The Court Case

Disclaimer: By now, it should be pretty obvious I don't own ToS…sighs but I don't…I do have ownership of the Redjewels, the LaHearts, Lanztblu, and some other people. I spelled people wrong, and I saw some other word, so I clicked on it. It was epopee, which is an epic poem, which I don't own any of yet, unless you count Singe's entries, one which will be coming up…

A/N: WHY is the elder an ass? During that whole time, he didn't even listen to the people at all, and the judge for the court case of Sheena better not be like that…But again, I do like writing Singe's entries. Before, her importance was greatly reduced, she was to be a bit like Sardnyox in that regard, speaking only when need be. But no, she got a weapon-changing-thing, and is a writer, and she has more of a detailed past! She became bigger than I thought, I definitely must use her again. I think when the main character journeys are over, and when Fight for the Mana Tree begins and ends, I will write other things concerning the OCs. Efil is definitely going to be a surprise, he won't be introduced until much later. It's pronounced Eee-fill, by the way. You know, I am really glad if even one person reads my stories. It's fulfilling! But anyway on the OC stories, they will be about the daily lives most likely, introducing them to people who haven't seen them otherwise, so it'll be easy to understand them. Raine's Anatomy is also becoming something I want to write more and more, she just seems right for the part. But finally, here is the story…

Chapter 18: Voyage to Goldes

After all the years I've been gone…

Tahjra has changed so much, along with Kahlijdima.

It makes me wonder how many memories I missed, to fulfill my own selfish dreams.

Birthdays, parties, formal occasions…they all seem of such small value, but when I think of it…

The moments I enjoy in my life are wrong.

I'm enjoying the fact that I'm fulfilling my dreams, but I am without my family, and my love…

Do I have the right to keep on living?

It may not be my choice to decide…

Flaren has grown up, becoming the leader she always wished to be.

Scorch has also matured, he's even found someone


And Embre, don't get me started…Heh.

But…it seems I missed eleven years of what counted.

But I also must keep moving forward, even if it requires a loss…

I am doing this for my family, I cannot let them get involved with danger.

Though everywhere I go, that word is not soon to follow.

I'm wondering, what did I do wrong? Or Have I not done something yet that's right…

The more I think of it, the more confused I am…

But I have my whole life ahead of me, and I will find the answers.

Singe sighed as she finished another entry, the book was filled up. There were about four pages left, not including the inside of the back cover. But she decided to focus on the main thing, the banishment. Saphfyre didn't deem well, she was trying to blame this on herself. Leaning against Scorch's chest as they walked, she let out a deep breath of air.

"We should get to Goldes soon, right?"

"Yeah, why?" Scorch asked back.

"I want you to be safe."

"I'm fine. I'm more worried about you, you gave up some of your mana for me…are you okay?"

"I'm fine…there's nothing wrong, but…"

"What?"

"At the same time, I feel as if all this is…my fault."

"Wha…how can you…?"

"The feeling I have, buried underneath my chest, it hurts. And whenever I am near pain or such things, and those people or things are associated with me, it hurts."

"Saphfyre…"

"And I don't know if I can keep being with you Scorch, I don't deserve it!"

"You haven't done anything wrong!"

"I can't…so many things, people places, have been effected by me…rarely in a positive way, it's starting to close in on me…"

"I'll be with you!"

"And this feeling…I don't know if I'll be able to live much longer…"

"What?"

"I don't know, honestly, but I want to live."

"Saphfyre…you will be alright. I swear it. I will stand by you, no matter the cost, or the reason. I will always protect you! I will never let anyone die, Saphfyre, ever again!"

"Again…?"

"When this person came to town, I was assigned healing duties, more to keep the body under no harm. But even still, the person could not be saved, they died."

"Scorch…"

"I couldn't help feeling it was my fault, Saphfyre. Everything I've done…everything I've trained for…is to protect. The people I love…the people I need…they all begin to add up to you. So I can understand how you feel, somewhat…"

Picking up Saphfyre suddenly, he petted her head as she was still in surprise. Night was falling in, and being in the man's arms was amazing. His toned muscles comforted her soft face. She put her fingers against the back of her neck, which he quite enjoyed. She felt if she was to die, it should be there, in his arms. He kissed her on the forehead lightly, his warm lips heating up her cool head. Saphfyre, for once in a long while, felt at peace.

