Disclaimer: I don't own Elsword. just a wandering author who wishes to release imagination.

One-Shot: Finding Safety.

Elsword was boring. No, scratch that, he's dying from boredom. Staring outside the windows, the rain was falling non-stop, ruining his free day of sword practices. Instead, he was sitting beside window with a long sigh. The young man looked back at his backward where equipments and practice dummies were wet.

"Boring."

*knock knock*

"?"

Breaking the silence of boredom, Elsword heard the knock from entrance. Who could be at this hour and during rain? He went and opened to find a light brown hair man in his dark green coat hiding his head in hood.

"Gaia?"

"Hi, Elsword. Can we have a moment?"

"Just come in."

Gaia stepped in, took off his coat and hung it on nearby hangers to dry it. Elsword went and prepared tea for him as he sat down.

"It's rare to see you come here. Something you need?"

The first thing he noticed was the sadness on his face, knowing that something bothered him greatly.

"Have you seen Laby?"

"Laby? No. Something's wrong with her?"

"She never returned two months ago. I tried to find her but I couldn't see her."

"Did she tell you to go anywhere? Or something changed her?"

Gaia stayed silent, remembering her usual cheerful attitude to him and how hyperactive she was to any thing she's curious. There's nothing she went abnormal.

Laby was like a daughter to him, a great pupil he taught. Yet, hearing her gone hurt her heart.

"No, last time I saw her, she was fine, though I saw her going out more usuallly than before. I started searching her after that till I reached your house."

"Wait, why my house?"

"Obviously, she likes invading your house. Or have you forgotten how many time she went to your house years ago?"

Elsword leaned backward and sighed in realization. Seeing how lonely he was, Laby went and invaded his house every week and then, so much that he already got used to loud bang she kicked his door. He wouldn't deny that with her around, she made his empty house more lively.

Of course he noticed she didn't invade his house 2 months ago. He thought that maybe she was busy or something that she didn't pay visit but for some reasons, it bothered him.

"Too many times to count."

"Indeed, I had hard time searching her until Solace told me she went to your house on her own."

Gaia stood up, stared at windows and let out a sigh.

"Can you help me finding her? I can't go and do it alone."

Elsword put tea cup on table and stood up, pat his shoulder to comfort.

"I will do what I can, after the rain is over."

Gaia nodded in appreciation.

"But it's strange, the rain never ends."

Outside, a figure was standing behind a tree while staring at Elsword's house before it ran away.

As the time went, the rain slowly stopped and the sky lit up, a sight of a new day. Both left Elsword's house and started searching for her.

Elsword, in his former knight uniform except no metal protection since it would be hindrance from searching, carried his sword and headed toward Elder first. As he travelled, he started looking for any sign of her presence by going to places she went with him.

Park? Nothing.

Riverside? No sight.

Main street? Full of Laby's posters as missing child.

Elsword sweatdropped upon seeing Laby's pictures along walls. He's so desperate by that time. Elsword headed to village chief's house but sadly he shook his head and informed that he didn't see her. He then found himself before Wally Castle.

It gave him a nostalgic memory of his former team chasing after Wally who stole El Stone from El tree for his madness research, much like a certain psycho stal- I mean nasod researcher, though they had to chase after for another time away from Elder for it was being owned by Raven, who was under influenced of Nasod's mind control.

The castle was now under maintenace in order to ultilize what remained for useful purpose. He was planning to head to Bethma since there's nothing he found. A small cherry blossom was floating in the air and landed on his face.

"?"

He held it and inspect the blossom bloomed recently. Oddly, one of petals was dark blue instead of pink like others. New kind of flower?

Moreover, it came from Wally Castle, where it was supposed to be no one by now. Curiousity getting the better of him, Elsword entered castle. Walking for a while, he stood before the entrance with a large seal tag on it. Elsword walked for a while until he caught faint trait of twinking lights flowing and followed it. Then, he found a figure wandering on the west of castle.

