Boo
I squeezed in a chapter around coursework, 'specially for you guys ^^. This time we have... Well, that's a secret! Read it and find out^^
Now, I'm going to sound like I'm nagging, which I really don't want to do, but hey. I feel kinda... Lonely. Symphony has had 339 visitors this months according to the profile page. That's for two chapters, which had, like, 7 reviews. I'm not saying "review else I'll stop writing", that would be stupid, but this is for your benefit, guys. Tell me what you like, and I'll write more of it. Tell me if you think a part sucked - I'm not afraid of criticism if it's contructive and helps me inprove. Hell, I got an all-out flame once that helped. And also, a mini-shout out to all the people who used to review - let me know if you're still reading ^^ Even a simple "Good chapter, keep it up!" Makes my day a little better ^^ And also, I WILL read and respond to every review I get. Even a simple "great". Just look back for proof XD
Anyhow, sorry about that ^^ Feel free to ignore it if you like, I'm not overly fussed. I used to read and not comment, although now I like to review every story I liked enough. I am not, as they say, a "fave-and-run" *dAnerd*. I'm moving on now~~~
Likeaglintoflight - ^^ I'm trying to use Colette more, and Genis for that matter. Colette I've never been a fan of, so I'm hoping that by writing her more I'll be able to get more into a character that I never really explored much during the game. Genis I used, and was fond of... But he's surprisingly hard to write, at least for me. I really am trying to make an active effort to involve him. He is Lloyd's best friend, situation with Forcystus or no, and hell, he deserves the part. Please tell me if I'm doing any good
The . Reaper .Game - Yay, new reviewer ^^ And haha, you can read their relationship however you want, at least for now. All of the pairings in the story won't have a major impact on it. And also... The inspiration for the story was the song "Goodbye, My Lover" by James Blunt (Hate me if you will, people, I happen to like him), not that it means anything in terms of their relationship.
I always did like Forcystus, from the very first time I played the game. At first it was shallow - hey, he was bishie - but then there was the whole Iselia Ranch schtick and I felt... So sorry for him. He was one of the least developed of the Cardinals :( Not that any of them had all that much... So I gave him a story.
And yay, thank you for such nice words ^^ It's reviews like that that make me happy ^^
ethargh - Hey, you know it works ;) but trying to think of explanations for floating fish =/= way to spend your day. Seriously.
WARNING: I will be putting in an explanation for the Inhibitor bangle at the bottom of this chapter. There will be a warning in the A/N too. But if you don't want to know, take care XD
Chapter five: Angel Toxicosis
"…The path's gone," Lloyd observed, surprised, when they got out. Kratos made an irritated noise at such an obvious statement, making Lloyd fidget in embarrassment.
"It will respond to the Chosen I am sure," Kratos remarked abruptly, making Lloyd feel even more belittled.
"Yeah, but where did it go?" He pushed, determined to get an answer even if it did mean he was more humiliated. Kratos sighed wearily.
"The path is designed to react to the Chosen's angelic signature," he responded. "When the Chosen is safely within the Seal – and therefore a certain distance from the Oracle Stone – it will most likely remove the path for added safety of the Chosen." Colette looked at him, confused, and Raine gave him a searching look.
"An interesting theory," she decided. Kratos' look was unreadable.
"Be that as it may, the Chosen needs to reactivate the path for us to return," he decided coldly. Lloyd nodded in agreement at that.
"Yeah, Colette," he remarked. "It's what you do, right? You're the Chosen!" He clapped his hands together as Colette stepped forwards and the path reappeared. Kratos glanced from him to Colette, concerned and worried.
Not you, Lloyd, he thought, watching him for any signs of angelic manifestation. Please not you. Forcystus sighed softly, glancing at the translucent-blue path, and looked up at Kratos, who shook his head almost imperceptibly. Lloyd, oblivious to this exchange, ran down the path with Genis, Colette following soon after.
"So," Raine started as the three followed. "You think the Oracle Stones are activated by Angelic Mana?" She asked Kratos pointedly. He glanced at her.
"…It's only a theory," he responded evenly, noting but not responding to the desperate look Forcystus threw at him. "How else would they respond to the Chosen, and no other?" Raine hmmed, running a finger over her chin as she considered it.
