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Post Info TOPIC: Avenging Angels 2 - Destinys Call


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RE: Avenging Angels 2 - Destinys Call


<ooc - Bryn, where's that emo filler scene? biggrin BTW yeah, I know this is far too long, that's why I cut ahead to them almost reaching Zanarkand, and also deleted the "preparation" scene where they leave the airship and walk out into Zanarkand, so as not to make it even longer.  We can add in those bits later though if you like.>

On the Shadow, Zell discovered he couldn't keep his mind on directing the ship and so he told Gau to take over, left the bridge crew along with Neji and Keiji, and began walking down to the training deck where he paced restlessly. The Shadow was the fastest airship in Spira, but the journey still seemed to be passing with agonising slowness. Every wasted second could mean death for Alia and the others.

Zell looked up and saw that he was not alone - further along the deck Fariel had her wave swords out and was throwing practice swings at a holographic target with single-minded ferocity. Zell didnt stop to dwell on what had put her in such a savage mood, because also on the deck was Eevee. Back again in her usual clothes she was sitting on a metal bench in a corner with her legs crossed, twirling a dagger in one hand and seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

"Eevee, you got a second?"

Eevee started and looked round.

"Yeah, okay," she said, sliding her dagger back into its forearm sheath and shifting her jacket off the bench next to her so Zell could sit down.

Zell breathed a sigh of relief, "You've got that elven telepathy power, right? Farsight or something? Would you mind scanning ahead to see whats going on in Zanarkand? It's just I'm..."
"Worried," Eevee finished his sentence with a nod, tactfully not mentioning Alia in specific, "I've already tried and I can't tell what it is that's attacking them, or even what state they're in. Tritoch says powerful demons can sometimes block his Farsight - at least, at longer distances anyway. Sorry." she added apologetically as Zell got up and began pacing again. He caught himself at it and stopped, casting around for something to say. On the other side of the room Fariel sheathed her wave swords, deactivated the holo-projectors and slumped against the wall.

"You know," Zell said, "If you don't mind me saying you look better than you have done for days. Alia's spell must have worked."

Eevee looked up at him, "What spell?"

"She told me last night how she went up to see you after the meeting but you'd already fallen asleep. You seemed to be having nightmares so she used some sort of elven charm to stop them."

"Oh," Eevee said, looking suddenly pensive, "I thought I'd slept better than usual..."

She looked suddenly sad and didn't seem to know what to say.

"Heads up, guys," came Neji's voice over the airship's intercom, "We're coming up on Zanarkand now."

Zell and Eevee stood up and walked over to a viewing port. It wasn't an actual window, just a computer screen hardwired to the airship's sensors so as not to leave vulnerable ports in its armour, but all the same it gave them a clear view of the ruins below that had once been an ancient portside city. Penance's troops had moved on from the city but had left their marks on it all the same - weird demonic totems and icons to Penance had been erected to mark their passing.

"There!" Eevee suddenly said in a flash of Farsight, pointing towards a ruined temple near the centre of the city.

"Let's do this..." growled Fariel from behind them, dragging her wave swords from the crossed scabbards on her back that nestled between her furled wings. Zell and Eevee turned to follow her as the Shadow prepared to set down at the edge of the city, the only sound from its stealthy engines a low-pitch whine.

* * *


The ancient temple was vast and had lost its roof, but the massive columns that had once held up the ceiling still stood, covered in flowing Atellian script and intricate carvings as testament to the skill of the great people who had built them. Beelzebub was standing in the centre, his hands folded over the butt of his huge axe which rested blade-end down against the ground. At his feet were Sorata, Revast and Ghanima, unmoving. Alia was nowhere to be seen.

"You missed the fight." Beelzebub said mildly. He was holding a clearly-dead Haldir aloft by the throat in one hand, and now with a casual ease he flicked his wrist so that the lifeless elf's neck broke with an audible snap. He threw the body contemptuously aside.

"The fight is only beginning, demon!" Neji yelled back, "You will pay for this!"

"Make me..." Beelzebub growled back mockingly.

Neji raised his arms, and as he did his bat-like wings began to unfurl from behind him. He selected Set from the two blades sheathed across his back and held it forward in both hands.

Keiji flexed his fingers before balling them into fists and raising them in front of his face, the loose power sparking from his knuckle-dusters an indication of the demon magic he was silently channelling into them.

With slow deliberation, Eevee put up a hand and unhooked the catches of her trench coat one by one, shrugging off the jacket and letting it fall to the floor before closing her hand around the deactivated force lance hanging from her belt.

Fariel flicked her wave swords from their scabbards, caught them, and twirled them in her hands, assuming a combat stance.

Zell just stood with his arms tensed at his sides, ready to draw any one of his deadly machina weapons.

Beelzebub watched them in silence.

"Come on then!" he growled, rearing back with his axe held two-handed above his head as a tempest of energy swirled around him in a scarlet halo. Power crackled and sparked, and Beelzebub seemed to grow in size.

Neji yelled a challenge and was the first to launch himself forward, but with a great sweep of his axe Beelzebub cast a volley of Dark Dragon Bullets, not one but five at once, roaring phantoms of black energy coiling out in all directions. Fariel and Keiji deployed their respective defences of Water Shield and Dark Encampment Wall to absorb the blasts, Zell channelled one harmlessly into the crystal on the back of his gauntlet and Eevee leapt back in a graceful jump, her wings materialising in midair to carry her up and over the attack. Neji however, who was closest and had no time to react, took one full in the chest and doubled over, hurled back by the blast into one of the columns. It shivered to pieces in the impact and Neji fell heavily to the ground, the Set sword spinning out of his hand.

The Angels unleashed their magic - a tidal wave from Fariel, a Dark Messenger from Keiji, a Tri-Dazer from Eevee and the stored energy of Beelzebub's last spell from Zell's crystal - but Beelzebub threw up his arms and a black wall of energy rose up in front of him to absorb the blasts. He responded by punching his fist forward in a Dark Element Explosion. Columns shattered as the beam of black energy powered through them and the Angels dived aside, but Beelzebub's power was so great he was able to keep up the attack in a continuous beam that swept across the temple as he tried to track the Angels' movements. Zell dived and rolled as the beam swept over him, shearing a column in half.

"What in the Farplane?" he coughed, choking on brick dust. Even Neji couldn't keep up a Dark Element Explosion spell for that long.

Eevee, who was still airborne, swept round Beelzebub and landed atop one of the tall stone columns, pulses of energy blasting from her force lance. They flared harmlessly against Beelzebub's Dark Encampment Wall, and the demon returned fire with a Demon Ball. Eevee leapt from the top of the column just in time, which collapsed in a huge explosion as the demonic fireball impacted.

"Come on guys, his magic is too powerful, get up in his face!" Keiji shouted, and leapt forward with Fariel and Zell close behind. In response Beelzebub began to spin his two-headed axe round his head, the blade singing as it cut through the air.

"Geuloth du knifr!" Eevee called out from the back, and a green glow surrounded the axe. At first Beelzebub didn't notice, but when his first mighty sweep glanced harmlessly off Keiji's magically-reinforced bracer he snarled and backswung with far more force. The now-blunt but still very heavy blade smashed into the side of Keiji's face, causing him to spit blood as he was spun back. Fariel came in but had trouble engaging the demon, who swung the long-shafted weapon around himself with great speed and dexterity so that she couldn't get near him and was forced to retreat from the flailing axe-head. But while Beelzebub was occupied by Fariel, Zell had circled round behind the demon and drawn his mana gun, which he now levelled at Beelzebub with his other hand steadying the stock. He pulled the trigger and the gun roared, blasting a Holy bullet into the demon's back. There was a blinding flash and a white shockwave that brought two of the fragile columns nearby crashing down. Beelzebub staggered forward a step with a grunt of surprise and turned, to see Zell gasp in horror at him shrugging off such a hit.

"What was that supposed to be?" Beelzebub snorted, his eyes narrowing, and responded with the long, spiralling pillar of a Dark Element Explosion. Zell immediately turned his forearm towards the attack and let the crystal on his vambrace absorb the spell's force, but Beelzebub kept up the attack in a continuous beam until eventually Zell's crystal could hold no more and he was thrown backwards in a black explosion. Beelzebub laughed as Fariel came at him from behind, reversing his axe in a two-handed grip and thrusting it backwards to smash into Fariel's neck and flip her onto her back. He spun to face her and while she lay there choking he brought the axe back for a crushing blow, but a shout from above made him pause. Powering towards him in a halo of white light came Eevee, her wings spread out behind her and her eyes glowing gold with white pupils. Held out in front of her was her Atellian force lance, but Beelzebub deflected the hail of energy bolts with a dismissive twirl of his axe. Eevee extended the weapon into a staff and shifted to a two-handed grip as she swept down. Ignoring Fariel as she crawled away, Beelzebub regripped his axe, bracing his feet apart as he awaited Eevee's charge. As her glowing force lance came down Beelzebub's axe swept up to meet it, and Beelzebub was the stronger. His almighty slash hurled Eevee aside but with a sweep of her wings she managed to twist round and kick off one of the stone columns to launch herself back towards him.

"Bisingr!" she shouted to send an elvish fireball streaking from her hand, and unprepared for the attack Beelzebub was hit and knocked back a pace. To Eevee's shock, it did little or no damage to the hulking demon - if anything it only made him angry, his red aura glowing brighter as he let out a mighty roar. Eevee jinked over his wild axe swing as she swept past him, skimming low over the temple floor and banking round to hit the ground running. Behind her Fariel ran up one of the columns and backflipped off it, corkscrewing through the air towards Beelzebub with her wave swords aimed at his neck. The demon twisted aside and Fariel landed in a diving roll. Beelzebub snarled and came after her, his massive tread cracking the marble beneath his feet as he ran. His axe in one hand, he thrust the other forward, palm open, yelling:

"BLACK DRAGONS!"

Such was his power that two phantoms burst from his one hand, roaring serpents made from starpoints of black energy that coiled round each other as they screamed towards Fariel. The phantoms' mouths opened wide as if to swallow Fariel but she leapt aside, ducking behind a column to let the spells fly past her and explode harmlessly against a distant ruin. Without breaking stride Beelzebub dipped his head and shoulder-charged the column, obliterating it in a shower of dust and sending Fariel flying. Beelzebub threw back his head and laughed.

Neji, who had recovered from the Dark Dragon Bullet and returned to the attack, sped to intercept the laughing Beelzebub. A fully-charged Lightning Edge crackled about his hand as he launched himself at the demon, but Beelzebub flicked out his axe and hooked the blade behind Neji's neck so that his own momentum worked against him, pulling him off balance. Beelzebub jerked the shaft and Neji went spinning past him; Neji was thrown hard against one of the stone columns. The Angel dived aside as Beelzebub thrust the head of his axe towards him, cracking the stone where Nejis head had been a moment before. But Beelzebub was fast, pulling back the axe and swinging it again as Neji landed; as the column creaked, groaned then toppled, his return blow caught Neji hard in the back. Neji was knocked sprawling and Beelzebub's axe came scything down. A Dark Encampment Wall flared up before it and the axe rebounded explosively off the unyielding black shield. Keiji, his mouth still bloody from Beelzebub's last hit, smirked at the demon as he stood protectively over his father.

"Thank you, Keiji," Neji said with a proud smile as he got to his feet, and the two faced down Beelzebub with twin Demon Balls gathering in their right hands. Beelzebub roared in anger and threw out his arms in a Black Shockwave that shattered the landscape and sent his two opponents flying away from him.

Fariel came rocketing forward, a blue light streaming behind her as she called on Leviathan's power, and slammed into Beelzebub in a vicious shoulder-charge. It was like running into a brick wall. Beelzebub laughed as she staggered back. Fariel flailed for balance, shook her head and raised her wave swords, darting forward to attack again. Beelzebub stepped back, still laughing as he twisted away from her lightning-fast slashes and not bothering to use his axe to parry. Fariel snarled at being made fun of and flipped upwards in a mighty leap, calling out her Aeon's name and hurling a vortex of water at the demon before somersaulting through the air and following the vortex down in a flying drop-kick. Beelzebub just put a foot back to brace himself and crossed his forearms in front of his face as the sheet of water slammed into him and broke to either side. Although the stone tiles around him splintered with the force of the tidal wave, Beelzebub seemed completely unaffected as he grabbed Fariel's foot, stopping her attack, and swung her round his head by the ankle before throwing her contemptuously aside. She hit the ground with enough force to drive a trench through the tiles beneath her.

With a laugh Beelzebub turned to meet Eevee and Zell. Zell was hanging back and firing bursts from his machina rifle, but the high-powered rounds seemed to be completely ineffective against Beelzebub, flaring harmlessly against his tattooed skin. Beelzebub ignored Zell and repeating his move against Neji hooked his axe-head round Eevee's arm as she ran at him, yanking her forward to slingshot her past him. Eevee nearly lost her feet but kept balance with her wings and ducked just in time so that a mighty slash of Beelzebub's long-shafted axe sang harmlessly over her head. She dodged around the demon but he was fast despite his size and swung the huge axe again. Eevee raised her force lance to meet it and sidestepped as it swept down, but she had underestimated Beelzebub's demonic strength and the impact almost jarred the weapon out of her hands. Her arms buckled, but she had deflected the axe enough for its heavy double head to bury itself with a small shockwave in the ground beside her, instead of crushing her skull. She stepped into the demon's guard to attack, but Beelzebub's fist flew out and backhanded her across the face. Eevee was knocked back with blood streaming from her temple, and Zell coming to help with the melee blades of his rifle extended met the same fate, punched back by Beelzebub's ramrod of a fist.

Eevee was still wiping blood out of her eyes as Beelzebub came at her again, the heavy axe whirling above his head and scything down. Eevee pushed off one foot to dodge aside.

"Is that all you've got?" she taunted the demon and counterattacked, touching one of her force lance's power runes and letting her Aeons' energy flow into it so that it glowed with a swirling white light as she struck. Beelzebub turned the blow aside with the shaft of his axe, parrying so forcefully that Eevee was sent staggering back. Keiji came running forward, but didn't get the chance to attack. With room now to swing his axe, Beelzebub spun the long weapon round his back to gain momentum before swinging it forward, both hands near the butt-end of the haft for maximum leverage. The double axe-head might have been magically blunted by Eevee's spell, but its sheer weight was still lethal and both Keiji and Eevee had to jerk their heads back out of the flailing weapon's path. A vertical hammerblow aimed at Eevee followed which she again sidestepped, keeping the axe away from her by parrying above her head with her force lance. This time however Beelzebub spun his axe to the horizontal and hooked it round behind her, pulling it down to trap both her weapon and her arms behind her back as he lifted her off the ground and yanked her forward, crushing her against his massive chest. Eevee gasped in pain, her vision exploding into coloured blobs as her ribs were constricted.

Keiji shouted and ran forward, a ring of fire appearing round his fist as he threw it forward and sank his knuckle-duster into Beelzebub's ribs. The demon twisted away with little more than an annoyed grunt, kicking Keiji back and simultaneously increasing the pressure on Eevee. However, he was so intent on killing her that he failed to notice Keiji flip back onto his feet and unleash a Dark Element Explosion. Beelzebub was knocked off balance as the spell slammed into his back, and as his grip momentarily loosened Eevee was able to kick out of the arm-lock, though she lost her force lance in the process. She ran forward to retrieve it, ducking and sliding on her knees under a mistimed sweep of Beelzebub's axe as he was once again distracted by a punch from Keiji. Turning angrily to Keiji, Beelzebub saw a fierce blue light flare up to crackle and burn about his fist.

"Let's see you survive Lightning Edge, Beelzebub!" Keiji snarled and hurled his fist forward, summoning all his energy and putting his entire bodyweight behind the punch. It drove into the demons chest with an explosion of dark energy, but to Keiji's horror it didn't penetrate, instead bouncing off and shattering Keiji's knuckles with the force of the impact. Keiji staggered back with a cry of pain, his aura of blue power temporarily fading as he cradled his broken fingers.

"Ha! You fool!" Beelzebub laughed, "When two powers of the demon world collide it comes down to the strength of the combatants, and you must know which of us is the stronger!"

"Back off!" Eevee shouted unexpectedly and came at Beelzebub from behind, stabbing with her force lance. The demon bashed it aside with his axe so hard that it went spinning out of her hands, and reversing his own weapon he slammed the butt of the shaft into Eevee's forehead, snapping her head back. Eevee fell down hard on her back, and her temporarily blacked-out vision returned just in time to register Beelzebub's axe scything down.

"Dyann Ra!" she yelled throwing up her hands, and a golden bubble of energy surrounded her as the axe blade smashed down. The shield spell sparked and rippled with the force of the blow, but it held. Eevee threw out an arm and with the power of her Aeons called her dropped force lance back into her hand. It glowed as she regripped it. As her shield collapsed, Beelzebub was sent reeling by the magical backlash, and she rammed the lance forward into his stomach. Jamming her thumb down on the firing rune she pulsed bolt after bolt of incandescent fire into the demon, following her lance up and keeping it pressed against Beelzebub's torso as each blast drove him back. The demon just snarled as he finally managed to place one foot back to catch his balance and hurled his fist forward, smashing it into Eevee's face. Eevee twisted away with blood streaming from her nose and he ripped her force lance out of her hands, striking her across the back with it with enough force to drive her to her knees, only to follow up with a sweeping uppercut that sent her cartwheeling over herself. Eevee landed hard, almost sobbing in pain as Beelzebub turned to face the others. Fariel was still getting to her feet, and Neji was returning to the attack but Zell was closest.

Beelzebub stepped forward to meet Zell, who dodged the volley of Demon Balls aimed at him and swung his bladed gun at the demon with a mighty shout. Beelzebub swatted it aside with ease. Zell threw a punch aimed at Beelzebub's face but Beelzebub caught Zell's armoured fist in his own, grinning maliciously as he crushed Zell's hand until the bones splintered. Zell yelled in pain and fell to his knees; Beelzebub kicked him away and blasted the incoming Neji back with yet another Dark Dragon Bullet.

Far from draining his energy, with every spell he cast and with every hit he took Beelzebub's power seemed to grow - his red aura glowing brighter and his muscles swelling as he drew on more and more of the power Penance had given him. He was now a full foot taller than he had been at the start of the fight, and far more heavily-muscled.

Keiji snarled and launched a brave attack despite his crippled hand, but Beelzebub smashed him aside with the flat of his axe blade. He laughed, his axe in one hand, Eevee's force lance in the other.

"Fools! I am POWER!"

He turned and strode towards the fallen Eevee, who scrambled to get away from him, launching volleys of Firannon lightning from her fingertips that failed to even slow the demon down. She managed to regain her feet and, in desperation, drew her daggers from their sheathes beneath her battered arm-warmers.

"Bisingr du knifr!"

The fire-wreathed blades flicked out, but with both his axe and Eevee's lance Beelzebub's reach was far greater and he sent her flying back yet again with a flailing double sweep of the two weapons before she could get within striking distance. He threw Eevee's force lance after her in disgust.

"Pathetic..." he grunted.

He turned but was immediately hit in the face by a giant fireball, spat out by Fariel who had shape-shifted into dragon form. The flames engulfed him, but when they dissipated the demon still stood unhurt.

"Fire? Against a demon?" he taunted.

Fariel growled and, shrinking back to human form, charged at Beelzebub. He parried her wave swords one-handed with his axe, then reached out with his other hand and seized Fariel's forearm in a vice-like grip, snapping it back against itself with a crunch of dislocating bones. Fariel let out a high-pitched scream but he just kicked her away and turned to meet Neji.

<ooc - Eevee is now officially out for the count and will remain so for a good couple of minutes so now it's all down to you guys...>



-- Edited by [BOSS]Fenix at 23:27, 2007-06-15

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Captain Thule: We have yet to meet our betters, alien. All we have seen are deluded tyrants, heretics and alien scum.
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Neji stood defiently against Beelzebub despite breathing heavily from taking two Dark Dragon Bullets.

"This is insane, he's just too strong," Neji complained, "Think it's time to cut loose," he said bringing forth all his power, he charged boldly and jumping towards the sinisterly smiling Beelzebub combined his swords in a mighty verticle slash, Beelzebub stood his ground and swung his axe colliding with Neji's sword with enough force to throw Neji back, flipping in the air Neji twirled his body "Take this!" he roared as he flung one of his swords, the blade spun through the air like a deadly buzzsaw straight for Beelzebub's neck, Beelzebub roared and swung his axe heavily intercepting the sword and smashing it harmlessly aside. Beelzebub laughed at Neji's brave attack. He was about to charge when something stuck him on the back of the head, rubbing it angerly he spun round, Zell stood bravely one of his pistols in his hand still smoking, his other hand hung at his side useless.

"I can still fight you bastard," Zell said challenging Beelzebub.

"I will kill you first,"

"Then you have to get through me," Keiji roared getting to his feet.

"Zell, Keiji are you guys alright?" Neji shouted.

"I only need one hand to defeat this guy,"

Keiji was about to reply when he suddenly froze, "I-I'm fine?" he said staring at his hand which was previously broken.

"lets go!" Neji shouted giving the order to attack, Neji and Keiji charged while Zell hung back firing round after round, Beelzebub didn't know who to attack first. Neji was the first to reach he swung his remaining sword but passed harmlessly past Beelzebub who moved to evade, while evading he noticed Keiji in close quickly he raised his arm and uppercutted Keiji before his stike's could hit launching the teenager in the air, another well aimed shot from Zell iritated Beelzebub he spun round angerly leaving himself open for Neji's follow up, Neji raised his sword in the air and came down on Beelzebub's shoulder, yet even Neji's mighty swords could not harm him, Beelzebub looked over his shoulder and wickly smiled, then falling from the sky after recovering in the air Keiji came down with a meator like kick, which too had no effect, both Neji and Keiji flipped off and together attacking at both sides, Beelzebub stood his ground and absorbed all attacks.

"Is that all, pathetic," Beelzebub reached out his free hand and grabbed Keiji by the face, spinning round he threw the boy at Neji throwing both into rubble. "Next the annoying fly."

"Hope he doesn't mean me," Zell said to himself, taking out his mana gun and gritting his teeth he loaded a fire capsule in as Beelzebub charged, since he could only fire using one hand Zell's arm was thrown back as he fired the mighty ball of flame, the fire attack collided with Beelzebub's face bursting into a mass of embers yet bursting through them came Beelzebub his charge not even haulted, unable to load another capsule Zell switched to his pistol but by the time he switched Beelzebub was within striking distance, he heaved his axe mightily in a horizontal slash, Zell deliberitly fell back smoothly on his back the blow passing over him, Beelzebub raised his axe high in the air, as Zell flipped straight back to his feet and dived under the great demon's legs, just in time to avoid a skull shattering blow which even split the ground with a miniture quake.
 
Zell had only one option, he sprinted away from Beelzebub towards a colume, Beelzebub heaved his axe up from the ground and gave chase, his pounding footsteps were a strong reminder to Zell that Beelzebub was determind to kill him.

