Chapter 4: Domination

[~Hidan~]

The echo of cannons in the distance made everyone on the ship anxious for the coming battle. Four days had passed and the thought of getting off the airship was a promise of something in the lines of amusement.

Malice stood at the front of the deck with a set of binoculars in hand. He could just make out the smoke over the mountain they were about to come over.

Several minutes passed. Slowly the mountains gave way to the view of the battle below. Malice smiled and jumped off the ship falling at great speeds towards the ground until he conjured the wind to slow him and turn in to the monster her just attacked.

Glen and Magus took too ropes and belied down to the battle as well. Magus unleashing devastating dark magic and Glenn hacking limbs off with the simple and elegant swings of his sword, the demons fell left and right by the dozens.

Even Beliel and Osirus had the spark of gratification in getting into battle. Beliel blasting several demons at a time with a limited unmaking blast and Osirus letting the demons unmake themselves from words of carnage.

Syne waited until the ship had gotten into a safe height for Titania to get off before getting off herself. Oversized sword in hand she began to bludgeon down demons as fast as she could swing. Seas of demon corpses were beginning to form where the heroes had landed.

Several hours passed and the first wave was dead, thoroughly slaughtered.

“We cleared the beginning of them but as some of us know they will be back.” Malice said looking around at everyone.

A few soldier from the town approached the group. “We can’t thank you enough for helping us. Please come inside the town walls. We’ll give you food and whatever you need.”

“Sounds good let’s follow them and come up with some sort of a preparation on how to hold the advancements off. “ Malice said motioning to follow.

Once inside the city walls everyone was given food and a room. Shortly after finishing their food a loud explosion came from outside the town walls. Everyone hurried to see what it was.

Just outside the city Kain and Kani stood. “I see you pathetic excuses for Heroes are here.”

“It seems they plan on foiling our plans to recover your body my lord.” Kain hissed.

“So it would seem. I’ll leave you in charge of getting it back.” With that Kani disappeared.

Kain threw down a large black crystal. From it came a large warp spawning of demons.

“Charge!”

[Mong00se]

The demons were mere childsplay. Each member of the party had felled tens of thousands of the same demonic species before, and now was no exception. The side gates of the town were opened, and the party quickly slipped out the side, alongside 2 full regiments of mythril-clad soliders. There was no time to check weapons; thus was the way of chaos.

Though Magus was the first to reach the ever reaching lines of the demon horde, it was Titania who lay the first to waste, holding her staff high and eminating a large ray of light that seared through the lines of the demons, leaving only an ashen trail. The party hit with full force. Magus barrelled through the lines, slashing violently with his scythe. His armor was pierced by demons claws, but he did not relent. The battle once again raged on.

Upon reaching the lines, Malice quickly unsheathed both daggers and hurled them forward. They embedded themselves elegantly in the demon's chest and were quickly returned by a small gust of wind that rustled the settling ash. As soon as the daggers met his hands, they were active, slashing side to side at the grotesque creatures that blocked his path. He too was suddenly engulfed in the enemy lines, and he fought wave after wave of the demonic pawns as they threw themselves relentlessly at him, rushing to death at the hands of an ungrateful master.

Glenn and Syne broke the lines last, as if figureheading the soldiers. Together with the retainers, they slashed at the front of the demon lines, their sword always one step ahead of the enemies weapons. Glenn looked sideways at Syne, and nodded, and the two came together, entwined in the graceful dance of battle. Glenn grabbed his female counterparts arm and spun around, launching her blade-first into an oncoming line of demons. The demons toppled, and Glenn rushed forward to aide his comrade in arms.

Malice spun left, barely dodging an oncoming spear. He grabbed the spear and yanked it forward, causing the demon to lose his balance and fall forward. It was reduced to ash as it fell upon the serpentine stylings of his dagger. The demons squeezed Malice tightly for space, and Malice said a quick prayer to the wind goddess. He dematerialized and shot up into the air, halting the attack of the demons as they were tossed aside effortlessly by the gale. Malice looked down at the battle. Glenn and Syne still fought back to back, slicing down demon after demon. Magus stood atop an ashen hill, and a bright blast released from his body indicated that he needed no assistance. Belial and Osiris also fought together, leaving huge spaces when enemies had stood only seconds before. No ash lay at their feet; their victims plainly ceased to exist.

It was then that Malice noticed a light blast coming from the treeline. Titania was slowly being forced backwards by an oncoming barrage of demons. Soon, she would be among the trees, where the demons could move freely and attack with greater force and stealth. Malice quickly pushed off his current and glided towards Titania. With another quick prayer, he uncloaked. Air gathered around his fists as he flew towards Titania. He landed smoothly, and quickly turned, the gathered air still cascading delicately around his lower arm. Malice opened his palms, focusing the wind into the center of his hand. He placed his hands together in the centre of his body, and slowly brought them apart, sending a ripple through the battlefield, and seperating the lines directly in front of them.

Malice turned around to Titania, who smiled at him gratefully.

"Nice of you to show up," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"I'm never late," said Malice, winking.

[Zerlina]

A smile appeared on Titania’s face, as she sensed some of Malice’s old carefree attitude return. Perhaps the battle was an escape; a hole in the ice from whence he could escape the frigid waters of his looming burden.

Yet while his careless and simple words did bring her joy, another part of her seemed to resent them.

Never late!? How’s six hundred and ninety nine years?

Wherever the strange impulse came from, she shook it off and smiled at her friend.

“What do you say we try something to really make these demons run?”

He smirked and nodded “Just what I was thinking.”

Her hands slowly moving apart, she formed a burst of white fire between them, before raising it up. With his usual speed, Malice, moved backward, and held out his palms, his fingers spread wide from each other. With precision, a spiral of wind shot from his hands and coursed through the orb Titania had formed. In less than a second, the magic burst into a million pieces, carried by sharp and bitter winds. Demons screamed and cried as the new and mysterious spell flew at them like dragons and cut through their flesh like knives.

As if both pleased and surprised by their own accomplishments, the two smiled at each other and continued to fight. For a moment it seemed as if as long as they were nearby, the demons could not advance, and as long as they stood strongly together, they could not be killed.

*

“Sir!” cried one of the wretched to his commander.

Pulling his eyes away from the battle, General Hige Toboe turned to stare at his addresser “What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“The city seems to have called reinforcements. We’re going to have to retreat if they continue on like this!”

Hige was silent for a moment, knowing that every moment he spent thinking would be a moment where more men met their deaths.

“Which direction is the wind blowing?” he asked after a while.

“Excuse me?”

“Which direction is the wind blowing!?”

“…west, sir.”

“Light as many fires as possible in the eastern wood. Humans may have the advantage in their own land, but they have weak eyesight compared to our men, and cannot survive long in smoke.”

*

Syne thrust her sword forward, its heavy blade adding to her own inherent strength.

“This is thy first battle in this world?” asked Glenn.

“It is…” Syne answered, bluntly, her concentration so heavily given to the fight.

“Save thy energy. The soldiers with whom we battle are only the lowest of their men. There are greater monsters that they are waiting to release.”

Syne nodded as she drove her blade into an enemy’s skull, cutting him down the centre before turning him to ash.

“What was the pervert doing here earlier?” she shouted to Glenn, sure to be loud so he could hear her.

“Mine own mind has not an idea.”

“Why isn’t he here now? Shouldn’t he be?”

“He is hiding.”

“Why? He has plenty of skills! Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to be here?”

Glenn paused in realization, blood on his dry lips “…it would…”

*

“A good distraction, my lord.” Hector said as he watched the battle with his master “They will be so busy they will never notice. And what’s more, with the smoke that’s coming, they’ll never see what you’ve done until it’s too late.”

Kani nodded, and laughed “Tell the soldiers at the shore that there will be so many human bodies on the ground by nightfall, they’ll only have to walk steps to find their supper.”

*

Titania coughed as the air became hazy and stung at her eyes “Malice, are you still here?”

“I am!” he shouted, the smoke eating away at him from the inside so that he could not breath properly.

“Where are you? I can’t see!”

He raised his hand to summon the wind, but no matter how strong the gust, the smoke simply re-gathered.

“Get out of here or you’ll choke!” he shouted, coughing, as he began to stumble away, his feet sliding in the wet mud "Forget about finding me, just g-!"

Suddenly, he received a heavy blow to the stomach. By impulse, he raised his eyes, taking in the shadowy and terrible sight of Kani.

[Zeromus_X]

Kirby's Introduction


Elsewhere...

Deep in a forest, on the side of a river, a gray-skinned man in a black suit, with half white and half black hair, sat in front of an easel. His brow was furrowed in concentration, eyes shifting from the river to the easel, several times. Taking a pencil from a giant sack on the ground, he began sketching wildly, the birds, plants, and what looked like a turtle eating a cucumber from the surface of the water, all in vivid detail, on his paper.

"Hmm...."

He tore of the page from the tablet, and put the pad back in his bag, then the easel too, into his bag, and it didn't seem to increase in size at all.

The man took the sheet of paper with his left hand, and with the right, pressed two fingers against its surface. A brilliant flash of multicolored light burst from the paper, and many birds flew from it (identical to the ones he drew) and even the kappa, which joined his doppelganger in the water, had flew out. The kappas and birds seemed in perfect harmony. But...

"NO NO NO!! THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING AT ALL!!!" screamed the man, who by now was very flushed.

"Why?...Have I lost my touch? It's only been about...say...a few hundred years since my last publication, what's wrong?! Where's my...inspiration?" the man asked. "And why am I talking to myself?! WHY?!!- a stone just hit the man's head.

"Rr...Nyoan, stop mopin', Kirby!" a gray tabby that just came from behind the bushes said.

"But...but Dude, you know that I haven't been able to draw anything for almost a millenia now!" said Kirby.

"Rr...Nya, sounds like a personal problem teh me." said Dude. "Sneaky and Misty should be here right about now, the fish in this reality don't taste very good..."

A white cat and a black tom came through the bushes just then. "Nya, I just don't know why you don't like the kraken, Misty." said the tom. "Bleh, it's all...rubbery and gross!" exclaimed Misty, the white female cat. "Oh, there's Kirby and Dude, nyao!"

"Hello everyone" said Kirby. "What're we doin' next, Kirb?" asked Sneaky. "Well, I just can't seem to find any inspiration in this reality...so....we're going to go to another one!" explained Kirby. "Nyaa?! Again?! But we just got to this one!" said Misty. "You know those dimensional rifts aren't good for my heart, Kirby!" said Dude, who had just layed down.

"Aww....but I don't like this dimension...besides...it's so smoky here...hey...wait a minute...where did all this smoke just come from?" inquired Kirby. "Nya-cough-I don't know, but it seems an elderly cat just can't seem to get any peace and quiet..."

"Alright everyone, now get in the bag" said Kirby. The three cats jumped into the sack, still apparently empty and light as a feather. Kirby pulled an eraser from his coat pocket, and began erasing the smoke.

"Cough....I hate smoke" stated Kirby.

And Kirby, clearing a visible path through the smoke, picked up the sack and began walking off into the distance, feeling a sense of foreboding, and yet, like a kitten, curious as to why it appeared.

Of course, we all know what happened to the over-curious cat, now don't we?

[Mong00se]

Malice's first instinct was to punch back, but as he looked around, he could tell that he would not prosper in this fight with brute force alone. The smoke lay dormant, covering the field like a blanket. Trying frantically to free the smog that encroached on him, Malice pushed outwards at both sides of his body, pushing the smoke free through a small burst of air. Just like the foul ranks of the demons, the smoke returned and covered over the space that had just been cleared, as if swallowing the air and bringing plague about the world.

Malice breathed in slowly, clear air. The wind goddess was protecting him, giving him a fighting chance in the brutal haze. Again he breathed in, savouring the clean air as it danced down his dry throat. He tried to clear the smoke once again, and once again the smoke lingered back into its undefiled ranks. Try after try he cleared the smoke, forcing all his energy into stalling the foreboding fog from advancing and obscuring his vision. Each time he was met with failure. Becoming increasingly frustrated, Malice continued sending blast after furious blast of wind forward only to be swallowed and forgotten in the fog. Each new blast was instilled with ever-increasing frustration.

'There is nothing you can do, Theirian Mage. Your efforts are futile,' came a voice through the fog.

Malice cleared the path from which eminated the voice, but to no avail. The voice echoed through the fog as the ripples of air pierced its hide. A shrill laugh attacked Malice through the fog that was now stinging Malice's eyes.

'You see boy, you are no match for the fog. And it is in this fog that you will meet your untimely death,' said the voice once more. 'And you will rest in its bowels as you are forgotten by those you love.'

The voice laughed again, a haunting laugh that resonated all around him. As Malice focused on the source, he was jarred forward by a large boot. Sprawling forward, he met dirt. Sensing another attack, Malice pushed air towards the ground, sending his feet over his head, rolling into a flip. He landed on the ground just as the same large boot smashed into the earth where he'd just lay. At that moment, the sound of a large conch shell split the silence. This was the signal to fall back to the castle.

'You've won this round,' said Malice into the fog, trying not to show just how relieved he was. 'But rest assured, I will be back.'

He bolted upward on a thermal until he was free of the fog. The sun met his gaze and he winced, his eyes unattoned to the light. He saw the party, Titania included, running back to the castle, fending of the demons that persued. Malice glided gently back towards the castle, enjoying the feel of the free air against his eyes, and wondering what news would come from the General, and how he planned on lifting the fog that held the battle at a stalemate.

And throughout the night, as both sides planned the strategies for the coming dawn, the fog lingered, a cadaverous foresight of the pandemonium to come.

[~Hidan~]

Seeing even Malice come out of the fog made Syne uneasy. She could tell the smoke was unnaturally thick. This didn’t pose much of a problem for her; the bandanna that was on her shoulder was moved to her mouth.

Syne caught a glimpse of a large glittering ball in the sky. The ball slowly started taking shape as it fell closer to Syne. A fifteen foot tall greater demon clad in brigand Mitheral armor came crashing to the ground right in front of Syne, a 25 foot long sword landed blade first in the ground directly next to it. Ripping it from the ground the monster let out a loud hissing roar of rage.

“Everyone get back, this is not a normal demon this thing will not fall easy.” Syne said as she dodges the first swing of its massive blade.

“Can you handle it?” Malice asked quickly

“Yes I can please just get inside the city for now. I’ll hold it off.” Syne said drawing out her sword and gaining a strong offensive stance.

Malice led the others in to the city where multiple demons came crashing from the sky into the city. “Looks like we have our own jobs guys split up and take them down.”

Syne watched as three flashes came out of the smoke, like cannons firing into the city, only the ammunition was the demons themselves. So that was their trick they were covering the ground with smoke to hide the locations of their assault cannons.

The large blade landed just right of her. She looked up at the demon standing over her. “You’re going to regret this.” She said jumping into the air swinging hard at the hilt of the demons sword and then using the blade of the demon sword to launch her into the air, falling back down with great speed towards the demons helmet. The massive blade hit her broad sided and sent her flying across the ground. She recovers a few yards away, the blow knocked the wind out of her and it took a moment to regain her balance, just in time she was able to move out of the way of the crashing blow that came down right where her head had been a second ago.

Once again gaining a good offensive footing she came at the monster full charge. Faking an attack she then rolled between the legs of the giant and leapt up to attack it in the back but was unable to pierce the armor. A fist the size of her chest backhanded her away with little effort. Syne burned with rage. ‘Time to pull out all the stops’ she thought. Just like Nichi had done so long ago she removed her training weights and released her true strength, once again she gained her footing and raised her sword to her clans special attack formation. Launching her forwards with great speed she continued her assault on the gain creature, this time managing to hit the armor of the great beast many times but unable to even scratch it. The creature caught up with her speed and managed to catch her once again with the broad side of the sword sending her flying into the outer wall of the city. Syne lay in the crater that had been made by her landing unconscious. The demon made its way towards its fallen prey reading for the final blow.

Meanwhile Syne ran though her dream world running from the demon in fear. For the first time ever she had been faced with a monster she could not kill or even hurt for that matter. She kept running until she made out Nichi in the distance and ran to him.

“Help me Nichi I cant kill it and the others have to save the city. I don’t want to loose to this thing, I have to defeat it, for them.” Syne cried in Nichi’s arms.

“Don’t worry, when you wake up you’ll be able to kill him.” Nichi hugged his counterpart close and started uttering a pact of confinement. “Goodbye Syne, CONFINE!”

Syne woke up looking at her hands feeling a new power surge through her body. The tattoos that Nichi had now appeared on her arms, her eyes went white she could see things that she never could see before. “Thank you Nichi.”

Getting to her feet with the demon only a couple of yards away now, its giant sword landing next to her, she used her new found power to freeze the blade of the sword to the ground and started running up the its blade. She could now see the weak points of the demons armor landing her blade smack across the side of the demons head, shattering its helmet. Its giant fist once again caught her and threw her but this time she managed to land on her feet and spring right back towards it. Holding her hands in front of her she started to cast something, not really knowing what, just by gut feelings, and from her hands came a giant ball of glistening white, “Oblivion of Ice”. Firing off this ball of whiteness the monster turned a glistening blue as it froze stiff as if dumping a thousand gallons of nitroglycerine on it. Raising her sword she then hit the demon full force shattering it into nothingness.

Syne didn’t have time to rest she ran into the town and helped the others fight of the bombarding demons. The newly released power gave a feeling of euphoria. The battle was just starting, and she was ready for the party.

[Zerlina]

The smoke filled the air, and so the demons seemed to come out of nowhere, appearing before their victims like phantoms and in the same way, stealing away their lives. It was a terrifying and gruesome scene; the heavy air, the sweat and heat beneath the cheap layers of armour, the feeling of dirt in one’s already dry throat, and that last terror filled sight as an un-fathomable monster raised its sword before you and turned the world to nothing.

The carnage was unbelievable, and as Malice watched, his mind was flooded with images that had burned and seered their way into his brain- the torture and death that had befallen Gracia, and that no doubt had grown in the months passed. There’s no time he reminded himself, pulling his daggers out from an aggressor.

Surviving would prove to be great enough a challenge, and yet while they all tried to do this, they all could see the truth- that they had failed before they’d even arrived. No matter how many enemies they slew, there would always be those who could not defend themselves. And as a reminder, these people fell around them, only the luckiest being able to emit a scream before the darkened blades plunged through their chests.

Titania ran up the steps to the ramparts of the city, kicking a demon in the chest as he tried to follow her. With all the speed of the phoenix, she hurried to the cloisters. An idea had hit her, and she was determined to see it through.

Too scared to turn and see if there was anyone behind her, she flung open the wooden door which served as a poor guard to the bells. Without so much as a thought, she ran in, crashing into someone who had beaten her there. Whatever it was, it wore the colours of the side, and so she brought up her hands, letting a surge of magic hit the creature. It made a muffled noise, giving away its shadowy cover and letting her know of his demon heritage.

“Get out now…” she said to the creature which stayed in the corner “Get out or I’ll push you from this tower…”

The creature seemed to sulk, and raised itself from its spot, revealing its large build. It was no use running at this point, and so she kept her composure, but left plenty of room to make a path to the door.

Arrogantly, the thing laughed, but still she did not strike it. Slowly and confidently it slinked away, using its posture to show that it was truly not scared “You are so predictable.” It muttered and was gone.

The creature sent a coldness through her body and even as the thing left, the feeling did not dissipate. Shakily, she resumed her work, quickly pulling up the ropes which held the bells to the roof. She looked up at the rafters, observing how there was a gap just large enough near the top.

Her plan was cruel but effective. With some difficulty, she climbed to the top of the building and threw the ropes along the rafters to create a pulley. With as much strength as she could mustre, she pulled at them until the bells tilted upward. That finished, she carefully, slipped through the gap in the roof, and took hold of the gutters which, given the technology, had been designed to save water with the idea that it would later be used for bathing. She turned the gutters, letting them spill into the bells, and then –once that was finished- she used her fire to heat the objects. It was not long before the water began to bubble and steam.

“Perfect…” she mumbled out loud.

It all made sense in her head. The stairs were curved downward and the tower lay just at the top of them. All she had to do was lure the demons onto the steps and they would be done for.

"Hey!" she called out loud from her spot on the roof. It was true that the others would be able to hear her, but as demons were the only ones who could see through the smoke, they'd be the only ones who would be able to find her. Not only did the smoke help her in this way but it also disguised the steam which rose from the boiling water in the bells.
"We will never step down!" she cried, pretending to be from the town "So long as I hold the treasure of our country you will never truly defeat us!"

There. That should do it.

To make the deal more enticing, she drew a random stone from her pocket and held it out to them, before faking a quick loss of balance. Steadying herself, she looked at them with an arrogance that burned at their tempers.

"Think you can defeat me?" she laughed, staring them down, while preparing her feet to flee for the awaiting bells.

[Mong00se]

Once again Malice was thrust into the centre of a gruesome battle as demon after demon was launched out of the fog and into the castle walls. The city guards, though noble to their cause, just couldn't amass the power to out-muscle the new wave of attackers. The large demons cut through their lines effortlessly, trampling anything in their paths. Malice watched at villagers fled in directions unknown to them, like labrats in a maze with no prize to guide them. They had but one thing on their mind; to escape from the large demons that were spawning throughout the city.

Malice did his best to fight the demons and keep the people safe. He flew towards the nearest demon, who was wreaking havoc on the west end of the marketplace. The demon swung his large broadsword towards a building, where people stood screaming in the windows. Malice pushed forward on his current, and with all his might he kicked the blade aside. The demon staggered backward, still firmly gripping the blade, and Malice landed gently on the ground, hands on his sheaths. The demon rose once again, and looked down at his minute attacker. The demon grunted through its iron helmet, and raised its sword, ready to strike.

The sun shone from behind the demon, ushering in the midday. Malice's view was slightly obscurred by the flaming light, but he stood steadfast. The demon grunted, then began the slow process of bringing his sword upon Malice. Malice caught a clear view of the sword as the sun was covered for a split second, not by the demon, but by another ghastly silhouette. And then the demon staggered and fell, bracing itself on its large sword. With the demon on its knees, Malice could vaguely make out the shape of Glenn standing on the demons shoulder, sword sticking out of its neck. Malice effortlessly kicked away the sword, and as the demon fell, he leapt upwards, thrusting the dagger through the holes in its mask. Glenn casually jumped off its shoulder as it turned to ash. The armour fell to the ground, a shell of its former self.

'Thanks Glenn,' said Malice, nodding to the young knight with gratification.

Glenn bowed gallantly. 'T'is always a pleasure to serve.'

A scream erupted from the end end of the market. Glenn turned to run, but Malice stopped him.

'Glenn, I need you to stay here and help the people,' he said, staring right into Glenn's eyes. 'Clear them out of the area, and then help those in the east market.'

Glenn nodded. 'T'is always an honour to serve you m'lord.' And with that, he turned and ran.

Malice turned in the direction of the screen, slightly perturbed at Glenn's comment. He quickly shook it off, telling himself that it was neither the place nor the time for such foolish thoughts. He veiled himself, and quickly headed towards the next demon.

The same mithril-clad giant awaited him. Its attention was diverted to the cluster of panicked civilians below as it swiped its large gauntlet towards them, scooping them up and then crushing them within its powerful grasp. Malice hurried towards the people, and when the glove came down for another batch of the helpless townsfolk, Malice uncloaked and grabbed them himself, ushering them out of the way. The demon looked towards Malice, as if confused by what had taken its meal. Malice set down the civilians and attacked the demon with all his might. In under a minute, Malice stood on the helmet that lay propped upon the pile of ash.

With the immediate threats out of the way, Malice headed back to the Kings chamber alone. As he knocked on the door he received a confident welcome, and thus stepped inside the chamber.

'Your heighness, I have news from the front,' he said as he bowed to pay his respect to the monarch.

'And what news bring ye?' replied the King, unerred.

'Sir, the greater demons have been cleared out of the city. All that remains are the small spawns, which are currently being taken care of by my men. Something troubles me though. That attack seemed too short and too weak to be anything but a rouse. I believe there is worse to come, and I believe that it will show itself when that smoke lifts itself in the near future.'

The king raised an eyebrow, interested in the mages report. 'And what do you suggest we do about it?'

'Sir, I say we move all the civilians into a safer place. Get all able bodies to the armoury to be equipped. If they can wield a sword, I want them fighting. I would like to request a regiment of your finest soldiers to fight alongisde my party and I at the head. I do not wish your soldiers to die in vain, for I believe that my friends and I are prepared to meet the challenges that present themselves from the enemy.'

The king waited a moment, and then spoke. 'Very well, you will have the full support of my troops. Tell the soldiers to regroup at the moment, but keep your party alert in case of any trouble.'

'Very well sir,' said Malice, and he bowed. He quickly turned to leave.

*****

The soldiers had withdrawn to their barracks for replenishing, both in body and morale. Malice and the others stood watch over the city, waiting for the demons to present themselves.

Suddenly, Syne propped up from her slouch. 'Look,' she said, pointing out onto the battlefield. 'The smoke is lifting.'

As the smoke cleared, the warriors were shocked at what they saw. Two dozen large cannons were mounted at the base of the treeline, and at their base rested greater demons. The cannons stood ominously, as if waiting for the castle walls to make the first attack.

'So that's how the demons have been getting over the city walls,' said Magus, shedding light on the situation. 'They've been hiding in the smoke the whole time, readying their cannons.'

The cannons suddenly went off with a tremendous bang, shooting more demons at the party. Titania acted quickly, creating a celestial light that pierced the skin of some of the oncoming attackers. The cannonfire landed in the centre of town once again, spawning a new line of demons. These demons resembled large cats. They were jet black, shadows almost, but they bore distinct claws and fangs. As they sprang to life, they slowly stalked the city, pouncing on anything that moved. Though they were unaware of the party's presence, the group saw their amazing power and speed and they toyed with the items of the town.

Just as the party was about to engage this new enemy, the cannons fired again. The demons that unfurled from these cannon blasts were different though. They stood upon four sturdy legs, like those of a grasshopper. They looked humanoid from the waist up, carrying long katana styled swords in both of their hands.

'Alright,' said Malice. 'We have no support right now, so be cautious. We don't yet know the power of these demons, so conserve your energy, and fight to survive as well as to win.'

The whole party nodded, and then sprung into action to engage the enemy.


*((-Sorry for the weak post guys, I'm really tired, but I felt it was my turn-))*

[~Hidan~]

Kani watched the battle form within his fortress atop the black spire. Everything seemed to be going just as he had planned. The Hero’s all seemed to be much occupied with the battle, not even noticing the group that had circled the city and started digging under the city.

Meanwhile near the battle.
-----------------

Five Siege equipped demos dug away at the underground passage they were making. They were only a few feet from their target. After only a few moments they had hit the stone foundation of the resting place of Kani’s body. They blasted through and stormed in to retrieve the body and were quickly out and ready to leave. They formed a chanting circle and created a warp portal to the spire and were gone.

Meanwhile the smoke from the explosion they made to enter the tomb caught Syne’s attention; she broke of combat with one of the catlike demons and took off to investigate. She came just in time to see the five demons and Kani’s body disappear into the warp.

She felt the only thing she could do now was get back into the battle and try to get everyone through this alive so that they might be strong enough to beat Kani with his new body.

Back in the Spire.
-------------------------

Kani stood over his body almost drooling. “Get the damn priests now! I want back my body!”

Three dozen Black robed demon priests came in and circled around the great body of Kani’s. Along with that came six of Ishia’s holy knights all bound and marked with various symbols. Kani sat in his thrown and watched as the preparations were made. The clouds above the spire cleared and opened up to the sky for the first time in seven hundred years, even without the clouds though the lightning and rain continued.

Valmarus came up to Kani and gave a report of the situation on the battlefield. “The preparations are also complete sire.”

Kani came forward and disrobed and stood next to his body. The Priests started to chant a spell. The Rain turned to blood; the clouds outside the spire turned black and started forming giant tornadoes. Slowly the Holy swordsmen died off and their bodies turned into blackened mummified corpses. Kani also started to become like them. Then just as it seemed Kani would die a colossal bolt of lightning came crashing down hitting all the priests and Kani, all their bodies burst showering the true body of Kani with blood. The lightning crashed again, this time on the body of Kani.

The body of Kani sprang to life; he stood up and started to laugh an evil and threateningly terrible laugh. The clouds went back to how they were. Until Kani released a small example of his power, the blast of power cleared the skies and sent a wind though the tress that made them snap like twigs.

Kani laughed again. “Just wait till I get my hands on those little so called heroes.”

Meanwhile back on the battle field a strong wind came through the area, bringing dark clouds that passed by in only a matter of moments as though the clouds themselves had someplace important to be going to. Everyone knew something bad had just happened; only Syne knew the truth.

[Zeromus_X]

Kirby's Discovery

"Sigh..this really is alot of smoke." said Kirby.

By now, Kirby had walked a few miles, still erasing the smoke. His eraser was black as ash, and could hardly erase anymore.

"Oh, fine then, I'll just throw it away!" he said as he tossed the eraser; which landed on top of what looked like a mutilated demon corpse.

"Um...Dude, what's that?" asked Kirby. "I tried tellin' ya' about a mile back to stop!!" yelled Dude. "The Maneki Neko is gonna' be angry if you keep messin' around here! Besides, didn't you see all the thunder?!"

"I also wondered when he would notice..." commented Sneaky. "Yeah, I'm definitely not coming out of the bag until I'm sure it's absolutely safe!", said Misty.

