Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Time's Wheel ❯ Ch. 7: Unexpected Encounters: Luc and Analieth ( Chapter 7 )

Dragon Lady

Time's Wheel

Ch.7: Unexpected Encounters: Luc and Analieth

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing, but to those that do, consider yourselves extremely lucky.

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Relecos: Outside Silveren

Hotaru stares at the large expanse of ruins that stretches out before her. It had been a long climb down and she had been looking forward to a bit of well-deserved rest, but something told her that she wouldn't find it here. As they walk through the gates of the city, buildings lay in smoldering ruins. The smell of smoke fills the air, causing her lungs to work harder and her breath to come in longer, harder gasps. Shattered glass covers the cobblestone streets. Long green vines curl up around the remaining buildings, nature claiming what the human race had once taken from it.

Hotaru jumps back as a large rat skitters across her feet. "Duo, are you sure this is the right place? This doesn't look like it could be the capital of anything."

Duo has his sword out of its scabbard, his body tense. Using the point of the blade, he picks his way through the rubble of what was once some kind of shop. "This is where Draco said it would be, but you're right, this can't be Silveren. What could have caused such a disaster?" he asks, his eyes scanning the surrounding area.

A cool breeze rises up, rustling Hotaru's hair, sending a coursing chill up her spine. For a moment she closes her eyes, tightening her grip on her glaive. "Something's wrong Duo."

"Huh?" Duo pauses and turns to look at his companion. "You mean besides the capital of a whole country being in total ruin?"

"No, it's not that." Hotaru opens her eyes and stares toward the city's core. " Something here isn't right. There is a presence in this city that shouldn't be here. I don't know how I know, but it just doesn't feel right."

Duo places his sword in the dirt and leans back up against the remains of a stone wall, his finger resting on his chin. For a moment he says nothing, seeming to be deep in thought. Just has Hotaru is about to go over to him, he asks, "Are you saying that whatever did this is still here?"

"It's possible."

"I see…" Duo gets up and retrieves his sword. Suddenly, a stupid idiotic grin spreads across his face. "Well then, I guess we'll just to find it won't we?" Duo turns away and begins walking down the deserted street, leaving Hotaru standing speechless behind him.

"Wait…Wait a minute. Duo, you don't propose that we go find this thing do you?" Hotaru stares at his retreating back, dumbstruck.

Duo stops and turns back to her, hands on his hips. "Of course! I don't know about you, but I want some answers. Besides, where else are we going to go? We're in a strange world, with no clue as to where we are. Do you have any better suggestions?"

"No, but…"

"See? We'll be fine, who knows, it might even be kind of fun!" Duo says, with far too much cheerfulness.

Is he nuts? He can't be serious about this! It's just asking for trouble! And yet…

"Okay, you have a point where do you suggest we look?"

Duo shrugs, "How the hell should I know. Let's just start looking around, we'll find something eventually."

"Eventually?!" He's got to be kidding! "Duo I really think that we should think this over a bit more, we can't just…" The somber melody of a bell shatters the silence of the dead city, filling it with its grave music. Hotaru stares into the city, looking into the distance at the church steeple. Church bells.

Suddenly, Duo becomes serious again, his smile gone. "Bells don't just ring on their own Hotaru. It looks like we've found the local inhabitants."

"Yes, and it looks like they know they have guests."

The cathedral, much to her surprise, is hauntingly beautiful. Unlike the rest of the city, the cathedral is still standing tall; its black stone foundations looming over the city like a silent deadly shadow. Shards from the stained glass windows litter the ground, covering it in little flecks of red, purple, yellow, green, and blue. The two large wooden doors stand slightly ajar, the oak frames splintered and hanging off the hinges.

Once again, the bells toll, this time followed by a loud crack of thunder that slices through the thick air. A cool drop of water lands on Hotaru's forehead, forcing her to blink. Perfect.

"Well, at least we'll be out of the rain," Hotaru mumbles.

"Yup, might as well go in, it looks as if we're expected."

Hotaru follows Duo toward the double set of doors. Duo grabs the edge of one of one and begins to pull. After a few moments of watching him struggle, Hotaru walks up behind and adds her strength to his. Slowly, the stubborn doors begin to open with a heavy groan. Suddenly, an insistent itching forces Hotaru to remove her hand and scratch the irritated spot.

