Sorry this took so long, but I've been swamped with homework. Well, here goes.
Sgt. Phoenix
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The inner part of Grandidi forest was alive with music and merrymaking, as the troops would the next day begin to prepare for war and have no time for such things until their job was done. There was a long table set in the middle of a small clearing, covered with food of all kinds: steaks, several pork roasts, and any vegetable one could imagine. It was the King's table, afterall. And if it wasn't there, you could simply ask for it. All around the King's table were other, smaller, round tables with people at them, listening to the melody of the forest being played by a group of musicians.
Fili sat next to Orlan at the table, looking at the food wide-eyed. He had never seen so much food in his life! Roast pork, beef, quail.....he had never eaten such foods! He had gotten servants' food all his life. He had on a white robe that fit his size, his hair combed, and his face washed.
"King Weslan, sire....?" he asked, looking to the head of the table. Jenner sat directly in front of Fili and shot him a stern look. Weslan looked up and saw this.
"Do not be so strict on the boy, Jenner. He has been a perfect gentleman this evening," Weslan said. "He is a guest at this table, as are you. Surely you would like to stay a guest, yes?"
"Forgive me, sire..."
"Good. Now, what did you want to say, Fili?" The King looked at the boy with mild amusement.
"I...wanted to say 'thank you'...."
"You're quite welcome, boy," Weslan said. "How would you like to be Orlan's younger brother?"
Every head at the table jerked up and looked at the King. Including Jenner.
"This....mongrel child, sire? Surely you've had too much wine....."
"I've had too much of nothing, Jenner, and you would do well not to speak to me so!" A hush fell over the entire clearing. If you hadn't heard the King, you had a lack of hearing. "You've simply made me aware of what condition our servants stay in and I don't like it! Especially *children* above all else, being made to wander the palace alone and perform jobs an adult should be made to do!" Weslan fumed. "Now, I've had enough! I want you to improve their living conditions or you will be put down there with them!" A round of applause erupted from around the King's table and other tables as well.
"Me, sire? A common servant? I shudder to think," Jenner said. "But, I will do as my King commands. My apologies."
"Wouldn't you rather do what your 'Master' commands?"
Eyes darted every which way, searching for the person attached to the voice. It seemed to come from all around them. A cyan blue light drifted down through the top of the clearing on top of the group, hovering above them. Danda was encased inside it.
"Would you not rather join me instead?"
"To what purpose?" Jenner asked skeptically. He was, of course, a bargaining man. He would always sway to the side whose grass seemed to be greener. Taking advantage of a situation was a specialty of his that he took great pride in, no matter how unloyal or scandelous it made him seem. There was nothing 'dirty' about saving one's own life.
"Wouldn't you like to rid the world of humans? Vile creatures, poison of the planet..." Danda speculated. "You would become King in the place of your current Majesty."
"How dare you?!" Weslan exclaimed, standing up from his chair. Every elf in the clearing rose from their seats, drawing a bow and arrow, including Orlan. "You would release Jasper back into this world? How can you promise such things as the elven throne in his name? How do you know he will not simply destroy you, as well?"
"He is beyond such things," Danda explained. "But, this is not why I have come here. I seek the one with the Stone Heart." Zell stood up.
"The Dileja has chosen a pitiful group of children for her 'crusade'," Danda said, eyeing the group at the table. "Would you fight me again, children? I would relish a fight between myself and you, Stone Heart. Do you wish to drive me away from these people?"
"My name's Zell," Zell replied. "And the answer's 'yes'. But, if we fight, I don't wanna do it here. Not where people can get hurt."
"I'm afraid, *child*," Danda stated, "you don't have that option."
There was a sudden silent thunder and Zell was bathed in a translucent sphere of red light. He was lifted into the air up to Danda's level, Squall and the other's watching from the ground.
"Kick his ass, chickenwuss!!" Seifer yelled, trying to be encouraging. However, Rinoa seemed to only glare at him.
"What the (&*^??!!" Zell hollered as he was lifted even higher. He always did have a fear of heights.
