Disclaimer time again. The only things I own in this story are the characters of Elaine, Avara and Warren. Everyone and everything else belong to the mighty Konami.

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Elaine's Story Chapter Twelve & Avara's Story Chapter Six

Chased In Coronet, Saved In The Sea

(Location – Coronet)

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"Ah, sweet Coronet. A wonderful place."

Elaine raised an eyebrow as Avara marveled at the city of Coronet. "I bet it reminds you of yourself..."

"Oh no, I am far more fabulous than this city. But indeed, it is quite nice. I'd live here for a couple of weeks."

"Then you'd destroy it with your ThunderShot Rune."

"Then I'd destroy it with...HEY!"

Elaine giggled as they headed for the Docks to try and get a boat to Kuskus. The town seemed sombre for some reason. Elaine guessed it was because of what happened in Muse City. Avara didn't notice though. He was too busy fixing his hair.

"So, are we gonna just get a boat now, or go to the Inn...my hair needs washing." He said.

Elaine looked at him, and then over his shoulder. She gasped.

"Yes, I know...it's a bit grubby, but you could've been polite and not..."

She kicked him. "Not your hair idiot. Highland soldiers!"

Avara turned to where Elaine was pointing, and indeed a group of Highland soldiers had entered Coronet. "I thought you said we LOST them!" Avara said. Elaine looked at Avara, before turning away.

"Now we'll just walk away quietly, not drawing ANY attention to ourselves. Do I make myself clea..."

BANG!

Elaine closed her eyes, and slowly turned around. She kept her eyes closed. "Avara, tell me you didn't just thunderbolt them..."

Avara snickered. "Why yes I did. Was that bad?"

"YOU IDIOT!"

Elaine shook Avara by the neck, as the guards recuperated after being thunderbolted. "THERE THEY ARE! GET THEM!" Shouted the commander. Elaine grabbed Avara by the arm and started running.

"Hey, let go of me you ignoramus! One more Thunderbolt will take care of them!"

"No! You might hit some innocent bystanders."

"Innocent? There's no such creature Elaine. You're one to talk anyway, Ass-ass-in."

He let the syllables flow slowly. "You're just lucky I'm not THROWING you at them!" Elaine fumed.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"TRY ME!"

"You know, you're acting very immature..."

"You started it! OH SHUT UP and keep running!"

They kept running, the ended up running into the Inn.

"Come on already, down the stairs!"

Elaine dragged Avara down the stairs, not hearing the landlord shout "Don't go down the stairs, one of the steps is slightly..."

CRASH

"...broken...YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!!!"

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"Groo..."

Elaine looked up at the broken step, which she and Avara had fallen down, landing in the most nasty heap. Avara lay on top of her, looking a bit dazed.

"GET OFF OF ME YOU FREAK!"

Elaine literally shoved Avara off of her. She stood up, dusting herself off. Then remembered they were being chased by the guards.

"Dammit! Get up already, we'll get caught if you don't move!"

That was enough to revive Avara. He leapt up, pointing to a window. "Out that way."

Elaine nodded, as Avara jumped through the open window. Elaine followed quickly, just as the guards entered the bar. The commander pointed to the window, and they ran back out of the bar after them, knocking down a few tables on the way.

"Hey! They spilt my drink...mean."

"Well, that wasn't very nice of them. Wonder why they're after those wierdos who dropped in?"

"How should I know that Eilie?"

"Just curious, I guess. Come on Rina, I'll get you another drink..."

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"Which way to the boats?!?"

Elaine ran in the direction the sailor pointed, dragging Avara behind her. "Remind me why I'm saving your ass again?"

"Because I'm just so brilliant?"

"I shoulda left you to get caught in the bar."

And that's when the ball just missed her nose...

"Whoa! Sorry about that lady."

A man wearing shorts and a t-shirt walked over. Elaine grabbed him by the shoulders. "Look, we're being chased by Highlanders, if you can't help - Get. Out. Of. My. Way!"

The man smiled, "Ah, but I can help! Follow me..."

He ran over and picked up the ball, before beckoning Elaine and Avara to follow him. Avara looked sceptical..."You can't mean we should follow that ruffian."

"OVER THERE, GET THEM!"

Elaine grabbed Avara and ran after the man with the ball. "Well, at least he didn't MEAN to nearly break my nose..."

They followed the man to some warehouses by the docks. He pointed at one of them, "Get in there...I'll take care of the Highland scumbags."

Avara raised an eyebrow at the man, "And how do you suggest..."

"NO time to argue, hiding is good now." Elaine dragged Avara into the warehouse.

Elaine peered outside a window, and saw the man put the ball down on the ground. She saw the guards running up to them. Elaine closed her eyes, afraid of what might happen next.

"Take this you losers!"

She opened her eyes again, she couldn't resist seeing what the kid was up to. Elaine was surprised when the kid kicked the ball right at the guards, watching as the ball richoched of each guard - striking them all with an amazing amount of force. She almost laughed as the guards all fell down to the ground, apparantly unconscious.

