Shattered Tapestry
By Makura Koneko
E-mail: makura_koneko@hotmail.com
Chapter Six
In the last installment of Shattered Tapestry…
Silence rose up in the dining hall, and the girls turned away from their destination to face the six Generals.
The tension was so thick you could have cut it with a cold knife.
But I suppose that some cosmic force thought that a blast that blew everyone backwards was sufficient, for just as Silvra was about to say something, a sphere of dark purple-red power flashed into existence with a blast that tossed everyone back at least ten feet.
When everyone was able to look again, Silvra, without meaning to, gasped.
"Beryl!" She cried.
Something on her forehead began to glow…
And Now the Continuation...
Something flooded over the fivesome that stood together before the volumtiously curvy woman, clad in blood red and dark purple, that unfurled from the sphere of dark light in the center of the Grand Hall.
Something overcame them, something much more than mere daja'vu or familiarity.
Instinct filled their very beings, and they took up positions around the creature so swiftly it was almost as if they had almost expected this new arrival whom was screeching obscinities and blasting everything in sight.
They exchanged looks, and something passed between them all...they nodded, and their unspoken plan was initiated.
"Hey, freak-face!" Amenea shouted, grabbing one of the chains on the floor near her that had previously been used to hold up the grand chandelier that lay shattered a ways away.
The creature Sylvia had called 'Beryl' looked her way. Yes, she the inhuman woman did strike a bell in Amenea's mind to the word 'Beryl' and yet...something was off...not quite right...
"What did you call me, mortal?" 'Beryl' hissed. Amenea smirked, and began swinging the chain confidently.
"You heard her, vile creature," a voice Amenea recognized boomed from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Kamul, the 'leader' of the Generals standing behind and to her right. He glanced at her; he had her back. A quick glance showed that the other Generals had taken up positions alongside othe members of the 'Goddess' group. Whether or not the Generals knew their plan and had decided to support the girls, or if they had had the the same plan, it didn't really matter. Back up was a good thing.
"Tell me, Beryl," Amenea shouted. "Who did your make-over? Whoever did it, you should sue!" Beryl roared her rage and flung a lightning bolt towards her; Amenea skipped aside, Kumal beside her. she had to keep the creature distracted, keep her from looking behind her, where Rodica and Jovia were scrambling up one of the pillars, each holding the end of a sturdy chain...or to where Sylvia lay in waiting, sword in hand; where she had gotten, it, Amenea didn't dare question.
Amenea briefly wondered where the other trainees had gone, and snorted in disgust when she realized they had all fled. Then again, at least she and the other girls didn't have to worry about anyone else getting caught in the fight.
Beryl sniffed, her cat-like eyes flashing with rage and dark power...yet somehow, Amenea wasn't affected...she didn't feel the stab of fear that she felt she should feel at the sight of this creature...
'Beryl' began to turn to where Raye and Lit- Amenea shook herself. What was up with those other names they kept calling each other??? Amenea gasped; Beryl was seconds away from spotting the girls!
"What are you doing back so soon, Beryl?" Amenea shouted the first words that came to mind. "The Underworld too good for you? You want to die again at our hands? We'll gladly deliver!" What was she saying? Underworld? Kill Beryl 'again?'
Ameana looked past 'Beryl' -whom was spitting obscinities left and right- and met Rodica's eyes. Rodica nodded; she and Jovia were ready.
"Yo, Beryl?" Amenea crowed sweetly. Beryl's attention snapped to the girl. Something in the back of Amenea's mind flickered; this was too easy, she thought, as she thought about what Rodica and Jovia were going to do; leap from the pillar towards Beryl's neck, chain pulled taught between them, the girls swing around, wrapping the chain tightly about her neck, jumping over the back of her shoulders to hang down and pull the chain taught, choking her, while Nenaphe, ready under a nearby table, would lash out with a long pole to trip the beastress and Sylvia would run out and stab Beryl...
Simple...
Yet they were accomplishing their plan too easily...
In a moment, Amenea saw why...
As Rodica and Jovia leaped, Beryl whired around, her claw-like fingernails extending in the blink of an eye till they were genuine claws; she was going to skewer Rodica and Jovia in midair!
