AN: Wow…chapter 11…YAAYY! Aannd I've officially passed the number of
reviews my complete story achieved! ~party-party~ And yes, I shall answer
the question about the sword in this chapter! ~big gasp~ Along with a
number of other things…thus this chapter may take a while to come out, it's
going to be a biggie!!!!
Megumi of the Moon- As always, thanks for reviewing my story! Glad to hear from you ^_^
Kat- Weeelll..Rose isn't going to get physically, exactly…you shall see. ~cackles~ And in this chapter contains the mystery of the sword ^_^
" Well, thanks for the date Rose, I was happy to eat with you." Miguel stood in her doorway blushing slightly. She smiled.
" Thanks for the meal. I'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early, huh?" He nodded, turned a beet red, hesitated, and then turned and ran down the hall. 'Coward,' she thought teasingly. Stretching, she turned and closed the door behind it, leaning against it for a moment, grinning. 'Miguel is such a nice guy. He's sweet, caring, considerate, incredibly cute…not at ALL like he who will not be named lest I destroy the room.' She frowned slightly, glancing out the window. Rose shook her head, grabbed her training outfit and got changed. Coming out of the bathroom, a piece of paper caught her attention. Rubbing a towel through her hair, as she showered as well, she picked up the note and skimmed it.
Rose
Meet in the Sorcerers Lab,
There's one more experiment they
Want to do.
-Folken
Shrugging, Rose changed into the shorts and shirt that she normally wore to the operations. 'It's odd though…I thought that last time they said it would be the last experiment they did. Oh well.' With that, she headed out of her room, note in hand. 'So long for a night of relaxation and sleep.'
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Van lay awake, trying to ignore the pit of worry in his stomach. 'I wonder if she's ok…Hitomi said that there were time differences…what if something's wrong?' Heaving a sigh, he turned on his side. 'And something about that sword bothers me…the name rings a bell, but I can't figure out why. Rrrr, why must all of these questions plague people at night while they're trying to sleep??' Giving up, Van sat up in his bed, wrapped a sheet around his waist in case anybody decided to burst in unannounced late at night…hey, it was rare but sometimes Merle had bad dreams…and then headed to his balcony to get some fresh air. Closing his eyes, he also worried about the situation in Zaibach. There were too many strange coincidences…Rose disappearing, Zaibach all of a sudden being re- animated…they had to be connected somehow. 'I hope that whoever or whatever controls that white light took her somewhere safe.' Sighing, he glanced at the Mystic Moon, and then he was plunged into darkness.
'What the?!?!' Looking around, he saw nothing but ropes. 'Oookk…uummm…hello?' Something tapped him on his shoulder. Spinning, he saw Hitomi. He was about to smile, but the look on her face made him serious instantly.
' Hitomi, what's wrong?' She sighed.
' Van, something is wrong with Rose.' Growling slightly, he placed his hand on the sheath of his sword.
' Then take me to her. Take me to the Mystic Moon. I'll go and get her, and then bring her back.' Hitomi shook her head, sighing again.
' Van, it's not that…simple. Rose isn't in physical danger…yet. But…oh, why does this have to be so complicated! When you find her,' Hitomi spoke slowly, as if thinking about each word in advance, 'please try to be understanding…don't get mad like you would normally do and yell at her. Bad things might happen if you do. Ok?' Frowning slightly, Van nodded. What could be so difficult about just going there and getting Rose? Ok, maybe finding her, but…snapping out of it, he realized that Hitomi was chuckling. Before he could ask anything, she put a hand on his arm.
'Van, why is it always so hard for you to tell somebody that you care for them? You know, if you had just sucked it up and told her earlier, you might have been able to avoid all of this mess. Well, gotta run. See you later!' Waving, Hitomi really did run off, leaving him to slowly focus back in on the real world, where the sun was rising over the mountains.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
" Alright, lets get this over with, shall we gentlemen?" Rose quirked a corner of her mouth, lying on the table, shivering. 'Why must these stupid things always be so cold?!?' Rose sighed, closing her eyes as she felt the now familiar needle prick in her arm. But instead of falling into a dreamless sleep, something went wrong.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
" Aranor, we have to get out of here! The dragons and the draconians can only hold the procedure so long!" A man tugged at a woman's arm. Shaking her head, the woman wretched her arm out of his grasp.
