Wow...it's already chapter twenty-one! (sniff) I just...can't believe it! Oh, crap! I'm supposed to be hiding! (flees but does a dance in hiding to celebrate getting past fifty reviews)
Predator Drone: Finishing? Finishing?? Perish the thought, good person! I have much, much plot left! Why, I bet I could type an' type and post faster than you could read! ...I wish. Thanks so much for your reviews! And leaving people hanging is what I like to do!
XTwilightxSpiritX: Yeah, well...ahem...I just kinda need to worry about everyone, don't I...? (looks around for said unhappy daddy) As for your guesses...MWAHAHAHA HOW WRONG YOU ARE! Uh-I mean-I guess you'll just have to find out! (innocent look) Thanks for reviewing!
Iline: I know, right? I don't mean to torture Tibarn, but it's just kiiinnndddaaa workin' out that way, huh? Hmm...love triangle, but no OC... Got anyone in mind? (hopeful look) What did happen to Mihara? Hnn...good question! No doubt Ashera's behind it, ne? Thanks for reviewing!
Hannah: Yay, nee-san finally reviewed! And yeah, yeah...I needed a way to start and I was at a roadblock... (sticks tongue out) Meanie! And...Mihara? Ashera? Drama? (scoff) DRAMA IS MY SECOND MIDDLE NAME! Especially since I was suddenly stricken with amazing twists...as you found out, like, three seconds after...! By the way, she has a real motive aside from being all "I will save Shoen and Daddy and Ranulf from Ashera by joining sides with Darth Vadar in a female body!" REAL MOTIVE... But even YOU can't find out what it is! Not even for the upcoming birthday! MWAHAHAHAAA! Love ya!
Disclaimer: If I DID own anything, I would not momentarily be looking over my shoulder to make sure that Tibarn isn't right behind me.
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Chapter 21
Ranulf's eyes shot open while he lay in his bed, his face still lightly rosey with fever, and his face contorted with fear. What was that he had just seen?! It wasn't any ordinary dream...! Those red eyes...their shade...he had seen them only in one place before...
The Tower of Guidance.
Two people had those eyes, but only one was cruel, as he had just seen...
Ashera.
Mihara... Her eyes were always a beautiful gold, except for when Ranulf had first met her – they were...hazel, she'd told him once. Those peaceful, playful, sometimes serious golden eyes were now a merciless, fierce red...
I need to find her.
XxXxXxX
Tibarn shook Mihara lightly, still trying to awaken her. She had made no attempt to wake, nor had she made any other sound than when Tibarn had first arrived. For some strange reason, none of the Gallian patrol, who were looking for Mihara, had come across them yet. That made the Hawk King edgy. Shoen stood above them, silently, worrying for his older sister. He occasionally frowned and nodded to himself, as though going through what he'd seen through his head over and over again, picking out details that could answer what had happened to Mihara.
At last, Shoen inquired, "Dad? Shouldn't we take Mihara back to the castle?"
Tibarn looked up at his son, hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. You're right. Let's go." He scooped up Mihara and pushed himself off the ground, making his way through the thick trees. Shoen wavered a moment and glanced around, as though he felt someone were watching them, before taking off after his father.
Back in the trees, Kyo's hand finally released his tense grip on his muramasa. He watched after the Hawk King and his son with determined red eyes. Whether by the goddess' order or not, if they had sensed me, I would not have hesitated to kill them. Yet...maybe I am not supposed to yet. I shall not leave right away. I feel something interesting is about to happen. An evil smirk came upon his lips. Perhaps...I'll toy with them. Maybe not kill them...just yet.
With a swish of his cape and a faint glance of black wings underneath, he walked towards the east, deciding which indirect route to take towards the castle.
Up in the air, Tibarn and Shoen flew swiftly back towards the castle. Before they had even reached the wall, Shoen commented gravely, "Why is everything happening to her?"
Tibarn's face became grim. "I don't know, Shoen... All I know...is that Ashera is after her for some reason."
"...You don't have an idea why?"
"No." Tibarn faced Shoen when they landed just outside the doors leading inside. "But then again, I never figured out why whoever took you...well, took you, for starters, then made it so that you didn't age for about twenty years. It's as though everyone has an ulterior motive for our entire family."