Kirby let out a sigh. "Still, this dimension is absolutely fascinating! Why...the colors, the texture, the tints and tones!! I must simply draw this scene! The way the light bursts through the clouds during the rain, the thousands of demon cadavres, it all must be captured on canvas!"

Kirby pulled out a green ruler from his pocket. "Better measure it though.."

"Rr Nyaon...he just doesn't get it..." said Dude. "Let's just take a nap, guys."
"Yeah!" seconded Sneaky and Misty.




(Was that better? My entries are alot shorter then every one else's though...)

[Zerlina]

Though it was midday, the air was cold, and the sky, dark, as if it were only morning. The sudden storm was felt not only at the black spire, but across all of Palis, turning meadows to swamps, farms to rivers, and the already bloody battlefield to mud. The only assuring thing that came that hour was the fleeting smoke- all but a thin layer had already left, and what remained flickered into the sky like steam.

It was the first of winter, and the northern territory did not make the adjustment any easier, especially for Malice who was more accustomed to his southern homeland. He coughed, sending out a sudden whisp of breath into the greedy air; painfully, his red and hardened fingers shook in the frigid wind. His cheeks and ears burned in the relentless fire, and even the mud on his feet and lower legs seemed like icy leeches.

He thrust his daggers forward with all his power, and with a constant accuracy, sliced at a demon’s throat. The creature wailed, pushing its arms forward and knocking its opponents hands with its armour, before disappearing into ash. Malice winced as the normally light blow shot pain through his fingers and up through his arm.

Ignoring the throbbing, he drove his elbow backward, hitting an approaching demon in the chest, before turning around and slicing at its face with his dagger. Though it stung at his skin like knives, he called the wind to lighten his step. With a slightly burdened agility, he began to run until he was able to jump. With energy, he took off, breaking away from the sticky mud. Then, with all his power, he let himself fall downward into a new crowd of demons. Easily, they fell as the unexpected attacker sliced through their necks and burned through their skin with frigid wind.

Not far off, Titania struggled with the weather as well. What skill she had learned came from her time at the temple, and her training with Malice. Because of the former, she never allowed her heels to touch the ground, and because of the latter she used this to keep a light stance; one which could be left swiftly and effortlessly in order to achieve a more agile strike. This whole method disagreed with the slippery battlefield, and so she found herself either constantly trying to free her feet from the mud or trying to keep upward balance.

A bit awkwardly, Titania closed her fan and drove it forward into an enemy. It brought up its blade and knocked the object away before slicing it in half, narrowly missing her fingers. She took up the fallen weapon’s sister, and prepared to strike, but the creature knocked this from her hand before striking her cheek with the side of its blade. She cried out and without thought, grasped at the injury. The demon took advantage of this, and struck her once more, this time driving the heavy hilt of its sword into her temple. She hit the ground, defeated, blood in her hair and dripping over her face. She was angry, but at the same time confused; for some reason, this creature was delaying her death. It could so easily raise its blade and take off her head, but it didn’t. Was this some kind of order? Or was this beast showing compassion?

She raised her eyes to stare up at her attacker. Though her vision was somewhat blurred, she could see him hesitating. Slowly, he lowered his sword, and she saw on it a familiar pattern. It was of Gracian making.

For a while, the thing did not move, until finally it caught her wrist and dragged her away from the fight. With her free hand, she grabbed at the mud and tried to run, but it was no use. Silently, he pulled her to the steps of an abandoned store, where the battle had yet to reach.

“Forgive me…” came a voice, when finally she was let go.

For a moment, she stared at this strange soldier, then, defeated, lowered her head.

“Perhaps you are scared of someone taking your kill... well then…go ahead! Give me a warrior’s death…”

She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst, but still the soldier did not move.

“You fought for my city.” Came his voice, suddenly “You and your comrades tried to help us.”

She stared up and watched as he lifted his helmet, revealing human features.

“You are a traitor to your people then…” she muttered, bitterly.

“No.” he said, shaking his head “They have my family. And many others too. It is not just demons that you fight now. They have taken slaves from our city.”

A pain hit her as she realized that human blood might stain her hands. As quickly as possible, she thought back to those she had slain in the last day- had all their corpses turned to ash? Or had they merely sunken into the mud?

“You are being forced to fight?” she asked, quietly, her head still throbbing with pain and flowing with blood.

“We are. But not for Drasonia. For our wives and children. Were they not in the situation, many of us would have chosen death over this slavery…”

“Is there no way to save them without betraying your late queen?”

“They have given us no choice. They tell us stories of what they will do to our families if we do not comply. When one man did not believe the truth, they cut off his daughter’s hands and burned her in front of him. There’s nothing we can do but damn ourselves to eternal punishment.”

“You have no choice...” She said, “Your actions must be forgiven because you have no alternative but to shed more innocent blood. This is war, and your salvation is in your hesitation. I commend you for your unwillingness to kill.”

The man faltered “Forgive me, priestess, but I have killed…” he muttered “I could not destroy you because you are a maiden of the gods. Were I to spill your blood, creatures greater than the Drasonian army would place grudge against my soul.”

The air fell cold as the man stood in silence. He wanted to cry out for forgiveness and beg for the salvation of his spirit, yet he could not. His heart was too heavy and his hands too stained with blood.

“Your soul is safe…” she muttered, faintly, trying to calm the desperate man, despite the pain of her wounds “Do not fear for its condition any longer…men in your position are given no choice…”

He nodded but guilt still infested his heart. Uneasily, he watched as his victim’s breathing slowed and her eyes closed. Carefully, he lifted her from the ground and placed her on the steps of an abandoned shop, pushing a crate forward so that she would not be easily seen by the demons. For a moment he stared at what he had done; at this young girl who now lay unconscious, with blood running so heavily over her face and hair that it was almost impossible to tell she was alive. He wanted to take his blade and run it through his heart- not only for his latest victim, but for all of those who lay dead in his tracks; all of those who did not deserve to have their lives stolen away from them. Above all things, he hated his new masters and all they stood for. This war was evil, and pointless, committed only for the greed of one man. Because of this loathsome and hate-filled creature, he and his comrades were doomed to give their lives to a cause they did not believe in.

They would never see home again.

“Gods forgive me…” he muttered, as he returned to the darkened battle.

*

Syne forced her way across the field, trying desperately to find one of the others. If her assumptions were right, then Kani had found his true form and he was now more of a danger than ever.

“Glenn!” she cried, catching sight of the knight who stood over a pile of muddy ash.

“Syne? What troubles thee?” he asked, exasperated.

Mud tugging at her small feet, she ran toward her friend “Kani’s old body has been found! He has his power back!”

“What dost thou mean?” cried Glenn “Thou speak’st nonsense! After seven hundred years would not his body be but dust and bone?”

“No…” Syne protested, “The Four made sure his body would survive! I think he’s used the souls of the living to help restore his flesh.”

Glenn began to respond, but his eyes moved to an oncoming attacker “M’lady!”

A soldier approached and swung its sword at Syne. With expert timing, she dodged it and Glenn drove his sword through the holes of its helmet. He removed the weapon and stared at it in surprise and horror.

“Blood…” muttered Syne as she ran her finger along the crimson which dripped from the sword’s edge.

“Tis impossible!” cried Glenn, “Unless…”

They stared down at the ground where the fallen soldier struggled before becoming motionless. It did not turn to ash.

[Mong00se]

As the initial shock of drawing blood subsided, a new feeling of confusion swept over Malice. Gracian troops, fighting a battle in a city miles away from their own, and what more, fighting for who seemed to be the enemy. It just made no sense. Malice even recognized some of the warriors who half-heartedly threw themselves upon him, and so he hesitated on a quick stab, and landed a swift uppercut with his elbow instead to the nearest human adversary. He quickly sheathed both his daggers, and went to work, fending off his opponents in the most non-lethal ways he could think of.

A soldier caught Malice off guard from behind, slicing through his armour and grazing the skin. Malice yelped in pain, and without thinking, turned and shot the soldier backwards. The soldier sprawled backwards, suppressed by the air that pushed against him. Two of his companions, who had been conversing rather than engaging their enemy, caught their fellow soldier as he finally fell. Malice panted in a quick realization of what he'd just done, but before he had time to feel sorry for the soldier, he was attacked again, this time by a demon. It fell into ashes a moment later after witnessing the flash of his blade.

Malice fought back demon after demon, carefully kicking aside each of the Gracian military that approached him. His daggers flashed in and out of his sheaths at lightning speeds, exerting great control in his killcount. He slowly cut his way to Magus, who, while still taking heed to the Gracian's, was exorcising much less caution as he wildly swung his scythe.

'Malice,' Magus called out as his friends image appeared through the veil of black smoking ash. 'These guys are...'

'Yeah I know Magus,' Malive replied, as he forcefully drove a Gracian soldier to the stone walkway with his gauntlet. Another attacked quickly, and Malice unleashed a blast of air that sent him sprawling against a horde of demons, who cut the poor soldier down as they advanced on Malice. 'These guys are the Gracian army. How do you figure...'

Magus cut him off this time, his voice showing the strain the battle was having on him. 'Kani used... slaves,' he said as he cut down another 2 demons, injuring a human in the process.

'We need to regroup and discuss this.'

With that, Malice took action. He leapt quickly to Magus' side. 'Get ready,' he uttered, and he dug his feet into the dirt to brace himself. With hands at his side, Malice uttered a quick prayer to the wind goddess, and sent the prayer to ride the wind to the heavens. With that, he slowly started waving his arms, first in small circles, but soon into large circles. The wind that eminated from those circles grew too with each rotation, and soon enough it swelled around his whole body. With one final exhalation, Malice let loose the wind. It pushed demon and human alike within a 100 metre radius backward against the fierce currents. Before the soldiers had time to wipe the ash from their bodies and regroup, Malice and Magus were gone along with the wind.

[Zerlina]

In a second Magus had been pulled from the safety of the earth and thrown into a seemingly uncontrollable vortex. He inhaled the cold ambrosia and let it infest his body, and fill every crevice with its chilled sensation. When finally they touched ground, Magus’ head was light and his vision spun, though he would not admit nor let on to it. What he had tasted was the nectar of freedom, and the joy of not being bound to the earth. This made him begin to wonder- how was it possible that Malice could sustain such powers and still have the ability to do battle with steady reasoning? Perhaps for him the joy in such things had been lost long ago, as many good things are. Or perhaps it truly was his only escape- his only way of breaking free from the cruel chains which bound him to the demoniac world.

Though he never spoke of it, Magus had to admire his comrade and how he had grown from a stubbourn and careless child into a loyal and vigilant leader. Were he to turn back time and find the boy who first came on a messenger’s duty to Gracia, he never would have thought that that child was the same as the man who stood before him.

Such thoughts pass in a second, and so only one had passed when Magus had finished these musings. Turning slowly to his comrade, he sighed.

“These demon bastards have taken slaves from Gracia…” he muttered “Human or not, Gracians are loyal people, devoted to their queen. They would not fight against their own kind unless they were being controlled, or there were consequence.”

“I should have guessed.” Malice said with disgust “There is no such thing as honour for these monsters. They are probably forcing the soldiers to battle against their own will.”

“This makes it all the more difficult. How will we tell the difference between the enemy and our allies now? It is no longer so simple as looking at their face.”

“Humans fought wars with each other ages before the demons reduced their numbers. It is possible to see who the enemy is even if they do look similar. Keep this in mind- we are now in the north where the winters are longer and the sun is less harsh. Gracians are from the south of the continent. Their skin will be dark while the soldiers from this city will be fair.

Still, we must try not to harm the Gracian soldiers unless it is necessary. They have no say in what they do, and perhaps they still have families who await them.”

Magus shook his head “It is unfortunate. See how much blood stains the ground now? If there is any one race that suffers, it shall be the humans. No matter who wins this war.”

Malice nodded and stared down at the frozen, crimson stream, whose path (though long stopped) still stained the ground he stood upon. Beside him, against the city wall, he saw a line of crates, and an outstretched hand coming from behind, its motionless palm turned upward toward the sky. He assumed this was where the blood came from and for a moment stared at it, and at the gold bracelets which still remained along its wrist, their value showing only through small gaps in the blood.

“I feel sorry most for the townspeople.” He muttered, turning away from the gruesome sight “They could not even defend themselves.”

“We shall at least do them one last honour.” Magus began “Afterwards, we shall properly bury them and go through the right ceremonies to ensure their souls find their way home. It is what everyone wants and deserves.”

Malice nodded “It is a shame…what place will their spirit have to live? With no family to care for their souls and no place to dwell?”

“We have not lost the battle yet.” Magus reminded him “There may yet still be a place for the dead to go.”

*

“Hige…” muttered Kain “How are the preparations for the next attack?”

“They are in place, sir.” Hige replied, unable to look the demon in the eye “But I must continue to protest. This form of warfare is…is dishonourable! It is too cruel.”

Kain laughed “Is that not why we are doing it? You have grown to question my authority much in these last days and I am becoming sick of it. It is time you learn your place and your duty! We have done you a favour giving you this position. We could easily switch you to the rack if you’d prefer.”

Hige fell silent and nodded “I will do as you say…”

*

Glenn removed his gauntlets and plunged his hands into the icy water of a stream while Syne watched.

“At least we’ve cleared the grounds out here a little.” She muttered, “I wonder how they’re doing inside the walls.”

“Do not give it such thought, m’lady.” Glenn said “Thy temperament begins to resemble that of a woman’s!”

“Well that’s what I am!” Syne retorted “And men can worry if they wish. It is a natural human emotion.”

“Nay, fair maid.” Laughed Glenn “Perhaps a man may care for the safety of his comrades, but he will never vocalize it in the way that a woman does.”

“Y-“

“Shhh!” Glenn interrupted her.

He pointed toward the woods, which now were charred and black as coal.

“Something moves in yonder trees…” he warned, unable to tell what it was amongst the smoke, which still slithered along the grounds.

Slowly, Syne drew her sword and braced herself for whatever might emerge from the woods.

[~Hidan~]

Syne and Glenn crouched down to see a man walk out of the woods carrying several bags and looking around like he was lost. Two demons came out of the woods server feet behind him. He seemed completely oblivious to his followers. Then from under his jacket he pulled out a small piece of paper and start making some weird jesters. A second later a medium sized golem formed from the paper and turned to smash in the helmets of the following demons.

“What a bother, I do hate persistent fans.” The man said wondering on towards the city.

Syne got up form where she was hiding and came to greet the man. “I wouldn’t go that way if I were you.” Syne said motioning towards the city.

“Stand back! I’m not giving you any of my art don’t try to take it, it’s my life’s work not yours!” The man said jumping back and waving the Golem to come forward.

“Whoa!” Syne said blocking a punch from the large earthen creature. “I’m not after any artwork. I’m just trying to keep you from getting killed.”

“Oh I see, stop attacking!” The golem looked back and began to sulk. “So you say I’d be loosing my life by going that way, what is it that is going on?”

“War, we are in the middle of a war, where have you been?” Syne said looking at the man a bit closer. “Oh wait, you probably have no idea where you are. You must have been warped here just recently.”

“Well I’m not really sure what happened but I have no clue where I am right now, my name is Kirby, artist.” Kirby said taking a shallow bow.

“My name is Syne and my friend down by the stream is Glenn.” Glenn waved from the side of the stream. “We are both warriors fighting to save this town.”

Several demons caught sight of Syne and Glenn and started rushing over to attack them. “Well looks like formalities are cut short lets get these guys Glenn.”

Syne and Glenn each took on two of the assaulting demons and Kirby and his golem took on two of them as well.

Syne cut down both of them in a single solid sweep of his sword. Glenn speared one through the chest with his sword and bashed the others head in with his shield. Kirby’s Golem started off attacking one of the demons while Kirby showed a great example of what it is to be quick on your feet and ran and evaded every oncoming blow from the demon until his golem smashed in its head.

“Do you have a weapon Kirby?” Syne said wiping the soot off her eyes.

“Not at the moment though it does seem like a good idea to get one. Let me see what I can get.” Pulling open his jacket he looked through some papers and pulled out one and made the proper hand motions to release it. A compact repeating crossbow appeared on the ground. “This should work for me just fine.”

Syne looked at the crossbow poking it to see if it was real. “That’s a pretty sweat power you got. I haven’t ever seen anything like that before.”

Glenn pointed towards the city gates. “That isn’t good is it?”

Syne looked over to see the ten foot tall body of Kani walk though the gates of the city. “That could be really bad, let’s go try to warn the others that he’s here before something bad happens.”

[Zerlina]

The world is white, hazy, and it is only now that smoke gives way to what has remained hidden. They say you can never forget your life, you can only hide from it. Every thought, every feeling is the present, and though time may pass, you never truly lose yourself, for it is only your actions that slip into the eternal past.

Now is the dawn of a new eternity. One where chaos will end and the pieces of our once divided continent shall finally be placed together.

I sit now, upon the throne of the Oracle, waiting for news from the southern king. He is to send a messenger with tales of his newest reasoning. Of course, I already know what he will say, for Isthar -the goddess of the moon- has shown me reflections of the future in her Blessed Pool, which lies in front of me. I can see her visions freely, whenever I desire. Yet even as this is so, I know that the celestial maiden has not told me of all that is to come. That is the way her truth is sometimes- bright and clear, yet elusive and unreachable like a distant reflection. I understand this and it is this understanding that sets me apart from the rest of the world. Though I will never speak of it, I know that many of the souls would be able to see the truth too, if only they looked in the right places. But that is the way of humanity, I suppose, they always believe in and follow what is false.

My name is Llideah, and I am the oracle and priestess of Ishtar’s Temple. Men speak of my birth as if it were something miraculous. They tell tales of how I descended from the sky as a child, having once been a shooting star. I was supposedly found afterward by a kindly woman in a field whom the gods later rewarded and raised to salvation. This is of course, untrue, yet this mythmaking is also part of the nature of man.

In truth, I was born in a mountain town and abandoned when the northerners destroyed my parents’ land. I was sent down to the countryside at the base of the mountain, where an old woman took me in and taught me to work in the fields. When I was thirteen years old, she left this world, but she gave me the greatest of all teachings: seek not the material as men do, but desire a higher understanding and so find salvation. This salvation peace and joy in the afterlife- is what I crave for even now. For through the Blessed Pool I have seen many of my lives and know only of the suffering that I have endured. If it is the will of the goddess, then I hope once I finish my duties in this world, my soul will be allowed to become part of the great eternal.

That is all very far off, hopefully, though nothing is for certain. I have not seen my death, and I do not wish to. They say that such visions can plague weak souls, and turn what was once pure into darkness. My soul is weak. Most are. The trick lies in pretending that you are greater- to survive as a venom-less snake one must play the python or else be devoured by a hawk.

It is evening and Kain, the messenger, still has yet to come. I begin to become impatient, though I sit as still and expressionless as marble.

Unfortunately, even marble must crack sometimes. And so it is as I see the familiar cloak enter from the furthest passage. I do not even have to ask who is under it.

“Greetings, Gadriel.” I say as he approaches, leaving rainy footprints on the stone floor.

The room is a long passage, marked with rows of milky pillars on each side. In the half of the room I sit in, the ceiling is adorned with bas relief- images of the goddess and stories of her triumphs. The half where Gadriel enters from has no roof so the rain still falls steadily upon him. Through this ceiling-less half I can always see the greenery of the surrounding forest. The temple sits on a hill, and the area opposite to me is lower than where I sit. It is made this way because of days like this, when it rains; if it were to be faced the other way, then the rain should always spill toward me; a bad sign. Along two sides of the floor there are lowered paths to catch the water and send it out. Though I have sat here every day for two years now, I always wonder at the design of the temple. It was built and designed by peasants ages ago, and yet it is so beautiful and intelligently constructed.

I am pulled out of my musings as the echo of Gadriel’s footsteps tell me he is close.

“Fair day to you, Priestess Llideah…” he says, as he bows his head, a sign of respect to the goddess Ishtar.

“What is it that you seek today?” I ask, formality masking my desire to speak to him more personally.

He smiled and raised his head “Shouldn’t you know?”

“It is not the place of mortals to jest within the home of a goddess.” I tell him, knowing he is referring to my power of foresight “I ask you only as a formality. You are here on your father’s behalf.”

“That is an interesting way to put it.” The comment has struck a nerve.

“He was a good man.” I remind him “And his spirit has already returned to the home you’ve made for him. Do not fear for his soul.”

Gadriel nodded “Your words are comfort, yet that is not why I have come.”

“Oh?”

“I wish to know the nature of his death. How it was that he was healthy one day and cold the next.”

“It is not the place of mortals to question the decision of the gods.”

“Please tell me…”

“I cannot. It is their will that he die and that is all that I can tell you. Return home, Gadriel. There is nothing you can do.”

“That’s a lie and you know it!” he cried, his sudden rage catching me off-guard.

Something was not right. He must have been angry the whole time to explode so quickly. Yes, that was it. His earlier respect had only been a mask to hide his true feelings. Gadriel was such a clever man, yet even with all this he could not hide from me. It was as useless as lying beneath glass.

But even as I knew this man, inside and out, I found myself watching helplessly, as he committed the greatest crime, and walked straight through Ishtar’s Blessed Pool- the one thing, which had always kept me separate from the common people. For a moment I faltered but it was only a second before I resumed my position. He now stood on the steps in front of me, his shoes soaked with the water of disrespect.

“Why do you hide things from me, Llideah?” he asked.

Such disrespect in the temple…

“Priestess Llideah…” I corrected.

“Llideah.” he repeated.

What was I to do? Not to answer would be to deny a man the information he longed for most. To speak would be to condone his behaviour and bring my own self down. For a while I was quiet, uncomfortable with the idea that he had crossed the boundary of respect and now stood too close before me.

“Y-your father was a lord of great power…” I said finally, hearing my once perfect voice become shaky and afraid “His fate was delivered from the hands of King Dokri.”

There was a silence before Gadriel smiled and laughed; I could see his lips were tight and his eyes glossy. This was not the laugh of a man who did not care. It was the laugh of a man who did not know how to react.

“Such an easy thing for him to do! To so quickly steal a man away from his kingdom and his son!”

“I’m sorry, Gadriel.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Llideah?” he asked “You knew this was going to happen! Why the hell didn’t you warn me?”

This was my fault now? He had not come for counsel and so I had not obliged him. If he did not come then it was not the will of the gods to have his father saved. I couldn’t have played a part in this man’s death. I couldn’t have.

Finally, I spoke up, my demeanor once more like seamless marble. This was how I wanted to be. Marble statues were beautiful and admired. They were perfect, untouchable, haunting and strong. There is nothing you can do to break them, for they are art and art is immortal.

“It was not my place to warn you.” I said, coldly, for that is also a trait for marble.

I could see the hurt in his eyes, the way that his soul tore at the very words. I pitied him and yet I became afraid. We were alone and he was now a man of fire- one consumed by the heat of rage and sorrow. Even the gentlest of beasts become fierce when they are tormented with unbearable pain. In cold and invisible fear, I looked upon him not knowing what he would do.

He raised his head and stared at me, his eyes like painful chisels. Moving further up the steps, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down the stairs, in a second marble crumbled and I fought him back. Something was wrong, and for once I did not understand it. Was he going to kill me? Did he wish to avenge his father this way? He led me down the stairs and brought me to the floor so that my face was over Ishtar’s pool. He held my head there so I could not look away.

Of course, this was his game. Gadriel was angry, but he would not ever hurt me. He was a good man and dishonour was beyond the ability of his soul. It was information he wanted, for he was afraid. It was that same fear that consumed Kani; the kind that ensured he would never break free from the wheels of life. I sometimes wonder if I should be consumed by this fear too. If it is only because I can see so easily that I am not afraid.

“What do you see?” he asked, and I knew the very action of holding my head down was causing him pain “Tell me what you see and why you could not tell me earlier! My father is dead! Do you not understand? He is dead! And all you can say is that it wasn’t your ‘place’ to warn me! I know your heart is cold, and yet your cruelness surprises me…how could you, Llideah?”

((con'td next page))

[Zerlina]

My heart- cold to everyone? How could he say such things? I was not cruel. Cruelty was something that the common man would have. I was a maiden of the gods. I could not be so imperfect. I needed to be marble. I needed to be unreachable. So long as I could maintain that, he could not realize my weakness. I tried frantically to recompose myself, but it was useless. Every moment I spent in that guise, I was hurting him.

“Gadriel…”I muttered but did not know what else to say.

I stared at his reflection in the pool and saw the pain in his eyes. I saw his rage begin to pull back and give way to sorrow. He was ashamed of what he was doing and so he slowly let go. I turned to face him, for I did not need the pool to see the truth in this man. His spirit was always open to mine and unless he closed up on purpose, I could always tell what he felt.

“I’m sorry…” I muttered, raising my head and looking at him with as much sincerity as I could, though I knew he saw only distance.

“Please, Llideah…tell me what I have to do to avenge my father…”

So he had not forgiven me… and now he wanted to kill the man who would unite the continent. I shook my head.

“I can’t tell you…”

“Because it’s not your place?” he asked, lowering himself so he was at level with me; no longer looking down.

“I want there to be peace. If you destroy Kani there will be none.”

“Peace? Have you not seen what his armies are doing? I know you have faith in him, Llideah, but you are being lied to. Everyone can see that. Why can’t you?”

“I see only the truth…” I answered, my spirit weak as dust “It’s impossible for him to lie to me…”

“You do not want to see the truth.” He put his hand on my cheek like he had so many times before “Please, Llideah, he has murdered my father. And thousands of others. Peace is the last thing that he wants, he’s only using you.”

He had me look in the pool once more, though this time he merely pointed to it. I gazed in and saw what I had feared. Fire, death, sickness, cruelty; it was all there, staring at me as plain as a reflection yet as deep as a valley. My hands shook as I saw what I had done. This was my doing wasn’t it? I had told Kani where to go…where his armies would be most successful. I had told him of the weaknesses of cities and of the land he marched on. Because of my blindness, so many were now dead. The vision evaporated, but instead of what I expected, I saw myself staring back, my hands red and stained with the blood of a thousand men, my soul blackened with murder and ignorance.

“…you will be used too…” I told him, finally, pulling my eyes away from the pool “…if you try to destroy Kani, it will be your death. Not only in this life, but in the next.”

His heart fell and he nodded “I have to destroy him. I owe it to my father and to my homeland.”

“Then there is no convincing you?” I asked; I did not want him to go.

“You must ask? Your intuition fails you, priestess…” he muttered, “Perhaps then your vision is incorrect.”

For the first time I wished it was so and that the goddess had lied to me. But I knew it was impossible. Whatever strength I had had now been stolen away from me, and I sat before Gadriel, as weak as I had been when we met, three summers ago. Just as he could not hide from me, I could not hide from him. We were like two fools, hiding from each other behind our own glass walls.

“You will not be able to destroy Kani unless you know of his weakness …” I began “… he is a descendant of a titan, and so he will not fall easily. If you wish to be successful, then you must use the weapon of a god.”

“Where shall I go then?”

“Ride north with all the speed you can. There will be a cavern where it is fabled that a ship of the gods once emerged and disappeared. Deep inside you shall find the forge of the immortals. If you have the fate stone you will be able to unlock an ancient chamber, in which you shall find the blade of Eithne. Only this will allow you to destroy him.”

“Where shall I find the fate stone?”

“I shall take you to it…Kani thinks that he has it in his possession but it is not so. I have it here still.”

Gadriel nodded “A wise decision.”

“I find it sense not to trust a man with immortality…”

He nodded

“Noah and I will ride north, then to Gracia. If I survive, then I will send word and meet you in the town square of Adinem. Do you know where that is?”

“I do…” I mumbled, one unstoppable tear drifting down my cheek.

“Do not worry.” He said, wiping it away with his thumb “We shall find each other, I promise.”

I gave him the fate stone and watched him leave. When he reached the passage, he lingered for a while, and for a moment I hoped he would turn back. He did not. We stared at each other in silence for a brief eternity; marble and fire now mortally seperated by Ishtar’s Pool.

The world is white, hazy, and it is only now that smoke gives way to what has remained hidden. They say you can never forget your life; you can only hide from it. Every thought, every feeling is the present, and though time may pass, you never truly lose yourself, for it is only your actions that slip into the eternal past.
It is the waking world that forbids us from crossing this smokey barrier, and so if only we allow the material illusion to slip away, the truth becomes as simple as walking across a shallow pool.

[~Hidan~]

Syne led towards the town. Kirby, Glenn and the Golem followed as best as they could. From over the wall several weaker demons jumped in and attempted an ambush on Syne and her friends with little effort they were taken down rather easy. Then from out of nowhere three demons none of them had ever seen before appeared. They stood tall and wore no armor. They had only robes on and metal bars on their fists. The golem went to attack and was destroyed in a single blow.

Syne charged the monster with her sword and swung, only to have the monster grab the weapon by the blade and bend it like it was nothing. A single blow to each of the members rendered them unconscious. They were the lifted onto the demons shoulders and they disappeared.

Syne woke up and rubber her head. “Where the hell am I?” She said at almost a whisper.

Glenn woke up as well. “This doesn’t look good.” He said looking around.

Syne looked though the bar of the cell. “Why am I all alone?”

Glenn looked a noticed it too. There was a good twelve feet between Syne’s cell and his. “I don’t know but Kirby is in this cell, he’s still out though.

Syne looked down and noticed all her clothes had been changed. She was wearing just a white robe with nothing underneath. “Hey Glenn do you still have your armor and everything?”

