Disclaimer: I don't own Baten Kaitos blah blah blah...
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Chapter XIX: What Was Broken
By dawn, half the city was reduced to rubble and splintered wood. The Diabolos had crushed the city and demoralized its citizens. By some luck, and probably the blessing of some higher deity, no one died that night. Except the Diabolos.
Kalas had woken everyone in the guesthouse in time to fight the Diabolos before they were all slain in their sleep. Now they milled about the ruins of Balancoire, a thick fog beginning to engulf the wreck. They were all lost in their own thoughts.
"Morjidza must've sent them," commented Savyna, poking one Diabolos corpse with the toe of her boot, making absolutely sure it was dead, "No one else can control these things."
"How'd they find us?" thought Xelha aloud, as the looked at the same fallen monster. Then a horrifying thought struck her, "What if Allyr told him where we were hiding?" she wondered aloud, horror at the thought wrenching her gut, "What if they captured her just to find out? What if they tortured her and-"
"Calm down Xelha," said Savyna, "I understand your worry. But that is a definite possibility."
"…Then she could be alive,"
"Maybe. In any case, we should go ahead and head for Wazn. It won't take long for us to recover from this fight. We need to get to the source of the problem, and fast if we are to succeed."
Xelha looked down at the ring of lights floating at her side, "Are you okay Kalas?" she asked.
"Just fine," he lied. He hated the thought that his best friend and former charge had been tortured and/or killed. If that had happened not only had he failed his friend, he had failed as her Guardian.
If Xelha detected his lie, she did not show it. She was anxious too, for the fate of her friend, and for what would happen when she returned to her homeland. What would she find there? Would they be able to overthrow Morjidza and save her people?
She did not know.
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Meanwhile, at that very moment the Clairvoyant in Reverence had a vision.
The bright orange clockwork doll shouted his surprise when the vision came to him. It was not a vision of the end of the world, (yet), but of something horrible that was destined to come. Not soon, by any measure, he usually did not get visions of events so far in the future, but he knew he had to warn the people of its coming. It would come one day in the far future, like a large lumbering beast that was slow, but completely unstoppable.
He was standing in the dance hall, where dozens of other clockwork dolls danced, spinning around and around as eternal as the stars and their own cosmic dance. The Clairvoyant threw up his mechanical arms, and ran outside of the building, and began shouting to the human and clockwork inhabitants of the Picture Book Village all of whom, as normally did, ignored the Clairvoyant. Even after he had correctly foreseen the return of Malpercio, very few, human or clockwork doll, took his words of warning seriously.
"Heed my warning!" shouted the Clairvoyant, to the sky and to the entirety of the otherworldly village, "Dark days are fast approaching! Come like the plague they will, without warning and silent as a mayfly's breath! Rise from among our own they will! Like downtrodden, stray dogs that will attack any who cross their path! None shall be spared!
"Beware!" continued the Clairvoyant, louder now, but his cries still fell on deaf ears, "Beware the Darkness that flies on wings of white! BEWARE THE BIG BAD WOLF!"
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Unlike the airship that Xelha and the others had used to escape, the one they were using now was a fully equipped warship.
It was similar to the Goldoba in shape, size, and firepower. It was a ship made simply to blow things up, and blowing things up was something it was good at. Which of course was why it was being used to invade Wazn. Partly, because no one could figure out how to invade a country without anyone noticing, without anyone on their side being inside the said country. So, much to Kalas's delight and to the displeasure of everyone else, the only plan that made any sense was to run into Wazn, proverbial guns blazing. However, much to the concern of everyone aboard the vessel, they noted that they passed a flock of about fifty Diabolos heading somewhere else. The flock did not bother with their ship, either because they did not notice it, or were far more intent on something else.
"Are you crazy? We can't attack them," said Ayme who was flying the warship when Xelha suggested stopping the flock, "With that many of them out there we'd be sunk before we got through fifteen. This ship's good for aerial combat, but we can't take out that many all at once."
