I am such a procrastinator...and I sincerely apologize for that. I thought I could update more, but my summer has been filled with various events. Due to school starting in less than 2 weeks for me, I am not sure when my next update will be. I am going to try and post next week as well, but I can't guarantee that I will be able to. Thank you so much for being patient and understanding.
----------------------
crazyasian12 - That's kinda weird that you didn't get an alert for the new chapter...I'm sorry I took so long AGAIN.
9shadowcat9 - *flails arms wildly while being choked* I'm...sorry....please stop choking meeeeeee....
The Ladies Luck - Thank you very much for your constructive criticism! I'm glad that you like my story.
Nozomi Myst - Thank you for reviewing, and good luck on your stories! I'm sure that you'll do great!
MarHeavenAngel - Ah, procrastination. It brings out the worst in us fanfiction writers.
----------------------
Summary: There's this mysterious girl who has joined the War Game. She has no affiliation with any group, and she seems to be a woman on a mission. Who exactly is she and why does she intrigue everyone so, especially Alviss and Phantom?
-----------------------
Pairings: OC x Alviss/Phantom (pairing decided later) & Ginta x Snow
------------------
Disclaimer: Cookie - *sigh* I'm so pathetic.
Ginta - Aw, don't say that.
Nanashi - You just get distracted very easily!!
Snow - And you are going through a lot right now.
Jack - But you spend an awful amount of time on the computer and don't bother working on the story...
Alviss - *smack*
Jack - OW! What was that for?!
Dorothy & Alan - For being an idiot, monkey boy.
(You should know by now I don't own MÄR.)
----------------------------------
Flashback & Thought & Story & lyrics Mode
Normal POV
ÄRM – the weapon
Emphasis Mode
Super Emphasis Mode
----------------------------
Well, here is the latest chapter!! Enjoy~, even if it is one of my more serious chapters.
Chapter 25 - Curses and Blessings
Recap:
"For the time being, I'll praise you on living. Now it's my turn." Ginta turned in surprise to look at their remaining fighter. He suddenly remembered Kannochi's final words and worriedly called after him, "Be-be careful, Alviss!!"
Alviss stepped out onto the battlefield with a confident and carefree air.
"Sure."
: End Recap
Team MÄR watched as Rolan waved to his partner and dashed off to the center of the battlefield to face off against Alviss. Captain Hook's gaze held expectation and cautiousness within it as he watched the young Knight.
Soon, Alviss and Rolan were staring steadily at each other from their spots on the field.
Alviss' gaze was unwavering and solemn.
Cross Guard
Alviss
Rolan looked distinctly nervous and was sweating a bit as he gazed back.
Chess no Koma
Rolan
CLASS: Knight
The referee waved his arm, signalling the start of the fight.
"3RD BATTLE, FINAL FIGHT!"
"ALVISS VS. ROLAN!"
"BEGIN!"
As soon as that was said, Alviss immediately stretched out his arms and activated the ÄRM dangling from his hip.
"13 Totem Pole!"
His trademark Totem Poles began to rise from the ground with nearly frightening speed and sped toward the Knight on the other side of the field.
As soon as they got close, Rolan jumped out of the way with a scream of "Iyaaaahn!"
Alviss twitched as he repeated the word with disbelief lacing his voice. Hook's mouth had popped open as he watched the antics of his teammate. Team MÄR had a very similar reaction, and Amy could only say one thing as she witnessed this:
"Dang, it's no wonder I thought he was a girl!"
Rolan continued to dodge the totem poles with shrieks of "No!" and "Kyaah!" before standing still in the midst of all 13 of them.
Suddenly, Amy and Alviss simulateously inhaled in shock. He dodged all of them?!
Alan screamed at Alviss, cigar falling out of his mouth, "WATCH OUT! HE'S COMING!"
Rolan tittered a bit nervously, "N-now, I guess..."
His face instantly became coolly collected and calm as he raised his left hand. "It's my turn."
The ring on his index finger, large and square-shaped, began to glow as he activated it.
"Stone Cube!"
Numerous rocks uprooted themselves from the ground and combined to form several giant cubes floating above Rolan as dust began to blow around him.
He then spoke, almost too quietly to hear, "Hanenasai..."
The stones then began to rush towards Alviss, who had been frozen in surprise. He jumped up as soon as they crashed into the spot where he had been standing and landed neatly on top of one. Suddenly, a face appeared on the block and a countdown from 3 began. The cube then exploded with Alviss barely managing to escape.
