The other thread was getting too long. Feel free to post here! WEll, n/t means . . . No RELEVANT in character Text ^______^

--Darylohki

hears the explosion

Karn: Poor Monster, I actually Kinda feel sorry for him. Oh well, time to get to work again.

Karn's form then shape-shifted from a thief form into a traveller with a heavy brown robe with hood covering his face, and he drilled a hole 10 yards away behind a rock of where Daryl was.

???: Heh, now I get to watch her as she trails along on her path to save Link. Now that I think about it, I remembered a recent rumor about some monster lieutenant holding some guy in green clothes and a huge bug at some Forest Temple....

Eidolon heard this murmuring.

Elsewhere, another idea was born, which started off a minor chain reaction of ideas.

And Eidolon's realm slipped slightly, beginning to lose it's unknown definition in favor of another one.

Elsewhere, at the End of Time, Krono had a vague feeling that all was not right. However, it soon passed, washed away by his endless dreaming of time and forgotten.

--------

What's happening? Eidolon thought.

...It is as I feared. He's been changed by the Maskariol and his memory was warped to suit a random theory that came into his mind...

A pause in his thoughts, as Eidolon reviewed Liquid's condition.

Interesting. He's no longer sure of what's true or false. He could be in severe danger...but I have no way of getting him out of there until the Maskariol regenerates. Normally, that wouldn't take long...but Infinija's power might have changed that.

...

I hope Liquid-X survives this.

-------

The idea frowned. "I'm not sure if that memory works...I don't believe Epsilon ever had a wife...so you can't be related to him...I think..."

It began to lose substance. "I'm worried...I don't think I'm going to make it..."

-------

Eidolon watched the others, and frowned. A few ideas spun into existance elsewhere.

Interesting. I wonder if this is some form of disparity in time, or...

He chuckled.

Has it been a year already?

He chuckled again.

The Moogle Wars...It seems like it's been an eternity. It's amazing to me that I'd do something like that. But then again...over the one common thread, it's almost understandable. But I doubt it's been a year in the outside world. I wonder if Krono has noticed this disparity in time and space, and if he'll correct it...but regardless, it's not my place to wonder about that right now.

----------

......Dammit....... *X Shook His Head, Cursing* Its No Good... I Cant Even Tell If My Own Memories Are Real Anymore.... *X Chuckled.... Which Grew Into Full Blown Laughter* Heh.... Heh Heh Heh.... HAH HAH HAH HAH! Its Funny Really.... I Cant Even Tell If I Truly Exist! Nothing More Then Just A Grain Of Sand Lost In The Beach Of Reality..... X Laughed Harder It Was All So Obvious..... I Was About To Destroy Everything Again..... When The Path Was So Obvious..... *X Stopped, And A Look of Seriousness Crossed His Face As He Looked At The Fading Idea* Its So Obvious... If Eidolon Is Right, I AM Another Part Of Epsilon... The Chaos Side.... Then That Explains Why I Could Not Only Force My Way Into Eidolons Realm, And Survive..... And That Means... I Can Also Shape The Reality Here, WITHOUT Destroying The Original Intent Of The Ideas.... Because.... We Are Part Of The Same.... Which Means, His Idea's Would Also Count As Mine, Which Means I Can Influence The Reality..... X Laughed

Heh... I Am The Chaos Side Of Epsilon..... *X Watched As The Idea Grew, And Became His Truth.... And X Was... He Was X. Not Just An Incarnation... He Was Himself... And Finally, His Name Made Sense.... Liquid "X" And Eidolon "X"...... And He Began To Strengthen The Idea.... And Impower It... And Reality Began To Restore Itself.... As Eidolons Realm Returned To Its Normality.... And X, For Once In His Life Felt Whole...... And... In Something He Hadnt Done In Awhile.... Smiled At The Idea Which Had Been Saved*

Yep, I'm goin over to Texas to visit my grandparents, and since my comp runs on a cable connection, I can't take the 'net with me. So until then, develop the story, and aideu!

*Excal quickly checks to make sure that he hasn't been turned back to the same powerlessness he had back when he had originally turned ten. A small lightning bolt landing nearby that he had called down quickly dispelled that thought.*

Excal: Alright, where were we before that storm hit?

Valen: You were about to tell us how you got that way and why you lied to us.

