Chapter XVI

Charlie carried Brietta across the bedroom to her bed. He layed her down on it and sat on his knees beside it. “Brietta…” he said. “You don’t know how long… I’ve had this feeling, do you? Truthfully, I was just having fun about it in the beginning.” –He remembered the time at the Fourth of July Fair.- “I was just being my stupid self. That other side of me that everyone at least had known. I didn’t know that I’d become so shy around you, or that when you added that bit to my name that one day, that I’d change.” The memory passed through his mind.

“At first,” he said. “You were really shy. I remember the very first time that I talked to you. You were so shy that I strained to hear you in the beginning. Though, then I found how caring and… well… ‘soft’ you are.” –He remembered the time that he and Heather had called her a ‘dork’ or something along those lines.- “Then, how forgiving you are and how easily you can be fooled.” –He chuckled as he remembered the “Charlie turned into a newspaper!” that Kanomo had told him about.- “All along, you were really brave.”

Charlie stood up. “Yet I still wonder if there’s any more,” he said and brushed back her bangs to kiss her forehead. Then, he sang: “Can a girl like you fall in love with a boy like me?”

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Leann and Kanomo sat side-by-side in two lawn chairs. Kanomo put his arm across Leann’s shoulders and relaxed for a moment. He breathed in deeply. “Fresh air sure is great,” he said.

“Yeah,” Leann replied and hesitated before laying her head on his shoulder.

Kanomo peaked over to her for a moment. The falling sun gave a soft orange glow on her hair, and her brown eyes gleamed as she softly blushed. Kanomo found himself blushing.

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Leann’s parents watched her and Kanomo from a distance. “I wonder if there’s a connection to why he was so clumsy earlier and his feelings for Leann,” Brea said.

Leann’s dad gave a grunt.

“Oh come off it Stevie,” Brea said. “I remember when you first told me that you loved me. I was sixteen and you were seventeen.”

“And they’re both thirteen,” Steven said.

“So?” Brea asked. “He’s a really nice boy.”

“Those are the ones that you have to keep an eye on the most,” Steven said, glaring at Kanomo.

Kanomo felt the glare and cocked his head to see who it was.

“What is it?” Leann asked.

“I dunno,” Kanomo said and went to relaxing again.

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Brietta and Charlie tried figuring out how to make a portal to Legatia before sunset, but gave up when Brietta’s mom started getting suspicious.

The very first night, Kanomo ended up dreaming about the old man that he had seen in his first three visions. Yet, he was much younger this time and the man acted younger than his age.

Over the span of four more days, Kanomo had more dreams of his past, Charlie kept trying to tell Brietta how he felt, and everyone was having fun.

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On the last day, Kanomo awoke and stretched. He then rubbed his eyes and looked over to Leann. She was sleeping soundly in her purple sleeping bag. Kanomo quietly made his way out of the huge tent and over to the river. He squatted down by the bank and splashed his face with water. Then, he shook his face of it and said, “Cold water sure can wake you up.”

“Really now?” someone behind him asked.

Kanomo stood up and turned around. He was now face-to-face with Leann’s father. “Oh,” Kanomo said. “Good morning sir.”

“Good morning,” Leann’s father said bluntly. “Come here boy, I’d like to talk to you.”

“Okay,” Kanomo said with a shrug. He followed Steven to two lawn chairs that were facing each other. They both sat down and stared at each other for a moment.

“So, tell me about your parents,” Steven said.

Kanomo blinked and recalled his dreams. “Well,” he said. “I don’t know much about them because they had been killed in a fire.”

“Really?” Leann’s father asked. “Then who do you live with?”

“My mother’s parents,” Kanomo replied. “I was four, and my grandma died when I was six. I’ve lived with my grandfather ever since.”

“Oh,” Leann’s father said. “Well then, what’s he like?”

“He’s kind, stern, and fun,” Kanomo said. “He’s always been the best father-figure to me, and I always respected him. Well, as much as I could when I was younger.”

Leann’s father laughed and then thought for a moment before saying, “Last question: Why would a boy like you like a girl like Leann?”

Kanomo looked at Leann’s father curiously. He then closed his eyes and sighed. “Well,” he said, eyes softly opening and staring towards the tent where she slept. “She’s the kind of person whose really sweet, kind, and… her smile is just too loveable.” He seemed to drift off. “Love was just too hard to run from…”

Steven sighed and stood up. “I guess you’re good to go.”

