FOREVER DESTINY : Ancient Era Arc 1

Before the Beginning

Episode 2:

"Nightmares Revisited"

Story Focus: T'myra

By Nekochan

Author's Note

It was recommended that I break up at least the last chapter into shorter aspects. (Chuckles) Yeah, I guess it was pretty long, huh? Maybe this will help ease the tension . . .

Arigatou Minasan! (Thanks everyone!)

Nekochan

(-)(-)(-)

10:10 AM Thursday- Sahenangell, Sahngell May 5th- 981 D.A.

"Tamer, why are we going back to the market?" Hariel demanded angrily. Yet, he was proud of himself; it took him a full month before she let actually let him use that name, despite her introduction.

"You know what day it is!" Tamer scoffed in full Accent.

T'myra and Hariel both had the brown cloaks on that she had provided, but had removed their masks to talk.

"The festival - so we should be enjoying ourselves, not skulking about in the shadows!" Hariel insisted. They were next to an alleyway entrance, trying to avoid excessive contact with the Capital Guard by staying out of the main marketplace.

"Indeed. The Festival o' Unity is between the people o' Mycuaja an' Sahngell, so lot's o' people will be comin' in t' the city! Maybe-" Tamer was interrupted by Hariel.

" 'One o' 'em will 'ave The Map,' " Hariel mocked in the upper-class speech of Mycuaja. "You've said that so many times before I could recite it backwards!"

'Ee's just lucky 'ee isn't seriously tryin' t' impersonate the Accent - any otha' Mage would 'ave m' 'ide fo' tellin' 'im the name o' our special speech! "Don't. Besides, 'ave a little patience!" Tamer shot back. As Hariel spoke next, Tamer's eyes caught sight of the Capital Guard coming towards them.

"Every time you say that, we always end up outrunning the Guard-" Hariel sighed.

Tamer took Hariel's wrist and started to run through the streets, away from the Guard. "An' today is no different! Ya' jinxed it, Cotton!" T'myra cursed. Ya' always do!

"Don't start on my old nickname again!" Hariel begged as he was pulled along; T'myra had quite a grip when she had her mind set on going somewhere - or getting away from someplace else.

As Hariel looked back, he remembered four months ago when he had first met Tamer and saved her from the Guard, thinking she was only a helpless nine-year-old. He found out later that she was actually an eighteen-year-old Demidon-Mage descendant from Mycuaja, which explained her slow aging; Demidons - and Monsters - aged four times as slow as Mages and Mystics, so naturally T'myra would age half as slow as a true Mycuajan. That was the rate at which Sahngellian natives, Saints and Angels, aged as well.

It was because of that well known fact - the aging relationships between the three continents - that Hariel was often confused about his past, more specifically his heritage. He himself was almost eighteen now, but only looked a little under twelve. He never could figure it out, but he knew he wasn't a true Sahngellian - or Mycuajan - and he most definitely was not from G'gonstrm . . . what was he?

"Please remind me again why I spent the last four months looking for a stupid map?" Hariel demanded of T'myra.

Tamer pulled Hariel into an alleyway, trying to throw off the Guard. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head to her left shoulder. "Go on; 'old me," she ordered in a low voice. It feels so nice . . . bein' togetha' like this . . . so much more right than wit' Ch'tsu . . .

Hariel's eyes had flown open in shock at the suddenness of the action, but he slowly shut them and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. "Like this?" he whispered into her ear. Kohmah, I must be blushing SO bad right now . . .

She murmured an acknowledgment; she hadn't anticipated reeling at the emotions that flooded back into her memory. It was as if his touch was intoxicating and very addicting. A few moments passed and she barely registered the Capital Guard walking past them. I can't believe 'ee let me do that . . . but I'm glad 'ee did. She started to pull away.

He didn't want her to leave his embrace, but he also knew she'd have a few choice words and actions for him if he didn't let her go. Reluctantly, he let her slip out of his arms. Hariel looked down into her eyes; the way they shimmered and perfectly reflected each of her emotions never ceased to amaze him. "Was that some kind of reward?" Hariel blushed as he spoke. She's so- so- Hariel tried to find a word to describe Tamer and came up empty.