"Dad we have to stop him!" Keiji shouted bursting towards Beelzebub, Neji following behind, the pair appeared before Beelzebub but even combined they served little hinderance to Beelzebub who barged past both of them knocking them to the ground, Fariel returning to the battle too appeared before Beelzebub unleashing a mightly pulse of water, the water broke against Beelzebub's charge and to avoid the same fate as Neji and Keiji she flew in the air above Beelzebub, who now was rapidly closing in on Zell.

"Just as planned," Zell said to himself as he approached a stone colume, not stopping his sprint Zell ran up the colume with ease, he backflipped off the it firing rounds as he flew over Beelzebub's head, landing on his feet, he went to fire again when suddenly. Click. Zell looked to his gun.

"Ah no..." he said turning to Beelzebub only to see the mighty Demon twirl round with a heavy axe swing, Zell was sent flying through the air crashing into rubble.

"Zell!" Keiji shouted angered, "I'll kill you Beelzebub!" he roared, his hand began to tremble a lightning edge forming round it.

"Keiji remember you're limit, and you know it will have no effect!" Neji protested yet Keiji ignore the words of warning.

"If I put enough power behind it then I'll be sure to win," Keiji countered.
 
Beelzebub smiled at Keiji and stood open before the teenager. Keiji gripped his wrist as his hand began to tremble, he forced his hand to the ground as he forced more and more energy into his lightning edge, he suddenly flinched as he got a strong pain in his hand and up his arm, gritting his teeth he resisted the pain and charged.

"Keiji no!" Neji shouted to late, Keiji had gone at Beelzebub head on, despite the pain in his hand he slammed his lightning edge into Beelzebub's stomach, the attack failed to pentrate yet Keiji continued to push until the pain grew to much and he was forced to cancel, Keiji looked at Beelzebub in awe and fear, Beelzebub smiled at him and raised his axe but before he could bring it down he suddenly stopped, Beelzebub dropped his axe and gripped his chest in agony, he broke down to his knees and Keiji took this opportunity to rejoin Fariel and Neji.

"What the hell is going?" Keiji asked

"He's getting stronger, too strong," Beelzebub slowly got to his feet picking up his axe, with a mighty roar his muscle's bulged to an even greater size and his height shot up another foot he gripped his axe with such force that it snapped in his grip, breathing heavily Beelzebub returned his gaze to the still standing angels and smirked throwing aside his broken axe.

"Now I am raw power!" He roared charging towards the angels, his heavy steps cracking the ground with every stamp.

"Look out!" Fariel shouted, Keiji and Neji dived and rolled to the side and Fariel shot up into the air, twirling over Beelzebub she cast a mighty water spell, the water took shape of tenticles which bound round Beelzebub sucessfully restraining him, landing behind him Fariel held fast gritting her teeth.

"Hurry up and do something!" she shouted, "I can't hold him for long," Keiji was about to spring to action when a shooting pain up his arm reminded of his failed lightning edge.

"Step aside Keiji, I'll handle it," Keiji turned round to Neji whos arm looked like it was on fire, black energy enguffed his entire arm, this was first time Keiji had see this, the highest level of lightning edge, the demonic burst edge, with a roar Neji charged headlong into Beelzebub he punched forward smashing Beelzebub's chest, but the attacked stopped even the demonic burst edge could not break through the mighty demon. Beelzebub smiled down at Neji, a smile Neji returned.

"Fariel! Jump now!" he shouted, Fariel released her restraints and leapt in the air as Neji arm exploded with demonic power, a great blast enguffed and past threw Beelzebub and continued to break through building after building in its path until eventually it faded.

"Well that'll stop him," Fariel said looking back at the distruction caused by the demonic burst edge. Neji stood tall exhausted but feeling victorius before the massive dust cloud before him but his victorius smile soon faded into shock when a figure could be seen through the cloud, when the dust cloud faded Beelzebub stood behind a fading black wall, slightly crouched, he straightened up and smiled rubbing his chest.

"Hmm, I actually felt that one,"

"Impossible," Neji said in disbelief "We'll I'm out, that took too much of my energy," Neji collapsed to one knee.

"I have one more trick up my sleeve," Keiji said stepping forward, around his hand sparkling dust, "Take this!" he shouted throwing the dust at Beelzebub.

"That? What the hell is that?" Beelzebub asked amused.

"Don't move and you'll find out," Keiji smiled

"Very well," Beelzebub stood his ground and allowed the dust it hit his body, the dust slowly drifted through the skin, and Keiji clicked his finger.

"Got him," Beelzebub continued to look at Keiji then looking around him as if he was suspecting something to happen, Keiji continued smile. "come on, come on,"

"Should I be in pain?" Beelzebub mocked

"what? that was a direct hit from my stardust, how could he still be alive!?" Beelzebub booming laugh mocked Keiji. "How? this attack a finished Xipetotec,"

"You should relise by now I'm a cut above Xipetotec, you'll need more power than that to defeat me,"

"Damn my best isn't enough,"

"You can go a step a further," Keiji's demon said deep within his head.

"No, I won't give up," Keiji said standing ready to fight, Neji too raised to his feet gripping his sword.

"You're right Keiji, we can't give up yet," at the other end of battle ground Zell slowly started to get to his feet, his broken hand over his chest resting on Alia's necklace.

"Aww man, luckly the armor took the front of that one, I'm not done yet Beelzebub."

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Soren stood amongst the pile of rubble that was once the stone demon. He held in his hand a large white pole that gleamed it little light of the Great Hall. Soven noticed that the tip of the pole was covered with a white rag as the same time a powerful stench hit him in the face. It stank of fowl things that made Soven shuddered before barking, "Good to see ya, brother! Its been a while, huh?"

Soren eyes were stone cold, his voice hollow, deprived of its humanity from the madness that grips his mind so tightly.

"Shadow Demon, your reign of terror over my kingdom is at an end. My worshippers are flocking back to me, begging forgiveness for being tricked by your vile creation, Yevon."

"Huh?" Soven mind was sent reeling, seeing how far his brothers insanity had driven him and Soven felt for the first in a good while, pity and sadness as he realised the brother he once knew was gone forever. But Soven had no time to dwell on the past.  "Penance has really ****ed you up, you know that! You think I created Yevon? You think that Im a demon? Youre being led around by the nose by a real demon! Penance is not your friend, why do you follow him?"

"Follow?" Soren looked confused, his eyes moved back and forth, as if searching the meaning of the word. Then his eyes widened, as sudden understanding flooded in.  "HOW DARE YOU, VILE THING OF THE SHADOWS!! I FOLLOW NO DEMON; HE FOLLOWS ME!! Penance took me out of my prison, THE ONE WHICH YOU CRAFTED YOURSELF! Penance freed me, assembled an army in my honour, and hes sent it across Spira, smashing the forces of YOUR HEATHEN CULT and purifying the land for my triumphant return TO MY WORLD!! I SHALL CLEANSE THE WORLD OF YOUR DEMONIC WAYS AND MAKE MY WORLD PERFECT AGAIN, AS I INTENDED FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME!! Soren whipped his sword out, flashing pure white light that blinded Soven for a moment. BOW BEFORE MY DIVINITY, SHADOW DEMON!!!"

Soven had a mere moment to raise his sword and block the madding attack from his deranged brother. The swords collided and sparks flew. Soven held his large sword with one hand while his brother held his with two. Sorens eyes, Soven noticed, were red and were shaking with insane ecstasy.

"I shall create a sea from YOUR BLOOD, DEMON!!" Soren tripped Soven foot and as he fell Soren raised his blade for the death blow. Soven landed heavily on his backside and had a moment to react. Acting before thinking, Soven lashed out with his foot and felt contract. The blood drained from Sorens face, a gust of air flew out his mouth and slowly he fell back, landed on his side with hands clutching his groin.

Soven, not realising what was happening, rolled away and came back up with his arms spread, his sword steady in his hand and ready for any attack. It slowly dawned on Soven why his brother was on the floor, curled into a ball. Slowly a small giggle escaped from his grin-tight mouth. In between groans, Soren wheezed, Get him, fools!!!

Soven, still grinning like a tit, turned and saw several of the strange knights from the retreat of the tower. They charged with long broad swords. Soven yelled a yippy battle cry and leaped into the fight. Soven stepped onto a block of stone and lunged himself into the air. Soven jumped about 10 feet off the ground and over the fight knight whom Soven killed with a quick swipe at the knights neck sent the helmet spinning away. Landing in between 2 of them, before they got strike, Soven stabbed one in the side, dropped to one knee and whipped his sword to catch the other in the leg, severing it just above the knee. That one fell, squealing like a pig, clutching his bloody stump of a leg. Soven spun 360 as he stood, sword tip out and steady. The others showing caution jumped back before any of them could be killed. Soven slowly looked at the knights surrounding him, there were 6 of them. Soven wanted badly to show off, tensed his sword arm and suddenly flicked his arm and sent his sword spinning, cutting through 2 of the knights, one losing his whole arm the other, half his face, Soven sword cutting through the armour like butter. Soven could hear chuckling from the 4 remaining knights. But the loudest laughter came from Soven.

"Youre not gonna believe this. But you guys are about to look really dumb." Ignoring his words, the remaining 4 slowly stepped forward, broadswords at the ready. Still, Soven grinned, "You dont believe me? Fair enough."  Soven shrugged his shoulders and held his hands up.  "Oh, before you kill me, can you do me a favour, huh? Look behind you."

One knight, sensing something wrong, quickly turned. Surging towards him was Soven spinning sword. The knight screamed, only for the others to watch as his torso parted from his legs. Another knight saw it coming tried to dive but was too slow and lost both legs, bellow the knee.

Paralysed, one of the 2 remaining knights never saw Soven rush at him. The other knight hearing the struggle turned to see Soven bashing the knight to death with his own helmet. The knights face was once young but was now a bloody mess with several deep cuts and thousands of smaller ones mapped over his face. Soven slammed the helmet down a final time to hear the snap of the neck. Soven stood, with his back at the final knight. The remaining knight, sensing victory charged at Sovens bare back, with his sword held high. As he started his swing, he felt thud shoot through his back to his stomach. The swung slowed, the sword heavy, weak fingers dropping the blade. The knight quaking looked down to see not a blade, but a bloody handle with guts decorating it sticking out of a hole that was once a human stomach. The knight, shaking and eyes growing weak, saw a hand holding the handle. He fell back, easily sliding off, wondering, how could anyone have caught it?

Soven flicked his scimitar back round so the point was back in front of him. With a big smile, he said, "Didnt Id tell to youd look dumb? Huh? Guess yous need to more attention to me."

"Demon!!"

Soven turned to see Soren standing with the strange white pole.

Soven sighed, "Here we are, brother. You about to die, me killin' you and no one to watch."

"Oh, but brother, there is."  Soren reached up and grabbed the rag, sitting at top the pole.  "Behold! THE WOMEN WHO BIRTHED A DEMON AND A GOD, THE WHORE OF HELL!!"  Soren ripped the rag away and Sovens breath was stolen from his lungs.

-- Edited by Soven at 02:13, 2007-06-16

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(occ - yes, slightly bored. Hes a filler from after Fari gets back from Kebel to before they everyone packs up for Zanarkand. Fariel in bad mood :D LOL Seriously though, you know what i'm like, i'd probably have got angry rather then upset)

After scaring off Jacen, Fariel managed to avoid any other contact with the others in the giant building. The only time she crept in was the get changed and get her other items together.
From them on she spent her time in the safety of the trees in the gardens of the manor, she had contemplated many a time to return to Kebel and help set things right again but she couldnt bring herself to leave the other Angels.

She had watched the previous Angels leave the previous morning from her hiding place. It wasnt that she wanted to hide though; it was that she didnt want to anyone else to bare her burden, it wasnt there problem.
Leviathan, she had noticed, had gone silent since returning from Kebel. The aeon had become fond of her hosts estranged home and friends.

Fariel fiddled with the ring on her finger. I want to ask you something, before you leave for Luca, because I dont know when I might have the chance to ask. She managed a slight smile, Larek had sounded to innocent and childish when he asked her to marry him, he had called it a guarantee that she would return to him when everything was over.

Dammit! Fariel cursed stabbing her dagger into the branch she sat upon, "Go back to Kebel, its safe there...I'm an idiot, a big frakking idiot ." She closed her eyes and growled.

Even if he hadnt gone back...it would have made little difference...
Leviathan attempted to reason with her but she ignored him.

oo0oo

Zell and Neji were trying to round up everyone as quick as they could after Alias call for help, but there wasnt any sign of Fariel.
Giving up Zell pulled Eevee aside, WAsk your aeons if they know where Fari is.W He stated more as an order then a request, Eevee looked at him begrudgingly but called upon Tritoch, using her farsight she found Fariels location quickly enough to please Zell.

"Shes in the east gardens," She started but Zell was quickly running away to get the Angel, Eevee rolled her eyes, I could have used my farsight to call her over but oh well, she thought to herself.

oo0oo

Fariel ground her teeth together, ignoring Leviathans words to stop blaming herself for not being there. A twig snapped nearby and both Fariel and her aeon came to attention. Sheathing her dagger she drew her sword, pressing against the tree she looked around its side to see someone running towards her, "Fari!" He called; it was Zell, not someone she wanted to deal with.

"Fari-!" Zell stopped in his tracks as he found his face at the point of Fariels sword; he looked at the Angel quite disturbed by her savage expression. "Are you okay?" He dared to ask, Fariel narrowed her eyes at him.

"Does it look like Im okay?!" She snapped angrily.

Zell inched back and raised his hands defensively, "Im sorry; I was just asking...could you get your sword out my face?"

Fariel lowered her sword slightly and then sheathed it, "You have ten seconds to tell me what you want or Im leaving."

Zell cringed, what was wrong with her? "The old angels are in trouble, we need to go and help, now."

"They are Angels, Zell, they can take care of themselves." Fariel turned away.

That annoyed him, "You know what, fine, I dont know what the hell is wrong with you but Alia didnt specify that she wanted your help so just stay here and be angsty."

Zell turned and ran back for the airship. Fariel glared at him, granted he had no idea what was troubling her but whats he panicking about, they are Angels after all

"Oh for frak sake" She ran after him, changing to a dragon she flew to his side, he smiled and climbed onto her back, "Im only coming to see what the big deal is" She said defensively, Zell grinned.

-- Edited by [BOSS]Asreal at 19:27, 2007-06-18

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<ooc - Back to the present, check out these moves biggrin>
Eevee had fallen hard against one of the columns, cracking her head against the marble so hard it began to bleed. She slid limply down the column, leaving a streak of blood on the stone, and keeled over sideways to collapse in a heap at the foot of the column. Both her wings and the white glow surrounding her had faded. Lapsing in and out of consciousness, she dimly registered her force lance clattering against the ground beside her.
"Are you alright, Angel?" Ramuh asked her urgently as he and Tritoch did their best to reverse the internal damage caused by Beelzebub's savage attacks.
"He's wiping the floor with us," Eevee whispered, "Everything we hit him with only seems to make him stronger."
He must be stopped before his power grows any more, came Tritoch's voice inside her head, My strength is yours, Angel.
"And mine," added Ramuh, and Eevee immediately felt a rushing sensation as the Aeons channelled their energy into her. She closed her eyes and focussed it.
Now go and help the others destroy this demon before it is too late.
Eevee's eyes snapped open, white and gold, and she got slowly to her feet. Iridescent lightning was whipping round her in a bright cyclone. Her wounds healed, her torn clothes repaired themselves and the blood evaporated from her face as she rose slowly into the air, a bright halo of white light silhouetting her as her wings reappeared.
As the light faded she turned in the air and swept down towards Beelzebub, Tritoch's multicoloured light streaming behind her wings while her force lance crackled with Ramuh's lightning.
"How many times do I have to kill you, boy?" Beelzebub was roaring as Zell rose doggedly to his feet. He ignored the combined attacks of Fariel, Neji and Keiji coming in from behind, throwing open his arms and hurling them back with a Black Shockwave. He raised his hand towards Zell.
"Dark Dragon Bullet!"
Black energy welled up around his fingers and a glittering black dragon roared from his hand, coiling sinuously towards Zell with its mouth open. Its jaws snapped closed just as Zell dived aside, the spell impacting against a ruin behind and exploding in an eruption of black fire and marble chips.
Then Beelzebub grunted in surprise, doubling over forward slightly as a volley of Firannon lightning hit him square in the back, sparks arcing off in all directions. He turned curiously.
"You again..." he growled as he saw Eevee streaking towards him. He raised his hands and released a machinegun-like stream of Demon Balls. Eevee jinked her wings and skipped lightly through the glowing fusillade, kicking up off the ground in front of Beelzebub with her wings pulled in close and pirouetting upward. As she twirled, her glowing force lance swept round and smashed into the side of Beelzebub's face in a terrific blast of released energy, snapping the demon's head to one side and half-spinning him round with the force of the strike. But the hit didn't stun Beelzebub even for a moment - straight away he pivoted back round with a sweeping backhand. Eevee immediately dropped to the ground and the flailing karate chop soared over her head, but as she landed in a crouch Beelzebub kicked out with a tree-trunk-like leg. She dodged aside in a sideways roll, her force lance sweeping round to collide with Beelzebub's other ankle in an attempt to trip the demon while his other foot was off the ground, but though the staff discharged its energy in a blinding flash it was not enough to knock Beelzebub off balance.
Zell reappeared, running in with Hades drawn, and he raised the gun and fired its last round into Beelzebub's face. The 10-foot demon reeled from the hit, only just catching himself on his back foot with a miniature quake that sent chips of rubble bouncing several feet into the air. But even as he twisted away, seemingly in pain, Eevee saw him bring his arms in and cross them over his chest.
"Zell, move!" she shrieked.
"BLACK SHOCKWAVE!" Beelzebub roared, throwing wide his arms.
As the disc of black energy pulsed out Zell threw himself flat so that it whipped over him, scorching his armour with the nearness of its passing. Eevee swept her wings down and leapt skyward, backflipping as the shockwave passed beneath her and landing several metres away facing Beelzebub. The demon returned her determined look with a mocking smile. Slowly and deliberately, he raised his fists. Eevee disappeared in the white blaze of a Timeshift. Beelzebub saw her dark blur sweep round him in a wide ring, then a series of bright flashes appear in quick succession at the circle's perimeter as she fired a series of elemental spells at him, and he chuckled in mild amusement. He held out his arms to the side as the spells streaked towards him from all directions, and they shattered themselves against the black shell of a Dark Encampment Wall.
But as the Timeshift ended Eevee had soared upwards, spreading her wings to hover in midair directly above Beelzebub with her force lance held high in both hands. Immediately the sky darkened and a series of lightning bolts flickered down to strike the tip of her weapon, spiralling down its length in a long, stuttering stream. The lightning whirled round Eevee as she thrust her staff down and unleashed Ramuh's Judgement attack straight downwards onto Beelzebub. Distracted by Eevee's first volley of spells, he looked up too late. The hail of lightning slammed down on Beelzebub and coursed over him, temporarily freezing him in place as Eevee dived and landed opposite. Summoning now Tritoch's power she held up her free hand, drawing ribbons of multihued light from the air to twist and coil round her, and they began to take shape as tendrils of fire, ice and lightning before lancing out from her hand as one combined beam of shining energy.
It hit Beelzebub just as he was recovering from the paralysing lightning strike, knocking him back in an explosion that blew apart several nearby ruins. Beelzebub doubled over and fell to his knees. Eevee took a step forward, but when Beelzebub raised his head a wicked smile was playing across his face.
"My turn..." he grinned.
With a mighty roar he punched his fist forward and summoned yet another Dark Dragon Bullet. Eevee's eyes opened wide in shock as the black phantom roared towards her. She side-flipped out of its path, landing on one knee with the hand that held her force lance thrown out to the side and the other touching the ground for balance.
"Come on guys, hit him!" Zell shouted desperately, but at that moment only Fariel had the energy left to answer his call. Beelzebub turned and just waved his hand so that her tidal wave was swept aside and spent its fury smashing apart a stone column behind him.

<ooc - Right, one of two things can happen next.  Beelzebub can grow again and Neji can shout "Run!", or Soven can turn up and we can fight a bit more first.  Your call guys.>

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Fariel leapt over Beelzebub's powerful dark dragon bullet, flipping in the air she landed on his shoulders and wrapped her legs round his neck. Beelzebub through his hand back to grap her and break to choke hold, but with all her strength Fariel was able to parry the demons attempts to grab her, infuriated Beelzebub roared and started running in powerful charge heading straight for the wall. Fariel was forced to release her hold and kick of Beelzebub just before the great behemoth went head long into the wall breaking straight through.

"frak this guys insane," fariel said in disbelief, falling back as Beelzebub came back through the hold he made laughing manically.

"See? annoying flies, I can't be beat,"

"He's not lying there," Zell said turning the Neji

"Father what should we do?" Keiji said to Neji

"I know," Zell interrupted, "I'd say we run,"

Neji smiled, "I'd say your right there Zell, but even if we did run, he'd easily catch up on us, we will all have to split up, but even then our chances are slim, he's too strong and none of us are fit enough to escape in out current condit-" Neji was interrupted by a agonising roar from Beelzebub, he turned to see the mighty Demon light up and fall to his knees.

"He's getting stronger?!" Keiji shouted

"Now's our chance, everyone! run we can not win this fight!"

While Beelzebub roared in agony unleashing waves of loose energy around him the angel fled in separate directions, no one knew what they would do afterwards but the only thing on any of their minds was to escape.

Zell fled down the broken and flooded streets of Zanarkand eventually he came across a building half intact, he immediately ran through the great broken door and pressed himself against the wall breathing heavily, he smiled thinking he had safely escaped, exhausted he slid down wall resting his arms on his knees and hanging his head.

"I can't believe how strong he is," he said to himself, Zell began to check his bullets emptying his sachet of mana capsules he sighed at the lack of magical bullets he had left.

"Great, out of holy bullets, down to three Ice, one fire, one lightning and three water, not surprising I haven't re-stocked since I first left Ellessar woods, fat load of good anyway, my workshop was there and now its destroyed," Zell dug deeper into his sachet and pulled out two more capsules, "two spare empty capsules, thats not very useful," Zell sighed again, "I'm finished..."

"Giving up?" a weak voice said from door, Zell shot to his senses upon immediately recognising the figure standing at the door leaning on the side. "Thought it was you I saw running,"

"Alia! your alive," Alia smiled at Zell before collapsing, springing up Zell caught her before she collapsed onto the hard ground and moved her to his hiding place. Alia and Zell rested sitting with there backs against the wall, not to far into the distance Beelzebub's angered roars could be heard yet within the four walls of the ruined building they felt safe the, Alia rested her head on Zell's shoulder.

"He's getting madder,"

"Yeh...Just my luck finally meet a girl and this happens,"

"You know I'm over 5000 years old,"

"Technically you died in your 20s which makes me not so much older then you since you don't age when you die," Zell said making Alia smile.

"Ok...gramps," Alia and Zell laughed silently before Alia caught sight of Zell's capsules lying on the ground, she reached over to one and examined it.

