Challenge -
Done by CHARLENE for SEALGIRL
“A short fic (no more than 1000 words) set after “Child of the Stargazer” and “The Last Illusion”, where Diana and Presto have a heart to heart about what they have lost. Not necessarily deep or laden with angst, just them both recognising that they are both in the same boat.”
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Lovesick
Tonight, like every night, Diana gazed up at the Heavens, scanning the stars despite knowing that she wasn’t going to find anything up there. Since He’d gone, the stars had turned dead and cold. They didn’t offer her the comfort they once had. They weren’t as attractive to her any more, no longer beautiful. They served only to remind her that He had gone, that she’d never see Him again. The stars were nothing but a barrier that served only to separate her from someone whose name she couldn’t even bring herself to even think anymore.
She sighed and berated herself. She didn’t like wallowing. Diana was generally a “half-full” kind of person. Self pity never got anyone anywhere as far as she was concerned.
But during her watches, when everyone else was asleep and she had only her own thoughts for company and nothing to do but wait for the morning suns, it was just too easy to remember.
The sound of feet meeting grass brought Diana fully back to the present. Without turning she knew Presto stood behind her, ready to take over as it became time for his watch.
The stars were disappearing. Light was beginning to sweep over the Realm as dawn began to arrive. Diana knew she’d be able to catch a few hours sleep if she let herself drift off now, but she felt too awake.
“I’ll take your watch, too, if you want,” she offered as Presto sat down next to her, yawning tiredly.
“It’s okay,” Presto dismissed the offer “I can’t sleep anyway.”
You too, huh? Diana smiled hopelessly, shaking her head to herself as she asked: “Really? What’s wrong, Presto?”
She didn’t really need him to tell her. She knew what was wrong. Because she was going through the same thing.
“I keep dreaming about her,” he sighed “I miss her.”
It had been three weeks since they’d left the little village where Varla lived. Outwardly, Presto seemed to be coping well. He was the same old Presto, still struggling with his magic, still bantering with Eric and still not believing in himself nearly enough.
“You could’ve stayed,” said Diana “She asked you to. Maybe you could have lived with -”
“Come on, Diana. You know as well as I do…we don’t belong here. We have to keep looking for the way home, all of us.”
She could agree with that. The need to find home had become more important to her than ever. If she could get home, she could move on. She’d never forget Him, but maybe she’d be able to move forward, get on with her life. She sensed that Presto felt the same way about Varla.
“Do you think we’ll see them again?” Presto asked suddenly, surprising Diana by his cryptic mention of Kosar. None of them spoke about Him, knowing it upset her.
“Dungeon Master said that I knew Him before and that I’ll know Him again. Whatever that means. As for Varla…I think in this world almost anything’s possible,” said Diana, giving Presto a wink, hoping it would lift his spirits just a little.
Presto laughed.
“What’s funny?” asked Diana.
“We never had much in common before we came here, and now look at us…we might as well be the co-founders of the Lonely Hearts Club,” Presto joked, the atmosphere becoming a lot lighter as the two young adults both finally relaxed a little.
“We didn’t socialise back home really, did we?” mused Diana “I guess that’s the one good thing about this place.”
“Yeah. It’s been great getting closer to you guys…I’ve never really had real friends before, you know? But here, it feels like we’re kind of a family…it almost makes the monsters and everything seem worth it. Sorry. That sounds really corny.”
“No, it’s true. I feel the same way. I’m glad I got to know you better. You’re a good friend, Presto.
Diana gave the magician’s arm a reassuring pat and they sat together as they waited for the sun to rise.
(END)
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