Disclaimer: So... seeing as Cytea isn't around, as while I am writing this I am at work, this shall serve as my temporary disclaimer. If I end up really liking it, mayhaps I shall use it as a future disclaimer. Who knows? Anyway, seeing as it's fun to not do this alone, I shall spin the sacred Wheel of Destiny to choose my next victim! Er, I mean...co-host! Yeah! That's what I meant.. Let us spin the Wheel. Spin my Wheel! Spin! *Wheel spins*

Kratos: *angry silence*

Wavemasterkaz: "Oh for the love of– Kratos! Get out of here!"

Kratos: *angry silence. Doesn't move.*

Wavemasterkaz: :Go away, would ya?" *looks at Kratos* "Whoa, dude. Your face is turning really red. You choking on something?"

Kratos: "Sacred powers, cast thy purifying light upon these corrupt souls."

Wavemasterkaz: *O_O* "Oh shit! Kratos, there's uh..no need to get all hostile! We, eheh, can't we work this out?"

Kratos: "Rest in peace, sinners!"

Wavemasterkaz: "No! I want to live! I'm too young and awesome to die! I still have thirteen days left before I can buy scratch carrrrds!"

Kratos: "Judgement!"

Wavemasterkaz: *ducks and covers her head as large rays of light rain down from the sky...or..rather, the ceiling.* "Nuuuuuu!" *Looks up, sees she is alive.* "Yay! I'm not dead! Haha, Kratos, you missed!"

Kratos: *smirks* "No, I didn't."

Wavemasterkaz: "?" *Examines self* "But I'm fine..."

Kratos: *smiles and chuckles*

Wavemasterkaz: *Follows Kratos' gaze* "Noooooo! My Wheel! You destroyed my Wheel of Destiny!"

Kratos: *grins*

Wavemasterkaz: "Y-you–you murderer! You Wheel killer!"

Kratos: "Call me what you will, you no longer have any power over me. Farewell." *walks away*

Wavemasterkaz: "You know who owns what. Go away." *mourns Wheel*

Chapter IXX

Mutation

Lloyd began to run to Genis' side, but was startled by a loud hiss. Horror and revulsion flooded through him as he realized that the tentacles wrapping themselves around his friend were coming from Sora's mouth.

Sora was crouched once again in an animal-like position, his mouth gaping and the tentacles sprouting from his throat. His eyes were rolled into the back of his head, and as Lloyd watched, they sunk into his skill and he found himself staring into empty, bloody eye sockets.

"What the hell!" Lloyd cried, scrambling backward. Sora laughed a wheezy, rattling laugh, blood pouring from his mouth with every heave of his chest. His teeth lengthened and two more rows of teeth sprouted behind his lips, razor-sharp and pointing in every direction. His skin began to darken into a leathery brown colour, and the black marking that had appeared on his face in Hima burned like the blackest flame. His flesh sunk inward until it clung to his skeleton, and his fingernails sprouted into large, hooked talons. Fur sprouted on his face and neck, as his body was covered in scales, and large bony spikes ripped through the flesh on his back. Wolfish ears grew on his head and a long, reptilian tail was suddenly thrashing behind him. His hair grew into a mane that ran down his back to the end of his tail. His face lengthened into a snout, but rather than stretch with the bone, his skin ripped around it, leaving part of his skull and jaw bones exposed. He laughed his wheezy, rattling laugh again and more tentacles shot from his throat to wrap themselves around Genis.

"Oh my god!" Sheena screamed. Yggdrasill began to laugh, and Kratos' face was expressionless as the two of them watched.

"Sora stop it!" Lloyd yelled and slashed at one of the tentacles with his sword. The severed tentacle fell to the ground and writhed like an angry snake, but Sora showed no reaction. Two more tentacles shot at Lloyd and fixed themselves around his ankles, pulling his feet out from under him.

"Die!" Yggdrasill laughed. "Die!"

... ... ... ... ... ...

To watch Lloyd and the rest of the Chosen's entourage battling desperately against the parasitic tentacles was more difficult than he would have thought. Every time a tentacle was whipped across flesh or wrapped around a limb, he felt a strong urge to rush to their aid. For Lloyd especially. However, he held his ground and stood silently at Yggdrasill's side.

"Isn't this exciting, Kratos?" Yggdrasill said jubilantly. "Such a shame that I must depart. When he's had his fun and is finished disposing of them, bring him back to me, would you? He'll need to be rewarded." Kratos nodded jerkily, and Yggdrasill turned to leave. But then, at that instant, something happened that left Kratos feeling a bit dazed.

As he watched, a tentacle wrapped itself around Lloyd's throat and tightened. Lloyd gasped, and tried to pull away, but the tentacle only tightened even more. Sora, who had been motionless for most of the attack, suddenly sprung at Lloyd, teeth bared and talons raised.

