Crystal Magicians
By: Anime's Angels
Part Twelve
JJ spun around to meet the man who had spoken, taking an instant defensive
position.
Kilik just raised his hands to show her he wasn't going to attack her. He
was taller then her
(most people were) and had long brown hair pulled into a pony tail and brown
eyes.
JJ eyed him carefully. "Who are you?" she demanded not coming out of her
stance.
"Kilik," he said simply.
JJ blinked then relaxed after studying him for a while longer. "Janis
Hunter, JJ for short," she
said extending a hand.
He took it and was surprised by the grip. "Why do you want to leave here?"
he asked releasing
her hand.
JJ sighed and looked out the huge window again. "I have friends down there.
They're facing the
Queits all by themselves and I want to help," she said sadly.
"I know how you feel," another male voice said from her other side.
JJ looked up into the blue-green eyes of another young man with long blonde
hair, also pulled
back into a pony tail except for the long bangs that hung in front of his
left eye.
"This is my friend Siegfried," Kilik told her.
"Nice to meet you," JJ said. She turned back to looking out the window
resting her forehead
against the glass.
The two young men looked over her back at each other and shrugged. Mia had
been right, she
was depressed. She had sent the two young men to go and find her and try
and cheer her up
some how.
JJ began banging her head against the glass.
Siegfried grabbed her head stopping her. "Hey now don't do that," he said.
JJ jerked away from him. "Listen," she ordered wagging her finger in his
face, "if I want to
pound myself into unconsciousness, I'll bloody well do it!"
Kilik placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Relax JJ," he said soothingly.
"It'll be all right in the
end."
JJ shrugged his hand off. Tears had come unbidden to her eyes. "No it
won't! My friends are
down there dealing with something awful, I caused one of them to disappear
into danger, and I
can't do anything to search for her, say I'm sorry, or help! And I hate
being helpless!"
"JJ," Siegfried started stepping forward.
JJ shoved him aside and darted away from them pushing past two brown haired
girls on her way.
"What's wrong with her?" Xianghua asked approaching the two young men.
Kilik sighed. "She feels helpless," he explained.
Seung Mina nodded. "Would it be possible to get her to come down with us
when we go to
fight?" she asked suddenly.
Siegfried sighed. "I could ask Mia about it," he said. "We'll see what she
says though."
Two other men approached them, one had black hair in an Elvis style and
brown eyes, the other
had spiky brown hair and serious brown eyes.
"Any word from Earth's HQ?" Xianghua asked them.
Hwang shook his head his brown eyes even more serious. "We're going to have
to go down
tomorrow to find out and help them."
The others nodded.
"Did you find her?" black haired Maxi asked.
"Yes," Kilik said, "but she just ran off crying."
"Why?"
"She has friends down on Earth who are in possible trouble, she feels
helpless being up here,"
Siegfried answered.
"Don't we all," Hwang said softly looking out of the window into space.
"Don't we all...."
~~~~~~~~
JJ laid on the bunk in the tiny room given her and cried as memories of a
painful youth plagued
her.
Her fathers death.... Her mothers remarriage.... Her new father.... His
abuse of her.... Feeling
helpless as he hits her mother over and over again.... Her mother and her
leaving.... Him finding
them.... Calling the police as he tried to rape her mother and kill her....
Promising on her
mother's grave that she'll never be helpless again....
All before she was 7 years old. And the others never were told.
She sobbed. She hated being helpless. Hated it with a passion.
Age 15, her step-father escaped from prison.... Found her and her
grandmother.... Hit her
grandmother.... Coming after her.... She beating him up for a change until
the police come....
"I'll never be helpless again!" she sobbed forcefully to herself.
Suddenly she felt tired. She felt an unnatural force causing her eyes to
close in sleep. She let it.
***Begin Dream***
"Why do you cry?" a female voice asked her as she floated through a
space-like dream scape.
"I'm helpless," JJ answered.
"Why don't you use the jewel?" the female asked.
JJ could see her now. She had her back turned to her and was standing on
the flat surface of a
large android that didn't move and was shining with all sorts of precious
jewels.
"This!" she exclaimed touching her pendant. "Why should I! All it's done
is betray me and
make me hurt!"
The female sighed. "It wouldn't if you could accept the change."
"Change?" By this time JJ had set foot on the android and stood looking at
her.
The woman turned. JJ gasped. It was her! In every detail it was her,
except for her eyes, they
were the color of amethyst, like her dress.
"The power that lies within you. Why do you not accept it and the change it
will cause in your
life?" she asked.
"You're me...." JJ breathed.
The woman smiled gently. "I am, in a way. I am the first user of your
pendant."
JJ touched it.
"I am here to help guide you to learn your new abilities."
JJ looked down at the pendant in her hands. It twinkled up at her.
The woman stepped forward and placed a hand on JJ's shoulder. "It's
alright," she said gently.
"It will change you, but it will help you with your vow and promise not to
be helpless again."
JJ looked up at her from beneath her eyelashes. "That's a low blow," she
remarked.
The woman grinned. "I know, but it reached you didn't it?"
JJ sighed. "It did." She looked at the jewel again. She had to accept it.
