Jace pulled at the cloth around his eyes as Poppy slapped his hands away.
"Stop messing with that!" Poppy said.
"What? This stuff's itchy."
Poppy and Jace were in the medical bay of the ship. The medics put gauze around his eyes. Poppy watched as Jace crossed his legs and breathed in deeply.
"What are you doing?" Poppy asked. Jace jumped in surprise as he looked in her direction, trying his best to give an annoyed expression.
"Well, if you must know, I'm meditating. I'm the second most powerful psychic of the group so I'm able to feel the group's energy to see what they're doing." He explained.
"Ya that's uhhh, really interesting." She said sarcastically.
"Really? I thought you would get bored or something."
"I was being sarcastic." She informed.
"Oh. Why do you and my sisters do that? It's majorly annoying."
"Hey, what's it like, living with two super-powered sisters? My sister moved to France, and my brother went into the Air Force-"
Jace groaned. "Air Force? Just stop talking. I hate the military!" He turned away from her as he went back to what he was doing.
"You have no right to talk about my brother like that!" She got up, turning him around.
"I have nothing against your brother. It's just the military I have problems with." She opened her mouth to ask.
"Don't ask why because I won't tell you."
"Well, anyway, I live with my parents and I go to school."
Jace perked up and turned around. "Did you say school? I never got to go there. What is it like?" He leaned in with a large smile crossing his face.
She scratched her head in confusion.
"Why didn't you go to school?"
Jace started to look nervous. "Well, um…I was home schooled?! Yeah, that's the reason." He lied.
Poppy looked closer, seeing he was obviously lying, but decided to leave it alone .
"Oh? I didn't know you where home-schooled." She answered. Jace sighed in relief.
"Why don't we change the subject?" Jace said, feeling uncomfortable.
"What do you think of this journey so far? Is it anything you expected?" Jace asked trying to stay chipper. Poppy's face fell at the question. She looked at the ground, remembering what had just transpired not even a few hours ago. She usually ignored the bad, but seeing what Ness did…
"Jace..." Jace turned to the girl's general direction.
"What Ness did to that girl… Was it the right thing to do? I mean, to answer your question, I wasn't expecting things to be like this on this journey. I thought it would be fun. I mean, Master Hand did send us here before the tournament really started going, so I knew it had to be important, but…"
"But?" Jace lead on.
"But while we were there, I heard so many rumors about him. I thought Ness would be the great hero; one of the original twelve that formed the first tournament. But after seeing that...I don't know what to think of any of this anymore."
Jace sighed as he took in all the information, thinking of a response.
"Well, I met Ness a few months before the 3rd Tournament. He's always been like that from what I remember. I'm not exactly sure what happened; something to do with his old friends? He never told me, or anyone for that matter." Jace never really noticed or let it cross his mind, as he quickly shrugged it off.
"It's so cruel. I didn't think it would be like this. I don't want to kill people even if they are bad." Tears started to flow down her eyes. She felt like she was stuck and the only decision was the one she didn't want.
"That girl killed all those innocent people, you're blind and Ness strangled her. I should be happy she's gone. So why do I feel this way?" She started to sob, wiping tears from her eyes.
Jace patted her head. "Death is a natural part of life. Whether the life has been ended prematurely or not does not matter. The only thing that does matter is how it ends, by your means or another."
Poppy gave him a confused look. "What was that from?"
"My mother told me that." He didn't know why, but he felt an urge to calm her down.
"No offence, but that sounds like twisted philosophy."
Jace chuckled. "I was confused when she first said it. Honestly, I don't know if it was just another way to brainwash me or not. But I learned to be comfortable with death. When the day came I was to see it, or cause it." Poppy wasn't sure what to do next. Her perception of the boy was changing rapidly into what she could guess was a strange mixture of hatred, contempt and confusion.
Hatred because what he was saying sounded like he didn't care for others at all.
Contempt because he seemed unusually satisfied and calm about the things that had just transpired not even a few hours ago.
Confusion because he seemed to be genuine in what he was saying with no hint of malice or intent.
But she felt something else that she want too familiar with.
"Jace..."
"I don't care, that those people died honestly, but I do care for the people still living. Well, I shouldn't say that. I do care. I'm still fuzzy about all of it myself." Jace started to rub his temples in frustration, until he felt something beside him. Poppy embraced him tightly. He blushed, unsure what to do.
