Chapter 3: The Grove's Curse

Finally done with this one. It was out quicker than the last but still not as quick as I would have liked to publish it. I've had to do some serious editing after my last pile of trash called a chapter. In this one you'll see some more relationships and stuff. Nardi still remains single. Which considering his personality isn't really that shocking. Ein and Fia are still Ein and Fia so the wedding will probably be around chapter five seeing their overall shyness. Even if they are getting married. It's a shame Zero is going to miss this one. But you know being dead really cuts down on your social life. And yes, this time I really did kill him. You won't be seeing Zero again unless you reread the chapters of my old story. This is really a shame because he was so fun to write for. I guess I can have Ledah be the new serious cold warrior now. But having Zero give up his Main OC spot and giving it to Nardi does have some high points. Nardi is overall funnier than Zero. He creates many sticky situations for himself and comes up with crazy plans to get out of them, which continue to fail. His reactions with the characters seriousness is indeed a fun thing to write. The downside is that he and his character developments might cause me to up the rating for this story. He's just that kind of pervert. I'm going to see what I can get away with.

And the title of the chapter? You'll see. I'll address it at the end. I'm going to stop blathering and let you actually read the chapter now.

It has been two weeks since the messenger butterfly had given the unbelievable news. The group, including Jack, who had taken up permanent residence in Elendia, stumbled through these weeks, feeling the weight of Zero's death. Gin, having not met Zero, was attempting to comfort his new friends. In an effort to make her feel better, Gin was taking Lina to the Grove of Repose.

"Thanks for bringing me here Gin," Lina smiled, "I needed to get away from there…"

"It's no big deal Lina,"

"Oh! Hey look! An applecot! Waaay up there!" Lina pointed at the fruit dangling from one of the higher branches in the tree they were sitting under.

"Cut it down Ikazuchi," Gin drew his Diviner and extended it skillfully cutting the fruit down. Lina then ran under it and, despite being a huge klutz, managed to catch it in her hands.

"Thank you Gin, you're amazing,"

"That was a good catch," Gin smiled sheathing Ikazuchi.

"Thank you,"

That moment at Ein's house

"Hey Ein," Nardi yawned entering the living room where Ein was polishing the Einherjar.

"Hey Nardi, You feeling better?"

"As better as I can feel…" Nardi sighed, "So uh… When's this wedding gonna happen?"

"I don't know, Fia is scouting for a place as we speak,"

"Ah, so that's where she is,"

"Yea she, Serene, Ledah, and Jack went out together to look for a good place for it,"

"So have you told them what it is they are looking for?"

"… Uh," Ein murmured avoiding eye contact.

"Thought so," Nardi smirked, "It seems awful quiet… Where are Little L and Gin?"

"Gin said he was taking her to the Grove of Repose,"

"Oh ok… Wait what!?"

"What's wrong?" Ein looked at Nardi's surprised features.

"Well don't you remember how many times we've been attacked there before? Especially when a couple went to be alone?"

"Hmm…" Ein looked up seemingly in deep thought, "Oh dear…"

"We better get going… It's only a matter of time before they get attacked," Nardi sighed grabbing Benihime.

"Right, Let's go!" The pair of Angels ran out the door.

Grove of Repose again

"You're so funny Gin," Lina giggled. The two were now sitting under a large tree next to eachother.

"Thanks," Gin smiled, "We should come out here more often…"

"Well, well, well, It looks like you two are having fun," A voice called from the shadows.

"Wha-!"

"Don't you recognize me?" Sanzoku appeared from the shadows, his figure seeping from everywhere.

"I-Ikazuchi!"

"Tear him to shreds Zakione!" Sanzoku shouted, his arm quickly sprouted from his shoulders. This time a pair of daggers rested in his hands. Sanzoku moved in and quickly sliced Gin's left shoulder open pointing one of his daggers at the child angel and shouting, "Dangan!" Red energy started to gather around the blade and Sanzoku fired a large blast at Gin.

"NO!" Lina shouted.

"Scream Benihime!"