Shoen had no response to that, so simply remained quiet.
Tibarn saw the look on Shoen's face and said, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so grave. It's just that this entire deal worries me." Tibarn's voice became quieter as he added, "I can't lose both of you again."
"I can assure you, Dad, that I'm not going anywhere. Neither is Mihara." Shoen's face became more determined. "Because we'll get through this. Not even Ashera can tear us apart again."
"What's wrong with Mihara?!" Sylvia suddenly ran up. Just catching sight of her friend's wings, Sylvia frowned. "Uhh...what happened?"
"I'd like to know that, too," put in a voice coming up behind Sylvia.
Tibarn chuckled lightly. "It's about time you got here, Ike."
Ike gave a slight grin, but it quickly went away. "We need to talk, Tibarn. Now. Shoen should probably hear this, too."
"Let me find somewhere to put Mihara." Tibarn walked past the two beorc. "Although, Sylvia, I have no idea what happened."
Wordlessly, Sylvia, Shoen, and Ike followed after Tibarn. They followed him upstairs, where most of the rooms were, and just as Tibarn was about to enter one, there was a crash from down the hall, followed by a frantic female laguz saying, "Wa-wait, General Ranulf! You've still got to rest!"
A door opened and a shirtless Ranulf walked out, his hands balled up in fists. He caught sight of Tibarn and the others and stalked towards them with a faint limp, the others seeing that his face still displayed that he had a fever. He gently, yet firmly, pushed Sylvia, Shoen, and Ike out of the way, and faced Tibarn. "What happened?" was the first thing he demanded.
"I don't know. Something with Ashera. Shouldn't you still be resting up?"
Ignoring him, Ranulf hissed, "I'm fine. Mihara may not be. She spoke to me...and she was crying." His eyes narrowed. "What color are her eyes?"
"Why wouldn't they be their normal color?" Tibarn inquired. "When did she speak with you, crying?"
"Just now. You must've seen her eyes, Tibarn!" Ranulf snapped, his voice raising.
"Why would her eyes be any different, Ranulf?!" Tibarn shot back.
"Ashera got to her, didn't she?! She did something to Mihara, and whatever it is, it isn't good for any of us!"
"Are you saying that you know what she did?"
"No! I haven't got the faintest clue! But you need to look at her eyes, Tibarn!"
"It can wait until she wakes up!"
Ranulf's ears pinned back and all the fur on his tail stood up on end. "By then, it may be too late! I'm telling you, Ashera did something to her!"
Tibarn, obviously not wanting to listen anymore, turned back towards the door and opened it. Just as Ranulf's hand went out to grab Tibarn's shirt and stop him, Ike stood between the two. "Ranulf, calm down."
"How can you expect me to calm down, Ike, when I saw her...laying on the ground...like that..." Ranulf's voice quickly became quieter.
This caused all the others present to pause and frowned. Tibarn snapped back around. "What?"
"It's... Never mind. You probably wouldn't care to hear about it. It was a...nightmare I had, but...it just seemed so real." Ranulf turned around. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you, Tibarn."
"...It's fine, Ranulf. We're all just worried about this entire mess."
"...Yeah..." Ranulf then walked slowly back towards his room.
Sylvia frowned. "Am I the only one who thought that was really strange?"
"No... I've never seen Ranulf like that." Ike looked after his close laguz friend. "Obviously, this nightmare really frightened him." With a glance towards Tibarn, he said, "I'll go see what he was going on about. We'll talk right after."
"Sure." Tibarn walked into the room and set Mihara down on the bed.
XxXxXxX
I glared at Ashera with all the hatred I could possibly have for a person. I don't know where we are right now, but it's like...nothing. Just a completely white place... But whatever. It's not important. Right now, I...I still can't believe I said 'yes' to her...but...it was for Shoen and Dad and Ranulf...
Still...how can I trust Ashera? She gave her word that she wouldn't harm them as long as I helped her, but...
No. She said she wouldn't kill anyone. I gritted my teeth. It was too late to go back now. At least there was a true advantage for being on the side of an evil goddess.
