Coalescence

Part One: Condensation

The ubiquitous wind surrounded and consumed their senses and emotions, a whirlwind of sounds, smells, memories, life... Sheba and Ivan clung to each other desperately, pressing their faces together, squeezing their eyes shut against the piercing, caressing wind. They stood as a singular pillar, alone and small in the huge crater that once teemed with the mystical energy of Psynergy. Ivan slowly opened one squinting eye, blinking against the wild blond hair whipping his face, watching the Jupiter Djinn thrash helplessly in the air. Almost comically they zipped around, but they often slammed against the earth, unable to control their own element. Sheba and Ivan were doing everything they could not to be swept away by the raging force.

Ivan felt numb. He could see, hear, and feel, of course, but his mind was numb. The landscape, a bare earthy brown against wondrous blue began to wheel around in his vision. He couldn’t tell if the ground was moving or if he was, but the wind whirred louder in his ears. It slapped him, it tickled his nose... He buried his face into Sheba’s shoulder. Are we dying?

Are we dead? she returned in thought.

Maybe.

Then everything stopped. His heart ceased beating. The blond hair, he wasn’t sure whether it was his or Sheba’s, fell limp against his face. It was dark and light at the same time, and he had to strain his eyes to see, then squint against what he saw. They were no longer in the crater, or anywhere near Contigo.

...Sheba?

The name floated delicately in the open space. It echoed a few times, but there was no answer. Ivan reached out frantically, grabbing at phantoms of her slender frame. She smiled, her face pounding into his mind every time her name boomed through the space.

SHEBA!

Then she was beside him, slipping her hand reassuringly into his, but her mouth was agape in wonder and fright. Where are we?

Death.

He was almost convinced. Everything he felt was stark and foreboding. A sharp smell reached his nose and he reached up to rub it away, but his arm was faint, like it was fading away. Alarmed, he looked at Sheba. She was becoming transparent, as well, but he could feel the smooth comfort of her hand, the warmth of her breath...

How did we die, Ivan?

We were playing with power.

Our parents don’t want us, then.

Then Ivan remembered why they died.

They came to Contigo to find answers, pieces of their pasts, a hope that they would be able to discover a link to the people of Anemos. Their mission, at first blind and bewildered, soon began to gain depth as they delved into the dark mysteries of Anemos Sanctum. Days, weeks were spent in the ancient temple and they still shivered as they entered. Fascinating things were discovered about their families. It was said that they could fly, that speech was rendered obsolete, that a perfect society was created by honesty and truth; that they invented amazing contraptions, and could do almost anything with Psynergy.

The legends stated that the moon was the land of Anemos, and that their Jupiter Psynergy controlled wind, reason, and thought on Weyard. Sheba theorized that the people of Anemos were the reason that the moon had such a profound effect on Garoh.

More than anything, they wanted to be reunited with their families, so they experimented with all of the rites, spells, and sacred items left in Anemos Sanctum. And here they were. Dead.

We were foolish to mess with fate.

Then the dark and light ended all at once and they opened their eyelids. Blinking a few times, they sat up, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes and yawning. They looked forlornly at the light gently filtering in through the misty window, mildly surprised at the steep layers of snow blanketing the ground. Easing themselves slowly out of bed, they stumbled to the opposite end of the cozy room. A small blaze flickered in the fireplace nearby, warming them as they doused their faces in a bowl of cold water. They glanced over at a mirror hanging desolately on the wall, noticing the purple bags that tugged at their eyes. They tried to straighten their tangled blue hair, but what was the use?

Resignedly, they reached around for the hairbrush beside the bowl, beginning to pull it through their long aqua hair, staring blankly into the mirror. Their blue eyes looked dull, their fair skin was pale...

While their eyes blinked softly, Ivan started in disbelief. It’s... Mia!? What in Weyard is going on!?

Ivan, is it just me, or is that Mia in the mirror? Sheba’s voice, seemingly out of nowhere, asked in incredulity.

Ivan tried to look around the room, tried to force Mia’s eyes to look where he wanted. Instead, Mia, Sheba, and Ivan looked down at their rumpled sleeve as they tried to straighten it. This is amazing. Can you believe that we’re in Mia’s mind? Despite his astonishment, Ivan sounded excited.

Angry at her lack of understanding, Sheba spat, Amazing? We’re insane! What’s happening?

