Palis, Chapter one. Allience!

[Drazniich]

Belial rode a few paces behind the party, an archaic manuscript in his hands. The cover was stone, with a series of silver glyphs decending down the front. Each page sent a scene in black fire above the book, twisting and turning as it played out an epic love story.

She was a child, and I was a child...

He slowly reached his hand through the images. They flitted around his fingers, escaping his touch. It played on. There was an angel, he flaming wings outstretched as she cradled someone in her arms. There was a sword embedded in his ribs, and flames pulsed down the handle. He turned the page again.

Now, she drew the blade out, turning towards something unseen. A massive demonic visage decended towards her, and she screamed defiant silently as its hand came to sweep her away. The dying figure at her feet raised himself up slowly, pointing a crooked finger at the monster. A great gout of flames torrented towards its face, but the angel was taken up with it.

Bleeding and crying, the figure lay, as a single rose fell down from above. He picked it up gently. While the rest of the story was in black fire, this, somehow, was in gold.

Belial slammed the book shut.

"So many, so long, so fast." He sighed. Malice looked back.

"Years?" he said simply. Belial nodded.

"TIme may fly, and make fools of us all, but what can unbreak the hardest of hearts? Can a shattered diamond ever hold beauty again?" Belial mused. "Some small portion of the world belives that nothing ever really goes away. That they just go somewhere else."

Malice nodded.

"However, the things that come from where all the others go, where do they go when they die?" Belial looked off into the sunset. "Feelings are not lines of silver connecting us, they are internal, nothing more."

Malice cracked his knuckles. Magus rode back. "Tell me a story." Magus said simply.

Belial raised an eyebrow as he lit a ciggarette. "What kind of story?"

"A story. Any story. SOmething to pass the time." Magus answered.

Belial sighed, thinking back to all the tales he knew. "A demon scorned can rock the foundations of the earth, and no one better example exists than this one. Ages and ages ago..."

Belial spoke the story, but it began to replay in his mind again...

-----------------------------

There he was, armored and armed. In his hands, the black sledgehammer he'd annhilated many a city with. His wings of stone were spread, and he was pacing foward across a battlefield. With every step, a small patch of grass burned into cinders, till the wind was carrying ashes like snowflakes. The sky faded from a brilliant blue to a dull crimson. LIghtning arced across clouds of gray, the earth rumbling slightly. He wasn't walking, he was foretelling. His stride carried him with all the sureness of a glacier, there was no stopping nor swaying him.

He was drawing towards a rift in reality, one through which his opponent had stepped. It was no mortal or immortal. It was a mockery of both, a clockwork messiah. Its vents gouted steam with its every move, and pistons clicked, shuffled and whirred upon its back. Standing a full twelve feet tall, created of brass and steel, its arms a strange combobulation of various projectile weaponry, from a five barrled cannon to a large, crystaline structured elemental weapon. Jutting out from below the massive full arms were smaller, lithe arms, carrying dangerously sharp blades that whirled into motion. About his feet were the bodies of many a foe, demon and angel alike, but one was still moving. His legs had been snapped off at the knees, and his chest was blasted open, but the dark ether inside him was somewhat intact. Belial was drawing slowly closer.

The clockwork monster looked slowly down at the wounded angel. It said nothing, though capable of speech when needed. Instead, it just leveled the cannon at the angel's head.

Shivering with pain, the angel spat a mouthfull of blood directly into the barrel that began to glow.

Belial winced as he watched his only friend's head explode in a cloud of gore. But it was too late for that now. Cast with a hard heart, fate had taken everything from him. Now, he'd strike back, first this thing, then fate itself.

The machine started lumbering forward, the steam venting rhythmically huffing. It raised both arms, aiming for Belial.

He kept approaching. The weapons both lept into life, barraging the demon with a withering hail of fire. Belial didn't even flinch as his wings were ripped to shreds, shrapnel embedding in the ground below. He kept walking.

The machine stopped approaching, and seemed almost puzzled.

"You took them." Belial said calmly. The machine brought the massive cannon atop its back to bear, firing a shell the size of a human.

Belial swept it away with a wave of his arm. "You killed them. You, who cannot feel victory, loss, or success. You killed them all."

It slowly began to revese direction, firing again. Another shell thudded into the earth. It was swallowed up as the ground began to fissure. Flames erupted almost a mile high from each crack.

The machine tensed up, waiting to pounce. Belial was only ten feet away now. His hands were gripped tight enough to dent the handle on his nigh indestructable weapon. Before attempting to close the gap, the machine fired its crystal elemental arm at Belial.

THe beam ceased to exist upon hitting th hammer head. THe machine lowered its self, pressure building till the vents screeched. It lept.

Twelve someodd tons of screaming death attempted to crush the demon bodily. Belial gripped his hammer directly below the head and brought it up square into the monsters chest, stopping it dead. Cracks formed.

"Your protecting magic failed you." Belial said coldly. He snap kick the thing back a few feet. Striking a stance, he raised his hammer. "No soul."

He brought it down with a clap of thunder. It sent the monster reeling. He raised his weapon again, this time, coming around to smash it on the shoulder. The cannon fell off, brass melting from the sheer force of the weapon.

Cogs popped out. The twin bladed arms aimed towards Belial's chest, but he spun his hammer around and ripped them off. The machine's head was level with Belial's.

"Emotions I have none." It intoned, its voice just the right series of tiny bells being struck. "Emotions are the force of destiny. But you do not carry any in your heart, cold one."

Belial gritted his teeth, thinking of the thirty brothers and sisters he'd lost that day. "No, I carry mine in my fist."

He headbutted the thing, then lept up a few feet to bring the full force of his weapon down upon the clockwork messiah's forhead. It fell, its mechanisms ceasing, to the earth.

-----------------------

Belial paused. "Thirty friends that day. Thirty faces that comeback to me everytime I feel pain. Eons and eons of loss. Tell me what makes us evil. Instinct? A wicked heart? Or simply time?"

 

[FFnut]

****************************
Palis, The Year 699 Ishia, Somewhere

Magus looked up at Belial. "What makes us evil?" he asked. "I wish I knew the same thing. I was considered evil back in my world. I simply wanted revenge on a monster for..." he trailed off, then realized that he was thinking too much again. "...anyway, I began to lead a war while trying to summon the monster at the same time. Some of my enemies found out that I was summoning a creature that would destroy the world later. They confronted me, challenging me while I was summoning the monster. At the time, I did not know that this monster would destroy the world in almost fourteen hundred years. They were confused - they thought I created the monster, whereas I merely summoned it from the depths of the earth. Later I joined them. But what makes us evil? In my case, it was keeping a dark secret. I wanted vengeance, without explaining my intentions." He looked around, making sure that Nichi and Malice were further ahead. He lowered his voice. "And if you don't tell Nichi what's going to happen to him before it happens, you'll be considered just as bad."

Belial's eyes widened. "Interesting. I'd never thought of it that way. Still," he muttered, glancing at Ensayne who was also flitting about nearby, "I think we'd better hold off for a few days. There may be a way to fix him, in which case, why bother making him anxious?"

Magus nodded, and suddenly gasped. He hopped off his mount and grabbed a small red rock on the floor, examining it.

Nichi and Malice turned around and rode back. "What is it, Magus?" asked Malice.

Magus picked it up, examining it. "I think it's Dreamstone," he said, "but it's from my world, not this one. There's only one way any Dreamstone could have made it here; either with me, but I didn't have any, or from... the pendant..." He closed his eyes and gripped the rock piece tightly.

****************************
Palis, The Year 698 Ishia, Somewhere

Rain splatted against the desert ground. Heavily armored boots trudged through the muddy ground, leading a dragon with a young woman on its back. She sat up on the dragon's back groggily. The soldier turned and slapped her. The force from his slap threw her pendant from her neck, and it shattered on the ground. She jumped off the dragon to collect the pieces - she had all except one safely hidden in her cloak before the soldier slapped her into unconsciousness again. He hoisted her back onto the dragon and continued trudging down the path. The small stone remained on the ground.

