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Hello... hehe. This story is another amazon story in which Rae discovers "the truth" about herself and her past. What else? Glad you asked. LOL. The (anime) show Gundam Wing definitely had a pretty big influence on this story (why is it that Teflic happens to kinda look like Zechs?) hmmm... I wonder. Oooook anyway... Enjoy the story. ^_^

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Who am I? Where have I been? Where am I going…? It was mid-afternoon on the Amazon Island. Rae was sitting on top of the bell tower: one of her favorite places to just sit and think. The sun was shining brightly and there was a slight wind blowing. Rae scanned the land from where she was sitting. The bell tower was a great vantage point. Rae watched her fellow amazons doing their normal activities and sighed. A lone tear slipped down her cheek. For some reason…she felt down. She had been feeling that way for some time now. The question was why. There was nothing on the island that would make her unhappy. She had everything going for her yet… she felt empty. And lately a strange feeling had been coming over her, but she couldn't determine what it was. Rae gathered herself and swung down the bell tower. She would go get a drink at the java hut. It just might cure whatever that was bothering her.
Rae entered the java hut and got her drink. She looked around the hut. Falcon, who was sitting by the window, waved her over. "Hey Rae." "Hi Falcon." "Have a seat." "Thanks." Rae sat down across from Falcon. "I haven't seen you around here lately Rae. In fact… Nobody's seen much of you lately. We know that you're up on that bell tower, but tell me… is something bothering you?" Rae was silent for a moment. The she slowly spoke up. "Well… I've just been thinking a lot lately." "About?" "My life. It's just that I've been feeling…really empty. I've had a really strange feeling that something's going to happen, but I don't know what it is. I just don't know what my purpose is. And also… I've still been thinking a lot about my mother and of Loa." "I thought that you had cleared your mind about what happened with Loa." "I thought I had too. I just feel that I have nobody here for me when I know that it's not true. I have everyone on the island…but for some reason I just don't feel it. I mean, it seems that everyone has someone. You have Corde. The Queen and Eri have each other. Vicky has Rissa. Everyone has family somewhere, but I don't. My mother's dead and so is my best friend. I don't think I've totally come to terms with any of it." Falcon nodded. "I'm sorry for your losses. We all are. But you know that we're all here for you whenever you need us." "Yeah I guess so." Rae stood up. "I have to go. I've got a script to work on." "A new play?" "Yes." "All right. I'll see you later." "See you." Rae smiled. She walked out of the java hut. "They'll always be here for me if I need them," she said. "I want to believe it… I want to. Why can't I believe it? What's wrong with me?"
Falcon was concerned. Rae's behavior was very strange… almost unnatural. She was usually such a happy carefree person. Something had to be wrong. So Falcon went to talk with Queen Cyan. "My Queen, I think that something's wrong with Rae." "Why? What makes you think that?" "She's not acting like herself. She's just acting totally lost. I talked to her today. She sounds really upset." "What did she tell you?" "She feels empty. And she really misses her mother and Loa still." "Loa," muttered Cyan, and sighed. "Haven't you noticed that Rae hasn't shown up to any of our gatherings lately? She's isolating herself from everything." Cyan nodded. "I think you might be right. But I think that for now we should let her be. Perhaps it's just a phase. She might just need some time by herself. She'll be all right I think." Falcon kneeled. "I agree with your decision, my Queen. I hope that she's all right." Cyan sighed. "Me too, Falcon. Me too."
Rae entered her hut and looked around. Where was her dog? "Teflic!" she shouted. "Great. I'm not having the best day here… and my dog has disappeared. Where are you Teflic?" She turned and walked from her hut. She had to find Teflic before he caused trouble. Rae went down to the beach. The beach… Rae shivered as she passed the spot where she had found Loa. Soon she would have to pass the caves. The caves seemed to call for her. Rae felt that emptiness again. Her heart ached. She ran for the caves. Once at the caves, Rae visited the one where she had hid Loa. So many painful memories. Rae felt tears. Then something caught her eye. Something glittered from the back of the cave. Rae took a step forward and saw that it was a dagger. But it wasn't an ordinary dagger. This dagger was formed in an intricate design and studded with opal and tiger-eye. It was beautiful. Rae felt herself almost being drawn to it. She picked it up carefully. And something took over her mind. Rae knelt down and felt herself turn the dagger toward her body. She felt her palm stretch out. The dagger controlled her arm. It turned down and pierced her skin. Rae was caught up in a trance. She felt no pain, but watched as she carved something into her hand. Then she took the dagger in her other hand and repeated the same process. Rae then let go of the dagger. It clattered the floor and shattered into a million pieces. Rae clasped her hands. Crimson blood poured from them and dripped onto hard floor of the cave. Rae opened her hands slowly and saw what she had done. Clearly carved into each hand was the letter M. But why… Rae's mind clouded and she slumped over. The last thing she felt was the cold floor underneath her. What was happening to her?
The next day Rae was nowhere to be found. She hadn't shown up at the academy to teach her classes, and now Larc walked up to her hut. "Rae!" she called. "Are you in there?" Larc stood outside of the hut. "Rae! This is important! Why didn't you tell me that you weren't going to be in today? Hello Rae!" Larc was getting a bit concerned. She peeked inside Rae's hut. Nobody was there. Rae wasn't in and neither was her dog Teflic. Larc left Rae's hut, a bit annoyed and a bit worried. She saw Falcon coming down the path. "Hey Falcon." "Hello Larc." "Have you seen Rae anywhere?" "No. Not since yesterday. Why?" "She didn't show up for classes today, and she wasn't in her hut. I have no idea where she could be." "This could be a problem. Rae's been acting awfully strange lately." "I know. And I'm worried. We really should tell the queen." "The queen knows." "Well then what can we do." "I'm afraid… that there's nothing we can do. We just have to sit back and see what happens."
The sound of the ocean woke Rae. She sat up and realized where she was. "What in the world am I doing here? What's going on?" She glanced around the cave and saw the blood on the floor. "Blood! What…" She looked at her hands. They were still bleeding slightly. "I don't get it." Rae stood and ran from the caves to her hut. "Teflic! Hey Teflic!" she called as she entered her hut. Teflic wasn't there. "That dog…" Rae grumbled as she found some bandages. She set to work on bandaging her hands. Once she did, she decided to go to the village. Perhaps someone knew where Teflic was.
