Viera Actress

Chapter Five

This chapter continues the hypnosis session, but through Jote's point of view, with all the pain and anguish attached. And later you see her true feelings for Myko, and it isn't what everyone thinks (apparently, Myko is more than just Jote's ticket to little Viera). I know this story kind of sounds like something out of a soap opera, but I watch lots of daytime television so that's probably why. I had trouble keeping from crying while writing the last chapter. I don't usually write things so heartbreaking. It has a happy ending though. And Slya gets to meet her daddy. Please send more reviews, as long as they aren't flames.

"I'm sorry. I have to get more information. So sorry. I hope you can forgive me. I don't want to have to hear it again either. I know that it will be even harder for you. Too bad we didn't do you first, so I wouldn't have had to hypnotize Fran and we could've been done with this." Ella said. Jote was still in hysterics. How was she ever going to let this go?

"Jote. You have to think about your other daughter. Vinka sees you crying and she's upset. You have to stop crying." Mjrn said. Jote hit her.

"I'd just stop talking to her. She's going to have to relive the worst moment of her life, the reason she's so miserable. Just leave her alone."

"YOU CANNOT TORTURE ME LIKE THAT! I WOULD'VE NEVER AGREED TO THE HYPNOSIS IF I KNEW IT WAS THIS DEVESTATING!!" Jote roared.

"Jote, please just calm down. We need our leader." Hala said. Jote looked at her.

"You be the leader then! Better yet, let MJRN be the leader! She's my sister, after all! Our mother was the leader, and Fran is unsuitable! Go ahead Mjrn!"

"No! I am not the leader, Jote! You are! You can't just leave us! Listen to me, our mother lost two daughters, but she still went on with her life and led the village!" Mjrn yelled.

"Mjrn, shut up. You can be the leader."

"Fran, talk some sense into her!"

"Mjrn…" Fran began.

"Accept your destiny, little sister! You're the only one with the right blood who is old enough to lead!" Jote screamed. She tried to run, but three Viera grabbed her and restrained her. "Ella, if you make me do this, I will die."

"I'm sorry. I have to do my job. I doubt you will die, but this will hurt in ways I cannot comprehend." Ella said.

"I won't resist, but I hope you're happy. You're going to kill me. Mjrn, you will be the leader until Sylva is old enough to take over. And Marl? I love you with every fiber of my being."

"Now, keep her still. I'm going to put her under trance the same way I did for Fran. Watch the hypno-leaf. When it swings six more times, you'll go into a deep sleep. And you'll remember the same time I told Fran to remember."

Fran backed off and stood with Balthier. Marl looked worried about his mate. Myko wanted her mother to pick her up, but Fran was not in the right mind to do anything like that.

"Let's go take Myko and go out in the Wood and catch up on the goings-on with her, Fran. You don't want to see this, I know." Balthier suggested. Fran shook her head.

"I can't abandon Jote right now. I never imagined our memory was this horrible." Fran said in almost a whisper. She still couldn't believe what had happened.

"We're here to see our daughter."

"Jote is still my sister."

"By blood alone. She doesn't see you as her sister anymore. She couldn't care less what happens to you."

"Right. By BLOOD. And blood is thicker than water."

"That has kind of become your motto, hasn't it?"

"It is true. Literally and metaphorically. And what happened to Jote… nobody deserves that."

"Fran, when this is over, let's leave Myko with Mjrn and go out, find a nice secluded spot in the Wood, and then we can…" Balthier began. Fran gave him a Look that stopped him mid-sentence.

"How can you think about doing that when my sister is here, about to relive the worst moment of her entire life? I need to be here, with her, not out in the Wood doing something the Viera see as a most heinous crime. When Jote is over this, we have all the time in the world to play." Fran whispered. She knew that Myko was right next to her, and that was why she spoke so quietly.

"I want you now."

"Balthier, just wait. It won't be any fun if I'm in a foul mood. You know that."

"I will wait as long as I can, my love."

