[Message from KC]: Hello Hello Hello! Sorry about the lateness in updating but as some of you may know (being in college yourselves) it is midterm time! And I've been a bit pre-occupied XD anyway! So I'd like to thank everyone for being awesome and supportive during the 'troll incident' :D Also, Good news everyone! Technically speaking, there is one more chapter after this, and the tournament saga is over! Yay! Anyway, there are three more chapters left and that marks the end of Volume II, book I. So yeah, :P Enjoy the update guys :)


Chapter XIV.

Four

"Hello and welcome back to Inside Atmos!" A young and thin brunette smiled, standing out in front of the Lumina City arena early the next day. She was wearing a navy blue suit, holding a microphone and standing in front of a crew of camera men. Behind her were hundreds of tournament spectators passed by, trying to get their ten seconds of screen time as they waved towards the camera men, "I'm Stormy Skies and we're here live out front of the Lumina City arena! Just inside the final four fighters are preparing themselves for the upcoming fights and as you can clearly see, the energy here is astounding!"

At that moment the crowd around the arena began to scream and cheer as the lights of cameras began flashing wildly. Meno, Aerrow, Stork, and Sora stepped out on to the front steps of the arena, waving at the crowd as they did so. The reporters flocked around them, blocking out the waves of spectators who only wanted to catch a glimpse or shake a hand.

"And there they are!" The reporter chirped as her camera crew followed her, walking up to the final four fighters, "Hello! Stormy Skies, Inside Atmos! Tell me, how prepared do you think you all are for fighting the Red Palace Champion in the last fight?" "Well I can't speak for my competition," Meno stated with a slick smile as she stepped out in front of them, "But I do know that Carver doesn't stand a chance in the ring against me."

"I believe it will be a fair and interesting match on all sides," Aerrow chimed in, as Meno walked away from them all, moving past them as though they were the scum of the earth.

"So Sora!" Stormy Skies squeaked, immediately directing her attention to the youngest of the group, "How does it feel to be the youngest tournament competitor to make it to the final four?"

"Uh…" Sora began, nervously looking from Stormy, to the microphone being shoved into her face, and to the camera, "Pretty…uhm cool I guess…" Sora shrugged.

"And Stork," Stormy chimed, pointing the microphone towards the fidgety and somewhat overwhelmed Merb, "How does it feel knowing that no one thinks that you stand a chance in your next match! Do you think that this is the end of the line for you?"

"…" Stork just grumbled in response, looking dismally into the microphone.

"Stork stands just as good a chance as any other fighter in the final four," Advent smiled, emerging from behind Stork, Aerrow, and Sora.

"Advent Dawnrunner!" Stormy Skies squealed with glee as she immediately moved the microphone away from the contestants, "What an honor it is!"

"Charmed," Advent began with a nod and a slight smile, "But as I am sure you are aware, the contestants and I have somewhere we need to be." She smiled, gently pushing the microphone out of her face and shaking Stormy's hand as she walked passed the camera crew and gestured the others to follow her.

"Advent," Aerrow inquired, following after her, "What do you mean we have somewhere to be?"

"Just follow me," Advent explained calmly, as they walked past all the cheering crowd and heading into the silver and black (and rather old fashioned) carriage that awaited them at the end of the short walk.

"Where are we going?" Sora inquired curiously as they all climbed into the vehicle, and the shadowy coachman whipped the reigns and the two inky black Pegasus at the front of the coach let out a grunt of anger and took off down the Lumina strip.

"It's a place that we're all too familiar with," Advent stated cryptically as she folded her hands in her lap and looked out of the window of the stagecoach, "Another of my sister's carriages arrived for Aida, Cloud, and the Doctor not too long ago…however Aida volunteered to stay behind and take his brother back to headquarters so-"

"Wait!" Stork interrupted, sounding slightly terrified, "Did you say that your sister sent for us!"

"Yes," Advent stated with a smile and a slight nod as the carriage ceased to a halt in front of a brilliant structure they did happen to know all to well.