It was hot in the bright sun. Hotter then usual to Rae. Her head ached as she walked down the path. Her hands stung. She still didn't understand what was wrong. Why was there a "M" in each of them? All of Rae's questions piled up in her mind. She felt horrible… like she had been trampled. Suddenly the ground moved. Rae realized that it wasn't the ground… it was her. The forest blurred together as Rae dropped to her knees and crumpled over in the hot sun. Rae cried out in pain. She couldn't move, and was totally helpless. Something made the ground shake…and it was coming closer. Rae couldn't run. Her senses were totally gone. "Whoa!" shouted a voice. "Who…" whispered Rae, and blacked out. Tama jumped off of the horse he was riding and ran to where Rae was lying. "Rae! Are you totally insane? I almost killed you!" He shook her. "What's happening?" Rae said weakly. "Rae did you hear me? I almost killed you! What's wrong with you?" "Who are you?" "RAE! It's Tama! Remember? We are the champions?" "Tama?" "Yeah. Man you're totally delirious or something." "What?" "That's it. I'm taking you to Ashana. I don't know what's wrong with you, but I can tell that you're definitely sick." Tama helped Rae stand, though she could barely make it. He helped her on to the horse, where she slumped over again. Tama shook his head in confusion and led the horse to the healer's hut.
Once at the healer's hut, Ashana came out and took over immediately. "Ashana, do you know what's wrong?" asked Tama. Ashana shook her head. "It appears that her energy is being drained or something of that nature." Rae lied on a cot, breathing slowly. Suddenly Larc and Falcon burst into the hut. "Tama! We saw you and Rae! Is she hurt?" asked Falcon. "Ashana doesn't know," replied Tama. Larc went over and knelt beside the cot. "What happened to her hands? Were you guys building set again?" Tama shook his head. Falcon crossed her arms. "Her hands were fine a few days ago." Ashana walked out and returned with fresh bandages. "Whatever it is, I should take a look at it." The others agreed, and Ashana carefully unwrapped the bandages from Rae's hands. "Oh gods," she whispered, a bit shaken. "What is it?" the three asked simultaneously. "Her hands weren't cut on accident. Come look at this." They crowded around the cot. Their eyes widened when they saw the M's clearly carved into Rae's hands. "M's?" asked Tama. "What could it mean?" muttered Larc. "She could be in danger," said Falcon. "We should tell the Queen. I knew something wasn't right." Just then Rae awoke. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at the four faces staring at her. "What happened?" she asked. "You were delirious out on the road," said Tama. "Yes. He brought you here," said Ashana. Rae sat up. "My hands!" "Do you know what happened?" asked Larc. "I can't believe you guys! Why did you unbandage them?" Rae leapt up. "Come on, Rae. Don't lose your temper," said Falcon. Rae's eyes glared. "I'm just fine. Why can't you all just leave me alone? Don't mess with me anymore!" And with that, Rae ran from the healer's hut. "Some gratitude," muttered Tama. "Don't get cross with her," said Falcon. "There is definitely something out of place. I'm telling the Queen now, before Rae hurts someone… or herself."
Rae ran through the forest to her hut. When she reached her hut, she hurried inside and dropped on the bed. "They can't leave me alone," she said aloud. Then she laughed. "They never ever ask me for help. They never ask me to come with them when they go off on quests. No… if I'm going to accomplish anything, it won't be thanks to them! Nobody wants me to help them out. Usually they leave me alone, and I sit and feel the pain of being left out. But now… when I don't want to be bothered everyone's suddenly concerned." Rae looked at her hands. "The letter M. It must have some significance. I must have done this to myself. I just don't understand why." "I do," said a voice. Rae looked across her hut and gasped in surprise. There was a man sitting there. He was slightly older then her, with shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes. Rae was cautious as she reached for her sword. "Who are you and how did you get here? Not even the gods can reach this island. There is no way that you can. So tell me now!" The man laughed, but it wasn't an evil laugh. "Rae, what if I told you that I've been here all along? That I live on the island?" "That's not possible. We amazons know every inch of this island. How did you get here?" "I told you that I've been here, Rae Kione Merquise." "What did you just call me?" "You are Rae Kione Merquise." "I am not. My name is Rae. I am an amazon. Nobody ever said anything about me being called Rae Kione Merquise. Not even my mother or my father." "And what if they didn't want you to know?" "My parents would never keep something like that from me!" "You really think so? Well then, come with me. You have a lot to learn." "How can I trust you? How do I know that you're not an enemy?" "That's a risk that you must take. If I were you, I would step back and listen to my heart. Your heart knows what you must do. Listen to it…" Rae paused and closed her eyes. Her heart told her to go with the strange man. "All right. I'm coming, but make one false move and I'll kill you." The man extended his hand. "Very well, Rae. Take my hand." Rae hesitated, but then grasped his hand, and both disappeared from the hut.
Queen Cyan, along with Falcon, Eponie, and the Enforcer reached Rae's hut. "Rae!" called the Queen. "Rae please talk to us!" said Eponie. The four amazons entered Rae's hut. "She's not here," commented the Enforcer. "Where could she be?" asked Falcon. "Search the island," said Queen Cyan. "We must find her. We need to have a serious talk with her." "You guys," said Eponie. "Yes?" they all said. "Come over here and check this out." The other amazons joined Eponie. Clearly written on a blank scroll was the name: Rae Kione Merquise. But what could it mean…?
Rae looked around at her new surroundings. She and the man were standing in a castle. Rae turned to him. "I don't know where we are or what we're doing here yet, but please, could you answer a question for me?" "It depends on the question." "All right. What's your name?" The man looked puzzled for a minute, and Rae raised an eyebrow. "What? You don't have a name?" The man shook his head quickly. "No, no it's not that. You may call me Merquise." "Wait a minute. You said something about me being Rae Kione Merquise. Well if that's true, then why…" "Will you shut up please!" Merquise shouted. Rae was taken aback. She was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry Rae, but it's better for you to not ask questions for now." "That's stupid." "What did you say?" "I said that's stupid. How the hell am I supposed to learn anything without asking questions? I think that you're just scared of me." Merquise turned away. "Not scared of you. Just scared of what might happen to you," he muttered. "Did you just say something?" "Did you just ask me another question?" Rae growled, "Well then, I just won't talk to you." "Fine with me." "Fine then!" Rae crossed her arms and Merquise sighed. Teaching this girl of her true past was going to be harder then he thought.
Meanwhile on the Island… Queen Cyan had sent out a search party to look around the island for Rae. The Enforcer was the first person to report back. "My Queen, we've searched everywhere. There is no sign of Rae." "Did you look in the bell tower? The academy? The caves? The place where Loa's hut stood?" "Yes. We checked all of those places. We don't know where she could have gone to." "But that's impossible… the only way that Rae can leave is through the portals. The only way that she can get access to the portals is through me or one of the princesses." "Well what about her mother's hut?" spoke up a voice. The two amazons turned to find Vicky. "Vicky, you think that she left the island through her mother's hut?" asked Cyan. Vicky shook her head. "No. What I was thinking is that maybe we can find an answer there. We all know how strange Rae's been acting lately. Maybe it's her destiny to act how she's been acting." "Come on," said Falcon, who had just joined them. "How could an innocent girl like Rae become a lunatic within a day?" "Loa did," muttered the Enforcer. "Let's not bring Loa into this," said Cyan. "Go on with what you were saying, Vicky." "All right. What I was trying to say is that maybe this was a predetermined thing. If that's true, then there might be something about it in her mother's hut. We all know that Jade was an avid writer. She recorded almost everything in her scrolls. If this is something that Jade knew about, it's sure to be written down." "Now that you mention it, I agree with you," said Cyan. "Come on. Let's go to Jade's hut. Maybe we'll find an answer."
