Speak to self
Speak to Ghost
Filo bursts through Idol's wall as Naofumi, Raphtalia and Xeno rushes through.
Naofumi and Xeno sees Joseph who is against the wall all bloodied.
"Joseph!" said Xeno as he rushes towards his Guardian. He wastes no time attending Joseph's wounds.
Naofumi, Raphtalia and Filo immediately went to check on Melty, "Melty are you okay?" asked Naofumi.
Melty nods, "Yes." she said, "Joseph… he- he protected us…" Melty said who is still rattled from Joseph's actions.
Van points to the torsoless Idol, "Joseph, was able to withstand Idol's torchure and he killed him." Van said. "His actions… he torchered Idol to the point where the wounds could not be treated." he said.
Raphtalia turns to see Idol who's whole body was blown apart. His whip right next to him, she wished to see his final seconds alive, the sheer fear that Joseph inflicted upon Idol, the torchure that was inflicted on him where he did to her and Rifana. She had hoped that she would be able to deal the finishing blow instead of Joseph but nevertheless, she was glad that the tyrant known as Idol was gone, for good.
Naofumi looks at the remains of what's left of Idol, "that does look like Joseph's work." he said softly.
"Fractured ribs, a cracked skull, a broken nose, whip marks all over his body, and… strangle and burn marks on his neck!" Xeno said. "What did he do to you…" said the worried Ghost.
"Is he dead?" Melty asked in concern.
Xeno assesses Joseph's pulse, but to no avail, there was no pulse, "Yes, he's breathing." Xeno lied. The internal bleeding from the fractured ribs reached all the way to your kidney and liver which caused more damage… and these damages were inflicted over two hours ago! Xeno's shell opens up as a bright flash emits from him.
Joseph jerks up as he breathes heavily, he coughs out the blood that remained in his mouth, he holds onto his neck where he was strangled.
Naofumi rushed to Joseph and kneeled down, "Joseph! Are you alright?" he asked.
Joseph spits out the remaining blood and wipes the blood off his mouth, "yeah… I- passed out, is all…" Joseph said. His breath steadies as he began to speak again, "Is Melty alright?" he asked.
Naofumi nods, "yes, she is unharmed." Naofumi said. "You did all of this?" he asked.
Joseph nods, "the man was a monster of what he had done." Joseph said. "Harmed innocent demi-human and this was Raphtalia's "caretaker" if it wasn't for Melty getting me back into my senses, I could've cut off all of his limbs by the time you guys got here." Joseph said.
Raphtalia looked at Idol's corpse once more, glad that the man that tortured her was dead. "Master Naofumi, there was a cellar that had Demi-Human children, we should see if we can help free them." Raphtalia said.
"Yeah, we should go there." Joseph said. He stands up, picks up Ace and holsters it, "this place pisses me off, let's hurry up before I burn this place down." Joseph said. He walks to the door instead of the open wall and kicks the entire door out, "I'll secure our exit," Joseph said.
"What's with Joseph all of a sudden master?" Asked Filo, who was concerned of his wellbeing,
Naofumi pats Filo's head, "He is just mad about Idol and his deeds." he said, "he needs some air to vent out. Once we group up with him, he'll be okay."
Filo smiled, "okay Master!" she said.
…
Joseph checks every hallway and corners, making sure none of Idol's foot soldiers attack him or the party.
Xeno materializes to act as a flashlight, "What happened Joseph?" Xeno asked.
Joseph holds his forehead, a headache lingering, a bad memory. "The bastard tortured innocent demi-humans… even children." Joseph said. He turned a corner and secured the area, "to hear a child cry out of pain," Joseph sighs, "it kills my soul. I can't stand hurting a child, yet he took joy out of it." Joseph said.
"That's terrible… how- how did you kill him?" asked Xeno.
"I lost control of myself, I went cynical and tortured him… it was like the Darkness within me was like… corrupting me…" Joseph said.
Xeno felt concerned and a bit scared, "really? How did you overcome it?" Xeno asked.
"Like I said, Melty's cry for mercy made me snap back into reality. I can't believe I actually did that…" Joseph said.
"You said that this happened to you before your Guardian days right? What happened back then?" asked Xeno.
Joseph looks at the hallway, remembering the child who showed him other ways of defeating an opponent. "A child with pure determination… She showed me a route of kindness and mercy… and so, when a person whom I hate, I tortured the living shit out of him, she cried out of pain not because I hurt her, but of what I became. I was like the Devil himself and I was about to be one when I tortured Idol…" Joseph said.
