~*~* Chronicles Of The Rift II *~*~ Starts [Mature] FINISHED!

[darktyranitar]

~~~Marion~~~
Puddle of mana

I looked up at the sky from my room, noticing how the dark it was around the town. I didn’t think it was night time yet – we had left the town of Kulun in the morning, so it should still be evening by this time – but I guess when you’re high up in the mountain, you don’t see the sun much.

I stayed in my room, my mind wandering towards Moswen and her current predicament. Later, Stella came in and asked if I was okay from the hike through the blizzard. She came and checked my fingers and my face, and after seemingly satisfied, left me alone, and my mind continues to wander.

I wonder how she’s doing in the coffin?


Later, I went outside for a walk, and it was not long before I was looking at the coffin that was holding Moswen. It was silver in colour with many detailed marking all over it – almost like it was some sort of writing – and it was adorned with a few jewels. I circled around the coffin, noticing that no snow had collected above the coffin. I took a handful of snow and experimentally spread them across the top of the coffin. They dissipated right away before they could touch the coffin.

I bent down to take a closer look at the coffin, and I found that there was a handprint at the side of the coffin. I decided to leave it alone, as it might trigger something.

“Guess we’ll be seeing you later, Moswen,” I said towards the coffin. I was answered with a bark. “Huh?” I peered at the coffin, half-expecting it to open by itself. I waited and strained my ears. There it was… the barking again. I went to the other side of the coffin, and I saw a lump of snow moving about.

“Puppy!” Karam exclaimed, as Kun the puppy crept out from a pile of snow. His ears were drooped, and his tail was still.

“Aww, you miss Moswen?” I picked him up and held him around my chest. He sniffed Karam, and let out a whimper. “Come on, let’s get you to the tavern.” Karam made a weird growling sound, patting Kun’s head.

“Puppy’s being weird. He doesn’t want to chase Karam.”

“Yes, because-”

“Because Moswen is in that coffin. Karam knows that.” He looked up at the sky. “Oh, look! A shooting star!”

I quickly looked up, but I barely caught glimpse of the said shooting star. “Hm, guess I missed it…”

“Maybe… but Karam knows where it lands.” He dropped down at ran at one direction. “This way!”


When I caught up with Karam, he was sitting on top of a flat surfaced rock, his snout pointing towards the puddle below. I looked closer – it was not water that made up the puddle. It was something that looks like mercury, except that it was shining with a rainbow hue, like a bubble. I cautiously touched the liquid with one of my fingertip, and it was warm.

“What is this?” I asked Karam.

“Well, see…” he began. “Karam had one day woke up in the night to see a shooting star coming down at Karam. So Karam thought, oh no, Karam’s toasted. So Karam closed eyes, and waited. When nothing happen, Karam opened eyes, and these Karam saw this strange liquid. Just like this one.”

“So, liquid from meteor?” Karam’s eyes blinked at the mention of meteor. “Liquid from shooting star?”

“Karam think so,” he scratched his ears with his foreleg. “Anyway, Karam saw some people taking the liquid, and they say something about selling it for a high price. Don’t Marion want some mananites?”

I looked down at the puddle of the liquid, and then back at Karam. “So, how do we pick the liquid up?”

“How about that green thing there?” Karam pointed helpfully towards a lump hidden beneath some bushes. I took the object out, and it turns out to be the lower half of a broken bottle. I inspected its bottom, satisfied to find that there was no hole.

“I think I’ll give it to someone else,” I said, as I carefully scooped the liquid with the bottle fragment. “It’s not that I wanted to get anything for now, anyway”.



Meteors come off the second moon as it settles into orbit. The Mana in the meteor hardens when it reaches the lower levels of the atmosphere, but since it is in the upper when it crashes, it is still in liquid Mana. The liquid mana could be used to coat a sword or sold for a high price.

[Bulbasaur4]

there seems to be a bug in the system as far as clicking onto page five. (At least for me.) I am merely posting this to do a test. Don't mind me.


Edit: Posting on page five seemed to fix the problem. YAY!! Now I could read DT's post.

[Roy Karrde]

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Dinner ~*~*~*~*~

The spoon full of hot soup hovered against my lip, touching it lightly for almost a second before I opened and sipped its contents. It was very bland tasting, very organic and almost vegetable tasting. Knes moved the spoon away, scooping up his own mouthful and tasting it as he sat on the edge of the bed. Kite stood across the room, sipping his own soup, talking with Knes and Ovan every few minutes. Although the room seemed quiet really, as if no one wanted to talk about Moswen. Ovan mumbling to himself ever so often as if he were talking to someone else. Meanwhile Knes brought the spoon up to my mouth, I glared at it for a second, not wanting to be fed like a baby.

“Okay this is really boring.” Kite sighed, tossing his spoon into a now empty bowl, his tail flicking back and forth in annoyance. Our eyes met, mine quickly looking away. “Anyone want to hear a few stories about the last journey?” He asked with a mischievous grin. My interest was peaked, what was he going to talk about, then again, what was with the grin?

Kite cleared his throat. “Okay, first you need to understand that back then Adalia had a crush on a guy named Tony, who told me this story in exact detail.” He continued, my face turning several shades of red, Knes looked over at me with curiosity and then back at Kite.

“Wait is this the same as Loki?” He asked.

Kite shook his head. “No, no this was another human from our world who didn’t come this time.” He explained, and then continued on. “See you have to understand that this was their first night, and Adalia was still thinking like a boy so she went into the boys bathroom to take a bath.”

Now I knew exactly where she was going, I began to scoot further under the covers using my legs. “This is all a lie.” I blurted out, the covers all the way up to my nose. “A really really big lie.”

Kite’s smile grew even wider. “So she was in the bathroom, doing I don’t know what, but Tony knocks on the door, and Adalia gets up, wrapping the towel around her waist like any boy would. Tony walks in, and guess where his eyes go.” Kite asks.

At this moment Ovan starts to snicker and Knes puts a hand over his mouth, trying to maintain a straight face. “Adalia notices it, screams, Tony’s towel falls, so now he is standing butt naked in the hallway, and Adalia starts going crazy throwing stuff at him.” Kite finishes as Ovan bursts out laughing, Knes looked over at me, my head completely immersed in the pillow.

I prayed for what ever god of this world to kill me now, but the next thing happened, the door opened and in walked Marion with a vial full of gray liquid. “Did I interrupt something?” She asked, looking around as I popped my head up from under the bed. “Hey there squirt.” She smiled.

I breathed in a long sigh of relief as she went over to Knes. Ovan and Kite followed him over as he displayed the liquid. “I found this from one of the falling starts that seems to be striking this town.” She explained, touching it with her finger and moving the liquid around. “I think it is what they call Liquid Mananite.” She said as Knes’ eyes lit up.

“Liquid Mana?” He whispered, peering at it closer. “Can you show me where you found it?” He asked.

Marion nodded, heading to the door, Knes turning to look at me. “Go, its okay.” I nodded, he smiled and kissed my forehead as Kite followed Marion out of the door, as well as Ovan, both of them laughing and talking, Knes left last, shutting the door quietly.

“I hope Kite doesn’t tell them any more stories.” I mumbled to myself, watching the stars twinkle in the sky from my bed.

[Bulbasaur4]

I was asked to move things along, so ONTO THE TEMPLE BATTLE! MWHAHAHAHAHAAA!!

KNES

Knes walked with the others for a bit, his brow still raised as he remembered the story which Kite had told with much satisfaction. Absently he bit his lip as they continued to walk towards where the liquid Mana was. It was a curious thing- liquid mana was something that was extremely rare, even back in the older days before the lands had been split.
“Here… this is where I found it.” Marion said, pointing to a puddle of it that had formed in an odd crater.
“That stuff sure looks strange…” Kite said, tilting his head to the side as his ears perked. Eventually they decided to use anything they had to scoop it up and sell it. Knes managed to use a small bottle he used to fill up with water and filled it with some of the liquid. Others followed suit, but Knes excused himself early.
“I’m going to go exploring.” He said, giving a light bow. “Pardon me.” With that, he ran off through the snow.

Knes walked amongst the many houses of the village, finding that the place was rather small. Eventually however, he ran into a store-like place and entered it. An elderly woman was mixing a few strange liquids together and humming to herself as Knes entered. Looking up and pushing her glasses closer to the brim of her nose, she settled her gaze upon him.
“Can I help you young sir?” She inquired, standing up as straight as her old frame would allow. Knes nodded and took the bottle out, holding it for her to see.
“I believe this is liquid mana… I was hoping to sell it.”
The woman’s eyes widened large as she gasped.
“In all my life… I never imagined I’d see something so precious and rare before my eyes.” She held out her hand as if daring to touch it, but Knes simply gave it to her.
After a large yell by the woman- calling her son- the two store keepers talked about the mana liquid before coming to a decision. They bought the liquid mana from Knes with a great deal of mananite (Knes wasn’t sure how much it was… the currency was something he wasn’t exactly familiar with.) Feeling content with his luck and purchase, Knes walked down the seemingly empty roads of the village. Snow was falling gently upon his figure, and he looked up at the snowy sky.

“What am I doing here…?” He thought to himself, images invading his mind. “I had a clear goal from the beginning… but now I’m not so sure…” Knes trailed off, entering an alleyway. Sitting down on a box, he let his chin rest in his hands as he sat and contemplated what he was to do now.
The Opera… you must get into the Opera House for the next crystal
Knes’s eyes widened as he straightened up and stiffened, looking about as if expecting the voice to have come from someone. Yet there was no one around, and instantly Knes knew the owner of the voice.
“I’m not sure…” He began, but instantly the voice grew in intensity and growled louder.
You must destroy the beast inside and activate the crystal. There is no other way… do not forget what you know.
Knes sighed and stood up, memories flashing deep within his mind as he gave a nod.
“Right… what was I thinking. I can’ t be selfish.”


Soon Knes was standing near Moswen’s coffin at the entrance to the Opera House. Approaching the doors, a well-dressed villagers was standing outside in a thick fur coat.
“Excuse me sir, but the show doesn’t start for an hour.” He gave a nod, and Knes tilted his head in confusion.
“Oh… umm… well, can my friends and I attend?” He asked politely, and the man nodded.
“If you have tickets, yes.”

The conversation soon turned into ticket purchasing, as Knes used a bit of his mananite to obtain tickets for everyone in their group- mistakingly he had even bought Moswen one, forgetting about the coffin incident. Eager to hurry the others to get to the temple, he swiftly went into the tavern.
It was easy to find everyone, for it seemed that the village was small and there was little- if anything- to do. Everyone was resting up in the tavern, except for Zombie-chan who seemed to have disappeared somewhere.
Still, Knes informed them that he had obtained tickets to enter the Opera House- the location of the next crystal.
“Hmm… seems odd that a place like that would still be working. Is there no beast to guard this crystal?” Ban asked, looking thoughtful for a moment as Kite shrugged.
“Either way, looks like we’re getting in.”


Everyone was soon off to the opera- Adalia being as excited as ever. They had attempted to find some nicer clothes for the Opera (because according to Adalia, Opera Houses were for fancy dresses). Yet, the town was small and the inn didn’t have nearly the luxurious supplies as their former inn. So they arrived in their traveling garbs, which had them stared at by quite a few tourists and villagers.
Upon sitting down, Adalia whispered to Knes.
“Everyone is staring at me like I’m strange…” Her eyes looked big and saddened. All the people around her were wearing beautiful dresses, suits and fancy things and here she was- dressed so lowly compared to them. Danarica shifted uneasily as well, while Ban simply seemed to be focused and uncaring of the thoughts of others.
“They’re just staring at you because they’re jealous.” Knes replied to Adalia, giving her a short and reassuring hug. “They see how beautiful you are- so much that you don’t need fancy things to give you their illusion of grandeur.”
With that, Adalia blushed a little and a smile crept upon her facial expressions. However, before she could respond- the Opera began.

It perhaps was interesting… or beautiful, but Knes’s mind was somewhere else. Things of this nature were not of great interest to him and he didn’t seem to appreciate the art. So instead, Knes was eyeing the theatre itself. The ceiling was painted rather intricately with many elaborate designs of flowers, birds and other nature-like things. Large marble pillars held the large ceiling up- perhaps to amplify sound for the singing as well. However, the thing that caught Knes’s attention was the large chandelier above them. It wasn’t normal… it was made up of a large, glowing crystal with gold embroidered around it to hold many lit candles.

The crystal attracted Knes a great deal, before suddenly it started to flicker. A few of the others noticed it and Knes’s eyes suddenly widened.
“Ban! Some thing is coming!” He whispered loudly, but it was too late. The ground suddenly began to violently shake as from the stage exploded the massive head of a dog- followed by two others. Those on stage stood no chance. Their song was silenced by death, followed by close bystanders who were snapped up in hungry jaws.
“Well… there is the beast I was wondering about.” Ban commented, as people screamed and ran out of the theatre.

[Haruko]

Ovan
-tomorrow never knows but now / i don't have any hesitations / like the wings / that gets lost in the sunny sky~ Michishirube by Miyamoto Shunichi
Dominant: Ovan

I stopped about a foot away from the diner, and sighed, going back and buying a bit of soup for everyone back at the tavern. It being piping hot was a relief to my hands as I carried it towards the inn, although my hands started to sweat from being over insulated before I reached the taverns door; knocking on it and being warmly greeted by Stella, who seemed to have just gotten back from her venture -bout the town herself. She took it from my hands and placed it on a table where she soon gathered everyone. I took off my coat and stretched, going over to the table while everyone diged into the soup; which I made sure to get vegetarian to make sure everyone could eat it.

I held the soup bowl in my hands as Adalia sat on the bed, Knes on the edge of that bed, Kite and myself near Knes; chitchatting, and Stella and the rest closer to the table. I didn't take much, I was already full from before.

'You eat too much.'Danielle sighed.
"Shut up.."I mumbled to myself as I finished the small portion I gave myself. Kite finished his portion at the same time, and placed his spoon in bowl in a bit of an annoyance at the silence that filled the room.

“Okay this is really boring.”Kite sighed, looking at Adalia for a second before looking away, "Anyone want to hear a few stories about the last journey?"He finished, topping it off with a mischievous grin,

'Oh la la,'Danielle seemed interested, as did Knes, and Adalia; although she seemed more concerned as of what was going to be said than anything.
“Okay, first you need to understand that back then Adalia had a crush on a guy named Tony, who told me this story in exact detail.”Kite started to tell his tale, as Adalia's face started to grow several shades of crimson.
'Tony? That name is familiar..'
“Wait, is this the same as Loki?”Knes asked, curious.
“No, no this was another human from our world who didn’t come this time.” Kite explained, and then continued on with his tale, “See you have to understand that this was their first night, and Adalia was still thinking like a boy so she went into the boys bathroom to take a bath.”
I snickered slightly as I could hear Danielle laughing in the back of my head. As it was cute and innocent of the small Adalia, just imagining it..
'No, don't go there.'
“Adalia notices it, screams, Tony’s towel falls, so now he is standing butt naked in the hallway, and Adalia starts going crazy throwing stuff at him.” Kite finished the tale, and I could help but laugh as Danielle was doing the same. Adalia seemed to be hiding herself in shame, and even though I felt bad for her, I couldn't help but laugh.

As soon as I calmed my laughter, the door opened as Marion walked in, holding a vial of grayish liquid. I felt Valkyrie slightly pulsate, as if the liquid was giving of a mana frequency. I walked over to her as she went to Knes.

“I found this from one of the falling stars that seems to be striking this town.” Marion explained, touching it with her finger and moving the liquid around. “I think it is what they call Liquid Mananite.” As she finished this sentence, Knes' eyes lit up.
“Liquid Mana?” Knes whispered, peering at it closer. “Can you show me where you found it?”

Marion nodded, and soon showed us; Kite, Knes and I, to the meteorite that seemed to contain the substance. As we came closer and closer to the source of the Liquid Mananite, the pulsating from Valkyrie became more and more constant, as if it were a heartbeat becoming louder and louder. It felt more like my heart, and my head felt it was going to burst from the pulsating waves Valkyrie was sending.
'I am sorry, Ovan.'Valkyrie apologized,'I, myself, do not know why I am acting like this..'
'It's fine..'I replied, holding my head as we approached it.

“Here… this is where I found it.”Marion said, pointing to the puddle that formed in the small crater created by the meteorite's impact.
“That stuff sure looks strange…”Kite said. I rubbed my temples as I looked at it, that was the stuff throwing Valkyrie into wild fits of pulsation?

We soon decided to gather some of the liquid to sell, and I had a small glass vial that contained some herbs that Stella had given me to apply daily. Taking them out and rubbing them quickly on my wound, back to Marion. I scooped up a small bit of the liquid into the vial, but soon found my headache a bit too much to bear.

"Here, Kite, take mine."I told Kite, and shoved it into his hands."I'll see you back in town."
I rushed back into town, and the further away from the site I got, the more relief I felt. I soon found myself sitting on a bench near the Opera house, resting my eyes.

'This isn't the best place to rest, retard!'Danielle condescended me, and I ignored her as I made sure to keep myself awake; more so, the cold did that. As soon as I felt a bit better, I found myself back to the tavern, where everyone seemed to be heading out the door already. I sighed, it was stupid to resist. It seemed like everyone was going to the Opera house to see a play, and I could maybe get some sleep there.

The villagers that attended the opera looked at us oddly as we handed in our tickets, more than likely because of our attire. I shrugged it off, and as we entered the theater, I could feel Valkyrie pulsate lightly; a much more gentler tone than the harsher vibes at the meteorite site prior.

I didn't pay much attention to the play, as my head still hurt a bit from earlier. I looked over at Danarica, who seemed to be enjoying it, which atleast made me happy. However, why was Valkyrie pulsating? I looked around the threatre, and up above me was the answer. A large, glowing crystal, adorned with gold that allowed it to hold many a lit candles.

It was then that the crystal started to flicker, and the ground started to shake. From below the stage, a massive head of dog erupted, breaking the wood as if it were a play toy. It chewed through the actor that was right about it as if it were nothing, and soon, 2 other heads followed, aswell as the body. Massive screams came from left and right, and in chaos, the huge dog-beast killed those in the front row, along with the all the actors and actresses on stage.

“Well… there is the beast I was wondering about.” Ban commented as I drew out Valkyrie.



Ovan postie for now.^^ YAY fight!

[classy_cat18]

Kite/Shonta
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Sooo boring..." I said drowsily as my eyes and ears started to droop.

"Kite!" Adalia hissed, elbowing me hard to wake me.

I growled a little. "What? I don't like operas, especially when they're singing in a language I don't know. Now let me sleep, pretty princess."

"What did you call me?" she asked me with her eyebrows raised.

"Pretty Princess. After all, pretty princesses love things like this." A smile started to form on my face.

Her face turned five shades of red. "Don't call me that!" she said a little too loudly.

"Aww, is widdle pwetty pwincess getting cwanky? Does widdle Knessy need to tuck you in?" I teased, my smile getting a lot wider from seeing Adalia's cutesy angry face. Like seeing Shirley Temple pout.

"I'll kick your butt!" she whispered.

My smile turned into more into a sneer. "I'd like to see you try."

Dimitri leaned in from the row behind us. "Don't make me drag you two out of here," he scolded us.

I wish you would.

"He started it!" Adalia said in a high defensive voice.

"Damn right I did," I whispered. Dimitri grabbed my ear and twisted it until our attention was directed to the giant flickering crystal that was hanging from the ceiling like a chandelier. "Is the power going out?"

"I doubt it," Knes mumbled as the whole theater started to shake.

And then...

CRASH!

ROAR!

Three scary-as-hell dog heads burst through the stage floor and snapped up everyone that it could reach, including the singing fat lady, singing fat man, and someone that could've been either.

"Whoa! Cujo's gone radioactive!" I yelled as I stood in my seat and gawked at the beast. It was surprising that I could stand at all, between the stampeding crowd and my jelly knees.

“Well...there is the beast I was wondering about,” Ban commented.

"How are we going to defeat this one?" Adalia offered out loud.

I raised my halberd and twirled it around. "I suggest that we cut off its three heads, starting with the one that looks rabid. That or offering Miss Pretty Princess as a sacrifice and hope he'll leave us alone."

"Stop calling me that!"

[darktyranitar]

~~~Marion~~~
Beast of the opera

“Say, Marion,” Kite said as we walked back towards the tavern.

“Hm?” I looked up from the mananites that were in my hand. He looked at my hand, and then asked if I want to get something with the mananites. I said no, I don’t think so, and gave him the mananites for keeping.

“New bracelet?” Kite said, noticing the piece of jewellery on my wrist. “I didn’t think I’ve seen it before. Well, not that I like to spend time watching other people’s stuff, but you know what I’m saying.”

I nodded. “Yes, I brought it just now.” In actuality, I wasn’t getting it for myself. I had found the bracelet sitting on a shop earlier – after we had sold the liquid mana (for a very good price), and I figured that it might be nice to get her something after the necklace that she gave me last night. The bracelet was fashioned out of a coppery metal, and there was some intricate carving along it. I was quite delighted that it was sold for a cheap price.

Speaking of Moswen… wonder how long until she’ll be back?

“So, want to hear a story about Adalia’s last journey?” he asked as we arrived at the tavern.

“Wait… you mean that you have been through this before?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said, and then he scratched his chin. “Well, no. I actually heard it from someone else, really… but anyway. Adalia…”

“So Ryan chose a girl character for that other journey?”

“Yup. So, it was her first night as a girl… you know Tony?”

“Fai? Previously known as Tsukasa?”

“That’s him. So, I heard this story from him, on how Adalia’s first night. She still think that she’s a boy, so she went to the guy’s bathroom. And…”

“We’re going to the Opera House,” Knes said from behind, flashing the tickets. Both Kite and I took one ticket each.

“Should we tell the others?” I pointed to the room upstairs. “I don’t I saw the others outside.”

“That was what I was going to do,” Knes said, and he went upstairs, followed by Kite and myself.

I need not for Kite to continue. I could imagine what would be the awkward moment of Adalia exposing her body part.

*****

To say the opera was interesting would be a lie.

Well, I was a bit interested when it started. And then I had lost interest in the play, so it was no surprise that I was feeling sleepy.

“Boring…” Karam whined, and he began to lie down. Kun was beside him, lying down as well. Both seem to be equally bored.

“Good way to put it,” I yawned, and I began to wonder: if there was a guardian here, then where is it?

I noticed how the others attention are focused on the chandelier above the stage. The giant crystal in the middle was starting to flicker; I heard Kite asking, “Is the power going out?”

“Ban! Something is coming!” Knes whispered loudly, followed closely by the sound of something breaking out from below the stage. One massive figure of a dog’s head emerged, closely followed with two more heads. The gigantic three headed dog looked around the stage, growled, and began to gobble up those unlucky one who couldn’t make out of the stage in time.

“Cerberus,” I whispered to myself.

“Well...there is the beast I was wondering about,” Ban commented. Both Karam and Kun quickly stood up, their fur stood out on their end.

“Think we can handle this one?” I asked Karam. He hissed, and said something that sounded like ‘yeah’.

[Roy Karrde]

Cerberus
~*~*~*~*~ Awakened ~*~*~*~*~

Every muscle in my body ached, including my stomach, yet that situation was getting rectified as fast as my three heads could eat the tasty little snacks in front of me. Humans had changed a lot since I had last woken; now they had provided a dish for me. One particularly loud one ran away screaming, as did the rest of them, all except a few that remained. “Get back here.” I grinned from the second head, racing forward my jaws opened to gobble him up when a green shield sprung to life, my heads slamming into it as if it were a brick wall. “So the warriors have some power.” I mused with a grin.

The middle head roared back, a whitish glow appearing in the mouth as I ripped out a beam of straight ice at the shield. The ice quickly blossomed against the shield creating a near beautiful rose that began to press onto the shield. Behind it a little girl continued to struggle to hold it up, her nose bleeding from the weight. The third head grinned, firing shards of ice at the shield, which easily collapsed under the weight.

In the flash of a eye she was gone though, disappeared, yet my attention was drawn elsewhere as flames lit up a sword. All three of my heads focused on a man who held a sword of flames defiantly in front of me. “Think that tiny flame scares me?” I asked, he spoke a reply to which I couldn’t understand. The flames leapt out toward me and my second head responded with a beam of ice. My third head aimed for the rafters, throwing thousands of ice spikes onto it, littering the ceiling with thousands of ice spikes getting ready to rain down any minute.

My attention went back to the battle of flame versus ice, the flame slowly coming closer and closer. So the boy had some talent. I quickly redoubled my efforts the ice quickly overtaking the sword, freezing the sword in the process into a block of ice. Each of my heads then turned, looking for that little shield girl. She had some strength and would make a tasty treat.

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Theater ~*~*~*~*~

My cheeks turned red in embarrassment as we made our way to our seats, Knes continued to reassure me that I was the most beautiful person there, but it was little comfort as Kite chimed in. “Yeah they are probably shocked to see Royalty here, eh Pretty Princess?” Kite grinned from ear to ear.

I shot him a quick glare as we made our way over to our seats. “Atleast I look pretty.” I shot back, running a finger through my hair, trying to stop the argument and sweating from Kite.

“What ever you say flat chest.” Kite grinned taking up a seat next to me. Through out the whole play he continued to tease me back and forth, to the point that we had to almost be separated. That is when the crystal began to glow, unleashing a large dog monster who came crashing down, biting and killing any in his way.

Fear immediately filled my veins as we each rose. “We have to protect the people first.” Dimitri yelled as I raised my arms, still covered in bandages and sore, yet I had no time to fret or acknowledge the pain.

“Already on it.” I announced, the large beast rushing at me only to meet a sparkling green wall of mana. “That should stop him for a…” My voice trailed off as the middle head reared back and unleashed a wave of ice, which splashed across the shield.

“Adalia…” Knes warned, the weight on the shield already being felt as mana ran through my trembling arms and out into the shield. “Adalia..” Knes was yelling this time, blood running down my nose and dripping into my mouth.

“I can hold it.” My whole body trembling as another head reared back and began to fire. “I can..” I could barely make it out as the shield collapsed, death raining down above me in the form of missiles of ice.

My body was suddenly thrown aside in a flash, my vision blurred, when it cleared I could see ice shards where I had been standing seconds before. “Can’t let the pretty princess get killed.” Kite grinned, standing up and offering me a hand up which I slowly took, rising to my feet.

“Knes is my knight, if you want the job get in line.” I stuck my tongue out at him playfully and then went back to work.

