A/N: Thanks much for all the reviews! Expect usual pairings, sans Kratos/Raine, I'm kinda purist there, plus a new one, methinks. I'm glad some of you find Kratos to be kind of funny, I've been trying to loosen him up. Well, here's the next one!
Ch 10
Morning brought Sheena to the deck to see Lloyd standing over Zelos. The redhead had spent much of the night weaving rope into a hammock that he managed to hang on the mast and a barrel, then relaxed into it. He was grinning shamelessly at Lloyd, who yelled and shouted over his mindless use of the rope. Halfway through the one-sided argument, Zelos reached out and started tracing on Lloyd's arm. The boy shut up long enough to read what was being written, then resumed his rant.
"I didn't say you could weave the rope! I asked if you would get bored and lonely 'cause if you did I would have stayed up to keep you company!" he yelled out, then quieted as Zelos reached out again. "Eyaah! Zelos! You pervert! You said you'd get rid of those books!"
Zelos laughed silently as Lloyd stomped away. Sheena raised an eyebrow as she walked up to him, wondering what it was he had written to him. Standing over the redhead, she raised an eyebrow when he glanced up at her, then looked away.
"What's with you?" Sheena asked, mildly surprised by the change in attitude towards her. The redhead sat up and dismounted the hammock, lifting his hand to her, then retreating it. He shook his head and walked off. "Hey! We're supposed to go to Altamira!" He shrugged it off as he headed downstairs. "Hey! Jerk! Get back here!"
The dining table was surrounded by the group of friends, all enjoying Genis's breakfast. Sheena looked around and spotted Zelos writing something out in Kratos's hand, the seraphim wearing an expression that was half irritation at being interrupted during breakfast and half concern for why he was to begin with. She walked up and tapped her foot, waiting for them to end the silent conversation.
"I see. All right. I'll try that. But I'll blame you if it doesn't work." Kratos muttered under his breath. "You should get going now." Zelos gave him a thumb's-up and a smile, then walked by Sheena to pick up the Wing Pack from Genis. "And you..." he added, looking up at Sheena with his fork still poised for lifting to his mouth, "Make sure he comes back safely. We'll be changing course for the dock near Ozette Ruins. Meet us there when you obtain the inhibitor ore." The ninja nodded and turned, yelping as Zelos stood there with the Wing Pack in his hands.
"Will you knock that off?!" Sheena yelled and snatched the pack away to hide her startled expression and the slight blush creeping across her face, "The sooner we get you back to normal, the sooner I can get back to smacking you upside the head for being an idiot!" The two headed upstairs to take off.
Nadilene crossed the shining white marble floor to her husband's side, watching him tap keys on the hovering chair with his gnarled fingers as his eyes remained glued to the image on a projection screen. She followed his gaze and smiled. He was dressing the image again.
"You do so love choosing the clothes. Every piece accenting every part. When it's all said and done, you come out so perfect, so beautiful, it is as if a god has taken me to wife." she murmured and gently placed her hand over his. Sérno slid his gaze to her face and seemed to warm at her expression. "We almost have him, dearest husband. He's lost his voice, all I have to do is engage him in combat once more and he'll be ours." she went on. His eyes returned to the image of Zelos standing on the screen, the model undergoing several outfits in seconds to match the right wardrobe to the angel.
"I believe the original outfit he had worn seemed best suited. Though I could do with additional improvements to the overall effect." his thoughts entered her mind, "His eyes aren't exactly the right color, but that is to be expected from the mother's side. What of the former Lord Kratos? And his wayward child, the enemy of my enemy?"
"They are confusing, Husband." Nadilene murmured as she carefully selected a dark violet vest to replace the pink on Zelos's image. Sérno wheezed, head bobbing dumbly as he appraised the result on the screen. "The boy is incredibly protective of him, and the old seraphim speaks of him as if he were his second child. Pathetic, really." She pat the chair and then turned to leave. "Well, I'll be on my way. I shall return shortly with your new body." Nadilene added and vanished in a burst of violet light.
Sérno continued to gaze up at the image, eyes glittering as he matched silken black pants to the vest and changed the shoes to soft velvet boots.
Zelos plastered a smile onto his face as he and Sheena entered the resort. His reputation as a pickup artist on the beach still lingered as the female employees stood around and looked as tempting as possible for him. Sheena glared at the women, then glared at him, blinking at his obvious tenseness.