"Ahhh!" Spiders! Quickly, Hotaru begins swatting at the hoards of tiny spiders crawling up her hand. As she does so, several manage to sink their teeth into her bare flesh. For a moment, Hotaru considers using her healing powers to relieve, but upon looking back up at the cathedral, she decides against it.

As she struggles with the last of them, Duo can't help let out a small chuckle. Hotaru glances at him to see that he is struggling not to smile. "What?"

"Are you afraid of spiders?"

"No! Of course I'm not afraid, they just took me by surprise, that's all!"

"Whatever."

Hotaru sighs, exasperated. "Let's just go inside."

"Sure." Duo pulls open the door and turning back to Hotaru, makes a slight bow. "Ladies first."

Hotaru only roles her eyes and walks through the open door. If he keeps this up, it's going to be a very long trip. "Come on Duo, we have to…Oh, my!"

"What is it, you sound as if…Nice!"

Hotaru stares wide eyed at the vaulted ceilings and the warm interior of the cathedral. The floor is solid stone and covered by a single red carpet with a golden sun and moon symbol in the center. Rose petals cover the room, letting off an invigorating scent. An alter stands of the far side in front of a mural that looks like it depicts the scene of creation, life, and death. The sun, stars, and moon are shown on one wall, along with the rest of the cosmos. On the right wall, in between the windows, is a scene of war, showing a battle that from what Hotaru could see, no one was winning. The left wall was a bright blue and silver covered in feathers. The final wall showed them a scene of a graveyard, the moon casting a ghostly white over the ground. The whole room is lit with glowing candles, setting off the crimson in the room.

What draws her attention however, is what is resting on the altar on the far side of the room. A large lump involuntarily fills up her throat as she stares at the wooden box, carved delicately with intricate vines and irises.

Duo walks over to it and taps it gently on the lid. "Who does this guy think he is, Dracula? This just keeps on getting stranger and stranger." With a strong heave, Duo begins to push at the lid.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to see if I can this open! What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Why?"

"I don't know, curiosity. I just want to see if there is anything inside."

Hotaru begins to run toward him. "Are you insane, you doing know…"

"Relax," he says, as he pushes off the lid, "it's empty. Well, there goes that theory."

"Pretty strange theory if you ask me," Hotaru says, leaning on her glaive. "You have got to be insane."

"No, I just have enough curiosity to waste every single life a cat has."

"Obviously." Hotaru begins making her way toward the wall that depicts creation and begins tracing the outlines of the stone. "Did you take a look at these murals yet, they're amazing."

Suddenly, she feels one of the stones give way beneath her. What the…? She leans harder against it, deciding to be a little daring and test out a theory of her own.

"Yeah, I guess, they're okay," Duo says, answering her earlier question. "It's really not…Hotaru?"

The wall gives way beneath and before she can even let out a scream, Hotaru's body plunges into the hole in the wall, the 'door' closing behind her.

"Hotaru!" Duo screams, for what seems to be the thousandth time. His hands probe the wall, trying to find the stone that she had touched. With a burst of frustration, he kicks the wall as hard as he can. Pain races through his body and he grabs his hurt foot, cursing silently.

"Damn, Hotaru answer me!"

"Stop shouting, she can't hear you," says a deep voice that echoes through the room.

Duo turns around and begins searching the room. "Where are you?"

"Right here."

"Huh?"

Duo stares as a figure slowly moves upward through the floor, right in the middle of the sun crest. The man is one of the tallest he has ever seen, slightly taller than Trowa, who was the tallest person he knew. Cold, steel eyes bore into his. Frosty, silvery hair, worn kind of longish covers slightly pointed ears and accented how pale his face was, only a shade or two darker than his hair. A cruel smile twitches his at his lips as he grips the golden hilt of a sword with a deadly looking black blade. He is decked head to toe in black, from the boots, to the pants, to the strange robe slit at the sides and tied off with a black and gold belt.

"Well, it looks as if Analieth is going to take care of your friend, so I guess that leaves me to get rid of you." He shifts his weight, getting into a fighting stance. "I really don't like people barging into my home, but since your already here, I might as well have some fun. Any last requests?"

Duo smiles, removing his sword. "I don't take sarcasm from a guys in a dress, it's against my policy. You don't stand a chance."

"Hmm. Foolish little human, you have no idea what you are up against." His eyes flicker over to the sword. "Although I must say, the sword that you're using is quite interesting. I can't believe old Draco's still forging those things. I'm surprised you found him human."

