Authors Notes: I was curious as to what other authors got for reviews. It
was a learning experience for me. Now I'm waiting to see if D-chan is
going to review my SSO story. D-chan is a wonderful author, and makes a
couple I don't particularly like seem interesting. That takes skill. If D-
chan reviews my SSO fanfic, I think I know what I'm going to get criticized
about. First off, chapter one is really poorly written. My grammar and
spelling are hideous. I haven't seen SSOR, so I'm making the story AU. (I
didn't know I was until I read the reviews for other stories.) I'm
changing a lot of things in the story involving family relations and I'm
killing off character(s). And worst of all, I'm changing Cleao's character
slightly from that of the anime. Since I'm always working on improving
myself, I'm going to dedicate this chapter to D-chan. This is my effort to
improve my fanfiction (not change the story line mind you) so that it isn't
a complete waste of D-Chan's time. If D-chan decides to read TOFTOL at
all. I have an idea in mind, and when I write that chapter it'll be
dedicated to R. Neko. She gives me really helpful reviews.
Warnings: Same as before.
"" Conversations
'' Thoughts
// // Passages from books, letters, etc
{} Flashback mode
"Cleao what are you talking about? You know that there isn't a cure for the Red Death, and magic can't heal it." Majic stared at Cleao wondered what could have caused her sudden outburst. Sighing softly to himself Majic waited to hear what Cleao had to say about her idea.
"Majic! What about the Rings of Isymaar?" Cleao exclaimed excitedly, her pale blue eyes glowing brightly with hope. She had read about the Rings of Isymaar in an ancient book written by Rox Roe. How a translated version had gotten into the library at the boarding school Cleao had no idea.
Leki yipped with excitement from his perch. Wagging his tail wildly back and forth he was glad that something had cheered Cleao up. Underneath his happiness for his mistress, a thread of trepidation lurked. He didn't know why, but the name of Isymaar brought a sense of dread with it. No matter, he would find out what was wrong with Isymaar later. Until then he would protect Cleao and her friends.
"Rings of Isymaar, Rings of Isymaar." Majic chanted softly to himself, as he tried to remember where he had heard that name before. 'I remember now! Lai had talked about them once.' "Now I remember! But Cleao, no one knows where the island of Isymaar actually is. For all we know it might be a legend."
"The sword of Baltanders wasn't a legend! Besides, it is the only chance we got of saving Mariebella." Cleao vainly tried to recite in her head all that she could remember from the book. 'Why isn't my memory any better! I need to remember what it said about Isymaar.' "All I can remember is that the Rings of Isymaar are said to contain great power, able to grant people's wishes."
"Lai had mentioned that as well. If I remember correctly he had said it had something to do with your strength of will, or something like that."
Jumping off Cleao's shoulders Leki started to race down the long hallway. Passing the family pictures, various doorways, and balcony he headed towards the main stairway. Pausing at the top of the stairs he glanced back at Cleao and Majic. Barking twice before dashing down the stairway, Leki disappeared from their line of eyesight.
"Leki's right. We won't get anything done by just standing here. Come on Majic!" Grabbing hold of Majic's hand Cleao dragged him along the long hallway. Nearly tripping over his ragged black robe Majic tried to keep up with her.
"Ack! Cleao w-wait! Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Stephanie do you think could help me with this one?" Orphen asked calmly. He had gone to the one person he knew with large knowledge of the Heavenly Ones. If anyone could tell him where the island of Isymaar could be, it would be her. 'She must have come across something when researching the runes.'
Leaning back in the guest chair Orphen stared up at his old partner. She hadn't changed much since the last time he had visited her. Dressed in the same blue skintight pants, and matching top Stephanie looked no different physically. 'Stephanie's eyes look happier since she married Tim.'
"I'll do what I can Orphen. No promises though. Most people believe that the island is a myth." Glancing at Orphen Stephanie pondered what he could possibly want with a missing island. 'He isn't trying to save Azalie anymore. Orphen is not the magic hunter type, so he isn't trying to get rich off of magical items that the Heavenly Ones created. What could he be doing? I know something is wrong with him. His eyes are dark with troubled thoughts. Orphen hasn't looked this upset since Hartia told us that Azalie had switched bodies with Childman.' Shaking her head slightly from side to side Stephanie strolled over to the giant bookshelf that dominated the far corner of the room. Reaching up to grab something from the top shelf she looked Orphen's way from the corner of her eye.