“Yeh they even left me my sword. Guess the figure I can’t get out of here. Not much left of your sword I’d figure.” He looked over at Kirby. “He’s still got all his stuff as well.”

“They stripped me down and took everything. Even my underwear, they have something planned for me or I’m still a threat to them. I’m not really sure.” Syne said with a long sigh.

“That’s right we do have something planned for you.” A voice said from the darkness. “We plan on killing you so that the master can gain his full power.”

“Valmarus you scum! You lowly little……” Syne said almost crying with rage.

“Yes yes yes. Poor little Syne, the spirit of the twin sister of Kani, it must be tough living through this twice in one existence.” Valmarus laughed. “You really are pathetic, letting yourself be killed a second time by your bother.”

“It’s not like I had much of a choice the first time. You let him kill me, you my husband of all people let him eat my soul so he could be stronger.” She fell to her knee’s crying. “Then you let him kill our son too.”

Valmarus came out from the shadows. A slender man with short black hair and a firm build stood there with fire in his eyes. “What are you talking about Hector is still alive and well. We just turned him into one of us.” He started to laugh violently.

“……..” Syne couldn’t speak she was so angry.

“I’m so sorry Syne.” Glenn said from the other cell as Valmarus laughed and walked out of the room. “So that’s what happened. Is there more?”

“A lot more, let me tell you.” She said as she wiped the tears away from her eyes.

730 years ago.
Kani was born along with his twin sister Isea. From very early on they both showed great promise as powerful warriors and magicians both equally as powerful as the other. Kani eventually grew to be so famed and recognized as a good person that he ascended the chain of command in Gracia until he was king. His sister married his best friend and general of his army Valmarus.

Isea gave birth to a son named Hector who also grew up to be very strong. Eventually he became one of the generals of the army as well, and only at age fourteen.

Kani, Valmarus, Kain and Bathoris, Kani’s adviser, all went in search of the lost shrine of Nichi. They found it after only three months of looking. Something brought them there, an unknown force that lead Kani right to it. When Kani returned something had changed to him and his men. They all seemed strangely more powerful then they had been and also seemed to never run out of energy.

Then Kani announced to the city that there was a great evil force forming that had to be destroyed. People began to panic and chaos ruled the city. Every able man and woman was put into arms and then subjected to a special treatment, coming out as demons.

Isea begged both Valmarus and her brother to stop but nothing she said seemed to move them. Then one day she was taken in her sleep stripped of her clothes and bound to a stone table. Valmarus was there when she woke up. The only thing he said to her was “Now our king will be invincible because of you.” Then Kani used a dark art to suck the soul out of her and then ate it. Though her body died she could still see everything that Kani did.

Kani then took Isea’s son and turned him as well into a demon. Hector became the most powerful of the demons under Kani and was also the most loyal of them.

Kani almost completely destroyed the rest of the world in a matter months. The only force that was able to hold him back was Ishia and her holy knights. Kani used the priestess Llideah to for see all the battle outcomes so that he would not loose.

Then one day Llideah and Gadriel became wiser to the fact of what was going on and joined together along with several others to kill Kani. Gadriel wanted to be the one to kill him but in the end Llideah stuck the killing blow, but not before getting cut down by Kani. They died together but Kani did not see fit to stay dead. Ishia and her Holy Knights came and destroyed Kani’s body as it started to reform. She was then announced as the new queen of Gracia. When Kani was killed his sister’s soul was released from the binding and sent far away, to be reborn as Syne. Kani’s original soul was reborn as Nichi, unknowing to his parents that he was named for the shrine that had turned Kani evil. Then there was the other soul the evil one that had attached itself to Kani’s in the Shrine of Nichi. It was reborn as Brian.

Back in the cell.

“And that’s my story.” Syne said

“My god that sounds like a rough life.” Kirby said sitting up.

“Aye lad that does sound like it’s rather painful.” Glenn said.

“Be thankful you never came in contact with Kani in battle Glenn you’ll never have memories of your past because of that. Though you did play a very important role in killing him, you gave us the keys into the castle.” Syne said

“So I played a part in this as well.” Glenn said letting out a long sigh.

“So what is it with this world, why does it bring people to it?” Kirby asked

“Very simple, during the war 700 years ago almost the entire population of this planet was killed in the war with Kani. Every single person’s soul was so destroyed by it that they were forced into different universes. Simply put the planet is calling back the people that once lived here.” Syne said “You were my cousin Kirby. You lived in a village on the other side of the planet from here.”

“I see.” Kirby said looking pleased. “And somehow all the people that were related to this mess have been pulled into this war, it’s very interesting.”

“Exactly.” Syne said “There are over 50 people coming to this world every day.” She said as she started making a ball with her hands. “Imagine a planet. Now a normal life sustaining planet is usually only twenty-five thousand miles in circumference, this planet is over half a million miles in circumference. The population of this planet is so high that this could take forever to repopulate the planet normally. So it has to do this to bring back balance to the planet.”

“I get it now, thanks.” Kirby said.

“Well I don’t know about you too but I’d sure like to know what happened to the others.”

Meanwhile Osirus and Belial had been fighting as hard as they could against the demons forces. But with the help of a binding stone they were caught. Unable to move out of the range of the bind stone until the controlling stone was destroyed, so they played poker.

Malice fought on not noticing that the rest of his friends had been caught.

[Mong00se]

The battle was lost. Malice fought desperately alongside Magus, the two exchanging worried glances frequently. Malice had sent multiple wind messengers to find his friends, and yet none had succesfully returned. Atop of the stairs where the two warriors fought valiantly, Malice could see the city below as it was swallowed by the plague of the demons and Gracian soldiers. The city had been overrun, and Malice was doubtful of the survival of many of the soldiers. All that stood now were the two large steel doors of the main castle. Inside, soldiers could be heard scampering, awaiting the demonic infiltration.

"Magus," cried Malice as a new row of demon underlings placed themselves strategically in between them. Malice cut down another demon, and pushed two more back with a stroke of violent wind. "We have to regroup."

Magus made another large arc with his scythe, creating a gap between him and the oncoming demons through the newly fallen ash. He looked to Malice quickly as he focused his energy into a beam of shadow. It leapt from his hand, piercing demonic hide and clearing another small path. "Yeah, I see a point in the centre of town. There is a small resistance of soldiers still fighting. Let's try to keep them alive. I could use a lift."

Malice nodded assuringly, and without looking thrust his dagger backwards. A wave of ash brushed his shoulder as the serpent dagger added another to its kill list. Malice said a prayer to the wind goddess, silently hoping that it wasn't in vain, and he cloaked. Picking up Magus, the two headed to the centre of town in hopes to save the soldiers from the foreboding stroke of death.

*****

Even before landing, Magus jumped off, driving himself feet first into a crowd of demons. He quickly adjusted his footing, and slashed again, striking three off guard. A large demon approached Magus. It bellowed, a coarse muffled laugh from beneath its blackened exterior. It went to strike, but was interupted by the cry of an attacking retainer. The large demon casually swept the soldier aside, felling some of its kin in the process. It took another step towards Magus, and Magus braced himself for a quick killing stroke. Suddenly, Malice appeared on its shoulder, and quickly plunged his daggers into its neck. Malice sprung off gracefully as a large pile of ash remained.

The two fought efficiently, clearing the demons from the paths of the soldiers, always watching eachothers backs. A panther-like demon sprung at Magus from behind, and Malice hurled a dagger, connecting with the panthers neck. The soldiers cheered them on with kind remarks, but they were all in vain.

The demon lines suddenly halted, with Magus in mid swing. He comically sliced off the head of the nearest demon, who stood still awaiting orders. The demons took a step back, creating a pathway through their lines to the entrance of the city. In the spot where the gate once stood and now lay splintered against the stone wall stood Kain. His thunderous footsteps came closer, all the time never losing the appeal of a leader. He walked tall, with confidence. The air around him even seemed to shudder with each step that Kain took, as if acknowledging his greatness.

He entered the hallowed out area where the demons has receded from. He looked first at Magus, then at Malice, and smirked. "So this is all that your army could muster? Two pathetic would-be heroes? Heh, it feels almost a pity to waste energy defeating you." He laughed.

Malice knew better, but he was afraid that his partner wouldn't be as smart as him. Before Malice could say anything, Magus took the bait.

"Why you..." he said, and lunged forward.

"Magus wait!" cried Malice, realizing the flaw in his friends actions.

Kain sidestepped Magus' shoulder and lay him flat with a quick strike of his elbow. Magus struggled to get up, almost as if using all his strength, but quickly slumped back down, groaning. Kain drew his lance from his back, and pointed it at Magus' slumped body. "You see my friend? Not even a fight. You are weak, pathetic. Your human cities fall to the weakest of demons. Your human minds are crushed under our influence. The human race is pathetic and weak. It is a shame that I used to call it my own..."

As Kain taunted, Malice formulated a plan. He slowly slid his daggers into their sheaths and raised his hands behind him. His body shielded the movements of his hands, but Kain was too busy glorifying a race that wasn't his that he didn't notice the subtle moves.

"...and now I have obtained true power, a power which has brought my to a new level of being. No longer must I live in fear of the demons, for I am now one with them. This is the power worthy of a true champion. This is a power worthy of destroying you."

Malice looked up, a newfound determination in his eyes. "But there is one thing that you didn't forsee Kain. A villain's mind is clouded by darkness. I'm sorry, but you have just lost the upper hand."

With that, Malice released the channeled energy from behind him. He propelled himself forward, hitting Kain with a quick shoulder. Kain slid backwards in the gravel, and placed a hand where the shoulder had left its imprint. He looked up and scowled. "You won't get away with this!!!" he spat.

Malice had helped Magus up. Magus looked a little worse for wear, but still in decent fighting shape. Malice let go as Magus stood up by himself, and only then realized the attack coming from the point of Kain's lance. Malice had only a split second to draw his daggers. He crossed them downwards in an X, blocking the javelin that was being forced his way. Malice forced the lance downwards, and stepped on the wooden shaft, snapping it. He looked up, and was struck in the face by a fist. Malice sprawled backwards, releasing grip on his daggers. The dragon dagger skid to a halt directly at Kain's feet. Kain picked up the dagger, and toyed with it in his hands while he looked down at Malice.

"Nice try kid, I'll give you that..." Kain didn't have time to finish his speech. The sun, which shone down directly on Malice from behind Kain, was suddenly blocked out. Kain forsaw the attack, and holding Malice's dagger by the blade, quickly spun and threw the dagger towards the sun. Magus shuddered as the dagger pierced his armor and continued into his heart. He dropped forward, carried by his momentum, until his body slumped to the ground.

[Mong00se]

Kain drew his silver sword, a secondary weapon, from the scabbard at his side. His walked up to Magus, laughing as he watched the fallen warrior struggle and twitch in pain. He put one foot on the dagger, and Magus winced in pain. He pushed down, and Magus let loose an immense groan. Kain readied his sword, and with one stab, pierced Magus' heart only millimetres from the entry wound of the dagger. Magus let out one last breath before his soul escaped his body to join those of the soldiers lost in the gruesome battle.

Kain stood back as Malice rushed to Magus' side. For as much of a villain as he was, he relished in the kill, and the sight of another doomed soul looking for comfort in his dead companion amused Kain. Malice reclaimed his dagger from Magus, the body twitching as he did so, causing Malice to wince in disbelief. Malice slowly turned to Kain after a minute of silent mourning, and looked up. Tears streamed from his eyes, cleansing him of the dirt that had gathered from days of endless fighting.

"Oh Vayu, goddess of the winds, I am your humble acolyte. Your thoughts are mine to indulge, your spirit mine to guard, and your desires mine to fulfill. I ask you today to grant me a great strength so that I may vanquish a terrible evil. Your troubles will not be in vain, my lady."

The sky quickly became cloudy, blocking out the trecherous sun. The wind picked up, growing so great that the demons standing in the town could not just stand their dumbly without being blown away. Even Kain fought the wind as it buffeted his body. Kain looked at Malice, his hand over his eyes shielding them from the wind. Malice stood crouched, on one knee. He held the dripping dragon dagger at his side, and he summoned the snake dagger from the dirt only yards away to his hand. Malice slowly got up, keeping his composure, and looked at Kain. Without making the speech that Kain had made, Malice attacked.

The presence of the wind only strengthened him. He shot forward at an exhilerating speed, slashing forward with his left hand. Kain blocked the shot, and reached forward, trying to catch Malice offguard. Malice became one with the wind, his essence dissipating to ride the gale, and he reappeared behind Kain. Kain, astonished, spun around with a slash of his silver sword, but the blow was easily parried by Malice. The other dagger came down, tearing a gash in Kains armor, but not piercing it. Kain backed up one pace, giving himself ample room between himself and the forsaken Malice.

Malice sheathed his daggers, and again became one with the wind. He could feel the air inside him. He was not just hiding this time... he was the wind. He shot forward, reappearing in front of Kain, and landing a square punch to his chestplate. Again, Malice dissappeared, this time returning to his form behind Kain. With a quick sweep of his leg, Malice took Kain's feet out from in front of him. Kain never hit the ground. Summoning the power of the ever increasing winds, Kain stayed afloat. Malice warped in and out of his god-like state, connecting blow after blow on Kain. finally, Malice appeared from the sky, from the same direction that the sun had pierced his gaze, and he flew dow towards Kain. His foot connected with a bare piece of Kains armour, and there was the distinct sound of a rib cracking as Kain hit the ground with a thud.

Kain looked up frightened as Malice landed beside him. "Please, please, don't," he pleaded. But Malice's eyes were glazed with an unparalleled fury. A dagger raised from out of its sheath, appearing over Malice's shoulder. In a split second, the dagger flew towards Kain, pinning him to the ground as it pierced his armour, continuing into his heart. Kain slumped as the dragon dagger claimed a new home.

Malice snapped out of his trance, and the wind subsided. He slowly walked over the Magus, without paying heed to any of the demons that still stood statuesque. He picked up Magus' body, and carried it into the castle, leaving the dagger marking its place in the very heart of Kain.

[Zerlina]

Even the demon soldiers parted as Malice passed, for they regarded him as a general and acted with that strange paradox that is the etiquette of war.

Magus’ soul was gone, and he lay lifeless, his cheeks still flushed with blood that would cease to flow; his body still warm with forever frozen heat. It was a surreal thing- something that could not be understood, nor explained. It was as if he had simply stopped; fallen in a moment of fury.

Malice entered the coldness of the castle, his shadow stretched out long before him on the marble ground. He was silent and still, blood flowing from his hair like tears from his eyes, running down his cheeks and dripping onto Magus’ un-flinching and lifeless visage. As the guards closed the heavy door behind him, Malice collapsed to his knees, the bravery, the pride gone.

He never let his comrade’s body touch the floor.

In the solitude of the castle, he hunched over, pulling the bloody form close to him and letting go of all his tears. They were not tears only for Magus, but for everything; for the war, for the countless soldiers who now lay in un-tended graves, and for the misery that had become his life. How in all this time had this come to him? How had a simple task taken him so far from his home- a home he would probably never see again? And how was it that now he kneeled upon a doomed territory, with the shell of a man who once breathed and spoke with life.

Over and over he wept, his tears and blood spilling upon the floor ceaselessly. This was his time. This was his time to finally let out what his heart had so long yearned to do- to pull away from bravery, from valour, from all that was the glory of war; to cry for peace and cry for home, to cry for the ceaseless hatred. Somewhere, somehow, he had lost himself; he had slipped away- become no longer human.

With shaky, muddy fingers, he wiped the blood from his friend’s cheek, watching the strange idleness with rage and hope.

“Wake up…” Malice cried among uneven breaths “Wake up!”

He shook him fiercely and once more collapsed into tears. The silence of the hall gave way to sobs, and for a while he said nothing.

“Dammit! Why would you do this? Why would you leave like this?” he cried after a moment, pressing his forehead against the lifeless man’s chin. But the figure was still and silent, its pale lips shut in an eternal lock and unwilling to grant Malice the comfort of sound.

“I don’t understand…” Malice said aloud “All of it…all of your life resulted in this? All of that to one mistake! And now…”

He leaned forward, and his lonely dagger slid from its sheath, landing in a smear of blood. Malice watched it tensely, his eyes and palms aching with rage and sorrow.

Slowly, and with wavering breath, he outstretched his shaky finger and ran it along the blunt side of his dagger.

“What friendly blood lies on my blade…” he muttered, a strange and forced smile coming to his face, his teeth parted and unable to close “Of all the ways…of all the ways he had to die…it had to be my knife!” His voice met an uneven crescendo, escalating until it resonated through the hollow halls.

The echo dissipated and fell, evaporating into nothingness and leaving him alone. He listened, motionless, before looking down once more, a solemnity having come over him.

“It is my fault, my friend…” he muttered “Your blood is on my hands… my knife… Death! Everything is mine.

But that won’t be all. Of course it won’t be all! There will be more death. More to add to my soul’s debt. For I know of fate. I know of how it chooses men and drives them to eternal sorrow!

Well that may happen…but the blood will no longer be yours…it will no longer be any human! I have been too careless and now I see the error of my ways! Kani…” he scowled, the name a whip to his already scarred soul “It will be his blood that runs upon my hands. If any blood it shall be his! I am done! I am done with this! Let me die and let my bones forever rest amid the waves, to lie in a pitiful grave! But let me just this one pleasure! Let me live to see my dagger in his heart!”

*

The fog parted, clear and white like steamy ice. For a while, the world still blurred in a haze of light and wood, but slowly it crept back to its proper place, falling, as dust does, into the jade puzzle. Things were right again, but not entirely whole, and even as Titania lay on the ground, she knew that something was wrong.

In the time that she had lain there (an hour? Two? A day?), the mud had soaked into her clothes and the cold into her bones so that it choked her veins and froze her from the inside out. She shivered, pulling herself up with slippery difficulty.

Slowly, she looked to where her own blood stained the ground, and once more drew her hand up to her forehead, faltering as her own hands stung and whipped at her wound; burning at her simplest touch. For all the power in the world, she had never been able to heal herself, though she did not know why. Magic was a mysterious thing, always tumbling beyond the reach of human understanding, shying away like a frightened and mischievous dove.

Quick as a wave, the silence lifted and her ears filled with the sound of a hard pattering. In wonderment, she looked around her, watching as a shower of white pebbles fell from the sky. Unsure, he held out her hand to catch some and marveled as they melted in her palm. What strange phenomenon was this? She shook her head as the novelty wore off, and the falling increased. Whatever it was, it was pulling the demons back temporarily, allowing the last few humans to regroup and return to the sanctuary of their castle.

Unrelentingly, the ice fell from the sky, bouncing off of the gray stone castle. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glint of gold, but as she turned to look, it vanished and she believed it to only be a misinterpretation.

The humans slowly ran inside the various entrances of the palace, their muddy feet staining the once-pristine floor. Titania followed, but something pulled her. Some force compelled her to walk a little further and enter through the western doors.

The guardsmen had abandoned their posts, and so she entered on her own accord, pushing open the heavy object and stopping in the tear of shock as the panels gave way and the light spilt rectangular upon the floor. The blood, the dagger, the body…

Her breath snaking through the frosty air, she watched as the familiar head turned to stare at her, tears and blood upon his wordless face. In his eyes, she saw blame, and sorrow; rage and guilt. But for all that it hurt her, she fell at cold at the sight of the body, unable to shed a single tear. In silence, she stared back at him with an unreadable face, frozen in place by the sight of his pain. The moment of ghostly stillness passed, and she moved forward, unsurely, her shoes becoming stained in the blood which covered the ground. She said nothing to Malice, and yet as she kneeled beside him, he knew to allow Magus’ head to fall upon her lap.

“Rest now…” she muttered, asking no questions of his passing “Your spirit is free now, may it never return to this place of suffering again.”

She turned to Malice but he was silent, turning away from her with shame. Slowly, she took his wrist, and guided his fingers over Magus’ eyelids, allowing the warrior a last solemn rite and muttering a few blessed words.

From behind closed eyes, he stared up at them, a man forever gone and silenced. All greed, all desire, had flown from him in his last moments and now he was free to be part of the eternal. He was free to escape the lashing fire and be lifted above the violent world.

[~Hidan~]

Syne sat in the corner of her cell thinking about what was going to happen to them and what may have happened to Malice and Titania. Glenn and Kirby had drawn out a chess set and were occupying their time. Syne thought long and hard about how they could actually beat Kani once and for all, nothing came to mind.

Nichi, memories of Nichi’s life and how he used his powers came to her mind. She noticed the similar forms of training that all three of the counterparts had used. The main one being the weights that they all had attached to their arms and legs, however Nichi had one that Brian and she did not use. The Magic retainers were the missing key.

“Glenn I have a favor to ask you, if it doesn’t embarrass you too much.” Syne said as she stood up and walked over to the cell divider.

“Well that all depends on what it is your asking of me.” Glenn asked as he walked over to the cell divider as well.

“Well I’ve been thinking about Nichi and how he was able to suppress his extra power by using some form of a tattoo like seal on his body, I’ve checked the rest of my body but I can’t see my back, so could you please take a look at it?” Syne said lightly blushing.

“I will do that if you wish me to.” Glenn coughed

Syne turned her back to him and let down the robe she was wearing. “Anything?”

“Well yes there is.” Glenn said clearing his throat. “It would seem there is a triple star inside an octagon with several strange looking characters, and in the center of it is a diamond shape.”

“Where on my body is it?”

“It’s between the shoulder blades.”

“Ok thanks.” She said as she pulled back on the robe. “Now I know, and I just have to figure out how to use It.” as she said that she began to sit down and meditate.

“Why do you have so many scars Syne?” Kirby asked breaking his silence.

“I’ve been a fighter sense I was twelve years old.” Syne said sighing. “Think about the learning curve.”

“Well I was asking more about the one large scar that runs a half crescent down the entire length of your back?”

“I have a scar like that?” Syne thought to herself.

“Yeh it runs from the top of your right shoulder to the middle of your left ribcage then to the top of your right hip.”

“Oh right that, I was almost killed once but as you can see they only got a bit of my skin.” Syne lied; physical evidence of her past life sacrifice had manifested itself on her. Only it was as though she had lived through the ordeal. She decided to block out everything and figure out how to activate the magical retainers.

Glenn and Kirby stated talking and playing chess again.

[Zerlina]

((Are you guys ready for the sappiest post in the whole story? I'm SO sorry. I've just been inspired as of late ^^ and also I wrote it while listening to Legends of the Fall ))

Snowflakes fell through the hazy sky, turning and tumbling in a graceful ballet. The wind was their music, and it guided them gently through the gray, its clear breath cold and soft as summer waves. Below, the ground was a mess of frozen mud footprints, slowly being covered in a blanket of winter beauty.

Noble chin raised up, General Hige Toboe stared out at the field, an ethereal silence about him. His worn boots were pressed gently into the soft but solid earth, and he seemed immovable as rock. With ease, the wind whipped around him, lifting and tossing his cloak as playfully as a child would. Yet there was nothing childish about him, for as he stared –eyes cold as the earth he stood upon- he saw the world with wisdom beyond centuries of inheritance.

Before him lay a muddy field, grazed with ashes from burnt grass and bodies. Along the plain and the countryside, were the remnants of homes- black skeletons rising out of the frozen earth. There was no colour; there was no hope. All that lay before him was death, and the quiet that it brought.

In that moment, he could see his whole future staring back at him- an eternity of black and gray, reaching out toward a distant heaven. No matter what he did, no matter what strategy he could compose, his symphony would end before its time and fall in a cry of wailing discord. He would leave no legacy- no great deed to be remembered by. He would disappear just as the men before him disappeared beneath the falling snow.

In years to come, he thought, men will walk by this plain and never think about the blood which stains the grassy roots, or the souls that now wander the earth, their lives sold in exchange for a bitter defeat. For time falls upon us whether we like it or not, and moments are soon lost in the cruel river called “past.” A thousand years from now, no one will care what happened here. They will walk carelessly by and see none of this destruction, for they are blinded by snowy time. Our lives will be locked away- covered in a dirty, white pall, and no matter what, there is nothing we can do about it.

For we are the dead.

We are the forgotten.

No longer may we feel the sun upon our faces or the warmth of that longed-for embrace. No longer may we even hope for anything better, for our time will be over.

And though he stood alone, he felt that it was not so. For it seemed as if someone had shared his thoughts, and had truly understood him.

Slowly, he turned his back away from the field and faced his ailing troops. The coldness returned to his body, and the wind pressed him forward, though he moved voluntarily and without quarrel. His steps were now laden with a new heaviness, and even as he moved forward, he knew that his thoughts had already passed away into time.

[I]We each have only a moment, and we never know when it will be over. It is no use delaying what the soul yearns for, for at any moment it might be too late. Darkness is eternal and the day must be embraced and enjoyed, for sunset moves nearer with each and every second.

[Zerlina]

*

He sat quietly in the corner, never raising his eyes up from the cold, marble floor. The room was a mess of silence and gray, the only light coming from the orange embers of small makeshift fires. Though they knew that at dawn their castle would be burned, the men had lit their flames in the proper places, their respect for their home extending even unto their last night alive. For these men were extraordinary, and they laughed and sung even as the hours collapsed. They knew that they were doomed, and yet they acted as if it were any other time. For it was not fearlessness that made them great, it was the way they smiled even though their hands shook, and their stomachs ached with the pain of anticipation.

Her face aglow in the orange light, the small girl sat with her legs slightly pulled up in front of her. With her arms, she cradled her knees and with her eyes she stared down at the crimson scores which marred her skin. Along the tops of her feet, lay hatches of red- cuts from being dragged out of the field- while her wrists were black with bruises. She coughed aloud, and her ribs felt as if they were going to break; though the fire was before her, she still felt cold.

From behind her, she heard a man begin to play a strange instrument- probably his last possession in the world, if it was even his (for the castle store-room must have had plenty of things which the men could use to entertain themselves). She turned her head slightly and watched him, his blistered fingers holding an odd-looking stick delicately, before brushing it smoothly over taut strings. The sound was heavenly, and she watched him quietly from her corner, a solemnity hanging over the room.

We march for long
and traverse through a’flame
And still we sing that hopeful song
Till we see home again

Though night be long
And fog be thick as snow
We must be strong
And still our feet must go

For this is our land
And this is our call
Together we shall stand
Together we shall fall

For that while it did not matter who was who, or what everyone was called. General sat with militia, and militia sat with archer. For they were all men, and all souls, ready to face death in the morning with anxiously pounding hearts, and fists as strong as mountains.

Away from the fire, Malice sat in silence, bathed in shadow and cold upon the ancient stone. He stared at his hands- his bloody hands- and brought them over his face, hiding away from the world that he was sure saw him as the worst kind of murderer. He stayed like this for a while, until he felt a sudden warmth upon his shoulder.

Somewhere in the months that had passed, an unspoken understanding had grown. Though they never said so, both knew they had a connection, but had to keep it pressed away. There were more important matters, and even then a thin veil of uncertainty. But now that death seemed impassable, and eternity had opened its gluttonous mouth before them, the veil was pulled away and the thought of separation seemed all too cold.

Quietly, Titania sat down behind Malice and lay her cheek on his shoulder, placing her hand on his; her eyes did not see the blood which stained his fingers. There was silence for a while, until finally she muttered something un-intelligible. Still, he knew what she had said, and nodded in silence.

“Must you fight tomorrow?” she asked, quietly “Please….I think you can still leave- you have the power to do so… if you take arms tomorrow -”

“I can’t just leave.” He replied, never looking at her “These men… they have nowhere to go, so why should I? Besides…” he lifted his hand and stared at it “Whatever fate I receive is the decision of the gods. If it be my death tomorrow, then perhaps they mean to punish me.”

“I do not know what gods are present in this world, but I know that the ones of mine would not punish you with darkness. In these past few months, you have lived as a hero and shown true areté. Please, do not send yourself to a fate that you do not deserve.”

“Magus-”

“Magus died bravely. His wound was to the front and he had no choice in the matter.”

“You’re wrong…” Malice muttered, “He had a choice. He chose to fight, just as I have. I cannot send him to his death and then back away from that which he gave his life for. He was one of my greatest friends, and I cannot let him die without finishing what he started.”

“And what then? Once you destroy the demons here, what shall you do if you are still alive?”

Malice fell silent and turned his head away.

“You have to understand… I have responsibilities as a man- I am not some beast who watches his kin fall to pieces and runs away to hide in a den. Just as I am not a man who can live knowing that I have murdered my best friend. Both of these deeds are beyond my fathoming. Don’t you see? Trying to convince me is useless…my mind was made up from the time I was born.”

“…or perhaps even before then…

I…Llideah knew when Gadriel was going to his death. And still he did not believe her. You were foolish once, please do not be again!”

“What you see as foolishness is nothing more than conscience. You have to trust that I know what I’m doing.”

“How can I convince you to change your mind?”

He shook his head once more “You can’t. My mind is made up. Tomorrow I fight, and if I die, then it is with the knowledge that I have not blackened Magus’ memory.”

Titania was quiet for a while, but a question pressed at her lips, and finally emerged quietly, dripping in shame “…aren’t you afraid?”

He smiled slightly and shook his head, though his palms ached and his fingers trembled.

“Then why am I afraid?” she asked “Everyone here…they’re all so brave. They know they’re going to die, and yet they smile and laugh. When that soldier pulled me away, I thought that that was the end, and I was afraid. I tried to be calm, but I was afraid. How can you so easily march up to death and not be frightened?”

