(Sorry for the super long opener, i had to post in three comments cause it was 2 long)

Neji head out on deck and gazed upon his opponent. Neji called upon all of Diablos power, in an instant black energy swirled round Neji, and two great bat wings bigger than ever before sprouted out of his back, Neji slowly levitated as the power traveled through his body, his muscles bulked, yet apart from that and the wings there was no real change in Neji’s appearance, he now had full control of Diablos’ power and could use it without changing his appearance greatly. As Neji stood the full power flowing through him, the occasional small bio-electrical bolt of purple would pulse from his body.

“Ok Diablos, this is what we have trained for, lets make sure he doesn’t forget us,”

“Lets rip him apart!” Neji exploded in power as he took flight letting the airship escape.  He rose his hand high in the air and a great black ball began to build.

“DARK MESSENGER!” Neji yelled and he threw the black ball at Penance, it collided with tremendous force, and caused Penance to recoil a little from the collision, a roar full of rage came from Penance, followed by an inhuman voice.

“DIABLOS! IT HAS BEEN AWHILE!” it boomed “SHOW YOURSELF!”

Neji threw a small demon ball at Penance to get his attention towards him. A fearsome laugh came from Penance followed by the same booming voice.

“HOW DISAPPOINTING I WAS EXPECTING THE REAL THING, NOT ANOTHER ANGEL, TELL ME WHERE ARE THE OTHERS,”

“Unfortunately they can’t be here, but don’t worry, you’ll find me interesting enough Penance,”

“DON’T GET ****Y BOY, I DEFEATED MANY ANGELS BEFORE WITH EASE AND THAT WAS BEFORE I HAD ALL THIS NEW POWER,”

“I think you’ll find me and the angels of this time a cut above the others in the past!” Neji yelled before flying at great speed towards Penance.  Neji darted around Penance, launching demon balls in rapid fire at all angles. Penance countered, by creating the same lot of bright circles, and all fired at Neji. Skillfully Neji weaved in and out of them. He drew both swords and began charged at great speed at Penance. He began slicing at Penances body, making small cuts thought out his body, yet they did not seem to harm him. Penance unleashed a black shockwave with threw Neji back, and once again fired a volley at him but this Neji was still regaining his balance and had no time to dodged.

“DARK ENCAMPMENT WALL!” he shouted and soon a great black shield surrounded Neji and took every hit, before fading away.

“Can’t you do better Penance…No? well then let me just do this…DARK CLONE!” Neji split into ten, and all charged at Penance.  Penance once again fired a volley, he was successful in hitting all the clones but not the real Neji, each one faded away into shadow.  Once closer to Penance Neji yelled “DARK ELEMENT EXPLOSION!”

A large spinning pillar of dark energy drilled into Penance, causing him to drift back.

“DAMN YOU FOR BEING SO SMALL!” he yelled “MEET ME ON THE GROUND!”

Penance began to shrink until he disappeared into the mist; Neji not afraid of his challenged gave chase. He darted through the mist and landed on a bare rocky area in the back ground stood the remains of a ruined city. He was greeted with sound of thousands of groans, he looked around him to see he was surrounded by undead creatures, most of which had wings, yet many looked like elves and some were human, Guado and even Ronso.

“What in the world?” Neji though to himself as the undead infront of him separated and a tall figure covered in black armor, four wings and carrying a sword with a purple aura walked towards him, it was Penance in his natural form.

“Hello there Diablos,” he said in a calm yet dominating voice

“The names not Diablos, I’m Neji, got it memorized?”

“Neji, you’re older than I thought, you sure you’re not too old to carry such power, I haven’t seen an Angel live past 25,”

“Look who’s talking, Mr. 5000 years old,”

Penance mockenly laughed at Neji “Indeed age does not count with power such as ours, and you are a lot stronger than any opponent I have ever faced before, had this been 5000 years ago you might have had a chance,”

“Today I will take you’re head Penance,”

“hmm had I a heart this would have been where I would of died of laughter, come, Angel,”

Neji exploded in rage and charged at Penance swinging both swords skillfully in a berserk fury, yet every swing was blocked by Penance showing great skill and balance.  Penance countered with many rapid swings and stabs, but Neji would not be so easily beaten, he dodged and blocked the attacks as if he would of 17 years ago even better in fact.  The battled soon heated up and the two fought furiously flying through the air, making many passes at each other both were striking within scant inches of a death blow, yet not a single wound was taking on any, Neji and Panance collided blades in flashing arcs, in a stand off they were equal in physical strength, yet it appeared Penance had more Stamina and sweat began to fall from Neji’s face as he struggled to keep the sharp sword away from his neck, Neji backed off and Penance blasted forward and made one heavy swing, Neji drifted back so Penance would soar above him and by placing both feet on his unguarded torso Neji kicked him higher in the air and by using the force of his double kick back flipped to land on the ground.  Penance regained his balance and stared down at Neji,

“He, he hit me? Impossible!” he thought to himself.  Penance shook off his disbelieve but Neji had already charged up a mighty Lightning Edge, and charged straight up towards Penance. Penance pointed his sword forward and charged at Neji to meet the attack, lightning edge met sword in huge collision of dark power but in the end both got thrown back.

The battle got to the point and which both sides were launching volley upon volley of magical attacks, Neji using his demon magic and Penance using a strange type of magic Neji had never seen before. This immediately put Neji at the disadvantage and it wasn’t long until Penance scored a critical hit on Neji when he threw an explosive purple ball at him. The blast sent Neji flying back some distance and he crashed into a group of undead warriors, Neji shrugged the monsters off but soon found himself stuck in one place by some unseen force. Neji struggled to free himself but to no avail, Penance approached him slowly, evil in his eyes.

“That’s you defeated all ready? Farewell…Neji,” Penance rose his sword to finish off Neji, but as a last ditch effort Neji yelled. “BLACK SHOCKWAVE,” the mighty shockwave blasted Penance and the surrounding undead back, and released him from his invisible prison. Neji tho weakened charged at Penance, but vaulting himself forward from the ground kicked Neji in the stomach causing him to grip his stomach in pain. Penance then flipped up to his feet kicking Neji in the air while rising. He chased Neji into the air immediately he clenched his fist and held it tight against his chest Penance stretched his arm forward aiming for Neji chest, but Neji with in open palm pushed aside Penances fist twisting his entire body along with the arm motion, following up from the block Neji turned a full 360 degrees and hammered his heel into Penances cheek.  Penance plummeted towards the ground face first, but by stretching his hand forward managed to flip back to his feet before connection with the rocky wasteland below.

“So you know, demon fighting art as well, let me show you how a true master does it,”

Penance moved to fast for Neji to react, and Neji soon found himself on the receiving end of an endless barrage of punches and kicks from all angles, before being thrown back by a mighty kick.  Neji staggered to his feet bloodied and battered. He reached for his swords but Penance was already there to retrieve them first.  Neji looked up at Penance who punched him with his metal armored hand; Neji fell back in a heap.

“You have no chance,” Penance boasted

Neji refused to give up, he got to one knee, and held both his hands forward, and the swords disappeared and soon reappeared in Nejis hand. Penance looked on surprised but soon drew his sword again.

