Chapter 13: Within the Realm of Water
Sorry for late updates, like I said in my other chapter (and other fic…) writer's block (nasty little things they are ) and Grandia Xtreme . Good game, love the excessive battles ) honest that wasn't sarcasm o.o; Right…uh where were we? Oh yes, Rune is somewhere he has no idea where o-o Anyway, READ ON!
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Rune walked forward, unsure of what to do. He was weaponless and he couldn't feel any faeries or elves around him. He was also cut off from his magic source. His mind was fuzzy as well. He could not remember what had happened before or how he got where he was. Running a hand through his blonde hair he looked up, expecting to see more blue water. But instead he blinked and shielded his eyes as a bright flash of light greeted him. When it dimmed to where he could see without shielding his eyes, he removed his arm and squinted upwards. Is that…land?
"Rune…"
He blinked. "Hello? Is someone out there? Or in here," he added softly as his voice echoed around him. After a moment of silence, he sighed and continued walking forward, only to run into a wall. "OW!" he yelped as he rubbed his head. "Where the heck did that wall come from?" He blinked. "Oh great! I'm talking to myself! GACK I'M DOING IT AGAIN! ARGH!!" He grabbed his head and took deep breaths. It's okay Rune…you were just thinking out loud…you weren't talking to yourself…
Resting his head against the now visible wall, Rune pondered on what to do. Well, can't go forward obviously…maybe I should just follow this wall and see how far it goes… Nodding to himself he placed one hand on the wall and followed it. To his amusement and surprise, the wall only became visible when he touched it. After a few minutes of walking, he stopped and looked back. He sighed, a sweat bead forming his head when he soon discovered that he had gone into a complete circle and that the only door out had been right behind him from the beginning.
"Figures," he grumbled as he turned, keeping a hand to the wall. "It always happens…" He sighed loudly and continued walking, making sure he kept his hand to the wall. It wasn't too long before he figured out that he was in a sort of maze. He looked up again to find the white light still shining down on him. It least it's not dark in here, he thought dryly as he continued walking, retracing his steps at every dead end and turning at the first opening he got to.
After an hour, he stopped at another dead end and blinked. "Wait a second…I'VE ALREADY BEEN HERE!!" he screamed, his words echoing around him, and slumped against the newly formed wall. I'm. Doomed. Haha. He looked up again at the white light. What is that? He stared at it pondering. Maybe it's going to crash down upon me and end my misery, he thought dryly. He blinked when he suddenly saw it start to lower down to the ground. "I WAS JUST JOKING!" he yelled as he jumped up, ready to bolt back to where he had started.
"Rune…" The voice echoed around him. "Everything is going to be all right, Rune. You have nothing to fear."
The elf whirled around. "Who's there?" he asked hesitantly and stepped forward.
"Rune…don't you know me?" The voice giggled. "Silly Rune…come on! Call out my name…"
He could tell it was a female's voice, but he had no idea who could it be. Yet that laugh…sounded so familiar. It suddenly struck him like a bolt of lightning. "Miyabi?!"
Immediately a full-grown Miyabi flew gently down to Rune, her now dark strawberry colored hair flowing around her. Her bright green eyes gazed down at him smiling. She twirled around, her long white dress swirling about her. "What do you think? Teehee!"
"Mi…yabi…?" Rune stared at her in disbelief. "Is that really you?"
"Yes, it is! I'm now a full faerie instead of just a water light."
"A full…faerie?!" So that's how it works…was I a water light, too? He shook his head. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"To help you find Tintlet."
"Tintlet?" The name triggered something in his mind, but he still couldn't figure it out. "Who's Tintlet?"
Miyabi blinked and hovered closer to him. "You don't remember Lady Tintlet? Rune, she's the Dragon Princess! And…" she paused hesitating.
Rune cocked an eyebrow. "Dragon Princess? I don't remember any Dragon Princess coming into the Water Realm. Anyway, Miyabi, where the heck am I?"
