A/N: Hey, thanks for all the reviews! This chapter is kinda what I planned, kinda what I didn't, and kinda a suggestion of my reviewer FDP.
Okay, for the Kramy thing, it might end up Kramy, but please say whether or not you'd like Kranna more. I don't mind.
I've created a good alternative to them ending up. I won't feel so guilty if Amy had a lost lover, too...
Hint, hint.
Disclaimer: You already know. I don't own anything.
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Our group enters the cavernous area known as what is... Uh, supposed to be the 'Water Temple'. After seeing the inside, I am now ready to strangle Vincent and break him apart in the real world, if that's possible. I gaze over the banister-like, silvery stone wall to the temple. It has become a water cave. The walls are smooth and warm, and water pours out of openings in the cave walls. Fish are in a cute little pond in the floor, jumping up and down. Silvery, snake like monsters glide over the surface of the water. I hate to say it, but the entire floor is water. The paths are just like giant water slides.
We all simultaneously let our jaws drop, and turn to Raine, who is shivering. I grab her hand, smiling. "Lloyd will help you, right?" I turn to Lloyd, who, after a quick death glare, nods hesitantly. Nagith grabs my cape and tugs. I look down at him and place a hand on his messy hair. Nagith looks older for some reason, more like a juvenile than a child. His eyes are still girlish, as is his face. Ignoring this, I scoop him up, his long black hair spilling over my shoulder. "I'll go with Nagith," I announce, grinning.
Kratos observes the water. "I'd say we should go in doubles... Lloyd, you should probably go with the Chosen. You are the most devoted to protecting her. Genis and Nagith should go with Raine. Being children, they will be able to calm her fears more easily. I'll go with you, Amy... I have something to discuss with you." My eyes nearly shot out of my head and I crossed my arms as the blackette jumps out of my arms and goes over to Raine. He shoots a look that clearly says 'I'm sorry, but I don't want to be killed by a scary, auburn-haired man'. I giggle slightly at the facial expression then turn back to Kratos. Lloyd and Colette have already left down the slide, going rather fast and laughing. The 3 halflings (Raine, Genis and Nagith) have headed down as well. Genis and Nagith are using magic to slow the slide, much to the relief of the professor.
Me and Kratos are finally alone, and I turn to him. I bite my lip. I noticed that as the rest went down, the smaller of the two went on the lap of the other one. Kratos rolls his eyes, clearly saying 'get over it'. He comes up with a good alternative. For some reason, there are... Surfboard-type dealies near the slide. He stands on top of one, motioning for me to come forwards.
"Kratos, I really don't know how to use one of these," I stutter, climbing onto the board behind him and hugging his waist tightly. He looks down at me. "It's okay, just hold on and try and turn to steer... And... Amy..." Kratos actually has an earnest look in his eyes when he says this next sentence. "Be careful about that boy. I fear he's hiding something."
And with that, Kratos tips the board forward, sending us reeling down a stone slide about 50 feet off the ground. I scream and bury my face in Kratos' purple cape. It's silky and I wonder how it even stays intact in battle, being the material it is.
The water splashes up towards us, soaking my legs and boots as we rush through the stream. We hit a turn. Mind you, the walls are only about 2 feet high, so someone could easily fall off. Oh my god, this is so not easy on my nerves! As we reach a corner, Kratos veers to the right and I nearly fall. We continue speeding down the slide, and reach a part where there is a huge drop. Someone sliding down on their butt wouldn't be harmed, but seeing as we're on a surfboard, it is so not cool. We hit the water below the drop hard and my knees buckle for a moment, but I struggle to stay on.
It's about half way down when I completely get screwed over. As we turn sharply at an intersection to avoid a large fish swimming lazily along the path, our surfboard hits something in the water. I look down in that split second before I'm torn from Kratos and the board and see that there's a ring in the water with pearly black inscriptions. After I get this glance, I am thrown off the board and over the edge...
All I can tell is that I'm falling. Fast, and it hurts my mind. For about 10 seconds I can hear wind rushing past my ears and a few cries of my name. The image of the ring spins in my mind and it seems like I can see my life flashing before my eyes before... I'm guessing I hit the ground, headfirst.
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I sit straight up, my head pounding. I grasp it and a searing sting wreaks my body. I scream into the darkness as the pain finally ebbs away. Tentatively this time, I touch my head. No feeling enters my body as I stand up. I can hear my footsteps like... Like overweight tapdancers on a tin roof. I look around, my eyes meeting a floor. Just a plain white floor. I can't see any walls, just blackness. My vision fades again...
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"H'tigan!" I call, my voice soft in my throat. A beautiful man steps out of the darkness. I'm sitting on a log under a lovely tree. Light filters through finally and a setting is illuminated. A clear field on the edge of a park. Flowers grow boundlessly around me, colors startling me. The man smiles softly and comes to sit down.
"Amethyst... It has been a while since I have laid thine eyes upon you." I giggle at his formal talking and lean against the tree. My face becomes patterns of dark and light. He covers my hand with his and looks at me. His eyes are a beautiful hazel. His bangs are messy and uneven, but beatiful. He wears loose brown clothing and a ring around his neck.
The man grins at me. "I have obtained a gift to present to ye, Amethyst..." He pulls a chain from his pocket. Strung on the chain is a jeweled, black and diamond ring. It glitters in the dappled light. He places it around my neck, placing a kiss lovingly on my cheek. I flush red and smile at him.
"What day is it, H'tigan?" I ask, drawing my legs up to my chest. He glances at me and the corners of his mouth perk upright in a smile.
"I know not, my gem. But I do know that it has been only 3 years since our child has been born. She is the same age as your friend's child by now, is he not?" I grin back at him.
"I believe so."
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I jerk upright, grasping my forehead. Had that vision actually been right? Did I have... A child? Finally opening my eyes, my vision blurs for a moment before I see the group, kneeling around me. I look at Kratos, then to Lloyd. If I had a child, she would be the same age as Lloyd. I place my head in my hands, and, for no reason, break into sobs.
"It's okay, Amy...!" says Lloyd, patting my shoulder. "You're okay now!" I stop crying, gazing at Lloyd in a way that must kinda scare the group. My child. Why do those words hurt me? And that man... H'tigan- why does he remind me so much of someone I"ve heard and seen before?
I suddenly smile, gazing around the group and standing up. "Thanks for healing me," I say to Raine. She smiles and says 'You're Welcome'.
Genis and Nagith mutter something about 'mood swings', and I shoot the two youngins a glare that shuts them up. We finally reach a door that actually leads to the seal, directly. Ha, no more of that complicated crap! Grinning, I stroll to it, waiting to press the transport button. As the group files onto the seal, we disappear in weird stretches, fading out of focus. When we reappear in the sealroom, I secretly curse at Vincent.
The seal room is ginormous. The group makes their way across the transparent path to the seal, which Colettes opens. The seal guardian is not a mermaid, it's a merman. And a hot one at that. Anyway, ignoring my obsession with Mermen, we rip him a new one, and Colette makes her prayers. Remiel seems a lot more stiff and I feel like punching him, but regardless, we get through his little speech and head out.
After finding a stupid warp panel that goes all the way up and down, dammit, we transport to the geyser again and walk out. I'm still killing Vincent if I ever get my hands on his stupid neck.
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A/N: Eh... Okay then! Review!