Apollo's Descent
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DING DONG, the school bell rang musically. The morning chime signaled the beginning of a new day. DING DONG.
A smiling Sayoko breezed into the classroom. With a joyful hum, she strolled down the rows of desks and sat next to a girl with dark mahogany hair and hazel eyes.
"You seem happy today..." the hazel-eyed girl mused as Sayoko slid into her seat. Sayoko glanced at her with sparkling eyes.
"You will not believe what happened yesterday," Sayoko said, she could hardly contain her excitement. She leaned over and whispered secretly, "I made my first Angel! You should see him, Akiko. He's gorgeous!!"
Yamamoto Akiko was one of the rare friends Omura Sayoko made in Japan. Akiko had long, rich hair that swept down below her waist, and eyes that were deep and vivid. Outspoken, popular, and athletic, Akiko was the complete opposite of shy Sayoko, but the two found each other's differences intriguing. Though Sayoko was jealous of Akiko's luxuriant beauty, and Akiko of Sayoko's wealth and intelligence, the pair had built a solid friendship that seemed impossible to break.
"Angel? You mean an Angelic Layer Angel?" Akiko queried. "Sayoko-chan, I didn't know you were into this stuff."
From her bag, Sayoko plucked out a blond doll and thrust it into Akiko's face. "Isn't he beautiful? I made him just last night. He's so adorable! My very own Angel! Can you believe it!" Sayoko continued to gush out her words as Akiko peered at the Angel closely. It's skin was soft and smooth, hair ruffled, body lean and muscled. But there was some inexplicable thing that set this Angel apart, but she didn't know what. There's something different about this one.. Akiko thought.
Sayoko finally went silent, noticing her friend's puzzling behavior. "What's wrong? You don't like him?"
"It's not that," Akiko murmured, clearly perplexed. "But...this Angel IS a boy, right?"
"Yeah...?"
Akiko fingered the pink flower-patterned dress the Angel wore. With a blush, she asked, "Then why is he wearing a dress?"
Sayoko's eyes popped alarmingly. Waving her frantic hands, she explained hurriedly, "It's not what you think! It's just that I had no clothes to put on him, so I had to borrow some from my old dolls. Don't think that I'm a pervert or anything!"
The long-haired girl laughed, then returned to her close inspection. She examined every inch of the Angel's body. "Hmm... a lightweight...," she stated thoughtfully. "His joints are flexible so he must have a speed ability ... his body looks prepared for hand-to-hand combat."
Sayoko was impressed. "You know Angelic Layer?"
Akiko gave a cheeky grin. "Oh yeah. I won 5th place in the National Tournament last year." Her smile wavered slightly. Her eyes averted to her lap. "But this year I'll do better."
Sayoko clapped, overjoyed. "Thank god. You're just the person I need to teach me this game. I know nothing about it. Could you PLEASE teach me everything you know about Angelic Layer?"
"Oh, sure," Akiko nodded just as the teacher entered the room. She edged closer to Sayoko. "We'll talk about this later, okay?"
()*()*()
Atop a branch of a leafy cheery tree, a man cloaked in black was spying on the two girls through the window. The headset secured to his face allowed him to hear every word of their conversation. He looked over his shoulder, grinning.
"Yeah, it's him alright," the black-clad man said to his comrade, a woman also clothed in ebony garb. They were both hiding in the tree's thick foliage, and had kept a close observation of their target since its activation.
"It seems those scientists have resurrected our good friend from the dead." He twisted his heels and faced his partner. "Just when you thought our work was done."
She shot him an angry look. "How could you be so calm? Do you have any idea what that thing could do? You've seen what it did before. It will--"
Her colleague stepped over a blocking branch and silenced her with a gentle touch of the finger. "There's no need to fret, Raven, dear," he soothed, gliding his fingers over he cheeks. He slid his arms around her waist and held her close. "His program hasn't fully rebooted. We still have time."
"You better be right Daemon," Raven hissed as she glared back at the two girls. She snatched her own vizier, exposing sharp black eyes. "We stopped it once. We can stop it again. This time, I'll make sure I destroy it. It"--- she flashed deadly eyes at Sayoko -- "and its new Deus."
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Pifle Princess was a mecca for Angelic Layer fanatics. The gigantic store was a mall in itself, selling Angelic merchandise from Angel clothes to Angel furniture. Sayoko and Akiko were taking an escalator to the playing arenas on the third floor. Normally, any after school activities was unacceptable by Michiru, but with her more lenient father home, Sayoko felt no need to hurry home.
