First off I'd like to thank foxygirlchan for editing my fic for this chapter. She did a better job then I ever could. You are now my new best friend! XD Ahem Macky, Blue Persuasion, whitelanc3r, and of course foxygirlchan I'd like to thank you on behalf that you review. I'm writing this fic for you fans out there. Currently I have a huge writer's block on chapter 14 but I'll get through it before the next chapter post. Love ya all for just reading! Zya! P.S. I'm switchin categories on the fic.. So it's an action/adventure / Romance. The farther I write this fic I realize is truly is kind of a romance. I got 3 main couplings in addition to 2 side couplings that I only hint at but that is much later on...
The Beginning of the End
Chapter Four
"Mirage we have a guest in the transport bay." Marietta informed every one as she typed her way at her station.
Mirage nodded before she got up from the captain's chair at the end of the bridge. Cliff also stood from his seat below her. They had gotten a message that the police on the station wanted to conduct a search of the ship. Why they ever wanted to do that confused Mirage.
"Ya think that could be Maria? Let go see!" This time it was Peppita.
Mirage smiled as Peppita bounced out of the bridge. In the past 2 years she hadn't changed much except that she had grown. Mirage followed the young teen out and the foot steps behind her told her that Cliff was coming as well. Peppita took the lead and kind of skipped down the main hall towards the transport bay.
Peppita let out a squeal of delight before throwing her arms around a certain long haired blonde captain. She was easy to recognize from her pictures that they had pulled up. Why she would ever dye her hair for; that had baffled Mirage.
"See I told you she'd show" Cliff whispered in Mirage's ear.
A smile came to Mirage's face that she couldn't suppress even if she wanted to. Maria smiled at Peppita before her eyes found their way to Cliff and Mirage. Letting go of Peppita, Maria hugged Cliff then Mirage.
"It's good to have you back Maria" Mirage said
"So what is going on?" Maria asked folding her arms.
Cliff let out a chuckle. "Isn't obvious?"
Maria nodded. "Clearly, but why?"
Mirage was the only one who could answer the next question. "It was Sophia's idea. I got in touch with her a few months ago. Fayt's not doing so well and she really wants him to cheer up. So with Sophia's help, we managed to track everyone down. Granted, I have my own reason to get everyone back together."
"What's wrong with Fayt?" Maria asked a worried look glazing her eyes.
"Sophia said he's depressed. He doesn't eat much, doesn't sleep much, and is barely able to keep up in school. Sophia said he's been this way since he came back." Mirage affirmed.
"Interesting, doesn't sound like the Fayt I know." Maria replied.
"Yep. He doesn't sound like the same kid at all. If I would've known how bad he was I would have visited him awhile ago to at least cheer him up a bit ya know?" Cliff said.
"Poor Fayt I hope we cheer him up" added Peppita.
"Well the sooner we get there the better," Maria instructed, "Is the Diplo done refueling?"
Mirage smiled, it always was like Maria to take charge. "Affirmative. The refueling was done 30 minutes ago."
"Then lets get going," Maria implied as she walked for the bridge.
"Roger," Mirage found herself saying.
"Just like old times," Cliff boasted with a smile.
"Yes Cliff" Mirage admitted.
"So what are your reasons for doing this?" Cliff asked as he watched Peppita also skip off towards the bridge.
Mirage smiled as her eyes shifted their gaze to the ground. "To see you Cliff."
"Really? I would have done the same thing just to see you," Cliff hinted and started towards the bridge.
Mirage watched him go before heading off to the bridge herself.
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"Vampiric Flash" Albel roared as a wave of purple energy flowed from his body, stopping the chimera dead in its tracks.
Albel watched with pleasure as the life force of the beast was slowly sucked away and given to him. The beast let out a cry before it fell over on its side, dead. Albel grinned and chuckled. Sheathing the Crimson Scourge, Albel turned and reached for his bag of supplies.
"Albel!" Nel yelled.
Albel felt the acidic breath of the beast before Nel had finished his name. Albel sneered as he felt the beast claws dig into the flesh upon his back. His hand found its way to the Crimson Scourge through the pain.
"Mirror Slice!" Nel's voice echoed behind him.
As Albel turned around he was only able to see the last few moment of Nel attack. Albel noted how fast she was before the attack was over. Nel stood on the chest of the massive beast the short sword of the Blades of Ryusen lodge in the beast's chest, the dagger of the blades was in the beast neck. Nel had a wild look of fury that Albel just couldn't explain. For a moment he was paralyzed by her for reasons he could not easily explain.
