Chapter 18: The Meeting of Eleven

Razphyxen's P.O.V

"Consume…" I heard the word constantly echoing inside my head. I jumped sideways, away from the black shape dashing after me. My body was no different however. My eyes were the same two pale yellow orbs as my attackers. My body covered in the same darkness. "Consume…" The word reverberated again. My darkness, my never-ending want for another's heart. It only lasted while I was in this form for me. For my attacker, Zephyran, it was endless. He always had the darkness eating away at him. Before it hadn't been so bad since I helped him keep it at bay. But without my help, I wondered. Would he be driven mad by his insatiable thirst? His limitless desire to consume hearts?

"Consume…" The word repeated in my head yet again.

Tifa's P.O.V

The wooden dummy in front of me shattered as my foot connected. I lifted the splinters using the wind & placed them in the garbage. With the tournament only a day away I had to make sure I was up to par with my fighting capabilities.

"I feel sorry for the dummy…" I jump as Cloud spoke. Turning, I saw that he was leaning in the doorway. "Hopefully, none of the anger I saw in that kick was directed to me." He walked towards me. Things had been different since we moved here to Eternia. With Aerith back Cloud seemed more…cheerful. Like a huge load had been lifted from his shoulders. It made me sad to think of how he had been before. Carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, not letting any of his friends share the burden. Not letting me help him.

"I'm not angry..." I lied. I was angry. Mad at myself for not having the guts to tell Cloud how I felt as obvious as I had made it to him. "Just making sure I'll be able to participate tomorrow."

"Why wouldn't you be able to?" He asked. "Did something happen?"

"Remember our little sparring match with the others?" I replied with my own question. "I was cut in a lot of spots. They're healed now but I was making sure that there was no hidden damage." I rubbed my arms, as a cold chill passed by.

"I see…" He sighed. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, anything." I said. It was rare for him to ask anything of me.

"Would you meet me at the southern observation tower tonight? It's my shift & I want to show you something." His voice dropped to nearly a whisper as he finished.

"Umm, sure…" I said. This wasn't like him. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing at all." He smiled & walked out of the training room, leaving me to think about what he wanted me to see.

Slate's P.O.V

'Tonight at eleven thirty-five you are to go to the Western Observational Tower. If you fail to show up, whether an emergency has come up or not, you will be expelled from the tournament & Eternia Academy grounds. You will also be sent to your own realm with no means of traveling between them ever again.'

I grimaced as I reread the letter. I could almost recite it without even looking at it. It was a good thing I fed last night with Raziel otherwise I wouldn't be able to make it tonight. Raziel had gotten a similar notice, as had his sister. None of us knew who sent the letter or where it had come from. It had appeared in our quarters while we were out. Melissa's had actually landed on her lap in her room & she didn't see where it had come from!

"So what do you think it's about?" I asked Raziel again as we walked to our destination. I heard a padding of feet behind me & slowly the smell of dog reached me.

"Again, I don't know." He snarled, getting irritated. "So shut up & we'll know when we get there."

"Do you think Reikourin sent it?" Melissa asked. I thought about the idea & assumed that was possible. Reikourin was the only one who could even get by an Archangel's heightened senses & not be detected. The two paced ahead of me & I noticed the shape of Melissa's body. She was very attractive for sure, & the body suit she wore that Reikourin designed to change with her so she wouldn't need to hide & undress to morph outlined her body perfectly in the moonlight. She tilted her head in my direction & saw me looking at her & she grinned. I blushed & quickly looked away.

"It's possible…" Raziel replied. "But again, we'll see wh-" He paused midway through his sentence & stiffened. His head turned quickly to the left & within a second he was in a protective stance in front of his sister, who had already phased into a wolf.

"Whoa!" I heard a familiar voice say. "Calm down you two! It's just me." Zephyren emerged from the darkness of the night.

"Zephy!" Melissa barked as she bounded into him. "We missed ya!" He ruffled her hair as she changed back into a human. Raziel relaxed & approached his friend.

