Altered Tundra

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Both ladies agreed that with how strong that Michel proved to be, it was most likely that the guys would need their help and that Meli would eventually make her way over to Michel as well. It was with that the two girls would start jogging their way over to join — and help —Wesley and Grant.

Wesley took in Grants words and he was right. In theory, the idea that Wesley brought up was right, but that’s all it was: a theory. Michel most likely has access to other powers like the wind he just displayed. If Grant and Wesley were really to wait it out, how exactly would they be able to? And if they were able to, would they have enough energy to face him? Yes, this was definitely something that they had to both consider, but for the time being, they had to just focus on surviving.

Just as Wesley was going to speak and respond to Grant, Savayna and Nadeline appeared on his right. “I take it you defeated Meli huh?” Wesley asked them.

Savayna sighed. “No, she vanished after Mr. Weatherman here,” She said pointing to Michel, “Went tornado on y’all’s asses.” She said slightly annoyed that Meli actually went away, but she was glad as Meli probably would have proved to be too much for her and the others.

Wesley thought hard as he placed his fingers against his lips. “Well, whichever the case is, I’m just glad your both safe.” WEsley said looking at the girls, but especially Nadeline. Though he would bring his gaze back to Michel, who was standing there, looking at the sky and admiring the stars.

Michel heard nothing, so he assumed that they were done. “Oh good, you’re done kissing and making up.” Michel said. As he would poise his body for battle, Michel felt something…off. He couldn’t place it, but with the absence with Meli and now the weird feeling he just felt, something didn’t feel right. Whatever it was, however, in his gut, Michel felt it coming from where the boss was AND where Meli seemed to be. Michel would then look at the others, and he sighed. “This is your lucky day.” Michel said, “I have something else to do, so you all are spared for the moment.” Michel said as in one second, he was gone from sight.

Wesley blinked his eyes a few times. “What just happened?” Wesley said just dumbfounded.

Savayna didn’t know either. “I guess he really had to go.”

Wesley would shrug as he would suddenly get a chill all over his body. “Did you guys just feel that?” WEsley said looking up to the sky and he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but the last time he got a chill like the one he just did was when he was last in front of Zodiark. “Let’s go. I fear that something bad is about to happen.” Wesley said as he didn’t even wait for a reply from his friends and fiancé. He just started to run off into the distance, Savayna and the others most likely were right behind him.

---

About five minutes later, Michel appeared in the area that he felt Meli’s aura at and he saw her next to a badly-wounded Lola. He shoot his head and could only wonder what Boss would say about Lola now. Michel remembered Boss telling Lola that she was not to play around with her pet anymore. Though, Michel would just put that thought aside as he could see a rather worried look on both Meli’s and Lola’s face. Of course, Meli was worried cause that was her sister and Lola cause she was badly hurt.

Walking over and getting down on one knee, Michel activated his green aura, though it would be obvious that he was struggling a bit. “Hold still, Lola. This might sting at first.” Michel used the healing properties of his Green Aura to at least heal the outside parts of Lola’s wound. It wouldn’t be much, but it would at least get her to her feet. He would be at it for five minutes.

---

Jaakuna couldn’t feel anything. He wasn’t sure if it was cause he gave into Zodiark more than he should, but he felt nothing. He could hear every single word that was said on the outside of what could be described as a shell of mistified darkness. As each word would be said, first he would hear slight whispers from his own voice to Zodiark, but then he heard Emiri’s voice. Jaakuna didn’t do nothing though. As stated, he couldn’t feel inside whatever he was inside and probably for the better.

And then it happened.

As if moments before he heard Emiri pleaded with someone — most likely Shion — to stop, darkness exploded. The shell that surrounded Jaakuna erupted forward, sending off any attack that would or wouldn’t come at him. The darkness, as it would fend off Shion’s now canceled out white light attack, would spiral around Jaakuna. Nothing could be seen other than shades of black, grey, purple, and dark green. About every other ten seconds, there was strikes of sinister lightning shooting off in every possible direction.

As the darkness and lighting would soon fade, as would the mystery of what happening. As Emiri and Shion would most likely see, Jaakuna it what looked like a partial, demonic form. One half of his body was normal. It had Jaakuna’s tattoos, his blonde hair(just longer), his hume skin, even his pants were there. However, the other half of Jaakuna was completely molded by a hard exterior that resembled Zodiark in many ways. The darkness seeping out from the edges and the way his eye looked on that half was a definite chill-sender.

Looking at the two women, Jaakuna looked to Emiri. He knew she was pretty mad at him, but Jaakuna didn’t say anything. He couldn’t say anything, no like there was much to say and explain what happened. It was pretty obvious that he gave into the dark temptation of Zodiark and was now half-transformed because of it.

“It would seem you four arrived just in time for the show.” Jaakuna’s voice said, though it was weird. There were definite signs of his usual voice, but it was underneath what seemed layers of twisted, demonic words.

Wesley and the others couldn’t believe what they were looking at. First thing was that Emiri was there, then there was some blue-haired maiden and now to make things worse, it seemed that the feeling that Wesley initially felt was Jaakuna. “What the hell happened to you?!” Wesley would shout out, taking a step forward.

As Wesley’s foot moved, Jaakuna’s demonic arm waved and flames of darkness would create a border of sorts to stop him and Emiri from progressing from where they stood. “None of you are to interfere. I have unfinished business with this cunt.” He said referring to Shion.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Keeping the tornado going for as long as he could, Michel was starting to feel his green aura get overtaken by his violet and blue ones. Slowly but surely, he was getting more electricity into his body than the freeness of the wind. With that being true, Michel couldn’t help but notice that Grant was using Gravity quite a few times to get both him and Wesley on the ground. Though, he did notice that the raven-haired prince didn’t look all that hot. At the point that they touched ground, they were barely able to stay on there. Michel smiled, but then the winds started to slow down.