It was the only way she
could get back to her friends and to help this world and hers from these
invaders. She sighed
again. "All right," she said. "What do I do?"
The woman smiled. "Good. Just open your heart and mind to your new powers,
accept them and
let them bond with you."
JJ nodded and closed her eyes. She emptied her mind of all thoughts and
relaxed.
It was there, a pulsing purple colored pool of power just below her
conscious mind. 'Accept
them... let them bond with you....' She remembered the woman's words.
Reaching out with her minds hand she touched the pool of power and then
opened all gates to it.
***End Dream***
She woke with a start, feeling different. She knew she had a lot to learn,
but those books in that
packet she had yet to open should help her learn. Now that she thought
about it, she had been in
the same outfit for over a week. She sniffed herself. She also hadn't had
a bath in over a week.
Getting to her feet she grabbed her backpack and headed out of her tiny room
to ask the first
person she met where the showers were.
************
Aurora, Sage, Kenshin, and Ariel tried to untangle themselves, which was
quite hard for Ariel to
do because of the slits in her dress, but she managed it. Cat, Cherri, and
Ryo were still rolling on
the ground laughing, but they soon got up. Cherri and Ryo quickly grabbed
Cat before she could
begin to run again, and Ariel and Sage grabbed Aurora.
"Were you spying on us earlier?!" Cherri asked. Cat and Aurora looked at
each other, then
nodded slowly. They let them go.
"If you were that interested, you just could have asked us later," Ariel
said, starting to think this
whole situation quite humorous. Suddenly, she felt something that made the
hairs on the back of
her neck stand up straight. "Guys, I think we have company coming," she said
quietly.
Cherri nodded in agreement with her. "We'd better get back to the inn
quickly, before the Queits
come upon us," She whispered, motioning for them to follow her. They nearly
ran back to the
inn, and everyone gathered in the Ronin's room.
"We had all better stay together, just in case," Aurora said. She looked
for a place to sit.
Everyone nodded.
"How close are they?" Cat asked. She looked ready and eager to fight.
"Not far off, but I don't think they'll come here. They don't know exactly
where we are, but I'm
sure they know the general area. Damn Morkela," Cherri said, scooting
closer to Ryo
unconsciously.
"Don't worry girls, we won't let anything happen to you," Kento said. Cat
gave him "The Look."
"I can take care of myself, thank you," she said sarcastically.
"We know you can, we're just offering our services, that's all," Sano said
sitting next to Cat on
the floor.
"Cherri, do you think we can change clothes? These slits really suck eggs
out of hens," Ariel
asked.
She laughed, then nodded. Cat and Aurora went into the next room with them,
and Cherri and
Ariel quickly changed into somewhat normal clothes.
Ariel changed into a sleeveless red tank with what looked the like the
Japanese symbol for fire on
it and black pants with purple hiking boots.
Cherri changed into a pretty blue silk shirt with light blue pants and blue
sneakers.
They went back out to the other room, and tried and get comfortable.
Finally, almost everyone
was asleep. Cat was lying on the floor with Sano and Kenshin near her.
Cherri is laid on the
couch with Ryo's arms around her. Aurora was curled up in a corner near
Cye. And Ariel laid
near Sage and the door.
Right before Ariel fell asleep, she thought to herself, *Where could JJ be?
I hope she's alright, I
pray she's alright. Keep yourself safe JJ, and come back soon please. We
need you.*
************
The room was quiet. Everyone was asleep, all was peaceful with one
exception. One girl
flinching every now and then as if in pain. The pain though, came from the
inside.
***Begin Dream***
She was standing alone in space. There was nothing around her, above her,
beneath her. Only
darkness, everywhere.
She looked around slowly. There seemed to be some kind of spot light
projected on top of her
for. For what seemed like eternity, nothing moved.
Suddenly there was a flash and a huge image like hologram projected itself
in front of her.
It was a familiar scene. One that had plagued her dreams since her
grandmother had died.
It was a woman that looked just like her only with blonde hair. The same
green eyes, the same
height, the same built, the same bracelet. She was wearing a beautiful gown
that started white at
the top and faded into dark green at the bottom. The neckline was very wide
and fell off her
shoulders. The dress was suspended by two thin almost invisible straps that
went around her
neck. She had a tiara made of platinum and emeralds adorning her head.
Emerald stars hung from
her ears and from a white choker around her neck. The dress was tight and
thin, very fragile and
delicate. It was slit from the hips down to the floor and both halves of the
skirt fluttered elegantly
in the thin breeze that the dreamer could not feel.
The woman looked at her. Her eyes were so sad and remorseful. As if saying,
forgive me.... Tears
were slowly gathering in her eyes, her composure was breaking. Her full lips
whispered
something the dreamer was not meant to hear. A single tear then fell from
her eye as she slowly
turned away, walking and fading into the darkness.
Behind her a new light formed, a new figure emerged from the darkness. It
was a stockily built
and tall man. He had cornflower blue eyes and dark red hair. He was wearing
armor encrusted
with emeralds and made out of platinum and steel. He wielded a huge sword,
mercilessly
slashing his way towards were the woman had disappeared. Bodies fell to his
feet as he
continued on.