"Disaresta!" The two attacks combined and neutralized the Dangan.

"That's impossible! How did you know I was here?" Sanzoku shouted.

"Think of it as the Grove's curse," Ein smirked.

"Any time a couple goes to the Grove, there are attacked," Nardi explained, "So Gin, Lina, Don't come here without telling us ok,"

"Sorry,"

"Anyway Ledah and Jack are on the way so you might– " Nardi was unable to finish his thought due to Sanzoku's Dagger suddenly plunging into his stomach.

"So I might want to what? Run away?"

"B-Benihime!" Nardi coughed, slashing Sanzoku's head in half causing the fallen one to stumble back removing the dagger from Nardi..

"Do you just not learn?" He halves of Sanzoku's head laughed as they began to fuse back together, "Your blade can't injure me!"

"Shine Einherjar!" Ein fired a beam of light at Sanzoku.

"Che, Die angel!" Sanzoku retaliated flinging one of his daggers at Ein and striking his side.

"Scream! Benihime!" Nardi fired a blast of red energy at point blank range, destroying the Fallen One's left shoulder.

"Gah!" Sanzoku spat not immediately healing as he usually did.

"What the? Why isn't he healing?"

"Who cares, Let's just hit him again before he does heal!" Nardi shouted charging his crippled opponent.

"R-Right! Here we go Einherjar!"

"Oh you won't be goin' anywhere Angel," a shadowy figure charged the wingless angel.

"Who are you?" Ein stopped in his tracks turning to attack this new foe.

"Dangan" The gruff voiced man fired the same dark red energy that Sanzoku had fired at Gin before enveloping Ein.

"K-Kurohyou! What a pleasant surprise," Sanzoku stammered regenerating his left arm and flinging Nardi away from him.

"Sanzoku, we're headin' back to Areivir. This pray isn't challengin' enough for my tastes," Kurohyou spat at the fallen angels. The Fallen one wore an all white outfit. His coat was open and stopped right above his abs, showing the hole that went right through them. He had blue spiky hair and a mask that was black and featureless for the left half and white with red patterns on the right.

"K-Kurohyou!" Gin shouted.

"Yea, we came here to check out our opponents. But I must say. I'm not all that impressed," Sanzoku laughed.

"Let's go," Kurohyou held his right arm out opening portal of darkness in front of him and disappearing into it.

"You got off easy this time! But next time you won't be so lucky!" Sanzoku Cackled entering as well and closing the portal behind him.

"Ein!" Fia shouted appearing on the scene and running to his side.

"Fia?! Are you ok? What are you doing here?"

"Oh Ein! I'm fine" Fia smiled tears forming in her eyes, "but Jack and Serene are hurt. We were out looking for places for the wedding and this man dressed in all white attacked us…"

"Did he tell you his name?" Nardi asked propping himself up and resting on the tree behind him.

"He said it was Kurohyou…"

"Well he's the guy we just ran into," Ein muttered, "He and Sanzoku left together… Anyway you should heal Nardi and Gin, they took a few bad hits,"

"I'm fine, heal Nardi first," Gin grimaced gripping his shoulder, "His injuries are more severe than mine."

"Right," Fia turned to Nardi, Pulling out one of Cierra's rods and starting the healing process.

"I got him… I hit Sanzoku with all I had and it barely did anything," Nardi muttered.

"We couldn't touch Kurohyou… He just overwhelmed us… His power was like nothing I've ever seen before…"

"…"

Fia turned and glanced in Ein's general direction, seeing that he had leaned up against the tree next to him to prevent him from falling over, "Are you sure you're ok Ein?"

"Yea," Ein muttered looking at Fia, "Did you guys figure out the extent of his powers. Any abilities he has?"

"He a few different moves. One of them was Dangan and I think he called the other one Tama,"

"I know what Dangan does from firsthand experience. But what about Tama?"

"It was like a small little red blast like a fire ball. He said something about it being weaker than a Dangan blast but faster to use and easier to fire in rapid succession,"

"I see…"

"There you should be fine Nardi,"

"Thanks Fia,"

"Heal Gin next please Fia!" Lina pleaded while supporting his weight, "He's bleeding too much,"

"No… Really… Ein got hit by a Dangan…" A visibly paler Gin muttered.

