“Where do you think you’re going, demon?” Falcon grabbed Zen by the hair and placed Althena’s Sword under his throat.
“At last, Zen. Confession time. You took away everything I cared about. My master’s favor, my destiny to lead the heroes of the world, and Yuki’s love.”
Zen gasped, “So. . .it’s all about, revenge. How. . .heroic. . .”
Falcon tighten his grip on Zen’s hair. “You don’t see it. We’re repeating the exact mistake Ghaleon made a long time ago. Ghaleon wasn’t meant to mold the world many years ago, and I won’t let him do it now! Don’t you see? It is the hero’s legacy, MY legacy, to keep the freedom for the people.
“The world. . .*cough* needs leadership. MY leadership. You don’t. . .understand.” Zen coughed.
“Why? We’ve lived this long on our own. What do you know that we don’t?!! TALK!!! How can I save the world?!”
Suddenly, the rock behind Falcon began to rumble. The old teacher came running out of the house. “No! It is Althena’s Sword. It is reacting to the LeMae! She is waking!”
In a blast of light, the huge boulder shattered into a million pieces sending Falcon and Zen flying. With his grip released, Zen crawled on his back away from the sword. His eyes slowly changed back to normal.
Falcon stood up and was blinded by a bright light. He heard a voice coming from the light. “Who is it that has summoned me from my sleep and for what purpose?”
The light dimmed slightly and a small figure emerged, the size of a child. The child floated in the air and waited for an answer.
“LeMae is a child!” Christine gasped.
“Again, who summons me?” asked the floating child.
Falcon raised Althena’s sword above his head.
“I summoned you! Grant me the power to save our world from the coming destruction. I wield Althena’s Sword. I have bested the evil that threatened our world. I will guide you to your destiny!”
The small child floated closer to Falcon and looked him in the eyes. Finally, after a moment, she spoke, “You carry Sister’s sword. . .but you are no hero. I look into your eyes and I see not the future. You are not my Legacy.” The young goddess giggled, “Besides, you’re ugly.” She stuck her tongue out at Falcon.
Christine scratched her head, “Okay. . .”
The little girl flew around looking at people. “No. No. My protector must be cute. Definitely, cute. Hmmm. . .” Finally, she stopped in front of Zen. “Yes. You! I feel very cute vibes coming from you. She allowed herself to land in Zen’s arms, and snuggled close to his chest. “My protector. . .”
“Now wait just a minute here!” Falcon started walking towards the young girl. “Clearly you are not the real LeMae, since you can’t tell I’m a hero, so for the good of the world, I must. . .”
Poof. With a snap of the little girl’s fingers, Falcon disappeared. “He talks too much. * giggle *”
Zen stood up holding the girl in his arms, “Where did you send him, LeMae?”
“To another place.”, she giggled again. “He won’t find us for a while. Laaaamia…is that my name?”
“LeMae.”, Zen corrected.
“Lamia.”, the girl responded.
“No, L-E-M-A-E.”
“L-A-M-I-A”
Zen shrugged. “Never mind.” Zen looked confused as he thought to himself, “I don’t understand. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Isn’t this LeMae? I must know. . .”
“ZEN!!!” Christine came running towards him. “Is this LeMae?”
“No, I’m Lamia.”, the girl smiled. “LeMae when I get my powers back from dragons.”
“Now this makes sense.” Zen thought to himself. “Curse you, Lucia. You knew I would kill her, so you. . .” Zen looked upset.
“Zen, what’s wrong? Isn’t this LeMae?” asked Christine.
“Yes, it looks like it. But her powers seem to be divided among the dragon spirits.”
“Right!” Lamia tapped Zen on the nose.
“Don’t do that.”, said Zen.
Lamia continued. “Get wish when Lamia gets powers back from dragons. Sealed by Lucia.”
Christine shook her head, “Lucia did? Why?”
Lamia shook her head. “Don’t know. I must have been bad.” She giggled again.