"I know this technology, Gaget was researching it before joining Penance, in his stead my fathers workshop took over research funded by the council, they never could complete it tho, you must really be a prodigy Zell,"

"Now this time I swear I didn't steal this idea from the Atellians," Zell said in defence making Alia laugh.

"Do you have any empty capsules,"

Zell reach over Alia grabbing the two empty capsules. She examined them. "I think I know what I'm doing here,"

"You do?"

"I was deemed a prodigy as well, but from birth I had to follow a different path, just give me a second," Alia grasped the capsules one in each hand closing her eyes she began to concentrate slowly a light began to gleam from in between her fingers, Zell looked on worried.

"Alia careful, don't waste too much of your energy," he said concerned, slowly the light began to fade back into Alia's hand, she let out a deep breath and slowly collapsed back onto Zell, gently Zell layed her flat on the ground her head on his legs, he moved her hair back from her face as her eyes opened.

"Here," she said opening her hands, "I just managed to cram in Tri-Dazer, they should go perfectly with your necklace, please use them to escape,"

"Alia...thank you, these should work perfectly if we run into Beelzebub,"

"No Zell leave me behind, I'm too weak you won't be able to escape with me, I'll slow you down,"

"What find of talk is that?" Zell said angrily surprising Alia, "Your giving up? Don't you want to see how things turn out,"

"But Zell,"

"But nothing, you still need to see my ship remember, hold on till at least there, once I get you safely to the ship and someone looks into healing you then we'll see if your so up for giving up,"

"Zell..." Zell gathered his capsules and readied his gear and despite Alia's protests he scooped her up and stepped outside, Zell scanned the area seeing no sign of Beelzebub, he was about to make a run for it when he suddenly got a chill down his spine, he turned round to see Beelzebub walk over to him angrily, calmly Zell put Alia on the ground and turned to Beelzebub.

"I found one, no two" he boomed with wicked smile, "Time for both of you to die,"

"Zell forget about me escape,"

"No, I'm going to face this demon,"

"You can't," Zell ignore Alia's words and reached for his mana gun, his other hand digging deep into his sachet, cooly he loaded the capsule and aimed. Beelzebub roared and charged, and without saying a word Zell let fire the capsule, the entire gun started to heat up and tremble from the power in the capsule clasping it in both hands ignoring the pain from his broken hand Zell steadied the gun and was nearly thown back as a massive blast burst from it in a brilliant multi coloured light, the long stream of powerful caught Beelzebub off guard unable to raise his defence Beelzebub's charge was stopped behind a blinding light which enguffed him, the light faded and Beelzebub once again roared in anger as both Zell and Alia seemed to have disappeared.

Zell with Alia on his back ran as fast as he could through the ruined and flooded streets of Zanarkand.

"Zell, you'll exhaust yourself, stop this hero nosense,"

"I'm fine you just hold on tight, we are getting out of here,"

Alia tired of protesting smiled with a slight sigh at Zell and collapsed from exhaustion.

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Eevee pushed off one foot and jinked behind the cover of a stone column down in the flooded suburbs of the ruined city. She hazed away her wings and flattened herself against the smooth stone.

Suddenly there was a loud crack. Eevee's blood ran cold. The crack came again, heavy footfalls splintering the stone underfoot. Then there was a loud double splash as Beelzebub stepped down into a pool of water and looked around. He was looking for Zell, but now he sensed he had found someone else. He growled quietly, his breath misting the cold air.

Eevee closed her eyes and held her breath. She didn't dare try Farsight. She listened hard as everything went quiet, but she was deafened by her own heartbeat thudding in her ears. She wondered if the demon's senses might be sharp enough to pick up the frantic hammering, and figured that this was a very bad time to find out.

The silence continued as a gentle rain began to fall, wreathing the ruins in a light mist. Eevee's eyes darted to one side then the other, her jaw clenched to stop her teeth chattering. Still nothing.

Then Beelzebub stuck his head round the pillar.

Eevee froze as the demon reappeared out of nowhere and looked straight at her, his face twisting into a grin.

"I see you." he sang.

"Frak..."

Beelzebub swung a fist now half as big as Eevee herself. Adrenaline surged. Eevee dived aside as the column exploded into pieces from the impact of the demons fist, tripping and landing on her back in a shallow pool with a loud splash. Beelzebub's fist came down again and she rolled away, coming up facing the demon with water dripping from her hair and clothes.

Beelzebub towered over her, his chest rising and falling in loud, snorting breaths, growing steadily louder as his anger rose. Eevee glanced around at the half-flooded cityscape, thought fast, and acted.
"Shemash Caman!" she yelled, turning and throwing out her hand towards the sea behind her.

The water rippled and boiled upwards with a rising roar, forming a great tidal wave that flew up and over Eevee as she swept her outstretched arm over her head and punched it towards Beelzebub. The spiralling column of water smashed into the demon with the force of a tsunami, knocking him off his feet and carrying him backwards, but though the buildings all around shivered to pieces it still was not enough to stop Beelzebub. He staggered to his feet, clutching his chest in a moment of weakness, but then he laughed defiantly and lashed out at the one still-standing wall of the ruin he had landed in, bringing it down in a small avalanche of stone that slid to a stop in front of Eevee. She stepped back. Beelzebub was still grinning triumphantly, red and purple arcs of loose power orbiting round him.

"Don't waste your magic, Angel - your elven tricks won't work on me."

He leaned back and raised his arms over his head, a spell gathering between his hands. Eevee ran for it, leaping skyward and spreading her wings as twin Black Dragons converged and detonated below her. She rode out the shockwave and groped for her force lance, banking round in a wide arc.

"You can't run from me!" Beelzebub laughed, his hands glowing as he raised them. He opened his hands and long, whip-like beams of black fire shot out and lashed back and forth as they chased Eevee across the sky. She turned over and went into a headlong dive in attempt to evade the double Dark Element Explosions, but one of the powerful beams slashed across her and sent black lightning discharging in all directions. Eevee's hands came up to shield her face but her Dyann Ra counter-spell was no match for the raw power of Beelzebubs attack. Her shield resisted for less than a second before the dark beam punched through and struck her a glancing blow that sent her spinning out of the sky.

Eevee hit the ground hard, tumbled over herself and rolled to a stop amidst a pile of rubble. Her force lance skittered away and came to a stop at the bottom of the debris mound. Guided more by Tritoch's Farsight than her half blacked-out vision, she reached out towards the dropped weapon so that it flew back into her hand. She gripped it tightly, coughed, and clutched at her stomach with her free hand, her head still spinning. Her vision kept sliding in and out of focus, and then she saw clearly something red flying towards her which resolved itself into Beelzebub, propelled by a jet of black energy. He landed next to her with ground-shaking force, and kicked her in the stomach so that she was sent rolling down the rubble mound, coming to a stop at its base where she gasped for air and blinked rapidly to try and clear her streaming eyes as she half-raised her force lance and tried to take aim at Beelzebub.

"I dont think so," the demon growled. He pushed his hand towards Eevee, fingers spread, "DARK PRISON!"

Eevee was immediately immobilised behind a wall of black energy, her arms pinned down at full stretch. Beelzebub laughed and raised his right fist, ribbons of purple light coiling up round his arm and his muscles swelling as he pushed Penance's power to the limit.

With a mighty roar he brought his fist down, cancelling the Dark Prison only milliseconds before impact. Even an attempted Timeshift couldn't save Eevee, and the demon's fist hammered into her before she could even raise herself off the ground, let alone dodge. Beelzebub's downward punch smashed into Eevees solar plexus with pile-driver force so that she curled half-upright with the force of the hit, coughed up blood over Beelzebub's hand, and flopped back lifelessly before she could even draw breath and scream.

"Beelzebub!" roared a voice. Beelzebub looked up and saw Keiji running through the mist towards him, fire and lightning blazing around his knuckle-dusters.

"Ah, there you are..." Beelzebub smiled, bracing his feet. He put up his hands and caught both of Keiji's fists in his, stopping the attack dead. The fire and lightning licked harmlessly around his hands.

"You should know when you're beaten, boy," he growled, then slammed his horned forehead forward to send blood streaming from Keiji's nose and mouth. Keiji tried to twist away from the headbutt but Beelzebub held him fast, and now he began to force Keiji's hands apart, lifting him off the ground as he did so. Gritting his teeth he pulled outwards.

Keiji yelled in pain as the first experimental tug nearly wrenched his shoulders out of their sockets. Then he roared in anger and cartwheeled over backwards, his foot catching Beelzebub square on the chin and snapping his head back. Beelzebub staggered back a pace and released his grip on Keiji, who twisted as he completed the backflip to land facing the opposite direction before sprinting off through the ruins.

His plan to draw Beelzebub away from Eevee worked. Beelzebub forgot all about the comatose Angel and chased after Keiji. His foot caught Eevee as he began running, rolling her over onto her side.

Beelzebub faded into the mist, but his ground-shaking footfalls were still easily heard as he rampaged through the city after Keiji, smashing aside the ancient Atellian buildings as he went. Eevee didn't move. Only the slight bubbling of blood at her lips as she drew weak, shallow breaths showed that she was still alive.



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Keiji paced himself through the Zanarkand ruins the booming steps of Beelzebub serving as a frightening reminder of why he needed run so bad, confident in his speed Keiji weaved in and out the buildings of Zanarkand in attempt to lose Beelzebub but the demon was tireless never stopping in his furious pursuit knocking down buildings Keiji attempted to use as cover.  It started to come clear to Keiji that no matter how far he ran he would not escape Beelzebub and made a brave discussion to fight.


Stopping in his tracks Keiji spun round and leapt at Beelzebub, the demon skidded to a halt just before Keijis boot planted itself on his face not even causing the demon to stagger back, not giving the demon time to counter attack Keiji flipped off Beelzebub.

"Nothing works on this guy I only have one option or...I could try that move, but will it work?" Keiji said to himself while dodging Beelzebub's fist with a series of backflips and creating distance between them, "Well I guess I'll have to go for it," Keiji started to charge up a stardust, and then riskily he started to dig into his true demon powers drawing forth some energy and mixing it with his stardust.

Beelzebub looked at Keiji wondering what he was trying; impatiently he roared opening out his palm and firing and endless barrage of demon balls. Running in a wide circle round Beelzebub Keiji avoided the first flurry yet more came at him chasing him. Running at full sprint Keiji circled Beelzebub as the demon followed his movement with his open palm firing demon ball after demon ball.

"Got it!" Keiji said the fiery orange stardust forming round his hand into a solid sphere, Beelzebub in shock of this new attack ceased his fire, changing direction Keiji started to run towards Beelzebub the demon countered with a series of demon balls but Keiji moved to avoid them all ducking, jumping and moving in a zigzag pattern Beelzebub laughed as Keiji drew near and readied to grab the boy Keiji jumped above Beelzebubs hands and by kicking off his shoulder leapt behind Beelzebub high in the air, spinning in the air Keiji threw the ball at Beelzebub's back colliding with his face as the demon turned round causing a massive fiery explosion, still in the air another Black Stardust burst round Keiji other hand. "And again!" he shouted throwing the other ball into the fire cloud, the result a massive explosion of fire and dust, Keiji flipped and landed on the outside of the blast zone crouched and with his back turned to the blazing area behind him.


Raising to his feet Keiji turned towards the cloud as it bagan to fade the hot flames quickly dissolving. "Did it work?" Keiji said to himself.
 "Nope," Beelzebub said mockingly coming out the cloud face first, Keiji was too shocked to move as Beelzebub charged out the blaze at Keiji grabbing him by the face and running with Keiji in tow towards a building Beelzebub putting Keiji first ran into the building with such force that the pair of them burst through the stone wall, then stopping suddenly Beelzebub threw Keiji to the ground Keiji stared up at Beelzebub with hazy eyes as the demon continued to dig Keiji into the ground before the teenager passed out.
 "I'll finish you off later," Beelzebub said exiting the building through the hole he made.
 

"You really are pathetic, how could you lose like that!" Keiji's inner demon roared at him, "Your made a mockery of my attack, no wonder it didn't work you can't do it right, now get up, I'll take it from here,"

 

"No you won't," Keiji said pushing back the darkness, "I have one more thing to try,"

 

"Do you really think I'm going to let you make another mockery of us, look at you, you can't move, your out for the count,"

 "I said get back!" Keiji roared forcing the darkness to the back of his mind, "I'm, I'm healing?" Keiji said to himself shocked. Keiji shot open and slowly he got to his feet looking at himself. "Is my demon healing that powerful? Or" Keiji snapped out of his chain of thought when he caught sight of Beelzebub's back, walking away from him. "I'm not done yet you bastard," Keiji said stepping out the building, Beelzebub turned round surprised.
 

"Still standing?"

 

"I will stop you, I will put my life on it,"

 

"Really? Well let me see the size of your resolve,"

 Keiji raised his fist and tensed a white aura began to surround him which soon began to expand and expand black energy swirling round it, releasing a strong wind. Beelzebub raised his eyebrow impressed by all the energy Keiji has stored then his body began to glow and at that instant Beelzebub knew what he was going to do, Keiji had surfaced every ounce of his power.
 

"You idiot! Your going to kill us both!"

 

"What's wrong? you scared?"

"Reckless fool!" 

"So you're willing to kill yourself just to defeat me? I won't let you, I'll be long gone by the time your ready,"

 "Really?" Keiji burst forward catching Beelzebub off guard and appearing behind him, he leapt up and grabbed the giant round the throat peering over his shoulder, Beelzebub  looked over his shoulder in fear, Keiji body was now shining brightly white energy sparking off him.
 "Black shockwa-" he started to roar but suddenly stopped, the light fading from his body and grip off Beelzebub loosening.
 "I wont let yet you!" Keiji staggered back holding his head in his hands.
 

"No! You idiot it was the only way,"

 "You may be willing to die but I sure as hell am not, I can beat this guy!" Keiji looked to the sky and roared his skin darkening to fiery tan colour, his hair and eyes' changing until the demon was in control.
 He faced Beelzebub with red eyes, "Now let's see who the stronger demon is," without warning the demonic Keiji charged he leapt up kicking Beelzebub in the face causing no damage but forcing the demon to step back, flipping over him Keiji spun round and kick Beelzebub at the back of the head causing him to stagger forward, Beelzebub roared in anger and spun round his fist tensed Keiji had to use all his power and was able knock aside the punch, demonic smiled in confidence and spun round kicking Beelzebub in the face.

Despite three kicks to the head Beelzebub seemed unharmed but angered Keiji spreading his wings took to the sky creating Black Stardust in his hand raising them above his end he combined the balls and threw them Beelzebub hitting him perfectly, Beelzebub stood amoughst the flames unharmed when suddenly to his surprise Keiji followed up burst through the flames and kneed Beelzebub in the face, in sheer anger Beelzebub grabbed Keiji bringing him face to face and headbutting, a headbutt so powerful it forced Keiji to smack into the ground then following up with a kick send the powered Keiji flying, Beelzebub stepped out the flames to see Keiji still on his feet with a demonic roar Keiji charged forward but while he it appeared he had tripped up as Keiji fell to his knees gripping his head again.
 Beelzebub looked at Keiji amused, as he changed back to his original form.
 

"Fine if you think you can do it alone then go ahead,"

 Keiji took deep breaths a sudden relief from pain, but with one problem gone another seemed to stand over him, the towering Beelzebub laughing at him manically, Keiji looked up just as Beelzebub punched forward connecting with Keiji face spinning him round so he landed on his face, Beelzebub followed up with a kick to Keijis side launching him in the air only to come back down hard, weakly Keiji tried to get back to his feet but before he could Beelzebub grabbed him by the back of the head and lifted him in the air. Beelzebub laughed manically again and threw Keiji into the distance chasing after him with blistering speed, Keiji slowly began to fall to the ground but mere feet from the ground Beelzebub caught up with him and shoulder charged him sending Keiji flying into a building wall bouncing off it and hitting the ground. Beelzebub kicked Keiji upon his back.
 

"Where is your resolve now boy?"

 Keiji could do nothing to defend his pride he was beaten and could barely keep his eyes open.


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<ooc - My last offering before we go to Italy :D If theres nothing new by the time I get back Ill be very upset :P >

Beelzebub pushed an open hand towards Keiji and black light leapt from his palm to surround Keiji with a Dark Prison.

"You shouldn't pick fights that you can't win." Beelzebub growled, his face twitching with barely-controlled anger. He raised his other hand and balled it into a fist so that dark energy flowed from the air around into his clawed hand, a glow travelling down his arm and causing red and purple lightning to leap and crackle across his skin. The crackle rose to a roar as a blinding light surrounded the demon, his already overdeveloped muscles straining beneath his skin and bulging to ever greater size as he gathered strength for a final blow. Suddenly he staggered and gritted his teeth in pain yet again as he struggled to contain the raw power coursing through him, but then with an angry shout he raised his arm again and forced yet more energy into his body.

"More...MORE! I...AM...POWER!!!!" Beelzebub yelled as he brought his fist down, but the last word turned into a high-pitched scream as purple light blasted from his eyes and mouth and a brilliant flash of light enveloped him. The flash blinded Keiji through the veil of the Dark Prison, but just before his vision whited out he saw a second flash, black against the white, streaking towards him, and then the Dark Prison shattered as a Dispel hit it with irresistible force and he felt a small hand grab his and drag him off the ground just as the world exploded around him.

For a second he was confused, dimly registering the air around him rippling and shattering into a million glowing starpoints of pulverised rock and loose magic, which drifted and whirled lazily around him as he looked up and saw that it was Eevee who had grabbed him and who was blazing a trail through the air with wings outstretched as she tried to outrun the shockwave coming up fast behind them. The air rippled as her power reached its limit, then the Timeshift failed and the shockwave overtook them, slamming heavily into the two and sending them tumbling through the air.

From above Zanarkand, a spiral of purple fire could be seen rising like a great pillar several hundred feet into the air, the expanding shockwave below it a white disc that swept across the ground and tore through the city, leaving only blasted rubble in its wake.

* * *

Eevee landed on her front and skidded to a halt, her wings fading away. Keiji lost his grip on her and was sent sprawling beside Eevee. The roar of the explosion faded to silence, though Keijis ears still rang.

"Thanks," he said after a second, blinking to try and clear the dancing coloured blobs that had seared themselves onto his vision. Eevee pulled herself up onto her elbows, clutching her ribs.

"No problem - I'd like to think you'd do the same for me. Although," she giggled weakly, "If I was ever in that much **** I hope I'd have someone better to call on..."

In spite of everything, Keiji found himself laughing. He pushed Eevee's shoulder playfully, but she winced.

"You alright?"

"Been better," she groaned in reply, still clutching her stomach. She cast a shaky healing spell on Keiji, and then tended to her own injuries until they could both stand under their own power.

"Well that was slightly frakked up..." Fariel commented as she emerged from the smoke, looking out over the huge crater where Beelzebub had been. She carried Eevee's jacket over one arm, which she tossed to the girl, "Okay Neji you're our resident demon expert, what exactly just happened?"

"In his anger Beelzebub tried to draw on more energy than even he could contain," Neji explained with a slight smirk, "He lost control and it destroyed him."

"Aye, him and most of Zanarkand. We'll never be able to get home insurance if they find out this sort of thing happens to every city we go near..."

"Where's Zell?" Keiji interrupted, coughing on the dust still hanging in the air.

"Frak knows, under a stone somewhere? Hey! Zell! Zell, you bastard!"

Fariel jetted off into the sky still calling, while Neji made sure his son and his god-daughter were alright before telling them to wait where they were and following Fariel, leaving Keiji and Eevee alone amidst the now-silent ruins.

"Aeons, it's freezing," Eevee whispered, pulling on her jacket and flopping against a half-collapsed section of wall as a chill wind began to blow in from the sea over the flooded ruins. Keiji too began to shiver from cold and exhaustion, but he turned away from Eevee and began pacing up and down, his thoughts troubled by how close he had come to falling to his demon side; how close he had come to, like Beelzebub, being overwhelmed and destroyed by his own power.

Eevee pushed her hair back behind her ear and watched him walk away from her, a concerned expression on her face. Not far away but still half hidden by the haze of brick dust, and unnoticed by the two Angels or their exhausted Aeons, a slender figure stood watching them, her dark hair rippling in the cold wind.



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"TSUNAMI!" Penance roared in anger, "how dare you heal that boy! He should be dead, they all should be dead, but now look I find myself down another powerful general and with the angels still alive!"

 

"I-I'm sorry father,"

 

"No your not, not yet, normally I would ask you to explain yourself but I already know why you did what you did,"

 

"No you don't"

 

"INSOLENCE! Never speak back to me! I am your father! Tsunami, you must be punished, and I know just the thing, Keiji and Eevee are weakened you are to kill both of them rite this instant, do this and I may forgive you,"

 

"The reason I did it wasn't because of them I knew that Beelzebub was getting too powerful and he had to be stopped they were are best bet,"

 

"You dare speak back to me! Again! Know your place child! If Beelzebub did become too powerful I would have seen to it! Now do as I say this instant, kill them,"

 

Tsunami sighed gripping her staff. "As you wish, father."

 

 

Keiji surveyed the area, he wasnt sure why he was looking for Tsunami, he didnt know if it was because of Tsunami he escaped death many times a part of him was hopeful Tsunami had come back from Penance to aid them once again yet a strong feeling of doubt hanged over him.

 

"Keiji?" Eevee asked concern, Keiji paused before turning round to her with a smile, "Are you ok?"

 

"Yeh I'm fine, just thinking,"

 

"You looked like you were looking for something,"

 

"Did I? No I was just thinking, nothing serious,"

 

"Your eyes tell differently you know,"

 

Keiji walked towards Eevee and sat down leaning against a wall, he placing his hand flat on the ground, suddenly Keiji winched in pain and pulled his hand off the ground, he removed his glove to see his hand bleeding.

 

"You ok?"

 

"Yeh just cut my hand on something on the ground,"

 

Eevee slid towards Keiji sitting next to him on here knees, "Let me see it," Keiji opened his hand to Eevee, she supported his hand in hers and placed her other hand over the deep cut, "Your so clumsy," she said casting a healing spell, Keiji laughed at Eevee remarked.

 

"Thanks," he smiled at her, Eevee still holding Keijis hand looked at him with a smile, suddenly changing her expression as she held his gaze to long, Keiji smiled while Eevee started blushing.

 

"Well dont you to look like a cute couple, Keiji I'm hurt," Eevee jumped and let go of Keijis hand feeling awkwardly, Keiji froze from the sound of the voice knowing exactly who it was, but he dared not turn round praying that he was only hearing things, maybe his demon side playing a mind trick, he looked at Eevee who had also recognised the voice but her expression was different full of rage, she spun round getting to her feet.

 

"Well if it isn't the treacherous bitch,"

 

"Harsh word my friend, hey Eevee I thought Keiji wasnt your type how could you lie to me a steal him from me,"

 

"Don't lecture me about lies!"

 

"So defensive,"

 

The angered Eevee was ready to charge when Keiji gripped her shoulder holding her back.

