Chapter 10
The Hunt For The Blood Red Sword, The Masamune
Diss stood looking at what was Sky Dragon Island. It had turned into a complete structure that floated at least a mile above the sea. Shaun walked up to Diss from behind with his head held low. Diss turned around and spoke softly,
"How bad?" Shaun cringed as he spoke very quietly.
"There is nothing we can do. Kid is completely out of it and Paul is non- responsive. Steena and Marcy are carefully watching Paul while Serge and Glenn are watching Kid." Diss sighed.
"What happened?" He said more to the sky than to Shaun.
"I only wish we knew." Shaun said muttering. Steena walked out of the hut as she walked up to Diss and Shaun.
"No change in either case. I said two quick prayers before coming out." Steena sat on a rock as she buried her face in her hands sniffling.
"Hey, cheer up, okay? You're gonna make me cry." Shaun said softly as he gave Steena a hug. Diss kicked a rock off into the ocean as he spat on the ground.
"I know, but. I feel like I could have done something." Steena said softly.
"We all did." Fargo said surprisingly without a cigar in his mouth. "Paul violently twitched and Kid did the same moments after him." Fargo continued. They all sighed. Diss looked back to see the two girls walking up to the hut.
"Where do you think you're going?" Diss said in a cold voice. The little girl kept walking as the older one pushed her away walking up very quickly to Diss. As soon as she was in range she punched Diss squarely on the nose.
"SEE WHAT YOU DID?" she pushed Shaun away from her and she glared at Diss.
"ME? WHAT DID I DO?" Diss said feeling blood trickle out of his nose.
"I TOLD YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!" She said grabbing Diss by the collar. Steena tried to push her off but only grabbed air. "YOU BETTER PRAY TO GOD HE PULLS THROUGH OR YOU'LL REGRET IT!" Diss snapped at that last comment.
"YOU THINK I HAVEN'T BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM TO PULL THROUGH?" The girl didn't buy it. She tackled Diss and began to punch him.
"GET OFF OF HIM!" came the familiar voice of Paul. "GET OFF!" Paul screamed hurling the girl off. "DON'T BLAME HIS FRIENDS FOR SOMETHING HE DECIDED TO DO!" Diss looked in confusion at Paul.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" the girl yelled at the top of her lungs.
"STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!" came the plea of a little girl. "EVER SINCE THIS BEGAN ALL THE TWO OF YOU DID WAS FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! YOU'RE ACTING LIKE MY OLD PARENTS!" Steena went over and helped Diss up. "I'M SICK OF IT! AND HE'S SICK OF IT TOO!" The little girl broke down as she pointed to the inside of the hut. "HE'S IN THERE FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AND ALL YOU TWO DO IS FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER! DON'T YOU GIVE A DAMN?" The little girl fell down crying some more as she continued. "STOP IT! JUST STOP." She said letting the tears out. Paul and the girl looked at her and then looked at each other as they realized the mistakes they have made. The older girl went to talk to the little girl, but she ran to Steena instead. "AT LEAST SHE CARES ABOUT HIM!" She said through her sobbing tears hugging Steena by the legs. "AND YOU'RE BOTH TOO BLIND TO SEE THAT THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON HIS LIFE WAS NEVER US! IT WAS HIS FRIENDS! SHAUN IN MOST CASES!" Shaun paid more attention to the conversation now than he did before. Diss stirred uncomfortably as he looked for a way out of it.
"Sweetie." The older girl said as softly as she could.
"DON'T TALK TO ME!" The little girl screamed back.
"Come on." Paul said as nicely as he could. The little girl hugged Steena as she got behind her. Paul blew up as he yelled.
"YOU THINK I NEVER CARED? YOU HONESTLY THINK I DON'T CARE ABOUT MYSELF?" Paul disappeared as he dropped behind him a gold watch. The older girl picked it up.
"No, I don't think you do." She muttered coldly. "Or you wouldn't be so hell bent on getting revenge." The older girl walked into the hut as Steena brought the little girl up to her arms.
"How are you and Paul related?" Steena asked carefully.
"I can't tell you that. Only Paul can." She said wiping tears from her eyes. "Can we go see him now?" Steena nodded as she walked inside the hut.
"What about the Paul earlier?" Shaun asked.
"That's Paul's dark side." The little girl whispered. "I wasn't supposed to say that." Steena sat in a chair and rocked back and forth until the little girl fell asleep. The older girl picked up her companion and held her tightly gently swaying back and forth. She looked at Diss and then spoke softly,
"I'm sorry. I was mad and I wanted to blame someone for Paul's pain." She started. "And when I attacked you earlier I knew his pain was caused by that machine. And I still knew all along that he was altered to think irrationally. That's why Paul is crazy sometimes. But I still blamed you. So.I'm sorry," Diss looked at her and nodded after awhile.
"Apology accepted," Diss said sitting next to Kid.
"However, don't think you actually influence Paul's final decisions. We can make him change his mind whenever he wants." She said in a statement. Shaun nodded for Diss.
"So then, who are you?" She shook her head smiling at Shaun before she replied to his question.
"Like she said." The older girl answered jingling the little girl in her arms. "Only Paul can tell you."
"Can you tell us what is going on?" Diss asked looking at Paul.
"He's basically stuck in a dream of his past." She said. "So is his friend Kid." She pointed with her pinky. Diss sighed. He had no clue where to begin. Marcy entered the room starring at the two girls.
"Uh, who are you?" She said walking up to Paul and wiping his forehead with a cloth.
"Friends." She said in a hesitant manner. Marcy didn't bother replying as she left the room after wiping Kid's forehead. Steena got up and sat in the stool next to Paul as she took his hand and held it tightly.
"I would hate to have my first boyfriend die on me." she whispered in his ear. "So don't do anything drastic on me, okay?" she said kissing his hand. Steena let go and they watched for five minutes as Paul began to violently twitch. He fell out of his bed and his Halberd hit his head causing him to stop moving. Shortly Kid began breaking into a cold sweat. Diss slammed his fist on the table as Marcy ran in to fix everything. Paul was back on his bed and Kid stopped sweating.
"I said nothing drastic." Steena whispered in a teasing manner. She whispered some other words as she left the room tears full in her eyes. Shaun left with Steena to help her through the situation. The little girl woke up and looked at Paul, then to the older girl.
"Will he make it?" The little girl asked quietly.
"I don't know sweetie.I don't know." the older one said as tears now filled her eyes. Diss felt a warm hand sweep across his back.
"How's bimbo doing?" Christy asked. Diss replied without hesitation.
"We won't know until something happens, and I thought you couldn't contact me again?" Diss asked surprised she was there.
"The others don't know about this, they've gone to sleep for now. I needed to see what was taking you so long to get home." She whispered softly.
"Paul's in a coma and so is Kid; on top of that by purging one evil another was released into this world. I feel responsible, so I'm going to be a big kid and pick up my toys after I'm done playing with them." Diss said.
"How mature of you, for once you're taking responsibility for your actions," She said teasingly.
"Hey." Diss said mocking hurt feelings. Shaun looked up and saw Christy for the first time.
"Christy?" He asked incredulously checking the bed for Kid making sure this wasn't another hallucination.
"Yes Shaun?" She asked turning around.
"Is that you?" He asked still in disbelief.
"Shaun. after all we went through in San Francisco together it better be me or I'm going to kill you." She said sternly.
Shaun chuckled, "Alright, alright it's you.."
Christy sat in Diss' lap before looking around.
"I guess you could introduce me to your friends." She said rather plainly.
Diss blushed before looking around, "OK. Umm that's Marcy, that's Glenn and Steena, the girl on the bed here is Kid, and this spunky guy here is our biggest fan Fargo."
"Hello" Marcy said politely.
"Any friend of Diss is a friend of mine," Glenn said earnestly as he gently kissed her hand making her giggle.
"Argh, Diss here is right about one thing, I am his biggest fan, but I never knew he could keep the attention of a beautiful lass like yerself," Fargo said as he leaned against the wall.
Steena looked up at Christy and gave a weak smile, "Hello."
Christy studied her for a second before replying, "You're the one from my dream."
"What?" Steena asked slowly.
"Last night I had a dream, you were there and you.you did something with a red sword, but other than that I don't remember much," Christy said slowly.
Steena looked puzzled but didn't push the issue. Diss cleared his throat before saying, "Um guys, this is my fiancée Christy. Or actually a mental projection of her.." He said to the group. They nodded their heads as she turned in his lap facing him.
"You going to kiss me or do you want a bigger hint?" She said softly. Diss smiled as he kissed her deeply, she returned the kiss full force before slowly pulling back.
"Alright, this is definitely the last time, but be safe Diss. Come back to me in one piece, not like this." She said as she fingered the hole in his shirt.
"I got it... no more duels to the death. I'll just play chicken with a dragon if I get bored," Diss joked before Christy faded away.
Diss sat there a minute before he looked over at Kid. She stirred in her sleep but still remained deep.
"I think it was obvious what Christy was talking about." He said softly.
"The sword?" Steena asked.
"Before we take on that tower we are going to hunt the Masamune down. Once that's done we'll work at getting Kid and Paul back," He said slowly. Everyone nodded slowly. Then he dropped the bomb, "But I'm not leading the hunt."
"What Diss? You have to, you're the boss!" Shaun shouted.
"No I don't, Shaun. you lead the guys on the hunt I'm staying here. I'm sure FATE is gone, but one of us should be with Paul and I'm the one who's doing it today." Diss said sternly. He moved the chair so he sat between the sleepers and looked resolute to stay there.
