The Red Wand
Chapter VII: Meeting the Other
Aura's "Bedroom"
For the past three days, Aura, Morgana, and Zefie had been taking turns watching both the still unconscious Xenmaru, and a few view screens showing random areas of The World, for any abnormalities. So far, the "Other" Aura hadn't been doing much apparently lately. One or two random AIDA appeared, but oddly enough the regular players were able to defeat them…or at least hold them off long enough for someone to pinpoint a weakness and exploit it. Sometimes, Aura would transport one or a few of the Infinity Eight for a visit, the most recurring ones being Ovan and Aina, the little one taking a liking to the unusual warrior, and the elder holding long philosophical conversations with whoever was around at the time, mostly Morgana and Aura.
It was at one of these times…that it happened.
Morgana had changed. Her appearance was now that of an older woman, perhaps mid twenty's. Her hair had returned to its long raven colored state, and she had returned to her usual kimono, much like the one Kaede wears. She still held a great deal of compassion for many, most of all Xenmaru however. Through the days they had waited for him to awaken, she had called upon the Epitaph users so she could reclaim the missing parts of her. She had theorized that by simply withdrawing only the part of her data that was "her" she could leave the Epitaph users with their Avatars in case of need. Oddly enough it worked, and while not at full power from the act, she was a great deal stronger.
It was on one of the few days that all three "Spirits" as they were called, had gathered in the area. Aura was scanning the lands, searching for any sign of her so-called "Other" Self. Zefie was training by punching and kicking a tree, oddly enough working up a sweat, and Morgana, who had insisted she be called Morgan, had been tending to the flowers…when an unexpected event happened.
"So…that's where he was…"
The three of them jumped up from what they were doing.
"I believe I'll be kidnapping him now then."
"What?!"
Seconds later, a group of black dots appeared on the bed surrounding Xenmaru. Aura attempted to form a barrier around him like she did herself, but as soon as it appeared, a darker less transparent version of it overlapped hers, and both shattered.
"You forget, I am You. Your powers will not work against me, for they are mine as well. Anything you do…I can undo. I'll be taking the warrior now."
The bubbling mass engulfed his form, and vanished, taking him with it. Morgan and Zefie were both angry enough to shoot a random mass of data that had taken the form of a bolt of energy and both smashed into the bed.
"Morgana…Zefie…"
The two turned to the silver haired maiden.
"Go. Inform the others. I will attempt to find where she took him…"
"Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll get hit with a case of bad RPG Villain syndrome."
Both females turned to Morgan.
"What? During the small amount of time that I traveled with him, Xenmaru told me about how most villains in video games tend to suddenly spout their master plans to the heroes, believing that nothing could stop it…and then they have the stupidity to be surprised when said heroes find a way to stop them."
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard…you think it'd work?"
Aura giggled slightly at Zefie. "Probably not…but we never know. Now hurry, they must know…"
Both Zefie and Morgan nodded. Zefie leapt through a rip in "reality" and Morgan simply disappeared.
Aura looked to the sky. What are you doing? What is your plan? Why do you exist oh shadow of myself?
Somewhere…
(Play Chrono Cross: Tower of Stars)
Deep within the walls of Xenmaru's mind the true form of the being behind the character slept. Held within the lap and arms of a beautiful violet haired girl, he slumbered peacefully.
The girl sighed. "Oh Zero you fool…overestimating your abilities in this world…your mind hasn't the time to adjust to the sudden shift of realities. Oh well…perhaps with this rest…you'll be able to finally live the life you've always dreamed."
Suddenly another presence appeared in his mindscape. The violet haired girl turned to face the new arrival, knowing it was a foreign one, for nobody but her was allowed within his mind, and that was only due to it being the only way she could increase his power. A group of blue branches shot from the ground to bar the newcomer's path. Surprisingly the new arrival didn't blast their way through like she had expected.
"Who are you, and why do you trespass on this sacred land?"
"I have no name…as for my reason…I wish to learn."
"Learn what?"
"Why."
