Allllrighty peoples, this is my 8th chapter:tear tear: it's so long! I hope you are all enjoying it, with all it's seriousness, and uncorrectfullness haha, I have to go back and make changes to that...but yeah that'll be later...after finals xx Anywho, today was a great school day for me! How bout ya'll? We let our class trout go today in our little preserve, it was so...heart warming! I miss them...uhh I'm suppose to be studying for english...you're all probably like, wow she studying for english while writing a story..haha it's so ironic! I hate vocabulary:D So, I'll just post this and be on my merry way! Enjoy chapter eight of Blue Skied Symphonia! LOVE AND PEACE: does vash pose:
"People tend to fear that which they cannot see, yet when they finally learn the truth they deny it's existence. Why is that humans, half-elves and all other creatures deny the past, and the impending future? Is it because they dread what might happen if they learn the truth? Or, maybe, it's just a flaw with mankind and elven kind itself. What makes us so reluctant to know of the future and why, why do we constanly make excuse for things when they go horribly wrong? I think it's just a character flaw, in beings, inferior or not, half-elves and humans, both shared the gifts of misjudgment and sometimes half-elves do things horribly wrong. Even if it is like the so called inferior human beings."
Raine Sage
"That…is…not…Yuan!" A shadowed figure said in broken sentence leaning against a tree. He walked out from the shadows of the dark forest. The figure had blue hair, and was half-elven.
"Y-Yuan…what the hell is going on?" Lloyd asked looking at the emerging figure of Yuan. He was clutching his side, and he took a staggered step forward, each time he did a deep red liquid fell around about his feet. He fell against a nearby tree, and gasped.
"How so…very annoying. I thought you'd be dead by now, but I see…you're persistent to cling onto your pathetic life." The other Yuan spoke, he was dripping with water from the summon spirit Undine's water beam, he smiled as everyone turned around to look at him.
"Well…Lloyd, who is it? Which one will you kill? Me? Or that imposter?" the drenched Yuan said, still smiling.
"Shut up! Don't listen to him Lloyd!" the other Yuan said, he gasped after he spoke, and clutched his side in pain and winced. Lloyd looked at them both in confusion; he didn't know what to do…who was the real Yuan? How was he supposed to figure it out? I-I-don't know what to…
"Only the real Yuan would know the answer to this!" Lloyd cried out suddenly everyone looked at him in silence.
"What did my father said for you to do…after he left." Lloyd asked, the drenched Yuan looked at the boy in confusion, and the injured one laughed.
"Ha, ha, ha that's easy, he told me to look after you, and help you destroy the remaining exspheres." He stated in a whisper. The other Yuan growled with anger, he picked up his sword slowly, and began to charge at Lloyd.
"Lloyd! Look out!" Genis cried out, and Lloyd spun around to see the imposter about to strike him directly in the chest, but the blow never made it, for a bolt of lighting flew past Lloyd's shoulder and crashed into the figure. The fake Yuan flew backwards with an angry shout.
"DAMN IT! So, close." He said huffing after the attack, which still had the place it hit smoking. He dragged himself onto his feet, and reverted into his true form, which was a figure covered in a black hooded cape, with purple strips going down the back, he laughed as the others began to attack, but he seemingly was unaffected despite all their attempts, he jumped backwards, and in mid air disappeared.
"We'll meet again…Lloyd." And the wind blew a cloud of dirt and dust in front of the place where the imposter just previously stood. Everyone turned back to Yuan who was now deathly pale, and lying slumped against a tree.
"First aid!" Lloyd heard Raine cry out, as he still looked at the spot where the fake Yuan was.
"First aid!" he heard her cry out again.
"Lloyd!" Lloyd turned around; everyone was around Raine whose hands were outstretched over Yuan's side, which was still bleeding, his blood a pool on the surrounding floor.
"He's…not healing." She said, looking at Yuan, who was breathing in short gasping breaths. No one said anything and the only sound was the laughter of wind through the trees' leaves.
