Hello all and happy new year! (although a little late)

Anyway, I've noticed my usual readers aren't reviewing me anymore, so, I would like to ask you guys to leave your oppinions as always if you could. It's good to know if I can maintain a certain level of quality in my story telling.

Without further delay, here's the new chapter

Chapter 40

The Knight of The Frigid Glory

The reincarnated Summon Spirits, plus Yuan and Martel, were reunited in Yuan's office after Colette and Presea returned together with the group from Thoda Island. Before they got to discuss the last happenings, Presea and Colette said they had something important to tell them.

That something only made the group gaze at them as Colette blushed a crimson tone and started sweating in worry. Presea remained as serious and neutral as ever, looking like whatever the group said wouldn't matter to her.

And that was a lie.

"So you two are lesbians?" Emil repeated what the two girls had just confessed.

"Yes," Presea said simply.

"And you two are going out?" Lloyd asked.

"Not yet… but we intent to…" Colette admitted.

"Oh. Ok then," Lloyd said. He would have put his hands behind his head to emphasize his point, but he was still in pain from Raya's attack, so much that brusque movements sometimes shot pain through the entire upper section of his body.

"You… don't mind?"

"Should I? Who you like is your business and as long as it's not hurting anybody, then there shouldn't be a problem with it."

Colette smiled and thanked Lloyd. Presea smiled too and thanked him with a somewhat raspy voice as the others also voiced their opinion:

"I don't mind it either. As Lloyd said, it is your choice," Regal spoke.

"I already noticed this and I don't see any problem to it," Raine spoke, going back to her book. Presea and Colette blushed.

"For me, it's alright," Emil said.

"I think it's very romantic, myself. I mean, forbidden love between two people of the same sex. Ahhhh," Marta said, almost gushing about it and placing her hands together.

"You just love seeing romantic novels in everything, do you?" Sheena teased with a smile. Marta blushed and made a pouty face of protest.

"I'm okay either. Besides, I find the idea of two girls going at it very hot. Don't you think so, Bud?" Zelos spoke, grinning to Lloyd.

The dual swordsman, despite knowing better, looked at Raine and Sheena (as she glared and fumed at Zelos) and the image of the two women in only swimsuits came to his mind as they… Lloyd made a brusque movement to the side, causing pain to himself, so it would stop the mental image from developing any further. The only price he had to pay was gritting his teeth and feeling like he would snap in half at any moment.

While Sheena glared at Zelos, which made him sweat in nervousness and incline away from her a little, Colette looked at Martel and Yuan with a nervous expression.

"Um… grandma? Grandpa?"

The group stopped and looked from Colette to Martel. All of them muttering the same question:

"Grandma?"

Seeing their confused faces, Yuan told them what they told Colette, giving out the evidences while Martel answered Colette's unspoken question:

"Yuan and I don't see any problem with that. As long as you are happy then we don't mind."

˜Plus, there are things more worrying than someone's sexual orientation. For example…" Yuan spoke, his gaze becoming serious at the end as he looked pointedly at the group, who understood what the blue haired half-elf meant.

"The case of Tornitrus' disappearance," Raine completed for the Renegade leader.

"Correct. From what you said, either Origin or Maxwell have him, or he could have passed to somebody else's hand altogether. Either way, I'll put all of our informants and agents on maximum alert."

"I doubt that will work," Ratatosk said, taking control of Emil. "From what we gathered, Tornitrus was gone a long time ago and I would have felt his presence when I passed near the other cities, he was never one to hide his power."

"But we can be sure he isn't in the hands of the demons, right?" Lloyd asked.

"Of course not. The only thing I can say for certain is that he wasn't destroyed, but, indeed, the demons wouldn't waste this chance if they got their hands on him, so going by logic…"

The group thought about that. They decided that it wouldn't do them any good worry about it at the moment. Marta was about to call Ratatosk, but the Lord of Monsters gave the control back to Emil when she was about to call him. The brunette frowned at not being able to talk to him yet again.

Is he avoiding me on purpose? This is getting ridiculous already.

Yuan sighed at hearing that and decided to change to subject, asking them about what they would do next. Zelos got up and dusted himself as he said:

"There is still me and the Centurion of ice, right? So, we probably should go to Flanoir. Now that Raine recovered her powers, she might be able to keep any aquatic demons away."

"I still don't have complete control over that… but I can try," Raine said with a shudder. She wasn't that eager to test out her powers near the sea, although her curiosity still edged her on.

"And Sir Lloyd still hasn't healed completely yet. He requires medical attention," Martel said.

"Call me Lloyd. I'm not noble or anything," Lloyd said giving a boyish smile. "And I feel pretty much better."