“So you want to try this again do you? Well we never did get a winner in sword art,” Penance said

“No I just wanted my swords back,” Neji replied

“ok Diablos, we only have one option left, ready?”

“So then Angel what to you plan to do?”

A smile appeared on Neji’s battered face.

“I’m going to seal you once again,”

Penance stepped back in shock as Neji put his swords back and held both his hands out, energy swirled around Neji and then the sky cracked, Neji slowly took to the sky and with one flex the cracked sky shattered and behind Neji was a swirling portal to the demon world. Penance jumped back in fear, recognizing the portal which sealed him in an empty demon world for 5000 years.

“NO! NO! I will not be defeated again!” Penance yelled as the portal began to suck him in, he resisted with all his strength and a great stand off took place, Neji poured all he had into one last pull, yet it was not enough and Penance still resisted. Soon a smile came on Penances face.

“What’s wrong Neji, perhaps one angel is not enough to seal me! It takes at least two to even perform this skill properly…you fool,”

Penance darted towards Neji fist clenched and ready to strike, Penance fist flew forward yet did not reach its target, Neji had grabbed him by the wrist inches away from his face.

“We will go together Penance!” he yelled

Penance tucked his arm back desperately but could not break Neji’s grip.  Penance threw his other fist forward targeting Neji’s gut, Nejis hand caught the attack.

Penance stared at Neji’s face, Neji looked at him with stern eyes, the sweat and blood pouring on his face, clearly showing the effort he put in to stop Penance. Slowly they drifted back into the void and Penances eyes widened, but those eyes soon changed to bitter rage and unrestrained evil.

“Nice try angel, but all you’re efforts here today were for naught,” he barked mockingly.

Penance leaned back and slammed his foot in Neji’s stomach everything went into slow motion as Neji felt the pain shoot through him, his grip released and Penance took the opportunity to hold his open hand against Neji’s stomach.

“Enjoy the dark Neji,” he said as he blasted Neji back with a powerful demon ball attack.

Neji found himself thrown back into the void, he gazed forward as he saw the void close in front of him, the last of the light faded away as the hole sealed, leaving Neji in a cold empty oblivion.

Penance landed smoothly on the ground triumphantly. As many individuals approached him, clad in hooded black over coats.

“Well fought my lord, you’re strength is without a doubt,” one said

“That weakling angel was no match for me, I didn’t even break a sweat,” Penance boasted yet his claim was true, Penance stood only slightly roughed up, he appeared as if he never was in the fight.

“Come, I have much more power to bestow upon you,” the hooded individuals walked off leaving Penance, but then Penance felt something he hadn’t felt ever before, pain. Penance removed his armored glove and rubbed his cheek, and then his wrist.  Blood began to slightly pour from his nose and lip as a result of Neji’s crushing heel kick. Penance wiped the blood and stared at it, he had never seen his own blood, and the only blood to ever touch his hand was his enemies.

“Damn you Neji, if only I had been complete,” he said as he walked off.

The nightmare whirled through Feyd’s mind in a blur of images. The Judgement Aeon Ramuh, looking out across Spira from a high mountain as a great storm raged in the distance, violent flashes of purple lightning splitting the sky. A numberless army of monsters, demons and Unsent horrors, pouring from a dark portal deep within some twisted landscape. His friend Neji, falling screaming into a bottomless void. A dark sinister presence all around him, suffocating him, nowhere to hide, and a menacing voice:

“The war is far from over, Avenging Angels. I have returned…”

Feyd Kobie jolted upright in his bed, cold sweat pouring down his face. Beside him Sonya too jerked awake, her eyes flying open in panic as she gulped air. They looked at each other and instantly knew that what they had both been dreaming was no mere nightmare. Slowing his breathing and putting an arm round Sonya - as much to steady himself as to comfort her - Feyd began searching his mind for the long-dormant presence of Ramuh.

“You must go to the Ellessar woods and seek council with the elves right away, Avenger. I fear some great evil has returned.”

“Something’s very wrong. I think we should go talk to Master Laconfir.”

Sonya nodded.

“Tritoch told me the same.”

“Okay,” he said, giving her a brief hug, “You go and wake Eevee, and I’ll start packing.”

As Sonya pulled on a dressing gown and left the room, Feyd walked over to a corner of the room where a large iron-bound oak chest sat, took a key from his bedside drawer, and opened it with a creak from the aging hinges. Inside lay his elven bow and Atellian bracers, glinting in the dark. He had hoped that when he had put them away 17 years ago he would never need to use them again, but judging by what Ramuh had just told him, this was not to be the case.

* * *

Sonya knocked quietly but firmly on the door of her daughter’s room.

“Eevee? Wake up sweetheart.”

There was no response. Sonya frowned. Her daughter was usually a light sleeper.

“Eevee?”

She pushed open the door, to reveal an untidy bedroom cluttered with all the usual possessions of a Spiran teenager. The twin daggers that Fariel had given Eevee for her 12th birthday - a present Sonya had disapproved of as rather inappropriate but had relented on when she saw how happy Eevee was when Fariel went about teaching her how to use them - sat sheathed on a stand on the bedside table, but the bed itself was empty. And the bedroom window was open.

Sonya sighed.

* * *

Eevee Kobie finished going through the balletic elven combat drills, the staff-like shape of the rune-inscribed Atellian force lance she had been given by High Priest Laconfir a year ago sweeping graceful arcs through the air around her, and spun the half-magical, half-machina weapon to the horizontal to deactivate it, the lance retracting telescopically into itself with a quiet snap-hiss to form a smaller tube about a foot long which she then stowed carefully in her belt. Sighing, she pulled herself cat-like up into the big tree in the middle of their garden, finding a seat in the fork of two of its bigger branches and leaning back to look up at the clear night sky.

Unable to sleep, she had come outside to see if she could tire herself out with some of the training rituals her elven mentor Alariele had been going through with her in the last few of her regular visits to the Ellessar woods. She enjoyed the scenery and ambience of the elven forest, for she was very much an outdoor girl, enjoyed the challenge of the training the elves put her through, something they said was important to her realising her destiny as a future Avenging Angel. She knew all the stories and the prophesies of course, and about the epic adventures her parents and their closest friends, uncle Neji and auntie Melina, auntie Fariel and Tanis, had been on - a tale that had amazed her and inspired her to explore everything she could and push herself to new limits - but she’d never really understood the point of it all now that Sin had been vanquished. But then, as auntie Fariel would have said, it was a challenge, and challenges are often worth pursuing just for their own sake. She smiled at that. She missed auntie Fari, who could be a bit scary at times but always seemed to dissolve back into this playful, mischievous kid when she was around Eevee. She seemed to view Eevee as some kind of protégé, teaching her all kinds of cool stealth tricks like how to climb about in trees without making a sound and get the drop on your friends. Auntie Fari’s occasional hints that Eevee would make a good apprentice “in her line of work” pissed off her mum no end. Eevee had never found out what auntie Fari’s “line of work” was - though she did know it went on at a secret underground city called Kebel up near Mt Gagazet, which she had visited once and found to be full of interesting people, many of whom were ****y and adventurous like herself.

Lately, auntie Fari had been more and more busy with her work and had come to see them less often. Her last visit had been months ago.