Excal: Ah, yes. That I was. Well, it's a long story, so sit tight and listen. First off, how I got this way. Reako, myself, and Link were all seperated when we got sucked into the portal that brought us here. I don't know where the other two landed, but I have met up with them both in some way since.

Daryl: So you know where Link-sama and Reako are?

Excal: I only met an illusion of Link. I have no clue where he is. As for Reako, he's in the Sun Palace.

Daryl: Well, now that we know where he is, let's go get him!

Excal: We can't. I've been talking to a sprite that seems to know an awful lot about the enemies plans and we can't get into the Sun Palace until the seals in all four dungeons have been broken and the song of entry has been played.

Daryl: Then we'll break the seals and I'll play the song! After all, I am the incarnation of the Bardic Spirit.

Excal: No can do. You're young now. You have to rely on those trinkets because your powers are weak. I think it's safe to say you were stronger when you were fighting Valen. Besides which, the seals that need to be broken are also the ones that are holding my power. Basically, we can't get in until my powers are returned to me and I play the song on Link's ocarina.

Mintaka: And then we save this Reako person?

Excal: Maybe, but that's going to be explained shortly. Anyways, when I got here, I was all alone except for Boco, my chocobo. I got on him and rid for a bit, but he got startled and threw me. I was startled and knocked out for a bit but when I came to I found Reako messing with my helmet. Only, Reako wasn't himself and was wearing this mask that looked like an inverted version of Eternion's mask. When he saw me, he jumped on Boco and fled. I followed him and when I caught him, he took my equipment and then took my powers.

Valen: So, that psionist that allowed her to break the curse is the one behind this?

Excal: I think it's whatever's in the mask. But for all intents and purposes, yeah. After that, I've gone after his underlings trying to get my powers back so I could fight him.

Daryl: So we have to fight Reako...

Valen: Finally, some good news for a change! However, I'd still like to know why you lied to us.

Excal: Look at it this way. I'm effectively powerless, Daryl is stronger than before. And besides which, I need her help. So, I figured why should she help her enemy and since she didn't recognise me, I figured I'd just pretend to be someone else. And most of what I told you is true. I do intend to rescue Link as well.

Mintaka: Uh, just what is this Reako person planning to do anyways.

Excal: Huh? Did I forget to mention that?

Mintaka: Yup!

Excal: Nothing much. Just plans to make the sun supernova in about 10 days.

Daryl: 10 days? Isn't it usually three for this sort of thing?

Excal: Yeah, but you guys sent us back an extra week. So, I added on the time. Besides, why worry? Sephiroth made the sun supernova several times in one spoony battle and the world didn't seem to suffer that much.

Excal, amazed at how much happened when he wasn't waiting for a reply.

The faint glow of a halo of fire flickers in the darkness, a sillouete, defined only by the aformentioned halo, a flame, and a green eye waits and watches.

????: "Soon, my current... duty will be over. And I can show these mortals where I stand on.. impersonations."

Daryl's head was spinning. Her light hawk, Bubbles, helpfully supported her with one wing.

"This is all too wierd. Reako-kun is my enemy, Zel-Excal is my ally . . . I'm also a lil chibi-bishojo . . ."

"In YOUR opinion." Valen stuck his tongue out at her.

"VALEN OF DISCHORD ARE YOU INDICATING THAT I'M NOT CUTE AS A BUTTON!?!!??!"

"Yeah, Bard-girl. WhatCHA gonna make of it!?" Valen snarled, and his dark hound Killer growled with him.

"Hey! Don't you make fun of Daryl!" Eriol warned.

Valen balked, and his little-kid mentality faded in the knowledge that if he continued Daryl would cry, and both Mintaka and Eriol would probably try to kick his ass. Even if he won, he'd STILL have Daryl to contend with.

"Tch, Fine." Valen said nonchalantly, leaning up against Killer, who wagged his tail and panted.

Daryl's eyes were sparkly.

"Wai!! Arigatou, Eriol-kun!!" She glomped the Zora-child and huggled him.

"Wah!?" Eriol yelped, but there was a hint of a blush underneath his blue skin.

Mintaka fumed, but said nothing.

"Oh CRAP!" Valen slapped his forehead. "The LAST thing we need is some bizarre love triangle here!"

Bubbles screeched.