As Wesley heard Grant ask him what they should do now as his magic wasn’t strong enough, it was as if on cue of his words that the winds started to slow down. It slowed just enough to where Wesley was able to stay on the ground without the aid of Grant holding his arm. Once he got stable footing, Wesley noticed his Sword of Order wasn’t in his hand. Just on reflex he held out his hand and from ten feet to his left it came, and telepathically responded to his desire to have it and it was in his hand a few seconds later. Wesley would then look to Michel with a slight smile, but he knew that the green-haired youth wasn’t done yet as he saw a mixture of blue and violet tracing around his body.

“Hey Grant, you see the same thing I am?” Wesley asked him. “His aura seems to be losing stability the more he uses it. Before, he could control the color and its elemental variant, but now it seems if he uses a lot of one, it becomes unusable.” Wesley said. “I’m guessing that’s why the winds stopped, cause he used all he could of it.” Wesley deduced.

---

Savyana knew that Michel had power in his body. She knew that from when they would clash back when he was her assistant and even from the times they would spar. She knew that he had the power of Aura manipulation, but shit! She had no idea that his power was that strong. Savayna found herself clinging for dear life as she had her hands gripped so tightly to the edge of a building. Yeah, she was forced so much off of her feet that she went flying into the sky and was barely hanging on the edge of a building with her body — excluding her arms and head — were facing the sky.

When she heard Nadeline cry out something about fighting a tornado, Savayna didn’t know, but a minute later, and more screaming from everyone — minus Meli, cause it seemed she vanished — the winds would stop. Nadeline would be on the ground, Savayna would be resting on the building after letting a rather loud grunt from landing on her neck. Savayna would press herself up, shaking her head just so it was broken or worse. After spending a good fifteen seconds doing that, it seemed all was right with her neck joints. So, she then would glide down to the ground, to which she landed right next to Nadeline.

As she would look over in the distance, she saw that the winds had completely stopped, which was weird. Either Michel did that on purpose and he was planning something far worse or he ran out of juice and the boys would actually have a chance. Either way, Savayna would turn to Nadeline. “So it seems that shadow bitch ran away.” Savayna said stating the obvious. “We should take this chance to go help out the guys, what say you, Nadeline?” Savayna asked her.

---

As the tendrils would go up, Jaakuna saw that with a whip of her sword, Shion froze the tendrils and then a white glow would make them fade away rather quickly. Jaakuna couldn’t say that it surprised him. This woman was definitely testing him and may herself. Jaakuna couldn’t be sure, but he knew something about her actions was an indication that she was merely warming up. Still, Jaakuna could handle himself.

Jaakuna would take notice to one of the petals in the air fading away, seeds of new roses would bloom from their fallen position. Jaakuna also took notice to a small flower forming back into Shion’s hair. He thought that was a little weird, but he paid no mind to it. He instead watched Shion as she would slowly approach him, passing by one of the roses, swinging her sword at its head. The petals floated and faded into her sword. In its place, ethereal white circles. Shion then said that the more he dug into Zodiark’s power the more that her victory was decided. Jaakuna let out an arrogant — or was it ignorant — laugh. As he did, however, he would notice a brilliant white light coming at him. On instinct alone, Jaakuna raised his hand up and following its motion, a defensive wall of black magickal energy shot up from the ground to block it. While it defended around the attack successfully, Jaakuna was feeling something in his body. He couldn’t place it, but he didn’t like it.

“What did you do to me?!” Jaakuna breathily asked.

Jaakuna could feel the powers that he had tapped into from Zodiark being pulled from his body. Gripping his heart, the red sigils on his hands and waist soon would start to fade away as would the black armor-like skin. Bit by bit, it would be gone. At least, that’s until Jaakuna heard a laugh in his head that otherwise would be discomforting, but this time around, however, he was happy to hear it.

It seems that instead of wanting it gone, your heart desires more of my strength, Jackson.
Oh would you shut up. But I guess you’re right, at least for this fight.
All you had to do was ask, but I must warn you.
Yes?
Your body cannot handle that much of my power without some nasty side-effects. I know not what you wish of this, but you can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Oh just shut up and give it to me already.

Zodiark did not say nothing after that. He just laughed and then it was like time froze for Jaakuna. He felt his heart thumping louder, faster, and longer. Then, his vision was getting blurry. He was seeing two, three, four, six the times of Shions than before and his head was starting to hurt. He gripped it and found himself falling to one knee. Then, as he looked up, just for a moment, he didn’t see Shion, no. He saw the two people he did that one time he had that vision. He saw the Grim Reaper and the inverted version of himself.

“Your life is now dead.” Said the grim reaper in the same echoed, eerie voice.
“Your death is now unknown.” Said the inverted version of himself in his own voice, but echoed.

As he would stand up, the two would be gone from his sight, and he would only see one Shion. Though, now Jaakuna would notice something as would Shion. He would be surrounded by a thick, hard shell of a sticky and almost mist-formed blackness. Appearance-wise, the shell looks like a black and grey circular form of cracked earth. It was so full of evil and darkness that even if Shion had the light of Ultima, not even that would be able to revert what was about to Jaakuna.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Michel had to admit it to himself. He was actually surprised at how effective these two were against his own attacks. They've been giving him one surprise after an other, from Wesley using Earth Magick to Grant using Gravity Magick to completely make the tornado disappear. Michel just didn’t think that they would be this much of a challenge. That was just foolish arrogance on his part. Michel will not make that same mistake. He would land on the ground, five paces away from both of them. The air within the air started to circle around him, the speeds of the winds starting to shove Grant and Wesley back. Michel would extend his arms out and gusts of wind would randomly be shoved to the two princes. The wind would get so strong that it probably could start to be felt by the ladies who were about thirty or forty feet away from them.

As the winds got stronger, Wesley was doing all he could just to stay on the ground. For every pace he took forward, he was sent back three. Grant was no doubt experiencing the same thing and Wesley knew that this was a bad situation. Meanwhile, the two princes would see that Michel was like a Hume-sized cyclone. The winds actually got so strong that the air was starting to distort. The ground around him was being raised up and sucked into what looked like a vacuum. This was very, very bad. Michel just laughed. It was his emotions that were controlling it and right now, the green aura was showing slight signs of violet and blue, mainly violet though. For anyone who knew about Michel’s power, they would know that the space-time aspect of his violet aura was causing the distortion.