The woman than appeared before him. The look in her eyes even sadder than
before. The man's
face contorted with love and relief as he rushed towards the woman. The
woman held up her
hands to stop him. Confused and hurt, he stopped. Tears were spilling down
her face as she
opened her mouth, chanting words of magic. The man watched her, his own eyes
now spilling
tears. He stood up straight. The tears ceased. He gave her the same sad look
only her's had been
remorseful, his were forgiving.
Suddenly there was a brilliant flash of emerald light. Before the woman now
stood a huge griffin.
It had iridescent black feathers and fur that reflected emerald with
menacing claws and beak that
same shade as white gold. The woman behind the creature looked away and
pointed at the man.
The griffin charged. The man was no more.
Suddenly that vision faded to show the woman sobbing silently on the floor.
A tall imposing and
dark stranger loomed behind her. His face was hidden behind a black cloak
and a menacing
helmet. He also had a sword. He raised it and brought it back down on the
woman.
Her head rolled away from her body. Her blood stained the floor. It was as
if the woman and the
man were standing on a pedestal or a sacrificial altar as the beheading was
performed. The blood
dripped from the edges of it.
The dreamer was in tears. She could feel the pain of the woman and the
red-haired man. She felt
a profound hatred towards the stranger. She collapsed in tears on the
ground.
Suddenly there was another flash of light. This had never happened before.
Usually this was
when she woke up. She looked up alarmed. She there was a battle raging all
around her. She
looked at herself, she was dressed just as the blonde woman had been. She
looked in front of
herself, a man was making his way towards her slicing down his opponents
with a smaller sword
than the red-haired man. As he got closer, the dreamer could make out his
face. He was
handsome with brown eyes and spiky brown hair. He was wearing a red bandana
and his fists
were wrapped in boxing cloth. As he saw her his eyes filled with relief and
the with confusion.
The dreamer looked and saw that her own hands were raised, warning the man
off.
Suddenly her lips were moving, summoning the griffin. The man looked at her
with such pain
and confusion, she had to look away. The griffin appeared. The dreamer
pointed. Suddenly there
was a brilliant flash of light and the dreamers eyes shot wide open.
***End Dream***
Cat looked around the room, unsure of her surrounding. Her body was coated
in a cold sweat, she
was so afraid. She sat up and lifted her knees. She then crossed her arms
over them and rested her
head on her arms. Her breathing was ragged and uneven, she needed fresh air.
She got up, careful
not to disturb anyone and made her way outside.
She sat beside the doorway, not wanting to go far with the Queits around. It
was very early or late
depending on how you looked at it. She judged it was about two or three in
the morning. The
stars were still up in the night sky, twinkling reassuringly. Cat had the
sudden urge to pull out her
pan flute but that would attract the enemy. She sighed and gazed at the sky.
After a few minutes,
the door beside her opened to reveal Ariel standing there. She saw Cat and
sat down beside her.
"What's wrong?" she asked quietly.
"A recurring nightmare took on an all too real twist," Cat said in a
slightly mocking voice.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ariel asked with a sympathetic tone.
"No... I don't... I just need to think a bit...." Cat said quietly.
"Would you like me to stay with you?" Ariel asked again in that same
sympathetic tone.
"Yeah actually... I don't really want to be alone right now...." Cat
admitted sadly.
Ariel nodded and put her arm across Cat's shoulders, pulling her into a
friendly embrace. Cat
leaned against her, grateful for the human contact, something she got very
little of.
After a little while, as the sky started to lighten imperceptibly. (It seems
like it's summer in that
world so the sun rises early), Cat whispered very quietly,
"Thanks Ariel, you're the best."
"My pleasure, now what do you say we go back inside now, we should try to
get a little more
sleep," Ariel responded, also whispering.
Cat nodded and the two got up together and returned to they're room. The
only change this time
was that instead of Cat returning to her spot next to Sano's shoulder, she
sat in the window and
watched the sunrise, unable and afraid to sleep any more.
************
Cherri laid down. She was glad that the store had brought in more 'normal'
clothing for the inn
and that they had them ready -- she really didn't want to wear another of
the packet's clothes...
yet. If she was going to fight, she wanted to save them.
Actually, she had half way tempted to borrow one of Ryo's shirts... until
the whole spying
incident.
They weren't really boyfriend and girlfriend were they? It was just a kiss.
*But your first kiss,* her mind reminded.
And what a kiss. Heaven... completely... she couldn't described what it
felt like. He made some
comment about how she was like a goddess or something, she told him that she
wasn't an looked
away... she didn't want to be lied to... not my him... she cared to much.
But when he pulled her
face in and looked in her eyes and told her that she was pretty... it was
too much... she looked at
him... and made the first move....
Sure, He kissed HER... but, she was ready... he was glad he waited..but now
things were kind of
messed up. Hm. Why can't thinks be easy?
*Because things that don't kill you make you stronger,* she could almost
hear her mom say.
True. And Ryo wouldn't kill her... but would he really strengthen her? She
was independent and
every other semi-serious relationship left her cold before anything
happened.