"This is Carver's palace…" Aerrow stated with confusion as they all climbed out of the carriage, "Tiranon…what are we doing here?" He asked as the sentries out front of the structure ushered them all inside.

"There they are!" They heard Doctor Constantine call as soon as the gate to the palace closed behind them. She and Cloud went rushing towards them as they were soon greeted by Carver, Meno, and the Master herself.

"Welcome to the last of my esteemed fighters," Cypress smiled darkly as she briskly strode over to them, "I would like to personally welcome you, and your guests to Tiranon! Your next tournament venue."

"You're going to have the finals here?" Sora asked doubtfully, "What…are we going to have it out in the dining room?"

"I am so glad you ask my dear," Cypress smiled, gently flicking Sora on the nose. She turned around and gestured all of them to face the front of the palace. Cypress gave a twisted little smile as she snapped her fingers and the earth began to rumble. Four dark, gnarled, and glistening obsidian spires shot up from the ground underneath the silvery structure, shattering the windows and collapsing certain sections of the once magnificent palace.

"Are you insane!" Carver exclaimed, not attempting to get any closer to Cypress as she and the structures emerging from the ground now began to emit with a very familiar dark red glow. The four structures met in the center, hanging high above the now shattered palace, forming a large and flat platform where they all collided. A cage like structure took form around the outermost portion of the platform.

"And welcome," Cypress smiled, turning to the tournament competitors, "To your new tournament venue."

"…m-my house…" Carver began, at a loss for words, looking into the shattered remnants of the palace.


"I don't believe this," Aida stated, watching the tournament from back at the Twilight headquarters, "If only our match hadn't ended in a draw…" He stated with a sigh, as he looked over to his older brother, laying limp and lifeless on a cot Aida had set up for him in the main hall, "Cypress has more planned to this…doesn't she? Advent knows I bet." Aida sighed, running his hand through Ace's hair, "It would explain why even the losers who lived through their fights aren't here…" Aida sighed, looking back up at the monitor.

He then noticed the loud MC pointing to a monitor brought up to the dark arena just for her special use. Names began flashing on the screen, no doubt to set up for the matches for the next fight. Aida clenched his fists, as he was sure everyone else from his team was doing, waiting for the set fights. He gulped as he looked at the first match up: Aerrow versus Meno. The second was Stork and Sora. He sighed as he turned back to his brother.

"Please…" Aida pleaded, seemingly to no one, "Please let Aerrow win his match! Whatever Cypress has planned…it certainly won't be an advantage to her once all her lieutenants are gone…" Aida sighed, hanging his head low. He then noticed that in Ace's lifeless and catatonic state, he was gripping something in his hand.

"What's this?" Aida asked quietly, pulling the crumpled and folded piece of parchment out of his brother's hand. Aida unfolded it and read the passage that was torn from one of Advent's old tomes. He took in the information about the reliquary and turned his attention to the monitor. He noticed, even from a distance as the camera crewmen moved around the arena, that the reliquary of fallen souls was hanging on Cypress' hip. He then immediately understood.

"Oh no…" Aida whispered in a panic, "Oh no, Oh NO, OH NO!" He shouted, stumbling backwards and tripping over his own two feet as he fell backwards, "It just can't be! It's too easy! She couldn't collect all the souls of All the fighters in the tournament who lost! What about the one's who are still alive!" He asked himself quietly, still panicking as he looked over the paper. He then noticed scrawling and notes written on the pages, freshly done of course, but not in his brother's handwriting.

"The reliquary contains the souls of those who were bested or culled in battle," Aida read aloud, "And utilizes the best and strongest attributes of those souls absorbed to make the bearer stronger." He carefully looked at the passage, and in a reddish ink the words bested or culled were underlined with the word Surrendered written in the ink above, "I guess that answers that question…" Aida sighed, looking over to his brother, "But can we get the souls back?" Aida asked, reading the pages further, "A soul can enter into the reliquary willingly, but at the bearer's cost, they can not utilize the attributes of that soul…" He read. At that moment, a red ink line appeared, forming under the passage he just read.

