Chapter Sixteen: Love, Loss, and Luck
The rest helped to soothe muscles that had grown accustomed to movement and relax the torment that rested within the former crusader's soul. The city where he slumbered was filled with so much joy that Pietro's feelings of despair and pity were being alleviated from his weary body. The loss of his family would forever be etched in his heart, yet he still felt the pain slowly ebbing. The sorrow was shedding its outer layers to reveal what lay buried beneath.
Sorrow is just the loss of something precious and vital. To Pietro, that sorrow began to root itself in his heart, when his family had died during Sin's attack on Kilika. It further pained him, when his son had perished in Operation Mi'ihen. His sorrow has the loss of those that were dear to him. Yet, sorrow's skin peeled away like that of an onion. Within the anguish, there was the faint glimmer of hope that glowed brightly, seeking to pierce the surroundings that sought to contain it.
This powerful beacon was called love. The love of one that he wanted to protect with his own life if necessary. The emotion was not nearly strong enough to break the bonds that held it, at least not yet. But it would shine brighter and brighter, until the time came that the darkness that stanched its sparkle disappeared in its radiant light.
Pietro did not recognize the joy that would soon be his, the unconditional love that every person longed for and deserved. He believed that this was forbidden to him. That type of love came only once in a lifetime, or does it?
The man's body kept this inner monologue quiet, keeping it to itself. It wondered if the man was ready to accept this revelation and the raw and tender emotions that came with it. It would remain silent, until it deemed the time was appropriate.
*********
The early morning sun poked its brilliant beams through the pristine windows of the hotel. The light of the sun shone across the two men's faces and attempted to pry open their dreamy eyes. The sunbeams eventually succeeded its their task and the men groggily sat up in their beds.
"Good morning, O'aka. Hopefully, you slept soundly," Pietro told his companion.
"That it did. I feel so alive at the moment," the other man replied. "And you, what did the fairies that grant slumber give you in your dreams?"
"Nothing that I can remember, actually. Odd, but I have this feeling that something important will happen this day, though. I just can't put my finger on it." Pietro glanced over to his friend and smiled.
"That it will. Today is the day of the wedding and the day you meet your self-ordained charge." The stout man swung his feet over the edge of the bed and placed the soles of his feet on the wooden floor. "We should get ready to greet this beautiful day with a smile. Let us be off."
"Yes, let's go." The roommates gathered their possessions as they prepared to depart the inn. They left through the door they had entered the night before and were soon on their way.
They traveled down the busy avenues heading in the general direction of the city's center, where the grand temple to Yevon stood. As the two approached the crossroads, the two shook hands. "I hope you find Shelinda, Pietro. I will be heading to one of the many places that will be televising the ceremony on the spheres. There will surely be a crowd that will need some merchandise."
"Thank you, O'aka. May your day be profitable and your sales honest," Pietro said with a bow. He was about to turn around to head for the gates of the temple when the salesman grabbed his arm.
"One last thing, if I were ever to be imprisoned for what I do, I want you to contact my brother, Wantz. He resides in this city, so he should be easy to find," O'aka told his friend.
"Why to make this request?" the former soldier inquired.
"I had a feeling this morning, I don't know if it was to taken as a sign of good fortune or an omen. Please, just promise me." The stocky man pleaded his companion to say yes.
"Yes, I promise. I just hope that I won't have to follow up on it," Pietro said finally.
"That is all I ask. Now, good luck."
The two men departed the central plaza and headed their own ways. Pietro walked to the towering edifice that was the holy sanctuary of the great and powerful Yevon. He walked to the guarded barricade that separated the grounds from the street below. He peered between the bars and scanned the interior.
Bountiful fruit trees of all kinds adorned the lush, green foyer of the temple. Priests and acolytes gathers in small groups of three and four, talking amongst themselves. Many of the small groups were seated in the shade granted by the orchard. A few others were standing in the archways supported by the grand columns of the antechamber.
Pietro passed his eyes from each group, looking for the familiar green and white outfit worn by Shelinda. The men and women gathered before him wore a menagerie of colors, yet none for the combination of colors he was searching for.
"Excuse me, can I help you, sir?" The voice came from behind him and it startled him. He pivoted on his left foot to looke at the person that had spoken to him.
"Shelinda," he said shakily.
To be continued in the next arc…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: It's over, it's over, Pietro's wandering is finally over, hallelujah. He comes face to face with the object of his yet unknown affection. I figured that this would be a good place to start the next part. Do you think it is, please tell me?
Not to give anything away, but the next part will have Pietro traveling yet again. I'll also deal with why Shelinda was raised to the captain of the guard or whatever she was at the end of the game. You'll see what I mean when I post it, be prepared.