"Did you get a letter to?" Raziel asked. "To meet at the West Tower?" Zephyren shook his head in response.

"Reikourin told me himself to meet him there earlier…" Zephyren said, leading the way. "Right before he sent out the letters."

"So he did send them!" Melissa cheered. "I was right!" Zephyren nodded. As we got closer to the Tower I found it looked fairly creepy. This Tower had been abandoned due to the portal that accessed the one dimension there had been destroyed. No one knew the reason, but as such the Tower was no longer needed to be used. Everyone avoided it now & I could see why. Even the entrance seemed to ooze out creepiness.

"What time is it?" Zephyren asked, looking around.

"Almost eleven thirty." I replied. One of the many benefits of being a Vampire, you have an internal clock. We sat down while we waited & others showed. There was a black Hedgehog with purple streaked quills, she was accompanied by a silver hedgehog with blue streaked quills, a Neko kid whose eyes kept looking around curiously, Keira & Patrick, & finally one last person showed.

"I see you all showed up…" Everyone jumped as Reikourin appeared in the doorway of the foreboding tower. "That's wonderful." He walked in between the circle we had all unconsciously formed. "Now, since some of you don't know each other, please introduce yourselves & what you specialize in." He pointed to me. "Why don't you start?"

"My name's Slate Xio, I don't have a specialty." I felt stupid as I said my name. Like I was at some sort of Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

"Yes, you do Slate…" Reikourin interrupted & my jaw dropped in shock. "You just don't know how to control it yet."

"Then what is it?" I demanded. Annoyed that he thought he knew more about me than I did.

"You control Ice." Reikourin said. "You are a servant of Ferina." I stood there dumbfounded & at the same time furious. I wanted to prove him wrong. Though lately, I had felt the presence of something else beside me at all times.

"I'm Raziel Severon, I use the Wind as my speciality."

"Melissa Severon, Earth here."

"Patrick Flaherty, Water is my specialty."

"Veran here! Thunder for me!"

"Keira Grei, I can use Light."

"Jenn the Hedgehog, I burn things with my flames."

"James the Hedgehog, Essence is my power."

"Zephyren Feral, I control Darkness." He sighed, & finally it was the new girl's turn.

"My name's Rinalia Feral & I control Nature." She replied & Zephyren's eyes shot up, glaring at the new girl.

"Excuse me?" He snarled. "Feral? I think you're mistaken." He was standing now, walking towards her. "I'm an only child."

"My father's name was Demetri Feral." She stated, chewing on the purple tip to her red hair. "My mother was Anya Nelion."

"So you're my half-sister…" Zephyren chuckled. "I always figured that little rumor about my Dad having an affair was true. He never was one to ignore another woman; it's one of the reasons why I despised him." He held out his hand & they shook. "So sis, how old are you?"

"I'm sixteen, brother." She laughed as she said the word. Now that they were standing next to each other I could see the similarities. They both had red hair (despite the girl's dyed purple tips), they both had purple eyes, & they had the same pale shade to their skin tone.

"Well…" Reikourin spoke breaking the silence. "Let's get started shall we?" He gestured towards the doorway to the creepy tower & we all followed him in. There was nothing to see inside the tower besides the spiral staircase that went to the top. Reikourin went first & we followed in pairs. Patrick & I, Rinalia & Veran, Zephyren & Keira, Jenn & James, & finally Raziel & Melissa. Reikourin sat in the window when we got to the top & gestured for us to sit on the floor. Once we were…comfortable, the room got brighter & I could see all kinds of seals drawn on the roof, the walls & the floor.

Cloud's P.O.V

"Tifa…" I smiled as she approached. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Well, it would be rude to not accept the invitation." She said, grinning back. I walked into the tower & she followed me. "What did you want to show me?" She asked as we reached the top of the staircase.

