Forward

Ariana and Ishmael train daily with each other, a practice they picked up while working together on the Ygg project. Around the end of September, 2994, Ishmael informs Ariana that he's going to need to reduce their training time together, from daily to every couple of days. Between tutoring her sons in two subjects, and his own training regimen to prepare to return to Chaos and fight Zane, there isn't as much time as there was before.

Ariana nods. "I can understand that. I'm sorry I'm not good enough to help you train for Chaos."

He shrugs it off. "Don't sweat it. Be glad that you didn't have to develop to my level to survive..."

"I am. Although sometimes I feel like I need to be better at this than I am."

"People keep talking to me about these long lives we're destined to live." He balances his sword on the tip of his finger. "You have a long time ahead of you to train, to get 'better'. You should focus on the things that won't be there later -- like childhood, love..." he flips the sword into the air and darts down and around her.
"...and flowers." He catches the sword in one hand, and the other is holding a daisy he plucked from the ground behind her.
"They're a lot more important."

She smiles. "I keep telling myself that. Sometimes, I'm afraid that if I don't keep trying to improve my fighting skills, I might not be able to help those I care about. Which Lucien keeps telling me is a game of 'What ifs,' and is pointless, but it's a hard habit to get out of."

"Good gods," Ishmael stops dead, "I never thought I'd ever hear myself say this, but...Vetch is right."
"If you lose what you're trying to protect because you were too busy learning to protect it to really forge a bond with it...what's really been saved?" He sheaths his sword. "Case and point? Your children. Your children are always going to be your children, but your children aren't always going to *be* children."

"I know. They're all growing so fast, especially the oldest ones. I know I'll have to let them go soon, but I'm not sure I'm ready to yet." She smiles again. "I suppose every parent goes through that."

He shrugs. "I wouldn't know. But, just make sure you're holding your children, not smothering them. There's a difference..."

"Therein lies the struggle. I do try not to smother them, but it's hard sometimes." She chuckles. "However, I have every confidence that you won't hesitate to inform me if you think I'm overdoing it."

He winks at her. "You know it." He hands her the daisy. "I gotta scram..."

She takes the daisy and twirls it between her fingers. "You know, once you get back from Chaos, there's no reason you can't focus on other things too."

Ishmael flashes his trademark grin, but doesn't say anything...and with that, he's gone.

"Outrageous Fortune"
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All text on this page is © 1998 by Kris Fazzari and Lisamarie Babik.

Last modified on October 28, 1998 by Kris Fazzari.