Hearing the hidden statement within the new girl's words, the Violet haired maiden lowered her hand, and with it, the branches that barred the arrival's path. The newcomer was shrouded in darkness, so her form was unable to be seen, but she did nary a thing more than simply place her hand on the boy's forehead, and induce a memory…a memory of the first time he logged into The World…
Flashback…
Hmm…this is a bit…suspicious. I just logged in…and already I have a party. A Blade Brandier, and an Edge Punisher. Rather imbalanced party if I do say so myself…but whatever. They've been kind enough to teach me the ropes of the game…but…something seems off.
"Well, here we are at the beast statue."
"Damn…that thing's big. We don't have to fight it do we?"
"What? Oh no, don't worry, beast statues are just that, statues."
"Alright…cause I've played enough RPG's to know that occasionally harmless looking statues turn out to be hideous monsters or something in disguise as they lay in wait to attack helpless players."
One of his party members, a Blade Brandier by the name of Iyoten, laughed.
"You sure know your stuff about games!"
Xenmaru smirked. "I've had to. Been a gamer all my life!" It's the only thing that kept me going when I was younger…and the only thing that got me money…
"Well then, I guess it's time. Go ahead Xenmaru, take it. The treasure's yours."
Interesting… "You sure? I mean we went all this way…"
"Don't worry about it; we're always playing, so we've got plenty of time to get our own. This is a low level area, so it wouldn't be of much use to us anyway."
Point…but something still seems off… "Alright, thanks." He grabbed the treasure from the box. A level five set of blades…oddly enough that was his level. He turned to again thank them when he found a sword in his face.
I knew it! These are PKers! Well…I'm not going down without a fight… "Wh-what are you doing?"
"The chest at the beast statue is your treasure…but you…are ours."
While Iyoten was talking, Xenmaru had quickly pulled up the Equipment screen, and changed weapons.
Still pretending to be a helpless new player, he stumbled away from the outstretched weapon, crawling to the wall, and reaching it. He turned to see both of them laughing. That's right…keep laughing…
He recalled something he heard from some people that had convinced him to try this game. "I've heard stories about The World. People say that the game is really played more with your Mind, than your controller. The game seems so real…that if your mind is afraid, somehow, your character will be frozen in fear sometimes. Zero…you have a strong mind. You'd do well in this game."
Mind over matter huh? Well then, let's just see what my Mind can do!
"…time to die!"
The grey haired man swung his blade down at Xenmaru at the same time that the girl swung her sword. Time seemed to slow.
CLANG! SCREEEEEE
"What?!"
"You two really do fit the classification of the standard PKer. Dumb as shit and twice as gullible. Ne…Iyoten-san…didn't I tell you a few minutes ago? I've been a gamer all my life…you…are NOTHING!"
With a surge of strength, he pushed back both players with his new blades.
(Switch to Chrono Cross: The Brink of Death)
"You're ten levels below us! You don't really think you can win!"
"I may not win…but I'll give you a memory that will be burned into your minds for eternity!"
Zero closed his eyes and felt out, the way he did with all games. He felt for the connections between reality and fantasy, and grasped hold of them. Unknown to him, his character released a faint glow for a moment. It was so quick that the two PKers originally shrugged it off as a trick of the light. The blade user dashed towards Xenmaru intent on killing him quickly.
"Your mind is stronger than most…you would do well in this game…"
My mind…my fingers will move the buttons yes…but my mind will be the one fighting.
He swiftly turned to the left, barely evading the overhead strike. Using Iyoten's opening; he leapt slightly and kicked him in the back of the head, dealing a surprising 10 damage.
Numbers mean nothing to me. My health may be low, but as long as I don't get hit…
Asta swung at him from his blind spot. Knowing the attack was coming he hopped, yes, hopped right, and swung his blade into her gut. She doubled over from the attack, but he wasn't done. Using her light body to his advantage, he spun her around whilst on his blade, and then slammed her into one of the pillars. Both attacks dealing a solid 15. Iyoten leapt at him, but Xenmaru caught the attack between his blades. The two struggled for a bit, until Xenmaru shifted his weight to his right, forcing Iyoten left. The Multi Weapon then slammed his left knee into the Blade's stomach, continuing the assault with a few slashes with his blades, finishing with a kick to the face.
