"Stupid cactus thing." she could still see the bright green cactus running across the plains, making itself obvious just to be annoying. "That does it come back here!" she said jumping off the roof and running after the annoying little boucing feind.

She soon caught up with it and drew her daggers, it stopped and turned to look at her, puffing up again. She squeaked as it sent another burst of needles towards her but she managed to dodge them. She sent a fira attack flaring into it, it fell, but immediatly got up again! Which pissed her off. How could something so small be so irritating. She attacked it again btu each time she was attacked with another thousand needles and then it ran again.

"Augh, fine then, coward! Run away, see if i care!" she said sheathing her daggers and walking away back to Rin's when she saw him. "Tanis?" she said too quiet for anyone else to hear.

He was walked from guadosalam but why would he have gone back there. But there was somethign wrong about him, he was dressed differently and wore a very large sword. Steal it, was the first thing that came to her mind but she shook it away. She did like the looks of the sword, not that she was strong enough to weild it but it would be a nice collectors item. As a lightning bolt flashed down and lit the area she saw the mans face, it wasn't Tanis at all, but who was he. Whoever he was he didn't look at all in the mood to deal with a theif, his eyes were blood shot and he was a mess, slouched over and not looking at all happy with the world.

"Who are you i wonder." she hid behind a rock, he new but ratty black clothes made it easier to hide as he begun to get closer.

"Whos there!" the man called drawing the sword from his back as he came closer to her.

He was a real mess and she speculated what had happened to himbut kept quiet about it and tried to sneak around behind him to get back to Rin's. The man was scary and didn't look friendly, he wore machina on his hips but he was not albed although it was hard to tell without getting right in his face.
He spun on and looked striaght at her, she obviously wasn't quiet enough.

"Heh heh..." she said with an innocent grin.

"WHo are you and what are you doing?!" he demanded.

"I'm Fariel, aannnnd i'm trying to get back to my friends at the travel agency before you slice me to peices." she said trying to keep her attention at his face then at his attractive sword.

"Sorry theif but this sword is not for the taking" he said stepping closer towards her.

"WHo said i was going to take it!" she said in defience crossing her arms.

He studied her for a second but turned his back on her and kept walking. "...just forget it, i have no time to deal with you now."

"Where ya going?"

"To keep a promise."

She watched him walk away and thought about it before walking up beside him, trying to be as least annoying as possible.

"Where?"

"Macalania, look why do you need to know and why are you following me!" he asked immatiently.

"I was just wondering cause me and my friends are heading that way."

"And your point is?"

"Its always good to have another blade around, maybe we can come with you. I pissed off seymore and now hes after us."

"Hmph, you don't like him either huh?"

"Not in the slightest, i hate him, i hate yevon and i hate sin most of all."

"Well then we have something in common. If you are heading that way you can accompany me but don't expect me to save your asses when you get yourselfs into ****."

"Cool, don't go anywhere, i'll be right back."


Kobie and Sonya looked up as Fariel entered again, and indicated for them to follow. They both got up without question and grabbed their weapons before procedding outside to see the tall man towering over Fariel with his large sword back across his back.

"C'mon guys we're heading onto Macalania, he's going that way too so i thought it'd be good to have another sword around so we gonna travel with him for a little while."

"Alright sounds good, as long as he isn't one of your stupid little friends that will try and get us killed." Kobie said looking down at Fariel thereafter receiveing an evil glare.

"Whats your name?" Sonya asked.

"Neji, not that it is important. And you people are?"

"Kobie and Sonya" Kobie answered.

"Right."

Neji started walking again, Sonya looked at him then at Fariel, her expression asking the questions rather then the words she didn't say. Fariel just shrugged and followed the man as Kobie and Sonya took their place by her side. Tanis came to mind but she knew that he would find them. He always did and she hoped he was alright.

(occ- lame way to join up with Neji yeah but i'm bored and i know the more i post the more it'll annoy Fenix cuase him adn his lacking of broadband :p lol so yeah, hes finally caught up and we're off to macalania :) i'm gonna stop posting now cuase you guys all seem to dissapear when we come to a fight scene or something so you can post now :p later)

<ooc - we can’t go to Macalania (Macalania, honestly, who makes up these names? It sounds like a crazy song we used to have at Primary school discos - "Heeeeeeey, Macalania!") just yet, Neji needs to pick up Melina at Rin’s place - I’ll let Underdog write that bit. Plus, we‘ve forgotten someone…>

Seymore’s palace, Guadosalam…

Kerr had worked the bonds on his hands free some time ago, but the damned door was proving a real problem. The rat’s bone he had been using for the last hour to try and pick the lock suddenly snapped in half. Kerr swore loudly and threw the now-useless bone across the room.

He slumped against the wall, looking out the barred window at the Thunder Plains in impotent rage. Suddenly, the ground rocked and the voices he had heard upstairs became louder.

“…Farplane for all eternity for all I care…” That was Seymore’s voice, he must be duelling with someone. And he sounded really pissed off - Kerr didn’t hold out much hope for his opponent…

“…it’s your body I will break! Anima!”

“BLIZZAGA!” shouted a different voice.

Suddenly there was an inhuman roar of pain from Anima and a heavy explosion threw Kerr of his feet. When he came to, he saw that the cell door was hanging off its hinges. Taking his chance, Kerr bounded from the cell, taking out the Guado guard with a stunning strike to the back of the neck while he was still getting to his feet, and taking his sword. Ha, there isn’t a jail been built that’ll hold Kerr Locke…

“Leave me to die would you, Fariel?” he said to himself, “You’re going to pay for that…”

And amidst the confusion, he made his escape from Seymore’s palace.

<ooc - I don’t know what’s in Macalania so I’ll wait for you to post, but if there’s any fight scenes or otherwise interesting plot twists let me know ;) BTW where are Yuna and co at this point in the roleplay? Are we going to meet/help them at some point and earn the title “Avenging Angels”?>

-- Edited by [BOSS]Fenix at 11:42, 2006-01-28

The others dived in after Tanis as Al’bed bullets whipped up the water behind them. The water was crystal clear and they saw Tanis swim quickly downwards towards the bottom of the lake. He suddenly stopped, floating over a large flat stone. Kobie held his nose and blew to equalise the pressure in his ears and stop them hurting (the lake was quite deep) and watched as Tanis passed his hand over the stone. It glowed momentarily and slid aside of its own accord to reveal an underwater passage, into which Tanis immediately dived. Fariel followed, then Kobie, Sonya and finally Neji. The tunnel was surprisingly wide and they could all swim in a line, although the water was much darker down here. Tanis swam on ahead with a swift, effortless breaststroke, and made a round stone door ahead iris open with another wave of his hand. They followed.