"I don't see why not," T'myra grinned playfully. "But, just as anotha' refresha', it's because you're destined t'," Tamer laughed and gently poked him in the chest. "An' because ya' can't resist a face as pretty as mine, Cotton!"

"Aww, come on, Tamer . . ." Hariel begged again, ruffling the hair on the back of his head as he did so. Maybe she hasn't been just messing with my head this whole time!

'Ee's so cute when 'ee's flustered, T'myra noted. 'Ee seemed t' enjoy that . . . "Now that they're gone, let's go look fo' The Map!" Tamer insisted, breaking eye contact with him. She moved to peer around the corners of the alley, checking to make sure that the Guard had in fact left the area.

Hariel pouted because he knew she couldn't see him. He thought, Just when I thought she was going to do some explaining, she remembers THE MAP! I wish she'd just take some time out of her busy schedule to explain to me just what she feels! Is she playing with me or is she serious? You just can't tell with T'myra! Hariel had grown very fond of T'myra in the past four months, but they'd never even held hands before. Hariel wasn't sure, but he took her initiation of the embrace as a good sign.

After a few hours had gone by, Hariel and T'myra met up again. Neither had found any leads and they were discussing what to do when they heard people screaming. No one was supposed to be fighting during the Festival! As they rushed for the screams, people began to run against them. At the source of the screams, a middle-aged man was being attacked by a Guardsman, who was obviously drunk.

"You BAStard! You-" the guard hiccuped, "-don't have the right - to talk to ME like that!" he said as he swayed, holding the man's pale beige shirt by the shoulders.

"But I didn't say anything!" the man cried.

"Let him go," a deep voice commanded.

"Eh, WHO are you?" the drunk asked, turning towards the voice.

At this advantage, the man slugged the drunken Guard. The Guard fell backwards and into a cart, whose owner began shouting for the rest of the Guard. The drunk stumbled to his feet and was about to attack the man from the rear with his sword when Tamer's whip shot through the air like the wind and slapped around the guard's legs. He fell and tried to get up, but Hariel was now on his back, taking him in a headlock, of sorts, with a dagger at his throat.

"I don't think so!" Tamer laughed.

"I think this deserves a demotion!" Hariel chuckled as he glared down at the guard, who looked like he was still trying to comprehend what had happened to him. All of a sudden, Hariel felt his body jerk up and away from the drunken Guard.

The rest of the Guard had arrived and taken a hold of Hariel and T'myra. "Well, well, attacking a Guard! You two thieves should know better! After more than four months of your criminal antics, we may yet have peace again!" Kohherth crowed, standing before the struggling, child-sized thieves. He motioned for two of the Guards to assist their fallen companion back to their barracks.

"We didn't do anythin' bad, ya jerk!" Tamer yelled.

"Release them," the deep voice said.

The Guard, Hariel, Tamer, and the man looked and saw a person in somewhat elegant, full, black armor. On top of the dark, armored breastplate that was part of the whole armor, was a smaller, golden breastplate. The shoulder guards were gray, rimmed in red and they stuck out past the shoulders. Over the shoulder socket, on both sides, were black circles with a gold crescent moon - called R'ruzn's Eyes when both moons are shown - around the outer edge and a gold circle in the center of the crescent. The helmet was gold and had a gray face protector over his mouth, blacking out the rest of his face from view. On top of the beautiful helmet, a red feather stuck up. A long cape fell from his shoulder guards, which was red on the inside and pale green on the outer side.

"You have the wrong people in custody," the armored figure insisted.

"How can you say such a thing?" Kohherth demanded, facing the armored man. "I couldn't count on all the hands of the Guard the number of crimes these two have committed in the past five months!" he exaggerated. "If nothing else, they are clearly guilty of today's crime!"

