Shana: (demonic flashing eyes) Grr… (evil Sephiroth song, One Winged Angel, starts)
Zidane: (walks into the room) (sees her) Shit! Who set her off!?
Shana: (bright silvery fire aura surrounds her) GRR….
Blank: (walks into room, carrying hot coffee) (nearly gets hit with a fireball) WHAT THE HELL!? (accidentally spills coffee all over a newcomer)
Guy: OWW! You little son of a— (almost pummels Blank but is stopped)
New person: (stands in-between the guy and Blank) You can't kill Blank, Demon! You'll make Mistress even madder!
Zidane: (stares) Who are you two!?
New person: (bows) I am Saint. This is Demon. We are the shoulder angels of Mistress Shana.
Demon: (growls) And I'm in favor of killing you pests.
Shana: (snarls) DESTROY!! (uses silver fire to blow things up.)
Zidane: (amused glance) Who ticked her off?
Saint: (smiles weakly) Well, you see—
Shana: (hollers) Tania!! You aren't supposed to use the review thingy to tell me personal stuff! I was going to call you back, but I had to do things and work on this!! So I'm not calling now! Nope! You'll get your just desserts! I mean it! And I know you're reading this!
Blank: ……her friend?
Saint: (nods) Yes, unfortunately, with all the trauma she has had this night, she couldn't take Miss Tania misusing the review system.
Demon: (adds) She wanted to get rid of that review, but didn't know if that would remove the other ones from that girl. Personally, I think she should just do it anyway. If it does delete all of Tania's reviews…well, I say it's revenge!
Saint: (appalled) No! That wouldn't be nice!
Zidane: (whispers to Blank) I can see why she doesn't listen to them often.
Blank: (watches the bickering shoulder angels) Yeah, me too.
Kuja: (enters and sees the blown up room) (sighs) Hmm. (notices no one has said it) I guess I will…To the fic!!
Someone was shaking me. I frowned and tried to ignore the person.
"It is time to awaken," said a monotone voice.
I opened my eyes. Holding me by the arm was a Genome girl. She looked to be fourteen, which wasn't necessarily true, considering that on Terra, soul-less Gnomes didn't age. She had long dark brown braided hair with matching dull dark brown eyes. Her tanned skin color really contrasted with my pale white one. She had to be a new Genome, as I hadn't seen her before.
"It is time to awaken," she repeated in monotone.
"I'm up, I'm up!" I got my arm out of her firm grasp.
Geez, this girl had kung-fu grip. I rubbed my bruised arm. Gesturing for her to leave, I hopped out of my bed. She inclined her head with respect as all soul-less Genomes did when they saw me. I was Garland's favorite, so even they treated me different. Tail swishing, she left my room.
"Ugh," I moaned.
I hated getting up at five o'clock in the morning every day. I seriously considered falling back asleep, but I knew what punishment I would get if I did. Besides, my body was used to it. I just didn't enjoy being up before everybody normal did.
Sighing, I took off my nightshirt and put on my daywear. Black pants and a black sleeveless t-shirt. Master Garland said it was proper for my training. Oh, yeah. I rolled my eyes. Once I got up, I had to practice my skills and magic 'till noon. Then I was allowed to have a little lunch. After I finished that, it was study time. I actually liked to stay in the library. It was cool, quiet, and I could read interesting books. I considered it my safe haven. At seven o'clock I had to go have dinner with Master Garland. Finally, I got two hours to myself and then I had to go to bed.
I walked out of my room. On my way, I was stopped by one of the older Genomes. I tried to go around him, but he blocked my path.
"Why won't you move?" I exclaimed in frustration.
"Master Garland wants thee," grunted the Genome.
"Now?"
I gaped. He never called me in the morning. He was usually asleep at this time. To my question, the Genome nodded.
"Thy must come now." The Genome strode down the corridor.
I quickly followed. The longer you kept Master Garland waiting, the more you paid for it. To my amazement, I was led to Garland's biggest lab. I wasn't even allowed in here. Why was I supposed to come here now?
"Angel of Death, come here!" barked Master Garland from inside the lab.
I ran past the retreating Genome into the laboratory. It was a strange place. All these big machines I didn't understand. Garland was in the middle of the lab. He was standing in front of one of the weird machines. I trotted over to him.
"Yes, Master Garland?" I inquired.
"I need to show you something. But first you need to understand."
"Understand what?"
"When I created you, I miscalculated. You aren't going to be as strong as I wished—"
"Master?"
"What?"
"Why do I have to be strong?"
Garland sighed. He kneeled down until he could look me straight in the eyes. I didn't comprehend his reluctance.
"You see, my precious Angel of Death, Terra is dying."
"……why?"
"I'm not exactly sure myself. But I think it has to do with the planet's core. It is old and strained. You need to be strong because you have to find a new core."
"How can I get one?"
"In destroying Gaia."
