waaaaa! I accidentally deleted the first few lines of this chapter! Never mind, I can still rebuild it from scratch. . . hehe.

anyway, prepare for the cheesiest chapter i was able to write up. It's not that I like to write this, per se, it was . . . nessecary. --

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RAGNAROK ONLINE FANFIC

Version 2

TRANSGRESSIONS OF FATE

By: RAGNAR (that really is my name)

Chapter 23: Forbidden Gates

"Is it true?"

Mivere asked from where he stood, never bothering to turn around to acknowledge the Wizard behind him. The view from the balcony of his floating castle, although disgustingly plain, was of some interest to him after all.

"Yes my Lord, my sources say that Seva and Priega have stirred. Although not truly awakened, I have little doubt that my Lord can perform the ritual still. All we need now is Kieria to complete the set."

One of his gargoyles twisted impatiently on one of its perches on his castle. Beneath him, tens of thousands of the winged beasts blackened his roofs. The forges beneath him glowed a menacing red, orange, and yellow as they forged the weapons of the war he intended to create.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips at the mere thought of finally attaining that which he has yearned for all these Ages. Sei'Gash will grant him that wish. But first . . . "Ready Baphomet and the army, Leish. The time is close at hand. All we need now is to awaken Kieria, and I wish for you to do so."

There was a rustle of cloth behind him indicating that the Wizard went into a bow. "As you command, my Lord, so shall I obey."

Mivere turned around and saw that Leish has already warped away. It was time for his move. He walked all the way to the center of his throne room. The view globe beneath his feet rippled with each step he took. The globe was a clear white now since he had not bothered to watch the world below.

With a flourish of his white robes, Mivere summoned the Circle of Power around him. The view globe took on a purple glow and then darkened the surroundings until there was only he and the globe.

Five orbs of black fire flashed around him suspended in the air. Slowly, ever so slowly, those orbs began to spin closer to him.

Yes, it is time.

Absolute power will be his!

As always, when he was amused, Mivere laughed. The sound of it echoed in the cavernous halls of his fortress.

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Mara jir'Alvar Resota, Priestess of Prontera was surprised to find the High Priest Ruven walking the same hall she was. The man's face was a little twisted – or maybe it was just the bright light going through the glass mosaics on the Sanctuary walls.

She was about to ask what he was doing here when suddenly, there was a sudden pain on her chest.

Mara looked down and was shocked to see a knife jammed right through her ribs and into her heart. As her vision blurred, she only had moments to see Ruven's face. His smile was sadistic in her eyes.

It was cold.

So cold.

Why would Ruven do this? . . . Ruven? . . . Who?

Slowly, there was only darkness.

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The doppelganger stood over the dead woman's corpse. Blood was already spreading from the sprawled body in front of him, staining the carpet and seeping in between the floor tiles. It tilted its head as if it was looking at something strange, although, that is just the way it is when it killed.

As per his instructions, the doppelganger turned the woman on her back and removed the knife. With one swift motion, it drove his clawed hand into her chest and carved out a hole the size of his palm. It then produced a ruby from his pockets, something the Master Leish gave to it to perform its task.

The doppelganger dropped the ruby into the hole that he made and stepped back. Light started to swirl around the woman. Light so warm the demon was surprised to find itself sweating. Light so cold that the sweat froze on his skin.

The woman's limp form rose from the floor. Blood dripped to the floor as she rose. Higher and higher it went until it reached halfway towards the Sanctuary's high ceiling.

The dripping of blood slowly became a steady stream. The doppelganger smiled at the sight of the scarlet river flowing in front of him. The river widened and split in the middle like a curtain. But instead of seeing the hallway beyond, the demon saw darkness behind the curtain of blood.

In that darkness, red eyes glowed as a figure of a woman emerged. What came out was what could have been the woman's identical twin – Priestess robes and all. Only, the doppelganger never saw that first woman smile the same way this one did.

It was a familiar smile. Something shared by his kind. Something that hinted of mischief, only, it was actually much more.

But then, this was the first time the doppelganger actually felt fear from that smile.

Then, as also instructed, the doppelganger went down on one knee with his right hand on his heart, or rather, where there should be a human heart. "Mistress Kieria, I live to serve you. My life is at your disposal and my services are yours to command."

Those words confused doppelganger. But his Master commanded that it say them.

Suddenly, the doppelganger felt pain as none he has ever felt. He tried to let out a scream but only found hoarse whispering. He thrashed wildly but he could not move because he was no suspended in midair.

His eyes rolled around in search of Kieria. She was still there, standing and eyeing him like a turkey on a meat hook.

