Chapter Twenty-two
The End As Is Known
I didn't know what to think, or let alone do, when I found myself on the ground, my back smarting from hitting the ground hard, and my knees stinging from fresh cuts. The tip of Beatrix's sword was only two inches from my throat. Her eye was hard with anger, yet she was still managing to keep incredibly calm after being insulted so much. If I was thinking properly, perhaps I would've given up right then and there.
But I wasn't thinking, so there was no chance. Instead, I suddenly grabbed her wrists with both my hands, and began to try to fore her arms upward. Immediately I felt resistance, and I noticed Beatrix lift her foot threateningly. Knowing exactly where her foot would be going if I didn't give up, I decided I'd have to be quick. I used all my strength in one burst to force her arms upward. Apparently I used a little too much force. Beatrix's hands plowed straight into her nose.
Neither of us had expected that. With a soft yelp Beatrix stumbled backward, rubbing a now bleeding nose. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed a potion from my pack, opened it, and drank it all in three seconds. The potion worked its magic within ten seconds, and my knees were soon supporting my weight well. I snatched my spear from the ground and dashed for Beatrix, ready to slash her throat. The only problem was, Beatrix was far too ready. She blocked the attack with ease, though her nose was still bleeding. A struggle soon began, both wanting to gain control over the other.
Yet Beatrix's mind was working far better than mine. She lifted her foot and shoved it straight into my own. I yelped, lost my resistance, and crumpled to the ground from the extreme pain. It was at this point that my mind began to register that this wasn't just a fight for fun. This was extremely serious, and I had made it that way. And, judging by Beatrix's sword once again at my throat, it'd stay that way.
I kicked upward, nailing Beatrix hard and sending her a foot in the air, then sprawled on the ground. I leapt to my feet, my foot recovering from the hard stomp she had given me earlier. I spun my spear around and slashed at Beatrix as she came up. My spear easily tore through her clothing and cut a deep gash in her shoulder. Shifting her sword, Beatrix rushed forward, but I could see electricity sparking at her sword. While spinning my spear about, I launched myself into the air, avoiding Beatrix's swipe by a hair. Calling silently upon Lancer's power, I spun my spear about, and it began to glow slightly white. Just as I sent my spear downward, Beatrix's Shock spell came up. A powerful bolt of electricity sent me soaring into the air, the electricity crackling through my body and making me twitch with uttermost pain. Blurring vision managed to catch the fact that Beatrix, having been distracted as well, now had a spear lodged in her upper leg. Soon, however, I felt half-dead, as if I was floating.
Then I went soaring downward and landed with a horrific splat. Ribs cracked. Bones snapped. I let out a painful groan, twitching to test which limbs were still able to work. My legs gave a feeble attempt at working, but my right ankle instead gave me pain. My right arm had extreme pain, as did the right side of my chest. It didn't take me long to realize I had landed hard on my right side. With a pained groan, I fumbled through my pack, and soon took out a Cura scroll. I opened it, and mumbled the words just as Beatrix muttered her own Cura spell.
Both of us were surrounded by partles of white light. I felt the bones in my arm, which clearly had a clean break, mend themselves together painfully. My right ankle also healed itself. Most of my ribs, however, stayed unbroken; the break was not clean. I could, however, rise, and I did manage to stumble to my feet. Still dazed, I managed to locate my spear, and stumbled when I went to retreat it. By the time Beatrix was up and rushing for me, however, I had recovered enough to block her attack.
A brief struggle ensued, and I called upon Lancer's power to aid me. My spear sparked white, and I used my strength, combined with Lancer's, to shove Beatrix backward. She readjusted her sword and rushed forward. I met her rush by stabbing her in the chest, but on the wrong side. I completely missed her heart, but definitely startled her. She was quick to react, and soon her sword was slashing just below my throat, leaving a blood cut. Deciding the attack wasn't worth getting my throat cut open, I removed my lance, leaving a bloody wound in Beatrix's chest. Beatrix ignored it, and instead began to power up her Save the Queen. Fire roared at the blade, and she dashed forward. I rolled to the side, not wanting to risk jumping, knowing I'd only be knocked high in the air again. I slashed at Beatrix's foot, causing her to stumble. To my surprise, she only twirled about on her cut foot and slashed me in the side. Flames roared and engulfed me, charring my fur and lightly scorching the upper layer of armor I wore. Meanwhile, I felt Beatrix fall with a heavy thud. I back- rolled away from the flames, wincing from the pain in my side. Staggering to my feet, I lifted my spear to the skies.