The tunnel just kept on going. Fariel was beginning to feel her lungs burning and wondered desperately how much further they had to go, when she heard Tanis’ voice:

“Stay calm, young one - you can make it.”

Hang on, thought Fariel, you can’t talk underwater…was that telepathy…?

Suddenly Neji sped up and swam past her, almost pushing her aside. She looked back and saw with horror that four Crusaders were swimming after them, accompanied by an Al’bed with some sort of harpoon-gun. Oh crap!

Sonya turned and tried to cast Watara to create a current and blast the Crusaders back up the tunnel, but without being able to speak the spell aloud it was weak and barely slowed their pursuers. Those Crusaders were good swimmers, and they were gaining on them. Fariel panicked, taking on water as a harpoon shot past her.

“Keep swimming! The water-guardians will take care of them!”

There was Tanis’ voice again, although everyone seemed to hear it that time - Kobie was glancing around looking confused…

Suddenly two dark shapes appeared in the water behind them, closing on the Crusaders. They were green and serpentine, with long fish-like tails, clawed arms and huge mandibles either side of their fanged mouths. Their jet black eyes glinted as they glided through the water with impossible speed and attacked the Crusaders. The Al’bed, who had reloaded, fired another harpoon to leave blood trailing from one water-guardian’s arm. In response, it spat a jet of something green at him. Fariel and the others looked on in horror as blood billowed out through the water - the Al’bed’s face seemed to be dissolving…

The other water-guardian lunged at the Crusaders, who were trying desperately to swim away from it. Fariel saw their screams as trails of bubbles as the water-guardian tore at them with its claws.

They swam away blindly before the water-guardians could turn on them as well. Fariel’s lungs felt like they were about to explode and she choked on water again, but she could see light ahead…she made one last effort and swam towards it. Her head broke the surface and she gulped air convulsively as an arm reached down and pulled her out of the water. It was Sonya.

The others were already out, having got ahead of her. Kobie, Sonya and Neji were dripping water and coughing, clearly having been on the verge of drowning themselves. Tanis on the other hand wasn’t even out of breath. He motioned for the others to follow and headed off down the tunnel, casting a spell that made his katana glow to light the way. It reflected off the sides of the roughly-hewn tunnel which stretched off into the distance, although Fariel could see that it was leading up, thankfully, and not down into more water. Sonya used her elemental magic to collapse part of the tunnel behind them to discourage pursuit, and they followed.

* * *

Two battered and bloody Crusaders emerged from the pool, coughing and spluttering, to find that their quarry had disappeared. The other Crusaders were either dead or fleeing back up the underwater tunnel to escape the terrifying water-guardians.

One of the Crusaders was Kerr.

“Great,” his companion said, “It’s all well and good that you led us to them, but how are we supposed to catch them now?

Kerr ignored him and strode up the tunnel to find it blocked by fallen rock.

“Damn!” he shouted, “They’ve blocked the tunnel! I need a weapon!”

He held out a hand without looking behind him, like a doctor trusting a nurse to deliver the right medical instrument. The Crusader obediently handed Kerr his sword, not realising the mistake he had just made.

“Stupid bastard,” Kerr sneered as he ran the Crusader through, then turned and began pulling down the rocks blocking his path.

<ooc - soz for the triple post ;) >

O.O.C-agreed Tanis wouldent run either. at least not unless facing OVERWHELMING odds...i.e an army lol.oh and 1--where did Yendor go? 2. yes...al'bed macina DOES allow you to breath underwater lol.

I.C-

Tanis lead the way through the tunnels. Occasionaly glancing back at the group of travellers...

"Some angels...a bloodthirsty tyrant. An exitable rogue. A Past warrior for sin. And a woman...with power she didn't even know she had...and me of course...i wonder when they'll figure out that im taking them to the elves...they need the traning...ill let them learn a bit off the elves and maybe even teach Sonea of my magic...she already has a store of power...she could become more powerful than me without even trying...ah well to late now...i just hope Neji co-operates."

Tanis led on...further into the darkness...

(occ for the lovey sappy ****)

Neji burst through doors of Rin's shop the shop assitant got a shock as he ran up 2 the front desk.

"A women called Melina is here, where is she?"

"And you are?"

"Damn it! i dont have time, where is she,"

"i'm sorry but she is very ill and i cannot allow anyone to see her, only two people are allowed Raiga and her other Guardian Neji,"

"Im Neji!"

"And do you have proof of this claim,"

Neji reached down his clothes and took out the amulet from around his neck.

"You are Neji! quickly she's in the third room on the left,"

"thank you,"

Neji rushed down the hall to the room, but just as he was about barch through the door he paused.  This was the girl who he gave his heart and his life to, the only one to tame this raging beast, he lost her and was searching for many years for her and finally this door was the only thing in his way.  Neji came to his senses straighted up and opened the door.

And their she was, lying in the bed at the opposit side of the room, she was just as beautiful as she was when Neji last saw her, her long blonde hair still shone with great pride.  He approached her bed and looked down her, her eyes were closed tight and she panted for breath, her face wet from the sweat she gripped the thin blanket covering her as if she was reaching for a hand to hold.  Neji did like seeing her this way, normally she was full of life, gets worried easyily but Neji normally chased her worries away, she was very genourus and likes to help people and she had an aura around her that always imspired Neji and soothed him, it always seemed to make things feel rite and whenever she is around their is no need to worry, manly because she does all the worrying.

Neji pulled over a chair and placed his hand on Melina's, she whispered under her Breath "...neji..."

Neji leaned in closer to her ear.  "Dont worry Melina, im here now."  Melina gripped his hand tight.  "everything will be alrite now, i promise that i wont leave you again."

(occ i think we should have our own counter parts 2 fight just add some more close call battles and get more serious story lines and dramatic fights, just guess who fights who, it should be pretty obvious)

After tunneling through many rocks, Kerr finally got through and followed the long dark path in hot pursuit of Fariel, finally he came to the end but his path was blocked by a particularly small man, old looking, very grey, he walked calmly up him with many armed men at his side.  Kerr's first reaction was to draw his dagger but he was soon haulted by the sound of many loaded guns aiming at him.  The Old man stepped forward and became more clear to Kerr, it was Meastor Mika, but why would he be approaching him.

"Kerr, i beleive?" Mika said

"and what if i am?,"

"Meastor Seymour was not pleased with your recent betryal, normally i would see you dead but we Meastors of Yevon, have something more fitting in stall for you, an offer if you will,"

"Im not interested,"

"now now you dont even know what i was going to say, it pays very well?"

"forget it," Kerr began to walk away past Mika but just as he walked past Mika, he was stopped by two men.

"It involves, your friend Feriel, you seek her out do you not? revenge is it?"