As they walked through the halls, Rae couldn't help but admire the huge castle. Large beautiful paintings adorned the walls, but the castle seemed empty. Rae burned with questions. Who were all of the people in the paintings? Where was everyone in the mansion? Merquise turned sharply. "Rae, you're lagging behind." Rae looked at him and shrugged. "You know, it would be a lot easier if we were talking." Rae nodded. Merquise sighed heavily. "All right. I'm sorry for being secretive. I'll answer some of your questions, so long as they're appropriate." "Thank you. By the way, what's appropriate?" "What I choose to answer." Rae rolled her eyes. "Whatever. So… who are the people in the paintings?" "You'll find out later." "I guess that wasn't 'appropriate'. Ok next question. Where is everyone?" "What do you mean?" "The people in the castle. Usually castles are filled with people." "This one is abandoned." "But it's in such beautiful condition." "That's because it's protected." "Why…" "You'll find out later." Merquise stopped in front of a room. "Here we are. In here you will find suitable attire. Meet me in the ballroom in ten minutes." Then he walked away. Rae pushed open the door. It was a dressing room. On the table was an outfit of some sort. Rae set down her sword and picked up the clothing. It appeared to be pants, a shirt, and a coat. "It's like a soldier uniform," Rae whispered. She quickly changed into the clothing, but left her amazon armbands on underneath the long sleeves of the shirt and coat. "I look like a soldier… or an ambassador. What does it mean?" Then she laughed. "If only the amazons could see this. I don't understand why just yet, but I have a gut feeling…" Suddenly Rae remembered. Ten minutes… She grabbed her sword and ran down the hall.
Rae opened the doors to the large ballroom. Merquise stood in the center, sword in hand. "So you came…" Rae stepped forward. "Of course I did. What did you expect." "Nothing less from a Merquise." "You're insane." "It's time to accept your destiny. We will duel to the death." "What!" "To the death." He flipped and swung his sword. Rae met him at swordpoint. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you! This is some sort of trap!" She pushed him away. Merquise regained his composure and charged again. The fighting went on for quite some time. Both of them were stealthy, swift fighters. Then Merquise found his opening. He took a shot at Rae. Then she felt it. The sword slashed her arm. Right through the coat…to the shirt…to one of her armbands. The armband tore apart, and blood seeped from a wound. Rae was stunned. Merquise took another shot. "Come on. Is that all you've got," he taunted as he slashed her other arm. Rae felt it again. The coat…the shirt…the armband…the blood. Her eyes flashed. "No it's not!" She became invisible. Before Merquise knew it, he was on the floor. Rae reappeared with her sword to his throat. "I don't know who you think you are, but I will not let you kill me." "Looks like this duel belongs to you. Take my life then." "What?" "You must kill me. It's the rules of a duel." "But I can't do that. Why should I?" "You've won." "Yes. I've won the duel. But if I spill your blood intentionally then I've lost." Rae lifted her sword. "I won't do it. Therefore, I surrender. If that means that you take an automatic win, then so be it. I'm not afraid of death." Merquise stood slowly, then kneeled to Rae. "The time has come." "What?" "You've accepted your fate. You've accepted the Merquise in you." Rae's hands began to bleed from the two M's once again. Her sword clattered to the floor. "My hands." "The symbol of the Merquise." Merquise held up his hands. They were bleeding from similar wounds. "I am one as well. Join hands with me Rae. This is your fate." Rae was a bit scared. But her heart told her to… She joined hands with Merquise. He smiled. "From this day forward, you are Rae Kione Merquise. It is time for your true training to begin."
Rae looked from her hands to Merquise. "If I am Rae Kione Merquise, then will you tell me who you really are?" "I was sent to be your guardian." "You…gods!" Rae gasped. "Teflic? Are you Teflic?" Merquise smiled. "I am. My name is Teflic Merquise, your guardian for all time." "Wait a minute. Are you related to me then?" "No. A long time ago, my family was sent to guard the Merquise family. It's a long story." "Well we have a lot of time. Please tell me the story." "It is of your heritage. I will tell you. Once, a very long time ago Zeus was very angry." "Well that's not unusual." "Don't interrupt. Let me speak. Zeus was angry over a matter on Mt. Olympus. The gods were all arguing more harshly than usual. Zeus was fed up with it all. He took out his anger with his family by throwing lighting bolts to the ground, as he usually does. Well, one of the lighting bolts was so strong that it split a great mountain in two. Gradually the two halves shrunk and became men. One man was Merquise. The other, Finely, was to become his mortal enemy. The two were destined to war forever. Since Zeus favored the Merquise's, he gave them this beautiful castle. Over time the Merquise family grew, as did the Finely family. Zeus sent my family to watch over the Merquise family. We were sent as dogs. The Merquise family accepted us and welcomed us as part of the family. So you see, we are not really related. Anyway, my father Hunter was your mother Jade's guardian. They were separated when your mother left Rough Cove. Now, you told me that she died in battle with the barbarians. However, I am sure that one of the Finely family killed her. You were given the test to accept the Merquise blood inside of you. When you refused to kill me, it showed that you were a compassionate, courageous, strong willed warrior, a true Merquise. That is good, but bad. You see, now you're in danger. The Finely's know that Jade had a child, one of Merquise descent, and they will do anything to have your blood. There's a bounty on your head, which is why I had to come to you and tell you." "Teflic what will we do?" "As I said, I was sent to protect you, and I will do that with all of my heart. This destiny was chosen for both of us." "What about when I go back to the island? I mean… that is if I go back?" "I will return with you in my canine form. Nobody shall know of my powers unless I so choose to tell them." "All right. What must we do now?" "I have an arrangement to travel back to Rough Cove by ship. We must tell your father that you've accepted your true destiny. If you go back to the dressing room, you will find a new outfit. Go clean your wounds, and I'll meet you outside of the dressing room." "All right. Thank you Teflic." Rae walked back to the dressing room. Inside she found a new shirt and a new coat. "This is too weird," said Rae as she began to clean her cuts. After changing into her new clothes, Rae picked up her armbands. They were cut into pieces. "Is this a sign?" Rae placed the armbands into her pocket. Then she went to meet Teflic in the hall.
