A/N: Hhhm, it seems like not many people read the 9th chapter, what a shame. Aren't I loved? Heh, just kidding. But anyways, do you know that Broken is a year old now? Isn't that weird? I take a long time to write, I'm sorry! But Mr. 57's funeral is coming soon if anyone wants to send messages or anything for him just e mail me or put it in a review! I'd love to put at least one message from a reader on the grave! Oh, and after this chapter there are only two left, the story is drawing to a close, enjoy it while it lasts!

Chapter 10

The white fabric of Mr. 114's pants stuck to his legs as the water rushed up to his hips. As the wave retreated, the fabric on his pants and coat became heavier and darker in colour. He smiled as the next wave rushed up playfully to greet him, soaking his legs once again in the salty ocean water. The morning sun was shining on the ocean's face, the water rippled and waved, as if it was breathing. Mr. 114 let his hands fall into the wave, the bandages and gloves soaked up the water and made his burns sting from the salt. But it was soothing to him. It reminded him of Mr. 239's voice, the calmness that he didn't understand but didn't care to. He felt that he would like to fall into the ocean, to be consumed by the waves, to let the water caress his face. But the village from his dreams would not let him; he knew that was where he was supposed to go.

To his left Mr. 114 heard the sound of footsteps on the sand and water. He turned as the wave escaped to see Mr. 239, his bag slung over his shoulder and holding something in his right hand. The wind played against his hat and collar and the black smoke was still rising in the distance.

"I made this for you…" Mr. 239 said as he extended his right hand down to where Mr. 114 sat in the sand. His eyes were full with hope but uncertainty, Mr. 114 was glad they were no longer empty with sorrow as they had been days earlier.

Mr. 114 opened his soaked hand as Mr. 239 dropped something delicate inside. Mr. 114 brought his hand to his face and gasped in excitement, in his hand was a white sea shell on a string. He recognized the shell from the previous night, he had found it on the beach close to where they had built a fire. It was a pearly white colour that shone in the firelight, there was an opening at the base and it twisted around into a point. But he didn't know why it was on a string…

"It's a necklace," Mr. 239 explained as he toyed the water with his staff, "you wear it around you neck. I thought that if you wore it, whenever you were sad you could look at it and remember the ocean. Because the ocean makes you happy."

Overcome with joy, Mr. 114 leapt up from the sand and threw his arms around Mr. 239. "Thank you!" He cried happily into his ear.

"You're welcome… great, now I'm all wet." Mr. 239 mumbled.

-

Today seemed special. Today was the day they reached the marshlands. And from what they understood from their dreams, they would find a pathway leading underground and after they passed through, they would be far away from the humans and closer to the village than ever before. It all seemed surreal at this point. Only a few days ago they had mapped out the way there from the Evil Forest and now the dream seemed so close Mr. 114 thought he could reach out and touch it. This was the last time they would be within reach of humans. The last time they would share land and air with them. After today they would be far, far away from them forever. Mr. 239 looked across the ocean, to the horizon. They would finally be leaving this place, this nightmare. So with a deep breath, he started towards the marsh, Mr. 114 followed as usual playing with the seashell tied around his neck.

The ground here was wet and dirty, their feet sunk into the ground and resisted getting back up. Walking was hard here, the two mages tired quickly but with their destination seeming so close they dared not stop to rest. They passed clumps of grass and puddles of mud and water; frogs darted out of their way as they passed. The clouds and mist above them stirred and darkened as a heavy rain began to fall.

Through the mud, water and rain soaking their faces they found a board of wood to walk on in the marsh. They stood there for a moment, regaining themselves upon the sturdy ground. Mr. 114 started down at his mud soaked pants and wished he were back at the beach so he could wash it off. They started off down the board a moment later, the tall blades of swamp grass around them became more condense and it seemed they were walking through a forest of grass instead of the swamp they had passed through earlier.

After what seemed to be hours they found themselves lost. They had somehow wound up in a maze of grass. It reached high above their heads and thick. There was no way to see which way they were going as they forced their way through the mess of plants. Mr. 114 put his head down as he let Mr. 239 lead the way. The blades beat against them as they pushed through. The rustling sound escaping the grass was loud, Mr. 114 worried that monsters would hear and come running for them. He placed another hand on Mr. 239's coat and gripped on as they continued through.