"All right, let's go…where' going to Flanoir…now." Lloyd said seriously, and Regal carried the barely conscious Yuan out of the forest. He opened one of his eyes to see a very stern looking man with blue hair above him. What the hell…is going on? Why, am I so weak…how could I, let this happen… that was last thing Yuan thought before his entire world turned pitch black.
:Flanoir:
"So…how is he? Doctor?" Lloyd asked the man in white, who was standing looking out the window at the snowy scene now transcending. The man sighed; he turned around and looked at Lloyd with scrutiny.
"Well, his wounds weren't severe, but he lost a lot of blood, he's just very weak."
"How long until he's better?" Raine who was sitting in a chair across from the huge fireplace asked. The room in which everyone was now in was big, in all comparison to the rest of the other quarters in which the patience lied. The polished wooden floor was covered by a red rug, which was intricately designed and inlaid with gold. There were four windows on both the left and right sides of the room. Small scones, which were on either side of the huge mantel, surrounded by tear shaped glass coverings, held candles in them, making shadows of the figures that, stood in the room dance. The fireplace, where now a huge conflagration was, was so bright the unfortunate souls who were outside enduring the cruel weather outside longed for its warmth. The doctor turned around and looked out the fogged window, which he wiped clean with his sleeve, and sighed.
"I'd say about a week give or take. Like I said…his wounds aren't bad, just a lot of blood loss." Someone in the room sighed, and opened the intricately designed oak door and left, the door closing with a soft click. Sheena looked around and noticed that Zelos was missing; he was the one who left. But, why? She asked herself, pondering. A cough from the window brought her back to the current happenings around her.
"Well, I'd better leave you all alone now, you can use the two doors on the left and right, they lead into the inn part of the hospital. See you in the morning" the doctor left, leaving them all in a silence.
"Great, just great…why out of all the times does this happen?" Raine muttered to herself.
"I wonder what the hell that thing was…I've, we've never faced anything like it." Lloyd said as he paced about the room, Regal watching him.
"It seems, that he's sort of like Noishe." Raine stated, thinking.
"Noishe? How?" Lloyd asked confused.
"Well, the protozoan goes through a transformation called evolution where it's body changes to the changes of its surroundings, correct?" Raine asked.
"Uhhh, yeah, sure. But I don't see what that has to do with this guy." Lloyd said still confused. Regal let out a tired sigh.
"What I believe the professor is trying to say Lloyd is that this thing…whatever it maybe, goes through mini evolutions. Then reverts back to it's original self." Regal explained to the now quiet room, the crackling of the fire was all that was heard.
"Yes, that or it's something called a shape shifter. Although it's just a legend, but this might be one." Raine after a long paused stated.
"Okay it's a shape shifter, but what does it want with me?" Lloyd asked, and Raine sighed hanging her head in defeat.
"That, I'm still trying to figure out. What I do know is that…when you asked that question to determine who was real and who wasn't, the fake one was completely taken off guard, which means that he can take the form of the person but that form is like…"
"An empty shell…" Presea interjected, with little emotion as always.
"Exactly. An empty shell used only for outside appearance, where as the inside is still not the original." Ranie said. The room was quiet again.
"It's getting late, we should all get some rest. I see Genis beat us to that though." Regal stated a smile spreading across his face as he looked at the small half-elven child curled up on one of the many plush chairs in the room. Lloyd turned and walked toward the door.
"Lloyd where are you going?" Sheena asked.
"I um, just wanna get some fresh air, I'll be in a few minutes." The rest too tired to argue let him go off, Sheena didn't believe his excuse; no it wasn't true something was up…but what? She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Lloyd walked outside the long corridor to the entrance of the hospital, he stepped out into the frosty night, and shivered due to the drastic change in temperature. His breath came out if wisps of white smoke, and he looked about, he spotted a bright red head leaning on the stone balcony, and walked toward it. Zelos was staring out into the dimly lit town, this place brought memories, ones that he really didn't want to remember, but something about that figure, it stirred something.
