After the Eidolon Conflict, a 100 years has passed...

And during that time, wars were waged among nations that suddenly grew...

___________________________

At The Trabian capital of Selye...

: How's the barricade doing?

: It won't hold for long, soon, we're doomed...

: Blast those cursed Hawk Men...

The great oaken doors to the throne room where the 3 were talking soon barged open...

: The barriade has been broken!

: Damn, we're doomed....

____________________________________

Out in the wilderness...

: Hmm...fire to the northwest, the capital must have fallen....

__________________________________

Back at the capital...

: The foolish human capital of Selye has fallen! We finally triumph over the years of prejudice that the filthy humans have placed on us! Rejoice, my comrades! We are free!

: Yeah!!!!!!

__________________________________________

Three days later.........

________________________________________

: Finally here, at Icicle Inn. Home Sweet home. Time to hit the bar.

The man walked towards the bar and said a few greetings to a few of his bar friends.

: Hey! Caris! It's been a while!

: Yeah, it has Tark.

: Where've ya been?

: Away at a recent job, it was...simple.

: Hey, stay for the night, you can tell me all about it.


: Thanks.

-SRGPI, Icon madness! >=)

The planet repopulated after the Eidolon Saga, the nations joined together to form countries, these countries included Trabia to the north, Wutai to the West, Baron to the East, and the land of monsters was to the south.



A while ago, winged people, known as winglies by themselves, and called Wing Men by people, appeared on the land. They were led by a charismatic elder, named Lloyd. These people suffered racial prejudice and were biased against for their wings, they had no need to take more time walking, and rather, just fly in days and fly continental.

Wutai's leader, Duke Ronway, has put up barriers against the Wing Men, and the Wing men Waged War on the Human race...

The Baron Nation soon fell to the might of the Wing Men, for the Baron Nation had only ground troops that could not attack air...

The Trabian Nation soon fell with Baron, Trabia were snowriders, if their enemy had not the advantage of air, they would have resisted.

Lloyd then went on a rampage across the land for humans to destroy, for the humans had done enough to the Wing Men. His forces soon converged on Icicle Inn...

__________________________

: AHHHHH!!!!


The village was burning, people were around the town, dead...

: Caris! Get my daughter out of here! I'll hold them off!

: Tark! Wait!

Fire in the bar then fell and both were separated.

: Hurry!

Caris then went up the stairs and into Tark's room, and found a little girl huddled in the corner.



: Who..who are you?

: I'm Caris, a friend of your fathers, we must get out of here!

: He'll be fine! Let's go!

Caris then took the little girl and carried her out of the room, which then crumbled.

Caris went down the stairs, and he saw Tark, on the floor dead. He put her down and heard,

: Ha. Stupid human, he dares try to kill a Wing Man with his bare hands?

: Bastard!!!

: Another fool to kill? DIE HUMAN!

The Hawk man then charged at Caris, but Caris hastily unsheathed his sword, and stabbed the Hawk man through the chest, and the Hawk Man slumped dead.

: *huff..huff..* Let's go.

: But what about daddy?

: He's dead, but he wants you to live. Come on!

Caris picked up Tark's daughter, and he ran through the back door, and ran into the snowfields, and hid.

The Village was burned, everybody but them were alive.

: Tark...one day......one day....I will avenge you!

Caris and Tark's daughter then set off, towards the City of the Ancients. Caris heard about an old hermit living there, and he needed shelter from the Wing Men anyways.

-SRGPI, Yes they ARE Tactics Ogre Icons.

*Oblivious as usual to the chaos only 3000 kilometers away, walks a tramp.*

SYE: .oO(Maybe I should, like, buy armor or something?) "Oh yeah, I forgot, NOONE PAYS ME! Blinkin' freeloaders..." *scowls, jams fist in pocket and withdraws crumpled piece of what was formerly the finest vellum.*

Note: "Return to timeline at index Q and prepare for action. Presence of item #89787.A required. Try not to get killed too quickly.

Signed,
The Living Tribunal,
Arbitar of Reality."

SYE: "Fine. Guess I'll just wait till I get attacked then. *spins Eidolon's Soul Amulet on its chain*"

I mean, knowing this bunch, anything happening 100 years in the future is going to be destroyed by temporal storms, or made glaringly inconsistent with to 'past' material as, say, we somehow kill off all humanity.

'Course, if you still want to do this then go ahead, but any assumptions made about the future of This Planet will be risky at best. Hence, I'd suggest that we try to make it so that everyone is RPing in the same time period, else we risk discontinuity.

There's always different character names...like what I did for example. As you know, our characters are almost immortal from age, so my character is a minor character here.

At the capital of Wutai, Eldric, named after a sage that had built the country,

Duke Ronway, his advisor, Leonard, and his general, Tartare, were in a conference.




: The country of Trabia has now fallen, and Lloyd is on his way here.

: The arrow towers have been built and now surround the island, we just now need the funds to supply the crossbows and bows.

: The funds have arrived, I'll send the funds to your command center to supply the crossbows and bows, just get those defenses up and fast.

: Yes, my lord.

_____________________________________

At the City of Ancients...

: We're finally here.

: Who is the hermit here, mister?

: Last I heard his name, was SRGPI, probably an old code-name for the army for something. Let's get going.

The pair then walked around in the city, and found a house that had steam coming from the top, Caris knocked on the door and said,

: Hey! Old man! You home?

???: I wonder what's with visitors nowadays..

The voice from behind the door opened up, and there was SRGPI, he had an old face, to Caris, he was probably in his 50s.

: Welcome to my home, children. How may I help you?

: Icicle Inn's been destroyed, everybody dead but us, and I need somebody to take care of my dead friend's daughter.

: Ah, I've heard that, I saw smoke in the distance too. Come in.

SRGPI went in his house, and motioned the pair to follow.

Inside, it was a granite home with a fireplace burning, and a pot on a stove that has steam coming out of it.

: Your just intime for lunch also. Let us eat and you can tell me everything that's happened up until now, I haven't heard gossip in a while.

Caris and Tark's daughter then sat at a table, and SRGPI brought over the pot, in which inside, was a beef stew that smelled good to the hungry pair.

: Eat up, I bet your hungry for the journey from Icicle inn.

: Thanks, old man.

: Oh, I forgot to mention something, I am not as old as you think.

SRGPI's old face then changed, into a younger face.

: Heh, some people always get fooled by looks.

: How'd you do that, SRGPI?

: Long story, but tell me, what has happened recently that has created smoke in the distance?

: Selye has been burned. Icicle inn was attacked and everybody is dead, but us. This girl is my dead friend's, Tark, daughter.

:....

: Hmm...this is bad news. I have got to see Guildus.

: The General of the Trabian Army? I thought he died in the attack on Selye.

: Guildus is my pupil, he will not fall easily. Stay here, boy. I'm going to go to Selye.

SRGPI then rose from his feet, got in his steel toed boots, and left the house.

: ....I'm following him.

: Why?

: I have a score to settle with the Wing Men too.

Caris then left, after SRGPI.

SRGPI, Heh I'm talking from Caris's perspective now.

29 Sep, 99 AF (After Fragmentation)

News has reacently reached the capital of a group of monsters rising in the south under a leader named Lloyd. They are just rumours now, however, it seems that scouts are being sent out to check on the situation. Whatever happens though, it is doubtful that the danger from the south will be able to match the might of Baron or the guile of Wutai. Or, for that matter, our own Black Wings and small collection of airships.

03 Jan, 100 AF

Things have gone horribly wrong. News has just come from the east of horrible winged daemons hurling death upon the kingdom of Baron. There has been no word from our original scout party and they are now presumed lost. A better armed party is now being sent out to Baron to assess the threat. Until we know the extent of the threat though the powers that be have decided to hold our forces in reserve.

10 Jan, 100 AF

At dusk yesterday a lone scout was seen coming back from Baron. We have learned very little since, but what we have learned is that the monsters coming from the south are winged men who typically fire arrows and other ranged weapons from the air where they cannot be hit and when they run out of missiles, they pull out a spear or another polearm and use their hight advantage and long weapon to attack their enemy with impunity. Baron, having long ago mothballed it's red wings, had no air force with which to respond, and their archers typically did not survive until the winged men had to close in. As for our responce, until we have some idea of their disposition we are not commiting any forces. Sadly, I am still sitting out from a training accident a month ago else I would be out there with them. Godspeed to you, brave voyagers.

02 Feb, 100 AF

No sooner than news of Trabia's fall is finally truly absorbed than news of a new attrocity hits the capitol. A stream of refugees from the west has come into Salonia of late. They all claim that the winged men have destroyed Icicle Inn. Normally this would require a scout team to be sent out to investigate, but all of the voyagers are currently out supporting initial army maneuvers.

03 Feb, 100 AF

I have been promoted. I am now the captain of a voyager group put together specifically to investigate the Icicle Inn incident. Looking at the list of those in my squad I see that they are 9 of the best cadets who are having this assignment count as their final exam. Although they, like all the Knights, are well trained in the use of sword and shield, 3 of them are primarily trained as archers, 2 as dragoons, one as a chemist, one as a white mage, one as a monk, one as a black mage, one as a ninja, and then myself, the knight.

Sadly, they shall not have many abilities outside their specialty, and likely few in their chosen field, but thise shall hopefully be enough to see us through this mission. We leave tomorrow.

04 Feb, 100 AF

The stables were able to find us five mounts. This shall be enough for each of us to have two to a mount. So, I shall have one person fly the black chocobo and the other do the bulk of the fighting should we ever find ourselves in a tight spot. For this reason I have made the fighters the archers and the dragoons. After seeing how the pilots tended to fly maneuvers I paired them all up. Once we were all mounted and supplies loaded we set off from Tyrsis. First day, no sign of anything.

05 Feb, 100 AF

Second day out from Tyrsis. We have reached Salonia. No other news.

06 Feb, 100 AF

Third day out. We are now about a days journey from Icicle Inn and still have seen nothing. However, we noticed two sets of footprints on the path from Icicle Inn heading towards the city. They were both fresh and neither were deep enough to suggest professional soldiers, although one was deep enough to be perhaps a scout. However, there is no explanation for the second set. Tomorrow we shall keep an eye out for these travellers, and if they prove to be enemies, then we shall deal with them.

Jason Armstrong
Captain of the 45th Squad of the Neo-Canada Voyagers

Caris caught up with SRGPI, and he heard footsteps behind him.

: Just what are you doing? You still have your friends daughter to take care of don't you?

: I want to take revenge for her father.

:....alright, you may come along.

The pair then trekked down the trail towards Selye, and SRGPI then quickly stopped and listened.

: Somebody's tracking us.

: How do you know?

: I have much a greater hearing than you, but I can tell they are only 10 kilometers behind us, and from the clanking of heavy armor, there are 2 dragoons and a knight, there's probably more, but I can't tell. Go on without me, I'll cover our tracks.

: Alright, meet me at the base of Gaea's Ridge.

Caris then ran off towards Gaea's Ridge, and SRGPI stayed behind, after Caris was outof sight, he mumbled to himself,

: I never thought I'd had to use my power as a liquid anymore. It's just the irony of life.

SRGPI then melted into a liquid, along with his clothes, and he started smoothing out the tracks and following Caris at the same time.

______________________________________________

At Eldric.....

: My lord, the crossbows and the bows are ready, we're ready for any attack made by Lloyd's horde.

: Good. I'll tell Leonard to give orders to start researching more efficent ways to make bows and crossbows.

Leonard then barged into the room Tartare and Duke Ronway were talking, with a scroll in his hand.

: My lord, the research team has finished research on the "Repeating" Crossbows.

: Repeating Crossbows?

: Yes, they are mounted crossbows on a stand that have a fast fire mechanism, but it takes 10 minutes to reload. A clip of 20 bolts is attached onto the side of the Repeating Crossbow, and you press the trigger on the Crossbow and hold it, and it will fire faster than a normal crossbow, slow than a bow, but do greater damage then a Bow. And due to the propulsion of the crossbow, it will deal more damage then a Crossbow also.

: Excellent. Have mass production of the Repeating Crossbows immediately.

: Yes, my lord.

Leonard then left, and Tartare then said,

: Are you sure this is going to work, my lord? He didn't say if those crossbows were tested or not.

: Only time will tell...

-SRGPI

07 Feb, 100 AF

Fourth day out from Tyrsis. It is almost noon and we have just arrived at Icicle Inn. Along the way we spotted no sign of the travellers or of any struggle. As we flew here, it is quite likely we passed them and if they were headed here then it is all too likely that they may stumble upon us. As such I have ordered everybody to be careful. The city itself is in ruins. It has obviously been burned down recently. However, despite the signs of a recent struggle there have been no signs of the winged men. However, time is pressing right now. I shall continue this log later.

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

Mark: Sir, initial reconnaisance complete. There are no signs of any survivors.

Jason: Thank you. And has Sara reported in on whether she can find any sign of those travellers?

Mark: Not yet.

Jason: Thank you. Melissa, how are the chocobos?

Melissa: They are fine and are ready should we suddenly need them.

Jason: Excellent.

Mark: Sir, it seems that there is very little here for us to do but to look at the destruction.

Jason: I suppose you are probably right. Without a register of what was here we shan't be able to tell if they were looking for something. Besides which, cataloging the damage is rightfully a job for Wutai. But, we will take a quick look first. Just in case.

A Knight with bow and quiver comes up

Aaron: Sir, something you might be interested in.

Jason: What is it?

Aaron: We've been looking at the various signs that there was fighting around here. And have you noticed that most of the arrows have at least some scorch marks on them.

Jason: Yes, I have.

Aaron: Well, we've found a batch of arrows that have no scorch marks on them. Right next to a bunch of tracks that look recent.

Jason: Damn, this can't be good. Mark, go and pass the message along to meet here and try and get Sara back here, and above all prepare for battle. Melissa, get those chocobos ready to move now. Aaron, show me where these arrows are.

Aaron: This way, sir.

*Everybody heads off to do their job. Soon they reach the site with the arrows. The area shows some dissarray with dirt that had been recently kicked up. The commander looks at the scene for a few moments.*

Jason: Damn. Looks like the group from Wutai arrived first and the winged men waited here for them. And it looks like the Wutai scouts aren't going to be able to hold off the winged men from the signs shown here. Which means we don't have much time. Let's join the rest.

*Those at the scene hurry to the main square where everyone else is waiting.*

Mark: Sir, we've spotted flying objects on the northern horizon. We believe they're the winged men.

Jason: Sara, any sign of those travellers?

Sara: None, sir.

Jason: Very well. Then our goal is to try and escape.

Robin: But, sir. There's no way we're going to be able to get away without being seen.

Jason: True, but if we can get to a safe haven before they reach us we ought to stand a chance. So we'll make a break to Gaia's Ridge. It's only an hour by air from here and while our chocobos may not be the best they ought to be swift enough to get us there in relative safety. Sara, Aaron, Robin, as our archers we're going to be relying on you to keep them away from us until we get there.

Mark: Begging your pardon, sir. But what are we going to do once we get there anyways. We'll still be outnumbered.

Jason: True, but we can ue our full force in the caves. And if they try to hold use in there we can get out through a secret exit and spring a surprise attack on them. Now, we have no more time so let's go.

*The five chocobo's lift off and head towards the nearby ridge.*

Excal, running on empty.

The voyagers flew to Gaea's ridge, only to be ambushed.

When Gaea's Ridge came into view, a crossbow bolt suddenly flew out of the sky and hit Mark, the plate armor deflected it, but the force of the bolt knocked Mark over off his steed, and he fell towards the ground.

Afterwards, hundreds of more crossbow bolts appeared, destroying any chance of rescuing Mark from his falling peril. The group then saw a nest, and a horde of gryphons in it, they have stumbled on a Gryphon nest, guarded closely by a horde of Hawk Men.

___________________________________

At the base of Gaea's Ridge....

: I hear somebody...

Mark's body then hit the stone that was above them and landed right in front of them after rolling down the slope.

: Probably one of the trackers that followed us! But he doesn't wear a uniform of Wutai....

: Which probably means he's a soldier of the hidden country of Canada.

: Canada?

: The country is not known to man, because they keep their bases hidden well. They are a fellowship of knights that defend their respective territory, and they are well respected among their people for their honor and their prowess with their respective weapons.

: So, what should we do with him?

: Just leave him in the cave, he is just unconcious from the fall. It seems the plate armor has absorbed most of the pain, but the remaining that is left over must have knocked him unconcious.

The pair then dragged the heavy knight into the cave, and then SRGPI pulled out a stick.

: Always pays off to have a twig of endless wood.

SRGPI then ripped off part of it, and suddenly, the twig regenerated into a whole, SRGPI then put the part he ripped off on the ground, and set it on fire.

: We can't waste anymore time. Let us go.

The pair then trekked down the cave.

__________________________________

Back above the ridge...

More crossbow bolts were fired, and the chocobos were getting scared.