Ella had put Jote in trance. The other Viera gazed at her. They wouldn't let her hurt herself while in trance. Marl sat next to where she was laying, stroking her ears.

Jote was excited. She could not wait to tell her beloved Gura the news. She had just found out that they were going to be parents. Jote and Gura had been trying for a long time to have a child. She had just told her closest friends, and they were so excited. She had not yet told her mother and little sister Fran. Jote had always wanted to be a mommy, and now that she was pregnant, her wish was going to come true. The Wood had just told her. The Wood knew the moment it happened, and would tell the Viera as soon as said Viera spoke to the Wood again.

Jote found Gura talking to her mother, Sylva. Sylva had her two-week old son Delf in her arms. Fran was peeking out from behind Sylva's legs. Sylva loved all her children, and kept telling Jote that she wanted lots of children, and lots of grandchildren. Jote took that last part to heart, and even though she was young, wanted to grant at least one of her mother's wishes.

"Gura! Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I have something incredible to tell you! Something that will change our lives forever!" Jote cried. She was so excited. She couldn't wait to see how happy Gura would be when he found out that he was going to be a daddy.

Sylva looked very happy. "My little girl is growing up."

"I thought I was your little girl, Mommy." Fran said.

"You are my baby girl. Jote is my little girl."

"Jote, you know I love you so much." Gura said. Jote had always liked how sweet Gura was. He was always so gentle when they made love. And he adored her.

Jote knew it was time to tell Gura the big news. "This family is going to have another Viera to love soon. In about a year and a half, to be exact."

Gura looked shocked. "What?" He asked.

Jote felt pure happiness flowing from her "Gura, we're finally going to be parents. I'm pregnant!" She cried out. Gura embraced her.

"Hear that Franny? You're gonna be an aunt!" Sylva told her little daughter.

"Jote is going to be a mom?" Fran asked.

"That's right sis. I'm going to be a good mother. Just like our mother."

"I'm sure you will be. I did teach you everything I know. Wow. My first grandchild. I'm so proud." Sylva said happily.

Nine months later, Jote was starting to show. A Hume could have a child in this amount of time, but a Viera usually carried her child for a year and a half. Jote was halfway through her pregnancy, and Gura was always with her. He would go overboard to make sure Jote was happy and comfortable.

"Gura?" Jote asked. She knew what she was feeling.

"Love?" Gura responded. He often referred to Jote as Love.

"She's moving! Want to feel her? It is just the weirdest feeling!"

Gura placed his hand on Jote's middle. Jote's child kicked. "That's amazing! Love, I'm so happy."

"Me too. And the Wood told me that it's a girl."

"Does it hurt?"

Jote shook her head. Gura smiled.

"That's a relief. I don't know how I'd feel if having this kid hurt you that much."

"Mom says that the part that hurts is the actual birth. I have to go find her. She wanted me to show Fran the first time I felt any movement."

Jote went home and found Fran talking to Sylva. Jote loved her mother, but Fran always seemed to be closer. Jote never remembered ever being that close. Of course, she had friends and Fran didn't. The other Viera her age thought she was a freak because she'd always ask them what they thought the outside world was like.

"Mom? She's moving." Jote said.

"That's wonderful."

"It's just the strangest feeling. Now I know why you love having kids so much."

Sylva grinned. "That is one of the minor reasons, my daughter. One of the very minor reasons. It is an amazing feeling, to feel a little Viera move inside of you, but there is so much more. I adore my children. You know I would do anything for one of my babies. My daughter, no matter what happens, there is a little bit of Sylva in you. There is some of me in all of my children. You are strong, as I am strong."

Fran looked upset. Jote felt sorry for her. She had nobody else. If anything happened to Sylva, Fran would be alone. Well, not alone. Jote knew that she and Delf would be there for Fran no matter what. And Gura too. He saw Fran as his little sister.

Three months later, Sylva and Jote were just relaxing when Fran came in, all upset. The little Viera was crying, and Sylva was instantly at her side, trying to figure out what was wrong. Fran said that the other little Viera were harassing her. Jote's child chose that moment to start kicking her like crazy.

