Chapter 3
Who Are You?
Patrick woke up looking around. Skelly began walking over to him when he held up a hand for silence. Skelly paused waiting silently for Patrick when he grunted slowly getting up.
"Morning?" Skelly asked cautiously. His only reply was a grunt as Patrick pulled his shirt jacket on. He got up walking off and Skelly took it as a good sign. As Patrick walked off Skelly started following him. He held up his hand again and mumbled,
"Bathroom." He kept walking quietly towards where the grave was. Skelly tried to stop him but he simply ignored him as he continued his walk.
"That boy is walking into a world of pain.." Skelly muttered as he started crouching forward.
~*~
Patrick walked forward as he saw two people ahead of him. The man on the left, no not a man, a Cat man had a deadly looking scythe ready. The one on the right was a beautiful woman in his opinion. She had two daggers in hand. She had brown hair and seductive gray eyes. She wore a pair of pants and a shirt. She also wore a trench coat that seemed to mask her true musculature.
"W-w-w-who are you" Patrick stammered.
"We're your destiny," The cat man said.
"And you are Patrick Eric Dissinger.." The woman said haughtily as if the name were an insult itself. Patrick got into a fighting position slowly as if trying to hide it. The cat man spoke slowly and deliberately.
"You have two choices, a quick easy death if you don't resist. Or a redefinition of pain before you die," The cat man said disdainfully.
"Either of you got a coin?" Patrick said quickly. Both looked at him curiously. He repeated the question, while they both were looking through their pockets he jumped the cat man attacking. "Because I need it to make a phone call after I am through with you!"
~*~
"This place is freaking me out.." Kid said quietly. Steena nodded as she walked to the central pillar. She tried everything she knew, but the pillar wouldn't reveal the secret elevator. She turned to leave with the others out the front door only to be stopped by Diss.
"You ain't leaving with the spoils you stole. Grave robbers!" Diss shouted. Steena sighed as she brushed right past Diss ignoring him. Steena was just able to dodge the incoming fireball. "Strike one." Diss growled. Steena dropped her bags and took out her sword. Diss charged and was swatted to the side into a rock. He slowly got up and charged after Steena who was leaving again. He tackled her from behind and pinned her in a full nelson arching up on her spine while sitting on it. Kid and the others were about to help when the sound of thunder echoed in the background. The lightening struck close to Diss and Steena allowing Steena the opportunity to escape Diss' hold. She did a hard roundhouse kick to Diss' head and he stumbled around momentarily.
"Mommy, I want a pony.." mumbled Diss before falling flat on his face. Steena had this wicked look in her eyes as she glared at Diss.
"I'm going scouting!" Steena yelled to the others. Before anyone could stop her she was gone.
"Do ya think Paul influenced her enough?" Kid asked annoyed. Serge sighed sitting down while Kid checked on Diss.
~*~
"Damn." Miguel muttered as he looked at his friend. Just seconds ago he managed to change the clear skies to a violent thunderstorm.
"I have no idea where that came from." the man said carefully. "What the HELL was that all about?" he asked himself more than anyone else. He had somehow summoned lightening to strike somewhere off in another place and he nearly killed two people in the process. But something told him to do it.
"You mean to tell me that you just randomly did that?" Miguel asked astonished. The man replied slowly and quietly like he was making it up as he went along.
"Ya, I think I have this strange ability to control this element. That was the only time I truly felt alive. When the electricity was running through my blood. The power Miguel! MY GOD THE POWER!" The man began to lose it at the end as Miguel wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.
"Well, if you're insane you sure are in the right place." Miguel muttered to himself.
~*~
Patrick snarled as he began pummeling the cat man. The girl pulled him off as Patrick clawed at him, but he stopped moving as she pressed a dagger to his throat. The clawing had pulled a necklace out from under his robes. The necklace had one ornament. A small ring hung from the necklace. A flash of fire lit Patrick's eyes as he saw it. The images replayed in his mind again as the cat man slowly got up and raised his scythe for a deathblow.
"Give her back her engagement ring.." Patrick said coldly.
"What's wrong Patrick, little angry?" The cat man said mockingly.
"No Lynx, and My name is DISS!" Diss said angrily as he caused flame to erupt over his body. The girl backed off to avoid being burned as Diss slowly got up facing Lynx. He stretched forth his hand as the fire expanded into a strip. The strip slowly took the form of his long dormant dragon staff. Lynx's eyes bulged as he saw what happened.
"How." He began.
"That ring belongs to Christy, give it back to her!" Diss said his voice dripping icily. The girl moved in quickly and Diss merely sidestepped her letting her rush before him. "I'll take care of you later darling. I don't want to hurt you too badly."
"I think you should want to hurt me more, especially since I'm NOT your darling!" She said lunging at him. He grabbed her hand by the wrist and twisted in a well-practiced maneuver flipping her onto her back. He slashed at Lynx, who appeared to be charging an attack. Lynx cursed as he stopped charging to block feebly. Diss continued his attack until he slashed and was stopped mid-slash. He tried to continue the attack, but couldn't no matter how hard he try. The girl walked into his field of vision. "Easier than I thought. You have no defenses at all, even a baby could-" She stopped as she felt him push into her mind. As she tried desperately to push him out he finished the slash with every ounce of reserved energy.
Lynx barely moved in time. The girl looked at him confused as she finally got him out of her mind. She pounced Patrick as they both skidded towards the edge of the cliff. He pushed her off him as he saw Skelly run into the battle.
"Skelly, NO!" Diss shouted as Lynx quickly swung at head level. In mere seconds Skelly's skull was shattered from the scythe blow and the body dropped limply. Diss felt overwhelming guilt and grief as the Girl moved to an attack position.
"Now you die, like your friend!" She said as Diss felt an overwhelming push against him. He fell off the cliff hurdling to the sea below.
~*~
"Did he hit water?" Lynx asked quickly. The girl looked over the edge nodding as she saw a large splash. Lynx sighed to his relief, "At least we got both done at the same time, and he's immersed in water."
"Why's that important?" She asked.
"Helps keep him dead. That's all you need to know." Lynx said gruffly. She looked at the ring around his neck and got a funny look on her face. He grumbled seeing it and put her to sleep before she came around. Quickly stuffing it under his robes he looked at it only to see a small- engraved message. The inscription read:
"To Christy, with all my heart and Soul, Diss."
~*~
As Dave and Leah walked down the path a loud roar filled the air. Instantly Leah jumped high into a tree and began to climb higher shouting at Dave.
"GET IN, UM TREE!" Dave looked around as he realized a large dinosaur was charging right at him. He looked around and saw a large boulder next to him, and a mace beside it.
"UH-OH!" Dave said quickly realizing he was limited to few options. He grabbed the mace and hurled it at the dinosaur. It hit square on the nose angering it some more. Its sharp claws retracted as it swung at Dave in a deathblow. Dave ducked and covered himself bracing for the doom sure to arrive.
"Dear god almighty take pity on my soul!" Dave screamed. He closed his eyes and held himself tightly as he felt vibrations from the ground. He waited a few moments before he opened his eyes. He heard a distinct scratching as he realized he was completely surrounded by rock.
"What in the blue hell." Dave muttered in wonder.
He held his hands forward and placed them on the rocks. Slowly he could feel the odd connection between him and the earth. He closed his eyes as he violently ripped the rock barrier apart and took two shattered pieces bashing away at the dinosaur. He lashed out violently cracking the dinosaur's skull with a hammer like hit and he continued pounding the beast. He stopped as he dropped the two rock fragments and fell unconscious tired.
