Tai: I've taken too long with this and now it looks like i've lost a lot of my readers. I only have 3 reviews on chapter 8...

Lloyd: Ha ha! They probably got old waiting for you to finish the chapters.

Genis: Yea, they're probably covered in cobwebs: p

Tai: Shut up. Thanks for all of you who reviewed and read the chapter! I hope you'll enjoy this one too.

Lloyd: Oy maybe they just didn't review because they think it's boring without me in it much!

Tai: Is this for making you look so stupid in this story?

Lloyd: You finally figured it out after 8 chapters of my insults!

Tai: If you don't want to look stupider shut your mouth.

Lloyd: Umm, maybe they just didn't review because they didn't have anything new to compliment on your story.

Tai. Ok...

Genis: Ha!

Chapter 9

"Well of course I knew it was all her fault but she said 'I never even saw your stupid beret' but I knew better than her because I know a liar when I see one, And then when I argued back that I saw her taking it she claimed that it was her beret she took out of her bag, then of course I called her a stupid idiot and then she hit me and ran off. So she's a really annoying brat and… Do you have any more of this stuff?" Colette asked holding up the Mountain Dew can. Dirk was holding his head in his hands.

"I just need to finish the sheath Colette! You don't need to entertain me, really." Dirk was very irritated.

"But I owe you a lot for this so I might as well talk to you through the endless hours you work on the masterpiece sword!" Colette took the last slip of her drink.

"Just stop talking and sit down on the coach until I finish the sheath… Please."

"Ok!" She sat down on the coach. Then she started singing. "I live in a house at the end of the wood, and I know of a place that is merry and good! A man sits on a log, while petting a hog! He sings a song! Of old tree frogs!" Dirk felt that a headache would be coming soon.

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Wes and Mettal were standing by the front door when Sheena reached the front of the house. They stared blankly at her. She stood there for a second without doing anything.

"Well?" Wes said impatiently, "Knock!"

"Oh, right!"Sheena said turning a bit red to be scolded by a wooden cat. She knocked on the door and waited. After a few seconds Presea answered the door.

"Hello, Sheena," Presea said "You finally decided to show huh?"

"What do you mean finally?" Sheena said in confusion, "You mean you've been expecting me?"

"Of course we've been expecting you, didn't you get the notice?" Presea said looking at her with an odd look on her face as she tilted her head.

"Um, I don't remember getting a notice…"

"Shut up! That isn't important!" Wes said to Sheena. "Just ask for Raine!"

"Oh right. Hey Presea, is Raine here?" Presea looked confused at the sudden change of conversation.

"Yes, would you like to come in and talk with her?" She asked stepping out of the way so that Sheena could enter.

"Actually could you just send her out here?"

"Of course…" Presea walked back inside and went to get Raine.

"You handled that nicely…" Mettal commented as Sheena took a breath and wiped her brow.

"Oh shut up, you're going to do the talking!"

"Technically, I don't talk."

"Oh… Well then you'll be doing the… umm… thinking… never mind forget that idea."

"Hey!"

"Oh give it a rest, both of you!" Wes interrupted as Presea came to the door with Raine.

"Hello Sheena, what do you need?" She asked stepping out onto the porch.

"Um, well…" She said wishing she was back at home sleeping.

"I'll take it from here," Wes stepped in.

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In a giant tube filled with green liquid, a monster of unbearable power was being prepared for it's mission. The creature floated in the green liquid as white clothed professors with clipboards wrote down calculations for its completion.

After minutes of silence with the scratch of pens only the beast's eyes shot open. The professors looked up as they heard a low growl that was muffled by the water. One of them ran to a switch and drained the liquid. Another one ran out of the lab to inform the 'boss' that project X was finished.

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"Sir, project X is finished." A White clothed Professor said to a tall burly man as he rushed into a small office.

"Is it now? Good, then release it. Kratos will need to be detained." The man said with a nasty smile.

"Very well sir," said the Professor who ran out of the office immediately.

The room remained silent for a minute. Then the man looked out the window and saw the beast named "X" running through the night. He heard the roar it made and smiled.