“Good to go?” Kanomo echoed.

“Yeah,” Leann’s father turned around.

“I wasn’t planning on leaving yet,” Kanomo said and blinked.

Steven just laughed and walked on over to the fireplace.

Kanomo shrugged and wondered what he and Leann should do later on.

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Brietta woke up and got out of bed. I’m hungry, she thought and went downstairs. I wonder what I should get… something that’ll keep me awake or asleep? She ended up fixing herself a cheese sandwich and falling asleep.

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The air was chilly and a white-grey mist had a pure white light inside of it. Everything else was black. Brietta shivered and looked around, scared. “D-doko? (where? Or where am I?)” she asked the empty space. “Is anybody h-here?”

A tall figure appeared, and a black belt flew with the sudden wind.

“Brietta…” it called.

“D-dare… anata? (Who… are you?)” Brietta asked.

“Brietta… Brietta… Brietta…”

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“Brietta?” Charlie asked. He gently pushed her shoulder.

Brietta blinked here eyes open. “Anata dare?” she asked.

“Brietta,” Charlie said. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Brietta looked up at Charlie. “Charlie-kun?” she asked. “When did you get here?”

Charlie sighed. “You’re still not fully awake yet, are you?” he asked. “Let’s get you some coffee.”

“Coffee?” Brietta echoed and followed him to the kitchen area. “I can’t remember ever drinking coffee before.”

“Well,” Charlie asked. “Now you can.” He went ahead and started making it.

“Okay,” Brietta said and took a seat by the table.

“So, what were you dreaming about?” Charlie asked.

“Why?” Brietta asked.

“You were saying something like: ‘Doko?’,” he said. “And what does that mean?”

“Doko means ‘Where?”,” Brietta said. “I didn’t know where I was. I mean, all I could see was darkness and a mist. It was soooo cold and I was reaaaly scared.”

Charlie paused his action of pulling out one of the kitchen table’s chairs. He stared at Brietta. “Are you now?” he asked.

Brietta thought for a moment. “No, I’m not,” she said. “You’re here.”

“What if I were to leave just for a moment?” he asked.

“I dunno…” Brietta said.

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Leann was up soon enough and was talking to Kanomo by the river as they stood silently. “Maybe we should take that trail today,” Leann said and pointed to the one by the river. “I’ve seen you staring at it often.”

Kanomo looked at her and smiled. “You’re really sweet,” he commented and hugged her.

Leann blushed and giggled.

“I love you,” Kanomo whispered.

“I-I…,” Leann gave a sigh. “I love you too.”

“You’re getting more courageous Leann,” Kanomo whispered. “I’m really glad.”

“Me too,” Leann said. She let her head rest on her chest. Me too… she repeated in her head.

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“So we’re going on that trail?” Steven Bailey asked the two teenagers and pointed down the trail.

“Yes sir,” Kanomo replied.

“Okay,” Steven said.

“Let’s go!” Mrs. Bailey said and started on the trail.

It was a simple, yet somewhat tough, trail. There was a trail that seemed to fade away at times and they had to follow the river to re-find it. Then, there were slippery rocks, Kanomo helped Leann on most of those, fallen trees, Kanomo actually got cut by one of those, and other difficulties, in which everyone had their own problems with.

“I believe we’ve made it!” Brea said. They ended up on a plateau that overlooked a huge field of purple and pink flowers.

“Wow,” Leann breathed.

“Amazing isn’t it?” Kanomo asked, his arms around her.

“Yeah,” Leann said.

“Well, let’s get our picnic out,” Brea said.

“Okay,” Steven said. They got it out, and as soon as they did, Brea started flirting with Steven.

“Oh come on Stevie, I wanna go that way,” she said and pointed to a forest. “Let’s just see if there’s a clearing on the other said.”

“Why?” Steven asked. “What about the kids?”

“They’re not really kids now are they?” Brea said. “I brought two extra blankets.”

“Well,” Steven said and looked over to Leann and Kanomo, who were seemed to be totally ignoring the scene. “I guess.”

“Then let’s go,” Brea said. She added half of the food to the basket and left.

Leann and Kanomo sighed. “Finally,” they chorused. Both looked at each other and laughed.

“Well, we’re finally alone,” Kanomo said. “Let’s eat.” He grabbed a strawberry and put it in Leann’s mouth.