Sayoko shook her braided pigtails in amazement. She was entranced with the flashy attractions of the mall. The large monitors that played battle clips, the stores that showcased their newest toys and gadgets... all were spectacular. She could barely pay attention to Akiko's conversation.
"So, what are you going to name it?" Akiko asked as they rose to the third floor.
"Oh. I was thinking of naming him Apollo."
"Apollo?" Akiko's eyebrows raised at the foreign name
. "Yeah, Apollo. You know, the Greek god of sunlight, music, and poetry? I wanted his name to be unique, and I think it fits him."
They arrived at the Pifle Princess' Playing Plaza, where Deuses practiced their moves and registered for the Regional tournaments. The arena was crammed with scurrying trainees, and nearly all the Layers were taken, except for the center one.
"Sayoko, go get that one over there. I'll sign up at the counter. Once I sign, we can start practicing." Akiko proceeded to the sign-up desk. "And hurry before anyone else gets it."
The brown-haired girl maneuvered through the throng of people, pushing and squeezing the bodies around, and finally reached the empty table. But on the other side, someone else was pulling out the extra seat. It was an older girl, around 17, with black hair and cold aqua eyes. She sat down with a proprietary air, her two friends standing behind her, and scowled at Sayoko menacingly. "Get out."
Sayoko was taken back by her bluntness. "What?"
"Get out." The older girl slipped on a headset lying on the table. "This is my Layer. Newbies like you don't belong here."
Sayoko's fragile frame quivered. She had always been easy prey for bullies like her. Under the girl's piercing glare, Sayoko felt herself melt in fear. But just as she stood up, two restraining hands grabbed her shoulders.
"Stay, Sayoko," Akiko ordered as she shoved her back down. "We have every right to be here. It is they who need to go." With the same steely tone, Akiko fixed her sharp eyes at the bully. "Up to your same tricks again, Suzumu?"
Suzumu grinned coldly. "Well, well. It's little Miss High and Mighty Akiko."
"You two know each other?" asked a bewildered Sayoko. Akiko nodded. "Hai. She was one of my opponents in the National Tournament. But she was eliminated because of cheating." Akiko smirked mockingly. "How did that feel, Suzumu-CHAN? Aren't you still suspended from participating in this year's tournament? Or are you going to slither your way back in like the snake you are?"
SLAM! Suzumu pounded her fist on the Layer's surface. Enraged blue eyes bore into Akiko. "Kisama!" she shouted with fiery rage. "If you want this damn Layer so bad, then fight for it."
"Fine. Ready when you are."
"No, not you." Suzumu jabbed a finger at Sayoko. "I want her to fight me. Since you have so much confidence in her, let her fight."
Before Sayoko could object, Akiko responded with little hesitation, "Of course she will fight. She can easily beat a poor excuse of a Deus like you."
"But ... but..." Sayoko implored, but her cries feel on deaf ears. Akiko fastened the headset over Sayoko's eyes.
"Relax. She's nothing to worry about. Besides, you have an advanced Angel, ne? Don't you want to see what he can do?"
Sayoko sighed deeply, a sweatdrop emerging for her brow. How am I going to get out of this one?
Suzumu retrieved a purple-haired, pink-eyed Angel donning a cat suit from her bag. She clicked the Angel wings at the headset's sides, stood up, and closed her eyes. Around the Layer a forcefield materialized, initiating the match.
"Entry Angel!" One of Suzumu's friends, acting as referee, exclaimed. Sayoko turned to Akiko for advice.
"Entry Phrases are what you say before a fight begins. All a phrase has to include is the Angel's names, but most people want to be creative."
Suzumu's eyes snapped open. "Crush all opponents that stand in your way. Pulverize them, Cathleen!" The Angel was hurled into the Layer and broke through the forcefield. Hovering in the air, the immobile Cathleen suddenly came to life, her body glowing gold.
"Angel, Fall-in!" cried Suzumu. Cathleen opened her eyes and twirled gracefully to the floor. Her two pink cat ears twitched confidently. Bells adorned her pink and black collar, boots, and leotard, and her tail was swaying almost seductively over her rear.
"It's your turn," Akiko said. Sayoko frowned at the imminent battle.
"Do Entry Phrases have to be so violent?" she asked. "Can't you just say 'Please do well and make friends?'"
