When Tabitha woke up, her mother was still asleep on the bed. Holding the book with one hand, she lay down on the bed beside her. Her mother was snoring peacefully.
It looked like Tabitha had become sleepy and had fallen asleep whilst reading "The Hero of Ivaldi." Her mother's eyes opened slightly. She thought her mother would start acting violent... but fixing her eyes on her estranged daughter, she did not move. Could she have regained her sanity? Hope bloomed in her heart, as Tabitha called out, "Mother." But still, the woman did not show any reaction. She merely stared fixedly at Tabitha. But, that was enough.
Looking at the doll on the mirror stand, Tabitha smiled a little. "I will read to you again, Mother." Turning the page of the book, she began reading out loud.
Ivaldi arrived at the cave in which the dragon lived. His attendants and friends started freaking out at the entrance. One of the hunters told Ivaldi, "Let's turn back. If the dragon wakes up, we will all die. You don't know how scary the dragon is."
"I am afraid," Ivaldi said.
"So act according to your feelings."
"But if I lose to fear, I'll become someone besides me. That is many times scarier than being bitten to death by the dragon."
Although Bidashal entered into the room, Tabitha did not lift her face from the book. Her mother was not startled by the elf's entrance either. Throughout those twenty days, every day, Tabitha had been reading "The Hero of Ivaldi" to her mother. If she read any other books, the sickened woman would go mad like a result, Tabitha had read the same book out loud, over and over again. She had long since had it memorized.
Seeing Tabitha reading a book, Bidashal displayed a small smile.
"Looks like you have taken a great fancy towards that book. I am glad I was able to give you something of comfort..."
Tabitha did not reply. Although Bidashal stopped by every now and then, unless there was something special, she would not stop reading.
With a slightly stiff voice, Bidashal told Tabitha, "The medicine will be completed tomorrow."
Tabitha's finger stopped halfway through flipping a page.
"You can only be yourself until tomorrow. If you would like, I could accompany you around the town. I know you would not foolishly run away with your mother here..."
Giving her special permission to leave this room... In other words, a last mercy before the execution of her sentence.
"Boring entertainment, but it would at least be some small measure of consolation."
"Sympathy is not needed," Tabitha replied shortly.
"I see... My apologies." Whispering that, Bidashal exited the room.
She wanted to spend her last few hours with her mother.
Tabitha laid her eyes on "The Hero of Ivaldi" again.
Ivaldi entered the dragon's cave. Nobody else accompanied him. With light from his torch, the moss-covered wall of the cave was illuminated. Being disturbed by the light, many bats flew about, trying to escape.
Ivaldi became frightened and close to tears. He imagined that everyone had left him behind in that dark cave. How scary it was!
Moreover, a terrifying dragon lay in wait for him!
But, Ivaldi did not waver.
Ivaldi had told himself many times, "You can do this. Didn't you save many people already? You can do it this time as well. Did'ya hear that Ivaldi? You have power, so running away is cowardly."
In those times she reread the book, Tabitha slowly felt the contradiction she had experienced towards the title when she was young falling away.
"The Hero of Ivaldi", what did it mean? Ivaldi was not the name of a place- it was the name of the youth in the story. Usually, wouldn't the title be "Ivaldi the Hero" instead?
When she was young, Tabitha once had that doubt in her mind. However, she now understood the meaning of the title.
The word "hero" was not referring to Ivaldi himself. It referred to the idea of the impulse or resolution in his heart.
When she was young, she would read about and yearn for that resolution.
In accordance with the "hero" living inside the Ivaldi-like hearts of the readers, they had longed to be the hero, but... she was different. No, she did not want her heart to be like Ivaldi's. She was attracted to the lady captured by the dragon. She wanted to become the lady that was saved by the hero. Although it was fun, Tabitha had waited eagerly for the hero who would bring her out of the boredom of her daily life. Comparing her life with the lady in the story, Tabitha smiled dryly in her heart.
'Didn't I become this girl myself? Now I have become someone imprisoned. The only difference with the book is that, the hero who is to come to save me does not exist. 'Now, or last time...
'But, that is good enough. I have been doing things alone all along. Not relying on anyone, not trusting anyone, I have been doing everything on my own. Because of that...'
