Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

The next morning left a silent chill in the palace. It hung in the air throughout the day as preparations for his departure took place. Word of the encounter with the beast had spread through the whole city. During the past few weeks that Flora, Aero, and Tornado had stayed at the palace a sense of ease had filled the area. Now it wouldn’t only be Tornado leaving but the others, too.

“How long until you have to go?” Aero asked Tornado as he packed his things.

“When night falls tonight.” He answered trying to stuff his clothes into his bag.

“They won’t fit if you try like that.” Aero said with a laugh.

“You have a better way?” Tornado asked watching as the clothes fell out.

“Let me fold them.” Aero offered. “You can check if you have everything.”

“Thanks.” He added. “Shouldn’t you be packing, too? You’re leaving for the capitol tomorrow, right?”

“I’m already done.” Aero explained as she folded. “Do you have your kamas?”

“I always have them-” he checked the clip by his waist. “They’re not there!”

Tornado began tearing through the pack. “Where’d they go?”

Aero asked helpfully, “where’s the last place you remember having them?”

They both stopped suddenly as they thought of the attack.

“I’m not sure.” Tornado answered pushing the incident to the back of his mind.

Aero packed the clothes she folded. “See they fit now.” She informed him trying to change the subject.

“You win.” Tornado told her as he searched the room. “Found them.” He exclaimed reaching under his bed.

“How did they get under there?” Aero laughed.

“No clue.” Tornado answered with a smile. His stomach growled suddenly. “Let’s go have dinner.” He suggested.

The meal seemed to last forever as every friendly start of the conversation turned to silence. None of them could help but wonder if this was the last meal they would ever share together.

Tornado questioned suddenly. “What if Aero isn’t allowed to stay in there?”

“I’ll tell them I’ll never be their princess if she can’t stay.” Flora answered to everyone’s shock.

“I’m going to go get ready.” Tornado informed them leaving the room without looking at any of them.

Aero watched him as he left and pushed her chair back. Flora noticed and stepped on the hem of her dress underneath the table. As Aero tried to get up she fell back into her seat.

“Give him a minute alone.” Flora whispered thoughtfully, “he seems kind of stressed.”

“That’s why I was going to go!” Aero exclaimed quietly.

“Aero.” Rook told her. “He might not show it but I think something is troubling him. He needs a little time to figure them out on his own.”

“Figure them out?” Aero asked.

“His feelings.” Rook explained.

Aero gave him a confused look.

“Have you really not noticed?” Flora wondered, “have you even realized how you feel?”

Tornado walked into his room feeling an ache in his chest. He allowed himself to fall to his knees as he slammed his fists on the stone floor.

“This shouldn’t be so hard.” Tornado cursed his emotions, “I wish I didn’t feel-” he stopped himself. “No. I want to feel this way.” He sat down rubbing his sore knuckles. “I just didn’t want it to be this painful. I thought I had prepared myself. I thought I was ready for anything.” His heart ached. “I never expected this. What should I do now?”

Aero ran to the window and saw that the sun was beginning to set. Tornado came into the parlor and dropped his bags. “I have to go once it gets dark.” He informed the group.

An awkward silence filled the room.

A servant walked over and poured some tea for everyone. They sat silently not knowing what to say slowly becoming lost in their thoughts.

The light faded from the room and Tornado broke the silence as he set down his cup and stood. “I’m off.”

“Be careful while you’re there.” Flora requested thoughtfully.

“Don’t be foolish.” Rook warned with a kind smile.

The sadness in Aero’s eyes could not be hidden from Tornado. Before she could say anything Tornado asked. “Aero will you come with me?”

She nodded and followed him from the room. As they left the ruins Aero began to feel an ache in her heart. It felt like guilt was tearing her apart from the inside and regret was beginning to eat away at her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Tornado stopped suddenly and turned to face her. “Walk with me.” He commanded holding out his hand. Aero walked beside him, her hand in his. It felt somewhat nostalgic.

As they approached the clearing where she had been attacked panic burst inside of Aero and she wanted to run. “Tornado this is all my fault!” She cried out trying to pull away but he grasped her hand tightly. “All I ever do is cause you trouble and get you hurt.” She felt tears begin to fall across her face. “And now you are going to the place you hate. I’m so sorry.” Aero tried to pull away from him again. She wanted to run far away and hide herself from him.

He pulled her in and held her close. “If you’re trying to get me to hate you it won’t work.” He explained. “I told you before. I don’t blame you for anything! I make my own choices and sometimes I get hurt but I don’t regret any of them. I chose to protect you so don’t blame yourself for my choices.”

“Thank you.” Aero hugged him tight and she cried.

Tornado thought. “I wonder if I’ll ever be able to hold Aero like this again.” The ache began to feel like it was consuming him and tearing him apart. “I need to do something about these emotions before they destroy me.”

Aero began to sob painfully. “My body.” She wondered. “Why does it feel so weak? So heavy?”

“Aero.” Tornado spoke softly, “I want to remember you being happy. Do you think you can smile?” She shook her head releasing him from her hug. He bent down so they were face to face. “Please.”

She smiled but it was still possible to see the sadness in her eyes. Suddenly a dark hole caught her attention. It was similar to the one they had fallen through years ago.

