DISCLAIMER: I guarantee, this is the most un-me writing ever. Does that make sense? ^_^ wow! I got another chapter out in the SAME month! ~_^ wow! …I don't think anyone's going to like this O_o
Joy to My Life
Chapter 9: What Came First? The Chicken or the Egg?
By: J.B. Santiago
- Unknown Place – Unknown Time -
Lavirea stood up numbly from the kneeling position she stayed in since that girl had vanished from the Red mediative-state 'room'. The millions of colours continuously swirled around her, as if nothing had disturbed it. This 'room' was a haven for Lavirea, a room where only Red council members could enter. It was a place to think, to relax - to feel completely safe. Every Council had one; it had been called a mediative-state since when one entered everything became clear and comforting. She trembled slightly. She didn't feel very clear and comfortable here anymore. Lavirea clenched her jaw and focussed on leaving the 'room', her thoughts already on what to tell her mother about that mysterious girl.
"Ahhh!" Clutching her head in her hands, Lavirea felt her legs give way and she fell to her knees again. The surrounding area began to pulse blood Red, and the screams began.
- Joir - Unknown Time -
'Idiots! I'm not the enemy!' Dorothy thought as she deflected another attack from three different Council members. She had teleported right where Emeline was, unfortunately Emeline had already started World War III and when the Council members saw Dorothy they had automatically started firing at her as well. So she was trying to fight most of the Greater Council AND Emeline (a.k.a the Darkness) with a sword that did nothing but deflect attacks. Not that this was a bad thing but Dorothy really needed to know how to use this damn Key of Life before Emeline unleashed the Darkness. She rolled towards a pillar, leaning against it, taking a breather. This was not good. She couldn't hurt the Council members so every hit they shot at her she deflected at the building which was slowly but surely going to cave in if she kept doing that. She couldn't even hit Emeline without fear of hitting a Council member. Dorothy couldn't risk killing her own ancestors now, could she? Emeline, on the other hand, seemed to be having a ball. Wherever she threw a hit it would kill someone or damage Joir. Dodging falling debris, Dorothy ran to the safety of the next pillar, the Key automatically deflecting any shot coming her way. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw five council members - all a different Colour, glowing intensely, their mouths all moving in sync, silently. A circle of Council members had formed around them, warding off the energy Emeline was throwing at them. Seeing this as a chance to hit Emeline, Dorothy concentrated on the Key she was holding and tried to channel energy through it to hit Emeline. A reddish tint developed around the Key and Dorothy pushed off from the pillar and aimed the Key at Emeline. With a yell, Dorothy felt a rush of Red power go from her into the Key then outwards towards Emeline. Emeline noticed this about the same time as the Council members noticed it. A precious momentary pause and the place erupted in a thousand Colours.
- Unknown Place - Unknown Time -
"AHHH!" Lavirea felt her mother's soul being ripped from her body. The souls of all Red could be heard screaming in the mediative-state. "mother…Mother…MOTHER!" Her eyes blazed Red, matching the pulsing 'room'. A war cry shrieked out of her and she disappeared.
- Joir - Unknown Time -
Billows of smoke rose up from the rumble of what once was a majestic structure. A soft cough was heard followed by hacking. Gingerly picking herself up, using the Key as support, Dorothy's eyes widened at what was left. "No…"
"Yes."
Dorothy nearly dropped the Key as she saw Emeline only a few metres away from her. An evil smile playing on her lips, Emeline stated in a casual manner, "You missed."
Dorothy shook her head in disbelief. No, it wasn't possible. The energy she had thrown at Emeline hadn't been very much. It couldn't have levelled the entire building. She desperately surveyed the wreckage, hoping against hope to see any survivors.
"Thanks for waiting until they finished the incantation to open the portal back to Earth. Makes my job a whole lot easier." Emeline waved at the portal that was now open where those five Council members had been chanting. 'They were going to open a portal and send us back to Earth.' Dorothy realised, she felt sick as their intensely glowing faces danced around in her mind. Emeline's smile grew wider; she seemed completely untouched by the dust and smoke all around them. A malicious comment was cut off by an ear-piercing yell as they both turned to see the new arrival.