"and?"

"so do you plan on just attacking Feriel? when she travels with quiet a fearsome party? they are all very skilled you know, together they have killed many Guado and Crusaders, together they may even have the power to defeat a Meastor.  And you think you can just walk up to them and expect to leave alive?"

Kerr looked at the ground, thinking on how foolish he was acting, "ok you've got my attention old man,"

"Excelent follow me please,"

Kerr followed Mika through Macelania woods escorted by at least a dozen armed men, and into the Capital City of Bevelle.  Mika told him to wait at the enterence of the temple.

After waiting for about an hour, a warrior monk called him into the Temple.  He strutted into the main hall, and approached the Podium below the Balcony where Mika was standing, already standing there was a man, a fair bit bigger than Kerr, he had a huge sword strapped to his back and wore fine black armor, one would mistake him as a noblemin, at the other end was a women, an ugly witch who wore too reaveling clothes considering her age, Kerr found it hard not to look although he really didnt want to, she carried a dark orb with shone with a purple glare.  Standing next to her was a Guado, he slouged as alot of Guado warriors do, but this one looked differnt, he had a wicked look about him as he snickered at everyone in the room, and instead of wearing the normal Guado clothes he wore on top of it he worse along coat which covered the complete top half of his body.  As Ferr met eyes with him he immediatly thought that he was a Guado reject and that he was no use, but all so suddenly the Guado charged at him and before he knew it he had two very short swords crossed over his neck, Ferr stood obviouly shooken up from this sudden attack but the Guado merly smiled and then put his swords back, Ferr got a glimps of under his coat as he put his swords away, strapped all along him were throwing knifes, which looked very sharp indeed and some also appeared to be poisoned, their were many differernt colours of posion proberly to match his mood, and many werent posioned at all.  The quado then returned to the side of the Witch whom he seemed to have grown quiet attrached to.  Finally Kerr noticed someone sitting in the Shadows of the room, well hidden from everyone, he wore all black and was certainly mysterious, the only thing you could see was his sharp eyes peering through the darkness.  He walked out of the Shadows and revealed himself to Kerr, he wore purely black and covered his entire body, his sword was painted black and as was all his other impressive weapons, certainly a man, who you would not like to cross paths with.

Mika stepped forward and addressed them all.  He gave them all a sphere.

"On this sphere is a picture of your target, they are all part of a team who have recently been a thorn in Yevon's side, work together to take them out, be that seperating them and taking them out 1 by 1 via 5on1 or 1on1, or attacking them as a team, the choice is you'rs, the one on your sphere is your pathific target you may know them, you may not, but they are who your are best matched against,"

Kerr looked around at his allies, the witched looked on in disgust at her chosen oppent, the Guado snickered greatly at his, obviously excited, the mysterious man, only looked at his once then put the sphere away, and the tall man snarled angerly at his oppent, he seemed to of known him.

"Work together as a team, if you do not you are doomed to fail,"

"and whats in it for us," Kerr shouted

"whatever you desire, we will pay well,"

"All i want is revenge!" The tall man shouted

"Ah so it appears that one of my party actually speak, whats your name?"

"my name is of no importance but if you must know it Kiba,"

"well Kiba, im Kerr nice to meet ya," Kerr approached him with his hand out in greeting but the man snarled at him, "Get away from me theft!"

Kerr smiled and stepped a few paces back.  "Well then my Guado friend, what do you desire?"

"ghee ghee ghee,"

"say wa?"

"Ugh ghe,"

"is that all you can say,"

"Kill, die, suffer,"

Kerr pointed at the Guado, "enuf said," and walked away.

The mysterious man stepped forward "Lets go we're wasting time,"

"and who do you think you are ordering me around foolish child," the witch spoke.

"Lets just go,"

"i dont take orders from you," the witch snarled

"easy folks i can see this turing into a blood bath, now we all got a job to do and to do it we must work as a team, so come on hands in," Kerr put his hand into the middle but the others ignored it.

"agreed," the mysterious man said "we should not waste our energy on eachother.

Everyone apart from Kerr followed the Mysterious man out of the temple leaving Kerr behind still with his hand in the middle.  "Oh man, hey wait up."

The five left the temple to begin their long search for their targets.

(occ - woo i'm gonna get shot! :p lol you had fun with that didn't ya. Right now to kick some theif ass! mine or his...hmm. Dunno but we are all gonna get severly split up don't ya think? hehhehe how fun :D aint it great to condem your own characters to like death or something hahahaha i';m twisted, ok here we go)

Fariel jumped down off the side of the rock and climbed onto another still trying tos ee the others.

Stay still Far! Jeez, you always were the pest

Kerr reaimed his bow straight at Fariels back, his breathing light and unhearable, his black clothes blending him into the tree in which he perched in. Then he realeased it, the arrow whistled through the air and shot into Fariels shoulder throwing her forwards off the rock.

Hahahahahaha got ya he thought to himself with a hushed s**** as he quickly jumped out the tree and went after his prey.

Fariel tumbled down a slight slope and came to rest on a flat ledge covered in cold snow and leaves. Growling she grabbed her shoulder and pulled her hand back as blood covered it. Where are my daggers! She looked around desperatly for them and luckily they had fallen close beside her.
The bloodied silver nib of the arrow stuck out of sholder were it had peirced. Crawling across the ground she grabbed her daggers and taking in a breath cut off the arrows tip, it didn't cut easy instead tore in half and dragged down her shoulder with it. She yowled in pain and gritted her teeth, she could here the fast foot falls skidding down the hill towards the ledge.

Kerr nocked another arrow and aimed towards the ledge as it came into sight through the branches. He jumped down the rest of the way and released the arrow, it lodged itself into the bark of a tree and wobbled.

"Darn where did you go!" he snapped.

Fariel grabbed the branch with her free arm and kicked the unaware theif in the back sending him off the ledge.

"What you relaly thought i was going to sit still?!" Fariel yelled after him before grabbing her other dagger and sheathing them both.

She was going to have to get the arrow out but it was in such an awkard position to reach. She wasn't going to let him see her so easily hurt. Looking over the edge of the ledge she looked for the tumbling theif but he was gone. Typical.

She crouched down and drew her daggers, the pain hindering her movements.

"No i expected you to die!" Kerr yelled as he, almost like flying, appeared back up onto the edge infront of her and tackled her.

She fell right back and the arrow snapped in half making her scream as he pinned her down and drew a dagger.