Xeno was interested in this child who was able to save Joseph from his demons, "what was her name?" asked Xeno,
Joseph gave a soft smile, he never forgot her, they were never the bestest of friends, but there was no one like her who had a spirit as bright as her's, "Her name was Frisk." Joseph said. Joseph heads down to the first floor as he secures the exit, "alright, let's wait for Naofumi and his party." Joseph leans his back to a wall next to the exit.
Minutes pass by as the party meeting up with Joseph.
"Joseph, you alright?" asked Naofumi,
Joseph stood up and walks to them, "Yeah, all clear here." said Joseph.
"Joseph," said Van, "I am sorry I haven't said this to you earlier, but I greatly owe you for saving us." he said.
Joseph softly smiled, "no need, as long you guys are alive and kicking, it's good enough for me." Joseph said. Joseph pulls out his pistol on one hand, and the doorknob with his other, "alright, Raphtalia, you know where the cellar is right?" Joseph asked,
Raphtalia nods, "Yes I know where it is," Raphtalia said.
Joseph opens the door enough where he could peek through a small crevice, "I don't see any combatants." Joseph said. He closes the door and looks at Raphtalia, "Raphtalia, lead us the way, I will throw down a smoke bomb which will make us invisible but only for ten seconds, so we will need to sprint." Joseph said. "Naofumi, you will be on Raphtalia's tail while I'll be behind the group so that no one will get behind." Joseph said.
Naofumi and Raphtalia nod, "alright, sounds like a solid plan." Naofumi said.
Joseph puts his pistol away and grabs a smoke bomb off his belt, Joseph turns the doorknob and looks at everyone, "get ready." Joseph readies his smoke bomb, "three two one… go!" At the same time, he opens the door and throws the smoke bomb, having everyone go invisible but enough for the group to see each other. Joseph follows behind Van as they sprint to the cellar undetected..
The group made it to the cellar as their invisibility ran out. Joseph looks behind them to make sure no one has spotted them. "Alright, all clear." Joseph said.
The group stared down the dark cellars, "I feel a ton of negative energy here… what did they do to those kids…" Joseph said. He shakes his head, "nevermind that's a stupid question." Joseph said. He takes a deep breath that reveals a hint of anger, "Xeno, be our light and I'll take point." Joseph walks ahead as he readies his M1911.
The party follows Joseph as he reaches for the door, Joseph attempts to open the door, but to no avail.
"Tch, locked." Joseph said. "Yo, Xeno, do we still have that lockpick set?" Joseph asked.
"Yes, here, let me get it for you." Xeno said.
"Why do you have a lockpicking set?" asked Naofumi,
Xeno materializes a lockpicking set on Joseph's palm and begins to lockpick the door, "sometimes, items of importance will be inside buildings, safes or a padlock." Joseph said. A snap is heard as Joseph's pin snapped, "shit…" Joseph reaches out for another pin, "anyhow, it is sometimes better to be quiet than alerting a whole police force to you." Joseph remarked.
"I never knew you were a thief Joseph," said Melty,
Joseph chuckled, "heh, I steal from those I oppose, most of the time." Joseph said.
Xeno laughed, "There was a time, Joseph stole this card that gave access to a very popular entertainment complex, so that Joseph and our Guardian friends could go to have some fun." Xeno said.
"So petty!" said Naofumi.
"That's what I said!" said Xeno
"Hey to be fair… uh, their Tower of Doom was fun…" Joseph said.
"You made Drake vomit after doing it ten times… even Echo felt like hurling…" Xeno said.
Joseph was able to unlock the door, the atmosphere began to intensify, Joseph stood up and dissipated his lockpick set, "alright, let's move." said Joseph.
The group begin to walk down the dimly lit corridor. The stench of old blood fills the area,
Every second Joseph smells this stench pisses him off gradually. Who knows how many tormented souls reside here.
Joseph and Xeno check to see if there are any survivors inside their cells.
Joseph and Van spots a child who has a shackle on their ankle chained to a wall. "Hey Naofumi!" Joseph called.
"We have a survivor!" Van said
Naofumi and Raphtalia run to the three as they see Joseph grab onto one of the bars and force the cell door open. Van walks to the boy as he heals the child's wound.
