Chapter 9: A Revision of Past Events…

Alice's P.O.V

"Ha!" I yelled as I attacked with a flip kick, hitting the golden Phoenix in front of me.

"Kreh!" The bird screeched. It's hands burst into flames & I saw it's feathers starting to blow wildly.

"Uh-oh!" I turned & started to run as wind propelled flames charged after me. I felt my body start to change to that of a bunny. I bounced my way farther & higher using wind to try & propel the flames back. Stopping about five yards away from where I had been moments ago, I used the wind to keep the flames away. Eventually the flames died out as the Phoenix returned to his human form. I did the same & walked forward.

"Almost had you…" Cronos said as we shook hands. "If you hadn't gotten away so fast I would have too."

"In your dreams!" I teased. "Though, you were pretty close." We returned to our outpost as two people showed up at our door. One had black hair with silver streaks & the other had spiky/ruffled, silver hair.

"We've been told to come see you." The girl spoke.

"For what exactly?" Cronos asked. Something wasn't right about these guys. He looked after he asked the question, he had the same feeling.

"This…" The guy handed me a document with Reikourin's signature. "We need to know if you can teach us the procedures of being a Guard of Eternia."

"Okay…" I said while reading over the document. "I haven't seen you around before. What are your names?"

"Mine's…Veil Lennian." The man spoke.

"I'm Lyndis Nelion." The girl replied. I looked them over & gestured for them to follow. Then, Cronos & I gave them the basics & sent them off to see Genesis & Kain.

"Did those two give you the same bad vibe that I got?" I asked Cronos after they were out of sight.

"Bad vibe?" He looked shaky. "I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin!"

Scourge's P.O.V

"Let me go!!" I screamed punching at the doors. "I want out now!" I launched several beams of Chaos Energy at the doors trying to destroy them.

"All in good time, Scourge. All in good time." A voice spoke from the shadows.

"Who's there?!" I shouted looking around the large empty room.

"The one who can help you…" The voice said again. "But you must learn to control your emotions & urges…" This time it laughed as I tried blasting where it came from. I landed on my back as one the blast came back & hit me in the chest. "They'll only get you into trouble." I got up trying to hold in my anger.

"So what should I do? Act like an obedient little pup?" Not bothering to hide the sarcasm in my voice.

"Yes…" I snarled at the voice's answer. "But only for a short time. When they let you out you'll hear from me again." And then all was silent.

Zephyren's P.O.V

When I got to my room Keira was there resting on the couch.

"Hey…" She said sorta drowsily. "You're early."

"Yeah, the doctors didn't take as long as I thought they would." I carefully took off my jacket, wincing when I felt the shirt underneath tug a little at the stitches.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" She asked.

"A few of things actually…" I moved over to the window & looked out onto the yard. "Do you remember when I went to talk to Reikourin a couple of days ago?"

"Yeah." She sat up & crossed her arms, curiousity was written all over her face.

"Well, he told me a couple of things. I feel like I understand some of it now." I turned & started to pace back & forth. "He told me that each of us possess a fraction of one of his 'servants' spirits. Though, which of the servants it is depends on our Elemental abilities."

"Yep, I heard that from Melissa & Raziel earlier. There's the spirits of Ice, Water, Fire, Wind, Thunder, Earth, Nature, Essence, Light, & Darkness." She ticked them off on her fingers."

"Yes…" I nodded but continued pacing. "But there are those who can't wield any elements at all. The Forbidden…" I had stopped pacing. Remembering what the vampire named Slate had asked for. "They possess a fragment of all of the spirits. Their body's mana wouldn't last if any were to be used & as such we have been taught that those who don't have signs of a specific element in them are unable to wield any at all."

"What does that mean?" She asked.

"It doesn't really mean anything…" I sighed. I wasn't getting anywhere…

Sora's P.O.V

"Hey, Sora!" I heard a familiar voice behind me & I turned to see two people about my age running towards me. One had green hair with silver streaks in it, the other had blue hair with similar silver streaks.

"Hey, Lloyd & Zephyran." I cheerfully said. "When did you two get here?"

"Just recently, actually…" Lloyd replied looking to Zephyran whose face was strained. "Again Zeph?"

"Y-yeah…" He panted. "Sorry, I'll have to go. Nice to see you though, Sora." His eyes changed to yellow orbs & his body became pitch black. Darkness swirled around him & he took off.

"He's still having trouble with the darkness?" I questioned noticing Lloyd's brown eyes following his brother. He nodded.

"Yeah…" He turned back to face me. "Razphyxen has been pressuring him to face it & completely conquer it. Instead of just manipulating it at times."

"He'll do it eventually." I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Riku had that problem too remember?"

"Yeah. You're right." He sighed again.