Time froze...
Air stopped...
All at once, Amenea could hear every heartbeat in the room...in the building...in the town...in the country...
Every heartbeat on the planet...
Amenea's eyes filled with golden-orange light, blocking out the baby blue.
The ring bearing that odd symbol at Amenea's throat pulsed ever so slightly...
Faint, gently fizzing sparkles of golden-orange drizzled into existence, like a tiny cloud of even tinier stars, around Amenea's right hand, the hand clutching the chain.
The world around her seemed to be frozen...and all at once, the only heartbeat she could hear was her own...she closed her eyes, and listened...it whispered to her, her own heart...and she listened...
Amenea opened her eyes.
And threw the chain.
Sylvia, from her hiding place, gasped and stiffled a scream...
'No!' She thought furiously. Nonononononono!!!!! Rodica! Jovia! They were ever nearing those perilous daggers of claws...
"No!" Sylvia cried out, launcing herself out from behind the pillar, sword held out before her; Beryl's back was to her, maybe she could get there in time. She lunged at Beryl...
At the exact same time a golden chain lashed out to wrap around both of Beryl's arms, yanking them aside so that Rodica and Jovia safely tucked and rolled in midair, landing safely behind Sylvia. It was all happening too fast! Sylvia glimpsed her chance, as Beryl was pulled to the side by that golden chain, yanked by her own imprisoned hands. Sylvia saw that chance, but didn't know, as she lashed out with her sword, thrusting all her strength into the act, if she could make it...
It was in that moment that something filled Sylvia, something...alien, yet not. It was like greeting a friend that she knew so much about, yet had never met...or had simply forgotten. That something grabbed ahold of Sylvia's muscles, of her body, guiding her movements...
With expert ease Sylvia's arms and body were guided, and thus Sylvia easily swung at Beryl's exposed neck out before her, leaping forward as she did so...
The sword sliced cleanly through the evil enchantress's throat as Sylvia forward-flipped up and over, landing on the other side of the now beheaded Beryl.
Time resumed it's normal flow, then, and the body and head of the beastress landed with a sickening thud. The golden chain lost its glow, and clattered to the floor as Amenea collapsed. Kamul, surprise all over his face, caught her. Nenaphe got up from under the table, dropping her pole with a loud thunk as she stood beside Rodica and Jovia...all three of them staring in shock...but not at the carnage that should have been there, nor at Sylvia's performance. No, they stood, staring in shock at the beheaded...
Robot?
"A test..." Nenaphe whispered, the first to put it together.
Clapping was heard, as the General with the long brown hair pulled back at the nape of his neck clapped. "Very good," he said.
"You...you were in on this?" Rodica breathed, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"We all were," Kamul said, helping Amenea back to her feet.
"Wha..." Sylvia gasped. "Why?" She breathed.
"Miss Nenaphe said it," the General with the long, wavy brown hair, loose, said. "A test of sorts. We have one every year."
"Every year," the blonde one said. "At orientation, we set up some sort of hidden test. This is the first year we've ever had an actual attack as our test. In this case, the ones that at least stayed behind to try and counteract the attack passed. You, although, passed with flying colors, for actually bringing down the threat."
"You're not cadets, are you?" Jovia said darkly. They shook their heads. "Then who the hell are you?" She growled.
"We are the Generals, that is all you need know," Kamul said. No one got a chance to say anything more; the cadets started coming back in, all with expressions of guilt, anger, bitterness, or embarrassment on their faces; they had been briefed outside the same way the girls had just been 'briefed' by the Generals.
It was then that the Goddesses got treated to a very imposing view of who they knew must be Commander Tarvol, head training master for the Elite Cadets. He was a tall man, wide set in the nature of his broard shoulders and muscled torso, legs, arms...muscled everything. His skin was the color of dark, uncooked cocoa, Sylvia couldn't help but make the comparison...and his expression was just as bitter.
"Only five girls?" He barked. "Out of all you so called 'promising' lads here, the ones that stayed behind to not only face the enemy but actually defeat it in under ten minutes, were five *women?*"
Jovia snarled and stepped forward...