"Stand back," Joseph said. He walks to the child and grips onto the chain next to the child's ankle, "Hold still kid, any movement will burn you." Joseph's hand begins to light up in solar light as he burns the chain and shackles off the child.
"Naofumi! Over here!" Melty called.
Joseph looks back as Raphtalia and Naofumi runs to Melty.
"Go Joseph, I'll take care of his child," said Van.
Joseph nods, "kay, I'll leave you to it." Joseph said. Joseph catches up to Naofumi and Raphtalia as they enter the cell and heal the child.
Joseph sees Filo running ahead so he runs with her. The three stop to see another child whose wrist is shackled and is chained to the wall, the young boy had dog-like features as he had a mix of black and silver-white hair.
"We got another here!" Joseph said. "Filo, stand back," Joseph said. He grips an Iron bar as his whole arm electrified in arc light and forces the door open. Joseph rushes to the boy and rests his hand on the boy's shoulder, "Don't worry kid, all the hellish torture you endured is now over." Joseph said to the boy.
"Oh Keel!" cried Raphtalia. She runs to the boy, "I can't believe you're here!" Raphtalia said.
Keel weakly looked at Raphtalia, "Who… are you?" said Keel.
"I can't believe I found you after all this time! I'm so glad" Raphtalia said with relief. She stands up as she uses her sword to break the shackle and chains.
Keel looked confused not knowing that the girl is a grown and matured Raphtalia.
Joseph walks to Naofumi and the rest. "How come Keel doesn't know who Raphtalia is? Or, was she like this when you took her in as your companion?" asked Joseph.
"Raphtalia was a child when I got her but, when she leveled up, she grew and became mature." Naofumi said.
Joseph looked at Raphtalia and then to Naofumi, "really now…" Joseph said in amusement, "so before she was the size of that kid, and now a young adult? Well that's one way to speed run your life…" Joseph said.
"Listen to me Keel," said Raphtalia as she tries to help Keel remember her, "do your remember that time when you went diving and nearly drowned? And we had to find Sedina so she could go rescue you? And there was another time when you ate a poisonous mushroom and you ended up with an empty stomach! In pain you begged me not to tell anyone." Raphtalia said, "you remember that dont you?" she asked. "After the wave, when I said we should rebuild the village, you were the very first one to speak up and agree with me. You don't know, how happy that made me" she said.
"Raphtalia it's really you! You're really here after all?" said Keel who remembers everything,
Raphtalia then hugged Keel out of relief and Joy said that he remembers her, "thank goodness!" she cries, "I'm so grateful that you're still alive!"
Keel looks at the group behind Raphtalia, "who are they?" he asks.
"It's okay, I'm traveling with the Shield Hero right now." Raphtalia said.
"What? The Shield Hero! He really exists?" said Keel
"He sure does! And he's come here to save all of us!" Raphtalia said.
"Let me take a look at your wounds." said Naofumi. He walks to Keel and holds his wrist, healing Keel back to full health.
Keel looks at Naofumi, "Ah! You really exist after all! Then all those stories I heard about you are actually true!" Keel's excitement lead him to cough.
"Easy now kid, you went through a lot, sudden movements'll hurt ya know." Joseph said.
"Sorry, I… I was just thinking, Rifana would've wanted to see him…" Keel said.
Joseph's heart stops, "would've…" oh no…
Raphtalia looks more worried, "wait a minute,"
"Raphtalia…" Joseph said.
"Where is Rifana? She's in here right?" she asked.
But Keel looks away, Joseph and Raphtalia see the sadness from his face.
Joseph slowly walks to Raphtalia, "Raphtalia,"
She bolts pass everyone, running to find Rifana,
"Raphtalia!" Joseph said, "shit, Keel! Rifana isn't dead is she?" Joseph asked, desperate to hear his answer. Keel didn't answer only tears, Joseph shakes his head.
A cry is heard, Raphtalia's cry of pain, a cry of loss.
Joseph runs to Raphtalia's voice, he whispers, "no" repeatedly, he turns to see Raphtalia crying in front of a skeletal remains of Rifana.
Joseph backpedals to a wall, his fist clenches as a void, arc and solar light fluctuates from his arm.
The group sees Joseph punching the wall, the whole cellar shakes and rumbles,
" . . !" Every word, Joseph punches the walls a crater like hole was left from Joseph's blows. He goes on his knees and turns to sit down. "God damn it…" Joseph said.
"Joseph…" said Van.
