A/N: Now that we've strayed away from the exsphere, where are we going now? Well, I had to think about it for a while, but I finally came up with something. Once you finish reading this, please don't jump to conclusions. There will be much more to this than meets the eye. I promise. Furthermore, I promise that it will be original.

Once again, thank you for any and all reviews. They are what fuels my artistic fire.

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Chapter 6: Darkness

After nearly a month and half of traveling across the world and helping in minor ways with the restoration of the world, Lloyd, Sheena, and Kratos finally found what they thought would be a worthwhile quest: the search for the nine Devil Arms.

They had met a dark but handsome man in Flanoir named Abyssion. He claimed that he was a demon hunter who was in search of said Devil Arms. He search ended abruptly, however, when the first weapon he collected had weakened his soul and he felt that he could not continue on. Ever since then, he had spent his days in the snow-bound city, hoping someone who could help him would come along. Someone did.

The trio had agreed to help Abyssion. It was a rather noble cause, after-all. Not only could they save Abyssion's sickened soul, but they could also forever seal away nine potentially dangerous weapons. It seemed like a win-win.

Their search took them far and wide to all corners of the new world. Over the space of roughly two weeks, they had accumulated all but one of the Devil Arms: the kendama, Disaster. They had given up all hope on ever finding until they ran into a man in Altamira who appeared to have a kendama that fit the description that Abyssion had given them.

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"You want how much?" asked an awe-struck Lloyd.

The shrewd man smiled. "Fifty-thousand gald. I need to cover my losses from the casino."

Lloyd folded his arms, disgusted with the man. "I can't believe you. We're trying to seal away some very dangerous weapons and save someone's soul, and yet you have the nerve to take our gald just so we can continue on?"

The man nodded. "Yes," he said, matter-of-factly. "The world's a cold, cruel place, kid."

A disgusted Kratos looked out at the ocean as he heard the foolish exchange going on. They had finally found the last weapon and this fool had the gall to act the way that he was.

Sheena leaned over and whispered into Lloyd's ear, "I could just steal it from him if you want me to."

Lloyd scratched his hair-less chin and thought for a moment. "Hmm… sure would be easier that way," he thought to himself. "Cheaper too. Nonetheless…"

He shook his head and whispered back, "Nah. We have to be the good guys here."

Sheena shrugged. "Hey, at least I tried," she whispered back as she pulled away and joined Kratos.

Heaving a great sigh, Lloyd finally gave in. "Fine. Fifty thousand gald it is, then."

The man smiled gleefully as he forked over Disaster and quickly counted the five-hundred hundred-gald coins that Lloyd handed over.

Lloyd tossed Disaster over to Sheena and turned back to the greedy man. "You know, you really should be ashamed."

The man didn't even look up. "I'm not."

"Ah," Lloyd replied.

The man, satisfied with the transaction, tipped his hat, and walked off. Kratos took note of where he was walking.

"Back to the casino," he said, with a sigh. "Some people just never learn."

Sheena just shrugged. "In any case, at least we have the last Devil Arm now. Now we can seal these things away for good and save Abyssion's soul."

Lloyd grumbled as he felt his now-empty pockets. It was a ridiculous price to pay, even if Disaster was a one-of-a-kind item. He had planned on buying something for Sheena with the money he had been saving but, now, that was impossible.

"Right… so now what do we do?" Lloyd asked.

Kratos folded his arms and let the cool night breeze blow through his hair. "If I'm not mistaken, we are supposed to meet him in the lowest floor of the Temple of Darkness."

Lloyd looked at Kratos, a bit puzzled. "Uh… shouldn't we go get him then?"

Kratos shook his head. "That won't be necessary. Due to the curse he has suffered, I'm sure he's able to detect the presence of the weapons, since he was able to find the Nebilim blades with no help what-so-ever. If this is the curse, then he's probably already figured out that we have gathered all nine Devil Arms."