"It's nice to see them get along." Flaren smiled.

"Yes. You are happy for your brother?" Cresenta asked, his hand on Flaren's hip.

"Yeah. Once Singe left, I became the leader. Strange, isn't it? Me being the leader, you'd think Scorch would be, but I wanted to be the girl that Singe was. I wanted to take her place. When Singe lived with us, I looked up to her so much. I still do, but I have my own way of doing things now."

"I see, and that is not to say you haven't maintained a good body during it."

"You think my figure is good. I think I need a few more curves here and there…"

"You look perfect. I will love you no matter what happens. I will stay with you always, and because of that, I think of you as the perfect thing in life."

"That's so sweet. I love you, too."

"We should improvise."

"Wha…?" Flaren was suddenly scooped up by Cresenta, obviously taken aback, "What are you doing? Put me down!"

"Just you try."

Flaren struggled and ended up riding on his back, "Ha ha. This is so much better, though. I feel so tall!" She had a big smile. Cresenta was the only one where the impervious guard of Flaren was easily broken. She felt that Cresenta was so much more than a date, he was part of what made Flaren, Flaren. She forgot all her troubles as she rode on his back, a smile on her face. She sometimes acted younger than she was, but Cresenta enjoyed that.

Embre had fallen asleep, leaving a troubled Raise. She was using her sky magic to make a cloud for Embre to rest on, but she had to keep using mana or stare at the cloud (or both) to make sure the girl didn't fall off. This made Universa laugh quite a bit.

"You could help, you know." she gave him a look.

"Okay, then." He picked up Embre slowly and let Raise carry her. He slowly let Raise put Embre on his back.

"You would be a good father, Universa." she laughed.

"Wait…do you mean…"

"It was a compliment, not a suggestion. That is all." Raise then looked off to the night sky. She seemed troubled.

"What is the matter?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

"You are lying, you are terrible at it."

"I thought…it is nothing. Please do not pester me about it."

"If you say so…"

'Efil…' Raise thought, 'Where are you now? Are you still mad about that moment, so many years ago? Efil…"

She cleared the thoughts out of her head and continued on.

"I feel so badly that this is my fault." Lapisa said.

"It's not really, though." Seles argued, "You, Flaren, and…and even Sheena, saved me! Don't feel bad…"

"It is remorse…my wings are tainted with the weight of sin and crime…I have not the right to deserve them as a part of my body."

"You're amazing, Lapisa." Sheena suddenly said.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"You help us, and Seles, too, even though we're in a case against each other. You even take credit for things you did not do. You're the person many people probably look up to."

"Or look down upon."

"What?" Sheena and Seles asked in unison.

"When I was poor, nobody cared for me. The only people that did were other people from the slums or a few adventurers…and Crimsonia. She was a very nice person when we met, and she still is. She gave up her job for us…and that weighs me down as well…"

"Lapisa, you've really got to stop blaming yourself for everything." Emereld suddenly said, "Not everything is your fault."

"Yeah!" Rubyi agreed, "You're amazing! Be positive on yourself once in a while. That doesn't make a lot of sense, but you know what I mean!"

"It's true." Sardnyox concurred, "It's tomorrow's efforts, as well as today's that count. You must try your hardest on the goals you want to achieve, a simple but true lesson, though very corny. But Lapisa, it is true, you are a good person."

"Thank you all." Lapisa smiled, "You are right…perhaps I have been looking at things the wrong way…maybe the answers I needed were in front of the whole time…I feel much better, thank you."

"We're here." Flaren suddenly said.

The city was very bright for it being the evening. It had a lot of room, and Flaren left to move into the city. Sheena let the house out of the Wing Pack when commanded by the girl before she left. It was in an area with nothing around it, although close to the city. A nearby sign said, "Welcome to Goldes, the Central City of Tahjra."

"It's very direct." Sheena commented.

"I'm surprised it doesn't have some sort of title…" Raise said in a disappointed tone.