He turned to face her, seeing the tears which wanted to spill from her eyes, but were held back by shame and stubbourness.

“There is nothing to be afraid of.” He said, taking her hand and placing it over the pendant which he still wore “You see…Phoenix watches.”

She felt the object, but more noticed the way in which his hand shook. She knew then that it was not only she who had come to fear death. He had as well, only he was better at disguising it. Slowly, she wrapped her fingers around his fist and smiled as best she could.

“You see,” she laughed, looking down “I’ve become like a child again. I was afraid when I came to a new world, and now that I’m going to another, I’ve become so once more.” She smiled, and raised her eyes “But that first time, you were there for me…and you’ve watched me since then. I know that sometimes I don’t seem grateful, and I act like I don’t need any help, but knowing you were there for me…it really did make all the difference. And now that we’re here, and it’s almost over… I just hope that you know how much you’ve meant… I think you were right about me finding my home...Malice- you're...you're my dearest... friend...”

She looked down, unsure if he would laugh at the way her words dripped with too much sentimentality. Moments passed as awkward hours, but soon she felt warmth on her temple as he rested his chin upon it, ignoring the way death slowly snaked around him as dark as a shadow. At the slightest touch, she brought her arms up and wrapped them around his back, coming closer and hiding in the warmth of his chest. As if it were a natural response, he too closed his arms around her, not shrinking back as her tears ran down his shoulder. He made no words of comfort for his friend, yet still the silence was enough, and it drew out her tears, coaxing them with the promise that they were not shameful. With small hands, she clung to him as if afraid at any time he would be snatched away and pulled into the abyss.

Life was nothing but the present; the past and future melted into nothingness.

For this is our land
And this is our call
Together we shall stand
Together we shall fall

The man repeated his song over and over, his notes filling the air and lulling the soldiers into a state of solemnity. Here they sat, the last of their kind- men who stood before the awaiting chasm of death, and showed no fear. For though the snow fell outside, they were warm in each other's company, and did not even notice.

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************** ***************************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Magus's Soul

So... THIS is what it's come down to? After all of that. The happiness, the sadness, going after everyone who'd harm Schala, trying to get back with her...

...and THIS is how it ends?

I should've known my life would end up a big anti-climax. And then there's also the life flashing before the eyes bit. Might as well get it over with...

************************************************** ***********
Earth, The Year 12,007 BC, The Kingdom Of Zeal

Magus stood in the center of the room as people rushed about, moving at an incredibly accelerated pace. He managed to get the gist of what was going on; Queen Zeal was giving birth to her second child. Time flashed by quickly, so he only managed to get a glimpse of the child. The child's name was Janus.

************************************************** ***********
Earth, The Year 12,000 BC, The Kingdom Of Zeal

A seven-year-old boy, with his pet cat following, meets a small group of people; a silent young man, a spoiled girl, an intelligent-looking young woman, a moving machine, a woman who looked like she lived in a cave, and...

...a humanoid frog. He felt a strange... connection with this frog, but he also felt something even more sinister. He walked up to the silent man.

"The black wind howls..." said Janus.

The man looked at the boy, surprised.

"...One among you... will shortly perish..." With that, Janus bolted out of the room.

************************************************** ***********
Earth, The Year 12,000 BC, The Kingdom Of Zeal

They stick a sword in the Mammon Machine! Now the creature "Lavos" escapes the earth. He kills the young man Janus had just spoken to. Now a portal, everyone going everywhere, everywhen! The Gurus, Janus, and...

...Schala...

**************************************************
Earth, The Year 590 AD, Guardia Woods

The imps attacking. Now the big green one! Schala, Schala, he's gonna hurt me help!

Wait, no. He wants to be my friend. Call me Magus? Yay!

*************************************************
Earth, The Year 600 AD, Denadoro Falls

Long time no see, Cyrus. Here to get the sword that can kill me? Too bad! You're dead now, and...

...who's this?

Well, an apprentice! I needn't kill you. Instead, I think I'll turn you into a frog!

A botched spell, the young man only half transforms, retaining humanoid structure and language but frog features. He goes over the waterfall, he's not coming back!

*************************************************
Earth, The Year 600 AD, Magus's Castle

Damn! The frog returns, and with the sword that Cyrus was after. The spell ruined, Lavos isn't coming - how am I supposed to get revenge now? A portal, sucked in...

************************************************** ***********
Earth, The Year 12,000 BC, The Kingdom Of Zeal

A man in a purple cloak, the Prophet. The Prophet decides to be there when the Mammon Machine was used, as he remembers from the last time he was in this time period. When he was the prince. The man who was with the frog, killed by Lavos? Everything happens again! Then he awakens, the man's friends, the frog reconciles, and...

...Magus joins them in their quest to...

...bring him back.

That's the first memory I want. How did we bring Crono back?

************************************************** **
Earth, The Year Infinity, the End Of Time

The old man, Gaspar, Guru of TIme. An egg? The Time Egg! That's it! That's how we brought him back. Now... why did I want that memory? Better continue...

************************************************
Earth, The Year 1999 AD, Inside Lavos

Lavos has been guiding the evolution of the world for millions of years. And now it's over. He's destroyed. We're all returning home... I release the curse on Frog, reverting him back to Glenn. Cyrus's apprentice. And now a true knight himself, with the Masamune. I go on a search for Schala through space-time.

****************************************
Palis, The Year 699 Ishia, Gracia

Little did I know I'd be dying in this world. Oh well. Schala's supposed to be here. Nichi, Malice, Belial, Titania, Aikia... now Queen Ishia dead, Aikia takes over! Aikia leaves us and we begin to defend Gracia against the demons. The Lavos Spawn... Schala dead? Suddenly a flash, and Glenn's returned! And now Nichi stone!

That's the other memory I wanted. But... maybe there's more...

*************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Chimera Forest

Illusions, Brain joins us, Doreen? Doreen saves me. Titania's memories, I figure out how to defeat the monster that's killing her memories! Glenn wields Mastermune now, we leave and go north.

****************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Ramodin

That's him. Kain. The demon who killed Schala. Me and Malice. A hectic fight, ending with...

Malice. It wasn't your fault. I was reckless. You fought the way you knew best, I fought the way that I felt most fitting. I should have just stayed behind and cast magic like I usually do. That's my name, right? Magus. I shouldn't have been so close. But I've found the memories I want. Now how can I use them correctly?

************************************************** ***************************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Magus's Soul

"So, Magus, come up with anything?" asked Janus.

Magus looked at the young boy. "All I've got is that we could use the Time Egg to save Nichi."

Janus nodded slowly. "But what else can we do? I mean, are you sure you would want to save Nichi with it?"

Magus nodded. "Nichi, Ishia..."

"...Schala..." whispered Janus.

Magus continued. "And... me."

A slight tremble through the darkness.

What was the start of all this?
When did the cogs of fate begin to turn?

Perhaps it is impossible to grasp that answer now,
From deep within the flow of time...

Magus looked up, not daring to believe. "Is it..."

But, for a certainty, back then,
We loved so many, yet hated so much,
We hurt others and were hurt ourselves...

Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
Whilst our laughter echoed,
Under cerulean skies...

Janus looked up in joy. "Schala?"

"Janus... I'm here..."

"...Schala is here for you."

Magus recognized the words. He had spoken them himself, although with the words Janus and Schala transposed, during his search for her in Palis.

With those words spoken, Magus had done something he hadn't done since the Lavos Spawn told him that Schala was dead.

He began to hope.

((When Magus's life is flashing before his eyes, you have to realize the incredible pace, hence its hectic and confusing wording of the events.))

[Dark FFnut]

((Gah, this thing is going nowhere, come ON people!))

************************************************** ***********************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Darkness

Despite Magus's joy, there was still one other who felt pure anger at Magus's death. This anger wasn't over the fact that Magus had left this world, but rather, that he had left this world with Magus.

A terrible curse issued from Variel's mouth. The floating, formless mist that was Variel trembled slightly with its intense anger.

"SEVEN!" he shouted. He drew another breath. "HUNDRED!" Another breath. "YEARS!"

His words echoed endlessly in nothingness. His anger was beyond words. At the final battle with Kani, he watched Noah prepare for the battle. Unfortunately, Variel already knew the outcome. The entire Council did.

************************************************** ***************************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Council Chambers

Lord Nihel sat in his grand throne, Lord Arel's chair next to it. Around the table sat Safriel, Dakael, Kadael, Variel, and both Lords. Only Gadriel was missing.

"Where is... where is Gadriel?" Nihel's voice sounded tired, old, like he had just undergone a great ordeal.

"Gadriel is the youngest member of us all, my lord. You need to remember that he is the only one of us with any family left outside of this Council. With his father's recent death..." whispered Variel.

"Ah... yes... where he has gone?"

At this, Safriel smiled a little. "He's probably going to look, himself, for his father's murderer, seeing as how that girl Llideah refused to tell him."

"If we could just tell him that Kani-"

"Silence, Variel!" thundered Lord Arel. "You've said it yourself. Gadriel is too attached to this world to be able to keep secrets among the Seven. You will not tell him about Kani. Besides, myself and Nihel have a matter to discuss with you all."

Dakael spoke up this time. "What's it about? This war, maybe? What's going on?"

Nihel nodded grimly. "This world is nearly finished. That girl Llideah gave power over Fate to Kani. It's impossible to save this world now, so we shall leave it to rot in its own state. Now we go on to another world and-"

"What the hell?" Variel stood in outrage. "You're just going to... to let Palis be annihilated? No way!"

Nihel glared at Variel. "Enough, Variel! I refuse to alter this world any more! What's done is done! This world wouldn't be able to be saved anyway, not for seven hundred years! What could you do? Nothing!"

Variel hadn't even heard anything past "seven hundred years." He stormed out of the room and drew a runic circle on the ground. Speaking ancient binding words, he bound his soul Palis for seven centuries. Drawing more circles, he soon bound the souls of Gadriel, Noah, Llideah, and even Kani for the same amount of time.

"In seven hundred years... we all come back and do this all over again."

"HEY!" screamed Safriel. Arel stood by her, as did Nihel.

Nihel raised a hand. "Variel! You've expressly altered the will of the Seven! You hereby-"

"Blow. It. Out. Your. Ass."

Nihel's eyes widened. "Fine! Variel, you are excommunicated! Now, I command you to leave at once!"

Nihel, Safriel, and Arel all re-entered the chamber. Variel stared at the door for a few minutes, before his brain began to fully comprehend the screams of agony within. Demons soon exited, covered in the blood of the five Council members in the chamber.

"He he he... so, now they can't ruin master Kani's plan! We win!"

"Yeah! Let's get out of here now, so we can get rewarded!"

Cackling, the demons vanished. Variel stared at the space where they once stood, suddenly remembering that his charge, Noah, wanted him to speak to Llideah. He dashed off into the darkness.

************************************************** ***********************************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, Behind the Temple of Ishtar

Variel heard Llideah walk up behind him. "Hello," she whispered.

"Come to see me, Llideah?"

Llideah shrugged. "Depends on who you are. Noah told me to meet his friend here."

Variel laughed. "That all depends on what Noah meant by friend. I am more of a guardian than anything else. The seven of us are to make sure everything runs smoothly."

"Seven?"

"Yes, seven. There are seven of us, and we're supposed to make sure that everything happens as it's supposed to. But it's not - not yet, anyway."

"What are you talking about?"

Variel peered through the rain, noticing that the girl seemed "Two of us have been sent to guard certain people. We're supposed to make sure that, at least, those two people fulfill their fates. But I changed the rules."

"What?" asked Llideah.

"I've cast a spell, and a dangerous one at that. I was excommunicated from the Seven because of it. It's a good thing I was. I was going to be reporting when they attacked."

"They?"

"The demons. The other five were slaughtered - Lord Nihel, ruler of the Seven; Safriel, Lady of Pain; Dakael and Kadael, the twins; and even Lord Arel, the Unfated. Only I and Gadriel survived."

"So what happened?"

"I cast a spell. I chose several souls to be sealed until the correct time. Specifically, the events that are unfolding shouldn't be unfolding for seven hundred years. So I sealed the souls of you, Noah, Gadriel, Kani, and myself. Seven hundred years from now, our souls will be bound to others. These other people will be our vessels to reenact these events. In seven hundred years, we will have this conversation again, Llideah, and we won't even realize that it's been so long. When that happens, I will protect Noah, just as Gadriel will protect you. After our seven hundred year intermission, we'll act out this exquisite play once more, but this time the ending will change to the way it's meant to be. I feel sorry for our new hosts, but it's necessary to keep them. When it's all done, we can depart for the afterlife and leave them to their normal lives, but-"

"Wait. You're denying us all the afterlife?"

"Twisted little game, isn't it? But necessary. Sorry, Llideah, but there's still a few more acts to go before we can take our final bows."

************************************************** ***********************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Darkness

Those last words rang in Variel's ears. He remembered himself and Llideah... no, Magus and Titania, having that same conversation on the airship. He knew that even with Magus's death, he was the least important of these bound souls. And, should his friends discover a way to restore Magus, perhaps Variel could also return...

[Zerlina]

Late into the night, the men kept the oil lamps lit, their source a gutter system which ran along the city walls and through the homes, distributing precious light to those who needed it. It was an invention exclusive to the city, and one that proved to help keep peace among the townsfolk.

In the morning, dawn’s rosy fingers shone through the arched windows, painting a masterpiece of light and shadow on the stone ground. Through this, the rippling darkness lay solid next to the white of the sky, never mixing but always remaining one after the other. Outside, the air was white and filled with swirling snow, falling like moments in the glistening banks of memory.

All night, the cold had slithered through the windows and Malice, filling his blood and bones with ice, and cutting at his hands like red knives. He awoke, in more pain than usual, feeling the frigid air inside his chest like icy fingers.

He looked outside to where the snow fell and shuddered, wishing that he could do something to stop the tumbling white. It struck him then that he was truly alive- that he was seeing what he was seeing, and that every breath was a miracle coursing through a strong but delicate body.

Soon, it would all end.

It would stop.

He would be separated from the sunny, beautiful world, and forgotten beneath the mud while life went on without him. There was no way out now.

Angrily, he raised his fist, slamming it down hard on the stone floor. It was not something he thought about- simply an instinct. A reaction to fear.

Fear? No… that wasn’t allowed. Everyone else was allowed to be afraid, but he wasn’t. There was no one to watch him- to look after and soothe his mind. He was alone, and he would remain so for all eternity.

“Wake up…” he muttered, wanting someone anyone to hear him, and to distract him.

Somewhere in the bridge between sleep and consciousness, he had lost his way, and now his mind wandered paths that he would never choose to travel.

What came next was a blur- a slow, gray mesh of stone, of light, of armour and of useless words. He wandered the black and white quietly, the others seeing in him an ethereal heroism, an inspiration and a strength which filled them with hope for tomorrow’s sun.


There was the sound of a horn.


*

The battlefield moved quickly, and existed in a perpetual wheel of sound and pain. Blood spattered the frozen mud, where men lay lifeless against the crimson snow.

Kain rode through the town atop a dark brown mount, swinging his sword with so much skill that men fell dead in his path. With expert hands, he pulled at the reigns, bringing his horse into a sharp turn toward the steps of the temple. He would burn it, he thought, to set an example of what he thought of his enemy.

Without halting, he grabbed hold of one of his soldier’s spears, setting it on fire with his own demon magic, and riding toward the stone steps of his destination. He lowered his wrist, bringing the flame to the wooden support, when suddenly he was dismounted. Something had pushed him from his steed.

Without faltering, he hit the ground in perfect balance, quickly swinging his sword at the fast-moving soldier who had taken him down.

”You again…” he muttered, rotating his wrist above his head so that his blade turned toward Malice’s forehead.

“I’m happy to see you to.” The Theiran replied, catching his enemy’s forearm and driving his dagger toward his stomach.

Kain brought up his other fist, knocking the blade with the back of his covered arm and punching Malice beneath the chin.

The mage faltered but did not stop, he tucked in his fingers and threw up his arm, driving the base of his palm upward into Kain’s nose.

The demon cried aloud, bringing his hands over his bloody face. Without hesitation, Malice opened his palm, sweeping a gust of wind toward his enemy. Kain fell backward, hitting the walls of the temple.

The Theiran ran toward him, ready to deliver another blow, only to be stopped when Kain pulled the burning spear from the ground and thrust it toward him. The object missed, landing in an abandoned stall and spreading its flames quickly.

Soon, the two were separated from the rest of the battlefield by a wall of smoke and fire- an impassable labyrinth which spelled death for one of them.

Kain laughed, red flames and hatred flickering in his eyes. He raised his spear and sword, the sweat from the firey heat dripping off of his greasy hair. With strong arms, he whipped the bladed weapon forward, narrowly missing his enemy.

“You’re lasting longer than your friend did.” Kain muttered, arrogantly “But then again, with him you did all the work for me.”

Malice called the wind to give him lightness, and sprung from the ground with an airy grace. His twin daggers pulsed in his hands, and with ease he slashed Kain across the face.

Blood spattered on the ground, as the demon grabbed at pain, losing steady grip on his spear.

Malice moved back, kicking the wooden object in half with precision before bringing his foot sideways into his enemy’s face.

Kain winced in pain but grabbed the Theiran’s foot, dropping the already broken spear in order to do so. He was burning with anger now, pulsing with hate. He twisted Malice’s ankle to the side and was about to break it, but the air grew light and Malice pushed his foot to the side with the force of a storm. Kain fell back once more, but did not even have a chance to recover. The flames swirled around him and crept up his cape, consuming it too quickly to be natural.

He saw his death now- he stared at the eternal and knew he was about to plunge into nothingness. Angrily, he ran toward Malice, bringing up his sword and thrusting it with all his power, only to have it caught between the warrior’s crossed daggers. The two struggled like this for a moment, strength pressed against strength in a last attempt at victory.

“You can’t overpower me, you little bastard.” Kain gritted his teeth, angrily, his own adrenaline and hatred taking over.

“I don’t need to overpower you” Malice answered, with a fierceness never seen before.

With one last effort, he grabbed the broken spear and hurled it at the oil gutters that ran above Kain.

There was a scream, and in a burst of red and black, it was all over.

[Zerlina]

*

The air was cold, but the wind was filled with ash. Titania coughed, her body feebly trying to rid itself of the poison that was everywhere.

The battlefield was smoky now, and the men could scarcely see the ground before them. They cried aloud as death found them one by one, striking their names from the list of existence. Though they stood and fought together, the enemy sword ushered in a journey they would have to make alone.

The walls crumbled as more siege weapons arrived, the ancient stone falling to the cold, steel battering rams. As the gray stone tumbled in a cloud of dust, the men scattered. But fate seemed cruel to one, and as he fled, the oil gutter collapsed, following a weakness further away. The man jumped back, but slipped, unable to rise and aware of the fire that was making its way toward him.

There was a burst of white and in a moment, the soldier found himself surrounded by flame, but somehow protected. Perhaps some higher power had kept him alive? Or perhaps something closer to the ground.

Though the city fell around them and fire blazed along the rampart, there now was hope. In losing Kain, the demons had lost all organization, and now there were no more advances they could make.

*

Light and air trailed after Titania’s hands as she skillfully controlled her magic. Her motions were fluid, more refined than when she had first begun, and –indeed- more effective. Now there was a grace -a beauty in the skill- and it seemed almost impossible that such light could end life.

The demons were moving back now, slowly withdrawing from the city they no longer knew how to conquer. Titania ran along the gate, her icy cheeks flushed with excitement. That same adrenaline that had flowed through her in Gracia now returned to her veins, this time pulsing at her control, unconsciously pressing her to continue.

“We’ve retaken our city!” cried one of the men, seeing how the demons fled, and now only a few remained.

They cheered of victory, chiding on each other as they finished off the last of the enemy.

But all was not over.

Titania raced back to the wall where the fallen soldier still stood, protected by the aura she had created. By now the fire had dissipated, and it was safe to allow him out into the world.

She kneeled, helping the fallen man up and preparing to heal his wounds, when suddenly the cold air was broken, and a shadow of fear washed over her. Cast on the ground before her was a shadow of a beast, and in a moment the greatest force she’d ever felt, pulled at her shoulder.

She bled from where the hand had touched her, and even her own magic could not stop the burning. The force had caused her to turn and when she stared up at her attacker, she was struck with fear.

When he was so close, he could see into her soul- her eyes glass broken with his sharp gaze. He had her by the neck, holding her steady so he could stare at her like this, and see the fear he now instilled. Coldly, he touched her cheek, seeming satisfied when she shuddered in pain.

“Marble has become porcelain.’ He laughed, knowing that now she could not stop him “What is this new life you have, Llideah? One where you are afraid? One where I can pierce your spirit?”

He had slipped here, and in a moment he realized it, yet he kept his composure, pretending not to have faltered.

“I always could have. I always knew what you hid from me- what you did not tell me. But you see, Llideah, this body…this version of me is missing that.”

His speech was inconsistent and she could tell that he was mad. The hate, the insanity in his eyes raged, but still she could not argue- her throat was closed with pain at his clenched hand.

“Little Delilah, now you’ll see what it means to be faithful to a lord.” He smirked, as she screamed, blood and spirit flowing from her neck only to disappear in his hands “Your life is mine now- when I die, you die. You can’t betray me anymore- you’ll only be destroying yourself. From now on, you can’t walk away from me. And from now on what you see is no longer secret.”

She burned with pain but now a new spark flickered in her mind. He had done it. Once more he had sealed his own fate.

With this a feeble smile came to her face, and as it did, Kani’s grin disappeared. She stared at him, unafraid, and laughed despite the tightness in her throat. She knew now how Llideah had destroyed him the first time.

“You are such a fool…” she smirked.

[~Hidan~]

With Kain out of commission Kani came storming across the field annihilating everything in his path. Single blows took out hundreds of men and sent their bodies flying. Even his own men would get killed in the way oh Kani’s mighty Halberd.

The smoke dissipated around Titania, she could breath again normally and off in the distance she could see the battle as Kani tore through the ranks of soldiers. She looked about to find Malice standing there with blood covering most of his face and jacket. He looked strait at Kani and smiled. “Don’t worry Titania it will all be over soon.”

Malice charged towards Kani with the blinding speed only he could achieve, unfortunately Kani saw him coming and had his spear waiting. Before Malice could stop the broad side of the spear caught him and sent him flying bones could be heard snapping all over the battle field. Lifelessly Malice’s Body landed on the field. Titania cried out “Malice!!”

---------

Meanwhile Kirby, Glenn and Syne sat in their cells. Something strange had been happening for about three hours now, every so often they would hear drilling noises from below them.

“What do you suppose that is?” Glenn said putting his ear to the floor.

“Not sure but its getting closer.” Kirby said also with his ear to the floor.

Syne sat still in the corner trying to cover herself up with what little clothes she had on wishing she could get the hell out of this place. Then with a loud thud the stones below the division of the two cells collapsed out from the floor revealing a tunnel. And up popped three heads, it was three dwarfs in miner’s helms and cloths. “Hope we are not too late to rescue you all.” The first one said. “We got word that you’d been caught from the Capt’an, we are the dwarfs of Galmon crater.”

“Great we were heading to find your people. Can you get us out of here and help us find our friends?” Glenn said pointing down the hole.

“What do you think we are here for?” The dwarf said

“Can you get my stuff for me, its right over there?” Syne said pointing at the case in the hallway.

“We sure can miss.” The dwarf said prying open the bars with a large pickaxe.

Syne retrieved her stuff and put back on her clothes. She grabbed her sword and cut off the magic restrictors that had been put on her. “Albright ready to go! Do you know where Magus, Titania and Malice are?”

“Titania has been retrieved but Magus is dead and Malice is as well, but Titania would not go with out him.” The dwarf said “Quickly we must be going.”

Malice dead! Magus dead! How could this be? Syne thought as she entered the tunnel last. A few hours later they arrived at an underwater river where a boat was waiting.

“This is as far as we go.” The Dwarf said pointing at the boat. “Please get on the boat the others will bring you to the city safely, we have tracks to cover.” The dwarf said pulling out a couple of sticks of dynamite

[Zeromus_X]

"Hmm, what have I gotten myself into?" Kirby thought to himself as he looked around.
"Kirby! Kirby!!" exclamed a muffled voice.
"Eh?" Kirby inquired.
"It's me! Me, Dude!"
"Oh, I almost forgot about you guys! Well, I'll just let you out then-"
"No, not in front of everyone!"
"Hey Kirby, are you alright?" asked Syne.
"Oh yes, I'm fine." Kirby replied, as he shuffled backwards. I just...have to...take care...of something..." "Oh, well, okay then." Said Syne. "I'm sure there's a bathroom on the boat though..."

***********************************************

Afterwards, some point backwards in the tunnel, Kirby released his three feline companions. "Nyaa! Feels great to be out of the bag, for now." said Misty."We've been thinking Kirby, you know..." said Sneaky."That it'd be best...if you stayed here, in Palis!"
"Oh okay...say what?!" exclamed Kirby.
"Yeah, you know, stay in Palis. And we're leaving." explained Dude. "Wha, why?! Why would you leave?! Besides, this universe is far too graphic for me. It's best not to get involved in whatever it is thats going on here. Glenn and Syne seem to be involved in something big, whatever it is. All this talk of demons and reincarnation is making me confused!" said Kirby. "Heh, and Syne says I look like her cousin, or something."
"Well, you may have been, in a past life. You never know" said Sneaky. "But anyway, we all thought about it, and we do think it's best for you to stay here. Call it destiny or something, but you may even find your 'inspiration' that you want so much!" Said Dude, "clawing" another dimensional vortex.
"Hey, wait, but I-"

Of course it was too late for Kirby, each cat leapt into the portal, Dude clawing it shut behind him.

"Eh......" was all Kirby could say.
"Hey, Sir Kirby!" called out Glenn. "The Dwarves need to use the dynamite now!" "Oh, I see. Well, I'll be on my way!" answered Kirby.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Kirby asked himself with a sigh.

[Dark FFnut]

((*chucks a Prinny at Seph, then dives for cover* Bad Seph. No cookie for you.))

************************************************** ***********************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Darkness

Still floating in the darkness, Variel began to ponder everything. "It... it was fate, wasn't it? The... the way I died... and I did the same to my host..." He drew a deep breath. "Magus... your death was my fault..."

************************************************** ***************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, Kain's Castle

Gadriel confronted Kain, the blade of Eithne in his hand. "Demon!" he cried. "Where is he? Show me the murderer!"

Kain laughed, drawing his silver sword. "Fool," he rasped. "You know not what you face. Your ignorance shall bring you into eternal repose."

A blast of electricity issued from Gadriel, lost in his own fury. It found the sword like... well, like a lightning bolt to a piece of metal. Kain dropped the sword, and it lost its cohesiveness, splattering on the floor. Drawing his lance, the demon charged. The blade of the gods brushed aside the demons weapon, but a blast of energy caught Gadriel and he fell backwards. Cackling, Kain raised his lance, pointing it directly at the man's chest.

"May the gods condemn you to eternal torture," spat Gadriel. Kain only smiled as he drove the point down.

And missed.

By the time Gadriel had figured out what was happening, Variel had already knocked Kain aside. The lance lay off to the side of the room, forgotten. A quick punch knocked the demon to the floor and left Variel panting. Gadriel rushed over to the body of the great demon, only to get slashed by the now-solid silver sword that Kain had managed to grab from the floor. Variel knocked the sword loose again, and shouted, "Gadriel! Now!"

Blood in his eyes and unable to differentiate between friend and foe, Gadriel fired a bolt of lightning, blasting one of the two battling figures onto his back.

A few seconds passed as Gadriel waited for Variel to assure him that the battle was won.

Instead of Variel's assurance, however, the only sound that reached his ears was Kain's cackle.

Gadriel let loose a second bolt, toppling the demon. This second blast had nowhere near the voltage of the one that felled Variel, unfortunately, and Gadriel knew it. "Kain... I swear... on my father's grave... on Variel's grave... that I will be the one who puts you into yours."

The lance, sword, and demon all vanished with those words, but the echoes of the cackle remained in the air. Blinking through the blood, sweat, and tears, Gadriel silently picked up Variel's body and carried him out.

************************************************** ***********************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Darkness

Tears fell from Variel's incorporeal face as he recalled those final moments. Filled with utmost sorrow, he shuddered. That's when he realized what was really wrong. "The binding spell is over... why haven't I gone on to the afterlife yet?"

*********************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Kain's Castle

A small moth flapped out of the castle as hard as it could when Kani had begun his rampage. This moth, unbeknownst to anyone else, was Lavos Gamma, one of the only remaining Lavos Spawn in Palis. With Kain dead, Gamma had no protection from the other demons under Kani. Flying as quickly as he could, he attempted to get away as fast as possible.

CRUNCH.

He hadn't planned on Kani throwing Malice into the air at that moment, and Lavos Gamma met a rather abrupt end.

((Hey, we have too many villains to give them all a dignified death, right? And finally, my next post, I will take control of Glenn - I'm sure that Masa, Mune, and Doreen have been too quiet for anyone's tastes anyway.))

[Zerlina]

((Yay, Glenn's one of my favourites.

Ok everyone, eat and go to the bathroom now, cause this is a long one))

They camped that night in the tunnel, taking advantage of what little time they had away from danger.

Their fire flickered, painting the stony walls a warm orange, and bringing to light the immediate. What was to come still lay in the dark.