On a much sadder note, the continuation of this story will be sporadic at best. I must deal with an upcoming move, so I may not be able to post for a couple of weeks near the end of June. Sorry, what one has to do to survive the cruelties of the world? Until the next time we meet, farewell and good night. ^_^
The rest helped to soothe muscles that had grown accustomed to movement and relax the torment that rested within the former crusader's soul. The city where he slumbered was filled with so much joy that Pietro's feelings of despair and pity were being alleviated from his weary body. The loss of his family would forever be etched in his heart, yet he still felt the pain slowly ebbing. The sorrow was shedding its outer layers to reveal what lay buried beneath.
Sorrow is just the loss of something precious and vital. To Pietro, that sorrow began to root itself in his heart, when his family had died during Sin's attack on Kilika. It further pained him, when his son had perished in Operation Mi'ihen. His sorrow has the loss of those that were dear to him. Yet, sorrow's skin peeled away like that of an onion. Within the anguish, there was the faint glimmer of hope that glowed brightly, seeking to pierce the surroundings that sought to contain it.
This powerful beacon was called love. The love of one that he wanted to protect with his own life if necessary. The emotion was not nearly strong enough to break the bonds that held it, at least not yet. But it would shine brighter and brighter, until the time came that the darkness that stanched its sparkle disappeared in its radiant light.
Pietro did not recognize the joy that would soon be his, the unconditional love that every person longed for and deserved. He believed that this was forbidden to him. That type of love came only once in a lifetime, or does it?
The man's body kept this inner monologue quiet, keeping it to itself. It wondered if the man was ready to accept this revelation and the raw and tender emotions that came with it. It would remain silent, until it deemed the time was appropriate.
*********
The early morning sun poked its brilliant beams through the pristine windows of the hotel. The light of the sun shone across the two men's faces and attempted to pry open their dreamy eyes. The sunbeams eventually succeeded its their task and the men groggily sat up in their beds.
"Good morning, O'aka. Hopefully, you slept soundly," Pietro told his companion.
"That it did. I feel so alive at the moment," the other man replied. "And you, what did the fairies that grant slumber give you in your dreams?"
"Nothing that I can remember, actually. Odd, but I have this feeling that something important will happen this day, though. I just can't put my finger on it." Pietro glanced over to his friend and smiled.
"That it will. Today is the day of the wedding and the day you meet your self-ordained charge." The stout man swung his feet over the edge of the bed and placed the soles of his feet on the wooden floor. "We should get ready to greet this beautiful day with a smile. Let us be off."
"Yes, let's go." The roommates gathered their possessions as they prepared to depart the inn. They left through the door they had entered the night before and were soon on their way.
They traveled down the busy avenues heading in the general direction of the city's center, where the grand temple to Yevon stood. As the two approached the crossroads, the two shook hands. "I hope you find Shelinda, Pietro. I will be heading to one of the many places that will be televising the ceremony on the spheres. There will surely be a crowd that will need some merchandise."
"Thank you, O'aka. May your day be profitable and your sales honest," Pietro said with a bow. He was about to turn around to head for the gates of the temple when the salesman grabbed his arm.
"One last thing, if I were ever to be imprisoned for what I do, I want you to contact my brother, Wantz. He resides in this city, so he should be easy to find," O'aka told his friend.
"Why to make this request?" the former soldier inquired.
"I had a feeling this morning, I don't know if it was to taken as a sign of good fortune or an omen. Please, just promise me." The stocky man pleaded his companion to say yes.
"Yes, I promise. I just hope that I won't have to follow up on it," Pietro said finally.
"That is all I ask. Now, good luck."
The two men departed the central plaza and headed their own ways. Pietro walked to the towering edifice that was the holy sanctuary of the great and powerful Yevon. He walked to the guarded barricade that separated the grounds from the street below. He peered between the bars and scanned the interior.
Bountiful fruit trees of all kinds adorned the lush, green foyer of the temple. Priests and acolytes gathers in small groups of three and four, talking amongst themselves. Many of the small groups were seated in the shade granted by the orchard. A few others were standing in the archways supported by the grand columns of the antechamber.
Pietro passed his eyes from each group, looking for the familiar green and white outfit worn by Shelinda. The men and women gathered before him wore a menagerie of colors, yet none for the combination of colors he was searching for.
"Excuse me, can I help you, sir?" The voice came from behind him and it startled him. He pivoted on his left foot to looke at the person that had spoken to him.
"Shelinda," he said shakily.
To be continued in the next arc…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: It's over, it's over, Pietro's wandering is finally over, hallelujah. He comes face to face with the object of his yet unknown affection. I figured that this would be a good place to start the next part. Do you think it is, please tell me?
Not to give anything away, but the next part will have Pietro traveling yet again. I'll also deal with why Shelinda was raised to the captain of the guard or whatever she was at the end of the game. You'll see what I mean when I post it, be prepared.
On a much sadder note, the continuation of this story will be sporadic at best. I must deal with an upcoming move, so I may not be able to post for a couple of weeks near the end of June. Sorry, what one has to do to survive the cruelties of the world? Until the next time we meet, farewell and good night. ^_^