The birds flew over the Veldt, singing sweet songs. Mobliz and Doma stood close, hearing the same songs. Gau sat in the tall trees watching them fly in the sky, the clouds passing. He sighed admiring the view, everything quiet.
They continued flying west, overlooking the sparkling blue sea. A figure was lying on the coast, weak and lifeless. The birds flew back around, approaching Gau. He held out his hand and they both perched happily.
"What wrong?" He asked. They chirped wildly and Gau seemed to understand what the animals said. He jumped down from the tree, alarming the birds and causing them to fly back away. He ran to the coast as fast as possible, all sorts of odd beasts passing him as he went.
He gasped for air approaching the shore. A girl lie there. She looked the same age as him, but she looked much different from anyone he had met. She had short black hair with purple on the bottom, an owl looking haircut. She had white and pink clothes, all ripped, her purple cape hardly still intact. She had bruises everywhere, covering her legs, which were almost smashed. Her fingers were sprained and bloody.
Gau checked for a pulse, and she was still alive. He examined her closely.
"She from far away... Must have been ship wrecked," he said to himself. He pulled her up onto his back. She was light enough to carry for a short way. "Gau get to Doma castle. You be okay there," Gau said, talking to her battered body.
The doctor looked over her carefully, examining her bruises, sprains, and broken bones. Her face was pale. It looked as though it was on the cross between life and death. Her lips, in a position of sadness and fear, were trembling in her weak condition, a few drops of blood hanging from them. Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes thickly showing the place of her eyes. Like a child, she only looked as young as thirteen, the same age as Gau, but there seemed to be something more to her than that. Like there was a power inside her.
An esper...? It's like what Gau feel when Gau with Terra. Could it be that there is an esper inside this girl? Gau thought to himself, overlooking her with the doctor. Her fingers looked blue, each and every one on the verge of breaking, but only deeply sprained. A few drops of dried blood ran down them, coloring them from the light blue. Her legs didn't even look peach anymore. Swollen, broken, sprained. An awful sight.
"What all wrong with her?" Gau asked in an worried voice. The doctor looked up from her to Gau.
"Lots of things... First of all she has been going through starvation and dehydration. Very severe. And then her fingers are deeply swollen. Even the slightest touch might break the bones in them now. Her left arm is broken, the other one violently bruised," he explained. Gau still looked concerned, staring at her legs.
"Her leg look bad... She be able to walk again?" He asked. The doctor laughed.
"Of course. She'll be fine after a few months in the infirmary. Her legs are just sprained. She's in good hands here at Doma. We have a higher medical rate than any other kingdom. It was smart of you to take her here. And quickly too," the doctor said in a grateful voice. Gau nodded.
"I had to do something... She look dead at first. Please take good care of her. Gau don't know why but there something special about this girl..." He said in a soft voice, his fangs slightly showing from the corners of his mouth.
He jumped down from the counter of the room and happily left crawling on the floors, scratching the red carpets with his claws.
That girl has some sort of magical power... Esper would no give such young girl such power unless she was truly against evil. So, there isn't anything to worry about. As soon as she's healed Gau know... But they said it would take a few months to heal her... He thought. He snapped his finger in remembrance. Sraphim! I can use Sraphim power to heal her sooner... As long as no one find out! He thought happily. He turned the corner of the castle wall, seeing Cyan and a group of soldiers standing around talking.
"Mr. Thou!" Gau said in a loud voice, almost running out. He heard the voice of one of the other soldiers before showing himself, and he stood listening.
"I heard that Gau found something interesting today. Quite a cute little girl laying on the coast of the Veldt," one began. The others looked surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah, heard she was really hurt and unconscious. He took her here too. To get hospitalized," he finished. The rest had suspicious looks on their faces.
"That little monster probably didn't find her. I bet he did the damage himself," another replied. Cyan spun around with a glare on his face.
"Stop it! Sir Gau isn't like that! He's honest to save such a fine maiden!" He yelled. They ignored him.
"I don't think we should allow him in here. He wrecks everything. And I bet your going to allow him to stay until the girl is okay?" One asked Cyan with an angry look on his face. Cyan growled fiercely.
"I am," he answered simply, "He has a right to stay as long as he likes for saving a life. He's smarter than all of you put together and much stronger! He's my friend and you won't mistreat him in any way," he ordered. They all snickered.
" He's an animal Cyan! Let him go back to the Veldt where he belongs! He's got fangs, claws, green skin, and who knows what else. How do you think the girl's going to feel when she wakes up seeing a monster, huh? She'll be scared spitless!" One cried. Cyan clinched in anger.
"Do you want to lose your position as soldier?" He asked them all. They stood silent now waiting for orders. "Good, go back to your rooms and rest up. You had a hard practice today, you need your rest," Cyan finished. They nodded and slowly went back to their whispering to each other on the way.
