Marina Wulfstan: Not all is as it seems...

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. Squad 7 was on a much deserved respite, along with the other squads. The Imperials had all seemed to pull back from inner Gallia. The only thing the Sevens or other squads knew was that in a few days time, they would all head to the plains of Naggiar. But until that time, no training was scheduled, no missions to be undertaken and there was really nothing that needed to be done by the Sevens.

Sadly, the weather that day wasn't very good. It was dark, gloomy and rain was falling from the heavens. That being so, most of the Sevens were in their large, warm, comfy barracks. Card games were going on between squad mates. Members were talking to one another and there was a lot of laughter, chatter and good mingling going on.

Except for one member of the squad. This particular girl was sitting on a window sill, head against the glass as droplets pattered softly against it. Unlike the other members, there was never a smile on her face, she never 'mingled' with anyone and spent the vast majority of her time alone. Her hair was long and black as night and no one had ever seen the full features of her face. Her hair was so long in the front that it concealed nearly all of her face from view, except for one single, but beautiful violet coloured eye. That girl was Marina Wulfstan.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the barracks, standing near his bedpost was the squad clown, Ted Ustinov. He was looking at Marina so intently that he actually jumped and screamed in surprise when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist.

"Hello! My Teddy Bear!" Aika Thompson squealed in delight as she hugged Ted.

"Oh my… Aika! Don't do that so suddenly!" Ted complained. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Aika giggled and pinched Ted's nose and then proceeded to hug him even tighter, rubbing her head against his chest at the same time. "Tee-hee! It's not my fault that you're so damn cuddly! It really does your name well, Teddy bear."

"Well… when you put it that way… how can I stay mad at you." Ted chuckled.

Aika giggled, "You couldn't if you tried!"

Aika then let go of Ted, but still wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "So… whatcha looking at?" she asked. "You seemed pretty distracted by something when I was sneaking up on you."

Ted sighed, "Nothing…" he said. Though his eyes gave him away, they were still focused on Marina, in the corner of the barracks.

"Oh… I get it!" Aika said with a wink and a nudge of her elbow. "Still crushing on Marina over there eh?"

Ted blushed then shook his head, "No! No! Nothing like that!" Ted stammered.

"Didn't your Mother ever tell you that it's not nice to lie to girls?" Aika said, giving Ted a soft punch in the arm.

Ted rubbed his arm, "I forgot… I can never hide anything from you, Aika. No one can!"

"But, there is something else…" Ted continued, looking back at Marina once again. "Yes… I do like her… a little. But there's just something about her that's… odd. She never smiles, never laughs at my jokes or antics. She spends all her time alone… why?"

Finally, Aika got serious and she sat on Ted's bed and looked over at Marina, "Yeah… I know what you mean," Aika said worriedly. "She's always so quiet and… I don't know… if you've ever looked at her when she doesn't know that you're there, she… just looks so sad all the time…"

"Yeah… I've noticed that too," said Ted. "You know what, I'm going to go over there and see if she's up for talking or a game of cards or whatever."

Aika cringed, remembering how Marina always responded to an invite of any kind, badly. "Alright… good luck Teddy bear… don't get killed or anything."

Ted then strolled over to Marina, but even after he reached her, she continued to look out the window. Ted held his arms behind his back and thought of what to say.

"Hey Marina… good to see you again!" Ted said cheerfully.

"…It's not like I went anywhere…" Marina responded coldly, never looking at Ted as she said that.

Ted chuckled and was about to pat Marina on the shoulder while saying "Ha-ha! I know, I'm just jok-"

"If you value the use of your hand and fingers, you'll keep your hand away from me at all times…" Marina warned, even colder than before.

Ted swallowed hard and clenched his hand together and pulled it away slowly, shaking slightly in fear. "Sorry, was just trying to be friendly. You look like you could use a friend."

"I don't." Marina replied. "All I wish... is to be left alone."

This was the time when Ted usually backed off, but tonight. He was determined to get through to her for once. "…No…" Ted replied.

