Author's Notes: This fanfic will feature several OC's and an AU storyline. For those who don't like that sort of thing, I'm sorry and I beg for your forgiveness. For those of you who enjoy it, please read on. I do accept constructive criticism only because I would love to improve as a writer. Flames do tend to make me an angry kher so please refrain from writing one
Forever BoundPrologue
It is almost time master.
"Yeah."
You aren't having second thoughts, hmm?"Shut up, idiot."
Now don't be cross with me master. I was merely asking if you were ready.
"I have been ready, Seth, for thousands upon thousands of years."
A lone figure walked down a jewel encrusted hall, filled with portraits of the history of the world, from the birth of all creatures, to the civil war of the earth's peoples, to the rise of the age's new heroes---even to his own death, it depicted it all.Death. He had not known that it would be anything like he had experienced in the past five years. From being possessed by the strange keeper of Mayfil to be transported to the hallowed halls that he walked upon, Lavitz never thought that his after life would be more exciting than the one he led in his previous one.
"You're late, you know!"
He stopped, a smile slowly creeping onto his pale face. "Shouldn't a kid like you be off playing with her dolls or something?"
"I am not a kid!" A small figure gradually appeared before him, revealing a seemingly young girl, not over the age of nine, before him. Her long crimson locks cascaded over her thin frame, amplifying her innocent looking state. "You know damn well that I'm much older than you---you jackass!"
If Lavitz were any other man, he would be appalled at the girl's language. Normal nine year olds didn't curse as she did, but he knew very well that this girl before him was anything but ordinary. A gloved hand stroked his chin mockingly, "Oh really? You don't act like it now do you, Soliel?" The girl crossed her arms in anger as he broke out into loud laughter. He really did like teasing his companion—the mischief that he caused made him feel as if he were alive again.
"I hate you!" Soliel turned her back to him, her look softening. "At any rate, loser, we better get going. You know how the others get."
"Indeed I do—they can get just as bratty as you." Lavitz's grin widened, knowing full well that the girl that he had come to befriend was muttering numerous profanities under her breath. He walked forward, resting his hand on her small head. "Let us go."
"I hate it when you do that," she muttered angrily as a dim white light enveloped the pair. "Really Lavitz, I don't understand how you were chosen." Lavitz looked upward towards the darkness above him, his eyes softening as he felt his body lift from the ground. He never did like this part—albeit he no longer had a solid form, teleportation always made him a bit queasy. In an instant the two reappeared in a semi-darkened room, a single candle providing the only source of light. "We're lucky," muttered Soliel. "The meeting hasn't started yet."
"Well they're on time for once."
"It's amusing."
Soliel sighed wearily. "God. It never ends, does it?" As if on cue, the room filled with a bright crimson light, revealing two more specters of the past. "I rather go back to the fiery pits of Mayfil than deal with the likes of you."
"I'm not used to seeing you with a sense of humor, Rose." Lavitz looked out at the woman who he had known as cold and withdrawn—but in death, her demeanor had changed. Her look, however, had not. She still wore the attire of a warrior; her sword still clung close to her body.
"You call that humor?"
The specter called Rose nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. "Eleven thousand years in the making," she said with a small laugh. "Why Lavitz? Does my sudden change in attitude not appeal to you?"
"It does, it does."
"To me as well, love." A hand wove around the former dragoon's small waist gently. Rose turned her head to the side, taking in the sight of her eternal love, the man that had captured her heart and soul in both life and death.
"Oh for the love of the Goddess!" Laughter filled the small room as Soliel waved her hands up over her head in annoyance. The foursome had been together for at least the past three and half years, and, although Soliel acted as if she loathed them, she couldn't choose any other being to replace her friends.
"Shall we begin the meeting now?" The laughter died down as a new voice filled the room. All eyes were turned to the single flame that had illuminated the room. "Good. Now to discuss the newest danger that approaches."
"Aten, it is true then?"
"Yes, Zieg," the voice answered knowingly. "We are on the brink of yet another conflict that will endanger all souls, both living and dead—perhaps even the Creator herself." The former dragon night rolled his fists into two very tights fists. Yet again, the world that he had worked for was in danger once more.
"What can we do about it?" questioned Lavitz. "We have all left the world of the living if you haven't forgotten." The flame flickered in response as if it were taking his statement into consideration.
"This is true, but there is a way."
"A way to what?"
"A way to return to the world that you love so very much."
-0.oo.0 -
"Daddy, I'm BORED!" A brown haired child tugged at her father's arm forcefully with a persistent look on her young face. His father sighed wearily, pulling the three year old off of the floor. His tired blue eyes searched the room for a savior, but he found none. How he got stuck babysitting was beyond him.
"Claire," he began in that authoritative tone that fathers tend to use. "Why don't you go play with your toys?" The child shook her quickly in defiance. He sighed once more. "Then what do you want to do?"
"I want to go see Grammpa!"
"But Grandpa went home."
"But daddy---" The girl's voice trailed off as tears filled her eyes. Her father sighed, knowing full well what was to come. Things always started out this way. "Why did he have to go away?" The girl let the tears in her eyes flow freely down her pale skin.
"Now Claire that isn't fair," he scolded. "Grandpa has many responsibilities---like training Uncle Kongol and taking care of his town. He's mayor now."
"What's a mayor?" The young girl looked up at her father with violet eyes filled with wonder. He smiled softly, thankful to the Goddess that she had changed the subject. He pulled her closer to his body, feeling the child's warmth.
"Someone who leads and protects people."
The girl giggled. 'You protect mommy and me. Does that make you a mayor?"
"Not quite," he replied softly. "That makes me your father." The girl yawned, pressing her head down in his chest. She was a strange little thing—that daughter of his. It made him wonder if he himself was such a handful as a child.
"I love you daddy."
"And I you, little Claire." The girl let out a content sigh as she continued to nuzzle into her father's chest. It was an innocent moment for both father and daughter; perhaps it would be the last of which they would share.
--
The next chapter has been "finished." I just need to go over it a few more times, change some things, and post it within the next few days. I expect to have it some time around the weekend. Thanks for reading.
Kher