Steena looked at Diss, as did the older girl, she seemed satisfied that Diss would protect Paul with his life. The older girl nodded her approval of Diss' idea and continued to rock the younger girl in her arms. Shaun sighed nodding.
"Any tips on where to look?" Shaun said slowly.
"Check out any stories about the Masamune, even if it was just a rumor. I'm sure those rumors will give you the key you need," Diss said looking at Paul. The myth in a myth strategy worked once, no reason it couldn't work again. Shaun turned to walk out when Diss said one last thing, "Also check with Viper's men, they might have seen the Masamune in a place earlier. Checking it out might help us faster."
"Will do Boss, now hold down the fort so I have something to come back to," Shaun said authoritatively.
Diss chuckled, "You know if the fort's gone something big happened."
Shaun nodded laughing as he led the others out of the hideaway. Diss leaned back in his chair as he relaxed realizing this might take all day, heck it might even take a week. He looked over at Marcy and Steena; Steena seemed deep in thought while Marcy was attending to Kid.
"I just hope I don't killed at the tower, but I need to rest up after nearly getting killed," Diss muttered to himself fingering the hole in his shirt.
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"Exactly where is that sword." Riddel asked to a young woman.
"I told you I don't know. A man dressed in black armor with a cape and blond hair walked up to the sword and grabbed it! He laughed sinisterly and left on a boat. He headed east." Riddel thanked her and walked back to Shaun and the rest of the large party.
"Nothing, except the man in black armor. So far finding the old sword is pointless. We should just go back and look in the other world." Everyone nodded but Serge and Shaun.
"We have only been at it for a few hours." Shaun said.
"Let's head east like the woman said then." Serge thought out loud.
"Great idea matey!" Fargo said in his pirate attitude. They made for the S.S. Invincible.
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Diss cringed as Marcy started swabbing the wound in his arm.
"Like hold still or you aren't going to get back to Christy alive," She said snippantly.
"I'm trying trust me, what are you using anyways?" Diss asked as he lay back on the cot.
"Alcohol, I didn't want to risk water after what I heard Paul did to you," Marcy said as she continued to clean the wound.
"Good girl, good girl, now you want to see a nifty trick?" Diss said as he sat up slowly.
"What?" Marcy asked cautiously.
"Get me a match." Diss said. Marcy did as she was told handing him a small match. Diss lit the match and held it close to the wound, instantly it caught fire, but instead of burning to Marcy's amazement it started closing as it healed over.
"Cool, how'd you do that?" She asked in awe.
"Just a thing I have no control over, I absorb fire and use it to heal. Nothing too big just looks cool when I do that," Diss said nonchalantly. He flexed the arm slowly making sure it was done before he pulled on his shirt. He looked at the hole and sighed, "Outta all the luck. this is my favorite shirt too." Diss said laying back.
"Why?" Marcy said making small talk.
"Because it was the shirt I wore when I proposed to Christy." Diss said softly. He didn't have tears anymore, he simply knew he would eventually go home and had accepted it. Fingering the hole he thought of the other girl in his life. He sighed as he looked over at Marcy. She was busy looking after the "sleepers" as they had called them after a couple of days. Kid was still out cold, but she seemed to be fine for the time being.
"I'm going to get you out of there Kid, no matter how long it takes. You too Paul." Diss said softly watching them before climbing the ladder and going above ground. Steena was sitting in the garden alone as usual. She had asked for privacy when she was doing so, so Diss didn't bug her. Walking out to the center of the clearing he drew out his staff and began practicing. Working slowly he quickly changed tempo going faster and faster. Finally after what seemed like forever to him he was moving at a speed that would have been deemed impossible before. After finishing he stopped and realized he recovered faster.
"What did they do to me?" Diss whispered as he looked at his hands. He had never gone that fast before; it was almost as if he had been reengineered to be faster. He dropped the staff in disbelief.
Steena looked over at him, "What's wrong Diss?"
He fell to his knees; he had been used as an experiment again. He looked at his hands as if they had betrayed him.
"Diss, common talk to me, you're starting to scare me." Steena said hurrying over to him.
"I was used." Diss said softly, he repeated it over and over as he got more and more upset. "First by the Aryans now by Chronopolis.why can't I be LEFT THE HELL ALONE?" He screamed at the sky. Steena backed off unsure of what Diss would do next. He looked mad. Marcy watched in horror as Diss picked up the staff and went into the surrounding jungle. As he went he yelled, "Leave me alone unless you wish a swift violent and painful death."
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"Hmmm." General Viper said putting one hand up to his chin. "Last place I heard about it was in the Isle Of The Damned." Karsh twitched at the name.
"Hate that place." Karsh said coldly.
"Why?" Shaun asked.
"It was where Sir. Dario died." Riddel said tears filling her eyes. Shaun nodded getting the idea the place wasn't exactly Disneyland.
"Either way we'll need to go there." Shaun said. "I suggest Lady Riddel stay with Viper and Zoah while the rest join me on the escapade to this lovely island." Karsh felt uneasy about it but joined them out to the boats.
"WAIT!" came an old man's voice. "Here, take this." The man said handing a mirror to Shaun. "This will allow you to move around the island freely." Serge looked at the man and grinned, so did Glenn.
"Thanks, Radius." Glenn said softly.
"Take care, Glenn." Radius said walking back. They untied the boat and headed for the Isle of the Damned.
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Diss slashed wildly with reckless abandon till he was tired, but when he recovered he would grow angry and continue his wild attack. This cycle went on for hours until he was too tired to continue. He slowly sunk to his knees when Steena walked into the clearing he had made himself.
"Are you done raging against the world?" Steena asked softly.
"They used me, I was their guinea pig and the used me like a cheap doll," Diss said bitterly.
"Diss you don't know the reason they did it to you, for all you know it could be because you needed it to survive," Steena said softly approaching him carefully.
"Or maybe because they saw I had been genetically engineered once, and wanted to see how much farther they could improve me. Or maybe because they wanted to see how well their own technology would work on a human. Or maybe because they flipped a coin and I came up. There are a hundred different reasons why this was happening," Diss said softly.
"Diss it can't be as bad as you make it out to be." Steena said stepping within range.
"Did anyone ever tell you I was a mistake? I was supposed to be never released into the world. I was to be used as a training dummy for the Aryans. It would be inexpensive to replace us if we could regenerate and I was a mistake. I wasn't supposed to be given a life," Diss said bitterly.
"The gift of life is never a mistake," Steena said slowly.
"Steena, just go, I need more time. I'm not ready for whatever happy bullshit you're going to force feed me," Diss said as he got up leaning against a tree face first.
"Maybe my 'Happy bullshit' is exactly what you need now Diss. You always try to solve problems on your own, and then you pretend everything's fine until another one comes up. First you were separated from your fiancée, now you find out someone has changed you again. I don't know what it feels like to be you, but it can't be rain clouds all the time." Steena ventured.
"Steena, just go, I don't need help I need time. If you give me time, I will do what I need to do," Diss said softly anger filling his voice.
"What happens when you don't have the time to search for answers?" Steena asked plainly.
"I---"He was cut off.
"Put it off till you can, well that obviously doesn't work all the time. You need help Diss you're running from the world and every time it catches up someone gets hurt and you leave in the chaos that follows," Steena barked.
He turned and faced her, his anger clearly evident, "I don't need some holy woman telling me how to run my life. I've survived because each day I put aside my problems and dealt with them one at a time, I survived by being ready for what life threw at me. This whole world is just one big example of that. Now excuse me but I think you have someone who needs you more than I do." With that Diss started walking out.
"Don't you dare walk out on me!" Steena shouted at Diss.
Diss called over his shoulder, "I don't owe you a thing. If I walk out you lose nothing."
"You're wrong, if you leave now I lose you and you lose yourself," Steena said sharply.
He turned to face her, "What the hell does that mean?"
"You are treading on the edge of the abyss Diss. If you go out any farther you will surely fall in," Steena whispered.
"I am huh? Well then I guess I better learn to fly then huh?" Diss said as he turned to walk out. A knife hit the tree next to him going up to the hilt. Diss looked at it shrugged then continued when the next one hit the tree in front of him whizzing by his ear. He froze.
"You didn't." Diss said coldly.
"If you leave here it's going to be in a pine box unless you hear me out. You aren't going to survive yourself if you don't get help." Steena pleaded.
"Survive myself? Woman, I fought myself before and I won. now leave me alone." He continued walking forward when the knife cut his shirt. He froze again this time he spun on his heels to see Steena nearly face to face with him.
"Listen bitch, you continue to harass me and you WILL die Paul or no Paul," Diss hissed.
"At least we agree on something." Steena said grabbing him by his shoulders and throwing him back in the clearing by rolling back and kicking with her feet. Diss landed with a hard crash and a solid thud. He arched his back in pain. "Now listen, I'm taking you back to the hideaway. If you resist I will do so by force. Marcy is scared because you've been gone for so long. Unless you grow up and stop being the rebel you aren't going to survive what's ahead." Steena said sternly.
"Fine I'll go in peacefully," Diss grumbled realizing she was definitely more powerful than he was. He headed back to the hideaway grumpily. As he went Steena watched him walk.
"That man is going to be a threat to someone, but I'm not sure if it's us or them." Steena whispered softly.
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"Hmm, I think Paul would say." Shaun started.
"Yummy." Glenn said in a disgusted tone looking around the Island of The Damned. Shaun grinned.
"Yeah, that's exactly what Paul would say." They continued down the island and saw unique skeletal creatures. When they came across a mirror they all agreed and used the gift from Radius on the other mirror and a way through the place was found. As they went through it they saw a large opening. With a heavy breath they went through to see a large man holding two swords in his hands. It was quite odd, as he seemed to stiffen as they drew near. As soon as Serge took a step too close he was sliced in the chest and pushed away.
