A continuation of the previous chapter. Please R&R.

Don't own anything except the concept of the story.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: SHOWDOWN IN ISELIA

Xavier and his friends watched as the conversation between Lord Irving and the ones from the Great Sea take place. The dark clouds hovered over Iselia.

"Why are there two Lloyds?" Colette asked.

"I don't know, Colette," Xavier replied. "If I knew, I would have told you by now."

"Man, there are two of me," Zelos said.

"Although we can only stand one of you," Sheena replied.

"That was hurtful, Sheena…"

"Some sort of anomaly, perhaps?" Presea asked.

"It seems quite possible," Regal concurred.

"Whatever it is, that thing is getting smaller," Lloyd said. The portal disappeared. "Too late. It's gone."

"Are they from where you're from?" Genis asked.

"Obviously yes," Xavier replied. "But I'm not quite sure how…oh, right, the Crown of Earth…"

"Did you say Crown of Earth?" Raine asked. "I thought I traded that thing in for a devil's arm."

Xavier held up the Crown of Earth in his hands.

"How did you get it back?"

"I borrowed without permission," Xavier replied.

"You mean stole it, right?" Lloyd asked.

"Shut up. I think I prefer your counter-part over yourself."

Suddenly, little Raine lunged towards Lord Irving who knocked her over to Xavier.

"Nice one, Ms Sage," Xavier said sarcastically. "I'll just go for the guy twice my size and hope I'll hurt him."

"Bite me, jackass," Little Raine replied. "It's bad enough as it is."

Xavier and the Raine from the Great Sea never really did get along. It was probably because Xavier was the one stuck babysitting Raine all the time. Raine hated Xavier and Xavier hated Raine. Sort of like a brother and sister except only it was in a tough love kind of way.

Xavier shoved little Raine off him saying, "Get off, brat."

"I told you not to call me that!" Little Raine yelled.

Professor Genis was next on Lord Irving rampage. He was knocked into…you guessed it…right into Xavier.

"Why me?" Xavier asked, "Why all the time, me?"

"It's because you're an ignorant boob, and I hate you," Professor Sage replied.

"Professor Sage, you never change, do you."

"Because of you, Lord Irving is in this world, planning to take it over!"

"………"

"Why can't you be like your brother? He never screws up royal…"

"We can't all have what we want, Professor Sage. For instance, I wish and surly you do too, that your sister wouldn't get into any trouble at least once a day. Although that's a false hope…"

"……did I mention I hated you?" Little Raine asked.

"You guys can jump in anytime if you guys are done talking over there!" Kratos yelled. "Wilder and I can't take this guy on ourselves!"

"Ms Sage!" Wilder yelled, "I advise you to call upon that spirit of yours to lend her assistance!"

"In other words?" Little Raine asked.

"I don't know how I can put it simpler," Kratos replied. "Oh, yeah, I can. Help us!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming…"

"What can you or that failed Chosen do to me?" Irving/Ganondorf asked. "You can't possibly hope to defeat me with her in that state!"

"She kinda right," Aryll replied, rushing to her aid. "She's still drained from when Lord Irving used her to power up that Mana Cannon thingy."

"Yeah…" Little Raine replied. "I'm feeling a little…queasy…" And with that, she collapsed.

"Raine!"

"She was fine a minute ago," Professor Genis said. "What could have happened?"

"Mana deprivation," Xavier replied. "Magical energy here is converted to mana levels."

"Hmm…is that so?" Irving asked. "Then that takes care of one of you inferior beings. Now I can finally focus on this world, starting with the inhabitants of this town!"

He darted towards Professor Sage and little Raine when suddenly, Brunel popped out of the gauntlet, blocking the attack.

"You will…do no such thing…"

Immediately, the real Lord Irving took control of his body.

"Gah! Lord…Ganondorf!"

"What is it, Lloyd?" A voice boomed over.

"Shouldn't we…spare her…and her friends…?"

"And why should I do that?"

"I would be more…satisfactory…if we…defeated them at full strength!"

"Hmm…I suppose you are right. Lloyd, return to me."

"In the place…where there is no darkness?"

"Correct. Say your goodbyes, Lloyd…"

He turned to Brunel and whispered, "Please…don't die on me…"

Lord Irving flew away, far from Iselia. The voice still boomed over.

"Remember Colette…Big Brother is watching you…" The dark clouds dissipated.

"Holy merciful crap!" Xavier exclaimed. "What the hell was that about?"

Later on in the day, Little Raine woke from her sleep. She was inside the Sage household. She was being attended by Little Genis who was making her some soup.

"You're awake," Little Genis said.

"Genis…is that you?" Little Raine asked. "And what happened to your hair? You look like hell…"

"What's wrong with my hair?"

"Nothing…I just think that you can comb it a bit better…"

"Here…have some soup."

"Uh…no offense, but your cooking is like…toxic. It can burn through metal and stuff. I don't think I can."

"Eat it, Raine!"

Raine took a huge gulp. She swallowed her soup.

"Wow, it's good. Really good."

"See, I'm a pretty good cook. Now, if you want the older you's cooking…"

Professor Raine walked through the door.

"I can hear you from outside," she replied, giving little Genis a slap in the head.

"Ow…I think I prefer your other self better."

"So this is me. It's like looking into the past." She began to examine herself. "I wonder if you exist the same way I do…"

"Uh…other me?" Little Raine asked. "Don't get so close…I'm not a test subject…"

"Not yet anyway," Little Genis mumbled.

"What was that?"

Aryll popped her head through the window. "How are you feeling, Raine?"

"A little dizzy, but I'll live."

Xavier popped his head through the window too. "Crap. You're still alive. Professor Sage said I could have your room if you died."

"Xavier!" Professor Raine cried. "That behavior is intolerable!"

"Wow…I don't know what's scarier; Raine waking up or the professor angry."

Little Genis threw an apple that struck Xavier in the head.

"Ow…"

"Why are you here?" Little Genis asked.

"Group meeting. Colette's house. Right now."

"Probably discussing about what we do with Ganondorf," Little Raine replied.

"Who?"

"I'll explain at the meeting."

Damn, nothing is ever going right. What will the team do at a time like this? Please R&R.