"Orphen why do you want to go to Isymaar?" Running her fingers over several old, worn, leather bond books she searched for the right one. Moving slowly down the shelf in search of what she wanted Stephanie waited for Orphen's answer.
"I'm just curious about the place. That's all Stephanie." Putting his hands behind his head to act as a pillow Orphen closed his eyes and waited. Before he could get too relaxed however Stephanie's irritated voice tone pierced his troubled thoughts.
"You're lying to me Orphen." Her fingers paused over a book with faded silver lettering on its back. Rough edges seemed like wrinkles on the simple, light brown leather cover.
"It's not your concern anymore Stephanie. You're not my partner." Voice low and dangerous Orphen grated his terse reply at her. Opening his dark brown eyes he narrowed them at that Stephanie. Glaring at her he leaned forward planting his hands on the table before him. His bangs fell in front of his eyes, but that did nothing to lessen the strength of his look.
"I'm your friend damn it! Orphen I have the right to be concerned." Yanking the book roughly from its place on the bookshelf Stephanie slowly turned around to face Orphen.
"I don't need your concern, Steph! You don't need to know what I plan to do. I just need an answer to my question."
" What about Cleao, Orphen? Isn't she your partner? That means she has the right to know. Have you told her where you plan to go?" Smirking at the stunned expression on Orphen's face Stephanie headed back towards him.
"Cleao isn't my partner anymore." Eyes narrowing to mere slits Orphen dared Stephanie to go any farther on the subject matter.
"Fine, do it your way. Inside of this book is a map of all the known sites of ruins. The Ruins of Pyr are said to contain a library. You should be able to find your answer there." Holding out the worn book to Orphen Stephanie waited for him to take from her hands. Orphen refrained from yanking the book from her hands, but his grip was tight was he toke it.
"Thanks Steph."
"Cleao! Majic! What's with the rush?" Mariebella inquired. She had been surprised to see the two of race into the dining room, just a few steps behind Leki. Once she looked into their bright eyes she knew what the answer to her question was. They wanted to go on a quest somewhere. 'Poor things must think that they can find a way to save me.'
"Never mind, I know what the answer is. Cleao, I already have a bag packed and ready for you." Smiling a bit at the confused looks dancing across their faces she set down the steaming teakettle on the table next to the sugar cookies. Reaching under the table Mariebella pulled out Cleao's old black backpack that she had taken with her on her travels. "The two of you are like father. You can't stand to stay in one place for very long."
"Mariebella why.?" Was all the stunned Cleao could manage to say when confronted with another surprise. Mouth hanging open slightly Cleao attempted to regain her composure.
Majic, being used to people that seemed to know what the answers to questions were ahead of time was the first to break out of the shocked state. Nodding his head in thanks, he leaned forward to get the bag from Mariebella's hand. 'Thank you Mariebella. I'll try my hardest to find the Rings of Isymaar for you.'
"There are warm cloaks waiting for the both of you by the front door. You'll need them with winter approaching so quickly." Reaching over the last few feet so that Majic could grab hold of the backpack easily Mariebella stared into Majic's eyes. "Take care of Cleao of me Majic." At the shake of his head Mariebella mentally sighed with relief.
Once he had a firm grip on the backpack Majic smiled at Mariebella. "Thank you. I promise we won't fail." Hugging her once quickly Majic turned to go, tears welling up in his green eyes. Leaving as fast as he could Majic hurried to get the cloaks. Leki followed at his heels, giving Cleao time alone with her sister.
"Cleao, I had planned to give this to you on your nineteenth birthday. But I don't think that will happen, so you can have it early." Striding over to the corner Mariebella used the wall for support. Standing like a stiff giant in that corner was a sword rack. Placed in a tucked away part of the rack was a wrapped sheath and sword. Picking up the sword with one hand, Mariebella turned to face Cleao. 'Oh Cleao.'
Cleao was still in a state of shock. Once Mariebella stared deep into her shocked eyes the spell was broken. Renewed tears falling from her eyes like rain Cleao ran to her sister. Desperately hugging her sister with all her might Cleao held her older sister close to her. 'I don't care that Mariebella is only my half sister. She is still my family. I won't give up on her just like that. I'll save her!' "Promise me you won't die until I get back Mariebella! Promise me!"