She wanted this to be different. It felt so right... she hoped that the
others would accept her... and
with that, she drifted off to dream land... Ryo with his arms around her....
***Begin Dream***
Sand.
Sand was underfoot, in the wind, all around.
In her mouth... her hair was blowing inwards as well. She couldn't
see. A guy was coming.... *Kento,* she thought.
"Saf! Saaappphhh! Saff, where are ya?"
"Kento? KEENNTTOOO!!" the man stepped up to her, though she still was
squinting from the
sand. "Where are the guys, what's going on? Where's Ryo? Are you okay?"
"Rina, I should ask you that, you aren't makin' sense... Hariel's worried
sick 'bout 'cha. Come
on... back to the...."
Suddenly, she was in the jungle, hot, sweaty, damp jungle. Her body seemed
heavier, thick with
muscle and trained. She wore face paint and fatigues with a sports bra. She
was only in her late
twenties, she guessed. Looking around she saw a boat and a wide river....
"Cher-ca? Where to?" A muscular boy asked. His dark hair had browner
tinges and his eyes
had green rims.... "Mom?" he asked tentatively. "Don't worry, we'll get
them back. And we'll
avenge Dad."
"What!?!"
Floating in space... she feel her skin prickle... the coldness... but the
stars, they were so bright....
"There is a lull in the war, General. The Captain his Guard are awaiting
your presence. President
Yuy is awaiting you, as well."
"Thanks, Corwin," she said her graying hair pulled back, tight. *Heero's
daughter is already
running things,.* "This is Sanada to C&C, I'm on my way."
In a bar....
"Ryo, I don't like it."
"You just got a promotion! What's not to like?"
"The direction this war is going. I'll be here all my LIFE! I've been her
for THREE years! And
it's getting worse. I can't feel them anymore!"
"COMMANDER, I *still* am your commanding officer, I won't take
insubordination."
"And I'm your wife, and I won't take talk back from my husband."
As soon as she uttered those words, she fell into a huge snow bank...
knowing by the soft loam
underneath that she was in a cemetery... she wasn't in control... it had
been a long time since she
hadn't had some control... what was the purpose to show her this?
"So you realize what you might have to do," a voice said as the snow and
coldness was swept
away, leaving her in a large back room. The woman's voice was gentle and
light, with and
underlying current of steel, like she was trying not to show emotion....
Looking at her, the classic beauty was evident... she was a goddess... her
sunshine hair... azure
eyes... and the clothing... so extravagant....
"I'm not pretty. I'm just a girl, albeit raised as a queen."
Cherri scoffed. *Yeah... right....*
"I tell you the truth, little Cherry. My, you remind me so much of your dad
and my daughter...."
"Huh?"
"I'm Sapphirine, your great-grandmother."
Cherri felt faint.
So she did.
"You're not real, you know. You probably weren't ever alive. I don't
believe you. And even if
you were, you're dead and should get out."
"Cherri. I am Sapphirine. I'm your great-grandmother. You have to believe
me."
"I don't, I can't and I won't."
"Fine then. GO! I'll see you when your ready to accept your jewel."
"I will never accept it. Obviously, when I did, I lost EVERYTHING. I may
seem a little stingy
here, but I won't let my friends... Ryo... my family... my LIFE be destroyed
by some STUPID
ring!" Cherri yelled, her voice getting louder.
"But, you could change that! I've tried to warn you earlier! YOU wouldn't
listen! Listen now!
Don't go through it again!" Saf's voice raising as well.
"You!" her voice coiled, seeming more hideous than ever before "You're the
one who gave me
this infernal curse! And went into my brain! You tortured me with all
those dreams in the
helicopter and when I was healing from the pit! I can't tolerate what
you've done."
"But... we've changed it already. The first prophecy... of your falling
back, it happen, and being
Morkela's slave didn't happen either."
"It was too close."
"But you know. Some things are unavoidable. Some will fall, some will
join. All I can do is
warn you... and hope that you don't make the same mistakes that have been
made.... And I'll
come back when your ready. Goodbye, Little Cher." The older girl's head
dropped with her
voice. The twenty-year old looked older now... not the same woman....
Cherri couldn't stand it. "Show me." She ran up to the woman, hugging her,
"Grand-mama."
The woman smiled.
"Of course, ma Cherrie."
~~~~~~~~
Cherri found twenty-year old version of herself wondering why Kento didn't
tell her that Ryo
could still be alive! But... the man in front of her was lecturing her
about the Queits beliefs and
those of their companions.... She was on their home planet.
She knew that this wasn't her Ryo. It was close. Physically, mechanically,
verbally... but HE...
his soul wasn't there.
"Yes, well, he was given a choice. Ryo here didn't choose wisely, and was
put in as a CPU in
one of our ships. Once we found out who he was and who you ARE we pulled
him out... but
you're never quite the same after being inside one of the ships."
*No....*
In a flash she saw many of the same visions she had seen before... things
she had yet to fix. They
had to be done soon. She had felt JJ earlier, but the last (and the most
current) vision *still* had
her sprawled out on the floor... dying... a crash... something went wrong.
It was coming... soon... she could feel it... she had to stop it. She
could see it... no... JJ... JJ!!!!!!!!