"You don't even know how to use your power, do you, boy?" Danda laughed. "I'll give you a fair chance: reach down inside of yourself and grab it. You feel it, don't you? Pulsating power you never had before? You can feel it throbbing, wanting loose, can't you? Raw power such as that shouldn't be in the hands of someone so young as you.
"I could teach you everything I have learned in my centuries of life, Zell. All my knowledge, my experiences, my magic.....You could join me and be a King or an Emperor. Your word would be law, next to my own." Danda thrust his hand down at Squall and the others. "They don't care about you. Squall cares about his reputation. Rinoa follows him like a dog on a leash. Seifer follows Rinoa, his old love. Fujin and Raijin follow Seifer out of blind loyalty. Irvine wants popularity. Selphie loves Irvine, so she tags along, unaware he was with someone else."
Selphie shot Irvine a look of disbelief. "You.....? You're...?"
"Selphie, he's messing with our heads. I swear there's never been anybody but you," he professed.
"Why do you lie to yourself, Irvine?" Danda asked. "You don't remember the pub in Timber? The woman in the blue dress? Her perfume? Her touch? He lies to you, Selphie. Look into his eyes and decide."
"I didn't, Selphie.....He's lying, I didn't......" he pleaded with her. Tears were beginning to well up in her green eyes and she shook her head.
"Did you lay with her, you deceitful wretch? Tell her the truth, Irvine..."
".......I....I don't believe you...." Selphie told Danda, a scowl forming on her face.
"Believe what you wish," Danda said dismissively. "Everything I've spoken is the truth. If you doubt me, any of you, ask each other. I know every single one of you, heart and soul. I know all your deepest, darkest secrets, every one of you. That was just a little of what I know. Do you wish to know more about one another...? About everyone's secrets...?"
"We don't need to know about anybody's secrets unless they tell us!" Zell yelled at him. "If any of us have any secrets, there's good reason for them. Some things are just not anybody's business!!"
Danda smiled. "You would know all about secrets, wouldn't you, Zell?" Zell swallowed hard. He didn't answer. "Wouldn't you?? Shameful secrets...? Pitiful secrets...? Secrets that make people vomit where they stand...? Would you all like to hear Zell's deepest, darkest secret..........?"
"SHUT UP!!" Zell screamed. "You shut your mouth!! Just shut up!!!"
"A little edgy, aren't we, Zell? For someone who doesn't have any secrets, you're being awfully defensive.........No matter. They'll find out soon enough."
"I. Said. Shut. Up," Zell growled, a snarl rising from his lip. Even from the ground, it could be seen.
(Ohhhh *^@%.....I have never seen that look on his face before....) Squall thought, alarmed. He bent his head down and whispered to Rinoa. "Tell Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin to start getting people out of here.....Now, while Zell's got his attention....Children first...."
Rinoa nodded. She tapped Seifer on the shoulder, ever watching Danda's movements. She passed on the message to him, causing him to raise an eyebrow. (I want a piece of this guy......but, this isn't the situation to get uppity...) Seifer thought sourly. (.........damn.)
He, Raijin, and Fujin started to break slowly away from the King's Table, spreading out in 3 directions, taking the King, Orlan, and Fili with them. Jenner stayed at the table. They disappeared into the crowd, mothers holding their children, husbands holding their wives. People were too scared to move, let alone try to escape.
"ENERGIZER," Zell spoke loudly, calling forth for the first time his new magic. His body suddenly shook and he crossed his arms over his chest, the snarl from his lips transforming into a grimace of pain. He curled up in midair within the red circle of light, allowing it to crackle with raw energy newly released. He took up his knees and placed his forehead down on them, in pain.
The people on the ground looked back up at the two forms as they were lead away by Seifer and his posse.
Danda was the picture of calm, tranquility, and dignity, his sphere being perfect: no crackling or resonating energy, but, simply a glowing, royal blue sphere.