Queen Cyan was the first person to enter Jade's old hut. The Enforcer, Falcon, Vicky, and Eponie followed her. All of the amazons took great care not to disturb much in the hut. They knew that it was a special place for Rae, and they didn't want her to return and find it messed up. Cyan gave the signal to look around the hut. There were tons of scrolls to go through, and the amazons set to work. Almost an hour had passed when Eponie shouted, "I think I might have found something here!" Instantly the rest of the group crowded around her. "Listen to this. 'I miss my dog Hunter more than usual. He is my guardian, and we grew up together on the streets. I know that one day Rae will receive her guardian. It is her destiny. We are of the Merquise blood. Therefore, we are bound by destiny. I hope to help Rae through the time of awakening. That is the time when she will realize that she is Rae Kione Merquise. Kione was my mother's name. Merquise is our legendary last name. When the time comes, Rae will start to act strange. I will know right away because it happened to me. She will isolate herself and begin to feel down. When the time is right, the dagger will appear in front of her. She will carve the symbol of the Merquise into each hand. I have the markings as well. Nobody notices them though. Her guardian will come to her and she'll go through the test. If she passes, then she'll become a true Merquise. But either way, once she carves the symbol into her hands, her life will be in danger. The Finely's know of me… and of Rae. However, they don't know of our whereabouts. Even if Rae doesn't pass the test… she'll be a target. Every Merquise has a Finely who will stalk them for their whole life. I pray to the gods that Rae will be protected. I pray that she'll be strong enough to handle her fate. If I am not there for her when she accepts her fate, I hope the amazons don't become judgmental of Rae. It is not her fault. She can't be totally blamed for any actions she takes during the time of awakening…'" The amazons were silent for a moment. "So that's it," Falcon said softly. "If she's in danger, shouldn't we help her?" asked Vicky. Cyan, who had been deep in thought, shook her head slowly. "No. This is her fight. She will be protected once again when she returns to the island. Until then, we can only hope that she returns to us safely." "Something else is bothering you," said Eponie. "I can sense it." Cyan sighed. "I'm just a bit worried." "About what?" "Well… what if Rae doesn't return to us at all?"
Rae and Teflic had left the large castle and arrived down at some docks. They boarded a large ship, which would take them to Rough Cove. Rae loved sailing. The open waters always had called to her. It was in her blood. She was at the front of the ship, watching the waves, when Teflic came up behind her. "I've always loved standing in the front of the ship," he said. Rae nodded. "Me too. May I ask you another question?" "Of course." "Why did you come to me and make me a Merquise? If I'm in danger, then why did you awaken the Merquise in me?" "I didn't awaken it. The Merquise spirit would have appeared anyway. I came to you with the test because the Finelys would have targeted you anyway. Once you cut the 'M' into your hands, it became your fate." "But I had no control." "Exactly. No Merquise does. It is their destiny to carve the 'M'. Nothing can stop it. But if you were to meet a Finely one day, they would have tried to kill you. It is better that you know." "Oh I see." Rae leaned on the side of the ship and sighed. Everything was happening all at once. A silent tear slipped down her cheek. Teflic looked at her. "Why do you cry Rae? Why are you so unhappy? Does this frighten you? Because if it does, then…" "No, no it's nothing like that." Rae turned to Teflic and wiped the tear away. "It's not that at all. I'm honored to be Rae Kione Merquise. I know that I'm in danger, but I'm a trained warrior. I won't let anything happen to us. It's just the amazons…" "What's wrong with them?" "Nothing. It's me as an amazon I mean. I don't know about it anymore." Teflic pulled a box over to where they were standing, and motioned for Rae to sit. She did, and he sat next to her. "So tell me." "Well… lately I've just been feeling out with all of them. They're like family, I know, but I just don't know exactly how I'm feeling. I miss my true family, and to tell you the truth, I miss Loa still. It's hard when a friend leaves you, even if they become your enemy. Weird isn't it? I think I feel a bit under appreciated also. I work my butt off at the academy. I make sure to stay ready for battles and all. But when it's time for a mission, I never get to go. I'm always left behind. I don't want to be left behind anymore. I want to be included in the missions. I want to go places in this world. I can't just sit around on the island anymore. I don't know if the amazons understand me though. It's all so confusing." Teflic nodded. "I'm sorry that I can't do anything to help you." Rae placed a hand on his shoulder. "You have already. This is what I want. I want adventure even though I'm in danger. I'm beginning to love this part of my destiny." Teflic laughed. "You know, the Merquise were always adventurers. They were strong spirited warriors as well. If you read through any history book, there's sure to be something about a Merquise in there. They were great leaders in battle." "I'll have to remember to ask Labby about it if I ever go back to the island." The sun was setting. The two looked at the flaming sky. "Sunsets are so pretty," said Rae. "They always remind me of a painting." Teflic nodded. "Come on Rae. Let's go get something to eat." They stood and walked off to the galley together.
Rae was quite surprised at the amount of food on the ship. She and Teflic had a huge dinner, and now Rae watched the stars as the ship cruised over the calm waters. So many stars in the vast sky… Rae remembered when she and her mother used to look at the stars. A feeling of warmth washed over Rae. She sighed. Those were the days… She used to be so happy, so carefree. "And here I am," she muttered. "What am I worth now? Why in the world do I put so much effort into what I do? What good will it be in the end?" Thoughts raced across her mind. She loved singing and acting. That was why her mother had passed down her position to her. Rae had received many honors for her singing. She was grateful, but what would it really do for her? Another thing that Rae was passionate about was her writing. She had watched her mother write for hours and often wondered how she did it. Then Rae picked up the pen and began to write stories of her own. So many twisted tales of heroes… but who would read them in the end? And then there were her drawings. Rae never admitted to being an artist. After all, there were so many people who were much more talented at it than she was. Some people appreciated Rae's work, she knew. But how many people looked at it unless she asked them to? Rae laughed. Did anybody really care about any of her work? Sometimes she was plagued with thoughts of throwing it all away. But it was then that Rae realized that if she did, she would throw away all of her dreams and wishes. A person without dreams and wishes might as well be an empty shell. That was what Rae thought. She stared at the stars. "I wish…" she said slowly. "I wish that everything will be all right at the end. I wish for a good future." A gust of wind rushed around her. It was quite cold out, and Rae shivered involuntarily. Though her coat was warm, the wind cut through it almost like a knife. It also stung her nose and cheeks. But the fresh salty air was what Rae loved. Being at sea was like being in another world. "Hey Rae," shouted Teflic. She turned and saw him standing in one of the doors. "What is it?" "It's getting late. You'd better get to bed before you freeze out here!" Rae laughed not a scornful laugh this time, but a happy laugh. "All right. I'm coming!"
