Chapter 4: Training starts again and the warfront tightens

Alright sorry for the taking a little longer than usual... There was a death at school this week and I've had to go to the funeral and stuff...

On a slightly higher note I'm going to go ahead and apologize to Serene fans. Improvements in abilities are seen and stuff. This is the first chapter that blood is drawn kind of.

Well here it is

Disclaimer: was in chapter 1

Zero was at the training field waiting for the others to arrive, which they did shortly after Zero.

"Like I said I'm stepping up your training. So from now on it will be one on one. Chris, Max come up here," Zero started. His two friends stood next to Zero. "Ledah you will be fighting Max from now on, Ein you will be fighting Chris for these training sessions, and Leon you will be fighting against me," Zero continued to explain.

"That's new," Ein commented.

"Are you ready?" Zero asked. Murmurs indicated that they were indeed ready to begin. "Then lets get this show on the road," Zero announced raising the barrier again to protect the surrounding area. Leon charged Zero quickly drawing his blade again and colliding with Zero's.

"I don't know about you but I learned a new trick!" Leon announced pushing himself away from Zero, "Amidumaru!" With a thrust a small beam of light shot out of the blade and missed Zero. Not because of bad aim but because Zero had jumped out of the way.

"Weak!" Zero shouted charging Leon. Zero locked blades again, trying to push Leon away.

"Zaudosken!" Leon shouted jumping away from Zero. He disappeared from sight seemingly into thin air. Before he knew what was happening, Zero was met with a flurry of extremely fast sword strikes. Many met Zero's blade but two met his chest, making shallow cuts. Leon reappeared behind Zero preparing to strike again until his feet were kicked out from under him. Zero grabbed Leon's leg and slung him several yards away. Zero then leaped into the air and extending his left leg and landing a powerful blow in the middle of Leon's stomach, causing him to pass out. Zero leaped away from Leon and sheathed his sword on his back. Ledah's battle was a different story. He had his hands full with Max's axe. Max was very agile for the size of the axe he used. He was easily able to overpower his opponent so Ledah took to the air to avoid further injury.

"Flames Glory!" Ledah shouted. He and his lance were enveloped by flames which shot out at Max. In response Max embedded his axe into the ground as a shield from the columns of fire which worked very well. Having blocked all of the flames Max pulled his axe out of the ground and looked up to see that his opponent was no longer in front of him. Max whirled around just in time to receive a flaming slash from the tip of Ledah's weapon. Max jumped back patting his chest until the flames subsided.

"You totally killed my shirt," Max sighed. "Oblivions nightmare!" Max shouted. His axe started to glow with a dark light (oxymoron). Max charged Ledah and slammed his axe into the ground in front of Ledah, which sent out a large shockwave at him. Ledah, seemingly paralyzed in either fear or wonderment, was hit by the shockwave, losing consciousness on contact. Ein was having a fairly difficult time with his opponent. He hadn't landed a single blow on the dual sword wielding Chris.

"Double Helix!" Chris shouted. Both of his swords started to glow with a brilliant green light. He charged Ein, who stood motionless until he was slammed into the barrier by Chris's attack. Ein stood shaking with the energy of the attack still causing him pain. Fortunately Chris hadn't realized the match wasn't over yet. Ein crept up behind Chris and shouted,

"It is the will of the Gods! Disaresta!"

"Huh?" Chris turned to see a brilliantly lit blade charging coming down on him. "Oh snap," Chris blurted before being sent flying by the powerful attack. Chris used his blades to slow his recoil by embedding them into the ground.

"Your pretty good," Chris laughed holding his blades up above his head, "Too bad I'm lazy and want to end this quick! In the shadow of omnipotence! Neos Larzenan!" Chris's blades start to ooze black energy. He threw the blades at the waiting Ein. The black energy launched towards him and tangled him up and electrocuted poor Ein until he passed out

"Enough!" Zero shouted, "Their all out."

"I'm up!" Leon said.

"Leon!" Serene shouted running to him, "Are you alright?"

"Yea I'm fine thanks," He replied standing with Serene's aid.

