The Flux's Flower

The Sapphire Necklace

"I don't think it's a good idea to camp out so close to the taint, especially given how aggressive it's been recently" Lalna thought out loud. He'd been hiking with Shadow for the past few days, attempting to get to his home base, and he seemed hell-bent on keeping a course right next to the taint.

"We're fine" Shadow threw another stick into the fire "Now that it has what it wants for the time being, we're fine."

"You mean Nano?"

Shadow sighed "Yes. Nano. The so called 'Flux Princess', according to my studies. I don't understand why you hold her in such high regard."

Shadows apparent lack of concern for Nano's well-being bothered Lalna. Several times in the past few hours, Lalna had wanted to beat sense and empathy into him, but each time he'd held himself back, remembering Shadow's lightning reflexes and incredibly powerful bow.

"Um, because she's my friend?"

"Mm" Shadow grunted, unconcerned. Well, if it comes to it, you can't let your compassion for her get in the way of the job at hand.

"You're saying it'll come to that in the first place"

"No, but this taint is a problem for everyone, not just you and your friend. Whats that quote again? 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'"

Lalna clenched his fists, restraining himself. "I get that. But I promise you it won't come to that."

"For your sake, I hope not." Shadow stood and walked over to his tent. "I'd get some shut-eye if I were you." He called back "Tomorrow, we'll pick up my ship and storm your castle, which is where the Mother entity took your friend"

Lalna extinguished the fire and walked to his tent on the opposite side of the clearing. "My castle is pretty well fortified. Think you can take it?"

"You underestimate my ship. Darkstone is a flying fortress."

Lalna twitched at the name, remembering Blackrock fortress and how he'd nuked it. "I sure hope so..." He muttered.

"What?"

"Er, I said i'm sure" Lalna hastily lied, not wanting to jeopardize relations with his only method of getting to Nano

If Shadow saw through the lie, he didn't let on. Instead, he went into his tent.

Lalna relaxed. Looking around, he decided to go to sleep instead of keeping watch like he had been, much to Shadow's chagrin.

As he lied in his bed, he glanced over to Nano's sword, more specifically at her sapphire necklace that she had concealed in the hilt, a fact that Lalna had discovered the other day while fiddling with the blade behind Shadow's back. "I'm on my way Nano...Just hold on."

As he drifted off to sleep, Lalna had no idea what that sapphire was about to get him into.