Syvlia grabbed her arm. "Don't make us any enemies!" She hissed. She wasn't the daughter of a politician for nothing. Jovia growled deep in her throat, but calmed herself.
Commander Tarvol approached the, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Straighten up! In a line! *Now!*"
They dare not disobey, and in record time the five girls were perfectly lined up, backs straight, faces blank -save for the slight snarl still on Jovia's lips and the flashing fire in Rodica's eyes- as they stood before their Commander.
"Tell me, you little mama lap dogs," The man growled as he looked them all up and down. "What was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw an obviously offensive enemy?"
"Protect everyone." Sylvia said automatically without thinking. Kamul, a ways away, let his lips quirk slightly as his companions beside him winced, knowing what was to come...
"*WRONG!*" Tarvol boomed. "THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND IS *'DESTROY ENEMY AT ALL COSTS!!!* Do you get me?"
"No."
The Hall suddenly became very, very quiet...
"What did you say to me, little girl?" Tarvol bent so that his face was level with Sylvia's. She swallowed, but her eyes were determined, and her chin set in stubborness just the same.
"I said, sir, that I don't get you." Sylvia swallowed; it was too late to go back now... Bravely she pressed on, staring straight into Tarvol's face. "You are supposed to train us to become Elite Officers. Day used to be that the entire purpose fo the very creation of the Elite was to protect the innocent, *then* destroy the evil, not prove how macho you are by blowing up everything in sight and manhandling everything you can just because you can."
Silence...
Then Tarvol stood up, and, of all things, smiled! He patted the -considerably- shorter girl on the head.
"Very good," he said. "It's about time."
He then proceeded to turn around and bark out orders for everyone to go back to their rooms, bathe, change into something suitable, and meet back in the Hall in two hours for the real orientation. Sylvia, Nenaphe, Rodica, Jovia, and Amenea were among those who obeyed the quickest.
"Okay, a test, I get that, and I even kinda like the idea, especially since we aced it," Rodica was the first one to start talking once they all entered Sylvia's chambers, having opted to talk a bit before getting ready for the 'real' orientation. "But what about those General dudes? There's definately something up with them."
"I concur," Nenaphe said, accepting a Knitter from Kana with a smile. Kana handed more of the healing tools to the other girls, and they set to freeing themselves of the minor cuts and scrapes flying debree had gifted them with.
"I think it's probably something like, every four years -since it takes four years to graduate- the Elite stick a few of their officers in as cadets, and they act as spies." Jovia suggested as she handed her Knitter back to Kana.
"Spy on their own students?" Kana blinked in surprise. "That sounds rather...well, why would they do that unless they had something to fear from them?"
"They do." Amenea sighed. "Revolt, boycotts, secret plots. There's a reason we were brought in to clean up this place. It's gotten really bad. People have been wondering why some cadets get kicked out for apparently no reason, though now I think it might have something to do with those cadets having planned something. The Generals are probably *real* Generals. They get wind of some cadets planning a take-over or some raucious prank, they get kicked out. You saw the type of guys trying out to get into the Academy."
"This place has gotten so corrupted that they need to spy on their own cadets?" Sylvia said in a bewildered tone of voice. "That's..."
"Sad." Rodica finished.
"Very." Jovia agreed.
After that, there really wasn't much more to say, and they all split up to get ready for the 'real orientation.'
To Be Continued...
A bit pointless of a chapter, I know. I view this as one of those 'transaction' chapters. In this case, the chapter between the girls being scattered people and them finally becoming actual cadets. A transaction from their life as riffraffs, to their lives of training.
Anyhoo, gomen for not updating in such a long time. A lot of things got in my way; moving, school, family trouble, ect. That and my other fic 'Will of the Ring' seemed to be doing ever so much better than this one, so I started dedicating more time to that one, then I suddenly got inspiration for this (rereading this chap, not much of an inspiration...), and decided to go ahead and write the next chapter and post. My beta reader is out of town, as is my editor, so I know it's crappy, but I promise I'll upload the better chapter once they get back. ^^
*hugglez all* 'Neways, until next time! Ja ne!
