Sabie: Okay, I came up with this chapter around the same time as 5, so I won't be replying to reviews. Hope you like!
Stella: Grrr...
Sabie: Oh yeah, Stella wants me to assure you that there was a reason to kill her off, and I'm not kicking her out simply because I don't like her. I like all the characters I come up with.
I do not own Skies of Arcadia. I do have a copy of SoA Legends, though!
Still in shock, Mila's eyes were fixed to the spot where Stella had fallen overboard. Puddles of blood slowly cooled on the ship's deck, one last memory of her dear friend. Forgetting about Blade, who clutched his frozen arm with shock and pain on his face, Mila finally released her tears. Loud sobs echoed through the eye of the Dark Rift, almost as loud as the wind howling around her.
"She... She's gone! She died, and I couldn't do anything!" Mila cried, the image of Stella's last breath fixed in her mind.
How does it feel... You disgusting snake?
Looking up, Mila quickly loaded her rifle for when Stella's killer came for her. But she was shocked when, instead of the sight of the bone-coloured blade, she saw that Blade had fallen to his knees, fighting tears of pain. She stepped back, prepared in case it was a trick.
But the Gigas continued to kneel, nursing his immobile right arm.
"What... What is this? I... Don't understand... What did she do to me?"
"It's called pain." Mila said coldly. "And I must say, it's less than you deserve, after what you've done."
"I... I cannot be wounded!" Blade said with anguish, as Mila realized he was revealing his emotions. "I was to destroy all life... To serve my masters, I could not be wounded! How could she do this?"
"Four years ago, did you destroy a small island near this rift and attack Stella?"
"...Yes..."
"You didn't kill her, but you know that. And I bet she was the only one you didn't kill right away. She spent four years hating you and hunting you down, do you realize that?" Mila shouted in fury. "YOU TOOK THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF HER LIFE, AND NOW YOU'VE TAKEN THE REST OF IT AWAY!"
Blade did not reply, instead staring at the bloodstains soaking into the wood.
"Hate... I've never seen one die like that," He stated in disbelief. "Fear, pain, I understand, but... Hatred... I know that it is something you Arcadians do, that is supposed to be wrong, but... I caused her hatred... Her fear and pain..." He looked up, and Mila realized that his white eyes had filled with tears.
"Am I... Wrong?"
Mila was shocked once again. She had just seen this... Creature kill her friend in cold blood, and no matter how long they were together, it had been horrifying. But now... Despite everything, she found herself crouching beside him, one arm around his shoulder comfortingly.
Confused, Blade looked up at Mila. "What... what are you doing?"
"I don't really know." Was the reply. "I was all ready to get revenge, but... you didn't even recognize pain or fear..." Mila bravely gave a small smile. "I guess I'm pretty soft hearted... I saw Stella when she... died... She looked like all her pain was gone. In that moment, I saw the face of the person who saved me... She was at peace."
Blade simply looked at her, speechless. Could humans really be so diverse? How could she be so calm in the face of a killer? He had never realized the extent of his actions...
"But then, you never knew what you were doing, right?" Mila stated hesitantly. "You're... almost like a child in that extent..."
There was a long pause as the ship rested in the heart of the rift. Blade looked like he was in even more pain, as he tried to understand these new emotions. Finally, he asked;
"Could you please... Smile again?"
Mila was taken back for a few moments, then replied in a small, sweet smile. "You are human after all. There's no other reason..."
Realizing his request, Blade looked down, ashamed. But his eyes kept glancing towards Mila's understanding face.
"Is... Is all of Arcadia... As beautiful?"
As soon as those words passed his lips, the storms that formed the Dark Rift came towards the ship, surrounding it. Blade quickly jumped back onto the black moonstone, a black aura surrounding his body. Startled by the sudden movement, Mila fired a shot wildly and fell back onto the deck. She heard Blade's voice cry out, "LEAVE!" And then the clouds surrounded her, pushing the Divine Wanderer away from the eye of the storm. Before she passed out, she saw a large black serpent fly down into Deep Sky, half of it's body frozen...
When Mila opened her eyes again, she was lying on the deck of the ship. Somehow, she was out of the Dark Rift, though the Divine Wanderer had crashed onto one of the larger rocks. Standing up, she saw that she was shaken, but uninjured. Looking at her ship, she felt tears come to her eyes one again...
Stella... I'm sorry... I couldn't save you, and I just stood there and let him get away...
Turning away from the rift, she could see the lights of a small ship in the distance, coming towards her. It had apparently seen something fly out of the rift, and was coming to investigate.
But still... Why didn't he kill me as well?
Quickly finding the flare guns, she fired a shot to show her position.
He asked if he was wrong... He asked me to smile...
The ship turned towards her, slowly becoming clearer as it got close.
You're human, Blade, I know it. The Gigas may be monsters and weapons, but you are a Gigas with a soul...
"By the moons... What happened to him?"