" I can't! She's still with us, we have to get her out of here!!" Tears were streaming down Aranors' face, and then man sighed.
" We can't keep her here, she'd be destroyed along with the rest of us. The only way to get rid of the hybrids those sorcerers created is to destroy this place, you know that!" Aranor sighed.
" But Vargain, she's so young. She has to grow up to take our places." Smiling gently, the woman brushed the wisps of hair from the face of a small child, about 1 year old. Vargain paused, brushing back his wife's black hair with his gloved hand.
" She will. You know her fate as well as I do. She'll face a lot of difficulty, but she will survive. Perhaps when we release the final spell, we can send her to Earth." Aranor gasped, clutching her child tighter to her chest.
" Vargain, what are you saying! You know that the draconians were nearly wiped out there! We can't send her to a place like that, I just can't…" Vargain took the baby gently from her arms as she spoke, keeping one arm around her.
" Aranor, it's her only hope. The Earth has changed, many years have passed there. She's safer there than here. Please, we must get away before the palace collapses!" As if in response to his worries, the pillars that supported the vaulted roof shook dangerously, dust and small bits of rubble falling to the floor. Servants were running everywhere, all headed in one way or another to the main courtyard. Wiping her face, Aranor nodded reluctantly.
" At least…at least let her inherit the sword…and her wings…" Vargain's face clouded over, but he nodded slightly.
" As my queen wishes. Her wings shall remain hidden until she needs them, however. It will be for her own protection." Drawing his sword, he touched the flat of it to the child's forehead, and then muttered a small spell. Flickering, the sword disappeared and the King and Queen of Arethia ran with their child down the hallway and out into the main courtyard.
In the courtyard, the sounds of the fighting outside were muted, keeping the noise level to a quiet murmur. All of the Arethians that could be saved from the hybrids were standing in small groups, talking nervously among themselves. They all knew what they were here for, and you could practically cut the tension in the air with a knife. The sorcerers that weren't corrupted and that could be spared were standing around the walls, chanting quietly in unison. As soon as Vargain and Aranor entered the courtyard, the crowd silenced as they watched their Queen place her child on a crude altar set up for her. Children stood solemnly, feeling the need for quiet and concentration. Vargain started to speak.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Folken nearly ran down the corridor, walking just in front of the apprentice sorcerer who summoned him. 'Rose had better not be in any serious danger!' He growled, speeding up.
" Why are the sorcerers calling for me? What's wrong with Rose?" Snapping, Folken shoved open the doors leading to the operating room, the boy close at his heels.
" Well, as you know Lord Folken, the sorcerers have had a theory that because the Draconians created Gaia to save themselves from the destroyed Mystic Moon…all information given by you, of course," he snuck a glance at Folken as they stood in the sterilizing chamber, and then continued, " anyway…their theory is that we have all come from the race of draconians, but some of us have had those specific genes repressed, thereby creating humans and the like." Folken mentally rolled his eyes. He already knew all of that, now what was wrong with Rose? A scream alerted him to the table, where his eyes widened at what he saw. The sorcerers were running from the cabinets to the operating table, while the apprentice rushed forward to help hold the thrashing figure to the table as another soldier strapped the metal restraints into place. Rose had her eyes clenched tightly shut, and it looked like she was trying to throw herself from the slab of metal. The apprentice spoke as soon as Rose collapsed against the table, panting in her sleep.
" What. Did. They. Do?" Asked Folken, his voice like smooth ice, carefully maintained and kept in control. Inside he felt like killing every single one of the sorcerers. 'I swear, if Rose is in ANY way hurt from this…'
" Well sir, they thought that if they could create a procedure to tweak those repressed genes back into use, then they could….well…create a draconian, if you will. They wanted to give her wings." Folken paled, glancing over at Rose, who had started thrashing again.
" Idiots."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Aranor glanced at her baby as they started the final chant. The dragons had left, and the draconians had either followed them or come into the palace by the air. 'Please, my baby, please be all right.' A hand clenched her shoulder, and she raised her right hand and held it overtop of it. The hybrids crashed through the wooden gates, the castle's last defenses.
