Once Human, Maiden of the Mist
Chapter II: Summon Spirits of Elements
Disclaimer: Billy-billy, bob, bob, bob, zap, boop.
Translation: I unfortunately do not own Tales of Symphonia, nor the Summon Spirits, nor ANYTHING :cries:
A/N: I'm sorry to break it to some of you. But this fic is following Undine. Oh no no, don't worry, all summon spirits will meet up and you'll get their share of the story. Eh hehe heheh.
This must have been a mistake. A grand mistake indeed. Her, a scrawny and weak child, actually turning out to be the Goddess and Spirit of Water. All this 'had' to be a mistake. Shanice was right, she was just someone who didn't fit in the world. Someone who didn't deserve fame, respect, or anything.
"Undine," the ethereal voice stated once again, "It's been so long…… Your trial as a human has been succeeded. You maintained your emotions, even when another mortal decided you were weaker. I am also proud that you didn't hate them, for what they have done."
She softly touched Naida's forehead as her body started to glow light blue. Naida winced at a burning sensation upon her arm. As she looked, a dark navy blue marking appeared. This was a symbol for waves. The burn had spread throughout her upper body, then stopped. The light that emitted ceased it's mystical glow.
Shanice glared from her spot with clenched fists, 'how dare she, take my spotlight! I don't believe, SHE, out of all people on earth, is Undine!' the cold hearted girl thought.
"My child……" started the Goddess, "You have yet, many trials to face. For now, you are to reunite yourself with the other Spirits of elements. God of Molecules, Maxwell, shall wait for you at the entrance of Thoda. Thou shall greet him and he 'shall' guide you to your destined place."
Her mystically, glowing figure started to fade as everyone stared in awe.
"Stay strong…… Maiden of the Mist……"
Naida couldn't believe it at all…… she was the Maiden of the Mist, like the goddess stated. She suddenly started to feel faint, the nervous whispers, gasps and the cries the crowd emitted all seemed to sound like an underwater wall blocked her from existance. So distant……
The world shattered under her glaze, everything became too blurry…… Everything blacked-out.
Strong rays of light pierced through thin curtains and stroked the small bed by a breezy window with warmth.
Had last night's event been just a dream? What had been just a blurr, seemed so real. So real it was fresh in her mind. And so fresh in her mind, that she dreamt about, what seemed like, the future. Strange, new figures. There were around ten of them. Some seemed like monsters while others seemed angelic. She had even felt herself…… much taller, a bit more older, and the form of her body seemed…… like she always wanted it to be. But before Naida could know more about what was going on in her dream, she felt a warm wave of heat cover her entire body. A bright reddish glow replaced the darkness behind her eyelids, as she stirred groggily.
"You are finally awake!"
Naida's eyes shot open as she recognized the face that greeted hers. It was Cynefrid. The same man that told the tales about the Goddess of Life. He wore a different robe this time. Instead of jewels incrested upon the torso, a long and wide strip of olive green silk cascaded down. The silk was tied at the bottom by a golden crest, leaving one wider end, freely flowing to the rhythm of the wind breezes. It's matching round hat gave Naida a feeling of him as a very wise person. What held the girl's most astonishment was the staff he held firmly between his grip. It was a pure golden baton with elegant feather-like, short blades jutting out. But in the center, where a hollow was present, there was a huge glowing, fushia orb.
"I have been watching you through years now. Ah, you have grown so much since I have first seen you. Undine, we must start our journey to the destined place immediately!" Cynefrid ushered.
He had called her Undine! The Maiden of the Mist! So everything wasn't a dream after all.
"Wh-wha? You, me, who? D-destiny!" she stuttered at the shock.
"Ah, too much to explain! Pack up, we shall depart before sun-set."
The new chosen of Water stared at his departure, then at the room she was resting in. It was obviously not hers. Bright, dry, warm, welcoming, and carefree. There were various items, maps and work utensils discarded on shelves. A golden globe of the world was slowly spinning by itself. Naida went to go observe it and noticed a map on the desk. It had a red, glowing dot on a miniature island with the clear markings: Exile, your position.
She gasped. Was she really on this small island, surrounded by endless sea? Thoda was atleast around the world from her, it was impossible to get back. The Water Goddess touched the glowing dot and gasped as she saw her own hand. It had become blue! She rushed outside to the nearest small pond, not paying any attention to Maxwell who seemed surprised to see her up to quickly. Gazing at the sight that nearly made her faint, she gaped. Her body, head to toe, was covered in what seemed like blue skin. The markings on her arm and upper torso were as visible as ever. The once, beautiful sky blue eyes, had turned crimson blood.
