Hello everyone! I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine went pretty good. Watched it snow a good bit yesterday for the most part. We got about 3-4 inches yesterday, but it rained by evening and melted off a good bit of it. This morning there was nothing left but a slushy mess. But it's all good, since I only live a mile from work, although, when I got to work, I found an inch or so of slush in the parking lot, making it ever so much fun to walk in with soggy shoes.
Last time, Marie finally awoke. Illidan questioned her about things that had happened, and Marie finally showed him a vision of the past. Now he knows what happened to Marie, but what else happened?
Btw, some of you who have read my mate's story, The History of the Millennium Items, will seem to remember part of the previous chapter. Well, this chapter is also a bit of her story too, well, a part that I wrote, hehe. She's not had much inspiration to write lately, so she's still spinning her wheels on new chapters. But anyways, I thought I'd throw that out there for anyone who did/does read her stories.
Now, onto the reviews!
Metal Overlord 2.0: Yeah, Shando really didn't want to kill Marie. There was no reasoning to it, other than Raijin's insanity telling him Marie was a threat. In THotM, you find that Raijin sets his sights on another problem later on as well. The man is just paranoid, apparently. But yeah, I figured I'd finish some of the unexplained stuff. Hmm, I may ask for help with Forgotten Guardians sometime. Right now, I have a story line in place. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Ultimate Legendary Master: Yeah, this chapter is mostly a chapter to catch up on the small unresolved issues. The story is about over, so I had a small bit of clean up left.
x-knight20: Yeah, it was a pretty sad chapter. Really, I thought my saddest chapter of all was back when Marie lost with Illidan breaking down at it. When I originally thought it up, it didn't bother me too much, but when I read it, I was felt misty eyed. Thanks for the comments though. Don't worry, things get better.
Isis the Sphinx: Lol, yeah, it is a review, but this chapter goes a step further than what my mate wrote, hehe. Yeah, he never saw what happened till this day, and now he knows why Marie's darkness was so angry. Thanks about TFG. I'm trying to work on it, but it just takes time. Cool that your first semester is out.
Well, that's all for now. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It will answer a few questions, like as to why Marie survived and others. I hope to see lots of reviews next time, so I can spend all morning writing up some replies. Later!
Chapter 68
Illidan continued to embrace Marie as the vision paused once more. Tears fell from his own eyes, as he softly said "My father… He didn't actually kill you. He left you behind though."
Marie softly nodded as she still had her head buried into Illidan's shoulder as she sobbed. She finally pulled back and said "Yes, he left me, but he had to. As he said, Raijin would have killed you if he had saved me."
"Still… he shouldn't have left you." Illidan said with deep sadness in his voice.
Softly smiling, Marie replied "It wasn't over though. Your father knew that I might survive. That's why he left me. Just watch this."
The vision then resumed, showing the flames catching up within the house. As they did, the small body of Marie began to slightly glow.
"Were you… Were you using your Shadow Powers unconsciously?" he asked in surprise.
Marie slightly nodded, saying "To my surprise, I was. I had no memory of ever doing it, but I must have managed to use them."
They then saw what looked like a summoning of a monster begin in front of them. A pink skinned angel with a white dress and golden wings appeared before them.
"Guardian Angel Joan…" Illidan whispered in shock.
The pink angel reached down to check on the unconscious child. She lifted her up into her arms and spread her wings, giving flight from the flaming house. Illidan and Marie then began to float, following the angel into the air.
Once high up into the air, the angel stopped and seemed to call out for something. They soon saw a rather large looking dark orange dragon with massive wings, powerful clawed hands and feet, with many sharp fangs then appear before them. It roared loudly, as if making it's presence made.
Again, Illidan gasped, saying "Tyrant Dragon… How can it be? That dragon was too powerful. Are you saying you were able to control those two back then?"
