Chapter 8

The Remember Game

Lila

--

"I don't understand," I said. Kai rubbed my shoulder and I looked at her.

"You know what I mean," said Sytik. I sighed. He was right, I did know what he meant, but... come on! If you were in this kind of situation where someone told you you have to become something else, what would you say?

I nodded with a sigh. "It's just... so..."
"I understand. We can put this off for a few days if you like, Lila. What you have won't hurt you much in a day or two."

"Y...yes, yes.... Sytik, I need to ask you a question," I said. He nodded. "Yes, of course."
He knelt to my side and waited for what I had to say. Kai stayed close.

"How old... will I be?" I asked in a whisper, and Sytik answered without missing a beat.

"That depends on what time of day we do this. If you want to be full grown, we'll do this around the time Fajor took care of the Hashashin. But if we do that, then you won't go through childhood... and you're still too young to waste away your child years."
I stared straight ahead, taking in all of this information. Sytik continued. "If we do this early in the morning... you'll get your entire life back. Who does this to you... well, that's your decision."

"I.... I have a few more questions," I said. He smiled. "Ask anything you want!"

"Will it hurt? And will my broken bones be there when I... when I... hatch?" I whispered.

Sytik shook his head. "It won't hurt. And your bones will likely be fine by the time you come out. Eggs tend to hatch at random times. Some take a few days; others a few weeks. Is there anything else?"
I nodded. "Yes. Sytik... if this is true and I have to do this to stay alive... would you be my father, as Kai acts as my Mother?"
...

Sytik was silent for a moment, likely suprised by my request. Then, he smiled. "Yes, Lila. It would be my pleasure. "

I grinned, and he rubbed my head.

"Now Lila, I must speak with Kai alone," said Sytik. Kai smiled, and pushed my wheelchair outside, where I sat and gathered my thoughts.

--

Narrator

--

"I'll be back in a moment, Lila," Kai said, this time trying to hide her suprise and sadness from the girl. She didn't want her sad because she herself was sad! At least she's going to be okay! Kai walked back inside the medical hut and smiled at Sytik. He was sitting in a chair. "That's... an incredible feeling. To know that someone loves you enough to consider you a parent," said Sytik. Kai sat down in a chair he set up next to him. "Yes. Yes, it is."

"Anyway, what did you want to talk about," Kai asked. He sighed deeply. "Kai... how long have we known each other?" he asked. She smiled gently. "Since we both hatched."

"And remember how we used to play that game when we fought?" he asked. Kai chuckled. "The 'Remember' game?" she asked. Sytik smiled, and nodded. "Whenever we didn't see eye to eye, we'd play it, and then we'd be the best of friends again," he said. Kai smiled. "Would you like to play it now?" she asked. He chuckled. "We aren't in a fight, though," said Sytik, and we both stood up, and faced each other. Kai began.

"I remember when you got sick when we were children," she said. "You couldn't eat anything, and we had to give you the fruits squished into juices." He nodded, smiling at the memory. "You were the first person there to help me get back on my feet when I recovered," he said. Kai nodded, and they stepped closer to each other. "I remember when Gregor's mother passed on," said Sytik. "You spent the rest of that day comforting him, though he acted as if he didn't need the comfort." she smiled. "Yes, but I remember performing the trick his mother taught me that night. He actually sobbed, and embraced me, showering me with thanks."

Sytik smiled. "Don't ever think that he doesn't love you, Kai. Deep down, he adores you."

Sytik and Kai both grinned, and took a step closer to each other. Their noses were almost touching. It was her turn.
"I remember when Lila first came to this island," she said. "Once she came here, we grew closer."

Just as Kai said that, both of them took a step closer. Their noses were touching, and Sytik's eyes bored into hers.
His turn.

"I'll remember today... forever," he said, and their eyes shut. They drew closer, and their lips touched, this time a perfect kiss that was twenty times better than the one he snuck on her last time..

It was a great feeling. Kai couldn't describe what it felt like, except for like this:
Woooooooow! *Squeal*

They broke the kiss, and Kai stared into his beautiful blue eyes, as he stared back into her own brown ones.

"I know Lila has been feeling like she was in debt to us," said Sytik, and Kai nodded. She did speak of what she could do to help out a lot. They kissed each other once more, and when they broke it, he smiled at her. "I think we can call it even." Kai smiled, and the two embraced each other, Kai wrapping her arms around his neck. "Sytik..."
"Shh..." he said. "Take Lila out for a good day, and ask her when she'd like to... you know."
She smiled. "I will. I think that we should... I think we should make a mixed hatchling with her."
Sytik's eyes widened. "You mean..."

She nodded. "Both of us add our genes, instead of just one. She's definetly like being unique... because she is."

Sytik smiled, and nodded. "I think she'd like that. I'm sorry, Kai, but I need to see Fajor. He's waiting." Kai nodded, and left the room, pushing Lila some more. Sytik turned away, and shut the book, putting it back on the shelf. He smiled.

Thank you, Lila. Thank you for bringing me and Kai closer than ever before.

He walked out the door, waving one last time at Kai and Lila, whom had been headed toward the beach path. Kai turned to him and ran. "Wait!"

Sytik froze, and turned to face her. She smiled at him. "I would like you to ask Fajor for his camera one more time. I want to take a picture of Lila as she is now..." Sytik smiled. "I will. Now, hurry along and take her out for one good day." Kai nodded, and turned to run back to Lila. Sytik ran through the forest, though he didn't really have to. Strangely, there wasn't a single Shy Guy or any other tribe member out. He knocked on Fajor's door, and heard him yell:

"Leave now, Hashashin! Do not make me still your heart!"