The truth was painful, but still the truth. Xelha was contemplating this, and before she knew it she and her friends were already in Cursa. A quick flight over the city revealed the capitol to be completely deserted. Completely empty of civilian and guard alike. The raiding party quickly disembarked their vessel, and began to slowly wander the streets of Cursa, weapons raised, looking for possible snipers hiding in any and all corners.
"This is… bizarre," observed Gibari, but still keeping his paddle raised, "You woulda thought that we'd have been attacked by now."
"We shouldn't have even been able to dock," agreed Savyna, "They're luring us into a false sense of security."
"There's the entrance to the palace," said Lyude pointing, "And not a guard in sight."
"Maybe they be planning to ambush us?" suggested the Great Mizuti, "Inside where we be like fish in a barrel?"
"That is a possibility," acknowledged Savyna.
"I'll go ahead and check it out," volunteered Kalas, "If there's anyone in there they can't hurt me."
"Um… But won't they notice you?" asked Gibari, "With the glowing and all?"
"I don't glow that much," muttered Kalas, "Besides, you got another idea?" When no one presented a better idea, he floated off past the icy gates to the palace without another word. Wondering if this was such a bright idea, the five companions waited anxiously for the Spirit's return. When he did come back he announced, "There's a bunch of armed guys in there. They look as if they're waiting to ambush someone. Probably us."
"No surprises there," said Savyna, "Any way to get in undetected?"
"Nope," he said, "The only way for all of us to get in through the front door, and everyone's going to look there."
"How did Allyr get inside?" asked Lyude, "She must have snuck in somehow."
"Forgot about that… C'mon, I'll show you how she got in." The crew followed Kalas around to the rear of the palace, where he pointed out a second story window that could be reached via two lines of knives stuck into the wall. Many had fallen out or were extremely loose. But with luck, and a fair amount of stumbling, everyone made it up. "I'm surprised they didn't get rid of those knives yet," commented Kalas, "That was too easy."
"At least we be in palace," said Mizuti optimistically, "We be doing okay. Just fine. Pretty good."
"It still could be a trap," said Savyna, scanning the room and the open door leading to the hall beyond for traps or enemies.
"We might be okay if we don't make a lot of noise," said Lydue, "We should get moving."
They were very cautious as they entered the icy hall of the palace, the biting cold keeping them alert. They walked down the halls, making as little noise as they could. They all kept their weapons raised, each expecting an attack at any time, and from an angle that they probably would not expect.
The small party stopped walking when they realized that the Spirit was no longer with them. They turned around at a cry of "ALLYR!" in time to see a little blue light turn a corner and head off in a different direction entirely.
"What's he thinking?" said Gibari, running after the Spirit, "Where do you think you're going?"
As it turned out, Kalas could fly faster than anyone could run. The others were only barely able to follow him. Eventually, he came to a door, and flew right through. The others followed, slamming the door open to see a long line of cells on either side of a long hallway. It was the dungeon where they had all been held not all that long ago. Kalas flew up to one, and between the bars to get to the inside of the cell. When the others arrived, they found the reason for Kalas's sudden flight. Inside, lying on her side, immobile, was Allyr, at least they assumed it was her. The prisoner inside the cell had long brown hair that looked as if it had not seen a brush in weeks. She was wearing one of the uniforms of Morjidza's followers, the right sleeve torn off, which Allyr had used for Ladekahn's makeshift splint. Her hands and feet were bound with thick rope
Kalas was floating by her shoulder, apparently trying to rouse her. "Allyr?" he said, wondering if she were asleep or unconscious.
He was rewarded when she rolled on her back, and looked up at him with unfocused eyes. "Ah hell," she muttered, "I've really gone insane now, haven't I?"
"No," he said, almost laughing with relief. His best friend was alive! "You're sane."
"Then that crazy old guy was right…" She sat up, muscles aching after long disuse. She turned to face the bars of her cells, and saw the rest of her friends beyond, "Oh boy, if you guys get caught saving me," she started, "I'm gonna be so angry…"
"Getting caught isn't an option," said Savyna simply, "That's all there is to it."