I don’t know, but we must be here for a reason.

Beginning to brush their hair again, they turned away from the mirror and walked back to the bed, sitting on its unembellished blanket. Once they finished the task, they swept up their hair into ponytail, securing it with a plain white bow. Always a simple girl, they had never liked anything too extravagant. Grabbing their warm blue robes, they stepped placidly out of the room.

Why? How can you be so calm? I want to know what’s going on!

Have patience, Sheba. Although he could no longer see or feel anything except what Mia was experiencing, he gave Sheba a mental hug. I’m sure it has something to do with Anemos.

You’re right. But... Are we going to be stuck like this?

We’re getting ahead of ourselves. First of all, we should figure out why we’re here. Do you think Mia has some kind of connection with Anemos?

Upon entering the kitchen of the quaint little cottage, a kind, elderly couple presented them with a bowl of porridge. They sat at the table with them, poking at the aromatic meal and swallowing a mouthful every now and then. Clearly, they didn’t have much of an appetite lately. The old couple exchanged worried glances, they noticed, but it didn’t matter to them. Ever since they had departed from New Vale...

Well, Ivan... I don’t really think so. She never mentioned them.

Just because she never mentioned them doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a connection. Think about it, Mia belongs to the Mercury Clan, a tribe of Adepts dedicated to Water Psynergy. We belong to Anemos, followers of Jupiter. Maybe there’s a connection between the two. Maybe she’s a link.

Or maybe we’re getting too technical. It could be emotional... According to the legends, Anemos deals with thought processes, right? Mia seems a little sad. Something could be wrong. Sheba heaved a mental sigh. Suppose we’re here to help her?

Immediately, Ivan answered, No, how’re we going to help if we can’t influence her thoughts or actions? I think we’re here to learn something before we go to Anemos... Or before we really do die.

They sighed, resting their chin on a cold hand. Depressed. That’s how they had been ever since they had left New Vale. The most wonderful people in the world were back there, and they would never meet again. Their outlook on life began to sink low, pessimism setting in.

“Mia, dear, are you alright?” Concerned, the old woman patted their hand. “Oh my! You’re so cold! Grandpa, help her to the fire, will you?”

They smiled half-heartedly. “Don’t worry. I’m fine, really.”

With all of your talk of death, it’s no wonder Mia’s depressed. Do you think our moods affect hers?

No, I don’t think so, Sheba. She was thinking about New Vale, wasn’t she? She’s sad about leaving the Valeans behind. It was hard for all of us to separate.

You’re right. She’s in a snow globe. She’s stuck in a wintry wonderland, left to press her cheek against the glass and dream of other worlds.

How poetic.

I was always more artistic than you.

Then they left, making up some excuse to go cure a cold, hurrying out into the fluffy wonder of Imil. Wrapping their robes tighter, they trudged through the snow, ignoring the growing wetness in their boots. They wandered through the small town, standing at a fence to watch children slide across ice, then turning to greet a rosy-faced person. Eventually, they found themselves at the foot of Mercury Lighthouse, staring up at the structure’s perfect beauty.

They crossed the threshold, marveling as though it were their first time entering. The walls were slick with ice, and the whole room glittered like diamonds. A cool liquid bubbled in the center of the room, but they walked past it without a thought. Purposefully they crossed the room, settling finally in corner. From this position, they could see the entire area quite well. They leaned against the wall, shifting positions until they were comfortable.

They spent the next few minutes staring listlessly into space.

By Jupiter... She really is depressed. If she misses everyone so much, why doesn’t she just leave?

Ivan, I think it’s because she feels responsible, like the people in Imil need her.

She left Imil to join Isaac, Garet, and I all those years ago, though... I don’t see why she feels that she needs to stay with them.

Mia would probably be guilty about leaving them again. After all, the world isn’t in dire danger anymore.

They buried their pretty face into their knees, sobbing quietly. They were in so much pain... Why did missing their friends have to hurt so much? Sometimes, they just wanted to die... But they couldn’t. Not when Megan, Justin, and all of Imil, needed them. Desolately, they wiped the tears from their face, sighing heavily.

Poor Mia...

I wish we could help her...

They were still for several moments, until finally an exhausted, dreamless sleep set in.

“Mia... Mia... Wake up, Mia.”

