A/N: hey everybody, AeonLegacy here once again. Well, so far I don't think I have much to say in the authors note other than the obvious fact at how the typing format for the stories on these sites have changed. I'm really surprised by how different it looks compared to the few years I've had this account. Anyway, might as well jump into the story than ramble on, as always please enjoy this next chapter.
'I have a confession. I never taught anything to anyone, no matter what the problem was or what the question asked. I knew the answer but could never form the words to explain it, so I never dreamed of ever being a teacher. Honestly, what the hell was I thinking!? Out of impulse I sacrificed all reason and took on a role that I couldn't fulfill nor ever dreamed of teaching; to survive. In my world, my reality, I was always confined in a room or my home sick and feeble from such a premature birth. Always wired to a machine for years until my body was strong enough to support itself without mechanical support. Physically weak, socially awkward with little social skills, emotions running wild when I overreact, and basically an average loner if you would with a small but tight group of friends. I couldn't teach someone anything about survival in general, yet I gave myself that task only by what I read not what I learned from personal experience. I would have asked someone to slap me for my choice but now I can't back out from it, no matter how much I want to. No talent, no physical skill, just the heart to push through and never give up no matter how many times I fell I got right up, and I was recognized for that by a former wrestling state champion back home shocking everyone on the team who didn't believe in a first time wrestler such as myself or just me overall. Now in a world where I have to become stronger in every way possible took too much of a toll on my sanity and morals; I still hesitate, I can never fight alone, I'm still a coward trying their best to put up a strong front when it should be easy to see through but is always ignored. I must confess, I was never cut out for such a heavy task and now I'm struggling more so than I imagined. Serah, Noel, I'm sorry for lying. Maybe when I break free we could train together and I will no longer have to hold back anymore secrets from anyone, even from myself. If anyone is reading this, please. Do not think poorly of me, I have made many rash decisions and I have accepted the consequences that followed. This is merely my confession, and this is what makes me human, even if I am known to the real heroes as "The Interloper."
Omni POV:
The King Flan was a terrible opponent with force more overwhelming than the Seeress. With a shriek the ground below Serah and Noel shook, throwing them off balance and become dazed. A fling of its long and powerful moist and oozing arms would knock the humans right off their feet and sent flying across the land of Sunleth Waterscape. With every arrow shot, each slash of a blade delivered, every vain attempt to slow or harm the monster dashed the two comrades hopes of winning this fight.
Noel had been knocked by the Flan's slimy finger, jumping out of the way with lesser force applied to his body, but defended well to land back to the ground on his feet skidding backwards until coming to a halt, swords raised up above his torso protecting his upper body from major damage, to stop beside Serah. Sending wave after wave of second tier fire, water, thunder and aero spells, even debilitating spells such as slow, Deprotect, deshell, defaith, and so forth only to anger their enemy further. Deep cuts, dark bruises appeared on both of the warriors bodies and faces from the prolonged battle they fought in to no avail, no hope of winning. Feeling the pull of fatigue and energy being drained to the point where standing became almost very difficult and a challenge in itself.
"Serah, I thinks its best if we retreat, at least temporarily." Noel suggested as he spoke between unstable breathes. Serah had her hands supported against her knees to keep her breathing stabled, and to prevent herself from collapsing, shot Noel a horrified look and spoke just as unevenly as her comrade.
"If we retreat we will be leaving that thing alone with the greater chance of toppling the crystal pillar. With Fang and Vanille in it. We can't forsake them or the people who are trying to fight for their lives back in Cocoon, we can't Noel!" Noel knew it was a selfish act to save themselves but if they continued to fight on the verge of passing out the Flan would kill them in their weakened state and continue its work on the pillar.
"I know but what else can we do?" The Hunter asked hopelessly.
"Maybe you two could have waited for a Hero to help you out!" A voice cried from within the foliage. Serah, Noel and even the Flan looked around for the source of the speaker. Just as rustling became acknowledged by the three the Flan had been attacked from above by a powerful ice spell the creature was nearly enveloped in a tomb of solid water. The caster jumped from above and landed on their feet in a kneeling position. He stood to his full height of six feet ten, overshadowing the fatigued pair, and greeted them with a smile.
