the change. My body is weaker than even a normal human's is. I'm mortal now, Dar, you keep forgetting that."

"That's because you sure as hell don't seem it. You look exactly the same, if not more beautiful."

She felt color rising to her cheeks at his open flirting, but it was destroyed when she sneezed three times in a row.

"Wow, you must be really cold. Maybe we should find shelter until dawn."

"No." Rose said immediately. "We're not far enough from the Queen Fury. Those guards won't stay knocked out forever. They'll send people after us, despite my note, I'm sure of it. After all, I'm the person who poisoned their leader's beloved wife." Her voice was bitterly sarcastic. "I can't believe that they would think I would do such a thing." She sneezed again and rubbed her arms for warmth.

"Maybe you should get longer pants." Dar suggested. "I have a few pairs in my bag. Let's rest, okay?"

"In another kilometer or two." She said tersely, and he couldn't argue.

"Father, what does this say?" Dart pointed to the bottom of the paper. Meru now recognized as the archaic writing that Rose had been scribbling after Dart had snapped at her.

Zieg took it gently and read out loud. "Zieg, stay with your son. I'm sure the both of you deserve it. As for our own problems, I release you from our engagement. I know you don't want it, and honestly, neither do I. I know that you still love Claire. It's why you chose her. You'll be with her again, and it will be perfect. Enjoy life, darling."

Meru grabbed two handfuls of her platinum hair and tugged hard, whining. "I should have stood up for her. Now she's gone!"

"That's good." Dart spoke harshly. "She injured Shana so deeply that Shana hasn't even woken up yet. The part about not sending guards seems like a threat. But she's mortal and so is her lover Darius. She won't be able to stand up to us. We will be able to overtake them easily."

"No." Albert held up a hand.

Meru's heart leapt. Could someone actually be defending Rose?

"Rose is a warrior. Or at least, she was. She'll expect an attack." The king continued. "We shouldn't waste time sending troops to find her. She'll show up at the prophecy place anyway. We can get her there. It'll save us time and force."

Oh. Her hope deflated.

"We'll head out at first light of dawn for where Zieg directs us." Dart says. "Leave Rose out of your minds. We'll deal with her when we catch up to her. Shana will come with us. I'll bring her along. I have a feeling we'll need her. The guards are to stay here. I mean no offense, but we will probably get along faster with them. More rations."

Desperate, Meru looked at Zieg, but he was only staring at the note, his face completely expressionless. Didn't he care what happened to the woman that he once loved?

The others, the once-friends that had loved Rose before, were now also standing without a word of protest. Sure, they all looked guilty and seemed to be fighting tears or retching, but they didn't utter a single word to help Rose.

But then again, wasn't that was she herself was doing?

"Ah-choo!" By now Rose's nose was red and stuffed and her hair was disheveled and her eyes were blurry, and Darius thought it was extremely cute. Before, she was perfect as a goddess, flawless, unable to show anything wrong. But now she was a normal human, with a cold. It made her vulnerable, and he was almost relieved, that he could do something to help her.

"Here." He reached into his bag and pulled out the thickest pair of breeches he could find. "I won't look."

They had decided on a grove of oaken trees as shelter, and Rose ducked behind one of them with an extra pair of Darius's pants over her arm. Sneezing again, she decided that her body was much too delicate. She would need to exercise more, in order to get halfway to the shape she was as a Dragoon.

She tugged off her boots and shorts and pulled on the pants, immediately grateful for the warmth. It took away some of the cold from her legs and she could shove her numbed hands into her pockets.

She had highly overrated mortality.

It was strange walking along without Rose, Meru decided.

Which was really ridiculous if she thought about it. She'd gone two years without seeing her supposed "sissy" and true, the death had been rather tough to accept at first, but life had gone on, as it always does.

But now that she knew Rose was back, and not with them, the feeling made her squirm as she walked. Or maybe that had something to do with the heaviness of the traditional Wingly robe she was garbed in. Guaraha had insisted that she wear something warmer for the cold weather, and gave her one of his robes. It was a bit too large for her and far too heavy.

