Max woke surrounded by utter blackness. At least he thought he woke. He looked around, in every direction only to see more blackness, as though the world were devoid of light. He looked down and was surprised to see himself, meaning that in spite of the blackness, there must be light. "I'm dreaming," the canidine concluded. He realized that he was laying on something, much like flat ground and stood, noticing that he lacked his coat and all his weapons. He though he felt something, or someone in this oblivion and looked around. Where am I? he thought to himself. "You were only half right," something said. Suddenly startled, Max turned, looking for the source of the voice. After a moment or two of spinning, he recognised that the voice was his own. Or at least someone who sounded exeptionally like him. "You are not awake, as you rightly surmised but you are not exactly dreaming." Max noticed that the voice had seemed to come from everywhere but gradually seemed to be eminating from one point. He turned to where the voice seemed to be going and saw a being taking form amidst a swirl of grey mist. As the mist subsided, the new being was revealed to be a perfect doppelganger. And there stood Max, facing himself, yet not. "So what are you?" Max asked his double. "I am you," the faux-Max said, expressionless. "Ha ha." The laugh was obviously fake and Max continued, "No, I'm serious. Who, or what, are you?" "I told you. I am you." At this Real-Max began to roll his eyes. But Faux-Max continued, "Or more precisely, I am your shadow." "So I'm dreaming that I'm talking to myself." Max shook his head as her turned to begin walking away. "Why can't I dream of something good? Like a threesome? Or twins?" "Because that wouldn't help you." Faux-Max was again in front of his counterpart. "Oh, so you're here to help me?" Max seemed not at all fazed by the doppelganger's instant relocation. He had many strange dreams in his time and this wasn't even in the top 100. "Indeed." "So, you are real? What are you then?" "Seers once prayed to Aura and beings that dwell within it. But all beings have aura, and all seers can 'see' it, as the title suggests." "So you are aura?" Max looked away for a moment. "But wouldn't that make you an Eon?" "Yes and no," Faux-Max replied. "That was cryptic." "No in so far as an Eon is Aura that has discarded its shell. Yes in the fact I can become one." "What?" The response was puzzling. It suggested something but Max couldn't quite put it to words. "As I said, I am you, though also not you. I am the personification of your aura." Then the realization struck him and Max blurted, "Eons are souls of the dead?" "I suppose that is one analogy." "So...I'm dead?" Max asked, suddenly afraid. "No. I will not let you die until your task is complete." "So...why are you here." "I am your servant, your shadow, and your shield. I have always been here, eternally as you protector." The shadow stepped forward. "I have always been here, with you, protecting you and guiding you. Yet I have never been as real as I feel now." Max furled his eyebrows in confussion. "Something has changed in the world. And you must be stronger to face it. So I have been allowed to take real form to aid you. The old animistic faiths called our kind guardian spirits. I suppose it is as fitting a title as any. Yet something wants me to be more, to aid you in a much more tangible sense. And so I become real, bound to your aura and your shadow. Your protector. Your Yojimbo. Max woke (again), blinded by the white lights above him. He looked around at the stale looking room, wondering where he was. A nurse pushed aside the curtains and checked his catheter. "Oh! Your awake," she said. "How long have I been out?" Max asked, using his hand to shield his eyes. "Not long. Your friends brought you in only 5 hours ago." "Still too long," Max muttered to himself. He then began the process of removing the monitoring devices from himself. "Sir, please." The nurse tried to stop him, but Max quickly overpowered her. This seemed stange as he had thought her human but he noticed her sloped feet and realized that she was also canidine, a race generally not know for its strength. "I'm awake and I'm fine. Now I have to get back to work." He started for the door, ignoring her pleas to stop. He spotted some familiar looking people down the hall. John had looked up at the sound of a commotion and picked up Max' affects from the chair next to him. "Bout time you woke up," he said, carrying the possessions to him. "Don't I know it." Max swiftly snatched his cloths back and went to a nearby restroom, ignoring the other two. He dressed himself quickly and stepped out, holding his hospital gown in a bundle that he threw to a passing orderly. "I just realized, I think I dropped my sword." "Don't worry," said John. "This little one found it." He indicated to a small drakenear girl. Max was surprised at her large wings, which was unusual to say the least. Of course the weapons were not present. Carrying weapons in a hospital was frowned upon. "Actually, now that I think of it," John stepped aside to introduce the two, saying, "This here is Melony and the other is-" "Traeh," Max put in abruptly. "She said she'd met you." "Briefly," Traeh said. "Yeah." Max's tongue wormed under his lips as he liked his teeth. "This is all well and good, but don't we have work to do?" "Yeah, yeah, no rest for the wicked." John turned and led the way to the elevator. "We can trade stories on the way down." Max made no mention of the dream, the meeting with Yojimbo and whether he even remembered it was not certain. | |||
There was no longer any movement or sound in the shadows of the alley. Taarin was sitting on the hard pavement, looking onward with an empty stare. Ivy and Dante had piled Cynthia's stones up, and were crouching, trying to think of something to say to the heartbroken Drakenar. Avec was leaning against the edge of the alley, deep in thought, probably concerned about Taarin too. Taarak, Melody, and probably several other NPCs were nowhere to be seen. They were in this arrangement for a nameless amount of time, until Ivy stood up and walked over to Taarin, handing him an Aura stone.
"Stop, Dante." Taarin said to him. He sighed, picking himself off the ground to face his friends. He placed Cynthia's pendant in his pocket, and felt the handle of his ever-decaying sword. "We've got a world to save." | |||
Krystal Tomlin -  "When prayers turn to promises, not even fate can stand in our way." TALK - 02:13, March 8, 2010 (UTC) - "Wouldn't wanna be you!" | |||
"Heroes or not," Taarin looked over at Ivy, who nodded. The Drakenaer sighed as he clinched his fists together. "Fighting over that is definately going to get us nowhere and Samael is the madman himself if he thinks we're gonna let him get away with it!" "Right!" Dante declared, pointing his crossbow upwards. "Count me in!" Felix finally piped up, swinging his BoStar. "I've got a weapon that has Samael's name on it!" "And we go wherever FeFe goes!" Gus threw the words in as he and Brodi ran up to the scene. "The Dynamic Dalians have witnessed the whole thing!" Brodi added. "Now FeFe, you know better than to run off without us!" Taarin sighed, more in embarrassment rather in frustration, as he turned to Avec. "The first thing I'm gonna do is snap Cynthia out of killing herself." "If she happens to be still alive," Avec said. "Unless you have a better idea, Avec," Taarin retorted with a sudden cold tone, "I'd suggest you stay out of my way. If all you're gonna do is lament on about how heroes turning into madmen, that's fine by me!" And I bet Max would do the same thing, he concluded with a thought as he, Ivy, Dante and the Dynamic Dalians ran off, leaving Avec to his thoughts. I bet Francis wouldn't even have the same determination as me. He probably wouldn't have the guts to follow through with saving Cynthia's life! | |||
"..."Report back to Francis"? So Francis is still alive. What a way to make a bad day worse." Avec sighed, petting the bird on his right shoulder. "I wonder if dead people carry cell phones."