"You will never find the Masamune!" He said evilly as he began trying to chop his foes heads off. Shaun punched the ground and tried to pull his mace up instead pulling up a living skeleton that attempted to kill him. Shaun punched his head off and kicked his mid section blowing his bones everywhere.
"Put yourself together man!" Shaun said teasingly. He punched the ground again to pull out his mace and three other skeletons. "GO AWAY!" Shaun said cleaving them all to pieces. The man took another swing that hit Shaun's exposed back as he whipped around in a circle to dodge a double strike from Glenn and Serge.
"FOOLS!" He yelled as he kicked Glenn away and nearly sliced Serge's arm off. Fargo dove under his legs sliding up and attempted at slicing the exposed back. The man's sword dodged Fargo's strike and he whipped around again causing Fargo to twirl far away. Shaun lobbed a huge stone rock at the man who tried to catch it put fell back crushed.
"DAMN YOU!" The man yelled again trying to push it off. As he launched it off of him Fargo, Glenn and Serge all jumped the man beating him down. Fargo saw an alter before him grinned. He looked at Glenn and Serge and his grin grew to sadistic glee.
"Matey's." Fargo said quietly. "GET THE TABLES!" Fargo said with his tongue out. Glenn and Serge stared blinking at Fargo. They looked around when Serge said something rather odd,
"Get it yourself." Fargo glared at him and pointed to Shaun.
"Matey's." Fargo blared. "GET THE TABLES!" Glenn and Serge got the idea and replied back,
"GET THE TABLES!" Fargo screamed again as Serge and Glenn ran to get the alter. They set it up as Glenn held the man's feet and Serge held his head. Fargo climbed a pillar of bones and rocks and jumped free falling a high distance. He bounced on the man's back.
"OWWWWW!" The man said with each bounce. He grabbed Serge and tossed him into Fargo and lashed his feet in a whip like form throwing Glenn far away. They all were knocked unconscious.
"Amateurs." Shaun muttered shaking his head. "Paul at least would have gone higher than that. And Diss wouldn't fly that far!" He picked up a large rock and dropped it on the man's head. It made a loud thud as the man fell out for the count. "I did it!" Shaun said in disbelief. "I did the move that no one said would work!" he started laughing. "I DID IT! I DID IT!" Shaun danced as he looked around. "SERGE, FARGO, GLENN!" Shaun shouted joyfully. "Guys?" Shaun said looking at his downed comrades. "MAN! THE ONE TIME I GET TO PROVE SOMETHING EVERYONE'S KNOCKED OUT!"
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"Come on, Paul." Marcy said wiping his head again. "You're the only fun person to play with around here." She went over to Kid and did the same to her as she did to Paul.
"Thanks, Marcy." The older girl said to her. Marcy nodded smiling leaving the room. Diss entered with Steena and both had looks of anger on their face.
"What now?" The older girl said hopelessly to herself. Diss took a seat next to Kid and Steena sat on the bed next to Paul.
"How you doing today?" Steena asked quietly brushing her hand around Paul's face. "Come on sleepy head. It's time to get up." She said hopelessly. Diss slammed his fist on the table waking the little girl.
"DAMNIT! WAKE UP!" Diss yelled to Kid and Paul. "WAKE UP!" Diss said shaking Kid. Marcy ran into the room and had to hit him in a sensitive spot to get him to calm down.
"You're acting immature!" Marcy said in a mother like tone. "Until you grow up I want you to stay outside of this room. Besides, dinner is ready for those who want it." Marcy turned on her heel and waited at the door for Diss to leave. Steena got up and looked at Diss.
"Come on. Let's both get some food and rest a little. This situation will only get worse if we keep worrying about it 24 hours a day." Diss nodded as he left the room with Steena.
"Well?" Marcy said to the two ghosts.
"We're not hungry." The older one said oddly.
"You're weird." Marcy said leaving.
"How's Paul doing?" The little girl asked tiredly.
"Just go back to sleep sweetie." the older girl said looking at Paul.
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"You mean to say that we fought that thing and we didn't get a Masamune out of it?" Serge asked hopelessly.
"Yup, all we got was this nice parting gift." Shaun held out a sword that Glenn squealed at.
"THAT'S NO ORDINARY SWORD! THAT'S THE HOLY EINLANZER!" Glenn said snatching it from Shaun's hands.
"Keep it. I hate swords." Shaun muttered as Glenn took his old sword and tossed it to the side as he put the Einlanzer in its new home.
"The sword only given to the best of the Acacia Dragoons!" Glenn muttered happily. He took his other sword and carried it over his shoulder. They looked at the man as he slowly got up.
"You.may have defeated me." He said breathlessly. "But.you can not defeat.the man who.wields the.Masamune. Go to.the Forbidden Island.If you wish to challenge him." he said vanishing. They all wasted no time as they ran to the boats. As soon as they disappeared from the place they fought they saw Karsh being pushed around by two men.
"I told you I didn't kill DARIO!" The man said swinging his axe to keep them away.
"Sir, we can't s-s-shake this feeling that it was you, and you coming here p-p-proved our suspicions to be true." The fat one said nervously. "Right S- Solt?"
"Correctly Correct," Solt said. "So Peppor, should we shake it to him?"
"Yeah." Peppor said attacking Karsh. Karsh kicked him away as he grew angry.
"This isn't worth my time." Karsh said twirling his axe in his hand. He launched it at the two and it boomeranged knocking them both out. "Look, I didn't kill Dario. I promise I'll tell you guys the whole story when I get the chance. Until then." Karsh said walking between Solt and Peppor. The rest of the group joined Karsh as they made way for the Forbidden Island.
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Diss ate quietly still trying to calm himself. He occasionally looked up watching the others go about their business, but he wanted to be left alone. Steena was fine with that as long as it was in the hideaway. Marcy was fine with that as long as it wasn't near the sleepers. To satisfy both Diss picked the corner farthest from the sleepers and set up his cot. He was now sitting on it plate in hand as he ate the food. It was delicious, but that wasn't his worry now.
His worry was why he couldn't calm down. Even the fact he hadn't yet was angering him. He had no real reason to be angry, as he had accepted his alteration. He had gotten over not seeing Christy, and now he was just.angry. He sighed as he finished, tossing the plate onto the nearby table.
"Well, well, well, it seems you are in the same boat you were in before. This time you don't have your precious Christy to save you." his own voice cut through the silence.
Diss looked around till he saw right in front of him clearly. He saw himself, but he had a cold look in his eyes as he produced a staff like the one that had become the dragon staff. Steena gasped seeing the newcomer and Marcy quickly prepared for a fight.
"Eric," Diss said coldly.
"In the flesh, it's amazing what a world like this can do to a person. It reawakened me and revitalized me. That FATE guy really did a good job in resurfacing me, seeing as how you nearly killed me," Eric said slowly.
"Correction, you did the Inferno that nearly killed yourself," Diss said bitterly.
"I stand corrected. Tell me how have you wasted the last few years of your life without me?" Eric said coldly.
"If by wasted you mean done nothing you lose that argument as well. I got rid of the Aryans. my way to boot," Diss said triumphantly. Steena looked at Diss realizing that he had intimate knowledge of himself. She grinned as she realized what it must be like to fight with yourself repeatedly.
"Oh, how noble. you nearly get yourself killed. Yes I know what your idea of fighting is. On top of that you seem to have grown an ego since I was gone." Eric said pushing a button he knew Diss couldn't defend.
"Bravo Eric, once again you seem to prove why you need to be taught reality," Diss said.
"If you're going to fight do it outside," Marcy yelled at them. The two girls nodded, so Diss smiled.
"Seeing as how you're still alive, lord knows how. We'll settle this the customary way," Diss said coolly.
"You mean to the death for control? No thanks I am a completely different person," Eric scoffed.
"What?" Diss asked incredulously.
"That's right my dear host friend, I am as much a person as you are," Eric said smiling.
"How's that possible?" Diss spat.
"Fate had another body set up incase its biological component should, experience death firsthand. I merely made Fate an offer it couldn't refuse," Eric said evilly.
"The death of me, Shaun, and Paul in return for life under Fate's loose control," Diss said clarifying.
"See, you aren't nearly as stupid as I thought," Eric said.
"How long did it take to activate you once I was there?" Diss asked.
"One hour after Fate was destroyed. Once I found out Fate was no more I was released from the contract. I did however want to do something in vengeance for the one who gave me life," Eric said coldly.
"Nice to know I'm so loved by myself," Diss said sarcastically.
"Love thy neighbor as thy self. but in this case you're doing both." Eric said cheerfully. Steena shot Eric a look of disbelief.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
"HELLO!" Shaun yelled angrily at the door as he pounded it.
"NOBODY IS HOME!" came a male voice. Shaun grew angry and kicked the door down. The man got up hiding a small woman behind him.
"Really?" Shaun said. He looked around for the Masamune as Riddel screamed in delight.
"SIR DARIO!" the man looked at her oddly. "IS IT REALLY YOU?" She asked before hitting herself in the head cutting off the man. "But of course. This is another world. The Dario in this world never died."
"You mean to tell me you know who I am?" Shaun sighed.
"Man, I don't have time for a trip down memory lane!" Shaun sat in a chair.
Dario Looked at Riddel funny before a dark cloud came over him. As he got up the Masamune appeared hovering over his head. With a quick slash Riddel screamed running out of the cabin. The others backed up outside as he slowly began to walk out of the house. He again slashed at Riddel.
