Oh happy day! Chapter twotwotwotwotwo!
Mina-Chan: Yay! Thanks so much! (hands brownie) Yeah, Mist is having a hard time. What she doesn't know is- (begins choking) NOO...NOT A SENSOR....(gags) An update, as you wish! =)
Disclaimer: No not mine but more shall be mine at the end of this chapterrr! :)
XxXxXxX
Chapter 2
Leanne smiled to herself, singing loud for anyone to hear. She had been told by Tibarn that he had his daughter back that he had lost so long ago. It was during the same time of the Serenes Masscre that she had been taken. Obviously, time flows much more different wherever she had been taken to. She did wonder what Mihara looked like. She had no idea, but maybe Janaff and Ulki would bring her soon to see the Serenes Forest.
XxXxXxX
"Is this true?" Empress Sanaki demanded, mouth gaping.
"It is," Tibarn confirmed.
"It's been over twenty-five years!" Reyson's widened eyes narrowed. "How could she even be allowed to return?"
"The time flow is unnaturally slow in the all-beorc world. She only appears to be a child. However, had she not been taken, Mihara would be over thirty years old."
Nailah pondered, "So...was there more to the Serenes Massacre than this Ashnard erasing the herons to get Lehran's Medallion?"
"No," Reyson and Tibarn simlutaniously dismissed the idea.
"Ashnard was a warped human," Tibarn spat with anger and hate. "All he wanted was to awaken Yune, who he thought would give him unthinkable and invincible power. He caused the Serenes Massacre in order to begin fanning the flames of war. He had meant for the medallion to be taken, but Ike and Mist's mother and father had already had possession of the medallion."
"But what if he had someone – like Volke – working undercover for him? To cause more hatred in the bird tribe?" Sanaki pointed out.
Reyson growled under his breath at this thought. "Peace, Reyson," Tibarn assured.
Volug said to his queen in the ancient tongue, "Apparently, that thought cannot be discarded quite so easily."
"That's true, Volug." Nailah nodded.
"Indeed," Tibarn murmured.
Sanaki looked at them, puzzled. "What's true?"
Reyson translated, "Volug said that the thought can't be thrown away as easily."
"Oh."
"I pursued this person, though," Tibarn reminded, "and by time I caught up with him, he'd already sacrificed his life to Ashera to send Mihara elsewhere. Ashera disintegrated his body, and all the trails went cold. The only thing I was able to confirm was that it was one of the dragon tribe."
"Those dragons sure like to cause trouble," Nailah mumbled.
"Yes, well, hopefully they shan't much longer now that Kurthnaga - and not Dheginsea – is king," Reyson commented.
"Let us hope," Sanaki agreed.
"I know it's an odd request, but please keep this information to yourselves unless you are away from ears you do not trust. I'd prefer you'd only tell the other queens and kings. Or old friends." Tibarn crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, now that Tibarn has his news out of his system," Nailah grinned at the hawk king, who gave her a glare in return, "may I speak with you, Empress, as to the new Hatari lands?"
"Yes, of course. Sigrun has prepared a room for us. Will Volug accompany us?"
"Yes."
"Understood." The sixteen year old empress of Begnion stood, leading Nailah to a room after bidding farewell to Tibarn and Reyson.
XxXxXxX
At Gallia's gates, Lethe and Lyre both greeted Zihark as he approached. Zihark sent a suspicious look at the sisters. "What's this? You two are both standing so close...without fighting..."
Lethe hissed, "Bah! You know that relationships can mend!"
Zihark held his hands up in surrender. "Just commenting, just commenting... Anyway, you two look good."
"As do you, Zihark. Have you come to meet with King Skrimir?" Lyre grinned, revealing her fangs.
"As a matter of fact, yes. And with Ranulf. They are both here, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are. Skrimir has finally stopped yelling at Ranulf..." Lethe rubbed her ears, remembering how every creature in the castle (and a ways out into the forest) could hear Skrimir's roars. Both literally and figuratively.
"Why? What did Ranulf do?" Zihark looked concerned as he followed the sisters into the castle.
"Well, he had to help Tibarn with an 'emergency' and left without telling anyone anything. Although, knowing Ranulf, it must've been really urgent," Lyre said thoughtfully.