***End Dream***
By: Anime's Angels
Part Twelve
JJ spun around to meet the man who had spoken, taking an instant defensive
position.
Kilik just raised his hands to show her he wasn't going to attack her. He
was taller then her
(most people were) and had long brown hair pulled into a pony tail and brown
eyes.
JJ eyed him carefully. "Who are you?" she demanded not coming out of her
stance.
"Kilik," he said simply.
JJ blinked then relaxed after studying him for a while longer. "Janis
Hunter, JJ for short," she
said extending a hand.
He took it and was surprised by the grip. "Why do you want to leave here?"
he asked releasing
her hand.
JJ sighed and looked out the huge window again. "I have friends down there.
They're facing the
Queits all by themselves and I want to help," she said sadly.
"I know how you feel," another male voice said from her other side.
JJ looked up into the blue-green eyes of another young man with long blonde
hair, also pulled
back into a pony tail except for the long bangs that hung in front of his
left eye.
"This is my friend Siegfried," Kilik told her.
"Nice to meet you," JJ said. She turned back to looking out the window
resting her forehead
against the glass.
The two young men looked over her back at each other and shrugged. Mia had
been right, she
was depressed. She had sent the two young men to go and find her and try
and cheer her up
some how.
JJ began banging her head against the glass.
Siegfried grabbed her head stopping her. "Hey now don't do that," he said.
JJ jerked away from him. "Listen," she ordered wagging her finger in his
face, "if I want to
pound myself into unconsciousness, I'll bloody well do it!"
Kilik placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Relax JJ," he said soothingly.
"It'll be all right in the
end."
JJ shrugged his hand off. Tears had come unbidden to her eyes. "No it
won't! My friends are
down there dealing with something awful, I caused one of them to disappear
into danger, and I
can't do anything to search for her, say I'm sorry, or help! And I hate
being helpless!"
"JJ," Siegfried started stepping forward.
JJ shoved him aside and darted away from them pushing past two brown haired
girls on her way.
"What's wrong with her?" Xianghua asked approaching the two young men.
Kilik sighed. "She feels helpless," he explained.
Seung Mina nodded. "Would it be possible to get her to come down with us
when we go to
fight?" she asked suddenly.
Siegfried sighed. "I could ask Mia about it," he said. "We'll see what she
says though."
Two other men approached them, one had black hair in an Elvis style and
brown eyes, the other
had spiky brown hair and serious brown eyes.
"Any word from Earth's HQ?" Xianghua asked them.
Hwang shook his head his brown eyes even more serious. "We're going to have
to go down
tomorrow to find out and help them."
The others nodded.
"Did you find her?" black haired Maxi asked.
"Yes," Kilik said, "but she just ran off crying."
"Why?"
"She has friends down on Earth who are in possible trouble, she feels
helpless being up here,"
Siegfried answered.
"Don't we all," Hwang said softly looking out of the window into space.
"Don't we all...."
~~~~~~~~
JJ laid on the bunk in the tiny room given her and cried as memories of a
painful youth plagued
her.
Her fathers death.... Her mothers remarriage.... Her new father.... His
abuse of her.... Feeling
helpless as he hits her mother over and over again.... Her mother and her
leaving.... Him finding
them.... Calling the police as he tried to rape her mother and kill her....
Promising on her
mother's grave that she'll never be helpless again....
All before she was 7 years old. And the others never were told.
She sobbed. She hated being helpless. Hated it with a passion.
Age 15, her step-father escaped from prison.... Found her and her
grandmother.... Hit her
grandmother.... Coming after her.... She beating him up for a change until
the police come....
"I'll never be helpless again!" she sobbed forcefully to herself.
Suddenly she felt tired. She felt an unnatural force causing her eyes to
close in sleep. She let it.
***Begin Dream***
"Why do you cry?" a female voice asked her as she floated through a
space-like dream scape.
"I'm helpless," JJ answered.
"Why don't you use the jewel?" the female asked.
JJ could see her now. She had her back turned to her and was standing on
the flat surface of a
large android that didn't move and was shining with all sorts of precious
jewels.
"This!" she exclaimed touching her pendant. "Why should I! All it's done
is betray me and
make me hurt!"
The female sighed. "It wouldn't if you could accept the change."
"Change?" By this time JJ had set foot on the android and stood looking at
her.
The woman turned. JJ gasped. It was her! In every detail it was her,
except for her eyes, they
were the color of amethyst, like her dress.
"The power that lies within you. Why do you not accept it and the change it
will cause in your
life?" she asked.
"You're me...." JJ breathed.
The woman smiled gently. "I am, in a way. I am the first user of your
pendant."
JJ touched it.
"I am here to help guide you to learn your new abilities."
JJ looked down at the pendant in her hands. It twinkled up at her.
The woman stepped forward and placed a hand on JJ's shoulder. "It's
alright," she said gently.
"It will change you, but it will help you with your vow and promise not to
be helpless again."
JJ looked up at her from beneath her eyelashes. "That's a low blow," she
remarked.
The woman grinned. "I know, but it reached you didn't it?"
JJ sighed. "It did." She looked at the jewel again. She had to accept it.