"My sword thirsts for your blood Riddel." Dario said coldly as Karsh dived in front of her taking the blow. Riddel shrieked in horror as Karsh fell down holding his wound. Glenn glared at his brother.
"WHY BROTHER? WHY?" Glenn yelled taking out the Eilanzer.
"This doesn't concern you!" Dario said casting an electrical bolt at him. Glenn fell to the ground twitching badly. Shaun jumped in front of Riddel as he took the electrical blast. Shaun squealed in pain as for the first time he felt the burn of electricity course through his veins continually.
"Why, can't I absorb it?" Shaun said falling out of the fight. Fargo punched Dario from behind as he slashed him with the sword.
"Take that Matey!" Fargo said slashing again. Dario skipped back and then dashed at Fargo gashing his chest. The man with two swords appeared as a silhouette above Dario.
"Now my time has come!" he said.
"NO GARAI!" Came Radius' voice as he slashed a blow away from Riddel blocking the Masamune. "Garai, don't do this!" Garai took one of his mighty swords and slashed Radius away.
"Shut up, old friend." Dario took the sword and prepared for the next wave of attack. Serge took his swallow and nodded in confidence as he ran full steam ahead to be stopped by the last person he expected.Paul.
"No, I'm not really him, but shut up and let me handle this." Paul said turning to Dario. He took out his own Masamune as Garai's eyebrow lifted in confusion.
"What do you want?" Garai asked. Paul didn't reply as he continued to walk forward. Dario went against Garai's wishes as he began to walk forward at Paul. Paul began to jog and shortly Dario did the same. The process continued each going faster until they were in a dead sprint.
"AHHH!" Paul said lifting the sword and bringing it down on Dario. Dario rolled and tried to sweep Paul by the legs, but Paul dodged with a flip and a strike to Dario's back.
"GHHH!" Dario said gritting his teeth and swiping Paul's shoulder.
"ERAHHH!" Paul said grabbing his shoulder. Dario kicked Paul in the shoulder and Paul retaliated by flipping over Dario's head and slashing at his back. The two swords crashed into each other as they swung to cleave the other's head off. Paul backed off to shoot electricity to be surprised Dario did the same.
"We know each other too well." Dario said in a fighting stance. Paul nodded as he went in to slash at Dario's throat. Dario parried the attack and grabbed Paul by the back collar throwing him to his original spot. Garai went to cleave Paul in half when Dario accidentally took the blow from his aggression. Paul didn't do the honorable thing and took the opportunity to finish off Dario. Instead of finishing him off however, Riddel healed Dario.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Paul yelled. Riddel stood between Dario and Paul as she held her staff at him.
"Stay away from him." Riddel said confidently. Dario was about to slash at Riddel's exposed back when he stopped.
"Somebody, kill me please!" Dario pleaded. Karsh got up and knocked the sword out of his hands next to Serge who picked it up carefully. Garai disappeared when the sword left Dario's hands and Paul vanished as well. "Where am I?" Dario said faintly. Riddel looked at Dario and broke into tears.
"Hey Masa wake up!" Came a voice from the sword. It slowly glowed and floated before Serge.
"What Mune?" Another distinct voice said.
"How long we been asleep?" Mune asked.
"I don't know. Do you think we caused any trouble?" Masa asked his counterpart.
"Um, I don't know but hey is that who I think that is?" Mune responded.
"Hi guys what have you been up to?" A voice said from Serge's swallow.
"Uh, nothing Doreen!" Both voices from the evil sword said as the swallow floated up to them.
"Fine but from now on I'm going to make sure you don't cause trouble!" Doreen said as a bright flash filled the area.
"Where did the sword go?" Shaun asked. In Serge's hands now rested a very wicked looking swallow.
"The evil Masamune has been vanquished from this world." Radius said happily. Shaun wasn't so happy. Without the Masamune, Paul was a goner.
"Let's go back to tell them what happened." Glenn offered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Eric and Diss stood in the clearing Steena watched as Diss drew out his Dragon Staff. Eric appraised the new weapon as he brought his staff into Diss' offensive stance.
"New weapon, I'm impressed." Eric said admiringly.
"Yeah a lot has changed since you last tried to kill me." Diss said talking to what was easily considered his equal.
The strike came from both at the same time. Diss and Eric locked their staffs standing inches apart. Both gave each other death glares before they pulled away Diss bringing his staff around and Eric bringing it quickly into an offensive posture. Steena watched horrified as they began fighting harder quickly jabbing and striking before trying to breeze through the others defenses. When that happened the defender simply ducked and swung for the legs of his attacker causing the attack to be stopped. After an hour of back and forth they backed off Diss streaming sweat down his body and Eric gasping for air.
"It seems we know each other entirely too well," Eric panted.
"I was always told if you fight with yourself you'll lose every time," Diss retorted as he wiped sweat from his eyes. As he wiped his eyes Eric attacked tripping Diss and knocking the staff from his hands. Diss hit the ground hard and was quickly winded as the force of his fall caused him to release all the air in his body. Eric brought the staff under Diss' throat and smiled.
"How true that is, now that you lost I will truly be free." Eric said coldly, "Any last requests?"
"A question," Diss said slowly.
"What's your question?" Eric asked bewildered.
"How human are you?" Diss asked innocently.
Eric stepped over Diss crouching in front of his legs before responding, "I am as much a human as you are.fully functional in all aspects of the word." He grinned as he stood up moving so he was standing over Diss before raising the staff.
"I'm sorry in advance." Diss said coldly.
"For what?" Eric asked dumbly.
"THIS! " Diss yelled as he kicked hard at Eric's groin. Eric groaned as he fell to his knees, the hit connecting. Diss quickly rolled picking up his staff and standing in a defensive posture, because he knew Eric would be angry and the only way to counter his own rage would be to defend fully, no offense. He didn't know how right he was, Eric got up and rushed Diss attacking with a flurry of blows. Diss barely defended them all immensely tired after the exertion. Eric wasn't tired yet though, and took the advantage to start breezing through Diss' defense; slowly Diss took hit after hit cuts and broken bones adding up as Diss became more and more feeble. Finally Eric backed off.
"You are pathetic, other than a couple of dirty tricks you have no talent, no skill. You should just keel over and die where you lay," Eric taunted cruelly. He moved forward as Diss slowly rose to his feet a look of determination etched into his features. "Won't give up? Then this should fix that dirty little habit of yours," Eric said swinging the staff at neck level with the intent of snapping Diss' neck.
Except, Diss wasn't there, he moved quickly taking advantage of the momentary distraction. Swinging hard he brought the blade of his dragon staff deep into Eric's body. As he pulled it out he quickly slashed upwards- cleanly cutting off Eric's head. He fell to his knees the pain starting to overcome the adrenaline.
"Diss!" Steena said rushing over to him.
"Get the body into the ocean now." Diss rasped quickly. She looked at him incredulously. "NOW!"
Steena nodded dumbly grabbing the body as Diss grabbed the head, and together they worked towards the ocean. Once there Steena pushed the body into the ocean where it was carried away as a huge plume of steam. Diss looked at the head then tossed it into the ocean yelling, "Cool off before you lose your head!"
Steena chuckled, "You always this morbid or does it come with the job?" There was no reply from Diss. "Oh common Diss you can surely take a joke can't.you?" She slowed as she saw he was lying unconscious on the beach the adrenaline let down forcing him to give into the pain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Three days had passed since the Masamune became the Mastermune. Shaun was up by the bow by himself as Serge was looking at his new swallow. Glenn was staring at his Einlanzer in envy. Shaun sighed to himself quietly.
"Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's annoying getting pissed ya know." Shaun sang to himself. Riddel, Dario, and Karsh all stayed behind, as the party was now Glenn, Serge, and Shaun.
"Shiny things are cool." Glenn said looking at his sword. "I like shiny things." he said in a half whisper grinning. Shaun looked at Glenn and thought of Paul. Only Paul could be so stupid at one time and yet be wiser than anyone he knew.
"There's the hideaway." Serge said looking up. Shaun nodded as he grabbed a paddle. Glenn put his sword down as did Serge and they both helped Shaun paddle to the homestead. It would take about ten minutes if they hurried.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Steena looked at the bon fire to see Diss washing himself singing like he was in a shower. Marcy came out with more wood as she hurled them at Diss trying to get him to stop singing. Steena smiled as she looked at the approaching boat. She walked over to the hideaway and made her way to Paul's bed.
"Your friends are back." She whispered in his ear. She held his hand tightly waiting for Shaun to arrive with the sword.
Diss entered the room putting on a new shirt complete with only one small hole. He sat next to Kid and grinned at Steena. She smiled back as she continued waiting. After a few minutes Shaun entered slowly.
"Where is the sword?" Steena asked slowly.
"You do have it.right Shaun?" Diss asked slowly as well. Shaun held his head low.
"When we had it in our grasp, it turned into something else." Shaun said quietly. "The Masamune is gone. We don't know where the spare is. So, we have limited options."
"Hey Masa, look at her!" Mune's voice sang out.
"Whoa, it's the princess!" Masa replied in amazement.
"Looks like she's stuck in time," Mune began.
"Do you think we can get her out?" Masa asked.
"Hey guys, what's that thing around her neck?" Doreen's voice came clearly.
"Looks like a partially completed Time Egg!" Mune shouted.
"Think we can save her if we channel through that?" Doreen asked.
"I don't know but it's worth a try. Ok master get ready you're going on a trip!" Masa called out.
"Okay, Diss and Glenn, you guys join me!" Serge said quickly getting ready. Diss and Glenn nodded as they walked up to Serge. In the moment of a flash they vanished from the Hideaway.