"Pathetic mongrel. Do you really think that I can be swayed so easily by such words?" A ball of dark energy formed on her upturned palm. The darkness within that sphere pulsated with a kind of evil the doppelganger has never felt its whole existence.

"I . . . I . . . tell . . ." the doppelganger lost control of its voice as it tried to form words, but the pain felt like it was absolute, now.

Kieria let out a half sneer-half smile and slammed the ball right through the doppelganger's chest. The ball went out his back and flew down the corridor. The doppelganger only knew that the ball stopped when he heard a loud bang on the end of its path.

Despite all its efforts, the doppelganger smiled. The smile then slowly turned into hysterical laughter. The pain might not have existed.

Kieria's hand was on the doppelganger's throat so quickly, laughter ended with a choking sound. "What are you laughing at, worm? You already are as good as dead." She sneered.

The sneer didn't mar her beauty though. Strange, the doppelganger never even considered anything beautiful unless it was of a certain taste . . . but then, this Kieria, this being . . . she was . . . magnificent.

Too bad she will not exist much longer.

"The Master . . . awaits you Kieria." He coughed out. "You will regret ever coming out . . . very soon."

The last thing the doppelganger ever felt was a slight tug on the back of its neck before it was snapped in two by Kieria's grip.

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The forest echoed with Marus' blood curling scream. Trees burst apart when a strange energy surged from the man.

Meshido shielded his eyes from the onslaught of flying splinters as even more trees exploded. The ring of destruction spread a few feet farther away until it ended abruptly.

The forest was then silent save for Marus who was thrashing on the floor in apparent pain. Kevin and Degedos were the closest to the Assassin but the pecopecos were too frightened to come an inch closer. Taking a quick look at Mae, Meshido saw that she was only rooted there, unable to move, somehow.

Gods above! He had to do something!

Rushing next to Marus, Meshido tried to Heal him. As soon as his hands touched the man, Meshido quickly pulled it back with a hiss.

There was great evil emanating from the Assassin. Shadow-Eyes' obvious pain seemed a muffled reflection of what was truly going on inside his soul.

"Sei'Gash." He heard the Keeper say aloud before she started to crumple on the floor. Sodos was quickly there to catch her.

Sodos can take care of Mae, at the moment, there was Marus to consider.

Gathering his courage, Meshido touched Marus forehead, one more time. To his surprise – shock was more of the word – the light of Healing rushed through him. What?! But I was discharged from the Servants by the High Priest himself! How - ?!

The how was no longer important, what mattered now was trying to stop whatever was happening to Marus.

Focusing all his energy into his Healing, Meshido began his task.

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Sodos only spared a quick glance at Meshido as the Priest bent over Marus to heal him. He then turned back all his attention to Mae.

"Mae, what's wrong?" he spoke as calmly as he can although panic and terror were all he felt at the moment. He can't lose her again, not like this. Oh please, not like this!

Damn it! Why does this have to happen now?!

Mae spoke in between gasps, her pale face told him everything there is to know about her current condition. She is leaving. "My . . . mission . . . it is almost . . . complete. Sodos, I . . . chose this mission out of . . . my own free will . . . Please, don't – sten, Sodos . . . My time here is at an end . . .Skuld has completed her mission. . . and so have I . . . But . . . the real purpose of my coming . . . is so I can see . . . your face . . . again."

To love and to hold.

At that moment, all his barriers, all the walls he put up around himself to shield himself from everything . . . at that moment, they all crumbled to dust. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he clutched Mae closer to him. "I CAN'T BEAR TO LOSE YOU AGAIN!!! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME, MAE!!! YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD ME! THE ONLY ONE WHO CARED FOR ME IN THIS WORLD!!!"

In sickness and in health

In his ear, he heard her whisper. "Neither can I bear to see you lose yourself . . . in vengeance."

Through good times and bad.

She threw wrapped her arms around him, weak as she was. Sodos just held her even tighter.

Her weak voice echoed in his mind as she spoke. "Please . . . for me . . . care for this world . . . as much you can . . . Sodos. I . . . love . . . you . . ."

Till death do us part.

Sodos felt the chain of his pendant – her pendant – snap. He felt the onyx slide down the cloth and his skin. He felt each labored breath Mae took.

And then her arms went limp.

The features of the girl that Mae took over began to manifest themselves once more on the body. White hair slowly began to be replaced by red. The girl's tanned skin once again returned to the body, erasing the milky white that was Mae's.

The body was still alive.

But it was no longer her.

It was no longer –

His cry of anguish pierced through the canopy of leaves.