Chapter 16
Indeed, it was my old enemy Renegade. When I had first become an Angel, and was just learning how to fly, he'd come down and attempted (rather forcefully) to convert me to a Renegade. He never succeeded, but he came close.
It was strange seeing him again after all this time. I wasn't really sure whether to run and duck behind the Prince, or give him back the charm and ask him just what the hell he was doing here. He had definitely matured since I last saw him. His facial features seemed much more solemn and hardened that before, especially in his eyes, which seemed a shade darker now. He was still fond of tight black leather, apparently, and still sporting the same wild, untamed hairstyle. He was still skinny and a bit lanky, though he did look much thinner than I remembered him being. There were also shallow dark circles around his eyes…
"Angel!" he barked again, causing me to take a tiny step backwards, "My charm!" As if by reflex, I touched the charm that was hanging around my neck, then I pulled it over my head.
"This…? This is yours?" I asked stupidly. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is irritate someone whose already very annoyed by asking stupid questions. He scowled and snatched it from me.
"Yes, it's mine! I've been searching everywhere for it, only to discover that you of all people had found it!" He quickly threw it around his neck after examining it carefully for any sign of damage, and stuffed it in his shirt.
"Uh… sorry?" I offered, trying not to get any farther on his bad side. He only 'hmphed' in response.
"Michael, don't be so short," the older Angel suddenly spoke up. He and Kaileena had come over to see what all the fuss was about. "If anything, you should be thanking her for finding it and keeping it safe for you." Mike only groaned menacingly and walked off, stopping a little ways from the group. The older Renegade only sighed, and then approached me. "My apologies for his behavior, he has been under a good deal of stress lately and has been short tempered with everyone."
I wasn't really sure how to respond. For one thing, I wasn't even supposed to be in the same room with a Renegade, let alone speaking to one! What the hell was I supposed to do if one of them tried to convert me? I doubt the Prince would be much help in such a situation, and there was probably no way I could match both Mike and whoever this old guy was. But… he seemed nice enough… from first impression, that is.
He was a tall, rather broad man, dressed in semi-formal attire (his outfit being a bit more with the times) and in a way, reminded me of the Prince's father. His hair was average length and a deep reddish brown, same as his eyes, which were kind and welcoming. His full lips were curled into a 'first-meeting' grin and framed by a scruffy, 5 o' clock shadow beard.
"Uh…" I had no clue what to say to this guy, but then again, I wasn't so sure I wanted to. When he saw the confusion and reluctance on my face, I smirked and laughed softly.
"If it's recruitin' you're worried about, don't. We have no intention of turnin' you outlaw," he assured me. I'm not sure why but I felt as if I could trust him. I was about to reply, when Mike opened his mouth again and added, rather sarcastically, "at least, not anymore we don't…" The older Angel just cast him a sardonic glare and returned his attention to me.
"No doubt you already know my son, Michelangelo," he said, his voice very matter-of-factly. "I must apologize for his attitude, he has been on edge ever since he arrived on this Island." He then straightened himself up and his smile returned. "But I'm forgetting my manners. I am Aslan Hammond, leader and dictator of the Renegades." WHOA, WHOA WHOA! Back up here! Leader?! Did he just say leader?! As in, ultimate authority and overlord?! Holy freaking crap! Do you have any idea how the council would praise me if I killed this guy on the spot? They would build me a gold throne and hail me until I died, and even then, I'd probably end up being worshipped as a hero or something! But like that would happen. He would probably have me pinned in like, two seconds.
"So… uh… why are you here?" I questioned, figuring I may as well make the best of the situation. I mean, if the guy just wanted to be friendly this time around… what harm could it do? "You have business with Kaileena?"
"Indeed I do," Aslan replied, putting his hands on his hips. "Just repayin' an old debt."
"Debt…?" I glanced quickly at Kaileena. Aslan turned back to her.
"Now as I was sayin', we finally found a way to send you home, and I intend to do just that," he said. Kaileena folded her arms, looking skeptical and hopeful at the same time.
"And just how do you plan on doing that, Aslan?" she retorted bitterly.
"Well, it took some diggin', but I finally figured out why you got stuck here, in this world," he explained. "Turns out it's you're human body that keeps you here. Human's aren't very spiritual beings, so when you made that body, you got stuck in it." She raised an eyebrow and so did I.
"And how am I supposed to fix that?" Kaileena asked firmly.
"With this," Aslan said simply and retrieved a small transparent sphere from one of his pockets.