****************************
Palis, The Year 699 Ishia, Somewhere

Nichi, Malice, and Belial all leaned towards Magus's face. Magus's eyes suddenly snapped open, the red in them gleaming. He grabbed Nichi by the front of his shirt and pulled him close. "When's the last time it rained here?"

Nichi shook his head. "What kind of question is that?"

Magus's grip tightened. "Answer! When did it last rain?"

Nichi shrugged. "A little over a week ago, at best guess."

Magus let go of Nichi and sank to the ground. "A week. A week. We'll never...' He suddenly stood up, his eyes looking out into the distance. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He opened his eyes again. "The black wind howls..." he whispered, although he was too quiet for anyone else to hear. He walked over to his mount. "Come on! We'll never crush the next crystal standing around like this!" He rode off as fast as possible, the others close behind.

 

[~Hidan~]

Everyone was worried about what was going to happen to Nichi, it was the 7th day he had the eyes in him and they seemed to have taken a large toll on him. He wasn’t talking much and kept away from the fights they were having along the way. They had set up a camp near a river, Nichi had already fallen asleep.

Masuto looked at Nichi as he slept. ‘He’s growing weaker; I’ll be able to have some fun soon.’ He thought. Masuto woke up.

Malice and Magus looked over at Nichi’s body only to find nothing.

“Were did he go?” Magus said looking around.

“Malice and Magus is it, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” A familiar voice said coming from the shadows. Nichi, just with long red hair stepped into the light of the fire. “I hope you don’t mind me joining you, Nichi’s out cold for a while so you’ve got me.” He smirked.

Malice and Magus looked at each other in disbelief. Belial walked up behind Nichi.

“Who are you?” Belial said with a hiss.

“Why I am Masuto Ochiri.” He laughed. “You must be the famous demon Belial; I’ve even heard stories of you in the whispers of the spirits.”

Belial looked at him and went to the fire and sat down. “So you’re the spirit connected with the eyes?”

“Why yes I am. I am the legendary slayer of dragons, I killed so many of them that I was granted their power, too bad it killed me, but lucky for me I was able to pass myself on in these eyes.” He pointed to his eyes.

Malice looked and confusion struck him, the eyes he pointed at were normal blue eyes. “So what will happen to Nichi?”

“Oh nothing, we’ll just be sharing this body for a while. I’ve decided not to kill him, because he has more potential then my own power.” Masuto grinned.

“Are you on our side?” Magus said being very strait forward and stern.

“I am on your side, and now that I am awake Nichi won’t be such a looser anymore, he should start feeling a bit better.” Masuto said.

The three of them looked at each other, then noticed that Masuto had gone back to sleep.

The next day Nichi woke up he felt great.

“Nichi?” Malice said looking at him.

“Yes? What is it?” He turned and looked at Malice who was standing a few feet away.

Malice looked at Nichi, his eyes were normal again; he had the same green eyes he had when Malice first met him. “Nichi your eyes, they are normal!”

Nichi ran to the river and looked into the river to see that in fact his eyes had been restored to normal. “What happened last night? I had the strangest dream.”

Malice explained everything to Nichi.

“No way I’ve got some other personality inside me now?” Nichi scratched his head. “I guess it could be worse.” He smiled and started to whistle and seemed almost too happy.

Magus looked at Malice. “What the hell is wrong with him?”

“I think he’s lost it.” Malice said looking at Nichi strangely as Nichi went about getting ready to go in a strange and bouncy matter.

Belial looked at Nichi and turned the other way. ‘Oh great, he’s been tamed by Masuto, just what we need’ he though and sighed.

“Let’s go!” Nichi said jumping on his carnasor.

 

[Drazniich]

Belial shrugged. Some time, he'd have to deal with it. When it came up, reality could be torn to accomodate such a termination.

He adjusted his glasses. Every once in a while, Belial had a tendency to subconciously throw a wrench in the works. This may have been the worst one to date.

Naturally, as they rode, he contemplated this as a pattern. That was his other hobby. Spotting potential proofs to either fate or choice, long term routes that proved consistant over the eternity he was given.

And, naturally, as sprites are wont to do, Ensayne rode on top of Nichi's head, singing "Jeepers Creepers," for a good couple hours. Every time some one swatted at her, she dodged in that way that only annoying pixies can.

Belial sighed finally and said "I gave them to him."

Ensayne nodded. "Cool then."

He went back to his thoughts. There was no such thing, he belived, as fate, although you had to admit then that luck had to exist. But things happened too convienently. He could be realitivly sure that giving Nichi those eyes was going to end up either saving or condeming the world, or at least a small part thereof. But, then again, Belial was the only one who could heal them, realistically, whether or not he improved on the original design didn't really matter.

If Fate existed, Nichi was no better nor worse off than before. If choice existed, that Nichi would suffer only because it was Belial's fault, then it could be said that he'd be screwed, because no one can ignore a guilt trip quite like a demon.

As of the present time, he'd never seen Nichi that alert. Belial liked to think that these three had a 55% chance of being the ones to save the world, or at least, bail him out to the point where he could put his finger on the scales.

Many a kingdom owed their survival or downfall to a wellplaced action from the demon. Belial looked at his companions, not without a touch of compassion. "You of course realize, no matter what happens, that you all will go down in history as having sold your souls to achieve whatever end we reach."

Magus looked over annoyed. "Excuse me?"

"You have associated with me. I hate to say this, but many people will say you gave your souls to me to achieve the powers that you will need to slay these intruders. Sorry. Them's the brakes." Belial sighed. "You'd figure that perhaps I give these boons out of foolish sentiment, but nope. Everyone thinks that you have to give your soul to a demon for it."

He gestured at Nichi. "Sometimes, you're just a happy mistake. Others..."

Belial shuddered to think of some of the abominations he'd created. He wouldn't be surprised if any of them were still alive.

 

[Mong00se]

Nichi rode with a newfound confidence. He looked high to the sky, as if he could never see and had just acquired the talent for the first time in his life. Magus and Malice looked at him with unease. This Masuto character was having more of an affect on Nichi then he was willing to admit. Nichi rode higher in his mount. He seemed physically taller. Though that was the only physical trait so far they'd seen, the mental tolls had hit him hard. He rode wearing a newfound confidence in his abilities, but that had come with a price. He also rode with a newfound cockyness, which he constantly mocked Magus for. While Malice felt uneasy still, he looked at Belial and saw him actually smile for the first time since the two had had the "priveledge" of meeting. the smile looked more ominous then joyful, but Malice could sense that the demon was up to something yet again.

"Haha don't worry Magus, one day when you obtain skills like me, I'll teach yea how to use him?"" Nichi taunted, seemingly playful.

Magus winced as if hit by an arrow, then he shook his head. "Malice, when will we be at the next town?"

Before Malice could answer, Belial spoke up. "The next town is Frevola. It's a large town, so do not expect your search to be over as quickly as in the other village. We should be there by dusk."

It was already midafternoon, and Malice figured he could bear the ride. Their seemingly perfect team wasn't turning out to be what it should, and Malice blamed Belial. Malice had a suspicion that the demon had awoken the Masuto demon for a reason, maybe to sway Nichi into helping him kill his demon. Either way, Malice only smelled more trouble and turmoil in the group in the future. The four rode in silence.


As dusk hit the travellers noticed a tall city on the plains. Lit by torch, it almost seemed magical. The sun began setting behind them, creating darkness faster in the distance. As they came closer to the city, they heard a scream, and noticed a single figure run from the gate.

"Hya," Nichi urged, and pressed his carnosaur forward. The others happily obliged and did the same.