" So we call forth the gods, purge this land of the evil that has soaked into this place and corrupted it with their evil! We, humble servants, call forth your power and offer ours as assistance, if only that you destroy our adversaries!" Aranor sent another glance at her baby, who was starting to cry fitfully because of the noise the hybrids were creating. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of pure white light, and her baby was gone. Smiling, Aranor sank to the ground as she felt her strength drain out of her as the spell took effect. It may have been the ultimate sacrifice, but as long as her child was safe and they completely destroyed the hybrids and the sorcerers that created them, then it was well worth it. 'And besides…I'll be with Vargain, no matter what. I know my daughter will be safe.' Her vision started to waver, but she concentrated on the face of her husband beside her. 'My child…princess of the Arethians, the rulers of the dragons…enjoy your life…I'm sorry that we can't be there with you…but I know that you'll be just fine.' Then, her strength left her completely and she let herself fade to the darkness that waited for her, allowing her spirit to float to the heavens where the face of her love and her people was waiting for her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Folken rubbed his eyes. They had managed to put enough sedative into Rose that she slept peacefully, and they could relax. It had been two grueling hours as she shifted from mumbling incoherently to screaming and thrashing, trying to escape something. Miguel had been there for the last half hour, finding out from the apprentice what was going on.
" Folken, she'll be fine, right?" His voice startled Folken out of his thoughts, and he sighed as he turned to Miguel.
" We can only hope, Miguel. If the sorcerers have managed to calm her down, then our chances of getting her through this are greatly increased." Miguel nodded, and then went back to sit by Rose. Rubbing his forehead, Folken sighed wearily once again. 'I don't think that this is the time to tell him that the amount of sedatives used on her are enough to kill a person twice her size…but she seems to be fine, so I'll let that pass…for now.' Another familiar scream filled his ears, but it was fuzzy, muted. 'Of course, the sedatives are affecting her..' He was actually fairly surprised that the thought crept through his mind as he rushed to help keep her restrained.
" Lord Folken, look!" The apprentice pointed to Rose's back as she strained upwards. Eyes widening, he began shouting orders.
" Get those restraints off of her and turn her on her back! Move! If you value this girls life, then MOVE!!" Startled into action, the sorcerers fumbled at the iron clamps, managing to pull them off as Folken flipped Rose around, placing her upside-down on the slat, turning her head.
" Miguel, somebody, get a blanket from the storage. If I'm right about this, she'll also need a new shirt." Miguel took off, his face a pale white. Growling lowly in his throat as his suspicions were clarified, Folken placed his hands on each of her shoulders and pushed them down while the lumps forming on her shoulders grew and her skin stretched. She screamed again, tears leaking out of her tightly squeezed eyes.
" Come on Rose, you can do it. Just hold on, girl. Hold on." Folken whispered, rubbing her shoulder blades. Miguel appeared with a blanket, and Folken used it to cover Rose, the edge of the blanket just below the large stubs on her back. With a last agonized yell, her throat hoarse from the hours of cries, two wings burst through her back, flaring out and away from her. Folken took a mental inventory with a single glance, and then whirled on the sorcerers.
" You IDIOTS!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Rose groaned, sitting up in her bed. There was a sharp pain running through her shoulders, like she had slept on an iron rod. 'And that dream…those people…ugh, my head hurts…what did those people DO to me?'
" Rose, you're awake already." Dillandu spoke with a bit of surprise in his voice. 'Guess it's his turn to watch me…hold on…they stopped watching me after my third operation…'
" What's going on?" She growled, her suspicion only intensified when she saw both Folken and Naria as well. When none of them answered her, she stood up. It felt like there was a weight on her back, and it was heavy!
" Oh s-" she didn't manage to finish the curse before she fell over back onto the bed, wincing as she landed on something.
" What on Gaia is on my bed?" Glancing up at the group, Rose frowned as Naria looked away, eyes closed. Standing up for a second time, Rose balanced herself by leaning slight against the bed and bracing her legs. When there was still no reply, she sighed, shrugging her shoulders.
" Whatever you guys. It's not like I changed or anything, what's up?" The rustling behind her was starting to get annoying. Looking over her shoulder, she was determined to get whatever was causing the sound out of the way. Blinking, Rose paled as she saw two scaled wings protruding from two holes in her shirt. 'oooooohhhhh boy….'
