Me: Oh! 11 more Days! I can't wait!
Lloyd: Are you still going on about that trip thing?
Me: What? When did you get back?
Lloyd: Don't know.
Me: that's…weird…
Lloyd: Look whose talking.
Me: Hey! I'm a good kind a weird, unlike Andy. (shudder)
Lloyd: Andy?
Me: You don't know him and don't want to know him. Believe me. (sigh) I hate winter. It's always so cold in my house but at least Scuba was canceled today.
Lloyd: I thought you like diving.
Me: I do when it's not –3 out and it's in a pool. I wanna dive in the ocean or springs where it's warm. (sigh) 11 more days and I'll be down in Florida diving Manatee Springs and Devil's Den.
Lloyd: You know what I was wondering? Who came up with the word Scuba? Does it mean something like an acronym or something?
Me: that was random but yes. Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus or SCUBA. I can't remember who came up with it or I never learned that so… yeah.
Lloyd: wow. That's long, but I guess you answered my question. I wonder what the longest word in the dictionary is?…
Me: I guessing Lloyd ate sugar or … I don't know. I guess he's just being himself. (sigh) Better answer his question. I have to much free time and yet not enough… Ultraneuromicrovolcanisiliconiosisis.
Lloyd: Utlraneuro what?
Me: (sigh) It's the longest word in the dictionary. Steven taught me it. It beats Supercalifragilisticexpialiadoious by 2 letters. Utlraneuro has 36 letters and Supercali has 34.
Lloyd: O.O wow…I don't think I could memorize those…
Me: (sigh) now that we have finished the useless facts of the day, can we please get this chapter going?
Lloyd: um, yeah. Jen Rem doesn't own Tos or FF, only Tiamatt, the Oblivion Blade, Ash, and Eria.
Me: 11 more days… :)
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I yelled, opening the door to the apartment we had lived in for five years and were hoping to move out of next month.
I threw my bag on the kitchen table and noticed a note on one of the placements, mom's scribbly handwriting leaving me a note of my parent's whereabouts. I picked it up and read. I had to read it over as confusion came over me.
"'we should be home before 5 but if not, don't worry. We just had to go to Wally World…'" I read out loud to myself. "It's almost 6. Walmart is clear in Ankeny but they should've been home long ago. Where are they?"
I decided to go ahead and make sure my parents weren't just in the living room taking a nap or something but the room was dark and empty. The rest of the house turned out to be the same except when I opened the door to my room which awaken Cloud who began to chirp loudly. I finally went back into the kitchen and reread the note but still came up with 'they should've been home along time ago.' I came home thinking I'd have to explain why practice had lasted longer then normal but this was crazy. Where were they? Then the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Is this Madison?" an unfamiliar voice asked.
"Yes. May I ask who I'm speaking to?" I asked back.
"I'm a Des Moines police officer. I'm going to send an officer to retrieve you."
"What? Why? What's going on?" I asked.
"I'll explain at the Hospital. Please just remain calm." The Officer replied.
"Does it…have to do with my…" I started, my thoughts wandering to the worst.
"Your parents? Yes but I will explain everything once you arrive. The officer to pick you up should be there in a moment."
"…ok. …thank you…" I mummered, hanging the phone up. What was going on? My parents weren't thieves or anything. Why were the police picking me up?
A moment later, there was a knock at my door and I went out to meet the officer. He was young, probably a newbie, I guessed maybe 18 or 19, with his red hair in a military regulation haircut and intense, yet kind eyes. He looked kind though through his smile, I could see pity. What was going on? The ride to the hospital was silent except for the communication radio and the breathing of the canine unit German Sheperd who decided to use my head as a momentary pillow. I thought the dog looked funny as it had large ears and constantly whined as if trying to speak. I couldn't help but smile as I pet the canine's head.
"He's name's Neri." The officer said as he looked out of the corner of his eyes. "He's usually not so fond of strangers."
"Funny cause I'm usually good with dogs." I laughed, Neri giving a happy whine as I continued to pet his head. "He has a unique name. How did you come up with it?"
"Don't know. It just kinda fit him I guess." The officer replied as the car stopped at a stoplight. "By the way, my name is Chris Anderson. I wish we could have met on a more pleasant circumstance."
"…" I looked down, saddened as I hoped my fears weren't real. "Do you…know what happened?"