"Power of the heavens, release the strength of the mighty warriors," I muttered.
A dragon's crest, much like a pentagram, appeared under a staggering Beatrix's feet. A dragon spirit soon came from the crest and slammed into Beatrix, sending flames in its wake. It only caused Beatrix to crumple to the ground once more. I spun my spear about, calling upon Lancer once more, hoping it to be the final time. When my spear seemed to be nothing more than a shining white object, I dashed forward, and prepared to slam my spear into Beatrix's stomach.
Beatrix's foot lashed out, slamming into my legs and causing me to fall into a split position. Out of all things it did, hurt greatly was at the very top of the list. I still managed to thrust my spear into Beatrix's shoulder, but the position I had ended up in was so painful and unnatural that I was having trouble getting out of it. Beatrix, meanwhile, wrenched my spear from her shoulder and held it while she rose to my feet. Painfully, I got my legs into a proper position and rose to my feet. I leapt at Beatrix, hoping to get my spear back, only to be kicked very painfully to the ground. Beatrix tossed my spear aside, and I was quick to scramble to it. Dashing forward, her sword charging with electricity, Beatrix moved so quickly I almost didn't spot her, but I managed to dodge her attack nonetheless. The struggle didn't last long, however. The energy from Thunder Slash caused me to be knocked backward, and straight into the canal. My clothes absorbed the water, even though I was only in for a few seconds. By the time I jumped out, my clothes were soaked, and I immediately knew I would be slowed down. Yet there was something much worse that I hadn't thought of.
It was the fact that Beatrix would use Shock.
Electricity flying from her sword, Beatrix dashed forward and slammed her sword into my stomach. Shots of electricity and fire slammed into me, sending me flying backward and sprawled on the ground. I groaned, quickly fumbling through my pack. I soon found a potion and drank it, but I needed another before the wound in my stomach was no longer serious. By this time, Beatrix was upon me, and I had to roll to the side to escape her sword. By luck, I rolled right to my spear. I snatched it, and whirled around to meet Beatrix's expected rush.
Power of the heavens, send the cherry blossoms of hope, I thought.
"Power of the heavens, lend the power to vanquish," I muttered.
A bright flash of energy appeared in front of my hands, which held my spear. At the same time, A dragon spirit plowed through Beatrix, startling her. While she backed away from the flaming blossoms, Beatrix was soon sent flying much farther than she hoped, for the energy ball gathering at my hands had launched her backward. The General was soon sprawled out six feet away from the canal, on the other side. I heard her groan as she rose into a sitting position, and I could tell she was dazed.
This was my opportunity. I rushed forward, leaping straight over the canal, and I soon had slashed my spear across Beatrix's throat.
Yet it was right at the same time that she cast a Cura spell that I had not seen her casting. She had not been dazed after all; she had been casting a spell! I managed not to curse my frustration as her spell healed the once fatal wound I had inflicted. The wound was nothing more than a deep, yet not fatal, slash. Judging by the smirk that Beatrix couldn't hide, she had planned the whole thing. Muttering with frustration, I slashed at Beatrix's shoulder out of spite. She grabbed her sword and rose to her feet. I leapt forward, spear ready to attack. Beatrix whirled around, blocked my attack, and sent her strength forward. I had been foolish enough to leap forward, and was sent soaring a few feet backward, and into the air. Beatrix shifted her sword, then ran forward. She leapt in the air, and I was impressed at how high the warrior could jump; clearly, she had been trained to be agile and athletic, not just packed with brute strength.
But I was also adept in the air. I spun my spear about and blocked her attack. The two of us, struggling, went soaring downward. We landed in the canal, and soon I was stuck underwater, Beatrix's weight and sword pushing me down. Bubbles floated to the surface and Beatrix, clearly having gotten a great deal of water in her lungs, released the pressure suddenly and floated upward. The pressure released startled me, but I used the opportunity to swim backward and upward. Soon, I surfaced, and began to cough up water. Beatrix was doing the same.
