Chapter 13: Footprints in the sand
You might be wondering why the hell I just named the chapter footprints in sand when our heroes aren't anywhere near a beach or desert. It's a metaphor. Yeah. Anyway. Thanks for the reviews. Also, why did I insert those things about Rose being from London and her diary entry? This is background building. Well, that's because the two Roses are a lot alike. I'm not gonna speak anymore. Read.
"Of course, Zeig."
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes!"laughter"I love you!"a thump and more laughing "We'll be together forever!"
"Nothing can break us a part. Even from the day that you were found, I fell in love with you. It's fate" movement stops
"Zeig . . . I don't belong to this world."
"What do you mean?" a heart beating
"I belonged to this world called Earth. Charle told me that I was a demon. I lived in a different time. I'm sorry! I couldn't keep it from you forever. I wanted you to know." the sound of crying
"But I love you, Rose. I don't care if you were Melbu Frahma's mother. I love you."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I opened my eyes. I felt a rush of energy that worked better than coffee or even green tea. I rubbed my eyes as I looked around. The room was made from marble. The walls had wonderful carvings along the sides and the window let the light come through. I took a deep breath and wondered if I was dead. I slipped my bare feet out of bed. They hit the floor with a small thud. The floor was smooth and cool. I smiled at them and looked around. There was a small mirror in a silver fame that held my pale complexion. I was wearing a white nightgown and my clothes were laid out on the white marble dresser. I looked at them for a moment and then saw another outfit by them.
And my heart flew. Rose's out fit was laid out with some revisions. The sleeves were cut off and I had fingerless gloves that hooked to the shoulder guards. Also, both boots were up to my thigh. There was a hair brush as well and a large basin full of water. I was already clean, but I still washed my body with the cloth and I brushed my hair. It was down to my shoulder blades now. I smiled as I pulled on Rose's outfit though. I felt honored and delighted. I looked at myself in the mirror and decided to put my hair up, to keep it out of the way. I hummed the Legend of Dragoon theme song and walked out of the room. At my door was the Demon Stiletto.
"I see you're awake," said Zeek's voice. Seeing him first thing in the morning made my heart flutter.
"Yeah," I said, blushing. He walked to me and checked out my new clothes.
"You got these from Shirley?" he asked.
"I think so. She's nice to give me these." I replied. He smiled and nodded. I looked up to him and saw he too had new clothing. Remember Dart's armor? Well, Zeek's was better and a lot less busted up. His pants also didn't have knee guards. Instead his pants appeared to be flat out black. But when he had walked towards me, I saw that he had boots on that covered his shins. He had a new sword as well. It was sheathed at the moment, but the hilt was a deep red color with flaming rubies. It also had a dragoon eye in the center. Zeek stared at me as I did him.
"Wow," we both said. I think I fell in love with him all over again. Except I fell from a cliff about as high as Kilimanjaro.
"Zeek . . . do you love me?" I almost asked. But before I could kick myself and ask him that, Ella ran for him. She had a white tunic on with silver flowers and vines on a deep blue lining. Her sliver belt was bigger and more intricate. And she wore silver boots that came up to her knees. Her hands also were covered in tough leather gloves. She was alive.
I hugged her and smiled at her. She smiled back and then looked to Zeek. He embraced her quickly.
"You're okay!" he said, smiling." she nodded and kissed his cheek.
"I am thanks to that little girl." she said. I deserved an award for my performance. I smiled without wavering and I didn't cry. In fact I walked away calmly instead of running. I walked back to the courtyard where the fountain was. I looked into the water and watched my self. I looked like a younger Rose. I was shocked. I brushed back some strands of hair that had fallen from my pony tail. If Rose and Zeig could be happy . . . then again, they weren't were they? They were dead. I sighed and laid on the arge seat next to the water. I removed a glove and ran my hand through the water.
Melbu Frahma had possessed Zeig and forced Rose to fight him along with Dart, Zeig's only child. What did it feel like, I wondered. Why did the Winglies((it's plural)) have to start such a devastating war? And how did Zeig stay alive all those years? And marry Claire? I jerked up. That's right! I started to breathe harder, as I sat up. The game never really said how he had lived! Or how he had gotten out of his situation! Being turned to stone wasn't going to be the easiest thing to escape from!
"I was wondering when someone would think about that." said a small childish voice from behind me. I turned and saw a young child. Her hair was white and she wore Shirley's clothing. She also wore a lot of jewelry. She smiled at me.
"I'm Shirley. Remember me? You are the reincarnation of Rose. I am the real Shirley in a much more real form. Drake is my body guard and this is the Shirley temple. When Zeig was about to go off for his final battle, I gave him a pendant that would protect him. It kept him alive, Rose. That's why." she said, playing with a silver ball.
"What about Aron? Is he all right?" I asked.
"Oh, yes he's quite all right. He'd gone off to Lohan while you were sleeping. You've been using your Dragoon powers too much. You have to build that strength up, you know. You can't just automatically get stronger. You have to work at it."
