Chapter 7 ~ Necessary Partings

Chapter 7 ~ Necessary Partings

The breeze was slowly caressing the treetops on that early summer morning. In Fanelia, Yukari was sitting outside on the veranda. It was still pretty early in the morning, and the castle had not yet woken up. Yukari thought back to that fateful day when she came to Gaea. The pillar of light that embraced her. How she lifted off the ground, and watched her world become smaller and smaller. All of the sensations of that ride were burned in her mind. Yukari closed her eyes, and just let the wind brush past her red hair. She hoped Hitomi was all right wherever she was. Yukari had been secretly filled in by Merle as to what happened. She still couldn't believe it. Someone actually had kidnapped her best friend. Yukari sighed. There was nothing she could do, except conceal where the children had run of to. The council was furious and ready to kill them for their insolence. Yukari knew the best thing for her to do was to stay put, yet she couldn't help but wonder who was causing all this trouble.

"I see you're awake too." A masculine voice sounded close to her.

Yukari opened her eyes, and found herself staring into his deep blue eyes. "Allen, I didn't know you were here." She said surprised.

"Ever since the disappearance of Kari and Folken, I have been appointed provisory ruler of this country." He told her and sat down beside her.

"Oh, so you'll be staying here?" Yukari asked. "What is wrong with me? Why do I care if he's staying or not?" Yukari silently wondered.

"Yes, I will be staying here until Van or Hitomi, or their children are found." Allen told her smiling warmly.

"Do you think they will ever be ok?" Yukari asked.

"I'm sure of it. No matter what happens, Van and Hitomi always manage to land on their feet. I'm sure their children will manage to. All we have to do in the meanwhile, is keep the council from finding them. I have a feeling that the fate of Gaea, once again rests in their hands."

"I see, well I'll try." Yukari whispered as she looked into the sky.

Allen sighed. "What is it about this woman that makes me want to spend every possible minute of a day with her?"

"It's so peaceful here on Gaea." Yukari said slowly.

"Yes, it's truly beautiful. Would you like a tour of the village?" Allen asked.

"Now?"

"Well, I was thinking more like after breakfast. I don't have any major issues to solve here, and I think no one would mind if I'm not present for a few hours. I'm sure Merle can take care of the council." He told her smiling.

"I would love that." Yukari smiled back. "Is this a date?" she asked herself.

"Then it's settled. After breakfast it is. Now let's go in. I'm sure the council and other royalty is waiting for us." Allen said and offered his arm to her for support.