Free will inside… formed in read ink above the passage he just read. Aida shook as he let go of the paper, his face white with fear, Set souls free…

"Okay Mr. phantom paper…" Aida trembled, kicking the pages away from him, "W-we'll play your way! But I'm taking these notes to Advent first!" Aida exclaimed, lifting the pages off of the ground. He moved to run out of the headquarters when he felt something cold wrap around his ankle and pull him to the ground.

"I don't think so…" A cold and dull voice stated, walking towards Aida from across the room. He looked up to note the last of Cypress' lieutenants looming above him, Anaximander. Aida scrambled to his feet as he broke away from the watery tentacle holding him down. Anaximander let out a hiss as his body went clear and he lost all human shape, taking a liquid form. Aida rushed to the exit, but Anaximander was too quick for him. Aida was pulled down to the ground again, and as much as he struggled, it was no use. He tried to push and claw his way out of the water, enclosing around him, but the pressure was too great, and he eventually found himself forcing to give in. Anaximander then took a tangible human form again, pinning Aida to the ground by his arms and legs. Cypress' amulet was hanging around his neck, and swinging gently in front of Aida's face. Aida gulped in panic as the amulet began to glow, "This amulet is not just for controlling the Master's creatures…" Anaximander explained darkly, as Aida attempted to resist, "It is also attuned to her reliquary…"

"NO!" Aida shouted, as he began to glow in sync with the amulet.

"Your soul belongs to her now…" Anaximander stated darkly as a thin white light flowed gently from Aida's mouth and into the amulet. Aida then fell, weak, limp, and lifeless, just like his brother, to the floor.

"Now to dispose of that information to the Master…" Anaximander stated flatly, rising to his feet and walking towards where Aida had dropped it. He however immediately noticed that it was now missing, "What! Impossible! Where is it!" He hissed, beginning to tear the main hall apart, searching for the papers. Little did he know they were closer than he thought.

The ghostly visage of Farrah stood close behind him, unseen by any mortal eye, but not completely cut off from the physical realm. She held the pages in her hands as she silently slipped out of the main hall, leaving the last of Cypress' lieutenants to destroy the headquarters.

"I see that my mother is trying to best me at every turn…" Farrah thought, taking one quick last glimpse at Ace and Aida before gliding out of the building, "I can see now that one should never employ a mortal to do an undead's job…I will bring this information to the others myself…"


"Ladies and Gentleman!" The MC shouted, without her microphone of course, now that there was no audience for her to rally, into the face of Inside Atmos' camera crew that followed the fighters up to the platform, "Welcome to the finals of the Red Palace tournament! And our final day might I add! So let's not waste any time! Aerrow and Meno will be going head to head for a spot in the final match! One of these hopefuls will be fighting for the chance to take on Carver and a shot at the Champion title!" She smiled as Aerrow and Meno stepped out on to the glossy blackened platform.

"Ready Meno," Aerrow smiled, pointing one of his twin blades in her direction as she smiled back at him contemptuously and began laughing, "What's so funny?" Aerrow demanded.

"Nothing," Meno smiled, gently cocking her head to the side, "Nothing at all." She laughed, immediately leaping towards him. Aerrow rebounded, pushing her back across the new arena floor. Meno skidded to her feet looking back up towards him, still smiling darkly.

"Knock it off!" Aerrow shouted, rushing towards her and clashing blades with the wild woman. Meno laughed as the metal grinded together, making the most horrendous noise.

"It's just funny that's all!" Meno laughed, seemingly looking right into Aerrow's person, "That you think you're the strongest…the best…the blessed messiah of Atmos! AHAHA! You think Advent think's you're special!"

"Why else would she choose me!" Aerrow hissed, as each pushed against their opponent's blades, waiting for one to falter.

"Because," Meno smiled, as a flash of light consumed her person, and Meno's image was replaced with Advent's, "I needed a scapegoat you fool…"

"Shut up!" Aerrow shouted, kicking the pseudo-Advent out from under her feet, "Get out of my head Meno!"

