Thirteen Years in One Hundred Steps: Theme 39 – Dreams

Now a few years shall pass, during which the three children would begin to see an increase in their maturity and philosophy, as well as the dreams they pursued.

Aliana, at nine years of age, through her consistent training and studying she had taken alongside Marth, saw herself as an official of Altea. Perhaps not a person of the court, as she hated the royal court, but a person like Master Jeigan. Someone surrounded by her peers and subordinates, loved by them all, but still a shadow amongst them, but never lonely. A person skilled in the arts of war and tactics.

“I think I want to be Master General when I grow up,” she had told her two friends. “Like Master Jeigan. I want to be able to fight with my subordinates and not just sit around behind them.”

Mark had looked worriedly at her. “But if you become Master General, you won’t be able to marry me…”

A thunderstruck Marth had glanced skeptically in Aliana’s direction.

Aliana, however, had a confused look to her features. “Keep dreaming,” she muttered. “I never said I would.”

“But I want to,” Mark insisted. “And I’ll keep dreaming until it comes true. After all, as long as you believe in a dream, it’s sure to come true. Right?”

“I suppose so,” Marth half-heartedly agreed. “It depends on how believable the wish is.”

“And my dream’s believable!” Aliana exclaimed, beaming. “I’m going to be Master General! I will, you’ll see!”

“Well, I guess if we put the marrying thing aside, it would be nice,” Mark sighed. “But…you’re not too good with people, anyway…”

Marth nodded in agreement.

Aliana pouted. “At least Regiment General, then. A Regiment CO.”

“That’s still pretty high up there,” Marth stated. “You look more like a Battalion Commander or Company CO.”

Mark laughed. “That’s still too many people for her to handle! Maybe a Fire Team Leader, a platoon commander.”

The boys laughed at the gradual falling of a suitable rank for the poor girl. In response, she stood from her seat and marched to the two, promptly – and firmly – slapping them across their faces. “I hate you two,” she growled venomously. “I bet you two’s dreams are just as bad as mine!”

Mark put a hand to his stinging cheek with lingering teardrops brimming in his eyes. He had no response, and clenched his teeth to keep from crying out loud.

Marth, however, was just as indignant: he silently contemplated the piercing ailment in his cheek before swiftly slapping Aliana himself. “Master Jeigan always told us to use our words, not our violence! If you’ve got a problem, then say it.”

“Well then, why can’t you do the same thing?” Aliana questioned. “Use your words, Marth not your violence!”

“Don’t start with that. I swear you won’t like it.”

“Why don’t you try and stop me? Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can be all hippo…hippo…”

“Hypocritical,” Mark finished.

“Yeah, that. Don’t get all mad just because I hit you. You deserved it.”

“What?! It’s called a joke, Aliana!” Marth burst. “Take a joke!”

Mark was aghast. It was especially hard to stop the argument once Marth blew his fuse. The mage could not blame the young prince, though: Aliana was easy to get irritated with. But it had to stop before things got violent between the two. He came in between the argumentative pair, holding Marth back. “We really shouldn’t fight like this, you two,” Mark desperately tried. “Please, you guys, let’s not fight…”

Aliana and Marth continued their arguing as it went back and forth between them.

Until Mark blew up. “Sweet Anri, you two, SHUT UP!”

The unexpected outburst silenced the fighting children. Mark was not one to explode as such, so the moment seemed rather strange.

“All you guys ever do is fight the whole time! Can it, just can it! If you two always fight like this, you’ll never see each other again! Pip will get rid of you, Aliana! King Cornelius won’t ever let you outside, Marth! We’ll never see each other again! You’ll never see Aliana again, Marth!”

The words stabbed Marth, really. Never see Aliana again? Mark had to be kidding. If that happened, Marth’s dreams, his wishes would all shatter into tiny pieces, lost forever. He would never be able to tell Aliana about those dreams he had over the years.

Like the one where he was a little fledgling angel with small wings, a cherub dashing through an ornate garden, merely enjoying life and this dream. And then an adult woman would walk in with someone that looked like his father. She was a woman with beautiful black dragon wings, and wore a black Oriental dress with silver embroidery. Little angel knew that this was a demon, but instead of fear, he would be filled with such love for her, and he would run to her, causing her red eyes to glance in his direction. She would bend down to accept him, holding him as a sister would hold her younger brother, and lift him off the ground, cradling him as a mother would her child, and he would nestle close to her, filled with such love for her. He would then kiss her cheek, and beckon her attention by saying her name. Aliana’s name.

And the one where he knew he was older, as well as she, and they were fighting together, next to each other, covering and supporting the other. The battle would seem to go well, and then the tragedy: she would be stabbed through, and fall to the ground in a pool of her own blood, her eyes dimming away with each passing moment. He never reached her before she was cold to his touch, but he came at the right moment to lean in and lightly touch his lips to hers, surprised at how warm her lips still were.

