"You and your friends versus me and mine."
Arietta was before the group, the gauntlet had been thrown. Words were not going to sway her.
Luke nodded reluctantly, drawing his blade. "I'm sorry…that it had to come to this."
The two animals flanking Arietta stood at the ready. Guy, Jade, Anise, Tear and Natalia all prepared.
They would get no chance for either side to strike however…
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
"Wh-what?" Arietta blinked in confusion, the voice rang through the hollowed out tree. Luke took a step back as a series of glowing black broadswords materialized in between the two parties.
I know these weapons.
"Zero?!"
A figure dropped from the ceiling. The swords vanished in particles of darkness.
"This battle…it needs not take place."
"Who are you?!"
"I am…a friend. Someone who seeks, and delivers the Truth."
What are you doing Zero?
"Hey! If Gloomietta-
He whirled around, flinging out a hand. The world seemed to distort colors for a moment, before Anise was lifted off her feet and slammed into a nearby wall at high speeds.
"Do not insult her."
Eyes widened all around. They knew he didn't like Anise but to suddenly attack her? It was Luke who stopped them.
"Why are you here Zero?"
"To keep something from happening."
Why…do I have the feeling…
"Arietta…why do you fight?"
"…she killed Ion. She took him away from me and she killed him!"
Zero sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry Arietta…but that's…impossible."
"What?!" Her hackles raised, the instinct to just charge this new being in indignation began to rise within.
"How…can one kill that which is already dead?"
Everyone froze. Largo's eyes widened. Who is this guy, and how the hell does he know?!
"Wh-what?"
"The Ion you've been chasing. The Ion you believe Anise to have stolen from you…the Ion you've been wanting so badly to return to…he, was a Fake."
"BULLCRAP!" She yelled at him. Thoughts that she'd entertained for a few moments before violently banishing began to re-surface in her mind. A low, hesitant growl from next to her brought her head to the side, listening to her brother.
"What do you mean 'he smelled kinda funny?!"
Huh, didn't think they picked up on it…
"Of course he didn't have my scent on him! That…that…wait…"
Now's my chance! "Arietta…if he was the one you remember, why is it he didn't have the scars?"
Her head snapped to Zero, implications being completely clear to her.
"What…?"
"WAIT A MINUTE!" Anise yelled. Attention became hers. "That's why…you made such a big deal out of that?! You knew?!"
"Of course. I told you, I know everything about your lives. Even the things you keep hidden from each other."
"Anise…what is he talking about?"
Anise looked away, not wanting to speak any further.
"Answer me Anise!"
"She won't, because she is a coward." Arietta turned back to the stranger. "However, I have no such weakness. The Ion you believe Anise took from you was a replica, much like Luke here."
"Y-you're lying!"
"Even so." He sought to give her at least some positive notions. "He died on his own terms. The Ion replica had low constitution…but he was the only one who could properly perform in a very similar manner to the Original. He was always getting one step closer to death, and your God-General allies did nothing to help, what with all the Seals they had him break."
Largo tensed slightly. While he could easily overpower the girl, this newcomer seemed to have intentions for her that he could not discern. Not only that, but a hysteric Arietta was a very dangerous Arietta.
He still had a burn on his hand when she lashed out with a Blaze Emitter on someone he was fighting years ago...
"They…You mean…"
"Anise may have lead Ion to the place of his death, but it was Ion that chose how to die. He held off on the good parts of the Score, waiting until Luke and his friends had arrived, before parting words with the intent to fill Luke with hope, and understanding. I…"
He looked away. "I…may have been able to prevent this…his death, I mean."
Luke blinked. "The pins?"
Zero turned to Luke and nodded. "Yes…the set of pins I gave him…one of them was forged specifically with his Signature in mind, to be used as a recovery battery, in case he found himself in danger and needed to unleash a fair amount of power to get out of it. It was designed to leech a very very miniscule amount of energy from him over a long period of time, energy that his natural reserves would replenish before any negative effects would occur. The pin would then act as a recharge, filling him with his own energy, to replace anything immediately lost. A few days…before it happened…I went to see him."
He looked Arietta straight in the eye. "When I warned him of a betrayal, he told me he knew. He said he couldn't willingly keep the charade up any longer. Ahh…the tricky little bastard…you know what he told me when I warned him of the problems that would be caused by his death?"
"I know…and I'm sorry…but…isn't that why you're here? To fix those problems anyway? If it's you, I know everything will be fine."
