AN: Thanks guys for checking out my fanfic. It's been awhile but still glad to know people are still reading it. (Good old traffic device.) Thank you Dragon Chyld and TamaChanMyu for the review :) Feel free to comment. They make my day :) Been playing a lot of SO4 so I figured I'd set this story in Lemuris. This isn't as satire but it's still awesome. Btw, I like Lymle but I don't think Albel would.

Chapter 5: Marbel

They call it a plague, but this is far graver; I call it a curse. A curse that rob you of your soul. It will come at night and snatch you like it was a rapist. It will murder your firstborn child and dance on your grave and party as if it were 1999. Not sure why 1999 was the year to party. Too much bad music on the radio.

"Albel," a holler was heard in the distance. I jumped. The quill in my hand dropped with its ink oozing unto my beloved memoirs. I could have swore than voice gave me a heart attack. I think I rather die from this disease than from her demands.

"What is it?" I replied, with no enthusiasm. A zombie would have given more of a response.

A slender figure barged into my study, ripping the door with her stomps. Ironic since she weights the same as a small child. The knob banged the wall, making a dent in the wood. I popped out of my chair, as if I were a jack-in-a-box.

"You know, it's like a desert outside." I growled, sarcastically. "Holes in the wall will make this place so much warmer."

She did not respond. She gave up trying to reason with me. Over the years, she learned to pick her battles. Or so I thought when she said, "You need to find a wife."

My mouth dropped on the ground as if I were a cartoon. Could have sworn there was dirt in my teeth. I blinked my eyes to see if this were a dream but it was real. Of course, conversations with my mother were always real. At least in a dream I could make her jump off a cliff. There is one not too far from the town. This plague wouldn't kill her fast enough.

"This disease has gotten to the town leader." She reasoned. "His poor granddaughter."

Poor granddaughter? I thought to myself. You mean that brat who drew on my face when I fell asleep on the park bench? I will not forget that day. If anything she started this plague. Worm!

"Now, I found someone who might marry you." She mentioned.

I rolled my eyes as if they were a marry-go-round. The weight of my body fell unto the chair. With what ever strength I had left, I pulled my arms to swing the chair around to face her. My eyes glaring at her, as if I died. Actually, dying wouldn't be as bad as I thought it would be. No nagging mother. But I would never learn what the best solutions is to make mirrors sparkle. I have to make sure I look even more handsome when I look at myself. I don't understand why I cannot get a wife. I mean look at me: I'm damn sexy. Those piercing eyes that are demonic and scream, "bad boy". Or my sleek hair that feels as soft as a baby's bottom. Whenever I look at a woman she screams so loudly it will cause an avalanche. We don't even get snow around here but I'm sure that scream will wipe out this town. Hey, that's actually not a bad idea. Some say that bratty child put a curse on me and I believe it. I mean how can someone with such good looks be single?

"Albel," a voice echos in my mind. "Albel!" It screeches reality back at me.

"What?"

"She's coming over for dinner so put on some pants!"

I give a grunt, and spin back towards my desk. I muddle under my breath, "I like my dress."

0000000

I thrusted my frustration using this axe. I attack with no remorse. The adrenaline deep within releases at my fingertips. The wood snaps in half, creating a thud, while the pieces fall away from each other on opposites sides.

"Stupid cold world." I complain as I put another wooden block on the stump. "Sad thing this village is the Tahiti of this planet."

Waving my arms down, the blade strikes the timber creating a clamour. I hear it bouncing off the trees and house. I turn my head over to my right. Strangely, its louder than the original noise. A beam of light from the orange sky blinds my beautiful eyes. I place my hand above my eyes to shield from it but the rays seep through. It descends unto the horizon and flickers off.

"Man," I thought to myself, "I am going loony."

My shoulders shrug as I go back to my dreadful work. Before I can raise the axe over my gorgeous hair, worm decides to show up to annoy me. Her big eyes the size of baseballs stare at me with her emotionless face. She looks like a doll but I remember chopping their heads off as a child.

"Whatcha doing there, Bellie?" That rascal asks while my upper torso shivers. My body is like jello wiggling.

"Stop calling me Bellie!" I roar. "You have a lot of nerve upsetting me while I have an axe in my hands, maggot!"

"Put your weapon down." An unfamiliar voice demands. "She's just a child!"

I tighten my grip on the tool. How dare this person tell me what to do. And calling that brat a child? Humph, she's practically an adult as she just ages well. Must get her formula.

"What the hell are you talking about!" I growled as I turn my body to face this stranger.

She was wearing an outfit foreign to me. Even the unfashionable folk of Woodley wouldn't wear her attire. In her hands was a bizarre stick with a hole at the front, pointing towards me. I can image it was some kind of weapon. Could be this person was delusional. Makes sense since she is defending this worm. Though I could not be mad at her. Her eyes the colour of twilight. Her hair, matching her eyes but with a lighter hue. Her lips, red the colour of my pretty eyes. I don't remember much of what happened next but we both let go of everything and embraced each other. Our lips met for a passionate kiss while we let into our desires. Turns out this planet isn't as cold anymore. Our souls met and let lust and infatuation take control.

A cough was heard, followed by a sharp pain in my back; it didn't hurt much for my love was stronger. I moved my head away from this strange woman, wanting to turn my eyes around to behind me. However, she wouldn't let me end our drive. She used my pulling away as an act of submissiveness.

"I'm leaving, kay?" Lymle snarled as she stormed out.

Serves her right for throwing a rock at me. Whatever I'm making out with a hot chick!

0000000

Our bodies lay unto the cool surface of the grass next to each other. My gaze towards the indigo taking over the red shades of the sky. The stars popping up and the moon sets.