"Where… did you get that?" she asked, just as in awe and the rest of us.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Michael found it," Aslan explained, "He said it looked important, so he brought it back to me. We still aren't sure exactly what it is, but I do know this: you have to give up your title of Empress in order to escape from your body. That is what this is for." Kaileena only continued to stare at the sphere until looking back up and smiling slightly.
"And here I thought you wouldn't be able to repay me at all. How is it that I always manage to underestimate you?" Aslan just shrugged.
"Can we just get this over with so we can go home already?!" Mike suddenly demanded from his position of isolation from the group. His attitude these days was really giving a whole new meaning to 'grouchy.' Aslan gave his son a quick glance, then shook his head.
"And here I thought you were grumpy," I said to the Prince, who nudged me in the ribs in return.
"He's right, we should hurry and return home. You don't mind the rush?"
"No, of course not," Kaileena replied. Aslan placed the sphere into her awaiting hands, and she turned to us.
"...I suppose you were right, after all, Naomi."
"I told you," I replied. "We all get happy endings after all."
"You all should stand back and cover your eyes," she told us. I just stood there a moment, gaping like a fish, unsure how to react to all this, when the Prince lightly gripped my forearm and pulled me off to the side. He didn't say anything, but instead just wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled us into a small huddle. We both shut our eyes and waited.
I heard some footsteps and some weird, indescribable noises. It seemed like the Prince and I were in the same position forever. I mean, it had probably only been a few minutes, but my legs were falling asleep and my back was starting to cramp up. I squirmed around a little, trying to find a more comfortable stance, but the Prince's grip around me was too tight to permit much movement. So… I waited. And I cramped. And I grit my teeth together, hoping my muscles would hold on just a little longer…
"You two can look now," Aslan finally called to us, satisfaction in his voice. I let out a huge sigh of relief as the prince released me (somewhat reluctantly, the perv) and I could stand up again.
When the Prince and I looked again, Kaileena was still standing there, looking herself over very carefully, though something about her did seem… a little different. Aslan smiled and put the sphere, now ablaze with a bright, golden light, back in his pocket.
"And that's that," he stated, "you're free to go now, Empress. I'll just keep this sphere back for whoever your successor is." Kaileena seemed speechless. She kept looking at her hands, then at Aslan and back to her hands.
"I don't believe it…" she murmured. "Aslan… you do not know what you have done for me." The Renegade leader only scoffed.
"Think nothing of it. I was only repaying you for… well, you know." He folded his arms. "…Well? Get going, there's worlds out there waiting for you!" She snapped out of her disbelief at his words, then looked at me and the Prince.
"Well…" she began reluctantly, "I suppose… you two were right." I couldn't stop the wide grin that was spreading across my face. I couldn't help myself.
"Yknow, sometimes 'I told you so' just doesn't quite say it," I said, shaking my head slightly.
"I'm not sure what just happened," the prince added, "But congratulations, Kaileena."
"Then I suppose this is goodbye," she said, almost sadly. "But Naomi…never forget who you are. Trust yourself." With those cryptic words said, and a few more quick goodbyes, Kaileena was engulfed in a whirlwind of sands… and was gone.
There was a long moment of silence as the four of us stood, reflecting on what had just happened. The Prince and I had finally, finally completed what we came here to do. He was finally free of his fate, and I was free to go back to Babylon with him. I just hope there's good food there.
"So… can we go now?" Mike interrupted disdainfully. Aslan let out an exasperated sigh.
"Yes, Michael, we can go now." The older angel turned to the Prince and I. "It was a pleasure meeting the two of you. Good luck on your journey home." He flashed us a quick smile and opened his wins. Mike quickly retrieved his charm and let his wings out (which I admit, looked a bit better on the Prince, or at least I think so) and the two flew off. Now it was just the Prince and myself.
"Well…" I started, breaking the silence, "I guess that's it, then." I looked back at my bewildered partner, who shrugged.
"I… suppose it is." More quiet. "We should find a way off this rock."
"Yeah… but first, let's pay a quick visit to the library."
Kiri: Holy crap, this chapter is awful! Sorry guys, I was in a hurry to finish this one cuz I wanted to work a little more on my new story. it's about a headless Horseman! And I command all my loyal minion- er, readers, to go and read it! well, no FAQ today, cuz I don't really feel much up to it. (I'm not in a very 'funny' mood today...) so I'll just leave you with a quick note. Also, the dress sphere is from Final Fantasy X-2, if you didn't know. Good game, a bit frustraiting and kinda boring in some places. it was one of the worlds Kaileena visited while looking for her home and she brought back that little relic with her. And... that's about it, I guess. so, I'll see you guys later! Ciao!