Every time she brought up Rose's name, the others would shy away. Albert stuck with Dart now, the two of them and Zieg forming some sort of war council, always debating about battle techniques. Kongol and Haschel would pretend not to hear her question, switching to another topic. They always looked uneasy. When she tried to speak with Miranda the first time, the Sacred Sister's face had twisted in pain and she snarled, "Don't mention that traitor witch." Meru didn't ask her after that.

Guaraha was the only one who would listen to her lamenting all the time, and he did it without a complaint. She was really was glad to have him. Fondly she remembered the times that they had spent together growing up, sibling feelings slowly deepening into love. She had to smile, grateful for something to ease her mind into more familiar, less painful thoughts.

"Oh thank the gods." Rose breathed. "Look. I think I can break the ice there and find some fish for a decent meal. Did you find shelter?"

"Yeah, what luck, I found an old cave a ways ahead." Darius came up beside her. "The ice is thin; it'll be easy. I'll get some wood for fire."

"Sure, go do that." Rose smacked the ice with a rock, breaking it and finding something to fish with. This is not quite as glamorous as I thought it would be. Sure, I'm with Darius, and I've got my feelings sorted out. I don't even mind the whole monthly bleeding thing, really. But I kinda hoped that I would be with my…with the team…no, never mind that. It doesn't matter now.

"Look out!"

Darius's yell came too late for her to avoid the snow-white bear that had suddenly crept up upon her without her knowing. Reflexively, she pulled out the dagger in her boot, swept it upward. It caught the bear in the chest, spilling blood over her. The bear roared and brought down one heavy paw. She screamed as sudden pain started in her right thigh and spread outward over her body.

She shifted her weight onto her right leg for a moment and struck out with her left in a stepping side kick.

She herself kept forgetting the fact that she was mortal. Just a decade ago she could have shattered its sternum and gone clear through its spine, killing it instantly. Now all she ended up with was the bear stumbling backward a few steps and her landing on her side painfully.

She screamed something she had never yelled genuinely for the past ten thousand years. "Help me!"

And for the first time, her mortal life was in grave danger.

Not just from the bear. She had forgotten how thin the ice was. The ice, unable to hold her weight, cracked. She screamed as it collapsed.

The water was so cold that she was stunned. Then the current swept her downstream and the real fear set in. Kicking to the surface, she pounded the ice with one tiny fist.

Cold… She couldn't feel her own body anymore, despite her furious kicking. And now the pain in her lungs was more terrible than the feel of the blood leaving her legs and filling the water around her with red. She needed air. She pounded the ice again. Her eyes began to feel heavy and the blows became weaker.

So tired…

She closed her eyes. I'll take a nap. It doesn't matter anymore.

"Rose!" Oh gods…

He saw her swipe at the bear and fall. He watched in horror as the ice cracked and she fell through.

Dropping the wood and the packs, dodging around the bear, he dove into the lake.

Shit! Cold!

Where is she? The light filtering through the ice was dimmed, and he couldn't see her. His body was numb now as he swam downstream, letting the current increase his speed. Rose would have been dragged downstream; she wasn't strong enough to fight it, especially since she was still adjusting to the change and more vulnerable than normal humans. But was she still struggling now?

Despair was a bitter taste in his mouth as he swam further. Where is she? He coughed suddenly, accidentally sucked in a mouthful of water and swallowed.

Wait a minute…it has a metallic tinge…

He narrowed his eyes and looked up at the light. Instead of the dull whitish color it was before, it was slightly pink. Blood, perhaps? Fueled with hope, he added a burst of speed.

"Rose!" Darius almost yelled out her name when he saw her before he remembered that he was underwater.

Oh gods… She was slack and weak, her limbs spread out, her eyes closed. She was drifting slowly downward, her dark hair fanning against her pale skin. She was completely lost and given up.

He kicked harder, down, toward her. The pressure in his ears grew and so did the pain in his lungs. He looped an arm around her waist and grabbed a handful of her long hair. With a good grip, he kicked upward.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could he have left her by herself? Of course she would have gotten in trouble; she wasn't used to being a weak mortal.

He added another burst of speed and rammed the ice with his shoulder. Pain flared, but the ice cracked. Letting go of her hair, Dar punched at the hard crystals and they snapped apart.