Before Dorothy and Emeline were swept away by an incredibly fierce hurricane of Red power into the portal back to Earth, Dorothy recognised the new person as that woman, 'Lavi'.
- Earth - Unknown Time -
'I'm getting really sick and tired of being thrown around like this.' Breathing heavily and favouring her left side, Dorothy rolled onto her knees, perilously close to the edge of a rock cliff. A steady pouring of rain didn't help any as she started to heal slowly. Then she remembered the Key. Looking around frantically for the sword, this was the same area where the time machine had landed, completely forgetting about healing her wounds, as the thought of losing the Key of Life became a frightening reality.
"ARGH!"
Dorothy snapped her head to where that horrible scream had come from. She saw Emeline standing twenty metres away from her, yelling at where the portal had been. Obviously this wasn't how she had planned everything. Dorothy started to contemplate finding a good hiding place from the very insane Emeline but she was spotted first. That smile, Emeline was giving her was not comforting at all.
"You've lost the Key." Mirthless laughter escaped from her. "Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy. What am I going to do with you?" Emeline's twisted smile just got bigger as she advanced towards Dorothy.
Dorothy instinctively stepped back. The ground was soggy and her shoes sunk a little into the dirt. A few more steps and she would be heading for one mighty trip down a cliff face. Dorothy calculated the options. The best one her mind could come up with was that jumping would be a less painful death. Inwardly groaning she gritted her teeth and gave a steely glare back to Emeline. She felt drained and without the Key there would be no chance of her deflecting any hit Emeline threw at her. She was a sitting duck. 'Dorothy Duck, that's me.' She thought disparagingly, narrowing her eyes as she watched Emeline move closer to her. She needed time to think! Maybe she could sense the Key? Emeline was getting closer and closer; an energy orb glowing and growing in her hands. 'C'mon! Sense that stupid Key! Stupid, idiotic, annoying - ' the rant stopped abruptly in her mind as Dorothy felt what she always had. A semi idea came to her and she spoke, "Emeline. Why did you so willing let the Darkness corrupt you?"
The smile didn't leave Emeline's face but she did stop her advance. "Trying to buy some time, hmmm? There's no one here to save you now Dorothy. Not even that snivelling blond."
Dorothy twitched involuntarily, at the slight against Quatre but she kept her eyes trained on Emeline. "Please, Emeline, grant a dying person her last wish: Why did you let the Darkness corrupt you?"
"Why should I? Especially a murderer like you!" With that, Emeline threw the orb at Dorothy and she felt it sink into her skin and constrict her breathing. She placed both hands on her chest as she fell to one knee, edging a step closer to the end of the cliff.
"And I thought I was being hypocritical." Dorothy said in that controlled voice she always used when she was hiding an insult in a compliment. "I just wanted to blow up Earth, I didn't want to end the universe."
"Shut up!" Emeline's face became distorted in hatred as she stood a metre away from Dorothy. "This is what they deserve. All of them deserve to die!" She took one step forward, raising her hands at Dorothy, power gathering at her palms.
"Is that you talking or the Darkness, Emeline?" Dorothy watched her unnervingly. Just one more step…
"You're out of time, Dorothy." Emeline raised her hands to the sky as huge amounts of energy circled around her hands and took a step forward about to throw it at Dorothy's kneeling form. A bright light flashed and Emeline realized too late as the Key of Life formed in Dorothy's hands and pierced her surprisingly soft skin. An eternity seemed to spin by until Emeline fell to the ground, the Key embedded in her heart. She didn't make a sound as the Darkness shot out from her every pore as it tried to get away from the Key. A thunderstorm wailed as the Darkness spread into the Earth.
"What…have you done?" Emeline whispered to Dorothy who was staring down at her, with a blank expression on her face.
"…Emeline?"
"I…" She felt the Key starting to suck out all the Green power she had. Emeline looked at Dorothy. "I…"
"Emeline?"
A beatific smile graced Emeline's features as she felt the last of the Green power leave her body. She was free… "It's tainted…the power…you're not…" A deep shudder escaped her and she went limp.
