I yawned a little and slowly opened my eyes to be greeted with nothing but darkness. I stretched a little and was eventually able to make out some furniture around me and what faintly resembled a light bulb above me. I yawned again and tried to remember exactly what I was doing here laying on my back on the floor and my legs up on what felt like a couch...Oh, that's—
"Hey, it's morning you two! Up yet?"
—A sound like the flicking of a light switch and—
"Ahh! For god's sake, please turn that off!"
—I rolled on my side and under the coffee table as I tried to get rid of the stinging sensation in my eyes. As it turned out, that really was a light bulb that I had been staring at...frickin' Krista having to turn it on while I was still trying to wake up.
After a few moments, the light was turned off and I sighed in relief.
I finally got up from under the coffee table and wondered for a moment why I hadn't heard Daniel say anything either when Krista had turned on the light or when I had yelled at her to turn it off. I got my answer though a moment later when I glanced over at the bed and saw him lying on his stomach with one of the pillows braced against the top and sides of his head, probably to block us out. I heard Krista's footsteps and noticed her out of the corner of my eye after a moment.
"So, are you two ready to go or not?"
I rolled my eyes and chuckled a little.
"I guess that I'm up now...just had to wake up staring straight at a damn light bulb was all..."
"So, what about him?"
"Oh Daniel? Just give me a second and I'll have him up."
I walked over beside the bed and grabbed a handful of the pillow and yanked it up somewhat to get Daniel's attention.
"Get up Daniel. If I have to get up, then so do you."
"...Fine fine, just give me a damn second."
I turned back to Krista after a moment as I realized that somebody was missing.
"Hey, where's—"
"—Oh, Adam's down in the kitchen fixing himself some breakfast."
I yawned again and stretched a little as I listened to Krista explain where our little Keyblade Hero was.
"Okay then. Well, I'm not really hungry or anything so I'll go on and head out to the parking lot. You guys can come out there whenever you finish, all right?"
And with those words said, I gathered up my weapons, placing them back in their proper places, and made my way out of the Suite and over to the elevator. I pressed the button for the first floor and leaned against the back wall of the elevator as it began its descent. I rolled my shoulders a couple of times and stretched my arms a little; smiling once I finally got all the cramps out. I felt the elevator stop after a few moments and heard what sounded like a smoke alarm going off as I reached the lobby.
I took a look around the corner of the lobby and saw a trail of smoke coming from the kitchen along with a series of mumbled words that I couldn't understand. I sighed and rolled my eyes after a moment. Only Adam. I decided to leave him to whatever the hell it is that he was trying to cook. I headed back to the front entrance of the lobby and made my way outside towards our parked vehicles.
I opened the driver's side door as soon as I reached my car and slid onto the seat as I put the keys in the ignition and turned the CD player on. I smiled after a moment as I heard the next song start playing and leaned back against the seat a little as I began tapping my right hand's fingers on the steering wheel to the opening beat of It's My Life by Bon Jovi.
' This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud! '
I sat there in the car for probably about five to ten minutes before I noticed something strange in the distance out of the corner of my eye. I remembered Sylph's last words as I realized that the figure that was heading this way was wearing a white robe. I got out of the car as fast as I could and made my way back towards the hotel's entrance just as It's My Life reached its final chorus once again, but this time not on repeat.
' It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life! '
I reached the hotel's entrance just as everybody was walking out.
"Hey Dustin, what's up? I thought that you were going to be waiting for us out in the parking lot."
"Yeah Adam, I was. Let's just say that something's come up. Another one of those Order of Light guys is here."
I turned towards Krista and knew what she was going to ask me so I went ahead and nodded before she could.
"Yes Krista, I haven't forgotten. This one's all yours."
Just as those words left my mouth, I heard someone's voice from behind us start addressing us.
"So, you're the punks that killed Sylph? How'd a bunch of kids like you manage to do that?"
"Well, how about we show you?"
