In a nearby cafe, a few blocks away from the club, the group had stopped to take a quick rest from the events that had just traspired. Ness informed the others what had happened to him when they where accidentally separated in the club.
"Now that's what I call a close encounter." Leon said, slyly nudging his teammate.
"You dog, I bet you enjoyed that." He teased, taking a spoon full of his Strawberry Sundae.
Ness blushed as he recollected what happened again in his head.
"S-Shut up. She was trying to suck my blood." He crossed his arms resolutely.
"Yeah, I bet that's not all she was trying to su-." Leon muttered before Cien slapped the back of his head, to shut him up.
"You mentioned a guy got her off you?" Cien asked, leaning in, she was becoming more interested in the story.
"Yeah. They looked a lot alike, almost like twins."
"They must have left immediately afterward because I don't remember anyone like that when we where fighting that mob of civilians." Zane informed.
Ness looked down at his drink that he had yet to take a sip of.
Lexi looked to be thinking as she absorbed the information just given. "I want to know who it was that controlled all of those people, and why you three weren't effected." She conveyed her thoughts.
"It might be because they aren't human, at least, not completely." Janet hypothesized.
Leon nodded in agreement. "That makes sense I suppose. I'm half demon, Zane is part dragon, and Green here," he playfully tugged lightly at her ears.",Is Hylian."
Green pushed the older boy away as she treated her sensitive ears.
"Interesting theory, but are we really to believe that the person after us has mind control powers? It might be something else." Lexi replied.
"There's a PSI move called PSI Hypnosis. It can put the victim to sleep. But I'm not entirely sure about controlling others' bodies." Janet added.
"I find it strange that we haven't been running into any trouble besides a few people. Most likely they're lieutenants. Not even the occasional grunt." Zane said to no one in particular.
Leon stopped eating his Sunday. "That means my brothers got something planned. He was never the type to take orders."
Green scratched her head, thinking. "When I was in training for my engineer's license, I remember my mentor saying..." She coughed a few times clearing her throat.
"There are many different train parts and trains out there, Green. They are meant for different things, and as an engineer and a conductor, it is your duty to make the right decision involving them. A train is meant to make it to point A and point B, but how you get there is up to you. Make it so you pick out the right part for the job you want done." Green quoted in a gruff voice. She coughed a few times.
Almost everyone looked at her oddly.
"So what you're trying to say is that someone is specifically picking these people for us instead of just throwing them at us?" Lexi interpreted.
"Exactly." Green smiled.
"What do you think Ness?" Cien asked, looking over to him.
Ness wasn't paying attention as he looked to have zoned out.
"Ness?" Janet called. She snapped her fingers in front of his face.
He jumped back into reality as he turned looked at his surroundings.
Ness shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
He looked around for anyone suspicious, but all he saw was a girl with reading a book, and some waiters and a waitress who were currently cleaning up after the last customers.
"Anybody else feel like we're being watched?" Ness asked the group.
"I always feel like that." Janet joked.
He stood up from his chair and looked around more. The cafe was still barren they where the only customers due to the late, or at this point early time.
The girl in the glasses gave him a weird look before mumbling something under her breath.
"Let's just get out of here."
"Aww, what? I haven't even finished my Sundae yet. I ain't leavin'." Leon complained, putting his feet up on the table.
"I promise to buy you a new one. Now get your ass up." Janet scolded.
"Ness, what's your deal?" Cien asked.
Ness scanned the cafe again. He felt the cold chill run up his spine again as he watched the girl from earlier leave.
Ness sighed as he turned to the rest of the group. "I don't know why, but I just felt really anxious."
"What's your problem?"
Ness turned around. The girl with large square glasses stood directly behind him.
She had a cockney accent, with an oversized sweater and tights. She adjusted her glasses as she looked at the group with suspicion.
"Well, you're obviously not a local." Lexi said.
"No, and neither are you. Now may I ask what a such a large group of..." She gave them all a quick scan. "Cosplayers, are doing here in the middle of the night?"
"Cosplay? Isn't that something that nerds do?" Leon asked.
"Says the one wearing a trench coat everywhere." Lexi retorted.
"It's cool when I wear it." He defended.
"Why is it a concern to you?" Zane asked.
The girl adjusted her overly large sweater. "I wanted to know what your friend's problem was."
"Why are you staring at me like that?" She looked to Ness. "You fancy me or something?"
"Woah, back up Four Eyes." Janet hissed at the girl.
"We were just leaving." Green said, trying to avoid a fight.
"There's something about you... I don't know what it is, but..." He continued to stare at her.
The girl began to look nervous as she clutched the book she had in her hands harder.
"I-uhhh, well I suppose I should introduce myself? My names, Mai. Mai Rinkof, I'm a traveling book collector and writer." She said, attempting to shake Ness's hand.
Ness stood there and continued to eye her.
"Don't be rude Ness." Cien scolded.
"Hi, my name's Cien, and this is Ness, Leon, Zane, Lexi and Green."
She pointed to the each person she mentioned.
"Hey! Forgetting someone?" Janet asked upset.
"Oh yeah, that's Janet." She rolled her eyes.
"Alright, well where are you guys headed? Is it to a late night party? Or perhaps headed to a hotel? Oh! Are you going to see that mysterious island that appeared off the coast?" She questioned, quickly warming up to the group.
"A mysterious island?" Lexi asked.
"Yea, it's weird. It just appeared out of nowhere a few hours ago. It's said that no one can get near it. Some kinda weird mystical force is stopping everything that comes close to it.
The group looked at each other as they nodded.
"Yeah, that's where we were heading." Ness confirmed.
"Fantastic! Well, let's go!" Mai cheered.
"I don't know about this." Ness said, unsure.
"I say we give her a chance. She seems genuine." Janet said.