"I won't be killed by the hands of a betrayer!" She snarled. "and now we're even"

She wriggled her hand free and stabbed him in the arm as he yowled and rolled off her she rolled to her feet and stepped back.
Kerr got up quickly and started throwing punchs and kicks at her. She dodged easily and threw a kick ot two back but he was all on the offensive and didn't let up for a second. Soon she was on the edge of the small ledge and the long slope down beside her. She sent a fira towards him but he rolled back out the way, the one second she had to run, dashing down the slope she soon left the man behind but he was quick on the persuit.

Where the hell are the others!

Grabbing a branch as she neared the bottom she swung up and crouched on the branch, scurrying into the mess of branches interlocked by three trees. With half a arrow stuck in her shoulder and a mad idiot on her tail she didn't have many options. THe one that came to mind was to run, the fall back plan of every theif, to run. And running was one thing she could do without being seen.

"C'mon out and play Far, you know you want to." he yelled at the trees around him, but the feeling that he was indeed all alone made the trees tower over him. When your prey cannot be found, you take its place.

Fariel peered through the branchs at the pensive man, twirling around in circles looking for any sign of where she had gone. She was having to force herself to keep her breathing calm, the blood was encrusting her clothes but at least it would hopfully stop the bleeding, if it didn't hit something important. She quietly tore another stip from her cape and wrapped it around her shoulder, such an awqard place to be shot.

"Far! If you don't come out i will be forced to find you! If you don't come out i will be forced to kill you!" he growled, she could tell that he was going to try and kill her no matter what she did but she wasn't going to stick around.

She scurried through the trees, luckily a light breeze rustled the leaves in all the trees covering her tracks. Thinner banches linked trees and she was soon made to jump from tree to tree to avoid the branchs snapping. She was mainly hoping the others were alright, Kerr wouldn't have come alone, hes too much of a coward to not bring cannon fodder.

Soon she found the shimmering walkways of the travellers route through the forest. Kerr wouldn't expect her to go were she would be seen so easily ans so it was her only hope to get a distance between them.

Kerr continued to call her but she was nowhere to be found, every second made him angrier, he wan't to kill her, not for mika, but for him.
Where would you go little girl, hide, run, no you'd go somewhere obvious...becuase you know i wouldn't look there. How predicitable.

Running across the walkways she soon found herself back at rins shop, not somewhere she wanted to be. She swore loudly as the door opened and she ran behind the shop and squeezed between it and the cliff. A small partol of guado walked past her and towards the forest and didn't even notice her although she wasn't covering up her presence very well.

Taking the chance she ran past the shop and down the slope, onto the frozen lake, the widest most open places to be, but if she could brake the ice enough to that Kerr would fall through then she would be alright, drawing her dagger she skidded to a stop a distance from the edge and the shop but not even close to the middle and got down on all fours and started chipping away at the ice.

"wait..." she said to herself and opened a small pouch attached to her belt, something she had stolen rom Rin's, opening it she found the fmailiar al'bed grenades. "these should do it...i hope."

Kerr saw her plain as day looking rather dead hunched over the ice and jumped off the side of the slope to run towards her, the ice was covered in snow which made for easy running but when he saw Fariel get up his thoughts raced as to what she was up to.

"You should have come out Far," he said drawing his daggers again stepping towards her.

"And you should have watched your step." she said waving the small metal pin around as she took a few steps away from him, she didn't know anything about the capabilities of the grenades and hoped that it wasn't going to crack apart the whole lake.

Kerr looked down and strung together a row of curses, his foot was just about to step onto the grenade but he saw it and took his foot away.

"You think that little things going to stop me, i didn't even touch it."

"You didn't have to."

The grenade exploded in a flurry of fire and ice and snow, which all rained down on them. Kerr yelled as the ice beneath hims shattered and set him screaming the long way down from the frozen laketop. Cracks splintered out from the large whole and cracked around fariel as the ice beneath her detached from the main ice and went down after Kerr who had stopped screaming, and had probably already hit the bottom.
Fariel stabbed her dagger into the ice her feet dangled out beneath her. The blade was the only thing from the drop and most likely, someone just as equally as dangerous.
Her injured arm was nearly unusable it hurt so much but she threw herself up, onto the ice and swore again as it cracked, climbing to her feet she blasted across the ice, crackz following her every foot step but eventually stopped as she neared the other side.

(occ - thats mega long so i'm gonna shut up, i'll be in a cave or something in the middle of the icey parts between macalania forest and the temple :p probably. gonna think about how to get that arrow out my shoulder :P and yeah thats mine for the moment. Meanwhile your characters were.....)

"Oh joy...just what i need another goddamn wannabe"

"So are you going to actually do something? or just stand there and gawp at a REAL ancient mage?"

"Do not fear Tanis...your death shall be swift. And your "friends" will not have to witness it.

"No...it cannot be....your not human...a half-elf...but your more than that...but how? when? why? you cant be here! your dead! i killed you myself! HOW ARE YOU HERE!?!?!?!?"

The assasin took out their...her weapon...identical to Tanis's in every way. And looked to him...

And then she was behind him. She drove the katana through Tanis's torso and out of his stomach...Tanis didnt even have time to move.

"Why..."

Tanis fell to the ground bleeding profusely from the wound..."So this is what it is like to die...i hope the others manage to fufill there destiny...it seems my part has been cut short" and then the wound started healing itself!!!!

Tanis felt the blood flow stop and the pain receed.

"even i cannot heal a wound like that fully!!!...what has she become..."

Tanis didnt dwell on it. He lept to his feet and struck out with his blade, but found only air...he felt a blade graze his back and again...knew he should be dead. He knew he was out matched and had no chance whatsoever of winning this fight...but he wasnt going down easily...

"Come out here! Stand before! And we shall fight like we used to! This shall be done properly..."

The woman appered infront of him and bowed...Tanis returned the gesture then cast a spell barrier around himself...his opponent done the same.

"So this is how it ends...oh well...looks like ill have to use my trump card...but id rather we both go than just me...id better wear her down a bit first though.."

"METEOR!!!" Cried Tanis hailing down flaming asteroids that pummeled the shield of his opponent. He charged towards her and felt his blade meet her. He felt numerous firagas, thundagas and blizzagas pummeling his shield but he put more of his power into it and it held.

"Flare!" He screamed...as flares flew from his fingertips only to meet more flares from his opponent.

"Damnit...ill have to use elven"

"Bisingr!" He thought, as flames more powerful than the strongest firaga welld at his fingertips...but again the woman matched her move for move. She rushed him, but he sidestepped...both of them moving faster than humans would think possible.

"Now" Tanis thought

He lowered his shield and his opponent hesitated...this was a foolish move. But Tanis was not being foolish...he drew energy from the nature around him and on his final wells of energy that Yendor had given him. And of the he had tooken from his companions as they slept. Then he began to drain himself of energy putting everything he had into this one spell...

