Whoohoo, the last chapter. Don't bother to correct anything here, I just passed it in last Friday anyways. Just wanted to finish it here for those of you who want to find out what happens.







Dragons of a Modern Age

chapter five



"Of who?" Taliya prompted.

"Of Tanis Half-Elven, Hero of the Lance."

In the silence that followed, nothing made a sound, absolutely nothing . . . Except for the crow outside, that is. Then what he said truly registered.

"What?!" Taliya exclaimed. "How can that be?!"

Tanis shrugged, not too sure of the answer himself.

"Do you believe in reincarnations?" They both looked at their grandfather.

"What did you say?"

"What do you mean, reincarnations?"

"I'm saying that our Tanis is the reincarnation of Tanis Half-Elven. Have you never heard the legends surrounding reincarnations?" For once, they listened. "Reincarnation occurs when the soul of one who is dead is reborn in a different body. The two lives don't always resemble each other, and it is even rarer that one's past life can be remembered. Then again, it's also rare that one will come into contact with something from their previous existence."

" . . . Oh." Taliya glanced at Tanis rather nervously. "Then, all these years . . . my little brother's actually a Hero of the Lance?"

"Well . . . "

"No, I'm not." They both turned to look at him. "I'm not Tanis Half-Elven anymore, it's a new life. I'm Tanis Yousei now, Taliya, Grandpa. Your little brother, your grandson."

Suddenly, a wide grin crossed her face. "Stupid me, how could I have forgotten? No matter what, you're my dear little brother." She ruffled his hair affectionately, but Tanis could still sense that it would take her some time to cope with the fact that he was the reincarnation of an ancient hero.

"Ah yes, of course!" their grandfather contributed. He would also have to get used to it, but both would come to terms with it eventually. For that, Tanis was thankful, even if he preferred they forget it altogether.

"No wonder you've been out of it lately," Taliya said gently. "And on top of that, Gilthanas will be after your blood tomorrow. I suggest you stay home, for at least a day, while I try to talk to them."

Tanis nodded, not wanting to face Gilthanas so soon. "Thank you, sis."

"It's not a problem. Get some sleep, I know you haven't been for some nights now. Do you want me to tell your friends, or would you rather do it yourself?"

"I'll do it . . . As soon as I . . . " he trailed off, feeling all those sleepless nights catch up to him. His grandfather pulled a blanket out of the closet and covered him with it, then left with Taliya to let Tanis rest.

'My family may be a bit on the odd side, but they couldn't be better,' he thought, before the dark waters of sleep closed over him.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Taliya was only successful in convincing Gilthanas not to attack her brother, but not of his innocence and plight. It was to a very uneasy atmosphere he returned to, two days after he told what was bothering him. Tanis was surprised, his load felt a lot lighter after sharing it.

Laurana and Gilthanas shunned him in the hallways, and Kitiara smirked at him every time they passed each other, but, still, he felt even better when he told it all to the rest of his friends.

Surprisingly, they all believed him. Goldmoon and Riverwind told him it was well known by their plainsmen ancestors that reincarnations did exist. Raistlin's studies in magic also supported him. Even Tas said that, when he went to visit Tanis before, he saw the sword, and felt something odd.

In fact, they were all shocked to hear that Raistlin himself was also a reincarnation, in his case, of Raistlin Majere, also from the War of the Lance. "I found out when the teacher showed me the Staff of Magius," he explained.

"Hey, if Tanis and Raistlin are reincarnations, then what about the rest of us?" Tas asked excitedly. "Maybe I was a fierce silver dragon before!"

Silvara laughed. "No, I think not, Tas. You're more likely to be another kender." She fell silent for a moment. "But . . . your words . . . 'silver dragon,' they sound familiar."

"Ooh! Maybe you were a silver dragon!"

Caramon laughed his time. "Whatever you say, Tas."

But, in that following week, even though Laurana still wouldn't listen to Tanis, the others found highly interesting artifacts, almost simultaneously. It couldn't have just been coincidence, they later concluded. The gods must have been involved.

Sturm's cousin gave him an ancient sword, belonging to some long-dead Solamnic Knight, supposedly Sturm Brightblade, Hero of the Lance.

Riverwind and Goldmoon wandered into a temple of Mishakal, and, upon touching the staff and necklace on Her statue, realized the gods really were involved in this.

Caramon came across an another ancient sword in the school's storage room, one that fitted his hand as well as Wyrmslayer fit in Tanis's.

Flint came into contact with an ancient battleaxe his relatives brought him from Thorbardin that he remembered.

Tas, whose case was the strangest out of all of theirs, remembered when he fell down a set of stairs on his head.

Tika remembered after reading about the Inn of the Last Home in a journal from her former life, found up in her attic.