"I don't think so. If you leave and get hurt again, Kratos will have our heads and I, for one, don't wish to be on the receiving end of your father's wrath. I know I said we wouldn't demand anything from you, but this time, it is better you stay here," Yuan said in an adamant tone.

Lloyd was about to protest, but felt Raine and Sheena both glaring at him. He looked at them and saw they supported Yuan's opinion. Grumbling, Lloyd acquiesced to the Renegade Leader's order. Sheena then spoke to the rest of the party:

"I better stay behind and make sure he won't do anything stupid, like go after you all."

"Oh, I see…" Zelos said, with a smile. He then leaned close to Lloyd's ear and whispered. "That's your chance, Bud. Make most of it and tell me later how it was."

Lloyd glared at Zelos while his cheeks colored a red tone. Sheena, if she heard, ignored the red head.

"I have more than enough medical training to help, him, so you don't need to worry about anything," Martel said, offering a smile that was almost a carbon copy of Colette's.

"We know, grandma," the blonde offered.

"By the way, you all said you knew what that giant agitation of magical energy was."

"Oh, yeah. That was the leader of Cruxis."

"Leader?!" this time, Yuan stood up, looking very surprised and a little disturbed. "Are you saying you saw the leader of Cruxis?!"

"Who do you think did this to Lloyd?" Sheena said in an angry tone, pointing to her boyfriend. "The bastard tricked us, playing our friend just to stab us in the back…"

Yuan and Martel looked between themselves, before the green haired woman asked them to tell what had happened. Presea told them Colette had been taken by Cruxis and she went to rescue her, almost ending up killed in the process. When she mentioned the name Yggdrasil, the Renegade Leaders raised their eyebrows in suspicion.

After Presea had ended her tale, Martel went to Colette and hugged her, apologizing that the blonde had to pass through such a situation. Colette said it wasn't her fault.

˜Presea…" the half-elf woman said. "You have my eternal thanks for bringing my granddaughter back."

"I-It was nothing," Presea said, blushing when Martel and Colette gave her one of their trademark smiles that the pink haired girl considered so beautiful.

"Even so, you all should steer clear from any Cruxis controlled city," Yuan said. "I don't doubt your little stunts in evading capture from three Seraphim will be taken lightly anymore."

It was then the door opened and Botta entered:

"Lord Yuan we have a… oh, hello," Yuan's second in command stopped and greeted the group at seeing them. "I see you're all healthy and in good state."

"Some more than others, Sir Botta," Lloyd said, which made the two chuckle at the joke.

"Anyway, I'm afraid I will have to cut your talk short. Lord Yuan, a currier from the Vanguard arrived. Commander Brute has requested your presence on New Ground."

"Understood," Yuan nodded and made signal for his lieutenant to go ahead.

After Botta left, the group decided they were also very tired from all of the events from the last two days and took their leave to the guest rooms.

- / - / - / - / - / -

Later that night, Ratatosk called Martel and Yuan to one of the unused storage rooms. As Emil was sleeping, Ratatosk took control and separated his thoughts from his other half, so that Emil wouldn't wake up.

"This whole thing with Tornitrus puts us back in schedule," Ratatosk said. "But maybe we can spin it in our favor."

"In your favor, you mean," Yuan pointed out in a piercing tone.

"What, still mad? Oh, cry me a river."

"Ratatosk, what about the rest of your group. We saw Lady Marta Lualdi is getting quite... impatient with the way you're treating her," Martel spoke, although her tone let it clear that angering Marta would have bad consequences.

"Good. If she's angry, then she won't mind..."

"I think you got it wrong. She's angry at you for avoiding her because she's worried about you."

Ratatosk didn't answer.

"You didn't really think any of this through, did you?" Yuan inquired. "I don't even see your Centurions, so I can guess you didn't tell them."

"I'll do so when the time is right! And you two should just concentrate on your parts!" Ratatosk spoke, not leaving any space for discussions as he continued to relay them their instructions.

Martel and Yuan sighed at the stubbornness of the Summon Spirit. Both didn't like where this was going, but… they would see it to the end. For Ratatosk's sake if for nothing else.

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

Only one day had passed, but Raine had come with news she had already learned how to use a technique that would allow her to confuse the sonar that the aquatic demons utilized to detect their preys. The group was surprised she had learned it in only one day, but knowing Raine and her excitement towards the unknown, they knew she wouldn't even rest until she managed to figure something out.

Lloyd hadn't healed enough to accompany them, so he and Sheena stayed behind (Zelos grinning at his Bud all the while and asking him to tell him later how "it" went). Yuan loaned the group another EC, this time with Botta as the captain, since Yuan's lieutenant didn't have any urgent assignment.

With everything set, the group left the base and went on the direction of the continent of Flanoir.