Outside, Phil had his back on the wall next to the door. He couldn't help but smile as he got up and walked down the hallway.
-Symphony of the Eight-
Phil walked onto the massive deck. Everything was silent. The ship itself floated over the clouds unable to be seen by others. The moon shined a strong light onto the ship.
He relished moments like this, time to think to himself. He thought of the thing probably plaguing most of the team's minds: Ness.
He admitted that the death of the girl was necessary. But, it surprised him that it wasn't by his hand. He wondered how a person like Ness could even do it. He remembered reading his file back at the tournament. Nothing about his character so far matched.
"Humph. Things are taking a much more interesting turn than Master Hand had let on. I wonder what other surprises will come my way." He looked up to the large moon and smirked.
He felt a familiar tingle run up his spine. Someone was here. "Well, speak of the devil."
He looked around, at the far side of the deck. He saw a small figure walking down.
His face however, fell. He cautiously grabbed the hilt of his weapon as he intercepted the figure.
It was a person; female, with a hood covering her face so he couldn't make it out.
"Whoever you are, you are trespassing on my ship. Leave now or be killed." Phil didn't like the feel of this. Something about this girl was off, but the weirdest feeling was of déjà vu.
The girl still didn't move from where she was.
"Very well." He unsheathed his sword.
-Symphony of the Eight-
-Earlier with the rest of the team-
Zane watched with the others as Phil and Poppy left with the injured Jace.
He couldn't help but look back down to our leader.
Ness looked silent and cold, but I had this strange feeling I was missing something. Zane however, shook my head of the thoughts and looked to Lexi, who just stopped examining the puddle of blood.
"We need to get to both Zane and Janet's sanctuary as soon as possible." Cien encouraged.
Lexi nodded in agreement, about to take the map out until we heard some sirens in the distance.
"Ok, how about we run to the sanctuary?" Cien suggested.
Everyone agreed as we ran to the closest indicator.
-Symphony of the Eight-
Alexander placed the girl on the elevated metal platform before turning to leave.
"Halt." Before he could leave, the same Starman Deluxe that assisted him earlier stopped him.
"The Master wishes you to stay to see with you." It relayed.
In moments, two massive marble doors opened. A humanoid figure cloaked completely in shadow revealed itself.
It went up to the corpse looking at it with an annoyed stare.
"I warned her that it would be difficult, but she decided to not take them seriously; especially Ness, but I have to say, I'm surprised by his ferocity and anger."
A chuckle echoed the halls from the master. "Good. Things are turning out just as I have planned then. Tonia was the perfect one for this mission." It looked down upon the girl.
Its hands glowed with an over layer of red energy that pulsed and flowed into her.
She jolted awake, coughing violently. "What happened?" She managed to cough out.
"You were killed by Ness; strangled to death." Alexander informed.
Tonia looked disturbed, as the memory of him surged through her head; remembering how his eyes burned with hatred. It made her feel sick as she started to shiver. That's when one fact hit her: she had no chance to beat him to begin with. She looked over to The Master, who still stared at her.
"You knew this would happen, didn't you?" She was only answered with the same blank red eyes, staring.
"It was. I purposely sent you, knowing full well that you would die." It turned to leave.
"Then, what was all that, 'Don't fail me' crap?" She got off the stretcher angrily, walking up to The Master.
"Ness is essential to my plan. He has taken the 2nd step in the direction I need him to go. Also, I told you that because I found it amusing." It said darkly, turning to its lieutenant.
"Now then, return to your quarters, until I give you orders for your next mission."
"What about the Sanctuary? Shouldn't we stop them?" Alexander casually put in.
The Master chuckled. The sound re-verberated through the dark halls as it looked to a nearby monitor of Earth. "There's no need. The problem will solve itself."
But it quickly regained focus. "Return to your quarters, all of you. I will deploy you when ready." It quickly left as all of the Starmen obeyed orders.
Tonia growled as she watched everyone leave. She felt her hatred for The Master grow even more as she was finally left alone with only Alexander in the room.
Alexander looked at the monitor but turned around.
"Where are you going? You don't seem like the type to follow orders." Tonia mocked as she crossed her arms.
Alexander didn't answer, quickly walking back through the marble doors.
