Book 6: The Final War
The Finale to Battle Network: New Generation
By Zelloss (zellossmetallium@msn.com)
Author's Note: See that? 'The Final War -} The Finale to Battle Network New Generation'. That's right. The FINALE to the series! Its all come down to this, and I promise to GOOD GOD that I will write this one best! ^^
Chapter 1: Wakeup Call
Zerse lay on the ground, thinking. About the ground. Geez, was it hard. All the stones and grass and... was that a spider he was lying on? It was squishy, whatever it was. And why did his eyelids feel so heavy?
It took a few moments for Zerse's concentration to return. Although that didn't mean his memory had returned. Zerse smacked himself over the head. Or would have, if it wasn't for the fact he didn't have the energy to move his right hand. In fact, he didn't have the energy to move his other hand, either.
It took another few moments before Zerse was able to pull together enough energy to open his eyes. He looked up.
Only the empty sky above him, white sky with silvery-white clouds floating high above him, the sun flying high above him.
Then, the cloud in front of it moved away, and Zerse snapped his eyes shut to keep them from getting burned. A few moments more of concentration, and Zerse got his head straight enough to turn it to the right before opening his eyes.
A small, brown, furry caterpillar squiggled along the ground beside him. Zerse watched it for a few seconds, half-smiling. Well, at least something was moving around here, and that was good.
Zerse rested for a few minutes more, gathering up enough energy, before trying to move his right arm again. There wasn't any feeling in it.
So Zerse tried to move his other arm, and found he could. He slowly moved it up and grabbed the hand of the right arm, and pulled it up. He couldn't feel it.
Zerse held his limp arm over his head, inspecting it.
The limp arm slipped, and promptly backarmed Zerse's head. Zerse shouted out, and sat up in reflex.
His limp armed scraped the ground, as feeling slowly returned to it. It then took a moment for him to realize he was sitting up.
And it then hit him that he wasn't outside. The walls looked like flat plains and grassy hills, and by god, they probably would have fooled him longer if he hadn't of been trying to focus on figuring out where he was. But who would bother to create a simlu-nature room?
[Zel?] Zerse thought, trying to concentrate. [Zel? Are you there?]
There was no response. Zerse wondered where Zel would be... or who was Zel, again?
Then memories started to come back to Zerse.
* * * * *
"I swear! We've done nothing!" X shouted, looking up at Elpis. "We're trying to destroy Sigma, just like you!"
Elpis laughed, looking down at X. Iris was collapsed in one of the far corners, and Sigma was watching with a half-smile from his metal throne. Zero's helmet had shattered off, and his hair had gone from long and gold to its natural short, deep purple. He, too, was colapsed in a far corner of the room, opposite Iris. Zerse could only watch from his tied-up position, under Sigma's careful eye.
Elpis raised his arms, grabbing the long purple sabre again. "I'll finish you like I did the others..."
That had done it. Zerse shouted. "Dynastu, don't!" But his voice was different, just slightly. It sounded so much more... serious... then normal.
Elpis froze. "Why do you speak my name?"
"You're being tricked by Dreamer!" Zerse shouted, taking the words right out of the spirit-Zel's mind. "The real enemy here is not Sigma, it's not X, it's not Zero, it's Dreamer!"
Elpis paused, then laughed. "The ghosts get to you too, huh?" he turned away from X for a split second.
Realizing what this could do, X didn't take the cheap shot at Elpis he could have taken. Instead, he shot one single bullet of energy at the ropes holding Zerse tight.
They split, and Zerse collapsed to the floor. "Listen..."
"Guards, get them all!" Sigma shouted, enraged at having lost his prisoner. "I don't care! Zero, Iris, Zerse, X, Elpis, get them all!"
One arm cannon rotated down on Sigma's shoulder, locking onto X.
Elpis looked at Sigma, as several blasts of energy rained down from all sides.
Elpis seemed to be considering.
Then, with one twist, he turned towards Zerse, a blank look in his eyes.
"Dreamer, stop this now!" Zerse shouted, looking up. "I know you're here!"
"Of course I am!" Dreamer laughed, looking down at the group, seemingly floating in mid-air, a dark aura formed around him. "I wouldn't miss anything this fun!"
Sigma looked up at Dreamer, and moved his cannon. It locked onto Zerse.
Zerse shouted, diving for cover, as a blue laser tore through the ground, blasting away the steel support to which Zerse had been tied. Why? Oh, in the end, did it make a difference? Sigma figured Zerse would somehow screw up his plans...
Zerse gulped, and just as soon as the support had been blasted, the fortress began to shake.
"Let's get out of here!" soldiers shouted, turning direction and dissapearing. Even Sigma looked a bit doubtful.
"Help me get these guys out of here!" X called over to Elpis. Elpis considered for a few moments.
"We don't have time!" Elpis complained. "The structure will collapse in only a few seconds!"
Already, chunks of metal, steel, and machinery were falling. One barely missed Zerse's head.
"Gods, please help me, please help us..." Zerse looked up at Dreamer, as Dreamer laughed, fading in and out of existance just enough to miss the falling debris.
"Well, it is about that time..." Zel responded to Zerse.
"What?" Zerse looked around. Suddenly, there wasn't anything around him... he was gone.
"What? Zel, what did you do!?" Dreamer shouted at Zel's floating spirit.
"It's time for it all to end now, Dreamer!" Zel shouted. "I don't like the idea, and it's incredibly risky... But I'm willing to take that chance!"
Then everything was gone.
* * * * *
Zerse focused. "Zel? Zel?" he called out.
There was the sound of a sliding door. One of the thick herbs slid out of the way, and a figure walked towards Zerse.
Zerse knew who it was... or he should have. The man was tall, about 6 feet tall, with a flowing wave of purple hair, glistening off of the artificial sun, which was only a powerful lightbulb. His pale skin looked roughened, his only visible hand dirty, and his eyes looked tired, but he looked lively all the same. Those dark, demon-purple eyes. A thin smile was crossing his face, as he shuffled over to Zerse, one hand in the pocket of a pair of thin light blue pants, covering navy shoes. His upper body was covered only by a wrap-around sash, amethyst in color, which covered his abs. It was obvious he was well-muscled, but not to the point of a bodybuilder: Only to that of a fighter.
"Welcome back to life..." the man laughed, his eyes lighting up for a moment. "...Zerse"
"Zel?" Zerse asked.