Three carnosaur exploded from the gate, travelling at inhuman speed, even so for a carnosaur. They could barely be seen through the darkness, and they appeared as little beacons of light from the torches their riders carried. The scream, now noted as a mans scream, came again and the man continued to run towards Malice and the party. Nichi, still in the lead, broke forward from the group, and grabbed the man as he ploughed through. Nichi reared his mount and it came to a stop in front of the pursuing riders. They skid to a stop and leapt off their carnosaur.

"Give ussss the man, he is wanted in our kingdom," they said in an inhuman hiss with a hint of rage.

Nichi immediately noticed something wrong, and spoke. "What has this poor man done to you? He does not look to me like a common criminal."

The lead exploded, "GIVE HIM TO US NOW." And he raised his poleaxe in response, pointing it at Nichi.

Magus looked up. "I think they're infected guys."

Malice agreed. "Yeah, and what's to say the whole village isn't the same. A chase such as this would not go unnoticed between the guards. I think the village must be infested."

"In that case, lets crush 'em," Nichi said, and drew his sword. "Sorry guys, but he's ours. Ensayne, look after this man, we'll need to talk after."

Ensayne looked at him with a look of disgust on her face. She looked to Belial, who just laughed.

The three villagers attacked, and Malice knocked his fists together. Magus drew his scythe and readied himself. They waited for an attack. Nichi, on the other hand, didn't wait, but attacked. He swung his sword, blocking the blow of the lead's poleaxe and snapping the weapon in two. He swung his leg around and connected with the outside of his foot, his leg still bent at a V. There was a distinct cracking sound as the lead's jaw broke. He crumpled to the gruond. The other two attacked him in a rage. Nichi sidestepped the blow, and the villager stumbled forward. He parried the second blow and with a sweep of his legs, the villager lay on the ground. Nichi spun his sword so it rested downward in his hand, and stabbed the villager on the ground. The second villager regained his balance and attacked him. With his awkward grip, he blocked the blow, swinging his arm forward, pushing the sword back. With a quick pull back, he ran the villager through the heart.

Nichi quickly dealt with the lead villager, who lay on the ground, blood erupting from his mouth. He turned to the man, who lay shaking on the ground watching the fight. "Now," Nichi said. "What has happened to your village?"

 

[~Hidan~]

As Nichi walked towards the man who lay shaking Nichi started to scream in pain and fell to his knees. Nichi started to convulse on the ground and then as if nothing ever was wrong stood back up. Malice and Magus knew instantly that it was Masuto that was now standing there. Belial cocked his head in interest in what was about to happen.

This time Masuto looked different. Instead of the short red hair he had last time it was long and a silvery grey. He seemed even taller then last time, he also seemed somehow divine. “What were you running from these men for?”

The villager at first seemed freaked out, but now that he was talking to Masuto he calmed down, somehow Masuto’s voice seemed almost calming. “Just recently our town was taken over by the dark shroud and our lord went insane, slowly so did all the villagers. I never turned like them and so they thought I was a traitor and tried to kill me so I ran.”

Belial looked at them men who were dead on the ground. None of them seemed to be carrying a shard of any type. “It’s an Aunix crystal or red one as you loosely call it. This is not good, they influence anyone lower then them, which means this man here has royal, demon, or godly blood in him.”

Malice examined the bodies further. “They all have velmore marks on the back of their heads, defiantly mind control, but more then just that. It seems whoever is leading this is also streaming their power to all those under his control. We’ll probably have to kill everyone just to get to him.” Malice sighed.

Magus kneeled near the man and started to cast a healing spell on his legs. “Have you seen a girl around here?” He went on to describe Schala in detail.

The man shook his head. “I’m sorry but I have heard nothing of a person like this.”

Magus sighed.

Malice watched Masuto as he walked around the dead bodies. Masuto seemed to be giving off a very strange aura. “Who exactly are you Masuto?”

“Well now the questions start.” Masuto said as he went on to explain that he was the first person of this world to become a god through helping his people, then ascended to being a demon by killing so many because he was enraged that he could not marry after becoming a god. He was in love with a girl so badly that he decided to become a demon so that he could marry and have kids. Only it took so long for him to kill enough people to become a demon that she had already passed away. So he killed himself only to leave his soul stuck in a set of eyes. He had gone from body to body for almost twenty thousand years. Nichi was the first person with a body and spirit strong enough to hold him.

He told this while carrying and digging the men graves.

Malice and Magus were at first confused at what Masuto was doing, they then decided to help. Belial grinned at what was going on. ‘So thousands of years later he has finally come to peace with the death of his loved one.’

Another set of men on carnasors came out of the town at full tilt. Malice and Magus drew weapons and prepared for defense. Belial decided to watch rather then fight.

Masuto motioned to them to lower their weapons. He stood in front of the men as they approached. The men didn’t even stop they just jumped off their carnasors and jumped into attack. Masuto didn’t even draw Nichi’s sword. Rather he raised his hand and closed his eyes, a wave of energy passed from his hand knocking over the men and stunning them.

“Rope please.” Masuto said as he sat down exhausted.

Malice and Magus ran over with the rope and started to tie up the men. Belial grinned, exactly what he expected from a man like him.

After attempting to question the men several times and getting nothing from them Malice and Magus tied them to a tree sever miles outside the town.

Masuto never changed back into Nichi after that fight but slept for several hours after the fight. Malice and Magus returned to find Belial talking to Masuto.

“What are you two talking about?” Magus said looking at Masuto strangely.

“We were talking about coming to terms with the sins of our past.” Masuto said smiling. He had changed more; he looked even more like a different person.

Belial nodded. “We are also talking about what has happened to Nichi’s spirit.”

Malice looked at Belial with murderous eyes. “So what has happened to him?”

Masuto looked strait at Malice. “He gave up, something he said was wrong with what had happened since he and I joined body. He gave me his body in return he will be my first son if I have one.”

Magus shook his head. “So he handed his life over to you because he feels that you’re powerful enough to save his mother and this world?”

Masuto nodded.

Malice looked displeased. Now he had to trust two demons to helping him. “I don’t trust you, or what you’re saying, can you prove that he actually intended for this?”

Masuto looked at Malice and shook his head. “No I can’t, and I’m afraid I won’t be much use to anyone for a while. It will take a long time before I can gain much power, or learn to control this body’s power.”

“Magus and Malice I know you don’t trust me at all but Nichi really did wish for this to happen. He was here just a moment before you came back, he had hoped to talk to you but his strength left him too quickly.” Belial said arms crossed and eyes closed.

 

[Mong00se]

Magus and Masuto drifted fast into sleep that night under the rocky outcrop they'd chosen as their makeshift camp. Their snores echoed across the plains. Malice had his own agenda though. He feigned sleep, listening to Belial whistle across the fire. The tune was hypnotic. It sang of a burden, the burden of destruction and of sorrow that Belial carried. Malice listened as Belials tune told him the story of a great war of the past, and more preticularily of its loss. Though the whistling didn't sound morbid, it was produced with a great weight, as if Belial was carrying the world on his shoulders.

Though Malice had never heard the song before, he felt drawn to it. He listened intently, and the notes formed in his head. He silently followed along, singing himself the tune. He swore he'd never heard it, and yet something about it felt so close to his heart. He tried to think back to his childhood, but he could not recollect any instance of that song. As Belial stopped the tune and put out the fire, Malice hummed to himself, entranced.

When he was sure that Belial was sound asleep, he slowly got up and gathered his things. He prodded Magus, and he slowly rolled over, sleeping soundly. Good, he would need them to be asleep. Malice windwalked up onto the rock quickly, and hid his pack amoungst the grass. He marked the spot; he'd return for it later. By that time, the group would be looking for him elsewhere, and he could windwalk back in and collect his stuff.

He was regretful to leave them, but with the current situation, he felt safer by himself. The elders had told him to collect strong willed warriors. Magus could become a Theirian mage. His kind could enhance his magical abilities, molding Magus into a powerful warrior. Once, Malice thought the same of Nichi, but with his newfound demon, he wasn't so sure. Belial was neglecting to tell them something about Masuto, and Malice could hear the tenseness in Masuto's voice. His happy demeanor seemed too forced. He was safe for now, but how long before his companions put him in harms way?

