Chapter Thirteen – Meeting Old Memories
"AHHHHH!" Jasmine screams her head off. Leo tightens his arms around her body while grinding his teeth together waiting for the strike. KU-THUNK! Jasmine stopped screaming and opened her eyes slowly. She gasped as she saw the scene that was in front of her; Leo opened his eyes and loosened his grip on Jasmine. He turned around and his jaw dropped, he was totally speechless. All around Jasmine and Leo was a small golden doom of light, but the weird thing is, it completely stopped the stone giants blow like it was made of steel. The giant didn't even put a dent in it, Donnie stumbled to his feet where he was thrown to the side and stared at them with wide eyes. He walked up to them and poked to what it looked like to him a panel of golden glass that wrapped around Leo and Jasmine.
"What in the world is going on!?" Donnie asked them as he continued to look at the dome with wonder and curiosity. Suddenly the stone giant started to fall apart, clumps of stone rolled down its body and fell to the floor with a loud thumps. Within minutes the statue was a pile of stones and dust on the floor. Somehow a breeze came in and carried away the foe with the three of them staring at it with enlarged eyes.
Before any of them could utter a word there was a lowly lit glow emitting from the stone tablet that was still intact even after that catastrophic event. They glanced over at it and Jasmine started to walk towards, absent mindedly she lifted her hand up to the golden dome making it disappear as she continued to walk. She looked at her hand with wonder and strolled over to the tablet, as she got closer the small glow started to brighten until you could barely look at it. Suddenly the blinding light dimmed to a low pulsing glow as Jasmine stopped right in front of it. She tilted her head to the side in curiosity and slowly rose her hand up towards the surface of the tablet. But just as she was about to touch it her necklace started to glow, she stopped and looked down at her chest. The blue pendant was pulsing slowly giving off a lowly lit blue light, her eyes widened and she took the pendant into her hands. She looked up and turned around to look at the guys that were just staring at her with wide eyes. She raised an eyebrow at them and turned her attention back to the tablet. She gulped nervously and raised her hand to examine the tablet.
Once her palm touched the tablet her necklace started to get brighter and brighter. Jasmine had to squint into the light to see what was going on around her. She suddenly could hear birds chirping and a small distant sound of a babbling river. She gasped and turned around to talk to Leo and Donnie but as she looked over her shoulder they weren't there instead there was a small meadow filled with beautiful flowers and plants. She turned in a small circle and saw a tree standing in the middle of the sea of flowers, silently swaying to the sweet sound of the wind. She was literally speechless; she dropped her necklace and stood there awestruck at the scenery in front of her. She continued to stand there until she heard rustling coming from the left of her, she snapped out of it and looked at the source of the sound. It was a small toddler girl who was playfully giggling and running along in the flowers with a tall man who was also smiling as he watched the girl. The little girl had on a small light blue dress with her hair pinned up halfway as the breeze gently swayed it. The little girl had to jump up and down in order for the man that was watching her to find her otherwise she would be lost in the sea of flowers. She turned around towards the man and laughed while hopping backwards looking at him with her warm chocolate brown eyes. The grown man had on a light yellow buttoned up shirt with a small pocket located on the left side of his chest. His pants were a light brown with a dark brown belt wrapped around his waist. His blackish brown hair was slightly sticking up from the small gently breeze that was going through the meadow as he followed the little girl making sure she wouldn't get hurt. He smiled gently that carried into his warm brown eyes as he watched the girl jump around like a grasshopper.
"Hey there, squirt, be careful of where you're going or I won't be able to find you if you fall down," the grown man warned the girl as he smiled even bigger.
"I know, daddy!" the girl squealed towards him as she continued to jump around laughing.