"In the days of the War, Flanoir used to have a city inside the continent," Emil lectured the group in the command bridge. "It was a very famous touristic attraction and the War didn't affect it much, since there wasn't any strategic advantage in setting a base in the middle of that continent."

"We used to have a base hidden in one of the rock islands around the continent," Botta interrupted. "But we had to abandon it when the demon infestation in the continent started to get too intense. However, I calculate they never found out about the tunnels we dug to arrive at the continent. After all, why would they lose time with that when there were other, active bases?"

"Even so, we have to be careful. It isn't only the matter of how to get at the continent, but also in locating the temple. Snowstorms are frequent in Flanoir and can bring many dangers. Not only you can lose your way easily, but there might also be ice demons that have adapted to the climate and cause these storms when hunting."

Regal turned to the controls and opened a communication channel to the top of the ship, where Raine was:

"Miss Raine, is everything alright on your end?"

"It's fine, but can you not ask that every ten minutes? It's quite hard to concentrate with you all nagging at me," Raine answered in the radio with a grumpy tone.

"We apologize. We were just worried, considering your condition and…"

"Relax, Regal," Zelos interrupted, approaching the communications console and speaking on it. "Just do your best my cool, mature hunny. I know you can do it," the red head said in a suave tone that made Marta and Emil groan.

"If that is your way to encourage me, let me say: you need to work on your technique," after that, the transmission as cut out.

"Yep. She'll do just fine," Zelos announced with a smile. The group sweatdropped at this.

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

The abandoned Renegade Base was located on a treacherous route between the rock islands around the main coast of the Flanoir Continent. It was clear that anyone who didn't know the region well risked running their boat right into one of the many rocks and jagged, iceberg points jutting out of the frozen sea.

When they got near the small pier that gave entrance to the base, they could also gaze at the frozen parts of the sea around Flanoir. According to Botta, the situation had been like that when they abandoned the continent; the sea around Flanoir was freezing, as the temperature seemed to be dropping a little more with the time.

"There are special armor and equipment inside the base that we used to withstand the temperature. Until you wake up your Summon Spirit powers, I suggest you all use it so you don't get frozen out there just by standing in the snow," Botta said, referring to Zelos.

The group nodded and entered the base, the Renegade Lieutenant serving as their guide. The base's lights were mostly out, but once Botta inserted a password on a keyboard pad, the emergency lights came on. According to him, the base had its own hydro generator on the lower levels, where even the cold couldn't reach.

Exploring the base, they found the armory, where Botta instructed them on which of the equipment were the cold-resistant ones he mentioned. After gearing up, they followed him to another section of the complex.

"We're going to take the railway carts to reach the island. They link to the entrance of a cave that is directly east to the Ice Temple. From there, it is a five kilometer walk to the temple."

"Five kilometers?! On this cold?!" Raine exclaimed.

"I suggest you walk closely together and at a leisurely pace, the air pressure and low temperatures won't be gentle in case you overtire yourself," Botta answered without even minding her expression.

"You heard that Raine," Zelos said, his smile turning into a lecherous one. "That means we have to walk really close. You know, to share body heat."

"This has got to be a nightmare..." Raine mumbled.

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

Flanoir was once known as the "continent at the edge of the world". But now it was just a desolate, cold wasteland without any signs of life in it, except demonic. The only town in the continent was completely razed by the constant demonic attacks and not even the Renegades could save it, only evacuate what number of citizens they managed and getting them out of the continent to another one.

So, it stood to reason that a group of seven people walking amidst the snowy winds was an uncommon sight, if there were any observer to point it out. They all wore furred and thick coats with hoods up and gloves of the same material on their hands, combined with snow boots.

The party thankfully didn't meet any demons on their way to the temple, the only place where the winds didn't seem to reach. The temperature in the premises of the local was a refreshing one,compared to the freezing one outside of the temple's premise.

As they got there Zelos stopped, not to let the rest of the group catch up to him, but to look around, like he was searching for something. Out of all the members in the group, he seemed to be the one less bothered by the cold. In fact, they noticed that it seemed the closer they were to Zelos the less cold it felt around them.

Maybe it's because of his aura and its relation to the ice. Raine and Emil thought.

"I... remember this place. Wait. No, that's not right. I've never been to..."

"It's probably memories and impressions of your past life," Regal spoke as they caught up to Zelos. "I also got a strange sensation of déjà vu when I got inside the Temple of Lightning."

"Do you think the Centurion is still here?" Colette asked Emil.

"Well, I can sense something inside the temple, so I guess she is," Emil answered.

"Indeed," Ventus and the other Centurions appeared as the eagle-like Centurion spoke. "I can also sense her presence. It seems that whoever took Tornitrus didn't come here."