" You guys, this isn't funny." 'These wings are like that woman's…and that guy…what was his name? Oh yeah…Vargain. And the lady was Aranor.'
" We know it's not. Rose…there's something that we need to explain."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Van paced his room, Hitomi's message still bothering him. 'When I find her…what does that mean? And Zaibach's population is still increasing…I don't know what I should do. If I go out and search for Rose again then that could mean Zaibach could launch an attack and Fanelia could be destroyed…but if I prepare an army then I may never find Rose.' He sighed, rubbing his forehead. 'Why does being a king have to be so complicated?' Turning to a knock on the door, he moved just in time to avoid being catapulted into.
" Merle, what's the hurry?" He nearly smiled as she turned on the spot, wobbling before she fell over.
" Come ON Lord Van, you know what the hurry is. Everybody is concerned about you!" Van rolled his eyes.
" Oh really? About what?" Scrambling up, Merle scowled at him.
" You know. You've been moping around, hardly eating, and staying by yourself! Jeez, you weren't even this bad when Hitomi left again! You gotta start feeling better Lord Van!" She sighed, sitting and bouncing slightly on his bed. Van shook his head. 'So I have been doing all of those things, it's not like I'm trying to kill myself.'
" I just need some time to sort things out, Merle, that's all. Besides, it's hot out. Heat ruins peoples appetites." Merle sighed again in exasperation, getting up and shoving a finger onto his chest.
" Alright Lord Van, I'll buy that excuse this time. Next time you're not getting away with a lame excuse like that so easily! See you at breakfast." Smiling, her mood suddenly cheerful, she ran back out the door. 'Boy, talk about mood swings…' chuckling, Van got ready for bed, casting one last glance out of his window.
" Come on Rose, this isn't a game. If you're here…then let me know, somehow."
Little did he know that sometimes prayers are better left unanswered.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
AN: Ok, yes, even I admit this is a bad cliffhanger…and I've been trying so hard to kick that habit…^_^ Anyway, thanks for all of your reviews, keep 'em coming!!! And just to reward you, here's a little preview of what's coming up next!!
" I accept my position. I will become Zaibach's sorceress. Prepare for battle."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
" SORCERESS! You die now! How dare you think that you can just destroy a country like mine? I will fight you until you die!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
" A princess? No WAY!!!
Megumi of the Moon- As always, thanks for reviewing my story! Glad to hear from you ^_^
Kat- Weeelll..Rose isn't going to get physically, exactly…you shall see. ~cackles~ And in this chapter contains the mystery of the sword ^_^
" Well, thanks for the date Rose, I was happy to eat with you." Miguel stood in her doorway blushing slightly. She smiled.
" Thanks for the meal. I'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early, huh?" He nodded, turned a beet red, hesitated, and then turned and ran down the hall. 'Coward,' she thought teasingly. Stretching, she turned and closed the door behind it, leaning against it for a moment, grinning. 'Miguel is such a nice guy. He's sweet, caring, considerate, incredibly cute…not at ALL like he who will not be named lest I destroy the room.' She frowned slightly, glancing out the window. Rose shook her head, grabbed her training outfit and got changed. Coming out of the bathroom, a piece of paper caught her attention. Rubbing a towel through her hair, as she showered as well, she picked up the note and skimmed it.
Rose
Meet in the Sorcerers Lab,
There's one more experiment they
Want to do.
-Folken
Shrugging, Rose changed into the shorts and shirt that she normally wore to the operations. 'It's odd though…I thought that last time they said it would be the last experiment they did. Oh well.' With that, she headed out of her room, note in hand. 'So long for a night of relaxation and sleep.'
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Van lay awake, trying to ignore the pit of worry in his stomach. 'I wonder if she's ok…Hitomi said that there were time differences…what if something's wrong?' Heaving a sigh, he turned on his side. 'And something about that sword bothers me…the name rings a bell, but I can't figure out why. Rrrr, why must all of these questions plague people at night while they're trying to sleep??' Giving up, Van sat up in his bed, wrapped a sheet around his waist in case anybody decided to burst in unannounced late at night…hey, it was rare but sometimes Merle had bad dreams…and then headed to his balcony to get some fresh air. Closing his eyes, he also worried about the situation in Zaibach. There were too many strange coincidences…Rose disappearing, Zaibach all of a sudden being re- animated…they had to be connected somehow. 'I hope that whoever or whatever controls that white light took her somewhere safe.' Sighing, he glanced at the Mystic Moon, and then he was plunged into darkness.