Eevee sighed again. She heard someone coming across the lawn towards her and turned to see who it was.

“Evelyn Jenae Kobie, don’t you ever sleep?” her mum was saying to her in that fondly exasperated voice she often used.

Eevee smiled innocently and slid down from the tree, brushing off her skirt as she did so.

“You’re not in bed either mum,” she pointed out with a cheeky slanted grin. She knew exactly how far she could push it with her mum before she went too far, and though her mother’s response was disapproving she saw her smile.

“Very funny, young lady.” Sonya replied, coming over to sit beside her daughter with her back to the tree-trunk, “How come you’re not in bed at 2am?”

Eevee shrugged.

“Couldn’t sleep. Tried to burn off some energy doing Alariele’s routines but it doesn’t seem to be working. There’s like this nagging feeling I’ve got that won’t go away.”

She didn’t see her mother’s expression change sharply as she said that, because suddenly there was a thunderous crash overhead as a great fork of purple lightning lanced across the sky without any warning. A great rolling boom of thunder followed as more lightning began to flash above them, strobing purple light across the garden and causing weird flickering shadows as great dark clouds swirled across the previously-calm sky. Sonya and Eevee leapt to their feet and Feyd came running out of the house to see what the commotion was.

“What the frak!?” Eevee yelled. In the stunning violence of the sudden storm, neither of her parents reprimanded her bad language.

<ooc - Jacen's first post to follow>

“Freeze!” a cool but commanding voice hissed from above, echoing round the side-street the three Kebelites had been sneaking down, thinking it was empty.

“Frak!” Larek cursed, glancing around the alley and the many windows of the tenement blocks that rose up several stories either side of them. Even his trained eye could not locate the owner of the voice.

Guardsman, was his first thought, Only a Guardsman would be stupid enough to shout “freeze!” and give up the element of surprise. But damn it, he couldn’t turn the tables until he knew where his opponent was.

His hand drifted towards the dagger at his belt. There was a sharp report from a machina rifle and with the ping of a ricocheting bullet the dagger went spinning away to clatter on the pavement.

“I said, freeze.” the voice came again.

Realising the game was up, Larek and his two companions straightened, keeping their hands well away from their sides.

“Thankyou, Larek Atlen,” the voice spoke out, impossible to pinpoint as it echoed around the alley. Larek swore again under his breath at the fact he had been recognised, “I’m sorry but I thought that was the best way to get your attention. Don’t worry, I’m not from the Guard. I just want to talk.”

Ahead of them, a dark figure detached itself from the shadows and jumped down from a vantage point. In his hands he held a bolt-action machina rifle with a long barrel and a telescopic sight attached, stained dark so it would not reflect the light. He lowered it once he had stepped forward, close enough for the three Kebelites to see him, but far enough away for him to raise it again if one of them went for a weapon. He wore loose dark clothes that blended in with the shadows and broke up the shape of his body so it was difficult to tell his appearance and build, though they could see he was quite tall.

“What do you want?” Larek asked, utterly confused by this mysterious stranger.

“As I said, to talk,” the man with the rifle replied, “I’ve been making some enquiries around Luca and one of the shadier characters I talked to gave me your name as one that might be able to help me. What can you tell me about a man called Kerr Locke.”

Larek stiffened, instantly on his guard. Fariel rarely talked about Kerr, but Larek was one of the few she had confided in about her old friend and companion who had turned traitor and tried to kill her. If this stranger was interested in Kerr, then he was probably also interested in Fari. He wasn’t about to say anything that would put his leader and friend in danger.

“Never heard of him.” he lied smoothly.

Unfortunately, the stranger had obviously seen his momentary tension. He drew back into the shadows and there was a menacing click - the unmistakable sound of a rifle round being chambered.

“Wrong answer, Larek.”

Realising he was out of options, Larek settled for the best compromise he could, telling the stranger part of the truth, but only that which was no danger to him and Fariel.

“Okay, okay. Kerr Locke - that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time…he hasn’t been in Luca in over a decade as far as I know.”

“Ah, but you do know him.”

“Not really. I know he used to work as a thief here under the tutelage of another young rogue, but the two of them disappeared from Luca ages ago.”

“Who was the other thief?”

“I honestly don’t know. He didn’t speak about her.”

Larek instantly cursed himself for the slip. He shouldn’t have specified that Kerr’s teacher was a girl. Oh well, there was still no way for the stranger to connect his ambiguous reference with Fari.

“Interesting,” the stranger mused quietly, “Thankyou Larek.”

Then there was a sudden flash as a smoke grenade exploded in the middle of the alley. Larek, Zeke and Dante all went for their weapons simultaneously, diving for cover, but by the time the fog had cleared the stranger had disappeared.

“Don’t worry Larek,” the stranger said, his voice coming from further away this time, “The Guard doesn’t know you’re here.  You can avoid their patrols if you keep following this alley and turn right.”

They listened, but there was only silence. The stranger had gone. Dante cursed.

“If he’s a Guard agent he’ll go straight to the nearest patrol and tell them we’re here.”

"That advice about taking the alley has got to be a trap." Zeke agreed.

“No, I don’t think he’s with the Guard,” Larek said slowly, “If he was trying to get info about Fari that was a lousy cover story and he didn’t get anything from it.”

“Then who the hell was he?”

Larek sighed.

“I don’t know. Fari will probably want to know about this though.”

He looked down upon her...older, yet the same Fariel. He hadn't changed much due to teh elven blood in him. But he knew Fariel was impulsove and wouldent notice. He smiled and drew his katana..."Playtime"

"Who goes there! i heard you! come out now and maybe we wont hurt you...much." shouted out Fariel.

"I'm giving you to the count of 3!

1...

2...

thr..."

A dark shape fell from the roof and knocked her to the floor."

"FRAK!" cried Fariel

Breezer and Lei were already on the floor when Fariel got up, binded by some unseen force...so was the rest of her crew...even whisper!

The dark shape lunged at Fariel, dancing around her blades with ease. It lunged at her, knocking a blade out of her hand and bringing its weapon to her neck.

"Pathetic. you should know better than that!"

Fariel looked at the shape.

"I do! BRISINGER!"

The shape jumped back to avoid the deadly fireball. And waited as Fariel retrieved her weapon. She rushed it and stabbed with both blades, one towards each side of the head. But it was no longer there.

"Behind you"

Fariel turned, and jumped back as a face appered out of nowhere behind her.

"boo"

Fariel didn't hesitate, she balled her fist....and punched the man square in the jaw!

The man reeled. Spitting blood.

"Well i guess i deserved that. but it was still uncalled for!"

Fariel stared at the face a second longer befor realisation spread across her face.

"...Tanis?"

"The one and only. I thought you might appreciate the irony of me...dropping in, again"

"Your a dick."

"But you love me for it!"

The man...Tanis stepped forward, and clicked his fingers, Fariels companians gave a gasp.

"Now Fariel...we have much to talk about. I don't have time to stay. I must find Kobie and Sonea..Melina too, and i must rush if i am to catch them before they reach the elven forests. I must also find all of there children. Neji is not a concern."

"But...Tanis its been years...how...why.."

