So... this is going to be a little bit of a jump. I promise - really promise - that this chapter will make a little more sense later. And the next chapter is more of the journal. So be patient. 'Kay?

I don't own Pendragon. Or YuYu Hakusho. But that's besides the point.

Well, to explain a little more, this is about Press's first day as a Traveler. If you'll notice, it's quite a bit similar to Bobby's first day. That's because I'm not all that creative.

Oh, yeah. That's definitely Bobby's Uncle Press.

Oh, and Aeoryth... the last line has only everything to do with the plot. Trust me. Ever hear of foreshadowing?

So... yeah. That's about it. Enjoy chapter three of "The Truth".

Chapter Three: Press's Beginning

"Second Earth!" the woman, Terese, called out. She was taller than the average female, and slight, yet athletic. She was a cream-colored tan all year long. She wore her thick black hair down to her shoulders.

She entered the flume and settled in for the ride. "I wish it didn't have to be today." She sighed. "They're so young, especially Osa. I don't know if they're ready... but they have to be. And they'll learn," she tried to console herself.

"I wish you were still around, Richard..." she thought briefly, missing her fallen friend and comrade more than usual. Then she remembered all the others who had fallen. "I wish I didn't have to teach them alone..."

Her eyes drifted up to the images floating in the heavens of Halla. Most were peaceful, but a few were beginning to show signs of strife. Quillan, especially, was starting to look bad. "That's where we'll first go," she decided, more determined, although she hadn't been to that territory for a while. "Quillan."

The woman arrived at the subway station in the Bronx. First she looked around to see that no one was around; then she quickly discarded her First Earth clothes and pulled on the Second Earth ones she had left half an hour ago, by her clock. But she had no way of knowing long much time had passed here while she was on First Earth.

She hoped Stephen, her Second Earth acolyte, would get rid of these clothes before she got back with Press, but she doubted it. Stephen was getting tired of this life. "He won't need to be an acolyte much longer, though."

She made her way back to her home on Second Earth, fighting through rush hour traffic the whole way. She saw that Press and Sara had already returned from school when she walked in the door.

"Press, give it back!" Sara was running around the house after Press, who had, obviously, taken something of hers.

"Catch me first, Sara!" he yelled back to her, running upstairs.

"Press!" the girl shrieked again, starting to follow him.

"Press," Terese called.

"Mom!" Sara was the first to respond. She came running back down the stairs. "Press took my phone!"

"I know," she said, putting a hand on the girl's head as she came up to hug her. "Press," she called out, "give Sara her phone."

Press came down the stairs and appeared around the corner. "Yes, Mom," he said, handing the girl her phone.

Sara ran upstairs with her treasure. Press turned to follow her.

"Press, come with me."

He turned back to look at his mother. "Where are we going, Mom?" he asked, flipping his short grey ponytail over one shoulder.

"I'm taking you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Her name is Rosalita. She's a nice girl. You'll like her."

The boy shrugged and started to walk out the door.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your sister?" she asked.

"Sara? She'll just yell at me for taking her phone if I try to say anything to her."

She wanted to scream, "You will never see her again, Press! This is your last chance to say goodbye!" She knew better, though. He would have to find everything out in his own time. If she told him anything, then he wouldn't believe her. And in any case, finding things out firsthand is the way of the Travelers. That is how it has always been, and that is how it was meant to be.

This is how it is meant to be. Still Terese did not know the meaning of that phrase, but she believed in it as fully as Press believed in her.

"Fine, then," she said, trying not to sound as annoyed as she was. "Let's go."

She turned and left, Press following behind her. For the first time in fourteen years, Terese regretted adopting Sara. It had been her job to raise Press to fulfill his role as the Traveler from Second Earth once she was gone.

She thought that Press should have a sibling, like she had; having a sibling would complete his Second Earth upbringing. She had planned to get a male child, so he would have a sibling of the same sex, like she had.

But that changed when she saw Sara.

She was only months old, but it was love at first sight. She had raised both Press and Sara like they were her own.

But once she had become a part of this family, she had become an illusion, just like her and Press. Once they were gone, she would disappear, along with their house, their belongings, and all records of them.

"I'm sorry I doomed you to this, Sara... I'm so sorry... If not for me, you might have lived a normal life... But I'll see you again... one day..." She also did not know how that would be, but she believed it, like she fully believed in everything she had been taught.

"Mom?" Press asked, breaking through her thoughts. He sounded worried. "Aren't we going somewhere?"

"Oh, right." She tried to remain as calm as she had always been. She was a Traveler. She was the only Traveler. She needed to be in control.

She started the car and drove back to the Bronx. They had been driving for a while when she asked, "How much do you trust me, Press?" She glanced over to him and her eyes met his for only a second.

"Completely," he answered.

She nodded. She knew that, but she wanted to hear him say it.

They arrived at the Bronx.

"So, where does this Rosalita live?" Press asked as he got out of the car. "And why do I have to meet her?"

"Please, Press, not so many questions."

He instantly stopped asking. His mother sounded strained, and he had never heard her like that before.

They walked into the station. "Are we going to catch a train?" He knew that she had told him to stop asking questions, but surely she could answer this one?

"No," she answered simply.

Oh.

They continued walking... and they arrived at an abandoned part of the station. He was silent for a few moments, and then he asked, "Then what are we doing down here?"

"Press, I asked you how much you trust me. You said you trusted me completely." She turned now to face him. "You need to do exactly what I tell you."

"O-okay," he stammered.

"Listen to me now. There's a door down there, with a drawing like a star." She pointed toward it, though they couldn't see it yet. "The door is the flume. Go inside, close the door, and shout 'First Earth'."

"Star. Door. Flume. First Earth," he repeated with a nod, trying to make some sense of what she was telling him.

"If I'm unable to make it... you'll have to find Rosalita yourself. And when you do, tell her that her Mama sent you."

"Rosalita." He was still nodding. "Her Mama."

"She should be waiting in front of the Manhattan Tower Hotel."

"Manhattan Hotel."

"Of course, nothing should go wrong, but just in case..."

"Star. Door. Flume. First Earth. Rosalita. Her Mama..." Press was muttering under his breath, hoping he wouldn't forget.

They continued walking toward the flume. But soon they could hear footsteps behind them. The woman stopped, and once Press realized that she had stopped, he stopped, too.

"Is this him, Teri?" the one behind them asked. They both turned, to see a man in a dark, Asian-like suit. He was incredibly tan. "Is he the new Traveler from Second Earth?"

- Kuramastrass -