Leann took it and blushed. “M-maybe we should eat the m-main food first,” she said and grabbed the sandwiches.

Kanomo took one at random and bit into it. “Ah, peanut butter and jelly, my favorite,” he said.

“I-I made the sandwiches…” Leann said.

“Well that makes it all the better,” Kanomo said.

Leann ate one herself.

They went on to eat the rest of the picnic.

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Leann and Kanomo laid out on the grass as the wind blew by. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” Kanomo asked.

“Yeah,” Leann said.

Kanomo closed his eyes and felt himself become sleepy. What am I doing? Kanomo thought. I can’t go to sleep at a moment like this.

They both ended up closing their eyes sleepily though, and something came over Leann. She began rolling towards the edge of the plateau, unconscious. Kanomo opened his eyes and saw what was happening. “Leann!” he called out.

Leann opened her eyes, and fell off the edge, screaming.

Kanomo rushed over and grabbed her hand. “Hold on!” Kanomo called.

Something made they’re hands slip apart though and Leann fell. “Leann! Leann!” Kanomo called, scared, and dove after her. He ended up catching up to her and hugging her. “Leann,” he whispered. “Everything’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Leann gave a whimper, further scaring Kanomo. He decided to move her head to his chest, so that he would be the first person to hit the ground; giving her a better chance of survival. Suddenly, a golden light appeared and they teleported to the top of the plateau. They slightly let go of each other.

Leann saw that they were on solid ground and looked at Kanomo. “What just happened?” she asked.

Kanomo stared at her for a moment before he closed his eyes. I can tell her, but not now… he thought. A minute ago, I was so scared of thinking that I might not see her again. He opened his eyes and stared straight into hers. I’d never be able to see those beautiful eyes. “I’ll tell you later,” he said gently.

“Huh?” Leann asked…

…before…

…they kissed.

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The ninja was squatted on the banks of the river that led to the lake by Charlie’s cabin. He stared into the river and stood up. He looked downstream and then looked up to see the sun at sunset.

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The twins and Heather were playing around by the lake and everyone else sat around the fire. “So, the man asked, ‘What do you do to get so strong? Do you wrestle? Weightlift?’ ‘No,’ the skinny man said. ‘I work for the IRS’,” Charlie told the joke and everyone laughed.

“So,” Brietta’s mother asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“An entrepreneur,” Charlie said.

“What are you gonna make or sell?” Brietta’s mother asked.

“I won’t know till I think it up,” Charlie replied.

Brietta gave a giggle, setting everyone off to laugh.

“What about you?” Charlie asked Brietta.

“I really don’t know yet,” Brietta said. “I might become a veterinarian.”

“That sounds nice,” Charlie said.

“As long as I don’t have to put the animals to sleep that is,” Brietta said.

“But what about snakes?” Charlie asked.

“That’s my problem,” Brietta said. “I guess I won’t really ask to work with them.”

“Why not become an accountant?” Charlie’s mom asked. “You’re good with math.”

Brietta shrugged. “It sounds good,” Brietta said.

“Yeah,” Charlie joked. “And you’ll be able to squeeze a whole lot out of lemons.”

Brietta laughed. “Hey, mind if I go inside for a minute?” she asked.

“Why?” Brietta’s mom asked.

“I’m kinda hungry,” Brietta replied.

“I’ll go with ya,” Charlie offered. Maybe I can tell her my feelings in there, he thought.

“If you want,” Brietta said with a shrug and they went on in.

“There it is again,” Charlie said as the door shut behind them.

“What?” Brietta asked. Suddenly, she felt something strange, and almost faint. She felt really weak and dizzy.

“Brietta!” Charlie called and caught her before she fainted to the floor. “Brietta! What’s wrong?”

“I-I don’t know,” Brietta said. I feel so weak, she thought. Why? What am I feeling? Is this what I’m supposed to feel?

Brietta stood and saw the light of the moon form the shape of the eight-point star of the window above them on the floor. “Why?” Brietta asked weakly. She pointed to the star.

“Dad just found that it had good energy,” Charlie said.

Somehow, Brietta started walking to it without meaning. Everything grew dark in her mind, all except for that star. She walked over to it and came to its center. Suddenly, the gems from the lantern above her shone. The light filtered through the house, yet nothing but the floor and some walls were there now. Every bit of the furniture was gone, including the stairs. Brietta looked up to see her mother, the twins, Heather, Charlie, Charlie’s parents, Leann, and Kanomo above her. Charlie hit something with his fists that seemed like it was glass.