I would like to remind all writers that all posts currently happening are playing backwards from the first C15 post, which happens 5 hours after the events of the one before (last C14 post). Second post of C15 happens right after last post of C14. So, any world-destroying events, anything important involving Melody and Traeh that they would logically tell Max about upon him waking up ect ect. that happen in the next five hours story-wise, will be treated as plotholes. Any immediately after will be treated as asspulls. "C" stands for Chapter. | |||
Deadlyslashsword - +It takes disaster to learn a lesson, but you're going to make it through the darkest nights+ TALK - 07:32, March 8, 2010 (UTC) - Some people betray and cause treason...we're gonna make everything alright. | |||
As the group was running off to save Cynthia, however, a nagging thought recurred in Ivy's head. One she couldn't shake off, like she was forgetting something important... And then it hit her. "Guys!" She said, bringing the entire entourage to a screeching halt. "What on earth is it?" Taarin asked, turning to face her, visibly annoyed. "We don't have time..." "We forgot about April!" Ivy explained breathlessly. "If she gets her hands on the Zanarkand Shard, it's game over." "But we have to rescue Cynthia!" Protested Taarin, sternly set in his chosen path. "Okay, fine." Ivy agreed. "We'll have to split up then." Turning to the rest of the group, she spoke. "Whoever wants to go with Taarin to coax Cynthia out of suicide, side with him. Whoever wants to come with me and backtrack to Fontis to stop April, side with me." After a few seconds of shuffling, the two parties were set. On one side stood Taarin, with Felix, and all of the Dynamic Dallians standing surrounding him. On the other side, Dante stood alone with Ivy. "That's it?" Ivy asked, a bit exasperated, her mind set on what the greater good was. "Just you, Dante?" Dante gave a serious nod. "Both situations are grave, and as much as it pains me to leave Cynthia, April must be stopped. Don't worry, though." Dante continued, flashing his signature smile, "Together, we can stop her. The fate of the world depends on it, or something to that effect, correct?" "It's settled then." Ivy spoke in a commanding tone. "Us two will take Ultima Weapon back to Fontis and secure the Zanarkand shard. You guys know what you need to do," she spoke to Taarin's group. "I wish you the best of luck, Taarin. Don't let Cynthia slip away." Taarin stood stock-still, arms laying loosely at his sides. Perhaps it was a trick of the sun, but Ivy swore she thought she saw a single tear run down Taarin's face, as if he knew what great risk the pair of them were about to lunge themselves headfirst into. "Give them hell." And with that, the two groups parted ways. Ivy and Dante headed back Southeast to Fontis while Taarin and Co. headed in the opposite direction, rushing as fast as they could towards Cynthia. Sucky rushed post is sucky and rushed, but let's not forget important plot points, hm? | |||
I know you guys will probably delete this post for no apparent reason, but what the heck, a man can try. His body could not sustain such tremendous power, he barely dragged himself to a shady alley in southeastern Fontis, his legs no longer holding his body. Samael was overwhelmed by his newfound Oracle's powers, he struggled to not destroy the walls he was leaning on with his strenght, he tried not to smash the road with his feet, he even tried to stop random objects in his surrounding from moving around so much. But he was happy, like a boy who just had his dream toy, he was gleeful at his new powers, and even if he still can barely control it, he knows sooner or later he will. And like a boy with a new toy, he can't wait to test it. He sat at one corner, leaning against a garbage can, as he shut his eyes closed, he focused all his being to his inner core, he tries to muster all his skills, all his power to one place, just like what he used to do when he was still an apprentice monk so long ago. At first, his loss of control caused the objects around him to deform and dissintegrate, and the floor he was on to be smashed by his weight, but as he regain composture, the objects returned to their innitial forms, the smashing of the ground stopped, and most of all, Samael's body was once again at ease. "Nothing beats a good meditation." Muttered Samael, smiling as he admires his powers. Now that he have a higher control over the Oracle's powers, it's time that he tests it. He blasted a garbage can out with a blast coming from his hands, we punched a hole in a wall with his bare hands and then repaired all damage simply by thinking of it, his tattoos has become much bigger and much stronger, as he can now climb the walls with it, using them now as new limbs. He can see, hear, smell, taste and even feel nearly everything in a seven blocks radius, while at first maddening, he quickly adapted to this loud environment. Better yet, he can feel the magic in the air, even remarking the Oracle's magic that he didn't absorb floating idly around the capital. He had a grin on his face, and his eyes glowed with dark lights, clenching his fists together, he was about to say something when the buildings around him collapsed, burying him in the rubble. | |||
Francis and Lyndaj were standing on a rooftop a few buildings over, watching the scene below as the building toppled onto Samael. "That was a rather hard hit," said the Autrachess, regretting the strength of the bomb she had chosen. "Hahaha! Look again!" Said the blind Necromancer, pointing to the air above the rubble. There floated Samael, unscathed, staring at the pair with eyes of untold strength. Upon the monk's face was a grin of pure satisfaction. He was suddenly behind them. "Just who I wanted to see," Said Samael, gracefully descending from the air as if walking down a flight of stairs. "The necromancer and the politician. Well as you can see, I've attained my long sought power." He lifted his hands regally before him. "And now I feel responsible to use it. I know you think I'm here to kill you, Francis, but you're still needed for the big show. There is an aura sucking fiend out side the walls. Alex has an army of mutants poised to strike. And our dear April is ready to try her own hand at divinity. "Now I know this is just the kind of mess you love so much, so do you care to join me?" Samael smiled dastardly. "I, of course, can't guarantee your safety though." | |||
Krystal Tomlin - "When prayers turn to promises, not even fate can stand in our way." TALK - 02:51, March 10, 2010 (UTC) - "Wouldn't wanna be you!" | |||
Taarin had already made through town when he and the others came to a sudden halt. "Wait," he said. "I .... I have to do this alone. You guys go on ahead and join Dante and Ivy fight April, and hope she doesn't get the Crystal first." "Taarin ..." Gus started to say before the Drakenaer cut him off with the wave of his hand. "Protecting Cynthia was my personal responsibility to begin with, even if I have been so careless. For awhile, I've ignored the real reason I ...." he sighed. He should be telling that to Cynthia, after all. "So .... we're free?" Felix asked. "Felix, we're all free," Taarin said, "free to make our own paths. My path is to find Cynthia and put her on the right track. But don't get me wrong, my resolve to protect this world hasn't once changed." "Well, I guess we know what to do then," Brodi said as Taarin was about to head off. The young Drakenaer turned to them one more time. "Cynthia and I will join in once everything is settled, right?" The Dalians nodded before he left, unaware that Driza has been flying right behind him. | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - 06:53, March 10, 2010 (UTC) | |||
The Dalians gophered back towards the center of Fontis, a task made somewhat more difficult the the collapse of several buildings in the vicinity. Citizens had finally began to realize the danger their city was in; smoldering ruins and genetically engineered soldiers could not be missed for long. Driza chirped erratically around Taarin, who was dashing now northward out of Fontis in the direction he thought Cynthia might had fled. She might no longer be an Oracle, but she still had access to Seer powers, and those abilities would catalyze whatever emotions were bubbling up within Cynthia. But she's still Cynthia. She's still herself. Her own person. He had to duck as Driza flit too close for comfort, then angrily swatted the mechavian away. "What do you care, huh!? Go back to your genius master." A sudden thought struck him, and he instantly regretted his harsh remarks. "Hey, Driza.... you can sense Aura signals, right? And Seers are... well... they're really connected with Aura, so couldn't you locate Cynthia? Find her signal, or something? Please... I'm sorry, but please help me." The bird gave him a look which, if properly interpreted, would have meant something like We are surrounded by scores of Aura-mutated drones, a new Oracle, possibly half of a Twilight Crystal, and you want me to find one person through Aura? Have you heard of "interference", buddy? However, since we lack the proper translating device, we must instead judge Driza on what it did next: it perched unsteadily on Taarin shoulder, rotated its beak by 90 degrees, and then suddenly took off, continuing towards the north and emitting a series of encouraging beeps at Taarin, who followed gratefully. Avec turned the mechanical feather in his hand around, tapping it on the decrepit wall in the alley where the group had broken up. It gave out a brief spluttering of static, and then, suddenly: ......so couldn't you krzzzt Cynthia? Find her signal krazzzrt Please... I'm sorry, but please help me. Avec smirked. Driza would know what signals to tune into itself... although Taarin sounded like he was alone, maybe even Driza couldn't save him. Where were the others? Oh well, his work was done. Well, half of it, anyway, now he needed to find Ivy and whoever else had split away from Taarin. He remembered Ivy's words.. well, someone has to save the world. He realized he ought to be moving, probably somewhere around Fontis. If you can't decide, just be in two places at once. He twirled the metallic feather and bounded off. Quartets are somewhat esoteric performances: Smaller than a symphony and not grand enough for a conductor, yet large enough for a soloist to still be shadowed by his or her three accomplices. This band of four was settling down in simple iron chairs, adjusting stands, taking out music. The performance was on the eastern side of Fontis, a sector still blissfully unaware of the turmoil beginning to erupt around the Basilica. The first violinist, as per the stereotype, wore an emotional yet almost conceited