Chapter 6: A new conflict

Here we go. Don't kill me

Disclaimer: chapter 1

It has been several weeks since Leon was nearly killed by Borgan. He had completely healed thanks to the antidote as well as had a replacement arm fashioned by Zero. The group of grim angels had begun training in the newly completed base. It was more like a fortress than a base though… Kazé built it for his 'central command' so he could keep track of everything. The base provided a more protected place to train, where peering eyes couldn't see as well as enter. The forces of evil have been lying low since the completion of the base as well. Leon, Serene, and Rose stood outside of Serene's house.

"You've been avoiding me long enough I want an answer," Rose asked.

"Alright fine Rose jeez you're so nosy," Leon exclaimed wrapping his metal arm around Serene.

"Ever since that second night under the stars in the grove of response we've been together," Serene answered, "And after that Leon moved in with me out of those tents."

"Ah I see," Rose smiled satisfied at her answer.

"We're not really trying to be secretive about it, we just are," Leon explained.

"So can I tell everyone," Rose smiled.

"No!" Serene and Leon shouted.

"Funny," Rose laughed.

"Kind of like you and Ledah…" Leon smiled. Rose stopped laughing and glared at Leon making Serene laugh.

"So we'll keep you and Ledah secret if you keep us a secret alright," Serene smiled.

"Alright! alright! Fine you win," Rose exclaimed storming off angrily.

"That's always fun," Serene laughed.

"Yea…" Leon mumbled.

"What's wrong?" Serene asked.

"Huh? Nothing just looking…" Leon said raising his metal arm.

"Leon…" Serene said grabbing Leon's right hand.

"Hey guys," Zero said coming up on the two.

"Hey Zero," Leon replied.

"How are you doing Leon, you look a little depressed," Zero stated bluntly,

"Oh really… I guess I am. I always thought any damage done could be healed but since I lost my arm…" Leon explained.

"Most things that are truly lost can never be returned," Zero explained.

"Oh…" Leon said looking down at the ground

"Oh come on don't turn emo just because you lost an arm! I mean I've lost two limbs and I'm not emo," Zero joked.

"Although you couldn't tell by looking," Leon retorted.

"Ouch, below the belt," Zero replied.

"Heh… I guess so… Sorry Zero," Leon said.

"Well we should get to the base and continue your rehab," Zero said leading them to the base which was near Ein's house.

"I really don't think I need the rehab I mean I know how to use my arm well enough," Leon pleaded.

"Well enough isn't good enough," Zero retorted.

"Alright, fine!" Leon said angrily.

"Who's that?" Serene asked pointing at the girl lying on the road. The group ran up to her and discovered that she was still alive.

"She seems injured, lets take her to the base," Zero said lifting the woman effortlessly. Inside the base Zero placed her on a couch and used an elixir to wake her.

"Wh-Where am I?" She asked coming to her senses brushing her long black hair from her face.

"You're in Elendia, you were passed out on the road," Zero explained.

"I remember I was fighting something and then I was knocked out…" She explained, "My name is Lilly by the way."

"Nice to meet you," Zero said shaking her hand.

"And I'm Serene and this is Leon," Serene said waving to Lilly.

"Do you need anything?" Zero asked helping her stand.

"I should stay here incase my partner comes to get me…" Lilly stated.

"Right… Ein's place is too crowded so why don't you stay here," Zero said. "We have an extra bedroom if you would like."

"Thank you," Lilly blushed.

"You don't think…" Leon whispered to Serene.

"Yea…" Serene replied quietly.

"It's this way," Zero said guiding her through the hall to the left.

"You think she likes him?" Leon asked as soon as Zero and Lilly were out of earshot.

"Yes," Serene replied. The two came back to the waiting Serene and Leon.

"We should probably put our training off to help Lilly," Zero explained, "Serene could you get her some new cloths?"

"Sure come on," Serene smiled dragging Lilly to her house.

"She likes you," Leon said when they were out of ear shot.

"I noticed," Zero replied.

"Well?" Leon asked.

"Same response as last time," Zero replied coldly.

"Figured," Leon laughed. Their discussion was interrupted when they heard a scream coming from Serene. They rushed out to see that they were under attack by none other than Scath.