"Huph. Well, whatever. I don't think I'm done with Ness anyway." She looked to her palm and summoned her fire, but instead of white, the fire turned pink.
"Interesting…"
-Symphony of the Eight-
"I don't think that it's right, what you did to that girl." Cien tried her best to wrap her mind around what he did, but it still never sat right with her. She could also tell that some the team was on edge as well, even though they were trying to keep an upbeat attitude.
"Cien, what I did, I'm not sure why I did it." He kept walking forward without looking to her.
"I was so angry and afraid that I was going to los -."
"We're here." Ness and Cien looked over to the rest of the group, who was staring at the nightclub.
The building vibrated with club music, as everyone could feel it in their very cores.
"We'll have to get past the bouncer."
"I'll handle this." Janet said casually stepping forward, cracking her knuckles.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, babe. We ain't breaking another bouncer's wrist." Leon grabbed her shoulder before she could go.
"Don't call me 'babe'." She said quickly, swatting his hand away as she looked around.
"Well, how else are we supposed to get in? Lexi placed her hands on her hips.
"There's always a back entrance for places like these." Ness told everyone.
Ness walked a little ways to the side of the building. He then gestured for everyone to follow.
The alley was dark, but there was enough light to be able to see. It was barren, save a figure slumped in a far corner.
"The hell?" He cautiously approached the figure seeing it was a man, covered in blood.
"Hey! There's a guy over here!" Everyone quickly gathered around Ness seeing the man.
He looked as if he hadn't eaten in weeks, being very boney, and he had a lot of blood covering his torso and neck.
"What happened to him?" Green asked, looking at the body curiously.
"He died but, I'm not exactly sure what would cause this kind of death." Zane scratched his chin, thinking.
"Maybe he's a homeless man?" Cien inquired.
"No, his clothes look pretty new. He looks like he came dressed for this place." Janet looked back to the nightclub.
"Whatever is going on in this place, it's not good." Zane looked to Lexi.
"Lexi, may I borrow the stone? Just in case so we can get in and get out." She nodded as she handed him the stone.
Ness pushed past the group to the door, only to find it locked.
"Anybody know how to pick locks?"
"I do." Leon went up to the door kicking the door off its hinges.
"That works too." Ness admitted.
"The sooner we get this business done, the better." Zane walked inside the club with everyone following.
-Symphony of the Eight-
The team entered the night club. Its strobe lights made everyone's eyes hurt, but they could make out the massive stone in the middle of the dance floor.
"I need a drink." Janet said, breaking off from the group.
"Hey I know you're worried about your brother, but the sooner we get this done the better." Leon encouraged.
"Then you go. I need time by myself." She pushed him aside heading towards the bar.
The group split up into the nightclub as the people started to also push them apart.
Ness was pushed away from the group by the crowd. He felt like he was suffocating in the sea of party-goers. He began to push himself out of the crowd.
He sighed in relief finally being out of that mess.
…As someone poked Ness's shoulder.
He turned around only to be greeted by a punch to the face.
"What the fuck Ness!?"
Ness looked up to see the one person he didn't expect.
"Liza, you-you're supposed to be..."
"Dead? Well I was, thanks to you!"
Though the light was poor, Ness noticed the blood stains on her shirt, and dried blood around her mouth.
"I knew there was something off about you."
"Before you even say it, I'm not a vampire, but I do feed off others, in order to stay immortal. You know, blood tastes an awful lot like chocolate." She licked her lips as she began to daydream.
"To think that I fought for you..." Ness spat out.
"Oh, it was sweet how you murdered that girl on my behalf."
Liza showed a full toothy grin with two sharp fangs revealing themselves.
Ness readied his bat as he glanced at Zane he saw the sound stone glow blue.
Her eyes started to glow red as she started to inch closer. "I'm still hungry and I need more blood to completely heal. Why don't you stand still?"
She crept closer to Ness, as the music in the club intensified. He looked around the section of the club he was currently in, spying couples against the wall kissing. No one would notice if she got close to him.
Ness backed until he accidentally hit the wall. She closed the distance, pressing up against him.
"I wonder what PSI user tastes like." She whispered in his ear.
Ness froze in place unsure of what to do, his heart pounding.
"What are-..." He closed his eyes.
But he felt Liza get off of him, seeing someone grabbing her.