"And what 'old guy' are you talking about?" asked Lyude, curious.
Allyr shrugged, regaining her bearings, "I dunno," she said, "He just sort of popped up one day. Called himself the 'Dust Eater' or something like that. He told me you guys would be coming back soon, and I had to be ready. But it was weird," she added, seeming to be thinking aloud now, "He didn't call me by name even after I told him what it was. He just kept calling me 'Sparrow'…"
"You've been sitting in this cell for way too long," said Gibari, pulling out a giant six-foot long paddle, "Time to get you out!"
One broken lock, and some severed rope later Allyr was standing on her own two feet again. She wobbled a bit, as if she had forgotten exactly how to stand. But for having been lying in that cell, completely still for a week, she was doing well. She turned to Kalas and smiled, "You look well." She held out her arms as if to embrace the ring of blue feather-lights, "Ready?"
"Yeah," confirmed the Spirit. He flew toward her, and when he made contact with her body, there was a blinding flash of white light. When it dissipated, Allyr was leaning against the side of her cell, panting for breath, as if the bonding had sucked all of the energy out of her body. The Spirit had vanished. "You okay?" asked the disembodied voice of Kalas, his voice now as clear as if he were standing in that room with everyone else.
"Yep," said Allyr, though she sounded fatigued, "I'm just fine." She smiled, feeling the warm light inside her chest that was her bond with Kalas, "Good to have you back partner."
"I thought I heard footsteps," said Lyude, pulling out his gun.
So much for a great reunion, thought Allyr. Then she realized a horrible truth as she searched her pockets, I'm unarmed, damn it! As if sensing this thought she got a mental jab from Kalas, as if saying, "Don't forget me already!"
She walked out of the cell, body tense, looking down the narrow halls for whoever was approaching. It turned out to be six of Morjidza's grunts, three on either side of the group, all with loaded crossbows. As with her last encounter with him, Morjidza himself came to see what all the commotion was about. His face contorted into a snarl of anger upon seeing the six escapees standing in the middle of that hall.
"You are becoming an annoyance!" he spat at them, "The only way I shall be rid of you is to wipe you off the face of the earth!"
Crap… Thought Allyr, eyeing the crossbow bolts that were being aimed at them.
"Fire Burst!"
"Light Flare!"
Xelha threw her spells to the guards behind them, the Magnus erupting into a fireball as it hurtled toward its target. Mizuti's spell burst in a splash of white light, effectively blinding everyone in the hall momentarily. As soon as the fire died down and the light faded, it became clear to Morjidza that he was now standing in the middle of the hall facing six very angry, very dangerous people, without any guards to protect him.
Kalas laughed triumphantly upon seeing Morjidza's distress, "Morjidza!" he called out mockingly, "Your life is ours!"
Morjidza's eyes widened in recognition and shock on hearing the voice. "YOU!" he shouted, "You're her Guardian? You're supposed to be dead! Gone and buried!" Then he remembered his nightmares: The woman in the cloak, the dead bird… His nightmares were coming true!
He turned and ran his courage and confidence leaving him like scared rabbits.
"I am Light, hear my Voice! SHINNING SERAPH!"
Allyr's spell fell onto her target like a great weight crushing a small insect. Morjidza was consumed in the great ball of light she had conjured, and seemed to vanish in the brightness. When the light dissipated, all that was left of Morjidza was a puddle of black unidentifiable goo, the consistency of fresh mud.
"That's nasty…" thought Allyr aloud as she looked down at the puddle, "Is that supposed to happen?"
"Um… No." chorused everyone else in the corridor.
"You…. Biiiitch…!" hissed a voice that came from the puddle, "You sssssshall pay for thisssss…!" The black mass leapt off the floor and attempted to tackle Allyr. She yelped in disgust and jumped back, flinching at the thing made a wet plop as it landed at her feet. There was a gunshot as Lyude fired at the puddle. His aim was true, and his bullet bore a hole inside the black substance. It hissed in anger and pain as its wound sizzled, and it slithered away in the opposite direction.