The group entered the temple through a small entrance and saw themselves inside what appeared to be a giant, frozen cave. There was even a lake and an ice bridge in the middle of it.

"Wow. This place is so pretty," Colette said in amazement, looking at the ice formations around the place.

"It seems the temperature here was preserved thanks to Celsius' barrier," Raine mused.

The group had to face brief battles with ice monsters that were quickly dispatched by Regal and Presea's powerful blows, which allowed Emil to perform more pacts to bind the servants of Ratatosk to him once more.

After traversing the ice bridge, they arrived at the edge of the lake. Zelos used his own powers to freeze a path to the other side in the water, which quickly melted as they passed. On the other side, they found the remnants of what looked like four ice totems and a door with a slate on its right side.

The red head walked up to the slate and touched it with his hand. The symbol on it shone briefly and the door slid to the side, revealing a narrow passage to what looked like the altar chamber. Inside it, they could see several ice formations at the back of the bare room.

The temperature seemed to drop considerably as Zelos walked ahead of them, looking like he was in trance. When he arrived near the altar, there was a white flash and a sphere of snow-white, swirling energy manifested. From this sphere came a feminine voice:

You who carries my soul, I'm Celsius, Summon Spirit of ice. her tone sounded high and mighty, and a little arrogant to the group. Raine, Presea and Marta looked briefly at Emil. They suddenly could see why Celsius and Ratatosk made a match.

"I'm Zelos Wilder. I've come here to get your power," Zelos answered in that rare, serious tone.

Oh, so you judge yourself ready? That's what I'm going to decide... I cannot allow someone with a weak will or a doubtful heart to possibly wield my powers, for they could surely solidify the barriers you put around yourself and forever encase your soul in cold…

Zelos seemed unsure and worried when he heard the tone she used on the word "doubtful".

Does she know… ?

Not receiving any more answer or warning, the white sphere shot out another flash and when the group could see again they raised their eyebrows in confusion at the form the guardian took.

Zelos, however, blanched.

"S… S… Seles?!"

Standing there, in the middle of the platform was what looked like an ice clone of a young woman using baggy clothes. Her eyes shone a blue tone very much like Zelos' own. However, nobody but the ex-Representative knew what figure that one was.

"Seles? Isn't that the name of Zelos' sister?" Emil asked aloud, not linking the points yet.

The figure looked slightly older, but the red head could see traces of his sister and even feel it coming from that guardian.

The fake Seles looked up to Zelos with cold, dead eyes, like she was wordlessly accusing him of some crime. A crime Zelos knew very well.

You let me die… it wasn't spoken by anyone, but, somehow, Zelos knew it was coming from that ice figure. An ice blade formed in its hand. Now you die…

The ice doppelganger lunged forward and Zelos stood paralyzed on the spot, not being able to react. The group saw that and yelled at him to move. He did, but his reaction time was too slow and he got a large gash on his left shoulder.

Zelos felt the wound burn like it was on fire, an effect of frostbite. And yet, all he could do was to gape at the Seles-clone.

Why is it that you survived? she advanced again. Zelos could only dodge. A part of the red head wanted to counter, but the feeling was just so familiar... just like the real Seles. His rational mind was overpowered by his guilt and emotions. Why should you survive? Just look at you now...

"Zelos, what are you doing?!" Marta yelled.

"Could it be because that ice doll looks like someone he knows?" Colette wondered aloud.

It was then Emil realized; he knew the name Seles because that was the name of Zelos' late, younger sister. As he realized that, he called out the Centurions and asked them what kind of monster was that.

"I would say it is a Niurma, also known as Celsius' Nightmare by Flanoir's urban legends," Tenebrae said. "It is a ghost monster which uses ice as a medium to materialize itself and can assume any form it wants."

"The reason it has taken this form is because it is a monster that can sense what your worst fears are and mimic them, copying it down to the aura signature," Ventus said. "In Zelos' case, it seems he still holds some guilt over the death of his sister."

The group could only look back as Zelos was trying to avoid the Niurma's attacks, still not being able to attack due to the aura of that creature giving him such a familiar feeling to Seles. Another cut on his right side made him kneel as he felt it burning. The Seles doppelganger then set its sword close to Zelos' neck. He could even feel the chilly aura from the weapon.

The reincarnated Celsius could only look at the blue eyes of the icy ghost as they coldly regarded him.

Now die. As you should have that day...

At the words "that day" Zelos felt a memory coming to him, even though his mind was frozen at the moment...

- / - / - / - / - / -

"Big Brother!" a little, red haired girl called to him, making he look up from his chess game with Sebastian (which he was losing horribly at).

