Riviera comes with some pretty awesome music, wouldn't you agree? It rocks even Advance Wars music (Sturm's theme! Rock on! Haha).
Anyway, welcome to chapter 3 of The White Wings. I warned in the chapter preview that this chapter would contain yuri, so I won't repeat that again. Uh, so I just did… shush!
Sometimes I wonder what everyone's favorite food is… What the heck does Serene like to eat? Everyone knows Lina loves applecots, but that's about it… isn't it? Besides that Fia can't eat meat? (Or maybe it's just Cierra's cooking she can't eat XD)
Meh… well, everyone, sit back and enjoy chapter 3! (Well, you don't have to sit back, you can lean in if you can't see well XP) Refer to chapter 1 for the disclaimer.
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Cierra and Lina greeted the group at the door. Ledah quickly brought Rose to the couch and laid her down. He took off his crimson cloak and put it over her before returning to the dining room.
"Where did Serene go?" Lina asked.
"Just out for a walk, like I said," Serene protested. "I just brought Ledah here."
"Ledah?" Lina turned to see Ledah enter the dining room. "Whoa, it's Ledah! Lina wants to know how Ledah came back to life! Did it hurt? Was there a light? Where were you?"
"Lina, calm down," Cierra called, lifting the food out of the oven. She had put the food back in the oven to reheat it. "Although I AM a bit curious too…"
"Why don't we start eating first," Serene interrupted. "I'm starving."
"Lina too!" Lina chimed in.
Everyone except Rose sat down around the dining room table. Once the serving was complete, Ledah began to tell his story again.
"Seth's life force?" Cierra wondered after Ledah finished. "Doesn't that make you Seth?"
"I guess that kinda makes sense," Serene said, reaching into the fruits basket for a banango. "If you make a chair out of a tree, it becomes a wooden chair, right?"
"Good analogy," Ledah commented. "Well, it would make sense, but it's just Seth's life force that Ursula attached my soul to, so I suppose there shouldn't be even a trace of Seth in me."
Ein picked up his plate and went to the kitchen. Only Fia noticed him leave.
"That's interesting," Serene remarked, nibbling the banango.
"When you died, Ledah, did you see a light or something like that?" Lina asked. She reached into the basket for an applecot and bit off half in one bite. "What happened to you after you died?"
"Many people say that," Cierra added. "When you die, there's this white light that seems to move closer and closer to you."
"A light, huh," Ledah pondered a moment. "Well, I don't remember seeing anything like that, but it's possible that I just forgot about it. And what happened to me, I'm not too sure… I found myself in a mix of different places I've been in before. Maybe those places were from my memories."
"Wow," Fia said. "You've been through a lot to get back here, huh."
"Yes I have, but I'm glad to be back here. Maybe now I can learn why Ein has become so attached to all of you."
"I'm sure it won't take you long, but we've told you many times over already," Fia told him. "He knows what he was and is fighting for. He wants peace in Riviera and for the lives of those who live here to continue. That's what purity is."
"That… is still something I don't understand," Ledah murmured. "Maybe I have to think about it more."
"You try that," Serene reassured him. "I'm sure you'll one day find the answer, and when you do, I hope you will fight alongside us to protect everything we are trying to protect."
"The Accursed might be gone, but conflict never ends," Cierra chimed in. "Because of that, we need to suppress the conflict before it gets too big. And if one day the Accursed do return, they'll be disturbing our peace, which we can never forgive them for."
"The Accursed…" Ledah thought aloud. "I wonder if they were Hector's minions too, controlled by him like Malice and I were."
"It doesn't matter," Lina stated. Having finished her applecot, she reached into the basket to get another one. "If the Accursed come again, we'll all beat them together."
"Now that you mention Malice, was she brought back to life too?" Fia asked. "It would make sense, since you were."
"I'm not sure what happened to Malice," Ledah replied, biting into an applecot. "Seth had incredible life force, so Ursula should have been able to manage, but I don't know if she did or not."