However... after reading this "Hero of Ivaldi", she started imagining.
About the hero who would rescue her. About the hero who would save her from this ominous cave, Alhambra Castle... Because those were the final moments before she was to lose her heart, she might have been feeling such things obediently.
She felt love for her heart that would be lost after the following day. For the first time, Tabitha had felt love towards her heart that was covered by a snowstorm. She grasped her mother's hands tightly. Tabitha started shivering.
***Break***
The group made their way to the steps leading up to the castle. They came to a stop when they saw a figure standing there, a hat concealing the upper portion of his head.
"You're the elf?" Zero asked almost conversationally.
"That I am. My name is Bishadal the elf." The younger man said with a smile and a courteous nod.
"I don't care what your name is, you're going to release Tabitha to us." Zero said, drawing Derflinger.
"I'm sorry, but I must reject that notion. I might be able to arrange for that once I have given her the same medicine that her mother has taken, but until then, I must keep her in my care."
Zero's eyes widened. "You intend to do that?" He demanded angrily.
With a regretful shrug the elf replied,"Of course. It is not my idea, but I must honor my word. My master requires it, therefore I must do it."
Zero looked at the elf standing there looking down at them. He knew from the flickering light filling his vision that he was lighting up from his rage. He spoke slowly,"Everyone, go recover Tabitha. Now."
"But-" Roll spoke.
"Roll. I'm going to destroy him. I want all of you out of my way." Zero stated. He left it unsaid that he didn't want anyone to see it. "Now go."
Everyone nodded, not wanting to make this Zero repeat himself.
"One wonders, are you the Gandalfr that I've been told about?" Came the question from the elf who stood before him. At a glance, you wouldn't be able to tell that he was
"Who cares if I am. I'm just an obsolete reploid, in all truth. I mean, that's what the Guardians of X called me. Including Leviathan."
"Ah, so that is how she knows so much about you. She told me a great deal. I know you are the Gandalfr. But it will not save you. I give you one more chance to leave, as I dislike pointless conflict. You also seem to strike a chord with a character that I have come to enjoy in these past few weeks, Ivaldi. "
Word change: Demanded? Change to something milder. Curiously?
"You think my power comes from being Gandalfr?" Zero demanded incredulously ,"You honestly think that that's all I am?"
"Boy, while you might have some experience, I know you are not a mage. You do not carry a wand nor do you wear the cape of a noble. Although sending the others to get the girl out, was a very noble action. You're willing to sacrifice your still new life to protect that other girl."
"Shut up. I'm not sacrificing anything, and my life is anything but new."
"Then what are you doing, boy? You can not defeat me, nor can you save the girl. Even should I fall, they will be reclaimed. But then, a human has never bested an elf in single combat"
"Ah..." Zero replied in a lazy voice. "I suppose that's good for me then."
"What nonsense do you speak, Child?"
Zero sighed as he shook his head, "Wow, isn't that hilarious? A big ego, and no brain. I can see why the humans hate elves, if they're all like you."
"You talk as if you are not a human, Boy."
"And if I'm not?" Zero asked with a smirk on his face.
"You are not an elf. What other race is there?" Bishadal couldn't help respond, some confusion evident in his features.
"Reploid, as I've already said." Zero stated proudly. "Just like my partners. Created by humans. But with powers far beyond even your understanding, Elf."
Bishadal looked at Zero intently then spoke in a puzzled voice,"What? ...Interesting. I do not feel anything from you beyond normal life... You do not feel like a construct to me."
"That's because we weren't created by magic. We were created through science. We are a new form of life that our creators gifted with intelligence and free will."
"Ah... The methods of the eastern humans. I did not think they were that advanced... Amazing."
"Wrong. I'm not even from this world." Zero replied. "If I was from this world we wouldn't be having this conversation... You'd be running in fear, and I'd be leaving."
"Oh, really? That's quite a claim. One wonders where you came from then, and why you are so confident in yourself."