As Michel would stop laughing, he would use the wind as he glided around both Wesley and Grant. He was going so fast and he was circling them so many times, that not long after he started doing it were they trapped in a tornado. The speed of the tornado would definitely cause them to be forced up and by the time they would get to the center of it, little blades of wind would start to slice their clothes and eventually their flesh. At the rate the tornado was expanding both vertically and horizontally, the winds would no doubt reach the ladies. Up in the sky, the funnel clouds were starting to form and that would be seen by everyone in Archades and even noticeable by the people in neighboring countries.

---

When Savayna’s own curaga spell finished, Nadeline would further her healing with a curaja spell and then she would stand up with Savayna‘s help. Savayna would hear Nadeline speak to Meli, stating that she was going down and even calling her a skank. Savayna chuckled. “Together, we can get this bitch!” Savayna said cheerfully determined. Savayna would then hear Meli let out a whistle, no doubt because of the sight that was Savayna’s Esper. She would then claim that it was a slutty mermaid. Savayna found that statement funny, but what she didn’t find funny were the lot of shadow clones of herself coming at them.

As Savayna would join the frontlines with Mateus, the Ice Esper would prepare to attack the shadow clones and Savayna would as well, but then they definitely felt something and it was the strong gust of wind coming from where Grant and Wesley were fighting Michel. Furthermore, they soon saw a tornado in the distance and it was only getting bigger as the seconds went on. The gusts of wind that came to them would send all the shadow clones flying and getting killed. It was no doubt that everyone aside from Mateus would be forced off their feet and tumbling in all different directions. Mateus, however, was hit by the gusts of wind and due to the damage he sustained(which was a lot), he would fade away/be desummoned.

“Damn, this is not good! I don’t know what’s happening, but if Michel doesn’t stop, we’re all going to die.” Savayna said rather dramatically.

---

As Jaakuna’s attack came in, Shion would match his attack with her own twin blasts of magickal energy, but inverted to Jaakuna’s own. The two attacks clashed. Black and white beautifully met each other and after a minute of a struggle, they both canceled each other out in a beautiful white and black explosion. Jaakuna, while shocked, couldn’t help but be impressed. Of course, he expected nothing less from the leader of Utena. Jaakuna heard Shion state that Jaakuna was not the only one with the power of an esper as his disposal. She said that her blade had been graced with the strength of the High Seraph. Jaakuna had to admit that he was a little shocked at this, but not all that surprising. Though, he did smile when she said that her strength plus her blade would be enough to do away with Jaakuna. Clearly she was underestimating him.

“I will admit, you are stronger than I first thought, but don’t let that cloud your rationality.” Jaakuna said as he saw the wave rippling through the ground and coming straight at him. Using his reflexes, Jaakuna dodge rolled out of the way to the right, the blast nearly missing his left leg. He looked on and saw the blast go for a mile, crashing through several buildings. He let out a low whistle and stood up, brushing off his clothes from any dirt that might have got on them. He would then sheath his swords and looked at Shion shaking his head. “Well then, you weren’t messing around.” Jaakuna said smiling.

Jaakuna found himself just smirking. The more he would use the powers of Zodiark, the more it seemed to shift his personality. He didn’t really notice. Or maybe it was that he liked the shift of his behavior. Even now, as he looked to Shion without his weapons, he wasn’t like he was a minute ago. Closing his eyes, Jaakuna would hold his arm out, and let Zodiark’s darkness cover his skin. It was like the more he gave into it, the more that a physical representation of it would be shown on his body. Soon he would start to show the bare minimum of Zodiark’s armor-like body. His arms were showing the armor, his bare chest was showing it, and the red sigils appeared on the center of his front waist and hands. Jaakuna then opened his eyes, and as he did, a shadow would appear beneath Shion and tendrils would shoot up so fast that there was only a three second interval between the tendrils rising and her being bound by them. All the while they shot up, Jaakuna was smiling evilly, as if he was enjoying what was about to happen.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Poised and ready to fight, the blue-haired maiden would echo what Jaakuna saying about wanting to know who she would be killing, though Jaakuna slightly laughed at that comment. He didn’t think that she would actually be able to kill him, but she did seem pretty sure of herself. She would then take out her blue rose from her hair . Jaakuna took notice to the flower glowing rather brightly. He would then hear her say that Jaakuna was a fool or desperate to accept Zodiark into his heart. He would smirk slightly. She wasn’t wrong. He was indeed desperate to even consider Zodiark into him.

When she crushed the rose in her hand, a shadow would appear beneath her and trading her heels for some kind flat-like shoes. Jaakuna paid no mind to that, but he did eye her intently, watching everything that she did and also watching the shadow wrap around her right arm. She would blow the petals towards Jaakuna and they would pick up speed, dancing around them. Jaakuna sniffed three times and the smell was very comforting. He always enjoyed the smell of roses. As he watched her extend her arms and with one hand reaching into the darkness and pull out what looked like a katana. The darkness was gone, but petals were still up and about flying around them.

As Jaakuna would smile, the blue-haired beauty would inform that Jaakuna would die before the last petal dropped and reveal herself as Shion and that she came from Nabradia. He saw that she would grab one petal, and turn it to dust and she went forth with her attack as she leaned in slightly and came at Jaakuna with such fast speeds, it was like a blue blur. The next thing that Jaakna knew was that she was in front of him, sword raised and coming down. Jaakuna brought his two swords up, crossed like an X, laced with with his fire magick as if on pure instinct alone, and blocked her attack. Though, Jaakuna felt the ground below him starting to crack under the pressure. Jaakuna would try to hold his position for as long as he could. He felt his magick giving away, so Jaakuna dug into some of Zodiark’s power and his swords soon replaced the red and white from his own power to the pure blackness of Zodiark’s Influence.

