Love is the most powerful force in existence. It will hurt or heal you, kill you or allow you to live anew. Too often is love's darker side disregarded. Dilandau: Chiku... Sayermyst: Aw, shut up Dilandau! Just because EVERYTHING irritates you doesn't mean this fic is bad. It's sappy, but not bad.
Notes to Living On, Weeping Sorrow:
First of all, I should probably say that this fiction is nothing like my other, The Truth of the Story: A Secret of Mana Uncovery (which will be finished eventually... hopefully). This short story is stuffed with drama and angst, and I would recommend this for those of a romantic heart. The events of this story take place a while after the destruction of the Mana Beast and Fortress. Also, since I haven't played the Secret of Mana in quite some time, a few of the facts may be a bit distorted. Most of them are little, however, and have been changed only to enhance the story. Please don't let them bother you. Here are some of the "distortions" : (Caution: If you have not played SoM, this story and its notes can basically be understood without prior knowledge from the game, but it contains significant spoilers. However, if you like spoilers or just don't think that you'll ever play SoM, by all means, read on.)
1)Popoie- I've never been very sure of the gender of this sprite. Some people say the sprite is a boy, and others insist that the sprite has too many feminine traits to be a boy. I've always simply thought of Popoie as "the sprite." However, for the sake of better story-telling, I'm adopting the official gender of Popoie and am deeming the sprite a boy.
2) Geshtar's time of death- Geshstar really did die before Sheex or Fanha
3) Immediately after the destruction of the Mana Fortress and Beast- Okay, if you've seen the conclusion of the game, I would like you to forget it. I'm saying that both Purim and Randi end up in Potos right after the Final Battle. What I mean is, I don't think that, after such a traumatizing experience, they would want to part that quickly. They had just lost Popoie and I'm thinking that they wouldn't want to part ways so very soon.
4) Ages- While I played the game, I believed that Randi, Purim, and Dyluck were about the same age -ohhhh, say seventeen. I'm maintaining that thought.
5) Names- I may have changed some, but not dramatically.
6) Mana- If you have not played SoM, you should probably know that Mana is basically a good thing. In regard to the "Mana Fortress" and the "Mana Beast," however, this substance of life is seen as a bad thing. The Mana Fortress was made as a weapon of war. It worked by draining Mana and shooting that power down at enemy countries in order to annihilate them. The gods who protect Mana created the Mana Beast (aka HUGE, mean-looking flying dragon) to destroy the Mana Fortress. The only problem was that any beast mean and mighty enough to destroy the Mana Fortress would only go on to destroy the rest of the world. (Go figure. I don't understand it, either, but hey, I'm just a mortal.) Lucky for life, Mana itself forged a sword so that a chosen Mana Knight could get rid of the Fortress (and the Beast). Serin, the former and deceased Mana Knight, also known as Randi's father, had used the Holy Sword/Mana Sword to sink the Mana Fortress before the Mana Beast attacked. Randi, Purim, and Popoie, in the most recent war, destroyed both the Fortress and the Beast. Understand? Good.
Disclaimer for the story:
Dilandau: Why are you doing this!!!
Sayermyst: *dangling flame-thrower out of reach* Because we're waiting for Van. Now say it!
Dilandau: No! Give it back! NOW!
Sayermyst: Tsktsk. Such temper. Now say it.
Dilandau: ...The Secret of Mana belongs to...to...Squaresoft...uh... I mean *glares at Sayermyst* ... to...Gahh! *breaks down and cries* I can't do it!
Sayermyst: *sigh* Fine. Then say whatever kind words lay in your heart.
Dilandau: *blinks* What are you talking about?
Sayermyst: *squints eye meaningfully* Come on, Dilandau. Say whatever kind words lay in your heart.
Dilandau: Huh? I don't have any kindness- ohhhhh. That's a code for-
Sayermyst: Just say it!
Dilandau: *turning to audience* Please review this touching story.
Sayermyst: Awwwww, you're so sweet! *hands over the flame-thrower*
Dilandau: Yes! *narrows eyes and points flame-thrower at Sayermyst*
Sayermyst: *pulls out another flame-thrower* Yeah, right, Dilandau. No flames.
Dilandau: Torching?
Sayermyst: Mmmmm...let's take this outside, shall we?
(In case you're a stickler for proper disclaimers, yes, the Secret of Mana/ Seiken Densetsu II does belong to Squaresoft. Yeesh.)