Xeno materializes and tries to comfort his Guardian, "I'm sorry Joseph, but we couldn't do anything… to save her..." said Xeno.
Joseph stands up, as he steadies his breath, "Just like my parents, just like my squad, just like Blake, just like Cayde…" Joseph said, "none of them deserved to die… but they did because death is cruel…" Joseph said. He enters the cell as everyone watches Raphtalia cry for her friend's death.
"I can't see how… such monstrous deeds could exist here." said Melty.
"There is always shit like this happening all around the world Melty." Joseph said.
"It can't be…" Melty said.
"That is why we needed Sayete." said Van
Raphtalia's crying ceased as she began to pray, "I failed you, forgive me." Raphtalia said.
"Hey Raphtalia, who was that?" asked Naofumi.
"My friend Rifana. She was gentler and more graceful than me, and she'd always say that… that she wanted to see you… to meet the Shield Hero." Raphtalia said.
Naofumi walks to Raphtalia. "Let's give her and the others a proper send off. They can't rest in peace in a place like this." said Naofumi in a soft manner, but Raphtalia was silent "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I hate myself, because I couldn't protect anybody. When we first met, I was so weak and powerless, I couldnt do anything. I'm sure I could have saved everyone, if I have been only stronger! I'm too late!" said Raphtalia as she started to cry again.
Keel steps forward, trying to help Raphtalia, "Come on, you did help! If you hadn't arrived when you did I probably would have died in here! You saved my life! you're not weak." said Keel, he then went to the ground but Naofumi caught him before he fell "You know what else? The reason why everyone hung on so long without losing hope was your smile! We decided to keep smiling no matter how bad it got!" said Keel
"Sorry." said Raphtalia "I'm sorry, i'm just not-i'm afraid im- well I can't just smile like I used to." said Raphtalia,
"Huh?" said Keel,
"I'm not worthy, I mean I, I ended up killing someone." said Raphtalia, She then started to cry,
"You're wrong." said Naofumi, trying to comfort Raphtalia,
"It was all wrong" Raphtalia said, "Every single thing I've done so far, all of it, was a mistake! I don't deserve anything!" said Raphtalia,
"That's not true!" Naofumi put his hand on Raphtalia shoulder "Raphtalia…"
"I don't even have the right to walk beside you, I'm worthless!"
"listen!" Naofumi then turned Raphtalia to him and put his hands on Raphtalia shoulders "You did nothing wrong. If it wasn't for you being in my life, I'd have run from this world, without ever trusting anyone!" Naofumi said "That's right, it's because you believed in me, that I am here with you right now, that I met Filo and Melty." said Naofumi.
"Yeah see, it just cant be a mistake! It's like, before you were so small and everything and now you've met the shield hero! You've turned into this really cool lady and even came back to save us!" Keel said.
"Look." Raphtalia and Naofumi looked to the left and saw the two demi-children with Van "You were the one who kept those kids alive." Naofumi said
Raphtalia begins to tear up, "Master Naofumi…"
"Stop crying now." He said as he petted her head
"And I'm sure that Rifana is happy now too. She finally got to meet the Shield Hero." said Keel,
"From now on, it's our job to protect them, to make sure no one goes through this kind of suffering ever again, isn't what we've been fighting for all this time?" asked Naofumi, Raphtalia then looked at Naofumi "together with me, The Shield Hero."
Raphtalia then smiled "It is!" she said.
Joseph holds his tear, and smiles, "Death, it is unforgiving, but… as long as we hold those we love and cherish within our minds and hearts, we will never forget them." Joseph said. Joseph walks to Rifana's remains and has Xeno scan the skeletal remains of Rifana. Joseph opens up a titan mark given to him from Eva, as the bones are neatly piled up on his titan mark. Joseph then delicately ties the mark and passes it over to Raphtalia,
"Thank you Joseph." Raphtalia said.
Joseph nodded, and gave out a soft smile, "no problem…" Joseph walks out of the cell and takes a deep breath, he breathes out and pulls out Ace, "let get moving shall we?"
Welp, there you have it, a rollercoaster of emotions for Joseph and Raphtalia. But now, it is time to meet Fitoria, and battle the TRex! Can't wait to write about that!
I honestly don't know what to say right now, I guess I am just a bit tired. If you have any questions about anything feel free to ask. I don't bite, heh.
Anyhow, enjoy your morning, day or night! Wherever you guys live.