“Christine, go check on Raff, and then start packing our things.”
“To the dragon caves, right?” Christine smiled.
“Right. Without LeMae’s full powers, we can’t do anything. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow for the Blue Dragon Cave.”
“Zen. . .” started Christine.
“What is it, Christine?”
“Well, if you’re The Legacy, and I’m not, you don’t need me anymore, right?”
“You want to go home?”
“Well, if you don’t need me anymore. . .”
“With Falcon still out there somewhere with Althena’s Sword, you would be a valuable asset, but I can’t force you.”
“So you need me for my skill?”
“Yes, why else?”
“Nevermind. Let’s just worry about Raff for now.”
The next day Christine loaded up some supplies Yuki had given her. Zen hovered around her. “So, you’re definitely going back then?”
“I’m worried about my parents, and suddenly, this all seems too big for me. I mean, I guess I only came this far to please you, and now you found what you were looking for. You don’t really need me anymore. I mean, we really don’t know each other that well, so it was really more like a contract than anything else.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”
“And now that contracts been fulfilled. So. . .I guess, I’ll go back.”
Meanwhile, outside Raff was sitting on the ground lost in thought. Bat flew up from behind. “Lost in thought, young sir? It’s almost time to go.”
Raff looked up at Bat, “So, she’s going back home?”
“Looks like it.”
“Why doesn’t she stay with us? Doesn’t she realize how much as stake?”
“Christine lacks self-confidence. So much so that she needs it from others, one person, actually, Zen. She’s always looked up to him. And the chances of Zen actually asking her to stay aren’t too high, speaking from personal experience. What were you thinking about if I might ask?”
“About Falcon, and Lord Leo, and myself. The idea of hero and justice were so clear to me before I met Zen, and now I’m not sure if I would be helpful to the party or not. . .”
“Young sir, you were very helpful in yesterday’s battle. We couldn’t have won without your help. With the power of Althena’s Sword in his hands, Zen surely would have lost without you.”
“But what if Zen’s right? What if there’s no room for my justice in today’s world? Look what happened when I liberated Raculi. The people don’t live peacefully. They still rule over each other. I wasn’t able to do a thing. I mean, Falcon seemed so sure he was right. What if by following Zen, I’m following someone else’s mistake.”
“Don’t follow anyone, young sir. Follow your own heart. What does it tell you?”
“To save the world.”
“Then come with us. Any action taken with sincerity can not be a bad one. Who knows? You may find the answers you’re seeking on this journey.”
Raff sat and thought for a moment. Eventually a smile crept across his face. “You’re right, Bat. Zen. . . no, the world, needs my help. Leo wouldn’t give up, and I won’t either.”
The screen opened behind Raff, it was Christine with Blue on her shoulder, ready for the trip back. “Well, Raff. Thanks again for saving my life back in Raculi.” Christine shed a tear and hugged Raff tight. “I’m gonna miss you.”
Raff hugged Christine back. “I’ll always protect you. It’s my job as a hero.”
“Are you sure you won’t reconsider, young miss?” asked Bat. “It won’t be the same without you.”
“No, Bat. I can’t keep lying to myself and pretending he needs me. He’s Zen. All powerful. I’m Christine, all weak. I’d just get in the way. . .and perhaps, I don’t want to know the truth.”
“I understand, miss. Safe journey.” Bat put his paw on the Blue’s head. “Bye, powderpuff. It was fun not being the only mascot in the group.”
“MEEP. MEEP.”, sounded Blue.
Christine started towards the woods. When she was just about there, the screen door opened again, and Zen walked outside. “Christine!”, he yelled after her.
“Yes?” she turned around.
“I’d. . .like you to come with us. Not for your skills. We’re. . .a team. And I would. . .miss you. As part of the group, of course.” Zen smiled.
Christine smiled back.
THUS BEGINS THE JOURNEY TO REGAIN LeMae’s POWERS STARTING WITH THE BLUE DRAGON IN CHAPTER 7: STRANGE GIRL