"Hey there, Serah. Sorry to have kept you waiting. But then again, the Hero always makes a later appearance." Snow said as his eyes rested on his fiancée, he noticed many changes but panicked as he saw how beaten she was. Serah moved in the attempt to hug Snow but her legs gave out and she fell, luckily Snow moved in time to catch her. The Pinknette looked up at the blond man and asked him weakly,
"Where have you been?"
Snow let out a sigh before he answered her question.
"I've been fulfilling my promise. Now, let's get you two patched up while we still have time." Snow held a hand over Serah's small frame and a bright sphere of energy glowed from his palm. The light entered the girls chest until it spread throughout her body, enveloped in a bright cocoon, re establishing her strength and repairing her injuries. Snow did the same for Noel and he, too, was healed. Energy coursed through their veins and found the strength to continue fighting. Standing Serah back up to her feet Snow knocked his two fists against each other a few times with a grin on his face before standing in a low and strong stance. The other two did the same and charged.
Battle Sequence Engaged:
The Great Flan broke free from its icy prison and bellowed. A swift snap of its arm the attack shot straight for the trio. Snow, Noel and Serah chose a balanced strategy and used the Paradigm shift of Matador. Snow kept the creatures attention on him with challenges and several blast grenades he used back in 'Hanging Edge', shooting a ridiculous amount of challenges, Steelguard and Vendettas to keep his teammates from harm. Serah took the role of Saboteur, casting deshell and Deprotect since it was suspect able to the damage and the effects. Her spells got, indeed, stronger as the Flan shot a glare at her and turned its eye away from the blond Sentinel. Serah had stronger spells, that didn't mean her physique was strong enough yet to handle the whiplashes of the enemies attack. Diving out of the way of a single snap and managing to roll backwards away from a second one the Flan swung and arm vertically towards the girl, allowing her to dive sideways into the attack of the Flan's second arm swipe. The attack became clean and connected, slime and a million needle pain erupts through her whole body and collides with the base of the trees near the edge of the platform.
"Serah!" Snow cried as he turned to the crash. He ran but the Flan grabbed him with both hands once he turned his back and pulled on him like a torture machine was designed to do and stretched him.
"Let him go damn it!" Noel cried from above and used Spark strike, digging the tips of both blades deep into the flans head. It was effective to let Snow free but not enough to harm the creature. Thrashing, writhing in defiance but Noel held onto dear life as he decided to let go of one of his blades hilt to reach into his pocket. With little to less support for himself as the Flan continued to try and throw him off, with success Noel lost his grip and footing he had been thrown off and fell midair, losing one sword and the object his reached for. Seeing the pest fell the flan took the advantage to slam its hand and Noel into the ground, shaking the battle field heavily upon impact. Snow recovered from the shock and charged shouting more challenges and as much debilitating spells and ice magic to harm the enemy.
Serah sat up in slow motion from the deep shock her body was inflicted with in between the broken base of the thin yet sturdy moss infested trees. She inspected her surroundings and saw her two companions were still fighting with everything they had, but even those with great ardor can fall victim to fatigue. Reaching for her weapon slowly, but steadily, standing Serah walked back onto the battleground. Taking a few steps the pinknette stops and looks down at her feet when she heard something like a glass shard under her foot crunched. Lifting her foot Serah saw a uniquely made bangle of emeralds and silver, beautifully crafted. She picked it up and examined it closely, mesmerized by its appearance, distracted away from the fight ahead of her.
"Is this one of the bracelets Vanille wore?" She said aloud to herself. Upon closer inspection she looked inside the rim and saw engravings within. Straining to read it Serah could make out the words.
Noel was struck and lying on his stomach breathing heavily. He was pointed to Serah and when he looked up he realized she had the item he needed to end this fight. Anxiety filled him as Noel cried out to the girl in vain as his words fell on deaf ears.
"Serah, don't read the inscriptions!" But even so, he was too late.