Allyr stood there a minute, dumbfounded, trying to rationalize what had just happened. Oh… That's right, she thought as she remembered something, He's tainted with Malpercio's power… Damn, and I thought Geldoblame got the short straw. Wait… No… I take that back…
"We have to follow him!" shouted Xelha, prepared to dash after Morjidza. She turned to the others, a desperate look on her face "We have to…" She trailed off. She had noticed that the others had turned around to see someone that had been standing behind them. Standing between two of the three bodies of the fallen guards, stood a little girl of about five or six. Her skin, hair, and dress were completely white. Her eyes were completely black, and her hair had little black beads woven into the braids that framed her face. The little girl looked at Allyr with cold demanding eyes.
"You guys go ahead," said Allyr, waving a hand at her friends without looking away from the little girl, "We'll catch up."
"But-" started Xelha.
"We'll catch up."
Xelha and the others hesitated, as if they did not want to leave Allyr with this unearthly little girl. Eventually they did run off after their quarry, their footsteps echoing off the icy walls of the dungeon. As soon as she knew that her friends were gone, Allyr turned to the little girl, "What the hell do you want?" she snapped, "We had a deal, didn't we? Or does Death so lightly throw away her promises?"
"We did have a pact," agreed Death, "However, as circumstances are, you have to fulfill your end now."
"Why?" chorused Allyr and Kalas, both clearly angry at this demand.
"When Morjidza dies, I and all of my kind, will never be able to return to this place," explained Death, "He is the last of his kind, and when he dies his profane art will be forgotten forever. I must fulfill my duty now, before Morjidza falls."
"No!" protested Kalas, "We had a deal!"
"I have been lenient with you as it is!" said Death, though her normally emotionless face and voice was tainted with anger, "Only your bond protects you! I would have taken you when you were apart, but that would have violated our pact. Soon, Morjidza will die and so you must realize your end of our pact!"
"No," said Kalas with a simple defiance. He was not afraid of Death now; he knew how he would escape his pact.
"…No?" repeated Death, hiding her mild surprise at the Spirit's defiance.
"I haven't done what I need to do yet. That was what you promised you would let me do, right?"
"You will not be able to have a hand in Morjidza's death, so you must come with me now!"
"No,"
"We had a deal, Spirit." Said Death, clearly nearing the end of her patience.
"Kalas," said Allyr, "While I realize you want vengeance-"
"It's not that," denied the Spirit, "But I haven't done everything I have to do yet, so you can't take me," he added, turning to Death, "Not yet."
"Why?" asked Death, sounding both curious and impatient at the same time, "What is it you still need to do?"
"Come back to life."
Death lifted a colorless eyebrow, "Oh?"
"The Great Whale can bring me back," continued Kalas, "If I left now, knowing what I'm leaving behind and that I could come back, I'd never rest. So I need to come back."
Allyr stared at Kalas, "…Wow," she said, "That's… Deep for you."
Kalas snorted, "I needed something to do while you wasted all that time sleeping." He retorted.
"Well, look who's already forgotten how the living need their sleep!"
"You get way more than you need! And it's so boring just watching you lie there, snoring away!"
"I do not snore!"
"Wanna bet?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"I shall not be so lightly forgotten!"
Both Allyr and Kalas turned to look at Death, who was clearly very angry. It seemed that Kalas's trick had worked, otherwise Death would not be so angry. Her face had contorted into a snarl of such anger that it did not belong with the body of a little girl. "We had a deal!" she snarled, with enough anger to make Allyr take a step back.
"No one likes a sore loser! I would've thought that you'd have gotten used to being cheated by now!" taunted Kalas, sounding very happy that he had finally gotten out of his deal with Death. If he were alive again she would have to reason to pursue him, or be able to after Morjidza died.