~*~
The man sat at the computer console watching in absolute disgust. Diss had remembered his fire powers. Shaun remembered his rock powers. And Paul had somehow managed to change the weather in a different dimension. His plans were being thrown into disarray. He slowly picked up the phone. He dialed a few digits on it and then waited.
"Mrs. Leo speaking." Came a female voice.
"I'd like to know what my future looks like." The man said rather edgy.
"Please hold for a few moments while I prepare for your reading." The man waited tapping his fingers as he slowly waited for five minutes. "Thank you for holding dear. Now, please hold while I take this call real quick." The man grunted before he could object. He began to grow impatient when a computer voice took the call.
"Please understand that your call will no longer be $5.25 per 10 minutes. It will be $6.25 per minute now. Thank you for calling Leo!" The man screamed in frustration as he realized he had already spent 10 minutes on the phone.
"Thank you again deary. Now what can Leo do for you?" The man mumbled some crud words.
"You're the psychic. Can't you tell?"
"No deary, now please hold." The man's eyes grew wide in anger as he saw the minutes tick away. He was now up to 15. "Okay deary. Go ahead."
"WHAT IS THIS, SOME KIND OF SCAM?" The man yelled.
"Oh I'm so sorry sweetie. But I can't complete your call. Good-Bye now!" The man smashed his fist on the computer keyboard. A computer voice informed The man he would be billed for an hour's worth since they round up to the nearest hour. The man began to sniffle in anger as he wondered what the cruel world had against him.
~*~
Lynx slowly smiled as he calmly put the phone down.
"That Leo scam never gets old." Lynx muttered to himself as he entered The man's room.
~*~
Steena looked around the forest area as she slowed down her pace confident that no one had trailed her. She sat on a rock breathing hard catching her breath. Slowly she began to cry as her hands buried her face behind them.
"Oh Paul, where are you?" She asked stupidly. "How did you know I was in trouble?" She asked in the same tone again. She continued to cry as she let the tears flow. She sniffled trying to regain herself when she heard the calm voice of Samantha.
"You okay?" She asked coming into sight.
"Ya..." Steena said quietly sniffling. "Why do people ask that question any way?" Steena said dumbly.
"Paul put it this way. It's the only thing people can say during a situation like this." Samantha replied calmly sitting next to her.
"Good answer." Steena said getting up. "Now answer me this." Steena said clearing her voice.
"Go ahead." Samantha said motioning her to continue.
"All my life I grew up learning about dragons and the hidden element of the Chrono Cross. I took all those lessons to heart and indulged myself in them that I couldn't picture a world without them. And here I am, my worst nightmare come true." Samantha tried to figure out the question in there.
"Um, life sucks eat it up?" Samantha offered. Steena and Samantha looked at each other before they both gave a nervous laugh.
"Let me guess." Steena started.
"Yep, Paul logic." Samantha finished smiling getting up. Steena got up as well and they both gave each other a small hug.
"You going to be okay?" Steena asked.
"Oh yeah. I'm dead, what problems would I have?" Steena looked at Samantha and blinked a few times.
"Oh.well some people don't get that luxury."
"This a luxury?" Samantha asked grinning. "I expected hot boys in Speedos. And all I get is following my stupid brother around. THIS is not a luxury." Samantha said grinning again.
"Touché" Steena said smiling. Samantha left vanishing behind a bush as Steena turned to the other group.
~*~
Diss clung tightly to his dragon staff. He was a good ten feet from the ocean, but he had to go up or he would die. He would hang on by his hand and slam his staff into the cliff allowing him to climb up the cliff slowly. He let his rage guide him as he continued his climb until he hung from the lip of the cliff. He grunted as he pulled himself up and flopped over the edge. Breathing a big sigh he spoke to the empty wastes, "I think that counts as my near death experience for the day."
~*~
"Where were ya?" Kid asked snobbishly as Steena slowly left the area that concealed her.
"Reflecting on things." Steena replied casually. Diss slowly approached the group of travelers carefully.
"I wish to join you people. That cool with you?" He said calmly.
"Sure. I think they can help you like they are helping me!" Shaun replied. Kid and Serge nodded and Diss gave a small grin.
"I thought you would let me join ya." he said running behind a bush. "So I already packed my bags." Steena sighed shaking her head.
"Can I make a request?" Serge muttered quietly.
"Go ahead." Kid replied helping Diss with his bags.
"Let's head to the Isle Of The Damned to see who else died." Steena nodded agreeing to the idea.
~*~
"You fool!" The man raged. Lynx flinched as if The man had actually dealt him a physical blow.
"Sorry," Lynx muttered slowly.
"You let the clone join the group, you failed to kill the original copy AND on top of that you nearly let Christy relapse! Are you really that stupid or did you have to try to be?" The man continued his tirade. Christy stepped between them.
"Arguing and yelling now wont make this easier on us. Obviously we'll have to try to take out the original again before he reaches here and reclaims his position. I suggest we do so when they go through the Dead Sea. Obviously trying any other method will get us killed, especially since the main group is heading right for him," She said calmly. The man mumbled something about incompetent fools and raged off. "Lynx, we're going to get him soon enough, for now we should prepare for any other tricks that our rival can throw at us." Lynx merely nodded wanting to repay Diss for all the trouble he had caused within a minute of relapsing.
~*~
"The Isle of the Damned.talk about your fixer upper." Diss said to the group. Shaun chuckled as the others moved along the island. They slowly made it through to the place Garai's grave stood. A lone figure was sprawled on the ground, a dragon staff lying in his outstretched hand. As soon as Diss saw the figure he had a flashback and stumbled his memory returning. "Eric." He breathed.
"Wait a second. that's Eric?" Steena asked.
"Yup, that's him or I had a twin brother I was never told about," Diss said coldly. The group looked at him as he nudged the down figure. The figure groaned as he started getting up.
"Whoever woke me up better be ready to suffer the consequences!" The downed man said in a voice identical to Diss. As he looked up everyone saw the man looked just like Diss. He looked at the other Diss and breathed, "Eric."
"I'm not Eric you are!" Countered the standing Diss.
"If I'm Eric, then we're all in trouble. But seeing as how your going to kill me, lets just get this over with in the customary way shall we?" The downed Diss spat. He grabbed his dragon staff tighter as he casually tossed off his shirt jacket. The other Diss did likewise. The group stood in disbelief as they went through the same warm-up. Cracking of knuckles followed by cracking their necks before they began the fight. The staffs linked together as they fought with viciousness. Steena watched as they showed the same attack and counter as if testing each other. Finding that the other knew every trick they got creative adding attacks in a dizzying pace. Soon they were going so fast it was impossible to see the staffs. It became obvious which Diss was which as one got tired and started slowing down. Kid tensed getting ready to jump the faster one as the tired one was tripped up in a surprise maneuver. He raised his staff and Kid bolted pinning him. "Kid what the hell are you doing?" he asked in shock.
"Stopping ya from making a bloody mistake!" She yelled tossing his staff away. The slower one got up and raised his own staff for the deathblow when Shaun locked him in a full nelson.
"I don't think so boss." He said quickly. The words just spilled out that everyone looked at him.
"Boss?" The Diss under Kid asked.
"I did say that huh?" Shaun asked nervously.