"Hic autem vir bellator est, ubi cor inest, in virtute infirmitas, et haud dubie vertunt in fortitudine. Invocam Deum Pulsian per appellationem bellum transitus pronuntio."
The bracelet wavered and opened, viciously clasping around Serah's wrist. A powerful source of violet white light encircled around the girl watching in awe and fear, unsure of this new energy. The fight halted as the two humans and Flan stopped and watched the light brighten around Serah. Noel, cursing inside his head, stood up and hurried over. Serah felt different in the light, she no longer felt afraid but secured, as the warmth from the glowing source enveloped her there was strength, courage and also a little source that blossomed within her chest. Something that was nearly extinguished in Yashas Massif;
It was her light, her remaining hope blooming with absolution.
The light around Serah faded and she was revealed to her party members and her enemy. She stood taller, casting an illusion of greater height than just five' five". She had a golden pauldron on her right shoulder with a similar design of the GC's ranks, her eyes had a different gleam in them they surprised both Snow and Noel when they saw the young girl. Serah held her weapon tight in its sword form with her dominant hand, and once her head was raised she looked like a total stranger. The Flan could sense this innocent girls intention on killing it the beast began to tremble, Serah took a step and the Flan slide more than thirty yards backwards. No emotion displaying on her face but eyes trained directly on the creature Serah moved her blade and got ready to attack.
Serah's POV:
I don't feel like myself anymore, once that bracelet attached itself to my wrist I feel totally unfamiliar with myself and my surroundings as I appeared to be in a world of white with only a plateau of spring flowers at my feet. The Flan before me is afraid, I can somehow feel its fear, while Snow and Noel are looking at me through their surprised and nearly beaten eyes as if Light were standing in my place. This feeling of moving my sword it seems as if I was born to fight, with the conviction of finding my sister and saving the world gave me this strength to press on. I found hope again.
"Serah." A distant voice spoke behind me, a whisper close to my ear, a familiar one aside from my sister's voice. Was I trapped in the Chaos as well, just hear that voice again? I couldn't be certain.
"Mel? Is that you?" I asked in that white world. I tried to turn my head to face that boy only to feel his hand placed lightly on my shoulder stopping me from looking.
"Don't look or this illusion will break." He spoke quietly, hinting in the tone of his voice that he felt sad.
"Illusion? This isn't real?" I asked, not quite sure what he meant. It was quiet for a bit but I waited patiently for him to continue. Soon the silence broke.
"The battle you entered is real but this world of pure white and spring is fake. This is your subconscious, the place only you can enter in order to heal. And I am here to help you."
"Why did the Chaos swallow you, Mel? If only I was stronger, if I wasn't so weak then you would be here with us, helping me and Noel save everyone from a horrible fate..." My chest felt tight and my heart was aching, my regret was there but my hope remained unwavering.
"I know, I am helping you. But this may be the last time we might meet. You see I came from a world far from your own yet close enough to be threatened by the chaos and all it ravages. I came here to you to tell you that I'm not as strong as I made myself seem, you have more strength than I could ever have, I'm just a coward. That I ask for forgiveness for everything and for what comes down the road. Even if I am afraid I am The Interloper; and I must fulfill my end of this prophecy."
Mel removed his hand from my shoulder and I could no longer feel that warmth. As I reached to stop him I felt metal graze my fingertips instead and saw a pauldron guarding my shoulder with armor down to my wrist protecting my arm where the bracelet was. However, his presence remained behind me.
"Before I leave there is a technique I want you to perfect as your own to help you in battle. Let me be the puppeteer and you be my marionette, in order to show you this move. But you must first give it a name."