"Malice never realized her folly even with her death," Cierra explained. "You were dead already, so I don't expect you to know that, but Hector killed her along with Fia when she pinned Fia down for Hector's shot." Fia winced as she remembered. Cierra continued, "She was glad simple to have assisted Hector with his plans, always thinking it was the will of the Gods. With her harsh life, I hope Ursula forgave her and gave her another chance at life."
"What a sad existence," Ledah remarked. "I kinda feel like she deserves another chance at life too."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Lina exclaimed, reaching for a banango. "Did Ledah just…?"
"Looks like you have one of your emotions back, Ledah," Cierra smiled. "It won't take very long at this rate."
"By the way, where did Ein go?" Fia asked. "What's he doing?"
"I'm here," Ein answered, bringing a pot of tea into the room with seven cups. "Here, some tea, everyone."
"Oh my, thanks so much," Cierra said in her clumsy tone. "I completely forgot about tea."
"Everyone's done eating? I'm bringing the dishes in," Ein announced.
"Ah, Ein! I'll help you!" Fia got up and picked up the empty plates in front of her, Serene, and Ledah, and brought them into the kitchen.
As the other four chatted at the dining table, Fia and Ein washed the dishes together.
"Didn't you say you wanted to go somewhere after dinner?" Ein asked. "I'm still not sure where you want to go."
"Oh, you'll see soon enough, Ein," Fia reassured him, her heart beating faster with expectation.
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Ledah picked up a banango and an applecot and got up.
"Where are you going, Ledah?" Cierra asked. "We weren't done talking yet!"
"Just the living room. You can come too if you want." With that, he left the room.
"What business does he have there?" Serene wondered. "Come on, let's go."
They entered the living room to see Ledah sitting on a couch he'd pulled close to the couch Rose was sleeping peacefully on. He sat there watching her.
"Should we be bothering them?" Cierra wondered.
"You mean 'him'? Rose isn't going to be bothered by anything unless the house falls down or something," Lina pointed out.
"Yeah, you have a point there, but still…" Serene agreed. "…Let's just leave them alone."
"Meh, okay, fine with me," Cierra said, though her disappointment was obvious. "I'm beat. I guess I'll go to bed now."
"Okay, Cierra," Lina said. "Buh-bye and good night."
"'Night." Cierra went upstairs to the room she made by carving deeper into the tree.
"Hey, Lina, wanna go outside?" Serene suggested. "It must be beautiful out tonight."
"Okay, let's go!" Lina chirped happily as she ran to get her bow.
They made their way to the Grove of Repose. The moon was now high in the sky, and the stars still twinkled around. Through the trees of the grove, the stars seemed to dance through the leaves.
"It's so beautiful," Serene said, inhaling deeply the cool night air. "So peaceful."
"So serene," Lina laughed. "You really want to say that, don't you?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Serene laid down on the grass, both hands behind her head, looking up at the twinkling sky and watching Lina climb a tree. She wasn't sure why, but she'd been thinking of Lina ever since Serene had left to journey. There was something about her that she could not get her mind off of. Serene then realized that she'd actually been missing Lina.
"Lina found an applecot!" she shouted with glee as she pulled out her bow to shoot it down. Her shot went right through the stem holding up the applecot, and it fell to the ground.
"I never miss," she said with pride.
"Lina, you're still a kid, aren't you," Serene whispered to herself. "Maybe that's what makes you so cute." She heard a rustle in the bushes nearby, but dismissed it as the wind.
Lina picked up the applecot and came to lay down by Serene. "Did you say something?"
"No, nothing," Serene replied, looking down at the flowing orange hair on Lina's head. When Lina looked up, their eyes met for a brief moment, before Lina broke the silence.
"Does Serene want some applecot?" she offered, taking a bite.
"No, thanks, Lina," Serene replied more softly than usual, enjoying every moment with Lina. "I had enough from dinner."
"Okay then," Lina turned her head away again to look up at the sky. She then leaned her head against Serene's shoulder. "What a sparkly sky… Lina wants to fly too! Fly though the sparkles!"
Serene put Lina's head in her lap. Lina turned to look up at her, but she just smiled softly. Lina turned back to the sky and took another bite out of the applecot.
