A/N: Thanks for all the feedback! I'll try to live up to your expectations.

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Ernst paced impatiently around the room, his tail nervously twitching from side to side. For the first time in nearly 4 years he would finally be able to get rid of the beast rune once and for all.

Even thought he liked his hybrid form, it was incredibly inconvenient and sometimes downright frustrating to be locked in beast form for months at a time. One never really appreciated one's hands until they were without them.

That wasn't to say that his cheetah form was without merit. The town he originally came from was a hives nest for bandit raids. A great distance from the capitol city, the small village had to rely on their own local militia to fight off the bandits.

Shortly after acquiring the rune he was recruited into the militia at the young age of 15. Two bandit attacks later and the rumors had spread like wildfire that the 'poor defenseless village" had enslaved a powerful beast and used it to tear raiders to shreds.

In reality though, the village and militia were far from helpless, and the exaggerated rumors came from half crazed survivors from the bandit raids who had never seen a cheetah before. In the end though, the bandit raids dwindled and died off.

Having nothing to do and having no use for his beast form, Ernst set out with his childhood friend Norma to search for a cure. Then they met the prince and Levi. The rest was history.

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About an hour later, Ernst and Jeane had seated themselves in the Prince's room.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush," said the Prince finally breaking the silence, "I know you two well enough to know that you already know what I have."

"Indeed," said Levi, running a hand over his beard, "It is impossible to hide something of great power like that from a rune master such as myself."

Faourish ignored the egoism of the wizard and spoke to Jeane, "I don't know about you, but you must have an idea. You're skills are easily on par with Levi."

Jeane smiled at him in her usual seductive way, "You flatter me Prince."

"Will you people quit keeping secrets and just tell me what's going on?" Everyone turned towards Ernst.

Lucretia placed a hand on the were-cheetah's shoulder, "Patience. This is a very delicate matter."

"Levi? I originally thought that you were going to help him with this. Have you figured out a way to cure him?"

Levi bowed his head, "No I haven't. I've tried several methods of using the flowing rune with the water rune and even tried using methods theorized with the twilight rune, but I keep coming up negative."

"The side effect of the beast rune doesn't harm him physically or mentally," continued Jeane, "which makes the natural healing runes like flowing and water ineffective."

"This side-effect, or disease if you would, comes directly from the rune itself and gradually infects the body until it gets to the stage Ernst is currently at. Only a true rune would be able to "cure" him at that point."

Ernst suddenly cut in, "But you said that the Prince had a way to cure me! He doesn't own one of the true runes!"

Silence followed this short outburst.

"Does he?" he asked, suddenly uncertain.

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Stormwatch castle was a very busy place. After all, it housed over a hundred people, their pets, and their shops. There was always something going on and the corridors were usually busy.

Of course, this was of no concern to Byakuren and Genoh. Despite Genoh's slow walk, he left a wake in the crowd in which Byakuren followed behind.

Despite the camaraderie that was shared with the people of the castle, Byakuren tended to associate more with her own kind and was very good friends with the castle's resident monsters such as Genoh and the Dragon Horses. She didn't associate with many of the humans, and not many wanted to associate with her in the first place.

But Faourish was different.

The first time she had met the prince, they had been locked in combat. She had wanted to give the humans a scare so that she could have the place to herself again.

Thus she was completely unprepared for the fight that followed. Instead of running away, the human had calmly drawn out a quarter staff and fought her with great skill and energy. Caught by surprise in the first few seconds of the battle, she had taken several solid blows that turned the battle to the Princes favor. After five minutes, she had been subdued into near unconsciousness.

Looking up at the human with hate in her eyes as he brought his staff to her neck, she was shocked to see the man fold up his weapon and sheathe it behind him. Then with a mighty shove, she was back in the water.

But that wasn't the last time they had met.

Twice more, she had attacked the Prince, and twice more she had been knocked unconscious and thrown back into the water like a fish that was too small to eat. Although she had been fighting with more skill in the battles afterwards, the Prince was a very skilled fighter.

However, the fourth time she attacked, something else happened.

Faourish had been walking outside the castle after a light rainfall, making the ground treacherously slippery. Unfortunately for him, this was the day Byakuren had decided to attack again. He had always been very careful to keep the fights on land, as the creature was an excellent swimmer and could move faster in the water then he ever could.

In a moment of tactical genius, Byakuren had slammed her head into the bridge, causing the Prince to stumble and slip on the wood. With a mighty leap the sea serpent had knocked Faourish into the water.

