Half-spawn

[Weiila]

***
Chapter 1: The Fall

The red light...the burning sensation...the pain...

It wasn't always like this. In fact, up to a few days ago, everything was perfect. Zeal was the only haven from the nightmares that plagued the earth, from the frozen wasteland that awaited on the land below.

The people were too foolish and vain to understand what they were tampering with. Lavos was NOT something to be taken lightly, and yet they used it like it was an endless supply of power. Now they're paying the price. Now they'll suffer.

The fools loved the queen, and worshiped her children. Only a handful did not, and they were quickly disposed of. However, there was one that got away, but I'll talk about that later.

Eventually, the queen's greed led to her demise, as well as the rest of Zeal. She tried to drain too much out of Lavos, and eventually, it struck back. The queen's beloved Ocean Palace was forever taken over. Her armies were laid to waste. But the worst fate of all was to those that dwelled on Zeal itself.

Lavos's power ruined the entire continent, killing nearly all of the citizens. A few survived the plunge and dwelled on the mainland, which finally began to calm after many millenia of death. However, some weren't as lucky as the previous two groups. Lavos himself claimed them as his own.

His spawn.

When Lavos creates his spawn, he takes individuals from whatever planet he is currently residing on. He then uses his powers to mutate them into his monstrous creations, then sends them out to further aid the destruction of the planet.

However, like I said before, one person was not killed for disliking the queen; a young boy. He himself was absorbed into Lavos to become a spawn. However, I can sense that his fate will not be so.

He might be the last hope this world has.

-Gaspar

***

Chapter 2: Unnatural Evolution

"Dion...Dion...Dion!"

Dion heard that one name repeated over and over in his mind as he fell deeper into the darkness. He could feel something slithering over him, covering him in a strange warm goo. It was beginning. He was becoming a part of Lavos.

He struggled against the force of the creature, but it was no use. Lavos had complete dominion over all; what's to stop him from assimilating a mere child? Dion's fate was unquestionable; he was going to die.

Already, he could feel a change in his body. His senses seemed to become more acute; his body lighter; the darkness paler. He was being called back, even as he was dying. Fate has a sense of humor, all right.

Dion continued to struggle, but it was already too late. Nothing could save him now. No miracle or magic was powerful enough.

Then he felt something. Lavos' body seemed to be shuddering in complete pain. The goo from before began to vanish, and Dion felt his body being lifted up. The darkness was soon replaced by a bright sequence of lights. He felt himself falling backwards, as if someone had pushed him off of a rooftop.

His surroundings began to twirl and dance around him. He began to feel nauseous and light-headed. Soon, he collapsed into unconciousness.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Normalcy has been restored. Fics will gain work back again.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 3: Unholy Gifts

Dion awoke to find himself in a cold, stone room. The walls were practically gone, with only a few moss-covered stones to mark their former presence. A small doorway led into what was probably once a dining room, but was now home to dozens of rats and snakes. A thick mist surrounded everything, and only a few rays of sunlight broke through to light the bleak horizon.

He rose up, only to find something very odd about his body. His movement seemed to be a bit more stiff, yet at the same time stronger. Also, everything seemed to be a lot smaller than he thought it would be.

Then he looked down at himself. And realized that he was no longer a child. Lavos must have somehow made him age quicker, for now he was a full-grown adult! Fortunately, he was still wearing something; he was always pretty shy.

Curious as to where he was, he stepped into the room before him. However, his foot slipped, and he fell down a few steps onto the rotting stone floor. The whole incident caused him to cut his shoulder on some glass at the bottom.

When he got up, and examined the wound, he was completely startled by what he saw. Instead of blood, a black-yellow-green liquid seemed to ooze out of the wound. When he touched it to get a better feel of it, the wound instantly closed back up, as if by its own free will.

Shocked, he moved deeper into the room. He found that his movement was rapidly increasing in speed, as if his muscles were much more powerful than they were when he first awakened. It was like his whole body was healed.

When he reached the other side, he spied some equipment stashed in a corner; namely, an old backpack, a map, and a sword. With no other choice, he gathered the equipment, noting how light it all felt.

He sat in the corner where his gear was and thought about what had happened. Lavos had done SOMETHING to him. The problem was learning how much had been done.

With those thoughts, he feel asleep.

(to be continued)

[Valkyrie Esker]

I am very confused now, but I know that you'll explain everything soon. So, nice job!

[Weiila]

Looks great Gallo, as always :D Keep up the good work!

[d Galloway]

I'll update sometime in the next century.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 4: The Elements

Dion awoke the next morning, or what passed for it. The fog was still deeper than anything he had ever seen before. The ground was covered in a deep dew, and the sound of insects filled the air.

It was nothing at all like home.

Gathering his equipment, Dion moved further into the castle. Finding a staircase, he descended into the very dungeons of the old castle. The deeper he went, the more deterioirated the old place became.

The stone walls were covered in dust, mold, and cobwebs. Spiders, insects, and rats scurried to and fro on the ground and wall. Strangely, a few torches were lying in a bucket of old oil, which was next to a set of flint and steel.

Dion grabbed a torch and lit it using his equipment. It burst into flames almost immediately, illuminating the entire area around him. It was almost better of dark; everything just looked and smelt like death and decay.

Suddenly, a voice seemed to talk out of nowhere.

"Dion...can you hear me?"

Dion looked around the entire area. He saw no one. Then he looked at the burning torch.

A face has appeared in the smoke.

"Do not fear me, Dion," said the smoke. "I am a Fire Elemental."

"A...fire elemental?" asked Dion. "I've heard of those, but nobody's ever seen one."

"Yes, that is true. Only those with an incredible level of power or control over the elements can see us. And we are only the most minor: us Fire Elementals, the Water Elementals, the Wind Elementals, and the Earth Elementals. Your ability to talk to us confirms our suspicions; you are indeed a Lavos Spawn."

Dion was still in shock. "What do you mean?"

"When Lavos was destroyed, you were still being infused with the powers of a Spawn. You were thrown through time to this age, with you being transformed into an adult in the process. Your powers still require growth, but one day, you'll have full control over them."

Suddenly, the torch went out, and the elemental dissapeared. Dion dropped the torch and walked back up the stairs.

(to be continued)

[wingnut]

Minerva: We don't need Kira-san's thoughts on that.
I don't think she'd be happy either... *looks around* Where is she, anyway? Here, kitty kitty kitty...

[Weiila]

You go, Gallo!

[d Galloway]

Grrrr...

[d Galloway]

I will not update until Weiila updates the fanfic section! *goes on a sit-in with a sign reading, "UPDATE THE DAMN FANFIC SECTION!"*

[Weiila]

The last update was just thirtheen days ago! *looks at fanfic index* I forgot to change the date from the second last one, I swear it was the second May... uh... anyway, I'll update it. Promise.

[d Galloway]

I'll update this soon. I'm busy planning out the next scene.

[Weiila]

It's OK Gallo, no rush.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 5: The City

Deciding that staying here would get him nowhere, Dion prepared to find some way of leaving the forsaken castle. However, this castle actually turned out to be on a tiny island with no vegetation, and the only possible escape was through a small boat he had found tied to a dock.

Dion gave the castle one last search. He found what he was looking for; a bag contained some navigational equipment. Inside was a bronze compass, a map leading to a port city called "Porre", and enough dried rations to last for at least five days. With no other knowledge of where he was, Dion decided that he had no choice but to sail for Porre.

***

The winds were on his side, for it only took three days to reach the city of Porre. The entire metropolis had the look of an iron fortress; the docks and streets were awash in soldiers wearing blackened chainmail, with a strange emblem of a sword-impaled skull. The people themselves were moving to and fro, almost as if their very being was the same, day by day.

Dion pulled the boat into the dock, but failed to notice the guard approaching him. "And what the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked. Dion didn't answer, but the guard wasn't waiting for one; he had already spied the sword hanging from Dion's side.

"No weapons are allowed!" said the guard, his very voice sending shivers down Dion's spine. "Or are you just some punk kid, with no respect for the law?"

The guard then unbuckled a mace and swung it straight down at Dion. However, the Half-Spawn, much to his amazement as well as the guards, was able to dodge it with absolutely no difficulty. The guard was so shocked that he let the weight of the mace send him toppling into the water.

Dion began to walk away, but the sound of the guard thrashing in the water began to call him back. Almost immediately, some strange kind of sense began to fill his mind. He could tell that saving this man's life might actually be beneficial later on. Spurred on by this strange kind of control, Dion reluctantly grabbed the man's arm and dragged him onto the shore.

The guard gasped for air breathly, then rose to his feet and ran off. Dion began to curse this change of events; any minute now, more of those idiots would be pouncing on him. He just hoped that this wasn't the wrong thing to do.

Then he felt a heavy hand fall onto his shoulder. "That is quite some skill you have, child," said a quivering, aged voice. Dion turned to see a strange man wearing a brown robe and hood that completelty covered his face. "It will be useful in the battles to come."

He handed Dion a small medallion. It was a golden depiction of an eagle carrying a sword. "This is the sign of the Iron Brotherhood," said the man. "Show it at our hideout outside of town. We will help you then."

Dion looked down at the medallion again. When he rose his head to ask a question, the man had dissapeared.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Oooh, mysterious stuff... plotty... nice work, Gallo :D

[d Galloway]

Must...plan...plot...

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 6: The Attack

Dion found the city itself to be like some kind of twisted nightmare brought into reality. The streets were filled with beggars, con men, thieves, and several more armed soldiers that paid only a suspicious glance to the stranger in their midst. In fact, Dion was so repulsed by what he saw that he didn't notice the small band of thieves sneaking up from behind.

"Hand over the goods, kid," said one, in a cracked voice, "or be prepared for death." Dion, however, continued walking, completely ignoring the men. Enraged by this, another one grabbed him from behind and held a knife to his back.

"We warned you nicely, stranger," said the knife wielder, "but you didn't listen. I hope you'll enjoy your stay in hell." Dion could actually hear the others unsheathing daggers and short swords.

The knife wielder's snicker got louder and louder in Dion's ear, until he could stand it no longer. He delivered an elbow to the knife wielder's gut, sending him crippling down in pain. The others charged forward to aid their companion, but soon their focus shifted to killing Dion.

"You fucking fool!" shouted one. "Nobody harms one of us and gets away with it!" They all descended upon him at the same moment, weapons raised to strike him down.

Dion drew his sword and met their attacks. He parried a blow from the side, tripped another from the opposite angle, and finally ducked under a poorly-aimed swipe. The one that attacked from the side prepared to deliver a stab, but fell short of the mark, causing him to get in the way of another's attack.

The man fell to the ground, his heart pierced.

One of them threw his dagger at Dion, but to his amazement, he caught it in mid-air. In a split-second, the weapon was twirling back at its original owner, imbedding itself deep into his neck.

The last remaining thief left prepared to run for his life, but at this point, Dion would have no part of that. He charged forward, easily outpaccing the poor fool, and grabbed him by the head. Feeling absolutely no remorse for what had happened, he drove the head straight into a nearby wall, crushing it flat.

Realizing that he would have to leave quickly, Dion took the time to empty the men's pockets of their ill-gotten goods before fleeing the scene.

***

The old man drew away from the carnage he had just witnessed. "The boy took out some of Lord Shadow's best thugs. I'd love to see how he handles the madman's army."

He was out of there before the soldiers could even show up.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Question Gallo, is Dion in Chrono Trigger or Cross now? And sorry about not commenting, I was tired when you posted the last chapter and then it slipped my mind -_- *kicks the fact that new stories aren't marked for more than a moment in history*

[d Galloway]

Weiila: He's actually a few months or so after Cross ended. When I did the actual series, he did go back to Trigger during part 2 (which was as far as I got).

[Weiila]

Ahh, I see. Just curious.

Now as a sidenote, keep an eye out for the update in a short while. I'm just gonna write a rant and upload the new midi, shouldn't take me too long.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 7: The Merchant

Dion found the town market to possess even more scum than the alleys and streets. Peddlars and crooked merchants filled the area, each trying to sell some kind of useless junk. A few tried to sell something to Dion, but when they saw the bit of blood that leaked from his hands, they quickly backed away.

He decided to leave that place, but soon saw something that caught his eye. A strange man in a purple cloak and hood sat in a corner, with several bowls and containers of what appeared to be spell compenents in front of him. Strangely, he was drawn to investigate this.

"Hello, young traveller," said the man, his voice haunty and remote. "You look like a practiciner of the arts. Might I interest you in something?"

"I have no need for garbage," said Dion, "but if you can show me something I might actually use, then I'll buy from you."

"Very well. Stranger, many years ago, I was walking in the great woods outside of town when I found some strange seeds. They proved to be quite useful in the practice of magic, as they do not drain from the power of whoever eats one." The man pulled out a small bag from beneath his cloak. He opened it, revealing five small seeds.

Dion picked up one of the seeds. Its texture was completely smooth, without so much as a crease or hint of wetness. The seed itself felt soft, yet strong. The man's story was true. These were Lurma Seeds, used often by Zeal's Royal Family. It was amazing that such a thing could be found here, but that was the last thing on Dion's mind. "How much?"

The man, however, had already dissapeared, along with all of his wares, save for the seeds that were still in the bag. Dion replaced the seed he had taken out, grabbed the back, and left the market.

***

Already, the guards were hauling off the dead bodies. The merchant and the old man watched in fascination at their work.

"Do you really think he can help?" asked the merchant.

"Aye," said the old man, "and we will need all the help we can get. For if Lord Shadow is not stopped soon, the world will be too far into the darkness to be saved."

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Oooh, plotty, shiiiny... it's looking good, Galloway :D You go!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 8: The New Savior

Dion approached the town gates, only to find two guards in front of them. Each was armed with a large broadsword and decorative shield, which Dion knew would provide only minimal defence against a real attack.

The two guards raised their weapons and drew forward. "No one is allowed to leave the town, stranger!" shouted one of them. "You're under arrest!"

Dion, however, had already drawn his sword. A worried look flushed over the guards' faces; apparantly they weren't used to people openly resisting them before. Soon, though, their own pride overwhelmed their shock and fear, and they charged forward.

Dion sidestepped one guard and tripped another, sending him flying into a pile of mud. The guard returned to his feet, humiliated and enraged at what this foolish man had done to him. The other, meanwhile, attempted to strike from behind, but Dion turned and parried the blow without any effort.

The two guards attempted to close in, but Dion made a mad dash to the wall. Thinking that he was simply trying to escape, they ran forward. However, they didn't realize what Dion was really doing; he was luring them into a trap. He jumped onto the wall, then backflipped off, over the heads of the guards, and delivered a strong kick to their heads.

Once again, they returned to their feet, but Dion was tired of this. He parried one blow, then sidestepped another. While one guard was recovering, he neatly sliced his head off. However, the other guard was still alive, and still very angry.

Dion blocked another blow, but the guard kicked him immediately in the chest, causing him to drop the sword in pain. The guard prepared for a fatal attack, but Dion rolled aside, despite the slight pain he still felt. Finding that his sword was too close to the guard to obtain safely, he prepared to meet his attacked barehanded.

What happened next was almost a blur. Dion felt something take control of him, something deep inside. The guard rose the broadsword again, but Dion's hand was already outreached. All he could hear was himself muttering a few strange words, followed by an explosive surge of power escalating from his arm and through his hand.

The guard's face turned to panic just as the blast hit. A brilliant flash of light followed, and when it faded, all that was left of the guard was a severally burnt corpse.

Dion's sense of control came back immediately afterward. He had no idea what that power was, but it had just saved him. Somehow, it would have some role in the future of events. He could feel it in his body.

Then he saw the crowds that had witnessed what he had done. Fearing assault, he grabbed his sword and prepared to fight his way out, but he was shocked when they began to cheer. Grabbing him over their shoulders, they carried him through the streets, shouting, "The savior is here! The savior is here!"

***

The old man watched this, and was pleased. The people were right. This man was indeed going to be the savior of the world. If he should fail, then everything would be lost.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

I think it's a cool style you're using, giving Dion most of the chapter and then the old man the last few lines. It's an interesting scheme.

[wingnut]

Evil guards! Sic 'em, Fire!
...
Salamander-dragons can be so tempermental...

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 9: The Masked Man

The cheering crowd continued to carry Dion through the streets in the most uncomfortable way imaginable. He tried to escape briefly, but finally decided to see where the hell they were carting him off to. After a while, though, it became clear that they were simply parading him around like some kind of sideshow, so he finally escaped.

The crowd then jumped on him, still screaming and cheering about a savior. Finally, a heavy hand grabbed Dion from behind and dragged the half-spawn into a tavern, barring the door behind him. The crowd tried to break it down, but when the guards showed up, they dashed away.

***

"You certainly attracted a lot of attention, stranger," said the man. When Dion finally looked up, he saw that his rescuer was nothing more than a blonde guy with a yellow mask and white clothes. He looked more like a clown than anything else, but Dion could sense something about him. Something...familiar.