Then there was the one where he saw two people, a man and woman strolling alongside each other by the Altean coastline, talking in a carefree manner, obviously in love. They would stop, and he would hold his lover close as she began crying into his shoulder, daring to never let go of him. He would run a hand through her hair a few times before holding her closer, promising to not let her go, that he would protect her, love her, and always remember her. A secret tear would slip down his cheek, but it would not go unnoticed: she would kiss this tear, softly holding her lips to his cheek, causing him to trail his hands down her waist and around her hips, allowing his loving touch to spread throughout her body.

Marth could say he was scarred by that particular dream.

And then there was the dream he wanted to accomplish: become a successful king for Altea. That one was for sure. He knew he would complete that goal, surpassing his father. But the next part to that dream? It really depended. Would Aliana be willing to marry him and become Queen of Altea? At this point, Marth could not be sure, or even try to ask. Especially because there was also Mark he had to worry about.

Mark was also daunted by the possibility of never seeing his friends together if they were separated. He loved Aliana. That much he was more than one hundred percent certain on. And, truth be told, if she were to rise to a CO rank, a commanding officer rank, he wanted to be her tactician and advisor. He knew they would be a successful commanding unit together. He also knew, or more accurately, very certain on her at least rising to Battalion Commander, if not Regiment General.

That was the easy part of his dream, he believed. The next part would be more difficult. Much more difficult. He looked at the nature around him. Understanding how the elements came together to form the world, along with utilizing those elements to sway smoothly in his favor would get him a step closer to the rank he wanted to achieve. Then masterful knowledge of all of the elements, including the forbidden elements of darkness and time, would put Mark at the top. His title to Archsage would be his to feel proud in. And he would not stop there. He would go on to using the resources accessible only to an Archsage to master utilization of the elements, including darkness and time. He would then extend his knowledge to aspiring mages and sages.

Mark knew the path would be an arduous one, but he was determined to accomplish his goal.

Maybe perhaps possibly Aliana would be impressed by his accomplishment and marry him instead of Marth – Mark had already known without asking that that was part of Marth’s dream.

Aliana, too, went silent at the thought of leaving her friends. She knew they were essential to her goals in life. Marth and Mark were nowhere in her dreams quite yet, maybe except for her encounter with that angel, if that counted for a dream (and if it was even Marth), but her mind did not wander to either boy yet, and actually went in the direction of herself.

She would rise to at least Regiment General, she vowed, and get her share of glory. She would show those who persecuted and hated her that she was strong, that she could take care of herself without anyone next to her. A leader who everyone loved and respected…That was the kind of Regiment General she wanted to be.

After that, she would settle down and marry someone. Just who, she did not know yet, but she knew what kind of person she wanted. No one who worried constantly about her. No one who would refuse to let her have her space. Someone who would love her as she was. Someone who would love her dearly, someone who would fight with her at times, but still love her anyway, someone faithful, loyal, caring, and unselfish. And then from there, she would build a family completely unlike the one she had left.

She dreamed of a family built around love and care, with several squabbles and fights here and there, but like the husband she wanted, forgiving. Loving. Maybe a daughter first, with a name like…like... “Rhea.” No. “Reeah.” No, completely not it. “Koran.” That’s it.  She dreamed of a daughter named Koran, a child with a few flaws here and there, but a good child nevertheless. Then a boy after her daughter, a younger brother for her daughter. Her husband would determine the boy’s name, though Aliana herself wanted to name the child “Kelvin.” He would bring livelihood to the family: laughing and conversation would carry on throughout.

She just wanted a family to take care of and love, and a husband who would ease her pains and love her to the very end.

All three children, each contemplating their dreams, wondered how destroyed they would be without their friends. If their friendship were to fall apart, those dreams they had would never come true or make sense.

Marth looked at Aliana a bit sheepishly. “Sorry,” he uttered, his heart racing. “I…I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I was just joking. And…I didn’t mean to hit you…I’m sorry…”

Mark nodded in agreement. “I was just playing too, Aliana. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings either. I’m sorry for doing that.” He paused. “And I’m sorry for yelling like that. I wasn’t thinking right...”

Aliana shook her head. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for hitting you guys…I’ll try not to do that anymore. I know it hurts…I should know…And…I’m sorry, guys…” She gave both a quick kiss on each cheek she had slapped earlier. “…I’m sorry, you two…” Her eyes fell to the ground. “I’m really sorry…”

Marth, blushing profusely, stammered, “It’s…It’s okay…I-I-I mean…It’s…It’s really okay…Really…”

Mark, with his eyes wide, only nodded. He had turned beet red, too embarrassed and charmed to say anything.

She laughed at both of their reactions, wondering how a simple kiss could evoke so much embarrassment. She hugged both of them, feeling glad she had ever met them.

After a moment, Marth looked her squarely in the eye. “Can I kiss you now?” he asked curiously. “Please?”

Seeing nothing wrong with this, Aliana was about to grant him permission, but she was a little late: Marth had to run away from an extremely livid Mark, who was ready to beat the living snot out of the young prince to keep his dream from coming close to shattering again.