[Dr.McNinja]

Dimitri staggered back as Adalia’s shield broke, showering the area around it with bone numbing cold and tiny blades of ice. Cursing one that slashed a shallow cut across his face, Dimitri shuffled through one of his pockets, his mind pondering which card he could bring into play that would do something against this thing.

Where the heck did Adalia go? We’ll need her healing even if her shields aren’t doing much

She’s doing what she needs to, she won’t abandon us.

I know I know….it sure would help if Moswen was here, we’re losing a lot of power with her recouperating

Dimitri grimaced at the mention of Moswen’s name, worry pulling at his stomach. He hadn’t said a word as the coffin had enveloped her, knowing that she had little time to say what she wished to say, and didn’t want to waste it on conversation. Seeing her disappear behind that metal sarcophagus though was something that he wished he could forget. He hoped for her safety, she should be fine if no one….

Tell me something, how would you label our situation right now?

The Dimitri consciousness didn’t respond as a giant block of ice raced towards them. Pulling out one of his Magician cards, Dimitri blasted the thing with as much fire as he could summon from the card’s magic. Nonetheless he was forced to spin sideways as the somewhat smaller block barreled down on him. Clipping the half-breed on the side, sending him spinning a few feet through the air to land heavily on the ground, the block careened off a nearby wall before finally shattering against one of Adalia’s shields. Choking a breath into his emptied lungs, Dimitri blinked his watering eyes.

Getting pretty desperate…you aren’t thinking?

Let’s not bring it up yet…if I have to I will but I don’t want to have to think about it

Rolling to his feet, Dimitri pulled a Wheel of Fortune card from his deck and threw it to the ground. Almost as soon as the colorful wheel appeared, Dimitri send it spinning with a quick strike. After a brief moment, the colors on the wheel began to brighten, crackling energy gathering in their depths. An instant later a blast of ice shattered the wheel, sending the energy sparking harmlessly into the ground. Dimitri leapt back to avoid the artic cold, skittering back a few steps as he landed.

“Yeah, desperate would be a good word. Hey! Anyone want to stick something sharp in one of its organs? If I can get a second maybe I can…annoy it or something…”

Well we sound confident don’t we?

“Um….maybe sting it a little too?”

Maybe we should stop talking now.

[Haruko]

Ovan
-sceneries being blown away seem to whirl in front of me / even if I get desperate, I won't overlook my target anymore / an unreliable map should be burnt / i'll grasp onto the buried truth with my hands~ READY STEADY GO by L'Arc~en~Ciel
Dominant: Ovan

I lit Valkyrie in flames, the best element against a ice beastie as this, as the Cerberus beast blasted one of Adalia's shields with a beam of ice, it quickly forming a blossom before the pressure from the beam; along with the additional shards of ice from another head, collapsed the shield in its entirety. Kite saved her though, with one of his more sturdier shields.

As the shield appeared to save Adalia, the Cerberus' attention was quickly drawn else ware; onto Valkyrie's fiery glow. I held it defiantly, as he looked at me as if I was nothing more than an insect. He growled, and you could almost smell his putrid, dog breath.

"This flame will be your demise!"I said cockily towards the ice beast, and ran towards him, holding my sword at ready for a slash at the chest. The head to my left fired a blast of ice, one that I barely dodged and hit a chair as I did such. As I got up from hitting the chair, the one to my right spit out icicles onto the ceiling, as if preparing for a shower of sharp, cold death. I shruged the small pain in my arm off, and went back to fighting. I began, again, to run closer and closer to the ice beast, allowing Valkyrie to glow brighter in flame as I drew closer to the mythical beast.

However, I stopped short as the beast's left head fired a beam of ice at Valkyrie, as I was hastily making way to his chest. Valkyrie dropped to the ground, frozen in a block of solid ice. As now I was unarmed, the beast went towards Adalia, and I couldn't do a thing, as even the hilt was frozen, I couldn't charge any mana in Valkyrie..

I pulled back and placed some mana in my mail's rune for extra protection, but after that, I felt completely useless as I watched the battle fold out before me. Dimitri was trying his best using his cards..all I was doing was playing a sitting duck.

'There has to be something...something..'I thought, looking impatiently at the battle, a bit battle thirsty. I then looked at my gloves, the runes magically stitched in them are for attacking.
'Er, yeah, but they're destruction runes..'
'Thats perfect!'I smiled wildly, and looked around for a way up onto the dog's back. I saw that there was a pillar that fell from the Cerberus' wake, and it leaned on the wood from the stage. It was perfect..
'Idiot! It'll drain us of our mana, and then what! We may only kill one head, and then we might be dog food!'

I was already on the pillar as she said that. I didn't care though, Three minus one was 2, and that was less than three. I slowly, without a peep, made it up the pillar as it seemed the others were distracting the Cerberus' well enough for me to get on its back without it noticing. A destructive flea on a dog's back..

I slowly crawled up on it's back as I wished, more so prayed that it didn't notice me. I made it to the lefts neck, and thought out quickly.

'Mana to chest, rest to hands.'

I looked below and I received looks from both Dimitri and Adalia alike like I had 3 heads. I looked at them, wanted to say 'Run!', but any noise from me would alarm the Cerberus. I stretched out my arms around the lefts neck, and I placed a small bit more of my mana to accompany the mana I had placed earlier to the rune on my chest, to protect me from the blast. I then closed my eyes, and dumped my mana into the gloves, and I could feel their inner workings start to take effect, as my body started to get warmer..

--------------[3rd person view]

The runes from Ovan's gloves started to glow as he closed his eyes, and the Cerberus' eyes looked back at the insane man as the runes extended throughout his body, glowing red everywhere except for his chest, for that was glowing dimly a blue. The wind picked up slightly as the man placed on an insane smile as the runes on the man disappeared, draining all of his mana, and a huge blast erupted between the man and the left head of the mythological beast, Cerberus.

The man's body flew back from the pressure of the blast, hitting the ceiling as the destructive blast chipped through the left head's neck, and the head slowly fell off, shattering it to pieces. Ovan coughed up blood as he hit the ceiling, his clothing badly burned and almost non-existent from the blast, and burn wounds apparent on his legs and arms. The Cerberus, in pain, quickly looked up to kill the one responsible for killing it's left head, and aimed for Ovan's body, only to be stopped by a mana bubble created by Adalia.

The killing of the middle head was approved by Roy.;x I'll post as Stelly later, she's just slashing the thing with her sword atm, really..

I hate writing in 3rd person. I do..I really..really..do..

[classy_cat18]

Kite/Shonta
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I could only stand still as Adalia raced off to help the rest, my mouth gaping open. Kite quickly took control of our body in order to dodge one of the cerberus's attacks. 'What is your problem, human? You could've killed us both!'

I said nothing. Adalia might've been kidding, trying to get back at my "pretty princess" jokes, but her statement confirmed my suspicions. I had been replaced.

'Shonta!'

She probably had barely even thought of me since that incident at the beginning. I pushed her away and, instead of trying to get me back, immediately went to Loki and later Knes. I was the Big Bad Wolf and those two were the courageous lumberjacks there to cut her out of my stomach.

'What is your problem?'

She would've fought so hard to get them back. I could walk off right then and she would stay with Knes.

'Human!'

She never loved me. I was just a temporary crutch. What does Knes have? What makes her worship the ground he walks on?

'Damn!' Kite sprung into action and pushed me to the back of our mind. The cerberus was minus one head and was now trying to get to the one responsible for hurting it. One of Adalia's mana bubbles formed around Ovan, shielding him from the beast's teeth. In an attempt to distract it, Kite pierced its side with the point of our halberd.

It worked. The creature quickly turned to face us. One of the heads fired a beam of ice but Kite quickly countered with a fire shield and turned the ice into evaporation.

'Shonta, you must take control again. There's a reason why I don't get involved in these battles.' He grunted as the cerberus bore down on the shield with a paw without even showing signs of pain.

'I can't...hold back...' With a cry he let out a huge burst of mana that burst out of the shield like a shockwave. The cerberus let out a howl of pain and was knocked onto its back. It looked stunned as it made little movement.

'Shonta...please...before it's too late...'

I don't care.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

Saifa, Okiku, the body/F, F, F
172:
O.G.

Okiku appraises the white kimono. A preservation charm has been woven into the cloth, and it has not aged a day. She runs her fingers - the body's fingers - over the raised patterns of the embroidery, over and over and over. To go with it the body has astutely appropriated a scarlet obi, taken from the selfsame box as the kimono. The body was at first laughingly disdainful of the moral repercussions of plundering the homes of the dead, she being dead herself, but slowly grew repentant under Okiku's sorrowful gaze.

Nevertheless, Okiku finds herself drawn to the kimono. This stolen priestess's habit, this relic of days long past, it spreads its sleeves like embracing wings and overwhelms her and how can Okiku help but fall under its bewitching spell?

Finally she dresses herself in the garment. Rolling the obi about her person, she notices markings on the kimono where previously there had been none. The indigo patterns of chrysanthemums stand out starkly against the brilliant white of the cloth ("a product of silkworms' bottoms!" crows the body), and they appear entirely natural.

Saifa refuses gently to manifest. Gently, for Saifa, means that she does not include any profanity in the sentence. "I'LL HAVE NO TRUCK WITH HAND-ME-DOWNS - ESPECIALLY NOT FROM THE LIKES OF THEM THAT LOOKS DOWN ON LEGENDS."

The body gives the sleeves an experimental flap, and the chrysanthemums change: the cloth is suddenly all over scales and clouds, a dragon's back bleeding bluely into the silk. She looks down at herself, pleased.

"Well, now, isn't this interesting."

*

Back at the tavern, the body stands, arms akimbo, and considers the situation. A flurry of footsteps stamped into the snow tells her that the others have already left for the opera. She can easily buy a ticket with the money she extracted from the Kulunian thief, but she figures she can probably wriggle her way in backstage. It is not in her nature to waste hard-earned money (not on her part - still, it was someone else's hard-earned money) if it can be saved by any other means.

She stands her umbrella in a corner of the portico. It would not do to lose it in the opera, and people with even the smallest smidgen of sense would know enough to leave it alone. Her sleeves are trailing in the snow. She flicks them up, and rolls them around her wrists, not at all bothered by their clamminess.

At the grand golden doors her onward progress is halted by a pair of burly footmen. She has not expected to get very far in, but she hopes that at the very least she will be able to see how opera houses are designed in the Riftworld. The footmen say no in a very firm tone of voice, despite the body's winsome pleas that she is "already dressed up and all for the opera". Philosophically, the body shrugs it off and makes her way to the back of the cupola'd building, admiring the gargoyles with their wide granite mouths that sit precariously on every edge of the roof, like so many carrion crows huddled on a corpse.

The gargoyles resemble the wolves of the town arch. This is a town of wolves, the body realises idly. Of undomesticated canines, at any rate. These gargoyles have been gilded and refurbished so that they exude an altogether more decadent and civilised air than the wolves, but there is no mistaking the tilt of snout and spout. Whatever is waiting inside is hungry...

The back entrance is a presentation entirely different from the brownnosed lamplit front. There are no footmen, and a telling lack of things bright and beautiful. There is, however, a small door in the wall, with the paint peeling off it in ancient, weatherbeaten strips. The body, wrenching the doorknob most unceremoniously as the hinges give with a creaking groan, slips inside, disappears into the tumult and confusion of backstage.

Passing along a corridor lined with unused props (among others a swan-shaped boat, wooden clouds, a view of the sea from a cliff), the body looks for a suitable spot from which to enter the auditorium. Sandbags hover precariously high above her head. The corps de ballet, awaiting their cue, adjust their costumes and twitch in the manner of so many very nervous sheep. A member of the chorus, attired in dirndl and headscarf, notices the delftware kimono and says kindly, "Oh, didn't they tell you? Madama Dragonfly's been rescheduled for next Wodesday."

"Have they? What's on tonight, then?"

"The Tragicall Hiftory of the Life and Death of Doctor Fauftus. They've only just reached the Jewel Song."

The body pokes at the curtain. Strains of controlled sopranic warbling sift through from the stage. "'Ah, my beauty past compare'?"

"That's the one. Don't you have rather a lot of Corpse Blue #5 on, dearie?"

Suddenly there is the loud and mostly unwelcome sound of splintering wood. The warbling turns into full-formed howling, and the curtains rip open with a blast of wind that chills the very bone. The body takes in the trio of heads, the acrid scent of large, aeons-old wet dog, the shards of razor-sharp ice that slam into the walls and floorboards and backdrops, and addresses the shocked thespians of backstage with a wry smile: "Ahahaha. Run away. Now. Please?"

They comply. In about point five seconds the area is deserted, except for the body, who uncoils her sleeves as deliberately as a warrior unsheathes his sword for battle.

"Okiku."

"Yes, mistress."

"If I'm not mistaken and these flashes of fiery doom and that recent explosion in the approximate region of the overgrown doggie's left head aren't just hallucinations brought on by the heady atmosphere of being in a real honest-to-goodness opera house, we're late for this battle and getting later by the second."

"This humble servant has also made similar observations to those events spoken of by your perceptive self, mistress."

"YOU IMBECILES. STOP FUCKING AROUND. START PRODDING BUTTOCK."

"I thought you said you couldn't abide hand-me-downs, Lady Saifa."

"SHUT UP AND MAKE OUR GRAND ENTRANCE ALREADY, WOMAN."

The body bounds through the tattered remains of curtain and lands neatly on the Cerberus's back as it rears, ready for a fresh attack after having been floored temporarily by Kite, it seems. The snapping jaws of the remaining twin heads miss her by inches. Icicles fly, flaming missiles implode; somewhere down below the men of the party hack away at the dog's trunklike legs. The grin on her face falters and is replaced by a solemn frown as Okiku sends her prized long sleeves hurtling towards the heads, keeping her balance upon the shifting muscles and finally settling upon the brute's vast withers. Saifa's presence can be detected in the pinkish aura that directs the sleeves around the Cerberus's mouths in contracting loops.

Reappearing in the unlikely guise of an easily amused, death-defying lion tamer, the body draws the sleeves taut about the slavering jaws, successfully halting the onslaught of frost and wind, however temporarily. She does a quick head count. Kite appears to be in the throes of some private dilemma. Ovan is down, and his pregnant lady should, if she knew what was good for her, be getting him, as well as herself, out of the way of the fight. "Enjoying the intermission, are we all now? By the way. These heads are begging for a potshot. Kindly oblige-"

- a flash of light, and the sound of a blade cleaving through living tissue, and the beast's rightmost head (leftmost, actually, from her position) is severed halfway through with the impact of the hit. Okiku slackens her hold on the stricken head's muzzle. The next moment, with a roar of cataclysmic proportions, the wounded Cerberus has snapped through its bonds, sending the body up to the ceiling, shredded sleeves trailing below it in a poor imitation of a hawk with broken wings.

Crashing into the crystal chandelier, the body hasn't the time to grab hold of anything before gravity claims its right and she is plummeting to the nominally painful environs of the floor.

"-before it throws me off its back and I end up somewhere inconvenient, was what I was going to say," grumbles the body, popping up from the broken seat she has landed in, and scrambles back to the front lines, where the gruesome sight of a still rampant rightmost head, bleeding freely and hanging half off the massive neck, greets her bleached eyes. A high-pitched squeal, and Karam flies past her, sinking its teeth into the Cerberus's chest. She catches sight of a familiar fur coat (and oversized sword) and hisses into the owner's ear: "We-ell, professor, hurry up and finish the job, that wasn't exactly a clean cut you made back there!"

"What, you think it's easy decapitating a frickin' giant three-headed dog?!" Ban swings, and dodges a ballistic paw.

The body allows Okiku to swat stray icicles away with the beloved sleeves, then returns to her litany. "It isn't even bothering to keep out of your way!"

"Do you always waste breath like this?"

"Adds spice and flavour to long boring battles, conversations do, I always thought."

"Anyway. As it happens, I have a plan." Ban proffers his sword. "Hop on Miroku."

"Is this some sort of vile wartime ritual where-"

"Just do it!" A gigantic icicle shatters to the carpet, a tad too close for comfort.

"I TRUST YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BOY." The body, rolling its eyes round as Saifa takes over, translucent katana materialising in her hands, leaps nimbly onto the great black claymore. "YOU HAD BETTER."

A toss, and a direct hit with the flat of the sword, and Saifa is speeding her way towards the head spurting blood. With a downward swordthrust she collides with the head, which at last separates from the rest of the Cerberus; and both zombie and dogshead collapse heavily into the ruins of the stage.

For the second time that night the body rises from wreckage. This time she is giggling incongruously in the wake of a, by now, extremely outraged guardian Cerberus. "You call that a PLAN?!"


Ah! My beauty past compare! These jewels bright I wear! Was I ever Margaritaaaaaaaa~

[Roy Karrde]

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Lone Survivor ~*~*~*~*~

With two heads down and one to go the group retreated, ready to make one last run at him. I carefully lowered Ovan to the ground, far from the battlefield; sweat already trickling down my brow, the blood flowing from my nose already down to just a tiny trickle. Yet I already had another problem, my heart was beating fast and my body felt strained. “I’ll provide the shield lets just go for the final head.” I announced, faltering and stumbling forward to the shock of those around me. “Its okay, really.” I took in several large deep breaths, trying to straighten my already shaking body.

A comforting hand found my shoulder; I didn’t even have to turn around to know who it belonged to. “You need to conserve your mana incase anyone is wounded.” Knes said, his voice full of worry, at the moment his arm was the only thing keeping me completely upright.

I opened my mouth to respond but my attention drawn away by the sound of sucking, where the necks had been for the two heads were now merging into one neck, the fur on the Cerberus flowing with ice crystals as the two necks connected into one. “Yeah why don’t you take a rest Pretty Princess.” Kite chimed in, this time it was Knes that looked up, a glare on his face icier than the Cerberus. “What Pretty Princess doesn’t work now? How about Shirley Temple? Itty Titties?” He asked, Knes’ glare turning deadlier.

“Or how about..” His voice was drowned out by the roar of a Cerebius, the large ice covered head reared back, it’s mouth filling with white and blue light.

“Look out.” Knes screamed, suddenly rushing in front of me, a wave of what sounded like rushing wind hit the group. It came so hard, so fast, and so loud that I had to close my eyes and screamed out of fear. When I reopened them the room was covered in ice, from top to bottom, Kite, Ban, Ovan, Dimitri, Yi, Marion all of them incased in solid blocks of ice.

My eyes wondered to Knes, his body completely white, ice crystals hanging from his hair, a expression of pure terror frozen onto his face, terror not from what was happening to him, but in fear that the same would happen to me. His arms outstretched as if to fully shield me. “Knes..” I gulped, fighting back tears and placing a hand on his cheek.

A roar filled the room again, so loud that the ceiling began to shake and crack above me. I began to back away from Knes’ body, I was the only one left, I was the only one left in the group. Everyone else was dead. “Knes, Kite…everyone.” Tears streamed down my face as I turned and ran out of the arena, slipping on the ice of the steps and falling face first into the snowy street outside.

The Roar echoed again and I knew that in seconds the Cerberus would be out of the Opera House, stalking the streets for food. “They’re all dead.” I screamed, curling up into a ball on the snowy streets. “They are all..” My voice caught in my throat as my eyes spotted Moswen’s snow covered coffin.

Crawling on all fours I made my way over to them, standing on my knees and raising the lid. “Save them Moswen, Save them please.” I begged, throwing the lid open.

[Bulbasaur4]

MOSWEN

Everything was dark- the type of darkness that felt like a muggy blanket had been draped over one’s eyes. At first Moswen’s mind raced, she had been so relaxed going into the coffin- knowing she had to. However, now that she was alone… her true fear was leaking out. The coffin was so small and the isolation felt like a silent deadly killer. She could hear nothing but the pounding of her own wild heart and her ragged breath. She could see nothing but the endless dark and feel nothing but the cool metal that incased her.

She could feel chains around her wrists and ankles and neck- chains that were attached to the inside of the coffin as an extra precaution. Moswen didn’t really understand it- she was inside such a large coffin and she felt fine.

Thump … Thump … Thump …

Moswen continued to hear only the beating of her own heart. As she lay in the coffin, she continued to just hear only that solitary sound… and it drove her mad. As time grew on – time that felt like hours, days, weeks… and all that she could hear was her own heart beat. As time trickled on, she could also feel something else. There was something inside of her that was trying to get out. At first Moswen ignored it, figuring it was her own desperation from being locked in such a tiny space. Soon however, it grew to the point where she could feel her tattoos along her left side burn.

Snakes… it felt as if snakes were pouring out of her tattoos and twisting their sinister bodies around her own. The more they twisted- the more she could feel their tingling bodies of aura surround her, the more she felt herself go mad.

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Her heart started to pound faster, as she felt the dark aura snake around her body further- tightening its grasp. She could not see them nor could she in the physical sense “feel” them, but she knew they were there. She felt them sink into her skin and invade her right portion of the body. The thoughts of that energy invading her own. Wanting to take over the right side- where the yang energy was dominant. Laughing at the fact that it was gone- the yang energy that usually repelled it from the body was gone. Laughing at the chains that tried to contain it. It was laughing in such a way that only the ghosts could hear. Just laughing… triumphantly…


THUMPTHUMPTHUMP

Moswen opened her mouth and screamed as the energy reached her face and her head and invaded it easily- like slicing through water. The laughter wasn’t her own nor was it even the voice- but that voice was gone. It was not there to comfort her or give her strength and for once, Moswen missed it.

But only for a moment… because her heart felt as if it were going to explode. Her mind no longer had room for its own thoughts- THAT energy was taking up all the space it wanted. All the space it ever desired in the body but had been denied. Moswen wanted to cry, to scream… to beg for release from this horrible cage.

THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP

It was as if Moswen’s heart burst.



It had claimed the body for its own- having no real conscious or real sentience, but yet it moved. It had false desires and a false sense of being alive. Yet it was contained in a coffin… a horrible cage that somehow repelled its energies and did not yield to the energy’s demands of being released.

Angered, the energy roared in annoyance.

Yet, as if answering its own rage… after what could have only been seconds but felt like an eternity, a beam of icy white light trickled into the darkness known as the inside coffin. Cackling insanely with triumph, the energy commanded release.

Shackles still held the body to the inside of the coffin, but these shackles were nothing but a mere toy. A simplistic bother that was to be tossed aside as nothing. Snarling with rage, the energy pulsated through the body’s veins like liquid power itself and the shackles snapped like twigs.

Slowly, the body rose out of the coffin as the lid slid aside- having been unlocked from the outside by a yang touch. Awkward at first, the body – in a rather unnatural way twisted upwards to stand. The head snapped to attention, hunching slightly like a demonic creature that had not seen the light in days nor used its limbs for weeks. Twisting its head to the side, the energy saw through the body its releaser- a small little girl with bubbling tears down her face.


“Moswen!! Save them!” She pleaded, and the energy snaked its head to the side in yet another painfully unnatural motion. It soon assessed that the body’s name must have been Moswen, and that this girl must have relied upon its host. Now it wanted her to do another task- another bidding.

“Please! Moswen!” The girl cried again, but the pitch was growing annoying to the body. Its eyes narrowed, their glowing pupilless golden glow staring straight at the girl with no remorse. The girl’s eyes then widened in shock- realizing that there was no Moswen there. In fact, there was no real creature or being inside the shell of the body at all. It was something else, some thing far more… deadly and unforgiving. Moswen’s body itself was completely black to the point where there was no recognizable detail upon her body except for her own outline and her glowing yellow eyes. Tendrils of billowing violet-black aura occasionally whisped about her body, as if touching the air for a keener sense.

“M-moswen?” The girl sniffled, but the energy was done listening to such a pathetic creature.

Taking a wobbling step out of the coffin, the body almost fell at the lack of balance and familiarity its functions. So instead it fell and used its hands to keep it from completely falling. Now it was in an almost four-legged position, but such a thing was awkward for the body’s natural form.

Snarling slightly and snaking its way completely out of the coffin, the energy stared at the girl and then gave out a shrill and inhuman shriek of a cackle. It could smell the direction from which her fear gave birth.

It could sense a great deal of power- a delicious smell of irresistible power. An unbridled amount of power that was directed by a simplistic, stupid beast. Such a thing was overflowing with yin energy itself… and that was undeniably tempting. For the energy within the body was thirsty.
For this girl, the energy deemed it a lucky day. It just so happened to want to eat the very thing that frightened her.

But this body was no good. The energy was not familiar with the body in this form… it had to change.

So the body staggered away from the coffin and headed towards the temple. However, as it did so it fell to its hands and knees further as the tendrils of swirling black energy spouted from its already blackened outline and wrapped violently around the body’s limps. Rapidly she began to change as she walked, growing bigger and changing into a truer form of power. Her hands that dug into the snowy ground grew bigger as claws sprouted from the tips of her fingers. Her lower half’s joints twisted slightly, as her wolfish tail grew in size. The body’s own face protruded outwards into a large snout, as fur sprouted from her entire body.

The process continued until the body’s outline was no longer humanoid, but completely wolven. The body was now an immensely large, black-energied wolf with glowing eyes of gold. Despite lacking detail in her shadowy black state, her outline gave a clear definition of her fur and what she was.

The earth groaned beneath her paws as the energy sized up the temple for a brief moment. Giving a snarling howl, suddenly the body thrashed its tail downwards upon the wall of the opera house. The wall swiftly crumbled, to reveal a great scene before the energy’s comprehension of what the body saw.

Figures were incased in ice before the dog-like creature known as Cerberus. The body’s thick wolven lips curled backward into a wolfish grin as it gave out a shrillish howl of a laugh. Such a beast with so much yin energy… such a pathetic beast.

The Cerberus looked upwards swiftly, having only one head as its ice-bitten eyes saw the large, massive wolf that stood outside before it. It hesitated for a second, perhaps just a second of a faint glimmer of intelligent thought- knowing of the strength of its greater lineage. However, this was its territory. It was forced to protect it.
Thus, the Cerberus’s downfall.

The body took no time in waiting for the Cerberus to leap however. Instead, it charged into the opera house more, breaking bits and pieces of the roof off as it created a nice open-house battle ground of rubble.

The two canines then circled each other around the open and now flattened ground of the opera house- the figures in ice in the middle of their circle. However, the hungry aura that surrounded the former and now wolven body of Moswen licked at the iced figures every time it went pass them. Her tail swished about as well, occasionally touching the iced figures.

The ice was magical… it contained the same delicious yin energy that the Cerberus had within itself. Thus the energy from the body ate away at the ice.