It was at this point that I wondered why no warriors had come to check all the noise. It wasn't like we were silent, after all. Plenty of noise had been made, from metal striking metal, to the discharging of spells. While coughing up the last of the water, I looked around, only to find no one in sight. Even in the distance, I could see no guards on the boat. Confused, I looked toward Beatrix.
She didn't seem surprised. On the other hand, she was squeezing water out of her outfit, clearly making herself less waterlogged. I leapt out of the moat and dashed forward, hoping to catch her off-guard, but I was too waterlogged myself. Beatrix simply stopped wringing her outfit, held out her hands, and caught my spear in her hands. She pushed it backward, copying my earlier movement, and sent the wooden butt of my spear straight into the bottom of my muzzle. I stumbled backward, and it was at this point that I decided wringing out my outfit may be smart.
"Where are the guards?" I couldn't help but ask while squeezing my clothes.
"They are told not to patrol here," Beatrix replied casually.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Queen's orders," Beatrix replied coolly. She glanced at me. "Are you giving up?"
"What a silly question," I replied calmly, rising to my feet and taking my spear into my hands.
Beatrix shrugged idly, and took up her sword. We stared at each other for a few moments, clearly trying to find the best way to attack. When I realized there was no good way to attack, I simply dashed forward, and when Beatrix held up her sword in defense, I swerved to the right and slashed at her thigh. I was too quick for Beatrix, and my spear cut a deep wound in her thigh. Seeming unfazed, Beatrix moved to slam the bottom of her sword into my head, but I simply swerved to the right and to relative safety. Snorting ever slightly, Beatrix held her sword in front of her. Electricity crackled at the blade, and she rushed forward. I rolled to the side, but Beatrix proved good at changing direction, and her charged sword slammed into my thigh. The electricity crackled through out my body, causing me to tumble to the ground. Beatrix quickly had her sword at my throat, her eyes cold. Before she could even begin to tell me to surrender, however, I had slid backward, back-rolled to my feet, and rushed forward, aiming my spear at Beatrix's unprotected stomach. Almost sighing, Beatrix blocked the attack. I commanded Lancer's energy, but Beatrix muttered something under her breath.
To my complete shock, Lancer backfired, and sent its energy upon me, sending me flying backward, straight over the canal, and to the ground. Never before had Lancer backfired. Most White Magic didn't work on it since it was a Dragon Ability. Dragon Abilities were technically not magic, yet at the same time they were. Apparently, Beatrix had a special Reflect spell. Now I knew I had to be careful.
Carefully planning out my attack, I spun my spear about, yet didn't power it up with any special attacks. I then dashed forward, spinning my spear so I could either slash or pierce with it in an instant. Beatrix held out her sword, and I expected her to be blocking a sword rush, so I prepared to pierce. Yet to my surprise, when I moved to pierce her stomach, she swooped her sword low, and my spear clashed against her sword in a shower of sparks. Cursing, I leapt backward, only to find Beatrix takings this opportunity to rush forward.
Within my mind I knew that blocking would slow me, rolling out of the way would hurt me anyway, and teleporting would allow Beatrix to get away. I was only left to jump. Therefore, I knelt down, and soon launched myself into the air. I spun my spear about, preparing to send it down on Beatrix. Below, I heard the crackle of electricity.
And, with horror, I realized too late that I was repeating a mistake I had made earlier.
Beatrix sent her Shock attack in my direction, and even when I blocked it, the electricity still had enough force to send me flying into the air. Another burst of electricity - aftermaths from the Shock - hit me, sending electricity through my veins and rendering me dazed and unable to move. I soon began to plummet downward at an alarming pace, and there was no way I could adjust my body in time.
I hit the ground with a sickening thud. My head slammed hard against the hard pavement, and my mind immediately spun. The last thing I saw was Beatrix standing over me, her sword pointed at my throat. The last thing I heard was her telling me that I was arrested for threatening the Queen and the country.
The last thing I thought was, "I have failed." Then all went dark.
------ I hope you liked that fight, my friends. It was fairly enjoyable to write. Don't complain about Fratley's attitude; I imagined it as such for no apparent reason. And, finally, this is the end of Part One! Yay! So don't expect any updates for a WHILE. I know what's going to happen, but I need to finish Saving Freya, work on Of Monks & Demons, and update a few of the stories I have on fictionpress.com. So, with that said, I'm out.