"Indeed."
"Speak of the feline, there he is." Lethe tossed her head in Ranulf's direction, who was walking on the floor above them. She called, "Ranulf!"
Ranulf's ears twitched and he turned his head downward. "What, Lethe-?! Oh, Zihark! You're here already?"
"Yes. I came as fast as I could."
"Hang on. I'll be right down." Ranulf walked towards the stairs tiredly and stumbled down them. He shook Zihark's hand and said, "I'll take it from here, girls. Thanks."
Lethe and Lyre nodded, walking away from them. Lyre snapped her fingers. "Drat! We never get told anything important from him these days!"
Lethe grinned evilly and said, "You only want to speak with him."
"Oohhh, Lethe! You're so mean!" Lyre chased after her sister.
Zihark and Ranulf, meanwhile, were walking towards the throne room. Zihark mentioned, "You look like you just went through hell, Ranulf."
"Oh, I did, believe me."
"So what was this emergency I heard about from Lyre?"
Ranulf seemed to glare slightly at the floor. "That girl needs to keep a tighter tongue. Well, it's nothing that major."
"Really? She said that you left without telling anyone."
"...Well, perhaps Skrimir will feel up to telling you. I'm too beat to repeat it. I've been running around for about three days. I've not had but maybe two hours of sleep."
"You should really get some rest."
"After this, I intend to. Once I do, I need to run by Altiaire again." Ranulf growled with a smirk on his face. "By the goddess, those stinking birds need to make more stairs and ports..."
XxXxXxX
Soaring...
She was soaring...
But what was she? A bird? A pegasus?
Pain...
Had someone shot her?
The ground rose up to meet her. She screamed with pain, landing on her injured wing.
Him. He screamed for her release. Whatever else he demanded was lost to her ears. A lance rose and descended-
XxXxXxX
Mihara awoke with a quiet shriek. Her heart was racing. A gust of wind reminded Mihara that it was just a dream. She had fallen asleep out on her balcony. Sweat was dripping from her face. She sighed heavily and fell back against one of the walls. She panted, catching her breath and tried to remember why she was so terrified.
That dream...she'd had it before. When she was on Earth. She used to have it all the time. Although...it never had the same effect on her like it did now. There were so many shadows hiding in that dream now.
Mihara heard the quiet flapping of wings and Ulki appeared on her balcony. He looked at her with concern. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing... I just had a nightmare," Mihara assured.
"A nightmare? Of what?" Ulki landed on the top of the opposite wall on Mihara's balcony.
"It's just a dream I've had a few times for a couple of years. It's like..." Mihara paused, trying to find a way to describe it. "I'm flying, and there's someone...a man...with me. Only, he's on the ground. Then, someone or something hits my wing and I fall. In the snow, I think. And...there's more men on the ground...and they're holding him back. Then, just before I wake up, I remember seeing a lance being raised, but never at who."
"What kind of lance?"
Mihara thought hard, trying to think of all the familiar weapons they had on Tellius. She frowned. "It's similar to a silver lance, but not exactly the same."
Ulki nodded understandingly. "Are you alright now, though?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Understood. Janaff and I are just below, training our unit. Let us know if you need anything. Ginia is around, as well, in the castle."
"Okay." Mihara nodded, watching Ulki as he gracefully leaped from her balcony back down towards the ground below. She scoffed to herself – remembering to speak to herself in her mind, for she knew Ulki would hear anything she would say -, Mannn, now I feel stupid. A little nightmare. Heh...I'm pathetic.
She stood up and stretched. She glanced over her balcony edge, seeing – and hearing – Janaff yell at some of the hawks and ravens in his unit about being more graceful than the level of the Holy Guard. She giggled and walked back inside. She looked around the room, decided that maybe she could try and transform a little bit more. She took a deep breath and concentrated. A fair-sized flicker of light, but it vanished. She narrowed her eyes in confusion. Yesterday, her light had been green – like Tibarn's. But today, it was a maroon color.
Maybe it's nothing, she mused, trying again.
XxXxXxX
"General, I challenge you!" Kieran roared, pointing a finger at Geoffrey.
"What? Again?"
"Yes, sir! I have been training day in and day out to defeat you!"