Air was a welcome friend, rushing into his lungs. He tossed Rose onto the ice and pulled himself up, dragging the both of them to solid ground before the ice would crack again.

Oh shit.

Rose's leg was bleeding, though the cold water had probably staunched it for now. She was banged up and bruised in several places from where the water had smashed her against rocks or the ice, and her fists were red from trying to break the ice. But the worst thing was when he checked for a pulse and it wasn't there.

"Oh no, sweetheart, you aren't dying on me." He growled. "Come on, Rose, get up! You're a warrior; you're not going down so easily, right?"

He remembered centuries ago, when he was a child in his mortal life. His mother had been drowned by a water creature that had kept her under for too long. He remembered his father pounding on her chest furiously, breathing for her, trying to wake her up. He remembered his own fear as his sister clutched at his hand. He had lost his mother that day.

He was not going to lose Rose now.

Father breathed for Mother. Pounded on her chest. Kristoff had taught me how to perform CPR long ago. I still remember.

Clasping his hands tightly, he pushed down on Rose's chest, firmly, trying to get her heart to start beating again. Come on, pretty warrior, you're not dying. Again, harder. Still nothing. He pinched her nose tightly, and put his mouth over hers. Breathe! He exhaled his air into hers.

Figures. The first time I get to kiss her, she's not even conscious to feel it.

Breathe. Again. Despair.

You're not going to die. Not while it took us so long to get back.

Push down again. Her heart was strong, in all possible ways. It couldn't fail her now.

You can't die. It breaks all the rules. Nothing exists.

Breathe for her again. Live for her. Die for her. Breathe!

I lost too many of my family. You're the only thing I have left. The only thing I lived for.

He pushed down again, hard. Furious now, for her leaving him. Breathe, damn you!

She choked, spitting up water. Her entire body arched up and her eyes were shut tightly. Water was coming out of her mouth. She was choking on it, but spitting it up. Breathing!

He lifted her head into his lap, rubbing at her throat vigorously. "Easy now. Just breathe."

She didn't seem to hear him, just continued to cough. When she went limp, panic seized him, until he saw her breathing. Unconscious, that's all. Tired.

He lifted her easily; she weighed nearly nothing even soaking wet. Slinging her over one shoulder, he walked back toward the cave that he had found. He was only a farmer, but after she had left him, he had loved hunting better. He had gotten better with his sense of direction and he was sure that the cave was this way.

Darius smiled at what he saw. Gently easing her onto her back, he left her for a moment to get the packs and the wood, undisturbed by the bear that was now out of the way. Picking her up again, he headed for the cave and began a fire.

"Dart? Can we talk?"

Uh-oh. He turned to see the Wingly fluttering just a foot above the ground. She looked serious and sad. Damn, he hated seeing Meru like that, solemn and weary. It wasn't his fault, after all. But every time he looked at her, she was always looking back with something that told him she wished he had misunderstood.

"Father, would you excuse me?" Dart nodded to Zieg and walked away a little, Meru trailing behind limply. "What is it, Meru?"

She swallowed uneasily. "Do you really think Rose did it?"

Dart averted her gaze. It was too terrible to look into her trusting eyes and sense her hurt at betrayal. "Honestly? Yes. Shana said so, and I believe her. Look, Rose was my friend, but I'm the leader of this group. I have to do things that are best for this group. Rose was a danger, that's why we had to make her leave. Do you understand this?" He spoke to her as if she was a child.

The Wingly representative kept her head tilted down. "Yes." She answered quietly. "But…what if we made a mistake?" She grabbed his hands. "It's possible, right?"

Dart shrugged. "Perhaps. If it is, then we'll rectify it. But right now, we can't risk it, with Shana so vulnerable. The most important thing is to find the location of the prophecy. All of us have a feeling that it's something that will help us, especially because of that 'trump card' that it speaks of."

"Dart?" She whispered. "When we meet her again—"

"Meru—"

"You know we will!" She shrieked, her voice rising above those in the team so that everyone stopped and looked at her.

She smoothed down her platinum-blue hair and spoke in a quieter voice. "When our paths cross with hers again—and you know they will—what are we going to do? Are we to kill her?"