"ULTIMA!!!!!" he screamed...he felt the sensation of his body being torn apart again and the pain...the unbearable pain...then he was in the air...to drained to think...on the verge of death he didnt dare to think he was safe. how could he be? he had just cast the strongest and most dangerous spell ever...surely he must have killed his opponent. But he doubted it. She was to strong...even for ultima. Tanis had poured his soul into that blast and yet it could not have been enough.

He tried to speak but could not...it was almost beyond him to breath. he looked at the people above him.

"Melina? Neji...how can they fly? how did they find me?"

But Tanis ran out of energy to even think. Sleeped embraced him...he thought no more.

(o.o.c- Tanis sis not die btw...just in case you think he did...and yes he is riding on bahumut)

-- Edited by [BOSS]Squall at 18:18, 2006-01-31

"Bahamut, take us back to the cave," Melina asked as she used cure on the passed out, Tanis.

"hows the outlook Melina,"

"he appears to very hurt, that blast we saw coming from him, it was incredible, i'm amazed he's even alive,"

"Think he'll make it?"

"he should, i mean, hopefully,"

"hmm it appears everyone was targeted, i hope we can find the others before it to late, these enemys seem to be like nonother,"

They landed at the site of the cave and Neji carried Tanis's body inside, on the way he noticed Feriel lying against the side of the cold cave.  He placed Tanis in the cave and left Melina to cast more cure on him.  He approached Feriel's body, and noticed that she was only asleep.  The cave around her shoulder was red with blood, it appeared she also was attacked.

"Hey wake up!" Neji yelled while slightly kicking her.  "What?" she complained.

"What happened to you?"

"Kerr attacked me,"

"hmm he must of been the one who led them to where we were, we found Tanis he's pretty banged up, me and Melina got to him just in time.  Have Melina see to your shoulder aswell."

Ferial made her way towards where Melina was and imediatly Melina saw to her shoulder, she removed the splinters and a bit of arrow deep in her wound and stopped the bleeding.

"Rite you girls stay here with Tanis, im gonna go look for Kobie and Sonya, if they enemys return then launch Magic in the air to signal me and i'll come as quickly as i can,"

"No im coming with you, we will have better luck finding them with Bahamut."

"No you stay here, summoning Bahamut has made you to weak, i dont want you to risk it again, it's too much for you in this state, also Kobie and Sonya might still be locked in battle when we arrive, i dont want you to be present or be at any risk if their is still a battle,"

Melina ignored Neji's words and summoned Bahamut again.

"to late Bahamuts here, looks like i'm going with you," She was always this stubborn Neji thought to himself.

"fine, but couldnt you of summoned Valefor, its alot less stressing,"

"Valefor cant handle asmuch passingers." she remarked.

Neji smiked and boarded Bahamut, helping Melina on as he did.

"Feriel you watch over Tanis, we shall return shortly."

With that Bahamut took off again in search of Sonya and Kobie.

-- Edited by The Underdog at 00:22, 2006-02-01

<ooc - thanks for waiting for me, guys - I spent all day today at Heriot Watt uni in Edinburgh (before you ask Asreal I didn't see Squall LOL) and it's ace! Okay, here's my long-awaited fight scene>

Kobie backed up in the face of the Guado’s relentless attacks, blocking or dodging the flashing blades. He tried to respond, stabbing forward with one claw, but the Guado stopped it by crossing both his blades and threw him back. This Guado fought like none he had ever seen before - with a bestial ferocity combined with a cold and deadly skill with his knives. One second he would be striking out with one blade completely independent of the other, the next using them together in a savage combination attack. Fortunately for Kobie, the use of Dragon’s Claws required a similar style of flexible, ambidextrous training.

The Guado’s knife sparked off Kobie’s right claws, and he had to jerk backwards to dodge the other as it scythed across in a slash that would have severed his jugular. He counterattacked, trapping the Guado’s left arm between the blades of his right claw and ramming his left down into the Guado’s forearm hard. The blades sliced right through, the tips bursting out the other side of the Guado’s arm in a spray of crimson.

The Guado didn’t seem to care - with a maniacal laugh he ripped his arm free and threw the knife in his good hand at Kobie. Kobie side-flipped out of its path, but failed to see until it was too late the Guado bearing down on him, yet another knife - this one dripping with some black substance - hacking down towards the arm he had thrown out to steady himself on landing. He dodged frantically but the blade caught him on the side of his arm unprotected by his claw’s hand guard, nicking the inside of his wrist.

An instant spasm of pain shot up Kobie’s arm and he felt his legs collapse under him.

The Guado laughed as Kobie lay at his mercy, unable to move at his feet.

“Ha ha ha…yes, paralysed…good,” the Guado gibbered to himself, “Not kill you just yet - be back for you soon…see your friend die first…”

Kobie tried to get up, tried to scream defiance, but his muscles seemed frozen by whatever toxin had coated the Guado’s blade. He could only lie there helplessly as the Guado darted off into the woods. No! I won’t let you hurt the others, you Guado bastard! And if you lay a finger on Sonya…! Her face flashed before his eyes, and his despair gave way to rage. He felt an unknown power beginning to fill his body, flowing in from somewhere beyond the mortal plane, an ancient and terrible power…

Suddenly, he found he could move again, the pain was gone, and he felt himself infused with greater speed and strength than he had ever thought possible. He jumped to his feet with an explosive leap, his elvish bow drawn as he sprinted towards the woods after the Guado assassin.

* * *

The witch cast Blizzaga with a wave of her orb, pinning Sonya against the tree with a fast-spreading prison of ice crystals.

“You are unworthy to even fight me if you fell for such a simple illusion, child.” she sneered.

A Guado emerged from the trees behind, capering madly and cursing to himself as he ran to the witch’s side, cradling a maimed arm.

“Took care of the one with claws, lady,” he said. Kobie? No! thought Sonya desperately, “Now I kill this one!” he went on, turning his leering face towards Sonya.

“No! She is mine!” hissed the witch.

She walked slowly towards Sonya, her orb pulsing with purple light as it charged for another spell. She stopped in front of Sonya and held it to her face, letting her see her own frightened eyes reflected in the glowing crystal.

“Be grateful I am at least granting you a quick death…”

Forcing herself to focus, Sonya called Fira into her hand, enough to melt the ice around it. Quick as a flash she ripped her hand free of the ice and drew her dagger from its forearm sheath, lunging forward to stab the witch’s ankle. Sonya blasted herself free with a more powerful Firara and leapt past the witch as she collapsed with a scream of pain. Sonya landed with a diving roll next to her fallen staff and retrieved it. She sprang up, holding it before her defensively. It glowed as she channelled her elemental elvish magic into it - knowing she was alone against a superior mage, but knowing she had no choice but to fight.

