: Fragment No. 3 :

Change of Heart

Σ Server : Aerial City Fort Ouph

The blue-haired Wavemaster would sigh, walking away from the Recorder. He seriously couldn't get his mind off of that Dungeon Adventure he'd gone on with Kite two days ago. Then again, he hadn't seen Mia on in a long while. She'd actually sent him an e-mail, asking him to go to Σ Graceful Tempting Fallen Angel. Since it was Mia who'd asked for him, he immediately said yes, but now he wasn't so sure… Yes, he was now at level 77 thanks to that adventure with Kite, and the Area Level was 76, but he was still sort of afraid… Mia was probably on the very last floor waiting for him, and it'd be extremely hard for him, a lone Wavemaster, to get all the way down there without getting into any trouble.

I wish I could go down there with Kite… But Mia said to go alone… Oooh, she knows how hard it is for me to do stuff by myself! He thought, biting his lip as he typed in the Keyword. He sighed, pressing the Warp button, I don't have much of a choice now, do I…? I already accepted…

Σ Server : Aerial City Fort Ouph – A Little Bit Later

Kite sighed, folding his arms as he, Balmung, and Wiseman had suddenly appeared there in the Σ Server. As soon as they'd gotten to the supposed Boss Room back in Ω Cruel Vindictive Scars, Lios had called in and said that The Wave was moving over to a different area. Now, they had to head over to Σ Graceful Tempting Fallen Angel to make an attempt to stop the madness taking place there in The World.

"Alright, you guys… You ready? Got everything you need? Need to drop anything off?" he asked, wanting to get all of that stuff out of the way before they went off and probably started to look like they were trying to get themselves killed.

"I'm good." Balmung replied, his arms folded with a serious look on his face.

"There's nothing I am in need of. We should go now." Wiseman advised, holding his Staff to the side.

The Twin Blade nodded, "Alright, then… Here we go!"

He typed in the Keyword, and then the three of them disappeared.

Σ Graceful Tempting Fallen Angel

After fighting through several monsters to get to the fifth floor, the three PCs rushed forward into the next room, only to stop before a doorway of which had purple flames at the entrance. Kite, with a serious look on his face, looked back to his party.

"I know I asked this before… but are you ready?"

The only reply he got in return was a nod from both the other guys, and he too nodded before turning and leading them through to the next room.

There, in the middle of the room, stood a worried Elk and a strangely vulnerable-looking Mia. The purple cat-like creature sat with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head down, even her tall ears were drooping.

"Elk… Who am I…?"

The blue-haired Wavemaster leant forward, holding his staff behind his back, and smiled, "You're Mia!"

"I can't… remember… My only memories… are of here in The World…" Mia replied slowly, but then suddenly, her hands/paws flew to his head and grasped it tightly. She shook her head and shouted out, "Stop it! I want to stay as me!"

Kite quickly ran forward, but then halted as the cat screamed out again, "STAY BACK!"

Everything seemed to calm down as she dropped her arms and stared down at them in her lap. She was glowing, too, so obviously, something was happening.

"Elk… I'm sorry…" she apologized softly.

"Wh-What…?" Elk asked, but it was then that he had to jump back, seeing a huge, pinkish skirt-like something come out from beneath the cat girl.

The thing was alive, even, for it rose into the air and grew larger as it practically swallowed her. The young Wavemaster reached out a hand and cried.

"Mia!"

A sudden shockwave came from that huge pink thing that looked like it had eyes all over it, and it was headed straight for Elk first, since he was the closest. Kite growled, dashing forward and leaping in front of the younger boy. He took double the damage he would have taken just because he took the fall for the other. He winced, but then the second wave came and he let out a roar in pain as he and Elk were pushed backward toward the wall.

Landing with a rough thud on the floor, Elk scrambled to Kite's side and held his Staff over him.

"Pha Repth."

With the Twin Blade's HP back to full health, he sighed as he sat up, only to look straight at the boy of whom he'd saved.

"K-Kite… Wh-Why'd you…?"

He smiled gently, pushing himself up to his feet and watching as the other followed the movement, "I just… felt like I had to, alright?"

It was then… that the huge thing reopened. Mia was no longer inside of it… but now, something that looked like a larger and pinker version of a cat-like creature stood as a part of that thing. It spun around several times, that skirt-ish thing flowing out like a dress would. The monster was smiling and it seemed to be… singing?

"Everyone! Fall back! I repeat, Fall Back!" Balmung commanded, even though he wasn't the Leader of the Party, he still had way more authority than Kite did.

Fall Back? Balmung, what's going on there? Came Lios's voice, ringing through the chamber.

"We've got a problem, Sir! We didn't find The Wave, but one of the 8 Phases! We're going to need reinforcements for this one!"

Nonsense! You can handle it for at least a few moments, can't you? I'll send in the few that I can find, but you cannot let that Phase live any longer than it all ready has! Is that understood?

"Yes, Sir!" Kite shouted out, motioning for Balmung to start attacking and for Wiseman to stay on First Aid.

The two in his Party nodded, doing as they were told to. Balmung ran forward and began to slash at the huge Phase Beast, apparently, the 6th Kite's come to see. He looked to Wiseman and called out.

"Which Phase is it?"

"This one is the 6th Phase, right? It's Macha, also known as The Temptress." Came an answer as he immediately wound up starting to heal the only one who seemed to be attacking.

"T-Temptress…? Wh-Why do they call her—" Elk got his answer when he saw the huge monster suddenly cast Renkei Lei on Balmung, automatically Charming him.

"Somebody Heal me, quick!" he called as he began running toward Wiseman.

"Ack!" Kite quickly took out a Restorative and used it on the winged-PC. He saw a nod of thanks from Balmung before turning back to face Elk, who was watching Macha with a frightened look on his face.