"Very well. Prepare yourself," Geoffrey grinned slightly, mounting his horse bareback.
Kieran beamed. "Thank you, General!" and he did the same. However, before he and Geoffrey began to spar, he turned his head towards his rival. "It shall soon be your turn, Oscar!"
The green haired man laughed, brushing his steed. "I'm sure it will be."
"Do not laugh! I am serious!"
"As am I!"
Queen Elincia stared down at the scene, laughing softly. The event somehow reminded her of when her uncle Renning challenged Geoffrey to claim his spot as the General of the Crimea Knights. However, it had ended in a tie when the silver-tongued Bastian had 'accidentally' shot a blast of wind inbetween the two as they were about to deal the deciding blow. He had then run for his life.
Duke Renning appeared behind his neice and glanced over her shoulder. "Ah. Those two are at it again?"
"Yes, Uncle," Elincia replied, smiling. "But you must admire Kieran. No matter how badly he's beaten, he just trains more and more."
"Well, there's no other way for soldiers to pass the day aside from training and sparring matches. Since Ashera was defeated, there's no need for armies. All the countries are at peace."
"That's true, but it's also a good thing."
"Indeed. Where's Lucia, now that I think about it?"
"She's speaking with Prince Rafiel."
"And you didn't accompany her?"
"No. I spoke with Prince Rafiel enough yesterday. Lucia wanted privacy with him. Queen Nailah and Volug are going to pick him up later this afternoon."
"Mmm." There was a moment of silence before Renning gave his neice a playful grin. "Maybe I shall follow Kieran's example and challenge Geoffrey, as well, since you have Bastian on an errand!"
Elincia laughed once more. "I should like to see that!"
As Elincia followed her uncle down to the courtyard, she heard the faint screeches of Marcia from outside, yelling at her 'chowerhead, clown haired brother, who maybe she should sell to Astrid'.
XxXxXxX
Tibarn and Reyson flew back to Altiaire, mostly in silence. They made hardly any conversation, the meeting with Sanaki, Nailah, and Volug having made them retreat to their thoughts. They both wondered if Ashnard really was behind Mihara's kidnapping, since he had gotten to Rajaion, Almedha, Ena, and Nasir. Once they were within the Serenes borders, however, Tibarn inquired, "Reyson, are you okay?"
"Hmm? Yes, I'm fine. Why?" Reyson turned his pale face to Tibarn.
"Just wondering. Usually you aren't this quiet."
"Nor are you."
"True. Well, am I going to leave you with Leanne and Lorazieh or-?"
"I was planning on picking up Leanne and Father. We could go to Altiaire with you. I know that Leanne would want to meet Mihara."
"Okay, then."
The two quickly found themselves in the heart of Serenes and they landed. Leanne came to meet with them, Lorazieh and his fragile figure beside her. Lorazieh seemed like a spitting image of Rafiel, only more aged in his face. He greeted Tibarn and his son in the ancient language.
"How are you feeling, Father?" Reyson asked gently.
"I am doing much better, now. Thanks to you, Leanne, and this forest," Lorazieh answered. "I feel as young as ever."
"That's great news."
"Agreed." Tibarn smiled. "How do you feel up to flying, Lord Lorazieh?"
Leanne protested at once, "He cannot fly yet!"
"Actually, darling Leanne...I feel stronger than ever. This peaceful aura is calming and it gives me strength. I believe I could fly to Pheonics, Tibarn."
"Well, Lorazieh, I regret to inform you that Pheonics is no more. It is a new country now. We have merged with the ravens."
"Is that so...? Well, I am most assuredly up to it."
"That's great." Tibarn grinned. "Shall we be off?"
"Yes. Let us leave."
Tibarn added to Leanne's worred face, "Don't worry. If he tires, we will stop."
Leanne nodded after a moment. She'd make sure to fly close to her father. Who knew what random dangers still lurked in the world.
XxXxXxX
Mihara sat outside, gazing at the mountains. Every now and then, she would glance and watch Janaff and Ulki teach manuvers to their unit of Altiaire Warriors. However, when they all transformed, Mihara turned away. She simply didn't understand why she couldn't transform.
"Concentrate your energy," they'd said, "Think about being the hawk."