Rae entered her little room. She and Teflic had separate rooms, adjoined by a door. Both rooms were small with a hammock hanging from the ceiling. Rae laughed, in spite of herself. She had never seen anything like it before. After saying good night to Teflic, Rae lied in her hammock. She was cold. She'd taken her boots off but not her coat. Rae huddled in the hammock. The gentle rocking of the ship was very soothing, but Rae couldn't sleep. She shifted. Tears threatened again. "Why in Tartarus am I crying again? I'm supposed to be happy. What's going on?" She sighed and sat up. It was quite clear that sleep would not come easily. A knock came from Teflic's side of the door. "Come in." Teflic entered, looking a bit disturbed. "Are you all right?" "Huh? I'm fine." "I don't know why… but I just feel that something's not right." "Go to bed Teflic. It's been a long day." "Something's bothering you." "Really it's all right. I just have some stuff to think about." Teflic sat down on the wooden floor. "Maybe you should talk. Sometimes it's easier that way." Rae looked up and then at Teflic. "All right. As you may know… I'm usually portrayed as a happy person. Carefree, funny, generally happy. But appearances can be deceiving." "How do you mean?" "What is mean is that I try to be as happy as I can. I think people take it for granted that I'll always be happy. Sadness does not fit my character. But... deep inside I feel sad. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I don't like seeing people unhappy. I don't want the people that I'm around to be upset because I'm upset. That's why I never show that side to anyone. I don't like to. It's a personal thing." "I think I see what you're saying." "There's a lot of things that I could do… that would be bad. There are a lot of things that I don't fear. But I'd never do any of them because then the people I love would be upset. I don't want them to be unhappy. I don't!" Then Rae began to cry. Tears spilled over her cheeks. She stood up. "Why is it this way?" she wailed. "I want to be happy! I want everyone to be happy! I don't want to worry anymore! It's just that I don't care about anything anymore. Not even myself. Teflic, how I can I not care about myself? Is it because I care about everyone else?" Concern flashed through Teflic's eyes. "Oh Rae I'm so sorry… I don't know what to say." "It's all right. I'm just spilling it all out. I don't expect answers. This is just what's been going through my mind. Now that it's all out… I feel a bit better." Teflic stood. "Come here right now." Rae looked at him through teary eyes. "What?" "Come here." She did. He hugged her. "I promise you that everything will turn out all right. You've got to follow your heart. You can pull yourself up again." Rae broke away from him. "Thank you Teflic." "Will you please go to sleep now?" "I will." Teflic went back to his room. "Good night Rae!" he called. "Good night Teflic."
Something told Rae that it was morning. She opened her eyes. The ship was rocking more harshly than before. Suddenly she felt the ship drop and she bounced out of her hammock. She hit the floor with a loud bang. Rae quickly pulled on her boots. Her side ached, and she was sure that she'd have a big bruise in a few hours. Tightening her coat, Rae walked to the deck above. The deck tilted from left to right along with the waves. Storm clouds threatened from above. Rae saw Teflic hanging over the side of the ship. "Teflic?" He turned. Rae held back laughter. Teflic was… rather green. He gave her a weak smile. She walked over to him. "Having a rough time?" He nodded. "I guess my stomach's not totally seaworthy." He leaned over the side of the ship. Rae covered her eyes. "Are you all right?" she asked. Teflic coughed. "Yeah I'm fine. I'd rather be out here anyway then cooped up in my room. I'll be ok." Lighting flashed in the distance. "This is going to be some storm," said Rae. Just as she said that, the clouds opened up and rain beat down on them. The wind picked up. Waves began to break over the side of the ship. Teflic turned to her. "I've got nothing left," he laughed. Then his face turned serious. "We'd better go back in. As much as I like being out here, I know that it’s just too dangerous. I can't risk having you be swept off the ship and into the raging sea." He took Rae's hand. "Come on."
The two made their way across the deck as fast as they could. It was turning out to be more difficult than they had thought. The rain was coming down hard, and the wind had picked up even more. Dangerous waves washed over the ship, threatening to sweep Rae and Teflic overboard. The only reassurance that Rae had was Teflic's hand. He gripped her hand tightly and it dawned on her that he would give his life before he would let go. That was the role of the guardian. The waves didn't care about that though. One minute Rae was running… the next minute she was swimming… across the deck? Rae realized that she and Teflic had been separated by the huge waves. She felt relief as she hit the deck. But where was Teflic. "Teflic!" she shouted into the wind. She squinted, hoping to see him. The rain was blinding. Rae decided that she would not go inside unless she knew if Teflic was safe. The one quality about Rae (which also led to her downfall at times) was that she cared so deeply for those close to her that she would risk her life and not think twice. Rae slipped and slid across the deck. "Teflic!" She couldn't find him anywhere. Then she heard it… a faint cry. Was it her imagination? No… it was real. Rae was certain of it. She followed the sound of the voice and came to the side of the ship. The voice was still there though. Rae looked down and saw Teflic. He was hanging onto one of the ropes on the side of the ship. The angry ocean churned beneath him. "Teflic! He looked up into the wind and rain. "Rae! Are you completely nuts? Don't risk your life for me. Get back inside. I can't let you die!" Rae shook her head. "You're wrong. I will die if it's for the people that I care for. I'd die for my father. I'd die for the amazons. And yes, I'd die for you. So deal with it. I'm saving your life whether you like it or not." She leaned dangerously over the side of the ship and extended her arm. "Try to reach up and grasp my wrist. It's the sailor's grip. It's more secure than grabbing my hand." Teflic reached, but a wave smashed the side of the ship. Rae was horrified, but relieved when she saw him still hanging there. "Come on Teflic! Try again!" He reached and grasped her wrist. She extended her other arm, and he grasped her other wrist. Rae gritted her teeth as she pulled him up. "Gods smile on me please. Don't let me lose my friend…" She felt a burst of strength, and Teflic was safe on the deck once again. He was shaking terribly. Rae helped him stand and supported him. "Let's hurry up and go inside now."
Almost a week had passed since the huge storm. Unfortunately, Teflic had come down with a cold. He had decided to stay in the ship's small infirmary for a few days so that he wouldn't get anybody else sick. Rae visited him every day. "So," she said. "How are you feeling today?" Teflic sneezed. "Not that great. My fever went down, thank the gods. How am I supposed to be guarding you in this condition?" Rae laughed. "It's all right. I'm watching out for myself." "I know. But I worry. I don't like slacking on my job especially now since your true identity is know." Rae shrugged. "Just do your best to get well. That's all you can do right now." Teflic nodded. Rae walked toward the door. "I'm going to go get some fresh air." "Hey Rae…" "Yeah?" "I just want to thank you for what you did for me. I don't agree with you recklessly risking your life, but I guess I'm a bit glad that you did." "It was no problem Teflic. No problem at all."
