Story by Mikaa
Characters by Camelot and Nintendo
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or world presented in this story (the rightful owners are Nintendo and Camelot).
Warning: This story is rated T for Teen, primarily for violence and descriptive gore, with mild language thrown in. You have been warned.
Additional Warning: This chapter does contain content that might be considered offensive to some readers. Read at your own risk - this IS Teen Rating Compliant.
Chapter 9 - Darkness
Damn the Guardian, damn the mortals, and DAMN THIS VESSEL!
It was infuriating. Insulting. To think that a mere mortal could somehow shake it out of control, to force the balance of power for enough time. It was inconcievable!
Nevertheless, it had happened. It did not have to like it, but then again, it could always wait. It had time, these mortals did not. True, the vessel itself, despite the best of care, would exhaust itself after a mere period of time, but by then, the mortals might find defenses against it. They might hurt the world again, they could easily finish the job the First Ones did.
That would not be allowed. It was an eventuality that needed to be destroyed.
Thus, it had made it as far as the vessel would go, ignoring the near nakedness of the "woman." Not in the normal sense that mortals would view such, though that was true as well. No, somehow the Guardian had sealed off its ability to tap into the world's raw power, cut off the means to heal itself and fuel the end of mortals. True, with time it could easily learn the workings of this vessel, learn how to tap into the energies that the mortals had only begun to realize existed.
Yet something nagged at it. The vessel had spurrned it. "She" had resisted, somehow refusing to allow it to destroy the mortal that dared near its fight with the Guardian. Worse yet, "she" had allowed the Guardian enough time to seal off its abilities. Or so the Guardian hoped. Truth was, it was more than able to amplify the vessel's inert abilities, and maybe in a "day" the latent ones as well. In a mortal's week, maybe even tap into the world's power again.
But to wait that long, it would need to guard itself. The vessel's weak structure and build was enhanced by it's presense, but that would do no good if mortals charged in force. Something needed to be done. But what could it do? It was not as though it knew how to communicate with these creatures outside of manipulating their frail minds.
As though the thought was a cue, a shriek brought its attention to a small structure in the distance. Making its way over, it found a group of mortals, all clad in dark hides from various monsters, their faces covered in some form of false colors. Each wielded a blade of some sort, and when those not grabbing shiny metal or food, others were busy with the owners of the place.
Busy, of course, meaning raping. Which, it mused, was quite ironic: these damned mortals were doing the same to the world itself and no one cared. And now a young woman was meeting the same fate, and no one cared. Not even it cared, despite the simmilarities.
A few mortals noticed its approach, and the sheer glee in their eyes was obvious. One of them, wearing a bright red band above his eyes, drew closer first, pausing a few feet away. It had more than enough power to slay these peons, but if enough of them approached, it would be a hard victory. And should the vessel fail, it would have to find another. And then it would have to put up with another mortal mind, something that (for reasons it could not fathom) was no longer a problem in the current vessel.
It watched as the leader studied her, typical lust and desire evident, but the gleem of something else, that of power, of respect. Could this mortal sense its presence? That might be useful... and dangerous.
Abruptly, he knelt onto his knees, as did the others that saw him do so. Many more followed, despite the screams of the victim of the mortal's lusts. More out of annoyance than anything, it focused its mind, freezing the waters that made up both the victim and the one taking advantage of her. In mere seconds, they were dead, literally frozen from within.
And this did not go unnoticed.
To its suprise, the expected attack of vengence never came; instead, they waited, fear in their eyes. Each one looking to Red to see what he was doing. His eyes met its, and for a moment, it noticed defiance, anger, rage. But it also saw a calculating mind. It knew this one was too dangerous, but by the time it could do something, it would not be a problem. It already had concluded that Red would take her wave of a hand as a meaning to continue pillaging, with the death of his man and the victim as a warning to not commit that act again. Also concluded was that most of these men had chaotic minds, the perfect medium for control. It would take time to regain that ability, but it now had time. And the perfect defense against any attacks.
It allowed the vessel to smile, one that did not go unnoticed by a few. Those that saw it quickly ran to grab more loot, fear creeping into their minds.
End Chapter