I could find her weakness.
-So...are you ready to begin your journey with me, young Mihara?-
Well, if I want to find her weakness, I'm at least going to have to pretend good that I'm on her side, even if she knows I don't want to be. "...Yes."
An evil smirk came up across her face. -Good. I think you will find that the first step will be easy: Getting to me.-
"Couldn't you just teleport me to you or something?"
-Where's the fun in that?- Ashera scoffed, approaching me. It took everything I had not to flinch and move away. -I want to see how well you can do it while you're being chased by your father and brother. Possibly by that pesky human, Ike, as well.-
"...How exactly do you want me to do that?"
-When you wake up, don't show it right away. Wait until they have all left the room. Then, simply go right out the window. You know where to find me.-
"The...Tower of Guidance?"
-Very good. Now, don't keep me waiting too long, understand? You may also meet up with a dragon laguz named Kyo. He is on our side and he may accompany you back, or he may not. It's whatever he chooses.-
"...Alright." There's this feeling in the pit of my stomach...
I don't want to leave Dad...or Shoen...
Or Ranulf.
As soon as I thought that, I saw Ashera's eyes narrow and become sharper. -Why, daughter of Tibarn... Could it be...that you're...in love?-
Despite it was Ashera in front of me, I'm quite sure I blushed. My heart started racing and my throat tightened up. "I..."
Ashera gave off this laugh. It was a beautiful sound, if only it weren't so evil-sounding. -That's just precious. You're in love with the feline!-
With the way she said that, my blood boiled, and even though I didn't realize it, my wings rustled as my hands curled up into fists. I bit my tongue. Just leave it alone for now.
-Well, now...- Ashera smiled and sighed slowly once she finished laughing. -This just means that he will be one more trying to get you back. However, my little servant...you won't be going back until I say you can. Understood?-
"Yeah," I growled. Oooh, when I get the chance, I got such words that I wanna share with this-
-Good. Now, go.-
XxXxXxX
Slowly, I regained consciousness. However, obeying Ashera's words, I didn't move. I could sense that there were others in the room.
"What Ranulf went on about still disturbs me." That was Shoen. But what's he talking about? 'What Ranulf went on about'?
"...Yeah." There was Sylvia. "And even though I just got here, she's already getting in trouble. Not to mention, I know that the deal with her wings changing isn't normal..." My wings changing? Huh??
I heard a growl come from Shoen. "This stupid goddess... She's the reason for all of our problems."
"All the problems? I mean, I don't doubt it, but what all do you mean?"
"Mihara was sent to another world by her. My mother was killed because of her. Karoline took me and put a spell on me...because of her."
Damn... I had never heard Shoen like this. He's so angry... Not that I blame him, but...he sounds like Dad when he's pissed off.
"You were...taken?" Sylvia sounded confused. I suppose I hadn't told her about that, yet.
Shoen scoffed without amusement. "Yeah. Then, I had a special type of high-level spell put on me that froze my aging process. If it hadn't been put on me, I would look about... Well, I'd look a lot older than I do. I'd look at least twenty by beorc standards."
"...I had no idea..."
I wondered suddenly if anyone else was in the room. It felt rather tense for just the two of them... Then, of course, Shoen said, "When do you think she might wake up, Dad?"
"...I have no idea," Dad said with worry. "It's hard to tell when we don't know what Ashera did to her."
Oh crap. I flinched.
There was silence in the room and I wanted to hold my breath, but I forced myself to breathe. "Do you think that means she's gonna wake up soon?!" Sylvia asked with hope.
"I don't know. Let's hope so." I heard Dad move around, so I'm guessing he stood up. "I'm going to go talk with Ike and see what he wants."
"Alright..." the two droaned. I heard Dad's footsteps head elsewhere before the door opened and closed. Okay...he was gone. Now I needed to wait for Shoen and Sylvia to go somewhere. I hoped they wouldn't stay too long... I can only fake for so long...
As though they heard my thoughts, Shoen stood up suddenly. "I'm going to listen."
While Shoen was walking out, Sylvia stuttered, "I-I'll come, too!"
