She Falls

"Oceania!" yelled Layla as she unleashed a water tornado out of the nucleus.

"Darkest Night!" howled Teemo as he slammed down his blade, creating a massive crescent-moon slash of black and red Elemental Energy.

The two spells clashed, causing a massive display of colored lights while also shaking the area like mad.

The crescent-moon slash eventually won as it pushed back the water tornado and toward Layla. The poor Dragoon lowered her scythe in defeat as she allowed the Dark Element to reach… 

"Damn it! I told you not to go all out on her!" was the last thing Layla heard as she faded out of reality.

Layla's flew open and she woke up in a panic. She found herself sitting on the floor of the Mystic Tales Tavern basement. Was everything a dream, or did Matt take a second thought and return her to the Tavern? Layla rubbed her eyes and scanned the room.

No... This place was her Tavern but not the same one. Something feels off because everything felt... New... Layla then stood up and nearly had a heart attack as she saw two teenage Dragoons in front of her. They were twins, a girl pulling on the boy's backpack.

"Why do you have to go?"

"I've been called by the Royal Guard… I can't disobey orders. I'm sorry, sissy…"

"Then who's going to stay with me? Or cook for me? Or… or play games with me?"

"You're a big girl now, you know? We're the same age…"

The kid pouted as her brother ruffled her hair. Layla smiled sadly as she inched toward the duo. The last time she saw her twin... She'd nearly forgotten how his voice sounded or how warm his hugs were. 

"But you know I hate being alone! And besides... I don't want you to fight..."

The male sighed as he pulled his sister close for a warm embrace.

"Hey, we made a promise right? We promised to…"

"Meet at the White Sakura tree! I'll be there first!"

"I'm looking forward to it…"

The Dragoon watched as the boy walked out of the door, knowing fully well that he had yet to come back. Why didn't she put in more effort to stop him from going? Or at least, tail him? Then he wouldn't have...

No... She didn't want to believe that her twin had shared the same fate as their parents but how long could she cling onto the slither of hope?

Maybe that was the reason why she was so willing to dive into the battle and allow Teemo's attack to overwhelm her. Maybe she didn't see the point of waiting anymore...

"Pure white, cherry blossoms start to bloom.

Standing beautifully while the wind blew.

As I closed my eyes, I knew as hurtful as it may seem

I knew that you were only a distant dream," recited Layla as she closed her eyes once more, hoping to wake up to reality.

"But what about Mattheos? You just met him? Are you going to break your promise?"

As Layla fell into a dream state, Matt was fuming as he quickly yelled out a negation spell. The Loplin then caught the fainting Dragoon before her head could hit the rock. 

"Hey, Matt… I didn't think that she wouldn't sustain that attack. Her performance of physical attacks and swift movements were so good and honestly I thought if her combatant skills that would mean…" said Teemo as he rushed towards Matt and Layla. 

"She was Elementally strong or at least capable, right? I get what you mean… But it doesn't mean that I'm not angry at you. Let's hurry up and get her out of here and heal her or else the girl is going to bleed out soon," replied the bunny as he held Layla close in a bridal style.

The Felidae stayed silent as he walked towards the opposite end of the area to open a camouflaged door to his resting room. Matt tailed Teemo quietly as he kept replaying that scene in his head, over and over again.

During that final blast, the Felidae tried his best to restrain his Elemental Power output so it wouldn't utterly obliterate the poor girl. However, they failed to gear up the Dragoon with appropriate Elemental armor.

But it was the last look Layla had on her face that sent chills down the Loplin's spine. The young bun had seen many horrors throughout his journeys and forced encampment of his burrow. However, nothing was as haunting as someone who reigns themselves to their fate.

Layla looked as if she had a death wish like she wanted to let Teemo kill her... But why? She had just experienced her newfound freedom and was looking forward to seeing the world without being couped up. Was it because of the board earlier?