Chapter Nine: To Wish Upon a Star

After a day of packing, tidying, cleaning, and for Elsword training the group was assembling in the garage with their things. Elesis had packed most of Elsword's things since the poor girl was unsure about what she needed. The dusty scent of the garage made her want to sneeze, but she forced the feeling down out of consideration for the people around her.

"Alright, so here's how we'll divide us up." Raven said, "I'll be taking point in my truck with Rena in the front and Chung and Elsword in the back. Behind us will be Elesis, Ara, and Add."

"Don't worry, I'll be quiet." Add said, knowing the disgust in Elesis's groan, "I've lived here for a while, can I at least have some respect?"

"History can be hard to let go." Eve said, "Mr. Stalker."

"Touche." Add chuckled.

"And finally we'll have Lu, Ceil, Aisha, and Eve in the back of the line. Any complaints?" Raven finished.

"No." Everyone said.

"Everyone may store their luggage in my car." Eve said. Since it was essentially a limo it had the most room so everyone obliged. After getting a couple thick blankets and several warm pillows for the back of Raven's truck the group set off for their trip. Since Elder was so close to home, the plan was to skip it and head straight to Bethma. Eve had been up all night prior contacting old friends to explain the situation to keep things smooth. Given the daily lives of this merry band they took the news easily.

So with their home settling into the forest behind them Elsword couldn't help but look around. She hadn't sat in the back of a truck before and the pure speed that the complex vehicle ran at sent her into a childlike wonder that Chung, unbeknownst to her, couldn't help but smile at. If she focused on a single object it would blast by her but seemed to walk by at the same time; if she found herself losing her focus everything became a blur whipping by.

"Hey Elsword." Chung's voice snapped her back to the immediate reality and she sat back down properly.

"Y-Yes?" Did she do something wrong?

"So you looking forward to this trip?" The prince asked sweetly, the innocent sincerity in his eyes causing her to melt into relaxation.

"I'm looking forward to it." Elsword said, pressing her fingers together, "I really want to get to know everyone…since I forgot. I just hope I have fun with everyone too."

"Heh, given how things are around our group there's never a dull moment. If you ever have any problems you should bring them to Raven or Rena, they'll definitely help you." Chung said.

"Okay." Elsword looked up at the clouds, the only things seeming to remain static, "Hey Chung? What was I like before?" Chung expected this.

"Well, I'm sure you've already been told, but you were a great friend. You were always there for everyone, fun to be with, and reliable in any situation. Sure you butted heads with Aisha a lot and got into fights with Elesis being siblings and all, but we wouldn't want to go a day without you." He concluded. It seemed Elsword found this answer to be sufficient, replying with a series of thoughtful nods.

"Oh, I had a really weird dream last night." She said suddenly.

"Oh? What was it about? If you don't mind my asking."

"I dunno…It was really dark and raining and I was in a really big town with super tall buildings. I was wearing a trench coat and a hat and seemed to be looking for something."

"Huh, maybe it's trying to tell you something." Chung said, "But that also feels like you're starting to remember things."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, you dreamt of a big city and we haven't ever been to one with you since the incident so the only way you'd come up with it would be if the memory came back to you but sounds like it's still pretty fuzzy." Chung pulled out a large pad of paper and a pencil, "Why don't you get some sleep? Maybe you'll remember some other stuff." With nothing better, or at least more important, to do Elsword took him up on that offer and ruffled the blankets they were sitting on a little to pull one over her, the rushing wind from the freeway making her slightly cold. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

I was standing outside of a bar. The pouring rain pooled gently into my cap before cascading off the sides. My leather trench coat housed both my hands; a cigarette in my mouth, half-done. The flickering lights of the sign caught my eye, 'The Drunken Glitter'. Not knowing why I opened the door and stepped inside.

The crowded bar was filled with merry patrons sitting around the numerous tables that dotted the floor. Some shot pool, others flung darts. Ignoring this I made my way to the bar and rested my elbow on it.

"What'll it be ma'am?" The young barkeep inquired.

"I'm looking for someone." I said with a sideways glance. The man chuckled.

"Aren't we all?" He laughed. I smiled ever so slightly, blinking for a full second before nodding my head down and looking back at him.

"I'm not looking for just anyone. I'm looking for myself." I said. I had to find it, I needed to remember.

"Well we're fresh out of personal revelations here." The barkeep said cryptically, wiping a shot glass. He poured a tiny cup of a brownish liquid and pushed it towards me, "But I hear the club down the road has some…unique notifications."

