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~ ANGELOS blog Special 1/3: A Closer Joy Unknown - Chapter 18 ~
*More powers awaken in this Chapter. First of three new Chapters.*
~ Chapter 18 [And the Answers Don't Fit.] ~
~ Ian clasped Setsuna's hands tightly in his as Peter paced back and forth beside the couch. Deborah, Ian's wife, had been called in to bring an ice pack for the Princess's forehead, and was informed by Bernard and Stephen of the entire dilemma from the arrival to the events just unfolded. The entire Team was tense as to whether the girl would ever recover.
Gillian knelt beside Ian, facing Setsuna, tears in her eyes and hands folded in silent prayer. Never had she met a fan, a friend, so encouraging or charming or even so whimsical as the Princess, and her own heart would break if anything happened to her new friend. She closed her eyes for a moment, tears spilling down her slightly pale cheeks, and she began to sob over the resting body of the Princess.
Stephen turned to look at his crush sobbing over his beloved fan, and a chord was struck deep within him. He took a deep breath and walked to kneel down beside Gillian, glancing to Ian with worried eyes. Stephen's own eyes held a scare as he tried to settle with a new epiphany, which occured as the Team arrived just outside the apartment...
'Stephen--oh my God...' Gillian gasped, her gaze falling to Stephen's hands.
He looked back to her. 'What is it, Gillian?' he asked, then followed her stare to his hands, and what he saw scared him. 'What the f*cking hell!?' he cried as he looked at his hands.
His hands were healed, nearly entirely, from the enemy and string wounds.
'Well I'll be damned, Steve' Bernard said, looking to his friend's hands. 'I think you've got a new power.'
'...I don't even know how the hell...' Stephen started, unable to even finish a sentence. He looked to the Team, fear in his eyes.
'It's okay, Steve' Ian spoke. 'I'm sure that it has to do with the Princess being here and all. The way we handled our weapons, the way she knew they'd work for us. The way she allowed her sword to be handled by Gillian. I think...
'I think you should be thrilled to have such a power as this!'
'But... Ian!' Stephen tried to speak again, but he realized it was all for sweet F-A and he sighed, slumping his shoulders and lowering his head. He suddenly felt arms around him, and looked up to see Gillian embracing him.
'Use the gift for its good,' she whispered in his ear, and looked into his eyes. 'Don't be afraid of it.
'You can do this. I believe in YOU.'
Fighting back tears he nodded, embracing Gillian--she felt tears plunker onto her shoulder, but they were unaware that his ability to heal kickstarted again. After what felt like an eternity in the embrace, he finally let go of her, and he stepped back, eyes wide in shock, mouth slightly agape. He still could not understand what was going on as the rest of the Team too were in shock--
their eyes fixed on a near-fully healed Gillian.
Gillian looked at her healed injuries, and up at Stephen.
'Steve' she spoke gently, tears in her own eyes, understanding her close friend's shock. 'It's okay. I'm fine.
'Your gift... has a mind of its own!'
That was what finally brought a light chuckle from the Team, as well as a relieved Stephen. With that the Team finally entered the apartment to get Deborah on the phone and to fix all other injuries from the battle.
Stephen sighed a bit, wiping back a few tears, still unable to understand fully the strength of his power. After the slight shock recovery in the apartment first thing, he tended to Bernard's wounds, then Peter's, and finally Ian's. Now he was looking to Setsuna, questioning himself in his heart if she could herself be recovered, wiping more tears from his eyes.
Ian himself had tears in his eyes, which were fixed on Gillian and Setsuna. For him this had to be the most somber situation he'd ever have to face at the moment. With that he took the Crucifer Locket from Setsuna's chest and held it carefully, opening it. 'Locket that passes through time and space' he said softly, 'send transmission to AD 2007, Common Earth Canterburia.
'...please?'
With that an image appeared over the StarCrystal: Sorata in the Underground HQ, and the vampire blinked at the incoming sight of Ian.
'Ian!!' Sorata exclaimed in surprise. 'You opened the transmission all on your own!?' A smile quickly appeared on his face. 'Sets must be thrilled for this!!'
But Ian sighed. 'Sorata, it's a bit on the worse side. The Princess was wounded in the last battle. Ito's dead though.'
'That's good that Ito's gone' the vampire nodded. 'How's Sets though?'
'She's recovering, I guess' Ian replied. 'Not sure though.'
'Is she pale but breathing?' Sorata asked.
Ian nodded.
'Then she's recovering. She's not dead. She's just exhausted beyond her capabilities' Sorata concluded. 'She'll be alright. Just needs rest.'
Ian smiled at the slight thought as Setsuna opened her eyes and embraced Gillian with a slightly chilled arm. Gillian looked with a tearstained face to her friend and hugged her tightly. The rest of the bunch looked on with grateful smiles.
'I think you forgot to mention some hugs' mused Ian to the vampire, who chuckled in reply.