Now Marina's head turned to Ted, giving him one of her icy cold glares, the ones that could freeze even the bravest mans heart. But Ted stood his ground, "I'm not leaving…"

Suddenly, it was as if someone flipped a switch and the whole room became dead quiet. All heads were turned to Marina and Ted. Now, Marina very slowly stood up, she was slightly taller than Ted, but even those few inches that she stood above him, glaring down at him added to her intimidation factor.

Then, without breaking eye contact with Ted, she said loud enough to be heard by everyone, "Anyone who wants to live, leave… now!"

The Sevens then bolted out of there, some jumping over tables. The ones playing cards quickly gathered their winnings and followed the other Sevens out of the two exits on either side of the barracks as they scrambled out of there. All except Ted, now he even crossed his arms as he looked up into Marina's one glaring eye. "Do what you will… I'm not leaving until we've had a proper discussion for once."

Marina's glare then disappeared and she slowly turned and walked back to the window, and with her back to him, she said softly, "What do you want to know…"

Ted then smiled a little before walking to Marina and standing just behind her, "I guess what I want to know is… why are you the way you are?"

"Meaning?" Marina asked.

"I don't know… you always want to be alone, you never attend parties or talk to anyone. Also, you never, ever let anyone touch you…"

Marina nodded, and then Ted added. "But most of all… you always look so sad all the time…"

"The answer to all your questions… comes from the experiences I had at home… terrible experiences." Marina said, for the first time, there was some sound of fear in her voice. Now, she was visibly trembling, almost as if shivering as her shoulders shook.

She then placed her head against the glass; with her un-gloved hand she pressed her fingers nails against the glass, "The pain… The horror of it all." she said, running her hand down the glass, causing an ear splitting screech to ring out as her nails dragged across the pane of glass. "Having my hair pulled… being strangled… hit, kicked, tormented every single day of my life… it was maddening!"

Now Ted looked down at the ground in shame, he had forced the issue, one that clearly disturbed Marina. "I'm sorry to hear that…"

Marina then turned to Ted, looking down at the ground, "But that's not the worst of it… this… is the worst of it…" Marina said, bringing her hand up to her face, underneath all her black hair and brushing it aside.

Ted gasped loudly, what he saw shocked him. Her right eye was normal, like any other persons eye. But the left one was closed and had a long jagged scar that ran from just under her eye, over the eyelid and all the way up to her forehead.

"Because of life in that home… my beauty was forever ruined… my face scarred for the rest of my life!"

"Oh Marina, I'm so sorry to hear… that you were abused so badly at home. It really does explain a lot though…"

"What!" Marina asked in bewilderment, removing her hand from her face, her hair falling back into place, "What are you talking about? My family never 'abused' me in my entire life. Where'd you get that idea from?"

Now Ted was confused, "B-but you just said… that you had your hair pulled, that you were strangled and hit and tormented all the time."

"No, it's not what you think," said Marina. "You've got the whole idea wrong…"

Marina, Age 10

"Mari! Come here my beloved Mari!" Victoria Wulfstan called out as she wandered through the house, "If you won't come out, then I'm going to have to come and find you!"

Young Marina hid inside her giant doll house, knees tucked up to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs. Her mother then entered her room, "Come out! Come out! Where ever you are!" her mother said giddily. But this was no game of hide and seeks; Marina was genuinely trying to hide.

"Well Gee… I guess she's not in here," Her mother said sarcastically. She then ran up to Marina's doll house, opened it up in a flash and pulled Marina out. "I got you! Waahh!" she screamed as she hugged Marina, nearly to death and shook her.

"No! No~!" Marina screamed, once again being smothered by her extremely over affectionate mother.

Marina, Age 12

Marina was at the back of the family Cabin. Shooting targets with her Father, Murdock Wulfstan. So far she had hit nearly all the targets with her small .22 calibre rifle, simple paper targets.

"Excellent Mari! Just excellent!" Murdock praised, rubbing his daughters head hard with his rough gloved hand. It was something he did constantly, no matter what they were doing.