The circling continued, for enough of a time of snarling and growling that a few of the bodies were thawed out and came to. Perhaps it was quite a surprise to see a great wolven beast of black energy snarling at the Cerberus.

And, perhaps they thought for a split second that it was Moswen being helpful – but with a second thought that opinion would change. For the energy commanded the body forward, and instantly its wolfish form let out a bark that trumped any pathetic noise the Cerberus could have managed. The wolf then lunged forward, seeing an opportunity and a weakened opening that the Cerberus had left open. A figure below gave a cry as the wolfish paw almost crushed it as it dug up the earth in a lunge.

Gaping jaws open, the wolf slunk to the side and dodged a snap from Cerberus. Instantly with lightning grace, the wolf curled its head upwards and snapped as well. Soon its jaws surrounded the Cerberus’s own head, and the dog gave a whimper instantly- giving way to the dominance of the larger and more powerful creature.

Ears flattened and its tail wrapped about its leg as it begged for forgiveness.

The energy laughed. If its host was an actual wolf- it IT was an actual wolf , perhaps this display would have ended the battle. But no- it wanted the precious energy within the Cerberus. It wanted all of it.
With a blood thirsty growl, the wolf twisted its head in one powerful and violent jerk. The head of the Cerberus erupted off as its neck snapped. Tendons and precious flesh flew into the air as blood rained down on spectators below.

Holding the head in its jaws, the wolf waited as the body froze and then collapsed upon the ground.

Not wasting any time, snaking black tendrils of energy from the wolf spilled from deep within its mouth. They wrapped about the head within its jaws and within a matter of seconds they completely consumed the head- transforming its flesh into pure yin energy till the head simply disappeared.

The wolf then ignored the cries from below – not understanding their words anymore and completely ignoring them. There was a feast to be had.

Taking a few steps towards the body, the wolf dug its teeth into the tender flesh and held a death grip upon it. Black aura-like tendrils erupted from not only its mouth this time, but also snaked their way from the wolf’s fur and wrapped about the dead Cerberus.

There would be no remains, no baby, no egg this time- for all the energy was its now. It wanted ALL of it.

The corpse was molded and transformed into a more pure form of the yin energy, and with one great big breath the wolf sucked in all of it.

Feeling energized further and more powerful than ever, the wolf pointed its head upwards towards the sky and gave out a howl of triumph. Its fur began to pulsate and swirl with more tendrils, a bloody violet colored sheen growing upon its energized form from the added yin energy it had consumed. Its size grew a bit as well, as its claws dug deeper into the earth.

“Is that Moswen?” Hearing the old name of its host, the wolf twisted its head downwards to see all the figures were now moving about. The little girl came running back into the half-destroyed opera house, still crying.

“I let her out… I let her out…” She cried, as the wolf grinned. It was still hungry- it still wanted more power.

“Moswen! Calm down!” A voice cried and the wolf’s pupil-less golden gaze turned to a fox-like humanoid. It was coming towards her massive form, perhaps in a pathetic attempt to bring back the conscious of its host.
Annoyed, the wolf struck back.

“Mosw-” The fox humanoid began, but he was sent flying into a wall that broke into rubble as a large black tendril from its fur struck out at him when he got too close.

“Moswen… you can’t… not a monster…” Another voice arose, and the wolf saw a larger man with a big sword. He held it in a defensive position, as a woman with an ironic necklace with a wolf pendant stood near him in fear.

A pulse. A pulse rippled through the body’s head as the energy lost grip for a moment.

“Mario-… Ba-…” The wolf almost seemed to speak through its thoughts, remembering also the one it had struck into the wall. For a second the golden eyes had turned into the body's normal color- violet. The conscious was trying to gain back a foot hold.

Fighting back, the energy gave out an unearthly scream through the wolf’s mouth as it reclaimed the host’s body and completely shut away the conscious with its own mental armor. The Yang energy would restrain it no more!! The eyes glowed back to gold.

Hunger struck at the energy… it needed more power.
More power… equaled less restraint.

… and there was plenty of power to be had. The energy thought, moving the host’s immense wolf body’s head to gaze down at the confused figures below. A snarl escaped the body’s lips as it then lunged. They had yin energy too. Not too much.
But enough.

[Haruko]

Stella D'Aubigine
-if the blue poppy's petals are swaying without any wind / it's all thanks to my sigh. I don't know for sure, but it's gotta be. ~One Life by the pillows

A battle scene quickly folded in front of us, where once there was a beautiful play being performed.

A path of destruction quickly laid in front of the three-headed beast as it arose from it's slumber. It fed on the poor actors and actresses as a appetizer, and then the audience as the main course. Those that got out were lucky, as they were the only ones alive besides, us; who were to fight the beast who seemed to protect the golden-adorned crystal that hung from above.

Kite and Adalia seemed to be getting into a quarrel, in the worst of times, as the Cerberus sent a beam of ice against one of Adalia's shields. Ovan, igniting his sword with flames, started to make way to the scene as Adalia's shield broke and she was rescued by the one she was in a quarrel with.

It was at this time that the Cerberus paid attention to Ovan, who was drawing closer to the beast with the daring flames. One of the beast's heads sent out a beam of ice, as to which Ovan barely dodged, hitting a chair from the audience's area in the process. He merely shrugged it, more than likely thanks to adrenaline, and went back to his assault. However, more serious, the Cerberus sent a stronger blast of ice, only aimed at Ovan's sword, incasing into a block of ice that fell to the ground. A warrior without a sword was like trying to start a fire in the rain, useless..

It was Dimitri's turn at the bat, as he took one of the cards he used a medium for his mana as he was attacked with a huge shard of ice; melting it with a blast of fire. He didn't completely manage to escape the attack, as he got clipped on the side and slid on the ground. Getting back on his feet, desperate, Dimitri took out yet another card, and summoned forth something that looked like it'd be from a carnival. After it span, the colors began to magically glow brighter and energy crackled. It was short lived, however, as an ice attack from the Cerberus completely destroyed the wheel.

And what was I, Stella D'Aubigine, doing?

Nothing. I was like the audience to the fight. I stood, frozen in fear, with my flower in hand; extended to it's fencing sword form. Yet I couldn't move an inch. I was so terrified from the uselessness of my friends attacks, and knowing that there were no mediums for me to channel my mana into besides my flower, that I'd do no harm to the foul beast. If anything, it'd be like tickling it with a feather, rather than stabbing it in the heart.

The Cerberus turned to look at me as I noticed something crawling on its back. I looked about, and noticed that Ovan was missing, he wasn't in the chairs, or trying to unfreeze his sword. As the figure moved closer to the neck of the left head, I noticed that it was Ovan. He closed his eyes as the beast looked away from me, and to him. His body was glowing a crimson red as his chest was glowing a conflicting blue, and an insane smile donned his face. It was then that I kept my stance firmly, as the crimson glowing from his body stopped completely, and a blast erupted between him and the Cerberus' left head, severing it completely, allowing it to shatter onto the floor. Ovan flew onto the ceiling, hitting it and coughing up blood; this apparent from the slightly red liquid coming down and hitting the Cerberus' back, and he started to fall, covered in burn wounds. The dog, in pain and anger, snapped it heads up at the human who committed the crime, and prepared to feed on it.

However, Adalia saved Ovan from such a death, shielding him with a mana bubble at the last moment and bringing him away from the battle scene. It was here that I knew I could be of some use; I could at least flow some of my mana into him to heal his wounds. I rushed over to where Adalia had placed him, and started the procedure.

Taking of his chest mail, which seemed to have a rune of protection, I noticed that the magical wound was not harmed, nor was his chest; just his arms and legs. His bleeding was major around his right leg, and thats where I started to channel my mana first. Sparkling green mana flew from my fingertips and twisted around Ovan's leg, slowing healing it. I was careful though..I couldn't use too much mana this way. I was to stop his bleeding and recover tissue, then go on to the next appendage.

I looked back at the battle as I saw the Zombie-human being thrown at the Cerberus by Ban, and down went another head. Only one left. Everyone seemed to retreat back to where I was to make one mass effort into stopping the last head, but..

---

It was as if there was a frozen moment of time.

One moment I was healing Ovan, my mana wrapping his wounds. The group was preparing for their final attack, and then..

There were two huge beasts. A shadowy wolf with eyes of gold, and the Cerberus, both circling us. Everyone seemed to be shocked, as if they felt the same lapse of time as I did, and looked at the battle of the beasts that continued around us. I was in horror, but I continued to heal Ovan's tissue to where it stopped bleeding, allowing only very pink and sensitive skin around where the burn wounds were. I felt the weight of how much mana I used, I felt drained a bit, but it felt..delightful, to use that much mana and not be in pain. I ignored, even though I was grossed out slightly, the blood that fell onto my coat from the beasts battle.

It was when I was done with Ovan, placing my coat on him to protect the wounds from the cold, that the shadowy beast defeated the Cerberus, and in a true show of horror, the same shadow that covered the wolven beast also wrapped its arms around the Cerberus' completely disserved head, dissolving it into a black energy, and swallowing it whole. The wolven beast grew larger due to it's feast, and it howled at the sky; for the fact that it triumphed in battle.



