Trinity of the Heart Chapter 16

"How can you be like this?" Lily asked angrily. "It isn't right to hold the boy ransom like that. And father…you-you are…you're all just fucking bastards!" Lily finally screamed.

"Whoa…I didn't think she knew that word." Blue said in surprise. "Glad to see she's finally got some balls on her. But it's a bad time to say such things…" Blue's voice trailed off as Toch raised a earthen dagger to Ruenis's throat.

"If you want him to live that is." Toch finished. "So what do you say? I didn't say 'Let's be friends' I said 'You work for us or the kid dies'. It really shouldn't be so hard.

"But…if I am Queen…then…then…." Lily could feel the burning in her eyes, the tightness of her throat. She wanted to fall down and cry. Instead, she thought about her father. She could still remember everything…

"This way!" Betherla cried. "The shrine isn't much farther!" Betherla and some guards trudged through the murky swamp, laced with dozens of water lilies. Betherla had been given a map by an young girl with bright red hair, telling him that 'the answer is here.' So this shrine, located way out in the dense swamp of Joho, must be filled with ancient wisdom. Only that could save his kingdom now.

"Betherla, sir, should we really trust a map that some cocky redhead gives us?" His head guard asked.

"Maybe not." Betherla mused. "But I'm really going with my gut. Something amazing is here!" The party dragged on, until they came upon a bright blue shrine made of crystals.

"Incredible!" One guard cried. Betherla beamed with happiness.

"This is it! The answer! Something to defeat the monster terrorizing out kingdom is here!" Betherla lead the party into the shrine. Inside the walls were coated in gold and in the center of the room was a platform. The platform held two things but neither was what the ground expected.

"Caskets?" Betherla wondered. He jumped up on the platform and gazed inside the light blue cases. One was empty, the glass lid smashed. The other contained a young woman, in her teens. She had such gentle features, cloaked in silver hair. She wore strange clothes and seemed lightly asleep.

"Sir, the woman looks dead." His head guard said.

"No, the poor thing is just imprisoned." Betherla raised his sword above the glass and broke through it with one mighty blow. Betherla's guards lifted the girl out and Betherla sighed.

"It looks like this is the treasure." Betherla smiled as he thought. "An heir to this kingdom. I see…it's a sign. I must fight the monster…I will be killed in the fight it appears but she shall rule."

"Please don't…" Betherla turned. The girl had awoken and had her big, amythest eyes locked on him. "I don't want you to die."

"You're alive…" Betherla waked over to her. "You look just like my late daughter Betica."

"Please don't die." She repeated. "You found me…I don't want to be in the dark anymore…"

"You won't…" Betherla smiled and cupped her delicate face. "I'm keep you safe and warm in my castle. What's your name?"

"I think it's Lily…"The girl paused. "Yes, Lily is the name of the flower outside correct? It's my name."

"Lily…" Betherla said. "I must fight…it's a sign, finding you."

"No, you must live!" Lily said desparately. "I will fight for you!"

"My dear, this is a work of Fate….you are a woman. I am sorry but it's just a fact: women are weaker." Betherla went on but Lily jumped from the arms of the guard.

"No, no no! I can fight!" Lily cried. "Just let me!"

"I don't know, the monster is fiece…" Betherla said slowly.

"Why do you think I'm weaker?" Lily asked. "My sister said I'm strong enough…I won't die!"

"You could get hurt though…" Betherla sighed. "I don't want that to happen…because from now on…you're my daughter…"

"FUCK YOU TOCH AND BLUE!" Lily screamed. "IF I'M QUEEN THEN IT'S MY CHOICE! I REFUSE TO BE WEAK! I WILL FIGHT YOU IF I MUST BUT DON'T YOU DARE DRAG ANYONE ELSE DOWN WITH ME!" Lily threw her hands into the air. "MERMAID ILLISION!"

"What the hell is up with her?" Toch cried in surprise. Suddenly, the earth began to shake, water erupted underneath Toch, blasting him through the roof. Lily lept forward and grabbed Ruenis before he too was shot sky high.

"You bitch!" Blue yelled. "Only I control water!" Blue threw her hands forward but cried out in pain and fell forward. Rue stood behind her, ax raised.

"Are you guys ok?" He asked franticly. "I wasn't sure if I'd get here on time…" Lily didn't answer him, she just stood there holding Ruenis tightly.

"I'm not weak, am I Rue?" Lily asked.

"Huh? Weak…?" Rue stared at her.

"Do you remember…our time with Osara? You might not…I only just remembered today." Lily paused. "You know, I hate weakness…I'm not weak…Rue!" Lily yelled suddenly, causing Rue to jump. "I'm going to protect you guys! You better help me!"

"Er, right!" Rue smiled nervously. Mint came running down the hall, panting.

"Alright, where's the fight?" She asked, stopping next to Rue.

"You missed it." Rue grinned at the disappointed look on Mint's face.

"Dammit! I got up for nothing then?!" Mint groaned.

"Miss Mint!" Lily walked over to her. "I refuse to give up. I will continue in your service. I can no longer be the sweet and kind girl. I must face facts: I am a warrior. I enjoy fighting but Alak seems to like me innocent and sweet and such…so I'm going on ahead."

"Ahead?" Mint tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Ahead where?"

"To the other Kingdoms." Lily handed Ruenis to Rue. "I will meet you there…I just need to think about everything…"

"But what about this Kingdom?" Mint asked.

