1Me: (Sigh) I know I haven't been on forever but... I been really busy.
Lloyd: Really? Doing what?
Me: Hmmm... Finals, work, school, swim practice, and I finally got my Naruto DVDs.
Lloyd: wow! That was a lot!
Me: Tell me about it. My grams won even let me on the comp until I start studying for my learner's permit but I don't have time.
Lloyd: so how are you on a computer now?
Me: Dad's place. I can use the comp there.
Lloyd: Oh. Do you want me to say the disclaimer?
Me: just a sec. Theres something I have to admit.
Lloyd: Really?
Me: Yeah. I have to say I have recently had a HUGE blonde moment. Rebirth Flame mentioned the song "Bring me to Life" by Evanecsence and I thought I had never heard the song before. Well, I borrowed "Fallen" from a friend and instantly recognized the song when I heard it. I felt so stupid after that.
Lloyd: HA! That's funny.
Me: go ahead and say the disclaimer now.
Lloyd: Fine. Jen Rem doesn't own TOS or FF. Only Tiamatt, the Oblivion Blade and Ash.
"Man, I can't believe we couldn't get into the castle." Lloyd whined as we stood in the square outside the castle.
"Tiamatt, couldn't you just teleport us in?" Genis asked.
"No." I replied shaking me head. "Yggdrasil locked all my powers. I can't even access my materia."
"But how is that possible?" Raine asked.
"I don't know but Yggdrasil apparently has enough power to not only split the world but lock powers, even those of a sorceress." I sighed, "Let's try to find another way in."
"Make sure that the Sacred Wood makes it into the castle!" We all turned to see a rather large man talking to a small girl with pink hair. The man left, leaving the girl to walk into the Church of Martel to retrieve the wood.
"Maybe she can help us." Genis piped, keeping his eyes on the girl, his cheeks slightly red.
"Alright, let's go ask her!" Lloyd said cheerfully.
We followed the girl into the church and watched as she hulled a large log efffortlessly towards the door.
"Um, hi! We were wondering if you could help us." Lloyd started. The girl stopped and looked at us with dull, emotionless eyes.
"We need to get into the castle to deliver a letter to the king." Raine explained. The girl just nodded.
"Follow me." she answered. I shuddered at her voice, she sounded like a machine with her monotonous voice.
"Wha...what's your name?" Genis asked, blushing
"Presea."
"What a pretty name." Genis blushed, turning a deeper shade of red.
"Let's just get going." I said impatiently. Something wasn't right about Presea. Why was she so...monotone?
Presea picked up one end of the log once more and pulled it out of the building, with us following her.
"Hey Presea. Why don't you let me and Genis carry that for you?" Lloyd asked. Presea immediately dropped the log, allowing Lloyd and Genis to carry it. "Ugh! Why is it so heavy?!" After several minutes of struggle, Presea pulled the log off by herself. "I've lost all confidence as a man." Lloyd moaned.
"Me too." Genis agreed.
I grinned at the sight but turned quickly as an eerie, nervous feeling swept over me. I knew what it was but couldn't here the planet well. I needed to be somewhere other then the noisy city. I needed to be somewhere where the Lifestream was the strongest so that I could see why the planet was upset.
"I'm leaving." The others looked at me in shock.
"But you just got back here." Colette whined.
"Sorry but something is wrong. I must speak with the planet as soon as possible." I replied.
"Go then. You can catch up with us later." Raine said.
"Thank you." I called as I began to run down the stairs and out of Meltokyo.
I reached the outskirts of the city and placed my hand on the ground, trying to sense the lifestream. Most of it seemed to be welled up near the Tower of Salvation but that area was too risky. Fortunately, the lifestream was also gathered in a large area to the north.
That would be the Northern Cave.
"The Northern Cave is here?" I asked.
Yes. Head there to speak with the planet, for it is where the lifestream of all the worlds is mixed together.
"Alright." I sighed. "I wish I could fly there."
Just think of it as excerise. Tiamatt joked.
"Haha! Very funny." I mocked, standing back up
Mommy, who were you talking to? Cloud asked.
"Myself." I replied pulling my GS out and putting the headphones on. "Now let's get going."
Where?
"To the Northern Cave." I said calmly. Cloud squawked in alarm. "What's wrong?"
That place is in your nightmares.
"How do you know that?" I asked the quivering bird.
Our minds are connected. That is why you can hear and I can see you thoughts and memories. Cloud replied quietly, as if ashamed.
"Cloud, don't worry about it. Let's just get going ok." I reassured the paragriff, gently stroking his head. Cloud chirped happily and flew ahead of me as I ran after him towards the bridge that spanned the ocean.
We reached the bridge by nightfall and took the rest of the night crossing it. The next day, we stopped in the town of Sybak to get supplies before crossing the mountains, which had no marked path across them. It took nearly a week to cross the mountains but when we had reached the other side, the green glow from the Northern Cave was visable.
Are we there yet? Cloud whined as he rubbed his feathery face into my neck.