I eyed the bartender suspiciously before downing the shot with ease and leaving as quietly as I had arrived. The seemingly inaccurate directions were in fact spot on as the street was sloped. Turning on my heel out of the door I strode down this rainy town again.

Three minutes, a cab drives by, the drunken customer yelling something incoherent. Six and a half, a dove lifts off a telephone wire. Nine minutes, I arrive at another bright establishment. Not caring for the name I walk inside, the bright red and pink lights making me feel odd. I looked around the lavished room, spying no one of interest until…

"Chung?" I blinked in shock. Sitting in the corner with a glass of wine was the Prince himself. I rushed over, maybe he had seen me! He looked up from his glass and smiled warmly, suddenly forcing me to a stop. My chest felt like I had run into a wall while running downhill.

"Elsword, great to see you." He said.

"A-Ah…Um…" I stuttered. Why did I want to say something?!

"What is it?" Chung stood up and stepped closer, eyes but a foot from her own, "Do you need to tell me something?"

"C-Chung….I…I-."

"Ah!" Elsword gasped as she shot upright, hand stretched outward. With ragged breaths she soon realized she was awake now. It was dark, spare for a lone sphere providing a dim light giving just enough to see the truck bed, and Chung was fast sleep. She held her head, feeling sore, "Just a dream…Right?"

Suddenly a sharp ring ushered from her pack. Before they left Eve had given her a phone with everyone's number and names. Rushing to pull it from her bag she opened to see it was Ara. Clicking the answer button she held it to her ear.

"Y-Yes?" She said, still shocked from her sudden awakening.

"Elsword are you okay? You just suddenly shot upright in the truck." The ebonette said. That's right…Sis and Ara are right behind us. Elsword recalled the order they were traveling in, "Elsword?"

"Oh!" She snapped out of her distraction, "Y-Yeah I'm fine. I just…had a weird dream…"

"Do you wanna talk about it?" She asked.

"Hey put her on speaker, Add's got his headphones on anyway." She heard Elesis's muffled voice through the phone.

"Okay. Elsword hang on one second I'm gonna put you on speaker phone."

"Okay…" Elsword heard the click.

"Hear me?" Elesis asked, slightly obscured but clear enough.

"Yeah."

"So you had a weird dream huh?" Elesis said, "Don't keep us in suspense sis, tell us. You seemed really agitated."

"Well…" Elsword looked at Chung, "I had a weird dream last night and I told Chung. He said I might be remembering stuff and said I could go to sleep if I wanted."

"M'kay." Ara replied.

"And I was in a really big city…wearing a brown trench coat and a hat. I was outside a bar and I went in to talk to the barkeeper. I told him I was…looking for myself and he told me, kinda strangely, that there was a place down the road I should check out. So I went there and it was a really….weird place."

"What was it like?" Elesis asked for details.

"It was really red…and pink. With a lot of music." Elesis was silent, "But in the corner I saw Chung."

"Really? Was he with a girl?"

"No!" Elsword found herself snapping at Ara's suggestion. She blinked in surprise, "I-I mean no, he wasn't…"

"What was he doing?" Elesis asked, taking over.

"He was just drinking. I walked over to him and then he said hello to me and…my chest felt really sore."

"Warm?" Ara piped up.

"Yeah…I guess. I felt like I really wanted to tell him something but it couldn't come out. I think I was just about to say it when I suddenly woke up."

"Hmmm…." Elesis mumbled to herself, "Well it's probably nothing. You shouldn't worry about it. We'll be passing the border to Bethma really soon so you might wanna sleep some more, it'll be really hot."

"Okay…Sis?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for listening."

"No problem, now go to bed sleepy pants." Elesis chuckled. Ara said farewell and hung up, leaving Elsword alone. She looked back at Chung and then laid down to stare at the night sky.

"I wonder what these dreams mean…" She mumbled. Why was she trying to find herself? Was her old self trying to find the new her to make her remember? Was it the other way around? Countless thoughts ran through her head but one remained prominent, "What was I trying to say to him…?" She whispered softly as she stole another glance at the young prince.

He didn't seem like one in fact, but opinion. His smooth skin and silky blonde hair felt like out of a fantasy book. Elsword turned back to the sky and saw something flash across her field of vision. She wondered what it was. Her phone buzzed again.

"Hey Elsword there's some shooting stars!" It was Aisha, "If you see one don't forget to make a wish! ;3"

"Make a wish…?" Elsword put the phone down and looked back to the sky to see another star fire across the inky horizon. She knew just what she wanted. A hand on her chest she spoke gently, "I wish I learn what I had to tell Chung."