Night had fallen once again. The sea was calm and smooth. A silent ship moved through the calm waters. Standing at the head of the ship was a man. He was only twenty-five summers, but he was quite a dark man. He had been taught of his dark legacy at a very young age. He had watched his family target the Merquise family for years. And now… it was his turn. Iber Finely stood bound by darkness. His target: Rae Kione Merquise, the young princess of the kingdom of Rough Cove. He had seen countless acts of murder and senseless killing throughout his life. It hardened his heart. He was not afraid to kill Rae, even if she was a princess. He had heard that she could be a formidable warrior. That didn't move his mission one bit. He would kill her. That was his destiny. The Merquise family must be wiped out. Nothing would move him from his mission. He had found out by a source that she was traveling by ship to Rough Cove. He hoped to intercept the ship before it made landfall. There was one problem standing in Iber's way. Rae was certain to have a guardian. Iber had been taught of the Merquise guardians. They had been trained for the sole purpose of defending the Merquise family. He knew that if Rae had a guardian, they would fight to the death before Rae was taken. Iber made sure to have a plan… and a backup plan. A sailor came up to him. "Sir, a ship has been spotted in the distance. We are sure that it's the one." Iber Finely smiled in the darkness. "Rae Kione Merquise… this is your end."
Rae had been sleeping peacefully in her room. There was stomping overhead, which woke her up. Rae sat up sleepily. "What in the gods names is going on now?" She heard shouts from above. Something about pirates? Rae jumped out of bed. Suddenly a shadow fell over her. Rae looked at the doorway and saw a man. He was a dark man with very dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. His face was expressionless. Rae's eyes widened. She reached for her sword. "Who are you?" she asked. The man came forward and bowed. "Rae Kione Merquise, it is an honor to meet you." "What?" "Permit me to introduce myself. My name is Iber Finely." "Finely!" Rae cried. He laughed and kicked her wrist. Her sword went flying and stuck in the wall. Then he kicked her in the ribs. Rae collapsed. Iber took something from his pocket. It was a cloth. He placed it over Rae's nose and mouth. She couldn't breath. All she smelled was the strong drug… Iber smirked as Rae passed out. A Merquise without a guardian… it was certainly strange. But he didn't worry about it anymore. He picked up Rae's limp body and walked back to the main deck. Once on the deck he shouted, "Come on men! We've gotten what we came for!" Instantly the men retreated back to their ship, and the ship sailed away as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, below deck, the commotion woke Teflic up. "Hey!" he shouted to one of the attendants. "What's going on?" "Sir, we were invaded by pirates of some sort. But they just left, thank the gods. Nobody can figure out why though." A sudden thought came to Teflic's mind. "No…" he whispered. He bolted from the cot he had been sleeping on. "Sir? You mustn't leave! You're not well!" Teflic didn't care. He dashed to Rae's room. "Rae!" he shouted. He ran inside the room. Nobody was there. Teflic's eyes widened in horror. The only sign of Rae was her boots lying on the floor…and her sword sticking out of the wall. She had been captured. "The Finelys got her! I've failed!" He ran up to the captain. "Captain!" The captain and the sailors were still a bit shaken from the events that had just occurred. The captain turned to Teflic. "What is it?" "Did you see where the other ship went? Which direction?" "It's not important. We should avoid them as best as we can." Teflic took the captain by the throat. "Oh no. We're not going to avoid that ship. We're going to catch up with it. They've taken a dear friend of mine, and we must get her back." "It's that girl Rae?" "Yes! We have to hurry! They're going to kill her. She's not an ordinary girl. She's Rae Kione Merquise!" "Merquise? Like the ones in all of those stories?" "Exactly. The Finely family has caught up with us. Please, sir! We must catch up and get Rae back!" The captain looked at Teflic. Teflic had dropped to his knees, his eyes pleading for them to catch up with that ship. "Very well," sighed the captain! "Sailors hurry! We're changing course!"
All of the men parted as Iber walked down the deck with Rae in his arms. She was still unconscious. Everyone tried to get a glimpse of a legendary Merquise. He set her down on the deck and drew his sword. It was now time to fulfill their destinies. He would kill her. Iber raised his sword. Then he looked down at Rae. Something stopped him from bringing the sword down. It was if they had been frozen in time. What was stopping him? Was it her beauty? No… he had known his share of pretty girls. It was true that she was a lot prettier than most, but still… Was it the fact that she looked so helpless? So innocent and young? Whatever it was, Iber couldn't bring down his sword into her chest. He lowered the sword to his side. The men shouted in confusion. This was not how it was supposed to happen. Iber knew that Rae must die… but he wouldn't kill her with his hands. No… he'd just have to think of another way of killing her. In the meantime, he'd lock her away. Iber picked Rae back up. He took her below deck, and the men followed. Iber chained Rae's hands and feet together and set her down in a dark room. He would leave her there for now… maybe forever. Maybe he'd just let her starve to death. Iber turned to his men. "One of you get a bucket of water for her. The rest of you… if I catch sight of you going anywhere near this room, I'll kill you. Don't go near her. Don't even look at her. Let her stay here." Then he dismissed the men. When they had gone, he looked back at Rae. "There. You should be grateful to me. I just saved you a lot of pain. I'm sure there's worse to come though." He closed the heavy door and locked it. "I'm almost sorry that it has to end this way…" Then he felt his heart harden once more. "Good-bye Rae Kione Merquise."
When Rae came to, she wasn't even sure that her eyes were open. She was in a room of some sort. It was pitch black and cold. Rae was glad for her coat. She realized that she had no boots though. Her feet felt like blocks of ice. Where was she anyway? Her hands and feet were chained together. Her wrist felt sore and her ribs…ached like Tartarus. She was almost sure that one might be cracked. Either way, she'd have a few big bruises to deal with. Rae still felt light headed and dizzy. What had happened? She wondered… and then it hit her. "Finely… Iber Finely!" she shouted. Her voice was a bit hoarse. She moved across the room as best as she could, and bumped into a metal object. "A bucket?" she said. It was a bucket of fresh water. "Thank the gods. At least I have something!" Then Rae wondered: why wasn't she dead? Wasn't Iber supposed to kill her once he captured her? Then she realized that he was going to kill her anyway. Being locked up in these conditions would be pure torture. "So that's his way…" Rae muttered. She lay on her side. There was nothing she could do now. She couldn't see a thing. The cold seemed to swallow her up, and soon it was biting through Rae's coat. She shivered. Was it supposed to end this way? Rae felt warm tears in her eyes. "Is this my true destiny? Am I really going to die here?" Memories filled her mind. Right now she'd give anything to be back on the warm Amazon Island. "The amazons… I miss them a little." Rae felt guilty. She had done her share of bringing problems to the island. The whole Loa ordeal… and now herself. "I know now! I was the problem… it was I who brought Loa to the island. It was I who snapped at everyone and told them to leave me alone. I brought so many problems. I shouldn't have… I'm sorry," she wailed. "Gods, if I die, please let the amazons live without pain. I don't want them to be unhappy… especially for me. Please let them live in happiness!" Rae felt her stomach growl. She was getting very hungry. She closed her eyes. If she slept…she would dream. If she dreamed she'd escape reality. If she escaped reality…she'd feel no more pain.