"Shush. I will explain all in time. It seems my role as guide is not yet complete. 2 Days Fairel. Meet me at the calm lands. I will have the rest of us there. Now i must go. I don't have time...i'm still always in a rush you see!" Tanis smiled warmly.

"But Tanis i don't understand...we haven't heard from you in years...and yet...here..now..."

"Our battle is not yet finished, we must now look to the young ones...as well as ourselves. 2 days Fariel. Be there."

Tanis turned and with a florish, sheathed his blade and walked out.

"Tanis you can't wear weapons...."

"Fariel...when did rules ever bother me."

And with a flick of the wrist. Tanis disappered into the distance.

Fariel sighed.

"Here we go again..."

"Well, its nice to know that the world still has some misery." Soven whispered to the shadows.

The sky outside the cell was dark and a taste of foreboding clung in the air. Soven had always loved storms, they inflicted fear and panic in the weak.  He once feared storms and would cling to the warmth of his mother, but he had aged, he became more powerful and fearful, he laughed at such storms.

That was before his step-brother, Soren, stepped in and ruined his fun.  Soven was a feared name, no one dared whisper it unless they wished a painful death.  Many tried to slay him but all fell, screaming and crying for mercy.  Soren begun to fear Soven too, and acted against him, but failed.  Soven wanted to kill him, had no doubt that he deserved it but she stepped in.  Their mother stopped Soven killing his brother by begging her eldest son to forgive the younger.

Soven learnt a dangerous lesson that day.  He still loved his mother and because of her love, Soven fled West to the ocean and became a pirate.  But Soven somehow changed his ways.  He fought for honor and devoted his life to helping others.  All the while he muttered about a Blood Debt and a man with wings.  After time, his brother came for him and they fought and Soven was victorious once again. Once again Soven let him live, unable to stop the tears when he thought of his mother's grieve.  Soven started drinking heavly and was drunk daily. Soren caught him drunk and he beat his elder brother.

Soren dragged Soven home, just West of the Thunder Plains and imprisoned his brother in a cell built solely for him and was guarded day and night by a thousand guards, and there Soven lay for 6 years, waiting, thinking, planning when he came for a visit.

Soven sat on his plain bed looking out the barred window, thinking of life and the point of it.  If there was a point.  Why live only to die one day?  Why seak so-called "happiness"?  Soven learnt long ago happiness was useless, with so much pain in the world.

"Do you always think with so much self-pity?  Or have you been here too long?"

I have been here too long, Soven thought.  I'm starting to hear voices in my head.

"Think agian, Soven the Warrior."

Soven jerked himself out of his train-of-thought and stared through the bars to a tall man, covered in shadows.

After a long silence Soven spoke.  "Who are you?  How'd you get in?  And why are you speaking to me?"

The stranger smiled.  "A while ago I was attacked by people wishing to kill me, and they almost did.  I'm speaking to you because I have an offer for you, Soven the Unbeatable.  How would you like to be my right hand man?  The right hand man of the new ruler Spira.  The successor of Sin."

Soven smiled.  "Nice bed time story."  Soven yawned loudly.  "I've been trying to get to sleep for hours.  Cheers."  Soven closed his eyes with a smile and began to wondered....

<ooc - the rate of posting frankly amazes me...you guys really were desperate to get this RP going! LOL>

Eevee stifled a yawn as dawn broke and the great forest before them started to come gradually into relief not far ahead.

“Not far now,” Feyd said, his hand wound affectionately around Sonya’s as he turned to Eevee, “Hope you don’t mind if we get there first and meet the elves before we stop for breakfast?”

“Fine by me, dad,” Eevee said with a shrug and a smile. Her parents had often taken her out for long hikes in the past - her mother taking the opportunity to teach her about the nature around them with an enthusiasm that almost matched that of the elves while her father showed her all kinds of cool fieldcraft skills he had learned as a Custodian - and this was neither the longest nor the most difficult, so walking for an extra half hour before eating didn’t bother her.

“I’ll let them know we’re coming,” Sonya said, stopping and closing her eyes to activate Tritoch’s Farsight gift. She hadn’t used it in a while but she felt the familiar lightening sensation as her consciousness drifted up into the sky and over the woods, searching for Laconfir or Neji or someone else they knew among the trees.

* * *

The blocky shape of the airship freighter drifted slowly across the mountainous landscape, the sun glinting off the Guard insignia on its steel side. If there had been anyone below, they would have observed the strange sight of the main bay doors opening slightly and a dark shape moving next to the entrance, before casting a rope outwards towards the ground and quickly shimmying down it.

The same rifleman who had questioned Larek and broken into the Guard’s Luca precinct house slashed a knife across the rope above his head and dropped the last few metres to the ground, breaking his fall with a diving roll.

“It’s all too easy…” he laughed to himself as he stood up, the airship continuing obliviously on its slow course. The man rested the black rifle on his shoulder behind his head and turned his gaze upwards towards the daunting sight of Mt Gagazet - thickly forested on its lower slopes, barren on the uppers, its highest peaks capped with snow.

He laughed to himself. He knew he stood almost no chance in the Farplane of finding a hidden fortress on such a huge mountain with such dense terrain and so many rocky crags and caves that might hide secret entrances, especially when the Guard had been trying the exact same thing for years with no success.

But he also knew he had to try.

The girl jumped back as soon as her eyes met Keiji's but to her surprise the boy immediatly turned his head sort of jumping as she met his eyes, this immediatly put her nerves at ease, she found it funny and somewhat cute to see how nervous he was and saw him at no threat. She wondered who he was, he was handsome, had an innocent face, but the muscles around his arms and chest showed a much differnt side, yet he was quite skinny a healthy figure. It was then an image flashed before her eyes, the last thing she saw before passing out, the figure in the snow.

"Were you the one who saved me?" she asked

Keiji swallowed his nerves, he was starled by the girls sudden movements after he felt himself lost in her hypnotic eyes  "Yes, and I'm sorry if I startled you when you woke up,"

She smiled at his response "Thank you, and don't worry about, I've had a rough past few days, I guess I just wasn't expecting to wake up and see a friendly face, but what off my captors,"

"I think two are dead, and the third fled,"

"did you defeat them? All by yourself?" she asked surprised

"yes," 

"amazing, who are you?"

"my name is Keiji Leingod,"

"Leingod? are you Related to Neji Leingod?" Keijis eyes lit up, he had just started his search and might have already found a lead.

"My father! do you know where he is,"

"Well that explains it, no wonder you're so strong you are related to the mighty Neji, sorry I don't know where he is I've only met him a few times he's business partners with my dad,"

Keiji sighed. "has something happened to Neji?"

"I don't know, he went missing I'm out to find him,"

"hmm maybe my father knows, we can go see him together, I'll need an escort going home anyway,"

Keiji bowed "thank you for you're assistance, miss?"

"Oh I'm sorry, the names Tsunami Stead," Tsunami looked down at clothes she was now wearing and smiled.