mask, his fingers always properly drawing out the vibrato, shoulders rotating in a graceful dance with the instrument. He was one of those musicians in their performing prime, a man of about thirty with curly auburn hair, who can pull out all the flashy stops and yet still produce something beautiful. His eyes were always fixated on the violin, and half of the time were closed, either for intended effect or maybe because he was just that good and didn't need to read the sheet music. His tuxedo was impeccable, his solos colorful and always accompanied by a toss of the hair and arm twirling), and he treated the violin as an instrument of art. The second violinist's face hid behind curtains of white-blond hair, and her eyes moved slowly between notes and strings, and sometimes at the (to her very) attractive first violinist sitting right next to her. She was somewhat overweight and dressed in pure faded black, but her posture was perfect, if not standard amongst professionals. The violin was arched at near constant height, bow drifting back and forth tenderly, respectfully, pulsing out notes that hovered in the background and shuffled away in partial dissonance and partial harmony with the sounds of the others. Her face was somewhat severe, but her eyes alive, waiting for the moment when her part would shine, and she treated her violin as an instrument of reverence. The violist was the oldest of the group, with flyaway graying hair, slightly gaudy beads around her neck, and a magenta blouse that defied draconian orchestral dress. She smiled occasionally, at times cocking her head away from the strings and then back again, while the viola hummed its instantly recognizable yet muted tune. Nodding at the second violinist at certain intervals, their songs would band together, a combined melody that gradually took on a life of its own and broke off into two sepeaate harmonies. She tapped her foot in rhythm with the music while the viola took on an inquisitive and quirky life of its own, and she treated it as an instrument of curiosity. The cellist, a stocky man with glasses perhaps in his fifties, provided the group's backbone. With lower tones he collaborated simply with all other members, resonating here and there, glancing at each partner in turn. The cello's notes would always be there as a platform for the soloists to leap off of, and the melody would faithfully be there when the others' bursts of wild arpeggios and sixteenth notes twisted in the air, peaked, and then drifted back down to join in the familiar refrain. All the while the man himself supported the cello with his hands and his legs, allowing it to sing with him, and he treated it as an instrument of faithfulness. All of these details were not so obvious to April Augustus, who was sitting in the very back row with her hands folded in her lap and cane resting against the seat. Finally I writes? D: So, yes, I am not finished with this yet, but I should be able to get to it tomorrow and Thursday, so please excuse me. I will try to turn up the events at Fontis while getting to all the remaining antagonists. | |||
Krystal Tomlin - "When prayers turn to promises, not even fate can stand in our way." TALK - 03:02, March 11, 2010 (UTC) - "Wouldn't wanna be you!" | |||
A strange, violent feeling was flooding over Taarin as he was running to follow Driza. While it was obvious he was angry over what Samael has done to Cynthia, he could not help but think it could be something else entirely. Something that had his emotions fueled. As he ran, he reached his Eden crystal only to feel its hot temperature, suggesting that the Eon was feeling the same way. He also noticed that Bahamut's Aura crystal was also hot, then thought that maybe both Forbidden Eons seem to forge a bond- and maybe because of the bond Taarin and Cynthia share. But one thing was certain. Taarin had to find Cynthia, and fast. They had their world to save, after all. Heroes or not. Either as atonement or desire to protect what they hold most dear. His home was already burned to ashes. He wasn't about to let that happen to the rest of Drakin. Not as long as he was living in it. He internally promised himself the first thing he would do after he talks Cynthia out of suicide- if she plans to go through with it- is to help Ivy, Dante and Felix fend the city off against the Queen's traitorous sister April, and maybe even release Melody's family from captivity while he's at it. My mind ... it won't waver anymore. | |||
Cynthia was sobbing in an empty park, muttering to herself how her life have no meaning now, the only thing that kept her going: her Oracle status, has been snatched away from her An hour ago, on another part of the capital Fontis: Cynthia was shocked to see that it was merely a halucination, and then she saw the man who snapped her from her daydream in front of her. "Whoops, sorry to wake you up." Boy, that was full with weird implications, Freud is having a wild party with this post. | |||
NeoBahamutZEROX -  Every time a petal falls a young life is taken by lady Death hands... TALK - No time given! | |||
Cynthia struggles on the ground trying to break free watching Francis from the ground with her tears running like rivers on her face. "Please just let me go, I just want to have peace," she begged and sobbing. "Oh no, I'm not letting you go the easy," he said as he bend down getting closer to her, "I'm going make you have the worst nightmare that you ever have, then you're going to be my newest pawn." He said after showing a evil grind then put his hand over her face. Cynthia keeps struggling, but she was now trying to reach to her knife she had in her pocket, once she got it she stab Francis in the stomach and cut it open. Blood pore out and on to her and intestine soon fallow. Francis pull back off of Cynthia and try to keep his intestine inside of him as soon as he did the undead undead hands return to the ground. Cynthia backs off, seeing him with his guts out then looking at the blood on her clothes and she soon throw up her own vomit with some blood along with it. "You little BITCH!!!" Francis scream struggle trying to stand. Cynthia quickly got up and runaway, as she run her memories of all the death and blood shed she saw flash before her eyes, the massacre of her hometown, the many death and massacre Kaiser made in front of her and his own death as well, and all the killing she made when she was possess by April. Keeps running away from Francis and without looking she trip on a tree root and fall to the ground and her eyes out asking, "Why, why can't I have peace, why can't I have happiness!" Cynthia stand back up and start walking to some where she can be alone. I hope I don't get bitch out a lot, but I have a very good idea how I want Cynthia to comment suicide and I don't want it to be ruined by anyone, and not again. And no Francis is not dead yet, but I'm sure Leon will pull some asspull to keep him alive. | |||
"Peace for yourself? My my. How selfish." Francis' voice echoed, causing Cynthia to panic again. The streets had been deserted by the recent chaos, all the worse for her. She scanned the surroundings, her breathing heavy, until she felt two undead hands clamp onto her feet.
"Because, my dear Cynthia, if you strike me down, you shall become, and be remembered as everything you hate." | |||
Has nobody realized Francis did this as a diversion for Samael? Oh, and well done, Arma, you caught Francis' spirit perfectly. "Enough with this, we're going nowhere." Said Francis, before another dozen hands came from the ground and firmly held Cynthia pinned down. "It's good to have godlike powers, maybe not for an Oracle like you, but for mere mortals, having the power to control the dead, not just human dead, all dead, is a godlike quality, if you ask me... Would you excuse me, I have a phonecall to make..." Said Francis to the silenced Cynthia. "The Royal Palace... Finally." Said Samael. "I hope Francis does his job... Hurry Autrachess!" Francis' monologue actually serves to stall Taarin's gang, giving Samael time to reach April. | |||
Deadlyslashsword - +It takes disaster to learn a lesson, but you're going to make it through the darkest nights+ TALK - 06:40, March 13, 2010 (UTC) - Some people betray and cause treason...we're gonna make everything alright. | |||
"That is it. I have heard quite enough." Ezekiel mumbled weakly to himself. Through his headset, he had heard everything. Since Eva, Ethan, and Ivy all were wearing matching headsets, he had overheard Eva and Ethan's avowals, and thanks to Driza, who had recorded Francis' latest monolouge and transferred to him through Ivy's headset, he knew it was time to spring into action, for what may possibly be the last time. Bringing the microphone to his mouth, his raspy voice spoke. "Eva. Ethan. Our time is now, we go. I have one final lesson to teach my pupil." In Fontis, Ivy and Dante had heard everything Francis had said too, thanks to Driza. They were both hundreds of feet in the air, sitting on top of Ultima Weapon, which was still standing outside of Fontis. Avec and Felix and Co. were nowhere to be seen. The wind that blew past was the only thing that interrupted the disturbing quiet. "Francis wants us to stop this thing?" Dante asked rhetorically. "As if. I can't stand to listen to anymore of his self-righteous BS, it's making me sick. Hell, I'd destroy Fontis just to spite him." "Tell me about it." Ivy replied, feeling the same way. "His lies are just as prominent now as they ever were. Sure, we've taken lives, but they've been for the greater good, haven't they?" She said, looking for agreement. "Same thing here. April cannot have that Twilight Shard. And if it takes sacrificing the lives of thousands of innocents...then..." At this point, Ivy started to tear up. Taking innocent lives was nothing she had thought she had had to do way back when when she first got caught up with this whole thing when she joined Taarin and Seto when they visited her pub. Back then, she was innocent and naive. She had wanted to know what the world held. Now, she knew it held destruction, and it was up to her and her friends to prevent it. Taking a breath and getting in control of her emotions, she continued. "We have to do this. A thousand lives lost here will mean millions spared in the future." At this, Dante wanted to be surprised, but sad to say he couldn't be. In his mind, he knew the same. Giving a grave chuckle, he looked upon the city that the pair of them were about to demolish. "You're not the same carefree girl I met all that time ago, you know." Ivy wanted to acknowledge this comment, but she couldn't. She could only laugh. "War changes a girl. Ultima Weapon, Open Fire." "Heh, I'm liking this girl more and more everyday." Eva chuckled, listening in on her headset. | |||