As the smoke cleared, the extent of Alviss' wounds could clearly be seen as a bleeding forehead and a hurt arm. He spoke hoarsely, "An exploding stone Nature ÄRM!"
Rolan nodded, cheerfully and with his eyes closed, "That is correct~"
As Alviss clutched his right shoulder, a bit of his Zombie Tattoo peeped out from the long sleeve. Rolan looked surprised as he stared openly.
"You...you've been blessed by Phantom, haven't you?"
Alviss could only gape in shock as Rolan pushed up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo that looked quite like the one Alviss had, albeit it wasn't as far down the arm. Rolan had a look of pleasure on his face as he "showed it off".
"Then...we are quite similar, you and I."
Alan had the same reaction Alviss had, Amy covered her hands with her mouth in horror, while Jack and Ginta remained confused.
Suddenly, Alviss began to yell angrily at his opponent. "Why would Phantom put that tattoo on his own ally?! That's the Zombie Tattoo! When that tattoo encompasses your entire body, you'll become a living corpse!!"
Snow and Ginta were shocked, as they considered that this was the curse Alviss himself possessed. Amy could only shake her head as she listened to this.
No...stop it...stop it...
Rolan, however, smiled gently in response. "Why do you get so angry?? That is...
The proof that he has chosen you."
As he continued to speak, the Stone Cubes began to rise into the air a second time. "I took the blessing of my own free will...so that I might walk the same path as him."
At this, the blocks once again rushed towards the young Cross Guard member.
He leapt into the air, 13 Totem Pole Staff version in hand, and began to rush towards Rolan. Again, he screamed, "WHY?!"
"Why would someone wish to become a living corpse?! For you to want to be that close to Phantom, why?!"
Alviss slammed into a cube while attempting to get closer to Rolan. The Knight's eyes were oddly calm as he answered.
"Because he is...where I belong."
As the battle continued, Rolan began to talk about his past. He spoke of how his parents died early, forcing him to live alone on the street. He spoke of how people blatantly ignored him, or maybe they couldn't see him.
"But one day, he appeared."
Rolan's voice shown with admiration, as he told of how Phantom gave him food and asked him if he wanted to come with him.
All during his monologue, Alviss was struggling for his life against the exploding cubes.
"And Phantom...taught me many things. He taught me about the sixth sense sleeping inside of me, how to fight, how to live, how to believe that the world is our very own..."
His face suddenly became goofily happy again. "And so, I've become like this. That mark is proof that you have the potential too...are you sure you don't want to join us?"
Alviss' refusal showed itself in his eyes. "You're just being used! Why don't you realize that?!"
Rolan brandished his arm, his gaze suddenly very cold and steely. "I honestly don't mind, as long as I'm of use to him..."
He then activated another ÄRM on his left middle finger. The volcano nearby bubbled and steamed explosively, when all of a sudden a lava-shaped snake burst forth from the crater with a roar.
It twisted and grew larger as Rolan called its name.
"Magma Snake..."
He then spoke the same word used to activate the Stone Cube. It straightened and lurched towards Alviss at breakneck speed.
-------------------------------
INTERMISSION
Amy - N-noooooooooooo! Alviss!!! How could you stop there?!
Cookie - *calmly looks up from sipping tea* It seemed appropriate at the time. *goes back to sipping tea*
Amy - What?! And how could you not have put me in the disclaimer?!
Cookie - *looks up again* I dunno. I just felt like it, I suppose. *goes back again*
Amy - QUIT DRINKING TEA, DARN YOU!!
Cookie - ...*sip*
Amy - GRAAHHHH!!!
Cookie - Whoopsie, would you look at the time? We really must be getting back to the story!
Amy - DARN YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
--------------------------
The Magma Snake slammed the side of its body into Alviss' stomach and he slammed into the ground, unable to move.
Amy finally snapped out of her silent mode and screamed.
"ALVISS!!"
At that exact moment, the Magma Snake hurtled down to his location, shattering all the rock around him.
Rolan watched emotionlessly as the Magma Snake dealt this final blow and as Team MÄR watched in horror as the snake hardened into rock. Amy slumped to her knees, staring blankly ahead with her mouth ajar.
Suddenly, Rolan looked up at his ÄRM, which was beginning to crack. It then shattered entirely to reveal a giant Totem Pole with Alviss gazing determinedly at the Knight. He then stepped out of the remains of the Magma Snake that surrounded him. He was breathing heavily, and sweat ran down his face.
