(Everglow) So yeah, I've been hard at work finishing up my mid-term work and stuff as well as posting up the new chapters for this story. So, I apologize if I'm being a little slow with the updates everyone. I'm really trying my hardest to make time to update my stories for you all. But anyway, thank you all for the support you gave me and I really appreciate all the kind words. It's really cool that I still have readers after all the time that I made you wait for those updates. I'm really sorry again. Anyway, here's the new chapter 2, ready for all of you.

Disclaimer: Same as Chapter One's disclaimer…please read chapter one to get disclaimer.

Here comes Take 2 of this chapter!

Title: Reflection in the Moonlight

Chapter Two: The Moon Never Lies, Nor Does The Wind

The silence was deafening within the clearing that Talim and Taye stood, each one having a different impression on the situation at hand. Taye stood with a grin still painted across her face, somewhat happy that someone had actually heard of her before. Sure, not her exactly, but the person she was in general. Taye felt famous, and hopefully not for the wrong reasons.

Talim, on the other hand, had a look of complete disbelief. It did seem too perfect that the person she had been searching for was standing right in front of her, gazing at her with those ice-colored eyes. It was truly too much to take in at the moment, even though from the look that Talim was receiving from the other girl, she would have to take it in immediately or deny it completely.

"You think I'm kidding, don't you?" Taye questioned suddenly, as if she was reading Talim's mind as easily as she did the moon. "Don't worry, Talim…I can assure you that I'm wouldn't be kidding about this…I am the Moon Reader."

"You're the Moon Reader from the Village of Moonlight?" Talim repeated, continuing to stare at Taye. "I'm sorry for doubting you," she recovered somewhat, "but this makes my search seem all too easy…and to think that I would meet such an important person so deep in these treacherous woods."

"Yeah, I know it's a bit hard to believe," Taye smiled with a nod. She reached into the pocket of her loose pants, pulling out a small, scrolled parchment with the seal from the Village of Moonlight. "This should be some proof that I am the Moon Reader…although I'm only supposed to show it to the person that the Elder told me to show it to."

Talim stood still as Taye held out the scroll and nodded for the newcomer to take it from her hands. Talim shook her head in response and, instead, pointed to the seal that was upon the parchment. That was all the proof Talim needed in order to believe that Taye was from the Village of Moonlight. As for being the real Moon Reader, Talim was still not fully convinced.

"I don't mean to doubt you at all, Taye," Talim sighed as she mumbled her views on the subject. "I, however, do not see any proof that you are the real Moon Reader…so if I could just observe you reading the messages given by the moon, it would be greatly appreciated."

The clearing fell silent once again as the grin completely disappeared from Taye's face. Talim felt her cheeks burn red with fear at the sudden change of atmosphere. She hadn't meant to upset Taye in any way. But Talim had to know the truth, even if it meant doubting Taye's abilities completely.

"Proof, huh?" Taye mumbled after a few moments of silence. "I really don't see how that's going to do you any good…but all right…I suppose I can do a reading for you right now."

Talim simply stood there in silence, awaiting Taye's next move. The Moon Reader sighed as she plopped down on the ground, sitting there without a word to the other girl. Talim was somewhat confused as to what proof there was in simply sitting on the ground in a huff. However, Talim's thoughts quickly vanished at what happened next.

Suddenly, Taye's gaze shifted up towards where the moon hovered above, her ice-colored eyes becoming lighter with each passing second. It was as if something else was there, and Taye was no longer the being that was sitting down before Talim. The girl was connected to the moon itself, and the moon had taken over completely.

"Follow the Wind…and Continue on your Quest…" Taye spoke in a voice that was her own, but was somehow different. "The Wind will show you the Way to what you seek."

"I never mentioned that…I am the Wind Priestess," Talim whispered as she admired the event that was occurring before her. "How could you have possibly have known that on your own…unless…"

"The Moon never lies, nor does the Wind," Taye continued her reading; her eyes slowly beginning to gain back their color. "Believe in what each other says…no matter how hard it is to believe…for you are both guided by Moon and Wind."

With that, Taye's head fell forward and her eyes completely closed. Talim let out a small gasp and rushed to Taye's side, kneeling down in order to steady the suddenly weak girl.

"Taye, are you all right?" Talim panicked, as Taye remained unresponsive to the Wind Priestess's words. "Taye, I believe you…you are the Moon Reader…now please be all right!"

"Damn right I'm the real Moon Reader," Taye mumbled softly under her breathe, catching Talim completely off-guard. "I wish I could have proven to you in a way that didn't completely burn me up…but there was no chance of that happening."

Talim sighed in relief as Taye's eyes finally fluttered open once again, focusing on the Wind Priestess. Even though it was nice to finally see the Moon Reader's powers at work, Talim knew that nothing was worth risking a life for. And seeing how hard Taye took that one reading, Talim was more than happy to never let something like that happen again.

"Does that always happen?" Talim questioned as she helped to steady Taye's swaying body. "Do you always have a reaction like that to reading the moon?"

"Oh…oh no, definitely not," Taye managed to work up a smile to ease Talim's worries. "The only reason that I was so drained was probably because I'm already exhausted to begin with."

Talim frowned slightly at the girl's carefree attitude and was preparing to give the girl a firm "talking to". But, alas, Talim could not bring herself to do it. She, instead, relented and let out a heavy sigh before reaching into the small pouch resting at her hip.

"Well Taye, you have certainly made things easier on me," Talim gave a smile as she retrieved her hand from the pouch, pulling out a crystal stone that was shaped like a crescent moon. "I was told that I needed to find the Moon Reader and give her this stone…to guarantee her help."

"Help?" Taye repeated as she gawked at the beauty of the stone. "What kind of help do you need?"