"What is it, girl?" Daryl released Eriol and ran up to her light hawk.

Bubbles screeched again.

"What!? Timmy fell down a well!!?"

More Screeching and head shaking.

"Oh! I see. Hey guys, the storm is over." Daryl pointed, and strains of music, the End of Storms Rondo, floated towards the group, which Daryl noted and filed away in her brain.

"Well, I guess it's time to go." Daryl began to walk out the door. Then she stopped. "Hey Excal-- do you happen to know what happened to Liquid X? He should have answered my pop-up by now."

--Darylohki, who loves a good plot twist, yes she does!

Excal: Liquid-X? He's here too?

Daryl: Yeah. He left right before we did. And he took Miladi and Aosloidion with him.

Excal: Why did he take them with him?

Daryl: I don't know, he didn't say.

Valen: Hmph. Some demi-god you are. If you had looked at their auras you would have seen that they're all similar.

Daryl: They are?

Excal: That ain't good. If their auras are similar, then that must mean that Liquid-X is either a construct, or related in some way with Epsilon-X.

Daryl: So then he'll help us!

Excal: Wrong... Whatever this is was able to control Reako and then my chocobo. If Liquid-X is indeed what I think he is, then he might have been taken over by Reako.

Daryl: Nani! How's something going to control Liquid-X! Why, only I can do things like that to him!

Excal: Well, it would explain why he didn't answer your challenge, wouldn't it? And besides, Epsilon was just as independant and stubborn as he was and look what happened to him. If this power controlling Reako is on the same level as whatever it was that took Epsilon, then we have to face the possibility that...

Daryl: So not just Reako-kun but also Liquid-X are my enemies here?!

Valen: Well, you did say you wanted to finish things with him once and for all.

Daryl: Yes, but not like this!

Mintaka: Uhhh, guys... Something's coming this way.

Excal, trying to figure out how Daryl speaks.

Karn mumbled to himself as he hid behind the rock.

Karn: Hmm... So Epsilon X is here, which must mean Eidolon is here Also...but Liquid being a blood brother? Now that's gonna make my day...

Karn's mind then pulsed a sound wave, one trying to locate his brother.

_____________

A sound echoed through Eidolon's Mind.....

*I'm here, brother, it's been too long. Too long since the Epsilon Saga anyhow.*

The battle between Bob and Fueron seemed to be coming to an end... with Bob getting his ass royally handed to him, until...

Bob: Heh you think you've seen my true power?

Fueron: Bring it on little one!

Bob starts to glow with a white aura as he enters..... DESPERATION MODE!!!

Bob: Tremble with terror for you are Bob jumps up into the air, then seems to teleport and reappears on the side of Fueron, proceeding to lay a beating so harsh and cruel that it seems as if it's not really him... FINISHED!!!

Fueron: Agh where did you get this much power gets uppercut through a wall

Bob: Are you ready? Bob flies forward and grabs Fueron by the neck, knocking him down, then he drags him across the next room where even more intense fighting can be heard shortly thereafter

Jamie: sweatdrop Yep he's at it again Maestro.
A female voice is now coming from the arm-computer mounted on Jamie's left arm

Maestro: Heh that sounds like him alright. I should know, I've been fighting along side him for a much longer time than you.

Jamie: Heh looks like he's almost done back there.

the smoke from the battle clears and Fueron stands hurt very badly

Fueron: This isn't over between you and me, not by a longshot. You too have someone stronger than you... just you wait! HAHAHAHAHA! teleports

Bob: Sore loser wipes a small drop of blood dripping down his face with his right hand

Jamie: Well now what?

Bob: Down. Jumps on the elevator to the archives and is followed by Jamie

****

After a long walk to the main room of the archive, Bob and Jamie stand before a seemingly ultra-advanced computer.

Bob: Hmmm, activate. Voice-code Valiance 002-1 prince-alpha.

The entire room lights up and holographic projections

Jamie:....

Bob: Oracle, list temporal events of data inscribed in this data disk Bob pulls out a cd from his trenchcoat and a metallic eye scans it

Oracle: Data shows that a great power from the nether-regions of the void shall make his return in the near future. His powers prove to be a great threat and will overwhelm the forces of light.

Bob: Display picture of threat if available.