“Tornado, look.” She whispered pointing to the darkness in the small clearing.
He turned and watched as darkness flowed towards the sky. It looked like steam as it clung to the air. It seemed to hide any light around it dominating the night with it’s shadow. As the darkness receded two figures stood. The first he recognized instantly. It was the beast from before. There was a man standing beside him. He had revealed his dark gray-feathered wings. He didn’t look old despite his white hair. He held no emotion even in his blank gray eyes.

“Tornado.” The beast’s voice was serious. “Before we go we need to speak with you.” The beast motioned to the man with his head. “He will be your mentor from now on.”

His mentor nodded his head but not the slightest emotion crept onto his face. Tornado felt a certain comfort that his mentor didn’t show any emotion. He didn’t feel any hate.

Aero stepped behind Tornado as if to hide.

The best bowed a deep elegant bow. “I am sorry Light Princess. I would never have attacked you if it weren’t for my orders. I humbly apologize.” He told her. “But you do not have to forgive me if you don’t see it in your heart.”

“I forgive you.” Aero explained. “But I think I may just be scared of you from now on.”

“Heh.” The mentor spoke.

“What are you laughing at?” The beast questioned as he rose.

“That was a laugh?” Tornado asked Aero in a whisper.

She shrugged, “didn’t sound like it to me.”

“Someone’s afraid of you.” The mentor answered in his monotone voice. “It’s amusing that someone is afraid of a dignified fluff ball like you.”

“What was that?” The beast exclaimed his fur rising with anger.

The mentor began scratching behind the beast’s ear. “You may look intimidating but you’re just a pup.” The beast’s foot began to twitch until it was padding the ground happily.

Aero giggled slightly at the sight.

“Do you want to pet him Princess?” The mentor invited her with his flat voice.

She looked up at Tornado.

“I’ll come with you.” He reassured her.

“Tornado.” His mentor called him as Aero pet the beast. Tornado walked over to him. “My name is Barren. I have some advice for you while you’re in the dark realm.”

“Yeah?” Tornado asked.

“Show as little emotion as possible.” Barren warned, “also don’t call attention to yourself. You’ll be getting enough as it is.”

“What do you mean ‘you’ll be getting enough as it is?’” he questioned.

“The dark lord doesn’t go after people often, if ever.” Barren explained.

Tornado asked, “then why me?”

“It’s not my place to tell.” He informed him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tornado asked annoyed.

Barren didn’t answer.

Aero was giving the beast a belly rub when Tornado came back over. She turned to him with a genuine smile on her face. Tornado knelt beside her and hugged her.

“Tornado?” She asked confused.

“You smiled again.” Tornado told her. “I can remember you being happy now.”

The beast rolled over so that he could get up. He tried to regain his dignified composure.

“Princess.” The beast asked concerned. “Are you at all afraid of the darkness you are sitting in?”

She ran her fingers through the dry fog-like darkness that flowed around her. “No. I’ve never really feared darkness. It’s more comforting really. When it’s night and there’s darkness all around it feels like it’s protecting me. She hugged herself as if to demonstrate.

“A light in the darkness.” Barren reasoned. “Maybe there’s hope after all.”

“I wish we could keep her.” The beast said jokingly.

“When will I be able to see her again?” Tornado asked.

“Even if you do everything as you’re told it will be a long time.” Barren answered.

“Way to be a pessimist.” The beast growled as the joy left Tornado and Aero’s faces.

“But you say we can see each other again.” Aero pointed out hopefully. “Even if it’s a long time from now?”

“I believe so.” Barren agreed, “but now it’s time to go.”

Tornado stood giving Aero a hand up.

“You’ll have to step away from the darkness, Princess.” The beast advised her and she quickly walked to a safe distance.

“Wait.” Tornado called to her. He ran over and embraced her tightly. “Bye Aero.” He told her sadly.

“I’ll be waiting to see you again.” She replied. “Bye, Tornado.”

He walked back through the darkness to stand facing the best and his mentor. He felt the darkness rising around him. “What should I do?” Tornado asked himself. As he felt his heart ache he grasped his shirt.

“Tell her.” Barren suggested. Tornado stared at him confused. Barren turned him to face Aero.

The darkness had now risen to his waist. It made Tornado feel even farther from her. She looked so alone. “Aero.” Tornado started. “There’s something I need to say before I go. I don’t really know how to say this but if I don’t try I’ll regret it.” The darkness was closing in. “It hurts to know I’m leaving.” He explained, “because.” Bands of darkness passed in front of his face but he looked Aero in the eyes and told her. “I love you.”

Her eyes widened at the words. The darkness swallowed them and disappeared.

“Wait!” She ran to where he had stood. The darkness had vanished leaving her alone in the clearing. “Why hadn’t you told me earlier.” She fell to the ground feeling truly alone. For once the darkness didn’t feel like it was protecting her. She felt so isolated even sound seemed distant until she heard her own sobs. The ground and air grew cold as her sobs filled the empty night. Aero shuddered lying secluded on the grass letting all of her emotions run free. “It hurts,” she sobbed tears running down her cheeks, “to cry alone.”