"Oh, hi sis!" a young Zelos said, abandoning the game and giving attention to his sister as he saw she was carrying a toy sword in her hand.

"Could you teach me swordplay?" little Seles asked with a smile.

It was true Zelos had started taking lessons on fencing and swordplay, as it was required of the future Cruxis Representative to be able to defend himself, but for Seles to want it too...

"Sister, you do know you're too frail for that, right? You get sick easily."

"But... I wanna defend big brother from the demons," Seles said, her eyes tearing up, before she had a coughing fit.

Zelos immediately rushed to her side and supported her.

"See? I told you, you're too frail for that."

"B-*cough*- but brother..."

Seles crying face and insistent tone was too much for Zelos. She always had a way to make him do things for her even if it involved him modeling for her in one of her dresses.

"Tell you what..." Zelos said, smiling to Seles. "When you get older, I'll teach you everything I know, then you can defend me if I face a guy tougher than me."

"Really?!" the little child asked with a bright smile on her face. Zelos nodded. "Yay! You just wait, big brother. I'll be saving you from monsters in no time..."

- / - / - / - / - / -

When he opened his eyes again, Zelos saw the icy blade had stopped centimeters away from his face, being held back by... a small, light sphere on his hand. Zelos didn't even know how that happened, because he didn't remember moving his arm.

Big brother, get up... Seles' voice sounded again, but instead of the cold, dead tone from the Niurma, it was the same warm, child voice he knew for the best part of his childhood.

"What?" like a switch had been flipped, Zelos jumped back as the blade finally came down, missing him completely. "Where did that... ?"

Brother. Zelos then looked at the sphere on his hand. The voice seemed to be coming from it. Was that Seles'... ? Go on... you have to live on, because you're my big brother... let me help you, like I promised.

The sphere suddenly released a flash and entered inside Zelos' hand. He felt his chest get warm and when the reincarnated Celsius looked up he saw the Niurma had completely changed its form, now resembling a hulking, muscular creature with several spikes sprouting from its shoulder, head and even tail.

"A Blood Spike?" Aqua wondered aloud, seeing the creature had changed its form.

"Why did it suddenly became that right after that flash?" Colette wondered.

Presea looked at Zelos and could see someone floating behind him; a child with red hair and blue eyes much like Zelos' own. Having heard the story about the ex-Representative's past, Presea had little doubt about who that spirit was.

The reincarnated Celsius could only look at the guardian that had taken the form of... that. He then understood just what was happening here, his mind finally becoming functional once more:

"So, this is a test of my fears and doubts. Kinda corny, but I have to admit it is effective," he gave a smile as he materialized his ice sword and shield. "Besides, I've been wanting to kick this thing's ass for a long, long time. Pity it's not the real thing."

The battle finally seemed to start as Zelos charged at the Niurma, which swung its clawed arm at the red head. Zelos expertly dodged and retaliated with a sword strike on the Niurma's hand using all of his strength. It was repelled, but left cracks on the creature's icy limb.

The Niurma-Blood Spike swung its arm again, forcing Zelos to put his shield up to defend against the numerous spikes on the creature's arm, which resulted in him being shoved back and his shield scratched. The doppelganger lowered its head and shot several spikes from its head at Zelos, who avoided them and closed in for the attack again, this time aiming for the monster's leg.

"What is he doing?" Marta asked, surprised that Zelos was going against that monster using an ice-made weapon. "He surely knows that won't affect the Niurma, right?"

"Look closely," Presea was the one to answer.

Marta did and as Zelos narrowly avoided a blow that would have beheaded him, he attacked the same leg he had before. It was then the brunette saw cracks spreading around the limb.

"What?"

"In this temperature, ice is harder than even steel," Regal spoke. "So, as long as Zelos doesn't use any kind of magic on his sword, it would be the same as attacking that monster using a common weapon, but much harder."

Marta thought about it and had to admit that it made sense.

Zelos avoided another spike thrown at him, which cut his cheek, making him feel the effect of frostbite again, but this time much reduced as his adrenaline was finally running, lessening the pain. He jumped and defended from another blow, being thrown back once more. The cold was finally getting to him as his wounds seemed to seep some of his strength.

Ok, now I'm pissed. Zelos then threw his sword at the Niurma-Blood Spike and watched with satisfaction as it put its arm up to block.

The reincarnated Celsius produced a throw lance made of ice and hurled it at the guardian, aiming for its right side. As he predicted, the Niurma put up its right arm to defend, not noticing it was damaged. The lance sunk into the limb by the cracks, almost exiting on the other side, but it was enough so the Niurma was distracted and Zelos attacked the creature's leg once more.