I watched as Krista hefted her double-bladed staff onto her shoulder and grinned a little. I grinned back and nodded as I turned around to face the newcomer. As it turned out this second member was a young woman, probably in her late twenties, with icy blue hair and eyes that matched Sylph's.
"She's all yours, Krista. Take her out."
"Come on, show me how you defeated Sylph. Try to see if you can actually beat me, Nixe, the elemental master of Water."
As I watched Krista get into an attack stance, I heard the opening guitar riff of the next song start blaring from my car's sound system and grinned to myself as I recognized the beat. 5. Marz by Megaherz. It was a German song that Krista had got me to listen to so many times that I literally had an English translation permanently stuck in my head now. We had always kidded her about it being perfect for a fight song for her and, well, I guess that now would be as good a time as any to test it.
' Siehst du mich?
Do you see me?
Hrst du mich?
Do you hear me? '
I felt my grin widen a little as I saw a slight sparkle in Krista's eyes as she recognized the music and tapped her foot on the ground for just a moment.
"Krista."
I saw her turn toward me for just a moment and I took the chance to conjure a small Fire spell in the palm of my hand.
"Just so you know, Daniel and I found out last night that we can use magic now. Just thought that you might like to know that. Oh, and as far as we can tell, that does include any kind of magic or anything like it that you've ever seen or read. Well, good luck."
' Was hab ich dir getan,
What did I do to you, '
I saw Krista widen her eyes at the display of magic before an almost mischievous grin spread across her face as she nodded and twirled the staff in front of her once, showcasing that she was truly ready.
' Warum zerstrst du mich?
Why do you destroy me?
Fhlst du mich?
Do you feel me? '
In the blink of an eye, the battle had begun. One of the blades of Krista's staff met with the sharpened edge of what I realized after a moment was Nixe's single cutlass sword.
Krista effortlessly broke the stalemate with a quick flick of the wrist and dodged Nixe's under-handed strike, retaliating with her own strike that cut through the cloth on Nixe's left arm.
' Sprst du mich?
Do you feel me? '
I felt a grin come to my face a moment later as I saw Krista mouth a single word and saw a Firaga spell launch itself at Nixe, who dodged it at the last moment but not before getting singed by it.
"Ohh...playing with fire, aren't we? Well then, I'll just have to put it out."
' Wenn du mich nicht mehr liebst,
If you do not love me any longer,
Warum berhrst du mich?
Why you affect me? '
A moment later the ground began to crack underneath Krista's feet and a torrent of water suddenly lunged up, engulfing her and sending her flying back. She stabbed the end of her staff into the ground and stopped herself from flying any further back while using the momentum to send herself flying back towards Nixe instead.
I had to admit, I really hadn't expected her to be able to recover that quick but I was glad anyway.
' Brauchst du mich?
Do you need me? '
Nixe was stunned for just a moment as she saw Krista's quick recovery but recovered herself just in time to side-step Krista's strike and send another jet of water at Krista's unguarded back.
I whistled a little as I saw her foot touch the ground and help her to dodge the jet of water; counter-attacking with a slash of the staff that opened up a gash in Nixe's side.
"You little bitch!"
"Well, you're the one that wanted to see how we defeated that friend of yours, Sylph!"
' Sag glaubst du nicht,
Don't say that you believe,
Dass es besser ist,
That it is better,
Du lebst dein Leben ohne mich?
That you live your Life without me? '
A growl rose up from behind Nixe's clenched teeth before a smile crossed her lips. Whatever she was thinking, I knew that it couldn't be good.
Not even a moment after she had grinned, I heard something like the sound of rushing water. As I glanced around where we were, I saw something that literally made my jaw drop.
' Erkennst du mich?
Do you recognize me? '
"...Oh fuck...Everybody, get back to the damn hotel! Now!"
' Verstehst du nicht?
