Argh! Life's always getting in the way of letting me finish these chapters! So, let's cut to the chase and start on the eleventh chapter of One Touch, One Kiss!
Chapter 11- The Trial of Strength, Part 2
-At the unknown lands, 11:36 a.m.-
"Crap, crap, crap!" Serenity chanted. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"Hmm, let me see...It's not in my fucking job description!" Arios shouted, aggravated.
"I'm so late! I'm never late to anything!" Serenity yelled.
"There's a first for everything." Arios joked.
"Not funny." Serenity said.
It was almost time for her first ever trial to prove her worth of owning the Soul Crystal, and apparently having some of her brother's genes made her slept in late and rushing to get everything ready to face the spirit's judgment. Serenity was always an early bird to anywhere she had to go, but since she arrived very late to the location yesterday, her energy levels in her body made her very sleepy. Now, running as fast as she could, Serenity ran out of the cave she was forced to stay at and in the direction of the arena of where her first trial was set to begin.
At times of the night, she felt uneasy about leaving everyone that cared about her. But, what choice did she have? The memory of her fight with the Shadow-Hunters was still fresh in her mind, knowing that she didn't want Joey injured because of her inability to protect him. Serenity was never a fighter; she was a peacekeeper at all times. With the craziness that she inherited ever since obtaining the Soul Crystal , she will have no choice but to break out of the protective shell that she held herself in from everyday life.
Finally arriving with almost two minutes to spare, Serenity stood holding her legs to catch her breath while the spirit appeared in front of her with a scowl on her face. Apparently, tardiness was contagious for supernatural spirits.
"Damn, those idiots are late! It is so hard for spirit judges to come on time?" Arios complained.
'I think Kaiba's attitude is starting to influence her too much.' Serenity thought.
"Hey, your fault for looking at the guy." Arios stated.
"It's not my fault! I needed to convince him that someone's life is more important than what he had planned in his mind." Serenity countered.
"Please, your hormones played a part of that transition." Arios scoffed.
"My emotions have nothing to do with my personality!" Serenity countered. '...Did it?'
"You know that I can read your mind, right?" Arios inquired.
"Can't you at least respect my privacy while we're separate?" Serenity suggested.
"Never." Arios said.
Serenity sighed. This was definitely going to be the longest trip ever in her life.
At the stroke of high noon, the pillars surrounding the field beamed green rays as it transformed itself into an arena based on the conditions of the first trial that she had to endure. Serenity tried to hold her ground as a blue, spellbinding ring encased itself around the pillars and locking her inside. The spirit judges that she met yesterday reappeared in front of, with Arios showing her teeth in anger and annoyed by the fact that they had the nerve to show up this belatedly into the schedule that she planned.
"Is this bullshit going to continue every time I get a new host?" Arios scowled.
"We have to...modify the test at the last minute due to unnecessary circumstances."
"Unnecessary my ass." Arios scoffed. "Let's get this thing over with so I don't have to listen to Whiner over here about her life every day."
"Hey! You chose to enter my life by your own decisions!" Serenity countered.
"That's quite enough. Now, onto the trial at hand. You, young girl, have been chosen by the Soul Crystal to wield its' overwhelming power to protect the dark forces that have descended upon us from eons ago. These three trials will determine whether or not you have the potential to defend this world from those who will do anything in their own power to destroy the fabrication of life of which was built with the principles that guided mankind to the present of today."
"The Trial of Strength will test your willpower to overcome the enemies of which will be created within this circle from the pillars that are now encased for your trial. The spirit of the crystal cannot be able to help you once the trials began. You must use the crystal's power on your own if you want to pass these trials. This trial shall now commence."
"Wait...what?" Serenity said, befuddledby the sudden transition of control.
As the spirits disappeared, the pillars themselves morphed into golems wielding stone swords, staffs, and maces. The eyes shone dark blue and started attacking Serenity, which she tried to dodge the massive giants from their deranged nature. Blow after blow, she tried to gain any cover, but the giants were faster than they appeared and destroyed everything until there was nothing left. She panicked inside; there was nothing to help her protect herself and fear overcame her bravery as the stone giants struck down with tremendous force that pushed her back into a corner.
Throughout her mind, memories of her childhood came back haunting about the things that the people around her said about her abilities...
"What a spineless baby! Can't do anything without your big brother, huh?"
"...truly a coward! Do you think that you can actually become a leader in this world?"
"You're too weak to even finish a marathon!...What a frail body!"
"You're nothing more than just worthless luggage being dragged around. Who would want such a crybaby like you?"
"Poor little girl is so scared that she has even her own friends defend her!"
She couldn't take the words that kept repeating inside her head; it was too much for her to handle. She was all on her own, and nobody was here to help her with what was transpiring now. But, Serenity realized that even if her friends and family helped her now, what would had she learned from her experience of the events? The words of the past would continue to repeat and she decided that the person back then had to disappear. Then, at the moment the giant was about to strike, she literally grabbed the stone arm at the wrist and lifted it through her own will, then throwing it over the other golems, letting it crash into another one and crumbling into pieces.
Her whole demeanor changed once Serenity realized that the Soul Crystal resonated with her even without the spirit inside of her. Did it really respond to her willpower within her soul to help with her training? Has the will to become independent from those that she clung onto push Serenity to reach a point of control? Was is that deep down in her heart that she wanted to survive and protect those near dear to her very life?
The golems regenerated again from the rubble, and started charging right at Serenity with their weapons once more. Using the Soul Crystal to summon forth a diamond rapier, and clenching tightly in her right hand, Serenity dashed her way through the open pathway, slashing every single golem with her weapon until neither of them redeveloped again. The blue circle that enclosed her at the start of the trial vanished into thin air, and the rapier disappeared, with her body dropping onto the ground and trying to catch her breath as well as sinking in everything that just happened to her.
The spirits were surprised; to think such a major transition could transpire in a short manner of time could mean that Serenity was no ordinary girl. The spirit of the Soul Crystal just scoffed at the motion of her host finishing her first trail so quickly. Serenity stared at her 'other' self and a sigh escaped her lips. Seto's personality was really getting the relationship between the two out of sync.
"I myself had not seen someone control the Soul Crystal, let alone master it on their own in such a short matter of time. I believe that somehow a person's past could lead to a dramatic change in ability."
"Just because she can wield herself a weapon out of her own will doesn't mean she can fully control the true power of the Soul Crystal." Arios sneered.
"Maybe...But, it's only the first trial. This girl has the willpower to combat the enemy, but unless she has the other two components to fully master the gem itself, the Soul Crystal will not be able to unleash its' full potential. For now, she has passed the first trial. The Trial of Endurance will be announced soon."
"Let the girl rest; she won't be able to perform at a hundred percent if she's this tired." Arios suggested.
"As you wish; but you're responsible for her well-being."
"Piss off!" Arios shouted.
'At least she's making me get some rest, but I feel so uneasy about the next trial.' Serenity thought. 'If this trial was all about willpower, what would I need to do to survive the next challenge?'
Ugh, finally done after so many months! I seriously need a drink after this!
R&R, people!