'Yeah, a little bit too genuine.' Ness thought.
-Symphony of the Eight-
Tonia sat on her bed, her hands set ablaze with pink fire.
And Coincidentally how it matched her own nightgown she was wearing; her favorite color.
She stared into the fire for a short amount of time before putting it out.
Since she had come back to her quarters she had changed from her tight dress to her more flowy night gown. She has since then touched her neck. It was still sensitive from when Ness strangled her. The master may have revived her but she could still imagin the pain and the life coming out of her clear as day. She had recalled the incident in her head over and over for the past 5 hours.
'Usually when something like that happened, I would be in control of the situation. Nothing ever got out of hand. But in that battle with him, I wasn't just outmatched.'
She tucked her knees closer to her. 'I was completely outclassed. And against someone who wanted to protect someone... how ironic.'
She lay down in her bed hugging her pillow. It has since become a habit since she stayed in the fortress. 'I won't give up though. Not even death can stop me from attaining my goal.' She thought as she closed her eyes to sleep.
-Symphony of the Eight-
The team plus Mai exited the taxi and walked up to the beach. It was filled with various locals and foreigners with binoculars and tent scattered throught the legth of the beach. There was even a news team near there van looking to be taking a break.
Mai pointed to the sunrise in the horizon. "You see it? It's right next to the sunrise!"
The group looked to where she was pointing. True to her word there came into view a small island housing rock formations along with black and white trees at its parrimiter. It looked as if it had been ripped right off an alien planet, as it looked broken and forign.
Lexi handed the Sound Stone to Janet as it began to glow completely white.
"What's that thing?" Mai asked.
"Are you sure we can do this? There are a lot of civilians here." Leon warned.
"It's fine. They can watch all they want. We are probably on the news already after that fiasco at the club, and how we escaped from those cops in Eagleland." Ness said.
The sound stone shot into the air and shined a beam of light to the island. The stone moved aside, revealing an entrance.
"Umm, are we going to swim across?" Janet asked as the sound stone floated back into her palm.
"No need!" Green said reaching into her pouch.
She took out a wand with a brown handle and a golden face at the end of the wand.
"That's cool, but don't you guys think you might be taking your cosplay a little too seriously?" Mai chuckled.
Everyone remained silent as Green seemed to be focusing.
She hefted the wand into the air. A narrow pathway of sand bridged its way from the group to the island.
Mai stood wide-eyed as she looked at the scene. She fell back landing on her bottom in amazement.
"You guys...aren't cosplayers are you?" Mai said as she gulped.
"Alright, let's go! This sand bridge won't last forever!" Green said as she hurried the group.
"I recommend you stay here." Zane politely requested as he chased after the rest of the group.
"Woah, did you see that?" A random tourist questioned.
"That was insane, who are those guys?!" Another cried.
"I don't know but I'm certainly, going to find out." Mai whispered, grinning.
-Symphony of the Eight-
The sand bridge disappeared behind Zane as he just made it to the island.
"That was impressive Green. Nice job." Cien complimented.
"Let's get inside. I want to see who would do such a thing to all those people." Zane said angrily. He unsheathed his sword as he entered.
"What kind of sick bastard does that?" Leon added as he entered as well.
"Let's not waste any time." Ness said as everyone started to walk in.
Janet hesitated. She started to tremble as she looked into the dark entrance.
She however shook her head and ran after them.
The team ran up to a clearing it was filled with cherry blossoms, half black and half white. The sound stone rose into the air and bathed the area with a white, it mixed with the light of the riseing sun made the entire scene look beautiful.
In the middle sat a figure. The blossoms themselves were repelling against what seemed to be a force, it formed a perfect circle around it. An object was in front of him, but they couldn't see it from their angle.
"So you finally arrived. Personally, I wouldn't have stopped at a cafe after I was challenged to a battle. But do as you with it, does not concern me because you will all be killed one in the same."
"Oh my god! I haven't even been in his general area for 20 seconds, and already I wanna punch his face!" Cien yelled.
She took out her Sythe, bending her knees ready to strike.
Janet stood as she trembled. "No, no, no, no..."
Everyone turned to Janet.
"What's the matter?" Leon asked.
She walked to the front of the group.
"You bastard...I don't know how you did it, but you did..."
The man laughed a great, hearty laugh as he rose from his spot.
Greeting them was a tall man around 6'5 with an expensive black business suit with matching tie, along with a long trench coat. His hair was slicked back and he had a fully grown mustache and goatee.
But despite that, he was still recognizable to Zane.
"Jace? Is that you? What is going on around here?"
The man laughed again. "You wish it was him. Sad to say, but he is long gone now." He said strapping the scabbard to his side.
Janet breathed as she stood between him and the group.
"I had a feeling this was your doing. It seemed like something you would do...Raymond."
"What?" Ness said, confused.
"Leon, you asked who would do such terrible things to us? Well the person who did was him; my own father did!"
Raymond clapped. "I'm surprised you figured it out to quickly! I thought that you would be an easier target if I tricked you, but that is obviously not going to work." He frowned.
"You sick bastard!" Leon said, taking out Alastor. However, Ness stopped him.
Leon looked at him with a confused look as he watched Zane, Green, Lexi and Cien look at Ness in confusion.
"This is Janet's fight."
They both took a stance as they got battle-ready. They both placed their hands on there handles.
"Yeah, it is, so don't interfere."
"And by the way, Commander, it's Senator Raymond now." He smirked. He snapped his fingers as a black, white and blue-celled dome surrounded the clearing.
The opaque shield left the group on the outside of it.
Both of them quickly unsheathed their blades. They were exactly the same.
Janet breathed and refocused herself. "This time when I kill you...I'll make sure you stay dead!"
Awesome! Next chapter coming soon after! Also blood warning for next xhapter.