Zero looked the elf in the eyes and spoke in a serious voice,"I came from a world I was meant to destroy. But I went against fate and did my best to protect it. I was to die protecting that world and the people I valued. A world that I fought for, to redeem myself for all the death and destruction I caused. I was falling to my death, literally eighty-thousand feet above the world, on the remnants of a weapon that had the power to destroy whole cities in seconds. The reentry from the upper atmosphere alone could kill me, although the explosions that were going off might have killed me first... Who knows. At the time, I was feeling kind of relieved that it was all over so I decided to just close my eyes and let it all happen."
Bishadal looked at Zero with a raised eyebrow. "Really now, that's quite the story."
Zero shrugged. "I honestly believe I should have died. It would only have been fair with the amount of people I've killed, but apparently I was needed to fight here. And I always face forward..."
"Hmm.. Such sayings from one so young. I grieve for your heart child. I truly wish things were not the way they are, but I'm unfortunately bound to follow my word. Please know that there is no way to defeat me. I ask again that you and your companions leave this place. I'm bound by oath to do what I must."
Zero looked at the elf contemptuously. "Ya know, I was about to say the same thing. Minus the whole companions and oath crap. And seriously, young? I'm probably centuries older than you! It's not my fault I don't age. Honestly, I've got billions of deaths on my hands, and you think I can't add one more just because you're an elf?"
Bishadal looked at Zero stupidly for a moment. He knew what the term billions meant. It was an almost abstract amount, but there was a number for it. "Would you care to repeat that?"
"What part?" Zero replied smugly, smirking at the shock the elf was showing.
"That ridiculously large number you stated. I must have misheard."
"Nope. It's true. Last count was a few billion. That was mostly during a four year period known as the Elf Wars. The average was roughly eight million a day." Zero replied looking at the elf with a deep sorrow in his eyes.
Shaken at such gaze, Bishadal asked,"Elf wars? You... You had elves in your world that you fought?"
"Nope." Zero replied smirking at the elf's reaction to the name of the war.
"Then why would they be called the Elf Wars?" Bishadal asked, unable to help his curiosity.
"Because a group of beings known as Cyber Elves were created. They amplified the powers of people like me. Someone used them to take control of a great many people like myself and take the world by storm. It was the bloodiest four years our world had ever experienced and it was... It was all my fault. From beginning to end, every single death is on my hands." Zero stated, his hands clenching into fists as he recalled Layer's lifeless eyes that he could barely see through her visor, a small smile on her face that was frozen on her immobile features. The only hint that she had been free in the moments before she had died. The only hint that she knew who her executioner was. Zero silently damned himself again for his weakness but shook off such thoughts. This was a battle and he had an elf to kill.
Bishadal looked at Zero evenly as the young man seemed lost in a sort of introspection. The pain that he noticed on the young man's features did not seem forced. With a sigh the elf shrugged. "I find it hard to believe, but it is also... Unlikely that there wouldn't be some grain of truth to it."
Zero shrugged. "Don't really care if you believe me. Well anyhow, I think that's enough talking. We've introduced each other have been polite and tried to reason with one another. Can we get on to the main event? I mean, Sigma never talked with me this much with me before a fight except to cackle maniacally and do his whole Darwin complex bullshit about how the humans and eventually the older reploids should be swept away. You've been fairly polite, and calm which is a rather nice change of pace that I appreciate, even if it doesn't change the outcome."
With a sigh the elf nodded,"I had hoped we could reach some sort of agreement as long as you were willing to speak with me in such a civil manner."
"Sorry, but I will never abandon my friends. As long as I live, nothing will happen to them." Zero said resolutely, the gem on his helmet sparking for a moment,"So, unless your agreement would have involved Tabitha and her mother coming with us, this was inevitable."
"I see... I'm sorry then. Know in your death that I tried my best to stop this."
Zero laughed,"Yeah, yeah. If you do manage to kill me again, I'll just get back up later and kick the crap out of you with what I learned."
The elf looked at Zero and said "Truly?"
As Zero drew Derflinger, the sword spoke,"He's not joking. He's already died before. We're all fairly certain he's a little too stupid to die because he doesn't understand that he's not supposed to get back up afterwards."
"Derf..." Zero growled as he glared at his sword.
Bishadal laughed heartily and commented,"This promises to be an interesting battle, if nothing else."
"You have no idea," Zero said, grinning ferally. Without warning he jumped at the elf with a speed that caused him to gasp in surprise, and take a step back. Zero's weapon rebounded off a green barrier, carrying him with it.
