Disclaimer: El Hazard is owned by AIC/Pioneer LDC. The author owns only the writing. Rock and Redemption Chapter 1: The Eye of God Shayla-Shayla hung back to the doorway to the room. It was one of the many control rooms inside the Eye of God. She looked at him with a glum expression. Since the defeat of the Bugrom, Makoto had been working day and night to get 'her' back. She hoped the council would say 'enough' and forbid Makoto from working, studying, and investigating this most holy object. But her hopes were in vain. Most felt either Makoto deserved the chance to return to his own world after saving El-Hazard or feared what the Demon God would do there. Those few members opposed to Makoto's plan were quickly shouted down by Fatora and more quietly, by Rune. After weeks of watching him, her crush on him diminished as he made progress. Success was close, she could see it in his eyes. She tried to get him to stop, to forget Ifurita and come to her, but he was too wrapped up in his work and naive to notice. Makoto wasn't the only one learning how the Eye of God worked. Shayla-Shayla was also learning. It was part of her plan to get close to him. She asked questions, took an interest in his project. She understood enough to sabotage his hopes. It was a stupid idea. He'd know instantly. You didn't need special powers to figure out why it didn't work. She also learned something else. Makoto's progress was moving way too quickly. All the complexities and capabilities of the Eye of God would have made singling out a single task nearly impossible. But that's just what was happening. When they first started, Makoto made a comment about the history of science on his world. "Research was never a straight line from start to finish. There are always tangents, accidents, and unexpected discoveries appearing. By the time we're done we will understand much more about the Eye of God than simply crossing dimensions." To an extent he was wrong, this research project moved smoothly and on schedule. Shayla-Shayla took the job of watching Makoto, to make sure he delved into forbidden knowledge. Actually everything about the Eye was forbidden. But she was expected to try to keep Makoto on a straightest course possible. She half expected to be pulling him away from screens, interfaces, and devices ten times a day, but it didn't happen. Makoto's searches for knowledge were always short, the files in question practically leaping to the screens. The first day they discovered part of the nature of the flow of time between worlds. Makoto quoted someone called Einstein in saying: Time was relative. As little or as much time as Makoto wanted would pass on Earth. He even said he could go back in time so he wouldn't have to do his homework the night before he came to El-Hazard. After that discovery, Makoto was much more laid back. He had all the time he wanted to retrieve his love. Of course he didn't take advantage of it. From dawn til dusk and often way after that, he would study the Eye with a blend of casualness and urgency. It was Shayla-Shayla making the random discoveries, an interesting device here, a bit of trivia there. She was the one in danger of learning forbidden knowledge. Makoto's tangents were hardly serious. The Eye's influence over time and space was part of how it granted people's special abilities. Makoto did not investigate further, but Shayla-Shayla did. She discovered the Eye had erred, granting the wrong abilities. She was shown failed attempts leading to time paradoxes. If Ifurita was not freed and sent into the Eye, she could not have sent the Earthers here in the first place. The Eye would simply erase that timeline and try again. The Eye seemed to learn from its mistakes. Makoto's power was constant, but the others had different powers. It was interesting, watching how each Earther developed their current abilities, though not always pleasant. Watching Fujisawa impale himself on a rock while running at unheard of speeds while drunk was not enjoyable. Nor was Nanami's growth when Shayla-Shayla saw herself get crushed under her big feet. But those days were over. Shayla-Shayla knew they were close. As if the Eye wanted them to be finished so they'll leave. Makoto said the two words Shayla-Shayla was both waiting and dreading to hear. "It's ready." he said. "'Furita return? Makoto be happy?" Ura asked as she stirred from her nap. "So, how soon will 'she' be returning?" "Shayla..." "I'm sorry. Do you want me to get the others." "No, the dimensional static isn't clear yet." "Huh?" Ura made herself comfortable in Makoto's lap. He scratched her as he explained, "When Ifurita sent us to El-Hazard, she not only sent us through space, but through time. Doing so caused a kind of a temporal backlash around the ruins. It will take a day on Earth for it to subside." "But you said when she sent you here, her energy was weak. Are you sure she'll last a day?" Shayla said with more concern than she thought she had. "Don't worry. I've used the Eye of God to transmit her enough power to