Abeke gets some flashbacks about her own little regret.

True love's kiss.

Something Conor had never felt it before. He probably would never feel it as he turned away from Reilin who were...doing what they do best.

If you hadn't guessed, they were just making out. Ya know. Normal Reilin things.

Conor didn't look up as someone sat beside him. The one person he used to want to share the kiss with. Not anymore though. She was way into someone else to even notice him.

"Who knew they'd actually be doing the actual kissy-face," Abeke spoke up, referring to their time back in Arctica, many years before.

Conor didn't smile. "They're just so... in love. Like two puzzle pieces that just fit each other so... perfectly. They have it so easy..."

Abeke didn't answer for a while.

•••Flashback•••

It was many years back. It had just been a few weeks after she'd summoned Uraza, a few weeks since she'd first met Shane, and a few weeks since they'd grown closer over the ship ride.

It was supposed to be just another normal training session. A day before they were to meet General Gar.

But even after all these years, she still remembered it as if it was just yesterday.

Shane would always knock at her door and ask the same question each time, "You up for a training session?"

Every time she would always answer with, "I'm up and ready."

Despite going easy on her, he would still manage to catch Abeke off guard. She'd huff and pout and he would smile, take her hand and pull her up. Then they'd say their goodbyes and be done for the day.

None of that happened that day. Shane had stared at her for a long time and Abeke noticed the uncertainty lingering at the corners of his eyes.

"Is something wrong, Shane?" She'd asked then.

His hesitance answered it all for her, despite his verbal answer, "Nothing. Just nervous for tomorrow."

---

As the days passed when they travelled together through Amaya, they'd wake up at the break of dawn for an early training session before heading out. There'd been improvement though Shane was still way beyond her level.

Abeke groaned as she landed on the ground with a thump, "I'm no good with this close-range combat. I'm better off shooting from a distance."

"That's the thing, you've already got a good eye," Shane said as he pulled her up once again, "Just strike faster with a little less hesitance. It's your hesitance that keeps holding you back."

"Well, I don't want to hurt you, you know," Abeke told him.

Shane avoided her eyes but she didn't fail to hear the uncertainty in his tone, "Me too.."

---

She took his advice, even when she did change sides. She'd still wake up and train, trying to remember the moves he taught her and struck faster. Though it was kinda easy since her opponent was a dummy.

She kept using her bow but every time she found herself having to use her dagger, it began to get easier as she imagined the Conquerors as dummies. Nothing but dummies.

It got easier.

It got easier to believe that Shane was on the wrong side.

It got easier to believe that she could convince him to change.

---

Abeke had escaped the Conqueror prison with Shane... only without Meilin. Things between them were more quieter than usual.

Though they had their normal conversations, it was always cut short because Shane would have to do something like manning the ship or catching some fish. But Abeke began to have the suspecting feeling that he was purposely trying to avoid her.

She was foolish to ignore it.

It was one night before they'd finally reach Greenhaven. Shane came to her that night and asked the one question she'd had missed hearing for so long:

"You up for a training session?"

Abeke smiled, "I'm up and ready."

She saw the uncertainty in his eyes and the hint of sadness he tried to hide in the smile he gave her.

The last smile he'd give her for a long time.

---

Her heart shattered the moment it hit her that Shane had been the Reptile King all along. That he'd betrayed her and used her.

She hated herself for hesitating. For not acting quicker.

Guilt gnawed at her every single day that's passed, throwing it into punches of anger as she'd resumed her daily routine of training. It wasn't hard to put so much anger in each punch since it was the very same person that got her into the habit of these training sessions.

Shane was the enemy. Shane was the enemy. She wouldn't hesitate. Shane was the enemy.

Yet as the day came to an end, staring at the ceiling before dozing off to sleep, the image of Shane's eyes that were filled with uncertainty would still cloud her mind.

The eyes of a boy who didn't know what he was doing.

Abeke ignored all that. It was just an act.

