Disclaimer: I don't own Ryan, Luca or SoM. I do own a copy of the game.
A/N: I would like to thank Greatlight432 once more for helping me with this as an editor and keeping me true to my belief of keeping, for the most part, what happens in the game true to the story. Also if you have the time, then check out his fics that combine Final Fantasy and Sailor Moon. They are some of the best stories I have read recently that I haven't already read.
A Water Love
Chapter 3
Ryan slowly rose through the pain of his injuries. He had run into more rabites on his short walk to the Water Temple then he had expected. Even with a fully charged attack they had nearly overwhelmed him. If it had not been for his proximity to the Water Temple's boundary he would have died on the field.
Ryan could feel the burning from each of his wounds. He had managed to climb up the stairs to the Temple before the pain finally caused him to pass out. How long he had lain there he wasn't sure. After a while though, he could feel this gentle, cooling sensation running over his body.
Slowly opening an eye Ryan could see a mass of aqua colored hair. Opening the other gave him a better picture: the Sage of Water, leaning over him. Her eyes were closed in concentration as she tried to heal the wounds he had received on his short journey to the Water Temple. Not wanting to disturb her Ryan closed his eyes and remembered the last time this had happened.
-Flashback-
Climbing the final set of steps leading to the altar Ryan felt apprehensive. The grounds of the temple were littered with monsters he had never seen before. He along with a girl he had met named Maye, as well as the Sprite, Lexi were a bit bewildered by this.
Cautiously looking around the altar area Ryan took in the site. Imperial Soldiers stood all around, weapons ready for the slightest action. Near the altar stood a figure wearing green armor. However that's not what caught his attention. Standing in front of the general was Luca. Her hair slightly out of place, her robes covered in a layer of slime and dust. For a brief moment Ryan's anger flared as he saw the way the man with green armor was holding Luca, with an arm twisted around her back.
"LUCA!!" Ryan yells as he scrambled up the last few steps towards the General. Reaching for her subconsciously he holds the sword lax in his hand. Maye and Lexi hold their weapons more at the ready as the guards draw their swords and Axe's.
As Ryan looked at Luca her face changed from an emotionless expression to one filled with worry. "Get away," she says softly, then lifting her head slightly defiant to the man who is holding her she screams to Ryan and his companions. "RUN!"
Grasping Luca's arm tighter causing her to gasp slightly from pain the mysterious man in green armor smiles up at Ryan. "Well who might this be?" Sneering wickedly the man arrogantly adds "I'm Geshtar, Servant of the Empire!" Lifting Luca slightly by her arm Geshtar holds her up like a prize. "Now hand over the seed or the Sage's blood will decorate the floor."
Ryan looks at the slightly pained expression that Luca is giving him. He doesn't really want to do it ... but he can't see her die. Reaching within his shirt he grabs the Mana Seed and pulls it out.
Luca stares at him in mix of horror and shock. "DON'T DO IT RYAN!" She yells at him before Geshtar twists her arm hard causing her to scream in pain.
Ryan looks at the ground and holds up the Mana Seed. "Take it, Geshtar ... you win." He says right before handing the seed over to the General.
Smiling Geshtar flings Luca over towards Ryan holding the seed up in one hand looking at it. "Good boy ... now I'll grant you a quick, painful death." He says as a loud roar of a monster echoes through the palace.
Running to the edge of the altar platform Ryan, Luca, Maye, and Lexi all look at the pool of water that is a level lower in the great temple. Standing within the pool is a giant two headed monster, a jabberwocky. Raising one of its heads up it bellows once more sending its cry for blood through the very essence of the temple itself.
As the four of them stared on at the beast several soldiers sneak up behind them and throw them towards the pull of water. Landing with a loud splash the jabberwocky twists both of its heads towards the party opening the beaks and roaring again a bit of saliva falls into the pool causing a loud hiss.
"Watch out, the thing's poisonous." Maye yells taking up the axe and leaping to the side as one of the heads moves closer to her. Swinging the axe down she caught the leathery neck in a fierce attack only to have it bounce off without so much as a dent.