This time, Zelos' blade sunk as it cut through the monster's icy member. Putting more strength on his weapon, Zelos managed to sever off the limb, making the hulking frame of the shape-shifting monster fall. Smiling Zelos dismissed his shield and summoned another sword, ready to pierce the monster's head with it.

Then suddenly, it wasn't a copy of that hateful Blood Spike kneeling near him, but that of his sister. Zelos stopped short, gasping at seeing Seles' figure again. He felt that same warm sensation again, like two arms were hugging him from behind to give him comfort and reassurance. The reincarnated Celsius could finally see through the deception of that creature and past the fake aura.

"Never..." he thrust his swords forward, right on the creature's cold, dead eyes, piercing the Niurma's skull. "Use my sister's image against me again!" Zelos then swung the blades outwards, severing half of the monster's head off.

As the ice creature finally fell and dissolved away in vapor that joined together at the altar, Zelos dismissed his ice blades and sighed in relief at seeing it was over. The rest of the party also came closer, Presea keeping an eye on the spirit hovering near Zelos the entire time, although she knew it wasn't a menace.

You cheated… Celsius' voice came, arrogant and cool as always, but with a tone of reprieve to it.

"What?!" Zelos let out, taking a step back.

Don't play dumb, you know very well what happened back there. To have the spirit of your deceased blood relative helping you is the same as employing outside aid. So, in a few words, you failed… Celsius tone was final and got the group shocked.

"I've… failed?"

The red head felt crushed, something he never did before. The only time he felt like that was when his sister was killed, because he thought it had been his fault. Now, it really was his fault that he had failed in that test. Zelos hung his head down until he saw Emil move to the front and speak:

"Wait a minute. You can't just reprimand him for…"

And who exactly are you? Celsius countered.

It was then Ratatosk assumed the control as everybody felt a pulse in Emil's aura:

"What, don't you recognize me, Celsius? I'm heartbroken," Ratatosk said in a mocking tone.

Oh, Rata. I didn't recognize you in this form. But you surely understand that… Celsius began.

"What? That his dead sister helped him? Oh please. We have much more pressing concerns than that," Ratatosk said, making a flippant gesture with his hand.

But those were the rules. I was to test his resolve and heart and he didn't pass. The fact that he needed help proves his resolve is lacking. We can't have that coming from a Summon Spirit.

Zelos hung his head down lower, his hair obscuring his face. He then heard his sister's voice call him out, but he didn't look up. It was then Presea saw Seles turning more solid as she turned to Celsius' other half and spoke up:

"Hey you! You don't have to be so mean! What so if my brother got my help?"

Don't get involved in this. This matter is beyond a mere spirit's comprehension. Celsius spoke.

"But…"

If you wanted him to pass then you should just have stayed back instead of interfering like you did and…

"Now wait just a minute?!" Zelos said, finally looking up. "If you want to reprimand me, fine, I deserve it, but don't you dare talk down my sister for helping me," the group only looked at Zelos and Seles mouthed a "big brother". "I promised her she could help me one day and that's what she did. She was only keeping a promise we made to each other. And about your power, if you don't want to give it to me, then fine! I'll just have to find another way to help Emil and the others."

Silence followed Zelos' declaration. Even Celsius was silent, seeming to not be able to come back with a retort. It was then they heard Ratatosk chuckle as he looked at the sphere of swirling, white energy that was Celsius' soul half:

"It seems he really took after you. You heard that? He's willingly to try another route to get his powers back."

I've noticed… Celsius said. She then seemed to regard Zelos. You certainly have guts to mouth off a Summon Spirit like that for sake of your loved ones. While I admire that trace that still does not erase the fact your heart is full of doubts and in conflict. So, I propose… a probation test.

Before any of them could ask anything, there was a flash of white, forcing the group to cover their eyes. When they were able to see again they saw a ring with a sapphire stone where before was Celsius' soul half. The ring floated down to Zelos and Celsius' voice came from it:

While your heart keeps strong ties and your soul shows promise, as long as you are plagued by doubt and uncertainty you will never be able to reach your full potential... so, until the time comes that you are able to dedicate yourself wholesomely, this ring will give you access to a moderate amount of my powers. When you finally make up your mind, the ring will shatter and only then will you be complete…

Zelos took the ring and put it on his ring finger in his right hand. His body started to glow white.

I'll be watching your resolve… Knight of the Frigid Glory…

Rings of white light passed by Zelos' limbs, replacing his pink coat and white shirt by a white copy of his sleeveless coat. His skin turned a little paler and dark blue markings resembling ice flocks symbols appeared underneath his eyes and around his forearms. Zelos' shoes gained blue details and wing-like ornaments on the back.

The ex-Representative's pants became midnight-blue shorts with golden lining on the edges. Dark blue tattoos also appeared on his legs. from his back sprouted a pair of pale blue, spectral wings, much like the others of the group.