Lloyd nodded but he wasn't convinced. "Alright then. Should we get going then?"

Kratos shook his head again. "No need to rush. It's already late. I'm sure Abyssion won't mind waiting one more night."

Lloyd nodded once more and yawned. "Good. I was getting' tired anyway."

Sheena raised her slender arms to the sky and yawned as well. Just the sound of Lloyd's yawn was enough to make her tired. "Me too. Shall we turn in for tonight?"

Kratos said nothing as he passed by them.

The two young adventurers watched him as walked away. Lloyd shrugged. "I guess that's a yes."

Sheena smiled and turned to Lloyd. "Hey Lloyd? You know what?"

Lloyd tilted his head and look at her. "What's that?"

Sheena began to run away. "I bet I can beat you back to the inn!" She laughed warm-heartedly.

Lloyd smirked. "Hey! You cheated!" He took off after her.

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The sun shone brightly in the sky as the Rheiards made their descent. Once they touched-down on the soft grass in front of the Temple of Darkness, the three heroes immediately dismounted and put the Rheiards back in their wing packs. As they stared into the lightless temple, shivers ran down their spines. It didn't matter how many times they had come here before. They could never get used to the idea of no light what-so-ever.

Sheena seemed to shiver more than Lloyd. "Brr! Not only is it creepy in there, but for some reason, I feel… very cold."

Lloyd felt the same way but didn't let it show. He wrapped his right arm around Sheena and held her somewhat close to him. "Are you cold Sheena? Heh… I'll keep you warm."

Sheena looked at him with a smile. "Again? Thank you."

Kratos' wondrous blue wings sprang to life from his back. "Let's go. Don't dawdle." He walked into the temple without fear, his wings dimly lighting the way as he did so.

A light-bulb shone over Lloyd's head. "Good idea, dad." Lloyd closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. Shortly after he started, his own pair of red wings sprang to life.

"C'mon Sheena," he started. "Let's get this over with. This place creeps me out."

Sheena nodded. "Agreed." She continued to cling to Lloyd as the two walked inside the temple, trailing just behind Kratos.

(A/N: Yes, I realize that, in the game, Lloyd's wings were large and prismatic. My theory is that they looked this way because of the presence of the Eternal Sword. Without its presence, I don't see why they can't be red and shaped like Kratos'.)

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They reached the bottom floor of the temple, feeling even colder then they had before. Sure enough, Abyssion was waiting for them, leaning against one of the pillars that supported Shadow's summoning circle. His eyes turned to the red and blue lights that approached him.

"Angels?" he said aloud. "Huh… don't see those everyday."

"Indeed," Kratos said blandly. "As you more than likely already know, we have finally brought all nine Devil Arms together."

Abyssion nodded with a friendly smile. "You're right about me knowing. The curse placed upon my family has made me sensitive to such things."

The shivering Sheena looked up. "So Kratos was right," she thought to herself.

Kratos turned to his son and his want-to-be lover. "Lloyd. Sheena. Please bring the Devil Arms here. Let us finish this once and for all."

They nodded and unslung the bags on their backs, bringing out all the weapons one by one. As they did so, Kratos picked them up and laid them before Abyssion.

A dark smile crossed Abyssion's lips once all nine Devil Arms were laid before him. "Excellent! Let's begin!"

After he had finished his sentence, a black book appeared before him and opened up to a specific page.

Lloyd's eyes widened a bit. "Whoa. How did he do that?"

Abyssion began reading archaic words from the book as a small, dark aura began to grow around him."

Kratos' eyes widened as well. "That book… it's…"

"The Necronomicron," Abyssion interrupted him, his voice changing dramatically to that of a demon. "You fools have just sealed your own doom. Now that Devil Arms have been reassembled, Nebilim can now be resurrected! Soon, the entire world will be filled with eternal darkness! A utopia for all of the denizens of the underworld!"

Kratos took a few steps back, obviously afraid. "Nebilim?! Oh no… what have we done?"