"What's with you? Don't you usually adore this kind of attention?" she grumbled, waving her arm out to the crowds. The redhead stopped and scowled at her before walking away stiffly. "Hey! Wait up! I'm supposed to guard you!" Sheena called out, racing after him. He stopped, waited for her to catch up, then held out his hand, an annoyed look on his face. She stared at it, then at him. "What?" Zelos motioned towards her, hand still open. "I don't underst-." Sheena began and yelped when he grabbed her hand and began writing on her palm.
"I live in the public's eye. What's your excuse?" he wrote out and abruptly released her to turn his back and fold his arms over his chest, glaring down at the street. Sheena blinked and sighed.
"I don't get you, Zelos. You've been acting strangely ever since the worlds were united. I hear reports of you giving things away, breaking contact with your former haunts, and now you're suddenly an expert on poisons?" she remarked, "It's like, you're not yourself." Zelos turned slightly and looked back at her warily, then turned and wrote again in her palm.
"If I am not myself to you, then you never truly knew who I am." he replied and looked sadly at her before shaking his head and walking on towards the Elemental Railway. Sheena puffed her cheeks angrily as she stomped after him.
"Gah, I don't know what his problem is, but he better not screw things up for me!" she growled.
The secretaries at the front counter recognized Sheena at once, gave Zelos a doubtful look, then sent word upstairs of their arrival. It took only a few minutes before Regal and Presea stepped out of the elevators to meet them with joyful expressions. The shackles had long been shed from Regal's hands, but they remained on the mantel of his fireplace in a home he had built for himself outside the resort. Presea, having nowhere else to go, decided to stay with him to help around Altamira and managed the company businesses with a calculated precision that shocked George every day. Her body was slowly returning to normal and she smiled brightly as she ran up to Sheena in her new blue dress.
"Sheena! It's good to see you again! It's been so long. Have you come to see the statue Zelos brought to Alicia?" Presea asked after a hug, still half the ninja's height.
"Uh?" Sheena blinked. Was that what the reported gift had been? A statue? "Not today, Presea. Regal, I need to know if you have any inhibitor ore left." she stammered with a blush.
"Yes. Presea has been using some as a paperweight recently." Regal replied and looked at Zelos in confusion. "Is that...? No, it couldn't be.... Zelos?" The redhead smiled and waved bashfully. "What in Martel's name has happened to you?" Presea turned her eyes to him and blinked once, the pale blue turning cold for a moment before returning to normal.
"Zelos looks different. Reduction of hair length, change of clothing style and color.... Are you in disguise?" she asked after voicing her observations. Sheena sighed and shook her head.
"He set himself on fire and Lloyd and Kratos gave him that outfit." she began.
"Kratos has returned from Derris-Kharlan? When? Why? Where is he?" Regal questioned, a serious expression on his face as he studied Zelos cautiously. "And why isn't he gushing all over Presea?" he added. Zelos stuck his tongue out at him and stretched as Sheena tried to explain.
"I don't know about Kratos's situation, but the idiot here is turning into an angel. He can't talk, sleep, eat or feel." she drawled out and yelped when her hand was grabbed. Zelos scribbled something onto her palm and then jumped back, revealing the orange and rose wings on his back with a smile and a flourish. "Yeah, and he can't fly either."
"Why not?" Presea asked in as surprised a voice as she could muster. Regal was dumbfounded, staring at the wings as if they were illusions. Zelos pointed at the feathers near the bottom ends of the wings, then made yanking motions in the air. "Oh, the wings are tattered there. I see. They seem to be recovering though. You should be able to fly very soon."
"Okay, so we were sent by the gang to get some ore so Altessa can fix Zelos's Key Crest. That's why he's becoming an angel." the ninja went on. Presea nodded and ran back to the elevator, disappearing up the building as Regal walked over and started poking at the delicate mana feathers. Zelos grinned wider and flapped them at him, laughing silently as the larger man made a show of trying to put his hands on the wings. Sheena stared and sighed again, putting a hand to her head. "What are you guys doing?"
"Very strange. Yet, appropriate. Zelos, can these actually support your weight?" Regal asked, patting the feathers. He nodded. "Fascinating. I've actually been somewhat curious about the angel process. I half wish I'd been there to witness the transformation." the company president murmured. "Can you do angel spells like Colette?" Another nod. "Judgment, too?" Another. "That's a frightening thought; Zelos casting Judgment."