I left it there for now.;x

[darktyranitar]

~~~Marion~~~
Frozen with fear

This was madness. In the previous Guardian battle, Karam could find an opening to attack the Ninetales. And the Ninetals used wind attack, so we could at least endure the attack a bit.

This time, it was different. It was a Cerberus, and its element was ice. Most of the time, Karam and I spend time hiding behind some seat for cover, only attempting to attack when its attention was at someone else. Karam managed to land a few bite on the beast, which seems to annoy it a bit. Karam always returned with blood on his muzzle, so I’m guessing that he had bit the Cerberus real hard.

Ovan had earlier blasted one of the beast’s head off; now, it was Zombie-chan turn, who impressively used Ban’s sword to catapult herself towards one severed head of the Cerberus, decapitating it with a sword (that I didn’t think I’ve seen it before).

“Freezing… and painful…” Karam chattered after he returned after biting the beast right on its chest. I ran a finger on his fur, feeling the ice that clung onto them. I brought my finger up, and saw that it was covered with blood.

Everyone else had gathered close, and I guess that they were ready to take out the last head of the Cerberus. I held out my hands to the wincing Karam, and I began to tap into my mana.

But this time… I felt that there was something different in the mana flow. It felt a bit warm, and it was no doubt draining more mana than the other technique I had tried. Slowly, Karam stopped wincing, and he began to arch in pleasure.

The Cerberus then roared, and turning around, I could see a bright light beginning to form in its mouth. I quickly tucked Karam and Kun inside the cover as Knes screamed “look out!” which was followed with what felt like a blast of harsh, cold wind.


The next thing I knew, I felt wet, and I was shivering badly – and my guess was the attack from the Cerberus had frozen us into solid blocks, and the ice was now slowly melting away. I looked up, and saw that there was another figure facing the Cerberus – a huge wolf with golden eyes that has fur so dark that it might as well be a shadow. The wolf then lunged towards the Cerberus, and after dodging blows from the Cerberus, it then had its jaws around the Cerberus head. Letting out a howl, it then ripped the Cerberus’s head from its neck, raining down flesh and blood below. I covered my eyes. There was too much blood coming out… too much flesh coming out…

I think I am going to be really sick…

“Is that Moswen?” I turned around and saw Adalia running towards us, tears running down her cheek.

“M… Moswen?” I staggered. That beast is… Moswen?

“I let her out… I let her out…” Adalia cried even harder. The wolf – Moswen – looked down at us, a terrible grin formed on her face.

“Moswen! Calm down!” It was Dimitri, making his way steadily towards Moswen. There was a hint of annoyance on her face, and Dimitri was then blasted away towards a wall by a large black tendril, and the wall went down in rubble. I quickly covered my mouth with my hands, stopping myself from screaming. This was not Moswen… this was not Moswen at all. This is just another terrible beast…

“Moswen…” Ban said, holding out his sword in a defensive stance. “You can’t… not a monster…” Moswen looked down at us, snarling. Then she stopped snarling, and for a moment, her eyes seem to show hint of recognition in them, changing from gold into violet.

Moswen then tilted her head up, letting out a scream that was neither in her voice nor a wolf howl – a crazed, demonic scream. Then she gazed down at the people below, her eyes turning back into the colour gold.

“Get out of the way!” Ban pulled me away as Moswen suddenly leapt toward the spot where we just stood. She shook the splinters from her jaw, snarled, and leapt towards the others. I looked up at the creature that used to be Moswen, and I cried.

“This is not Moswen…” I sobbed, hugging my knees to my chest. “Come back to us, Moswen… please, come back…”

[Prof. Jb Wolf]

Ban Ravi
~Do You Remember...~

I don't know about the others, but perhaps because of my coat, I had still been concious in the aftermath of the beam. The feeling of watching as you can do nothing to prevent your own iminent demise is not something I ever want to go through again.

Many thoughts rushed through my mind at that moment. Memories of home. A fleeting hope that if I died, I would just return to my world. Idle wonder at how being eaten might feel like. But most of all regret. Regret at things I've never had the courage to do. Of words I said...or words I didn't say.

If you'd taken my advice, at least you-

"Does it even matter anymore? We're stuck in a block of ice, I can't access any of Miroku's powers, and I can't cut myself out if I can't move. At least she'll be fine....though I regret what she'll see when she finds us..."

Giving up already boya? Guess I was wrong about you!

The fleeting image of a beautiful woman with purple hair flashed before my eyes. I had seen her only once before, in that flower-induced fantasy. "Who are you!? The image merely waggled a finger before disappearing as a massive black shadow eclipsed my vision. I felt a pulse of energy before feeling the ice around me begin to thaw.

Falling to my knees as the ice melted away, I gasped for breath and tried to shake away the cold feeling that had settled in my bones. But as I looked back up, a new chill took its place. What stared back were malevolent golden eyes against a face darker than night. Though its gazed was not fixed upon me, I could feel its hunger and...a familiar presence.

Moswen.

I watched with almost morbid fascination as Moswen...no this beast, caught the Cerberus off guard. It was merciless in its attack, even as the hell hound gave up it proceeded to break its neck before absorbing it into its body. Bile welled up as I watched it begin to eat the rest of the Guardian beast.

Unbeliveable...

"What?"

This...this creature is not simply eating the Guardian beast. It is feeding on its lifeforce, the core of its being.

"I see." Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I gripped Miroku tighter. "Then it really is..."

As the shadowy wolf finished its gruesome meal, Adalia came running in wailing at the top her lungs about how she'd freed 'her'. It could only mean that...

"Moswen! Calm down!" Dimitri strode forward, attempting to placate her. There was a change in the wolf's coutenance and before I could warn the fox man, she sent a tendril snaking out from her body to strike him.

"Moswen! You can't let it control you!" I yelled, as I slowly brought Miroku up defensively. "Your not a monster!"

Her gaze flickered towards me their menacing golden glow flickering. For a breif moment they were her eyes again. Those eyes so filled with sadness, determination, and gentleness. But they disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, the shadow once again surpressing her. With an unearthly howl it leapt towards Marion and I, jaws open wide.

"Get out of the way!" I yelled as I grabbed Marion and pulled her out of the shadow wolf's path.

The elfish girl was in a state of shock, tears running down her face as she mumbled to herself. Grimacing, I picked her up and ran towards the others as the beast reared up from the wreckage. Giving another demonic cry it gave chase, leaping towards us once again. This time one of Kite's barriers stopped it cold in it's path. As it glowered at us from across the glimmering shield, thick black tendrils of shadow grew from its body and began to slam against it.

"She's...really strong." Kite muttered, his face strained. "I don't...know how long I can...keep this up."

Placing Marion in Stella's care I turned back, unsheathing Miroku once again. "Just keep it together for a bit longer Kite. Knes!" The young boy was at my side immediately. "Knes, I need you to teleport everyone but me out of here."

"But what abou-"

"I'm going to get Moswen back."

"You can't do that alone! Let me help you!"

"Kid, I'm countin' on you and Kite to take care of the others. And things might get ugly, if..." I shook my head roughly, not willing ot accept the consequences if I failed. "Just, get everyone out of here safely."

Knes looked conflicted for a moment before nodding and ran back towards the others. There was a flash of light and the barrier disappeared. Seeing the shield down, but its prey gone the wolf stamped the ground angrily before turning its eyes on me. As it stalked towards me, teeth bared and tendrils waving angrily in the air, I stood firm. Briefly, I thought of calling upon the Phoenix, but after what she had done to the Cerberus, I wasn't so keen on letting her get stronger.

"Moswen! I know your in there somewhere! Please, wake up!" My only answer was a roar as the tendrils came hurtling towards me. With a slash of Miroku, they lay wriggling against the floor as the wolf's roar turned to a howl of pain. "Don't make me do this!"

More tendrils shot out towards me, and while I could easily dispatch them, I wasn't sure what the effect yet was on Moswen. So I threw myself out of the way as they slammed into the earth around me, kicking up earth and debris.

"It's me, Ban! Your friend, your nakama!"

The wolf seemed to hesitate for a moment, but it shook itself roughly before pouncing upon me. Rolling beneath it, I barely got to my feet as its tail connected with my chest and sent me flying. My tumble through the air was halted as soft white cloth seemed to engulf me before setting me back on the ground. "Looks like you could use some help professor!"

"Yi!? Why didn't you leave with the others!"

"Oh, come now, you really think I'd miss a bosh fight between you and Kalah-sempai?"

"It's not safe here, you cou-"

"Die? I'm already dead remember?" The undead girl gave me a semi-crazed grin. "So what's the plan?"

I glanced up to where the wolf was once again stalking towards the crumbling wall where she had thrown Dimitri. "Moswen's still in there somewhere. She reasserted herself for a moment before that thing took over again. I was hoping my voice would reach her." I glanced at her. "Think you could hold her down so she'll listen."

A purple glow lit Yi's eyes and she appeared to droop like a dying flower. Her voice was much more subdued. "This one regrets to inform Ban-san that her cloth...." She raised her sleeves where I could see it was singed near the edges. "Burns upon contact with the beast." Her eyes rolled back as she smirked and sounded like herself again. "So how about I just root you on from over here?"

Sighing I got to my feet and began to scratch the floor with my sword. Drawing a quick magical circle, I concentrated before slamming Miroku into the ground.

Obsidian Lord Technique ~ The Black Emperor's Tomb!

The circle expanded, extending past the wolf and myself. It engulfed the opera house in its glow as the ground began to rumble and shake. Four wall of purest obisdian burst from the ground at the edges of the circle, rising into the air before connecting at the center. Closed off, I left Miroku where I had placed it and stepped forward as the shadow wolf turned back to me.

"Moswen, please wake up! You can't let this control you! Your stronger than this!"

It emitted another howl as the tendrils streaked towards me. It took all my concentration not to get hit, dancing around the open floor as the black arms attempted to capture me.

"The Moswen I know isn't so weak as to let some power control her! She's a determined woman! A gentle woman! A woman I-" I choked slightly. "I...I...WE care about!"

Nice save there.

"Not the time." I growled beneath my breath as the beast stopped its onslaught for a moment, its shadowy tendrils wavering. "We all care about Moswen. Adalia, Knes, Dimitri, Marion..."

The beast shook and growled as if in pain, as if it was fighting itself. I could feel Moswen's presence grow stronger. "Ma-Marion....D-dimitri...Ban..."

"That's right! We're your nakama! Your friends!"

Roaring the beast closed its eyes as the shadows forming it began to lose form. When they opened again one eye was still gold, but the other was glowed with a vibrant violet glow. "N-nakama! I...I don't think...I can...st-"

"The don't believe in yourself!" I walked slowly towards her, one hand outstretched. "Believe in me who believes in you! You can fight this Moswen, I know you can."

Finally I was close enough to lay a hand on her head. "You can do this Moswen. Your not a monster. Your not a mindless beast. Your a strong, determined woman who would do anything to protect her friends. Remember who you are! Please, remember your important..." I dropped my voice to almost a whisper. "..to me."

Moswen was quiet as she closed her eyes again, fighting within herself for control. I could feel the energies around her swirling and spinning as in a constant state of flux. Finally they began to settle down as she slowly opened her eyes.

GET AWAY FROM HER!

Too late, the golden glow had returned as a tendril of shadow slammed into my chest. I could feel something within me draining away. It was as if it was trying to suck my sould out of my chest with a straw. "M-M-Mos...wen..." I gasped as I tried to rip the tendril free.

As my vision began to dim I saw something streak through the air landing on the shadow wolf's snout. It was a card, with a symbol I recognize as it began to glow with a bright golden glow. The card exploded in a burst of sparks and light. The wolf drowled in pain rearing up as it the tendril came free from my chest. Groaning, I sat up and turned toward Dimitri, whose face was covered in blood as he shook the dust from his pelt.

"Tha...thanks for the save..."

"Don't thank me yet..." He said as he held up another card from his hand as the wolf continued to reel in pain.

[kalad1]

>>Danarica<<

I groaned as I sat up, in the bed. How long did I sleep? I blinked, it was dark out. I glanced around, finding the only light source in the room that was on, a candle, and, shifting my weight carefully, stood up. I waddled my way across the room, picking it up, and heading out, looking for the others. My frustration increased with each person I'd found missing.

Everyone seemed to be gone, and if everyone left, without waking me, that could only mean one thing... they'd found the shrine or its guardian, and had run off to fight it without me! Growling, I grabbed a couple robes, some actually intended for cold weather, others were just ordinary bathrobes, but lacking proper, fitting, gear, I'd need some layers. I practically barged out, into the snow. Oh, they were going to hear it from me, leaving me behind...

Halfway there, I felt a sharp pain, and a trickle of liquid down my leg, one thought crossing my mind....

Oh crap...

[Dr.McNinja]

“Don’t thank me yet”

The stench of blood filled Dimitri’s nose, his own blood, blood that had never been spilled in such quantities before. Dozens of cuts from the fallen wall sliced his body, ripping open his robes. Blood pooled at his feet as he stood unsteadily, dripping through his fur, clumping it together. Moswen loomed above him, growling and hissing in anger. Her teeth were big enough to rip him in half without so much as a thought, and the burning desire to do so was written clearly on her reddened eyes. Coughing up more blood, adding to what was already soaked through his robes, Dimitri forced a bloody smile. Such a state seemed appropriate for what he was about to do to himself.

Damn it…I hoped that…

Don’t want to hear it…hope went on a vacation a long time ago. Hoping isn’t going to bring Moswen back…..what’s going to happen?

You’ll be tested twice…that’s all I’ll say

Dimitri blinked away the blood that was running into his eyes, taking a step back as Moswen approached.

Well…here goes everything

Dimitri channeled his power into the Death Tarot he held in his hands, feeling the magic of the card take hold and multiply instantly. Everything shifted nauseatingly, the world tearing itself apart at the seams to reveal what lay beyond. Dimitri blacked out for a moment, the pain of his wounds and the twisting of the world too much for him to bear.

When he awoke he was kneeling on rough stone, his arms chained to the ground, his cloak pooled out under him in a torn mess. His breath was heavy, erratic, as he lifted his bowed head to look up. Standing atop some sort of structure, its exact features impossible to see in the light of the bloody moon that seemed to hand directly above it, was a familiar silhouette. Long hair draped over cloth and metal, her eyes somehow perfectly visible despite the glare. Moswen looked down at the chained Dimitri, her eyes a mix of pain and sadness.

“Moswen…Kalah.”

Moswen smiled sadly, tossing her hair back over her head to cascade down her back.

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. I just want to vanish…I just want to make all the pain go away, make all the suffering I’m bringing on people to just stop. I can’t stand it anymore.”

Dimitri pulled against his chains, their cold metal digging into his wrists unyieldingly.

“No! You didn’t ask for this! You aren’t doing it of your own free will! It’s not your fault, it’s not something you can control.”

Moswen seemed unreachable however, turning to face the moon and staring into its impossibly enormous form.

“The world won’t be any worse without me…and it might even get better. I’m just…so tired, I just want to rest.”

The dark shape standing above him began to walk towards the moon, her hair brushing softly against her back as she did so, the soft chimes of the fine chains connecting her armor ringing loudly in the silent world. Dimitri again pulled against his chains, desperation filling his chest. Softly a wind began to pick up, blowing a soft dust that covered the ground across the half-breed shoulders. Gritting his teeth against the pain that it was causing his wounds, Dimitri channeled his helplessness, his desperate hopes, his denial of the twisted nature of reality at the moment, and his love into one single intent.

“Moswen, stop!”

The mournful shape stopped for a brief second but didn’t turn. The wind increased its fury, blowing her hair back now, swirling the dark and light strands together into dizzying spirals of color. Her robe twisted and turned as well, billowing in all directions but somehow never crossing that middle line that divided her body as much as it did her nature. Her right hand rose for a second, the fingers spread in as much as gesture of surrender as farewell.

“Goodbye Bryan…you’ll be fine without me.”

She took one more step and vanished into the blood moon, her body fading without a trace into its crimson depths. Dimitri’s bloodshot eyes widened, the wind tearing at him intensifying to hurricane power. His breathing quickened, his pulse raced, his fur veritably stood on end. He could feel his muscles ripping as he strained against his bounds but the pain only made him angry. He could feel his mind slipping, but it only drove him to further heights. He could feel his heart breaking even as it pounded helplessly against his ribs, but the feelings that leaked from its broken pieces roared through his veins.

“Moswen! I won’t…you can’t…”

Dimitri roared, blood dripping from his jaws as he opened his mouth wide and screamed at the uncaring air.

“I…CAN’T…LOSE YOU!”

Metal shrieked as the furious wind suddenly spun around Dimitri, lifting his fur and clothes to wrap around him as if pulled by a tornado. One of his legs planted beneath him, as he pulled. Links and the stone they were embedded into snapped as the half-breed lifted himself from the ground, breaking his bonds. The chains dangled from his wrists as he bolted for the moon, leaping onto the structure with a single jump. As the burning orb approached, Dimitri could hear voices inside of him, arguing.


Well I guess that answers that question…the clause it quite obvious to us…shall we?

What about the price?

Same as always, you should know that.

Very well.



Dimitri stopped mid-stride, suddenly frozen as the world began twisting yet again.

“No! No! I have to get to her first! I have to take her out of here too!”


Relax relax, you’re going to her now. Do what you have to do to get her back…you’ve prove yourself a far better hero than I ever was….good luck.

Dimitri’s existence suddenly exploded into a thousand pieces, like a shattered mirror. Somewhere, he felt another mind slip into the vacancy, and then he vanished like smoke.



The blood pooling at Dimitri’s feet suddenly came alive. Like the tendrils of some ancient sea creature it wrapped around his form, covering him in a pulsating cocoon of blood. Even the creature that Moswen had become hesitated at this, its eyes searching. Yin energy had suddenly begun to fill Dimitri, a veritable feast. But as it watched, that yin energy mutated and curdled into something twisted and unnatural. There was transformation happening in that grotesque cocoon, something horrible and powerful.

Two shapes extended from the cocoon, two cylinders that unraveled themselves behind the bloody prison. They spread to either side, revealing themselves to anyone looking. Twin butterfly wings, their crimson coloring glowing so bright that the black veins crisscrossing the wings were almost lost. For a few moments the wings simply rested, moving back and forth almost lazily. The cocoon began to dry, hardening into a putrid mass of congealed blood. Cracks appeared along its length, bloody dust breaking free to drift to the ground. Then, almost at once, the cocoon crumbled and fell away.

A crimson coat brushed softly on the ground, its bottom half opening up from the tightly buttoned top to drift lazily. A similarly colored hat adorned his head, more narrow and shaped than Dimitri’s, its angles sharp and defined. Gloved hands clenched and unclenched slowly, menacing in their exaggerated flexibility. Deep green eyes gazed amusedly from under the hat, a smile mirroring that amusement. Shoulder length hair the color of blood, darkening to black as it vanished beneath the hat, fell in clumped locks around his head. A single painted tear of blood was the only other color on an otherwise completely white face, either painted or natural, that gave him decidedly unearthly features. He smiled up at Moswen who seemed both angered and disgusted at the perfectly good meal that he had corrupted with his presence. Chuckling lowly to himself, he bowed to the fearsome wolf.

“What a wretched creature you are…I would almost be willing to remove your existence from this world without payment…”

Straightening, his eyes narrowed thought the smile remained fixed.

“You are lucky that someone actually cares enough for you to prevent me from doing so.”

His gaze turned to look at his surroundings, taking in the pitiful remains of the Opera House, and those who remained within it. Glancing sideways at the one with the rather nasty looking sword, he felt something resembling happiness welling up inside of him, the resemblance to the emotion ending at the profound sadism that filled it.

My my my…maybe this will not be as boring as I had feared, there is still plenty of blood here to spill.

Turning his attention back to Moswen who seemed to tire of the pause and was again hunching over in a hunting position, he held out one of his gloved hands, the other moving to rest on his back beneath his still spread wings.

“May I have this dance?”

[Haruko]

Ovan
-i see you, all confused and alone, / i try to look tough and I try not to care. / while deep down in my heart, / i can't stand seeing you like this.~ I Can't Say by YUI
Status: Asleep, Out of Mana/Energy.
PoV: Danielle

Whatever the retard did, I could feel the weight of it even on my spirit, as the 'room', as I so fondly put it, was occupied by one more. Ovan came in with a bang, falling from the endless white ceiling and landing on the bed. I walked over to him, and punched him in the stomach.

"What the fuck did you do!"I yelled at him, and he seemed as shocked as I was, looking around for a second. He then held his stomach as Valkyrie apprehended me for my rash action, and I rolled my eyes.
"I took care of one of the heads."He stated the obvious,"I didn't have any other.."
"You could've let the others do it!"I interrupted him. He rolled his eyes back, as if he was acting like a small child.
"Yeah, but then I'd feel useless. Don't you agree?"He replied. It was true, but still. I didn't know what state our body was in back in reality, so I just sighed as I placed my hands on my hips. He got off the bed and stretched. "Anyway, if we were dead, we wouldn't be talking, right?"

"You're lucky about that part."I replied, and Valkyrie nodded."At least you lasted longer out there longer than I would've.."
"Yeah, but you can control Ice, right? Put that on Valkyrie, and.."Ovan said, a bit overzealous, "You'll be kicking ass like that overgrown dog!"
"Ice can't kill."I replied,"Freeze, yeah. Fire can burn, melt and incinerate the enemy.."

"You each have your strong points!" Valkyrie interrupted me.
"And our weak."I replied. She sighed, as if her point didn't get across.
"You have Lightning, Ice and Earth. Ovan has Fire, Wind and Water."Valkyrie tried to assert her point."Each represent a part of yourself, controlling the others element would be like controlling the other person completely."

It was then that Valkyrie stopped her discussion and her eyes glew, looking around; as if there was someone else in the room. Ovan and I did the same, and behind a wall came out a woman in a black dress, who had purple hair and golden eyes. Ovan was more than likely staring at her slim figure and breasts; men.

"Hmm, three."The stranger told herself, her eyes shifting to each of us."I've never seen three souls in one body before."
"What in the world.."Ovan seemed a bit in shock that there was yet another soul in our "room". I glared at her with the same hostile looks that Valkyrie was giving her.
"I'm not going to lie to you; I'm the fourth and last one left. I have no wish to die, I simply just want to trade." The gothic lady replied to our hostile poses, trying to settle us down.
"Then why haven't I detected you in our realm until now!"Valkyrie snapped back, ready and willing to draw out her own weapon that sat on back, a bow and quiver.
"You have to be kidding me.."I huffed it off, and put my back to the lady, ignoring her completely; trusting Valkyrie to take care of her.

"You haven't detected me yet due to me not using my powers. I was awaken due to one with a strong heart being in my town, and I'd rather make it a paradise for men; rather then fight and spill needless blood. What I need to find is men that are strong enough to spend time with me." The woman replied to Valkyrie, and more than likely, my own inquires as to why she was here.
"Sorry, I'm not a guy."I replied, voiding her wants by all means. Ovan seemed to be thinking if it was worth it. The woman then took a glimpse at me as I looked back at her; my back now facing the wall. She smiled at me; as if I was what she wanted.

"I like you, you're strong and hotheaded."I looked at her oddly. Did I just tell her I wasn't a guy?
"Sorry, goth lady, but I'm missing a key component in what you want."I replied, pointing to my crotch."Nothing there. Thereforth, I can't go to your stupid male paradise of sorts."
"But you're a man in the real world, are you not?"She replied, talking about the body was that probably asleep.
"So?"
"I'm real in that world as well."She replied."And you're a man there, that's what counts."
"Well, either way, I don't want to be apart of your stupid male paradise."
"Will it include women?"Ovan finally talked, curious to that fact. Didn't he have Danarica?
"Well, I don't particularly like to spend my time around the women of these parts. They're too whiny, and seem to have the need to have others take care of themselves. Why would I need that in my paradise?"
"Isn't that part true.."I mumbled to myself, and chuckled a little to my own amusement.

"There are, well, perks to joining my paradise. Whoever is in control will get complete control over their body for one, and their powers. And those powers will be stronger than you can imagine."She smiled."Like comparing a torch to a wildfire."

Complete..control? That part struck my interest. Valkyrie could see it in my eyes, and she placed her left hand on my shoulder, shaking her head no.

"You will be giving up your humanity, however. But in return, you'll be getting a much better body, a stronger and faster one, even with built in defenses." She added, and that part just made the deal a no-go. I wanted to keep my humanity, so I could return to my own world one day.
"Heh, sorry, but I'm returning to my old world after I'm done with this hell hole."I replied, glaring. Valkyrie seemed a bit happy that I was refusing the womans offer.
"Well, give it some thought."She smiled."I will see you soon."Her body disappeared into the whiteness of the room after that, and I sighed deeply.

"That was the right thing, Danielle."Valkyrie told me as I sat down on the bed."You are you, and Ovan is Ovan. Controlling someone else is wrong.."
"I know.."I replied to her statement. But still, even though I knew it was wrong..



New color since mine seemed a bit too close to Bulba's.=3

[Roy Karrde]

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Shock and Awe ~*~*~*~*~

The ground shook and rumbled, although it wasn’t as bad as it was back in the opera house. “Everyone okay?” Knes called out, the group slowly picking ourselves off the snowy ground to which we had landed when Knes had quickly teleported us away. Coughing the last of the snow out of my mouth I stood and made a dash back toward the Opera house to get back into the battle. “Adalia no.” Knes quickly appeared in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“But Moswen.” I protested, looking down, guilt and pain was eating away at me from the inside, I had let Moswen out, let that thing out, it would be my fault for anyone she kills. And worst yet, from the smoke coming from the Opera House it looked as if it were only a matter of time before she took out the town. “You don’t understand it’s my fault that this all happened.” I pleaded, fresh tears rolling down my cheek, Ban, Dimitri, Yi, the three that were still in there, most likely already dead by now.

Knes shook his head. “You saved all of us, you did what you thought was right, if it wasn’t for you we would all be frozen.” He cupped my cheek, wiping a tear away with his other hand. “You’re a hero.”

I gave a weak smile back as Ovan began to stir near us. “What did that..” He began to groan, the rest cut off as Knes quickly covered my ears before I could hear what was said, although Ovan looked pretty angry as he got to his feet. “And where are we?” He asked as Knes quickly let go of my ears.

“So any ideas on how to stop that?” Marion asked, pointing a finger to the Opera House. Each of us remained in silence; all the while I felt something, someone close by, like a prickly feeling on the back of my neck. “Best thing we can do is help e..” Marion stopped, all eyes following me as I began to walk in the direction of the feeling.

“Where the hell are you going?” Kite called out angrily, quickly running up and matching my stride, as the others followed behind me. “Oh what’s wrong? Going to go on a suicide mission now because you feel bad? Hero.” He asked, saying the Hero part as part of a sneer.

“Shut…DANA!” I screamed, rushing down the alley to find Dana leaning against a bunch of boxes, holding her stomach as she continued to gasp for breath.

Dana winced her eyes in pain, opening them briefly to look at us. “It’s coming… the baby.” She whispered in pain, coughing and grunting in agony as I backed away. “GAH!” She released a horrible scream, which sounded like the shriek of the Cerberus.

The others quickly ran over to her as I backed away in shock. “I heard explosions, what’s happening?” Dana asked, her eyes looking at each one of us, Ovan looking really really pale at the moment. “Where’s Ban and Dimitri?”

Kite looked up and jerked a finger in my direction. “Little Miss Hero here decided to release Moswen, she came out as a big horrible monster that will probably destroy this whole town and kill millions.”

My fists balled up in anger at the remark. “Shut up, just shut up.” I screamed back in anger, the alley going completely silent.

A grin crept across Kite’s face as he stood up. “What don’t like what the placeholder called you?” He asked, stepping forward as everyone seemed to look on in disbelief.

“Placeholder?” I asked, confused at the statement although I knew he meant for it to be hurtful.

Kite’s grin continued to grow, he glanced over his shoulder and jerked a thumb at Knes, knowing he had everyone’s eyes on him. “Yeah, we came here a couple, or have you forgotten? And then I screwed up, and Loki took my place, and then Loki screwed up, and then Knes took his place, you probably have some one in mind for who takes Knes place.” His voice growing increasingly louder and louder until he was towering over me. “Notice a pattern? Its always some one else’s fault, no one can blame the pretty princess.”

Knes leapt forward in anger but I was faster, not even thinking I swung my hand as hard as I could, smacking him across the face with as much force as I could muster. With out even a twitch, Kite swung around, his fist feeling like a brick wall as it hit me in the jaw, throwing me to the ground, blood began to fill my mouth as I tried to shake the sound of bells out of my head.

Knes was quickly standing in front of me, blocking Kite. "I will not abide those who would strike little girls around me" He glared, his hand moving to his sword.

“Everyone STOP.” Marion screamed out. “We need to get Dana inside or she and the baby will freeze to death.” She yelled, snapping our attention back over to her while Knes helped me to my feet.

Kite turned and glared right into my eyes. “This isn’t over.” He warned.

Alright I figured we could have something to do while we wait for the battle to finish. Dana is having her baby, but the towns folk are not going to like us, infact they will probably see us as causing all of this, and threaten to run us out of town or kill us. Try and get close to the Opera House when this happens that way we can pick up Moswen and Dimitri and Ban on our way out of town.

[Bulbasaur4]

BEWARE: F***N LONG POST. (** KNES PLOT DEVICE WAS PREPLANNED AND IT IS ONLY COINCIDENCE THAT IT WAS PLACED WITH THE POST.**)

x.X *dies*

MOSWEN??

The energy observed this being of unbalance using the body’s keen eyes. It would have laughed if the body supported such a thing, but a growl-like hiss seemed to suffice. Within a blur of an instant, the body flung itself into action.

Chaos was the only thing that remained steady as the being that once was known as “Dimitri” now seemed to be more of an Angel of Darkness. Its strange crimson butterfly wings flapped at such a rate that a normal eye would not have been able to follow its movements. Yet, despite such a crude and perhaps intimidating appearance… the energy within Moswen had no fear.

Now, one could have argued that the reason there was no fear involved was because the energy was incapable of such an emotion. It was not really a living being anyway, but more of an ethereal birth of yang. Or, one could argue the fact that perhaps the energy had no fear because it knew the source of its power. It knew the body’s owner, or more importantly, the owner and the guest within the body. Individually either one would serve as a power source- a great battery – but both, well… both was like a generator of pure power.

The death-like angel flew straight at the wolf’s side, but the wolf was quicker than its large size would perhaps have shown. Powered by the newly acquired yin energy from the Cerberus, the body leapt out of the way- pushing itself out of the opera house through the cracked rough. With little regard to the landscape, the dark butterfly flew after the wolf- destroying what was left of the opera house’s roof.


“You can’t keep up with me, pup.” He sneered, twirling his fingers about as a nimble sword materialized within his hand. The body braced itself, awaiting the attack as suddenly the former body of Dimitri came at him with surprising speed. The wolf was surprised as the sword sliced cleanly into its body- near the chest. Plunging deep into the wolf and then lashing outwards, the crimson butterflied figure flew back. A smug look formed upon his face, as the energy sneered within the body with an inner laugh.

Thick black liquid oozed from the gash, however with such a shadowy form it was hard for one with normal eyes to differentiate the gash from the rest of the body. But the dark angel saw. Then, the smug look was removed as the black liquid began to ripple and grew into wild aura tendrils. Like twisting snakes they slithered their back way into the body, as the wolf lowered its head and emitted a threatening growl.

Precious energy. Nothing was without yin or yang. And this creature- as impressive as it was- was no different. In fact, it was teeming with yin energy. Another feast.

This time, the butterfly man came swarming at him. Opening a palm, a swirling ball of violet energy churned and the flying palm was thrust outwards at the wolf’s face. Preparing itself, the wolf allowed the attack to hit full force. Just as it hit however, tendrils of black energy erupted from the outer edges of the body’s face and wrapped about the arm of the former Dimitri.

A look of anger came across the man’s face, as the tendrils began to suck the precious yin energy from the creature, swallowing it like thirsty leeches. Giving an agitated grunt, the butterfly demon took his other hand and pointed straight at the base of the tendrils. Sparks of electricity expelled from his finger tips, firing straight at the tendrils. Upon contact, it was enough to destroy their base, allowing him to rip his arm away free.

“You’re just a big leech…” He swore, brushing the now life-less tendrils from his arms. The energy contemplated this for a second, and agitation bubbled up within the energy’s false conscious. Anger, if such an emotion could have existed, perhaps came apart of it.

Or was this anger merely a mirror of a greater power?

The body lunged forward at the man, jaws wide open as it made a snap. Nothing but air was obtained however, as the powerful wings sped him beyond their reach. The golden, pupil-less eyes gazed upwards as large tendrils of black energy once again spiked upwards. The creature began to dodge them- twisting to the right and left. The wolf then lunged once again, its large forepaws landing upon the roof of a nearby home.

The lunge allowed the wolf to summon several more snake-like tendrils of aura, until finally one managed to snag the man’s leg.

Without hesitation, the tendril pulled him downward as five other tendrils hungrily began forming around his body. Struggling, it was clear that there was simply too much yin energy in him- the tendrils could smell it so badly that it was as if the taste was in the air.

