Roze's corner: Hello all ^_^ Summer is coming! Prepare for the heat!

To my new readers: The story I am about to write is based on the seven sins that we know of and focuses on the five heroes and the ds, friends and allies are all included. Some of these will be crack pairings and what not but I am trying to focus on the aspect of what they would feel being the only ones to stand up to the Black Mage in that time period. So without ado, please enjoy...

A/N: Starting up again slowly guys, prepare for more seriousness as the battles get more gruesome and deaths more frequent.

Disclaimers: I do not own Maplestory or anything related to it... Just the plot line and my characters in Kradia lol

Overview: They dared to face him, took the burden upon their shoulders and fought back against the takeover of the world. But divided, they were still individuals who felt love, exuded hate, treasures, seek revenge, took pride in their rank, wanted company. And despite the world depending on them, they needed to first figure out how to depend on themselves and each other.

Indignation

"Run!"

"There's no time! Brace yourselves!"

Pain…

That is all I can feel right now…

"Ugh…." I sit up and the first thing I noticed is the river of blood pouring from above my left eye and another trail from a gash on the back of my head. It was too cold for my body to try and coagulate its injuries.

"Where are we?"

Dragging myself in the snow, I prayed that the storm that created this landscape would not return anytime soon. The frigid weather bit into the palms of my skin as I pulled my worn body further across the white landscape that was now being painted red by my own blood.

"Is anyone alive?"

"W-what is this?" I felt something sharp poke my hand and I managed to sit myself up and look down at it. "A pu-purple enchanted arrow… M-Mercedes?" My head hurt so much but I had to continue on and find them. "M-Maha…" Raising up the same hand that previously had the arrow in it, I called out to my polearm.

'Master where are you?'

"Maha… Come." Looking down at my right arm, I grimaced as I noticed its battered and broken state. 'Three dislocations, sprained wrist…' Closing my hand around the middle of my weapon, I felt small amounts of energy being forced back into my body.

'You idiot! Why didn't you call me from before?'

"Ah Maha, even when I am in pain you never cease to berate me." I was helped up slowly by my spirit companion. Holding up the arrow, his face hardened.

'Do you have any indication of where he or the others might be?'

"No sadly, I just happened to drag myself a few feet to find this. And with the way the sky is looking we need to move fast to find the others." Steadying the polearm, with Maha's help we began to try and look for our allies.

"Fucking shit." Falling onto one knee, my breath came out in ragged pants as the exhaustion from battle began to slip its arms around me.

'Master you need to stop and rest for a bit or else your wounds will only bleed out faster.'

Looking at Maha through the corner of my eye, I sent him a glare that must've either scared him shitless or something because he silenced himself fast and just helped me back up. "I understand what I am doing Maha, do not think I know the consequences of my actions if I do not stop soon. But right now with the incoming storm and our allies still lost we have no time to stop and take leisure breaks. You must continue to help me, even if it means my death." Outwardly I showed no fear but my heart shook with regret at those words. 'I just hope in the end it does not come to that.' Maha was silent for a bit before shaking his head and hoisting me up on one of his shoulders. "What the-?"

'Only person I can do this for is you ya' big headed oaf. Don't doubt me because I am a spirit, it is from the power of my realm that you receive some of your powers.'

I was stunned beyond belief, more from the fact that a hundreds of year old spirit was physically able to manage to carry me without breaking a sweat and he was of a slimmer build.

'Let me see that arrow.'

"Why?"

'Because I sense magical energy fool, and that arrow is loaded with it. Any luck and we just may be able to find that elfin king.'

Handing him the enchanted weapon, he focused on it momentarily before it shattered and reformed into a compass. "Well?"

'More west, seems like that last battle split you up further than you thought. Let's make headway.'

A rumble of thunder from behind us signaled that the storm was moving in fast and quick. "Alright"

"Aran, do you understand what you have been blessed with?"

Staring into deep blue eyes, a young boy no more than eight had cocked his head to the side as the elders surrounded him. Twinkling baby blues showed the cluelessness in his round face as the others chatted around him.

"Come young one…"

As soon as his hand was taken did he yank it free and got into a defensive stance.

"Aran…"

"No, he must do it…"

Turning to his parents, both of them stared sadly at their baby boy, knowing that the fate that was bestowed on him will burden him heavily. "Mother… Father…"

"My son… You must go now…"

"But father…"

"Go!"

Reeling back from rejection, he turned to his mother for support but all he got was a teary eyed stare before she took off back into their hut. Sulking, he turned to the elder, betrayed and hurt that his own parents would send him off with strangers he never had met before.

"Young one, you will see your parents again, not for a while but in due time. Now come, we must make haste for the ceremony."

"Ceremony?"

"Yes… The ceremony for the chosen one…"

'Stupid! Wake the hell up!'

"Aran! Please say something!"

I hear voices…

"Maha! I know that only Aran can hear your voice clearly, please do something!"

'Fucking moron! Wake up!'

A cold slap made me sit straight up and collide into two beings, one of them I recognized as Maha. "You asshole! Why did you do that!?" Touching my cheek, I hissed at the skin breaking cold and began to rub it fiercely. "I swear I'm going to…"

"Thank goddess you're okay!"

I felt soft arms around me and turned to see Phantom there staring up at me. She too was worse for wear, her expensive clothing tattered and torn, and a shallow cut on her forehead and under her eye. Both her arms were bandaged and her leg was in a makeshift hold.'Shit, I got lucky.'

"Thank goodness you're awake."

"Mercedes…" Nodding to him as he entered the room, I noticed that we were in a bedroom of sorts. "Where are we?"

"One of my personal hideouts, seems like they teleported us into the mountains to die after they had fun tossing us around like sacks. I found Mercedes nearby and brought him back here. "

Helping Phantom up, I tried to get up to help her walk but was held down by her gentle hand.

"Don't, I'll be fine but you're going to need bed rest for a couple of days. You nearly lost your toes and fingers, plus the weather severely dropped your temperature along with the fact you bled out a lot. If it wasn't for Maha using his gem as a beacon I'd never would have found you."

Resting back against the pillows, a tray was put in front of me with soup and a cup of water on it.

"Eat up; we're going to need your strength to find Lumina and Frida."

"They still haven't been found Mercedes?" He too had taken a lot of injuries, one of his arms in a sling and a bandage over his left eye. Blood matted his hair down and his clothing too was ripped in several places. "Sorry I couldn't protect you guys better…" Guilt weighed heavily on me; I was the most built physically and could stand a lot thrown my way. But I was knocked out by a simple spell, what kind of warrior am I?

"Aran…"

I placed my hand on top of Eve's as she draped her arms around my neck again, noticing how different we were in skin tone.

"Easy my friend, not every battle will be easy for you to take the brunt of the damage. Yes weapons are easily deflected but magic is a whole 'nother thing, one that you are not accustomed to despite Maha being immersed in the magical energy himself."

Mercedes rested his hand on my shoulder but that did nothing to ease the anger that burned at my failure to protect my allies. Forget about pride, the fact that two of our band are out there in that storm possibly dying a slow, painful death all because I couldn't protect them better. "Fuck…"

"Aran, relax your palm."

I didn't realize that I broke the skin on my hand until Phantom eased my palm open and held it. Looking at her, I felt that she was the only right now who understood the inner turmoil I am going through.

"You will."

Her words helped to ease stress, but the pure rage was there… And I swear on everything that is holy that my enemies will meet it at the end of my blade.

A/N: As always r&r and have a nice day.