"Ah," said the man, "I see you don't trust me. No matter; what I have to say is vital to our quest." He glanced around nervously, then leaned in.

"A few years ago, a warlock named Lord Shadow appeared. He quickly took over everything. All attempts to resist his army were in complete vain. A coup was attempted from Arni, but Shadow responded by destroying the entire village and killing every occupant.

"The last trace of resistance left comes from the Iron Brotherhood. You must make official contact with them if you are to get anywhere. The guards are all aware of your presence; the mob gave it away. They're more than ready to kill a pest such as yourself. Go out the back, get a horse, and head east from the town until you reach a ruined temple."

Dion was too weak to resist. Besides, if something like this was going on, he might as well check it out. He pulled out his compass and took a quick look, and when he looked back up, the man was gone.

***

Dion dashed out the back and sneaked into the stable. Finding a horse sitting in blind sight, he prepared to make a break for it, but was stopped when an arrow came whistling by his ear. An entire army of guards stood at a distance, armed with heavy crossbows.

Once again, the strange force took control of him. Raising his arm, a bolt of energy flied at the soldiers, once again free from his will. The explosion tore the entire middle column apart, and severely shook up the rest of the guards. While they ran and screamed in panic, he took the horse, launched it into a full gallop, and cleared the wall.

***

The old man walked up to the masked man. "I take it that he's joining us?"

The masked man smiled. "Yes. He's with us now."

(to be continued)

[wingnut]

Wee, an old man who *isn't* senile!
...
Fire, you can stop blowing towns up now.
...
WATER, GET OVER HERE NOW!

[d Galloway]

Just making sure Weiila sees this...

[Weiila]

Looking good Gallo. Sorry I didn't comment earlier, details... sorta details will be in the next update. I'm gonna try to finish that today.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 10: The Iron Brotherhood

Dion continued his journey through the bleak countryside outside Porre. Ruined building lined the road, many of them hinting at a military use. The plants were brown and wilted; not even the grass showed any sign of life. The sky was painted a dark grey, and no sunlight pierced through the thick, unforgiving clouds. Not a single animal was to be found, either.

The whole land seemed to be suffering from some kind of hidden cancer; no doubt the one that all those mysterious people had mentioned and refferred to. Dion didn't bother with the thought much; he just continued riding down the road.

Finally, after several hours of travelling, he reached a large temple. The building looked ancient; the walls were crumbling, with vines creeping up everywhere; the ancient runes and symbols were faded beyond recognition; the wooden double doors showed signs of rot and decay. However, Dion's eyes soon turned to a small group of bushes near the left wall. Dismounting, he followed the sense of displacement he was feeling until he pushed them aside.

Behind the bushes were several skeletal corpses. Some rotting muscle and flesh still clinged to the horrific scene, and a few traces of ruined cloth indicated that these must have been the former users of the temple. However, the biggest thing was the fact that several swords still stuck out of the bodies; they looked almost exactly like the swords the guards in Porre had used. They even had the same symbol of an impaled skull on their hilts.

However, one weapon was different. It bore the symbol of what looked like a strange, six-pointed flame. The hilt was apparantly made of gold, indicating someone of high rank. Also, this blade had barely rusted, indicating that it was placed here much later than the others.

Hinding the sword under his cloak, Dion went to the temple door and kocked loudly. A slider opened, revealing an old man with yellowed teeth, maddening eyes, and a completely bald head. "What do you want, stranger?"

Dion flashed the medallion. The old man smiled, nodded, and opened the door. "Welcome to the Iron Brotherhood."

***

The old man from Porre snuck out through a small hole in the wall and headed back for the temple. The panic in the city was too much, and he prayed for the safety of his two friends inside. He hoped they would make it back, as well.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Right now I'd start getting MIGHTY nerbous if I was Dion... ^^;;

[wingnut]

*hides* Mweep.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 11: The Journey Begins

The inside of the temple was no better than the outside. The walls were cracked and covered with mold. Cobwebs hanged everywhere. The pillars were long-since abandoned and crumbling. Only a handful of torches lit the interior, and several robed men walked to and fro in seemingly random directions.

Dion took a few steps forward, then felt the step beneath him crumble. Everyone's eyes now focused on him, with whispering and murmering coming from everywhere. Finally, all their eyes moved towards the sound of a door slamming. The masked man that Dion had met in Porre entered the hall and approached the front.

"Dion," he said, "follow me. We must talk in private." He then led Dion through several interconnecting hallways and passages, finally leading to what seemed to be the man's private chambers. Books and scrolls were piled inside in a haphazardly manner. Dust and cobwebs had settled onto practically everything. The only furnishings were a small cot, a large bookcase, and a small, circular table with two chairs.

The man sat on the far chair and motioned towards the other. "Please," he said, "we must hurry." Dion took his seat and looked intently at the man's eyes. He could sense that something very wrong was going on.

The man unfurled a map and put it on the table. He pointed at a small island that read "Arni". "This island," he said, "is said to contain something vital to the battle against Lord Shadow. As I said, this was where Lord Shadow waged the battle that destroyed the resistance. However, before leaving, one member of the group wrote a message to others that would follow." He pulled out an old scroll and unfurled it. There was no mistaking the writing; Dion recognized it as that of Zeal.

"This scroll," said the man, "speaks of an ancient weapon, one that was said to have been infused with the ability to defeat wizards of Lord Shadow's ilk. They called it...the 'Masamune'." The man's voice bore a hint of disdain at the mentioning of it. "Anyway," he continued, "it is vital that we set off for Arni as soon as possible. Please, you must help us."

Dion didn't believe this. They were sending him on nothing more than a foolish treasure hunt. And yet, there was something about the sword, this "Masamune", that fascinated him. It took him little time to decide.

"Yes."

***

The old man listened to Dion's answer through the door. He was quite pleased.

(to be continued)

[Chris-chris]

Ratz, not another one I have to wait on... good anyway!

[Weiila]

Ah, now we're getting somewhere... kinda. Good chapter, Gallo ^_^

[d Galloway]

I was going to write a chapter, but I'll be out of town most of the day. Tune in tommorrow.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 12: The Ruins of Arni

Dion and the man left immediately for a small dock. After boarding a small fishing boat, they set off for the island of Arni. Dion opted to stay above deck most of the time, while his companion remained in the hold, planning how they were to search for the sword.

As they drew nearer to the island, the water itself began to reflect a change. What was once clean, blue water was now covered in some kind of green moss. Not a single trace of life was to be found anywhere. In fact, occasionally, the corpses of dead birds and fish were to be found, as if their very presence in this area had caused their deaths.

Finally, the ship came to a moss-covered shoreline. The sand itself was stained red with blood, and still-rotting corpses were found everywhere. Broken weapons were found by a few, indicating that at least some resistance had occured. However, most seemed to have been hiding or cowering amongst the rocks.

The two left the boat and continued deeper onto the island. Finally, they reached the village of Arni. Like everything else, it was in complete ruin. The buildings had been razed and burned, with only a bit of debris to signify their existance. The amount of bodies continued to grow, and now it appeared like they were just stacked here and left to rot, unlike the others, which laid where they fell.

They pressed on towards the other side of the island. Suddenly, something went across Dion's leg. Thinking it was only a piece of bone or a stick, he turned to brush it off. However, an arm from one of the rotting corpses had grabbed tightly onto his leg. To his surprise, the thing began to stand up, along with the others. Moaning and screaming, they pressed towards the two.

Dion quickly sliced the arm off the one that was holding him, then cleaved another three in half in one strike. The man began to beat them back using his staff, often crushing the creatures' skulls in with one strike. However, they were soon overwhelmed.

Dion struggled to call upon his power, but to his dismay, it refused to reveal itself. Suddenly, an enormous explosion of energy rocketed through the center of the zombie ranks, blowing about three-quarters of the things apart. The man struggled to catch his breath as he recovered from the strain of the spell he had just used. Dion finished the rest of the zombies off with a few sword slices, helped the man back to his feet, and walked towards the shore.

"Ghouls," said the man, as if anticipating Dion's question. "The poor people who died here were cursed to roam their island, killing whatever semblance of life dared to venture here. Hopefully, they will find rest after Lord Shadow is killed."

Finally, they reached the shore. Strangely, this section wasn't nearly as destroyed as the others; in fact, it still had some semblance of purity to it. Mystified, Dion walked towards the water, only to stop when a voice rang out in his ears. It sounded fairly familiar.

"Welcome, Dion...to your destiny."

Suddenly, a swilring blue portal appeared directly in front of Dion. As if drawn by some kind of mysterious force, he passed through. The portal dissapeared once he was inside.

***

The man smiled. The old fool was still up to his tricks. At least Dion would find something of value...

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Neat-o, though the last line almost makes me smell conspiracy. I might just be paranoid though.

[d Galloway]

I will update this tommorrow.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 13: The Path of Time

Everything around Dion went completely black as soon as he stepped through the portal. He continued to walk forward, almost unvoluntarily, until the voice from before ranged out.

"Dion, I have watched you these many millenia. I knew that you would be the one that could save the world. How ironic that your very body has the abilities of one of its greatest parasites." Dion struggled to come up with an answer, but found himself unable to talk.

"Lord Shadow's power is terrible. Even you would be unable to face him as you are now. That is why I have brought you here, into the Time Stream, to tell you what you must know.

"Lord Shadow's abilities stem from those of an ancient race known as the Mystics. They attempted a full-scale revolt against Guardia while being led by the human warlock, Magus. However, they were eventually defeated and droven back to a small island, where they resided until their village was destroyed.

"Their only fear was a powerful sword called the Masamune. This weapon was created when two beings from Zeal, Masa and Mune, merged with a small knife made by Melchiar. Its abilities go beyond anything mankind has ever dreamed of. That is why it is the first item that you will need.

"This passage leads to the year 602 AD. In two weeks from the date you land in, a sacrifice will be made using the Masamune. This will taint the blade, making it a weapon of evil, and thus useless in your quest. You must stop this sacrifice.

"Oh, and keep an eye out for a young woman. She might know something of importance to your quest. She was last seen a few days ago at the village, but some of Lord Shadow's agents are closing in on her. Save her first, then find the Masamune."

Suddenly, Dion was thrown into a swirling mess of lights and colors. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of spinning and flailing, he found himself on what looked like a clifftop. Below him was a small village, nestled by a deep forest and forboding castle.

This was the beginning of his quest.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Ohh, so that's what happened to the Masamune... or is that your version, Gallo?

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Ohh, so that's what happened to the Masamune... or is that your version, Gallo?

That's my version of it. I've heard that at the end of the PSX re-release, there's a hidden scene that shows someone stealing the Masamune and killing everyone in Guardia, thus making it red and evil. Then Crono Cross revolves an entire subplot and hidden boss around this weapon.

Besides, I figured that a sacrifice to an evil force would be a good way to start things off, especially if you know who the sacrificee is...

[wingnut]

It wouldn't be green and froggish and called... *groans* Why'd they have to decide *FROG* was the base name? *eye twitches* ...er, would it?

[Weiila]

Uh-oooh...

[d Galloway]

Just bringing this up.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 14: The Woman

Dion climbed down the cliff to arrive at a deep canyon. The very atmosphere here was worse than that of Porre. The grass and plants were in various stages of decay. The dirt was red and dry. The sun was almost completely blocked off by a blanket of dark clouds. Not a single animal was to be found anywhere, save for a few crows flying overhead.

The canyon ended at a large field. Strangely, it showed little of the infliction the canyon had suffered, as if some kind of parasitic evil was coming from the canyon itself. Only the sky showed any sign of disease; the sun was still barely shining through the clouds.

The town itself was silent. The few that were outside ran into their homes and closed the doors and windows as he approached. Apparantly this place was afraid of strangers, a trait Dion had noticed in Porre. He heard a few say something along the lines of "demon" and "hell spawn", but he ignored their remarks and continued onward.

Suddenly, Dion heard a scream coming from a house at the end of the street. He saw someone force his way inside, but that wasn't what intrigued him. It was what the man was wearing.

It was the same uniform the guards at Porre had on.

His hand already reaching his sword, Dion followed the man inside. He found another already inside, slicing the head off of a small child. A man and woman were already brutally murdered, but one person was still alive. It was another woman, with green hair, a tattered dress, and complete fear in her eyes.

"She looks good, doesn't she?" said one of the attackers. "How about a nice old-fashioned rape?"

Dion, however, grew tired of standing around. Rather than risk getting too close for the moment, he grabbed a cutting knife off the nearby counter and threw it straight at the one he had followed inside. It went right into the back of his neck, killing him instantly.

The other one screamed in alarm, and another soldier entered the house. Dion kicked the first one in the head, then cut off the second one's right hand with one slice. As that one went down, Dion ran his sword straight through his heart.

The first tried to reach the woman, possibly as a hostage, but she had already pulled the knife out of the soldier's neck. Acting purely on instinct, she lashed out, slitting her attacker's throat. He made some brief gurgling sounds before falling to the ground, dead.

The woman dropped the knife and began to scream hysterically. Dion grabbed her and pulled her out through the back door, just as the rest of the townspeople arrived, having followed the screaming and fighting.

***

"Who are you?" asked Dion. "You are NOT from around here."

"Well...I..." began the woman, "was chasing my son's damn cat when I fell into some kind of blue swirl. The next thing I knew, I was here."

Dion didn't believe a word she said, but he needed some company. Besides, for a mother, she didn't look too bad...

(to be continued)

[Chris-chris]

Good chapy... ^_^

[Weiila]

Oh boy, CT company ^_^

[wingnut]

WAK!
...
You know, I just can't see her swearing.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 15: The Bridge

***

Dion and his companion continued southward, compelled by forces unknown. The nightmare he had seen in Porre and at the canyon was not even visible here. The grass was green, the sky was clear and blue, and animals were found all over. In a way, it sickened Dion. It must have been the Lavos part of him.

His companion said little. He could almost feel her pain and torment. She had suffered harshly before, but how was unknown to him. She said little, her eyes seemingly lost in thought as they continued on their objectiveless journey.

Finally, they reached a river back. Dion placed his hand inside the water briefly, then withdrew it. "It's too cold to swim across," he said. "We'll have to find a bridge."

They continued moving west now, heading for some possible way to cross the river. Eventually, they found a long bridge, but there was another problem. A series of soldiers marched towards the bridge, accompanied by the sound of weapons clashing, men cursing, and people screaming and dying. There was a battle on the bridge!

Dion looked for another way to escape to the other side, but the bridge was the only way to cross. He took off his pack and shoved it into his companion's hands, drew his sword, and charged.

The coming soldiers mistook him for an enemy, but they stopped drawing their weapons when they noticed that his uniform was completely different. Dion rushed into the battle, the blood of Lavos in his veins compelling him to acts of bloodshed.

He slaughtered countless numbers of enemies, which he recognized as Lord Shadow's minions. Dion then saw a large man with a bloodstained broadsword standing in the back of the enemy ranks, shouting orders at the other soldiers. This was obviously the leader of the enemy army.

Since there was no way to reach him through the bridge, Dion quickly thought up a plan. Jumping over the railing, he grabbed onto the bottom of the bridge. Carefully, he climbed his way across, knowing that any possible moment could be his last. Finally, he reached where he wanted to go; he could see the leader's face in the gap between the planks.

Dion threw himself back over the railing and right in front of the leader. The man let out a yelp of surprise, but quickly blocked Dion's first attack. The leader drew a small dagger and lunged while Dion was recovering from the parry, but Dion dodged.

By now the fighting was beginning to die down. The soldiers were pushing back Lord Shadow's minions. Dion's female companion watched from the other side in sheer horror at the bloodshed that was occuring in front of her.

All she could do was watch Dion fight.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Hey, Sweet Home action! *chuckles*
Looking good, Gallo. Helluva messy, but good.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 16: The Leader

Dion and the leader clashed, their swords striking straight into each other. Dion found his opponent to be remarkably skilled and swift, while the leader found Dion to be rather intelligent and strong. The two simply continued to attack each other.

Dion soon knocked his enemy's sword out of his hands, but as he reached to deliver the fatal blow, the leader rolled away, pulled out a knife, and threw it. However, the blade missed Dion's neck by a mere inch, and imbedded itself in the back of the head of another soldier. Cursing, the leader drew a dagger and grabbed his sword.

Having never seen this kind of fighting before, Dion didn't realize the danger and attacked anyway. The leader parried his sword, then almost instantaniously lunged forward with his dagger. Dion, however, to his surprise and horror, twisted aside at the last possible second.

Pressing his sword down, Dion kneed the leader in the face while he was still recovering from the lunge. The man backed away, cradeling his broken nose. Dion charged forward, but the leader raised his sword again and quickly parried. It continued like this for a few more minutes.

Finally, Dion jumped back from the leader, landing a few feet away from his adversary. The leader charged forward, ready to finish Dion off in one final stroke. However, the moment his sword slashed forward, Dion jumped over him and slashed him across the back.

When it ended, both halves of the leader were lying on the ground, in a massive pool of blood and gore. The few enemies that had been fighting only seconds ago turned tail and fled at the sight of their beloved leader's corpse. However, the soldiers cheered at Dion like he was some kind of conquering hero.