A few seconds passed as he weakened further, until suddenly the figure seemed to come to a conclusion- everything, even the most evil of creatures, had a fraction of the lighter yang energy. Summoning it forward, he found this ‘light’ energy, although he hardly could grasp what it was, and channeled it outwards from his body in a burst of light.

Letting out a howl of agitation as the burning-like counterpart seeped down into the tendrils, the wolf instantly let go. The tendrils simply vanished as the wolf took several steps backwards. Angry eyes flashed upwards, as its tail lashed and knocked over a few trees. The wolf’s size shrunk slightly, only slightly, as the yang energy it came in contact with destroyed parts of the yin within the body.

Knowing how to counter act the wolf now, the butterfly man flew around the wolf at several angles. Each time he threw a few fireballs at the wolf or shot a few more elements at the wolf’s direction. The body took a few hits, but no noticeable damage could have been done. Annoyed, the wolf had summoned more snakes of aura from its body, but they had been blocked away by sparks of light.

The energy came to a point, where it thought enough was enough. Summoning up a massive charge and ordering the body with all of its charge, the energy commanded the body to tackle the butterfly creature with a harsh slam.
The wolf then charged straight and deadly accurately at the butterfly creature. It was pissed. It was hungry. And it didn’t want to lose. The former Dimitri placed its hands together and formed another shield of light, but this time the wolf did not back away. Instead it rammed at the shield with not only its own head, but with several aura tentacle-like arms. It continued to pound like a thousand hands upon the shield. Quickly cracks began forming in the shield, and a look of doubt entered the creature’s face.

It had run out of yang energy to replenish or use any more light power. The wolf’s own gaze came into contact with the man’s, and instantly he knew the energy within the wolf realized such a thing.

The wolf then broke the shield with another tentacle-like hand, breaking it into thousands of pieces as the wolf lunged with jaws wide open.

DIMITRI???

(McNinja’s post)


He slammed through three buildings before finally coming to
a stop against the wall of the fourth. His hastily raised
sword had stopped the wolf’s maw from closing around Him
but the sheer force of the charge ripped the weapon from
His hands and sent Him flying. He reached for another
weapon, materialized by whatever magic He possessed, but
suddenly realized that his sword hand was missing. Looking
at the severed limb for a second, He twisted his mouth in
an annoyed sneer. Drawing on his connection to whatever
demonic land He had come from, He summoned enough yin
energy to restructure the limb. He’d have to pay that
energy back later…damnable creature was actually pushing
Him to his limit. Turning His attention forward once again,
He saw the wolf creature crashing through the same
buildings He had flown through, its attentions still on
Him.

He leapt into the air, summoning the energy in his wings to
push his speed as far as he could take it. He would give
anything to have access to his payment for this disaster at
this moment, that much yang energy would allow Him to
support his shield as for as long as He needed to rip this
thing apart…but alas His contract forbid him access to that
power until He had fulfilled the clause. Twisting around
even more tendrils of dark energy that the thing was
sending up after Him, He turned in midair to look down.

By all the dark forces the damn thing was leaping up after
him, and with the strength it had it might actually reach
him! He spread his wings to either side of him, holding his
hands splayed out in front of him as the thing approached.
With a sudden surge and flash of power, the glowing red
energy in His wings manifested itself as dozens, hundreds,
of small ribbons that launched at every angle, curving in
the air to strike at the wolf. He purified it as much as he
could, drawing as much of his own yin energy out of it as
he could to make as neutral of an energy as he could. The
beams hit the wolf, piercing through its amorphous outer
shell and lancing out the other side. He could see it drink
in the yin energy that remained in the beams, it was so
much a part of Him that anything He manifested was going to
be tainted somewhat, but the rest of the energy did what he
needed it to. The body seemed to lose cohesion from a
second from the dozens of holes in it, pieces of it losing
complete form. The things leap was halted and it fell back
to the ground. By the time it landed however, all the
energy that had begun to separate had been drawn back in,
the wolf form reformed and just as powerful as before, but
it gave Him time. He couldn’t access the yang energy
provided by His payment to help him….but. His ears heard it
faintly, carried on the wind and caught by His enhanced
senses. Soft but definite, the girls scream was music to
Him. With a rush of energy from His wings, the power
literally exploding out from them as He boosted his speed
to its absolute limit, He painted a crimson streak against
the sky for the second it took him to land in front of the
fallen Adalia.

“Oh…this is just perfect.”

Adalia lifted her head to look up at Him, her face a
mixture of confusion and abrupt recognition.

“Y-your energy…somewhere in it I can sense him…sense
Dimitri. Who are you?”

Reaching down with a gloved hand, He wrapped it around her
thin little neck, lifting her off the ground.

“Please don’t talk, it annoys me.”

Focusing His energy through his fingers, He lanced shards
of yin into her neck, syringes of power that instantly
began draining the yang energy that filled the little
healer. Pocketing it away for the moment, He drank deeply,
drawing as much as He could as fast as he could. With all
this yang energy…possibilities flooded his mind. It was a
moment before He noticed the tugging on his upraised arm,
so focused was He on the burning power of Light that was
filling him. Raising his other arm He slapped the annoying
gnat away and continued His work. A moment later though and
the tugging was back. Sighing slightly, and taking the
second of annoyance to dig His dark needles deeper into
Adalia’s neck, He turned his head slightly to look at
whatever pathetic existence was attached to his sleeve.

“I swear if you don’t let go I’ll feed your pathetic little
soul to everything in Hell I can find that even
looks hungry…and then I’ll….”

His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the black haired kid
who glared back at him, hiding his fear admirably. A slow
smile spread over His face as the brat spoke.

“Release her now, I don’t care what it is you’re trying to
do, let her go!”

He shook his head.
“Oh…oh…you have to be kidding me. This is too perfect…I
wish I could stay and watch how this works...fine, I’ve
taken as much as I need now. You can have your precious
little girl back and hey, if you’re lucky she’ll make a
full recovery.”

Dropping Adalia back to the ground, Knes’ dive enough to
soften the fall, He turned and leapt back into the air,
spinning to the left to avoid the wolf that roared by and
streaking away from the two figures below. When He turned
to face the thing again, the area where He had left them
was far behind.

“I apologize for leaving you my dear, shall we? And please,
allow me to lead this time.”

Holding out His left hand, He summoned up all the energy he
had drained from the girl, focusing it into what he
desired. A brilliant white glow extended in either
direction from his palm, extending a foot to the left and
almost five full feet to the right. The glow dimmed quickly
and He closed hand around the beautifully formed katana.
His right hand came up and ripped away the sheathe,
revealing a polished blade that seemed to glow with an
inner light. Combined with its reflective properties, the
glow made the blade seem of the brightest white. It was a
weapon of pure yang energy. Even the wolf hesitated for a
moment upon seeing it. Turning his hand to point the blade
at the wolf, He tilted his head to one side and smiled.

The two battled for what seemed like a very long time to
anyone watching. Streaking in and out of the veritable
field of tendrils that the wolf was sending out to Him,
striking down those he couldn’t avoid, slicing apart those
that managed to grab a hold of him, He cut again and again
into its side, His brilliant blade carving swathes out of
the wolf’s hide that disintegrated as they separated,
vanishing into the air. The yin that the wolf was draining
from him on each successful hit was healing some of the
damage, but not nearly enough. Turning away from one
attack, He suddenly found himself grabbed from all
directions by a mass of tendrils that had been placed in
front of Him. Tearing at them as they rapidly drained His
power, He touched the essence of his blade with his mind.
The weapon disintegrated in a second, bathing his entire
body with its burning light and driving the tendrils off.
Reforming the blade, He spun around yet another attack and
drove forward at the thing’s face. He was brought up
instantly as the wolf launched a veritable column of
leeching power from its neck. Blocking with his blade, He
felt resistance to its effect for the first time. The
column was saturated with the wolf’s energy, so full that
it was actually able to confront the pure yang energy on
equal footing. Gritting His teeth, He fought against the
surging tide, his agitation growing with each moment.

“I am tired of this you overgrown mutt!”

As before, the crimson energy launched from His wings, the
ribbons so thick that they were almost a solid wall of
power. Arcing around His body, the energy slammed into his
blade. Eerie red met brilliant white and began mixing, the
colors swirling in immiscible patterns for a moment as the
struggle continued. Then, with all of His considerable
malice for the wolf in front of Him, He sent the barest
whisps of yin energy into the blade, destroying the balance
between what was already flowing in side of it. In an
instant the two energies mixed, forming a red that
approached the fire of the pure white before. The rippling
mixture spilled into the column of power that He pushed
against, its yin characteristics allowing it to be
absorbed, its yang core flaring out once it found itself
within the wolf. At the same time, the wolfs energy wrapped
around the blade and impacted Him, the backlash from his
own attack magnifying the power’s leeching quality. In an
instant both creatures expended an enormous part of their
energy which exploded out from them in a shockwave powerful
enough to pull the roofs of the houses below them.

They both landed softly a few moments later, both unwilling
to expend their energy in the air anymore. For a long
minute they sat and stared at one another, feeling out
their intentions. He didn’t quite know what to do next, he
didn’t want to fight much longer or else risk destroying
the one inside the wolf, which would violate the clause of
his contract, his own safety was at risk too for this
battle could still go either way. It was then that he felt
eyes on his. Turning slightly, he caught sight of the man
standing atop one of the remaining structures in the area.
He moved as fast as possible to his side, relieved to see
the wolf simply satisfy itself with watching him warily.
Narrowing his eyes at the redheaded human, He spoke.

“You just going to stand here?”

It rankled him to be willing to accept help if offered, if
he had his way he’d just rip this one’s energy out too but
his other uses were too beneficial. Ban shook his head and
looked sadly at the wolf.

“I don’t know if I can help much, I already tried talking
to her.”

His annoyance rose again, the stress of the battle not
allowing him to control it well. He thrust his face against
that of Ban, glaring fiercely from the shadow of his hat.

“By all that is corrupted, do not bore me with your pitiful
attempts before. You’re still standing, you’re still
breathing, and she’s still trapped in there. The one who’s
shell I’m using gave his soul for a chance at saving
her, loved her far beyond himself. It’s a laughable emotion
but by some chance of the gods it actually works sometimes.
Don’t patronize me with your weary tale of failure, you
care for her too otherwise you wouldn’t be here. If you
believe yourself able to care for her, you had better be
willing to sacrifice everything that you are for her too.
So you have your little chat with her or I’ll rip your soul
out and feed it her myself.”

Ban seemed taken aback for a moment, who wouldn’t, but he
recovered admirably. Taking one last apprehensive glance at
the wolf who was now beginning to move slowly towards
their position, he nodded firmly.

“You’re right, I’ll…”

He didn’t give Ban enough time to finish.

“Damn straight I am, now get to it.”

Leaping in the air to hover over the scene, he held his
blade at the ready. From somewhere deep inside he could
feel something stir, irritably he shoved it back down,
growling to himself.

“Yeah, I know you wish you could go to her too fox boy, I
kind of got that already. Let Mr. Compensation and his
ridiculous sword do what he can for now, you’ve done your
part more than enough already. I’ll take care of the rest,
as we agreed.”

MOSWEN????

(Bulbie’s post again!)


Moswen felt herself floating in a sea of darkness. Her eyes tightly closed, she felt herself wrapping her arms about her knees as she welcomed the isolation. Finally, finally… she was at rest. There were no more worries of the world…. Instead, she could rest forever. She could hide forever. She didn’t have to think of her fantasies and then face the realization that such things would never come true. Moswen would never find the happiness that she was looking for.

You poor thing, is your soul so battered that you are content with nothing?
Moswen didn’t open her eyes, for she recognized the voice and knew it too well by now. “I just am too tired… If I were to still go on, there would be nothing in the end. I know enough to realize that good things cannot come from what I feel.”

Such a bold statement. Are you so sure of yourself to predetermined the fates of others as well as yourself?
´I don’t understand…”
Of course you do not. By predetermining the outcome of your own fate, you are determining those involved. Do you want to determine their fates?
“They don’t need me to determine it… they’ll be fine without…”
I think you are wrong. Open your eyes Kalah! And if not Kalah, then open your eyes Moswen!!
“I can’t…”
Open your eyes and SEE what is RIGHT in FRONT of YOU!

The voice’s sudden outburst was enough for Moswen’s eyes to open. And with that act, suddenly her conscious lashed out against the energy’s control. For that split second, Moswen had surprised the energy and gained access to the body’s vision.

And there, before her, she saw Ban standing in front of her wolven body- yelling to her. She could not hear him. She could not understand what he was saying. However, she could see the expression in his eyes… she could see the emotion upon his face.

A tear rose from one of her golden eyes.

The energy was not powerful enough now to maintain control. It had lost too much of its power from the fight, and Moswen’s will suddenly exploded outwards.

Ban’s eyes widened as he saw the wolf’s expression changed. Moswen badly wanted to speak to him… badly wanted the fight to be over so she could tell him what she wanted to say. However, only a small pathetic whimper escaped her throat. She was stuck within the body… the energy was still too much.

“Moswen…” Ban trailed off, as suddenly a blurry figure came forth.
“So you weren’t completely useless.” The butterfly man said with a grin, as suddenly he took the blazing sword of light and slammed it straight into Moswen’s wolven chest. Moswen did not fight back however, but instead allowed the man to strike her down with a final blow. With no move to block or any will to counter act, the yang energy entered her body and exploded outwards- destroying the excess yin energy that was consuming her body.
“MOSWEN!!” A voice rang out.

Thank you…


A brilliant flash illuminated the sky, blinding all that stared at the battle. When vision was returned and the light faded, the wolf and the butterfly man no longer were there. Instead, a collapsed Dimitri slowly rose to his feet- staggering as if confused and unsure. Near him, Moswen lay- still as death, but still alive. Her body looking the same as it did when she had entered the coffin, except the original five armor pieces were gleaming upon her body.

KNES

Knes did not glare at Kite like some might have thought. Instead however, Knes had given Kite a different look- perhaps an ounce of understanding was within those two-toned eyes. However, Knes shook his head- as if he thought all of it rather childish.
“Yes… we should get to the inn.” He said, pointing to it. Ovan quickly gathered Danarica in his arms as they dashed to the inn. Cries from Danarica poured into the air, along with the occasionally crashing sounds made from the battle between the newly transformed Dimitri and the crazy wolfed Moswen.
Knes ran by Adalia towards the rear, but a scream from Adalia caused him to look back. The new form of Dimitri stood, but Knes instantly could tell that it was not Dimitri but something else had claimed the body. Knes then watched in shock as he grabbed Adalia by the throat and held her up. Knes yelled at the man to stop but he refused. He then grabbed what he now knew was definitely not Dimitri. He then was swatted away like a measly bug. Angered further, Knes got to his feet and instantly teleported back by his side- grabbing him more firmly.
Threatening the frightening creature, he was relieved to see him let her go. However… the words he said were unnerving to Knes. What did he see? Knes didn’t have time to think however, as the butterfly man of death suddenly took off into the air.

Knes grabbed Adalia, “Are you alright?” He asked, but his eyes lingered to look at the sight of the butterfly man charging back at the wolf in the sky. Some thing in his smile… in his eyes… it shook Knes. Did he see? No…
“Are you alright?” Knes asked again, shaking Adalia a bit as she nodded.
“He… He took some of my mana…” She gasped, clutching her throat for a moment as Knes scooped her up in his arms.
“You’ll be alright, you’re fast at recovering.” Knes then began running back to the inn with her in his arms. “The others are at the Inn. I’ll get you there too.”

Knes soon came into the Inn, to find yells from another room. Entering the room, he saw everyone had gathered around Danarica. Marion and Stella were aiding the most with the baby, as Ovan nervously watched. Knes slowly sat Adalia down, letting her rest on the wall. He began to walk away as Adalia called to him.
“Knes…” She called, and he turned to look at her. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll be back.” Knes said, offering a small smile. “You rest.”


Knes shut the door to the inn as he exited into the outside world. His sharp gaze looked at the Opera house. He then heard the roar of a wolf and saw a brilliant flash of white. Ignoring it for the time period, Knes teleported instantly away from the Inn door. He then reappeared in the rubble that used to be the opera house. Sifting through the dirt and the broken pieces of the ceiling, it wasn’t long until Knes’s senses guided him to that precious stone he was looking for. It was perfectly round and smooth- its glistening cyan blue color gleaming in the light.
“Found you.” Knes said, but eerily on key the stone began to pulsate. Ignoring it, Knes put the stone within his pocket and swiftly ran back to the inn. His eyes widened however, as he saw Ban walking towards the Inn as well.

He was holding a body, and Knes quickly ran to Ban. The body that he held in his arms was Moswen, and not too far behind him was a stumbling Dimitri.
“Is she…” Knes began, but Ban shook his head.
“She’s alive.”
Moswen’s armor gleaned in the light- the regular set of five pieces adorned upon her body. Exhaling a sigh of relief, Knes looked behind Ban for a moment. The Opera house was virtually flattened as many of the nearby houses were destroyed as well. Rubble was everywhere and upon seeing that, Knes noticed that a few of the townspeople had emerged.
At that moment, a cry came from the Inn as the rest of the group came running. Ovan carried Danarica in his arms, and within Danarica’s arms was a small baby. Kite, Stella, and Marion came running out behind him with the small kitsune and weasel-like creature scampering along their side. Zombie-chan then appeared from the Inn as well, with Adalia riding along on the seemingly floating Umbrella. They ran swiftly over to Ban and Knes upon seeing them, a look of pure haste upon their faces.
“The Inn-“ Ovan began, but suddenly the door swung wide open and the Inn keeper screamed at them- pointing.

Soon, before Knes could fully gather the severity of the situation, the whole town seemed to be alive. People were pointing at them, blaming them for all the destruction. After making the accusations, they then began to throw things at the group… and then a large group of them began to charge with various pick-me-up pieces of weaponry.
Everyone was running now… and it was clear that with several of the members carrying bodies, they were going to be caught.
“Knes…” Stella began, but Knes gave a nod.
“Right.”

Knes had teleported their large group before- fashionably far in fact. It wasn’t that fact that was going to be the trouble. The trouble was, that Knes had never teleported such a large group on the fly before- with no preparation and with such radical movements. However, Knes had an inkling that he was about to do it now.
As he ran, Knes fluttered his wings as he focused harshly upon everyone on their group. A few of the energies were rather easy to grasp –especially Danarica’s seemingly healthy baby that was teeming with life. The hardest to grasp were Moswen and Adalia- Adalia having lost some of her mana making her weak. Moswen? Well, her life force was extremely low. Some how, and Knes wasn’t exactly sure how, Knes maintained a clear focus upon each and every individual. With one sound yell, Knes suddenly made a spreading motion with his arms as everyone began to glow.
Then everything before his eyes vanished- all that he remembered was a seering burning sensation that ripped through his mind.


Then they were in a forest. Everyone was standing, except for Knes, who was to his knees. Coughing, blood trickled from his nose as he looked up. Panic settled in his mind as he counted everyone and then exhaled a sigh of relief. Everyone was there in the exact state they had been when he teleported them.

“How far are we from the village?” Kite asked, as Knes stood roughly to his feet.
“A good mile away…” Knes coughed once again. “Towards the western part…”
A few more people began to talk, but Knes’s head began to churn. Everything was swimming in his vision, and Knes quickly stumbled back.
“Knes, are you okay?” He managed to hear Adalia say, but suddenly it was as if everything was still.

YOU MUST GROW STRONGER

Suddenly Knes felt his body tingle as everything before his eyes vanished. Knes then found himself standing in the middle of a desert- unable to see anything for miles.
“Where… where am I?” Knes said out loud, placing a hand to his head as he ruffled his hair absently.

YOU MUST GROW STRONGER

“What?” Knes said, looking around to see the source of the voice. There was nothing around him, however. Nothing but miles and miles of desert…

YOU ARE RESOURCEFUL. YOU ARE USEFUL. YOU WILL GET YOUR WISH SOON. HERE IS A TOKEN OF WHAT IS TO COME.

Suddenly Knes saw brilliant rays of light spilling from his pocket. Reaching inside, he pulled out all three stones that he had gathered. Swiftly they rose into the air and began spiraling around him. Faster and faster they flew until their individual colors blended together into a circle that surrounded Knes. Then a fiery sensation consumed Knes’s chest. Clutching it, Knes fell to his knees as the sensation- like a wild fire- coursed out through his entire body. The pain was unlike anything Knes had felt before and he could feel a change overcome him, but the pain distorted any thoughts he could gather.
Knes then let out an ear-splitting scream of pain as a blast of light exploded outwards from his right eye.

What seemed like days but probably was only minutes, Knes awoke to find himself face first in the ground. Placing his hands upon the hot desert sand, Knes pushed himself upwards. He then gasped, seeing that his hands now were gloved differently. Crimson colored gloves decorated his hands, as giant black circlets cuffed his hands and a cloth of red attached itself to the ringlet. Knes then looked down at himself and saw that his upper torso now was tightly bound by deep blue leather-belt like garments that wrapped about diagonally. His legs had their familiar black pants about his body, but they were much tighter and exposed his highly toned thighs, flaring out near his calves. Around his lower waist were matching deep blue belts once again, except one of them had a red trim with a few sparkles of the three gems he had obtained. Even around Knes’s collar line were two large blue belts that hung there, slightly attached to the belts.
That wasn’t the main thing that shocked Knes however.

His body… it had changed. Dare say it, Knes felt more familiar with his body now- as if he had this body long ago and it had returned against his will. He was far more muscular now- his abdomen muscles being the biggest proof of that, for they were almost scarily toned. A red tattoo was upon his left shoulder, with intricate markings. Part of his exposed abdomen along his left side also had markings, but they were mostly hidden amongst his upper garment.
Knes didn’t need to see his face however, he had a feeling he already knew what it looked like.

“The clothes are new…” Knes said to himself, clenching his fists. Power surged through his veins- he could feel it. He wasn’t bond by the restrictions of his former body anymore. “… the power is new.”
Knes looked upwards at the sky. “But why this body? Why?”

THE BLIND WILL NOT SEE YET. IN THE NEXT TRIAL YOU CANNOT BE LIMITED. THE GOAL IS APPROACHING. GUIDE THEM WELL.

Knes found the desert landscape fade away before his eyes, and once again the forest reappeared.

“Knes!” A voice exclaimed, as the group turned around to see Knes was standing behind them. Their eyes widened, disbelief at his figure now. Knes now looked older, taller and more of a… perhaps words escaped it.
“You’ve…”
“… changed.” Adalia finished, her eyes in disbelief.
Knes felt his mouth grow dry, but he gave a nod. Sensing questions about to be asked, he held up a hand.
“It seems that last battle unleashed more of my mana. I wasn’t able to contain it the way I was before… so I think it made a new body for me. New clothes too.” He added.
“I teleported ahead and it seems we’re going to be traveling through the desert next. Let’s prepare well.”
Knes then waited for what the group would do next, hoping that everything was answered and they could concentrate upon something else.



BTW: I am NOT finished with the full picture of this... but I wanted you guys to get an idea of what Knes's new appearance looks like. His eyes aren't done and neither is the bg or shading... but here is a small preview. (Eyes still left = red, right = green )
KNES OMG

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

OOC: Highly irrelevant post taking place as the Moswen-Dimitri-Ban fight/drama goes on; does not necessarily need to be read as it doesn't further the main plot in any way. Retconned a bit here and there but eh I have to explain how the obsidian wall collapses so that Kalah-senpai's and Mcninja's posts fit into PJBW's continuity, yesno?
@PJBW: I forget if Ban can summon Miroku from afar. I assume for now that he can't. Apologies if OOCed anything. My brain is dying. Will edit if needed later.

Saifa, Okiku, the body/F, F, F
183:
魔法の言葉

- Aah, the show is beginning.

- IN MY TIME THEY HAD SUCH BATTLES ON A DESERTED PLAIN. YOU HAD TO SELL BODY PARTS TO GET THE MONEY TO REBUILD TOWNS BACK IN THE DAY AND EVEN THEN IT WAS NO CERTAIN THING, THE FUCKING BUYERS MIGHTN'T HAVE LIKED THE LOOK OF YOUR FUCKING KIDNEY.

- Oh but I am very sure towns still cost a lot to rebuild, Lady Saifa, even in these dretful days of rot and ruin.

As the four walls of ebony stone erupt from the ground, the body hears a sucking in of breath, and the grinding of thirty-two spectral teeth. Saifa, nostrils flaring, snarls.

- THAT... SWORD. I SHOULD HAVE - NOTICED...

- Oooh? See someone you know, Lady Saifa? The body takes her eyes off the scene that she has secretly dubbed "Heartfelt Confession of Love and Courage Take #1 - FAIL" and turns to Saifa. Pink flames are rolling off the soul's shoulders in rapid motion. She has not seen Saifa so agitated before. She wishes she could take a picture but that would be silly because everyone knows ghosts don't show up on film and maybe it would work with a digital camera only there are no digital cameras in the Riftworld, so she can't have her picture.

- IT'S THAT OBSIDIAN BASTARD... I FORGET HIS FULL TITLE. THE GIST OF IT IS, BASICALLY, MIROKU. THAT CUR. HE HAS THE PURPLE HAZE ON HIM, ALL OVER.

- 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky!

- ...WHAT?

- Just my little joke. He an ex-lover then, Lady Saifa?

- NO.

- Okay, okay, so why don't you go have a chat with him while I watch this...

But Saifa has already stormed over to where the claymore is stuck into the ground.

- MIROKU!

The sword twitches, an almost imperceptible shift in position. ...You.

- EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE SAYING THAT WHEN THEY MEET ME, OF LATE. WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE PLAYING AT?

I could ask the same of you.

- SHUT UP, I'M THE ONE WHO'S ASKING THE BLOODY QUESTIONS HERE.

If you hadn't noticed, I'm rather busy at the moment.

- DON'T YOU GIVE ME ANY OF YOUR NOSE-IN-A-SLING BULLSHIT. WELL. I'LL BE DIRECT. WHY IS IT THAT I SEE COCKTEASER WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR SORRY BLACK SURFACE?

I'm afraid I don't quite follow. I have been chronically unable to bed women for the past three hundred-odd years, if you haven't noticed I'm trapped in a sword, a S-W-O-R-

- STOP FUCKING AROUND. I KNOW IT'S HER. HER THAT WAS ALL TITS AND ARSE.

She was never any harm to you. So what if it is her?

- FOR GODS' SAKES, MAN, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT SHE'S DONE TO YOU? IT'S STARING ME RIGHT IN THE FACE-

All of a sudden there is a quivering in the ground, and the quivering moves up to the makeshift obsidian fencing. Both yin and yang, wolf and butterfly, mean to have their way in this battle, and they will not be encased in such a small arena, such a paltry cage it is, not fit for the likes of them, not at all.

The obsidian is threatening to shatter like the glass it is at its core, and Miroku shivers and trembles with the effort of holding it all together, holding it all in, and he can't make it, and he knows this and Saifa knows this, there is a great hunk of glass hanging over part of the roof of the opera house hanging over them, which is most definitely a bad thing, and they look for Ban and Ban is far away near the wolf and the butterfly entangled in their wrath.

O shi-

Saifa tries to force her way into the sword, but she's stopped by Miroku and a taint of the purple haze, she curses and spits LET ME IN, YOU BASTARD, THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, and then quick as anything the long sleeves of Okiku are wrapping themselves around the shadowy metal; the body hefts the great sword out of the pavement and onto her shoulders. Miroku is longer than she is tall and the effect is oddly comic. She springs away to a safer vantage point.

The wall collapses. A smattering of black shards litters the streets on top of the snow, rubble, everything else, and the fight between the wolf and the butterfly is taken to a whole new stage as they proceed to level the town.

Aiming carefully, the body lobs the claymore in the direction of its owner. Ban catches Miroku neatly, almost losing his balance with the impact of the throw.

- Dammit, professor, take care of your own pets!

Saifa roars.

- THIS IS NOT FINISHED, MIROKU!

The cold voice of the Obsidian Lord echoes in Saifa's consciousness, the callousness of the tone serving to infuriate her further.

Nothing ever is.

*

The Riftworld is a fine place, that can revolve around scraps and snippets of dialogue that the body calls the Magic Words. The Magic Words can be anything under the sun but mostly she finds that they are magic because of the context in which they are uttered. The way the three of the main players are throwing words and wounds around they can't help being anything except Magic Words and maybe Magic Wounds. The body never learned the least thing about nor was in any way interested in psychoanalysis and even she can see that it's all epic, a grand way of announcing events, and they're caught in the moment with an aplomb that she'll never have, with lines she'll never spout because she could never envision herself doing it.

Magic Words inspire people to go well past their limits, and that is exactly what unfolds in front of her eyes, we're not scaremongering, this is really happening.

The body respects everyone's right to heroic scenes of drama and intrigue, and she knows her place and her place is not found yet and it is not there in that holy trinity, and so she slips away unnoticed with the smile on her face and the closed mouth that says a lot more when it's silent than when it's nattering. Saifa frets over having to cooperate with the Obsidian Lord and she says even a fucking moron could see that the purple haze and the snaking slithering woman that is all tits and arse isn't at all good for anyone's health, a fucking moron would have had the wits not to get involved with a woman that's all tits and arse at all. Back in the inn there is another holy trinity happening only younger, and there is childbirth and whatnot besides. She can feel the laughter bottling up in her throat and she has a quiet laugh all to herself, a crazy zombie going into convulsions behind a pillar of rubble.

She thinks, when it is her night and her right for heroic scenes of intrigue and sagacity (she does not wish for drama though she is sore tempted) she will make the time stretch in her head so that it seems like it will last forever, and it will be good.

There's Adalia hoisted safe on the umbrella, her little pink and white body quite worn out, on a floating umbrella that hops occasionally when it thinks people isn't looking and bugger all about the girl, there's a reason for everything and the reason it hops is because a real ghostly umbrella ought to hop, and the girl is tired, and since the girl is tired she's a beggar for a ride and beggars can't be choosers, and the body whistles a song about love and proposals that she thinks is a right fine tune to set against the backdrop of a thousand irate townsfolk lashing about them with weapons.

teleportation > running on foot from angry torch-and-pitchfork-wielding mob

(Insert Kalah-senpai's Knes post here)

[Roy Karrde]

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Fear… ~*~*~*~*~

Every muscle of my body continued to scream in pain, that monster, that thing, I could still feel it’s fingers plunged into my neck, pulling me out, pulling me from the inside out. A painful thud compounded the pain, and jolted me out of the constant nightmare of the demon pulling me from all sides, of no one noticing and walking away. My eyes opened, the pain continued to expand as the environment began to come into view. I lifted my head, feeling the rock on the ground; we had to be out side of town, but was the monster still here? “How about you just shut up?” Kite spat, his hand going onto his hilt in anger. My eyes turned to see Ovan who was just shaking his head in annoyance. “Fine then you deal with her.”

I rose up, instantly falling on my side as the wounds left by the demon continued to pour pain into my body. “Ow…” I moaned, my hands on my waist, pressing against the blood soaked robe. Ovan came over, scooping me up, while some one in the group called out at Knes for shock. My head continued to pound and I glanced in the direction of where a new… man stood, he looked almost sixteen, but in his eyes, I could still see the young Knes that would play with me, only he seemed older. “You’ve changed.” I gulped, swallowing a mixture of spit and dried blood.

Knes nodded back, holding up his hand as he explained. “It seems that last battle unleashed more of my mana. I wasn’t able to contain it the way I was before… so I think it made a new body for me. New clothes too.” He explained, kneeling down on the ground, his tone becoming more serious. “I teleported ahead and it seems we’re going to be traveling through the desert next. Let’s prepare well.” He added, standing there for a few minutes before going over to Ban and talking to him.

The way he moved, the way he stood, and the way he looked, and talked. He looked so much older and more mature. “I would say we still have a hour more before we reach the desert.” He explained in his conversation with Ban. My heart began to sank in realization, I was the only child again in the group, would Knes start acting like Loki did? Would he want to be adult and do more adult things? Would he stop wanting to play with me and be with a child? My heart began to race, and I felt a pang of jealousy in my gut. Why him? Why did he get to grow up? He knew I wanted to grow up so much, that we could grow up together, but he went on. “Hold on one second.” He walked away from Ban, moving over to me in Ovan’s arms, blood still dripping from my robe.

“Hey how you feeling?” He asked, his face full of worry and concern, he moved his hand over to stroke a lock of my hair, and instantly I flinched away. “Its still me.” Knes’ face began to fill with worry and hurt.

Ovan shifted my weight around in his arms. “Its okay Knes, she’s lost a lot of blood, don’t take it personally, and give it some time.” Ovan spoke, his voice softer and kind as Knes touched my hand, rubbing it gently.

“Try and get well soon.” He whispered, his voice a bit deeper, all the while as I drifted off into blackness.

The warm night air of Talidan washed over the two of us as Knes and I lay on the roof, the echoes of the far off battle could be heard. I had just told him I loved him, and now we were watching the stars. I continued to think and fret about what Loki had said earlier, not really even listening to Knes as he continued to name stars. “Knes?” I asked, breaking his description. “Will you promise me that we will grow up together?”

Knes turned and took my hand, everything began to swirl around me, the colors and objects began to swirl together. “I promise.” He whispered, although Knes’ voice began to sound different, and in the back of my mind I began to wonder if this was even real, if it was a memory, or just a dream.

