Chapter 16: The Cat Attached To The Rust
Written By Illuminet
Disclaimer: Refer to the first chapter to view it. It really is too bad, but life is always like that for some weird and unexplainable reason.
"..."-Indicate Speech
'...'-Indicate Thought/Telepathy
:xXx:
Far Southern Border of China
:xXx:
A.B.A could hold Leopaldon back no longer and finally jumped out of the way to prevent from getting crushed under Leopaldon's upper body. The massive beast jabbed at her retreating form with it's claws.
"Hunger Strike!"
Leopaldon was interrupted as small ice fly trap like monsters created by Dizzy chomped on different parts of Leopaldon's charred flesh. Being made of ice made them susceptible to cracking easily, and it only took a few well timed hits to break the fast maneuvering flying creatures. Leopaldon turned it's attention back to A.B.A, who jumped high in the air before smashing Leopaldon over the head with Paracelus in a mighty overhead chop. Leopaldon grunted in annoyance before striking fiercely with a claw thrust which scraped against Paracelus's surface as he was used to defend A.B.A. She tried to go for a counter attack but Leopaldon proved too quick on the offensive and follow up it's previous attack with another swipe that struck her in the side, making her bleed faster as she landed in the snow.
"Michael Sword!"
Dizzy came towards Leopaldon's side while it had been distracted by A.B.A, who got up quickly. Her arm formed into a large disfigured black blade courtesy of Necro, before Dizzy used the altered appendage to slash against Leopaldon's torso. The beast retaliated without even looking back at her to keep it's attention on A.B.A, and what looked like pure reflex, it's other arm shot out to intercept Dizzy, but she narrowly escaped getting struck. While Leopaldon's arm remained out, Dizzy brought her sword arm up before slamming down against Leopaldon's shoulder with enough force to send him hitting the ground on one side. A.B.A spun in a full circle before hurling Paracelus head first into the side of Leopaldon's head with a sickening crunch that Made Leopaldon fall on it's side, causing Dizzy to have to sway back and avoid the beast from rolling into her.
"Fight him from far away while I fight him up close, Dizzy..."
A.B.A informed as she dashed in towards Leopaldon with Paracelus's blade. The beast got up abnormally fast, almost succeeding in bringing it's tail over to whip the axe handling girl.
"Are you sure, A.B.A?"
Dizzy asked in a worried tone. A.B.A simply nodded as she tried attacking Leopaldon again, but it evaded to the side before trying to ram into her with it's head. Dizzy decided to comply as she took to the air.
"Skull Crusher!"
Dizzy let a barrage of lightning charged arrows blast out of her hands and towards Leopaldon. Once struck, the beast turned it's attention back to Dizzy, only to be smashed in the head by Paracelus again. Growling, Leopaldon jumped high in the air over A.B.A's next attack, landing behind her to deliver a powerful hind kick to her back. It was about to advance on her fallen form but Dizzy interfered. Necro appeared, soundly striking Leopalon's chin. The beast tried batting the half-Gear away with it's arm, but Dizzy's tail transformed into a worm that bit down on it's paw before it could hit her. It tried to attack the tail with it's other arm, but Dizzy's arm formed into a crab like pincer to halt it. Undine appeared, striking Leopaldon's nose with a blade that jutted from her palm. Leopaldon retreated slightly now, wary of Dizzy's strange morphing limbs and other body parts. It jumped back further, as if giving itself time to contemplate it's next move as A.B.A got up slowly. Finally, Leopaldon ran at the two at tremendous speed, it's footfalls nearly making the ground shake. It jumped up slightly in the air, before curling itself into a ball. It sped down the small slope it had been on, and Dizzy took a hold of A.B.A since she couldn't move very fast with Paracelus. Dizzy jumped high in the air before being able to be flattened under Leopaldon's rolling attack. The beast expected a tactic like this and immediately uncurled so it's feet touched the ground, and then spun around to leap at the two ascended woman, spiking them out of the air with an overhead paw. Leopaldon almost seemed to make a laughing sound at Dizzy and A.B.A's expense. It became serious again and kept using it's technique very often, since it was near unstoppable, and whenever the two tried to evade, it would counter attack by canceling out of it's roll to intercept them. Dizzy could tolerate most of the damage that followed many of Leopaldon's furious attacks but A.B.A bled to easily that her defense was minimal at best and even with the help of Paracelus, the shock that followed Leopaldon's powerful strikes more than made up for the lack actually hitting A.B.A directly. So here the two were, breathes ragged from evading Leopaldon's attacks while their own attacks seemed to prove highly ineffective in the long run. A.B.A was bleeding a lot, to Dizzy's concern, where the half-Gear's regenerative power could cut down on the damage she took from each blow. A.B.A seemed frustrated with Leopaldon simple but effective attacks.