 

"No Eevee," he said standing behind her.

 

"Aww Keiji baby, you don't look pleased to see me, I'm so hurt,"

 

"That's enough Tsunami,"

 

"How cold, I thought I'd come, be friendly and patch up things,"

 

"Interesting word choice to patch things up with someone,"

 

Oh the sarcasm, I love it, but look at you two,

 

"Really don't know what you are on about, and besides don't see how any of that is your business,"

 

"Oh, so you do still love me, makes sense I mean someone like you with someone like Eevee that would be a laugh, your too good for her," Tsunami flicked her hair "Someone like you gets a princess and not a moody bitch with strange dress sense,"

 

"You Bitch!" Eevee roared

 

"Eevee! Calm down, don't let her provoke you, anger leaves you open," Tsunami looked at Eevee and smiled with a slight giggle.

 

"Anyway Keiji you notice anything different?"

 

"Yeh that new look is just awful, black is defiantly not your colour,"

 

"Really? I thought it was nice; it didnt look good on Eevee so I thought I would try and give it justice,"

 

"Think the wings is a bit over the top, but will admit the black is quite fitting to your true personality, but if you ask me you should have gone for yellow,"

 

"Yellow?"

 

"Yeh good warning colour, just need a sign don't touch, danger of traitorous bitch,"

 

"Harsh words, you know you don't mean them, you miss me,"

 

"Enough talking, come and do what you came here to do,"

 

Tsunami smiled, "Is that your only reply?"

 

"I have another if you would like to find out," Keiji tensed up and stood ready to fight. Tsunami spun her staff and held it out, it began to glow and a sudden wind of power began to blow around her causing her hair to flap violently, within the wind the sound of a ghostly scream could be heard. "Eden screams, Tsunami why? Look at what you've become," Keiji said silently to himself, Tsunami staff began to glow then shrunk into a sword. "Eevee, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to claim this fight Im sure you understand,"

 

"Here I come babe!" Tsunami yelled levitating slightly and bursting towards Keiji, Keiji jumped over Tsunami's attack flipping over her, he spun round in the air and stood behind Tsunami who was still finding her feet from her failed charge. Keiji's fist flared up, but he didn't make the strike when he should of. Tsunami spun round and Keiji was forced to duck her sword then back flip creating some distance, but not enough Tsunami was immediately attacking again jabbing and swinging her sword every time missing the nimble Keiji, but not once did he counter.

 

"Keiji! What are you doing!?" Eevee yelled in protest about his lack of fighting back, coming to his senses, Keiji swung his foot in an offensive block hitting Tsunami's sword and knocking her arm back, she stumbled but soon got back steady, but by the time she turned to Keiji his fire hand was blazing hot, they charged at each other. Their charges ended with Keiji and Tsunami faces nearly touching, Keiji fist had stopped level with his head and Tsunami's sword stopping below Keiji's neck. They stared at each other for what seemed hours, Tsunami the first to come to her senses blasted Keiji back with a mighty holy spell.

 

Keiji lay on his back Tsunami's holy attack dealing considerable damage to him, Keiji stared up to the sky.

 

"Damn it Keiji, what is wrong with you," he said to himself.

 

"You really are pathetic," the inner demon said, Keiji heart began to beat louder and more rapid, pain shot through his body as if something was clawing its way out.

 

"No! No! Not now!"Keiji roared gripping his face, yet despite his attempts the demon proved stronger than the weakened Keiji, slowly Keiji's skin began to change, his hair lighting up to an luminous green. Then slowly laughing manically to himself Keiji got his feet, his body changed. Tsunami jumped back in shock. With a hideous smile Keiji charged at high speeds, Tsunami barely had time to get over her initial shock when she felt a hand grip her throat and grip, she dropped her sword and was soon lifted from the ground gasping for breath. She looked down at the manic Keiji laughing at her, staring into her soul with wicked dark eyes. Tsunami kicked and thrashed but couldnt break free from the demons grip, she looked down at Keiji still laughing and staring into her eyes and closed her eyes, and then the laughter stopped, opening her eyes she stared down at Keiji's face, the expression of pain was evident, fear, he looked like he was struggling, slowly the grip around her throat began to ease and she fell on the ground gasping for breath.

 

Keiji staggered back from Tsunami gripping his head in his hands, he broke down his knees and with a mighty roar his tanned red skin faded completely. Keiji remained on his knees gasping for breath, slowly Tsunami approached him raising her sword.

 

"Goodbye, Keiji,"

 

"I can't take this anymore," Eevee said charging forward, she blocked Tsunami's kill blow on Keiji and with mighty push of anger and power threw Tsunami back. "I'll make sure to make you pay this time," Eevee gripped her staff channelling her power through it, Tsunami stepped back seeing the determination in Eevee eyes and realising instantly that she had no hope. When suddenly a black wall surrounded Eevee preventing her from even charging, she turned to Keiji. "What the hell?"

 

"I'm sorry Eevee but I can't allow you to do that,"

 

"Keiji!"

 

"Oh Keiji, I knew it you still love me and can't bare to see me die, your such a sap,"

 

"You're wrong Tsunami, when fighting Beelzebub you saved my life by healing me,"

 

Tsunami blushed slightly looking to the ground, "How do you figure that out,"

 

"I'm not an idiot, no demon can heal that fast and only someone drawing power from Eden her self could cast such powerful magic,"

 

"Keiji, you can't let her get away with what she has done to you,"

 

"I'm not, she saved your life to Eevee, and for that we owe her, a life for life, Tsunami you saved mine," Keiji looked to Eevee, "And I saved yours, now we are even, but next time Tsunami, I will not hesitate next time it will be for real,"

 

Tsunami smiled, Its a date, that nobleness of yours Keiji will be the death of you, she said.

 

"Oh so you really do care," Keiji mocked, Tsunami replied with a smirk before jetting off into the distance, once away Keiji released Dark Prison.



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The second the spell had been lowered, Eevee rounded on Keiji.

"What...what the...?" she spluttered, incoherent in her anger, "Keiji you let her go!"

"I told you Eevee," Keiji replied wearily, "She saved us. A life for a life. If we Angels can't show honour then who can?"

Eevee made her opinion of that statement very clear.
He's being so goddamn stupid! she raged silently to her Aeons, He still loves Tsu in spite of everything, but all it'll do is hurt him!
Tritoch was sympathetic, but Ramuh, while commending her empathy, pointed out that Keiji's excuse was still valid, whether it was the foremost reason for his actions or not. As the Aeon of judgement and order, he agreed that it was noble to honour life-debts.

Finding little support from her Aeons, Eevee hissed her frustration and fixed Keiji with a venomous stare.

"Look Keiji, life-debts or not, next time if you don't ice the bitch then I will!"

"Listen to yourself, Eevee," Keiji snapped back, "Get a grip, for frak sake! This all sounds like personal anger to me. What have you got against Tsunami thats so personal?"
"Aeons' teeth, can you ask?"

Eevee stared at him, seemingly lost for words.

Because she hurt you, she thought bitterly, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. The awkward silence hung for a few seconds more, pressing uncomfortably on both their ears. Unable to say what she was really thinking, Eevee muttered lamely:

"She's gone over to Penance, Keiji. The sooner you get over that the better."
And who are you to lecture me about getting over things? Keiji thought savagely, but suppressed the outburst before he could voice it. Eevee turned away.

"Keiji," she said, much quieter now, in an attempt to change the subject, "One thing I dont understand - what happened to you back there? You...transformed. Like I've seen your dad do, only different - more scary somehow. What...?"

This time it was Keijis turn to twist away uneasily.



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"Its my problem you need not concern yourself, all I ask is that you don't tell my father or anyone else for that matter,"

"Only if you at least explain what its about,"

"It's the darkness, the dark part of me, this is not the first time it's happened, first time was on Shoel, when I completely transformed, had it not been for Tsunami I would of been lost in the darkness, with my dad's help I surpressed this dark half but, but during my fight with Revast I was fool," Keiji punched a wall, "I was a damned fool! I let the darkness take over me so I could be beat Revast it fed on my fear, jealousy, anger and pain of loss, and since then the darkness has troubled me emerging to take over, I can't stop it, nothing can,"

"Keiji you should tell Neji,"

Keiji turned at Eevee angerly "NO! My father must never know! How, How could I ever tell him, that his son was a fool and sold his soul to evil, no I will deal with this on my own, there is one benefit of this power although...the power increase is inmeasurable, I want that power,"

"But in order to get it you lose your soul, Keiji are you really willing to take the risk of losing yourself just for power,"

"Yes...I mean no, I don't know!" Keiji said frustraited. "I'm sorry Eevee, my dark half is getting stronger, it's starting to effect my mind, but I can beat it, trust me, just please don't tell my father, I rely on him too much, everything I am today is because of him, and for once I want to be able to beat this obstical on my own,"

"Keiji even though your appearance changes, don't let your heart change, whatever you do keep ahold of your kind soul, I won't tell anyone I promise just promise me you can beat it,"

"I promise,"

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Zell dragged his feet throught the Zanarkand ruins sweating and drained from his hastey retreat with Alia on his back. Eventually Zell breathed a sigh of relief as looked upon the welcome sight of The Shadow.

"Finally..." he said with a smile before collapsing on the ground.

Alia awoke shortly after with the heavy sound of a mighty explosion in the distance, she slowly rose off the passed out Zell and turned towards the bright shockwave in the distance. "What the?" she said closing her eyes and using farsight to peer deep into the center of the shockwave, within she saw Beelzebub's figure slowly disintegrate into nothing, "Zell! Zell! Beelzebub's dead!" she said satisfied that the monster that killed her friends was finally dead, yet Zell gave no reply, she turned to him, "Zell?" Zell's body lay on the ground still, the cold wind sweeping his hair. "Zell!" she said dropping down to his side, she turned him on his back fearing the worst, Zell's face looked relaxed, a slight smile on his lips and breathing deeply, she sat back reliefed, "Your only asleep? how the hell did you sleep through that?"

The cold wind picked up chilling Alia to the bone. Taking Zell's hand she started to tirely drag him to the airship, "Some hero, I end having to drag his lifeless body," she complained heaving him up the ramp, once inside the ship Alia immediatly reconised the technology and closed the enterence locking out the cold, the airship was warm and soothing as opposed to the cold chill outside. "Hey blondie, wake up," she said shaking Zell yet got no reply, "Zell!" she yelled, Zell shot awake in shock.

"I wasn't slacking!" he shouted out springing to his feet. Zell quickly came to his senses and looked around, "I'm back in the airship...? Alia!"

"Yes?" Zell turned round to see Alia safe and sound.

"How'd we get into the airship? Where Beelzebub?"

"A had to drag you in here after you fell asleep and Beelzebub's dead, went off in a massive explosion, I can't believe you slept through it all,"

"Do you know where the others are?"

"I have no clue, I could farsight the whole of Zanarkand if you want,"

"No, I know a quicker way, oh by the way, what you think of my ship? I promised I'd let you see it,"

"You'll have to give me a proper tour later."

Zell led Alia through the ship to the main deck, Alia gazed at the all the impressive computers.

"You like it?"

"A girls dream," she smiled at him "All these computers, is that the navigation system!" Alia ran up a large computer and started at what seemed randomly pushing buttons, suddenly a large detailed map of Spira emerged on a large screen.

"You're no ordinary girl," Zell remarked, Alia turned to him smiling.

"You love that fact, anyway shouldn't you pay less attention to me and more on finding your friends,"

"I'm afraid if I take my eyes off you your gonna break something, or start dismanteling my ship,"

"You're worrying too much," Alia said walking towards him, she put her arm around Zell's neck.

"You seem happy,"

"I'm alive, thanks to you,"

"The reason we are both alive is because of you,"

"You haven't felt alive yet," Alia teased while winking at Zell, but although her face was smiling Zell could see in Alia's eyes the worry and saddness, "Your friends are still alive by the way, looks like my farsight beat your tech,"

"I know you used the navigation to detect them,"

"They are also looking for you,"

"We better go pick them up then, normally Neji or Gau would be my co but since neither are here and you love machines so much,"

"I get to Pilot?"

"No way, your being co, I'm the captain of this ship,"

"Oh really?"

"Really,"

(Alia gets to pilot in the end lol)

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(Sorry Very long, but had alot to cover)

Eevee and Keiji sat silently in the still Zanarkand ruins paitently waiting for Neji and Fariel to return and made a silent agreement not to talk about the events which took place just moments ago. The wind suddenly picked up and soon a silent roar of an engine broke there silence, getting to their feet they gazed to the sky to see the mighty airship the Shadow hovered above them dropping down a rope ladder.

Keiji smiled, "Zell! Bout time it was cold!" he said grabbing a hold of the rope ladder, followed closely by Eevee.

Keiji and Eevee made their way to the main deck waiting for them was Zell, Neji and Fariel.

"Hey kids!" Zell said greeting them joyfully, yet the blank and tired expressions on Keiji and Eevee's face caused Zell to take a step back realizing neither were in the mood, none the less Zell tired to lighten the mood, "So what did you kids get up too all alone in Zanarkand?" he said jokenly.

"Nothing," Eevee replied.

Keiji realizing his and Eevee's dank moods would rouse suspition walked up to Zell and playfully put him in a head lock. "You shouldn't be so nosey," he said while Zell struggled to break free.

"Shy as always," Zell laughed pushing himself away from Keiji. Suddenly the airship took off with a blast of speed nearly knocking Keiji off his feet.

Keiji looked around the deck Neji was leaning against the wall his arms folded, Fariel gazed aimlessly out the huge window and Eevee stood near the door, "Umm Zell? Who's piloting the Shadow?"

"Well..." Zell said rubbing the back off his head, Keiji looked to the pilots chair, it was great and he couldn't even see a head poking out from the top, Alia looked over the side of the chair smiling.

"Hiiii,"

Keiji looked at Zell who started to go red. "Whoa someone else piloting the shadow other than you or Gau, Zell you sap," this time it was Zell who got Keiji in a headlock.

-----------------------

Back in Bevelle the tired survivors of the battle against Beelzebub slowly made their way down the ramp greeted by Gau and Retala.

"What happened?" Retala asked concerned

"I'll give you and all the leaders a full report in the war room."

Keiji who had been bothered by a pounding headache ever since changing in his fight against Tsunami immediatly headed to his room, he collapsed on the bed and slowly drifted off the sleep, he awoke moments later with a sudden pound in his head followed by an extreme headache, Keiji gripped his head in hands and rolled around on his bed as the pain travelled through him.

"This time Keiji, this time I will take over,"

Keiji rolled off the bed with a thud, he could feel himself losing control and his skin changed, in pain and desperation Keiji started bang his head off the floor until blood ran down his head, the thumps could be heard around the mansion, in concern Neji broke off his meeting with the leaders of Spira and ran up the stairs to Keiji's room, Eevee was already at the door and burst through, Keiji now stood on his feet his skin the changed to a burning brown, hair luminous green and eyes red, he still gripped his head in his hands.

"Keiji!" Neji shouted pushing past Eevee.

"Father I'm sorry," Keiji said weakly before roaring in pain.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought I could handle it on my own, I just wanted to make you and mother proud,"

"Keiji..." Neji hugged his son, "I've always been proud of you, both me and Melina, nothing will change that,"

"Father..." Keiji looked at his hand slowly it started to turn pure black spreading up his arm, "I'm losing control, get away from me!" he yelled pushing Neji back.

"Keiji!" Eevee shouted coming closer but was stopped by Neji.

"Keiji, you can beat it, your my son, your a Leingod,"

"I'm sorry, I can't,"

"Giving up!" Neji roared, "What kind of attitude is that! What would your mother think! You know what you must do,"

"You're right...but can I do it alone?"

"Your not alone, your mother is with you," Neji reached into his pocket and took out the Oathkeepers.

"The Oathkeepers? I thought they were buried with mum,"

"No Keiji, your mother told me to hold onto them, a reminder that she is not that far away," Neji threw both of the oathkeepers at Keiji who caught them. "Now go, and good luck," Neji said before opening a door to the demon world.

-----------------

Keiji arrived at the place he trained with Neji and began his long struggle against his demon, he staggered through the demon world, his body half black his other half which clutched the Oathkeepers his normal skin colour, through the struggle Keiji's power crew out of control and for days he fought for control yet no matter how hard he tried his control never improved yet the determind Keiji never gave an inch maintaining his half of the body.

"You fool Keiji! Why do you resist, you can't win,"

"I can and will, I swear in my mothers memory to the Oathkeepers I will control you," Keiji put both Oathkeeper round his neck and the amulets lit up with a fantastic light, the light engulffed Keiji and when it faded he found himself in an empty realm where no light existed yet sight was not impossible Keiji could make out the shape of the realm, like a great box, he stood on a clear platform which appeared to stretch on endlessly, looking down he could see a seemingly endless pit, the surronding area was nothing but daunting blackness, slowly Keiji paced down the platform then coming into sight stood a lone figure, it was him, the dark side of him, his red eyes pierced the darkness, staring at Keiji, his skin matched the surrondings perfectly and his outfit was the opposite of Keiji his clothes were purple with a black sash as oppossed to Keiji which was Black clothes purple sash, it was then Keiji realized when he looked at his hands, he had changed back to his normal form and had complete control once again.

"Hey, its good to see you again Keiji, but you don't seem to look terribly excited, rejoice, today a new Keiji will be born, a more powerful Keiji,"

"An evil Keiji,"

"Evil? Keiji what makes you think I am evil,"

"You kill without mercy, you take joy in other people's suffering, you would save the world only to rule it and rule it with tyranny,"

"Keiji why do you hate the darkness?"

"I don't hate it, it's just scary,"

"Darkness is half of life you can't have one without the other, why fear it?"

"Because of whos lurking in it," Keiji charged towards his dark half and burst into a flying kick, Keiji's dark half did not move and he simply past through him, Keiji immediatly spun round and fired and dark dragon bullet, his dark half once again stood his ground the and the attack past through him.

"With that magic you except darkness, yet choose to live in the light, so why do you loath me so much?"

"Thats simple, cause your dangerous, you mess with my mind, make me suffer and threaten those I care about,"

Keiji's dark half chuckled, "That maybe true but what choice might I have had? Your weaknesses would get us both killed, while I have to teeter away in back! Not being able to breath the free air!" this time the dark half charged, throwing his fist forward, Keiji caught the attack.

"Your just darkness in a form, you shouldn't even exist, so don't to try act sad,"

"Very good, you don't miss a thing, I cannot feel...sorrow...no matter what misery befalls me sorry us or the world, no matter what you think or feel," Keiji struck back at his dark half but his fist merely past through him, Keiji jumped back.

"Why can't I hit him, when he can hit me?" Keiji roared and charged at the dark half his fists and and feet passing through him, the dark half laughed manically to himself then struck back at Keiji, Keiji raised his guard but it collapsed from the over powering attack and Keiji was thrown back.

"He's gotten stronger? How?"

"Giving up Keiji? Come on keep fighting," Keiji roared raising to his feet charging at his dark half, he fought his dark side desperatly but failed to connect with a single hit, and to make matters worse his dark half seemed to gained the ability to teleport, appearing behind Keiji to taunt him and as the fight contined started to split into many copies surronding him, Keiji eventually collapsed onto one knee tired, he looked around him he was now surronded by by his dark half.

"What is this? I can't do any of these techniques,"

"You can't Keiji but I can, this is my world we are in I have complete control of everything, reality doesnt matter in this world," One of the clones charged forward and kicked Keiji in the air with power stonger than before, another clone suddenly appeared before Keiji in the air and kicked him to the ground. Slowly Keiji got to his feet and looked up to see a fist strike him in the face, he remained standing but staggered back only to be hit once again my another fist, the cycle contined until Keiji collapsed onto the ground.

"I can't stop fighting," Keiji said slowly raising onto on knee, the dark halfs all took a deep breath.

"I love that fighting spirt of yours Keiji, keep it up," One of the dark halfs approached and grapped Keiji by the hair lifting him up slightly.

"One final offer Keiji, let me take over, and achieve the greatest power a demon could ever have,"

"No, I could never do such a thing,"

"Think about it Keiji, you just saw what I am a capable of and we can grow, power to surpass Penance, we could gain powers greater than a gods! We could even, bring back the dead, wouldn't that be great! You would have your mother back! All those who have suffered and died we could bring them back, you could also have Tsunami back, think about it Keiji, don't be a fool, together we could achieve such power, Penance could do it, so could we, but we'll be stronger! What say you?"

Keiji paused and smiled weakly "I don't need such a thing. Even if you could redo the past, those tears, those memories And the coldness of that reality that carvers up my chest, the time we all went through to endure all those deaths and sadness, You cant render all that meaningless! Carrying those pains and moving on Isnt that the only path that would allow all those lost things to remain? Just like how I am bound to their deaths And how I am protected by memories of my mother. Memories become the foundation for us And I believe they can change the people who are still living, no matter how much it hurts even if its a wound that will never heal I believe this path is not wrong,"

"You fool, do you know what you are saying!"

"Yes in other words, I don't need you, for the sake of the things and people that have been left behind, I cannot corrupt myself,"

"Keiji! Fight me! Fight me like the demon you are!"

"Thats it..." Keiji thought to himself, the reason he couldn't hit his opponent and the fact he was growing stronger was because Keiji was doing exactly what he wanted, to loose himself in rage and let his demonic fighting spirt feed him. Keiji stood tall and let his hands hang by his side.

"No!" his demonic side shouted, "Don't ignore me! Fight me! Fight me!" Keiji dark half started to merge back into one again, he roared and charged punching Keiji to the ground, Keiji stood up but was punched back down again this time by a weaker punch, eventually his dark half started unleashing a flurry of fist at him but Keiji remained standing the fist weakening greatly after every punch, eventually they grew so weak Keiji could barely feel them and his dark half started to fade.

"No! No! No! Fight me! Fight me!" Keiji inner demon roared and went for one last punch, but just short of Keiji's face he began to fade away his fist passing through Keiji and eventually the demon faded to nothing, his roar echoing in the empty black pit. When the roared faded a light pireced to sky above Keiji and in a blinding flash Keiji found himself standing in the demon world, his skin and hair normal, all pain had vanished from him and he felt a new man, a portal opened before him and he stepped through, Keiji found himself in the stead mansion garden, he took a deep breath and collapsed back onto the grass and smiled, he was free.



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Eevee was sitting in the shade of one of the garden's apple trees, twirling a dagger restlessly in one hand as the sun began to sink low in the sky. She had left her jacket inside and was beginning to feel the cold. She had waited for nearly half an hour in Keiji's bedroom waiting for him to reappear before Neji had told her about the unpredictable timescale in the Demon World and that it would be better not to just stand and wait.