:Flash Back:
"Mother! Mother!" a red haired frighten child cried out clutching to the pink but tattered dress of the beautiful woman standing before him. His eyes watered as he looked at the strange black man in front of his mother. He then looked up at her. Her hair was long and flowing, brown and red mixed together perfectly to give her hair the right tint. She stood before her son, arms outstretched, her once smooth face now had deep lines of determination engraved into it. Her brown eyes usually gentle had ferocity in them never seen or thought to be had before. She was breathing deeply, as if suffering from some unknown wound. The dark figure towered over her and her son, casting a chilling black shadow on both of them. He let out a laugh as he looked at the pitiful scene before him.
"Hand over the boy, Anna. You can't protect him forever. Besides, I'll let you go alive if you just give him to me." The figure stated, smiling. The woman moved in front of the child to protect him even more. The were standing in a darkened ballroom, figures of all the highest ranked people in Meltokio lay dead before them, blood covered the floor and everything was silent. The moons rays entered through the large stain glassed windows it let the scene in the huge room be seen more clearly. The child who was obviously shaking, looked with horror at the bodies all around him, he drew closer to his mother who looked down quickly and back p at the black figure before her.
"Alive? You say that having a Cruxis Crystal in my throat is being alive. Leave now, and don't come back, you monster." She said in a whisper, glaring at the figure that now was silent. He took a step closer, and she and the child moved away.
"That was your own fault, your parents fault for going against Lord Mithos…you can't blame me." He said smiling again.
"I will…not give you Zelos! He will not endure anymore suffering from the likes of you…fakes!" Anna yelled back.
"You…you insolent bitch! How dare you speak to me that way! If it weren't for us, that little wrench would be facing far worse from these…disgusting creature. Wearing their fame and fortune for all to see, but ha ha ha their fame does nothing to protect them from swords. The fools." The man said looking at the surrounding carnage.
"In the end, they're all just pathetic humans."
"What about you? You're human as well! Why are you doing this?" Anna asked.
"Because, I must prove myself, to Lord Mithos, I must show him that I am a true follower to Cruxis." The figure stated.
"Never." Anna hissed back and narrowed her eyes at the callous being before her.
"My dear Anna, you have no idea what big a predicament you're getting yourself into. Do you really think…you can go into hiding again especially now with a child? How much pain must you endure from the ranches to realize, that the half-elves, will kill any who pose or seem a threat. I believe Kvar is waiting for you to make a bold move such as this; maybe that's why he sent you here in the first place…so he could finally finish your testing. Hand over the child, the child which now belongs to Cruxis." The man smiled after the last sentence and Anna's shoulders shook with rage, she stared at the man before her.
"Cruxis, don't even mention those…fake bastards to me." The figures black eyes flashed dangerously.
"Like you are one to talk…Anna Vermilion." Anna balled her hands into fists and the figure laughed.
"I wonder, why does one, who is a slave to the angels, defy them? Why do you suppose this is?" The figure asked his arm reaching out between what little space was left between them, and he placed his hand on the nape of her neck he pushed back her flowing brown hair which hung over her should, she pulled away though. He smiled.
"Why, why do you want him so badly? He's just a child, what advantage could he possibly bring to Cruxis?" Anna asked piteously.
"None, for he isn't female, Lord Mithos had no use for male chosen's, yet…what do you suppose there is for him here?" the figure asked looking around.
"A rich life, yes. But, his parents agreed for him to be used by us, they gave him us to keep, and use as a tool, such as they are being used now, only with little pain that he will go through. I think it's safe to say that we will raise him in an environment better suited than the one he's in now, and maybe he will join us one day." The figure said, and Zelos moved closer into Anna.
"No, that's not right! How can you take away, everything from just a child?"