Back to reality: Omni POV:
Serah moved her blade in a half circular motion down from in front of her to above her head. As her sword moved a light came from it casting an illusion that her blade was in several different places before stopping. The Flan was paralyzed with fear, the energy it was feeling was on a whole different plane than it was on, and made no move or sound. The world around Serah and the Flan became black and only the aura from the two gave them the source to see. With one hand the pinknette twirled her weapon around above her head and began to collect a certain iridescent glow, starting from a faint candle to a powerful glow. The energy was powerful the world these two were ignorant to was shaking even the crystal pillar groaned from the powers strain on the world. Feeling ready to unleash this clean energy Serah slammed her sword into the ground, upon impact a great narrow yet massive wave of energy appeared from her weapon and shot straight towards the Flan. The energy came in contact with the enemy quicker than its brain could registrar that the battle was over, it was beaten and cleaved strictly in half burning and turning partially into stone from the heat of the hit it took.
Placing her weapon back into its carrier Serah looked at the scene with a solemn expression and several words escaped her pink lips.
"Devotion. The drive that will lead us to success in saving this world and yours, Mel. That shall be the name of this technique you have given me." With that said Serah collapsed to the ground, fatigued from the fight and the energy she was granted sapped out of her. Noel and Snow ran up to her checking to see she was alright, Serah was just tired but at least she held a small bright smile on her face. Hopeful that this world and the many other worlds will be saved if they just try hard enough without losing their goals or letting anything get in their way.
Elsewhere:
Kid watched her counterpart nonchalantly as they appeared in the world 'Serendipity' at the same time. The lights of the casinos blinded Mel and the deafening sounds of victories and losses rung in her ears in a terribly loud unison not even the protection of covering her ears were any help. Kid wasn't fazed by the sounds or the blinding lights, she was accustomed to all that Mel was uncomfortable with. She grinned with her mirror images uneasy expression and sensed how uncomfortable she was when the pair were mistaken for a currently popular band members by over zealous fan girls, it was funny how this awkward and waste of potential became the Interloper instead of Kid. But that was something she couldn't change no matter how much stronger she was. It was destiny that chose, not her. Finally ditching the crowd Kid led Mel down to a secluded part of Serendipity, the guards and workers for Lady Luck were manipulated and would turn a blind eye by the Interlopers ability to control other beings wills. Once in the dim lighting of a nonexistent moon the two stood in the clearing far from the inhabitants with a third figure waiting. It was Lumina, smiling and sitting on what looked like a mausoleum and beaming as she saw the two approaching. She hoped off of her seat, ran up to Mel and nearly tackled her down to the ground.
"Finally! You finally came to your senses. Took you long enough to realize that your meddling with those two weren't helping anyone. Then again, the Chaos had you and I saved you!" Lumina let go and walked over to Kid their eyes trained on the Interloper intently waiting for her to speak up. Mel found it hard to find the words to say, taking a long time she finally found the strength to speak. Her voice hoarse and dry from disuse.
"I am grateful that you saved me but I came here seeking assistance. Only you and Kid have the power to help me, there are no other alternatives nor others with the similar abilities as myself or either of you." Lumina leaned forward, her elbows resting on her legs with her head cradled in between her palms smirking. Kid pulled her lips into a toothy grin, showing a few animalistic teeth in her smile, her eyes turned cat like with the color turning scarlet and asked with a sadistic gleam in her eyes, as if she already knows what is going to be asked of them.
"What is it that you are asking of us, Interloper? Are you willing to sacrifice something very precious to you in order to gain something?"
Taken aback by the question Mel almost fell back from the terrible energy Kid was emanating, this was barely a fraction of the power Kid held the world around them and the chaos also wavered and nearly dissipated and soon her mirror other trembled to the point of having a seizure and sweat spilled out in small rivers along side with a stream of tears. With all her might Mel stood up, using her buster blade as support and staring back into those crimson eyes the energy faded and Kid reverted back to 'normal' to hear the answer she was truly not expecting.
"Teach me the ways of the true Interloper. Teach me to fulfill my destiny with the power the prophecy foretold from the Oracle. I'll sacrifice my humanity if I must in exchange to finish my role."
A/N: hmm... Seems like things have taken a turn huh? What is Kid and Lumina going to say after the Interloper came to them asking for help? Anyways, like above I really don't have much to say aside from hoping everyone is doing well, hope the chapter was alright. Please leave a review, like, etc. the feedback really helps and I really appreciate the too. And see you all next time. Ciao!