Malice windwalked down, realizing just how little he knew of the elders plans for the warriors. Malice was completely in the dark, and it was a feeling that made him useasy. He knew the elders weren't playing him, but it felt that they too were hiding something from him. With all his friends hiding their secrets from him, he was better of alone. He looked back as he left, and frowned into the dark. He'd conquer the town alone, without raising a ruckus and then he'd move west, instead of the intended east, towards the village of Falgoh. From there, he'd have a better shot through the mountains towards his destination. Silently he turned to leave.

"Leavin' without us? And yea didn't even say goodbye? How your friends would pain over your loss."

Malice spun around to find Belial leaning against a tree, widdling a stick. His face and body were basked in moonlight, and he gave off an otherworldly glow.

"Demon, it's none of your business, but I must leave," Malice said unswayed by the demon's taunts.

"It's because you can't trust me isn't it? You fear your own life, and our humble group is slowing you down?" The demon replied as-a-matter-of-factly.

"That's... not it. I won't discuss it with you demon. You have ruined my friends life, and I will not forgive you for what you have done."

By this point, Malice was furious. But Belial simply smiled, and calmly said,

"I believe you take your friends for granted, young one. I know more about life and death than you think, and the wisdom I could bestow upon you is endless."

"And at what price would this come? My eyes? My body? My soul?"

"You have me wrong boy. My past is... long and troublesome. The worlds largest library could not hold the knowledge I possess from years of unrelenting torment. But it is behind me, and I long to create a new existance, one less scarring." He paused and pointed. "Tell me Malice, do you intend on vanquishing the whole town? I warn you now it is a task far out of your reach. There lies a troubled soul, and I don't like you would be able to come to terms with it."

Malice almost exploded, but then lowered his voice. "You will not keep me from accomplishing my goal, and it lies in that town. That is where I will head. Please do not try and stop me."

"I will not stop you. Instead, I will join you. I have become frail in my years, or moreso then one thousand years ago, and my body could use the exercise."

Belial put his arm on Malice's shoulder, and they began to walk towards the city.

"Plus, we have some talking to do."

 

[FFnut]

*****************************
Somewhere, Sometime, Magus's Dream

"..." said Crono.

The gigantic beast loomed ahead. Magus turned to look at it, but it seemed... different, somehow. It was as if it wasn't really... "Crono," Magus whispered hoarsely, "what is that thing? It's not Lavos, is it?"

Lucca spoke up. "It's sort of Lavos... don't you remember? Lavos merged with Schala. They're one and the same now. And it's still ripping everything apart."

Magus shook his head. Impossible. Lavos and Schala merged? How can this be? And now they must defeat Lavos... but he couldn't kill Schala...

Lavos-Schala fired a beam, disintegrating Crono.

Again? thought Magus. He's already been blasted by Lavos, we brought him back, but... He glanced around. None of the other team members were there. He saw the monster's face clearly now; it was, in fact, Schala's. Magus's hand trembled, and he dropped his scythe. The abomination began charging up a second beam.

Magus's hand unconciously dropped into his pocket. His fingers tightened around a small red piece of rock. He took it out and stared at it. ...Dreamstone? From the Mammon Machine? Or maybe... from Palis? Ugh... what is Palis? he wondered. Suddenly it all came flooding back to him. Defeating Lavos at Crono's side... coming to Palis searching for Schala... That's not even part Schala. This is just a dream. He lifted his trembling hand.

The monster was done charging.

Magus screamed "Dark Matter!" The pure dark energy flowed from his fingertips, completely surrounding the monster.

Nothing happened to it.

The beam flew at him.

I'm dead... I'm dead and I can never save Schala. If it was truly a dream I'd have woken up by now. What is this? What's in my mind? Schala... Schala... this thing has twisted her... I can't kill her, but I can't die either... Schala... Schala... "SCHALA!"

The beam seemed to freeze.

Time itself seemed to freeze.

The words "Dark Flare" escaped from Magus's mouth.

A flame composed of compressed darkness appeared beneath the creature.

A force comparable to that of Bahamut's breath (honestly the only analogy I know everyone on an FF board will get) blasted the monster.

The shell split.

The beam vanished.

Magus looked at the foul creature within the shell. Magus shook his head and blinked. Is that...

The sleeper dashed at Magus with incredible speed. Magus knew he was going to die, when suddenly...

Masuto came flying out of nowhere. "Need a little help?" he asked.

Magus nodded. "I dunno if Nichi told you, but that thing is a sleeper demon called Zera-shaal. It's after Belial, though I don't know why. Only people with good intentions can hurt- OOF!" He went tumbling as the sleeper charged him.

Masuto stepped back. "Wow. That thing is fas- OW!" He also flew back a bit.

Zera-shaal let out a horrible screech. It charged for Magus again.

This time Magus knew what to do. He whipped out his scythe... then remembered he dropped it when he was fighting Lavos-Schala. He got slammed again.

Masuto staggered up. "The hell was tha- GRAH!" Another hit.

Magus got up again. He gripped the Dreamstone. He squeezed harder and harder until it cut his palm. The pain stimulated his brain...

**************************
Palis, The Year 699 Ishia, Campsite

Magus sat straight up. His palm was bleeding. He quickly crawled over and shook Masuto awake.

Masuto looked at him groggily. "What the... is it gone?"

Magus nodded. "For now, at least. But it found us, it might be looking for Belial soon." He glanced up at the night sky, remembering the surge of power that went through him when he cast Dark Flare. I'd better remember how to do that one, he thought. Then he began shouting. "Belial! Belial! BELIAL!"

 

[Drazniich]

Belial's hand sparked as he put it on Malice's shoulder. "To understand the destruction you cause, you must always know why you do it."

Malice ground his teeth. "Don't your kind thrive on pain and suffering?"

"No. No we don't. We do what we know. We suffer constantly. Our world is a long, lonely walk of rejection, repression, and isolation." Belial's eye shed a single, silver tear. "Any thing of beauty you hold shall turn to ash, they say. You do things for people, you hand them gifts to achieve their ends, and invariably, they abuse it. And rather than admit that perhaps they are evil inside, or that they were too weak to hold that gift, they say we corrupted them. That we took their souls..."

Malice stopped. "Wait, you don't?"

"I have never, NEVER, in all my existance, given a gift with a string like that attached. I would not instill evil in a creature. I have given each one praying for my salvation."

"You sound like you work hard to do good. Then howcome you can't hurt a sleeper?" Malice wondered outloud.

"Because... because when you have to suffer this much, your emotions become unstable. I hate to admit it... I don't want... I never... I HATED IT!" Belial fell to his knees, gripping his head. "BUT THEY PUSH YOU! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE FEELINGS!"

Malice looked in horror as black flames circled Belial. "I never asked for it..." Belial whispered. "But they kept on screaming..."

Malice tried to pick Belial to his feet. Instead, he shared the hallucination. A city burning in the black fires Belial was known to create. Belial was crying in the center of a crossroads, as all around him, ashes rose high into the sky. Implanted in his ribs was a holy claymore.

Malice fell over backwards. Belial rose again. He lifted Malice back up, steadying him. Malice was shaking from the anguish he felt that Belial carried. "You know, not all of us become damned. Some of us were sadly born that way."

And then, Belial was flung thirty feet away. Standing there, inches from Malice was a fourteen foot tall abberation. Its aura was completely visable, almost masking the creature in darkness. But it was there. Its massive arms and legs were strained, as if not attacking was an effort it could barely maintain.

OOG: I'm going to mention that the specifics of it are a mish-mash of your innerfears.]

Belial kicked up from the ground. "You!" He shouted. He thrust his hands out forward and a horrific gout of flames slammed into the Sleeper.

