It's been too long...

Before I start... KatrinaEagle, and especially Mirae-no-sekai and the lovely WishingFire5... Thank you so much for your glowing reviews! They never cease to make me smile and/or laugh like an idiot... Thanks so much for your continuing support. NoOneXII, your review was nice too, even though you called me a drug addict. XD

Mirae-no-sekai, Secretkeeper13, asianwriting, Jane St. Valentine, SucreTeen123, koi-fishi, Jkittycat, and animelover4444... Thanks for favoriting my stories! I didn't think anyone would like my crummy, nonsensical writing... You make me feel special! Thanks!

Now! Roll the story!

Overwhelming.

All he could see in any direction was green. Just endless fields, endless hills, all encompassed by the infinite cerulean sky.

Winding through it all, was a path. Just a tiny dirt path, not ten feet wide—dusty, bumpy, and unused.

And on this path, he stood.

He glanced to his left, and his right. His companions, who looked at him expectantly, flanked him on both sides.

But that's how it always was, wasn't it? Everyone was looking at him for direction, for judgment, for guidance. He did hold the legendary weapon, after all; what else did he expect?

It was still scary sometimes.

Because what if he did something wrong? What if he made the wrong choice? One false move on his part, and the next thing you know, entire worlds could be devoured by darkness.

The trust, the sheer belief in his abilities that was reflected in his companion's eyes made him feel even worse. Those stares were the epitome of what was expected of him; people were depending on him, people were putting their dying faith, their last hopes, their last scraps of trust in this one ocean-eyed teenager, and needless to say, it unsettled him greatly.

He tried to be strong, for his friends—the silver-haired martyr lost in darkness, the worried yet hopeful girl back home; the various creatures across the worlds and the dog and duck standing behind him.

It was hard. It was so hard.

How could he be strong for an entire universe, when sometimes he didn't even believe in himself? How could he be calm when the fate of his friends depended on the direction of his insecure steps? It terrified him to think that it could be his own weaknesses that might soon seal the fates of everyone he cared about.

But he had to keep trying, no matter what the consequences could be. Because if he stopped trying to help his loved ones, if he turned back now... what kind of person would he be?

And so he squared his shoulders, smiled reassuringly at his companions and took another step forward, because that was the only way he could go now.

Forward.

He slowly shook off his worries as they walked. Stewing about his own lack of ability was not going to help anyone. Besides, he had saved the universe once... Who was to say he couldn't do it again?

He slowed to a stop, staring around at the green grass, the blue sky, the gentle sunlight, for the moment ignoring the pressing and no doubt curious stares of his friends.

Yes, he definitely worried sometimes; maybe more than what was healthy. But those concerns were not going to get him to where he was going. Confidence was. All he needed was confidence... and feet to move forward.

So he took a breath. And one tentative step onward. One step closer to his fate.

He could do this.

All he had to do was believe in himself...