Hope Makes the Universe Shine,
Makura Koneko
*ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY*
By Makura Koneko
E-mail: makura_koneko@hotmail.com
Chapter Six
In the last installment of Shattered Tapestry…
Silence rose up in the dining hall, and the girls turned away from their destination to face the six Generals.
The tension was so thick you could have cut it with a cold knife.
But I suppose that some cosmic force thought that a blast that blew everyone backwards was sufficient, for just as Silvra was about to say something, a sphere of dark purple-red power flashed into existence with a blast that tossed everyone back at least ten feet.
When everyone was able to look again, Silvra, without meaning to, gasped.
"Beryl!" She cried.
Something on her forehead began to glow…
And Now the Continuation...
Something flooded over the fivesome that stood together before the volumtiously curvy woman, clad in blood red and dark purple, that unfurled from the sphere of dark light in the center of the Grand Hall.
Something overcame them, something much more than mere daja'vu or familiarity.
Instinct filled their very beings, and they took up positions around the creature so swiftly it was almost as if they had almost expected this new arrival whom was screeching obscinities and blasting everything in sight.
They exchanged looks, and something passed between them all...they nodded, and their unspoken plan was initiated.
"Hey, freak-face!" Amenea shouted, grabbing one of the chains on the floor near her that had previously been used to hold up the grand chandelier that lay shattered a ways away.
The creature Sylvia had called 'Beryl' looked her way. Yes, she the inhuman woman did strike a bell in Amenea's mind to the word 'Beryl' and yet...something was off...not quite right...
"What did you call me, mortal?" 'Beryl' hissed. Amenea smirked, and began swinging the chain confidently.
"You heard her, vile creature," a voice Amenea recognized boomed from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Kamul, the 'leader' of the Generals standing behind and to her right. He glanced at her; he had her back. A quick glance showed that the other Generals had taken up positions alongside othe members of the 'Goddess' group. Whether or not the Generals knew their plan and had decided to support the girls, or if they had had the the same plan, it didn't really matter. Back up was a good thing.
"Tell me, Beryl," Amenea shouted. "Who did your make-over? Whoever did it, you should sue!" Beryl roared her rage and flung a lightning bolt towards her; Amenea skipped aside, Kumal beside her. she had to keep the creature distracted, keep her from looking behind her, where Rodica and Jovia were scrambling up one of the pillars, each holding the end of a sturdy chain...or to where Sylvia lay in waiting, sword in hand; where she had gotten, it, Amenea didn't dare question.
Amenea briefly wondered where the other trainees had gone, and snorted in disgust when she realized they had all fled. Then again, at least she and the other girls didn't have to worry about anyone else getting caught in the fight.
Beryl sniffed, her cat-like eyes flashing with rage and dark power...yet somehow, Amenea wasn't affected...she didn't feel the stab of fear that she felt she should feel at the sight of this creature...
'Beryl' began to turn to where Raye and Lit- Amenea shook herself. What was up with those other names they kept calling each other??? Amenea gasped; Beryl was seconds away from spotting the girls!
"What are you doing back so soon, Beryl?" Amenea shouted the first words that came to mind. "The Underworld too good for you? You want to die again at our hands? We'll gladly deliver!" What was she saying? Underworld? Kill Beryl 'again?'
Ameana looked past 'Beryl' -whom was spitting obscinities left and right- and met Rodica's eyes. Rodica nodded; she and Jovia were ready.
"Yo, Beryl?" Amenea crowed sweetly. Beryl's attention snapped to the girl. Something in the back of Amenea's mind flickered; this was too easy, she thought, as she thought about what Rodica and Jovia were going to do; leap from the pillar towards Beryl's neck, chain pulled taught between them, the girls swing around, wrapping the chain tightly about her neck, jumping over the back of her shoulders to hang down and pull the chain taught, choking her, while Nenaphe, ready under a nearby table, would lash out with a long pole to trip the beastress and Sylvia would run out and stab Beryl...
Simple...
Yet they were accomplishing their plan too easily...
In a moment, Amenea saw why...
As Rodica and Jovia leaped, Beryl whired around, her claw-like fingernails extending in the blink of an eye till they were genuine claws; she was going to skewer Rodica and Jovia in midair!