"I'm Maria, by the way." She introduced herself.

I give a smirk as I moved my head so I could look at her. Our eyes locked while we smiled at each other. Neither one of us could smile so it was like a half grin thing. My mouth opened to speak but the words coming from my mouth were not mine.

"Albel, our guest cancelled!" My mother hollered from the house. "Has the plague. Where on earth did you go?"

I heard crunches to the earth as the sound grew louder. I darted my head the other way. My mother was hovering over us, like a hawk catching its prey. I was expecting a displeased look but the sides of her lips were nearing her forehead.

"Uh.."my mouth spoke on its own. "Maria, this is my mother."

"Great, when are the grandkids going to come?" My mother blurted out as she leapt with glee. "With this plague you should have twelve to ensure some survive."

A tinkling feel fluttered my cheeks as I raised my body from the ground to look straight ahead of me. My head could not move to confront either my mother or Maria. If i turned to my mother she would give an embarrassing story like the time I borrowed her lipstick and had it all over my cheeks and up my nose. I couldn't look at Maria then she would be expecting me to want to have twelve rugrats running around. This dead space was good enough for me.

"Precisely, why I'm here." Maria mentioned.

The grass rustled as her feet scraped the soil, also lifting herself from the ground. My heart-rate started to stable so I slide to face her. An eyebrow raised up while my mind became attentive.

"There is a large amount of energy coming from the mountains that I'd like to examine."

My index finger placed itself on my chin as my mind started to grasp this concept. Am I dating a crazy? I thought to myself. Or maybe this is a divine being trying to save my stupid town. If the second then I should tell her I'd call her but don't call her. If the first then I think this is true love.

"Well," My mother muddled under her breath. "I think I'll get dinner ready."

Her footsteps were quick, as she exited giggling to herself. My eyes rolled for a moment then ogled towards my new girlfriend. She leaned in closer to me and whispered, "I hope we never have kids." My heart raced as my lips did smile. I finally experienced the joy my mother had. I swung my arms around her and we made more love.

00000

The wind charged towards us with icicles stabbing my cheeks. My beautiful face is going to be ruined. My hair whips through the storm, tangling together. I had to go on this journey. I thought to myself. Was starting to think the pathetic town is better. However, seeing her in front of me battling monsters made this worth it. Gazing at her slightly curving body, I paused for a moment to check her out.

"Don't stop, kay?" That maggot snapped. Her stubby legs barging passed me, blocking my wonderful view. Her grandfather insisted she tag along to fight the source of the plague. He probably got sick of her and didn't care if she got eaten by a bear. Probably didn't have the plague, just made it up so he could fake his death.

Maria and Lymle halted, nearly causing me to trip over the spoiled brat. Men stood with scales over their bodies, resembling lizards armed with pitchforks. A multitude of them were huddle over a fire. What caught my attention most was a shinny gem three metres tall behind them. Maria pulled out a box that made weird sounds from her pocket. Her arm pointing at the jewel.

"As you guess, that is what's causing the plague in your town." She noted, as she put the box away and unsheathed her weapon.

"Get'em, wes gotta intruder." One of the Lizardmen spoke, with a hick accent. "We no like folk on our property."

They stampeded towards us with their pitchforks above their heads. The most bizarre moment was when banjo music popped out of nowhere, perfect for chasing us. Maria fired at the men, causing them to go down one by one. I prefer to kill using my bare hands but these men looked diseased so I gripped my sword, yanking it out and sprinted towards the crowd. I slashed my sword from side to side, parting the mob and heading for the stone. I could care less how many people in my town died, wouldn't mind them all to die, but this seemed important for Maria. The sea of men slowly became less dense and I was able to see the gem. I firmly squeezed the katana, making a fist, and shove that mother into the stone. My jaw dropped when it didn't cause a scratch. I swung at but nothing happened. So, I kicked it, punched it, and slapped it but nothing happened. I even read it a bedtime story but it wouldn't budge.

"Albel are you alright?" Maria questioned. It was faint due to the amount of opponents. Instead of being a failure, I slashed the outside of the army working my way in. If she asked, I couldn't find the gigantic gem right in front of us. Gradually, our enemies were tossed unto the ground and given an eternal nightmare. We were the only ones standing. Maria was the first to react and took a shot at the gem. Her mysterious weapon did the same. I was relieved to know I wasn't incompetent yet frustrated. She launched more blasts but none succeed. Her arms even threw the weapon at it, but nothing happen. Maria couldn't speak. Her feet kicked the snow on the ground. I shuffled towards her, sheathing my sword. Comforting was something I was unfamiliar with so I said this to lighten her mood, "Guess the town isn't curable." Her eyes were more demonic than mine as she stare at my with death. Instead, I went with my instinct.

"You can mope around or do something."

Her face softened, while her lips gave a slight smirk. She studied the gem with her furious eyes, trying to put the piece to the puzzle. "If weapons or melee attacks can't do anything, then maybe magic?"

Lymle immediately waved her wand around as if she were a painter painting a picture. Her lips chanted in unison to her movement. "Come on doggie!" She screamed.

A beast with fire around its body leapt into this world from thin air and dove towards the gem. Flames erupted shattering the crystal. Shards sprinkled towards the ground like snow then disappeared. Maria did smile, then thanked me.

Lymle won my respect and we decided to make peace. We decided to stay five metres away from each other. The town was saved and I was the only one who was miserable everyone lived.

"Would you like to come with me to my world?" Maria asked me.

I replied, "Do you have to ask?"

(Albel, Cliff, Fayt, Maria, Mirage, Nel, Sophia, Adrey)