Lloyd wasn't quite sure what was going on. "Dad? What is this? What's going on?"

Before Kratos could answer, a bright red light flashed throughout the temple. When the light died down, the dark man known as Abyssion had been replaced by a demonic looking man with tall, red hair and a black suit that almost looked as if it was part of his skin. All nine of the Devil Arms were attached to him at different points.

Lloyd, reckless as always, drew his swords and proudly proclaimed, "Hah. So you're actually a demon. Big deal. You picked the wrong party to mess with."

He began to walk forward, fully intent on taking out Abyssion, when Sheena grabbed his shoulder.

"No Lloyd! You can't! I can hear Origin talking to me! We're no match for him!" she exclaimed.

Lloyd stopped dead in his tracks. "That's stupid. He can't be any stronger than Mithos… can he?"

Sheena looked at him gravely. He took this as a yes.

Kratos didn't even bother drawing his weapon, instead choosing to go for full defense by raising his shield. "Lloyd! We have to get out of here! We might stand a chance with everyone else's helps! With what we have now, we can't win!"

Abyssion flashed a very evil smile at Kratos. "And how do you propose to get out of here… alive? It's a long climb to the top and I'm much faster. Accept your fate your death will be painless. It's the least I can do to thank you for releasing me." Once he finished, what had to be the most maniacal laugh in the history of mankind could be heard echoing throughout the lonely halls of the Temple of Darkness.

Sheena drew a single card from her recently refilled deck of Guardians. "I hope this works, grandpa," she whispered to herself.

She ran at Abyssion her eyes closed as she did so. "I call upon thee! Guardian of Light!"

Abyssion's eyes widened a bit. "A Guardian user? Oh no you don't!"

The actions of the two were nearly simultaneous. Just as Sheena threw down her Guardian, Abyssion had thrown one of the Evil Eye chakram. The effects of both were just as simultaneous. The Guardian had sealed Abyssion in a prison of light just as the Evil Eye connected with her side, taking a fair sized piece out of it.

"Augh!" they both screamed at once.

Sheena fell to the ground, clutching her very bloody side as Abyssion pounded on the walls of his prison. Lloyd ran over to her and rested her head on his arm. "Sheena! Sheena!" he cried.

"Damn woman!" cried Abyssion. "It's pointless! Don't you see? This thing won't last more than a day, and once I'm out of here…" He laughed again.

Kratos ran over and put his hand on Sheena's shoulder. "Lloyd, we have to go! Carry Sheena and let us make haste!"

No protest came from Lloyd. He picked up the non-unconscious Sheena and cradled her in his arms as he chased after Kratos.

Abyssion watched the heroes disappear into the darkness. "So… that was her plan, eh? Heh… well, I have a little surprise for them as well!"

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Kratos and Lloyd made their way up the final ramp. Kratos pointed to the exit.

"Lloyd! We're almost there!" Kratos started. "Let's-"

Kratos was cut off by the sound of the heavy doors of the temple closing right in front of them. Lloyd stopped dead in his tracks.

Kratos began to pound furiously on the doors. "No! No!"

Abyssion's maniacal laugh could be heard throughout the entire temple. "Fools! Did you think you could escape that easily? Ha! The doors of this temple shall remain locked until I say so or…" He laughed again. "…or if you kill me! Gahaha!!!"

As the hopes of escape of survival died within Lloyd and Kratos, so did the dim lights that once had helped bring some sort of luminance to the main hall of the great temple.

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Abyssion with a twist! Not only is Sheena possibly dying, but now their only hope of escape has been cut off. Tomorrow, when the Guardian's prison of light vanishes, will Lloyd, Kratos, and the wounded Sheena be enough to stop Abyssion? For fear of tomorrow possibly being their last day alive, will Lloyd and Sheena finally confess how they feel? So many questions to answer! Tune in next time to answer a few! Thanks in advance for any and all reviews!