"Hello Leon! I see you lost your arm to Borgan," Scath laughed.

"Die!!!" Leon shouted rushing towards the general.

"How about you?" Scath laughed drawing his weapon and blocking Leon.

"Really now didn't you learn from last time?" Zero asked drawing his blade.

"Kind of sort of," Scath smiled puncturing Leon through the side and throwing him to the side.

"Show me something new," Zero said charging.

"Ok," Scath replied appearing behind Zero and stabbing him though the left shoulder making Zero's left arm fall limp.

"What the!?!" Zero shouted taking a wide swipe at Scath but missing.

"Come now Zero I know you're better than that," Scath teased. Zero used his blade to remove his eye patch.

"Fool," Zero said throwing his sword at Scath, who deflected it.

"What was tha-- Gack" Scath spurted having been impaled though the chest with another of Zero's blades.

"This is my real sword, The Excalibur. From Dust to Dust! Havens Gate!" Zero shouted using a technique to blow Scath in half.

"Gah! You win this one Zero…" Scath said as he disappeared.

"Zero!" Lilly shouted rushing towards him.

"I'm fine…" Zero said sheathing his sword on his back and pouring an elixir on the injury. "Here give this to Leon," Zero shouted to Serene tossing her an elixir.

"Who is he?" Lilly asked

"Scath, One of our problems you don't really need to worry about, Lilly." Zero smiled.

"Are you alright?" Lilly asked.

"Yea…" Zero replied moving his left arm.

"Man he's annoying," Leon said jumping to his feet.

"He is one of the more incompetent Generals," An unknown voice called from behind the group.

"Kino!" Lilly shouted.

"Huh? Lilly? Is that you?" the white haired man asked rushing to get a closer inspection of the group.

"We found her here in the road," Leon announced.

"Really? We were separated when we were attacked by a general named Omega," Kino explained.

"Omega's Here!?!" Zero shouted.

"You know him?" Kino asked.

"How many of you are as lost as me?" Leon asked.

"Me," Serene and Lilly replied.

"Omega is one of the more powerful generals," Kino explained

"He's also the one that took my leg…" Zero added.

"Ouch," Kino replied.

"We better discuss a battle plan before he gets here and kills us all," Zero said, "Lets go back to the base… Again." Zero lead the group back to the base again and gathered everyone in the waiting room.

"Nice place," Kino said.

"Why don't you stay here with Lilly and myself," Zero added.

"Thanks," Kino replied.

"Anyway where did you last see Omega?" Zero asked.

"I battled him on an island near by," Kino replied.

"How long ago?" Zero asked.

"About a day ago," Kino answered.

"We don't have much time until he gets here if he plans to attack us," Zero pondered.

"That's not good," Leon said.

"No, no it isn't," Kino added.

"Why don't you guys take Lilly and Kino and show them around town," Zero said.

"I'll stay here," Lilly smiled.

"Alright see you around Lilly," Kino waved.

"Hey Zero…" Lilly muttered.

"What?" Zero asked.

"Can you show me around?" Lilly asked.

"Uh… Sure why not," Zero smiled (two in one day! New record for him)

"Thanks," Lilly smiled as well. Zero took her first and introduced her to Ein and Ledah.

"Ein, Ledah, I want you to meet Lilly. She and her partner Kino are going to be helping us with our battle against evil," Zero explained.

"Nice to meet you," Ein smiled shaking Lilly's hand.

"Same here," Ledah commented not rising from his spot on the couch.

"Right, let's go," Zero continued guiding Lilly away from the two grim angels.

"He seems different some how…" Ledah wondered.

"I think he likes her," Ein commented.

"No! That's it you lost your talking privileges! Zero likes a girl… Bah!" Ledah scolded and laughed all at the same time.

"Hey Ein!" Fia smiled.

"You two going to make out again?" Ledah asked smiling.

"WHAT!?!" Both Ein and Fia shouted.

"Rose saw you two. I don't really care but I'd watch out for her," Ledah explained.

"But don't you love her?" Ein asked.

"Yea," Ledah blushed.

"Well then we have some ammo against her too," Fia smiled.

"Eh," Ledah sighed, "You want me to leave?"