He wasn't, of course. He just had to do what came naturally...

Kill.

(to be continued)

[wingnut]

Add Dion to my list of People Not To Get On The Bad Side Of... <_< >_> ...he didn't hear that did he?

[Weiila]

I can hear Ozzie groan somewhere in the back... "For the love of food, don't attack bridges if you're evil you dolts!"

[d Galloway]

Update Soon. Stay Tuned For The Next Exciting Episode of "HALF-SPAWN!"

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 17: The Knight

Dion stood where he was, cleaning his sword on the grass. He found that the few scratches he had were completely healed, much to his surprise. Thinking of something, he grabbed the leader's dagger and cut across his hand.

Blood began to flow from the cut, but within a few seconds, the wound closed back up. He then stabbed himself in the leg, but the wound didn't close up this time. It seemed like he could instantly heal minor wounds, but it took time to fully heal more severe ones.

By the time the soldiers got over the bridge, the wound had been completely healed. The soldiers dragged the woman along with them, apparantly showing none of the same lust as Lord Shadow's men had. They stood in front of Dion and bowed in reverance.

Soon another figure rode on horseback over the bridge. He was a knight, dressed completely in gold armor, and had a massive broadsword on his belt. His head was completely hidden in a golden helmet. He seemed to be of a higher rank than the other soldiers.

"Rise, men!" he said. "Save your honors for our king! This man is simply another soldier." The others stood and walked off, leaving the woman behind.

"Young man," said the knight, "what company are you from?"

"Com...pa...ny?" said Dion, having never heard the term before. "I was just passing through, and..."

The knight was not pleased with this. "Are you crazy? Nobody in their right mind would just jump right into a battle such as this! These bastards are murderers, and good ones at that! Why would any sane being try to kill one of their leaders?"

Dion was obviously not pleased by the knight's attitude. "Excuse me, but I hardly consider this thanks. I saved your fucking ass out there, and you bitch to me about being crazy?"

"What you did," said the knight, "was completely illegal and against military regulations. You could easily be executed for this."

"Oh really?" said Dion, now on the fringe of killing the knight. "Just try me!"

The knight looked blankly at Dion, then mounted his horse. "I will tell the king about this. I doubt he will be pleased."

Dion's distest for royalty spread across his face. "If you want to talk to some old bastard about things he doesn't understand, then fine. But don't expect me to sit around and wait for the son of a bitch to give his fucking 'decree'; I'll be long gone by then."

The knight jumped back down and drew his sword. "How dare you speak of my liege in such a manner! I'll make sure you suffer just for that!"

Dion grabbed his companion and began to walk off. The knight screamed something, and the soldiers from before ran ahead and surrounded the two. The knight walked forward, triumphantly.

"I can't wait for the king to order your death," he said. He was about to laugh, but he saw that his men had all began to kneel.

He turned...and saw the king standing right behind him, a displeased look on his face.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

This is where we all go "Oops!" :mwahaha:

[d Galloway]

More will come a bit later.

[d Galloway]

I'm just-a pushin' this up!

[d Galloway]

Update will bo soon, I hear...don't worry, not much longer...

[d Galloway]

Okay, since the update isn't up yet, I have the following question:

Is this fic too adult?

I mean, we have people being torn into bloody pieces on every page, rampant cussing, constant attempts at rape, sexual innuendos here and there, and other things that shouldn't go unnoticed. I began to notice this when I suddenly had the idea of Dion having sex with Crono's mom.

It's not like I don't have time. Weiila and TD sure take a while. Well, Weiila is tired from my chasing her, and has a job, while TD...well, I don't know if he has a job or simply no free time.

[Weiila]

I don't find it too bad, but I'd really not recommend you using that in the spoiler. I don't doubt that you can handle it, however there's the thing... wasn't Dion like 12-15 years old?

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
I don't find it too bad, but I'd really not recommend you using that in the spoiler. I don't doubt that you can handle it, however there's the thing... wasn't Dion like 12-15 years old?

He USED to be. Chapter 3 told what happened to him.

[Weiila]

Ach, sorry Gallo. I read way too much -_-

[d Galloway]

Gallo-note: Sorry, Weiila, but if you thought Frog was the knight...you're wrong.

***

Chapter 18: The King

"My-my-my liege!" muttered the knight, quickly kneeling. The woman did the same, but Dion just stood there. He never cared for royalty, anyway. Especially spoiled princes and princesses...

"You, sir!" said the king, while walking towards Dion. "Where do you come from? To which king to you owe your alliance?"

Dion smiled. "I come from nowhere, and serve no one. I am my own man, unlike that knight of yours." The knight looked enraged, but didn't say a word.

"Very well," said the king, a bit confused at Dion's response, "but still, we owe you our thanks. What do you wish for. Just name it, and we will try to do our best to get it for you."

Dion thought long and hard, then looked back at the king. "I want some information. I heard that someone has stolen the Masamune and kidnapped a figure of importance. Do you know anything about that?"

The king frowned. "My dear daughter was kidnapped the same night the Masamune was stolen. My wife has gone mad ever since. These men seemed to be linked to this. Their headquarters were said to be in Porre."

"I'll deal with them," said Dion. "I'll make sure they all die."

"Normally I would object to the thought of massive bloodshed," said the king, "but this time, I think I'll allow it. However, you should still have at least one battle-worthy companion. I doubt your woman would be able to hold out long against them."

"She is not my woman," said Dion, slowly beginning to snarl.

"Very well," said the king. He turned to the knight. "You, Brigham, will go with them."

Brigham was not too pleased with this. "But, sir! I would rather stay here and help you than go with these ruffians!"

"Listen, Brigham," said the king. "You would do more of a service by helping to save the princess than you would by fighting alongside me. Join forces with them, and we may yet have hope."

The knight bowed his head. "Very well. I will go, for the sake of the princess." He got up and joined Dion and the woman.

"Go, now," said the king. "May you bring back good news!" With that, he left.

***

After being given horses and plenty of supplies, the three set off for Porre. Dion thought of the bloodshed ahead, the countless people he'd have to slaughter in order to save one pathetic girl.

He smiled at the thought of it.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Pushin' it up, pushin' it up.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 19: Return to Porre

Dion and the others rode for two days before finally reaching Porre. Unlike its future cousin, which was a crime-ridden mega-city, this was a crime-ridden village, with only a few buildings to mark its presence. Not a sound was heard anywhere, adding to the eerie feeling of the place.

Desperately needing answers, they surveyed the buildings. People closed their doors and windows as they passed by. Children were yanked inside by their parents. It was like their very presence here was not welcome.

Finally, they came across a tavern. "This," said Brigham, "will be a good place to find some answers." The three disembarked and stepped inside.

The tavern was empty, save for one man. His entire body stank of fresh alchohol. He regarded the three with extreme displeasure, snarled, then went back to his drink. Brigham approached him slowly.

"Excuse me, sir," he said, "but do you know anything about the kidnapped princess?" The man turned back to them and snarled.

"My brother," he said, "was killed by you lowly Guardianese. His family was killed, as well. Do you think I'd help the lowest fucking life forms on this god-forsaken planet? I'd rather watch your blood pour out of every orifice of your body." He then quickly drew a dagger. Several men jumped out of hiding, each carrying either a dagger or a short sword. The whole thing was an ambush!

Brigham drew his sword and met with the first man. Dion quickly drew his sword and met with another. Brigham cut his opponent's wrist, causing him to drop his weapon, then went after two others. Dion stabbed his opponent in the chest, then ripped the sword out of his body sideways before going after another.

Brigham easily dealt with his two opponents, then went after another. Dion tore through his, then went after the same one Brigham was after. The two stabbed straight through the poor fool, their own blades barely missing each other.

Only the first man was left. He tried to run away, blubbering like a baby, but Dion quickly caught up with him and pinned him against the wall. "What the fuck do you know?" he asked.

"They- they've taken her," said the man, still blubbering, "to Truce Canyon. They- they're going to sacrifice her in a week." Dion smiled.

"Thank you for your cooperation," he said, before snapping the man's neck like a twig.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Lavos REALLY doesn't create nice people O_o;; Looking good, Gallo :)

[d Galloway]

I wish I could stop posting new chapters for five seconds without this getting pushed out of existance! Gah!

Out of the three fics I have going right now, Half-Spawn is, by far, the most challenging to write. Comedy is actually quite easy to write, but making something THIS serious is a bit of a nightmare, especially since I've been doing humor for so long. That's why it updates less frequently when compared to the others I've written.

Also, I'm nearing the last part of where the original game idea left off; namely, the saving of the Masamune. At that point, this'll be steering into uncharted territory. So, for that reason, I've decided to include a list of things that differ from the original idea:

1. Dion was a nice guy when I made the game. Now he's a murderous bastard.
2. The old man had no role in the original, save to give Dion access to the Iron Brotherhood. Now he has a rather large one.
3. Very little bloodshed was originally included. Now you can't go two chapters without someone being sliced apart.
4. Dion could control his magic in the game, but I decided to make it so he couldn't control it here. I think it adds to the dilemma.
5. The knight was WILLING to help in the game. Now he's not so willing.
6. I included Tata in the game for a brief moment. Now he's gone.
7. Queen Lenna was the one to be sacrificed in the original, but I decided that was overdone, so I made it the princess. Besides, if Lenna was being sacrificed, wouldn't Frog be on the rampage, like always?

That's just the tip of the iceberg, folks.

[Weiila]

Oi, I hope that you'll be able to sort things out. Though, wouldn't Frog be on a bloody rampage whether it's Leene or her daughter who's kidnapped? He's a pesky one, the lil' frog...

:runaway: "Accursed murderers! DIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!"

... see?
Or will he be human now, to add to the darkness?

And darn that queen, it's Leene, not Lenna. But don't worry about that, I mispell it too all the time. For some reason it always become Lenee for me :P

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 20: Bloodrain

The three mounted their horses and rode out before the town knew what hit them. They rode like crazy back to Truce Canyon, reaching it within a few days. Brigham prayed that they had reached her in time. Dion was completely silent.

They dismounted at the entrance. Two robed guards were walking patrols at the one pass into the canyon, while two others, armed with crossbows, were pacing the plateus above. Dion hid the other two behind a series of rocks, then scaled the rock wall. When both guards had their backs turned, he quickly slit the throat of the nearest guard, took his crossbow, then hid himself and the body back at the bushes. Once again, he secretly thanked Lavos for his gifts.

He loaded the crossbow and aimed at the other guard. However, the weapon was completely foreign to him; nothing like this existed in Zeal. He couldn't aim it properly. Finally, Brigham snatched it from him, aimed, and fired within two seconds. The arrow connected with the guard's forehead, passed straight through, and completely exited out the back of his skull. His lifeless body hit the ground, alerting the other two guards to come and investigate. Dion rushed at them from behind and killed them with only two swings of his sword.

They carefully made their way deeper into the canyon. Strangely, all the other robed figures here were dead or dying, their bodies torn apart by some unnatural force. Something was clearly wrong here, but they had to continue anyway. Finally, Dion reached the spot where he had entered this crazy time.

A stone altar was now built here. On the top of it was a small child, still squiriming under her ropes. She was completely stripped, save for a small earing and headband. Two funnels ran down from the side of the altar to a large basin at the bottom, where a majestic broadsword lay. It had to be the Masamune.

Standing over the altar was a man, no bigger than Dion. He wore a black robe and armor, with a long, blue sword raised in his hands. Around his neck was a round, black crystal, electricity pulsating deep inside it. It was, like everything else here, completely unnatural.

"Oh, hear me, great Lord Shadow," said the man, his voice raised to the heavens. "Make this blade the symbol of thy power. Remove the purity with the murder of the innocent!" He then began to lunge downward.

Suddenly, Dion dashed forward and delivered a strong jump kick to the man's chest, knocking him back into the canyon wall. He then quickly cut the girl loose and got her off the altar. She ran into the waiting arms of the woman, who quickly wrapped her in her apron. Brigham, however, charged at the man, his sword drawn and raised.

"How dare you do this to our princess!" he screamed. In fact, he was screaming so loud he didn't hear Dion shout out a warning; the man was completely undamaged. He quickly chanted a spell, and Brigham was hit with a massive fireball; it blew him straight in half. His torso moved briefly, then stopped altogether.

The man then tried to cast the same spell at Dion. However, Dion noticed that his body was acting strangely again. Under the control of another force, he raised his hand and shouted, "Dark Bomb!" A massive explosion him the canyon wall, seemingly burying the man. However, he broke out again a few seconds later.

Dion, now back in complete control, smiled. This might be the first worthy opponent he had in a long time.

***

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Oooh, supercool battle evil vs uh... good(? He seems like he could teach Magus a thing or two about violence ^^;;)!

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Oooh, supercool battle evil vs uh... good(? He seems like he could teach Magus a thing or two about violence ^^;;)!

Yep. Dion r teh dev0l. Then again, Magus r teh dev0l 2.

[Weiila]

:fungah:: "Not only do they torture me, now they have made me second to some kid with Lavos genes! Molor, hug me."

Aww, the poor little thing. Shame on you, Galloway!

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
:fungah:: "Not only do they torture me, now they have made me second to some kid with Lavos genes! Molor, hug me."

Aww, the poor little thing. Shame on you, Galloway!

Well, there HAS to be a Magus vs. Dion eventually. I mean, we have a Lavos-hating psychotic warlock and a Lavos-spawned psychotic warrior running around; they just HAVE to meet up and fight each other! It won't be for a while, though, so Magus has plenty of time to train.

...And don't even think about using Weiila as a target, Magus. Same goes with you, Dion, only exchange "Weiila" with "me".

[Weiila]

Oooh! Now THAT's something to look forwards to ^_^

And offhand, nice to see that avatar back an' kickin' :)

[d Galloway]

Next chapter coming soon.

[d Galloway]

Chapter 21: Secret of the Crystal

Dion jumped out of the way of another blast. It tore apart the ground he was standing on mere seconds before. He then leaped forward and slashed, but the man dodged.

"I should introduce myself," he said. "I am Bloodrain, general to Lord Shadow. I have come here to destroy the Masamune, so that it can never be raised against him. But now, you have ruined his plans. Now you must die!"

Bloodrain raised his sword. "This is no ordinary weapon. It was used by one of the greatest swordsmen to have ever lived. It is imbueded with the magical energy of destruction. Behold...the Slasher!" He held the sword out, and it began to cackle with dark energy.

Dion jump-slashed, but Bloodrain parried his attack easily, then kicked him away. He then slashed hard downward, slicing a decent-sized wound in Dion's arm. Dion drew back and grabbed his injury; it was too severe to heal quickly.

"You are powerful," said Bloodrain. "I'll grant you that. Most men would be destroyed in that one attack. However, you will never be a match for me." He held the Slasher straight out, and a massive ray of dark power rushed out of it. Dion was struck head-on, and he was propelled into the far wall. The blast buried him more than two miles into the earth. When it stopped, it looked like Dion was dead.

Then the half-spawn smashed straight out of the wall. He was bloodied, wounded in over a dozen places. However, he still refused to give up. Bloodrain laughed at his opponent, then leaped forward, the Slasher raised to finish Dion off.

Then Dion noticed something strange about Bloodrain. The crystal around his neck was now cackling with the same type of energy as the Slasher. Somehow, they appeared to be connected. Acting purely on instinct, Dion slashed at the crystal, smashing it apart.

The result was instantanious. Bloodrain was blasted backwards by a sudden rush of energy. When the smoke died down, his left arm was reduced to a bleeding stump, his face was nearly burned off, his intestines were nearly pouring out of his chest, and his legs had almost no muscle left. The Slasher's power died down, and it fell from his only remaining hand.

"Lord Shadow," stammered Bloodrain, his mouth filling with blood, "forgive me." He then fell onto the altar. A massive whirlwind appeared around the altar. Dion quickly pulled the Masamune out of it, then backed away.

The whirlwing picked up the debris from the battle, as well as Bloodrain's mutilated corpse and the altar. They were soon carried off into the sky, where a massive explosion occured. The moment it dissapeared, the whirlwind vanished without a trace. The omnimous feeling from before was now replaced with one of peace.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Very cool fight, Galloway :)
The Slasher eh? Something's ajar here...

[d Galloway]

Must...chase...TD...must...have...update...

Nah, just kidding. I just had to keep this from falling off page 1.

[wingnut]

Fwee. I see heaps of creepy connotations and other stuff looming ahead… Fuuuuuun.

[Weiila]

You would be happy to know that I assembled all your new stuff last night, which usually is the last thing I do before an update since you tend to write more in the last minute all the time :hahaha; But this time 'round I still have a couple of things to do. Keep chasing TD though, he's the one updating.

[d Galloway]

Update. Or. Die!

[d Galloway]

*keeps chasing TD*

[d Galloway]

Okay, I'm stuck at the moment. I had something, but my stuanch refusal to not update this before the next fanfic update caused me to lose it. So, in effect, it's all TD's fault.