"Master Rhuan will be very pleased."

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Kratos reached his car, a hot red mustang, pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. He popped the trunk and tossed Lloyd's presents in the trunk. He got in the driver's seat and put the keys in the ignition. The time read 1:14 AM on his car clock.

"I finally have appreciation for 24 hour stores," Kratos said staring at the sign that said, "Open 24 hours a day".

He closed the trunk then hopped back in the car, started it and drove off into the night. He clicked on the radio and started listening to the Symphonian Symphonies.

It was pretty quiet out for a Friday night Kratos noted in his mind. He stopped by a gas station to pick up some coffee and gas up the car. He got out and put the nozzle into the side of the car then headed into the store. The guy at the counter was half asleep as Kratos walked in and headed for the coffee dispenser. He poured some coffee and walked up to the counter. He set the coffee on the counter and reached for his wallet as the man typed the price is the cash register.

"Will that be all for you?" the man asked.

"I got the car gassing up out front." Kratos replied.

"Which station?"

"Umm, I think it was 6." Kratos said checking through the window to be sure. "Yea, that was it."

The man typed something in the register and rung up the price. Kratos paid for it, picked up his coffee, took a sip and headed for the door.

"Have a good night," the man at the counter said.

"You too," Kratos replied walking out the door and heading to his car.

He pulled the gas nozzle out of his car and hung it back up at the station. Hopped back in his car and started driving home.

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"So we need you to heal them." Wes said finishing up his talk with Raine. Raine stood for a moment taking in what Wes had said.

"Well, are you coming?" Mettal asked impatiently.

"Yes of course." Raine said then grabbed a staff from the hall and followed Sheena out the door.

"Whoa, wait up!" Mettal yelled as they left him in the dust.

"Aren't you the one who was asking us to hurry up?" Wes said and burst out the door after them.

"Ha ha…" Mettal said then flew after Wes.

Sheena was in the lead as Raine followed close behind. Wes ran up beside Raine and Mettal lagged behind him. Suddenly they were stopped by a man's voice coming from the shadows ahead of them.

"Stop right there, I cannot allow you to go any further."

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"So, the blonde ends up falling over after all! HA HA HA HA HA! GET IT?" Colette said after her fifth can of the "Mountain Dew" substance.

"Please…" Dirk said holding onto his head. "Just shut up…"

"Well that's not very nice! YOU shut up!" Colette said in a scolding tone.

"I'm not talking!" Dirk shouted.

"Tsk tsk tsk, don't shout at me Mr. grumpy pants!"

"GO TO BED ALREADY!"

"Oh fine, you're so rude. You have no consideration for other people!" Colette said running off into the guestroom.

"Curse you 'Mountain Dew'!" Dirk said and went back to work.

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Zelos flew through the cold night with drawn sword. His eyes were set on the ones who wished to help Lloyd and Genis. His red hair danced wildly as he flew. His golden wings shone brightly through the darkness and made as a good source of light to see by. His eyes flashed a bright red crimson color and he began descending. He spotted Sheena walking into a house with Raine followed by two objects which Zelos couldn't quite make out. He landed on the ground nearby as the door closed. He waited and finally Sheena and Raine rushed from the house followed by a wooden cat and then a metal bird.

Zelos Ran ahead of them through the bushes. He stopped in the shadows on the trail.

"Stop right there, I cannot allow you to go any further." Zelos said in a cold, dark voice. He sheathed his sword and pulled a throwing knife from his pocket.

"Who's there?" Raine asked as her eyes scanned the area. Sheena drew her cards and was prepared to attack.

"As if it matters, why do you need a name when you won't be alive for long anyways." With this, Zelos threw the dagger and cut through the cards that Sheena held.

"Let's see who you are, freak!" Raine said raising her staff and illuminating the shadows. But when the light hit the shadows no one stood within them.

"Resistance will only prolong your death." Zelos said from an untraceable direction. And then from the shadows a knife flew, hitting Sheena square in the chest. Sheena collapsed and Raine screamed.