"It'll take as long as it takes." he had said, with no mention of the possibility that Keiji might not come back. Eevee admired her godfather's faith in his son, and it did something to allay her worry. She had passed the time by taking a shower to wash off the dust and grime of the Zanarkand battle, and after putting her own clothes in the wash once again had changed back into the black dress from Stead's collection and gone for a walk in the manor gardens in an attempt to find somewhere quiet. However, the sounds of the restless, besieged city still carried over the walls and now the sky had darkened with storm-heralding grey clouds as if Penance himself had cast a shadow over the city. The sun was setting in a blaze of fire, reflecting red off the approaching bank of thick clouds, and left alone with her thoughts in this oppressive atmosphere, Eevee's anxiety returned so that the nails of her other hand not toying restlessly with the dagger were bitten jagged and raw.

You're worried about Keiji? asked Tritoch quietly inside Eevee's head, a smaller version of his bird-like form appearing in the air before her as an outline of glittering Pyraflies.

"Is that a question or a statement?" Eevee countered, her tone flat. Tritoch looked at her impassively.

"Yes, I am," she admitted, "How could I not be? He's risking his soul in the Demon World and theres nothing any of us can do to help him."
"He will prevail," Ramuh said, materialising beside Tritoch and leaning on his staff, "Like his father, his good heart is stronger than his dark passions.
"Is this just like another Angel Trial to you?" Eevee asked pointedly, standing up and brushing down the back of her dress.
"No. We are confident because Diablos and Neji both know your friend well. They have faith in him. Knowing this is as much as anything why he will triumph."

"I know," Eevee sighed, beginning to pace restlessly, hugging her bare arms against the steadily-cooling air, "I just wish I had told him I had faith in him too...but...I don't know..."

She shrugged helplessly to the two apparitions ghosting silently along beside her, putting her head in her hands. Even with her Aeons there she felt intolerably lonely; her mother's and father's faces swam up to the front of her mind and she found herself blinking back tears. Once again she crushed the memories.

You should talk to him, Evelyn, Tritoch advised, While you keep your feelings bottled up you are denying a part of yourself, and without full understanding of yourself you can control no situation, be champion of neither light nor dark.

"Yeah right, champions..." Eevee said, kicking at a stone that had rolled from the gravel path onto the grass and sending it skittering away under a rose bush, "We couldn't beat Beelzebub - it was blind luck that he destroyed himself. If we couldn't defeat him, how in the Farplane are we going to beat Penance?"

"Tritoch is right," replied Ramuh, If you were completely at harmony with yourselves you would be even stronger than you are now, and you would have had the power to vanquish Beelzebub. Keiji is achieving that harmony now in the Demon World. Now you must follow suit.

The two Aeons faded away, leaving Eevee alone in a heavy silence.

The silence was shattered as a swirling nimbus of red light exploded into being in the air in front of her, a violent roar of rushing wind assaulting her ears as loose energy crackled from the portal and shook the nearest trees. Out of the portal stepped a familiar figure, silhouetted briefly in the bloody light before the gateway imploded behind him and revealed the smiling face of Keiji. Laughing to himself, he let himself fall backwards onto the grass.

"Keiji!" Eevee exclaimed, running over and kneeling down beside him, "Are you alright?"

"Never better," replied Keiji, and he looked it - a look of calm power had come over his face, but behind that stern demeanour were the eyes of the Keiji she knew, unchanged by a year in the harsh Demon World, his other misfortunes, or even this final battle against his darker side. He radiated new strength, but as he had promised Eevee, his good soul had not changed.

"You?" he added, sitting up on his elbows and looking at Eevee. She realised that some of her inner turmoil must be evident on her face, as Keiji wore a concerned frown as he spoke. Eevee looked back, and the diamond-hard core of suppressed emotion at the back of her mind cracked. Her Aeons were right - she had to open up to someone, and Keiji deserved her trust many times over. She decided to tell him. Everything.

"Holy Farplane, where do I start?" she moaned faintly, "I guess I'd better start by saying I'm sorry. You've deserved better than I've treated you. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. I'm so afraid and mixed up after what happened to mum and dad..."

Her throat constricted, and she had to swallow before continuing.

"You all tried to help me, you most of all, but I was so scared that the same thing could happen to any of you...so I tried to push you all away - when mum and dad died, I thought a part of me had died too. I couldn't take the thought of losing someone else close. But it was still so selfish - you've all suffered similar losses, and you've all coped with it so much better than I have..."

She hugged her knees, looking desperately at anything except Keiji. He shuffled closer and put an arm round her shoulders. She didn't resist.

"You've been so understanding and patient, Keiji. You've been a good friend."

"So have you," Keiji said comfortingly.  But Eevee just laughed sarcastically.

"Like frak I have," she replied, "You've been everything I haven't. Tsu's right. I'm not good enough for you."

She shrugged off his arm, turning away and cuffing at her eyes.

"Hey," Keiji said in a soothing voice, "Don't take what she said to heart. I don't think you're a 'moody bitch with bad dress sense'!"

Eevee gave him a despairing look.

"Oh Keiji, you really think it was her slagging off my dress sense that bothered me? She's not the first person to look at me funny and I dont care, but she was right about the rest."

"What are you talking about?" said Keiji, unable to hide his confusion.

"You tried to be there for me when my parents died and I was nothing but an utter bitch to you in return. What kind of friend acts like that? Whereas you opened up, I just closed down."

"I opened up?"

"It's true, you may not have noticed but I have and I'm sure everyone else has too. Tsu brought you out of your shell. Before her you were really quiet and awkward around girls - you'd barely even talk to me - and now look at you. I've finally seen the real Keiji and it's one I like much more because of it. So whatever else she may have done, I've got to thank Tsu for that. I can understand why you still care about her."

"No I frakking well...!" Keiji began hotly.

"You do. You still love her."

"You're wrong," Keiji insisted, "She's nothing but a spiteful, treacherous bitch - whatever she was before was just a lie. How can you think you're below her?"

"Because I am." Eevee stated in a hollow voice.

"No you're not. I don't understand, Eevee - why are you listening to a word she says? What makes you think you're 'not good enough' to be my friend?"

Eevee said nothing for several seconds, just sat twisting her fingers together. When she finally spoke, the words all spilled out in a wild rush.

"Because I pushed you away when you tried to be there for me. Because I was never there for you in return. When Tsu...showed her true colours, I just stood by, wrapped up in my own selfish emotions. When I should have stood by you I left you to cope on your own. I told myself that I couldn't begin to truly understand, that anything I said would've just been pointless patronising...and that was bad enough because I was crediting you with indulging in the same stupid self-pity that I did, when I knew you were better than that..."

"I am not better than you!" Keiji interrupted desperately.

"But Keiji that wasn't the worst of it...a small part of me was actually...actually glad that the two of you had broken up...oh frakking Farplane..."

Her voice cracked and she burst into tears, her breath coming in strangled sobs as she hid her face in her hands.

Keiji shifted uncomfortably as he realised what she was trying to say.

"But...Tsu said that you said I 'wasn't your type'..."

"That's called tact, Keiji," Eevee hiccoughed shrilly, "I know it's wrong but I can't help it.  I...I love you."

She raised her tear-stained face to look at him for a second, then hid it back in her hands and started sobbing again.

"But I don't deserve you."



-- Edited by [BOSS]Fenix at 15:08, 2007-08-03

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Eevee, how could I have been so stupid. Keiji thought to himself, he remembered that before he ever met Tsunami the feelings he used to have for her, but since Tsunami he had long forgotten then, being to shy to do anything about them previously, and now here Eevee was telling him all these things and suddenly all those old feelings were swarming back to him, he took a good look at the sobbing Eevee and smiled, her black hair and dress was swaying in the calm but cold wind.

"Eevee..." he said softly, stepping towards, Eevee looked up at Keiji just as he leaned in and kissed her stunning the girl.

"But what about Tsunami?"

"I remember on my 13th birthday, something my father said, there comes a time when every man must make a choice, whether its a professional choice or whether its a personal choice, in the end its about integrity and its about chasing after what you really want, when it comes down to it you just have to be proud of the decision you make, I've made my decision, I want to defeat Penance and work towards my future, that future does not include Tsunami, only you, the one I love,"

"...Keiji," Eevee said smiling.

"I haven't seen you smile like that in awhile," Keiji reached into his pocket and took out the Oathkeepers, "These amulets have long since lost there power but non the less they serve as perfect reminders, I make this promise on the oathkeepers, I will defeat Penance," Keiji handed the other oathkeeper to Eevee, "together we can defeat Penance,"

"Do you really think we can defeat Penance?"

"Honestly I don't know, but I know I must thats why I make this promise, Laconfir predicted we would defeat Penance, but I also know Penance also has the same gift, and he would not start a war that he predicted he would loose, for that reason I think fate plays no role in the upcoming battle, its up to you, me, my father, Fariel, Zell and everyone else involved,"

"Then I will also make the same promise, I will defeat Penance," Eevee said putting the oathkeeper round her neck, Eevee took a step closer to Keiji and put her hands round his neck and they kissed once more.

(hmm started off good but dont really liked the ending maybe I should of added something else or done a different ending to the scene, Ah well can't be assed, that'll do for now)



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"Welcome back."

Laguna crouched down beside Fariel on the roof. "Beni
stripped Green and Ciaphas of their ranks and threw them in the city to guard
one of the blocked off Kebel entrances.  We wont be seeing them around the manor again." He held back a laugh.

"Shame I missed that, I bet it was a real picture."Fariel muttered dryly, Laguna sighed.

"What are you thinking about?"He asked, trying to help.

"What am I thinking about?  Dont you just feel so human when you have to ask that?"Fariel commented sarcastically.

"Fariel..."

"Fine, you want to know?  Im thinking about how Ive managed to ruin the life of every person Ive come in contact with.Youre lucky youre still alive, seeing as everyone else close to me has been picked off already.And you know what, Im not going to sit here and talk about this."

Without giving Laguna a chance to speak she jumped off the roof and flew
away.

"Moments like these make me happy I got kicked out the forest" He rolled his eyes.

oo0oo

Switching into bird form she glided down into the gardens,
flapping her wings she slowed and landed on a solid branch.Sitting beside her on the branch, ironically enough was Jacen, leaning against the trunk with his legs pulled into his chest.

Why is he in my tree?Fariel muttered to Leviathan, the serpent just laughed.

He looks a little upset.He replied calming a little

Not so much upset, maybe horrified is a better word.

Since when did you start correcting my choice of vocabulary?

Fariel didnt answer her aeon but instead turned to look at Jacen as he looked up at her, "Go away." He waved his hands trying to scare the bird away, Fariel didnt move, "Great, now Im being mocked by birds." He sighed.

"Could be worse I suppose." He muttered, "Fariel could turn up and kick my ass for screwing Kebel over for a second time...damn it...They could have survived if I hadnt let the guard in, Fariels going to hang me, I killed Larek..."

"Correct me if Im wrong, but a custodian killed Larek."Fariel sighed.

Jacen flinched as the bird talked to him and he realised that it was in fact Fariel, "And as much as I would like to hurt things, Im not going to hang you for something you didnt do."

See now he looks horrified.Leviathan laughed victoriously.

"Fa-Fariel!"He choked, completely lost for words.

"Yes?" She commented sarcastically.If he says what I think hes going to say I will actually hurt him.

Do try to be nice Fari.Leviathan scolded jokingly.

"Im so sorry, this is all my fault, I never wanted this to happen.Oh aeons, please dont kill me!" He begged but flinched a second time as Fariel changed into human form and leaned towards him.

"Shut up."She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him off balance, she watched without care as he fell off the branch and hit the ground.

Jumping down she landed on a low branch, Jacen groaned and sat up."Dont talk such rubbish, you sound like a child.If you do that again Ill have to kick you off the manor roof."

"But Fariel!" He objected.

"Shut it, Jacen!This is Penances fault, not yours.Grow the hell up."

"I just wanted to apologise."

"You have nothing to apologise for Jacen.Go get some rest, tomorrow we fight."

Jacen picked himself up and stormed off.

"And stay out my tree!" She yelled after him.

"AND YOU CALL ME A CHILD?!" Was the sudden reply.

-- Edited by [BOSS]Asreal at 12:02, 2007-08-09

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<ooc - I tried to write a decent Angels-leaving-Bevelle scene but couldn't make it any good so I'll just post everything else I've got first.  I'll return to it if I get some inspiration, or someone else can handle it.>

The atmosphere at the southern demon command post was one of anticipation.

In a swirl of purple flames, the serpent demon rematerialised at Shuruk'jaar's side with a hiss of pain.

"It's no good, my lord," it growled in its kind's sibilant tongue, "The elves are casting powerful Dispel wards to prevent us teleporting within the city walls."

Shuruk'jaar growled, but softly - he had been expecting as much. He turned his scarred face towards the demon.

"No matter. If Penance's plan for our friend Soren works..." he put sarcastic emphasis on his deluded associate's name, "Then this will all be over very quickly, regardless."

"And if it doesn't, my lord?" the demon asked.

Shuruk'jaar smiled in a grotesque leer, his eyes flashing red.

"Then we will crush them the old-fashioned way..."

He balled his fists and spread his majestic Atellian wings, a strange contrast to the scarred horror of his face, and to the temporary red glow in his eyes that told of the demon sharing his body.

"You know what to do," he growled, "Wait for my signal."

The demon disappeared in a swirl of fire to join its companions waiting in the Demon World, while Shuruk'jaar leapt into the air and soared towards Bevelle.

* * *

 

As the first thunderclaps of the oncoming storm began to rumble overhead, so too the sea began to unsettle, the wind beginning to whip the waves so that the Spiran ships confined to base by the superior enemy fleet began to bob up and down in the swell despite their protection within the sheltered harbour.

Aboard the largest of the fleet's ships, a sleek and organically-lined Hypello battle cruiser that sat between the more angular Al'bed cruisers and hovercraft, a human operator called out from his scanning station on the bridge.

"Admiral! The enemy fleet is powering up."

The Hypello admiral and his Guado flag captain turned and strode over, the Hypello's large eyes swivelling to focus on the radar displays and other sensor equipment. The radar blips showing Penance's western fleet were slowly moving out of their long blockade line and converging in what was unmistakably a battle formation.

"Dooo they mean to attemptz an amphibious landing?" the admiral lilted slowly.

"Don't know, sir, but they're definitely doing something."

The Hypello admiral clasped his hands behind his back and sighed, staring for a long moment out of the armoured bubble-canopy windows of the bridge towards the city and, arrayed in the bay before it, his fleet. Then he turned to his Guado subordinate and asked the formal question.

"Izzz my flagship ready?"

"The Kraken is fully at your command, Admiral." she gave the formal answer, snapping to attention.

The Admiral picked up the intercom and spoke slowly but clearly into it.

"Beat to quarters, beat to quarters, all hands man your action stations."

* * *

 

A pale glow shone down the wide, roughly-hewn tunnel, one of many that criss-crossed the earth below Bevelle. The source of the flickering light was a fireball in a demon's hand, held high like a torch as it led a column of grey-clad Custodians along the tunnel. Each wore a pair of Dragon Claws, retracted for now, and had a bow slung over their back. Some carried extra, less standard equipment.

Two Custodians at the front, marked out as officers by the fact that they wore finely-crafted swords at their hips and carried shields instead of Dragon Claws, turned to look at their demon guide. It was almost human in appearance, barring its jet-black skin and red eyes, and the magical flames welling around its hand.

"We are almost in position," the demon whispered in answer to their unspoken question. It, by some sixth sense that they neither understood nor questioned, had been able to lead them flawlessly through the tunnel network despite the twisting passages and lack of light. Now it paused as if listening intently. After a few seconds it nodded to itself as if in satisfaction - some extrasensory power of communication that again the Custodians neither understood nor questioned.

"We wait for the order to move," it hissed softly. One of the Custodian officers gripped his sword-hilt in anticipation. The other, a young but stern-looking woman with her hair tied back in a short ponytail, held up her right fist as a signal to the Custodians behind them, and as one they stopped and fell silent.

For now, they waited.

* * *

 

Jacen knelt down on the skyscraper roof and grimly slotted the sniper scope onto his black bolt-action rifle. Beside him sat several boxes of spare ammunition. He hoped they would be enough, as resupplying would be difficult. In the confusion of the mass movement of civilians away from the city perimeter, it had been a simple matter for him to slip into one of the taller buildings in the business district, hide out until the Youth League had moved on, and then make his way up through the deserted building's 20-odd floors to the small door that led out onto the roof. He had picked the lock easily enough and now had a commanding view over the streets below and the inside of the breached southern wall where the defenders were massing. Sighting experimentally along his weapon, he found he would also have a clear shot over the city walls to the demon army until they closed to within about 25 metres and the walls once again hid them from view. Right now Jacen reckoned the demons were about 2 kilometres away - too far for pinpoint accuracy, and accuracy was always foremost in a sniper's mind. He decided to wait, and make his limited number of shots count.

In the streets below, the swarm of tiny black dots that were the defenders of Bevelle, Spira's last hope, continued to take up their positions.

* * *

 

"This is it, then," General Beni said grimly as the first thunder rolled across the darkening sky outside the Stead Mansion. It was clear that the enemy were massing for their final attack. He looked slowly round the large table and saw every race and faction of Spira represented. They all stood together against the coming darkness.

"Remember my friends," the soft-spoken but commanding voice of Lady Yuna piped up, "Today we fight as the last bastion of our world as we know it. We are fighting for our home, our way of life, our very existence."

Beni smiled slightly. Short, to the point, and yet compelling. The legendary Summoner and Sphere Hunter, now in her late 30s, had lost none of her charisma. Knowing he could not match Yuna for inspirational speaking, he decided to play second fiddle to the grave occasion.

"Give them hell, boys." he said simply. There were murmurs of approval from round the table, and Beni caught the Ronso leader Kimahri's eyes and saw a flicker of a smile cross his noble leonine face.

The various leaders stood and began to disperse to the positions where they would be most useful. The Al'Bed leader Sid, grim and careworn after the destruction of Home, and his daughter Rikku set off to marshal the last of the Al'Bed who had escaped the massacre, and help Gibbal's Machina Faction crew the hover-tanks and defensive gun turrets that were even now being manhandled into position to add firepower to the perimeter and create crossfire zones behind the city walls in the event of a breakthrough. Kimahri, similarly grim from the loss of his people's ancestral home in Mt Gagazet, led his soldiers to the southern breach where the hand-to-hand fighting would be fiercest. Proud and defiant to the last, he vowed to them that they would defeat Penance and reclaim their homelands. Tromell's Guado took up their positions with well-drilled efficiency, well aware that they were about to face a far sterner fight than their last encounter with Shuruk'jaar in the Thunder Plains.

Nooj and his Youth Legion quickly shepherded the teeming civilians and refugees into pre-arranged safe zones away from the city's perimeter in the hope of keeping them away from the fighting, where they waited tensely for the inevitable attack. Nooj tried to persuade Lady Yuna and her entourage to stay with them - under the pretext of comforting the civilians and keeping their fear under control, but really out of concern for her welfare - but she brushed him off and made her way to one of the makeshift field hospitals in the forward lines where she announced her intention to help once the inevitable casualties started arriving. Her lover Tidus, Sir Wakka, and the taciturn black mage Lady Lulu agreed, and vowed to defend her until the end.

Praetor Baralai led the way to the walls, keeping up a firebrand oratory from the book of New Yevon as he roused his warrior monks to fulfil their duty as defenders of Bevelle. With him went High Priest Retala and his lieutenant, Yendor, figures of awe as the leaders of a people most Spirans thought a mere myth. They joined their fellow elves who were spaced out along the walls, archers and mages standing together, still as statues in stark contrast to the violently moving background of roiling storm clouds and rising wind that whipped their hair and robes about them. Lightning flashed in the sky, temporarily silhouetting the silent defenders. As the report of the thunder echoed across the city the first rain began to fall, but the enchanted elven longbows repelled the water, their bowstrings remaining undamaged and ready for the coming fight.

Retala's keen elven eyes penetrated the rain and the dark and saw the single Atellian gliding silently towards them across the southern scrubland and, further back, the black ranks of the demon army drawing up for battle.

"So it begins." the High Priest whispered.

* * *

Though it was late morning, the stormclouds had smothered the sun until only a dim grey twilight remained.

Out of the gloom flew Shuruk'jaar, landing on one knee right in front of the city walls and pulling himself upright in one movement. He furled his wings, looked up the rubble gangway of the breach and swept his gaze across the top of the walls, his good eye piercing the souls of each defender in turn. Even the elves recoiled slightly, sensing the symbiont demon's presence behind the Atellian's eyes.

"Hold your fire." Shuruk'jaar heard one of the Spirans growl to a nervous soldier. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he turned his gaze on the crude ramp that the collapsing wall had formed. The breach appeared deserted, but Shuruk'jaar guessed that they had a large number of troops amassed in a trench at the top of the breach, ready to stand up and pour a withering hail of fire down on any attackers. Spirans atop the walls on either side were well placed to enfilade or to repel climbing parties from other parts of the wall, and the defenders would have been fools not to use the ample time afforded them after the first attack to site defensive gun batteries and to sow the breach ramp with all manner of mines and traps.

Formidable, but ultimately futile.

Suddenly one of the dark figures atop the wall moved, stepping towards him. Shuruk'jaar looked up and saw that it was an elf. Recognising the jewelled staff of a High Priest's office, he grinned to himself once more. The elves were an ancient enemy, the last survivors of the alliance that defied Penance's first invasion 5 millennia ago. Shuruk'jaar would see to it that they did not survive this second war.

The elf's voice was clear and defiant, rising above the storm and carrying five thousand years of wrath down to the demon-possessed general below.

"Demon!" Retala called out, lightning strobing in the sky behind him, "You have chosen death in coming here!"

Shuruk'jaar laughed, allowing the demon within to surface so that its unholy voice combined with his and echoed back up to his opponent.

"I am death, elf, and I have come for you."

Shuruk'jaar held up both his hands, and beams of black light lanced from each palm and seared up towards Retala. The elf waved his staff and a translucent golden wall shimmered up to meet it. Shuruk'jaars attack struck the Shield with a mighty blast and was reflected back the way it came. Shuruk'jaar beat his feathered wings and side-flipped as the twin beams blew apart the ground where he had been standing. He landed on his feet and snarled at the defiant cheer that rose from the defenders' ranks.

"You are undone by your wrath, demon." Retala called down.

The scarred Atellian below broke into a twisted smile.
"Let us see who is undone." he growled softly.
And as he did so his features began to melt, warping into the demonic visage of Shuruk'jaar. He spread his now-leathery, clawed wings out behind him, threw his arms wide and roared at the sky.
"UHR GT'CHAAAAAAA!"

Purple beams slashed down through the thick black clouds and struck the ground all around him. In swirls of fire there materialised hundreds of his serpent demons, who immediately braced their feet, glowing blade-tipped battle staffs spinning fluidly up into firing positions.

At once the defenders opened fire, muzzle-flashes and tracer rounds lighting up the dark. Lightning bolts arced from elven bows. Green energy bolts fired from the jewels topping the demons' staffs joined the crisscrossing tracery, flickering luridly.