'What the?!?!' Looking around, he saw nothing but ropes. 'Oookk…uummm…hello?' Something tapped him on his shoulder. Spinning, he saw Hitomi. He was about to smile, but the look on her face made him serious instantly.
' Hitomi, what's wrong?' She sighed.
' Van, something is wrong with Rose.' Growling slightly, he placed his hand on the sheath of his sword.
' Then take me to her. Take me to the Mystic Moon. I'll go and get her, and then bring her back.' Hitomi shook her head, sighing again.
' Van, it's not that…simple. Rose isn't in physical danger…yet. But…oh, why does this have to be so complicated! When you find her,' Hitomi spoke slowly, as if thinking about each word in advance, 'please try to be understanding…don't get mad like you would normally do and yell at her. Bad things might happen if you do. Ok?' Frowning slightly, Van nodded. What could be so difficult about just going there and getting Rose? Ok, maybe finding her, but…snapping out of it, he realized that Hitomi was chuckling. Before he could ask anything, she put a hand on his arm.
'Van, why is it always so hard for you to tell somebody that you care for them? You know, if you had just sucked it up and told her earlier, you might have been able to avoid all of this mess. Well, gotta run. See you later!' Waving, Hitomi really did run off, leaving him to slowly focus back in on the real world, where the sun was rising over the mountains.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
" Alright, lets get this over with, shall we gentlemen?" Rose quirked a corner of her mouth, lying on the table, shivering. 'Why must these stupid things always be so cold?!?' Rose sighed, closing her eyes as she felt the now familiar needle prick in her arm. But instead of falling into a dreamless sleep, something went wrong.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
" Aranor, we have to get out of here! The dragons and the draconians can only hold the procedure so long!" A man tugged at a woman's arm. Shaking her head, the woman wretched her arm out of his grasp.
" I can't! She's still with us, we have to get her out of here!!" Tears were streaming down Aranors' face, and then man sighed.
" We can't keep her here, she'd be destroyed along with the rest of us. The only way to get rid of the hybrids those sorcerers created is to destroy this place, you know that!" Aranor sighed.
" But Vargain, she's so young. She has to grow up to take our places." Smiling gently, the woman brushed the wisps of hair from the face of a small child, about 1 year old. Vargain paused, brushing back his wife's black hair with his gloved hand.
" She will. You know her fate as well as I do. She'll face a lot of difficulty, but she will survive. Perhaps when we release the final spell, we can send her to Earth." Aranor gasped, clutching her child tighter to her chest.
" Vargain, what are you saying! You know that the draconians were nearly wiped out there! We can't send her to a place like that, I just can't…" Vargain took the baby gently from her arms as she spoke, keeping one arm around her.
" Aranor, it's her only hope. The Earth has changed, many years have passed there. She's safer there than here. Please, we must get away before the palace collapses!" As if in response to his worries, the pillars that supported the vaulted roof shook dangerously, dust and small bits of rubble falling to the floor. Servants were running everywhere, all headed in one way or another to the main courtyard. Wiping her face, Aranor nodded reluctantly.
" At least…at least let her inherit the sword…and her wings…" Vargain's face clouded over, but he nodded slightly.
" As my queen wishes. Her wings shall remain hidden until she needs them, however. It will be for her own protection." Drawing his sword, he touched the flat of it to the child's forehead, and then muttered a small spell. Flickering, the sword disappeared and the King and Queen of Arethia ran with their child down the hallway and out into the main courtyard.
In the courtyard, the sounds of the fighting outside were muted, keeping the noise level to a quiet murmur. All of the Arethians that could be saved from the hybrids were standing in small groups, talking nervously among themselves. They all knew what they were here for, and you could practically cut the tension in the air with a knife. The sorcerers that weren't corrupted and that could be spared were standing around the walls, chanting quietly in unison. As soon as Vargain and Aranor entered the courtyard, the crowd silenced as they watched their Queen place her child on a crude altar set up for her. Children stood solemnly, feeling the need for quiet and concentration. Vargain started to speak.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Folken nearly ran down the corridor, walking just in front of the apprentice sorcerer who summoned him. 'Rose had better not be in any serious danger!' He growled, speeding up.