No! Kratos pleaded silently, surprising himself. Stop! To the amazement of everyone in the room, Sora suddenly stopped himself in midair, landed neatly in front of Lloyd, and looked over at Kratos expectantly with his empty eye sockets.

Just like Hima... Kratos thought. Yggdrasill, who had been about to step into the portal to Derris-Kharlan, Colette in tow, whipped around.

"What the hell did you stop for?" he shouted. "Kill them! I order you to kill them!" An angry snarl built in Sora's chest as he lunged for Lloyd again, but just as suddenly, he stopped at another silent plea from Kratos.

"He listens to you, Kratos! Even your thoughts!" Midna's voice cried in Kratos' mind. "Take advantage of that! If not to save him, then to save Lloyd!"

But why? Kratos thought. Why does he obey me?

"I've told you! He's your–"

"Kill them!"

No!

... ... ... ... ... ...

He didn't know what to do. Commands were being fired at him from all directions, and he didn't know whose to obey. He could still sense his targets close by, but...who were they again? He vaguely remembered faces, but in his eyeless state, he was completely blind to the world.

Wait...what happened? He was blind? Why did he feel so...enraged? Why did he taste blood in his mouth? Panic flowed through him as he realized that something was not right and he didn't know where he was. He began to back away from the source of the confusion, ready to flee at the first hint of danger, but was stopped by a tugging feeling at his insides.

What the hell? What could be pulling at his insides? He tried to pull away again, but was met with the same feeling. Terror filled him and he cried out, but all he could hear was a vicious sounding roar. This also frightened him and he began to claw blindly around him. As he did, he heard someone scream and a startled yell in his mind. Why was Lloyd screaming? Wait...Lloyd! He remembered Lloyd! Someone was hurting him? How dare someone hurt his friend when he was around?

He roared angrily and pounded his talons on the ground.

"What are you doing, you useless creature! What the HELL are you doing! I ORDERED YOU TO KILL THEM!" What was this voice? It was so irritating and childish to him. Yet in the very core of his being he felt an instinct to obey it. He didn't want to, but the instinct was too powerful to ignore. He felt his body crouch, ready to pounce once more, but before he could, he heard another voice. However, this one sounded only in his mind.

"Sora, do not harm them." Now whose voice was this? It was so calm and smooth..and familiar. Yes, he felt the need to obey this voice as well, but it felt more natural to him. He knew that he would have obeyed even without the instinct. He waited for the next order.

What do you wish of me? he inquired. There was silence for a moment, then,

"I wish for you to obey me. The ones you are being ordered to attack–you must not harm them."

Do not harm them. he repeated. He could feel the approval of the unknown master.

"Kill them!" came a command from the irritating master. He unwillingly crouched.

"No!" the good master said. "Do not kill them. Protect them. They must be kept alive, at all costs. You must protect them from everyone, including myself and anyone else that orders you to hurt them. Understand?"

Yes. I understand.

... ... ... ... ... ...

"What the hell is going on here!" Yggdrasill demanded. "I ordered you to kill them, so WHY HAVE YOU NOT KILLED THEM?"

"Lord Yggdrasill," Kratos said calmly. "It may be malfunctioning. I will take care of the situation here, and bring the Chosen back to you. Return to Derris-Kharlan." Yggdrasill considered this.

"Yes, that will do nicely." he agreed. "But bring that–" he pointed angrily at Sora, who was now clawing frantically at his own face. "Back with you. I'll deal with it myself."

"Yes, my Lord." Kratos replied. Satisfied, Yggdrasill turned on his heel and departed for Derris-Kharlan.

... ... ... ... ... ...

Lloyd didn't know who was a bigger threat, Kratos advancing toward them, sword drawn, or Sora, who seemed to be trying to rip his own face off. Deciding on Kratos, he glared at the man whom he'd almost begun to view as a mentor and held his swords ready.

"So you're really going to do this." Lloyd said. It wasn't a question. Kratos said nothing, but Lloyd understood. "Fine." he said. "Then let's finish this."

... ... ... ... ... ...

Before Kratos even landed one blow, he knew that his plan had been successful. He charged at Lloyd, sword raised, and as he swung the blade toward the boy's head, he was thrown backward with incredible force. As he landed several yards away, the wind knocked out of him, he couldn't help but smile. This was working nicely.

"What the–" he heard Lloyd exclaim. Coughing, he hauled himself to his feet to see Sora standing protectively in front of Lloyd, snarling, tentacles writhing wildly.

"He's protecting you now?" Raine breathed.

"Jeez, Sora," Genis said in an exasperated tone. "Would ya make up your mind?"

His face set, Kratos prepared himself for another attack, moving forward at a breakneck speed that only an angel was capable of, but yet again, his attack was countered by Sora.

"Is this what you ask of me?" Sora's voice asked Kratos' mind.

Yes. he replied. Fight me. Protect them even from me. There was a pause.

"As you wish."

End Chapter XX

Mutation