Diss stood looking at what was Sky Dragon Island. It had turned into a complete structure that floated at least a mile above the sea. Shaun walked up to Diss from behind with his head held low. Diss turned around and spoke softly,
"How bad?" Shaun cringed as he spoke very quietly.
"There is nothing we can do. Kid is completely out of it and Paul is non- responsive. Steena and Marcy are carefully watching Paul while Serge and Glenn are watching Kid." Diss sighed.
"What happened?" He said more to the sky than to Shaun.
"I only wish we knew." Shaun said muttering. Steena walked out of the hut as she walked up to Diss and Shaun.
"No change in either case. I said two quick prayers before coming out." Steena sat on a rock as she buried her face in her hands sniffling.
"Hey, cheer up, okay? You're gonna make me cry." Shaun said softly as he gave Steena a hug. Diss kicked a rock off into the ocean as he spat on the ground.
"I know, but. I feel like I could have done something." Steena said softly.
"We all did." Fargo said surprisingly without a cigar in his mouth. "Paul violently twitched and Kid did the same moments after him." Fargo continued. They all sighed. Diss looked back to see the two girls walking up to the hut.
"Where do you think you're going?" Diss said in a cold voice. The little girl kept walking as the older one pushed her away walking up very quickly to Diss. As soon as she was in range she punched Diss squarely on the nose.
"SEE WHAT YOU DID?" she pushed Shaun away from her and she glared at Diss.
"ME? WHAT DID I DO?" Diss said feeling blood trickle out of his nose.
"I TOLD YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!" She said grabbing Diss by the collar. Steena tried to push her off but only grabbed air. "YOU BETTER PRAY TO GOD HE PULLS THROUGH OR YOU'LL REGRET IT!" Diss snapped at that last comment.
"YOU THINK I HAVEN'T BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM TO PULL THROUGH?" The girl didn't buy it. She tackled Diss and began to punch him.
"GET OFF OF HIM!" came the familiar voice of Paul. "GET OFF!" Paul screamed hurling the girl off. "DON'T BLAME HIS FRIENDS FOR SOMETHING HE DECIDED TO DO!" Diss looked in confusion at Paul.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" the girl yelled at the top of her lungs.
"STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!" came the plea of a little girl. "EVER SINCE THIS BEGAN ALL THE TWO OF YOU DID WAS FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! YOU'RE ACTING LIKE MY OLD PARENTS!" Steena went over and helped Diss up. "I'M SICK OF IT! AND HE'S SICK OF IT TOO!" The little girl broke down as she pointed to the inside of the hut. "HE'S IN THERE FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AND ALL YOU TWO DO IS FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER! DON'T YOU GIVE A DAMN?" The little girl fell down crying some more as she continued. "STOP IT! JUST STOP." She said letting the tears out. Paul and the girl looked at her and then looked at each other as they realized the mistakes they have made. The older girl went to talk to the little girl, but she ran to Steena instead. "AT LEAST SHE CARES ABOUT HIM!" She said through her sobbing tears hugging Steena by the legs. "AND YOU'RE BOTH TOO BLIND TO SEE THAT THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON HIS LIFE WAS NEVER US! IT WAS HIS FRIENDS! SHAUN IN MOST CASES!" Shaun paid more attention to the conversation now than he did before. Diss stirred uncomfortably as he looked for a way out of it.
"Sweetie." The older girl said as softly as she could.
"DON'T TALK TO ME!" The little girl screamed back.
"Come on." Paul said as nicely as he could. The little girl hugged Steena as she got behind her. Paul blew up as he yelled.
"YOU THINK I NEVER CARED? YOU HONESTLY THINK I DON'T CARE ABOUT MYSELF?" Paul disappeared as he dropped behind him a gold watch. The older girl picked it up.
"No, I don't think you do." She muttered coldly. "Or you wouldn't be so hell bent on getting revenge." The older girl walked into the hut as Steena brought the little girl up to her arms.
"How are you and Paul related?" Steena asked carefully.
"I can't tell you that. Only Paul can." She said wiping tears from her eyes. "Can we go see him now?" Steena nodded as she walked inside the hut.
"What about the Paul earlier?" Shaun asked.
"That's Paul's dark side." The little girl whispered. "I wasn't supposed to say that." Steena sat in a chair and rocked back and forth until the little girl fell asleep. The older girl picked up her companion and held her tightly gently swaying back and forth. She looked at Diss and then spoke softly,
"I'm sorry. I was mad and I wanted to blame someone for Paul's pain." She started. "And when I attacked you earlier I knew his pain was caused by that machine. And I still knew all along that he was altered to think irrationally. That's why Paul is crazy sometimes. But I still blamed you. So.I'm sorry," Diss looked at her and nodded after awhile.
"Apology accepted," Diss said sitting next to Kid.
"However, don't think you actually influence Paul's final decisions. We can make him change his mind whenever he wants." She said in a statement. Shaun nodded for Diss.
"So then, who are you?" She shook her head smiling at Shaun before she replied to his question.
"Like she said." The older girl answered jingling the little girl in her arms. "Only Paul can tell you."
"Can you tell us what is going on?" Diss asked looking at Paul.
"He's basically stuck in a dream of his past." She said. "So is his friend Kid." She pointed with her pinky. Diss sighed. He had no clue where to begin. Marcy entered the room starring at the two girls.
"Uh, who are you?" She said walking up to Paul and wiping his forehead with a cloth.
"Friends." She said in a hesitant manner. Marcy didn't bother replying as she left the room after wiping Kid's forehead. Steena got up and sat in the stool next to Paul as she took his hand and held it tightly.
"I would hate to have my first boyfriend die on me." she whispered in his ear. "So don't do anything drastic on me, okay?" she said kissing his hand. Steena let go and they watched for five minutes as Paul began to violently twitch. He fell out of his bed and his Halberd hit his head causing him to stop moving. Shortly Kid began breaking into a cold sweat. Diss slammed his fist on the table as Marcy ran in to fix everything. Paul was back on his bed and Kid stopped sweating.
"I said nothing drastic." Steena whispered in a teasing manner. She whispered some other words as she left the room tears full in her eyes. Shaun left with Steena to help her through the situation. The little girl woke up and looked at Paul, then to the older girl.
"Will he make it?" The little girl asked quietly.
"I don't know sweetie.I don't know." the older one said as tears now filled her eyes. Diss felt a warm hand sweep across his back.
"How's bimbo doing?" Christy asked. Diss replied without hesitation.
"We won't know until something happens, and I thought you couldn't contact me again?" Diss asked surprised she was there.
"The others don't know about this, they've gone to sleep for now. I needed to see what was taking you so long to get home." She whispered softly.
"Paul's in a coma and so is Kid; on top of that by purging one evil another was released into this world. I feel responsible, so I'm going to be a big kid and pick up my toys after I'm done playing with them." Diss said.
"How mature of you, for once you're taking responsibility for your actions," She said teasingly.
"Hey." Diss said mocking hurt feelings. Shaun looked up and saw Christy for the first time.
"Christy?" He asked incredulously checking the bed for Kid making sure this wasn't another hallucination.
"Yes Shaun?" She asked turning around.
"Is that you?" He asked still in disbelief.
"Shaun. after all we went through in San Francisco together it better be me or I'm going to kill you." She said sternly.
Shaun chuckled, "Alright, alright it's you.."
Christy sat in Diss' lap before looking around.
"I guess you could introduce me to your friends." She said rather plainly.
Diss blushed before looking around, "OK. Umm that's Marcy, that's Glenn and Steena, the girl on the bed here is Kid, and this spunky guy here is our biggest fan Fargo."
"Hello" Marcy said politely.
"Any friend of Diss is a friend of mine," Glenn said earnestly as he gently kissed her hand making her giggle.
"Argh, Diss here is right about one thing, I am his biggest fan, but I never knew he could keep the attention of a beautiful lass like yerself," Fargo said as he leaned against the wall.
Steena looked up at Christy and gave a weak smile, "Hello."
Christy studied her for a second before replying, "You're the one from my dream."
"What?" Steena asked slowly.
"Last night I had a dream, you were there and you.you did something with a red sword, but other than that I don't remember much," Christy said slowly.
Steena looked puzzled but didn't push the issue. Diss cleared his throat before saying, "Um guys, this is my fiancée Christy. Or actually a mental projection of her.." He said to the group. They nodded their heads as she turned in his lap facing him.
"You going to kiss me or do you want a bigger hint?" She said softly. Diss smiled as he kissed her deeply, she returned the kiss full force before slowly pulling back.
"Alright, this is definitely the last time, but be safe Diss. Come back to me in one piece, not like this." She said as she fingered the hole in his shirt.
"I got it... no more duels to the death. I'll just play chicken with a dragon if I get bored," Diss joked before Christy faded away.
Diss sat there a minute before he looked over at Kid. She stirred in her sleep but still remained deep.
"I think it was obvious what Christy was talking about." He said softly.
"The sword?" Steena asked.
"Before we take on that tower we are going to hunt the Masamune down. Once that's done we'll work at getting Kid and Paul back," He said slowly. Everyone nodded slowly. Then he dropped the bomb, "But I'm not leading the hunt."
"What Diss? You have to, you're the boss!" Shaun shouted.
"No I don't, Shaun. you lead the guys on the hunt I'm staying here. I'm sure FATE is gone, but one of us should be with Paul and I'm the one who's doing it today." Diss said sternly. He moved the chair so he sat between the sleepers and looked resolute to stay there.