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As Kratos was driving through the night listening to his radio, he heard a loud roaring noise. He looked in the rearview mirror and hit the pedal down as hard as he could. A huge creature was chasing him. Kratos jumped out of the car with sword drawn. The car rolled to a stop as Kratos landed. The creature stood still scanning Kratos.

"Kratos Aurion… Destroy…" It said with labored breathing. Then it threw a punch at Kratos, who dodged.

"Hmm… Today's just not my day." Kratos said as the beast approached Kratos.

The beast tried grabbing Kratos but he dodged and sliced it's hand instead. Blood tricked from it's hand as it drew back. Kratos smirked. The beast kicked at Kratos who boarded the foot. He slashed at the toes as a giant hand came down from above him. He jumped down as it hit the foot. Then Kratos sent a fireball after it. When it hit the beast grew in anger and Kratos only chuckled. But suddenly he saw a dark aura around him. And before long he couldn't see anything. Then suddenly the giant hand pounded him out of the ring. He flew backwards and landed by his car. He rubbed his head when he saw the beast hurling a boulder at him.

"Oh gosh no! Not the car!" Kratos said as the boulder flew towards him. His sweat trickled down his head as he tried to think. He jumped on the car ready to protect it. "Aha! Take this! Light Spear Cannon!" Kratos' sword glowed white and a blast came from the end shattering the boulder on contact. "Ha, no one hurt's my car." Kratos said with a triumphant smile on his face, when he suddenly heard a loud roar. "Oh, you're still here."

The beast came at Kratos full speed. Kratos fired Light Spear Cannon at the beast as it ran. The beast dodged it and kept going. Kratos jumped off his car and into the air then pulled out his wings and flew full on at the beast.

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"Tell me," Rhuan said speaking to one if his professors, "Victor did see to it that project X was finished and sent out to kill Kratos, right?"

"Yes sir," the professor replied.

"Good. And Zelos is doing his job?"

"Yes, last time I heard he was headed straight there."

"Let us hope he will not betray us. Not that he has the option anyway." Rhuan smirked with an evil tone.

"Right…"

"Now, send out the other beast. Colette has been cut too much slack."

"Yes sir, I will hurry to the lab."

"Excellent work Jace, if this turns out how we want I'll give you a raise. Now make sure the final touches are completed and get that beast out!"

The Professor rushed from the room. And Rhuan smiled an evil grin. "All is going as planned…"

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Colette ran into the guest room and plopped onto the bed. "Somehow" she wasn't tired. So she decided to step outside and take a walk. The night was cold and she shivered as she walked. She found Noishe asleep not far into the forest.

"Hey Noishe!" Colette said shaking the big dog-like creature. Noishe woke up and saw it was Colette and he began licking her face. "Hey buddy, wanna take me on a ride?" Noishe stood up and let Colette get on his back. "Alright, let's go to the town and see if anyone's still up. Maybe we can surprise Lloyd with an early 'Happy Birthday' even!" Noishe took off towards town with Colette hanging on. After a few minutes they were in view of the town. "Look Noishe! Presea's house is lit up! She must be awake! Let's go chat with her!" They sped up and Colette felt light as a feather. Suddenly she heard a growl and noticed Noishe had stopped moving. She looked around.

"What is it Noishe? Is something bothering you?" Colette asked. Noishe growled.

Suddenly something flew from the bushes and hit Colette. She went flying and the creature landed on her. It looked like some kind of Dog-like creature like Noishe. The creature bared it's teeth at Colette and she lay there pinned by the beast. All she could do was scream. Suddenly Noishe pounced from the clearing and knocked the creature off of Colette. Noishe growled baring his teeth at the creature ready to counter act it's next move.

Tai: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Presea: Update from battle room. Regal is winning against Sheena in chess.

Tai: Thanks, i didn't want to go back in there. It's getting boring.

Presea: Not with the way they're playing Chess. Sheena keeps trying to summon Gnome to attack Regal's King from below.

Tai: WHAT?

Wes: Regal just crescent moon kicked Sheena's last rook and he's got her in check! She's attemtping to summon Efreet to burn out Regal's King.

Tai: See ya'll later! I have got to see this!