It was the only way she
could get back to her friends and to help this world and hers from these
invaders. She sighed
again. "All right," she said. "What do I do?"
The woman smiled. "Good. Just open your heart and mind to your new powers,
accept them and
let them bond with you."
JJ nodded and closed her eyes. She emptied her mind of all thoughts and
relaxed.
It was there, a pulsing purple colored pool of power just below her
conscious mind. 'Accept
them... let them bond with you....' She remembered the woman's words.
Reaching out with her minds hand she touched the pool of power and then
opened all gates to it.
***End Dream***
She woke with a start, feeling different. She knew she had a lot to learn,
but those books in that
packet she had yet to open should help her learn. Now that she thought
about it, she had been in
the same outfit for over a week. She sniffed herself. She also hadn't had
a bath in over a week.
Getting to her feet she grabbed her backpack and headed out of her tiny room
to ask the first
person she met where the showers were.
************
Aurora, Sage, Kenshin, and Ariel tried to untangle themselves, which was
quite hard for Ariel to
do because of the slits in her dress, but she managed it. Cat, Cherri, and
Ryo were still rolling on
the ground laughing, but they soon got up. Cherri and Ryo quickly grabbed
Cat before she could
begin to run again, and Ariel and Sage grabbed Aurora.
"Were you spying on us earlier?!" Cherri asked. Cat and Aurora looked at
each other, then
nodded slowly. They let them go.
"If you were that interested, you just could have asked us later," Ariel
said, starting to think this
whole situation quite humorous. Suddenly, she felt something that made the
hairs on the back of
her neck stand up straight. "Guys, I think we have company coming," she said
quietly.
Cherri nodded in agreement with her. "We'd better get back to the inn
quickly, before the Queits
come upon us," She whispered, motioning for them to follow her. They nearly
ran back to the
inn, and everyone gathered in the Ronin's room.
"We had all better stay together, just in case," Aurora said. She looked
for a place to sit.
Everyone nodded.
"How close are they?" Cat asked. She looked ready and eager to fight.
"Not far off, but I don't think they'll come here. They don't know exactly
where we are, but I'm
sure they know the general area. Damn Morkela," Cherri said, scooting
closer to Ryo
unconsciously.
"Don't worry girls, we won't let anything happen to you," Kento said. Cat
gave him "The Look."
"I can take care of myself, thank you," she said sarcastically.
"We know you can, we're just offering our services, that's all," Sano said
sitting next to Cat on
the floor.
"Cherri, do you think we can change clothes? These slits really suck eggs
out of hens," Ariel
asked.
She laughed, then nodded. Cat and Aurora went into the next room with them,
and Cherri and
Ariel quickly changed into somewhat normal clothes.
Ariel changed into a sleeveless red tank with what looked the like the
Japanese symbol for fire on
it and black pants with purple hiking boots.
Cherri changed into a pretty blue silk shirt with light blue pants and blue
sneakers.
They went back out to the other room, and tried and get comfortable.
Finally, almost everyone
was asleep. Cat was lying on the floor with Sano and Kenshin near her.
Cherri is laid on the
couch with Ryo's arms around her. Aurora was curled up in a corner near
Cye. And Ariel laid
near Sage and the door.
Right before Ariel fell asleep, she thought to herself, *Where could JJ be?
I hope she's alright, I
pray she's alright. Keep yourself safe JJ, and come back soon please. We
need you.*
************
The room was quiet. Everyone was asleep, all was peaceful with one
exception. One girl
flinching every now and then as if in pain. The pain though, came from the
inside.
***Begin Dream***
She was standing alone in space. There was nothing around her, above her,
beneath her. Only
darkness, everywhere.
She looked around slowly. There seemed to be some kind of spot light
projected on top of her
for. For what seemed like eternity, nothing moved.
Suddenly there was a flash and a huge image like hologram projected itself
in front of her.
It was a familiar scene. One that had plagued her dreams since her
grandmother had died.
It was a woman that looked just like her only with blonde hair. The same
green eyes, the same
height, the same built, the same bracelet. She was wearing a beautiful gown
that started white at
the top and faded into dark green at the bottom. The neckline was very wide
and fell off her
shoulders. The dress was suspended by two thin almost invisible straps that
went around her
neck. She had a tiara made of platinum and emeralds adorning her head.
Emerald stars hung from
her ears and from a white choker around her neck. The dress was tight and
thin, very fragile and
delicate. It was slit from the hips down to the floor and both halves of the
skirt fluttered elegantly
in the thin breeze that the dreamer could not feel.
The woman looked at her. Her eyes were so sad and remorseful. As if saying,
forgive me.... Tears
were slowly gathering in her eyes, her composure was breaking. Her full lips
whispered
something the dreamer was not meant to hear. A single tear then fell from
her eye as she slowly
turned away, walking and fading into the darkness.
Behind her a new light formed, a new figure emerged from the darkness. It
was a stockily built
and tall man. He had cornflower blue eyes and dark red hair. He was wearing
armor encrusted
with emeralds and made out of platinum and steel. He wielded a huge sword,
mercilessly
slashing his way towards were the woman had disappeared. Bodies fell to his
feet as he
continued on.