Naida had thought herself a monster, and now actually believed she was one. Burrying her face in her hands, she muttered, "they were right……"
Maxwell had made his way to her slumped figure and lightly touched her shoulder, "Ah, your appearance. You must not worry, for I find you as radiantly beautiful as the sea itself!" she chuckled. Naida just shook her head in disbelief and refused to get up.
It was true that she felt much more healthy, great, energetic and even her hair was as solf as silk, but she wasn't satisfied with her looks at all.
"Your appearance matters not. For we must depart on our journey. Trust me, you are more beautiful than any other girl on the face of this earth!" he stated as Naida slowly looked up.
"E-everyone will hate me…… Everything's going to be worst. Even master Gremis will have to pick on me at this state!"
The elder shook his head and continued, " They have respect for you. Your powers are immense. Use them wisely. And as for your physical being. Please, believe me. Your skin color, hair, eyes and other features that will soon come, are unique. Maybe not normal, but I believe that you shouldn't listen to what others say. Either they appreciate you or not, you must go on in life. And, what makes you prettiest inside is your own personality. I must say that even your appearance is radiant, Undine."
Undine sighed and looked once more into the reflection of the pond. She began to realize that she hadn't payed much attention to how everything looked once they weren't being concentrated on at a time. For once in her life, she felt quite…… special. The blue-skinned water Spirit smiled, since such a long time, and hugged the old man, as if he were her grand-father.
"Now, now there, I speak truth. Never shall the Spirit of Molecules lie!" Maxwell smiled, then whispered, "Oh alright, maybe once. But! Go on, get packed."
The Water Goddess looked at him quizically, "Thoda's atleast a million miles from here. How am I supposed to get packed?" she watched the elder gaze upon the sea and chuckled.
"Now, I should have known better…… Ah, well…… shall we start our journey then? I want you to swim in to the far north while I transport myself over there. Swim until land comes in sight!" Maxwell pointed in the direction where a gentle zephyr blew, "I bid you farewell, and good luck!" before Naida could even ask how on earth she was to swim that far, he disappeared in a blink of an eye. Looking around frantically for any sign of him, she gaped at his disappearence.
"Across…….. the SEA!" she yelled to no one in particular. Undine gazed out into the sea. It shimmered at the rays of sunlight, giving it a beautiful glow. The reflections seemed just like golden snakes slithering on the horizon of the sea. The halo of the sun, who had just woken up from its slumber seemed to be looking upon the earth, smiling warmly to newcomers.
The darker parts seemed to be eerie to her for once in her life. Especially when she'd have to swim through that. Why couldn't he just teleport himself and her too, to make things easier. Waiting for her to go across that ocean would also likely take a while. Even if it WAS a long way….. I guess staring after the dancing waves wouldnèt help either.
Undine flinched at the contact of the cold sea water, but it actually felt pretty relaxing. The cool wet-ness carressed her bare foot as it moistened her dry skin. She gulped and finally walked to the deepest part she could reach with her feet. The goddess dived in, and easily pierced through through the water like a fish. It felt like the entire sea seemed to carry her to her desires. She opened her eyes to see where this invisible force came from and gasped. Quickly closing her mouth, in fear of drowning, nothing happened. The dark clear ocean welcomed her, Undine never saw the underwater ocean so clearly…… and was this really oxygen she was breathing in? She smiled at her freedom and explored furthermore her new abilities. Swimming around swiftly, around schools of fish and even around dangerous water beasts. They somehow seemed to welcome her as she floated by past them.
Time slowly flew by as the young blue-skinned girl finally remembered that she had to cross the ocean. Undine blinked as she finally emerged her head of of the water, to see where she had ended up. Five words: In-the-middle-of-nowhere.
"Glad to see you found your little domain hmm?"
She froze at the impact of the words. Turning around, Maxwell stood there, slightly floating above the water.
"Well shall we go to our destined place now? I've heard that Efreet has already arrived as well as Gnome! Luna, Volt and the others are making their way there already. I must say, poor Origin. He's been waiting quite awhile now."
Before Undine could even reply, she felt herself being pulled into what seemed a large dark tunnel. They travelled so fast that upon arrival, she was shot atleast ten meters from the tunnel.
"Oof!" came muffled crie came from the figure she had landed on, "Hey what's the big idea!" A large, slightly pudgey and round teenager stood up, pushing Undine off. She wasn't stunned by the behavior since the goddess was already used to that kind of treatment.
The large boy scampered back to his feet as he observed Undine. His eyes soon gleamed as he tried to fix his hair as best possible. She immediately labelled him as, 'brat'. Well it was intuition, and senses.
