Welcome to Gaia! ::

Damn. First Reply on the page again!~ xD

There was no wind today as Ida approached the Forest. The birds chirped and the squirrels scurried about as if nothing was out of the ordinary. The sun shined down at the Earth below, the rays of light it emitted breaking through the leaves and the branches of the trees on occasion as the wind blew. Ida was taking small strides towards the Forest, but before she reached the edge of it, she stopped. She took notice to the peace around her and the wellbeing of the Forests inhabitants.

She came to appreciate this prosperity and the sights and sounds associated with it. All of the creatures, large or small, and all the plant-life, grass or tree, created an orchestra of silent ambiance. It set a tone of happiness within the confines of trees and flowers. She thought back to when she stampeded through the Forest, when she destroyed flowers and the homes of animals in a fit of rage.

She would no longer do such things. That was obvious to everyone now. However, she needed to patch up the problems she created for the Forest. Namely, how she treated the protector of the Forest, Ylva. Ida treated Ylva unjustly, and thus, Ida wanted to see her simply so she may find a way to make it up to her. Apologizing like she did when Ylva visited was only the first step, not the solution.

She took her first step into the Forest, her hands gently pushing the bushes and branches out of her path. The birds would fly away for a quick moment when she approached, but would quickly retake their spot after she walked away. The small flowers near her feet would sway away from the gust, but would stand tall shortly after. The branches would move when she pushed them out of her way, but silently fall back down. Nature returned to the way it was, as it has always done.

She stopped mid-step in the middle of a small area covered in grass. Whenever she took a step beyond this point, Ylva would jump out somehow and surprise her. It happened every time she came around here. Ida decided to stand there instead, and patiently wait for Ylva to appear.

That didn’t take long.

She only stood there for a few moments before she was pounced on by a cat with green fur. Ida did not scream, but laughed in a lighthearted manner as she fell on the grass from the weight of the cat. The cat playfully licked her face, while Ida pet the cat and stroked her fur. It was blatantly obvious who this was.

“This is new for you, Ylva!” Ida proclaimed, putting Ylva back on the ground as she stood up. “You’re usually sorta secretive. You never jumped me before.” Ida dusted herself off while Ylva transformed into her regular self. “But you always transform into some sort of green animal… What is it, your favorite color?” Ida turned to Ylva, who was wearing the dress Ida gave her.

“For your information, yes, it is my favorite color.” Ylva chuckled, the back of her hand covering her mouth. “It’s my natural hair color, too, so that may have something to do with it.” She put her hands at her sides, lifting up the blouse of her dress slightly, as if she were about to kneel. “It didn’t help that the dress you gave me is almost completely green except for the frills. I really do love this dress.”

Ida blushed slightly, turned her face away while Ylva let go of her dress. “Uh, thanks…” She quietly said, slowly turning her head back to Ylva. “I, uh, actually came here for a few different reasons…” Ida said, returning to her normal posture, her hands in her pockets. “The first one is that I have questions I want answered.”

“Are these possibly relating to the history between me, Joachim and Nina?” Ylva asked, her smile slowly disappearing from her face, replacing it with a plain-faced look, perhaps slightly serious.

“Uh… Correct.” Ida put a hand behind her neck, looking downward slightly, avoiding Ylva’s odd look in her eyes. “First… How did you meet Nina?”

Ylva put her hand up to her chin, covering it slightly, thinking for a moment. “I believe we met in the Forest around 5 years ago. One year before your brother was blinded by her.” Ylva lowered her arms and hands, focusing on Ida once again.

Ida thought for a moment, one of her hands slowly slipping out of her pocket. “Second, why did she try to imitate you?”

“Nina?” Ylva recalled, once again delving into her memory. “I… guess because your brother visited me every day.” She lowered her hand, looking up at some tree branches. “As Nina said, he was in love with me, but I didn’t love him back. He kept trying, though, until Nina stopped him…” She looked to the side, avoiding Ida’s eyes.

“I thought so…” Ida thought out loud, before returning to her previous stance, with one hand in her pocket. “Third, and finally, how did you and Nina know each other so well? She was definitely intimidated by you, so I’d guess you both knew each other long before I met you.” Ida tilted her head slightly as she looked at Ylva, who was sighing deeply as she looked at the leaves above her.