"Th-That's Mia…?"

The Twin Blade nodded sadly, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Listen, Elk, you don't have to fight… Just get out of here. That's not Mia, but I'm pretty sure that Mia is somewhere inside of that thing. I'll make sure to bring her back to you, is that okay?"

The Wavemaster raised a hand and placed it over the other's, only to look up at him with a determined look, "No, Kite… I… I want to help… Mia was my very first friend, and I think I should have at least something to do with this…" His look changed to one of a plead, "Please, Kite?"

Kite sighed in defeat, he just couldn't say no to this guy. He nodded, "Just… stay back and attack with Magic. Balmung and I will attack close-range." With that said, he turned around and rushed to help his winged companion, "Staccatto!"

He spun around several times, his movements with his blades so graceful and yet still so quick. Elk noticed this, but caught himself at it and ran forward a few steps, standing beside Wiseman and holding up his Staff.

"LaRue Zot!"

The Phase was forced to stop as the spell was cast, and suddenly columns of ice rose beneath her and caused her to cry out. Strange… was Magic the key to defeat her? She didn't even seem to feel any of the attacks Kite and Balmung were dealing on her with their blades.

"Try using Magic, Kite!" he called out, trying to give off a hint and see if it worked.

"Right!" the Leader replied, jumping back and casting a spell of his own, "MeRai Kruz!"

Balls of thunder appeared over the monster and converged straight in her face. She didn't seem effected by it, but she did seem annoyed. Now, things were going to get a little bit hard… up until now, she hadn't attack anyone, but now, it was her turn.

She held her hands up to her right side, a huge ball of light growing there until she threw it straight down on Balmung of the Azure Sky and Kite. The damage was horrible, but thankfully, that as why Wiseman was there. He raised his Staff and cast a Healing Spell.

"Phal Repth."

Their HP was restored, but Macha had Skill Drained them, so they were running out of SP every time she sent out a small shockwave. The blue-haired Wavemaster, however, was trying to figure out her weakness. When he used Magic, it hurt her… but when Kite did Magic, nothing happened. Maybe…?

He ran forward toward the two other people who were fighting, raising up his Staff again, "OrVak Rom!"

A tornado of fire began to take place, doing severe damage the longer it spun. How did it last more than two seconds? Elk was letting it slowly dwindle-down his SP. That should keep her distracted for a while…

"Elk! What're you doing!" Kite asked, finding this as the opportunity to go over to his friend.

"I don't know why, but she seems to get a lot of damage whenever I attack… Maybe it's because I was her friend…? Do you think I could possibly bring Mia back?"

"Somehow, I doubt it, Elk… This is a Phase Beast! It's not going to be that easy! So, let's just defeat this form and then see what we can do, all right? Each Phase has two forms; obviously, this is the first form. In it's second form, it should be easier to find out where in there Mia is."

"Really? Okay, then!"

Kite ran back to where Balmung was attacking and began doing so, as well, but with Skills, though low as his SP was. Elk attempted to run back to where he'd been standing beside Wiseman, but halfway there, he had to stop.

"Elk! Why are you doing this to me--! A-Aaah!"

He turned around to face the Phase Beast, only to gasp as he saw it cringing and moving about in pain. He could actually somehow see Mia there in Macha's place. The voice was still deformed, as if it were a cross between Mia's voice and Macha's, but he could still till she was there… He ceased the fire tornado attack and just stared.

"M-Mia…?"

"Elk, why are you going against me? Why are you going with their side?"

He winced at the yell, holding his Staff closely to his chest. His voice was silent and saddened when he replied, "I-I'm sorry… b-but th-they're my—"

"Friends? Elk, who was your very first friend? Who do you always go looking for? Who doesn't mind you being around? Who protects you when you're in trouble!"

Elk bit his lip and mumbled, "Y-You… and Kite…"

"What was that?"

"Mia, this isn't you! When I'm with you, I feel like I have to be protected all the time, and you're always there to do it! You're always on the same side I am, and you help me so much… but now I'm staying on the same side you and I once fought on! You're the one who's changed, Mia!" he exclaimed, an angry look on his face. He wasn't going to forgive this thing for trying to manipulate him through the memories he had with Mia.

"Raaa!" Macha roared in that deformed voice of hers, lashing out at Elk and grabbing him.

"ELK!"

The Wavemaster turned his head, seeing that the yell had come from Kite. He was worried… about him. Had he not been in this situation, he might've actually blushed cutely and done something that would make the other boy proud, but he didn't know what to do. Macha had a grip on his entire body, and he couldn't move.

"I won't allow it… You're coming with me! I don't want to be alone anymore!"

His eyes went wide as suddenly he became Charmed. The Phase let go of him, but he just floated there in the air. Those normally innocent crimson eyes that held so much light that it was almost hard to believe had lost their light, and now held nothing but the Void he'd always been afraid of falling into.

"Elk! What's going on!" Kite called out, staring up at the younger boy.

Macha laughed in her sing-song voice, "Elk's decided to come with me now.. I won't have to be left all by myself… He's going to stay here with me after you all are dead."

"What!" the Twin Blade asked with surprised wide eyes. He immediately turned his head to look from the Phase to the boy he'd just recently spent a whole day with, "Elk, it's not true, right? Right!"

Elk glared coldly down at him, raising his Staff and answering slowly, "It's… true…"

Author's Notes:

Err... Yeah. My brother Reviewed, but that's good enough for me. I like posting my stories here, y'know? Don't even care for the Reviews anymore... 4th Chapter should be up by tomorrow at the latest!

Oh yeah! I don't like Cliffys.. LoL, I wrote one, anyway. xD!