Jasmine watched the two of them as they strolled towards the tree located into the middle of the meadow. She smiled a little to herself as the little girl squealed again as she accidently tripped over herself and fell into the sea of flowers. Jasmine started to walk towards the girl with the idea of helping her but just as she got about five feet away from the girl Jasmine stop dead in her tracks, looking at the tree with wide eyes. There under the swaying branches was a young woman who looks about to be in her mid-twenties was playing a small golden harp. She had on a small white summer dress that flowed down to her knees and swayed a little in the wind as she continued to strum the harp. Her long dark brown hair was tied up in a long small braid that is gently wrapped around the crook of her neck. The soothing melody reached Jasmine making her tear up just at the sight of the women.
"M-Mom…." Jasmine whispered still staring at the figure under the tree.
Suddenly there were loud thumping sounds coming from behind Jasmine. Jasmine slowly turned around and screamed; three horses saddled up with men in armor sitting on top of them were racing towards her at top speed. Jasmine continued to scream and held up her arms protecting her face hoping that she wouldn't get trampled. Suddenly she felt a cold rush and a breeze and the thumping quieted down a little as the horses continued to run but this time they were behind her now. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times while slowly bringing down her arms. She lifted her head and looked around at her surroundings; about twenty feet away from the tree were the horses happily grazing at the flowers and grass. Jasmine tilted her head to the side and sighed with relief. Apparently, I can't be seen by these people or they would have stopped…I think… Jasmine thought to herself. Still completely dazed and confused, she turned her attention towards the three guys in armor that were walking towards her mom.
"My Lady, there is an urgent message that I think you should hear…." The one with a small scroll in his hand told Jasmine's mom.
"There is, huh…." Her mom said while sighing as she set down her harp onto the cool grass next to her. "Okay…let me see it…."
Her mom raised her hand up towards the knight and waited patiently. The knight nodded his head in agreement and gently set the small scroll into her hand. As the knight handed her the scroll, the little girl stopped laughing and ran towards Jasmine's mom with a confused look across her face. The grown man looked up from his gaze at the flowers and frowned. He started to walk faster until he was under the tree with the girl and Jasmine's mom.
"What is it now, Elizabeth…." The little girl's dad asked her.
Elizabeth looks up at her husband and smiled sweetly. She rolled the scroll back up and handed it back to the knight while standing up. The little girl ran over to her and grabbed onto her right hand and pulled onto it.
"Don't go yet, mommy…." The little girl whined to Elizabeth.
"M-mommy…" Jasmine said to herself. Suddenly her eyes got really big and it clicked in her head. "W-Wait…that's me!?" Jasmine started to freak out and started pacing back and forth leaving a small path within the flowers. She slowly calmed down and looked back at the group of people under the tree.
"I'll come back to play soon, Jazzy…so don't worry," Elizabeth said while patting little Jasmine on the head and smiled sweetly.
"B-But, Mommy! I don't want you to leave…we still need to play hide and seek…." Little Jasmine said while burying her head onto the edges of her mom's dress.
"You'll be fine, sweetheart…your dad is going to play with you for me, okay?" Elizabeth said in a soothing voice.
Little Jasmine gasped and looked up at her mom with excitement in her eyes and said, "Really!? He will!"
"Of course, you're my little squirt," her dad replied for Elizabeth while chuckling and reached down and ruffled little Jasmine's hair. Little Jasmine giggled and let go of her mother and tackled her father with her arms open. He laughed and picked her up as she continued to laugh and squeal with excitement. He rose her up into the air and set her on top of his shoulders; she started to laugh even louder as he started to run around while making airplane noises. As those two were running around Elizabeth looked at them while smiling and picked up her harp and started to walk towards the horses with the armored men. Suddenly she stopped about halfway and looked towards the real Jasmine.
Jasmine gasps and stood there frozen to the ground. Elizabeth smiled at her and looked back at the knights; she waved her hand towards them giving them the signal to go on without her. Once the men understood the nodded their heads and saddled up onto the horses. But before they could go Elizabeth walked up to the lead horse and grabbed something out of one of the traveling bags. Elizabeth slowly put down her arm with the scroll in hand and sighed then she turned her attention towards Jasmine and started to walk towards her. Jasmine still completely shocked and dazed continued to stand there frozen to the spot unsure on what to do or say. Once Elizabeth was in front of Jasmine she smiled again and patted Jasmine gently on top of her head.