"Mom? Quickly! Get Fran to feel this!" Jote exclaimed.

"C'mere Fran. Want to feel your niece kicking?" Sylva asked. Fran nodded excitedly and put her hand on her sister's middle. Jote laughed.

"I can't believe this is finally happening. I was beginning to think that Gura was sterile, but he's not, and we're going to have a baby." Jote said happily.

"Mom, can I have a baby someday?" Fran asked.

"Sure Fran. I'd love you to have lots of kids. I've always wanted lots of grandchildren. I want to give you a little sister too. Do you want a little sister, Franny?"

"Yes. And she'll be a happy Viera, because I'm a good big sister."

"You sure are. Delfie is crazy about you."

"Hey Fran? Am I a good big sister?" Jote asked.

"You are the best big sister in the Wood. A little Viera couldn't ask for a better big sister. And when our little sister is born, she's going to love you too."

One night, six months later, Jote lay awake. She began to have contractions after a while. She knew what was going on and woke up Sylva, who took Fran and Delf and left them with her advisor Kjmi. Kjmi had two young daughters, Rael and Kira. Kira was blind, but she didn't seem to hate Fran as much as most of the other little Viera did.

Jote and Sylva went out into the Wood. Sylva called upon the Wood to protect them from predators. Viera could do this, and often would when they were about to give birth. Even under hypnosis, Jote couldn't remember much of the actual birth. Sylva helped her through it, but it was incredibly hard.

"I know it hurts, but you have to push!" Sylva was yelling.

"I don't know if I can!" Jote screamed.

"You're doing fine! This is only your first time! When you have another, it will be easier. You'll have experience. C'mon, push."

Jote knew that she felt the little Viera slide out of her, but when there was no crying from her child, she was concerned. Was it really out? She was about to ask, but then she saw her mother's expression. The look of pure horror on Sylva's face made Jote sure something bad had happened. Sylva picked up the limp body of her granddaughter and tried to make her breathe. She tried so hard to resuscitate the baby, but nothing worked. Jote looked to her mother for answers.

"I'm sorry. She's gone. Sometimes little Viera don't make it, honey." Sylva said.

"She was never here! How could she be gone? How did this happen? She was alive inside of me! I felt her moving hours before I began having contractions!" Jote cried.

"Sometimes they die being born. My cousin lost one like that once. Poor little thing."

"It isn't fair! I wait so long to have a baby, and then I take such good care of myself and everything for a year and a half, and then my little Viera dies!"

"I'm sorry Jote. So very sorry."

"It isn't your fault, Mom. What did I do wrong to make the Wood so angry?!"

"Jote, don't do this. The Wood is not angry at you. That's just the Wood's way of telling you there was something wrong with your child."

"Leaf." Jote whispered.

"Leaf?"

"The Wood told me days ago, that was what I was supposed to call her."

"Can you get up?"

"I think so. I'm going to have to show Gura first. You know, before we bury her. I still can't believe it. This is so unfair. You told me that when you look into the eyes of a newborn Viera, it is the greatest thing in the world."

"You're strong. C'mere. Lean on me. I'll help you get home. She's so beautiful. I wish it didn't take something like this to happen for me to remember how fragile and precious life is. Don't you ever forget that, Jote. Don't give up. You can have another. I know it won't replace your Leaf, but it will make you feel better."

"I don't know if I can risk this happening again." Jote said.

The two returned to Eruyt Village and went to Kjmi's place. Fran rushed over excitedly to see her new little niece, but upon finding out that Jote was holding a dead Viera child, ran and burst into tears. Gura went hysterical when he found out that Jote had lost his daughter. There didn't seem to be any consolation for the two lovers. They buried Leaf quietly in the morning.

Sylva knew she had to do something for her daughter. She knew the Salve of Forgetting was forbidden, but she still had her salve-makers make it. She gave it to Fran and Jote secretly, and never spoke of what had happened again.

Jote came out of trance on her own, and started right up where she had left off. This time, she succeeded in running from the village. Ella was teary herself.