"You look like a ghost…" Fia walked over to the child angel beginning to heal him

"Th-Thank you…" Gin held very still while Fia healed his wounded shoulder.

"There, Ein your next," Fia walked over to Ein while Gin stretched the muscles in his shoulder to test out the newly connected tissue. Fia helped Ein to the ground and began to heal him.

"Thanks Fia," Ein whispered

"I love you Ein. There's no need to keep thanking me each time I heal you," Fia smiled kissing his forehead.

"Thank you,"

"Ready? A one, a two, a three," Nardi began, acting like a maestro leading an entire chorus in song.

"Ein and Fia sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Nardi and Lina burst into song.

"Will you shut up about that already? We all know!" Ledah shouted kicking Nardi in the head and sending the new angel tumbling forward into a nearby rock.

"Ow!" Nardi shouted standing but immediately falling down, "My head is bleeding! I think you cracked my skull! Oh God it hurts! Someone heal me please!"

"Stop Overreacting Nardi…" Ein sighed.

"Gods please! I really need help!"

"You look fine to me," Ledah glared at the angel.

"Jackass," Nardi muttered not so quietly.

"Excuse me! Pot calling the kettle black much…"

"If I wasn't this injured I'd butcher you!" Nardi finally managed to prop himself up on the rock behind him seeing that Ledah had come to the Grove with Cierra and Rose seeing that they were mostly unharmed, "Where are Serene and Jack?"

"Resting at the house. They both got hit really hard," Cierra explained.

"Oh..." Nardi muttered, "That sucks."

"Didn't I already tell you this?" Fia gave Nardi a sideways glance.

"I must have brain damage. You gotta heal me!"

"Alright! Alright!" Fia sighed again moving away from the fully healed Ein to heal Nardi once again.

"Don't, he doesn't need it," Ein announced grabbing Fia's shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll make it to where you won't have to waste any effort for such a small injury," Ledah popped his knuckles.

"OOooo Nardi you are screwed," Rose giggled.

"Mind if I assist you Ledah?" Ein smirked approaching Nardi as well.

"Uh… heh… Well what do you know the pain has suddenly faded away! No need to heal or harm me," Nardi stood up attempting to flee but knocking Lina down in the process, "Oh sorry Litt-"

"Lina are you ok?" Gin asked giving Nardi a brief Death glare.

"Yea… Lina's ok," Lina rubbed her elbow.

"Heh sorry about that I'll just be going now," Nardi muttered backing into Ledah, "Aw Shi-,"

-POW- -PUNCH- -CRACK- -TWACK- -FWOOM- -BAMF- -THUD-

"Ow" Nardi mumbled hitting the ground, his right eye blackened and his left cheek swollen.

"That was much more satisfying than I thought it would be," Ledah smirked.

"Here Nardi," Fia healed his now real wounds.

"Shorry," Nardi muttered his swollen cheek affecting his speech.

"It's ok," Fia smiled. She stood after patching his teeth back together, "Well we should probably head back home,"

"Right," Ein took Fia's left hand in his right. The eight of them took to the road to Fia and Lina's residence. As they passed Choppie's house they saw something they were all dreading, a man, similarly dressed to Kurohyou, with a complete white helmet like mask with two small horns jutting back from the upper part of the mask that was holding a bleeding Sprite two feet from the ground by the collar.

"Oh no," Fia and Cierra simultaneously gasped.

"Put him down!" Ein shouted. The attacker glanced in the direction of the group dropping the sprite who immediately dashed from the scene.

"Another mask…" Ledah muttered tightening his grip on his diviner.

"I don't recognize this one, he wasn't with the group that captured me…" Gin muttered standing in front of Lina.

"I am the third commander, Zadine," The Fallen one answered their questions in a deep voice.

