Umm… could someone please tell me why I'm writing this fanfic? I forgot…
If you read the cliffhanger on Chapter 9, do not come crying (or being happy) to me. Or complain that it was etched in your mind for almost a year already. I am not responsible for physically, mentally, or emotionally change or damage. Thank you for your wasting your time reading this. Read the chapter below, review, and have a nice day.
A Thief's Story
Chapter 10-The Wind Blows
The all-shining sun starts to awaken itself from its dark slumber. Its rays gradually change the color of the mountain, from dark to light. The world is the child, awoken by the mother sun. Resting on the high, windy mountain was a castle seemingly concrete to where it stands. A high object blazing, it marked a great human building ever constructed. The sun caresses the castle like a daughter. Light surrounded with warmth. 'If there was no such sight as this, I swear to the Goddess that evil prevailed within the hearts of people to not construct a structure of magnificence' a traveler once said when he beheld such a sight.
The bright rays of light pierced the window on a high corridor of the castle. Its warm beams steadily flow on the floor seen through the window. It glides across, until it gently touched a figure in deep slumber on the floor. The light hugged the figure, growing upward until it left the blanket he wore, and softly kissed his face. He moved a bit, shifting himself, soothed by what he felt. Suddenly, footsteps were heard, going up the lower stairs nearby. A lady was humming to herself while she climbed to the floor the sleeping person was on. She saw, blinked, then gave herself a small smile. She walked up to the window nearby and quietly opened it, then left the corridor using the other lower stair. Songs of morning birds started to fill in the silence of the corridor. Sweet scents of mountain flowers poured in, sweet enough to calm down even an angry behemoth. The slumbering person stirred by these pleasures, unable to sleep any longer ignoring these morning delights. He woke up, feeling confidence and being carefree. He stretched himself and sat up, confused for a moment why he was sleeping on the floor.
With a snap, a thought generated and filled his mind stretching to the far end. Horrible worry overtook his face as he jumped up and looked around if anybody was in the corridor with him. He quickly looked behind, seeing a door. Nobody. He burst through the door, entering a bedroom, disbelief stopping him where he stood. A white canvas bed holds a young lady, still as a self-portrait. He rushed up to the side, desperately searching for any signs of life flowing through the girl. Nothing… not a breath of air, not a movement of a body part, not a shift in the laid back hair, nothing…
"No… no… It… can't be… No…"
His heart became a shattered mirror, separate images of memories that were once one. By the moments that pass, they started to gray, as if becoming the body before his eyes. He slowly let his head fall, until it reached the bed and found himself kneeling down. Indigo hair fell on the bed, partially covering his eyes. His breath starts to become themselves, letting in and out air without his consent. Deep breathing made hurtful sounds and heated the area it lays. He didn't move for a while, pouring everything of the past moment into his thoughts. He then gropes around, couldn't bear to lift his closed eyes to assist his search, much less having his face look again at the motionless body. The hand moved about, almost as if a spirit has possessed it. The hand finally found what the person was searching for. The hand slipped into another, the girl's, a hand retaining its purity even with its white silk glove, accompanied by the feather coronal, on the night table nearby. The person then let his hand pull the soft, feminine counterpart toward his face. He slowly caresses his cheek with her hand. He expected comfort, but pain stepped forward first, hurting what was left of his heart. A sorrow so strong on his spirit, tears began to break from his closed eyes, streaming down his cheeks and on the hand of the girl. He didn't hold back, he just couldn't. All he had hoped for were taken away, leaving him with nothing but his tears. He simply let his watery companions flow like their relatives, the river. Then, his sorrow turns into words as they reached his mouth.
"Lise… why… why did you… hafta go?" Hawk sob quietly. "I… I… I would have… would have done anything… given anything… anything to bring you back… just to… just to bring you back… Lise… please… come back… come back… please… for me?..."
Hawk slowly rubs Lise's hand against his cheek again. Sheer pain flows through his body, but he overcame it with the comfort that followed. Memories began to flash in his thoughts, each containing an envelope of feelings.