A girl with long dark blue hair with a flower on her head walked with bare feet, weaing a dark dress that matched her hair's color.

She was looking at a small oval thing in her hands. Upon watching, it looked like… a mirror, but it's not right. The surface of it was pink and had visible waves glowing. It reminded him of one Laby had but the mirror was dark instead. He wondered if she had any anything relating to Laby and walked closer to her.

But… it didn't work as he thought. His step was heard by the girl as she turned at him. She showed hostility at first and then fear, recognizing who he was.

"Can I have a word with you- Wait!"

She immediately ran away before he finished asking. He ran after her behind the castle to find her disappeared. Confused, he looked around but she was nowhere to be found.

At the same time, a pink haired girl was sitting on a bench watching waterfall. She was humming a melody she liked with her legs waving in sync.

Suddenly,

*Kyuu!"

A shock cold hit her cheek. She quickly turned around and saw a red haired spiky man who grinned at her in amuse. She pouted.

"What took you so long?"

"Sorry, Laby. I just passed by a strange encounter but it doesn't matter."

He handed her a cold milked coffee to her and drank his and sat beside her. Immediately, she fell on his shoulder with a sigh.

"I miss master Gaia."

"He did tell you that he is not available during his job as Guadian of El. I don't think he will be busy for eternity so I think you can visit him."

Laby let a smile on her face and drank her can. She was enjoying this, a breeze atmosphere through her skin with the warmth of her man beside him, peacefully. Thanks to her best friend, she brought her to a dream world, a place she found peace, a place she found no war, no harm to anyone and happiness.

She looked upon the face of her man, a person she met during her journey in Elrianode, the man who comforted her and made her feel safe.

Though… that's what Laby was supposed to feel, just before she came.

Despite the same man she had met, it's not the same she felt. Like, this man before and the man after were different person. 'she' created a perfect replication of world yet she did the imperfection of him.

He got up, tossed his empty can to a trash bin and turned to Laby as he asked.

"Wanna go to tropical park? We have plenty of time to kill."

"… sure."

She got up and followed him. They both headed to tropical park where held many adventures, from rolling coaster to haunting house, filled with people coming and leaving with various expression.

Laby's eyes filled with gleam as she watched roller coaster running with high speed along with terror screams of riders.

"Let's go there first! Laby wants it first!"

"I got it, Laby."

Elsword lost the trace of the girl and nowhere to be found. He returned and met Gaia on the bridge who was waiting for him. From his view, Gaia was not the Earth Master or a guardian. He was a father who was depressingly looking for his daughter.

"Have you found anything?"

"I have a clue."

This perked Gaia'a attention.

"I saw a girl near Wally Castle ,wandering with something in her hands that looked like mirror but not one. The sufface was pink and it doesn't show any reflection image. I tried to talk to her but she ran away and disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

Elsword nodded "She vanished, like a ghost."

Gaia slowly regconized the girl he was describing. A strange girl appeared and disappeared around Laby and sometimes crept in his home. He couldn't see her appearance, nor her face and she emitted faint aura. She was seen many times around Laby more than he could count how many times Elsword was with Laby, and that grew his suspicion of the mirror floating beside Laby.

Sometimes, Laby called it Nisha, her best friend since she escaped the forest in Forgotten Elciam Sanctum. Gaia headed there to research on her birth and the mirror. Most of the time, he found little to nothing until he felt an energy disturbance waviing.

His discovery led to the truth, that Laby was awake thanks to Elsword whose energy surged and wake Laby up in a deep slumber. He could feel the remain of his power until it completely dissapeared. As for the mirror, he was being stalked by a cute-looking creature. Upon examination, he felt that the same one had a connection to Laby.

"But…"

Gaia snapped back to reality.

"She was in fear…"

"What do you mean?"

"When I called her, she showed hostility to me, but then her face changed to fear before she ran away. She's scared of something, or more like. She's scared of me."