And the door closed. Huh. Well...I suppose it's time to go. When I opened my eyes, if I had a mirror nearby, I would've seen that Ashera had more control over me than I thought.
XxXxXxX
Shoen and Sylvia stood silently outside the door of the room Tibarn had gone in. It must've been Ranulf's room since Ike and the cat warrior was in there, too. The first thing the two heard was Ranulf, saying, "...and he tried to kill her, so I protected her. But then when she looked at me, her eyes were red."
"Red?" came Ike.
"Like Ashera's and Yune's."
"...I can see why this dream disturbed you so much, Ranulf. But still, it was only a dream." Ike sighed. "Okay, Tibarn. Now I need to speak with you. Do you want to get Shoen or just tell him later?"
"I'll tell him later. He and Sylvia are watching over Mihara."
"Very well. I have a few important things to tell you, but don't freak out too much, okay?"
Tibarn chuckled lightly. "No guarantees."
Ike sighed. "This is gonna be ugly."
"Now I'm interested. What is it?"
"Well, okay, first... Do you know who attacked Ranulf and the others?"
"No. But he was acting strange before he left Altiaire." Shoen could only imagine that with the way his father said that, that he was giving Ranulf a glare.
"It was Karoline and Stasik."
There was a long stretch of awkward silence. Outside the door, Shoen's eyes shot wide with shock. Those two filthy humans were still alive?! Apparantly, Tibarn was thinking along the same lines, for he said, restraining his anger, "How? You killed them."
"I thought I had, too. Although, it turns out that Ashera revived them before their souls passed on. Skrimir sent Ranulf and the others to go and kill them again."
"Obviously, it didn't go so well," Ranulf muttered.
There was more silence before Tibarn said, "Alright. What's the other?"
"Yune has a theory on why Ashera wants Mihara so bad."
"And it is?"
"Mihara shares a bond with a different world. That bond is so strong, it's what allows Yune to send Mihara and Ranulf there. So, it can only be with Mihara's cooperation that the gateway can be opened."
Ranulf added, "The first time I went, I had to convince Mihara that she could come back and that there was real reason we needed her here. If she hadn't agreed, she wouldn't have been able to come here."
"If it's Mihara's bond, how were you able to go there the first time? Without her?" Tibarn inquired.
"Yune did it. It took so much of her power, though. When Mihara returned with me, it took a lot less."
"I see. So, Ashera is after...this bond?"
"She needs Mihara's cooperation, whether Mihara truly wants to or not. Once Mihara meets with Ashera again, she's more than likely going to tempt her again with goddess-knows-what." Ike sighed. "If Mihara does agree to help her, Ashera can use the bond to gain access to...Earth, was it? Then, Yune thinks that she'll 'perfect' that world as well as this one."
Tibarn processed this, as did the two hiding outside. Finally, he demanded, "So, do you think that Ashera tried to make contact with Mihara while she was outside with Sylvia? And that Mihara resisted, so Ashera attacked her?"
"It might've been something like that. Or..."
Shoen and Sylvia frowned. "Or?" Ranulf and Tibarn echoed.
"...Nevermind. It's not possible."
Sylvia tapped Shoen to get his attention. Once he looked at her, she mouthed, "I'm going to check on Mihara."
Shoen nodded. He watched after her to make sure that his sister was okay. During the short time she headed towards the room, Shoen fell into deep thought. So now at least I know why Ashera is after Mihara. Had she planned this from the beginning? If she wanted to send someone to another world, why did she picked her? That just doesn't make any sense... Then again...at the time, Dad was the only laguz leader to have a child. Well, except the herons... Ugh, none of this makes any sense...!
"Shoen!" Sylvia suddenly cried. She ran out of the room, her eyes wide with fear. "Mihara's-! Shoen! Behind you!!"
Before Shoen could question what Sylvia was about to say about Mihara, he turned around and jumped backwards. In his spot, a muramasa was in the floor, point in. The door to the room that the three war heroes had been in slammed open. Tibarn was first to demand, "What is it?!" before he caught sight of the muramasa.
They all looked up and Kyo fell from the ceiling before landing gracefully on the floor. Ike quickly drew Ragnell. "Who are you?"