"Here you better take these back, you'll get a cold, don't worry I have this blanket," Tsunami removed the T-shirt and the thin shirt like jacket and with small graceful steps approached Keiji. Keiji sprang to his feet and stood up right, she was about the same size as Keiji and now with colour in her face Keiji relised she was more beatiful than he thought, yet he kept steady and took T-shirt back and swifty put it on, "keep the jacket," he said refusing it, "it's cold,"

"Thank you, Keiji," Tsunami stared in Keiji eyes, and grabbed his hands, "Keiji you have no idea how thankful I am to you," Keiji went red, her hands were soft and gentle yet they gripped him, Keiji could feel and see it in her eyes just how much she actually went through.

"Don't worry Miss Stead its all ok now and I shall make sure you return home safely, but for now you should get some rest until the blizzard stops,"

"Come on Keiji, I'm 17, and I'm not like all those other rich girls, call me Tsunami,"

"Ok Tsunami,"

Tsunami sat next to the fire close the Keiji, almost touching him, Keiji's nerves were beginning to settle, he occosionally looked over to her, her eyes were staring at the fire, lost in though, it was then suddenly she broke down into tears, no longer could she hide the tears from her terrifying ordeal, Keiji moved in closers.

"Whats wrong," yet she did not answear instead she wrapped her arms round the unexpected Keiji, hugging his chest closely, tears pouring from her eyes. Keiji turned red and his heart began to rase, slowly he put arm around to confort her and it wasn't long until she stopped crying, yet remained hugging him, she could hear Keiji's heart race which made her smile, the warmth from his body was soothing and she kelt her troubles vanish, and then suddenly the blizzard stopped, and sunlight shown through the windows of the shop. Tsunami got to her feet her eyes now dry and looking as if she was never crying.

"I feel much better now, sorry Keiji, but I really needed that,"

Keiji still red replyed "d-d don't worry about,"

"Now I really must head home to Bevelle, its only a few hours walk from here," Tsunami approached the door and heaved it open, the sun reflecting off the fresh snow gleamed through the door and blinding Keiji.

"Come on Keiji, I'm not that scary to hug, get up," Keiji did as ordered

"Wait, I have one more question, when I rescued you, you had wings, why is it you have wings?"

Tsunami smiled and looked back at Keiji over her shoulder, "I'm an Angel," she said jokenly while winking at Keiji with flirtaous eyes.

<ooc - I’ll get back to Jacen soon (I think I’ll have him join up with the Kebelites in the hope of finding out more - he probably figured from Fari’s hostile and evasive response that she knows more than she’s letting on, so he’s going to be subtle. He does have a decent reason - he has been a thief since he was 5 LOL) but for now my other characters are lagging a bit behind>

“Ah. I thought I would be seeing you two soon enough, Angels,” Laconfir said with a tired smile from where he and Retala were poring over stacks of ancient-looking books in the familiar Ellessar chapel as Feyd and Sonya entered through the great arched doors. Light filtered down onto them from the many stained glass windows that detailed the elven legends about Sin and the First Aeons.

“We came to ask you about the storm a couple of nights ago, master,” Sonya began, “But, where are Neji and Melina? We thought they’d be here.”

“Yes, I know,” the High Priest said sadly, “I’m afraid I have some very bad news for you, my friends…”

Feyd and Sonya were suddenly seized by a strong sense of foreboding. A purple storm raging across Spira. Something terrible befalling their friend Neji.

Their nightmare was coming true.

* * *

Having been told to wait outside by her parents, Eevee paced up and down in front of the chapel doors, fidgeting restlessly with the cuff of one of her arm warmers. She pulled out one of Fariel’s daggers that was concealed within it in a clever holster strapped to her forearm and spun it dexterously in her fingers, a tension habit that she had picked up from the dagger’s previous owner.

Oh, frak this… she thought to herself.

Sighing, she got up and wandered off through the elven forest town, looking for someone she knew. She decided to try Keiji’s house - she didn’t expect any real conversation from him, but he might be one of the people who knew something of the storm and how it affected them. She walked round the side of the house to be greeted by the sight of Melina standing at the front door, looking very distraught. Her usually radiant face looked drawn and pale, and her eyes were red as if she had recently been crying. One hand was over her face, while the other held a scrap of paper.

“Auntie Melina?” Eevee ventured tentatively, “Are…are you okay?”

Melina started violently as if she hadn’t noticed her, dropping the piece of paper as she did so. Before Eevee could say another word, Melina had burst into tears again and vanished through the front door, closing it quickly behind her and leaving Eevee totally bewildered on the doorstep. This wasn’t like Melina at all. Curiously, she stooped to pick up the piece of paper and turned it over to find a hastily-scribbled note on the other side.

“Oh, sweet Aeons…” Eevee breathed. By the look of it something bad had happened to her god-father and Neji had set off to find him. Perhaps normally she would have made a joke about Keiji being even more nuts than she had thought, but she could appreciate the gravity of the situation. She turned to see her parents coming down the street towards her, their faces grim.

“I don’t think we should bother auntie Melina right now,” Feyd said quietly.

“Something bad’s happened, hasn’t it? And Keiji’s gone.”

Feyd nodded quietly.

“What’s up, dad?”

Feyd looked at his daughter. Despite her superficial pretences at immaturity, he knew she could be serious when required and was grown-up enough to hear everything he and Sonya had heard from the High Priest.

“I’ll explain on the way. Right now we have to catch up with Keiji.”

A long time ago he and Sonya had sworn to Neji that they would be there for his family if they needed them, and it looked like the time had come to honour that promise.

“Tritoch, come forth!” Sonya said, and as she spread her hands and looked upward, glittering Pyraflies began to rise up from the ground around her, coalescing in the air above her into a familiar avian form. With a silent flash of mutihued light, the awe-inspiring figure of Tritoch appeared in Spira for the first time in years, the sunlight scintillating off his brightly-coloured feathers as he gave a hawk-like cry and swooped down to land next to them.

Sonya looked into the soft golden eyes of the noble bird, who allowed her to reach out and stroke the feathers on his head.

“Good to see you again, Tritoch.”

And you, Angel, the Balance Bird replied, his powerful yet gentle voice flashing in her mind.

The three humans climbed onto the Aeon’s back and with a great sweep of his majestic wings, Tritoch took to the skies.

* * *

Sonya opened her eyes after another unsuccessful psychic sweep for Keiji using her Farsight. Her powers had limits and she could not scry over an infinite distance. They were now soaring over the snowy wasteland between Macalania and Bevelle, flying low under the overcast rain clouds that stuck close to the snow-covered landscape so they could get an unobstructed view of the ground.

“Anything?” Feyd shouted over the wind.

Sonya shook her head, “I’ll try again!”

Tritoch flew on relentlessly, never seeming to get tired despite the buffeting side-winds. They were affecting his passengers though - Feyd had his black elven-made overcoat pulled tight around him against the wind-chill and Eevee was blowing on her numb fingers to try and keep them warm.

Abruptly, Sonya’s eyes snapped open and she shouted, “Wait! There he is!”

Soven sat on his bed with his eyes closed and his mind racing.  He was thinking about his Demon and his mission to protect the son and why he was needed to protect the son.  Maybe the child has no strengh or no real skill or maybe he's not my Demon's true son.

Either way it didn't matter, at least not untill he escapes.  Soven began to formulate his escape plan.  After about 10 minutes of thinking, the plan was:  step 1 - wait for the guard to bring his food and to wait for the right moment, step 2 - kill him and the others, step 3 - search for his Scimitar and his Dirk and step 4 - steal money and a ride to the coast and search for the son.