"Listen both of you, we obviously have two clones here. The one under Kid is the original. The one being restrained by Shaun is a full copy of Diss, not Eric. So both of you stop fighting and start figuring how this is going to work out. Because unless you two get your act together my boyfriend is going to be stuck wherever he is!" Steena shouted at the two. The two Dissingers looked down before looking at each other.
"Draw?" The Diss under Kid said slowly.
"Draw." The Diss being restrained said. Both picked up their shirt jackets and shrugged them on before shaking recalling their staffs.
~*~
The man and Miguel both were sitting around a fire as two shadow figures approached.
"We're closed." The man muttered.
"Well that's just too bad." A freakishly familiar voice from a girl replied. The man whipped around and saw a Cat like human, and a girl next to him daggers drawn.
"Must there always be violence." Miguel muttered standing up. The man quickly got up and so did his pet squirrel. The woman tried hard to peer into The man's mind, but she screamed in agony as The man grinned with sadistic glee.
"What's wrong, Christy?" Lynx yelled.
"His mind, I can't get into it!" Christy yelled back angrily.
"Let's wear him down first." Lynx suggested gripping his scythe. Miguel began to quickly chant something as his arm slowly began glowing as a white energy like substance formed into a sword.
"Pipsqueak has a sword. How cute." Lynx muttered sending a Shadow Cat at Miguel. The cat dove in and was met with a poor doom as Miguel cleanly ripped off the cat's head.
"Pipsqueak got game boy!" Miguel growled. Lynx stood in horror to see the cat's limp body fall over and vanish.
"Are we going to fight, or do you wanna get that on tape first." Christy commented. Lynx shook off his panic as he dove at Miguel only to be kicked away by The man.
"Don't forget there's two." He bated under his breath.
"You better get up Lynx if you know what's good for you." Christy growled again. Lynx slowly stood up as The man grabbed the nearest object.
"Gr." was the sound that came from The man's weapon.
"Whoops, sorry Henry." The man said dropping the squirrel and picking up a knife. He hurled it at the woman who without flinching stopped the incoming projectile and hurled it strait back at The man without lifting a finger.
"MEEP!" The man yelled as he dodged the knife. Miguel dove in and single handily beat Lynx down.
"FOOL!" Christy yelled as her eyes narrowed on Miguel. Miguel bolted at the woman before he fell into a complete crawl before stopping completely. The man looked at the woman in wonder.
"Um, can I do that?" The man asked. The woman didn't catch the trick in time as The man dove in for a kick. It connected with her jaw and she fell backwards many feet before she was slowly able to regroup. The man dove in but landed on a busted trashcan. The woman rose into a crane fighting position. The man began to shuffle in his same spot cracking his neck and hands.
"I was a tai chi champion before. Do you want to really fight me?" The man nodded laughing evilly. He got a quick image in his mind of him bloody and bruised raising a torn and battered belt in the air. At his feet in the crowd were two girls. One six or seven, the other just a bit older than him clapping. The image left but he remembered something as he shared it with the woman screaming,
"HARDCORE CHAMPION!" The woman realized her bluff was not going to work. Lynx slowly got up grabbing the woman by the shoulder.
"News from the head guy. We need to split before he remembers anything else! This fight is only improving his memory; we can't risk anything else slipping by. Let's move it!" Christy nodded as she turned to flee. The man laughed evilly as he chucked a trashcan lid at Lynx, which connected, with his back.
"NEXT TIME JUST BRING IT!" He yelled loudly laughing again. Miguel slowly got up and pinched an area between his friend's neck and shoulder.
"Time to relax now." Miguel said falling down next to his friend. The squirrel looked at the two in confusion.
~*~!
The two Dissingers look at each other as the group looked on. Apparently they were thinking before the first one spoke up.
"I'll be Patrick, you keep the nickname," One said slowly.
"Why?" Diss asked.
"In remembrance of a friend," Patrick said softly his gaze falling upon a skeleton.
"Now that we have the introductions out of the way, how about we move on," Shaun asked quietly.
"I just want to check one thing." Steena said looking at the gravestone that Patrick had lay on. She brushed the dirt off and gasped in shock. Everyone looked at her before Serge looked at it and delivered the second largest bit of bad news.
"It's Fargo's." He said. The entire group except the clone Diss and Shaun were silently looking respectfully down.
~*~
Patrick looked up at the stars fighting back the tears. "First Glenn, now Fargo? Are you giving us any chance at all?" He said softly. He looked down at his hand and shuddered, "And now my Fiancée is fighting me. Is this some test? Am I supposed to take this as a joke? If this is a joke then someone is going to pay."
"Who?" Came a voice impossibly familiar. Diss spun to see a man standing behind him. The man had Brown hair much like him, but he had a sword in its sheath at his side. His dress was the comfortable jeans and T- shirt that he had favored.
"T-t-t-thomas?" Patrick stammered out.
"Diss, you know better to answer a question with a question. Now answer my question, who?" Thomas said in a fatherly tone.
"The world." Patrick replied slowly.
"Oh but Diss, haven't I taught you about the world?" Thomas asked. Diss gave him a dumb look that clearly said he had no idea what Thomas was talking about Thomas gave a defeated sigh. "My pupil has fallen from the grace he once possessed. Has he really forgotten his lessons so easily?"
"Thomas? What are you talking about?" Patrick responded.
"My dear pupil, the world owes you nothing at all. You cannot blame the world for your problems. If you want to blame someone blame THE MAN," Thomas said softly.
"Thomas I don't have the time to wax philosophy. This world owes me its-"
"Did you actually travel around this world and righted every wrong on its face?"
"No but-"
"Did you help every person you met?"
"No of course-"
"Then you saved the ecosystem?"
"That's redicu-
"No its not, because if you hadn't done one of those things then the world itself owes you nothing. This timeline itself owes you nothing for its entirely different than the one you saved. And your friends owe you only a thank you for not getting them killed," Thomas cut him off sharply.
"Looks like I'm in need of another teachers lesson aren't I?" Diss said angrily.
"I can't fight you Diss." Thomas said softly.
"Why, afraid now that I'm a master?" He retorted angrily.
"I'm dead," Thomas said curtly. Patrick seemed to deflate with the comment.
"You don't have to rub it in." He said sulkily.
"Your next step is simple. Don't blow it. When faced with the choice of fulfilling a dream and saving a friend choose what you hold dearest," Thomas said slowly.
"One last question, is that really you? Or are you some kind of hallucination?" Patrick asked.
"My pupil, wait and see, wait and see." Thomas said fading.
~*~
"Leah, where are we going now?" Dave asked being tugged by Leah.
"We um, going home." Leah said happily. Dave nodded getting the idea now. Leah led him to an open clearing full of giant bugs destroying everything. Dave grew angry, as did Leah.
"YOU DUMB, UM BUGS!" Leah shouted tossing a small rock angering a bug as it turned along with others charging at the two. Dave stood in front of Leah and narrowed his eyes on a rock to the left of the first bug. With his will power the rock began to shake and rumble as it dislodged from the ground and smacked straight up and rolled over all the bugs turning when necessary. The bugs were being squashed quickly and easily as Leah watched in delight.
"Squish." Dave muttered as the last bug was squashed. Dave fell down onto his knees as he looked at the earth. He could feel the odd connection again as his mind shot back to recalled memory of him and the two men from before.
~*~
"GOD DAMNIT CAN'T ANYTHING GO RIGHT?" The man yelled to Lynx and Christy.
"Sorry." They both replied quietly.