Sorry if I wrote twice in a row, I'm just eager to write UW's carnage ^^, thanks for giving the green light DSS. And just to be clear: was spilling crap just to give Samael time to reach April. He knows Taarin would rush straight back to the royalties once he have Cynthia back, dont take what Francis said too seriously. In the park, Francis' skeletal sword clashed with Taarin's shining steel blade. Taarin fought in a rather enraged manner, holding his sword with both hands, and aimed Francis' vital points, such as the neck. Francis, on the other hand, is more in control, he used only his right hand to parry Taarin, while relying mostly on his footing. But nevertheless, it was a battle between a fit young man and a blind old timer, Taarin soon got the upperhand and kicked Francis away, giving him enough time and space to reach Cynthia. He cut off the skeletal hands holding her, and he held her in his arms. "I'm here, Cynthia," Whispered Taarin. Samael and Lyndaj were running in the palace when they felt tremmors throught the building, followed quickly by an explosion far to the south. "What the hell was that?" Asked Lyndaj, running to the nearest window. She gave a ghasp, but was unable to say a word. Samael quickly followed her and saw the entire southern portion of the city burning, with a massive dragonlike shilouette behind the black smokes of thousand of houses. I'll leave the rest of the carnage to you guys | |||
Samael walked through the streets of the city calmly, surveying the damage done by the aura sucking beast. Oh fuck me, this isn't gonna be fun to deal with at all. "SAMAEL YOU BASTARD!" Samael turned and saw Devon running down the street, his face covered in soot. "You left me back there! What was I supposed to do?" "Exactly this, find me. Good job, you pass the test." Samael said unconcernedly. "Now get yourself to the castle and find Lyndaj. This isn't anything you can help me with." "No shit it isn't! That thing is crazy! It took out an entire city block in one hit!" Devon's head fell in sorrow as the memories of the sudden carnage came back to him. "What was that thing?" He said meekly. "People that were laughing one second were gone the next. People's bodies were completely vaporized...What ever that thing is, it has no care for the well being of the people. I...I don't understand..." Devon fell to his knees in grief. "What can do that kind of damage?" he said in a whisper as tears started to stream down his face. Samael knelt down and wrapped the boy in his arms. "Don't worry. This will all be over soon. Now I need you to get to Lyndaj and keep an eye on her and April. If anything suspicious happens, shout to me. I'll hear you." Devon stood and wiped his face. "I guess I can do that." He grinned at Samael. "See ya later." Devon took off running in the direction of the castle. Samael continued walking towards the void of Aura. Samael was now standing in the ruins of what was once a glorious plaza. The beast was now close. Just then, a harrowing roar ripped through the air, and from around a corner came a beast that looked as if it was dredged up from the nightmare's of the world. Upon the beast's back stood a girl, a look of fierce determination upon her face. "Ye gods," Samael said in shock as the hulking creature lumbered forward. Samael could feel the aura being absorbed by the creature as a man might breathe air. "Guess its time to shine as the Oracle," He muttered as he focused his strength. | |||
Max and the rest of his party were just arriving at the Basillica when the attack started. The concussion from a nearby explosion knocked Max off his feet and he put a hand to the ground for balance. A fireball hit a nearby building, causing shards of glass, timber and stone to fall around them (this part of the city was old, a remnant of the ancient days). "I can't believe she's actually doing it." Traeh looked in the direction from wence the barrage came, and expression of shock and terror on her face. Max had to tackle her to the ground as another building was destroyed. "Wake up. We have work to do." Max helped her up and headed off, not to the battle but to the basillica. "What are you doing?" Traeh tried to grab him and stop him but miss. Without stopping, Max said, "As long as the crystal is still here, Fontis is in danger." "But how do you expect to steal a building?" The question was more rhetorical than anything. Max said nothing. There's no other way. Then he caught sight of Alice's platoon. The group was scrambling around, trying to regain discepline and Alice noticed the group. "Max?!" she said in surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?" "Working," he replied. "But why are you running from the battle?" she asked, beginning to abandon her tone of surprise in favor of aggitation. "They're after the Twilight shard and I've been told that it is here." "But-" she began, but she quickly understood his plan, saying, "Oh. What do you need me to do?" "Thank you, but-" But John interrupted him saying, "Come in with us. Leave your soldiers outside as guards." "What?" Max turned to look at his friend. "What? You're the only one who can have plans?" John at a sly smile on his face as he pushed open the door. As he walked to the center of the building, he began to search his bag for something. The group could feel the ground shaking from nearby explosions. "So, where is the crystal?" Alice asked. "You're standing in it," Max said bluntly. "What?!" "What's with all the 'what's all of a sudden. You could play a drinking game by it." "How exactly do you plan to move it?" This time it was John who spoke: "He isn't the one who plans on moving it." John had found what he was looking for and crouched in the center of the building. He placed the tip of a piece of chalk that he had taken from his bag to the floor and began drawing, ruining the ornate carpet. "What are you doing?" Max asked. "My mother was a priestess," John explained, "before the purge. She taught me some things. Like how to condense Aura into a stone, or convert solid Aura stone into a non-solid form." He finished his glyph, a 5-point star, set within a large circle: a penticle. Each of the tips of the the star contained a character. He then instucted the four to take places around the symbol. "You must each take the place of your element or essence. Traeh, you take earth; Melody, you are at fire; Sergeant, you go to water; Max, you go to wind." As they did this, John took his possition at the head of the symbol. "In the days soon after the main shard was broken, the ancients saw the need to keep both pieces away from each other. But it was also necessary to make the stones impossible to bring back together. So they made it massive, the framework and skeleton of Zanarkand's 'Ultimate Treasure.' This was done by first making it small enought to carry and then it was turned back into Aura to be converted to a much larger stone. The same technique can be used in reverse, to move it again." Finished with his explanation, John began to chant. No one there recognised the language and it was assumed to be the Seer's old language. The room groaned as the crysal framework shifted. Max looked around, slightly worried. Gradually, tendrils of smoke began to worm their way through the air. They writhed like flying serpants as the moved to the center of the room, the center of John's glyph and as they began to interesct they begam more tangeble, more solid. The groaning of the ancient building grew louder and louder as the supports that had held it for so long simply disappeard. The trail of the snakes ended and a small gemstone took real form, hovering in the center of the group. Max wasted no time taking it and stuffing it in his pocket. The groaning was deafenning now; the building was about to collapse. John grabbed Melony, who's small legs would not have been able to keep up with the rest of them and they ran for the exit. Sure enough, the rotund ceiling fell out of place, crashing into the floor where they had just been. This sparked a chain reaction of falling plaster and debris as the rest of the structure crumbled around them. Max call on some of his magics, causing his hand to glow orange and he pointed to the others, sending out a pulse of orange light to make them all faster. This boon gave them the chance they needed to get away and they were out the door, just as the spell wore off and the last of the once perfect ceiling and roof became nothing but a blockage in the doorway. "That was fun," Max said sarcastically. "Sorry. I didn't quite expect that." John put Melony down and started panting to catch his breath. Max examined the stone, which glowed white in his hand. "Hold this will you?" He tossed it to John who slipped it into his pocket as another nearby house exploded into shrapnel. "Forgot about that guy." "If that damned stone has anything to do with this, get it the fuck out of my city," Alice ordered. John replied only that she didn't have to tell them twice. | |||
NeoBahamutZEROX - Every time a petal falls a young life is taken by lady Death hands... TALK - No time given! | |||
"Dammit!" Taarin curse and throw his blade to the ground then he turn to Cynthia sighed, "Cynthia, did he hurt you?" He asked her my Cynthia stay quiet and turn away continue walking to where she was going. "Cynthia stop," he shouted, "please Cynthia don't do this, don't kill yourself, please!" Cynthia look at him then, and place her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry", she said as Taarin feels her hand was cold as ice, then Taarin was push to the tree he look to his shoulder and see a spear of ice bounding him to the tree. "Cynthia, what the hell are you doing?!" He yelled. Cynthia walk to him then but her ice cold hand on the other shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said as tears start running down her face, "but I can't have you getting in the way. I need to be free from this pain and suffering, please let me go now." She then kiss him on the lips shed tears that fell on his face, then she put another ice spear in the other shoulder as Taarin let out loud scream of pain then he pass out. "Goodnight my love, wish you'll have peaceful life in the future." She then turn way and run to somewhere that she would like to spend the last few moment of her life. "Wake up, come on dad wake up." Taarin start waking up, as he hearing a voice of a young girl. When he wakes up he was in unknown room and not the park where he was left at and there was a young Drakenaer girl that was around 6 years old, with dirty blonde hair and her eyes were green like a Seer. "Dad, you mean me?" Taarin asked. "Well of course silly," the girl giggled, "come on, get up, mom is making breakfast," the girl said, pull his arm. "Okay calm down, can you please