"Do it." The girl grit her teeth and closed her eyes, every muscle in her body tensing in expectation of what was to come. She looked up at the two women standing over her with a mixture of fear and determination on her face.
The two older women looked at each other, not sure what to do with the girl. The first one nodded her head, and the second sighed and picked up a knife. "It doesn't have to be this way." The one holding the thin, yet painfully sharp scalpel hesitated a moment.
"No." The other woman shook her head, understanding. "Just do it now. She'll never quit otherwise."
The first woman slammed the scalpel down. "This is ridiculous! I won't just slice into her with out reason!"
"There is reason." The second woman insisted. "Now could we please just get this over with?"
"If you're going to do it, do it!!" The girl was getting frustrated and a more than a little scared. In that moment she doubted this really was worth it. She could back out now, all she'd have to do is tell them. "Wait!"
The two stopped their debate and turned their full attention to her. "Yes?"
There really was no reason for this. She could back out now and no one would think less of her. It was too much of a risk anyways, God alone knew what kind of care they'd give her wound. All she had to do was tell them, and then live a slave the rest of her life. Kyosia took a deep breath. There was only one option. "Okay. I'm ready."
Magika tried not to smile, realizing that this was supposed to be a serious moment, but failed horribly. "You don't think Celeste's much of a doctor, do you?"
Celeste, who was against this entire idea from the start, rolled her eyes. "I'm slicing a piece off her arm for no conceivable reason!! They ought to take my knots for this!" The healer sighed and rubbed her fingers along Kyosia's forearm. "Still feel that?"
Kyosia was momentarily amazed. "No..." When this woman who claimed to be a trained doctor had just thrown some horrible smelly gunk on her arm and told her she wouldn't feel anything, Kyosia was sure she'd travelled back in time to the medieval age. She was just waiting for the chanting and dancing to start. To her amazement, the gunk seemed to have effectively numbed her arm.
Celeste rolled her eyes again. "Didn't believe me?"
Kyosia had the gall to smile at the healer. "Not really. Take it off now?"
"I just want to reaffirm that everyone understands I think this is a bad idea." The healer was prudently ignored. With another sigh, Celeste began to examine the area she was to remove more carefully. "Whoever did this wasn't being extremely careful, were they?"
Kyosia watched the healer trace the lines of the tattoo that marked her as a slave, that named her Kieoxa. "Not particularly."
"Okay." Celeste took a deep breath to compose herself. "I'll take it off."
Magika grabbed Kyosia's free hand as the healer pushed the knife into the girl's skin. Not saying anything, the Weyrwoman simply offered her silent support and let the girl squeeze. Much like she'd been doing since the girl left her world.
Kyosia winced as the blade cut deeper, but forced herself to hold Magika's gaze. She managed a smile, which quickly vanished as soon as one rather dominant thought forced itself to the surface. "Where's Chronocrus?"
Magika smiled mischievously. "Don't worry."
Kyosia knew her young lifemate. The dragonet should have been in there wailing at her mistress' pain. "What did you do to her?" Kyosia reached for her dragon.
Kyosia. From Chronocrus' tone it was obvious the dragon was happy somewhere and completely oblivious to the trials and tribulations of her bonded rider.
"What did you do to her?" Kyosia repeated her question. Her own pain was fading with the surge of adrenaline rushing through her veins. What had these crazy women done to her lifemate?
Magika was still grinning, adding only to the girl's frustration. "Don't worry. She'll be fine in a few hours."
Kyosia clenched her jaw. "What did you do to her?"
Celeste snorted, not even bothering to look up from her work. "Let's just say that this smelly gunk works on dragon's too."
* * * "So I have to go back to the Warren?" Kyosia was sitting on a sheaf of papers on a book on a jacket on a chair in Magika's "office".