"Oh please!" She laughed, bringing her rapier down towards him. Aerrow fended her off, but still was conflicted when it came to attacking his leader, "You were too perfect Aerrow! A big headed young buck like yourself…constantly priding yourself on being the last descendant of the original Storm Hawks! You were exactly the kind of moronic twat I needed…Cyrus wouldn't let me be about making her second in command, and Nova is outgrowing her usefulness…I figured, as long as he thinks he's special…why no put the blame on you!" She laughed, throwing her head back in triumph as Aerrow fell backwards on to the arena floor.

Good work Meno…Cypress thought, watching the fight intently, Make his confusion, his anger, his bitterness…make it grow…

"She even favors me over you…" Meno laughed, changing forms again in a flood of light, now revealing the Dark Ace before him. The false Ace twirled Meno's blade in between his hands as Aerrow jumped to his feet, "Why else would she let me in on all of her secrets before telling you?"

"I'm not stupid!" Aerrow shouted, swiping at Ace's form. He held back against seeing Advent, but at Ace, he had no problem, "They share a soul! That's no secret anymore…he already knows Advent's secrets!"

"Not all of them…" He stated, kicking Aerrow's chest and knocking him to the ground again. While Aerrow was down, the pseudo-Ace plunged the blade into Aerrow's shoulder, pinning him to the ground. Aerrow let out a growl of pain, as the sadistically disguised Meno began to twist the blade, "Think about it," She laughed, still in Ace's form as she leaned down over him, still twisting the blade, "Why would she let me know things before letting you know…I mean you are her favorite…right Aerrow?"

"Shut UP!" Aerrow exclaimed, summoning enough strength to throw his fist into Meno's (or at this moment, rather, Ace's) face. She fell backwards reverting to her old form as Aerrow pulled the blade from his shoulder and stumbled to his feet. He was a little dizzy from the sudden loss of blood, but he could push through it.

"Ahaha…Ha…HAHA!" Meno laughed, a little crazed as she wiped the blood away from the corner of her mouth and rose back to her feet, "You've got some fight in you after all!"

"Just stay out of my head Meno!" Aerrow growled, coughing slightly as he held his twin blades out in front of him.

"No problem!" Meno laughed, rushing over towards Aerrow and seizing her blade from off of the arena floor. Their blades collided once again, sending sparks through the obsidian arena as the pair locked themselves in combat. Meno lifted her blade above her head, intending to slice down against Aerrow's already injured arm. However, before she could strike, Aerrow swung one of his twin blades across Meno's torso, creating a long and thin red line across her exposed midriff. She let out a growl as she released her arms for a moment, and Aerrow kicked against her chest as she was stumbling backwards. Meno went falling to the arena floor. Aerrow pointed his twin blades down towards her, seemingly having the woman defeated.

"Go ahead," Meno laughed, waiting for Aerrow to strike at her, "Do it…you've got me right here…"

"I want you to surrender…" Aerrow stated sternly, looking down at her, trying to humiliate the woman. She began to laugh again, and by this point, Aerrow was so sick of the sound of her laughter he moved to strike, but before he did, Meno's form was encased in light and was replaced by a new one. One that caused Aerrow to freeze in fear.

"Do it…" The new form laughed, the voice of a man laughed, "Now…" But Aerrow couldn't. He trembled at the sight before him, and for a brief moment, he completely forgot he was in the tournament. The transformed Meno laughed as her blade quickly plunged through Aerrow's chest, causing his eyes to go glassy. Everyone watching from the new arena let out a gasp as they looked at the image of Lightning Strike holding the blade piercing his son. He pulled the blade out from Aerrow's chest as he fell to the ground and disappeared within a flash of white light, as Meno too transformed back into her form and looked at the empty arena floor with a smile.

"…Meno…has won…" The MC stated, with lost energy as she looked from the scene, back over to the camera, instantly perking herself back up, "We will return shortly after this break with our second match! Stork versus Sora."