"Should I go after her?" Mjrn asked.

"Absolutely not! Let her figure this out on her own." Ella replied.

"This certainly explains a lot, does it not?" Fran asked Balthier.

"Yeah. Poor Jote. Can we do something else? I have a few ideas on what we can do." Balthier said.

"WHAT IN IVALICE ARE YOU SAYING, YOU INCONSIDERATE HUME?! MY SISTER JUST FOUND OUT SHE LOST HER FIRST CHILD, AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS HAVING FUN?!"

"Mommy, why are you yelling at Daddy?" Myko wondered.

"I'm sorry. We're all really worked up. I didn't mean to yell. Balthier, this is so horrible. I cannot imagine what Jote is feeling. What is going to happen to Vinka?"

"Mommy, where do baby Viera come from?" Myko asked.

"Not again! She's been asking this repeatedly. MYKO! LISTEN TO AUNT MJRN! GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD! Baby Viera are gifts from the Wood!" Mjrn snapped.

"That is true, Myko. I'll tell you the rest some other time." Fran added.

"Hey Fran? I forgot how it happens. Remind me how it went again." Balthier said. Myko wandered off unnoticed.

"Not now. Is lovemaking the only thing you can think of right now?"

"Mmm. Now I'm interested. You know, I'm up for some lovin', if Fran isn't. Take me." Mjrn said. Fran knew her sister wasn't serious. She enjoyed teasing Balthier. She'd do it every time she saw Balthier.

"Mjrn, you don't want to sleep with him. I've heard that Janzyn and you do so well together. If you find out that Balthier is better, and didn't want Janzyn anymore, you'd wreck a perfectly good relationship." Fran responded. Mjrn laughed. She knew that Fran had finally wised up to her joking. The first few times she had done it, Fran had actually believed that Mjrn was seriously hitting on Balthier!

"I'm upset, and I don't even like Jote. Mjrn, you are not helping with the joking today. Fran, you're right. Nobody deserves to have that happen, and then to relive it… I'd be surprised if Jote is still sane."

Marl was still trying to quiet his daughter down. Ella offered her more peppermints, which worked, as usual. The little girl didn't understand why her mother had run off into the forest in tears. Fran was torn. She wanted to see if she could talk to Jote, but Ella said it was useless to try. Jote was the only one who could decide when it was time to move on.

Myko found Jote at her family's Life Tree. The Life Tree got its name from the fact that it was one of the oldest trees in the Wood, and a whole Viera family would tend it. No other Viera family could tend another family's Life Tree. All the trees in Golmore Jungle were descended from the Life Trees. Every Viera family had one to tend. If a Viera family lost their Life Tree, they had to find the oldest tree of the same type. Myko found herself drawn to the Life Tree by the Wood herself. Myko could speak to the Wood, unlike her mother, but rarely did.

"Aunt Jote?" Myko called out. Jote looked at her.

"Not now, Myko. I just want to be alone. I don't know what I'm going to do."

"You need a hug."

"No. I need to be alone. I know you mean well, but please go back to the village. I have the Wood. I do not need anyone else right now."

"I'm not leaving. I'm coming over there. There isn't anything you can do to stop me."

"Very well, but none of your typical idiocy. No actress talk, no nonsense. I'd prefer if you didn't talk at all. I'm talking to the Wood. It's times like this I wish Sylva was still around. She'd know exactly what to say and do. I still cannot believe that she broke the rules and used the forbidden Salve of Forgetting. My mother—your grandmother—always believed in obeying the Green Word to the letter."

Myko came over and snuggled up to Jote. "Mom told me you can take a Viera out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the Viera. I told her the problem is getting the Viera back in the jungle." The little Viera remarked.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"What does it mean?"

"I personally don't believe that it's true. The saying is that a Viera who leaves the Wood is a Viera no longer. Mom used to tell me that. I believe that. A Viera who leaves will adapt to Hume society, and will become like a Hume. She will lose herself."