"Well, no. You don't -have- to go back to the Warren. But pretty soon young Chrunocrus is going to start putting whole sentences together, and then flying and then, with Mystic's breed, God knows what is going to happen. Takisha can probably teach you to fly and such, but she'll be poorly equipped to deal if your lifemate starts shooting lasers out her eyes." Magika was reclining in her more stable and comfortable chair. "How's your arm feel?"
Immediately, Kyosia's hand went to the bandage around her right forearm. "A little sore. But I'm fine. And lasers?"
Magika's lips twitched into a half-smile. "You never know. Especially considering these eggs were all messed up to begin with."
Kyosia's eyes turned to her lap, where she began to pull at a loose string from her pants. "Do I have to go?" Her voice was much quieter than it was before.
Magika couldn't help but find Kyosia amazing. The transformation that occurred the night of Mystic's Rave was complete, entire and both Magika and Mystic had realized that they weren't dealing with a crazed slave anymore. Nor were they dealing with a semi-arrogant, overconfident rebel leader. Kyosia was a unique person, who just happened to have all the memories of both her alter-egos, plus several childhood memories neither of them possessed. Sitting across from the Weyrwoman, the new opalrider realized she was being considered and smiled.
Her physical appearance had changed quite a bit since that night as well. To start with, she'd finally abandoned the torn, stained, worn, used-to-be-white robe and adopted a more common style of dress. In the hot air of Adanuk Weyr in the summer, she wore loose, light blue pants with a draw-string at the waist, and a tighter white tank-top. Plain brown sandals covered her feet, decorated by a golden anklet that had been a gift from A'diar. Her black hair was clean, and swept back carefully into a low ponytail. It was slightly shorter than it had been before as untangling the mass had proven to be more difficult than anticipated. The bottom half was finally deemed hopeless by Mystic after six hours. It was removed and, due to the discovery of an unidentifiable dead being, burned. Her nails had finally grown back, but she still wore soft, white gloves as her fingers and palms were horridly scared. Her smile came easier these days, and her eyes still glistened, as dark and deep a blue as the ocean under a full moon at midnight. She was still rather pale, but she wasn't bone-thin anymore.
"Mei?" The Weyrwoman had been silent an awfully long time.
"Oh." Magika was startled out of her recollection. She took a moment to collect her thoughts and separate Karia and Karina before continuing. "You don't want to go back to the Warren alone."
Kyosia's gaze returned the loose thread. She attempted to find words to describe her feelings as she continued pulling at the string.
Magika smirked. "Keep that up and you'll be naked in a minute."
The Weyrwoman was rewarded with a smile. "Can't I just stay here?"
The words were almost a perfect echo of her third complete sentence as herself. Moments after her impression, the only words she'd been able to manage were her own name and that of her lifemate. As Magika and Mystic both had more than enough words for the next few hours, Kyosia had let them talk. Her next sentence had been to inform the two leaders that Kieoxa and Melody were both dead. That had been more than a little unnerving and had, miraculously, shut both of the leaders up. As she'd continued to feed her demanding new lifemate, the Weyrwoman and the Caretaker withdrew to discuss the girl's future. Unfortunately, Kyosia seemed to have better ears than her counter-parts. Magika decided to return to Adanuk, as Syna was going more than a little crazy after three months on her own. Mystic would continue care of the recently crazy girl and her supposed-to-be-dead dragon. Kyosia had looked up at the two women, a little bit of pride mixed with the desperation in her eyes. "Can't I just stay with Magika?" There was no way either of the older women could have denied her. Days later, Magika had been setting up a room and begging her new rider not to call her Meilizana in public.
"You don't want to go back to the Warren alone." Magika restated the problem, hoping it would bring clarity. It didn't.
"Is that so wrong?" Kyosia was barely audible and refused to make eye contact. She settled for rubbing the bronze draca that had mysteriously made herself available the very moment Kyosia needed it.
