Chapter 1- Apathy and Renewal
"Where are you now?"
Belgemine whispered it over the moonflow. It astonished her how her hatred and love had merged so easily, forming a strange kind of apathy for the man who gave her such joy and such pain…
"Hey Belle! You alright?"
She looked back over her shoulder to see Averus' concerned face. "Yes, I am fine. Don't worry about me."
"But we're supposed to worry about you! That's what we Guardians do!"
"He's right you know." added Touka, looking out over the moonflow alongside her. "We are here for you, Belle. Don't forget it."
She smiled slightly, still staring out over the darkness. "I do not need you to pity me. I need you to fight with me. I don't need your compassion, just your skills."
She faced them, her eyes cold and emotionless. "If our relationships become too personal, it will cloud what we have to do. We shall defeat Sin. We will die. Let us not forget that."
The two men stood in silence. Did she mean it? Could she really be so harsh about the people she had spent the last two years of her life with?
"Ride ze Shoopuf?"
The silence was broken by the voice of the driver. "Yes. Yes we shall."
She loved riding Shoopufs. Ever since she was a little girl she was enchanted by how graceful they were, despite of their size… they were still beautiful.
She used to ride Shoopfus with Auron when they were young… They would cross over at night, watching the pyreflies dancing…
Love
It seems like only yesterday
You were just a child at play
Now you're all grown up inside of me
Oh, how fast those moments flee
He brought her here that night… the night he told her how he felt…
Love will live
Love will last
Love goes on and on and on
She sung to herself, a sweet little song she remembered singing that night too. She was twenty-one, and he was only eighteen then, young friends, companions since birth… She wore her hair down, his hair was short… so different in so many ways…
She had just announced that she was to become a summoner, he had been training as a monk for many months… then he suddenly turned and said. "I love you"
"I love you"
How is it those three small words could change everything? She remembered staring at him, shocked… glad… and kissing him…
Why remember now. Those days were gone now. Auron was gone. Her feelings were gone… weren't they? She was going to start anew, defeat Sin, be a hero…
Before Braska…
No! That wasn't what she was doing this for… it was her destiny to defeat Sin… it wasn't some jealous competition with Braska…
It was time to renew the promises she had made before giving up a year ago. She would save Spira. She would die for them.
"Belle? Are you alright?"
"I am fine, Touka. I am ready…"
The song is "Love" from Disney's Robin Hood… it's gonna come up again!
Ok, the Action starts next chapter, promise!