"If you were going to…" Ein smiled.

"Sure," Ledah smiled exiting the residence.

"Wow. He's really changed," Ein muttered.

"He's not the only one," Fia smiled meeting lips with Ein. Outside…

"Hey Nardi, Max," Ledah nodded.

"What's up buddy?" Nardi asked.

"Not to much," Ledah sighed.

"Well can we go in?" Max asked, "I have something to tell Ein."

"I wouldn't if I were you," Ledah pointed though the window at Ein and Fia.

"Oh… Well can you tell him?" Max asked.

"Sure," Ledah nodded.

"Tell him that training will continue to be held in the Base," Max explained.

"I'll pass it along," Ledah sighed.

"Thanks," Max waved walking away.

"I guess I didn't realize that Ein and Fia were together," Nardi muttered.

"That's because you're never around," Ledah laughed.

"Yea we've been busy with the base recently that's why we haven't been around," Nardi sighed.

"That's why I haven't seen you guys so much," Ledah muttered.

"It was so fun too!" Nardi shouted almost angrily.

"I'm surprised you guys got it done so fast I mean there were only four of you at most," Ledah continued.

"We used magic to bend metal and stuff like that. And whenever Zero helped out he would change the ground into metal and fuse the pieces together into walls for us," Nardi explained.

"Yea… I'll see you," Ledah waved taking flight and gliding off. Continuing with Zero and Lilly. He took her to the now empty house that belongs to Serene, and then to the elders hut. He showed her the spring and then the mine and finally showed her the grove of response.

"We get attacked around here so we don't hang out here as much as we did," Zero explained.

"That's a shame it's so beautiful," Lilly added blushing.

"Yea I'll take you here at night and show you the stars," Zero explained.

"Thank you Zero," Lilly said grabbing his left hand making Zero blush (Snap Oh great now I've lost my mind).

"Lilly I hate to break this to you…" Zero said letting go of Lilly.

"I know, Leon told me that you aren't interested in romance," Lilly explained, "But I still hope I can change your mind."

"Lilly…" Zero said.

"How cute," An unknown voice called.

"See what I mean," Zero said drawing The Excalibur.

"Aw is your left leg aching with nostalgia," The figure emerged from the bushes

"No but its aching with a missile," Zero said pulling up his pant leg revealing an opening at the knee cap which shot a missile at the waiting Omega.

"Oh snap," Omega commented before being hit.

"Let's go!" Zero shouted.

"No stay!" Omega shouted summoning 4 soldiers of darkness.

"Damn," Zero Muttered. Zero charged the soldiers and sliced two in half and stabbed the remaining soldiers.

"Well looks like I got your girlfriend Zero," Omega announced Holding Lilly by the neck, "Now drop your weapons." Zero obeyed and dropped his sword he then dropped 2 concealed swords and 3 daggers, two sets of throwing stars, two sets of throwing knives, a gun, two sets of throwing needles, a great sword, and a set of hidden short swords.

"Wow," Omega stammered.

"Now let her go," Zero demanded.

"Sure," Omega said pushing Lilly to the side. She then delivered a powerful kick to the side of Omega's head. "OUCH! That Hurt you little Welch!" Omega shouted in fury. Zero charged picking up one of the many weapons he had dropped and slashed Omega across the chest.

"Thanks Lilly," Zero said slashing Omega again.

"I better go," Omega said disappearing.

"Are you alright Lilly?" Zero asked.

"Yes, thanks," Lilly said blushing. "Zero… I really like you…" Lilly said hugging Zero causing him to blush (Does he want me to go more insane).

"Lilly…" Zero said returning the embrace. Zero was feeling many things that he hadn't felt in a long time. Zero thought, Why am I feeling this, I've been so cold to everyone before her but what's different. I didn't even feel this way to Maria..., (… I blame Leon) "… Maybe…" Zero muttered.
"Huh?" Lilly asked.

"Maybe you are the one to warm my cold heart," Zero explained.

"Zero…" Lilly murmured, "Your heart isn't cold."
"Huh?" Zero stammered.

"You just don't think about it," Lilly explained

"Lilly…" Zero murmured, "Thank you."

"For what," Lilly said looking up at Zero.

