Annabel sat in a chair on the deck in one of her typical moods, that is moody, bitchy, and VERY pissed off. Anyone who knew the woman knew to keep a far distance when she was like that, and everyone who didn't know her soon learned to do the same. Not even the tranquil view of blue skies and smooth seas did much to calm the woman's quiet stewing, and for good reason. Once more she found herself on a ship bound for some odd place she had no desire to visit. And on top of that she had a splitting headache from the drugs her so called companions had used to get her on this leaking tub. So right now, people knew to keep far, FAR away from her.
Ugh, Annabel thought, I can't believe they DID that to me, AGAIN! I would fry the lot of them if I didn't need the damn fools! Lousy Scions, can't trust a one of them. Especially those twins, can't believe they caught up to me! Stupid pumps, oh WHY do I need to be fashionable all the time?
She looked down at her offending shoes and considered kicking them off out of annoyance but thought better of it. The rolling of the deck was hard to walk on as it was and believe it or not, she actually walked better in heels. This feat was born from years of loving the fashionable footware. Yes, people thought it was odd but Annabel didn't care, those critics had NO sense of style.
So yes, despite her best efforts, which honestly were kind of little to begin with, Annabel was once more headed off to a far off land with odd customs, odd food, and odd fashions. And the worst thing, as she later found out, the island was full of scholars and other educated people and she knew what THAT meant......books, many, MANY.....books. This last thought caused Annabel to groan outwardly, bend down, and put her aching head in her hands. Yeah, this trip was going to be HELL!.
But there was no escaping it as she very well knew. Annabel was an Echo, the Warrior of Light, Champion of oh so many lands by now. She was the hope of many and so many relied on her. She knew very well by now she had no control over her fate and was fated to go where she was needed despite her best efforts to resist. Oh, she still tried no matter how futile the attempt was. Why did she still do it knowing she would fail? Partially out of defiance, partially out of spite. And finally, partially to show herself that she still had a choice in her life, however much of a lie it was. Hyadelyn chose her and Hyadelyn used her. Annabel was the primal's tool for better or for worse. Lately the tired blonde woman was unsure which was which.
Her headache finally receding, Annabel raised her head to see a strange sight. A woman stood near her dressed in white, a strange glow enveloping her. She didn't look threatening, only regal and patient, like a ruler who had the discipline to look their best in all situations. Annabel blinked her blue eyes multiple times to make sure that this person was not an illusion of her tired and befuddled mind. But no, she was real and still standing patiently before the woman all on deck currently avoided. Well, Annabel decided she was in a somewhat better mood and there was no reason to be impolite; she was a Lady after all, breeding and all the mannerisms that went with it.
"Hello," Annabel said in a forced cordial tone, "may I help you?"
The woman gave a smile, "It has been a long time since we have properly communicated my child, I am glad to see you are well."
Boy is THAT a lie, but Annabel did not say that out loud. Whoever this woman was had a poor perception of her or Annabel herself looked better than she was feeling inside; well she would not debate that.
"Communicated?" Annabel looked confused. "Forgive me, but have we met? I really don't recall meeting anyone that looked like you." Then again, her travels had brought Annabel in contact with so many people, she could have easily forgotten meeting this woman.
"Oh yes", the mysterious woman's smile turned more sly; "but I had a different appearance back then, one more......sparkly."
"Sparkly?" Annabel looked very confused, then it dawned on her. NO, it couldn't be....could it?
"Hydaelyn?" Annabel said hesitantly. The woman nodded, pleased that Annabel has figured it out. "Yes my child, it is me. Forgive this deception, but I wanted to come and see you and this form seemed the better way considering what has lately transpired. I trust all is well with you and you are doing what is needed to be done."
"Transpired?" Annabel still looked more confused as ever. Why WAS Hydaelyn in Hyur form? and why here, now? Had something WORSE happen that she was unaware of? That was all she needed, more bad news.
"No", the blonde woman replied; "no, I have not been well at all. These things you keep 'needing' done, they are soooo many and they never end. Why do you only have ME doing them, why not others? And WHY are you like that, what happened to the big crystal thing?"
Hydaelyn stopped smiling and looked thoughtful, then spoke. "First off child, like I said, things have....transpired. My power is not as it once was and I can no longer bring you to me in my original form; so I have to appear to you in this apparition to communicate. It is not what I would prefer but it works."
"Honestly," Annabel remarked, "I think it works better. Doing that whole aether astral thing gave me such a headache and is SO weird. This way is FAR better."
"Yes", the entity remarked, "of course you would. But it is what it is so I accept it for the moment. As for the other thing, there is a reason for that, why there is only one of my Champion to fight. I do not know if you are ready to know the truth."
"Truth." Annabel grimaced at the word. "You got a lot of nerve saying THAT word Hydaelyn. I suppose you know what happened in the First, with Zodiark. I found out the truth about it AND you, what you are. Honestly I don't know if I can trust anything you have to tell me."
Hydaelyn looked hesitant at her Charge's outburst. She knew Annabel had found out the truth and she knew the young woman would eventually confront her with it. Being an immortal being, one would think Hydaelyn would be ready for this, but being questioned was not something that happened often with her.
"Yes child, I do know what happened on that other world and what the agents of the Dark Crystal told you. And yes, it is all true. I am a Primal, one born out of desperation to combat the destruction of Zodiark's whims. I will not go into the story as you know it and the result. Yet, even after all those millennia, the battle still continues with seven of my worlds lost. Thus the purpose of you Annabel to prevent an eighth loss, namely this world. "
Annabel was actually surprised that the Crystal had verified the truth of what she was, but the truth was no relief to her. If anything the truth of her being a Primal, of THE Primal made the young woman more worried than ever.
"So you admit it then", she said, "about being a Primal. You know I know all about them, what they DO to people, how they make others serve them?" Annabel didn't want to ask the next question, but she did it anyway.
"Are you doing the same thing to me, forcing me to serve, manipulating my mind to do your bidding?" The whole thing sounded ludicrous saying it out loud, but she HAD to know.
"Annabel, child," Hydaelyn hesitated for a second, as if measuring what to say, then spoke again. "How the Echo works with people, it might seem that way, but I assure you, you are not manipulated to do anything you don't want to."
"HA", Annabel blurted out loud. "Have you SEEN all that I have done in the last 3 years? I assure you Hydaelyn that I have NOT been doing what I have been doing by choice! No, I am sure that Echo of yours decides for me and I have little to no say in deciding something else."
"Child, everything you have done you did chose to do, whether it was your inner conscious or your inner heart, I assure you Annabel, you DID chose those paths."
"Uh huh," Annabel still looked unconvinced. "I'm not even going into the other things. The headaches, the moodiness, the voices in my head, and those damn visions. Do you know what all that stuff is DOING to me, do you? Between that and the stress of all those unending missions, I am going insane!"
"Child, no one said being The Champion was easy, but it Is an honor."
"Honor?" Annabel had to stop herself from laughing hysterically. "Honor? My dear Crystal, it is anything BUT that!, It is a PAIN to do this stuff and for that matter, Why am I the ONLY one doing them? Why aren't there more of these 'Champions of Light'?
continued: part 2