"SORRY YOU TWO GOT YOUR ASS WHOOPED!" The man yelled again. "Shaun is remembering his past. Diss has completely recovered. AND THE THIRD ONE IS SLOWLY REGAINING HIS WAY OF THINKING!" Lynx stood up to The man.
"Not.our.problem." Lynx said slowly. He turned on a heel and began to walk to the door.
"YOU BASTARD! DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!" The man yelled blasting Lynx into the door. Lynx slowly got up as he glared at The man.
"THIS ISN'T HELPING THE SITUATION!" Christy yelled loudly getting all the attention. "They still don't know where Paul, clone Paul, and Shaun is. Let's keep it that way shall we?" Christy said in a leadership tone.
~*~
The boat carried now a very large group of individuals. With both Diss', Shaun, and the original party it was very crowded. Both clones were fast asleep and Diss was busy being the loner he always was. Steena, as she normally was, was at the tip of the boat thinking to herself.
"So we're 'eading ta Marbule. Why is that mate?" Kid asked to Serge.
"I have a feeling we'll find someone there." He replied. "Some one a little important to this party." He said quietly pointing at Steena. Kid got the general idea. She slowly moved up to Steena and sat next to her at the edge of the boat.
"Still worried bout Paul, eh?" Kid asked. Steena just nodded. "Look, if it helps, I miss him also." Steena just remained motionless. "Ya should talk ta Diss. He knows what it's like ta be without a loved one, mate." Steena just nodded slowly and leaned on Kid.
"Remember when we tricked Paul that you and I were in love with each other?" Kid chuckled remembering the whole thing.
"Ya. Tha blimey fool was so stupid he didn't even catch the obvious hint of sarcasm." Steena smiled slightly.
"Ya. He was really bad at taking hints." Steena said quietly. "I miss him." She said even quieter.
"Look, in no time we'll find the bloody freak. Trust me mate!" Kid said encouragingly. Steena just smiled and whispered her thanks. Kid got up and sat back with Serge.
"She lost the only thing that made her, her. And she lost the only man she ever loved." Kid whispered to Serge.
"That really sucks." Serge replied quietly. "Let's just hope we find Paul at Marbule." Serge said hopingly.
~*~
Patrick sat at the other bow. Kid and Steena were talking in low voices, and he didn't care what they said. He looked at his hands slowly as if they too had betrayed him. Thomas' voice continued to echo in his mind, "Your next step is simple. Don't blow it. When faced with the choice of fulfilling a dream and saving a friend choose what you hold dearest."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Patrick mumbled unhappily.
"What's what supposed ta mean?" Kid asked from behind him. Patrick jumped nearly a foot up. "Whoa mate its just me!"
"Kid did anyone ever tell you, you have this bad habit of sneaking up on people?" Patrick said calming himself down.
"No mate why?" She replied casually.
"Cause you do!" Patrick retorted.
"Oh." Kid said softly shrugging her shoulders. Patrick merely buried his face in his hands taking deep breaths relaxing himself.
"So what's up? Why you bugging me?" Patrick asked annoyed.
"We're heading to Marbule soon, just wanted to know if we should expect anything," Kid said matter-of-factly.
"Demi-humans, Demi-humans, and more Demi-humans," Patrick said tersely.
"All right mate, don't have ta be all angry about it," Kid said getting flushed in the face herself.
"Could you leave me alone I have a lot to think about.." Patrick said before looking out on the horizon cutting off further talk. Kid got up in a huff.
"You've changed mate. ya aren't the Diss I knew anymore." Kid mumbled. Patrick merely looked to the horizon small tears streaming down his face into the ocean. "I know.he's dead." Diss whispered slowly to no one.
Steena was the first to jump out of the boat and run into Marbule. Diss gave a nervous twitch holding his eye.
"Obviously we weren't welcome here before." The clone Diss said.
"Had a rock chucked at my eye." Patrick muttered. They walked into the city and instead of the hostile treatment he was welcomed. Ironically by the same man who chucked a rock at Diss before.
"Welcome to Marbule!" he said happily. "Where Demi-Humans and Humans live peacefully." Before anyone could say anything else they heard a loud shriek. Everyone ran to the source and saw Steena on her back with a terrified state in her eyes. Shaun took a look and saw a cave with a man in front of it. He had a dark trench coat on and he held a red sword tightly in his hands.
"WHO THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU?" Kid blared drawing her dagger. The man laughed darkly extending his hand. Both Diss' jumped and tackled Kid before her body was shot full of electrical energy.
"Who ever is out there better not be there when I come out there!" Came the all to familiar voice of Paul. Steena jumped up to her feet and looked at the cave as she waited impatiently to see if it really was Paul. The man turned around and shot electricity into the cave as he entered it.
"OH HELL NO!" Steena blared as she picked up Kid's dagger and ran into the cave.
"Might as well go see the fun." Both Diss' muttered.
"JINX!" Shaun yelled. "You owe me a soda!" Kid just shook her head.
~*~
"OH YEAH!" Paul screamed jackknifing up. "GOTTA HAVE MY SPARKS!" The man laughed softly as he stalked over to Paul. Steena ran up behind The man and jumped kicked him in the back knocking him down. Paul looked at her in aw as she wiped some hair away from her eyes.
"You follow me!" She said sternly pointing at Paul. Paul nodded dumbly grabbing a stuffed lion and heading out. The man slowly got up and glared at Steena. He began to surge with electricity when Christy appeared behind him.
"We got some problems in Gaea's Navel. Shaun is right now yelling at Lynx. I don't know how much longer until they erupt into a fight." Without any hesitation The man turned around and vanished.
"Christy wait!" Both Dissingers yelled before watching as she too vanished merely glaring at them. Patrick felt a knife stab into his chest as he fell to his knees in grief. The Diss only knelt beside him rubbing his back.
~*~
"Leave this place now if you wish to live!" Dave blared at the cat- man standing before him. Leah stood behind Dave holding his leg tightly. Dave tensed holding the mace in his hand as the cat-man stepped forward.
"You will leave or I will kill you it's that simple," the cat-man said. The cat-man produced a scythe.
"No. If you leave now I promise you won't be hurt. That's your choices," Dave said tensing his grip on the mace. The cat-man stepped forward extending his scythe out much like The man in his dreams had the past few nights. Knowing the next inevitable step he prepared gripping it. "Leah, go into the trees I have a nuisance to take care of."
"Ok-um I go-um," Leah said vaulting up the tree to the top before perching there fidgeting with her axe.
"A nuisance? Is that all I am to you?" the cat-man jeered sneering at Dave. Dave walked up so that they were nose-to-nose.
"Lets go pussycat," Dave muttered swinging his mace about hard. The cat-man quickly dodged countering which Dave merely sidestepped lashing out as the cat-man overbalanced. The kick caught the cat-man square in the jaw.
"Impressive, most impressive. Very few have been able to do that to me. I must say it's refreshing to have an opponent that can strategize," the cat-man muttered. He quickly slashed only to find that Dave blocked and kicked again sending the cat-man sprawling.
"Stop yapping and start fighting!" Dave said tersely. Suddenly two people showed up behind the cat-man.
"Lynx can't you do anything right!" A man said stepping forward he had a red sword clutched tightly in his hand. A woman stepped into view behind him two daggers ready. Dave tensed backing of studying them. They helped up the cat-man before dropping into defensive positions.
"Things just got worse for the home team." Dave mumbled stretching before dropping the mace into a battle ready position.
