Stormy Weather

The team left the ghost village and walked back down the path. By the time they returned to the picnic area, they found a welcome sight. Sister Romaine had smartly begun constructing simple bridges over the chasms. Also, they would later find out, she was preparing to get some stronger stone bridges built. That way, travelers would no longer be inconvenienced. But in the meantime, rope and wood worked miracles. Since he was carrying his daughter on his shoulders, Croix felt relieved; it wouldn't be a restless night for her after all. They returned right to the church and he and Prier put Angelique to sleep.

"I just can't believe it," Prier remarked once they were alone, "I mean, finding out all of this information about my mother, sister, and past seems so surreal. I always thought I knew who I was. In the end, the reason I forgot must have been because I refused to cry anymore for the family I'd lost. Sorry that you got such a headache; I would too if I found out that I was dating my former lover's niece."

"Not an issue at all Prier. Before I thought I was dating someone over two hundred years my junior; if you count the time I was the Dark Prince as my lifespan despite I was unconscious. Now, you're only a generation back; 'bout nineteen years. And since technically I didn't age while consumed by the Darkness within my heart and you didn't age while in the barrier, we're only four years apart. So let's ignore all of the information we found out and continue as if nothing ever happened here," Croix replied.

Prier blushed and whispered, "Thank you Croix." She hated feeling so vulnerable. But when she and he were alone, that was just what came over her. It was a longing to be held close in his arms; to feel love from a man. Though a simple fact of human nature, it scared Prier. She didn't want to be seen as anything but the strong woman she made herself out to be. However, all of her strength came from the issues of the past. From her youngest days, the girl had lived with trials and tribulations to fight with.

Since she was born with Holy powers and her sister with Dark ones, Prier had been forced to become the center spotlight. In those days, Dark powers were frowned upon and some extremists would kill them before they could become evil. Now, with a better understanding, those with Dark powers could head to any church of Poitreene for aid in controlling or guarding against losing control. But Soeur had feared for Dominique's life every day; being one of Holy powers herself, it was hard to conceive that her child might be the opposite. However, if everyone paid attention to Angelique's Holy abilities, nobody would notice. Then came the destruction of the town—Prier vowed that if she ever saw Calamity she would have double the reason to wring her neck now…once for Croix and once for her mother—and her sister going missing. After that was the death of her foster parents and then all of the crap that went on four years ago. In only twenty years, Prier had seen more death and destruction than most other people.

A second later, a tap on the shoulder by Croix drove her back to reality. "Now that we're alone at last…there's something I want to give you. Close your eyes and hold out your left hand." She did just that. After a few tense seconds of waiting, Croix's hand encircled hers and slipped something on the fourth finger. Opening her eyes, she could see it was a beautiful ring; the band topped with a golden cross with a diamond in the center that was shaped like praying hands. "Prier…will you marry me?"

"Croix!" she exclaimed, "Of course I will! I've been waiting four years for this!" Against her usual instincts, Prier found herself jumping into Croix's arms; he held her close to his body with a smile on his face. Then, they kissed one another passionately; every trouble melting away in that one moment in time. Of course, a moment later, Angelique and Culotte came out of their rooms and began staring.

"Your turn to explain! I was the one who had to tell everyone I was pregnant with Angie," Prier demanded. Croix, not wanting to ruin this perfect evening by getting her ticked off, explained how he'd proposed. Culotte muttered something to the effect of, "You don't have to be so loud about it though."

Angie, looking quite confused, inquired, "Mommy…what does Daddy mean by 'proposed?'"

S...S

In a foreboding castle in the Dark World, an angry looking woman burst into the chambers of Lady Sang. She had long sky blue hair that fell past her knees and red eyes. Her ears were pointed and her nails like claws. The woman had on a blue bodysuit with sapphire studded armor; similar to a light blue motif of Javelot's clothing. On her back she had strapped a spear with a long pole and a sapphire imbedded in the blade. "Lady Sang! Javelot has been cooped up in her room since she returned! Why did you send my daughter to the battlefield like that? Tonnerre and I know she is way too young for it."

"It is your fault for keeping her child like Ciel," commented Sang, "She is twenty years of age by human standards; that's plenty of time for her to have grown into an adult Demoness. But you only want to play 'Mother' to the warrior. Her potential is great; is that not why you enlisted her in the first place? You know she is not your daughter by blood yet won't tell her. Shielding her does no good in any case."

"She may not be our blood child, but Javelot means the world to Tonnerre and I. Nobody is going to take her away from us; not her real family and not you! Next time, send one of us. We will gladly go and bring back Prier Dark Slayer's mutilated corpse for whatever reason you wish it. But I am warning you…if my daughter gets hurt out there, you will not want me as your enemy Lady Sang," she yelled.

Ciel then turned on her heels and left the receiving hall; slamming the door in a huff. Sang watched her go and smiled. She then thought, 'You are a fool Ciel. I only tolerated your little plan because of that girl's strength. If not for that, she could have died of starvation. Besides, you do not know the things I do about the situation. I wonder…what will happen when the girls fight for real?'

S...S

Ciel sighed as she returned to her chambers. Looking in the room, she saw her daughter had finally cried herself to sleep; one weakness they could never seem to beat out of her. 'I wish it weren't like this. If only the Dark Slayer hadn't defeated the Dark Prince. Sang wouldn't be all up in a tizzy if her little crush was still on our side. She can't understand that he was only a human possessed; one much like my little Javelot. His loyalty to our cause could only be maintained as long as we were there to keep him strong. I will not detach Javelot from her dependence on me and Tonnerre; that is the time when she will recover her true self. She is my daughter now! If I die to do so I will assure her loyalty to me!'

"Still worried Ciel?" inquired a male voice, "Do not think on it. I will keep watch every time our lady does a foolish thing. If ever something goes wrong…her head will roll. Then you and I can take this castle for our own; it would make a fine place to raise a daughter." Turning, she saw a man in clothing like hers; however his was a yellow and topaz motif. His hair was blond and spiked up and his eyes were red. Like Ciel, his ears were pointed. Between the two of them, he appeared to be the calmer Demon.

"I'm sorry Tonnerre. I can't bear to think about what would happen if she found out," Ciel said.

Tonnerre held her close and whispered, "Then we will make doubly sure that she won't…"

Teefa's Last Words...

We need the drama to bring in suspense. Now that Angelique's suspicions about Javelot have been confirmed, what will happen? Will Prier and Croix ever get time alone? And come to think about it, with all that's been going on, how will they ever find time to get married? Tonnerre means Lightning and Ciel means sky. It will show when they battle...eventually. They don't fight the gang until they have a reason to do so.

And guess what I found out some time after posting the last chapter? My big plot twist actually is similar to something that happened to Homard's parents. His dad, Cello,and great-grandmother,Cherie,were friends/childhood sweethearts and were seperated during a time traveling incident (which I don't know the details of why or how). She was adopted by the puppet maker Mustaki, married his son Marious/Marius, had Cornet who grew up to marry Ferdinand and have Kururu (Homard's mom). Then he came out of the time shift and met her. So I'm not the only one with strange connections and time problems running through my brain!

I do also have a significant other planned for Culotte; the idea of who came to me when I was bantering with Sky.