Everything began to get bright again, the warm air washing against my cheeks. “What’s happening?” I coughed, my throat dry, my mind began to come out of the fog of the dream, and everything clicked: the desert. “How long have we been walking?” I asked, looking up at Ovan, my sweat stained hair sticking to my face.

“You think you can walk?” He asked, slowly placing me on my feet, although his eyes continued to glance over at the baby, yet never making eye contact with Dana.

I nodded, taking one uneasy step and then another. “Thank you for carrying me Dani.” I continued to walk, my body swaying and threatening to fall over with each step. I didn’t even turn around to check and see if she had heard me. I made it about five more steps before my right leg gave out, I fell forward but never fell all the way, Knes’ strong, yet larger arms were quickly around me, helping me upright. “Thanks..” I mumbled, my head turning away to not look at him, to not look at what he had become.

“I know you are mad at me..” Knes whispered, I could feel the prying eyes of everyone else in the group. “Please, please don’t be mad at me, I had no control over..” His voice suddenly stopped as I moved my right arm over and took his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers.

A sense of relief seemed to wash over the two of us as we began to walk again, when ever I would start to stumble Knes would help me up, but I couldn’t look at him, not yet. It wasn’t thirty minutes later that we all came to a stop again; black dots littered the horizon on all sides. The group seemed tired, and it didn’t help that most of us were carrying some one else. “It’s the fearls…” Knes whispered, his eyes scanning the horizon as I did. “Thousands of them”

Naga
~*~*~*~*~ Escape ~*~*~*~*~

My fingers curled around the stone that was the door leading out to my freedom. For days I was trapped inside of my temple, freed from the trappings of that crystal, but under the constant watch of the Garuda, bird like humans who had a nasty way of driving me back, as I found out the first night. “Ban…Danielle…Dimitri…Kite... and Knes... my how you have grown to a sexy man.” I whispered, feeling them close, close enough that I could reach out and touch. My tongue flicked out, licking my lips in anticipation.

“Garuda…Garuda…where are you?” I whispered, my head moving to the left, and then to the right, and then high into the air. No sign. I took a step out, my human legs swaying as wind blew past them. I missed the tail, it was so much easier, yet I couldn’t go and scare my prey? I took another step and a screech roared near by, my eyes going wide in fear until I realized it was going further and further away.

“Thank you who ever you are.” I bowed to the unknown man or woman that was entertaining my captors. I bolted to the right, running as fast as my legs would take me as I walked through the mana wall meant to keep Humans out unless I let them in.

My purple hair blew in the breeze as I stepped past the edge of town and let the sand run over my feet. In the distance the fearls were surrounding some unlucky traveler. A unlucky traveler that had attracted more than their fair share of them. “Hold on my loves, you will not escape my grasp just yet.” I charged forward, racing through the fearls as the battle already began, hands slashing wildly, as I ripped the limbs from the beasts.

“You will not take my lovers from me.” I whispered, dismembering several of them in one kick. “Not again…”

[Haruko]

Ovan
-too quiet, it may disappear / even though I scream so loud / even when it cuts through the silence / even my voice will fade away.~ Shinjitsu no Yukue* Sung by Tomoyo Mitani
Status: Barely has Mana/Energy.
Control: Danielle

As I felt myself awaken into the body I created into this world, a barrel of pain was dumped on me. My skin was tight, my muscles ached. My head hurt; although this could be contributed to the headache that Ovan was getting from coming into contact from the liquid mana prior, and I felt as if I had not eaten for days. I slowly opened my eyes, and groaned, saying to myself.

"What did that fucktard to do my body now.."I slowly got up to my feet, seeing Knes cover Adalia's small ears made me chuckle a bit; but I was still mad as hell. Looking down to view the damage, I was wrapped with bandages on my legs and arms, and barely any of my clothing survived the blast, only enough of my pants to make shorts did survive. I looked around,confused as to what was happening. I turned to Knes, and promptly asked; "And where are we?"

'Top of the mountain, Old Kulun, if I remember..'Ovan replied to my question, and I nodded, biting my lower lip as I looked at what used to be the opera house; and now was a battle-stage for a wolf and a demonic creature of sorts.
“So any ideas on how to stop that?” Marion asked, pointing a finger towards the former structure. Each of us didn't have a thing to say; we didn't know how to help. I couldn't at all, I didn't have Valkyrie or any mana. I felt useless...

"Ovan.."I heard Stella say behind me, and as I turned behind to look, she was carrying Valkyrie with her swords blade acting like a whip. She placed it down, and I slowly went to her to pick Valkyrie up, placing it back on the belt that; surprisingly, remained unscathed. I smiled, it felt odd not having her at my waist.

It was at this moment that things went to hell.

“It’s coming… the baby.”I heard behind me, and I looked behind me to see that Adalia found Danarica; who seemed to be in labor. I could feel all the color in my face draining, and all the energy I had; which was bare-none; dissipating at the thought of the child. She then gave off a horrid shriek in pain, which only made my body grow more limp, my face more pale.

“I heard explosions, what’s happening?”She asked, taking deep breaths. She looked into each of our eyes;; as if scouting for the truth. "Where is Ban and Dimitri?"

“Little Miss Hero here decided to release Moswen, she came out as a big horrible monster that will probably destroy this whole town and kill millions.”Kite pointed at Adalia, playing the blame game. I sighed at the immaturity of it all, as Adalia screamed back at him to shut up. My eyes couldn't move away from Danarica, as I heard an agrument in the background coming from the children.

"it'll..be alright.."I tried to assure Danarica, gulping a bit. I didn't want to be control for this moment, and I tried to switch, but Ovan was refusing as much as I was. I slowly took her hand, it trembling at the thought of being a parent. She looked into my eyes, as I tried to look into hers. We were both scared, of course.

"Everyone STOP!" Marion screamed out to get the children to stop their quarrels.“We need to get Dana inside or she and the baby will freeze to death.”
"Yes...we should get to the inn.."Knes said, and I was quick to summon any strength I had in my body; and as if acting like a man possessed, I carried Danarica in my arms as we dashed into the inn. Ignoring the innkeepers words, we hastily got her into my room; and laid her down as the contractions became more and more frequent.

"I see something.."Stella curiously peeked down there as she took off Danarica's pants, as if she was a doctor. I immediately wanted to pass out there, but Stella pushed a bag of smelling salts into my hands, and shook her head no. "Not even a chance, Ovan."

I inhaled the salts and looked at Danarica as Stella and Marion guided her through the birth, repeated yelling vocals of "Push, push!" and "No, it's not coming!!" ensued from the three as I watched the scene unfold. Danarica was griping onto the sheets in pain, and within a few minutes; but what seemed like hours, the baby girl was born. Stella handed me a pair of scissors and I carefully, holding Danarica's hand, cut the baby's umbilical cord. It's eyes were blue, and its hair was crimson. Stella wrapped the newborn in a towel, allowing Danarica and I to see the newborn for a minute until they took the child away to clean her up.

'Thank you..so much, for not taking it out on Danarica, Danielle.'
'I can be mad at you or me for getting Danarica pregnant..'I thought, looking at the newborn girl as Stella and Marion cleaned her up.'But I can't be mad at the baby.'

As Stella and Marion finished cleaning the child, placing her in a small, yet clean and slightly silky sheet, It must've been that the birth was finished; that we've overstayed our welcome. The innkeeper yelled words like "You monsters, destroying buildings and families - whats next, our town!?", and pushed us out with a broom. I carried Danarica again in my arms; again with a strength of a man possessed (maybe from adrenaline?), as Danarica held our baby girl in our arms. We soon approached Knes, Ban; who was carrying a passed out Moswen, and Dimitri.

"The Inn-.."I started to say to them as I heard from behind me, the door from the inn opening and the harsh words from the innkeeper pouring out of his mouth. The whole town started to follow suite, blaming us for the destruction of the towns beloved Opera House, and the houses that sat close to the building.

'It truly is their fault, for forgetting their religion in the first place.'Valkyrie uttered out, and I chuckled; something that made Danarica look up at me, puzzled. We started to run away from the townsfolk, a effort that seemed futile as most of us were carrying someone else, or were exhausted from the fight with the Cerebus.
"Knes.."Stella looked at the child as we ran, and he nodded, knowing what she meant simply by calling his name.
"Right."

It was almost as if one second, we were in the cold mountain town of the Old Kulun, and the next, we were in the forest. I stumbled back, but then sighed. I smiled at Danarica as I slowly placed her down, against the tree. I didn't look directly into her eyes, and only into the baby girl's. I couldn't bring myself to do such; as I still was a girl inside; I didn't have feelings for Danarica. Ovan did.

As for myself, I rested on a tree diagonal of Danarica's. My body felt drainned, barely any adrenaline left from Danarica's pregnancy was in storage. I wanted to collapse and fall asleep, but it seemed like we were going to head out soon; it wasn't the place for a long rest. I looked around and noticed Adalia resting near the Zombie's umbrella. Her wounds looked serious, and I looked over to Stella to see if she could help. Stella, herself, was closing her eyes for a brief rest.

"Just leave her like that."Kite replied to me looking at Adalia in concern. I glared up at her, what was wrong with him, anyway? The whole speech about being 'a replacement' and whatnot made no sense to me whatsoever, really. Adalia isn't Ryan, I could clearly see that now.

At least I could..

"Why, would you want us to do the same to you?"I glared back up at him, smirking a bit. It was a bit since I spat out a bit of sarcasm.
"I actually contribute to this team, unlike pretty princess over there."
"As does she."I replied.
"Why do you even give a damn, Ovan? This isn't about you, just take care of your damn baby"
"Because I hate it when people give other people bullshit that the don't even deserve."I glared back, sharply. I was playing the role of Ovan poorly here.
"How about you just shut up?" He asked, as if I was about to let a child get away with murder. I shook my head no with a chuckle; he was purely an annoyance.
"Fine, then you deal with her."
"Then I shall."I mumbled, getting up slowly. I looked over at Danarica, and checked up on her and the child quickly before going to Adalia, taking off the remains of my shirt; keeping on my chain mail, and holding it against her wounds to stop the bleeding, applying as much pressure as I could without snapping her fragile neck.

I didn't pay much attention to the conversation that Adalia had with Knes, although it concerned much about Knes' much more grown-up costume. At least, it was just that; a costume with new gadgets and gizmo's, but the same Knes was probably inside. It was when Knes went over to talk to Ban that I stopped holding pressure to her neck; it seemed to stop bleeding, and sighed.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"I asked her, concerned a bit from how deep the wound was. Knes, next to me, tried to stroke a lock of her hair; of to which Adalia flinched.
"It's still me.."Knes said to the gesture, more then likely a bit hurt from it.
"It's okay Knes, she's lost a lot of blood. Don't take it personally and give it some time." I told Knes to lift his spirits, and looked down to Adalia."Try and get well soon.."

'Be damned if my body can keep this pace any longer, I feel as if I'm going to pass out..'

We, sooner or later, started to walk into the desert that Knes talked about. Danarica had gained enough energy to walk on her two feet, and I lent her the smelling salts that Stella had gave me. Stella, herself, was next to Danarica, providing support for her in case she needed anything; as well as caring a small canteen of water she snuck out of the inn, allowing Danarica to drink from it prior to anyone else. I held Adalia in my arms; gathering a few glares from Kite. She was lighter than Danarica to gather, but my body was still in shambles after what Ovan did to the Cerberus.

'Remind me to kick your ass for that.'
'I'll try to.'Ovan laughed and I sighed. Sweat dripped down my face as Adalia seemed to be stirring, and looked up at me; puzzled.

"What's happening?"She coughed, more than likely from a dry throat."How long have we've been walking?"She looked up at me, her own hair sticking to her face.
"Think you can walk?"I asked her, and she nodded as I slowly placed her on her feet. As I did, I kept my eyes more so on the child; it seemed lively, cradled in Danarica's arms. I couldn't get myself to look at Danarica..
"thank you for carrying me, Dani"She thanked me, and I was thrown into shock for a second; was I that easy to see through? Then again, I did tell Adalia that I created Ovan, and slipped in time from time..but still..I sighed,shrugging it off and walked over to where Stella and Danarica seemed to be, and allowed the baby to hold my finger. Stella allowed me a sip of the canteen, and I thanked her. She could probably sprout a cactus big enough for all of us to be satisfied, really..

We seemed to walk for a good thirty minutes or so, until we came to a stop. The horizon was littered with black dots, a plethora of them. I tried to muster any mana that I could, but no luck, I barely had any fuel in the tank to make me walk, not enough to make me fight.

“It’s the fearls…” Knes whispered, his eyes scanning the horizon,“Thousands of them”


Shinjitsu no Yukue = Whereabouts of the Truth.

@.@ I'm going to die now. srsly.

[classy_cat18]

Kite/Shonta
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This is absurd. Am I the only one who sees that Adalia isn't innocent? I winced from the wound that the Cerberus had given me, a deep gash in my left hip. "This is bad. I don't think I'll be able to make a decent shield," I muttered.

This is why you have your halberd.

'Gee, you're a talkative one.' I weighed the options. We could either fight and be killed, do nothing and be killed, or run and be killled...like cowards. "I'll take what's behind door number two," I said to myself.

Good. You run like a girl anyway.

'Shut up.'

"Just make sure you don't do anything stupid. Protect the group," Ovan told me as we got ready to do whatever we could do.

"Fine. Doing stupid things is your job anyway," I sneered.

"What is your problem?" he shouted.

"What is my problem?" I looked at the army of Fearls to make sure I had enough time to rant some more. "My problem is that everyone has seemed to have forgotten who they were! You actually think that Adalia came here thinking that she was a pretty princess? If she really has made a total transformation she wouldn't even had spoken to me when we first got here! She knows who she was! She just decided that she didn't want anything to do with me when she was tired of me!"

"She's not Ryan anymore! Can't you see that?"

I threw my hands up. "Okay then! If she can decide to not be Ryan anymore, then I can decide to not be Shonta anymore! And you know what? Kite's a bigger ass than Shonta!"

And there it was. I tuned out any response that Ovan might've made and summoned as much mana as I could. The shield flickered once like a dying lightbulb and then lit brightly as it surrounded the group. "There's no way that we'll be able to fight the Fearls and protect the ones unable to fight. So why don't you be the smart one, Knes, and get out of my sight? Take anyone you can while you're at it. There's no way half of us will be able to move, much less fight. Or maybe you have some new trick to go with your new look that can kill all of these Fearls."

This could be my last stand. No horse to succeed me. Custer was so lucky.

[kalad1]

>>Danarica<<

My little baby girl screamed in my arms, twisting and turning slightly in discomfort as I held her close to my chest. Sweat ran down my hair, dripping to the back of my neck as we continued to walk through the sweltering desert. "I know you are hot, I am too.." I whispered, our merry bunch of travelers didn't look like much right now, not with half of us carrying the other half. "We are almost there, and then I'll feed you." I added with a whisper. My free hand stroking my quickly decreasing stomach. Even with my stomach almost flat, my breasts still felt like two big weights.

I staggered along with the others, not really paying attention to what they were saying, it was just too damn hot. Still, it was nice to actually be able to walk semi normally. Dennis was actually palpable in the back of my mind, but at the moment, it was just vague feelings, nothing coherent and solid. Still, it was good to know for sure that he wasn't gone.

The Baby's crying suddenly got deathly silent, as was everyone else. As if everyone could feel the change in the wind. My eyes traveled up to see dark shapes on the horizon in every direction. Dark shapes moving fast as Knes quickly assured us they were fearls. I hadn't had a battle in a long time, but I knew if I didn't fight that they would hurt my baby.

As everyone got ready, Kite began to bitch at Ovan, about how everyone seemed to forget who they were. And my blood turned icy. I strode forward, purposefully, and, ignoring the imminent danger, slapped Kite in the face.

"You are WRONG. It ISN'T pretending, it ISN'T deciding to be someone else, it's that we all have other people in our heads, and in some of us, they're stronger, so shut up, and quit taking out your petty grievances on the rest of us, you asshole!" I stated, a bit loudly, but so coldly angry, it suprised even myself.

Kite glared daggers back, hoisting up his weapon. "Take care of your damn baby and stay out of things that do not concern you." He replied, turning his back to me. I opened my mouth to continue the argument, but the fearls were already upon us, leaping through the air, claws extended, jaws open and snapping, all angling toward us for a quick meal.

Growling to myself, I shifted the baby, pulling out a dagger, I wouldn't be the most useful, but I'd be damned if I'd go down without a fight.

I swung my dagger, striking home with the first Fearl, I flung the body at two others, sending them tumbling as my dagger fell free of it's skull. Another fearl swatted at my baby, it's claws raking against the cloth I held it in. I quickly turned, digging the dagger between it's eyes as I backed up to where Adalia and the others stood, the ones that couldn't protect themselves because they were out of mana, or asleep. "We can't kill them, not this many." I whispered, it was true, we were like sand before a Tidal wave.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

Saifa, Okiku, the body/F, F, F
188:
Firestarter

The body's in a group of people, lots and lots of people, but she's alone, in this group of lots and lots of people, whether by choice or by the inherent workings of natural selection she's not entirely sure and she's not entirely sure that she minds, either, because she doesn't want to be a part of the story, but outside the story watching and nodding and knowing how it works, because she has just that correct sort of contrary nature.

So there's power-ups, and snapping at each other, in the orderly, prescribed way of things, and in other news i.e. zombie-related news, Saifa putting Okiku and the body on edge with her refusal to calm down, stop her jawing, stop making such big holes in the ground every time you swing that gigantic flaming katana, it's kind of distracting to have to remember to jump over them when we're running fast as we can from an enraged mob hell-bent on spreading the contents of our insides all over the nearest wall.

Saifa says shut up, she'll do what she likes because she's the Dowager General Shakusaifa with a shrine and a living clan, who was smart enough to know that blowing up continents is a bad, bad way to finish any war, and who's the one who knows how to wield a flaming sword here, it's her isn't it, so would they all, for the umpteenth time, kindly shut the fuck up, she knows exactly what she's doing.

In the time between this paragraph and the next Knes's mass teleport and subsequent growing-up process happens. As we understand the details have already been iterated elsewhere.

The body says, well now half or more of this lovely travelling company isn't fit to fight, some with no mana, others hissy-fit-ing, one recently pregnant, people knocked out and all, at least someone's recently gone through a power-up and not utilized said power-up negating someone else's power-up so yes I suppose Knes will be useful, if we're lucky we won't run into Fearls, ahahaha I see that I'm rather amusingly wrong, those little black dots that are quickly becoming large and unfriendly black creatures speeding in our direction must be Fearls, deary deary me. Tally-ho! Fearls all arvo! With all due respect, Lady Saifa - set to work with your version of the flaming sword gimmick, if you please.

A small circle is formed around the people who can't fight, by the ones who can. By this time it is painfully clear that there are some of them present and attempting to fight that should've been left behind in a safe town, somewhere far away, possibly the lady with the red hair and the daggers and the baby girl. Nonetheless the red-haired lady dispatches a few Fearls quite by herself; nothing is fiercer or more ruthless than a mother defending her young. In the circle: Adalia and now Danarica and the baby and the inert forms of Moswen and Dimitri, tended to by Marion. Outside the circle: Ovan and Kite and Ban and Stella and Knes and the body, Saifa, Okiku.

Ah, and this is the part where we eliminate about two hundred or so Fearls - are you reading closely?

Saifa is angry, very angry: she lays the katana about her, a great pillar of supernatural magenta flame, and she doesn't muck about when she's letting off steam. The sheer power is channeled out of rage, indignance perhaps. A teasing soundtrack loops itself over and over in her head, the world is going to end again, this time it will be something far more humiliating than merely being privy to an explosion of epic proportions and being able to do nothing about it, the world is going to end, the snake lady is behind all this, the world is going to end, Miroku is an idiot, the world is going to end, la de la de da.

Okiku and the body can only hang on for dear death and watch as the furious spirit darts in and out and all around the horde of Fearls, trails of pink flame following her triumphal progress. Fearls are suddenly left headless, legless and in some unfortunate cases entirely bodyless. Saifa repeats this for the next few frantic minutes. Choppity chop chop, splice, incinerate, splat. In her mind Saifa slaughters the fools that decided to blow Gens up, over and over and over and over.

But the horde continues to pour in, and against these odds one begins to count the seconds to relief from the fighting. Pausing most abruptly, acknowledging the presence of a certain familiar haze, Saifa turns, and snarls. It is the purple snake woman, the one that was all tits and arse.

The three of them, Saifa, Okiku, the body, they feel the scales rustling deep down in some long-buried instinct, and they do not like it.

They do not like the purple snake woman, not even if she is single-handedly annihilating the swarm of Fearls, not even if she is helping them out of their trouble; they mutter, she'll only bring more trouble.

They are right.

[Roy Karrde]

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Cannons to the Right, Cannons to the Left ~*~*~*~*~

My staff instantly dropped into my hand as I charged forward, whipping it around into defense form as I prepared to take on the enemy. “Hold on.” Knes quickly pulled me back as if I were a feather, a glare forming on my face. “You just got done using a lot of mana, Adalia.” He warned.

I glanced away; looking over at the cloud of dust the Fearls were kicking up as they got closer and closer. “I will be fine, look I can make a Mana Bubble.” I opened my hand, forming a mana bubble much to my delight, although that bubble quickly dissipated, the mana drifting off into the air as my hand began to turn red and blister. “Ow…” I winced, holding the blistered hand close to my chest.

Moving me back to where Dana, Moswen, and Dimitri lay, I crossed my arms and puffed out my cheeks defiantly. “Please don’t be like that.” Knes looked away, glancing back at the fearls as they came closer and closer. His eyes glanced back over at me, pulling aside a pouch and opening it. “I have been meaning to give this to you for a while but we have been so busy..” He brought out the last thing I ever expected to see, my doll! The doll I had once thought lost back in the jail at Talidan.

He placed it into my hands, my non-blistered hand instantly stroking its hair. “Please just stay here, just for this battle.” He asked, I could only nod, my hand holding the doll close to me again.

“Thank you…” I whispered, Knes getting up and leaving, charging into battle with his sword raised as he met the enemy in a way that I had never seen, he was more refined, battling in a way that made it look as if he would not make a single mistake, every step, every swing was perfect.

The feeling of intense mana soon drew my attention to the Zombie, a pillar of spirits flew about her, rushing forward and striking fearls in a way so graphic that I had to quickly turn my head from the disgusting sight. When the sound of screams died down from that direction, it looked as almost two hundred bodies lay dead. “Wow…” I whispered in shock.

Although even with that display of power the fearls quickly drew in closer and closer, and soon Stella came running back carrying a knocked out Ovan. “Is he okay?” I asked, rushing over as fearls jumped on the backs of myself and Stella, bringing about screams from myself and Stella. “Get off, get off, get off.” I screamed swatting at the monster with my hands as it clawed at my back.

“Get..” I screamed, the weight suddenly removed from my back. I glanced up expecting to see Knes standing above me, only to see a beautiful purple haired woman, her kicks spinning around to send Fearls flying and scurrying away. Who was she?

Naga
~*~*~*~*~ Victory ~*~*~*~*~

With hands and fists flying these little creatures were easily shed, and at moments with no one looking I would let my tail loose to sweep many off their feet in one swipe. I quickly moved past the other, well weaker females and onto Ban and Knes, my eyes even on the asleep Ovan who looked so strong yet peaceful. “I see you are in a bit of trouble.” I smiled, ducking one fearl and punching another in a jaw, strong enough to shatter it.

Others came running at us as I turned to face them, projecting the massive aura of the naga in front at them to send the Fearls quickly scattering. Others near looked up and took notice, rushing off in all different directions, leaving their dead and wounded to suffer on the battlefield. “What was that all about?” Ban asked, stepping past me to watch them run off.

“I have never seen that happen before.” Kite looked on in shock.

I walked over, placing my hands on each of their shoulders. “It was a well fought battle, I haven’t seen warriors like you in a long time.” I remarked, glancing over at Knes and winking playfully. “I wish to reward you mighty boys, I haven’t had many visitors at my place, I would gladly welcome you boys to join me for some relaxation.” I offered, running a finger over Kite’s shoulder ever so slightly.

“I promise you, it will be worth your while, and you will be able to see the girls by nightfall.” I offered, knowing it was a complete lie, but my aura was so seductive, so addicting that they wouldn’t care, and those that would, would be shackled until they came around.

Okay I made the battle as open as possible so that you guys can do what you want in it. If not you guys can travel back to the Naga’s palace, the Girls will be left out, they can’t even pass her mana wall, but the boys will be promised they will get to see them soon.

[Haruko]

Ovan//Stella D'Aubigine
-darkness flows from my tainted fingertips / prying open until you're in shreds//in a light sleep, these scattered thoughts of mine are creaking / if only I could erase everything now.- HOWLING by abingdon boys school

As I continued to swipe Valkyrie through fearls, I could barely keep my eyes open. My skin was intensly dry as to where everyone else, save the already dead Zombie, was sweating from the desert sun. My mouth was dry, the small sip of water from Stella's canteen felt like it happened a millenia ago. Valkyries slashes into the waves of fearls continued to grow weaker, as to one point; she had almost fallen out of my hands completely.

I could basically hear nothing but my heartbeat in my ears.

My chest felt swollen, I could barely get a breath in before another was needed.

'Danielle, behind you!'I heard above the heartbeat, and as quick as I could, manuevered Valkyrie through the stomach of a fearl. As I felt the blade rip through the body, my feet tripped and I felt myself fall quickly onto the sandy ground. I couldn't move as the fallen fearl I had killed a second earlier laid ontop of me; my legs ached too much to, it felt as if the world was spinning to my demise. My whole body was radiating some sort of heat..

could I just close my eyes, and rest a little bit here..
--


As I quickly stabbed and released a mob with my sword, I noticed Ovan tripping on his feet on my left. At the same time I noticed, another fearl did aswell, and quickly went in the for the human kill. I quickly ran towards him, and stabbed the fearl that thought he'd get such an easy meal; right in the heart. Releasing it, I looked down at Ovan, as his eyes slowly closed. His face was flushed, and abnormly dry from this heat. I felt his head; he atleast had a fever of 101.

"I'm such an idiot..why didn't I notice him not sweating before!.."I panicked, getting out my canteen as I heard a noise closing in on me. I looked to my side, my right, and saw a huge fearl closing in on us. At the same moment, I saw a small cactus, an innocent bud in the desert that had remained unsquashed yet from the battle. Determined, I looked sharply at the cactus..

My eyes glew in intensity as the cactus infront of me grew more than 10 times its size, impaling the fearl as it sprang upwards, its sharp spines sticking into the fearl. I shaped the tip as a spear as it grew, and I was certain it was dead as it gushed blood. I quickly picked up my canteen and Ovan; who was a bit heavy to carry from being a tall guy, and ran towards Adalia.

"Is he ok?"She asked, and it was at the end of the sentence that I could feel claws trying to dig into my back. I sharply turned around, yelling in pain as I extened my flower sword once more and stabbed as many fearl as I could as the cut wound on my back started to bleed, which I could feel by my shirt gainning moisture.

It was no use..were we going to die here..?

I tried to keep my own, protecting the sickly Ovan until I looked around, and there were barely any fearls left. In place, was a woman with purple hair and a mystic aura about her; something not human. She moved near Ban and Knes, and looked at Ovan with eyes that creeped me out slightly. I held my back in pain, and turned around, opening my canteen and ignoring the strange woman; having to take care of Ovan before his fever worsened.

I kept my ears tuned in though, even as I continued to wince as I soaked a small bandage in water.

“What was that all about?”Ban asked to more than likely, the strange newcomer.
“I have never seen that happen before.” Kite said, a hint of shock in his voice. I placed the water soaked bandage on Ovan's forehead, but it was probably not enough. He needed shelter, and fluids..cold fluids..

“It was a well fought battle, I haven’t seen warriors like you in a long time.”The strange woman's voice filled the air, “I wish to reward you mighty boys, I haven’t had many visitors at my place, I would gladly welcome you boys to join me for some relaxation.”

Shelter?...but she's a stranger..

“I promise you, it will be worth your while, and you will be able to see the girls by nightfall.”She added, trying to vanish any doubts we had. Ovan needed shelter, and she was offering just what he needed..Should I let Ovan go where he could get better, or stay here and get worse?

I slowly stood up, holding my shoulder as I could feel the blood still trickling out of my wound. I walked over to the Naga, who seemed not to care much for my presence.
"You promise..Ovan has a fever, you'll make sure he gets well, right?"I asked her, looking into her eyes for honesty.
"I'll take very good care of him."She replied, smiling; I could almost spot a fang. I looked over to Ovan, who was laying in the sand and breathing heavily, and pointed to him; his sword in his hands, contained in a deathly grip.
--


A soft surface, almost like plush..my head on a soft, silky pillow. I slowly opened my eyes, only to be blinded by the light in the room. Where was I?! The last thing I remembered, I was in the desert, fighting fearls. Did I die, and go to heaven? I opened my eyes once more, and felt a hand on my forehead.

"Oh my, you still have a bit of a fever.."I heard a familiar voice. I looked over, and felt paralyzed in shock. It was the person that intruded in the personal confines of my mind, if she was a person. Yet, I couldn't feel mad. Something about her..made me feel happy. Almost euphoric. I didn't move an inch as she continued to sit next to my laying body, moving her hand towards the bedtable, getting a grape and feeding it to me. I chewed it; almost like instinct; I didn't want or feel the need to refuse. She smiled, and got up slowly, keeping her seductive eyes on me at all times.

"Remember the offer I made you, Danielle."She smiled, a fang showing,"but only when you're feeling a little better."


This layout is brought to you by my boredom. Blue is Ovan, green is stella, A duh.

[classy_cat18]

Kite/Shonta
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The good news was that I was too busy making sure that the Fearls didn't kill me to care about anything else.

The bad news was that I didn't seem to care that my own tail was on the line.

"AAAH!" I yelled as a Fearl grabbed my tail in its jaws. I jabbed it with my halberd and yanked my tail away. Blood dripped from deep gashes along the middle. "This is just great! I actually groom this thing!"

Thanks to Zombie-chan (with her terrifying attack) and a strange woman, many of the Fearls were dead before long and whatever was left ran from the sight of the female stranger. Something about that didn't sit right with me. “I have never seen that happen before,” I said in awe.

The woman put a hand on my shoulder and immediately I felt like melting into a puddle. It was like every nerve in my body was going crazy. “It was a well fought battle, I haven’t seen warriors like you in a long time.” She winked at Knes, and both of us looked like we were going to hurl. “I wish to reward you mighty boys, I haven’t had many visitors at my place, I would gladly welcome you boys to join me for some relaxation.”

At first I was going to protest, seeing as I didn't want to be bothered by any woman at the moment. Then she very lightly ran a finger down my shoulder. Suddenly a certain feeling shot straight down to my crotch. How could I ever be aroused? I was a girl, for crying out loud!

“I promise you, it will be worth your while, and you will be able to see the girls by nightfall," she assured us. Stella seemed to buy it and let her take Ovan. Then she looked into my eyes, making me feel like a deer caught in a car's headlights. "What about you?"

My mouth worked but nothing coherent came out at first. "Well...I...walk...pretty..." I stammered like an idiot.

She quickly forgot about my eyes and noticed my wounded tail. "Oh, you poor kitty! Your tail looks so bad and I bet it hurts so much!" A finger trailed down my extended spine and for a few seconds I was in heaven. "I can bandage that for you back at my palace. And I can feed you! And you can sleep on a nice bed!"

Despite her being only shallowly kind -- there was a glint in her eyes that suggested she wanted something more from me -- my body didn't seem to care. At least I'll get some kind of affection after everyone kicked me around.

"I guess I could spend a night there for some rest," I whimpered.

She eagerly me along with the other guys to her palace, which really looked like a palace. I got my own room with a bed too big to fit into my room back on Earth. There was a scent in the air that gave me the same liquid feeling as that woman. By the way, I didn't even know her name.

I curled up like a cat on the bag and enjoyed the peace and decor. Soon the stranger walked in the room with a mouth-watering stew and some bandages. "Hey Kite, ready for a little nourishment?" she asked with a tone in her voice that didn't settle well with me.

I sat up and reached for the bowl, only to have my hands slapped away. "Nuh-uh! Why fight so hard only to feed yourself?" she scolded. She dipped a spoon in the bowl and directed it towards my mouth. I let myself be fed like an infant, all the while wondering how she knew my name.

Afterwards she bandaged my tail with the care of a nurse. "Those evil Fearls did this to my Kite...I'm glad they suffered." She stroked my tail, earning a deep purr from me. Her touch was so addictive, her smell... "I must be making your girlfriend so jealous."

Her statement made me wince from pain. Emotional, not physical. "I have no girlfriend. No one can stand me, let alone love me," I groaned.

"That's awful!" Her face showed some shock but I wasn't sure that it was genuine. "You poor thing! You can live here with me and be very much loved." She held my head to her chest and played with my ears, almost giving me sensory overload.

This is wrong. I may be selfish but I have a family...friends...a future back home...but it may be all gone and the only person here that I cared about... I buried my head in her chest, feeling very vulnerable.

"I'll take good care of you," the woman whispered.

[darktyranitar]