Your hands… I vividly remember when our hands met. It was nothing more than an act of friendship back at Jad, when we decided to travel together. We shook hands as agreement… Then, there was that time when we really… felt feelings through them. 'The Incident on the Ghost Ship' is what you called it, back then, when it happened. We all found this scary ass 'Captain's Log'. You and I were just scouring through all the 'Die' words searching for clues, while Carlie wandered off. Then, this Mataro guy showed up and turned Carlie into a ghost, with the passing of a curse. Next thing we knew we were out in the hallways finding the source of this curse. It was all smooth, until a guy screamed out. All of a sudden, you just quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me toward you. I swear, I thought you were a coward right there and now. Squeezing the life out of my hand, hugging my shoulder and arm. (Sighs) I guess I was freaked out, too. But you there, needing comfort… I felt your fear and desire to quell it. For a while, I thought I had to hold your hand and lead you toward the deck. But you simply let go and said, well, stuttered that your nerves were 'troubled'. (Laughs) Like I'm going to believe that! But I see it…I look into your eyes while you said that, and I saw. You were afraid. I never understand people who say they have no fear. They're practically stronger if they face them, not hide them. Your eyes said that…the fear… but maybe… it wasn't the eyes… maybe… it was your hand… that told me… How your hand felt, it seems to tell me more. More than what is deep in the honest eyes or what true words that come from the mouth… Like that memory, I also remember how your hand felt. It was… softer than the gentle wind… lighter than a young flower… warmer than the relieving sun on a cool day… Maybe that's what I remember most. Warmth. It was like I… I felt your spirit… touching mine… Probably something I can never describe in my life. All I know is that it felt… 'spiritually' now that I think about… felt better than anything in the whole world. It was as if warmth is a spirit. Your warmth. Your spirit. Heh… I don't even know what I'm talking 'bout now. (Sighs) Warmth…It made me feel… It made me feel… I just CAN'T describe it… Warm…The hand… So warm… like… like right now?
Hawk stopped his train of thoughts and opened his eyes. His entire mind was concentrating on this thought. He looked up, bringing the vision of Lise's hand into his eyes. He focused on her hand, then made his way to her arm and back down to the hand again.
It's… It's… warm…still warm… Hawk still couldn't believe what he discovered. It's still warm? Wha… WHAT THE?...
"Really, Hawk? You would have given anything, for me?" an all-too-familiar voice quietly said to him. "In that case, would you give up yourself a year to do all the castle work around here?"
Hawk's face met Lise's, whose eyes have slowly opened to meet his. She gave her heart-warming smile at Hawk.
"Lise!" Hawk's breathing stopped, then took a load of air out. "(Sighs) Maybe a month, yeah. Year? You're asking the wrong person."
"He he. As always." Lise turned her body around toward Hawk, her cheek on the pillow.
"So, y-you were playing dead on me?"
"Yes. A nurse came in and woke me up. She was glad that I made it. And… she also told me…" Lise slightly looked down, "that you were outside, sleeping… waiting for morning... to see if I got through the night."
"Oh, well, that… it's just because you're… you're a very close friend. It's just sad to see you go away like that. I just had to be there."
"… Thanks. I'm grateful for that."
"Hey, don't mention it."
Lise looked up at Hawk and gave him a smile of gratefulness. She looked at the handholding that was still on the bed. Hawk followed her eyes to the hands, then looked away, not sure if he could explain this. Deciding it was better to change the subject, he looked back.
"You know, you still haven't told me why you pretended to be dead." Hawk asked.
"Oh, that. I thought it'd be funny and lighten up your mood. I was just sitting up until I heard you wake up. I lay down and took a deep breath when you came in. I quietly took small breath when you kneeled down. You would have found out if you have taken the time to see that I'm not pale."
"Well… there wasn't… enough light in the room, okay? It was pretty hard to tell."
"Heh… Well, it's not the point."
"Goddess, you just had to play dead."
"Did it help you?"
"Well… okay, it did. You really did something."
"And… well, you did, too. I heard you kneel down, then I felt you hold my hand…" Lise put her other hand on top of the handholding, "putting it against your cheek, then rubbing it softly…"
"Uh… um…"
"I felt tears that rolled from your cheek to my hand… then the words… those delicate… delicate words… that were spoken… with your feelings. It touched me that you… could say such things…"
Hawk felt like he was caught red-handed. Just moments ago, he poured all his feelings out like a bucket. Now he wishes he were somewhere else doing something else, even fight the Dark Prince again by himself, anything to escape the dangerous mixture of feelings brewing in his heart. He broke his eye contact from Lise, trying to ease himself with things around him.
Um… look! There's Lise's feather coronal on the night table, along with the gloves! Um, um…Window! It's a nice day outside! Don't have to ruin it by stopping myself. Uh, Lise's white nightdress! Can't see the bandage covering the gash! Uh-oh, I have to avoid contact, not make them! Uh, white blanket! White… um… bed! White… gloves! I already did that! Um, blue… blue… blue sky! Did that, too. Blue… blue… blue…blue eyes! Aw, shit! Hawk found himself staring back at Lise's eyes. Why, WHY did I have to tell her all that stuff while she was…was… PRETENDING to be dead? Now I wish she WAS dead. SOMEBODY… ANYBODY… PLEASE SAVE MY ASS!… Huh, first time I've ever thought of that…
Lise giggled when she saw that Hawk had, well, pretty much nowhere to run or hide. She saw the priceless expression on the thief's face. Hawk felt himself going red on his cheeks. It was now impossible to break eye contact between them. Lise withdrew her top hand from the handholding.
"… Ah-hem…" Lise coughed. "Then after that, you started to feel my hand and arm. FEELING my hand and arm! Goddess! I was very close to laughing out loud from your ticklish touching, well, that, or slap you very hard for doing such a thing."