"Your comrade, there, is drunk and attacked some civilians, including this man here," the dark figure motioned to the man. "He defended himself and knocked the drunk into that cart there," pointing at the cart. He moved his hand to the middle of the street and the dark figure continued, "He was about to get a surprise attack on this man, with a sword, sir, when these two children intervened. I am positive that this gentleman, here, would not be in half the health he is now, had the children not assisted him."

"And they didn't harm the Guard, either!" the man piped up.

"Therefore, sir, I believe that you owe these children an apology and should let them be," the dark figure insisted.

"So, who do you think you are?" Kohherth demanded of the dark figure, "You think you can give out orders around here?"

"I am the Commanding Guard of Mycuaja's High Palace, here on a special mission during this time of peace. I am called Saberstryke," he answered.

"A Commander?" the Capital Guard gasped.

'Ee can't be from Mycuaja . . . this isn't their style . . . Especially fo' the Lords an' Commanding Guards . . . Tamer eyed the supposed Commander.

Saberstryke continued after the Capital Guard's murmuring died down, "If you know these children to be criminals, it would be best to exact your justice on a different day. It is the Festival of Unity and, as far as I can tell, they have committed no crimes today. If you persist-" he moved a hand to his sword-hilt at his left side, "-I shall have to take it upon myself to exact intercontinental justice, according to the laws Mycuaja and Sahngell agreed upon when the Festival was created." All those lessons of politics are sure coming in handy . . . and I thought it was pointless to learn anything about Mycuaja or Sahngell in my youth! How glad I am that I was wrong!

"Forgive me, Commander!" Kohherth snapped to attention. He mumbled grudgingly, "Let the kids go." After Hariel and Tamer were released, he added, "You got off lucky."

After the Guard had left, Tamer crossed her arms and sneered, "Ya' know, we aren't children, Saberstryke."

"No?" he laughed, "You seem pretty young to me, miss." Unless . . . any being that ages slower than the Mycuajans attain maturity earlier than their physical appearance would indicate! Could these children be-

"Fo' your infa'mation, I'm 18 an' 'Ariel, 'ere, is almost my age," Tamer shot back.

Now that I think about it, she does sound like a young adult! 'Informed beyond her appearance . . .' Saberstryke whispered to himself. 'With a man older, and yet younger, than she . . .' he continued, 'Fourth is hidden, nearby but in secret . . .' Saberstryke looked at the man. The Seer was right . . . "What is your name, sir?"

"Me? I am called Kokuen-oh," the man answered. "This is Sillehstah," he patted his horse.

'The king of harsh fate', huh? . . . "And you are?" Motioning to Tamer, Saberstryke asked.

"My long o' short name?" she scoffed.

"Both, in the reverse order," Saberstryke requested.

"I'm called Tamer, but truly I am T'myra M'munda Orysy-H'htonre," she bowed to the Lord.

Orysy? H'htonre? I've found them all "No, no, it is I who should be humbling myself in your presence, Lady T'myra," Saberstryke insisted as he knelt before her. When Saberstryke said this, the other three people around him gasped at the title he had just given Tamer. "Do you have an establishment that we may speak privately at, Lady?" he wondered.

" 'Ow do I know ya' won't come back an' kill us?" T'myra questioned.

"I am here on orders from your Uncle, Kynejycue Orysy," Saberstryke answered, his now visible eyes were narrowed and glowing from within his helmet. "Forgive me for lying, but I knew he would believe it," Saberstryke said referring to Kohherth.

Tamer narrowed her own eyes, which glowed only briefly, "So 'ow come ya' said you're from Mycuaja? Ya' aren't from Mycuaja."

"No, I am not. Like your father, I was a Lord," he said quietly. Tamer gasped. Saberstryke turned to Hariel and Kokuen-oh and whispered, "Meaning I'm a Purebred Demidon." Hariel and Kokuen-oh's eyes widened.

"Why have you come to Sahngell then?" Hariel demanded.

"I insist that we discuss this in a more confined area," the Lord requested, "and that the man called Kokuen-oh join us."