"But that doesn't explain how Forcystus could activate the path when we first entered," she reminded him. Forcystus made a frustrated noise, kicking the ground angrily, another action which Kratos noted then ignored.
"As I said, it was only a theory," he told her. "I do not claim to be a well of knowledge on the topic of Cruxis, and derivatives thereof." Forcystus laughed softly under his breath, and Raine looked at him.
"Do you have anything to add?" She asked drily. He glanced at her.
"No," he replied. "Nothing at all."
Colette managed to get almost down to the dock before stumbling and falling, only just managing to save herself from tumbling straight into the sea by putting her hands out in front of her. Lloyd made a noise of shock, rushing over to help her.
"Professor! Colette's sick!" He exclaimed, reaching for the first explanation he could find. He looked at her anxiously. "Are you ok?" He asked her, worried. "It wasn't the fight at the Seal, was it? Or…"
"Again?" Genis cut in, walking up with Raine. Lloyd looked up at him in puzzlement as Raine put a hand to Colette's forehead and frowned. Her temperature was normal.
"Yeah," Genis replied. "She collapsed right after we released the first Seal, too. Just after we got out of the ruins." Lloyd looked back at Colette with concern on her face.
"We must let her rest immediately," Raine decided, standing back up. "She cannot continue on in this state." Kratos had a strange look on his face; as though this were something he had seen many times before and was sick of it. Lloyd noticed it out of the corner of his eye, although it meant nothing to him then.
"Time to set up camp, then, I would think," Kratos offered softly. "Although I think it would be best to get the Chosen back to the mainland first. As much as their… 'boats' may not be good for her…" His eyes fell on Forcystus, who shook his head and took a step back, and Kratos simply looked back at the Washtubs. Raine caught the glance, but was too late to see the half-elf's strange fear. "…But we have little choice," Kratos finished, walking over and picking Colette up, allowing Lloyd to stand too.
"Yes, but if this is going to happen every time Colette releases a Seal, she is going to have a very difficult time ahead of her," Raine agreed, taking out her ever-present notebook and making some notes absently. "For the time being, I'll call the phenomenon Angel Toxicosis. I'll keep an eye on her condition and see if I can spot any patterns to the development of the illness," she decided. Lloyd looked from her to Colette.
"Is it… Going to get worse?" He asked quietly. Colette made a weak noise, trying to speak but not having the energy, and pity flashed in Kratos' eyes.
I would fly you over the water if I dared show my true self, Chosen, he thought, glancing down at her briefly. "Lloyd, I want you to take care of her," he told Lloyd, whose look changed from deep concern to shock in mere moments.
"What, me?" He asked, looking highly dubious. Forcystus walked up and put an arm out as if to stop Kratos, a similarly dubious look on his face.
"He nearly capsized the boat! Are you crazy?" He argued, looking rather angry. "He's the last person you should put her with if you're concerned for her safety-" Lloyd glared at him, and Kratos nodded.
"True," he agreed, making Lloyd's glare shift to him. "However, what the Chosen needs right now is Lloyd. I am certain he will not be so… Reckless… With her as a passenger." Lloyd's glare abated at that, and he nodded solemnly, going over to Kratos and taking Colette from him. She smiled weakly up at him.
"I'll take care of you, I promise," he told her softly, going over to the closest washtub and laying her down in it gently. Kratos nodded in approval, the slightest of smiles visible on his face at the transformation in the normally careless Lloyd when a friend was in danger..
"…So you will have to ride with me," he told Forcystus, who winced.
"…It would seem so…" The half-elf replied with a sigh, resigned.
Colette sat up slightly when Lloyd was about halfway back.
"Colette!" He exclaimed. "Are you ok? Does it hurt?" Colette smiled weakly.
"…I'm fine," she murmured. "It'll go away soon… I'm sorry for causing you worry…" Lloyd shook his head, glancing up briefly to make sure he didn't capsize the washtub.
"Hey, hey, that's enough!" He told her with a kind smile. "Don't apologise! You're the one that's ill, all right?" Colette laughed weakly.
"I'm sorry," she apologised, making Lloyd shake his head again.
"Man, you just don't get it," he told her playfully, glancing over at the others. Forcystus was sat behind Kratos with a slightly glazed expression on his face, and the mercenary was saying something to him that Lloyd couldn't hear. Raine seemed to be trying to hide from the water, and Genis had to paddle their washtub. Needless to say, all of them except perhaps Kratos were relieved when they hit dry ground.