Teflic paced around the deck. Three days. It had been three days since Rae had been captured. He wondered if she was still alive. He prayed to the gods that he would get her back safely. His mind was full of worry. If Iber hadn't killed Rae… then what had he done with her? Had he locked her away? Had he tortured her? Had he… Teflic stopped thinking about the worst and concentrated on the best. He wondered if the ship was on the right track. In his heart he knew that he just had to find Rae. Teflic took out his sword and carefully examined the sharp blade. If he couldn't save Rae, he decided, then he would kill himself.
Rae woke up once again in her cold dark cell. How long had she been there anyway? Rae couldn't tell how many days had passed. She had water to drink, but she was given no food. Nobody had come to see her either. Rae began to realize that she was just going to be left to die. If she died then Iber's mission would be fulfilled. He would have no blood on his hands. The thought sickened Rae. She would not die. She wouldn't let Iber Finely win. "I am a Merquise," she said slowly. "I will not give up! I won't die!" Hunger pains took over momentarily and Rae gasped. Surely there was some way to get out of this. There had to be. But Rae was weak. She was tired… so tired. Her eyes closed. She didn't feel like doing anything but sleeping. Sleep would keep the hunger away. Or so she thought…
It was the fourth day when Teflic spotted the ship. He ran to the captain. "That's the ship! We must get to it!" The captain turned to him. "Young man, are you crazy? We must find a strategy. You can't just jump into this without thinking." Teflic drew his sword and pointed it at the captain. "I've had enough time to think. We're going in as soon as we can. I won't let my friend suffer anymore." Fear struck the captain. "Yes sir. Whatever you say. Men, faster! We must reach that ship today!" Teflic turned and looked at the distant ship. "Hold on Rae. I'll be there soon. Please hold on…"
Rae awoke in the coldness to the sounds of shouting and stomping. Something was happening above deck. She was a bit frightened. Were they going to kill her now? What was going on?
Teflic ran across the deck of the Finely ship. All around him men were battling. They had taken the ship completely by surprise. Teflic scanned the deck. There was no sign of Rae… and no sign that she had been killed either. Hope raced through Teflic. But where was Iber? That was another thing that Teflic would have to be cautious of. If Rae wasn't above deck… then perhaps she was below deck somewhere. Teflic ran to the hatch and slipped inside. He would find her. He had to carry out his mission. He had to make sure that Rae was safe.
Rae carefully listened to the pounding above her. It almost sounded as if a battle was occurring. "That can't be," Rae said. "How could there be a battle. Maybe it's my imagination. Maybe I'm just getting my hopes up to high." She sighed as her stomach roared again. "Maybe I'm just starving to death. Gods! I want something to eat!" Then her instincts picked up another sound. Maybe it was footsteps? Either way it was coming closer. Rae heard the sound of a door being forced to open. Was it her cell? Had Iber decided that it was time for her to die? She curled up, a bit fearful and a bit hopeful at the same time. Suddenly the door swung open, and Rae was blinded. She groaned in pain. She couldn't see a thing. And then someone was beside her. "Rae! Oh gods! You're alive!" The voice was comforting. Rae recognized it at once. "Teflic! You came! Oh no… maybe I'm hallucinating again. This can't be real." Teflic looked at his fallen friend. "It's not a hallucination. I'm here to get you out of here. I'm your guardian, and this is my job. I wouldn't give up on you that easily Rae. You should know that by now." Rae felt tears. Teflic brushed them away. "Come on now. There's no time for crying. Save it for later. I have to get you out of here." He took out a dagger and cut her bonds. Rae flexed her wrists. "Can you stand?" Teflic asked. "I…I'm not sure." "I'll help you." Teflic put one of Rae's arms around his shoulder and lifted her to her feet. Rae cried out in pain. "What is it?" asked Teflic, alarmed. "My side… my ribs. I think one's broken or something. It's from when Iber kicked me. Whoa it hurts… And my legs feel like jelly. I haven't been on my feet for… how many days has it been?" "It's been four days. Curse Iber. I won't let him get away with what he's done." Rae nodded as she tried out her legs once again. After about ten minutes, she was able to walk. "I am so hungry," she said. "We'll get you something to eat soon. I promise. Let's get out of here now." "Help me. I still can't see." Teflic took Rae's hand and led her out of her cold dark prison. The light stung her eyes, and she flinched. "It hurts… I can't see anything!" "That's because you've been in the dark for so long. Take a few minutes. We have time." And so they stopped for another fifteen minutes so that Rae's eyes were adjusted to the light once again. Then together, they walked above deck. Teflic shielded Rae as they started to make their way across the deck. But suddenly… Rae was grabbed from behind. It was Iber. "I should have killed you when I had the chance," he hissed. Teflic spun around, sword in hand. "Iber Finely… let her go right now." Rae struggled. Her ribs were hurting more than ever… and she felt so weak… "You're Teflic the faithful guardian huh?" Iber smirked. Teflic's eyes filled with rage. "I said let her go!" he slashed Iber's hand. Iber was stunned, and he loosened his grip. Rae elbowed him and got away. Iber drew his sword. "I won't let you leave this ship alive, Rae Kione Merquise. You must die!" Teflic whispered in Rae's ear, "I have your sword with me. I don't want you to fight though. Let me do it." Rae looked at him. "Teflic, I appreciate your concern. But please… let me fight this one. I will get even." Teflic looked uncertain. Then he slowly took out Rae's sword and handed it to her. She smiled. Then she turned back to Iber. "All right Iber Finely, the game's over." Then their fight began. Rae concentrated hard. Many things threatened her ability to fight. She was weak from starvation and weary as well. Iber swung out. His blade slashed into her leg. Blood began to pour out of the wound. His dark eyes met hers. "One for me," he said threateningly. Rae felt the pain, but knew that it would take more than that. They kept fighting. Rae saw her opening and went for it. Blood spurted from Iber's arm. "And one for me," she said dangerously. Anger flashed through Iber's eyes. He slashed at her again. The battle continued. Rae was feeling dizzy. No! I can't lose my concentration! I have to do this. She swallowed and kept blocking Iber's hits. They went around the ship, and now were near the edge. Rae had to make sure that she wasn't near the edge. One false move and she would go over. Her vision began to blur. Suddenly she heard the loud clang of the swords again. And then… her sword was gone…into the air. It landed out of Rae's reach. There was no time to get it. Iber lunged at Rae. She dodged out of the way. No time to take a break…Iber was coming again. Rae's head spun. There had to be another way. He was coming… she could see the rage in his eyes. Rae closed her eyes. But then… something miraculous happened. Rae slowly spread her arms. Iber swung his sword… it would deliver the final blow. Then a barrier surrounded Rae. An awesome power that Rae had never had before. She could feel it flowing through her veins like lightning. Iber crashed into the barrier. It bounced him off… and over the side of the ship. The last words that Rae heard from him were, "I'll get you Rae! You won't live in peace anymore! Mark my words Rae Kione Merquise! I won't let you live…" And then there was a huge splash. Rae opened her eyes and looked over the side of the ship. There was no sign of Iber. Then Teflic was beside her. "Rae! You… you truly awakened the Merquise power…" He sounded almost amazed. Rae turned to him. "Teflic, I…" She couldn't say anything because weakness, exhaustion, pain, and hunger all washed over her at the same time. She crumpled to the floor. Teflic dropped beside her. "Rae! Rae are you all right?" Rae smiled slightly and closed her eyes. "Maybe… I want to be." Teflic was alarmed. He knew that Rae was still alive, but if he didn't get help immediately then he knew that she would die. He retrieved Rae's sword and secured it with his own. Then he picked Rae up. He would use his strongest power now… the power of transport. He blinked, and they disappeared from the deck of the ship.