"A.B.A, go back to Dr. Faust. Your bleeding badly right now, so I don't want to risk your life in this fight."
Dizzy told her. A.B.A shook her head.
"I can still fight..."
A.B.A said slowly as she stood in front of Dizzy, as if wanting to prove she still could.
"Please A.B.A... I don't want you to strain yourself."
Dizzy pleaded softly, putting a hand on the red haired girl's shoulder. Leopaldon looked about ready to attack again.
"Watch me..."
The red haired girl said, grabbing a small transparent bag of red liquid marked with the words "Super Body Fluid" on the label. Dizzy had remembered that Faust procured one from his hand bag and gave it to A.B.A. Dizzy wasn't quite sure what it was, though she assumed it to be blood, but for what purpose it had to A.B.A was unknown to her.
"Flash!"
A.B.A tossed the bag towards the ground, while Paracelus inhaled the blood in his mouth before the bag even hit the ground. He looked oddly excited before his entire form went black, outlined in a red aura. When the aura finally retreated, Paracelus was still normal save for his head. Now his large, flat, round head had been replaced with the head of skeleton bull with large curved horns at the top of his head. A.B.A was, for a lack of better words, pulsing with raw energy. A dull red aura seemed to emanate off her body, and a strangely satisfied smirk came on her lips. She didn't seem quite so pale anymore either.
"I still need to repay you for your kindness to me and Paracelus. I'll stop this thing here and now."
A.B.A said very confidently, where before her words were shaky and unsure. She took a couple of experimental steps forward, not even waiting for a reply from Dizzy before she took off in an all out run, hefting Paracelus across her back as if the giant key-shaped axe was nothing more that a feather. Leopaldon had been surprised by this burst of speed the girl showed, since she used to move quite slowly during the beginning of their heated battle. Not sure what to expect, Leopaldon took to the air before curling up into a ball and coming down on her from above. A.B.A made no move to evade, only swinging up with the chained that held Paracelus on it at the descending creature. Leopaldon was struck in the side, and too everyone's shock, was actually deflected off it's path. It flipped through the air before uncurling and landing very hard on it's legs when it touched ground. It's right shoulder now sported a gash that dripped blood on it's formally white arm.
"She cut it...it's actually been hurt."
Testament said slowly as he watched from a distance with the rest. Dizzy was now unsure if she should help A.B.A or not. The cut on Leopaldon was relatively small but A.B.A had been able to at least do that where every other person who used a blade only succeeded in very lightly grazing Leopaldon's flesh but never having the full power to actually be able to cut into it's flesh. Faust took a breather from his treatments of the others and came towards Dizzy.
"You should help her out, Dizzy. Her transformation is like a double edge. While she now has the power to wound Leopaldon enough to draw blood from him, her own attacks will cause her to damage herself, and she will eventually weaken as the battle continues."
Faust responded to her, as if he had read her mind. Dizzy nodded.
"Alright, but it won't do me any good if I don't power up myself as well. I hope I do this right..."
She said softly before rushing off in A.B.A's direction. A.B.A struck Leopaldon again with Paracelus, opening a wound across Leopaldon's face. The beast growled furiously before thrusting out with it's paw with enough speed to catch A.B.A off guard as she was hit onto the ground. A.B.A grunted as Leopaldon raised another paw to step on her and keep her routed in place. She gasped for air as Leopaldon crushed her, raising up it's arms as it's claws extended outward slightly.