Nel got up pulling her weapons from the carcass. She flicked them in a typical warrior way to wipe the blood from the weapons before she replaced them back in their respective sheaths. Albel shook his head as Nel jumped off the chimera and walked over to him.
"Take off your shirt" Nel commanded.
"What, woman?" Albel blurted slightly alarmed.
"You're injured. Unless you just want to continue bleeding, take off your shirt so I can heal you," Nel reasoned in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Bah," was the only thing Albel could say as he did as he was told. It was painful to move as the wound produced a searing hot pain whenever he did so. Nel examined Albel's back for a moment before she touched the open wound.
"Well Zelpher, is it bad?" Albel asked, ignoring the pain.
Nel didn't respond for the next second. Albel felt instant relief as the wound healed magically. In a couple of seconds, the pain was completely gone and only the dried blood on his back was evidence that he had been wounded. Albel looked down at the bloody and torn shirt in his hands before he cast it aside. He wouldn't need it anymore.
"Let's get to Peterny," Nel stated as she picked up her stuff.
Albel didn't answer. Instead he picked up his supply bag and followed after Nel. Peterny was not far way. They walked in silence until they passed the gates of the trading town.
As soon as they took one step into the town, they were stopped.
"Lady Nel, Lady Nel! I'm so glad you're here! Something terrible is happening to the town! A lot of our people have taken ill, and people are dying left and right! What are you're orders Lady Nel?" There was frantic panic in the young soldier's voice.
"I told the King it would spread!" Was all Albel implied.
Nel took a deep breath as she stood in thought for a minute. "Section off part of the city, then move the ill into that part of the city. I want the whole town's gates to be sealed off additionally. No one is to leave or enter. Understand?"
The soldier bowed. "Alright Lady Nel, everything will be completed by night fall."
Nel nodded then turned to Albel. "Looks like we have little time to waste, if any at all. Let's head over to the inventors' guild."
"Very well," Albel answered before following Nel.
The words had barely left Albel's lips before Nel headed off. Albel decided to follow. Sure he had been in Peterny several times, but he knew it was a large city. If he didn't keep his eye on Nel, she could very well disappear on him.
It had not been too long ago when Albel and the King had passed through this town, and it had been so alive. The city was silent, as if the blanket of the disease had smothered the very life of the grand trading city. It was creepy to walk in the street and not run into the normal masses that flooded them from dawn 'til dusk. Not even the sound of a merchant trying to pawn off his goods could be heard. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional guard making their way to another part of the city.
Nel didn't seem affected in the least bit about the trading town's plight. She walked in silence and at a fast pace. Faster than the pace they had taken to the city. Her face was void of emotion, Albel noticed. They rounded a corner and the guild came into view. Nel slowed her fast pace slightly until they stood at the door to the guild.
"Well, let's go in," Albel sneered for Nel was frozen at the door.
Nel rolled her eyes before stepping in. Just like the street outside, the guild was silent. Albel followed a few steps behind Nel. No one was in the guild besides the guild master and his assistant. Welch looked up from her desk as the duo stepped into the guild.
"The guild is closed," Welch stated an underlining sadness in her voice.
Nel glanced at Albel before stepping in front of Welch's desk. "I come here under orders from her Majesty the Queen."
"The Queen?" The guild master asked, appearing in the room a few seconds later.
"Yes, Fool!" Albel sneered folding his arms.
"Her Majesty has asked me to come here and ask if you know anyone that could help us make a cure for this disease. Surely as the inventing guild you would at least know more than a few doctors that could lend their services?" Nel questioned.
The Guild master nodded. "We have two inventors working on it as we speak. Welch; will you bring them to see Puffy and Milenya?"
"I guess so," Welch muttered and stood up from her desk.
The guild master nodded and disappeared again. Welch sighed and grabbed her pointer off her desk before making her way towards the door. Nel and Albel followed her out and into the barren streets of Peterny.
"Hey Nel! Albel?" An all too familiar voice filled the barren streets.
Albel turned to see Roger running up to them. He looked just the way Albel had remembered him. Short as ever… Albel sighed before shaking his head.
"Roger, what are you doing here?" Nel asked as Roger stopped in front of them.
"People have been getting sick in Surferio, so I came here ta get some help, that's what a real man would do!" Roger boasted.
"So Surferio is having problems as well? This thing is spreading too fast," Nel complained.
Albel couldn't help but agree. "Indeed Zelpher."
"So whatcha doin' here?" Roger asked.
