-----Aquabregade_Queen-----The I C O N----------Larex2400----------Rad Lionheart---[D]ark [P]hantom-----(I made him up.)
(Aqua)-------------------------(Crystal)---------------(Daniel)---------------(Rad)---------------(Alex)-----------------Billy
----Aquaris---------------Pacis Unda
AND
Here's the story so far...:
Fixing his beard, an old man eyed the children that were sitting before him. Noticing the children’s eagerness to hear another story, the old man picked up his cane and asked the children in a hoarse voice, “What do you see here in my hands children?” A girl with long, silky hair that was the color of a deep rosy red had raised her hand, but then put it down quickly. After that, all of the other kids decided to shoot their hands into the air. The girl though was holding her hand and looking at the old man as if she was sorry for hurting him. The old man saw the expression on her face and stood up, held the cane with his right hand, and walked to the little redheaded girl. Confused, the girl looked away bashfully, tossing her hair over to hide her face. “Rose, I know you didn’t mean any harm. Thank you for warning me.”
Walking back over to his tree stump, the old man took his cane and whacked a bush at the end of the stump. A dog that was foaming at the mouth had fallen over with a lump on its head. “See this kids? We all could’ve been hurt by this creature. Now…” The old man had sat back down on his tree stump and continued, “Who wants to hear a story about how and why we live in this glorious city?” This time, all of the children shot their hands up at the Heavens, even Rose. Clearing his throat, the old man asked once more, “See my walking stick, children? When I was very young, my grandfather had made this stick for my father because he couldn’t move his right leg at all for it was paralyzed. What you see here was not what it looked like 90 years ago-”
Interrupting, a boy of 6 blurted out, “You’re almost 100? Holy cow! Wait…does that mean you’re as old as the world or the universe?” Except for Rose, all of the other kids laughed until the old man yelled out over their laughter.
“Quiet! All of you!” When the kids all hushed and some hugging each other out of reaction, the old man continued once more, “Listen well, Billy. If you don’t, Aquarius will haunt you in your sleep for all an eternity! Now, let me finish my story. Where was I…? Oh, I remember now…90 years ago, you couldn’t find these. The only place you could get one sturdy like mine was in the woods and even then it was a dangerous place. Did we find this stick? No. According to my grandfather, he had told me that a water angel gave this stick to him. None of us believed him then but now, we are starting to believe his words…Why do I say this? Because it is believed that one of Aquarius’ ancestors had become a spirit who had guarded the rivers of the Algora Mountains. Let me take you into a land that was once your city.”
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Almost twenty five years ago, something strange had happened to the world. Something…abnormal. Something different. Was it a miracle? Was it meant as an omen? Or did the fate of this mysterious…”subject” depended on it’s own will when it was the right time? No one knows but soon, everyone would find out…
“Ahhh! I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!”
Running frantically around her room, a girl of fourteen tossed her clothes on and ran out into the kitchen. Pushing everything out of the way, the girl didn’t stop until she found her breakfast pastry. “Ugh! I’m gonna be sooo late! I’ve never been this late before!” Stuffing the pastry into her mouth, the girl grabbed her backpack and ran out the door, locking it with her keys. Once she was done, she stuffed her keys in her back pants pocket and jumped off of her front patio. Hair flying into her face, the girl yelled out, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?” Kneeling on the ground and digging through her backpack, the girl found a clip that she could use for her hair. Grabbing her hair, the girl twisted it and added the clip in to where her hair would hold.
“There…that should do but now, I’m later than ever!” Picking up her bag and hugging it, the girl ran as fast as she can to her bus stop. Stopping and leaning against a pole, the girl huffed and puffed as she slid down to the ground. “I’m late! I’m late! I’m late…”
Walking up behind the girl, another girl tapped her on the shoulder and asked, “So, Aqua. Whacha late for? Last time I checked, you’re pretty early.”
“Huh? I’m late though! It’s 7:27 and the bus came at 7-te-Crystal?!” Standing up and turning around, the girl came face-to-face with Crystal, another girl, and three guys. Blinking, the girl stood there with a dumbfounded expression. After awhile, the girl asked while pointing her finger in front of her, “Who reset it?”
Crystal shrugged her shoulders and looked at the girl behind her. Shrugging her shoulders to, the girl behind Crystal said, “I dunno Crystal! From what I can remember, Aqua decided to set her watch like 15 minutes earlier than the regular time so she wouldn’t have to be late anywhere again! But I guess that was all a figment of my imagination!”