Zell, however, was the exact opposite. He appeared to be the physical embodiment of rage, power, and......love....? Zell's love for family was expressed along with his hate and rage for any who might violate or harm his. His family was going to be harmed if he didn't do this. Others' families were going to be harmed if he didn't do this.
Zell released his knees and there was a new fire in his eyes, a new virtility. His physical strength had risen to a new level. No normal creature on earth could survive a blow from him in this state. Not a T-Rexuar, not a Malboro, not a Chimera. Not even Omega Weapon itself, had it existed in that timeline.
".....why don't we attack him now, Squall.....?" Kildare whispered to him. "We could catch him by surprise....."
"....No, Kildare.....there are too many people still out here....." Squall said. "Too many innocent bystanders to launch that kind of a campaign.....we have to buy time....that's what Zell's doing, now...."
"I'm giving you a chance to leave peacefully," Zell growled. "Leave these people alone and go back to whatever section of Hell you came from. I'm not going to offer it again."
Danda chuckled. "It seems you have a little bit of spitfire in you....you got that from your mother," he said. "She was a fine woman, India was.....a *fine* figure of a woman...."
Zell flinched. "You knew my mother.........??"
"I told you I know all of you. Your parents, your grandparents.....I know all about your families, where they live, why you were all orphaned....." Danda said calmly. "Would you like to know....? In exchange for that information, would you lay down your weapons and stop resisting me...? You would be left in peace, you and your families.....your *true* families....."
Zell shook his head sharply. "Stop it! You're messing with our heads, you don't know anything!! Nothing!"
"I'm 763 years old, Stone Heart....." Danda replied smoothly. "You cannot tell yourself I know nothing, for it is a lie...."
Zell's red globe suddenly sprang forward, carrying him with it, and stopping less than an inch from Danda's blue sphere. Zell was fuming. His lips curled up, bearing his teeth.
"You wish to kill me now, don't you...?" Danda taunted. "Well. We might as well begin."
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That's it for right now. Chapter 13 is coming soon, if school permits. I do believe if I was getting paid for this, I would have been fired a long time ago for failure to put out anything on time!!
Sgt. Phoenix
Sgt. Phoenix
************************************************************************************************
The inner part of Grandidi forest was alive with music and merrymaking, as the troops would the next day begin to prepare for war and have no time for such things until their job was done. There was a long table set in the middle of a small clearing, covered with food of all kinds: steaks, several pork roasts, and any vegetable one could imagine. It was the King's table, afterall. And if it wasn't there, you could simply ask for it. All around the King's table were other, smaller, round tables with people at them, listening to the melody of the forest being played by a group of musicians.
Fili sat next to Orlan at the table, looking at the food wide-eyed. He had never seen so much food in his life! Roast pork, beef, quail.....he had never eaten such foods! He had gotten servants' food all his life. He had on a white robe that fit his size, his hair combed, and his face washed.
"King Weslan, sire....?" he asked, looking to the head of the table. Jenner sat directly in front of Fili and shot him a stern look. Weslan looked up and saw this.
"Do not be so strict on the boy, Jenner. He has been a perfect gentleman this evening," Weslan said. "He is a guest at this table, as are you. Surely you would like to stay a guest, yes?"
"Forgive me, sire..."
"Good. Now, what did you want to say, Fili?" The King looked at the boy with mild amusement.
"I...wanted to say 'thank you'...."
"You're quite welcome, boy," Weslan said. "How would you like to be Orlan's younger brother?"
Every head at the table jerked up and looked at the King. Including Jenner.
"This....mongrel child, sire? Surely you've had too much wine....."
"I've had too much of nothing, Jenner, and you would do well not to speak to me so!" A hush fell over the entire clearing. If you hadn't heard the King, you had a lack of hearing. "You've simply made me aware of what condition our servants stay in and I don't like it! Especially *children* above all else, being made to wander the palace alone and perform jobs an adult should be made to do!" Weslan fumed. "Now, I've had enough! I want you to improve their living conditions or you will be put down there with them!" A round of applause erupted from around the King's table and other tables as well.