Man, this girl changes subject one too many. Hawk let out a deep sigh. On negative things, too!
"Is that so?" Hawk responded teasingly. "I thought you like having a guy feel your arms and hands."
"Not likely, especially when I'm asleep or unconscious, Mr. Touchie-Touchie."
"So you wouldn't let an innocent guy like me touch your hands and arms?" Hawk simpered.
"Oh, no. If I did, I would have to kill you!"
The two laughed, relieved that such past events doesn't affect each other. The door opened, etching a creaking sound as Tiffany stood there, taking in the scene. The two slowly turned their gaze on her, unsure of what should happen next. But time decided to change things, as an open smile gradually developed on Tiffany's face, feelings of relief and happiness stabbing the gloominess of worry and sorrow to death many times over.
"Lise! You're okay!" Tiffany rushed up to Lise, who sat up when Tiffany came in. Tiffany threw her body forward, hugging Lise with a push.
"There, there. I'm not going anywhere now." Lise closed her eyes. "Did I worry everyone with this?"
"Yeah. But the important thing is you're okay. I've never gave up hope that you'll be up and going around."
"Thanks. You're a good friend."
Hawk, seeing this, nearly forgot his hand was still grasping Lise. It was right there, the hands on Tiffany's back. He just HAD to slip it off, lest Tiffany will notice that the feeling wasn't right on her back, or worse, see the hold with her eyes. He slowly let go of his grasp and tried to slip off. Strangely, Lise still had her grip on his hand.
Great. Now, I'm really stuck in a hole I can't get out of…Come on, come on!... Argh! Where's the sweat when you need it!
"I'm just so glad you're okay…" Tiffany let go. "I thought I was going to lose a new friend so suddenly."
"Looks like I've prove you wrong. I don't intend to go so soon when I've so much things to do, like saving the world again and kicking some butt the good old-fashioned way."
Hawk unnoticeably slid his hand off, hoping that (no, praying to Lady Luck) at all cost that what happen here a while ago should never touch the surface of the public.
"Um, I'm gonna get some fresh air, okay?" Hawk stood up and went out the door before anybody could answer.
"Well. I guess he's going outside for his business." Lise turned her gaze on the door toward Tiffany.
"Um, well…" Tiffany gave a weak smile. She sat on the bed next to her. "Lise, I know what it is."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Oh, don't tell me that I looked like I didn't notice." Now the smile turned into a small excitement. "I saw it clearly even before I met you. You and Hawk. I didn't think it would happen. But, your hand was… well… what I saw there completely convinced me."
"Oh… I… um… uh… Hawk was just…"
"You don't have to explain it… to me. Just… seeing your hand, around his; it's enough to tell me."
"Well, um, me and Hawk really… aren't that close. I mean, we're very close friends. He was, well… very worried about me."
"Maybe I shouldn't talk about it."
"No, it's okay." One small step of talk, one big step for Lise. "I do want to talk about it, I guess. I kept it alone inside my head so long I'm about to go crazy… and lose control in front of Hawk and everybody."
"Maybe that's not such a bad thing."
"No. I would never forgive myself if that ever happens."
"He he. So, well?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think it was just more than relief when he holds your hand?"
"Um, well… I don't know. My mind raced with thoughts when he did. Relief, yes. There was also fear, which I never experienced so long in my life. And, well, there's…"
"Yes?"
"There's… uh… I felt… happiness. Strange type of happiness. It just sends my heart pounding."
"And what do you think is happening to him when he holds your hand?"
"I really don't know, Tiffany. I guess that's what worries me. What if he doesn't feel the same way about me? I… could never live myself up to it if he…"
"What about how you feel about him? Whenever you think or see him?"
"Why are you asking me such difficult and uncomfortable questions?"
"Oh, come on. It's simple ones. Easy questions that anybody can answer. Well, unless that is, if the answer is uncomfortable or private to them. And it's me you're talking to. Not strangers, your relatives, or even Hawk. It's just me. A friend. To help you through."
"… Okay. I guess you're the only one I can talk to since you saw what happen."
"So?"
"Yes, well. I sometimes feel like I'm not in control of myself, whenever I see him. My body goes off by itself. Thoughts flashes like a crowd in my head. I have a hard time making myself move. And my heart is beating so loudly I thought it a drum playing instead. It was most disturbing."
"And when did this all begin?"
"That I don't know. It sort of happen gradually, I think. It didn't happen in the beginning when I first met him. Maybe… when we saved Rolante? I didn't think much of it. I carried out my mission without a thought about it. But we did have some good times together. I guess that made us close friends and no closer."
"Close friends. That's nice. But you still think it will stay as close friends?"
"You sound like a psychologist, you know that?"
"Just answer the question."
"It may stay as close friends. I don't want anymore than what I have. The thought bears too much for me to handle."
