Disclaimer… I do not own Maple… Aeons do not own maple!
Hitori cocked his head. "I remember this. The time brothers told me, uh...a momentary suspension of the vicinty's animation." he said. Ba Gua turned to him. "What?" he asked, in total confusion. He sighed, reminded just how dumb human's could be. "It's sort of like a time stop, but time isn't really stopped. Rather, anyone inside the range of the attack will feel like time stop, and essentially freeze up. But if, say, a leaf was falling to the ground at the moment, it would continue falling because time didn't really stop. See what I mean?" Hitori explained. Only after his lecture did he realize Ba Gua was running after the rest, a blow dart pipe in his mouth. Hitori sighed. "Humans just don't have the cranial capacity to understand the gentle workings of space-time."
Laeigh fired another energy bolt at Nathan, which was quickly blocked. "Tell me, little spirit, why do you fight for humans?" No answer. "Why do you fight for those who killed your own kind?" Still no answer. Laeigh leaped forward and shoved his tusked face in front of Nathan's, growling, "Tell me, Nathan, why do betray your people?" Nathan froze. Then, something historic happened. He spoke for the first time in millennia. "Damage can only be undone by those who caused it. Humans must undo the damage they have done to the planet. And thus I must ensure humans survive long enough to do so. The moment the planet is healed...I fully intend on wiping them out." he said, his voice hoarse and gravelly. Laeigh smiled. "Good...just wanted to know. I'll be off now." he said, and grabbed several frozen mages, "Think I'll take a little snack with me." The dome evaporated, and the mages unleashed their spells. But they hit only thin air. Laeigh was gone. Nathan stood, staring silently. Laeigh's questioning had reminded him off his purpose, the purpose he had made for himself so many years ago...
The boy woke in a dank cell. A guard was splashing water on his face. "Come on, the Warden wants to talk to you." he said gruffly, face hidden by a full head helmet. Nathan followed groggily, not quite woken up. He was shoved roughly into a chair and chained to it. A leering man looked him up and down for a few seconds, then barked, "Stand straight and look me in the eyes!" Nathan did so, if a little haphazardly. The Warden leaned forward, whispering, "Now, you're going to be a good little boy and tell me what I want to know." Nathan did not know what the Warden meant. He knew only a little proper English. The words came out, haltering and choppy. "Where...badger...friend?" he asked. The Warden chuckled. "Rotting, I guess, outside for all the people to see." It took a while for this to sink in, as Nathan tried to understand. Rot...logs rotted. So did dead bodies. Only dead bodies rotted...and suddenly it hit him. Blind fury overcame him, and he lashed out, successfully causing the Warden's nose to bleed. "Take him to the guillotines, and show the people what we do to traitors and liers!" the Warden shouted, and several guards dragged Nathan away, who was thrashing at anyone who came close to him.
Nathan did not stop struggling until the very end, but just before the blade was about to come down, every thing stopped. Nathan stared in confusion at a girl, who looked no old than seven, step out of the frozen masses. "You...are human, but you are not human, " the girl said, touching Nathan's forehead, "You have been raised as a spirit, and now you will die. But...there is a way. I can make you a true spirit, if you wish. In return, you must do my commands. Do you accept our contract?" The boy said nothing, but his intent was clear. The girl smiled. "I thought you might."
Kevin wrote this chapter.... Hitorihyuuga...