The man shook his head, the long hair shaking and reflecting the sun in odd patterns. "No, not quite. Close, though, very close."
Zerse thought. "Then who?"
"My name is Hayato Grausherra. You probably never met me, but I sure as hell know who you are... er... were."
"Hayato... Hayato..." Zerse traced his memory. "Yeah, I remember meeting you once... except you looked... younger..."
Hayato laughed heartily. "Yeah, I looked younger. So did you. Take a look at yourself" Hayato pointed to Zerse's left side, where there was a pool of calm water.
Zerse stood up slowly, got his balance, and walked over.
He gaped.
"What the...?" Zerse felt at his face, and his reflection did the same. It had aged a few years, the silvery eyes seeming deeper, the lips slightly thinner, the grass-green hair had become nearly black in coloring. His clothes had changed, too. Instead of the turban-like thing he wore, only a simple white headband was keeping the top part of his hair up, and he was wearing a robe-like crystaline shirt, down to just above the hips, where Zerse could see black pants, cut from the knee down on both sides, although his left side didn't have a knee, or anything below it, revealing roughened skin and muscles that Zerse didn't remember having.
"I'm... older..." Zerse looked at himself.
"Yeah, you are" Hayato nodded. "I never looked this good when I was alive, that's for sure!"
"Wait, hold on..." Zerse turned and eyed Hayato. "There's... something just doesn't add up!"
"Oh?" Hayato asked.
"Listen... I know I did something back there... but you're here, and you're not dead. Unless I'm dead. But there's no way to bring a spirit back from the dead, and I certainly think I'm not dead... because everything feels solid. What's going on?" Zerse asked.
Hayato paused. "Well, whatever you did, there's a number of people alive again" Hayato smiled. "Many of the wandering, lost spirits have come back to life... but this is the second life for everybody. Even you."
"Second life?" Zerse asked.
Hayato seemed fidgety for a moment, his mouth making odd movements. "Err... well... I guess the best way to explain it is this. The first time you die, you lose your physical body but keep your spirit. Now, if you were to go and possess a body or take one, and you were in that body when it died..."
Zerse nodded, understanding. But Hayato finished anyway. "Then the spirit is gone forever. We don't have the option to leave the body this time..."
"Well, what is going on?" Zerse asked.
Hayato looked at the ground. "I... I'm not the one to tell you any of this" Hayato walked over to Zerse and put his shoulder under that of Zerse's, half-lifting him up and helping Zerse walk over to the door.
Outside, it was a small village, except it wasn't. It would have looked very traditional, except for the fact that it looked modern. Zerse thought hard.
"Welcome to Eyod Village" Hayato smiled. "I would say welcome back, but you've never been here. Or even to this island."
"Eyod..." Zerse looked up, staring around, getting in his surroundings. The clouds overhead seemed clear, except for a patch at the top of the highest mountain on the island. They seemed somehow... foreboding... without being any different then the rest. The sun's rays seemed to be totally avoiding it.
And then, there was... something else. The forests seemed teeming with life, but there was no sign of them ever having been inhabitied. A fountain ran in the center, spewing up a seeming river of water, which was almost crystaline in color. And yet, the ground around it seemed perfect, as if the fountain had simply been placed right on top. Nothing seemed disturbed by the surroundingss.
"Yeah, it's weird, isn't it?" Hayato asked. "It's because the island has been reborn."
"Why?" Zerse asked, not fully understanding, for perhaps not the first time in his life.
"You'll see..." Hayato started to walk towards one of the other house-like structures, as somebody walked out of the one next door.
The man was just a bit taller then Hayato and Zerse, a short mass of sky-blue hair matching his sky-blue eyes, a smile painted on his face. He wasn't wearing anything more then a pair of slightly tight blue jeans, and his handsome face and body was quite obvious, as he stepped along the ground, something about him resembling a movie star of some sort. He was definatly very handsome, and the occasional scar that crossed his body here or there made him look only more dashing.
"Who are you?" Zerse asked.
"So, Hayato, another one has awoken?" the man asked.
Hayato nodded. "Yeah, Sirius, another has awoken. Zerse has... Any sign on...?"
Sirius Skie shook his head. "No. He's still... I don't even know if there's a chance he's coming back! I mean, he took Zerse's body, and..."
"He seperated before Zerse died" Hayato reasoned. "I'm pretty sure he'll be okay."
"Zel!" Zerse perked up. "Is Zel okay?"
Sirius shrugged. "Oh, Hayato, your brother Gairyio has finally awoken."
"Gairyio has?" Hayato's face lit up like a lightbulb. "I'm sorry, Zerse, but I must be off... relax, a number of people have woken up already..."
Hayato pulled Zerse over to the fountain, and helped him sit down, supporting his back against the fountain.
Zerse smakced Hayato's hand away. "I can do it myself, thank you." Zerse positioned himself comfortably against the side of the fountain, the low sound of splashing water helping him to relax.
"Well, just remember. Most people required about a day to get used to their new bodies..." Hayato reminded Zerse, before taking off with Sirius.
Zerse remained sitting, as Hayato entered a different one of the rooms. Inside, was a slightly shorter man then Sirius, matching Hayato in height. As he groggily shook his head, short near-army-cut black hair seemed to barely move, and his dirty face and cruel purple eyes looked around. He was wearing a thin black leather vest, revealing strong muscles scarred with battle, and his black jean-shorts were torn at the knees, which revealed similarly scarred legs. The most notable feature was a black dragon tatooed across his chest. He spied Hayato.
"Ha.. yato?" the man looked at Hayato groggily.
"Gairyio!" Hayato jumped at his brother, hugging him happily.
"Eh... gerrof..." Gairyio slowly pushed Hayato off of him, before collapsing backwards. "I feel weak..."
"Don't worry, everybody who's been waking up has felt this way..." Hayato responded. "How long have you been concious?"
"A day. I couldn't open my eyes until today" Gairyio responded.
"A day!?" Hayato blinked. "But... what?"
"I guess that I am feeling strangely weak... what is going on, Hayato? Is it time?"
Hayato nodded. "Yeah..."
Gariyio's vision blurred, and he fell backwards, resting his head on the artificial grass. "Why exactly is everything like this? Where are we?"
"Eyod..."
"..."