"I can't fight another battle… If he really is a commander he must be as strong as Kurohyou or Sanzoku,"

"Those two fools?" Zadine rolled his red eyes, "I am far stronger than Kurohyou, much less Sanzoku."

"No way!" Nardi shouted.

"Get out of my sight," Zadine's hand rose already enveloped in red energy. Rearing back the Fallen One Commander fired a small read fireball shaped blast Cierra. Moments before impact Nardi managed to get in front of the Scarlet witch holding Benihime in a defensive position. The blast struck The Angel exploding on contact and enveloping the group in smoke. As the haze cleared they noticed that Zadine was no longer anywhere near them.

"I… Might not have needed healing… Last time… But…" Nardi coughed up blood, falling to the hard dirt road as Fia ran to him, immediately beginning to heal his wounds.

"He might be an idiot half the time…" Ledah started

"Might?" Ein muttered.

"Half the time?" Rose asked.

"But! I'm glad he's here… If he hadn't reacted in time Ceirra would have been in big trouble…,"

"That means you owe me," Nardi coughed startling everyone.

"Just get healed already," Ledah muttered angrily.

"Will do partner,"

"Let's go, Lina's worried about Serene,"

"We have to be patient healing takes-" Ein started

"Done,"

"Time…"

"Can we go now?" Lina asked.

"Yea…" The group agreed and after Nardi had gotten up, the friends finally finished the walk to Ein's house. When the door squeaked open they saw an unconscious Serene lying on the couch with a blanket draped over her form next to Jack, who was sitting on the coffee table watching her intently.

"Is she ok?" Fia asked.

"Yea,"

"What about you?"

"For almost getting cut in half I'm surprisingly better," Jack placed his left hand over his bandaged torso.

"That's good to hear,"

"So what happened after I went unconscious?" Jack turned his attention to the group that had taken seats around him.

"Well we now know all three of the Fallen one commanders. All three of them showed up and attacked different areas. I got the feeling that they were just testing the water. Sizing us up or something." Ein explained

"How did the fights go?"

"Well Sanzoku was injured, you saw Kurohyou, and Zadine wiped the floor with Nardi,"

"Zadine?"

"Apparently he's the third and maybe strongest commander… Maybe..."

"He's the one that killed Zero…" Nardi finally spoke.

"Nardi…" The girls muttered as he tensed up.

"Do you need anything Jack?" Lina asked.

"No, I'm fine thanks,"

"Ok," Lina smiled.

"Fia?" Ein muttered looking at the green headed sprite with concern, "Are you ok?"

"Yea," Fia yawned, "Just… A little tired."

"If I had to do all that healing I would be exhausted too..." Cierra sighed.

"Let's get you to bed," Ein stood, pulling Fia up with him, "Good night everyone,"

"Night," The Grim angel and sprite pair took to the stairs, shutting the door behind them as they entered Fia's room.

"Lina's going to get something to eat!"

"I'll go too, I'm pretty hungry myself," Gin and Lina entered the kitchen leaving the door cracked

"I hope she wakes up soon," Jack mumbled after about a minute of silence.

"Feeling a little nostalgia?" Nardi asked in a surprisingly serious tone.

"Yea… I… I don't think I ever stopped loving her,"
"She didn't either."

"She never really loved me, She never stopped loving Leon,"

"Do you know how bad she felt about that whole thing after you left?"

"Huh?"

"She would cry herself to sleep because she messed up her chance with you and destroyed your relationship,"

"Really…?"

"Yes really," Nardi smiled, "Did you know that she still says your name in her sleep."

"My name… … …" Jack nearly whispered on the verge of a breakdown.

"Yeah, she's no fool, she knows Leon's gone and she's moved on,"

"You have no idea how much I want to hear that,"

"Jack…" Serene mumbled stirring and opening her eyes slightly.

"Thanks the Gods," Jack smiled regaining his composure slightly, "I was so worried."

"I was worried that you… That you were…" Serene started crying latching onto Jack. Nardi stood up, fearing his natural "Be a jerk" instincts would ruin the moment for the two, and Exited the room silently.