Silvara's artifact was a polished scale from a silver dragon who also fought during the War of the Lance.

Crysania, having much the same situation as Goldmoon and Riverwind, entered a temple of Paladine and came to the same conclusions they did.

And so, the whole group, of the distant past and present, were together again. Even though they had no solid proof, Tanis and Silvara were absolutely sure Laurana and Gilthanas were also reincarnated from those times. But, by that token, so were Kitiara and Ariakas. Yet, as Tanis had said to his sister and grandfather, they were different people now, and chose to not let the knowledge of their past lives influence their present ones.

Tanis was still unsure of his chances of resolving everything with Laurana, but, at least he knew it was possible. After all, something similar did happen hundreds and thousands of years ago, near the end of the War of the Lance.

But, when he tried, yet again, to approach her, it failed. Dejectedly, he returned home afterwards.

"It's hopeless," he murmured.

"Nothing's ever hopeless," Taliya said. "Have you tried something besides talking? A note, an email, anything?"

" . . . Oh. Sis, can I borrow your laptop?"

"What happened to yours?"

"I think Tas sat on it."

"Oh. Go ahead then."

He sent his apology and explanation, and went to school the next day feeling quite optimistic. He approached Laurana again hopefully.

"I don't know," she said. "I just can't get over it this quickly. And maybe you're lying."

But that thought was dashed when Kitiara and Ariakas passed by, unknowing, laughing over that very same incident. Once again, Tanis had a suspicion that the gods were intervening.

Laurana was speechless. Gilthanas saw them together, and angrily stormed over to pull her away, giving Tanis the cold shoulder.

She did say she was still unsure of whether or not to trust him, but Tanis felt a whole lot better about his chances now. But, that night, when he sent another email, her reply was still the same.

This continued for a while, but nothing changed.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


"Taliya, it's not working," Tanis said sadly. "Maybe it really is hopeless."

"Have you tried absolutely everything? Try something hopelessly romantic, like . . . oh, I don't know, you'll think of something," Taliya encouraged. "Go for it, little brother."

" . . . You know, sis, you always manage to make me want to try. Thank you."

"Anything for you, Tanis. Go on, do something!"


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


The next day, Tanis nervously climbed up on top of a table in the middle of the cafeteria during lunch. Tika handed him the microphone she borrowed from the auditorium, and Taliya gave him the thumbs up from the side of the room, indicating she had plugged it in.

Taking a rather shaky breath, Tanis gathered his courage and began.

"Excuse me, everyone, but I would like to say, I'm very sorry, and please forgive me, to Miss Laurana Tenshi. Laurana, I dedicate this song to you. Please, please forgive me.


I want to change the world

Piercing through the gales, unafraid of anything,

Now I hold my courage and pieces of my smile

Change my mind

If we reach out to the soaring future

without losing our passion, we'll be able to shine,

It's wonderland


You've left something in the far reaches of the grey sky,

and you keep on searching

as you wander.

In the night when your heart shook, and I can't see tomorrow

I can't believe anything, and close my ears.

When I met you, I found my true place in life.

An innocent kindness is right here.

And so we awaken . . .


I want to change the world

I won't hesitate again. If I can shape a future with you,

then I can fly anywhere.

Change my mind

I can spread my wings and fly towards the unknown future

without losing my passion.

It's wonderland


W keep swimming in the same world

until the day we reach our dreams.

All of us bear the same worries

When you stop and look, I'll be right here

gazing at you


I want to change the world

If you accept my gaze as I watch over you

and don't let go of my hand, I can do anything.

Change my mind

I won't let you be alone. Everyone is here.

Let's pierce our way through whatever may happen.

It's wonderland


I want to change the world

Piercing through the gales, unafraid of anything,

Now I hold my courage and pieces of my smile

Change my mind

If we reach out to the soaring future

without losing our passion, we'll be able to shine.

It's wonderland


During the whole song, Tanis stared straight at her, his heart in his eyes. He could see that she had her own heart in hers, with tears running down her face. Slowly, she smiled at him and nodded.

He was elated. She finally forgave him.







Yep, that was the last chapter. The song is the English Translation of 'Change the World' by V6. No, not the English version, the English translation, taken from animelyrics.com. Thanks for reading. Just so you all know, I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking to anime fics from now on, so I can use all the Japanese I can or want. It was nice to write a different fic, but that's it. (I think . . . )

Thank you to all my reviewers (replies are in parentheses); Pen D. Fox, Kuroki Kaze (I like flames, as in fire, but not the ones where reviewers send incredibly insulting rants. It's just, well, that kind of flame kinda makes me depressed. Anyhow, yes, this is set in a futurized Dragonlance world.), Ironi Numair, Alexia S. Luclwit, shadowthewindadept, and Elmo. Thank you so much!

Sayonara!

~ Kitsunehime