It ignored them, charging forward and pinning Belial to the ground. Its fist came down into Belial's chest again and again.

Malice blinked. He rushed forward, jumping on its back. "BACK TO HELL WITH YOU!" he roared, stabbing the back of its neck again and again.

Belial put both feet into its chest, throwing it off. His wings shot out as he rose up like the last tide upon a flaming shore. "Now, you will see... true demonic combat..." he growled.

Sure, you had to have goodness in your heart to hurt a sleeper. But when two demons battle, they can always hurt one another.

The area around Belial, Malice and Zera Shaal began to darken. Malice backflipped off of the sleep, landing behind Belial. Belial spun, planting his palm right in the middle of Malice's chest.

He fell, twitching, coughing up a mouthfull of blood. Belial began a series of gestures. Zera Shaal charged forward, and met a wall of un-reality. He stopped before hitting it. A host of black shadowed demons poured from the rift, swarming Zera Shaal.

Malice suddenly felt... diffrent. His limbs felt a little loose. He went to stand, and was nearly thrown off balance by the new speed he had.

"What have you done?" he gasped. He easily cleared Belial, the rift, and Zera-Shaal in one leap. He unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches onto the Sleeper.

Zera-Shaal roared, flinging the shade demons from his form. He swung both his arms outward, dispelling the rift. Belial formed a square with his fingers infront of him, and a bolt of nothingness careened towards the demon.

Malice ran up the demon's back, kicking Zera Shaal as he lept straight up. The bolt passed cleanly through the sleeper, who dropped to his knees. The wound began to close rapidly, however.

Belial raised his hands over his head. Suddenly, two pillars of ice appeared behind him. The whole scene shifted to the middle of a bustling city. People ran screaming. Belial looked around, terrified at the change. Zera-Shaal started to advance. Malice lept off of buildings on either side, slamming into Zera-Shaal. The sleeper was pounded down against the ground again and again.

Malice suddenly fell limp, going through a window. He panted and coughed. He felt weak as a newborn kitten.

And very, very thirsty...

Belial spun, drawing his cane. The pillars of ice dissapeared. "COWARDS!" he screamed. Zera-Shaal was regaining his balance.

Belial thrust his arms outward. "For what I must do... I am truely sorry..."

He pointed at Malice. The weakened warrior disapeared.

Zera-Shaal began to charge. HIs speed was gaining. Belial crossed his arms in an X infront of his face.

"Please... let them all die in the change..."

He thrust his arms outward again. Zera-Shaal was inches from him as a giant wave of nothing flew outward.

Belial disapeared.

------------

Belial landed from the sky right next to Malice. Masuto calmly walked over to them. "What in the name of..."

Belial just lay there, shivering. His wings retracted. Malice slowly and shakily got to his feet. "Wa... water..."

Belial thrust his hand out. "Stay back..."

Even Masuto felt the evil that Belial had just done. Over half a city, winked out of existance. And he knew, deep inside, that the sleeper would most likely return. After all, he could be recreated. All they needed was matierals.

Belial was wretching and spasming. Silver blood was escaping his lips. He heaved and rolled, finally just twitching, sprawled on the ground.

"So... much... matter... to... consume..." Belial whispered...

Masuto sighed. "You ARE a demon of unmakeing." he shook his head. "Lucky bastard."

Malice drained a bottle, slowly crawling to another.

Magus propped Belial up. "What's an unmaker?"

Masuto looked solem. "They can make things cease to exist. True destruction. But doing so takes not only tremendous effort, it also requires the Demon to take some of it into himself. And how many souls did you just unmake?"

Belial closed his eyes. "Uncountable."

He looked like someone who drank far too much. Paler, shaking, he used his cane to get to his feet. "Its like an overdose..."

He turned, placing his hand on Malice's head. Malice felt rejuvenated, and still a little loose. "I had to help you, kiddo." Belial whispered. "I thought you could use a limited removal. YOu can push your speed without limit, saving how much energy you have."

Malice just stared at the sky. Belial sat down. "I suppose we must do something soon?"

----

OOG: Yep. Unmaking. To clarify, having just decimated that city, a good couple punches will truck Belial into a coma for a little while. He'll be normal again in a few hours. Malice's gift stays till Belial removes it.

 

[~Hidan~]

Masuto looked at Belial and shook his head. “I was created as a Tormenter Demon when I was changed over. I feel it’s much more painful to be like you.” Masuto stood up and walked towards town and then jumped into the air, in the distance lay a hole in the outer edge of the town, it spread over two miles. This was the second largest city in the alliance, over a hundred thousand people probably died in that blast.

Malice had finally calmed his thirst. Masuto walked back towards them. “What were you doing?” Malice said looking at Masuto who had a look of sorrow on his face.

“I was seeing just how many died in the blast.” Masuto said now smiling at Malice. “One hundred thousand is my estimate.”

Malice fell to his knees. “So many. Holy shit!” Malice looked at Belial in contempt. “You killed that many people to save yourself?”

Belial just laughed. “Would you rather I let him kill me and you and then the rest of the people in the city then the one we just freed and then Gracia?”

Malice sighed and lowered his head. Magus thought about what he had done in his own past and sighed as well.

“Its nothing, did you know that all of Palice use to be under the protection of Gracia, everyone was happy and there were no serious demons here. I made it that way, and now the 90% of the world that is in their control that was all my doing. I killed everyone that lived on that side of the world that’s how it fell under the crystal shroud.” Masuto said as tears fell from his eyes. “I killed 41 billion people.”

Malice looked at Masuto and went white. He could not believe his ears. “And you did this all because you were not aloud to get married?”

“Love is a powerful thing.” Masuto said looking at the sky as the sun began to rise.

They gathered their gear and started towards town. Masuto whistled to the beat of Belials cane tapping. The beats together seemed to make Malice and magus seem more confident in their strength. Malice decided to carry a few extra bottles of water with him, seeing as the power Belial gave him might be useful in their current situation. The streets seemed empty as they walked through town. Eyes could be made out in the windows of the houses as they passed but they all looked frightened.

Only a small group of heavy armored men stood at the end of the road, in front of the town Palace. Malice turned red in the face with anger. He knew someone in that crowd.

“Guys take care of the others; the tall one with the red hair is mine.” Malice said as the men drew their weapons. Masuto stopped and raised his hands, two of them men immediately stopped and started to scream. “I’ll hold these two the others are up to you two.”

Malice killed two as he ran towards the red headed man, Magus was holding his own against a group of four men and Belial killed a few that ran towards him but mostly protected Masuto as he channeled to the two he was holding. Suddenly they both stopped screaming and looked at each other and then committed suicide. “Sweet dreams.”

 

[Mong00se]

A great noise echoed through the streets, and Belial quickly turned to see one of the men blowing into a conch horn. With a flick of his wrist, the queen of spades embedded in the soldiers neck, and he topped to the ground.

The noise still lingered in the air as Malice approached his goal. The red haired man stood at the top of the palace steps, looking meniacly at him. His eyes burned flames, which only added to the insanity blatantly drawn on his face. Malice had grown up with this man. He was a fire adept named Boiz. As a child he'd always been wreckless, abusing his powers. Like Malice, he'd been gifted in the art of spellcasting, and he quickly learned to maximize his powers at a young age. He had been first in his classes, with Malice only a hair behind. They had become friends purely because of their skill.

Then something odd happened. One day, Boiz seemed to change unexpectedly. He became even more rash and hard headed. He refused to work as a team with Malice, and it had almost cost him his life on a few occasions during time trial exams. Slowly he'd grown distant. Malice had noticed the change, and had tried to talk to him, but his stubborness would not hear it. After a month of this unusual behavior, he had snuck into the crystal quarry, and had stolen crystals of fire, his element of kin. Upon exit of the caves, he was discovered by the village elder. He absorbed the power of the fire crystals, and with his newfound strength, he burst through the Theirian guards and had fled the island.