"But, you do think that it will go higher? To where…" Tiffany held her breath, "intimacy occurs?"
"I can just not answer that question and leave it as be."
"Come on! I want to know!"
"It's private from there. Now that… I'm really uncomfortable with."
"Okay, okay. It's private. It's yours to think about."
"Please promise me that you won't tell anybody, especially Hawk."
"I promise. Don't worry," Tiffany lowers her voice to a whisper, "I won't tell anyone. Your secret's safe with me. And besides, I know what your answer was going to be. And what your thoughts are… about Hawk…"
Lise smiled, having to see that her trust with Tiffany grows even more. Not everyday a person like this comes along.
"Lise awake! Yay!" Carlie's voice was heard ringing through the room.
Carlie ran up and amazingly jumped and hugged Lise with a force that sent her backward. She sat up again, pulling Carlie off.
"Yes, I'm awake, Carlie." Lise set Carlie down next to her on the bed. "Now, you were a good young lady while I was asleep, weren't you?"
Goddess! I was almost screwed, right then and there. I'm just hoping Tiffany didn't see a thing. Hawk thought.
He was leaning on the balcony, staring at the scenery that the sun has lit up. A new morning, a new day, a new hope. That was the main goal here. To stop Spiratin, before he does whatever he's going for. And to make sure not to be captured by him, too. To make sure that he does not collect the three pieces of the Sword of Mana. Wielding the Sword of Mana will unleash unimaginable magic and power beyond that of the gods. To control the power of Mana, absorbing it or placing it to the source it once came from. To reshape one's world by creating or destroying life. To grant any wish the wielder has. A chosen person, of a heart of fairness and justice, will be accepted by it. Of course, if an evil person wields it (or anybody nowadays, whether good or bad), it accepts its owner, with a little forced acceptance magic, of course. And then, the evil person would do what he or she desires, which everybody knows is to either rule or destroy the world. Hey, that's the downside of the Sword of Mana. The Goddess could have at least made the Sword not accept evil wielders. But, no, she made it into a "mirror", anyhow. How could the Goddess of Mana be so du-
"Hey, Hawk!" a voice called out from behind him.
"Oh, hey, Tiffany." Hawk heard her voice.
"Mmm… I just love the fresh mountain air."
"Yeah…"
The two leaned on the balcony, enjoying an indescribable scene the balcony provides.
"Um… I… I saw you with Lise…" Tiffany brought out.
"Yeah… You came in on us."
"I know… I meant… you and Lise… I saw you two…" Tiffany lowered her head a bit, "holding hands."
"Oh…"
Now I really am screwed!
"I know… how you feel… about her…"
"Tiffany…"
"It's going to be a secret, I know." Tiffany leaned in and, with a smile, whispered. "My lips are sealed."
Hawk sighed with relief. He was glad with this sentence. The only person Hawk would ever trust with such a thing of his would only be Eagle. Now it looks like Tiffany's in.
"Thanks." Hawk smiled back.
"So…" Tiffany's curiosity is on high again, probing to fill it up, "do you two accept each other?"
Huh? Wait, never mind
"Not really… I'm not sure she would feel the same way about me as I do about her." Hawk heaved out a sigh. He turned toward the open sky. "I mean, maybe what she did was… pity. Look at me. I'm just a common thief. How would I be able to be with… the new Queen of Rolante?"
"It doesn't matter who you or Lise are. It's what you feel about each other."
"Well, um…" Hawk glanced at Tiffany, "I'm not really comfortable 'bout this subject…"
"Oh, I'm sorry. There I go again, prying into another person's privacy."
"Eh?"
"Um, nothing." Tiffany paused for a moment. "Well, what are we doing next? When Lise feels better?"
"Well, first of all, Lise won't be with us when we retrieve Jinn. She's too injured right now."
"Oh. That's too bad. I feel sorry for that. She was strong in that battle yesterday."
"Yeah… I'm sure we can do this without her. Oh, well." Hawk shook his head. "Anyway, we go get Jinn. Then we find a free and easy means of transportation. Lise still won't lend me the Wind Drum, so we're gonna travel to the Grassland Country Forcena, to ask King Richard for the Pihyara Flute."
"What does this Pihyara Flute do?"
"Summons a giant turtle in the water called Booskaboo. He provides an alternative way for sea travel."
"A giant… turtle?"
"Yeah, I know, I know. Anyway, we can get the Earth spirit, Gnome, while we're at it. He lives in the Cleft of the Earth, and…"
(Silence)
"And?..."
"Well, that's as far as the plan goes. I'll cook another one up as soon as we get the flute." Hawk stretched out. "Ah, that's better. All right, let's go get Jinn."
"Whoa!" Tiffany's cap almost flew off her head had she not caught it. "It's… rather windy in here, huh?"
"That why it called 'Corweedor of Wind'!" Carlie explained.
"It's 'corridor', Carlie." Hawk corrected.