"You show dramatic improvement Leon," Zero commented.

"Really?" Leon asked.

"Correct," Zero repeated, "and you as well Ledah."

"Thanks I think," Ledah staggered.

"What about me?" Ein asked from his place on the ground.

"You too Ein good work," Zero replied.

"Thanks," Ein muttered before falling to the ground.

"Well that's enough for today," Zero concluded, walking away from the field with his friends. Leon and Serene made their way to their home.

"Thank you Serene, but I think I can walk on my own now," Leon said.

"Oh… Alright," She said loosening her grip around him. As they arrived inside Leon sat down on the couch and Serene sat next to him. "Leon you were great today," She commented. Leon expressed his gratitude by giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Zero's just so much stronger than all of us," Leon murmured peering though the window across from them.

"Don't worry about it," She smiled.

"Yea, He told me something once," Leon started.

"What did he say," Serene asked.

"He told me how he got so strong one day," Leon explained.

"What did he do?" Serene continued.

"He told me that he had trained every day, and then participated in several wars over his lifetime," Leon concluded.

"How old is he?" Serene asked.

"He gave me an answer one time but I didn't believe him," Leon answered.

"What did he say?" Serene pleaded.

"He said he was 4 billion years old," Leon replied

"That's imposable!" Serene shouted.

"That's what I said but he gave me his usual answer," Leon continued

"Oh let me guess whatever," Serene laughed.

"Exactly!" Leon laughed with her.

"Leon… I love you," Serene said giving him a long romantic Kiss. Leon broke after a minute.

"Serene…" Leon muttered pulling her close.

"Leon, promise me something," Serene asked.

"Anything Serene," Leon replied.

"I want you to promise me that you'll never leave me," Serene asked.

"I won't ever leave you I promise," Leon promised with all his heart.

"Thank you Leon," Serene said, leaning on his shoulder. She was soon asleep.

"Serene? Are you asleep?" Leon asked. She didn't stir. "Ok stupid question," he laughed. He quietly lifted her from her place next to him and then carried her to her bed, which on a latter is quite impressive, setting her down gently. "How can you be tired when I'm the one that trained today?" Leon asked only to get no answer. He brushed her short purple hair out of her face. Leon himself felt tired and decided to take a nap as well. He cuddled up next to the purple haired one and slept. Ein and Fia on the other hand were sitting back at their house. The others had left the house making Ein and Fia the only ones there which by all standards is a rare occasion.

"We have the house all to ourselves," Fia stated sitting next to Ein on the couch.

"That hasn't happened since… Ever," Ein laughed.

"Yea…" Fia smiled, "Ein I want to tell you something…"

"Yes Fia?" Ein asked.

"Ein… I… I…" Fia stuttered why can't I say that I love him!

"It's ok Fia, theirs always a next time. But in the mean time I have to get something off my chest…" Ein reassured.

"What is it Ein," Fia asked.

"Fia I… I love you Fia," Ein confessed finally.

"Really?" Fia asked tears welling up in her eyes.

"Of course Fia… I've loved you ever since the day I met you," Ein explained.

"Oh Ein! I love you too! That's what I've been trying to say this whole time," Fia explained burying her head in his chest.

"I'm so glad that you were able to come back to us after Hector…" Ein smiled wrapping his arms around her. Together they sat slowly drifting closer and closer together until they finally met lips. Tears of pure joy were spilling from Fia's eyes. Ein broke the kiss and wiped her tears away with his hand.

"Ein I'm so happy," Fia whispered.

"Me too," Ein smiled. What the two didn't know was that Rose was watching through the window.

"Did you see that Ledah. They were making out!" Rose exclaimed quietly.

"Even with emotions I still don't get why you find this so interesting," Ledah sighed.

"I'll have to show you why," Rose laughed walking up to him and grabbing hold of his hand. "So where were you going to take me?" Rose asked.

"I'll have to show you," Ledah repeated.

"Very funny," Rose scowled.

"Just think happy thoughts," Ledah smiled lifting Rose and taking to the air.

"W-where are we going?" Rose asked again.