tell me who you are?" Taarin ask as he was getting out of the bed. "You forgot my name? How could you dad, don't you remember your little girl Ava?" "Ava, it can't be," he whisper to himself. "I'm sorry Ava, I guess I don't feel very well right now." I don't know what the hell is going on but I'll play around for now, maybe this is just a dream, if it is I need to wake up and stop Cynthia. Taarin fallow this girl who says he is her father. "Okay I'm going back to the kitchen with mom, she told me that she likes you to get Eclair up and help her down stairs." "Eclair?" He asked confusingly. "You know, my little sister." She giggles afterwards then headed down stairs. Taarin opens the near by door however it was empty and looks kinda like Ava's room, he shut the door and opens the next one, this one had two beds in it, one was already empty while the other still had someone sleeping in it. She look kinda like Ava, expect she was smaller and look a little weaker then her. Taarin didn't know what to say to this girl to him she just some girl that he never met before however to her he was her father. He took a deep breath then he start to wake her up, "wake up... Eclair it time to get up." The girl started to opening her eyes and look at Taarin. "Daddy, do I have to get up?" Taarin stay silent for a moment then he nod, "yeah, come on get up I hope your mother is fixing something good." He smiled then he started to walk off. "Wait!" The young girl yelled. "What is it, what wrong?" He asked. "Daddy remember I can't walk, you and mommy told me that." "Oh yeah, I'm sorry okay little girl I'll help you there." Taarin pick up Eclair then they walk down stairs. Once they reach the kitchen he see Ava and young boy who had the same hair and eye color as the two girls were sitting by the table waiting for breakfast to be ready. "Good morning Ava and Cyrus." Eclair said cheerfully to her two siblings as Taarin sits Eclair in the chair. The boy looks at Taarin and ask, "dad, are you okay?" Taarin try to answer but Ava quickly answer instead. "Don't worry Cyrus, dad is fine, just don't feel very good right now." "Yeah" Taarin chuckles then he look at the woman who was making breakfast. In his mind he only thought one thing. Cynthia, is that you? He walk to her and gently grab her by the shoulder then he start to turn her around to see if she is Cynthia. But when he did the dream was over, Taarin wakes up in the park again with the two ice spears slowly melting in his shoulders. "Dammit, why did it had to end I want to see if she was Cynthia, dammit!" Bahamut, why did you give him a memory of his future? You know it against our law to give any mortal about the future. Mortals break their laws everyday, sometimes it for the good. Trust me Valefor, I know what I'm doing, I know this child will save her. Now I'm not finish yet, but I need a break. Please don't write anything about Cynthia, okay. | |||
Krystal Tomlin - "When prayers turn to promises, not even fate can stand in our way." TALK - 00:11, March 14, 2010 (UTC) - "Wouldn't wanna be you!" | |||
It took Taarin only a few minutes to collect himself. He shut his eyes for a moment or two before he staggered to get up, brushing off ice spears from his shoulders. Of course, he had thought about his dream for a bit. "Could this be ... my fate?" he said, wondering. He looked at Cynthia's crystals, which were now glowing in a very ethereal way. He clutched them tightly. You know what this is, don't you ... my son? "Huh? Shiva? You--you called me 'your son'. Why? No, wait ..." You should learn by now that we Eons were mortals like you ... for some of us, not that long ago. I ... loved your father very much. "Mom!?" Taarin shouted, mixed between suprise and confusion. He sighed. "It's not another dream, is it?" A dream, yes. But also a future we all yearn to fight for. "There are some who don't think that way," Taarin replied, remembering his encounter with Francis as well as Samael. But there was no more answer. Then he remembered what Francis told him. THIS is what you 'heroes' do ... everything burns. "Well, what makes you think you're any better, Francis Catiglione!?" Taarin shouted up to the sky, clinching his fists tighter. "Ugh! Doesn't matter now." Driza, who has been perched on the grass the whole time flew up at Taarin's face before flying towards Cynthia's direction. "Cynthia," he said as he wiped a tear that fell from his left eye. "My peaceful life ... is with you." Afterwards, he ran forward to continue following Avec's mechanical bird ... | |||
Driza manoeuvred down the long street, swaying heavily as it constantly called after Taarin. He continued through the city, once again pursuing the object of his affection. Even he, however, could not ignore the destruction around him. Buildings reduced to ruins of fire and stone. Disfigured limbs, burnt beyond any possible distinction; the remains of those who had not withdrawn into their now-destroyed homes, littered every corner. The more he tried to not notice it all, the more it struck him in the back of the mind; it was all potentially his fault. He once again attempted to shake the feeling off as he continued his sprint down the smoking street. Not even Avec's voice threw him off.
The voice came from Driza, just like when Avec redirected Francis' call to him. He continued onward, glancing at the bird with the corner of his eye, the tone of his reply fast and annoyed "I don't have time for this, Avec."
Avec stood atop a large stone building. His green cloak, heavily ripped and burnt, waved in the wind as he faced towards the looming shadow of the Ultima Weapon. The Hammer had finally fell. This made Avec chuckle slightly, if only to stop himself thinking about the horror before his very eyes. Avec's arms had no armour, and several wounds on them had been bandaged with green material, presumably cut from his cloak in desperation. The rest of his clothes had been damaged slightly also, but not notably. He removed the mechanical feather from his mobile, placing the cell phone in his pocket, and twirling the other in his left hand. Beyond where he stood was utter oblivion. Smoke had completely blocked out the sun and sky, which made the fact that the Ultima Weapon still cast a shadow all the more ominous. The fires started by the Ultima Weapon were spreading quickly; one could literally see the crimson flames eating through the city, consuming everything in their path. The world actually burned before Avec's eyes. All he could be grateful for is the fact it wasn't his world burning this time, this wasn't Balfonheim. And he knew; this one mistake would be the beginning of the end.
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Avec was standing non the rubble, wathcing the carnage when a cold, icy hand grabbed his shoulder "Hey, kid." Said Francis. "Petrified?" The Ultima Weapon, a silvery mechanical dragon, has been destroying the capital for an hour, trashing buildings of various size as if they were nothing, and burning all in his path. Zanarkand has sent it's entire air armada to bombard the Weapon, but it only managed to stall the beast. The monster itself adapted to the situation, now that airships is attacking it, it learned to throw rubbles at the carriers or to leap and destroy fighters with it's maw. It even grabbed a carrier and throw at a building, the beast is trully unbeatable. Every tattoos on Samael's skin started to move away from him and formed wings, claws, shells and everything Samael needs to reach the towering Ultima Weapon. He used his powers to greatly jump to reach the Weapon's long neck. The Oracle formed a black blade on his wrist and swung it at the monster's throat, but the ebony blade simply bounced off the neck, to Samael's surprise. Ultima Weapon then noticed the attacker and grabbed him with it's maw and threw him against a building. The impact practically destroyed what's left of the building, and would probably vaporise Samael, if he was mortal, instead he simply had a few cuts and some bruises. "Damn, how did that happen?" Asked the Oracle. Francis was standing on top of a rubble to have a better view of the destruction. He saw a small man getting thrown against a ruined building, he saw airships doubling in size and trying to stop Ultima's rampage, well, he more like sensed it, as don't forget, he's blind, but that is irrelevant. Even if there's enough airships to conquer a country, even if there's the elite soldiers of the Mysidia Unit and the entire forces of Zanarkand's shocktroops cleaning the city, even if there's an Oracle personally fighting it, it's still not enough to halt the Ultima Weapon. Ivy can feel through the Weapon the bombs falling on it, even though they are bombs capable of razing an entire block, it was a mere nudge to her. Even the Oracle's strike at the Weapon's throat was just a small push. Ivy's problem wasn't the mere nuisance outside, but the lumbering and near uncontrollable monster inside, as Ivy struggled to keep Ultima Weapon on track: April. She was forcing the Weapon to reach the Royal Palace where her target was, but then, in a blink of an eye, her senses were overwheled by a sudden appearance of living organism everywhere around her, or at least, she thought they were alive. After a few seconds to adjust her sensed to this flash of information, she saw hundereds of thousands of people rushing at Ultima Weapon's heels, using one another to climb up and tear and bite the metallic plates off. Although this doesn't affect the Weapon in any way, it gave the distraction needed for the Airships to concentrate their attacks on the Weapon's head, and before Ivy knows it, Samael was on the Weapon's back, climbing his way up top. It would be nice if somebody writes April's part now | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - 04:52, March 14, 2010 (UTC) | |||