But only a few seconds after the battle had been joined, there was a terrific thunderclap, drowning out all other sound. A white starburst had appeared in the centre of the demonic battalion, sweeping outwards in a white hemisphere. The defenders saw Shuruk'jaar twist away from the blinding light with a roar of anger and pain, hazing away in a shroud of purple flames even as he tried to shield his eyes with one arm. All around his demons did the same, turning away with piercing shrieks before dissolving in flares of purple light as the white glare swept past them. The defenders turned away from the light, but though the dazzling glare forced them to cover their eyes, it passed through them harmlessly.

At the centre of the expanding shockwave a group of figures had suddenly become visible. As the white flare dissipated, and the defenders rubbed their eyes to clear their seared vision and saw to their amazement that the demons were all gone, the group came into focus as a company of white-armoured knights, standing in concentric circles. As one they fell to their knees facing inwards, revealing the figure in the centre. He was standing tall with his arms held up high, a figure dressed in dazzling white.

<ooc - Yes, that's Soren and yes the demons just teleported away>



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Captain Thule: We have yet to meet our betters, alien. All we have seen are deluded tyrants, heretics and alien scum.
Farseer Taldeer: You should have looked beyond your mirror then.



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(ok this is set kinda in the middle of that last post)

Keiji took a deep breath and pulled his glove on tight, he looked at his open palm and clenched his fist before making his way towards the door. 

Down the hall Eevee looked at herself in the mirror strapping his force lance to her side and turned to the door, grapping her coat on the bed on the way out she flung it on as the door closed behind her as the door as the door shut behind her Eevee paused and reached into the pocket of her jacket and took out the Oathkeeper she smiled and put it round her neck.

Neji fastened his armguards and checked the edge of his swords, freshly sharped ready for the desperat fight, looking towards the door he saw faint image of Melina smiling at him, wishing him luck and reminding him to look out for their son.

In his room Zell stood before his weapons laid out infront of him, he smiled to himself, "Perfect," he said putting his guns in his hoisters, at the other end of the room, Alia sat on the bed her staff by her side,

"You take too long to get ready," she remarked towards Zell, Zell smiled, "seriously the battle will be over soon," she smiled.

Fariel sat on her tree staring towards the direction of Mt Gagazet, her thoughts with her fallen friends and Lerek back in Kebel. Laguna walked slowly towards the tree his sword strapped to his side, "Fariel..." he called up to her, without a word Fariel jumped from the tree landing smoothly on her feet.

"Lets go," she said.

Gau who had been up for several hours was busy in the hanger making last minute preparations to the shadow his thoughts with a conversation he had with Zell and Neji the night before.

"Gau I'm leaving the shadow in your hands," Zell said with a proud smile.

"But Zell your the captain, all the effort you put into rebuilding it, it's your airship,"

"And your the captain, I'll be fighting at the front today I'm needed their, me and Neji both agree that the right person to care for the shadow is you, I've been busy lately and havent had the time for the shadow, you were the one who worked so hard on its maintenance, and have taken good care of it while I've been away,"

"Neji? Do you really think I can handle being captain,"

"You've done well in the war Gau, you were one of the people who saved my son on Shoel, you where one of the main players in taking over Shoel, you were appointed by the elves to be guardian of the Necrorb, all your hard work is being rewarded Gau, I'm promoting you to Captain of the shadow my new third in command,"

"Third?"

"Thats right my boy," Cid said walking up to him, "I'm long past retirement, after this battle I think I'm going to take it easy,"

"So then Gau do you accept this position?"

"Yes sir!"

"Gau you are in charge of our most powerful weapon, you will be at the front of the airial battle, the other ships will come to you for protection and leave their surivival to you, but don't worry Cid will be with you,"

"Leave it to me sir."

In the rough pub of Bevelle Soven with his shadows sat back in his chair a drink in his hand. Suddenly he got the feeling his brother was close, knowing he had appeared on the battlefield Soven downed his and slammed it on the table bring his shadows to attention as he stood up and gripped his sword his Shadows took the que to get ready.

"It's almost time brother..."

(There we go angels and Soven are ready)

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Under a sky of roiling purple fire, Shuruk'jaar and his legion of serpent demons waited amongst the red and black rocks of the arid demon world. They had all teleported away in a carefully-synchronised illusion to make Soren's harmless burst of white light look like an immense Banishing spell, and now they waited for the signal to return. They would sense when Soren succeeded, when the Spiran defences were lowered and they could teleport straight into the city and attack alongside Soren's White Knights, the moment when the whole demon army would attack and the defenders would be swamped from all sides in a matter of minutes.

But it seemed to be taking too long. The demons were restless. Their general allowed the demon sharing his body to reach out with his demonic sixth sense, and almost instantly felt a surge of anger.

"Failure!" Shuruk'jaar growled. That Soren had proved useless to the end. At least his death was no real loss to the demon army.

So Penance's gamble had failed and they were denied the short path to victory. No matter. Victory would be theirs regardless.

"With me," Shuruk'jaar ordered, and as one his troops followed him in teleporting back to the mortal world. Once again they were assailed by wind and rain, and as Shuruk'jaar's eyes adjusted quickly to the grey twilight he saw a lone soldier standing amidst the hacked and bloodied corpses of Soren's White Knights. Soren himself lay dead at the man's feet. A flicker of a smile crossed Shuruk'jaar's face. The carnage was impressive, he had to admit. This Shadow Demon, this Soven, was a force to be reckoned with.

"See!" Soven shouted over his shoulder towards the city walls as the demons rematerialised - some distance from the defences necessitated by the fact that the elven Dispel magicks were still active - he had apparently been trying to convince his fellow Spirans that the whole thing was a trick, and with the death of the supposedly-immortal Soren and now the reappearance of the demons he had his proof. He saw that Shuruk'jaar was looking down at his fallen brother impassively, and he spat on the corpse before catching the possessed Atellian's eye and laughing at him.

"You're next, scarface!"

A bolt of lightning slashed across the sky. Shuruk'jaar gave no reaction to Soven's threat. Instead he turned away from Soven to look at the massed ranks of demons, Atellians and mutants arrayed a short distance behind his own serpent demons and growled a calm order.

From the walls, a purple glare could suddenly be seen rising up from the demon army, quickly joined by a similar glow from their counterparts beyond the city's northern walls. Any sound made was drowned out by the drumming rain and the booming of thunder, but the purple glow grew brighter, rising up into the sky and resolving itself into thousands of individual points of light. Now they began to fall towards the city, and a droning hiss rose up above the rain. Even Soven was struck temporarily dumb with horror as the wave of missiles, loosed by hundreds of demon mages, fell in a glowing rain towards Bevelle.

Retala alone seemed undeterred. He shouted in elvish to his fellow elves on the walls.

"Bombardment! Shield spells, now!"

There was a golden ripple of light along the wall as the elven mages raised their hands and Dyann Ra spells flickered into life one after the other, forming a glittering umbrella over the city just in time as the demonic spells hailed down. Purple fireballs hammered into the shield, shattering themselves in vivid starbursts. Dark Element Explosions drilled into the flickering golden bubble and sinuous phantoms of Black Dragons struck home like thunderbolts, but the elves' magical defence held.

* * *

 

Still hidden in the tunnel network, the infiltrators waited. A pair of Custodians appeared from a side tunnel and stepped into the light of the demon guide's Illumination spell. They saluted the demon and the two officers standing with it, then turned to the senior of the two Custodian captains.

"Charges are in place sir."

Suddenly there was a faint thud, the muffled blast wave of a thunderous explosion somewhere above ground. More came, and the Custodians looked up anxiously as they felt the tremors from the shockwaves of the awesome explosions overhead. Dust whirled down from the ceiling as the tunnel shook slightly.

"The bombardment's started." the female officer whispered, "Is it time?"

"Not yet..." hissed their demon guide.

* * *

 

The wall of Dyann Ra shields swirled and sputtered as wave after wave of demon magic crashed relentlessly against them. Here and there a shield flickered and died in a burst of golden sparks, its caster temporarily overwhelmed by the drain on his magical abilities, and a brief volley of magical missiles would slip through. They smashed into the concrete and glass spires of Bevelle with ground-shaking explosions, blowing apart homes and office blocks. The first fires started, and the first screaming began.

On the city's perimeter wall Retala ran to the side of the exhausted mages, his glowing staff held high in both hands as he drawing on superhuman reserves to plug the gaps in the shield with yet more spells while maintaining power to his own. He grimaced with the effort, his eyes tightly closed in concentration.

* * *

 

Shuruk'jaar watched as part of the shield on the south wall died but quickly flared back into life, the black magic of his demon mages continuing to shatter itself harmlessly against the elven counter-spells.  Out of sight behind the walls, teams of Youth League volunteers were moving to control the fires with water cannons mounted on modified Al'bed hovercraft.

"We're not going to be able to break them." a shadow-wreathed demon reported in a guttural snarl, "The drain will kill our mages before it exhausts theirs."

"Keep firing," Shuruk'jaar ordered in the demon language, "While that shield is up, they cannot return fire."

"Yes, my lord." the demon growled.

"Sound the advance! UHR GTCHAAAA!"

As the Atellian general reared back, his skin darkened and mutated until the demon Shuruk'jaar stood in his place. He spread his huge black wings and skimmed low over the scorched ground towards Bevelle, his troops following. From both north and south, a black sea of demons descended on the city.

* * *

 

Soven was still standing out in the open with his head tilted back, watching the lethal demon magic fly over his head and fireball spectacularly against the spangly elven shield. As the collective roar of thousands of demons reached him from the charging attackers, now just a couple of hundred yards away, a closer and higher-pitched roar made him turn round. The Dagger hove into view overhead, passing through the elven shield which closed again seamlessly behind it. Bristling with gun turrets it descended on Soven, a great dark cigar-shape silhouetted against the pyrotechnic flares of the demonic barrage. Most of the spells flew harmlessly over the airship, but one or two stray Demon Balls smashed into its armoured prow, blowing apart one of the rotors and causing the Dagger to heel over sharply in the air.

"Hey! Sov!" shouted Tanoj from the airship's deck, throwing down a rope ladder, "Grab on!"

Soven looked up at his friend, then back at the charging demons.

"What, don' you reckon I can take this bunch of pansies, 'Noj?"

Tanoj laughed as Soven seized the ladder and allowed himself to be hoisted up.

"Shoot him down!" Shuruk'jaar roared from below to his serpent demons.

"Okay Tara!" Tanoj yelled, "Let 'em have it!"

More airships appeared, gliding through the veil of the elven shield. All of Soven's airships, combined with the Spiran air fleet. To the north, a similar trap was being sprung.

As one, the airships opened fire. Cannons thundered, going off one after the other as chain guns blazed tracer fire through the grey sky and Al'bed rail-guns pulsed to add their deadly ammunition to the fusillade. The demon horde checked, the front ranks going down as if a giant scythe had swept across their lines. Fireballs blossomed in the centre of the black mass, hurling demons into the air, and bullets ripped bloody furrows through the ranks.

Shuruk'jaar had somehow survived the murderous firestorm and now he turned to the demons around him.

"Shield wall!" he bellowed, "Shield wall!"

The demon mages who had not been lending their offensive spells to the preliminary bombardment pushed their way to the front through the teeth of the airship fire and began to throw up Dark Encampment Wall spells. Slowly, more and more were cast until the demon army was hidden behind a wall of black discs against which the air fleet's firepower detonated harmlessly.

The attackers had been blooded, but not seriously. Shuruk'jaar allowed himself a small smile as he sheltered behind his mages' spells. His army was pinned in place, but not for long. After being caught out once by an airship ambush, he was not going to fall for the same trick twice.

"Atellians, forward!"

The well-armed Atellian cohorts had held back in reserve when the main force advanced, and now as one they leapt skyward, spreading their wings and activating their force lances so that they pistoned out into sleek battle staffs.

Aboard the Spiran flagship, the bridge officers looked up in alarm as a great cloud of black shapes rose up and came gliding towards them.

"Commander, we've got incoming, vector one eight zero!"

"New target! Fire at will!"

Turrets tracked round and spat fire. Volleys of missiles streaked from rocket pods on airship prows. Explosions began to burst among the Atellians, finding targets despite their dispersed formation, and many were sent tumbling from the sky in a welter of blood, killed by blast waves or torn apart by shrapnel.

"They're still coming, sir!" a young lieutenant reported unnecessarily as the surviving Atellians skipped and wheeled through the curtain of fire.

"Maximum firepower! Fire close-defence flachettes!"

Small clouds of flak sprayed from shotgun launchers on the airship's prow and more Atellians were hurled back through the air, torn ragged by jagged shards of metal that punched through their armour like paper. But the wave of Atellians weathered this last-ditch defence and broke over the airship and to either side, and now they were in amongst the air fleet, swarming like hornets. More cumbersome weapons ceased fire as machine guns stitched the sky with bullets, chasing the swift Atellians through the air. The winged men skipped lightly through the criss-crossing tracer fire, striking back with phosphorescent bolts from their force lances that picked out engines and weapon emplacements. Airships reeled drunkenly in the air, alarms blaring across their decks. Atellians began to latch onto the airships, pulling discus-shaped bombs from their belts and clamping them onto vulnerable points on the hulls before kicking off and flying away, while others began to tear open external hatches in an attempt to board.

The bridge crew of the Dagger were forced to turn away and shield their eyes as several fireballs rippled along the flank of a Spiran airship, Atellian bombs going off one after the other. The airship staggered under the multiple blasts, its superstructure sagging as it rolled over and ploughed headfirst into the ground. The blast wave caused the Dagger to shudder in midair, and then a second explosion rocked the ship, klaxons blared, and Tara glanced at a nearby control panel to see several lights flash red. Hull breach. They were being boarded.

Tara calmly picked up the microphone from her command lectern and spoke into it in her deep voice:

"Arm topside!"

* * *

 

The Atellians were already landing on the outside deck that rimmed the Dagger as hatches burst open and Soven's Shadows poured out.

"Kill them!" the Atellian commander shouted, thrusting a slender finger towards the charging pirates.

"Fire!" roared a Shadow, and the Atellians were still raising their weapons as a volley of pistol fire blasted several of them off their feet. Force lances spat bolts of energy in reply. An Atellian landed in a diving roll and sent a grenade skittering across the airship deck. It detonated in an ice-blue explosion and two pirates were flung into the air, screaming as they flew up over the deck railings and down out of sight. Sword clashed with force lance staff as hand-to-hand fighting erupted across the deck. A pirate sent blood flying from an Atellian's mouth with a punch from the hilt of his sword, chopping down with the heavy weapon as his opponent fell against the metal side of the airship. The Atellian officer spread his wings and bounded forward in a graceful jump, ducking a mighty sword slash and blasting the pirate in his way before raising his arm and spraying a jet of fire from a forearm-mounted flamethrower into a hatch. The jet of ignited liquid rebounded off the half-open hatch and sprayed down the narrow tunnel beyond, eliciting an agonised scream from a Shadow who had been running up it to join the battle on deck. The Atellian pushed his way inside, kicking the charred body out of his way, but now he found Soven and Tanoj blocking his path.

* * *

 

Shuruk'jaar looked up at the swirling battle that had broken out in the air above him. The airships were for the moment neutralised, bogged down in a desperate melee with his elite Atellians. Their way to Bevelle was now unobstructed.

His army, bloodied and half deafened by the explosions, had nevertheless sensed the ceasing of fire against their protective Dark Encampment Walls and managed a defiant cheer. As the storm of demon magic continued to fall on Bevelle, pummelling the elven shield spells, Shuruk'jaar turned to his troops and pointed with a clawed hand towards the breached southern wall of Bevelle, able even from here to see the horror on the defenders' faces, able even at this distance to smell with his enhanced senses the sharp tang of fear-response.

"Victory is already yours!" he roared, "Take it!"

Rain slashed down and lightning split the sky. The mages cancelled their Dark Encampment Walls to allow the troops through, and with a mighty roar the attackers surged forward.

<ooc - coming next time, the naval battle, Jacen's sniping l33tness, the Angels setting off to fight Penance, and Elder Kimahri kicking lots of ass biggrin>



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Captain Thule: We have yet to meet our betters, alien. All we have seen are deluded tyrants, heretics and alien scum.
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"The Spiran air fleet is neutralised, assume attack formation!"

Freed from the threat of aerial attack, the demon blockading fleet began to spread out from its tightly-bunched defensive formation and deploy into a line of battle. Missile gantries pistoned upwards on Atellian dreadnoughts, and twisted demon ships brought macabre pulsating turrets to bear on the distant Spiran fleet barring their path. Amphibious transports powered up with a deafening roar and whoosh of spray, following behind the battle fleet that would clear their path to the landing sites. Once the outnumbered Spiran fleet was broken, the seaborne assault would force the defenders to fight on yet another front, so that their lines would surely snap like an overstretched rubber band.

The battle began with gouts of white smoke whirling around the Atellian ships as they released a wave of long-range missiles. Demon-made ships joined in, their turrets convulsing to spew plasma-wreathed demonic missiles towards their enemies.

"Incoming!" one of the Kraken's bridge lieutenants warned.

"Maximum ECM, stand by defensive turrets." the Guado flag captain responded as her Hypello admiral gave her a slow nod.

Several missiles, their radar targeting systems jammed, soared harmlessly off course away from the fleet. Others, mostly demonic, remained unaffected and continued to home in and these were met by a criss-crossing storm of bullets from point-defence weapons. Many missiles broke up and ploughed into the sea, while others detonated prematurely as they hit clouds of chaff thrown up as a last line of defence from small burst guns. Several missiles however slipped through despite the concentrated defensive fire, one finding its mark on a sleek Al'bed hydrofoil skimming along abeam of the Kraken. A sudden flash of fire and the frigate was gone, transformed into a cartwheeling whirl of shattered metal. Splinters rained down on the Kraken but the Hypello flagship continued resolutely on course, now swinging slowly round to bring it broadside on to the enemy fleet. Long-barrelled double turrets tracked round as the ship turned, locking on target and waiting patiently for the enemy to close within firing range.

"Destroyer squadronz, use yooour torpedoez to break up ze enemy formation," the Hypello admiral ordered calmly, "Capital shipz, concentratez your fire."

Missiles roared one after the other from cylindrical missile pods on the Kraken's midline, joined by a volley of others from the large ships at the centre of the Spiran fleet. They soared towards Penance's fleet just visible on the horizon, and brief flashes in the sky indicated the vanguard frigate screen taking their toll with ECM, chaff and gatling guns.

"Twenty six missiles running," the Admiral's Guado adjutant reported, watching her console intently, "Seventeen...no, eighteen down to enemy fire, one has malfunctioned, rest are good."

"Magnify." the Admiral stated, and a holographic projection superimposed itself over the bridge windows, zooming in on Penance's fleet until the awe-inspiring outline of an Atellian battle cruiser filled the view. Defensive machine guns along its hull winked and flashed, there were two starbursts in the air, but then a third Spiran missile arced down through the dissipating fireball and ploughed into the cruiser's bows just aft of its foremost gun turret. The hull immediately buckled and heaved, the explosion tearing the deck upwards and sending the A turret cartwheeling away from the hull. A pillar of fire hundreds of feet high shot up from the torn deck, surrounded by a whirlwind of shattered metal fragments. Secondary explosions rippled unseen through the ship, causing the hull to warp and bulge all along its length.

A cheer rose from the sweat-streaked Spiran deck crews. They would fight here, and very probably die here, but they were not going to give the enemy the satisfaction of an easy victory.

* * *

 

On the north wall of Bevelle the defenders worked frantically to line up the massive machina artillery, while Guardsmen ran forward to rest their weapons on the parapet and graceful but deadly Al'bed hover-tanks moved up in support. Commanding the north wall was Tromell, flanked by rifle-armed Guado.

While the airships continued their bloody duel with the Atellians, below them Penance's Army of the North came on in a teeming mass, like a black tidal wave about to crash down on the walls and sweep the Spirans away.

"Open fire!" Tromell shouted, and the defenders fire scythed through Penance's troops, the main body temporarily hidden by a curtain of purple flame - the death flares of the demons that had been their vanguard. But despite the punishing volley, they continued to surge forward.

"There's too many of them!" the Guado beside Tromell cried aloud, "We'll never be able to stop that horde!"

Tromell rounded on him angrily.

"I don't want to hear any more of that talk, damn it! If any man here thinks he can't do his duty then tell him to go wait with the civilians in the safehouses and stop wasting my time!"

Though he knew he had to show strength for his followers, privately the Guado leader also worried that they might not have enough guns to stop the attack. Spread across both the north and south walls the defenders' line was now desperately thin. Could they really hold against such overwhelming odds?

Now mutant skirmishers had reached the base of the walls, and oblivious to the blistering hail of fire they climbed over the bodies of their shot comrades and began to scuttle, spider-like, up the sheer walls towards the defenders. The now-dead Ghede had done his work well.

Tromell ran to the parapet and drew his own pistol <ooc - bit of trivia, probably the same pistol he blasted Sonya with in AA1>, firing two shots downwards so that a scuttling mutant was snatched back off the wall and sent plummeting towards the ground. The corpses were beginning to pile up at the walls base, but the mutants and demons were now climbing over the blood-slick mound, using the bodies as a gory ramp to climb higher. Tromell watched in horror as demons climbed and were blasted back, only to be replaced by others who dug their claws into the marble walls and climbed higher.

"Keep firing!" he roared.

* * *

 

From his high vantage point, Jacen Locke could see everything. Led by Shuruk'jaar, company after company of demons were storming towards the south wall and on the north side the enemy had already engaged the defenders, while out at sea lurid flashes marked the first exchanges between the Spiran navy and Penance's invasion fleet. He brought his rifle up to his shoulder as another airship spiralled down in flames beyond the south wall. The sun was all but gone, swallowed by the storm, so there was no danger of light glinting off his scope lens and giving away his position. He focussed down the crosshairs of his scope, letting the intermittent flashes of lightning illuminate his targets for him. The demons had almost reached the walls. He centred on a mage in the enemy vanguard, a huge horned demon whose fists crackled with hellish energies. Jacen tracked smoothly, allowing the magnified image to expand and fill his whole universe, his aim remaining steady despite the teeth-rattling explosions of the ongoing demon bombardment. He held his breath and time seemed almost to stop, the demon now running in slow motion, the only sound his own heartbeat thudding in his ears.

Jacen fired, and almost instantly he saw the demon crumple, actually lifted off his feet and thrown back with the force of the shot that had shattered his chest, knocking over several of his companions before melting away in a brief flash of fire.

"Another one down..." Jacen grinned to himself. He lowered the rifle from eye level. He had been lucky - the mage had not sensed he was being targeted in time to raise a Dark Encampment Wall.

Jacen calmly drew back the bolt and reloaded.

* * *

 

Shuruk'jaar's attack was now only scant metres from the wall, and the mages finally had to cease their bombardment to avoid hitting their own troops. Almost immediately after the last Demon Ball had flared and died against the elven shield spells, the golden canopy flickered and faded away, revealing the stark stone walls behind its swirling, distorted image. Rising up from those walls now appeared a rank of Spirans - Al'bed with long-barrelled rifles and elves with bowstrings drawn back. At the top of the rubble ramp leading up to the breach in the wall appeared a line of Guado, rising up from their concealed trench to man jagged makeshift barricades.

