Chapter 50: Saying Goodbye

I was in the conference room when I felt a rush of anger fill me. I knew that this wasn't my anger; it was Angel's. He was angry about something, and I could feel that he was near.

I shook away the feeling, and prepared to face the others. I knew I had to explain what happened. I'm not so sure I understand what happened myself. I knew, though, that what really mattered now was the decision I was going to make.

The doors opened, and Zidane walked into the room. Everybody came in after him. Zidane smiled when he saw me. "Michael, good to see that you're awake. How are you feeling?"

I smiled. "I'm feeling fine, thanks." There was an awkward silence between all of us.

Eventually, I broke the silence. "Listen you guys, I'm really sorry about what happened. I didn't know-" Zidane cut me off.

"It wasn't your fault, Michael."

I shook my head. "Yes it was. I gave him access to my mind willingly, and he nearly killed all of you. Of course it's my fault."

Zidane spoke. "Well, beating yourself up about it isn't going to help."

I nodded. "I know."

Freya spoke. "He said that you created him. Is that true?"

Those words puzzled me. "What do you mean?" They told me what Angel had told them. I pondered this. "So, he tried to kill you guys because he considers all of you a threat to his existence." They all nodded.

Eiko spoke. "He really doesn't seem to like it when you're happy."

I nodded. "Yeah, it certainly seems that way, and maybe that explains some things."

Dagger spoke. "Like what?"

"Well, it would explain why I feel attracted to him, and why he's attracted to me. It's because he's a part of me. He's like my darker side. I guess it's only natural that we would be attracted to each other since we were once one. That also explains why I feel incomplete. It's because I forced him out of my body. It was like I had just ripped my own arm off."

Zidane spoke. "Vivi said you came to some kind of decision. What is it?"

I looked at all of them. "I've decided to return to Earth. There's some unfinished business I need to attend to." This news shocked everyone.

Vivi spoke. "If you're going, I'm going, too."

I shook my head. "No, I've already put you guys in enough danger."

Vivi shook his head. "I don't care. You're my brother. I'm going with you whether you like it or not."

Zidane nodded. "I'm going, too."

Eiko nodded, too. "I'd like to go back to Earth."

Dagger spoke. "I will go as well."

Quina spoke. "Maybe find tasty munchies. I go, too."

Freya spoke. "I shall accompany you as well."

Steiner spoke. "It is my duty as a knight to protect the princess, and aid my comrades. I'll go as well."

They all turned to Amarant. Zidane tilted his head. "You coming, Amarant?"

Amarant looked annoyed. "Fine, I'll go."

I looked at all of them, and shook my head. I knew it was pointless to argue with them. Besides, I was out-voted eight to one. "Alright, we'll all go together" they cheered.

Vivi looked at me. "Will we need disguises?"

I thought for a moment, and shook my head. "No, where we're going you guys won't need them."

Before we left, Zidane decided to hand out supplies. While at Daguerreo, Zidane and the others had managed to buy some useful items. He gave me a 'Black Robe' and a pair of 'Running Shoes.' I decided to replace my old robe with the 'Black Robe.' I slipped off my cape, slipped off my old robe, put on my new robe, and put my cape back on. As soon as I put the robe on, I felt the words of a spell enter my mind. I smiled when I knew what it was; Flare. Vivi got a 'Black Robe' as well. I also decided to try on the 'Running Shoes.' As soon as I put them on, my body felt lighter, and my legs felt stronger. 'This must be Auto-Haste' I thought.

After all the preparations, we were ready to leave. Everyone gathered around me, and I held my ring up. I said the name of the place I wanted to go. The ring lit up, and I felt a familiar falling sensation. Little did I know that someone was spying on us when we left.

I saw them disappear without a trace. I frowned 'so, he's escaping to Earth. I won't let him get away' I thought. That's when two guards approached me.

"Halt, how did you get here?" They held there weapons up, ready to attack me if I tried anything.

I laughed, and cast an Aera spell. The two were sent flying through the air. They hit the ground, and started moaning in pain and discomfort. I smiled "I don't have time for you two. I have bigger fish to fry." I quickly disappeared in a flash of light.

After a few seconds, we hit the ground. I looked up and saw that we had arrived at our destination. It was a quiet, hot and humid, summer day. It was cloudy, and it felt like a storm was approaching. I looked up at the iron gates that stood before me. I looked through the gates, and saw the graveyard. There were statues of saints and angels, as well as a statue of Jesus in a few places. There were many stone tombs, headstones, and an occasional mausoleum. No one seemed to be in the graveyard today. My target was deep in this graveyard.