Then, just as Mark saw, another throng of Hawk men appeared behind them, with arrows lit and polearms grasped in their hands, and they charged. The voyagers were in a pincer.

-SRGPI, I think i'll wait for excal to respond.

n/t

Jason: Damn it! We'd have to stumble upon a monsters nest! Stay back and archers fire into them!

Aaron: Sir! I can't fight. Mark's been hit and he fell off. I have to fly.

Jason: (looking around) Alright then. The two archers that are left, provide cover while everyone heads for that cave over there. Richard, Minerva, jump down to the ledge right there and check it for monsters just in case.

Richard: Going, sir! (they jump down spears in hand)

Melissa: Uh, sir... What good is being in a cave going to do? They outnumber us.

Jason: How well can you make and toss your potions right now?

Melissa: Not very well...

Jason: Exactly. Half our team is useless when they're trying to handle frightened chocobos at the same time. Down on the ground we can all fight and they have to attack fewer at a time. Now move!

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

Mark: Dammit! Looks like there's a group going in the back way too. But, what can I do against them? I could follow them to where everyone else is, but I wouldn't be able to get to them or help.

Notices tracks on the ground

Mark: Huh, what's this? Looks like the tracks of those two travellers we found earlier. And it looks like they dragged me to the side. Guess that means they're friendly after all. Well, maybe they know where the squad is, and if not, maybe I can get them to join me in helping them as I sure can't do it alone.

Mark studies the tracks a bit longer

Mark; Well, my eyes may not be as good as Sara's are, but I can still track. Especially since these guys seem to be in a hurry. Let's just hope I can find them in time.

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

*The last chocobo's land in front of the cave while the archers return fire.*

Richard: Sir, the cave checks out ok. The only problem is that there's no exit.

Jason: Yeah, that would be a problem, but one we can deal with later. Let's move.

*They run into the cave.*

Jason: Alright, Richard, Minerva, Aaron, Robin, Sara, you five go out there and block off the cave right away. Galen, stand behind them and support them best you can with your magic. Daisy, have you treated everyones wounds?

Daisy: Yes, sir. They're all combat ready.

Jason: Good, stand with Galen and provide support. Melissa, are the chocobos tied up back here properly.

Melissa: Yes, sir.

Jason: Good, start preparing your potions and whatnot. It seems we're going to have to survive off of them for a while.

Melissa: Right away, sir.

Jason: Good, now that that's all settled I'm going to cave mouth.

Excal, besiged in a cave.

Caris and SRGPI quickly headed down the path, SRGPI knew by now that Mark would have woken up, and their secrecy would be discovered.

: The end of this cave is near.

: Great, then we can finally get to Selye and I can finally get my revenge...

: Not so fast, recklessness will only get you killed.

: So? They will pay for killing Tark!

: Enless we find a weakness of the Hawk men, your just getting yourself killed, and does your friend Tark want that?

: ...

: Alright, there's the end of the cave, and it's blocked, hand me your sword.

: Why?

: I'm going to show you another thing I learned.

Caris then gave SRGPI his sword, SRGPI held the sword in between his Eyes, then suddenly, he slashed on the wall, and then the wall fell into 4 pieces.

: Heh, now that's using science to your advantage.

SRGPI then gave Caris his sword back, and the pair trekked on.

______________________________

At Eldric..

Arrow towers surrounded the continent, and Wutai was ready for the Hawk Men. Other matters occured in the continent thought....

: My lord, a horde of Monsters from the Land of monsters have invaded the continent from the south! The arrow towers did nothing to prevent this!

: This is not good, Tartare, how long until the army is ready?

: At this present state, the army can be assembled from the different city states in 2 days.

: By that time, the monsters would have already consumed 1/2 of our continent!

: We just need a quick distraction....

-SRGPI, Being in a govermental position is really a pain =P

: Hmmm, I've been following these tracks for a while now. But now I'm in trouble. Looks like there's a cave up ahead. Better hope it doesn't branch because then I'll have almost no way of tracking them.

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

Sir, the enemy seems to be backing off!

Yes, but I don't think we can expect them to go far. And we certainly can't wait here because I doubt any of us would be able to stand a regular guard.

Well then, sir, what should we do?

Glad you asked, Aaron. Galen will provide us with some pyrotechnics on the ground while we fly away on the chocobos to the cave I had originally intended for us to arrive at.

But what good would that do, unless... There's a save point in that cave, isn't there.

Bingo. Let's get moving.

Excal, now with 100% more graphics!

: We're finally here.

: I wonder if Guildus is still alive...

: I'm sure he is.

Suddenly, a Knight came out of the bush, with a crossbow pointed at the pair.

: Halt! Who are you?

: I am SRGPI, and this is my companion, Caris.
I am here to see Guildus.

Another knight with a white cloak and armor then appeared from behind the bush also.


: It's been so long, master.

: Indeed, it has. How's the status of the army so far?

: We're disarrayed, but 70% of the army is still around, but at outlying cities and other military bases.

: And another thing, do you still have the sword I gave you a while ago?

: It's still in my room at the remains of the castle, but let's get inside my secret base before Hawk Men come along.

The group then proceeded to a secret hatch in the bush and descended to a tactical base that had Clerics and Priests around the room healing Soldiers and Knights, Wizards and Exorcists were in the strategists room, and Guildus then said,

: I made this in my spare time, just like you advised me, master. "A secondary base will always replace a lost one."

: Great, now let's get some sleep for the night Caris, we've been travelling for a long time.

: Alright.

Then Caris went down the hall and entered one of the unoccupied rooms.

: Who's the kid?

: A survivor of Icicle Inn. Come, we must plan for our next move.

Guildus and SRGPI then headed to the strategist's room and started planning.

-SRGPI, I wonder why Excal is the only one posting here

On the boarder of the Land of Monsters

Villager #1: "Eeeek! The monsters approacheth!"

Villager #2: "Oh fu--I mean, fuddle-duddle!"

Villager #3: "It's game over man! It's game over!"

Villager #2: "Right, now none of that! We may all be about to be rent asunder by the poisoned flaming ice-cold liquidy spiked bony and spoony claws of the slobbering undead/half-dead/not-dead/Republican horde just outside the gates--"

Villager #7: "Crikey! It's got me leg! What a wonderful specimen this is!"

Villager #2: "--but that doesn't mean we can all just start dropping random pop-culture references! We still have our dignity!"

Villager #23: "A jewel-encrusted slug just ate the Statue of Dignity in the square!"

Villager #2: "W-well then, we still have our honor!"

Villager #23: "Twenty-eight goblins just hacked up Lord Honorus!"

Villager #2: "Aherm...HOPE! Hope's still here, isn't she?!"

SYE: "Excuse me, could anyone direct me to the home of SPRGI?"

Villager #1: "Right here, sir!"

Villager #2: "You see everyone! There's still hope! So grab up your pitchforks and torches and--"

Villager #1: "Right here in the demon's mouth siarrgharghargh*swallowing noise*"

Random Encounter #88888: "I will feast on your still-beating hearts!"

SYE: "Right, then, I'll try someplace else. *wanders off*"

Mark: Well, here's the end of the cave. (Looks at the ground for tracks) Man! Look at all the tracks here. There's obviously the two that I was following before. But here's two others. And it looks like they were fairly well entrenched. But the path is obvious and it leads... (looks down the path until he stops metal clad boots at the end of it. He then looks up the figure until he sees a crossbow pointed at him.)

Guard: Well then. It looks like we've found a spy. You'll be coming with me.

Mark: And I was so close too...

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

Minerva: Sir, bad news. Those Winged soldiers we spotted yesterday are coming into the cave.

Jason: Damn, must be routine survailance, but ther's nothing we can do. We can't hide in here. How many are there.

Minerva: Early counts showd about fifty, most in good health.

Jason: Damn, they must have been prepared for anything when they set that ambush. Alright, everybody, in formation. We have to try and hold off some Winged Men.

*The Winged men arrive. The first few get shot down, but then the rest take cover behind the stalagmites and ifre their arrows back. With less numbers, the Voyagers are severely outclassed. The battle rages on with the Voyagers barely holding out as a person comes up from behind them.*

????: Hmmm, great, first a bad landing and now I'm stuck in a battle.

Melissa: What the? Who're you!

????: A friend.

Melissa: Why should I trust your word?

????: Then judge my actions. Brush away vanity and show reality... Ultima!

*A large dome of blue light grows over the Winged Men slowly destroying them. The few that survive promtply run away. The Voyagers gather around their unknown saviour.*

Jason: Thank you for rescueing us. We might not have stood long without you.

????: It is nothing. I was in this cave as a side quest anyways when I just stumbled onto your battle. And, as I owe the knighthood much, I decided it would be best for me to aid you.

Richard: May we enquire as to your name and profession?

????: Indeed you may. I am Gerad, itinerant warrior who fights wherever he sees fit. And right now I see fit to fight by your side.

Jason: Thank you very much, Gerad. But, we are not going much farther. We are simply going to try and find our fallen comrade and then return to Tyrsis. But perhaps there you might find some people more worthy of your help.

Gerad: Perhaps, but that is not a grave matter right now. The matter of importance now is your comrad. Let us go look for him.

Excal, who's decided it's too much bother to use pics.

: I believe the Hawk Men have a gryphon next on the peak of Gaea's Ridge.

: Meaning if we can destroy those nests, the Hawk men would lose their Gryphon allies.

: Correct, But the problem now is, how are we going to get to the peak?

Then, the knight guard then came in with a blind-folded, tied up, and unconcious prisoner.

: I found him snooping around the entrance. What should we do with him?

: He's a spy. Take off whatever weapons, armor, and provisions he has and prepare to execute him.

: Wait, I recognize him....

: It's that guy we saved earlier.

: Guildus, he means no harm to us, he was probably just tracking us, but still, take his weapons, armor, and throw him in jail. I'll decide what to do with him later.

: Yes, sir.

The knight then went out of the room to do what SRGPI said.

_________________________________________

At the castle where Lloyd resides....

: What? The voyager group escaped?!?!?

: It seems so my lord, apparently, a traveller came and used some very destructive spell and drove us off.

: Damn. Order the research division to start researching anti-magic fields.

: Yes sir.

The Hawk man then left, and Lloyd said to himself,

: A traveller with destructive spells...it's been too long, Gerad.

-SRGPI, There's a good thing with signing up Excal :P

n.t

Gerad: You say that this is around where your comrad fell?

Sara: I'm sure of it! You can see here where he was dragged off after falling, and here he is following those people who dragged him to the side.

Jason: Excellent job, Sara. Let's get moving.

*They follow the path set out until they reach the end of the cave.*

Gerad: Strange, I can feel a certain presence nearby. One that I hadn't expected to feel here.

Jason: Really? What is it?

Gerad: Err, nothing. Nothing at all.

Sara: Sir, there's something wrong here.

Jason: What is it?

Sara: It's Mark's tracks. They quite definatly meet up with someone else here. And from the looks of it they took him captive.

Aaron: That's impossible! If they've taken him captive then how come they haven't done the same to us?

Gerad: Because, they probably just had one or two scouts posted here to give them advance warning or to neutralise any person that might accidentally stumble upon there fort.

Jason: Damn! He's been taken prisoner. We must be near an enemy base.

Gerad: No. Unless what I'm feeling is wrong, this is most likely a Wutai base.

Jason: Damnit! What is this feeling of yours.

Gerad: An echo of a shadow.

Jason: So you're asking me to risk the lives of my troup and myself just because an echo of a shadow tells you that this place is friendly.

Gerad: Oh, not to you, certainly. After all, the famed nation of Neo-Canada grew up in the Nible Mountains that formed as the fragments of the world reformed. It's not their fault that few ventured the paths into these forboding peaks to discover your nation. And really, your desire to stay there was justified given the fact that you were greatly hurt during that conflict with the destruction of Salonia and the near fall of Tyrsis. But, knowing nothing of you, they cannot judge you as a friend either.

Jason: And you're saying you're different.

Gerad: Not as much as you think...

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

Sigh, things are already going wrong in this side quest...

I knew it wasn't the brightest idea to come here like this, but really what can happen. Well, I suppose I could bump into 'him'. But this is a big world and I'm only taking a small part in it. But then again, it looks like I'm about to bump into SRGPI again and if he's here than he's active and won't be taking a small part in anything. As for him, it's been a while since he saw me last and so many things have happened. I wonder if he'll recognise me? Yes, an unhealthy amount of what will happen next really does depend on that question. Well, here's hoping the answer is the right one...

Excal, ignoring Gryphons since 1918.

Mark woke up in his cell, but all he had on were his normal clothes, and his armor and weapon was sitting outside near the warden's table. In that same cell, he saw a Hawk Man sitting in the corner, his knuckles were bloody and he was on the verge of death since he had lost too much blood.

The Hawk man said,

"What brings you here in this horrid cell of the Trabians?"

_______________________________

Inside the strategist's room...

Guildus was healed up, and he came back and he said to SRGPI,



: What did you save that knight for?

: He is a person, like us, and I met him earlier in the mountains, he fell off his chocobo steed probably in a battle, and landed near us, so we dragged him into the Ridge and he followed us here.

: So have you decided on what your going to do with him?

: He doesn't have to suffer this, put him next to the bush.

: Alright, if that's what you want.

________________________________

At Mark's Cell...

The wardens suddenly threw in sleep gas, and Mark instantly fell asleep. The wardens carried him out and handed it to a knight waiting outside, which he exited the bunker, and placed Mark right next to the bush, and went back in the bunker, and left him for his friends to find him.

_________________________________

: What do we do now, SRGPI?

: I'm going to go to the castle through a secret tunnel behind a banner in the throne room, stay here and don't follow.

SRGPI and Guildus then left through a hatch in the bunker, and left.

: Are you sure that was wise to leave the kid behind? You know he's going to follow.

: If he follows, let it be a lesson to him to listen to his elders.

The pair then reached another door, which they pushed open, and they were inside the throne room, which was descecrated and burned down, corpses of the guards were still around.

: My room is down the hall-way, Let's go.

The pair then ran down the hall.

________________

Back at the bunker....

: Damnit, I can't let SRGPI go without me! I came here to get revenge, and revenge is what I'm going to get.

Caris then opened the hatch and traced the path that the pair went on.

-SRGPI, This may get interesting after all...

*Eighth dances around the corner and throws himself against the wall. He pauses, then swings a sword out at about waist height, wincing at the all too familiar melody of crushed bone and split flesh. Before the body meets the ground he is away, dodging down alleyway. Screams intermingled with sadistic laughter chase him, claw and bite and salivate over his frightened soul.

Another corner. From his satchel he raises a silver crossbow engraved with eagles and wyverns, amber nodules like miniature suns upon it. With difficulty he cocks it, places a quivering rail upon it, steps out, and fires.

Moments later, after he stops to roll, he is off again.*

SYE: .oO(Spoony...that bolt must've popped twenty of those things and they're still coming! I've got to get out of here!)

*He looks back. Plaster and albedo still rain down from the buildings the rail shattered, and over the rubble come oafish ogres, gibbering gnolls, slithering serpents, and a good number of Generic Dark Knights, and although the bile and encephatic fluid and blood do add a splash of color to their drab bottom-of-the-ocean black plate armor, it is hardly an improvement.*

*Eighth instinctively ducks as a shadow passes overhead, and is astonished when something huge and slimey doesn't jump on his back. Briefly he sees a blur of feathers, and is thrown back by an explosion.*

SYE: "Now what?! blinks What the...since when did my requests for air support get taken seriously?!"

*In Vs and arches and lines they descend, squadrons of winged men, some dropping canteens of flaming oil, others crashing directly into the hordes for hand-to-hand introductions.*

SYE: smirks "Well, I don't know who these fellows are, but they're covering me! I am SO outta hereeerrpgh!"

*A thick cloth slaps over his face. He struggles briefly, then passes out.*

Winged Warrior #23: into a small gem "Commander, we've found a survivor. *lets Eighth slump to the ground*"

Voice: "Bring whoever it is in for questioning."

[Uh, I've no idea what the motivations of the bird-fellows are, so if either of you want to pick up the interrogation that's fine with me!]

Alright, it isn't time to panic yet. I'll just check these notes of mine again...

Nope, they all check. Well, it looks like what I want is near here, but it looks like the conclusion is inescapable. "He's" also going to be here.

Well, nothing that can be done... Let's just hope that fortune smiles on me again.

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

*The troup is walking through the forest again. Mark is once again with them.*

Richard: Explain to me once again why we're doing this?

Jason: Because, we're grounded until such time as we run out of cover. Flying would only get us killed with so many Winged Men around.

Richard: Sigh, yes, but any true Dragoon's place is always in the sky.

Sara: Sir! There's somebody heading this way!

Jason: Alright, everybody, be at the ready. But don't draw your weapons until I give the word.

*They wait tensed until they see a lone figure turn the corner. He's equiped in padded leather armour and carries a broadsword on his back and a shield by his side.*

Jason: Good day, traveller.