[Weiila]

Yay, it's not my fault! *dances*
Worry not, Galloway, he pretty much promised to finish it this weekend since his bad back hindered him from doing much else. It was you who cursed him, wasn't it? HMMMM?

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Yay, it's not my fault! *dances*
Worry not, Galloway, he pretty much promised to finish it this weekend since his bad back hindered him from doing much else. It was you who cursed him, wasn't it? HMMMM?

*puts away his Book of Curses* I haven't used that since Hades.

[Weiila]

Hey Galloway, is this your sacrificial knife? *holds it between nails*

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Hey Galloway, is this your sacrificial knife? *holds it between nails*

Oh, no. Take it away, please.

*after Weiila leaves*

*makes a phone call* Hello? Mister 47? I have someone that knows too much. She has to die.

[JFGemini107]

Good so far. You're scaring me a little, but that's okay.

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by JFGemini107
Good so far. You're scaring me a little, but that's okay.

Yay. I scared someone besides Weiila.

[Weiila]

*runs through the board followed by the scissorman from Clock Tower* I have a feeling I know who's responsible for thiiis!!

[JFGemini107]

*Is running with Weiila*

I can't believe my brother would do this to me!

[wingnut]

*blinks* Wow, and I thought being chased with a rusty knife was bad. *thinks* Actually, a plastic butter knife would be worse…

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 22: The Time of The Masamune

Dion quickly pulled the Masamune out of the altar. The entire sword shimmered and throbbed with unbridled power, and yet, it felt somehow pure. This must have been why Lord Shadow wanted to corrupt it so badly. Maybe it really was the key to his downfall.

Just then, the sound of horses reached the three from the entrance of the canyon, followed by blood-curling screams. One of the robed figure's heads flew up and landed right next to the princess; an imprint indicated that it had been kicked by someone just after being sliced off.

"Now would be a good time to leave," said Dion. He quickly grabbed the woman and, acting purely on instinct, jumped off the cliff. A blue portal appeared under them, mere seconds before they would have landed on the jagged rocks below. They fell straight through it, and it promptly closed.

***

"My princess," said one of the knights, "are you alright?"

"Yes," said the princess. She hugged the knight in a tight grip. "Thank you, Glenn!"

***

Dion once again found himself falling through darkness. And yet again, the voice appeared all around him. "You have done well. The Masamune is safe yet again. However, it has lost much power in resisting the corruption, and will take several hundred years to restore to full power. I shall take it for now." Dion then noticed that the Masamune had suddenly dissapeared.

"Now," continued the voice, "take the woman home. This is no place for the weak. However, be sure to keep your eyes out; Lord Shadow has infiltrated the Porre from her time and turned it into a monstrous war machine. They have taken her homeland of Guardia, and hunt her people for sport. They are mere shadows of what they used to be.

"Please, do what you can to assure her safety. She has a role yet to play in this drama. Also, keep an eye out for her son, the former prince of Guardia. He is a skilled swordsman, as well as an excellent magician. He will be of great aid in your mission. The time you will be landing in is 1002 AD.

"And one last warning. Beware of the jester. She will bring you nothing but grief." Dion didn't understand what that last line meant, but the voice dissapeared, and he slammed into hard ground.

He was now in what seemed to be a courtyard. The ground was hard rock, the sky was blue, and the trees were still alive and well. It seemed impossible to believe that in the future, this world would be nothing more than a place of disease and death. The woman was unconcious from the fall, so he left her to scout around.

What he saw below him chilled him to the bone. Six people, four of which were young children, were tied to a large wooden stake. Small logs surrounded the bottom of it completely, and a large crowd watched the event with morbid curiosity. Dion crept closer and hid behind a fallen pile of debris.

"You have been charged with the crime of treason," said a loud voice. "By the order of Lord Kei, you and your household are hearby sentenced to be burned at the stake until you are nothing more than ash." Dion looked up, and saw a fat man begin to lower a torch.

Something about this troubled him. In Zeal, nobody was ever burned like this; it was considered torture. His rage boiled over, until his hand began to react again. He raised it, and fired a razor-sharp blade of black energy. It tore the man in half, then dissapeared.

The crowd gasped and withdrew, as several guards in blew armor approached Dion. He drew his sword and awaited their attack.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Now Dion is sorta acting like a hero instead, methinks :) And I knew you'd stick Glenn in there somehow, sweet ^_^

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 23: The Warrior

Dion sliced through the first few guards with ease. When the next group saw this, they started to back away, until an enormous guard with a Halberd cursed them back into line. He was obviously the leader.

Dion jumped onto the wall, then flipped over two of the guards and slashed them in half in one attack. He then grabbed a guard that was attacking from behind and snapped his neck, then used the corpse to block another's attacks.

By now, most of the enemy was terrified, but the leader still forced them to stay in formation. Dion raised his hand and shot out another blast, blowing nearly all of the remaining enemies into pieces. The leader's face was now very concerned, but he still refused to let his men leave.

Finally, they regained their nerve and attacked at once. Dion quickly began to slaughter them, until an all-too-familiar voice rang out behind him. "Hey, what's going on?"

The woman walked down the steps and into the courtyard. Dion looked at her with disdain; what the fuck was she doing here? One of the men, sensing his discomfort, grabbed her and held a knife to her throat. "Drop your weapon," he said, "or she gets it."

Dion just stared at him, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down, and saw the end of the Halbert sticking straight through him. The leader snickered behind him, while the woman grabbed the guard's knife and stabbed him in the groin.

The leader's expression changed, however, when he saw Dion grab the Halberd and pull the whole thing out of his body. The leader stepped back, but Dion was already on his feet, his new weapon in hand.

Just then, a lightning bolt flashed downwards, killing the leader. The remaining people quickly fled, shouting, "The rebels! The rebels!"

Dion saw a small group of ragtag soldiers coming into the courtyard. In the front was a young swordsman with red hair, a torn tunic, and a rainbow-colored sword. Dion didn't have much time to dwell on who he was before he collapsed, the woman alongside him.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 24: The Rebels

Dion found himself on a straw bed when he came to. His shirt had been removed, revealing the extensive bandages on his chest. His sword, now cleaned and polished, was lying on some cloth by his bed. His pack was hanging on a hook on the wall above.

He was inside a cave of some sort. A few torches lit the area, revealing it to be dark and arid. A few others were in the cave as well, including the woman. She was lying on another bed nearby. Everyone else was dressed in a series of dishelved and ragged clothing, with swords, spears, bows, and various other weapons in one hand and small loaves of bread in another.

"Glad to see you're awake." Dion turned around, and saw the red-haired warrior from before. He was sitting on a straw pile while sharpening his magnificent sword. "Very few face the Porre soldiers nowadays."

The name rang in Dion's memory. He had been to two different Porres; the one in the past was a small and distrusting hamlet, while the one in the future was a run-down city trapped in despair. Apparantly they were a significant power in this time period.

"I, myself, have a reason to hate them," said the warrior. "I was married to the princess of Guardia, Marle. They came in the night and murdered her and our son. I was away on diplomatic measures, but it was for naught, for soon our kingdom was overrun. Then I learned that the whole diplomatic meeting was faked by Porre so I wouldn't be in Guardia, and my treacherous chancellor would. The bastard sold us out, only to have his own head cut off afterwards so Porre could get the money they bribed him with back."

"Why would Porre do this?" asked Dion. "Sure, they're violent fucks, but I can't imagine them tearing kingdoms apart from the inside."

"Porre was once peaceful," said the warrior. "They are ruled by Lord Kei, who is actually the first female leader Porre has ever had. She brought in a new era of enlightenment to the outdated village, and it soon transformed into a powerful city. However, something about her changed. She became aggressive, and sought to turn Porre into an empire. And she did, to an extent. It's crumbling apart from the inside, just like Guardia did, but that must happen for peace to reign."

Dion looked downward. "Do you plan on killing Kei, then?"

The warrior sheathed his sword. "I have a plan, but it must wait until nightfall. Until then, enjoy our hideout. We are the Warriors of Guardia, the last remnants of a once-proud kingdom. My name is Crono." With that, he walked away.

***

Crono walked to the sleeping woman. She was still alive, at least, but had been asleep for many hours already. He looked down at her and smiled.

"Welcome home...mommy."

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

I have nothing on this right now. Must...think...quickly!

[Weiila]

No stress, Gallo dear. :)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 25: The Prince

"Lord Kei," said a maid, standing in front of an elaborate sliding door, "your meal is ready."

"Send it in," said a quiet voice. The maid slid the door opened and walked into the room. It was gorgeously decorated, with elaborate carpets, spiralling murals, beautiful paintings, and fine wood furniture. A single woman, wearing a blue dress and well into her 30s, sat at a knee-high table, sipping an herbal tea. The maid put the food down, then left.

***

She walked down the stairs, but soon ran into a tall man. He had black hair braided into a ponytail, black silk clothing, and a beautiful sword held inside a golden scabbard. He looked at the maid, and she instantly realized what he wanted.

"Lord Soma," she said, "your mother is eating right now. She does not want to be disturbed." Soma's face twisted into one of unpleasantness at the sound of that, and he began up the stairs again.

He made his way to another room. It was very much like Lord Kei's room, only slightly smaller and less-decorated. He grabbed a black robe, then used a spell to make himself invisible. He then jumped out the window and made his way out of the palace.

***

He soon arrived at Guardia, just as the spell wore off. He came across a troop of Porre soldiers, drinking beer and joking around. One of them took one glance at Soma, drew his sword, and, mistaking him for an enemy, charged. Soma quickly drew his sword. Its blade was a beautiful silver, with runes on every corner of it. The soldier backed off when he saw the blade; it signified the royal family of Porre.

"My lord!" he shouted, quickly falling to his knees. The other soldeirs, having witnessed this, fell as well. Soma looked at them with disdain, then said, "I will require one of your horses. My mother's sanity depends on it."

The soldiers were more than confused by his words, but gave him a horse. He quickly mounted, then rode off towards the deeper regions of Guardia.

Finally, he reached what he was looking for: a dark cave. Dismounting his horse, he pulled the hood of his robe over his head, then entered.

***

Crono was drinking a glass of beer when he saw the robed man enter. His head was bowed, so he couldn't see his face. but he sat down next to Crono and handed him some papers.

"An official invintation," he said, "to Lord Kei's wedding. Disguise yourself, infiltrate the wedding, and kill her fiance."

"What?" asked Crono. "Just who are you, anyway?"

"Bring two others with you," continued the man. "You are to act as noblemen, regional lords of Guardia and the other conquered states. Once inside the party, be careful, for her fiance has many agents; he will seek to destroy you at every turn. A boat will be waiting for you at the old Guardia port at 5:00 tomorrow night. I will meet you there." He then dissapeared completely.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Oi, another push-up post.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 26: The Party

The next morning, Crono's group of rebels assembled in a single-file fashion in the middle of the cave. Crono stood at the front, while Dion and the woman hid in the back.

"Okay," said Crono, "it seems that one of our informants in Porre Castle has been able to grant us an invintation to Lord Kei's upcoming wedding. The plan is for myself and two others to enter the party and take out Lord Kei once and for all. Are there any volunteers?"

Loud murmers erupted in the crowd. They obviously thought Crono was out of his mind. Going into Porre was dangerous enough, but entering the royal palace? That was simply suicide.

Finally, Dion stepped forward. "I'll go," he said, "if you all can put your damn fears aside and do something useful for a change." Everyone was quiet, as their faces registered a mixture of displeasure at being insulted and sadness as they realized that Dion was telling the truth. Then the woman slowly stepped forward, as well. "I'll go, too," she said.

Crono looked at them in disbelief, then sighed. "Very well. We must prepare now. The boat leaves tonight."

***

That night, the three arrived at the docks. Dion and Crono were shoved into dress suits, while the woman was wearing a beautiful gown. They gave their weapons to the nearby rebel, who took them promptly back to the cave. They bough their tickets and boarded the boat.

Promptly at 5:00, the boat left the dock and began its treck to Porre.

***

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Ooh, plotty. One thing though, shouldn't the woman get a name soon? It's starting to look a little silly with just "the woman" everywhere.

[d Galloway]

Okay, time for another little thing:

NAME THE WOMAN FOR ME!

[Weiila]

Catherine?

[wingnut]

Alice? Emma? Joyce? One of the various deviations of Catherine? Matilda?
…why are you looking at me like that?

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 27: The Mysterious Man

Dion looked over the water. Zeal had nothing like this; the little bits of water that hell hole had were handled and distributed by the Royal Family. The mere thought of those bastards caused him to silently curse their existence, but his attention soon returned to the water. It was strangely...calming.

"Okay," said the woman, "what are you looking at now?"

Dion turned his head, his eyes glazed with hatred at her disruption. She quickly backed away.

***

Crono sat in the ship's old bar. The creaking of moaning of the ship filled the air, as he looked at his long-forgotten beer. It smelled like the mold that filled the wooden walls. Men, either already drunk or heading towards it, slammed down one drink after another while talking, gambling, and generally being lowly bastards.

However, Crono suddenly saw someone sitting in a dark corner of the bar. He wore a black cloak, with a hood aiding the shadows in hiding his face. He was reading a large, leather book, and had nothing else in front of him; no food, no drink, nothing. Crono felt a sense of unease, but at the same time realized that he knew this person from somewhere.

Then he noticed five of Porre's soldiers walking towards him. "Scum!" shouted one of them. "You are under arrest for crimes against Lord Kei! Come with us at once!" The man's eyes never left the book; it was as if he didn't even know the soldiers were there.

"Listen!" shouted the soldier again, this time drawing his sword. "You have committed high crimes against the Porre Empire! Surrender at once!"

"The Porre Empire," said the man, at last realizing that they were there. "It's good to see that you're calling it what it REALLY is. I politely ask you to leave me in peace."

"Silence!" shouted the soldier. "Come now, or die in that spot!"

The man began to slowly raise his head. "I will tell you one more time. Leave. Me. Alone." Crono immediately recognized that voice...and realized that the soldiers were making a fatal mistake.

"And for the last time, I'm telling you to come with us!" shouted the soldier. They raised their swords and prepared to thrust downwards.

The man raised one hand. The blades broke into tiny shards. The soldiers gasped, then began to walk back. "It is true," said one of them. "He is a warlock."

"Warlock?" said the man, standing for the first time. "That is such a dirty word. I prefer to be called a conjurer, a wizard, or maybe even a mage. But never...ever...EVER CALL ME A WARLOCK!" He raised his hand, and the soldier that spoke last suddenly collapsed on his knees, his eyes showing his complete agony. The other soldiers looked on helplessly as his head exploded, showering the room with blood and gore.

"You...bastard!" shouted another soldier. Already, their nerve had collapsed. They began to run out of the bar, but the man raised his hand again. The shards hovered in mid-air and flew straight through the four before they had one foot on the staircase. Two were pinned lifeless against the wall. One had lost his throat and lungs. The fourth was lying on the ground, his organs spilling out. The man grabbed his book and left the bar a complete, and bloody, mess.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Ooh, is that who I think it is? WHEE!!

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Ooh, is that who I think it is? WHEE!!

Who else did you expect?

[Weiila]

Santa Clause!

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Santa Clause!

...*locks Weiila up in the Hospital for the Very, Very Nervous*

[Weiila]

I just read Magus' memoirs, Gallo my friend, I have the full right to be nervous...

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 28: The Warlock

Dion turned his attention away from the water just as the man exited the hold. Their eyes met briefly, but Dion felt a strange feeling go through him. He knew this guy from somewhere...

Before he could fully remember, though, the bartender and a handful of patrons ran out of the hold. "Stop him!" shouted the bartender. "He killed my son!"

The man laughed. "So, your son was a member of Porre?" he asked. "He deserved to die, then. The people of Porre are unworthy of the gift of life. And if you continue to hunt me, your life shall be forfeit, as well."

"Curse you!" growled the bartender. He pulled out a knife and threw it right at the man. Before it was even a hair's breath from his head, though, the man grabbed the knife and, in one swift motion, sent it flying through the bartender's skull.

"You can see your son again," said the man, as the bartender's body slumped onto the ground. "I hope hell is warm enough for you."

The group that had followed the bartender quickly began to withdraw. "Not so fast," said the man. "For one instant, you showed loyalty to Porre. The penalty for that..." He pulled out a large scythe from under his cloak and threw it straight at the men. They were sliced apart by it. "...is death."

The scythe began to return, but its path ran straight through Dion. He quickly jumped over the scythe. The man caught his weapon, then smiled. "I may have a worthy opponent," he said. "Come with me." He jumped onto the roof of the hold. Dion quickly followed.

"I am curious," said the man. "Who are you?"

"My name is Dion," responded Dion, "of the kingdom of Zeal."

The man's face was covered with shock. "Zeal..." He then let out a cruel smile. "So, you must be that child from so long ago. I'm amazed that you've survived all these centuries. Well, no matter. I can sense the blood of Lavos in you, and thus, you must die."