Finally, as it had seemed like hours, they emerged from the grass to find a clearing. Mr. 114 gasped a sigh of relief as he let go of Mr. 239 and leaned over in exhaustion. Mr. 239 remained still, a bit too still Mr. 114 thought. He raised his head back up and gasped as his eyes met what Mr. 239 was staring at.

It was the passage.

"We found it!" Mr. 114 managed over his shock and excitement. He felt as if his heart had stopped beating, his eyes grew wide as he recognized the passage almost perfectly from his dream.

Mr. 239 just stayed still. He was in utter shock. He even remained still as Mr. 114 grabbed his arm excitedly, "We found it, Mr. 239! We found it! We're almost there! Can you believe it?"

"No…" Mr. 239 breathed in amazement. "So many dreams, I thought it couldn't have been real. I wish Mr. 57 was here for this."

The two stared at the passage entrance, silent in respect for the wonder of it all. For the first time it felt as if they were actually going, they were going to the village! Not able to resist, Mr. 114 jumped up and down in excitement as Mr. 57 used to, the rain still pouring hard but it didn't matter. Over the rain he could hear Mr. 239 laughing to himself, the first time he had ever heard Mr. 239 that happy. What a wonderful moment, Mr. 114 thought to himself as he grabbed hold of the seashell around his neck. This was it!

Without thinking, Mr. 114 bolted down the wet steps, down toward the tunnel. He heard Mr. 239 behind him, warning him to be careful. But nothing seemed to matter at this point. So he raced down the steps until he saw the tunnel, he jumped down the remaining steps happily as he entered the actual cave. He shook off the rain and let his eyes adjust to the darkness of the passageway. Then he realized Mr. 239 had not followed him inside.

Panicking slightly, Mr. 114 swung himself around to see out of the tunnel. There, Mr. 239 was standing in the rain, his eyes wide and fearful. He shook slightly and seemed to have something keeping him from speaking. Mr. 114 tilted his head in confusion and walked toward his friend. Mr. 239 backed away slightly as he came closer and Mr. 114 could tell he was biting his lip.

"Um, Mr. 239?" He whispered over the rain, nervous as to Mr. 239's fear. "Are you okay….?"

"I-I…" Mr. 239 tried, his breath quick and fearful. He turned to eye the tunnel and shuddered letting his hand rest against one side of his face. "I… don't want to go in."

Mr. 114 was taken back by this comment, why wouldn't Mr. 239 want to continue? Didn't he want to go to the village? "But Mr. 239," He pleaded hopelessly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We need to go to the village. Remember?"

"I know but…" Mr. 239 whimpered, closing his eyes as he spoke. "I don't want to… go in there… I can't, I can't."

"What…?" Mr. 114 was just confused now. "What do you mean-"

"I CAN'T." Mr. 239 shouted suddenly, making Mr. 114 jump back in fright. "I can't! I can't go in! I can't do it!"

And with that Mr. 239 collapsed onto the wet stone, letting his staff fall with a loud clunk, leaving Mr. 114 bewildered and confused. Mr. 239 seemed so upset, why was he feeling that way? Was he hurt? Maybe he felt sad again…

"Is it…" Mr. 114 lowered himself to the ground so he could see Mr. 239's eyes. "Is it… about… Mr. 57? Is that why you're sad? Because its okay, there's nothing we –"

"It's not about that, Mr. 114." Mr. 239 replied quietly. "It's because, because, I… I don't like it. I don't like being in small spaces. I can't breath in them, I feel like I'll never come out…"

Mr. 114 was silent while he let himself soak up this new information. It didn't make any sense to him. Why be scared of something like that? Why let that get in the way of getting to the village? Why sit in the rain because of it? But then he thought of the swords, the cliffs. He shuddered. It was the same wasn't it; these fears that no one understands except yourself. But Mr. 239 understood his fear of swords and daggers, so he should try to understand his fear. It wouldn't be fair to turn a blind eye.

"Why, Mr. 239? Did something happen?" Mr. 114 tried to sound comforting and understanding, the way Mr. 239 sounded.