"Necro Install!"
Dizzy's form became shrouded in the aura of her black wing, and her form flashed red briefly as she felt the surge of power flow through every part of her body. She stood over A.B.A just in time for Leopaldon to bring it's arm down. Although it struck Dizzy, she didn't react or move as the claws struck her in the face. Though it didn't look like it, her skin had toughened up to the extent of the beast's as well, so the claws did not penetrate her flesh and cut her.
"Arctic Impaler!"
Undine appeared, summoning a glacial spike to erupt from the ground under Leopaldon. Though cold based attacks had little effect on it, Dizzy was not trying to fully harm it anyway, only wanting to force it off A.B.A. She got the results she wanted and Leopaldon was lifted off the ground enough for A.B.A to be freed and helped up. Leopaldon did not know what was going on and went on the defensive now. It was out powered.
"Decapitate!"
A.B.A grabbed hold of Paracelus's shaft as a red aura formed at the tip of his blade, before she slashed upward, cutting Leopaldon's chin and making the beast uplift on it's hind legs before slashing downward, cutting into the beast's chest. Leopaldon roared in agony, trying to swipe at her with it's claws, but Dizzy acted as a shield by getting in front of A.B.A.
"Flaming Spiral!"
Necro appeared, creating a large twirling disc of blue flamed scythes. The attack was altered, staying in place in front of Dizzy rather than rising up. Leopaldon grunted from the heat of the attack and backed away as best as it could after being caught in the whirlwind of pain.
"Fault!"
A.B.A rushed in to attack again, impaling Paracelus in the ground behind her as she ran up the length of his shafted body before performing a back flip, her foot engulfed in a red aura. She slashed Leopaldon's nose, causing Leopaldon to bellow out further in pain. It retreated blindly away, stricken by fear. The two woman remained relentless and continued to strike down the massive beast. It wasn't long before Leopaldon found itself trapped in between them and the current of lava. It could not take anymore heat from the fiery liquid any further, nor could it last much longer from the attacks being dealt upon it. It could almost be perceived as funny. Most of the time Leopaldon was the one who made others cower in fear, and things came back around full circle now.
'This is the finale, it seems."
Dizzy said in an almost cruel manner, as Necro was able to alter her conscious a bit during her powered up state.
"Ready?"
She asked, turning towards A.B.A. The red haired girl nodded towards her blue haired companion. A.B.A took off in a sprint and Leopaldon growled lowly, though it didn't have much power to fight back with, it held it's head up with pride.
"Annihilate Evidence!"
The end of many of A.B.A's bandages surrounded Paracelus, and a tremendous wave of energy began being transferred from her to him as she thrust him deep into the ground. Similarly, small rusted chains ejected from Paracelus and surrounded her, and an explosion of crimson energy burst free from A.B.A. The energy engulfed Leopaldon, sending the beast high up into the air. The technique expended A.B.A of most of her power, and all she had the energy to do was pull Paracelus free before falling on top of him, unconscious. Paracelus's head reverted back to normal.
"Wings Of Light!"
Dizzy's body became surrounded in white light as she began to tremble. A surging beam of energy erupted from her form and into the sky, blasting clouds out of it's path. For a while nothing happened, until the light began to fall over the airborne Leopaldon. The massive beast could only roar in pain as the light that engulfed it blinded everyone else's view. After that, Dizzy's world went black.
:xXx:
The Megaton, Ultimate Heavy Class Mecha Transporting Zeppian Airship
:xXx:
Dizzy's eyes fluttered open, but closed at the bright light that blinded her. She opened her eyes slowly this time around, allowing her eyes to adjust before sitting up, feeling very weak and sore.
"My head..."
She groaned out, her hand clutching her forehead which felt like it had a couple of thousands of bricks hurled at it.
"So...your awake. How do you feel?"