Okays, I shall ^^ Ivy bit her lip, and even the swaggering Dante to her left was sweating slightly. The Ultima Weapon was a tool of mass destruction, and so pointing those weapons at the miniscule things creeping up its sides would be suicidal. The Archadian airships bombarded from the air, making things slightly more problematic: the sky was a large target, and although ships were dropping like flies, they did not congregate together closely enough for a large blast to take them all out. It was much like a gargantuan spider taking on hordes of ants and gnats. "T-this thing is an all-purpose destroyer, right?" Dante quavered a bit, then forced himself to harden his voice. "So... we just need to find the right tool. Pick the right method and mash em' all." "Right," said Ivy. She was disconcerted about the arrival of Matax Orcus. Why had he come to help? This was a moment of triumph for Archadia, not sudden bipartisanship. But then, she knew little of kings and the way they moved their rooks and bishops to close in for the checkmate... what was important now was vaporizing everything around her. She focused, probing the mech's thoughts, looking for the right tool. Ultima Weapon glowed ultramarine blue for a brief second, then its horse-like head snaked up, revealing lengths and lengths of chain which glowed a similar color and then sprayed into the air, slicing through airships like a pack of wolves presented with a venison buffet. At the same time, the creature jumped, and the humanoid figures at its feet were toppled backwards and mostly crushed when the 1000+ ton Weapon meteored back to level ground. Ivy looked closely down at the things milling around UW's feet: most were normal Fontis guards, or at least had been in their recently terminated lives. But some were stirring even after they had been brushed aside with such force; these looked taller, stronger, faster, and graced with many other comparatives. They were also impressive shades of blue, green, and red. "Lead on!" came a voice from the skies, and Ivy knew it was King Matax's. She had just annihilated about fifty of his squadron. Is this what she was supposed to do? Fight back against a man who she thought approved of her mission? War is hell, but when politics comes in, then the game truly shifts to torment. "Yes! On! On! Fontis!" a gruffer voice rang out, and Ivy saw it was Francis Castiglione, looking battered in blood and perched on a building that looked ready to deflate. "I'll ask you to not cheerlead for my city when your loyalties mean dirt," shouted Alice Martinez, who was keeping a good distance away from Ultima Weapon and sending helices of ice at its throat. "Your city, Sergeant? I think you mean mine," entered a last voice, ragged and quiet, yet seemingly amplified through every warped humanoid that prowled across the weapon's feet. Queen Alexandra limped onto the scene from the direction of the now vanished Basilica. Her home had been condensed and absconded with by mercs and a giant Archadian warmech was eating up the rest. Rage had been eaten up by the now thousands of Aura Soldiers that now fought under her command. Neev the scientist had churned them out like he operated a conveyor belt; each product was a chip off of the Queen's soul. The only new feeling that rose to the surface was a faint glimmer of hope, because even Matax of Orcus was standing with her against this hell. And then he shattered it. "Queen Alexandra!" he called down from his airship. "So nice of you to show up. I've been withdrawing my hand for the time being... but as they might say, like son, like father. Cease fire!" The Archadian regiment shot no more at the Ultima Weapon. Ivy was confused but grateful. "Are you here to aid your monster, Matax?" Alex called. She knew it, it was too good to be true. "Very smart. I decided to take a leaf out of Ethan's book. So strange that I wanted to sacrifice him as some sort of tool for peace, when he was already orchestrating an Archadian victory. I have always lived for an Archadian victory, all of my fathers have. Would you expect me to deny it when it falls so easily into my lap? Of course, I've had help. Great help from my son and his friends," Matax continued. "I'm... sorry, Queen Augustus, but I'm playing the hand I'm dealt." What did Alex have left? Her brother had died, then her mother. Then, suddenly, her father. And April.. where was she now? Was she the one who had taken the Basilica away? April wasn't here for her now, either. Alex wondered if she had ever been. All she had was herself, and the drones she now called to her. They lined up in front of her, a puppet shield. "I have no one," she said, so that only she could hear. "I wish we could part under better circumstances. But the war ends here. A united kingdom means peace," boomed Matax, with a shade of remorse that was lost in the microphone's amplification. "Goodbye, Miss Augustus." The fifty remaining Archadian airships let loose with a wave of fire that spiraled down at the Queen. Alex used the last vestige of emotion to collapse the soldiers inwards, covering her. How ironic that her last memory be devoured by these zombies in a futile defense that would kill them all. I will see you... father, mother... Adamle... An equally large flame erupted out of nowhere, burning all the Aura soldiers to a crisp yet leaving Alex unscathed. It met the airships' conflagration in midair, their velocities battling each other out, until an orb of water enveloped them both and dissipated, leaving a giant swath of steam. In the haziness that followed, one voice rang out through the gloom. "You cut the quartet short." The fog dissipated to leave April standing front of her sister, with the Meridiems Heurblu and Zenith on her side. April turned to her sister. "I'm still here, Alex. As for everyone else, their time is almost up." The Aura soldiers were finished. Alex had just regained control of her mind, yet all she could manage was a half-dazed look. "We should be going... I'll explain to you later. Let's go before King Orcus begins the recapitulation, shall we? Ivy saw April's back turned to her older sister. She knew the airships needed time to reload. She could command Ultima Weapon to eliminate them both. She could. She had already killed the grunts below her, had already leveled an entire city... She hesitated, then made her decision. A red laser lanced downwards, but in the second before, the Augustus sisters and Meridiems vanished into thin air. The impact of the laser left a silence that was broken only by the mixed whimpering and shouting of Francis Castiglione. "Well, we haven't gotten the prize bird, but the nest is ours!" Fetid hands broke the cobblestones of every street in the city. A nest of the dead, soon to sprout wings and be born again!" In his airship, Matax was at a loss for action. Perhaps he struck too soon? Nevermind... the spoils were at hand... he would take them before Francis Castiglione sullied it all... Ivy was much less pensive. Already Ultima Weapon was moving over the spot where the Augustus two once stood. The Basilica was nowhere in sight. "Moving target, then," she said, and the warmech trampled onwards. Lyndaj was weeping softly. "Death... so much.... so much...." She had engineered buildings and weapons that would soon revolutionize warfare, and now she saw what mass destruction truly was. She wasn't disloyal to Archadia. It just seemed so.... wrong. Samael straightened up from his slouching position next to her. Just watching the dragon eat its own tail," he thought. The governments really were the same. It made no difference which stood tall at the end. He would topple either. Decision time: Cut down Archadia before it had time to save face? Or hunt down the Augustuses to send Zanarkand into oblivion? He heard Francis' obscene cackling, Matax's orders of infiltration, the Ultima Weapon's march, and decided he liked to take on challenges. Level the playing field... and then sweep it all away. John, Max, and their friends were running far, far away. Anywhere but Fontis. "Where the hell are we going?!" screamed Traeh. "I have a plan!" called John, who was in the lead and sprinting, the condensed Zanarkand crystal clutched in his hand. It's just, er.... in the planning stage. Really early planning stage. Eh..... damn. I'm going to get to Helena, April, and Alex next, but I believe ZEROX wants to write something with Taarin and Cynthia, DSS would like a part with Ivy, and others try their hands as well. So that will be it for now, sorry it took me a while. I'll explain about the Twilight Crystal later. | |||
NeoBahamutZEROX - Every time a petal falls a young life is taken by lady Death hands... TALK - No time given! | |||
After Cynthia left Taarin she finally came to a beautiful field of flowers, they were in many colors, red, blue, yellow, violet. Cynthia knew that this would be the place where her life will end, a place where all her pain and suffering will end. She walk to the middle of the field then sit down on the ground. The clouds were covering the sky and soon it begin to rain, like the world know her death is near and shedding it own tears. Cynthia sit on the ground enjoying every drop of water hitting her body and enjoying the last sight she'll see in her live. Then she took out her ocarina and played her last song, the lullaby that her mother play for her when she was a young child before she went to sleep. As sheep was playing she thought about everyone she met on her journey and the people she travel with, Felix, Seraph, Dante, Seto, Ivy, Avec, Max and especially Taarin the man she fell in love with. Cynthia shed tears when she thought about him, how he was always there for he, protecting her supporting her, trying to make her happy, so many memories of him feel her with the mix of joy and sadness. When her song end she can feel the rain was hitting her harder she then took the knife out and place it on her wrist, then she slice her wrist open as some the blood of the knife landed on the near by flowers. Cynthia shed tears because of the pain but she took the knife with her other hand and cut her other wrist. Blood start poring from both her wrist and she begins to sweats and feel faint and soon she start coughing up blood. Cynthia soon lost the strength the sit up and soon laid down on the wet ground waiting for her time to end. Cynthia close her eyes and said her last words, "Good....bye." She then open her eyes again and saw nothing but white and saw a figure of a person, she looks closer and saw that it was her mother and she start racing to her smiling as tears ran down her face. "It over.... my pain my suffering has finally end." Or has it? Anyway I really like Cluna to write the next part for me, I hope the rest of you will understand. | |||