Patrick woke up looking around. Skelly began walking over to him when he held up a hand for silence. Skelly paused waiting silently for Patrick when he grunted slowly getting up.
"Morning?" Skelly asked cautiously. His only reply was a grunt as Patrick pulled his shirt jacket on. He got up walking off and Skelly took it as a good sign. As Patrick walked off Skelly started following him. He held up his hand again and mumbled,
"Bathroom." He kept walking quietly towards where the grave was. Skelly tried to stop him but he simply ignored him as he continued his walk.
"That boy is walking into a world of pain.." Skelly muttered as he started crouching forward.
~*~
Patrick walked forward as he saw two people ahead of him. The man on the left, no not a man, a Cat man had a deadly looking scythe ready. The one on the right was a beautiful woman in his opinion. She had two daggers in hand. She had brown hair and seductive gray eyes. She wore a pair of pants and a shirt. She also wore a trench coat that seemed to mask her true musculature.
"W-w-w-who are you" Patrick stammered.
"We're your destiny," The cat man said.
"And you are Patrick Eric Dissinger.." The woman said haughtily as if the name were an insult itself. Patrick got into a fighting position slowly as if trying to hide it. The cat man spoke slowly and deliberately.
"You have two choices, a quick easy death if you don't resist. Or a redefinition of pain before you die," The cat man said disdainfully.
"Either of you got a coin?" Patrick said quickly. Both looked at him curiously. He repeated the question, while they both were looking through their pockets he jumped the cat man attacking. "Because I need it to make a phone call after I am through with you!"
~*~
"This place is freaking me out.." Kid said quietly. Steena nodded as she walked to the central pillar. She tried everything she knew, but the pillar wouldn't reveal the secret elevator. She turned to leave with the others out the front door only to be stopped by Diss.
"You ain't leaving with the spoils you stole. Grave robbers!" Diss shouted. Steena sighed as she brushed right past Diss ignoring him. Steena was just able to dodge the incoming fireball. "Strike one." Diss growled. Steena dropped her bags and took out her sword. Diss charged and was swatted to the side into a rock. He slowly got up and charged after Steena who was leaving again. He tackled her from behind and pinned her in a full nelson arching up on her spine while sitting on it. Kid and the others were about to help when the sound of thunder echoed in the background. The lightening struck close to Diss and Steena allowing Steena the opportunity to escape Diss' hold. She did a hard roundhouse kick to Diss' head and he stumbled around momentarily.
"Mommy, I want a pony.." mumbled Diss before falling flat on his face. Steena had this wicked look in her eyes as she glared at Diss.
"I'm going scouting!" Steena yelled to the others. Before anyone could stop her she was gone.
"Do ya think Paul influenced her enough?" Kid asked annoyed. Serge sighed sitting down while Kid checked on Diss.
~*~
"Damn." Miguel muttered as he looked at his friend. Just seconds ago he managed to change the clear skies to a violent thunderstorm.
"I have no idea where that came from." the man said carefully. "What the HELL was that all about?" he asked himself more than anyone else. He had somehow summoned lightening to strike somewhere off in another place and he nearly killed two people in the process. But something told him to do it.
"You mean to tell me that you just randomly did that?" Miguel asked astonished. The man replied slowly and quietly like he was making it up as he went along.
"Ya, I think I have this strange ability to control this element. That was the only time I truly felt alive. When the electricity was running through my blood. The power Miguel! MY GOD THE POWER!" The man began to lose it at the end as Miguel wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.
"Well, if you're insane you sure are in the right place." Miguel muttered to himself.
~*~
Patrick snarled as he began pummeling the cat man. The girl pulled him off as Patrick clawed at him, but he stopped moving as she pressed a dagger to his throat. The clawing had pulled a necklace out from under his robes. The necklace had one ornament. A small ring hung from the necklace. A flash of fire lit Patrick's eyes as he saw it. The images replayed in his mind again as the cat man slowly got up and raised his scythe for a deathblow.
"Give her back her engagement ring.." Patrick said coldly.
"What's wrong Patrick, little angry?" The cat man said mockingly.
"No Lynx, and My name is DISS!" Diss said angrily as he caused flame to erupt over his body. The girl backed off to avoid being burned as Diss slowly got up facing Lynx. He stretched forth his hand as the fire expanded into a strip. The strip slowly took the form of his long dormant dragon staff. Lynx's eyes bulged as he saw what happened.
"How." He began.
"That ring belongs to Christy, give it back to her!" Diss said his voice dripping icily. The girl moved in quickly and Diss merely sidestepped her letting her rush before him. "I'll take care of you later darling. I don't want to hurt you too badly."
"I think you should want to hurt me more, especially since I'm NOT your darling!" She said lunging at him. He grabbed her hand by the wrist and twisted in a well-practiced maneuver flipping her onto her back. He slashed at Lynx, who appeared to be charging an attack. Lynx cursed as he stopped charging to block feebly. Diss continued his attack until he slashed and was stopped mid-slash. He tried to continue the attack, but couldn't no matter how hard he try. The girl walked into his field of vision. "Easier than I thought. You have no defenses at all, even a baby could-" She stopped as she felt him push into her mind. As she tried desperately to push him out he finished the slash with every ounce of reserved energy.
Lynx barely moved in time. The girl looked at him confused as she finally got him out of her mind. She pounced Patrick as they both skidded towards the edge of the cliff. He pushed her off him as he saw Skelly run into the battle.
"Skelly, NO!" Diss shouted as Lynx quickly swung at head level. In mere seconds Skelly's skull was shattered from the scythe blow and the body dropped limply. Diss felt overwhelming guilt and grief as the Girl moved to an attack position.
"Now you die, like your friend!" She said as Diss felt an overwhelming push against him. He fell off the cliff hurdling to the sea below.
~*~
"Did he hit water?" Lynx asked quickly. The girl looked over the edge nodding as she saw a large splash. Lynx sighed to his relief, "At least we got both done at the same time, and he's immersed in water."
"Why's that important?" She asked.
"Helps keep him dead. That's all you need to know." Lynx said gruffly. She looked at the ring around his neck and got a funny look on her face. He grumbled seeing it and put her to sleep before she came around. Quickly stuffing it under his robes he looked at it only to see a small- engraved message. The inscription read:
"To Christy, with all my heart and Soul, Diss."
~*~
As Dave and Leah walked down the path a loud roar filled the air. Instantly Leah jumped high into a tree and began to climb higher shouting at Dave.
"GET IN, UM TREE!" Dave looked around as he realized a large dinosaur was charging right at him. He looked around and saw a large boulder next to him, and a mace beside it.
"UH-OH!" Dave said quickly realizing he was limited to few options. He grabbed the mace and hurled it at the dinosaur. It hit square on the nose angering it some more. Its sharp claws retracted as it swung at Dave in a deathblow. Dave ducked and covered himself bracing for the doom sure to arrive.
"Dear god almighty take pity on my soul!" Dave screamed. He closed his eyes and held himself tightly as he felt vibrations from the ground. He waited a few moments before he opened his eyes. He heard a distinct scratching as he realized he was completely surrounded by rock.
"What in the blue hell." Dave muttered in wonder.
He held his hands forward and placed them on the rocks. Slowly he could feel the odd connection between him and the earth. He closed his eyes as he violently ripped the rock barrier apart and took two shattered pieces bashing away at the dinosaur. He lashed out violently cracking the dinosaur's skull with a hammer like hit and he continued pounding the beast. He stopped as he dropped the two rock fragments and fell unconscious tired.