She wouldn't hesitate the next time she saw him.

---

The next time they met, it wasn't like one of those training sessions where they would always hold back. It was real. They both ended up getting scratches and bruises from the other.

Abeke couldn't shoot an arrow. She was using her bow to fight at close range and against what? Shane and his saber?

She raised it to block, only stumbling back, falling on the ground. Instead of pouting like she was supposed to do, she glared at him with all the anger she could muster.

Instead of helping her up, like he was supposed to do, Shane sneered at her but surprisingly held back, "Still hesitating, I see?"

"Give me a dagger and we'll see about that," Abeke spat.

"Clearly you aren't ready at all," Shane said, coldness in his tone and his eyes, far from the warm and encouraging tone she was used to, "Well, Abeke? Are you really up for this?"

Shane still didn't take the advantage to attack her. Abeke slowly stood from her spot, finding some newfound strength.

"I'm up and ready."

---

When Shane gave up when the Great Ape and Zerif had betrayed him completely, Abeke did not hesitate.

She struck, hitting him with the side of his sword, spitting back words of poison and ignoring his attempts to explain. Yet as he kneeled there before her, head low in utter defeat, she saw him again.

Not the Shane who trained with her and became her first real friend.

Not the Shane who betrayed her and used her.

But a boy. A boy who was lost, still young and naive to a world he'd never really known but cold and harsh.

He was right,

She still hesitated.

---

Then there was that small moment they shared that night. That night they were on the ship to this Place of Desolation. A night before they were to reach the place.

Things seems to happen between them on ships on the night before reaching a place, huh?

Abeke had warmed up to him a little...but she was still wanting to punch him. And she actually did get the chance.

There was a soft knock on the door and there she found Shane. Or King. Mask off, cloak on. The uncertainty was gone, in its place holding weariness and deep, deep regret.

Abeke stared back coldly, "What do you want?"

"You up for a training session?" Shane asked, his one soft and quiet. His eyes pleading to give him a chance. Just one last chance

Abeke proceeded to close the door but Shane stopped her, "Look, I regretted many things I've done. I regretted it all. And I know there's nothing I could do to bring it all back but please...just give me this one chance or we'll never get another one."

Abeke hesitated.

Then she closed the door. Shane stood there, head low in defeat. The guilt was so strong that it killed him. Killed him so much.

The door then opened and there was Abeke, bow and arrow in hand and a dagger in the other.

"I'm up and ready."

They trained for one last time. Abeke listened as Shane explained things from the very start. She only nodded but still kept her distance. Of course, Shane still was beyond her level. That never changed.

As Shane pulled her up, the gesture coming to them so normally, he stared at her for a long time.

She asked the same question, "Is something wrong, King?"

Shane didn't reply for a long moment. Then he leaned in and pressed his warm lips against hers. She stiffened but neither pulled apart, fear of ending the moment all too quickly. The moment that would most likely never come again. His lips moved gently and soft. Abeke felt really, really warm. And as soon as it started, it ended.

King said nothing. Just turned and walked away.

They avoided the topic for a long time, both hesitating and stalling for later, knowing it was not the right time. They stayed silent about it...until it was too late.

Abeke regretted not saying the words she wanted to say.

•••Present•••

Abeke didn't answer for a while. Then she sighed, "They do, don't they?"

The two friends sat there in silence, each in their own little world of thoughts.

One with envy of never feeling 'true love's kiss', and one with regret of the chance she'd miss.

-- -- --

"Okay, what the frick," Abeke, the REAL Abeke, said, dropping the device that the strange boy, who went by Griff, had given her, "I harbor no feelings for Shane at all! He's confusing af."

"And Rollan and I DO NOT kiss 24/7," Meilin said, frowning.

"Cause you make it so hard," Rollan mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Noooooooooothing."

Conor stayed silent. Why? Cause he was confused. Why?

Cause he was still learning how to read.

-- -- --

Topic: True Love's Kiss