"Here it is! Let's go!" Presea called out as she ran out of the elevator with a chunk of vermillion rock in her hand, "I've got the ore, let's hurry to Altessa's house!" Regal looked up from tugging on the wings and nodded.
"Yes, I think we'll go along with you, Sheena. For old times' sake." he added and yanked his hands back when Zelos flapped hard enough to cover him in mana dust for his last comment on the spells.
Leaving Altamira proved more difficult than entering. Sheena explained all that had happened to Zelos and the others as they walked out of the resort. Both Regal and Presea were startled to hear what she had done, but quickly forgave her when Zelos darted between them and spread both arms and wings out protectively. The dark-haired summoner blinked in confusion at his actions, but didn't question it. Zelos would do the same for any 'hunny', right? She pondered the thought and fell back when Zelos suddenly stopped in front of her.
"Hey! We're on a time restraint here, pal!" she began to gripe, then gasped at the reason why he had halted.
Nadilene stood not more than a few feet away, smiling cruelly at them as she held up her hand. Regal and Presea, left without weapons to use, gathered defensively in front of the redhead. Sheena darted forward with her Asura cards ready.
"You traitorous, back-stabbing, lying piece of trash! How dare you show yourself to me again! I'll get you for doing all of this to Zelos and Lloyd!" she snapped. Nadilene laughed as a small vial appeared in her hand.
"Me? Traitorous? Who betrayed whom first, Chief of Mizuho? Who wanted the Chosen of Tethe'alla dead so badly?" she answered calmly and pulled forth her violet wings. "I'm sure the darkness that was within you has passed onto him. He hides it, but yes, I can see that glorious feeling beating within his very heart." Zelos cringed, stepping back from them. "However, I'm not here to attack the Chosen... yet. Only to deliver this message." Nadilene went on and smiled again. "Your darkness will grow if we feed it well. I am going to offer as sacrifice to your darkness... your entire family!"
Regal, Presea and Sheena gasped in shock as Zelos stared up at Nadilene's rising form, all color drained from his face. The vial of golden liquid in her hand seemed to trigger something in his mind and he rushed forward, waving his arms. Sheena froze in surprise for a moment, then gave chase, yelling for him to pull back.
"We have to stop her! She's going to attack Seles!" Regal exclaimed as Presea dashed after them. Sheena shook her head as she ran.
"No! It's worse!" she yelled out.
"I shall see you again when your darkness has consumed you!" Nadilene taunted and vanished. Zelos halted and spread his wings again, flapping furiously as he leaped into the air. Though shaky in flight, the redhead managed to stay airborne and, despite the cries of shock from his friends on the ground, headed straight for the direction of Meltokio.
"If we can use the Rheairds, we can intercept him before he reaches Meltokio." Presea pointed out as Sheena pulled the Wing Pack out and allowed three of the machines to pop into the city.
"No, Regal, Presea, Zelos's family has grown since last we saw him." Sheena answered quickly, boarding one of the flying craft, "Kratos and Lloyd have accepted him as part of their family. That was Nadilene and she's going to kill Seles, Lloyd and Kratos to force Zelos into losing his soul!" She lifted into the air as the other two cried in horror and flew up with her. "You two get to the wooden ship sailing to Ozette Ruins! That's where Kratos and Lloyd are! I'll follow Zelos to Meltokio! I have to make sure the final transformation doesn't happen!" she ordered and soared away.
Seles held the photo of her brother closer to her as she sat on the plush black sofa in the main room. The chess game that she and Zelos never finished playing remained untouched on the table before her, the pieces still waiting for the next move to be made but whose turn it had been was long forgotten. In her mind, she could still see her older brother, staring at them with such a lost expression before fleeing to the lower levels of the city. What was wrong with him?
"Is it something I can help with? Zelos, Big Brother, what is hurting you so much you can't tell me?" she murmured. Setting the picture down, she looked up at Sebastian. "I'd like some hot tea, please. Sugar, cream, the usual." she requested and gazed out the window as the butler bowed and left. "What are you doing now? Are you still hurting?"