"Ah... I see. That was quite some force for you to have been thrown back like that... That would have killed me had I not prepared my counter before this." Bishadal spoke with respect.
"Its okay." Zero replied,"But in all seriousness, I'm just warming up. Let's enjoy this, since it will probably be the last fight one of us will have."
"As you say, Familiar. Know that when this fight is over I will remember your courage and skill."
Zero smirked and replied,"Thanks. I appreciate it. Same goes for you."
"Not a problem at all, my young friend. Either way, it will have been a pleasure," the elf replied, and smiled as Zero unleashed a wave of energy at him from his newly drawn saber.
***Break***
In the living room, reading the book out loud, Tabitha's ears caught the loud sound of an explosion.
After that, silence ensued for a while, but this time she could hear the soft noise of something cracking off. Her mother cringed in her bed, afraid. Tabitha gently embraced her mother. What on earth had happened? "It's all right," she whispered to her mother. Getting down from the bed, she went to the door to check things out.
But the door was shut with the 'Lock' spell. Deprived of her wand, she could not do anything. Once feared by others, now the Knight of the North Parterre, Chevalier Charlotte, was nowhere to be seen. The one who was there was only Charlotte Hélène d'Orléans, imprisoned and utterly helpless. Even if she wanted to check what was happening outside, she could not even do that.
Tabitha returned to the bed.
Her frightened mother stared fixedly at the "Hero of Ivaldi."
Tabitha picked up the book, and started reading it, like she had done many times before.
Whilst reading the book, Tabitha thought, 'What if… someone has come to save me?'
Sylphid's face floated in her mind. This was quickly followed by Kirche's.
'I hope it's not them,' Tabitha thought. 'That elf is probably more than a match for anyone.' Finally, Zero's face came into her mind.
'The legendary familiar, that amazing person... Zero who had defeated me, a Chevalier, with nothing more than a sword. If it's him... what if it is him who has come here to rescue me?' she shook her head. 'Such a miracle would never happen. Someone who can win against that elf does not exist. Any hope will lead to despair. Hasn't that been the case all this while? That's right, there had never been a time when my anticipation was rewarded. Tomorrow, I'll lose my soul. This fate will not change.' Slowly, Tabitha started reading the book again.
Ivaldi confronted the dragon inside the cave. The scales of the dragon that had been living for thousands of years were glittering like golden bars, and had grown very hard.
The dragon said to Ivaldi, whose sword-hand was trembling, "What a small being. Get lost. This is not a place you should have come to."
"Return Roux!"
"That girl is your wife?"
"No."
"What kind of relationship do you have with her?"
"Nothing. I had only stopped by at the village to have some bread."
"You throw your life away just for that?"
While trembling all over from fear, Ivaldi proclaimed,
"For that I have gambled my life!"
Suddenly the reading was interrupted by the door bursting open, and an excited Sylphid jumping into her arms in her human form, followed closely by Kirche.
"Big sister! You're all right! Kyui!"
"Oh, thank God! You're here!" Kirche cried out.
Guiche and Malicorne wore smiles on their faces too. Roll, Montmorency, and Louise were at the door smiling, but seemed nervous at the display of emotions.
In a daze, Tabitha looked up at them. 'I thought I had been fighting alone all this while. However, I am not alone. I'm not alone.' Tears started leaking from her eyes as she looked at the people who had come to save her. She noticed that one was absent...
"You all right? Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, the forgotten tears of relief flowed down. While shedding tears, Tabitha asked,"Zero?"
"He's fighting the elf right now. He seemed... Angry. He don't think he wanted us to see what he was going to do..." Guiche said reluctantly.
"No! He can't!" Tabitha cried, she was about to run out the door then her gaze was drawn back to her mother.
Roll moved over to the woman and easily lifted her up,"Don't worry. We're here to get you out. You and your mother."
With that reassurance Tabitha flew out the door, her feet beating on the stone floors as she ran. She couldn't help but think that maybe she had been searching for her hero all along... And with that thought, maybe she had finally found him.