Time froze...
Air stopped...
All at once, Amenea could hear every heartbeat in the room...in the building...in the town...in the country...
Every heartbeat on the planet...
Amenea's eyes filled with golden-orange light, blocking out the baby blue.
The ring bearing that odd symbol at Amenea's throat pulsed ever so slightly...
Faint, gently fizzing sparkles of golden-orange drizzled into existence, like a tiny cloud of even tinier stars, around Amenea's right hand, the hand clutching the chain.
The world around her seemed to be frozen...and all at once, the only heartbeat she could hear was her own...she closed her eyes, and listened...it whispered to her, her own heart...and she listened...
Amenea opened her eyes.
And threw the chain.
Sylvia, from her hiding place, gasped and stiffled a scream...
'No!' She thought furiously. Nonononononono!!!!! Rodica! Jovia! They were ever nearing those perilous daggers of claws...
"No!" Sylvia cried out, launcing herself out from behind the pillar, sword held out before her; Beryl's back was to her, maybe she could get there in time. She lunged at Beryl...
At the exact same time a golden chain lashed out to wrap around both of Beryl's arms, yanking them aside so that Rodica and Jovia safely tucked and rolled in midair, landing safely behind Sylvia. It was all happening too fast! Sylvia glimpsed her chance, as Beryl was pulled to the side by that golden chain, yanked by her own imprisoned hands. Sylvia saw that chance, but didn't know, as she lashed out with her sword, thrusting all her strength into the act, if she could make it...
It was in that moment that something filled Sylvia, something...alien, yet not. It was like greeting a friend that she knew so much about, yet had never met...or had simply forgotten. That something grabbed ahold of Sylvia's muscles, of her body, guiding her movements...
With expert ease Sylvia's arms and body were guided, and thus Sylvia easily swung at Beryl's exposed neck out before her, leaping forward as she did so...
The sword sliced cleanly through the evil enchantress's throat as Sylvia forward-flipped up and over, landing on the other side of the now beheaded Beryl.
Time resumed it's normal flow, then, and the body and head of the beastress landed with a sickening thud. The golden chain lost its glow, and clattered to the floor as Amenea collapsed. Kamul, surprise all over his face, caught her. Nenaphe got up from under the table, dropping her pole with a loud thunk as she stood beside Rodica and Jovia...all three of them staring in shock...but not at the carnage that should have been there, nor at Sylvia's performance. No, they stood, staring in shock at the beheaded...
Robot?
"A test..." Nenaphe whispered, the first to put it together.
Clapping was heard, as the General with the long brown hair pulled back at the nape of his neck clapped. "Very good," he said.
"You...you were in on this?" Rodica breathed, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"We all were," Kamul said, helping Amenea back to her feet.
"Wha..." Sylvia gasped. "Why?" She breathed.
"Miss Nenaphe said it," the General with the long, wavy brown hair, loose, said. "A test of sorts. We have one every year."
"Every year," the blonde one said. "At orientation, we set up some sort of hidden test. This is the first year we've ever had an actual attack as our test. In this case, the ones that at least stayed behind to try and counteract the attack passed. You, although, passed with flying colors, for actually bringing down the threat."
"You're not cadets, are you?" Jovia said darkly. They shook their heads. "Then who the hell are you?" She growled.
"We are the Generals, that is all you need know," Kamul said. No one got a chance to say anything more; the cadets started coming back in, all with expressions of guilt, anger, bitterness, or embarrassment on their faces; they had been briefed outside the same way the girls had just been 'briefed' by the Generals.
It was then that the Goddesses got treated to a very imposing view of who they knew must be Commander Tarvol, head training master for the Elite Cadets. He was a tall man, wide set in the nature of his broard shoulders and muscled torso, legs, arms...muscled everything. His skin was the color of dark, uncooked cocoa, Sylvia couldn't help but make the comparison...and his expression was just as bitter.
"Only five girls?" He barked. "Out of all you so called 'promising' lads here, the ones that stayed behind to not only face the enemy but actually defeat it in under ten minutes, were five *women?*"
Jovia snarled and stepped forward...