They haven't got very far inside because two head statues were blocking the first corridor by blowing powerful gust, which made the way impassable. Again, Tiffany never ceases to ask questions.
"So what should we do now?"
"We need to turn the heads." Hawk, somehow, enjoys answering Tiffany's endless numbers of questions. "And in order to do that, we have our good switch right here."
Hawk stuck his thumb out to point toward a green diamond protruding out from a wall.
"You want to do the honors?" Hawk asked Tiffany.
"Um…" Tiffany walked up to the switch, "what do I have to do?"
"Just press it."
With two hands and an amount of effort pushing, the switch intruded into the wall. It shuddered a second later, followed by grinding sounds that were heard from both the switch and the statues to the left. The switch rotated 45° degrees, while the statues themselves turned to their right 90° degrees. With the statues, the wind it blows turns, too.
"Oh." Tiffany shrugged. "It's… simple."
"Well, it's going to get harder than you think…" Hawk walked ahead.
WHISH! Carlie cast Saint Beam on an Armor Knight. He survived the blue light of holiness, but the attack left a burning in his soul. Carlie was surprised by this. She retreated as the heavy swordsman lumbered after her. But Carlie wasn't looking; this cost her dearly as she almost fell over an abyss. She turned around, fear gripping her as the assailant stepped toward with each second. Inside his helmet, a smile appeared, as he was ready to finish Carlie off. It didn't matter if Carlie was a child or not. He just wanted to kill. Step by step, he came closer, until he stopped and raised his sword.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Carlie turned around and covered her eyes.
WHEW! SHUS! SHUS! The swordsman stops, groans, then falls to his knees. Carlie opened her eyes, amazed that she wasn't in two pieces. The swordsman gasps, then makes the final fall to the ground. Two daggers was stuck in his back, and Hawk in the background smiling from a throwing stance.
"Watch yourself, Carlie." was all Hawk said.
"Th-Thanks, Hawk!"
"I'll never understand why you always get into trouble." Hawk silently said. He then shook his head. "(Sighs) Then again, I'll never understand why we always get in trouble."
The Corridor of Wind is a maze with basically obstacles, representing who-knows-what statues blowing impassable wind in their direction. But, like every maze, there's always a way to pass these obstacles, in the form of green diamonds coming out of a wall and some navigation. But there are other things to take account for. Danger is the most used and recognized one. With enemies popping out from around every corner, and the risk of falling into one of the many dark abyss either by carelessness or by the powerful wind coming from the damn head statues…
Either way, Hawk, Carlie, and Tiffany managed to pass the corridors with little problems, except for one moment where Hawk stumbled and dropped almost half of the current Lucs and most of the items in their inventory to one of the bottomless holes.
"Oops…" Carlie gave Hawk a hard stare while Tiffany desperately searched for the lost things.
"Maybe Hawk should 'deevined' the stuff between Carlie and Tiffany more times." Carlie suggested with an annoyed tone.
"It's 'divide', Carlie, and I don't have to. I can take care of things myself."
Carlie sighs and rolls her eyes at the same time. She shook her head, mumbled "Grown-ups", then walked off. Hawk walked over to Tiffany. She kept searching with no luck.
"It's no use, Tiffany…" Hawk kneeled beside her. "I lost them forever."
"Oh… but, how are we prepared for battle if we are less prepared than before?"
"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure that we can get Jinn without those items… and… those Lucs…"
Hawk almost let his voice broke if he stayed there any longer.
After some fighting and a restoration at a Golden Mana Goddess statue, the three found themselves in an open area that jutted out from the mountain like a cliff.
"Huh… where's Jinn?" Hawk looked around.
"Jinn! Jinn! Where Jinn go?" Carlie called out.
"Jinn! Jinn!" came Tiffany's voice. "Anybody!"
"You three are so dull-witted it scares me." Faerie flew out and spoke.
"You don't have to insult us to get your attention." Hawk said.
"Ugh… Remember what Wisp said? The spirits revived the guardians. They're using them to protect themselves. Also remember that Spiratin corrupted the guardians, turning them against the spirits."
"She's right." Tiffany spoke out. "Does that mean Jinn's in danger?"
"Could be."
"But where's the guardian?" Hawk asked.
"I don't know."
Again, everybody looked around. They found no guardian or spirit, no signs of both of them, or even anything relevant to it.
"Great… Tzenker musta flew off, probably with Jinn already." Hawk concluded.
"Tzenker?" Tiffany asked.
"A summoned monster. A woman with talons for arms and legs, and a pair of wings. Real ugly looking. Even with that stupid pink hair." Hawk explained. "If I was correct, Jinn would use Tzenker as a guardian."
"Oh, wow… It took you that long to figure that out." Faerie said. "Great job for a master Thief."
"Okay… Whatever… The point is, is that Jinn is using Tzenker, but something must have happened."