Gaia went silent, letting information sinking in. This could be helpful.

"Let's heading to next place. I think the girl you saw might be in Bethma."

"I got it."

Both began heading to Bethma, though they only made it half way till there and had to put a camp for a night. While Elsword was cooking, Gaia suddenly asked.

"What do you think of Laby?"

"Laby? Why do you ask?"

"Just feel it."

Elsword raised his eyebrows in curiosity. But if honesty, Laby was a good child, full of curiosity and energy, a girl who was always cheerful though sometimes having funny reaction. Her joy brought warmth to the village he lived and his home.

"She's a great girl at everything."

"She is." Gaia chuckled "A good pupil I have taught."

But it's more than that. Gaia felt it's not that simple just a relationship as comrades in arm. It's really clear as the sky to him that Laby showed affection to him. Countless times, he caught Laby peeked at him and boldly hugged him like it's natural. He remembered how she responded to him that Elsword's special to her.

"Elsword… If anything happen, help me take care of her."

The man was confused what he meant but he didn't hear any explanation from Gaia and saw him went to his camp.

The sunset came, as Laby hung out with her man to the the last game, the ferris wheel. She held cotton candy with strawberry flavour and had a bite while her other hand hook on her man's arm. She had fun all day, filled with various emotions: from laughes, to excitement.

"Hop on, Laby."

She got on one of the cabins of Ferris Wheel, followed by her man. The wheel slowly turned, moving cabin higher and higher until Laby saw the whole tropical park from the top.

"Wow… Laby loves it."

"Hehe, I'm glad you like it."

She looked back at him who smiled. Laby felt something was missing. She was living in a world where she lived in a beautiful life, but…

It's empty.

She looked at him, sorrow filled in her heart as she realized one thing that the man before her was a creation of her world, not a real man in flesh and blood. His warmth never matched the real on. Her emotion was affected badly by the truth that the 'carrier' felt it.

"No… Nisha… Laby won't like it. Laby misses him."

"What's wrong laby?"

He came to her with concern but Laby pushed him back, denied him, just like she denied the world she's living. Flashbacks overwhelmed her of old memories she experienced and the place she liked, no luxury, but a humble house with a man who took care of her.

Suddenly, everything became distorted, shattered and then… gone. The tropical park was no more and instead, Laby was found in a small bedroom with soft pink wall color and other stuffed animals. The door opened to reveal a dark haired girl stepping inside, worry written on her face.

"What's wrong?"

"Laby doesn't like that world. It's worst without him Nisha."

"But… Nisha created for Laby-" / "It's not him…"

Laby denied immediately and cuddled herself. Nisha sat beside her, patted her head to sooth her pain as much as she could. Yet at the same time, she grew hatred toward the man Laby had fallen for and hurt. If he hadn't shown up, she could have completely protected Laby from anything but now…

She was hurt from the inside.

No where to be safe.

"Nisha's sorry, but this is for Laby's sake to live a better life…"

She jumped off her bed and headed to outside.

"I will do anything to keep you safe."

Elsword jolted up from his bed. He sensed a weak pulse. It's dark from inside camp and he crawled out. The fire camp was out with few sparks and burnt woods that still remained burning. Without light, stars showed in the clear night and the bright moon clear the darkness.

With Gaia, not any beast nor demon would dare to enrage the Earth Master and made their place safe. He went and followed the energy he sensed, leaving Gaia sleeping in his camp. Wandering, Elsword's mind recalled the girl he met in Elder village. Questions started bombarding him but one bothered him was:

"What's her connection to Laby?"

If what Gaia assumed was true, she could be Laby's companion and the one responsible for her missing. But why would she do that?

Elsword walked with his mind thinking until he found himself on a high cliff where he saw a part of Bethma. He wondered if the power came from here. He slid down and continued walking to find it. As he walked, Elsword noticed a small figure was sitting on a boulder.