“Brietta,” a voice said.

Brietta turned to see the ninja.

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“Briettaaaaa!” Charlie slammed his fists against the glass and ran around the top of the house. There was glass around the railing, and there was a railing where the stairs had been. Charlie slammed his fists against the glass again.

“Calm down!” Charlie’s dad commanded.

Charlie’s eyes became an icy blue as he looked downward. He feared this fight for Brietta. She couldn’t hear him, and he couldn’t reach her by his mind either.

“What’s going on?” Brietta’s mother asked.

“We’ll see, soon enough,” Charlie’s mom said and leaned against the railing and glass. They could hear what ninja and Brietta could say, but not the other way around.

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The ninja unsheathed his sword and simply held it out to Brietta. Brietta stared at the sword and then to his face before grabbing hold of the amulet. The ninja nodded. Brietta closed her eyes, ready to throw it, and suddenly felt herself transform right there. The amulet changed to the arrow and let go of it as she opened her eyes.

The ninja re-sheathed his sword and gave a graceful bow. Brietta followed suit. A minute later, the ninja took out his sword and rushed at her. Brietta dodged what she could and got out of his way. I get it now, Brietta thought. She found a clear spot and called, “WINGS!”

Brietta flew to the top by the chandelier and whipped out the bow and arrow. She pulled on the string and two arrows appeared beside her. “WIND! She hollered and shot nine consecutive arrows. The ninja dodged them all and held his sword up to her. Ice shot from the tip and Brietta dodged it. She flew around as the ninja shot out more and more ice. Then, she quickly pulled back on her bow and called out, “FIRE!” She shot only two fire arrows that the ninja easily missed.

I’m not getting anywhere like this, Brietta thought. Maybe I should try something non-arrowy. What if I could change into my Legatia outfit now? Brietta dodged some more of the ninja’s attacks while trying to think of what to do. She then had an idea and pulled back once more on her bow and arrow. “WATER!! EARTH!!” she called out and shot the two arrows in that exact order.

A lake appeared in an area not around the ninja and a jungle appeared, along with a rock in the center of the lake. “Here goes,” Brietta sighed. Please, power within me, help me to change, she thought and rushed at it. The ninja, though, abruptly froze the lake and shot Brietta back into a tree. Brietta looked up and around. She remembered her surroundings. I had forgotten about him, Brietta thought. I can’t.

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Brietta’s mother looked like she was about to faint. “Why… when… how…?” she gasped. Her oldest child was down there fighting that ninja-looking guy and she couldn’t do anything about it.

“Well,” Kanomo said and went onto explain.

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“FIRE!!” Brietta kept calling out, but the ice just wouldn’t melt. She dodged the ninja’s magic shots as best as she could. Brietta jumped up to a tree and hid in it to find time to think. What else do I have? She thought and looked around. Suddenly, she saw the cherry tree. It’s just like ‘wings’! she thought and jumped down as she called, “SPEED!”

Brietta ran around the lake as good as she could.

The ninja saw and tried to stop her. “FIRE SWORD!” she called out next and held the sword towards the ninja and surrounded it with fire. “WINGS!!” she called and got out of the funnel. “WIND!” she called and shot the arrows to have them create a huge thing of fire that surrounded the ice. Why didn’t I think of this earlier? She thought.

The fire went out and the ice melted. Brietta flew straight for the rock in the center of the lake. As soon as she touched it, she changed and flew straight into the air. Yes! She thought.

The ninja shot out a fire that got Brietta’s wings. Brietta saw it. “WATER!!” she called out and pointed her hand at her wing to put it out, yet she got off balance and hit the ground.

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“Brietta!” Charlie called when she hit the ground. You’ve been doing okay so far, he thought. Keep it up! Keep pushing! Keep thinking! Keep knowing!

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Brietta slowly tried to get back up. I’ve gotta keep going, she thought. I’ve gotta figure out what to do next. What’s my objective? Why am I here? Suddenly she was hit by wind into a tree. She tried getting up, but found that she couldn’t. Her eyes widened as she suddenly realized how much power she had just used to get her Legatia outfit. I’ve used up too much power… Especially when I used fire, she thought. Oh no! I’m all out! What’ll I do? The ninja! She felt glad. He’s just gonna give me another Puzzle Piece. Hmm… I wonder how many are left.