"Oh, can it already! You talk way too much, let's get the show on the road!"

"As you wish."

Hotaru lands with a loud thud, a terrible pain immediately coursing through her right wrist. With a low moan she gets to her feet. She closes her eyes for a moment, waiting for the dizzy feeling to go away, then shakes her head, clearing her vision.

Great more spiders. Hotaru looks around the cold stone room, which is covered form wall to wall in spider webs. People of every shape and size line the walls, covered in the thick, sticky webbing. Hotaru walks up to the nearest one to her, a young woman. Gently, she touches the woman's wrist, searching for a pulse and smiles in relief at the results. It is faint, but it is there.

"I guess I found the townspeople, but they all appear to be asleep."

"Correct Hotaru."

Hotaru whirls around, looking to the source of the voice. "Where are you?"

A cold, bony hand reaches out and grabs her shoulder, spinner her around. "I'm right here little firefly."

Hotaru stares directly into a pair of emotionless, black eyes. The woman before her is a ghost, a skeletal figure against the room's stone walls. Black, stringy hair falls to her waist, covering her raggedy black dress. Her face is pale, almost translucent, and her body quivers slightly, her feet are bare.

A thin smile catches at her lips. "I've been waiting for you Hotaru. Would you like to sit down? You've had a very long journey, perhaps you would like a little sleep."

Hotaru jumps back, putting as much distance between her and her captor as she possibly can. These people, she's taking their energy that's why they look like they're asleep!

The woman's head moves from side to side, looking slightly puzzled. "What's wrong Hotaru? Don't you want to sleep? I can make all your fears go away. You can live in peace now, your powers can be used for a good cause."

Hotaru's eyes widen, suddenly realizing that this creature, for she is hesitant to call her human, has been calling her by name. "How do you know who I am? Who are you?"

"I am Analieth of course. I've been watching you Hotaru, you and Duo, since you entered the village. I rang the bells for you; I'm glad you came. I was so afraid that you would go away, just like the others."

Others? "What do you want Analieth?"

"To live." Analieth raises her hand and a rope of webbing is hurled in Hotaru's direction. Hotaru tries to bring up her glaive to block, but only succeeds in getting her weapon tangled up in the thick threads. No! Hotaru tugs as hard as she can on the glaive, but she is no match for Analieth's surprising strength. Her glaive is easily pulled from her hands.

This isn't good.

"Stop fighting Hotaru, I don't want to hurt you."

With no weapon in her hands, Hotaru stands defenseless. A second rope appears in Analieth's other hand. "I'm sorry Hotaru, but you just aren't cooperating. Give up, you have nothing left."

Not quite Analieth, I do have one more weapon, one I'd hoped I wouldn't have to use so soon, but… Reaching into the pocket of her skirt, she grips the handle of her transformation pen. "Okay, I don't know what you are, but I have every intention of getting out of here, so if I have to go through you to do it, I will!"

Analieth's head tilts again, looking at the small girl in front of her with renewed curiosity.

"Saturn Crystal Power!"

Hotaru feels the familiar dark, purple ribbons surround her body, caressing her skin, forming her scout uniform. A tiara appears on her head, white and gold. Reaching upward, she pulls her Silence Glaive from the air, its sharp point letting off a deadly glint. A jolt of darkness fills her being and she allows the more deadly Sailor Saturn to come forth. Finally, she turns finishing her transformation, the sign of Saturn blazing brightly behind her.

Once again, she finds her eyes locked with Analieth's. The woman never blinks, and shows no surprise at Hotaru's transformation. Her face seems frozen in the same emotionless expression.

"So, this was the power I felt." Hotaru's eyes widen in surprise. It is Analieth speaking, but the voice does not belong to her, it is darker, deeper. Suddenly, Hotaru feels a rush of dark power that is enough to rival even Saturn's.

"Who are you little firefly, that you can summon such enormous power?" asks the voice.

"I am Sailor Saturn, the scout of death, destruction, and rebirth."

"Really, interesting. You can provide me with more power than I ever dreamed possible." Analieth hurls the web rope at her at full force, hoping to capture and trap the unsuspecting Saturn.