She'd been doing that! She'd been at it for a day and a half! Or was it two days...? She sighed. I wonder where Tibarn is...
-Don't worry. Keep practicing. Try again.-
Yeah...practice...
Mihara inhaled and exhaled. Then, she decided to try something different. Not once had she ever seen Tibarn or Janaff or Ulki transform while on the ground. So, she pushed herself off the ground, taking to the skies. She closed her eyes and concentrated. "C'mon...you can do it..."
Suddenly, she just felt...lighter. Yet...bigger. She opened her eyes and yelped – screeched! - in shock.
XxXxXxX
Micaiah beamed as the little familiar bird perched on her shoulder. "Yune! You're back!"
"Yes. I was away. I had to help Tibarn and Ranulf with something. I was tired, so..."
"I understand. Nailah – when she returns – is going to share it with me. She said that Tibarn had some sort of emergency."
"An emergency? Really..."
"Why can't you tell me? Is it supposed to be a secret?"
"No, I'm just...tired..."
"I understand."
Sothe, hearing his wife speaking, came into the room. When he caught sight of the bird, he drew back. "Yune?! What're you doing back?!"
Sothe expected a snide remark from the small goddess, but instead, Yune flew from Micaiah's shoulder and took her partial human form. Her face – though hard to see through her blue fire spirit – was contorted with depression.
"Actually...I need your help."
XxXxXxX Flashback XxXxXxX
"Brother...you don't have to do this!" Mist wailed, the ever emotionless Soren at her right, and the just as upset Titania at her left.
Ike rubbed his sister's shoulder. "Mist, this continent has had more than enough of me – laguz and beorc alike."
"But, Ike! You've done nothing more than help them!"
"I've hurt more than I've helped."
"Ike..." Titania choked, her voice pleading. "I can't lose you, too. Not like Greil..."
"Titania..." Ike whispered, not missing a beat. "You're now in charge of the Greil Mercenaries until Mist is ready to lead."
"But-!" the deputy commander started, but stopped when Ike gave her a stern glare that shadowed Greil's. "...Yes, Commander."
"I've put supplies on your ship," Soren said, calm as ever.
"Thank you. I can trust you two to watch over Mist?"
"Of course."
"Brother...why? I'll have no one left. Mother has gone...Father has...and now you. I'll be...all alone..."
"No, you won't, Mist. You're not as alone as you think you are."
"Ike-!"
"I'm sorry, Mist. But if there's another living species or living thing still surviving in the ocean, wondering if they're all that's left...I just need to find them."
"Mmm...but, Ike...just promise me you'll come back. Please."
"I promise, Mist. I swear that I will come back."
Mist gave him a faint smile before they said together:
"And we never break our promises."
XxXxXxX End Flashback XxXxXxX
"So...let me get this straight." Sothe rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes shut tight with weariness. "You think that Commander Ike is somehow transporting new laguz species to Tellius? I thought that you – accidentally – wiped out the other landforms in the ocean."
"Like I said three years ago: Even goddesses aren't perfect. There could be land left. There could be beorc or laguz or both surviving out there," Yune said, still standing as still as she had been.
"What kind?"
"I believe horses, swans, and otters."
"Really...? And you need our help because...?"
"I need to get someone to speak with them."
"We can't leave Daein yet, but Lady Nailah is coming back for the wolves and beorc to take them to their new land later this evening."
"Mmm...well, I was thinking that I could get someone from every laguz race to speak with them."
"Ok. We can send word out for you," Micaiah promised.
"Thank you!" Yune cried, moving for the first time. "Although, I think it best if I go to Goldoa."
Micaiah nodded sadly. Sure, King Kiurthnaga allowed her in to see him, but...it felt like so long since she'd had a nice, friendly converation with him. It felt like so long ago that she met him in that prison cell, where he offered her medicine.
Kurth...
XxXxXxX
Mihara flapped her maroon and brown wings, feeling the power in them. With each beat, it felt like she flew ten feet higher. Her eyesight had strengthened, allowing her to see farther than ever. A few seconds after her transformation, Janaff flew in from of her, giving her a grin. "Good job, Lady Mihara! I knew you'd figure it out!"
Mihara tried to thank him, but it came out as a screech. Her eyes narrowed in confusion, not even feeling tired as she flapped.