A soft voice whispered into Mia, Sheba, and Ivan’s ear. They smiled a bit at the warmth of the speaker’s breath, opening their eyes slowly. Intense blue eyes met theirs, and they gasped. Isaac! And behind him... Garet! They started forward, scrambling to their feet. Brushing their damp blue hair out of their eyes, they exclaimed, “Wh-what are you doing here?”

Garet pushed past Isaac, enveloping them in a strong embrace. “I knew we’d find you here! It’s good to see you again, Mia!”

Ivan and Sheba felt Mia’s shock as intensely as if it were their own. In fact, they were just as stunned as she. They winced at the smell of Garet, but Mia’s thoughts didn’t notice. She was too excited to see her old friends to worry about that, so Ivan and Sheba, just along for the ride, were overwhelmed by her pleasure as well. They hugged Garet back, holding him extra tight so that he wouldn’t vanish.

This... union of minds, it’s strange. I actually feel... affectionate toward Garet, Sheba mused flatly.

I agree. Garet and Isaac really do mean a lot to Mia, don’t they? Amazing...

As long as we’re in Mia’s mind, we’ll probably appreciate people a lot more. She’s more caring than some people deserve.

After Garet’s release, they hugged Isaac, smiling with tears shining in their eyes. Goodness... They couldn’t believe that Garet and Isaac were here! Were they dreaming? Maybe they were still leaning against the icy wall — then Isaac pecked them on the cheek. Shaken, they smiled blissfully at him, wanting to just hug him and Garet forever.

This is odd...

Most definitely.

Ivan’s thoughts were curious, almost nosy, though Sheba couldn’t fathom why. I wonder why Garet and Isaac came back?

Oh, a visit, perhaps. It’s been so long since we’ve seen everyone... Even we get lonely sometimes, you know?

Sheba, are you saying that I’m boring?

His amusement felt warm in her mind. Of course not. But, how could she feel warm if her mind was integrated with Mia’s?

Because Mia felt warm. Suddenly, they remembered what exactly was happening, and after exclaiming many times over of their rudeness, they animatedly dragged the two Valeans back to Imil. Isaac and Garet, flushed and laughing, trailed through the snow behind them. I have to be dreaming, they thought repeatedly, this can’t be happening. Yet they smiled a genuine smile, grinning so wide that they felt as though they hadn’t done so in ages.

The three (or five, depending) of them reached their destination finally, stopping at the icy lake. Mia, Sheba, and Ivan smiled — the children spinning gracelessly across the frozen water stopped, pointing and whispering at the tall, pointy-haired strangers talking to their Mia. The children stared wide-eyed for a moment, and then one mustered enough courage to approach them, slipping on the way. He clambered right up close to Garet, unabashedly gaping at him, mouth hanging wide open.

Face expressing such awe that anyone would have thought he had beheld a great and merciless god, the boy asked, “Who are you?”

“Kid, my name’s Garet.” The Mars Adept folded his arms self-assuredly, the same old charming, bold, tactless man as always.

“...WoooOOOooow... Will you be my friend?”

“Uuuhh...” He blinked. “I guess so.”

Suddenly the boy burst into a smile. “Hey, I get to show you off now! C’mon!” The boy grabbed one of his large hands and scrambled away, tugging fiercely on his arm. Garet sent Mia a silly, lopsided grin and joined the children on the ice, acting just as juvenile. Mia, Sheba, and Ivan blushed a little, giggling at his antics.

He always makes such a fool of himself, Ivan snorted.

That’s why he’s so lovable, though.

Garet? Lovable? You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s thoughtless, bumbling...

The cute thing about Garet is that even though he’s stupid, he really is a caring guy. You sound jealous, Ivan...

Hmph. You’re quite the hypocrite. I remember clearly, a few moments ago a certain Jupiter Adept was expressing disbelief about feeling affectionate toward him.

Sheba smirked mentally. You don’t even deny your envy, thus betraying your true feelings and condemning yourself!

Mia, completely oblivious to the two inhabitants of her mind, only smiled as Garet slid around unceremoniously. All three of them appreciated his dynamic spirit, admiring him until Isaac interrupted their cheerful thoughts.

He cleared his throat softly, glancing at them and stammering, “Well... It’s nice to see you again.”

“You too.” They beamed.