"Trying to find someone that will help us at least manage this illness," Nel replied.
"Oohh, mind if I join ya?" Roger asked.
"I don't see the harm in that," Nel answered.
"Just don't get in my way fur ball," Albel commanded with a sneer.
Welch didn't respond because she was standing outside of the workshop. "Well let's go," She instructed, sounding slightly annoyed by their pause.
Welch disappeared into the workshop before anyone could say anymore. Nel looked at Albel for a minute; the look on her face was unreadable. Albel gave her a confused look before she turned and headed into the workshop. Roger followed Nel only a few steps behind. Albel watched them enter before making his way towards the door.
The workshop was filled with all sorts of noises and smells. Albel took delight in the sound of pounding metal into a shape as Gusto worked his anvil and hammer upon a thick sheet of metal. The workshop in Peterny had been Fayt's main workshop and it was equipped with everything.
Welch stood at the counter of the workshop, her gaze falling upon the compounding section of the workshop. "Hey Puffy, Milenya you have company. These people wanna know about the antidote you two are making."
Puffy looked up, her psychotic look plastered upon her face. "Test subjects!" She chuckled.
Nel raised a brow before walking around to meet with the two ladies. Albel stayed at the door, leaning against the wall as Roger followed a few steps behind Nel. Nel bowed to the two compounders.
"I'm Nel Zelpher and I have come from Aquaria to find someone to help make a cure for this disease. I'm surprise to find someone already working on it," Nel announced
"Oh, I just couldn't sit around dear. I had to do something," Milenya responded as she mixed a few chemicals together.
Puffy chuckled again. "I'm not in this to help anyone out. I'm here to prove I'm the greatest inventor around and get the glory for making this antidote." Puffy smirked before her eyes fell upon Roger. "Lab rat!" Without another word she pounced on Roger and started to laugh insanely.
"Ah! Let go of me! I'm a man, not a lab rat!" Roger struggled to free himself from Puffy but her deadly grip kept him where he was.
Albel couldn't help but chuckle to himself seeing Roger in a struggle against the insane inventor. As far as Puffy went, she was okay as far as Albel was concerned. Higher than most of the maggots that made up the guild.
Milenya sighed and shook her head. "Nel, I don't think you would happen to know where we can obtain some nightshade."
Nel paused for a minute. "Nightshade… Isn't it that rare flower that grows in Duggus Forest?"
Puffy nodded. "Yep, the one that only grows on the mountain side of the forest. It is a rare flower indeed, but if I remember right, it should be in bloom this time of year. Stop trying to get away Menodix! You are far too perfect a subject for I to let you get way!" Puffy barked, the insane grin back again on her face as her eyes seemed to darken.
Roger trembled in fear. "I ain't yer subject!" He managed to squeak out. His efforts were in vain because it would appear that Puffy hadn't been listening.
"Is the flower important to your research?" Nel asked putting her hands on her hips.
"No, not entirely, but it still is important. If we had about a dozen of them I could make a powerful potion that could help ease the symptoms. Just one of the flowers would be more then enough to make potion for the city, but I know of others that are sick, so a dozen of them should be enough to cover the entire continent. Granted I don't think I could find one flower, let alone a dozen," Milenya remarked with a sigh.
"Well then, why haven't we left Zelpher?" Albel growled as he folded his arms.
Nel turned her attention back to Albel. "You want to go up into the mountains and find the flower?" Her tone was a bit surprised.
"Yes, granted it wouldn't be one of my favorite missions but at least I'd be doing something, Sitting around has never been my style" Albel bragged.
"Alright then, Milenya, we'll go get those flowers for you," Nel stated.
"Bless your heart dear" Milenya preached.
Nel turned to leave as Roger squirmed under Puffy's grasp. "Wait! Don't leave without me!" Roger shouted.
Puffy tackled the menodix and held him to the ground. "You're not going anywhere Kitten boy!" Puffy barked with an insane laugh.
"Don't worry about your friend you two go. I'll make sure Puffy doesn't get too rough with him. We really could use his help," Milenya mentioned.
Nel nodded and turned to leave. "Roger, we'll be back."
"Noooooo!" Roger wailed, sounding as if they left him it would lead to his certain death.
Albel glared at the fur ball. "Take it like a man, maggot!" Albel proclaimed before he walked out of the door.
Nel followed only a few steps behind as Puffy's insane laugher echoed from the workshop. Albel smirked, pleased by the sounds of Roger's suffering at the hands of the inventor. Nel sighed and started to walk towards the gates to the city.