The witch cursed and cast a healing spell on herself as the Guado looked on stunned. She raised the orb again and sent a stream of purple fireballs screaming towards Sonya. She countered by casting Blizzara and turned them into shards of ice, which she sent flying back at the witch in a stinging hail with an elemental tempest spell. The witch snarled as she blocked them by summoning a shield of rocks and boulders and held the orb up high. Sonya raised an arm to shield her eyes as lightning flashed down and struck the ground all around her. Where it struck, bony hands suddenly thrust upward through the earth and four skeletons with glowing purple auras dragged themselves out of the ground, wielding great rusted scythes. Suddenly Sonya was defending herself against four undead opponents with only her staff. She spun it to block a downward slash and hit out at one of the skeletons, smashing it to pieces. With horror she saw it reform, its magic-infused bones flying back into place as it lurched back to its feet. She cried out in pain as a glancing blow from one of the scythes bit deep into her shoulder. Desperately, she remembered an elvish spell Lauthelias had once taught her, the most powerful protection against undead horrors.

“Shea nudh rhiatha elthir erreintha asuryish!” she shouted, slamming her staff down into the ground between her feet. May the blessings of the Ancient Ones protect us from abomination. A blinding shockwave exploded outwards from her, obliterating the skeletons in a blaze of white fire. The witch’s smile of triumph changed into a snarl of disbelief, and she readied her orb again.

Suddenly a lightning bolt flew out of the trees and coruscated over the witch, blasting her off her feet. Kobie emerged at a run from the trees with his elvish bow held high, shouting Sonya’s name.

“I thought you said you took care of him!” the witch shrieked in anger to the Guado.

With a howl of rage the Guado turned and charged towards Kobie. Kobie raised his bow but the Guado kicked it aside before he could fire, knocking Kobie backwards off his feet. Kobie brought the bow up to shield his face, fearing that the Guado’s knife would simply snap the delicate elvish weapon but as the blade contacted the bow blazed with white light and it was the Guado’s knife that shattered. Kobie lashed out with his feet, kicking the Guado in the chest and flipping back onto his feet in the same movement. Kobie deflected another of the Guado’s throwing knives with the bracer of his left Dragon’s Claw and unsheathed their blades, letting the ancient power flow through him as he hurled himself at the Guado, spinning and slashing in an endless stream of attacks. The Guado reeled from the onslaught, staggered as one blade slashed across his face, and turned to run.

He spun to face the witch, but she merely cursed and disappeared behind a screen of black smoke. Whether it was a smoke grenade or a teleportation spell, when the smoke had cleared she had vanished. The reason was bearing down from overhead. Bahamut descended in a hurricane from his great black wings, Neji and Melina leaping from his back as he landed. Kobie felt the ancient power ebbing from him and fell to his knees exhausted, before collapsing sideways. Sonya too wavered, the image of the two riders swimming before her eyes as she finally felt how deeply the summoned skeleton had wounded her. Too weak to cast a healing spell, she too fell to the ground unconscious.

<ooc - you know, that was a hell of a fight, most of our team are KO’d! Soz this post is so long but I wanted to do the fight scenes justice ;) >

-- Edited by [BOSS]Fenix at 14:20, 2006-02-02

Fariel’s little stunt with the Al’bed grenade had made a real mess of the lake, shattering the ice and tumbling a large portion of it down into the chasm below, where it had recently been covered by a thick layer of new snow. Some of the snow shifted, rolling down the sides of a small mound that had suddenly bulged upward near the edge of the chasm. The mound collapsed back in on itself, then burst upward as a bloodstained hand thrust upward through it and grabbed an icy outcrop. As the snow fell away, a ragged figure heaved himself painfully up out of the chasm, using a dagger as an ice pick. He finally pulled himself up onto the cracked ice-sheet above and collapsed in front of the four assassins standing nearby, who had regrouped out on the frozen lake, concealed by the snowstorm.

“So, Kerr. You made it out, I see?” Kiba snorted derisively as the battered survivor staggered to his feet, “Isn’t it strange how scum always seems to float to the surface?”

Kerr glared at him as he sheathed his dagger and began binding his wounds. None of the others offered to help him.

“Peace, Kiba.” said the black-robed assassin, “We are here to eliminate the targets, not quarrel with each other.”

“He failed miserably in his simple task of taking out a teenage girl.” Kiba shot back contemptuously.

“Didn’t see you guys doing any better!” Kerr snarled.

“Making me fight that girl who thinks she can wield magic is an insult to my ability,” the witch snarled as the Guado muttered curses and s****ed to himself at her feet, licking at the blood that was dripping from his bandaged arm, “She was only lucky in that her friends arrived just in time.”

“Neji escaped my wrath because of his Summoner friend.” Kiba growled, “I’ll have his life-blood yet, but I’m not stupid enough to try and duel with Baphamut. But I did manage to aquire something of Neji’s…”

He brought out the amulet and dangled it in front of the others.

“That’s his Oathkeeper,” said the black-robed assassin, “It protects him from almost anything unless he dies protecting his Summoner. Without it he is vulnerable.”

“Excellent,” said the witch, “Neji is now a mere mortal, no matter how good a swordsman. That half-elven fool is greatly weakened after casting a spell beyond his ability, and the mage-girl was badly wounded by one of my undead minions.”

“Very well,” said the black-robed assassin, her mysterious yellow eyes narrowing behind the black hood and bandana covering her face, “Tonight was just the first skirmish - tomorrow the real fight will begin…”

The wind and snow howled around them as they leaned in closer to listen to the mysterious assassin as she outlined their new plan.

<ooc - I'm guessing they ambush us on the way to elf training camp, or wait for us to go in then nail Tanis on his own since he's kinda banned LOL lets post a bit more story before that though.>

Bahamut landed jst outside the cave smoothly so not 2 desturb his injured passengers.  He help Neji and Melina, lower Kobie and Sonya to the ground and frm their Neji slung them over his shoulders one on each and carried his battered commrades to the cave, Melina then dismissed Bahamut who faded away in hail of Pryflies.  She began to head back to the cave but collapes with exhaustion, Neji placed Sonya and Kobie next to the roaring fire, along side the now awake Tanis and Feriel.  Although Tanis was now awake he still looked exhausted and weak, as did Feriel.  The cave was quiet no one was in the talkative mood and something seemed to be bothering Tanis and Feriel, must of been something they were talking about, they did'nt look like they wanted to share and besides Neji didnt really care, his mind was fixated on the powerful swords men he fought and nearly died against, and how he should really be dead right now, had it not been for Melina, then it hit him, wheres Melina?

Neji rushed out the cave in a panic and saw Melina's body lying out in the snow.  He ran over with a strong look of disspare in his face.