Sebastian prepared the tea as requested, then paused when he poured the cream into it. Something about the cream seemed odd. Had he really seen a strange glow surround the liquid as it entered the cup of tea? He shook his head. It must be his nerves. Since Zelos up and left Meltokio, Sebastian had been more tense than usual. It wasn't normal, working in the house and not having the Chosen around to talk to, to look after. The poor man sobbed piteously in his sleep, crying for forgiveness from his mother, and Sebastian was the only one who would keep it secret from the public, from the other servants, helped comfort him during his younger years and spoke with him when he grew too old for warm milk and hugs to be of use.
He shook his head. No, just his nerves. The cream was fresh and pure, perfect for the Chosen's younger sister. Sebastian brought the tea to Seles, set it on the table and waited for further orders.
"You may go. I'll be fine, thank you." Seles remarked and sipped at the tea. "I wonder how Big Brother is doing...." she began to add as the doors suddenly burst open and Zelos ran in, scanning the room quickly. She dropped the cup in shock, both at having him appear like that and at the sight of the glorious wings on his back. "Big Brother! Are those wings?! Where on earth did you get an angel costume?!" she cried.
"Too late, Chosen One!" Nadilene's voice laughed in the air. Zelos looked around for the source, then stared at Seles in quiet horror as she seemed to look faint. "She's already drunk the poison! That leaves me with only two more of your family to kill! My husband will be reborn when all you hold dear is taken from you!" With that the laughter faded into nothing.
"Big... Brother...." Seles murmured and slumped back against the sofa. Sebastian rushed to her side almost as quickly as Zelos did. The redhead grabbed his hand and wrote into it quickly.
"Tell me what happened! When did she get poisoned?!" he begged.
"The cream in her tea! I knew it seemed odd! I beg for forgiveness, Master Zelos; I didn't know!" the butler exclaimed fearfully. Zelos went on writing.
"I'll take her into my care. Keep the house well-guarded! Pray for my success in curing her!" he finished and scooped up the little lady, holding her close as he ran back out of the house and took to the sky. Sheena swerved to avoid colliding with him as he left the city and gave chase.
"Zelos! Give her to me! Regal and Presea will help keep Kratos and Lloyd safe! You can't stay in the air with your wings still torn!" she screamed at him. Zelos chose to ignore her, flapping harder to keep himself airborne along with Seles, who clutch the fabric of his shirt and moaned softly, a feverish blush spreading across her face.
Lloyd winced again as walked across the top deck of the ship. It looked abandoned, everyone was downstairs and Kratos was still up here with him. Somewhere. It was strange, but the seraphim had the sudden urge to hide from everyone and now Lloyd was stuck with having to find him.
"Dad? Where are you?" Lloyd murmured and hoped he wouldn't get jumped from behind. Zelos would do that when playing around and it was enough to make him shriek and dash off a good few feet before calming and stopping. Would Kratos do the same?
He searched the barrels, then studied the wooden deck, hoping a trail of mana dust would lead him to his father. After wandering around, Lloyd rested against the banister and sighed.
"Man, Dad, what is wrong with you? I could use a drink, too." he muttered and looked over at the captain's wheel for no reason but to see if his father might be crouched behind it. He blinked at the two cups that perched on the rail before it and jogged up to investigate them. "What's this? Juice?" he murmured and sniffed at one cup. He grinned. "All right! Orange juice! That should do the trick!" Lloyd quickly drained the cup dry and peered at the other one. "This one must be for Dad." Grinning, he looked around the ship and picked it up.
"Oh, Daaaaad! I've got your juice here! If you don't come out, I'm gonna drink it!" he sang out and walked back down to the center of the ship. Kratos finally poked his head out from his hiding place at the crow's nest, glaring down at him.
"You wouldn't dare!" he yelled down. Lloyd smiled up at him and held up the cup in mock toast before bringing it to his lips. "Lloyd! Take one sip of that juice and I'll ground you until you're old enough to gamble!" the seraphim threatened, shaking his fist at him. The boy downed the juice and held the cup upside down.
"Oops! I drank it!" he teased and yelped as Kratos swooped down and grabbed the cup.
"You didn't even leave me a drop! Go to your room!" he mock ordered, then ruffled his hair, "But bring me some water before you go. I'll stay and wait for Zelos and Sheena to return."
"All right. I'll go... get...." Lloyd began and seemed to wilt, "I don't... feel... so good...." Kratos looked alarmed as his son collapsed against him and he held him tightly as laughter sang out around him. Nadilene's form appeared in a burst of violet light and feathers. A pair of Rheairds swooped in and landed as the seraphim stared into his son's flushed face. Regal and Presea rushed to protect them and glared at the dark angel.