Elaine walked out of the warehouse, Avara following close behind. "That was amazing...you must be very skilled at kicking balls." Elaine turned bright red when she realised what she had just said.

The kid laughed. "Oh, it's no problem. I've been practising this game for years. You should see what I can do...ah, but that is not important now."

Avara looked over at the guards, before turning back to Elaine. "Perhaps now would be a good time to get out of here?"

The kid suddenly looked pretty serious. "The Highlanders won't allow any boats out of Coronet...but...well, I'm already in trouble now. Come on, I have access to a boat. We should be able to get out of here."

Elaine nodded, hoping they didn't see the smile creep onto her face. They all ran towards the docks, to a relatively small boat. "Get in, quick!" The ball guy said.

Elaine and Avara scrambled in, followed by the guy and his ball. He quickly raised the sail, and the wind carried them into the lake. Several Highland soldiers ran onto the dock, but luckily were too late to stop them. Elaine stuck her tongue out at them as they slowly became small dots on the horizon.

The guy turned to face Elaine and Avara. "My name's Warren by the way, Warren Tredea."

"Well, thanks for everything Warren. You really saved us back there. Didn't he Avara..."

Elaine elbowed Avara's ribs, prompting him to say "Yes...I suppose so. But still, one lightning bolt and..."

"Avara."

"What is now Elaine?"

"Shut up, or I throw you overboard."

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"So, why exactly are you helping us Warren?"

Elaine felt she had to ask the question...Warren simply smiled. "I don't know what you did to those Highland guys, but anybody who pisses them off like that is a-okay in my book. Where is it your headed anyway?"

"Kuskus...I think that's what it's called. We're headed to South Window to meet up with some friends...." Elaine looked onto the water. "It's so peaceful..."

Avara raised his head. "The air seems a bit odd..."

Warren took a sniff of the air. "You're right...that's a surefire storm warning. We'd better start rowing guys."

Avara raised an eyebrow this time. "You mean, you expect me to row this thing like a common labourer?"

Elaine whapped him across the head. "Row, or I WILL throw you overboard."

Avara made a grunt of protest, but took the oar and helped row the boat. Then his eyes opened wide. "I sense something coming..."

Elaine looked at the magician. "The air...it's gone really funny..."

Warren gulped. "I don't think we're gonna escape the storm you guys..."

Elaine turned to face him. "Why not? Is there like a clear sign or something?"

Warren pointed to his right. "I think THAT would be a very clear sign..."

Elaine and Avara both turned to their rights slowly...and saw the biggest goddamn wave they had ever seen. And it was literally looming above them.

"Oh shit..." They both said, simultaneously.

Warren turned to them. "Hope you both know how to swim!"

"Wait...I sense magical energy...something...attacking the wave?" Avara looked up at the wave. "It's...slowing down?!? How in the hell?"

Elaine looked too. "It's...stopping? No, wait...it's shrinking!"

The three shipmates looked in amazement as the wave slowly shrunk, and soon became little more than a ripple on the lake's surface. They gawped at it for a while, until Warren stated the obvious - "Shouldn't we...start rowing again?"

Elaine looked at him, a strange look etched across her pale face. "Yeah...good idea..." She started shivering.

Avara was still staring at where the wave had been only minutes ago. "What kind of magical power must've been used to do such a deed? It...almost exceeds my own."

Elaine sneered, not easy when you're shivering. "Please, that magic blew yours out of the proverbial water."

Elaine turned back and started rowing again, ignoring Avara when he said "I coulda done that with the right rune..."

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They finally docked at Kuskus' dock. It was quiet, but considering all boats from Coronet had been quarintined there...not surprising. Elaine, Warren and Avara all walked off of the boat.

"Thank you so much Warren. We would never have gotten here without you." Elaine said, "Hang on, I should give you something..." She reached into her pouch.

But Warren stopped her. "No need. It was exciting...that's good enough for me. Hey, you guys don't mind if I tag along with you to South Window? I mean I can hardly go back to Coronet now, can I?"

Elaine nodded. "Yeah, of course you can come...can't he Avara?"

Elaine suddenly heard the most gutwrenching noise she had ever heard in her life. She and Warren slowly turned around...only to see several Highland guards standing behind them...

And Avara, with a sword plunged right through him. The guard shoved Avara down, landing in a horrible heap on the ground. Elaine couldn't hold the scream in as the guards approached them.

"You didn't think we'd let you get away with that little stunt, did you?"

Elaine and Warren began to back away, only to realise there were Highland guards behind them too.

"Now give up and we might make it quick...but never painless."

They approached them, as they stood back to back to make their final stand...

Help me....please........anyone.

"ELAINE!!!"

Elaine looked around, and managed to see who it was calling her name...

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But who is it? Make your guesses, place your bets...you'll find out soon.