Warmth… comfort… was it a dream? Rae slowly opened her eyes. She was lying in a comfortable bed. "Where am I?" she muttered. "Hey!" said a voice. "She's awake! Come quickly you guys!" Instantly Rae was surrounded by familiar faces. Teflic… and her father, King Austenair. "Dad? I'm in Rough Cove?" Austenair nodded. "Yes, you're safe now." Teflic looked a bit worried. "How do you feel?" "Well… I feel my many bandages. Oh you mean my health? Well I'm still in a bit of pain. And I am so hungry! I need food!" Austenair nodded. "I'll send someone to get you something at once." He stepped away. Rae looked at Teflic. "What happened?" "Well you blacked out after you got rid of Iber. I knew that your health wouldn't hold out if we stayed on the ship. So I used my teleportation powers and came here. Your father was so worried about you. And as far as your health report… you've got a cracked rib and a pretty deep cut on your leg. The cut is all stitched up though, but you'll still have to have the stitches for a few weeks." "Well I guess I won't be doing much in that time I suppose." They laughed. Rae was brought some food. Austenair returned. Teflic smiled. "Well I think I'll leave you guys for now. I have to talk to my father anyway." "Thank you Teflic," said Austenair. Teflic bowed and walked away. Austenair sat on the side of Rae's bed. "So… I guess you know the truth now?" "Yes I do," Rae said between mouthfuls of food. "Oh Rae, when Teflic brought you here I thought you were dead. I was so worried." "It's all right. I'm tough." "Yes I know." Austenair sighed. "But now you know about your Merquise side. Your mother managed to get away from her fate, but it all caught up with her." He looked at Rae. "I hope everything will work out for you. I just get a feeling that at the end… you won't be killed by the Finelys at all." "I don't know. Iber might still be alive. I have no actual proof that he's dead." "I'm sure that if you meet up with him again, it'll turn out right." "Yeah I hope so." "Now that you know… what do you feel?" "Well… I feel as if I've really grown up over the past weeks. There were lots of changes. Which reminds me… I have to go back to the Amazon Island. There is something rather important that I wish to tell them." "Oh? What is that?" "I'll discuss it later." "Very well. You should get some rest." "I will." "I love you Rae." "I love you too dad."
Rae and Teflic stayed in Rough Cove for a week. Finally it was time to go. Rae bid good-bye to her father, and she and Teflic walked down to the shoreline. Rae's clothes had been fully repaired. She walked a bit stiffly since her leg was bandaged as well as almost her whole torso. Teflic touched her shoulder. "So we're going back to the Amazon Island now?" "Yes. There is something important that I have to tell the amazons." "Rae are you sure? Do you think that this is the right choice to make?" Rae nodded. "Yes I believe it is. Everything will turn out for the better at the end anyway." She turned and faced Teflic. "Before we go, I just want to thank you for everything. You showed me my destiny. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for being my guardian." Teflic laughed. "What can I say? It was fate." Then Rae gave him a hug, and they both disappeared.
The whole amazon tribe was gathered near the portals. There had been no sign of Rae for about three weeks already. There was the sinking feeling that she was never coming back. "Queen Cyan," said the Enforcer. "Yes?" "I think that we have to move on. I don't think that she's coming back." Cyan looked at the portals. "I know… I just keep hoping. All I want to know is why she left us without saying anything." Eponie and Falcon walked up to them. "We all wish for her to come back," said Eponie. "I still want a better explanation as well," said Falcon. They all sighed. Then Tama walked up to the group. "She isn't coming back is she?" The other amazons shrugged. "It's looking doubtful," said the Enforcer. Suddenly there was a faint crackling sound. "That sounds like…" Cyan said. "The portals!" cried the others. Excitement ran through all of the amazons. Only one of their own could access the portals. A light flashed in one of them and then… Rae was standing there. Her dog, Teflic, was in her arms. The amazons looked silently at Rae. She had changed a bit… especially her clothes. "A soldier uniform?" asked Falcon. Rae set Teflic on the ground and smiled at him. Then she walked slowly to the amazons. Her walk was stiff, almost as if she was injured. She approached Cyan. She closed her eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. "Queen Cyan… amazons. I know I have worried you all." "What happened? Where were you?" asked Cyan. The other amazons nodded. Rae looked around at all of them. "I was… on a bit of a mission. I made a discovery about myself and who I am." The amazons looked at each other, a bit puzzled, but Eponie said, "What did you discover? Who are you then?" Rae took a deep breath. "My name is Rae Kione Merquise, Princess of the Kingdom of Rough Cove, and…" She lifted one of her sleeves. There on her arm was her amazon armband. It had clearly been severed… then repaired. "And I am an amazon of this tribe. If you would excuse me? I have some thinking to do." The amazons stared at Rae as she walked away stiffly, Teflic at her heels. "She's not fully ready to tell us what happened," said Falcon. Cyan was thinking. Finally she spoke. "Rae Kione Merquise… Merquise… it sounds all too familiar." "Do you know what happened to her?" asked Eponie. "Not fully. But I think I'm beginning to figure it out. The Merquise legend… I think I'm beginning to understand, Eponie. I really think I am."
It was mid-afternoon on the Amazon Island. Rae was sitting on top of the bell tower: one of her favorite places to just sit and think. The sun was shining brightly and there was a slight wind blowing. Rae scanned the land from where she was sitting. The island… was the best place to be for now. Nobody would be able to get her as long as she was there. As soon as her wounds were healed, she would ask to be part of any quest that the tribe went on. She was not going to let the legend take over her whole life. Rae decided that it would be best not to share her story for now. What they wouldn't know… wouldn't hurt them. She inhaled a breath of fresh air. "So, this is my destiny? If so, then bring it on. I will not die." Rae stood up. The wind blew her hair back. In the distance… was the sparkling sea. Rae smiled. Now she realized it. Her life was just beginning. Her new knowledge would bring many new adventures and learning experiences for sure. Rae knew that there would be many hardships along the way. But it was time for her to face her destiny… her fate. "My name is Rae Kione Merquise," she said slowly. Then she laughed. And Rae was not afraid anymore.

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