And then, as the first wave of Penance's army came leaping and howling through the smoke:

"Fire at will!"

A rolling thunderclap of massed volley fire split the atmosphere. Scores of demons stumbled and dissolved into flame. Scores more kept coming. Nimble mutants ran at the front, leaping up the treacherous rubble pile towards the Guado with frightening ease.

"Now!" one of the defenders roared and a mage Guado punched his fist towards the sky, calling down a bolt of lightning that smote down on the rubble and ignited the explosives buried there; the glacis of shattered stone leapt upward and suddenly the mutants were gone, reduced to red shreds that rained down on attacker and defender alike. The front rank of demons were floored by the deafening concussion, and Spirans bled from the ears and nose.

Serpent demons flanking the main advance spread out and raised their staffs to provide covering fire for the other demons now storming the breach in the wake of the annihilated mutants. A blast from one of their gem-topped staffs caught an Al'bed full in the chest and blasted him clean off the wall's ramparts, his rifle discharging into the air as he fell screaming into the dust-choked breach below. An elven archer stepped forward to take his place, multicoloured light crackling around his bow, and he loosed an arrow that turned into a corkscrew of lightning that flung four demons into the air. Green energy bolts hissed over the walls, but behind the hard cover of the ramparts the defenders had the advantage, their return fire taking a punishing toll on the exposed serpent demons.

In the breach, Penance's vanguard of bronze-armoured demons with their massive hell-forged blades stumbled over the dead mutants to attack the Guado, funnelled by the narrow space into a crush of snarling, bellowing monsters. As they stormed the barricades, flayed into on all sides by defending fire, massive blue-furred Ronso stood up and stepped in front of the Guado to meet the charge with a hedge of spears. The attackers threw themselves onto it, and the Ronso skidded back slightly with the weight of the charge, digging their heels into the rubble to avoid losing their feet. The crush of demons behind pushed the front ranks forward, but the Ronso held firm, and suddenly there was a flash of steel as three spears thrusted forward through the melee to transfix a towering demon warrior. He roared in pain and exploded into purple fire, and immediately a Ronso stepped forward into the space he left, throwing others back. A demon roared a challenge and pushed forward to meet him in a with a huge scimitar held high in both hands, but the Ronso's spear came up to meet him, skewering him in mid-charge and throwing him over the Ronso's shoulder with the weight of his own momentum.

Step by step, the demons were being pushed back. In the narrow breach their superior numbers counted for little, and even their otherworldly strength could not match that of the Ronso. One demon was knocked flying back by a shield bash, while another was clotheslined off his feet by a spear staff, his Ronso opponent bellowing a challenge as he reversed the spear and stabbed down. Suddenly green energy bolts exploded against his chest and he staggered back; the serpent demon who had fired shrieking a warcry as it leapt at him and drove its taloned feet into his chest. The Ronso fell, the tips of the demons claws exploding from his back in a spray of crimson.

No sooner had the demon landed, hissing his victory, a towering Ronso with a white mane and a broken horn appeared in his path. With a mighty shout Elder Kimahri swung his great halberd one-handed to slash across the demon's face, spinning him off his feet. Kimahri stepped forward, twirled the halberd and stabbed down, drowning his opponent's death-scream with his own roar of anger.

An even louder roar made him look up. A massive four-legged mutant with a rhino-like horn set in the middle of a twisted face and its mouth roaring open to reveal rows of serrated teeth was charging up the rubble ramp towards him. Kimahri stood his ground. The mutant roared even louder and lowered its head to impale the Ronso Elder on its massive horn, but at the last second Kimahri sidestepped, swinging his weapon in both hands. The mutant roared and twisted away, black blood flying into the air. Kimahri raised his weapon for the final blow but suddenly the mutant whipped round, sinking its teeth into the Ronso's forearm. Kimahri flailed for balance, the mutant's snorting breaths loud in his ears, but he could not shake it off and now the mutant was increasing the pressure, seeking to rip the Elder's arm clean off. Kimahri let out a roar of anger and pain, and raising his halberd high in his one free hand he struck down with all his might, the blade carving right through the top of the mutant's head. Blood sprayed, the mutant roared in pain and collapsed sideways, Kimahri rolling clear. Ignoring the pain in his arm, the Ronso regripped his weapon in his good hand and stood up. A demon came howling towards him, but a bullet caught it in mid-charge, punching it off its feet. Kimahri didn't have the luxury of time to look round for the firer. Instead he stood up and roared at his troops to reform into line as a second, much larger wave of mutants and demons came storming up the rubble mound.

"Ronso! Follow Kimahri! FIGHT!"

* * *

 

A smile flickered at the corner of Jacen's mouth as the demon fell, once again without even seeing his executioner. Without lowering the rifle scope from his eyes he lined up on another demon who was hurling fireballs at the walls and forcing the defenders behind cover.

But this time the demon was looking right back at him.

"Frak!"

The glare of a Demon Ball filled his lens, searing his vision. Blinded, he threw himself backwards just as the world around him exploded. The ammo boxes nearby ignited, sending exploding ricochets in all directions. A wave of heat swept over Jacen, scorching his skin, and then chips of concrete rained down.

Jacen's senses returned slowly. Burnt by fire and grazed by flying shrapnel, he coughed on dust and blinked to clear the coloured lights dancing in front of his eyes as the ringing in his ears faded away and the sounds of battle returned. His rifle had been blown out of his hands. The fireball had blasted his night vision, and he groped blindly around for his weapon while his eyes readjusted to the dim half-light.

In amongst the chips of shattered concrete, his hand came across a jagged piece of metal. He pulled it out of the debris and swore again - his rifle scope had been smashed as it cracked against the stone, and the barrel was damaged.

He gritted his teeth, then smiled wryly, gripping his knife hilt and stumbling towards the door that led back into the now partially ruined building.

"Looks like I'll be going downstairs earlier than expected..."

* * *

 

"Are you saying that we don't count for anything?" Fariel argued.

"I'm saying that this is a fight we cannot win," Neji replied grimly, "If we beat off their attack then what? Penance will not rest. He will resummon his forces while we grow weaker. He will attack again and again until this city is levelled and all trace of the old Spira is swept away. There is only one way to end this Fariel. We must kill Penance."

"I know, I know, I haven't lost sight of our goal - I just don't think it's right that we just leave all these people to their fate!"

"It's the only way we can save them."

"You cold, calculating bastard. You sound like Tanis."

The two Angels stopped and looked round as they heard Keiji and Eevee approach.

"I agree with dad." said Keiji, "It's not a nice choice to have to make but it's the only way. We have to go, now. What's the matter, Zell?"

He said this because Zell had pressed one fist against his lips and was looking worried.

"What effect will it have on the others if they see us leaving?" he asked slowly, "Their courage is already hanging by a thread. It'd crush their morale if they saw us looking like we were running away."

"Most of them don't know we exist anyway..." Fariel pointed out in a mutter.

"I hate to say it, but Blondie's right," Alia said. When Zell looked nettled she ruffled his hair affectionately, "How are we going to get out of here unseen?"

Eevee gave something very like her old mischievous smile.

"Remember that invisibility spell that Tritoch taught my mum to hide you guys from the Guard in Luca? Couple that with an Aero from Alia and we're away."

She motioned them all closer and they stood in a tight circle as both Eevee and Alia raised their hands, magical energies already swirling round them. Zell took one last look back towards the city outskirts. Intervening buildings hid the fight from view, but flashes of fire were visible like a halo above them, and the screams were all too audible. Biting his lip, he turned away, praying that they would not be too slow to save the city.



-- Edited by [BOSS]Fenix at 20:37, 2007-08-26

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Nuisance

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<OCC - yay for references to the new transformers movie! LOL Im bored :pBut I thought I would write something seeing as I havent in a while>

 

Fariel swooped down and landed by Retalas side, too busy concentrating to notice her presence straight away he remained silent. "Nothing like a warm up before the final battle, eh Retala?" The smallest impression of a smile crept at the elfs mouth.

"Fariel," General Benis voice was determined as he and his men lined up along side the mages holding the shield, "We've got your back." All of them raised their various firearms and took aim upon the army nearing the walls.

"Bring the rain." Fariel grinned smugly, launching into the air and flying out to the battlefield.A hole appeared in the Dyann Ra shield, she skimmed through it and water spiralled around her, creating a shield of her own protecting her from the magic hailed down towards the city.

Throwing her hands out before her simultaneously, two serpents of water shot forwards and mowed through a section of Penances army, the demons were thrown aside and into each other as the serpents washed through closely followed by Fariel with her swords drawn.

oo0oo

"You heard the fool, bring the rain!"The general relayed and the guards men opened fire through a small narrow opening in the shield before them.

oo0oo

"This is more liked it," Fariel warded off magic and weapons alike with bursts of her water shield while she fought with her swords.I hope the other Angels are enjoying this as much as I am!She laughed manically, "THIS IS FOR KEBEL YOU MONSTERS!BRING IT ON!"



-- Edited by [BOSS]Asreal at 21:28, 2007-08-26

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Fariel hacked down with both wave swords, a demon exploding into flame either side of her.

"Useless..." she taunted as she thrust her arm forward to send another cascade of water towards the centre of the demon line. A Dark Encampment Wall exploded into life in its path, causing the wave to explode upwards and drain away harmlessly to either side. Fariel looked up in momentary confusion, and then saw the caster, an Atellian in streamlined armour, come soaring down to challenge her.
I take it he wasn't impressed by the mess I was making of his minions, Fariel laughed to herself.

"Finally, someone worth fighting!" she said aloud, twirling her wave swords and smirking at the demon through the hazy veil of her water shield, "Wow, you're an ugly frakker..." she added with a grimace as she registered the scars that disfigured one side of his sharp face.

"Continue the attack! I'll deal with her." the Atellian snarled over his shoulder, ignoring Fariel's words. He obviously wasn't going to let her little stunt buy any time for the defenders either. The demons continued to surge past towards the wall and the shimmering shield that swirled and coruscated above it as demon magic continued to batter its defences. Fariel had to let them go, her attention focused on the Atellian. An Atellian who used demon magic...something was nagging disconcertingly at the back of her mind...

She glared into the Atellian's one good eye and then, as she continued to study the unscarred half of his face, recognition dawned.

"Hey, I remember you - the demon from Sheol! You had a fight with Eevee...and," she laughed out loud, "It looks like you came off worse, too."

The Atellian didn't react to her taunts, only started to circle Fariel, his expression predatory. She turned to face him. He had not drawn any visible weapon. Lighting continued to flash in the darkened sky, rain hammering down, the explosions from the ongoing air battle continuing to resound overhead.

"Avenging Angel. You're a fool to come out here on your own." the Atellian said at last.

"Fool?" Fariel retorted, "Nah, just very confident."

"An arrogant claim."

"I don't need to make claims. I know how good I am."

A slight smile twisted the Atellian's scarred face.

"Have it your way then. Because I've learned theres something more satisfying than the howl of a dying beast - the death scream of an angel."

Fariel snarled, her water shield coursing fiercely around her as she thrust a wave sword towards the Atellian.

A pillar of water appeared above her, flowing together into the shape of a giant serpent and crashing down on the Atellian. He turned it aside with another Dark Encampment Wall, the two spells colliding with a deafening roar. Water blasted in all directions, then a flash of purple fire rose up inside Fariel's churning water shield, right in front of her. The Atellian stepped out of the flames. Momentarily flat-footed by the teleport, Fariel was sent flying back as the heel of his hand connected with her face.

"Do better, Angel." the Atellian mocked.

Fariel tumbled over herself, came to a stop and growled, wiping the blood from her nose. She threw out her arms towards her opponent and yelled:

"Leviathan!"

Pyraflies boiled up around her, forming the outline of a glittering serpent that corkscrewed up over Fariel, formed a great shining S shape then transformed into a spiralling pillar of water that came roaring towards the Atellian, smashing apart the black disc of the Dark Encampment Wall that rose to meet it, and the Atellian only escaped by using his wings to launch himself skyward and backflip over the tidal wave as it smashed apart on the rocks where he had been standing.

"Do better, demon." Fariel echoed.

The Atellian merely smiled in response, raising his arms to call down jets of purple light from the sky which struck the ground in a circle round Fariel. Purple flames leapt up and within them a bodyguard of serpent demons appeared, spinning their battle staffs one-handed to rest behind their backs and in unison assuming a battle-ready crouch. Fariel countered with a wave of her hand, and around her puddles of water flowed together and rose up as water clones of Fariel who intercepted the serpent demons even as the Atellian leapt forward through the distraction. Fariel's Wateraga spell caught him full in the chest in midair and he was hurled back. Fariel leapt after him.

* * *

The Atellian went down hard on his back, Fariel folding her wings and landing gracefully ten paces away as he flipped back onto his feet. The demon within him was roaring to be released.

"Su'rahk cha!" Let me kill her!
"With pleasure..." he growled in response.

Immediately Fariel recoiled as Shuruk'jaar began to possess his host, his skin turning black, short tusks erupting from either side of his fanged mouth, hooked black claws from his fingers, his feathered wings reappearing as clawed leathery pinions.

Above, the Spiran airfleet continued to battle the Atellians while demon spells roared over them to strike the elven shield covering the city.  Below, the demon army reformed ranks and quickened its pace towards the walls of Bevelle.  Nearby, serpent demons dueled with water clones.  Here, the reptilian demon locked eyes with the Angel before him.

"Uhr gt'cha!" he whispered with a feral smile.


<ooc - Dunno if I ever explained this but this is a meant to be a demon battlecry that translates as "death" or "bring death". Anyhoo, there you go As - uncoiling wave swords vs. extending clawed wings, this is going to be interesting...>



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Soven fell to his knees. The hall was suddenly colder, suddenly larger; more hallow and grey then before. Soven insides burned as images blurred past in his mind.

A young woman with a crying baby in her arms was smiling at an older baby on the floor as he put a foot in his mouth. The same woman was scalding a toddler for pouring his lunch on his little brothers head. Two young children clung to her as a deafening roar ringed out, she cooing and rocking then, saying how brave they were and how she was so proud of themhe, little Soren, and Soven. She was laughing as Soven was acting out his first fight with a fiend, she cheered and clapped as he planted his foot on a small table with his fists on his hips, Soren sitting next to her staring with open admiration at his elder brother. Soven was holding a slightly smaller Soren when the women became ill, Soren begged his brother to fix her, and to save her but Soven refused to say a word, refusing to betray his fears to a little Soren whom he would die before hurting. She was sitting up in a small bed with a gleeful Soren hugging her and silent Soven, with glistening eyes, refused to turn and show his weakness. A young teenage Soven was yelling at cowering Soren as the women marched between them, spoke a few words and watched as a sulking Soven says his apologies and a scared Soren except them. Soven had a bag on his back and a sheathed sword, still a teenager; he stands facing a proud-stricken mother and a sulking Soren. The young Soven pledges to not return until all knew his might, his skill and his unbeatable courage. Mother plants a kiss on his cheek and wishes him luck, Soren, silent and still, says nothing. Soven turns around and marches proudly down an ancient beaten. An hour passes before Soven sees his brother. Soren stands before Soven, blocking his path. Before Soven can open his mouth Sorens fist flies into his face and is knocked to the ground. Soren speaks the last words Soven will hear from him for many years, "Never return, brother. Mother turns a blind eye to your evil but I am no fool. I know what you want and it has nothing to do with courage. You will kill; kill many people, good people. Kind people. Out of love for our mother, I won't hunt you down but if you ever return, I will not hesitate to kill you. Farewell, Soven the Butcher".

His little brother stood before him, madness scarred across his face, holding a pole with their dear, beloved mother, on a pike, in a mask of unspeakable fear. For the first time in Sovens memory, tears flowed down his cheeks. For the first time in his life, Soven cried without his mothers comforting arms to protect him. For the first time, Soven knew remorse, pain without border and a wound of sadness without a chance of healing. Soven felt his forehead touch the cold ground, his hands covering his face as he wept. His cries were so painful. They burned his lungs to push out but no relieve could be found. Strange feeling swelled up in Soven. His heart felt it would burst from knowing hed never make his mother smile again. His stomach hungered for the love that hed never again receive. His head cracked from disbelief. Why? WHY!? Why should the most beautiful, the most caring, the most loving person had to die? Why should the person hed loved most have to be taken from? There were so many people who should die instead but no. The ****ing bastard had to tear his mother away, his wonderful mother.

"Whats this? A demon can cry like a wounded little girl?" Mused a taunting voice. "Your such a miserable creature. Crying like a baby over nothing more then a heretic and a slut."

"DONT YOU DAAAA-RRE SPEAK ABOUT HER? Soven found rage." Dark, bloodthirsty rage! Rage that scared gods, rage beyond rage, a living form of pure hate. Soven shot his rage at the murderer of his mother. A terrifying roar erupted from Soven. Before Soven knew it, he was on his feet, charging, sword laid forgotten. Soren shocked took a step back but tripped over a rock and before he could regain his footing Soven fist broke his nose. Soren landed heavily but before he could realise he had been hit Soven landed on his chest and started to pound and slam his fist in a storm of punches. Soven was slamming his fists into the murderers face and chest with tears streaming down his face and he yelled animal roars of pain and fury.

Soven suddenly stopped his pummelling long enough, grab a huge piece of rumble and raised it high over his head to smash the bastard to death.

Soven roared with victory, as his vengeance was almost complete.

But he stopped. Soven, panting with exhausting and misery, he remembered.

He remembered something he promised her.

"Soven, your so strong and brave but why cant you two get along?" His mother asked.

"Cos hes a wimp and an idiot!" Answered an angry Soven.

She smiled sweetly, "You dont mean that. Your just angry, you love him and he loves you."

"No I DONT!"

"Yes you do. Soven. Your so young, too young to think like that." Soven grimaced and opened his mouth to speak. "You know what I mean. You act as if love is a weakness, you believe that feelings are useless and you consider mercy as act of stupidity. Youre angry with your brother because he feels love, he knows his feelings and he sees mercy as a strengh. Your jealous."

"AM NOT!!" roared an angry Soven.

"Yes, you are my little man." She reached for his hair to stroke his hair but he jumped back. She smiled her sweetest smile and said. "Fine. You can pretend that you dont love your brother but just promise me a simple thing: No matter what ever he does to you, by intention or not, youll not kill him. Hes a sweet boy you needs his big brother to protect him. Promise me, Soven, Promise."

Soven slammed the rock down. A thunderous bang erupted echoed throughout the hall. Deadly silence broke only by Sovens ragged breath.

The silence dragged for several long moments until Soven spoke.

"You spineless cretin... She was your mother... She was... our mother." His voice was harsh and shaky." I promised that I'd never kill you no... no matter... what you d-did." Soven eyes bore straight in his little brothers, his hate, his rage piecing Sorens soul. "I will never forgive you but, little brother, I promise this though. The next time we meet, it will be the last time I deal with Soren the God."

Soven stood up, slowly and carefully and slowly walked to where his mothers rotting severed head. He carefully scooped it up and stared his mother in the eyes. His eyes swelled with tears once more as he closed her terror stricken eyes and her silent shrieking mouth. He heard more then saw Soren pick himself up and limp out the hall and as he passed the doors he started to wail loudly like he did when Soven was mean to him. But now, there was no warm mother to hold him, no one to kiss and make him feel better. Only the dark and the dark cared for no one, especially the scared. Soren cried louder.

Unknown to both Soren, crying and limping away, and Soven, rearranging a pile of stone to make his mothers grave, they were watched by a quiet Promise.

Her hatred for Soren intensified beyond human containment; her mind and body had only a signal thought: kill.

She followed the wailing Soren through the hall and when she was close she readied her dirk and raised it to thrust it into his back. She suddenly felt a presence behind her but before she could do anything, something hard banged the back of her head and all was black.


-- Edited by Soven at 21:01, 2007-08-29

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Nuisance

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<well i suppose this'll do for the moment! You guys gonna be heading out Bevelle soon? I'm having trouble coming up with witty taunts!>

Fariel wrinkled her nose at the demon before her, "You look even worse now."The angel had no time to continue her mocking, she was forced to back flip out the way as a Shuruk'jaars bladed wing tip fly down towards her, the ground cracked open as it impacted the space where Fariel was standing a second before.Hes faster.Fariel complained in her head, the demons attack had skimmed the front of Fariels shield.

Distracted temporarily by a warning from Leviathan concerning Shurukjaars demon side, Fariel didnt hear what spell her foe was casting.

Though it was familiar enough, two black dragons charged forwards, "Get some new tricks!"She laughed projecting her water shield forward; there was another explosion of colliding spells as they cancelled each other out.

Both fighters launched back to avoid the blast and landed into ready stances.Fariel countered, charging forwards she broke through the clearing smoke and jumped into a spinning kick to the side of the demons face.Seeing the attack coming he blocked with his forearm.Twisting around in the air she tried with the other leg but he blocked again, this time he grabbed her leg.

Fariel cursed as he spun round and flung her through the air, sending an arc of demon balls after her.

More smoke and dust filled the air as the demon balls exploded, Shurukjaar laughed manically, "Too easy."

"My thoughts exactly!"The smoke burst clear as blue flames spiralled out, closely followed by Fariel, her swords sharpened in ice.

Shuruk'jaar stumbled back as the flames shattered against his armour, he brought up a dark encampment wall in time to block out Fariel, but she grinned as her swords cut into the dark wall, stopping an inch from the demons face.Shuruk'jaar teleported back surprised. "You call yourself a demon?!You fight almost as badly as your minions!" She taunted.

"Scream, Angel." The dark wall fluctuated with energy, the ice shattered off Fariels swords; the wall imploded and sent shockwaves out in all directions.Fariel was sent sprawling back and skidding along the ground.

"Ya need to be a whole load scarier before your gonna get me to scream!"Fariel laughed, "Bring it!"

Shuruk'jaar appeared behind her, his bladed wings hovering, "As you wish."



-- Edited by [BOSS]Asreal at 22:31, 2007-08-29

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Gau took his place on the captains platform all around the crew of the shadow hurried to there stations quickly firing up all manerisim of machinery.

"Kain are all systems operational?"

"Aye,"

"Fuel supply?"

"Wouldn't worry about fuel Gau, sorry I mean captain,"

"Gau's fine,"

"Aye Gau,"

"Hows our ammo supply?"

"All locked and loaded, come Gau everythings fine, just like everything was fin yesterday,"

"I know I know, sorry,"

Cid burst into a fit of laughter. "Nervous?"

Gau smiled and leaned his hands on the metal bar before him, "Me? Nah, I just don't want to get caught out,"

"Well everythings fine, now quit stalling and lets get out there, the battle has already started,"

"Alrite, Fire up the engines! Get all weapons ready, don't forget to arm yourselfs should the enemy achieve the impossible, watch ammos supplys but this is the last battle so don't be shy to pump everything we have in them, oh yeh and one more thing, this airship doesnt belong to me so lets take good care of it,"

"Captain!" the crew shouted in response.

"Lets gooooo!" The shadow's engines flared to life blasting out the hanger and quickly out of Bevelle. "Cid whats the situation?"