Alan (who replaced his lost cigar) began to speak, partly to himself. "Too reckless with the ÄRM," he muttered. "He used to much strength!"
He then gave the 16 year old a penetrating stare. "Your strength is at its limits! Accept your loss, Alviss!"
Pozun turned to the combatant in question. "Are you going to give up, Alviss?"
He stared blankly at the ground for a moment before looking up. Exhaustion was clearly conveyed in his eyes, but he then took a step forward. One foot in front of the other, he started moving towards Rolan. The Chess no Koma member looked both surprised and admiring, but Ginta was not so happy.
"ALVISS, YOU DUMMY! DON'T BE AN IDIOT! YOU'LL DIE!!"
"Stop it, Ginta."
He stopped ranting to stare at the oddly quiet 15 year old girl who had been sitting on the ground.
She smiled sadly, "His pride and his courage are on the line here...he feels that he has to prove himself."
Babbo nodded in agreement. "He does not want to lose...to the Chess no Koma...or to you, Ginta."
Rolan, on the other hand, was stammering nervously, "I-I don't...If I can help it, I'd rather not kill you...so please give up, Alviss-san...or else, I..."
The exploding Stone Cubes rose up around the nearly unconcious teen.
"I-I will blow you up..."
Alviss breathed heavily while staring at the cubes out of the corner of his eye.
"High Speed...13 Totem Pole!"
Before Rolan could react, one Totem Pole shot up right in front of his face and grazed him slightly. He stepped away from, stunned and unaware of the blood coming from the cut on his face.
"I give up..."
Alviss's eyes glittered as he considered the future's possibilities. "As I am right now, I can't defeat a Knight. But I know where I fall short! There's one thing I lack, and that's my Magic Stamina!"
Rolan was still motionless and stared at Alviss as he continued to speak.
"I'll catch up to you soon..."
Pozun then loudly interrupted Alviss to proclaim the winner.
"WINNER! CHESS NO KOMA! ROLAN!"
As soon as those words left the lizard's mouth, Amy was rushing forward towards Alviss. In a corner of her mind, she noted that Rolan seemed pleased with this turn of events, but paid no attention to it.
Alviss looked a bit surprised as she came towards him, but only murmured her name quietly. Then, she did something that surprised all of them.
She grabbed Alviss' jacket collar and began shaking him as hard as she possibly could, all the while screaming at him.
"ALVISS, YOU-YOU IDIOT!! DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF ROLAN DECIDED TO BLOW YOU UP FOR GRAZING HIS FACE LIKE?! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!!"
"A-Amy, I--"
"YOU ARE A GREAT, BIG IDIOT, ALVISS, AND...and...and..."
She lifted her face to reveal tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I was so worried...I thought you had died back there...I thought I lost you..."
His gaze softened considerably and he stroked the top of her head before hugging her close.
"I'm sorry." He said only loud enough for her to hear. "I'll become strong enough so that something like this doesn't happen again, ok?"
She sniffled and nodded while burying her face in his jacket.
Observing this tender scene blankly, Pozun lifted his Andarta ÄRM.
"THE 3RD BATTLE IS OVER! ALL LIVING FIGHTERS BACK TO REGINRAVE!"
They all teleported back to the castle and landed neatly on the ground. Amy let go of Alviss and wiped her eyes and smiled shakily at Alviss, who smiled gently back. Ginta gleefully called out to their two other comrades that had been left behind. "We're back, Dorothy and Nanashi! Lots happened, but we managed to win!"
Dorothy and Nanashi, however, were staring up at the castle with solemn visages, causing Ginta to blink in confusion. The other people in Reginrave Castle Square were also staring and pointing up, with fear in their faces.
"That look..."
"He's alive..."
"HE CAME BACK TO LIFE!!"
Standing near the top of the castle were two men. One of them had a mask covering the bottom half of his face, shades, messy brown hair, and looked no older than Rolan, while the other one was the smiling slightly and had lavender hair.
The look in his visible eye, however, showed barely concealed madness and cruelty.
Ginta stared blankly up at the two as he spoke, "You're..."
He then grinned happily. "Tom! Tom from Vestory!!" He waved at him, grin widening even more. "Hey, how've ya been?"
Babbo and Amy, the ones who had met this same person, were crouched into defensive positions.
Babbo's hissed, teeth bared, "So the feeling I had back then was this!!"