As Zodiark’s Influence seemed to balance the scales, Jaakuna began to push her sword back as his body soon began to show a flickering black aura. The more he was lifting his swords up, the less the flickering happened and the more it would solidify. After a full minute of pushing her sword away, he completely did it, but in the process, Jaakuna’s body was now fully surrounded by a very evil-feeling aura. He was able to push her a few feet away and Jaakuna smiled. “You’re right, I was desperate when I gave into Zodiark. I admit that, for a while, I was hating it, but at the moment, I couldn’t care less. It’s going to help me defeat you and that’s all I care about, Shion of Nabradia.” Jaakuna said as he would embrace the influence from Zodiark. A single vertical slash from both of swords would release an eerie and evil wave of pure darkness to Shion.

---

Wesley smiled and chuckled when Grant would make a note that he wished he had his gun. Though, he would take out his hand bomb and toss up an oil bomb that would ignite as soon as it hit Michel’s fire attack, causing a stalemate between the two attacks. That left Wesley with an opening and he would take off in a fast dash to Michel. From the distraction that Grant provided and the moment that Michel took his eyes off of Wesley, he didn’t see the prince come at him from the side. Wesley had his Sword of Order to his side and as he swung it upwards, Michel looked at it and he would lean backwards, but that didn’t stop Wesley. The Dalmascan prince would swing downward, upwards, diagonally. He just kept doing it in reptition hoping one would get Michel.

After about five rounds of doing all of that, Michel was finally hit along his right arm. The sword had slashed the right inner-forearm of Michel and with a scream of pain, Michel spun around, using his free arm and a shifting of auras into the violet one, to repel Wesley away. However, the salt and pepper-haired man saw it coming and used his earth magick to block the repelling force from Michel and kept him in the spot he was in. After the raised earth disappeared, Wesley used his free hand to summon Holaga, which sent a wave of white magickal energy to Michel, sending him flying three paces behind where he was previously. Now Michel was on the defensive.

As Michel got up, he knew that he was in pretty bad shape. His right forearm was cut, he had bad burns on his chest from the holaga and he didn’t know how much juice he had left. It definitely was getting to a point where Michel probably was going to have to use drastic measures. Though, for now Michel would shift his aura into green, which was the healing one. It was within a minute, his wounds started to heal and he stood up, looking to Wesley and Grant. “Not bad, Wesley of Dalmasca.” He said as he used his Green Aura’s elemental connection and manipulated the air and he took flight. He would then extend both arms, winds gathering around them. He would then bend them as far back as they could and extend them in a fast motion and two individual tornados shot forth, swirling and combining into one moderately-huge tornado at both Wesley and Grant. In his instinct, Wesley manipulated the earth and brought up three large walls of earth, with the closest one being five paces away, but the tornado would smash through the one furthest from Wesley and Grant. If they didn’t do something fast.

---

It was too late. Savayna couldn’t stop her spell as she saw that Nadeline had been whipped by Meli. Even when the blonde princess would use Shell, it was too late. Savayna’s spell broke it and Nadeline was hit by the Waterga spell and Savayna heard Nadeline shriek out from the pain. It would also seem that Meli would capitalize on it as she would then go to impale Nadeline through the chest. Savayna, not wanting that to happen, extended her free arm once more, but this time it was not for a spell. A glyph glowed on her forearm, and in the seconds that followed, a trident would block Meli’s sword, and send Meli back a good five feet

Savayna would touch ground and she would use Curaga over Nadeline’s burnt flesh. It would progressively heal it and it took a few minutes to do so.. Meanwhile, she would look over to Meli, who no doubt was surprised. “I would like for you to meet my esper, Mataeus, The Corrupt.” Savayna said as Mataeus held up his trident, ready for round two. Meanwhile, Savayna would turn back to Nadeline whose injury was at least base healed. Savayna stood up, a hand out. “Can you stand?” She asked Nadeline.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Well, if she wasn’t at the maximum of how mad she could get, then Jaakuna just witnessed it first hand. He really didn’t understand why she was acting in the way that she did. When Jaakuna first told Wesley and Grant about having a portion of Zodiark’s powers in him, he saw the anger that they had in their eyes. Emiri had the same anger, but for her, she was definitely vocal about it. Wesley and Grant were more worried for him than anything else, which still prompted some kind of anger within them in some way, shape, or form.

As Emiri would yell at him, she would also take off her heels rather aggressively, no doubt cause of the way she felt towards Jaakuna at the moment. She would then lace up her boots as fast as she could and before she left, she would pretty much state that she was going to help the others and that Jaakuna was to stay in the Ifrit, as if ordering him. At the moment that she did, Jaakuna was speechless. He let out some starts to words, but before he could get them into complete sentences, Emiri was gone from his room. He would walk out to stop her, but by the time that he composed himself, she was already in the elevator. Even if Jaakuna were to chase after her, she would already be out of the Aerodome by the time he was in the elevator.

Completely in shock at this point, Jaakuna walked back into his room, pacing back and forth, tugging at his hair with his hands, screaming, shouting, cursing, and pretty much doing everything that he could to get out his frustration. He cursed the moment that he let Zodiark into his body, he cursed the moment that he agreed to accept Zodiark as his new god, and he cursed the minute he gave into Zodiark’s words and let part of his power get into his body. Jaakuna cursed himself for letting everything get so out of whack.

Just as Jaakuna was doing more pacing and cursing, he heard a laugh. He first thought it was in his head, but as the next ten seconds would reveal, a black shadow would appear before him and soon that shadow would shape itself into what Jaakuna remembered the form Zodiark took. “Poor Jaakuna, did your girlfriend not like our dirty, little secret?” A smug look of arrogance took Zodiark’s facie.

Jaakuna was livid now. “That’s none of your business!” Jaakuna snapped.

Zodiark laughed at Jaakuna. “Oh, you hurt me with your words. I thought we had a connection. I am inside you, after all.” Zodiark mockingly acted like he was hurt by Jaakuna’s words.

If Jaakuna wasn’t livid before, now he was after Zodiark’s words. “Why are you even here? To torture me more?” JAakuna asked him clearly pissed off.