Faourish had already drawn and locked his tri-nunchaku but it would be of little use to him in the water. Searching for his foe, he saw the serpent make a u-turn in the water and charge towards him. Positioning his staff in front of him, he braced himself for the final blow.

It never came.

Right before his eyes, the giant shell of Genoh rose from the water, cutting off the two fighters. Byakuren's attack smashed harmlessly into the rock hard shell of the ancient one. With one swift movement, Genoh had grabbed onto Faourish's wet clothes with his mouth and hauled him up on his back.

And then, the overgrown turtle spoke to her in her native language of hisses and clicks.


"Peace my friend. Why is one as ancient as you seeking a fight with this human?"

It took a couple seconds for Byakuren to register that the turtle was speaking to her in her own language.

"You speak my language?" she asked, surprise evident in her voice.

"Indeed. One as ancient as I am learns a great many things." Said Genoh in his slow sedate pace, "What are you doing here attacking the Prince?"

"You can talk to him?" asked the Prince suddenly.

"Her," he corrected gently, "and yes I can talk to her."

"What are these humans doing in my lake?" asked Byakuren, "I have lived here most of my life in seclusion but then these humans show up and begin to drain the lake and fish out the waters."

Genoh translated this to Faourish who was wringing out his shirt, still sitting atop the turtles back.

"I'm sorry you feel this way, but we are here out of necessity and need, not want. Until our current issues are resolved I'm afraid we have no choice but to stay here."

Byakuren hissed something under her breath.

"You really don't want to know what she just said Prince," stated Genoh.

"Hmmm. Maybe we can work something out then."

"And what deal would that be?"

Genoh translated what she said to Faourish.

"Simple. You help us win the war we're currently fighting and then I'll restore your lake to you. I'll even put in a word with Raftfleet to regulate their fishing around this area so that you can still eat here."

Another series of hisses and translations later, Genoh told Faourish, "Byakuren says that she does not know or trust these 'Raftfleet' people but she trusts you to keep your word. She has also said that she will help you win your war."

The Prince had kept his word. He lessened the fishing around the castle and made all of the fishing games held by Raftfleet catch and release only.

Again, though, that wasn't the last time they had met.

Several times afterwards, the Prince had come down to visit her. She was suspicious of his visits at first, but she soon learned that he held no hostile intent. He was a decent swimmer by human standards, and sometimes he would bring a string of fish to feed her.

One time he had even brought her cooked fish, a delicacy she had never tasted before.

He had even told her some of his deeper thoughts. The Prince saw her as some sort of outlet for his feelings, because she would not let slip any of his secrets, whether on accident or purpose.

Flashback

"Byakuren! Are you around?" The Prince called to the still face of the water.

Several ripples answered him as the head of the snake like creature surfaced from the water. Smiling to himself he took a seat on the wooden walkway and dangled his bare feet in the water like a small child would.

"Hssssss," Byakuren slithered up next to the prince and licked his pocket. Laughing, Faourish withdrew the fish he had been keeping in there.

"And Retso was wondering why I wanted one of these," he said as he threw the fish to the sea-serpent who caught it gracefully in her mouth, devouring it in one gulp.

The two sat their silently for a few minutes, Faourish looking at the sunset while absentmindedly petting the head of Byakuren as he would a cat or dog. At first the serpent was wary of this treatment, not wanting to seem like a domesticated pet, but she found that she actually enjoyed the feeling, even going as far to develop a purr that sounded slightly like running water.

"Have you ever had love problems?" asked Faourish suddenly. Byakuren shook her head no.

"Never? You've never been in love with another male of your kind?"

At this, Byakuren's head drooped. The Prince instantly knew that he had touched on a sensitive matter. But he had to ask the question.

"Are you…the last of your kind?"

Eyes down, the sea-serpent nodded her head yes.

"I'm sorry…I didn't realize…" Before he could finish his sentence Byakuren shook her head vehemently before licking the Prince's face with her forked tongue. Her way of saying, "Don't worry about it."

The Prince sighed again before turning back to the sunset, "Why does human love have to be so complicated?"

"Hssssssss?"

"Well, it's like this. Lyon has been my childhood friend for as long as I can remember, and I'm not sure but I think I like her more than a childhood friend. But I'm not sure she sees me that way."

"Hsssssss?"