"Oh yeah, put me on the spot. Geez, I think you inherited more of your Original's personality than you realize."
"Oh I know. They told me he and Arietta would play practical jokes on some of the other God-Generals. It…makes me sad that she won't know the truth."
"Mn. You could tell her yourself."
"And then die on her? That wouldn't be fair."
"Spoken like a true leader. Hmph…I assume you want me to hang on to those pins then."
"Oh! Yes. I nearly forgot. Thank you, Sir Zero. These have been greatly helpful. It made keeping up the mask…a little bit easier."
"I figured as much. I guess I'll head out now. Never know when the little turd-bitch will show up."
"Zero…live free."
"…Die well, my friend."
"He knew…he was going to die?"
"That's what I mean. The Ion replica you knew, chose his ending. And he chose well. He gave his life to bring hope to the Sacred Flame, and to purify the last descendant of Yulia of her internal poison. He died with dignity, and grace, and ended up screwing over Mohs in the process. He chose to let his life end, so that others may continue. I can tell you now, with certainty, Arietta, his biggest regret was that he could not tell you the truth, himself."
Largo waited. This was it. She'd learned now. It was time for their fears to come to play.
Arietta stared at the ground for a little bit. The moments passing in silent tension. Gears were turning in Luke's head, as he puzzled why Zero would spend so much time gathering this information, to give to her. There was a possibility…a very strong one…but Luke wanted to wait just a bit longer, to see.
She rose her head. "Thank you…stranger. It all makes sense now."
Largo blinked. She wasn't hysteric. She wasn't going nuts…and she definitely wasn't killing herself. What the hell? Were we wrong about her?
"By the way, Largo."
He stiffened.
"The truth…as it is, is a timeless existence. Its existence usually causes pain to the unknowing…however…"
He gave the grizzly man a triumphant smirk. "The delivery, is what is most important. To tell the truth bluntly, can get your point across, but can also lead to…unpleasant…endings. To weave the truth carefully, supporting it with both positive and negativity…no matter how heavy the truth is, to do so in such a manner greatly lessens the pain."
Largo nodded. Wise words.
"Arietta, your God-General allies kept this truth from you, in fear that your emotions would go chaotic, and cause you to relieve yourself of life. Whether they feared your loss because of you as a person, or because of your power, only they can answer."
She swallowed, and nodded. "…Stranger…how did…He die?"
"That…I'm not too clear on. As far as I'm aware, Van and Mohs knew of his impending end, and acted to make a suitable illusion. From what I gather, he died peacefully."
"I see. Thank you."
"Then have your reasons-
"No. I will still fight."
Zero tilted his head in confusion. Oh DAMMIT what did I miss?
"They killed Mommy. Even if they didn't kill Ion, they still took someone special from me!"
Oh right…crap I cant believe I forgot about that…
"I see. Let it be known that Luke spent a fair amount of time trying to convince your mother, through words, of a different course, along with his own allies. Also add that Luke was not only extremely reluctant to raise arms against your mother, but to also do so while she was with unborn child. While I shant further refute your reasons to fight, let it be known that the perpetrators you should be fully displeased with are Tear, Jade for delivering the final blow and if you want to get even further down the line, to the core root as to why your mother was in this location to begin with, the Cheagle Meiu."
Arietta tilted her head now. "Why would I blame a Cheagle?"
"It was Meiu, experimenting with his flame breath abilities that accidentally burned down the forest where your mother and brethren called home. Because of him, they moved here, into the Cheagle's forest, demanding compensation for his foolishness. When Luke and Tear arrived in the nearby town of Engave, Luke was accused of theft, due to a lack in education, and Tear allowed things to take place. Rather than refuting the villagers, explaining that at the time, Luke's imprisonment in his mansion left him unknowing about the workings of the outside world, things that we would consider common knowledge, she simply left events to play out, which then filled Luke with righteous indignation, spurning him to go seek out why the Cheagles, whom at this point had been deemed the culprits by Ion, had been stealing their food."
Tear paled as she realized, Zero still didn't like her…not only that…but it was true. Had she not let her emotions get the better of her, and made the assumption that letting Luke get arrested for something that honestly, in a good way wasn't his fault, was a good idea, it's possible they may not have been the ones to slay the Liger queen, or rather, their timing may have been better…
"I see…you're still trying to tell me not to fight?"