"My, you sure have grown…." Elizabeth said as she patted Jasmine on the head.
"U-uhhh….t-thanks, I guess…." Jasmine stammered while coming out of her daze.
"I bet you have a lot of questions to ask me right now but right now isn't the best time….I always wanted to too tell you the truth, Jasmine….but I never got the chance to before I pasted on…." Elizabeth said.
"Y-yeah I do…." Jasmine said while looking up at Elizabeth. "Wait…what do you mean pasted on!? You're standing right in front of me…Alive…."
"No, I'm afraid this is only a memory fragment that you have long forgotten that is now being restored back to you….and the only reason I can actually talk to you now through this memory is because of a certain girl that is keeping my spirit around to help you find out who you really are…." Elizabeth chuckled.
"W-who I really am…" Jasmine whispered as she grabbed onto her necklace. Suddenly she gasped and looked down at the necklace; the blue pendant was still glowing but was ice cold making Jasmine yelp in pain as she left go of the necklace. "W-What in the world…."
"I see my or should I say your necklace has finally awakened…." Elizabeth said as she brought up one of her hands and lightly touched the blue pendant making it glow a little brighter as it recognized its previous owner. "Looks like the water pendant was the first one to recognize you…."
"W-water pendant….recognizes me!? Wait a second, what do you mean by that? I'm just a regular girl with an average life…well except for the past few days that is…." Jasmine asked Elizabeth with wide eyes.
Elizabeth chuckles at Jasmine's comment and slowly raised her hand up to Jasmine while smiling. "Here, take this…." She said while taking one of Jasmine's hands and gently set it in her hand. "Hopefully, this scroll will help you as much as it has helped me when I needed it during my troubles…."
"W-what…wait, it sounds like you're saying goodbye…" Jasmine said while looking back up at Elizabeth after staring at the scroll. Elizabeth smiled sadly and dropped her hand down by her side and looked back at the little Jasmine and her husband.
"Jasmine, whatever happens…just promise me you will never forget your father and me because even if you don't realize it your father and I put everything on the line for your safety….so don't give up you will find out everything with time…" Elizabeth said quietly while watching little Jasmine and her husband run around in the meadow with huge smiles plastered on their faces.
"Mom…you know I would never forget you guys….you're my mom and dad…"Jasmine said as tears started to stream down her cheeks. "Please, D-don't leave…I don't think I can take much more of this-this-mystery…."
Elizabeth looked back at Jasmine and smiled sweetly while gently setting her hands on Jasmine's shoulders. Jasmine looked up at her mom and wrapped her arms around her while crying some more. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her daughter and sighed.
"Everything is going to be okay, trust me….and I know from the bottom of my heart and soul that you will be able to get through this with the help of your new friends and family…." Elizabeth said soothingly while gently stroking Jasmine's hair. Jasmine nodded her head and unwrapped herself from her mom and smiled a little bit. Elizabeth smiles back and slowly turned around getting ready to head back towards her horse that was waiting for her. But before she got to it she turned around and kissed Jasmine on the forehead. "I love you, sweetheart….and don't forget to be strong even when it seems impossible…."
"I will and I love you too, mom…" Jasmine said while looking up at her mom.
Elizabeth smiled and walked towards her horse, she got on it and looked back at Jasmine, and she smiled again and took off galloping in the direction the knights went. Jasmine waved back at her as she took off, once she was out of sight she slowly lowered her hand. Slowly the memory started to fade and the museums walls came into view as Jasmine looked down at the scroll. She sighed and wiped away her remaining tears, she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked behind her. Leo looked down at her with a worried expression causing Jasmine to break out in tears again. She threw her arms around Leo and hid her face within his chest crying her eyes out from the memory she has regained. Leo frowned and wrapped his arms around her and waited until Jasmine got the courage to talk again. Donnie stood behind Leo with a worried look until he noticed the small scroll in Jasmine's hands.