"Score!" Karia began to purr, enjoying the opportunity to be babied. Magika rolled her eyes and attempted to tune out her bonded draca. From what Magika could see, Kyosia was calm, semi-confident in her own abilities and friendly, but apparently she only displayed those characteristics around the Weyrwoman. Media said that the girl was deathly silent and chronically shy. A'diar said she startled easier than a field mouse in a well lit pantry. Li and Sherry had tried talking to her, being from Earth themselves, but she wouldn't even say one word to them. And Magika could do nothing but shake her head as she remembered Candy's brief attempt at a conversation.
She's not ready for other people yet rider-mine. Chrunocrus is still young. Let them stay here. Hyth had no problem butting in on her rider's private thoughts.
I thought you were dozing in the sun. Magika didn't like it when her lifemate played devil's advocate.
I'm never as asleep as you think I am. From across the Weyr, Hyth bugled, enjoying her own manipulation of one of Magika's favourite sayings. Let her stay here. She needs you. The stars alone know why she sees you as her defender. Hyth snorted. And I bet even the stars don't know why she thinks you can protect her. You forgot her on the sands.
Magika tried very hard not to glare at the ceiling. Someone had recently told her that made her look crazy. Unfortunately staring at some random point just over Kyosia's shoulder wasn't all that much better. Yeah, just keep bringing that up. Magika sighed. She hasn't glomped me in days. She couldn't help but smirk, thinking of the word Mystic had devised for Kyosia's tendency to shriek and throw both her arms around the Weyrwoman's waist.
Let her stay.
I can't protect her forever. Magika looked up at the girl across from her, begging to be spared the horrid pain of having to fend for herself. She was the perfect balance between Kieoxa, the slave, and Melody, the rebel, with just a little bit of something else in there too. After much debate, and many insults flung at her from Mystic for pretending to be a psychiatrist, Magika had finally put her finger on the difference. Kyosia was quiet. Melody was loud, because she wanted to be heard. Kieoxa was loud, because she didn't want to hear herself think. Kyosia was quiet, speaking barely above a whisper, when she chose to spoke. Kyosia needed to find something worth screaming about.
Magika sighed and shook her head sadly, anticipating the heartbroken look she was about to receive and feeling all the more miserable for it. "Sorry Kyosia. You have to go."
The girl bit her lower lip, and closed her eyes tightly. When she opened them, the desperate fight to hold back tears was almost more than Magika could bear. "Okay."
God! Magika stood and moved closer to the girl, debating whether or not to attempt comforting her. "I'll tell Mystic you're coming, you pack." The Weyrwoman quickly left, giving the girl privacy so she could cry. It's like kicking a puppy. No! Scratch that! It's like kicking a three legged starving puppy right after you bring a juicy steak to within inches of it's nose.
You should have just let her stay. Hyth reluctantly removed herself from the sun drenched rock and made her way to her rider.
I couldn't. Magika leaned against the hallway wall, convinced of her own damnation.
Why?
Because I care about her and I'm not going to let her miss her own life. Magika sighed, and headed to her weyr to suit up for the ride to the Warren.
Hyth looked from her rider, to the girl, and to her rider again. The golden dragon sighed, watching A'diar go by with Sherry on one arm and Li on the other. She shook her head. A whole planet full of lost and lonely people. She stretched her wings and shook her mane angrily, a rumbling growing deep in her chest. And we've got to take care of every blasted one of them!!
Magika grinned. "That's the spirit, love. Find Karia. We're going."
* * * Kyosia? The opal dragoness waited a moment. Rider-mine? Another heartbeat. Sia? Hello? Rider? Kyosia!?! Ah! The opal dragon began to gallop after her quickly moving rider. This was not as easy or as graceful as it sounds, consider the dragoness had recently been through a growth spurt and her wings were beginning to trip her up. Her teacher said she'd be flying soon, if Kyosia ever made it through weyrling training. The girl kept failing asleep for no conceivable reason. Sia? You can still hear me right? Ow!! The opal went down in a flurry of limbs.
Chronocrus, I'm ignoring you. Even in her anger, the girl didn't want her lifemate to think she was abandoned.