Running along the side of the pool Lexi managed to get below the beast and fired an arrow into the abdominal region. The arrow managed to lodge itself in between its scales, eliciting a loud roar of pain. Angrily, both heads turned to the sprite and sprayed a cloud of poison, making her violently sick. Seeing an opportunity, the jabberwocky darted in with one of its heads, only catch a series of blows from Maye, who had ditched the axe in favor of her trusty Power Gloves. The blows had little effect on the towering creature, but it served its purpose in giving Lexi time to counteract the poison and back away.
In the meantime, Ryan knelt beside LuCa, attempting to insure she was alright. On top of that, he felt miserable; he had given up the Seed of Water for her sake, and yet it looked as though they would both die anyway. "Luca..." he started.
"Don't worry about me, Ryan..." she cut him off, not unkindly. "It's...it's alright. Just help your friends now, okay?" With that, Luca looked up at him, and gave a small smile. Though she couldn't say so outright...there was a small part of her that, strangely, felt happy over Ryan's choice. Even though she knew it was wrong, and HE knew it was wrong...he had still been willing to sacrifice the seed for her sake.
Not entirely convinced, but unwilling to push the point, Ryan nodded with a slight smile before turning back to the battle, his Heavy Spear raised as he rushed in.
Maye, seeing the need for it, quickly cast their recently acquired Defender magic, providing some much needed support. This proved fortuitous, since the creature lashed out with a foot, sending the girl flying across the pool.
Lexi, hoping to distract the Jabberwocky, knocked another arrow, took careful aim, and fired, piercing one head's left eye. The socket sprayed a green ichor as the beast again roared in pain and confusion, thrashing about wildly. Ryan arrived in at this point, and took the opportunity to lunge forward, driving the spear into the creature's right flank.
Screaming wildly, the creature nonetheless had the presence of mind to shake Ryan loose, sending the young warrior tumbling, his spear still embedded in it's side. Lexi was rewarded with another blast of poison, forcing her to back off momentarily as well.
Once again, Maye jumped into the fray, rushing toward the protruding spear and forcing it deeper into the Jabberwocky's side before pulling it out again, trying to keep the creature off-balance and hurt. Ryan, once he had cleared the cobwebs from his head after his impromptu flight, shouted to Lexi, "Lexi! Use your Earth Slide magic! It might be our only shot!"
The sprite nodded, and began chanting as her hands glowed with energy. Releasing the energy in a flash, a large ball of earthen rock materialized above their opponent, dropping onto it with greater force than they'd been able to bring with their weapons. Immediately, they could see that it had an effect, as the beast was staggering, but within short order, it began glowing blue, its wounds healing almost instantaneously.
However, it was too late. Ryan nodded at Lexi, who began casting Earth Slide repeatedly, as he and Maye began battling the creature furiously, with renewed vigor: he with his trusty Broad Sword, and Maye with the Heavy Spear. Before long, the beast was severely weakened, one head little more than a useless stump, unable to even think about healing itself. Attempting to finish the job, Lexi cast Earth Slide once more...and the power fizzled. With dismay, she shouted, "I'm out of mana!"
Ryan cursed softly, and was about to issue more orders, when the Jabberwocky saw an opportunity. Rushing forward with surprising speed, it approached the one target it saw as an easy mark...one that everyone had forgotten about.
"LUCA!!!" Maye screamed in horror.
Luca, who had been distracted by the battle, failed to see the creature's charge until it was too late to run. Raising an arm as she closed her eyes, the sage tried frantically to ward off the bite she knew was coming...
Only to be greeted with a loud 'SHUNK' and a confused whimper. Slowly opening her eyes, she gasped at the sight before her.
The jabberwocky's gaping maw was uncomfortably close, causing her to involuntarily step back. It was then that she saw what had stopped it. Ryan, his face set in a mask of fierce anger, had managed to drive his sword point first into the beast's skull.
For another two seconds, the tableau was held before a heavy sigh was released, and the beast crashed to the ground, dead.
Ryan dropped to his knees at that point, shortly before his body collapsed completely to the watery floor. Luca stood and ran to the boy's side. "Ryan...you're wounded..."
"Huh?" Ryan blinked at her, not really understanding what she was saying through the haze of the wounds that racked his body. Nodding slightly in conferment he begins to slowly close his eyes as sleep beckoned him.
Smiling slightly Luca knelt in the water, ignoring the water that seeped through her clothes, reaching out to pull his head onto her lap. Brushing a hand across his forehead Luca spoke softly to the warrior "Sleep, Ryan, everything is okay now." Lightly placing her hands on Ryan's cheeks Luca focused her power and began to heal this young man's wounds, as a slight smile spread on his face from what could only be a good dream.