Marie lightly nodded, saying "Somehow, they followed my commands. I didn't know that I had controlled them before till later in life when I saw these visions. It confused me also, but then I understood better due to the discovery of my hidden powers. I was capable of controlling my powers better back then than now, so I was able to command both monsters."
Illidan just looked at her in shock, saying "I never knew… Your hidden powers were always hard to work with. We were able to bring them out, and get you to tap into them a bit, but never to a great extent. I guess now we know at the least you had control over them at one time."
She only simply nodded, and the two then looked back at the two monsters and the small girl. Gently, the angel laid the small girl onto the back of the dragon, which let out a small roar and flew off in the opposite direction. Marie and Illidan continued to follow the large dragon as the pink angel vanished.
After an hour of flying, the dragon then descended towards a small village. It landed in a field, which was semi close to a hut. The dragon gently laid down and arched it's back so the girl would gently slide off of it's body. Once on the ground, the dragon softly cooed to the girl, and stood back up. It let out a mighty roar and took flight, leaving the unconscious girl behind.
A few moments later, a woman came and found the young girl lying on the ground. Marie softly smiled at the woman, and Illidan guessed then that it was the woman she had described to him that had watched out for her since she was a young child.
The woman lightly shook the girl, whose eyes fluttered open. "You poor dear, are you alright?" the woman asked with concern.
The young Marie nodded, and the woman asked "Where are your parents my dear?"
Young Marie's brow furrowed for a moment, and she finally replied "I don't know."
The woman thought for a moment, and asked "Do you know where you came from?"
Again, young Marie's brow furrowed and she shook her head. Thinking once more, the woman asked "What is your name?"
After a moment, young Marie finally said "My name is Marie. That's all I seem to be able to remember."
Nodding, the woman smiled and gathered Marie up into her arms, saying "You poor child. I'll see if the Master will allow you to remain with us. Hopefully he'll let you stay with me for now."
The two then headed towards the hut, and the vision began to end. Illidan asked "Marie, why didn't you tell her what happened?"
Sighing, Marie replied "I couldn't remember. Thinking back on things now, I realized that the blast Furion hit me with probably did damage to me. His blast more than likely erased my memories, because when I came to, I had no clue what had happened, where I was, or where my parents were. I only knew my name, somehow."
Understanding now, Illidan said "So, Furion's attack, it just erased your memory. You must have been much stronger than him to survive a blast like that in the first place. Now I understand why you had no memory of being tested."
Taking her into a warm embrace again, Illidan softly said "I'm sorry for what my father did."
She softly smiled up at him and said "It wasn't your fault. I blamed you at first when I first found out. After all, it was during our marriage that I found out about this whole thing. I was curious about my past, so I used my powers to look back. When I found out, I was furious and angry with you."
Sighing, she sadly said "I hated you for it at first, but then I realized something. It wasn't really your fault due that you was three years old, and had no clue about me. Even if you had, no one would take orders from a three year old and kill a young child for no real reason. It really wasn't even your father's fault. He was following orders, and you'd have suffered if he hadn't. So, I accepted it eventually, but I guess that small bit of hatred was left in my heart, thus creating a small blemish of darkness."
Illidan nodded and looked down at the ground, saying "Your darkness told me that I had also created more darkness within you when I didn't train you to your fullest."
Sadly sighing, Marie gently cupped Illidan's face and looked him in the eye, saying "I don't blame you for that now. At the time, when I found out, I was angry. I thought you had protected me again for no reason, and had cheated me so that I'd be weaker."
Looking him still in the eye, she then slightly smiled and said "But I knew better. I learned later that you had fallen in love with me, and wished to not put me in any danger. True, I could have worked as hard as I had for another year, but at the best, I might have become as strong as Bakura, which wasn't too big a deal. To be honest, I'm glad you didn't train me as hard, for I was more grateful in the long run."
