This story is based on the wonderful game by Squaresoft known as Dewprism, or as it was renamed here, Threads of Fate. This takes place right at the ending. Relic of My Heart by Amazoness Duo amazonessduo@hotmail.com Rolling over in bed, I try to keep myself from sinking back into the depression I’ve been trying to fight my way out of for the past few days. It’s gone. The Dewprism is gone. And with it, all that I had strove for was now nothing but shattered dreams. My dream was still there of course, but I had wasted all of this time trying to get Valen's Relic for nothing. But what about her...? Okay, maybe it wasn’t all completely and utterly wasted. Maybe some of my time was remotely worthwhile in coming to Corona. In searching for something that was now out of my hands forever. So world domination is out of the question. For the time being. But still... OwwwooowowowoooowwwwOOOOOOWWW... Rolling over was a bad idea. My ribs still burn from where Valen had hit me days earlier. My body still aches even after all of the rest I’ve had. But not as much as my heart does. World domination was sooooooooo close. It was at my fingertips. It’s not fair. And of course Maya has to rub it in every time my dear little sister comes in to watch me that it’s a good thing I didn’t get my hands on it. I guess it’s good that she’s wasting her time taking care of me, but does she have to bring that up? And then there’s her. I guess she’s really one of the only good things to come from this. Well, it looks like I’m not banished from home anymore so I can return to East Heaven Kingdom, so maybe that’s a good thing, too. And I don’t have Belle and Duke on my back anymore. But she’s definitely the best part of all this. It was nice to have met her. Too bad I’ll have to leave soon enough and I’ll probably never see her again. Oh well. Staring up at the roof of the inn, I still can’t get her out of my head. The thought of never seeing her again is even more unbearable than the thought that I was so close to the Dewprism and now it’s gone. I can’t stand the thought of leaving her behind after all this. I always looked forward to seeing her and even to fighting with Rue over her. I’m glad he wasn’t interested in her after all. Even though I know I could have won, it’s much nicer to have things laid out for you on a silver platter. It means no wasted effort looking for a damned thing that disappears the moment you get too close. Ahem... Where was I? Oh yeah, Elena. Everything about her is so sickeningly sweet. From the first moment I saw her, I knew that she was way too innocent for her own good. But how could I know that after saving her, she’d grow on me the way she did? I’m starting to love everything about her. Even her goofy way of looking at things and her naïve view of the world. The way she’s out of it all the time, like she lives in some other place than the rest of us. Like she’s never fully there. The way her cute pink hair frames a beautiful face that’s almost always smiling. I sigh and try to roll over again but give up. It’s not worth the pain. In either case. I should just pack up and head back to East Heaven Kingdom with Maya. I can always try to find a new relic after I relax for a while. That would work nicely. Give me a chance to check on things back home before conquering the rest of the planet. Two years on the road has really been too long. I’d love to slump down in my bed in the royal chambers and sleep for days. With her right next to me... Agghhhh!!! I fling a pillow at the wall in my frustration. Why the hell can’t I get her out of my head?! It’s worse than the Dewprism. I’ve been thinking about her nearly nonstop from the moment I woke up after the fight with Valen. No, since before I left to his fortress in the first place. When I left for that last confrontation, I kept wondering if I’d see her again. And what would become of her once I got the Dewprism. Lots of pleasant ideas came to mind at that. It would be my world after I conquered it, so it would be easy enough to bring her to my palace in a nice lacy little thing and just spend my days relaxing with her. But now I’m being dragged back home by my little sister and the world dominating’s gonna have to wait. So where does that leave Elena? What do I do about her? I’m royalty. This isn’t fair that some country girl can get me so riled up about things. I laugh as I look out the window, catching a glimpse of her cotton candy pink hair as she leads Prima Doll through the town square. It’s not like I’m in love with the silly country girl or anything. Right? Imean... Oh, damn it. I slam my fist into the bed angrily, my frustration at this whole thing growing, but the pain shooting through my back makes me reconsider another violent outburst. What the is going on here? No. No, I’ve gotta be wrong there’s no way that this can be right. I’ve spent two years on the road and I’ve been doing just fine on my own please and thank you. But... It was always so lonely. I’ve been through hell. And it’s been so nice ever since I’ve met her. I don’t feel so lonely and angry at the world when she’s around. A soothing wind follows her. This isn’t fair. What was Fate planning when it made me run into that country girl? Does it matter? I glare daggers at my roof as if it had offended me by it’s mere presence. I don’t need this. Not now. Not when I’m so close to going back home. I mean, at least I’ll have a kingdom within my fingertips again. And Maya said she needed my help to run it all. But I can’t just leave her behind, can I? I sit up in bed and wince at the pain biting at me. I’ve come too far to go back empty handed. I’m gonna get what I want even if it kills me. There she is. And for once, Prima Doll isn’t around. Thank God for small miracles. I know we’d probably just end up arguing and I’d forget the whole purpose for leaving my