“Actually no, Jackson. I’m merely here to check up on my favorite Hume.” Zodiark said smiling, his tendrils on his back retreating into it. “So, why don’t you let dear ol’ Zodiark know of your troubles, hmmm?” He said, trying to coerce Jaakuna into confiding into him.

“Why don’t you drop dead!” Jaakuna snarled.

“Why Jackson, I’m hurt. I mean no harm, I promise.” Zodiark said, genuinely(on he surface) hurt(mockingly inside)

Jaakuna wasn’t buying it one bit. He knew that Zodiark was up to something. “Why am I even talking to you after you sent your hounds in the nightclub that my friends and I were at? I should just leave.” Jaakuna said as he actually was about to.

Zodiark tsked a few times. “I wish you’d trust me. I had my reasons for doing that.” Zodiark said.

Jaakuna was now curious as what he meant by that. “Okay, you have my curiosity.” JAakuna said standing firmly in his position. “What did you mean by that?” He asked half-curious, half-suspicious.

Zodiark let out a rather happy “heh” as Jaakuna asked what he meant. “There is someone in Archades that is blinded by my power. This person is a poison to my cause. “ Zodiark said.

Jaakuna was even more curious now. Who exactly was this person that Zodiark was referring to? “And who might you be after, I wonder..?” Jaakuna said as he raised an eyebrow.

Zodiark smiled. “I got a proposition for you, Jackson. You take care of this person and I will take back my power from you and you will never have to deal with the burden of it anymore.” Zodiark knew that Jaakuna wanted to rid himself of his power.

Instead of being half-curious, half-suspicious, Jaakuna was full of suspicion for Zodiark. He didn’t even know what he was planning or if he was even serious about taking away his power. “How do I know that you’re even serious? For all I know, you can be lying just to get this person out of your way.” Jaakuna was definitely on-edge.

Zodiark made a noise that expressed disappointment. “Oh come on now. I might be evil, but I have honor too. I promise you that I will do it. “ Zodiark said as he would let Jaakuna know that he was an esper of his word.

Jaakuna still was highly suspicious, but given his current mental state, he wasn’t right in the head or even thinking clearer. “Fine.” He simply said.

Zodiark let out a slight cheer of excitement. “Okay, so this person you are to take out blinds their identity and gender from my omnipotence, but they align themselves with a wolf that shines of gold and fathers to an aura of the enigma kind.” Zodiark told Jaakuna. “You should be able to track them with my power. I’m counting on you, Jackson.” Zodiark said as he would then fade away was gone from Jaakuna’s presence.

As Zodiark went away, Jaakuna thought about who this person that the King of Espers was so determined of getting rid of was, he knew exactly who the Wolf was. Only an idiot wouldn’t know. If they were Archadian, that is. “So, I wonder what Francis has to do with this.” Jaakuna mused aloud. He would shrug it off for the moment as he went into his closet, changed out of his flashy gold and red outfit, removing each component of the outfit one piece at a time. He would then go to his usual outfit that consisted of a red jacket, dark olive-green pants, black shoes, and a belt with chain.

As he was ready to go, Jaakuna thought about Emiri. “She’ll be mad, but once I get rid of my-” Wait, did he just? “--Zodiark’s powers, she’ll understand why I had to leave.” Jaakuna said as he would get out of his room, go to his armory, get his twin swords and make his way out of the airship and onto would just follow a certain feeling that he had as he tapped into Zodiark’s power as he suggested and Jaakuna found where Francis was.

---

Michel was not expecting Wesley to use Earth Magick. Last time he remembered, the Dalmascan Prince specialized in offensive white magick. So, when the usage of the earth kind came, Michel was caught off-guard and was sent flying. As he was flipping backwards into the air, Michel stopped himself, but only with a few seconds to prepare(or not prepare) for the dozen arrows coming at his direction. Michel sensed a faint darkness about them, which made him deduce that they were all laced with dark magick. Just as he was about to send them all away, Michel noticed that they would freeze and soon surround him. They were injected with Darkja and the next thing that he knew it, Michel was in the center of a Dark Magick explosion, which sent him flying further.

As Michel landed thirty feet away, it would be seen that parts of his sleeves were burnt off from the explosion and it wouldn’t be long until he saw both Wesley and Grant appear before him. Mcihel smiled and actually started to laugh. He was pleasantly surprised at how strong both Grant and Wesley proved to be. Obviously he underestimated the strength of both of them. Granted, he didn’t think that Wesley had talents other than what Lola, Shion, and Meli had told him about. It mattered not, at least not at this point. It just meant he would be able to give it his all.

“I am surprised, Prince Wesley of Dalmasca and Prince Grant of Rozarria.” Michel said as he ripped off his torso attire, revealing seven tattoos all of seven different colors that circled around a sitting monk in a meditation state. “I hope you both are ready for what is coming for you.” Michel said as the yellow tattoo began to glow and Michel’s body was surrounded by a strange aura that just grew from the tattoo itself. In the minute that followed, his body was surrounded by a fire aura of red and orange color and heat so high that it distorted the moisture in the air. Extending his arms forward, fire trailed along it, circling it

---

Savayna’s icy wind went straight towards Meli and the Ice General would see as the shadow-user would throw up her shadow powers to block against Savayna’s ice ones, which froze it where it was positioned at. As it would soon crack, Savayna saw that Meli wasn’t there. She would deduce that she disappeared into her shadow and now Savayna would look behind her, ready for when the shadow bitch would show herself again. A half of a minute hater, Savayna saw that Meli was now ten paces away and she would sheath her wakizashi. Savayna would notice something off about the blade as it didn’t seem to have a solid blade like most. No, this had something of a dark substance about it. Before Savayna knew it, something had a hold of her leg, and it pulled her off of her feet and she was being tugged with tremendous force.

