Chapter 25: High and Mighty
                        ---------------------------

	Edge and Timon reached the town by sunset.  Apparently, they had
doddled too long.  Timon looked frantic.
	"My Grampy's gonna kill me!" Timon said in a panicky voice.
	"I doubt it very much, Timon."  Edge smiled.  "Besides, I'm sure I
can explain to your old man what happened."
	"Yeah?  Well, what happens if he can't see you?"
	Edge only shrugged.
	Together, the pair entered the town, passing by a middle-aged man
who appeared to be keeping watch.  He smiled at Timon as he walked past.
	"Rather late, aren't we, Timon?" the man commented.
	"Yeah, yeah, I know.  Save it for the judge."  Timon marched past
the man, looking all huffy.  The man noticed the sword hanging from Timon's
belt, but made no comment of it.
	Suddenly, two children ran over to Timon.  Edge watched them
approach.  One child was husky, wearing a brown vest and breeches, the other
tall and lanky, wearing a green outfit and a pointed hat.
	"Where have YOU been, Timon?" the husky child asked in a mocking
tone.
	"I've been on an adventure, an' I got this sword from it!"  Timon
drew his rusty sword from his belt, and showed it to the pair.
	"It's all rusted," the husky boy commented, "Lotta good that's gonna
do.  Y'should have thrown it away."
	The lanky boy cut in.  "Hey, Timon, did you see that light earlier
today?  It filled the WHOLE sky!  Noone knows how it happened, either.  Not
even the elder... oh, right!"  The boy snapped his fingers.  "The Elder is
looking for you.  Has been all day."  The boy grinned an evil grin.
	"That's swell," Timon said nonchalantly, "Yeah, I saw that light...
betcha it has something to do with this sword."
	The two boys laughed.  "Yeah, whatever.  See ya tomorrow," they
said, and left.
	Edge shook his head.  "Ignorant little bastards."
	Timon nodded, "Yeah, but what can you do?  I jus' ignore 'em."
	Edge grinned.  "If I was ALIVE, I'd show you what you could do."
	Timon smiled a wide smile.  "You says you have to be alive?  -I- can
see you.  All you have to do is tell me what I do wrong!"
	"Maybe later.  Let's go and see this Elder."
	Together, they approached the Elder's house, and entered without
knocking.  Inside, several people were gathered around, talking to one
another in confused tones.  By the fireplace on the far wall, an old man
with a long, white beard sat in a rocking chair, rocking.  His mouse grey
robes seemed to glow in the firelight.  He turned to face the door, and
rose.  "Ah, Timon!  So nice of you to join us.  Where have you been this
time?"  The old man frowned outwardly, but inwardly was smiling.  The others
in the room turned to face Timon as well, and cleared a path to his
grandfather, the Elder.
	Timon ran to the Elder and gave him a hug.  "Oh, Grampy you
should have seen it!  I found a great weapon, met a king, and slayed a
great beast!"
	The Elder smiled and nodded.  "I see... quite a busy day.  And
where is this great weapon that you found?"  The Elder knew that Timon
was a story teller, and humored him.
	"Right here!"  Timon again drew the rusty sword and handed it
to his grandfather.  Edge watched with interest directly behind
Timon.  The Elder's face blanched.
	"Timon... w-where did you get this?"
	"From a rock in the stream, why?"  Timon looked confused.
	Suddenly, the Elder looked up and over Timon's short body.
	"And who is... where did this man come from?"  The Elder
gestured to Edge.
	"That's Edge," Timon offered, "He's a ghost."
	The people gathered in the room suddely gasped.  "A ghost?!"
	"Yes," Edge said, "A ghost." and smiled.
	Whispers filled the room, and Edge could hear some of the things
that were said... sword... monsters... Mana...
	The Elder called for a hush in the room.  "Timon, do you realize
what you've done?"
	"N-no... am I in trouble?"
	"We all are!" one of the men shouted.  "He's brought doom on us
all!"  The man fled the building.
	"I-I don't understand," Timon was on the verge of tears.
	"Timon, what you have brought me is called the Mana Sword.  It was a
talisman that protected our villages from monsters.  It was placed there by
a Mana Knight long ago... your removing the sword has brought monsters
lurking about our town once more."
	Timon fell to his knees.  "I-I didn't know..." and wept.
	Edge knelt down to comfort him.  "It's alright, Timon... you could
not have known..."
	A woman called out, "I knew he was a jinx!  You shouldn't have taken
him in, Elder!  We all warned you..."
	A boy called, "So you're the one who brought all the monsters!  My
dad's dead because of you!"
	Another man called, "You're not worth the trouble you've caused!  I
say kick him out of the town!"
	The crowd shouted, "Yes!  Get rid of him!"
	The Elder took Timon by the hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Timon... I'm sorry.  The people are right.  It would be safest for the town
if you took the Mana Sword as far away as possible... do you understand?"  A
single tear trickled down his cheek.
	Timon choked, and sniffled.  "I understand, Grampy..."  He looked
about at the faces and leered at them.  "I'm not wanted here anyway... I
never was.  In fact, I'll be GLAD to leave!  Good-BYE!"  Timon grabbed the
Sword and bolted for the door.
	"Timon, wait!"  both the Elder and Edge called.
	Suddenly, the room began to waver, lose focus.
	"NO!"  Edge shouted, "Not now...!"
	All went black for Edge.