“Oh I remember now, Alex! She did do that!” Crystal replied in a mocking tone with her hands on her hips. Holding out her wrist, Crystal showed Aqua her watch. “See? You’re early.”
Sighing in relief, Aqua hit her forehead softly with her palm and said, “I’m such a dunce!”
“But not as big as me…” Crystal pointed out as she gave Aqua a noogie. Releasing Aqua, Crystal said, “So…since we’re all here early, we might as well walk to school. Who’s hungry?” A wide smile presented itself on Crystal’s face.
A finely dressed boy stepped forward and put his hand on Crystal’s shoulder, sighing. “Crystal. When do you not think about your stomach?”
“Yeah! I mean, come on! Do you want all that food to go down to your thighs?” A boy with a clown nose and a black cat walked up to Crystal as well and ruffled her hair. Tapping his clown nose with his other hand, the boy said, “Rad thinks you should try to start eating dinner so you’re not starving yourself in the morning.”
Crystal looked over at Alex and Aqua with an expression that said, “Help me out here!” Looking back at Rad and the other boy, she said, “Well…uh…you see…I…um…Aqua? Any ideas?”
Standing up straight, Aqua pointed her thumb and Alex saying, “Both Crystal and Alex stayed at my house after you, Billy, and Daniel left. Then like at 9…those two went to Alex’s house and that’s all I know. We didn’t eat dinner because we had a bunch of ice cream and stuff after school, remember Rad? Or did the candy get to your head?”
“Still! You have to eat dinner pr at least eat breakfast!” Rad pointed out as he grabbed his cat. Crystal saw the cat and patted it on the head. Soon, she wound up stealing the cat from Rad and ran down the street towards the school.
“Fine Rad! I’ll just get to school early to eat! HA!” Crystal exclaimed as she hugged Rad’s cat and ran. “Catch me if you can!”
“Crystal! That’s not fair! You took a head-start! Wait for me and Aqua!” Alex yelled out as she grabbed Aqua’s hand and said in her normal voice, “Come on guys. Crystal might trip on her way.” Pulling Aqua now, Alex started to power-walk that soon became a jog.
Lagging behind, Daniel and Billy put the right hands on their backpack straps and said, “Let’s go.” With that, they left Rad to run by himself unless he decided to run with them. Within seconds, Rad was caught up and already ahead, almost caught up to the girls.
“I’m gonna get you Crystal! Give me back Untitled you evil person!”
Besides Rad and Crystal yelling at each other, all you could hear was laughter until they reached the school. Crystal stopped on a dime and stared at what was left of their beautiful school. Rad stopped shortly after her as did the others. Aqua stood there next to Crystal and stared at the school with a happy expression but sad eyes. Then Aqua gasped. “Oh no!”
Crystal turned around quickly and asked, “What’s wrong, Aqua?”
“Mother’s necklace…”
“What about Mother’s necklace?”
“It was in my locker!” Aqua took off jumping over a low-cut bush and ran down a path of cobblestones and ashes along with some little fire spots. Huffing and puffing, Aqua kicked open what was left of the entrance of the school and ran inside. Crystal gave Untitled back to Rad and ran after Aqua. Soon, the others ran after Crystal out of instinct and reaction. Crystal stopped at Aqua’s side and stared at her black locker, tears falling from her eyes. Without a second glance, Crystal hugged Aqua and cried along side her.
Realizing what was happening, Alex took Aqua’s hand and held it between her own, whispering, “I think your mother was happy that you weren’t here when the fire happened. Her soul will live on within everything you cherish. Even us since she was like our mother too. It’s okay.” Alex then hugged Aqua and Crystal while trying to hold back tears.
Walking up to the girls, Rad and Daniel looked at each other and then at Aqua. On the other hand, Billy walked up to Aqua’s locker and reached inside, looking for something. Rad looked at Billy and asked him, “Hey, what are you lookin’ for?”
“This.” Pulling out a small pile of ashes, Billy picked up a piece of a tarnished string and said, “If it wasn’t for the bag it was in, your mom’s necklace would’ve really been history.”
Aqua cheered up a little at the thought of this and she and Crystal stopped crying. Clearing her throat now, Aqua then mumbled, “What is happening to me?”
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