As she was pulled towards Meli, Savayna could see shadow tendrils poised for offense, no doubt to impale her. The tendrils would launch at Savayna, who was five paces away from them. Savayna held her hand up and a glyph appeared, to which Blizzaga was released. First, it took the form of an icy wind, but then reshaped itself into blocks of ice to which destroyed not only the tendrils that were coming for Savayna, but the grip that was around her leg. At this point, Savayna was up in the air, and she regained control and used the sparkly icy wind to float in the air. “Oh, and you were so close.” Savayna said mockingly. She would then rush downward, hand extended and fired a straight blast of water magick as a glyph would appear. “Waterga!” She said as the blast of water expanded.

---

As they left The High Life, Francis would listen to Shion as she explained who the girl was. She said this girl was the highly-rumored girl of time. Of course Francis knew of that girl. Everyone in Ivalice has at least heard about that girl at one point or another. The rumor was that she had the power to revert time to a point where something was back to where it was before being injured or whatever. Though, Francis always thought it was just that: a rumor. However, as he would listen to Shion explain that this girl was more than just a girl and that she was in fact a Scion of Time, Francis’ eyes widened in shock. Even more so, he would be further shocked when she said that the esper of time, Chaos or otherwise known as The Walker of the Wheel, warped a certain woman’s mist so that she could be a key of sorts. She would further state that this woman’s mother was Lady Justine of Rozarria, wife to André Iniabi. Francis knew that meant that the girl that Shion was referring to was Emelia Iniabi. Shion would confirm that and state that she went by the cover name of Emrii Iniko.

As she finished, Francis thought about it all. “It certainly makes sense.” He said agreeing with Shion’s motives. IT wasn’t just because he’s in love with her. No, he was agreeing with her cause it made complete sense. To save Ivalice from the Espers and Zodiark, getting rid of the key that has unlocked the espers was the best route to go about it. “Killing this girl does seem like the only way or else I’m sure you would have considered it. Any idea on where this Emiri--” before he could finish, Francis saw someone that he recognized. “Oh, Jackson, what are you doing here?”

Jaakuna smiled as he was in front of Francis and Shion. “Judge Francis, nice to see you.” Jaakuna smiled.

“I repeat, what are you doing here?” Francis repeated himself.

“Forgive me, I wish not to do this but, you are in the way.” Jaakuna said as he extended his right arm, hand out, fingers separated, and a shadow appeared beneath Francis, tendrils arose from it. They constricted Francis and tossed him twenty feet away and he would crash through a ceiling of a building. When Francis was gone, Jaakuna looked at the blue-haired beauty in front of him. “So, you are the one.” Jaakuna said as he examined her head to toe and then toe to head. “I admit, I didn’t want to do this, but to rid myself of these godawful powers, I must eliminate you.” Jaakuna said rather coldly, taking out both of his swords, and taking a poised fighting stance. “But before I do, I ask for your name. It doesn’t seem right to kill you without knowing whose life I am about to take.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Oh boy, she’s really mad now.

Jaakuna knew that she would be especially on what he said and how he said it. From the ways her arms flailed up into the air out of anger or just the way her nostrils were flaring up, Jaakuna got every ounce of angriness that was within her. From when she pretty much yelled at Jaakuna for being so stupid(she didn’t really say that, but it was heavily implied). Jaakuna wouldn’t even speak between her brief pauses(not for a lack of trying), but each time he would start, she would continue, so he would wait until she was done before he did.

When Emiri finished, Jaakuna rubbed his temples very firmly as he looked at her as she was up close to him, so he had no choice. “It’s not like I can just call upon the bastard and tell him to take his powers out of me, believe me I’ve tried.” Jaakuna said trying to explain it to Emiri. “Still, it’s not like the last time. And no, I’m not just saying that so you’ll be satisfied. I feel different.” He said, “Last time, I felt my body and mood getting empty and aggressive, but this time around, I don’t feel any of that. I have no desire to kill for no reason, which was how I felt last time.” He continued, arms moving around as if to add to his point. “I really don’t know what the bastard has planned for me, but it doesn’t seem like his power is posing any real threat to me.”

---

As the rose in her hair would glow, Francis would see Shion lightly pat it. She would then mumble something about a girl and her not being there. Francis arched a brow as he would then hear her speak to herself again, but this time about where aforementioned girl could be. Francis was curious as what girl she was talking about. He sort of leaned forward, below her head, eyes at her, and head cocked. It was a weird position for him to be in. He still looked to her as she was definitely in her own zone. “So, what girl are you mumbling about?” He asked her.

---

While Michel and the other two guys were fighting, the ladies would take lead as Meli would launch her shadow tendrils at Nadeline. The Rozarrian Princess, as Savayna saw it, would block it with a surprising spell. Savayna definitely was surprised when she saw a black magic spell instead of a white magic one. The spell that came from Nadeline’s staff was Thundaga and it ripped through the tendrils like it was a butter knife on butter. That’s when Nadeline would cast Faith for herself to enhance her magical prowess and Bravery to Savayna so her physical own was upped some. Savayna smiled and gave a nod to Nadeline.

When she turned to Meli, Savayna laughed slightly. “Time for you to chill out!” Savayna said as her free arm extended forward, light blue magickal energy glowing around it and pressing forward. A white glyph would appear in front and then a wave of icy-wind would be shot forth at Meli.

As the winds were shot forth to Meli, Michel looked over and smiled arrogantly at Wesley and Grant. He would taunt them to follow him as he would gently glide backwards. Wesley knew what he was doing, but he followed anyway. His Sword of Order was still glowing as it must have been a normal thing. However, Wesley wasn’t going to let Michel be the leading factor in whatever he was planning. Wesley’s right arm glowed with the same shade of his sword and the magickal energy flowed through his free one and went into the ground. The magic would cause the ground to shake, and the part below Michel would pop up like the other end of a seesaw. Michel noticed it, and was not only pressed upward into the air, but he was also sent flying about twenty feet away from everyone else.