"Who are you?" asked Dion, now VERY angry.

The man jumped onto the ship's railing. "That, my lad," he said, "is another question for another time. This is no place to stage a battle; too many fools will get in our way. I will be back, and when I am, you will die." He then jumped over the side of the ship.

Dion jumped down and looked over the railing, but there was no sign of the man. Dion's mind raced over what had just happened. Who was he...and what did he know about Zeal and Lavos?

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Bitter, aren't we? ^^;; But that dude (almost) never looses his cool. Good job, Gallo :)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 29: The Party

"Now docking at Porre Harbor!" shouted the captain. "All passengers please disembark!" Dion, the woman, and Crono quickly walked down the gangplank, determined to put as much distance between them and the carnage on the ship as possible. They found a large black coach waiting for them by the entrance to the harbor.

The coach door opened, revealing the same black-robed man from the cave. "Please hurry," he said in a hushed whisper. "We have little time. The party is about to begin." The three quickly jumped inside. The coach quickly made its way to the palace.

Once they arrived, the three quickly exited. The robed man jumped out the back and dissapeared almost immediately. Dion immediately senses a kind of dark magic around the man; he knew it wouldn't be the last time they dealt with him.

They began to walk through the doorway, but were stopped by a trio of guards. "Identify yourselves," said one of them, his hand never moving far from his sword's hilt.

"We are regional lords of Guardia," said Crono. "Their names are Dion and Catherine."

"And yours?" asked one of the guards, now even more suspicious. "I have never heard of a lord Dion or Catherine."

"Ah, Raxil!" shouted a man from behind. The guards parted, revealing Prince Soma. "How delightful of you to attend! I didn't think you would make it!" He extended his hand to Crono, who grasped it hesitantly.

"Lord Raxil?" said one of the guards, now in a complete state of panic. "Please, forgive me, my lord!"

"No matter," said Crono. "Now, can we enter already?"

"Yes, of course!" said one of the guards, who was just seconds away from pissing himself. Dion, Catherine and Crono entered the palace.

***

A few minutes after the three had entered, a man approached the guards. He was clad in a black suit and cloak, with a hood partially obscuring his cruel facial features.

"Identify yourself!" said one of the guards. The man didn't even look up.

"I am the entertainment that was hired," he said. "My name is Dronima." The guards quickly looked on the list, then smiled. They motioned the man inside. Beneath his hood, he smiled. This would be a night nobody would forget.

Nobody.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Ooooh, mucho foreshadowing. Soma? *pokes* Hello, is that you mr. Reborn Dracula?

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Ooooh, mucho foreshadowing. Soma? *pokes* Hello, is that you mr. Reborn Dracula?

I had to come up with a name for the prince. Since I had just acquired Aria of Sorrow at that time, Soma just popped into my head.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 30: The Performance

***

The ball room was elegantly decorated, with gold curtains, large windows, a marble floor, and a large wooden stage where an entire 200-member orchestra crowded together to play some kind of dance tune.

"If you will excuse me," said Soma, "I have some business to attend to. Please, enjoy yourself." He then ran off before anyone could say anything else.

***

Catherine slipped her way into a typical noble-class coversasion with some snobbish ladies. Crono watched the whole party from the back, in-between shoving crackers and sweet bread into his mouth. Dion tried some of the food, but found it to be completely and utterly disgusting.

Then the music stopped. A cloaked man walked onto the stage. "Greetings, dear noblemen of Porre," he said. "My name is Dronima!" A series of whispers erupted right after he said his name. Dion quickly began to hear and understand every single one of them simultaniously. Some were calling him a talented performer from the north, others were calling him a mad sorcerer and a source of great evil.

Dronima raised his right hand. A series of mutli-colored balls of light began to fly above him. They then rose to the ceiling and split into a dozen rotating balls of light. Everyone began to clap, even those that were skeptical at first. Dion, however, didn't move. This was a simple parlor trick; even that talentless prince knew how to do something like that.

For nearly a half-hour, Dronima continued his tricks, although each of them did not rise among the level of parlor tricks. Finally, he bowed to the crowd.

"I thank you for your time," he said. Dion then sensed something was very wrong with this. He looked up, and saw that the balls of light were beginning to fluctuate and spin faster.

"But now," said Dronima, "I must say, adieu." He then dissapeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the balls of light still floating in the air.

Dion now realized what this magic was. He had to kill Lord Kei and get out...before the entire palace was blown apart.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

I'm thinking of what to do next. Sorry.

[Weiila]

Take your time :)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 31: The Truth

The party continued as normal, with nobody suspecting that anything was wrong. Dion, Crono and Catherine stayed in the back, keeping their eyes on what was going on. Finally, a tall, gauntly man with black eyes, a black cloak, and pale hands walked onto the stage.

"I thank you all for coming," he said. "My fiance, however, wishes to have the actual ceremony in the comfort of her chambers. Worry not, though; we shall return in half an hour!" He then walked away, to the general disbelief of the crowd.

"This makes things harder," said Dion.

"Don't worry," whispered a familiar voice. The three turned, and saw Soma standing behind them. "I have a secret way up to her room. Follow me."

***

They made their way through a small terrace on the side of the castle to the second floor. They snuck through a hallway, then hid behind a corner right next to the door to Lord Kei's room. "My mother's chambers are just ahead," said Soma. "Her fiance should be in there by now. We'll have to kill him, and the priest as well, if he's inside the room. Okay, let's go!"

They charged to the door and tore it open. The man was inside, along with Lord Kei. The man's face was flushed with anger; the woman, on the other hand, showed no feeling. The priest was fortunately not there yet.

"What the hell are you doing here?" shouted the man. "You must die!"

"You will not marry mother!" shouted Soma.

"My son," said Kei, "please forgive us. We love each other, and if you cannot accept that, then I am afraid you cannot live."

Dion then saw something shining under Kei. He also felt nothing in her mind. Then it finally dawned on him. He raised his sword, then brought it down on Kei.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" shouted Soma. Then they saw Kei begin to blur, then stretch, then finally dissapear. Dion pulled his sword out of the ground, revealing a round, flat, sparking device stuck to the blade. The man growled.

"Check around," said Dion. "I have a feeling that the real Lord Kei is nearby." They began to tear around the room, until Soma opened Kei's private cabinet...and found a decomposing body, a jade dagger stuck into her chest. Soma then recognized the dress the body was wearing.

"Mother!" he shouted. He fell onto his knees and began to bawl his eyes out. Crono held his sword to the man's throat, while Catherine stayed back.

"What happened to her?" growled Crono.

"She refused to share power," said the man. "Finally, I took action. You cannot blame me for wanting to make Porre the greatest empire of them all."

"Listen, fucker," said Crono, "your plans for an 'empire' have cost me everything: my wife, my child, my entire life. I usually don't give in to killing easily, but I could gut you right now and not feel a single pang of remorse."

"Oh, really?" asked the man. "I'm sorry, but my battle is not with you, or Prince Soma. It's with him." He then pointed to Dion and threw a flash bomb. Crono backed away, covering his eyes. The man ran to the balcony and climbed to the roof. Dion ran after him.

Soma looked back at his mother's body. "Mother," he said, "I will kill him for you. He must die for this." He then unsheathed his sword and ran after Dion.

Crono growled. "He is the cause of all the pain and grief this world has suffered. I'll make sure he dies...for Marle." He then raised his sword and ran after Soma.

"Everyone else has ran off," said Catherine, running after Crono. "I guess I should make sure my little boy doesn't get hurt.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Ya kno', that kinda reminds me of Silver Fang...
Person 1: "I will kill Akaka Boto!"
Person 2: "No! <I>I</I> will!"
Person 3: "Like hell! Outta my way!"

[d Galloway]

Okay, betting time! All two of you out there reading this, place your bets on who will kill the evil guy!

1. Dion
2. Crono
3. Soma
4. Catherine
5. Nobody

[Weiila]

Dion. Or nobody. Or Magus. Ahh! I'm so confused...

[d Galloway]

***

32: The Peace

The man ran until he reached the end of the roof. He turned, and saw the others running after him.

"Okay, bastards," he said. "I guess I have to kill you."

"Big words coming from a coward," said Dion. "You'd be better off jumping off the roof."

"I'll kill you for this!" shouted Soma. "Mother's death shall not be forgotten!"

"For Guardia, I will kill you!" shouted Crono.

"Get over yourselves!" said the man. "Do you have any idea who I am? Have you ever heard of the Shade?"

Soma's eyes lit up. "The Shade? The one that betrayed my grandparents and tried to stage a revolution? I thought you were..."

"Dead?" asked the Shade. "Fool! Do you have any idea how powerful I am? Now, stand away from me. I intend to destroy Dion first!"

"If death is what you seek," said Dion, "I will not deny you." He then charged at Shade, who raised a black-bladed sword. The two weapons collided, creating a shower of sparks. Shade then kicked Dion back and tried to skewer him, but Dion twisted to the side and slashed. Shade ducked, and punched Dion in the chest.

Dion moved back and kicked Shade right in the face. Shade backed away, then tripped Dion using one sweep. He then raised his sword.

Crono suddenly jumped forward and stabbed Shade through the back with a beautiful, rainbow-colored sword. Shade, however, grabbed his throat and threw him against the ground. However, Dion then noticed something wierd about the blood; there was a hint of green in it.

Dion kicked Shade off of him, then slashed Shade along the top of his chest while he was recoiling. Shade gasped, then fell to the ground, blood pouring out of practically every pore.

"You...think you have won," he said. "But...I will win. The mage...has arranged...the destruction...of the palace...He wanted...to kill me...so much...Farewell..." He then stopped breathing completely.

"Everyone," said Dion, "let's get out of here." He pulled Crono's sword out of the Shade's body and jumped off the roof. Soma and Catherine followed, but suddenly, a bunch of guards ran up to the roof and attacked Crono.

"You idiot!" shouted Dion. "Get the hell down from there!"

"Just run!" shouted Crono, between slaying guards with his backup sword. "I'll catch up!" Catherine froze, but Soma grabbed her shoulder and pulled her along. When they were ten yards away, the entire palace exploded.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Oh my god! He killed Crono(?)!

... hey, somebody had to. Sorry *hides*

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 33: The Discovery

The group continued to run into the forest. They ran into trees, tripped over weeds, and fell into things unmenionable. Finally, they managed to get seperated in the thick trees. Dion sighed, drew his sword, and began to explore the forest further.

A strange smell, though, drew him to the east. Eventually, he reached a thick patch of vines, which he sliced apart with his sword. On the other side was a small swamp. On an island on the other side was a strange, metallic building.

Dion held his nose, cursing his highly-developed senses, and began to sink his legs into the deep swamp water. Then he felt something move by his leg, and jumped back out just as a monstrous, tentacled monster jumped out of the water. He sliced it in half with his sword and kicked the corpse back into the water, and saw a flurry of similar monstrosities converge on it, tearing it apart.

Then he heard a voice speak to him. "Dion...use me..." He looked into the water, and saw a small fountain of clear water spout out of the muck. It then toppled down and hardened, creating a bridge to the island. Dion thanked the water elemental, then crossed.

He pushed against the rusted metal door, but didn't find any way to open it. He slipped his sword into the crack between the wall and the door and pushed against it. The door finally snapped open, but his sword simultaniously snapped in half. Dion cursed the shoddy craftsmanship of the weapon, then threw the hilt into the water.

The inside of the building was just as bleak as the outside. The walls were covered with rust, the roof was covered with rust, and the floor was covered with a moldy carpet. A spear was mounted on the wall, which Dion gladly took. He then walked into the next room.

This room was much smaller, and contained only a few half-stocked bookshelves. Dion looked through the books, but found only a few scientific studies and junk like that. However, one exerpt from a book entitled "Red Star, Ultimate Death" caught his eye:

"The Red Star crashed into the earth in ancient times, destroying entire cultures and civilizations and bringing several millenia of disaster upon the world. It is said that if a part of this star is brought into contact with a person, it can bring incredible power to them, making them the ultimate beings. However, while a few fragments have been found, any prolonged contact to them results in a painful death. However, if someone is exposed constatly to this from childhood, then it could be possible that..."

The rest of the book was faded beyond reading. Dion put the book back on the shelf, then noticed a bust on one of the shelves. Strangely, no dust had settled on it, indicating that it had been used heavily. He pushed the bust's head, and a bookshelf slid aside, revealing a secret stairway.

Dion followed the steps down, until he reached another room. He opened the door, only to get beaned by something in the head. He looked down...and saw a small girl looking at him.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

I'll leave you hanging here until after Christmas.

[wingnut]

Hang where? I'm not exactly in a position to be hanging, in fact it's right at ground level, and we don't have any local cliffs that I know of, and I'd much prefer not to be hanging of those in any case. I could go and hang onto the Christmas tree, but that would just bring it down, and I'd probably smash some of the ornaments, and that wouldn't be terribly good.
*coughs* Ahm, yeah. Too much literality for me. Bad me.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 34: The Child

The girl looked at Dion puzzledly, trying to figure out what was going on. Dion sighed, then thrusted the ball back into her hands. She quickly began to back away.

"What's a girl doing here?" asked Dion.

"This...is my home," said the girl. "The d-d-doctor says I should stay away from bad people."

"What doctor?" asked Dion.

The girl began to shrink against the wall. "You're a bad person, aren't you? Go away."

Dion entered the room. It was quite small, with a metal floor and ceiling, as well as metal walls. A small bed, made out of rotten wood and covered with torn cloth, was set in one corner, as well as a collection of toys and dolls. Finally, an old rug was situated in the middle of the room.

"I won't hurt you," said Dion. "Tell me, who is this doctor?"

"D-d-doctor Marxen," said the girl. "He works for P-P-Porre. He wants me to help him with an experiment. Please go away."

Dion's eyes narrowed; he could tell that something was very wrong here. "What experiment is this?"

"He wants to h-h-help me," said the girl. "He wants to make me b-b-better. Go away, please."

Dion sighed. "Fine, I'll leave, but I don't trust this doctor. You'd better go with me."

"No!" shouted the girl. "I like the doctor! Go away!"

Finally, Dion gave up. He left the room and continued down the hallway, until he reached a large set of double doors at the end. When he pushed them open, he saw a large room filled with various tubes, chemicals, and equipment. A large computer was connected by various wires to several round cells, as well as a large red rock.

"What the hell is this?" muttered Dion. Then he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He closed the doors and ducked behind a desk. The footsteps became progressively louder, until they stopped suddenly. After a few minutes, they began again, but this time faded off. When it was finally safe, Dion left his hiding space and returned to the child's room.

It was now empty. Sighing, Dion left the house and walked back across the swamp. Standing at the other end was Catherine and Soma.

"What took you so long?" asked Soma. "I've found a way out. Follow me." He raised his sword and began to chop through the foliage, until they finally found themselves back out of the swamp. Two horses were waiting for them.

"I'll be returning to Porre now," said Soma. "My mother's dead, and the people need guidance. You two should return to Guardia and meet with the last leader of the resistance, Lucca. Tell her that the battle's over." He mounted a horse and rode off towards Porre, while Dion mounted the other horse.

"Wait a second!" shouted Catherine. "How do I get back?"

"Get on the back," said Dion.

"No way!" shouted Catherine. "I'm not riding with you!"

"Fine, then walk," said Dion. He began to raise the reins, but Catherine finally sighed.

"Okay, you win," she said. "Help me up." Dion grabbed her arm and threw her onto the back of the horse. He then snapped the reins, and the horse galloped off toward Guardia.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Coming soon: more plot stuff! New characters! New situations! New people for Dion to mutilate!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 35: The Orphans

Dion and Catherine moved at breakneck speed toward Guardia. Already, the scars were beginning to heal; what was once ruined and bloodied land was now beginning to show signs of healing. It was like a great shadow had been lifted from the land.

Finally, they stopped at what was left of a town. "Dear God," said Catherine, "what happened here?"

"It's customary to burn the enemy town," said Dion, rather sarcastically. "It helps to keep resistance down. Well, it didn't seem to work so well this time."

They dismounted the horse, which rocketed off before Dion could tether it. He cursed briefly, then followed Catherine into one of the ruined houses. As he saw her face change to one of despair, he realized that this was once her house.

She examined one of the broken chairs, then a smashed cup. "This was his seat," she said. "And this was...his favorite cup..." She quickly broke down crying. Dion sighed, then stepped outside.

The outside was unusually quiet. The sun was already setting again; time seemed to have melted during their near-death experience. The resistance was nowhere to be seen. It was like all life had vanished from the world.

Then he heard a voice shout, "Come on! We have to get back before dark!" He grabbed the still-sobbing Catherine and dragged her to the source of the voices: the cave the resistance seemed to be hiding in.

An assortment of men, women and children were melted into a huge party. This puzzled Dion, since there were no children when he was last there. There was cheering, laughing, and various other happy emotions. Finally, most of the people left. Only a few children and a young, purple-haired teenager were left.

"Okay, children," said the teenager, "we should be going back." The children seemed to have been crying for quite a while; they were now in the middle of dry heaves.