Dorothy watched blankly as Emeline began to turn back into the grandmother, Dorothy had known for years. The aging process didn't stop at her real age; it kept going until all that was left was ash that blew away by the gale forces being whipped around. Dorothy sat there motionless; the sword had sunk into the ground where Emeline had fallen but was still upright. Rain bucketed down on her nevertheless she didn't move from her spot. She had unleashed the Darkness. It was her that had nearly wiped out her kind, not the Darkness. She had single-handedly brought on the Dark Ages of mankind…
The Key of Life began to pulse silver. It began to waver slightly. She had to get out of here. Now. Standing up hastily, she grabbed onto the handle of the sword and half-ran, half-stumbled towards where the time machine was, hopefully the cover she had put on top of it had sheltered it from the storm. She doubted it.
"You!"
Dorothy didn't even turn around. She knew who it was. That woman. Dorothy knew what she had to do.
Lavirea ignored the pelting rain and thunder. She grabbed onto the girl's shoulder and twisted her around until they were face to face. Before Lavirea could scream at her, Dorothy spoke, "I'm from the future. I came here to stop the Darkness. I came here…to stop the Darkness."
In the pouring rain, Lavirea didn't pick up that tears were trailing down the girl's face. Lavirea felt overwhelmed. As if she had just entered the mediative-state room for the very first time. Her mind was screaming at her, to not believe such a far-fetched answer; to not believe the person responsible for so much death and destruction…but she did believe. Her hands fell to her waist and her train of sight went to the sword in the girl's hand.
"What is that power?"
Dorothy too, looked at the wavering Key. "It's…it's when the five Councils join powers together and create the Key of Life. It's the only thing that can stop the Darkness." A look of determination crossed Dorothy's face. "You're the one who will save the Earth."
Lavirea broke out of the trance the Key seemed to put on her as she looked at the girl in surprise. Before she could ask anything else, Dorothy ran to where the time machine was hidden. Throwing off the coverings, she was relieved to find that it wasn't completely soaking wet. Rapidly pressing the time and date of home she held on tightly as it whirred to life and vanished. Lavirea stood there for a few minutes in shock. "I would save the world…" Lavirea gritted her teeth together and teleported back to Joir. Yes, she would save the world. She would make mother proud.
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- Subspace - Real Time -
"Where are the others?!" Duo yelled over the noise.
"Right here."
He turned around to see five glowing figures and Trowa. 'Scary…'
Bethany shut her eyes tight, trying to ignore the voices that were whispering things in her mind ever since she had stepped into the Pool. "Ok! Heero plug in those four!" She pointed to the prone bodies of the Black Council members. Heero obliged and connected each one quickly to one Pod that had been stripped down to just the wiring. Bethany nodded to Midii who connected her hands to the same Pod. Catherine went next, standing next to the second Pod, connecting her hands where Bethany had placed hand pads inside the Pod so they could channel energy through it; Relena stood beside her, doing the same. Bethany bit her bottom lip hard as the voices got louder, she took a step towards the last pod, where she would connect to and all their power combined would go through Quatre to send a beacon out to the time machine - to Dorothy.
You don't need her.
Bethany's eyebrows shot up. She looked frenetically around the lab, but no one else seemed to have heard that voice.
"What's the matter?!"
Bethany felt like hyperventilating, she gave Duo a crazy look. The universe could be yours.
Shaking her head savagely she rushed to the last Pod and placed her hands on the pads. "TURN IT ON!"
Duo didn't need to be told twice and he pressed the last button to activate the Pods.
Bethany felt the Red Power seep from her fingers. It was working! 'I don't want the universe. I just want my cousin back.' The voices disappeared.
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- Unknown Place - Unknown Time -
Dorothy sneezed, as more sand went up her nose. She was definitely NOT back home. Not unless home turned into a hot and blistery Egyptian afternoon. Falling out of the time machine, which was now half buried in sand, she squinted as the setting sun cast long shadows against the smallest pyramid of Giza. She had gone here once, before the Eve Wars, with her grandfather. To Dorothy, they were masterpieces of human intelligence and resilience. Four thousand years later and they were still standing. A chill travelled down her back. 'That's strange…' The sky had just turned into night and the sand was rapidly cooling down as the heat dissipated into the cloudless skies. Dorothy felt a weird sensation as she realised that night had come in a blink of an eye.