Soven grinned widely.  He will soon be free of his Blood Debt, free from his Demon and free to what ever pleases himself.  He thought of the raids he did, the money he stole, the people he slaughtered and the women he raped.

But something was wrong.  When he thought of them he didn't feel pleasure, the rush of excitement and the thrill of blood.  Instead he felt... disgusted?  But why?  Why can't he make his mind stay sane?  Why have I changed?  Soven asked himself.  Where did I go wrong?

He thoughts were interrupted when he heard locks turn and a pressure hiss.  Dinner.  A lone guard walked down the long hall to Soven's cell, holding a tray with bread and watered mead, Soven's favourite drink, except stronger but he is also denied the simple luxury of getting drunk. 

Soren never wanted his brother to escape.  If Soven broke out of his cell, the guard next to the door would seal it shut and realise a sleeping agent before Soven could reach it.  But Soven loved a challenge.

The guard wore black clothes and a gas mask.  They wore mask for two reasons, one, incase he was still in the hall if the agent was realised and two, to keep his face hidden from Soven.  Soven still enjoys the fact that after 6 years, the guards still fear him so badly, that if he does escape he can't hunt them down.  Can't find what you don't see.

The guard with food always has no weapons, same for the one at the door.  Who'd be dumb enough to give Soven a chance to fight and kill his way free?

This guard.  He must have forgot to empty his pockets as Soven show his chance for escape, in the form of a silver hip flask.  Soven could dwel on the irony that a drunk will set him free when he was only beaten when drunk.

But he had no time.  His time to act was now.

"About time, boy!"  Soven snapped at the guard who jumped with an audiable squeak. "I'm straving!" 

The guard took keys out of another pocket and with 1 hand opened the door.  Soven waited.  He stepped into the cell.  Still, Soven waited.  The guard placed the tray on the floor and turned back to the door.

Soven flew from the bed, grapped the guard's neck, snapped it with an loud snap.  Soven reached into his pocket, took the flask and threw it at the second guard.  But he was slow to act and when he saw the flask coming, he could only gasp.  The flask smacked hard on his mask, smashing the glass.  The guard screamed for a couple of seconds before Soven could silence him.

"HA! I haven't lost my touch.  I'm still the best."  Soven s******ed loudly and looked around him.

A terminal stood next the door with moniters above and a swirly chair stood in front of it and a second door on his left was the only exit. 

"Hmm.  I should have some fun first,"  Soven mused,  "But I can't stay for too long."

Soven sat at the terminal.  Having no real experience with computers Soven relied on his basic computer skills.  He needed to find where his weapons are kept, the exit and a way to open every door.  After clicking buttons and getting no where, Soven pushed every button available.  The moniters flashed, pictures changied, the lights went off, an alarm sounded but for only a second and both doors opened and closed several times before staying closed

Soven snarled and raised his fist to smash the useless thing when a word flashed on the screan.

Help?

Soven clicked it and a list appeared.  "Soren, you make this too easy."  After a quick scan, Soven found what he needed.  His weapons were stored in a room not 100 feet from where he was, a generator was even closer and he was able to print a map off that showed the nearest exit.

Soven stood up and was about to head for his weapons when an idea struke him.  He needed money but Soren didn't store it here so he needed to use the guards.  He noticed a microphone while he was using the computer.  The fliped the switch:

"EVERYONE, GET OFF YOUR ASS!!  Sorry, but I need your attention for just a moment.  If you don't know me, my name is Soven, or Soven The Beast as my brother calls me.  Not everyone knows that though, but lets hope it catch's on, huh?  Oh, by the way.  If you haven't guessed, I've escaped and I plan to leave this pit.  Anyone wanna stop me?  If so, good.  I need some exercise.  See ya soon!"

Soven punched the consloe, smashing the thing to pieces and ran.  Although Soven has never been beaten, a thousand against one is a little unfair if Soven remains unarmed, so he made for his Scimitar and his Dirk.  Running through the metals hall Soven ran into either a patrol or deserters, he didn't care which, of about 15 men.

Without stopping, Soven jumped and kicked one in the throat, breaking his neck and the force threw him back in his campanions.  Soven noted they only had a black rod each.  The stunned guards tried to pick themselfs up and use their weapons but Soven snapped their neck and cracked skulls with punches and kicks not seen in years, with enough force to snap a boulder in half.  After the last died with his head facing the wrong way from a well placed punch, Soven continued to sprint for his weapons.

Soven turned a corner and encountered a door.  Soven tried to push it open but it was locked.  Soven smiled, stepped back readied himself, spun on the spot and slammed his foot against the door.  It caused a massive dent and bent the hinges but it held.  He threw punches and the door caved after a short barraged.

Smiling Soven said,  "Now thats interesting.  Since when could I snapped enforced doors in half?  I've never been able to do that."  The smile faded and a look of worry replaced it.  "Whats happened to me?"  Soven stared at his bruise free fists but snapped back to reality when he heard feet stampeding.

Soven raised his head and saw the most beautiful thing ever.  His great Scimitar and his Dirk rested on a table, layed next to their scabbards.  He rushed over and snatched them up, his Scimitar in his right hand and his Dirk in his left.

Soven laughed loudly,  "SOVEN THE UNBEATABLE HAS RETURNED!!!"  he yelled just as all the guards in the prison charged through the broken door, black rods raised, a battle cry yelled.  Soven leaped in the air and landed in a crouch in the middle of the guards, as he stood he spun his sword cutting those closest in half.  With new room to move Soven took on every guard and every guard fell to the Scimitar and all pitiful attacks were stopped by the Dirk.  The one sided fight shifted as Soven reigned supreme.

OoOoOoO

Soven walked out of his home for the past six years, covered in blood, his scabbards at his waist, the dirk on the left and the scimitar on his right.  With his honor satisfied and his money pouch full, Soven looked around at the scenery without bars.  The air was sweeter then ever, the world looked so beautiful and vast.  He looked around the Thunder Plains and felt so happy, the hills were perfect, the distant mountains were so large and he wanted to climb them all, but he felt, more then heard Keiji in his mind.

"Dont worry Demon.  I'm going."  Soven looked for a form of transport and spotted a garage and a small river.  He thought it best if he saw himself before others did.  He walked up to the river and bent down and saw himself.  His face was pale, shadows covered his eyes and his cheeks seemed to be pulled in, his hair was long and dusty and of course his clothes were ragged and worn out and covered in still wet blood.  He frowned.  Soven needed good food, a wash and new clothes.  The guards will have a storehouse and spare clothes and a bath somewhere in this place but he wanted to make sure that there was way out first.  He got to his feet and walked over to the garage to find it empty but for a brand new hover bike.

Soven laughed, "Ace!  A hover bike!  I've always wanted to try one and now I have my very own.  Today is a very good day for me."

Tsunami stood behind Keiji whispering to him.

"who are they?"

"Friends," Keiji replyed "Feyd Kobie and Sonya Kobie are my god parents and thats there daughter Eevee, she's a wild one, I've always liked her spirt and she's fun, if somewhat scary sometimes,"

"Keiji from what I gather from you so far every girl is somewhat scary to you," she said playfully mocking him.