"Excuse me," said Catherine, "but what's going on here?"

The teenager turned to Catherine. "I'm sorry," she said, "but do you see your child here?" The children looked at Catherine dejectedly.

"I'm sorry," said Catherine, "but none of them are mine."

The teenager frowned, then looked at Catherine much more closely. "Are you...Crono's mom?" she asked.

Catherine raised an eyebrow. "You knew my son?"

"Dear God..." said the teenager. "You're back...we looked forever, but couldn't find you."

Recognition suddenly flushed over Catherine's face. "Lucca?"

"The one and only!" said the teenager. "Man, Crono must have been so glad to see you! Where is he, anyway?"

"He's dead," said Dion. "He died finishing off Porre."

Lucca looked at the ground. "I...see," she sighed. "Well, I knew he would die eventually, with the way he was living."

"What is this?" asked Catherine.

"With the war going on, Crono and Marle decided to get the children out of here," said Lucca. "I took them in at my house for the time being. I guess a few of their parents didn't make it."

"So, now what?" asked Dion. "Are you just gonna dump them?"

"Hell no!" said Lucca. "Man, what kind of world did you come from?"

"Zeal," said Dion.

"O-kay," said Lucca. "That...explains a lot. Anyway, I'll take them back home for now. I hope we can find a better home for them soon. Children, let's go!" She walked off, the children following single-file behind her.

"Well, we have nothing better to do," said Catherine. "We might as well follow him." Dion and Catherine then made their way behind the children.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Can anyone guess what's next? Come on! I have to have at least more than one reader out there!

[Weiila]

Magus comes running and torches everything like the pyro he is?
Just a wild guess...

[wingnut]

Um. Something to do with Kid, I'd guess…

[demigod]

Erm, they find out that Crono isn't really dead?

[d Galloway]

Sorry about the lack of updates. I've had...things...going on...yeah, that's it...*goes off to play DE2*

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 36: The Chat

The long procession continued down the faded roads and passages, until they reached a large, two-storied house nestled between a good deal of trees and water. The paint had long since faded, leaving the exterior a dull brown. Various toys and playthings were scattered on the ground outside, further ruining the house's appearance.

The children ran off ahead, except for a small blonde child. "Come on, kid," said Dion, passing by her. "I already have the urge to kill you, so keep moving."

"How'd you know my name?" said the child.

"Wait a second," said Catherine. "Her name is Kid?"

"Well, yes," said Lucca. "She's been here since she was a baby. We don't even know where she came from. Now, be a good girl and go inside, Kid." Finally, the child listened and ran inside. Dion moved his hand away from his spear.

***

The children continued to run around, screaming, laughing, and getting their noses into places they didn't belong. Kid, however, just hanged around in a corner by herself; nobody even approached her.

Dion, Catherine and Lucca sat down at a small table upstairs, in a room the children were apprantly not allowed to enter. "It's nice to see you again," said Lucca, looking at Catherine only. "We couldn't find you anywhere, so we just gave up."

"It's nice to see how concerned my son was," said Catherine bitterly. "He barely even realized I was alive when we got back!"

"On the contrary," said Dion, "he did acknowledge you when we first reached his hovel of a headquarters. You were just too asleep to notice."

"Anyway," said Lucca, "the war's over now. We've all moved on with our lives. All that remain are the children unnacounted for."

"Like Kid," said Dion.

"What's with you and Kid?" asked Catherine.

"I can sense it," said Dion. "She's not like the other children. She's from Zeal."

"What?" asked Lucca. "That's impossible! Zeal was destroyed thousands of years ago. The blood line's run out by now."

"No," said Dion. "She really is from Zeal. I feel it whenever I get close. She has powers even we don't know about. It would be wise to keep her out of the picture until we can learn more."

"What's all this we stuff?" asked Lucca. "I was actually wanting you to leave. The children are scared of you. It's like they think you're a monster."

"In a way," said Dion, leaning back in his chair, "I am. Part of my body was altered by Lavos."

Lucca's eyes shot wide open with horror. She ran to a small bed in the corner and removed a large gun from under it. "Any trace of Lavos must be destroyed!"

"I take it then," said Dion, "that you were one of the ones that destroyed Lavos."

"Yes!" said Lucca. "He was a parasite. He brought the Apocalypse on the world! All of his kind must die!"

"And you," said Dion, "must die! You made me into this!"

"Go to hell!" shouted Lucca.

The sound of their voices brought the children running upstairs. Dion and Lucca quickly put their weapons away as the children pushed the door open. "You aren't supposed to be in here!" said Lucca.

"We heard shouting," said one of them. "Are you all right, Lucca?"

"Yes! Now get out of here!" said Lucca. The children ran back downstairs...except for Kid, who stood in the doorway.

Dion ignored the girl and looked out the window. Suddenly, he saw two figures standing in the bushes. He could see neither of them clearly, but he saw that one of them was carrying a scythe. The other was dressed in bright clothing, making it slightly easier to see.

"Excuse me," said Dion. He kicked the window open and jumped to the ground.

(to be continued)

[demigod]

Awesome, an update!

By the way, hanged means "Put to death by hanging by the neck". Hung is the commonly used past tense.

[Weiila]

Gnar, why do you update when I just finished assembling the update parts, Galloway? Are you standing in a corner, waiting, waiting for your chance? Huh, huh?

[d Galloway]

Originally posted by Weiila
Gnar, why do you update when I just finished assembling the update parts, Galloway? Are you standing in a corner, waiting, waiting for your chance? Huh, huh?

Maybe you should TELL me when you plan an update! That way I can manage my time so I don't update my fics when you aren't ready! Or better yet, don't tell me to take my time, then scream at me when I finally update!

(Needless to say, I'm very tired right now).

[Weiila]

I'm sorry Galloway, it was meant as a joke. I didn't mean to offend you.

[d Galloway]

What is it with me and this fic? I just can't decide on what to do next!

Sorry, folks, but unless inspiration hits me in the next few days, I might just have to give up on this one.

[Weiila]

Aww no :/ I'll be rooting for inspiration, yo!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 37: The Jester

Dion searched the bushes, but found no trace of the two figures. A loud sound, however, emerged from a nearby tree, followed by several whirling objects. Dion jumped out of the way, just as several throwing knives stuck into the ground.

"Who's there?" he shouted.

"Monsier Dion," said an extremely annoying, small voice, "vat are you doing here?"

"Two more questions," said Dion. "One, where the fuck did you learn how to speak, and two, how do you know my name?"

"We know more than that," said a much gruffer voice. Dion looked around nervously, but didn't see anyone.

The small voice laughed. "Non, non, monsier! You do not need to zee us. Ve do not wish to harm you!"

"Then why the hell are you here?" asked Dion, raising the spear. "Just come on out!"

"He vants to see us, monsier," said the small voice.

"Let's not dissapoint him," said the much gruffer voice.

Dion looked around nervously, then felt something rip through his back. He collapsed onto his hands and knees, as a black boot kicked his spear away.

"Harle," said the gruff voice, "knock him out." Dion looked up, and saw a young woman, wearing bright, multicolored clothing and white face paint standing over him. Just as she slammed her foot onto the back of his neck, he realized this was the jester he had been warned about.

***

Lucca returned to the room, where Catherine was still finishing her tea. "Sure is taking Dion a long time," said Catherine.

"Don't think about him," said Lucca. "He's no better than Lavos."

"I have NO idea what you're talking about," said Catherine, "but Dion is not as evil as you make him out to be."

"Shut UP!" shouted Lucca. "Just sleep it off, okay? You're back home. Everything's all right..."

Suddenly, a very sharp smell came up from through the floorboards. "Lucca," said Catherine, "you didn't leave the oven on, did you?"

"No..." said Lucca. Her face was suddenly filled with horror. She practically kicked down the door and looked down the stairs, then screamed, "FIRE!"

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Lynx: And don't leave a single building standing! MUHAHAHAHA!!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 38: The Demons

Dion climbed back to his feet, clutching a bloodied wound on his chest. The orphanage was completely on fire, with small screams echoing from inside. It almost brought a smile to his face.

Sighing, he turned and began walking away, but suddenly remembered something. He had to make sure Kid was dead. Cursing, he kicked in one of the windows and jumped in.

The flames continued to dance around him, almost hypnotically. Children were cowering and screaming, afraid to move at all. Dion knew his presence didn't help alleviate their fears; they added to them.

The flames began to take shape, creating a visage of a fat, winged monster. The instant it was completed, fat, red demons rushed out of the flames, growling and grunting. Dion raised his spear and ran it through one of the demons' hearts, but it barely damaged it.

The demon drew its head back and let out a giant burst of flame, completely enveloping Dion. However, they didn't damage him, either. Dion quickly circled around it and stabbed its back several times, but the other demons grabbed him and threw him away. He crashed through one of the weakened walls, sending broken wood and splinters everywhere.

Dion swore softly, then ran forward again. The demons began to converge on him, but before they could strike, Dion jumped onto the ceiling and tore apart the wood, revealing a pipe. He quickly punched it several times, sending water flying everywhere. However, neither the flames or demons were damaged.

"Shit!" shouted Dion. He jumped to the ground, charged up his magic, and quickly fired. However, the blast did nothing to the demons. He raised his spear and jumped, but one of the demons batted him away.

***

"Damn it!" shouted Luuca, desperately turning the faucet. "What the hell's wrong with these pipes?"

"I'll try to help downstairs," said Catherine, climbing out the window. Lucca angrily grabbed her water gun and began to walk down the stairs.

Something pulled her back, as something else stabbed into her back.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 39: Return to the Future

Dion collapsed on his hands and knees, his body covered with blood. The demons towered over him, ready to finish them off. He tried to raise his spear, but one of the demons grabbed it out of his hands and snapped it in half. Dion tried to summon his magic, but he couldn't concentrate.

Suddenly, one of the demons screamed, then fell into pieces. The other demons spun around, only to get sliced apart just as quickly. As they collapsed, Dion saw his rescuer: a young boy with a wierd blade. Other demons appeared, and converged on him, but the boy turned towards them and attacked.

Dion didn't know how long this could last, so he quickly ran up the stairs. However, as he neared the top, a lifeless body fell down towards him. As it rolled down the stairs, he recognized it as Lucca.

Shrugging it off, he ran into Lucca's room, only to find it empty. He jumped out the window, and saw Catherine herding some children out another window. Leaving her, he jumped back in and searched for Kid.

The demons were now all wiped out, save for a few pockets here and there. However, he caught sight of the boy running down a hall, and curious about who this was, followed.

The hallway led to a large playroom, where he finally found Kid; however, Lynx and Harle were already there. They looked out a window, oblivious to his presence. The boy, however, caught their attention the second he entered the room. They both stared at him, growled, and dissapeared as the roof began to collapse.

The boy grabbed Kid and ran. Dion swore, then ran to Catherine, who was just finished with getting the children out. He grabbed her and jumped out the window. A blue portal appeared in mid-air as they jumped, though, and they sailed right through it.

***

They landed back on Arni, where Guile was still waiting for him. "I see you were successful," he said. "We must now retrieve the Masamune and stop Lord Shadow."

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

I will update this soon. I swear to God.

[Weiila]

The same goes for the fanfic section. TD's on it, but he got attacked by something too small to see and started feeling sick :/ Hopefully he'll be back and kickin' today.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 40: The Assault

The three boarded the boat and returned to the mainland. It was just as disquieting as Dion had remembered it; even more so after seeing what it was in the past. However, their attention drifted towards distant sounds: metal clashing, men screaming, spells exploding. A battle was taking place nearby.

"Guile, what's happening?" asked Dion.

Guile bent down and sketched a strange symbol in the dirt. When he was finished, it transformed into a clear portal, showing a bloody battle being waged. However, they were horrified when they learned who the two parties were: the Shadow guards and the Iron Brotherhood.

"We have no time to waste," said Guile. "We're leaving now." He raised his staff, and the three dissapeared in a flash of bright light.

***

They reappeared on a hilltop, overlooking the battle. The carnage below was unspeakable; both sides were heavily destroying each other. It was plainly obvious, though, that the Iron Brotherhood was quickly losing; they were too vastly outnumbered and surrounded by highly trained soldiers with the finest equipment.

"It's too late for them," said Dion. "Let's just get out of here."

Guile simply stared at the battle below, completely ignoring Dion. He raised his staff, and massive waves of lightning flew through the Shadow guards. They convulsed and gasped, but only 1/3 of them actually bothered to die. However, the disorienting effects allowed the Iron Brotherhood to return to the offensive, and they attacked once again.

"Do you see now, Dion?" asked Guile. "Even against such odds, you can never give up hope. If only I had learned that long ago..."

"That's it!" said Dion. "I'll fight, okay? Just stop talking!" He ran into the midst of the battle, grabbed a dropped sword, and began fighting it out again.

***

"...that was your plan, wasn't it?" asked Catherine.

"Of course," said Guile. "Sometimes, you just have to push them a little."

***

The offensive position changed constantly, but finally, the Shadow guards were wiped out. However, the Brotherhood was down to less than a dozen members now, including Guile.

"There is no point in remaining here," said Guile. "Lord Shadow always regarded us as a threat, but he has never reacted in this way. What happened while I was gone?"

"Nothing of importance," said the old man. "However, they were somehow able to learn where our hideout was. The Iron Brotherhood is no more."

"He's right," said Dion. "There's no way these people can withstand another attack. We have to find the Masamune and destroy Lord Shadow once and for all."

Guile nodded in reply. "If what you say is true, then the Masamune is being held by that old fool, Gaspar. He is sealed off from the rest of existance at the End of Time, which will make things difficult. There is only one place where we can find it, then." He grabbed Dion and raised his staff, and the two dissapeared again.

***

The old man blinked, then sighed. "The Iron Brotherhood is finished. All we can do is hope that Dion succeeds."

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 41: The Oracle

Dion and Guile reappeared on a small island. The ocean violently crashed against the rocky shore, littered with skeletons and rotting artifacts. A wooden bridge spanned from the island to a large tower, which was surrounded by various other buildings.

"The Oracle awaits within," said Guile. "She will give you the guidance you need to complete your journey."

"Who is this oracle?" asked Dion.

"She is...one of the wisest people in this forsaken world," said Guile. "She is a master of a form of magic long since forgotten by mankind. This has given her a kind of...foresight into matters." Dion could tell Guile was uncomfortable with this; there was something far greater to the story than he was telling.

"I guess I'll check this out," said Dion. "Wish me well." Guile simply shrugged, then vanished. Dion gripped his sword uneasily, then continued down the bridge. The wooden boards creaked under his feet, while the frayed ropes barely withstood the pressure. When he was halfway across the bridge, the sound of snapping reached Dion's ears; the ropes were about to give completely.

He quickly dashed across, as the bridge plummetted into the ocean. With no way back across, he simply continued into the tower.

Inside was nothing more than a spiral staircase, made of a rustless metal. One side ascended to the top, while another descended into the ocean water. It seemed that the tower wasn't built here; it had reached here through other means.

He continued up the stairs. The darkness surrounded him, but his eyes were somehow able to see in complete darkness; probably another one of Lavos's gifts. As soon as he reached the top, he found something he didn't want: more bridges, creating a web between all the buildings. He had a long way to go.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Bridges... well, at least it's not one of those bleedin' towers...

[d Galloway]

Bridges... well, at least it's not one of those bleedin' towers...

Actually, there WILL be towers. And more bridges. And more monsters. And more magical fairies who serve as hooks for you to swing on while you solve various time-bending puzzles in a vain attempt at understanding a plot that makes no goddamn sense...

Uh, ignore that last part. I just started playing Onimusha 3 last night.

(/pointless excuse to push the plot up)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 42: The Oracle's Identity

Dion crossed the first bridge, and climbed through the window of another tower. Like before, the bottom was completely flooded; however, there was something else swimming in there this time. When he leaned forward for a closer look, he saw a dorsal fin, and backed away as a large shark jumped at his face. He began to climb the stairs, but he first fired a blast of energy at the shark, blowing it to bloody pieces.

The stairs led him to the very top of the tower, overlooking the vast water. He climbed out and jumped onto another bridge. The cracking noise was the first to greet him, followed by the wood below him collapsing. Dion jumped forward, only to hear the cracking continue. He sprinted across the bridge, then jumped through the window into the next tower.

There were no stairs leading up, so he had to make his way downstairs. As he reached the water, he found what he was looking for: a large, iron door. The lock was rusted shut, but a strong kick blew the door off its hinges. Another bridge waited on the other side, but it at least looked sturdier than what Dion had faced earlier.

As he crossed, however, he felt a strange feeling in his head. A voice seemed to call out to him. "Leave this place. You bring them closer to me with every step. Leave." The feeling dissapeared as quickly as it had occured, and Dion was left wondering what that was, and why the voice sounded so familiar...