-End Flashback -
Stirring from the memory Ryan looks once more at Luca. Her eyes shone bright despite the low light of the Water Temple. Reaching a hand up he lightly runs it along her cheek and up into her hair. Smiling down at him Luca wraps her arms a little more securely around him. "Are you okay." She asks in that voice that no matter how often Ryan heard it always seemed to be like listening to a warm stream or brook.
"Yeah, I think so." Ryan says as he begins to sit up. However, he isn't able to because of Luca's arms pressing down on his chest lightly. Looking once more at her he could see slight rings around her eyes. "How long has it been since I crashed into the Temple."
"It has been almost two days." Luca says after a moment of silence, as she continued to look at his face.
Thinking to himself Ryan realized that's why she looked so tired. Moving his hands to hers he gently removes them from his chest and sits up turning his body as he does so in order to look at her. It was now the chance he would have to say it. "Luca ... do you mind if I tell you something." Ryan says looking at the sages face and marvelous aqua eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan gathers the courage to do what he wanted to. "Luca ... this may sound strange however I think I may actually like you." He says managing not to stutter as he looks at her face. For a second nothing happened but then Luca's face lit up ... however her eyes contrasted as they began to look strangely sad at the same time.
"I like you a lot too, Ryan ... but there is something you should know first." She says her voice filled with both gladness and sorrow in the same instant. She was afraid of telling him what she was about to tell him. Staring him squarely in the face Luca removes all emotions from her facial expression and stares at him. "I'm not human."
END Chapter
EA/N – Well sorry for the delay. You can blame both myself and Greatlight for it ... I had to reinstall my OS and that deleted my MS Word so till I had some money I was out of the writing gig for awhile. Greatlight took a bit cause of the research he needed to do for the battle section. (He's now officially Co-authoring it)
Grealight: "Damn it, I didn't do much on this...but HE(points to Apocalypse) insisted that I say something...so here it is: something."
Deth: "Yes ... well anyways thanks again for reading everybody ... we'll try and get the next chapter up before I ship to bootcamp."
A/N: I would like to thank Greatlight432 once more for helping me with this as an editor and keeping me true to my belief of keeping, for the most part, what happens in the game true to the story. Also if you have the time, then check out his fics that combine Final Fantasy and Sailor Moon. They are some of the best stories I have read recently that I haven't already read.
A Water Love
Chapter 3
Ryan slowly rose through the pain of his injuries. He had run into more rabites on his short walk to the Water Temple then he had expected. Even with a fully charged attack they had nearly overwhelmed him. If it had not been for his proximity to the Water Temple's boundary he would have died on the field.
Ryan could feel the burning from each of his wounds. He had managed to climb up the stairs to the Temple before the pain finally caused him to pass out. How long he had lain there he wasn't sure. After a while though, he could feel this gentle, cooling sensation running over his body.
Slowly opening an eye Ryan could see a mass of aqua colored hair. Opening the other gave him a better picture: the Sage of Water, leaning over him. Her eyes were closed in concentration as she tried to heal the wounds he had received on his short journey to the Water Temple. Not wanting to disturb her Ryan closed his eyes and remembered the last time this had happened.
-Flashback-
Climbing the final set of steps leading to the altar Ryan felt apprehensive. The grounds of the temple were littered with monsters he had never seen before. He along with a girl he had met named Maye, as well as the Sprite, Lexi were a bit bewildered by this.
Cautiously looking around the altar area Ryan took in the site. Imperial Soldiers stood all around, weapons ready for the slightest action. Near the altar stood a figure wearing green armor. However that's not what caught his attention. Standing in front of the general was Luca. Her hair slightly out of place, her robes covered in a layer of slime and dust. For a brief moment Ryan's anger flared as he saw the way the man with green armor was holding Luca, with an arm twisted around her back.
"LUCA!!" Ryan yells as he scrambled up the last few steps towards the General. Reaching for her subconsciously he holds the sword lax in his hand. Maye and Lexi hold their weapons more at the ready as the guards draw their swords and Axe's.
As Ryan looked at Luca her face changed from an emotionless expression to one filled with worry. "Get away," she says softly, then lifting her head slightly defiant to the man who is holding her she screams to Ryan and his companions. "RUN!"