Syne awoke from an unsteady sleep, her neck sore from the rocky ground, and her wrists still pounding from the chains Kani had put on her. Her bright blue eyes flickered amongst the sleeping party, settling for a while on Glenn’s scarred arms. Where he had come about these wounds, she did not know, and the feeling disturbed her.

She closed her eyes once more, making a sad attempt at luring sleep. In this way, the world turned dark. Amongst the steady sound of flowing water, and the crackling of fire, she heard a smaller sound- a soft whimper. She ignored it at first, but when it persisted, she once again opened her eyes.

“Glenn…”

“mf…?”

“Kirby?”

The artist snored loudly and rolled over.

“Men…” muttered Syne, rising to her feet and rubbing her eyes.

Her pink fingers clutched a lantern that swung and creaked as she walked amid the cave. The air was damp and heavy, and with every step she felt the heat of a shadowy demon breathing down her back.

She turned toward a small opening in the cave, where a thin spring emerged and flowed down the wall, landing in a meager pool. Here, she stopped, the light from her lantern revealing a shadowy figure.

Long white sleeves draped into the water, their tattered edges grayed. The figure had its arms crossed around its chest as if cold; its hands clutched its arms, nails pressed hard into white flesh. Like this, it shivered -though not entirely from the cold- and wept, tears flowing into the pool like so much blood.

Syne knew who it was, but did not approach. For a while, she simply watched, unsure of what to do and what to say.

Titania could see the light from the lantern, and knew from the shadow that it must be Syne. Still, she did not turn, but instead remained stationary, clutching a small dagger in her white hands. The tears rippled down her cheeks, making her hair stick to her cold skin.

“What do you want?” She asked, with a tone more harsh than she had intended. Her voice echoed along the walls.

Syne was silent, and did not move.

“Leave me alone, please.” Titania muttered, looking away so as to hide the tears she had forbidden for so long.

Syne turned away but did not leave. For a moment there was a silence, filled only by the sound of the running water.

“I know what it’s like to lose someone…” she said, quietly “…I’ve lost so many people dear to me.”

Silence.

“When I was younger, I…” she trailed off, old pain surfacing “…I lost someone who meant the world. And I know what its like…when your chest feels like collapsing, when your hands ache and you can’t even move without being in pain. When you turn every corner and expect to see him…when just one word would be enough to make it all stop.

I know what it’s like to have that emptiness and to yearn for something so impossible…to want to grasp…to hold…to find something real…

I know what it means to wonder, and to find nothing. I know what it means to have someone gone.

I know what it means to be silent and to yearn for sound.”

She paused for a moment, and Titania thought she might be brushing away her own tears.

“You never really understand why people die, and letting go seems wrong. How could you let go? How could you reduce him to a burden- something that must be gotten away with?”

“…I…I want to go back…it would have been so easy then…if he had just known… or had moved a little differently…it was so fast, and then just like that…it was over…”

Syne moved closer and sat beside her friend, wrapping her in a sisterly embrace. For a while, they stayed like this, spilling tears for the ones that they had lost. In each other’s sorrow they saw both saw themselves and knew it was no longer someone who did not understand who was trying to comfort them.

The quiet that came next was strange, filled with the echoing the running water and the short sounds of pain.

“Tell me what happened.” Muttered Syne “Tell me what they did to him.”

Titania nearly collapsed and, if not for the other girl, she would have crumbled to the ground.

*

[Zerlina]

“Malice!”

Her voice echoed through his head, almost distantly, as his eyes met Kani’s. In an un-calculated move, the warlord twisted his spear, ushering on even more pain than before. Fiercely, he withdrew his weapon and smiled.

“To think that this is what Gadriel has been reduced to…” Kani pushed his opponent to the ground and kicked him hard in the ribs, kneeling beside him with an arrogant sneer “Don’t worry. You’ll soon have company.”

He glanced up at the horrified figure that watched them from a distance.

“You may want to collect him now.” Kani called to Titania as he rose to his feet “It will be much harder once the animals get to him.”

Slowly, he backed away and watched, amused by the situation. A sick joy filled him as he saw the passing of his most powerful enemy.



Despite the icy ground, Titania ran her fastest toward Malice, collapsing at his side, and discarding any pride. Instinctively, she reached for his wound, but he brought up his own shaky fingers, clasping them over hers and laying them on his chest.

He coughed, the most horrifying cough. Blood ran from his cold mouth.

“Let me heal you…” she insisted, but he shook his head.

“There isn’t a spell that could close this wound.” He replied, “…Just stay…stay with me…”

He stroked her fingers, and she wrapped her arms around him, careful not to press against his wound. Nothing mattered now- death had scraped through consciousness and restrain. All that remained now was the truth.

With cold lips, she kissed his face over and over again, tears flowing onto his cheeks the whole time.

“Don’t leave me…” she pleaded, and he smiled, placing a hand on her chin.

“You make a good case…” he attempted to joke, but was interrupted by a painful cough that tore at his chest “Listen to me, I need you to do something … take my dagger to my father …tell him what’s happened to me.”

“No…” she shook her head “You don’t need me to do that…you’re not dying…just stay still and we’ll get you back, you’ll see.”

He smiled but shook his head. It was as if he had not heard what she had said “I’m sorry I can’t finish the journey with you… I know I promised to look out for you, but I…we’ll find each other again. We already know…death…war…even seven hundred years can’t keep us apart.

No matter what, we’ll find each other again… and again… until we’re allowed to be together.”

She forced a smile but her sadness overpowered her, and she looked down at him through tears, offering a few more tender kisses as his breathing slowed.

His gaze now was distant, and as he looked up at her it seemed as if he were staring elsewhere.

“I never realized before…” he began, forcing a laugh, “…how beautiful the snow…the sun…how beautiful everything is...”

“Save your energy,” she whispered, but he brought his hand to her cheek and held it for a moment, studying her face.

After a few moments he smiled, his voice becoming distant “…at least this time…” he mumbled “I can leave without regret…knowing that this time I didn’t let you die…”

“You’re speaking nonsense.”

“…everything happens for a reason.”

He smiled and shook his head “This life…that life…our souls are the same. I knew what would happen if I hadn’t taken his spear. I knew from the day I began to look deeper in my memory. It wasn’t clear at first, and even until now... but now that death is so close I can see …it was more than just an impulse…”

He forced a smile, but was unable to hide the sadness and longing that lingered behind his bravery. In his eyes lay a sincerity she had never seen before, and in it was written his doom.

“Promise you won’t forget me…” he said, quietly, his breathing slow “I-.”

She placed her hand over his mouth, brushing it against his cheek. Tears in her eyes, she pressed her forehead to his “Never.” she whispered, “I won’t ever forget you.

He smiled and she kissed his lips, filling him with warmth as the life within him faded.

“…I love you”

Titania waited a moment and withdrew, looking at him with tears running down her face. She brought him close, clutching his body as if doing so would keep his spirit with her longer. She kissed his hair, her reddened hands shivering in painful sorrow.

“Don’t leave me!” She cried, her voice broken in sobs as she folded over, unable to hold herself up any longer. Her voice fell to whispers as she clutched his lifeless body, unable to accept that he was dead “…don’t…please… don’t…”

There was no life left in his body now, and though she pleaded with him, he could not answer. All he could do was stare with a glazed, empty expression.




Kani watched from some distance away, as the joy of victory coursed through his body.

“Hige…” he muttered, turning to his general.

The man was unable to look at him, his gaze frozen to the ground “What is it, my lord?” he asked, his voice falling cold in the snowy air.

“…get rid of Llideah.”

Kani turned away, disappearing into a flash of light and shadow, a smile tearing at his steady lips.

Hige could only go so far as to watch the scene before him. He saw the bloodstained snow, the bodies which lay lifeless and would never be properly buried. He saw the shells of people who had once been fathers, brothers, husbands, sons. He saw his own doing, and saw his guilt as clear as the crimson snow.

The wind pulled violently at his cloak, tossing it about as if enraged. He took a breath and moved forward, drawing his dagger from his belt. With heavy footsteps he moved closer, his eyes fixed on the girl who held the lifeless body of a man whose life he had once spared.

Titania felt him behind her and turned to stare, her arms wrapped protectively around Malice. That image – the pain in her eyes, the blood in her hands and on his face; the wound in his stomach, the red of the snow and emptiness of him- it would remain with the general forever and haunt his sleep for years to come.

“Don’t touch him!” she screamed, her words almost indistinguishable through her cracking voice.

Hige backed up slightly; silent in his guilt.

She turned once more to Malice, stroking his hair in an attempt to clean the blood from it.

“It’s not safe for you here…” Hige muttered, and though she heard him, for a time she gave no response.

There was a tenseness in the air until finally Titania broke it, speaking with a voice stronger but smaller than she had ever used.

“…if you’re going to kill me, then do it now.” She said, her words and eyes piercing him like knives “Get rid of me here, where I may be forgotten and never blamed. Leave me where no one will find me.

End my pain.”

He stared at her, his hand trembling uneasily. With cold fingers, he raised his weapon, only to drop it in the red snow.

“I will see to it that his body is properly taken care of.”

She ignored him

“I will perform the funeral rite myself. Now go, and find your friends.”

He knelt down next to her, seeing a part of his own daughter in this despairing soul “…I know you want to stay, but there’s nothing more you can do for him. Go now and finish what he’s started. I will arrange for you to be reunited with your friends.”

She looked at him with wonder and confusion; she still would not release Malice from her hold.

Hige swallowed hard, covering his face with a coldness he hoped would be convincing “Go now. Or else I will sever his hands and he shall wander the after life without them.”

At this, she moved back, but still could not let go. She gave Hige a pleading look, and to her surprise, he moved closer, offering his arms to receive Malice’s body. Slowly, she let go, though as she did so, pain tore through her, ripping her soul in two and leaving her with nothing but emptiness.

“Go…” Hige muttered once more; she did not leave.

Faithfully, she took the bracelets from her wrists and the rings from her pockets, placing them in Malice’s hand before pressing it closed. Still unable to leave, she ran her cold fingers over his pendant, and up to his cheek, her eyes focused on his lifeless face.

“…until we meet again.” She whispered, taking his daggers and slowly rising to her feet

“I will take care of his body. And all the others. This shall not become a mass grave like the other conquered cities. This site shall be remembered. And he shall be remembered.”

“Th-thank you…” muttered Titania, moving away and fighting every desire to turn back around.

Hige watched her leave, and his gaze fell down toward the man who he now held.

“You are so young…” he muttered “…just like I was when I died…”

*

Kani watched from far atop the rampart, knowing Hige could not see him.

“Hige…” he muttered, and Hector turned toward him “…I knew we could not trust Hige. This was his last mistake.”

“Do you want me to take care of him, my lord?”

“No,” Kani replied “We’ve given him a second chance and still he has betrayed us. I want him to suffer…to show him that disloyalty is rewarded just as much as its opposite.

Allow him to bury the dead, and then bring him to me. Let us see how well he can fabricate a story.”

*

[Zerlina]

Titania walked aimlessly for a while, traveling as far from the city as possible. When at last she was far enough, she collapsed once more. The vision of his still body came to mind- the blood, the pain. But amongst all that, the most painful vision was what lay before her. The most painful vision was the emptiness of the world and the absence of what she had begun to live for.

It was winter the first time, too, wasn’t it?

She closed her eyes, obscure memories playing in her head. There was snow, and stone, and in the midst of a gray and dismal sky, there was him.

Desperately, she tried to understand her vision, but it was cloudy and strange, obscured by a misty fog.

He stood there in the midst of the storm; with timid footsteps, she approached, only to watch from the distance as he walked into darkness, leaving her alone.

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Dwarf Tunnels

Glenn woke up suddenly, thanks to a few annoying voices keeping him from sleeping peacefully.

(Glenn! This is really important!)

Rubbing his eyes, the knight glanced at the weapon beside him. "Truly, this hath better be important..."

Oh, Glenn, this is. This really is. See, in your dreams, Doreen, uh...

Saw someone...

"Who?"

(That's just it. I don't know. When I saw him he identified himself as Noah and said that Gadriel and Variel were dead at this point, and Llideah had come to him crying, and explained about their deaths. The only problem is...)

Who are Llideah, Gadriel, and Variel?

(Exactly.)

Glenn shook his head. "I've not a clue." Then he heard the low sobbing noise. "Who art there?"

Syne answered. "It's Titania. She has some... uh... unsettling news for us..."

Glenn grabbed the weapon and crawled over. "What?"

Through the sobs, Glenn could make out a few of Titania's words. Specifically, the words "Magus," "Malice," "dead," and "love," but he couldn't make sense of it. Syne shook her head sadly. "Magus and Malice, they're both..."

Glenn was speechless. He even felt the normally rambunctious spirits in the Mastermune fall still. He stood up, holding the blade in the air. "Who did it. Tell me who killed them. I'll..."

Syne stood as well. "Kani. It had to be Kani."

Glenn nodded solemnly, feeling utter turmoil coursing through him. Then he heard Doreen speak.

(Titania, who is Llideah?)

Titania was too upset to even realize who was speaking to her. Yet despite the fact that she did not fully know, she felt the words flow from her lips on their own. "She died seven hundred years ago, but she's here. She..." Titania trailed off, suddenly realizing the oddity of both the question and the asker.

Glenn, however, ignored this. He held up the sword, both blades gleaming. "GRRIBBIT!" echoed throughout the tunnel.

((Yeah, yeah, so nothing really happened, but so what? Noah's been realized, Glenn knows about Magus and Malice and is out for revenge, and we're definitely approaching the final battle of this story anyway. Besides, I have an idea for all the past-spirits when we get to the final battle - the reason why Variel and now Gadriel haven't gone to the afterlife, despite Variel's spell not being active anymore, will be revealed, among other things.))

[~Hidan~]

(FYI I wasnt able to compleat the part of the story that I was on, GF kept buging me, Malice is supposed to be in the city that the others got brought to by the Dwarfs, just in some sort of occoma (sp) and he should wake up once Malice is back, he was supposed to be killed then reserected, but into a state of deep sleep to find some unlocked power)

[Zerlina]

(How bout we combine that so that it makes sense when he comes back. He's died, but will be resurrected and in his state of death (I guess spiritual seperation) he was able to achieve whatever state you were talking about. Otherwise it sort of takes away from the idea of a true apotheosis)

[Zeromus_X]

(Uh...won't this be kind of spoiler-y for the others (non-people-that write-the story) reading? Or does it really matter? Just curious.)

[Zerlina]

((People actually read this story?))

[Zeromus_X]

(lol. Well, i always thought that the other people on the forum read it...it'd be kinda hard to miss. Oh well. I was just wondering :p)

[Dark FFnut]

((Dammit, I had another post, but the stupid forums froze on me and by the time I got back the whole post was deleted. But since the last story-post was also mine, I guess I should wait until someone else posts a story-thing, huh? I used to be notorious for posting too many times in stories like this and changing the entire storyline, but I'm better now. In other words, POST PEOPLE!))

[Tiny Bronco]

(I read these. They're good and I have a lot of time on my hands.)

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Dwarf Tunnels

The group trudged on through the tunnels. Kirby was lagging behind the rest, as he was completely unaware of what had just transpired and was surprised by the haste that Glenn began leading the party with. Glenn remained several feet ahead of the rest of the group, constantly taking turns throughout the tunnels that didn't make any sense at all - Titania had already lost track of the path she took in, but she was sure that this was not that way.

Even as Glenn marched on, even he knew that he was lost. He kept moving like he knew where to go, his anger and pride too strong to allow him to admit his mistake. He wouldn't be weak. He couldn't be weak.

Even the Mastermune's spirits had kept silent, feeling his seething rage. Left and right, down a slope and up a different one, Glenn's nonsensical paths led them down tunnels that shouldn't have even existed.

Finally Syne spoke up. "Glenn... do you have any idea where we're going?" There was no answer from the knight. The overwhelming emotions he was feeling had lodged themselves in his throat, and he couldn't speak without cutting them loose and crying for the next few hours. He was strong. He wasn't weak.

Hours later, they were no closer to an exit. Titania was still sobbing gently. Syne felt exhausted from supporting Titania on this path and still matching Glenn's brisk pace. Kirby, still unaware of what had happened, was on the verge of collapse.

Soon, however, the tunnels opened up into a vault-like area. Glenn pushed on, tired, but refusing to show it. He climbed up a long staircase and pushed on the stone door at the top.

"Oh..." he whispered, peering through the opening. "Thou hast got to be kidding me."

((Cliffhanger! Sorry about that, but I can't really come up with a good place for them to have found. If anyone wants to show where this random tunnel ended up, feel free.))

[Zerlina]

"Thou hast got to be kidding me."

((Officially my new favourite quote from the story))

The large stone door gave way to more darkness, only this was more hopeless than what they had already seen. Ahead, the passage sloped upward, but disappeared quickly into absolute shadow. Somewhere along the way, a stream ran off the course rocks, echoing like a hollow growl.

Glenn squeezed his fists hard, the worn leather of his gloves squeaking beneath his strength. Without a word, he moved forward and Syne reluctantly followed.

“The air is thicker here.” She said, “I think we’re moving further in the wrong direction.”

Glenn did not answer but instead walked on. There was a great silence, and it was not until some time later that he cried out in frustration; he had walked into a net of tangled vines.

“How in hell do vines grow in such a dark…miserable…useless place!” he screamed, pulling his arm back.

The vine did not leg go.

“Syne, backare! Backare!” he called, but it was too late (and Syne had not understood him anyways).

The vine wrapped tightly around the four, pulling them off the ground and into the hard wall.

Titania let out a small cry as her thin shoulders smashed up against the rock. She pulled slighlty to the right, but her arms cracked in pain, as another vine caught her wrists and twisted them behind her back.

Yet, what should have been a fearsome struggle was little more than a violent binding, for there was no will to fight left inside of her. It was almost as if the vines were strangling someone who was already waiting to die.

*

Glenn was the first to catch his weapon, and he cut through the thick vine, swinging blindly in the darkness. There was a strange cry as he fell, landing with a heavy splash into a deep pool of water.

The world became thick and heavy, his friends’ painful screams muted by the frigid water. The darkness was still unrelenting, and he knew only from his other senses that he was now in a dark and bloodless air. As quickly as he could he swum in the direction he believed was upward; his heavy armor pulled him back, holding him down.

*

Syne drew her sword. Her freedom was not long, however, as her wrists were soon as the vines whipped over her wrists, painfully wrapping them up. She found herself struggling to keep control of her weapon.

Finally, her strength won, and she cut through her captor, only to be pulled up quickly by the foot. Soon, she found herself rushing through the air, still held by the vine.

Furiously, she swung her sword in every direction, but it was in vain. The air rushed by, and she came to a sudden stop. The vines pressed her hard into something soft. With her free hand, she felt the darkness in front of her, all too late realizing she was now in front of the monster that held her.

Fear washed over her as she could feel the heat of the creature’s breath against her face, and soon its grotesque tongue against her skin. It seemed this monster had not eaten in some time and was now attempting to swallow her whole. She kicked, screaming for help and swinging her sword desperately.

There was a scream from further away, and a pulsing through the vines. In a moment, Syne was hit hard with a spell. She cried out in pain, soon realizing she had been attacked with white magic.

*

Titania was still held in the dark, her wrists bound by those terrible vines- each as thick as a man’s arm. She screamed as the rough plants pressed hard into her skin, piercing her hands with what felt like fangs. In an instant, she could feel blood being drawn out of her wounds, and became afraid.

She heard Syne’s voice and saw the light in the distance.

That was when she knew. The creature was using her magic against her friends, and she was sure it could use Glenn’s too if it got a hold of him.

She began to fight.

[Spiff]

The wind had been blowing strong for hours as General Hige approached his base. A single soldier raced up to him seemingly out of breath, "Sir, Lord Kani wishes to see you." he said grasping for air. Hige sighed, "I'll need a moment.", hoping that Kani had not heard that he had placed several guards around Malice's body. To his disappointment the soldier replied, "My Lord said it was most urgent that you are there."

Hige's heart sank into his bowels. He knew what was going on, Kani had either seen or heard of what had happened. Either way he didn't care, whatever punishment laid in store for him was nothing.

He walked towards the tent where his judgement would be decided. For once he felt he could hold his head up high. As Hige stepped into the tent, in the tent were three guards and Kani, once inside his eyes met with Kani's eyes. "What's news do you being from the battlefront?", Kani asked casually not wanting to give anything he knew away. "I fought Llideah but was defeated and she escaped.", Hige said looking at Kani.

Kani paused in silence as if he was examining the scene that was unfolding in front of him. Hige stood there not wanting to break the silence that had engulfed the tent. After a couple of minutes that felt like an enternity Kani spoke, "Why do you lie to me?". Hige had seen this coming, "I don't understand." he lied.

Kani looked disappointed, "Two chances? The most I give anyone is one, I guess you should feel special. All you had to do was kill one person and I would have been satsified. But you let her go, and I'm not interested why, you traitor." He signaled to his guards and they started to unsheath their swords. Almost instantly Hige drew his sword and sliced off the right guard's sword arm. Then he leapt at Kani and held his bloody sword at Kani's throat, "Death is too good for evil but I'll make an exception." Before he could do anything another guard hit him with the butt of his sword, knocking Hige unconscience.

With his lifeless body fallen on the ground the soldiers look at Kani for his command, "Some would say he's too good of a soldier to kill, but we can fix that. I want to burn his eye out." The guards looked at Kani with nervousness, "Which one my Lord?"

"Both of them..."

[~Hidan~]

Syne screamed in pain as she was flung into the wall, hitting hard she could feel several of her ribs break. A small glint of steel came from where she came from. A sharp pain hit her as her own sword pinned her to the wall piercing through her chest just below the left collarbone. He lounge pierced she could barely breath. With what little strength she had she yelled out to Titania. “Run!”

With that Titania froze up and fell to her knees in fear. Hearing Syne say to run was not something that she was prepared for. “Where am I supposed to go I can’t see my way out!?” She screamed in fear and frustration.

“Don’t worry I’ll get it.” Glenn said from far off in the other side of the room.

Glenn stood in the room his armor left behind in the water, he only had his sword. Taking up a defensive stance he waited. A tactical came up around his left but he was ready for it he stabbed down into it and then grabbed it and pulled following it towards the source. He came forward and with the sound of passing tentacles passing by him he finally got to a fleshy core of the monster and trusted his sword forward blindly. Stabbing over and over again the monster gave off screams of pain. Finally he could tell the beast was dead. “It’s safe.” He said, “It’s not going to bother us much more.”

Titania gathered herself and stood up. “I’m ok? Where are you?”

“I don’t know but I have to get my armor out of the water in here.”

“Where is Syne?”

“I can’t tell.”

A light sliding noise started from off in the distance and a small beam of light came into the room making them able to see where they were. The room was large and had two small bodies of water in it. Even with the little bit of light they could not see Syne.

Glenn dove into the water and retired his armor; While Titania adjusted her eyes to find Syne. “Syne where are you?” She yelled

“……. Over here….. I’m against the wall.” Syne said with a lot of pain in her words.

Titania followed the voice and came to the wall and still could not see Syne, then looking up and she saw hanging from the wall Syne’s bloodied and bruised body. “Glenn get over here now please! Syne needs our help really bad.”

Glenn ran over and looked up at Syne. “You’re not looking so great. How are we going to get her down?”

“How am I supposed to know?” She said in a painful whisper.

Glenn looked around the room and found some large bones on the ground and leaned them up against the wall next to Syne. He climbed up and Grabbed onto her sword. “This will probably hurt. A lot.”

Syne nodded.

Putting one foot on each side of Syne’s body Glenn grabbed the sword’s blade with both hands, his gloves protecting him from getting cut. He gave a hard tug pulling the sword clear out of the wall and Syne. He fell hard to the ground the heave blade pinning him down until he could recover.

Syne fell from the wall limp. Blood poured out of her wound, which was quickly healing. “I’ll be ok in a moment.” Syne said touching her wound.

“Bye the gods how do you heal so fast?” Titania said looking at her friend. “You should be dead after that.”

“On my planet we all heal like this. It’s the main reason the war has been going for over three hundred years.” Syne let out a small painful laugh. “No one seems to die that easy.”

“So now where are we going?” Glenn said looking around the room for a way out.

[Zeromus_X]

"Yes, a good question" confirmed Syne, "but doesn't it seem like something is missing?"

Just then, the group heard a muffled sound, coming from nearby. "Heelp...somebody get this thing off of me!"

"What is it?" asked Titania. "I don't know...but possibly..." said Syne. Meanwhile Glenn checked the area."Heeelp" they heard again. "I hear it again! It's a bit closer now" stated Glenn. Finally,

"Dammit!" exclaimed the voice as one of the limp tentacles of the dead beast was lifted off of the floor. Kirby then got up, small pieces of paper with sketches of hands on them fell onto the floor. Coincidentally, the ground itself seemed to have formed into hands that were lifting up the tentacle of the deceased monster.

"Couldn't any of you hear me? I did need help, you know!" said Kirby. "Uhh.." Glenn stammered. Titania giggled, "well, you can obviously take care of yourself." "Yes, but how did you draw such detailed sketches of hands constricted beneath that tentacle?" inquired Syne. "Ah, well, you know. I have had a few thousand years of practice" replied Kirby nonchalantly.

The rest of the party decided not to inquire any further.

"Well...anyway, we still need to find a way out of here. Perhaps...yes, a compass would come in handy." said Glenn. "Well, let's see...Ah! Here we are!" said Kirby, pulling a compass out of his bag. "I should have known." said Syne.

Glenn recieved the compass from Kirby, and began looking at it, as the needle began to focus.

[Zerlina]

Syne helped Kirby up as Glenn began to re-attach his armour. It was strange, but without it, the knight felt indecent. The crafted metal had become so much a part of him that to lose it was almost to lose a part of himself.

He turned the slightly dented greave-fronts toward him, trying to unbuckle the strap, when he caught a sight of his own reflection. At first he was surprised not to see a frog staring back (for even after all these years, he was still becoming used to his new –or old- appearance). But as he stared longer, he began to notice other things- the darkness beneath his eyes, the dirt and dried blood on his cheek- there was no escaping the fact that the last few months had taken their toll on him. In one moment it hit him that this adventure could very well be his last.

“Glenn, is something wrong?” asked Syne, “You’ve been staring at that shin-guard for about fifty years now.”

“Hm? Oh…n-no think nought of it.” He said, as he began to fasten it to his leg.

Titania turned away, her now perpetually sorrowful eyes staring at nothing. They had lightened as of recent as had so much about her –a phenomenon some might credit to the metals in the northern air (though those who knew her would not).
In the cold, her skin had turned an alabaster white, and her hair was but a faded version of her once rich tresses. She seemed a ghost now, sad and strange in the ominous dark- no longer the bright and innocent child who had come through on the eve of war. For now she was not carried by the rain, but rather, seemed part of it- as if her very self was like the silvery raindrops; falling without resistance to the unforgiving ground, only to be washed away and forgotten.

She barely spoke anymore –or laughed- and what she did say was often short and soft-spoken, broken by unshed tears and smothered sobs. There was no longer any aim- no longer any desire for peace. She did not care anymore what happened to the world or to its people. What she wanted now was revenge- to take the life of the man who had destroyed what was precious, and then to destroy herself. Perhaps it was fate; perhaps this whole adventure was nothing but a cruel trick of the gods- a way to lure the emotions out of foolish mortals and then laugh at them. It did not seem to matter either way- her faith was all but gone.

There was a sudden coldness, and her light hair swayed even though she had not moved. She closed her eyes, the very feeling of the wind making her chest collapse onto itself.

“Glenn.” She called, her eyes still closed and her head turned down “I can feel a breeze coming from this way. I think we’re almost out.”

“I didn’t feel anything.” Syne remarked.

“Are you saying that I’m lying?” asked Titania, her last word barely audible “…that I’m making this up?”

“No. I only meant-”

“Do you not think I’d know when there was a breeze?” she suddenly interrupted, this time loudly, her echoing voice full of rage and spite “Do you not think I know the feeling of wind!?”

Syne cried out, the feeling of the same magic hitting her once more. There was a bright flash, illuminating the cave for an instant and then disappearing.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Syne called, angrily, though she already knew “Don’t make me defend myself!”

“Dammit, don’t pretend to care!” Titania screamed back “Where were you when we were at war!? Where were you a week ago when you could have done some good?”

There was a tension and stillness that came as Titania nearly collapsed into tears both of sorrow and of rage. Grief had brought on a kind of madness, and in her fury a sudden realization hit her.

“…you and Kani were the same once.” She muttered bitterly under her breath.

Syne shook her head slowly, trying to move closer, but she was hit once more with a spell.

The pain ripped through her, and this time she drew her sword.

[~Hidan~]

Looking towards the light in the corner of the room Syne made a dash towards it to try to escape the incoming magic blasts. Reaching the small gap in the wall her skinny body was able to jump through with little effort and after regaining her footing and jumped up the side of the mountain as fast as she could and took to hiding behind a large boulder.

Titania followed closely unleashing fire bolts as fast as she could. The hail of incoming blasts shattered rocks all around Syne.

Syne started throwing small rocks at Titania to keep her back from attacking her with line of sight. Titania’s eyes went wide and she screamed. A fire bolt the size of a small person flew at the rock Syne was hiding behind and Syne jumped out from behind the rock and started running again as the rock exploded behind her. Titania changed stances and the color of the magic she was throwing became long black needles of magic flying through the air.