I got up, and saw that Michael was looking through a gate. I looked over, and saw that he was looking at a graveyard. 'Why did he bring us here?' I thought. Everyone else started to get up. I walked over to Michael. I looked at him, and saw that he had a glazed look in his eyes. I could tell that he wasn't paying attention to us. I spoke "uh, Michael…why are we here?" Instead of answering, he opened the gates, and walked inside.

I quickly followed him, and so did the others. Zidane spoke "Michael, why are we here, and where are we going?" Michael just kept walking. Eventually, he spoke, but what he said told me that he wasn't paying attention to him.

"Little Mikey thought of everything and nothing. His father promised him that he would send him the Angel of Music. His father promised him, his father promised him." It was almost as if he was in a trance. To my surprise, he began to sing.

"You were oooooooonce my oooooone compaaaanioooon. You weeeere aaaaaall that matteeeeeered. You were ooooooonce a frieeeeeeeend and father…then my wooooooorld was shaaaaatteeeeeeered."

"Whishing you were sooooomehoooooow here agaaaaaaain. Whishing you were soooomehooooow neeeeeeear. Sometimes it seeeeeeeemed if I just dreeeeeamed somehow you wooooooould be heeeeeeeere. Whishing I could hear yooooour voice agaaaaaaaain, knowing that I neeeeeveeeeer wooooooould. Dreeeeeaming of yoooooou won't help me to dooooooo all that you dreeeeeeamed I coooooooooould."

"Paaaassing beeeeeeeells and scuuuuuuuulpted angels. Coooold and monuuuuumentaaaaaal. Seeeeeeeem for yoooooou the wrooooooong companioooons. You were waaaaarm and geeentlllllllle."

His voice was tinged with sorrow. I couldn't help, but feel sad myself. When he started singing, I couldn't help, but feel my grandpa's presence. Grandpa told me not to be sad, but now that I've been around the others and Michael, I realized that it was okay to be sad. I've also realized that sometimes you can't help, but be sad.

I knew what Michael was up to now. I stopped the others. Zidane looked surprised. "Vivi, why are you stopping?"

I turned to him. "I…I think Michael wants to be alone right now." Zidane seemed to get the message.

He nodded. "Alright, we'll head back to the entrance. Are you coming?"

I shook my head. "No, I'll stay here, and wait for him." Zidane nodded, and walked away with the others. I turned, and saw Michael disappear around a corner. 'Good luck, brother' I thought.

I continued to walk towards my destination. I could feel that the others had turned back. 'They must have figured out what I intend to do, good. I wanted to do this alone anyway. This is an old pain that I just want to lay to rest at last. Maybe it will help me, maybe it won't, but even if it doesn't I'll be glad to get it over with' I thought.

That's when I rounded one more corner, and saw my target. It was a large Mausoleum with a flight of stairs that led to the entrance. I could see the name etched above the door; 'Robert.' As I approached the mausoleum I could feel the tears well up in my eyes.

Suddenly, it all came back to me. The day my father returned from the hospital. The long weeks of pain and suffering he went through as his condition worsened. The hopelessness I felt knowing that I couldn't help him, and the pain I felt when he died. It was all coming back to me. The tears started to fall from my eyes. The tears that I had held back for four years. I started to sing again.

"Toooooo many yeeeeeeears, fighting back teeeeeeears. Why can't the paaaaast just diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie? Whishing you were soooomehooooooow here agaaaaaain, knowing we must say gooooooodbyyyyyye! Try to forgiiiiiiiive, teach me to liiiiiiiiiive, give me the steeeeeerength to tryyyyyyyyyyyy! No moooooore memories, no mooore silent tears. No moooooooore gazing across the waaaaasted yeeeeeeeears!"

I approached the stairs and collapsed to my knees. I looked up at the mausoleum and let my tears continue to flow. I continued to sing. "Help me saaaaaaay goooooooooodbyyyyyyye. Help me saaaaaaaay goooooooooooodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye."

I looked down from the mausoleum, and continued to cry. Eventually, I stopped crying, and wiped away my tears. It was done. I had finally said goodbye to my father. I felt sad, but also relieved. 'Now, maybe I can face Angel' I thought. That's when I heard a voice come from the mausoleum.