Traveller: Good day to you.

Jason: What brings you here?

Traveller: I have buisness with the lord of the Winged Men who is currently residing in that castle.

Jason: May I enquire as to what sort of buisness it is that forces through this path in the woods?

Traveller: Indeed you may. I come to destroy him and acquire something which he has and I desire. May I ask for your assistance in the matter?

Jason: Nay, we are on our way to Tyrsis.

Traveller: I think you will find the way to Tyrsis blocked by a pitched battle between the Winged men and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Jason: You don't expect us to belive that, do you?

Gerad: I would. It's true.

Jason: Wha? And how do you know this? You've been with us for the last day.

Gerad: My notes. They contain information that is quite incredible. And they are all 100% reliable as of right now.

Jason: Gerad, be glad we owe you our lives or else I'd discount your notes.

Traveller: Gerad? Gerad the Wanderer?

Gerad: Er, um, yes.

Traveller: Well then, this is indeed an interesting turn of events.

Jason: Interesting as this may be, it seems we cannot go forward. But breaking into the Castle nearby is just as risky.

Traveller: Not really. I know a back way in. (Pulls out a map and shows it to them.) It's right there.

Sara: I know that place. It's where those gryphons set up their nest.

Traveller: I see. So they set up a camp there. Yes, it would be a wise move to have their enemies cover the back entrance and all the while it would provide the perfect camoflauge for it.

Gerad: So what we have to do is bust through the Gryphon nest and then go in through the back door.

Traveller: Exactly. From there I know the way to the throne room.

Jason: Alright. Fine, we'll try this. But, first, we need a name to call you, traveller. Do you have one?

Traveller: You may call me... Cid.

Jason: Very well then, Cid. Shall we depart?

Cid: Indeed.

Lloyd sat on his throne, and scouts come into the throne room to bring news of the battle between their forces and the Canadian Fleet.

: My lord, all the enemy airships have been downed, and the dragoons in that fleet have fled, and we've taken a few cleric prisoners, with the help of the gryphons.

: Good. Have the interrogations begin. And see to it that the gryphons keep a close watch at the back entrance, We've already had visitors to the back entrance, but I don't like the thought of us getting back-attacked.

: Yes sir, and the research division has discovered the metal called chorizite, able to absorb any magic used in an area coated by chorizite.

: Excellent, have the throne room coated with chorizite immediatly.

: Yes sir.

The scout then left the throne room, and Lloyd said to himself,

: What will that pathetic Gerad do without his magic, hmm?

____________________________________________

At the ruins of the castle in Trabia...

: Here we are, SRGPI, my room. I stored the sword in a hidden cabinet around here somewhere...

Guildus then feeled around the walls, and suddenly stopped, hit the section of the wall he stopped at, and the stone disappeared, and the cabinet revealed, was Guildus's personal belongings, and a sword that had a rusted blade and a white hilt.

: I never figured out what was behind the value of the sword, I was tempted many times to throw it out.

: It is an ancient sword of great honor, I gave it to you for safe-keeping in case anybody tried to invade my home.

SRGPI then took the sword, and the blade suddenly became new like a blade that was just forged.

: Come on, let's get going before the Wing Men arrive.

But as Guildus said that, Wing Men covered the entrances.

: No escape, human. You should have never come back here.

: Damn..!!

Then suddenly, a hawk men fell from the entrance, dead with a sword sticking through his chest.

: Prepare to die, bastards!

Caris then appeared down the hall, sword high, and charged.

: Another human to die? ATTACK, MY BROTHERS!

The Wing Men then charged at Caris, and they started battling. Guildus didn't take this time to just stand around, and pulled the sword from the dead Wing Man's body, and joined the fray. SRGPI stood and pondered,

: I wonder if the Angelic Alliance will respond in killing WIng Men....

But after SRGPI pondered, The Wing Men were soon chopped to pieces.

: That was almost too easy.

: Come on, let's get going.

The 3 then went back to the secret passage in the throne room, and went back to the bunker.

_____________________________

At Eldric...

: The Army is formed at the base of the Shantao Mountains south of here.

: Unfortunatly, the monsters have taken up to the point of the monument of Shadow Spire, but they haven't moved since.


: I wonder why....

: We shall find out soon enough, Tartare, prepare the armies to move out.

: Yes, my lord.

-SRGPI, took long nuff for Excal to post :/

Lukhan: Your lordship, our forces have reported that they were able to sucessfully stop the invaders at our southern border. The Highwind has sent in a report that it was succesful in tying down reinforcements bound for Wutai, although at a great cost to itself and its complement. And our patrols have reported several skirmishes at the border. However, an enemy group has managed to break in through the Narshe Pass.

Lord Erdrick: I see. What happened?

Lukhan: Our reserver force challenged them. We lost the Falcon, the Intrepid, and the Rainbow. We have only some dragons and a few battalions of Windriders left.

Lord Erdrick: Is there any chance that they could move on Tyrsis?

Lukhan: No. Our scouts show that they were hurt enough that they have withdrawn for now to their headquarters on this continent. Should we invade?

Lord Erdrick: Yes. Their headquarters is right by where Gerad ought to be right now. If that is the case then they our attack will cause enough confusion for him to get through their base. The status of our new ship is?

Lukhan: It is fully complete and almost fully loaded. It's complement is also ready. It shall be ready to ge in a half an hour.

Lord Erdrick: Excellent.

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

Hmmm, it's him alright. I guess I should have known. But, his shield. It's markings, patterns, design even are all the same as mine. But, how can this be? This goes against everything I've heard, unless...

Yes, I guess this shouldn't be unexpected. Well, I wonder how much longer my notes shall hold true? Probably not any longer than this next battle. Well then, I guess I should try and get what I'm after here and now then...

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

Cid: (Looking through telescope) Huh, what's that stuff?

Jason: What're you talking about?

Gerad: (looking through his own telescope) Damn, I've seen that stuff before. It's chorozite.

Robin: Chorozite, what's that?

Gerad: It's a metal that absorbs magic in the area. Basically, when you use it, no magic can be used in the area it encloses.

Galen: Damn, this ain't good. My skills will be useless up there.

Jason: Don't be foolish! You may be a mage, but you are a Canuck Knight first! You may primarily use your magic, but you still have a sword whose use you are trained in. All this means is that Melissa and Mark, you are both going to be healers in this battle.

Melissa: It's our pride and privilege, sir.

Cid: Hmmm, facing gryphons without magic is going to make this a lot tougher than it ought, but luckily I've gotten a lot better with a sword the last few years.

Gerad: Sadly, I shall not be as useful as I ought. However, I shall offer my skills with a kodachi.

Jason: Very well. I think I have a plan of assault now. Everyone, the sun is now at our backs, let's get moving!

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

*In the morning light the Neo-Canada airship fleet left under the lead of the new flagship, the HMCA Neo-Invincible. Around it sailed the Enterprise, the Nautilus, the Blackjack, and the Balifor. All hardened battleships with veteran crews. And around the airships flew dozens of formations of Windriders, the elite Canadian black chocobo air force. They headed west, to Gaia's Ridge and the castle there.

One room in the castle wasn't coated with chorizite, and it was a shaman's room that controlled the weather around the castle. The Shaman that was in the room, quickly recited,

: Baku ma sum fah, Baku ma sum fah, Baku ma sum fah, Baku ma sum fah!!

With that incantation, suddenly, the sky grew dark around Lloyd's castle, and the Neo Canadian fleet was there also. Lightning Bolts and Thunderstorms attacked the fleet, The dragoons in the sky were sitting ducks in thunder-storms if they flew too high, so soon, battalions of dragoons fell, 5 by 5, and the bigger ship's electronics systems were getting fried due to over-power of the machines.

_______________________________________

At the Trabian Bunker....

: From recent reports, all of the 4 shadow monuments in the world are under tight security of the Hawk Men.

: But what's so special about the shadow monuments?

: Lloyd's trying to break the seal to the world of the monsters.

: What?

: The shadow monuments appeared after the Eidolon Conflict, they tied down Eidolon's castle and all the monsters created by him.

: So this is the only reason he attacked all the countries in the world?

: Precisely, and if you take a closer look at the coordinates of the Shadow monuments, they all form a diamond line.

: In which, the needed force of the monsters will easily doom the nation of Canada anyday, because most monsters are impervious to physical damage, and can only be attacked through magic, which has only been gifted to a selected 100 in the world, and now has dwindled to 20 at most.

: I'm going out, Caris stay here.

: Stop treating me like a child!

: You have never experienced hell before, so why should you now? I'm going to the shadow monument to destroy it, before Lloyd opens the seal.

SRGPI then left the bunker, and Caris stood their in the bunker, shocked.

: Don't worry, he always acts like this, but he cares about other people.

_____________________________

Around the world, at the shadow monuments......

The monument standing in the land of monsters glowed,

The monument standing in the lands of Baron shined,

The monument in Wutai shook,

And the monument in Trabia rumbled the ground.

_____________________________

At Lloyd's castle...

Lloyd looked out from the window, and he cackled,

: Yes, the shadow monuments have resurfaced! I shall finally get my revenge on the human race after 20 years of suffering!

-SRGPI

*Meanwhile, near the border to the Land of Monsters...*

*A hawk knight enters the makeshift rookery.*

Knight: "Commander, the survivor is here. Will you question him."

Commander: looks up from her work nest "Certainly."

*Two random burly types toss the bound and gagged Eighth to the ground.*

Commander: "Human, you will tell me what has happened here. *removes his gag*"

SYE: "*ptooie!* How the fudge should I know, noone ever tells me nuthin', just drop'im in the firestorm and expect little ol' him to put it out all by his lonesome why if they didn't have me under a spoonin' contract I'd shove their spoonin' missions right up their--"

Commander: aside to Knight "Is this one mad?"

Knight: "Possibly, sir. I think Sergeant Rashid may have used an excess of The Slumber on him."

SYE: "--left nostrils! And I am perfectly sane, thankyouverymuch!"

Commander: kneels "Then I ask again: what has happened here? Why did the Onishuu awaken and attack this village?"

SYE: "The whom?"

Commander: "The minions of evil our lancers rescued you from."

SYE: "I don't know! I was just passing through, looking for someone when pow, fire and brimstone and whatnot. Look, could you release me? Places to be, people to see, and all that?"

Commander: "*to Knight* I don't think we'll get much more out of this one. to Eighth You're free to go."

SYE: as guards untie him "Well, that's about the best news I've heard all day. I'll take that, thank you! *snatches his satchel from a guard*"

Commander: "Of course, we did have to comfiscate the items you stole."

SYE: "What? I didn't steal anything!"

Knight: "Ha! As if a wretch like you would possess such a magnificent artifact like this! *waves the silver crossbow*"

SYE: recoils "For the love of Spoon don't do that! It's got a hair-trigger! And it is mine, it's got my name right there! *points at the stock*"

Knight: reads "You heathen! You have desecrated a holy site and stolen a religious artifact! swats Eighth Behold, commander, the enscription!"

Commander: "'If fownd, plaese retyrn to Saekshion Yea Eighth.' A relic from the Dark Time! You were a fool to think you could even manage such a powerful weapon. I'm surprised you were not struck down instantly."

SYE: "That's because I own it, you addlebrained avian!"

Knight: "Ha! You expect us to believe you are the Eighth of legends? Prove it!"

Several minutes later

Knight: "I still don't believe it."

Commander: "I'm surprised as you are, Allahn. But the scrolls do say the Eighth was 'he who was as weak as the sparrow yet clever as the crow.'"

Knight Allahn: grunts in agreement "And 'garbed he is, as the poorest of gutter trash.'"

SYE: lifts up the flap to the rookery "I heard that! And this suit was just dandy about 3702 battles ago! Can I have my stuff back?"

Commander: "If you truly were the Hapless Wanderer...yes, you would be incapable of taking them forcefully, wouldn't you...my apologies. *returns to him various artifacts*"

SYE: "Thank you! Oh, one last thing...I don't suppose any of you could tell me where to find one SPRGI?"

Commander: "SRPGI? The Old Man in the Mountain? He lies far north of here, in the Valley of the Trials."

*Lance-corporal hurries in*

Lance-corporal: "Commander Lennith! Commander Linnith! The Monument of Dread! It has awakened!"

Commander Lenneth: "Blast! Could Llyod possibly be so mad?!"

SYE: "Well, thanks for the pointer, I'll be headed off the--hey, um, release me, please?!"

Commander Lenneth: to Allahn "Tell the Lancers to prepare for a raid deep into the Zone. We must ascertain the Monument's condition! to Eighth Well, Hapless One, if you are who you claim to be, Fate has guided you into danger once more."

SYE: "*obscure string of Portuguese*"

Commander Lenneth: "Now, I must brief you."

SYE: "*longer string in Yiddish*"

*About 3.7 minutes later, by the makeshift Aviary of Aelion, Goddess of the Wing*

SYE: "Huh, so that's what happened after I left, eh?"

Commander Lenneth: "According to legend, SRPGI defeated the Eidolon in single combat several centuries ago. He drew the fragments of the world together to contain the Evil One in the core, binding him there with the majiks of his own fortress."

SYE: "And the Monoliths would be some sort of needlessly complex locking system then?"

Commander Lenneth: ignoring him "In the aftermath, our kingdom of Avia was in shambles; we were easy prey to the humans when they came."

SYE: "Ah, I see it. Humans enslave and torture your race, race gains freedom, now in revolt, yes?"

Commander Lenneth: "No."

SYE: "Drat."

Commander Lenneth: "It is true my people were slaves of the humans for a time. But some seventy years ago the forces of Kanada entered our lands and convinced the slavers to leave. Until recently, they have helped us rebuild our kingdom...then he came to power."

SYE: "This 'Llyod'?"

Lenneth: "Llyoddellahmir the XVII of the Clutch. He would have my people believe the Kanadins are holding us back, undermining our government and our economy to eternally keep us beneath them. In truth, it is his own idiocy which stops our growth. Why, if he hadn't seized the grain harvest to purchase all that chorozite the famine would've been far less worse. No, he's using you humans as a target to distract my people from their real problem: his avarice."

SYE: "Very interesting. And I tie into this how?"

Lenneth: "My flock is one of the only lancer groups who've seen through Llyod's lies. We've been working secretly to protect you humans from his posturing, but lately he's gotten worse. It now appears he's planning to release Eidolon from his prison to somehow exterminate your race. I have no interest in seeing that happen. turns to face him You will travel with us, Wanderer, and aid us in defending the Monument in the Land of Darkness from Llyod's plans."

SYE: "*complex Spanish*"

Jason: We ready to go?

Cid: There won't be a better time.

Gerad: Then it's settled, let's go.

*They all rush in sword in hand, except for the archers who provide cover. However, Gerad soon finds himself seperated accidentally from the rest of the group. After a hard long fought battle, they finally win through. Then they run over to find what had happened to Gerad. There they find him surrounded by carnage as he had single handedly defeated far more gryphons than they thought possible.*

Jason: Huh, how did you do that with only a kodachi?

Gerad: Whn the will is there one can always find a way to suceed.

Minerva: Uh, guys... We've got problems.

Jason: What is it?

Minerva: There's a huge storm going on outside, and I don't think it's natural.

Cid walks in

Cid: I'd have to say she's right. And from what I've seen, it's centered around a fleet of airships.

Gerad: Damn, they came to support our assault, and now...

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

Admiral: Damnit, where'd all of these storms coming from?

Captain: We don't know sir. But our mage crews are doing their best to deflect the lightning.

Admiral: And the windriders?

Captain: They're heading for the ground and shelter as fast as possible. But the lightning is having a terrible toll on them.

Admiral: And the ships?

Captain: Blackjack down, the rest damaged, but not critically, yet.

Ensign comes running onto bridge

Ensign: Sir, we've just spotted a flair coming from the caves ahead. It was a signal for us to retreat.

Admiral: Yes, tat course of action seems quite prudent right now. We'll head back for now.

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

Jason: Looks like the fleet is heading for safety. But, Gerad, why did you panic after reading that bit of paper.

Gerad: Because, I had copied these notes quickly and I hadn't read truly well what was on them. I just read them remember why the fleet was here and read something bad.

Jason: What?

*The ground starts shaking softly, and a sense of foreboding surrounds them.*

Gerad: That.

Jason: What's happening.

Cid: The Shadow Monuments are being activated. This feeling is the exact same as when I was in one before.

Gerad: My notes don't say what a Shadow Monument is. What are they and why did you go in one?

Cid: Well, for various reasons, when I originally left my home of Mysidia I had planned to try and follow our hero, Reako the master Psionist. However, it seemed that I didn't have the gift. So, after stumbling across Neo-Canada I heard about the other truly mortal hero of the Eidolon War, Excal. So, since I couldn't follow in the steps of the one I truly wanted to follow in I decided to follow in his steps.

Jason: Ah yes. I remember hearing of him. The Hero of Tyrsis.