Dart looked away from her inquisitive gaze. "I don't know, Meru. We'll figure out along the way, I guess. Let's just stick with one thing at a time. One step at a time."

It was so cold when she woke up.

She was moving without moving. He was moving her. She forced her eyes open. "Darius?"

"Yeah. I'm here. Are you okay?"

"It's cold. I'm wet. What happened?"

"You fell in the lake." Dar replied calmly. "I went in and got you out. Hold on, I'm making a fire now."

The warmth wasn't nearly enough to chase the coldness out of her body but it was welcome nevertheless. "My leg is bleeding."

"I know." He paused and spoke tentatively. "I need you to take off your pants."

She gave him a horrified look, shrinking away to the cave wall.

"Not because of that." He assured her calmly. "Look, your leg's bleeding and you're going to die if you don't get it treated. I'll turn my back. Here's another pair of pants and healing salve. Take care of it by yourself. If you need help, you can call me, but I won't look unless you ask, okay?"

Rose shifted her weight slightly, and the wound, which had begun to staunch, bled anew. She screamed. Darius flinched at the terrible sound.

She gasped his name and he was there in an instant, holding her hand.

"I'm going to life you up by your arms. Put your weight on your left leg. Then do what I saw, all right? Mom did this go Kata once, when my sister sprained an ankle."

He was slow and gentle as he lifted her onto her left leg. She eased the waistline of the pants down and gingerly sat back down. Darius helped to untangle it from her ankles before he sat next to her and applied healing salve to her wound, awkwardly patting her hand when she hissed in pain. His movements were gentle yet firm as he bound the deep gash in her thigh.

She grabbed his hand when the numbness sank in and he didn't pull away. He kept his promise; he was nothing but respectful to her. He didn't try to take advantage of the situation, as some—most—men would have. He merely helped to bind the wound and comfort her and nothing else. Chivalrous, she realized with a smile.

"Wait a moment for the salve to dry." He told her, turning away so that he wouldn't have to look at her. "Wring out your clothes; I don't want you to get hypothermia."

His back to her, he pulled off his shirt and squeezed the water out of before putting it near the fire to dry and donning a new shirt, thicker than that one. He heard Rose do the same, the slap of water against the ground.

A few seconds later he heard a rock crash against the side of the cave, and screaming.

Rose was flinging all the rocks near her to the far wall of the cave. Her face twisted in fury as she screamed. A string of words that were probably curses in the archaic languages transpired before she switched back to Common.

"I can't even defeat a lousy bear! Me! Guardian of darkness, original Dragoon, master of the Vassal Dragon, Black Monster, Rose of the ancient powers!" She picked up a particularly heavy rock and hurled it. It cleaved as it hit the wall. "I used to be a fine warrior. I was proud of my skills! Now I can't fight for my life! I'm weak! Useless!"

Wisely, Darius waited until she had ran out of rocks before walking over and sliding an arm around her slim shoulders. She was rigid.

"Here, put on a new pair of pants. The salve should have dried." When she did so, he continued, "Put your arms around my neck."

"Why?" She asked coldly.

"Trust me, will you? I'll show you something that will make you feel better."

She did so and he carried her out of the cave, away from the warmth of the fire. She shivered and squirmed.

Darius contemplated their relationship as he walked. Before, a thousand years ago, it had been friendly, and though he had been attracted to her, there was never this sweet tension that he was feeling now. He had never felt like this before, not even to her. But everything changed now. Why? Was it because he knew that she was no longer bound to Zieg? Or was it just that his emotions had changed?

"Hey." He shook her slightly, as she had been falling asleep. "We're here. Look down."

She shifted in his arms and looked at the ground.

A mass of white and red lay there, white fur stained with slick red blood.

Rose stared at it for a long time before turning her face back to him, her eyes shining. "Did you do that for me?" She whispered.

"No. You did it yourself."

"I did?"

"Yes." Darius gave her a smile. "Seems you're not as weak as you thought. It was merely the ice that defeated you, my lovely warrior. You defeated the bear."

A slow smile spread across her face, one of the most precious things he had ever seen before. "Thank you." she said to him quietly.

By the time he brought them both back to the cave, she was half-asleep. Gently he propped her against the wall.