"I'll try Cleao. Now go. Majic is waiting for you with Leki." Placing the sword in Cleao's hands she watched her sister dash out of the room sword in hand. Urgent voices echoed faintly in the still room followed quickly by the sound of door slamming shut. Before she could do anything, another violent coughing fit over took her. Blood soon covered both of her hands. 'Please hurry Cleao, Majic.'
Ending Notes: Narf. This is longer than I excepted it to be. I hope you liked it D-chan. I tried to avoid OOC, spelling mistakes, and grammar errors.
Warnings: Same as before.
"" Conversations
'' Thoughts
// // Passages from books, letters, etc
{} Flashback mode
"Cleao what are you talking about? You know that there isn't a cure for the Red Death, and magic can't heal it." Majic stared at Cleao wondered what could have caused her sudden outburst. Sighing softly to himself Majic waited to hear what Cleao had to say about her idea.
"Majic! What about the Rings of Isymaar?" Cleao exclaimed excitedly, her pale blue eyes glowing brightly with hope. She had read about the Rings of Isymaar in an ancient book written by Rox Roe. How a translated version had gotten into the library at the boarding school Cleao had no idea.
Leki yipped with excitement from his perch. Wagging his tail wildly back and forth he was glad that something had cheered Cleao up. Underneath his happiness for his mistress, a thread of trepidation lurked. He didn't know why, but the name of Isymaar brought a sense of dread with it. No matter, he would find out what was wrong with Isymaar later. Until then he would protect Cleao and her friends.
"Rings of Isymaar, Rings of Isymaar." Majic chanted softly to himself, as he tried to remember where he had heard that name before. 'I remember now! Lai had talked about them once.' "Now I remember! But Cleao, no one knows where the island of Isymaar actually is. For all we know it might be a legend."
"The sword of Baltanders wasn't a legend! Besides, it is the only chance we got of saving Mariebella." Cleao vainly tried to recite in her head all that she could remember from the book. 'Why isn't my memory any better! I need to remember what it said about Isymaar.' "All I can remember is that the Rings of Isymaar are said to contain great power, able to grant people's wishes."
"Lai had mentioned that as well. If I remember correctly he had said it had something to do with your strength of will, or something like that."
Jumping off Cleao's shoulders Leki started to race down the long hallway. Passing the family pictures, various doorways, and balcony he headed towards the main stairway. Pausing at the top of the stairs he glanced back at Cleao and Majic. Barking twice before dashing down the stairway, Leki disappeared from their line of eyesight.
"Leki's right. We won't get anything done by just standing here. Come on Majic!" Grabbing hold of Majic's hand Cleao dragged him along the long hallway. Nearly tripping over his ragged black robe Majic tried to keep up with her.
"Ack! Cleao w-wait! Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Stephanie do you think could help me with this one?" Orphen asked calmly. He had gone to the one person he knew with large knowledge of the Heavenly Ones. If anyone could tell him where the island of Isymaar could be, it would be her. 'She must have come across something when researching the runes.'
Leaning back in the guest chair Orphen stared up at his old partner. She hadn't changed much since the last time he had visited her. Dressed in the same blue skintight pants, and matching top Stephanie looked no different physically. 'Stephanie's eyes look happier since she married Tim.'
"I'll do what I can Orphen. No promises though. Most people believe that the island is a myth." Glancing at Orphen Stephanie pondered what he could possibly want with a missing island. 'He isn't trying to save Azalie anymore. Orphen is not the magic hunter type, so he isn't trying to get rich off of magical items that the Heavenly Ones created. What could he be doing? I know something is wrong with him. His eyes are dark with troubled thoughts. Orphen hasn't looked this upset since Hartia told us that Azalie had switched bodies with Childman.' Shaking her head slightly from side to side Stephanie strolled over to the giant bookshelf that dominated the far corner of the room. Reaching up to grab something from the top shelf she looked Orphen's way from the corner of her eye.
"Orphen why do you want to go to Isymaar?" Running her fingers over several old, worn, leather bond books she searched for the right one. Moving slowly down the shelf in search of what she wanted Stephanie waited for Orphen's answer.
"I'm just curious about the place. That's all Stephanie." Putting his hands behind his head to act as a pillow Orphen closed his eyes and waited. Before he could get too relaxed however Stephanie's irritated voice tone pierced his troubled thoughts.