"I know, it doesn't seem possible, but... this isn't even outside..."
"I noticed that from the getgo. I can see the nail holding up that part of the cieling" Gairyio pointed to the edge of one of the clouds.
Hayato focused, and could see just the slightest dent in the cieling. Yeah, Gairyio was right.
"I thought you were tired..."
"When you've got nothing better to do then to lie around doing nothing" Gairyio shrugged, although barely, "you can take notice of details."
"Oh, I'm just glad you're okay..." Hayato smiled.
Then Gairyio froze. "Hayato..." Gairyio sighed, moving one arm into his view, and watching his hands. He gathered up the energy and snapped his fingers.
He heard the sound.
"I knew... I knew it..." Gairyio smiled. "I can hear again..." Gairyio started to laugh. "I go even in death being deaf, and now here I am, hearing, and I don't even realize it right away!"
A smile broke over Gairyio's face, and suddenly the weakness seemed to be gone from his body, as he laughed low, but merrily, seeming so young in that small, miniscule moment.
* * * * *
Zerse focused up at the top of the mountain, trying to remember how to use his powers. What was wrong with that place? There was... something... definatly something... but what? What something was this something?
"You can't use your powers anymore. So stop trying" a femine voice laughed. Zerse looked to his left.
There was a young woman who's long golden hair was so long some of it was waving back into the fountain against which she was sitting. Her golden eyes were sparkling, and a necklace of pearls, diamonds, and other jewels hung around her neck. Her body was covered in a winter-white dress from head to crystal-high-heeled foot. She was absolutly gorgeous, and Zerse blushed a bit just looking at her fine, skinny, and quite voluptuous form.
"Who are you?" Zerse asked.
The woman smiled. "My name is Mihillias Deamandos" she responded. "Zel's wife."
"He did speak of having the most beautiful woman on the planet..." Zerse muttered.
Mihill laughed. "Just like Zel to try and flatter me, even through other people. He acts tough, but he does have a heart, you know."
Zerse smiled back. "Does it bother you that I find you... attractive? Even though you're my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-and-so-on-grandmother?"
Mihill laughed again, fair and maidenly, of course. "No, not really. I never understood how you fit into our family line anyway."
"I'm Seinjaii's great-great-great-great-great-and-so-on-grandson" Zerse responded.
Mihill looked over Zerse. "I... I see the resemblance now. Seinjaii's a good kid, you know?" she smiled.
"But..." Zerse inspected her. "Zel had said... that you were always so cheerful and happy and bouncy..." he paused for a moment, but Mihill didn't react. "...so is something the matter?"
Mihill looked down at the ground, suddenly saddened. "Of course. Everybody is thinking that Zel won't wake up... I know he will... but he hasn't..."
"Perhaps it's something we don't have control over..." Zerse stood up. "Why aren't you with him?"
"They look so cold and... so..." Mihill didn't know how to describe it. "They just... don't seem right... like a lifeless corpse that is still pulsing with life... when they haven't yet awoken..."
Zerse thought on that, and decided that he couldn't picture it. "No, can't imagine it."
"I don't imagine you to be able to... you feel so sad when you see them, it's like looking at a dearest friend's grave... except you see them... and you know they're alive... but you know they're dead, too..." Mihill sighed. "I'm sorry, I can't... explain it..."
Zerse's eyes flashed, as another figure approached. He was coming down on the path from the top of the mountain, stepping through the thick trees surrounding the area.
Shadows slowly revealed him from the bottom up. His army-style combat boots glinted in the sun, covered up mostly by long black jeans, held up by a belt with a hawk carved onto the clasp. Then, the shirt could be seen: A blood-red jacket with no sleeves, revealing powerful, strong arms, and finally, a powerfull looking face to match, with burning black eyes and a thin, almost pointed nose which resembled that of a hawk. His crimson hair fell back in a couple seperate layers, from short to shoulder-length, and his body showed many scars.
And Zerse saw the other detail, too. In one hand was clenched a wooden staff, brilliant red in color, the same color as the man's shirt. The color of blood. Dark metal rings wrapped around the staff, forming a tight grip, and at one end, one short blade which stuck out of the top, the end of which was covered in black diamonds.
Zerse gulped. "What...? Who are you? What do you want?"
"You are Zerse, are you not?" the man asked, his voice deep. "My name is Malst Yobuu. I am Dynastu's father, and I'm here to see my family."
Zerse looked up at Malst, before standing up and taking a moment to get his bearings. "Malst Yobuu? Do you have proof?"
"You don't believe me?" Malst asked, walking slowly over to Zerse, eying him evilly. Zerse gulped, shaking. There was something about this man, do doubt.
"You came from the mountain..." Zerse looked up at it. "I've got one question for you, first. Why is like that?"
"Why is it like what?" Malst looked at it. He inspected it for a moment. "I don't see anything."
"You can't see it?" Zerse asked. "It should be so light up there... but can you see it? The clouds, they're so dark..."
"You're seeing things, idiot..." Malst turned back to stare at Zerse.
Zerse looked at Mihill, who simply shrugged. "You are, Zerse. There's nothing up there."
Zerse shook his head. "But... Mihill, can you guide this man to Dynastu? You probably know where he is..."
Mihill looked back at Malst, and froze, watching him. "Zerse... I don't..."
Zerse turned and looked at Mihill. "What do you mean?"
"I mean duck!" Mihill cried.
Zerse dived down, as the staff stabbed forward, just passing over his head, the blade singing through the air.
"What the?" Zerse cried out, diving to the side, away from the fountain, as Malst pulled back the staff.
"You're the one responsible for doing all of this!" Malst cried, turning towards Zerse, and swinging again, Zerse backing up just enough to dodge the blade.
"What did I do?" Zerse cried out.
"You started the war!" Malst growled. "You know that! You started the war that will destroy us all forever!"
Malst began to swing again, and Zerse pulled back.
As the blade came closer, it suddenly extended greatly, revealing the six feet of blade that had been hidden in the staff, suddenly. Zerse looked to his side.
It was too late to duck.
Zerse braced himself for the blow.
It didn't come.
Somebody was standing in front of Zerse, his left arm right against the blade of the weapon. His wrist was wrapped in red metal, protecting his thin arms. Indeed, the man had brilliant hair, a crimson in the sunlight, and in the shade, a dark purple color. Another band of metal crossed his forehead and side of his head on the right side, while another went up and down the back on the left side. Two more such bands crossed over the shoulders on his grey jacket, covering a black t-shirt. He was also wearing white shorts with a red band coming down the right side, and although Zerse couldn't yet see it, the left eye seemed to have the skin torn away, showing silver metal around the black eye, on a face which resembled that of Malst's.
"Father, stop this nonsense" Dynastu responded. "You're not going to do us any good by randomly killing people."
Malst froze, looking at his son. Both Zerse and Malst spoke at the same time. "Dynastu? What... happened to you?"
Dynastu laughed. "I guess I kept bits and pieces of my old armor... But now's not the time for that. If you guys continue to fight, one of you will die. And either way, that'll end up tipping the balance!"
"What am I doing here, anyway?" Malst growled. "Dynastu, you know very well that I'm not supposed to be here! I'm not supposed to make a difference in this finale! It's for the Eyodian Lines only!"
Zerse looked around, confused. "What? What are you talking about...?"
"I never told you, did I, father?" Dynastu smiled. "Perhaps you should talk to great-grandfather Morpheus about it. I'm sure he could tell you."
"What is going on!?!" Zerse shouted.
Malst growled, and the blade in the staff retracted itself, becoming shorter again. "I suppose somebody has to tell you... Although I don't understand why nobody has told you before."
Zerse sighed. "Well, will somebody just tell me? What is this war?"
"It's..." Mihill gulped. "It's the millenia of the gods. 1000 years since the last war came to pass, to no end. Eyod was seperated from the continent and driven way out into the ocean because of it" she responded. "And now, the gods have chosen new vessels in their most powerful descendants... well... almost..."
"Almost?" Zerse responded.
"Kaisuto of Dark has already chosen his vessal. But Gaiafarou does not have one..."
"What do you mean?" Zerse asked. "Isn't there anybody who is of the light?"
"Nobody is willing to take him on... because... they don't want to see the fighting again... Last time, it almost destroyed everything..."
"So why are we all back here?" Zerse asked. "Why do all of us have to be brought back?"
"Because we've all got some part to play in it..." Mihill responded, looking down. "But everybody is so scared... the legends I was always taught said that everybody on the island, except for the god's vessals and their partners, was killed... And now, if all that was to happen..."
Zerse gulped. "You... you can't be serious..."
"Nobody wants to bear the burden of having to be responsible for it all..." Mihill growled. "So Gaiafarou doesn't yet have a body... and if he doesn't get one soon..."
"Couldn't I?" Zerse asked.
"No" Mihill shook her head. "Your heritage is that of the Grausherra Lineage. Of the darkness. It would be... impossible..." she responded.
Zerse looked around. "Something about this.. doesn't seem right..."
"None of it does" Dynastu said calmly. "But it's how it is, and that's how we have to live with it."
"It's what's expected, of course..." Malst growled. "I've abandoned Dreamer in the hopes that at least me and my son can get off this island..."
"What about Enkou? Morpheus?" Dynastu asked.
"They won't leave... They're not even awake yet..." Malst growled lightly. "Let us leave this island..."
"I can't run, father" Dynastu responded. "I'd like to, and so would everybody. But we've all got some purpose for being on this island. So we have to stay."
Malst glared at Dynastu. "Are you sure of your choice?"
"Yes, father" Dynastu responded. "That is my choice."
Malst grunted, obviously not in full approval, but there was nothing he could do. "Very well..." he turned to Mihillias. "I have to ask, young woman, if I could remain. I hate to be a bother, but... I can't return to Dreamer now..."
"Dreamer? What does he have to do with all of this?" Zerse asked.
Malst laughed. "I thought it would be obvious. Dreamer is Kaisuto's vessal."
Zerse sighed, looking down at the ground. "He's always been that... hasn't he?"
"Yes..." Mihill responded. "Seinjaii says he's been seeing it as long as his father was alive..."
"Well, what are we to do, anyway?" Zerse asked. "I mean, we don't have anywhere to go, right now, no plans as to what will happen..."
"We wait for the rest to wake up, and then, we have to decide who will be the champion..." Mihill responded.
"I hate waiting..." Zerse growled.
There was a moment of silence, which was broken by the sound of one of the houses opening, and somebody running out.
This one was obvious, as to who it was, because this one's body hadn't really changed at all. Still three feet tall, with blue-purple hair which shimmered as he ran, seeming like a prism of different colors. Brilliant mauve eyes sparkled in the depths, a single white headband across his forehead, and at the sides of the head stuck out pointed ears. He was wearing a white shirt, with a black undershirt, the sleeves torn. He also was wearing a crimson mid-sash, similar to what Hayato had been wearing, and a pair of baggy white shorts. Then, the feet were covered by japenese-style sandals. In a sheath across his back was a sword almost as thick as he was, sheathed diagonally so as to fit all four feet of it on his back. If that hadn't of identified him just like that, the fact that he was missing his left arm made it obvious.
"Seinjaii!" Dynastu cried. "I'm sorry for doubting you, all the way back there..."
"I know, I've heard enough of that" Seinjaii called over. "Mihill! Come quick!"
"What is it?" Mihill asked.
"Zel's awakened!" Seinjaii shouted.
"What!?" Mihill jumped up, running over, but she didn't even need to.
Another figure stumbled loosely out of the doorway. He looked quite weak, his face pale and set, but pained. His eyes were deep set, passing a dark glare over the others as his eyes watched them. His spiky, somewhat-short hair shimmered the beautiful, fine purple color of the Grausherra line. A black Bandana crossesd under the front of his hair. He was covered in an open-fronted white shirt, in classic Eyodian style, with a crimson sash underneath which made it look like he was bleeding slightly. A diamond-clasped belt held up silver shorts, which showed powerful legs, and ended in bone-colored shoes.
He looked normal enough, but there was definatly something about him. Perhaps it was the many, many battle scars across him, or the stains of blood painted on his pants and shirt. Mabye it was the simple aura of power which the man radiated. It might have been the necklace falling around his neck with the twin symbols of the Grausherras - the twin moons - and the symbol of the Deamandos family - the single diamond - beneath. Or mabye it was the only weapon on his person, in a sheath at his belt: The famous ruby-handled dagger.
"Zel!" Mihill ran over and jumped at him, hugging him and pulling the taller man close.
The Finale to Battle Network: New Generation
By Zelloss (zellossmetallium@msn.com)
Author's Note: See that? 'The Final War -} The Finale to Battle Network New Generation'. That's right. The FINALE to the series! Its all come down to this, and I promise to GOOD GOD that I will write this one best! ^^
Chapter 1: Wakeup Call
Zerse lay on the ground, thinking. About the ground. Geez, was it hard. All the stones and grass and... was that a spider he was lying on? It was squishy, whatever it was. And why did his eyelids feel so heavy?
It took a few moments for Zerse's concentration to return. Although that didn't mean his memory had returned. Zerse smacked himself over the head. Or would have, if it wasn't for the fact he didn't have the energy to move his right hand. In fact, he didn't have the energy to move his other hand, either.
It took another few moments before Zerse was able to pull together enough energy to open his eyes. He looked up.
Only the empty sky above him, white sky with silvery-white clouds floating high above him, the sun flying high above him.
Then, the cloud in front of it moved away, and Zerse snapped his eyes shut to keep them from getting burned. A few moments more of concentration, and Zerse got his head straight enough to turn it to the right before opening his eyes.
A small, brown, furry caterpillar squiggled along the ground beside him. Zerse watched it for a few seconds, half-smiling. Well, at least something was moving around here, and that was good.
Zerse rested for a few minutes more, gathering up enough energy, before trying to move his right arm again. There wasn't any feeling in it.
So Zerse tried to move his other arm, and found he could. He slowly moved it up and grabbed the hand of the right arm, and pulled it up. He couldn't feel it.
Zerse held his limp arm over his head, inspecting it.
The limp arm slipped, and promptly backarmed Zerse's head. Zerse shouted out, and sat up in reflex.
His limp armed scraped the ground, as feeling slowly returned to it. It then took a moment for him to realize he was sitting up.
And it then hit him that he wasn't outside. The walls looked like flat plains and grassy hills, and by god, they probably would have fooled him longer if he hadn't of been trying to focus on figuring out where he was. But who would bother to create a simlu-nature room?
[Zel?] Zerse thought, trying to concentrate. [Zel? Are you there?]
There was no response. Zerse wondered where Zel would be... or who was Zel, again?
Then memories started to come back to Zerse.
* * * * *
"I swear! We've done nothing!" X shouted, looking up at Elpis. "We're trying to destroy Sigma, just like you!"
Elpis laughed, looking down at X. Iris was collapsed in one of the far corners, and Sigma was watching with a half-smile from his metal throne. Zero's helmet had shattered off, and his hair had gone from long and gold to its natural short, deep purple. He, too, was colapsed in a far corner of the room, opposite Iris. Zerse could only watch from his tied-up position, under Sigma's careful eye.
Elpis raised his arms, grabbing the long purple sabre again. "I'll finish you like I did the others..."
That had done it. Zerse shouted. "Dynastu, don't!" But his voice was different, just slightly. It sounded so much more... serious... then normal.
Elpis froze. "Why do you speak my name?"
"You're being tricked by Dreamer!" Zerse shouted, taking the words right out of the spirit-Zel's mind. "The real enemy here is not Sigma, it's not X, it's not Zero, it's Dreamer!"
Elpis paused, then laughed. "The ghosts get to you too, huh?" he turned away from X for a split second.
Realizing what this could do, X didn't take the cheap shot at Elpis he could have taken. Instead, he shot one single bullet of energy at the ropes holding Zerse tight.
They split, and Zerse collapsed to the floor. "Listen..."
"Guards, get them all!" Sigma shouted, enraged at having lost his prisoner. "I don't care! Zero, Iris, Zerse, X, Elpis, get them all!"
One arm cannon rotated down on Sigma's shoulder, locking onto X.
Elpis looked at Sigma, as several blasts of energy rained down from all sides.
Elpis seemed to be considering.
Then, with one twist, he turned towards Zerse, a blank look in his eyes.
"Dreamer, stop this now!" Zerse shouted, looking up. "I know you're here!"
"Of course I am!" Dreamer laughed, looking down at the group, seemingly floating in mid-air, a dark aura formed around him. "I wouldn't miss anything this fun!"
Sigma looked up at Dreamer, and moved his cannon. It locked onto Zerse.
Zerse shouted, diving for cover, as a blue laser tore through the ground, blasting away the steel support to which Zerse had been tied. Why? Oh, in the end, did it make a difference? Sigma figured Zerse would somehow screw up his plans...
Zerse gulped, and just as soon as the support had been blasted, the fortress began to shake.
"Let's get out of here!" soldiers shouted, turning direction and dissapearing. Even Sigma looked a bit doubtful.
"Help me get these guys out of here!" X called over to Elpis. Elpis considered for a few moments.
"We don't have time!" Elpis complained. "The structure will collapse in only a few seconds!"
Already, chunks of metal, steel, and machinery were falling. One barely missed Zerse's head.
"Gods, please help me, please help us..." Zerse looked up at Dreamer, as Dreamer laughed, fading in and out of existance just enough to miss the falling debris.
"Well, it is about that time..." Zel responded to Zerse.
"What?" Zerse looked around. Suddenly, there wasn't anything around him... he was gone.
"What? Zel, what did you do!?" Dreamer shouted at Zel's floating spirit.
"It's time for it all to end now, Dreamer!" Zel shouted. "I don't like the idea, and it's incredibly risky... But I'm willing to take that chance!"
Then everything was gone.
* * * * *
Zerse focused. "Zel? Zel?" he called out.
There was the sound of a sliding door. One of the thick herbs slid out of the way, and a figure walked towards Zerse.
Zerse knew who it was... or he should have. The man was tall, about 6 feet tall, with a flowing wave of purple hair, glistening off of the artificial sun, which was only a powerful lightbulb. His pale skin looked roughened, his only visible hand dirty, and his eyes looked tired, but he looked lively all the same. Those dark, demon-purple eyes. A thin smile was crossing his face, as he shuffled over to Zerse, one hand in the pocket of a pair of thin light blue pants, covering navy shoes. His upper body was covered only by a wrap-around sash, amethyst in color, which covered his abs. It was obvious he was well-muscled, but not to the point of a bodybuilder: Only to that of a fighter.
"Welcome back to life..." the man laughed, his eyes lighting up for a moment. "...Zerse"
"Zel?" Zerse asked.
The man shook his head, the long hair shaking and reflecting the sun in odd patterns. "No, not quite. Close, though, very close."
Zerse thought. "Then who?"
"My name is Hayato Grausherra. You probably never met me, but I sure as hell know who you are... er... were."
"Hayato... Hayato..." Zerse traced his memory. "Yeah, I remember meeting you once... except you looked... younger..."
Hayato laughed heartily. "Yeah, I looked younger. So did you. Take a look at yourself" Hayato pointed to Zerse's left side, where there was a pool of calm water.
Zerse stood up slowly, got his balance, and walked over.
He gaped.
"What the...?" Zerse felt at his face, and his reflection did the same. It had aged a few years, the silvery eyes seeming deeper, the lips slightly thinner, the grass-green hair had become nearly black in coloring. His clothes had changed, too. Instead of the turban-like thing he wore, only a simple white headband was keeping the top part of his hair up, and he was wearing a robe-like crystaline shirt, down to just above the hips, where Zerse could see black pants, cut from the knee down on both sides, although his left side didn't have a knee, or anything below it, revealing roughened skin and muscles that Zerse didn't remember having.
"I'm... older..." Zerse looked at himself.
"Yeah, you are" Hayato nodded. "I never looked this good when I was alive, that's for sure!"
"Wait, hold on..." Zerse turned and eyed Hayato. "There's... something just doesn't add up!"
"Oh?" Hayato asked.
"Listen... I know I did something back there... but you're here, and you're not dead. Unless I'm dead. But there's no way to bring a spirit back from the dead, and I certainly think I'm not dead... because everything feels solid. What's going on?" Zerse asked.
Hayato paused. "Well, whatever you did, there's a number of people alive again" Hayato smiled. "Many of the wandering, lost spirits have come back to life... but this is the second life for everybody. Even you."
"Second life?" Zerse asked.
Hayato seemed fidgety for a moment, his mouth making odd movements. "Err... well... I guess the best way to explain it is this. The first time you die, you lose your physical body but keep your spirit. Now, if you were to go and possess a body or take one, and you were in that body when it died..."
Zerse nodded, understanding. But Hayato finished anyway. "Then the spirit is gone forever. We don't have the option to leave the body this time..."
"Well, what is going on?" Zerse asked.
Hayato looked at the ground. "I... I'm not the one to tell you any of this" Hayato walked over to Zerse and put his shoulder under that of Zerse's, half-lifting him up and helping Zerse walk over to the door.
Outside, it was a small village, except it wasn't. It would have looked very traditional, except for the fact that it looked modern. Zerse thought hard.
"Welcome to Eyod Village" Hayato smiled. "I would say welcome back, but you've never been here. Or even to this island."
"Eyod..." Zerse looked up, staring around, getting in his surroundings. The clouds overhead seemed clear, except for a patch at the top of the highest mountain on the island. They seemed somehow... foreboding... without being any different then the rest. The sun's rays seemed to be totally avoiding it.
And then, there was... something else. The forests seemed teeming with life, but there was no sign of them ever having been inhabitied. A fountain ran in the center, spewing up a seeming river of water, which was almost crystaline in color. And yet, the ground around it seemed perfect, as if the fountain had simply been placed right on top. Nothing seemed disturbed by the surroundingss.
"Yeah, it's weird, isn't it?" Hayato asked. "It's because the island has been reborn."
"Why?" Zerse asked, not fully understanding, for perhaps not the first time in his life.
"You'll see..." Hayato started to walk towards one of the other house-like structures, as somebody walked out of the one next door.
The man was just a bit taller then Hayato and Zerse, a short mass of sky-blue hair matching his sky-blue eyes, a smile painted on his face. He wasn't wearing anything more then a pair of slightly tight blue jeans, and his handsome face and body was quite obvious, as he stepped along the ground, something about him resembling a movie star of some sort. He was definatly very handsome, and the occasional scar that crossed his body here or there made him look only more dashing.
"Who are you?" Zerse asked.
"So, Hayato, another one has awoken?" the man asked.
Hayato nodded. "Yeah, Sirius, another has awoken. Zerse has... Any sign on...?"
Sirius Skie shook his head. "No. He's still... I don't even know if there's a chance he's coming back! I mean, he took Zerse's body, and..."
"He seperated before Zerse died" Hayato reasoned. "I'm pretty sure he'll be okay."
"Zel!" Zerse perked up. "Is Zel okay?"
Sirius shrugged. "Oh, Hayato, your brother Gairyio has finally awoken."
"Gairyio has?" Hayato's face lit up like a lightbulb. "I'm sorry, Zerse, but I must be off... relax, a number of people have woken up already..."
Hayato pulled Zerse over to the fountain, and helped him sit down, supporting his back against the fountain.
Zerse smakced Hayato's hand away. "I can do it myself, thank you." Zerse positioned himself comfortably against the side of the fountain, the low sound of splashing water helping him to relax.
"Well, just remember. Most people required about a day to get used to their new bodies..." Hayato reminded Zerse, before taking off with Sirius.
Zerse remained sitting, as Hayato entered a different one of the rooms. Inside, was a slightly shorter man then Sirius, matching Hayato in height. As he groggily shook his head, short near-army-cut black hair seemed to barely move, and his dirty face and cruel purple eyes looked around. He was wearing a thin black leather vest, revealing strong muscles scarred with battle, and his black jean-shorts were torn at the knees, which revealed similarly scarred legs. The most notable feature was a black dragon tatooed across his chest. He spied Hayato.
"Ha.. yato?" the man looked at Hayato groggily.
"Gairyio!" Hayato jumped at his brother, hugging him happily.
"Eh... gerrof..." Gairyio slowly pushed Hayato off of him, before collapsing backwards. "I feel weak..."
"Don't worry, everybody who's been waking up has felt this way..." Hayato responded. "How long have you been concious?"
"A day. I couldn't open my eyes until today" Gairyio responded.
"A day!?" Hayato blinked. "But... what?"
"I guess that I am feeling strangely weak... what is going on, Hayato? Is it time?"
Hayato nodded. "Yeah..."
Gariyio's vision blurred, and he fell backwards, resting his head on the artificial grass. "Why exactly is everything like this? Where are we?"
"Eyod..."
"..."
"I know, it doesn't seem possible, but... this isn't even outside..."
"I noticed that from the getgo. I can see the nail holding up that part of the cieling" Gairyio pointed to the edge of one of the clouds.
Hayato focused, and could see just the slightest dent in the cieling. Yeah, Gairyio was right.
"I thought you were tired..."
"When you've got nothing better to do then to lie around doing nothing" Gairyio shrugged, although barely, "you can take notice of details."
"Oh, I'm just glad you're okay..." Hayato smiled.
Then Gairyio froze. "Hayato..." Gairyio sighed, moving one arm into his view, and watching his hands. He gathered up the energy and snapped his fingers.
He heard the sound.
"I knew... I knew it..." Gairyio smiled. "I can hear again..." Gairyio started to laugh. "I go even in death being deaf, and now here I am, hearing, and I don't even realize it right away!"
A smile broke over Gairyio's face, and suddenly the weakness seemed to be gone from his body, as he laughed low, but merrily, seeming so young in that small, miniscule moment.
* * * * *
Zerse focused up at the top of the mountain, trying to remember how to use his powers. What was wrong with that place? There was... something... definatly something... but what? What something was this something?
"You can't use your powers anymore. So stop trying" a femine voice laughed. Zerse looked to his left.
There was a young woman who's long golden hair was so long some of it was waving back into the fountain against which she was sitting. Her golden eyes were sparkling, and a necklace of pearls, diamonds, and other jewels hung around her neck. Her body was covered in a winter-white dress from head to crystal-high-heeled foot. She was absolutly gorgeous, and Zerse blushed a bit just looking at her fine, skinny, and quite voluptuous form.
"Who are you?" Zerse asked.
The woman smiled. "My name is Mihillias Deamandos" she responded. "Zel's wife."
"He did speak of having the most beautiful woman on the planet..." Zerse muttered.
Mihill laughed. "Just like Zel to try and flatter me, even through other people. He acts tough, but he does have a heart, you know."
Zerse smiled back. "Does it bother you that I find you... attractive? Even though you're my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-and-so-on-grandmother?"
Mihill laughed again, fair and maidenly, of course. "No, not really. I never understood how you fit into our family line anyway."
"I'm Seinjaii's great-great-great-great-great-and-so-on-grandson" Zerse responded.
Mihill looked over Zerse. "I... I see the resemblance now. Seinjaii's a good kid, you know?" she smiled.
"But..." Zerse inspected her. "Zel had said... that you were always so cheerful and happy and bouncy..." he paused for a moment, but Mihill didn't react. "...so is something the matter?"
Mihill looked down at the ground, suddenly saddened. "Of course. Everybody is thinking that Zel won't wake up... I know he will... but he hasn't..."
"Perhaps it's something we don't have control over..." Zerse stood up. "Why aren't you with him?"
"They look so cold and... so..." Mihill didn't know how to describe it. "They just... don't seem right... like a lifeless corpse that is still pulsing with life... when they haven't yet awoken..."
Zerse thought on that, and decided that he couldn't picture it. "No, can't imagine it."
"I don't imagine you to be able to... you feel so sad when you see them, it's like looking at a dearest friend's grave... except you see them... and you know they're alive... but you know they're dead, too..." Mihill sighed. "I'm sorry, I can't... explain it..."
Zerse's eyes flashed, as another figure approached. He was coming down on the path from the top of the mountain, stepping through the thick trees surrounding the area.
Shadows slowly revealed him from the bottom up. His army-style combat boots glinted in the sun, covered up mostly by long black jeans, held up by a belt with a hawk carved onto the clasp. Then, the shirt could be seen: A blood-red jacket with no sleeves, revealing powerful, strong arms, and finally, a powerfull looking face to match, with burning black eyes and a thin, almost pointed nose which resembled that of a hawk. His crimson hair fell back in a couple seperate layers, from short to shoulder-length, and his body showed many scars.
And Zerse saw the other detail, too. In one hand was clenched a wooden staff, brilliant red in color, the same color as the man's shirt. The color of blood. Dark metal rings wrapped around the staff, forming a tight grip, and at one end, one short blade which stuck out of the top, the end of which was covered in black diamonds.
Zerse gulped. "What...? Who are you? What do you want?"
"You are Zerse, are you not?" the man asked, his voice deep. "My name is Malst Yobuu. I am Dynastu's father, and I'm here to see my family."
Zerse looked up at Malst, before standing up and taking a moment to get his bearings. "Malst Yobuu? Do you have proof?"
"You don't believe me?" Malst asked, walking slowly over to Zerse, eying him evilly. Zerse gulped, shaking. There was something about this man, do doubt.
"You came from the mountain..." Zerse looked up at it. "I've got one question for you, first. Why is like that?"
"Why is it like what?" Malst looked at it. He inspected it for a moment. "I don't see anything."
"You can't see it?" Zerse asked. "It should be so light up there... but can you see it? The clouds, they're so dark..."
"You're seeing things, idiot..." Malst turned back to stare at Zerse.
Zerse looked at Mihill, who simply shrugged. "You are, Zerse. There's nothing up there."
Zerse shook his head. "But... Mihill, can you guide this man to Dynastu? You probably know where he is..."
Mihill looked back at Malst, and froze, watching him. "Zerse... I don't..."
Zerse turned and looked at Mihill. "What do you mean?"
"I mean duck!" Mihill cried.
Zerse dived down, as the staff stabbed forward, just passing over his head, the blade singing through the air.
"What the?" Zerse cried out, diving to the side, away from the fountain, as Malst pulled back the staff.
"You're the one responsible for doing all of this!" Malst cried, turning towards Zerse, and swinging again, Zerse backing up just enough to dodge the blade.
"What did I do?" Zerse cried out.
"You started the war!" Malst growled. "You know that! You started the war that will destroy us all forever!"
Malst began to swing again, and Zerse pulled back.
As the blade came closer, it suddenly extended greatly, revealing the six feet of blade that had been hidden in the staff, suddenly. Zerse looked to his side.
It was too late to duck.
Zerse braced himself for the blow.
It didn't come.
Somebody was standing in front of Zerse, his left arm right against the blade of the weapon. His wrist was wrapped in red metal, protecting his thin arms. Indeed, the man had brilliant hair, a crimson in the sunlight, and in the shade, a dark purple color. Another band of metal crossed his forehead and side of his head on the right side, while another went up and down the back on the left side. Two more such bands crossed over the shoulders on his grey jacket, covering a black t-shirt. He was also wearing white shorts with a red band coming down the right side, and although Zerse couldn't yet see it, the left eye seemed to have the skin torn away, showing silver metal around the black eye, on a face which resembled that of Malst's.
"Father, stop this nonsense" Dynastu responded. "You're not going to do us any good by randomly killing people."
Malst froze, looking at his son. Both Zerse and Malst spoke at the same time. "Dynastu? What... happened to you?"
Dynastu laughed. "I guess I kept bits and pieces of my old armor... But now's not the time for that. If you guys continue to fight, one of you will die. And either way, that'll end up tipping the balance!"
"What am I doing here, anyway?" Malst growled. "Dynastu, you know very well that I'm not supposed to be here! I'm not supposed to make a difference in this finale! It's for the Eyodian Lines only!"
Zerse looked around, confused. "What? What are you talking about...?"
"I never told you, did I, father?" Dynastu smiled. "Perhaps you should talk to great-grandfather Morpheus about it. I'm sure he could tell you."
"What is going on!?!" Zerse shouted.
Malst growled, and the blade in the staff retracted itself, becoming shorter again. "I suppose somebody has to tell you... Although I don't understand why nobody has told you before."
Zerse sighed. "Well, will somebody just tell me? What is this war?"
"It's..." Mihill gulped. "It's the millenia of the gods. 1000 years since the last war came to pass, to no end. Eyod was seperated from the continent and driven way out into the ocean because of it" she responded. "And now, the gods have chosen new vessels in their most powerful descendants... well... almost..."
"Almost?" Zerse responded.
"Kaisuto of Dark has already chosen his vessal. But Gaiafarou does not have one..."
"What do you mean?" Zerse asked. "Isn't there anybody who is of the light?"
"Nobody is willing to take him on... because... they don't want to see the fighting again... Last time, it almost destroyed everything..."
"So why are we all back here?" Zerse asked. "Why do all of us have to be brought back?"
"Because we've all got some part to play in it..." Mihill responded, looking down. "But everybody is so scared... the legends I was always taught said that everybody on the island, except for the god's vessals and their partners, was killed... And now, if all that was to happen..."
Zerse gulped. "You... you can't be serious..."
"Nobody wants to bear the burden of having to be responsible for it all..." Mihill growled. "So Gaiafarou doesn't yet have a body... and if he doesn't get one soon..."
"Couldn't I?" Zerse asked.
"No" Mihill shook her head. "Your heritage is that of the Grausherra Lineage. Of the darkness. It would be... impossible..." she responded.
Zerse looked around. "Something about this.. doesn't seem right..."
"None of it does" Dynastu said calmly. "But it's how it is, and that's how we have to live with it."
"It's what's expected, of course..." Malst growled. "I've abandoned Dreamer in the hopes that at least me and my son can get off this island..."
"What about Enkou? Morpheus?" Dynastu asked.
"They won't leave... They're not even awake yet..." Malst growled lightly. "Let us leave this island..."
"I can't run, father" Dynastu responded. "I'd like to, and so would everybody. But we've all got some purpose for being on this island. So we have to stay."
Malst glared at Dynastu. "Are you sure of your choice?"
"Yes, father" Dynastu responded. "That is my choice."
Malst grunted, obviously not in full approval, but there was nothing he could do. "Very well..." he turned to Mihillias. "I have to ask, young woman, if I could remain. I hate to be a bother, but... I can't return to Dreamer now..."
"Dreamer? What does he have to do with all of this?" Zerse asked.
Malst laughed. "I thought it would be obvious. Dreamer is Kaisuto's vessal."
Zerse sighed, looking down at the ground. "He's always been that... hasn't he?"
"Yes..." Mihill responded. "Seinjaii says he's been seeing it as long as his father was alive..."
"Well, what are we to do, anyway?" Zerse asked. "I mean, we don't have anywhere to go, right now, no plans as to what will happen..."
"We wait for the rest to wake up, and then, we have to decide who will be the champion..." Mihill responded.
"I hate waiting..." Zerse growled.
There was a moment of silence, which was broken by the sound of one of the houses opening, and somebody running out.
This one was obvious, as to who it was, because this one's body hadn't really changed at all. Still three feet tall, with blue-purple hair which shimmered as he ran, seeming like a prism of different colors. Brilliant mauve eyes sparkled in the depths, a single white headband across his forehead, and at the sides of the head stuck out pointed ears. He was wearing a white shirt, with a black undershirt, the sleeves torn. He also was wearing a crimson mid-sash, similar to what Hayato had been wearing, and a pair of baggy white shorts. Then, the feet were covered by japenese-style sandals. In a sheath across his back was a sword almost as thick as he was, sheathed diagonally so as to fit all four feet of it on his back. If that hadn't of identified him just like that, the fact that he was missing his left arm made it obvious.
"Seinjaii!" Dynastu cried. "I'm sorry for doubting you, all the way back there..."
"I know, I've heard enough of that" Seinjaii called over. "Mihill! Come quick!"
"What is it?" Mihill asked.
"Zel's awakened!" Seinjaii shouted.
"What!?" Mihill jumped up, running over, but she didn't even need to.
Another figure stumbled loosely out of the doorway. He looked quite weak, his face pale and set, but pained. His eyes were deep set, passing a dark glare over the others as his eyes watched them. His spiky, somewhat-short hair shimmered the beautiful, fine purple color of the Grausherra line. A black Bandana crossesd under the front of his hair. He was covered in an open-fronted white shirt, in classic Eyodian style, with a crimson sash underneath which made it look like he was bleeding slightly. A diamond-clasped belt held up silver shorts, which showed powerful legs, and ended in bone-colored shoes.
He looked normal enough, but there was definatly something about him. Perhaps it was the many, many battle scars across him, or the stains of blood painted on his pants and shirt. Mabye it was the simple aura of power which the man radiated. It might have been the necklace falling around his neck with the twin symbols of the Grausherras - the twin moons - and the symbol of the Deamandos family - the single diamond - beneath. Or mabye it was the only weapon on his person, in a sheath at his belt: The famous ruby-handled dagger.
"Zel!" Mihill ran over and jumped at him, hugging him and pulling the taller man close.