Welcome to Gaia! ::

Arriving on the beach a wind immediatly picked up in the area. She stood there smiling. She had big plans. The wind picked up even more so and around her a barrior of air was formed. It appeared to be a sphere which one could see in and out but not get remotely close to. Her hair tie fell out and was carried away. Her long hair circled her head like a crown, whipping upwards and backwards. Her clothes wipped against her and her eyes began to glow blue. She chanted softly as the wind increased and around her 6 tornados formed and stood still around the sphere. She laughed, "Runa! See how it feels! You love the wind as you always have! Feel this power! I will allow you back for a bit. No one will be able to stand in our way", she said doing as she said.

Looking around and feeling the wind, I almost smiled. "This is still wrong. "Everything you have and are doing....is wrong", I said flatly.

"Fine. Be that way. I offer you everything! All this power could be yours if you just embraced me. But you are a fool just you always have been. Go back to your prison and rot", she said darkly sending Runa back to behind the wall within her.

I slowly stood up and walked around where I was at. It was a dark and dreary place inside the wall, even foggy. It looked similar to a bog. A slight wind blew from the presence of the air element. And I walked over to the edge of the bog where a lonely sign stood. I read it outloud, "Cross the swamp and face your darkest nightmares.....silently bear the pain.....and the thing you want most in your heart of hearts will come to be. But sucumb to your nighmares and your mind will be lost for all eternity. Enter at your own risk". I shivered and looked at it unsure of what to do.

I stared at the sign in uncertainty. So many emotions ran through me threatening to overcome me and I let out a sad sigh. I tilted my head back looking towards the sky, "Now what....how much should I risk....I promised....mom and dad....I promised you and.....Kang......and Ki and Takara....I've said I wouldn't die. I've struggled to make it to here and i don't want to waste the sacrifices that have been made for me by my friends....but I really don't think I can face my nightmares", I said softly and sadly but for once I didn't cry. I heard laughter and turned and faced the wall, it was her.

She laughed, "You call them friends? Why aren't they here? They will all be happier and better off with you gone. you just get in the way anyways. Your a weak little girl chasing dreams. There is one thing you can agree with me in, you've realized how cruel and unrelenting this world can be. You've seen the dark side of man and how greed and power can overtake anything. You've seen how quickly a life can be put out. So why do you keep the hope? For those that are already dead? Give up Runa. Give me your soul and stop struggling for a meaningless life that will end sooner or later my some man or beast. Atleast with me, it will be put to good use and not be wasted", she said coldly.

I shook my head shaking slightly, I couldn't anwser all her questions I just knew I couldn't give into her yet. "Give me a little bit more time....", I siad sadly looking down.

"Your time is almost up Runa...say any goodbyes you want....bring your mind to peace...you won't be in this world much longer", she said and then left continuing to build her power.

I fell to my knees and began to cry. I knew what I had to do but it felt like I was alone and that no matter what I was going to fail.

I stood up unsteadily and looked back at the wall. So it comes to making yet another no win decision. I enter I probably die, I stay here I definatly die. Why can't I just once catch a break! I turned and faced the darkness and stepped forward slowly until I was at the edge. I suddenly looked down at my pouch, where I had so many treasure....mothers necklace, ki's pin, the eagle's feather, the dragon's scale. I looked up and took a deep breath. "No fear. Show no fear, they are just things in your mind....they are not real....no fear", I said and then entered into the darkness.

Meanwhile~ The spirit that had control over Runa's body had gathered all the power she needed and the orb made of wind around her began to elevate until it was high off the ground where it suddenly stopped. The tornados began circling the orb and as the wind increased even more so. "
Runa you are a fool! What makes you think you can survive the swamp! Not even I was ever fool enough to enter it! Fool! I could've made your death quick and painless but you perfer to suffer by your own nightmares!? Your even more stupid than I thought. Fine suffer Runa....for the swamp is a nightmare that feeds off your deepest fears....And there is no turning back", she said.

It was pitch dark but I let go of the fear I had and I watched as sudenly I was thrown back into time and before me appeared each and every single event that had ever happened to me that was the reason of my nightmares. Starting with the beginning.....the death of my parents.

The real Runa's nightmares~
I clenched my fists and my shook with sadness, rage, and so many feelings that I couldn't tell them apart. I watched as Mom and dad was killed, i watched as my apopted family was killed, I watched as Kang died, and I watched and almost felt all the pain and times that I had been injured. My clothes were suddenly dirty as I looked down at myself and I was wounded. I fell to my knees grinding my teeth together. What was going on? My body shook and my eyes widened, I knew what it was after all. It was killing me, another nightmare, the disease from long ago. Painfully I stood up and put my head up, I was not going to give into this darkness. But......I looked down my head swimming. The pain was still increasing as I started running. I didn't know why I was running but I ran for all my might.

Arriving back at the sea of tears Chan smiled, "I heard there is a ninja clan in this place i wonder if that is true." Chan then walked around looking for the village.

Hearing something coming from another area close by Chan ran towards the village.

((posting in the ninja village))

"You are as stubborn as she is....you can try to fight all you want but will never be able to get near to me, the wind is so strong around this barrior that it could snap any rock or piece of steel in two", she said and then shook her head, no man could beat her. There was only one person that could and she was in big trouble. "Runa will never make it", she said again in certainty.

Meanwhile~ Runa climbed and continued to push herself. She was exhasuted, she was battered and wounded, and she was more than emotionally spent. She was more than ready to give up and go to sleep. She looked up, she was almost there. She raised her arm up to pull herself up yet again but the rocks broke beneath her hand and she fell downwards to a small ledge several stories down. She moaned softly and painfully got up. Slowly she began to climb again. Her mustles screamed and her eyes nearly closed. I don't have a choice...I must push on....I must....finish, she thought as she pulled myself up over the final ledge and a white light covered everything.

She was floating in light, it was warm and relaxing and she smiled sadly. Did I die, she thought. "NO. You made it. What is your a wish", a voice called. She closed her eyes and smiled, I want to be in control of my body and have the spirit fully under my control. Thats my wish, she thought. Suddenly everything went black. "So shall it be", the voice said.

The tornados suddenly vanished and the winds began to die down. The barrior around Runa glowed a bright blue. A short scream pierced the air. Then it was silent while time dragged by. The winds died down until it was still and silent and the light edged away. In the barrior Runa could be seen-her body bruised, battered, and bloody, her clothers tattered and torn- her eyes closed and yet her body held upright by the barrior. It lowered to the ground and levitated there- just off the ground for a moment before it dissapeared and the real Runa fell towards the ground.