Brilliance, a Legend of Mana Story

Chapter Fourteen -Just Because-

"Forgive me ..." Emeralda whimpered, bowing her head before the statue of the Mana Goddess. The church was mostly burnt out, as was much of Domina since the Nanten began sacking every home and building they came across. "I couldn't stop ... I wanted to help them, but I ..." her chest tightened, and she couldn't say the last word. I ran away.

I killed them with my cowardice. Riven will ... no. It doesn't matter if Riven will love me, because I don't deserve it.

Rubens stayed off to one side, watching her back, while trying to remain inconspicuous. He didn't want to intrude, but the longer and louder she sobbed, the more danger they were in. He'd overheard the mercenaries talking about being given a retreat order, but many of them were still in the towns and cities. And at least one was still hunting the Jumi.

He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen it, but after taking refuge in the Mekiv Caverns with several others, he'd gone to scout ahead. When the screaming started, he was too far away to help anyone.

Sandra had come. He had no idea how she'd managed it, but she'd cut through the Jumi with a fury. All that was left of some were their ashes. It was not her style, but it was her he'd seen stalking away, tucking the cores into a bag at her hip. What was she after? What could possibly have driven her so far?

One of the few still-standing hunks of wall crumbled nearby, and both Jumi jumped. Rubens lifted the stick he'd procured, wishing to the Goddess he had a sword. The wall was hollowed out where it had broken, and out fell a large ... cabbage?

Emeralda shrieked, before slapping her hands over her mouth loudly. Rubens lowered his makeshift-weapon, and approached the ... lettuce?

The Sproutling leapt up, dusting itself off, and glanced back and forth between the two Jumi, seeming to consider them carefully before saying "You can change the world with your imagination! Did you know that?"

Rubens studied it thoughtfully, before lifting his stick. "I'm going to kill it."

"No!" Emeralda gasped, grabbing the club away from him. "You can't He's harmless!"

"That thing will -"

He caught the echo of footsteps running up the path, and grabbed Emeralda, dragging her behind the wall where the Sproutling had hidden.

"That noise came from in here!" someone yelled. Glass crunched underfoot as they entered, and both stopped abruptly, speaking one word at the same time. "What?"

"We don't have souls you know." The Sproutling announced.

"... This thing is freaking me out," one of the soldiers said quietly.

"Let's ah ... let's back away slowly."

"Good idea - its coming right for us!"

"RUN AWAY!" Both men yelled, fleeing the building. Rubens stuck his head out, making certain they were gone before stepping out. When Emeralda emerged, she picked up the Sproutling and spun it around before placing a kiss on the end of its nose. "You saved us!" She smirked at Rubens. "And you wanted to kill him."

The Sproutling wandered off, blushing. Rubens shrugged. "What now?"

Emeralda folded her arms, staring out at the darkening sky. "Maybe ... Maybe we should go try and get some help."

"We tried that. Our city ended up getting destroyed, remember?"

She whirled on him, fists clutching her core as it flashed violently. "That wasn't the fault of the people that helped us!" Her eyes were filled with tears and something else ... something dangerous, daring him to say different. He lifted his hands in defeat.

"Who should we ask then?"

She frowned, lowering her gaze. "I ... I don't know." Turning away, he noticed her shivering. "I just don't know."

Rubens removed his scarf, and wrapped it around her shoulders before she could protest. "About the only person I know that could fight them is Riven."

Emeralda shook her head. "I can't face him. Not yet."

Deciding it would be better not to question, he continued. "Then maybe we should go somewhere. Somewhere where neither Sandra or the Nanten can't find us."

She looked at him, confused. "Where?"

He smiled. "The sea. We'll get on the Penguins ship when it makes berth."

She nodded. "I'll have to ... send a message to someone ... eventually." Fresh tears made her eyes sparkle brilliant green again. "I wish ... I wish I wasn't so cowardly."

Rubens had nothing to say to that, so he just put his arms around her, held her close, and made plans to get to Polpota Harbor.

Towards the back of the burned out church, the Sproutling said gravely "Stay away from the grave in Garinham."

In Rosiotti's jungle, Nuance lifted a large crate easily, pulling it off the Chocobo cart and setting it onto Rosiotti's throne. She gave her comrade the 'ok' symbol, and he reported to Godhand.

"Fantastic, Pierce." Godhand smiled, lifting his hands, and turning in a circle. "Can you imagine it, sorcerer? Its here. The Mana Fortress is here, somewhere."

"I couldn't possibly imagine," Pierce said sulkily. "This forest is too small to house the Fortress of legend."

Godhand shook his head. "Mages. You're too cynical. Its here, somewhere, or else my hands would not be so filled with energy." He held two fingers close, as though to pinch something out of the air, and energy crackled between them like electricity. "So much power here, hidden underneath that fat old Wisdom's ass."

"I need to get back to the children. I want the power latent within them."

Godhand turned, finally broken out of his amusement. He lifted a hand, and Pierce fell to his knees. "Speak truth, or my power will tear you apart. Why do you want the children?"

"I ... wish to use their power ..." he gasped, clutching at his chest. "I planned ... to kill you ... and steal your hands ...!"

"Oh, is that all." Godhand laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the forest. "I thought you were molesting them!" He clapped Pierce on his back, sending him sprawling.

"You ... you're not ... angry?" Pierce asked, stunned.

The Nanten's leader shook his head. "Hardly. you're not the first to plan my death. Vandal been plotting against me for years. Sable tries almost every week." He laughed again. "Besides, right now, I'm too happy. Go play with your toys. I'll fight you when you wish, on your terms. I have no fear of your magics."

Pierce got up and stumbled away. Nuance approached Godhand carefully, keeping two yards of distance between them at all times. He blinked, distracted from his reverie again. "What do you want?"

She gestured at the sky, the massive shadow descending from above the clouds. "That's Lucemia. Nothing to worry about, Kana has it under control." Nuance pointed again, this time at the bushes on the far side of the clearing. Godhand frowned, glancing up, and then where she was pointing. "This would work much better if you could speak."

There was a loud snap, and then a tree flew towards them, spinning like a boomerang. nuance leapt over it nimbly, and Godhand lifted a hand. The tree broke in two after striking his palm, the two ends spinning off in opposite directions into the jungle. Godhand lowered his hand, and scowled. "Oh. You meant Lucemia's master was in the bushes."

Irwin burst out of the brush, landing on all fours, growling. "Where is she?!"

Godhand glanced up, seeing Nuance perched in a nearby tree, watching impassively. Or at least, he thought she was impassive, The mask left much to the imagination. "I'm afraid my friend, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Matilda!" Irwin snarled. "I tracked her here. What have you done with her?!"

"The Wisdom?" Godhand smirked. "I see. The demon has a crush. How cute. Well, I regret to inform you that Matilda, like your Lucemia, is mine now." He lifted his hands and cracked his knuckles threateningly. "Unless of course, you'd like to take her from me?"

EDITOR'S NOTE: The "Grave in Garinham" thing is a joke. You won't be seeing any locales or characters from Dragon Warrior in this fic. I added it "Just Because": Sproutlings say random, bizarre things, and I thought it was funny. =P