Cid: Yeah. Well, one of the sources of his strength was the Canuck Artifacts, so for the last few years I've been trying to gather them. I already have the Canadian Shield, and the Moose Plate and the Muskeg Greaves. I'm here to get the Aurora Helm. I tried to get it before and ran afoul of Lloyd then because it was long lost in the land of monsters.

Gerad: Yes, but the monuments?

Cid: Ah yes, Excal put the Moose Plate in the Shadow Monument of Wutai. It was a good place to hide it as the monuments are extremely tough to get through as they are full of sealed monsters.

Jason: Why's that?

Cid: Because, these monuments were formed as the fragments rejoined after the Eidolon War. They serve as the key to unlock his sealed fortress at the core of the earth.

Gerad: So all this would mean that Lloyd is trying to unlock that seal.

Cid: Yes.

Jason: Damn, I had heard of this before, but I never believed we'd face this danger again...

Gerad: Whatever you've heard, I doubt you've heard the half of it. If he succeeds not only is mankind in danger, but all of time itself!

Cid: What the? I know I said he's dangerous, but I think it's preposterous to believe he can threaten all of time.

Gerad: He's done it before. (Chips off some of the Chorozite and puts it in his bag.) Alright, let's get going. Time is precious now.

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

Captain: Sir, there is a messenger from the capitol arriving.

Admiral: bring him to me.

The messanger is brought in

Messanger: Sir, news from Tyrsis. The Winged Men seem to be trying to unseal Eidolon's Fortress.

Admiral: And our orders?

Messanger: Go to Salonia for the refit for our new Chorozite Cannon. Then to go and try to contain him while he's still weak.

Admiral: Yes, I suppose that is the best way to do it. Let us go.

Excal, preparing to deal with Krono yet again...

The flock of Hawk Men that broke off Lloyd's party guarded the shadow monument closely, but soon, the guards saw a huge swarm of monsters, and were overrunned.

________________________________

At Lloyd's Castle...

: Sir, the spys that have returned safely tell of a Chorizite Cannon that the Canadians are trying to use on us.

:It's a Salonia isn't it?

: How did you know, sir?

: Tips recently most likely. The intruders are here in the back entrance, they killed off most of the gryphons, send a security squad to guard the hallways and use the "boulders" if necessary.

: Yes sir!

The Hawk Men then left, and a warlock came in.

: The Preparations are ready, my lord.

: Good, begin the incantations now.

: Yes, my lord.

The warlock then left, and Lloyd cackled un-earthly.

: Too bad the people that broke off of us knew that this is just an external shell of a monster's spirit...MWA HAHAHA!

______________________________________

At the shadow monument of Trabia...

: This is it, but it seems almost too quiet...

After what SRGPI said, a horde of Hawk Men then appeared from behind rocks and other objects, and he was surrounded.

: I hate situations like these....

Then, the Hawk Men charged.

_________________________________

Inside what is known to Lloyd as the world of monsters...

???: Yes, our brother shall soon set us free!

???: We shall rampage across the world we were banished from!

???: Those pathetic mortals shall soon feel the wrath of the monsters!

-SRGPI, time to go own some people with AWPs :/

Gerad: This ain't good. It's too quiet.

Jason: You don't think that really was a magical eye we saw after we got past the chorozite, do you?

Cid: Why else would it be this quiet?

Jason: Team, get into a defensive posture.

Voyagers: Sir!

Gerad: there's also something that seems very familiar about this place...

Jason: Well, nothing we can do about it. Let's get going.

*They turn the corner and find themselves in a room filled with winged men. The door shuts behind them.*

Jason: Spoony!

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

Admiral: So, is the Chorozite Cannon installed?

Tech: Yes, sir. This thing ought to be able to hurt the sealed monsters. And we're done loading the ammo for it too.

Admiral: Excellent. But what are those other three crates you've loaded?

Tech: Emergency supplies. Probably won't be needed. But you never know.

Admiral: Alright then. We shall go.

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

Richard: Sir! There's too many of them, and the celing's too low for us to jump!

Melissa: Sir, my stock of items is starting to get low!

Jason: Damn, but there's not much we can do! We have to beat them to get out!

Cid: Not necessarily. Someone cover me!

Gerad: Right, gotcha! (Pulls out his kodachi and protects Cid as he focuses on his sword.)

Cid: Spirit of the sword, crush thy foe... Sword Split!

*Cid swings his sword down into the floor. The floor breaks and they fall to the level below. Those who don't fall jump down. As the winged men prepare to do the same the three archers fire up at them and hold them back.*

Jason: You ok?

Cid: Fine.

Minerva: If we sit still much longer we won't be. Let's move.

*They run down the corridor in the basement until they reach something unexpected. A shimmering portal to other worlds.*

Gerad: What the? Where are we?

Cid: This castle was formed over the North Crater.

Gerad: I know that. But why?

Cid: Simple, this is where the energies of the four monuments collide.

Jason: So this place is going to be trashed when they finish the spell?

Cid: No. The spell will simply refragment the world. We'll be fine.

Jason: Then why is the Castle of the Seal here?

Gerad: Because, the Northern Crater is a place of massive inherant magical power. With all of this power it is easier to control the fragments and the monuments.

Cid: Exactly. And this, this is what I've been looking for... The Gate to the Forbidden Land Eureka. The place where when his time was near, Excal went and sealed his weapons. And I have the key to open it. (Pulls out Eureka Key)

Gerad: Uh, quick tip. Answer a,b,a,c,c. Everyone else, grab something and pray.

Jason: Huh, why?

Gerad: I've seen this place before. I know what happens when someone opens the thing up.

Jason: Alright. Was this also mad by Eidolon?

Gerad: No. This was made by a demi-god called TallPanzer. And it's lethal...

*Everyone grabs hold of something as Cid opens up the portal and walks through.*

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

Dang, I hadn't expected to run into that. We've walked farther than I thought. And learning all of this, doing all of this. I'm surprised Krono hasn't cracked down on me yet. But then, that might just be because of the fact that he's more worried about Eidolon's resurfacing in this period. But, with any luck, my time here is almost done...

But the portal. I can still remember when I first saw it. Right after that crazy chef and waitress attacked. Wonder what happened to the cafe that was here. Guess it never survived everything that happened.

But, that mustn't stop me from my current quest. I'm not here to save the world, or to rescue these people, but to get that helm that Lloyd has. The lost Aurora Helm. And it looks like right there is a back staircase. With any luck, they've forgotten it's there.

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

*After a half hour Cid came out once again but now wearing different armour. Most of which sported the crest of the Canuck Knights.*

Jason: Wow, you really do look like the famed vigilante now.

Cid: I know. And now I have the weapons I need to. But the strangest thing is. There was a note waiting for me there congratulating me by name.

Jason: Don't question the previous master. There has to be a reason he was the first one in a long time.

Cid: I know, but still...

Gerad: Guys, I can hear the enemy coming through the corridors now and there's a back staircase right there.

Sara: Right, but what if it's boobytrapped with boulders or some such.

Cid: Don't worry. The Aura Gun is able to break apart boulders. I think we've got a much better chance now.

Excal, foreshadowing galore!

The group trekked down the hall, and suddenly, both doors in the hall closed, and they were made of adamantiam coated with chorizite, the room was in a slant, so a boulder from the ceiling dropped to the floor, and to the group's surprise, it was also adamantium coated with chorizite.

________________________________

At the Trabian Monument....

: Damnation, it's taking too long just to kill all the guards....

SRGPI and the Wing men guards battled, on and on, but the Wing Men knew they were going to lose, so they tried to buy as much time as they can...

______________________________

At the throne room in Lloyd's castle...

: The warlocks are ready, in 10 more minutes, we'll be able to open the gate.

: Perfect. Delay those Voyagers for another 10 more minutes, then we'll finally have our revenge.

: Yes sir!

The soldier exited the room, and Lloyd pulled out a crystal orb,

An undead face appeared in the orb, and said,

: Is it going as planned?

: Yes, the gate shall soon be open.

: Good, I'll tell the forces to be ready.

: Destroy the Canadian nation first, they've come up with a weapon called the Chorizite Cannon, it can destroy even the most powerful of the monsters.

: Will do. Good luck, Lloyd, or should I say Arkazon? Mwa ha ha...

-SRGPI, Yawn.

Cid: Damnit! I can't destroy this one in one shot.

Gerad: No, it'll take two good shots. But try anyways. I'll help.

Cid: How.

Gerad: (Pulls out Aura Gun) With this.

Cid: (drawing his own Aura Gun) But how did you get...

Gerad: Questions later, firing now!

*The two of them fire their guns at the large boulder and it breaks into several pieces that rain down on the voyagers.*

Cid: Alright, who are you really!

Gerad: I think you already know, Gerad.

Real Gerad: So, you guessed who I am, but how am I supposed to know who you are.

Jason: Look, how can there possibly be two of those at the same time, there's only one.

Gerad: It's called time travel.

Jason: Waitaminuit. Does that mean that you're from the future trying to stop this from happening?

Real Gerad: No. If he was from the future he probably would have been a bit more urgent to get in and probably would have left a warning for the fleet ahead of time. So that means that... So you must be, Excal...

Excal: Bingo. I'm here on a stopover from the Bardic Wars in my time that are raging after the Eidolon Wars ended. I'm here to get the Aurora Helm which has been lost in the southlands since before history.

Jason: If that's tru, then why did you hide your identity?

Excal: Would you have believed me had I said who I truly was? Besides, I tried not to affect anything here as that would set Krono and his time wraiths after me. I had enough of them during the original Eidolon conflict. But, it looks like Eidolon is going to rise again if we don't act.

Gerad: But wouldn't changing the timeline like this mean that you'd set these time wraiths on you anyways.

Excal: I doubt it. Eidolon was bad news for the timestream last time, and he probably will be this time too. Stoping this here would probably do them a favour.

Jason: Excellent idea, but we're still stuck in here.

Excal: Not a problem. (Points his Aura Gun at the upwards wall and concentrates.) Everyone, stand back. This is my ultimate attack.

*Everyone stands behind him for a couple of minuits as he charges up. Finally, a small ball of pure light forms at the end of the Aura Gun that makes the rest of the room seem dark by comparison.*

Excal: Let loose the anger the heart holds near... Jackhammer!

*A large ball of energy shot out of the Aura Gun and slammed into the door causing a giant explosion and a resulting shockwave. Three similar balls of energy followed this. When it was done they went out into the hallway beyond to see several Winged Men knocked out by the shockwave.*

Jason: Wow, you have that sort of power?

Excal: Only because I've attained almost perfect sychronisation with these weapons. They can only serve one master at a time and their usefulness is only based on how well you can sychronise with them. So the longer you use them, the stronger they get.

Gerad: We don't have much time left. I think that Lloyd's chamber ought to be this way, but I can sense some sort of magic being done over there.

Excal: There's only one solution then. We split up. Gerad and I will go the see Lloyd, you guys stay as a team and disrupt that spellcaster.

Jason: He's likely to be guarded heavily.

Excal: Just get one person through with this. (hands Jason the Chorizite.) That'll disrupt his spell for a little bit at least.

Jason: Alright, best of luck with your quest.

Gerad: Same to you. And thank you for your help getting here.

*Excal and Gerad run over to the throne room, but encounter nobody.*

Gerad: I don't like this, it's too quiet.

Excal: I know. But I think this means Lloyd is indeed inside there. Shall we?

Gerad: Better now than after the fact.

*They open the door and walk inside. Sitting in the throne is Lloyd.*

Lloyd: Welcome Gerad, I've been waiting for you. Huh, who's your friend.

Gerad: Lloyd, it's time for you to die. You've gone too far with thi. Trying to raise Eidolon, do you have any idea of what you're doing!

Lloyd: Why yes. I have every idea of what I'm doing. And may I ask who this Lloyd person you're talking about is? Oh yes, I remember now. He's the person I killed and took the place of so that I could manipulate these winged fools to do my bidding and raise Master Eidolon for me.

Excal: Well tough luck buddy. Cause we're going to stop that from happening.

Lloyd: I don't quite see how. Just look out this window, as you can see it's already happening.

*Outside they could see fissures starting to form as the world once again returned to its original form.*

Excal: Damn, it's happening all over again...

Excal, who's glad SRGPI forced him to create Gerad.

The Castle was high above the ground, almost as high as the atmosphere, so they saw oceans started disappearing, and cracks in the ground appeared, a huge portal the size of a continent in the middle of Earth rose from the cracks, and then, hordes of nether spirits and mosnters flowed from the portal, and most of it appeared around the city of Tyrsis, and soon, the Canadian country was under attack.

_______________________________________

At the throne room....

: And yet, I still don't see how your going to stop this from happening, you may kill this form, but the monsters will still come through, and you were incorrect, I would never refragment the planet, because there would be no atmosphere to contain us in, and the gravity of Earth wouldn't affect us, so a majority of us would go flying into space. Oh, and about your Voyager friends...I have yet to go kill them.

Arzakon's shape then changed into a ghost and disappeared.

__________________________________

At a large room where the Wing men and the Voyagers were battling.....

The voyagers were completely outnumbered, and outgunned, but they fought valiantly.

Arzakon in his Wing Man form then appeared with a horde of monsters behind the Voyager group, and the voyagers were pincered.

__________________________________

At the Trabian Monument..

: Damn! I'm too late!

SRGPI had slain all the guards, but the Monument was drained of it's energy and shattered.

_________________________________

Around the world.......

Ghosts flew around the world everywhere, spreading havoc through magic around the world, Skeletons and zombies roamed the land, Wraiths attacked with never-ending persistancy, Bone Dragons scared most of the armies away, and ate them. The country of Wutai fell in minutes to this assault, now the only country left that stood in their way, was the country of Canada.

-SRGPI, Excal, I wasn't planning on being a redundant case like last time :/

Gerad: Damn! He's going after the voyagers. We've got to get them and get out of here!

Excal: Who cares about that! He left here wearing the Aurora Helm! I'm not leaving this place until I get that thing.

Gerad: After all thi that's still your main concern?

Excal: Not enough killing, less talk, more killing...

*Excal bursts the red aura of the Juno Blade and dashes off. Gerad follows after him.*

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

Jason: Damn! Where'd he come from?

Richard: Sir, we aren't going to be able to hold up much longer...

Aaron: Sir, we're almost at the door, go for it!

Jason: Alright, through the door to the last room!

*The voyagers run through the door then bolt it shut behind them.*

Jason: Alright, who's still here?

Mark: Here.

Sara: Here.

Melissa: I'm ok.

Minerva: Here, sir.

Daisy: I'm here sir.

Robin: I'm here.

Jason: Damn, Looks like we've lost Richard, Aaron, and Galen.

Robin: If something doesn't happen soon, I think we'll be joining them soon enough...

Arzakon: How very right you are my friend. I shall now have the pleasure of bringing you annoying voyagers to the underworld myself. Observe as you all fall one at a time to my magic. Flare!

*As the spell starts to hit Jason pulls out the piece of chorizite he was given earlier and holds it in front of them. The spell quickly dissipates.*

Jason: I think you'll find that we're tougher to defeat than you anticipated.

Arzakon: I doubt it. This is a mere annoyance, but it works in my favour. You see, I am a ghost, how do you plan to hurt me with no magic? While you try and think of an answer, I'll pull out my scyth. (Pulls out his scyth.) What, no answer? Well then time to die!

*Arzakon swings his scyth at Jason. The knight blocks it with his shield. But the scyth breaks the shield and Arzakon pulls the ruined shield from his grasp. Then he raises his scyth again preparing to strike. But before he does Melissa throws a hi-potion on him.*

Arzakon: Graaaaa, that hurt!

Jason: Good going Melissa. Do it again!

Melissa: I can't that was our last potion. We have no items left.

Arzakon: Well, well. Is that true? You really shouldn't talk about things like this in front of your enemy. Well, I guess it's time to die.

Excal: I don't think so.

*They all turn to look at the open door and see Excal standing there with Gerad behind him.*

Arzakon: What? How did you get through my forces?

Excal: You really should teach them not to huddle together in corridors. One blast got them all. And now, it's your turn. Jason, put the chorizite away and run. This ain't gonna be pretty. Gerad, you guard them. I'm leaving after this fight anyways.

Gerad: What? What about Eidolon? Aren't you going to help us fight him?

Excal: Maybe. But I've got other obligations right now. But, if things really do get out of hand, I probably will show up again. Hell, I still owe Krono for the mess I helped make last time.

Jason: Alright, let's go.

Gerad and the voyagers escape

Arzakon: What makes you think I'll stay here and fight you?

Excal: The fact that I won't leave until I get what I want. And you have it.

Arzakon: Ah, but I do not desire you having anything.

Excal: And there lies the dilemma. However, I have my own solution to this. Pure light, shine down on bloody impurity... Holy!

Arzakon: Fine then, Flare! Ultima! Death!

Excal: What the... Three spells. Glad I equipped that Safety Bit.

