Anise stood her ground against the oppressive shadow as Reus valiantly defended her against one in particular. Somehow, she recognized who it was: the old man that she murdered. While it had been in all the spirits she felt she had a hard time picking who each one was, but now that he had presented himself so she could identify who it was. This could only be another challenge. It reached out towards her, an action that she felt actually wasn't a friendly one.

She stood her ground against him. Suddenly, from out of nowhere someone popped up from nowhere and kicked the old man's face causing him to dissipate. 

[quote]"Princess!" he called with a voice just as clear as it ever was. Perhaps she might not recognize his boyish face, staring up at her with admiration and urgency. Smoke swirled inside his bright translucent form. He grabbed for her hand, but his own hand passed through hers. So instead he ran past her, spun around and continued running backwards so he faced her. The gray shadows stepped aside to let Anise pass. "This way, this way, quickly, run! Ride the doggy! Doggy here boy! C'mon doggy, good boy, good horsie! Run from the scary shadow man!"[/quote]

She immediately recognized him as Tyaelaem and her heart soared. However, she couldn't agree with his sentiment to run. "Thank you, Tyaelaem." Her voice was gentle and light. "I can't run from this." She faced the reforming shade and again projected her will towards it and its grey compatriots. She had been to the dark side of this forest, and she wouldn't fall to it again, but she also wouldn't run away from it either. She wondered why Tyaelaem was without his mask, but had to deal with one thing at a time here.

She took a step towards the old pirate and held her arms out in a show of her affection. She projected her regret for her actions towards the spirit. "I'm sorry that I killed you." She paused. "You must be angry. I forgive your anger and mistrust. I can't let you possess me, or harm me, but please join me. Watch me." She dropped her arms and took a step towards the dark spirit. Now she projected only determination. "I'll prove to you that I have changed. I will become the Light that this forest needs. This Darkness has gone on too long, wouldn't you agree? No one should live in this." She took another step towards the spirit and spoke with even more force. "And no one should have to stay in this darkness after death."

She threw her frustration out towards the forest and the darkness. Anise felt confident that the whole place was listening. "I am Princess Anise Sinclair!" She declared out towards the darkness. "I have made friends with Tyaelaem the Rabbit! I have been accepted by Reus the Great Wolf! The Spirit of the Lantern has chosen me! I will protect those that have been forced into the darkness, through life and death! I will find a way to free those that wish to be free of this forest and help them find their way out! Those in life and in death!"

She took a deep breath in and let it out in a show of her determination and stared at the old pirate's spirit to wait for its response. She prepared herself mentally for the worst and readied herself against any attacks that might come from him. "Sir, what is your name? Join me and I will do everything I can to find a way to free you from this darkness." She extended her hand to the old man's spirit in a display of friendship. She understood his mistrust of her, but refused to let that cause her to back down. She truly wanted to turn a new page.