"Me, sire? A common servant? I shudder to think," Jenner said. "But, I will do as my King commands. My apologies."
"Wouldn't you rather do what your 'Master' commands?"
Eyes darted every which way, searching for the person attached to the voice. It seemed to come from all around them. A cyan blue light drifted down through the top of the clearing on top of the group, hovering above them. Danda was encased inside it.
"Would you not rather join me instead?"
"To what purpose?" Jenner asked skeptically. He was, of course, a bargaining man. He would always sway to the side whose grass seemed to be greener. Taking advantage of a situation was a specialty of his that he took great pride in, no matter how unloyal or scandelous it made him seem. There was nothing 'dirty' about saving one's own life.
"Wouldn't you like to rid the world of humans? Vile creatures, poison of the planet..." Danda speculated. "You would become King in the place of your current Majesty."
"How dare you?!" Weslan exclaimed, standing up from his chair. Every elf in the clearing rose from their seats, drawing a bow and arrow, including Orlan. "You would release Jasper back into this world? How can you promise such things as the elven throne in his name? How do you know he will not simply destroy you, as well?"
"He is beyond such things," Danda explained. "But, this is not why I have come here. I seek the one with the Stone Heart." Zell stood up.
"The Dileja has chosen a pitiful group of children for her 'crusade'," Danda said, eyeing the group at the table. "Would you fight me again, children? I would relish a fight between myself and you, Stone Heart. Do you wish to drive me away from these people?"
"My name's Zell," Zell replied. "And the answer's 'yes'. But, if we fight, I don't wanna do it here. Not where people can get hurt."
"I'm afraid, *child*," Danda stated, "you don't have that option."
There was a sudden silent thunder and Zell was bathed in a translucent sphere of red light. He was lifted into the air up to Danda's level, Squall and the other's watching from the ground.
"Kick his ass, chickenwuss!!" Seifer yelled, trying to be encouraging. However, Rinoa seemed to only glare at him.
"What the (&*^??!!" Zell hollered as he was lifted even higher. He always did have a fear of heights.
"You don't even know how to use your power, do you, boy?" Danda laughed. "I'll give you a fair chance: reach down inside of yourself and grab it. You feel it, don't you? Pulsating power you never had before? You can feel it throbbing, wanting loose, can't you? Raw power such as that shouldn't be in the hands of someone so young as you.
"I could teach you everything I have learned in my centuries of life, Zell. All my knowledge, my experiences, my magic.....You could join me and be a King or an Emperor. Your word would be law, next to my own." Danda thrust his hand down at Squall and the others. "They don't care about you. Squall cares about his reputation. Rinoa follows him like a dog on a leash. Seifer follows Rinoa, his old love. Fujin and Raijin follow Seifer out of blind loyalty. Irvine wants popularity. Selphie loves Irvine, so she tags along, unaware he was with someone else."
Selphie shot Irvine a look of disbelief. "You.....? You're...?"
"Selphie, he's messing with our heads. I swear there's never been anybody but you," he professed.
"Why do you lie to yourself, Irvine?" Danda asked. "You don't remember the pub in Timber? The woman in the blue dress? Her perfume? Her touch? He lies to you, Selphie. Look into his eyes and decide."
"I didn't, Selphie.....He's lying, I didn't......" he pleaded with her. Tears were beginning to well up in her green eyes and she shook her head.
"Did you lay with her, you deceitful wretch? Tell her the truth, Irvine..."
".......I....I don't believe you...." Selphie told Danda, a scowl forming on her face.
"Believe what you wish," Danda said dismissively. "Everything I've spoken is the truth. If you doubt me, any of you, ask each other. I know every single one of you, heart and soul. I know all your deepest, darkest secrets, every one of you. That was just a little of what I know. Do you wish to know more about one another...? About everyone's secrets...?"
"We don't need to know about anybody's secrets unless they tell us!" Zell yelled at him. "If any of us have any secrets, there's good reason for them. Some things are just not anybody's business!!"