Syne ran as fast as she could with her weights still on. The bolts of magic crashing into the rocks around her, Syne jumped behind a large rock and quickly removed her training weights and started to run again.

Titania could not keep up with Syne’s movement anymore. This made her hair start to rise with the immense power she started to give off. Glenn and Kirby ran behind a large rock and stayed hidden so as not to draw aggression from Titania.

Titania clapped her hands together and with the separation of her hands a large black ball of energy formed. She then started throwing these as Syne as close to where the last area she saw her flash step in place. Every second Syne would appear and every second a three hundred foot area blew up. Syne’s flash step was the only thing keeping her from death. With the formation of the area she was in Syne could only run back and forth the walls on either side of her were a bit high for her to jump with this much of a distraction following her.

Titania’s blasts got larger and stronger with every cast and her mana seemed unending a normal person would have passed out after only a few of these powerful blasts, but she had released over two hundred of them already.

Syne’s flash step got closer and closer to the blasting points because the blasts got bigger and bigger. She only hoped that she could keep going long enough to drain Titania of any remaining mana. She threw her sword and kept running the lessened weight gave her back some advantage on distance but this wasn’t going to last long if Titania’s blasts kept growing that way.

[Zerlina]

Titania was somewhere deep inside of herself, lost in a sea of bitterness. She no longer saw Syne- she saw Kani- and with every movement she thought that he was taunting her. Past, present, life, death- somehow everything had merged into one and was now eating away at her.

*


“You’ve searched for me for this long and now you can’t even catch me?” Kani taunted, moving back with ease “Have your powers left you, priestess?” he laughed, bitterly, hiding his own anger “Hm…I suppose then that the young prince ruined you!”

In a split second, he pressed forward, catching her by the collar “It would seem then that he got the death that he deserved- long…painful…” he savoured the words “I’ll never forget the way that he screamed when I drove my blade into his chest.

I made sure to twist it once…twice…three times- to make him feel the pain that I went through! That he put me through!”

Llideah pulled away, pushing his hand with her own; at her very touch he flinched, his arm feeling the heat of a thousand fires. Still, he would not relent. He hid his own injury, striking her hard on the cheek with the blunt edge of his weapon. With a slight cry, she hit the ground, but her eyes still burned with rage, and before he could deliver the mortal strike, she rolled out of the way, sending up her own spell to counter him.

Kani moved back but was still unshaken “It’s a shame you went and let your guard down. The immortals will send you straight to hell for breaking your vows.”

“I’ve done nothing to disgrace the temple!” she screamed, sending up a wave of bright magic, so harsh that anyone but the dark king would have fallen at its touch “What you have done to all of us…”

“What I’ve done, I’ve done for peace!” Kani interrupted “There can never be peace without first shedding blood!”

Llideah stared up at him, her anger pulsing in her hands. She felt her body become paralyzed. There was no way to move- nothing to do but listen.

“Imagine…the world under my control! Under the power of one man!” He moved closer, a madness dancing in his strange eyes “I have…a chance… to end war forever! To end suffering!”

“No man could ever do such a thing! You will destroy us all before you can accomplish your goal!”

“If that is the case then so be it! The world will destroy itself if I do not become its ruler!

For the greater good, I must take over. Who cares if some die in the process? I will save many! And in years to come, they will build statues…temples- buildings dedicated to my memory! They will look upon me as a great man!”

”They will look upon you as nothing.” Llideah muttered bitterly, her words hitting him hard “You are a madman! Not anything to be admired!”

He struck her hard with a dark spell, his own rage now growing inside of him “You will learn for once to hold your tongue!”

“You have no power over me. Not anymore.” She laughed, bitterly, pushing him further back with an unseen magic “You cannot use me.”

*

Syne dodged the magic quickly, narrowly missing each attack. She needed to somehow make Titania stop- to somehow leave her unable to fight. Her heart beat quickly as her mind raced ahead, trying desperately to think up a strategy.

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Dwarf Tunnels

Glenn continued, still angered, attempting to find an exit. Soon Syne's cries reached his ears.

He whirled around, dual-blade drawn, and charged back to Titania and Syne, leaving Kirby in the dust.

"...why do they always forget about me?" sighed Kirby.

*********************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Dark Cavern

Another blast of light shot from Titania's hand, knocking Syne even further back.

"Titania! Stop!" screamed Glenn, but the girl's eyes were lost in her fog of rage. Another ball of light began to form from her fingertips, and she let it fly.

Glenn dove in front of the lightball and took the blow for Syne.

"Noah! What are you doing?"

************************************************** ****************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, Kani's Citadel

"Stopping this madness."

Noah threw off the hood of his cloak, staring Llideah in the face. "Look at what's happening to you! Look at what your anger has done to you!"

Llideah let another ball fly, but Noah deflected it with his sword this time.

"Look at everything you're doing, Llideah! You're trying to kill now!"

"It's righteous vengeance!"

"It's pure stupidity!"

"I won't let you stop me!"

Noah's eyes dropped to the floor. "So, the High Priestess of the goddess Ishtar has fallen so far to take it upon herself to slaughter others for the sake of revenge." He glanced up, a red-hot fury glowing in his eyes. "What about my pain? What about what happened to Variel? He died too, and at the hands of a demon I want to get revenge on as well! But do you see it happening? Do you see me killing the demon who killed my best friend?"

Kani laughed at this. "Demon? You-you think it was a demon who killed good old Variel? No, it was-" he paused momentarily, pure malice shining in his eyes. "It was Variel's good friend, prince Gadriel."

"You're lying!" shouted Llideah, but Noah heard the doubt in her voice.

The blade slowly rose into the air, and was plunged down into the ground.

"Variel... he..."

"Don't listen to him, Noah! He lies!"

"The High Priestess of Ishtar should have seen it in a vision. She knows it's true."

"Shut up, beast!"

Kani's eyes flared. "You would do well to keep silent, you little bitch!" A blast of dark energy caught Llideah in the chest, causing her to flip backwards through the air.

Noah looked at Llideah, utter despair in his eyes. "I... I can't let either of you kill the other while I'm here. If you two want to die, feel free to do it elsewhere."

"With pleasure." Kani vanished.

Llideah reached out to touch Noah's shoulder, but he reacted as if he was burned by her touch. "Begone, oh holy priestess," he said, sardonicism dripping from those last two words. "I'll have nothing to do with you any further." He pulled the hood back over his head. "You have your key. I've already lost one of my greatest friends and betrayed another. It seems only fitting that the third be a reason for both."

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Dwarf Tunnels

The room faded back into view. Glenn's face was wet with Noah's tears, and Titania fell to the ground, sobbing. Syne, covered with sweat from dodging these blows, had only seen Glenn jump in front of her before she collapsed from exhaustion. Currently unconscious, Syne slept almost peacefully on the ground behind Glenn.

Titania got up slowly, reaching her hand out to Glenn. "Glenn... are you...?"

And Glenn broke down crying. He hadn't cried this much since he was younger, back when Magus's curse turned him into a frog and killed Cyrus. His tears fell to the ground, and in each of three fallen tears he could see a different reflection.

One of Glenn.

One of Frog.

And one of another man who he'd never met... but knew instinctively to be Noah.

[Zerlina]

((Beautiful post, FFnut *applause*


I know I’ve done the post right before, so I’ll post this and then skip my next turn.))



Titania withdrew her hand as she saw him cry, and let herself fall, folding her legs to kneel as she buried her face in her hands. Her tears soaked her light hair, and her shivering, pink fingers as her sobs echoed through the tunnel’s hollow walls.

The way Noah had spoken to her- the way he had pointed out her shame…it brought up a hatred in herself she could not bear. She wanted to stop, yet at the same time, she could not let go of her desire for vengeance. Past, present- she could no longer tell the difference- and so all she could do was sob, her chest crumbling in on itself as she did so. The pain spread to her palms, and as the tears flowed over her skin, they glowed with a white, ethereal aura, hitting the ground and disappearing.

“This whole time…” she muttered between exasperated breaths “We thought that it was Kani who had destroyed us…but it…it never was…

…we came together to fight him, but what made us fail was my own hatred…I was the one who gave him the power to win.”

She fell forward, catching herself with her shaking hands, still too ashamed to look at the others

“I…I couldn’t let go. I couldn’t accept Gadriel’s d…” she trailed off, struggling with the word “…death…

He promised he would come back for me- and I gave up everything…I turned my back on the immortals…I only wanted to be with him. It was so foolish, but…he was my everything…the only person in the world who ever saw me as Llideah- not as someone who could help them advance their army. He loved me, and even though I knew it was wrong…I loved him- love him.

Noah…what you said to me that day…it broke my heart again. It made me hate you. Hate… I had never felt it in my life…not until Gadriel died. Then all of a sudden, it was the only thing I understood. I hated the world. I hated the gods. I hated myself.

It was I who created the demon who gave Kani all of that terrible power- that destroyed him…that destroyed all of us. It was born from my hatred and strengthened by my power. Unknowingly, I fed it, eventually turning what was once a mortal enemy into a godly king.

What I did was unforgivable and caused everything that we’re living through today. It’s what trapped us- what made Variel seal us away. He was the wisest one- the one who knew what terrible power lay beneath my innocent appearance.

Judge me.

Go ahead. Judge me like you did that day. You thought that you knew pain, and you spoke to me of your friend’s death. You thought you were relating to me, yet you only seemed to spit in my face. Did you honestly think that because Variel died your whole world was over? It was never so.

You weren’t kept away from society. You weren’t isolated by that damn pool- three inches of water standing in the way of the rest of the world. Didn’t anyone know that I never wanted to be a priestess? I never wanted to live every day alone. I was put there because I was cursed- cursed with prophecy that others abused in order to gain power.

Gadriel…he was the only one who I ever loved…and he offered to take me away from that terrible life. All of that loneliness. Noah, I never had any family…never any friends… nothing but gods who never answered my prayers. When he came to me, and spoke so kindly, so sincerely…when he visited me every day, asking questions about things of unimportance simply to make an excuse...

He spoke to me like this, every day for a year, never crossing Ishtar’s pool. Never entering my realm of loneliness.

It wasn’t until the gods sent me a vision so powerful that I lost consciousness, that he crossed into my reality. When I awoke, I found myself in his arms. Part of me was afraid for the wrath of the gods, but a stronger part of me made me stay. I stared into those eyes that I had only seen through the screen of the blessed camphor’s smoke, and I expected to see the same fear in him. But…there was none. He had no regard –no reason to be afraid. He had only joy and relief in his eyes- the first for our closeness, and the latter for my conciousness.

That was when he told me about the world I had been so long denied. He described things I had never really seen- things I could only imagine from seeing them in the pool. I…I was too afraid to leave then…to walk across the water… I had lived in the temple too long to be unafraid of the outside world. When he offered, I refused, for I feared the immortals.

Until then I didn’t know that he did not.

He carried me over, not caring that his boots tread through holy waters. When he set me down on the other side he… he made me realize how foolish I had been. I had crossed into the realm of others, and nothing had happened. There was no thunder, no sign of vengeance from the sky. I blocked out better judgment, and decided that it must have been what the immortals wanted- that they wouldn’t punish us. I didn’t realize that they meant to cause us the ultimate suffering- to deny us a life together..

I was so foolish…our happiness was so fragile. But I was too blind to see that- imagine…the prophetess blinded by her own emotion. I thought that the world was wonderful when it revolved around one person. I never thought of what would happen when that person was suddenly gone. I…I wasn’t prepared for the emptiness…for the abandonment.

What was I to do? Was I to return to the temple? No- I had offended the gods. Was I to go out on my own? There was no way to after years of being cloistered.

I was afraid…afraid and angry…with nowhere to go. And what’s more, I was full of hatred for the man who I knew had caused everything- who had taken Gadriel away.

I had only met him twice, and after that it was his generals who had come to see me. I knew that many hated him, though I was never certain why. All I knew was what Gadriel had forced me to look at. All I knew was the fire…the pain…the death that he had caused. I filled in the blanks, so filled with hatred that I believed it all must have been true.

That’s why I joined you. That’s why I tried to take Gadriel’s place…to avenge him...”

Titania turned, outstretching her hand so as to heal him; never daring to touch him for shame.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me...” She began, tears still streaming down her face “But I’m asking you to forgive Gadriel. He…he never meant to take Variel’s life…and he doesn’t deserve your hatred.

Nobody deserves hatred.”

Titania looked at Glenn, Syne, and Kirby each in turn, her eyes settling on the ground as she thought of what she had done- both in the past and the present “If you were only there…if you had that same image in your head- knowing if you had only reached out and caught him before he ran…knowing there were a million things that could have stopped what happened. Perhaps if your days, too, would be haunted by “what ifs”… perhaps then you could understand.

She finally let her gaze travel upward, sorrow on her tear-soaked face “I only want him back…” she whispered, closing her eyes as she struggled to explain all the wordless emotions she felt “Without him, there’s only emptiness- only loss.

Glenn, I…I don’t want to be like this. I don’t want to hate…but…for me there’s no more tomorrow…no more world to live in- no more reason to love.”

[Triton]

The roar of the great one came steadily closer. Harima was ready. He lay in wait in the shadows. No one had dared to attack the great ones, no one. But he had no choice, they took his sister and since that day he had been a hollow shell of a man. It is unknown what they do with there victims, there was a chance that she was still alive, a chance for redemption for his miserable excuse for an existence. He whispers to himself, “I am sorry Kakano. I’ll be with you soon, one way or another.”
The steps of the great one come ever closer. Harima broke into a cold sweat, remembering a lesson of Soldat the Elder, only 35, but none have lived longer then he. He told Harima and Kakano that if they should ever hear the bellow of the beast, run, run for they would not last in its presence. Now here Harima was, ready to face what they had feared for over 700 years, disregarding the only advice Soldat had given him.
Harima could now hear the raspy trembling growl of the great one from around the corner of the canyon wall. He began to breathe heavily, flexing his wrists and tightening his grip on the leather wrap of his reverse crescent daggers. Suddenly, there was silence. (where is it) Something wet dripped onto Harima’s shoulder from above. Immediately, Harima sprung into action and darted to the left and kicked off the canyon wall launching himself into the air, his blades thrusted out in front of him. However, before Harima could see his foe, the beast spewed a purple liquid in his eyes blinded him. He immediately changed directions, dropped to the ground, and flash stepped a quarter mile away.
He tried fervently to wipe the sludge from his eyes, but to no avail. Then he felt the ground tremble. The beast was behind him. The speed of the great ones is legendary. Even Harima, God of The Flash, could barely out run such a beast. The beast lunged at Harima and tried to plunge its claws into Harima’s chest. However, Harima dodged the blow just in time using his shadow sense, an extrasensory technique that creates an image in the users mind based on darkness and movement of darkness around the user.
Harima launched himself in the air spinning 360, his blades giving off a black electrical aura. At the top of the spin, his body flew forward, streamline, in a flash. The blade slashed the beast across the face causing it bleed profusely. The beast had enough of toying with its prey. It began moving at speed that even Harima could not imagine. His shadow sense could pick up the great one’s movement, but if the beast attacked there would be no way to dodge the blow. The great one started running in a circle around Harima and while doing so, slashed Harima repeatedly with its razor like claws. Harima could not fend off single blow and felt himself being ripped to shreds. He could feel the tendons in arms and legs being shorn asunder. This was the legendary Hurricane Claw technique he heard about so much about in his youth. However, the only people who had seen it had done so through shadow sense, since no one had truly seen the great ones and lived to tell the tale. (My Slash of Ephemeral Darkness is nothing compared to its technique) The beast stopped its onslaught and Harima fell to floor unable to move. The great one took a moment to look over its handy work before continuing its assault. It reveled at the masterpiece of wounds before it, and then drew back its massive arm and stabbed its claws clean through Harima’s chest, puncturing the pleural membrane and causing his left lung to deflate. Harima spurted blood and began to gag. His life force began to leave him. He shed a single tear for his sister and began to pass out. The great one cackled at its pitiful prey.
Suddenly, as fate would have it, a violent storm kicked up on the battlefield. A whirlwind lifted the great one and hurled it against the canyon wall, knocking it unconscious. The storm pulled Harima’s limp body into the air and flung him into an inter-dimensional vortex. The vortex began puling at Harima’s body causing him excruciating pain. It forcefully closed his wounds and sealed them. It forced are into lungs slightly over inflating it to the point that he thought they would pop. As quickly as he was cast into the vortex, he was flung out.
The occupants of the ravine felt the violent winds of a storm swirl around them none of them moved or even acknowledged the storms presence being both emotional and physically exhausted. Harima found himself flying through the air from a moderate height. Harima was flung straight into Glenn’s chest knocking Glenn flat on his back. Harima quickly interpreted the situation; there were four people and massive amounts of damage around the ravine. The area seemed unsafe and he knew he should get out of there fast before they got a good look at him or before they could draw their weapons. He scrambled to his feet, but began to stumble and trip on the rocks. He felt light headed. (The gravity here is less then my world. Where the hell am I?) He tried feverishly to get away before anyone looked at him. Anxiety began to set in. He new he would be spotted. Then, unexpectedly the ground beneath him lifted him to his feet and allowed him to regain his balance. He immediately flash stepped to higher ground and used his shadow meld technique to hide himself and become one with the shadows. Titania and Kirby saw nothing only a raised clump of earth and Glenn laid out flat on his back. Glenn, despite the fact he had been struck, only saw a black blur before he was laid out flat. After seeing the clump of earth he wondered if there was a new enemy nearby, he wondered if they were under attack. Syne, however, had seen something, though not in clear detail. She saw a humanoid figure warp away at high speed. She recognized the technique immediately, it was the flash step, though it was at a level at which could not have imagined. Even she could not visualize the figures movement. It was at level far beyond what she would ever be able to obtain.
The entire amount of time it took for Harima to get to his feet and get away was under 5 seconds. He stayed melded in the shadows watching the group. They would never be able to find him or see him unless he wished to be seen or found. He decided he would follow this group from the shadows until he found out what this place was and the manner of people they were. As he sat and watched, Harima wondered: what was the strange power that helped him to his feet, and what was this strange new world?

[Drazniich]

Disreguard. [[I'm back but lost and confused... could someone recap me?]]

[Dark FFnut]

((I'm not reading that wall of text.

Doth mine eyes deceive me? Draz is back? Well, since we're not on a shore I assume he doesn't mean us. Either way, I've been planning this one out for a while now.))

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Dwarf Tunnels

No more reason to love.

The words hit Glenn like a cudgel.

No more reason to love.

Hadn't he felt this way before?

When Cyrus died...

When Magus died...

For once in his life, Glenn had no idea where his path was leading. His chivalrous, knightly path seemed to have collapsed beneath him, leading him into dark, subterranean tunnels of hatred and sorrow. And where could this path lead? Further into this despair?

Or a way out?

Still sobbing gently, Glenn reached out and took Titania's hand.

"Thou'rt right, Titania, about one thing anyway. Variel's the only one who truly understood what hath been happening in the first place. He was right to keep us for seven hundred years. But now..." Glenn shuddered. "When Noah... when Noah sent Llideah to meet Variel... what did he say?"

Titania flashed back to that moment on the airship. When Llideah and Variel, in Titania and Magus, spoke of what was happening.

"After our seven hundred year intermission, we'll act out this exquisite play once more..."

But this time the ending will change to the way it's meant to be.

Titania looked up, tears shining in her eyes. "But... that means... Malice... he never had a chance in the first place. He was going to die because that's the way Gadriel died. And I was going to feel this way because... Llideah felt this way..."

"Ever since we entered Palis..." whispered Glenn, "...our lives hath not been our own. They belonged solely to Noah, Llideah, and the others. We hath not controlled this chain of events. Variel did."

Titania began shouting in her rage. "So... Variel did this to me! It's unfair! Why would he make me feel this way twice? Why would he make all of us suffer these same damn things again?"

"How dost thou think Variel felt? He, too, probably felt horrific guilt. Imagine if thou knew that thy best friends would be condemned to relive the worst tortures they'd ever felt - if you had to relive those same tortures - only to save thy world? To keep all others happy... martyrs need to make great sacrifices."

"Nobody asked us to be martyrs!"

"I suspect nobody asked Nichi to die either. Thou weren't quie so enraged at his death, nor were you enraged and Magus's."

"But I didn't love them!"

Glenn's voiced dropped so low Titania had to strain to hear his words. "So... this rage is merely personal. Just like Llideah's. Perhaps this would have been our path anyway, Titania, whether or not Variel had cast that spell. Perhaps Kani would have still killed Malice, regardless of whether or not he was predestined to do so. And thou wouldst have remained with this same rage afterwards. But even so, what would have happened if the spell really did control this? You never would have met Malice. You'd never feel this rage."

His eyes pierced into her very soul.

"You'd never have felt such love."

And that last sentence led back to the very sorrowful ending of Titania's sentiment.

No more reason to love.

But without this, there would have been no reason to love in the first place.

Titania hung her head. "Let's... let's go. Even... even if all of this..."

Glenn finished for her. "Let's give Malice and Magus meaning to their lives and deaths. Even if this all is a part of some grand story... let us give it a proper ending."

[Mong00se]

First I'd like to point out that I'm very proud of FFNut. Your recent posts have been extraordinary. I don't know what you did on your break, but kudos to whoever helped you become a better writer!!
(I'm starting another story elsewhere and might ask you to join if you're interested ;) )


And ON WITH THE SHOW!!

Malice woke from his dream state.

i'm not dead??

He got up slowly, but recoiled as a shock of pain shot up his spine...

Then he blew up the world.

"lolz0r, i bloo up t3h wurld" said Malice, winking and giving a thumbs up in true Sonic the Hedgehog fashion.


Cheers ladies! (lemme know FFNUT)

[Dark FFnut]

((Why not? Gimme more info and I'l definitely join. Now, if you'll excuse me, a little more humor to... uh, clarify your little situation.))

************************************************** ***********************
The Netherrealms, The Year Infinity Minus One, Darkness

Variel shook his head. "I have got to stop daydreaming of stupid stuff like that..."

[Mong00se]

Wicked, i'm leaving al the info with zerlina.

PS: not a joke.

[~Hidan~]

Syne listened to the conversation between her two friends, thinking about what Glenn had just said. If this was true, she would die in only a couple of days. She would be killed and Kani would be at full power. ‘How am I supposed to stop this from happening? How are we going to beat Kani if I’m dead? If I die who will fight in my place?”

Glenn turned to Syne. “When and how did you die in the past?”

“I’ll die tomorrow or the next day. Kani’s sword will fall from the sky and pierce my heart, when it does I will not die but be absorbed by the sword and become on with his power.” Syne said with a small ad weak voice that sounded very unnatural to everyone that knew her.

“This is not good.” Kirby said “What can we do to stop it from happening?”

“Nothing, if what Glenn says is true then I am doomed to die no matter what precautions we use.” Syne said this and started to cry. ”I don’t want to be stuck as part of him again. The memories are still too fresh from my past life.” Syne cleared her eyes. “I know of one way to stop it.” She actually smiled as she said what came next. “We have to kill me so he can’t get my power.”

Everyone’s eyes went wide and jaws dropped. “What?!”

“I know it sounds insane but if I join him this time. You won’t be able to kill him. There is no way.” Syne thought for a moment.

“But that’s madness. We don’t even know for sure if you’ll end up dead too.” Glenn said looking angry.

“I will.” She pulled down her shirt and showed he back. “The scar is bleeding on its own already.” Only a small hint of blood could b seen but there was in fact blood coming out of the edges of the wound. “His sword will hit me right through this wound.” She looked around. “Then I will die, I will become part of him and he will kill everyone.”

Titania fell to her knee’s and started crying. Glenn bent over to comfort her and Kirby just sat confused by everything he had just heard.

From the shadows a figure watched the whole scene interested in the dramatic experience he was witnessing. He thought to himself about the whole thing and wondered just what was going on.

“Please Glenn, I will only ask you once to kill me. If you wont this is going to be a bad beginning to something even worse.” Syne said in a very serious tone.

Glenn stood up and looked her right in the face. “You know I can’t kill you, I have already seen too many people die. Too many people suffer. How do you think I can kill someone who is my friend?”

“You can kill me, because if you don’t many more will die, including you and Titania.” She said. “All you have to do s draw your sword I will do the rest.”

“I can’t and won’t do it.” Glenn said.

Syne turned her head suddenly, a look of fear on her face. “It’s coming!” She pushed Glenn, Kirby and Titania out of the way and just as doing so a sword over three feet wide and fifteen feet long plunged through the back of Syne. “Don’t give up hope!” She said as he body disappeared like a ghost.

Glenn, Titania and Kirby all looked at each other in fear and sadness.

“This is bad, really bad.” Where are they going to now? What are they supposed to do Glenn thought? How are we supposed to do now that she id gone? Glenn thought to himself.

Titania cried for only a moment and then pulled herself together. She raised her head and smiled. “Can you feel that?”

“What? What is it?” Glenn asked

“The armies have disappeared, the only demonic aura I can feel comes from the spire. Syne destroyed the armies somehow. People are free of them for now.” Titnaia dried her face. “Come on we have to find our way to a city that can help us. We have a lot of work to do. We have to beat Kani for Syne, and not let anyone else we love die.”

“All right lets do it.” Kirby and Glenn said with a renewed strength.

The man in the shadows felt even his heart moved by this and decided to continue to follow them. It would be fun to find out just what he had gotten himself into.

After a couple of hours of travel they came across what seemed to be a ruined village, however people were there. Fixing the buildings and moving around supplies.

Glenn stopped a man. “How is it that your people had returned to the town so fast?”

“I don’t really know, it was like we were in a dream and suddenly woke up. We found our town in ruin and this is what happened. Lucky for us there are plenty natural resources here to rebuild with.” The man said smiling and pointing around. “If you help your welcome to stay, it will only take a couple of days to have this place back to its old self.”

“Titania what do you think?” Glenn asked.