"Come on. Let's go get some sparring practice. Besides, I haven't had anything to help me keep up my swordplay." I started to lead him towards the sparring arena.

"What about Cloud & Leon?" He asked his mood lifted a little.

"No, they prefer to spar against each other." I sighed.

"Okay, let's go then." He picked up the pace. He seemed glad that he had something else to think about. "Hey did you hear? Reikourin says he might be able to split our Nobodies from us without messing with our strengths or our hearts!"

"No way! That means…" I looked at the glimmer of my Nobody. "Roxas…"

"Yeah." He nodded. "Anyways, let's get going!" He started to run towards the arena.

"Hey! Wait up!" I shouted chasing after him.

Jenn's P.O.V

"Who says I'm a wimp!?" I shouted at James.

"Umm…not me?" He said shrugging. "Why are you freaking out on me anyways? I didn't do anything."

"Would you stop freaking out Jenn?" I heard someone say behind me. "I'm trying to sleep." I turned to see a black hedgehog with blue streaked quills on his head & back, silver streaks around his arms & legs.

"Well, I heard that James called me a wimp!" I said firmly, crossing my arms on my chest.

"I doubt it." His pink eyes moved over to James. "Did you though?"

"No! Why would I do that? How would calling her a wimp benefit me?" He said.

"Exactly…wait, huh?" I said, confused.

"Never mind. The problem has been solved." He scratched the jagged purple crest on his chest. "Now, it's nine o'clock. So, two things." He held up his fingers. "First, stop freaking out right away & ask nicely Jenn. And second, it's nine o'clock! People are trying to sleep, so shut up!" He turned & went back to his room.

"What's his problem?" I asked.

"No idea..." James said grinning. "But now I found a way to bug Dimethos. Just wake him up."

"I wouldn't recommend it though." I said turning back to James. "You saw how angry he was."

"I saw nothing of the sort…" He said turning away. "And besides like he said, it's nine o'clock. I just gotta say I was too tired to remember the warning."

"James!" I grabbed his arm & whispered something in his ear.

"You wouldn't!" His eyes went wide. "I can't live without it that long!"

"Oh yes I would!" I pointed to our room. "Now go to bed!"

"Fine…" He said bowing his head in defeat & headed to his room. I went to mine & went to sleep. Later being woken up by the sound of James apologizing to Dimethos for waking him up a second time. Oh well, I warned him. No video games for him for the next four or five months.

Zephyren's P.O.V

"Anyways, the names of his servants…" I put up my fingers & started to count them all down. "Merian the Goddess of Water, Rika the Goddess of Earth, Kirem the God of Fire, Kyronas the God of Wind, Ferina the Goddess of Ice, Myra the Goddess of Essence, Deoxin the God of Thunder, Larian the Goddess of Nature, Verina the Goddess of Light, Nexion the God of Darkness…" I sighed. "And Reikourin…the God of Being."

"So there are eleven Gods?" Keira said.

"The Phoenix has but one destiny…to die." I said.

"Where did that come from?" She looked shocked.

"Something Reikourin told me..." I got up from the chair I was sitting on. "He said that phrase would apply to my life."

"Did he say anything else?" Keira asked.

"Yeah, umm…well, he told me that you were gonna well, umm…" I blushed.

"Yeah?" She asked getting up. "I'm gonna what? Tell me, please?" She was right in my face now.

"He umm…he said you were going to be my 'partner'." I felt the heat rise to my face again. I swear I have never blushed so much in my life.

"What do you mean?" She asked, confusion on her face.

"I mean we were going to be…well, you know…" I was still blushing.

"What do you…Oh…Oh!" She gasped. "You mean he said we're going to be a couple?" I nodded rapidly. "Wow, I never knew…I mean…" she sat down & looked at me. "Do you feel that way about me?"

"Kind of… I have the urge to protect you. I'm not sure if that's the same though." I shrugged, still blushing.

"Well, I guess that's good enough for me. Okay, let's give it a try." She had a smile on her face.

"You mean…you're actually going to go along with this?" I went over to her & looked her in the eyes. There wasn't a hint of deception in them.

"Yeah, why shouldn't we? I like you & you like me." She leaned forward. "It could work, right?"

"Unbelievable…" I sighed sitting down in front of the couch. I had been hoping she'd leave so I could prove Reikourin wrong. But, I was happy. Happy that she felt the same I guess.

"Hey, Zephyren…" She whispered to me. I looked up & the next thing I knew she kissed me. "Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?" She asked as our lips parted.

"Could you move your hand off of my arm?" I said wincing. "You're pulling at the stitches a bit."

"Sorry." She bit her lip.

"That does hurt though…" I said carefully removing my shirt. "Twenty-seven stitches."

"I'm really sorry." She said again.

"Don't worry about it." I told her smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Keira."

"Good night." She said.

CHAPTER 9 END