"Happy Birthday…" I said as I went over to the corner of the room & lifted the tarp off of the piano. "Recognize this?" I asked, looking towards her. She was crying! "What's wrong!?" I asked.

"Nothing…" She said shaking her head & wiping away the tears, but more sprang up in their place. "It's just…I can't believe you managed to get it. My mother gave that to me before she died. I thought it had burned in the fire." She rushed forward in that moment & hugged me.

"I found it at Rufus' place. Apparently, the former President found it while they rebuilt the town &, except for replacing the legs, restored it to its former self." I said, brushing some hair away from her face. "I think this is the first time I've actually seen you cry since then." She chuckled. "Now I see why. It doesn't suit you…" I said, holding her close as a fresh wave of sobs came. "Do you like it?" She nodded.

"It's the best thing I could have asked for!" She said. "Thank you so much, Cloud!" I moved her over to the piano bench & sat down with her on my lap.

"You're welcome." I replied. "I'm glad you like it." I had never seen her so happy that she'd cried before. Not even after we lived through the 'Meteor Incident' & that had caused the Highwind to crash. As I looked towards the window I noticed a glow. 'So Reikourin has started.' I thought to myself. I had often wondered why he had chosen those ten kids specifically. Was it because people underestimated children most of the time? Or was there some other reason? One that no one knew about? Could there be someone manipulating him? As he is manipulating those children?

I didn't know. I didn't have much time to think about it though because my thoughts were interrupted by Tifa.

"Cloud…" She said. Her eyes red from tears. "Can I ask you something?" She had a look on her face that I didn't recognize. I nodded in response. It was her birthday, I should give her what she wants. "Could you close your eyes?" She asked, & I did. Next thing I knew, she was kissing me! My eyes opened in shock, but I didn't break away in case I hurt her feelings. She felt more like a sister to me than someone I'd fall in love with. But this kiss…it seemed so…right. I closed my eyes again, kissing her back & when we broke away her cheeks flushed.

"That was…new." I said, feeling the blood rush to my face too.

"I've wanted to do that for a while." She confessed. "Do you understand how I feel now, Cloud?" I nodded. I suddenly understood & I felt stupid. All those times she had been putting out signals. I pulled her in close to me this time, I wouldn't let her go. I'd stay by her till the end.

Zephyren's P.O.V

I felt lighter as the room filled with the blinding aura coming off of Reikourin's figure. The light was incredibly bright, but I found that I could look at him without having to squint or anything no matter how bright the light got. Suddenly it go very dark & I couldn't see anything at all. Not my hands, not Keira (who had been sitting next to me), nothing. There was a scream to my right. It sounded like Jenn & I turned to see what the problem was instinctively. The blackness stayed. Not only that, it seemed to get thicker, as if it was trying to strangle me.

"Seems like someone wants me around now, hmm?" Nexion spoke. That explained the darkness. Was this the Awakening?

Jenn's P.O.V

"Put out the fire!" I screamed. "It's burning through me! Please! Put it out!" Tears streamed down my cheeks as I felt the flames lick my body. Why could I still move? Had the flames not burned through my muscles yet? The burning seemed to go on forever. Increasing in temperature with each passing second.

"Oh come on!" Kirem laughed. "I put more fire on you then this & you didn't give up then! Quit being a baby!" The flames increased in temperature again. More than it usually did. Once again I screamed in agony.

James' P.O.V

The room seemed to slowly close in around me. The metal wouldn't respond to my thoughts. Gathering to me in a way I did not want it to, blades pointed at me.

"Is that the best you can do?" Myra questioned in a concerned tone. "There's no way you'll get out of this then!" I gasped in pain as the first of the jagged weapons pierced my flesh. I looked down & saw my blood soaking the area around me. More blades pierced my skin causing me to scream, until finally I was a pincushion. Alive, barely, I looked up & saw Myra looking at me, her hand on the last blade. "Bon voyage!" she laughed as she pulled the sword back & thrust it forward.