~*~
The man sat at the computer console watching in absolute disgust. Diss had remembered his fire powers. Shaun remembered his rock powers. And Paul had somehow managed to change the weather in a different dimension. His plans were being thrown into disarray. He slowly picked up the phone. He dialed a few digits on it and then waited.
"Mrs. Leo speaking." Came a female voice.
"I'd like to know what my future looks like." The man said rather edgy.
"Please hold for a few moments while I prepare for your reading." The man waited tapping his fingers as he slowly waited for five minutes. "Thank you for holding dear. Now, please hold while I take this call real quick." The man grunted before he could object. He began to grow impatient when a computer voice took the call.
"Please understand that your call will no longer be $5.25 per 10 minutes. It will be $6.25 per minute now. Thank you for calling Leo!" The man screamed in frustration as he realized he had already spent 10 minutes on the phone.
"Thank you again deary. Now what can Leo do for you?" The man mumbled some crud words.
"You're the psychic. Can't you tell?"
"No deary, now please hold." The man's eyes grew wide in anger as he saw the minutes tick away. He was now up to 15. "Okay deary. Go ahead."
"WHAT IS THIS, SOME KIND OF SCAM?" The man yelled.
"Oh I'm so sorry sweetie. But I can't complete your call. Good-Bye now!" The man smashed his fist on the computer keyboard. A computer voice informed The man he would be billed for an hour's worth since they round up to the nearest hour. The man began to sniffle in anger as he wondered what the cruel world had against him.
~*~
Lynx slowly smiled as he calmly put the phone down.
"That Leo scam never gets old." Lynx muttered to himself as he entered The man's room.
~*~
Steena looked around the forest area as she slowed down her pace confident that no one had trailed her. She sat on a rock breathing hard catching her breath. Slowly she began to cry as her hands buried her face behind them.
"Oh Paul, where are you?" She asked stupidly. "How did you know I was in trouble?" She asked in the same tone again. She continued to cry as she let the tears flow. She sniffled trying to regain herself when she heard the calm voice of Samantha.
"You okay?" She asked coming into sight.
"Ya..." Steena said quietly sniffling. "Why do people ask that question any way?" Steena said dumbly.
"Paul put it this way. It's the only thing people can say during a situation like this." Samantha replied calmly sitting next to her.
"Good answer." Steena said getting up. "Now answer me this." Steena said clearing her voice.
"Go ahead." Samantha said motioning her to continue.
"All my life I grew up learning about dragons and the hidden element of the Chrono Cross. I took all those lessons to heart and indulged myself in them that I couldn't picture a world without them. And here I am, my worst nightmare come true." Samantha tried to figure out the question in there.
"Um, life sucks eat it up?" Samantha offered. Steena and Samantha looked at each other before they both gave a nervous laugh.
"Let me guess." Steena started.
"Yep, Paul logic." Samantha finished smiling getting up. Steena got up as well and they both gave each other a small hug.
"You going to be okay?" Steena asked.
"Oh yeah. I'm dead, what problems would I have?" Steena looked at Samantha and blinked a few times.
"Oh.well some people don't get that luxury."
"This a luxury?" Samantha asked grinning. "I expected hot boys in Speedos. And all I get is following my stupid brother around. THIS is not a luxury." Samantha said grinning again.
"Touché" Steena said smiling. Samantha left vanishing behind a bush as Steena turned to the other group.
~*~
Diss clung tightly to his dragon staff. He was a good ten feet from the ocean, but he had to go up or he would die. He would hang on by his hand and slam his staff into the cliff allowing him to climb up the cliff slowly. He let his rage guide him as he continued his climb until he hung from the lip of the cliff. He grunted as he pulled himself up and flopped over the edge. Breathing a big sigh he spoke to the empty wastes, "I think that counts as my near death experience for the day."
~*~
"Where were ya?" Kid asked snobbishly as Steena slowly left the area that concealed her.
"Reflecting on things." Steena replied casually. Diss slowly approached the group of travelers carefully.
"I wish to join you people. That cool with you?" He said calmly.
"Sure. I think they can help you like they are helping me!" Shaun replied. Kid and Serge nodded and Diss gave a small grin.
"I thought you would let me join ya." he said running behind a bush. "So I already packed my bags." Steena sighed shaking her head.
"Can I make a request?" Serge muttered quietly.
"Go ahead." Kid replied helping Diss with his bags.
"Let's head to the Isle Of The Damned to see who else died." Steena nodded agreeing to the idea.
~*~
"You fool!" The man raged. Lynx flinched as if The man had actually dealt him a physical blow.
"Sorry," Lynx muttered slowly.
"You let the clone join the group, you failed to kill the original copy AND on top of that you nearly let Christy relapse! Are you really that stupid or did you have to try to be?" The man continued his tirade. Christy stepped between them.
"Arguing and yelling now wont make this easier on us. Obviously we'll have to try to take out the original again before he reaches here and reclaims his position. I suggest we do so when they go through the Dead Sea. Obviously trying any other method will get us killed, especially since the main group is heading right for him," She said calmly. The man mumbled something about incompetent fools and raged off. "Lynx, we're going to get him soon enough, for now we should prepare for any other tricks that our rival can throw at us." Lynx merely nodded wanting to repay Diss for all the trouble he had caused within a minute of relapsing.
~*~
"The Isle of the Damned.talk about your fixer upper." Diss said to the group. Shaun chuckled as the others moved along the island. They slowly made it through to the place Garai's grave stood. A lone figure was sprawled on the ground, a dragon staff lying in his outstretched hand. As soon as Diss saw the figure he had a flashback and stumbled his memory returning. "Eric." He breathed.
"Wait a second. that's Eric?" Steena asked.
"Yup, that's him or I had a twin brother I was never told about," Diss said coldly. The group looked at him as he nudged the down figure. The figure groaned as he started getting up.
"Whoever woke me up better be ready to suffer the consequences!" The downed man said in a voice identical to Diss. As he looked up everyone saw the man looked just like Diss. He looked at the other Diss and breathed, "Eric."
"I'm not Eric you are!" Countered the standing Diss.
"If I'm Eric, then we're all in trouble. But seeing as how your going to kill me, lets just get this over with in the customary way shall we?" The downed Diss spat. He grabbed his dragon staff tighter as he casually tossed off his shirt jacket. The other Diss did likewise. The group stood in disbelief as they went through the same warm-up. Cracking of knuckles followed by cracking their necks before they began the fight. The staffs linked together as they fought with viciousness. Steena watched as they showed the same attack and counter as if testing each other. Finding that the other knew every trick they got creative adding attacks in a dizzying pace. Soon they were going so fast it was impossible to see the staffs. It became obvious which Diss was which as one got tired and started slowing down. Kid tensed getting ready to jump the faster one as the tired one was tripped up in a surprise maneuver. He raised his staff and Kid bolted pinning him. "Kid what the hell are you doing?" he asked in shock.
"Stopping ya from making a bloody mistake!" She yelled tossing his staff away. The slower one got up and raised his own staff for the deathblow when Shaun locked him in a full nelson.
"I don't think so boss." He said quickly. The words just spilled out that everyone looked at him.
"Boss?" The Diss under Kid asked.
"I did say that huh?" Shaun asked nervously.