Oh! The dragon looked up at her bonded from the ground, struggling pathetically to get back on her feet. I didn't know that. If I knew that I wouldn't have bothered you. The endless tirade of telepathic babble was silent for all of about thirty heartbeats. Are you done ignoring me yet?
Kyosia had finally stopped striding away from her lifemate, deciding to sit down on a rock only twenty feet from the tangled dragonet. No.
Oh. Chronocrus sounded a little crest-fallen. There was another exceedingly brief silence. It's just that I'm kinda stuck and I know that when you're ignoring me you don't stop to help me, but I think I put one of my back claws through my wing and it really hurts. The opal dragon ducked her head, semi-expecting another short rebuke. And I'm not saying that because I need help, or because I want your attention. I'm just bringing it to your attention because you're my rider and you deserve to be appraised of my situation at all times. Pause. Just warning you in case you were planning on noticing me again when you needed help because some evil thing sprang out of the forest and was trying to eat you. I couldn't save you stuck, and I don't want you depending on me in that case. The opal dragon struggled for a moment in silence, before giving up and deciding to just stay tangled until her rider forgave her. Why are you ignoring me?
Kyosia, patiently putting up with the mental barrage, sighed. "You did it again."
The opal dragon hung her head in shame. I know. That's what I was trying to tell you, it's just that my wings seemed to have gotten so long and I know that means I'll be flying soon, but it sure makes walking a heck of a lot more difficult... I can't seem to keep all four limbs beneath me. It's this gravity thing. My life would be a lot less complicated if Mystic would just turn it off for a bit...
"Not!" Kyosia quickly cut in before her lifemate got really out of hand. She tried hard not to clench her jaw. "Not falling down. I was ignoring you before you fell down."
Yeah, you're right. Guess I wasn't thinking. It's just that I know you don't like it when I draw attention to you and falling seems to draw attention what with the other dragon's laughing and a couple of other weyrlings snickering and... The dragoness wisely cut her speech short when she saw the look on her rider's face. So, umm.... what were you mad about again?
Kyosia sighed, finding it impossible to remain angry with Chronocrus for long. She left her rock and made her way back to the hopelessly tangled hathian adolescent. She was silent for a moment as she put her dragon back in order. "You put me to sleep in class again."
Oooohhhh! Chronocrus shook her head and stretched her wings. I thought it was something seri..ous... The dragon trailed off, realizing a minute too late that it apparently was something serious. Sorry.
Kyosia sat on the ground in front of her bonded. The dragon was much bigger now, and laying down she was still taller than her rider. Her hide still shone in the light with the promise of a thousand colours just around the corner, if the observer would be willing to watch the opal forever. She took the large head in her hand and rested her forehead on the dragon's muzzle. She'd learned early on that this was an effective way to let Chronocrus know that this was Serious Stuff and she was to Be Quiet. "I know you don't mean too, love. But if you don't stop singing to me I'm never going to get out of here. Remember?"
The opal dragon nodded, careful not to accidentally hurt her rider's head. Pass class. Learn to control powers. Go back to Adanuk.
"Right." Kyosia kissed her dragon's nose.
Sia, what's so great about Adanuk? The opal dragon stood up startlingly gracefully and helped her rider to stand.
"It's home. And it's where Mei is. And it's where I want to be." Kyosia headed back towards her room. She knew she was skipping dinner again, but she just couldn't brave the huge dining hall right now.
Don't you like Mystic? The opal adolescent had only brief memories of Adanuk and the Weyrwoman. She seemed to remember something about numbweed too, but she was never sure about that one.
"I don't not like Mystic." Kyosia, winced, realising how stupid that must have sounded. "It's just...there's so many people here and...well...I just want Mei."
Why do you call her Mei when everyone else calls her Magika? Chronocrus was having a difficult enough time following her rider, she didn't need people's names changing on her.
"It's her real name." Kyosia left it at that. This, at least, was one thing her lifemate understood completely.