Don't you understand? '
As it turned out, that sound of rushing water was actually the sound of tidal waves coming at us from all around.
Once I saw Krista run back towards us and saw everybody run back towards the hotel like I had just said, I turned tail and ran as well. I was never one for running away except under two conditions: one, seeing something like this shit happening in front of me and two, knowing that I could plan a counter-attack. Besides, we had to get to higher ground and the Sheraton was a damn high building.
' Warum bist du berhaupt noch hier,
Why are you at all still here,
Was willst du noch von mir?!
What do you still want from me?! '
I breathed a sigh of relief as I reached the inside of the lobby and heard the doors electronically close behind me just as the first wave crashed against the outside of the hotel.
"Wow, you little brats actually run pretty fast..."
I turned around and saw Nixe laughing at us from the opposite end of the lobby.
"...But, the better question is: can you run fast enough?"
' Augen auf,
Eyes which,
Wer sieht versteht,
Sees and understands, '
I saw everybody's eyes widen just as I heard the sound of cracking glass come from behind us.
"Shit! Get up the stairs!"
I knew that if we got in the elevator and the circuits shorted out from the water then we'd be screwed. Even if it did slow us down, we'd have to take the stairs.
' Wie gnadenlos die Zeit vergeht,
How merciless the Time passes, '
As we made our way up the inner stairwell of the hotel floor by agonizing floor, Nixe attacked and Krista retaliated—each one matching the other's moves.
' Wie sich der Zeiger dreht,
Like the Pointer turns, '
Eventually I saw a door at the top of the stairwell and rushed through it as soon as I could get it opened enough only to find myself on the roof of the hotel. I glanced behind me as I heard footsteps and saw Daniel and Adam come rushing through as well.
Where's Krista?
' Unentwegt...
Incessantly... '
A moment later, my thought was answered as I saw a giant spout of water come rushing out of the doorway and up into the air; Krista and Nixe still trading blows even as Krista began to be engulfed by the water for a moment as it rose higher over the rooftop.
' Er steht nie still!
He never stands still! '
I saw Krista mouth something and realized after a moment that she had focused a Blizzard spell to her feet so that she could fight on even ground—well, in this case, even water—with Nixe. She swiftly dodged another one of Nixe's strikes, using her staff to balance herself out on the water, just as...
' Du weit nicht, was du willst,
You do not know, what you want, '
"Don't you think you should give up, you little bitch?"
I cringed a little as I heard those words and saw Nixe dodge another of Krista's attacks. Nixe was beginning to get way too over-confident and arrogant, especially if she continued calling Krista that again and again.
' Du weit nicht wo du stehst,
You do not know where you stand, '
"Never! So why don't you stay still and take it like a whore?!"
' Weit nicht woher du kommst,
You do not know from where you come, '
"Oooh! BURN!"
I couldn't help but to grin as I heard Adam's words ring out even above the sounds of the raging waves.
' Wohin du gehst!
Where you go! '
I chuckled a little a moment later as I saw Krista flash Adam a thumbs up before continuing her assault on Nixe.
Although a moment later...
' Du weit nicht was dich treibt,
You do not know if you float, '
"Augh!"
I grimaced as I saw Nixe's cutlass connect with Krista's skin, ripping a shallow gash down her arm.
' Was am Ende fr dich bleibt!
What remains for you at the End! '
Krista placed the staff back into its holster and looked as if she was trying to cast a spell.
' Warum bist du so blass,
Why are you so pale, '
I smiled a little for just a moment as I realized what the dim white glow covering her hand actually was.
' So kalt,
So cold, '
"Hmm? What are you doing now, bitchy?"
And with those words, Nixe began to call forth more water to form a new more powerful wave.
' So herzlos,
So heartless, '
As the light faded away from Krista's hand, I could see that the skin on her arm had mended back to exactly how it had looked before the blade of the cutlass had sunk into it.
' Du weit nicht was du tust,
You do not know which you do,
Weit nicht woran du glaubst.