He reached the end of the bridge, where a long metal ladder waited. He started to climb, but as he did, the sound of water churning reached his ears. He looked down, and saw a geyser of water blast from the ocean and onto him. Desperate, he grabbed onto the ladder, but was pulled free when the blast reached him. He was hurled into the air; however, he was not forced away from the wall itself. Rather he flew up to the top of the ladder, and quickly grabbed the side of the tower window and pulled himself in.

The voice rang out again; only this time, it was from within the tower. "Leave, Dion. You are not welcome here. If you continue, I will kill you." The voice was even more familiar than before; however, Dion did not have the patience for recognizing who it was at this time. He simply opened the next set of doors and continued.

He climbed another flight of stairs, before finally reaching the last doorway. Drawing his sword, he carefully pushed the door open, then dodged the fireball that erupted from inside. He quicky dashed inside, and dodged several more fireballs. Finally, the feeling of magic stopped, and he faced his attacker for the first time. Complete shock filled his face. "YOU!"

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

What did Dion see? What is this mysterioous person? Find out next time on... Half-Spawn!

[Weiila]

And excuse me for being a slug, but how is Onimusha 3? I pray they have better voiceacting than in the second... hey, and the first. "Welcome to our little ceerrremony!" Sheez, Fortinbras the demonking sounded so... kinky. Didn't help that Jing sat beside me, commenting wisely:
"Fortinbras? You're fighting fourteen bras?"
So much for that horror... :mwahaha:

[d Galloway]

And excuse me for being a slug, but how is Onimusha 3? I pray they have better voiceacting than in the second... hey, and the first. "Welcome to our little ceerrremony!" Sheez, Fortinbras the demonking sounded so... kinky. Didn't help that Jing sat beside me, commenting wisely:
"Fortinbras? You're fighting fourteen bras?"
So much for that horror... :mwahaha:

It's better than the first two. However, the voice acting is still as bad...although the french in the beginning is excellent. Also, Samanosuke kinda gets the stick here, as the game prefers to center on the new character, Jacques (a frenchman who gest sent from 2004 to the 16th century, while Samanosuke gets sent to 2004 in his place...yes, the plot's confusing). Still, if you liked the first two, you should check it out.

Oh, and the final boss is Nobunaga again. At least he isn't as ridiculously named as Fortinbras (a completely unfitting name for a demon lord).

[Weiila]

Nobunaga again? Err... he didn't bring his tentacle room again, I hope? O_O;; Eww. Ew, eww, ewww...
And when that Nobunaga fella' in Inuyasha showed up, I spat out my tea dangit! (It's not Nobunaga Oda, but still!)

[d Galloway]

I was updating this...when my computer suddenly erased my post. I was so upset, I didn't bother to try again. I'll give it another shot today or tomorrow.

[Weiila]

Your computer is teh Dev0l jr.!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 43: The Prophecy

The Oracle was actually a young woman, with long blonde hair and deep, piercing eyes. She wore a long purple robe, which seemed ancient when compared to her fair looks. Her hands still vibrated with power; she was obviously skilled in the ways of magic.

"Hello, Dion," said the Oracle. "It has been a...long time, hasn't it?"

"Not long enough," said Dion. "What the hell's going on?"

"It was...torment," said the Oracle. "First came darkness, then pain, agony, endless torment. Finally, I was freed, returned to the light. I know reside here, aiding those who deserve my assistance. You are not one such person."

"I don't care what you think!" shouted Dion. "I have come too far now to be turned away by some spoiled wench like you!"

"You're one to talk," said the Oracle. "I'd rather kill myself than help you."

"I seek only to destroy Lord Shadow," said Dion. "Aid me, and I will leave you for all eternity."

"I only wish I could believe that," said the Oracle. "Lord Shadow is deep in his fortress to the north, where he is constructing some kind of battleship. This machine will mean trouble for the world; none will be able to survive an onslaught from this machine. Go to the Death Cape to the north; there, you will find your answers."

"Thank you," said Dion. "Now, as promised, I will leave you alone. Farewell...princess." He left the room, slamming the door behind him.

***

The Oracle looked through her only window, surveying the vast ocean. "The stage is set," she said. "The world's fate now lies in a madman's hands. Please be safe, brother."

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

The Oracle looked through her only window, surveying the vast ocean. "The stage is set," she said. "The world's fate now lies in a madman's hands. Please be safe, brother."

This is not going to be your day, huh Schala?

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 44: The Frozen Fortress

Dion returned to the island, where Guile was waiting for him. "Take me to Death Cape," said Dion. "It's time to finish off Lord Shadow."

"I can take you there," said Guile, "but I cannot stay long. I recieved a message from the other members of the Brotherhood; Lord Shadow's forces are massing another strike. I must return to the front."

"Do as you wish," said Dion.

"Also, wouldn't it be better to retrieve the Masamune first?" asked Guile. "Such a weapon could-"

"Fine, fine," said Dion. "Send me to this 'End of Time', whatever that is." Guile raised his staff, and Dion was enveloped in a blue portal. The portal quickly closed, and he dissapeared.

***

Dion landed on a stone platform, aged from centuries of neglect. Around him was a vortex of swirling lights and colors, accompanied by complete silence. He walked down the platform and down a flight of stairs, the sound of his footsteps loudly echoing in the dead void. He arrived at another stone platform, only this one had someone else residing there: an old man, wearing a brown suit and lousy hat. He rested on an old cane, which looked like it would break at any second from his weight. His eyes quickly centered on Dion.

"At last, we meet," he said. "I am-"

"I know who you are," said Dion. "Gaspar, the Guru of Time. One of the Queen's dear servants."

"You truly are an ignorant oaf," laughed Gaspar. "In any case, I assume you've come for the Masamune."

"You assume correctly," said Dion. "Now, where is it?"

"Right here," said Gaspar. A bright column of light appeared in front of Dion, and inside was none other than the Masamune itself. Dion pulled it out, and the light dissapeared. The sword now glowed with incredible power.

"Thank you," said Dion. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to stop a madman."

"There is much you still need to know," said Gaspar. "Lord Shadow has many servants. While most will be easy for you to handle, there are two that you must avoid. One is an actual Lavos spawn, a remnant from the destruction of Lavos. The other is another half-spawn, like yourself." Dion was taken aback. He wasn't the only half-spawn?

"Now, farewell," said Gaspar. Another portal appeared, and swallowed Dion.

(to be continued)

[demigod]

Dun-dun-dun!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 45: The Lavos Spawn

Dion felt a sudden chill as he landed. He fell into a deep snowbank, while howling winds tore at him from every direction. He climbed back to his feet, and the feeling began to fade; either his mutation made him immune to the cold, or he was coming down with frostbite. He quickly climbed forward and into a large, deep cave.

He contemplated starting a fire, but saw something else in the distance that caught his attention: a barely burning torch. Someone had been in the cave several hours ago at the latest. Dion continued into the dark tunnel, his Lavos-spawned eyes capable of perfect vision in the twisting nightmare. The entire time, burnt-out torches constantly appeared; this tunnel was frequently traveled.

Finally, he reached the end of the tunnel, and found himself in a large cavern. The walls were covered with spikes and fresh bodies, their blood still oozing from their wounds. A pile of skeletons were neatly placed in the center, inside of a large pentagram. At the far end of the pentagram sat a black altar, similar in design to the altar he saw in the past. On it rested a blood-stained daggar.

Curious, Dion went deeper inside. As soon as he had passed the threshold, however, an iron gate slammed down on the entrance, trapping him inside. He could now see something that had been blocked earlier; a small army of robed figures, looking down at him from tiers several stories above.

"Lord Shadow commands, and we obey," they said, all in one monotone voice. "He demands sacrifice to his Guardian, and we obey."

"What the hell is this?" said Dion. "Who are you?"

"Lord Shadow's law is meant for us only," said the robed figures. "He demands fresh blood for his guardian, and we obey. The guardian feeds off of the suffering of others, and we provide."

"Wierdos," muttered Dion.

"The man is half-spawn," said one of the robed figures. "His blood flows with immense strength."

"The guardian will be pleased with this one," said another figure. "His power will supply it with unbridled energy."

"Lord Shadow will be proud," said yet another figure. "We will earn his blessing."

"Just shut up, okay?" shouted Dion. "What's going on here?"

"The sacrifice has begun," said the figures, once again speaking in one monotone voice. "Let us depart." They melted into the shadows, just as another large gate opened, revealing the dreaded guardian. It crawled out of the darkness, its shell a massive, disfigured mess of spikes and spines, its head nothing more than a three-pronged mouth and a single eye.

It was an actual Lavos Spawn.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 46: The Secret of the Spawn

The Lavos Spawn slithered up to Dion, its spiky shell covered with dried blood. It opened its mouth and let out a screeching howl, then arched its back and fired several pointed scales into the air. Dion rolled out of the way and struck at the monster's shell, only to be blown back by an enormous counterattack.

He got back to his feet, his entire body covered with thorns and spikes. He charged forward, this time aiming for the head. The monster opened its mouth, and fired a stream of acid. Dion sidestepped the burningliquid, but was suddenly struck by another flury of scales. His entire body was covered with his own blood, and he could barely stand.

"That's it!" he shouted. He raised his hand and channeled all his power into one more spell. The resulting blast blew through the Lavos Spawn's head, blowing it off completely. All that was left was the shell, which rolled sideways and rested against the wall.

"Impressive, Dion," said another voice. "None have survived that long." Dion looked up, and saw an armored figure, wearing a black helmet. His face was completely blocked by the visor.

"You must be Lord Shadow," said Dion. "Are you ready to die?"

"Hardly," said Lord Shadow. "You see, I have come only to offer you some insight. You see, that spawn was once a human."

"Of course," said Dion. "Lavos Spawns are created when Lavos absorbs bodies from the world he currently inhabits. They are transformed into replicas of himself, then sent to destroy the world."

"Still, there is much you do not know," said Lord Shadow. "For example, you do not know the identity of the spawn you just killed."

"That doesn't matter," said Dion. "Whoever it was before became a monster. They deserved to die."

"Would it change your attitude," said Lord Shadow, "if I told you that the one you just killed was, in fact, someone close to you?"

"What do you mean?" shouted Dion. His mind began to reel with the possibilities, and a touch of fear.

"You knew that spawn very well," said Lord Shadow. "In fact, it was your dear sister."

"My...what?" asked Dion.

"Yes, your sister was absorbed as well," said Lord Shadow. "In fact, she was one of the first spawns."

"You mean...I just killed..." began Dion.

"I see you are upset," said Lord Shadow. "I'll be waiting for you. I know you can find a way up here." He then dissapeared into the shadows. Dion walked over to the spawn's shell, fell to his knees, and for the first time in an eternity, cried.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

I've tried to keep this alive, but I'm running out of ideas for this fic fast. I know the ending I want, but have no idea how to get there. After I get back in a few weeks, I'll try again.

[demigod]

I know how you feel. I wish you well in effort.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 47: Death Cape

After several hours of silence, Dion recovered. He looked at the dead spawn's body, now seeing the sister he had lost during the destruction of Zeal. His mind reeling with rage, he climbed on his sister's shell until he reached the ledge above. Gripping his sword, he marched through the caves, until he finally reached an exit.

He now stood in front of a wasteland of ice, wind and snow. The shrieking wind blew from seemingly every direction at once, tearing and shredding everything in their path. Dion tried to communicate with the wind elementals, but they did not respond. Finally, he simply raised his arms and marched into the snow.

***

After what seemed like an eternity, Dion finally reached the end of the frozen mountain. Before him was a large cave, leading depeer and deeper into darkness. Dion took a few steps inside, but suddenly felt the ground vanish beneath him. He fell into complete darkness, tumbling into total oblivion. Finally, after grabbing ahold of the rock wall and slowly sliding down, he landed on a rough ground. After his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw what he had really landed on; human remains.

Dion stepped through the grim graveyard and continued through the caves. The amount of death and destruction around him continued to grow exponentially as he continued, until he finally began to find traces of Lavos Spawn acid. Finally, the bodies dissapeared, and Dion stood before a massive pair of wooden gates. After nearly a hour of struggling, Dion finally pushed the gates open, and found himself inside a large metal room.

Before he could think about where he was, the ground began to shift. Dion ran through the room, until he reached a small metal door. After quickly pressing a switch, the door slid open, and Dion ran inside. The instant the door closed, the ground began to rise from under Dion.

The Half-Spawn struggled to stay in place, but was thrown over and fell into a pit at the side of the ground. He quickly fell unconcious.

***

Hours later, feeling returned to Dion's body. He was now in a small, metal cell, lying on a cold bench crudely chained into the wall. Rats scurried below him, with no possible escape from the prison. Dion felt for his weapons, but was not surprised when he found them missing. After all, he was now a prisoner.

The door opened, and a well-armored guard entered, bearing a large bag. "You should feel honored," said the guard. "Lord Shadow has decided to keep you alive."

"What's in the bag?" asked Dion.

"The torture equipment," said the guard. "He simply decided that you should suffer for the problems you've caused the master." Dion could not see the guard's face through his helmet, but he could sense his sinister grin. The guard grabbed Dion, threw him out of the cell into a half-dozen others, and dragged the half-spawn down the hallway.

(to be continued)

[Weiila]

Man, I hate cliffhangers...

And I feel for you with the "getting to the ending" problem, Gallo, I really, really do. *hugs*

[d Galloway]

I'll give updating a shot tomorrow.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 48: The Escape

Dion was hauled into a large auditorium. In the middle sat various pieces of torture equipment, all covered with countless layers of blood and gore. The guards threw him onto a large metal rack, still wet with fresh blood, and quickly shoved down numerous restraints. Finally, the rack was lowered, so that Dion was now staring directly into a large spotlight. To the side, he could see a large balcony. Standing on it was none other than Lord Shadow.

"It pains me to see you like this, Dion," said Shadow. "But you really have caused me a good deal of trouble. Guards, make sure it takes a nice, long time." He then seated himself as the guards pulled several oddly-shaped objects out of the bag.

Dion struggled against the restraints, looked back at the light, and fired a blast directly into it. A shower of sparks and metal flew everywhere, sending the guards reeling back. Dion grabbed one of the objects and cut the restraints, then grabbed one of the guard's swords and killed them before they could react. Lord Shadow simply smiled, then dissapeared.

Dion kicked open the doors, then fired another spell at the onrushing guards. He ran through the next door, which turned out to simply be a cargo room. He hid behind a few food containers as the guards rushed by, then climbed up a nearby ladder.

The instant he reached the top, the freezing cold rushed forward. He was back outside, once again inside a large cave. This time, however, he was standing on top of a large, metal floor, with strange designs and lines passing all over. Dion closed the trap door leading to the ladder, then slowly made his way forward. Suddenly, the entire cave began to shake, as the designs started to glow with energy. Dion quickly took cover under a door overhang, as the entire ground rised through the cave, sending rocks and debris flying everywhere. After what seemed like an eternity, the cave dissapeared, only to be replaced by the sky. Dion quickly realized where he was.

He was on top of Lord Shadow's own machine.

***

Guile watched as the ship rose into the air. "Dion failed," he sighed. "I'll have to deal with him myself, then." He quickly opened a portal and jumped through.

(to be continued)

[wingnut]

Ooh. Fun.

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 49: The Clash

Dion struggled with the hatch, but the impact had smashed it completely shut. He tried the door by the overhang, but it was locked from the other side. After an unsuccesful attempt to blow it down, he simply sat by it and watched the clouds pass by. The ship was moving at a fast pace, as the entire world zipped by in streaks.

Dion looked into the distance, and saw a shape quickly approaching. He strained his eyes, but he couldn't make out what it was until it landed on the ship. It was none other than Guile.

He gasped when he saw Dion. "You! I thought you were dead!"

"Almost," said Dion. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Lord Shadow must be defeated, Dion," said Guile. "He can try, but he cannot escape his fate."

"You can try," said Dion, "but there's no way in. Both doors are locked tight." Guile walked to the hatch and tried to blast it open. After a couple tries, the hatch finally cracked and crumbled. Guile shook his head, then jumped down. Dion quickly followed.

***

They landed in the cargo room, which had remained undisturbed. Guile readied his staff, and Dion his sword. "That's one problem down," said Guile. "Now for the next."

He swung his staff at Dion, who quickly dodged. "I know all about you," said Guile. "You're just another one of Lavos' little pets."

Dion slashed at Guile, who quickly flew back. "What the hell's wrong with you?" asked Dion. "Didn't you know I was a Spawn?"

"Not until several hours ago," said Guile. "I had a nice chat with my sister about you..."

Dion's jaw practically dropped. "Wait...you're Janus? The spoiled little brat?"

Guile chuckled. "Janus, Magus, and now Guile. I have been known by many names, but there is always one thing we have in common. We seek to destroy Lavos."

"And I won't take any orders from a pampered excuse for a mage," said Dion. "Now, let's end this."

Guile sweeped at Dion, who quickly dodged. Suddenly, Guile's staff flew off and smacked Dion while he was still in mid-air, sending him flying through several large food crates and slamming into the wall. He climbed to his feet, covered in salted meat and rotting fruit, but the staff simply slammed into his neck, pinning him against the wall.