As the days progressed and Setsuna fully recovered, the band toured a bit more. Gillian stayed at Peter's apartment to keep Setsuna company, and the two talked about their crushes on Stephen and Bernard, much to their amusement and giggles. One lovely afternoon, the day after the band returned from another set of gigs, Gillian thought up a new concept:
'Ian, get the guys together--we're going on a picnic! All six of us!'
Much to the slight chagrin of Bernard ['What the... oh God, watch, something's bound to go wrong!'], the excitement of Ian ['A picnic!? I'm there!!' was his initial reply], the amusement of Peter ['First a Princess. Then a picnic. Wondering what's next...?'], and the curiosity of Stephen ['Does this mean it'll be time for some fish and chips!?'], the team set about for a decent picnic at the nearby park. As the blanket unfurled, the food was set up and the team sat down to chow down, a soccer ball landed right beside Ian. Ian glanced at the soccer ball, and then to the young child running to it--a boy at the young age of three, who caught up with the ball. He picked it up and glanced at Ian.
'Hi!!' said the young boy, with a bright grin. 'How are you all today?'
Gillian, a bit amused and, perhaps, a bit charmed by the young lad, replied with a slight bow, 'Very well, thank you! And yourself?'
'I'm doing wonderful!' was the boy's answer. 'I'll be right back--' and with that he ran with the ball back to his parents.
'You think they're gonna join us?' Peter asked.
'You think there's enough food?' Bernard asked dryly.
The young boy returned, without the soccer ball, and a bit out of breath. 'Can I join you all with your picnic? M'parents gave me the permission!!'
As the youngster sat down beside them, Gillian glanced at him again. 'And just how old are you??' In reply he counted three grapes. Gillian giggled.
'You are quite a charmer for a three-year-old!' she admitted. 'What is your name if you don't mind me asking?'
The young boy smiled at Gillian. 'I'm Phil, but me mum likes to call me Phillip' he replied with an amused grin.
'Good to meet you, Phil' she said, extending a hand. He took her hand and placed some grapes in it.
'Here--have some grapes, Miss... uhm...' Phil spoke, now with a slightly puzzled look.
But Gillian laughed warmly. 'I'm Gillian, pardon my manners!'
'Okay, Miss Gillian!!' Phil acknowledged enthusiastically. 'Manners pardoned!!' He grinned again, and glanced to Ian. 'Can I have some grapes, Sir??'
Ian nodded. 'Have at 'em, Phil!'
'Thank'ee, Sir!!' Phil replied as he took on a small handful of grapes.
'You know,' Peter whispered to Bernard, 'maybe there's something good out of this?'
'You know,' Bernard whispered back with an amused smile as he and the team ate lunch with their new guest, 'maybe you're right.' ~
~ Chapter 18 [And the Answers Don't Fit.] ~
~ Ian clasped Setsuna's hands tightly in his as Peter paced back and forth beside the couch. Deborah, Ian's wife, had been called in to bring an ice pack for the Princess's forehead, and was informed by Bernard and Stephen of the entire dilemma from the arrival to the events just unfolded. The entire Team was tense as to whether the girl would ever recover.
Gillian knelt beside Ian, facing Setsuna, tears in her eyes and hands folded in silent prayer. Never had she met a fan, a friend, so encouraging or charming or even so whimsical as the Princess, and her own heart would break if anything happened to her new friend. She closed her eyes for a moment, tears spilling down her slightly pale cheeks, and she began to sob over the resting body of the Princess.
Stephen turned to look at his crush sobbing over his beloved fan, and a chord was struck deep within him. He took a deep breath and walked to kneel down beside Gillian, glancing to Ian with worried eyes. Stephen's own eyes held a scare as he tried to settle with a new epiphany, which occured as the Team arrived just outside the apartment...
'Stephen--oh my God...' Gillian gasped, her gaze falling to Stephen's hands.
He looked back to her. 'What is it, Gillian?' he asked, then followed her stare to his hands, and what he saw scared him. 'What the f*cking hell!?' he cried as he looked at his hands.
His hands were healed, nearly entirely, from the enemy and string wounds.
'Well I'll be damned, Steve' Bernard said, looking to his friend's hands. 'I think you've got a new power.'
'...I don't even know how the hell...' Stephen started, unable to even finish a sentence. He looked to the Team, fear in his eyes.
'It's okay, Steve' Ian spoke. 'I'm sure that it has to do with the Princess being here and all. The way we handled our weapons, the way she knew they'd work for us. The way she allowed her sword to be handled by Gillian. I think...
'I think you should be thrilled to have such a power as this!'
'But... Ian!' Stephen tried to speak again, but he realized it was all for sweet F-A and he sighed, slumping his shoulders and lowering his head. He suddenly felt arms around him, and looked up to see Gillian embracing him.
'Use the gift for its good,' she whispered in his ear, and looked into his eyes. 'Don't be afraid of it.
'You can do this. I believe in YOU.'
Fighting back tears he nodded, embracing Gillian--she felt tears plunker onto her shoulder, but they were unaware that his ability to heal kickstarted again. After what felt like an eternity in the embrace, he finally let go of her, and he stepped back, eyes wide in shock, mouth slightly agape. He still could not understand what was going on as the rest of the Team too were in shock--
their eyes fixed on a near-fully healed Gillian.