Yukari wrapped her small hand around his, and together they walked in the palace.

~~~~

In Asturia, Kari was pacing out in the halls like a caged lion.

"When will Lady Celena give me her answer?" she wondered out loud.

"Sis, you can calm down for a second. She's probably not even up. It's still pretty early in the morning." Folken, who was resting down on the floor told her.

"Yeah, you're right. It's just that I can't contain my worry any longer. What if that woman's tortured our mother by now?" Kari asked.

"I don't think that's in her interest. I think she wants the other two pendants, and is using our parents as a bargaining chip." Folken reasoned.

"Then why us? What do we have in common with the pendants?" Kari asked.

"I don't know. Maybe nothing, maybe everything. She just probably attacked our family because it managed to save Gaea from destruction twice."

"I guess. I just want to get this over with. It seems we never get a break." Kari told him sadly.

"I don't know, but I'm sure we'll manage." Folken assured her.

"I sure hope you're right." His sister told him.

"Well, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!" a woman's voice exclaimed.

Both Kari and Folken sat up, and turned to face the woman.

"Lady Celena! Did you find out anything?" Kari asked excitedly.

"Calm down child! You're way to impulsive. Patience is a virtue." The woman told her.

"With all due respect Lady Celena, we do have a deadline. Can you help us?" Folken asked.

"Yes, but I'm afraid you might not have enough time. You see, I have found out quite a lot. The ancient Atlanteeans created 3 pendants. One blue, one green, and one pink. Together, the three tear-shaped pendants had the power to erase time and worlds. They could create universes at will, as well as destroy old ones." Lady Celena told them.

The hall suddenly became very silent, as the two teenagers realised what implications that brought. For the first time, it became clear to them why the other two pendants were so important. No wonder that woman wanted them. She could be a god if the pendants fell in her possession.

"Where are the blue and green pendants?" Kari asked seriously.

"I don't know where each one is, but either the green or the blue are at Dragon's Nest, in Zaibach, or the Everglades." Celena told them.

"Thank you very much Lady Celena." Folken told her.

"I hope I've helped you. One more thing, the pendants must be destroyed at all costs. If they fall into the hands of others, they can destroy Gaea. Do you understand?" Celena asked them.

"Yes, we will be careful." Kari promised.

"Good, now go. There will be many perils on your journey. Here, I made you each two maps, guiding you to the location of the pendants. Please take care, and save our world." She told them, and handed them each a map.

After Lady Celena left, both Kari and Folken sat down, and opened the scrolls.

"It looks like I'm going to Dragon's Nest." She told her brother.

"Yeah, and I'm going to the Everglades." He said quietly.

The moment they had both dreaded was there. In a few hours, they would have to separate, each going on their own path, in order to accomplish the quest at hand. Folken looked at his sister. She had a dark look on her face.

"Kari, there's no way we can make it back in time to go together to both locations. You know as well as I that we have to go separately." Folken told her quietly.

"Yeah, I guess we should go pack then." She said sadly.

"Kari, look at me. No matter what, we're going to beat this! We can do it you hear me?" Folken said hugging his sister.

"I know, it's just that I don't want to go alone." Kari told him. "You know as well as I that when we're together we make the best team. I don't want you to get hurt, and I don't like it that she's purposely split us. I feel the darkness." Kari told him mentally.

"I know, I feel it too, but there's nothing we can do. We've got to face this for the sake of Gaea, as well as for the sake of our parents! We've got to be strong! She's evil, but we can beat her!" Folken told her silently.

"You're right! As long as we don't give up, there's still a glimmer of hope!" Kari smiled, and hugged her brother tightly. "I'm going to miss you. Take care!" she told him.

"I'm going to miss you to. We might get to far apart to hear our thoughts, but I'll always be with you ya hear?" he told her joyously.

"Yeah, let's go pack now. Dryden agreed to give us two of his best horses and supplies. We should be able to leave in about an hour!" Kari told him.

The two siblings left the hall together. From the shadows, Lady Celena was watching carefully.

"You did the right thing." Dilandau said in her mind.

"I know, yet I still can't help thinking I've sent them to their death." Celena replied.

She closed her eyes, and wished herself in the depths of her mind again. This time, a garden appeared. Dilandau was sitting by a small waterfall.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Well, I promised you I'd come to talk, so here I am." She said smiling warmly.

"I didn't think you'd come." He told her honestly.

"Ah, I got bored of the outer world anyway. I had a free day, and I decided maybe I'd come spend it here with you. You are lonely sometimes aren't you?" She asked slowly.

"Not really. I watch you. You have most interesting memories." Dilandau told her.

"Hmm… do you want to take possession of my body for today? I don't mind." She told him.

Dilandau looked at her blue eyes. They were full of vitality and full of life. They sparkled in a way he never could quite comprehend. So different every time. Yet, no matter how full of life they were, he saw that there was something missing in them. They were full of longing, and beneath the clear lake laid an unseen shadow. She looked so beautiful as she sat there in silence looking at him. Over the years, Dilandau had learned care, humanity and compassion from Celena. She had taught him how to love life, and most of all how to love himself. Looking back at his years of power over her body, he saw how he had wasted them. Full of hate, full of rage, he had been an uncontrollable void of pain. Only now, when he had no body did he learn to treasure life. Oh how he wanted to go back, but no. Celena deserved her life. He could never ask her to give it up. She was happy as she was, and he was happy as long as she was happy. Dilandau looked at her somewhat tired eyes. So beautiful, with her hair hanging in that unruly way. He got closer to her, and placed his hand over hers. Celena looked up at him surprised.

"Ssh," Dilandau pulled her in closer, and placed a soft kiss on her red lips. It tasted sweeter than honey, and the kiss deepened. Celena moaned in pleasure. When he finally grabbed hold of his senses, Dilandau broke the kiss. However, deep feelings had awakened inside him.

Celena looked up at him with surprise yet happiness written in her eyes. This personality of hers turned out to be most intriguing. She knew that Dilandau longed for a body. She could feel his internal turmoil, as he could feel hers. Yet for the first time in her life, Celena felt at peace. She felt his strong arm wrap around her shoulders, and she snuggled closer to him. This might all be in her mind, but it felt pretty real to her. They sat there, with only the sound of the waterfall falling for hours. Being so close to him relaxed Celena. It was like all worries vanished when she was with him.

"I'm sorry I caused you so much pain." Dilandau said after a while.

"You didn't cause me pain, it wasn't your fault. You never chose this path. It was all Dornkirk." Celena told him slowly.

"Yes, but afterwards, all I wanted was power and revenge. I was a monster." Dilandau said, his voice quavering with emotion.

"You're not a monster any more." Celena whispered, and looked up at him.

Her blue gaze met his reddish one, and for the first time, Celena felt like she didn't know what he was thinking. Dilandau had changed much since they became one. As Celena looked up at him, for the first time did she realise that they were two different people locked in the same body.

"I never took the time to appreciate life." Dilandau got up and walked to a flower bush.

"You do now." Celena pointed out.

"What good does it do me?" Dillandau muttered. "I can't have what I want." Suddenly, he turned around, and handed her the most beautiful red rose. Celena gasped in surprise.

"I never took the time to listen to the birds sing. I never took the time to smell a flower." He said bitterly. "I never took the time to love" he added silently.

"I wish there was something I could do to help." Celena whispered.

"You already helped enough. You taught me to value life, you taught me that there's beauty inside everyone! You taught me to live!" Dillandau came up to her and took her in his arms, hugging her fiercely.

Celena never wanted to let go of him. She could feel his pain, his sorrow, but she could also feel his determination. Dilandau was more than she thought. Just the way he was holding her now, Celena wanted to help him. She really did, because whenever she was with him, her heart was at peace. She managed to find understanding, patience and compassion. All the things that were missing from her life. She let go of him deeply disturbed.

"I'll be back." She told him and vanished.

"I know, you always do. I could wait for you forever, dear Celena." Dilandau whispered.