"Well, Tzenker not here. What to do now?" Carlie asked.
"Well, all we can do is to hope that nothing bad happens to us." Tiffany suggested.
SCREECH! Soaring through the sky was Tzenker, tempted by the sounds of the four below.
"Looks like you spoke too soon." Hawk drew his daggers. "Tzenker has arrived."
Hawk started casting a spell while Carlie drew her flail and started casting her own. Tiffany drew her hammer and waited, but Tzenker instead hovers in the air, flying in circles. It then shot a sharp feather at Carlie, causing pain, but didn't stop her spell casting.
In time, Hawk cast Fire Jutsu. A wave of fire flew from Hawk and dissipated at the touch of Tzenker's flesh. Flames started to burn what it lands on, while dancing around Tzenker. All the while, the power and protection of the guardian's magic weakens as if the fire was burning it itself. Tzenker blew out the deadly flames with its wings, being pissed off and now turning its attention toward Hawk.
With a whish, Carlie cast Earth Saber on everybody. Sparks of light shines on the party, then four illusions of swords thrust out of their bodies in polar directions. With a spin, the swords disappear. A giant chunk of diamond appeared on top of each of them. Strangely, these diamonds went through their bodies and surrounded them, imbuing their weapons the power of the earth.
Tzenker apparently didn't care what new threat Carlie managed to cast on the party, because it sorely wanted a piece of Hawk as revenge. It flew toward him with its 'hand' talon spread out.
Oh, crap. Hawk started to run.
But it was a useless and dumb move. Tzenker is a flyer and Hawk isn't. By the laws of nature and common sense, a flyer will always catch a ground object or being unless otherwise, like hiding in a hole, which right now Hawk does not have at his disposal. Anyway, Tzenker snatched Hawk off of his feet, then flew upwards.
"Hawk!" both of the girls yelled out.
With the other talon free, Tzenker did the unthinkable (yet, common to everybody). It started to punch Hawk right in the face, as he was helplessly unable to move due to the rather giant grip of Tzenker.
"(Smacks) AH! WHY YOU BIT-! (Smacks) AH! (Smacks) OW! (Smacks) OW! BLOODY HELL! Eh? Now, why in the world did I say… (Smacks) OW! (Smacks) AH! YOU STUPID BIRD! (Smacks) OW! (Smacks) OW! WHY! (Smacks) AH! (Smacks) AH! (Smacks) OW! (Smacks) AH! WHY THE FACE! (Very hard smacks) OOOWWW! WHY THE FACE?"
Amidst Tzenker's strange beating and Hawk's useless yelling, Tiffany was climbing a high rock close to the oh-so-horrible torture of Hawk. Carlie, acknowledging Tiffany's plan, decided to take a break. She noticed some butterflies nearby, and, by the rules of little girls, started to chase them. Irresistible, no? Anyway, Tiffany got to the top of the rock. She steadied herself, got her hammer ready, then jumped toward Tzenker. In the next 10 seconds is a chain of events that is all too long to write in one sentence. First, Tiffany literally laid the smackdown on Tzenker with the hammer. It stopped flapping, then dropped in its state of numb unconsciousness and an undreamed power of a headache. It let go of Hawk during its fall. Hawk, apparently too stunned of the beating, fell helplessly to a painful landing, along with Tzenker. Tiffany, still in her 'hang' of the air, realized that she forgot about the drop part of her attack. With that, she fell also. One THUMP! Another THUMP! The third one THUMP! never happened because Tiffany coincidently landed on top of Hawk. And again, Hawk suffers another piece of pain. All he had to muster was a groan. Carlie, hearing the sounds, automatically picked up her flail, skipped her way over to her party, then resumed her duty as a healer without a word. And halfway around the world, a dumbass finally stopped meditating under a Mana version of a bodhi tree after extensively looking through geography scrolls, and said these 6 historical words,
"The world of Mana is flat."
Oh, yeah. This pretty much sums up the last 10 seconds.
"Oh… my body…" Hawk groans after some of Carlie's famous healing. "Why do I keep getting pains? Why!... A person can only take so much…"
"Everybody OK?" Carlie asked.
"Oh…" Tiffany moans. "Oh! I'm sorry, Hawk. I guess I keep… falling on you."
"That's… okay… Still… as light as a… feather…"
"I shouldn't keep doing this to you."
"Yes… well… Now… could you please?"
"Could I what?"
"Please… could you… get off of me…"
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Tiffany did what she was asked. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
"Yes." Hawk felt the strain off his chest. "I'm okay. Whew! That's much better."
"Uh-oh." Carlie said.
"Oh, what now?" Hawk groans.
Carlie pointed at Tzenker. It was moving its limbs. Then, it immediately got up and started to flap. In just mere seconds, Tzenker was back in the air.
"Looks like this isn't over." Tiffany picked up her hammer nearby.
"Let's go." Carlie started to charge in.