A large holographic picture displaying Eternion appears

Bob:.... ha, hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Bob starts rolling on the floor
Oh that's friggin classic, the wannabe demi-god, hahahahahahaah oh mercy, no really who's the real threat?

Jamie: sweatdrop

Oracle: That is the real threat.

Bob: Wha? his face now turning to a very serious expression

Jamie: Computer display a log of possible future events. 2 metallic eyes scan Jamie as soon as she says this

Oracle: DNA match confirmed, executing command.

1809 e.c. Daryl is the first to face Eternion in battle, and also the first to die...
A projection of Daryl and her bardic forces getting blasted is displayed

Bob: No way...

1811 e.c. Valen and Liquid X join forces in an attempt to defeat Eternion, while Valen is terminated, X almost does the job, seriously wounding Eternion, however still not powerful enough to defeat him X falls as well...

A projection showing X falling down to the ground then getting blasted by Void thunder appears

1812 e.c. - Eidolon, Excal and SYE appear on the scene. However they too are over come and eventually fall with Eidolon seemingly the strongest of them holding his own, but not before they manage to cut his power source down...

A projection with SYE pressing a button right before getting cut down by a blast from Eternion, followed by Excal getting a direct hit only to be blasted away quickly proceeded by Eidolon getting into a one-on-one duel, but is run through by Eternion's blade

1813 e.c. Enter Krono, the revived Reako, and yourself, your Highness.
What appears as the last hope of the multi-verse, you all manage to lure Eternion into the end of time, however, during the battle Reako is sent spiraling into an abyss in time, while yourself and Krono manage to hold off Eternion...

Bob: Hmm I appear to be in fusion mode...but I always use Natalia's form for the speed boost... unless, he's actually gotten a whole mess stronger than...

Oracle: Eternion is matched blow for blow by Krono, but in a last ditch effort, Eternion sends Krono deep into the heart of the VOID itself...

A projection of Krono being tossed into the void appears

Bob: No...

Oracle: You, your majesty are the last hope. While you appear to defeat Eternion in battle, he has the last laugh. In his dying breath, he single-handedly triggers a chain-reaction which causes time itself to be sucked into the void, slowly moving backwards in history. And that is how this ends.


Bob: Unbelievable... a time paradox in action.

Jamie: It appears he's much stronger than you gave him credit for. One question, how did you get this data-disk?

Bob: Oh I didn't tell you? It hit me when I was meditating in my patio.

Jamie: Who sent it back?

Bob: Who cares? Knowledge is power and I intend to use it.

Jamie: Then let's go dad.

Bob: Umm can we go and check my old room? There's something I've been wanting to do ever since my sister caused this mess here...

Jamie: I guess it couldn't hurt... then we go and get ready.

Bob: Heh, my old weapons of mass destruction >:-)

With that disturbing thought, the duo walks out of the room



***

Ouch


to be continued um I guess.


Trust me I'm going somewhere with this.


Todays quotes:

Had enough? Then beat it fool!
and
Die Rebel!!
and
Repeat this after me: I'll never take on a God again.

Daryl blinked. There WAS something coming that way.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!!

"What . . . what IS that!?" Eriol's voice was shaky.

"MWa ha ha!!" a huge, fat, dinosaurish criiter jiggled as it laughed. "It looks like I have found you interlopers!! I am Tubba Blubba! AND NOW YOU WILL DIE!!"

Daryl blanched.

"WAHH!! I want my daddy!!" Daryl cringed and grabbed Excal, sobbing.

"Huh?" Excal blinked. "Why doesn't she want her mom?"

"You never met Chocolate Song." Valen rolled his eyes. "Orpheus was the sane one."

"What are we gonna do!?" Mintaka bit his lip.

Valen and Killer posed menacingly. "We're gonna FIGHT, that's what! ENGUARDE, you pile of FILTH!!"

--Darylohki, who thinks she made Tubba Blubba a little TOO articulate. ^_^;;

Karn: Oh my. Another one of Reako's Minions. Heh pays off bringing along this from my previous host. pulls out an arm blaster Now I wonder if Daryl and her little friends will need any help...

Karn's hand then disappeared, in which he installed the Arm blaster, which soon lighted up with magical energy.

Karn: Now to wait.

Karn then eyed around the corner, intent on watching Daryl whipping/get whooped by Tubba Flubba.