Gau stood sadly, his eyes dancing with tears rolling down his cheeks. He wiped them away with his arm, trying to forget all the harsh things said about him. And yet if he had stayed with the young girl in the infirmary he wouldn't have heard a word of it. It hurt so much, almost like being lashed by a whip to Gau.
Even if Gau is monster... At least... He looked down at his claws and quickly turned back up. Would I... Really scare her? he thought. Then shook his head. Why am I listening to them!?
He turned away and ran down the halls toward the infirmary. It seemed like such a long way when he was running from something. And that something was the cruel lies of the knights. Even if he knew it wasn't true didn't mean that it didn't hurt him. He thrust the door open, trying to get as far away from knights' quarters as possible.
She lay there. Weak and lifeless. Beads of sweat poured down her face and she tossed and turned in a deep sleep. Conscious now, but asleep. Gau approached her slowly, his hands trembling. He lifted them in the air and let a magical essence flow through his body.
"Sraphim! Come forth, and heal this girl at my command!" A light gleamed at his hands and the esper appeared. An angel dressed in a silky white dress flowing down to her feet, covered by glassy white slippers. Her blonde hair looked white under the glimmers of light, hanging down lightly at her shoulders, almost looking like silk, perfectly framing her beautiful face. Her large blue eyes lovingly opened, giving healing by look alone. Her valiant white wings spread from her back, sparkles dancing from them any time they moved. Feathers covered the floor as she moved slowly lifting herself from the ground, her giant wings flapping. Light surrounded the entire room. And Gau could see white, endless white.
"Ameria, hang on!" Zelgadis said, clutching her hand from the waves. She screamed, the sea almost engulfing her. Gourry had been swept away by these waves. Would she as well? Zelgadis kept a firm grip on her hand while his other hand gripped the side of the ship, denting it as it pushed them in further.
Endless fear was racing through her mind. What would happen to Zelgadis when the time finally came when he couldn't hang on anymore? The same thing that happened to Gourry? She would never forgive herself if something happened to him. She screamed again, tears still running down her face. The rain made it all look fake, but her loud sobs could be heard through night.
Zelgadis fell down more and more, Ameria still screaming. He was losing grip and grabbed tighter, squeezing her hand. Then pain. The stone hurt so much even if it was Zelgadis' hand. She knew he wouldn't try to hurt her and she would not blame him for being a chimera. That was Rezo's fault. She had learned to love him the way he was. But... The pain! She couldn't ignore the pressure of the stone hands clutching her human ones. She gasped for air and blood poured from her mouth down her lips making her tremble.
She screamed again, her fingers spraining. It rang in his ears and they both lost hold. They fell into that unending sea, And she would die... Die...
Ameria moaned. She felt immobilized. Her broken limbs and wounds hurt so much, but she could move. She slowly turned over on her back, a face looking over her. Everything was blurry and it wasn't clear. But she could tell it was not human.
" Zelgadis-san..." She said softly. Gau sighed.
"I guess your thoughts still are no straight. My name Gau," he said correcting her. She moaned, not understanding much. Gau held out his arm. "Let Gau see arm," he instructed. Ameria slowly moved out her arm, hardly understanding what he told her. He looked it over carefully, then nodded.
"It no broken anymore. Good!" He said in a happy voice. She moaned again and Gau backed away. "You tired? Gau go!" Gau continued. She shut her eyes and the world turned black. That voice seemed childish but she couldn't gather all her thoughts together correctly. So much thinking and figuring out to do and it was tiring. She fell asleep instantly.
Cyan paced around Ameria's bed, Gau by his side looking over her. She didn't look as pale and her sleep looked much deeper and relaxed then before. Her face and body had gotten color back to them and she could toss and turn in her sleep without moaning now.
"You used Sraphim to do this?" Cyan asked. Gau looked over all of her healed wounds. Gau nodded with a satisfied look on his face.
"She should wake up soon. Her thoughts should be a lot clearer too," Gau replied. Cyan backed away from the bed.
"No more sprains or broken bones, just a few simple bruises. She should be out of here in no time," Cyan said in a happy voice, smiling over at Gau. "That was smart thinking," he added. Gau smiled at the compliment but the harsh voices of the soldiers pounded in his ears, his innocent eyes dancing with sadness, a beast's gaze.
The girl sighed childishly in her sleep, resting peacefully. Her cheeks had a rosy red color to them now and a smile on her face as she slept. Her hands curled up under her head supporting it, small noises like sighs exhaling from her mouth.
Gau looked down on her and felt a feeling arousing within him.
"Esper..." He whispered. Cyan turned to Gau.
"Did you say something, Sir Gau?" He asked. Gau gasped and shook his head and laughed. Cyan examined Gau's face carefully.
"She's cute isn't she?" He asked him. Gau nodded.
"She look as old as me. Thirteen," he replied. The girl stirred slightly and Gau and Cyan went to the side of the bed looking over her. She slowly opened her eyes, a childish gaze flowing out. Her eyes were a deep blue, her long lashes supporting them. She looked scared and confused, her eyes dancing with fear. She looked up at them with a curiosity.