“We would love to help!”

~~~ Someplace dark~~~

Syne sat curled up with the corner of a dark room with little light. She focused her power into keeping herself isolated from the rest of the darkness. She would not go down without a fight.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The people that had walked into the village seemed to be pretty beat up. The tall man in plate armor held himself with a pride that was unbreakable, the girl was small and seemed frail, but not to be underestimated. The other man seemed to be lost and still gathering himself. And there was a fourth, were they aware of him? Even he had a bit of trouble figuring out just where or what was there but he could small him.

Only a few days ago he had shown up in this town. Demonic creatures surrounded him. In ever direction he was surrounded by them, they had been nothing for him. That same day he had been declared the emperors champion. His Black sword and his Holy Armor had just been given to him. He had not taken his pistol on that day; Chaos had no need for a pistol. He was the youngest ever of the Emperors Champions to ever exist amongst the Black Templars. Only 23, most neophytes were in their forties before even gaining the right of being a Marine. His first battle ever as a Champion and he was just about to kill Slaneesh, the bastard demon, running chaos on Mars, trying once again to get his hands on the titan plans. He and five terminators were called in to take care of the mess. But right before he could cut down the demon is foe cut a hole through the roof and threw him into space, Right into one of the great windstorms on Mars. His honor was destroyed. But he was avenged by his terminator brothers. The demon screamed so loud even in space he could be heard.

Then he woke up in this strange new world. In grassy plane things that seemed like that demons he had once fought in training were everywhere. With his natural drive to kill them he jumped into action, his holy sword cutting through one after another after another.

Brother of the eighth legion of the Black Templars, Sacryan Veruse now stood in the center of this strange town helping rebuild a minute, underdeveloped town that he had seen demons turn into normal humans without a single sent of chaos to them. His powerful armor made for great use in rebuilding the city. At just short of eight feet tall he knew he would soon be noticed by the newcomers.

The one hidden in the shadows was first to notice him. The black armor with all of its rune inscriptions had caught his eye and made the shadow-melder lock its interest and eyes onto him. Sacryan pretended he didn’t notice the stare. Not that anyone could tell where he was looking from under his helmet. Second to notice him was Glenn, being a knight himself Glenn looked over the man’s armor wondering how it was made. There were no breaks in the armor and a very strange build. It almost looked as though the person insie the armor would be crushed by the weight of it, and yet the man moved around like he was light as a feather. Something strange and great also resonated from it. He felt stronger, almost as if he could hold twice as much and run twice as long. It made him calm and steady.

Titania however never seemed to notice or care about the giant man in the black armor that was helping build the city.

[Dark FFnut]

((Son of a bitch!

I had a whole goddamn post and it was awesome and such, and the STUPID BOARD deleted it because it thought I was being idle while I was composing it and logged me out!

Piece! Of! Shit!))

[Zeromus_X]

Heh, that sucks. And you don't have it on your computer? :( Well, I'm sure you can type it again. (Although, copy/paste is a good idea.)

[Dark FFnut]

((Yeah, I know that now.

Dammit, and it got rid of that other villain that I made up a while ago and couldn't stand, and it made Glenn look cool, and Kirby actually did some awesomeness rather than standing around and looking useless (bringing pictures to life can be very useful in making decoys of characters, you know).

Ah well. It's not like I flunked English or something. *looks at grades on final paper* NOOOOOOOO! :p

However, one important note I do want to address is the fact that it took us so long to get over Malice and Magus's deaths but we got over Syne's in a matter of seconds.))

[Zeromus_X]

Well, it was a bit rushed...but I guess if you move the story along manually, that's bound to happen.

My Kirby? Doing something other than comic relief? Now that I gotta see. :P

[Drazniich]

[[Right. Back into things...}]

You could see the door from miles down the corridor. Glowing runes adorned every square inch of it. Thick black chains and locks held the place of any type of guards. The construction was incredibly overdone and intimidating. There was no slot or barred viewpoint to provide food or a chance to view the prisoners.

Inside, there was a repetitive clinking noise. Seated on one bed was Belial, flipping cards into a hat. On the other, Osirus glared, furious.

Belial ignored him. Osirus finally walked over and knelt, grabbing Belial's wrists.

"Fine." he sighed. "You win. I promise not to attempt to merge two worlds in a quest to crossbreed cats with rabbits again."

Belial stared at Osirus for a good ten minutes. "Do you know why you shouldn't?"

Osirus groaned and went to the corner, rocking back and forth. "The only demon I know who obeys rules."

Finallly, he went back over and pinned Belial down. "BECAUSE IF I DESTROY EVERYTHING THEN THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT TO PLAY WITH!!!" he shrieked at the top of his lungs. "CAN WE JUST GO NOW???"

Belial smiled. "Next time, I'm leaving you behind. You understand?" He mussed Osirus' hair. "Now, lets get going."

The door's protective runes glared at the demonic pair. Belial skipped over and knocked on the portal twice. "Its almost a shame to have to do this..."

He slammed his open hand into the middle of the obstruction. Void energies rippled from the center of his strike, annihlating the magic and door alike. Osirus stepped around his companion. "Now, is there a shortcut back to whereever your friends went?"

Belial dragged his fingernail down the wall. A thin black line remained. "After you, sweetheart." He bowed. Osirus kicked Belial in the stomach, and tore the fabric of spatial realitivity. They looked at the result, Belial slapping Osirus on the back of the head as soon as he turned to look. They saw everything through the eyes of their chosen supplicant. "Perfect. I love Templars."

Belial reached inside. "Ladies and gentleman, please step this way."

----------------------
Ashur grabbed his face and screamed. Everything suddenly pitched forward. When he landed, his back split open. From the universal wound climbed Belial and Osirus. "Damn, thought we'd never find a use for him." Osirus said, looking around.

"Next time, remember how powerful the beings you're dealing with REALLY are." Belial kicked Ashur in the side. "In the meanwhile, you owe some favors to friends of mine. Have fun."

Belial waved. Ashur was pulled in on himself in a fit of screaming as he was torn from the world. "It might have been mean, don't you think?" Belial asked Osirus.

"Nah. He knew the risks when he made the deals." Osirus shrugged. "Hey Titania."

[~Hidan~]

Sacryan shook his head, he felt something in the air that reminded him of Chaos, but nothing around here smelled of it. He put one more stone in place and then went over to greet the newcomers. “Hail Brother, and his followers!” He said to Glenn who immediately stepped back.

“What brotherhood do you speak of that binds us?” Glenn said looking at the tall man before him.

“The brotherhood of Knights, Templars, and the servants of the emperor of course is who I speak of!” Sacryan said cheerfully

“Well I may be a knight but I have no idea what you are talking about and these people are not my followers. Who are you anyways? You look like a man but I have never seen a man with metal coming out of his head, or a man who can lift a stone the size of me.” Glenn said looking at the wires coming out of the side of Sacryan’s head.

“I am Sacryan, most people call me Ryan though. I do not think this is the same world I come from, because I do not smell the stink of Chaos.” Ryan saluted while saying this and went on to scratch his head. “Where am I exactly?”

“That’s a long story. Perhaps Titania would be best to tell this.” Glenn turned to her and nodded.

“This is Palis. A world once destroyed by a demon and we are al here because the world drew us here to save it from having that happen again.” Titania said and then went off to play with the children in the town.

“I see.” Ryan said “So I am here to help kill some demon, yet I do not feel the presence of Chaos. All the same I must help, a demon alive is a demon that must be destroyed!” Ryan bowed. “I shall lend a hand in whatever task you need me to do.”

[Zerlina]

((We’re in a town? Gawd, I’m so lost!))

Titania walked slowly along the snowy pathways, her arms wrapped around herself as she shivered in the cold, northern air. Nichi, Magus, Malice, Syne. Was anyone she knew when she had come to Palis still around? Belial perhaps... though she wasn't quite sure. Besides, it wasn't as if they were best of friends.
With little else to do, she stared at the shoes on her feet which had long since worn through. Silently, she thought to herself, remembering her time in Adinem and the strange circumstances that led to the slippers on her feet.

Pulling her out of her daydream, a small ball of string hit her in the leg. She stared at the poor object, her eyes following its direction to a group of children. Without a word, she bent, taking the ball and approaching the group.

“Is this yours?” she asked, holding it out to one of them.

The little boy flinched, moving slightly backward as if afraid “Are you…are you a ghost, madame?” he asked in a shy voice.

She shook her head.

“You don’t look like any of us.”

“I’m not from here.” She said, quietly “Beyond these mountains there’s lots of people who don’t look like any of you.”

The little boy nodded, staring at the hills and then at his string ball.

Titania smiled, placing the small object in his hand.

“What’s your name?” she asked,

“Noah.” The little boy answered.

There was a silence as Titania thought, “Is this a common name here?” she asked after a while “Are there many children with your name.”

The boy nodded, sticking out his chest proudly “It’s the same name as a great warrior from this town!”

“A king!” another child shouted

“A hero!”

Titania laughed a little –the first time she’d genuinely smiled in a long time “Hm…he is the hero of this town, then? I suppose he was born here.”

The children nodded.

“I’d love to hear the legend…perhaps you could tell me.”

“I could tell it backwards in my sleep!” cried a little boy, running up to her and tugging on her dress “Come, I will act it out for you!”

She smiled and laughed, picking up the child out of instinct “You will wait for my friend? I think he would very much like to hear the story to.”

The boy nodded and pointed at Glenn in the distance “Is that him?”

Titania nodded, and began to walk toward her friend, carrying the child though she was still weary.

“Glenn…” she called as she came nearer “I think this boy has a story to tell you.”

[Drazniich]

When the Templar quoted imperial doctrine about destroying demons, Osirus fell over laughing. Belial didn't.

"He... he said..." Osirus howled. "Oh the nine hells, I could kick Khorne's skull in..."

Belial went over and knelt next to where Osirus was rolling. WHen Osirus got close enough, Belial brought his fist down hard enough to dent the earth around him. Osirus kept laughing. "Damn it, Osirus, rule number 8. No revealing information that would destroy the foundation of a major religion." he hissed.

Osirus dusted himself off, rubbing his chest where Belial hit him. "Is there anything the rules don't cover?" he walked over to the Templar. "Nice to meet you. I am Osirus, the Sixth. My little friend there with the seven pointed star is Belial the Seventh. Trust, I'm sure we can find something for you to hit."

Belial sighed. He noticed how much he sighed or felt frustrated when Osirus was around. Back when the rules were created, Osirus had understood. He'd helped write them, for Kharn's sake. There needed to be rules, and order, or there was no reason to exist. Even a creature of rebellion needed the authority to rebel against. Osirus had simply taken it upon himself to turn on the rules at some point, and be all the rebel the universe needed.

Out of all the demons, Osirus was probably the least harmful, in that manner. You could always expect his next move.

Belial instead walked over to Titania. "What'd I miss, kiddo?" he smiled wickedly. "I was attempting to teach Osirus a lesson. I think it failed."

----------
[[Right. So, I've been doing a lot of online forum games but I'm still comfortable with the set of rules I was last on... I'll start moving yall once I get back into the swing of stuff.]]

[Zerlina]

((No post this time but I thought I'd just let you know that I won't be around for the next month!

See you in July ^_^))

[~Hidan~]

okie dokie, have fun in asia!

[Dark FFnut]

((Oh no, people. Don't count on Dark FFnut to reconcile your little plot inconsistencies. Glenn's got nothing to do with the return of Belial and Osirus, because I'm going to pretend he's out of earshot.

Now the fact that they're talking to Titania directly... not my problem. Titania's not my character. :p))

***********************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Snowy Village

The little boy stood in front of Glenn, arms crossed. "I'm going to act out the story of the hero Noah, but you gotta pay real close attention, 'kay?"

Glenn merely nodded.

The boy raised his arms and began.

"One day, seven hunerd years ago, the great hero Noah decided to beat up the scary demon king. He had two friends who helped him too - the prist... praystus... uh... Llideah, and the knight lady Ishia. Noah went into the demon king's nephew's castle and stole a big crystal that would open the doors to the real demon king's castle..."

A voice began whispering in Glenn's head. Wrong there. It wasn't Hector who had the key. It was Valmarus.

"...so when the three of them got to the top of the castle, the big scary demon said-"

************************************************** ***************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, Kani's Castle

"So you fools have actually arrived?" Kani's voice thundered. "Noah, didn't you say that you wouldn't let me and Llideah kill each other while you were still around?"

Noah glared at the demon. "That's why I'm here. I refuse to let you and she slaughter one another. As for this one," he gestured to the unconscious Ishia, "she was going to lead an army to help Llideah here. I just had to knock her out to prevent that."

Llideah looked horrified. "Noah!"

Noah shot Llideah a dirty look. “You brought her and her knights just to help you stop Kani. Obviously our last little ‘conversation’ didn’t get through your skull, girl.”

Kani laughed maniacally. “Delicious! The two of you turned on one another! And now to destroy the both of you!” A dark ball of energy shot forth, directly at Noah’s head.

Noah raised his blade faster than the eye could follow, deflecting the dark energy. “No,” he whispered hoarsely. Kani grimaced.

***********************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, Snowy Village

The flashback ended, but Glenn had a feeling of something missing – as if there was more to the past than he’d witnessed, but couldn’t sense it yet.

The child Noah was still going on with the “official” version of the story. “So the three of em faced the big demon king down together, and Noah said ‘I will stay with my friends until the end!’ and-“

Glenn turned away, leaving the kid to shout after him, “Wait! I didn’t tell you how they finally beat the demon!” Although the knight was curious to hear that version, he was more curious to find out what he couldn’t flashback to - and the true story of the final battle.

((And here ends my post. You people can sort out Sacryan and Belial and all of that stuff before I post again.

And no more flashbackin’ until the final battle! I’ve got an idea for it that’ll probably confuse a lot of you, and even the resolution of the past (and therefore Kani’s fate after the Great War) should be a little surprising. Have fun, people.))

[Zerlina]

((Wow wth...I made a really really 5 page long post yesterday and now it's not here.))

[Dark FFnut]

((Kinda like my other post that I mentioned where Kirby was useful?

Get used to it, there's a reason I left this place last year.))

[Zeromus_X]

((What happened? And why are we talking in parenthesis? :confused: ))

[Zerlina]

((*sigh* I’ll try again, but that post seriously took me a good couple of hours. This is going to just be a really cruddy re-creation, but whatever…it was an important post cause it gave this story a kick in the ass going.

Parenthesis=ooc btw))


The snow fell dizzily in the gray night sky, turning and tumbling in the whistling wind. Glenn, Kirby, Belial and the others sat by the inn’s hearth (having stopped there for a few hours rest). In silence, they ate their meager suppers- which seemed like a feast after nearly three weeks of nothing but bread and dried meat. This quiet seemed infectious, for the crackling of the fire was enough conversation.

Titania gently poured a basin of warm water onto her feet, vainly trying to scrub the dirt off of her callused toes. She toned out the sounds of the women who chattered around her, and merely focused on her task- mechanical in her absence of thought.

“It’s funny that you should come on the Ides of Winter.” said one woman, pulling Titania out of her silence.

“The...Ides of…” the mage tried to repeat but trailed off, a sharp memory flickering in her mind.

“The Ides of Winter.” Another woman interrupted “It is the day of the year when the moon is at its highest point in the sky. We process to the temple of the goddess and bring candles to represent the stars in the sky.”

“It’s quite beautiful at night…” added a smaller girl “I’ve only just returned from there. With all of the lanterns, it’s hard to tell when heaven ends and when Palis begins.”

Titania closed her eyes, imagining the sight- where heaven ends and Palis begins she thought to herself, running the phrase in her head. There was something there. Some sort of clue.

“Perhaps I will offer a candle to the goddess.” She finally said, refilling her basin with water “Tell me- who is it that watches over this town.”

“Ah,” an older woman sighed “That is the goddess Ishtara- lady of the moon.”

Ishtara- Ishtar! Then this…

“Tell me- at the temple…is there a priestess?” she asked, trying to hold back her excitement.

“Not since many hundreds of years ago. They say that to hold the position now is to be cursed. Besides, one must possess The Eye of the Moon in order to be a priestess of Ishtar.”

“No one has been found who possesses the power?” Titania muttered

“No,” answered one woman “There is only ever one who is gifted with The Eye at a time.”

“You know this for sure?”

“According to town legend, my lady,” Answered a much younger girl “Ishtara had several children, around the same time as the god Domaesdaeg. The King of Heaven –Aeternitas- forced Domaesdaeg to give up his only son to Palis and so pay for a debt incurred to the mortals. Angered and unable to cope, Domaesdaeg tricked Ishtara –Aeternitas’ wife- into letting one of their own children fall from heaven. This child –this daughter- possessed an eye like the immortals, but was doomed to die. Unable to let her child leave her, Ishtara made her a priestess of the same temple in this town. Whenever she dies, she is found born again and brought to the temple…”

“…where she should spend the rest of her life…” Titania mumbled.

“It is true. She must touch mortal soil for as short a time as possible. After she is taken to the temple she should never be brought out into the world again.”

“Why is that?” Titania asked, sounding a little bit angry beneath her simple question

“It is believed that because Ishtara’s daughter was a child of both worlds, she could bridge the gap between Heaven and Palis. By keeping her off of mortal soil, they were bringing her closer to her mother, and therefore bringing themselves closer. They believed that if she could find a pure enough incarnation, she could bring the people to the Celestial Palace.”

The women continued explaining, but Titania could not hear them. She felt the blood rush through her body, and her heart beat quicker. Suddenly, it hit her- what her dreams had been trying to tell her the whole time.

“Where is the temple!?” she finally exclaimed, cutting off any conversation that might have been going on.

There was silence for a moment but then finally one woman spoke up “…it is in the eastern mountain…but you should not go there at this time of night. The snow is heavy and the wind is strong.”

“I do not fear such things,” she muttered in reply, getting up with such haste that she nearly forgot her shoes.

She rushed through the inn, slamming the door behind her with such fury that it clapped like thunder.

“Glenn! Belial! Osirus!” she cried, bursting into their room “Come quickly! We only have until midnight tonight to find Kani!”

She ran back out without waiting for them, running heedless into the cold of the mountain without so much as a cloak. Cold and snow rushing past her reddened cheeks, she hurried up the steep slopes and darkened trees, persevering even though the storm blew hard against her. There was something –some determination- that had possessed her, and made her nearly mad with focus.

Finally, though, she slowed to a stop, looking up at the tall trees, and around at the thinning forests. The others, having taken a few moments to get ready, finally caught up with her and stared with questioning (and slightly annoyed) glances.

“Ishtara!” she cried out, staring up at heaven and letting her arms open toward the sky “Ishtara aeterna! Ishtara aeterna! Damia glia! Luminous caeliestié! Harrenus lia shildé ete gasien lia vos!”

Glenn stood still, listening to her voice echo in the snowy night. He knew this language, though he had never heard it spoken- somewhere it was flowing in his blood…in his soul…and the sound of it brought to life an unreachable memory. Eternal Ishtar, brilliant lady, light of heaven! Hear your children and guide us to you. It was an old prayer- one that had not been uttered for many years passed, and indeed would not exist after that night.

Suddenly, the world was silent and even the whistling of the wind seemed to stop.

“I am your child!” Titania cried in their common tongue “One of two who have fallen from heaven! Show me the way to your temple, that I may find the other and bring him to his deserved fate!”

The ground seemed to tremor slightly, and in the sky there was a bright flash of lightning. The snow swirled off the ground, forming –in fury- a long stormy tunnel up the mountain. Without a word to the others, Titania ran on, following the heavenly guide with as much speed as her cold feet could muster.

Finally, it came into sight –a tall silhouette against a sky of gray snow. Here, the storm seemed calmer, and indeed it was as the girl promised –like the melting of heaven and Palis. This was Ishtara’s temple- this was the place where two worlds would meet.

Titania stopped, taking in the sight with breathless wonder. This place was beautiful- beautiful and horrifying, with a history of confinement and loneliness among its elegant stones. She swallowed hard, and –gathering courage- she ran down a small slope, and then up the steps toward the temple.

“The world was warmer then…” she laughed to herself as she came inside, her cold feet echoing on the stony ground as she circled herself, looking up at the carved ceiling.

The place was held up by marble pillars as thick as the trunks of ancient trees, and the ground was made up of blue and gold tiles forming a picture of heaven. Along both sides of the temple were two gutters that sloped downward toward the entrance, sending any negative energy away from the altar at the front. Ivy grew, and in places, the ceiling had cracked open- above the canopy was a large, round hole, bordered with pure gold and lapis lazuli. Titania ran forward, up the steps to the altar, but then suddenly she stopped.

There it was- that horrible water. That impassible pool that had made her miserable for so many lifetimes (if indeed the legend was true). She stared at it, unable to move- how had she gone over it before? …Gadriel…

She turned back, facing Glenn and the others who stood at the other end of the temple “Does this look familiar to you, Noah? Have you been here before? This is where you rid yourself of me- remember? Where you dismissed me as the dirt beneath your feet! Ha, perhaps you don’t remember, because it looked much different…but that is because I have not opened the way yet! You say you will have nothing to do with me, yet now you cannot advance without me! Well hear this –oh knight who holds himself higher than all of us imperfect mortals- your future depends on the one you have ridiculed!”

She turned back once more, and closed her eyes, walking into the pool until her feet rested on a golden mosaic ring- the only one on the floor. She faced upward once more, looking at the hole in the ceiling which the moon filled perfectly- only on this day of the year.

“Ishtara!” she cried once more, as lightning struck and the storm grew stronger “Ovenié lia caeliestié! Ovenié tov lia shildé! Ishtara Aeterna!”

The ground shook with a heavy tremor, and the storm rose to a climax, the lightning growing strong in the snow sky.

“Ishtara Aeterna!”

There was a loud clap of thunder and suddenly everything became light. This was only for a time, however, for in a moment the world fell into shadow.

*

“…where am I?”

“The border between worlds.”

“…where are my friends?”

“They’ve already arrived in the other realm…you will see them soon. Come… come with me…I will lead you to the place you’ve been looking for.”

“Who are you?”

“…Caritas.”


((Well that’s not the whole thing, but my sister’s kicking me off. Don’t touch my charrie I’ll continue with her in a bit. However continue with your characters…you’re now in Kani’s realm ^^))

[~Hidan~]

(Sorry i cant post right now, i have limited time on the computer on vacation. I'll try to post once i return.)

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

Glenn, Kirby, Belial, Osirus, and Sacryan materialized in a pitch-black chamber with unseeable walls.

Kirby quickly reached for his sketch pad...

...only to find that it was gone.

His gasp was audible enough for all to hear it. Belial summoned a handful of flames to find the source of the noise.

Incredibly, the flames illuminated a mural on the far wall.

The mural depicted the lower body of demon on the bottom. However, as one followed the mural further up, it showed the demon splitting into three upper bodies - all humanoid.

Belial and Glenn let out simultaneous gasps, and Osirus burst out laughing. "Are you serious? You mean to tell me that Kani literally split into those three little brats?"

The three humanoid torsos depicted were those of Syne, Nichi, and Brian.

Suddenly the rest of the mural came into focus. In the far background there were four imposing demonic figures. One of the four figures was on the ground in the fetal position - the other three stood, focused on the gigantic Kani figure.

Near the foreground of the mural as well were four other figures. Two wore similar dark cloaks, one inscribed with a "V" and the other inscribed with a "G." There were holes in the mural where their chest were, some sort of dark liquid flowing out of them.

The other two figures were a man with a great sword and a cloak covering his face, and a female wearing white, ethereal robes.

Glenn instinctively knew every figure in this mural, and shuddered when he realized what the liquid flowing from the chests of Variel and Gadriel was.

Sacryan stepped forward, scooped a bit of the liquid onto his finger, and tasted it. "Coppery... metallic, almost. As if it were..." his eyes went wide with fear. Kirby turned green, Glenn lowered his head, and the demons exchanged glances.

Looking at the ground, Glenn noticed something... too odd to be a mere coincidence.

Beneath the four figures in the forcround were four oddly-shaped slots.

In front of Llideah was a small, round, deep hole.

In front of Noah was a wider, flat hole.

And in front of the other two... were a scythe and a pair of daggers, shoved into the slots.

Glenn felt what he had to do.

Do it do it now put the sword in then have the girl put her flute in do it now open the door come on it will be fast just put it in then come meet me at the rooftop just like you did before come on Noah you know how it ends and this time you can go on to the afterlife and that Ishia will not stop me from my goal just put the sword in Glenn then you can get some rest and not have to be this hero anymore just do it DO IT NOW!

The voice in Glenn's mind rose to such a crescendo that he could do nothing but plunge his sword into the slot in front of Noah to quell it. As that happened, he realized something else.

"He's been waiting for us..." Glenn's voice was emphatic and eerie.

"Who... how do you know?" whispered Sacryan, totally oblivious to what Glenn knew.

"Kain... Kain hath not been dead the last time." Glenn gestured to the prone demon in the background. "This mural beith not about seven hundred years ago. It is about now. And he knows that we're here. He knows we hath seen the past. He knows this mural would touch we who know the past. But Kain's death giveth it away. Kani wants us here, for whatever reason. So in coming here to kill him..." Glenn's voice dropped to a dead whisper, so that the others had to strain to hear him. "...we may have played right into his hands all along."

((I'm gonna be gone until Tuesday, but remember people, I have dibs on the final battle. I'm going to blow your minds with the final battle if I do it the way I envision it.

There's a lot of stuff we mentioned previously that we never really quite expanded upon that I've been thinking about so I plan on capitalizing on such things. Just keep the final battle open for me (both past and present) so I can do this right. Other than that, have fun.))

[Zerlina]

((Ok, but you can’t do the whole thing alone. That’s not fair! ^^. Just let me know what I’m not allowed to do

This is more a continuation of my last post as I was stopped))

“Caritas?” an image flickered in her head, as the familiarity of the name struck her.

“You don’t remember me?” he asked, and she shook her head “I fought with you on the plains of Gracia…nearly a year ago today.”

Titania stared at him, hardly able to discern his appearance in the darkness. She rose to her feet, observing his face only to realize that all but his eyes were wrapped in blue cloth.

“I fought with you? I’m sorry it was that battle you had to witness…I’ve improved since then.”

“I know.” He answered, steadily “Come, I will take you to the realm that you so desire to see.”

The mage nodded, following him into the darkness. While she could hardly see, she knew that they walked in water for she could feel it against her feet. The ground was slimy and every so often she thought she could feel the ghastly bones of long-dead creatures tapping at her skin.

“Where are we?” she finally asked, watching the man’s cloak turn in the shadows.

“I told you already. This is the border between worlds.”

“But I don’t understand.”

“This place,” he began “is what lies between Palis and the Celestial Kingdom- the realm of the gods. It is where all worlds meet and where all must pass after death.”

“It seems a bleak existence.” Titania muttered, her speech jumping as she caught sight of a ghastly face flicker for a moment in the shadows “Is this what afterlife we’ve all been anticipating?”

Caritas laughed “No, no…perhaps if you’re one of the few like me who cannot leave. Otherwise, the afterlife is something wonderful. They say it is where all you hoped for is fulfilled.”

“It sounds too good to be true.” She mumbled “too impossible. Tell me, though- why is it that you must stay here? Do the gods deny you the pleasures of paradise?”

“Not the gods,” he answered, shaking his head “I choose to stay here.”

“Why?”

“I don’t feel like it’s time to leave yet. I’m waiting for something…I know if I were to go now I would never be happy.”

“How can you know something like that?”

He laughed slightly, pulling his cloak tight around himself “I know because I see with eyes unclouded by mortal perception. The past, the present the future…all of it is the same. It’s the difference between where we’re standing and three feet away. I only have to look and I know.”

“You make little sense. But perhaps that is because my eyes are not so blessed.”

“You could see too, but it is Palis that keeps you away from true knowledge. In the mortal realm you can only do so much, but if you tried perhaps you could see more.”

“Why should it matter? What good is a seer who can only see the past?”

“Without a past you could never have a future. The elements of life lie in what has already happened- to ignore history is to forsake your very self.”

“You speak profoundly.”

“Not so. I only speak the truth.”

Uneasily, she continued to follow, watching horrifying faces pass fluorescent in the looming darkness “Will they not harm me?” she finally questioned as a cloaked lady clawed at her clothing, only to drift away as if by current “Do they not desire my blood?”

“You are wise, priestess, but they desire eternity more than they desire speech. Were they to take your blood, perhaps they would be given the gift of expression, but they would also be losing their promised reward.”

“Tell me…what reward do you desire?”

At this he stopped and turned to face her, quiet for a moment as if a child struggling to grasp a forgotten concept.

“I…” he mumbled, closing his bright eyes for a moment and then squeezing his fists as if he could catch his own words “…I desire much more than I deserve.”

“You still haven’t told me what.”

“Peace, my lady.” He muttered, taking a step closer so he could speak in a hushed voice “Peace is more than any man who has killed deserves to have. I have the blood of many children on my hands and I should not be granted what I want, but still I hope for it and wait for it…in my vision of heaven I see…I see the sea.

I’ve always missed the sea…”

“I understand you, for too was born near the waves.” She laughed slightly “I still remember walking in the shallow water.”

“It was warm at night”

“And the ground…it was always so perfect…the tide made it so.”

“It’s funny the way that the water pushes everything to where it’s supposed to be. Every grain of sand, every rock…it forms a pattern –a sequence. Something that you can’t see, but that you know when you walk on it.”

“I sense you mean to say more than ‘the tide is beautiful”

He laughed “I mean to say that everything has a place, and everything happens for a reason,” he smiled beneath his dark wrappings “Just as the sea pushes everything to place, so fate does. We can’t see it from far away, but when we experience it, we know. Everything that happened should have happened…there was a reason for it…”

He stared her straight in the eyes and waited for a response; it seemed his words had been calculated- carefully planned beforehand. Was that something he had wanted to say for some time?

[Zerlina]

“…how far is it to Kani’s realm?” she asked, unable to respond to his comment.

Caritas sighed, raising his hand to reach for something but then changing his mind “I…it’s like I’ve said. Past, present, future. All times and places are the same. You know the way there, you just haven’t opened your eyes.”

“If I know the way then why are you here? Is it not to lead me?”

“I am here because I choose to be- not because I am being forced to take you somewhere.”

“What have I done to you that makes you want to be here?”

He laughed and turned away, continuing to walk even though he had said he would not lead “Tell me, when you look at me what do you see?” he asked.

She stared at him in the dark, trying hard to make out some kind of feature “I see…your cloak…I see that you’re taller than I and…and you move gracefully.” She answered.

“Then you are still looking with your mortal eyes. What you see is a body…something physical. When I look at you,” he turned “I see your soul, just as I see the soul of the water we walk in, and the people who we pass. Everything on Palis is like this, but when you’re alive you cannot see it. When you still breathe what you see is an illusion- it is only the state.”

“I don’t understand…speak simply and I will try to grasp what you say!”

“You haven’t changed at all,” he laughed, his voice echoing in the tunnel “everyone has a soul, right?”

She nodded.

“Everyone has a soul, and everyone has a body. Everything…every grain of sand, every insect is made up of the same thing- I will call it a soul. This soul is the reality- the true universe. The body –what we see when we’re alive- is an illusion. It is what hides the truth of everything. This place…this is the border of life because it is where the two elements mix most- where both forms are most visible.”