Excal: Much as I'd like to agree with Valen here. I'm curious, what happened to Erim?

Tubba Blubba: She's elsehwere. I, the invincible Tubba Blubba am here to destroy you.

Valen: Hah! Nothing can stand up to a demi-god! Killer, sic 'em!

*Killer runs up to Tubba Blubba and although he doesn't chip his teeth on the creature's armour, he isn't even able to scratch it either. Then Tubba Blubba swings at Killer. Killer dodges.*

Valen: What the? I guess I gotta do it myself!

Excal: Gee, you certainly sound dissapointed.

Eriol: Uh, why did he say that when Valen looks really happy, Big Sis Daryl?

Mintaka: Wait, that's sarcasm, isn't it?

Excal: Yes (Starts wondering why he didn't assume everywould catch it's sarcasm.)

*Everyone watchs as Valen uses the Gauntlets of Destruction. Unfortunatly, he does just as much damage as Killer.*

Eriol: Errr, that all failed. Now what?

Excal: Simple. I'll use my magic. Scan!

*Tubba Blubba: HP; 50, Att: 6, Def; 4.*

Excal: Dang Zelda rules. We can't hurt him with any weapon. And my magic isn't strong enough to hurt him yet. But maybe if I had my crystal... hint hint.

Excal, who pities the person who had the gall to impersonate Daryl.

Daryl realized she was still holding on to Excal in a rather undignified fashion. She let go of him quickly and assumed a thinking position.

"Well, are you gonna be my page and stuff? How bad do you WANT this crystal?" Daryl smiled hopefully.

--Darylohki, who couldn't resist ^_^ Don't get mad.

*X Looked Around, Having Strengthened The Idea Into A Full Blown One* Allright.... Now... Time To Start Acting Instead Of Reacting.... *X Left The Realm, But Before He Did, He Placed An Idea Far Out Of Reach Of Prying Eyes, Even Eidolons.... A Little Insurance In Case He Needed It.... And With That, He Vanished*

-------------------------------------------------------
*Tubba Reared Back, Preparing To Strike At The Chibified Daryl And Excal, When A Figure Suddendly Appeared In Front Of Him* <Tubba> What... Who Are You? The Figure Looked Around Great... A Bunch of Children, Some Pets, And Some Fat Couch Potato.... Tubba Grew Angry <Tubba> Why YOU...! *Tubba Swung A Large Fist At Him. The Figure Held Up His Hand, Catching The Fist As Tubba's Eyes Went Wide* Word Of Advice, Fatboy... Im NOT In A Good Mood... Now... SUCK IT! *The Figure Slammed His Fist Into, And Through Tubba's Large Gut.* And To Finish It.... CHAOS COMBO!
*The Figure Pulled His Fist Free, And Unleashed A Rapid Fire Series Of Punches And Kicks On The Previously Thought To Be Invincible Tubba. With A Kick, Tubba Was Sent Flying Into The Air* CHAOS BEAM! *The Figure Unleashed A Dark Blast Of Energy At The Airborne Tubba.* <Tubba> No! This Cant BE! Its... AGAINST THE RULES! *As The Beam Encased Tubba, The Figure Spat On The Ground* Not Everyone Plays By The Rules Anymore, Fatboy.... *The Figured Turned To Face The Chibified Gang, Revealing It To Be Liquid-X* Word Of Advice Kids, Get The Hell Out Of Here. All Hells About To Break Loose. *With That, X Began To Walk Off, As The Charred, Bruised, and Bloody Form of Tubba Hit The Ground*

Chibi Daryl fluttered up on her child-sized wings, blocking X's path.

"YOU ARE NOT IGNORING me like that, X! We still have business to discuss!!"

Daryl's face turned red as she yelled angrily.

"I'm getting SICK AND TIRED of the angst, X! You seem to think it's all COOL and shit to bear your problems on your own, but it's NOT! We may be rivals, but if you're in trouble you should just ASK! I owe you big from the war with Valen, and it's EATING Me up not being able to help you!"

Tears began to spill angrily down the chibi demi-goddess's cheeks.

"I may be chibi but I'm not A WEAKLING!!"

--Darylohki

Karn: Welp, looks like they didn't need my help, guess i'll be gone doing other things....

