Note: Well, hello everyone. It has been a long time, no? So, I have actually been receiving several PMs asking me about where I get my inspiration from, as well as what writers inspire me. Since I have received several of these PMs from a range of people, I have decided to make an official statement. In the case of inspiration, I rarely ever take inspiration from anything for A Mending Soul. However, to get into my writer's frame of mind, I will read books from Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, BIONICLE, Redwall, Warriors, and Seekers. As for authors, my writing style emulates that of Cherith Baldry, Tui Sutherland, and Brian Jacques. There. I made an official statement. Now on to answering some reviews! To Danielle Brookshire 58, thanks! I am glad you do! To Rainbow999, thank you as well! To Guest, what do you mean by "Mary Sue-ish?" Sunset Shadow was a mass murderer. Flaming Star was a egotistic moron who still has girl problems now and again. Wild still doesn't care about who he kills. Those are only a few Dimensional Traveler that had bad pasts. Additionally, Dimensional Travelers only seem powerful because of their wide range of powers. However, if they are not wearing their armor, a child with a fork could kill one of them. In addition to that, I know some Pokemon that could destroy a Dimensional Traveler with ease. To PBJNachos, I don't know about unblinding her... We will have to wait and see. Finally, to RETheUgly, hello! It is so nice to hear from you again. Okay! Finished! Time to get on finally to the story. Enjoy!
Dimension: Provistorian
Planet: Averthon Magnum
Specific Location: Aldgitess's Fortress
Time: About a week after Lyric found Summer
"Wow," breathed Jefferson, "Pictor is dead. That is pretty cool. I mean, if you really think about it…"
August did not respond. He was breathing hevily, striving desperately to hold in his emotions. There before him lay Pictor. Though Pictor had brought nothing but hell to those around him, August's stomach churned whenever he ended a life against his will, and this one was no exception. And that was not even the worst part. Blue had taken over him with ease, even though he himself had put up every centimeter of his willpower to fight against the submerged conscious of the Inquisitor. If he could take over August now on a whim, what would stop him from simply replacing August and taking over his body altogether?
August's wild train of thought was brought to a standstill by a sound: Gene groaning. Scrambling to his feet, August rushed over to Gene and shook him.
"Gene, are you okay?" August asked gently, doing his best to push the memories of his newest atrocities to the back of his head.
Gene sighed and rubbed the back of the head. "Yeah. I've been bucked in the head by Applejack worse than that…"
"I am sure you have," snorted Jefferson, who still could not bring himself to care about the horrible death of Pictor, "But I have a pressing question: why did you almost kill yourself trying to protect that Bat Lady… Guard… Thing?"
Gene glanced over at the prone body of the once-winged female guard of Aldgitess's fortress. "She was innocent."
Jefferson rolled his eyes. "What is your definition of 'innocent' anyway? It seems to me that you heroes use the word 'innocent' as interchangeably as us mercenaries use the word 'dead.'"
August glared at Jefferson. "He's been through so much already, Jefferson, please don't make this any worse."
Jefferson, still grinning a bit, held up his hands and backed up. "Hey, sorry. I don't want to risk you turning into Blue again. Hey, Blue is kind of like the Hulk in some terms. That makes you Bruce Banner…"
August ignored Jefferson (like usual) and turned to Gene, "Hey… are you sure that you are okay?"
"Derpy is flying laps around my head right now," chuckled Gene weakly, trying to make light a rather dark situation, "But other than that… I am fine."
At that moment, another groan rang out: it was the guard.
In an instant Jefferson had pulled out a sharp dagger, but Gene quickly scrambled up and rushed over to the downed woman.
The guard whimpered a little as she shifted in the dirt, spreading blood from the stubs that were left of her wings across the ground. Her eyes opened slowly, and she saw August.
With a gasp, she tried to scramble backwards, but all she managed to do was fall completely over again with a pained cry. Gene quickly laid a hand over one of hers and said, "Calm down… He is not the same as the one who attacked you. You are safe now. Let us help."
"I don't need any help," replied the guard sharply through clenched teeth. She literally attempted to stand, but flopped straight over again with a cry. Blood oozed thickly from her wing stubs and Gene suddenly noticed that one of her legs was broken. The right one.
"You are completely incapacitated, please, for the love of God, let us help," exclaimed Gene.
"I'd rather burn in hell," was all that he got in response.