“Hmmm, well... Yes.” He shifted uncomfortably, looking like he wanted to smile except for the nervous frown tugging at his lips. “Mia, there’s something that I need to ask you—”

“Oh dear!” They leaned forward against the fence as Garet took an especially painful-looking fall, flinching. “You don’t think he’s hurt too badly, do you?”

Glancing up, Isaac mumbled, “Oh, he’s probably fine... He’s fallen through roofs and emerged unscathed. Now, uh—”

“Oh, good. He worries me sometimes, you know.”

“Yeah...”

Is it just me, or is Isaac acting strangely?

Yes.

You don’t think...?

Hehehe! Let’s watch!

“Excuse me for interrupting you...” Looking at Isaac, they wondered if wherever he and Garet went the world was perfect. It certainly seemed to be, with the slight misting of snow issuing from the heavens, the vague sunlight at just an angle that Isaac’s hair looked like gold. They actually felt happy again. “What were you saying, Isaac?”

He looked at them, soulful blue eyes almost making them shiver. “Yes, well...”

“Why did you come back? I mean, I’m very pleased that you’re here, but...”

Breath quickening, his gaze broke away for a moment. “I came back to see you, Mia.” He gulped, obviously more than a little anxious. “Garet’s here because he kind of wanted to see you again, too... So here we are.”

“Yes.” They waited for more, almost expectantly.

There was an uncomfortable silence, until Isaac suddenly realized that they were pausing for him to continue. Coughing, he shoved his hand into a pocket. “I was, uh... Mia, well, you’re beautiful.”

They blushed, feeling their heart tensely begin to race. “Th-thank you...”

“And... You’re kind and gentle... And, uh...” He fished around in his pocket until he gripped something, pulling it slowly out. “I was wondering if you’d come back to New Vale and be my wife...?” As he trailed away, he leaned close, planting a shy kiss on their cheek, then pressing a small box into their hands.

Gah! ACK! Isaac just KISSED us!

I thought he was cute. Don’t worry about it, Ivan. It was Mia he was kissing, not us.

Yeah, but we still have to experience it in full color, sound, and feel! This is just wrong on so many levels...

You think kissing is gross, eh? I’ll remember that.

Kissing’s not that bad... I’d rather be kissed by you..

I’m flattered! she teased playfully.

Flushed, they regretfully pulled away. They wanted to kiss him back, but not wishing to seem too forward, they only murmured unevenly, “Isaac... I... Thank you so much...” He motioned for them to open the item that he had given them. They brushed their fingers across it tenderly, suddenly feeling a lump in their throat. I’m not going to get all choked up... Not in front of Isaac! Carefully, they opened the small, handcrafted wooden container. The sun’slight, indistinct from theobscure clouds,sparkled brilliantly on the diamond as they lifted the lid, making them gasp. “Oh... It’s beautiful,” they said breathlessly.

He grinned, despite his nervousness. “Mia... I love you and... I want to bring you home to New Vale as my bride...”

Isaac swam around their vision as tears welled up. “I... I don’t know... I really should stay with the people in Imil... I want to go with you, Isaac, I really do! But I have responsibilities here... It would be unfair to abandon them again...”

“Imil survived while you were gone before...”

“I... I’ll give it some thought.” Suddenly, Garet appeared between them, flushed, panting, and with several children attached to his legs. Mia, Sheba and Ivan whipped the engagement ring behind their back quickly, and Isaac stumbled back, both of them with a look of surprise. “Oh my... Well, I suppose you two would like to warm up by a fire... Follow me.”

Obediently they followed, Isaac quietly reflecting and Garet complaining about the parasites still clinging to him. Strangely calm, they led the way, wondering if it would really be right to risk their happiness by passing up a chance with their friends, or to refuse Isaac to stay with the people of Imil. Either way, someone would be hurt, as well as themselves. The last thing they wanted was to cause pain...

Indecision is always a painful thing.

They tucked the ring into their pocketing, fingering the smooth wood of the container, feeling their hair swish back and forth gently, like a pendulum.

If you make a concrete decision, you will always be left alone to ponder what life would’ve been like on the other side of the coin.

Yugi: Inspired by Navy Blu, here’s part one of my Christmas present to Super Sheba. Hey, sis, I LOVE YOU! Ahem. Yeah. So, believe me, it will get much more interesting and hopefully less confusing. Stay tuned for part two, Precipitation!

Merry Christmas, everybody! Embrace the season!