As Kokuen-oh gathered Sillehstah and his other belongings up, Tamer giggled, "Fine," and turned in the direction of her house to start walking, but looked back at the Lord, "Just remember, Lord Saberstryke, ya' apparently knew m' parents. M' powers are quite odd, b'cause o' m' 'eritage, but they're also powa'ful an' come easily t' me, fo' the same reason." She returned her gaze to her distant house, casually and confidently beginning to walk that way.

(-)

10:25 AM Thursday- Sahenangell, Sahngell May 5th- 981 D.A.

"Now, Lord Saberstryke, tell us your story," Tamer said as she removed her cloak.

She was dressed in layers - that was the first thing Hariel noticed. She had a white dress with long sleeves on that fell to her ankles and it had gold trim. She wore heels that laced up her legs, but Hariel couldn't tell how far up. On top of that she had a pale aquamarine shirt which had sleeves that were almost as long as the first layer. She had a vibrant green ribbon tying the two sides together just below the neckline. Right below it began a piece of wide cloth that was a soft, sky-blue color, which was held up by what Hariel could only discern as a teal rope around her waist. Below the rope, on the wide blue fabric, a large symbol had been embroidered on.

It looked like a forest-green circle for a field with two light blue half circles at the top & bottom with the curves pointing inward. In the top half-circle was a dark blue cross made of long, thin, pointed ovals, and in the bottom one was set a green heart. In the part of the circle that was green, two pale diamonds were set side-by-side horizontally and stretched so that their corners almost touched the edges of the green. Where the tips of the diamonds touched the left and right side of the green circle, two small dark blue circles had been set.

Hariel kept his eyes fixed on T'myra as she sat in the most adorned chair in her living room, next to Lord Saberstryke, ready to listen.

"Well, Lady. Until recently, I was known as the Lord K'kedki N'shkoe and G'gonstrm pleased me for its power and my abilities. However, as of late, Nobles, like myself, have become quite greedy. I was sent on missions that I could not find the reasons for, and I was not told the reasons either.

"I eventually learned that they were trying to conquer all of Cheakir, not trying to clean out the evil people invading our lands, as the lower-ranking Nobles had been told. Furious for being deceived, I sought to leave. Not long after entering Mycuaja in disguise, I was confronted by your Uncle Orysy, who requested my assistance. He told me of how he had helped his sister, brother-in-law, and niece escape, but that they were being followed. He wanted me to help as much as possible.

"I then learned of your parents' unfortunate death, but that you were still alive. So, hoping to assist your uncle as promised, I sought you out. I am very glad I found you, Lady T'myra. You are a cunning and brave soul," Lord Saberstryke finished.

"Why would ya' want t' 'elp my Uncle an' my family?" Tamer questioned.

"I now despise the land of G'gonstrm-" the Lord began.

"You and everyone else on Cheakir," Hariel interrupted. He was sitting in a chair on T'myra's other side.

"-And your Uncle Orysy believes that you and the friends you have met, or will meet, can stop that wild and greedy Nation," Lord Saberstryke continued.

"I see," Tamer lowered her head in thought.

"If I may ask, Lady, how did you come to be here in Sahngell? I have not heard the details," the Lord inquired.

Reluctantly, Tamer relayed the story of her flight again. All the while, Kokuen-oh appeared to be listening intently from his chair a little ways apart from the Lord and Hariel.

" . . . An' that's 'ow I came t' be 'ere," T'myra finished.

"Intriguing," Lord Saberstryke commented.

Kokuen-oh chuckled low in his throat.

"What's so funny, Kokuen-oh? D' ya' find m' story amusin'?" Tamer demanded, jumping to her feet. 'Ow dare 'ee laugh at me!

Kokuen-oh chuckled again with his head down and his eyes shut, "Lady T'myra . . . You lie to yourself . . . and to your friends . . ." Then he opened his eyes and lifted his head.

Tamer froze; she had seen the shimmer that was in Kokuen-oh's eyes before, somewhere . . . it was familiar to her . . . Where had she seen those eyes? Then her eyes widened and her mouth opened, but no words came forth, except in her mind. 'Ee- 'ee couldn't be . . . it- it isn't possible

"You actually recognize me, Tamer. I am honored." This was the first time Kokuen-oh had not addressed her formally.