" Why are the sorcerers calling for me? What's wrong with Rose?" Snapping, Folken shoved open the doors leading to the operating room, the boy close at his heels.
" Well, as you know Lord Folken, the sorcerers have had a theory that because the Draconians created Gaia to save themselves from the destroyed Mystic Moon…all information given by you, of course," he snuck a glance at Folken as they stood in the sterilizing chamber, and then continued, " anyway…their theory is that we have all come from the race of draconians, but some of us have had those specific genes repressed, thereby creating humans and the like." Folken mentally rolled his eyes. He already knew all of that, now what was wrong with Rose? A scream alerted him to the table, where his eyes widened at what he saw. The sorcerers were running from the cabinets to the operating table, while the apprentice rushed forward to help hold the thrashing figure to the table as another soldier strapped the metal restraints into place. Rose had her eyes clenched tightly shut, and it looked like she was trying to throw herself from the slab of metal. The apprentice spoke as soon as Rose collapsed against the table, panting in her sleep.
" What. Did. They. Do?" Asked Folken, his voice like smooth ice, carefully maintained and kept in control. Inside he felt like killing every single one of the sorcerers. 'I swear, if Rose is in ANY way hurt from this…'
" Well sir, they thought that if they could create a procedure to tweak those repressed genes back into use, then they could….well…create a draconian, if you will. They wanted to give her wings." Folken paled, glancing over at Rose, who had started thrashing again.
" Idiots."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Aranor glanced at her baby as they started the final chant. The dragons had left, and the draconians had either followed them or come into the palace by the air. 'Please, my baby, please be all right.' A hand clenched her shoulder, and she raised her right hand and held it overtop of it. The hybrids crashed through the wooden gates, the castle's last defenses.
" So we call forth the gods, purge this land of the evil that has soaked into this place and corrupted it with their evil! We, humble servants, call forth your power and offer ours as assistance, if only that you destroy our adversaries!" Aranor sent another glance at her baby, who was starting to cry fitfully because of the noise the hybrids were creating. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of pure white light, and her baby was gone. Smiling, Aranor sank to the ground as she felt her strength drain out of her as the spell took effect. It may have been the ultimate sacrifice, but as long as her child was safe and they completely destroyed the hybrids and the sorcerers that created them, then it was well worth it. 'And besides…I'll be with Vargain, no matter what. I know my daughter will be safe.' Her vision started to waver, but she concentrated on the face of her husband beside her. 'My child…princess of the Arethians, the rulers of the dragons…enjoy your life…I'm sorry that we can't be there with you…but I know that you'll be just fine.' Then, her strength left her completely and she let herself fade to the darkness that waited for her, allowing her spirit to float to the heavens where the face of her love and her people was waiting for her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Folken rubbed his eyes. They had managed to put enough sedative into Rose that she slept peacefully, and they could relax. It had been two grueling hours as she shifted from mumbling incoherently to screaming and thrashing, trying to escape something. Miguel had been there for the last half hour, finding out from the apprentice what was going on.
" Folken, she'll be fine, right?" His voice startled Folken out of his thoughts, and he sighed as he turned to Miguel.
" We can only hope, Miguel. If the sorcerers have managed to calm her down, then our chances of getting her through this are greatly increased." Miguel nodded, and then went back to sit by Rose. Rubbing his forehead, Folken sighed wearily once again. 'I don't think that this is the time to tell him that the amount of sedatives used on her are enough to kill a person twice her size…but she seems to be fine, so I'll let that pass…for now.' Another familiar scream filled his ears, but it was fuzzy, muted. 'Of course, the sedatives are affecting her..' He was actually fairly surprised that the thought crept through his mind as he rushed to help keep her restrained.
" Lord Folken, look!" The apprentice pointed to Rose's back as she strained upwards. Eyes widening, he began shouting orders.
" Get those restraints off of her and turn her on her back! Move! If you value this girls life, then MOVE!!" Startled into action, the sorcerers fumbled at the iron clamps, managing to pull them off as Folken flipped Rose around, placing her upside-down on the slat, turning her head.