"Waaaaaaandering child so lost, so helpless. Yeeeeearning for myyyyyyy guidaaaaaaaaance." I was surprised. I knew that voice. I looked back up at the mausoleum, and began to sing. "AAAAAngel or faaaaaather, friend or phantom, who is it there stariiiiiiiing? Have you forgotten your aaaaangel? AAAAAngel, oh, speak what eeeeeendless longings echo in thiiiiiis whispeeeeeeeer."

I heard Michael singing. I looked in the direction of his voice, and saw the tip of what I thought was a mausoleum. My grandpa told me about them. After a few minutes, I heard a voice. "Waaaaaaandering child so lost, so helpless. Yeeeeearning for myyyyyyy guidaaaaaaaaaance."

I was surprised. 'that's not Michael' I thought. That's when I heard another voice. This time, it was Michael.

"AAAAAngel or faaaaaather, friend or phantom, who is it there stariiiiiiiing." That's when I heard the other voice again.

"Have you forgotten your aaaaangel?" Suddenly, my right hand began to hurt.

I looked at the palm of my right hand. I removed my glove, and realized that the scar Michael gave me from our blood bond was hurting. Realization struck me; it was Angel. 'He's here? How?' I thought. I knew that Michael was in danger. I had to get to him, and fast. I put my glove back on, and ran towards Michael's location.

I stood up, and looked at the entrance to the mausoleum. It began to open, and a red light started emanating from it. The voice sang again.

"Too long you've wandered in winteeeer, far from my fathering gaaaaaaze. Wildly my mind beats against yooooou. You resist (yet your sooooooooul oooooobeeeeeeeeys/yet my soooooooooul oooooooobeeeeeeeeeeys.) I began to approach the mausoleum as if I were entranced. I just couldn't resist. I continued to sing, and the voice sang with me.

"(AAAAAangel of Muuuuuuusic I/you denied you/me! Tuuuuurning from truuuuuue beauuuuuuuuuuty! AAAAAAangel of Muuuuuusic myyyyyy protector/Doooooo not shun me! Cooooooome to me/your straaaaaange angeeeeeeeel!) IIIIII am your AAAAAngel of Musiiiiic. Coooome to me AAAAangel of Muusiiiiiiiic."

I turned the corner, and saw that Michael was approaching the mausoleum. I could still her Angel's voice. He was drawing Michael towards the mausoleum. I had to stop him. I ran to Michael "NO, MICHAEL WAIT!"

I continued to walk towards the mausoleum, but then I heard a voice behind me. My soul wanted me to continue on, but my mind made me turn to face the voice. I saw Vivi running towards me. I was surprised "Vivi?" He ran up to me and grabbed my hand.

"Michael, we gotta get out of here! Angel is here!" I looked from him to the mausoleum. The door was closed and the red light was gone. It was all in my mind.

Suddenly, I felt a dark presence above me. I looked up, and saw Angel jump down from the roof of the mausoleum. He had my normal sword in his hand, and was executing a 'Ryu Tsui Sen Zan.' He was aiming for Vivi. I saw this, and immediately pushed Vivi out of the way.

Angel's sword missed, and hit the ground instead. I unsheathed my reverse blade sword. I saw that Vivi had his staff out. We prepared to fight Angel.

I spoke. "How did you get here?"

He smiled. "I am the Angel of Music. I can go anywhere."

I readied my sword. "I won't let you harm my friends."

Angel laughed. "You fool. Do you really think you can fight me? I thought your dream would've been evident enough to show you that, try as you may, you cannot fight me. You can resist, but you cannot fight." My sword wavered slightly, but that was all the indication Angel needed. He smiled "I thought so. You can't strike me."

I spoke. "I will destroy you. You are the evil inside me. The negative emotions that I've kept bottled up inside me. I can, and I will destroy you."

He continued to smile. "you're part right. I am your dark side, but I am also your Angel of Music."

I was puzzled. "What? What do you mean?"

He sighed. "Still haven't figured it out, have you? The light that was keeping me at bay, it wasn't your light; it was the Angel of Music. He has been inside you since your father's death."

I was shocked. "What?"

He smiled. "I would have taken your body years ago if it wasn't for that accursed Angel of Music. Damn your father for keeping his promise, and sending the Angel of Music to you." I was angered by his words.

Vivi spoke. "Wait, if the Angel of Music has been protecting Michael from you. Then how did you get by him?"

He looked at him. "I didn't. The angel gave himself to me without a fight."