A boy who looked close to Liza's age held her back as she struggled.
"Let me go!" She yelled, but her yells where defended by the music.
He calmly gestured to the dance floor.
Ness hadn't noticed seeing Zane fighting a group of men.
5 minutes earlier...
"Two Jin and tonics, extra dirty, extra fast." She ordered in Japanese.
The man gave her a confused look, about to scold her.
"Don't question me and just do it!" She yelled at him in English.
He quickly nodded as he went to work.
"Hey, you feel any better?" Green asked, sitting on a nearby stool.
"I know I will, in a second." She replied as the two drinks were placed in front of her.
"You know that won't help." She commented.
"If it's any hint, this isn't the first drink I ever had." She downed the drink in one gulp.
Green sighed as she looked over to Zane. He looked like a fish out of water, towering over most of the people, getting to the boulder in the middle of the room.
"Ya going to share that?" Leon joked, taking a seat next to her.
"You guys know where Ness went? He disappeared." Cien asked the group.
Janet and the others worriedly looked into the crowd, not seeing him.
"Where's Lexi?" Green asked.
"She's with Zane, I think." Cien replied back.
Zane weaved through the crowd, inching closer to the stone, as he noticed it had a thin glass dome most couldn't notice. He then looked to the Sound Stone, seeing it glow blue.
As he finally made it to the stone, he was greeted by guards.
"Uh hi. I umm, kind of need to get to the stone. So, if you would kindly step aside." However, the guard pushed him.
The man warned him in his native language. He looked to Zane's sword and reached for his nightstick at his side.
"Now, now. No need for things to get violent."
Zane felt the Sound Stone move in his hand. He let it go and it sailed into the air, glowing a bright blue color, making everyone on the dance floor look at the glowing object.
"That's not a good sign." Zane quickly scanned the area around him, seeing everyone looking at him save the DJ, who was still engrossed in his music.
Several guards started to converge on Zane as the people started to back up, making a large circle around him.
"I don't want to hurt any of you." He said in Japanese, all the men laughed. One of them ran to him.
Zane punched one of the men with enough force to knock him into the other behind him.
Everyone in the club started to back up even more. He reached for his sword.
"They're still human! So don't draw your sword!" He heard Lexi yell in the background.
Zane didn't answer. He put his hands up as he grabbed and threw another man away from him. 10 more ran to him at full speed.
Zane could help but feel confident. He knew he could win.
However, something strange happened.
Everyone in the club started to fall onto the floor.
The DJ suddenly fell asleep onto the track, causing complete silence.
"What's going on?" He looked to the others. Cien fell asleep along with Lexi and Janet. He looked around more to see Ness struggling to stay awake but ultimately fail as he fell as well.
Leon, Green and Zane were all that was left in the club, awake.
Leon checked the others' pulses.
"W-What happened? Why would they fall asleep like that?" Green asked.
"That would be, because of me." A loud male voice projected into the room.
"Well, whoever you are, why would you do something like this?" Zane asked.
"I thought that I could put all of you to sleep and easily kill you then, but you somehow managed to completely resist my mind control."
Zane looked around then to his other team mates. It quickly dawned on him why, but he stayed quiet.
"I think I'll have some fun with you. Hope you don't mind fighting your friends."
Several moans echoed throughout the club as the people began to get up and move on their own.
"The heck?" Green said aloud as she began to back up.
The last of the team backed up into a small circle, backs facing each other.
The people staggered towards the small group. Cien, Ness, Lexi and Janet blended into the crowd.
"Well, this will be fun." Leon took out his sword, about to swing.
"No! They're all still people! We can't kill them!" Zane said.
"I guess we go with plan B!" The sword stopped crackling with electricity and flipped the blade in reverse so the butt end was forward.
Zane put up his fists, getting ready to fight.
Green took out her boomerang and Whirlwind.
She breathed in deep and with a blow, a large gust of wind carried some of the people off.
"Impressive. Got anything I can use in there?" He joked.
Green quickly handed him a whip with the head of a snake.
"Umm, I was just joking but thank you?" He took it.
He swung the whip towards a nearby person. It wrapped around them, and with a quick and swift tug the person was released and thrown, sailing into the sea of people.
"I think I fell in love with this weapon." Zane smiled as he continued to use it.