"Nay, rather I'm simply informing you of the best targets to strike at. While Luke had a hand in ending your Mother, it was with great reluctance he even began to fight. Further due to the eggs she was protecting. It was he, who noted that if they fought here, the eggs would be in danger, and it was he, who was the only one to profess sadness of any sort, that the eggs, and your mother, were slain."
"I understand. I can't say he's forgiven now, but perhaps…"
"Thank you, Arietta."
"I will still fight."
"…I understand." I had a feeling it'd come to this.
He began slowly walking forward. Immediately Arietta and her two monster allies tensed. He vanished. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"If you will permit me…"
He appeared next to her, much closer than either of her other allies had wanted, but they backed down, sensing something powerful within him.
"I would choose to do battle by your side."
"WHAT?!" Everyone yelled. Though Anise's voice was the loudest.
It finally hit Luke.
"At some point…our paths may diverge, hell they may even intersect one another in a manner that puts on opposing sides…I just…I wanted to let you know…"
"I understand."
Everyone turned to Luke.
"She's the one, isn't she?" These words sparked a memory within Tear, who gasped.
"You remember…then."
"I'm…surprised. And yet at the same time, I'm not. It explains a lot. Why you went so far to help Ion whenever you did, why you dislike Anise so much. You've been living your life, directing things, covering your own tracks to make sure they didn't change much, to get to this point."
"You've learned well, Luke."
"Thank you, Sensei. I trusted you. And I will continue to do so."
"Luke, what the hell is going on here?! What do you know that we don't?" Guy yelled.
"I find myself asking that question as well." Jade agreed.
"It's his purpose. To keep her, from dying." Arietta gasped.
"Wh-what?"
"This battle…is to end in your death, Arietta." She stepped back from Zero, who hadn't turned.
"But that is why I am here."
"I get why he spoke with you for so long now. He wanted to convince you not to fight, so you wouldn't be at risk. But you chose to fight anyway, and he respects that choice. So now, to ensure your survival, he fights with you."
"TRAITOR!"
"Silence yourself child. You are the traitor. I told you, time and again, the only one I have allied myself with is Luke. Not any of the rest of you. Just him. That you decided not to heed my words is your own failing, not mine."
"Luke…can't you stop him?"
"Not even if I wanted to. Everything I know about fonons, I learned from him. Everything I can do now, he can do, so much better. Besides…I told you, I'd help you."
"Yes…"
"I'm not fighting you."
"WHAT?!"
"To do so would be to break my own promise."
"You realize…they won't stand a chance, right?"
"Hah, we didn't stand a chance against you from the beginning. You know our strengths and weaknesses, you could take all of us down without a sweat. No…I will honor my promise, as I expect you to honor yours."
"Yeah, I definitely taught you well."
"You'll do it then?"
"I didn't plan on anyone dying today. Nobody said this had to be a duel to the death, right?"
He looked at Arietta. She hesitantly nodded, realizing he was right, somehow, he knew she didn't specify that it was a duel to the end.
"We just wipe the floor with you, and be done with it."
"Why are you doing-
"Luke."
He knew that tone. That was when you listened. "Yeah?"
"Remember how I said there was one of your group, who's very concept I can't stand?"
Luke realized who he was talking about. Natalia. He hates Natalia.
"If that one raises arms against me, she loses hers."
"I understand." He grabbed Natalia's shoulder and pulled her away. "Luke! What are you-
"Dammit Natalia, shut UP!" She froze as if slapped. "Zero hates your very existence, and only puts up with it because I asked him to! If you fight him in this duel he will kill you, no questions asked!"
"B-but I didn't-
"Not to him personally, but even I can say your Personality leaves a lot to be desired. He doesn't like you, in fact actively despises you. Do not test this. Remember who we're talking about here. This is the guy who obliterated Van without breaking a sweat, or even resorting to the way he beat Regret! He even TOLD Van what his original plan was! And that was a man he respected! How do you think you would fair against him when he hates you?!"
Arietta took a step back. He's the one who killed Van? She didn't know how to feel about that. On the one hand, Van was the one who gave her purpose, alongside Ion. On the other, he kept the truth from her…her mind was very jumbled, the strange person next to her brought more problems and revelations than she wanted to be dealing with. But she couldn't back down, you didn't issue a challenge like she did, then request a rain-check.
"Four versus Four. That sounds about even, correct?" Zero looked at Largo.
"Why are you asking me, kid?"
"You're her mediator, aren't you? A third party set to watch over the proceedings of the duel and its regulations. It is your job to make sure the rules are properly set and followed, is it not?"