The woman than appeared before him. The look in her eyes even sadder than
before. The man's
face contorted with love and relief as he rushed towards the woman. The
woman held up her
hands to stop him. Confused and hurt, he stopped. Tears were spilling down
her face as she
opened her mouth, chanting words of magic. The man watched her, his own eyes
now spilling
tears. He stood up straight. The tears ceased. He gave her the same sad look
only her's had been
remorseful, his were forgiving.
Suddenly there was a brilliant flash of emerald light. Before the woman now
stood a huge griffin.
It had iridescent black feathers and fur that reflected emerald with
menacing claws and beak that
same shade as white gold. The woman behind the creature looked away and
pointed at the man.
The griffin charged. The man was no more.
Suddenly that vision faded to show the woman sobbing silently on the floor.
A tall imposing and
dark stranger loomed behind her. His face was hidden behind a black cloak
and a menacing
helmet. He also had a sword. He raised it and brought it back down on the
woman.
Her head rolled away from her body. Her blood stained the floor. It was as
if the woman and the
man were standing on a pedestal or a sacrificial altar as the beheading was
performed. The blood
dripped from the edges of it.
The dreamer was in tears. She could feel the pain of the woman and the
red-haired man. She felt
a profound hatred towards the stranger. She collapsed in tears on the
ground.
Suddenly there was another flash of light. This had never happened before.
Usually this was
when she woke up. She looked up alarmed. She there was a battle raging all
around her. She
looked at herself, she was dressed just as the blonde woman had been. She
looked in front of
herself, a man was making his way towards her slicing down his opponents
with a smaller sword
than the red-haired man. As he got closer, the dreamer could make out his
face. He was
handsome with brown eyes and spiky brown hair. He was wearing a red bandana
and his fists
were wrapped in boxing cloth. As he saw her his eyes filled with relief and
the with confusion.
The dreamer looked and saw that her own hands were raised, warning the man
off.
Suddenly her lips were moving, summoning the griffin. The man looked at her
with such pain
and confusion, she had to look away. The griffin appeared. The dreamer
pointed. Suddenly there
was a brilliant flash of light and the dreamers eyes shot wide open.
***End Dream***
Cat looked around the room, unsure of her surrounding. Her body was coated
in a cold sweat, she
was so afraid. She sat up and lifted her knees. She then crossed her arms
over them and rested her
head on her arms. Her breathing was ragged and uneven, she needed fresh air.
She got up, careful
not to disturb anyone and made her way outside.
She sat beside the doorway, not wanting to go far with the Queits around. It
was very early or late
depending on how you looked at it. She judged it was about two or three in
the morning. The
stars were still up in the night sky, twinkling reassuringly. Cat had the
sudden urge to pull out her
pan flute but that would attract the enemy. She sighed and gazed at the sky.
After a few minutes,
the door beside her opened to reveal Ariel standing there. She saw Cat and
sat down beside her.
"What's wrong?" she asked quietly.
"A recurring nightmare took on an all too real twist," Cat said in a
slightly mocking voice.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ariel asked with a sympathetic tone.
"No... I don't... I just need to think a bit...." Cat said quietly.
"Would you like me to stay with you?" Ariel asked again in that same
sympathetic tone.
"Yeah actually... I don't really want to be alone right now...." Cat
admitted sadly.
Ariel nodded and put her arm across Cat's shoulders, pulling her into a
friendly embrace. Cat
leaned against her, grateful for the human contact, something she got very
little of.
After a little while, as the sky started to lighten imperceptibly. (It seems
like it's summer in that
world so the sun rises early), Cat whispered very quietly,
"Thanks Ariel, you're the best."
"My pleasure, now what do you say we go back inside now, we should try to
get a little more
sleep," Ariel responded, also whispering.
Cat nodded and the two got up together and returned to they're room. The
only change this time
was that instead of Cat returning to her spot next to Sano's shoulder, she
sat in the window and
watched the sunrise, unable and afraid to sleep any more.
************
Cherri laid down. She was glad that the store had brought in more 'normal'
clothing for the inn
and that they had them ready -- she really didn't want to wear another of
the packet's clothes...
yet. If she was going to fight, she wanted to save them.
Actually, she had half way tempted to borrow one of Ryo's shirts... until
the whole spying
incident.
They weren't really boyfriend and girlfriend were they? It was just a kiss.
*But your first kiss,* her mind reminded.
And what a kiss. Heaven... completely... she couldn't described what it
felt like. He made some
comment about how she was like a goddess or something, she told him that she
wasn't an looked
away... she didn't want to be lied to... not my him... she cared to much.
But when he pulled her
face in and looked in her eyes and told her that she was pretty... it was
too much... she looked at
him... and made the first move....
Sure, He kissed HER... but, she was ready... he was glad he waited..but now
things were kind of
messed up. Hm. Why can't thinks be easy?
*Because things that don't kill you make you stronger,* she could almost
hear her mom say.
True. And Ryo wouldn't kill her... but would he really strengthen her? She
was independent and
every other semi-serious relationship left her cold before anything
happened.
She wanted this to be different. It felt so right... she hoped that the
others would accept her... and
with that, she drifted off to dream land... Ryo with his arms around her....