"Listen both of you, we obviously have two clones here. The one under Kid is the original. The one being restrained by Shaun is a full copy of Diss, not Eric. So both of you stop fighting and start figuring how this is going to work out. Because unless you two get your act together my boyfriend is going to be stuck wherever he is!" Steena shouted at the two. The two Dissingers looked down before looking at each other.
"Draw?" The Diss under Kid said slowly.
"Draw." The Diss being restrained said. Both picked up their shirt jackets and shrugged them on before shaking recalling their staffs.
~*~
The man and Miguel both were sitting around a fire as two shadow figures approached.
"We're closed." The man muttered.
"Well that's just too bad." A freakishly familiar voice from a girl replied. The man whipped around and saw a Cat like human, and a girl next to him daggers drawn.
"Must there always be violence." Miguel muttered standing up. The man quickly got up and so did his pet squirrel. The woman tried hard to peer into The man's mind, but she screamed in agony as The man grinned with sadistic glee.
"What's wrong, Christy?" Lynx yelled.
"His mind, I can't get into it!" Christy yelled back angrily.
"Let's wear him down first." Lynx suggested gripping his scythe. Miguel began to quickly chant something as his arm slowly began glowing as a white energy like substance formed into a sword.
"Pipsqueak has a sword. How cute." Lynx muttered sending a Shadow Cat at Miguel. The cat dove in and was met with a poor doom as Miguel cleanly ripped off the cat's head.
"Pipsqueak got game boy!" Miguel growled. Lynx stood in horror to see the cat's limp body fall over and vanish.
"Are we going to fight, or do you wanna get that on tape first." Christy commented. Lynx shook off his panic as he dove at Miguel only to be kicked away by The man.
"Don't forget there's two." He bated under his breath.
"You better get up Lynx if you know what's good for you." Christy growled again. Lynx slowly stood up as The man grabbed the nearest object.
"Gr." was the sound that came from The man's weapon.
"Whoops, sorry Henry." The man said dropping the squirrel and picking up a knife. He hurled it at the woman who without flinching stopped the incoming projectile and hurled it strait back at The man without lifting a finger.
"MEEP!" The man yelled as he dodged the knife. Miguel dove in and single handily beat Lynx down.
"FOOL!" Christy yelled as her eyes narrowed on Miguel. Miguel bolted at the woman before he fell into a complete crawl before stopping completely. The man looked at the woman in wonder.
"Um, can I do that?" The man asked. The woman didn't catch the trick in time as The man dove in for a kick. It connected with her jaw and she fell backwards many feet before she was slowly able to regroup. The man dove in but landed on a busted trashcan. The woman rose into a crane fighting position. The man began to shuffle in his same spot cracking his neck and hands.
"I was a tai chi champion before. Do you want to really fight me?" The man nodded laughing evilly. He got a quick image in his mind of him bloody and bruised raising a torn and battered belt in the air. At his feet in the crowd were two girls. One six or seven, the other just a bit older than him clapping. The image left but he remembered something as he shared it with the woman screaming,
"HARDCORE CHAMPION!" The woman realized her bluff was not going to work. Lynx slowly got up grabbing the woman by the shoulder.
"News from the head guy. We need to split before he remembers anything else! This fight is only improving his memory; we can't risk anything else slipping by. Let's move it!" Christy nodded as she turned to flee. The man laughed evilly as he chucked a trashcan lid at Lynx, which connected, with his back.
"NEXT TIME JUST BRING IT!" He yelled loudly laughing again. Miguel slowly got up and pinched an area between his friend's neck and shoulder.
"Time to relax now." Miguel said falling down next to his friend. The squirrel looked at the two in confusion.
~*~!
The two Dissingers look at each other as the group looked on. Apparently they were thinking before the first one spoke up.
"I'll be Patrick, you keep the nickname," One said slowly.
"Why?" Diss asked.
"In remembrance of a friend," Patrick said softly his gaze falling upon a skeleton.
"Now that we have the introductions out of the way, how about we move on," Shaun asked quietly.
"I just want to check one thing." Steena said looking at the gravestone that Patrick had lay on. She brushed the dirt off and gasped in shock. Everyone looked at her before Serge looked at it and delivered the second largest bit of bad news.
"It's Fargo's." He said. The entire group except the clone Diss and Shaun were silently looking respectfully down.
~*~
Patrick looked up at the stars fighting back the tears. "First Glenn, now Fargo? Are you giving us any chance at all?" He said softly. He looked down at his hand and shuddered, "And now my Fiancée is fighting me. Is this some test? Am I supposed to take this as a joke? If this is a joke then someone is going to pay."
"Who?" Came a voice impossibly familiar. Diss spun to see a man standing behind him. The man had Brown hair much like him, but he had a sword in its sheath at his side. His dress was the comfortable jeans and T- shirt that he had favored.
"T-t-t-thomas?" Patrick stammered out.
"Diss, you know better to answer a question with a question. Now answer my question, who?" Thomas said in a fatherly tone.
"The world." Patrick replied slowly.
"Oh but Diss, haven't I taught you about the world?" Thomas asked. Diss gave him a dumb look that clearly said he had no idea what Thomas was talking about Thomas gave a defeated sigh. "My pupil has fallen from the grace he once possessed. Has he really forgotten his lessons so easily?"
"Thomas? What are you talking about?" Patrick responded.
"My dear pupil, the world owes you nothing at all. You cannot blame the world for your problems. If you want to blame someone blame THE MAN," Thomas said softly.
"Thomas I don't have the time to wax philosophy. This world owes me its-"
"Did you actually travel around this world and righted every wrong on its face?"
"No but-"
"Did you help every person you met?"
"No of course-"
"Then you saved the ecosystem?"
"That's redicu-
"No its not, because if you hadn't done one of those things then the world itself owes you nothing. This timeline itself owes you nothing for its entirely different than the one you saved. And your friends owe you only a thank you for not getting them killed," Thomas cut him off sharply.
"Looks like I'm in need of another teachers lesson aren't I?" Diss said angrily.
"I can't fight you Diss." Thomas said softly.
"Why, afraid now that I'm a master?" He retorted angrily.
"I'm dead," Thomas said curtly. Patrick seemed to deflate with the comment.
"You don't have to rub it in." He said sulkily.
"Your next step is simple. Don't blow it. When faced with the choice of fulfilling a dream and saving a friend choose what you hold dearest," Thomas said slowly.
"One last question, is that really you? Or are you some kind of hallucination?" Patrick asked.
"My pupil, wait and see, wait and see." Thomas said fading.
~*~
"Leah, where are we going now?" Dave asked being tugged by Leah.
"We um, going home." Leah said happily. Dave nodded getting the idea now. Leah led him to an open clearing full of giant bugs destroying everything. Dave grew angry, as did Leah.
"YOU DUMB, UM BUGS!" Leah shouted tossing a small rock angering a bug as it turned along with others charging at the two. Dave stood in front of Leah and narrowed his eyes on a rock to the left of the first bug. With his will power the rock began to shake and rumble as it dislodged from the ground and smacked straight up and rolled over all the bugs turning when necessary. The bugs were being squashed quickly and easily as Leah watched in delight.
"Squish." Dave muttered as the last bug was squashed. Dave fell down onto his knees as he looked at the earth. He could feel the odd connection again as his mind shot back to recalled memory of him and the two men from before.
~*~
"GOD DAMNIT CAN'T ANYTHING GO RIGHT?" The man yelled to Lynx and Christy.
"Sorry." They both replied quietly.