"Zero showed me this place he uses to meditate," Ledah explained gliding towards the grove of response. They came up on a cliff that overlooked all of Elendia.

"Wow this place is beautiful," Rose gasped.

"There are no paths to here and only Zero and I know about this place," Ledah smiled.

"Which would explain why he's trying to meditate," Zero snapped angrily from behind them.

"Ah Zero!" Rose exclaimed.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize you were here," Ledah apologized.

"It's alright I was just about to leave," Zero laughed (What the heck is with him! He hasn't laughed this much since he fought the war against the cuddly bunnies –Imagines a bunny wielding a blood spattered sword- ) He stood and walked away from the pair.

"He scared me there," Rose sighed.

"He does that," Ledah laughed.

"Well now that we're alone," Rose smiled hugging Ledah, "We should start coming here every now and then."

"We should," Ledah smiled leaning up against a tree looking out over the village, "Let's wait for the sunset," Ledah suggested.

"It would be so beautiful from here," Rose smiled.

"Then it's decided, we'll wait," Ledah sighed pulling Rose close.

"Stupid love birds," Zero grumbled continuing his journey away from the sickening pair. "Stealing my favorite place!" Zero continued.

"Hey Zero!" Nardi called.

"No meditation today…" Zero sighed approaching his friend.

"Why?" Nardi asked.

"Well Ledah and Rose stole my spot," Zero pouted.

"Then take it back from them!" Nardi laughed.

"I don't feel like it… I'm too lazy to do it," Zero sighed.

"I figured," Nardi continued.

"How's the progress on the base?" Zero asked.

"Slow moving for now. It's hard finding the materials we need in big enough quantities," Nardi sighed.

"I suppose. We need to hurry. The faster we have it constructed the better off we'll be," Zero explained.

"I'll be glad to get out of those tents," Nardi laughed.

"You won't be the only one…," Zero sighed.

Elsewhere… A couple of hours later… Serene was the first to rise from her bed.

"Leon?" She asked.

"Huh?" He muttered in a tired reply.

"How long were we out?" She asked.

"I don't really know," Leon replied.

"Well let's head on out or we won't be tired tonight," Serene laughed pulling Leon out of her bed.

"Alright," He commented rising from his place on the bed with Serene's help. The two came from the house and went to the grove of response.

"After living here for so long I still can't believe how beautiful this place is," Serene giggled.

"I can," Leon commented.

"Really?" Serene asked.

"It's not nearly as beautiful as you Serene," Leon commented.

"Leon…" Serene smiled.

"Oh come on! You can't be falling for that! It's the oldest line in the book!" An unfamiliar voice shouted.

"Who's there!?!" Leon shouted shielding Serene.

"We've been getting surprised way too much here, I think we need a new place to go," Serene laughed.

"Oh getting angry now? I'm so sorry!" The figure shouted coming into view. He was wearing black armor similar to the soldiers of darkness's armor but this armor had red symbols scrolled on it. There was also a black cape flowing behind the figure. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am known as Scath, One of the four generals of darkness," Scath announced.

"Uh oh," Leon gulped.

"I love the smell of fear in the afternoon! I can just see it in your eyes!" Scath laughed manically. Leon summoned his blade to his hand.

"Serene run!" Leon shouted.

"No!" She replied drawing her scythe.

"Oh a scythe wielder too?" Scath commented drawing his own scythe, "Too bad you don't have this baby!" His scythe was different. The blade seemed to be made of solid light. It was coming from a 'prong' on one side of a small cross like structure (like a + sign on each end of a staff) "You see with this Scythe I can conjure a blade on one or two or all of these six prongs," Scath explained.

"I'm not afraid of you or your weapon!" Leon shouted as he charged. "Amidumaru!" He fired a small beam of light at Scath.

"Oh what's this now?" Scath teased as the beam hit him. Leon slashed him across the chest. "What did you do to me!" Scath shouted.

"Amidumaru stuns anything it hits for a short amount of time," Leon explained.

"Good to know," Scath laughed licking the blood from his hand.

"Um Eww," Serene complained.