Kobie and Sonya approached Keiji, "Keiji what are you doing? Melina is worried about you," Sonya said sternly

"I told her I'm going to bring back dad, tell her not to worrie I'm fine,"

"Keiji, Neji is...,"

"Don't even say that!" Keiji yelled iterupting Kobie

"Keiji please come back with us, if Neji is still alive we'll find him, Zell has almost completed the Shadow, you can search with him,"

"No, I'm not going back without my father, I promised myself, anyway, I must take Tsunami here home,"

Eevee stepped forward a smiling, "Keiji, never thought I'd hear you speak like that, and travelling with a girl,"

Keiji looked at Tsunami and blushed, but soon shook it off.

"Keiji you go back with Sonya and Eevee and I'll take Tsunami home,"

"No, I must also speak with her father he might know something about my father,"

Sonya and Kobie looked at eachother they knew nothing they could say would have Keiji leave Tsunami and go home.

"Very well, we will accompany you to where Tsunami lives, you can speak with her father get you're information, and you can then return to Ellessar woods tell everyone what you have learned then set out with Zell on the Shadow, to get Neji, how does that sound,"

Keiji had no reply instead he turned round and started walking towards Bevelle, "Very well, lets go then,"

It didn't take long to reach Bevelle, and the party soon found themselves following Tsunami through the massive capital, the busy streets were packed with travellers, merchants and and towns people, everyone going about there business. Guard soliders patroled the streets keeping the peace, looking out for anything suspicious.

They eventually came accross a massive arch marking the end of the busy part of Bevelle and the start the rich district, the arch was guarded heavily from thieves but the minute the guards reconised Tsunami they all passed unchecked.

Eevee ran forward to walk along with Tsunami.

"You, live here?,"

"Yeh, my father is a well none tradesmen, he is also the big boss behind the Machina faction," Tsunami stopped in front of a great mansion, it was impressive and bigger than many of the houses yet at the same time dwarfed by others.

"Here we are thank you all for making sure I got home safetly, and Keiji," Tsunami took his hand "I'll take you to my father, we won't be long guys, please walk around,"

Tsunami led Keiji into the mansion, the they opened they door maids and butlers walking the halls, keeping things tidy, all stopped and greeted Tsunami thankful to see her home and safe.

The Mansion was a wonderful collection of colours, flowers could be seen in all around, red and cold rugs made paths along the polished oak floor, the walls were decorated with paintings and many expensive ornamets could be see dotted around the halls. After ascending a stair case infront of the main door, they came across many long halls, many differn't rooms were dotted along the hall, yet only one was a concern to them, at the end of a hall they across a room door locked with a sign informing the Maids and Butlers to not disturb.

"This is my fathers occice, don't worry about the sign he likes privacy when working," Tsunami slowly opened the door and peered in, her father, a stout man lay still on his desk, wimpering to himself.

"Father? I home,"

Trevor Stead lept up from his chair, his eyes lit up upon seeing his daughter alive and well, he ran at a speed that you wouldn't expect to see a man of that size run and wrapped his arms around his daughter in a thankful embrace.

"My Daughter," he cryed "You're home,"

A tear came down Tsunamis face and she hugged her father. It was a happy moment to see Father and Daughter reunited once again, Keiji smiled and drifted back to leave them to the moment. After a couple minutes the two eventually drew back from there hug.

"What happened to you, Guard searched everywhere for you, we were afraid Kebel had taken you,"

"When I went outside I was attacked by three winged men, tho they were more like demons, they took me to Machilani,"

"how did you escape?"

"I was fortunate, Neji's son Keiji was around, defeated my captors and rescued me from them and saved my life from the cold, Keiji is outside, he needs to speak to you,"

Trevor straighten himself up and left the room, to see Keiji who was standing paitently in the hall staring at the paintings along the walls.

Trevor called out to Keiji and grapped his hands which shook the timid boy, "Keiji Leingod, the reason I am so successful is all because of you're fathers on time and perfect services not to mention that man as saved my life and that of colleges many times, and now you the son, have saved the life of my daughter, how could I ever make it up to you and you're family,"

"Well sir..."

"Call me Trevor,"

"Ok, I would to speak to you about my dad,"

Suddenly something came to Trevor, in the mits of his excitment and he turned to Tsunami, "You're birthday! it was interrupted by that storm, oh my we must start up the ball again! its not like me to leave a party unfinished, Keiji my lad you will join us, you can sit up next to me!"

"No no, I really must,"

"Nonsense, I'll be right back," Trevor said before pacing down the corridor, Tsunami came up behind Keiji laughing, "He gets like that when excited, won't listen to a word you say," Tsunami hugged Keiji, "Please come Keiji, it would mean so much to me."

Keiji couldn't say no when hugged by a beautiful women and shakenly said yes. Trevor came pacing down the corridor again this time followed by a clean cut, neat Butler. "Jevees here will fit you with a suit, don't worry about you're clothes my maids will look after them and clean them, I'm they will also clean you up for tonight,"

It was all to much for Keiji and the only thing he could say in reply was "What about my companions outside?"

"They can come too!," Trevor reply instantly he called over another butler and maid. "Get this lads companions invite them to the ball to night, and take them into town and get them some clothes, to night we will feast to my daughters return! and don't worry about whatever you want to speak to me about my lad, it can wait till the party,"

Trevor hurried down the corridor again this time taking his daughter with him, Keiji was left standing mouth opened in the middle of the hall Butlers and maids around him.

"Oh crap,"

“What’s going on, Keiji?” Eevee asked, allowing one of Trevor Stead’s butlers to take her jacket for her as she and her parents were ushered into the hall. Keiji shrugged.

“Tsunami’s dad was so happy to have her back that he went and invited us to her birthday ball, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Keiji,” Sonya began, “We really don’t have time for this…”

“Aw, lighten up mum,” Eevee joined in, “I don’t know about you but I’m in the mood for a party. So it’s Tsu’s birthday?” she shot at Keiji, “That bit of info, I missed.”

“I didn’t find out until just now,” Keiji replied, shrugging again.

“Come on mum,” Eevee pleaded, turning to Sonya, “What harm could a few hours do? And it obviously means a lot to this Trevor guy, and Tsu would probably want Keiji to be there.”

Her mother sighed, finally relenting. Feyd for his part just gave an exasperated smile.

“If sir and madam would care to follow us?” one very formal butler, accompanied by a similarly stiff and smartly-dressed other who could have been his identical twin, said to Feyd and Sonya, as Eevee skipped off to follow Keiji, the butler called Jeeves and his small entourage of footmen and maids down the main hall and towards a magnificent red and gold staircase.

“So where to?” she asked as they climbed the stairs, “Though I’m not exactly turned out for a formal ball.”

She laughed apologetically, looking down self-consciously at her gothic-patterned corset top, half-length black skirt and lacy knee-high boots which, while suiting her style, didn’t really lend themselves to an upper-class dinner party.

“Perhaps we can help miss with that,” Jeeves commented, pushing open a gilded door and gesturing politely for them to go through. It led into a room full of clothes - racks of expensive dinner suits, tuxedos and ball gowns stood in aisles, while yet more exquisite clothes were folded neatly in cupboards next to the walls, “If sir and miss would care to select an outfit of their liking, the fitting rooms are at the far end. We will have your normal clothes laundered, pressed and returned to you by the end of the evening.”