This kid's good. whoever he is, he's damn good. "Yeah. That sounds about right. It's evened up nicely."
"Exactly. The duel will be until one side is defeated, death is not to be brought, however incapacitation is perfectly allowed. Otherwise, everything goes. Sound good Arietta?"
"Y-yes." She was still shaken from the revelations, but she pushed that aside, burrowing herself in her remaining hatred.
"Luke, does your side agree to these terms?"
"They're fine Zee."
"Very well. The rules are set. Begin when ready."
"Arietta…" Zero began. He stared straight at her, back turned to the others.
She looked at him, before suddenly feeling an unusual pressure wash over her. The others flinched as they felt a heavy amount of fonons begin discharging from Zero's body.
"I am your sword." He held out his right hand, glowing black.
"I am your shield." His left, glowing white.
"My power is yours to command." He crossed his hands in front of him, a silver glow emerging from the combined energies.
While I could easily disable them, this is her battle. I must protect her, while still being on the offensive enough to provide adequate support. Level two should handle this nicely.
His body lit up with energy, as a spiral of dust kicked up around him. The light seemed to focus itself on his back, where it flickered before lengthening into four long strands. The silver strands wiggled, like tendrils, before the light vanished in a burst of bright fonons revealing-
"…Are those WINGS?!"
(BGM: Jun Ishikawa - 02)
Eyes widened all around. Zero's body was alight with a slight grey glow, coming from the four fluttering bright silver appendages resembling wings on his back. Each 'flap' sent small feather shaped particles of energy to the ground.
Arietta's mind snapped into place.
"You were…you were the one that saved us!"
"Oh…you saw me then…"
"Wait she was telling the truth?!"
Zero said nothing, turning to his former allies, allowing the new power to take its course, his body hovering ever so slightly off the ground.
"Your command?"
"Do whatever you need to."
"Very well."
Zero immediately sprung into action. He vanished in a blink of light, appearing at the center of the opposing group.
"Scatter."
He spun around, swinging his arm out. A ring of light appeared around him for a moment creating a wave of force that knocked them all away.
"Barrier!"
A weak protective field appeared around the Hraesvelgr. It flapped its mighty wings and took off towards the recovering group. Jade quickly whirled around to stab at Zero, who leaned to the side, retaliating by holding his palm out and simulating Luke's Raging Blast arte. A pulse of fonons slammed into the elder's chest, once again knocking him down.
He sensed a buildup of light energy, and blinked over to Anise, holding his hand out. A wave of light shot from his palm, forcing Anise to abandon the spell or take it to the face. She rolled off Tokunaga, directing it to punch him, but he simply blinked away.
Arietta was charging a spell. The glyph beneath her had completed, and the fonons were gathered. She prepared to cast it, when she sensed someone in front of her. She opened her eyes, holding the fonons in place, gasping when she realized Guy was in range for an attack. There was a flicker of light, and a loud clang as Zero materialized in Guy's path, blocking his strike with a glowing blue broadsword. Arietta's eyes narrowed and she unleashed the gathered fonons.
"Negative Gate!"
A massive well of darkness erupted around Guy, who suddenly felt no resistance against his blade, as Zero had blinked away from the now spiralling mass of dark energy. Guy yelled out as his body was assaulted by raging darkness.
Zero's ears perked.
"Va rei ze tue neu tue riou tue croa…" Energy gathered around Tear's body, as she incanted the third Fonic Hymn. The power of the spell called Holy Song washed over her group, healing their wounds, and increasing their strength.
Arietta's eyes narrowed, that would prove a very annoying thing…until Zero blinked to her side.
"Two can play at that game…do your brethren understand human language?"
"Yes."
"Mind calling them back real quick?"
She whistled, the two animals racing to her side.
"Names?"
"The Liger is Leon, the Hraesvelgr is Ariel."
"Leon, left flank, charge from just behind Jade. Guy will likely move to block you. While that happens, Ariel, I need you to shoot past Tear and Anise."
The two animals looked at Arietta. "You can trust him."
They bobbed their heads and took off. Zero noticed Jade casting a spell. Determining from the stance, it was going to be a Wind spell.
"Thunder Blade!"
An electrically charged sword of pure lightning shot towards Arietta and Zero. However, Zero was already prepaired. He swung his hands through the dirt, gathering fonons together, coating his hands in a golden brown glow, before catching sword of energy, causing Jade to stare in abject shock. I swear, I'm the ONLY one who ever gets any form of rise out of him other than irritation or sarcasm.