"WAIT JUST A MINUTE!" Hawk didn't ask, he ordered. "Wait just a damn minute!"
The two girls froze in their tracks. They turned their head toward Hawk.
"Let me deal with Tzenker." Hawk picked up his daggers. "We have some unfinished business…"
Tiffany shrugs while Carlie rolls her eyes and sighs. They both put away their weapons and walked past Hawk. In their eyes, they saw Hawk's face, a mixture of being pissed off and wanting revenge badly. When they stopped, Hawk prepared himself.
"Tiffany, if you please." Hawk didn't turn around to face her. "Make sure Carlie does not see or hear what I'm about to do next."
Tiffany simply nodded. She turned an angry and disbelief Carlie around and covered her eyes and ears.
"Tzenker, what I'm about to do to your feathery ass will make you more than regret beating my face."
Basically, this is what happened next. Hawk charged in with a death cry, and started to chop Tzenker into gory pieces. A combination of Tzenker's bloodcurdling womanish/birdish screams and every profanity words Hawk's knows were emitted high on the mountain. Blood and human/bird bits spewed everywhere. It was apparently a lesson to be learned. Never ever EVER mess with Hawk's face. You do, and Hawk will become a living version of Death. The whole bloodbath was over in a short moment. Tiffany, unaffected by what she saw and heard, let go of Carlie, who was angry that she didn't see the 'exciting' thing happening. All she gets to see was the blood and gore of what's left of Tzenker. Well, at least it was something.
"Okay, I'm done, girls." Hawk came back to them, wiping his daggers clean of blood.
"You didn't have to kill the poor thing like that." Tiffany pointed out.
"I know. But, it just did something that needs consequences."
"Ooouuu, Hawk really did some work out here." Carlie looked around at the red-stained landscape.
"Hmm… I really didn't know Tzenker has that much blood."
"Hey, look!" Tiffany pointed to an object nearby. "Is that…?"
"Jinn!" Carlie yelled out.
A small, blue creature wearing nothing but yellow pants and a hat, sat unconscious near the edge of the cliff. The three rushed up to Jinn. Faerie flew out of Hawk's head with a worried face.
"Jinn, I never thought I have to do this twice." Faerie grimaced.
She cast a spiritual form of Healing Light on Jinn. In no time, Jinn opened his eyes. He was surprised by the four in front of him, but realized who they were. He floated up and hovered toward Faerie.
"Phew! I'm saved! Well, I'm saved again. What is this world coming to?" Jinn said.
"Spiratin released the Mana and is now corrupting it." Faerie answered.
"Who?"
"New evil on the verge. Help us?"
"Yeah, sure! I owe you guys again. I never like an unpaid due."
Faerie and Jinn flew back inside Hawk's head.
"So, how did this happen?" Jinn said before disappearing inside.
"All right! That's two spirits. Only six to talk to." Hawk pronounced.
"Let's go back to Rolante." Tiffany suggested.
"You all got Jinn? Great!" Lise was filled with relief.
Everybody was in Lise's room. Lise can now walk and run, and do combat. But she still has to take it easy.
"You're good to go?" Hawk asked.
"Sort of. I just need to watch those sudden moves."
"What about your people? How will they do well here?" Tiffany brought up.
"They were fine without me back then. I'm sure they wouldn't cause chaos later on."
"What about the pirates?"
"Oh, my people are going to use the old hideout for a while. I know this seems like a cowardly move, but I want my people to be safe until the threat is over. I'll have patrols to guard the place, and the castle while it's vacant."
"Well, that would explain why there's nobody here except the four of us." Hawk found the answer.
"I… I just want to spend some last moments here… before I go off…"
"Lise, it's not like you'll never see the place again. Like you said, we just have to make sure that this threat is stopped."
"(Sighs) I know."
"Come on. Let's go the hideout and get ourselves ready."
A cleverly disguised and protected hideout located on the far right side of the mountain, it had necessities, order of government, and communication within itself. It had a large, organized armory, a crude prison, many bunkrooms that strangely has wonderful beds, and a boardroom for government and military meetings. All of this carved out of the mountain. Yet, very comfortable inside. The hideout itself is hidden by a small batch of trees that completely bar the path to the entrance. Above this hideout is a meadow. It may seem like any other sort of meadow, but this one has flowers that release sleeping pollen in the air. Any fellow that wades through this meadow will be gently knocked out for a good couple of hours. However, once that fellow falls victim to the flowers, they immediately, and permanently, will become immune to the pollen after that. This doesn't provide an adequate defense for attackers, but is most useful for the spies that try to search for the hideout itself. The spies get knocked out, the Amazonesses comes in and throws them in jail. Very simple defense against them, but only by luck. The Rolanteans also used the sleeping pollens by summoning the wind (by the power of Jinn) to blow the pollens to faraway places, from their castle to halfway around the world. A good preempt move before assaulting some place, or when you want to have fun and make people sleep at will.