Mr. 239's head rose a bit, but his soft, glowing eyes remained low to the ground. He slowly nodded his head, the rain rushing down the brim on his hat attempting to hide his face. Mr. 114 got onto his knees and reached out for Mr. 239 and pulled him into a tight hug. Mr. 239's arms fell limp, but his face buried itself into Mr. 114's coat. After a moment his hands began to grip Mr. 114's coat for support, rubbing his wet face further into his chest. Mr. 114 rubbed his back, it felt different being the one to give support. But for Mr. 239 it felt so nice to be comforted for once, to be held for the first time. Now he knew why it clamed Mr. 57 and Mr. 114 so much. He felt calmed and protected, as if the whole world could shatter but he would remain threw in Mr. 114's arms forever.

After a moment Mr. 239 reemerged looking slightly less distressed. The two mages stood up, one still standing in the rain, the other inside the dry passage. Mr. 239 picked the staff up from the ground and took a deep breath.

"I'll try."

Understanding, Mr. 114 took Mr. 239's hand and let him grip it for support. Mr. 239 closed his eyes tight and took a step into the tunnel. His breath quickened for a moment but a reassuring squeeze from Mr. 114 calmed him. After two more steps he opened his eyes slowly and exhaled a long breath of worried air. Mr. 114 smiled.

They continued down the tunnel uneventfully, Mr. 114 had to occasionally calm Mr. 239 who was still very scared of being inside the dark enclosed tunnel. The scenery was different then anything the two had seen before, each part of the tunnel was different. Torches were lit throughout; they suspected humans also used the tunnel. But they were more concerned with just getting through the tunnel than dealing with humans. As they walked down a partially small tunnel hand in hand Mr. 239 spoke up.

"Mr. 114…" He spoke quietly, the tight tunnel making him nervous. "…You know. You haven't told me much about yourself."

Mr. 114 turned to look at him in confusion. What about himself?

"What do you mean?" Mr. 114 answered unsurely, leading Mr. 239 down the dim tunnel.

"Well, you know about my past but I don't really know anything about you, before you met me and Mr. 57." Mr. 239 whispered, shaking slightly in the small space; But still able to keep himself in check.

Before then? Mr. 114 shuddered. He preferred to keep that past locked up, to not think about it. Sure, it didn't seem half as bad as some of the things that had happened to them during their travels, but it still hurt. Something about the castle, the soldiers, the queen and everything wasn't right; it disturbed him, even now. He didn't want to bring it up. He didn't want to talk about it. But it seemed he didn't have much choice at this point…

"You know, Mr. 114…" Mr. 239 tried to sound soothing despite the fact the tunnel seemed to get smaller in his eyes. "We are so close to the village, nothing else can happen to us now. We won't ever have to be scared of humans again. They won't be able to touch us." As he speaks his eyes ease closed, his voice becoming stronger and triumphant. "After today we can forget about that world forever but… that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it."

Mr. 114 is silent as they pass into a wide tunnel. Water is rushing down from somewhere ahead. It's dark, Mr. 239 waves his hand softly against the air and creates a perfect circle of white flames lighting up the darkness. Mr. 114 watches the flames play in Mr. 239's hand, remembering the first and last spell he had cast. Why was Mr. 239 so intent on learned about his past? Why was it so important to know? If it wouldn't matter anymore, why talk about it? He felt his throat close up as he thought this. The more he had thought about everything from before, the more and more it hurt. Maybe… maybe talking about it would help.

"I-I…" He stutters hopelessly as a misguided foot splashes into the dark water. Mr. 239 watches him through kind eyes, as always. He is waiting for the story.

Mr. 114 blocks out his fears for a moment, taking in a breath of stale air and opens his mouth before he thinks better of it. "I was in a storage room."

"Ah, Alexandria." Mr. 239 whispers.

"Umm… I don't really remember why. But... I was there with, others." Mr. 114 tries to go on, not noticing as they emerge into another phase of the tunnel. "And one day we had to leave and they found out I was awake."