Dizzy looked about to see Testament towering over her form, his raven perched on his shoulder as usual.
"Well, I think I'm okay...just a little..."
She took a brief pause to think about what to say but her mind wasn't working all that well, so she could only say one thing.
"...dizzy."
She said lamely. Yeah. She felt just like her namesake. Testament let a small smile grace his lips.
"You should rest a bit longer. And don't worry, A.B.A is fine as well."
He said, before turning to leave as Dizzy's slid back under the covers of her small bed. She saw that she was down in the infirmary. She looked about from her vantage point and saw her bandana and ribbons placed on the small table by her bed. She looked around again, finally spotting A.B.A a few beds down from her own. She couldn't actually tell of A.B.A was there or not because her view was impeded, however, Paracelus was near by so it was more of an assumption that A.B.A was bedridden just like she was. After a few moments, Dizzy tossed the covers off herself, not feeling tired enough to remained confined in bed. She looked towards her many ribbons, but was struck with laziness to fit them up in her hair and on her tail for the time being so she decided to just leave her hair down. She noticed that she was dressed in her ordinary pirate sailor shirt and jean shorts. She walked towards the bed Paracelus was leaning against and found A.B.A resting there as she thought she would. A.B.A immediately awoke and saw Dizzy, before sitting up in her bed as well.
"I'm sorry A.B.A, did I wake you?"
Dizzy asked softly. A.B.A shook her head.
"It's okay...but I'm tired of sleeping right now...if that makes any sense..."
She muttered. Dizzy smiled.
"Why don't we go up and see what everyone else is doing?"
She offered. A.B.A complied and got up out of her bed slowly, before dragging Paracelus along as she walked side by side with Dizzy. Upon reaching the large deck, they saw that it was night time a brilliantly. May and April seemed to be the only one's up there in plain view and were playing around with Janice.
"Hello May, April. How are you two?"
Dizzy asked when she and A.B.A reached them. May looked up at her in surprise.
"Are you okay Dizzy? After that fight with Leopaldon, you were out like a light. Are you sure you should be walking?"
She questioned the half-Gear.
"I feel okay. But what about Leopaldon? What happened to it?"
She questioned.
"After your attack, Leopaldon just started falling apart. We dumped most of it's remains back in the lava, and just when we were about to leave the area Janice here comes out of no where and runs towards where we put Leopaldon out of it's misery, and what do we see? About the top half of Leopaldon started crawling out of the lava with one hand. Ky blasted it back in and then we made sure it stayed there and never resurfaced. Ky may have been the one to dealt the final blow, but if it weren't for Janice making us follow her back, Leopaldon may have had enough time to heal itself while we all ride off. So I think Janice is the real heroine."
May said, playfully pulling on Janice's arms as the cat meowed. Dizzy smiled cheerily, petting Janice under the chin.
"Wow, Janice, you saved the world from impending doom!"
Dizzy said. Soon the intercom came on and Potemkin began to talk. During this time Janice slipped out of May's grasp to go back to sleeping on the railing.
"We'll be reaching Zepp very soon."
He said.
"Well, looks like this ride is over."
April said, her tone relieved.
"Heck ya! I don't care how big this ship is, there is just nothing to do on it!"
May agreed whole heartedly.
:xXx:
Zepp, Floating Country of Blacktech
:xXx:
"So, Potemkin tells me you've all done a good job and that Leopaldon has been eliminated."
Gabriel's tell everyone.
"I have a surprise for you Johnny. Consider it a gift if you will."
Gabriel mentioned as he turned to face Johnny.
"No thanks, Gabe. I think you've spite me enough with the whole Megaton thing."
Johnny said, firmly resisting the urge to punch the President in the face. Gabriel sighed.
"I see...then I guess I'll have to keep the airship I've had rebuilt from parts of the May-Ship and the Jellyfish Sky Pirates will have to be arrested here and now for being...well, pirates of course."
Gabriel stated, having a light turned on to reveal a newly built May-Ship, minus all the graffiti and such. Johnny flailed his hands about wildly.