“Grant, now’s your chance!” Wesley said, pointing to the now airborne-flipping Michel.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Jaakuna knew that Emiri would react this way. Like, how else would Jaakuna expect her to react? He just told her that he willingly let Zodiark to transfer some of his powers into him. So, of course Emiri was mad, even when she came up to him, and pretty much gave him the death glare. Even if he wanted to, Jaakuna couldn't look away from Emiri. She was literally that close to him and boy her expression was livid.. He would let her finish and then speak. "It's not like last time." Jaakuna said as if excusing what he did or trying to justifying it. "It's just a small portion of his powers, and I have it under control." He continued trying to explain it to Emiri. "And I did it to save you. If I hadn't, I could've killed you back in Nabudis. I didn't know who the real you was." He said as he told her the reason why he did it, but he knew that didn't excuse what he did. "I know there isn't anything that I can say that will justify or make it right, but I was left with no other choice."

---

As he kissed her, he heard and felt her shock, but she did not turn away, so obviously Shion liked the kiss that Francis was giving her. He would pull away very slowly, the saliva stretching from his tongue and hers. He would smile at her. He could still see the shock in her eyes. He would also release her from his embrace. "Now then, what shall we do now?" He said as his gaze came to the bloodbath around the floors of the club.

---

Michel laughed slightly at the comment that Meli gave about him pointing out that their target that was Savayna would lead them to the others. He could just sense the annoyance from her, but then she would point out that two of them were missing. Michel had noticed that as well, though it really didn't matter. Like Meli said, they would be drawn out eventually, it was only a matter of when not if.

Savayna and Wesley looked on and both of them would brandish their respective weapons, Savayna had her Ice Queen Sword and Wesley his newly-obtained Sword of Order. Wesley's own would pulsate and emit a orangish-brown glow and his Lion Seal would react to it. Wesley could feel the power flowing through him. He would look to Grant. Wesley would nod at him as he would waste no time and dash quickly to Michel, who would get his own weapon as it would meet Wesley's own steel-on-steel, but it was more than that. Both blades would pulsate and glow. Wesley's already showed its own glow, but Michel's would glow a faded violet color. It would then increase in the glow and get more bolder. Then, almost as if on instinct, the blade — and Michel by extension — would repel The Sword of Order and send Wesley back a few feet. Wesley was a bit shocked. That's when Michel's dagger returned to it's normal look and he smiled. "It's not going to be that easy, Prince Wesley." Michel said smiling still.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As he listened to Emiri speak about how he was wrong and how she did have to take care of herself, he wanted to say something, but he would just let her finish. She would then state that he wouldn’t always be around and that things would happen that would put her in danger despite what Jaakuna wanted to. He knew that she was right, but damn it he didn’t have to like it. Maybe Jaakuna just liked the idea of being the guy that would always save her. “You’re right. I probably can’t protect you from everything, but I sure as hell will try.” Jaakuna said as he sat on the edge of his bed. As he just sat there, Emiri would bring up the subject of him not being totally honest with her. Yup, it was time. Jaakuna sighed and laid back on his bed. He just stayed in that position for a few minutes, still and mostly silent, with the occasional sigh every half of a minute. After the few minutes were up, he sat up and looked at Emiri. “It’s true, I haven’t been totally honest with you.” Jaakuna said, arms bent and placed on his legs and he leaned forward. “It’s about my nightmare I had back at Nabudis..” Jaakuna said.

“In my nightmare, it started just as my best dreams have always been. It was me getting the crown as Emperor and all of my friends and family, even my mother, were there for me. The Grand Magister was just about to place the crown upon my head and then I was teleported to the time where it was just moments before I killed the person I thought that was my father.” Jaakuna said, “As the moment played out, I knew something was off, so I looked over at my brother and his head was down and throat slit. The same was for my father. I then looked at my own self, first at my hands, and then down to my lap — both covered in crimson blood.” Even as he told Emiri, Jaakuna’s body was shaking. He tightened his fists to get his composure back. “I then got out of the chair I was sitting in, turned around, and saw everyone dead — my mother, Wesley, Nadeline, Grant, Savayna — everyone with their throats slit and in my hand was a dagger dripping with blood. And that’s when you came in the door as if nothing had happened. I asked you if you could heal them and you did, but--” Jaakuna paused. He didn’t want to say it, but he continued regardless of how he felt at the moment. “Due to the extensive amount of healing you had to do, you were lost to me, and you faded away, no doubt you got lost in time.” Jaakuna said as tears started to form in his eyes, but he wiped them away.

“When you were gone, I screamed, I cried, and just did some more over and over again. Though, that’s when everyone would start to trap me in a corner, all saying it was my fault that you were gone. I rejected their claims, but the guilt of being the reason that you were gone became too much, it was so much so that a certain someone called out to me as he did before. This very person claimed that he could take away the pain and all I had to do was accept him as my god. I refused of course, but after he pointed out some grim facts, I gave in.” Jaakuna said laughing at how pitiful he was. “It wasn’t long until this certain someone took control of my body once more and took away my pain and guilt. I felt no more and I was finally free.” Jaakuna said looking at Emiri. “I don’t remember much about what happened, but I do remember screams from everyone, so I have no doubt that he killed them.” Jaakuna said as he recalled everything. “The last thing I remember about it all was Lola-as-you came into the prison I was in and freed me. She was able to free the darkness that had consumed me. “ JAakuna said. “Once I got out, it was now at the point of two copies of you, you remember right?” Jaakuna asked her, but he continued even further. “When I was trying to figure out who the real one was, he came to me again and said he could help me. All I had to do was allow a small portion of his powers to be transported from him to inside of me. He said it wouldn’t be like the last time and it would just be an extra source of power, so I gave in once more and that’s how I was able to figure out who Lola was and who the real you was.” Jaakuna said.

When he finished, Jaakuna looked at Emiri. “The person who took over my body in the nightmare and who I allowed his powers to enter my body was Zodiark.” Jaakuna was looking away at this point.

---

When Shion would state that the young ones just needed guidance, Francis nodded in agreement. She did seem quite proud in the fact that she could lead the young ones on a path to which that they could follow to their death, not like Francis wished his son to die, but he chose a dangerous life, so he must be willing to pay the price of it. That was when Shion would inform Francis that Savayna was most likely going to die either by his son’s hands or Meli’s, to which she would warn the Golden Wolf yet again about joining her. Francis laughed and smiled. He then took his two hands and patted Shion on her very smooth shoulders. “I told you back at the restaurant, I am joining you no matter what.” He said smiling at Shion. “If you need anymore proof, then let this be it.” He said then tugging her to him, which would cause her to stagger to him. Francis would catch her in an embrace-like action, and kissed her soft, succulent lips.