"I'm sorry but I don't. I was just asked to pick you up and take you to the hospital. Officer Dennis should know though." Chris answered.
"…"
I sat silently for the rest of the ride, my fear continuing to build as I was lead through the hospital to the IC unit. I looked through a window to see both my parents in beds with numerous tubes and IV connected to them. The monitors next to the beds showed their low vitals and my fears continued to rage as tears fell down my face as I looked at my parents cut and bruised bodies.
"what happened?" I asked, to myself.
"It was a car crash." I turned to see several doctors and police officers around me. "the other driver did not survive and…we are not sure if your parents can survive much longer."
"Several vital organs were damaged in both of them. Unforunately, we do not have any organs ready for transplant." A doctor added.
"No!" I cried, pushing past the crowd and into the room. "Please, I know you guys will get better!"
"Madison…You can't be in here." An older officer said, taking my shoulders and leading me out of the room. "we'll keep you updated on their condition."
"Tiamatt?" I opened my eyes to see Eria looking at me with concern. "Are you ok? You were crying in your sleep."
"I'm sorry. I was having a nightmare." I mumbled, standing up.
"You look really upset. Do you want to talk about it?" the girl asked.
"…it was a dream about the night my parents on Gaia died." I said quietly, grabbing my gear.
"I'm sorry."
"I hate it when people say sorry so much. It doesn't worry me that much." I shrugged. "anyways, how about we go train or something?"
"um, sure." Eria answered, following me out of the house and towards the exit. "Why?"
"I want to see your full abilities in battle." I replied. "I felt a major fluctuation in the lifestream last night and I think there may be a few more monsters and animals now."
"What do you me-?" the teen stopped suddenly as she looked out at the plains that now had numerous creatures from Earth and Gaia running wild. "Holy crap! Where did they all come from?" I looked at the girl in confusion.
"They came through the rifts." I replied as I watched a red tail hawk fly overhead and then dive for a rodent in the tall grass. "Maybe we can find a Cactar for you to fight." I grinned but noticed Eria now looked confused. "Have you never seen a Cactar before?"
"Nope. Never heard of them." Eria answered, shaking her head. I blinked in surprise and noted that fact in my mind. "What in Holy is that?"
"Growr!" the monstrous man-eating plant Malboro was thrashing its vine like arms wildly as it rushed at us.
"Here's your chance. Show me how you fight when your life is in danger." I yelled, leaping away from the battle.
Eria looked nervous but held up her fist none the less, preparing herself to attack the plant. The Malboro stretched it's vine towards her which she leapt nimbly through before rushing forward and delivering a series of kicks and punches before running back again. The monster howled and closed its jaws, building up powerful acids in its mouth. The carnivorous plant opened its fangs, releasing the stream of acid racing towards the child "Remnant". Eria leapt out of the way to find her legs caught in one of the Malboro's vines.
Eria's eyes filled fear as the deadly rain made it's way towards her. I rushed forward to help her but stopped as her eyes dilated to slits and her wings erupted from her back, enveloping her, protecting her from the acid as it hit the blue and white feathers of her wings, a strange white energy surrounding her. When the shower of acid had subsided, Eria opened her wings to reveal a strange transformation. The Remnant stood now as a velcoraptor like dragon, but instead of scales, small blue feathers covered her body, with long white feathers on her head, arms, legs, and the tip of her tail.
"Eria!" I screamed, but the Remnant didn't respond..
The dragon charged the Malboro, tearing at it with sharp talons and fangs. The plant screeched in pain as Eria attacked relentlessly, in a way similar to an animal fighting for its own survival. Within moments, the Malboro lay lifeless in a bloody mess as the dragonic Eria examined her kill. The wind suddenly changed directions, bringing a fresh new scent towards her. Being in my natural form, Eria saw me not as a threat but as prey and she flew at me, the gleam of her eyes was something seen only in predatory animals.
"Eria stop!" I shouted, hoping she'd react but she continued her charge. "Sleep!" The materia glowed but the spell missed as Eria closed the distance. "Stop!" This spell also missed. "Slow!" Another failed spell. "Looks like we have to do this the difficult way."
