Tales of a Journey

By: Rogue White Dragon (aka Dragoness)

Disclaimer: I don't own TOS

Chapter 23 – they're back

(Raine's POV)

Presea was barely conscious now, and if we didn't get her some serious help soon, the blade she took to her chest just might prove to be fatal. I could heal it well enough every time the thing re-opened, but after the fight we just went through, and healing Regal and Genis best I could, I didn't have enough mana left to do much good for her. There was still no sign of Yuan or Arthur in the dark, dingy cell we were currently locked in, and I'm fairly certain the two were still alive. Perhaps Yuan had transported himself away to get help from Lloyd's groups. Though, I guess that would be too much to hope for. In our current state, none of us could really do anything about trying to escape; and if we did? We'd still have to carry Presea around, and she still had yet to give us any sort of coherent response.

"Raine?"

Genis asked, a little stiffly. I turned my attention towards my brother, still trying to think of a way out of this…situation.

"She's bleeding again."

He sounded as if he was going to start crying. He really did care about her, did he? He used some of his remaining mana to form a small light over her head. She was resting with her head in his lap, so I shifted a little to get a better look at her; she was defiantly looking paler. I placed my hand over the wound, putting more mana into healing her than I should have, but I could keep doing this every five minutes. I needed to rest, or I'd die of mana loss. Not something our straggly group needed right now.

"Raine?"

I was about to snap a reply to leave me alone right now, when I realized the voice wasn't Genis, but Yuan. Surprised, I turned toward the other half elf, eyes wide.

"Where have you been?"

I hissed in an annoyed growl. He gave me an innocent smile, before saying

"I've been looking for you guys. Here."

I could have kissed the guy right then, when he handed me several apple gels, and orange gels.

"Think you can get yourself out of here if I open the door?"

I stopped mid nod, with a glance at Presea. Apple gels weren't enough to help her right now.

"Oh."

He stated, frowning a little. I passed the apple gels to Regal, and asked

"How'd you get in here?"

"The door."

Yuan grinned a little at me, before looking back at Presea.

"I could take her out of here for you, but I can't transport more than one of you. You'd have to take care of yourselves. Think you can do that."

Now I felt like beating the guy to within an inch of his life.

"Yes, we can do that. We'll just need our weapons."

"Oh, those, they're in a chest just outside of this dungeon. They're guarded by three guards though, so be careful."

He couldn't even bring them to us? I'm quite certain he could have defeated three measly guards. I glared at him for a moment, thinking that beating him to within an inch of his life would be a little to merciful. The second I got my staff back…

"I'll inform Lloyd's group of what's going on, and meet out on the outskirts of Meltokio in say, an hour?"

"We're in Meltokio?"

I asked, slightly aghast at this. They must've dragged us half way across Tetha'alla.

"Yeah. So an hour, than? I've still got to find Arthur."

"Then I guess we'll meet out outside of Meltokio."

Yuan moved towards where Genis was sitting with Presea, and reach down to pick her up

"Be careful with her."

Genis warned, shifting his position to allow Yuan to lift her up. With a nod toward Genis, Yuan was swallowed up in mana, as he transported away.

(Lan's POV)

"So, where did the others bugger off to?"

Siena asked me sweetly from behind me on the reihard. I sighed and replied a little sulkily

"They went on without me."

"That's got to piss you off."

I gave a small shrug, and replied,

"It did, at first."

She patted my shoulder as if I was going through some small form of grief. I glanced over my shoulder at her, and she raised her voice saying

"Keep your eyes on the road! With your accident prone skills, I wouldn't be surprised if you drove us off a cliff!"

I exhaled slowly, tempted to remind her that were in the air and not to likely to drive off any cliffs. I was getting a migraine, and wondered if it was a good idea to have found her.

"Lan?"

She asked suddenly, a suspiciously sweet tone in her voice. Not look back at her so as not to be yelled at again, and gave a small grunt to tell her I was listening

"Have you ever been with a girl?"

I nearly crashed the reihard into a tree, and I'm certain my heart stopped.

"Wha-?"

I couldn't get out any sort of proper sounding sentence. Where did that come from?

"Just wondering if you were like your father."

She pinched me in the back of my neck, so I help, and again had to steady the reihard. Maybe she shouldn't ride behind me after all.

"It was just a question, Lan; you don't have to go all mental on me."

Me, going mental? This coming from a girl who bangs her head against walls for fun. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself. She was doing it again. Driving me crazy.

"Look, it's Asgard!"

Siena punctuated her sudden reason for any form of enjoyment, by shoving my head in the direction of Asgard, nearly throwing me off the Reihard in the process.

"I can see it!"

I growled back, before landing my reihard in yet another forest, and we climbed off.

"Lan, you're bleeding again."

She told me. I sighed, and said,

"This'll take just a minute."

I turned around while grabbing my bandages from my pack, when Siena just suddenly popped up in front of me, and said

"I'll help!"