She then pulled him in closer and kissed him with a chastising kiss, and pulled back, saying "I love you Illidan, and nothing will ever change that. I may get angry with you, I may get frustrated with you, or even say that something you did totally made me mad at you, but never think I hate you truly. It maybe true that I had a small touch of darkness in my heart, but the light of our love fills my heart a millions time more than the darkness. There will always be darkness, but it is nothing more than a shadow of the light."
Smiling, Illidan nodded and pulled her in closer, kissing her gently, but with great emotion. He deepened the kiss, and time seemed to stand still for the two for a few minutes. Finally, running short of breath, the two pulled away from one another, each breathing heavily.
Placing his forehead on Marie's, he lovingly said "I love you with all my heart and soul Marie. Never think I could hate you. It is our love that keeps me strong. Nothing can ever stop us as long as we are together."
She nodded slightly, and hugged him tightly. After a moment, she pulled away and then asked in a comical voice "Now, about my clothes!"
Chuckling, Illidan replied "As far as I know, and I hope I'm right, you picked out your own clothes. You were wearing what you had had on the night you lost your duel to Blue when I left you with Pegasus's assistant."
Marie lightly chuckled and said "Ah, too bad. I was hoping maybe you dressed me and was hoping I'd start wearing this. Although, I don't like the boots. You know I can't walk in them."
Illidan only laughed at this as Marie giggled about it. After a few moments, Illidan asked "Would you like some different clothes then?"
Shaking her head, she replied "No, just get me some normal shoes. I need them."
Chuckling, Illidan nodded and said "We'll ask Tea if she can loan you some shoes till we get to a store. Till then, walk barefooted."
Smiling back at Illidan, Marie nodded and he said "Ok. Well, we'd better go join the others. They're in the parking lot, more than likely waiting on us. Once we're done, I think we should go do something we've been waiting to do."
Nodding, Marie replied "I like the sound of that."
The two then picked up both of Marie's boots and headed for the door. Together, they walked hand in hand outside to the truck and trailer where the others were staying.
Illidan lightly knocked on the door, which was quickly answered by Blue. She smiled great big and rushed forward and hugged Marie tightly, saying "I'm so happy you're back!"
Marie smiled as Blue hugged her tightly, and the two finally pulled away. Blue then looked down at the ground and said "I'm so sorry for what I did."
Softly smiling, Marie kindly said "Blue, I don't blame you, or hate you for what you did. You were following orders, and didn't know you were being controlled by the darkness. I saw the light in your heart, and knew you would do the right thing in the end. Thank you for keeping him safe."
Blue nodded and looked up and hugged Marie again, saying "I'm just so happy you're alright."
They parted again and behind her stood Vash. He smiled warmly and hugged Marie, saying "I'm so happy that you're back Marie. I missed you."
Marie smiled and then parted. The others quickly swamped her with hugs as well. Yami even took over for Yugi and told her he was happy she was back.
Once everyone was done, Illidan said "We have one thing to ask you to do before we head back to Pegasus."
Cocking an eyebrow, Yami asked "What is it you wish for me to do?"
Smiling, Illidan replied "I want you to accompany us as we get married."
The whole group gasped, as Tea asked in a shocked voice "You're getting married?"
Lightly chuckling, Illidan nodded, saying "Yes, we are. We've been engaged for a month. We'd be honored if all of you were there when we got married."
Marie nodded, showing her approval as well. The others looked around at one another and finally Joey spoke up, saying "Sure, why not."
"Count us all in." added Tristan.
Yami finally nodded and said "I will be there."
Both Illidan and Marie smiled, and Illidan said "It will be tomorrow most likely. We just have to set everything up."
The group nodded, and Illidan said "We'll be back before too late this evening. We have to go get a few things, and then we'll find the place where we're going to be married."
Again, the group nodded. The happy couple then took their leave, leaving their friends to talk about what had just happened. They all smiled, as Yami only smirked, silently saying in his mind "This will be the second wedding of yours I've been to Illidan."