Keiji wandered off through the aisles of smart dinner suits, while Eevee ran straight to a dark-red crushed velvet dress with flared mesh sleeves and lace-up front - just her size - that was hanging on display on one of the walls.

“Now this I like,” she said with a grin, her eyes shining as she fingered the soft material.

* * *

“I’m afraid you can’t take that into the ballroom with you, miss,” the maid accompanying Eevee said as she finished doing twirls in front of the mirror and picked up her Atellian force lance that she had removed from her belt when she unbuckled it, “You’re not really meant to be carrying it around the building at all,” she added disapprovingly.

“Oh, right,” Eevee said - she hadn’t of course been planning on carrying the weapon around the ballroom with her, she had just been picking it up to store with the rest of her clothes, but unfortunately it had drawn the attention of the maid. She spun the foot-long tube round her back, threw and caught it, then handed it to the maid who seemed equally disapproving of the little display, but also seemed too polite to say anything.

“Will you be keeping those on, miss?” the maid asked, indicating the lacy black-and-purple arm warmers Eevee still hadn’t taken off.

“Yes, thanks, I reckon they go with the dress,” Eevee said, though in truth she just didn’t want the maid knowing she had yet more weapons hidden about her person - Fariel’s daggers were still sheathed underneath them.

“So where do we go now?” she asked, changing the subject.

“If you’ll come with me please, miss.” the maid said with a curtsey, gesturing for Eevee to follow her while another maid picked up her old clothes.

* * *

Jacen leaned up against the cave wall and slid down it into a sitting position, and with an effort managed to slow his breathing. Whatever answers he had found so far in Kebel had led only to more questions. Fariel’s voice, thick with wrath, echoed in his head.

“Your even worse then him! Why must all the men in your family be stubborn bastards!”
What had he done to make her hate him so much? Or, what had Kerr done? Jacen had always looked up to his older brother when they had been young, before he had disappeared when Jacen was still only 5. He had gone to see if he could salvage anything from a battlefield where the Crusaders had received their latest pasting from the Custodians and Sin, and had simply not come back. Jacen’s distraught parents had assumed Kerr had fallen foul of the Custodians, but Jacen had known better. His brother was cleverer than to get caught by those Sin-worshipping bastards. But then why had he just picked up and left? Jacen had been searching for the answer ever since his parents had let him leave home at 18. He had been following one fruitless trail after another for years since, each new lead getting his hopes up then invariably bringing them down again. But this time…he knew he was on to something. He just couldn’t work out why Fariel flared up like that at the mere mention of his brother’s name, and was prejudiced towards Jacen because of it. From what he had gathered, she and Kerr had been good friends, partners in crime. It just didn’t add up.

Too many questions. Too few answers.

He sighed and opened his eyes, to see the group of Kebelites regarding him impassively. Well, he had made it into Kebel, as more of a prisoner than a guest, he thought wryly, but at least it was something. There was going to be no quick answer to this mystery as he had hoped, but as a thief, hunter and marksman, Jacen was nothing if not patient.

Well, even a journey of a thousand miles had to begin with a single step.

“Hi,” he said to his new neighbours. Guards, more like, “I’m sorry, I didn’t get some of your names?”

<ooc - gatecrashers! XD>

A badly shaken winged man swept down out of the darkening sky and made a stumbling landing near the circle of hooded men, falling to his knees as he crash-landed. Penance spun round angrily at the intrusion to turn his sinister gaze on the black-armoured Atellian.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, “Where are your companions? And where is the girl?”

“My lord,” the Atellian stammered, “My companions are dead - I was forced to flee and leave the girl behind when we were surprised by a young warrior who wielded Demon magic.”

Neji’s son, Penance thought.

“You let yourselves be defeated by a teenager!?” he roared, black energy swirling around him in his anger. A dark stream of fire lanced from his fist and consumed the Atellian in a swirl of purple flames. A charred skeleton tumbling to the ground in pieces and a glowing Pyrafly were all that remained when the fireball dissipated.

““If I want results I must stop sending incompetent fools to do my bidding!” Penance growled, “My lieutenants!”

Three of the hooded figures stepped forward.

“Find her.” Penance ordered them simply.

<ooc - Damn LOL Okay, I'll change it to make the three lieutenants more ambiguous>

Eevee watched, doing her best to conceal a smile as Keiji and Tsunami left the hall hand in hand.

“So much for being awkward around girls…” she giggled to herself, “Keiji, I’d never have thought it of you.”

Then again, there was something different about Tsunami - she and Keiji just seemed to connect somehow in a way most strangers didn’t.

Under the pretext of going to get a drink from the buffet table, Eevee stood up, wound her way through the crowd, and surreptitiously left the ballroom through the main door. She knew that Keiji and Tsunami probably wanted privacy, but was unable to contain her curious, mischievous streak. It wasn’t like she’d let them see her anyway…

Or was it just curiosity? She wondered as she stepped out into the cool night air and saw Keiji and Tsunami some way ahead, walking up towards a viewpoint. That uneasy feeling had crept over her again, the same one that had kept her from sleeping the night of the mysterious storm.

She looked around nervously at the suddenly darker-seeming streets, as Keiji and Tsunami stood talking quite happy and oblivious above her.

She saw the demons descending before they did.

Eevee let out a gasp as a group of about 20 creatures - some of whom looked like Atellians, others pale, gaunt and unnerving, like ghosts, and others still like the misshapen monsters out of her childhood nightmares, all led by three sinister hooded figures - swept down from the sky and surrounded Keiji and Tsunami.

Eevee’s hands instinctively went for her Fariel’s daggers concealed underneath her arm warmers as a stand-off developed on the viewpoint - thankfully the gang of evil creatures hadn’t noticed her, yet. Tortured by indecision, she looked up at the viewpoint, back down the street towards the Stead mansion, and back again. Should she dash in and help her outnumbered friends? But how much help would she be against so many? She had been training for years with the elves but had never been in an actual battle before. Should she run back to the mansion and fetch help? But then by the time she got back with it she might be too late…

She closed her eyes and put her hands to her temples, a desperate plan forming in her mind. The elves had said she might one day have the same powers as her parents, though it was impossible to tell yet. So maybe she had inherited her mother’s gift of Farsight telepathy…

Mum! Dad! she thought as hard as she could, focussing her mind on their faces and the ballroom where they were, Please Aeons, I hope you can hear this! You have to come outside right now! Keiji and Tsunami are in trouble!

* * *

Feyd turned to his wife curiously as she suddenly started.

“Are you okay, Sonya?”

Sonya frowned and put a hand to her head.

“I’m not sure, I thought I heard…hang on one second…”

* * *

After trying for the third time and seeing no-one emerge from the mansion, Eevee saw above her Keiji send one of the Atellians approaching him flying back with a huge punch, and the other monsters advance. She couldn’t wait any longer.

Still in her ball gown, she kicked off her shoes and began running as fast as she could up the hill towards the developing fight, crossing her hands and pulling Fariel’s daggers from their sheathes above and below each forearm as she went.