Slate's P.O.V

"An endless field of ice & snow." I said to myself as my feet scrunched through the cold powder. I could not feel cold, but that would not stop me from freezing to death if I stayed in the cold. Remaining motionless was not an option.

"My, my, my…" A voice called out from the snowy wasteland. "Looks like I have a visitor." A girl appeared out of the snowy fog. Her hair was sky blue, & she was dressed in a formal outfit. Snow swirled around her as if it was worshipping her presence.

"Who're you?" I roared. It wouldn't be much longer till I froze to death. "Where is this place?"

"You enter my home & you're making demands?" She laughed. "My, my! Someone's got guts for being on the verge of death!" She laughed again & I snarled. "Name's Ferina." I blinked, remembering what Reikourin had said. It seemed like years had passed since I was in the tower, maybe they did. I didn't care, I finally found a way to get my elemental abilities. I wouldn't be looked down upon anymore by anyone. "I'll tell you where you are IF you can beat me. I'll even make it fair & let you warm up!" As she said the words I found that I was warming up.

My limbs were no longer stiff & the snow was no longer blowing into my face. I drew my claws; thankfully I had decided to bring them with me out of superstition. I readied myself & found myself laying on the ground in pain half a second later.

"You really think you can beat me when you can defend yourself?" She tutted. "Well, here I come again!" I soared through the air as her foot connected to my ribs.

Raziel's P.O.V

"Seems like someone's getting worn out." Kryonas laughed. "Funny, I thought you Vampires were tougher than this." I puked as the wind stopped spinning me around & put me down. I took in a quick lungful of air, just in case he decided to take the air near me away & cause me to lose oxygen as he had earlier. "I've seen most Vampires shrug off this kind of fighting. But you are just getting the crap kicked out of you." He grabbed my chin between his thumb & his index finger. "You are pathetic!" He snarled. "Even Korin was stronger than you!" My eyes popped open with shock as he mentioned my maker's name & along with the shock came the painful memory.

It was late. About ten, possibly later. Melissa, my friends, & I were leaving the movie theatre. We were laughing at some stupid comment my friend had made about the movie. Melissa & I had just turned seventeen. Our friends took a cab back to their houses & the two of us decided to walk home since our house was around the block.

"That was a good movie though…" Melissa spoke animatedly as usual. "Especially the part where the guy turned into a Vampire & tried his friends." I nodded in agreement. "Can you imagine what life would be like if Vampires were real!?" She asked.

"Not sure if I want to." I said, rolling my eyes. "I mean, if they weren't as annoying as you then sure." I laughed as she gave me a shove. There was a rustle in the bushes across the road from us.

"Korin, stop!" We heard someone snap. "They'll hear us!" Melissa & I looked at each other & shrugged. Probably some kids following the mysterious Severon family again, as usual. Melissa screamed & I turned around to find her being dragged by someone to the bushes.

"No!" I roared as I ran towards them. A hand clamped down on my shoulder & whirled me around. I was looking at a teenager about my age with blood-red eyes. I tried to shrug him off to help my sister but, he was too strong. I fell to my knees from pain as he put more pressure into my arm.

"You look tasty…" The teenager spoke. "Name's Korin. Nice to eat you!" I drifted unconsciousness.

"Why do you insist we turn them?" I heard someone speak. "Why do you enjoy doing this so much?"

"Oh come on!" I heard my attacker speak. "I can tell that kid has potential! Plus, if we change his sister then he may not come after us." I don't know what happened next. But I felt a strong pain as something entered my body…

"You knew him!?" I roared. "You knew the one that ruined my life!" My fist shot forward instinctively, smashing into Kryonas' stomach. He gasped as he soared & hit the wall. "Where is he!?" I demanded. I walked over & lifted him up by the neck, squeeing slowly. "WHERE!" I roared.

"I killed him during his Awakening process." Kryonas replied smugly. "It was fun too."