"You're lying to me Orphen." Her fingers paused over a book with faded silver lettering on its back. Rough edges seemed like wrinkles on the simple, light brown leather cover.
"It's not your concern anymore Stephanie. You're not my partner." Voice low and dangerous Orphen grated his terse reply at her. Opening his dark brown eyes he narrowed them at that Stephanie. Glaring at her he leaned forward planting his hands on the table before him. His bangs fell in front of his eyes, but that did nothing to lessen the strength of his look.
"I'm your friend damn it! Orphen I have the right to be concerned." Yanking the book roughly from its place on the bookshelf Stephanie slowly turned around to face Orphen.
"I don't need your concern, Steph! You don't need to know what I plan to do. I just need an answer to my question."
" What about Cleao, Orphen? Isn't she your partner? That means she has the right to know. Have you told her where you plan to go?" Smirking at the stunned expression on Orphen's face Stephanie headed back towards him.
"Cleao isn't my partner anymore." Eyes narrowing to mere slits Orphen dared Stephanie to go any farther on the subject matter.
"Fine, do it your way. Inside of this book is a map of all the known sites of ruins. The Ruins of Pyr are said to contain a library. You should be able to find your answer there." Holding out the worn book to Orphen Stephanie waited for him to take from her hands. Orphen refrained from yanking the book from her hands, but his grip was tight was he toke it.
"Thanks Steph."
"Cleao! Majic! What's with the rush?" Mariebella inquired. She had been surprised to see the two of race into the dining room, just a few steps behind Leki. Once she looked into their bright eyes she knew what the answer to her question was. They wanted to go on a quest somewhere. 'Poor things must think that they can find a way to save me.'
"Never mind, I know what the answer is. Cleao, I already have a bag packed and ready for you." Smiling a bit at the confused looks dancing across their faces she set down the steaming teakettle on the table next to the sugar cookies. Reaching under the table Mariebella pulled out Cleao's old black backpack that she had taken with her on her travels. "The two of you are like father. You can't stand to stay in one place for very long."
"Mariebella why.?" Was all the stunned Cleao could manage to say when confronted with another surprise. Mouth hanging open slightly Cleao attempted to regain her composure.
Majic, being used to people that seemed to know what the answers to questions were ahead of time was the first to break out of the shocked state. Nodding his head in thanks, he leaned forward to get the bag from Mariebella's hand. 'Thank you Mariebella. I'll try my hardest to find the Rings of Isymaar for you.'
"There are warm cloaks waiting for the both of you by the front door. You'll need them with winter approaching so quickly." Reaching over the last few feet so that Majic could grab hold of the backpack easily Mariebella stared into Majic's eyes. "Take care of Cleao of me Majic." At the shake of his head Mariebella mentally sighed with relief.
Once he had a firm grip on the backpack Majic smiled at Mariebella. "Thank you. I promise we won't fail." Hugging her once quickly Majic turned to go, tears welling up in his green eyes. Leaving as fast as he could Majic hurried to get the cloaks. Leki followed at his heels, giving Cleao time alone with her sister.
"Cleao, I had planned to give this to you on your nineteenth birthday. But I don't think that will happen, so you can have it early." Striding over to the corner Mariebella used the wall for support. Standing like a stiff giant in that corner was a sword rack. Placed in a tucked away part of the rack was a wrapped sheath and sword. Picking up the sword with one hand, Mariebella turned to face Cleao. 'Oh Cleao.'
Cleao was still in a state of shock. Once Mariebella stared deep into her shocked eyes the spell was broken. Renewed tears falling from her eyes like rain Cleao ran to her sister. Desperately hugging her sister with all her might Cleao held her older sister close to her. 'I don't care that Mariebella is only my half sister. She is still my family. I won't give up on her just like that. I'll save her!' "Promise me you won't die until I get back Mariebella! Promise me!"
"I'll try Cleao. Now go. Majic is waiting for you with Leki." Placing the sword in Cleao's hands she watched her sister dash out of the room sword in hand. Urgent voices echoed faintly in the still room followed quickly by the sound of door slamming shut. Before she could do anything, another violent coughing fit over took her. Blood soon covered both of her hands. 'Please hurry Cleao, Majic.'
Ending Notes: Narf. This is longer than I excepted it to be. I hope you liked it D-chan. I tried to avoid OOC, spelling mistakes, and grammar errors.