Disclaimer: I do not own this, sad as the fact may be for me. If I did I'd be rich, not wondering when I'll get my next allowance.
Review Response:
The Zelda Master – Yay, I'm glad you like Lethian. He also likes to play Pac-Man and Pinball. In fact, he's rather obsessed with pinball… I'm also thinking that it'll be 4 or 5 chapters till the El Pollo story. It'll be told as a flashback, so it should be funnier than them simply telling what happened. Then, there is the pictorial evidence… (Cackles evilly and starts coughing.)
Origins89 – Lethian will be elaborated on, don't worry. In the next chapter Zelos will find out what his school buddy's gotten himself into and is going to be… well, I shouldn't give that away.
Blade liger knight – Hmm… perhaps I should have a flashback somewhere in the story that would show Kratos and Yuan when they were teens in Palmacosta. (Grins) Then again, as this story will slowly show, the Pranksters of Palmacosta have definitely not lost their ability to perform brilliant jokes: especially Kratos, who refers to it as a knack for pure evil.
Chapter 8"Presea?" Genis sat down in front of the fire and the pink-haired girl followed suit.
"Yes, Genis?"
"Uh… d-did you receive m-my letter?" he stammered out.
"You sent me a letter?" Presea smiled shyly. "No, I haven't received it yet, but I'll read it when I get back to Altamira."
"But I'll have probably told you everything I wrote in the letter by then," Genis protested. "Why would you want to read it?"
"Because you sent it to me," she replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You sent me that letter, which makes it special to me."
"R-really?"
"Really…" Presea paused for a moment and then shyly scooted over and rested her head on the boy's shoulder. Tentatively, Genis put an arm around Presea's shoulders.
On the other side of the fire, Sheena, Seles, and Zelos watched the young couple.
"They're cute together," Seles declared.
"Yeah, they are," Sheena agreed. "It's about time those two started to get together."
"Yeah, yeah," Zelos muttered. He looked over at the two surprised faces. "Oh, sure, I'm happy for them and all, but Presea's sort of like a second little sister to me. I'm going to have to explain to Genis the pain he'll suffer should he break her heart."
"I don't think he'll break her heart, Zelos…" Seles began.
"You realize I'm going to be worse for you, right sis?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I don't want any of your potential boyfriends to even remotely remind myself of myself." Zelos looked over at the giggling ninja. "Sheena, what on earth are you finding so funny?"
"You. Well… you and the look of pure outrage on Seles' face." Sheena grew silent and looked from the face of the elder sibling to the younger and back again. Then she burst out laughing again.
"I think we should gain revenge for her mockery of us," Seles informed Zelos.
"Yes, oh sister mine, but revenge is best served cold. Do you know any ice spells that would be appropriate for this occasion?"
"Zelos!" Sheena pulled away and fell off her perch on the ex-wall that served as the trio's bench. "Owwwww…"
This time it was the redheads who were laughing.
/o/
Kratos started pensively towards the sky. The fire was burning down and most everyone was asleep. Even Yuan appeared to be sleeping; though whether or not he really was could be debated.
A hand touch Kratos shoulder and, startled, he jumped. He turned and found himself facing Raine.
"Aren't you tired? It's late."
"I don't have to sleep, Raine," Kratos answered, but allowed her to lead him back towards the fire.
"So why do you?"
"What?"
"Why do you sleep? When we were on the Journey of Regeneration, you would sleep."
"To sleep is to dream, and that is really what people require," Kratos answered, elaborating when Raine fixed him with an inquisitive look. "Dreams are what happens when a person's subconscious takes over and expresses itself. If a person doesn't dream, they'll eventually go insane because the subconscious will try to express itself while that person is awake."
"Is there a book on that? I don't think I've read about it before…"
"Yggdrasill had them destroyed." Kratos paused and then added, "he believed sleeping and dreaming was a weakness for the inferior and not something angels should lower themselves to do."
"Oh…"
"I'm sorry you're having your anti-prejudice quest interrupted… I know how important that goal is to you."
"It is important to me, but so is helping friends, such as you, keep this new world safe. Now, on a lighter note, why do you think Sheena and Seles are keeping their sewing project a secret from Zelos?"
"I don't know; a surprise of some sort?"
"I guess we'll find out soon."
/o/
"So, Kratos," Yuan asked as everyone began to wake up and stretch out the kinks that worked into people who slept on the ground, "where's Isis sequestered herself this time?"