"Mom also tells me that it's safer in the Wood. There is a town out there where Humes celebrate 'Viera Stomping Day' where they lasso any Viera they find and stomp 'em to death. Ashe promised that the town is going to be investigated and the horrible act forbidden, but they've killed at least two hundred Viera in that ritual."

"That's what happens when Humes don't understand something. They destroy it. Legend says that a long time ago, Viera lived side-by-side with Humes. And then Humes got jealous of the Viera's powers to communicate with nature and began to kill the Viera. A group of about a hundred Viera left the Salikawood in a desperate bid to survive. They brought along seeds from the trees and planted the great Life Trees. The leader of these Viera was named Myko. Your mother named you after her. She planted this Life Tree herself. We descend from her. She only ever had one child, but that daughter had many children. All of the Viera in Eruyt Village can trace their bloodline back to that Viera. Every Viera in the Wood can trace their ancestry back to one of those hundred Viera refugees."

"I'm sorry that you lost a little Viera. Why did you yell at Mommy? It wasn't her fault, was it?"

"Myko-chan, she had nothing to do with it. She was only about the same age as Rael's Dana when I lost Leaf. I would've yelled at anyone who spoke to me at that moment. I didn't mean to say that you didn't deserve to be alive. That was wrong. About my daughter… these things happen sometimes. I don't know why, but they do. Nobody really understands it. It was the Will of the Wood that I lost Leaf."

"You have Vinka now. She's depending on her Mommy."

"I will go back to her when I feel better. I know she wants me, and that she will not understand why I ran off."

"Do you think Leaf would've liked her sister?"

"I don't know. I would like to think that she would love Vinka. I want to have more children, but I don't know what I'd do if I lost another one like that. I know it's a real possibility. It's always a possibility. I don't like to think about it, but I know it can happen again. I love Marl so much, and I don't know if I'd be able to put him through that kind of pain."

"I don't think it has too high a chance of happening."

"And if not that, there's rabbitpox, or the predators, or even if I should die giving birth and there isn't anyone else around. I do want to have more children though, and I won't let the pain of losing Leaf stop me. I'm a stronger Viera than I was back then. Nobody can ever replace Leaf, but I will have other kids."

"Okay, Fran. She couldn't have gotten too far. She's probably still in the village!" Mjrn was yelling, frantically searching for Myko. Fran and Balthier had just noticed that the girl was gone.

"I bet she could be farther than you think. She's a rising star. Rising into the sky like her parents. She may have climbed one of the trees and left." Arla stated. She sometimes spoke a little strangely.

"I doubt she did that. Last time Myko climbed a tree, she fell and got hurt pretty badly. She was in a coma for a week." Rena told her friend.

"And why didn't I hear about this?!" Fran yelped.

"Jote said she didn't want you to worry. Myko was probably going to be fine, she said. If something happened, she'd tell you, but if Myko was fine, you wouldn't have to worry." Rael replied. She wouldn't dare say anything negative about Myko with Fran around.

"Jote seems to be made of ice most of the time, but her heart is still in the right place. And she has a soft spot for small, furry animals. That's why she loves me so much." Marl said. He twitched his nose rabbit-style.

"Where could Myko have gone?" Fran asked.

"I think I might know. She probably went after Jote." Balthier told her.

"Where would Jote be at a time like this?"

"She'd be at the Life Tree. She likes being there. She's always there when she's upset. It uses Mom's voice now, and that is comforting." Mjrn responded.

"Mjrn? Go get Delf. I think we need him now. And don't let him bring Jyna. Jote can't take that right now. She and Jyna have such problems with each other. Jyna still doesn't seem to know that different villages have different rules. I hope Jote isn't being mean to Myko. I'm going after them." Fran ordered.

"Not necessary. The Wood told me to come." Said Delf, standing at the entrance of the village. Mjrn leapt into her brother's arms. She and Delf were close.

"Mjrn? Maybe we could use Janzyn around too." Fran suggested. She was really telling Mjrn to go play. Mjrn understood and nodded excitedly.

"I'm coming with you Fran. The Wood says that Jote needs me at a time like this." Marl said. Fran nodded.