There's no mistake about it. On his first glance, he immediately recognized her. He approached her, his footstep was not suppressed and got her attention. She turned around and once again, see her fear but mixed with anger.

"You… Why are you here?"

"I have a hunce that you're here and your power leaks out that I can sense."

She jumped off boulder and stood face to face Elsword, her hand carried pink mirror where he felt similar energy.

"Nisha begs you, please let us alone."

She stepped back, just like a puppy being cornered.

"Calm down… Nisha. I mean no harm to you." Elsword raised his hands to sooth her fear but it's ineffective.

"Go… Away!"

A large unstable energy gathered in her hands, slammed on ground that caused a powerful earth wave toward Elsword, forcing him to dodge. Leaving no chance for him, she charged at him with a wooden bat and bashed him hard that it threw him backward and hit cliff. Elsword groaned in pain and quickly rolled away from bat that slammed where he was a second later.

Surrounding her grew out black vines that continuously attacked and stabbed him. Elsword had to choice but to cut them down while avoiding her attack. Her dark gaze stared at him as if she wanted to remove him. It seemed like she wouldn't listen until she was put down in fight.

Nisha called out her friends supporting her battle. Elsword blocked these creatures' attacked and knocked them out, forcing them to disappear. He turned to Nisha who was now having circles of spikes protecting herself and using them to rush. He blocked those spikes that was scratching his sword, causing pitches sounds.

Elsword guided it pass to his right, with inner destruction aura, smashed those spikes, snapped them off rings and lowered its efficency. Seeing how he could disarm those spikes, she dismantled circles of spikes and used those intact spikes to shoot at him, but easily got discarded by his sword waves.

Inside the mirrors, Laby was startled by spike of energy. She crawled out her bed and headed to windows where she could see what mirror saw outside. Chaos, distortion of dark magic mixed with light disturbed her. Laby stepped back from windows while holding her chest. She cleared fog that covered her view outside.

"?!"

Nisha was already fighting Elsword.

"Nisha! Stop!"

Laby ran quickly, trying to open the door but it's locked. Nisha locked her from leaving. Her kick and punch wouldn't do much to break it down. She headed back to windows and attempted to break it but no use as Nisha made sure Laby was in the room.

"Nisha! Laby begs you! Stop!"

But her voice fell deaf ears.

Outside, Elsword had trouble fighting against Nisha. Her dark power affected his surounding and slowly ate away his strength, wearing his power out. Nisha launched more spikes and attacked Elsword. He swung, scattered them away yet he was hit by some of them hit non-vital points on his body. He leaned on cliff for support, watching Nisha approaching closer and closer.

"She should have had a happy life. She should have been safe from this cursing world, hurting and blaming Laby for what she has done nothing wrong."

"What about you…" Elsword slowly got up, staring at her "You hold her in a fake world… isolating her from Gaia, hurt her and lie to her."

"Nisha does what Nisha believes is the best for Laby." Nisha held a spike thorn and walked toward him "As long as she is safe."

Elsword blocked the incoming strike that aimed at his heart. She really meant to remove him. With his remain aura of destruction, he dodged the fatal strike. Her weapon stabbed the cliff and stuck. Leaving no chance to act, he swept and hooked her legs, falling her down before he raised his sword with its tip on her face.

"Give up...?"

Nisha was staring rapidly on the tip of the sword , waiting to pierce her. From the look of him, he meant no joke, one wrong move and she's as good as dead, and she couldn't protect Laby if dead. She let loose of her muscle and looked away his eyes. Elsword, seeing her surender, withdrew his sword and fell back, tired as much as Nisha was.

"You care for her, Nisha?"

"Why do you ask? Nisha loves Laby a lot and Nisha will kill anyone who try to harm her."

She replied and hugged mirror, still struggling to protect Laby.

"And you, Why do you care about her?"