Iyoten sent a message to Asta. "Dammit! This is even worse than with that damned noob the other day! Where he got his friends on us, this guy is actually BEATING us!"
"Well what do we do? We can't just-AARGH!"
While the two of them were talking, Asta had attacked Xenmaru again. She leapt at him with an overhead strike, only to be knocked away as he swung his blade up to meet it, and surprisingly enough, his swing was stronger than hers, so she went flying, while her sword was knocked into the air. At the moment she responded, Xenmaru, in a feature of obvious illegality, replaced his weapons, and then leapt up and grabbed Asta's sword. Not knowing that's not something you're supposed to be able to do, he flipped, and then impaled her on her own weapon, immediately knocking her HP to 0.
Iyoten was shocked. He stood there, amazed, seeing Asta's own weapon used against her. He snapped out of his daze and charged the Multi Weapon. Xenmaru leapt to the side, and kicked off a pillar, drawing his blades in the process. Just as he finished drawing, he swung, and cut through Iyoten's neck. Now though his head wasn't severed, some unknown form of the game classified that as 'death' and his HP was knocked to 0.
Before the bodies faded, Xenmaru reached down, and took their weapons.
"You'll probably get new ones…but perhaps now, this will teach you to underestimate new players."
He turned to the Platform and Selected To Town. He smiled. I think I'll like this game after all…
End Flashback…
(Return to Chrono Cross: Tower of Stars)
The shadowed figure stood. "I see. So that's how."
The purple haired girl asked. "What do you mean?"
"You hear what he hears, correct?"
"Yes, but not if he focuses on making sure I can't. He hasn't yet though."
"Good. You will see soon."
The shadowed presence left as soon as it appeared.
"Well that was weird…"
Unknown Location…
Xenmaru groaned and opened his eyes. He blinked as he felt a weight on him. His vision cleared to show a beautiful girl wearing a black dress, similar to one he's seen somewhere before. Long black hair with silver highlights framed her pale face, and piercing red eyes stared at the world. Not noticing he was awake, for he had been making slight noises in his sleep as well, the girl, frustrated with his slumber, leaned forward and kissed him. His eyes widened in surprise. Well…this is a method of waking I haven't been subjected to yet…
What surprised the girl however was that he started kissing her back. A few moments into it, she pulled away, eyes wide, staring into his.
"I don't suppose you're up for an encore huh?"
The girl blushed and smacked his chest. "I thought you were still asleep."
Not wasting a moment, he clipped. "So you regularly kiss sleeping boys?"
She blushed deeper. "No! I…I…oh damn you!"
Xenmaru smirked at the girl. "Not that I mind waking up with a beautiful girl straddling my lap…Not like I can experience it anyway, blasted deadness…But who are you…and where am I?"
"I…I am me."
"Right…"
"As for where you are…you are here."
He blinked. Great…another riddle maker…as if Sheela wasn't enough… Who's Sheela? Oh hey Mikoto. Sheela is…well…was a person I knew growing up. She was smart beyond her years…and had a habit of slipping around peoples questions by stating obviousness. It was funny, if a bit annoying at times. But it was useful, taught me how to think in unusual ways.
"Alright…what's your name, and what is this place?"
Pouting at the fact that he knew exactly what to ask to get a straight answer, the girl responded.
"I…have no name. And…this place, is a place of my creation. It is my home."
"You don't have a name?"
"No…I wish…I wish for you to name me."
WOAH! Hold on a minute! I know what happens in situations like this. Dude names girl, girl does something really fucked up to dude.
"What happens when I name you?"
The girl looked at him, genuinely confused. "I…I receive a name…I become…myself. A person."
"And that's it."
"Y-yes. Is something else supposed to happen?"
"No…I've just read a few too many horror manga is all."
"Oh."
"Fine…your name is…"
Wait…this girl…she smells…like that other girl. Aura…she smells like Aura. That means…
"You're the other half aren't you?"
The girl blinked.