"I was able to replay the scene from his memory. The first girl froze his arm, and when the other one fired, that same arm was hit."
"He was struck twice? And that shot shattered his entire forearm... This is not the result I expected. Care to explain how two young women defeated our greatest weapon, the black Gigas?"
"Sir... Both girls had abnormally high energy levels for Arcadians, even if they were from the old world. He still overpowers them, but their energy is on the same level as Blade's..."
"So that ancient legend is starting to come true, is it? How long until the regeneration is complete?"
"It's currently on schedule and will be completed in five days, sir."
"Good. While you're at it, erase his memory starting from when the first girl struck. We don't want that doubt affecting his performance."
"Yes, sir. The memory wipe will start once his nerves are repaired."
The conversation ended, leaving Blade alone with his thoughts.
I was defeated... But I have always destroyed before, and was unharmed... I had never attacked a victim who fought back before...
That girl... She was called Mila... She told me that it was through hatred... Hatred I caused...
But she was not alone... There must have been hundreds, friends and family of my prey who felt that same hatred...
Could my destruction really cause that much pain? The same pain that I felt, fighting her...
Could my purpose... not be the honor I believed it to be?
But... I must destroy. It is my reason to exist. If it is truly wrong, what is left for me?
Maybe...
Maybe... She can show me...
She saw me kill, yet she showed me pity... Showed me kindness... Is she safe? Will we meet again?
Mila... Her smile...
"Sir... could it have been a mistake, giving him a human form? He has improved greatly on assignments, of course, but... Could he now have fully developed free will?"
"...Even if he has, it is not your concern. I have decided not to have his memory wiped after all. Instead, run more simulations for him."
"But sir...!"
"If he truly has free will, then we will force it out. He has felt pain, so now he should have the ability to avoid it. We need that experience to teach him to become faster, and advance his abilities even further."
"...Yes, sir."
"As soon as the regeneration is complete, make him transform and send him to Nasrad. If he does not see the faces of his victims, they will not affect him."
I... I want to see her again. See her smile...
I want to see her beauty, and the beauty of Arcadia.
A few days later, Mila had arrived at the Nasrad port. She looked around slowly, still lamenting over Stella's death.
She's gone... And I'm the only one who knows. No one else realizes that he... Blade... will attack someday...
She needed a drink. Not loqua, she didn't want to forget. She couldn't, not if she wanted to honor Stella. Tea would be just fine, there were some excellent blends coming from the east nowadays. Still sober from those past events, she wandered into the nearest tavern.
"Good evening, Ma'm... Wait, you were with Miss Stella a few weeks ago, weren't you?"
"Yeah, my name's Mila. And you are..."
"Tuyin, and I'm very glad to serve you. Our specials are..."
"I just want a cup of tea. Any Yafutoman blend will do. And I guess a small kabal skewer, as well."
"Alright. I'll be back shortly with your tea, we just started to make some before you arrived." Tuyin gave a small bow, then walked towards the kitchen.
Mila headed towards the first unoccupied table she saw and fell onto a seat. Looking up in depression and boredom, she realized that this was the same table where she had once argued with Stella.
Tears sprang to her eyes once more, as if they were soldiers under command. Laying her head on the table, she sobbed quietly, not wanting to disturb the other customers. She only looked up when someone placed a cup of tea in front of her.
"Incidentaly..." Tuyin started, "I don't mean to upset you, but... Where is Miss Stella?"
Uhn...
Where... Where am I?
I remember... A storm... Pain...
And... there were wings... Silver wings...
Was it all a dream?
"Are you alright?"
The girl opened her eyes slowly, groaning softly as she stretched. "Um... yes, I think so..."
"Thank goodness! We found you a few days ago, and you had a terrible fever. I gave you some medicine, I think it worked..."
As the girl rose, the speaker came into view. He was tall and slightly musular, with medium-lengh blue hair. His chest was bare except for a red sash, and he wore long navy pants. As he came into the room, the girl realized that he had pointed ears and large, silver wings.
"I had just left to get some water... You are in the village of Tirisp. My name is Zephyr."
As he spoke, the girl struggled to keep the fleeting memories in her head, but they quickly drifted away. Looking up, she glanced into a small mirror on the wall. A young woman's face, around 16, looked back at her. She saw that she had long, red hair, part of it covering her face.
So... That's what I look like, right? She thought as she pulled her hair back. But it's strange... She said as she felt the smooth skin on the left side of her face.
I feel like... something's missing...
"As this village's protector," Zephyr said, "I am happy to welcome you to our home. What is your name?"
The girl perked up suddenly. All memories of events before she woke up were gone, but she could still remember her name...
"Stella. My name is... Stella."
Sabie: And that's the end of chapter 6! Now excuse me while I plan the layout for the next few chapters. And if anyone's reading this story, kindly press the pretty silver button and REVIEW! I've only got two people right now, and like, 6 or 7 people who review my other SoA fic! Pleeeeeeeeease review!