"She's in Altamira," Kratos replied, siting Indian-style before the remains of the fire.
"Figures," Yuan grumbled. "What's her excuse this time?"
"Near-death experience is what she called it."
"What!"
"She was almost killed by one of the Anubian Warrior's assassin's. She's fine, so you don't need to worry about her."
"I wasn't worried."
"Sure you weren't."
"Uh, guys… Seraphim… whatever," Zelos pulled into a crouch and then stood languidly. "Shut-up. It's too early for anyone to be that loud."
"Big brother isn't a morning person," Seles teased, perking up as she stood.
"Morning people are evil."
"I'm a morning person," Seles protested.
"My point exactly, sis."
"Hey!" Seles leapt towards Zelos, but he was more awake than he let on and easily evaded her grasp.
Yawning, Presea watched the two Wilders in amusement. "They remind me of you and your sister, Genis."
"Raine and I never act like that…"
"You insult her cooking and she attacks you. It is just like Zelos and Seles," Lloyd said, agreeing with Presea.
"It's true," Colette added. "I'm jealous… I wish I had a sibling to play around with."
"I always used to wish I had an older brother," Lloyd added. "When we first met Kratos, that's what I thought of him as… but I think I'm starting to like him better as a dad."
Colette grinned and kissed Lloyd on the cheek impulsively. Then, giggling, she stood up and yanked Lloyd to his feet as well. "Come on. It's time to get up, everyone. Raine!" she turned to the Professor who was curled up not far away, "Professor, get up!"
"Don't wanna wake up… ten more minutes…"
"Oh yeah…" Zelos mused. "I forgot Colette was a morning person. I guess that destroys my morning people are evil theory." Seles hit the ex-Chosen, smirking in triumph.
"I'm not evil!" she exclaimed.
"Of course you aren't," Yuan agreed, deciding he liked the fiery girl. "Zelos is simply a twit anddoesn't know any better."
"Hey!" Zelos yelped as Seles said the word "true."
Raine, sitting up and looking at her companions through bleary eyes, mumbled something around the lines of how she didn't help save the world in order to wake up before noon on a weekend.
/o/
A few hours later, the group (with Lloyd navigating) made their way into the city of Altamira. They avoided the hotel area (at Sheena's insistence and Zelos' surprising agreement) and followed Kratos to the residential part of the city.
Yuan identified the Horus Guard's safe house first. It was a lovely two-story house with white walls and blue shutters, a garden full of brilliantly colored flowers making the scene rather picturesque.
Seles sneezed... repeatedly... and then made the sign to ward off evil towards the nearest flowers.
"Cute," Zelos decided. "They must love gardening."
"Isis is obsessed with gardens. She says that they make people happy," Yuan muttered in response.
The door to the house opened and a short woman with raven colored hair launched herself into the outdoors. She was wearing a navy tank top, black pants, and no shoes. Her long hair was secured in a ponytail by a single navy rubberband.
"Kratos!" she yelled, giving the Seraphim a brief hug before turning towards the other angel. "Yuan!" This time she tackled her victim, completely knocking Yuan to the ground before rolling away from him and leaping to her feet.
Zelos' poorly smothered laughter was the only noise that filled air.
Yuan lay there, stunned, for several moments. He stood slowly and pursed his lips, shaking his head. "You never change, do you Isis?"
"My goddess… Kratos has brainwashed you into being serious, hasn't he?"
This time it was Lloyd who couldn't contain his laughter.
"All right," Isis turned to the gang. "I am Isis and you guys should come on inside before you introduce yourselves."
Zelos followed the group inside, staying well behind the others. Therefore, when he heard the soft voice in his mind, he wasn't certain if someone was whispering to him from somewhere.
Trust Isis, but only to a point… Do not let Ma'at keep her powers…He looked around for the source of the familiar voice, but when he couldn't pinpoint it, he continued into the house.
/o/
Ma'at twisted against her restraints, both physical and mental, but couldn't seem to break Isis' mind block. That was when she sensed him.
So much like Morphia in mind and appearance that the only major differences between the two was their gender. It figured, after all, Zelos Wilder was Morphia Wilerain's descendant.
But now he was walking into the house of the Horus Guards of his own free will. Ma'at struggled against the mind block, shrieking her pleasure to the silent room when it snapped before her renewed will power. She had to get to the ex-Chosen of Mana. She had to turn him to the Anubian Warrior's cause.
