Chapter 7

Going up the waterfall was amazing. Of course I lost placement, and in an odd sense I was falling upwards. But it was still cool, it was like I was being lifted into the air by a mystical force. I would try to explain it better, but it's one of those things you have to experience to understand.

Once we reached the top, I kinda lost conscience. I guess I hit my head when I got up there. When I awoke I was greeted by Natasha, staring down at me. I was lying down with my head on her lap.

"It's about time you woke up." She said.

"That's a nice way to greet me." She just laughed. I got up and looked around my surroundings.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"Not long." She said. I forgot they don't have any watches or any way to tell time, this place is going to be interesting. Once I got up completely, I stretched out a bit. I must've cracked at least 12 bones. I can't really say, I skipped class when they were teaching the bones of the body.

I walked toward the beacon, where the Mercury Star was thrown. I can't believe what I was watching. The beacon was nothing that I saw from actual lighthouses. The light was an orb of pure elemental energy, in this case it was water. Just like my game it was huge, but not bright. Still it was a sight to behold.

"Now where can he be?" Cloud said while breaking the silence.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about Clay, where could he be?" I said.

"Over here dead heads!" A voice yelled.

I quickly turned my head and readied my Bo Staff. Natasha also readied with her sword. Out of nowhere a little Venus Djinni appeared.

"Clay you moron, how dare you make us tread on such holy ground?" Cloud questioned.

"Stop your whining already, and when have you been the holy type?" Clay said in return. Cloud just turned as red as Natasha was, and he retreated back into her arms with a pout.

"So this is the one you were telling me about. He doesn't look like much, but I'll give 'em a chance." Clay said.

"What are you talking about?" Natasha asked. I was just as curious as she was.

"I'm saying, I'm going to be Jo…Xero's partner." Clay stuttered.

"Really? Your gonna pair up with me?" I said with excitement.

"Yeah yeah, and I might as well tell you what I can do." Clay started. "I can increase your defense as well as slow down and harm your opponent. But if you increase your resistance, then your speed will decrease by a lot." He warned.

I couldn't say anything, I was speechless. My first Djinni, he might be a little rude, but I think first impressions can be deceiving. We stayed up on top of the lighthouse for a while talking about Clay and Cloud's previous journeys. I have to say, Clay was a bit of a, how should I say, moron. He thinks a tree attacked him just because an acorn fell on him. And the tree wasn't even transformed by a Psynergy stone, it was normal.

Once we finished talking we decided to go back to Natasha's home for supper. We were having so much fun that we forgot to eat lunch. Once we reached the bottom, Natasha asked me to meet her, alone. She already walked into the forest, and I was left with Cloud and Clay.

"You don't think she will, will she Cloud?" Clay asked.

"I don't know, the day I met her, she was as wild as the wind." Cloud answered.

"What, what will Natasha do?" I asked. I always hated it when I wasn't told something. So that's one reason why I like to eavesdrop on people.

So I hurried up and ran over to where Natasha was. For some reason she went into the forest, I guess she didn't want anyone else to eavesdrop on us. As soon as I passed another tree I looked upon a grand clearing. There was just one problem with it, it was the same place as in Natasha's dream.

"Natasha?" I yelled out into the clearing.

No answer, I decided to go upon the rock in the middle of the field. Once I past the ever graceful grass, I scaled the rock. Well scaled seems to be over exaggerating it. I climbed the rock, and to my surprise, I saw Natasha sitting there looking into the sky.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked. She didn't say anything, she just sat there.

"Natasha?" I hoped nothing bad happened, she always answered me whenever I talked to her.

"…I'm okay, you need not worry, I just…" And she just trailed off.

"What, I know you're not fine. Just tell me what's bothering you." I said. She then just looked at me, I knew something was wrong, it was in her eyes. I wish I could help.

"Are you sure you want to know what's wrong?" She asked.

"Yeah, I want to help you. Why else would I ask?" I said. Natasha took a couple more seconds, and then she began to scoot closer to me. She then turned toward me, and I to her. And without warning, she leaned toward me, and our lips connected.

O how I wanted that moment to last forever. How I wanted to describe every emotion felt during those few seconds, but the details would go on for miles, and my selfish side wants to get on with my life.

Once we separated, I was still in my own fantasy world. I opened my eyes to see that the angel in front of me was now blushing as bad as I was. I'd laugh, but that would ruin the moment.

"Does that answer your question?" Natasha asked.

"It does, and yet arises so many more." I answered. We talked on top of that rock for hours, and hours. Once the faintest stars began to show, we decided to make our way home. We walked home hand in hand. A couple of minutes after we left the forest, Natasha squeezed my hand a bit harder than normal. I think something was bothering her.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes, of course I…" She then looked into my eyes. I was being serious, and she could see in my eyes that now was no time to hide the truth.

"No, something is troubling me. Do you know of the pendant I have in my room?"

"Yeah, what about it?" I asked.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Sure." Now I was really interested. What could be so important that she now trusts me with?

"Xeal gave me this as a present. He told me when the time was right, I am to unlock it and discover its secrets."

"Too be honest with you Natasha, I really don't like that Xeal guy. Something about him sends a shiver up my spine."

"I know what you mean, but he's my friend, and I gave him my word." She said.

"So are you saying that, that time is now?" I asked.

"Yeah, let's go home now and see what's inside it." She said with excitement

"Whoa, you mean it opens up?" I asked.

"I think so. Let's go find out." So we ran to her house as fast as we could. Once we entered her house, we were pretty much dragged into the kitchen to talk. Once we were seated, Wilma sat down, with Warren right behind her.

"Is something wrong?" I asked. I seem to be asking a lot of questions. Just let me know when I start to be annoying.

"Word has it, that you two were seen on Lover's Rock." Warren said. Lover's Rock, what's that? Is that the little bolder we sat on?

"Xero seems confused, she obviously didn't tell her." Wilma said to Warren.

"Who told you where we were anyway?" I asked. I heard some creaking behind me. I turned around to see Cloud and Clay trying to walk away silently. They turned bright pink, and ran away faster than a cat and mouse chase.

"So, are you two finally getting together, or did we hear of another nice looking couple in the forest?" Wilma asked us. Natasha was still shy as anything right now, so I took the floor.

"What does is mean here to 'finally get together'. Because my home worlds ways are probably different then yours."

"Well, she won't get married now, still too young. What would you call two people in this situation?" Wilma said.

"They would call us Boyfriend and Girlfriend, but that's my world. Though I would prefer it right now."

This conversation lasted for hours, but when we finally ended, Natasha and I headed upstairs to check out that pendant. Though I might not like what I find out.