Arzakon: As you can see, you cannot hope to defeat me.

Excal: Wasn't planning to. They ought to be out of your reach by now. So... Steal!

Excal gets 1 X Aurora Helm

Arzakon: What the! Do you think that will do anything?

Excal: No, it just that this is the entire reason I'm here. So if you don't wind, Exit!

*Excal warps out of the room and Arzakon is left alone.*

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

Lord Erdrick: Well, how goes the situation?

Lukahn: Our walls are holding out the undead monsters but only our very best mages are able to truly hurt them.

Lord Erdrick: Yes, and they seem to have focused on Salonia. Obviously they have discovered our Chorizite Cannon. I'm glad now that we told very few what it actually did.

Lukhan: Yes, but will it actually work?

Lord Erdrick: We can only hope...

Excal, who doesn't blame SRGPI for feeling redundant last time around.

*The various scion of hell mulled around the Monument in the Land of Darkness.*

Evil Demon General #1: "I don't understand. We devoured the souls of those pathetic Winged people and our finest warriors entered the Monument five hours ago...yet still it stands!"

Evil Demon General #2: "Yes...and no reports from our leaders in all this time...We should rush the place with all our forces!"

Evil Demon General #1: "Idiot, that would be suicide! The entire structure is a lattice of fractal mazes; half our troops would get stuck in the doorway and the rest would be forced to go single file. points to the map No, I believe we must find a way to penetrate the outer wall here. This will give us direct access to the Elemental Crystal supporting the Monument."

Evil Demon General #2: "This place is solid adamantite imbued with every protection known to demonkind...the amount of force needed will be...impressive."

Evil Demon General #1: "I believe we can aquire the requisite mana if we sacrifice.....78.2% of our forces."

Evil Demon General #2: "Mmmm, just thinking of the stench that'll cause makes me salivate!"

Evil Demon General #1: "Let's begin then."

*******

*Inside, Zarathos (Indominable Death Knight of the Final Circle), Cthluthu (Dread Diviner and Malicious Mage), Olargh (It Who Tortures the Souls of the Tortured-to-Death Because It Can), and Bob (of the Shirt of Red), crouch on either side of a rather narrow staircase.*

Zarathos: "Behold, comrades! picks up a few bits of scorched oak The Heinous Hell Halbred of the Horrible Houghnough, shattered!"

Cthluthu: "And is not that over there the obsidion heart of Technonnn?"

Olargh: "Me Olargh step on Lloth's head. Oopsie..."

Zarathos: "These do-gooders were more intelligent than we first suspected, placing such a powerful guardian at the final staircase. Bob, go check it out."

Bob: "Yes sir! Always ready to serve the Horde sir!"

*Bob swings out into the cooridoor and charges up the stairs with a roar, head down and eyes closed. A click, and 437 arrows sling from unseen crossbows and burrow into his flesh, injecting enough poison to give 2 billion mongeese stomachaches. Another, and Doomgazer's Deadly Doom Sequencer casts a potent combination of Death, Doom, Agony, Supernovaes, Meteor (FF7 version), Fallen One, Ultimate-Ultima, Alexander's Holy Exorcism, Deadnoggin's Death by Twelve-Thousand Angry Ferrets, and Cyril's Mildly Annoying Itch. A third, and 12 protonic cannons fire.*

Bob: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"

Zarathos: "How malicious! To think any creature of good could ever think of such an incredibly cruel set of traps as this!"

Cthluthu: "It could be worse."

Zarathos: "You mean it could be us setting them off?"

Cthluthu: "At least there aren't any--*expletive* AVERT YOUR EYES!"

*distant "pif"; Bob's screams go up seven octaves)*

Cthluthu: "Mordenkeinder's Million Fluffy Bunnies! Ugh!"

*Bob, barely alive, stops in front of the dented, rusted, scratched, scalded, and generally well-worn door at the top of the stairs.*

Bob: "T....he...way....is clear, my friends! Forward!"

*tiny mail-slot opens*

SYE: "We don't want any!" sticks crossbow through the slot and fires

Zarathos: *as Bob's remains zip by* "Well, that explains this scorched hole in the ground at least. The guardian appears to have a variant of Gaussian's Hyper-Kinetic Portable Ballista with Quantum Implosion bolts."

SYE: "Anyone else want some?!"

Cthluthu: "Still, as we are immortal, we will eventually deplete the human's strength and overcome him."

Olargh: "Me Olargh think this gonna hurt."

Zarathos: "Indeed. Charge!"

******

*SYE sighted and shot. Again. And again. Occasionally he'd lob a Neo-Bahamut-X-Zero stone for variety. But most of his time was spent composing a letter.*

SYE: writing "Dear SRPGI [comma break break] Get the spoon over here so I can give you your spooning Soul Amulet [exclaimation mark] Am running out of items and would like to get out of here in less than seventeen pieces [exclaimation mark] Why the spoon are you so difficult to find anyways [question mark break break] Signed [comma break] Section Yea Eighth [full stop smiley face]."

*He places it in the Messenger Tube of FedEkks, which immediately fades into subspace and teleports next to SRPGI.*

In some place completely unconnected to the dimension the rest of the party was in, save for one very tenous connection opened but a brief fraction of a moment and quickly severed a hundred years ago, he watched.

So...it appears this 'Lloyd'-type character is going to attempt to revive 'Eidolon'...are they trying to revive Epsilon? Have the legends been blurred over time, so they confused me and Epsilon? ...Well, I suppose I can see the confusion...Or are they trying to revive me? ...In either case, it shall be difficult if not impossible. I wager they will find Epsilon in the same state as all the other Meyuri - drained and dead beyond revival from lack of anything to sustain their spiritual charge - and then...I'd say that, if this new dark one does his research, he would go capture several bards in an attempt to replenish the charge...If they were trying to 'revive' me, though, that is probably, by definition, impossible...

He turned away. I shall keep a closer eye on this world, in case it needs my intervention...but I doubt it will. In any case...I have other things to attend to.

SRGPI stood at the base of the portal, howling winds blew by him, and he held the Angelic Alliance in his hands.

: This was all my fault, if I had known that Lloyd would open the portal to the Nether Realm....

He lamented, and he jumped into the portal.

A minute later, he found himself in a fortress made of alabaster, and on a throne, Tyreal sat there, along side of him standing was his lieutenant, and SRGPI's foster father, Daren.

Tyreal: I knew you would have come sometime, it was fate.

: That's what I hated....

Daren: It's unavoidable. And I'm not to tell the future to you, but I forebode you to keep safe, and watch for the puppeteer of this plot.

: Alright.

Then suddenly, SYE's message came through.

: The soul amulet eh?

Tyreal: I've already sent somebody to fetch it.

____________________

Suddenly....

At SYE's spot, he saw a flickering spot, and then the Soul Amulet Disappeared.

_____________________

Back at the fortress...

An Angel Scout handed SRGPI the Soul amulet, and Tyreal said,

Tyreal: Now Go, the puppeteer of this mess resides in the Chaos Sanctuary.

: Thanks.

_____________________

Back at the portal...

: I still have to pay back for letting Tark's daughter stay at his home, and I'll follow him to the depths of Earth.

Caris then entered the portal.

___________________________

At the city of Salonia....

The walls have been broken, hundreds of Canuck Knights retreated further since they had no means of killing ghosts or wraiths other than heal potions, in which were almost of no use in some cases where they were immune.

The wraiths and ghosts hurried over to the Research Center in Salonia, where the Chorizite cannon stood, and they charged, but the Cannon was charged up also, and fired.

A huge explosion appeared after that.

It would be an hour later, when the results were seen, a huge crater would be what is now the eastern section of Salonia, and the Chorizite cannon over-heated and fell apart, but the hell-forces have been completely decimated.

______________________________

In the Chaos Sanctuary...

Arzakon waited at the seal portal, and a mysterious figure appeared, it speaked in a female voice..

???: Well done, Arzakon. You still have those Canuckian Clerics as prisoners, right?

: yes, my queen.

???: Interrogate them, if they don't talk, use the fetishes to rape them. One principal that makes a cleric a cleric is being a virgin.

: Dastardly, but I can't complain.

Arzakon left the seal portal, and proceeded to interrogate them.

-SRGPI, Note, the rape part is just a side-effect of some joke I heard :/

Excal: Well, I got what I came here for. Now to go to Gaia and see if I can recruit Garland. I mean, if anybody should work well with Dischord it'll be Chaos.

Excal fumbles with the gate key and watches the gate open

Excal: Well, Gerad, best of luck to you. You'll need it. As for me, I'm off to face Daryl again... although that conflict seems so trivial compared to this.

Excal steps through the portal and walks through

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

Robin: Well, we managed to escape, but what good will any of this do us?

Gerad: Not much, but we haven't been discovered yet. And that's always a plus.

Jason: Alright, everybody. We're in trouble, yes. But we're not dead yet. Our swords are useless now. So, we're all to become either White Mages, or Black Mages. Keep your normal skill as a subset though. Melissa, how are you doing with getting more items.

Melissa: Very well. We got lucky. The herbs around here are plentiful and of high quality. Plus, Sara's been a real help in finding more batches and some of the rarer herbs I hadn't expected to find.

Jason: What about you? What are you going to do now Gerad?

Gerad: I don't know. I know that these weapons are special, and that Iought to be able to do physical damage to these undead monstrocities with them. But, I don't know if I have the skill yet to do it. Besides which, I don't know where I should go.

Jason: Why not head to Tyrsis with us. The capitol is likely the only place that will truly be able to stand up to them. I mean, the walls have strong magical protection and we still have our elite forces.

Gerad: Yes. I suppose you're right. If there is a place left where we might be able to stand, it's there. Alright, I'll go with you to Tyrsis.

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

Lord Erdrick: Lukhan, are the Chorizite Cannons ready?

Lukahn: Yes, m'lord.

Lord Erdrick: Good. Send a message to the Neo-Invincible. We have no chance to deter them, now we must hold out for as long as we can. And as for the Nautilus, I want orders given to it to head for the Lost Continent. The darkness is likely to deal with us first before going there. And even if they don't, they are unlikely to seriously harm the magical nation of Phin and its capitol of Mysidia. There they are to ask for their assistance.

Lukahn: Yes, sir. It shall be done.

Lord Erdrick: And Salonia?

Lukhan: It has been crushed. The research facility lost, and the tunnels back to here sealed with the Chorizite-Adamantium doors.

Lord Erdrick: So the new explosive chorizite shell has been lost. It is a great loss, but not an unforseen one. How go our defences?

Lukhan: Our chorizite cannons are ready and our people are ready to fire when able.

Lord Erdrick: Good. It is now time to see if the chorizite cannons can actually do what they are supposed to do. Drain the magic from a large area which should make these specters almost useless and allow us to attack them with sword and arrow.

Lukhan: And if it fails?

Lord Erdrick: Well then, we still have our ultimate protectors. The Holy Knights. Their Holy Explosion attacks shall destroy the enemy. Still, even with them, we can do naught but hold out here. Without help from outside we are lost.

Lukhan: Then we must keep faith until such time.

Lord Erdrick: Yes, but at times like this one finds themselves asking what Lord Balinore would do right now.

Excal, who's going to stay away from the interrogation.

*SYE sits in irritated silence.*

SYE: "Oooooooooooooookay...it would seem now that SRPGI, in lieu of teleporting here, annihalating the huge horde of badness, saving mine arse and then reclaiming the Soul amulet, has elected to do only the latter and leave self to defend one of the last few locks on the gates of Hell itself. GEE, THANKS A BUNCH!"

*A flash, and a piece of parchment drifts down.*

SYE: reads "You're welcome, signed Tyreal." "Jerk. Now, let's see, how many bolts did I have left...*rummage rummage*...Ah. Zero. shakes satchel upside down And my entire remaining offensive arsenal consists of...one piece of Lint +1, +2 against Sweaters. Great."

*The door trembles, then shatters, slicing and dicing Eighth who was leaning upon it.*

SYE: "Ow."

Zarathos: "Ha! Now you shall perish!"

SYE: "I thought I already di--hlek! *splatter*"

*Zarathos sticks a fist through the Big Generic Power Crystal, which shatters.*

Zarathos: "Our mission is complete. Victory is ours!"

******

Death: "You Again?"

SYE: "Yep yep yep. Boy, I'm sure glad I'm finally out of that mess! I never want to see that irritating dimension again!"

Death: "Actually, I Have Here A Note From The One Called Fate...*passes it*"

SYE: reads "'To Eighth: Go back and help SRPGI, signed Fate.' *vein on forehead bulges*"

Death: "Have Fun."

: My queen, the interrogations are complete.

???: And?

: It appears that one of their most strongest warriors include Holy Knights, fabled to be The Templar Knights of Canada. The problem with them would be they could cast holy spells, in which could destroy most of us.

???: No matter, i'm already spawning my Magic Resistant Breed of Monsters.


: And Certain reports show recently that the canadians are trying to recieve help from the Mysidians, our arch-rivals.

???: This does not bode well...destroy the messanger and blockade the country.

: Yes, my queen.

________________________________

At the Nautilus's position.....

The ship flew over the ocean, and it was slowly, but then, ghosts and wraiths appeared in the distance, and meteors crashed onto the ship, sending it down.

_______________________________

: It is done, my queen.

???: Good, have the blockade on Tyrsis rain showers of Meteors and Comets.

: Yes, my queen.

____________________________

At Tyrsis....

The Canuck Knights stood vigilante guard, for they now know they are under attack. A blockade has stop shipment from the outer farms and the city was running on emergency supply food.

Suddenly, Ghosts and Wraiths flew in the sky, and meteors and comets followed, destroying anything in it's path, the 1st defense line soon fell from the many Knights that are scared by falling meteors/comets.

____________________________

Outside the Chaos Sanctuary....

: Time to end this suffering and death.

SRGPI pushed the great oaken doors of the Sanctuary open, and awaited him and beyond, was a horde of guards.

: This'll just be like old times.

SRGPI charged into battle.

-SRGPI, I don't really blame Excal for not getting into the interrogations

Lord Erdrick: Prepare the magic defences we have set up on the inner ring of the city.

Lukhan: Yes, m'lord. But are you sure this is necessary right now.

Lord Erdrick: Yes, I am.

Lukhan: Very well. Oh yes. The Chorizite Cannons are working very well. Our arches have been able to hit and kill the affected monsters.

Lord Erdrick: Good. I shall go to the Leviathan Chamber now. Meanwhile, continue to evacuate everyone to the tunnels.

Lukhan: As you wish sir.

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

Admiral: How go things?

Captain: Our escorts have been shot down and we have only the wind riders that remain in our hold. However, our new Chorizite-Adamantium Armour is keeping us in fine shape. It would seem that not only is their magic useless against us, but as they are necessarily of a magical nature then they cannot near us for physical damage either.

Admiral: Good. Acording to our charts we ought to be nearing Tyrsis.

Captain: Yes. From what we can see Tyrsis is surrounded by legions of these monsters.

Admiral: Very well. Prepare the Chorizite Cannon and the fragmentation rounds. Save the Alexander Shells Salonia was kind enough to make for us for later.

Captain: Very well then.

Admiral: Now, let us go into battle as without victory here, all is lost.

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

*The small group of voyagers sees another legion of monsters fly overhead.*

Jason: Damnit! I still don't know why we listned to you. I mean, why are we going back to that Wutai Base when Tyrsis is under fire.

Gerad: Because, we're only 8 people. We'd be useless in such a fight. And besides which, we'd first of all have to get through to Tyrsis. It'd be impossible. Instead, we head for this base which hopefully hasn't been discovered yet.

Jason: And do what, praytell.

Gerad: Anything. Anything as that'd be better than the nothing we're doing right now.

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

At the Cursed Island Nelveska

Excal: So this is it, the Moose Plate. I now have yet another of the famed Canuck Artifacts.

????: And that is a good thing as you'll need everything you have for this next mission.

Excal: Huh, who're you?

????: Someone who's name you need not know. You need know only that I have been sent from the End of Time. There is a situation which is arising in which your assistance is required.

Excal: And why should I help? I've already paid back my debt to you.

????: First, once you have worked with us you are never truly free from us if we need you. And second, we need you because you have already gone there and know the situation better.

Excal: Ah, that situation.

????: Yes. Now come. We have to tell you what all we can at the moment.

Excal, who's not giving up Tyrsis without a fight.

Ghosts and Wraiths flew around, but they could not penetrate the wall, so in that case, they soon disappeared, to the Canuck Knight's amazement.

But then, under the castle of Tyrsis, in the Wine Cellar, a breed of invisible insectoids with two pincers and two hind legs broke through, the kitchen attendants ran away and told the guards, Tyrsis was under attack from underground.

The Lower class mages of the court tried to fend off the breed of insectoids, only to find their spells are reflecting off their carapace, this is the breed of Magic Resistant monsters.

After the breed broke through, it was soon followed by the ghosts and wraiths.
___________________________

At the Chaos Sanctuary...