Malice reached the bottom of the stairs, and looked up at Boiz. "So it is you who is behind the crystal corruptions," he said.

Boiz laughed a sinister laugh. "Not I, my boy, but another force. He supplies me with unimaginable power, and in return I spread the crystal plague. Not a bad deal." He laughed again, a shrill laugh.

"I'm sorry Boiz, for you were once my friend, but for the sake of Theira and Gracia, I can't let you do it." Malice pocketed his daggers. "Lets do this the old fashioned way."

"I have no time to deal with filth like you. Maybe once you could compare to my power, but now I am the strongest Theirian mage."

Boiz drew his weapon, a double edged sword. He swung it around, and the two blades caught fire. "If it is a fight you're asking for, then I will deliver. I doubt I'll even work up a sweat."

Boiz leapt into the air, his fiery blades creating a ripple in the air. He briefly twirled the blades above his head, and with a piercing yell, he brought the sword down upon Malice. Malice rolled to the side, evading the attack. The sword hit the stone ground, spraying sparks in all directions. The bloodlusted Theirian looked to the right, where Malice had just been, but he was not there.

"Please Malice, don't try your cheap tricks on me. I grew up with you. I know exactly how you fight."

A fiery insignia burned on Boiz's hand, and he shot a fiery burst into the air. The flames hit their mark, and Malice fell from the sky, now visible. Before he hit the ground, he summoned an air current, which caught his fall. He windwalked once again and charged towards his enemy. Boiz felt the current coming, and slashed forwards with his sword. It was just as Malice had planned, and he vaulted over the sword slash, laying a foot to the back of Boiz head.

Boiz staggered forward, but quickly regained his balance. Malice was trying very hard not to be seen, and it was frustrating Boiz. His temper flared, and his body heated up to molten temperatures. The air rippled, and Malice's form appeared at the top of the steps. Boiz laughed again, and shot flaming bursts towards Malice. Malice was ready for it this time, and he uncloaked and dodged to the side. His motions were a blur as the wind propelled him sideways, out of the way of the projectiles.

"Where is this unbeatable power Boiz?" Malice taunted. With a burst of air, Malice shot forward, and landed a punch to Boiz stomach. Boiz spat fire at the impact. Before he could bring about his sword, Malice executed an uppercut to his jaw. Boiz actually lifted from the ground. And Malice spun around and kicked him into the side of a building. Dust shrouded Boiz as he hit the building. Malice strained to see through the dust, but he couldn't. He cautiously walked forwards, preparing for the worst.

Suddenly, three fiery projectiles were hurled at Malice. He summoned the wind and knocked the bullets aside, but he wasn't ready as Boiz leapt from the dust slashing with his double bladed sword. Malice dodged the first slice, but the second blade sliced through his vest, creating a deep gash. Malice held his chest as the pain shot through it. The blades came down again, and Malice summoned a current that boosted him high into the air. He forgot the pain and focused on the battle. Boiz was now throwing fire at Malice, and he was having a hard time focusing. Determined, Malice spread his feet at shoulder length and put his arms out to the sides. The blueish insignia flared on his palms, and he screamed the word that he hoped word end the battle.

"HURRICANE!!"

Malice started slowly spinning. The firebolts hit the air and dissipated. The spin became faster and faster until a funnel of air started to appear from his body. He lowered himself to the ground, surrounded by the cyclone, and walked towards Boiz. Boiz still held his insane look on his face, and didn't seem worried that the tornado was nearing. Everything around them was being picked up and thrown, and Masuto ordered the others to take cover to avoid flying debris. The bodies of the dead soldiers were picked up and tossed effortlessly aside. The only thing that rested on the ground besides Malice was Boiz.

"You have become strong Malice, but you have yet to see my real power," mocked Boiz. The flames on his sword grew larger, until his whole body seemed to ignite. He spun his sword above his head, and created a fiery vortex. With great strength Boiz threw his sword into the hurricane. Instead of being shot out like the rest of the debris, it lit the hurricane. The fire surrounded Malice, searing his skin. Releaseing his anger, he shot stright out of the eye of the storm. The pain distracted his focus, so no cloud of air met him as he fell. He hit the ground with a thud.

Boiz was upon him in seconds. He'd already retrieved his sword, and it was now pointed at Malice's neck.

"See, you cannot match my power. And as I promised, no sweat," he said, demonstrating by wiping his forehead.

Malice couldn't form the words to respond. His strength had left him, and e knew it was the end.

"Prepare to die. I'm sorry things had to be this way. Oh wait a second, no I'm not." Boiz said, laughing his crazy laugh once more. He raised his blade to swing, but froze in midslice as a menacing growl split through the air.

"No," Boiz said humbled. "Not now. The Zera Shaal cannot be here now. Not in my moment of glory. No."

The growl grew closer, until it seemed right over top of Malice. Malice saw the demon through his blurred vision, but couldn't make out the details. He saw the flicker of Boiz's sword as he blocked what appeared to be the arm of the Zera Shaal. The last thing Malice saw was Boiz being thrown high into the air. After that, all he saw was black.

 

[Drazniich]

Belial watched all of this as he guarded Masuto. Masuto finished his two guards artistically. "Is that Zera-Shaal?" Mastuo pointed.

Belial's jaw dropped. "Nothing... can be remade... that fast." he gasped. He holstered his cane. "Damn it. I'm taking him down the hard way."

Masuto shook his head. "Hello? Goodness?"

"Not after its first remade. It would need to recharge its forces to become immune again." Belial took off sprinting. Finally, he lept straight up into the air, spinning like a top and flinging card after card into the body of Zera Shaal. It screeched in pain.

Masuto raised a hand over his eye. He disapeared.

Belial landed over the body of Malice, catching Zera-Shaal's fist as he attempted to finish Malice off. They strained against each other, as Belial slowly lifted the sleeper off the ground. He hammer-threw the demon into a building.

Masuto appeared over him in the rubble. He unslung his sword from his back. A piercing chours of screams silenced everyone who wasn't evil within a mile and a half. One billion suffering cries all escaped at the same moment. "Time to go back to sleep." Masuto smiled.

He brought the blade down into Zera-Shaal's face again and again. The sleeper kicked Masuto up into the air, then off into the distance. Belial was there waiting, five feet from Zera-Shaal's head.

A large blast of un-making erupted again, this time, directly at Zera-Shaal's face. The decapated demon slowly started regenerating.

"We need someone holy." Belial looked around. "Someone who can kill this thing."

Malice lay unconcious. Belial lept over, crouching next to him. "Damn it. Can't they make these things tougher?" he growled as he began to heal the downed fighter.

 

[Zerlina]

…where am I? She lay still.

Pulling her weight up to rest on her forearm, a maiden, drenched in Gaian rainwater and barely conscious, let out a soft and inaudible cough.
Dazed, she made the beginnings of what could have been standing up, but fell back when the water on her hands met no resistance from the marble roads. Her head pounding, she groaned and did nothing for some time.

How long had she been there? How had she come there in the first place? It seemed all too much to try to comprehend. Perhaps the storm had blown her to a nearby town, or perhaps… she’d died?
As the water-fog from her eyes began to ease up, she finally took a look around. It all seemed so strange, like something out of a book. The air was thick and had to be taken in slowly, she noted. Perhaps this was on a mountain? Or a cliff? Maybe a cavern?
Whatever it was, it felt uncomfortable- eerie almost.

Finally managing a clumsy rise, she stood still for a moment to regain her balance, like a babe newly trained to walk.
“Hello?” the barefoot girl called out shyly, and thought she may have heard her own voice echo “Is…someone here?”
Habitually, she lay her fingers on the silver flute hidden in one of the pockets of her clothes.

 

[~Hidan~]

Zera-Shaal had almost completely regenerated. Belial tried to wake Malice and get him to fight for him. Masuto lay downed in the middle of the road, slowly getting to his feet. In the distance Masuto could see a girl walking down the street a faint holy aura surrounded her. Zera-Shaal was completely healed now, it looked from side to side for its closest victim, and it made its choice and started to charge the girl.