keep her alive. I also activated her flight and invisibility powers to keep her hidden until I can retrieve her." "You've activated her powers without asking?" Shayla accused in a tone which surprised both of them. Makoto looked embarrassed, "It's not like that! It was necessary. I told her what I was going to do but she fell unconscious after sending me here. I had no choice." Shayla lost her hard look and sighed, "I suppose she trusts you enough. It's not as if you'll do something like that maliciously. So we gotta wait a day, huh?" She stretched, "Good, I need to stretch my legs." "Haven't you learned anything here?" Makoto said with a smile, "Time passes at different rates. With this, I can control the flow of time between our two worlds. I'll allowing enough for me to finish the calculations on working the portal. It shouldn't take long." "So you're not going to give Fujisawa or Nanami the change to go home?" "We already talked about it. Sensei is not going even if he had the chance. And Nanami...she really didn't say why. But she wanted to stay. I just don't think she wants to leave her brother behind." "Yeah, no way that bug-loving brother of hers will leave." she muttered. But she knew the real reason. Nanami still had her eyes on Makoto, just like her. But unlike her, Nanami wasn't even trying. She just stayed in her restaurant. Trying to sound cheerful she said, "Speaking of which, hows about I go down for some grub before going back? Hate to interrupt the reunion by a growling stomach." Shayla's reminder made Makoto realize how long it's been since he last ate. "Yes, please. Nanami knows what I'll want." Shayla turned to leave when Makoto said, "Thank you, Shayla." It was times like this when she knew just why she fell for him. She felt the pain in her heart by knowing they'd never be together. She stewed in this thought as she flew down to Floristica to "Nanami's Lunch Box". The lunch crowd was dying down. Most of the people there were eating. The waitresses there looked like they were ready for a break. Nanami saw her right away, "The usual?" she asked. "Yeah and make one for Makoto too." "That's easy enough... So how's it going?" she asked as she led the fire priestess into the kitchen. "He says he's ready. It looks like he'll succeed." "That's nice." "Yeah right. You don't like any more than I do. Listen, you have the chance to go home. Why aren't you taking it? And don't give me any of that crap about your brother. I know you'd love to be as far away from him as possible." "Well there's the Phantom Tribe. You need my powers to spot them." "If that were true, you'd be a permanent figure in the Royal Court. They've all retreated to the caverns. We leave them alone and they'll do the same for us. Or weren't you here when their new leader sent that message?" "So what's to go back to?" "Huh? What do you mean? Your family, your friends, your life." Nanami gave no answer. Just stood there chopping the vegetables. Shayla went to her 'I dare you to disagree with me' stance and said, "I'm waiting for an answer." Nanami stayed silent. "Humph, I thought so. It's Makoto. Well face it lunch chic, we lost. We lost to a wind-up doll stuck in your home world in another time. There's nothing neither of us can do but accept it." Nanami cut the final piece of carrot with a hard chop, "Oh like you've been, spending every waking moment helping him. You haven't accepted defeat, you've totally surrendered!" "At least I helped him instead of running away. Maybe if you spent some time with him, you might understand how he feels!" Shayla countered, her headband jewel flaring. "I was with him since childhood!" "Well that might have been good if he was a child. But he's a man now. He's grown up." Shayla paused to calm down "Look Nanami, from what I understand of what he's doing, the portal to your world can only occur twice. The first time brought you here, the next is going back for Ifurita. If you pass up this chance, you won't get another. Think fast and think hard, little lady. You're life is going to change forever soon, so you'd better be sure you're on the right path." With that she grabbed the boxes and left. There was one last place to go. She knew what he'd say, but if Makoto wasn't going to tell him she would. Carefully she knocked on Fugisawa's door. He wasn't a sensei any more. That title was dropped after the Bugrom were defeated. With his marriage to Miz, he already made the decision to stay. His new title was Royal Champion. He'd use his powers on heroic quests for Roshtaria with his wife and generally be a hero. Miz answered the door. She stayed basically the same. Except she was now a lot happier and she stopped complaining about her age. "Oh Shayla. Well this is a surprise. Have they chosen a new chief water priestess yet?" There was never a big demand for her position. The theocracy allowed her to keep her powers despite her resignation 'for years of loyal service'. The Elemental Council only did that if they felt the former high priestess might be brought out