Boisterous laughter echoed in the dark, and Dorothy peered around the corner of the pyramid. The site in front of her was not what she imagined. Instead of seeing the middle pyramid, she saw an enormous skyscraper made of stone blocks.
"Ok, ok! Ready? Go!"
Dorothy snapped her head upwards in amazement at the two bodies floating high up in the air. Their bodies glowed against the night sky and they seemed to be chatting in a challenging way. They were taking out blocks one at a time…like a game!
"What?! You can't move that there!" Said one to the other, their voices loud and clear, even from their altitude.
"You have got to be kidding," murmured Dorothy. This was how the pyramids were made?! A whirring sound surprised Dorothy and she twirled around just in time to see the time machine come to life. Without a second thought she lunged towards it just as it disappeared.
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- Subspace – Real Time -
Beads of sweat rolled down Quatre's face and he felt the metal pads start to slip from his fingers. 'No!' He tightened his grip on them as he stared at the place where the portal had been. A beam of Colours was being shot through it and he didn't know if he could hold on much longer. Unreal howls began to sound from the portal entrance. Then silence. Everything just stopped. The beam disappeared, the power went out and bodies collectively collapsed from the outpouring of power. Sparks of light shot out from the entrance and smoke began to cloud the room.
"Hel-lo?! Guys - you ere me?! Duo?!" Hilde's voice broke out through the speakers.
Everyone began to gingerly get up. "I'm here Hil." Duo said half-heartedly, he helped Bethany to her feet as she was the only person he could see through the smoke.
"Did it work?" Bethany looked at him anxiously. "Dorothy?! Dorothy where are you?!" She yelled stumbling towards where Quatre was.
The gang looked nervously at Quatre, the smoke was clearing slightly and they could make out his outline…and the outline of the time machine!
"Dorothy…Dorothy!" Quatre staggered to the machine; joy clearly etched on his face. "Dorothy - " He stared at the empty seat. Bethany stood motionless by his side.
"Watch out!"
Trowa pushed the both of them out of the way, just as falling debris fell onto the time machine. A mini explosion rocketed the room, breaking anything else that wasn't already destroyed. Quatre shoved the two bodies away from him and scrambled to where the time machine had stood. The ground started to shake violently and Heero stopped him from getting any closer.
"We need to get out NOW."
Quatre tried to push away from Heero but it just resulted in both of them falling to the ground. The sound of shattering glass and metal screeched through the lab.
"Get out everyone! The place is going to explode!" Wufei said, staring at the fluctuating graphs and readings in the lab back on Earth.
"NO!" Quatre somehow got away from Heero's death grip and lurched towards the fiery mess. He didn't see Duo's hand snake out and hit him in the chest, knocking him out.
"Sorry buddy." Duo hefted Quatre over his shoulder and started to run out of the lab, closely followed by the others (some who were carrying the four Black Council members). Relena dragged Bethany out, as the girl was in a state of shock. They all piled into the room Bethany had first been brought in to meet Mario. A portal had been opened earlier, that led directly back into the old lab on Earth, where Sally, Wufei and Hilde waited uneasily. As the last person walked through the portal, the room caved in.
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- Earth –
Three days earlier…
"Ouch!" Bethany hopped on one foot, holding her other shin, which she had just hit the table leg with. She disappeared into the closet beneath the stairs, weird sounds coming from inside. Dorothy blinked. She was lying on the floor of the family room of Bethany's estate in Florence. Dorothy tried to get up but her body wasn't listening. 'Bethany…' her mind whispered. It was so dark and Dorothy doubted Bethany could see her so far away. From her position on the floor, she saw Bethany about to bound up the stairs. A silhouette appeared behind Bethany and it materialised into Steven Locandro who grabbed her and disappeared. Then she saw everyone rush down the stairs, lead by…herself.
Dumbfounded, Dorothy lay prone as she heard herself call out for Bethany. 'Oh my god…I'm in the past!' Her body was still not responding to her brain's commands and she lay perfectly still, watching the gang standing in the foyer. Alessio appeared just like before, sprouting some rubbish or other. Her right hand began to twitch back to life. A wave of pain hit her suddenly and she realised Alessio must have hit her past self, meaning he was about to hit Quatre. Anger began to build up inside of her; there was no way she would let Alessio hurt Quatre again - or was this the first time? Able to shake her head again, Dorothy whispered, "I don't think so." She closed her eyes, focusing on the memory of what had happened three days ago and the Red power began to radiate from her.