"You are too kind to me, Darius." She murmured sleepily. "I don't deserve a friend like you."

"Yes, you do." He disagreed, looking at her eyelids shutting. "I think I should show you how deep our friendship goes."

She came fully awake when she felt the pressure of his lips on hers. She pushed him away but instead curled her fingers into his hair, pulling him close, breathing in the scent of him. He was soft and sweet and tender. There was something about him, something Zieg could never give her. She needed him for her existence, to convince her reality. She let her finger trace the fine curve of his jawbone and sighed. He recaptured her mouth, more fiercely this time, and she pulled back.

"I'm not desperate." She told him flatly.

He smiled. "I know."

"I don't believe in premarital sex. And we're not even engaged."

"Is that an invitation?"

He watched in amusement as she glared at him before gently gathering her in his arms again, resting his chin on top of her head. She fit perfectly with him. He felt her smile on his neck. "Little flower, don't worry. I do not intend to do anything of that sort with you tonight. Think of this as snuggling from the cold."

She slipped her arms around his waist. "Is this a mortal thing?"

"What?"

"This…snuggling. Mortals do it often?"

"I guess."

"It's warm. It's another good thing about mortality."

Darius held her and stroked her hair until she fell asleep. This was the woman he had come back for and nothing, not even her friends, could stop him from being with her.

Shana awoke when they were halfway to the location.

Meru was sulking alongside Guaraha, tripping over the long robes, watching Dart and Zieg, when Kongol gave a bark. Since he was strong, large, and kind, he had volunteered to carry Shana.

"Dart?" She called sleepily and her husband was pushing his way through the group toward her, rubbing her hands together.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine." She smiled and looked around. "Where's Rose?" Her face changed, alarmed. "What happened? Dart, someone's magic poisoned me! I t—"

"We know. It was Rose. You told us."

Shana's brow furrowed and she looked around again. "I told you? When?"

"You were screaming it."

"But it wasn't Rose! What did I say?" Shana demanded.

"You kept saying dark violet when we asked you what color the mind was."

"Oh, Dart," Shana sighed sadly as she stood firmly on her own two feet. "I wasn't saying dark violet. I was saying violet…dark."

"What's the difference?" Meru asked impatiently.

"I wasn't referring to dark as the deepness in color like Rose. I meant dark as in evil. An evil Violet Dragoon of the past. Kanzas. Dart, it was Kanzas, not Rose!"

Not Rose…not Rose…

She now realized that to a normal person this would sound extremely ridiculous. Basing an entire trial upon the color of a mind? But they weren't normal people. They were Dragoons, and the mind color was essential. But…the color had been wrong.

"Wait a minute!" Meru's wings came unbidden and she rose into the air. "Are you saying that we lost one of our best friends because of a stupid grammar mistake?! I don't believe this!"

She flew off as fast as she could, her wings beating out her anger as she searched for her friend.

"Rose!" The voice caused her to waken, her head still pillowed against Darius' side. Rose?"

Uh-oh, I know that voice.

Darius stirred and she sat up immediately, clapping a hand over his mouth. "Shh!" She hissed urgently. "Quiet."

"Rose, please come out." Meru wailed.

The emotion in her voice almost made Rose crawl out of the cave and hug her "sister", to forget what had happened and to go back to the warmth of the team of friends.

But she knew she couldn't.

Centuries upon centuries of tough training on her emotions made her stay still. The warmth was not for her, as she had told Dart before, in one of her rare defenseless moments of trust.

"Rose?" Meru's voice was farther away. Now that Rose was mortal her mind wasn't so easy to track. Good.

She waited until she was sure the Wingly was gone before taking her hand away from Darius' mouth and gingerly standing up. "We have to get moving. If Meru's patrol is over here then they are too close. We have to go."

"I would say that your leg hasn't healed yet, but that's not going to stop you, is it?"

"No. Let's go."

Limping painfully, furious at her weakness, she stalked off across the fields. Darius was half a step behind her, knowing her enough to leave her alone in her silent seething, and yet a good enough friend to be ready in case her leg failed her.

They had to get to the prophecy place before the team did. Their "lives" depended on it.

