The One

Croix was cradling his young daughter in his arms; tending to her injuries with the herbs he carried in his pack. Prier in the meanwhile was applying the same treatment to Culotte; after all, if they got their healer up and running they could easily protect the others. Soon, just as she began to hear her brother moan, Angelique let out a small cry. In her excitement, Prier dropped Culotte, who woke up with a start, and ran right over to her beloved and their child. She was going to be just fine after the battle.

"Daddy…Mommy…" she whispered, "I'm glad to see that you're ok too. And that we're all one family now. I trust you; the Demons were lying when they said you were one of them. There's no aura of evil emitting from your body; not a Demonic one and not one of wild Dark Energy. You're a human being."

"Angelique…I'm so sorry…sorry I couldn't be there for you and your mother," replied Croix. The child showed him her brightest smile; the same beautiful one he had seen on Prier's face at so many times during their adventures, the same beacon that had given him the strength to free his tortured soul.

Angie told him, "You don't have to apologize. I can see that your heart was and still is filled with grief. Mommy said that you lost someone really dear to you and it drove you to despair. You now feel regret for the things you did following it. But I cannot sense what exactly caused that pain; what you did."

Prier looked towards the child. Then she looked to Croix. It was time to tell her the full truth about her origins and her father's past. "I know I have kept a lot from you Angelique. But I didn't want you to hate your father before even meeting him. Now that the Demons are advancing and you know that your father is a good man, I must explain everything. It all started 200 years ago; in the days when those who followed Poitreene's teachings were hunted as witches and an ancient land rang with corruption…"

S...S

As Prier told her daughter the sad story of Croix's past and the world's greatest threat, Culotte worked to heal the others; still a little mad at Prier for dropping him but letting it slide because he wasn't one to hold a grudge. Angelique hung onto every word; the tears flowing freely when her namesake was murdered, when her mother and father were forced apart when he transformed, and when Croix left.

"I understand it all now," she whispered, "Why they always called me Child of the Dark Prince and Spawn of Darkness. They must have thought Daddy was a Demon who fell in love with humanity. But there's a difference between a human possessed by Darkness and a Demon; they have a different feel."

"I sensed that too. When we faced a half-Demon like Noir, there was one type of feeling. A full Demon like those three bigger lords, a different. And Croix gave off a third type of feeling when we faced him at the church, as well as the time on the hill or in Couscous Village. Professional hunters can figure it out. But the Demons probably just assume every being that has Darkness in their hearts is one of them," Culotte explained. Meanwhile, Francoise gasped at the truth they'd just found out. She had always been told that the Dark Prince had been killed by Prier; well, she understood that technically that was the truth.

Noticing Francoise's expression, Culotte told her, "You have to understand my sister. She fell in love and well when you're in love you do strange things. Not only that, but the Holy Book itself says that we're to try and help even the worst of sinners to repent. Prier did just that; just what the Goddess tells us to do. She even had the blessing of the Maiden of Light; also understanding how my sister really felt."

Francoise looked away. "It's just so hard to take in. I mean, I lost several good friends when the Demons made their attack on Mayonnaise Harbor to lure you away from Sister Alouette. And then the Church itself was nearly destroyed by the Dark Prince. Now you're all telling me that I can trust him!"

"You can," Jacques told her, "It took me a little while to realize it, but Croix was the one who pulled me out of the river two years ago. I could tell his heart was heavy with some burden from the moment I saw him. Never expected this, but I do understand a little bit about the nature of the human soul; my father is a scholar. You see, in moments of pain and anguish, most everyone screams out the cruelest things; things they wish they could take back only a second later. Someone with naturally Dark powers screaming those things out might cause them to go berserk. Croix's anger was probably so bad that his powers were magnified a lot more than the average berserker. Thus Calamity arrived to assure he would never become human again. Lucky for us, the late Sister Alouette was quite resourceful."

"There's one thing that still bugs me though. The Demons want Angelique because she is the daughter of the Dark Prince. But they can't sense her to be a half-Demon; just that she has incredible powers. If there are no Demonic tendencies in her soul…why would she want to harm us?" Francoise asked everyone. Nobody had an answer though. Prier simply scoffed and said she'd kick the ass of any Demon that tried to take her daughter away; Croix followed up with a nod. Culotte mentioned that he could ask Éclair or Homard to check out their families' extensive libraries. Jacques simply shrugged.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, "The answer is right in front of your eyes; it's just hiding itself inside the information you already know. If one man can be driven to Darkness through his powers and despair, why can't they do the same thing with his child; also possessing incredible powers? All the Demons think is needed is to eliminate the Light half of her power and to unleash her Dark Side fully."

Prier snapped her head around to see two Angels in the back of the room; two very familiar looking Angels I might add. "Alouette! Angelique! What are you two doing here? Get jobs as Guardian Angels or something?" Culotte blushed at the sight of his childhood crush, Francois looked like she had more excitement then she could handle, Jacques looked indifferent, and Croix clutched his daughter.

"Well, yes and no," Alouette stated, "Simply put it, we're watching out for her because I know she is probably just like you; always getting herself into trouble whether or not it's through a fault of her own. But the Demons have tried once through her dreams to unleash her Dark Side. It was lucky that we caught them in time and were able to pull her Light Side into Defense mode; balancing her body again."

"I remember! You two were the Angels who helped me that time. I woke up from the nightmare so afraid that I didn't want to tell Mommy about it. But I do remember that there were two nice Angels floating up above me; shielding me from harm. How can I keep myself in balance anyway? They could try the same thing again and if you can't find out in time…I can't unleash it on my own," Angie lamented.

She looked up to see the brown-haired Angel, the one whose name she had inherited, walk forward and put her hand on the child's shoulder. Then, she stated, "It's been sleeping within you this entire time. However, to unleash your full power and protect yourself from Demon influence, you will need to find and unite the two halves of yourself. But it's very dangerous and you should ask your parents first before you try anything. For nobody can come with you into your heart to help you fight."

Prier looked to Croix; she wanted her daughter to be protected but feared for her life at the same time. He nodded. "If it worked for Éclair, it can work for our daughter. She's a strong girl and I believe in her power. I'm confident that she can make it through this without any scratches on her whatsoever."

"Then I believe in her too," Prier said, "Angelique…Alouette…we leave her to you for now."

The two Angels concentrated and suddenly the young girl began glowing with a bright light. She let out a small cry before collapsing on the floor. But she was most definitely breathing. Since she was inside of her own heart to search for her two halves, she was definitely not looking through the real world.

Teefa's Last Words...

Kind of a last minute idea, but I think on the fly and it suits me well. Next time, Angie must look for the esccences ofher Light and Dark powers. She has to convince them to work together to protect them all from the Demons.