~~~~

"Well, I guess this is good bye." Kari told her brother.

"For now anyway! We'll meet back here 3 days before the deadline you hear?" he told her.

"Yeah, I know." Kari said sadly.

Folken himself looked down on the ground. This was turning out to be harder than he thought. He couldn't bear looking at his sister. She looked so sad. Deep inside his heart, he knew he was sad also. She was his other half, and he felt empty without her. He knew that this separation would mean the death of their co-existence. After this, they will never be able to think alike, and proceed alike. Similarities will be visible, but they will never be as close. He knew that this was a sorrowful day for both of them.

Kari looked at her brother darkly. This was it. The moment she dreaded. Their separation. Individuality would take place, and never will they be as close. Kari knew that life had taken it's toll, and that even they were now to be moulded separately. It was indeed a sad day. She looked at her brother and for the last time, they shared the exact same thought. It was the way nature had to go, and they couldn't oppose it. They hugged for the last time, and them mounted their stallions.

"Don't you dare look back you hear me?" Kari said, her voice breaking.

"Neither will you, understood?" Folken told her, his voice wavering.

"Deal, take care…brother!" Kari said.

"You too…sis." Folken told her.

With that, they parted, each going on their own path to get the pendants. Kari went to Dragon's Nest, and Folken went to the Everglades. One went south, and one went north. Forever opposing, yet still similar.

~~~~

The forest was thick and dense. Folken had a hard time making his way through. All of a sudden, a rustling sound came from above him. A few heartbeats later, a shady figure dropped from the tree, onto Folken's horse. Before he could defend himself, something metal hit him on the head. Folken fell into unconsciousness. The stranger guided his horse to a nearby cave, where it disappeared in the darkness.

The sunset was outlining the country side nicely, it's golden rays covering the signs of the previous struggle.

*Author's Note*

Ok, I admit that capture scene sucked!!!!! I had no idea how else to do it. I thought it was time for a cliffhanger. Until I get the next chapter out, you're gonna be wondering who got Folken. Could it be the evil cackling B***? After all, she wanted to separate them. Or is it some other menace. Then if so, has he failed in getting the pendant??????????? Oh yeah, did you like what I did with dilly? It's really getting complicated now isn't it? Please tell me what you thought of this chapter!!!! Your comments are always important to me. How's the story coming along? Got ne complaints or ne thing? I promise you, the next chapter will be just as interesting, and I promise to put in something about the cackling lady. This is already too long as it is. It was only meant to be a transition chapter, but I think I turned it into soemthing else!!!! Ne how please tell me what you thought of it!!!!!! thanks a lot!!!! =)