Forever Strong
Tifa-Carbuncle – Yeah, I completely agree with you. But I think he's cute when he's depressed! XD I guess because it reminds me of his childhood with being not wanted and all.
Suzu Fujibayashi – Oh yeah, they'll reunite... on Zelos' dying day. Sorry dude, but Sheena's dead! (Speaking from Zelos' mind, that is ;) )
The Zelda Master – She didn't know! One shouldn't be punished for things they obviously don't know... I have good news and bad news. The bad news, I was away at a college where they didn't have computers that we can use and you had to suffer more insanity. The good news is I'm not sucking at suspense!
Kiesha – So did I, I also thought Genis was a girl too... ehehehe... Pity me have camp? No way, it was totally awesome! We even had a dorm pet, Fritters the Cockroach (only I would be excited about something like that, I realize)!
DreamerDust – Thanku, but she's dead, dead, dead! Sheena is dead! DE-AD! ...Just like 'goal' is GO-AL! Haha, stupid humor.
Black Hiei – If you're gonna cry, cry because it was too funny. No sad tears! ...I need a life.
lugiamania - Yup, everything needs a change of pace eventually. Why do you think this chapter took longer than the others? P
Sakura-chan79 – Yeah, well a story can't very well go on when the main characters are dead, now can it? However, that's not to say it can't continue with only one of them alive...
A/N: For those of you who actually care, I am one step closer to a full ride at a nearby college. Too bad I'll be heading to a Notre Dame or Duke Camp in another year or so. Anyway, if you've always heard the stereotypical rumors of cockroaches being in apartments or dorms, they're true. We had a pet cockroach in our dorm called Fritters.:still in camp spirit mode: Enjoy, and Go bucks!
Another dreary day passed as Zelos continued to mope. He couldn't bring himself to face the outside world, and even many times considered giving Regal's method a go. He hadn't eaten in days, nor had any fluids; so needless to say, he was drained in body and spirit.
He awoke in the earliest part of the morning, in which some still classified it as night. He realized he couldn't sleep his life away, even if it all was a joke. Not now at least, he still had a job to do.
He had to protect the people of both newly united lands. He may have failed in protecting the one he loved, but this time, for her sake, he wouldn't fail.
Silently, Zelos pulled his legs over the side of the bed, already his abdomen burned from the wounds re-opening. Through the pain though, he carried on. Being very careful as not to place his foot on an observed creaky floorboard, he managed to hoist himself onto his feet, but barely. Once he felt stable enough, he let go of the backboard of the bed he had used for balance. A searing pain shot through his right leg unmercifully causing him to crumple helplessly next to the bed and, damn his luck, sit on the creaky floorboard.
The Innkeeper's daughter was the only to come running with a lantern and new bandages. She gave him a pitying look; he however, looked away, he didn't want her sympathy, nor did he feel he deserved it. She set her lantern on the floor next to him and knelt to help him get back up. Seeing no other choice, and as not to be too rude after all they'd done, or tried to do, for him, he took her hand.
Once he was back safe and sound on the bed, she lifted her lantern from the ground and took a gander at him. "Ohhh! Look what you've gone and done now... You've reopened every single one of your wounds." She scowled, "Well, sit up. I'll need to change your bandages..."
Emotionlessly, Zelos complied, and the girl began to unravel the scarlet bandages. Though difficult to see with the lack of light, he noticed a blush spreading across the young woman's face. In any other instance, he would have smiled, laughed or said something enticing, but he found he couldn't say a word to save his life.
Once she had finished unraveling the bandages, she tossed them aside. Being only fifteen, she caught herself staring at his masculine figure. She blushed even more, and began to apply fresh new bindings, "This should hurt a lit... well, a lot. They've been soaking in salt water all day; it'll really hurt for a while, but trust me it helps heal wounds dramatically."
When finished, she stood back with the bloody bandages in her arms and lantern in her hand and watched painfully as he cringed under his new bindings, but managed to lie back down. She bowed her head and muttered a, "Good night, Mr. Sheen." before running back to her own room.
Assured that the girl was gone, Zelos unsteadily sat back up again. He raised his uninjured arm to his torso and tried to cast a simple First Aid spell, but nothing happened. Fatigue still wore heavy on him, so he proposed that as the cause to his lack of magic and turned in once more for the night. However, an apparition sought no comfort in letting things go on in such manner, and decided to pay the mute a visit...
Though notably in dream, Zelos found himself near his infamous crash landing site, conversely with company
"Zelos..." came a wispy, squeaky and devastatingly familiar voice from beyond his range of sight.
Almost immediately, he recognized the voice but was reluctant to believe it. "C-Corrine...?" he stuttered in doubt.