Tamer slowly walked over to Kokuen-oh, who was still sitting. At eye level with him, T'myra whispered, " . . . Ch'tsu?"

Kokuen-oh smiled . . . until he required his hand to hold his abnormally sore and red cheek. T'myra had never hit him before . . .

"Damn ya'! It's all YOUR fault! YOUR FAULT! 'Ow DARE ya' even SPEAK t' me again? After WHAT YA' DID? DAMN YA'! Damn ya'! Damn ya' . . ." T'myra then began to wail in mourning, finally collapsing to her knees and breaking into a fit of sobs and tears.

Completely bewildered, but concerned, Hariel leapt from his chair and to her side. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her against his chest, then stroked her raven-silk hair with one hand as he tried to calm her. "Tamer . . . shh . . . come on . . . shh . . . calm down . . ." Hariel continued to cradle her while the Lord interrogated Kokuen-oh.

"What have you done, sir? That would upset this young woman so?" Saberstryke demanded; he was on his feet a second after Hariel.

" 'Ee won't tell ya' . . ." Tamer sniffled from within Hariel's arms.

"Lady?" the Lord looked to her.

"Not a lyin' scoundrel like 'im. 'Ee 'oped fo' forgiveness from me . . . fo'- fo' 'elpin t' kill m' parents . . ." Tamer managed to speak.

"T'myra?" Hariel gasped, holding her in front of him.

T'myra could not meet the gaze Hariel was giving her - that concerned gaze of love. Ch'tsu was the last person to give her that gaze, and she hated it like she hated everything else about him. Yet, coming from Hariel's eyes, it made her feel warm again, as when she still had her parents. It was just disconcerting to her, seeing that gaze again. Pa'aps . . . pa'aps it'll be more than lust this time. Maybe 'Ariel can actually- no, no 'ee couldn't like me. I'm- I'm nowhere near 'is kind o' girl. 'Ee's sensitive, kind, an' an overall quiet person. I'm 'is complete opposite! I should neva' 'ave tried t' go after 'im . . . it's pointless . . .

"What I told ya' wasn't the 'ole story, 'Ariel-" T'myra paused to gather herself.

She called me Hariel again . . . this is bad, something's really got her worked up, Hariel told himself, Normally she would use my nickname!

" 'Ee's in there too . . ." she nodded, motioning to 'Kokuen-oh' with her head while still in Hariel's arms, "as much as I 'ate t' rememba' it . . ." T'myra stood up, breaking free of Hariel's grasp.

It was just like earlier; Hariel didn't want to let her go, but he knew she had to let everything out into the open, whatever it was.

Before beginning, Tamer sneered at 'Kokuen-oh', "I 'ope you're 'appy, Ch'tsu . . ."

"We lived among grassy hills an' a village surroundin' a large castle. People were millin' about in the market place that day. Then, as m' family left our castle, the people parted t' allow a foreign carriage t' make its way t' the drawbridge. Lord D'dedshi K'kbo 'ad come wit' 'is wife, M'jooka, an' son, Ch'tsu. M' family consisted o' Lord S'soz H'htonre - m' father, Lady Vynefycua Orysy - m' mother, an' m'self. M' parents really went t' the countryside o' Mycuaja, but they didn't run there, as I 'ad said b'fore. M' father was still on good terms wit' G'gonstrm an' Mycuaja pardoned m' mother.

"Our two families entered the castle an' we two children wandered off. I started a conva'sation wit' Ch'tsu, but 'ee seemed far colder an' less interested in the conva'sation than I did. Ch'tsu an' I 'ad been betrothed at birth. I really liked him, an' didn't mind bein' betrothed t' him. We were very good friends. But then, on this visit, 'ee told me 'ee wouldn't marry me, b'cause I was a 'Alf-breed.'

"I tried talkin' t' 'im, but 'ee wouldn't listen t' me. 'Ee began t' yell at me, so I 'eld m' face in shock as I cried. 'Ee turned t' leave, but I called after 'im fo' an explanation. 'Ee just turned around, smiled evilly, an' told me t' meet 'im on the terrace that night.