"SORRY YOU TWO GOT YOUR ASS WHOOPED!" The man yelled again. "Shaun is remembering his past. Diss has completely recovered. AND THE THIRD ONE IS SLOWLY REGAINING HIS WAY OF THINKING!" Lynx stood up to The man.
"Not.our.problem." Lynx said slowly. He turned on a heel and began to walk to the door.
"YOU BASTARD! DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!" The man yelled blasting Lynx into the door. Lynx slowly got up as he glared at The man.
"THIS ISN'T HELPING THE SITUATION!" Christy yelled loudly getting all the attention. "They still don't know where Paul, clone Paul, and Shaun is. Let's keep it that way shall we?" Christy said in a leadership tone.
~*~
The boat carried now a very large group of individuals. With both Diss', Shaun, and the original party it was very crowded. Both clones were fast asleep and Diss was busy being the loner he always was. Steena, as she normally was, was at the tip of the boat thinking to herself.
"So we're 'eading ta Marbule. Why is that mate?" Kid asked to Serge.
"I have a feeling we'll find someone there." He replied. "Some one a little important to this party." He said quietly pointing at Steena. Kid got the general idea. She slowly moved up to Steena and sat next to her at the edge of the boat.
"Still worried bout Paul, eh?" Kid asked. Steena just nodded. "Look, if it helps, I miss him also." Steena just remained motionless. "Ya should talk ta Diss. He knows what it's like ta be without a loved one, mate." Steena just nodded slowly and leaned on Kid.
"Remember when we tricked Paul that you and I were in love with each other?" Kid chuckled remembering the whole thing.
"Ya. Tha blimey fool was so stupid he didn't even catch the obvious hint of sarcasm." Steena smiled slightly.
"Ya. He was really bad at taking hints." Steena said quietly. "I miss him." She said even quieter.
"Look, in no time we'll find the bloody freak. Trust me mate!" Kid said encouragingly. Steena just smiled and whispered her thanks. Kid got up and sat back with Serge.
"She lost the only thing that made her, her. And she lost the only man she ever loved." Kid whispered to Serge.
"That really sucks." Serge replied quietly. "Let's just hope we find Paul at Marbule." Serge said hopingly.
~*~
Patrick sat at the other bow. Kid and Steena were talking in low voices, and he didn't care what they said. He looked at his hands slowly as if they too had betrayed him. Thomas' voice continued to echo in his mind, "Your next step is simple. Don't blow it. When faced with the choice of fulfilling a dream and saving a friend choose what you hold dearest."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Patrick mumbled unhappily.
"What's what supposed ta mean?" Kid asked from behind him. Patrick jumped nearly a foot up. "Whoa mate its just me!"
"Kid did anyone ever tell you, you have this bad habit of sneaking up on people?" Patrick said calming himself down.
"No mate why?" She replied casually.
"Cause you do!" Patrick retorted.
"Oh." Kid said softly shrugging her shoulders. Patrick merely buried his face in his hands taking deep breaths relaxing himself.
"So what's up? Why you bugging me?" Patrick asked annoyed.
"We're heading to Marbule soon, just wanted to know if we should expect anything," Kid said matter-of-factly.
"Demi-humans, Demi-humans, and more Demi-humans," Patrick said tersely.
"All right mate, don't have ta be all angry about it," Kid said getting flushed in the face herself.
"Could you leave me alone I have a lot to think about.." Patrick said before looking out on the horizon cutting off further talk. Kid got up in a huff.
"You've changed mate. ya aren't the Diss I knew anymore." Kid mumbled. Patrick merely looked to the horizon small tears streaming down his face into the ocean. "I know.he's dead." Diss whispered slowly to no one.
Steena was the first to jump out of the boat and run into Marbule. Diss gave a nervous twitch holding his eye.
"Obviously we weren't welcome here before." The clone Diss said.
"Had a rock chucked at my eye." Patrick muttered. They walked into the city and instead of the hostile treatment he was welcomed. Ironically by the same man who chucked a rock at Diss before.
"Welcome to Marbule!" he said happily. "Where Demi-Humans and Humans live peacefully." Before anyone could say anything else they heard a loud shriek. Everyone ran to the source and saw Steena on her back with a terrified state in her eyes. Shaun took a look and saw a cave with a man in front of it. He had a dark trench coat on and he held a red sword tightly in his hands.
"WHO THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU?" Kid blared drawing her dagger. The man laughed darkly extending his hand. Both Diss' jumped and tackled Kid before her body was shot full of electrical energy.
"Who ever is out there better not be there when I come out there!" Came the all to familiar voice of Paul. Steena jumped up to her feet and looked at the cave as she waited impatiently to see if it really was Paul. The man turned around and shot electricity into the cave as he entered it.
"OH HELL NO!" Steena blared as she picked up Kid's dagger and ran into the cave.
"Might as well go see the fun." Both Diss' muttered.
"JINX!" Shaun yelled. "You owe me a soda!" Kid just shook her head.
~*~
"OH YEAH!" Paul screamed jackknifing up. "GOTTA HAVE MY SPARKS!" The man laughed softly as he stalked over to Paul. Steena ran up behind The man and jumped kicked him in the back knocking him down. Paul looked at her in aw as she wiped some hair away from her eyes.
"You follow me!" She said sternly pointing at Paul. Paul nodded dumbly grabbing a stuffed lion and heading out. The man slowly got up and glared at Steena. He began to surge with electricity when Christy appeared behind him.
"We got some problems in Gaea's Navel. Shaun is right now yelling at Lynx. I don't know how much longer until they erupt into a fight." Without any hesitation The man turned around and vanished.
"Christy wait!" Both Dissingers yelled before watching as she too vanished merely glaring at them. Patrick felt a knife stab into his chest as he fell to his knees in grief. The Diss only knelt beside him rubbing his back.
~*~
"Leave this place now if you wish to live!" Dave blared at the cat- man standing before him. Leah stood behind Dave holding his leg tightly. Dave tensed holding the mace in his hand as the cat-man stepped forward.
"You will leave or I will kill you it's that simple," the cat-man said. The cat-man produced a scythe.
"No. If you leave now I promise you won't be hurt. That's your choices," Dave said tensing his grip on the mace. The cat-man stepped forward extending his scythe out much like The man in his dreams had the past few nights. Knowing the next inevitable step he prepared gripping it. "Leah, go into the trees I have a nuisance to take care of."
"Ok-um I go-um," Leah said vaulting up the tree to the top before perching there fidgeting with her axe.
"A nuisance? Is that all I am to you?" the cat-man jeered sneering at Dave. Dave walked up so that they were nose-to-nose.
"Lets go pussycat," Dave muttered swinging his mace about hard. The cat-man quickly dodged countering which Dave merely sidestepped lashing out as the cat-man overbalanced. The kick caught the cat-man square in the jaw.
"Impressive, most impressive. Very few have been able to do that to me. I must say it's refreshing to have an opponent that can strategize," the cat-man muttered. He quickly slashed only to find that Dave blocked and kicked again sending the cat-man sprawling.
"Stop yapping and start fighting!" Dave said tersely. Suddenly two people showed up behind the cat-man.
"Lynx can't you do anything right!" A man said stepping forward he had a red sword clutched tightly in his hand. A woman stepped into view behind him two daggers ready. Dave tensed backing of studying them. They helped up the cat-man before dropping into defensive positions.
"Things just got worse for the home team." Dave mumbled stretching before dropping the mace into a battle ready position.