***Break***
"You're not half bad. I can see why the human's have had some trouble with your kind." Zero said, holding Derflinger in one hand and his saber in the other. There were multiple scars on the ground where the elf had attempted to smash him with spikes of earth, or trap him in pits in an attempt to crush him.
Bishadal nodded with respect to the young man before him. With a smile, he said in a complimentary fashion,"I should say the same for you. Your speed and power are impressive. If not for my counter spell, you would have killed me at least a hundred times since we started."
"Yeah, that whole counter thing is kinda annoying, I'll admit." Zero replied. "It makes me hate doing this."
With a puzzled look, Bishadal asked,"Doing what?"
In answer, Zero sheathed both Derflinger and his saber.
"Ah, so you are giving up? I'm glad. It would be a shame to snuff out such a bright life."
"Actually..." Zero replied. "I just have to make use of another of my weapons."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"Me." Zero replied lightly, and then jumped at the elf, his hands crashing into the barrier. When he got thrown back, he smiled at the elf.
"What are you smiling about? You made it no closer to me than before."
"You think so? We'll see." Zero replied, slamming his fist into the ground, causing the earth to ripple and a stone fist to pop up from the ground, and grasp at the elf. Upon meeting his counter spell, the fist exploded, pieces of it showering back as far as Zero.
Bishadal's eyes were wide in shock. "How? You didn't even use words to shape the spell!"
Zero looked at Bishadal with a smirk and spoke academically, as if he was teaching a class. "I don't need words. I simply need to know how it works. You seem to pull in your power from your surroundings. My power comes from me, and only me. Why should I need to speak when I know what I wish to do with my own power?"
"What? How can a human like you use the magic of the spirits? You should need a wand to do anything!"
"I see. You still can't get around the fact that I'm not human, huh? Well, whatever. It won't matter after this fight anyhow."
In response, Bishadal sent a line of earthen spikes at Zero with but a single word. Zero jumped to the side avoiding them easily.
"You'll need to be faster than that, ya know. You really should get rid of the words. They're nothing more than a crutch, right?" Zero taunted. "Not to mention it's like an early warning system. You let me know you're gonna attack and I can just move." Zero commented lazily as he tossed his own set of spikes that slammed into the elf's counter barrier after his glowing left hand touched the ground.
"How? How can you do this? You are not even wielding a weapon!" The elf asked, some panic in his voice.
"That's it, isn't it? You don't know the weakness to your own power, or the strength of mine... Fitting," Zero said as he looked at the elf. Another jagged line of earth tried to impale him only to get blasted back by counter.
"H-how did you do that?" the elf demanded again, truly panicking for the first time, realizing that the young man before him had just utilized one of the most closely guarded secrets of his people.
"Its not my main choice of tactics. I don't usually copy other people's abilities, but you left me with no real choice. This is why I put away my weapons."
"So, an impasse?" The elf asked, in an almost civil manner, with a barely hidden tinge of desperation.
"Not even close. I'm just learning how to use this!" Zero said, and ran at the elf, his newly drawn saber flashing infront of him.
"Its useless!" The elf taunted him. "You almost had me wor-" The elf was cut off as he had to duck the saber that had pushed through the barrier.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of you eating crow."
"Hmm. So you can penetrate my counter? Interesting,"
"Not really. It's easy once you figure out that tactic. It's simple. But simple doesn't necessarily mean its not powerful." Zero flashed forward again, his saber breaking through the barrier, but the elf shielded himself with his hands, creating a second counter spell inside of his first.
"Oh, it can get more complex, believe me. I've never had to do this against someone who wasn't an elf, but you've earned the spot as the first. You have my respect. Unfortunately, it's time this game came to an end. I regret it, but Tabitha's fate is sealed. Even should you defeat me, she will not be safe while the king still lives."
"Oh, really? Didn't you hear me?" Zero asked the elf, his hair was spreading out behind him, forming an almost angelic visage that was completely at odds with the demonic look in his eyes, or the cold and evil smile he bore.
"I must not have. What are you speaking of?"
"I already told you. I'll protect her. It's as simple as that. And all I need to do for that is to kill you, for now anyway." Zero held up his left hand. A green light started emanating from the palm of his hand, an eerie Z seemed to pop out of the light, pulsing with power.
