The dismal shadow fell upon Jessie, her eyes focusing on the dark figure before her.
"Jessie?" the shadow's voice was familiar, a strong surprise embedded in his masculine voice. Ian kneeled before her, his pale eyes falling a cooler ashen blue.
John stood, upon guard, his weapon readily drawn. "Ian, what in the hell are you doing in my territory?"
Ian's mind was studded with questions, almost in disbelief at Jessie's arrival at the Warrior Realm. "How are you...? Where have you been? Why are you here...?"
Jessie lifted her hand. "I'll explain later," she muttered. Ian held out his hand to her, hard and cruel eyes still set on John. Jessie took his offer to stand, taking his hand, his firm grip setting her upon her feet.
John frowned. "I know you didn't just come here for you wife, Ian," his voice was gruff, "Do you still want a fight?"
Ian smirked, sharp tendrils of ebony falling into his ice-ridden eyes. "You're right; I didn't come for Jessie, but for a fight."
Jessie frowned, stepping in between Ian and John. "Quit boasting and stay at peace! The reason this realm isn't so prosperous is because it is constantly fending off foes with such a weak undersystem! There are many loyal people here," by now the patrons of the tavern were staring at Jessie, "They only need help, but the Nightmare Realm won't give them a chance! What are your intentions on constantly slaughtering their people?" her eyes were filled with tears of regret, feeling too outspoken towards her husband.
Ian took a step toward her, his tone low, "Why do you want to protect it?"
"It deserves a chance," her words were limited by her fear of Ian's angriness to her. He hadn't been angry at her since their wedding. Her eyes met the floorboards of the tavern, feeling the charge of her words die down.
Ian wrapped his muscular arms around Jessie in a close embrace. "I'm sorry about this. I didn't know you'd be here. This place brings back too many hard memories," he said gruffly.
"But don't ever forget what had spawned here," she whispered, "I don't want this to be left to die."
"Jess, it won't die," Ian's strong voice rang, "Its spirit will last forever."
Valronian, Ian's partner at the time, paced impatiently at the door. "Ian! Quit being foolish! Hurry so we may get this over with!"
"Shut up, Agor! I'll take as much time as I please!" Ian growled, "If you insist on getting pissy with me, I'll kill you here and now."
The Agor brother smirked, taking his stride out of the tavern door, slamming it hastily behind himself.
Wangsu stood from his table and coversation, sliping out the door. John bowed, his voice low, "Jessie, could you please see me before you leave?"
Jessie's eyes met Ian's, searching for his approval. "Don't be long; come home with me, if you will." He released the lengthy embrace and took his long strides from the tavern, taking his seat on the roof.
Jessie turned to John, her eyes ridden with impatient curiousness. "What is it?" her voice echoed through the walls.
"I'm afraid you've saved me from an unexpected battle that I'm sure that I would've been slaughtered," John knelt before her. "With your kind compassion you've shown to this realm, along with sincere loyalty, I grant you this;" he stood, "please kneel before me."
She inhaled sharply, the past premonitions coming back. She knelt before him in a grace, her head bowed. "Yes, Lord John," her tone came about weakly, broken up by realization of what could happen. But why would that happen? her thought nudged her to go on.
He tilted her chin upward with the very tip of his sword gently. "Chin up; see this as a reward," he slipped his sword from her chin and rested the glistening tip upon her shoulder. "I hereby declare you Lady Jessica Shalyn Chrono of the Warrior Realm," he said proudly, "Do you accept?"
She shook and winced, the familiar feeling urging her to not accept, her thoughts teasing her greediness. "I...I...I accept," she stuttered, trembling hands grasping the wooden polished floor boards, almost ready for an impact of the mighty sword's blow. Her expectations were brought down as she opened an eye, seeing John retract his sword from her, a friendly smile embossing his lips.
"Jess...are you alright?" he tilted his head in sync with his question.
"Aye," she muttered, a long exhale of relief draining from her. Her eyes searched the tavern's remaining patrons, seeing Panron and Cham amongst the crowd.