"You denied me that right?" I snarled, throwing him over my shoulder to the ground. "You had no right to do that!" Kryonas laughed as he rolled out of the way & readied himself. A red haze filled my eyes. I would drink the blood of this elementalist. Then I would burn his body, there is no way I will let him stay in existence after this!

Melissa's P.O.V

The earth squeezed my arms & legs tighter together. I groaned. My body had already gone numb from the pain. There was no way for me to get out of this constriction. Rika had told me earlier that this was my Awakening & unless I could get these columns that had encased themselves around my limbs to fall apart then I would continue to feel pain for millennia to come. I tried once again to will the earth off of me. 'Disintegrate!' I thought to myself, panic layering the voice in my head. The earth didn't budge. I sighed; it was pointless to fight this.

A sifting noise caused my head to snap up. A small portion of the earth underneath my forearm had turned to sand! I tried to will the earth around my hand to turn to sand. It did & fell to the floor. I flexed my fingers, it felt so good. Time for the rest of my body to be released from this earthy prison.

Keira's P.O.V

The light around me had already gone out a couple of times as I searched through the darkness of the cave. I had done a lot of training with Cadence that was similar to this, so this was incredibly easy. I had found Verina easily enough. She didn't want to fight me to prove my worth as she had earlier. She knew I'd win as I had before.

So, I got this cave to deal with & I could not have my light go out more than six times as I navigated my way through it. So far it had gone out four. Two more tries. I sighed as the light around me started to vanish. It was annoying to continually have to make light appear around me. I let the light run out as I walked forward & didn't reactivate it. I had one chance left & I wasn't going waste it when there was most likely a lot left to this cavern.

"Seems like someone wants me around now, hmm?" I heard someone say.

"You only wish…" I heard a familiar voice say. "But no one would ever want a psycho like you around, Nexion." I rushed towards the sound of the voice, tripping once from a little rock jutting out.

"Zephyren?" I cried. "Is that you out there?" I was so happy to find him that I lit up the area around me to see him.

"Keira?" Zephyren gasped. "What're you doing here?" I found him after walking a few more feet. He walked towards me & I felt an odd sense of déjà vu.

"Well, well, well…" I heard Nexion chuckle. "It seems like someone's already passed their test. What do you say? Should we have some fun with her Zephyren?"

"No!" Zephyren roared, grabbing me & holding me close to him. "I'll kill you if you touch her!" Nexion roared with laughter.

"You'll kill me? That's a laugh. You know Zephyren, I have been around ever since she entered this room. I am the darkness. She can even use that light to show you. Come on girl; expand the light as much as you can." I did as I was asked, not believing that I was surrounded by darkness despite the fact that I couldn't see what I was walking on. The area around us did get brighter, but I could not see any walls or anything. Wherever we were, it was a void.

Patrick's P.O.V

The water around me churned as I tried to make it move out of my way. I was surrounded on all fronts by water. There was complete blackness as I floated there. My air bubble was getting smaller as I used more up. It had started as a giant bubble that was easily the size of a Behemoth. Now it was about the size of my body. I had to get the water to lift me up to the surface.

It was easy to tell where that was, just look for the navy blue among the black. You'd be amazed how easy it is to tell the difference between the two when you're in the dark long enough. I tried to will the water to move under my body & push me up towards the surface. My efforts were futile as the water just made small, near invisible ripples as it had the past hundred times before.

"Giving up?" Merian asked, her figure appearing beside me. "Funny, if you don't pass this test then you'll be letting me down. Didn't you make me a promise not to do that?" I gasped as she brought up that moment. The time we became united. I put more effort into forcing the water to move. Before it had been so effortless. I was so used to the water listening me the moment I even considering moving it a certain way.