"Never… Again…" Raine groaned as she stumbled out of the washtub and onto dry land. Lloyd laughed slightly as he picked Colette up and carefully got out of the washtub; a silent Kratos taking her from him once he was stood straight. Forcystus went over to Raine and murmured something to her that made her shoot him a glare, but still allow him to help her up.
"I shall go and find us a suitable location to stay in," Kratos murmured, walking off with Colette in his arms. Lloyd looked after him, confused. He never seemed to be able to settle on a mood!
"Well, I sure don't want to repeat that again in a hurry," Forcystus remarked, walking over to Lloyd and standing by him, watching Kratos walk off with Colette. "And I thought I'd seen everything!" Lloyd laughed.
"You've never seen everything," he replied with a nod. Forcystus chuckled at that.
Genis had run after Kratos, to help out if he needed it, and Raine, Lloyd and Forcystus followed more slowly, the latter two talking absently until Raine made the executive decision to interrupt their conversation.
"You held your own quite well in the temple," She told Lloyd suddenly. "I was quite pleased." Lloyd looked up in surprise, running a hand through his hair in embarrassment.
"Ah, well, it's just what Forcystus taught me…" He mumbled as an excuse, looking up at the half-elf to save him from the situation. Forcystus laughed.
"Lloyd, you fight yourself. All I'm responsible for is giving you the incentive," he replied honestly enough. Raine looked at him searchingly, and he shrugged. "Besides, all I really taught you was what you would have discovered for yourself, in time," he added. Lloyd looked up at him jealously.
"When you fought with Kratos…" He murmured. "That was just… Perfect. I want to be able to fight like that." Forcystus chuckled, smiling at him.
"Maybe when you've lived a little longer and trained a little more," he replied knowingly. Lloyd pouted.
"Kratos isn't that much older than me!" He protested. Forcystus' look took on a sad aspect, and he sighed.
"…No, of course not…" He agreed. "But he has still had… More experience." Raine looked at him suspiciously, trying to remember all the times she had seen him with Kratos. She had become more and more distrustful of the mercenary the more they travelled, and if Forcystus had some connection…
The half-elf shrugged. "You'll get better in time. Even Kratos and I are still learning," he remarked. Lloyd scuffed the floor with his foot, muttering something about not believing it, and Kratos walked up to them. That ended the discussion on the spot.
"I will take the watch for the night," he told them. "Genis has kindly started a campfire. We shall rest here until tomorrow, to be certain that the Chosen has recovered from her affliction." Lloyd nodded.
"She needs to get some sleep," he decided. Kratos and Forcystus winced slightly in unison, making Raine give them strange looks, but Lloyd was too busy going over to Colette to notice.
"I'll take first watch if you like," Forcystus offered. "If it's any easier on you." Kratos looked at him.
"…Do what you wish," he responded, walking over to Lloyd and telling him sternly not to harass the Chosen when she was ill. Raine smiled slightly.
"He's almost like a father," she remarked. "Stern, yet caring." Forcystus looked at her.
"You speak as though I would know," he muttered bitterly. Raine sighed.
"An orphan?" She murmured. Forcystus nodded, once. "I'm… Sorry." Forcystus laughed coldly.
"Don't be sorry," he told her. "It's my parents' killers who should be sorry." He looked across at Kratos, who was cooking something for Colette, trying to ward off the ever-enthusiastic Genis, the look in his eyes unreadable.. "But my Lord Yggdrasill is never sorry for anything. He believes himself above it all." Even as he said it, his eyes never left Kratos, who glanced up at him, meeting his cold, hard look with an equally passive one. Forcystus looked away as Raine made a shocked noise.
"You… You work for the man who killed your parents?" She repeated, horrified. Forcystus nodded absently.
"Yes," he replied. "Although my participation in the organisation is… Somewhat forced, I became a Grand Cardinal because I wanted to." He laughed bitterly. "You don't trust me, do you? I can tell by the look in your eyes." Raine bit her lip, looking away slightly. "That's fine. I don't mind. Lloyd is far too trusting for his own good. I'm a Desian. No denying that, it's fact. Treat me like a Desian," he reassured. She frowned, looking at him as though he were crazy.
"If there were a Desian here now I'd kill them," she informed him bluntly. "Do you want to die?" Forcystus shook his head, a strange look in his deep red eyes.