With reflexes born from experience, Saturn manages to dodge the attack and slice the rope with her glaive. She tries to get near enough to attack Analieth herself, but a wave of spider webs keeps her from getting anywhere near her opponent. Instead, she takes up a defensive position in the middle of the room, trying to give herself room to maneuver while she thought of a way to get to her attacker.

Analieth suddenly smiles again. "Do you like spiders Sailor Saturn? I hope so." Suddenly, the woman begins to sing a haunting melody. Her song echoes through the room, bouncing off the walls and filling it.

What the…?

A sound can be heard outside the walls, faint at first, but growing gradually louder. Suddenly, a wave of small black and brown bodies sweeps through the cracks in the walls and ceilings. Saturn's face goes pale as she stares at the growing mass coming toward her. Spiders! (hope you're enjoying this part ladymars, I know you like spiders)

"Saturn Silence Glaive Surprise!"

Saturn unleashes her desperate attack. For a moment, all is quiet, and then a rush of dark power fills the area, wiping out anything in its path.

"No, my spiders!" Analieth is kneeling on the floor now, small rivers of blood running down her body. "How could you do this? You will pay Saturn!"

Analieth, blind with fury, runs toward her opponent, closing the distance between them. The nails on both hands extend to an impossibly long length, preparing for close combat.

Finally.

Saturn dodges her wild swings easily. Although she can feel her body weakening from her last attack, Analieth has lost her advantage. Saturn allows her to have a few more quick swings, but soon finds and opening, her glaive connecting with flesh.

Analieth freezes for a moment, a look of horror on her face, Saturn's glaive through her stomach. For a moment, time itself seems to stand still, then Analieth's body slumps to the ground and crumbles to dust.

Saturn watches as a dark shadow rises from the ashes, floating over the room. "I will not forget you Saturn, we will meet again," says that dark voice that hadn't been Analieth's. "I underestimated you firefly."

Finally, with a tired sight, Saturn sinks to the ground, her glaive falling to the floor and vanishing. Her sailor uniform turns back to ribbons and eventually air, leaving Hotaru in her original clothing. With a great amount of effort, she gets up and retrieves her glaive from the ground where it had landed at the beginning of the battle. She leans heavily on it, looking around the room.

A few groans escape the lips of the people around her and eyelids flutter open as the townspeople begin to leave the realm of sleep.

Confident that everything will be okay, Hotaru slumps down against the nearest wall and leans her head back, feeling the cool surface against her burning cheeks, slipping into the realms of sleep for some much needed rest.

Luc is much better than he thought. Duo feels a small trickle of sweat run down his forehead, which he quickly wipes away with the back of his hand. This fight has been going on way too long. I don't know how long I can keep this up. Geez! Who the hell is this guy?

"Not bad for a pathetic little human," Luc says, fingering a small piece of hair that has fallen into his eyes. "I must say, you are the biggest challenge I've had in a long time, it's been quite interesting. You are very good with that sword; I'm surprised you know how to use it. Unfortunately, I'm done playing games with you boy. I think that it's about time I finish this. I have better things to do."

Duo shrugs, "Yeah, whatever. You just keep talking, I'm about to carve you into little pieces!" Duo rushes toward Luc at full speed, preparing to use a move Wufei had taught him (the hard way). Suddenly, a black cloud of smoke appears where Luc once stood, stopping Duo in his tracks.

"What?"

"Behind you human!" Duo barely turns around in time to parry Luc's vicious strike. Duo feels the vibration of metal on metal as Luc's sharp blade bears down on him. With an unexpected burst of strength, Duo manages to push back his attacker and return to a defensive position.

"Enough!" Luc lifts his sword and plunges it into the earth beneath him. A strange, dark energy flows out from the crack the sword has formed in the ground, gushing out like water from a fountain.

"Dark Blaze!"

The dark energy surges toward Duo at an alarming speed, threatening to overtake him at any moment. With no way to dodge it, Duo braces himself for the inevitable attack. A shock as cold as ice encases his body and the breath rushes from his lungs. His limbs go weak and his vision hazy and for a moment, it seems as if his is about to lose consciousness.

Luc's laughter echoes through the walls of the cathedral, shattering the peaceful silence. "You're done for, why don't you just give up?"

He's right, I'll never be able to withstand another attack like that, I can't just stand here trying to stay out of the way.

<Flashback>

Duo is sitting at the base, facing Trowa, a chessboard between the two of them. Trowa is clearly winning the game. Duo stares at the board blankly, carefully trying to figure out his next move.