"It's probably going to be another we-" I cut off suddenly and clutched my right arm as it began to throb.
Mommy! Cloud cried as I cringed in pain. After several minutes, the pain finally subsided and I pulled my hand away to see blood and an odd bluish plasma on my fingers.
"No...it can't be..." I muttered at the sight as dread filled my heart.
Mommy, what's wrong?
"Geostigma... I thought..." I started to tremble at the blood on my fingers and felt a wave of depression hit me as a few drops of the blood and plasma slid down my arm.
It was only delayed, not cured.
"What?! What about Great Gospel?" I stammered.
Aeris doesn't have the strength to bring the rain.
"How...long do I have?" I chocked. Cloud looked at me in concern.
I am not sure. It could be from two months to over a year.
"Two...months." I whispered falling to my knees as depression sank in.
"Tiamatt?" I looked up to see Kratos looking at me from atop a rocky hill.
"You!" I hissed at the Seraphim as he jumped from his perch and approached me. I stood up and tried to move away. "What do you wa-" I cringed as the Geostigma began to throb again and I stumbled.
"Tiamatt!" Kratos rushed to my side, stopping my fall. He looked at the blood on my fingers and then the scab like Stigma before looking at my face. "Tiamatt, what's wrong? Why have your eyes changed colors? What is this wound?"
"It Geostigma." I gasped, making no effort to move in case the pain flared again.
"What? The disease in the movie?" Kratos gasped.
"Why do you care?" I growled, pain ebbing away again, allowing me to stand up and move away from the Seraphim though my heart told me to stay. "I'll probably just turn me over to Yggdrasil." Kratos looked hurt by this remark.
"I just want to help you." Was it just me or did he actually sound sad? "What must I do for you to take me back?"
"Humph! You honestly think I can take you back after you betrayed everyone?" I sneered, pulling a first aid kit out of my bag and bandaging my arm. "If you truly want to help then release the restraint on my powers."
"I can't. Only Yggdrasil can."
"You're his second in command, can't you ask him?" I asked, putting the kit away and pulling out a blue and yellow sweatshirt.
"I asked as soon as I returned to Derris-Kharlan but Yggdrasil seems to fear your powers." Kratos replied.
"Humph! The almighty leader of Cruxis is afraid of me? Ha! You claim this yet look how easily he has stripped me of my powers and materia." I sneered. "Come on Cloud, Let's get going. The sooner we reach the Northern Cave, the better."
"The Northern Cave? That is the stream of mana to the north correct?" Kratos asked. I nodded. "I was orginally sent out to investigate that area. I could fly you over there."
"I can get there on my own two feet." I pouted.
Mommy, let him help. He won't hurt us. Cloud begged.
"Cloud!" I glared at the bird who was now perched on Kratos' shoulder.
"Tiamatt, please let me help you." Kratos begged. I ignored him and began to walk off. "Give me a second chance."
I stopped and stood silently. Second chance? My whole life was full of second chances and he was trying so hard for my approval. I admit, I loved him still and probably always would but the betrayal...the pain was rough. Second chance? Damn, he knew how to pull the real me out. I was always too quick to forgive, almost to a fault. I guess...I could give him a second chance but he'd have to prove himself not only to me but to Lloyd too.
"I promise, I won't lose your trust again." Kratos said suddenly, getting my attention. "You must understand that I have to return to Cruxis though. There are somethings on this journey to rejoin the worlds that only a member of Cruxis can do."
"Are you able to hear Cloud?" I asked, shocked that he knew my answer before I could tell him out loud. The Seraphim nodded. "I should have figured that." I sighed as Kratos pulled out his sapphire wings. "So how are we going to do this?"
"The safest way would for you to face me as we hold on to each other. " the swordsman explained.
"Ok, but don't try anything funny." I said, wrapping my arms around him as he did the same. It felt amazingly good to be back in his arms and I wished we could stay like this forgive but in a much more pleasant situation.
"It shouldn't take too long to get there. Probably about an hour but not much longer. Sorry I cna't fly as fast as you can but..." Kratos explained as he leapt into the air. I nodded and clung to him tighter as my old fear of heights returned. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall." Kratos said softly into my ear as he carried to the Northern Cave.
Despite the feeling of fear as we flew north, I enjoyed the flight, though I wished I was flying on my own wings. I couldn't help but enjoy the warmth of his body as he held me tightly and could hear his heart beat wildly. I smiled, knowing what he was thinking as similiar thoughts wandered into my own mind. Maybe, when this was all over, we could finally have a life together.
Me: (sigh) Finally, I've updated.
Lloyd: Took you long enough!
Me: I know! I know! jeez! Anyways, I thinking of adding a couple other plot twist (I've already have one written into my notebook and the other is planned) so be prepared. They will be shockers.
Lloyd: Really?
Me: Yes. Big ones including one Kayla might be proud of but... I don't know. (Sigh) Anyways, sorry about the late update and keep reading and reviewing!