Light at the End of the Tunnel

In the town of Little Rock, they received directions to the Glimmering Emblem, home of the Light Guardian, Stare Roe. Virginia would have loved to see her grandfather, her mother's father, since he lived in this town, but he was off in his mining. For Edwin Roughnight wanted to find the lost remnants of Adlehyde, which were said to be buried in that area. But it was just a rumor, she certainly wouldn't want to be risking her back over something so vague as that. The girl sighed, she would have to stop in to see him later on.

* * *

Sadness washed over them at Glimmering Emblem. Stare Roe's presence was way too weak, he had already been drained by the enemy. A single tear slid down Virginia's cheek, she was horrified at how her Guardians were being treated. Fire was beginning to burn in her eyes as a result of all this. It wasn't a noticeable fire, however, since she wasn't in battle. But when they ran into a monster, the fire went all out and killed it first shot. Gallows and Clive were surprised, they didn't think a young girl like her had that kind of power. But Jet knew differently, he'd seen her rage when she was mad. At least her wings stayed put.

'When I next see them, they're dead,' she silently vowed, 'How can they care so little for our home that they'd give it to the Demons? Don't they see that the Demons would only use humans and then throw them away. But Janus said that Malik was a Demon, and Leehalt did speak of evolving. Maybe they turned themselves into Demons, and they're the Demons that are trying to destroy it. However, that doesn't speak about Shane's "Blue Menace", the figure I saw in my dreams. And what about those animal forms I saw?'

"Virginia, pay attention. I said I think there's something right through this door. We've solved all of the puzzles here, and this is where the feeling is the strongest. The Guardian must be close, and you know what that means? Those creeps shouldn't be that far away either. Let's get going," Jet told her, and her alone. Clive and Gallows were busy talking about the Guardians' power, and paid little heed to the other two members of their team. Virginia could therefore speak honestly to Jet, to tell him what she really thought.

She whispered, "I know these are the people who created you, but I don't think there the ones who saved us. None of them were really sensitive about you: Leehalt wanted you dead, Malik wanted to study you by dissection, and Melody doesn't care about anything but her own beauty. So don't get sentimental."

He shook his head. "I wouldn't do that, you know I don't give a care about who these guys are. I only care about getting this done with, so we can go back to the old ways. When it was just you and me on the road, trying to make a living for ourselves, to find whatever treasures we could out there in the Wasteland and in the ruins. We've got to stay alive, promise me that you won't go dying on me in this new battle."

Virginia promised him. She liked how he worried about her, even though he never let the other two know exactly how he felt. It was personal, he didn't have to tell them everything he felt. Besides, the two of them were partners and best friends. They never liked to keep things from one another, unless they didn't know exactly what was going on themselves. And if Jet wasn't being honest, she'd tickle it out of him.

* * *

At the altar of Stare Roe, they ran into a monster. It was a single eyeball with a dark body. Each person took out their ARMs, and fired. The creature took some time to go down, it had a high defense. As well as the ability to counter, knocking each of the Drifters for a loop on occasions. Mystic plus Heal Berry saw much use. After it was finally done, they claimed the Medium. Virginia handed it to Jet, and smiled.

"You take it," she told him, "I know you will be able to make full use of this power. There is a light in your soul, and don't say no because I've seen it myself. Now then, we should be getting onwards. If those men are in the back, we might be able to defeat them here and now, sparing Filgaia further pain and death."

But they weren't there. Instead, they found a stigma and chock, which the Baskar placed there to circulate the Guardians' power into Filgaia. Virginia yawned throughout the whole history lesson, she had been told much of it when she was younger. All she wanted was to go back to town to see her grandfather.

Not that anything is easy for these guys. The second they left the room, a second eye attacked them. This one was white, and Virginia was rolling her eyes. It was starting to get old really quickly. Well, she never knew Leehalt to be one for creativity, he was always about strait out science. If it was worth it, he would pay attention. But if it wasn't worth it, he'd ignore it. Just like what he thought about her and Jet.

"Let's fry this beast! Everyone, charge!" Virginia exclaimed. She aimed her ARM, and hit the beast square in the eye. It was only stunned for a minute, before it ran at her, and countered. But just then, Jet used his Gatling on the creature, and it began to convulse. Soon, it exploded, and the gang could leave.

* * *

Virginia walked into the house, her nerves all racked up. Would he believe her? Did he too know about how she'd "died" in an accident? Upon seeing her grandfather, she tensed up. He was a smiling old man with white hair and green eyes. His hair had been blond in his youth, just like her mother's had been.

He asked, "Who are you? Why have you come to visit me? I haven't had anyone come to see me in over ten years, not since my dear daughter died. She used to come by every once in a while with her child, and we'd spend some time together. But after I received word of her death, I never had a visitor again."

Virginia looked at him, a tear in her eyes. "Grandfather, it's me, Virginia. I'm not dead at all, if you were told that it was just because no one could find me. I was saved by the Planet Guardian herself, spared from a ghastly fate just so I could live on to destroy the evils that threaten our beloved homeworld Filgaia."

"Ginny!" he exclaimed, "I can clearly sense you now, oh, thank the Guardians. I never did believe you were really gone, but your poor mother, she was so distraught that she ended up dying of sorrow. I tried to tell her that you might not be dead, but she was in too much pain to listen to an old man like me. How horrible it must be for you, not being able to go home, and being left all alone out there in the world."

"Grandfather, I talked to Mom's spirit five years ago. After I came out of my coma. But I'm not alone, I've got my friends. We watch each other's backs all the time. Listen, the Demons are about to return to Filgaia, I've got to fight them. Can I go with your blessings, for a safe journey?" she asked him.

Edwin nodded. He then chanted, "Guardians, grant my heiress the power she needs to fulfill her destiny and to defeat the enemy. Bring her back to me safely." She could see a power materializing before him, the power he wielded inside of him. Now, with his prayers, Virginia knew she was going to succeed.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

I'm baking cookies tomorrow. Cuz I'm sending something to my friend and sister. They're away at camp. It feels so good to be reminded of home when you're five whole darn hours away. I don't get to see my best friend all summer due to him having a job there…