There was a woman standing at the water's
edge.



Sue,an
immaculategirl rapidly
approaching womanhood,stood
alone on the beach, gazing over theazure
water with  herunblemishedmultihuedcrystals.Hermany-colored
hairdancedlightly in the oceanbreeze, tickling against one cheek as
shesmiled to herself with
anticipation, resting her cheek against one hand as sheclacked the heels of heronyx boots together.She worea vertshirt with sleeves that ran down
to her wristsanda pair of raven formal pants.Herlocks
flowed in a opaline torrent past her shoulders,complementing herpureblush-colored-flushed
palevisage.Beautiful wings
sprouted from her back.She
stood, awaiting her love.



They had known each other since they were
children. They had spent time together so often that, despite all differences,
others often mistook them as siblings. However, it was not until recently that
they had recognized their feelings for each other.From then on,they were inseparable. They shared
every part of their life with each other.That
was how it was to this very day.

"Sue," Chris said simply witha smile on his face.Hisceruleanglobescomplimented hisnavy mane,brushing against his ears,belying hisguileless heart.He was dressedin refined garb befitting his station.He had a toned but slender body
covered withhealthily
color-touched alabasterskin.As Sue drew nearer, she caught a note
of his familiarscent of
lingering iron and steel.She
smiled to herself.It always
reminded her of the time they shared.



"Oh, Chris! You came!" Sue said
breathlessly, reaching out to take him into an embrace.He laughed and put his arms about her,
holding her as they turned about once on the sand with their momentum.With that, they began to walk along
the beach.



To their surprise, Sue was the first to speak.
"I-I've never really... had anything like this." She clung a little
tighter to Chris'scallousedhand, resting her head against hisstrong, slender arm.



"Never?" he asked.



"Oh, never," she said breathlessly.
"You are my first true love."



"I love you," he replied, landing a
peck on hersoft color-mixed
coiffure.



"I love you too."

They strolled together for a few moments,
the beautiful clear teal sky decorated with only a few hints of loamy clouds.The sun struck hermanein
a many-colored halo about her face.



Chris looked at her admiringly. "You're
beautiful," he told her. She blushed.



"W-Why do you say that...?" she
stuttered, still recovering from his compliment.



"Because it's the truth." Chris
placed his hand around Sue, drawing her nearer. "Not only that," he
continued. "You're talented as well. We couldn't have saved the world
without you."



"I caused a lot of trouble for you,"
she mumbled. "You were really the one who did all those amazing things.
And you're so strong..." Her eyes wandered over his face,his innocent depths, and hisnavy hair."... And handsome.Sometimes I can't believe you were
that little boy..."



"I'm not that little boy anymore,"
he replied with a frown that might have been hurt or joking. "We've both
come a long way since then. I've gained the strength to protect you, like I
said I would."



"As long as you're by my side," she
whispered, letting Chris draw her into an embrace, "nothing bad will
happen to me."



"I swear it," he affirmed.



"Oh, Chris... I love you so much,"she whispered, her hand seeking out
hiscallousedones.

As they walked, they came across a part
of the sea that looked darker than the rest.



"What's that?" Sue asked.



"The locals say the lair of a sea monster
lies in that ravine," Chris said. Just as he finished talking, a roar
pierced the air. "Watch out!"



The cerulean waves swelled and surged, and
Chris ran up the sea shore with Sue's hand in his. From the frothingpale foam emerged the head of a killer
whale, which let out a screech that rent the sky. It bared its glinting sharp
canines at them.



"It looks hungry," she remarked with
a hint of trepidation.



"It's not going to eat us!" Chris
said firmly. Ever prepared, he whipped out his weapon. "Go! I'll protect
you. I'll make sure of it!"

"Wait!
Chris!I want to help!" Sue, too, was
prepared.



"Sue..." he started to say, but there was no time to argue -- the
whale lunged for him, and he jumped away, the whale's teeth burying itself in
the sand. Then they launched a counter-strike: Chris struck a blow first, along
the beast's back, and then Sue second, along the whale's exposed underside. The
monster roared in outrage before slipping back into the sea.



Panting for breath, Chris asked, "Are you hurt?"



Sue shook her head. "I'm fine."



"That was more trouble than I bargained for." He offered her his
hand. "Stick tight. You never know what else might spring out of the
sea."



Sueheld
ontohis
handas
the radiant sunset sunset began to fill the sky.