Trunks had a small chubby arm snaked around Panron's waist, an odd grin about his lips. Panron's dark eyes were soft, showing proudness in Jessie's new conquest. More of the realm's gifted children came in, such as the lovable Minimnzi Maxwell, clad in her kimono, her long silver hair braided neatly. Toku strutted in, all of his egotistical glory evident. The Chibi Son family hopped in, quarreling and batting at each other with their fists.
Cham Cham swayed, a cheery grin spread across her face like a cheshire cat. Upon occasion, some male taverngoer would walk behind her, taking a quick grab of her backside and strut away. Her face soured, taking a quick swipe behind her. I need to get a sign signifying I'm married! she thought.
A pair of gentle icy blue eyes set upon her from a table, the schoolmistress of the Neo Balamb Academy sitting quietly grading school work. She was once a Lady in the Realm's earlier years, her son Colby only being a few days old. She later resigned, feeling she did little contribution to the realm.
Jessie smiled to her, watching Panron walk to the schoolmistress, gathering up her schoolwork from the week past. Panron gets grants for getting out of school because of her strenuous training, the Neo Balamb Academy recognizing the dangers of an attack upon the realm. Few other children such as Minimnzi, the Son family, and the Hitzu family were in this program, also. None of the Chrono children had started at the academy yet, being to young to even attend.
"I suppose I must take my leave now," Jessie bowed to the crowd. The tavern remained silent as she strode out to greet Ian.
Ian lay on the rooftop, watching the setting sun, his hands propped behind his neck. His pale eyes fell down to hers, smiling gently with a twinkling hint. "What happened in there" he questioned her strange happy glow.
"I am now Lady Jessica Chrono of the Warrior Realm," she smiled.
He bowed his head, a wry grin crossing his face, "Congrats! I'm happy for you, babe."
Jessie climbed up the ivy-infested woodenmesh, sitting beside him. "Thank you," she smiled, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, "Give me a few minutes and then we may go home."
"Why do you need a few minutes?" he inquired.
"I want you to meet a couple of people that helped me on my way back here," she stretched, adding, "and I want to see the stars here again with you."
He arched an eyebrow, "The stars are much brighter at home."
"But they're pretty, even though this is such a dismal place," she smiled, "Don't forget this is where we came together."
He nodded, squeezing in a smile. "How could I forget? Callista was freezing me," he swallowed, "and you saved me."
"I saved you?" she laughed, "Scarcely; I only convinced Callista to stop."
"I liked Cait's help, too," he scooted closer to her, putting his strong arms around her. "You've done a lot for me, even though I don't seem to respect it."
"Like strip you of your virginity?" she laughed. "I remember when Brit and Lugain made fun of you. By the way, have you fed Cait today?"
He grinned, nodding. He closed in, his soft lips grazing along her neck, moving slowly to the strap on her tank top. The very last sliver of the twin suns fell under the horizon, allowing twilight to set in.
The wind picked up, grey thunderheads masking the realm's twilight abode. Lightening coursed through the clouds angrily in a vein-like pattern, flashing bright white light in every direction. Oddly enough, this lighting's power had temporarily drained the color from everything. Slowly, the color slipped back into the null black and white.
Jessie went naturally pale, looking down at the figure below. The figure was ashen pale, clad in a very dark attire. Whitish blonde spiraled tresses fell down her shoulders, masking her left eye. Her eyes, scarcely brighter than her porcelin face, were mismatched, the right one being a flashing yellow, the other a cooler icy blue. The black tenchcoat was parted slightly, contrasting the ruffled white jabot with the velvet black and white pirotess attire.
Ian and Jessie perched upon the roof, watching the figure closely. "Isn't that Leadora Mineas, a female captain of Harbor Ocean that died centuries ago?" Jessie whispered, her unbelieving eyes watching the pirate go into the tavern.
Ian laughed inwardly. "I'm not good with history," he smirked, "But I'd have to say you're right."
Jessie shook her head, almost as if coming from a twilight reverie and nudged him, "Ian, let's just go home. I don't want to stay here much longer."
He flashed a grin agreeably, leaping down from teh tavern roof, holding a stiff Jessie in his arms. "Swift landing, eh?" he grinned.
She nodded and started down the forest trail, hoping to make it home by morning.