"You... what are you doing! Stopping me means nothing, as long as the king and his demon live, her life will be in danger!" Bishadal yelled at the young man who seemed more threatening than even an elder Rhyme dragon.
"It's something anyone could figure out, right? You said it was time we end this game. I'm just obliging you." Zero jumped at the elf, his counter barrier slamming into the barrier the elf had, his hand flashed out and met the opposing elf's hand. The counter spell that elf had been using inside of his bubble shattered. Zero and the elf were thrown back. Zero landed on his feet. He glared at the elf who was struggling to get up. This next attack would be the last. He'd seen to that. Responding to his will to fight, his desire to kill, the rune gave him more. More power flooded into Zero. Zero was power personified. The Gandalfr mark was power linked to emotions. Zero was a mess of anger, rage and a myriad of other strong feelings all feeding into him. Zero's body began glowing white as lines of power intersected his body, his hair turning a brilliant incandescent white nearly blinding the elf. Soon, the glow emanating from him reached over twenty feet in the air.
"W-what type of monster are you? Why are you doing this?" Bidashal cried as the figure in front of him glowed with a tremendous power that dwarfed the alarming amount that Zero had held before. What sort of demonic fiend was he dealing with? Was this the power of the four demons of the founder?
"What type of monster am I?" Zero asked, as he held his saber. "That's a good question. I can tell you what type of monster I am not. I am not the kind of monster who would rape the mind of a child for political gain. Is that a good enough answer for you? Although I will answer one more question... The answer as to how I'm able to do this as a human. I already told you, I'm anything but. And for why? Again, I already told you, I'll protect her no matter what. If it's you, the king, or Leviathan, it doesn't matter to me."
As the elf tried to respond to him, Zero dashed forward, his palm glowing as he countered the elf's spell with his own version. It was now power versus power. And Zero knew that in a contest of pure power, only X could stop him. The spell around the Elf broke, and Zero's glowing hand quickly met the panicking elf's chest. He barely had time to scream as the hand went through him, and Zero swept his arm out. The Elf's body fell into two parts.
Zero stood still, glowing ominously. "She won't be safe as long as the king lives, you say?" Zero said coldly to the corpse. "Then I guess I'll have to fix that. Don't worry, Elf. My new target is Joseph. We'll see if he and Leviathan have more to say on this matter than you."
***Author's notes***
With the paragraph that was mentioned about chapter 53... Only one of the things in there was actually bad on my part(You're is what it shoulda been). Multiple lines disappeared in there, and oddly enough the sentence itself was perfectly fine minus the to looked like it shoulda been too. Except that it was really supposed to be what it is now. I love how crap just disappeared.
Anyone else think that Zero would make a bad ass child services person? There would be no more crimes against children with him around. At least after the first few people he ripped in half. All thanks to one cute little reploid girl with a doll.
Anyhow, The Box has decided to run for president. It's platform is that it... can be used as a platform. It says that it's better than the other alternatives and he's at least somewhat useful for either stealth or storing things. His running mate is Coily the spring, and if you know who that is you know why he's so important. So remember, Vote for the Box/Coily ticket in 2012 because two inanimate objects think they can do a better job than everyone else, and I'm inclined to agree.
On another note, FFXI has finally lost a long term subscriber because of the stupid stunts they are pulling with the accounts and how they aren't really seeming to care that people lost their access to the accounts even though they did everything they were supposed to. First with that click and buy bullshit?(Fuck that company) and now with that? Good bye Vana'diel.. I will miss you.
Also... To the people asking about the pictures I mentioned... Seriously? Seriously? . I'm not saying there might not be something like that out there, but it was a joke that I'd been setting up for a while with how fickle and stupid fans can be. But then I am using the internet... But I mean... Come on! It was even posted on April first... Ugh... faith in humanity... Slipping...
Zero: ... Wait... So some of our readers are like that fangirl army?
I'm afraid so Zero... It's okay. I just finished playing MMZ collection again... So I appreciate you enough that I'll only whore you out to the girls in the story.
Zero: ... That's supposed to comfort me?
Well I could give you to the rule 63 crowd?
Zero: No, no. That's alright. I trust and value your efforts to keep me safe. Please don't let the rule 63 crowd have me...
Righto.