"Uhhh, Jasmine…what is that in your hand?" Donnie asked while pointing at the scroll.
Jasmine slowly calmed down and looked up from her hiding spot towards Donnie. She took in a deep breath and slowly unwrapped herself from Leo's grasp. "I-I'm not sure but…I believe it will help us figure out some of our questions…." Jasmine said while tightening her grip on the scroll.
Donnie didn't respond he just stood there while crossing his arms over his chest with a thinking expression plastered on his face. Leo looked at the scroll in Jasmine's hands and raised an eye ridge in curiosity. Jasmine continued to wipe at her face trying to get rid of the access tears that have slid down her face.
"Let's return to the lair so we can have a look at this scroll without any interruptions," Leo said while breaking his gaze at the scroll and looked back towards the entrance. "Hopefully, we can get through the entrance without the front desk clerk noticing us…"
Suddenly Jasmine sneezed loudly while wrapping her arms around her body and shivered violently. "D-did it suddenly get c-cold in here…or is i-it just me?
Donnie snapped out of his train of thought and looked at Jasmine with curiosity. He watched her shiver but then noticed one of her tears that was stuck to her face, frozen. "I think it's just you…and I think we should head out, something isn't right…." Donnie said while walking up to Jasmine. Jasmine looked up at him and smiled weakly. Suddenly she stopped shivering and her body went slack and her eyes rolled back into her head while collapsing to the floor.
"Jasmine!" Leo yelled as Jasmine's body hit the floor. He ran up to her and knelt down next to her, he slowly touched her arm but then quickly lifted his hand up off of her with a gasp. "She's freezing! W-What in the world is going on!?"
Donnie knelt down next to Leo and Jasmine and felt her forehead, he frowned and took his hand off of her. Leo looked at his brother with a worried expression and looked back at the Jasmine. Suddenly his eyes fell on the scroll and he gently took it out of her grasp.
"Maybe there's something in here…." Leo said to no one in particular. He opened up the scroll and looked at it trying to find an answer. Suddenly Jasmine's eyes snapped open causing Leo and Donnie to jump back completely surprised and taken back. She looked at them and smiled. Leo sat there still completely shocked but as he gazed into her eyes he noticed small specks of crystal blue color swim around in her chocolaty brown irises.
"You there!" Jasmine yelled with stern female voice that wasn't Jasmine's while pointing at Donnie and Leo. "Do not look so shocked by my appearance and if I may ask, who am I dealing with?
Steam rolled out of the bathroom as Haleigh opened the door with a towel wrapped around her body and one up in her hair. She sighed with relief with her dirty clothes in her hands and walked downstairs, she was about halfway down them when she saw Jas sitting on the couch with her arms crossed across her chest.
"U-ummm, Jas? Where do you want my dirty clothes?" Haleigh asked shyly.
Jas snapped out of her train of thought and tilted her head back to look at Haleigh. "Oh, you can just throw them away, I doubt you would want to wear them again," Jas replied while smiling pushing the phone call into the back of her mind.
"Okay…and umm, thanks again…Jas…" Haleigh said as she turned around to head back upstairs. Jas smiled at Haleigh and giggled causing Haleigh to blush a little from embarrassment. Haleigh walked back upstairs and back into the bathroom while throwing her torn up clothes into a waste basket. She sighed and closed the door, she slowly dried herself off and put on the new clean clothes Jas have given her. She then opened the door and walked back downstairs, she stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked into the living room where Jas was still sitting on the couch. She then sighed and walked over into the living room and walked around the couch. She walked by Jas and plopped down onto the couch while sighing again. Jas looked at her with a raised eyebrow causing Haleigh to blush a little from the sudden attention.
"Everything alright?" Jas asked Haleigh.
"Yeah, I'm just tired…but before I rest I have to tell you something…." Haleigh said while looking down at her hands that were in her lap.