Titania nodded “I think I understand…” she said “The place I’m trying to find…Kani’s Realm- is it in the physical world? Or is it part of the true universe?”

“In truth they are the same.” Caritas corrected “You have always been living in the true universe- you just haven’t been able to see it.”

“Please, don’t confuse me more.” She protested.

“Alright…Kani’s Realm lies halfway between Palis and Heaven. Kani has been able to reach the Celestial Kingdom because he is only a demigod at the moment.”

”Then he means to reach the land of the gods?”

“He means to become a god.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ages ago, Kani absorbed the energy of his sister, Isea. This was simple for him, because she had once been a part of his own- her soul having been a part of his. This initial action was to end her pain- to make sure she would live on through him rather than to suffer and disappear through illness. His intention was good, but soon he could not resist the power that he had taken in. He wanted more.”

“But how…it’s impossible to absorb someone’s soul!”

“Not impossible. If one is connected to both the body and soul –as Kani was- it is as simple as breathing.”

“Body and soul…” Titania repeated “Then…by building his fortress between the two layers of the world he means to-”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. He’s using his position to absorb the life force from those who still roam on Palis. He plans to make himself a god by feeding off the souls of others.”

“Then why- why does he need us? Why is he luring us in?”

“He knows that you and Noah hold the keys to heaven. He is only part of it. Without you two he cannot advance any further.”

“Noah? But I thought…”

“The fate stone- or the soul of the fate stone. The thing that you lost in a duel with Kani.” He said, reminding her of the scene she had seen aboard the Highwind- the fight that had occurred before she spoke with Variel for the first time in this life “It was split into two, and the half that Kani received was given to Noah- his most trusted friend. The soul still lingers with the knight even now, and it is a key to heaven.”

“Then why does he need me?”

“As Ishtar’s child you are the one who will find the lock which these keys can turn.”

“Then he does need us…” she muttered “And we’re walking straight to him.”

“There’s no other way.”

Titania turned to Caritas with quiet eyes “Do we have any chance? Any chance of destroying him?”

“You do.”

“And what about…what about surviving?”

“…” Caritas was silent for a moment, trying to answer her the best he could “…the past has a habit of repeating itself.” He finally muttered.

She lowered her gaze, staring at the ground to mask her reaction “How long do I have?”

“Two sunsets at most, and then you will find your end.”

“…you would think I’d be glad to die. I’ve hoped for death for nearly a month now, yet as it stares me in the face I can’t help but feel fear.”

“We all feel fear before we go. It is natural. Have courage and persevere, your only other option is to run.”

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tempting.”

He smiled and lifted her chin “Just focus on the present. The past and the future are out of your control.”

She nodded “Your voice is assuring. Perhaps…perhaps I do remember you.”

A smile tore at his cold lips for a brief second, but he turned away, showing a pain in the action “Come, try to focus on the realm you are seeking. You’ve been there before, you need only to remember it.”

She took his hand, weaving her small fingers into his “You must help me. Come, lend me some of your power” His own skin seemed like ice against her white palms and he stared at it in curiousity when she did not withdraw.

Titania closed her eyes and thought, rifling through all of her dreams- all of the visions that had eaten away at her for nearly a year now. As the seasons changed, she saw her past melt into the rivers and fall yellow from the shivering trees. She saw Noah in the cherry blossoms of Adinem, and Variel in the fish that swam in the ocean. She saw Kani and Isea –the latter whom she had never met- and in a flash of lightning she saw Gadriel. She felt his grasp as he carried her across Ishtar’s pool, treading in the sacredness that had separated her from the rest of the world. When finally he stood firm on the other side he was no longer the prince of a distant kingdom, he was Malice.

Finally, she opened her eyes, and there before her rose the gates of Kani’s kingdom- as terrible as death. She turned to face Caritas and nearly withdrew behind him “This is where I must go? Will you not come with me?”

“My time in the realm of mortals is over. I could not return even if I wanted to.”

“Then you don’t want to?” she asked, and sounded disappointed “…you mean for me to leave you? “

“Indeed it must be so.” He answered, but drew her close, pressing his palm against her feeble stomach “I will pass to you all that is left of my life force- that you may have the power enough to defeat Kani. This spell that I give to you now will make great difference in the world. Use it wisely and know that it is my own power which I choose to give to you.”

She waited a moment as the spell passed from his hand to her own soul “You trust me with such a gift yet you claim to know me only from the battle of Gracia.”

“I did not say only”

“It is no use anyways, I know of you now. Tell me, Caritas will I ever see you again?”

He smiled though his face seemed sad “You will see me in due time.”

“Two sunsets.” She smiled slightly, tears gathered in her ethereal eyes “Two sunsets and then I will find you by the sea that we both miss.”

Kani’s realm began to circle around her, pulling her away though she wished to stand behind. His cloak billowing in the quiet wind, he watched her in the shadow, silent as she seemed to melt away.

“Thank you,” Titania whispered quietly, knowing he could hear her “Thank you, Malice.”

*

“Glenn?”

The knight turned and saw his friend behind him, her focus spread across the disturbing mural on the wall. He said nothing as she moved slowly forward, kneeling before the daggers which were slotted into the ground. Quietly, she said a prayer to the Wind Goddess and withdrew the weapons, able to do so only because Malice's life force now flowed through her. Turning back to Glenn with a thousand silent words, she sheathed the objects and placed them the best she could in her sash. She nodded to him, falling to the back of the group without so much as a word.

“I suppose that means everyone is here…” The knight finally muttered, turning back to face the wall, his gaze falling on the old scythe “…everyone who should be here is here.”

[Zeromus_X]

All of this is so confusing....but I'll just have to keep up! Kirby thought to himself.

Looking around nervously, he examined his companions.

There was Glenn, the swordsman.

Titania, a priestess with strange powers...which kept getting stranger the more time went by.

There was of course, the lady warrior Syne, who was with them until recently...

And these two demons, which Kirby wasn't completely sure of, but they might as well be.

And they were all off to fight some sort of horrible person, who had seemed to do many horrible things, most of which didn't make complete sense to Kirby, though he had pieced bits and pieces together.

So...it seems everyone else has some part in this. But not me...I just wanted to find some inspiration to create more artwork!

Indeed, Kirby had been making sketches of all his companions. He seemed to have lost the sketch pad he had been using, but luckily he had also made other copies in another of his various sketchpads in his bag. Taking it out, he began looking at the drawings, as he walked with the rest of the crew down the seemingly endless tunnel.

Inside, he had made sketches of everyone he had made. They were still at good quality, even for sketches, of course, being as fast as he was, none of the rest of the party would know when he was drawing, as long as he wasn't in plain view.

There was a rough sketch of Glenn, the swordsman.

Another drawing of the warrior, Syne.

Another piece of the priestess, Titania.

Another of the two demons, Sacryan and Belial. Kirby didn't put his all into those, however...

He had also done a quick one of many surroundings they were in, the town they just passed through, the woods, and the snowy mountain. And also that mural they had inspected earlier, as it looked intriguing to him.

Putting the pad back away in his bag, he continued walking with the party.

Well, at least this whole trip wasn't boring, at least.



((I haven't really posted in awhile. Meh. It isn't like I do alot anyway. ^^; )

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

As the group ascended the spiraling tunnel, Glenn could feel the "block" in his mind fading. He still couldn't quite ascertain what Noah was trying to tell him, but...

The tunnel opened up into a great empty room. In the center stood the demon that he'd seen in his dreams.

Kani smiled unpleasantly. "My generals need not be here... especially now, when they lead my army to annihilate your precious Palis!"

Glenn drew the Mastermune. The two demons grinned and cracked their knuckles. Sacryan squinted at Kani. Kirby grabbed his sketchpad. Titania unsheathed Malice's daggers.

"Fools! You'll still feel the wrath of Kani!"

A powerful dark wind began to blow around the room. Greater and greater, until the walls began to crack. Large breaches appeared around the room until the demon's wind tore off the tower above them.

Suddenly it was familiar - the top of the spire, where Kani battled the others before.

"NOW!" the demon thundered. "YOU! WILL! ALL! PERISH!" He lobbed a ball of darkness at the group, which Glenn deftly deflected.

"No."

************************************************** *****************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Dark Spire

"No? What do you mean 'no,' Noah?" Kani's voice was sickening.

"You want Palis? You can take it. I care not. But you attacked me. I cannot abide by that."

"You BETRAYED me!"

"Because of her." Noah jerked his thumb at Llideah. "She turned me against you. Even now, Variel and Gadriel lie dead because of both your and her doing." He shook his head. "I should have seen it from the beginning. Even when you turned me against her... you are equally to blame for these crimes. You both deserve to rot in the deepest hells for eternity..."

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

"...but you won't." Glenn dove at the demonic creature before them, weapon outstretched. Kani grabbed him and easily tossed him aside.

"Foolish knight, Glenn. You know deep down that Malice killed Magus. Why bother blaming me for his sins?"

"He... wouldn't have... if... not for your... general..."

"Kain? Yes, indeed. Kain did fail me, though, when Malice took him down. Unlike that nasty Gadriel, Malice had some battle skills. I did delight in destroying him as well. It was a pity to watch such a warrior go to waste, just like..."

************************************************** *****************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Dark Spire

"...his father."

Llideah launched into her own rage at this, but Kani gripped her by the throat.

"Sweet sweet Llideah. Oh how I've longed to do this to you. You betrayed me far more than Noah there did. And you see his reward? He lies there, on the verge of death. Death is much too lenient for your crime. You know what must happen?" The monstrosity's claw extended.

Llideah looked Kani in the eye. "It matters not what you do to me."

"Why?" he hissed.

"Because, Kani, you've already killed me. I died when you killed him. You murdered me as well when you murdered..."

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

"...Malice."

Lightning crashed as Kani sunk his claws into Titania's side. She cried in pain.

Sacryan rushed forward but was blasted backwards by Kani's energy. Belial and Osirus were rooted to the spot.

It fell to Kirby.

He grabbed a sketchpad and quickly drew a simple sword. It clattered to the groun and he grabbed it, slicing at the demon. A horrible shriek of pain issued from Kani as he dropped the girl. "You! It's impossible! You weren't sealed! You couldn't have been sealed! Gah! My arm! Look what you've..."

************************************************** *****************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Dark Spire

"...done to me, woman!"

Ishia grinned as the dark blood flowed from the demon. She had regained consciousness as Kani was monologuing to Llideah. Ishia herself was thrown backwards, gripping the side of the tower as the evil winds blew below.

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

Kirby and Sacryan both tumbled down into the abyss.

"You. We fly. Now."

"What? You've gone soft if you think I'm going down there to risk my neck for a couple of mortals."

"They weren't supposed to be here and you know it. That's not Kani who knocked them over. That's... something else. We're not supposed to be here either. You know what'll happen to us?"

"What happens happens and- GHAK!"

Belial grabbed Osirus by the throat and dragged him down, chasing the two falling figures below.

************************************************** ******************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Dark Spire

Noah had stood up by this point. Llideah was crawling away from the demon, who was still clasping his arm in agony.

"So... Kani... had enough?"

Kani glared maliciously at the knight. "Dearest Noah... it seems that both yourself and Llideah deserve death here. Continuing to put you in agony threatens my survival. So instead, I will simply..."

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

"...kill you both now!"

Kani grabbed the back of Titania's cloak and leapt towards Glenn. He reached for the knight who raised his blade and sliced the demon a second time. Another unearthly howl escaped the demon's lips. He whirled around and hurled Titania off into the distance. He drew his own sword and began a duel with Glenn for the ages.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

The duel raged on, neither one conceding a millimeter to the other. Lightning continued to crash about the battlefield.

"Remarkable, Glenn. You know that? You have almost the exact skill as Noah did seven hundred years ago. You know that he taught me everything I know about swordplay?" A quick thrust almost caught Glenn off guard, but he managed to catch it quickly. "Hm, indeed. You do show much promise, Glenn."

"Noah hath taught thee everything thou knowest..."

************************************************** *****************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Dark Spire

"...but I didn't teach you everything I know." Suddenly Noah delivered a few lightning-fast thrusts and pierced Kani's guard. Numerous stab wounds appeared in the demon's gut, which caused him to topple.

"You... you would kill me then, Noah?"

"Llideah's already gone, I see no reason not to now."

Kani let out another sharp gasp, in an attempt to chuckle. "You think she's gone? Not with... with Gadriel's gift." He extended a clawed finger to the sky. "Look."

Noah followed Kani's finger to a white-clad figure in the sky borne of wings of electricity. "No... that can't be..."

[Dark FFnut]

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

"...Titania?"

With Malice's wings of wind, Titania had flown back to the tower. The wings evaporated and she dove, sticking Malice's two daggers into Kani's skull, directly above his eyes. Another unearthly howl issued from Kani. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! THIS CAN'T HAPPEN!"

Titania slipped to the floor in front of Kani. "You've lost, Kani. Just like you did before. Now you'll die the same way!"

Kani glared at her. "You have no idea how I die, do you, girl? The one thing Llideah has kept from her host... the nature of my death... you see, girl... I..."

************************************************** *****************
Palis, The Last Year Of The Great War, The Dark Spire

"...cannot die... by any means... you have..."

Llideah glared. "You killed me when you killed Gadriel, in spirit, if not in body. That's only because..." She took Gadriel's sword from Kani's head. "...the death of my body..." She turned the sword towards herself. "...is reserved for..."

She stabbed herself through, the blade protruding from her back.

"...the death of yours."

The binding of fate worked. As Llideah faded from life, as did Kani. As her vision faded, she could have sworn she heard Variel's voice.

"After our seven hundred year intermission, we'll act out this exquisite play once more, but this time the ending will change to the way it's meant to be."

Noah glanced at their respective bodies, flinching slightly. He noticed Ishia pull herself back up the ledge and rush over to Llideah's corpse. "Dead...?"

Noah's eyes were wide as Ishia blew a whistle. Almost instantly a demon appeared before her. "Yes, mistress...?"

"Spades, hide this corpse. I don't want anyone getting any ideas of bringing him back."

Spades nodded. "And where shall I hide it?"

"I don't care. Just somewhere it won't be found. I have some other business to take care of as well."

Spades grabbed Kani's body and vanished, but not before uttering a vulgar swearword. Ishia flinched and turned towards Noah.

"Yes?"

"My offer still stands, and now would be the greatest time for you to take it."

"Oh? I see no benefits from this offer, Ishia."

"Are you kidding me? Imagine the two warriors who defeated the demon lord Kani side by side announcing their undying love for one another and getting married. We'd be heroes! Royalty, even!"

"So you're using the death of one of my best friends as a springboard for your political career?" Noah grimaced.

"Try not to forget, Noah, my amies are on their way to this spire anyway. I can tell them that you killed the priestess under Kani's orders and have you executed for treason."

"But then you wouldn't be able to be royalty... not without being wedded to a king first. And you think I would become king?"

"For destroying Kani? Yes."

Noah heaved a sigh and looked Ishia in the eye. "Very well. I've spent the last few years being a mere tool for others to achieve their own gains... I suppose I will die the same way."

A week later Noah was crowned king of Palis and married Ishia, who became the queen of Palis. Not long after the palace of Gracia was constructed at the center of Palis decades later, Noah died of old age. Ishia, in her fear of mortality, had an enchantment placed such that as long as she was loved by her subjects, she would not perish from disease or natural causes. She lived for seven hundred years before being slain by Dacono at the battle of Gracia.

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

Malice's dagger wasn't long enough to reach through Titania, so it left only a deep wound. Glenn quickly removed the dagger and pushed every last ounce of magic he had into the young woman to heal her.

Several moments passed.

Titania's eyes fluttered open.

Belial and Osirus finally returned with Kirby and Sacryan.

"It's over?"

A faint sobbing caught their attention. Glenn and Titania saw a man hunched over, crying, right where Kani's corpse was... only the demon's corpse had vanished.

"Thank you... thank you... thank you... I'm so sorry... I-I didn't mean..."

Glenn looked at the man. He seemed somewhat familiar, although Glenn couldn't place him.

Belial grabbed him and straightened him. "Nichi?"

The man shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "I... I may look like your friend Nichi, but I... I..."

"He's my twin brother," said Syne.

Titania whirled around. "Syne?"

Syne shook her head. "Nope, same problem though. I'm not Syne, and that guy isn't Nichi."

"Then who...?"

"My name is Isea. That is my brother Kani."

Glenn looked between the two. "Indeed... when Kani was evil, he had absorbed thee, correct?"

"Spot on, Glenn. See, remember how the demon Kani split into three souls? One was me, and I became Syne. One was him, and he became Nichi. And one was..."

"Me."

Everyone turned to the new voice. Brian hovered in the air, madness in his eyes. "Well well well! So you all cheated to beat me this time! You summoned the past to help you beat me in the present! I can see in your heads. I know your fears. Now watch those nightmares become real!"

************************************************** *****************************
The Netherrealms, The Year Inifinity Minus One, The Darkness

"Did you feel that?" asked one of the women.

The man who looked the most like her nodded. "Let's go."

"But..." started one of the other men.

"Too bad. I don't care if you want to go or not. We have to help them."

************************************************
Palis, The Year 0 Aikia, The Dark Spire

Brian laughed as various past foes appeared about the area. Zera-Shaal, Phantasm, Dacono, Boiz, and Nidogg appeared, surrounding the group. Other demons began appearing as well. Brian floated above them all.

"Now the eight of you have lost. It's only a matter of time before-"

Things happened quickly. Light blasted away a group of demons. A scythe and pair of daggers carved a path through the demons to the group in the center. Lightning, light, sword, and shadow made the clearing a bit wider.

Brian gasped. "IMPOSSIBLE!"

Titania looked up. "M... Malice?"

Malice stood at the front of this new group, a huge smile on his face. Behind him stood Magus and a woman who looked very much like him. His sister? she wondered. And behind them stood...

"Guys?" whispered Kani.

Variel, Gadriel, Llideah, and Noah.

The five sealed souls were reunited.

"Seven, you mean," hissed Brian, reading Titania's mind. "Variel, Gadriel, Llideah, Noah, yes, but all three of the souls of Kani - Kani, Isea, and..." His face became gaunt and pale. His body stretched out and a dark cape covered his body, making him look like a half-dead demon. Two large black-feathered wings extended from his back, a mockery of an angel's. He bowed, grinning evilly. "I am Azrael."

The new seven members of the group all gasped, as if they knew the name.

"Azrael," he whispered, horrible glee on his face. "The Angel Of Death."

((Okay, this is how it is. Malice, Magus, Schala, Variel, Gadriel, Llideah, and Noah are all actually dead, as are all the old villains that Azrael brought back. Azrael brought down the barrier between life and death for this battle, so the good guys took advantage of it and came over with the old villains. After this battle all of the dead heroes have to go back to the deathside. None of these guys are bound anymore, so the past no longer applies to our present characters.

Have fun.))

[~Hidan~]

Only something short of a miracle could end this was the common thought going through the heads of everyone in the room. Sacryan looked into the demons eyes and could feel something from him, the demon was of Chaos. He laughed lightly. He stepped forwards and handed his sword over to the one who called himself Kani. “This is your place to finish this, and I will die.”

Kani could tell that Sacryan knew something he didn’t, and just took the sword and shook his head in agreement.

“Master of oblivion, servant of chaos, leader of the rift, I challenge your power.” Sacryan said leaping at the demon that stood before him. It did not take much effort for Sacryan to grab the great demon and pull him to the round. Bear hugging the demon Sacryan yelled, “Now is your chance, I give you all the right and freedom to kill this beast while I hold him down for you.”

Kani nodded and the rest nodded to him. Magus unleashed a large dark spell, followed by several dozen hits from Malice’s daggers. Kirby started drawing a massive painting, and Titania unleashed a Holy on the great demon. Sacryan still held tight. Then with the help of his sister Kani flew into the sky and started plunging down towards the head of the demon at full force, hitting right through the center of the demon’s skull. Leaving the sword behind Kani jumped back and then Kirby with a wave of his hands made the drawing come to life. A giant solid rock of pure granite came crashing down on top of the demon and at the last second Kani and Malice grabbed and removed Sacryan from the path of the falling object. The demon screamed in pain but it was not over.

Isea came forwards and after several had gestures cast Ice-nova. “Hit him again wish Holy, the one you can fell deep inside you, the one only the priestess of Ishtar knows. Feel it and cast, it will send him to oblivion, where he belongs.”

Titania came forward and closed her eyes and concentrated. She started to glow a light blue and she cupped her hands together between her hands started to glow a bright white and her hands started to separate slowly. She started speaking very softly in an unknown tongue.

The ice prison that Isea had cast around Azreal started to crack and the demon was slowly able to move little by little.

“Cast it my dear priestess.” Kani said resting his hands on her shoulders and channeling his energy into her body.

‘I feel so warm, just like I did back home’ She thought, a single tear fell into the white light and the power exploded in size and became the full reach of Titania’s body. “Magno Imperus Holy Flare!” She screamed as she rocketed the holy magic at the demon. “Goodbye.” She said sadly.

The bolt of holy magic hit the demon at full force, leaving nothing, not even a black spot to show he even existed. The demon was gone.

(I’ll leave the post story to someone else.)

[Zerlina]

((WTH, did you just kill me? *grumble*))

Glenn covered his eyes, trying to shelter them from the blinding light. Even as it faded he refused to look, unable to take in what he knew he would see.

“Gyah!” Titania let out a short cry as she fell forward, catching herself with a bloody, white hand. She coughed, clutching at her stomach and gasping desperately for air- the wounds around her neck shone and bled as if they were freshly imprinted “Glenn…” she managed between difficult breaths.

The knight moved cautiously forward, the demon’s life seeming to have ended all too quickly. His sword still in hand, he knelt by his friend, quiet and cautious.

“Glenn, remember what Syne told us in the cave? Remember how she told us to kill her…”

He nodded slowly, tightening the grip on his sword as he began to feel the darkness thicken about him.

“…we should have listened to her, but now we have a second chance.

Close your eyes.

Pretend that you’re Noah.

It will make it easier for you.”

She coughed once more, and Malice’s dagger fell from her sash, hitting the floor with a fateful clang. The knight stared at the object, his eyes flickering cold against the metal reflection.

“So long as I’m alive, so can Kani be. He sealed my fate along with Malice’s when we fought together that last time. Everything since then has told me I was to perish. Now…now there’s been two great sunsets- the deaths of Magus and of Malice. I am to be the third to die.”

“Thou canst expect me to take thine life, Titania.” Glenn muttered “Thou wilt not make a murderer of me…” his eyes flickered up toward the fading figure of Noah “…not again.”

“You despise me, remember? You’ve damned me to hell!” she whispered in a bitter tone but her voice fell once more “Perhaps I deserve it and you are right. I ask you now that if I have done anything wrong in the eyes of heaven to you or to Noah, let me seek forgiveness now.”

“What you are asking me to do is unforgivable.” He answered “It would mar mine soul for eternity.”

“Then you will let me live and let Azrael revive himself?” she clutched at her throbbing neck “There is no more life for me. He flows through my veins and he will make me his new host. Please, I beg you! Don’t let him take me. Kill me now and spare me the torture.”

Sacrayan stayed where he was, watching uneasily as the demon’s body began to pulse with energy. The people of the past had faded and now only Magus and Malice remained, their solemn silhouettes cast dark against the gray sky.

“Please…” Titania whispered quietly -desperately- tears of blood flowing down her face “Please Glenn…I don’t want to spend the rest of my life under someone else’s control….I don’t want to be cursed to be something I don’t want to be.”

Glenn flinched slightly at these words. With a reluctant hand, he took up Malice’s dagger, bringing it up above his friend but unable to do anything else. Titania fell forward, unable to hold herself any more. Blood poured out of her pale lips as she coughed and coughed again, in pain though wordless about it.

Malice slowly walked and knelt behind her, wrapping his arms around her pulling her up to sit. He nodded to Glenn and held her tightly, pressing his cheek against hers as he whispered in her ear

“Ishtara aeterna...
Eternal Ishtar

Damia glia.
Brilliant lady

Luminous caeliestié.
Light of heaven

Harrenus lia shildé
Hear your children

Ete gasien lia
And guide us to you”

Blood covering her pale face, Titania spoke with him, her own quivering voice barely audible as the dagger plunged hard into her heart.

The dagger held by Malice.



*



Glenn sat upon the rocky cliffs, watching the sun set behind the shadowy distance. The ocean rushed beneath him- rolling waves growing fat and spilling over in crashes of white foam. To his right lay a clean, white sheet on which rested several tokens that seemed plain -and even meaningless- to any stranger who might have passed by.

There was a scythe -stained with the life of a great and wise mage- the large hilt of a now halved sword –a symbol of a life spent in chaos and ended in the darkness. There was a stone –a piece of the eternally petrified dead- a flute –the song of so much misery- and daggers –the blades of a great warrior that had taken so many lives. Lastly, seeming out of place in the setting was a large, double bladed sword.

The ocean… wrote Glenn in a journal found many years later …is much like time. It tumbles and turns, and footprints we may leave on the shore disappear in moments. We try to run- to escape the strong currents- yet we always find ourselves pulled back at the mercy of fate. The truth is, we are like so much that is at sea- adrift and unable to see where we are going. Lives come and go as quickly as the waves and in moments we are lost- forgotten.

Ages from now, no one will remember our names, but that is the way it should be. Life is for the living, and once we are gone we should not try to linger. For soon –no matter what- we will find ourselves once more at the mercy of the waves and the cycle of the sea.

We exist only for a moment and then are nothing.

He took one last look at each object –the symbols of lives spent and wasted in war. His eyes lingered longer on the Masamune which tempted him even then. With a timid hand, he rolled the sheet up, binding each of the objects up as best as he could.

“Ete gasien lia” he whispered quietly as he threw the package into the ocean.

The waves crashed and turned, breaking any knot Glenn had used to keep the objects together. There was one last burst of foam and blue and then –as if it were supposed to happen- they came apart completely.

Glenn, noble king and founder of the New Gracia, turned away from the sun-red sea, never turning back.

There was a crash of foam and in a moment, the objects had disappeared into the water.

[Zeromus_X]

As Kirby walked down the path covered with leaves, he had many thoughts going through his head. His feline companions were also with him.

"So...did you find the inspiration you were looking for?" inquired Sneaky.

"Well...I did make quite a number of paintings, which are selling relatively well. But I just can't get all of this story out of my head..." he said as he tapped the side of his temple with his finger, as if it would settle down his brain.

"Heh, well it looks like that trip did 'ya good after all!" said Dude.

"Yep, I'd agree to that." said Misty.

"Say...have you ever considered writing all of this down?" asked Sneaky.

"Well, it might make more sense to me if I did that. After all, I was only with them for a short time...their feelings seemed so...distant from me. Although, if nobody knows of what happens, nobody will remember them! That'd be like a perfect picture just gathering dust in an attic!" exclaimed Kirby.

"Yes...I should probably write it down." he decided.

"Well, if it's going to be a story, what should it be called?" asked Dude.

"Let's see....how about...The Story of Palis?"

[~Hidan~]

(I didnt kill you :P)

[Dark FFnut]

***********************************************
Palis, The Year 14 Glenn, Fallen Spire

Bathoris stood in the center of the ruins of the Dark Spire. "So..." he hissed softly, "...this place is destroyed after all?"

The fox-like woman walked up beside him. "Of course it was," she muttered. "Naturally, this is the only way to leave Palis, remember? Azrael must have built it so he could escape without being destroyed."

The other woman glared at her. "Silence... Ochiri, I believe your name is?"

Ochiri cast a dirty look. "You would be wise to keep quiet yourself... Miss Dustus."

The woman Ochiri was speaking to laughed. "Dustus? No, that's merely my code name. The name I use... while operating."

Bathoris turned. "So... your true name is not Silver Dustus?"

The woman laughed again. "I have no reason to hide my identity anymore. I am an assassin. My name is-"

"So that's why she seemed so familiar, father," whispered another voice. Hector stepped out from behind a large rock. "It's Viola."

"Viola Awrecan," came another voice, this one belonging to Valmarus. "Assassin of the Four... well, the Three now. I wonder why Bathy didn't recognize you."

Bathoris turned towards Valmarus and suddenly the reason became apparent. Ochiri grinned. "My doing. I needed a demon's eyes to utilize my power."

"You seem familiar too," muttered Hector.

"I should. I did rule Palis for a few months. Of course, when your uncle decided that he wasn't evil and Azrael bit the bullet, I was deposed and that knight took over." Venom overflowed in Ochiri's voice.

Valmarus gave a deep hearty laugh and draped his arm over Ochiri's shoulder. "Masuto Ochiri was a legendary demon of the past. You wouldn't have happened to have taken your name from that legend?"

"You could say that."

Valmarus laughed again. "Excellent. With Azrael gone, there's no reason for them to suspect our new uprising..."

"Uprising?" asked Viola, but Valmarus could hear the excitement in her voice. "Well, I do want a crack at infiltrating the New Gracian defense system... you heard they fired Rufin and hired some new guy... Hige Toboe?"

"Hige?" Hector half-screamed.

Bathoris glared at Hector with his eyeless sockets. The sight was enough to unnerve even the demon general. "Azrael agitated and destroyed the crystal pieces... the Pre del Axion, and look at what happened. They might be able to beat us."

"The past isn't on their side this time," said Ochiri. "The Pre del Axion were the pieces of Variel's seal. They broke because it had been seven hundred years. Azrael had nothing to do with them." She sighed. "And to think... Azrael would build the spire atop his ancient binding place. It was no accident that Kani's reborn soul was named Nichi. The name was taken from the mage who sealed Azrael in this shrine to begin with. Azrael destroyed this shrine to build his spire. Now the spire... and Azrael... are gone as well."

Valmarus rubbed his hands together. "So it's agreed then? We five work together to take Palis for ourselves." The other four nodded in agreement. "Excellent." Valmarus turned towards the stone lying on the ground.

The stone Llideah had given to Kani seven hundred and fourteen years ago.

The Stone of Fate.

"The game is not over..." whispered Valmarus evilly, "...until all players have been destroyed."

((And... that, I believe, concludes the Story of Palis. There's probably not going to be a sequel, despite the fact that there's such a substantial evil force remaining (Three generals, an assassin, and the former queen? Holy hell!) but I think I did a pretty good job of wrapping up any characters we missed in the other things. I may lurk for a few more days to see if we add anything else, but... this is my last post here, for good, unless I have a comment about someone else's epiloguing. It's been great being here and working on this story, guys. I hope to see you all on some other boards or some other writing efforts (Zerl, give me the info on Mong's other project he mentioned!) later on.

Remember, though the book may be closed...

...the ending has never truly been written. Thanks, guys.))

[Zeromus_X]

As Kirby would say: This is all so confusing. :/ Oh well, at least its finally over...although it's a cliffhanger ending. A little disappointed, but meh. It can't always be a happy ending, I suppose.

[Zerlina]

((*clap clap* a year and now it's over. It's been fun guys! And FFnut as soon as i get the chance I'll send you the info for the RP. But right now I'm getting ready to go to Manila.

I'm singing tonight! ^_^))

[Zeromus_X]

Can I get more info on this RP? :)

[~Hidan~]

yup good job all. No sequal will come. but good end to it all.