Sytik winced at the words. "It's me... Sytik," he called.
"Sytik? Yes, come in then!" said Fajor from his house, in a friendlier tone. Sytik opened the door and walked inside. Fajor was nowhere to be found.
"Come inside the training room," he heard Fajor call. He did as he was told, and still nothing. Then he heard something behind him, and smiled. He knew what Fajor was trying to do. Sytik whilred around on his heels and grabbed the familiar pole out of Fajor's hands, jumping back a step and prodding the sneaky yoshi with it. Fajor winced, and smiled. "Bravo! Bravo! Very good, Sytik!"

Sytik smiled. "Do you have anything to teach me today?" he asked. Fajor smiled. "I always have something to teach. You may not have known it, but as I taught you how to disarm your opponents, I've also been teaching you the ways of striking with a spear and halberd."
Sytik's eyes widened as he recognized what Fajor had said. It was true, subconsciously he learned how to stab and slash. He handed Fajor the pole again, and they retried the disarming attack a few more times, Fajor showing him everything he needed to know. Then, he took the pole and placed it by a wall. He walked to a dresser in the corner of the room and pulled two strong looking pieces of armor for the torso. The armor had a yoshi egg painted on the front in the middle. Fajor tossed one set to Sytik, and walked back to the dresser, taking out two steel swords, and shields with the yoshi egg painted on them, too. He walked back to Sytik.
"I did not originally want to take you into fighting with swords yet, but the war is going to break out very soon, and I want you ready."
Sytik tried to smile. He had the armor on, and it was rather uncomfortable. Fajor put his armor on, and Sytik put his shield on. Fajor began his lecture first. "You use your shield to block mainly stabs. The disarming move is for use if you are unarmed. If you have a weapon, you use it instead. If your opponent is slashing at you, then you can jump back to avoid the strike. A slash is harder to avoid and it's more dangerous. I reccomend you block with your shield. Let us practice the ways of the sword!"
Fajor guided Sytik through basic blocking with a sword, starting out slowly, then at normal pace, and a little faster than normal after that. Fajor made sure that he never hit Sytik with the weapon. It was a real sword, and if he hit Sytik at some of the speeds he used, he could have really hurt him. The hours passed, and Sytik proved himself a fast learner. He even learned how to properly jump over a slash attack to the legs. The two yoshis practiced for the next five hours, and finally stopped. Sytik began to take off the armor, but Fajor stopped him. "I hate to do this after you've only learned so much, but keep it. Keep the sword, shield, and armor."

Sytik frowned. "Thank you, and Fajor... you know I hate to ask you this, but I need to use your camera. You see, Lila is very sick... the only way to save her is to make her a yoshi, too... we want a picture of her as she is now, though. Would you mind?"
Fajor laughed a strong laugh. "No, not at all! Take it with you! And come back tomorrow or the day after. Do not forget what I have taught you thus far!" said Fajor. Sytik nodded, and walked toward the door, finding the camera on a table along the way. He left Fajor's hut and began finding his way to his village once more.

--

Meanwhile...

--

"Makal, you stand before me in an evil veil. Tell me, do you wish to be allowed back into our glorious community?"

Makal stood before his former Master, his arms held by two other Hashashins. "Never! Your ways disgust me!"
Master took a sword off a table and rested it on Makal's shoulder. "Makal, Makal, Makal... you've been through so much for our community. You were one of the only survivors of the covert strike on the Koopa Clan... They massacred your brothers, fed you to the Chain Chomps... and you survived the strike. Now I ask you to join our glorious community once more, and you refuse?"

The yoshi did not respond. He only glared at Master. Master swung the sword down on Makal, but stopped it inches from his neck.
"Makal, I will not kill you. I offer you a final chance. Come back to me, my lost child. I can make you whole again."

Makal scoffed. "I'm already whole. I refuse your offer."
Master was silent for a moment, and placed the sword back on the table. "Very well. Guards, to the dungeon with him." The guards were silent for a moment, and Master turned back to face them.

"Do it!" he yelled. The guards jumped, and dragged Makal down the stairs and toward the cell. He stared at a guard that had walked in front of him. "Master, do you wish for us to strike tonight?" asked the guard. Master chuckled. "No. Not tonight. I am developing a plan."

The guard bowed, and walked away.

Makal was thrown into a cell, the door locked quickly. He knew where he was.

"This cell is directly above our-- their Chain Chomp pit..." he whispered, and shuddered. He hated to remember what had happened several years before.

--

The sun was setting, and Lila and Kai were waiting for Sytik. He returned with his weapons, and placed them inside his hut before walking back out to meet with the two. He smiled at Lila. "Lila, we want to take a picture of you as you are now," he said. She nodded. "Yes, go right ahead," she said. Kai backed away and Sytik backed up a few steps. Lila smiled, and he took the picture. It was a very good picture; her smile made even prettier by the setting sun's light. He showed her the picture, and she looked back at him. "Do you like it?" she asked him, and he jumped. "I was going to ask you the same thing," he said. Lila giggled. "I like it," she said, and Sytik smiled. "Good, because I do, too. Tomorrow morning we will... you know," said Sytik, and Lila nodded. "Okay then."

Kai took Lila inside her hut. "Are you sure that you want Sytik and I as your parents, dear?" asked Kai. Lila nodded. "I can't think of anyone else that I'd trust more," she responded. Kai chuckled and walked into the kitchen, preparing dinner. It would be Lila's final dinner as a human... and tomorrow would be the first of many difficult ones.

End of Chapter 8

Now I've got a good idea of what I'm going to do with this story! ^^

My cousin wrote the part with Makal, but I did everything else! I can't wait to get the next chapter up, I'm so excited! XD