Hey everyone, just letting you know from the get-go that I am completely intolerant of flames, and people whining for advancement in the plot… I'd like to say I'm a more quality, not quantity writer, and it may take a while to eloquently get to the point. However! I always like suggestions, and whether you like or dislike drop me a line!
I'm not giving anymore away about the plot though! ;-)
Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Cloud. Sorry.
Chapter One: Awakening
The rain fell hard on the stone balcony, but the wind rose to barely a whisper. Surprisingly, it seemed even colder and darker than that night only a few months back…
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"I'm not ready to give up this body," he felt his breath hitch in a resolute fear, "Not yet."
And with these words he swung his trusted sword and…
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Seda shook his head furiously to the side, casting a few rain drops from the tips of his now shoulder-length hair. He could feel the heat in his face rising despite the arctic cold blowing through the air. He had been afraid, he had been cowardly, and he could find no solace in anyone to convince him otherwise. Sophia, Sophia was the only one who could do this for him. It had always been that way, hadn't it?
Once more he cursed inwardly for his own weakness and lack of self-sufficiency. He was supposed to be a King, a born leader! What need did he have for some woman, or for anyone? He had led armies and conquered, and lived almost as one divine…
Ahhhh…that nasty voice in his head spoke to him, but you didn't do that on your own, did you Seda? Furious as it made him, the voice of education did not often falter. He had been incapable, he was losing his war, and instead of taking his fate as it was coming he had sold his soul to the devil rather than accept fate as it stood. He was in league with dark forces and gave body the most chilling and destructive force known to the multi-verse. He would rather do this, than stand up and give it all he had. And what do you have now, Seda? What do you have to show for yourself?
Seda cast a look down at his hands sharply. His body had been purged of the dark blood coursing through him after the fight with the Dark Genie. But he still felt it, cold unrelenting rage and his powers had not ceased. Kind of a consolation prize, some would say. But to him it was a curse, a constant reminder of what he had given up to attain it. All the powers these hands possess would not bring Sophia back. And supposing it could, what would he have to offer her? Broken man that I've become, would it be of any use it all? He wasn't quite sure if it would be of any help.
Cursing under his breath, Seda re-entered the main chamber, cloak and all completely drenched in the evening downpour. I can't go on this way… perhaps it would have been better if…
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"Go Toan, I trust you'll know what to do…" His last words choked out as the blood and bile burned at his throat. Casting his cerulean eyes with one firm and final glance, he felt all the life float out of him like the light snuffed from a candle…
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"No…" Seda murmured. There must be another way. Ever since partying ways with the oddly assembled team the Hero of Atlamillia had managed to assemble, it had been the same. The ascent into life had brought new hope into his soul for the first time in over 400 years. The memories and experience of death, far more devastating and frightening than he had possibly imagined…
At least, he thought bitterly, when the Dark Genie's wrath was impending upon Blue Terra he had something constructive to do with his time. He felt as if… it was what he could do to correct the mistake he made. That he was not a coward, but the brave ruler he desired so much to be- a hero in the eyes of one.
His head snapped up and his mind raced. The ancient texts… passages… rites… there must be something. Despite the travesties he had faced, searching and discovering the secrets of Atlamillia was the only thing that had lead him to Toan, and aided him in his quest against the Dark Genie. Perhaps there was something there, perhaps it would once more be his salvation, anything, to satiate the burning shame in his heart.
Seda stood up and waved his palm over the snuffed candles, setting them alight. The rain was falling in torrents now, wet heaving sheets that fell coolly on the blue-stone floor. He moved to the study with the nature of a wildcat, and clawed through the books half in desperation and in madness with only one thought on his mind. I need to bring Sophia back… I need to bring hope back.
The hours passed tirelessly but Seda plunged through the texts with the eyes of a hawk, construing everything and anything that could be of any use to him. He worked as one possessed, to one watching his ice-blue eyes becoming almost a bruised purple. Seda could feel it; this is killing me. He collapsed his face in his hands, like a man feeling his hope dying…
Frustrated and furious, Seda flung the table across the room in a fit of unrelenting passion. He could feel his chest harden and his gaze gone steel. And then it widened. With an impulsive change of character, he strode over slowly with the inherent walk of royalty towards a book held open by the (now broken) leg of the table. He deftly picked the mass of pages from its temporary paperweight and perused it quietly. He kept reading and re-reading, to fully comprehend the opportunity in front of him. This… could be it, he stared at it once more willing it to not be illusion; he needed the power of a wish. But once more his mind looked for validity, no simple wish-caster could grant this on command. Seda recalled carefully, not even the infinite resource of the Dark Genie could have done this. He remembered the frustration he felt being forced to move from feeble body to the next, where as if he had that power within him the possibilities would have been endless.
No, as he continued to read he discovered, the Dark Genie did not have this ability because he lacked the simple foundation. It requires the will, a positive energy, a wish. The power of a willing wish-fulfiller to regenerate Sophia using their own life energy and heart. Seda screwed up his eyes in concentration, and felt them fly open with a start. An image of lilac hair, flashing green eyes, and a playfully arrogant smirk swim in front of him. He needed Toan's genie girl. It was that simple. Seda grinned, perhaps this could be the end to all of this. He rifled through his things until he found a Polaroid of the team he had met only months before, until he found her looking at the camera as if daring it to not do her justice. She was spinning her armlet alive with power and hope. Perhaps, Miss Genie, Seda mused as he pulled out his sword, perhaps you can be my hope.
And for a reason he couldn't explain he thought, maybe you already are.