---

When Grant asked if they were done, Wesley nodded and he placed The Sword of Order on his left waist and he would follow Grant and Nadeline as they all rushed out of the Armory and eventually out of the Building itself to go help Savayna. When they reached the streets, they headed back to the direction of The High Life, which was only about ten miles out from their location, to which they would hitch an Aircab to.

As the Aircab would take to the air and head back to The High Life, about three miles in and only five minutes since getting in, Wesley spotted a certain icy-blue dress from the corner of his eye. “STOP THE CAB!” He shouted at the cabby and he would completely halt the cab and land it on the ground. Wesley had spotted Savayna and he would wave her over and yell. “SAVAYNA!”

As she flew, she heard Wesley’s rather loud voice. She looked over, landed on a streetlamp, and slowly descended to the ground. She smiled at her friends. “Boy am I glad to see you guys. I take it things went well with Roman?” She asked them.

Wesley nodded and smiled. He was just about to speak, but that’s’ when he saw two shadows above him and they would land on the ground. It was Meli and Michel. “See hun, I told you that if we followed the soon-to-be colliding auras, we would find all of them..” Michel said as he smiled.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

“So, I guess it was just me seeing that you were in pain every time you used your powers.” Jaakuna didn’t want to come off as a dick. No, that wasn’t even his intentioned. He wanted to open up her eyes to the grim truth that her powers were starting to spiral out of control, but of course like the stubborn little minx that Jaakuna knew her to be, she was snapping back at him. Jaakuna took it all in in silent suffering. Though, when she brought up the fact that she had always been alone, a nerve seemed to be touched as Jaakuna felt a slight tick in his neck in response to that. “That’s the thing, you’re not alone anymore, Emiri.” Jaakuna said as Emiri had thusly removed Jaakuna’s grip from her hands. “You have me, Wesley, Grant, Savayna, and Nadeline. You also have Prince Lorenzo and Lady Karolina, my father and Vincent. Hell, your own parents, Lady Justine and Lord Andre. Everyone, whether they voice it verbally or through their subtle actions, they’re all worried about you. “ Jaakuna said trying yet again to get it through her thick skull. “I know you can take care of yourself, but you don’t have to.” Jaakuna said,

As Jaakuna was going to state what he did in regards to Zodiark, the Aircab had touched ground right in front of the Aerodome. That’s when Jaakuna and Emiri got off, paid the cabby, and went to the Ifrit. Jaakuna could feel Emiri’s death-piercing glare in the back of his head. He knew she wasn’t happy that he had yet to tell her what exactly he did, but he was thankful for the fact that the aircab touched ground when it did. It gave both him time to think of how he was going to word it without saying the wrong thing and it gave her time to process what he had told her and perhaps actually get through that stubborn-ass skull of hers. The minutes would pass and Jaakuna and Emiri were in the Ifrit, going straight to his room. Though, not like they needed the privacy. They had the freaking airship to themselves at the current moment, but it was what it was.

---

As Wesley processed all the information that Hashmaal gave him, he almost didn’t hear his fiancé call out to him in a worried tone. He shook his head and snapped out of whatever groove he wasn’t in. He looked to her, and smiled. “I don’t know.” He said placing his right thumb and bit down against it lightly. “I don’t know how to explain it, but Hashmaal contact me.” Wesley said looking down at The Sword of Order. “He told me that he knew of the events that have happened in regards to Zodiark.” Wesley said as he recalled the rest. “He also told me that his two friends — which I’m assuming are the two remaining espers — know of it too. He branded me with The Lion Seal.” Wesley said as he slid his right sleeve up slightly and an orangish-brown symbol flashed. “He said it belonged to another, but they couldn’t tap into it. He called this Katana the Sword of Order, the sword that my ancestor, King Raithwall, used to save Ivalice when the Galtean Alliance was formed.” Wesley said as he still could hardly believe all of which he had just experienced.

---

As he stayed in his bowed position, Shion would tell Michel to follow Meli and by result, follow the Ice General. Michel nodded and faded away as his body zipped through the air. Francis was surprised for sure. He looked at Shion as she handled her business. It definitely gave him slight goosebumps all over his body. “You run a tight ship.” He commented. He was more shocked at how obedient Michel was. He remembered when Michel was reaching his first years as a teenager and he was so rebellious. It was just a little hard for Francis to believe that his son was that obedient. “Ya know, Michel’s mother — may the gods rest her soul —and I couldn’t even get that boy to clean his room, let alone follow orders so faithfully.” He said as he was pretty much musing aloud. He would then look to Shion. “I think I’m falling for you even more now.” He said, still staring into her eyes.

---

As Michel followed the orders given by Shion, he made his way through the rooftops of Archades, following the specific scent that Meli gave off. It wasn’t that he had a very well-enhanced sense of smell, Michel could sense auras of people all around him. He had this ability for as long as he could remember and tracking people was his specialty. As for Meli, she had a grayish-black aura about her. It only took him a few minutes to catch up to her and appear beside her. “You know, you really should try and mask your aura more often.” He said as he hopped the buildings beside her.

---

After she had left, Savayna couldn’t let herself think back on why Francis was in cahoots with that Meli bitch and Michel. No, she just couldn’t let that takeover her mind. She had to focus on finding the others. Savayna did remember telling the others to go to Roman, so perhaps first she should head to The Emperor’s Building and work her way from there. As Savayna would make her way through the air(she was gliding thanks to her magical ice powers), she would do exactly what she mentally told herself not to do which was think about Francis and the blue-haired chick. She remembered seeing her in a dress and she came with Francis. “Were they…on a date?” She would ask herself.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

Woot! I'm discussing some stuff with a friend. Hopefully it works out. Working on a character nonetheless.