"No," he replied quietly. "Although death is inevitable, in the end." Lloyd was talking to Colette as the sun set, Kratos looking up at the sky with a frown as Genis made several comments about his cooking. "I do not fear death, but I do not wish for it, either." Raine looked at him.
"Why do you not fear it?" She asked, walking over to the side and sitting down. Forcystus followed her.
"Because I doubt hell can throw anything at me that I haven't already been through in life," he replied. "If there even is a hell. I'd never go to… Hah, heaven… With the things I've done. Although heaven is a veritable hive of sinners." Kratos glanced over at them, a frown still on his face. "~Sorry~," Forcystus whispered, and Kratos' frown deepened and he looked away. "You don't trust him either, I gather?" Raine shook her head.
"There's something about him that's just… Not right," she replied. "I don't mean his mana, he's human, but… Something…" Forcystus nodded slowly, looking over at the mercenary, whose gaze had shifted to Lloyd. With a sigh, he walked over to Noishe and sat down, not even glancing over at them.
"Indeed," Forcystus agreed. "He does give off quite the scent of mana. Perhaps your distrust would be wisest." Raine glanced at him, and, after a short wait, turned to him.
"That feather, that you gave to Lloyd. Where did you get it from?" She demanded, taking the offensive. Forcystus looked at her, his eyes hiding any emotion.
"I don't think you've the right to demand such things from me," he told her coldly. She glared at him.
"I've the right to know, if it may pose a threat to Colette," she argued back.
"It won't," Forcystus replied bluntly. "No angel will harm Colette. Ever. Unless she… Falls from grace." Raine frowned.
"Falls from grace?" She repeated. Forcystus was looking out over the scenery, a haunted look in his eyes.
"I've said too much," he murmured. "If I talk too freely I may well bring Lord Yggdrasill down on your heads. That I do not wish at all. It would be quite the bloodbath."
"With Kratos watching over us, and Lloyd so determined?" Raine asked. Forcystus laughed.
"Yes, even then," he murmured. "…So cold…" He stood up. "I will leave you be. I am sure you would not like to associate with a Desian, Miss Sage. After all, elves wouldn't want to associate with a scummy half-breed like me." Genis looked up sharply as Raine sighed softly, looking at the floor almost guiltily. He smiled slightly at her. "Know this. I will protect Lloyd with my life. I've… Orders. Plus, he deserves it. And I have wronged him by forcing him to the Ranch." He turned abruptly and walked away.
Lloyd woke up later that night, no reason immediately apparent to him. He blinked sleepily, casting about for what had woken him. Kratos was sat by Noishe, the watch as he'd said, and Genis, Raine and Forcystus were all sleeping, albeit with Forcystus a lot further away than the rest of them. He frowned and sat up when he noticed Colette, stood further off and very much awake. He got up, causing Kratos to glance over at him for a second, and walked over to her.
"Colette, you're still up?" He asked her softly, putting one hand on her shoulder. She turned around, smiling.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied with a quiet laugh and a bright smile.
"You may feel better now, but you still need to rest," Lloyd told her gently, unable to believe that the normally sensible Colette would be pushing herself.
"Oh, I know," she replied, still smiling. "I'll go to sleep in a little bit. Don't worry!" Lloyd frowned. Colette was being overly cheerful, even for her.
"But, still…" He protested, wincing as one of the collection of feathers in his pocket flared red-hot. He frowned, reaching into his pocket until he located the offending feather. He pulled it out; it was Forcystus'. "Weird," he murmured, as Forcystus mumbled something in his sleep.
"Kratos is still up," Colette pointed out. Lloyd sighed, glancing over at the mercenary.
"That's because he volunteered to be the night watch," he reminded her. "You need to rest." Colette looked slightly downcast.
"…Okay," she agreed eventually. Lloyd sighed.
"Okay," he told her. "…I'm a bit worried about Forcystus, so… Good night." Colette smiled at him again.
"Good night," she replied happily, sighing as Lloyd walked away. "…Dream some good dreams for me, Lloyd…" Kratos glanced over at her, stood up and walked over.
"Chosen, can you not sleep?" He murmured. She looked up at him.
"Um… Well, it's…" She started. Kratos sighed, a look on his eyes that said 'I share your pain'. Colette frowned slightly.