~~~Marion~~~
To the women and children, the souls of the dead

I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to say something among the line of “fuckshit, fuckshit, fuckshit…” There was a voice at the back of my head, and it was sounded manic, and was continuously prodding at my mind.

“Hm?” I muttered, realizing that I had just phased out. Um, okay… so what had happened...? My mind seems a bit misty…

A wild cry from around, and it came back to me. We were running from those angry villagers, travelling in a desert when…

I held my breath and looked up from what I was doing. Hundreds – or perhaps thousands – of Fearls, coming down upon us.

Oh, damn.

I turned back and worked on the task of healing the unconscious Moswen and Dimitri, hoping that the others would succeed in driving off the Fearls.

“Eleven VS thousand, what the fuck.”

“Oh, be quiet…” I gave a mental push to the voice, and continued to channel more mana into Moswen and Dimitri, switching between them. And every time I do, I’d always put in slightly more mana in Moswen. I would then looked back, winced, and put in more mana in Dimitri. The process was repeated several times.

This brings in almost a total drainage of my mana, and so with trembling fingers, I stopped the healing process and sat back, observing Moswen and Dimitri, dismayed to see that they were still unconscious. I supposed the healing does help to recover some of their wounds, but it didn’t do anything yet to wake them up from their stupor.

Wordlessly, I took off the bracelet from my wrist, passed it into Moswen’s closed hands, and looked around, noticing that there was another present beside us. A woman – which I supposed could be said beautiful – with purple hair was casually walking towards us, taking out Fearls with ease. In a moment, most of the Fearls were taken out – those who survived quickly scurried away without looking back.

Who was she?

The woman walked around us, looking at the guys intently, ignoring the girls altogether.

“It was a well fought battle, I haven’t seen warriors like you in a long time.” She said, and more or less begins to flirt with the guys. “I wish to reward you mighty boys; I haven’t had many visitors at my place, I would gladly welcome you boys to join me for some relaxation.”

Her eyes, she’s on the dark side. Neutralize every man in sight. Hm, now where have I heard that before?

“I promise you, it will be worth your while, and you will be able to see the girls by nightfall.”

Wait a minute… so she’s going to leave the rest of us here? Great.

And one by one, the guys went and followed her, with her carrying both Ovan and Dimitri on her shoulders like they weight nothing at all. I blinked, looking at the remaining group who were having stupefied look on their face.

“Well… I suppose the sensible thing to do is to follow them… right?” I suggested, and that was exactly what we did.

[Roy Karrde]

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ The more things change… ~*~*~*~*~

We began to walk, because it seemed to be the only thing to do, following the boys to see where it led us. Knes hadn’t even turned back to look at me yet, it seemed as if he and the others were in a trance, which worried me even more. “Look at that…” Marion gasped, pointing out to a large building on the horizon, which looked almost like the Taj Mahal a beautiful large building with a round dome at the top of it. The building seemed to eclipse almost anything else in the particularly small and unimpressive town. “Well at least we wont have to guess where the temple is…”

I glanced over at Knes, watching him with my eyes before looking down at my doll, Rebecca was what I had named her a while ago. “Its going to be okay Rebecca.” I whispered, running my fingers through the doll’s hair. Getting some strange looks from Zombie-chan as we walked.

When I glanced up again noticing that we were almost to the temple now. “Maybe we are going there first..” Marion mumbled, shifting the weight of Moswen in her arms. I glanced over at Dana, watching her movements with the baby and tried to follow them with Rebecca in my arms. “Should we tell the..” She continued to say before smacking into something that sounded like a wall.

“Damnit.” She winced, rubbing her nose as Zombie hit it too, I came to a stop just before it, placing my hand and feeling around, it was like touching mananite, but you couldn’t see it. “The boys just walked right through it..” Marion watched as the boys headed off into the building.

“Why does she just want the boys?” Marion asked.

Zombie began to giggle, looking between us. “Maybe she wants to see if the rumors about Ban’s big Tonka are true.” She laughed as Marion’s face flushed. I leaned against the wall, sliding down it as the sun dipped into the horizon and began to stroke Rebecca’s hair again.

“They will come out soon Rebecca.” I told the doll, glancing up to notice something, no… some one on the horizon, walking this direction. I blinked, and in the blink of a eye the shape changed, this time about half the size of what it originally was, but moving a lot faster. I turned to Dana, wondering if it was just my imagination. “Do you see..” I began to ask but noticed that they were looking at it. I glanced back to notice the shape took on the look of a large black cat. My heart began to rise in shock and happiness, but then began to falter, it had to be a normal cat, there was no way it could be… him.

Naga
~*~*~*~*~ My Poor Boys ~*~*~*~*~

Kite buried his head into my chest, tears running down his face and over my breasts. I actually did feel a bit of pain for him, he was so conflicted, so confused. “I’ll take good care of you.” I whispered running my hand through his hair. After a moment I pulled his head away, looking into his eyes. For a moment everything seemed to slow, I leaned in, placing my lips on his in a very romantic, very quiet kiss as Kite melted into my arms. “Let me make you happy.” I whispered, pulling his shirt off, followed by my own, freeing my breasts.

“I..I..” Kite’s face went several colors of red, as he kept his eyes on my breasts. A large grin crept across my face as I went down, untying his pants and pulling them off, freeing what looked like a mighty strong and well-endowed part of him. It made me wonder why he didn’t have girls clamoring over him. “I havn’t felt happy in a long time.” His eyes glanced up at mine.

I laid back down on him, letting him slowly impale inside of me, as I let the illusion drop, my legs morphing back into one long snake tail as Kite’s eyes rolled back in pleasure. “This makes you feel better?” I whispered into his ear, Kite’s eyes went wide in shock and happiness, a large smile across his face as his body relaxed and drifted off to sleep.

I quickly climbed off of him, morphing my tail back into legs as I gathered my clothes. I glanced down at his member, juices coating it, but scales also beginning to form around it. It was beginning for him, and for the others soon. I straightened my hair, and walked out of the room, looking down the hallway. Knes, Dimitri, Ban, Ovan. So many I could choose from, though Dimitri did interest me, those beautiful eyes of his could see my true form. But Ovan was also hurting too, Knes would be harder to manipulate, and Ban…Ban was mysterious but familiar. Who… who to choose?

[ChobiChibi]

~Loki Kinoshita~

As he wandered from the oasis town he had taken shelter in for the past few days, Loki took the time to reflect back on what he had discovered. He had spent a lot of time by himself, journeying from town to town with no real purpose, only hearing rumours of the whereabouts and wellbeing of his comrades. Every night, he prayed for their safety, only now wishing that he had stayed with them so that he knew how everyone was, how she was.

The scorching sun beat down upon his back as he entered the desert. The oracle had sent him out with a simple task; find the others and deliver a map. Once she was sure that Loki would carry out his task, she gave him the knowledge that everybody was still alive, although she would not disclose what state they were in. This had given him enough strength to set out with his new purpose, although he feared the outcome of his next encounter with them. He was a traitor, a coward, someone they couldn’t rely on. He had taken on countless battles, struggled to get by alone, yet he was more afraid of what they would think of him now as he came back after most of their journey was already complete.

He glanced over his shoulder, only to receive a scornful comment from Becki. “Don’t look back; you know what you have to do.” He sighed, whimpering quietly.

“What if she hates me?” Loki questioned, his eyes falling to the ground as he walked. “What if she won’t forgive me?”

“It’s not all about her, Loki. You have to go for the sake of the others too, don’t be so selfish.”

“You’re right… I hate it when you’re right.” He growled, kicking a large stone in frustration.

His ears stood to attention as they picked up footsteps and the occasional voice. Loki stopped in his tracks, aware that there was nowhere for him to hide. He watched silently as a slender, rather attractive woman lead a group of men towards the town. His head tilted to one side as he watched her walk, silently wishing, much to Becki’s disgust, that he was amongst the men. After close inspection, he soon changed his mind as he did a mental checklist: Kite, Knes, Ovan, Dimitri and Ban. He frowned, confused at why they were not with the girls. By the looks of things, they had just come from battle. This meant that Moswen, Adalia and Dana were alone, perhaps injured. His thoughts went straight to Dana; wasn’t she pregnant when he left?

With his previous worries soon pushed aside, Loki continued on his journey, his feet sinking into the sand as he began to quicken the pace. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he saw the rest of the group in the distance. His heart skipped a beat as he set eyes upon Adalia, a smile slowly emerging on his face.

He sprinted forwards, tripping as his foot sunk too far into the sand. Sitting himself up, he spat the sand out of his mouth and shook his hair free from the mass of sand grains he had managed to kick up into it. If he continued like this, it would take him hours to reach them. He closed his eyes and relaxed, allowing his panther form to reveal itself. Picking his sword up in his mouth, he raced towards the group, his paws barely penetrating the surface of the sand.

What if she hates me?! He thought suddenly, a few meters away from them. He dropped his sword as he tripped again, tumbling over the dunes, eventually coming to a halt as he turned back into his human form, his new magical ability placing his clothes back on instantly.

He rubbed his eyes as his head span. As the world came back into focus, his mouth dried up as he realised who he had almost crashed straight into. He instantly stared at the floor, his hair covering his face as he blushed and cleared his throat.

“I-I… H-hello…” Loki swallowed hard, his voice and body trembling. His ears flattened to his head in embarrassment, barely visible beneath his hair. “Um… I-I… A-adalia…”

“Loki?” Her voice was dry too. It seemed a lot gentler than he had imagined it to be. He had expected her to be angry, scold him for running away and never talk to him again. Instead, she seemed concerned.

“I-I have to give you this!” He thrust a scroll at her, dropping it into her lap, his eyes remaining fixed to the floor and hidden. “It’s a map, f-from an oracle.” He bit his lip in frustration. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at her. To his surprise, there was a small smile across her lips and when her gaze occasionally met his, it was warm and friendly. He glanced around, noticing Dana was carrying her baby, Moswen was asleep and there were two others that he hadn’t seen before. “I-I’m really sorry, Adalia… In fact, I’m sorry everyone, I’ve let you all down…”

Noticing Dana’s glares, he quickly resumed to staring at the floor and hiding in his hair. “Where have you been?” Adalia asked, her throat still dry.

Recalling just how long the journey through the desert had been for him, he quickly took a water pouch from his obi and handed it to Adalia. “It’s fresh water from the town, please pass it around. It’s the least I can do…”
~~

Erm, yay? Loki's back! ^^; *scurries away*

[EngiMatikul]

Real Name: Refer to as Thomas
Gender: Male
Personality: Quiet and analytical sums it up best. He's quite untrusting of people he doesn't know and would rather stay silent and listen to what everyone has to say, than to speak up his voice. Even in groups he is fairly familiar with, he usually won't say much and listen, or instead possibly say something insigificant. Does not usually express his true thoughts.
-----
Name: Repertoire
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Age: 20
Bodily Appearance: A rather thin build, standing only at average height (5'7") but because of his thin build, it makes him look a bit taller. He usually stands upright, thought when in attack position his body can be rather flexible and will "condense" if necessary. His light blue hair is of average length and appears rather "handsome", so to speak, as if he had gelled his hair in preparation for a speech, performance, or any other formal appointment. His blue eyes are slightly slinted but not too much, a cunning yet youthful glance. All in all he looks rather "bishonen" and formal, like a proper gentleman.
Clothing: Fitting with the gentleman appearance, he wears the typical "respectable nobleman (and/or his servant)" type attire. A dark blue waistcoat covers over his spotless white dress shirt with a collar adorned with frills. He wears white gloves to cover his delicate hands, and blue slacks to match the rest of his attire. His shoes, however, are more lose and appear somewhat to be like dark-colored moccasins, silent and soft to benefit his nimbleness.
Weapon: He may summon an infinite amount of a special form of blade. The blade has no handle and is double sided, as well as double edged; all the blades are mentally controlled via telekinesis. Though he can summon blades of a variety of sizes, there are some limits. The blade's maximum length is about the size of the palm of a human hand. He can vary to determine whether the blade is extremely sharp (can cut through wood and weak metal with no problems) to being blunt but extremely durable (able to withstand quite some force with just a single blade). Repertoire can make each blade he summons acts as if it has the mind of its own, able to parry and strike an opponent as if some specialist was weilding the blade themselves. The blade, however, is otherwise COMPLETELY normal unless enchanted by characters other than Repertoire. It is also rather weak in attack power (if not buffed by outside sources) and typically does not kill an opponent unless Repertoire plans his attack carefully and strikes a vital blow into his opponent (his preferred form of assassination, if he must do so) or summon millions of blades at once and focus them at one opponent (not useful, not smart, highly fatiguing, easily deflectable, most likely would never happen).
Magic: As stated above, one of his magic is to be able to summon blades and to control each of them individually as if they had their own minds. However, controlling each of them individually is slightly more exhausting and it is much easier to summon a blade to merely strike at an opponent or parry their move rather than have them constantly use tricky maneuvers. In addition to blade summoning, he also has limited control over time and space, around a small (cubic) area around himself, and around his blades. He cannot freeze time; instead, he merely speeds it up and or slows it down momentarily in the designated space. He uses this to his advantage by being able to move from one place to another with amazing speed, or so it appears to the onlooker; he also uses this to allow his blades to levitate in the air momentarily, until he wishes to strike. He uses this levitation trick also to "fly", or at least hover on his blades.
-----
Changed Personality: He's still analytical, but now he's also a lot more cynical and talkative. To the people he trusts, he will make crude and satirical remarks that often offend them; it is, however, the greatest indication to his friends that he trusts them, and his friends know that he is VERY reliable if they need him for any reason. To other people, he is remarkably polite and elegant, speaking like the nobleman he appears to be. He still listens to what others have to say, but for those he deems less trustworthy he will not regret talking to a person and then backstab him/her, sometimes literally. And hence, smart people don't trust Repertoire so easily...
Other: Direct Ripoff of the Maid character from Touhou, only I made this person a guy. :p He is also a very good seamster.

???
======
It was a hot and dreary evening. Finally having finished with all his tests, the student was exhausted and, quite frankly, disappointed. His performance on finals, he felt, was horrendous; his grades were always on borderline and he felt he finally blew it this time around, probably scoring less than desired and just narrowly missing a higher grade.
Sighing, he sat down onto his chair and opened his laptop. He checked his mail and went on the IM program; once again, no one online. A bit strange, he thought. No one's been online lately... neither Prof nor Chiko-sai... although Prof being online or offline wouldn't make much difference in talking to him... He decided to reorganize his desk, since studying for finals has caused a catastrophic mess of papers and textbooks.
Just as he was about to collect together some books, he heard a chime.

He looked to his laptop, lying on his desk. On the screen, there was something blinking on the bottom of the taskbar. Quickly he went to check who had messaged him and said what; what he saw somewhat confused him. It was an IM from Chiko-sai, but it wasn't the usual "hi" or "pikopiko" that he was accustommed to; instead, it was a long, strange message filled with comments and sparsed with laughter, then a link at the bottom. Right after, she seemed to sign off.
Not knowing what to make of this, the student thought passingly, "this must be some random slash quotes and a link to yaoi..."
Which, upon thinking that, his friend suddenly comes back online and says promptly, "This is not slash! Oh, and be sure you know how to sew." And logged back off.
Now utterly more confused than before, he decides to take a look at the link. It was a link to an RPG signup. The student browsed through the signup forms and found, to his interest, both Chiko-Sai and PJBW's form in there, so he contemplated on joining.
"Too bad they haven't been online lately...
Wait."
Suddenly something struck him. He looked at the dates of the signups; the last signup seemed to have been approximately 4-5 days ago.
"About the time when they didn't come online anymore..."
He decided to look up the others that have signed up and carefully go through their signups, then checked the logs on the forums. Correct to his presumptions, every member that signed up has not made a single post in the last couple of days, even those that are typically active.
Still a bit skeptical, he decides he should try something out and fills out a signup form. Upon pressing the submit button, he makes a passing thought, "Aha!" before blacking out.
=====
On top of the large, domeshaped temple housing a terrible snake monster, there lies two figures in the shadows. One noticably has large, beautiful wings with long and thin hair wisping in the wind, while the other blends into the shadows well with his dark formal suit. The two seemed to be discussing something quietly, while eyeing a small group of girls that seemed to have run into a dead end, or, more specifically, an invisible wall. The two spoke.
"Again, aplogize for my intrusion and causing this mess..."
"It is partially our fault for being startled over your sudden appearance, you are nevertheless generous for helping us... Curious, who are these strangely dressed females out in front of her castle?...Ah could they be related to you?"
"Hmm..." the man thought, as if trying to remember something, while looking at the group down below. "A zombie, a half-scantily clad girl, little white riding hood... yea... these must be part of my 'relations'... where is the rest of the team? You don't think...?"
"...it's possible. And that might be why they are here-- What? leaving already?"
"Yes, and I have a favor to ask of you: can you help those girls down there? Like you helped me? They will be of most valuable assistance..."
"Very well, It already seems that he is already on his way, I'll inform him of the situation. YOu're going to--?"
"Yes."
"I've briefed over what we know about the monster, but proceed with caution, regardless."
In the shadows, the man gave what appeared to be a smirk, then jumped off the roof and disappeared out of sight.




EDIT: OK BEFORE ANYONE ELSE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH ME AGAIN BEFORE I WANT TO SHOW UP, I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE TO ACT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED AND MY CHARACTER NEVER WAS THERE FOR THE TIME BEING.

Thanks to B4 and Pol-san for their cooperation!
*Engi used Nasty Plot!*
*Engi's Sp. Atk sharply rose!*

[Haruko]

Ovan
-i've noticed that I'll never fly again / i know that I can't fly with broken wings / someone cried, "a dream will change your shape" / the love that someone abandoned have already disappeared to somewhere.~ Oreta Tsubasa De ~With Broken Wings~* Sung by Kenichi Suzumura
Status: Sleepy, slightly feverish. Enjoying the solitude, mayhaps.
Control: Danielle

The noise in the room ringed with an eerie silence, as I laid on the bed provided to me. It all felt wrong; I shouldn't be here, I should be finding the others. But part of me..just wanted to be alone, to enjoy the silence and solitude. My body could barely move from exhaustion as is; even though it was slightly better then it was before. The only parts that could move were my arms; I didn't walk them to exhaustion. The skin on them tingled slightly from the burns I got from Ovan's reckless action at the Cerberus showdown, but otherwise; they were quite mobile.

I looked around, and saw a glass of water on the bed table; the condensation from it being ice cold dripping on the outside. My mouth watered purely from it's sight, and without thinking; purely on instinct, I reached for the glass and drank it down in a swift few gulps. It moistened the once parched mouth of mine, and I sighed in relief, putting the glass back down.

'Danielle, we have to escape this place. Something isn't right.'Ovan attested. I agreed completely, I had a distaste for the woman with purple hair. Yet, the way she made me feel around her..
'don't..get caught in her illusion..'I heard Valkyrie faintly say, as her body of a sword was in a corner.
'I'd escape, but I can barely move..'I sighed. I, though, felt odd with not having Valkyrie on my waist, and I slowly tried to get up from my bed, only to be stopped by someone coming in.

"Now now, no need to exert yourself, Danielle."The purple-haired woman appeared in the doorway, and walked over to my now-frozen stiff body. As she inched closer, I started to get that feeling again; the euphoric one. Addicting-ly sweet like sugar, and the urges it gives you...

"Your fever seems to have gone down some," She felt my forehead, and smiled in relief. She then looked at the bandages that wrapped my legs and arms, and looked back into my eyes."You're such a strong person, Danielle. Forced into a body you hate, always uncomfortable.."

"Yet, I can make all of that go away."She smiled, and sat on the bedside, looking into my eyes. Her eyes were so alluring; yet I had to keep reminding myself.

I'm a girl, not a guy...

I don't need any bullshit she promises me!

And yet, even though my brain was processing all these thoughts with ease, my heart was at the womens sway. She placed her hand on my face, gently, and smiled.

"Don't you want full control?"She looked at me, knowing it'd hit a nerve. My eyes widened, and even though..I knew..no, maybe she could? If I had complete control, I didn't have to suffer from any of Ovan's reckless actions. I didn't have to be a caged bird anymore; I'd be 'free'.

"I..do.."I uttered, and she smiled as closed in, leaning over my chest. I felt bombarded with a rush of hormones unknown to me, and I completely resisted them as she moved her head to my ears, speaking lightly.

"Let me make your wish come true, and erase your suffering."With that, she laid a kiss onto my lips, and my body acted as if it were on auto-pilot. Her tongue slowly dipped into my mouth, and it brought forth a bliss that should've been more like a toxin. As she continued, I felt my body tingle, and my consciousness slowly drift away..



Stella D'Aubigine
-reaching out for the highest class / even if I get hurt / maybe I'm gonna be a freebee now / I am not afraid anymore. ~Freebee Honey by the pillows

As we followed the mysterious woman, who seemed to herd the men like cattle, I supported my wound with my own mana. I only had enough to keep it from bleeding any more; I was plently depleted from healing Ovan's wounds from the Cerberus battle, and the walk through the desert did nothing to help my stamina. Even if the wound stopped bleeding, I couldn't stop if from festering; I'd need to stop soon and get help from someone in applying herbs before it got infected.

In my own delirium, I paid no attention to the others; only as to where we were going. It seemed that we stopped, and I continued on foward until I found out why myself; a mana barrier was outside a building that the men went into. I almost fell onto the ground from hitting into it, but catched myself on my own feet and sighed. I never felt as weak as I did in my life until now.

I sighed, and looked at the others to see as to what we were doing now. It seemed that there was someone new; atleast to me, that seemed acquainted with Adalia(due in part with his nervousness around her) and had some map of some importance with him.

Edited with Ovan. I'll update Stella later.

[Bulbasaur4]

MOSWEN

Moswen was standing in front of a large white tower. Her head was tilted upwards to the sun as her hair billowed like gentle ribbons in the glowing wind. She stared intently at the giant white tower while white clouds rolled along the sparkling blue sky.
“Is that what you want?” A voice whispered gently, and Moswen turned to look at a strange figure sitting upon a rock. Miles around was a rocky desert… the white tower being the only thing around.
“Who are you?” Moswen asked, her eyes narrowing accusingly. The figure merely smiled, her mid-length white hair blowing in the wind as well. Her eyes sparkled like pools of the night sky.
“You know who I am.” She said, and almost instantly the recognition and realization came to her. Moswen suddenly knew who she was.
“You are… the armor, aren’t you?”
“Not precisely. I am what manifests the armor to hold back your dangerous power.”
“Dangerous… power…” Moswen trailed off, feeling sadness overwhelm her. Her wolfish ears flattened slightly, as flashing memories of what had happened overcome her. How she had been taken over… how she had destroyed parts of the village… hurt her friends…
“It was beyond your control. The coffin meant to seal you was released.”
“No.” Moswen suddenly said firmly, looking at the pale female figure. “I should have been strong enough to overcome that darkness. I shouldn’t have been consumed…”
“Then I suppose it could be counted to be both of our faults.” The female stood up at that, her white wolf-like ears perking towards Moswen as her white tail whipped about.
“I can’t use that power again…” Moswen said, looking towards the female. “I can’t afford to be like that. If I do… I’m afraid that it’ll be worse. That my friends will…”
“You suffer from him.” The figure responded, taking a few steps to Moswen.
“From him?” Moswen’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“You don’t know the true extent of where your powers come from... he and I have purposefully been keeping it a secret. While you have been journeying, he and I are at a secret war with each other in your body.” Her voice faltered suddenly, as she turned to Moswen- a total seriousness overcoming her facial features. “He cannot win that battle. If he does… then there is no hope for me in this world.”
“Who is he? And who EXACTLY are you…? What the hell is all of this?!” Moswen suddenly outburst, looking to the white tower. She then pointed at it drastically. “And why is that tower so appealing to me? Why am I here?”
“You have one more monster to face. Once you have finished that… you will have a day of freedom before the true battle begins. Upon that day of freedom, I will tell you everything. There… there is something I must ask of you that day. There is a sacrifice to be made- a very important decision you need to make. And that tower?” She was standing face to face with Moswen now. “That tower is your true desire. Within it… you’d find the true answer to your question.”
She then placed a hand upon Moswen’s forehead.
“Wake up.”