Annoyed, Marina then next missed, on purpose and struck a tree in the background.

"Oh dear Mari… that's not where the target is," he said with a long, bold laugh. Once again rubbing his hand on top of his daughters head, messing her hair up even further.

Marina waited for a while, but nothing happened. So she shouted, "Well Father… I missed! What do you think of that? Aren't you going to get mad at me? Aren't you going to scold me?"

Murdock smiled brightly, grabbed little Marina in a headlock and gave her a noggie. "Scold you? What in the world makes you think I would ever do that? Hahaha! It's true that you missed, but I guess we'll just have to try harder next time won't we ha-ha!"

"Ugh…" Marina said; face palming herself in disgust after she was left go.

"Honey! Mari! Time for supper!" Victoria called from the doorway. Just then, two smaller children ran past her and charged towards Marina.

"Mar-Mar! Supper!" one little boy, Adam Wulfstan, age 7, shouted.

"Heehee, Come on Mar-Mar! Come eat!" a ttle girl, Megan Wulfstan, also age 7, giggled.

Marina gasped as they were both about to tackle her, but Murdock stepped in front of them and said "Whoa,Whoa little one's! I'll not have you tackle Mari just now!"

"Awww…" They both groaned sadly. Marina then breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, she felt her rifle being pulled out of her hands.

"Alright, Guns on safety and away from Mari, now you can tackle her!" Murdock laughed.

"YAY~!" And both Adam and Megan tackled Marina and began to tickle her while her mother and father laughed out loud at the spectacle.

"No! NO~!" Marina screamed.

Marina, age 15

Marina was at the dining table, finishing up some homework during the evening. Just then, she felt her arm being tugged. She looked over, annoyed and saw Megan, her little sister.

"Come on Mar-Mar! Let's play!"

Adam then began tugging on her other arm, "Yeah, come and play with us!"

"I can't! I'm doing my homework!" Marina protested, trying to break away from them. But they then began to climb on top of her, clawing at her long black hair, hugging, squeezing and laughing out loud.

"Play with us!" They shouted in unison.

"NO~!" Marina screamed.

Just then, "Shh… Mari, you'll wake the baby." Her mother said, softly rocking their small baby daughter, yet another addition to the loving family. But the baby was awoken anyway and began to cry loudly.

Marina put her hands over her ears, "Oh… I can't stand crying babies!"

"Now, Now Mari! Be nice to your baby sister," Victoria said with a smile. "You know what; I think you're old enough to hold her now."

"What! No! I don't want to!" Marina protested.

"Oh come on, it'll be a nice bonding moment for you two," her mother said and with that she softly passed Melissa, her new baby daughter to Marina.

Marina rolled her eyes as she held onto her, but to everyone's surprise, the baby was laughing and cooing softly now. Then, the most unexpected thing, "Mar-Mar!" Melissa's first word.

"Oh! Murdock! Honey! Come quickly!" Victoria called out.

And her father came bolting in from outside, "What is it! What happened?"

"Daddy! Melissa said her first word!" Megan announced

"Yeah, she did! Watch! She'll do it again!" Adam said happily.

Everyone silently watched as Melissa looked up at her big sister, giggled and said "Mar-Mar!" once again to Marina. Next, she reached out with her little hand and grabbed some of Marina's long black hair and tugged on it in perfect unison with "Mar-Mar! Mar-Mar! Ahahaha!"

The family then got together in a big, warm, family hug and laughed together. All except Marina, who released yet another "No~!" Then, "I can't be her first word! I don't want to be called that by yet another of my siblings! It's so unfair!"

Marina Age 19

It was very early in the morning. The house was quiet, and hopefully the family would still be sleeping, or so Marina hoped as she snuck down to the front door. Carefully, she slipped on her boots, jacket and was about to head out the door, when she suddenly felt something grab her by the leg. She looked down and saw Melissa, her little sister clinging onto her leg.