"If you cannot sleep, you should count the stars," he suggested, spreading one arm to indicate the heavens. "Although… A human life is… Far too short to count them all…" When Colette looked at him, she saw such a sadness in his eyes that she wanted to step away, give him space. She fought the urge.
"…Yes…" She murmured. Kratos sighed, looking up at the sky.
"Chosen… Sleep well," he told her softly. There was a hidden regret in his voice when he said 'sleep well', and Colette looked at him, not daring to tell him she couldn't. He seemed to know, besides.
"Hey, Forcystus…" Lloyd murmured, walking up to the sleeping half-elf with his feather in one hand. Forcystus made an unintelligible noise in his sleep. "…You having a nightmare? Or… What, hey?" Forcystus' hand shot out and grabbed Lloyd's arm in a death grip, but the half-elf was still asleep. Lloyd made a noise of shock.
"…No… Sleep…" Forcystus whispered in his sleep. "Not for… Us…"
"F-Forcystus," Lloyd murmured, worried by the strength of the half-elf's grip.
"Only… Pain…" Forcystus' eyes opened, but Lloyd could tell by the look in them that he was still sleeping. "So much… Pain… Little angel…" Lloyd tried to pull away.
"I'm not an angel. Forcystus, wake up. Please. You're scaring me…" He murmured.
"Purity…" Forcystus hissed. "White… Wings…" Lloyd noted that there was blood running down his arm, but Forcystus hadn't cut into his skin, so it had to be…
"Forcystus! Wake up!" He shouted, and Kratos looked over, walking up. "Forcystus!"
"Lloyd," Kratos murmured, making the teen look at him. "You will wake the others." He knelt by Forcystus and smacked him. Forcystus jerked awake as Lloyd started to protest.
"…Wha…?" He murmured, his grip on Lloyd loosening and falling. "I was… Dreaming… An…" He looked at Lloyd. "…Impossible…" Kratos frowned.
"You made Lloyd make quite the fuss," he murmured. "I have a watch to be doing." He stood and walked back over to Noishe, who whined softly at him and nudged him. Kratos said something to him softly, and he leant his head on his paws and huffed.
"You're bleeding! Did I hurt you?" Forcystus asked Lloyd, worried. Lloyd shook his head.
"I'm… Not," he murmured. Forcystus looked at his hand; it was covered in drying blood.
"…Damn," he muttered. "Why is this happening now…?" He pushed the bangle up his arm. "Lloyd… I'm sorry. Did I startle you?"
"Just a little," Lloyd replied, taking his glove off. "I can wash the blood out, though, it's alright. How can you bleed without any wounds?" Forcystus sighed.
"Lloyd, there are wounds. You just… Can't see them," he replied.
"Is it because of… Because you're…" Lloyd started. Forcystus glanced around, despite Lloyd' shouting, Raine and Genis were still sleeping, and Colette was turned away from them, feigning the sleep Forcystus knew she couldn't have.
"Because of… This," Forcystus murmured, doing something he hadn't done since he was a young child. He spread his wings.
"F-Forcystus!" Lloyd exclaimed, shooting a glance at Kratos with worry. Forcystus laughed, raising a hand to show feathers sprouted from it.
"That's what makes my hand bleed," he explained. The tips of his white wings were stained red with blood, too. "I've been hiding for too long, you see. You could call it my personal variation of Angel Toxicosis." Lloyd reached out for his wings in awe, before catching himself and pulling his hand back. Forcystus smiled sadly, moving one wings forward. Despite seeming to be made of pure light, Lloyd could see that, close up; there were feathers in his wings, generating the eerie, effervescent light that seemed to emit from them. "I don't mind," Forcystus told Lloyd softly, and Lloyd reached out and touched his wings. He couldn't help but get the feeling that he was violating Forcystus somehow, even though the half-elf had given his consent. The Desian sat there, unmoving, as Lloyd ran his fingers over the slightly bloodied feathers at the edge of his wings.
"They're… So…" Lloyd murmured, unable to come up with a word to describe them. Forcystus laughed softly as Lloyd moved backwards abruptly. "I shouldn't…" He murmured.