Oh. Chronocrus realised her rider was feeling a little homesick and desperately searched for another topic. An idea popped into her head quickly. Later, Mystic would end up deciding that this entire incident could be chalked up to the fact Kyosia slept through most of her classes and Chronocrus was new to her powers. The Caretaker decided not to punish the two, mainly because by the time she had figured out what had actually happened, she was too relieved that the entire forest was -not- cinders, like she'd been informed, to yell...anymore. Chronocrus should have known the bushes would be flammable, but how was she to know her starfyre was that strong? Hey! Chronocrus beamed and inhaled sharply. Look what I figured out I could do!!
* * * Come to bed rider-mine. The opal dragon considered herself a rather patient creature, but her rider's disinclination towards sleep was getting a little ridiculous. When she'd been younger Chronocrus had never realized that Kyosia didn't seem to need sleep, seeing as the dragon herself needed so much sleep. When she was an adolescent, Chronocrus had thought that staying up all night was fun, not exactly realising the possible psychological consequences of getting no sleep. Now that she was fully grown, out of classes and a little more mature (although just as vocal as ever), she wanted her rest.
You don't have to stay up with me. Kyosia sat at her desk in the room she'd been given and was attempting to write a letter to Magika. It wasn't going well. The girl couldn't think of a good way to ask to go home without looking like she desperately wanted to go home. She twirled the feather pen around in her hands, watching the plumes sway.
Chronocrus rolled onto her side and gave her rider her best puppy dog eyes. Please go to sleep. I know I don't have to stay up with you and I know you seem to think you don't need sleep, but I also know that humans do need sleep, just like dragons need sleep or you start to go crazy. The opal paused to yawn. And I can't really go to sleep with you thinking so loud. You're so worried about this stupid letter thing that I can't sleep and then when you do sleep you have nightmares and wake up and are even more reluctant to go to sleep the next night. The dragon sat up. This is getting a little ridiculous rider-mine.
Kyosia sighed. What if she won't take me back?
The dragon rolled her eyes. Why wouldn't she take you back?
Kyosia pressed the quill to the paper, and snapped it. She sighed, glancing at the candle that measured the hours past. Because Mystic doesn't think I'm fixed yet.
You were never broken, Sia. The dragoness rolled onto her back. She was finding it amazingly difficult to get comfortable this late night. Or rather, this early morning. Come to bed.
Yes I was. I was two different people and I went crazy. Kyosia pushed the broken off tip of the pen around in the ink, making a mess. Kieoxa and Melody.
The dragon moved onto her stomach again, realising that there was no way she was going to get to sleep after this. You were confused Sia, not broken. Never broken. The dragon waited a moment to see if she'd get a reply before she continued. Everybody's been confused before, it's a natural part of the human experience, and you just happened to have a bunch of other really crappy things happen to you at the same time as you got a little confused. I mean how many people have to deal with the betrayal and deaths of their close friends all at the same time. You really thought you were doing the right thing, how could you have possibly known that Meali's intentions weren't pure. You're not a psychic... Chronocrus winced and trailed off, realizing she'd said the wrong thing.
"Exactly." Kyosia began to verbalize her replies. "I'm not a psychic, but she was. She was empathetic or whatever they call it and she played me for a fool. She knew just how to push my buttons to get everything she wanted. And she knew enough not to remind me that she was psychic so that I'd drop my guard and just let her walk right into my mind and do whatever she wanted. I might as well have been her bird."
The dragon smiled. That's the longest sentence you've put together since I've known you.
The girl glared, and the dragon once again knew that she'd made a mistake. "I'm going for a walk." Without letting Chronocrus get another word in, (a truly formidable task), the 24 year old rider left the safety and warmth of her rooms for the darkness and mystery of the Warren's cold hallways after everyone was asleep.
Within moments she realised that this was not the smartest thing she'd ever done. She was fully prepared to turn around, when she realised she was not quite ready to face Chronocrus yet. The second she stepped into view, the opal dragon would knock her out. Despite Kyosia's many lectures on using her powers wisely, Chronocrus still sang her rider to sleep when the opal felt the girl needed it.