The girl looked frightened as the huge beast ran towards her. She looked around for help but no one was there that she could see. She drew her flute and held it ready to use, but the monster was on her too fast to cast any spells.

Zera-Shaal jumped over her and hissed as it fell onto her. She held her hands up in defense. Zera-Shaal fell on her flute as she held it out, the holy power contained in the flute. The beast screamed in pain as the holy powers tore away the flesh of the creature like it was butter.

Titania stood up and looked at the beast the now lie in two. ‘What the heck is going on here?’ She thought to herself.

Masuto came up behind Titania. “Impressive, you must be favored by the god’s.”

Titania turned to see Masuto standing over her. “Who are you? What the hell was that? Were the hell am I?”

“Whoa whoa, hold up. That is a demon, and you killed it. This is Palis; this is the city of Falgon. Me I’m Masuto, the others are just up the road from here. It seems you just came here so we might be able to help you.” Titania nodded her head and followed Masuto.

Malice had finally gotten to his feet and Belial was sitting recovering from unmaking the Zera-Shaal. Magus was attempting to conjure some sort of healing spell but was not succeeding very well. Titania walked over to Magus. “Who are you trying to heal?”

“Malice got pretty beaten up there; I was just trying to help him out.” Magus turned to look at the young girl leaning over him.

Titania walked over to the man who she was told was Malice and started to cast a minor healing spell on him. “Feeling better?”

“Much thanks.” Malice stood up and bowed. “Who is this?”

“She seems to have just come to this world, she killed Zera-Shaal.” Masuto said sitting down on the side of the street.

“Are you ok?” Titania said looking at Masuto and Belial who both had massive cuts all over their bodies.

Masuto raised an eyebrow. “Healing us would probably kill us. It’s best to leave us alone until we heal by ourselves.”

Belial nodded. “So you’re a maiden of the ways of holy magic.”

Titania nodded and sat down looking really confused. “This place is just a little confusing.” Looking at Belial and Masuto she asked. “Why is it that my magic would hurt you?”

“Demons don’t take holy magic too well.” Belial said poking at the gash in his arm. “Lucky for us things like this don’t take long to heal.”

People started to come out of their houses and seemed very confused. They looked like that had been under a trance for some time now. The heavy air left the city and the presence of evil had left.

“Looks like we are finished with this town, where are we off to next?” Malice said breathing in the cleansed air.

 

[FFnut]

************************************
Palis, The Year 699 Ishia, The Road From Falgon

Magus cast a wary eye at Belial before leaning in towards Malice. "Hey," his voice rasped, "what do you think Belial's going to do now?"

Malice raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Magus shook his head. "You don't remember? When Belial joined us, he said he needed us to kill the sleeper. Now that Zera-Shaal's dead, what's going to stop him from killing us and leaving?"

Belial had been eavesdropping on their conversation and quickly strolled up next to them. "How about my word?"

Magus stopped and looked at Belial. The Earthim's red eyes met the demon's silver ones. "The word of a demon?" Magus almost laughed, then paused to reconsider his past. A grin spread across his lips. "I've had some luck with promises from things other people consider evil. I guess I can trust you, if only for a little while."

Belial grinned as well, his devilish teeth glinting. Lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, he continued. "Plus, that girl over there took out Zera-Shaal by accident. Imagine if I tried to double-cross you. She'd be able to vaporize me in an instant."

Magus glanced at Titania, who was walking a little bit behind the group. "Another good reason to bring her along."

Malice looked at him. "You're not sure if we can trust Belial, but you think we can trust her? She's not even from Palis."

Magus smiled. "Neither am I."

He stepped back to talk with the girl.

"So what kind of world are you from?" he asked her.

She looked at him awkwardly. "What do you mean?" she inquired.

"You're obviously not from Palis... and I'm not either, to be honest. Where were you from before you came here?"

She glanced up at the sky. "I'm from a place called Gaia. My village was attacked and..." she trailed off, not wanting to reveal more.

Magus nodded. "Don't want to reveal your past, huh? It's alright, neither do I. These guys know next to nothing about Earth, where I'm from." He shouted to Masuto, who was leading the group. "Where're we off to now?"

Masuto turned around and kept walking down the road, backwards. "The town of Adinem. Don't know what to expect there, so keep an eye out." He turned back around and kept walking, everyone else behind him.

 

[~Hidan~]

Three days it would take to get to Adinem. The group had been pounded by the sun all day long and it was taking its toll, so they pulled off the road to rest for the night. Belial and Ensayne talked while the others rested. Titania was watching the stars, they were very clear tonight.

Off out of listening distance Belial talked with Ensayne. “I just thought of something very important about our friend Masuto. Do you know the name of the first mortal to ascend to being a god?”

Ensayne looked at Belial annoyed by the question. “You know damn well it was Masuto, Aikia Masuto….. Oh wait I see what your saying. Wasn’t Masuto supposed to be Aikia and a girl, not a guy?” She peered at the camp only to notice that no Masuto was there.

“I’m interested; do you think she’s been putting up an act just because she is stuck in Nichi’s body?” Belial said looking around for Masuto.

Masuto appeared by the camp, he seemed to be carrying something. “I’m going to go see what he’s up to.” Ensayne said flying off.

Masuto hid behind a large old tree that was near the camp. He laid on the ground a fox pup that was asleep. Masuto took out a small knife and cut his finger and dripped some blood on the fox’s head. ‘A sacrifice Ensayne thought. What could he be trying to conjure at this hour?’

Masuto started to concentrate energy into his hands and they glow a feint yellow. The fox did as well. Then the Fox woke up and opened its eyes and let out a scream.

Masuto’s eyes rolled up. Hearing the noise Malice, Titania and Magus all came to see what was going on.

“What in the hell is this?” Malice said looking at the glowing fox that started to get bigger and bigger. “Stand back he might have summoned something to kill us.”

Magus shook Masuto only to notice something was very strange. “Hey guys, why does Masuto look like Nichi again?”

Belial hearing this ran as fast as he could taking of his jacket as fast as possible. “Don’t look at the fox or you’ll be very sorry.” Belial yelled.

It was too late with that warning Malice and Magus Turned to look at the fox who not looked a lot like a girl. Titania forced them both to turn their heads. “Come on we can wait on the other side of the tree.” She said trying to move them back.

Belial threw his jacket over the fox.

“So I guess it worked.” Nichi said coming out of the trance he was in. “She’ll finally be given her own body; (phew) you have no idea how hard it is to listen to a girl talking to you about their problems non stop for days.”

Belial looked at Nichi with disbelief. “What the hell? How did you come back?” Belial looked at the Girl lying on the ground now. “You can mean that I was right and she Masuto is really Aikia?”

Nichi nodded. “Yup that’s why I let her take over my body, she needed to be in control long enough to gain enough power to do a change of bodies. I don’t really understand it all but you’ll see what I mean once she wakes up.”

The Girl moved and opened her eyes. “It worked? Oh my god it worked!” She sat up forgetting she had no clothes on yet.

Nichi and Belial turned their heads away as fast as they could.

“What, why are you not looking at me, did I screw it up, do I look hideous?” She said as she looked at herself noticing that she was completely naked, and she quickly pulled up the jacket to cover herself. “I’m sorry that was my fault. I didn’t think that through, now if I can only conjure some clothes.” Aikia attempted to conjure clothes but noticed she was completely out of energy after changing bodies.

Belial handed her a stack of cloths. “These should do till we get to the next town.” With that Belial and Nichi stood up and went back to the camp.

At the camp Malice and Magus looked as though they had been trying very hard to explain to themselves what they just saw. Then seeing Nichi back Malice almost fell over. “You’re alive? I can’t believe it. Masuto said he took over your body permanently.”