With that, Jefferson flipped the dagger he was holding in the air, caught it by the sharp tip, and then stowed it away in his vast pockets of his vest beneath his overcoat. "You hear that? She wants to burn in hell instead. Right! You tried! Let's get skedaddle out of here now."
"Please, see reason," pleaded Gene, who was ignoring Jefferson like usual as well, "You will die if you stay alone here."
"You attacked us," snarled the woman, "You killed the other guards. You are my enemies."
"No, we're not," insisted Gene, "We only attacked because we were trying to defend ourselves. When our friend August vanished, we tried to get into the fortress to find him. Those guards attacked us and we needed to defend ourselves."
"And if we are your enemies, then explain why we haven't killed you…" added Jefferson, speaking reason for once.
Gene nodded wordlessly in agreement, looking at the guard with a strained face.
The guard opened her mouth as if to say something. However, then she hesitated and closed her mouth. There was a pause. Then she said, "Why didn't you kill me?"
"Because we want to help you," said Gene with a small smile.
The smile seemed to dissipate the guard's improving mood. She tried once more to scramble away as she hissed, "Like you helped the other guards?"
"We've gone over this already, moron," grumbled Jefferson, "They attacked us, we fought back, and they exploded. End of story. Nothing personal. I assure you that your 'friends' died painlessly."
Teeth clenched from pain, the guard hissed, "They weren't my friends."
Jefferson rolled his eyes. "Uh oh. Here comes some ridiculously complicated back-story that will explain why she is here and why those fellow guards weren't her friends. I hope it includes at least one sex scene."
Gene would have punched Jefferson, but he was too busy working hard to keep the guard from passing out from blood loss.
"What do you mean?" asked August, who had been staying a respectful distance up to this point.
The guard simply bared her teeth at August and tried to get up again. She collapsed into Gene's arms. Blood soaking into his armor, Gene supported her head and whispered, "What did you mean by what you said?"
Eyes fluttering, the guard replied, "I was drafted into the guard corps after Aldgitess's army razed my town and killed my parents. But… that… doesn't matter… now…"
Gene conjured up a long strip of cloth and wrapped it around her chest, binding up her wing stubs. Then he did the same to her broken leg.
"W-why…?" breathed the guard.
"You deserve a chance to live in happiness like us all. I am here to give you that chance," replied Gene quietly.
The guard slowly turned her face to look into Gene's, she was deathly white.
"I'm… I'm Radiance."
Gene smiled. "I'm Gene."
Radiance passed out.
Gene then straightened up, turned around, and then hoisted Radiance onto his back. The once winged female guard was now riding piggy-back upon him.
"W-what are you doing?" gaped August, staring at Gene in disbelief.
"I am taking her with me," replied Gene promptly.
"But she'll kill us!" exclaimed August, "She'll kill me!"
"August, she will do no such thing," snapped Gene, "First of all, she is in no condition to attempt to kill anything. Second of all, you couldn't get yourself killed now even if you tried. Back down."
August's right eye twitched. Then his right hand slowly crept down to his gun holster where the Inquisition Blaster was lying in wait. He slowly wrapped his fingers around the handle… Then he jerked as if he been electrocuted and he swiftly withdrew his hand.
"Very well," August mumbled.
Jefferson chortled. "That was almost as amusing as the time I saw Traveler Tricost get his ass kicked by Master Chief and his pet Pokémon Gardevoir."
Gene glanced slowly at Jefferson. "Master Chief was a Halo Dimension Spartan. They don't have Pokémon."
Jefferson winked. "Exactly. That is what they want you to think."
Gene turned about and looked at August once more.
"Well, what is our next move?"
August blinked. "You're still following me? Why? I think I don't need to keep repeating myself: I'm a monster."
"Yeah, but you are a monster that killed Dimensional Lord Pictor. I think that equals things out," replied Jefferson in a jocund manner.
"I hate to agree with Jefferson," added Gene, "But he has a point. Pictor's death date was past due. He had ended too many innocent lives to be allowed to continue living."
To Gene's surprise, all this did was cause August to suddenly convulse and then bear his teeth fiercely.
"You don't know what Blue's memories have showed me," he hissed, "I've ended almost as many innocent lives as Pictor. When will I be not allowed to continue living?"
Gene opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he sighed, hitched Radiance a little higher upon his back, and then stepped back.
August sighed as well. "I'm sorry Gene," he mumbled, "It's just that every second… Blue takes me over… Just… Just leave me. I'm not the person you once knew."
