This one is oh-so-long(or short?) and oh-so-boring. It's more like an explanation chapter and full of conversation. I just want to try writing something like this. I had fun writing it though… As usual, this one is done without any re-reading and re-checking, so sorry for the typos and grammar-error. Blame my laziness :p

Disclaimer: I do not own Odin Sphere.

The Story of the Valentinians

She straightened herself on the soft sofa, her neck stiff from anxiety. She could feel her heart beating slightly faster, nervous in the presence of the two humans in front of her. She threw a few glances to her surroundings, trying to inspect the view she rarely saw in her forest to lessen her anxiety.

Right in front of her was a small yet gorgeous tea-table, with comfortable and soft-looking sofas around it, and she was currently sitting on one. The room was comfortable and well-decorated; there was a beautiful painting of a lake surrounded by a forest, and a big hearth on the other side of the wall.

But all that wasn't able to take her attention away from the two humans that was sitting right across the table in front of her. She recognized one of them as Velvet, the one she had once battled to protect the Ring of Titrel. She glanced at the man who introduced himself as Cornelius, trying to figure out who he could possibly be, yet unable to find him anywhere in her memory.

"I want to thank you once again Mercedes, for bringing back Ingway." Cornelius spoke up, bringing Mercedes' focus back. "His wounds weren't grave, but it would have been fatal if he were brought back any later." His words were calm, but Mercedes somehow felt a huge relieve behind it.

"So, I assume from your story, you have no recalling of what had happened after your fight with Onyx, and suddenly found yourself in the forest and met Ingway?" He continued, disbelief clear in his voice. "Do you know a hundred of years have passed since that time?"

Mercedes could only shake her head. She really didn't have any idea that long of time had passed since she last opened her eyes. All she could remember was seeing her own memories, the voices she had heard, and the bright light before opening her eyes again. It was all so dream-like and made no sense that she didn't feel the need to tell anyone about it. She didn't even know what to say when they asked how she was brought back.

"All I know is that I had returned my name to heaven, which means death to us Fairies, and just came back after a century, and the barren land was green again." She chose her words, trying to make as much sense as possible. She felt her nervousness fade away as they talked.

Finding her courage once more, she asked the question that has been lingering in her mind. "How about you then, Velvet? I know I'd met you and Ingway back then, so how did you survive time? I know humans' lives aren't that long…" Especially after seeing Ingway lost his, she added in her mind.

Velvet closed her eyes for a moment, as if recalling something, before opening her mouth. "Mercedes, do you know of the Pookas?" Velvet asked her back, which was answered a nod of her head. She recalled seeing those rabbit-like vendors and maids.

"Long ago, the late king of Valentine created the Crystallization Cauldron, a weapon capable of consuming phozons - the life of the world - and reverting them into either weapons or energy using the Ring of Titrel. You must have heard of it, as it was the very cause of many wars and struggle between the races on Erion." Mercedes nodded in response as Velvet continue her story.

"After its creation, time passes, and many things happened in Valentine; most of which were bad things. And, as fate allows it, it became the very reason of Valentine's destruction, leaving the Valentinians cursed in a shape of Pooka. I, too, was cursed to be one after I used the Cauldron to prevent Erion's destruction. Cornelius was different though, as he became one because of a curse of none other than Ingway, my twin brother."

"In order to break the curse, we, the ones cursed into Pookas, spent great effort and time to collect all Valentinian coins, which hold a spell from King Valentine that can grant one wish. Hundred of years flew by as we collect them. After succeeding in collecting them all, we were given back our form just before we were cursed. And thus, we survived time."

Mercedes just stared at Velvet as she finished her story, eyes wide in disbelief. So the Pookas— or rather, Valentinians—all still live till today thanks to a curse? And all these time she had only thought of them as mere vendors and maids. Then something clicked in her mind.

"But then, how about Ingway? I saw with my own eyes his d-dead body. It was still clear in my memories, how he died as a human. Then how…." She couldn't stop her voice from shaking as she recalled the painful memory. She stopped, unable to find the words she wanted to say.

Velvet and Cornelius exchanged a confused look, before looking back at her. The two of them had no idea about her relation to Ingway at all. And it was clear that Mercedes had no idea of how they are related to Ingway now.

"Mercedes, do you mind telling me how you met Ingway before? About back before the Armageddon, I mean." Velvet asked, curious on how her twin brother could have any relation at all to the young fairy queen.

"W-well, I first met him when he was a frog. Then he helped me out a lot of time before he returned back to his human form and left me…" A smile escaped her lips as she remembered the short yet fun time with him.

Both Cornelius and Velvet smiled as they heard this. Velvet knew about the curse that was placed on her twin brother, and finally knew how he had broken it back then.

"You know, I once asked him when he was yet but a small child, about what he wanted to be when he grew up. And his answer was strangely amusing; he said he wanted to be a frog." Cornelius suddenly said, making Mercedes to look at her confusedly, unable to see the connection.

"At that time we just thought that his silly answer was caused by his young imagination. But now, I think back then he was unconsciously recalling to the days he spent with you, the days I believe had been his happiest moments in his previous life." Velvet added, smiling warmly at her.

Mercedes blinked at her last words, confused. Previous…life?

"Mercedes, Ingway did died back then, and was returned to this world from Netherworld, reborn. He is no longer Ingway, my twin brother, but my and Cornelius' son."

A.N.: At first I was going to left Cornelius out of this one and make it just a conversation between Mercedes and Velvet. See how he rarely said a thing? XD And the frog-thing is kinda weird, but I just felt like I had to write it! The end is rather strange too… But it was getting kinda too long for me…

Anyway… Thank you all so much for keeping up with the story! I had meant to end the story at the last chapter(and stupidly forget to change the status to 'completed'…) so, sorry for the late update… But your reviews just gave me a flood of inspiration and motivation to continue!! Special thanks to Sheelos-Wolf, NancyLee, Elz Durden, and Dark-Lady-Hel for the reviews on the last chapter!!

Though this one is kind of boring, I hope you all like it and be kind enough to spend a little time to write a review! Coming up next: fluffiness all around!! (Now I officially had no idea when this story will end…)

s