"I said I didn't mind, Lloyd," Forcystus replied, turning to him properly, looking at his hands. "It's been a long time since I last… Stopped hiding." Lloyd looked at him uncertainly, and Forcystus, reading his expression well, held out his hand. Lloyd bit his lip, but ran one finger down the feathers. He saw the half-elf close his eyes, felt him physically repress a shudder, and he moved his fingers away quickly.
"I'm sorry," he apologised in a rush. Forcystus shook his head.
"Don't worry," he murmured. "It's not you." He lowered his hand, and with a flash of mana, his wings faded. "It's… Memories."
"Memories?" Lloyd asked. "You mean… Yggdrasill…?" Forcystus shivered.
"…I…" He murmured, shaking his head softly. Lloyd remembered how callously the angel had slashed at Forcystus, how coldly he had spoken of taking everything away from the half-elf.
"It's… Alright," Lloyd murmured. "It's not a bad thing to be afraid." Forcystus looked at him, confusion betrayed in his eyes. "Yggdrasill scares you, I know," Lloyd murmured. "But… It's alright to feel fright. It shows that you're… Um…"
"Human?" Forcystus finished for him, a sad smile on his face. "It's not that I'm ashamed of it, Lloyd. I've had to hide it. For… Safety." Lloyd nodded slowly.
"So they don't find out about what you are? That's what it's all about, isn't it?" Forcystus nodded. "Yggdrasill wants you to be an angel for… Something, I don't know… And if any of them find out you are… He'll take you to…"
"Derris-Kharlan," Forcystus replied.
"Heaven," Kratos cut in, walking up. Lloyd made a surprised look and scurried backwards slightly, but Forcystus didn't move. "No?" Forcystus looked at the floor.
"~Heaven is a place for sinners to repent~," he replied in angelic. Lloyd frowned, not having understood the sentence. "~It is a place of pain and lifelessness.~ To Derris-Kharlan," he repeated in normal speech.
"It's not a place for humans," Lloyd murmured. "…Did you see, Kratos?"
"His wings? Yes," Kratos replied. "You're certainly quite the master of disguise, Desian." Even Lloyd flinched back at the hatred in his tone.
"Yes, mercenary," Forcystus replied, looking up at him and meeting his gaze. Kratos laughed.
"And why is a Desian an angel?" He asked. Forcystus murmured something in angelic that Lloyd didn't understand, and stood up.
"Lloyd," he whispered. "I'm sorry." Lloyd frowned.
"For what?" He asked. "I don't speak… Angel." Forcystus smiled sadly.
"No sleep for the wicked," he murmured. "We've a journey ahead of us tomorrow, Lloyd. You should get some sleep."
"Or you'll be quite the hypocrite," Kratos added. Lloyd glared at them.
"Stop treating me like a little kid!" He protested. "You both do it! I don't need it!" Kratos sighed.
"Stop throwing a tantrum, then," he replied with a soft smile, walking back over to Noishe. Forcystus watched him go as Lloyd fumed.
"I was going to sleep, too, if I can do so without being haunted by nightmares," he murmured, lying back. "Sleep well." Lloyd sighed, walking back over to where he had been sleeping. Forcystus made almost as little sense as Kratos sometimes.
A/N - So, what do you think to the wings? ^^ Idonothaveawingobsession*shifty look* But I think his wings are the... Second to appear in Symphony! Next should be Lloyd's, for all you Angel-Lloyd-lovers.
Warning! Inhibitor description below! Scroll down if you don't want to read!
The Inhibitor - i.e., the bangle that Forcystus always wears on his non-cannon(sword) arm, is essentially a ring of Inhibitor Ore. However, it has been specially refined (Not by Dirk, however - by Altessa) and combined with... Something that escapes me right now (I don't have any of my story notes on me ^_^"). It has a passage carved on it in Angelic tongue which reads "Let they who wish to live in shadows remain unseen." It suppresses the Angelic signature given out by Forcystus' body, helping him to hide his wings and (although clearly, it hasn't been working as well lately) stop things such as oracle stones reacting to him.
The bangle was given to him by Kratos, when he was travelling with Anna and a baby Lloyd, and is part of the reason why Forcy owes the angel a "favour". The bangle itself was made for Anna, and since Kratos and she were on there way to get a Runce Crest crafted for her at the time, they both agreed that it was a good thing to give it to him.
End of description ^^
So, I think that's everything... The next chapter may well be a long one, but I'll try not to make you wait too long for it ^^ Please review with your thoughts ^^