Samael looked around him at the disgusting horde of zombies Francis had given new life. "Ugh, that man is sick," he said as he brushed on off that had started to nibble at his arm, sending it flying. Samael sat on the ground and created a dome of aura around him to shield himself from more carnivorous corpses I've never been much of a gambler, but this has situation too much riding on it for me to not go all in.. Samael at once began to meditate, pouring his thought into the aura around him, looking for someone in particular. Hello, April, this is your messiah speaking. By now you must be aware of the havoc being wrought here in Fontis. No doubt you're getting some twisted thrill from it too. But I digress; Ultima Weapon will soon be the end of all of us, putting to rest all of our plans of world conquest, immorality, et cetera. So, on behalf of the collective sentient beings, I'm asking you to MAKE YOUR GODDAMN MOVE. Love, Samael Helvetica. Samael opened his eyes, released the dome of aura and stood. "That should get her moving." He pulled from his robe a small green stone. "I really hate doing this, but desperate times..." He held the stone aloft. "Come forth, Pandemonium Warden!" A dark rift opened in front of Samael, and from it came forth a human sized demonic creature seated upon a floating throne. The aura it radiated was one of power and dread. "Alright you nasty bugger, I think I've found your perfect match. That thing up there and you have one common link; you fucking refuse to die EVER. So get to it!" Samael said to the summon. The Warden responded with a scream that made the zombies in the area quiver, then took flight towards Ultima Weapon. "Queen of the Aura, be with me." Samael whispered as he took to the skies as well. Devon was running through the streets when he found Lyndaj, crying amidst the rubble. "Ms. Schrine!" he screamed to her, hoping to catch her attention. The sobbing politician looked up. "Samael's friend. Devon, wasn't it? What are you doing here?" "Samael told me to find you and team up." Devon had barley finished the sentence when the ground was rocked by an explosion. "Maybe we shouldn't tarry here. Things are getting kinda crazy..." He and Lyndaj looked up in worry to see another fleet of airships arriving. "Yes...let's keep moving." Lyndaj picked herself up halfheartedly and offered a weak smile. Ivy was now particularly distracted with the Warden, who had come out of virtually nowhere and now withstood all of her attacks, countering with noxious blasts of dark energy. "What foulness is this?" She screamed as she directed Ultima's claws at the impish demon, who simply swerved out of the way on its crooked throne before launching a searing fire ball at the beast. "Uaggghhhhh!" Ivy screamed at the first noticeable sensation of pain she had encountered in the entire fight. "This thing isn't normal..." she breathed out with doubled resolve to kill the throned demon, who had begun summoning various smaller imps to its side. Samael had floated directly in front of Matax's flagship and was now hovering there. On the bridge, Matax was infuriated at this. "Who the hell is this guy? Get him out of here!" He shouted at his crew. "Matax! You are interfering with this situation and making yourself a thorn in my side. Cease, desist, and retreat if you want to live." Samael roared in a voice amplified by Aura so that every crewman in the air could hear it. "Give the order for all ships to open fire on this nut." Matax said as he sat down, getting comfortable to watch the show. Samael looked around as all of the remaining fleet turned to face him. "Fool." he breathed as they all simultaneously opened fire. but none of the bullets made it anywhere near him. With out moving, Samael dissolved all of the missiles and projectiles into a fine green mist. "You brought this upon yourselves." He said as he swept his arm through the air. Without warning half of the ships in the air burst into flames and fell from the sky like so many injured birds. Samael brought placed both of his hands in front of him, his tattoos forming gravity spell circles on his hands. Matax had barley registered the destruction of his fleet when he suddenly felt a sinking feeling as his ship began to plummet through the air. "All power to main thrusters!" Shouted th captain. "It's no good! This guy's got us good! Cut all power or we'll explode on impact!" the lead engineer shouted over the din of warning sirens. The king's flag ship crashed into the ruined city below with a deafening roar, and the Oracle above looked down with a face of cold indifference. "Your reign is nigh over. My reign justice starts now." Said Samael to the fallen king as he turned back to Ultima Weapon, still engaged in combat with the powers of Hell. | |||
Krystal Tomlin - "When prayers turn to promises, not even fate can stand in our way." TALK - 21:24, March 14, 2010 (UTC) - "Wouldn't wanna be you!" | |||
"No, not yet," the figure answered. "I'm ... I'm sorry I've put you through all this. At first I ... planned on using your powers to find a friend of mine. But then I realized something." Cynthia stared at the figure of her mother, confused. "What are you talking about? We're together now. Nothing will ever tear us apart again." "That's exactly my point, my love." Cynthia grew even more confused. "There's no point in giving up. Not now. Not while I can save you. Many lives depend on us, Cynthia. People are dying because of this war and it's up for us to fix it. Why sit back and do nothing?" "There's ... nothing I can do. Not after what I've done." "It wasn't you. It was April, using you as her puppet." "Puppet?" It took only Cynthia a few moments to realize that, the figure's voice did belong to a male, not her mother's. The figure continued to speak. "If you want to atone, that's fine. But suicide isn't the way! I love you too much to die, okay? One last melody. That's what I'm asking from you." One last melody ... there's only one person who could've said those things to me, Cynthia thought before she weakly said, "Taarin? Is that ... you?" The figure promptly outstretched his arm. "So what do you say? Ready to give your fight another shot?" "You ... you love me?" "Yes." This brought Cynthia to tears. "But why? What have I to offer?" "We can discuss that after the fire, okay?" NeoZEROX? Cynthia's decision please? | |||
NeoBahamutZEROX - Every time a petal falls a young life is taken by lady Death hands... TALK - No time given! | |||
Cynthia close her eyes and smile, "okay, I'll keep fighting for you Taarin." She open her eyes and see Taarin's face smiling back at her. "I'm sorry Taarin, I was so....." Cynthia start crying in Taarin's arms. "Hey, come one now please don't cry," Taarin wipes the tears from her face. "Whats done is done, but first we need to stop the bleeding from your wrists." Taarin got up from the ground picking Cynthia up. "Yeah," Cynthia smile but she a little fate due to the lack of blood. "Hey! Don't you dare die on me, just stay with me we'll get you hospital if it not been destroy yet." Cynthia began breath heavily trying to stay alive. "Okay.... I'll try my best." "Good, just keep talking to me and don't go to sleep. I'll get you there as fast as I can." Taarin told her then he quickly carry her, hopefully he can stop her bleeding." | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - 01:18, March 15, 2010 (UTC) | |||
Finished! Hope it is good enough ^^ You aren't going to get there very fast yourself, knight in shining armor," said a lazy voice behind them. Avec ran into view, Driza, Felix, and his Dalians behind him. "Avec! How-" "I needed Driza to get some Seer reads on the others. There was a whole bunch of interference until the ground shook when Ivy's weapon played hopscotch, and that removed a huge amount of Aura signal. So I tracked out Felix, then Cynthia, and now I gotta get a read on John and your sister, Cyn- damn, what's happened to her?" "I'll explain later.... no, we'll both explain later. Please, let's just get Cynthia somewhere safe for now." "That would be out of the city," offered Felix. "My senses are tingling - this isn't the best place to stay!" "Did the giant nuclear weapon tip you off, or was it the sudden zombie influx?" Avec asked darkly. "Come on... Felix, can't you cast a curative spell or something? You're a Seer, after all." "I... " Felix began, clearly affronted at this suggestion. But he saw Cynthia's wrists and knew what he should do. "Driza's getting a read on John to the west," yelled Avec, beckoning them out of park, which seemed to be the only place of peace in the entire city. "He's running into the Central Plains, maybe he's planning on making it to the Bloodied Prairie or something. Let's go!" April and Alex materialized in a familiar building. It was the Dali mansion in which the Archadia-Zanarkand negotiations had taken place, in what seemed ages ago but was really only a month in passing. The sun was setting on Dali, and the satined glass windows cast sorrowful, faded patterns on the marble floor of the highest story. There were four windows; one featured a blue seahorse in its center, surrounded by aqua lemniscates; an orange tiger roared in frozen rage in another, flanked by red cardioids. The other two were simply green and purple. Alex felt liberated. She had nearly killed herself with Aura experiments, turned into nothing better than one of Castiglione's zombies, every thought sapped away into nothing. Well, she was done with that. She wasn't cut out for science. Maybe she ought to try politics.... oh, wait. And then she began to laugh, laughing that after her self-inficted imprisonment the thoughts that returned to her were nonsensical, joking, alive... she was alive. Then she looked up and saw her sister, tapping her cane haphazardly. "Have I said something amusing?" April asked. "April!" Alex rushed froward and embraced her sister in a hug. "...Thank you... thank you... I would have been dead if it wasn't for you...." But the response she felt was as nonexistant as the death she spoke of. "April?" "I'm glad you're safe, Alex. I had to take you instead of the Basilica, but that doesn't delay things too much." "The Crystal?...." "One of Cynthia Alexander's Seer accomplices folded it up neatly and stole away. They have very little time before the new Oracle gets to them. I will need to be going..." "Wait! How can you leave so quickly?! Tell me what's going on! I'm your sister-" "You are half my sister." "What?!" "We come from the same womb, but Chreon Augustus was only my adoptive father." "... and... now... he's dead. Who was... your real... I mean, how did he-" "My real father was a man from the north, a land saturated with the remnants of ancient Crystal power. In those mountains, the Twilight Crystal shattered a thousand years ago of fear. Archadian and Zanarkandander, once one of the land, now closed themselves behind political barriers. Indifferent, in difference, each decided to claim what was once that of all: the Twilight Crystal, repose of the world's memory. Each kingdom ordered its warriors to snatch the crystal for their own, and this command was enough. Sensing its impending danger, hoping upon all faded hopes that it could still fulfill its duty of unity. Too late a dream, as the dreams of Archadia and Zanarkand were already divided. As each empire's lackeys marched up the northern slopes, past the quiet town of Crysteria, the crystal decided the only way to maintain peace was to eliminate its pursuers. This only served to seal its doom: its very act, to divide dividers, caused it to shatter. A cataclysm of Aura was released, those in the area were turned into Eons, and the memories of the continent were divided between each piece and