He threw the blade to the side, where it detonated harmlessly.
"Y-you can't…that's impossible!"
He smiled at Arietta, after noting that like he thought, Guy was blocking the Liger, and Anise and Tear were forced to halt their spells to evade the bird.
"Well then…" He began glowing. The feather shaped energy particles coming from his wings began spiralling around him as the glyph of Chaos formed beneath his feet.
"I shouldn't be able to do this either…"
Completing his 'tapestry' of woven fonons, he collapsed the glyph, activating the spell.
Much like with Tear, a massive glyph appeared beneath his feet again. Once again Chaos materialized beneath him, as a wave of energy washed over both groups. The side Zero was allied with, gained similar protective energies grafted to their bodies…while the side against him were covered in energy that performed similarly to painting a target on them. Seconds after the wave of energy washed over both groups, massive beams of light rained down upon Zero's foes, surprising them. The surprise increased the amount of damage they took, as the searing beams engulfed them repeatedly, forming heavy welts and bruises as the beams acted like neigh solid, blunt objects.
Natalia gasped. Luke stared. "Holy crap…"
"Holy Judgment, is what it's called." He smiled at Arietta, who couldn't help but offer a small smile back. She herself began incanting a spell, completing it in seconds, due to one of the effects of the slowly diminishing protective field.
Zero blinked over and kicked Guy in the back of his left leg, forcing the blonde man to buckle before a knee crashed into his nose, cleanly breaking it, but not killing him due to the protections offered by Tear's Holy Song. A wave of Zero's hand, and a spear of ice slammed into Jade's hand, breaking his concentration, causing him to abandon the spell he was about to cast. Leon opened its mouth, electricity arcing from its fangs, but Tear had dived to the side…into a hail of icicles rained down by Ariel.
Anise had quickly launched a Limited spell, only for Arietta to deftly step to the side, as she finished her incantation for Bloody Howling. A rip in dimensions opened up beneath the younger Fon Master Guardian, the howling wails of tortured souls becoming semi-tangible waves of dark energy, rippling through the younger girl's body. After the spell ended, Anise suddenly once again found herself knocked off of Tokunaga, as Zero followed up with an earthen charged fist.
"Kurae! Kouryuu Reppa!" Immediately as he slammed his fist into Anise's chin, a hail of boulders slammed into her body as the two rose into the air. Zero quickly gathered another series of fonons, surprising everyone with his ability to suddenly chain two completely differing fonic ability fusions.
His wings turned to flame, before the flames surrounded his body. He twisted in the air, turning the motion into a continuous spin.
"Kuuha Bakuendan!"
The raging flames surrounding him seared into Anise's flesh, the smaller girl screaming in pain as her body was assaulted not only by fire, but by fist and foot and raging wind as well. The flames dissipated as Zero blinked away, cancelling the attack, letting Anise take the hit from Jade's Energy Blast.
Luke just watched, his grip on Natalia weakening with his rising shock. "He's…damn…he's too good…"
"Croa riou croa neu tue rei croa riou ze rei va…"
As soon as Zero reappeared, a circle of holy energy surrounded him. He casually glanced at it, as Tear's body unleashed a heavy amount of Light fonons. The circle began radiating inward, building just beneath Zero's feet. He blinked, and the circle fired a beam of light into the sky, which turned into a giant cross for a few seconds, before exploding in a small wave of energy.
Arietta gasped, that was a powerful attack, one that even she wasn't sure she would be able to survive head on…
Then the light and dust cleared…and Zero was entirely unharmed, a glowing sphere of light comprised of multiple hexagons surrounding his body.
Damn, that was pretty close. I actually had to focus for a moment to block that one. It would have cut right through if I didn't. She's getting strong.
Outwardly however, he simply smirked at Tear, before blurring over to her side, knocking the wind out of her with a solid punch to her stomach, before following up with one of Luke's personal artes. He slammed a foot into her chest, noting subconsciously that her impressive bust would definitely soften the blow even if it was ever so slightly. Her body rose as he slammed another foot into her chest, before following up with a kick to her temple, rotating her body, before a foot to her back knocked her higher.
"Zanma Hienzan!"
A fiery kick to her stomach followed by a double footed drop kick to her back, knocking her back down to the ground, where she landed painfully. Luke let out a small whistle, noting that while it was slightly different than his own, that was a perfect execution of his Shadow Fury.