"Mar-Mar! Where go Mar-Mar?" she asked, maintaining a tight grip on her big sisters leg.

Marina sighed, "Nowhere... I'm just going out for a walk… alone." Marina said, bending down and trying to pry her clingy little sister off of her leg. But each time she pried off one hand, Melissa quickly moved it and held onto another part of her leg. Then, once Marina was able to finally get her little sister off her leg, Melissa reached up and grabbed Marina by her long hair and pulled. "OUCH~!" Marina screamed, "Let go! I have to go now!"

"Well take your little brother and sister out with you." Victoria said. The noise had woken her up, as well as her hyper little brother and sister.

"Aww! Come on Mom!" Marina protested. "I'm with you guys all day, everyday! Can't I just have one day, one moment to myself!"

"Now Marina, you are their big sister. And I trust you with them, so take them out and play outside. Or better yet, take them with you on your hike today. I think they're old enough to venture into the mountains with you now."

"But Mother!"

"No buts! Listen to your mother," Victoria sternly, then she went back to smiling. She then scopped Melissa up and then left to feed her in the kitchen.

"Come on Mar-Mar, let's go!" Adam said, tugging on his boots and jacket.

"Yay! I've always wanted to go hiking with my big sister! All the way up in the mountains even!" Megan said happily.

Marina just shook her head, "Come on then… I suppose."

A short while into their hike, they were nearing the top of the nearest mountain to their home, by way of a long, winding hiking trail. Yet all the way through the hike, Adam and Megan each held onto one of Marina's hands and skipped nearly the whole way, laughing the whole time. The noise they were making were scaring all the birds away as they took to the skies. Any wildlife that Marina might have seen were probably scared off as well, not surprising, considering how loud her siblings were being.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Marina threw both of their hands away from herself and stomped in front of the both of them. "I've had it!" Marina screamed, "Damn it! …Why can't any of you just leave me alone for a day, just one day! Without all of the hugging and kissing and grabbing and clinging and laughing and screaming… why! Why can't you all just let me have time to myself! Is that too much to ask for!"

Her screams echoed across the mountain side, then moments later, was followed by two screaming, crying kids. Marina's words had hurt them and they were definitely showing it, "Wah! Why are you so mean, Mar-Mar?" Megan sobbed, rubbing her eyes.

Marina shook her head and was about to respond when suddenly, from behind them came a blood curdling 'Roar!' The kids gasped, Marina whipped around and they all came face to face with a roaring, salivating Grizzly bear on its hind legs. Kids being kids, Adam and Megan turned and ran… bad idea. The bear then landed back on all fours and went charging after them, Marina had no choice but to turn and run as well.

All the way the kids were screaming, "Mommy! Daddy! Help!"

The kids scrambled over a fallen tree, Marina jumped over as well, but her foot got caught in a tree branch as she jumped and she fell onto her stomach on the other side of the tree. But for some reason, the bear climbed over the tree and landed on the ground, just past Marina and continued on after her siblings. Maybe it hadn't noticed Marina, hidden behind the tree after she had fallen.

"No! Adam! Megan!" Marina screamed at their retreating forms, the bear not far behind them.

Marina quickly looked around, finding the largest stick she could find, she picked it up, as well as a handful of rocks and went after them. Unable to outrun the bear, the kids thought it was a good idea to climb the nearest tree and began to do so. However, the tree was small enough that once the bear reached it, it rose to its hind legs and began to rock the tree back and forth, Adam and Megan screaming loudly from up high.

Just then, the bear was struck in the back of the head by a flying rock, thrown by Marina. The bear looked back angrily. Marina was then tapping a nearby tree loudly, waving one of her hands, "Here! I'm here! Come and get me! Leave my family alone!"

The bear snarled and roared angrily and began to lumber towards Marina, who was hiding behind a tree. She wasn't sure what she'd do next, but she had gotten the bears attention away from her little brother and sister. As the bear got closer, she moved around the tree, leaving the bear on the other side as she moved around and hid on the opposite side of the tree. It was all she could do, she had not real weapons to fight a full grown grizzly. She did her best to keep it's teeth and claws away from herself and on the other side of the tree, desperatly thinking of what to do next.