bed. The whole scene is beautiful, serene as she dips her fingers into the fountain in the center of town. I will myself to move forward, but my aching body doesn’t seem willing to comply. After a few threats to myself that I’m certain my body just laughed off, I finally manage to stumble towards her. Not at all with my usual grace and elegance that I’m sure has enraptured her by now in the same way her cute, quaint country girl qualities have somehow managed to wrap themselves tightly around my heart, but at least I get over to her. “Hey, Elena...” I manage, suppressing a wince as I lean against the fountain. She really is beautiful in a charming, small town sorta way. I sigh and shake my head. She’s gorgeous no matter where she’s from. Her gentle gaze shakes me from my thoughts, making me realize I’m staring at her. I flush slightly as I look down. This isn’t easy at all. What am I supposed to say to her? With my luck she won’t even understand what I’m trying to say. “Hi, Mint!!” Elena says happily as sits next to me on the fountain. So happy, so content. It’s like nothing ever really worries her. I sigh. This is going to be so much more difficult than I had thought. Maybe I should just forget about it. “I’m glad to see you. I was so worried when you were sleeping for so long. I thought you were hurt too badly.” I nod slightly, feeling the pain deep in my body. “Yeah, that whole thing was just plain awful. I should have the Dewprism by now but all I have for my trouble is a bunch of sore muscles.” I frown exaggeratedly before shrugging. “Oh well. There have to be other relics out there. I’ll get one someday.” Elena giggles musically, nodding. “Yeah, I’m sure you will, Mint. I don’t think this will stop you. I really hope you can get one soon. I think you’d make a good queen.” “Well, yeah, thanks, Elena..” I smile a bit, looking at her eyes and the way her cotton candy hair frames that beautiful face of hers. “If I go back with Elena, I might be queen of East Heaven Kingdom in a few years, but I still can’t give up on my dream. One of these days it’ll be the whole world.” I stop before I can go further, even though I know there’s so much more I want to explain. Too bad it all has to do with her. I don’t have any experience with this sort of thing. “I wish you didn’t have to leave, Mint. I was starting to think you’d be here forever.” Elena sighs sadly and trails her fingers through the cold water of the fountain. The water swirls behind her fingers, blurring our reflections. “Yeah, me too. I feel like I’ve been here forever now.” My vision goes to the sky where Valen’s Palace used to be. “I don’t want to go either,” I whisper. Perking up a bit, I smile and turn to Elena. “Hey, Elena. Do you remember when I was talking about you coming to the palace with me?” Elena nods vigorously, instantly remembering when we’d been talking about that down by the lake. “Yeah, you said I could be in charge of something in your kingdom and I said I wanted to be in charge of housekeeping.” I sweatdrop at that. I’d almost forgotten that part. She really doesn’t have huge aspirations. But that’s part of her charm. She doesn’t need the world on a platter to be happy. Yet that’s what I’ve been looking for all of this time. How does she do that? It’s like she can somehow be happy wherever she is. “Yeah, that was it. But that’s not really why I wanted you to go with me.” I try to beat down the heat rising in my cheeks. She’s another girl. What will Maya and the others think? Who cares what they think? It’s not like that’s ever bothered me before. So why am I finding myself tongue tied? I sigh and try again. “Well, I still want you to come back with me Elena.” Elena frowns a little, seeming a bit unsure. “I don’t know, Mint. I’d hate to leave my parents and Prima Doll all alone. But I’d hate to leave you all alone. Especially with Rue gone.” She looks at me sympathetically. My hair flies in all directions as I shake my head quickly. “Rue? Oh, hell no. We were rivals. Over... something. But he’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.” That brings a sweet smile to Elena’s lips. “Yeah, you’re right, Mint. And I’m sure you’ll be able to take care of yourself, too. So I shouldn’t worry.” I bite my lip. This isn’t going as well as I’d hoped. “No, I want you to go with me because I don’t wanna be away from you. Elena, I did find something magical here. I may not have gotten a relic, but I think I found something even more important. I found you, Elena. I want you to come back with me to the palace.” I look up, mustering all of the strength it took me to face Valen and Dollmaster and all of the others. I can do this. I can make it through anything. I’ve come this far. “I love you, Elena.” My body nearly collapses, those words feeling heavier than anything else I’ve put up with up until now. Gorgeous eyes blink uncomprehendingly at me for the longest moment. My spirits begin to drop as I resign myself to heading back to East Heaven Kingdom alone. But a soft smile begins tugging at her lips until it seems to spill over into her entire being. Shining, she grapples onto me. My weary body yelps out as I feel the sudden pressure of her body against me, but my heart sings out at the sudden contact. “I love you, too, Mint! Of course I’ll go with you. You’ve always been my hero.” A grin starts to spread across my face as I look into her eyes inches away from mine. Maybe I underestimated her after all. Maybe rescuing her really was the best thing I’ve ever done. It looks like I’ve finally found my relic after all. Despite the aching throughout my body, I lean forward. Elena’s silky lips are all the reward I need for the past two years. She collapses against me, her weight throwing me off balance. Tumbling backwards into the cold water, her giggling fills my ears. I can’t wait to tell Maya. She’ll flip.