I really enjoyed typing up this chapter. So, you've been reading my stories from the start...we've gotten this far...THANK YOU SO MUCH! *sobs* Anyway, on to the story!

Disclaimer: Chrono Crusade and all its characters rightfully belong to Daisuke Moriyama-sama. x3

From Guardian, to Avenger (part 17)

I was sitting in my room AGAIN the next day doing a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle. When I had finally placed the last piece onto the puzzle I gazed at the completion, then groaned as I leaned forward and hit my forehead on the puzzle making its pieces shift a little.

"Looks like they're gonna keep me here until the time comes..." I sat up again and looked at the door, remembering how Jenai had stopped by to keep me grounded. I walked up to it and stood there remembering my last attempt to break into the building.

I sighed, "It's worth another try. Not like I have any other problems to solve."

I turned the door knob and walked outside into the roaring wind that whipped at my hair and face, and also my white sundress.

"(What does Aion have planned? What did he mean by me witnessing the suffering of those who I should've protected?)" I was standing infront of the big door entrance now, "(Protected..me..the Apostles…)" I gasped, "(Is he going to torture them in some way?)" I carefully pushed the door open inwards trying not to panic at the sound of the low creaking noise it made. I stepped in and shut it behind me.

I let out a breath of air to relieve myself, "…Alright."

I walked along the familiar HUGE corridor lined with walls and columns that touched the high ceiling. I continued to walk until I passed a round room lined with windows instead of walls. The room had a big hole in the middle, and sitting over the hole...was Jenai.

"YOU!" I stomped forward with clenched fists.

"Who let you out of the room?" he asked upon seeing me.

"I did! YOU took everything!"

"I took what?"

"EVERYTHING!" I cried, "My friends, my entire village!"

"I was just following orders, and besides, it's not me you should be angry with."

"Who then?"

"You know...Aion."

"AH! What does he have planned?"

"I told you yesterday, destruction."

"What does he want with the apostles?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

This guy was getting on my last nerve, "I don't want to find out later! I want to know now!"

He paused for moment, then said, "You worried what'll happen to Master Joshua?"

I groaned angrily in response.

Jenai got up from where he sat and pointed a half-eaten chicken drumstick at me, "...Tell you what, why don't we have a rematch?"

"Uh – what?" That idea sure caught me off guard.

"You win, I'll tell what Aion has planned and let you go. I win, well..."

"...I'll be dead by then, won't I?"

Jenai pointed at me, "You lady, are NOT gonna leave here alive!"

"Beat it." I scowled.

"Why don't you save me the trouble and drop that confidence act so we can get this over with quickly, kay?"

"Not happening."

"Fine. But listen, I don't care if that spoilt brat likes ya." His expression changed, "This time I'll have your head...for what you did to Rizel."

I remembered my battle with Rizel and how she met her fateful end. Suddenly, I felt sorry for Jenai.

"Look, I'm sorry." I said, "There was nothing I could do – "

Jenai just lowered his head and pulled down his hat to cover his face. He raised his other hand to do something under it.

"I hear that in a particular custom..cold hard cash is stuck on the eyes of the dead..so they can pay the ferryman on the River Styx, right?"

I took a step back, "Yeah, that's in Greek mythology."

Jenai lifted his head to show that he had taken his blind fold off. I put my hands to my mouth and cringed as I saw him take the coins out of his stitched-up eyelids which had blood trickling down his face.

"Here! Catch!"

*TING*

"AH!" Luckily, I was able to catch the bloody coin in my hand before it hit my face, but when I looked in front of me, Jenai wasn't there, "Where'd he..."

*WHOOSH*

I spun around at the rush of wind I felt behind me, only to see nothing.

*SHZING*

"AAH!" The wrist on which my bracelet was on had been cut and I heard the bracelet hit the ground. Blood was quickly running from the wound but I resisted.

*WHOOSH*

"UH!" I was pushed from behind and stumbled forwards, almost tripping over.

"That all ya got?" he asked mockingly.

I announced my first spell in ages, "Sisters of destruction!"

Three energy balls shot at once from my hand and went straight for Jenai. He dodged them just barely and I saw that he was in his full demon form, looking the same way he did when he attacked my village.

*KRAKHOOM*

Jenai had pounded the floor with his powerfully large blade. The floor had cracked and in seconds pieces were falling into the darkness below.

I jumped out of the way just in time before I fell in along with them, "Whew..."

*WHOOSH*

I spun around quickly, "Light blade!"

*SCHZAAANNG*

I now crossed blades with Jenai and gritted my teeth at the powerful force.

"You're not giving up are ya?" He asked me.

"To hell with you, I never will!" I replied.

*SCHZINNG*

The sword battle between Jenai and I took place.

*CLANG CLANG CLANG* *KLING*

"I will avenge my village." I said.

*CLANG CLANG* *KLING*

"The apostles."

*CLANG CLANG CLANG* *KLING*

"For my friends of the Seventh Bell."

*CLANG CLANG* *KLING*

"The Magdalene Order!"

*CLANG* *KLING*

"For Rosette, Azmaria, Chrono and Satella!"

*KLING*

"...And for Joshua!"

Suddenly I was pushed across the room with such force that I crashed into the wall opposite and slid down.

"All that noble crap..." Jenai muttered, "Useless…"

"OW!" I put my hand over the cut on my wrist as a sharp pain came from it. The light blade had faded from my fingers, I panted in exhaustion as I looked at Jenai.

"So, Guardian...it ends here…" He flew towards me at top speed.

"Not a chance!" I shouted.

*FLASH*

Jenai stopped and saw that I had disappeared, "Where'd she – "

"Sword of light!"