"Now for the real fun!" Scath shouted. He charged the pair at lightening speed summoning a blade that made the weapon a lance and nearly skewering Leon if he hadn't attempted to jump out of the way. Attempted because he wasn't fast enough to entirely avoid the strike. The blade had cut directly under the ribs about an inch from Leon's outline.

"Ow," Leon said taking his left hand off of his blade and holding the now bleeding wound.

"Never take your hand away from your WEAPON!" Scath shouted stabbing Leon strait through the stomach area hitting his left wrist. "Electrocute!" He shouted sending surges of electricity into Leon's body.

"Let him go!" Serene shouted attempting to slash him. Scath pulled the scythe out of Leon and jumped out of the way.

"Oh now the girls helping to?" Scath shouted, "Well I can fix that!" He Summoned another blade making the weapon a scythe and sliced at her legs, making shallow cuts on both legs.

"Serene!" Leon shouted. Scath summoned the blade at the top at mid slash and made a deep cut across Serene's chest sending her flying.

"That takes care of that!" Scath shouted.

"And now to take care of you!" Zero shouted. He had come across the scene and jumped in immediately to aid his friends.

"And the hero arrives!" Scath shouted.

"And the villain departs!" Zero shouted. He took a wide swipe at Scath and hit him across the chest.

"Perhaps I shall depart," Scath pondered.

"Oh I'm sorry I meant you're departing in a casket!" Zero shouted taking several more swipes and continuing to wound the general.

"Too bad for you!" Scath shouted one last time as he disappeared into thin air with a poof.

"Damn. Are you guys ok?" Zero asked

"Ummm let me think about it… NO!" Leon shouted from his position crumpled on the ground.

"Right. Healaja!" Zero shouted. A green light poured out of his hands and into Leon and the unconscious Serene completely healing them.

"Thanks Zero we owe you," Leon said standing.

"Just take Serene home and then come and meet me back here," Zero ordered.

"Alright," Leon replied picking up the unconscious Serene and started on the journey to her house. He took her to her bed and covered her up. He also gave her a peck on the forehead. "Rest well Serene… I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you," Leon apologized. He came back to the grove of response and saw Zero standing right where Leon had left him.

"Is she alright?" Zero asked.

"Yea, she's asleep," Leon replied.

"Good that you and her are unharmed. But I'm surprised that the origin would be so bold as to attack you and her directly but I guess he's trying to eliminate us. I see you aren't ready for real opponents so I'm going to start training you harder, starting with teaching you new abilities. But of course that will be tomorrow. Get some rest Leon your body needs it," Zero commanded.

"Alright. Hey Zero I have a question…" Leon commented.

"Shoot," Zero replied.

"Who was that guy? I mean I know his name was Scath and that he was a General of darkness but his fighting style and weapon seemed so familiar but I can't tell why…" Leon asked.

"I wouldn't know. I've only seen that type of weapon once," Zero sighed, "Why don't you take care of Serene, I'll see you later."

"Yea… Thanks again Zero," Leon waved walking away from Zero.

"Damn they're really trying to kill him. They must know…" Zero said as soon as Leon was out of sight.

"Of course they know, that's why we have Max and Nardi guarding around their place in secret," Kazé said coming from his hiding place in the bushes.

"True…" Zero mumbled.

"Well let's head back Zero," Kazé said turning to walk back to their tents. "So what were you saying earlier, about Maria," Kazé said resuming his conversation with Zero.

"I told her it was over. She got mad and left," Zero continued.

"She knows you only did it to protect her," Kazé comforted.

"I know," Zero sighed. They arrived at the tents and slept the night away.

Badness huh? The first of four generals. Scath is going to be one of my most dynamic characters so get ready for it. He's also really really really evil. Thanks to my reviewer! I understand why authors thank reviewers now. Anyway it might take a bit to upload the next chapter cuz I'm moving for the 18th time (no lie) and we're busy looking at houses, a really really annoying task.

---Chapter has been replaced because of character name issues, and I'm incompetent, one or the other---

Anyway next time: Chapter 5 Injury...

Look out Leon! Oh and a little of Zero's past is shown.