When the transformation ended and the group could see again, Zelos gave a look over himself and smiled a broad smile.

"Well, check me out! Am I just too hot to melt or what?!" the red head said.

"'Too hot to melt'… seriously?" Ratatosk spoke with a sweat drop on his forehead.

"Whatever. Bet you wanted to look this good."

"You know what, forget it."

With that, Ratatosk gave the control back to Emil while Zelos continued to flash smiles and poses on an ice mirror he made instantly. Raine decided to return to the matter at hand and reminded the group they still had to find the core.

Zelos dismissed the mirror and said he had a memory of where it was. The group followed the red head to the back of the room. The reincarnated Celsius then touched a wall and it slid down, revealing a passage. As the group entered it, Colette asked:

"Don't you feel cold just on this outfit Zelos?"

"Actually, no," he answered. "Guess it comes with being Summon Spirit of the ice."

"What about your sister? Is she really with you?"

Zelos looked behind him and, indeed, Seles was still with him, although she didn't seem to approve of his change of wardrobe by the frown she was showing on her face.

"Big brother, put some clothes on! I won't have those hags coming after you because of this!"

I forgot how overprotective she tended to be… Zelos sighed.

Raine and Regal stood quiet, only observing. Raine, like Presea, could see and listen Seles while the others could only feel her presence. She had some doubts about the convenience of the spirit of Zelos' sister showing up now, but even Celsius didn't feel anything wrong with her.

I wonder… Raine decided to leave her inquiries for later.

The group arrived at an ornate door, which Zelos opened, leading them to the altar of the Centurion. There they saw Glacius' core above the flower-shaped bowl. They sighed in relief at seeing they wouldn't have worry about another missing Centurion.

Emil walked to the altar and picked up the core, murmuring the words of the ritual as he raised it. The temperature seemed to drop some degrees and ice shards appeared out of thin air, surrounding the core. The ice shards then converged to the core and an explosion of white light blinded the party.

"My, my, that's quite the bunch," a velvety, smooth voice rang out as the group looked and saw Glacius' form.

The Centurion of ice looked like a woman with golden eyes, ears, tail and paws of a wolf and white fur covering her round, full breasts and tights like a sash and a thong. She then looked at her Lord and bowed while floating in the air.

"My Lord."

"Glacius. It's good to have you back," Ratatosk said, taking the control.

"Actually, this reunion wouldn't be necessary, if not for that bastard," Glacius then looked at the group of reincarnated Summon Spirits. "And who are these? They seem… familiar."

"Well, hello there, my wild hunny," Zelos said, appearing almost instantaneously near Glacius, flashing her one of his handsome smiles. His sister started to rant on the background, but he didn't pay her any mind at the moment.

"Cel… sius?"

"Not really, but close enough."

Glacius stayed silent for sometime, seeming to look Zelos from bottom to top. She shrugged and said:

"Works for me. So, since you're in this form and coming on to me in what I can see is clearly what the humans call 'flirting', do you want me to perform sexual services for you?"

That made the group's eyes (save for Ratatosk) widen. Zelos seemed so shocked when Glacius asked that he even stuttered:

"W-what?!"

"Isn't that what males do? You and my Lord liked to pleasure each other, but he doesn't seem interested at the moment. Will me suffice then?"

Dismissing that little fact about his past self and Ratatosk, Zelos felt he had hit the jackpot. He was about to open his mouth, when he felt a brute headache. He knew that should be Seles, using whatever she could to make him not take on Glacius' offer.

"Wait a minute. What the hell is happening here?!" Marta exclaimed, scandalized that one of Ratatosk's servant would say a thing like that.

"Who is the ironing board?" Glacius asked.

Marta stopped immediately and turned to the Centurion, muttering "Ironing board?!". Ventus and the others materialized and explained to their brethren who Marta was, including her relationship with their Lord.

Glacius floated near the Whirlwind Rider, who gave her an ugly look as the Centurion looked her over. Glacius then spoke with her smooth, velvet voice, like giving a verdict:

"That won't do. How did Lord Ratatosk find anything appealing in such a plain girl? Unless his tastes changed radically since the end of the Second Invasion."

Marta was two steps away from going into Spirit Form and brutally murdering the Centurion in front of her, but instead decided to march up to Ratatosk and growl at his face while the Lord of the Monsters cowered:

"Explain...NOW!"

Ratatosk gulped and the other Centurions tried to keep their brethren from getting into anymore trouble by giving her an explanation of everything that happened.

