Welcome to Gaia! ::

James gasped when she pushed him out of the way to take the bolt. "TARANA!!!" he shouted. Both him and the bounty hunter didn't see it coming and her husband watched her rip the elf to pieces before he got the chance to fight back.

When she collasped he ran to her and dropped to his knees. "No..." he said holding up her beastly head to stare into her eyes. "Don't go! Tarana don't leave me alone! I love you!!" he gasped as tears fell from his eyes.

Pulling her close he could see she was slipping from him. Even though they had only spent a short time together, it felt like his heart was being ripped from his chest. "Hold on! Hold on Tarana!! There has to be some kind of cure!!" he panicked trying to think of something..anything! He didn't want to lose the woman he loved so much!

James didn't mind the taste, he kept his lips pressed to hers and softly rubbed her furry arm as she lay there. This was it, she was going to die. James knew that there was nothing he could do. He still wept staring at his wife. "Thank you for saving my life..I will always cherish it and the time we spent together." he said softly forcing a smile for her. After all she was smiling for him.

When she went limp he hung his head. Standing he would grieve for a while then find a very nice place to bury her. It was then, looking up at the mansion, he gasped. The fire was gone?! Roses of white and red were now climbing the side and starting to mix with each other as they climbed higher. What was going on!?

Something gently rubbed against his leg and he looked down to see one of the tendrils of the white rosebush creep towards Tarana. In fact the tendrils were sort of magically pushing him away from her and slowly curling around her. "No don't! Leave her alone! Can't I at least bury her in peace!" he called out to the roses, but the tendrils slowly began to cocoon the woman, lifting her in the air as they were doing so! James watched, confused and amazed at the same time.

What appeared to be a large vined rose covered cocoon floated above James in the air. "T-Tarana?" he called out reaching out to touch the cocoon. It felt warm to the touch. Red and puffy tear stained eyes stared up at the large cocoon. Maybe this was part of her curse. Was she going to become a flower or something?

If she did James would do his best to protect and care for her. Even if she had become a rose that couldn't love him back James would never give up on her. He loved Tarana too much. Suddenly the cocoon began to glow and pulsate, this caught him off guard and James stood back staring up in shock.

(hmmm...I'm getting the incubation tank vibe from our one rp. ^^)

James was amazed at the brilliance of the flowers. Maybe this was her last gift to him? As the sun was setting the cocoon seemed to fall into a slumber. Without Tarana around to water the garden then it would surely die! Though looking around, the cocoon-like plant before him was sort of the only flowering plant around.

Running back into the mansion he found that despite it had been on fire, nothing was damaged. It was strange, very strange. Entering her lab he found a watering can along with the mix of the potion she had made to restore the roses. Most of it was spilled and knocked over so it was pretty much gone. All that hard work too. Tarana would be devastated, but she was no more.

Filling the can with water James made his way out to the garden and watered the soil around the four main stems the cocoon was hanging from. It was the least he could do for his wife. She protected him and left him this gift after all. Wiping some tears away from his face he carried the empty watering can back into the mansion, and got ready for bed.

That next morning, he got up at the crack of dawn to water the cocoon yet again. As he was in the middle of doing so James looked up to see his mother entering the gates.

"Darling!" she said happily running up to him.

"M-Mother?" staring at her for a bit his brows furrowed. This..all of this was her fault. "What are you doing here!" he said with anger in his voice.

She stopped and frowned herself. "To take you back home! No doubt that man I hired killed that woman who had possessed you! Let's leave this cursed place and go home!"

James's eyes widened with shock. His mother was responsible!? Balling his fists he growled. "No! I will not leave! How..how could you! Mother you killed the only woman I ever loved!" he shouted to her.

"What!? You loved that thing!?" she shouted back in anger. "It was for your own good! She was just going to use you, heck eat you probably!"

Tears fell down his cheeks as he stared at her. This woman, she had caused so much pain with her stupidity. Looking down he sighed. "Go away...GO AWAY!! I never want to see you ever again! This is all your fault! Every last bit of it!" he shouted.

Walking over she slapped him. "Don't you dare raise your voice to me young man! You're coming home with me and that's final! The beast is dead, and there is nothing for you here!" she demanded gripping his wrist.