" Miguel, somebody, get a blanket from the storage. If I'm right about this, she'll also need a new shirt." Miguel took off, his face a pale white. Growling lowly in his throat as his suspicions were clarified, Folken placed his hands on each of her shoulders and pushed them down while the lumps forming on her shoulders grew and her skin stretched. She screamed again, tears leaking out of her tightly squeezed eyes.
" Come on Rose, you can do it. Just hold on, girl. Hold on." Folken whispered, rubbing her shoulder blades. Miguel appeared with a blanket, and Folken used it to cover Rose, the edge of the blanket just below the large stubs on her back. With a last agonized yell, her throat hoarse from the hours of cries, two wings burst through her back, flaring out and away from her. Folken took a mental inventory with a single glance, and then whirled on the sorcerers.
" You IDIOTS!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Rose groaned, sitting up in her bed. There was a sharp pain running through her shoulders, like she had slept on an iron rod. 'And that dream…those people…ugh, my head hurts…what did those people DO to me?'
" Rose, you're awake already." Dillandu spoke with a bit of surprise in his voice. 'Guess it's his turn to watch me…hold on…they stopped watching me after my third operation…'
" What's going on?" She growled, her suspicion only intensified when she saw both Folken and Naria as well. When none of them answered her, she stood up. It felt like there was a weight on her back, and it was heavy!
" Oh s-" she didn't manage to finish the curse before she fell over back onto the bed, wincing as she landed on something.
" What on Gaia is on my bed?" Glancing up at the group, Rose frowned as Naria looked away, eyes closed. Standing up for a second time, Rose balanced herself by leaning slight against the bed and bracing her legs. When there was still no reply, she sighed, shrugging her shoulders.
" Whatever you guys. It's not like I changed or anything, what's up?" The rustling behind her was starting to get annoying. Looking over her shoulder, she was determined to get whatever was causing the sound out of the way. Blinking, Rose paled as she saw two scaled wings protruding from two holes in her shirt. 'oooooohhhhh boy….'
" You guys, this isn't funny." 'These wings are like that woman's…and that guy…what was his name? Oh yeah…Vargain. And the lady was Aranor.'
" We know it's not. Rose…there's something that we need to explain."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Van paced his room, Hitomi's message still bothering him. 'When I find her…what does that mean? And Zaibach's population is still increasing…I don't know what I should do. If I go out and search for Rose again then that could mean Zaibach could launch an attack and Fanelia could be destroyed…but if I prepare an army then I may never find Rose.' He sighed, rubbing his forehead. 'Why does being a king have to be so complicated?' Turning to a knock on the door, he moved just in time to avoid being catapulted into.
" Merle, what's the hurry?" He nearly smiled as she turned on the spot, wobbling before she fell over.
" Come ON Lord Van, you know what the hurry is. Everybody is concerned about you!" Van rolled his eyes.
" Oh really? About what?" Scrambling up, Merle scowled at him.
" You know. You've been moping around, hardly eating, and staying by yourself! Jeez, you weren't even this bad when Hitomi left again! You gotta start feeling better Lord Van!" She sighed, sitting and bouncing slightly on his bed. Van shook his head. 'So I have been doing all of those things, it's not like I'm trying to kill myself.'
" I just need some time to sort things out, Merle, that's all. Besides, it's hot out. Heat ruins peoples appetites." Merle sighed again in exasperation, getting up and shoving a finger onto his chest.
" Alright Lord Van, I'll buy that excuse this time. Next time you're not getting away with a lame excuse like that so easily! See you at breakfast." Smiling, her mood suddenly cheerful, she ran back out the door. 'Boy, talk about mood swings…' chuckling, Van got ready for bed, casting one last glance out of his window.
" Come on Rose, this isn't a game. If you're here…then let me know, somehow."
Little did he know that sometimes prayers are better left unanswered.
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AN: Ok, yes, even I admit this is a bad cliffhanger…and I've been trying so hard to kick that habit…^_^ Anyway, thanks for all of your reviews, keep 'em coming!!! And just to reward you, here's a little preview of what's coming up next!!
" I accept my position. I will become Zaibach's sorceress. Prepare for battle."
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" SORCERESS! You die now! How dare you think that you can just destroy a country like mine? I will fight you until you die!"
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" A princess? No WAY!!!