scattered to the two ends of the land. Archadia and Zanarkand received a crystal each, and of course, they wanted the set." "These are acts that happened a milenium ago, April!" Alex nearly shrieked, so flabbergasted was she at this sudden history lesson. "You cannot expect me to understand why this affects you so much-" "It affects me because I have heard it front my father, who dwelled in a village near that fated place, the icerim above Crysteria. It was told to him by his father, and so on up the old family tree." "A family tree branched from mine. A family tree with Oracle blood in its roots?" Alex hazarded a guess. "The 'Oracle' is not some title passed down easily by bloodline. It isn't granted upon you after some elaborate ceremony - it's part intent and content. It can be given to a person who has the truest desire to unite the Crystal and bring the world to peace. At least, that is what my father told me before he died." "...Did he die before or after my father? And how... how in the world do we have the same mother?" "My father was a controlling man. Marginally more than yours. His bloodline had not been granted the Oracle power; instead, its blessings rained upon the Alexander branch. Before the Seers were purged from Mysidia, my father had already set out from the slopes to the valleys of Fontis below. He believed the constant prayer of the powerful Oracles and Seers to their Aura Goddess would reap no reward. Instead, he used his powers to temporarily take advantage of a woman of power, and the child that was born by his shameful relations would be royalty. That child would be linked to him by blood, able to be controlled from afar, nurtured under the Zanarkand throne and able to wield power like no Oracle could dream of. Politics over magic." "And that woman was...." Alex whispered the words. "Angela Augustus. Our mother. Married to your father, and already the parents of one son. Imagine their surprise when I came along. They were planning to have you, you see. So a year later, you were born." Alex, who had been listening attentively, now glowered angrily. "You father raped our mother! That's evil! How could he-" "Well, I didn't much to say in the matter, did I? I was conceived after the deed was done, and my father withdrew to a northern beach, to probe my thoughts from afar. Imagine his surprise when I turned out to be a blind daughter." "Raped our mother and mind-controlled you. That is-" "Yes, you already said he was evil. It's probably not for you say. But that is what I thought, so I killed him." "You.... what?" "I killed him," said April simply. "I'd rather not go into the details, please. Let's just say my mind was stronger than his. He was my puppet, and the last act he did was give Cynthia Alexander a ring that allowed me to pluck the strings of her soul. Then I let him go. This was not very long after your father died of poisoning..." "And after I became Queen." Alex said. "I... didn't do quite so well, did I? Fontis is in ruins. Zanarkand is finished. Matax Orcus will have-" "Matax Orcus is also dead. It is not him you should worry about. There are three out there who would take your life just as easily. Ivy Ixia's mission is to destroy Zanarkand completely. She would have done so if I had not dropped in. Samael Helvetica is the reigning Oracle by force and would be quite happy to eliminate any threat. Oh, one moment, please... it appears he is trying to contact me..." April titled her head to one side, decrypting the incoming message. ......Love, Samael Helvetica. She smiled and flit a few thoughts back. Singing me a swan song, Samael? It is your funeral, then. "....April? Who is the third?" "Oh? Well, Francis Castiglione. I think he's trying to build a new castle of rotting flesh, or something similarly gruesome. I think anyone is in danger in his presence, not to say anything against Ixia and Helvetica's powers. That man will play any plot that crosses his path, and if there's nothing left to play with, he'll dig up a new bone. Quite literally." "And you, April? What's your role in all this?" "I? I'm just trying to unite the Twilight Crystal in my own way. The world is no longer worth living for, better that none remain alive." "What are you saying? You aren't going to-" "The Twilight Eons will attempt to take each Crystal for themselves, as they believe they hold the right to their transformer of a millennium ago. Right now, Matax's widow is searching for the Archadian shard, and a Seer who is partially sober is on the run with Zanarkand's shard. The crystal is just memory, Alex. The Eons who try to control it will be returned to memory the instant they touch it. Imagine their surprise. Imagine everyone's surprise when I return us all to memory." "April, you can't do that! Whatever 'returning us all to memory' means... it sounds exactly like murder." "Mercy, not murder. Isn't it better than living in endless war?... I've said too much, Alex. I'm sorry. I need to go, the crystals should be drawing close to one another soon." "I'm not going to let you do this, April," Alex said. She felt in her burnt clothing; her tonfa were gone. April turned away to the stained glass windows, now mere panes of darkness against the twilight. "Remain here. Stay in this house of truces. Wait in a peace that was forged too quickly and shattered too soon. True peace will take you soon." She disappeared again, the two animal shapes in the windows going with her. Alex was left alone, unsure of what to do next. So she sat down, and thought. "Why was I surrounded by hearts!?!?" Zenith asked incredulously. "Hearts are not-" "They are cardioids, dear brother. I do love disguising ourselves with geometry!" Herublu answered. "A shame Aurora and Nocturne did not turn up-" "Aurora and Nocturne aren't going to turn up," said April. They were in a vast plain in the center of the continent, known as the Bloodied Prairie. To the west, the faint shadow of a giant Archadian wartower loomed. It was the Balistaria, Lyndaj Schrine's crowning achievement. "Nocturne seems to enjoy dressing up dead people with our dear Francis," April said sadly. "And Aurora... well, who knows what that one is thinking. She's probably fraternizing with Francis as well." "What shall we do then, my lady?" Zenith inquired. "Burn stuff?" "Wait," April said simply. "Helena Orcus will have the Archadian Crystal soon. Our band of heroes will be scampering along in this direction in two days at the latest. And Samael Helvetica's patience is wearing thin." "How are we to obtain both shards?" asked Heurblu. "We, beings of chaos, cannot touch touch the crystal. It is anathema to us." "The Seers will give them to us," replied April. There was a flash of white, and a violin materialized in front of her. "A seer must handle each shard, and an Oracle will unite them. I just need to be at the center of it all. Shall we stop talking for a while? I'm rather tired of it. I would appreciate it if you two see how Helena Orcus is doing." "With pleasure." "Gotcha!" They were gone. April sat down and began to play a jaunty little tune. There was no sheet music, but it didn't matter. Blind musicians don't need to look at what they orchestrate. Kay, so I will write a part with Helena next, but it will need to be after Thursday, as I have exams. I leave the Fontis situation to everyone else. | |||
Deadlyslashsword - +It takes disaster to learn a lesson, but you're going to make it through the darkest nights+ TALK - 04:17, March 15, 2010 (UTC) - Some people betray and cause treason...we're gonna make everything alright. | |||
"FATHER!" Just as Ethan's airship had reached Fontis, Samael had summoned Pandaemonium Warden to fight Ultima Weapon. He watched as the blast between the two had brought down half of the Archadian fleet, his father, King Matax, with them. It was as if Ethan had watched the scene unfold in slow-motion, the clip of his father's ship falling and crashing into the burning hell that was Fontis. He was too late. "GRRRAAAAAAAH!" Ethan yelled violently, punching the nearest wall as hard as he could. Anger and rage immediatly set upon the twenty-year old, but also his fiancee, who had quickly pinned his arms in a tight embrace. "Ethan! Grab a hold of yourself!" Said Eva, her black hair glistening in the setting sun. "You have to channel your hate! Don't take it out on the airship while we're still on it!" "Who was that." Ethan stated his question rather than asking it, his voice absolutely quivering trying to keep his anger under control. Ezekiel, in the cockpit, answered. "The name is Samael Helvetica. A Seer, he absconded with Cynthia's Oracle powers and now desires to use them as he sees fit." "What?!" Shreiked Eva. "He took Cynthia's powers! That bastard!" "Fly in over Ultima Weapon." Commanded Ethan to the pilot. "Do it quickly, lest we be shot down as well. I'm taking over this fight." The pilot gave a curt nod, and quick as a flash, he had professionally manouvered the airship directly over Ultima Weapon. Racing as fast as they could, Ethan, followed by Eva and Ezekiel, disembarked onto the Weapon. "Uh...Ivy?" Asked Dante as he looked over his shoulder, noticing the sudden thud. "Who are they?" "What do you mean 'who are they', we're all alone up - " Ivy replied before doing a double take. "Eva, Ethan, General? What on earth are you doing here?" "Up you two, if you would please." Replied Ezekiel, pointing his weapon, the sabre named Defender at the pair. "We're taking the show over from here." Eva continuted, brandishing her weapon, the black and gold rod. "As the King of Archadia, I, Ethan Orcus, must take responsibility for my actions, and avenge my fallen father!" He said as he grabbed both Ivy and Dante by the scruff of thier shirts and tossed them backwards, taking their place as the pilot of Ultima Weapon. "Your Oracle powers are forfiet to me, usurper." Eva declared, holding the hand with her engagement ring high above her head. "I cannot allow you to destroy the last of my family! Cynthia is my blood! THE MANY-FACED QUEEN! I SUMMON THEE, ASURA!" As soon as Eva's chant was complete, copious amounts of silver mist started to erupt from her ring. Within moments, the gaseous substance had formed into a beautiful woman, draped in robes of finest gold, perched atop a sheathed sword. Letting loose a terrifying shreik, Asura's three-faced head began to spin as her six arms all drew blades of different shapes and sizes. At that moment, Ultima Weapon and all five of its riders began to glow blue. Ethan, already wild-eyed and his usually neat hair tossed about by the extreme winds of their altitude, only served to look more manaical as the blue hue began to shine through. "I have nothing left to hide! SAMAEL, YOU BASTARD! YOUR ASS IS MINE!" | |||
Please do not continue to add to this chapter.