Damn it, I warned them! I really tried to help them, really. I guess they didn't deserve my trust after all.

"I couldn't find her!" Meru reported angrily as she flew back to the group. "Not a trace of her."

"They must be far ahead of us." Albert deduced mildly. "Or perhaps they are simply hiding."

The Wingly female flew in circles in the sky, something she did when she was upset or anxious or both. Guaraha watched her carefully. He had seldom—if ever—seen Meru this upset before. She had let her hair loose and it streamed behind her as she pirouetted in the air. Dancing was a good way to let out all emotions, she once told him. She would also do that if she was angry.

Shana sighed and looked around her. Haschel was crouching, staring, mesmerized at a rock in front of him, though she would bet that his thoughts were on anything but that rock. Dart and Zieg were furiously discussing something, Dart's mouth twisted in a frown and his father shaking his head. Albert was wringing the hem of his cape in his gloved hands, looking pitiful. Guaraha was watching Meru fly in circles until she grew dizzy and had to rest, and Kongol had Miranda boosted up on his shoulders, where she served as brief lookout from that height. All of them were agitated and worried, sulking.

Because of something that she had said. A stupid little grammar mistake, as Meru had said. Shana had never stressed reading and writing as the most important things in life, but she now swore that when they returned to Seles she would retake all the educator's courses in grammar and spelling again.

Because of me, they're all upset. Dart blamed one of his best friends, Zieg deserted his fiancée, Rose is gone, and Soa only knows what else will happen. I'm always getting in the way.

She laid one tiny hand on the heavy Wingly robe. "Guaraha," She said when he turned around. "I'm going to take a break for a while. Ask the others to wait for me? I'll come back as soon as I can."

Guaraha frowned. "But Lady Shana, you're injured and unarmed."

She held up a bow and a quiver of arrows. "Besides, I'm getting pretty good at running from fights anyway. You should see my agility stats. I'm not injured. I merely had poison in my mind, which I've fought off now. Just tell Dart not to worry."

She had never called on her powers like this before. The visions had always come to her unbidden, forcing their way into her mind and in back of her eyes. But she couldn't wait for that now.

She wasn't as stupid as they all thought she was. She knew how Rose was feeling, and she knew that the dark-haired woman was mortal and vulnerable now. In all possible ways, since the man Darius was with her. He seemed like a decent man, but Rose was the type of person who changes other people.

She needed a vision now.

Spirit… the term was not unfamiliar to her. Rose had mentioned it once, and the elements themselves had spoke of it often.

Shana drew on that Spirit now, and on her own passion to help her friend. It was her chance to prove herself and her chance to ask.

Show me the mortal called Rose, the former Darkness Dragoon, the former Black Monster, a daughter of the ancient powers. Ice maiden that wields the darkness as a weapon, master of the Vassal Dragon Michael. She knew that when searching for someone, she had to be as specific as possible. Show me the mortal called Darius, a young man from a thousand years past, former farmer in Ceplao; brother to Kata, a dead mortal.

It took such a long time that she thought she had failed. She was just about to get up and walk away in dejection when the vision burst in front of her eyes. Sweet pain flared along her body for half a second and the world flashed black and white before forming colors and feelings.

Shapes. A woman, slender, with a mass of black for hair. Redness on her leg, why? Blood? White for the snow around her. Amber for the man's hair and sepia for his pants. Blue and gold for the sky and sun reflecting of a small crest of hills near them. Feelings, more powerful and clear than the shapes. Pain and fury and rejection. Compassion and loyalty. Confusion.

Shana gasped as she returned to her own mind. The crest of hills…

Her milk-chocolate eyes automatically trailed toward the shapes in the distance. Little ridges like the sheets of a bed after a restless sleep. They're not far at all! She realized and steeled her small shoulders. She wasn't weak and she would show them that.

The temperature was higher than the days before, Rose realized. Either that or her body was becoming stronger. The cold wasn't as painful as it was before, but she was still grateful for Darius standing in front of her, shielding her from the icy wind.

Vaguely she remembered last night, the snuggling. It had kept her warm and perhaps alive. Besides it was…comfortable. If it hadn't been for Meru's calls, she would have been very reluctant to detach herself. Human flesh was so soft, and despite Darius' muscled body, she fit into the curve of him perfectly, comfortably.