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, events, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
The End As Is Known
I didn't know what to think, or let alone do, when I found myself on the ground, my back smarting from hitting the ground hard, and my knees stinging from fresh cuts. The tip of Beatrix's sword was only two inches from my throat. Her eye was hard with anger, yet she was still managing to keep incredibly calm after being insulted so much. If I was thinking properly, perhaps I would've given up right then and there.
But I wasn't thinking, so there was no chance. Instead, I suddenly grabbed her wrists with both my hands, and began to try to fore her arms upward. Immediately I felt resistance, and I noticed Beatrix lift her foot threateningly. Knowing exactly where her foot would be going if I didn't give up, I decided I'd have to be quick. I used all my strength in one burst to force her arms upward. Apparently I used a little too much force. Beatrix's hands plowed straight into her nose.
Neither of us had expected that. With a soft yelp Beatrix stumbled backward, rubbing a now bleeding nose. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed a potion from my pack, opened it, and drank it all in three seconds. The potion worked its magic within ten seconds, and my knees were soon supporting my weight well. I snatched my spear from the ground and dashed for Beatrix, ready to slash her throat. The only problem was, Beatrix was far too ready. She blocked the attack with ease, though her nose was still bleeding. A struggle soon began, both wanting to gain control over the other.
Yet Beatrix's mind was working far better than mine. She lifted her foot and shoved it straight into my own. I yelped, lost my resistance, and crumpled to the ground from the extreme pain. It was at this point that my mind began to register that this wasn't just a fight for fun. This was extremely serious, and I had made it that way. And, judging by Beatrix's sword once again at my throat, it'd stay that way.
I kicked upward, nailing Beatrix hard and sending her a foot in the air, then sprawled on the ground. I leapt to my feet, my foot recovering from the hard stomp she had given me earlier. I spun my spear around and slashed at Beatrix as she came up. My spear easily tore through her clothing and cut a deep gash in her shoulder. Shifting her sword, Beatrix rushed forward, but I could see electricity sparking at her sword. While spinning my spear about, I launched myself into the air, avoiding Beatrix's swipe by a hair. Calling silently upon Lancer's power, I spun my spear about, and it began to glow slightly white. Just as I sent my spear downward, Beatrix's Shock spell came up. A powerful bolt of electricity sent me soaring into the air, the electricity crackling through my body and making me twitch with uttermost pain. Blurring vision managed to catch the fact that Beatrix, having been distracted as well, now had a spear lodged in her upper leg. Soon, however, I felt half-dead, as if I was floating.
Then I went soaring downward and landed with a horrific splat. Ribs cracked. Bones snapped. I let out a painful groan, twitching to test which limbs were still able to work. My legs gave a feeble attempt at working, but my right ankle instead gave me pain. My right arm had extreme pain, as did the right side of my chest. It didn't take me long to realize I had landed hard on my right side. With a pained groan, I fumbled through my pack, and soon took out a Cura scroll. I opened it, and mumbled the words just as Beatrix muttered her own Cura spell.
Both of us were surrounded by partles of white light. I felt the bones in my arm, which clearly had a clean break, mend themselves together painfully. My right ankle also healed itself. Most of my ribs, however, stayed unbroken; the break was not clean. I could, however, rise, and I did manage to stumble to my feet. Still dazed, I managed to locate my spear, and stumbled when I went to retreat it. By the time Beatrix was up and rushing for me, however, I had recovered enough to block her attack.
A brief struggle ensued, and I called upon Lancer's power to aid me. My spear sparked white, and I used my strength, combined with Lancer's, to shove Beatrix backward. She readjusted her sword and rushed forward. I met her rush by stabbing her in the chest, but on the wrong side. I completely missed her heart, but definitely startled her. She was quick to react, and soon her sword was slashing just below my throat, leaving a blood cut. Deciding the attack wasn't worth getting my throat cut open, I removed my lance, leaving a bloody wound in Beatrix's chest. Beatrix ignored it, and instead began to power up her Save the Queen. Fire roared at the blade, and she dashed forward. I rolled to the side, not wanting to risk jumping, knowing I'd only be knocked high in the air again. I slashed at Beatrix's foot, causing her to stumble. To my surprise, she only twirled about on her cut foot and slashed me in the side. Flames roared and engulfed me, charring my fur and lightly scorching the upper layer of armor I wore. Meanwhile, I felt Beatrix fall with a heavy thud. I back- rolled away from the flames, wincing from the pain in my side. Staggering to my feet, I lifted my spear to the skies.