"I see. Thank you Shirley. But um . . . I had a couple of books in my pockets. . ." I said.
"Yes. Young Rose's old dairy that was found with her when she came that day. The other three were about the Dragoon Campaign. One was about the Wingly civilization. One was about the structure of the Dragons and how to kill them. And the last was the great epic of the Dragoon Campaign.Do you wish to keep them?" Shirley asked.
"Yes and thank you." I replied, taking the books from her. The life around me seemed to bulge. There were green plants and flowers past the great pillars and birds with beauty flew in and out of the courtyard. I took in a deep breath and felt tranquil for that brief moment.
"You love Zeek." Shirley said. I nodded. "Does he know?"
"I don't think it would matter. He loves Ella like a sister but. . . I can't help but feel jealous. I want him to love me in any way, but I doubt he does." I replied. Shirley nodded.
"I won't tell you anything. It's not my place. But, now I must tell you of what Endiness has been coming to. Endiness has had it share of peaceful years, but lately something dark has started to arise. I'm not certain, but I suspect the Divine tree has sprouted a new fruit. A new Race. Or a new being. It has been wondering all around Endiness and gather the darkest powers it could find to create something huge. In my dreams at night I see it. I hear whispers all around me saying the same thing over and over." she said. Her small face was looking into the clear blue water.
"What does it say?" I asked.
"Armageddon." she replied. I remembered what that meant for any religion back on Earth. The end of the world. Was this thing that Shirley was talking about . . . Could it really be powerful enough to create an Armageddon for Endiness?
"I see it as a great monster. It is metal and flesh, it has no gender. It is a strange creation indeed. I think that is why you have come to us, Rose. You are here to defeat it!" Shirley said, getting on her knees and sticking her face close to mine.
"What you are going to destroy will save the world, but it takes more power than the past generations of Dragoons could ever hold. That is why you've left your world." she said, excited. I looked at her and watched her amber eyes dance. Was this true? Was it I?
"Shirley!" yelled Ella. "Thank you! I am alive only thanks to you!" she said.
It wasn't all true, but I let her go on. I bowed my head in respect and walked up the steps. If we were going to leave, we had best go to Lohan. If we wanted answers, why not go to the Commercial town. I was thinking this as I walked away. Ella was enchanting. Remind you of anything? I kept my head low and stared at the ground. I took out the dairy and flipped to the second page.
June 29, 1452
I love this book. I can never take my mind off of it. Everything seems so real to me. The battles, the characters and the war that is somehow going to strike. I finished it. I want to write more for it, but I'd much rather live it. It is so much better than my home right now. My Father is acting like his old self and beat my sister. He had come home drunk. Probably from a prostitute's. I can't stand this anymore. One day, if he ever hurts them again, I'll kill him. I swear. I don't want my siblings to bear this awful weight of a father that hates them! I hate him! I hate that bastard. No wonder my mother left him. I don't believe in God anymore. I suppose I'm atheist now, aren't I? God has been driven out. If there is one, why hasn't he helped me and my siblings? Why can't I take them and myself to the is world called Endiness?
My head collided with a hard chest. My eyes watered as I fell backwards. I rubbed my sore noggin.
"Hey!" I whined. Zeek was helping me get to my feet already.
"I'm sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!" both he and I said.
I stared at him for a moment his eyes were becoming sharper. I walked closer for a moment and hugged him. He slid his arms arms around my waist and held me for a moment. I could feel something, stirring, forever stirring. I rested my head against his armor. A pity it wasn't his chest. Then I could hear his heart beat. And link it with mine. I pulled away and smiled. He looked at me for a moment with those brown eyes and brushed the strands of my hair away from face.
"We should probably go to Lohan for some clues on where to find the darkness that Shirley speaks of." Zeek said. I nodded.
"What about Aron? He's a Dragoon. We need him." I said. Zeek nodded.
We were in the hall way of the Shirley temple, I noticed. We walked through to the courtyard again and Shirley had three large horses. She smiled at me as Drake held the reigns. Ella was already mounted on the white one. There was a bright Mahogany horse and a horse as black as the abyss. Guess each horse suited its rider. When we walked closer, I noticed that the horses each had dragonsique eyes. I mounted the black one and bid farewell to Shirley.
"These horses will help you. I hope you all find what you are looking for and you are always welcome here." Shirley said.
The horses started to gallop away from the Shirley temple. I looked back and saw her child like form levitating and waving. I tried to wave, by by the time I had regained my balance, the horses had carried us back through the forest and onto the path to Lohan. I leaned low over the horse as I passed Zeek and Ella. The forest was broken away as I saw and heard the city of Lohan. The city was bigger than anyone could ever imagine, I'll tell you that. People walked on the roof tops and over the gates as we flew through and to the stables. Our horse stopped and followed our commands. We rented three stalls and started to stretch. It wasn't that long of a ride, but the horses were going really fast, and our asses were hit up against their back repetitively. Yes. My ass was sore.
So now that we were n Lohan, where did we start looking?