"Hot-, I mean, sincerely sorry! Eh heh heh……." The brat nervously laughed, offering her his hand. His grasp seemed a bit too tight as she glared at him awkwardly, from "gnome's" hand to his face. A huge grin was plastered on the pudgy figure.
"I think you should let go Gnome……" a warm hand broke Gnome's tightened grip. The individual shot him an angered look as he tried getting Undine's attention away from the other man.
Undine assumed him to be Efreet, handsome fiery, red hair, spiked up on the sides. A warm smile greeted her surprised glance as she felt like evaporating away.
"Well look who's got to let her go now, hot head!" grabbing a hold of Efreet's metallic collar, Gnome lifted him up from the ground. To his surprise, the Fire God seemed perfectly emotionless.
"Let him down Gnome," a masculine, low voice rang through the clearing. This time, a tall and muscular man whom bared no shirt at all, stepped up. The earth God released Efreet at once and looked away, seemingly annoyed.
His shirtless body made Undine's cheeks slightly burn. Quickly trying to calm down before he noticed her, she too, looked away.
"Hey, I'm Origin. Pleased to meet you," he smiled.
Hesitating whether to talk or not, Undine gulped and responded, "Pleased to meet you too.
Suddenly, five portals opened up in different directions. Three little girls shot out from one, landing onto each other as they squeaked.
Another pulled out another girl, the other a dark man. Someone landed on Undine, feeling the pain of another's weight on her back, she stayed on the ground, dazed. Not noticing the few others that brutally arrived from the portals.
"Maxwell, could you be a little bit more gentle?" Origin sighed, helping some of them get up. Noticing the person he help, the shirtless man blushed, as the same went for the woman.
"Ahem……" she started, "I'm Luna," smiling cheerfully, trying to hide the fact that she already had feelings for him. A small bird had landed on her shoulder.
"Ouch, get off'a meeeeeee!" one of the little girls squeaked, pushing off the other.
"Owwwiiiee, Yutis, can you get any heavier?"
"You're foot's on my hair!"
The three children bickered at each other while two other men, one with spiky blonde hair and the other with dark hair pulled in a short pony tail glared at each other with hate pumping through their veins.
Meanwhile, a cold, icey gaze met the one's of Undine.
"So…… We meet again hmm?" her voice was as cold as she seemed. This sent chills down Undine's back as she recognized this tone.
"Sh-……. Shanice!"
"That's right! Nice to meet you too Naida," Shanice sneered. She too, seemed different from last time Undine met her which was only just yesterday. Short, volumed hair, not to mention colder eyes and grey skin, "Well, aren't you ever happy to see me?"
"I…… I had no idea……"
"That's because you were always hiding in that temple of yours! If you seen earlier, my skin was also getting pale…… Maxwell has done some tricks with his magic and sped time up until it reached the festival of Ice. Meanwhile before that festival, I had moved the day after to Flanoir. For me, it was two whole years before this day. Though time had gone back to its original state now."
Undine was speechless. So everyone here had the time speed up until it was the their time of the year except her. And it was just her luck that Shanice was there to make her quest to being succesful, painful.
"PLEASE! SETTLE DOWN!" Six Maxwells were now facing all ten Summon Spirits, everything fell silent. Raising his hand high above, revealing a long magical staff, a bright light emitted from it as diagrams and pictures were surrounding the cluster of Gods and Goddesses, "Let me explain the mission first! Then, you may fight," Maxwell chuckled and ignored the dath-glare given by Origin.
"First off!" An image that resembled the one carved upon the temple Undine stayed in appeared, "Welcome to the team! Our goal is to surpass each and every obstacle reserved for the protectors of…… well, shall I say fate. As your first clue,
This land is in the far South,
It's heat will twist that tongue in your mouth,
Try to keep the source pure,
Or the man shall be in torture,
This seal is the Fire seal,
Don't waste you breath and squeal,
Because it will be an ordeal,
Don't hesitate to remove his mask of steel,
By peeling that banana's peel."
Everything remained silent…… or must I add a very awkward silence……
"Uh, well good luck! I shall see you at the seal of Fire! Head south to the desert of Triet. Til' then!" Maxwell, the molecule wizard vanished in a matter of seconds along with his clones.
"How long did he take to make up that poem?" Gnome raised one of his thick eyebrows.
"My guess, on the spot……" Origin sighed.
So this is how their quest started.
A/N: Bah, XD ahahaha, I'm so sorry for the seriously lame poem. I thought Maxwell had a character of humour and so I thought I'd make him funny!
Poor Undine, surrounded by countless hot men.
Yay please review!