I was shocked. "What? Why?"

He turned to me. "I don't know, but he gave himself to me. Don't you remember your dream…the cemetery?"

Realization hit me. "It was you…you were the darkness that was chasing me through the cemetery."

He nodded. "Yes, and I almost had you, but the Angel of Music showed up, and I knew that I had blown my chance. But, surprisingly, the Angel didn't repel me like he always did. Instead, he allowed me to take him. I became one with the Angel of Music."

Vivi spoke. "So, the body you have now is…" he paused.

Angel nodded. "That's right. This body belongs to the Angel of Music. Since I now had his body, it was a piece of cake to enter Michael's mind. I used the guise of the Angel of Music to gain control of Michael's mind and body. It was so easy."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you want me?"

He turned to me. "Well it's more need than want, and it's really your body that I need."

I looked puzzled. "But, why? Why do you need my body? You already have a body."

He shook his head. "Sadly, I can only occupy this body for a limited time. I'll fade away, eventually if I don't take your body. Once I take your body I will exist permanently, and you'll be trapped within your own mind."

I raised my sword. "I'll stop you!"

He smiled. "Oh, really. I don't think you can" I yelled and charged at him.

I swung my sword at him, but he sidestepped it, and hit me in the back of my neck with the hilt of his sword. Usually, I'd be able to keep my balance, but for some reason, I lost my balance and fell to the ground. Angel grabbed me by my shirt collar, and threw me down the stairs of the mausoleum.

I hit the ground, hard. The wind was knocked out of me. I looked up, and saw him looking down at me. He laughed. "See, you can try to fight me, but your heart just isn't in it." That's when I saw a huge bolt of lightning descend from the sky, and strike him. He cried out in pain, and was flung through the air by the blast. He landed several feet behind me.

I looked up at the mausoleum and saw that, due to my distraction, Vivi had time to meditate. I got back up to my feet, and turned to Angel. I could sense that Vivi had joined me at my side. I smiled. "I may not be able to fight you, Angel, but that doesn't mean Vivi can't."

Angel got back up to his feet, and turned his gaze towards Vivi. Angle looked infuriated. "YOU LITTLE BASTARD, I'LL KILL YOU!" With that said, he charged at Vivi.

We were standing outside the gates to the cemetery. We were all wondering what was keeping Michael and Vivi. 'They should have been back by now' I thought. That's when I heard something from the graveyard.

"YOU LITTLE BASTARD, I'LL KILL YOU!"

I knew that yell, and so did everyone else. Dagger turned to me. "Zidane, its Angel, he's here. Michael and Vivi must be in trouble. We gotta go help them."

I nodded. "Yeah, let's go guys." Everyone else nodded, and we ran back into the cemetery.

Angel swung his sword at me, but Michael blocked it with his sword. Angel looked at Michael with anger in his red eyes. "You would defend this weak creature?"

Michael spoke. "My brother is not weak. He will defeat you."

Angel laughed. "That tiny thing can't kill me. I'll kill him, and take over your body. Then I'll kill all of your friends."

Michael smiled. "Vivi will stop you. I know he can." That's when I realized that Michael was distracting him. I decided to meditate while he distracted him.

I felt that Vivi was meditating. My distraction was working. I may not be able to fight Angel, but I will stall him.

I spoke. "Vivi and I share a bound that you couldn't possibly understand."

He looked infuriated. "You and your pathetic blood bond. I will break this bond just as I'm about to break this mage."

My anger grew. "Nothing you do will shatter the bond between my brother and me!" That's when he kicked me in the side.

I grabbed my side, and leaned over slightly. Then, he punched me in the side of my head, hard. I fell to the ground, and lost consciousness.

I finished meditating, and opened my eyes just in time to see Angel kick Michael in the side. Then he punched Michael in the side of his head, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

I looked at Angel, anger burning inside me, and cast a Firaga spell at him. He was distracted, and the spell hit him. He went flying through the air. He fell to the ground several feet away of me. To my surprise he got back up. He looked furious.

He charged at me, and I cast a Blizzaga spell at him. He jumped over my attack, and blasted an Aerga spell at me. I braced myself for the attack, but to my surprise, a red aura surrounded me. The spell was reflected back at Angel. He was hit by his own spell, and fell to the ground again.

I was surprised by what had happened. I looked at my hand, and saw a blue ring on my ring finger. Realization hit me 'of course, Michael's 'Reflect Ring.' he gave it to me just before he went to sleep outside of Ipsen's Castle. I forgot all about this thing' I thought.