He's too strong. And the others…they're focusing too much on him, while Arietta and her monsters pick away at them while they're open…I can't…I can't let this go on! Natalia snuck a look at Luke, who was transfixed by Zero's performance.
I have to act…quickly, before Luke stops me. One shot, that's all I need. If I do it fast, nobody will notice, Arietta will fall, and this pointless battle will be over.
Besides…what can that Zero do about it? He cannot harm me…if he did, he'd have an entire kingdom after him!
She concluded to herself. She would act, as soon as she found an opening…which presented itself moments after her thoughts completed. Zero was busy distracting Anise, while Jade and Guy ran to Tear's aid. As Guy fed her a Lemon Gummy, Jade smacked away the charging Liger with his spear, flicking out an Energy Blast just in front of him, cancelling out a wave of icicles.
She pulled her bow, notched it, and let the arrow fly, aiming dead on for Arietta's head.
Zero suddenly felt a disturbance in the air. Unleashed, his wings flooded the area around him with his own fonons. Coating a certain radius with his own essense, his unlocked wings acted as recievers for any sudden shifts in pressure, be it fonic or otherwise. His wings, perfoming said task, sent commands and pulses into his brain, detailing when, where and how the world was shifting. This technique took him the better part of two years to figure out how to pull off, and master.
It was this, that told him something had changed. He could feel Natalia's movements, the sudden shifting of air telling him that a much larger object had been moved from her back to her hand, that a small object was being moved from a large shape on her back to the other object now in her hand.
His eyes widened as he understood what was happening. He felt himself fading from where he was, causing Jade to stumble as Zero had vanished from where Jade was expecting him to block.
As the arrow flew, Zero was moving. He appeared in front of Arietta, surprising her, just as the arrow reached where she was…
And it struck.
…ow. Ok…it seems like…fucking AT Field drops for a second upon re-materialization…good to know.
The radiant glowing Zero pulled the arrow out of his chest like it was nothing. The pressure around the group began to intensify, as he leveled a very heated glare at Natalia.
"You have just violated the terms of this duel."
Luke could do nothing. Even he understood the consequences of her actions. Zero was about to do something very unpleasant to her.
"I wanted to-
"IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU WANT!" Nobody had seen him that angry. Waves of light were beginning to corroded into wisps of dark energy.
"You have violated the terms of this battle. For that, you shall be punished."
He lifted his arm. Luke could feel it. It was going to happen now…or it would have…if one sound didn't ring through the hollowed tree.
Arietta coughed.
Immediately Zero froze.
She coughed again. Harder this time.
Zero whirled around to see Arietta staring at her hand in abject horror…before she dropped to her hands and knees, coughing violently.
Wh-what? What's…no, this isn't…this didn't… Zero's wings vanished instantly as he dashed to her, just as she fell to her side, clutching her chest. Blood was dribbling down the sides of her mouth, as her body spasmed with every violent cough.
No! This isn't-…what changed?
Looking her over, he charged and executed a powerful blast of healing energy.
It did nothing.
All the while, his mind was racing.
She died…she died at the hands of Anise…but…what if…
THE MIASMA! That must be it!
"No…this…this isn't supposed to happen…"
He flared up and fired off another one. Still nothing.
"Dammit! Not like this…I made a promise dammit I won't let you take her away from me!"
Nobody saw it. But his eyes had changed color. If one were to look through his eyes, to see the world from his body, they'd have seen everything suddenly become covered in black lines. The world had become as if it was made of glass, shattered, and black glue was used to bind it back together.
This…the power I was given because of the way I came here…the side effect from my method of 'travel'…with this I should…
"…why…why can't I see it?"
NO! I should be able to see the 'poison' in her! Where the HELL is it's origin?!
"…I get it…" The others stared at him as he seemed to simply stare at Arietta. Her body had stopped spasming. Her breaths were coming out in short, pained bursts.
"I understand…it's not that I can't see it…" Largo overcame his shock and stepped forward.
"It's there…but it's so close to her heart…I can't get rid of it like that…if I miss…she'll die anyway…"
He bowed his head.
Is there nothing I can do?!
His eyes snapped open.
"That's it."
He summoned a phantom blade and sliced through a line on her top. It cleaved open cleanly, parting just enough for the area between her breasts to be revealed to the air.
"I don't know if clothing gets in the way, but I'm taking no chances…" He looked at her pained face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she made a whimpering sound. His heart almost shattered at that. But he held fast.