: The plan is going smoothly, we have broken through to the castle of Tyrsis.

???: Perfect, now the last nation will be in my grasp.

: Stop!

SRGPI then appeared in the hallway to the portal.

: Oh, and what's this? The Famed SRGPI from the Eidolon Conflict? DIE!!

Arzakon then charged, the mysterious woman disappeared with the portal, and they dueled.

-SRGPI, short post i know.

*The Lord of Tyrsis sat in the seat in the centre of the Leviathan Chamber where he literally became part of the defences of Tyrsis.*

Lord Erdrick: Hmmm, it seems that there's some enemy burrowing in from beneath. I cannot stop them, but I can find things out about them. Scan...

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

Sargeant: Alright troops, they're coming in from behind. Let's get going and take these buggers out!

Troops: mass war cry

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

Sara: Here we are, sir. The entrance to the base.

Gerad: Well, what're we waiting for. Let's get in touch with them.

Excal, even shorter post.

Lord Erdrick's scan concluded that the monsters were almost complete copys of earlier pictures of a creature called Aosloidion, but the physical properties are different, for it has a carapace and the carapace is practically invunerable, and there is known weakness right now, for it is in it's beta stages.

______________________________

At the keep of Tyrsis..

The sargeant's battalion of soldiers charged the insectoid creatures in the kitchen, but the soldier's swords and axes didn't penetrate the carapace and were easily slaughtered. A random crossbow hit one of the creatures in the eye and it died, but it wasn't noticed because it was behind most of the other creatures.

_______________________________

At the Trabian Bunker...

The voyagers were looking around for the concealed entrance that should be in the ground, but suddenly, they grouped together and triggered a snare trap that was made out of adamantium, most likely an extra store of it at the Trabian Castle.

A pack of knights with crossbows appeared around trees and rocks and pointed their crossbows at them.

: What brings other people to this part of the country?

___________________________

At the Chaos Sanctuary...

Arzakon and SRGPI fought, Arzakon blasted spells at SRGPI, but the Angelic Alliance deflected it, like-wise, SRGPI swung, but Arzakon suddenly disappeared to another section of the room.

Caris arrived at the battle scene, and chucked a pure water at Arzakon that he got at Tyreal's Fortress, and Arzakon moaned, his teleportation technique had disappeared, making him an easy target for SRGPI, that swung and he dissipated.

: I thought I told you not to follow me!

: I still have yet to repay you for your kindness.

-SRGPI, at least longer :/

Psionist: Sir, I'm getting a message from Lord Erdrick.

Lukhan: What is it?

Psionist: The creatures weakness is the eye. Shoot that and it will die.

Lukhan: Thank you. I'll dispatch that info to the troops down below.

Psionist: As you will sir.

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

Guard: Well, what have you to say for yourselves!

Gerad: We come from a nearby nation to offer help against our shared foe.

Guard: I've never seen crests like that before.

Gerad: Yes, well our countrymen do not often leave without very good reason, and they often try to keep the exsistance of our country a secret from the outside.

Guard: And I'm supposed to believe this?

Gerad: How about this. The enemy is composed of very powerful undead that very little can even touch, let alone kill. If we were with the enemy then why would we need to trick you as using force would likely kill you all with no casualties on our part.

Guard: How am I to know that perhaps you don't want prisoners or a quick clean kill.

Gerad: How's this. We let you take us in there totally helpless to talk to your commander. And if he believes our story then he can decide our fate.

Guard: Very well. All of you drop your possesions.

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

Well, it looks like I've been suckered into helping time save everything once again. But still, I have to ask who's behind all of this. I doubt it's either Lloyd, or Arzakon I guess, or Epsilon. But then, who?

Hundreds of Marksmen were in position on one end of the hall, waiting for the breed of insectiods to come into the hall, but it would be no easy task in hitting the eye, for the eye hole is only a centimeter by centimeter big, just enough for one crossbow bolt to get in.

The breed charged into the hall, and the marksmen rained a horde of bolts at the breed, killing about 24. The marksmen scrambled across the hall to reload, and it was a new chase to begin, but the breed apparently is gaining ground rather than losing ground.

__________________________________

Inside the Trabian Bunker.....

All the voyagers were blind-folded, but Gerad was sent to the Commander's Quarters, and everybody else to the brig, and Mark saw the Wing-Man in jail still,

"You're back again."

__________________________________

At the Chaos Sanctuary...

: Arzakon is destroyed, but I know somebody else is still here...

: Your spider-sense is acting up again?

: ...Wait!Look out!

SRGPI then pushed Caris out of the way of an incoming Dark Rift spell, the Angelic Alliance was knocked out of his hand, and he was cringing in pain on the floor, a portal opened, and the female figure was in it.

???: Good job, SRGPI, you deflected the spell, but I figured it was too much for the Angelic Alliance to handle with an old owner. See you in hell, Mwe hee hee hee!

The portal then closed, and Caris went to SRGPI's body.

: Ugh....Dark Rift....too powerful...where did...*cough* she..find it? hack

: Don't speak, save your strength...

: My...*cough*...time has come for me to say choke good...bye..to..this...*hack* world....take...*cough* the Angelic Alliance...and..stop her...*choke*

: I can't leave you! You can't die yet!

: There...is...a time...when everything......*cough* disappears...from...this.....world......go, defeat this evil choke for me.....for Tark's daughter....for the wooorrlld.......................

: No...nooooo!!!!

SRGPI fell over, but instead, he evaporated into the air, him being a liquid in his true form.

: .....I shall avenge you, SRGPI. Don't forget it. WHOEVER DID THIS TO HIM, I'M GONNA LAY THE SMACK-DOWN ON SOON!

-SRGPI, I've been hearing too much Wrestler talk lately.

Lukahn: Are they takig the bait?

Psionist: Yes, by all indications the insectoids are indeed taking the bait.

Lukahn: Good. Let us hope they don't catch on.

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

Guildus: Yes, what is it?

Guard: Sir, there is an outsider who wishes to plead his case before you.

Guildus: Very well. Bring him in.

The guards bring Gerad into the chamber

Guildus: Who are you and why should I grant you clemancy now that you have found my secret base?

Gerad: I am Gerad, the new Vigilante.

Guildus: That tells me nothing.

Gerad: I am here with a group from the nation of Neo-Canada. I know that it is a secret country, but as a person who has had dealings with SRGPI I hope that you would know of its exsistance.

Guildus: Interesting, how do you know that I know SRGPI?

Gerad: Because, when we were near here earlier a former associate of his from the Eidolon War sensed his presence here. I believed that there would be little other reason for him to be here unless he knew the commander as otherwise he would more likely go to the source of the disturbance directly.

Guildus: Very good reasoning. And, if I believe your story, what are you going to do?

Gerad: We wish to join forces with you. We've fought a few battles with the monsters out there and won. Plus, I am one of the few people with weapons that can harm the enemy.

Guildus: Yes. I can see that. That weapon gives off an aura much the same as the Angelic Alliance. Very well, I shall allow your group to join us.

Gerad: Thank you.

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

*The crossbowmen gave a good fight and shot down several of the insectoids, but were unable to stop the flow. And often the front line would have to try and hold the tide for a moment grabbing their daggers and trying to stab the beasts in their only weakness while their comrads pulled back and reloaded. Until finally, with only a few dozen left they reached the great hall. The crossbowmen opened the doors and jumped to the side as the insectoids rushed in after them. But there was a reception waiting for them. A thousand longbowmen stood ready and in position with a wall of pikes infront of them to slow down the insectoids. The faster loading, faster flying, smaller, and more accurate arrows quickly started holding the insectoids at bay while the adamantium fire doors blocked the insectoids from going any other way.*

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

Excal: I hope those guys will be fine on their own. I told them where to go and I'll have to leave it at that. As for this... Boco, you stay here and watch.

Boco: Wark!

Excal: Good. Stay safe.

*Excal looks at the Chaos Shrine and with a sense of foreboding heavy upon him, he enters. There are bodies everywhere as Excal walks through the building until he hears a voice.*

????: ...SMACK-DOWN ON SOON!!!

Excal: What's this all about?

????: Huh, who're you?

Excal: I was sent here to help.

????: You were sent to help, by who!

Excal: Someone who's name wouldn't mean anything to you. Now, I was told SRGPI is here. Can you tell me where?

????: He's dead. Some crazy bitch just attacked him and he evaporated into the air afte giving me this! (pulls out the Angelic Alliance)

Excal: Damn, this ain't good. (checks watch) And I arrived exactly when I was told to. I guess this was fate's decision. Well, at least now I know why my mission was to assist the bearer of the Angelic Alliance and not SRGPI. What's yer name, kid. It looks like we're going to be working together.

????: No way, how do I know you're not the enemy!

Excal: Look, the name's Excal. I fought with SRGPI a long time ago. And now something big is happening. Doesn't seem to be as big as the Eidolon Wars yet, but it's big. And as none of the big names from the Eidolon War that are immortal are showing up, and the holders of the only big weapons to reappear from that war are both new with them, I guess I'm here to watch your back while you learn.

????: But was anyone there to do that for you last time?

Excal: No. But then, only two of us were really learning how to use our weapon. And even then, there was a whole crowd of people of varying states of godhood around and other parts of Eidolon's psyche. Long complicated story. Basically, I'm here to make sure you live until the final battle and teach you a few pointers. But I can't do that if I don't know your name.

????: Fine, the name's Caris.

Excal: Good. Now, let's get going.

Caris: But what about SRGPI?

Excal: Kid, we don't know how much longer that portal will stay open. And SRGPI wouldn't want us putting the fate of the world at risk while we gave hima eulogy.

Caris: Well, I guess.

Excal: Don't worry. He may be gone, but if it'll make you feel better, here. (hands Caris a worn nickle) It was sorta given to me by him. Or at least a part of him.

Caris: Another long story?

Excal: Look at it this way, if there's ever a long period of nothin to do, at least we won't be board. Shame we probably won't get the luxury.

Excal, tutor to the stars

Longbowmen and Pikemen kept the breed of insectoids at bay, but soon Ghosts and Wraiths appeared through the wall and casted Inferno spells which chopped down the longbowmen easily due to their lack of armor, and the group retreated seeing there is no use in fighting back what they can't kill.

The insectoids, ghosts, and wraiths advanced.

____________________________

At the Trabian Bunker....

: If we're going to join forces, I might as well tell you something that my master told me a while ago, he said that to reverse the flow, go to the place where magical forces collide, which I think he means the peak of North Crater, Lloyd's castle, If we can gather a group of people with high magic talents into the shaman's room, we'll have the ability to close the portal and stop the monsters from hording into this world.

_____________________________

At the Chaos Sanctuary....

: There! A portal to the place where the ***** is!

Excal and Caris then charged into the portal, and they found themselves in the void, nothing except pitch black, it was space.

The female figure appeared in the horizon, and said,

???: The Vigilante of the Eidolon Conflict...I shall take him down first before taking down the child.

She then disappeared, and reappeared behind Excal, and blasted at him a Dark Rift spell, the same one that did SRGPI in, and soon Excal's fate was to be determined, dead or alive.

-SRGPI, short post alert soon

*The Canuck Knights held their ground as best they could with the assistance of the Holy Knights. But with their defensive stand broken, they were unable to stop the enemy. They fought valiently, but finally were reduced to a desperate stand outside the Leviathan Chamber. Then, as their forces were about to crack, mgical fire swept through the enemies ranks destroying the undead monsters, and magical arrows pierced the eyes of the insectoids.*

Lukhan: What the, but how? Has the Nautilus gotten through?

Guile: Ho there, are you the leader of the Canadians?

Lukhan: No, I am the channcelor of the Canadians. Our leader is within this room directing our defences.

Guile: Ah, so that is how his voice was heard by our more powerful psionists guiding our movements.

Lukhan: I take it you are the leader of the Mysidian forces.

Guile: Yes, his majesty has sent us as it is in no ones benefit if everyone here falls to these undead horrors.

Lukhan: Then let us start the counter-attack and wipe these creatures from this plain of exsistance.

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

Jason: So what we have to do is just invade Lloyd's Castle again and get enough powerful mages to that magic chamber even though they'll be useless the entire way up because of all the chorizite lining the walls.

Gerad: To sum it up, yes.

Guildus: So you have all been in there before?

Gerad: Yes. We have been there and fought Lloyd there. This troup left some of their comrades up there dead.

Guildus: If only we had any mages. We have a few stationed here, but they are nowhere near powerful enough.

Gerad: I am a powerful mage. And this Juno Blade I have now is powerful enough to allow me to focus my magical power even more.

Guildus: But let me guess, it's still not enough.

Gerad: Nowhere near.

Guard: Sir, an airship has arrived outside our gate. They claim to be froma nation called Mysidia and they have offered to help us in our quest.

Guildus: I've never heard of this Mysidian nation before, but then, I'd never heard of Neo-Canada before now either.

Gerad: Don't worry. I've heard of it. It is my homeland and is a place where many powerful mages live. You can trust them.

Guildus: Very well then. Let us go talk to them and then prepare to storm the castle.

Jason: I'm just curious. How'd they know to find us here and now?

Gerad: I am willing to leave it up to imagination. However, I shan't be surprised if a time-travelling acquaintance of ours had something to do with it.

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

Caris: What the? No, not another person! Not again!

????: Don't worry. I won't do that to you. With you I can take my time and properly enjoy your death.

Caris: No, I won't let you! For Tark! For SRGPI! And for him! I WILL KILL YOU!!!

*Caris rushes forward and slashes at her savagely. But she merely dissapears and then reappears behind him and knocks him down with an almost bored look on her face.*

????: Hah. Your anger makes you predictable. This shall be the most fun I've had in a long time.

Caris: NO!!!

*He charges again with the predictable results.*

Caris: No, I can't let her beat me... I can't let everyone down...

????: Hah, have you lost the fire already? You're weaker than I thought. Well, no matter, take this. Dark Fist!

*Caris is knocked down as he is hit by the attack. She prepared to strike again when she's hit in the back by several shots.*

????: Huh, what the?!

Excal: You didn't think something like that'd take me out did you?

????: It took out your little friend easily enough.

Excal: Yeah, but rule number one of staying alive. If there's even the slightest chance of danger, you put up a barrier. Double the power if you know you're in danger. And as an added bonus, I'm still young enough to take heavy damage. From there it's just a matter of taking a potion while you're busy.

????: Hmmm, well then. I won't make the mistake of giving you a reprieve this time.

Excal: And I won't make the mistake of standing still.

????: Like it will matter.

*The mysterious woman disappears. Excal uses a dash attack to the side as she appears behind him and uses Dark Rift. Excal barely dodges it and the shockwave sends him sprawling along the ground until he rolls to a stop. He quickly throws an X-Potion to Caris as he dashes to the side barely dodging a Dark Rift from the woman who had suddenly appeard over him.*

Excal: Caris, are you ok?

Caris: Yes, I think I can try and get at her!

Excal: Are you crazy? We can't possibly beat her here and now! She's too powerful! We have to run for now!

????: Yes, that's right, run like the pathetic littel cowards you are! Let the world perish just so that you can both keep your own necks a little bit longer.

Caris: You heard her! We cannot give up!

Excal: Don't let her get to you! We aren't giving up if we run now!

Caris: Then what is it!

Excal: Common sense. I mean, how are you going to get your vengeance if you're dead! Now get out and I'll cover you!

Caris: But...

*Excal raises a quick Juno Barrier and his ultimate shield takes the attack but sends him flying back several feet and leaves him severely hurt although he quickly uses a cure 3 spell.*

Excal: Don't worry. I can take a few more hits. And we can still come back later if need be. I mean, that portal wouldn't still be open if she had any control over it. So just run!

????: That's right, just run like the scared little boy you are! That fragment of Epsilon was a fool to trust such a great weapon to your hands.

Caris: (hesitates, then) Alright, you stay safe, ok. See you on the outide.

Excal: You too. My journies aren't about to end here.

????: No! You can't leave!

*Caris runs for the exit, but the mysterious woman teleports to right in front of Caris*

????: I had planned to have a little fun with you, but I cannot let you escape here alive.

Excal: No, I won't let you! Hammerblow!

*The shot goes true and hits the woman and the shock of getting hit stuns her long enough for Excal to get close enough to tackle her.*

Excal: Get going, I can keep her for now!

*As he says this the woman teleports out of his grasp and right above him. However, this time he's in no position to dodge her attack and gts hit full on by the Dark Rift.*

????: And this time I won't make the same mistake. Say goodbye Vigilante.

Caris: No! I won't let you!

*As she powers up another Dark Rift Caris runs up behind her and slashes her with the Angelic Alliance. She falls to the ground and clutches at the wound while screaming in pain.*

????: Gahhh, no. How could this amature have hit me?

Excal: C'mon, let's get going while she's hurt!

Caris: Here, let me help you.

Excal: Thanks.