"Melina you idiot, i told you not to summon Bahamut,"

He picked up Melina in both hands and carried her to fire in the cave.  He lay her down gently and wrapped his top around her.  Once again he looked around at his party, three were unconcious and the over two looked as if they were about to pass out due to their wounds and the cold.  He was the only one who got off easy well compared to everyone else that is.  He turned to Tanis and Feriel.

"I'll keep watch tonight and until you guys are better,"

"You'r gonna stand out their with no top on, are you nuts?" said Feriel

"I'm the only one who could fight if they return, you cant be much use due to your injured shoulder and you dont really look like you could last long either Tanis, it best that you guys rest tonight, and look after Kobie, Sonya and Melina, come tomorrow we'll have to leave here since they know where we are and if these guys arnt awake by then, then i'm gonna need both of you to be resonabley fit to help we carry the others."

"but if those guys return i doute you will be able to last long 5 against 1, since none of us were a match 1 on 1,"

"yeh your right but hopefully they wont return tonight cause i know for definat that i managed to get a hit in on my enemy although it wasnt much, and i like to think that you guys managed to get a hit in on your oppents, so they are most likly to be resting tonight aswell, that and their humans, i think and humans sleep, but just incase,"

"alright but if they return, warn us,"

Neji nodded and headed for the entrence of the cave, and leined against the wall.  Deep in thought.  He could not get that guy out of his head, and could not begin to fathum just how powerful he was, and how outmatched Neji was to him.  He thought that his allies had faced similar battles but was unsure of what they faced.  But one thing was for sure.  He knew his allies were mighty warriors and for something or someone to hurt them so badly did not bode well for any of them.

"i have to get stronger," Neji immediatly thought. "i have to get stronger to protect Melina and to beat that guy,"

Neji wasted no time in getting stronger, he set aside his pistols but kept his sword attached to his back and started doing push ups in the snow to toughen up his body.  The snow was freezing since he had no top on and it wasnt long until he felt himself become numb. But he believed it was the best way to toughen up so he pushed on and continued.

o.o.c- ok here we go. tell me if any of this makes no sence

I.C-

Tanis waited until everyone was back in the cave. He had to let everyone hear this.

"Well...looks like i have to share some things with you. listen up. im only saying this all once"

"I was around 70 when i started training with my master. He was a good man, but mis-understood. I only started because i decided i needed to become stronger. My parents had died years ago. I never knew my father. he raped my mother and i was the product. My mother died giving birth."

Tanis stopped and took in a deep, haggered breath.

"The traning i recieved was nothing spectacular. I had to teach myself swordplay as master was to old to fight physically. But his magic...It was unbelievable. He taught me all of the basic spells. Then the higer spells and finally the master spells. But...there was always one spell that eluded me. One that i could never master. Ultima."

An audible gasp escaped the crowd exept from Neji wo looked as if he was in deep of though. Yendor was asleep.

"I finally asked Master about it and he told me that the power for that spell came at a terrible price. he told me that if i wanted to know i could never go back to the old way of life. And i had to promise to tell no-one about his part in it. After much deliberation i agreed and we began. he taught me...He taught me the power to absorb other peoples power. And if i so chose. I could even absorb there soul. The power was ok and it kept me growing stronger. But if i took the soul of someone...i would become unbelievably stronger. I would not only have tooken there magical power but there life force. There thoughts, memorys, there plans for life...everything. I would kill them and use there power to strengthen myself. I started small at first, taking energy from him every day. But not to much. This is what you, Fariel, witnessed me doing to Yendor over there. But the ability came at a terrible price...The elves despised this practice and banned it milennia ago. Anyone stupid enough to practice it would instantly be sentenced to death. So i began to draw up plans for leaving. I didn't want to bring any unwanted attention to myself and told only two people. Yendor, my best friend at the time, and my sister Selina. Yendor knew me...knew what i was like and knew that i could be trusted with this power. He promised to tell no-one, and that he would do everything to help. I made him promise though, if he was ever in danger bacause of this then he must cover his steps and make himself look inoccent...i would not have him in trouble for my choice. I also told another person, my sister. Selena. She took the news bad. She was a solid force for good. My ability fell under the blackest pits of evil. She thought that the fact i was practicing this ability meant i was evil. She woulden't listen to me and vowed that she would one day kill me and my master. She left that night and i didnt see her again.

Years later I had become much stronger than any elf magically. Physically i was still weaker. It was on one of my patrols in the forest surroundng my home city that i head someone talking. I used the skills that i had practiced to sneak up close enough to hear. All i hear was the end of the conversation. I knew that another with my ability's was going to try and kill my master. I never saw who the person was talking to.

I raced back to the city and told master and Yendor. Master started preparing defences and i snuck around the city taking energy wherever i could. Yendor on the other hand took some of the weapons from his store room...including the blades you see me wielding now. We waited all night for the assasin to show up and he...well she, didn't dissappoint. Unfortunately she was stronger than expected and overcame the traps easily. It was while she was confronting master that i revealed myself. We fought....to awesome powers. But i knew i couldn't win she was to strong. It was at this point that i noticed a fewelves standing watching...i knew that this meant i was going to be killed...so i did what i could. I got Yendor to make a vow to track down and kill me. And he escaped. making it seem as if i had kept him prisoner. Then i done the only thing i could...i attempted Ultima. master already knew we coulden't win and he gave me all his strength. I found out later that all the elves had seen was me cutting him, his energy flowing out and him crumbling to the ground. They thought i had killed him. He was still alive but severly drained. Then i unleashed Ultima. The power i released hadn't been seen on this world for years. It almost destroyed me. It also killed Master and gravely wounded my opponent...it was only as i saw the hood being blown back that i saw the astonished face of my sister...apparently she had gone out and learned the magic that i had to defeat me...a hypocryte to the end.

It was her that i fought in the field...only she has become infinitely stronger. I stood no chance and she was all over me. I done it again though...Released Ultima. It was stronger than it was before but again not good enough. She escaped gravely wounded and i had to be carried here by Neji and Melina.

And thats my story basically...or at least the stuff you need to know"

As Tanis finished everyone turned to look at each other...so thats why he was so cold...his own sister...

Fariel was the first to talk.

"Tanis we never knew..."

"Save it i don't need pity. I made my choices and i stand by them."

"So..what about the other part i heard? about us?"

"Ah yes. You see...in aincient elven lore. There was a prophesy. That a wielder of the dark arts would guide and train others. There was a tablet made...i believe you saw it Sonea."

Sonea remembered back to the time she spent with the elves...she did remember something...a tablet!

"Yes Tanis i remember! it was us! all of us!"

"Yes. You can imagine my surprise when i found you all so suddenly. Thats why i had to get Fariel to "take me with her" or so to speak."