Two days earlier…
Sounds of motor scooters whizzing past underneath the balcony from which she lay, woke Dorothy up from an uncomfortable slumber. Rolling away from the broken pot plant she must have crashed against, she sat up groggily, shielding her eyes from the setting sun, reflecting off the French windows. She was on the balcony of Bethany's apartment in Milan where Duo and Hilde had been staying for the remainder of their vacation. SO that's how she had teleported everyone here. Her future self had helped…this was getting more confusing. Had she been asleep for the whole day? Recollecting her thoughts of what had happened on that day, she estimated that her past self and everyone else was now in Luxemburg. Dorothy looked down at her muddy, blood splattered clothes. She forced the windows opened and went in search for some clean clothes and a phone. She needed to get on a plane to Luxemburg.
A few hours later…
She watched sadly as she saw everyone drive away in two separate cars, on the way to her estate where Relena would hurtle them head first into this mess. She had contemplated appearing before them but she didn't know if having her past self and future self see each other would somehow cause them both to disappear. This wasn't her field of expertise, after all. After all she had been through, she wasn't about to risk it, even though her heart ached to be near Quatre again. He would be able to make this all better…
The soft beeping sounds of hospital equipment, the only noise heard in the fully bandaged patients room. Dorothy looked warily at Myra Noventa's covered face. Myra had been the one to tell Relena that it was Emeline who was the true enemy. Maybe if she could heal her, Relena would know sooner and…Dorothy held Myra's bandaged hand and focussed.
- Luxemburg - Real Time -
Wufei looked disbelievingly at his hand holding down the lever. He had pulled it? Dorothy felt a smirk tug at her lips. She was getting used to her powers. It had been relatively easy to move Wufei's hand to the lever. He'd probably have a fit, if he found out how easily she had planted the knowledge of how to turn the keys, in his mind.
- Subspace - Real Time -
A small blimp of light showed up on the monitors before disappearing completely unnoticed by the three in the lab. 'Déjà vu all over again', Dorothy thought as she materialised in the fortress once more. The place shook suddenly, before stopping. The fighting was already well under way. She needed to find the lab.
"There it is."
Dorothy melted into the shadows as she watched Bethany, Relena, Midii, Catherine and Trowa enter a room with an arched entrance. The old powers emanated from that room. A gasp caught in her throat as she felt Bethany gain the full power of Red. She could hear Bethany's thoughts! …and something else. Whispered voices…the Darkness! She could hear the Darkness in Bethany's thoughts…Bethany had the Darkness? No, it wasn't possible! She watched the group teleport away. The room with the old powers dimmed and Dorothy cautiously walked into it. 'It looks like a pool…' She placed her hand close to where the 'water' began to ripple. "Huh?!" She snatched her hand away. The old powers were in this 'water'. This 'pool' held the old powers. That's how they gained their full powers! All the pieces of the jigsaw were finally falling into place! "It's tainted…the power…you're not…" That's what Emeline had meant! The Darkness had tainted the old powers when she had defeated it the first time. Dorothy stared at the 'pool'. She needed to destroy it. The Darkness needed to be stopped now. So much bloodshed…so much caused by her. Dorothy felt as if she was standing outside of herself as she focussed and the Key of Life materialized in her hands. The Key had stopped wavering and was a solid silver sword. She stared mesmerised by the whole atmosphere. How would she do this? The Key started to glow and Dorothy knew what she had to do. Taking a few steps back, she ran forward, Key held high and she sunk into the Pool.
The End.
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hehe! Just kidding! ^__^ *Ducks the tomatoes and other projectile that was thrown at her* ahem…
Person who is annoyed with herself because she loathes this chapter:
You know, I actually considered ending it like this but then J.A. threatened to bash me up if I did so I've got more chapters after this! ^__^ After so many chapters of no-Joy, I promise that the rest of the chapters will have JOY! (excluding the next one ~_^) ….heh, if anyone wants to R&R, C&C, e-mail, death threats as well! Most welcome! I expect some death threats people! ^__^