The transformation was quick and I was soon claw to claw with Eria, trying to restrain her. She snarled and snapped, stretching neck out to try to get in range of my throat but I brought my tail around and tied her mouth shut. Beating my wings, I lifted Eria high enough into the air to unbalance her and throw her to the ground. I stood on her legs to prevent her from clawing at my stomach, as I looked her in the eye.
"Eria! Snap out of it!" I growled as she struggled against me, her wings beating against me as she growled through closed jaws. "Eria! I don't know what's gotten into you but snap out of it!"
The Remnant's eyes suddenly flickered, returning to normal round pupils and her struggles ceased. Her eyes closed and her body went limp, as it seemed to melt back to a human form. I looked at her for a moment, making sure she was unconscious before returning to my own normal form.
"Everything about you seems…familiar but different. Who…what are you?" I asked the unconscious girl. Could she be…? A shiver went through my spine and I looked around, a strange fear coming over me. "Dammit!"
"Tiamatt, what's going on?" I turned to see Lloyd and the others approach. "Hey, what happened to Eria?"
"We were training on some of the monsters that have appeared from our world. Eria got attacked by a Malboro and freaked out. She turned into a feathered velcodragon and…it was like she was an animal." I explained, pointing to the tattered remains of the Malboro. " I believe her natural survival instincts triggered the change."
"Hm…She seems to be fine, but she needs to rest." Raine said, checking Eria for injury.
"I guess this means we're not leaving for another day." Zelos sighed.
"I'll inform Vice-Chief Tiga." Sheena said running off back towards Mizuho.
"I'll take Eria back to Mizuho. I'll be back soon but be careful. Some monsters are more dangerous then you would think." I told the remaining group as I picked up the unconscious girl and spread my wings. I quickly passed Sheena and soon had Eria resting peacefully in bed. As I walked out of the house, I saw Sheena enter the village.
"You could've flown me back too, you know!" Sheena huffed jokingly.
"Sorry, Sheena. Didn't really see you." I smiled. "Anyways, I'm going back out to where the others are."
"Alright. I'll see you there." Sheena nodded before leaving for Tiga's house.
I flew back out to where the rest of the group was waiting. I noticed that Regal, Presea, and Genis were sitting down watching Zelos, Lloyd, and Colette race wild Chocobos that they had caught. Raine had also caught a Chocobo and was examining the feathered creature as it examined her with equal interest.
"Raine." I said, getting the half-elf's attention. "I think there are Remnants nearby."
"Are you sure?" She asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah. I always feel uneasy whenever they're around and I have this feeling we're being watched." I nodded.
"Are we in immediate danger?"
"No, they only want me. I don't think they'll attack while any of you are around. They'll attack when I'm alone, unless they're desperate, which they might be." I explained. I flinched suddenly as my Geostigma flared to life.
"Tiamatt, you're hurt." Raine said, noticing the flinch and how I clinched my fist in pain.
"I'm …fine." I answered stubbornly as the wound continued to pulse. I could feel some of the blood begin to moisten the bandage.
"Tiamatt quit lying. Something is wrong. I'm something it has to do with your arms because of the sweatshirt and your eyes, they've never had green in them before." Raine said sternly. "You have also been acting strangely. You were depressed and easily angered last night and now you're acting like your normal self."
"I didn't want to worry you guys. With Colette and now Presea and not to mention the entire journey, I didn't want to add my own troubles to everything." I replied sadly, my other hand now over where the Geostigma was on my arm. "Especially because…I don't know how much longer I have." Raine's stern gaze instantly softened into sympathy. "Please, don't worry about it and …don't tell the others. There is no need for them to try to look for a cure that no longer exist." I noticed Raine reach into her pocket for a moment as a look of curiosity come over her face.
"If that is what you truly want then I won't tell the others." Raine sighed.
"Thank you. " I smiled, feeling the pain finally ebb away. "The pain's going away now, so why don't I show you some of the animals." Raine's face instantly brightened up at this.
"Ok."
Me: (sigh) That was really long…Lloyd: that was a different chapter.
Me: Yeah, I know.
Lloyd: Hey, that cop guy, is he like Kratos' and Noishe's otherwordly doubles?
Me: Huh? Uh…yeah. That what I was trying to do.
Lloyd: So what about the rest of us?
Me: um…
Lloyd: Well?
Me: Read and Review Please!!! (Runs off)
Lloyd: Hey you never answered my question! (runs off after authoress)