The faerie stared at him for a moment then turned to where a platform now hovered in front of them. "We are…in the heart…"
"The heart of what?!" The elf was growing rather impatient, wanting to get back home. He stopped when he saw the look on Miyabi's face. It was filled with sadness and despair. He had seen this face before and it panged it heart. What…a memory?
Miyabi turned away from him and closed her eyes sighing. "The heart…of the Water Realm…"
Rune blinked. "The Water Realm? We're in the heart?!"
"Yes…and it is also where the Water Dragon…and its Princess sleeps…"
Princess? "A princess?" he repeated dubiously. "I don't remember hearing anything about a princess. Nor a dragon for that matter!" He laughed. "Come on Miyabi, stop playing tricks. Let me guess, you and Shian and Hana-Kusuku are trying to pull a joke on me, right? What, is it April Fools' Day?"
He stepped back when Miyabi suddenly turned around, glaring at him. "Rune! This is not a joke! The Dragon Princess is in great peril!!" What is wrong with him?! Miyabi thought irritated.
Rune placed a hand on his forehead. "Okay…which Dragon Princess are we talking about here?"
"The same one!!" Miyabi said exasperated. "Just COME on!! Before something happens to her!!" She quickly flew over to the platform and hovered above it. "Rune!!"
He sighed and walked onto the platform. "Right, right." He crossed his arms expectantly as the platform slowly rose upwards. "So this was that bright light…"
Miyabi hovered next to him silent. About midway, she turned to him, a look of distress on her face. "Rune, do you honestly not remember anything up until this point?!"
Rune blinked and looked at her. "No…well, last thing I remember clearly is you and the other water lights playing tag…then the Elder called me for something… The rest is just fuzzy."
"…You really don't remember anything about them…" It's as I feared, she thought silently. The spell…didn't put Rune to sleep, but…it removed his memories instead. She clasped her hands together. Oh, my dear Rune… I never thought it would come to this… You don't even remember ever meeting Lady Tintlet, or loving her… She saw the carefree look on his face and sighed. And yet he looks so…happy… He doesn't realize the ultimate battle…and possibly the ultimate sacrifice that is about to come. She blinked when she heard Rune calling her name.
"Miyabi! Get off the platform! We're already at the top!" He waved from the landing port. The entrance of a large cavern was behind him. What is she thinking about?
The faerie flew over to him and stood next to him. It felt odd standing so high from the ground, not to mention now being almost the same height as Rune. She stumbled a little but quickly caught herself. "I'm just…not used to this height," she laughed nervously.
Rune just smiled and walked forward. "So it's pretty much a straight path, right?"
"Yes…but be careful. Nadil has already sent forces into the Water Realm, trying to get to the Dragon Princess before you do…"
"And…why am I doing this again?"
"RUNE!"
The elf cringed, a sweat bead forming on his head. "Hey, I was just kidding," he grinned. "I'm the prince of the Spirit Tribe and of the Water Realm. Can't have a bunch of yokai intruders disturbing this peaceful realm, right?" He winked and waved. "Well I'm off."
Miyabi stared after him in wonder. "Rune…" She blinked. "Rune, do you have a weapon?"
Rune stopped in mid-stride and blinked. "Uh…actually…I don't!"
The faerie smiled softly and raised her hands in front of her. A sword formed from a bright flash of light. "Here…may it help you defeat your enemies," she said as she handed it to him.
To his surprise, the blade was relatively light and he could easily swing it around easily. "Not bad…new power?" he asked glancing at her.
"No," she said smiling. "More like…a gift." Can't tell him everything…
He raised his brows then turned back to the entrance. "Okay, NOW I'm off! Wish me luck!"
Miyabi watched him as he finally entered the deep cavern and clasped her hands in front of her. "Oh Rune…I hope you will recover your memories before you reach Tintlet… I wish that I can go with you but…" She sighed as she started to fade and flicker. I'm not even…
Miyabi…She felt the water swirl around her and closed her eyes. "It was so nice…seeing you again like this…Rune…" She disappeared.
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*sob* T_T Well, did Miyabi die?! TOT We'll see…anyway, what lies beyond the cavern? Will Rune regain his lost memories? Stay tuned for Chapter 14: Title not yet Determined! . lol R&R!