This only angered the bear more and it reached around with one of its enormous paws and slashed its claws against the side of the tree, leaving four deep cuts down the side of the tree from its claws. Though Marina was unhurt this time and managed to avoid being slashed by only a few inches. Sadly the next time she wasn't so lucky. The bear reached around the tree and with another swipe of its mighty claws, three of its large claws scrapped against the side of the tree, but one caught Marina on the side of the face as she was looking around the wide tree. It cut deep, all the way from her forehead, over her eye and part way down her cheek and Marina fell onto her back, held her face in her hands and shrieked loudly in pain.

"Marina!" Adam and Megan screamed, it was the first time they had ever called her by her true first name, Marina. Not 'Mar-Mar' or Mari, just... Marina. With her only good eye left, Marina looked over at them, up in the tree and despite all the pain, smiled gratefully to them. She then closed her eyes as the bear came all the way around, and got ready to swipe a killing blow down onto the helpless Marina Wulfstan.

But two loud echoing gunshots halted the bear dead in its tracks and it roared in pain. Two more gunshots dropped it to the ground, dead. Marina and her little brother and sister looked back and saw both Mom and Dad with hunting rifles in their hands. They had heard the screams of their children and rushed to save them and did so just in the nick of time for Marina.

Victoria and Murdock Wulfstan ran to Marina's side and cradled her together in their arms, "Oh no… Marina… your eye!" Victoria said, holding a very trembling hand against Marina's left cheek, cut deep and bleeding. The injury was horrific, not only to her cheek and forehead, but to her left eye itself.

"We've got to get her to a hospital!" Murdock cried, handing his rifle to his wife and with superhuman strength, he picked Marina up and for as old as he was, ran all the way down the mountain with her in his arms. Though Marina fell into unconsciousness before they reached the bottom.

The next thing Marina knew, she was waking up in a white hospital room. She was laying in a white bed, covered in white sheets. Her mother and father to were sittint together to her left and Marina now had bandages over her left eye, her cheek and forehead were already tended to as well.

"Marina… are you alright?" her mother asked.

Marina must have been given pain medication, she felt woozy, but she managed to nod and smile a slight smile.

"Where are Adam and Megan? Are they safe?" Marina asked.

"Thanks to you, they are!" Murdock said.

Just then, on cue, Adam and Megan came bursting through the door, "Mar-Mar!" they cried happily, running up to Marina and hugging their big sister from either side of the bed.

"Back to Mar-Mar?" Marina asked.

"Yeah… if that's ok with you?" Adam asked, Megan was also waiting silently.

"Fine, you can call me Mar-Mar if you wish, or Mari I suppose…"

"We're sorry about your eye, Mari…" Adam and Megan said together, "If we hadn't of been so loud, we might never have attracted that bear to us in the first place…"

Marina shook her head, "Don't worry about it… it's just an eye," she said. "Fortunately, all things in nature are born with two. And I'd rather lose an eye than a sibling."

Murdock laughed out loud, "Ha-ha! That's my Marina! My most beloved daughter!" And he instinctively rubbed the top of her head, causing her to yelp in pain. "Oh Sorry! My bad! I forgot!"

But Marina laughed, so did her mother and brother and sister.

Marina, Age 24

"I can't believe my little Mari is all grown up and off to serve her country!" Victoria Wulfstan said as she brushed off her daughters brand new Militia Uniform as Marina stood in the doorway, dufflebag over her shoulder, ready to leave the house.

"Yes, I know you'll do well. I've taught you everything I know Mari!" Murdock Wulfstan said, handing her, her sniper rifle that he himself went over all night to make sure it was in good working order before sending his daughter off to the Militia base.