Guile raised both hands, and a massive flood of black energy poured out, engulfing both Dion and the staff. After nearly a minute, Guile's attack ceased, and the staff and Dion had both vanished. Guile turned away in victory, but was slammed in the back by an iron crate. While he was still struggling back to his feet, his staff was thrown next to him, impaling itself deeply into the metal. On a large pile of boxes above Guile stood Dion, bruised from the staff but unharmed by the spell.

Dion jumped to the ground, sword drawn. He sliced downward, but Guile quickly rolled out of the way. The mage tried to remove his staff, but it was too deeply imbedded into the steel. Dion sucker punched him, then kicked him into the air. Before he landed, Dion fired another spell, blowing Guile through the wall and into a small room.

Jumping in after him, Dion found that they were now inside a electrical control room. Numerous devices and terminals, complete with strange transparant images and devices, filled every corner of the room. Guile climbed to his feet, bloodied and beaten. He raised his hands for another spell, but was unable to concentrate completely. Dion grabbed Guile by the neck and threw his body into one of the nearby terminals. A rush of electricity flowed through Guile's body briefly, then ceased. Satisfied that his enemy was dead, Dion simply left the body where it lay and entered the main ship.

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Yep, I'm delaying the inevitable again. I'm just that goddamn lazy...that, and I'm starting work on a little fic I'll be posting soon (take three guesses what it is).

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 50: The End

Dion marched through the many halls of the ship, now seemingly abandoned. He heard quiet mumbling and whimpering behind several of the doors, though; his approach had not gone unnoticed. After seeing his work against most of Lord Shadow's army, though, their fear was understandable.

Dion finally reached his target: a large metal door, complete with a sign that simply read, "Bridge." The door slid open the moment Dion approached it, revealing a massive chamber, packed to the brim with all manners of machines and devices. Dion took a few steps inside, and the door instantly slammed shut. Two guards in red armor rushed towards him, but they were both taken out with one stroke.

"Very good, Dion," said yet another mysterious voice. "Enter."

Dion cautiously ventured further inside, until he was at the very end of the bridge. He turned, and saw a man standing behind what looked like a throne. He wore heavy black armor, with a long sword hanging from his belt. His eyes were cold and calculating, his hair white as the frozen wasteland Dion had braved to reach this point. His face was weathered with age, and yet something was familiar about him...

He was most definately Lord Shadow.

"Don't tell me you can't recognize an old friend, Dion," said Lord Shadow. "It has been a long time, yes, but not TOO long."

"It doesn't matter who you are," said Dion. "You'll pay dearly for my sister!"

"Ah, the little rat doesn't get it," continued Lord Shadow. He drew his sword, and Dion was horrified. He recognized the blade; it was the only sword he knew that was made from gold.

"SOMA!" he shouted. "You're Lord Shadow?!"

"Don't act so surprised," said Soma. "After my mother's murder was discovered, I became the new king of Porre. That's when I met the same thing controlling her murderer, a being you could never understand. He made Porre the most powerful kingdom this forsaken world has ever seen! Then that brat from Arni showed up and ruined everything..."

"So you wiped the entire island out for revenge," finished Dion. "I don't know if I should call you either a bitter tyrant or a fanatical lunatic."

"Doesn't matter either way," said Soma. "The result is the same. This world must be erased, as was my master's desire. Soon, this ship will be above Porre itself. My own kingdom will become the demonstation point for this new warship. Their pathetic screams will serve as a warning to those who resist my rule again."

Soma's attention returned to Dion. "But I'm afraid you won't live to see it. I can't let someone like you roam free, after you nearly ruined my plans." Soma readied his sword; Dion followed in suit.

***

Catherine watched as the enormous vessel came closer and closer. What remained of the Iron Brotherhood stood in wait for Lord Shadow's approach.

***

Dion swung down, but Soma easily parried and stabbed Dion's left arm, running the entire length of his golden blade through. He then thrusted it back out, sending Dion's blood pouring everywhere. The half-spawn tried to attack with his only remaining arm, but Soma simply ducked and stabbed Dion's left leg in the same manner as his arm.

Now almost completely crippled, Dion fell backwards, landing against one of the terminals. Soma swung his sword down, and Dion dodged just as the blade slammed into the terminal. The entire system began to smoke and crackle, and warning lights began to flash everywhere.

Soma looked around in a panic, then narrowed his eyes back on Dion. He thrusted his sword into the critically wounded Half-Spawn.

***

The ship was just over Porre when it began to lose control. It spiraled around briefly, then began to head towards the ocean.

***

A wicked smile crept across Soma's face, until he saw Dion grab the golden sword. With a large amount of effort, Dion pulled the weapon out, then fired a blast of dark energy directly into Soma. The lord flew backwards into another set of terminals, and the entire ship began to tilt.

***

The ship's engines began to smoke, then caught fire. The entire vessel began to fall out of the sky.

***

Dion limped forward, barely managing to hold onto both his sword and his open wound. Some tried to climb to his feet, but slipped and stumbled on the tilting ground. Dion raised his sword with what little strength he had, and Soma barely had time to recognize it as the Masamune before Dion plunged it into Soma's face. Once he was sure it was all the way in, he pulled back, removing Lord Shadow's head in the process.

The whirling sound from outside became even more violent, as part of the ship seemed to be tearing apart. Dion looked out the bridge window, and saw the water he was quickly approaching.

He didn't even have time to say "shit" before the entire ship crashed. Before the water could reach him, the front exploded. Dion felt his body being burned and cooled at the same time, then finally nothing.

***

Lord Shadow's battleship continued to erupt in the distance, shattering windows and deafening all those too close to its death cry. The Iron Brotherhood cheered from their fortress; only Catherine showed any sort of concern for Dion.

A heavy hand clasped down on her shoulder. "The darkness is over," said a voice. "Now, come with me."

***

Guile watched the spectacle from the beach, still nursing his many burns and injuries. "The Lavos spawn pulled through," he said. "Dion, you are one lucky bastard."

***

Dion was surrounded by pure white. He felt only a strange sense of displacement, accompanied by a sense of ecstasy. He could hear voices in the distance. They were those of his friends, his family, his companions from long ago. They were beckoning to him.

He did not hesitate; he simply pressed on. At last, his long journey, his long life, was over.

THE END

Gallo-note: Yes, it's a rush job, but this fic just HAD to go!

[d Galloway]

You know what? I'm not ending this. I don't care if nobody reads this; I can't forgive myself for that...DISGRACE of an ending! So help me God, I'll give this the sendoff it TRULY deserves!

[d Galloway]

***

Chapter 51: The Mystery of the Frozen Flame

Catherine turned, and saw a cloaked figure looking at her. It was a young woman, with long purple hair and a face filled with both beauty and wisdom. Her eyes were sharp and demanding, her posture indicating that she was trying toremain anonymous.

"Lord Shadow is dead," said the woman. "Dion has won this battle. However, the war is not over."

"Excuse me, but who are you?" asked Catherine.

"That is not important," said the woman. "Come with me. I doubt Porre will remain stable for very long without its leadership, and this fortress is hardly a suitable place for protection."

***

Several Porre soldiers made their way to the beach, carrying stretchers and medicine. Wreckage from Lord Shadow's ship drifted onto the sand from the crash site, alopng with a few escape pods and many, many bodies. "Dear God," said one of the soliders. "What the hell caused this?"

"Who cares?" said the other soldier "Just try to find Lord Shadow."

***

The woman and Catherine finally stopped in the middle of a thick forest. The woman gathered some wood and waved her hand, causing a fire to burst out of nowhere. "Sit," she commanded.

Catherine obliged immediately, seating herself on a nearby log. The woman sat herself on a moss-covered rock, the hood of her cloak casting a strange shadow over her face. "So what's this all about?" asked Catherine.

"Before his destruction," said the woman, "Lord Shadow was involved in a variety of projects, all centerng on the being, Lavos.'

Catherine looked at the woman blankly. "La...vos?"

"It was a monstrosity," said the woman, "a demon from outer space that fed off the planet's precious life force. It would have destroyed everything nine hundred years from now had your son and his friends not killed it."

"...That's right," said Catherine, her eyes suddenly filled with sharp rememberance. "That was what the last night of the Millenial Fair was about, before I fell into Lucca's machine. I never did find that cat..."

"Where that animal went is not important," said the woman. "What IS important is Lord Shadow's research. You see, he came across something very interesting..."

***

One of the Porre soldiers lifted a large piece of metal, revealing a few more mutilated corpses. "This is terrible," he said. "I hope we find the bastard who did this."

"If he was on this thing, he's dead by now," said another soldier. "We just need to find Lord Shadow, and get out of here."

***

The woman pulled a notebook out of her cloak. She turned to a back page, where there were various diagrams of a strangely-shaped fire, along with diagrams of its dimensions and properties. "What is this?" asked Catherine.

"It is the Frozen Flame," said the woman. "It was actually a spine from the shell of Lavos. The original Frozen Flame was destroyed a few years ago by the Time Devourer, but there was actually another, a leftover spine from one of Lavos' Spawn."

"What's the point behind this?" asked Catherine.

"That's what I need to know," said the woman. "There's no doubt that the Frozen Flame could provide vast amounts of power, but I don't know exactly how Lord Shadow planned to utilize it. That's where you come in."

Catherine's eyebrows practically shot off her head. "What do you mean?"

"You and I must look into this," said the woman. "It's of the upmost importance that every trace of Lavos' power is wiped from this world, and I don't know if Dion has survived. Well need to get going now."

"...Wait!" said Catherine. "Who are you, and how do you know Dion?"

"My name is Casandra," said the woman. "And I have met Dion before. Now, let's let the matter drop and make our way back to Porre. Stay close, things will most likely be in pieces."

***

One of the soldiers pulled back some more scrap metal and ruined electronics, and found two bodies, one decapitated and both heavily burnt. One he recognized right away. "I found Lord Shadow!"

The rest of the soldiers ran to the bodies, their mouths opened in horror. "He's definately dead," said another guard. "But...what about the other one?"

The first soldier knelt next to the body and checked its pulse. "He's alive, but barely. Get him on the ambulance, NOW!"

***

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Okay, if anyone is reading this, please post. Otherwise, I'll have it removed from the archive.

[Mullenkamp]

*Raises hand slowly*

[d Galloway]

*Raises hand slowly*

Thanks for giving me a reason to live.

[Mullenkamp]

It's no big deal. I've been a fan of your fan fiction since before I posted. You're a terrific writer, just wish I had the time to really finish reading the amount of this story you've already done.

Personally, I loved that Clock Tower fanfic. Don't really know why. Keep at this though, I wanna know what happens.

[d Galloway]

Chapter 52: The Research Station

Porre was enveloped in a horrifying riot, filled with looting, pillaging, and murder. Gangs and interest groups gained power momentarily, only to lose it just as quickly to a rival organization. Admists all this, a large, square-shaped building on the far end of the city remained untouched, completely unnoticed in the rioting around the manor houses and businesses. Inside, armed Porre soldiers stood, waiting for the inevitable moment when someone mistook their lab for another mansion.

Admist all the turmoil below, Catherine and her mysterious companion teleported onto the roof. No guards had been posted, as such things would have attracted undue attention. The two women snuck closer to the small skylight, their eyes posted for any enemies. Below them were a gathering of scientists and soldiers, all busily trying to either continue their work or destroy as much as they could.

"We need a plan," whispered Catherine. "If we take them on now, we'll be-"

"There's no need," said the woman. "These soldiers are not ready for combat." She jumped through the window, startlng everyone below her. Rather than fight back, however, the soliders fell to their knees, mumbling incoherently. Catherine slowly climbed down, careful to avoid the shattered glass.

One of the researchers slowly approached the two. It was a middle-aged man, with a short brown beard and thinning hair. His coat was stained with blood, no doubt from his previous experiments. "Who the hell are you? What do you want?"

"We want your notes on the Frozen Flame," said Catherine. "Please."

***

Two Porre doctors leaned over the burnt body before them. "The tests are in," said the first doctor. "It's not Lord Shadow."

"It doesn't matter," said the second doctor. "Maybe he could tell what happened on that ship." They started rapping the body up right away.

***

The researched finished handing over his notes. They showed more details of the Frozen Flame, including figure notes and possible locations. All the location nates had been crossed out, save for one: the ruins of a place called "Viper Manor."

"There, you've taken our research," said the researcher. "Thanks for ruining our lives."

"This is not for you," said the woman. "The Porre Empire has ended. Leave, and you may yet live."

"LEAVE? You obviously underestimate our situation. The city has fallen into madness. We're safer here."

"...It's your decision," said the woman. "Come, Catherine. Let's leave these fools to their fate."

***

The nurse slowly entered the medical tent, carrying various IV units and tubes. She stared at the bed, and ran out screaming.

The bandages were torn to shreds, and a blood trail led to an open window. The patient had escaped.

***

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Chapter 53: The Manor Ruins

Thanks to the woman's magic, it was easy to flee the chaos in Porre and reach the old Viper Manor. What was once a lively, luxorious mansion/fortress was now a decaying mass of stone and marble, practically consumed by the plants surrounding it. The front door, which seemed to have once been a magnificent double oak, was almost completely rotted away, and now exposed the entrance perfectly. From what Catherine could see, the hall was just as destroyed as the front.

"Lord Viper was an aristocrat in this area once," said the woman. "He was also a greedy, power-hungry bastard. Much of the wealth from the surrounding land was taken through his taxes, until he had an entire basement filled with treasures."

"Then what happened?" asked Catherine.

"He got too greedy," said the woman. "He began to covet the Frozen Flame, seeking it as a means for immortality. He finally did find the flame, but was consumed when he touched it. Needless to say, the Flame honors only those worthy of its presence. Now, let's continue."

She pushed the front door open easily, sending it crashing down. The front hall was indeed overrun with plants, which were smashing through the floor tiles and the collapsed ceiling. A few skeletons were tangled in the mess, blades still sticking out of some of them.

"Looters," said the woman. "Anyone with the slightest bit of greed knows of Viper's treasures. It was definate that they would try to attack Viper's mansion when he was dead."

The woman continued walking down the hall. Catherine stood back a moment, her mind reeling. This woman knew a bit too much...

***

They stopped again at a flight of stairs, leading down into the darkness. The woman snapped her fingers, and a small ball of light danced around above her head, illuminating the passage. The two women slowly walked down the steps, checking for even the slighest bit of structural damage.

After several minutes, they reached the basement. What was once a place of treasure and artifacts had been looted down to the walls, which showed the effects of being stripped. A few patches remained unlooted, revealing a golden floor and wall. None of the magnificent treasures remained, leaving only a bare, leaky basement in their absence.

The woman ran towards an old wooden table, on which were various folders and documents. She started tearing through them while Catherine continued to examine the strange room. Finally, the woman turned around, holding another document. "I found what we need," she said. "Let's get out of here."

Catherine started to lead the way up the stairs, when one of the steps crached underneath her. Suddenly, one of the support pillars started to crumble, as the ceiling heaved. They both tried to climb the stairs, but where thrown back when the ceiling above them collapsed, trapping them.

***

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Chapter 54: The Edge

Deep within the forest, just outside the medical facility, the escaped patient was busily nursing his wounds. Blood and puss were still pouring out, though at a much slower rate than before. The man found himself cursing his misfortune. He had survived the crash. The damn Lavos-blood had saved him.

"Dion."

The Half-spawn looked around in panic, his pained hand never straying far from a nearby rock. He saw nothing.

"Dion, it's me."

Dion looked around again. His senses were seized with fear; he couldn't even see what was attacking him. Had his abilities dulled after the crash? "Who's there?!"

"It's me, Gaspar. You have done well, Dion, but your task is not complete."

"Gaspar...you bastard," said Dion. "You knew full well what would happen when I fought Lord Shadow!"

"Yes, but that is not important," said Gaspar. "You were fortunate my power could sustain you long enough to be rescued. Now, for your next task-"

"You...saved me," gasped Dion. "Why? I felt so peaceful, so relaxed..."

"Because your time has not yet come," said Gaspar. "My entrapment at the End of Time affords me a bit of...omniscience. There is a far greater threat coming, one that only you can stop."

"I won't be your puppet any longer," said Dion. "Just leave me alone."

"...Very well," said Gaspar. "But I think you will change your mind when you learn who is in danger now..."

***

The woman picked herself up from the floor, barely able to move under the collapsed roof. Catherine was sprawled out before her, barely breathing. "You are fortunate, Catherine. I was able to activate a shield just before the entire building collapsed."

Catherine slowly returned to reality. She struggled to stand, but was unable to even fidget. "...Please...help..."

"Don't worry," said the woman. "I can force our way out of here. I'll just have to carry you to a doctor."

The woman raised her hands, and a massive blast of blue fire ripped through the rubble, reducing it to ashes. The woman lifted Catherine, and slowly carried her out.

***

(to be continued)

[d Galloway]

Okay, the fic is officially dead. I'm taking it down from the archive in the next update. I simply cannot find the drive to finish it.