"Yes, it is I, the Great Corrine... uh, Rin." The passed on summon spirit said in a cocky, little peep. His impression of Zelos clearly missed its aim, for Zelos seemed to slink even deeper into his dejection. "I don't want to talk about it." He said, looking illicitly at the ground.
Corrine, knowing very well what 'it' was, astounded, "My, my! Forceful as ever and colder than a winter in Flanoir." he continued, much softer, "That's not the Zelos we all knew and loved..."
"Yeah, well, the one I love is dead because of that arrogant, stuck-up bastard! DEAD!" Zelos spat angrily, "So now that he's gone, maybe... maybe others won't have to suffer because of me..."
Everything was silent for a few moments, before Corrine spoke again, "...You're thinking of your family, aren't you?"
"Sh-Shut up!"
"Zelos, I've watched you and everyone else over the journey and I thought you'd learned not to run from your mistakes or fears! What is it that you're doing now!"
The fallen angel was hushed, quelling the anger and frustration storming about inside him. He took a deep breath and admitted, "You're right, Corrine."
"I know, and your normal self...?" he cut in.
"Give me one legitimate reason to be happy on this doomed mud-ball when—"
The summon spirit heaved an exasperated sigh, "I get it, I see. Just don't let me catch you around up here anytime soon!"
He soon awoke, back to reality meaning numerous throbbing wounds, overly bright sunshine and loud, bickering livelihood outdoors.
Imagining the previous night's activities as just a bad nightmare, Zelos raised his hand to his chest and began to cast a first aid spell. To his slight surprise, nothing happened. Initially, he was puzzled as to the suddenly bizarre inability to cast spells, but then it all became clear, obvious and very annoying. Seeing as he had lost great amounts of blood, it was logical that most of it was the Elvin blood he had transfused into him.
In an instant his whole life as he knew it seemed to shatter before his own eyes.
Needless to say, he felt useless, and now more than ever at the realization that he couldn't even properly defend himself for lacking the blood to control his magical sword and other various items.
Warily, he surveyed his surrounding area and considered his opportunities. Noting a clear escape route he awkwardly stumbled about the room, grabbing his, now useless, equipment and items before leaving a two-thousand gald payment and a small three-hundred gald tip.
As he neared the exit, a woman approached him with an abnormally stern look upon her, "Sir, aren't you the one being treated at the Inn? You shouldn't leave yet!" she continued, "Word spread fast of your horrible incident with the bandits! For a good couple of minutes you didn't even have no pulse! Lucky you're even moving today!"
Zelos gave no audible response, but merely stared ahead of the woman into the forest. The woman lowered her eyes, "Well, ain't ya gonna say anythin'?"
A younger woman nearby had been eavesdropping and came to Zelos' aid. "Ma'am, he's been through a lot, so much so he's gone mute. It's not nice to pester those who have gone through as much as he did..."
He shot a thankful nod towards the younger woman, and set off, though limping, with great intent.
About halfway between his starting point, the small village of Izoold, and the desert, he spotted a large caravan heading his way. Even so, he trudged on. Once the shouts from the caravan came within earshot, he stepped off the path as to allow them to continue on smoothly, however, they had no intention of carrying on.
One of the travelers on the caravan called out, "Oi, look! Innit the flying man we shot down! 'E's still alive!"
"What a treat!" bellowed the largest of the bunch as he stepped out from the crowd. "So, 'Bird-Man', what say you tell us 'ow to fly o'er that thar water and we'll let you go peacefully, eh?"
Zelos was neither intimidated nor willing to speak. He firmly stood his ground, glowering at the band as if they were but a mere patch of annoying insects. This, of course, earned him no easy travels.
"A'ight then. We'll just 'ave to force the answer outta yeh! Bandits, CHARGE!"
Trying his best to defend himself against the onslaught of a hundred bandits, Zelos feebly managed to strike down one bandit; however it just added fuel to the fire. The beatings commenced for a good five minutes before the leader yelled to halt.
Weak, crippled and in all aspects humane, dying, he still managed to kneel at their feet while maintaining his defiant glower.
"Still yeh refuse to tell? Fine then. Men! Finish him—"
"Stop!"
All attention turned to the lone bandit standing up top their wagon, "I think it would be wise, to instead keep the man with us. For in due time he's sure to crack."
The leader nodded, "Sounds agreeable...Rattle Snake, subdue him and put 'em in the wagon with Drowned One!"
"Sir!" the bandit 'Rattle Snake' replied. With that, he felt a sharp throbbing on the back of his head; all his life force seemed to drain from him and he fell into an lifeless state once again.