Danda smiled. "You would know all about secrets, wouldn't you, Zell?" Zell swallowed hard. He didn't answer. "Wouldn't you?? Shameful secrets...? Pitiful secrets...? Secrets that make people vomit where they stand...? Would you all like to hear Zell's deepest, darkest secret..........?"
"SHUT UP!!" Zell screamed. "You shut your mouth!! Just shut up!!!"
"A little edgy, aren't we, Zell? For someone who doesn't have any secrets, you're being awfully defensive.........No matter. They'll find out soon enough."
"I. Said. Shut. Up," Zell growled, a snarl rising from his lip. Even from the ground, it could be seen.
(Ohhhh *^@%.....I have never seen that look on his face before....) Squall thought, alarmed. He bent his head down and whispered to Rinoa. "Tell Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin to start getting people out of here.....Now, while Zell's got his attention....Children first...."
Rinoa nodded. She tapped Seifer on the shoulder, ever watching Danda's movements. She passed on the message to him, causing him to raise an eyebrow. (I want a piece of this guy......but, this isn't the situation to get uppity...) Seifer thought sourly. (.........damn.)
He, Raijin, and Fujin started to break slowly away from the King's Table, spreading out in 3 directions, taking the King, Orlan, and Fili with them. Jenner stayed at the table. They disappeared into the crowd, mothers holding their children, husbands holding their wives. People were too scared to move, let alone try to escape.
"ENERGIZER," Zell spoke loudly, calling forth for the first time his new magic. His body suddenly shook and he crossed his arms over his chest, the snarl from his lips transforming into a grimace of pain. He curled up in midair within the red circle of light, allowing it to crackle with raw energy newly released. He took up his knees and placed his forehead down on them, in pain.
The people on the ground looked back up at the two forms as they were lead away by Seifer and his posse.
Danda was the picture of calm, tranquility, and dignity, his sphere being perfect: no crackling or resonating energy, but, simply a glowing, royal blue sphere.
Zell, however, was the exact opposite. He appeared to be the physical embodiment of rage, power, and......love....? Zell's love for family was expressed along with his hate and rage for any who might violate or harm his. His family was going to be harmed if he didn't do this. Others' families were going to be harmed if he didn't do this.
Zell released his knees and there was a new fire in his eyes, a new virtility. His physical strength had risen to a new level. No normal creature on earth could survive a blow from him in this state. Not a T-Rexuar, not a Malboro, not a Chimera. Not even Omega Weapon itself, had it existed in that timeline.
".....why don't we attack him now, Squall.....?" Kildare whispered to him. "We could catch him by surprise....."
"....No, Kildare.....there are too many people still out here....." Squall said. "Too many innocent bystanders to launch that kind of a campaign.....we have to buy time....that's what Zell's doing, now...."
"I'm giving you a chance to leave peacefully," Zell growled. "Leave these people alone and go back to whatever section of Hell you came from. I'm not going to offer it again."
Danda chuckled. "It seems you have a little bit of spitfire in you....you got that from your mother," he said. "She was a fine woman, India was.....a *fine* figure of a woman...."
Zell flinched. "You knew my mother.........??"
"I told you I know all of you. Your parents, your grandparents.....I know all about your families, where they live, why you were all orphaned....." Danda said calmly. "Would you like to know....? In exchange for that information, would you lay down your weapons and stop resisting me...? You would be left in peace, you and your families.....your *true* families....."
Zell shook his head sharply. "Stop it! You're messing with our heads, you don't know anything!! Nothing!"
"I'm 763 years old, Stone Heart....." Danda replied smoothly. "You cannot tell yourself I know nothing, for it is a lie...."
Zell's red globe suddenly sprang forward, carrying him with it, and stopping less than an inch from Danda's blue sphere. Zell was fuming. His lips curled up, bearing his teeth.
"You wish to kill me now, don't you...?" Danda taunted. "Well. We might as well begin."
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That's it for right now. Chapter 13 is coming soon, if school permits. I do believe if I was getting paid for this, I would have been fired a long time ago for failure to put out anything on time!!
Sgt. Phoenix