Chasing the Past, Seizing the Future

AN: I bet everyone is saying "FINALLY!" I know I said I would put out a sequel and that it's been 2 years since I finished Memories and I'm so sorry for the delay. Really I've been overly busy and also for the longest time I've had writers block. Besides the fact many things have been happening in my personal and family life that has kept me from writing as well. If it hadn't have been for my Aunt Judy asking me about it and Mr. Gopher's review to Memories I probably wouldn't be writing this tonight.

Besides all the other crap in my life I was also taking summer courses at the community college in my hometown. That took up a lot of my time this summer and again I've had major writers block. I've had plenty ideas I've come up with but I haven't had the drive to actually write them up. Laziness! Yeah I know. I'm sorry but I really hope this chapter and the sequel make it up to all of you. Thank you all for sticking in there and waiting patiently. I hope you all enjoy.

God Bless

Princesssally

Ps. This is for you Aunt Judy, for making me get off my lazy butt and type!

Chapter 1: Facing a Ghost

Flame couldn't believe her eyes, Flicker stood before her in the flesh. She was completely speechless as she stared at him in awe. Finally a barrage of questions flew out of her mind through her mouth.

"But how? When? Where? How Long?..." Flame stammered.

Flicker shook his head and smiled at her. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Those are some very difficult and strange questions with some even stranger and more confusing answers. All of which will be answered in time, but right now may be we should try to find you some food." Flicker stated.

Flame had to agree, for she was famished. It had been almost three days since she had eaten last and Flicker being the watchful and observant dragon he was noticed her weak and pale form the moment he laid his eyes upon her.

Flicker took Flame by the hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist to hold her up. He led her through the empty, barren corridors of castle Camelhot until they reached the throne room. The tattered draperies still hung from the ceiling, signs of life that had once dwelled in the castle were everywhere but the ghostly chill and deafening silence of the now lifeless castle clung to the air like a heavy black cloud.

Flicker led Flame over to a lone torch in the corner that still hung in its place like a soldier who would not be relieved from his duty by anything other than an act of God.

Flame examined the torch more closely for a second. It looked as though it may have been used recently, even though everything else was cold and lifeless in Camelhot, this lone torch seemed to speak volumes of the life that once filled every inch of the castle.

Flame did not get a very long thinking time, for Flicker had already reached out and lit the torch. He then pulled at the iron holder on the wall and it came forward. Flame watched as a small opening appeared behind the Queen's throne. As Flicker walked forward and ducked to go into the passage he motioned for Flame to follow. She did and followed him through the winding, narrow passage.

"Flicker, not to be rude or nosey, but just where does this thing lead?" Flame asked as she batted away a spider's web.

Flicker smiled warmly and glanced back at her over his shoulder.

"It leads to my home. It's where I've been living these past seven years."

Flame was stunned to say the least, and a little irate with him upon hearing this news. She suddenly stopped and tugged at his hand signaling him to stop, which he did and turned to stare at her puzzled.

"You mean to say you've been alive all this time and you haven't tried to contact anyone. I thought you had killed yourself! Do you know the heartache I went through for you because I thought you had died! And now you just show up and say you've been alive and living UNDER Camelhot? How could you have done this to us…to me?"

Flame had intended for that whole thing to be harsh and forceful, but the very last thing came out in a choked sob. She didn't want to break down. Not now, but how could he? She thought he loved her. Had she been wrong all this time? She turned her back to him very swiftly and tried to keep her tears from falling.

Flicker walked over to her and placed a trembling hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him and was overwhelmed with what she saw. A young dragon that she thought she once knew now stood before her broken and tired. He had tears in his eyes and the spark that had once emanated from his very soul seemed frail now in comparison and almost non existent. Flicker cupped her chin with his free hand and lightly brushed his lips over hers. Choking back his own tears he looked into her eyes.

"I know nothing I can do or say now can change the past. Yes Flame I have been alive but I was not always down here. But I want to tell you, you were never out of my thoughts, and once I built this home down here, I was never far from your side. Well at least until Count Geoffrey returned. After that everyone left, but I remained."

Suddenly Flicker was interrupted by the rumbling of a very unhappy stomach. Flame blushed profusely, but Flicker smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"The rest can be finished later. Now we need to feed her Highness before her stomach begins to eat from the inside out." Flicker teased.

Flame giggled weakly then leaned onto him as he led their way out of the passage and into his home.

Thank you all for being so patient with me in getting this story out. I hope you enjoy the first chapter. I'm sorry if the characters seem OOC a little, or a lot, but the reasons will be explained later on in the story. I'm also going to try to make the chapters longer and try to (no promises) update once a week. I have other stories I need to work on too and if you read those, they should be getting the next updates with in the next 7-10 days. Again Thank you all for your patience and God Bless.

Princesssally