Now that I really looked at it, it was like it was rebelling against me for my carelessness. The same way another would abuse a right simply because they had it, or the way children will use guilt to get what they want from their parents. The water rippled & started to become denser underneath me. 'You will obey me.' I demanded in my head. 'You will listen to me & not refuse my authority.' Gradually the water started to push me up & I looked at Merian. She was smiling

"I knew you wouldn't let me down." She smiled. "Thank you so much." I waved shortly before reaching the surface. Then when I hit the top I found I was in the tower still & everyone was on the ground. Jenn was convulsing, James was laying spread eagle on the ground screaming, Slate was shivering furiously, the others were layed perfectly straight except for Keira & Zephyren. They seemed to be wrapped around each other.

"Record time…" Reikourin praised. "I have never seen someone clear their Awakening in that time." The room was still glowing & the aura around James got brighter as his screaming died down to a mumble.

"How much longer?" I asked. "And why didn't you warn us?"

"The others should wake up any moment now." Reikourin replied in an annoyed tone. "There progress is astounding. Though, Melissa has stayed in it for several decades." He closed his eyes. "I did not tell any of you that this would happen because then you would be too panicky to go through with it properly. This is supposed to be an instinctual test. One with immediate responses, not one you are prepared for right away." He opened his eyes again & I saw that they were filled with something…was it greed?

Zephyran's P.O.V

"Consume his heart…" The voice in me repeated & I forced it back down again. I was forcing the darkness into submission finally & not letting the voice drive me to the brink of insanity. Razphyxen trailed ahead of me towards the West Observational Tower. We had both decided to stay in our 'Heartless' form as we travelled. For one, it was faster than running normally & second, Razphyxen said I had to get used to being in control.

We got to the door of the tower & it wouldn't open. "Gimme a sec." I said as my body fell back into the portal I opened. I walked forward a few paces in the realm of darkness & willed another portal open that would lead me inside the tower. When I stepped out of the portal & found that I was only a few feet away from Razphyxen. "What the hell?" I said aloud.

"Something's keeping us out…" Razphyxen said. "Seems like we won't be able to get in the traditional way." He sighed as the darkness around him dissipated & his Keyblades appeared. I followed his example & turned back to normal too. "Going up." He chuckled as he thrust the Keyblades into the wall, one after the other.

"Not going to ask us for help?" Lloyd asked, hovering behind us with Lydolx. "Thought we were like this." He intertwined his fingers together as he laughed. He swooped down & grabbed our shirts lifting us up to the second floor window. As we entered, we could feel the floor & walls around us throbbing.

"Weird…" Lydolx said. "It feels like we're inside something."

"Well, we are in a tower." I commented, grinning.

"Shut up. You know what I mean…" He started to head up the stairs. "It's like the inside of a living thing." I nodded, getting serious.

Rinalia's P.O.V

"The itch is driving you crazy, isn't it?" Larian teased. "Don't you hate it when what you love turns against you?" I struggled against the vines that entirely constricted my body. My body was itching like crazy from the poison ivy in the vines. I couldn't scratch at all, it was maddening. I tried forcing the vegetation off of me, but every time I did it was forced up higher onto my body by Larian.

There had to be someway to get rid of Larian, or someway to make her situation as bad as mine. What wouldn't she expect from someone in this situation…that's it! I willed the plants to move through the ground & closer to her slowly. She didn't notice the change.

"Giving up? How demeaning." She sighed. Then I launched my attack. The floor was consisted of vines, so I had the ones behind her shoot up & constrict her in the exact same way they were constricting me. "What!?" Larian roared.

"Don't you hate it when what you control turns against you?" I laughed as she snarled at me. "Now, let's talk." I watched as she struggled against the vines. "You let me go & I'll let you go. There's as much of an escape here for you as there is for me." I sighed as she glared at me, fury plain in her features.

"Fine…" She sighed, resigned. "I surrender. You win." The room around me vanished & I was back in the tower. Reikourin was looking at me, as was Patrick.

"You okay?" Patrick asked, helping me to my feet. "It seemed pretty real didn't it?" I nodded. It was an illusion, I understood that. From the moment I could see Larian I understood. I jumped as James coughed up blood.