Marina was now sporting a new, much shorter and lighter haircut, done by her mother that was both suited for her role as a sniper and to cover up the scar she received a few years ago, protecting her siblings from a wild Grizzly bear. Once she left the house, she was going to be all on her own for the first time. No more daily hugs, kisses from her mother. Clinginess by her younger siblings and no more rubbing of her head by her father. No more babysitting her new little brother, Victor Wulfstan, a recent addition to the family 3 years ago. Thus raising the number of siblings Marina had to four now.

Marina hugged and kissed everyone for the last time, before heading down to the town to board the bus to the militia base. That day, she made a vow, a personal promise.

"This is my time! My own time to be alone whenever I want! A time when I will never be touched, prodded or held by anyone… and I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep that new found solitude that I've earned after all these years in that home!"

From that day on, Marina kept to herself, avoiding human contact whenever she could and absolutely despising anyone attempting to befriend her or get her to join in on the fun. Not because she hated people, but because for once in her life, she did not have to worry about being hugged, kissed, held, having her hair pulled by her younger siblings and never have to listen to the constant nagging to come play or have fun. Her time in the militia was for once in her life, her own time.

"Wait a minute…" said Ted after Marina finished her story. "Are you yanking my chain? Did all that stuff really happen?"

"Yes… why would I lie about something like that?"

"I don't know... I just assumed that with the way you've been acting that… something bad must have happened in your life to make you the way you are. But it sounds like you had a very good life at home before you came here..."

"That may be… but I bet you've never had to live with so many other siblings, constantly nagging you and messing with you and interrupting your whole life to fulfill their needs! Being smothered with love day in and day out all through your life by over affectionate parents, am I right?"

"No, I've never had to deal with that."

"So you see, that's what all of this is," said Marina. "I'm finally away from my over affectionate family and on my own for once. So after years of affection, I want, just once, to live one year without any kind of love or affection what-so-ever. Because once this war is over, I'm going to have to go back home to all of that… But until then… Leave. Me. Alone!"

"Alright, I suppose that's only fair…" said Ted.

But as soon as he finished that sentence, the doors to the barracks came swinging open and there stood a sight that made Marina shriek in absolute terror.

"MARI!" Murdock and Victoria Wulfstan cried.

"Mar-Mar!" Adam, Megan and Melissa shouted in joy.

"Mar-Bear!" Little Victor screamed.

"OH NO~!" Marina Shrieked, "I thought we had a deal! You weren't supposed to come and see me ever! Not until the war was finished!"

Then, all at once, the whole family cried, "But we MISSED YOU!" and they all came charging across the barracks, even trampling over poor Ted who was in the way, between them and their Marina.

Marina turned and tried to run but was tackled by Adam and Megan and as Ted was slowly recovering from the trampling and sitting up he heard Marina scream, "No! What are you doing! Hey! Don't touch me there! I don't want to wear it! NO~!"

As Ted sat up and looked toward Marina, he saw her wearing a large, wool, blue and white knit sweater. With a picture of a big brown bear on it.

"Oh! It fits! How wonderful!" Victoria Wulfstan squealed. "It's getting colder now, so I knit this, just for you, my little Mari-Wari!"

"We bought you some fresh baked muffins on the way here from Randgriz!" Adam said, taking a single muffin out of the batch, "Eat them! Eat them!" And without even waiting, he pushed it towards her mouth and tried to make her eat it.

"I picked out the juice!" Megan said, handing Marina a juice box.

"Oh it's so good to have the whole family back together again Hahahaha!" Murdock bellowed with laughter.

"Oh man… I had her figured SO wrong!" Ted laughed. "But still… I can see now why she despises human contact and wants to isolate herself… I would to, if that were my family."

"No~! Wake me up! This can't be real! It's a nightmare!" Marina screamed.

"AAHH~!" Ted screamed as he bolted upright in a strange bed.

"Whoa boy! Take it easy!" Freesia said, rushing up to Ted and pushing him back into bed.

"Don't overdo it, Teddy bear." Aika laughed, "I think you still need quite a bit of rest before you're ready to move around again."

"I'll say, but it's good that your skin color has returned to normal," said Vyse, sitting next to Aika.