Their eyes meeting, James was shocked. What happened to the kindhearted woman that she used to be? Even the love had gone from her eyes. Odd, she almost seemed...possessed? Maybe it was still too dark to see.

As the fought with each other the sun slowly began to rise in the sky soon the morning sun shined upon the beautiful cocoon. Though James and his mother were too busy trying to fend off each other. His mother was forcing him to leave, while James was forcing her to stay. Inside he felt so sad, why was she suddenly acting this way?

The sudden slam of the door and the booming voice caused both mother and son to stop. Their eyes now stared at the Queen in all her regal form and beauty. Though each pair reflected a different emotion.

James's mother stood there, her mouth agape. Her eyes were filled with awe inspiring fear. She recognized this woman well, but it was impossible! The Princess of Astralla had vanished years ago! Could it have been that the monsterous woman had been the Princess all along! She was trembling now unsure what to expect or think.


James himself stood there confused. "T-Tarana?" he asked disbelief in his eyes. But he had watched the woman he loved die right before his eyes! This was impossible...wasn't it? Tarana looked so different now though. Her face held a stern grace and she looked as if she was about to send someone to the gallows. What was going on here!? She never told him that she was....royalty! The crown she wore gave it away. He was scared though, she looked so frightening.

His mother gasped. "N-No I..I..." she suddenly found herself without words. What could she say? Swallowing she backed away. "No! Go away!!" she cried.

James watched both women a sort of stupified look upon his face. He felt for his mother, but his wife was right. Though James couldn't believe that she was his wife. He didn't feel worthy as he watched her assult his mother.

His mother tried to get away but suddenly found herself rooted in place. Looking down she gasped as her feet had become stone! It was crawling up her legs quickly. Looking at the Queen she began to cry. "Have mercy! I beg of you! I had no idea!" she gasped but suddenly doubled over in pain as her insides were petrifying. Standing erect she gasped for air, her eyes rolling back into her head as she let out a scream of pain before becoming nothing but a stone statue of a panicked woman before his eyes.

Walking over James touched his mother's cheek. "M-Mother?" he gasped a hand going to his mouth. He wasn't sure what to feel but knew that this was his mother's fault. Being turned to stone though! Swallowing hard he frightfully turned to face the Queen now, backing up a little.

Their eyes meeting she could tell he was so confused. Quickly he got on one knee and bowed before her. "Your Majesty! I-I had no idea you were a Queen! F-Forgive me for treating you so..normal." he said panic in his voice. It was obvious he was a little afraid of what had happened. Would she do the same to him?

Looking up into her soft eyes James immediately stood up and pulled her into a hug. Sobbing as he did so he didn't want to let go. "I thought I had lost you forever!" he said staring into her eyes as giant tears fell from his. Pulling their lips together he held a kiss of passion before sweetly pulling away.

"I can't believe it though..y-you're a Queen! Why didn't you say something?" he asked softly. She looked more whole now and he hoped she was fine with him holding her this way. It wasn't a dream, closing his eyes he smiled wiping a few tears away.

"I'm glad you're alive Tarana! Don't worry I understand about Mother, though I don't know what was making her act so...strange." he said looking at the statue. "She never was this way, my mother was the kindest and gentlest woman around. Earlier her eyes looked different, though I couldn't tell it was too dark." he sighed turning his attention back to his Queen. Stepping back he smiled kindly to her. "You look radiant Honey. How do you..feel?"

That was right! She did mention that before. Though there had been so much emotion James couldn't remember. Heck this all felt like a dream. Even if it was James hoped he would never wake from it.

When she questioned about his mother James began to ponder a bit. "Her eyes looked...possessed a little. Or well they were kind of glazed over. Mother loved me yes, but when I was younger she always told me to follow my heart and dreams even if that meant leaving her arms. She oddly had been acting strange the moment she brought those two roses home the first time." he replied with a sigh.

"Maybe the reality of losing me made her snap? My father died when I was a young boy so there must have been a lot of pressure on her. I feel bad now, but she tried to kill you..twice. This is all just so crazy." he said placing a hand to his forehead as he shook his head in disgust.

Blushing he turned to look at Tarana when she mentioned that he freed her. "I..freed you? How? I..uhh...haven't done anything but cook a little for you." he replied shyly.