The ninja took his time walking over to her and he held his sword out to her neck.

What!?! Brietta thought as her eyes widened and looked towards the sword. She looked up to the ninja and up into his eyes. “Why?” she whispered.

“You’ve ran out of time,” the ninja said and pulled back on his sword.

Time? Time? What does he mean? She thought.

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“Brietaaaaaaaaa!!” Charlie called out.

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Brietta heard his call. “Charlie-kun…” she whispered and moved her head as the ninja struck the sword. “Charlie-kun…”

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Brietta found herself in a navy-blue room. She stood up and looked around. “Charlie-kun…” she kept letting the words fall off her tongue. “I wonder… does he…?”

The scene from the very first day camping came up on the wall in front of her and she watched as Charlie held onto her. “Brietta…”

The wall became black and she remembered exactly what was going on at that time.

“Time…” she let it leave her mouth lightly.

The wall then went to the deep past where she was running from the ninja as he shot out fire from his sword.

“Fire…”

The image of her saying “FIRE SWORD” for the first time came up.

“Fire…”

Lastly, the wall showed the ninja shooting shots of ice.

“I…”

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“ICE SHEILD!” Brietta called out suddenly. A round, bubble-like shield came around her. “STRENGTH,” she demanded and felt it flowing through her body.

“Come on,” the ninja said. “We both know what’s going to happen.”

Brietta stood up. “Yeah…” she said and looked straight into his eyes. “I’ll never give in, so I’ll never give up!” she called out and a blue-purple glow came over her. “TIME!” she called. Everything became still. The ninja’s eyes widened as he noticed that everyone in the crowd just stopped.

Brietta held her hands out at arm’s length towards the ninja. “Spirit of the stars! NORTH STAR!” she called and it appeared in her hands. It was white and had the gem inside it. Cherry blossoms flew by her. Brietta closed her eyes and let go of the North Star as it floated in mid air.

Time came back into being with everyone else as Brietta suddenly changed into her last outfit: First, her top bangs lengthened while coming together where they became one long braid and ended with a small brown hair bow. The rest of her hair lengthened with it and came down just past the middle of her back. Her outfit became a purple elbow-length-sleeved dress where the skirt came near the middle of her knees and ankles. She gained short pink gloves with blue at the tips, and her shoes became pink boots.

Brietta opened her eyes and looked over to the ninja.

“FIND AND HEAL!!” she yelled out.

From the North Star’s gem a bright light struck the ninja and he was engulfed in the light. His ninja outfit became normal clothes, his eyes became a lighter blue, and his hair became blonde. He floated above the ground and looked at her square in the eyes. “Brietta…” he said.

“Daddy!” Brietta called and rushed over to him, crying.

“Brietta,” he said and rubbed her back. “I’m really proud of you.”

“Daddy why?” Brietta asked and looked up at him.

He whipped off her tears. “You’ll know everything within time,” he said.

“What will happen?” she asked.

“You’ll see,” he said. “You’ll see. Just remember, he’s not done yet. The war hasn’t even begun. Be ready.” He suddenly disappeared in mid-air and everything became normal.

Charlie rushed down the stairs to Brietta. Brietta hugged and hung onto him. “Daddy…” she cried and her outfit became normal. “I love you daddy…” Charlie rubbed her back gently and held onto her, not caring about the wet shoulder that he ended up receiving.

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“So… you’re not mad?” Brietta looked up to her mother.

“How could I be?” her mother said, hugging her. “I’m really scared, but I’m also really proud.”

Brietta smiled and let go. She turned soberly over to the van and Charlie helped her into the seat. The girl gave a saddened sigh; even her mother’s words couldn’t comfort her that much. She had killed her father, but it was he who had wanted it to be that way. Even though she knew that, nothing of it could make her smile.

Charlie got in on the other side and put a hand on hers. “It’ll be okay,” he said and squeezed it. Brietta leaned against him and closed her eyes. “Thank you, Charlie-kun,” Brietta whispered.

The Puzzler has Risen,

We’ve seen the North Star.

A new path is showing.

It’s The Road to War.

(Starlit Melody: Rise of the Puzzler)

(May 25, 2007-November 3,2007)