Suzumu pursed her lips impatiently. Cathleen did the same. "Will you hurry up? Or are you stalling for time?"
Sayoko stood up, hesitant. She snapped the Angel wings in place. Looking down, she gazed at Apollo with worried eyes.
What should I do? She cried, cradling the Angel in her hands. What if you get hurt? What if we lose? There's so much I don't know about Angelic Layer, and even more about you. The last thing I want to do is make you suffer. She was in such a panic that she hardly noticed Apollo's face shift from emotionless to deep remorse. It was as if seeing his Deus in pain created hurtful feelings in himself.
Sayoko raised the Angel in the air. There's nothing I can do but fight. Forgive me, Apollo.
A hush. Uneasy silence. Brown eyes slowly opened, full of purpose and determination.
"With the glory of the gods, let your wings take flight! Win, Apollo!" The brown-haired girl threw her Angel into flight. As he came into contact with the transparent barrier, Sayoko saw a fleeting image of silver wings on Apollo's back, but the vision quickly disappeared. He floated motionless in the air.
"Angel, Fall-in!" She cried. Apollo dove head long to the ground. Instead of slowing down and landing softly like Cathleen, the golden-haired Angel crashed with a clank and bounced a few times before stopping. He was not moving.
Sayoko gasped, her confidence shaken. "What happened? Is he alright?"
Suzumu laughed at her inexperience. "Baka. It is the Deus who controls the Angel's movements. It can't land by itself. It's your fault your Angel slammed so hard."
Hands shaken by fear covered Sayoko's mouth. "My fault?" Her frightened eyes stared at Apollo helplessly. I am the one causing Apollo so much pain?
Akiko grabbed Sayoko and shook her roughly. "This is not the time to feel sorry for yourself! If you care so much for him, then fight with him and win!"
"Fight with him..." Sayoko lowered her eyes and whimpered, "But how?"
"Picture and image of him standing up."
Sayoko did as she was told. Apollo's body twitched and jolted, but he could not stand up.
"Try harder!" Akiko commanded fiercely. "He won't move until you urge him to!"
Sayoko tried again. The Angel's body lurched and struggled to stand. At last, Apollo scuttled to his feet. His legs were trembling, his whole frame quaked, but he was standing nonetheless.
Suzumu was not impressed. She eyed Apollo from top to bottom, measuring him up. And then, to Sayoko's surprise, smiled. She tried to restrain herself, but suddenly exploded into loud chuckles that raked her body. Sayoko kept calm, but her laughter angered her. What is so funny?
With teary eyes, Suzumu exclaimed, "You're telling me that I'm... fighting a .... transvestite!!!" She pointed to Apollo's flowery dress. "What is this? First, she can barely keep her Angel standing, and now he's a cross-dresser!?!"
Sayoko flushed red. Apollo's face also blushed, but he looked more angry than embarrassed.
Suzumu swiped a gleeful tear off her eye. "This is too funny. I'm going to have fun with you. Go, Cathleen!"
Cathleen charged at the staggering Apollo. As the rushing Angel came closer, Sayoko pleaded, "Akiko! What should I do!"
"Dodge it!"
"How?!"
"Picture him jumping!"
Cathleen struck with a swift punch, but Apollo leapt over frog-like to the other side. She attacked again; Apollo darted the kick narrowly. With every blow, Sayoko's Angel ducked his escape. But soon his luck ran out, and Apollo was hit hard by a direct kick.
"No!" Sayoko gasped as Apollo flopped helplessly to the ground. Suzumu smiled with pitiless eyes.
"That is all you can do, newbie?" She scoffed. "I was hoping you'd at least give decent fight, but I guess not." Cathleen's shadow loomed over Apollo's fallen body. Sayoko shook her head in anguish, tears streaming down her face. "NO, APOLLO!"
Little did Sayoko realize that her voice had triggered something deep within Apollo, something which reacted to the Deus's strong emotions. Sayoko's sadness, her frustration, her feeling of powerlessness ... all has generated in him a need to fight and survive. His emerald eyes lit up, blazing eyes that were ready to battle. For his Deus, Apollo would destroy any opponent.
Sayoko's headset suddenly beeped three time. A scramble of symbols flashed over the eye piece, then cleared. Sayoko squinted at the words that followed.
"DEFENSIVE PROGRAM INITIATED...?"
Cathleen raised her foot and struck ... the ground. Apollo had vanished beneath her feet. Suzumu's eyes widened.