"I wonder what move I should make next?" Duo muses aloud.

The sound of footsteps draws nearer and Duo looks up to see Wufei move from his place on the wall. Wufei stares at the board for a moment and then moves Duo's knight forward.

"Good move," Trowa says.

Wufei smiles at the compliment. "Offense is the best defense."

<End flashback>

Duo suddenly smiles, seeing that Luc is backed up against a wall. Yes, offense is the best defense, and since I can't just stand here…

Once again, Duo lowers his sword and rushes foreword, charging at Luc.

"Don't you ever learn?" Once again, Luc vanishes in a puff of black smoke. This time however, Duo doesn't stop. Instead, he keeps on running toward the wall and runs straight up using the wall to throw him into a back flip. This time, when Luc reappears, it is Duo who has the advantage of surprise. The flip tosses Duo behind his opponent and without hesitation, Duo plunges his sword into Luc's back.

Luc's body crumbles and his sword falls from his nerveless fingers. A shocked cry escapes his lips and a trickle of blood flows from his mouth.

"How…How did you…?"

"Simple Luc," Duo says, out of breath and panting, "you underestimated me. I knew I couldn't beat you head on, not like this anyway, so I had to think of something else. You're too arrogant for your own good."

A small laugh escapes Luc's lips and he shakes his head. "You win human." He looks toward the front wall and smiles ironically. "It looks like your friend defeated Analieth as well, I no longer feel her presence here. It has left as well." Luc's body sinks into the floor, along with his sword, returning to wherever it was he came from.

Duo sinks down to the floor, allowing his own sword to clatter to the ground. Duo lays on his back and stares up at the ceiling, waiting for the spinning to stop and darkness to settle in.

"Duo!"

Duo moans, trying to ignore the nagging voice that is calling his name and pulling him out of peaceful slumber.

"Duo, come on! You can't lie here all day! I know you're awake!"

Duo groans, beginning to come back to the waking world. He lay there for a while, ignoring the nagging voice that existed somewhere outside his conciseness which was yelling at him to awaken, waiting for his senses to come back. He is lying on a hard, cool surface, something soft supporting his head. Light from somewhere nearby shines heavily on his face, causing his eyelids to flicker in annoyance. The smell of moist air reaches his nose, the effect of the recent rain.

"Duo! Get up now!"

Duo groans, and sits up, opening his eyes to see the face of a very annoyed Hotaru before him.

"Morning," Duo says, yawning as if he had just woken up from a peaceful night's sleep.

Hotaru winces, gripping the handle of her glaive tightly, trying to control the rising anger. "Duo you baka! Don't ever worry me like that again!"

"Sorry," Duo scratches his head, still half asleep. "Do you know where I can get something to drink, I'm kind of thirsty."

Hotaru's jaw drops open in disbelief and she quickly closes it. With a small sigh, she stands up and walks to the door, slamming it behind her as she leaves. What'd I do? Women, I'll never understand them.

Duo stands and makes his way over to the window, staring down at the scenery below. He's in the bell tower of the old cathedral. A gentle breeze filters through the open window, playing with his braid. Funny, I could have sworn that I heard bells tolling before we came here, but the rafters here are bare. I wonder what made the noise.

The creaking of a door behind him forces him to turn around by reflex. Hotaru walks back in, carrying a glass of water. Behind her is a short, balding man in long, brown robes and dark, wire glasses. The man walks with obvious stiffness and age, his white beard reaching easily down to his chest.

"Ah, you are awake at last I see," the man exclaims cheerfully. "I'm happy to see that you are okay. I can not thank you and this young lady enough for helping us. My name is Veranain."

"Veranain! Hey Hotaru, isn't that the gut that Drako told us to find?"

"Yes," Veranain replies. "Miss Tomoe has already informed me of your predicament." Veranain stops for a moment and pulls up a chair, collapsing into it gratefully. "Ah, it feels good to rest these weary old bones of mine. You kids should be lucky you are so young." His smile disappears for a moment. "And you are going to need it."

"What do you mean Veranain?" Hotaru asks, puzzled.

"I have been searching the cathedrals library since early this morning when you first told me of this Hotaru and must say, I dug up some rather troubling information. It will be very difficult for you to leave this world my friends, very difficult indeed."