Jefferson snorted. "Soooooo… If I turn about right now and stroll away, will I be walking away from Blue, or from August?"
Gene shook his head firmly. "He is August. The being standing before me is August. No matter how many times Blue tries to take him over, I will not lose faith for my friend. August would never abandon be, thus, I will never abandon him."
Gene then looked August straight in the eye, "Where to next, August?"
August looked like he was going to cry for a moment, but then he pushed down his emotions, cleared his throat, and then said, "We are going higher up. There is another piece of armor deeper in Averthon Magnum. I think I know where. Let's go."
With that, he turned straight about and walked off, taking great and purposeful strides north across the land.
Jefferson poked his head out from behind Gene and jauntily said, "I guess the hot bat guard lady is coming too…"
"Just shut up Jefferson," replied Gene coolly. He then paused to shift Radiance higher up on his back again and then set off to follow August.
Jefferson shrugged. "What? She is hot! Don't deny it Gene! Come back here!" Jefferson quickly dashed after the two. As he caught up with them, he switched the subject entirely.
"Okay, are we just going to run off in a random direction until Blue sends August directions?"
"I hope so," replied Gene softly, hoping fervently that August still was only able to retrieve Blue's memories through fragmented visions. He was sadly mistaken.
"No," replied August in hushed tones, "I remember it all now. He placed the chest piece in the Power Garden of the Upper Realm of Averthon Magnum."
Gene sighed in despair. He had worried about this: August could recall Blue's memories as his own. The two had become mixed together. It was only a matter of time before August and Blue's consciousness was mixed interchangeably together as well. Then the friend that Gene once knew and cared for deeply, August, would be lost in the vast writhing sea that was Blue.
Jefferson, however, did not seem perturbed by any of this (like usual). Thus, instead of sighing in despair or something of the like, he said, "Okay… The Upper Realm. Could you explain?"
"The Upper Realm is near the end of the planet of Averthon Magnum. It was the headquarters for the king of this land. It is no longer. The Power Garden is a special location of magic that is in charge of keeping this planet alive. Just live the multiverse depends on Imagination Energy, this land depends on the magic from the Power Garden. Thus, needless to say, it is well guarded. But that will not be a problem."
"Why do I feel like that statement was more foreboding as opposed to reassuring?" muttered Gene.
At that very moment, Radiance gasped deep and long. She struggled with Gene, forcing him to place her down. She promptly kicked him the chin, sending him flying backwards as if struck by a car.
Jefferson guffawed loudly at the site of Gene crumpling to the floor, dazed.
"I'm surprised she didn't end up kicking your ass initially, August, thank your lucky stars Blue had you over or right now you would be mincemeat!"
His laughing stopped short when Radiance cast a baleful glace in his direction. He took a step back and slowly placed his right hand's palm on the hilt of one of his many long daggers hidden beneath his large overcoat.
At that point, Radiance struggled to her feet. She then turned to August and hissed, "You… tried… to… KILL ME!"
August was no longer there. With the violence that had unfolded in the scene before him, August had been seamlessly replaced by Blue once more.
"Hello Radiance," murmured Blue, standing off to one side, looking at her with nonchalant complacency.
"I'll kill you," she snarled, trying to take a step forward. Blue pulled out his Inquisition Blaster and fired it into the air. Then he pointed it straight at her face.
Suddenly Jefferson rushed in between the gun-pointing Blue and the blood-thirsty Radiance.
"Wait a second!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, "I call a time-out."
"Get out of my way," snarled Radiance.
Jefferson grinned sheepishly, "No. Please don't kill me."
"The only reason I myself am not firing through you is because I find your existence amusing, Jefferson," added Blue in hushed tones.
"Thanks," snapped Jefferson, "You're not helping. Look, Radiance, I know he tried to kill you, but he is also one of us. And, like Gene said before, you are like one of us now as well. We are a team, and rule number one for being a team is 'don't kill your teammates.'"
Radiance bared her teeth… But then actually backed down. She then teetered, and fell down hard on her rump, gasping softly in pain. The red splotches on the bandages biding her severed wings deepened in color.
At this moment, Gene opened his eyes and groaned.
"That hurt sooooooo much," he muttered, "Thank God those other guards weren't as vicious… How is it that I am always the one who takes the beatings?"
"The heroes are always the ones who get beat up nowadays. And since this team consists of one heartless murdering super soldier, one witty and strikingly handsome mercenary, one tough and sexy bat guard lady, and only one hero, all the 'hero-gets-beat-up' elements of our adventures will focus on you," chortled Jefferson.
