Disclaimer: I don't own Pretear.
Alara, Sasame, Mannen, Hajime, and Shin waited in line for their ice cream at the park. When Alara got up to the counter, she looked at the three small boys surrounding her. "What do you guys want?" "Strawberry!" "Chocolate!" "Vanilla!" Alara blinked. "Well, that was suprisingly easy." She looked at the man behind the counter. "I'd like two strawberry cones, one vanilla cone, and one chocolate cone, please." The man filled the order and she handed him the money, then handed the three smallest Leafe Knights their ice cream. They immediatly ran off with their treasure, but Alara stood off to one side with her own strawberry cone and waited for Sasame. Once he'd gotten his own treat, they slowly walked over to a bench and sat down where they could easily see the children.
"So, you...wanted to talk to me about something?" Alara asked after a moment. "I'd just like to know more about you." Sasame said quietly. Alara paused in licking her cone for a moment. "Such as?" "Well, how old are you for one thing?" Alara visibly hesitated. Sasame lowered his voice. "It's all right. There's nothing you can say that will shock me. I'm just here to help you. And protect you, of course." "What if I told you that I'm only fifteen years old?" Sasame blanched, but thankfully Alara didn't notice this. 'Is she really that young?' he thought to himself. 'She's younger than Himeno was when she first became the Pretear. I mean, only by a year, but still...' Ignoring these thoughts, but logging them away for later, Sasame said, "Really? Where did you come from?" Alara still refused to look at him, but he could hear a slight increase in the pitch of her voice as she said, "No where." He looked at her, but her brown hair fell in front of her face, hiding it from his view. "Wha-" Before he could finish his sentence, Alara dropped her cone, wrapped her arms around herself and threw up her head. Her eyes widened, and she whispered, "Demon Larvae."
A split second later, Sasame, too, heard a rumbling that signified the definate appearence of a demon larvae. The rumbling grew louder, and the earth in front of them split. Out of the huge crack came a gigantic, caterpillar-like larvae came out of the ground. It reared its ugly head, sending chunks of dirt flying. Sasame dove over Alara, knocking them both to the ground. Quickly, they scrambled to their feet. A large leg shot at Alara, but an ice crystal cut it in two before it could touch her. She looked up, yelling, "Mannen!" The Knight of Ice gave her a thumbs up before flying to assist Hajime, who had just gotten caught by another leg. "Alara! Sasame, are you alright?" Alara looked up as Kei, in his Knight unifom, flew above them."Yes, Kei, we're fine. Help them." Alara called. Hayate wasn't far behind him, so Alara called, "Shin, put up the barrier!" The necklace around little Shin's neck glowed and lifted of his chest. "Beyondios!" he said aloud, and a cage of vines grew up around the Leafe Knights, the Pretear, and the Demon Larvae.
"Alara, pret with me!" Sasame called. Her hand was an inch from his when they were both knocked off their feet five feet away from each other. They tried again, but once again, they were knocked away. This time, Alara's side was struck by the pointed tip of the leg, leaving a shallow cut in her side. "Alara!" yelled Hayate. " I'm fine!" she yelled back. "Watch out!" But her cry came too late. Hayate was knocked out of the air. Thankfully, he landed right next to Alara. She bent down to help him. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Yeah." Alara held out her right hand. "Pret with me Hayate." He placed his right hand in hers, and his body became a glowing blue sphere that melted into her own. A flash of blue light, and once again Alara was the Wind Pretear. 'Can you see the core?' she heard from inside her head. "Hang on... there!" she said. "Wind Sword!" The gleaming blue sword appeared in her hands, and she dove at the core, but had to dodge when a leg came swinging straight at her. She didn't see the other leg come from behind. All she heard was Hayate's pained cry. "Hayate!" she cried. Inside her head, she heard, ' I'm fine. Just destroy it!' With a yell, Alara dove and shattered the eye-like core. The demon larvae gave a final shriek, then shattered into dust.
The Knights landed, and Alara unpreted with Hayate. He fell to his knees. She fell to hers and grabbed his shoulder. "Are you all right?" "I'll live." he replied, and she sighed with relief. "Good." Alara stood, but quickly came down to one knee again, gripping her side. Sasame caught her before she hit the ground, and turned her over in his arms, wincing when he saw the ugly gash in her side. Mannen, Shin, and Hajime ran up to her. "Is she okay?" asked Hajime, worry evident on his young face. Shin began to cry. Kei bent down to pick him up. "She'll be alright. We have to get her back to the house, though."
Sasame picked her up in his arms and lifted into the air. "Sa-Sasame?" hearing Alara's voice from his arms, the Knight of Sound looked at the girl in his arms. "How did I do?" she asked softly, her amber eyes cracked open the merest of an inch. Sasame smiled down at her. "You did wonderful." he said softly. "Thank you." she whispered, then unconciousness dragged her into it's peaceful darkened depths.
Later...
Sasame closed the door to Alara's room and turned to walk down the stairs to the kitchen. The other knights were already there, waiting for him. "She's resting." he said as he walked into the room. "The gash wasn't that deep, but it was sufficient. She'll be okay with some sleep." He turned to the Knights of Ice, Water, and Plants. "Why don't you go and pick her some flowers to help her feel better." The three young boys ran out eagerly.
"What is it you want to tell us, Sasame?" asked Hayate, not beating around the bush. Sasame sighed and sat down in a chair at the table. "I talked to her today, before the demon larvae came." he said quietly. "And?" asked Kei. Sasame looked at them all with eyes that were slightly sad, slightly admirable. "Did you know that she's only fifteen years old?" Kei's eyebrows shot up. Goh said, "What?" Hayate frowned. "Fifteen? She's even younger than Himeno was." "I know." Sasame said quietly. "But did you see how well she defeated that demon larvae? It was like she'd been Pretear for years."
Goh began to pace. "How is that possible?" Hayate looked up the stairwell to her bedroom door, which he could just see from his place at the table. "I don't know." he heard Sasame say. 'But I will find out.'the Wind Knight thought.
Mailbag:
Morbis Fascination- thank you for your review. I've already relayed the answer back, but please review again soon! and plese enjoy!
Ryuujin Dragon King- thanks so much for your review! thank you for the proper way to spell mawatta, i don't know what i was thinking. and yes, there will be more alara/hayate stuff...i think. and whether she'll get him...i will not spoil! hehe! guess you'll have to keep reading and reviewing!