"This Kingdom…"Lily paused, feeling the tears in her eyes again. "This Kingdom fell…when my father died…" No one spoke. Rue shook his head, knowing he might have been able to help. Mint covered her mouth, her eyes wide.

"Betherla…is dead?!" Mint whispered. "Oh Lily…" Mint felt her throat tighten. She had never been good at this, conforting people with death.

"Lily, what will you do when you reach South Hell?" Rue asked. "Waiting for us in such a dangerous place…we need to get Mint's real body first. So we could be awhile."

"Doesn't matter…" Lily turned her eyes away. "I can get Mint's body. I'll get Alak up and we'll be back before sunset."

"You can do that?" Rue asked, shifting his weight to hold Ruenis better.

"Yes, I can…but I do have a favor to ask, if I'm going to do that." Lily sighed and started to walk towards Alak's room. "I need you to…to give Beth…My Father…a proper burial. I don't want to see his body…" Lily left without another word. Rue and Mint turned to each other.

"Poor Lily…" Mint said. "With Betherla dead, she's the Queen…but she doesn't have family now."

"Yes she does…" Rue said quietly. Mint gave him a puzzled look so he explained. "I know we haven't known her long but…I did know her…Ruenis and I are like her family…Alak and Osara seem close to her…and Mint, you like Lily right?"

"Of course I do. Lily saved my ass back in that underwater tube thing." Mint said.

"So…as long as we're here, then she does have family…or at the least she has friends who love her right?" Rue smiled at Ruenis. "I'm glad she saved him. I could see them down the hall and I thought I'd miss it."

"Rue…" Mint smiled. "You're right. We'll be here for Lily." Mint looked around with sudden interest. "You know, I understand that Alak's room is far away but Osara's is right over here…I wonder why she didn't wake up?" Mint then looked down at Blue, who seemed unconscious. "What should we do with her?"

"I think…Osara should decide that." Rue said slowly.

Alak stood up and readied himself. It sounded like a fight had just taken place. Knowing his parents well, they had probably found this castle and were here to take Lily.

"That poor girl…Lily…why didn't I remember her from before." He stood by the door, wondering. "Did Osara do something to my memory and did her whole 'killing me' thing do a natural memory wipe?" As Alak mused, he realized footsteps were outside his door. He paused and turned, ready to fight whatever came in…

"Watch out Lily!" Betherla cried as the large, crocodile like monster slashed at her again. But like before Lily dodged with ease.

"I saw it coming!" Lily called. She jumped into the air, above the creature. She held one hand out. "Icy Edge!" She called. A blade made of ice appeared, about six feet long. Gravity took her and she fell down, towards the monster. But now she was ready.

"Careful!" Betherla yelled. Lily smiled and the Icy blade plunged into the croc. It screeched in pain, then fell over into the water. Lily leapt off, the weapon melting off her.

"Amazing!" A townsperson yelled. "Three cheers for Lily, the Princess of my heart!" Lily blushed deeply as Betherla ran over, embracing his daughter.

"Lily, that's the fifth time this week that you saved this Kingdom from a monster!" Betherla hugged her tighter. "But please…be more careful…"

"I will father…" Lily grinned. "I only got a little scratch from him."

"But monsters can have poison!" Betherla groaned. "Lily, you're going to give me a heart attack from worry!"

"I won't, I'll save you from that too!" Lily laughed. "I promise I protect everybody remember? That includes you!" Betherla smiled at her.

"I know…but someday…" He sighed. "I have this feeling…you won't be able to help me…"

"That's silly talk!" Lily smiled brightly.

Lily's hand rested on the doorknob. The memories seemed to be with her tonight. She shut her eyes tightly and leaned her head against the door.

"I'm stupid…Father knew I couldn't protect him…maybe I can't really fight…but I'm a warrior…or is that just my nonexistent ego mocking me?" Lily sighed heavily. "I can't help Mint…I can't help anyone…I'm weak after all…"

"That's not true." Came a muffled voice through the door. Alak, who been ready for a fight, now opened the door to let Lily in. "I think you can do anything."

"You're just saying that." Lily muttered. "It's stupid…how can I do anything?"

"Came down." Alak took her hand and walked out of his room. "What do you need?"

"Doesn't matter does it?" Lily looked into his eyes. "I'm weak."

"Not really." Alak smiled. "Osara knows how to make a good puppet and you're no exception. She made you to have it all: Beauty, brains, brawn." Alak grinned suddenly. "I bet I can make you smile…guess why Osara made you?"

"…Why?" Lily asked, feeling like Alak wasn't being sensitive.

"She said I really needed a girlfriend!" Alak laughed "So she made you to be a girl for me! But really, I think she did a good job. However, you have freewill so I guess there's a flaw!" Alak waited. Lily stared at him. The look on his face…Lily couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"You gotta be kidding me!" She laughed. "That's my grand destiny? To be your girlfriend?" Lily grabbed her sides. "That's a good one!"

"H-hey!" Alak cried. "That part isn't supposed to be funny!"

"I can't help it!"

"Dammit…there go my chances." Alak moaned. Lily smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He froze and Lily started laughing again as she walked away.

"Listen, we have to get Mint's body back so you and I will go to Elroy and talk to him…ok?" Lily batted her eyelashes at him. His jaw dropped.

"Uh, y-yeah! Right behind you!"

A/N: Yeah, not much in this chapter really…keep the reviews coming though and plz tell me if you like the writing style. Oh yeah… visit megatokyo.com everybody! Greatest online comic ever!