"Later that afternoon, I paced back an' forth in m' room. I was deep in thought an' depressed by these events. I looked out m' window an' dreamed o' seein' a boy wit' a shadowed face ride by the castle on a white horse, wave t' me, an' ride off. I was dreamin' o' a boy who was really meant fo' me. I called after 'im, but, of course, 'ee couldn't 'eer me. I didn't know what else t' do, so I tried t' come up wit' somethin' t' explain Ch'tsu's be'avior.

"I approached Ch'tsu that night. 'Ee took m' 'ands in 'is an' kissed them. 'Ee rapidly began t' explain that the Demidons no longer trusted the 'Alf-Breeds. 'Ee said that the Demidons knew the 'Alf-Breeds 'ad allied wit' Mycuaja fo' an approachin' battle. So, the Demidons planned t' kill all o' the 'Alf-Breeds an' their relatives. 'Ee asked me t' 'elp, so that I'd survive, but I pulled away from 'im. I told him I could never turn on m' parents, but that I didn't want 'im t' die either. Finally I tried t' run away, but Ch'tsu grabbed one o' m' 'ands. 'Ee asked me wit' a stone-cold face if I was sure, an' I nodded. 'Ee let go o' m' 'and an' mouthed, 'Well then, good-bye.' 'Ee unfolded 'is wings as I protested that 'ee didn't 'ave t' leave. Ch'tsu just kept tellin' me 'ee would do what 'ee thought was right, even if it meant 'ee couldn't be m' 'usband. 'Ee flew towards one of Ruzjyeruna's Eyes as I ran t' m' bedroom, cryin'.

"Fo' a long time, all I could think about was what 'ee'd said an' 'ow 'appy we coulda' been. That reminded me o' m' parents; I 'ad t' warn them! When I got t' their bedroom, they soothed me an' cradled me in their bed, tellin' me it was a nightmare. So, I 'ad t' go back t' bed. I could almost 'eer Ch'tsu tellin' me 'ow right 'ee was . . .

"When I got back t' m' room, I cried an' looked up wit' a determined look an' a wet face towards the Eyes of Ruzjyeruna. I could almost see 'im 'overin' there. I came up wit' a plan. I went t' m' closet an' found m' whip. I cracked it above m' 'ead an' told m'self, 'Even if I 'ave t' fight Ch'tsu, I will protect m' kind from the Demidons.' Wit' that promise, I began t' train wit' m' whip an' m' magic.

"One day, I was pretendin' that I was battlin' against a spirit look-alike of Ch'tsu while 'ee recited what was said the night 'ee left. I tried t' grab 'is arm, fo'gettin' 'ee was a dream, an' 'ee disappeared. 'Is farewell echoed through m' mind. Afterwards, I felt . . . somethin' . . . that was when m' parents told me m' Uncle Kyn would be comin' t' take me away wit' 'im that night. Unfo'tunately, that night wasn't soon enough.

"D'dedshi came t' take me befo' m' Uncle even got there an' m' parents 'ad t' defend me as Uncle Kyn tried t' cast a spell t' get us out o' there, D'dedshi came through th' window an' stopped 'im. Then, on th' roof, D'dedshi tried t' kill Uncle Kyn, but I some'ow managed t' stop 'im - I don't rememba' that part too well. Uncle Kyn got me t' safety, but we couldn't save m' parents. Uncle Kyn couldn't even find there bodies.

"I wanted revenge mo' than anythin' else an' Uncle Kyn told me abou' the Legend o' the A'tifacts. We even talked abou' 'ow I could look fo' 'elp in Sahenangell, a city of goodness, but Uncle Kyn was really against the idea o' me goin' off on my own - so I left in the dead o' night.