"If you die in the Awakening, do you die in real life?" I asked Reikourin, not taking my gaze off of the Anthro.

"Yes." He replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "There is no room for failure during the Awakening." I closed my eyes & silently prayed for everyone's safety. Four people entered the room at that moment. They all looked similar to each other, like two sets of twins, though the hair colours were different. "Ahh, the Raideka twins & their Nobodies. How are you?" Reikourin asked as if their arrival was expected.

"What's going on?" The green haired one asked. "Why are those people laying on the ground?" The one with silver streaked blue hair stepped forward with a pair of weird swords in his hands.

"Nothing much, just unleashing the true potential of these children." He replied. The person with silver streaked, green hair came forward & knelt beside James.

"What's wrong with this one?" He demanded. "Why is his mouth bloody?" He readied himself & he looked like he was going to spring at Reikourin.

"What's going on?" Veran asked, sitting up & rubbing his eyes. "Why are there so many people in here?" He got up & his tail wagged faster than normal, excitedly. "And what was that exactly?"

"Congratulations on passing your test, Veran." Reikourin smiled, probably trying to keep up a friendly visage in front of the newcomers.

"That was a test?" Veran spoke incredulously. "All I did was talk to Deoxin. It was easier than a freaking survey!" I snickered at his little comment & he beamed at me.

"Really?" Reikourin asked, he tried to mask the shock on his face & failed miserably in doing so. "That is interesting."

"What kind of test causes people to bleed?" The green haired one demanded.

"It's their Awakening." Reikourin replied. "Have patience Zephyran. You three: Lydolx, Razphyxen, & Lloyd. You all need to calm down too. There is no need for this right now." They all glared at Reikourin fiercely for a moment & then relaxed…a little. Their weapons disappeared from their hands & they walked farther into the room.

Slowly the rest started to wake. First was Jenn, then James (who looked a little shaky), then Raziel & Melissa, & finally Slate who looked…I guess the right word would be revived. There was a light in his eyes that wasn't there earlier. Keira & Zephyren weren't waking up.

"When will they get up?" Melissa broke the silence. "They've been like that for the past several minutes."

"They have taken the longest for the Awakening." Reikourin said. "It will be interesting to see how they turn out when it is over."

"I thought it only lasted a second in real time?" Raziel asked.

"That's if it happens naturally." Reikourin stated. "I've accelerated it by a couple of days so you wouldn't be as shaken if it happened during your match. It will last up to an hour at most."

"How long have we been here since it started?" Raziel said, it voice was layered with stress from worrying about my brother's well-being. It was still hard to get used to the fact that I wasn't an only child. I had been raised on the knowledge that I had a brother out there. But I figured he would be just like my father. Arrogant, foolhardy, & not worth the title. That wasn't the case & I found I had felt an instant compassion for this stranger who claimed to be my sibling.

"The process has lasted about forty-six minutes so far." Reikourin said. "It won't be much longer now."

"Please brother, make it through. I have so much I want to talk to you about." I thought to myself. "I don't want to lose the only family I have left." Zephyren's face took on a pained expression & he roared. His body changed to that of a Phoenix in an instant. What was going on? A man with silver hair & a girl with silver-streaked black hair walked into the room, coming up behind the other four.

"Ahh, Nexion & Verina…" Reikourin smiled. "Glad you could make it. Should I call you Veil & Lyndis now?" They advanced towards Zephyren & Keira.

"Wait…" Raziel said. "If they're the ones that represent Light & Darkness then how come they have physical bodies?"

"The seal on Zephyren is starting to break…" Nexion spoke, his lips barely moving. "The power is seeping out now as is. That power provided me with a body. Keira's power was flowing out of her unchecked & that gave her a physical body." He jerked his head to the woman. "If you'll excuse us. We have a meeting to attend & I have to try to save Zephyren from himself."