Duo stands up and walks over to the old man, staring into his eyes. "Veranain, I don't care how hard it is, I have to go back, not just for me, but for those who need me there. I have a job to do and a lot of people counting on me. I can't afford to give up the fight yet."

Duo stares at the old man for a while more until Veranain nods, seeing the seriousness in the boy's words. Duo nods in return and takes up his place by the window. As he does so, his eyes connect with Hotaru's. For a moment, Duo can almost pick out a look of sheer amazement, and to his shock, respect, but it is gone in an instant.

"I see," Veranain says under his breath. "Hotaru, do you feel the same way?"

"Yes, I too have much to do."

"So be it. In our world, there are many gates between the demon dimension and ours. These gates are easily crossed by anyone who has enough strength to cross into the demon world. Hundreds of years ago, there existed a sorcerer who was half demon and half human by the name of Riem. Riem became tired of the bitter rivalry between the two races and created another gate called Heaven's Gate to help him leave this world. This gate was supposedly the gate that dreams were made of. It was a gate that could take you almost anywhere as long as such a place existed. However, somehow, Riem underestimated his creation's power. The gate fell into the hands of evil and almost destroyed Relecos. Therefore, Riem sealed the gate, creating six keys, which were created by human emotions and feelings, love, truth, trust, sorrow, anger, and hope. He gave each key to a guardian, hoping that no one would ever again use his gate for that purpose. Riem disappeared soon after, and hasn't been seen since.

In other words, the only way I can think of to get you two home is to use the Heaven's Gate."

"Well, it does sound like a mighty task indeed, but I believe we can find these keys," Hotaru says, her confidence rising.

"Yes, but where do we look?" Duo asks.

"The keys were dispersed all over the world, so there is no telling where they are, however, Riem did leave one clue about where to find the keys. Before he disappeared, he built the great temple of Relecos. Inside, there is a smaller gate that is said to be linked to the keys location. If you use that, it may take you there."

Duo sits silently for a moment, his face brightening. "Alright! If that what it takes, I'll do it! Right Hotaru?"
"Yes, we must go back."

Hotaru sits up in bed, finally accepting the fact that she isn't going to get any sleep. Shoving off the covers, she gets up and begins walking the halls of the cathedral, eventually finding her way to the bell tower.

Two moons shine their light through the window, illuminating the tower. Hotaru stares up at the rafters and her eyes narrow. That's strange, no bells.

"Miss Tomoe?"

Hotaru spins around, surprised. Veranain steps quietly beside her, his gnarled old hands gripping the windowsill for support.

"Good evening Veranain. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I couldn't seem to fall asleep."

"That's quite all right, I understand. You've had quite a stressful day."

Hotaru remains quiet for a moment, listening to the unfamiliar sound of Relecos's night. "Veranain, how come there are no bells up here? When Duo and I first walked into this city, we heard bells."

Veranain's face falls, the lines of age firmly etching themselves into his cheeks. "The bells in this church fell many years ago. It was during a storm in the morning. Even though it was one of the worst storms we had ever seen, the bell ringer came anyway, ringing the bells, summoning the people to the church. Lightening struck the tower, sending the bells and their master crashing through the roof, landing in the main hall bellow.

Eventually, the damage was repaired, but we never did put up a new bell, for it just wasn't the same."

"And the bell ringer."

"I'm afraid she didn't survive. It is a pity, she was such a nice girl, and she loved the bells. She actually lived up in the bell tower you know. There used to be a room off to the side, but since we lost her…"

Hotaru stared at the rafters, once again, the sound of the ghostly bells filling her ears. A chill ran up her spine as a gentle wind rolled into the tower. Finally, she decides to ask the question that had been on her mind since she had walked into the bell tower after the battle, even though she thought she already knew the answer.

"Veranain, the bell ringer, what was her name?"

Veranain smiles sadly, tears streaming down his face. "Why Hotaru, I'm surprised that you haven't figured that out for yourself already. Her name was Analieth."

Hotaru nods, and turns back toward the door, the sound the bells from so long ago following her out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

Rena: *sitting on top of Demos, rubbing the large dragon behind the eyes. *

Pluto: * looks up from a blueprint of the time gate* Yes, we're still here. * turns to Rena * Are you going to help?

Rena: Why? Every time I try to help, you always end up yelling at me!

Pluto: Well, whose fault is that?

Rena: …

Pluto: * sighs * And it looks like we may be here for quite some time.