"Okay, okay, I give...I'll take the gift, just don't arrest me and my crew."
Johnny said. Gabriel smiled.
"I knew you'd see things my way."
The President said with a laugh.
"Manipulative bastard..."
Johnny muttered under his breath. Gabriel eyed him suspiciously.
"What was that?"
He asked the black clad captain.
"Nothing. Anyway, thanks for rebuilding her. We should find some time to catch up one of these days."
Johnny said quickly.
"Can we bring A.B.A along, Captain?"
Dizzy asked. However, A.B.A backed away.
"I don't like those airships..."
She mumbled, kneeling down and hiding behind Paracelus. Dizzy kneeled beside her.
"You don't want to get airsick, huh? Don't worry A.B.A, I'll help you overcome it, and we can search for our parents together."
Dizzy coaxed her.
"Your looking for your daddy, too?"
A.B.A asked hopefully.
"Well...either him or my mother. Though I really hope that I can meet both of them someday. That became my newest motivation for traveling with the Jellyfish pirates after wanting to see the world."
Dizzy admitted. A.B.A seemed convinced and stood up.
"...I'll go...if it's okay...? And if Paracelus gets to come along, too."
A.B.A said finally. She turned to face Johnny and await his judgement. He simply shrugged.
"Sure, why not? The more the merrier. Now let's make sure we actually get to May Beach. Then we can mark this baby up again like the way it used to be."
The entire crew cheered at that before scurrying onto the smaller, but homelier airship. Once permitted to do so, The May-Ship took to the sky again. Unknown to them, Testament snuck onboard as well.
"Well, that takes care of Johnny and his crew. Now you four have to be returned home as well, right? I'll have a light transport airship take you where you want to go."
Gabriel asked, referring to Ky, Jam, Millia, and Bridget.
"What, no reward for saving the world or anything?"
Jam asked in a huff. Millia sighed.
"Isn't saving the world and being able to go to bed knowing that those dangers have been taken care of are enough?"
She told the chef. Jam shrugged.
"Well I guess so...but weren't we all in it to gain something in return anyway? I mean, you originally wanted to take Leopaldon in to repair your apartment complex, right? Now where are you going to get the money to repair it now?"
Jam asked her. Millia eyes widened in surprise, though the rest of her face remained calm as always.
"I suppose you have a point. I'm surprised you would remember about someone else rather that yourself."
Millia said softly. It was actually suppose to be a compliment, but Jam took it the other way, as an insult.
"Hey, don't get all uppity to me about your problem. You're the one who forgot it, unlike myself."
Jam said testily. Millia shook her head, wanting to drop the subject.
"Bite me. I'm only human so I have lapses in my memory just like everyone else."
She said simply walking away a bit, signally the pointless conversation over. She could get the money, it would just take longer. She could deal with that. Bridget yawned, stretching.
"I'm tired. This whole saving the world business gets pretty hectic. I shudder to think what The Crusades were like."
Bridget said.
"Why don't we go to the transport airship? I have to get back to HQ and give my report."
Ky said, beginning to walk ahead of everyone.
:xXx:
Sky, May-Ship
:xXx:
"You should visit more often, Testament. We would all be glad to have you over."
Dizzy said. The crew was assembled behind the two, plus the addition of A.B.A and Paracelus (she refused that Paracelus be treated as an object but rather as a person). A.B.A now dressed similarly to the rest of the crew with her own pair of jean shorts and a sailor blouse. She couldn't wear a bandana on her head because the key lodged in there prevented the piece of clothing to stay on. As for Paracelus, he simply had an eye patch over one eye.
"Somehow I doubt that, but if it would make you happy, Dizzy, then I will."
Testament affirmed as he held her small hand in his larger one. Johnny stepped up closer as well.
"Don't be a stranger, Testament. When you come over the two of us can drink some beers or something."
The captain said to Testament. The Gear turned towards him.
"I don't drink alcoholic beverages...but some tea would be appreciated."