Moswen’s eyes slowly fluttered open, and she found herself being half-carried by Marion and Zombie-chan’s floating broom. She could hear the breath of Marion heaving slightly, Moswen’s weight of armor feeling extremely heavy to anyone but Moswen. Slowly Moswen struggled slightly, and realizing Moswen had regained conscious, Marion slowly sat her down upon the ground with the broom.
“Moswen, you’re awake! Everyone!” Marion chimed, and a few faces turned to see Moswen. Moswen gazed at them for a moment, blinking and her eyes made contact with Adalia for a moment. Fear bubbled up within those eyes, which echoed pain into Moswen. Yes… they should be afraid of her.
“Never again…” Moswen mumbled, to which Marion crouched down next to Moswen. “Are you feeling okay?”
Moswen looked at Marion for a moment, and then smiled softly. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just felt like I’ve taken a very long nap.”

Marion quickly filled Moswen in what had happened- how they had been attacked by fearls, how a strange mysterious woman came and seemed to allure away all the men in the group. She then talked about how they came to the village… and now... how Loki was back and talking to Adalia. During this time, Moswen felt a great deal of emotions surge with her.
“I only wish Ban hadn’t left…” Marion said with a joking laugh. “He was the only one really strong enough to carry you with all that armor. How do you stand anyway?” She said with a smile, helping Moswen up to her feet.
“Ah.. umm..” Moswen’s mind instantly flashed to Ban. She remembered being pulled from the darkness by a voice… his voice. Seeing him standing there so openly, realizing what was happening… fighting back the darkness- allowing the butterflied one to hit her. Knowing that Ban was there… it had saved her. She had believed…
“I fell. I fell again…” Moswen thought, a tear rising to her eye. And now he and the other men had gone for this new woman? It didn’t make sense… but Moswen couldn’t help feel a pang in her side. No doubt something was amiss, something wasn’t right… but the fact still was…
“Moswen?” Marion said again, and Moswen quickly came back to the current predicament.
“Oh, sorry… I keep thinking about things.” Moswen smiled again, looking ahead at the barrier that was before them.

Suddenly however, a figure came down from the sky- or what seemed the sky. He was handsome as well, having soft-looking hair of golden brown and piercing gold eyes. His whole figure was toned rather nicely as he crossed his arms, wings adorned upon his back and folded neatly behind him.
The winged one swiftly (and in a rather fast paced confusing manner for the dazed females and Loki) introduced themself.
Vyn was his name. He was a Garuda – his species were half hawk and half human. They were here to help their group train and defeat the woman- who turned out was a monster, a Naga who seduced men and turned them into her own snakish servants. The Garuda hated her and despised her kind- it turned out they were in a constant war. Now they were willing to help train the group of females to defeat her.

So, the group followed him. Soon Moswen and the others came to a large fortress where many more golden-winged men were. Adalia was quite as ever however, as Loki continued to try to nervously make short talk with her. Moswen narrowed her eyes at this, but tried to ignore it for the time being.
Once they were put inside, they were introduced to a few more Garuda. Some of them were to train the group for battle while the others would serve as guides if anyone needed it.
“Here is the training schedule we have in mind for you starting tomorrow.” Vyn said, handing out pieces of parchment. When he came to Moswen however, she held out a hand to stop him.
“I will not fight.” She stated, crossing her arms. Vyn looked a little perturbed at this, but Moswen stood strong. “Trust me, you don’t want me to fight.” Moswen’s gaze turned to the others… who were in nervous silence.
“Then what is it you want to do?” Vyn asked, crossing his arms.
“If you have a library or any books… I would like to study up on a few things. Perhaps one of you Geruda know a bit or two about dispelling magical barriers?”
Vyn nodded and told Moswen she would be guided tomorrow to the library.
“For now however… you will be led to your quarters. Two of you per room, except for the young male."

KNES

Knes had taken one look back at Adalia and the rest of the group – probably the only one who actually looked back. Adalia was looking at her doll at this point however, so Knes turned around and continued to follow the woman- a half smile upon his face.
Now however, he was sitting upon a silky bed that was beyond any comfort he had felt before. It seemed to curve to his body just right, making it extremely comfortable for him to sit or lay down- even his small wings weren’t bothered. Still, Knes was a bit restless as he opened the door to his chamber and peered down the hallway. All the men had been led into rooms… except for Ovan and Dimitri, who had been placed in their own room.
Knes was about to take a step onto the lavishly marbled hallway floor, but almost instantly the dangerously attractive female appeared. She smiled brightly at Knes and like a flowing dance she ushered him back into his room. Knes then found himself sitting upon the bed with the woman sitting closely next to him.
She was dressed to seduce… her breasts exposed more than any woman should and the clothes she wore showed her tan and firm skin. Her exotic eyes seemed to hungrily tear into Knes as she practically seemed to feast upon him visually.
“Sorry for the wait dear…” She said, her thick accent rolling off her tongue like a siren’s song. “But I’m sure you’ll understand that I had to save the best for last, correct?” She said with a grin, taking a delicate finger and running it upwards along Knes’s neckline.
“I’m not angry…” Knes said lightly, his wings fluttering anxiously. Knes had to concentrate harshly to make his wings stop fluttering, but she had noticed it already.
“Oooo… someone is excited.” She whispered with a smile, taking a delicate hand and rubbing his right wing sensually. She then practically straddled him while he sat. Her chest overflowed into his face as she brought he head down near his neckline. She tenderly kissed his skin, withdrawing a few large breaths.
“You smell so… delicious…” She said with a gasping breath, as Knes found his own arms had wrapped about her hips. “I could just… eat you…” She said, taking her tongue and drizzling it down his neck again until she came just above his shoulder bone. “Mmm…” She whispered, curling back her lips as she suddenly sank her teeth into his flesh.
Knes was startled slightly, not expecting that exact course of action to follow. Still, he could feel a strange aura trying to twist its way into him. But there was no time for thinking- soon she would-
“What?” The woman said suddenly, her eyes opening as she tasted his rich crimson blood that flowed freely into her mouth. Suddenly she jerked away, stumbling off of him and back a few steps. Bringing the back of her hand to her mouth she spat out the blood for a moment, wiping away the blood.
“You’re… you’re-” She began, but Knes’s half grin rose upwards again as he stood up. Looking to his wound as the blood trickled down, he smiled wider.
“Surprise.” He whispered viciously, suddenly clapping his hands together and then spreading them outwards in the air. As he did that, suddenly a large scythe grew from the air- growing as long as he spread his arms outwards, simply materializing in front of him. Knes then grabbed the center of the wickedly curved scythe and twirled it around. With one fluid motion he cleanly sliced into her abdomen- only lightly however, causing a clean slash to appear as her blood splashed into the air.
“Goodbye…” Knes began as she glared back daggers from her gaze.
“You can’t leave! I created an anti teleportation stone!”
Knes raised a brow, “Really? From your own power?”
She nodded, but as she did suddenly realization showed upon her face.
“Well then, it looks like that was a faulty plan now… wasn’t it?”
With that, Knes vanished from her sight.


(FYI: Knes will not find the female half of the group. You guys won’t see him again until maybe the real battle.)

[classy_cat18]

Kite/Shonta
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I thought that by coming to the palace, I would finally experience relief from my battles and everything else. But relief was the last thing I was feeling. Everything that happened after the woman fed me was a blur, but I felt intense pleasure. After that, I started to feel a little nausea mix with the pleasure. Now I just felt nausea. And guilt. The two did not mix well with me or my stomach.

What was worse was that I couldn't even sense my obnoxious other half. Kite had seemed to disappear from my mind; he wouldn't answer to any of my insults. I was left alone to my dreams of snakelike women. At least, I hoped it was just a dream.

When the nauseous feeling started to get stronger, I woke and sat up. I started to panic when I tried to move my legs and couldn't feel them. I felt something, though. Peeling back the sheets, I found a long snake tail attached to my torso. A long moment of silence when I saw my new tail slither on the bed was accompanied by a rising panic. I opened my mouth to scream but all that came out at first was a pitiful squeak. Then the nausea came back with a vengeance and I pulled myself to the edge of the bed to vomit on the floor.

"What...the hell...happened...to me?" I asked myself breathily. But then I recalled my dream/nightmare about the snake woman and vomited again. That bitch! She made me like this! What is she? What am I? When the sick feeling died down I stayed where I was, panting heavily. Tired of that sound being the only thing I heard, I sunk in thought.

I was a fool and an idiot. I yelled, cursed, even struck my own teammate. No one was who they were before they came here, especially me. But the thing was that I wasn't acting like Shonta or Kite. I was a monster and now the outside matched the inside. I couldn't leave here now; my new appearance would prove that I didn't belong anywhere. I was too depressed to be angry now.

The woman entered my room in her human form, bleeding from a gash in her stomach and looking weak. My anger reappeared and I shot up as fast as my stomach would allow. "What did you do to me?" I demanded.

She stumbled forward and leaned on the bedpost in an attempt to steady herself. "I opened up a new world to you," she told me like she had good intentions.

My snake tail thrashed to match my mood. I used it to push myself off the bed. "This world is a nightmare. Change me back now!" I yelled at her.

Her face feigned sadness. "I can't..."

Those two words struck me. "Yes, you can! I can't let anyone see me like this!" I shouted more out of desperation than anger.

"With time you can create the illusion of legs like I can," she tried to reason. I merely gave a growl/hiss combination while she winced and whimpered from her injury, then straightened up. "That damn winged boy got a good swipe in."

Figures it would be him that would do the right thing. I grabbed my halberd from the wall and took an attack pose. "Seems like Knes had the right idea."

Quickly realizing my intentions, she backed up. "Why do you care about what they think of you? Or..." Her eyes lit up. "Oh, the little girl."

I got closer. "It's not just the little girl. Now that I look like a monster on the outside, I remember how I acted like one as well."

"You seem to forget that you are about to kill the one person that actually showed you love and kindness." Her eyes darkened a bit as she said this.

Oh great, she had to push that on me. "You're wrong! Adalia tried but I pushed her away. She might be someone else now but I still care about her."

She smiled at me and held out her arms to me. "And I care about you, and everyone else here."

That definitely didn't make sense with me. "Then why not keep everyone else like they were?"

"Because I'm lonely and I wanted some company."

Her expression was one of sadness. I actually felt a ping of concern and understanding. But I shoved that feeling to the back of my mind and gripped my halberd tighter. "You didn't have to make me like this!" I roared as I swiped at her with my weapon.

She reared back on her tail and dodged my strike with a smirk. "You seemed to be enjoying it at the time," she said while still bent over.

That only succeeded in making me angrier. "I made a mistake but now I'm correcting it!" I made a downwards swipe but she twisted a way in a bizarre manner and flattened herself against the wall.

Now I have her! I licked my lips and prepared to thrust my halberd, aiming for her neck. The woman closed her eyes as a whirlwind of visible mana surrounded her. Not wanting her to finish whatever she was doing I thrusted with a warcry. But the next thing I saw made me halt immediately.

Adalia was standing in her place, shaking in fear. My halberd was a centimeter from her neck. "Adalia?" I mouthed.

"Don't kill me. I was lonely," she whimpered.

It's a disguise. That monster! I bared my teeth at her, just now noticing my new fangs. "How dare you disguise yourself as her!"

She gulped and stared at the tip of my halberd. "I-I thought this may be easier."

I hated her and myself. I had every right to kill her and leave with a clear conscience yet, with that innocent face staring at mine, I was reluctant to. My hold on the halberd loosened and I evenutally let it fall to the floor. "Don't screw with me!" I screamed as I slammed the wall next to her with my fist. I let it stay there for a few seconds before withdrawing, picking up my halberd and slithering toward the door.

"I'm sorry," was all she said.

I stopped in my tracks, feeling another ping of guilt. "Yeah, whatever." I left through the door.

[Roy Karrde]

Vel
~*~*~*~*~ A night in a oasis ~*~*~*~*~

My wings smoothed around my body, contracting to the point that it looked as if they were just a robe full of feathers. Vyn had set the males and females to train tomorrow, something that was causing a problem with the rest of the Garuda. The actual building we resided in was a apartment building long since abandoned, it was several stories tall, made out of smooth sandstone, the walls, the floor, everything was smooth stone to keep the heat out. I placed a hand on the door that led to one of the female’s room, Marion I believe she was called. Our eyes had locked during the meeting and all I could think of was her. Pulling back the wooden door I peeked into the room, seeing her, seeing Marion laying on the bed, stroking the back of the little one. The one that Vyn had already said wouldn’t be training. “I don’t..” I coughed, straightening my body. “I don’t want to interrupt.” I began, going rigid almost on instinct.

Both of the girls looked up and sweat began to trickle down my face, and trail down my wings. “Could you come to the roof?” I asked, the woman, Marion excused herself and followed me as I walked to the roof. Females were not common between the Garuda and our intensive training style kept us from getting much association. “Are you her sister?” I asked, pulling open the roof door, the warm evening air rushing in.

I turned back to look at Marion, watching her face blush as we walked onto the stone roof. “No she is just a friend.” And then added, with a small whisper. “One of my best friends.” I quickly regretted the question, walking out to the middle of the roof and sat down, letting my wings fill out.

“Tomorrow starts a harsh morning of training, most likely it won’t even be dawn when you start, obstacle courses, sparing matches, endurance runs, you can expect each one of these before you get your wings.” I explained as Marion looked at me in shock. I flapped my wings slightly with a grin. “You don’t think you can beat the Naga with out a temporary form of these do you?” I asked.

She gazed off in the distance for a second, her eyes focused on the Naga’s temple. “We have been through so much, I figured I might actually be home by now.” She sighed.

A feeling of regret began to fill my heart, it sounded as if she had traveled so far on this journey. The sun began to dip below the horizon, snapping my attention back to it. “I bet this doesn’t happen at home.” I nudged, her. Pointing to the sky as the sun disappeared over the horizon line. Garren had been one of the last town’s to completely lose it’s mana due to the crystal, and with the Garuda’s looking over it, almost no one used mana in this town. Because of it the Mana hung high in the air above us. With the loss of light small ribbons of mana began to appear in the sky above the town, ribbons of light that came with every color of the rainbow, changing every minute.

“It’s amazing..” She gasped, her eyes lighting up and only brightening my smile.

I touched her cheek, turning her head away from the sky after a minute. “It’s the best place to see it, I usually come up here alone at night.” I explained, matching eyes with her. “You are the first person I have ever brought up here.” I added, the moment becoming heavier, my heart beating faster as I leaned in to kiss her

Adalia
~*~*~*~*~ Only have my thoughts ~*~*~*~*~

With Marion gone, my eyes began to wonder around the room, everything seemed quiet for the first time in a long time. I was alone again, with out Loki or Knes or even Kite talking or yelling at me. It was relaxing yet at the same time worry continued to grow inside of me. Was Knes okay? Why didn’t he even say good bye? I sank down into the pillows of the somewhat plush bed, gazing out the window at the temple in the distance. Knes was in there, no not Knes, an adult Knes. Just like Loki became an adult, Knes did too. Loki had decided to shrug off childish things, too busy being a big adult to care. Was Knes going to follow the same path?

My eyes continued to wonder along the window, how far down was it from here? If I jumped would it kill me? Knes would feel bad after I died, so would Loki. I quickly shook my head, trying to send the thoughts away. I didn’t want to die; I didn’t want to think these thoughts. But I continued to think about it. I placed my hands over my forehead, rocking back and forth. I wanted the thoughts to go away. “Adalia? Are you okay?” Loki whispered, most likely in the doorway but I didn’t care, I just shook my head, my hands trembling. Loki moved in placing his hand on my back and giving it a small rub. “I’m not stupid, and I havn’t been away long enough to know something is wrong..”

I opened my mouth to respond, my eyes closed, the voice that came out was small, almost tiny. “I keep having these really scary thoughts, and I can’t get them to stop.” I whimpered, my whole body shaking.

Loki paused for a moment, and then continued to rub my back. “What are you thinking about?” He asked.

“Killing myself..” I replied, my voice even smaller.

Loki moved his hand away, I could feel his look of shock and a little hurt gaze upon my shoulders as I continued to tremble. I shook my head in response. “I don’t know, I don’t know they just come, and they are scary.” I whispered, curling up even tighter into a ball, hoping that if I did it would keep the thoughts away.

Loki eventually moved closer, drawing me into a hug as tears began to run down my cheeks. “Everything has been so hard, so hard.” I whispered, curling my fingers around clumps of his shirt. “Its like a nightmare I want to wake up from.”

“We will, soon we will go back to the other world, and this will be all over.” Loki spoke, running his fingers through my hair, for a second I enjoyed it, relaxed and just relished in it. Slowly though my thoughts turned to Knes and how hurt he would be if I did something bad here.

Shaking my head I moved back. “But I like being me, I like being Adalia the little girl, I like it, I just… I want the pain to stop, I want Knes or you to be my age, because it feels like I have a friend to understand me, that I am not just relying on grownups. No one understands that.” Fresh tears began to drip down my cheeks, as I explained something that had been looked deep down inside me.

Loki almost jumped back in surprise, looking even more hurt than before. “I’m sorry.” I apologized quickly, grabbing a pillow and my doll, rushing out of the room so I wouldn’t face Loki. I ran as quick as my little feet would take me, knowing there was one real safe place to go too. In the end I ended up at Moswen’s doorway. “Can I stay with you for the night?” I asked as she opened the door.

Naga
~*~*~*~*~ Numb ~*~*~*~*~

My body, my mind, everything was still numb from the events that revolved around Knes. What was he? That power, that amazing power, it shocked the mind. All of these thoughts were only compounded by what I felt inside of Ban, something familiar, something incredible, only if I could put my exact finger on it, not to mention Dimitri and his eyes, those beautiful eyes that could see the essence and sexuality that came from every scale. I stumbled into Ovan’s room, still in the illusion of that little girl as I rested my small frame against the wall. Events were happening too fast, things were going in motion too fast. I moved from the doorway, running my hand over his frame as he slept, his own tail was coming along incredibly. “I can only hope you love it more than Kite.” I whispered, leaning in and placing my lips on his ever so slightly.

Danielle opened his eyes ever so slightly, gazing at me for a second in euphoria before opening his eyes larger in shock. “Adalia…ADALIA?! YOU KISSED ME?!” He screamed in shock, rolling away from me in the bed, not expecting a tail and falling off. I quickly rushed to the other side to see Danielle looking at his tail, and then up at me, and then back at the tail. “What the Fucking Hell!” He yelled even louder.

I quickly relaxed the mana that surrounded my body, returning to my true form as I helped him back on the bed. “I can use my mana to change my appearance to make Kite more… happy.” I searched and found a suitable word, or what I thought would be a suitable word for it as Danielle flexed her tail in shock. “You may be able to do it too one day, the tail contains more mana than you ever had in your body.”

“What am I going to do now? They cant see me with a fucking tail!” He panicked, touching one of the scales tenderly before jerking back in shock as I settled next to him on the bed. “The others will freak out…wait…the voices are gone.” He suddenly stopped, looking around for a second, looking left and then right. The tail suppressed the voices of the weak in his head. For the first time in a long while, his thoughts were his own.

I leaned in, crawling on top of him, my tail intertwined with his. “The tail has other gifts, full control over your powers, powerful fangs filled with venom, and not to mention..” Snakes kept their sexual equipment on the inside, just like human females. The equipment stored in a pouch on the tail was incredibly sensitive to the touch. “You don’t have to worry about things swinging around in your pants.” I whispered into his ear, finding the pouch and delivering a few strokes to the scales around it.

Slowly pulling myself off of him, I watched as Danielle’s eyes rolled back in bliss for a few moments, his hands following the strokes around that area. I turned, leaving the room and taking back on the guise of Adalia as I returned to Kite’s room to find him sitting on his bed, his tail swinging idly off of it. “Okay so I can’t leave… we need to talk.” He sighed.

I will post for Adalia later. For the Naga Boys and Boys just under her control, enjoy exploring the temple, it is quite large and vast. For the Garuda Boys and Girls, expect some Military type training come 5 am in the morning!

[Haruko]

Stella D'Aubigine
-in this world where the wind blows like a knife / what is it that I should protect?. ~Byakuya~True Light~ by Miyamoto Shunichi

As we were handed our training schedules, I continued to kick myself mentally for giving Ovan over to that monster in disguise. If I had knew we were close to shelter, I'd have kept Ovan and he'd be safe, out here. Not with the monster of a seductress, possibly now one of her slaves.

It was my duty now to rescue him. At least, thats how I saw it..

'Obstacle course, sparring and then running..'I thought to myself. I did sparring and running a lot with my old trainer back in Talidan, along with medical training. I never blamed my old trainer for keeping me in the prison, in fact, she was one to say I didn't belong there..

'

"You sure have grown, Stella," She said one day. I remember it clearly, due to the sun shining brightly through the small windows in the huge room where me and her trained, She was a woman in her 40's, who was a fantastic swordswoman. Her blonde hair had exceeded her shoulders, and her grey eyes could pierce through diamonds. However, she had raised me up like a child since I came to the prison to 'repay my fathers debt'.

"Thank you."I striked back at her sword with my own, as our hits put on something like a dance. My hair was short at the time, only going down to my earlobes. We continued this for hours on end, until she could hear our hearts pounding without concentration. This day, this bright and sunny day, it took until night break for us to reach physical exhaustion. From noon to dusk, we trained our hearts out in a dance.

We placed our swords away and, using her magic, she sealed them away. Her magic was a powerful sealing type, it was her own magic that created the very earrings that rested on my earlobes. We sat down on a bench, and she handed me a glass of water, looking into my green eyes.

"Stella..if I could, I wish I could redo history for you."She looked deeply into them."I wish none of your past never happened to you, and yet, I feel as if it were fate we were to meet."
"I.."I looked away. I too, had wish I could rewrite time. I wished my father did not go mad, that my mother did not go sick, or that my brother did not go away. Would I be here now, though? Was destiny written in stone when I was born?

I asked this all the time..'

We had been led to a sandstone carved building that seemed to be abandoned, yet still in usable shape. My wound had stopped bleeding profusely, but it was festering in its own blood, and I would need to apply herbs onto it soon. Being led into a room with Danarica; as it was 2 per room and I persisted that someone with some medical expertise be with the child to make sure it'd be healthy, I sat down on my bed and opened up my napsack.

"this herb.."I mumbled to myself, weak from blood loss and being hungry. I took out herbs slowly from their pouches and slowly picked the leaves, mixing them together along with enough paste. I looked over at Danarica, who seemed busy enough with the child. I needed someone else to apply the herb pasting, and figured there was one person who could.

Adalia.

I walked over to her room with the paste and bandages, and knocked outside before going in. I smiled slightly, and she seemed bored, and I couldn't blame her. Along with this new half breed, and Knes being gone, she would be lonely.

"Adalia? I got a wound from the fearl attack and I can't reach it. Could you apply the paste and bandages for it?"I asked her, walking in slowly.
"I'm not really that good with bandages.."She replied, unsure of herself.
"It's easy, I can teach you."I smiled, and she nodded. I sat down next to her, and showed her carefully how to apply the paste and then, the bandages. Although I could easily ask her to heal it, I'd rather things heal naturally on my body; as for thats the beauty of the human body. When she was done, my chest* was wrapped in bandages, slightly messy but still effective, and the herbs applied. I collected my stuff and stood up, putting my shirt back on.

"Thank you, Adalia."I smiled, and as I went to say something, my stomach roared a bit loudly with a grumble. I sighed and she laughed a little as I waved off, going to get some food before I fell asleep.


*Stella is flat chested.;x

Ovan
-irritation and just a little solitude / just what exactly is it to us? / we're not in the middle of a drama, you know.~ Seishun Kyousoukyoku by Sambomaster
Status: Freaking out!
Control: Danielle

A silent dream. Broken by a kiss..

by..by..RYAN?! ADALIA!?

"Adalia..ADALIA!? YOU KISSED ME!?"I opened my eyes widely from a sound sleep, and fell off the bed in shock; trying to land onto my feet. I could feel my right eye twitching as I straightened myself, and when I looked at my feet, I saw that I no longer had feet, but a smooth, scaly navyblue tail. I wanted to scream, and yell, but I couldn't; my anger was building up like a pot covered. As I saw the woman come over to me, I looked at my tail, quite irritated, then at her, then back at my tail.

"What the FUCKING hell!"I made a fist, slamming it against the bedside. I tried to get up, but it seemed impossible with this new appendage of mine. The woman turned back into her true form; some trick of mana, and helped me back into bed. I was boiling over in anger.
“I can use my mana to change my appearance to make Kite more… happy.” She tried to explain why she had looked like Adalia when I had awakened, but that wasn't why I was angry. I tried to move the tail, but it felt too weird to move it, and I just..I wanted my legs back. “You may be able to do it too one day, the tail contains more mana than you ever had in your body.”

That's right..if I'm stuck with this tail, what am I going to do? I can't go back to the group, because this tail makes me a monster. A freak.
“What am I going to do now? They cant see me with a fucking tail!”I expressed myself verbally, panicking. I felt my throat swell up in anxiety as I slowly touched one of the scales on the tail, and as I felt it, I jerked it back in the shock of the feel."The others will freak out.."

But wait..I couldn't hear anything other then myself. No Ovan. I had control...
"wait..the voices are gone.."I added, listing the only positive to the tail. As I seemed to outweigh the only positive to the barrel of negatives, the woman leaned over my body, her own tail intertwining in mine.
“The tail has other gifts, full control over your powers, powerful fangs filled with venom, and not to mention..”She mentioned in a slightly seductive tone. “You don’t have to worry about things swinging around in your pants.”

At that moment, I felt the utmost weirdest feeling of euphoria in my life coming from the tail. I felt around the area she had touched; as she had left me at the moment I hit euphoria. It just all felt so odd, yet just..so..

The feeling had died down after a few minutes, as to which I took a deep sigh. I looked around and saw Valkyrie, and I had to test something. I slowly got off the bed, and trying to imitate a snake, I slowly got over to Valkyrie. Standing upright, I took her in my grips, and charged mana up into her hilt.

'Fire.'And the blade was a lit in flames. I smiled from the light it produced...

Complete control.