Steena looked at Diss, as did the older girl, she seemed satisfied that Diss would protect Paul with his life. The older girl nodded her approval of Diss' idea and continued to rock the younger girl in her arms. Shaun sighed nodding.
"Any tips on where to look?" Shaun said slowly.
"Check out any stories about the Masamune, even if it was just a rumor. I'm sure those rumors will give you the key you need," Diss said looking at Paul. The myth in a myth strategy worked once, no reason it couldn't work again. Shaun turned to walk out when Diss said one last thing, "Also check with Viper's men, they might have seen the Masamune in a place earlier. Checking it out might help us faster."
"Will do Boss, now hold down the fort so I have something to come back to," Shaun said authoritatively.
Diss chuckled, "You know if the fort's gone something big happened."
Shaun nodded laughing as he led the others out of the hideaway. Diss leaned back in his chair as he relaxed realizing this might take all day, heck it might even take a week. He looked over at Marcy and Steena; Steena seemed deep in thought while Marcy was attending to Kid.
"I just hope I don't killed at the tower, but I need to rest up after nearly getting killed," Diss muttered to himself fingering the hole in his shirt.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
"Exactly where is that sword." Riddel asked to a young woman.
"I told you I don't know. A man dressed in black armor with a cape and blond hair walked up to the sword and grabbed it! He laughed sinisterly and left on a boat. He headed east." Riddel thanked her and walked back to Shaun and the rest of the large party.
"Nothing, except the man in black armor. So far finding the old sword is pointless. We should just go back and look in the other world." Everyone nodded but Serge and Shaun.
"We have only been at it for a few hours." Shaun said.
"Let's head east like the woman said then." Serge thought out loud.
"Great idea matey!" Fargo said in his pirate attitude. They made for the S.S. Invincible.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Diss cringed as Marcy started swabbing the wound in his arm.
"Like hold still or you aren't going to get back to Christy alive," She said snippantly.
"I'm trying trust me, what are you using anyways?" Diss asked as he lay back on the cot.
"Alcohol, I didn't want to risk water after what I heard Paul did to you," Marcy said as she continued to clean the wound.
"Good girl, good girl, now you want to see a nifty trick?" Diss said as he sat up slowly.
"What?" Marcy asked cautiously.
"Get me a match." Diss said. Marcy did as she was told handing him a small match. Diss lit the match and held it close to the wound, instantly it caught fire, but instead of burning to Marcy's amazement it started closing as it healed over.
"Cool, how'd you do that?" She asked in awe.
"Just a thing I have no control over, I absorb fire and use it to heal. Nothing too big just looks cool when I do that," Diss said nonchalantly. He flexed the arm slowly making sure it was done before he pulled on his shirt. He looked at the hole and sighed, "Outta all the luck. this is my favorite shirt too." Diss said laying back.
"Why?" Marcy said making small talk.
"Because it was the shirt I wore when I proposed to Christy." Diss said softly. He didn't have tears anymore, he simply knew he would eventually go home and had accepted it. Fingering the hole he thought of the other girl in his life. He sighed as he looked over at Marcy. She was busy looking after the "sleepers" as they had called them after a couple of days. Kid was still out cold, but she seemed to be fine for the time being.
"I'm going to get you out of there Kid, no matter how long it takes. You too Paul." Diss said softly watching them before climbing the ladder and going above ground. Steena was sitting in the garden alone as usual. She had asked for privacy when she was doing so, so Diss didn't bug her. Walking out to the center of the clearing he drew out his staff and began practicing. Working slowly he quickly changed tempo going faster and faster. Finally after what seemed like forever to him he was moving at a speed that would have been deemed impossible before. After finishing he stopped and realized he recovered faster.
"What did they do to me?" Diss whispered as he looked at his hands. He had never gone that fast before; it was almost as if he had been reengineered to be faster. He dropped the staff in disbelief.
Steena looked over at him, "What's wrong Diss?"
He fell to his knees; he had been used as an experiment again. He looked at his hands as if they had betrayed him.
"Diss, common talk to me, you're starting to scare me." Steena said hurrying over to him.
"I was used." Diss said softly, he repeated it over and over as he got more and more upset. "First by the Aryans now by Chronopolis.why can't I be LEFT THE HELL ALONE?" He screamed at the sky. Steena backed off unsure of what Diss would do next. He looked mad. Marcy watched in horror as Diss picked up the staff and went into the surrounding jungle. As he went he yelled, "Leave me alone unless you wish a swift violent and painful death."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
"Hmmm." General Viper said putting one hand up to his chin. "Last place I heard about it was in the Isle Of The Damned." Karsh twitched at the name.
"Hate that place." Karsh said coldly.
"Why?" Shaun asked.
"It was where Sir. Dario died." Riddel said tears filling her eyes. Shaun nodded getting the idea the place wasn't exactly Disneyland.
"Either way we'll need to go there." Shaun said. "I suggest Lady Riddel stay with Viper and Zoah while the rest join me on the escapade to this lovely island." Karsh felt uneasy about it but joined them out to the boats.
"WAIT!" came an old man's voice. "Here, take this." The man said handing a mirror to Shaun. "This will allow you to move around the island freely." Serge looked at the man and grinned, so did Glenn.
"Thanks, Radius." Glenn said softly.
"Take care, Glenn." Radius said walking back. They untied the boat and headed for the Isle of the Damned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Diss slashed wildly with reckless abandon till he was tired, but when he recovered he would grow angry and continue his wild attack. This cycle went on for hours until he was too tired to continue. He slowly sunk to his knees when Steena walked into the clearing he had made himself.
"Are you done raging against the world?" Steena asked softly.
"They used me, I was their guinea pig and the used me like a cheap doll," Diss said bitterly.
"Diss you don't know the reason they did it to you, for all you know it could be because you needed it to survive," Steena said softly approaching him carefully.
"Or maybe because they saw I had been genetically engineered once, and wanted to see how much farther they could improve me. Or maybe because they wanted to see how well their own technology would work on a human. Or maybe because they flipped a coin and I came up. There are a hundred different reasons why this was happening," Diss said softly.
"Diss it can't be as bad as you make it out to be." Steena said stepping within range.
"Did anyone ever tell you I was a mistake? I was supposed to be never released into the world. I was to be used as a training dummy for the Aryans. It would be inexpensive to replace us if we could regenerate and I was a mistake. I wasn't supposed to be given a life," Diss said bitterly.
"The gift of life is never a mistake," Steena said slowly.
"Steena, just go, I need more time. I'm not ready for whatever happy bullshit you're going to force feed me," Diss said as he got up leaning against a tree face first.
"Maybe my 'Happy bullshit' is exactly what you need now Diss. You always try to solve problems on your own, and then you pretend everything's fine until another one comes up. First you were separated from your fiancée, now you find out someone has changed you again. I don't know what it feels like to be you, but it can't be rain clouds all the time." Steena ventured.
"Steena, just go, I don't need help I need time. If you give me time, I will do what I need to do," Diss said softly anger filling his voice.
"What happens when you don't have the time to search for answers?" Steena asked plainly.
"I---"He was cut off.
"Put it off till you can, well that obviously doesn't work all the time. You need help Diss you're running from the world and every time it catches up someone gets hurt and you leave in the chaos that follows," Steena barked.
He turned and faced her, his anger clearly evident, "I don't need some holy woman telling me how to run my life. I've survived because each day I put aside my problems and dealt with them one at a time, I survived by being ready for what life threw at me. This whole world is just one big example of that. Now excuse me but I think you have someone who needs you more than I do." With that Diss started walking out.
"Don't you dare walk out on me!" Steena shouted at Diss.
Diss called over his shoulder, "I don't owe you a thing. If I walk out you lose nothing."
"You're wrong, if you leave now I lose you and you lose yourself," Steena said sharply.
He turned to face her, "What the hell does that mean?"
"You are treading on the edge of the abyss Diss. If you go out any farther you will surely fall in," Steena whispered.
"I am huh? Well then I guess I better learn to fly then huh?" Diss said as he turned to walk out. A knife hit the tree next to him going up to the hilt. Diss looked at it shrugged then continued when the next one hit the tree in front of him whizzing by his ear. He froze.
"You didn't." Diss said coldly.
"If you leave here it's going to be in a pine box unless you hear me out. You aren't going to survive yourself if you don't get help." Steena pleaded.
"Survive myself? Woman, I fought myself before and I won. now leave me alone." He continued walking forward when the knife cut his shirt. He froze again this time he spun on his heels to see Steena nearly face to face with him.
"Listen bitch, you continue to harass me and you WILL die Paul or no Paul," Diss hissed.
"At least we agree on something." Steena said grabbing him by his shoulders and throwing him back in the clearing by rolling back and kicking with her feet. Diss landed with a hard crash and a solid thud. He arched his back in pain. "Now listen, I'm taking you back to the hideaway. If you resist I will do so by force. Marcy is scared because you've been gone for so long. Unless you grow up and stop being the rebel you aren't going to survive what's ahead." Steena said sternly.
"Fine I'll go in peacefully," Diss grumbled realizing she was definitely more powerful than he was. He headed back to the hideaway grumpily. As he went Steena watched him walk.
"That man is going to be a threat to someone, but I'm not sure if it's us or them." Steena whispered softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
"Hmm, I think Paul would say." Shaun started.
"Yummy." Glenn said in a disgusted tone looking around the Island of The Damned. Shaun grinned.
"Yeah, that's exactly what Paul would say." They continued down the island and saw unique skeletal creatures. When they came across a mirror they all agreed and used the gift from Radius on the other mirror and a way through the place was found. As they went through it they saw a large opening. With a heavy breath they went through to see a large man holding two swords in his hands. It was quite odd, as he seemed to stiffen as they drew near. As soon as Serge took a step too close he was sliced in the chest and pushed away.