Grasping Luca's arm tighter causing her to gasp slightly from pain the mysterious man in green armor smiles up at Ryan. "Well who might this be?" Sneering wickedly the man arrogantly adds "I'm Geshtar, Servant of the Empire!" Lifting Luca slightly by her arm Geshtar holds her up like a prize. "Now hand over the seed or the Sage's blood will decorate the floor."
Ryan looks at the slightly pained expression that Luca is giving him. He doesn't really want to do it ... but he can't see her die. Reaching within his shirt he grabs the Mana Seed and pulls it out.
Luca stares at him in mix of horror and shock. "DON'T DO IT RYAN!" She yells at him before Geshtar twists her arm hard causing her to scream in pain.
Ryan looks at the ground and holds up the Mana Seed. "Take it, Geshtar ... you win." He says right before handing the seed over to the General.
Smiling Geshtar flings Luca over towards Ryan holding the seed up in one hand looking at it. "Good boy ... now I'll grant you a quick, painful death." He says as a loud roar of a monster echoes through the palace.
Running to the edge of the altar platform Ryan, Luca, Maye, and Lexi all look at the pool of water that is a level lower in the great temple. Standing within the pool is a giant two headed monster, a jabberwocky. Raising one of its heads up it bellows once more sending its cry for blood through the very essence of the temple itself.
As the four of them stared on at the beast several soldiers sneak up behind them and throw them towards the pull of water. Landing with a loud splash the jabberwocky twists both of its heads towards the party opening the beaks and roaring again a bit of saliva falls into the pool causing a loud hiss.
"Watch out, the thing's poisonous." Maye yells taking up the axe and leaping to the side as one of the heads moves closer to her. Swinging the axe down she caught the leathery neck in a fierce attack only to have it bounce off without so much as a dent.
Running along the side of the pool Lexi managed to get below the beast and fired an arrow into the abdominal region. The arrow managed to lodge itself in between its scales, eliciting a loud roar of pain. Angrily, both heads turned to the sprite and sprayed a cloud of poison, making her violently sick. Seeing an opportunity, the jabberwocky darted in with one of its heads, only catch a series of blows from Maye, who had ditched the axe in favor of her trusty Power Gloves. The blows had little effect on the towering creature, but it served its purpose in giving Lexi time to counteract the poison and back away.
In the meantime, Ryan knelt beside LuCa, attempting to insure she was alright. On top of that, he felt miserable; he had given up the Seed of Water for her sake, and yet it looked as though they would both die anyway. "Luca..." he started.
"Don't worry about me, Ryan..." she cut him off, not unkindly. "It's...it's alright. Just help your friends now, okay?" With that, Luca looked up at him, and gave a small smile. Though she couldn't say so outright...there was a small part of her that, strangely, felt happy over Ryan's choice. Even though she knew it was wrong, and HE knew it was wrong...he had still been willing to sacrifice the seed for her sake.
Not entirely convinced, but unwilling to push the point, Ryan nodded with a slight smile before turning back to the battle, his Heavy Spear raised as he rushed in.
Maye, seeing the need for it, quickly cast their recently acquired Defender magic, providing some much needed support. This proved fortuitous, since the creature lashed out with a foot, sending the girl flying across the pool.
Lexi, hoping to distract the Jabberwocky, knocked another arrow, took careful aim, and fired, piercing one head's left eye. The socket sprayed a green ichor as the beast again roared in pain and confusion, thrashing about wildly. Ryan arrived in at this point, and took the opportunity to lunge forward, driving the spear into the creature's right flank.
Screaming wildly, the creature nonetheless had the presence of mind to shake Ryan loose, sending the young warrior tumbling, his spear still embedded in it's side. Lexi was rewarded with another blast of poison, forcing her to back off momentarily as well.
Once again, Maye jumped into the fray, rushing toward the protruding spear and forcing it deeper into the Jabberwocky's side before pulling it out again, trying to keep the creature off-balance and hurt. Ryan, once he had cleared the cobwebs from his head after his impromptu flight, shouted to Lexi, "Lexi! Use your Earth Slide magic! It might be our only shot!"