"My god woman, why do you care so much for him? You aren't his real mother, you're just here because we needed someone to take care of him until his crystal's effects wore off, although it is quite amusing seeing him believing that you're his biological mother, it amuses me." Zelos's eyes widened as he heard what the scary man was saying, something in him, felt dark now…something like loneliness and abandonment which he would feel for the rest of his life, even we he had broken from the Cruxis bonds. The sound of several echoing footsteps bounced off the quiet ballroom walls, and into the light stepped several Meltokio royal knights, spears at the ready.
"I'd hate to ruin such a good specimen, Anna. So please, hand over the boy, if you value your life." The man stated, the guard moved closer, and the child whimpered in fear. Anna knelt down and held the now crying Zelos, she smoothed his brilliant red hair, which was beginning to curly at the bottom.
"It's alright, Zelos, don't cry. I won't let them do…" before she finished her sentence the figure hit her with the back of his sword rendering her unconscious, Zelos cried out as she fell onto of him.
"M-Mother! What did you do to her!" he cried tears streaming down his face, as the figure picked the limp Anna up, and carried her away, Zelos tried to get away but was totally surrounded.
"No! Let me go! I don't want to go back! Mommy! Let me go!" he cried, as he was forcibly picked up and carried out of the darkened ballroom, into a even more pitch black night. The figure turned around, and looked at the child whom was being carried over a guards shoulder, he smiled, and looked down at the woman in his arms.
"Sorry, Anna, but this…is how it has to be."
"No! I don't want to go back to that place! Let me go!" the struggling Zelos cried out. They had carried him into a white room, and he looked in horror as a needle was stuck into his arm, he cried out in pain.
"Not to worry, chosen, this will make you a bit tired, that's all. Now, go to sleep." A man said, his vision blurred and then it went black.
"Zelos! Hey Zelos!" Zelos's eyes shot open and his hand went instinctivly to his dagger and he deftly drew it out but stopped, he was looking into the eyes of his friend, Lloyd. Lloyd gulped as he looked at the dagger below his throat.
"Geez! You're getting like Kratos you know that?" Lloyd said, staring at Zelos, whose eyes had a strange glint to them, he put his dagger back into its sheath.
"S-Sorry, you took me by surprise." He responded and sighing he turned back to the looking over the town. Lloyd noticed that Zelos's face was paler than usual.
"Hey, you okay? You're kind of pale." Lloyd said, looking at his friend with concern.
"I'm fine." was Zelos's curt response; he unknowingly began to rub his arm, where if he were little again, the needle would have gone. Lloyd looked at him with a confused face, Zelos looked at him, and realizing what he was doing, he stopped.
"Everyone is probably in bed by now, I just came out to get some air though, really hot in that room, ya'know? Well, I'm going back in, too cold for me. You coming?" Lloyd said rubbing his arms, as if to warm himself from the harsh Flanoirian cold.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a minute." Zelos said, and then he was silent, again. Lloyd didn't like this, Zelos being quiet…for once, that was rare, and odd, it didn't fit. I wonder what's wrong? Lloyd said, as he made his way back into the hospitals guest quarters, the candles, were burnt out now, and only a few coals remained alive in the huge fire place, he went into the room on the left, and seeing Genis asleep, carefully got undressed and into his own pajamas. Genis, yawned and rolled over on his side, curling up in the warm, hand sewn blankets, Lloyd did the same, he still wondered though, what was wrong with his friend…
"Zelos…" Lloyd whispered, but he was finally taken over by a much-needed sleep.
Zelos finally went back into the hospital; he entered the guest quarters silently. He sat down with a heavy sigh in one of the fancy upholstered chairs, and put his head in his hands, his bright red hair fell around his face hiding and signs of the tears which burned in his eyes. How long…has it been since I had that…dream. Why did I have it? That figure, who was he…why, why me? He looked up, and then he carefully and quietly, as not to disturb anyone, went into the room on the left, and fell into an unhindered sleep.