"None of your business, human. My only business is with the Hawk King and his son."
Tibarn stepped in front of Shoen, yet both gave Kyo the same identical glare. "What do you want with us?" Tibarn hissed.
"I just want to fight. Not to kill, though. It would be if I could." Kyo took a step forward, causing all of those present to tense.
"Keep your distance," Ike warned.
"And you stay out of this, human." Kyo narrowed his red eyes at Ike. "This is a laguz affair between the hawks and I. If I'm not mistaken, you have someone you should be looking for."
Ranulf glared at the laguz. "What?"
Sylvia cried again. "It's Mihara! She's gone!"
"What?!" The others turned to look at her with shock. Shoen started moving before his father to go see if it was true, but with insane speed, Kyo grabbed his muramasa from the floor and shot at him. He quickly blocked the young hawk prince's path and pointed the weapon as Shoen's chest. Instantly, Shoen stopped moving.
"I do not care if your little friends go and look...but my quarrel is with you two and you will not turn your backs on me."
Tibarn tensed up from seeing the weapon at his son's chest. Once he narrowed his eyes, he ordered, "Ranulf, take Sylvia and go find Mihara."
Ike, who was right behind Tibarn, whispered, "Can't we use her and her lightning magic? He looks like a dragon laguz."
"She hasn't learned yet."
Wordlessly and cautiously, Ranulf made his way around Ike, Tibarn, Shoen, and Kyo. Once he was behind Kyo, he took Sylvia's arm and murmured, "Let's go," to her.
XxXxXxX
Before Mihara was too far away from the castle, she heard two hawks screech a battle cry. It must've been Shoen and her father! She wanted to turn around and see what was happening, but she just couldn't do it. She tried to, but some force kept her head forward and her wings beating. Damn it. It must be Ashera... she realized. She closed her eyes for a moment to simply wish that they could hear her. I'm sorry, everyone.
At last, she shifted. Once she had opened her eyes, she had seen what Sylvia had meant about her wings. They were now completely black. She thought that, at first, Ashera had done something strange, like changed her into a raven, but when she shifted, she saw she still had the same body build as a hawk. Now, she was merely black. Blacker than Naesala. She scoffed lightly.
By some strange inward sense of direction, Mihara turned herself slightly southwestward and flew as fast as she could.
Ranulf...I know you'll come for me...
XxXxXxX
Boyd sighed. "Okayyy... Are we all ready to go?"
Multiple pairs of eyes locked onto and glared at Boyd. Rolf accused, "You're always the last one to be ready to go!"
"Shut up, twerp! I'm ready! I just had to...make sure...that I had enough axes."
While the two continued their sibling arguing, Mist rolled her eyes. "Alright, if we're ready, let's go."
"To Gallia?" Rhys looked at the female commander.
"Yeah. Ike's waiting for us there."
Gatrie groaned from a memory. "Oh, maaan... Even in winter, it's going to be so huuumid there...! And I'm gonna have all this armor on...!"
"Then take it off," Shinon snapped, saying it as though it were the answer to all questions.
"But then I'd have to carry it! I'd rather wear it!"
"Then stop complaining."
"Will Oscar be able to catch up with us?" Ilyana inquired.
"I'm sure he'll make it," Titania answered.
"Well, if we're ready...we should head out." Mist stood from her spot at one of the tables in the main hall of the Greil Mercenaries' fort.
Everyone quickly moved out of the fort, eager to meet back up with their old commander of the mercenaries. As they left the courtyard, Mist hesitated. She looked back at the fort with a longing; she wished everything could just go back to how it was before Ashnard. Her father, Ike, and her...all three, together.
As she turned and left the fort, she had this feeling in the pit of her stomach. She felt like this would be the last time she would see the fort...in a very long time.
XxXxXxX
Okay, now that THAT'S all cleared up-
Readers: WHAT WAS CLEARED UP?!?!
Me: Hey! Chill! ...I don't have much to say right now...drat. Well, not true.
(KICKS THE SAINTS FOR BEATING THE VIKINGS AND MOVING ON TO THE SUPERBOWL)
Okay, please review! (innocent smile)