"I'm ok,"

"But you jumped in the way!" Serene gestured towards his bandaged torso, "And Kurohyou…"

"Fia was right there,"

"But he went right through you,"

"Which is why I was worried about you," Jack smiled, "I fought the Origin with Zero, it will take a little more than being cut in half to kill me,"

"Jack…" Serene muttered stunned. She quickly got over it, smiling and wrapping her arms around him again. Their lips met and they sat together for a few moments before a crash resonating from the kitchen jarred them apart.

"Good catch Gin!" Lina shouted smiling. When Jack and Serene entered the room they saw that Gin was on his stomach having just barley caught the falling plate. In order to do so he had dropped his handful of silverware, which was now scattered around him.

"Close call…" Gin sighted placing the plate on the counter and gathering the dropped kitchenware, "Lina please don't do that again."

"Sorry Gin, Lina's always been a butterfingers," Lina grinned at him.

"What happened in here?" Serene finally spoke.

"Lina dropped a plate and Gin caught it! It was amazing!"

"Uh… Yeah…" Gin blushed.

"Lina you need to be more careful,"

"Are you ok Serene?"

"Yes, I'm fine, Jack took most of the blow," Serene blushed.

"Lina was worried when Fia told me,"

"Thanks Lina but I've been told I'm stronger than I look," Jack scratched his head.

"Anyway… Do you need help cleaning up?" Serene asked.

"I've got it," Gin sighed.

"oh ok… Well I'll head on back to my place, you coming Jack?"

"Sure," The two walked from the kitchen, the sound of the door closing behind them was heard by the young ones.

"Serene knows Jack well because they were in love," Lina laughed.

"I guess I always thought that you just liked each other but…"

"Serene's so silly sometimes,"

"Compared to whom?" Gin whispered under his breath.

"You say something," Lina asked smiling.

"Nope,"

"Ok Lina thought she heard something,"

"Alright well I'm going to go to sleep, please don't drop anything else," Gin stretched his arms, "I wonder if the couch is ok…" Gin left the kitchen finding that the couch was indeed darker but it was nothing another blanket draped over it couldn't fix. Lina soon exited the kitchen with a bowl of fruit and went up to her own room,

"Good night Gin,"

"Night Lina," Gin finally plopped down on his bed his exhaustion quickly overtaking him.

Man, this is over all one of the longest chapters I've written. Anyway it was mentioned to me that every time someone went to the Grove they get attacked and it was fairly predictable. Initially I thought 'this is bad I should shake it up a little' But when I was trying to shake it up it dawned on me that since they get attacked SO MUCH in the Grove, maybe the characters have noticed and figured out that they shouldn't go there anymore because of its overall 100 chance of being attacked there. Thus the Grove's curse is born.

Kurohyou is my new favorite villain. If you want to go by the characters of my old work, he is my new Scath. He is probably going to be Nardi's rival over the course of the story, the same way Scath and Oblivion were to Leon/Jack and Zero. Anyway he's a blast to write. You'll see why I think so later on. Zadine is the new Seraph, only with some major personality changes, for one he appears much earlier, two he has less of a pretty boy mindset than Seraph did. But he still calls people trash like Seraph and is still the strongest commander like Seraph.

When writing the Fallen ones over the course of the story I had to come up with a ranking system for numerous Fallen One characters. Here's how that goes: General is at the top, otherwise known as the Great One. Then the Commanders, the three strongest Fallen ones under the Great One. Then there's Captain, Assistant captain, Sergeant, and finally pawns/foot soldiers.

Seeing as the Great one is behind all of this its safe to assume that he actually won't come out and stand in the sunlight until much later in the story.

Anyway remember how I said I had nearly finished the story in a handwritten form. Well right now I'm on Chapter 20. I've already planned it all out and plan on having 22 chapters plus epilogue and interviews again. Yea I'm doing the interviews again, We have some new characters that are going to be fun to play with.

Sorry for running on and on and on. Here's the preview.

Chapter 4 Another break

Oh lord, we all know how well breaks work out in the end. Well maybe this one won't end that badly