“We knew each other because…” Ylva paused, a smile full of melancholy spreading across her face. “Well, simply put, we were in love.” Ida, slightly shocked, raised her eyebrows, while Ylva continued her explanation. “She got mad that Joachim kept seeing me, so she said she made him unable to return… I didn’t know he was blinded until you said.” She lowered her gaze back to Ida, who was slowly blinking, trying to focus on what was being said. “We parted soon afterwards. Or, to be more specific, I parted from her.”

Ida thought silently for a few moments, computing everything that was just revealed. Nina loved Ylva. So that would mean Nina hurt Joachim because she loved Ylva and didn’t want her to leave. Ylva left, however, because Nina was a jerk. Expected. But why, then, if she knew that Ida was related to Joachim, would she be so kind to her?
“Why did you treat me so well if my brother pestered you so much?” Ida asked, somewhat regaining her composure. Ylva only shook her head slightly, one of her hands going through her hair, before responding.

“Because you were kind and honest. You were like Nina before she became protective, and Joachim before he lost his eyesight.” Ylva looked straight at Ida. “You made me feel like I had something to leave this Forest for, someone to go see when I wanted someone to talk to. I…” She mumbled for a moment, looking to the side, thinking of what to say next. “I…” She looked back at Ida, stumbling with her words. “I love you.”

Ida stood there, paralyzed. No thoughts went through her mind. No motions were made. Well, until Ida took a step towards Ylva, anyway. Ida stood in front of Ylva, who stared straight at her, unsure of what Ida would do. After a few tense moments of uncertainty, Ida rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Ylva, who was taken by surprise, almost falling back onto the grass.

Ida looked into Ylva’s eyes, holding her tightly in her arms. “I… Thanks for standing by me…” Ida looked down quickly, still holding onto Ylva, before raising her head again. “No, I’m going to say it! I love you! I love how you didn’t give up on me! I love how you followed me, even after I treated you like some made-up monster! I love how you treat this Forest, the Forest that surrounds my home, with the respect it deserves!” Ida hugged Ylva even more tightly now, lowering her head into Ylva’s neck. “I… care for you, more than I’ve cared for anyone before…”

Ylva, still slightly stunned, put her hand on Ida’s head, starting from the top of her hat and moving down to her slightly curved hair, before lowering back to Ylva’s side. “Love isn’t forgiving someone’s flaws. It’s about accepting them. And you and I accept each other.” Ylva lifted up Ida’s head, putting Ida’s forehead onto hers. “And the best part of acceptance is that you will never be lonely.”

Ida looked upward at Ylva, who was also looking upward towards Ida. They disconnected their foreheads, ending up about a foot away from one another. They stared at each other’s eyes for what seemed like eternity. Time was unmeasured. The Forest was silent. Ida and Ylva, smiling, closed their eyes and leaned their lips towards one another.


Finis


Well, this feels like an incredible weight off my shoulders. A year-long or so weight, actually. -_-

I feel relieved, I suppose. Finishing this story, looking through all these new, interesting legends and creatures, writing a new kind of story, meeting new people on here…

I guess I’m satisfied with all these events. I’m not sure if I like how it took me so long to write the story, but I’m okay with the ending. Sweet and nice, with a small hint of happiness and further adventures.

Well, tell me what you think of it. Contact me here if you have any other requests.

Now to start on that college powerpoint… -_-…

... What?

Same color as yours? I can't see any color change... X_x...

Odd...

Where's Orielle, anyway? I posted this story and I want her approval! DX

Ah, glad ya like it. That makes me feel better. sweatdrop

Just so you know, I sorta changed my name, so call me Jack or Joe, if ya could. >_>;

Well, I didn't see how it could be a BAD ending. Ylva isn't some loner, and Ida isn't gonna leave someone down.

So, that's my first finished story for someone here...

Feels good. biggrin

DAMMIT SO MANY SCREW-UPS. D:<

I never think too far ahead when I write. Augh. -_-

I'll revise the previous chapters, if ya want, then compile 'em all in one post.

I can write a sequel later, if ya want. With the family and all that. >_<;

I'm revising the chapters right now. I'll probably finish it over the weekend, and then post 'em.

I can help ya make characters, if ya want. I already made one. >_<;