"The Bevellian airship forces have engaged several Atellians and winged demons, they are holding there on but their having a tough time,"

"Well then lets give them a hand, open all gun ports and aim carefully, I dont agree with friendly fire,"

The shadow without warning slipped itself into the frey the main guns locking onto a target and blasting high powered rounds through Atellian and demon alike, the shadows sudden appearance caught both Bevelle forces and Penance completely by surprise.

"Where the hell did that come from!" An Atellian shouted in anger after narrowly dodging a flurry of bullets.

"Argh Bring it down!" Another shouted, a small of group of Atellians swooped down to the shadow landing heavily.

"Hmm it seems we have boarders,"

"Damn hitchicker, get your on damn ship," Gau said as a consle slip along the metal bar surronding him, "Imbeciles," he said to himself pushing a single button, meanwhile on the outside the Atellians struggled in breaking the mighty hull of the Shadow were suddenly distracted by a stanger sound as if something was charging, but before they could figure it out their bodies suddenly cramped and started to jerk wildly as strong electricity corsed through their bodies until eventually they collapsed sliding off the mighty airship. A bat like demon seeing this take place roared to it allies and started to circle the shadow firing demon balls randomly at the black airship.

"Hmm so now they think they have us surronded, Kain,"

"Rite away,"

"So they think simple attack like that could break this airship?"

Outside the demons suddenly paused and fell from the sky paralized as an invisble shockwave caused they're muscles to gramp.

(That all i can be assed writing atm)



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<ooc - continuation of Sean's battle>

The Atellians were recoiling back through the air, stunned by the appearance of one of their own most powerful weapons on the enemy side. They scattered before the Shadow as the energy bolts from their force-lances pattered harmlessly of the airship's dark-matter armour. An Atellian officer broke off from the melee, pulling in his wings and free-falling towards the ground towards where Shuruk'jaar was standing, in full demon form, urging more and more heavily-armoured demons forward into the breach. The Atellian braked by spreading his wings and hovered over Shuruk'jaar, beating the air.

"We can't stop them, sir! Our weapons are ineffective against their armour, and we tried to board but some kind of electric field is making the ship impossible to approach."

Shuruk'jaar growled softly. If this new airship swung the air battle for the Spirans, they would be free to turn their guns on the demons below and force them to abandon their attack.

"General! Your orders?"

"Ignore the new airship! Engage the rest of the Spiran air fleet more closely. Get so close that they cannot fire without hitting their own airships."

"Yes sir!"

Shuruk'jaar jetted himself forward with a sweep of his wings as the Atellian turned and soared back up towards the fire and explosions of the intense air battle. He roared at his demons on the ground to throw themselves at the Spirans. Scaling ladders were slammed up against the intact parts of the walls and demons immediately swarmed up; some ladders were thrown back, others smashed to matchwood by enemy fire, and everywhere demons fell screaming from the ladders and dissolved into flames, but more always pushed forward to take their place. Shuruk'jaar knew that he had to throw everything forward now to prevent the Shadow turning its guns on them. Victory was beginning to slip from his grasp even as he reached out his hand to seize it, but his arm was long. Luckily, he had planned for this. Luckily, he had one more stratagem to put into action.

He reached out with his demonsense to the demons leading the Custodians through the tunnels below the city and projected a single word into their minds.

"Now!"

* * *

The defenders on the north wall continued their withering hail of fire. The demons struggled through the teeth of the intense firestorm to prop scaling ladders up against the walls while mages stopped and attempted to suppress the defenders with powerful offensive magic. Demon Balls and Dark Element Explosions slammed into the battlements, but as the embers faded the defenders would rise up and continue firing. Tromell shouted encouragement to his men - so far they were holding the enemy back, the demons shrinking away from the merciless fusillade.

Suddenly, there was a heavy explosion. The ground heaved, windows shattered, and gouts of smoke shot up into the air as the north wall heaved and buckled. Defenders were hurled in all directions as the ground bulged upwards; the stones of the wall split and flew apart as a massive fireball erupted from below the wall. An entire section caved in as the Custodians detonated the explosives they had packed into one of the tunnels directly below the walls.

The huge slabs of shattered stone crashed down first, smashing apart buildings and crushing Spirans and demons indiscriminately. Then a heavy cloud of dust rained down on the city. For a few seconds, there was total silence in the wake of the explosion - those who had not been killed instantly were entangled in rubble or too stunned to even cry out.

Tromell was one of the survivors, having miraculously been thrown clear of the main blast. He lay amongst a pile of rubble, half-blinded and with his ears ringing. With a great effort he raised his head, wiped the dust out of his eyes, and with horror saw the gaping hole that had appeared in the north wall, rubble strewn everywhere and a great crater below where the foundations had collapsed into the Kebellian tunnel. Then he heard the triumphant roar of the demons, and the thunder of their footfalls as they surged towards the breach.

"Second line!" Tromell coughed as he lurched to his feet, "Get back to the second line!"

The other survivors pulled themselves clear of the wreckage and limped back to join the soldiers guarding the barricades and the fortified buildings behind the city wall. Tromell wheeled as he vaulted a barricade of metal girders to join a battery of Al'bed artillery and machine-gun posts with several heavy tanks in support. Beyond the dust haze that shrouded the new breach, the howling began again.

* * *

Even far away from the centre of the explosion, the Custodians in the tunnel network staggered and fell against the buttressed walls of the tunnel as the blast tore apart the north wall, coughing on the earth that rained down from the ceiling.

"This is it! Let's move!" ordered one of the two officers.

"For Sin-Penance!" answered the Custodians, unslinging their bows and extending their trademark Dragon Claws.

They moved swiftly up the tunnel, which, as expected, had been blocked off by the defenders.

"Step aside!" hissed their demon guide, and he hurled a Demon Ball at the barricade. The explosion was deafening in the confined space, but when it faded the way was clear.

"NOW!" roared the female officer, and several Custodians unsheathed their Dragon Claws and leapt past her.

The Guard defenders who were stationed in cover all around the abandoned warehouse, that the tunnel led obliquely up into, had turned their heads aside from the blast of debris as the demon blew apart the barricade, but now they blinked their vision clear and trained their automatics on the trap doors which sat at 45 degrees to the wall - and now hung off their hinges with scattered pieces of the metal girders that had barred them strewn around.

The first Custodians who emerged into the warehouse were instantly shredded, thrown like bloody rag-dolls back down the tunnel by shrapnel from a claymore mine rigged to a tripwire at the entrance. The next two to come through were riddled with bullets even as they stumbled over the torn-up bodies of their comrades, pitching forward onto the warehouse floor. The Custodians took cover, pressing themselves up against the side walls as the blistering hail of bullets swept the tunnel, kicking up earth and ricocheting off the metal girders buttressing the exit. A few arrows flew in reply, and a defender was snatched back from the barricades with a feathered shaft piercing his neck. Suddenly a purple fireball blasted from the tunnel, smashing the empty crate barricade in front of the tunnel exit to flaming splinters and flooring the defenders behind. Custodians poured from the tunnel, led by the black-skinned demon who had cast the fireball. Guardsmen broke cover from behind crates and pillars and blasted away, but although several Custodians jerked back from bullet impacts and fell, the others were on the defenders in seconds, and the Custodians were murderous in close combat. They punched and slashed with their twin Dragon Claws, blood spraying. One officer twisted his sword in a Guardsman's belly and ripped it free, while the other floored her opponent with a shield bash and stabbed down. In seconds the Guardsmen had been reduced to bloody horror, and the Custodians were loose in the warehouse, storming towards the exit and the next line of defences. They left their dead where they had fallen, among the hacked and mangled bodies of the Guardsmen.

One of the bodies was Mathew Green.

* * *

The narrow breach in the south wall was blood-soaked chaos. Demons who had been hit burst into flame and incinerated, leaving little trace of their existence, but the fallen defenders did not. The rubble ramp leading up to the breach like a gateway into hell was a charnel house of hacked bodies and screaming casualties, trampled underfoot without care by the second wave of demons as they came storming up the ramp, Shuruk'jaar himself leading them. The battered defenders rose up from their trench at the ramp's summit, still determined to fight on. Above them, the enfilading fire from the Spirans on the walls had ceased as they turned to defend themselves against the brass-armoured demons who were swarming the intact parts of the walls by scaling ladder, and who were now starting to fight their way onto the ramparts. Some serpent demons had climbed the wall also while the others continued to provide covering fire, and an Al'bed lunged at one with his rifle as it leapt over the parapet and landed squarely on its raptor-clawed feet. His attack passed through a veil of dissipating flames as the demon teleported, reappearing behind him and ramming its battle-staff backwards so that the tips of the long triple-blades topping it exploded out of the Al'bed's chest. The demon fired the green crystal between the blades, blasting the Al'bed off his staff. More demons swarmed up onto the now-undefended section of the wall.

Praetor Baralai, streaked with blood and dirt, was still encouraging the defenders, keeping up his sermon of New Yevon even as he fought, and smiting down mutants and demons as they reached the top in time to his words. A serpent demon on the ground hissed and faded away in a flash of fire, teleporting up the wall to attack the Spiran leader, but an elf sorceress standing near to the Praetor sensed the magical shift and threw out her arms. The demon reappeared in midair before the walls and was hurled back as he rebounded off an invisible shield.

In the breach a cloud of smoke rose up as there was a rolling crash of rifle fire. Demons spun and fell, the bullets tearing through their bronze armour. Once again the Ronso stood up and countercharged the demons as they ran up the slope, now slippery with blood that ran down between the stones in thin rivulets, carried by the heavy rain. Shuruk'jaar and two other mage-demons pushed their way to the front, throwing their arms forward. Three black discs irised out before them, and several Ronso were lifted off their feet and hurled backwards as they ran into the Dark Encampment Walls. They went down hard on their backs and the demons overran them, glowing axes and swords hacking down. The demons came on, howling through the smoke, and the rest of Kimahri's Ronso ran to meet them with levelled spears. One of them knocked over two of Shuruk'jaar's serpent demon bodyguards and leapt from the high ground to attack the demon general, who was forced to arch over backwards as the Ronso's spear sang over his head. He came up and turned the spear aside with his armoured forearm, but the Ronso forced him another pace down the blood-slick slope with a push of his spear shaft. As the demon flailed his wings for balance he twirled his spear back for a killing thrust, but it was a trick - Shuruk'jaar punched his clawed hand forward, beneath the Ronso's arms that held his spear high over his head, and a jet of black light burst from his palm.

High Priest Retala looked down from the walls at the desperate melee, where demons slashed and parried, where Shuruk'jaar's serpent demons hissed and twirled their battle-staffs, and where Ronso thrust with their spears and headbutted with their rhino-like horns. He saw the Dark Element Explosion pierce right through the Ronso, exploding from his back, saw him slowly arch over backwards and fall to reveal Shuruk'jaar looking straight at him, as if the swirling melee all around him wasn't happening, fixing Retala with an intense red stare that made the High Priest's blood run cold.

Heavily armoured demons pressed forward, bashing with their shields, the Ronso skidding back on their heels as they fought to hold their ground, those behind them stabbing their long spears over their comrades' heads.

"Send all your minions, demon!" Retala shouted down to Shuruk'jaar, "Tell your master Penance to send every monster from the four corners of the universe! Let them serve him if they will, but we Spirans are a free people and we shall never bow before him!"

Shuruk'jaar just laughed, his voice carrying over the crashing thunder and the desperate screams and defiant warshouts of the battle flowing around him.

"Fool! Can you not see your doom? Now, High Priest, you weaken and your line gives way!"

A flash of lightning illuminated an Al'bed rifleman as he fell screaming from the walls into the teeming mass of demons below.

"Now, proud elf, you are beaten at last!"

A massive explosion broke the back of one of the Spiran airships overhead and it began to spin rapidly down out of the sky.

"Now, arrogant mortal, you must bow your neck to your master!"

The leaden sea was lit by red flashes. The guns of the Kraken sounded through the reek of battle, going off one after the other as it steamed past the burning hulk of one of Penance's dagger-hulled demon frigates. An Atellian cruiser loomed ahead, cutting across the flagship's path. The Hypello admiral barely had time to order brace for impact before the bridge crew had to throw themselves to the floor, the glass of the conning towers curved windows shattering as the Atellian ship delivered a crushing broadside that raked the entire length of the Spiran flagship.

"Penance turns his thumb down on you! His verdict is death!"

Shuruk'jaar barely took his eyes off Retala as a heavily-built Ronso veteran with a full blue mane and a long straight horn lunged at him. He caught the warrior's spear in both hands, stopping the attack dead, and his bat-like wings hooked in from the sides, their clawed tips punching through either side of the Ronso's neck. Shuruk'jaar's icy stare bored into Retala as he pushed the corpse back and let it fall.

"To you and everyone that follows you!"



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Penance sat back on his skull throne, staring at the battle through his minds eye wickedly smiling to himself.

"Excellent work Shuruk'jaar, Spira will soon be mine," Penance's vision shifted to the sky and he focused on the black airship dominating his arial forces, he zoomed in through the ****pits window locking sight onto Gau slightly annoyed due to Shuruk'jaar's plan. "So thats the one who has my orb and defeated my summoners, he will pay for that," Penance scowled turning to a robed man next to him, "Are preparations complete?"

"Yes my lord, all we need is your define power,"

"Excellent,"

*****************************

At the top of Penance's castle a robed man opened a great wooden door before Penance, he stared up at the dark sky rain beating off his face. "What a glorious day! Soon, soon my ambitions will all come true, my realm of everlasting darkness!" Penance walked onto the center of a black glyph marked on the ground around him six robed men kneeled on the ground chanting in a forgotten language. Penance rested his hand on his chest, "Father, join me this day, and let us conjure this world together," The glphy suddenly burst into black flames and above the castle the clouds began to swirl in a vortex, slowly a great demon began to drift down from the sky eventually landing softly before Penance he stood, just short of the size of an airship.

"Father..." Penance said looking to his chest, "Do you see? you have returned although I'm sorry it is only in body, for now let me use this body to vanquish my foes," Set stared at Penance with blank eyes which glowed a faded yellow standing out from his black scales and dark blue skin, the scales metalic in appearance looked a lot like armor and spread out to beyond Set's body curving into spikes. "That black airship up there holds the necro orb, destroy it and those inside it and retreive that orb," without a word or expression the giant demon launched into the sky like a rocket approaching the airal battle at blinding speed.

"Now to begin the merging of the worlds, I want the last standing Spiran's to see my world before their final breath," Penance turned to the robed men around him, "The angels are on there way, I do not want to be disterbed so make the necesary preparations and don't fail me," The robed men bow before leaving Penance.

********************************

"Damn Atellians and demons, I can't shoot them if they are clinging to our allies," Gau complained.

"Captain! Captain!" a crew man shouted, "something approached from Penance's castle at incredible speed, something big..."

"Move to engage,"

The shadow spun round towards the speeding demon who stopped suddenly, two airship breaking off from the Melee having the same idea has Gau, two black fire balls formed in the demons hand and both were thrown at the airships, the balls of fire collided with frightening power destroying the airship and lighting up the sky before Gau, Gau sheilded his eyes and gaped in awe, before smiling devilishly.

"Heh, a worthy demon, worthy to fight and worthy to die,"

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Shuruk'jaars wings plummeted down for the attack; Fariel disappeared in a haze of water, narrowly dodging the attack as she reappeared a few paces away. "Gonna have to be quicker then that!"She mocked, he ignored her and teleported in to attack again, she dodged.They continued this movement for a few more seconds before they separated from each other and stared.

 

I was expecting something a little better; it looks like Im a little faster then him.She judged his abilities and readied her swords.I have to save my strength for Penance, but I suppose I can annoy this guy a little longer.

"Yo, Shezzy!Are you holding back?" She smiled, "Here was me thinking you wanted to hear me scream!What a joke."

 

This time Fariel started, teleporting short bursts in erratic directions towards the demon.Shuruk'jaar heard the flash of water behind him and quickly blocked Fariels swords as she brought the hilts down towards the demons head.She smiled as he crossed his bladed wings to block the attack.The hilts collided and did near to no damage; instead it was the after effect that was the problem.

Ice spread out from her swords and encased his blade in a block of ice.It was an old technique she used to use on fiends when she trained.Freezing them and then shattering them.Shuruk'jaar was more powerful then your average fiends though, so it was unlikely that it would have the same effect.

Shuruk'jaar tried to pull his wings free but it was no ordinary ice, the pressure in which he was encased was extreme.Growling a dark aura whirled around him as he tapped into his power."You would dare to use such a weak spell on me?"

Fariel smiled and kicked off the back of his head, flapping her wings to gain a little more distance, the bindings on one of her sword loosened as she jumped back and she flung it forward."If it were weak, you would have broken out by now!"

Growling Shuruk'jaar tore his wings free in an act of raw strength, shards of ice left gashes and holes but fell away.Fariels sword was a millisecond too late and flew through the debris of her attack and into her opponents hand as he reached up and caught it.

Shuruk grinned, grabbing the binding that was attached to the sword he saw she was holding the other end and pulled it with such strength Fariel was pulled off her feet and towards the demon, she had to flap her wings to keep balance but took this to her advantage.Water surrounded her and she launched forward at an untraceable speed.Her opponent was sending his fist forward to hit her when she reached him but he had slowed down now. "Too slow." Time returned to normal when her teleport finished, she stood lightly on the ball of her foot, atop Shuruk'jaars fist.He blinked, his face betrayed his attempt to hide his surprise.

Fariel brought her other leg soaring forwards, colliding with the top of the demons head, he silently cursed as she followed it up with a secondary kick to the chin.She launched off then with a flip and Shuruk'jaar staggered back slightly dazed.

oo0oo

Neji landed beside General Beni on the wall and looked across the ranks of defenders, "I saw Fariel fly out here, where is she?" He asked, Beni just smiled.

"Having a fairly even fight with some large demon down there, she seems to be enjoying herself."Beni pointed Fariel out as she dealt Shuruk'jaar her signature somersault kick.

"Hang on, thats..." Neji rolled his eyes, "Trust our Fariel to get in a fight with someone like that.Diablos, can you get her attention?"

oo0oo

Fariel, Neji and the others are ready to leave.Better round this up.

Darn, just when I was starting to have fun as wellFariel would have sighed if she wasnt talking in her head to Leviathan.

Shuruk'jaar and Fariel stood apart, "Guess this is it.I should at least go out with a bang." Fariel spoke; water swirled up around her and created a shield, making it thick enough so that even her opponent couldnt see her completely.

Then, she charged towards him, Shurukjaar watched slightly amused and then disappeared.

The defenders on the wall all paused, all but Neji who had a crooked smile on his face.Fariels shield dropped, Shurukjaar having reappeared right in front of her and skewered her on his bladed wings, he grinned victoriously but his smile wavered as he saw Fariel look up at him and smiled, "Whats wrong Shezzy?You werent seriously expecting me to scream were you?Ive seen guardsmen scarier then you."

The rain around him, in a sudden gust of speed, shot past over head towards Bevelle.Water splashed down to the ground from the water clone that was stabbed.

Beni ordered his men to continue firing; but flinched as a hand slapped down on his shoulder, "One with the water, my friend."Fariel smiled as Shuruk'jaar roared at being deceived.

"How did?"Beni laughed, "Or more when did you switch?"

"While I was in the shield, I summoned up a clone in front of me.As he teleported in, I shifted out the back and hid in the rain before teleporting up here.He must be mighty embarrassed for not realising."

"Such simple trickery." Neji stated.

"The most simple are often the most effective." Fariel retaliated. "Shall we go?"



-- Edited by [BOSS]Asreal at 11:26, 2007-09-05

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"Frekta su'rahk!" Shuruk'jaar cursed under his breath as he watched Fariel escape back to Bevelle, soaring over his demonic infantry and under the flares and flashes of the airship battle until she reached the elven shield. It irised open and closed seamlessly behind her as the relentless bombardment of the demon mages continued to keep the defenders pinned down.

Slowly, the demon general lowered his bladed wings to a resting position behind his shoulders. The lacerations caused by the exploding ice were already healing - he barely registered the minor tingling sensation as the wounds closed themselves.

Shuruk'jaar found himself laughing quietly - he had been matched, he had to admit. He wondered how the fight would have ended if they had continued to the death. But the Angel had broken off the fight and there could be but one reason for that. Shuruk'jaar reached out with his mind towards the Calm Lands.

"My lord, the Angels are on their way."

Penance's response was dismissive, "Yes, I know. Do not concern yourself with them Shuruk'jaar - an entire legion of my finest bodyguards stand between them and my castle. They should delay the Angels long enough for me to finish my work here, and even if they don't I have killed Angels before and I will do so again. Have I not proved that already by besting Diablos' latest host, and by casting two of his comrades into the timeless prison of the Void? The First Aeons shall be mine at last, sooner or later. More important to you is that you crush the last Spiran defences, and swiftly."

"It will be done, my lord."

"Oh, and Shuruk'jaar?"

"My lord?"

"Prisoners are not strictly necessary, but keep a few of the mortals alive at the end - especially some of the arrogant elves, if possible - I want them to see my new demon world before they die."

"With pleasure," Shuruk'jaar growled, and terminated the link. Then he disappeared in a swirl of purple fire and rematerialised at the centre of the demon army, the front ranks of which had now broken into a jog as they neared the walls. Demon magic continued to thunder overhead. Shuruk'jaar fell into line alongside his honour guard of serpent demons, fixing his red eye on the city ahead.

"UHR GT'CHAAAAAA!" he roared, and the massed ranks of demons around him hissed, bayed or bellowed their various warcries in response. Both demon and Atellian host felt the savage joy of bloodlust. After this was over, Shuruk'jaar vowed, he would join his master and settle the score with the Leviathan Angel. Or, better yet, the score with the girl whose elven Banishing spell had scarred him so badly. Penance could have the power of the First Aeons, but first Shuruk'jaar would demand the right to repay his scars and his blinded eye a thousand fold.

He growled, the Atellian host controlling the anger and pushing it, for the moment, to the back of their collective mind so they could focus on the task at hand. There would be a time for revenge - for now, Shuruk'jaar would use all his cunning, strength and demonic brutality to bring about the ruin of this last bastion of mortals who dared to defy Penance.

He glanced up at the battle raging overhead - the Atellians were making themselves felt and several Spiran airships were damaged or burning. Shuruk'jaar saw a helijet hit by a trio of force-lance blasts and tumble from the air, trailing smoke, shredding apart as it fell. The fuel tank blew and Shuruk'jaar saw the pilot vaporised as he tried to eject. The Spiran air fleet was still locked in a desperate battle and none of its ships were in a state to intervene in his ground attack that was about to smash into the walls of Bevelle like a tidal wave. It was time to spring the final arm of the trap.

Shuruk'jaar reached out with his demonsense to the ships of the blockading fleet whose menacing silhouettes covered the seaward horizon.

"The Spiran air fleet is neutralised, assume attack formation!"

<ooc - that last is to link it back in to the rest of the storyline>



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