"We're too late." Presea stated as the third Rheaird descended and Zelos touched down, clutching a shaking Seles in his arms. He and Sheena raced to Kratos's side and looked down at him in horror.
"It looks as if the boy has taken the poison meant for the former Lord Kratos. What a shame." Nadilene murmured and sighed, "And I did so want to see him suffering a painful death while the only one who could possibly create the antidote to that poison stands helpless to do so!"
"What have you done?!" Kratos raged as Lloyd suddenly began retching. He set the boy down carefully as Zelos did the same for Seles, then flew at the dark angel. "You'll pay for this with your life! How dare you involve my family in your husband's twisted schemes!" the seraphim shrieked.
"Get back!" Nadilene commanded and swept her arm aside, sending a huge wave of energy across the ship that nearly snapped the mast and sent Kratos tumbling through the air and into the ocean. The commotion brought the others from below onto the deck and they immediately went into attack position.
"Raine! Heal Lloyd and Seles! Hurry! They've been poisoned!" Sheena cried and threw out a card to hover before her as a circle of mana appeared at her feet. "I call upon the maiden of the mist! I summon thee! Come, Undine! Get Kratos out of the ocean and blast this evil angel from our midst!"
"I'll help, too! Angel Feathers!" Colette shouted as her wings spread and the angelic chakrams flew from her body towards the dark angel. Nadilene dodged the attack and hurled another wave of energy at them before commencing with her own spells, wind rushing around her. Zelos hung in the back and looked into the water, desperate to find the fallen angel.
Kratos appeared at the surface, splashing about and spluttering in anger. Hair clinging to his face, he cried suddenly as he vanished underwater before bursting out of the ocean in Undine's arms. The Summon Spirit set him down on the deck and waved her hand at Nadilene.
"Ready?" she intoned as a wave of water splashed onto the ship, throwing Nadilene out of concentration. She spluttered angrily and resumed her chant, gathering again the mana within her.
"Darkness Blade!" she finally cried and the dark sword of energy rushed in from seemingly nowhere, crashing down on the group as they desperately held up defensive spells.
"Ray!" Raine cried out as Genis chimed in with a Flame Lance spell. Zelos knelt to check on the poisoned members, who still seemed deathly ill despite Raine's Revitalize technique, then turned to Kratos who sat nearby, shivering from cold, eyes shut and lips a faint shade of blue.
"None of you can defeat me! I am far more powerful than you could ever dream!" Nadilene declared, producing a barrier that blocked the Sage siblings's attacks. Zelos stood up and lifted his arms up to the darkening skies, closing his eyes as he began to murmur silent words, a soft white glow of angelic power forming around him.
"Sacred powers, cast thy purifying light upon the land! Raze the sinners where they stand! Judgment!" he chanted the words in his mind, dimly aware of the cries of shock from his friends as they realized what he was doing. Light rained down from the clouds, aimed directly at Nadilene, who screamed and flew back from the ship in terror.
"That's not possible! He shouldn't know that spell yet! Husband! He's not what he seems!" the dark angel cried and hurriedly put up a shield. Enough of the attack punctured through and she vanished from sight in a shriek of pain. "Araagh!"
"The danger has passed. But what about Lloyd and Seles?" Presea asked worriedly as the group gathered around the fallen members. Kratos crawled forward and lifted Lloyd again, clutching him tightly as he rocked back and forth, still shivering, now coughing.
"What about Zelos?! That was Judgment he used!" Sheena cried and ran to the redhead as he lowered his arms, wings still flapping gently. "Zelos! Are you okay?"
The group collectively jumped as her scream pierced the air. Kratos immediately placed Lloyd in Raine's arms for another attempt at healing, then rushed to the redhead's side, halting abruptly as he caught sight of Zelos's eyes.
They stared vacantly out at the distance, the once glorious green, sometimes deep blue eyes now an ice cold blue, frozen in silence and emptiness. The transformation was complete. Zelos, in defending his family and friends, had lost the last part of his humanity.
Kratos's cry of anguish sounded out alongside the scream of despair, neither of them came close to touching the sealed soul within Zelos's body.
Here I stand empty,
Watching the world;
The last piece of her plan
Finally unfurled.
Sorry for everything,
For lying again.
I wanted to save you,
Not cause you more pain.