Or do not believe in. '
"Just a little mental preparation, wanker. Now, feel this!"
' Sag mir wozu und ob
Say to me
Du mich noch brauchst!?
If you still need me!? '
A moment later, Krista clapped her hands together and I could actually see the—at first—bare outlines of a Firaga and a Blizzaga spell begin to form.
' Wenn's einfach nicht mehr passt,
If any longer it does not simply fit,
Wenn du mich wirklich nur noch hasst!
If you really hate me only! '
As the two spells began to mold together, I saw Nixe just stare at Krista for a single moment just as a large geyser of water shot forth from Krista's hands and completely drenched Nixe.
' Warum bist du noch hier,
Why are you still here,
Wofr,
For what,
Was willst du noch von mir? (Was willst du noch?)
What you want still from me? (What you want still?) '
A second clap of the hands and I could have sworn that I felt an electrical charge begin to form in the air around us.
' Was willst du noch von mir?
What do you want still from me? '
Without any warning whatsoever, Krista pointed both of her hands directly at Nixe, the hands themselves pointed like guns.
' Siehst du mich?
Do you see me?
Erkennst du mich?
Do you recognize me? '
From the tips of Krista's fingers came bolts of lightning that knew what their target was and shot straight towards it.
' Ganz tief in meinem Herz
Look deeply into my Heart
Ist noch ein Platz fr dich.
There is still a Place for you. '
Nixe attempted to dodge, but it was too late for her. The lightning hit her and shocked her to such extremes that I actually had to turn away for just a moment as I heard the screams before they were quickly silenced.
' Ich suche dich...
I look for you...
Ich sehne mich...
I long myself... '
I brought my eyes back to Krista and saw her arms fall to her sides, totally exhausted. I wasn't surprised. She had to have been tired after that fight.
' Nach dem was ich geliebt hab,
After which I loved,
Doch ich find es nicht...
But I do not find it... '
After a moment though, as I saw her eyes begin to close and mine to widen, I realized something else. As she was falling into sleep, her Blizzard spell was fading away and the last thing that she must have been seeing was the waves engulfing her as the water began to crash back down and recede.
' Viel zu lange,
Too much is enough, '
"Krista!"
"Krista!"
"Krista!"
' Viel zu spt!
Too much is too late! '
Three separate cries—one my own and two from Daniel and Adam behind me as I rushed forward into the water, trying to find Krista.
' Du weit nicht, was du willst...
You do not know, what you want... '
I breathed a sigh of relief after a moment as I caught a glimpse of Krista's body floating along in the water but then...
No—No—No—No—No!
The water was carrying Krista's body towards the edge of the rooftop. I made my way towards her as fast as I could and made a single leap at the last second, grabbing hold of her wrist while crashing my body against the edge of the roof. I tried to pull Krista up and had some luck before I felt my body beginning to slide over the edge as well from all the water. I glanced back over my shoulder for just a moment to see Adam and Daniel just staring at us.
"Come on, one of you two! I could really use some help over here and kind of right now if you two wouldn't mind!"
A moment later, I sighed in relief as I felt someone's hands grab my legs and start pulling us back up from the edge before a second pair of hands grabbed my shoulders and continued to haul us up and back onto the roof.
As soon as I knew that we were back safely on the roof, I rolled over on my side for just a moment before slowly getting up as I saw Adam checking Krista's pulse. I saw him sigh in relief as he turned towards me—and I realized a moment later, Daniel who was behind me—and smiled a little.
"She's still got a pulse. Krista's all right."
I nodded as I finally got back to my feet and felt a small smile come to my face as I glanced over at Krista for a moment.
"It'd take more than a little water to do her in anyway. She's way too stubborn. Well..."
I turned around and headed towards the stairwell.
"...I'll let you two take care of her and get her downstairs. I'm going to go and try to track down our vehicles...wherever the hell they could be."