I stared at him. Destroy Gaia? But it didn't look like an evil place. It actually seemed nice. I had always wanted to go there, but hadn't ever been permitted to. I backed up from Master Garland. No. He couldn't ask that of me. He had to be joking. I was only six. Then the cruel voice of logic spoke up in my head. If he was kidding, then why have you had to fight as far back as you remember? It demanded. I tried to ignore what it was saying. Also, have you really ever thought of why you are called the Angel of Death? It is because you are a killer. Created to be a murderer. No wonder the other children are afraid of you. You are an evil creation. There is nothing good about you. It continued. I covered my ears. I didn't notice that Garland was concerned. I was too busy in the mental attack. You are pure evil. Your angelic looks barely hide your true nature. That's why no one cares about you. You are just a pawn, to be controlled and thrown away. The voice sneered. I shuddered in defiance.
Garland gently shook me. I snapped out of my self-induced daze. Tears fell. I hurriedly wiped them away. I shouldn't insult Master Garland by being weak. Even if I was created to do evil……at least I had a purpose for existing.
"S-so Master. You wanted to show me something. What is it?" I stuttered.
He stood up.
"Yes, anyway, I have created a assistant for you. Someone to help you," Garland started.
He reached into the circular machine at his feet. I just watched, still reeling. He pulled out a bundle of cloth. There was something in it. I peered closer, now curious. To my shock, Master Garland dumped the bundle into my arms. It was sort of heavy. Suddenly, a small head popped up out of the blankets.
"Hi!" it piped.
"Uh…"
I unwrapped the tiny lithe body that was a little girl Genome. She happily grinned. I was amazed. She was so different then the others. Did she, like me, have a soul?
"She is the Angel of Destruction. I need you to teach her everything she needs to know." With that, Garland left the lab.
I stood there, holding the little energetic two-year-old. I was supposed to train her…? Why me? There must be someone who could it better.
"Are you my big brother?" the girl asked.
"Um…" I didn't know.
"You must be! My own sweet big brother! I love you!" She hugged me tightly, impossibly cute.
She loved me…? But I had just met her! I had known her for maybe five minutes. How could she—
"What's your name?" she stared up at me with adorable sky blue eyes.
"I—I don't have one."
I was puzzled. I had a title; it was Angel of Death. But that wasn't my name. I had never truly given thought to having one till now. She tilted her head to the side, confused.
"Everyone has a name!"
She was so…so…adorable. I brushed her pale blond hair out of her eyes. She tittered and messed up her chin-length hair purposely.
"You silly imp!" I exclaimed.
Her grin widened, and she wagged her cute little tail. It was the same pale blond as her hair even though she seemed to have panther's tail. Like my furry silver tail, it seemed like something out of fantasy.
…I knew where I could get a name! I recalled an old fairy tale I had enjoyed hearing. What was the hero's name again…?
"Kuja," I said, remembering.
"Kuja's your name? That's weird!" she laughed, then paused, "What's mine?"
I quickly thought of the other important character in the story. The hero's quest was to save his sister from certain death. The sister's name was Mikane. I wondered if she'd like that. It was worth a try.
"Your name is Mikane," I told her.
She jumped out of my arms and skipped in little circles, shouting 'Mikane! Mikane!' I guess she liked it. I realized that I liked my new name too. Kuja. It had a nice ring to it. Suddenly, she leapt back into my arms.
"I'm Mikane! Hello, my big brother Kuja!" Mikane giggled and kissed me on the cheek.
I looked at her as a smile slowly spread across my face.
Shana: (has calmed down) …um…
Saint: (relieved that the violence is over) Say it.
Shana: I'm sorry for blowing up the whole house and distressing…some certain people…(glances meaningfully at Saint)
Saint: (pouts slightly)
Shana: (closes eyes, concluding) And won't—will try not to, anyway—do it again.
Demon: (rolls eyes) She'll do it again tomorrow.
Shana: (sticks out her tongue) Well, so far, I'd like to thank everyone who's reviewed and one other great person, you all get cookies. (grins)
Thaliel, cookies for you, (::) (::)
murdered by god, cookies for you, (::) (::)
RefugeofSouls, cookies for you, (::) (::)
Tania (etroop20291adelpheia.net), one cookie—fine two for you too, (::) (::)
and finally…
Ravyn Crescent, boxes of cookies for being a great friend, [=] [=]
Demon: Yeah, thanks for reviewing and making my life miserable.
Shana: GRR…Do not insult the people who are nice to me!! (kicks him in the stomach)
Saint: Mistress Shana! Think about what you're doing!
Shana: (stiffens, but pauses) You're right. (kicks Saint in the stomach too)
Saint: Wah! (runs away to his room and locks the door, fearfully)
Demon: (calls after him) You nimrod, this house is in her imagination. If she wants you dead, you can't escape!
Shana: (mutters) I swear, if he calls me Mistress Shana one more time, I'll make him regret it…
Demon: Whatever……where did those other freaks go? (looks around)
Zidane: (comes riding in on a chocobo, which runs Demon over) (shouts to the reader as he rides past) REVIEW!!