Aerrow…Advent thought, looking down at the ground as Meno shot her a dark smile as she headed off of the arena floor.


"Are you ready Stork," Sora smiled, as the pair headed out on to the arena floor. Stork looked over at the young woman with suspicion, "What?" She commanded, looking towards the Merb.

"Sorry Sora," Stork gulped, gathering up what courage he had, "But I'm not quite ready…to die yet!"

"Stork!" Sora exclaimed, "I never intentionally killed anyone!"

"I'm just letting you know…" Stork stated, holding out his two shoddy daggers, ready to defend himself against the mysterious girl, "I made it this far…when no one thought I would make it past round two…I'm not holding back!"

"Fine!" Sora snapped, holding her only means of defense, her fists, out in front of her, "Then let's do this!"

"Fighters ready!" The MC shouted as the pair faced each other down, "And begin!" She called, as the pair then began circling around one another, waiting for one of them to strike.

I know he's waiting for me to hit first… Sora thought, watching him carefully, But maybe he thinks I'm thinking that so he's going to wait for a moment when I'm the most off guard and then strike at me and- Sora continued, so caught up in her own paranoid thoughts that Stork had managed to kick at her knees, knocking her to the ground.

"Cheap shot!" Sora exclaimed, jumping to her feet and watching Stork like a hawk again.

"Well you're not doing anything!" Stork exclaimed, rolling his eyes at her, a little expectantly, "What are you waiting for."

"I don't know!" Sora screamed, turning to him, "I just don't want to fight anymore!"

"Sora calm down!" Advent exclaimed from the edge of the arena, where the rest of the guests were standing.

"Just STOP!" She exclaimed as she began to emit the same strange dark glow again, and the light filled her eyes. The dark glow then expanded and filled the arena as Sora collapsed to her knees. Stork held his arms up to his face to protect him from whatever Sora was emitting, but it didn't seem to harm or effect him. He then looked around the arena and noticed that no one was moving. They were all frozen in time, including Sora, who appeared to be lost in her own state of catatonia.

"Sora!" Stork exclaimed, looking around the now frozen world, "Sora! Snap out of it! Snap out of it right now!" Sora then fell to her face, regaining control if only for a moment.

"What happened…" Sora asked quietly, looking around at the time-stuck world.

"I should be asking that!" Stork exclaimed, gripping the roots of his hair, "Not you! What's going on with you Sora? How…how did you stop time!"

"I don't know!" Sora exclaimed, clenching her temples as she curled up in a ball on the floor of the arena, "And what is that noise! Make it stop!" She commanded as time suddenly resumed.

"What are you-" Stork exclaimed, taking a step away from her. He stopped as he noticed Sora's skin turning a dark and inky black again.

"No!" the Doctor shouted, as Sora's body lifted off of the ground by some invisible force like a rag doll.

"Stork!" Cloud exclaimed, "Run!" The merb however was motionless. Large spines began to shoot out from Sora's body, piercing the arena floor. One of the spires was about to plunge right through Stork's body when suddenly the sharp spine ceased plunging towards him, just a few inches from his chest. There was a long and thin rapier through her body, causing her to become catatonic again. Cypress, then much to everyone's shock and amazement, stepped in front of Stork, holding her hand out in front of the creature that Sora once was.

"Enough of this!" Cypress shouted, "Go back to where you came from!" She commanded as Sora's body disappeared in a flash of white light, and her rapier fell to the floor. Cypress then turned around to face Stork. He was terrified and confused, and was now looking the woman who was still trying to end his life in the face, "Congratulations…only by technicality…you move on…" She stated darkly, walking out of the center of the arena floor. She tuned out the jabbering of the MC as she walked past those remaining in the arena. She then felt a stern hand seize her arm. Cypress turned around and noticed her sister gripping her tightly.

"Why did you do that?" Advent commanded, glaring at her with sharp blue eyes, "Why not just let him die?"

"Because…" Cypress stated with a sharp glare in response, "That creature needed to be stopped…you and I both know that…you're welcome by the way sister…" She stated, walking away from Advent.