Ness came out of nowhere and latched onto Zane's back trying to hold him as others started to creep closer.
"Sorry Ness!" He grabbed the hypnotized boy and threw him against the others.
Zane used the whip again but it was yanked away by Janet. The other zombie like people got up as none of the numbers seemed to be dwindling at all. They just kept getting up.
"They will not stop!" Zane commented as the ones defeated got back up immediately.
Leon kept going strong but he was holding back too much as it was getting tedious.
Green looked to be thinking. Her face then brightened up with an idea.
"Guys, keep them off me for a few moments!" She yelled over the constant moans of the people.
"Well, whatever. It better work!" Leon said as he used the flat side of his uncharged blade to push the large group back.
"What do you plan to do?" Zane asked pushing another group in the same manner as Leon.
"I remembered this song I learned during my adventure. I hope it works."
Green pulled out a pan flute seemingly out of nowhere.
"A flute!? Really?" Leon yelled as he kept the group at bay.
Green breathed. She began to blow on the instrument. A short tune quickly flowed out as the people calmed down and then stopped completely.
"What?! Whatever you did you released my mind control!" The voice sounded surprised.
"Hmm, very interesting. You are all very perceptive, I will give you that. Just for that, I won't make everyone's heads explode."
The three looked disgusted as they looked towards the ceiling.
"Meet me at the next Sanctuary. I'm sure you will enjoy fighting me along with your friends." It started to chuckle.
"Oh, and before I go, say hello to Janet for me. I am sure she would be happy to see me again."
The voice completely cut off, as everyone completely came to.
"Ugh, what happened? Cien asked. Her head felt like it was about to explode.
She looked around as everyone else started to come to.
"Why is everyone gathered around here?" She asked.
Zane worriedly looked over to the others.
"We need to gather up the rest of the group. We'll fill you in on the way to the next Sanctuary." Zane said, helping her up.
He looked over to the sound stone. It glew a brilliant blue and silver color as it floated into the socket.
The stone began to float and shifted itself towards Zane's direction.
Energy flowed out of the stone and into him. He felt a warm feeling envelope him as he felt a large surge of power unlock from inside him.
The feeling soon faded. As he looked to the rock, glowing blue text emerged. "Thou may partake of the form of dragon and man. Thine breath is fire, burning all in thy path. May yee takith apon the form of dragons at thy will?" He read aloud.
"We can figure out what it means later. For now, let's just get the hell out of here." Leon insisted.
He carried a still-awakening Janet on his back. Green passed by and took her whip out of Janet's hands.
"Very well. We will meet back at the alley." Zane instructed.
Leon nodded as he ran out the door they had just come from earlier, dodging the people still getting up.
Green walked over and helped Ness up. He looked around, confused.
"We will tell you the details when we are at the alley." Green informed.
He nodded and walked to the other side of the club.
Lexi was the last to get up as she cracked her neck.
"Let's get going?" Zane asked. Confused, but not willing to argue, she followed the soon to be king, stretching.
-Symphony of the Eight-
On the deck of Phil's ship a battle was taking place between him and an unknown assailant. The bright moon lit the heated battle that was currently taking place.
Phil dodged another swipe from the girl's claws that materialized seemingly out of nowhere.
He retaliated with several slices from his own sword, managing to cut her shoulder and the left side of her torso.
She ran at him again, spinning into a round house kick. He dodged, and countered with an upward strike, as it barely nicked her chin.
She twisted and retaliated with a sweep kick.
Phil jumped away and did a hand spring while keeping his eyes on the girl.
She began scratching her chin. The same frown never left her features.
'I obviously have the advantage when up close. Those claws of hers may be big, but they leave her wide open for attack.' He smirked.
She began to slowly circle around him.
'What are you planning?' He thought as she began to pick up her pace running to the ship hatch.
" Vous bâtard sournois! Vous n'obtiendrez pas loin!" He yelled in French.
"Moons give me strength!" Large spikes implanted themselves at the entrance, as several more sped towards the girl, trying to impale the girl.
She back flipped out of the way of the first, twisted her way out of the path of the second.
She looked surprised at the last one. Phil saw as it came a few inches from her face.
"Got you."
In an instant, she was gone.
"That's not possible."
He looked around until he spotted her at the top of one of his crystals. He grinned.