The sprite nodded, and began chanting as her hands glowed with energy. Releasing the energy in a flash, a large ball of earthen rock materialized above their opponent, dropping onto it with greater force than they'd been able to bring with their weapons. Immediately, they could see that it had an effect, as the beast was staggering, but within short order, it began glowing blue, its wounds healing almost instantaneously.
However, it was too late. Ryan nodded at Lexi, who began casting Earth Slide repeatedly, as he and Maye began battling the creature furiously, with renewed vigor: he with his trusty Broad Sword, and Maye with the Heavy Spear. Before long, the beast was severely weakened, one head little more than a useless stump, unable to even think about healing itself. Attempting to finish the job, Lexi cast Earth Slide once more...and the power fizzled. With dismay, she shouted, "I'm out of mana!"
Ryan cursed softly, and was about to issue more orders, when the Jabberwocky saw an opportunity. Rushing forward with surprising speed, it approached the one target it saw as an easy mark...one that everyone had forgotten about.
"LUCA!!!" Maye screamed in horror.
Luca, who had been distracted by the battle, failed to see the creature's charge until it was too late to run. Raising an arm as she closed her eyes, the sage tried frantically to ward off the bite she knew was coming...
Only to be greeted with a loud 'SHUNK' and a confused whimper. Slowly opening her eyes, she gasped at the sight before her.
The jabberwocky's gaping maw was uncomfortably close, causing her to involuntarily step back. It was then that she saw what had stopped it. Ryan, his face set in a mask of fierce anger, had managed to drive his sword point first into the beast's skull.
For another two seconds, the tableau was held before a heavy sigh was released, and the beast crashed to the ground, dead.
Ryan dropped to his knees at that point, shortly before his body collapsed completely to the watery floor. Luca stood and ran to the boy's side. "Ryan...you're wounded..."
"Huh?" Ryan blinked at her, not really understanding what she was saying through the haze of the wounds that racked his body. Nodding slightly in conferment he begins to slowly close his eyes as sleep beckoned him.
Smiling slightly Luca knelt in the water, ignoring the water that seeped through her clothes, reaching out to pull his head onto her lap. Brushing a hand across his forehead Luca spoke softly to the warrior "Sleep, Ryan, everything is okay now." Lightly placing her hands on Ryan's cheeks Luca focused her power and began to heal this young man's wounds, as a slight smile spread on his face from what could only be a good dream.
-End Flashback -
Stirring from the memory Ryan looks once more at Luca. Her eyes shone bright despite the low light of the Water Temple. Reaching a hand up he lightly runs it along her cheek and up into her hair. Smiling down at him Luca wraps her arms a little more securely around him. "Are you okay." She asks in that voice that no matter how often Ryan heard it always seemed to be like listening to a warm stream or brook.
"Yeah, I think so." Ryan says as he begins to sit up. However, he isn't able to because of Luca's arms pressing down on his chest lightly. Looking once more at her he could see slight rings around her eyes. "How long has it been since I crashed into the Temple."
"It has been almost two days." Luca says after a moment of silence, as she continued to look at his face.
Thinking to himself Ryan realized that's why she looked so tired. Moving his hands to hers he gently removes them from his chest and sits up turning his body as he does so in order to look at her. It was now the chance he would have to say it. "Luca ... do you mind if I tell you something." Ryan says looking at the sages face and marvelous aqua eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan gathers the courage to do what he wanted to. "Luca ... this may sound strange however I think I may actually like you." He says managing not to stutter as he looks at her face. For a second nothing happened but then Luca's face lit up ... however her eyes contrasted as they began to look strangely sad at the same time.
"I like you a lot too, Ryan ... but there is something you should know first." She says her voice filled with both gladness and sorrow in the same instant. She was afraid of telling him what she was about to tell him. Staring him squarely in the face Luca removes all emotions from her facial expression and stares at him. "I'm not human."
END Chapter
EA/N – Well sorry for the delay. You can blame both myself and Greatlight for it ... I had to reinstall my OS and that deleted my MS Word so till I had some money I was out of the writing gig for awhile. Greatlight took a bit cause of the research he needed to do for the battle section. (He's now officially Co-authoring it)
Grealight: "Damn it, I didn't do much on this...but HE(points to Apocalypse) insisted that I say something...so here it is: something."
Deth: "Yes ... well anyways thanks again for reading everybody ... we'll try and get the next chapter up before I ship to bootcamp."