The same question returned to Elsword, as she wanted to learn why Laby trusted him. From the outside, he was just a casual man who lived alone and had Laby visiting every week, nothing special.

"What can I say… She's like a part of family to me. She's like a fire igniting the will of everyone and lifts up their mood, including me. I wouldn't sit down while hearing her being imprisoned." He grinned weary.

"Nisha doensn't understand… Your reason is illogical."

"We don't need a logical reason to save someone closest to us, eh?"

Elsword was right. She did everything to protect Laby from the world without any reason to explain to her and ignored her words. She tried to kill Elsword without realizing that her action would hurt her even more that one of her friends was dead by her hand.

Nisha wanted to trust him, like how Laby trusted him. Maybe… just maybe… she could.

"Here."

To Elsword's surprise, she handed him the mirror she was holding.

"Nisha hopes you can give Laby a good protection she's hoping for."

"…"

The mirror let out a bright light from its sufface, showing its cracks and then shattered. A figure jumped out from it and landed on Elsword's body, falling down. The girl got up and then hugged Elsword tightly.

"Ouch… Laby, I'm hurt…"

"Laby's sorry… Laby's sorry…"

Elsword patted her head softly while muttering "I'm here… Everything's fine…"

Nisha watched Laby let out her tears, something she couldn't see. Elsword managed to make everyone near him to reveal their emotion effortlessly, even her.

Elsword noticed Nisha's face filled with jealousy that Laby was heed over heel him than her. Elsword gave out his hand, as an invitation. She didn't want, but her body was moving on her own, of how she trembled against her will.

Of how she really needed someone to protect her.

She knelt beside him, letting tears rolling down her cheeks, and cuddled his chest.

"There… there… you have done your best, Nisha. You are good girl."

Nisha sobbed the whole night and slowly fell asleep, just like how Laby fell asleep near Elsword before.

The following days later, they returned to Ruben with a stunned Gaia, who was told that Laby chose to live with Elsword, her new home, and Nisha. This of course gained irritation from Earth master toward Nisha but Elsword stood before him and protected her from his wraith, saying that she did to protect Laby.

Though Gaia still didn't trust her, Laby stood him up for Nisha, At this point, Gaia gave up. He put Elsword in charge of looking after Nisha while he took Laby back to check on her condition.

2 years later, Elsword found Gaia and Laby before his home. He told Elsword of his discovery that Laby had linked her soul with Nisha, thus merging their lives as one. Seeing that, with Gaia unable to look after Laby due to work as Master, he entrusted her to him. But that's his another plan, as Gaia noticed Laby had unstable emotion ever since he separated her from Nisha.

Elsword noticed too since Nisha couldn't stay in one place and had sadness on her face. She wished to see Laby as well.

Suffice to say, they both were happy to see each other again.

"I hope you take care of them."

With his words, Gaia left, leaving Laby with her best friend, though Elsword was feeling he had other meaning as well, but it wouldn't be a matter.

A month later…

"Laby, Nisha! Dinner!"

Elsword finished making meal and waited for both of them, but no response. He went and checked their room to find out they were not here. Elsword wondered where they went and it didn't take him long to hear the voice from other room, which was Elsword's. He went there and found two of them in the blanket, doing something strange.

He appproached slowly, and then…

"Get him!"

They jumped out and pinned Elsword on the floor. Elsword found himself being hugged on both arms by the girls who nudged their heads on his chest. They both didn't hide their smiles and kissed him in a three-way, a symbol of gratitude and love.

"Thank you, Elsword."

Yuu-chan: Never let me and other had a safe day to write and false intel of virus… *mumbling * Hi, readers. Yuu-chan here, and my apology for long absence due to you-know-what. I had to help my parents to take care of safety as it reached to my place once before the authority took care of it. Still live well and all.

Be safe, be healthy everyone for we have a lot to do, a dream we have to reach.

OwO /

*Left while thinking a good Aisha's Lemonade*