"What kept me goin' were those memories o' Ch'tsu tellin' me 'ow futile m' attempts would be. Those memories 'aunted me the whole way t' Sahngell. I only knew that I wouldn't let up if it came t' the two of us battlin'. No, I would not go easy on 'im at all. I was goin' t' be the death of the Demidons, even if they were goin' t' be the death o' me. As I thought these things an' started m' journey, I ran towards Sahngell like m' life depended on it. Come t' think of it, m' life did rest in that city. The only thin' was that I felt like someone was watchin' me. I 'ad t' 'ave been dreamin', b'cause I didn't see anybody."

"That's 'ow it really 'appened," Tamer said, her fists clenched at her side. "Ch'tsu will attest t' that . . ."

"T'myra . . . I-" Hariel began as he touched Tamer on the shoulder.

He was taken by surprise when Tamer whirled around and flung her arms around his chest. He could hear her sobbing a little and could feel his chest getting wet where her head was; she was crying again.

"It'll be okay . . ." he whispered, holding her with one arm and stroking her hair with the other. Then he looked up at the other two men and his face was determined. "Lord Saberstryke?"

"Yes?" the Lord looked at Hariel.

"Will you please help us find The Map?" Hariel questioned.

"Of course," Saberstryke agreed, but then looked a little confused. "However, I know not what you speak of-" he had barely begun that word when Kokuen-oh interrupted him.

"The Map shows the locations of five of the most powerful weapons created by the Dekutan. All of you want those weapons to wipe out G'gonstrm," Kokuen-oh looked at all of them. "I want this future as well," he insisted. "And you weren't dreaming, T'myra. I followed you here, to help you."

Hariel could feel T'myra tense up before she let go of him.

"There is NO way I'm lettin' YOU come along!" T'myra sneered, pointing a finger at him.

"I wish to redeem myself in your eyes, T'myra," Kokuen-oh pleaded, "I happen to know where The Map is-" the other three gasped, "-and I know who has it."

"You're lyin'! Just so ya' can come with us!" T'myra looked at Hariel, " 'Ee 'as t' be!" She turned to Lord Saberstryke, " 'Ee CAN'T come wit' us!" she pleaded with tears in her eyes.

"My Lady, if he is telling the truth, perhaps he can prove it." Saberstryke bent down, closer to her pointed ear, "And if he lies, I shall make him an example of why I took the name Saberstryke."

T'myra sighed, then buried herself in Hariel's chest again. "Then, 'ee . . . can come . . . wit' us . . ."

Hariel was completely bewildered by Tamer's actions. First she hugs me, then she collapses and lets me hold her, next she decides she likes being in my arms! Am I missing something, or is she seriously trying to tell me something?

"So, shall we be going?" Kokuen-oh rose and walked out the door. I knew it would take her a while . . . she always did keep grudges better than anyone else I knew . . .

T'myra didn't move for a moment, but heard Lord Saberstryke leave the room. "I'm sorry, 'Ariel . . . I- I lost it . . . I couldn't control m'self . . ."

Hariel squeezed her tightly and then held her shoulders so she'd look at him. "All I want you to know is that I am going to see you through this," he said, "I'm here for you, whenever you need me."

It was T'myra's turn to blush as she looked at her feet. "Thank ya' . . . that means a lot t' me . . ." She smiled up at him, then grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door.

Yeah, she's gonna' be fine . . . Hariel grinned to himself. I just hope I'm not wrong about her . . .

(-)(-)(-)

Continued in: Strength in Numbers

2/8/2005
 Okay, so I decided to run over into the original Episode 2, so sue me! I think you'll agree that this breakdown makes a bit more sense than my original. (Cheesy grin.) Anyway, is that better? E-mail me and let me know!

2/11/2005 and 3/31/2005
 Major spelling edits, especially on T'myra's speech - you'd think I'd know how to write out her speech by now, wouldn't you? (Sigh) The first encounter with Saberstryke got a makeover and some additional explanations that you might like, namely the disparity between Hariel and T'myra physical and mental ages. There were also a few small wordsmithing changes.

9/8/2005
 I had to change T'myra's story a bit to reflect the "new" version of what happened, as seen in the prologue. Since I'd never fully described it, I don't really see it as a new version, more like fleshing it out. In any case, that was all I changed.

Nekochan