"Where is he?" she gritted her teeth. Besides Cathleen, the Layer was completely empty.
Everyone scanned the Layer for the missing Angel. A confused Cathleen stood dumbfounded, unobservant of the figure materializing behind her. In a golden flash, Apollo emerged from thin air and threw a violent kick at his opponent's head. Suzumu could only watch in amazement as her Angel spiraled across the Layer's surface.
Sayoko was even more stunned. She was a novice in the world of Angelic Layer, but even she knew normal Angels could not go invisible. And even worse, she had lost all control over Apollo's movements. Whatever attacks he made, he was making them on their own.
Cathleen quickly recovered and bolted after him, but Apollo merely stepped to the side, causing her to trip. Once again Cathleen lunged, but the golden-haired angel dodged with little effort. And so the battle commenced. Cathleen was desperately attacking with all her might, while Apollo, with elegance and speed, was dancing his way out of harm. Twirling, whirling, flipping, leaping, Apollo's motions were the most breathtaking Sayoko, Akiko, or Suzumu have ever seen. Even the dress he wore flowed magically around her ankles.
By now a crowd was gathering around the table. All were in awe at Apollo's fantastic abilities. Sayoko felt their eyes upon her and blushed. ::Why is this happening to me?:: she moaned as she sulked into her chair. Apollo isn't taking any of my directions, and everyone is staring at me. How could things get any worse?
Suzumu pounded the Layer out of frustration. "You liar!" She screamed at Sayoko. "You're cheating! There's no way a rookie like you can defeat me!" She cracked her knuckles threateningly. Her eyes were bloodthirsty. "NO ONE defeats me in public!"
Apollo stopped. His body became eerily still. Inside him, a new mechanism was in effect. Suzumu's threat to do physical harm to his Deus awakened another fighting program. But this one was far more deadly than the first.
"OFFENSIVE PROGRAM INITIATED" flashed over Sayoko's vizier.
Suzumu alighted from her seat, but a gasp from the audience broke her concentration. She averted back to the Layer and gawked in terror. Her beloved Angel Cathleen was being brutally attacked by Apollo, whose eyes had hardened into a blood red. In a torrent of blows he slashed her catsuit, broke her neck, slit her throat, ripped her arm off, tore her hair out; his attacks were merciless and without end. The gentle-hearted Apollo was now a murderous beast, utterly thrashing Cathleen into a lifeless heap.
The black-haired Suzumu paled as Apollo gorged Cathleen's eyes out. She whipped her head to Sayoko and screamed. "I give up already! You can take this Layer. Just stop it!"
Akiko's grip on Sayoko tightened. "Sayoko-chan, we won. You can call him off now!"
But only if she could! Sayoko has no power over her Angel. She merely sat in her chair, appalled and nauseated as Apollo crushed Cathleen's bones, his face contorted with fury.
The onslaught continued. Clawing viciously at her face, the blood-eyed angel tore a portion of her skin off. Suzumu fell weakly to her knees, salty tears pouring over her cheeks. "Stop it, damnit!" she cried in a heartwrenching plea. "Stop it! STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!"
Apollo stripped layer after layer of skin his opponent's body. But that wasn't enough for him. He yanked the wires out of her body, slashed out her joints, and in a most savage attack, took hold of Cathleen's legs and ripped them apart.
The room was deathly silent. The throng of spectators bore their horrified eyes at Sayoko. Even Akiko withdrew her hands and regarded her classmate with contempt. But Sayoko was the most shocked of all. To see her once sweet, caring Angel slaughter his opponent so ruthlessly, totally without her control.. it was beyond words. She took her headset and remained quiet.
Benumbed, Suzumu teetered to the Layer, and painstakingly gathered up the remaining pieces of Cathleen. She collected the ruptured wires and peels of skin in her hand, and stared at them for a long moment. Suzumu then shot Sayoko a look that needed no words. After that brief moment, Suzumu turned back and walked to the exit, the heavy crowd parting their way for her.
Sayoko did not noticed Suzumu's hateful glance. She was staring directly at Apollo, who was staring back. His eyes had returned to their soft green color, no traces of the insane butcher she saw moments ago. And he was smiling. A smile that seemed so warm and loving, but what Sayoko now found disturbing. She buried her head in the hands and sobbed hysterically.
"My god," she murmured between harsh cries. "What I have I done..?"