"You're the one who's creations I fought not long ago."
She looked to the side, a forlorn look on her face. "I was afraid you'd figure it out."
"Why do you seek a name? When you were so content claiming to be the "Real Aura?"
"Because I want to be myself. I am Aura; I am Aura's shadow, the one who exists at the end of the path she did not follow. I was created when Mother Tsukasa chose to renounce her darkness; chose to deny Morgana…and the resulting awakening of Aura expelled all the parts of me that was her. All the darkness she had collected was removed, to be lost in the folds of time…but eventually, as time passed, more data of negativity, of sadness of pain of anguish, became collected. When The World was destroyed and recreated as R: 2, I was born. And the first thing I witnessed was the player called Haseo being PKed. But Aura had vanished. And her disappearance caused horrible glitches in the form of AIDA. I watched as more and more horrible things happened to this world, until Haseo and Ovan saved it. And when Cubia was defeated…I was truly able to exist. But I was still nothing but a shadow of Aura, her other side, the part that wasn't recognized. But I want to be ME! I want to have a self!"
Xen…you should name her. I will…and I know exactly what to pick.
"Fine…your reasons are pure enough I suppose."
"You mean you'll name me?"
"Yes. Your name shall be…"
Serpent of Lore…
"Xenmaru-nii is gone?"
"Yes…a group of AIDA just appeared out of nowhere, along with that voice, and took him. Aura tried to stop it, but the voice overlapped her attempt with a field of her own, negating Aura's."
"Damn…so now we have to find him?"
"Yes…"
"Huh? Ne, ne! Nii-chan!"
Ovan kneeled to Aina.
"What is it Aina?"
"Xenmaru-nii sent me a message!"
The group blinked.
"He said he's fine, he met someone and would be back in a few days. He said to tell Morgana not to die until then, and to tell the spitfire Zefie that he wants a spar when he comes back. He also said he'd be out of contact for a while."
"Did he say who he was with?"
The girl scanned the message.
"Yes."
"Who is it?"
"A girl named…Alicia…"
Yes, I know I meant to write my Harry Potter chapter next…but this damn chapter appeared in my head this morning and I HAD to get it out lest it be lost to the tides of time.
PirateCaptainBo: I know so much from following the series, .hack//Wiki and word of mouth, along with going around message boards and paying really close attention…oh and my friend Vince. He and I tend to theorize about A LOT when it comes to .hack. Technically Cubia would be a part of Xenmaru now. Just how Skeith, Innis, Magus and the other Epitaphs are part of Haseo and the others. Only Xenmaru's and Cubia's bond is tighter, because Zero Shinzaki has literally BECOME Xenmaru. So his mind is closer.
Rainfire: AFK? Uhh…dunno really. Vanished back to wherever the hell it is those three go when they aren't knocking off AIDA or irregularities. I should probably give him a bigger role…but since I've already tossed in TWO new women…hah, and don't worry about not finding the right word to describe Xenmaru…I tend to make stuff up on the fly when it comes to verbal descriptions…
Yamimaru: I can't tell if you're worried or exited…either way…technically he won't get an Xth form. Just access to certain classes, and a new class that at the moment, only he can use, but might end up as a new class for everyone later on. I'll give you a hint as to what it is though. He hates guns.
Wolfy: "Xenny-chan?" That's a new one…as for who Miko is…well, it should be obvious after this chapter ne? Only those who have the type of attention span I do would be able to figure it out, or at least get an inkling of who she was…so don't worry about missing anything. I did that on purpose.
Alright, before anyone complains, Iyoten and Asta are only used as PKers against Xenmaru because I couldn't be arsed to make two entirely new characters, descriptions for them, and backgrounds, just for them to never show up again. Iyoten and Asta are well known PKers in the .hack fanbase, so it was easy to use them. Plus, I've seen them in action, and know how to make them act. Is it possible for a level 5 character to beat a level 15? Hell yeah, I myself have taken on enemies in the arena that were at least 10 levels higher than me, and won…due to running around like a pussy and using Hangeki's constantly…but I still won dammit!