"You will never find the Masamune!" He said evilly as he began trying to chop his foes heads off. Shaun punched the ground and tried to pull his mace up instead pulling up a living skeleton that attempted to kill him. Shaun punched his head off and kicked his mid section blowing his bones everywhere.
"Put yourself together man!" Shaun said teasingly. He punched the ground again to pull out his mace and three other skeletons. "GO AWAY!" Shaun said cleaving them all to pieces. The man took another swing that hit Shaun's exposed back as he whipped around in a circle to dodge a double strike from Glenn and Serge.
"FOOLS!" He yelled as he kicked Glenn away and nearly sliced Serge's arm off. Fargo dove under his legs sliding up and attempted at slicing the exposed back. The man's sword dodged Fargo's strike and he whipped around again causing Fargo to twirl far away. Shaun lobbed a huge stone rock at the man who tried to catch it put fell back crushed.
"DAMN YOU!" The man yelled again trying to push it off. As he launched it off of him Fargo, Glenn and Serge all jumped the man beating him down. Fargo saw an alter before him grinned. He looked at Glenn and Serge and his grin grew to sadistic glee.
"Matey's." Fargo said quietly. "GET THE TABLES!" Fargo said with his tongue out. Glenn and Serge stared blinking at Fargo. They looked around when Serge said something rather odd,
"Get it yourself." Fargo glared at him and pointed to Shaun.
"Matey's." Fargo blared. "GET THE TABLES!" Glenn and Serge got the idea and replied back,
"GET THE TABLES!" Fargo screamed again as Serge and Glenn ran to get the alter. They set it up as Glenn held the man's feet and Serge held his head. Fargo climbed a pillar of bones and rocks and jumped free falling a high distance. He bounced on the man's back.
"OWWWWW!" The man said with each bounce. He grabbed Serge and tossed him into Fargo and lashed his feet in a whip like form throwing Glenn far away. They all were knocked unconscious.
"Amateurs." Shaun muttered shaking his head. "Paul at least would have gone higher than that. And Diss wouldn't fly that far!" He picked up a large rock and dropped it on the man's head. It made a loud thud as the man fell out for the count. "I did it!" Shaun said in disbelief. "I did the move that no one said would work!" he started laughing. "I DID IT! I DID IT!" Shaun danced as he looked around. "SERGE, FARGO, GLENN!" Shaun shouted joyfully. "Guys?" Shaun said looking at his downed comrades. "MAN! THE ONE TIME I GET TO PROVE SOMETHING EVERYONE'S KNOCKED OUT!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
"Come on, Paul." Marcy said wiping his head again. "You're the only fun person to play with around here." She went over to Kid and did the same to her as she did to Paul.
"Thanks, Marcy." The older girl said to her. Marcy nodded smiling leaving the room. Diss entered with Steena and both had looks of anger on their face.
"What now?" The older girl said hopelessly to herself. Diss took a seat next to Kid and Steena sat on the bed next to Paul.
"How you doing today?" Steena asked quietly brushing her hand around Paul's face. "Come on sleepy head. It's time to get up." She said hopelessly. Diss slammed his fist on the table waking the little girl.
"DAMNIT! WAKE UP!" Diss yelled to Kid and Paul. "WAKE UP!" Diss said shaking Kid. Marcy ran into the room and had to hit him in a sensitive spot to get him to calm down.
"You're acting immature!" Marcy said in a mother like tone. "Until you grow up I want you to stay outside of this room. Besides, dinner is ready for those who want it." Marcy turned on her heel and waited at the door for Diss to leave. Steena got up and looked at Diss.
"Come on. Let's both get some food and rest a little. This situation will only get worse if we keep worrying about it 24 hours a day." Diss nodded as he left the room with Steena.
"Well?" Marcy said to the two ghosts.
"We're not hungry." The older one said oddly.
"You're weird." Marcy said leaving.
"How's Paul doing?" The little girl asked tiredly.
"Just go back to sleep sweetie." the older girl said looking at Paul.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~
"You mean to say that we fought that thing and we didn't get a Masamune out of it?" Serge asked hopelessly.
"Yup, all we got was this nice parting gift." Shaun held out a sword that Glenn squealed at.
"THAT'S NO ORDINARY SWORD! THAT'S THE HOLY EINLANZER!" Glenn said snatching it from Shaun's hands.
"Keep it. I hate swords." Shaun muttered as Glenn took his old sword and tossed it to the side as he put the Einlanzer in its new home.
"The sword only given to the best of the Acacia Dragoons!" Glenn muttered happily. He took his other sword and carried it over his shoulder. They looked at the man as he slowly got up.
"You.may have defeated me." He said breathlessly. "But.you can not defeat.the man who.wields the.Masamune. Go to.the Forbidden Island.If you wish to challenge him." he said vanishing. They all wasted no time as they ran to the boats. As soon as they disappeared from the place they fought they saw Karsh being pushed around by two men.
"I told you I didn't kill DARIO!" The man said swinging his axe to keep them away.
"Sir, we can't s-s-shake this feeling that it was you, and you coming here p-p-proved our suspicions to be true." The fat one said nervously. "Right S- Solt?"
"Correctly Correct," Solt said. "So Peppor, should we shake it to him?"
"Yeah." Peppor said attacking Karsh. Karsh kicked him away as he grew angry.
"This isn't worth my time." Karsh said twirling his axe in his hand. He launched it at the two and it boomeranged knocking them both out. "Look, I didn't kill Dario. I promise I'll tell you guys the whole story when I get the chance. Until then." Karsh said walking between Solt and Peppor. The rest of the group joined Karsh as they made way for the Forbidden Island.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Diss ate quietly still trying to calm himself. He occasionally looked up watching the others go about their business, but he wanted to be left alone. Steena was fine with that as long as it was in the hideaway. Marcy was fine with that as long as it wasn't near the sleepers. To satisfy both Diss picked the corner farthest from the sleepers and set up his cot. He was now sitting on it plate in hand as he ate the food. It was delicious, but that wasn't his worry now.
His worry was why he couldn't calm down. Even the fact he hadn't yet was angering him. He had no real reason to be angry, as he had accepted his alteration. He had gotten over not seeing Christy, and now he was just.angry. He sighed as he finished, tossing the plate onto the nearby table.
"Well, well, well, it seems you are in the same boat you were in before. This time you don't have your precious Christy to save you." his own voice cut through the silence.
Diss looked around till he saw right in front of him clearly. He saw himself, but he had a cold look in his eyes as he produced a staff like the one that had become the dragon staff. Steena gasped seeing the newcomer and Marcy quickly prepared for a fight.
"Eric," Diss said coldly.
"In the flesh, it's amazing what a world like this can do to a person. It reawakened me and revitalized me. That FATE guy really did a good job in resurfacing me, seeing as how you nearly killed me," Eric said slowly.
"Correction, you did the Inferno that nearly killed yourself," Diss said bitterly.
"I stand corrected. Tell me how have you wasted the last few years of your life without me?" Eric said coldly.
"If by wasted you mean done nothing you lose that argument as well. I got rid of the Aryans. my way to boot," Diss said triumphantly. Steena looked at Diss realizing that he had intimate knowledge of himself. She grinned as she realized what it must be like to fight with yourself repeatedly.
"Oh, how noble. you nearly get yourself killed. Yes I know what your idea of fighting is. On top of that you seem to have grown an ego since I was gone." Eric said pushing a button he knew Diss couldn't defend.
"Bravo Eric, once again you seem to prove why you need to be taught reality," Diss said.
"If you're going to fight do it outside," Marcy yelled at them. The two girls nodded, so Diss smiled.
"Seeing as how you're still alive, lord knows how. We'll settle this the customary way," Diss said coolly.
"You mean to the death for control? No thanks I am a completely different person," Eric scoffed.
"What?" Diss asked incredulously.
"That's right my dear host friend, I am as much a person as you are," Eric said smiling.
"How's that possible?" Diss spat.
"Fate had another body set up incase its biological component should, experience death firsthand. I merely made Fate an offer it couldn't refuse," Eric said evilly.
"The death of me, Shaun, and Paul in return for life under Fate's loose control," Diss said clarifying.
"See, you aren't nearly as stupid as I thought," Eric said.
"How long did it take to activate you once I was there?" Diss asked.
"One hour after Fate was destroyed. Once I found out Fate was no more I was released from the contract. I did however want to do something in vengeance for the one who gave me life," Eric said coldly.
"Nice to know I'm so loved by myself," Diss said sarcastically.
"Love thy neighbor as thy self. but in this case you're doing both." Eric said cheerfully. Steena shot Eric a look of disbelief.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
"HELLO!" Shaun yelled angrily at the door as he pounded it.
"NOBODY IS HOME!" came a male voice. Shaun grew angry and kicked the door down. The man got up hiding a small woman behind him.
"Really?" Shaun said. He looked around for the Masamune as Riddel screamed in delight.
"SIR DARIO!" the man looked at her oddly. "IS IT REALLY YOU?" She asked before hitting herself in the head cutting off the man. "But of course. This is another world. The Dario in this world never died."
"You mean to tell me you know who I am?" Shaun sighed.
"Man, I don't have time for a trip down memory lane!" Shaun sat in a chair.
Dario Looked at Riddel funny before a dark cloud came over him. As he got up the Masamune appeared hovering over his head. With a quick slash Riddel screamed running out of the cabin. The others backed up outside as he slowly began to walk out of the house. He again slashed at Riddel.