"Yeah! You turned redder than an Imperial aces armour, Ted!" Melvin laughed.

"I did what?" Ted asked, now noticing how sick and tired he really felt.

Freesia dug her foot into the ground and laughed nervously, "Sorry Ted, I guess you really weren't ready for my Blazing Hot Barious Bean Chilli, made with wild beans and spices from the Barious desert and my home village, also in the Barious region," she said. "But you said you could handle it, I guess it was all too much for you."

Edy Nelson laughed, "Once that Chilli hit your mouth, you turned beat Red, got up from the table, ran across the room and slammed your poor head right into one of our bunks. You've been out cold since, thrashing around in your sleep, sweating profusely and muttering… certain stuff."

"Hehe yes Lad, it's true. All of it was about Marina!" Catherine O'Hara said with a wink.

"What?" Ted asked, "Marina… oh man Marina!"

Then, before anyone could stop him, Ted jumped out of bed and ran past all of his friends crowded around his bed. He then ran back to the barracks and burst through the doors; he looked around for a bit and saw Marina, sitting at one of the tables, cleaning her sniper rifle. He then ran up to her and without even thinking, grabbed her and raised her to her feet.

"Hey! What the hell!" Marina cried.

"Marina! I just had the weirdest dream about you, but somehow it all makes sense now!"

"What dream…? Better not have been dirty dreams!" Marina said in disgust, she then looked down at her arms, being held by Ted. "Take your hands off of me!"

"I know! You don't like to be held because of your over affectionate family back home right?"

"What?" Marina asked in surprise. "My what?"

"You know! Your parents who hug and kiss you all the time and your clingy siblings!"

"I don't have any siblings… I never did."

"You weren't showered with affection by your family, thus explaining your extreme need for isolation and no affection from anyone else?" Ted ask quickly in nearly one breath of air.

"Boy, I think you've hit your head harder than we thought! You're talking all sorts of non-sense..."

Ted was in disbelief, all that was once explained was now turning out to be untrue. All of it was just a result of eating Freesia's extremely spicy Chilli and being knocked into a wild fever dream.

"No… all that couldn't have been a dream, it all made sense when I heard it!" Ted said, and then an idea came to him. "Wait! I know, what about your eye!"

"My eye?" Marina asked.

Ted then grabbed her cheek and with his other hand, he immediately brushed aside her long black hair. But he was extremely surprised to see another identical violet coloured eye beneath all that hair of hers. No damage to her face, no scar where there was one in his dream. There was nothing, her left eye was in just as good of condition as her right eye was. Now his explanation as to why she kept her face covered all the time was also gone, another untrue result from his fever dream.

"Hey! Don't touch my face! BACK OFF!" Marina screamed, she then wound up and punched Ted right across the cheek, sending him directly onto his back. "Let's see if that'll knock some sense back into you!"

Marina then stormed out of the barracks, holding her fist in her other hand, teeth clenched together and breathing in and out angrily.

Ted's cheek was red and throbbing in pain, his eyes glistening with tears of frustration and embarrasment. "No… the answers… I had all the answers… now I'll never know what happened to her or why she is the way she is!" Ted said in sadness, crying tears of frustration. All of it was just a cruel, misunderstanding, fuelled by Freesia's deadly hot Barious region Chilli.

First off a GREAT big Thank you to Huhn for this very idea. We discussed it last night; I'm sure that we all assume that Marina is the way she is BECAUSE it has to have been from bad experiences at home, a rouge upbringing, abusive parents, whatever. BUT... what if it wasn't :P What if it was the exact opposite of what we've all been thinking of when we look at Marina. Not abused, neglected, tormented, left behind, whatever. But coming from a very very over affectionate, very big family.

Anways! I hope you all Enjoyed this, it was just a silly idea that came from 2 authors randomly discussing Marina Wulfstan stuff. As always, Read and Review, tell me what you think. But most of all, enjoy the silliness that comes from the two authors Snowman and Huhn. Lol, I had fun writing this.