"I promised…"
He placed his hands over her chest, concentrating. Before his palms formed a glyph comprised of a six pointed star, before the glyph faded into the ground beneath her. Largo reached out a hand to his shoulder before the large man was suddenly knocked back by the invisible wave of force that had suddenly ripped through the area.
Zero's hands took upon a familiar glow.
"Is that…Hyperresonance?!" Tear gasped out. Luke nodded. "I know that glow…this feeling…he can do what I do…"
Zero reached out his senses. Every part of his body was focused on Arietta, and finding the Miasma within her. It wasn't hard. It had rooted itself deep within her being, her very blood, her life force was coated in it. Arietta's breaths became sharper, more hurried.
"Please…calm down Arietta. I promise…I'll get rid of it. I swear it on my life. Just please…hold on…just a bit longer…"
It's not enough…why? Why can't I save her?! What the hell does this world have against her?!
Is despair only grew more determination. He pulled his hands back and then thrust them forward, throwing more power into his contained resonations. Unknown to him, he'd began drawing so much energy from himself that the illusion he placed, the suggestion around him, dropped. For the first time, they saw how haggard and tired he looked. For the first time, they saw his once black hair, turn stark white, flowing in the wind created by his unleashed power. The wings, that they had just learn he had, were now displayed in full view. They all mentally counted, he had six of them.
"Something's wrong. He should have succeeded by now."
"What are you talking about Luke? Even I don't know what he's doing." Jade admonished.
"Isn't it obvious? She has Miasma in her, just like Tear did."
Eyes widened. Luke rolled up the sleeves on the red long-coat Zero bought for him.
"Luke, what are you-
He didn't answer. He simply ran forward, and crashed to his knees on Arietta's other side.
"Zero, tell me what to do. My Resonance is yours."
And for the first time, Luke saw exactly what it was his suspicions were. He could see it in Zero's shimmering silver eyes, he was in love with the girl between them. No words could describe the level of thankfulness Zero was feeling, so all he did was nod.
"I…I can…I'm isolating the Miasma now. She's had it in her body for so long that it circulated too many times, it was grafted to her very blood cells. But I've managed, barely, to draw those particles off. I just…I don't have the ability to excise them."
"What do you need me to do?"
"…I need you to wipe it out. I can show you where the pockets I've created are…and then we need to team up on the pocket in her heart, but…"
"I…don't know how to find them."
"Just listen Luke…I made a theory on Hyperresonance. It's sealed in a file that only I can open. Hyperresonance is nothing more than a very powerful blast of sound, generated at a frequency able to destabilize something to reduce it into its base form."
"Uhh…"
"Imagine standing next to a giant bell. Someone rings that bell. Your body vibrates from the sound waves created by such a large object ringing like that. That's what Hyperresonance is. A powerful blast of sound that can make something vibrate to the point it falls apart."
Luke's eyes widened as he understood. "So that means…"
"All you need to do, is 'listen' for my fonon frequency inside her. Everywhere you feel that frequency, I want you to blast it with your own. I've localized all of the Miasma, so my own frequency can contain the radius of yours, making sure none of it creates a feedback loop to Arietta."
"I can do that. I think. No…I know I can do this."
"I know you can as well Luke. Now come on. We don't have much time."
And so it began. Zero would began loosing a small sound wave that Luke would pinpoint and generate his own Hyperresonance to eradicate the Miasma within Arietta. The group watched in astonishment as the two young men glowed with a pale white sheen, a small flicker of multicolored light in between their palms. Every few seconds Zero's aura would pulse, and then Luke's would pulse in tune with it. Jade was feverently committing everything he was seeing here to memory. This, was a major breakthrough in the research of Hyperresonance, and the Seventh Fonon itself.
If one were to be able to see within her body, they would see a great purple cloud of mist being contained in a glowing silver sphere. The sphere would direct it to an open space within her body, forcing it into her stomach, where a powerful ray of red light would encompass the sphere, before both collapsed, vanishing the mist into nothingness.
Both of them noted that Arietta had stopped gasping. Fearing the worst they poured more focus into removing the Miasma from her. Finally they reached the final pocket.
"I can't move this one. If I do I risk killing her. We have to blast it where it is."
"That's…kinda dangerous isn't it?"
"Yes…but it's the only chance we have."
DRECK! Where are you?!