The complete control of the world was at stake.
Once free of the mental cage, it was easy for Ma'at to remove herself from the chair she'd been tied to. She left the room, touching the minds of those who got in her way and leaving them writhing in silent pain. She reached the stairs and began to walk up them, her head held high.
Not even Isis and Ra together held the power to stop her now. Not even Morphia had held that much power, though she'd been the only one fully capable of subduing the angry soul.
The door swung open and Ma'at began to wreak her own brand of justice, unleashing her vengeance upon the home of her enemies.
/o/
Ra was staring at the door to the basement, trying to figure out what it was he was sensing when the door shot open and he was flung into the corner of counter and lost consciousness.
Isis, who was leading the guests to the kitchen where Ra was, immediately sensed the shock of her brother being hurt. "Oh shoot… Ma'at's awake…"
"Ma'at's here!" Yuan demanded angrily.
"We caught her last night, we thought we'd keep her prisoner," Isis shrugged. "It was an idea."
"It was a bad one," Kratos muttered, starting to draw his sword on to be knocked aside by a telekinetic attack.
"Hello ducks," Ma'at walked into the room, a smirk firmly placed on her face. "I'll be taking the telepathic one, if you don't mind."
"Telepathic?" Lloyd repeated, trying to figure out what the unfamiliar word meant.
"Shut up, idiot child…" Ma'at moved her hands nonchalantly, as if parting something, and everyone in front of Zelos was knocked aside. "Hello, fire-child. Did you have fun breaking the toy ninja Set sent after you?"
Zelos reflexively stepped back. "You mean Kuchinawa was working for the Anubian Warriors?"
"Of course," Ma'at purred, clamping down on the others in the room, psychically stunning Isis in order to mute her abilities. "Now, if you want to ensure that I don't kill those you care about, you'll come with me."
"I don't think so!" The words, vocal and thought, sent Ma'at stumbling back, unprepared for the strength of the young man she stood before. "I don't know why you're after me, but if you threaten my sister and friends, you'll have another thing coming to you."
"Oh really? You don't think you're a forceful empath, and you might not be. You are a telepath, whether you realize it or not, and you will find the Firelight mirror for the Warriors. One way or another, I guarantee it!"
Ma'at sent a powerful blast towards Zelos, but he ducked and reached out with his mind, mimicking some of what he sensed Ma'at doing. He clamped down on the woman's mind and, remembering what she'd called him, Zelos lived up to his new nickname. The fire-child easily burned away the might of her mind, leaving her as defenseless as those born without empathy.
Drained, Zelos dropped, unconscious, to the floor.
/o/
"What is a telepath?" Lloyd and Colette's simultaneous question broke the tension of the room.
Isis, who was standing over Ma'at (who was suddenly oblivious to those around her), answered the question. "A Telepath is someone who can hear thoughts of another person and communicate to others using only that ability if need be."
"Is Zelos a telepath?" Seles demanded.
Ra walked into the room at that moment, a bandage pressed against his forehead. "Before you ask, Isis, no I don't have a concussion. There is no reason to worry." Ra turned his attention to the strawberry haired girl. "There is a good chance that you're brother is a telepath. Empaths are a dime a dozen. Telepaths are much rarer and far stronger. Most people have the latent talent for empathy. You do and so does several others of this group. Miss Fujibayashi, Mr. Irving, and Miss Brunel for examples."
"That talent is only a latent ability, however. It isn't active and anything that you four gain from it is purely instinctive. Some people have naturally active talents and others require some form of catalyst," Ra shrugged and sat in a chair. "I don't know which Zelos is, he probably doesn't know either."
A smirk lit up the blonde's face as he turned to Yuan. "Something you've forgotten to mention to the brat-child, eh blue-one?"
"I forget nothing."
"Oh, that's right. You're the one who's related to elephants." Ra snickered as the blue-haired seraphim snarled something incredibly impolite in the angel-language.
"Gentlemen," Isis, gestured to Zelos, who was levitated onto the couch. "Now is not the time to bicker like two-year-olds. For people our age, you have to be drunk to earn that time. The last time that happened, someone ended up in an incredibly embarrassing scene," Yuan's face turned bright red and he averted his gaze so that no one could look him in the eye, "so let's try to be somewhat adult."
"Says the one who tackles people at random," Kratos retorted.