Mr. 239 makes a small sound of discomfort and understanding as he tightens his hold on Mr. 114's hand. "I-I didn't know what was going to happen… she took me up into the sunlight." Mr. 114 remembers, savoring each memory as it passes. Even though they were painful, they were his first memories of life. "There were these... airships, yeah, airships and all the others were going on them but I was lead away to the Queen."

"The Queen!" Mr. 239 repeats in shock. "The Queen? Are you serious?"

"You know her?" Mr. 114 questions Mr. 239, breaking away from his story for a moment.

"Oh, well. No. I've heard of her…" Mr. 239 drifts off, "Keep going, I'm sorry."

"Um, okay. Well, I was taken to this queen and this man." Mr. 114 shivers at the memory. "He said I was broken and it would cost them more to fix me than to replace me. So they should… they should…" Mr. 114 wasn't able to finish his sentence as he felt shivers run up his spine. But Mr. 239 didn't press him; in fact, he was staring off in the distance, his stronger mind putting pieces of their puzzle together.

"Um, so, these two guards took me out to this plateau…" Mr. 114 could hear his voice growing quiet, his tongue wishing to tie itself instead of continue. Mr. 239 snapped back from his own thoughts and brought his loving gaze back to Mr. 114, the warmth continuing his story.

"A-and… one was going to…" Mr. 114 made a stabbing motion towards himself, "And something happened, I-I couldn't help it. I just did it… I didn't know what was happening! But the guard… my spell… a-and… I fell…."

Mr. 114 broke off and, shaking slightly, covered his face with his bandaged hands. Mr. 239 extinguished the small fire spell in his hand and pulled Mr. 114 into a deep, warm embrace. Mr. 114 suddenly felt… better. The hurt still stung but not as bad as it had from inside. He was comforted now, Mr. 239 understood him better now. Mr. 239 was there for him. He was not alone. Nor was he broken, he thought. He didn't know why he thought that, but he knew it for certain. He tightened his bandaged arm around Mr. 239 and the two comforted each other. For whatever it was they needed to be comforted for.

After a minute they pulled away and continued down the tunnel without a word. Their hands held tightly. They walked through the passage; past burning torches, not worrying about humans anymore, past large walls where silhouettes of dead beasts lay exposed, past large pools of dark water, past wild Gargant creatures they neither feared nor noticed. Their minds were blank as the misty skies, fogged but not empty.

"What do you think its like, Mr. 114?" Mr. 239 spoke light and cheerfully, forgetting his fear of the tunnel. "What would it be like to be somewhere with no humans, just others like us."

Mr. 114 smiled under the misty dark of his face, "It must be amazing."

"I think I'd like to open a shop," Mr. 239 thought out loud, as they climbed through a vine filled chamber, "I'd sell weapons, not for fighting or anything, but it would be so much fun."

Mr. 114 nodded, Mr. 239 liked weapons a lot didn't he? "I think we should build a castle! A big castle over looking the ocean… But, maybe not a castle. Maybe a house."

Mr. 239 laughed, his voice echoing slightly. "We should build a house for just you and me! And we can have friends over!"

"New friends? Oh, Mr. 57 would've loved that." Mr. 114 says, not sorrowfully though. The memories of Mr. 57 didn't seem too painful anymore.

"Yeah…" Mr. 239 sighs as they walk down an empty passage, not noticing the lack of signs signaling humans. "I think there is a pond there, I saw it in one of those dreams… like a little ocean."

"I like ponds too, I think." Mr. 114 mumbles, amused and happy at these thoughts.

And just when Mr. 239 opened his mouth to make another comment about the village, he stops. His heart skips a beat, his eyes widening once again as Mr. 114 sees what he sees.

The exit of the tunnel. Warm sunlight was pouring into the dark cave, the sand from outside wandering in, and the sound of waves.

The world without humans.

A/N: Whoo! They got past another obstacle! They are almost there! Ooooh I'm excited! But unfortunately there are only two chapters left. And next one is pretty, uh, eventful? Yes, eventful. Don't want to give anything away though. But wasn't this chapter nice and calm for a change? Hmm. Pleasant. Once again I'm sorry about how long this story has been to write, can you believe it's been a year! But it's almost over, and the next update will be very soon. Please leave a review, they keep me going!