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Transformation

Chapter 12

(A.N.) I'm really crushed that so few people reviewed. Are you all really that pissed off that I had Mimori stab Sheris? Geez, you should have reviewed anyway just to tell me you were pissed, if nothing else. Well, here's the next chapter, and I expect some more reviewing from you people this time!

Mimori's P.O.V…

I left Sheris barely alive, bleeding, on the ground as I advanced toward Zigmar and Ryuhou. Neither of them had noticed me yet, even with Sheris' cry of pain. I felt so detached from everything, the world seeming so surreal. Numb didn't even begin to describe the despondency of my mind and body. I could sense the Cave all around me like a violent hallucination. It was completely messing up my perception of reality. And even as I knew this, I couldn't stop the murderous intentions that directed my hands and feet. Even though those intentions weren't completely mine.

A small part of my brain was screaming with fear. It didn't want what was happening. It knew that Ryuhou didn't need my help, that he was capable of getting up and fighting. But the power that coursed through me drove that voice away, quelled it under the tidal wave that bombarded my awareness.

Wait, the Cave commanded.

I stopped.

Kill him from where you stand.

I can't do that.

Yes, you can.

I'm not powerful enough.

I am.

My hands moved against my own will and green Alter light glowed around them. My eyes found the watch on my wrist and I was shocked to see that I only had twenty minutes to disable the bomb. How had time passed so quickly?

A long spear of ice formed and rested in my palms, the tip wickedly sharp and deadly looking.

Wait! I need to disarm the bomb!

You will kill him now!

No!

You would let him destroy your lover?

Indecision caused my to falter.

Then kill that man now!

My thoughts whirred and spun as I tried to straighten out what was going on and what I needed to do. I love Ryuhou but… But he wouldn't want me to let that bomb go off. Could I sacrifice the whole Alter population for the man I loved? Could I let Ryuhou die to save everyone else?

'But what if he doesn't die?' a small voice whispered in the back of my mind.

Then it wouldn't matter…

Kill…

"No," I said aloud. Instead, I shoved that huge spear into the ground and pressed my hands to the earth. I didn't know if this trick would work twice but it was worth a shot. I just needed to give Ryuhou a few more seconds to recover…

The ground froze and grew slick. Zigmar stumbled, and that was all I needed to see. I made my decision, hoping I was doing the right thing.

I turned around, sprinting for the platform

Naria's P.O.V…

"Hurry up, Cougar!" I shouted, "We don't have that much time left!"

His annoyed voice answered me from under the device. "I told you it takes time. If I go too fast, it could explode anyway."

"I thought you were supposed to be the fastest man alive," I growled back.

"Well, some things just need to be a bit slower than most."

Kazuma sauntered over, having just pulverized the last of the HOLY soldiers. We had gotten lucky with this station. It was not as tightly guarded as we'd anticipated. Cougar and I had left the HOLY bastards to the Shell Bullet while we'd headed straight for the bomb. We'd been slowed down by a decoy device, but other than that, we'd had almost no trouble at all. Deep in my heart, I hoped that Mimori and Ryuhou were having an easy time too.

"Got it!" Cougar exclaimed triumphantly. He emerged from under the bomb. "Now we just wait for Miss Minori to disarm the one and we'll have been successful."

"Her name is Mi-mo-ri, Cougar," I said in exasperation.

"How will we know if she disables the damn thing?" Kazuma asked, leaning back against a railing.

"Well, I'm guess we'll feel a strong electrical charge emitting from her direction. Especially since she's taking so long. She would have felt when ours was shut down, so she'll know that it's now or never."

"What if something's happened to them?" I inquired, worried out of my mind.

"Then we're screwed six ways to Sunday," Kazuma said.

I checked my watch. Mimori had three minutes left.

More time passed and we felt no electrical pulse. Checking the time again, she had one minute. "Come on, Mori," I whispered, "you can do this. We're counting on you."

I know.

I straightened in surprise and looked at Kazuma and Cougar. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what, lady?" Kazuma asked, sounding anxious and annoyed.

"I could've sworn I heard…" They were both giving me odd looks. "Never mind."

I looked at my watch again. Ten seconds left.

Suddenly, the air felt charged with energy. There was a stale smell to the air like after lightning strikes.

"She did it!" Cougar cheered and a smile broke out on my face. He and Kazuma began dancing around with glee.

"Why don't we go and give them a life home?" I suggested, relief and joy coursing through my veins.

Maybe we would get a happy ending after all.

(A.N.) Okay, now I want some serious reviewing to happen! I will not post the concluding chapter to the story if I don't get more reviews!