"Um… you know how I shaped Ignis to be a present for Luna, right?" Ratatosk spoke. Marta angrily nodded, seeming to foam at the mouth now. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that in this situation. "Well, before I created Glacius, me and Celsius made a bet, but I lost in the end, so, as per our terms, she told me how she wanted the Centurion that would work besides her to be. I never guessed she would ask to model Glacius after her."

"You mean you made one of your Centurions a mouthy pervert because of a bet?!"

Ratatosk never realized how stupid that made him look until Marta pointed it out. Sure, he could undo Glacius and remake her, but by doing that, all the experiences she accumulated would be erased and that would be counter-productive at the present time.

He was about to speak something in his defense, but suddenly several flashes started to come to his mind at blinking speed. The Summon Spirit clutched his head as more voices and flashes came, all jumbled up in a disconnex pattern that made him fell like he was going through some short of mental breakdown.

Marta's anger immediately dissolved as she saw Ratatosk shaking, mumbling in pain and grabbing at his hair's ends like he was in extreme pain, his eyes bulging almost out of his skull as he tried to hold the images and sounds back.

"Ratatosk, are you okay?! RATATOSK!"

He couldn't hear her amidst the confusion of voices and images that assaulted his mind. The world was spinning fast and he felt like his head would split into two at any moment. He couldn't even hear the others as they got close. Among some of the several flashes he got he could hear some louder than others:

Didn't think it through...

Never wanted to have it this...

Ratatosk... please...

What would you think of...

This world... shall burn...

Ratatosk shot his head up and let out a bloodcurdling scream. The last thing he registered before his consciousness shut down was Marta's desperate look as she looked helplessly at him…

And to complete it: a skit!

This one is between Lloyd, Zelos, Colette, Sheena and Raine and occurs a littel after Colette and Presea's confession of their relationship

Love and Hate

Lloyd: So Colette and Presea… I wonder when they became this close.

Zelos: What? Don't you remember? They practically couldn't stay away from each other after we rescued Presea.

Lloyd: Um… now that I think about it, you're right.

Zelos: Of course I am. I wouldn't be the Last Romantic if I didn't catch on to these things.

Lloyd: *sigh* Thought you would say something like it…

Zelos: Besides, all girls have a lesbian side to them.

Lloyd: Huh?

Zelos: It's true. Why do you think they share more of their feelings with their best friends than we men tend to do with ours? Some even share other things like their first kiss and… in some cases… heheh… their first time.

Lloyd: A-Are you serious?!

Zelos: *smiling* What? Didn't you know? Oh, how I pity you. Anyway, if I were you, I would be wary, because Sheena might get tired of your indecisiveness and look for some fun in… the other side of the camp

Lloyd *confused*: Other side… of the camp?

Zelos *sighing*: Really, sometimes I worry about you Bud… I'm talking about her and Raine's feelings for each other.

Lloyd: W-WHAT?! B-But they don't even like each other that way! And they're always fighting.

Zelos: So? Love and hate are two sides of the same coin.

Colette: Hey. What are you guys talking about?

Zelos: Oh, hello little Colette. I'm just explaining Lloyd here how it starts.

Colette *confused*: How what starts?

Lloyd: Zelos, I don't think you should be talking about these things with Colette.

Zelos: Relax, besides, who better than her to confirm what I am saying. Colette, tell me, did you started liking girls because of your best friend?

Colette: Yeah, that's right! How did you know?

Zelos: Just intuition.

Lloyd: Y-You're kidding, right?!

Zelos: Did you and her fight?

Colette: Not really. Although we did discuss about her habit of groping me and invading my personal space, but I wouldn't say that was so bad. We were friends after all. *smiling*

Zelos: See? Now If I were you, I would…

Sheena: Honestly, I'll have to show you how it is properly done.

Raine: Oh, do you I'm that inexperienced? I would have you know that Richter said it was very good.

Zelos: Too late…

Lloyd: C'mon. I'm sure it's nothing like…

Sheena *stifling a laugh*: Pfft. Bet he didn't have any taste if he said it was good, or maybe he just wanted you not to feel bad.

Raine: Well, if you have so much time to complain, how about helping me then?

Sheena: Alright, alright. Here, let me teach you how my mother taught me and- Oh, hi Lloyd.

Lloyd * sweating*: Um… h-hi S-Sheena.

Sheena: Do you wanna join me and help Raine?

Lloyd: You mean… me and you… with her?!

Sheena: Yeah. Poor woman, she simply can't get it right and you can do it quite well, so I thought that… AH! Lloyd! Lloyd! Are you okay?!

Raine: What happened?

Sheena: I don't know! He suddenly fainted.

Raine *sighing*: It seems we'll have to postpone my cooking lessons then.

Zelos: Cooking?

Sheena: Yeah. Raine really needs some help at it. What? What did you think we were doing?

Zelos: Oh, nothing…