[ B ] And So, A New Life Begins... [IBWY/ATSB] <Gaia Transfer>

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... amonds.png[/imgleft]It Begins With You thought it was nothing short of destiny that he and World Ends With You had met. Her abscence of color compared to his abundance of hues made him feel as though they were two halves of a whole. There was only further evidence to this idea when it was discovered that she was with child, and he could hardly wait to set out on a journey to find a legendary willing to bless them. After all, a fated meeting and clutch such as this was more than deserving of extra attention in his, humble, opinion.

However, finding a legendary in the first place was proving difficult after hours of searching, and the dark haired buck simmered down for a rest. He didn't want to give up yet, but he didn't want to leave World Ends With You for much longer, either. He sighed, lowered his head to the earth, and stared out into the distance.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert2.png[/imgleft]When the sea-colored crane lifted his head from his wing, a new season had arrived. He had slept a long time, and in that time, many things had happened. Kin had been born while others grew old and died; he, however, remained the same. Same silver-touched blue. Unchanging yet were the senses inside him, drawing him from his slumber long enough to raise his eyes to the horizon and lift off once more.

It did not take long, the flight. As he peered down through the canopy, a beautiful buck of star-filled twilight paced, searching for him. Silently, he banked, landing on tall, stilt-like legs on a stone just beside the wandering buck.

'Do not give up, young one. The swamp hears your calls.' 

[Blinded By Silence]

The buck, as though expecting the greeting all along, turned to face the crane beside him with a warm, broad smile. He did not know who this was, but he trusted them. He bowed his head in respect.

"I knew if I searched with a pure heart that I would find you," He said, his expression becoming more excited as he spoke. "My name is It Begins With You, and I've met a lovely doe by the name of World Ends With You. I believe that our similar names have brought us together for a reason and I've set out in search of a blessing for our children, who are due any day now."

He paused and finally raised his gaze to look the crane in the eye.

"What can I offer to you for such a gift?" He asked.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Like a flower unfurling its petals in the face of the warming sun, the crane spread his wings and lifted his long beak to the sky. In a hazy mist of salt spray, he stretched his legs, his back, his neck until he was no longer feathered but furred.

The stag shook out his mane of salt stained hair and looked down to the bowing buck before him. He smiled softly; the gesture reminded him of his not-father. Usually, it was As The Sun Burns who gave the stories to his blessed, but today, today was new and different.

"Tell me," he spoke in a voice that crashed against the salty rocks of an ocean far away, "If fate entwines you so, tell me the tale of how you two met."

[Blinded By Silence]

It Begins With You paused, his jaw lowered in awe as the crane transformed before him. He felt honored to have seen this and could only beam. This was the best day of his life, at least so far.

"Yes, of course!" He replied, nodding. "It was raining and I had been scavenging a while. I didn't see her at first, behind the foliage in the shadows, but I noticed she was searching around as well. However, when she told me her name... I couldn't help but feel as though there was a reason why I decided to speak with her."

He looked to the ground, sheepishly.

"It doesn't sound too interesting of a meeting, now that I've thought about it." He sighed. "But I still feel, strongly, that she and I were supposed to meet and have children."

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]The stag's glowing red eyes never left the buck as he spoke. And as the light that seeped from them grew brighter, the sky above them darkened and they could hear and feel the rain that was not truly there. A bush rustled, and there was both the shadow of a doe and buck, but nothing was truly there. Together, the buck and the stag watched as the two danced around each other before touching noses. Two became one, each beginning where the other ended. Thus was the power of As The Sun Burns; the stag who could breathe life into any story, no matter how short. It was a simple story, but it held beauty.

When the buck's tale finished, the red glow ebbed and with it left the rain and the shadow.

"Fate, my child, has ever many ways of touching us. Be it our names, our pelts, our experiences. Trust in fate, young one, and it will guide you well." He slowly tucked his head beneath the large wing of the crane on his back and pulled out a single long, white feather. Stepping forward, he placed it on the grass before the new father and spoke, "May fate be a friend to you and your family."

And without waiting for the starlit bucks response, the great stag became salt and mist and feathers and once more rose into the air with a single beat of his strong wings, following fate himself.