Neji broke in.

"OK OK we get it were the ones on the tablets...but what the hell makes us so special!"

Tanis pondered for a moment...he seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

"You guys have a power...the power of long aincient aeons residing inside you. Power that vastly exeeds anything i can ever become. There is only two exeptions. Me and Melina. I wasn't born with any powers. But i have no need of them. My magic is sufficent against most mortals. But you guys will be an exeption. You will outpower me by miles. and Melina. She was never on the tablet. Only us "Avenging angels"as we have been deemed are. But she shall play a no less crucial part. With her current aeons she will be our best ally for a while to come."

Neji burst in again.

"WHAT!? I WILL DO NOTHING TO PUT MELINA'S WELFARE AT RISK!! I WILL NEVER ALLOW THI-"

He was cut off as Melina whispered something in his ear.

"So...how do we unleash these so called powers? surely we would know of them?" Kobie added.

"Correct Kobie...you WONT realise them yourselves. Thats why i have been leading us to the elves."

The group gasped in horror.

"But Tanis! They will kill you! you cant do this!" Sonea burst in.

"Ha. Since when have any of you been interested in my welfare. But yes you are right they WILL kill me. The prophesy does say that if anyone will die first it will be the guide....but i'm not to bothered. as long as you realise your powers nowthing will be able to stop you. Not even me or even my sister...

And besides. Do you think i'd LET them kill me? ha not a chance. I shall guide you to the elves then lead our so called "assasins" on a false trail. If were lucky i'll survive and meet back up with you guys. if not...well you guys will be strong enough."

Th group could only sit in stunned silence.

"There is one thing that i ask of you though."

They all looked at him.

"I would wish to take some of your energy each day. Exept Melina of course. Because of this power you have you all have huge amounts on untapped magical power. You expecially Sonea. I can sense it. If you allow me to take your energy i shall soon be well past my previous power and will be able to deal with the assasins no problem. My sister....she will be another story. If i must i shall kill off as many as i can then unleash ultima again."

"Tanis you must not! you have already cheated death twice!"

Yendor had awokened and was shouting at Tanis.

"Do not fear because..."

Tanis hesitated

"I plan on practicing it while you are at the elves and i am on the run. I shall take as much power as i need from others to survive. And if i ever meet you again i can suck you guys almost dry and become invincible"

Tanis smiled. It was not a sneer as usual but a real smile.

"Now if you will let me be. Yendor has given me enough energy to scout and make sure the assasins do not find us...we are weak and vunerable. I shall return in the morning. And take your powers if you will allow me. Farewell"

And without another word Tanis darted out of the cave leaving the group to silently ponder this startling change of events.

 

O-O-C- happy now guys? lol hope thats good enough for you to have waited for!

-- Edited by [BOSS]Squall at 20:46, 2006-02-08

Troubled by what Tanis said Neji followed Tanis out the cave.  He appraoched Tanis and stood side by side to him just outside the cave.

"Something troubling you Neji?"

"Yes i don't like the idea of you just helping yourself to our powers, sure you tell us now that you will be and have been helping yourself, and i just dont like it, frankly i dont trust you,"

"I told you it has to be done if im to defeat those assasins,"

"Oh yeh and another thing i really dont care what happens to the rest of those assasins but their is a man, a very tall big built man, i think his name was Kiba, he attacked me and also indangered Melina, note to yourself that I will be the one to kill him, you got that?"

"Fine," Tanis then walked away casually as if he was ignoring Neji's words and continued to scout the area, leaving Neji to stand confused and shocked with his sudden reply.

Neji sat down on a rock just outside the cave and began to think about this power he had deep inside him, if it truly is as great as Tanis made it out to be then if Neji masters all aspect of it then he can become invincible.  Not even Seymour would be able to stop him, all the Maestors of Yevon would not be able to beat him and he will finally be able to destroy Yevon and Sin.  He clenched his fist, he couldnt wait to gain this new power.  Just then he felt a soft touch on his shoulder, he turned around to see Melina smiling cheerfully at him, putting his top back on him.

"You freeze sitting out her Neji,"

"Nah dont worry about me i'll be fine,"

"You seem troubled whats wrong, is it about that Kiba guy or what Tanis said?"

"Abit of both really, also im not really up for this whole training by the elfs thing, the only one i am willing to train me is Raiga and well,"

Melina sat down next to Neji, the cheerful smile gone from her face and her head hanging down facing the ground "yeh i know, i really will miss him, but he died well,"

"Yeh and i wont let him down, i promise that i will tame this power and destroy Mika,"

"not more promises Neji," Melina complained

He laughed to himself, "yeh i guess i really should stop making all these promises they only end up getting me in trouble,"

"and then i have to bail you out,"

The two laughed together, "you have a fair point Melina i really should get my act together, when i fought Seymour i survived because of Raiga's sacrifces, in Machilania i survied because Tanis knew an escape route and again when fighting Kiba i survided because you stepped in at the right moment, damn i really should stop relying on others so much,"

"yeh you really should," Melina said jokingly, Neji stood up proud and looked up at the sky.

"Very well, i will achieve power in my own way, i will not insult Raiga by getting trained by the elves,"

"your a fool then," A voice said from inside the cave.  It was Yendor, he walked slowly out of the cave and approached Neji.

"I respect your wish to achieve power on your own, but for you that would be foolish,"

"what makes you think that," Neji protested

"well i can tell you for a fact that the Aeon you carry is not like your other Aeons, his name is Diablos and he is quiet power hungry and quiet evil, you can try and tame this power but the end result will end in Diablos taking over your body and you will lose yourself, that or if you absorb Diablos's power and use it at your own will you might become tainted by Diablos and live by his beleves, when you first make contact with Diablos it will become a struggle on who will be incharge and without the quidence of the elves i'm afraid that is a battle you will not win and nobody can come to your rescue either,"

"WHY YOU! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY ABILITIS LIKE THAT,"

Yendor took a step back "i mean no disrespect, i am just warning you, once Diablos has been tamed and sealed with the help of the elves then by all means go out and train by yourself, experiment with you'r new powers and develop them, trust me, you will not be disapointed, all i ask is that you allow the elves to support you in taming Diablos, actually restraing him is up to you, you will have to constantly struggle with Diablos for possibly a few days at the most until you will be able to leave the elves, a power like Diablos can not be aloud to wander around Spira free, if you know what i mean, should you fail you will have to be executed before the power manefest not even the elves would be able to defeat Diablos if his full power is realeased,"

"I guess i understand.......very well, but if those elves start to think that i will become their underling they got another thing coming,"

"i promise," Neji nobbed is head in agreement.  And returned to the cave with Melina.