"It's kind of hard to explain," he elaborated, "What if I like her and she doesn't like me? Would we even be able to remain friends after that? And what if it turns out I really don't like her? It's all so complicated."

Byakuren wasn't really sure what to say to that. The Prince was in a funk and she couldn't really break him out of it unless Genoh was around. So she did the next best thing.

It took Faourish exactly three seconds to realize that Byakuren had repositioned her coils directly behind him. By then it was too late.

PUSH! SPLASH!

Coughing and sputtering from his impromptu dive in the water, Faourish glared at the smiling serpent who was lying on the dock.

"Oh ha ha. Very funny. I'm glad to see you're so sympathetic."

Byakuren merely smiled mischievously at him again before diving into the water. The Prince couldn't help it, and in spite of himself, began to laugh.

"Thanks for listening Byakuren," he said as the sea-serpent surfaced next to him. Byakuren nodded her head once before wrapping her tail around the Prince's waist and squeezing softly in a sea-serpent hug.

End Flashback

But now things were changing. The Prince hadn't gone to see her in a week. Every time she had gone up to his door, she had been turned away by the nervous guards. She was going to find out what was going on, and this time no guards would stop her.

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"Does he?" asked Ernst again, a tinge of hopelessness hanging in his voice.

The Prince sighed. He had seen this coming a long time ago and knew there was no way to avoid it, but that didn't make it any easier. Tentatively, Faourish reached a shaking hand to his headband and, with one swift move, pulled it off completely.

The room was suddenly illuminated by a brilliant flash of light. When everyone had regained their sight, the Prince was standing in the middle of the room, the Dawn Rune glowing on his right hand, the Twilight Rune glowing on his Left, and…

The Sun Rune was shinning brilliantly on his forehead.

Ernst stared, slightly horrified and slightly in awe. The very thing that they had been fighting in this war, the thing that had essentially killed his mother and father, and the symbol of all Falena, was attached to the Princes head shinning like a small sun.

"So, you really do own it then," commented Levi idly.

"Yes he does, his destiny and future will greatly affect the land of Falena, or perhaps even the world."

Faourish sighed and smacked his forehead lightly, "You know Zerase you're really going to have to tell me how to do that someday."

"It comes with the job," she said simply, "and speaking of jobs, you're about to have a very big one on your hands."

"Great. And I suppose that you have absolutely no intention of telling me what the hell is going on until I've already figured it out or until it's too late."

"No, this time I'll spell it out for you," she said to the shock of everyone, "you are the symbol of Falena and everything it stands for. People believe in you more than your sister right now, and you have the complete support of everyone in this castle."

"Not everyone," he amended, "Some people are here just because I'm paying them."

"You still don't get it do you?" asked Zerase, slightly annoyed, "Did Muller and Whilmer every charge you for their employment in nearly all of your battles?"

"Well, no but…"

"Did Richard ever ask to be paid for his service to you?"

"He was just following orders…"

"What about Loreli and Zweig? After they had discovered the ruins they were seeking was there any reason at all for them to stay with you?"

"They needed my rune to open…"

"What about Kyle, Georg, Miakis, and Galleon? The people who would forsake their very duties to the crown they serve to help you?"

The Prince stayed silent at this. There really was no answer to that question.

"Maybe you don't realize it yet, but you have a lot of friends in high places who respect you more than they do the crown right now. You don't seem to realize that with your deeds and acts, you've gained more power than any one person in Falena."

"It's true prince," cut in Lucretia, "You've made unofficial alliances with the Island Nations, the elves, and even a faction of Armes. You've brought together every single faction in Falena from scientists and runologists, to gladiators and thieves."

"You know, I like all the ego boosting you guys are giving me, but shouldn't we be helping Ernst?"

Ernst, who had been sitting in the corner the entire time jumped up at the mention of his name.

"Ernst come over here," commanded Jeane, all traces of her flirtatious personality gone, replaced with a professional attitude.

The were-cheetah stood in front of Jeane and beside the prince, his excitement showing in the slight twitch of his tail.

"Faourish," Levi commanded, "Stand over here by Ernst."

Faourish got up from his seat and stood beside Ernst, the three runes on his body still glowing slightly.

Levi and Jeane made eye contact, "On three then," he said.

Both of them took out their staffs, "1…2…3!"

In perfect unison, both magicians traced a complicated pattern through the air, the runes attached to their staves glowing brightly. Nothing happened for a second, and then a bright sphere enclosed the Prince and the cheetah.