Gillian looked at her healed injuries, and up at Stephen.
'Steve' she spoke gently, tears in her own eyes, understanding her close friend's shock. 'It's okay. I'm fine.
'Your gift... has a mind of its own!'
That was what finally brought a light chuckle from the Team, as well as a relieved Stephen. With that the Team finally entered the apartment to get Deborah on the phone and to fix all other injuries from the battle.
Stephen sighed a bit, wiping back a few tears, still unable to understand fully the strength of his power. After the slight shock recovery in the apartment first thing, he tended to Bernard's wounds, then Peter's, and finally Ian's. Now he was looking to Setsuna, questioning himself in his heart if she could herself be recovered, wiping more tears from his eyes.
Ian himself had tears in his eyes, which were fixed on Gillian and Setsuna. For him this had to be the most somber situation he'd ever have to face at the moment. With that he took the Crucifer Locket from Setsuna's chest and held it carefully, opening it. 'Locket that passes through time and space' he said softly, 'send transmission to AD 2007, Common Earth Canterburia.
'...please?'
With that an image appeared over the StarCrystal: Sorata in the Underground HQ, and the vampire blinked at the incoming sight of Ian.
'Ian!!' Sorata exclaimed in surprise. 'You opened the transmission all on your own!?' A smile quickly appeared on his face. 'Sets must be thrilled for this!!'
But Ian sighed. 'Sorata, it's a bit on the worse side. The Princess was wounded in the last battle. Ito's dead though.'
'That's good that Ito's gone' the vampire nodded. 'How's Sets though?'
'She's recovering, I guess' Ian replied. 'Not sure though.'
'Is she pale but breathing?' Sorata asked.
Ian nodded.
'Then she's recovering. She's not dead. She's just exhausted beyond her capabilities' Sorata concluded. 'She'll be alright. Just needs rest.'
Ian smiled at the slight thought as Setsuna opened her eyes and embraced Gillian with a slightly chilled arm. Gillian looked with a tearstained face to her friend and hugged her tightly. The rest of the bunch looked on with grateful smiles.
'I think you forgot to mention some hugs' mused Ian to the vampire, who chuckled in reply.
As the days progressed and Setsuna fully recovered, the band toured a bit more. Gillian stayed at Peter's apartment to keep Setsuna company, and the two talked about their crushes on Stephen and Bernard, much to their amusement and giggles. One lovely afternoon, the day after the band returned from another set of gigs, Gillian thought up a new concept:
'Ian, get the guys together--we're going on a picnic! All six of us!'
Much to the slight chagrin of Bernard ['What the... oh God, watch, something's bound to go wrong!'], the excitement of Ian ['A picnic!? I'm there!!' was his initial reply], the amusement of Peter ['First a Princess. Then a picnic. Wondering what's next...?'], and the curiosity of Stephen ['Does this mean it'll be time for some fish and chips!?'], the team set about for a decent picnic at the nearby park. As the blanket unfurled, the food was set up and the team sat down to chow down, a soccer ball landed right beside Ian. Ian glanced at the soccer ball, and then to the young child running to it--a boy at the young age of three, who caught up with the ball. He picked it up and glanced at Ian.
'Hi!!' said the young boy, with a bright grin. 'How are you all today?'
Gillian, a bit amused and, perhaps, a bit charmed by the young lad, replied with a slight bow, 'Very well, thank you! And yourself?'
'I'm doing wonderful!' was the boy's answer. 'I'll be right back--' and with that he ran with the ball back to his parents.
'You think they're gonna join us?' Peter asked.
'You think there's enough food?' Bernard asked dryly.
The young boy returned, without the soccer ball, and a bit out of breath. 'Can I join you all with your picnic? M'parents gave me the permission!!'
As the youngster sat down beside them, Gillian glanced at him again. 'And just how old are you??' In reply he counted three grapes. Gillian giggled.
'You are quite a charmer for a three-year-old!' she admitted. 'What is your name if you don't mind me asking?'
The young boy smiled at Gillian. 'I'm Phil, but me mum likes to call me Phillip' he replied with an amused grin.
'Good to meet you, Phil' she said, extending a hand. He took her hand and placed some grapes in it.
'Here--have some grapes, Miss... uhm...' Phil spoke, now with a slightly puzzled look.
But Gillian laughed warmly. 'I'm Gillian, pardon my manners!'
'Okay, Miss Gillian!!' Phil acknowledged enthusiastically. 'Manners pardoned!!' He grinned again, and glanced to Ian. 'Can I have some grapes, Sir??'
Ian nodded. 'Have at 'em, Phil!'
'Thank'ee, Sir!!' Phil replied as he took on a small handful of grapes.
'You know,' Peter whispered to Bernard, 'maybe there's something good out of this?'
'You know,' Bernard whispered back with an amused smile as he and the team ate lunch with their new guest, 'maybe you're right.' ~