"How are you feeling?" Cyan asked.
"A little thirsty..." She said in a soft voice. Cyan smiled.
"No problem. Here," he handed her a glass of water that was waiting on the side table. She drank it all down within seconds, taking long, loud gulps. She handed the glass back to Cyan with a grateful look on her face. Cyan turned to pour her more water to remedy her dehydration. Gau backed away hiding in the shadows of the room while her back was turned.
They right... I'll probably just scare her... Scare her... He thought to himself, still watching her engulf glasses of water.
Cyan grinned.
I'm sure you're hungry too, but we'll take care of that later," he said to her. She nodded politely, showing gratitude. He grasped her hand in his.
"Do you remember what happened to you? Anything at all?" He asked in a concerned voice. She looked down at her hands, the ones Zelgadis had sprained with his fingers, her eyes showing depression. She simply nodded.
"I remember everything... In great detail..." She replied, remembering her nightmare earlier of the ship wreck. " I was sailing. To the New World... ny ship was caught in a tempest," she continued. Cyan nodded.
"Where do you come from?" He asked again, making sure her memory wasn't muffled by any signs of brain damage.
"Sailoon... West of the New World on it's own continent," she replied, knowing he must be kind by the concerned look in his eyes.
"Sailoon! I've heard of that place! According to your country's studies, the New World and this Island were discovered by the other side of the world! Messages from a city that large reach a large kingdom like this as well!" He said sounding less confused. Ameria smiled at the knowledge of her kingdom.
"So... This is Final Fantasy, the Island east of the New World..."
"Can I throw a bomb, Boss?" Jirasu asked, staring at Valgarb from the other side of the boat. An annoyed look struck his face.
"No!" He replied.
There was a brief moment of silence.
"Okay, NOW can I throw a bomb?" He asked again.
"Where are you going to throw it?! We're surrounded by water!!!" Valgarb screamed, examining the ocean around them. Jirasu looked upset.
"Well, when will we reach land?" He asked in a sad voice.
"If someone I know hadn't forgotten the map I would know!!!" He cried. Kurabos sat on the other side of the boat watching the desperate Jirasu in more attempts to throw any kind of explosive. Their food and water was running low and they had to save everything they had.
He sighed. There was a long way to go.
"I've heard of it... The war of the Magi your world was in thousands of years ago," Ameria said, replying to the numerous questions asked by Cyan who wanted to know how much Sailoon had learned about this side of the world. "Sailoon is the best at studying other countries. It's our duty to make sure their safe."
"Your kingdom and our kingdom have a close alliance ever since you found us. We didn't even know there were more continents and such on this world," he paused. "But why do you know so much information? Don't they keep our wars, culture, and such a secret from the public?" He asked the girl. She nodded and saw the confused look on his face.
She held out her arm to him and he saw a talisman around her wrist.
"I'm Princess Ameria of Sailoon. It's nice to meet you," she said in a cheerful voice. Cyan gasped examining the star-like design on the talisman closer. He dropped to the floor and bowed down to her.
"I had no idea you were royalty. Please forgive me if I've insulted you in any way!" He pleaded. Ameria giggled.
"And this is Doma correct? Daddy has spoken with your king. I trust your kingdom's care," she said. He nodded.
"Your father, Prince Phillionel who came here in search for land. But why would your father put you in the danger of sailing to the New World?" He asked. Ameria's eyes danced in remembrance from the beginning.
"There was still land to claim on the New World when we discovered it, but not here. Daddy was sending our ships out for the New World and I accidentally got aboard one of our ships with some of my old friends. It broke down and we were stranded. A tempest came and separated us... I guess I washed up here..." She said softly, remembering the touch of Zelgadis' stone hands against hers.
Cyan nodded, remembering her telling him about being caught in the tempest before, but understood more as she added detail. Gau revealed himself from the shadows, too interested to care. Meeting the princess of Sailoon might be interesting the way Cyan would go on about it. Learning about her world might be fun, not to mention his curiosity in her magical powers.
"I find you on Veldt..." He said. Ameria nodded, not seeming to notice how strange he looked.
"My friends might be dead... Or separated all over the world. I don't know where they might be..." She said sadly. Gau felt sympathy for her, watching her eyes shine with a sad gaze. He turned to Cyan.
"Maybe we ask Setzer if he take girl home?" He asked. Cyan shook his head.
"Not until she's fully healed. I think our king might have some business with her as well... I'm Sir Cyan, retainer to the king," he offered her his hand politely and she shook it. She knew she would have to stay here for a long time and she knew something might be happening to the others, but tried to keep a smile on her face.
The king would probably need to talk to her and she would probably have to study more history of the Island since she has the chance. Not all of her wounds were healed yet either and she was told she would stay in the infirmary for a while longer. She also learned that after she was healed that Cyan had a friend who had a way to take her home safely and quickly but she didn't know exactly how he would get her there.
She would be happy to see her father again, but what about the others?