"Power of the heavens, release the strength of the mighty warriors," I muttered.
A dragon's crest, much like a pentagram, appeared under a staggering Beatrix's feet. A dragon spirit soon came from the crest and slammed into Beatrix, sending flames in its wake. It only caused Beatrix to crumple to the ground once more. I spun my spear about, calling upon Lancer once more, hoping it to be the final time. When my spear seemed to be nothing more than a shining white object, I dashed forward, and prepared to slam my spear into Beatrix's stomach.
Beatrix's foot lashed out, slamming into my legs and causing me to fall into a split position. Out of all things it did, hurt greatly was at the very top of the list. I still managed to thrust my spear into Beatrix's shoulder, but the position I had ended up in was so painful and unnatural that I was having trouble getting out of it. Beatrix, meanwhile, wrenched my spear from her shoulder and held it while she rose to my feet. Painfully, I got my legs into a proper position and rose to my feet. I leapt at Beatrix, hoping to get my spear back, only to be kicked very painfully to the ground. Beatrix tossed my spear aside, and I was quick to scramble to it. Dashing forward, her sword charging with electricity, Beatrix moved so quickly I almost didn't spot her, but I managed to dodge her attack nonetheless. The struggle didn't last long, however. The energy from Thunder Slash caused me to be knocked backward, and straight into the canal. My clothes absorbed the water, even though I was only in for a few seconds. By the time I jumped out, my clothes were soaked, and I immediately knew I would be slowed down. Yet there was something much worse that I hadn't thought of.
It was the fact that Beatrix would use Shock.
Electricity flying from her sword, Beatrix dashed forward and slammed her sword into my stomach. Shots of electricity and fire slammed into me, sending me flying backward and sprawled on the ground. I groaned, quickly fumbling through my pack. I soon found a potion and drank it, but I needed another before the wound in my stomach was no longer serious. By this time, Beatrix was upon me, and I had to roll to the side to escape her sword. By luck, I rolled right to my spear. I snatched it, and whirled around to meet Beatrix's expected rush.
Power of the heavens, send the cherry blossoms of hope, I thought.
"Power of the heavens, lend the power to vanquish," I muttered.
A bright flash of energy appeared in front of my hands, which held my spear. At the same time, A dragon spirit plowed through Beatrix, startling her. While she backed away from the flaming blossoms, Beatrix was soon sent flying much farther than she hoped, for the energy ball gathering at my hands had launched her backward. The General was soon sprawled out six feet away from the canal, on the other side. I heard her groan as she rose into a sitting position, and I could tell she was dazed.
This was my opportunity. I rushed forward, leaping straight over the canal, and I soon had slashed my spear across Beatrix's throat.
Yet it was right at the same time that she cast a Cura spell that I had not seen her casting. She had not been dazed after all; she had been casting a spell! I managed not to curse my frustration as her spell healed the once fatal wound I had inflicted. The wound was nothing more than a deep, yet not fatal, slash. Judging by the smirk that Beatrix couldn't hide, she had planned the whole thing. Muttering with frustration, I slashed at Beatrix's shoulder out of spite. She grabbed her sword and rose to her feet. I leapt forward, spear ready to attack. Beatrix whirled around, blocked my attack, and sent her strength forward. I had been foolish enough to leap forward, and was sent soaring a few feet backward, and into the air. Beatrix shifted her sword, then ran forward. She leapt in the air, and I was impressed at how high the warrior could jump; clearly, she had been trained to be agile and athletic, not just packed with brute strength.
But I was also adept in the air. I spun my spear about and blocked her attack. The two of us, struggling, went soaring downward. We landed in the canal, and soon I was stuck underwater, Beatrix's weight and sword pushing me down. Bubbles floated to the surface and Beatrix, clearly having gotten a great deal of water in her lungs, released the pressure suddenly and floated upward. The pressure released startled me, but I used the opportunity to swim backward and upward. Soon, I surfaced, and began to cough up water. Beatrix was doing the same.