"Kalas, don't make Death angry," said Allyr, "Because it's not you she's going to attack if she gets angry."
"Then be damned, the both of you!" shouted Death finally, "If your partner dies, Spirit, by accident or design I will not save you! I will leave you to wander the earth until the end of time!" With those final words, she vanished like the memory of a dream.
"So… no pressure then?"
"Shut up."
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"Remind me why you're about to jump into the world's biggest puddle, which is probably also freezing cold?" asked Kalas five minutes later.
After their encounter with Death, Allyr, without another word, had run out of the palace, and to Cursa's airship port. After the return of the Ocean, it had flooded and now was only good as a boat harbor. Allyr was standing at the very end, looking down at the dark blue waters. All she had to do was take one step… But she did not really want to. Kalas was right, it probably was freezing cold.
"I never said why," said Allyr, explaining to Kalas, "Remember the old guy that popped up that one time? Before he left he said that if ever I needed the Great Whale's help, all I had to do was jump into the Ocean, right around here."
"…And you believed him?" asked Kalas. He was skeptical that jumping into freezing water could really do either of them any good.
"Well… yes, I do believe him," said Allyr, "He was right about you guys coming. Besides, got any other idea on how to get the Whale? No? Okay? Okay…"
She looked down at the water again, and shivered. "Here goes nothing…" she muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath, and dove into the water.
Xelha and the others chased the puddle of muck that was Morjidza like hunters chasing a fox, running until they emerged out into the giant stairway that ran through the whole palace. As soon as he reached the steps, Morjidza turned and slithered upstairs, fatigue and his injuries clearly beginning to take their toll. He cursed them under his breath, looking for a way out of this situation. He could see none of his men or Diabolos to call to his aid. He turned back to see his pursuers quickly gaining ground. He hissed in anger, his liquid body rippling. The little puddle grew and slowly made itself into something resembling a human form, without obvious features, made entirely of the unidentifiable thick liquid that had made up the puddle. The bizarre substance dripped silently from its limbs like blood from an open wound.
His pursuers stopped upon seeing this shape change, and were momentarily surprised by the alteration. Taking advantage of this hesitation, it solidified the substance that made up his right arm, and forced it into the shape of a sword, so that his forearm had turned into a four-foot black blade that apparently grew right out of his elbow.
"Diiiiiie now!" shouted the thing that was Morjidza, its voice bubbling up from a half-formed throat. He leapt at them, black sword-arm raised to strike. His pursuers scattered like mice at approaching footsteps. The blade of his sword-arm sank a yard into the ice. He yanked it out without apparent effort, and looked around at Xelha and the others, who had formed a loose circle around him. They were afraid, he could tell. They've never fought an enemy like him who could alter his shape as they had seem him do. Some of the goo of his face seemed to twist into a sneer, "Afraiiiiiiiid little kitties?" he asked tauntingly, "Ssssssscared are we?"
He gave a throaty cry and descended upon Lyude, his sword-arm raised. Lyude, pulled out a shield Magnus in time to block the blow, the force seeming to rattle the bones in his arm. Morjidza whirled around and slashed at Savyna who had been sneaking up behind him. He cut her across her stomach, and she gritted her teeth in pain but seemed no less determined.
The monster whirled around again, giving a gurgling laugh at the ease at which he fought his opponents. Nothing would stop him now!
A new voice shouted, almost like a battle cry, surprising all of the combatants. The owner of the voice ran at Morjidza, sword raised in total disregard for personal safety. Morjidza only barely got his sword-arm up to parry the blow in time, so surprised he was to see the newcomer. "YOOOOOOOOU!" he shouted at the newcomer, backing away, shock and a trace of fear in his voice. "YOU!" he pointed a misshaped finger at the newcomer, as if hoping that act would make the newcomer disappear, "It can't be YOU!"
The newcomer grinned, "It's me," said Kalas.
A Kalas that was very alive.
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This is the first time (Exculding flashbacks) that I haven't completely italicized what Kalas said.
Which is awesome!
Review, please.