Syvlia grabbed her arm. "Don't make us any enemies!" She hissed. She wasn't the daughter of a politician for nothing. Jovia growled deep in her throat, but calmed herself.
Commander Tarvol approached the, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Straighten up! In a line! *Now!*"
They dare not disobey, and in record time the five girls were perfectly lined up, backs straight, faces blank -save for the slight snarl still on Jovia's lips and the flashing fire in Rodica's eyes- as they stood before their Commander.
"Tell me, you little mama lap dogs," The man growled as he looked them all up and down. "What was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw an obviously offensive enemy?"
"Protect everyone." Sylvia said automatically without thinking. Kamul, a ways away, let his lips quirk slightly as his companions beside him winced, knowing what was to come...
"*WRONG!*" Tarvol boomed. "THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND IS *'DESTROY ENEMY AT ALL COSTS!!!* Do you get me?"
"No."
The Hall suddenly became very, very quiet...
"What did you say to me, little girl?" Tarvol bent so that his face was level with Sylvia's. She swallowed, but her eyes were determined, and her chin set in stubborness just the same.
"I said, sir, that I don't get you." Sylvia swallowed; it was too late to go back now... Bravely she pressed on, staring straight into Tarvol's face. "You are supposed to train us to become Elite Officers. Day used to be that the entire purpose fo the very creation of the Elite was to protect the innocent, *then* destroy the evil, not prove how macho you are by blowing up everything in sight and manhandling everything you can just because you can."
Silence...
Then Tarvol stood up, and, of all things, smiled! He patted the -considerably- shorter girl on the head.
"Very good," he said. "It's about time."
He then proceeded to turn around and bark out orders for everyone to go back to their rooms, bathe, change into something suitable, and meet back in the Hall in two hours for the real orientation. Sylvia, Nenaphe, Rodica, Jovia, and Amenea were among those who obeyed the quickest.
"Okay, a test, I get that, and I even kinda like the idea, especially since we aced it," Rodica was the first one to start talking once they all entered Sylvia's chambers, having opted to talk a bit before getting ready for the 'real' orientation. "But what about those General dudes? There's definately something up with them."
"I concur," Nenaphe said, accepting a Knitter from Kana with a smile. Kana handed more of the healing tools to the other girls, and they set to freeing themselves of the minor cuts and scrapes flying debree had gifted them with.
"I think it's probably something like, every four years -since it takes four years to graduate- the Elite stick a few of their officers in as cadets, and they act as spies." Jovia suggested as she handed her Knitter back to Kana.
"Spy on their own students?" Kana blinked in surprise. "That sounds rather...well, why would they do that unless they had something to fear from them?"
"They do." Amenea sighed. "Revolt, boycotts, secret plots. There's a reason we were brought in to clean up this place. It's gotten really bad. People have been wondering why some cadets get kicked out for apparently no reason, though now I think it might have something to do with those cadets having planned something. The Generals are probably *real* Generals. They get wind of some cadets planning a take-over or some raucious prank, they get kicked out. You saw the type of guys trying out to get into the Academy."
"This place has gotten so corrupted that they need to spy on their own cadets?" Sylvia said in a bewildered tone of voice. "That's..."
"Sad." Rodica finished.
"Very." Jovia agreed.
After that, there really wasn't much more to say, and they all split up to get ready for the 'real orientation.'
To Be Continued...
A bit pointless of a chapter, I know. I view this as one of those 'transaction' chapters. In this case, the chapter between the girls being scattered people and them finally becoming actual cadets. A transaction from their life as riffraffs, to their lives of training.
Anyhoo, gomen for not updating in such a long time. A lot of things got in my way; moving, school, family trouble, ect. That and my other fic 'Will of the Ring' seemed to be doing ever so much better than this one, so I started dedicating more time to that one, then I suddenly got inspiration for this (rereading this chap, not much of an inspiration...), and decided to go ahead and write the next chapter and post. My beta reader is out of town, as is my editor, so I know it's crappy, but I promise I'll upload the better chapter once they get back. ^^
*hugglez all* 'Neways, until next time! Ja ne!
Hope Makes the Universe Shine,
Makura Koneko
*ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY*