Bikon and Beta chapter 7
you know what? I need to get this caught up fast. So... excuse the crappy writing job.
Korunue closes her eyes, fighting back tears, recalling the events of the past few days. So much had happened....
She had been sitting on her bed, thinking, minding her own buisness, when Ali just... freaked out. She went into the hall to check on her.. in time to see her transform into a large, flaming bird! The bird had attacked her, and only Kit's taking off to find help had saved her from its fatal bites. She did not, could not, bring herself to fight back against her friend.
They had taken her, against her will, to a medical bay, where the Phonay, as they called the fire-bird, had come after her once more. She was convinced this was some kind of sign... she was a bad, bad person. She knew if she tried to rescue Gamma she'd fail... she was contemplating suicide once more as they locked Ali into a freezer. Cold was all that could defeat a Phonay.
Then she had heard noises of a battle outside. Everyone had rushed out there. She had slipped off to find her arrows so she could impale herself... and had run into Gamma! He had escaped! He was alright! She smiled weakly, happy she could die now.. but he had stopped her, hitting her with a spell to knock her out.
She awakened on a starship. Gamma held the Phonay in his lap... She could feel her magic resisting, as Ali attempted to pass her curse onto her... She closes her eyes, fighting back tears, as the magic curse went into Gamma instead, and Ali reverts to her dragon form. She is so glad ali was safe... but so.. so hurt in general.
~I'm going to bask in the starlight...~ Ali slips out the hatch, in her dragon form, easily keeping up with the ship, leaving Korunue and Gamma alone. Korunue sighed, looking at her lap.
"How are you feeling?" asks Gamma, quietly.
"I... I failed..." she whispers. "I failed you miserably... I want to die..."
"You never failed me, Korunue."
"I couldn't save you...."
"Korunue... I was trapped, and I could only watch as you lifted the dagger to kill yourself... and I watched you set it down, and I was so relived... Korunue.. I don't want you to die..." Tears begin to fill his eyes. Korunue hugs him tightly, suprised. She wasn't used to so much emotion from someone other than Ronin...
"It hurts... it hurts so much..." whispered.
"I know it does..." softly, rubbing her back some.
The pilot pokes her head back. "We're almost there..."
Korunue nods, silent. Gamma hugs her again, then straps himself in as they land on the planet. He helps her to her feet, seeming worried about her, as they disembark, and the ship takes off again. Silently, they make camp, as it's been a very long day for the four of them. (Ali, Gamma, Kor, and Kit --author)
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Korunue wakes once again, yawning slightly. She blinks a bit, wondering what to do...
Gamma wakes up as well and looks over to Korunue. "Good morning."
Korunue blinks some more. "ohoyo." she says at last, mumbling under her breath.
Gamma blinks. "What?"
Korunue sighs. "er... 'morning."
Gamma nods. "Ooohh. I guess thats another language then."
Korunue nods. She sighs again, looking down at Kit. Kit looked so peaceful...Gamma smiles as he loks over to Kit. "She seems happy."
Korunue nods. "she's too little to be sad for long... life still seems new and exciting to her."
Gamma sighs. "I guess I know a little about how that is."
Korunue nods slowly. Then, her ears perk up as a random portal opens behind them. A small blue fairy of some sort races out, persued by a snarling black wolf, persued by a heaviluy injured white wolf. The fairy runs smack into a steel trap that Kor could have sworn wasn't there before and gets trapped. The white wolf leaps in front of the black, snarling at it, between it and the trapped fairy.Gamma looks at this after the mark on his forhead dims. "What are those?" He starts moving closer to the trapped fairy.
The white wolf would have a magical aura to anyone who can sense it, strange as it does not come from the wolf itself. It has massive side and leg injuries, and its muzzle drips blood. They heal themselves slowly, but the black wolf lunges at the fairy once more, and the white wolf leaps in front, taking a serious hit to it's shoulder as it protects the fairy. The magic aura cannot keep up with the injuries as the two do battle repeatedly. Korunue gasps, leaping to her feet. "leave it be!" she commands, picking up a fallen branch.
Gamma stops, sensing the auras and hearing Korunue. "Which one's the good one?"
Korunue scowls. "if that's Jenny... and whats-her-face... then they can both go to hell." She brings the stick down on the black wolf, stunning it long enough for the white wolf to heal itself fully using its aura. The black wolf snarls and leaps at Kor, tackling her with a snarl.
Gamma glares at the black wolf. "Leave her ALONE!" A sphere of energy flies from Gamma and would hit the white wolf with enough force to knock it of Kor.
Korunue screams as the black wolf suddanly becomes much larger, a black dragon in the speed of thought, crouching next to Kor and lifting her with its huge teeth, shaking her a little. She goes limp as the white wolf tugs at the fairy's trap, whining. Gamma prepares another attack and then loks over to the white wolf. "What is it?"
The white wolf tugs at the cruel trap, nuzling the fairy to heal it before continueing, but it was pointless as the trap still cut into it's leg. She looks up at the dragon and snarls, giving Gamma a meaningful glance and indicating the fairy before becoming a dragon as well, as bright as the other was dark. They sit and stare at each other for a long while.
Gamma looks at the trap and then to the fairy, seeing that the dragons are going to fight. "I'm going to try to get you out ok?"
The fairy squeaks and pulls at the trap, her leg getting more scraped than before, unable to reach the release at the side. The dragons just stare at each other, not moving. Gamma reaches over to the release to see if he can get it out. "I think you should stay put after I get you out. I may be able to help."
The fairy, once release by gamma, nods, sitting on a small rock and tending to her electric blue leg, which bleeds silver blood heavily. Her entire body is electric blue. The dragons continue to stare. Gamma looks over to the dragons,seeing if he can spot where Korunue is. Korunue is hanging limply in the black dragon's teeth. The black dragon suddanly rears, spreading it's large wings, and snarls, and the white snarls back. It then drops Korunue from about 50 feet up and shrinks to a wolf once more, snarling over it's shoulder as it trots away. The white dragon turns to a wolf as well, heading over to the fairy. Gamma runs to where Korunue is falling, trying to catch her or cushion her fall.
Korunue is caught by Gamma and opens her eyes, breathing a sigh of relief. "thank kami-sama." she murmers. The white wolf touches her nose to the fairy, letting her aura heal it. The fairy flies up to above it's head, and smiles at Gamma.
"Thank you, kind strangers. Hmm... how to reward you..." it gives an impish smile.
Gamma blinks to The fairy for a moment. "Your welcome." He carefully stands Kor on her feet. "You allright?"
Korunue nods. "yeah."
The fairy zips over to them, landing on Gamma's shoulder, looking like a 6-inch-tall electric blue winged human up close. "you first, I think. hmm... I've got it! how about your true nature!" a stream of electic blue fairy magic shoots towards Gamma.
"My what?" He get hit by the stream of blue magic and is then surrounded by a dome of electric blue energy surrounds him. He is obscured from sight for a while but when he can be seen again he looks a little diffrent. His horns and tail are a little longer. His eyes are still slitted, but they're yellow instead of red. He also has a pair of jet black wings with feathers coming from his back. The tips of fangs poke out of his mouth/
The fairy beams, then turns to Korunue. "now you." Korunue's eyes widen in shock as the fairy beam shoots towards her, and she begins to shrink. She gets furrier, and manages to croak out "help me!" before becoming a large shaggy black dog. The fairy looks pleased and flies over to the white wolf, sitting on her shoulder, engaging in mind talk as the wolf trots back towards the open portal.
Gamma looks at his new apperance and them looks to Kor. "Um...what just happened?"
Korunue says nothing- she can no longer talk, being a large black dog. Her tail wags as she goes to sniff him, then she yips as she recognizes his scent. She jumps up, placing her front paws on his chest, and tries to lick his face. the wolf and the fairy leave through the portal together, and it closes behind them.
Gamma is surprised so is knocked over. He falls on his butt and is licked in the face. "Korunue? Is that really you?" Korunue pants happily, licking his face, and even his teeth as he opens his mouth to talk.
Gamma wipes his face and tries to stand. He tries talking to her with him mind. ~Korunue? Can you hear me?~ Korunue tilts her head to the side, puzzled, and yips. Gamma sighs. "Well this isn't good." He tries to use his powers to see what the fairy did to Kor." Korunue sits, panting. The fairy simply appealed to her youkai side, turning her into a demon dog, but also changing the way her mind thinks so she now thinks like a dog, rather than a demon. Korunue always did see herself as a monster, a dog, not a human being... now she truely was. Gamma scratches his head, not bothered by the sharper claws there now. "Well this is going to be hard to fix." He goes about looking deeper, trying to see if he can see how she did this.
Korunue is basiclly what her own self image always was. her memories are still there... but now she sees them as a dog does. She recognized Gamma by scent because she always had doggy senses, luckily, but knows him now in her warped mind to be her "master". Gamma sits down and looks at Kor. "This is going to take a while. I've never seen magic like this, so I'll have to try to think about how to do this from scratch, whatever that means." Korunue pants, yawning happily. She sure looks happy enough, tail wagging. nothing like the depressed 3/4-human Korunue. But then again... dogs don't get depressed, and don't dwell on past mistakes like Kor did. Gamma sighs as he thinks about this, unconciously scratching behind Kor's ears. Korunue pants happily as he does so, nuzzling him and leaning on him. Gamma continues to do this while trying to think, his own tail moving every now and again. Korunue snuggles unger his arm, tail going mad. She yawns, relaxing, content, and drifts off to sleep.
Gamma looks around, waking, sensing someone, still not completly use to his new form. He stand up, streaching out his tail and his jet black wings. His now yellow, slitted eyes look around wondering who is out there now.
Demona sits up. Her head was clear, or so it seemed... where was she? never mind that, WHO was she? She couldn't remember! (A/N- remember her? She's the one who shapeshifted to torment Ronin, and the one who, as a bird named Jenny, then later as a black wolf, kept tormenting Korunue. She... yeah. Long story.)
Gamma looks around a little more and decides to call out. "Hello?"
Demona calls out. "hello!
Gamma starts moving towards the other voice. "Are you ok?"
Demona blinks. "I... I don't know." She blinks. "Who am I?"
Gamma shrugs, his wings ruffling as his does. "I don't know." He holds his hand out to her, his fingernails sharpened to claws. He smiles showing of the small fangs he now has. "Hello. I'm Gamma."
Demona smiles back, her smile full of malice as well as genuine warmpth, her teeth fangs as pointy as his. She spies the claws and jumps, snarling, climbing to all fours. Gamma blinks at this odd behavior and looks down at his hand. "Oh, sorry about that. I'm still not use to looking like this."
Demona blinks. "Is there a reason why I should want to rip you to shreads and eat your still-beating heart?" she is still polite, no malice in her question at all.
Gamma thinks. "I don't think so. I forgot about having claws and since we just met I don't think I did anything bad to you before."
Demona nods, sittig down dog-style. "hmmm. Do you know WHAT I am?"
Gamma goes closer to her, using his senses to see what she is. Demona is half-alien half human, the alien half being basiclly a mindless killing machine, the human half diminished by disuse.
Gamma blinks. "Well, I know your part human. The other I'm not sure about. It's like one part of me, but diffrent."
Demona nods. "right then." She stands on two legs, her impressive wings spreading. "Got any raw meat? I'm hungry."
Gamma shrugs. "No, but I guess we can look for some."
Demona shrugs. "These things work?" she spreads her wings, and flaps a little. "cool!" She lands, then has a random thought. "I wonder..." she turns into a human, sans wings and all. "cool!" she turns into a wolf then.. a rather recognizable wolf, too... a large black wolf...
Gamma jumps back, looking like he's about to attack. "YOU!"
Demona jumps back. me?
A large, shaggy black dog yawns, raising it's head sleepily.
"You were the one that attacked that little blue thing!" Gamma shouts.
Ronin leaps through a portal, landing in a kneeling position. His head flicks up, ears alert. His tracking had lead him to this location, trying to find Korunue. He stuies ih surroundings for a moment before taking off into the wood in a zig-zag seraching pattern.
Demona looks startled. I did? uh-oh... she turns and scampers off into the underbrush.The dog stands, sleepily, looking about. she spies Gamma and trots over, grabbing a stick on the way and dropping it at his feet.
Gamma blinks as she leaves and looks down at Kor. "Korunue, this is not helping me figure out how to get you back to normal." Korunue woofs, tail wagging, indicating the stick. Gamma sighs. "All right fine." He picks up the stick and throws it.
Ronin bursts into whatever area that Gamma and Kor are in, panting a little. He stares at the both of them. A soft silver mist seeps up from the ground, forming into the silver body of Ali. The sad silver eyes stare forward as she comes into focus. "Hello, Gamma.." her voice sounds tired.
Korunue chases after the stick, leaping and catching it. Then she drops it, running to Ronin and sniffing him, leaping up to put her front paws on his chest, trying to lick his face. Gamma looks over at Ali. "Hello Ali. I'm surprised you recognized me."
Ronin pushes the dog down. "Go away." He looks over at Gamma and the now formed Ali. "Either of you seen a girl, with dog ears?" Korunue whimpers, ears drooping. She trots some distence away to sulk, hanging her head.
"It's the energy signature." Ali explains.
Gamma looks at Ronin, his tail twitching when he hears the discription. "You mean Korunue?" Ali turns her head toward Ronin, listening quietly.
Ronin nods "Yes, thats her name. You know her? You know where I can find her?" Korunue curls up in a ball, whining softly, feeling unwanted by her former "master" to her doggy mind.
"Yes, we know her. I do not know where she is." Ali says, tiredly.
Gamma looks over to Korunue and sighs. "Well I think you just passed her getting over here."
Ronin perks his ears up and stares at Gamma. "I did? Well wehre is she. Tell me." Korunue whimpers, not even looking up at her name... well, that is, if she recognized it as such....Ali_Cia hears the whimper of the canine and walks over quietly.
Gamma kimda points sheepishly towards Kor. "Thats her."
Ronin looks over at the dog. "No its not. Now, if you know her, where is she?" Ali_Cia can't see the pointing, since she only knows where people are generally, being blind. She cocks her head and chirrs something. Korunue falls asleep again.
"I'm telling you thats her. We met some small blue lady and she did something to us. Now I look like this and she looks like that." Gamma explains patiently.
"Look like what?" asks Ali
"The large dog over there."
Ronin glares at Gamma. "Don't lie to me." He draws his swords and points one at Gamma. "I do not like being lied to."
"You look like a dog?" asks Ali, puzzled.
Gamma backs up, holdong his hands in front of him. His wings ruffle in surprise. "I'm not. Why would I lie to you?" Gamma then looks over to Ali. "No, Korunue does."
Ronin shrugs slightly, advancing on Gamma. "I don't know, but people tend to lie to me and try to screw me over when it comes to Kor. I have no reason to believe you. Now tell me the truth!"
Ali_Cia cocks her head, hearing the wings ruffle. She steps forward. "Stop!" she barks, stepping in between the two.
Korunue raises her head again, purple eyes staring sadly at Ronin. She whimpers. Gamma backs up as he advances. "I am. Do you think I usually look like this?" Ronin stops as Ali steps in front of him.
Korunue whines some more, eyes on Gamma and Ronin- her "old master" and her "new master" in her mind. Ali_Cia glares in Ronin's direction, then to Gamma, then to Ronin again. "I will have no fighting such as this in my presence. I can recognize energy signatures, including Korunue's, so I can tell you if that is her."
Ronin glares at Ali now. "Any particular reason why I should believe you more than him?" Korunue trots over, shaking herself a little, whimpering. She sits at Ronin's feet, looking up at him with her large purple eyes, then lays down.
Ali_Cia attempts to connect her mind with Ronin's, allowing him to know what she knows, hear her thoughts, everything. If succeeding, he will hear the thought "do not remember anything of mine or you will be perminantly scarred." Ronin blinks and slowly lowers his sword.
Gamma blinks, wondering what Ali is doing. Korunue yawns, tail wagging happily. Ali_Cia turns toward the canine, bringing up a memory of seeing Kor for the first time using the new energy signature method. She then compares the two signatures. Ronin waits silently. Korunue looks about, her tail wagging as Ronin doesn't chase her off. She sits up, licking his hand and whining a little, begging to be petted. Ali_Cia confirms that it is Kor. She nods, pointing out the distinct simmilarities. "She has been polymorphed, I assume."
Gamma nods. "I think so. I don't know how to fix it."
Ronin looks down at the dog and frowns. "But....but...why?" Korunue looks into his eyes, whining. Did the master not like her anymore? She sensed disapproval. had she done something wrong? She needed Master to like her! She whimpers more, nuzzling his hand.
"I don't know. The blue thing said something about giving us our true nature." Gamma says, with a slight sigh.
Ali_Cia breaks the connection, ruffling her wings. "Hers seems to be less dissimmilar to the previous than yours, Gamma. I can hardly tell the differences." Ronin suddenly gropes his swords tightly, white knuckled. He raises them above his head and roars in frustration, hurling the swords into the nearest tree.Korunue yelps, leaping up and backing away, whining harder than ever. She lowers her head. Master was mad at her!
Gamma backs away from where the sword went. He decides to se if Kor was ok and goes over to where she went. Ali_Cia doesn't even flinch, having seen such things before. "Hush, now. I have been through things like this. Be glad that she is even alive and there is a chance of restoring her." There is a hint of ache in the back of her voice. She turns away and heads toward Kor.
Ronin grabs the swords and jerks them out of the tree. He sheaths them and looks at Korunue again. He roars again and starts beating on the tree. His punches get slower and slower, eventually he turns around and slumps against the tree. He slides to the ground and draws his knees to him, weeping silently. Korunue whines, dropping to her belly. She sneaks towards him, slowly.. then she nuzzles him, whimpering. She made Master sad! Master didn't like her anymore! Gamma looks over to Ronin, having some idea of what he is feeling. He walks over to Ronin, seeing if he could help him.
Ali_Cia pauses, unable to turn a cold heart toward crying. She turns and walks over, seating herself beside him. "I can understand how hard it is. But you must have control over yourself to get her back. I will help in any way I can."
Gamma nods. "Me too."
Ronin ignores Gamma and ALi, he wraps his arms around Korunue's neck and pulls her close, looking at her eyes...those same eyes. Korunue looks a little happier. Master did like her? She pants, in a doggy smile, and licks his face happily. Ali_Cia sits in silence, supressing.. jealousy.. toward Kor. Her heart ached, remembering the vow of so long ago. "It still hurts," she thought grimly to herself.Ronin sighs and pulls Korunue closer.
Gamma looks over to Ali. "Are you ok?" Korunue licks Ronin's face enthusiasticlly, a far cry from the Kor of a day or two ago...
"Nothing," Ali spits out the word distastefully, chopping it short, hard edges. Ronin lets go of Kor and pulls his knees to him as Ali continues. "I'm.. alright.. Gamma."
Gamma gives her a disbelieving look. "Ok. IF you need to say anything, I'm here though."
"You wouldn't understand," she mutters bitterly.
Korunue licks him again, but then wants to give him a special presant... she finds the stick and drops it on his knees, looking pleased. Ronin looks at the stick blankly. Korunue whines, sniffing around for something else. She comes across her old backpack, searching in it for something meaningful. A dagger? She panted, taking it to him, wagging her tail, then fetches a few arrows and another stick for him.
Ali_Cia shakes her head. "Ronin, be glad with what you have. Believe me. She can be restored."
Gamma nods. "I'm sure theres a way, I just don't know how to do it."
Ronin takes the dager and holds it at his wrist experimentally, then he moves it to his throat. "Why? I have nothing now..nothing. Not a damn thing."
"You have a chance." murmers Gamma.
Korunue whimpers, looking at him sadly. He didn't like her gifts? She didn't know what he was doing, but he wasn't happy... she whined harder and snuggled against him. Ronin shakes his head at Gamma "I don't have a chance. If there had been a chance, she wouldnt be a dog."
"If there wasn't a chance, she wouldn't be able to be changed back and there is a way."
Ali_Cia attempts to put a light shield around the daggar so he can't kill himself. "Relax. I give you my word. I will not stop until she is restored." And that is a promise. Korunue whimpers, snuggling up against him harder, looking into his eyes with her own, full of trust.
Ronin frowns at Gamma. "How do you know? Do you ahve any ideas? Any knowledge of there even being a solution. Because I don't see one."
"I used to have a spell that could change one's form into anything living. Since I see far beyond visual, perhaps I could change her body, at least, back to normal. The mind may or may not follow." Ali mentions.
Korunue whimpers. A suddan flash of memory... this was familier to her! But... it was bad! She whines harder, licking at Ronin's cheek to cheer him up. Ronin glares at Ali. "Whats the point to chaging her body....could you imagine. Her licking me, following me around on all fours."
"It is a chance we must take, sir. And being eleven thousand, six hundred, ninety-two years old, I should know what I'm doing." Ali chuckles a little
Korunue licks harder. He wasn't happy? She was making him sad! She was sad that master was sad... she whimpers, curling up in a ball next to him. Ronin sighs and drops the dagger. Ali_Cia gently places a hand on his shoulder. "Shall I try now?"
Ronin shrugs. "Do what you want."
"I will not do it without your desire to have her back."
Ronin looks up at Ali. "Of course i want her back"
Gamma looks over to Ali. "What should I do?"
Korunue spies the dagger, lifting it in her teeth and whimpering. She looks down her nose at it, trying to remember why it was so important to her... Gamma! she looks to him for an explination, her eyes questioning. Ali_Cia nods again. "Gamma, I will give you the formula. I do not have the correct magical energies for the spell." Ronin sits silently
Gamma nods and then looks down at Kor. "What is it?" He looks closely at the dagger. "You know, you shouldn't probubly have that." He holds out his hand. Korunue tilts her head to the side, wondering why, holding onto the dagger tightly. Gamma sighs. "I'm going to try to help you Korunue, but your going to have to give me that first." Korunue blinks, still confused. "Korunue, that dagger was something that you shouldn't have had. I'm going to hold it for you ok?" He holds out his hand again. Korunue blinks, then gives him the dagger. At least she could make someone happy. Besides, if it was bad, better Gamma have it then her. Gamma smiles and scratches her. "Thank you." HE standa up and looks to Ali. "What do we have to do?"
"It is much too complex to explain verbally. May I mind link?"
Gamma nods. "Go ahead."
Ali_Cia closes her eyes and attempts to link. Gamma closes his eyes as well, waiting for her to start. Ali_Cia allows the information for the spell to flow into Gamma. It is very complex but within his reach. In the background, though, she is fighting to keep back a memory, keep it away from him.Gamma thinks that its odd that there is something connected to this that Ali doesn't want him to see, but thinks that Kor is more important right now so dosn't press the issue. Korunue sits quietly, wondering what's up.Ali_Cia breaks the connection as soon as he has enough information. There is a faint twitch under the corner of one lip.
Gamma looks at Ali. He decides to ask her later and turns to Kor. "Ok, now lets get Korunue back." He closes his eyes and concentrates, his wings streaching out as he does. Ali_Cia turns, not wanting to see what happens anyway. Her pain is too great to endure and she is sure she will hurt their feelings soon. Gamma starts to weave the diffrent kinds of magic for what he needs to do, the mark on his forhead glowing slightly as he does this. Ali_Cia spreads her wings and flies into a tree, curling up to sleep. Korunue pants, tilting her head, curious.
Gamma sends a glowing ball of energy at he, and she stiffens, giving a yelp before blacking out.
you know what? I need to get this caught up fast. So... excuse the crappy writing job.
Korunue closes her eyes, fighting back tears, recalling the events of the past few days. So much had happened....
She had been sitting on her bed, thinking, minding her own buisness, when Ali just... freaked out. She went into the hall to check on her.. in time to see her transform into a large, flaming bird! The bird had attacked her, and only Kit's taking off to find help had saved her from its fatal bites. She did not, could not, bring herself to fight back against her friend.
They had taken her, against her will, to a medical bay, where the Phonay, as they called the fire-bird, had come after her once more. She was convinced this was some kind of sign... she was a bad, bad person. She knew if she tried to rescue Gamma she'd fail... she was contemplating suicide once more as they locked Ali into a freezer. Cold was all that could defeat a Phonay.
Then she had heard noises of a battle outside. Everyone had rushed out there. She had slipped off to find her arrows so she could impale herself... and had run into Gamma! He had escaped! He was alright! She smiled weakly, happy she could die now.. but he had stopped her, hitting her with a spell to knock her out.
She awakened on a starship. Gamma held the Phonay in his lap... She could feel her magic resisting, as Ali attempted to pass her curse onto her... She closes her eyes, fighting back tears, as the magic curse went into Gamma instead, and Ali reverts to her dragon form. She is so glad ali was safe... but so.. so hurt in general.
~I'm going to bask in the starlight...~ Ali slips out the hatch, in her dragon form, easily keeping up with the ship, leaving Korunue and Gamma alone. Korunue sighed, looking at her lap.
"How are you feeling?" asks Gamma, quietly.
"I... I failed..." she whispers. "I failed you miserably... I want to die..."
"You never failed me, Korunue."
"I couldn't save you...."
"Korunue... I was trapped, and I could only watch as you lifted the dagger to kill yourself... and I watched you set it down, and I was so relived... Korunue.. I don't want you to die..." Tears begin to fill his eyes. Korunue hugs him tightly, suprised. She wasn't used to so much emotion from someone other than Ronin...
"It hurts... it hurts so much..." whispered.
"I know it does..." softly, rubbing her back some.
The pilot pokes her head back. "We're almost there..."
Korunue nods, silent. Gamma hugs her again, then straps himself in as they land on the planet. He helps her to her feet, seeming worried about her, as they disembark, and the ship takes off again. Silently, they make camp, as it's been a very long day for the four of them. (Ali, Gamma, Kor, and Kit --author)
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Korunue wakes once again, yawning slightly. She blinks a bit, wondering what to do...
Gamma wakes up as well and looks over to Korunue. "Good morning."
Korunue blinks some more. "ohoyo." she says at last, mumbling under her breath.
Gamma blinks. "What?"
Korunue sighs. "er... 'morning."
Gamma nods. "Ooohh. I guess thats another language then."
Korunue nods. She sighs again, looking down at Kit. Kit looked so peaceful...Gamma smiles as he loks over to Kit. "She seems happy."
Korunue nods. "she's too little to be sad for long... life still seems new and exciting to her."
Gamma sighs. "I guess I know a little about how that is."
Korunue nods slowly. Then, her ears perk up as a random portal opens behind them. A small blue fairy of some sort races out, persued by a snarling black wolf, persued by a heaviluy injured white wolf. The fairy runs smack into a steel trap that Kor could have sworn wasn't there before and gets trapped. The white wolf leaps in front of the black, snarling at it, between it and the trapped fairy.Gamma looks at this after the mark on his forhead dims. "What are those?" He starts moving closer to the trapped fairy.
The white wolf would have a magical aura to anyone who can sense it, strange as it does not come from the wolf itself. It has massive side and leg injuries, and its muzzle drips blood. They heal themselves slowly, but the black wolf lunges at the fairy once more, and the white wolf leaps in front, taking a serious hit to it's shoulder as it protects the fairy. The magic aura cannot keep up with the injuries as the two do battle repeatedly. Korunue gasps, leaping to her feet. "leave it be!" she commands, picking up a fallen branch.
Gamma stops, sensing the auras and hearing Korunue. "Which one's the good one?"
Korunue scowls. "if that's Jenny... and whats-her-face... then they can both go to hell." She brings the stick down on the black wolf, stunning it long enough for the white wolf to heal itself fully using its aura. The black wolf snarls and leaps at Kor, tackling her with a snarl.
Gamma glares at the black wolf. "Leave her ALONE!" A sphere of energy flies from Gamma and would hit the white wolf with enough force to knock it of Kor.
Korunue screams as the black wolf suddanly becomes much larger, a black dragon in the speed of thought, crouching next to Kor and lifting her with its huge teeth, shaking her a little. She goes limp as the white wolf tugs at the fairy's trap, whining. Gamma prepares another attack and then loks over to the white wolf. "What is it?"
The white wolf tugs at the cruel trap, nuzling the fairy to heal it before continueing, but it was pointless as the trap still cut into it's leg. She looks up at the dragon and snarls, giving Gamma a meaningful glance and indicating the fairy before becoming a dragon as well, as bright as the other was dark. They sit and stare at each other for a long while.
Gamma looks at the trap and then to the fairy, seeing that the dragons are going to fight. "I'm going to try to get you out ok?"
The fairy squeaks and pulls at the trap, her leg getting more scraped than before, unable to reach the release at the side. The dragons just stare at each other, not moving. Gamma reaches over to the release to see if he can get it out. "I think you should stay put after I get you out. I may be able to help."
The fairy, once release by gamma, nods, sitting on a small rock and tending to her electric blue leg, which bleeds silver blood heavily. Her entire body is electric blue. The dragons continue to stare. Gamma looks over to the dragons,seeing if he can spot where Korunue is. Korunue is hanging limply in the black dragon's teeth. The black dragon suddanly rears, spreading it's large wings, and snarls, and the white snarls back. It then drops Korunue from about 50 feet up and shrinks to a wolf once more, snarling over it's shoulder as it trots away. The white dragon turns to a wolf as well, heading over to the fairy. Gamma runs to where Korunue is falling, trying to catch her or cushion her fall.
Korunue is caught by Gamma and opens her eyes, breathing a sigh of relief. "thank kami-sama." she murmers. The white wolf touches her nose to the fairy, letting her aura heal it. The fairy flies up to above it's head, and smiles at Gamma.
"Thank you, kind strangers. Hmm... how to reward you..." it gives an impish smile.
Gamma blinks to The fairy for a moment. "Your welcome." He carefully stands Kor on her feet. "You allright?"
Korunue nods. "yeah."
The fairy zips over to them, landing on Gamma's shoulder, looking like a 6-inch-tall electric blue winged human up close. "you first, I think. hmm... I've got it! how about your true nature!" a stream of electic blue fairy magic shoots towards Gamma.
"My what?" He get hit by the stream of blue magic and is then surrounded by a dome of electric blue energy surrounds him. He is obscured from sight for a while but when he can be seen again he looks a little diffrent. His horns and tail are a little longer. His eyes are still slitted, but they're yellow instead of red. He also has a pair of jet black wings with feathers coming from his back. The tips of fangs poke out of his mouth/
The fairy beams, then turns to Korunue. "now you." Korunue's eyes widen in shock as the fairy beam shoots towards her, and she begins to shrink. She gets furrier, and manages to croak out "help me!" before becoming a large shaggy black dog. The fairy looks pleased and flies over to the white wolf, sitting on her shoulder, engaging in mind talk as the wolf trots back towards the open portal.
Gamma looks at his new apperance and them looks to Kor. "Um...what just happened?"
Korunue says nothing- she can no longer talk, being a large black dog. Her tail wags as she goes to sniff him, then she yips as she recognizes his scent. She jumps up, placing her front paws on his chest, and tries to lick his face. the wolf and the fairy leave through the portal together, and it closes behind them.
Gamma is surprised so is knocked over. He falls on his butt and is licked in the face. "Korunue? Is that really you?" Korunue pants happily, licking his face, and even his teeth as he opens his mouth to talk.
Gamma wipes his face and tries to stand. He tries talking to her with him mind. ~Korunue? Can you hear me?~ Korunue tilts her head to the side, puzzled, and yips. Gamma sighs. "Well this isn't good." He tries to use his powers to see what the fairy did to Kor." Korunue sits, panting. The fairy simply appealed to her youkai side, turning her into a demon dog, but also changing the way her mind thinks so she now thinks like a dog, rather than a demon. Korunue always did see herself as a monster, a dog, not a human being... now she truely was. Gamma scratches his head, not bothered by the sharper claws there now. "Well this is going to be hard to fix." He goes about looking deeper, trying to see if he can see how she did this.
Korunue is basiclly what her own self image always was. her memories are still there... but now she sees them as a dog does. She recognized Gamma by scent because she always had doggy senses, luckily, but knows him now in her warped mind to be her "master". Gamma sits down and looks at Kor. "This is going to take a while. I've never seen magic like this, so I'll have to try to think about how to do this from scratch, whatever that means." Korunue pants, yawning happily. She sure looks happy enough, tail wagging. nothing like the depressed 3/4-human Korunue. But then again... dogs don't get depressed, and don't dwell on past mistakes like Kor did. Gamma sighs as he thinks about this, unconciously scratching behind Kor's ears. Korunue pants happily as he does so, nuzzling him and leaning on him. Gamma continues to do this while trying to think, his own tail moving every now and again. Korunue snuggles unger his arm, tail going mad. She yawns, relaxing, content, and drifts off to sleep.
Gamma looks around, waking, sensing someone, still not completly use to his new form. He stand up, streaching out his tail and his jet black wings. His now yellow, slitted eyes look around wondering who is out there now.
Demona sits up. Her head was clear, or so it seemed... where was she? never mind that, WHO was she? She couldn't remember! (A/N- remember her? She's the one who shapeshifted to torment Ronin, and the one who, as a bird named Jenny, then later as a black wolf, kept tormenting Korunue. She... yeah. Long story.)
Gamma looks around a little more and decides to call out. "Hello?"
Demona calls out. "hello!
Gamma starts moving towards the other voice. "Are you ok?"
Demona blinks. "I... I don't know." She blinks. "Who am I?"
Gamma shrugs, his wings ruffling as his does. "I don't know." He holds his hand out to her, his fingernails sharpened to claws. He smiles showing of the small fangs he now has. "Hello. I'm Gamma."
Demona smiles back, her smile full of malice as well as genuine warmpth, her teeth fangs as pointy as his. She spies the claws and jumps, snarling, climbing to all fours. Gamma blinks at this odd behavior and looks down at his hand. "Oh, sorry about that. I'm still not use to looking like this."
Demona blinks. "Is there a reason why I should want to rip you to shreads and eat your still-beating heart?" she is still polite, no malice in her question at all.
Gamma thinks. "I don't think so. I forgot about having claws and since we just met I don't think I did anything bad to you before."
Demona nods, sittig down dog-style. "hmmm. Do you know WHAT I am?"
Gamma goes closer to her, using his senses to see what she is. Demona is half-alien half human, the alien half being basiclly a mindless killing machine, the human half diminished by disuse.
Gamma blinks. "Well, I know your part human. The other I'm not sure about. It's like one part of me, but diffrent."
Demona nods. "right then." She stands on two legs, her impressive wings spreading. "Got any raw meat? I'm hungry."
Gamma shrugs. "No, but I guess we can look for some."
Demona shrugs. "These things work?" she spreads her wings, and flaps a little. "cool!" She lands, then has a random thought. "I wonder..." she turns into a human, sans wings and all. "cool!" she turns into a wolf then.. a rather recognizable wolf, too... a large black wolf...
Gamma jumps back, looking like he's about to attack. "YOU!"
Demona jumps back. me?
A large, shaggy black dog yawns, raising it's head sleepily.
"You were the one that attacked that little blue thing!" Gamma shouts.
Ronin leaps through a portal, landing in a kneeling position. His head flicks up, ears alert. His tracking had lead him to this location, trying to find Korunue. He stuies ih surroundings for a moment before taking off into the wood in a zig-zag seraching pattern.
Demona looks startled. I did? uh-oh... she turns and scampers off into the underbrush.The dog stands, sleepily, looking about. she spies Gamma and trots over, grabbing a stick on the way and dropping it at his feet.
Gamma blinks as she leaves and looks down at Kor. "Korunue, this is not helping me figure out how to get you back to normal." Korunue woofs, tail wagging, indicating the stick. Gamma sighs. "All right fine." He picks up the stick and throws it.
Ronin bursts into whatever area that Gamma and Kor are in, panting a little. He stares at the both of them. A soft silver mist seeps up from the ground, forming into the silver body of Ali. The sad silver eyes stare forward as she comes into focus. "Hello, Gamma.." her voice sounds tired.
Korunue chases after the stick, leaping and catching it. Then she drops it, running to Ronin and sniffing him, leaping up to put her front paws on his chest, trying to lick his face. Gamma looks over at Ali. "Hello Ali. I'm surprised you recognized me."
Ronin pushes the dog down. "Go away." He looks over at Gamma and the now formed Ali. "Either of you seen a girl, with dog ears?" Korunue whimpers, ears drooping. She trots some distence away to sulk, hanging her head.
"It's the energy signature." Ali explains.
Gamma looks at Ronin, his tail twitching when he hears the discription. "You mean Korunue?" Ali turns her head toward Ronin, listening quietly.
Ronin nods "Yes, thats her name. You know her? You know where I can find her?" Korunue curls up in a ball, whining softly, feeling unwanted by her former "master" to her doggy mind.
"Yes, we know her. I do not know where she is." Ali says, tiredly.
Gamma looks over to Korunue and sighs. "Well I think you just passed her getting over here."
Ronin perks his ears up and stares at Gamma. "I did? Well wehre is she. Tell me." Korunue whimpers, not even looking up at her name... well, that is, if she recognized it as such....Ali_Cia hears the whimper of the canine and walks over quietly.
Gamma kimda points sheepishly towards Kor. "Thats her."
Ronin looks over at the dog. "No its not. Now, if you know her, where is she?" Ali_Cia can't see the pointing, since she only knows where people are generally, being blind. She cocks her head and chirrs something. Korunue falls asleep again.
"I'm telling you thats her. We met some small blue lady and she did something to us. Now I look like this and she looks like that." Gamma explains patiently.
"Look like what?" asks Ali
"The large dog over there."
Ronin glares at Gamma. "Don't lie to me." He draws his swords and points one at Gamma. "I do not like being lied to."
"You look like a dog?" asks Ali, puzzled.
Gamma backs up, holdong his hands in front of him. His wings ruffle in surprise. "I'm not. Why would I lie to you?" Gamma then looks over to Ali. "No, Korunue does."
Ronin shrugs slightly, advancing on Gamma. "I don't know, but people tend to lie to me and try to screw me over when it comes to Kor. I have no reason to believe you. Now tell me the truth!"
Ali_Cia cocks her head, hearing the wings ruffle. She steps forward. "Stop!" she barks, stepping in between the two.
Korunue raises her head again, purple eyes staring sadly at Ronin. She whimpers. Gamma backs up as he advances. "I am. Do you think I usually look like this?" Ronin stops as Ali steps in front of him.
Korunue whines some more, eyes on Gamma and Ronin- her "old master" and her "new master" in her mind. Ali_Cia glares in Ronin's direction, then to Gamma, then to Ronin again. "I will have no fighting such as this in my presence. I can recognize energy signatures, including Korunue's, so I can tell you if that is her."
Ronin glares at Ali now. "Any particular reason why I should believe you more than him?" Korunue trots over, shaking herself a little, whimpering. She sits at Ronin's feet, looking up at him with her large purple eyes, then lays down.
Ali_Cia attempts to connect her mind with Ronin's, allowing him to know what she knows, hear her thoughts, everything. If succeeding, he will hear the thought "do not remember anything of mine or you will be perminantly scarred." Ronin blinks and slowly lowers his sword.
Gamma blinks, wondering what Ali is doing. Korunue yawns, tail wagging happily. Ali_Cia turns toward the canine, bringing up a memory of seeing Kor for the first time using the new energy signature method. She then compares the two signatures. Ronin waits silently. Korunue looks about, her tail wagging as Ronin doesn't chase her off. She sits up, licking his hand and whining a little, begging to be petted. Ali_Cia confirms that it is Kor. She nods, pointing out the distinct simmilarities. "She has been polymorphed, I assume."
Gamma nods. "I think so. I don't know how to fix it."
Ronin looks down at the dog and frowns. "But....but...why?" Korunue looks into his eyes, whining. Did the master not like her anymore? She sensed disapproval. had she done something wrong? She needed Master to like her! She whimpers more, nuzzling his hand.
"I don't know. The blue thing said something about giving us our true nature." Gamma says, with a slight sigh.
Ali_Cia breaks the connection, ruffling her wings. "Hers seems to be less dissimmilar to the previous than yours, Gamma. I can hardly tell the differences." Ronin suddenly gropes his swords tightly, white knuckled. He raises them above his head and roars in frustration, hurling the swords into the nearest tree.Korunue yelps, leaping up and backing away, whining harder than ever. She lowers her head. Master was mad at her!
Gamma backs away from where the sword went. He decides to se if Kor was ok and goes over to where she went. Ali_Cia doesn't even flinch, having seen such things before. "Hush, now. I have been through things like this. Be glad that she is even alive and there is a chance of restoring her." There is a hint of ache in the back of her voice. She turns away and heads toward Kor.
Ronin grabs the swords and jerks them out of the tree. He sheaths them and looks at Korunue again. He roars again and starts beating on the tree. His punches get slower and slower, eventually he turns around and slumps against the tree. He slides to the ground and draws his knees to him, weeping silently. Korunue whines, dropping to her belly. She sneaks towards him, slowly.. then she nuzzles him, whimpering. She made Master sad! Master didn't like her anymore! Gamma looks over to Ronin, having some idea of what he is feeling. He walks over to Ronin, seeing if he could help him.
Ali_Cia pauses, unable to turn a cold heart toward crying. She turns and walks over, seating herself beside him. "I can understand how hard it is. But you must have control over yourself to get her back. I will help in any way I can."
Gamma nods. "Me too."
Ronin ignores Gamma and ALi, he wraps his arms around Korunue's neck and pulls her close, looking at her eyes...those same eyes. Korunue looks a little happier. Master did like her? She pants, in a doggy smile, and licks his face happily. Ali_Cia sits in silence, supressing.. jealousy.. toward Kor. Her heart ached, remembering the vow of so long ago. "It still hurts," she thought grimly to herself.Ronin sighs and pulls Korunue closer.
Gamma looks over to Ali. "Are you ok?" Korunue licks Ronin's face enthusiasticlly, a far cry from the Kor of a day or two ago...
"Nothing," Ali spits out the word distastefully, chopping it short, hard edges. Ronin lets go of Kor and pulls his knees to him as Ali continues. "I'm.. alright.. Gamma."
Gamma gives her a disbelieving look. "Ok. IF you need to say anything, I'm here though."
"You wouldn't understand," she mutters bitterly.
Korunue licks him again, but then wants to give him a special presant... she finds the stick and drops it on his knees, looking pleased. Ronin looks at the stick blankly. Korunue whines, sniffing around for something else. She comes across her old backpack, searching in it for something meaningful. A dagger? She panted, taking it to him, wagging her tail, then fetches a few arrows and another stick for him.
Ali_Cia shakes her head. "Ronin, be glad with what you have. Believe me. She can be restored."
Gamma nods. "I'm sure theres a way, I just don't know how to do it."
Ronin takes the dager and holds it at his wrist experimentally, then he moves it to his throat. "Why? I have nothing now..nothing. Not a damn thing."
"You have a chance." murmers Gamma.
Korunue whimpers, looking at him sadly. He didn't like her gifts? She didn't know what he was doing, but he wasn't happy... she whined harder and snuggled against him. Ronin shakes his head at Gamma "I don't have a chance. If there had been a chance, she wouldnt be a dog."
"If there wasn't a chance, she wouldn't be able to be changed back and there is a way."
Ali_Cia attempts to put a light shield around the daggar so he can't kill himself. "Relax. I give you my word. I will not stop until she is restored." And that is a promise. Korunue whimpers, snuggling up against him harder, looking into his eyes with her own, full of trust.
Ronin frowns at Gamma. "How do you know? Do you ahve any ideas? Any knowledge of there even being a solution. Because I don't see one."
"I used to have a spell that could change one's form into anything living. Since I see far beyond visual, perhaps I could change her body, at least, back to normal. The mind may or may not follow." Ali mentions.
Korunue whimpers. A suddan flash of memory... this was familier to her! But... it was bad! She whines harder, licking at Ronin's cheek to cheer him up. Ronin glares at Ali. "Whats the point to chaging her body....could you imagine. Her licking me, following me around on all fours."
"It is a chance we must take, sir. And being eleven thousand, six hundred, ninety-two years old, I should know what I'm doing." Ali chuckles a little
Korunue licks harder. He wasn't happy? She was making him sad! She was sad that master was sad... she whimpers, curling up in a ball next to him. Ronin sighs and drops the dagger. Ali_Cia gently places a hand on his shoulder. "Shall I try now?"
Ronin shrugs. "Do what you want."
"I will not do it without your desire to have her back."
Ronin looks up at Ali. "Of course i want her back"
Gamma looks over to Ali. "What should I do?"
Korunue spies the dagger, lifting it in her teeth and whimpering. She looks down her nose at it, trying to remember why it was so important to her... Gamma! she looks to him for an explination, her eyes questioning. Ali_Cia nods again. "Gamma, I will give you the formula. I do not have the correct magical energies for the spell." Ronin sits silently
Gamma nods and then looks down at Kor. "What is it?" He looks closely at the dagger. "You know, you shouldn't probubly have that." He holds out his hand. Korunue tilts her head to the side, wondering why, holding onto the dagger tightly. Gamma sighs. "I'm going to try to help you Korunue, but your going to have to give me that first." Korunue blinks, still confused. "Korunue, that dagger was something that you shouldn't have had. I'm going to hold it for you ok?" He holds out his hand again. Korunue blinks, then gives him the dagger. At least she could make someone happy. Besides, if it was bad, better Gamma have it then her. Gamma smiles and scratches her. "Thank you." HE standa up and looks to Ali. "What do we have to do?"
"It is much too complex to explain verbally. May I mind link?"
Gamma nods. "Go ahead."
Ali_Cia closes her eyes and attempts to link. Gamma closes his eyes as well, waiting for her to start. Ali_Cia allows the information for the spell to flow into Gamma. It is very complex but within his reach. In the background, though, she is fighting to keep back a memory, keep it away from him.Gamma thinks that its odd that there is something connected to this that Ali doesn't want him to see, but thinks that Kor is more important right now so dosn't press the issue. Korunue sits quietly, wondering what's up.Ali_Cia breaks the connection as soon as he has enough information. There is a faint twitch under the corner of one lip.
Gamma looks at Ali. He decides to ask her later and turns to Kor. "Ok, now lets get Korunue back." He closes his eyes and concentrates, his wings streaching out as he does. Ali_Cia turns, not wanting to see what happens anyway. Her pain is too great to endure and she is sure she will hurt their feelings soon. Gamma starts to weave the diffrent kinds of magic for what he needs to do, the mark on his forhead glowing slightly as he does this. Ali_Cia spreads her wings and flies into a tree, curling up to sleep. Korunue pants, tilting her head, curious.
Gamma sends a glowing ball of energy at he, and she stiffens, giving a yelp before blacking out.