"So? That isn't two-year-old stuff. That's my clinical insanity taking over." Isis pouted slightly and added, "there is a difference, after all."
"Sure there is," Kratos' tone was sarcastic, but he interrupted anything anyone else might have said. "If Wilder really is the telepath you've been looking for, then it would do him good to let him rest in peace. Sheena, why don't you watch over Zelos while the rest of us converse in the kitchen. You can be filled in later, of course, and Seles… you'll be able to ask the questions you feel are necessary for you and your brother."
"Thanks…" Seles stood and went to stand by Isis, who was still towering over Ma'at. "What's to be done with her?"
"I don't know." Isis hauled Ma'at to her feet. "I think Zelos muted her empathic and telekinetic power, but…"
"Telekinetic?" Lloyd echoed.
"I'll explain that term in the other room."
"Oh, okay."
Ma'at gazed upon the others, a glazed look in her eyes. "He destroyed my power. Its gone… all gone… the fire-child burned it away…"
"If he burned away anything, it was the last of her sanity," Ra observed and then stood, tapping Seles on the shoulder. "My name is Ra, by the way."
"Seles," she replied and then shook his hand.
/o/
When Zelos woke up, he was aware a three things. His head hurt, his eyes were closed, and hushed voices were coming from a nearby room. That was when he realized that someone was running their fingers through his hair.
He lay like that, not wanting to open his eyes or reach out to see whom it was. He just wanted to lay there and let the mysterious person continue.
Slowly, he started to remember what had happened. Ma'at's sudden attack; he'd learned her name from the moments he'd touched her mind. She'd thrown up a flurry of memories to block him, but only one thing stuck out from the myriad of images. He'd seen someone in her past, someone he knew now.
Zelos reached up and caught the hand that was petting his hair and opened his eyes. "Hi, Sheena."
"Are you okay?" she asked, not even noticing that he was holding her hand as he sat up.
"I've got a migraine headache, but other than that I'm fine… I think…" Zelos stood up slowly.
"Zelos, sit down. Talk to me… tell me why you never mentioned being an empath."
"It wasn't important to me. Yes, I have that empathic talent, but that isn't what makes me who I am. I can't sit down, Sheena. I have to go."
"What!"
Zelos dropped her hand and walked to the door. "I saw something that I have to double check, okay?"
"No, it's not okay. You burned out Ma'at's power. She's psychically dead. I… don't want that to happen to you, too."
"It won't. I have to do this, Sheena. There's someone I have to talk to."
"Then I'm going with you."
Zelos reached for the door handle and then dropped his arm to his side. He turned to face Sheena, leaning towards her slightly. "I'm not going anywhere dangerous, you know."
"I don't care. I'm going with you to make certain you don't do anything stupid."
"Sheena…" Zelos sighed and then leaned over, kissing the ninja lightly on the mouth. "I have to do this alone. I promise I'll come back to you." He opened the door and walked out before Sheena could recover from her sudden daze.
"Idiot Chosen," she muttered, racing out into the street, but the redhead was nowhere to be seen.
/o/
Lethian walked into Sybak and checked into the Inn. When he finally reached his bed, it was mid-day and he'd been up for over 36 hours. He was tired and cranky and couldn't seem to sleep.
An hour later, feeling somewhat refreshed from simply lying there, Lethian owed to start his search in the evening when the summer heat wasn't so bad. In the meantime he had something far more interesting than searching for nameless psionic talents.
Activating his computer uplink, Lethian accessed the Pac-Man game and began to navigate the mazes, his little yellow avatar eating everything in it's path. Unfortunately, he wasn't very good at that particular game and, after hearing the annoying sound the hungry circle made when it died over and over again, he quit. He pulled up Hover instead.
A/N Hover is this game I used to be addicted to, but can no longer find. In the game you had this little hover car and you'd use it to navigate these giant mazes in order to capture all of the blue flags before the enemy blue cars found all of the red flags. It was one against two or three, but the red flags were slightly better hidden then the blue flags… that and the little red car had a radar device that I don't think the blue cars used.
Well, this was shorter than I expected, and though everything happened according to my plot, I'm not entirely happy with it. It isn't my best writing in it, though I did get in that Sheelos kiss. Can you imagine it, though? Sheena never expected him to do that and kind of blanked out for a moment. She's definitely going to hit the poor guy the next time she sees him… unless I toy with the plot a little, which will probably happen.