My thoughts were interrupted by Angel's primal scream. I looked up, and saw him charging at me at blinding speed. I cast a Thundaga spell at him, but he dove to the side, and avoided it. He rolled back up to his feet, and continued his charge.

He swung his sword downwards at me, but I blocked, and parried it with my staff. After that, I jumped up and hit him in the face with my staff. He cried out in pain, grabbed his face, and stumbled back a few steps. As soon as I touched the ground, I kicked him in the shin. He grabbed his shin with his left hand, and started jumping on one foot.

That's when I cast my new Flare spell. Angel couldn't dodge, and was hit by the spell. He was sent flying through the air and landed on top of a stone tomb. When he landed on the tomb, I heard something snap. He rolled off the tomb, and fell to the ground. He wasn't moving.

I regained consciousness and got back up to my feet just in time to see Vivi cast his Flare spell. I saw Angel hit the tomb. I heard something snap, and guessed that the impact broke Angel's back. He fell to the ground. Angel wasn't moving.

Vivi turned to me. "Michael, I got him."

I smiled. "Good work, Vivi. You did great." Vivi adjusted his hat.

I couldn't help but laugh. It was over. Angel was defeated, now I could move on with my new life.

Suddenly, the wind started to pick up, and I sensed that the storm was approaching. I could hear the thunder in the distance. I looked up at the clouds, and saw that they were getting darker. The storm was moving faster than I'd thought it was. The wind also seemed fierce, as if it wanted to harm us.

That's when I felt a dark power near us. I turned to Angel's body, and saw that a bright light had surrounded him. When the light disappeared, I could see that Angel was back on his feet. He was different though. His body was glowing, and his face was hidden by a black hood that seemed to form from his cape. All I could see was his glowing red eyes. What really caught my attention, though, was what emerged from his back. He had two large, black feathered, wings on his back. I was too shocked to move or speak. Angel had Tranced.

Angel said nothing, but he did assume a fighting stance that I knew very well. 'Ryu Sou Sen Garami' I thought, shocked. I knew the technique, but I never really used it. If he was using this technique it could only mean one thing.

Suddenly, Angel charged at Vivi. He moved so fast he was practically gliding across the ground. I knew what Angel was going to do. I quickly turned to Vivi. "VIVI, LOOK OUT!" but Vivi couldn't move. He was too shocked. Thinking quickly, I used my new 'Running Shoes' to quickly push Vivi out of the way of Angel's attack. I made it just in time to push Vivi out of the way.

That's when I felt Angel's sword pierce my chest. It went through my sternum, went through my backbone, and emerged out of my back. I gasped in pain, and looked down at the sword. Blood was running down the sword blade. I was having trouble breathing. The sword had definitely punctured my trachea. I looked up at Angel, his eyes were wide; he was shocked.

"NOOOOOOO!"

I turned my head to the sound of the voice; it was Vivi. Despite my pain, I smiled at him. Blood started trickling out of my mouth. I could taste it. Despite that, and my hard time breathing, I spoke to him "Vivi…my brother…we will….always be…brothers."

That's when Angel extracted the sword from my chest. I gasped in pain again, and fell to the ground, face-first. Vivi ran to my side. I could feel my clothes getting wet from my own blood. My vision was blurring, my breathing was getting shallower, and the darkness was closing in. Blood was rushing into my lungs. I was drowning. I could feel my life fading. I turned my head, and looked at Vivi one more time. My vision was blurring, but I could make out his eyes. I could see the grief in his eyes.

Vivi spoke. "Michael you can't die! I don't want you to die!" I could see tears forming in his eyes. I forced myself to smile.

I coughed up blood, and slowly brought my hand up to his face. "Vivi…you have to…stay…alive." My voice was barely a whisper. After that, I lost all my strength.

I closed my eyes. My hand fell away from Vivi's face. The last thing I felt was a tear dropping onto my hand before the darkness took me for the last time.

Again, sorry about the song, but it isn't easy writing a song were two people sing at once, and are singing something completely different. Also the songs I sang in this chapter were "Whishing You Were Somehow Here Again" and "Wandering Child" both songs are from The Phantom of the Opera. I used the movie version of "Wandering Child."

I have a new spell

Flare

Causes non-elemental damage.

Here is Angel's technique

Ryu Sou Sen Garami
The user focuses on attacking one of his opponent's vital parts at high speed.