Why was she so hyperactive today? Somebody needs to switch to decaf…

"Fine."

I was far to tired to argue with her, so I just sat down, removed my shirt, and began peeling off my bandages. Siena practically slapped my hands away, and replied

"I'll do that. Guys are far to clumsy to do things like this."

This of course coming from the person who'd stabbed me in the first place. I shook my head at her, but let her have her way. I'd never hear the end of it if I argued.

(Lloyd's POV)

"-so judging by the map I received from Arthur, Colette and Matrim should be in this area. The invisible fortress should be just beyond that tree."

Kratos said while pointing off handedly. Zelos raised an eyebrow, looked around at all the other trees around us, and asked

"You want to be a bit more specific, Kratos? I'm seeing a lot of trees."

Kratos scowled at the former chosen, and walked up to the tree he was talking about, and preceded to take his sword out, and put to two long gashes into the trunk of the tree.

"Kratos, what did the tree ever do to you?"

Slightly surprised, I turned to See Yuan standing just behind our group, carrying an unconscious Presea. Kratos rolled his eyes, and replied

"What're you doing here, Yuan?"

His eyes drifted towards Presea for just a moment, before turning towards Yuan again.

"Well, do you think that can wait? I kind of promised Raine and Genis that I'd find you guys and get Presea some help. Raine would have healed her, but seeing as how they're barely getting themselves out of an ill kept cell, still have to get their weapons back, and get out of there, we thought it would be better if I just took Presea here."

Yuan had a small grin on his face, which left when he saw us all giving him really strange looks. He sighed loudly, and said

"Kratos, would you mind trying your hand at healing her?"

Kratos gave a nod and walked over to her quickly, before doing a quick first aid spell. Presea stirred a little, and blinked her eyes open.

"Good, you're awake!"

I was beginning to wonder what was up with Yuan, the guy almost had less of a comprehension of sanity that Siena did.

"Hey, where did Lan go?"

Yuan asked, looking off into the sky somewhere after helping Presea onto her feet. Sheena and Zelos helped over to a tree to sit down, while Kratos and I looked over at Yuan, slightly curious eyebrows raised.

"Why do you ask?"

Yuan raised a finger and pointed

"Because if I'm not mistaken, that's his reihard."

Sheena looked up quickly, her jaw dropping when she saw our son's reihard land not at all to far from where we were.

"What is he doing here? I thought you told him to stay behind in Flanoir?"

Sheena glared at me, like it was all my fault. I grimaced, and replied

"I did."

Just what was that kid up to? I rubbed my face with a hand, feeling a small head ache coming. This had long day written all over it.

"Lloyd, why don't you Zelos and Sheena go find him? We'll stay here with Presea."

Kratos suggested. He looked over at Yuan with a frown, before looking back at me and waiting for a reply

"Sounds good."

I muttered. What was Lan thinking, coming alone all this way?

(Siena's POV)

"So, where would everyone else have gone by now?"

I asked Lan while walking beside him. We just entered Asgard, after re-bandaging his slowly healing wound. Maybe I should knock him out so that his side will have time to heal.

"I'd assume they're looking for Colette and Matrim again."

He replied while looking around

"Maybe we should purchase some more items?"

He said while walking towards a small outdoor shop. I followed, saying that I wanted a new charm.

"Lan!"

We froze when we heard his mother's angry shriek. She actually did shriek. Sounded like a dying bird. I shuddered slightly, before slowly turning around with Lan, who winced a little.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were back in Flanoir!"

'Calm down Sheena, he's alive' I wanted to say, but being the one that almost killed him, I don't think she'd want to hear that from me.

"Uh, hi, mom."

Lan said, wincing when we saw Zelos, Sheena and Lloyd lined up and staring at us. Lloyd raised an eyebrow at us, and asked

"Siena? When did you get back?"
Sheena rounded on me, glaring and growled

"Why are you back? Haven't you done enough? Lan, get away from her!"

Lan, stepping in front of me, growled back

"She's back because I went out and found her, mom."

Sheena scowled at him, and replied

"A lot of good that'll do. Those elves will find us now, because of her."

"Shut up. They won't."

Sheena's jaw dropped a little, and she stared blankly at her son.

"Lan, don't talk like that to your mother."

Zelos said with a frown.

"Why not? Not like she ever talks respectfully to anyone."

Sheena stiffened a little, before hissing

"Siena, if you so much as step out of line again, I'll deal with you myself."

And then she just stalked away. Lan scowled again, Zelos ran after her, and Lloyd looked a little exasperated.

"Let's just go join the others, k?"

Lloyd asked, grinning at us. I gave Lan a nod, and we left Asgard following Lloyd.

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soooo, how'd you like it? Hope you liked it.

Thanks to…

Aragornchewi: I'm still debating on whether or not to make this a sheloyd fic. Hopefully I'll be able to make up my mind soon. thanks for the review!

No Name: 2nd, eh? Yay! Thanks for reviewing!