"I admit, you're good. Well, good at dodging, at least. Seeing as how I'm in the charitable mood, I would like to at least know your name before I execute you." He lowered his weapon, but not his guard.
"My name is none of your concern. I was counting on you being inside, so that I might get what I wanted done easily."
Her completely monotone almost robotic voice seemed very off-putting to him, but he didn't let it show.
"Oh, a mission I see. And what mission would that be?" He was becoming more interested by the second.
The girl appeared in Phil's face in the blink of an eye. The top half of her face still covered in a shroud of darkness.
He once again didn't let any surprise show on his face. "Then I will warn you now. Stay away from the Sanctuaries, go home, and never return to this place."
She began to back off to the edge of ship.
"And why should I do that?" He asked, interested in her answer.
She remained silent as she jumped off the edge.
"More and more interesting." He smiled as he re-sheathed his rapier. The ice around the entrance disintegrated.
It almost immediately burst open as several guards, along with Poppy, ran out of the ship.
"Sir! We saw what happened. Is everything alright?" A royal guard saluted.
"Ya, we saw what was happening at the helm. Is everything ok? We couldn't really see what was going on down here." She asked.
"It was nothing. Just a minor annoyance. it's been taken care of." Phil waved off as he walked to the door. The some of the men began to follow him back inside, as the rest began to repair the damage.
As the other men dissipated, she saw as Jace looking at their direction.
"I told you to stay inside." Poppy scolded.
He smiled as he walked over to her. "I'm blind, not useless. Besides, from what I heard, uhh what's his name again? Was it Paul? I don't know. He had this covered."
"Well, first of all his name is Phil; second, you're still injured, and I don't want to hear anymore. Get back to the room."
Jace pouted as he turned around, knocking his face on the door frame before he got into the door completely.
"That boy, I swear, needs a nanny." She face-palmed, but smiled as she watched him disappear into the ship.
Her mind wandered back to the figure that was fighting Phil.
Suddenly, it was there, then it's gone. What happened?
She looked around and saw several blood stains on the ground. Phil didn't have a scratch on him, so all she could guess was that it was that girl's.
She needed to know who this girl was. She walked away for a few moments to get something to aquire the blood,
But as she turned around, it was already being cleaned by one of the crewmen.
She sighed, as she went back inside. She would have to figure it out later.
-Symphony of the Eight-
"Hypnosis?" Ness questioned.
Zane nodded. "Yes. All of you were indeed asleep when you were under that voice's control."
"I had a feeling… you guys wouldn't have just turned into a mindless re-dead for no reason." Green said.
"You mean a zombie?" Leon corrected.
"What's a zombie?" Green scratched her head.
"...It's nothing. So what did this voice want with me?" Janet asked Zane.
"I'm not entirely sure. It sounded like a male voice. He said he would be waiting at your sanctuary."
"We best not keep him waiting then." Cien declared.
"I want to get him back for using me like that!" She started walking down the alleyway.
Everyone else started to follow with Ness at the back.
'What is going on? So much more is happening than I imagined.'
He glanced back at the bloody corpse still at the back of the alley.
'Then there was that girl and Tsukuyomi, not to mention Liza and that strange guy that saved me.'
The team exited the alleyway, into the street once more.
'Whoever these people are… whoever is after us isn't playing around this time...they are really planning on killing us.'
AN: Hello everyone! I hope you liked this chapter! It was released on my birthday today! :) It'd be an AMAZING birthday present if someone would draw a nice picture of the entire group. I would give you descriptions too.
I finally picked the songs I felt most appropriate to be the stories Opening and Ending song. In addition I would like everyone who submitted a character to bring me a theme to put with the character names on my profile.
Opening: /watch?v=n_Az1TYs3mo (Mostly for future chapter especially)
Alt Op:/watch?v=CtMXnr293zU (Cause I can't stop hearing the entire group sing this song Especially at 1:27 seriously.)
Ending: /watch?v=RiixxwO71GI
Alt End: /watch?v=5-rm_SAPtjU
Well I guess that's it. I will be working on the next chapter asap. (Got sidetracked by college stuff.) See you next time! Oh and btw, the line that Phil said translates to, "You sneaky bastard! You will not get away!"
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. The characters of Earthbound, the OCs used, and the songs, all belong to their respective owners.