"We've put a null barrier around you," Jeane explained, "This way any magic that escapes your hold won't affect anyone in the castle."

"That is, if we can hold it against the power of the sun rune," amended Levi.

"Oh, don't be so pessimistic."

"I think I will take my leave now," commented Lucretia, "It is not safe for one who is not protected to be in a room full of great magic," With a polite bow, the strategist left the room."

Taking Ernst's hand that held the beast rune, the Prince began to focus the power of the Dawn and Twilight rune into the beast rune. He wanted to put off using the sun rune for as long as he could. Carefully tracing the pattern of healing on his hand, the Prince began to push the healing energy into the beast rune. Then, something began to fight back.

The dark energy was mounting an attack against the healing energy, driving it out and dispelling it. The retaliation was so quick and efficient that his concentration broke and he was thrown back against the shield.

"Gently Prince," suggested Levi as the Prince got back to his feet, "Runes naturally don't like other powers corrupting them. Try it slower this time."

Repeating the process, Faourish began again, this time letting the healing energy trickle in like a leaky faucet. But as soon as the first drop touched the dark energy, he found himself being forcefully thrown out again.

"Fascinating," commented Levi, "The power of this beast rune is a match even for the Dawn and Twilight runes! I've never seen such dispelling power in a common rune."

"That's nice," Faourish grumbled, picking himself up off the ground for the second time, "now are you going to tell me how to bet it or should I just do this until the shield breaks?"

"The only way that you're going to beat it, is by destroying the dark energy with the sun rune. Fight fire with fire Prince."

The sun bearer sighed and steeled himself for the influx of power he knew that was coming. Taking Ernst's hand again, the Prince drew the sign of dispel on the cheetahs hand. Then without further ceremony, he simultaneously slammed the power of all three runes into the dark energy.

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Byakuren hissed in annoyance as she faced Miakis outside the Prince's room, who had adamantly refused her entry. The battle had not come to arms yet, but Genoh was rather reluctant to translate some of her more 'descriptive' hisses.

Miakis sighed and relaxed her battle posture as the sea serpent turned around. She was not the only one who had asked for the prince since she started standing outside his door. Zegai had almost challenged her on the spot when she had denied him entry. Fortunately Georg had been nearby to calm the mercenary.

She didn't notice the tail that had wrapped around her foot until she had been thrown 10 feet across the room.

Quickly overcoming her surprise at being thrown, Miakis got back up with her daggers drawn, but Byakuren had already entered the room. Rushing towards the door, she was shocked to find her way blocked by Genoh.

"Genoh! Get out of my way! I need to stop her before she interrupts…"

"Patience small friend. Let Byakuren do what she wants."

"She can't just barge into a room that has a guard by it!"

Genoh sighed heavily, "The Prince was the first true friend that Byakuren ever had. She feels that the guards are trying to take him away. It is better that you do not interrupt for right now you could only make things worse."

Miakis was starting to get pissed but Genoh was standing in the doorway and trying to use her daggers on him would have been about as effective as hitting a rock.

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The power was so great the Prince nearly broke the connection out of surprise. This is what his mom felt when she destroyed Lordlake, and it was easy, much too easy, to loose himself in the power.

'NO!,' he shouted forcefully in his mind, 'I won't let this thing control me!'

Forcefully, the Prince bent the power to his will and pushed it against the darkness of the beast rune.

While the beast rune was powerful, it was like a kitten compared to the sun runes lion and was almost instantly over whelmed. Faourish felt Ernst's hand tighten around his in a vice like grip.

"Ease up Prince," shouted Levi from outside the magic circle, "You're using too much power!" Jeane and Levi were struggling to hold the circle now, and only a tenth of the sun runes full power was being used.

Faourish tried to follow the magician's orders, but recalling the power released from the sun rune was more difficult than directing it. He felt Ernst's hand shift under him into his cheetah form, his claws digging deep into his skin, making blood flow.

The pain seemed to further intensify the power the sun rune was putting out. Both people inside the circle had started to glow with a white aura, power rolling off the Prince in waves.

Then, the circle broke.

The magical backlash was incredible. Levi and Jeane threw up their most powerful personal shields in time but Ernst and the Prince had no such protection. He was picked up and thrown against the wall while Faourish rocketed towards the door…

…and was caught in the coils of Byakuren who had just entered the room. There was a moment of silence, and then the whole room went white.

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A/N: And that's a wrap!