Lise was in a room that was only made for royalties, and the one to use it is Elliot all by himself.
"Now, Elliot. I think I can count on you to take care of our people from here on out."
"Well, yeah, I can. I'm just worried about you. Why can't I come along? I'm strong enough to take care of the monsters out here. I took on three Needlebirds and finished them off."
"Yes, I know, Elliot. I saw you did that a week ago. I was impressed. But, we need a royalty to watch over our people. I can't do it because-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You have to run around the world trying to ditch the pirates."
"Exactly. That's why you stay here. Now, try to be a good, temporary king while I'm away. Don't cause any disruption to our people. Do not do any wrongful things. And do not try to indulge yourself in things just because you're a king."
"Uh-huh. I get the whole point. I'm not just some stupid, greedy, power-hungry person. I'll do good around here."
"Good. Now, if there's any trouble, ask Eliza. I gave you the planned route on the world map, so you can write me whenever you feel like it or if there's anything going on here."
"Fine."
"Now, I have to get a few more things and then I'll leave."
How did I not see through the trees the first time? Hawk kept wondering as he stared at the entrance trees. Huh… Maybe because I was in a rush?
"Hey, Hawk." Tiffany greeted from the entrance.
"Oh, hey."
"A rather nice place here."
"Yeah."
"Um… do you remember our…" Tiffany blushed, "our promise?"
"Yeah. The meadow, right?"
"Yes… I… I…"
Hawk walked up to her. Tiffany immediately stared at her feet.
"Heh, you don't have to say it. Come on, let's go up there." Hawk put out his hand toward her.
"Yes, let's go." Tiffany acknowledged with a grab.
Through the trees and up the steps nearby, the two traveled up until they were over the hideout. There it was. The meadow, a more than exact replica of the one in Hawk's dreams. The sun gracefully shines the abundant flowers and some trees that stuck out from the ground. Birds, butterflies, little creatures, all of them share this heavenly place. All of this on the cliff of the mountain. The Goddess of Mana would surely step foot on this place and this place only. Tiffany let go of Hawk's hand and stood at the edge overlooking the blissful sight.
"Oh, wow! It's…" Tiffany's face was full of good emotions, "it's better than I imagine! It's so beautiful. So enchanting. So… wonderful."
"Yeah, a place like this can make a person smile."
They both moved further in. Tiffany was mesmerized by the various flowers and how there was so many of them. Hawk breathed in the air, and almost blacked out by the numerous scent that enter his nose.
All at once, Tiffany began to feel light-headed. She tried to shake it off, but it got stronger by each second. Then, her body began to lose energy. In a moment's time, she collapsed to the ground. It didn't hurt; the meadow was like a bed. She tried to fight off unconsciousness, but realized that she was going to be unconscious in a meadow, which is so lovely and soft. It was perfect. It was how she wants to sleep. In fact, it was how she wants to die. In a beautiful meadow that felt good as you lay in it, it felt better dying, or, at least, better sleeping than living.
"Tiffany?" Hawk came over to her. "Tiffany? You okay?"
"Yeah…" she said in a drowsy, yet dreamy voice. "I'm… okay…"
"I can't believe I've forgot. You haven't got used to the sleeping flowers yet." Hawk put a hand over his head. "(Sighs) Oh, well."
Tiffany's eyes had a quiet happiness in them. She showed a smile that expressed this calm feeling.
"Heh, you do look kinda happy." Hawk noticed. "I guess this didn't turn out all bad."
"No, Hawk…" Tiffany was about ready to drift off to La-La Land. "It turned out better… than I ever dreamed of…"
With that, a yawn, and a stretch, she started sleeping. Hawk smiled. It felt good he made someone happy.
Well, that did turn out good. (Sighs) She's gonna be out for a while. We'll have to wait for her to wake up. I wonder how I would explain this to Lise. Hawk thought. Heh, she looks like when I found her sleeping in Rabite Forest.
Hawk stood up, leaving Tiffany in her happy sleep.
Well, might as well tell Lise we have to wait a little longer.
If you didn't like this chapter, just put it in review. I'm the writer, so that means I can save Lise's ass right on the spot. Ugh, I'm not gonna do well on the battle scenes. So, if any of you have suggestions, please tell me. It will help not only me, but to you and everybody else. I fixed tons of errors that spelling and grammar check didn't find on all the chapters. But I'm pretty sure there's more I haven't find. Man, you can't trust even the spelling and grammar check. If I can't trust that, who or what can I trust. And yes, I admit that Hawk is a little more sensitive in this story than I want him to be. In fact, I made him too sensitive. It's all because of the previous chapters, I blame them. Now, if only I can figure out why I wrote this story, I can decide whether or not I shall continue.
And yes, I might take a long break to do Chapter 11, because of things. But, if you all want me to write sooner, just tell me. I need motivation like everybody else.
Peace out. And the truth hurts more than lying!