"The point is that we are here." Dialmond said, "I presume that the house in good shape. We will start the building immediately, would you please help?"

"Sure." Sheena agreed to help.

Work was quick and the hours flew by. Embre eventually woke up and knocked a paint can over, right on Dialmond, whose hair was now blue.

"Why are the lights of Flanoir or whatever here…?"

"My hair…" Dialmond muttered, splashing herself with water from a nearby pond. The water was pristine and clear, reminding the younger girl of home.

"Manauille River..?"

"I am sorry, it is not…" Dialmond looked to the ground.

"It's okay, what time is it?"

"It is about to become dawn. You are in good shape?"

"Yeah."

"You can start helping then." Dialmond threw some boards at the girl, who just sat there. Dialmond continued, "Sardnyox needs some help. A hammer and nails are near her, anywise. Hurry it, please."

"You're in a bad mood…"

"I am just irritated, this seems like my fault."

"It's not, now I'm going to sleep…" Dialmond gave a look. Embre then said, "Or help, yeah I'll help…"

The girl went over to Sardnyox and Dialmond laughed a little. She continued on as she saw many of the couples having fun and enjoying themselves. The girl looked around and after washing the paint out of her hair, cried. She wanted somebody to be with, she figured either a man wasn't good enough for her or people just didn't like her. She hated these feelings of want and lust, they didn't suit her and she didn't need them. Dialmond was now more mad than sad and continued her work, trying to ignore her feelings. She saw the one person who was nice to her, who blushed around her, and she saw it once. She couldn't believe she was taking out that old picture. It was three months ago, but she now wagered the man looked even better. He liked to wear red, and had an awfully long white scarf. The reason she couldn't stay with him was because he had a lover, or so she thought. Dialmond didn't hate the girl, she just hated the fact that the girl was with the person she loved most. It was a blonde-haired woman who was very sincere, and Dialmond hated the fact that she was not skilled in social conditions or the fact that she had some of Sardnyox's bluntness. Looking at the back of the picture, she saw some bad penmanship.

"We should hang out some time, Dialmond. I can't believe you're working for Zelos' sister. But that's okay Bye, I guess, is that what you write? Oh yeah, from Lloyd Irving."

Dialmond cried at the fact he was taken. She cried at the fact she hadn't been with the man. She had met him on the Altamira beach. And when she saw him, her chest hurt. She wondered why, she wondered if that feeling was love. She seemed to enjoy looking at his upper body, it was the beach after all, but it was even more attractive to her that he wore his sword sheathes with him even in beach gear. She was the only other person she knew who did that, was that supposed to be an attractive quality. That wasn't to say he didn't look good, she liked his abs and even felt them once subconsciously and secretly has the urge to do it again, but that girl was always in the way. Stuffing the picture back into he pocket, Dialmond continued her work, the man on her mind. Once those thoughts started to fade Flaren came back two hours after dawn, and the things that ran through Sheena's head were immense. Seven days till court…seven chances for her to sort everything that was so screwed up out. Would she have the opportunity to become the person she was before Zelos…died?

A/N: It's March 6th when I put this up. I would've been mad if they didn't let me. So, it's lucky I wasn't writing the A/N, but I usually say nothing gin these ending ones. Maybe if the beginning ones didn't take everything up…Hmm, also I just realized something. It sort of seems like Saphfyre and Scorch want each other when I think about it. I thought about it earlier and hoped they didn't mention that, and I still don't know if they do or not. That's sad, the author can't tell where his characters are going. Saphfyre's breakdown just flew off out of nowhere and inserted itself. Random. It seems I've written a good fill of this A/N. I really should have put Sheena in more. Also, never mind, because I forgot what I was going to say. Oh, well, just read when I post. This has definitely longer than Sheena: Tales of Summoning, but three people have that on their favorite list. If You Want to Bring Him Back should be up soon, when I'm finished, and also, Raine's journeys will be updated. I should put that in my profile because many people liked that story. I can't believe I'm writing in in first-person Raine though, but it's worded better when I can see what Raine is feeling. I do like that story, so read it if you have the time. By the way, there's a Kraine story by an authoress named goatku who did a great job on that. See that too.