Testament said finally. Johnny nodded.
"Tea, huh? Sure, I can do that."
Johnny said. Testament came closer to him, looking him straight in the eye very seriously.
"Please take care of her during my absence. I will continue to trust you...friend."
Testament whispered to Johnny. He nodded towards Dizzy before disappearing in a mass of red liquid.
'Friend huh...I'll need to work even harder now to make sure this newly made bond is kept in tact...sheesh, your not going to make this protection thing very easy for me are you, Testament?'
Johnny thought wryly to himself.
"Something wrong Johnny?"
May asked beside him. Johnny shook his head as a genuine smile appeared on his lips. He patted May's head where the hat did not cover.
"Not at all, May. Come on everyone! Full speed ahead to May Beach!"
Everyone cheered happily now that their captain was out of what looked like a somber mood. A.B.A could not join the enthusiasm, clutching her stomach.
'I think I'm going to be sick...'
:xXx:
England, Verdant
:xXx:
"Well Roger, looks like we'll be spending Christmas with the family this year."
Bridget said as Roger sat on his shoulder. He was both happy but resentful. It had been an innocent reply given to him in a note by his brother hoping he'd be coming over since it was already a long time since Bridget left anyway. All of their relatives would be around. He didn't in any way hate or resent his brother it was more a resentment towards his parents. He loved them but he hated what they raised him to be. That he couldn't act like a boy or forever be cursed because he was a twin. Roger pat his head reassuringly as he continued to walk. Bridget turned and smiled to his teddy bear.
"Today Roger...This will be a day to go down in history. Saving the world has allowed me to gather the courage so I won't be afraid anymore...I will prove to every single one of my family members that I am and always will be a man."
Bridget stated firmly, a smile appearing on his face. He took off in a sprint somehow feeling relieved now that he got so many negative thoughts off his chest. What would start off by making this day different was that Bridget was not wearing the usual fluffy white dress he usually did at Christmas parties with his family. This time he wore a black suit with white tux. He could now dress himself properly now as a boy. Now he just had to win over the approval of his family and open their eyes to the truth, and then he had to make the rest of his village believe. Just one of the many great chinks in the road to becoming more manly...Bridget was determined to overcome them all.
:xXx:
Russia, Apartment Complex
:xXx:
Millia sat on the ledge of the roof the newly constructed apartment complex she lived in, watching people go by.
"What the hell...! It's finished!"
One of the construction workers said. Millia sighed. They were so loud even when so many floors away. She'd be lying if she said she didn't have anything to do with the rebuilding in secret. Actually, her hair did all the work. She had hired the construction team with a large amount of money that had just recently been added to her account. Though the person remained anonymous, since she traced it back to Zepp, she figured it was probably from Gabriel as thanks for helping Potemkin, since he was the only real celebrity on Zepp at all. Unfortunately, one night of the team working loudly and getting only about a fourth of the work done was all that she could stand, so she decided to do the rest, have them take their money, and leave so she could sleep in peace and quiet from now on.
'It's already the beginning of a whole new year. One that I'll be spending alone...but I'd rather be alone living free rather than living back at the guild with all the other assassins, feeling guilt ridden all the time.'
She thought to herself. She prayed for another new year of being free to live her life as an ordinary human. The road had been bumpy after escaping the guild, and killing Zato-One, and escaping Venom's wrath. The new leader didn't seem too interested in her anymore so she hoped it meant he decided to forget about her or it could mean he was planning something bigger in order to avenge his master. That's how deep his devotion was, but it blinded him to the fact that Zato wanted to be slain before Eddie could take full possession of him and she was the only one around who could do it. Not that it had done a lot of good, and the Eddie was able to control Zato's dead body even easier now that no mind existed to halt it.
'If I meet with Venom again, maybe we can talk things through and he can truly forgive me and then...I can truly be free without having to pray to whatever deity is listening...someday.'