She admired his honor. He had not broken his promise, had not taken advantage of her weakened state of physical and emotional. Perhaps…

"Excuse me?"

Darius moved in front of Rose defensively, almost but not quite blocking her voice of Shana. The petite girl stood with her bow strung on her back with her arrows and her arms lax at her sides, completely harmless. She smiled. "Lord… Darius, was it? I would like to speak with Rose, if you would please to get out of the way?"

Rose nodded at his questioning look and he stepped back, beside her. "What is it, Shana?" She asked wearily. "Where are the others? Are they hiding over the hills, ready to come down and kill me as soon as I let down my guard?"

"No. The others don't know that I'm here. I come here of my own accord."

"Why?"

"To apologize."

The answer shocked the dark-haired woman into momentary silence. "What? Why?"

"Dart explained to me what happened when I woke up. I didn't mean to accuse you. And for the record, I wasn't. I wasn't trying to specify your color. I was merely stating the fact that it was violet dark and not dark violet."

Rose paused, understood while it took the others longer. "Kanzas?"

"I think so. Were there any others?"

"…No. Not that I know of. The first one to take it was Doel." She paused again. "Why is he back? Is it another resurrection?"

"I don't know. But Rose…the others might come up with a logical reason."

"It will be too hard and suspicious for you to go running around being middleman for us."

Shana smiled. "I meant, come back with me. The others know that it wasn't you who poisoned me. They want you back."

Rose gave a hollow bitter laugh until she realized that Shana looked completely serious. "You must be joking! Why would I go back? Because they are my friends? How could they be my friends, when they didn't even give me a chance to explain and instead convicted me! They would have killed me, Shana, if not for Darius here." She reached her hand back and Darius took it.

"You are incorrect on one point. They would not have killed you. You would have been given a fair trial."

"The evidence pointed to me, no matter how circumstantial. It would not have been a trial of the law, Shana, but a trial of friendship and trust. It was not I that was guilty on that trial. It was the rest of them. Aside from my beloved Darius, not one of them stood up for me. Do you know how much that hurt? They helped to save me from myself, and their warmth was the last thing I knew before I died. I came back for them. And look what happens." Her voice had given out to a hoarse whisper by now and Darius stepped closer to her. "Why would I go back? Even if forgiveness was found on both parts, what would the point?"

Shana shook her head and reached out, taking Rose's hand, calmly. "Rose, you are asking something different from what we are talking about. I speak only of forgiveness and warmth. You are contemplating the meaning of life and death and that is something that no one but yourself can find your own answer to."

Rose tilted her head slightly and pulled her hand away. "Shana, please. I've already made my decision. Don't push it. I don't want to be with them again."

The other girl sighed and straightened. "Very well. But let me say one thing. True friendship has to have perils. They made a mistake. It happens. But they accepted you for what you were before, though they didn't have to. A true friend would give others a second chance. But then you claim not to be a true friend to any of us, so why should you care? Besides, you forget that the fate of the world is again in danger. If not for friendship then for the obligation that you have carried for thousands of years. But we can take of that ourselves. You've shrugged off the burden of the world now. See ya." She gave something of a smirk before turning and walking away.

The girl contradicted herself. She gave meaningful convincing points and yet knocked them down by herself. What would be the point of that?

To make Rose feel guilty? Because it sure as hell worked.

She tightened her grip on Darius' hand until he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, speaking. "Rose, you know that I stand on your side no matter what. I fight by your side. It comes down to the one choice. Would you rather that we stay here, hampered by nothing, free of obligation, enjoying a well-deserved rest and relaxation? Or should we go back to the world where it is duty and hurt, strife and fight? It comes down to you, Rose, and you know that there are good and bad to every side."

She released his hand, running her hand over her eyes. "I don't know. I'm tired of making choices like these, Darius." She sighed. "But I think that it is probably in my blood." She paused, turned to look at him. "You'll be with me?"

"Always."

"Then I want to go back."

He smiled. "You gonna give these boneheads another chance?"

"Yeah. Their little mortal lives deserve it." She grinned back and took his hand. "Walk with me?"