of retirement. "Nope, none of the trainees showed your determination and loyalty." "I did set a rather high standard didn't I. So if that's not it, then why did you drop by?" "Your husband. He needs to be told something." "It's about Makoto isn't it? I'll get him. Oh my champion....!" She called out into the house. "Oh it's you Shayla. What can I do for you?" Fuji said a moment later. He was much happier than when he first arrived here. Shayla's favorite drinking buddy quit when he realized just how good he felt when all the toxins were out of his system. Gone too were his almost trademark sweats. He was a hero and he dressed the part. He now resembled Londs in terms of clothing. Except Fujisawa didn't wear a hat and he had this wide sash with compartments. He called it his utility belt. "Makoto's ready. I already know your answer, but I have to ask. This is your only change to go home. Do you want to go?" "Shayla, I am home. Back on earth I was a disgrace of a teacher, an alcoholic and a nicotine freak. Here I've found so much more." he hugged his wife as he spoke, "Now I'm respected and it's respect I have earned. Like it or not Shayla, I'm here to stay." "Yeah, I kinda figured that. But I do think Makoto will want you there, if only for moral support." Fujisawa looked at his wife. She nodded and said, "Let's go." Shayla wasn't surprised when Nanami didn't show up. But the Royal Court's appearance did. "Princess Rune, Princess Fatora, what brings you here?" Rune looked at the ground for a moment before answering her armor cat, Atto sat at her feet and returned the gaze. "The Council of Nations is growing nervous about Makoto being in the Eye of God. They have decided to indulge his search for Ifurita for one more week, then he is to be forbidden to set foot on the holy artifact until an emergency. Just like the rest of us." "Well looks like the CN got ahead of themselves. Makoto's found her and is going back for her right after lunch." Shayla said with fake happiness. "Ohhh Shayla, that's great." Alliele wooed. She started towards Shayla, but Fatora stopped her with a withering look. Alliele shrunk back looking ashamed, almost fearful. Fatora's new cat, Riho, had arrived some days earlier. Everyone hoped the normal bonding process between master and pet to go quickly, like Ura and Makoto, but it was not. Riho also shrunk back with Alliele but with a look of fear and defiance. Shayla noticed it, but didn't pay it any mind. Fatora hadn't been the same since her imprisonment by the Phantom Tribe. She was always a little bitch, but now she was far worse. Shayla figured Alliele wouldn't let things go too far out of hand right? "Yeah, great. Let's go." Makoto was dressed in the white ceremonial robes of scholars. They made him look older, more mature. Ura followed him as he moved from council to council checking every knob and display with his power. "Wah Shayla! Don't sneak up on my like that!" "So how would you like you like me to sneak up on you?" Shayla quipped. "Ahem, Makoto Mizuhara, the people of El-Hazard are grateful for saving our world when it was at great personal cost to you. We have been willing to accommodate you to retrieve your love by investigating the Eye of God. However this is El-Hazard's most holy, forbidden, and dangerous relics. Once you have brought back the Demon God, you will be barred from again setting foot here save for the most grave emergencies. Do you understand?" Rune Venus proclaimed. "Yes Princess Rune. Everything is ready. Save my lunch Shayla, I'm too nervous to eat. Sensei, thank you for everything. I'll be back in a moment." "Wait, Kid. If you have a second, would you mind explaining what's going on?" Fujisawa asked. "When Ifurita first sent us here, a link between our worlds was created. By also sending us through time, that link was stretched like a rubber band. But it was unstable, meant only for a brief period of transportation. In a few days, the link would distinrgrate causing massive feedback in the Eye of God with unknown results. By going back to Earth and then returning the link is still broken, but in a more controlled result. Until I leave the portal area, the link stays stable. I'll be able to bring her back safely." "Well I understood everything up to the rubber band part." "Think about it like this. Earth and El-Hazard are hooked together by a link generated by the Eye of God. As time passes on Earth, the link is pulled harder until it will eventually break. The energy released could possibly create massive feedback in both El-Hazard and Earth. But if I return to Earth and rescue Ifurita, I can safely unhook Earth from the Eye of God, protecting both places. The link needed time to stabilize on Earth. Even though several months have passed here, only a day has passed on Earth. Now the link is at its lowest energy. I can do my job with minimal risk." "Well lets get to it." Makoto smiled at everyone and expressed his thanks. With a thought and his power, a green glowing circle appeared at his feet and he slowly sank in.