Chapter 32

Short chapter... but I'm starting to get back into this piece again... so that's good.

"RAH!"

A slash and the Outsider in front of me staggered back from the impact.

How is my own Soul stronger then me by this much? I wondered.

Celistia let out a guttural scream as she lunged forward at me, and my Soul stabbed her in the face. "Ah..."

Her body split apart and fell to the ground as Soul me cut her in two, Mortal Kombat style.

Soul me released his control over my body and I moved slightly, looking over myself.

"That's gruesome," I muttered, seeing all the blood on my own body. I reverted to normal.

"You're one to talk," grunted my Soul. "Come on... you're a cold murderer, and everything here has gone to hell." He paused. "By the way... DODGE!"

DO NOT REFERENCE ABRIDGED DRAGON BALL! I thought instantly, and I moved away.

The two halves of her body put themselves back together again, and her hunched over figure stood up straight.

"Oh, come on," I groaned, raising my sword. "How the hell is she still alive after that?!"

"Us Souls are capable of taking fatal damage for our commanders," muttered my Soul. "Afterwards, all that damage is undone, but transforming for the next ten minutes is impossible. Also... she will be extremely exhausted."

"How come information like this only comes out when the plot seems to demand it or something?" I asked. "WHOA!" I moved away from Celistia's twin swords. "Screw you!" I yelled, blocking one slash and just dodging another.

"I... must... end you... for... Lord... Zanza..." she moaned, on her knees now.

"Hey, I'm an atheist, so... this god stuff doesn't really fly with me," I replied. "Sorry. The kind thing to-"

"Ha ha ha!" There was laughter behind me. "My, how interesting this is!"

I turned. "You! Uh..." I paused. "Wait... give me a second..." There was a brief moment while everyone waited. "Nope. Can't remember. What's your name?"

"Lorithia," she smirked. "Hm...?" She moved away from Sharla's shot. "My, my! Bit impatient, are we?"

Sharla gasped for air, clutching her side. "Ah..." She aimed her rifle up, and launched a massive blast of Ether that rained down. "Guys... come on..."

Shulk groaned. "Ow... huh...?" He slowly got up. "The heck is...?"

"Hm... well, all of you are weak," noted Lorithia. "I shall leave... and tell him that you are no threat." She turned to Celistia. "Dear, if you would please."

"Huh?" I turned, slow as the Outsider let out a smile.

"I will have vengeance... by killing them."

Shulk let out a loud gasp. "NO! Reyn, Riki, get...!"

"Huh?" replied Reyn, looking at his friend.

I leapt forward, sword flashing.

Celistia let out a scream, tossing her swords. I grunted as two entered two other party members, and there was a flashing light.

...

"REYN!"

"RIKI!"

The blinding light was leaving, and I opened my eyes.

The Homs and the Nopon were on the ground, bleeding out too quickly from the new wounds they were suffering from.

"That girl... she has these blades..." gasped Sharla, beside the two. "The wounds... so severe..." She shot another round up in the air, several times. "Ugh..." She began to cool her gun.

"Will they be alright?" asked Dunban, a little distance away.

"No," she replied. "At the very least... I may be able to save one of them if I focus on their wounds.

"But the other one will die."

"What?" repeated Shulk. "Sharla... you have to be kidding. We... that can't be!"

"It's the reality, Shulk," she spoke. "There's no way I can save both of them. There's just not enough... time!" Tears began to pool in her eyes.

I let out a groan. Strangely, all of the bodies of the Outsiders had faded away.

"I don't know..." Shulk lay on the ground, hands over his eyes. "Reyn... he's my best mate, but... Riki has a family waiting for him... unlike most of us." He glanced at me for a brief moment. "I..."

"Hey..." mumbled Reyn. "Save... save the furball... will ya...?"

"Reyn..." Dunban looked at him. "But then..."

"Shulk..." The Homs looked at the blonde. "You... you have... you have to... get vengeance... for Fiora... OK?" He coughed up blood.

"I... I..." He stood, looking over his friend. "But I..."

"No 'but's', Shulk," he managed. "Riki... he's... he's got a family... ya know...? I... don't... so... go on... save him, Sharla..."

She wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry, Reyn," she told him, aiming her rifle at the Nopon. As she shot more concentrated rounds into the Nopon he shifted slightly, looking more comfortable.

"Don't... worry... about it..." He looked at Shulk, intensive. "Shulk... come on... man... don't look so sad..."

Shulk shook as tears flowed down his face. "I...! I don't... I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE, REYN!" he screamed.

"We... don't always get what we want," spoke Dunban, a hand over his eyes to try and futilely cover the tears I knew were starting to flow from his face. "I'm sorry, Reyn."

"It's... alright..." He groaned. "I... can see... Fiora again... I'll... tell her... about everything... alright... Shulk...?"

"Yeah!" He cried, falling to his knees. "Yeah! Go do that, Reyn!

"And... I promise I will bring down that faced Mechon and avenge everyone!"

"That's... it... thanks... Shulk..." He shook and then stopped moving.

Reyn was dead.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The loudest ear-piercing scream erupted from Shulk as tears flowed down everyone's faces except for mine.

Mercy... you were wrong, I thought, walking away from the scene as more cries, screeches and screams followed.

Heroes do die.

Thanks for reading!