***Begin Dream***
Sand.
Sand was underfoot, in the wind, all around.
In her mouth... her hair was blowing inwards as well. She couldn't
see. A guy was coming.... *Kento,* she thought.
"Saf! Saaappphhh! Saff, where are ya?"
"Kento? KEENNTTOOO!!" the man stepped up to her, though she still was
squinting from the
sand. "Where are the guys, what's going on? Where's Ryo? Are you okay?"
"Rina, I should ask you that, you aren't makin' sense... Hariel's worried
sick 'bout 'cha. Come
on... back to the...."
Suddenly, she was in the jungle, hot, sweaty, damp jungle. Her body seemed
heavier, thick with
muscle and trained. She wore face paint and fatigues with a sports bra. She
was only in her late
twenties, she guessed. Looking around she saw a boat and a wide river....
"Cher-ca? Where to?" A muscular boy asked. His dark hair had browner
tinges and his eyes
had green rims.... "Mom?" he asked tentatively. "Don't worry, we'll get
them back. And we'll
avenge Dad."
"What!?!"
Floating in space... she feel her skin prickle... the coldness... but the
stars, they were so bright....
"There is a lull in the war, General. The Captain his Guard are awaiting
your presence. President
Yuy is awaiting you, as well."
"Thanks, Corwin," she said her graying hair pulled back, tight. *Heero's
daughter is already
running things,.* "This is Sanada to C&C, I'm on my way."
In a bar....
"Ryo, I don't like it."
"You just got a promotion! What's not to like?"
"The direction this war is going. I'll be here all my LIFE! I've been her
for THREE years! And
it's getting worse. I can't feel them anymore!"
"COMMANDER, I *still* am your commanding officer, I won't take
insubordination."
"And I'm your wife, and I won't take talk back from my husband."
As soon as she uttered those words, she fell into a huge snow bank...
knowing by the soft loam
underneath that she was in a cemetery... she wasn't in control... it had
been a long time since she
hadn't had some control... what was the purpose to show her this?
"So you realize what you might have to do," a voice said as the snow and
coldness was swept
away, leaving her in a large back room. The woman's voice was gentle and
light, with and
underlying current of steel, like she was trying not to show emotion....
Looking at her, the classic beauty was evident... she was a goddess... her
sunshine hair... azure
eyes... and the clothing... so extravagant....
"I'm not pretty. I'm just a girl, albeit raised as a queen."
Cherri scoffed. *Yeah... right....*
"I tell you the truth, little Cherry. My, you remind me so much of your dad
and my daughter...."
"Huh?"
"I'm Sapphirine, your great-grandmother."
Cherri felt faint.
So she did.
"You're not real, you know. You probably weren't ever alive. I don't
believe you. And even if
you were, you're dead and should get out."
"Cherri. I am Sapphirine. I'm your great-grandmother. You have to believe
me."
"I don't, I can't and I won't."
"Fine then. GO! I'll see you when your ready to accept your jewel."
"I will never accept it. Obviously, when I did, I lost EVERYTHING. I may
seem a little stingy
here, but I won't let my friends... Ryo... my family... my LIFE be destroyed
by some STUPID
ring!" Cherri yelled, her voice getting louder.
"But, you could change that! I've tried to warn you earlier! YOU wouldn't
listen! Listen now!
Don't go through it again!" Saf's voice raising as well.
"You!" her voice coiled, seeming more hideous than ever before "You're the
one who gave me
this infernal curse! And went into my brain! You tortured me with all
those dreams in the
helicopter and when I was healing from the pit! I can't tolerate what
you've done."
"But... we've changed it already. The first prophecy... of your falling
back, it happen, and being
Morkela's slave didn't happen either."
"It was too close."
"But you know. Some things are unavoidable. Some will fall, some will
join. All I can do is
warn you... and hope that you don't make the same mistakes that have been
made.... And I'll
come back when your ready. Goodbye, Little Cher." The older girl's head
dropped with her
voice. The twenty-year old looked older now... not the same woman....
Cherri couldn't stand it. "Show me." She ran up to the woman, hugging her,
"Grand-mama."
The woman smiled.
"Of course, ma Cherrie."
~~~~~~~~
Cherri found twenty-year old version of herself wondering why Kento didn't
tell her that Ryo
could still be alive! But... the man in front of her was lecturing her
about the Queits beliefs and
those of their companions.... She was on their home planet.
She knew that this wasn't her Ryo. It was close. Physically, mechanically,
verbally... but HE...
his soul wasn't there.
"Yes, well, he was given a choice. Ryo here didn't choose wisely, and was
put in as a CPU in
one of our ships. Once we found out who he was and who you ARE we pulled
him out... but
you're never quite the same after being inside one of the ships."
*No....*
In a flash she saw many of the same visions she had seen before... things
she had yet to fix. They
had to be done soon. She had felt JJ earlier, but the last (and the most
current) vision *still* had
her sprawled out on the floor... dying... a crash... something went wrong.
It was coming... soon... she could feel it... she had to stop it. She
could see it... no... JJ... JJ!!!!!!!!
***End Dream***