*When the mysterious woman finishes healing herself she finds that she's too late and the two of them had already escaped.*

Excal, hoping that he didn't ruin SRGPI's story arc by survivng or running for now.

At Lloyd's Castle....

Hundreds of Hawk Men were still stationed their, although discouraged that their leader is now gone, but they vowed to get revenge.

The Voyagers and Guildus entered the castle, and the Hawk Men charged. They started battling already.

_________________________________

Within the walls of Tyrsis...

The Mysidian Reinforcements that arrive had drove off the main attack force, but the never-ending flow of monsters quickly tired the mages as they were running short on MP, longbowmen and archers were running out of ammunition, but the monster numbers dwindled to a measly 300 left from the original 5000.

A desperate battle would soon be told the victor.

__________________________________

Outside the Chaos Sanctuary...

Caris and Excal ran from the cursed Sanctuary, Caris used a scroll of Town Portal that he had, opened a portal to the fortress, and they entered, Excal, for the first time, would see the fortress of the Angels that stood between the burning depths of hell and the glorious lights of heaven.

-SRGPI, my mind is not on the mood to write today it seems, the last-day before school starts again

*Through heavy resistance, Guildus, the voyagers, and the mages they were escorting manage to finally reach the casting room.*

Jason: Well, this is it. Now what?

Guildus: To be quite honest, I don't know.

Gerad: I do. I can feel the residue of the last spell cast in here still. We can probably cancel it out just from what's in here.

Guildus: Are you sure?

Head Mysidian: Yes. This will be a very complex piece of spellcasting, but given time we can do it.

Gerad: You guys hold off the Hawk Men until we're done. Once we are we'll call you in here and warp out of here.

Guildus: Alright, we'll give you all of the cover we can.

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

*Excal looks around at the fantastic castle, then he notices a familiar figure.*

SYE: What the? Excal, that you?

Excal: Yeah, SYE? Never expected to meet you again. Especially not in a place like this. But then again, being a messanger of fate must have great perks.

Caris: You know a messanger of fate?

Excal: Yeah. Of course, I didn't find that out until around the end of the war.

SYE: Oh yeah, the perks are great. I just got torn to shreds by a bunch of demons while trying to find SRGPI and now that I've been sent to help him again they send me to the wrong time.

Excal: Relly? What time are you supposed to meet him in.

SYE: Well, I'm not supposed to tell you the future, but since you're a time traveller you'll probably find out anyways. Something happens a hundred years after the Eidolon War and I'm being sent to help SRGPI.

Caris: But, you can't, he's...

SYE: Huh, what's this kid?

Excal: What he's trying to say is that you're in the right place and the right time.

SYE: Really! Great, where is he?

Excal: There, there, over there too. And can't forget there. (points in random directions)

SYE: This is some sort of joke, right?

Excal: Nope. He got killed by whatever it was that's behind all of this and evaporated.

SYE: Wait, he got killed? How?

Excal: Pretty strong attack. If it weren't for the fact that I had picked up my ultimate armour before going on this mission I would probably be dead now too. From what I can tell though, he died because he was too old to withstand it.

SYE: Great, I was told to go and help a dead person.

Excal: Why not join me? My retributon for messing around in the timestream is to protect this guy, SRGPI's heir.

SYE: Hmmm, you're right. That sword he has is the Angelic Alliance. But...

Excal: Well, it's up to you I guess.

Caris: Look, why are we sitting around here chatting. She must be getting even stronger as we talk!

Excal: Oh, right. The vengeance thing. Heh, who'm I to talk. Let's get goin' kid. I want a piece of her too.

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

*The defenders of Tyrsis continued fighting with the chemists now using their ethers to full effect as well as their potions. However, for each one they killed another soon took its place. The endless sea of monsters continued on until finally, they just stopped comming. Noone knew why, but they did. And so, while they started setting up a new defence, the people of Tyrsis waited for them to come again.*

Excal, who also restarts school today

The mysterious figure recovered herself, and said,

???: I know barging into the Angel's Fortress will do nothing but end my life in this dimension, so therefore.......

She went into a portal that led to the mortal plane, and she flew to Tyrsis.

_____________________________

Within the walls of Tyrsis...

The monster hordes suddenly stopped charging, and the defenders were relieved, but the mysterious woman charged into the place with full power, and she unleashed Dark Rifts in random places in the castle, the castle soon became a ground where Black Holes were brewing and hapless defenders without heavy weights were sucked into the Black Holes that led into the nether realm. The mages of Mysidia quickly set to close the black holes, and Guile soon recognized who is doing this.

???: It's been a long time, since the academy days at Barcada.

Guile soon realized who it was, it was Liena, his ex-girl friend from Barcada at the academy that researched in extensive Hell Magic, rather than White Magic and the Holy spells, and was exiled from Barcada and all of Mysidia, and was never heard from again, until now.

Liena: I may give you reprieve from this, Guile, if you step aside and let me dispose of this canadian despot and run, run far away......

____________________________

At Lloyd's castle...

The battlefield turned into a "Save terra" Type battlefield, hallways were scattered around, and in the middle of all the hallways, the shaman room stood, with 10 people huddled around a rune, chanting. 20 Hawk Man security brigades were scattered, and a blue sign said,

"Protect Gerad and the Mysidians from the Hawk Men!"

-SRGPI, who is aggrivated today by buffoons that is making my fuse VERY short today.

SYE: "Oooookay then. Once again, the Eighth is left out of the loop as events spin towards chaos and all that."

Excal: "Well, whaddya expect when Fate's you're boss?"

SYE: grouses "It's not just her, its everyone else! All I did was discover the secret of universe creation! But, nooooooo! Blinkin' deities gotta keep their blinkin' monopoly on lettin' there be light! So they make ME clean up all their messes for them!"

Caris: "But sir, if truely you have the power to create universes, are you not a god as well?"

SYE: "*mutters something unintelligable about "registration fees"*

Excal: "So, where is this place anyway?"

SYE: "Wha? Oh, just a little cottage I set up. Spoony git Azrael insisted on calling it "Pandimonia" but we all know its real name!" waits expectantly

Caris and Excal: wait expectantly

SYE: furious "'DAH SHAK!!!!1'"

Caris and Excal: "*noises of comprehension*"

SYE: "Oh, I did some checking before I left on this evil lady-type thingie: I'll get into the details later but suffice to say she went thataway. *points out window towards distant light*"

Excal: "Not there? *points out opposite window to distant pit of flame and torture*"

SYE: "Nope. Interesting, ain't it?"

[The figure seen by Eighth headed for Elysium (bright area) instead of Hades (fire 'n such) is the spiritual manifistation of the evil villanous which also must be defeated.]

Caris: Wow, what is that light?

SYE: It symbolises the Elysian Fields.

Excal: And it actually is? I mean, there seems to be something there at the light.

SYE: Ah yes. They're portals. You see, that way is the gateway to heaven and there's the gate to hell.

Excal: I noticed you haven't pointed to the Elysian Fields yet.

SYE: Well, that's the real world.

Excal: How nice, a scenic view of all creation in this dimention.

Caris: Uh, why is our world the Elysian Fields?

SYE: Well, I said it symbolises that place.

Excal: So where does that portal lead?

SYE: I dunno. Fate changes them to whereever I need to go for a mission.

Caris: Hey, the one that she went to looks like a hilltop castle. But I've never seen it before.

Excal: Oh no... She's attacking Tyrsis! I've got to go!

Caris: Tyrsis, never heard of it.

Excal: It's the capital of my homeland!

SYE: Uh, are you sure you should rush in like that? I mean, thing like this are usually traps.

Excal: Yeah, they are. But I don't care!

Caris: I'm with him! And since she's out of her little world we can hurt her now!

Excal and Caris run over to the portal

SYE: Sigh, why do I ever bother saying anything? Nobody ever listens to me...

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

Guile: I'm sorry Liena, but I cannot run. I am sworn to protect Mysidian interests and they mean defending our allies.

Liena: Very well then, but do you truly think you can stand against the powers of darkness? You have no idea how much power the dark side can grant a person.

Guile: The powers of light are more powerful than those of dark. They simply require that one be more diligent in their studies.

Liena: Well then, we shall see. Dark Rift!

Guile: Very well. Spectral Wave!

*The two magical attacks hit eachother and cancel out.*

Liena: Very impressive, but it will take more than a little trick like that to beat me!

Guile: If this is what you truly want, then so be it.

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

Jason: Alright, all we need are two teams of four to block them off.

Guildus: Which would work except that there are four ways in here.

Sara: Then we need to have four teams of two.

Jason: Alright then. Marc, you work with Minerva, Sara, you work with Daisy. Robin, you work with Melissa. And I'll join with Guildus.

Guildus: It sounds like a plan. Let's get moving.

Excal, writers block sucks.

10 of the Hawk Men security teams attacked the 4 camping the exits, but afterwards, the 10 teams died, but 4 of the warriors were down, and only one stood at each exit, and each one was wounded in a way.

: This does not look good....

___________________________

While Guile and Liena are battling......

Liena kept on revealing more of her Dark spells, which included Dark bombs and Dark Matters, but Guile was always preventing it with some sort of holy spell.

Liena knew this was pointless, so she said,

Liena: I know this is getting nowhere, your allies shall be here soon, but too bad the Wizards at Barcada never told you about shadow clones......look over there.

Guile turned around, to see another Liena running down the hall towards the Leviathan Chamber, and the Liena in front of him disappeared.

_____________________________

Outside the Canadian Capital...

: Hurry up!

Caris and Excal quickly hurried into to the ruins of the first defense line, running in hope they could defeat the evil woman before she reached the King, and slayed him.

-SRGPI, not much to type now...:/

Sara: Well, we only have one Pheonix Down left.

Minerva: Well, if we revive Marc then we'll have enough time to hopefully revive one more person before it's too late.

Guildus: Very well then. (Uses the Pheonix Down on the dead monk.)

Marc: Huh, wha?

Sara: There's only us left after the fighting and there's only time to bring one more back.

Minerva: We'd like you to bring back the commander.

Marc: Will do. Here goes. (Marc uses revive and the commander gets up.)

Jason: Huh, Marc? Is the fighting over?

Guildus: For now. There is probably more coming, but we had to spend this time bringing back those we could.

Jason: So then...

Sara: Yes, Melissa and Daisy are gone.

Jason: They served us well.

Aaron: So, what now?

Guildus: We dig in and wait until those mages are done closing the gate. And hope they did it fast enough.

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

: C'mon Caris, this way!

Caris: What's this way?

Excal: The Leviathan Chamber. It's where the Lord will be and that's who she'll be after!

Excal, now with a picture for SRGPI to use.

The door suddenly blew open, and Liena walked in. She saw the floating Lord in his cyber-link mechanism to the defense system, and she prepared a Dark Rift spell that would send him to the void.

_____________________________

At Lloyd's Castle...

The other 10 security squads arrived, Guildus fought off 3 of them before falling back, and the others weren't doing so well for they were already injured, other than the ones that were recently revived, it seems that the battle maybe lost.

-SRGPI, a few minutes before i go to bed, and I can't see the picture Excal, and I don't god-mod :P

*In Da Shakk, Eighth opens a file folder marked "So Secret It Doesn't Know It Exists, So Don't Tell It Anything, Okay? It's rather large.*

SYE: reads "Your mission, and you WILL accept it, spoonhead, is to enter Tru-Elysium, locate Magi Liena's benefactor, and terminate her heavenly support. Circumstances in Psuedo-Elysium will finish the job. Try to avoid excessive force.

Signed, the Living Tribunal.

PS: I really mean it about the force thing."

*Eighth carefully folds the message and places it in his pocket.*

SYE: sighs "All right then...let's see then...*brings out a copy of Gray's Anatomy*"

*******

Deep inside the Leviathan chamber, the king (it's a king, right?) ruminates.

King: .oO(Curious...the attack seems to have lessened despite the arrival of a hostile magical entity. What's going on?)

*checks Wizard Eyes of the castle, sees Liena*

*All the king's horses and all the king's men suddenly heard a rather loud "Spoony!!!"*

*******

*Light. Clouds. A gate. Soft music.*

Saint Piotre: "Ah, welcome, traveller, to the end of your journey and your--you! You're not allowed in here!"

SYE: .oO(Non-lethal non-lethal non-lethal...) *thunk thunk!*

Saint Piotre: "Why do you insist in this foolery, my son? We art in Haeven; here there is no aargh aargh arrgh my knees he shot me spoonin' knees!!!"

SYE: *whistles, reloads, and walks through the gates*

Liena is using Hell magic not holy magic :/

*The dark rift spell travels towards Lord Erdrick when several layers of magic refractors and barriers are suddenly set up. The spell is then split up several times several times and blocked.*

Lord Erdrick: You may have the powers of darkness, but they are no match for the ancient powers contained within the bond between a strong people and a faithful leader. This chamber is meant as the mechanism in which to protect the people in times of great danger.

Leana: So, my magic is useless is it?

Lord Erdrick: I think you will find that it will be equally useless to try and walk forward as well.

Leana pulls out a dagger

Leana: Perhaps. But I think that even though my power my be insufficient to penetrate your barriers, it will be able to create a hole large enough for me to get through.

Lord Erdrick: Yes, it is. But you will not have enough time to do so. In fact, your time is up now.

Leana: What? You are in no position to hurt me old man!

Excal: Phase Slash!

*Excal, encased in a cone of light streaming from the tip of the Juno Blade charges forward through Leana who gets grazed by his attack.*

Lord Erdrick: I may not be in a position to hurt you. But there are others who are willing to defend their homes regardless of the odds.

Excal: Well now, lady. You may be stronger than me in your world, but you're on my turf now! And your days are numbered!

Leana: Oh really. And what's to stop me from leaving? You have to stay there and protect him.

Caris: (From doorway holding the Angelic Alliance in a defensive posture) Me.

Leana: Well then, I think it's time to let you in on a little secret.

Lord Erdrick: The exsistance of shadow clones? I already know you aren't real as your real self seems to be engaged in a duel right now.

Excal: What the? A fake!

Leana: That's right, Vigilante. Your prey is in another chamber! Farewell.

*They all watch as the clone turns back into the shadows from where it came.*

Caris: Damnit! We've got to go and fine the real thing!

Excal: You go. I'll stay here incase she tries to attack his lordship again.

Caris: Alright, I'll get a few shots in for you.

Excal: Thanks.

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

*The fight to defend the mages wasn't going well. They had formed a simple half-circle around the door with the archers inside firing out. But the numbers against them were overpowering. Then, as their strength was starting to run out the castle started to shake. Then they could feel a distant rumble signifying a distant explosion. The enemy attack stopped for a few moments with the unexpected event. Then, the door behind them opened and Gerad called them in.*

Gerad: Well, we've done the job. The gate's been closed.

Jason: What effect will this have on the world.

Gerad: We don't know yet. This has never been done before.

Guildus: Never mind that. It looks like this place is going up. And it'll take too long to get out through them.

Gerad: That's why we brought you all in here. We're going to warp out to the airship.

*The warriors all nod their accent and then they al get warped to the airship which promtply takes off as the castle starts to self destruct in the background.*

Excal, noticing the main drawback to having less people.

Liena disappeared into another room, and it was a fraction of the defense mechanism of the Castle of Tyrsis. She set to work at destroying the mechanisms in which Erdwick could operate the Defenses. The point of the Leviathan Chamber would soon disappear.

____________________________

The gate to the netherworld closed, soon, the fissures in the ocean closed and another place appeared in effect, a broken down castle that had moss all over it appeared in the northwest corner of the map.

___________________________

Liena then was found by Caris, in the mechanism she was destroying, it generated the power to fuel the defenses of the Castle.

: Your time is up, demon!

: Oh really? Do you think you'll destroy me right here? I've already done my job and sacked the whole city of Tyrsis, and disabled most of the defense mechanisms, there is no need for me to be here anymore, if I cannot destroy the king, I will destroy his kingdom!

Liena then disappeared again, it was another shadow clone. Caris cursed and he saw out of the window...

The city of Tyrsis is a smoldering ruin. The castle of Tyrsis was a wreck, and Liena proved to be victorious in destroying the city of Tyrsis. Liena wasn't found around the castle anymore, for it appeared that Liena vanished.

___________

Several Days later....

___________

The king had exited from the Leviathan chamber, knowing that it was safe to get out. The throne room was a mess, the castle was in no shape to defend at all. A soldier came running in...

: My lord! 5 of our cities, Montreal, Alhight, Elbnor, Renlay, and Ivoya have been found sacked, everybody dead, my lord, Liena is raving across the land destroying our country.

-SRGPI, took a while for Excal to reply.

Lord Erdrick: What's been happening?

Guile: Leana has been going into town and destroys anything she can find. By the time we get word and then get there she's left.

Excal: We've tried every method of travel, including the Gargants in the tunnel system, but none have been fast enough.

Lord Erdrick: Well then. It seems that our mission is to get there before her. We simply have to guess where she's going to go.