Zephyren's P.O.V

The darkness in the area swirled around me as I gathered it into my body. I had forgotten to bring my swords, so I was defenceless. I felt flames & electricity erupted from my body. The power was overwhelming.

"That's it!" The voice cried. "Unleash the power! Break the seal!" I stopped. Something wasn't right. I looked over to Keira, she had turned into a Phoenix herself. She looked scared. Her light no longer surrounded me, just herself.

"Who are you?" I roared at the voice. It was unfamiliar, not the one I knew. Not Nexion's.

"I guess you've finally figured it out." The voice sighed & a figure emerged in the darkness. It was a human shape, but it had wings. An angel? No. "I am you." The voice said as the figure came into the dim light. It was a perfect replica. Not just a mirror image. The only difference was that it was in my Hyper Beast Form & I was only in Beast. I changed to Hyper, jumping back at the same time.

"Nice try!" I roared, launching a ball of fire at the mysterious clone. "I'm not going to fall for that Nexion!"

"You called?" A familiar voice answered. The voice was coming from in front of me. From my clone. "You see Zephyren…" He chuckled. "I am the real you. Your true desire for more power. Your evil." He walked forward till we were no more than a foot apart. "Think about it for a second…" He placed his hands on his hips & his eyes turned black. "Has Nexion ever really told you to unleash your strength? Has he ever desired blood? Or violence?" He started to laugh. "I mean, sure he values chaos. All the male spirits do! It's why they're called Chaos Lords & the woman are Goddesses of Order."

"That's not true…" I said, shaking my head. "It couldn't have been me. That's a lie!" I roared, charging forward. The clone caught my fist before it connected to his face.

"You're pathetic." He said, punching me in the stomach. "You really believe you can fight yourself? I know all of your moves! Just watch!" He pulled out a blade that was similar to mine except with a black blade. Dark flames started to gather around it. "Dark Rendering!" He roared, launching the chaotic energy towards me. I absorbed the impact into me. Just as I had absorbed the darkness earlier. That attack was useless against me. I looked over to where Keira was except, she wasn't there!

"Keira!?" I yelled. "What have you done to her?"

"Everything you have…" He laughed. "Relax. She's done her Awakening & it seems we have our honoured guest here now." I felt the air around me ripple as a silver haired man entered the darkness.

"Good evening, Zephyren" The man nodded. "I'm Nexion. Pleasure to truly meet you."

"See? I told you I wasn't Nexion!" The other Zephyren said. "Now do you believe me?" I nodded. I had been reviewing the past events as we fought. The voice HAD been different. I was only so convinced that it was Nexion because of what I did to Shadow back then out of desperation to save my mom.

"I see your point…" I sighed, lowering my head in defeat. "I admit it was me all along. I was bloodthirsty. It was like a drug to me. I only used Nexion as an excuse to get away with it. Thanks to you I can avoid that now." I lifted my head & glared at myself. "I killed those Vampires out of sheer pleasure…" My copy nodded, a smile on his face. "I regret it now. I will no longer shed blood for my own amusement. Now I will protect those I care for!" The clone faded into a purple flame & flew into me.

"I'll be here always, so don't let your guard down." He said in my head. I'd have to make sure I kept him in check.

"Well done, Zephyren…" Nexion advanced to me & held out his hand. "Now let's finish this." I nodded & took his hand. His body glowed dimly & then vanished. I felt a new strength in me as the world of darkness started to crumble around me. I opened my eyes.

"He's awake!" I heard Melissa cry. "It's over!" I looked around & saw that everyone had gathered around me.

"Now that that's done…" Reikourin said. "You should all get to bed. Your last match is tomorrow after all." We got up & headed down the stairs. Once again led by Reikourin.

"Zephyren…" Rinalia spoke up behind me. "I'd like to talk to you for a bit-"

"It'll have to wait till after tomorrow…" I interrupted, knowing what she was going to say. "After all, we have a lot of time to catch up on, right?" She smiled & nodded.