Blue holstered his weapon as he interjected, "We need to keep moving. This land is not safe. We must be at the foothills of the Middle Ocean of Averthon Magnum by next nightfall."
He then turned his deep, remorseless eyes to Radiance.
"I am not killing you now because Jefferson has a point. However, do not think that I will not kill you at any moment. I am leaving you now, but I will be back."
Abruptly, the dark veil of Blue's consciousness lifted from August, and the young adventurous boy returned. He sighed and then shook his head.
He then winced and looked at Radiance worriedly.
Radiance simply glared at him with hate-filled eyes.
"Well! That was interesting!" exclaimed Jefferson, attempting to break the tension once more, "Now let's play the 'don't-kill-your-teammates' game and get a moveon before Blue comes back to punish us for our tardiness."
Radiance held out a hand to Gene.
"You. Gene," she said, "Help me up."
Gene rolled his eyes and then took her arm. He lifted her to her feet and put her arm about his shoulder. However, to his surprise, she turned about, wrapped both her arms about him, and nimbly leapt upon his back.
Jefferson was shaking with mirth at Gene's shocked and helpless expression as this transpired.
Perched upon Gene's back, Radiance said, "Though I hate to admit it, that young demon is right. We must begin to move towards the Middle Ocean. Once we are upon the sea, the jurisdiction of Aldgitess cannot follow us and I will be free from the chains of the military police."
"I'm not a demon," muttered August, "I'm sorry that Blue was a little… rough…"
Radiance just glared at him in loathing.
Gene groaned.
"That's right, we're just one big happy family."
Dimension: Provistorian
Planet: Averthon Magnum
Specific Location: Aldgitess's Fortress
Time: About a week after Lyric found Summer
Doxia stood alongside Derpy, looking down at the decapitated corpse of Pictor.
Derpy dry heaved, and then pressed her face into Doxia's thigh to block out the sight of the sizzling corpse and the crackling lifeblood.
Doxia just stood there, almost in shock, as he stared at the body. A whole five minutes passed before he could say, "Blue must have done this."
Then Doxia facepalmed. "Of course! This was the plan of H.D. all along! He must be after Blue! The more times Blue emerges in the face of danger, and the more lives Blue takes while he is active, the less August becomes of August and the more he becomes Blue!"
Derpy, muzzle still squished into Doxia's armor, mumbled, "But why? You told us the Blue was powerful! Why would this H.D. guy want Blue back?"
"Lolidunno," replied Doxia mirthlessly, "But if he wants Amethyst's most powerful and active non-Dimensional Lord Fighter back, his sinister plan must be deeper than we could imagine. And to think that he outsmarted me as well… and that he can fake Imagination Energy signatures… this dude has quite the resume now I must say."
There was another long pause. After this one, Doxia sighed and turned his face away from Pictor's dead body. As he did that, he waved his hand in the air. In an instant, Pictor's body, and all the gore from the battle, vanished into nothing. All elements that marked the passing of the despotic Dimension Lord had vanished.
Doxia then sat down, and Derpy sat down with him. Hours passed by as Doxia absent-mindedly ran his fingertips through Derpy's mane. A day could have possibly passed on by if not of a HUD notification that suddenly sprang to life in from of Doxia's armored visor.
Doxia slowly brought it up and considered it curiously. Then he got up and said, "Come on Derpy. It is time to go."
Derpy looked up into Doxia's face with wonder. "Uh, why?"
Doxia scratched the back of his helmet as he replied, "Well… They found Inquisitor Sunflower."
Note: Okay everyone, I have something to say. Something rather important. What is that, you may ask? Well, I do not believe I will be posting much more of "A Mending Soul" for the rest of the school year. I am simply too busy. If I am lucky, I might be able to squeeze in a new chapter here and there, but, for the most part, I simply cannot go on. On a lighter note, I will be releasing a chapter of a new story that I have recently started tomorrow. This, unlike "A Mending Soul," is a collaboration between some other authors and me, so it will not suffer from lack of attention from me as "A Mending Soul" will. Check it out tomorrow! Anyway, please give me reviews! I love reviews! If you give me reviews, I will give you a handwritten (and invisible) promise that I will get in AT LEAST two more chapters of "A Mending Soul" by the end of this year! I really hope it is not a stretch! Now, farewell 'till another time!