"For showing me the truth," Zero replied.

"You knew all along you just didn't see" Lilly added.

"Let's go back to the base," Zero commented.

"Alright," Lilly said walking hand in hand with Zero. They arrived back at the base at just the time that Kino and the others did.

"What happened Zero you've got a slash…" Leon pointed out.

"Yea Omega attacked us," Zero replied.

"Oh badness," Kino commented.

"Exactly," Zero mumbled.

"Let's get you inside," Lilly pleaded.

"No I'm fine," Zero said chugging an elixir.

"Can't argue with that," Leon laughed.

"We should get inside," Zero commented opening the door to the base.

"Leon, Serene, Why don't you two go home," Kino said.

"Sure," Serene replied taking Leon with her.

"Kino your room is over here," Zero explained taking Kino and Lilly down a hall to the left showing Kino his room.

"Thanks Zero," Kino said entering his room.

"And Lilly your room is next to mine," Zero said taking Lilly up the stairs and to the right.

"Thanks again Zero," Lilly said giving him a peck on the cheek.

"You're welcome…" Zero murmured after Lilly had entered her room. Zero exited the base shortly after and went to the grove of response. "Come on, take the bait," Zero whispered to himself.

"Why hello Zero!" A deep and dark voice shouted greeting the grim angel

"No way! Why would you come here yourself? You usually send your goons!" Zero shouted.

"I know but I wanted to welcome my newest general," The man explained. His eyes were blood red with black hair and black armor that seemed to be growing from his skin. His fingers were sharp enough to claw threw steel.

"Origin…" Zero muttered, "What do you mean new general?"

"Precisely that! A new general is coming to my ranks tonight," the Origin of evil explained.

"Who!?!" Zero shouted.

"You. Well to be more accurate your darkness," The Origin explained.

"What?" Zero asked.

"I'm going to relieve your darkness of your light by separating your dark side and yourself!" The Origin shouted. He raised his hand and fired a black beam missing Zero. Zero stayed his distance sending shockwaves and throwing weapons at the origin, all of which did nothing.

"I won't let you! Senki Senbonzo!" Zero shouted creating a massive amount of light around him and his blade.

"Interesting, How about Darken Senbonzo!" The Origin shouted calling an equally massive amount of darkness around himself and his blade.

"All or nothing huh?" Zero asked.

"Correct," The Origin called. The two charged each other until they erupted in a colossal explosion of light and darkness colliding awakening anyone in a five mile radius with the shockwave. When the smoke cleared Zero was still standing but with a hole in his chest. The Origin emerged unscathed from the explosion.

"Better to be prepared, Curaja!" Zero shouted completely healing himself with green light.

"Heh but you've expended much of your energy which will make my job much easier," Origin shouted. The origin then disappeared from sight and then reappeared in an instant behind Zero blasting him with the black beam causing Zero to fall.

"What did… You do to me!" Zero shouted.

"Gave your darkness the power to defeat your light," The Origin explained. Zero started to emanate darkness as a white mask appeared over his face and latched on turning Zero's eyes yellow and black. The mask released a wave of darkness that changed Zero's body. Zero's armor was turned to a skull like chest plate. His arms were covered with dark gauntlets with claws like the Origin's. His legs turned to black boots with claws where the toes should be. Wings without membranes appeared on his back. "Awaken Dark one," Origin ordered.

"Call me Oblivion," The figure shouted.

"Have you completely eradicated what's left of Zero's soul?" Origin asked.

"Correct," Oblivion answered.

"Excellent!" The Origin shouted, "Now go! Destroy the others!"

"Yes Master!" Oblivion replied rushing off into the distance.

"One down Several to go!" The Origin shouted disappearing.

I... Never mind... I know totally out of character for Zero and now Oblivion and uh well uh just don't hurt me ok. I also wanted to get a girlfriend for Zero and then the ORIGIN HIMSELF showed up. Badness. Sorry. Thanks reviewers! Cliffhanger so I'll try to update really soon. Sooner than usual. I'm actually half way done with the next chapter. Oh and I will go somewhere with Kino... it'll be weird but fun

Next time: Chapter 7: Evil's new face

Oblivion attacks the base. This won't end well.