Author's note: Sorry you guys, I have had computer issues and been busy with Uni applications and essays and all of the wonderments of uni work bogging me down. I'll try harder this time to update faster.

Note: Some names of things have been changed in here because at the time I was worried it would sound rather bad. All events are fictional and I have not changed them back just in case. xD

Chapter 20

Strange disturbances

The next day Claude entered the hospital room to find his sister gone. They looked all over the hospital to find she was nowhere to be seen. Needless to say, Claude was upset. They all decided to pan out and search the city. Maria was currently walking around town, oblivious to what was going on around her. She had picked up a good book from a bookstore that morning and she was reading it while she was walking. She looked up suddenly to find a car speeding in her direction, but she had no time to move. She saw the car move slower and her actions were somewhat put into slow motion. Someone quickly got her out of the way and got her into safety. She looked up to find time was acting normal again and the man who rescued her was looking at her.

"Are you alright, miss?" He asked. She nodded.

"What just happened? Time seemed to just-," she started before the man put his finger on her lips and shook his head. He smiled a benign smile.

"Nothing happened. Now, if you are alright, I shall go and attend to my business," he said. He had sparkly white hair and blue eyes. He smiled again, bowed politely and started to walk off after saying farewell. Maria ran to catch up with him.

"Hey, may I ask your name? I mean, I need to know who to thank, right?" Maria asked. He turned his head back towards her and laughed a little.

"My name is not of any importance. I am but a mere person not unlike yourself. Should you not get back to your day?" The man asked. Maria raised an eyebrow.

"Fine. Thank you very much for saving me, sir. I owe you my life," Maria said. He smiled, placed his hand on his chest and bowed heartily.

"The pleasure is all mine. I live to serve and I serve to live. Good day to you, young miss," the man said, bouncing happily off. Maria frowned and followed him once more.

"What kind of business are you up to?" Maria asked. He turned back, slightly startled.

"My my, aren't we nosy?" He asked lightly. Maria shook her head.

"I don't mean anything by it. It's just that you don't normally see white haired robe-clad men on this planet," Maria said. The man stopped and thought about this for a second. He was wearing a long white long sleeved Japanese collared robe, which were quite baggy and white trousers. His feet were clad in Japanese clogs. He nodded his head.

"I see that now. I wondered what all those people were staring at. But, this is my uniform and no, you may not know what I am doing. It is better you do not know. In fact, I would leave. Go on holiday somewhere," he said. Maria looked confused.

"Why? What's happening?" Maria asked.

"Nothing. It's just that I heard the weather was going to be terrible today. The worst it could ever get. So I would move. I wouldn't want my rescue attempt to go to waste, no?" The man said, smiling. Maria nodded and thanked him again. She walked off and headed back to the ship, where Claude and his friends were moping around sadly. Maria walked further in and dropped her bag to the side, folding her arms.

"What's going on?" She asked. Claude sighed and told her what was up. She shook her head and reassured him that she will be found eventually.

"I met this interesting guy today, he was wearing odd clothes and he saved me from a swerving car…only, it was as if time had stopped. But I must have been mistaken, in my moment of shock," Maria said. Cliff looked a little startled and asked her if she was alright, which she replied that she was fine. She went to the computer screen and put on the Television, to find out that day's news.

"…I am here today to announce the opening of the new art gallery, designed entirely by-," the news reporter was reporting, until an explosion was heard in the background. The newswoman ducked from the tremor and got up and stared anxiously into the still rolling camera, with her fingers to her earpiece. Her eyes widened and she nodded.

"This news just in! According to numerous witnesses, the Liberty Statue has been attacked! No one knows as of yet who or what did this terrorist attack…Oh no! Not only has the Liberty Statue been attacked, but the eye of London too! We will hand it over to Cherrie in London," the newswoman said. The camera changed and showed a high up view of the London inner state area, where the Ferris wheel was whizzing around in the air, fire flaming its edges.

"It is just terrible! One minute everything was just fine, the next minute, the main body is ripped from its mantle. It caught fire and is now spinning around in mid air. Also numerous scared people claim to hear insane shouting that sounds like a crazy arsonist. Luckily, no one was in the eye at the time, as it was up for repairs," the Londoner reported. Maria and everyone else were stunned. Cliff swore out loud and started up, getting ready to do battle. The rest carried on watching the news, as it flicked back to New York, with smoke rising in the background. This time they could see some of the statue on the floor.

"As you can see, this is a terrible mess. We must find the culprit fast…Wait! What? Another attack has been reported!…And another! In Moscow and in Paris! Oh dear Lord, what in Heaven's name is going on?!" The news reporter reported. Maria and the others watched, as another five were reported.

"Nine cities have been attacked? This is absurd! Who would do such a thing?" Cliff shouted. Maria was about to say something when more startling news appeared. The news reporter was talking one minute, and the next minute she was pushed out of the way by a burly guy clad in blue robes.

"Haw haw haw haw! Listen up cuz this is your only warning! We rule the Earth now! You bow to us! Or you will die a very slow and very painful, yet entertaining, death! Got that?" The man laughed heartily. Claude and his friends instantly stood up.

"NO! How can you still be alive? Dammit! Damn those guys," Claude shouted.

"You know that guy?" Cliff asked.

"Know them? Those guys tried to destroy the universe. Damn that guy," Claude replied.

"You mean the guys out of the Ten Man Apocalyptic Incident? Oh man," Cliff said. Claude nodded, looking angry. They all exited the ship and started towards the Statue. They ran for a long time, until darkness enveloped them. They looked around and saw a shiny prism-like line surrounding the area. Something came out of the far shadows.

"Haha, I did not think you would step into the trap so quickly. I am impressed," Vesper said. They saw Vesper glowing slightly in his greenish robe. A few more of the men were illuminated to show a white clad one, a black clad one and an orange clad one. Maria stepped forward and pointed at the white one.

"It's you from before! But what are you doing there? Don't tell me…you are on their side?" Maria asked. The white haired man smiled and bowed heartily like before.

"Heh. I am Cyril. I see I am remembered. What an honour," he said, still smiling. Maria got angry and clenched her fists.

"Ha ha ha! Well done Cyril. We can't have a party without one of our special guests dead, now, can we?" Decus laughed. He was clad in orange, befitting his hobby. "Oh, this party is going to be hot!" Lots of laughter could be heard echoing through the walls. Five more of the men appeared and were laughing along with the others.

"Well, I bet you're wondering what is going on, huh? Well, we're going to destroy all of you and take over the universe. Be warned; we are much stronger than we were before," Nicolus, the yellow clad man, said. They all laughed once again. Claude growled and got his sword out ready.

"We're going to beat you, you jerks! We beat you before and we can beat you again!" Claude shouted. Fayt also got into position.

"I don't know who you are, but you're messing with the wrong people. We will end you," Fayt shouted. Two separate laughs that were not of the nine in front f them sounded and two more figures appeared, one dressed in red and the other in gold.

"Oh Claude, you haven't changed a bit, have you?" Indaelcio said, a large malicious grin on his face.

"And Fayt, you seem to have lost one of your friends. Life is tough, isn't it? Maybe we should end it for you," the other man said. Fayt's anger intensified.

"Luther! How the hell-," Fayt shouted.

"How did we come back? Easy. I planted myself into this world before I 'died'. And I reawakened these guys. Now, we are the perfect team. Well, near perfect. We have one more friend to arrive. Come," Luther commanded. Red light filled the space and when it subsided, the form of Ariette appeared…only different.