:xXx:
China, Shen Long Shao
:xXx:
'It sucks having to be sworn to secrecy about kicking the crap out of Leopaldon. Just think of all the publicity I'd get, though...but with the damn Bureau and their little hunts going around, I'd probably get swarmed by a bunch of Robo-Kys then customers...and that would definitely be bad for business. Heck, I learned that lesson when I got the reward money from Dizzy's bounty.'
Jam thought to herself. She had made a few rounds of serving after cooking up a plethora of dishes for her customers, but was actually working more on instinct while letting her mind wander. Jam had been a waitress far longer than she had been a chef, so the task was quite easy since she learned the tricks of the trade so early.
'Hmmm...well the New Year's about to start, so maybe I should invite everyone to the restaurant for some high quality food! But what about all the addresses to be sent out? Ky, Potemkin, Millia and the little squirt shouldn't be too hard to track down...but that leaves the Jellyfish Pirates who could be anywhere. Maybe I'll tell the President in Potemkin's letter to track them down so they can come over. Yeah, That's Brilliant! I'll do it right now!'
She looked around before spotting a nearby waiter. She looked at her platter full of food before turning to him.
"Hey you, catch!"
She then tossed the giant thing at the startled waiter. He caught it and almost fumbled it before finally holding onto it firmly with both hands. He looked very pale, relieved he finally steadied the large platter.
"Take that order to table 312. All of you keep working, I'll be back in a flash."
She ran off, leaving a bunch of waiters, waitresses, and customers alike in confusion.
:xXx:
Zepp, Flying Country of Blacktech
:xXx:
"You've served me well, Potemkin. But then again, you always have. I would like to make you the Vice President and succeed me someday. That means your slave collar can truly come off if you so wish it by accepting my offer. You've sweated blood and tears for our nation, so I don't think anyone else is more qualified than you."
Gabriel said. He and Potemkin were in the President's office.
"I'm honored, President. However, I wish to continue sweating blood and tears for the nation I so cherish. I could never protect it without these bonds or this slave collar around my neck I once loathed under the former government's tyranny. Besides, even if Leopaldon was one of the greatest threats out there, he will not be the last. With change comes new obstacles, and I want to be ready to face those obstacles with all my power in the near future. So I decide to stay bound."
Potemkin said, saluting to the man who gave him the chance for a better life. Gabriel nodded.
"I see. I had hoped you would have accepted, though. You are my most trustworthy friend and ally. You'll be around even after I pass away, Potemkin, and I want you to take in my successor and teach him or her all I have taught you over these many years together, understand?"
Gabriel asked. Potemkin looked confused.
"President?"
He didn't know why, but it almost sounded as if the President was telling him a death wish.
"Oh, don't worry, these old bones of mine haven't failed me yet so there's no need to look at me like that, Potemkin. I'm just telling you what my expectancies for the future are since you've decided to keep serving Zepp as a soldier. Oh yeah, I forgot to give you this letter given to me by Jam Kuradoberi. You might want to have a look at it. It's an invitation to a New Year's celebration, after the restaurant's closing hours of course. It might be a good idea for us to go since we haven't had a long time to unwind."
Gabriel mentioned. Potemkin looked thoughtful before nodding.
"Sure, why not? I haven't had good Chinese food in some time."
:xXx:
Paris, France, IPF HQ (about a couple of days later)
:xXx:
Ky sat at his desk, going through paper work. He had finished writing a letter of thanks to Jam, since she wanted to throw a big dinner party celebration for the victory over Leopaldon and to celebrate the New Year and he had been invited. He had a lot of work to catch up on now that he was back in his office. Solaria milled about with Bernard, helping the butler assist Ky with his catching up to do. It took Ky well into the night, but he finally done with what needed to be done and began to head home. Since he lived relatively close by, he always walked along with Bernard and Solaria, as he was at this very moment. The cold winter air made Ky shiver slightly.
"Was Mr. Sol okay?"
Solaria asked. Ky didn't know how to respond to that, but he tried his best.
"I'm sorry, Solaria, but I didn't find him. I was hoping he would maybe come around when we fought against Leopaldon...but he never showed like I thought he would."