"Myko? Do you see this flower? This is called vinka. It grows in many places. Your grandmother loved it. It was her favourite flower." Jote said, showing Myko a sprig of some kind of plant.

"Is that why you gave your daughter that nickname?" Myko wondered.

"Yes. It is indeed why I gave her that nickname. My mother would've loved it. To have a granddaughter named after her would've made Mom really happy. My little Sylva would've made Mom proud. When Delf and Jyna had their first child, Mom was ecstatic. I wanted so much to have a baby while Mom was still alive. When Gura was killed, I tried to find another soul mate. I would be with males for a while, but it would never last, and nothing would ever come from it."

"Do you love Mr. Marl?"

"With all my heart. He's kind, and understanding. He's so much like Gura. He also knows the pressures of ruling a whole village full of Viera. I never thought I'd meet another male Viera like Gura. The day I met him, I felt almost complete. And little Sylva… she is what keeps me going."

"And who am I? Mjrn says that you see me as nothing more than your ticket to little Viera."

Jote looked ashamed of herself. "That was how it was at first. I apologize," She began. Then she smiled. "I have grown to love you as though you were my own, though. Myko, I'm sorry I've been so hard on you. I just want to teach you how to be a good Viera. I think I will slow down the pace though. If you aren't ready for something, I won't force it on you. Is there anything you'd like to learn?"

"Would you tell me where little Viera come from?"

"If it's alright with your mother, I'll tell you everything. I have to respect her wishes too, and if she doesn't want you to know yet, I will not tell you."

Marl spotted Jote and Myko talking and he motioned for Fran to join him. He didn't want Jote or Myko to notice them yet.

"I've never seen her like this. She's being so nice to Myko. It's like Myko was what she needed right now." Fran whispered.

"The night we made little Sylva, Jote and I made love under that tree for hours." Marl added, pointing at the Life Tree.

"That was really disturbing. Thank you for sharing. Jote told me not to do that under the shade of a Life Tree. Of course, I was with a Hume who was invading the Wood, so she might've just been referring to that fact." Fran hissed. Jote noticed Fran and Marl and called them over.

"Hey. Myko here just saved my life. I think all I needed was a kitten to talk to. I wish there were more like her." Jote said.

"That'll be easy. How 'bout I knock you up again?" Marl purred, his arms snaking around Jote's waist.

Jote turned around and kissed Marl.

"I do so love a happy ending." Myko said.

"It isn't over yet. C'mon Jote. We need to get home. Then you and Marl can do whatever you desire." Fran stated.

"You and Myko go ahead. Marl and I will catch up." Jote said. Marl was already feeling her up, but at least Myko didn't notice! Fran and Myko left.

Jote and Marl spent the night together. Marl had only been hyped up when he asked Jote, but she wanted him. And she always got what she wanted. They had the best sex they had ever had. Under the trees that night, during their intense passion, the one thing that would make Jote feel so much better happened, something wonderful: a new life was created.

While Jote and Marl were off in the Wood, Mjrn went to see Janzyn. Jan had a guest though. Rush was there, visiting Slya. Mjrn was surprised.

"Why are you here?" Mjrn asked.

"Mjrn, when Rael told me that Slya was my daughter, I was shocked. I'm sorry I haven't been there for her." Rush said.

"I'm sorry I never told you."

Slya was delighted to have both her parents in one house, at least for a short time. "Mommy, why don't you do this more often? We can invite Daddy over when we're at home." Slya said happily. Rush picked her up and smiled at Mjrn.

"Want to play with her? We can go out and run through the trees. She deserves both her parents around sometimes, and Slya loves to run." Mjrn asked.

"I would love to." Rush replied.

And that's Chapter 5. Isn't it just lovely how things turn out all right? Myko's play is next and Myko finally learns what she's wanted to learn from Jote (Even though it doesn't show that, it will happen). I told you something amazing would happen too. I really liked writing the climax. You decide whether it's when Jote and Marl are together or when Jote and Myko are talking. I can't decide. I just know I wrote one.