“That was the idea at first but Masuto realized that she didn’t belong in a man’s body any longer then she had to be in one.” Nichi said

“Wait your telling me that Masuto is a she?” Magus looked at Nichi in wonder.

“Yeh, she told me not to let you guys know until she was able to find her own body.” Nichi stretched like he hadn’t moved in a very long time.

A tall young girl with silvery white hair came out from behind the tree. The same awe inspiring presence that Masuto had when in Nichi’s body was there just more elegant. She was wearing all white with a black Jacket that came all the way to her feet. “Well I guess the secrets out.” She smiled.

Titania looked at her and laughed. “You have fox ears!”

Aikia felt he head and sure enough she had fox ears. She had expected as much, thankfully she hadn’t gotten a tail with the package. “Well it’s what I get for not using a human’s body to move into.” She sat down and sighed, it feels good to be back to being me again. Well mostly me at least.” She laughed.

The next day came and so did the sun. Everyone went on towards Adinem. It was only a few more miles till they got there.

Arriving in town they noticed that it was very calm, and that the presence of the crystal shroud was not very think in the area.

Nichi looked around, and then he noticed something. “Someone else has been through here and taken out the crystal before us.” He picked up the remains of a shattered crystal.

“Who else would be able to do this?” Malice said looking around and feeling the air to see if anyone else was in the area.

“This was done a while ago it would seem, and they have been gone for some time now.” Aikia said sitting down on a bench. “It seems like we get to take a rest.”

Nichi nodded, with no other towns in the south coast they were to wait here until notified by Ishia what the next town was to be. “Well let’s get a couple of rooms in the inn.”

Magus went into the Inn and reserved 3 rooms. “Ok Nichi and Belial, you guys are in one room, me and Malice are in another, and Titania and Aikia will be in the other.” Magus handed out the keys to everyone.

Aikia took her key. “Well I don’t know about you guys, but I’m taking a shower, something I haven’t had in almost ten thousand years.”

Titania nodded at Aikia. “I think I’ll take one too, coming into this world by that storm has left me rather dirty feeling.” She looked at her cloths which were spotted with dirt.

Belial took his key and smiled. “I’m going to go have a good hard drink. I think I deserve one.”

Nichi took his key and said nothing just walked out of town and sat under a tree and fell asleep.

Malice followed Nichi after taking his key. Malice had much he wanted to ask Nichi. He let him sleep and sat down near him and thought about all that had happened in such a short time. ‘I wonder if his eyes are normal again?’

Magus went around the town asking everyone he met if they had seen a girl. No clues came up in the time he spent, but he found out that a man in a silver cloak had killed the demon controlling this city.

 

[Zerlina]

((I still don't really want to control anyone else's characters yet because I don't know you well enough to do so...sorry))

To be completely honest, Titania had lied. Though she pretended to make her way up to a shower, she instead turned and left the inn.

Kicking up a little bit of dirt with every step, the girl far from home made her way down a town road, trying to make sense of the situation. So she'd been blown off to some other world, it seemed. Or perhaps she had merely hit her head and was hallucinating.

Casting a weary glance back at the inn, Titania continued down the road with an unintelligible look on her face. The once proud girl walked with her head down and her hands in her pocket, confused and crest-fallen, not knowing whether she would ever see the Gaian moons again, or smell the sweet grasses of the Mountain Path.

For some time, she continued on like this, considering all her options. Firstly, she could follow the group…they seemed to know what they were doing. But really, the only reason they wanted her, she thought, was because she destroyed the demon in the other town. Scared to be left behind, she hadn’t even considered speaking up about how much of a fluke that was. In truth, she was a terrible spell caster and had learned a long time ago her magic was unreliable.

After about half an hour, Titania realized that she had no idea where she was.

“Damn.” She muttered and turned a few times to take in the geography of the town.

It seemed she had somehow made her way to a square that she thought marked the center of the place. So that meant that eventually they was probably going to besomeone around from whom she could ask directions. Perfect! Feet aching, the girl made her way to the fountain and sat on the edge of it. Suddenly wishing she had stayed and showered, she dipped her hands beneath the water and began to scrub them. For the first time in her life, she could see the accumulated dirt leaving her fingers and palms. Oh how she wished to go home!

 

[Mong00se]

The world spun around her in a blaze of confusion. Nausea hit Titania as she realized how terribly lost she was. She staggered forward, then back, looking in all directions, but only mountains surrounded her. She put her arm out against a tree to brace herself.

"Why madame, that certainly is a very far shower," came a voice from behind her. Titania spun around, but saw nothing.

"Who...who is there?" she asked feebly, not knowing enough of this land to know of its inhabitants.

In front of her, Malice materialized, as if appearing from the air itself. His form wisped into shape, and he smiled. "Sorry, didn't mean to follow you, but I thought you might need a guide, seeing as you don't know the terrain. I will offer you my humble services and become your makeshift guide." Malice bowed, a sarcastic grin on his face.

"I'm sorry Malice, but I cannot accept your offer. It seems that your group can do without me, and I wouldn't want to be a mere accessory." She had a serene quality about her, and Malice knew the words she spoke were the truth.

"If this is regarding your confrontation with the daemon earlier, think nothing of it. We are not asking you to stay because of your magical abilities, but rather because we are all lost to this world in a way, but together our team is strong. And we'd like you to be a part of it."

Titania blushed. She did not know if the words he spoke were true, or if it was just a rouse to add her to their roster. After thinking, she spoke.

"And who is we? Is this the teams decision, or yours? And anyways, I am not very competant when it comes to magic use. To tell you the truth, the whole daemon trick was really a fluke. I was never really good at magic."

Malice looked shocked. She had the demeanor of that of a White Wizard. "Then let me make a proposal," he said quickly, jumping at the idea that had just popped into his head. "I am adept in magic. I am a wind elemental of the Theira tribe. I am not framiliar with your sacred art of holy magic, but I have seen it used many times before. Magic is not about ability; it is about concentration and determination. This I can teach you. So what do you say?"

 

[Zerlina]

Titania couldn’t help but let a smile appear on her face. If he was willing to teach her how to use her magic, then she could go with the others and not feel like some kind of burden.

“You would really help me?” she asked, her smile growing as he nodded.

Still, she felt ashamed somewhat, and brought up her hand to push some hair out of her face (the real reason for this not being that her locks annoyed her, but rather, that she could hide her grin behind her sleeve).

“I’ve heard that before, you know...” she brought her hand down “‘magic is not about ability; it is about concentration.’
Where I come from, we have a tradition in the art, and our elders and parents teach us about it. They used to say things like that all the time. The problem is that it makes no sense until you understand it. And when you understand it, there’s no point in hearing it.” She laughed and then once again hid her smile.


“Right, well,” she cleared her throat, trying to seem serious “do you think you could answer one question for me? I’ve been wondering it for…the past half hour. I suppose you’re expecting it, anyways.
Is there- is there any way of getting back home to where we came from?”

 

[Mong00se]

The question hit Malice hard. He bit his lip, stalling for a solution. She was too pure and innocent to know that they hadn't yet found a way home. The details would crush her already fragile spirit.

Titania saw him bite hip lip, and noticed the stall for time. The wave of realization swarmed her fast. "Oh," she said softly, relieving the pressure from Malice. "There is no way back is there?" Her head sunk down.

Malice felt horrible to crush the lost girls hopes. He saw her head drop out of sadness, and did his best to calm her. "Titania, do not lost hope yet. We're working on a solution. We're searching as best we can, but as of yet, we havn't found anything relative to an escape from this corrupt world. Please do not dismay."

Titania raised her head, her eyes red. She brushed away her tears, and looked at Malice. "Thank you Malice."

Malice scratched his head and giggled, accepting, but not relishing in the appreciation. She was a fragile soul, and he felt compelled to protect her, at least until her skills improved. He took her hand. "Lets head back to town, the others will be worried. You should get some sleep, for we leave early tomorow."

They disappeared into the currents, and flew silently towards Adinem.