"Maybe I can take you for a flight through the sky," Serene said. "I don't know if these wings are strong enough though…"
"Really?" Lina exclaimed. "Let's go, let's go!" She finished up the applecot and threw the core into a nearby hole. A squeak came out from the hole, but she paid no attention.
Serene picked up Lina in her arms and lifted off. Her wings flapping harder than usual, she started slowly, then picked up a little speed, rising over the trees and dipping low over Undine Spring, where Serene noticed two dark figures but paid no attention. It's probably Ein and Fia, she thought.
In Serene's arms, Lina giggled and pointed up, having fun like she never had. "It's so pretty! Lina wishes she could take a star home with her!"
"I don't think I can help you with that," Serene informed her.
They continued their flight over Elendia, passing over Lina and Fia's house and the Elder's house. Serene landed on a secluded cliff on a small grassy hill that overlooked Elendia and gave a great view of the sky.
"Lina never knew about this place," Lina thought aloud. "How did you find it?" she asked.
"Oh, I was just flying around one day and found it," Serene explained, setting Lina back on her feet.
"It's nice."
After a moment, Serene went behind Lina and put her arms around her waist. Lina looked up in surprise, but Serene just smiled again.
"Uh, Serene? What…" Lina stammered, a hint of red coming on her cheeks.
Serene felt awkward, her face heating up too. "Shh," she whispered. She didn't know what the others would think, but she was content to be with Lina for now.
Lina turned back and relaxed in Serene's arms. She felt a strange feeling rushing through her heart that she never felt before, but it made her feel good. Still watching the full moon, she stood leaning lightly backwards with Serene behind her, supporting her. She realized that Serene had been on her mind ever since she left last time, and she had missed her.
Serene was also looking up at the sky. With Lina in her arms, she also felt the feeling in her heart, and it was also her first time. She felt strangely, but serenely, at peace with Lina in her embrace. Lina was becoming drowsy and started leaning more heavily on Serene. Serene sat down and put Lina's head in her lap again. She looked down at Lina, who was half-asleep, her eyes closed.
She looks so cute… Serene thought. "I'll always be there for you, to protect you from danger… to watch over you… to be with you… always." She whispered softly. In her lap, Lina's mouth turned subtly to a smile.
"Lina, I… love you…" Serene whispered. "I always have, and I always will."
Lina's eyes opened a little bit. She looked up into Serene's soft face, and replied, "Serene, I love you too." She closed her eyes again and prepared, heart beating away in her chest.
Serene was still for a moment, absorbing what she'd just said, before she slowly leaned over, closed her eyes, and touched her lips with Lina's tenderly. The passionate first kiss seemed to last forever.
So sweet, like applecot, Serene thought as she kissed her. I never knew that. Maybe it's just all the applecots she'd been eating since dinner?
Her mouth is intoxicating. It's so… sweet… Lina thought. What's this? It feels good… Her heart pounded faster, and she felt a tingling sensation thatcoursed through her body.
Serene broke the kiss softly and rose up again, opening her eyes. Lina's eyes also opened a bit.
"Be with me, always," Lina said softly.
"Of course," Serene affirmed. "Always."
Lina smiled up at Serene again, knowing she'd be content with Serene and never want to part again. They kissed again, up on a cliff on a grassy hill somewhere overlooking Elendia, under the twinkling, shining night sky, each wanting to be with the other forever.
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A/N: Ahh, that was so cute! I really love that pairing . but I really hate yaoi pairings. Maybe that's because I'm a guy? I have no idea… maybe it has something to do with hormones or personality or whatnot…
Haha, sometimes I look back to read a previous chapter or two, and then I realize I've said some things I totally forgot about, like Serene's house I mentioned in chapter 1, I haven't mentioned it up to chapter 11… maybe I'll put it in somewhere… .
In future fics I'll probably be testing out other, potentially weird, pairings, just to see how they work out. But for now, I'll just keep on working on this one. It's gonna be a long one, folks. Here's the next chapter preview:
Chapter 4: The Night Sky part 2 (Release on July 20, 2006)
It's Rose and Ledah's turn! After spying for a couple minutes on Serene and Lina, they also get caught up in the romantic atmosphere! How will this night unfold? What about Ledah's emotions?