Janaff laughed. "It'll take more practice before you can speak in bird form! Our jaws are totally different than in out half-beorc forms."
Mihara wondereed then how she would transform back. However, she heard the distant sound of flapping. Four sets of wings...
XxXxXxX
"Soren...?" Mist walked towards the Branded man. Soren turned slightly at the sound of his name, his red eyes looking into Mist's blue orbs.
"Do you think there's any chance? For Ike?" Mist braced herself for Soren's always-horrid-but-true-answer.
"Hardly. But there is some."
"...really? You aren't just saying that?"
"There is hardly a chance that he would come back alive, let alone uninjured...but there is a small chance."
Mist thought about this. Soren's words seemed true enough. She smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Soren. So, you'll stay here while we're gone and help with restocking?"
"Yes."
"Okay. See ya later, Soren!" Mist ran from the room.
From the room opposite from where Mist had run out, Titania came forth. She murmured sadly, "Thank you, Soren. You're a much better liar than me."
"It was no lie," Soren said with a harsh edge to his voice. "There truly is a small chance for Ike."
"But less than what you led Mist to believe."
Soren's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes."
"Well, I'll leave things here to you. We'll return soon. It's nothing more than small-time bandits."
Soren nodded wordlessly as Titania left the room. He grit his teeth, having remembered something. "Argh, damn it."
XxXxXxX
A tall man stood tall, his brown eyes narrowed, taking in this new landscape. His black hair rustled in the wind, getting into his eyes. His golden horse ears twitched, listening for anything dangerous, swishing his black tail back and forth in annoyance. Finally, his right hand woman returned from scouting. She had green eyes and dark brown hair falling down to her shoulderblades. She bowed her head before her king. "King Kennan, I took a scout a couple miles out. There's nothing much around here. There are a few beorc towns, but nothing too large. I found a strange building – made entirely of stone. There's only a black-haired beorc, a blonde-haired and brown-haired look-alike beorcs."
"I see. Thank you, Aislyn."
"Of course, my lord." Aislyn backed away, yet staying close to her king, paying close attention to nearby sounds with her dark brown horse ears while her king fell into silent thought.
Keenan sighed heavily. I don't understand this. Why did this blue-haired beorc send us here? More land, sure. More life, sure. But what do we care? We were fine before we knew about others, and we would've been fine after. Yet...
"King Keenan!" Aislyn cried with worry, causing the eyes of more laguz to look in fear at the two.
"What is it?" he mumbled, appearing calm. He turned his ears to where Aislyn was looking, ears forward.
It was beorc speech, coming closer and closer to the herd of horse laguz. Keenan pinned his ears against his head and growled under his breath. A golden light engulfed him and after his faded, in his place stood a proud buckskin horse. Aislyn, beside him, also shifted, becoming a morgan horse. Both were twice the size of regular horses, Keenan still being larger than Aislyn. Keenan swiftly ordered to a warrior for him to stay and create a perimeter to protect their people. With that, he and Aislyn ran towards the people to meet them.
They found the group of beorc in a clearing, equaling eight of them. In the center was a light brunette female with entrancing blue eyes, riding on a light brown horse which was so much smaller than the laguz. By the girl were three green haired brothers – one on a horse -, a red headed woman on a horse, two red headed men, and a light brown haired man – completely engulfed in wretched armor. Keenan and Aislyn weren't quite sure of what to make of this small group. The brunette out front halted them and the red headed woman got in front of her, all having seen the laguz at the same time. The brunette muttered, "They can't be...they're too big..."
Keenan kept his threatening stance of pinned ears and a pawing hoof. "Heed me, beorc," he said, "my people and I have been...brought here. Tell me where this mercenary fort is that a blue-haired beorc man told us to find."
Instantly, the brunette rode her horse around the red headed woman, against her protests. "It's true, then!" She took care not to get too close, but her eyes were wide and relieved. "You've seen my brother?! You must be laguz! Have you seen Ike?! Is he okay?!"
Keenan narrowed his eyes at this child, Aislyn blinking with confusion at his side.
XxXxXxX
Okay! That's chapter two! Ask no questions for there shall be explanation in next chapter. Or in four...
Please review! -SylphWindDancer