Ky told her. He reasoned that Sol may have found Anji in Zepp eventually and interrogated the Japanese man. If information of That Man came around, that would be Sol's main priority. Solaria nodded in her understanding and continued to walk with the two men, remaining wordless. She seemed somewhat sad, most likely concerned with Sol's well being
'It's strange...like Dizzy, Solaria has this strange affinity towards Sol.'
Ky thought to himself. Sol was usually tolerant of people, but never really cared about them, only acknowledging they existed. When the Crusades waged on, many of the Knights killed Gears out of their passion to rid the world of evil, but Sol had remained indifferent, never seeming to care who was lost or who was won, he simply fought. Ky remembered the many times after a Gear raid was halted, all the Knights that fell on the battlefield were taken to be given proper burials, while the dead Gears were left where they were slain, to rot away with the passage of time. Sol never helped out with these burials, only sat around, smoking a cigarette. This had infuriated Ky a number of times. But there was once that Sol had went missing from the camp when a raid in Germany had been successfully halted. Ky himself opted to go look for the man, and found him in the remains of the devastated nameless city where Gear bodies once littered the floor, but were oddly absent that time. Sol simply stood in the remains of one building, and was actually unarmed. Ky had confronted the older man about why he was there, but Sol simply turned and faced him, walking away without either a word or a glance. Sol's uniform had been smudged with dirt and blood, more so than when he had emerged from the battle with the Gears earlier. Ky had realized then that Sol buried the remains of the Gears. The evidence was clear to see. He voiced out why, because at the time he was like his men, believing Gears to be evil and not deserving the same rights that Humans themselves did. There were so many things Sol could say to spite him at that moment like he usually would, but he only said one.
'Someone has to...'
After that, he was gone and Ky was alone. That was one of the only times words left Sol's mouth that were not insulting in any way, shape or form. Back then Ky never really thought much on it, since the war occupied most of his time. He found it odd that here and now, so many years after The Crusades had ended that he would be thinking about what Sol once said to him now.
'Someone has to...'
Those words rang clearly in Ky's mind and he believed he might have grasped on to what Sol's meaning was.
'Someone has to do it...show Gears that they are living, breathing creatures just like us Humans. Even if his original intent was to kill them, he still showed sympathy and gave them the benefit of the doubt that they could go on living when they were hurt and had no place to go for comfort...maybe that's why Solaria and Dizzy care so much about him...because for once, he was a Human who treated them like a Human.'
This was a lot of things for Ky to think about. But luckily he had a long time to do so now that he was finally home.
:xXx:
Antarctica, northern border
:xXx:
"About fucking time."
Sol said as his feet touched the snow. Luckily, his Gear body made him immune to a lot of things, and protection from the intense frigid temperature of Antarctica was one of them.
'Good thing I made that pit stop at that nearly destroyed airship in China that belonged to the Bureau and hacked into their database. I now know where that cave that housed that giant freak is located. And I bet That Bastard is probably there studying it right now, too...'
Sol continued to walk under the night sky where an aurora shown over the snowy mountain peaks in the far distance.
:xXx:
Africa
:xXx:
'Soon it will be time...the place of our birth is near...'
The large brown dog walked casually through the humid jungle, it's crimson eyes glowing eerily in the pitch black night.
'We will become one again...'
:ToBeContinued:
Note: Again, sorry for so many delays. It wasn't so much a matter of writer's block as it was trying to work around writing this and getting through a busy schedule. Anyway, I don't like the way this chapter flows, as there are parts I feel could use more depth, and others that don't need quite as much. Oh well, I tried my best...if I get some spare time, I might edit it again in the near future. The next update again might take a little while to be posted, but Sol fans should rejoice once it really does get's posted, because the remaining chapters focuses very little on anything else other than the Guilty Gear himself. I'm surprised I've left him out of the story for nearly five chapters already being a Sol fan myself...though I suppose it was necessary to keep the story moving. Anyway...I hope this update of chapters was decent at best and I hope readers will enjoy them for the time being.