[b]Welcome all who those who made it to this story! They are all important pieces in this story's puzzle. Give them a clap and a cookie. Especially a cookie.[/b] [b]Chapter 19: Dreams[/b] [i]Light. There was Light everywhere she could see. It felt safe, comforting, powerful. It felt like a home away from home to her. But something was coming. She couldn't think of anything that would be threatening but she had felt it. It was there, slowly festering like an infected wound. But what was it? "Hello Vala." Everything melted away in a wash of colors, sights and sounds. What once was nothing but the Light was now slowly fading into a scene she remembered so vividly. The sky she loved to look up to was there, the clouds slowly making their way across the blue expanse. Large rusted planes were scattered across the landscape, their bodies nothing but empty husks of what they used to be. It made her heart ache to see such a sight. The Mothyards was such a sight to see even if it held the most painful memories. "Are you even listening to me?" Vala finally looked to who was there. Tears gathered at the edges of her eyes when they landed on the person she missed so dearly. But Vala would not dare let them fall. It was all she could do. "Andal." The old Hunter Vanguard smiled cheekily, the edges of his eyes crinkling at the gesture. He wore his telltale Vanguard cloak, the fabric flowing behind him majestically. His armor was the same as the last time she had seen him, the sight making her breath hitch. How long had she had gone without seeing him? It seemed like forever. And forever was a long time ago. "What's with the long face, Vala? I thought I raised you better than that." With a fond smile, Andal reached out to gently ruffle her hair. The sensation finally broke Vala's dam, her tears rolling down her cheeks in a steady stream. "Now now don't cry. I don't want to see my old student down in the dumps. What's wrong?" Vala could remember all the times he had ruffled or patted her head when she first started out as a new Guardian. How he was the only one who she trusted her secrets and her worries with. How much she had to admit that she missed him. Andal was like a father to her, a person who looked out for her all the time. She would never admit that his death had broken her. Had made her heart break, her tears a small filling for the void in her chest. It hurt. It honestly hurt to have him gone. And Vala was overjoyed to see him, even if she were actually dead. "You're not dead, silly. This is a dream." Oh. So that explained this. "What are you here for then?" Vala really wanted to know why she had dreamt of Andal and how. "I'm just here cause you wanted me here. Maybe you want advice? Oh! I must be your Guardian angel! Get it?" Vala instinctively punched him in the arm, Andal hissing in pain but with a playful grin on his face. "Okay okay sheesh. You've gotten stronger since the last time I saw you. Your hair was also longer but I think the shorter version suits you better." Vala smiled, sitting down to listen to her old friend ramble about nothing in particular. He sat down next to her, his hand once more patting her head as she closed her eyes and cherished the moment. "You know," Andal said, taking his hand away, "you were one of the strongest Guardians I ever had to honor to teach. You had a big heart for everything, but chose to hide it whenever things got hard. You loved to stare at the sky and not at engrams and armor. You confused me but then I was happy. You're different, Vala. And I believe that the Guardians need someone like you." And again, the tears came from Vala's eyes. Andal once again quieted her with a gentle hand and a small smile. "You're a big crybaby too." Andal chuckled. "But I bet Bolt knows either way that he means a lot to you. This strength and tears you are able to shed for someone shows how much you care. I'm proud of you." Sniffling, Vala looked up to the suddenly darkening sky. Fireflies started to take shape everywhere suddenly, the sight making her eyes misty once again. Andal scoffed and Vala looked to him only to stifle a laugh. There were many fireflies flitting around him, blinking rapidly with light. The old Hunter tried to shoo them away in vain so he sat as they perched themselves on his body. "I don't know what to do, Andal." Vala suddenly admitted. Andal perked up, almost breathing in a firefly by accident. "Bolt is so big now and he wants to get out more. I'm scared he will get hurt out there, be disappointed in what will greet him. I'm so happy to raise him but I'm scared that it will lead him to do things that will get him killed." She wanted to protest when Andal messed up her hair again but she just rolled her eyes. Andal grinned at her, his eyes alight with something that Vala could not decipher. "Look here Vala." Andal presented a firefly on his finger to her. "This is a firefly. Don't give me that look. Okay, these little bugs love to wander, flickering on and off. Bolt's first word was firefly wasn't it? You both share the love for these little things, like mother like son." Vala's eyes widened when everything around them vanished to nothing but she and Andal and that one firefly remained. The little bug glowed brightly like a small sun, Andal smiling gently like always did at her. "Bolt is strong, Vala. You just have to believe in him. He is attracted to the light, comfortable with it. He is the change we all need. Light shines within him and I'm sure you can bring it out to full use." A large shadow loomed behind Andal at that moment. Four red eyes burned hatred down at him but the Hunter did not care. Vala shouted in surprise but could not do anything. Andal still smiled, albeit sadly and she could only watch as he was pulled back into the shadow. There was a pained scream that seemed to go on forever and Vala screamed as well. "Andal!" Silence only greeted her. She kept screaming though as she tried to move. The firefly suddenly was in her face, shining like a super nova star that hurt her eyes. "I'm so proud of you."[/i] Vala sat upright, her heart racing from the fading dream. Bolt lay next to her, his chest rising and falling steadily as he slept. Vala grabbed him and pulled him to her chest, the movement waking him up. "Mom? What's wrong?" Bolt asked groggily, wiping at his four eyes tiredly. Vala smiled widely at him and hugged him a little tighter. "Let's go on a hunt."