Ginta looked increasingly confused as he stared at his ÄRM partner and team members react differently. Snow looked apprehensive while Alviss was rubbing his arm while staring heatedly up at him.
Amy had a look of downright fury as she stared at him. "I can't believe I was stupid enough to trust you!"
Alan then spoke, intending to clear confusion, "You must be missing something, Ginta! He's
The leader of the Chess no Koma, Phantom!!"
Ginta was stunned speechless as he stared up at the leader of their enemies, and, ultimately, the murderer of his father. His expression became increasingly more shocked and enraged at the same time. Phantom's expression was coolly distant and mockingly evil at the same time.
The hotheaded 14 year old then grabbed Babbo. "YOU--DON'T MOVE!!--I'LL KILL--" Babbo frantically tried to calm Ginta down, and Alan was tensed up, looking as though he was trying to resist jumping up there and attacking himself.
"You're the one who shouldn't move! As you are now, you couldn't even put a scratch on him!"
Alviss also spoke, "Burn him into your mind."
"He is the one enemy that we must defeat!"
Suddenly, he spoke.
"Rolan...you did well. I'm quite proud of you."
Rolan, who had been standing quietly on the sidelines all the while, blushed happily from the praise. "Th-thank you very much! It's an honor, Phantom..."
Phantom fixed his steely gaze upon Team MÄR. "The Cross Guard, MÄR, and Amy-chan...you have proved quite interesting as well..." He then chuckled.
"It would appear that all 13 of you have finally taken interest in this game."
Suddenly, behind Phantom and the other man (who was quietly observing this entire scene), appeared 11 other people.
A man with long hair and a pointy hat, Halloween (who intervened for Alan's participation and appeared at the Snow Castle), Chimera (who defeated Gaira during the selection round), 5 completely cloaked figures, a skull-masked person, an old man with a tree growing on his head, and a woman wearing a mask, leotard, and a beret were all standing close to their leader.
Dorothy looked slightly disappointed, while Nanashi remarked quietly, "Their magic's incredible...those 12."
Alan had a maniacal grin on his face as he stated with grim humor, "Adding in Rolan, that makes 13. The 13 Zodiac!!"
Phantom's face suddenly took on a friendly smile as he called somewhat happily, "Ne, Ginta!"
All of sudden, his face became crazed with hate, bloodlust, and insanity.
"I hate this world!! I can't stand the stench of it!!"
Ginta had a quietly angry look as he listened to this madman.
"Flowers, trees, rocks, water, birds, forests, towns, mountains...but what stinks the most...is humanity."
The Zodiac members stood solemnly, in direct contrast to the severity of Phantom's words.
"Forcing the world to revolve around them; they hurt other people, get jealous and envious, yet always believe they are correct. Jealousy, hatred, betrayal, disrespect, arrogance, deception...that is the true essence of humanity...it's revolting. It's so vile, I get nauseous just thinking about it."
His eyes were slitted with madness and pleasure from thinking about destruction. "No one's honest. They're all fools.
So I've decided to kill them all."
"The members of the Chess have all given up on this world. Or, to put it another way, the world has thrown them all away. That is why we have come together."
Then, Phantom stretched out his hand toward Ginta in a gesture of invitation.
"So how about it? If you asked, I wouldn't be against letting you join us..."
"You must be kidding!!"
Ginta gazed furiously and defiantly up at the Chess leader. His eyes then lit up with an unstoppable resolve as he spoke again.
"What you're doing is just as egotistical! And I'll take you down!!"
In response to this, Phantom's eyes merely looked pitying and somewhat disappointed.
"You really do speak just like Danna. How very regrettable...wouldn't you agree?"
At this, he turned to the man who had been standing silently by him this entire time. The young man pulled off his shades and pulled his face mask down to reveal an oddly familiar face...
Only Amy snapped out of her stunned state long enough to whisper.
"Adrian?"
I'm sorry if I made this too obvious earlier in the story... I also felt like this chapter could have been better. My brother and I were talking about my story (He used to be a fan of MÄR), and our conversation went a bit like this:
"So, Ginta isn't the main character?" (brother)
"Well, this story is from my OC's point of view, so it doesn't follow Ginta, but he is still the one that saves MÄR Heaven." (me)
"Your OC is stronger than Ginta, isn't she?" (bro)
*sigh* I really didn't intend for that to be the case, and I hope no one takes it that way...thankee-sankee for waiting, and please leave a review!