*PODOOOMM*

"GRAAAGHH...!"

*CRASHHHHH*

I teleported when Jenai flew at me and cast my strongest spell when he came into view, not far from where I stood. The attack I made was so strong that the force had blasted Jenai into the wall and the wall exploded, leaving a huge hole to the outside.

I was standing there, relieved, but out of breath.

"Yeow...that's GOTTA hurt."

I turned to see Rosette standing there beside Chrono. My first response was a loud gasp, I was too happy to exclaim how glad I was to see them I just stood there with my hands to my mouth and my eyes were going all googly.

"Well, it's great to see you too." said Chrono.

"How'd you both get here?" I asked.

"We took a safe route, with a little teamwork." Rosette replied.

"Right." I smiled, then noticed someone missing, "Hey, where's Satella?"

"Actually we came here looking for her too." said Rosette.

My eyes widened, "She's here?"

"She left us a message, there was a contraption which lead us here." Chrono explained.

"Okay...sounds interesting." I replied, "Uh – what happened to your hair?"

I noticed that Chrono had his braid cut off. Rosette and Chrono looked at eachother, before Rosette turned to me and answered quickly, waving her hand at me.

"Hehe..long story." She smiled awkwardly.

"Hm..." was all I could say.

"Hey, you're bleeding!" she exclaimed.

I looked down at the wrist where my bracelet had been cut off, "Eh...no biggie."

There was a shuffle from under the pile of rocks from the broken wall I blasted. Jenai, his entire left arm cut off, had emerged on top of them.

"(Just like when Rizel lost her entire lower body...)" I thought.

"Urrh...Dammit…" he muttered, "It-it's not over yet!"

"That'll be enough!"

Everyone looked up at the indoor balcony that lined the room all around, it was pretty high up.

"...Viede?" Chrono wondered.

"Back off, Jenai...you've lost!" said the other demon, apparently named Viede, "Our second group of guests shall be arriving shortly."

He gestured his hand at Rosette, Chrono and I.

"Come." He said, "The three of you are invited aswell. The show will begin...very soon."

The three of us made our way up the stairs to where he was and he lead us to a door. When we stepped out, an expression of shock and astonishment showed up on our faces. Armies of winged demons with weapons had taken over the skies around Eden. There was one creature in particular that caught my eye. It was the biggest of all the demons that dominated the sky and its wings were a lot smaller, it held out its hand to show a figure standing on it.

"That's...Duke Duffau!" Chrono exclaimed.

I glanced at him, "Who?"

"It's the Pursuers from the demon realm!" he explained.

Rosette was standing there more shocked than ever.

"Unbelievable…" said Chrono, "Even the supreme commander of the Pursuers has made a personal appearance..!"

"How DARE you make a move against Pandaemonium once more!" shouted the Duke Duffau guy.

"Hey, who's that uncle?" Rosette inquired, glancing at Chrono.

"Their leader!" he replied, "The very one who leads the operation to deal with the Sinners..sent by Pandaemonium herself."

"For that…" Duke Duffau continued, "Your punishment shall be COMPLETE ANNIHILATION!" He opened his arms out wide and lifted his head to the heavens.

*ROOOOOOAR*

All the winged-demons charged at once. Rosette shielded herself with her arms, Chrono stood in front of her defensively and I sorcerer-posed frantically.

*TZZZMMMMMMMMMM*

"AAAAAAAH...!" I screamed.

"EEEEEEEEEEK..!" Rosette cried.

Rosette bent over covering her ears and I did the same.

*PWING-PWING-PWING-PWING*

I slowly opened my eyes when I heard the sound and saw that the demons were being held back by -

"You guys, look! A forcefield!" I exclaimed.

Rosette and Chrono looked up and saw that there really was one surrounding all of Eden, until...

*KZZZZT* *PING* *KRASHH*

I frowned, "False alarm...RUN!"

The three of us ran for our lives into the nearest buliding that wasn't being attacked.

*TZZZM* *KHOOM* *BOOM-BOOM-BOOM*

Chrono was the first to reach the building, and I trailed behind Rosette as I ran.

"Never did I dream it would come to this..." Chrono uttered, "Rosette! Heidi! This way!"

*BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM*

Rosette and I had finally made it in time.

*KCHAK*

I turned to the sound and saw Viede standing a distance in front of us in his demon form.

"Viede!" Chrono exclaimed.

"Do not misunderstand." said Viede, "It's my duty to guard this place with my life..until the Oratorio gets underway."

"The Oratorio?" I wondered.

Jenai got up and healed himself using legion, "Sorry folks, no time to play with ya anymore. So go hide in a corner or something already."

"HEY you!" I shouted at him, "What about our deal?"

"Aion will use the apostles to summon the demon realm." He answered, "Master Joshua is of utmost importance to this plan."

*WHOOSH*

Both Viede and Jenai took to the skies in the fight for Eden.

"What has Joshua got to do with it...oh wait he's an apostle…" I yelled in their direction, "HOW is he going to bring his plans out?"

It was already too late, both Jenai and Viede had sped off into battle.

"Yaargh! This place has gone to the dogs! I've got to do something!" Rosette was in hysterics, just like I was, "But what? What?"

"Rosette." Chrono calmly said, "Are you able to take Heidi all the way to the Central Tower?"

"I..think..so..." she muttered.

"Good. Now let me ask, what is our objective here?"

"To find Joshua and Azzy. Oh yeah, and Satella too!"

"Right." Chrono went over to Rosette and stood in front of her eye-level, "Stay focused, and never EVER lose sight of your objective. Haven't we already decided upon this a long time ago?"

Rosette thought long and hard about what he'd said, and not too far away, so did I.

"Let's do this!" I declared.