Taking a deep breath, Kyosia continued down the hall as quietly as possible. For her, that meant even the bugs resting on the walls didn't notice her passing. Her heart caught in her throat, but someone had noticed her. They were standing at the far end of the hall, just as silently as she was. The second Kyosia attempted to duck out of sight, the mysterious person realised they'd been caught and also ducked. Kyosia crouched in the hall, close to the wall, waiting to be set upon by whatever mystery creature was hunting her. She was silent and still a long time before working up the courage to peek down the hall again. No one was there. Kyosia began to slowly stand up, and the person immediately sprung into view. Making a startlingly soft panicky noise, Kyosia threw her hands up. So did the person down the hall. Realization dawned on Kyosia, and fear was replaced by self-loathing. There was no other person, just a mirror.
Kyosia approached the mirror. By the light of the stars she could see herself rather clearly. She looked just like she felt, half-terrified and wholly ridiculous. She scoffed at her reflection. "Thought you were brave enough to handle the world on your own, didn't you? But you're not. You're just a scared little girl who needs someone to protect you. Mei sent you away, she won't save you anymore. Mystic has too much to worry about, she can't watch you day and night. And now you've just pushed Chronocrus away. How do you expect to survive without anyone to look after you? Heaven knows you can't look after yourself...." Kyosia self-berating tirade was ended by soft sound from the passage to her left. She paused silently, waiting for the noise again. It didn't come, but the more she examined the corridor there seemed to be a light on in one of the far rooms. Probably someone just staying up late to finish some work...but there were no dens down that hallway. There were only classrooms.
Kyosia was fully prepared to run back to her room and beg Chronocrus' forgiveness when the sound came again. It was so familiar. Throwing self-preservation to the wind, the girl started on down the hallway.
The classrooms on either side of her were silent, dark and empty. If it weren't for the light, Kyosia wouldn't have ventured down the hall for anything. But there was something in that room she had to see. The light creeped out from underneath an old wooden door. It wasn't just a candle, or a fireplace. Beneath the door there must have been a great deal of chandeliers, all blazing. She slowly pushed open the door, and discovered she was correct.
The room was gigantic, larger then even the Dining Hall. There were chandeliers all along the surprisingly high ceiling and all were blazing warmly. It was an auditorium, and it could have easily seated the entire Warren. Kyosia entered and shut the door behind her. Her eyes drifted downwards to the stage, and her heart caught in her throat for the second time that night, although for an entirely different reason. Every conceivable instrument was lying there, on the stage, perfectly arranged for an orchestra. The candlelight gleamed off the brass, sparkled on the silver and shone on the well-worn, well-polished wood. It was a sight to break a musician's heart. And she had once been a musician, hadn't she?
I'm dreaming.... Kyosia refused to believe her eyes. This was too wonderful...and too scary. Music brought back memories.
Chronocrus was instantly awake. Something was going on. What? Sia! Where are you? The dragon left her bed, only to stand helplessly in the middle of the room. The girl was either hallucinating, or believed she was hallucinating. Chronocrus couldn't find her. Sia!
"I'm dreaming." She murmured the words to herself as she climbed the stairs to the stage. She ran her fingers along several of the instruments, marvelling at how well her mind had reconstructed them.
What are you dreaming then?!? The dragon knew her rider was fully conscious, but she didn't want to spend time arguing the fact.
Kyosia closed her eyes, and for the first time in four years, she sang.
"Often times, I dream of music, of the river that freely flows,
And it sings a song sweeter than honey, one everybody knows.
Late at night, I hear it singing, then again when I wake at dawn,
And it fills me up with hope and good will, the will to go on, go on.
There is a river in Judea, that I heard of long ago,
And it's a singing, ringing river, that my soul cries out to know.
I believe it keeps on travelling, but it rest on the Sabbath day.
And the time that it pauses in stillness, I almost hear it pray.