It was at this point that I wondered why no warriors had come to check all the noise. It wasn't like we were silent, after all. Plenty of noise had been made, from metal striking metal, to the discharging of spells. While coughing up the last of the water, I looked around, only to find no one in sight. Even in the distance, I could see no guards on the boat. Confused, I looked toward Beatrix.
She didn't seem surprised. On the other hand, she was squeezing water out of her outfit, clearly making herself less waterlogged. I leapt out of the moat and dashed forward, hoping to catch her off-guard, but I was too waterlogged myself. Beatrix simply stopped wringing her outfit, held out her hands, and caught my spear in her hands. She pushed it backward, copying my earlier movement, and sent the wooden butt of my spear straight into the bottom of my muzzle. I stumbled backward, and it was at this point that I decided wringing out my outfit may be smart.
"Where are the guards?" I couldn't help but ask while squeezing my clothes.
"They are told not to patrol here," Beatrix replied casually.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Queen's orders," Beatrix replied coolly. She glanced at me. "Are you giving up?"
"What a silly question," I replied calmly, rising to my feet and taking my spear into my hands.
Beatrix shrugged idly, and took up her sword. We stared at each other for a few moments, clearly trying to find the best way to attack. When I realized there was no good way to attack, I simply dashed forward, and when Beatrix held up her sword in defense, I swerved to the right and slashed at her thigh. I was too quick for Beatrix, and my spear cut a deep wound in her thigh. Seeming unfazed, Beatrix moved to slam the bottom of her sword into my head, but I simply swerved to the right and to relative safety. Snorting ever slightly, Beatrix held her sword in front of her. Electricity crackled at the blade, and she rushed forward. I rolled to the side, but Beatrix proved good at changing direction, and her charged sword slammed into my thigh. The electricity crackled through out my body, causing me to tumble to the ground. Beatrix quickly had her sword at my throat, her eyes cold. Before she could even begin to tell me to surrender, however, I had slid backward, back-rolled to my feet, and rushed forward, aiming my spear at Beatrix's unprotected stomach. Almost sighing, Beatrix blocked the attack. I commanded Lancer's energy, but Beatrix muttered something under her breath.
To my complete shock, Lancer backfired, and sent its energy upon me, sending me flying backward, straight over the canal, and to the ground. Never before had Lancer backfired. Most White Magic didn't work on it since it was a Dragon Ability. Dragon Abilities were technically not magic, yet at the same time they were. Apparently, Beatrix had a special Reflect spell. Now I knew I had to be careful.
Carefully planning out my attack, I spun my spear about, yet didn't power it up with any special attacks. I then dashed forward, spinning my spear so I could either slash or pierce with it in an instant. Beatrix held out her sword, and I expected her to be blocking a sword rush, so I prepared to pierce. Yet to my surprise, when I moved to pierce her stomach, she swooped her sword low, and my spear clashed against her sword in a shower of sparks. Cursing, I leapt backward, only to find Beatrix takings this opportunity to rush forward.
Within my mind I knew that blocking would slow me, rolling out of the way would hurt me anyway, and teleporting would allow Beatrix to get away. I was only left to jump. Therefore, I knelt down, and soon launched myself into the air. I spun my spear about, preparing to send it down on Beatrix. Below, I heard the crackle of electricity.
And, with horror, I realized too late that I was repeating a mistake I had made earlier.
Beatrix sent her Shock attack in my direction, and even when I blocked it, the electricity still had enough force to send me flying into the air. Another burst of electricity - aftermaths from the Shock - hit me, sending electricity through my veins and rendering me dazed and unable to move. I soon began to plummet downward at an alarming pace, and there was no way I could adjust my body in time.
I hit the ground with a sickening thud. My head slammed hard against the hard pavement, and my mind immediately spun. The last thing I saw was Beatrix standing over me, her sword pointed at my throat. The last thing I heard was her telling me that I was arrested for threatening the Queen and the country.
The last thing I thought was, "I have failed." Then all went dark.
------ I hope you liked that fight, my friends. It was fairly enjoyable to write. Don't complain about Fratley's attitude; I imagined it as such for no apparent reason. And, finally, this is the end of Part One! Yay! So don't expect any updates for a WHILE. I know what's going to happen, but I need to finish Saving Freya, work on Of Monks & Demons, and update a few of the stories I have on fictionpress.com. So, with that said, I'm out.
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, events, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.