"My sword thirsts for your blood Riddel." Dario said coldly as Karsh dived in front of her taking the blow. Riddel shrieked in horror as Karsh fell down holding his wound. Glenn glared at his brother.
"WHY BROTHER? WHY?" Glenn yelled taking out the Eilanzer.
"This doesn't concern you!" Dario said casting an electrical bolt at him. Glenn fell to the ground twitching badly. Shaun jumped in front of Riddel as he took the electrical blast. Shaun squealed in pain as for the first time he felt the burn of electricity course through his veins continually.
"Why, can't I absorb it?" Shaun said falling out of the fight. Fargo punched Dario from behind as he slashed him with the sword.
"Take that Matey!" Fargo said slashing again. Dario skipped back and then dashed at Fargo gashing his chest. The man with two swords appeared as a silhouette above Dario.
"Now my time has come!" he said.
"NO GARAI!" Came Radius' voice as he slashed a blow away from Riddel blocking the Masamune. "Garai, don't do this!" Garai took one of his mighty swords and slashed Radius away.
"Shut up, old friend." Dario took the sword and prepared for the next wave of attack. Serge took his swallow and nodded in confidence as he ran full steam ahead to be stopped by the last person he expected.Paul.
"No, I'm not really him, but shut up and let me handle this." Paul said turning to Dario. He took out his own Masamune as Garai's eyebrow lifted in confusion.
"What do you want?" Garai asked. Paul didn't reply as he continued to walk forward. Dario went against Garai's wishes as he began to walk forward at Paul. Paul began to jog and shortly Dario did the same. The process continued each going faster until they were in a dead sprint.
"AHHH!" Paul said lifting the sword and bringing it down on Dario. Dario rolled and tried to sweep Paul by the legs, but Paul dodged with a flip and a strike to Dario's back.
"GHHH!" Dario said gritting his teeth and swiping Paul's shoulder.
"ERAHHH!" Paul said grabbing his shoulder. Dario kicked Paul in the shoulder and Paul retaliated by flipping over Dario's head and slashing at his back. The two swords crashed into each other as they swung to cleave the other's head off. Paul backed off to shoot electricity to be surprised Dario did the same.
"We know each other too well." Dario said in a fighting stance. Paul nodded as he went in to slash at Dario's throat. Dario parried the attack and grabbed Paul by the back collar throwing him to his original spot. Garai went to cleave Paul in half when Dario accidentally took the blow from his aggression. Paul didn't do the honorable thing and took the opportunity to finish off Dario. Instead of finishing him off however, Riddel healed Dario.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Paul yelled. Riddel stood between Dario and Paul as she held her staff at him.
"Stay away from him." Riddel said confidently. Dario was about to slash at Riddel's exposed back when he stopped.
"Somebody, kill me please!" Dario pleaded. Karsh got up and knocked the sword out of his hands next to Serge who picked it up carefully. Garai disappeared when the sword left Dario's hands and Paul vanished as well. "Where am I?" Dario said faintly. Riddel looked at Dario and broke into tears.
"Hey Masa wake up!" Came a voice from the sword. It slowly glowed and floated before Serge.
"What Mune?" Another distinct voice said.
"How long we been asleep?" Mune asked.
"I don't know. Do you think we caused any trouble?" Masa asked his counterpart.
"Um, I don't know but hey is that who I think that is?" Mune responded.
"Hi guys what have you been up to?" A voice said from Serge's swallow.
"Uh, nothing Doreen!" Both voices from the evil sword said as the swallow floated up to them.
"Fine but from now on I'm going to make sure you don't cause trouble!" Doreen said as a bright flash filled the area.
"Where did the sword go?" Shaun asked. In Serge's hands now rested a very wicked looking swallow.
"The evil Masamune has been vanquished from this world." Radius said happily. Shaun wasn't so happy. Without the Masamune, Paul was a goner.
"Let's go back to tell them what happened." Glenn offered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Eric and Diss stood in the clearing Steena watched as Diss drew out his Dragon Staff. Eric appraised the new weapon as he brought his staff into Diss' offensive stance.
"New weapon, I'm impressed." Eric said admiringly.
"Yeah a lot has changed since you last tried to kill me." Diss said talking to what was easily considered his equal.
The strike came from both at the same time. Diss and Eric locked their staffs standing inches apart. Both gave each other death glares before they pulled away Diss bringing his staff around and Eric bringing it quickly into an offensive posture. Steena watched horrified as they began fighting harder quickly jabbing and striking before trying to breeze through the others defenses. When that happened the defender simply ducked and swung for the legs of his attacker causing the attack to be stopped. After an hour of back and forth they backed off Diss streaming sweat down his body and Eric gasping for air.
"It seems we know each other entirely too well," Eric panted.
"I was always told if you fight with yourself you'll lose every time," Diss retorted as he wiped sweat from his eyes. As he wiped his eyes Eric attacked tripping Diss and knocking the staff from his hands. Diss hit the ground hard and was quickly winded as the force of his fall caused him to release all the air in his body. Eric brought the staff under Diss' throat and smiled.
"How true that is, now that you lost I will truly be free." Eric said coldly, "Any last requests?"
"A question," Diss said slowly.
"What's your question?" Eric asked bewildered.
"How human are you?" Diss asked innocently.
Eric stepped over Diss crouching in front of his legs before responding, "I am as much a human as you are.fully functional in all aspects of the word." He grinned as he stood up moving so he was standing over Diss before raising the staff.
"I'm sorry in advance." Diss said coldly.
"For what?" Eric asked dumbly.
"THIS! " Diss yelled as he kicked hard at Eric's groin. Eric groaned as he fell to his knees, the hit connecting. Diss quickly rolled picking up his staff and standing in a defensive posture, because he knew Eric would be angry and the only way to counter his own rage would be to defend fully, no offense. He didn't know how right he was, Eric got up and rushed Diss attacking with a flurry of blows. Diss barely defended them all immensely tired after the exertion. Eric wasn't tired yet though, and took the advantage to start breezing through Diss' defense; slowly Diss took hit after hit cuts and broken bones adding up as Diss became more and more feeble. Finally Eric backed off.
"You are pathetic, other than a couple of dirty tricks you have no talent, no skill. You should just keel over and die where you lay," Eric taunted cruelly. He moved forward as Diss slowly rose to his feet a look of determination etched into his features. "Won't give up? Then this should fix that dirty little habit of yours," Eric said swinging the staff at neck level with the intent of snapping Diss' neck.
Except, Diss wasn't there, he moved quickly taking advantage of the momentary distraction. Swinging hard he brought the blade of his dragon staff deep into Eric's body. As he pulled it out he quickly slashed upwards- cleanly cutting off Eric's head. He fell to his knees the pain starting to overcome the adrenaline.
"Diss!" Steena said rushing over to him.
"Get the body into the ocean now." Diss rasped quickly. She looked at him incredulously. "NOW!"
Steena nodded dumbly grabbing the body as Diss grabbed the head, and together they worked towards the ocean. Once there Steena pushed the body into the ocean where it was carried away as a huge plume of steam. Diss looked at the head then tossed it into the ocean yelling, "Cool off before you lose your head!"
Steena chuckled, "You always this morbid or does it come with the job?" There was no reply from Diss. "Oh common Diss you can surely take a joke can't.you?" She slowed as she saw he was lying unconscious on the beach the adrenaline let down forcing him to give into the pain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Three days had passed since the Masamune became the Mastermune. Shaun was up by the bow by himself as Serge was looking at his new swallow. Glenn was staring at his Einlanzer in envy. Shaun sighed to himself quietly.
"Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's annoying getting pissed ya know." Shaun sang to himself. Riddel, Dario, and Karsh all stayed behind, as the party was now Glenn, Serge, and Shaun.
"Shiny things are cool." Glenn said looking at his sword. "I like shiny things." he said in a half whisper grinning. Shaun looked at Glenn and thought of Paul. Only Paul could be so stupid at one time and yet be wiser than anyone he knew.
"There's the hideaway." Serge said looking up. Shaun nodded as he grabbed a paddle. Glenn put his sword down as did Serge and they both helped Shaun paddle to the homestead. It would take about ten minutes if they hurried.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
Steena looked at the bon fire to see Diss washing himself singing like he was in a shower. Marcy came out with more wood as she hurled them at Diss trying to get him to stop singing. Steena smiled as she looked at the approaching boat. She walked over to the hideaway and made her way to Paul's bed.
"Your friends are back." She whispered in his ear. She held his hand tightly waiting for Shaun to arrive with the sword.
Diss entered the room putting on a new shirt complete with only one small hole. He sat next to Kid and grinned at Steena. She smiled back as she continued waiting. After a few minutes Shaun entered slowly.
"Where is the sword?" Steena asked slowly.
"You do have it.right Shaun?" Diss asked slowly as well. Shaun held his head low.
"When we had it in our grasp, it turned into something else." Shaun said quietly. "The Masamune is gone. We don't know where the spare is. So, we have limited options."
"Hey Masa, look at her!" Mune's voice sang out.
"Whoa, it's the princess!" Masa replied in amazement.
"Looks like she's stuck in time," Mune began.
"Do you think we can get her out?" Masa asked.
"Hey guys, what's that thing around her neck?" Doreen's voice came clearly.
"Looks like a partially completed Time Egg!" Mune shouted.
"Think we can save her if we channel through that?" Doreen asked.
"I don't know but it's worth a try. Ok master get ready you're going on a trip!" Masa called out.
"Okay, Diss and Glenn, you guys join me!" Serge said quickly getting ready. Diss and Glenn nodded as they walked up to Serge. In the moment of a flash they vanished from the Hideaway.