Excal: Unfortunatly, right now it's just a process of elimination. And at this rate the job of guessing is gonna become a little too easy for my tastes.

Lord Erdrick: Maybe, maybe not. There's a pattern here. It looks like she will likely be heading to Batoche next.

Guile: Well then. We'll go and tell the villagers to evacuate and we'll prepare to fight.

Excal: One other thing. There ought to be a small girl at the home of the hero, SRGPI. Can you please send some people to go and pick her up and bring her here? The girl is very important to Caris who is the one who stopped Liena from doing more damage to the defences.

Lord Erdrick: Very well. She shall be taken care of. Be careful in your quest.

Excal: We will, have no doubt of that.

Excal, who's not going to be posting much over the weekend.

Liena was rampaging through the land destroying everything she saw, and at Batoche, she did a quick scan of the place, like she did at the other towns just incase if the army would get in the way, which the other towns she destroyed were undefended, or with only militia defense. She sencsed an army there and quickly moved onto another town,and destroyed it, word would get to the Lord that the town of batoche was saved, but Arwic was decimated.

-SRGPI, my compis freezing reason why i'm doing short posts and lazy not to retype it.

Guile: It would seem that she can sense us before she arrives.

Excal: So, we simply need to make it so that she doesn't sense us before hand.

Guile: And how do you plan to do that?

Excal: Well, you've learned the technique for how to supress your obvious power, right?

Guile: Yes, if need be I can hide my power so she will not be able to sense it until we can engage her.

Excal: Precisely. I can do the same.

Guile: Yes, but what about everyone else?

Caris: I can try and do it! After all, I wanna fight her too!

Lord Erdrick: No, young one, you shall have another job.

Excal: So, it occured to you too then.

Lord Erdrick: Yes. We can tell that she will be heading to Neo Moncton so we will dispatch Caris and the army there. Based on information from last time though, I believe that sensing this obvious threat she will instead go to here, Wawa. You two will supress your power and wait for her there. Your job will be to delay her long enough for us to get enough troops into the are to contain her, and then either capture her, or kill her.

Guile: But how do you plan to do that? There cannot be any hope against her magical powers for any of your army to stand.

Lord Erdrick: We have methods which ought to avail us in this situation. We are in fact already preparing for her reception.

Excal: I trust that your preparations will be more than excellent your lordship. We shall now go and prepare to intercept her again.

Excal, who just can't think up much to write.

Liena stood on a hill that overlooked Neo Moncton, she sensed the army and Caris waiting for her there. She decided to move on to the next town nearby, Wawa, and found it deserted. She said out in the open,

: Come out, Vigilante. I know your here, that irresistable scent is still clinging onto you...

___________________

At the broken down castle...

The castle stirred a little bit, pebbles shook, a portal opened in the defunct wine-cellar in the basement, and immediatly, a horde of monsters started entering through that breach in dimensions, it seemed that the castle was part of a legend of the old people, the castle of Monsters, a castle that was a last bastion of Monster power on the world before the Trabian-Baron Alliance destroyed it. The Portals that it had to the black void had suddenly reopened, most likely due to the rift that opened earlier and the aftershock reached the portal. The monsters would now search for a master...

-SRGPI, I SERIOUSLY HATE DBZ!! >_<

Excal: I'm flattered that you remember me. Although I'm not sure what to make of that crack about my scent.

*Liena turns around and sees Excal standing in a dark alleyway and sends a dark rift flying at him. It hits and vapourises his body*

Liena: Hah. Another fool who dared to stand against me meets his end.

Excal: Yeah, I can see why it'd be a bad idea to tick you off.

Liena: What the? You're alive! Dark Rift!

*The spell goes out and destroys another Excal.*

Liena: But how? Unless... I didn't know you could also make clones, vigilante.

Excal: Who said I could? I grabbed quite a few of these things before I started travelling through time. Thought they'd make great decoys for TallPanzer. Seems you fit the bill just as well.

Liena: Grah! I'll show you for making a fool of me!

Excal: Oh really? Pull!

Another Excal appears out of the shadows

Liena: What sort of fool do you take me for! Dark Rift!

*She sends her shot into the shadows destroying a large chunk of the building.*

Excal: I don't think I should answer that, it'll hurt your feelings. Sword of Vengeance, show my wrath... Juno Strike!

*The Excal that had just shown up out of the shadows raised his gun and fired a shot at the stunned Liena. Still recovering from her spell she was unable to dodge the first strike. Then, almost immeadiatly after getting hit by the shot, Excal rushes up to her and uses a move similar to Climhazard on her forming a shockwave which propels her forward. Then, after a few seconds Excal drops down on the other side of her and releases another shot at her. The shot collides with the shockwave she was still stuck on and they both dissapate. Then Excal rushes forward again and impaling her upon his sword, he flips her over his head and throws her upon the ground hard. Excal ends up facing away from her and turns around in a leisurly fashion.*

Excal: Will you surrender now, or do you wan- ughh!

*As Excal is turning around Liena hits him with a Dark Wave which throws him onto the ground. Liena though doesn't give him a chance to get up.*

Liena: Vigilante, you've gotten in my way far too often. Prepare to die now!

Excal: Oh really? I don't think I'm about to die yet.

Liena: Oh really, and why's that?

Excal: Beause of something I know that you don't.

Liena: And what may that be?

Guile: Me. Photon Ray!

*The beam of holy energy smashes into Liena and sends her tumbling.*

Guile: You don't know how much it hurt that you remembered him, but not me.

Liena: Well, if you deserved to be remembered. But, stooping to little tricks like that. I guess you must really be his pupil.

Guile: Your retorts may make you feel better. But they shan't enrage me. And so they won't help you escape us.

Liena: Yes, but we all know that if I wished to leave that there's nothing you could do to stop me.

Excal: To the contrary. Watch.

*A distant noise is heard and a few seconds later a cannonball lands in the square. Then the Neo-Invincible comes around from the mountain peak it had been hiding behind complete with a complement of Windriders. These reinforcements soon landed in the square.*

Liena: How very impressive. But this changes nothing.

Excal: To the contrary, this changes everything.

Liena: Hah, if you say so. But you bore me now, vigilante. I shall fight you again some other time when you see fit to fight me fairly.

*Liena tries to teleport away, but is unable to.*

Liena: What, my power? What happened to it?

Excal: It's gone. That was a blast from a Chorizite Cannon. No magic can be used here right now. And no matter how competant you may be with a sword or other weapon, I doubt you will be able to singlehandedly defeat myself and this host of trained Canuck Knights. Yield, or die.

Liena: Very well then, it seems that my choice is clear.

Excal, who has an idea for how to reinvolve Guildus and the Voyagers.

: ...to still retreat.

A horde of monsters appeared behind the Canuck Army, lots of ghosts, hell knights, and oblivion mages appeared. Suddenly, A crevace in the ground appeared under a portion of the Canuck Army, for the Chorizite Cannon only held off magic in a radius. The Canuck Knights charged the monsters, and a battle occured.

: I think I'll say good bye for now, Canuck Vigilante.

Liena then ran into the Canuck Knights battling and suddenly faded away. Liena had escaped again.

: NO!! DAMNIT!!!! We were so !@#$in close too!

-SRGPI, Now it's my turn to try in killing people's ideas when other people have killed mine. >:P

*A crossbow quarrel thunks into a tree. Excal reads the attached note.*

"Dear Excal and Other Concerned Parties:

Inquiries in Tru-Elysium (in addition to some pointed encouragement to the kneecaps) have revealed an archway to the dimension Xlfh, homeland of one Druel of Soul Splice, in the basement of Tyris Castle. As Druel appears to be Magi Liena's heavenly contact, it may prove usefull to terminate this line of support. I'll meet you at the portal in 3 hours time should you prove interested.

Section Yea Eighth

PS Bring rubber boots"

Excal: .oO(What an odd little man...)

[Feel like contributing, but no creativity...
]

Caris: You're doing what?

Excal: I'm going to this portal.

Caris: Why, we're after Liena.

Excal: Yeah, but it's been fairly obvious that somebody else is behind all of this besides her. Guile said he knew her before and she was never this powerful. Therefore, it's obvious she has a benefactor. I originally suspected that Epsilon X was behind this, but my own inquiries showed that it would be near impossible for that to happen.

Caris: So then you're going in?

Excal: Yeah, I think that Guile can handle Liena on his own. He definatly did it once before.

Caris: Can I come with you?

Excal: No.

Caris: What! Why not?

Excal: Several reasons. First, you've never been to other dimensions before. I've found myself in far more than I'd like. It's not a fun experience to find yourself in another dimention. Especially since you're likely to find that all the odds are stacked against you there. Plus, you aren't skilled enough yet. It still hasn't been that long since you inherited the Angelic Alliance.

Caris: I don't care. You can't close the portal after you go through. So if you don't take me along then I'll just follow you.

Excal: Why do you want to come? Your vendetta is against Liena.

Caris: Because. The person behind her is in there. And besides which, you've helped me and I can't ignore that. Not only did you save my life the first time we met Liena, but you also asked your king to take my friend's daughter to a place of safety. I am indebted to you and I am going to pay back that debt.

Excal: So be it. I'll help you prepare for the task ahead.

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

At the hidden fortress

Guard #1: Welcome back, sir.

Guildus: Thank you. It is good to be back. What news do we have?

Guard #2: We have word that there have been several attacks on unknown cities in the mountains. We can tell from the columns of smoke that sometimes appear.

Jason: So, Tyrsis has fallen then...

Guildus: It would appear so. Anything else?

Guard #2: Yes. There is a new castle that we have found, and the monsters Lloyd released are still roaming around the planet.

Jason: Damnit! We failed in our task and now there's no place left standing up to them!

Gerad: Don't say that yet. It is likely that Tyrsis is destroyed. But it is also possible that its defences managed to hold out and it still remains. The smoke would just mean that the enemy is taking out the defenceless towns.

Guildus: Well, there's not much we can do here. Maybe we should go and check out this new castle.

Gerad: Yes, it seems like a prudent course of action.

Jason: You can't just mean that, can you?

Gerad: Don't worry. For exploration it's better to have fewer people. You go and check on Tyrsis. And bring back word on how your nation is faring.

Jason: Yes... Yes, we shall do so.

Sara: Sir, permission to ask a question?

Jason: Granted.

Sara: May I go with Giuldus and Gerad? I think that they may benefit by having a true scout with them.

Gerad: Yes, it wouldn't hurt to have a third on our quest.

Jason: Very well, permission granted to go with them.

Guildus: Very well then. We'll leave on the Mysidian airship and you go on your black chocobos to Tyrsis.

Jason: Godspeed to you on your journey.

Gerad: Same to you, Captain Armstrong.

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

Excal and Caris go down the stairs to the portal

Caris: Uh, Excal. I have a question for you.

Excal: Shoot.

Caris: You said earlier that you're here on orders from time?

Excal: Yeah. I once met the guy in charge of keeping the timeline in line. Keeping things from changing. He sent me orders to keep you safe until the final battle.

Caris: Well, if things are going to be so bad in this other dimension then why don't you ask him to send reinforcements.

Excal: Because, there hasn't been any flagrant change in the timeline yet. He won't be able to send anybody else until that's the case.

Caris: So, he has to follow rules like everyone else?

Excal: Rules? What rules? Unlike fate, time relies upon a loose confederation of those who have mastered time travel. These people fight on their own initiative and have free reign to travel through time so long as they do not interfere in the time stream and they fight on times behalf when it is in danger. This means that time's army is highly motivated because they are all volunteers, but they cannot be used when time is not in danger.

Caris: So until time is changed they won't come. What if we go out of our way to change time?

Excal: Then they come here and kill us. And before you say it won't be easy to kill you, let me say that I've seen them in action and with the quantity of talent they have, we wouldn't stand a chance.

Caris: I see. Hey, it's that strange guy again.

Excal: Yeah. There's SYE, and there's the portal. Guess it's time to get ready to go.

The same Dark King that was seen before talked to himself.

???: So, the inheriter of the Angelic Alliance is coming here....too bad the boy hasn't mastered it's powers and learned of it's true capabilities. The only one who knew it's true capabilities was it's true master, SRGPI, but he is now faded away from existance now. Bwa ha ha ha....and that Vigilante won't be of much problem for me either, Without his weapons, he can't scratch me from where I stand.

The Dark King laughed and the scene faded over to the Castle of Monsters.

____________________

At the Castle of Monsters...

: My queen, A message from the Dark Lord.

: Put it through.

A big glass ball appeared in front of Liena, and a dark face appeared.

???: Is everything going as planned?

: Yes....

???: Good, A party of 3, a Trabian Knight, a Canuckian Scout, and a arch-mage, by the name of Gerad.

: I'll have the monsters on patrol today.

???: Do not fail me, Liena, or else i'll be forced to cut you off from the ties with the monsters.

The face then disappeared.

-SRGPI, took long nuff

SYE: So, you came. And he came with you.

Excal: Yep. I'm here. I'm curious though, do you know anything of this dimention?

SYE: No, not really.

Excal: Then why the rubber boots?

SYE: Because big bad monsters living in this belt of dimentions typically have void magic. And a few hundred years ago I discovered that for some reason you're immune to void damage if you wear rubber boots.

Excal: That makes absolutely no sense.

SYE: And a Robe of Lords protecting you from wind does?

Excal: True, true.

Caris: Uh, I have a question. You've been around for hundreds of years,, so what's your level?

SYE: I recently made level 3.

Excal: Wow! Congrats. How long ago?

SYE: Some nasty nasty work involving yet another Daryl Valen matchup.

Excal: Heh. I can see why you snapped in the desert then. Good thing Bob was there to stop you.

Caris: Waitaminute! We're going along with this guy who takes forever to reach level three?

Excal: Don't be fooled by his level. He once held off Epsilon X for five hours.

SYE: Still don't know quite how I did it.

Excal: Well, enough reminising. Let's head in.

SYE: Agreed.

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

Guildus: I don't like this. It's too quiet.

Gerad: Well, they seem to have an uncannily good information network. So I'd say we're going to be facing at least one ambush.

Sara: Hmmm, I think there's some monsters along this path. Let's go right.

*They go right.*

Guildus: Great. Not only do we have to wander around with an ambush possible at any second. But we have no idea what we're looking for.

Gerad: Think about it this way. If they're guarding it this well, something worthwhile is at the end of it all.

Excal, not stuck on campus all day.

The 3 walked down the path that Sara told them to go down...and suddenly, they stopped at a dead end.

: Something tells me we're going to be ambushed right about now.

Abruptly, they heard a huge crash right behind them, a large boulder blocked their way out, and they were trapped.

: This is bad. (draws shield)

From the bushes, appeared swarms of arrows that flew towards the 3, Guildus having his tower shield up blocked all that went towards him, but there were still about 400 that went for Gerad and 300 that went for Sara.

-SRGPI, i'm bored as of the moment.

Gerad: Force Shield!

*The arrows all hit the invisible barrier that Gerad had thrown up around the group and are quickly destroyed by it.*

Sara: Nice move.

Gerad: Yeah, something I picked up in my days as a mage. Unfortunatly, it's only good against projectiles. And it won't do much if they're magical ones. Fortunatly though, it barely takes any effort to cast.

Guildus: So then, that would mean that all of those monsters that just fired at us will have to attack like they're starting to do?

Gerad: Yes. Well, time to fight. Juno Blade, let us show them our true power.

Excal, who waiting to see what this Dark King can do.

The 3 suddenly felt heavier by twice their weight, and Gerad felt more distracted, ruining his concentration in casting high level spells, and Lightning Throwing Daggers were flung from outside the bushes.

Fortunately, Guildus's shield was made of a non-conductive metal so the Lightning Throwing Daggers did nothing to him, Unfortunately though, since Gerad's concentration was faltering, the shield started to fail, and the Throwing daggers ran through the Magic Shield, they were also burdened from a Weakness spell, and The Lightning Throwing Daggers were about to impend doom on the other 2....

-SRGPI, short post attack :P

*Looking at the Daggers which would penetrate his defences and the innability to concentrate properly Gerad panicked and used a shockwave type attack to knock all of the daggers down. Unfortunatly, it also knocked down Sara and Guildus as well.*

Guildus: This is no good. We've got to get out of here.

Gerad: Luckily, they've just been staying in their little ambush position.

Sara: Yeah, but what's the point? Those monsters I noticed before are probably already covering the exit to this place.

Gerad: Well then, there's only one solution. Exit!

*As Gerad's spell took effect the three of them found themselves warped to the exit to the castle. There they quickly boarded the airship and left.*

Gerad: Well, there's really only one choice left...

Excal, who's hoping THIS will end the endless ambush inside the castle.

Can you please start a new thread? It's starting to get annoying having to scroll by this topic so many times since it's almost always the first one thanks to you heavy posters (that'd be YOU) ahem so I'm just askin if you could start a new thread so this one isn't taking up all this space. Thanks! ^_^

Too lazy for invisible text.