"Agh…d-dammit Asch…"
Immediately Zero's eyes narrowed. He lessened the pulse into Arietta a small amount, and radiated the same pulse that Luke was.
"I'm…busy…"
Busy?! With what?! Where the hell are you anyway?!
Asch…do yourself a favor. Shut up.
Who the hell-
SHUT UP! Luke and I are in the middle of a VERY delicate operation right now. And I swear to you, if we fail because you can't shut your fucking mouth, I will bring Natalia to you and make you watch as I rip out her fucking heart and eat it! And THEN, I'm going to bring every last member of your family, and systematically crush their bones one by one until all that's left is a flopping sack of meat! Are we clear?
You wouldn't-
ARE WE FUCKING CLEAR?!
It was then that wherever he was, Asch realized that whoever this voice was, speaking through his connection with Luke, he was serious. While it pissed him off to no end that the voice would threaten not only Natalia, but his family like that…he realized he couldn't take the chance that he'd make good on his word. If this voice was unafraid of the Kimlaskan royal family, then he was a force to be reckoned with.
Crystal.
Good. now FUCK OFF!
During the exchange, the group noticed Zero's aura begin to fluctuate violently. The stream connecting him to Arietta remained solid and unwavering, but everything else around him seemed to flatten. Even Luke had a hard time resisting the sudden oppressive field Zero was emitting.
Note to self; get him to teach me how to do that.
"Let's finish this."
Luke just nodded. The two focused and with a small pulse, erased the final cloud of Miasma within Arietta's body. Her eyes snapped open as she sucked in a deep breath, her body rocketing upwards as she suddenly sat up. The remaining tears in her eyes shed themselves as she continued gasping in air as if she'd been underwater for the past ten minutes. Zero and Luke quickly cut off the flow of energy into her, the glows fading. Arietta clutched her chest as her heart beat wildly, its functions fully restored with the removal of the final cloud. Her head snapped back and forth, between Luke and Zero. Luke knelt backwards, motioning towards Zero who simply glowed with the charge of a healing spell.
He was taking no chances.
As her body was flooded with the calming beats of the Seventh Fonon, she pulled Zero into a hug, chanting her thanks all the way. He simply wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back, a relieved look on his face. And then, surprising everyone, he raised his right arm. Natalia slammed into the far rocky wall. Arietta turned her head towards the source of the sound.
The silver band around Zero's wrist began glowing. Rays of multi-colored energy gathered around it, solidifying into panels of shimmering light, like stained glass, or crystal. From between the panels grew four objects that resembled fan blades. These objects then began shimmering with light. Not seconds later, multiple rays of arrow-tipped light rocketed from the tips of the blades, each one crashing straight into Natalia, who screamed in agony as if her very body were being ripped apart.
It was then that Luke recalled the flash of light back at Daath, when they were trying to rescue Ion. He remembered how Zero had directed them to flee, that he would handle the replicas trying to stop them. He remembered turning back, and shuddering as hundreds of voices cried out in agony at the same time, as that light flared. The light show ended, and Natalia dropped limply to the ground.
Guy yelled at Zero. "What the hell was that?!"
"Her punishment. Did you think I forgot?"
Guy was pissed…but he could say nothing.
"She violated the terms of the duel, thus was punished. I could have killed her. In fact I should have. But no. She is unworthy of being held in Death's loving embrace. No, I have sentenced her to a fate far worse than Death."
He rose, taking Arietta with him. She wobbled and he wrapped an arm around her, to stabilize her. She gave him a weak smile.
"What did you do to her?!"
"You will find out in time. For now, suffice it to say, she has value to no one any longer."
He looked at the pink haired girl standing in his arms. "Come on Arietta. Let's get you cleaned up."
She just nodded. A brilliant silver glow surrounded them as Zero converted the two of them to energy, encasing them in a protective field. The small orb of light then flew off into the air, merging through rock and bark alike.
Note to self; get him to teach me that too.
A/N: Again, I reiterate that the jumpyness is meant to be. Here we see some of Zero's battle prowess, along with my take on how spells and attacks would work in a semi-realistic setting. Gamewise, you can't shoot an icicle into someone's hand to interrupt their spell, you don't have that level of precision.
The thing that's always confused me though is if hyperresonance is supposed to have a hyphen between hyper, and resonance. If someone could clarify that for me I'd be grateful.
I have one more chapter pre-written, but I think I'll wait to post that one. There's a couple things that are meant to occur before it happens…so it might be a little while.