Talim fell silent once again, as she shifted her gaze to scan the area around them. Taye continued to stare at the stone, being very careful not to touch it for fear of insulting the Wind Priestess. Taye finally broke out of her trance, however, when a slender hand was placed firmly on her shoulder, facing the Moon Reader to Talim once again.

"I want you to understand that this is a request and in no way is an order," Talim stated as she stared firmly in Taye's confused eyes. "I only ask this of you because it is of great significance to our realm. Your decision is more important that you can possibly imagine."

"No pressure," Taye mumbled, trying to keep her excitement level down to a minimum. This was the first time someone was ever really asking something of her of such magnitude. Usually at home, everyone was hoping that she would stay out of the way. Now, someone was asking her to do something important!

"Taye, I have a mission to find and destroy Soul Edge," Talim continued, keeping her stare firm. "I have this mission and I must ask that you join me on my quest, if at all possible."

Taye sat there in silence, blinking up at the Wind Priestess beside her. What a coincidence that the mission Talim had been assigned was the exact same mission that had befallen Taye. The Moon Reader could not keep a huge grin from returning to her face as she took Talim's hand in her own.

"This really is your lucky day!" Taye squealed in place, causing Talim to stare at her in confusion. "It just so happens that I was giving the same mission as you to destroy Soul Edge…and I would be honored to accompany you!"

Talim's look of confusion melted away with Taye's words of excitement, revealing a smile of relief and happiness. Taye could not stop herself from cheering loudly and throwing her arms around the Wind Priestess in happiness, which was returned full-throttle. Taye wouldn't have to be alone anymore, and Talim could finally complete her mission. It was all so perfect.

"All right, then let's get looking for that sword!" Taye cheered as she pulled away from and tried to stand, but to no avail. "Um…let's get looking for that sword tomorrow!"

"Good idea," Talim nodded, steadying Taye once again. "I think we both deserve a nice rest."

'Taye…what are you doing out here so late at night?'

'Oh, Lukan…it's nothing…I'm just trying to read the moon…'

'Trying, huh…shouldn't you be doing that…I mean, you were the one chosen in our family to be the Moon Reader…'

'I don't think that decision was right…the Elder must have read the moon wrong because there's no way a failure like me could be the Moon Reader…'

'A failure like you…please, don't think that about yourself…everyone else just wants to put you down…if you give in to what they have to say, then you will become the failure that they picture you as.'

'They're right though…I can't do anything right…I've never done anything right…I couldn't even…'

'Couldn't even what?'

'I couldn't even…even save Father…I was the one he was coming to save…me…and because of what happened that day, he's dead…I caused father to die…'

'Taye, don't ever say that…don't ever say that again…it's not true!'

'But it is true, Lukan…I was the one who brought about Father's death…'

Taye's icey eyes shot open as sweat beaded down her forehead. It had been so long since she had dreams like these, but ever since she began her journey towards Soul Edge, they haunted her every single night. It was as if the sword itself was trying to scare her away. Taye let out a sigh and stared up at the silvery orb above her. The moon was still high in sky, which meant that Taye had not been asleep for long.

"Taye, are you all right?" Talim questioned as she peered over the girl, worry evident in her eyes. "You're covered in sweat."

Taye simply nodded in response as she wiped the sweat from her brow, gazing up at the moon above her. Would she be able to continue her journey at this rate? It was obvious that she wasn't going to get a good night's sleep in a while, and that worried Taye more than anything. If she could not rest enough, how was she supposed to regain her strength?

"Taye, are you sure you're ok?" Talim questioned, kneeling beside the Moon Reader. "Maybe I should get you something…maybe some food or water?"

"No, no I'll go get some water Talim," Taye whispered as she inched to her feet, steadying herself before standing upright. "I'm sure a little stroll would do me some good anyway."

"I can't possibly let you do that," Talim got to her feet, grabbing onto Taye's wrist as the girl walked away. "What if you pass out in the woods, or become weak again…I don't want you to strain yourself in your condition!"

Snap!

Talim fell silent as Taye tensed up under her grasp, obviously puzzling over what had just caused the sound.

"If its another damn bunny, then I'm going to be pissed," Taye fumed as she pulled away from Talim, gripping her sais to pull them from their sheathes. "Talim, be prepared."

"Right," Talim reached for her Syi Salika and Loka Luha, her elbow blades that rested on each hip. "Winds, guide us now."

"Who's there?!" Taye hissed at the surrounding woods, flipping her sais out of the sheathes and catching them mid-air. "I warn you…I know a few tricks!"

There was nothing but silence for response, but Taye and Talim both knew that the air had changed. Someone was watching them at that very moment, and that person was most likely-

"In the trees!" Taye locked on to where the spy was hiding and thrusted one of her sais up towards the person. Talim at first thought that it was a rash move, but when there was a sudden yell Talim understood that the Moon Reader had successfully pinned the spy.

"What the hell was that for, you bitch?!" A voice boomed from the treetops, obviously male. "I'm going to get you for this right after…damn, that thing is actually pretty deep in the wood…it won't come out!"

"I know that voice," Talim let out a gasp as she lowered her weapons, staring up at the treetops in amazement. "Yunsung, is that you?!"

(AN) Well, there's the rewrite of chapter 2. Hopefully all you guys like how I've added some stuff. I am actually really starting to like this story again and I hope you guys like it too. I'll be back very soon with a new chapter rewritten and soon I'll be back to the seven chapters again. After that, I'll actually be writing up more of the story. I would actually like some suggestions from my readers if that's ok: Should I bring back Raphael is the chapters that follow. He was very much out of character but was quite hilarious in my opinion with Yunsung. I can bring him back or bring in a different character to fight with Yunsung.

Thanks again to all my readers and another special thanks to my wonderful beta/best friend inthisdarcness. You all rock and I hope that you continue to read my stories.