When I'm weary and down-hearted, how I long for the song it sings,
For the calm within its gentle blue, the peace that it brings, it brings.
There is a river in Judea, that I heard of long ago,
And it's a singing, ringing river, that my soul cries out to know.
May the time not be too distant, when we meet by the river shore.
'Til then dream of that wonderful day, as we sing once more, once more:
There is a river in Judea, that I heard of long ago.
It's a singing, ringing river, that my soul cries out to know."
Sia... Chronocrus, miraculously, was at a loss for words. You have a beautiful voice.
"It got me into nothing but trouble." Kyosia sat on the edge of the stage.
Liar.
Kyosia smiled. "I guess you're right."
Sia, rider-mine. Come to bed.
"Okay."
From the back of the auditorium, the Caretaker smiled to herself. "Too much to worry about?" She shrugged. "Maybe. But I promised Magika I'd watch you."
* * * "Mei!" Kyosia flung herself off Chronocrus' back and glomped the Weyrwoman.
Magika, cringed as the wind was knocked out of her and then smiled as she attempted to disentangle herself. "Hey."
"I missed you." Kyosia blushed as she let the Weyrwoman go, feeling rather stupid after all this time.
"I got that." Magika smirked and managed to remain aloof and serious for all of half a second. She laughed and hugged the girl. "It's good to have you back."
"Shall I leave you two alone?" Mystic raised a brow, a trace of a smirk on her face. She had her arms crossed across her chest. Which only meant that she couldn't use them to pry Magika off of her when the Weyrwoman decided to give her a hug as well. Mystic struggled to free herself. "What are you doing?"
"I'm feeling emotional today." Magika finally let her friend go. "How was the trip?"
"Fine." Kyosia answered with a smile.
Magika laughed. "Feeling better?"
"Much." The opalrider turned back to her lifemate. Chronocrus had never really gotten used to the feel of the dragonsaddle and wanted it off as quickly as was humanly possible.
Magika turned to Mystic. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing." The Caretaker was slightly insulted.
"You must have done something she's....bubbly. And I thought she didn't like you."
"Didn't like me?" Mystic was indignant. "Why doesn't she like me?"
"I don't know. What did you do to her?"
"NOTHING!" The mage bristled.
"There's been a change in me, a kind of moving on,
Though what I used to be I still depend upon.
For now I realize that good can come from bad.
That may not make me wise but oh, it makes me glad.
And I, I never thought I'd leave behind
My childhood dreams, but I don't mind,
For now I love the world I see.
No change of heart, a change in me.
For in my dark despair I slowly understood.
My perfect world out there had disappeared for good,
But in its place I feel a truer life begin.
And it's so good and real, it must come from within.
And I, I never thought I'd leave behind
My childhood dreams, but I don't mind.
I'm where and who I want to be.
No change of heart, a change in me.
No change of heart, a change in me."
With the end of her song, Kyosia kissed Chronocrus upon the nose and let the dragonsaddle fall to the ground. She turned to face the two leaders. "Where should I dump my stuff?"
Hearing her cue, Media took over. "Come with me, I'll show you to your room. It's really very nice, the window faces the sunset. I brought some fresh flowers up there when I heard you were coming back, and a full fledged rider now too. Well I just thought that..." The old Headwoman's voice was lost to Magika and Mystic as Kyosia followed her up to her new room in her old home.
Magika smiled knowingly at Mystic, who couldn't help but grin back. "See," the mage smirked. "I didn't do anything."
"I guess Kyosia didn't need something to scream about after all." Magika was pleased with the way things had worked out. "Just something to sing about."
* * *
Kyosia impressed Chronocrus at The Warren.
The first song Kyosia sings is "River in Judea", a popular church anthem.
The second song she sings is "A Change in Me" from Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical. Lyrics by Tim Rice.
I hate myself for admitting this, but I have no idea where I got this background from. I found it saved on an old disk and thought it was appropriate. *hangs head in shame* If anyone does know where I got it, feel free to yell at me.