"Yeeaaah…." Jas said while leaning a little towards Haleigh in curiosity.
"W-well…." Haleigh stammered while leaning a little bit away from Jas but then sighs and turned her body to face Jas. "Okay, here's the deal….Long ago, when I was about eight years old I got a message from an anonymous woman that needed my help. I agreed to help her but at that time I had no clue what I was getting myself into. What she asked me to do is…"
"Yeeaaaah…." Jas pressed even harder.
"S-She wanted me to be the host of her soul…."
"W-What!?" Jas freaked out as she leaned backwards causing her to slide off of the couch onto the floor looking at Haleigh with widened eyes and her jaw dropped open. "You said what!?"
"U-ummm…I said she wanted me to-" Haleigh started to explain again but then was immediately interrupted by Jas.
"I heard you the first time…but still, what!? And how in the world would she do that!? It's impossible! Unless you're some kind of alien! W-wait you're not an alien, are YOU!?" Jas asked while pointing a shaky finger at Haleigh.
"N-Nooo, I'm not…trust me…." Haleigh said while raising her hands up in defense. "Plus, this woman is Jasmine's mother…."
"J-Jasmine? Who is this Jasmine girl?" Jas asked while calming down.
"Weeell, she is the daughter of Elizabeth, the woman that is within me now…." Haleigh said. "And right now I'm sure she is having trouble with her destiny…."
"Destiny?" Jas asked as she picked herself up and sat back onto the couch.
"Y-Yeah, from what I know from Elizabeth is that Jasmine's destiny is to become one with her powers that have been in dormant since she was forced out of her old home by a guy named Gilgamesh…and to find this sword called the four sword and to master its powers as well…not only all of that but in order to find this sword she has to prove herself several times in order to even see it…." Haleigh said trying to remember all of the details. "There is something else but I can't quite put my finger on it…."
"W-Wooow…." Jas said quietly as she leaned backwards further into the couch. "And how do you fit into all of this?"
"I-I'm not sure yet….I still have to figure that out but I do know that Gilgamesh will try anything and everything to get to that sword even if it kills him….I figured that out the hard way…." Haleigh said quietly while looking down at her hands again.
Jas sat back up and looked at Haleigh with sympathy in her eyes and sighed. "You know, Haleigh…that is all in the past now so keep your head up and smile, okay?" Jas said soothingly.
"Y-yeah…." Haleigh said while slowly looking up and then smiled a little. Suddenly the phone rang again causing Haleigh to jump a little, Jas giggled at Haleigh and stood up to go answer the phone. She picked up the phone and raised it to her ear.
"Hello?" Jas asked into the phone. Haleigh moved around so she had her head and arms leaning on the back side of the couch with her feet dangling over the edge of the other side of the couch.
"Hellooo?" Jas asked again. This time hearing static on the other side of the line making Jas to take the phone away from her ear and to look at it with a confused expression. "That's the second time, already…."
"S-Second? Someone called you early?" Haleigh asked Jas.
"Yeah, but the first time it was a girl saying, 'you better watch yourself, little girl…or something like that…." Jas said while hanging up the phone. She turned around to look at Haleigh only to find Haleigh's face drained of all color and her mouth dropped wide open. "H-Haleigh? Are you okay?"
Haleigh just sat there with a pale complexion when all of the sudden there was a loud bang causing Jas and Haleigh to scream. Smoke billowed into the Jas's house causing them to cough and wheeze for air. Suddenly Haleigh's eyes rolled back into her head and she fell forward passing out. Jas watched her and screamed but before she could say anything she felt her eyes get heavy and she to fell to the floor, passed out. Soon a figure came through the smoke and loomed over the two girls with an evil smile plastered on her face.
"Told you, better watch yourself, little giiirl…." Lisa said while laughing evilly.
DONE! X3 Sorry about the looong wait, got carried away with finals and band last week. Plus I had to return my school computer so now I have to use mine and it doesn't have Word soo I had to find a way around that…Anyways, I hope you likes! :3