Karn then put away his arm blaster, which the hand suddenly reappeared, and started drilled his way to the next destination where Excal's Sword is at, the Ruins located in the Lost Desert.

X Stopped .....Daryl.... *He Closed His Eyes, A Pained Expression On His Face* Just... Stay Out Of This, Daryl.... I... Dont Want To See You Get Hurt. Theres Alot Going On Here You Dont Understand... *And With That, X Walked Past Her, And Kept Walking.*

Already regenerated, Tubba Blubba stood on his feet, stamping angrily.

TB: FOOL! I am INVINCIBLE!! You can harm this "shell" as much as you'd like, but that won't stop me until the heart of my power is destroyed, and you dunno where it is!! HA HA HA!

Tubba Blubba Slammed his 3 tons of power with a mighty ground pound.

TB: QUAKE!

-Reako, who liked Link to the Past's Quake medallion.

X Spat And Faced Tubba You Mean THIS, Lardboy? *X Shot The Ground, And Dirt Exploded Everywhere. As The Dust Cleared, A Large Glowing Object Was Reavealed* I Was GONNA Let You Live, But Now... *A Beam Of Energy Arched Forth, Lancing Through Tubba's "Heart" Destroying It* Game Over, Fatboy.

TB: BWAHAHA! THEY DON'T CALL ME THE INVINCIBLE TUBBA BLUBBA FOR NOTHING! MY WEAKNESS IS AT THE RUINS, SILLY! AND CLOSELY GUARDED BY MY "PET" WARMECH AT THAT!!

Tubba Blubba looked at the huge hole in him.

TB: I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS... DUDE, THAT STUNG.. WELL, SEEING AS MR. ALMIGHTY GOD-LIKE PERSON IS HANGING AROUND YOU GUYS... TIME FOR AN OLD TACTIC I LEARNED FROM BOB AND GEORGE COMICS! ...WHOA...WHAT'S THAT OVER THERE?!? NO WAY!!!

X: .....?

TB: ZOINK! runs off rather fast for such a fat creature

X: ...*Looking At Camera-Like Motion* Damn It.

Two very angry spirits-- one of fire, one of water.

Eriol and Mintaka had grown considerably. They now resembled full grown adults, and their eyes had completely vanished into a glow of red and blue, respectively.

"You made Big Sister Daryl Cry." Mintaka rumbled from deep within his massive chest.

"You've hurt her feelings." Eriol added. These statements sounded trite, and may have made the onlooker laugh, had it not been coming from these Titans of the elements.

"THE LEAST YOU OWE HER IS AN EXPLAINATION!!" What was to Mintaka a slightly raised voice was a full blown blast of sound to the rest of the group.

Even Daryl was startled by her chibi-bishonens's transformations. They had just been cute little kids, loveable and cuddly, and she had rescued THEM. Now . . . they were . . . defending her?

"I'd say the same." Valen said levelly. "I have to wonder just how ANYTHING you're involved with could hurt that Bardic wonder."

Everyone waited, and Eriol's and Mintaka's eyes glowed ominously.

--Darylohki, who will brook no argument!

Krono awoke. He sensed the ripples in reality and immediatly began to study what was happening. He soon decided what he needed to do. In what was days to him but mere minutes to him he was ready to leave.

Krono
"Sanity is relative."

He sensed the disturbance in Time, the great Time master had awoken. His mind then projected a ripple in Time that displayed a message, which would be picked up by Krono in Due time.

"Much has change since you slept. Did you have pleasent dreams?"

X Looked At The Two Titans ......I Suggest You Two Kids Get The Hell Out Of My Way. *X Started To Walk Again, As Mintaka And Eriol Blocked His Way* ....Grrr..... *X Fist Began To Glow For A Moment, Before The Energy Dissapated* Damnit... You Two Are Lucky Im Not Gonna Hurt The Innocent...... Fine.... If You All Really Hafta Know... Its Infinija.... With Reako In His Possesion, He Has Enough Power To Destroy The Lot Of You.... And I Dont Want That To Happen Because.... I.... *X Hung His Head And Sighed*I.... I.... Love Daryl, Dammit.... Now Get The Hell Out Of My Way And Leave Me Alone....

If this had been an anime, a breeze would have ruffled through Daryl's hair, a big look of surprise on her face.

Child-like as she was, her eyes betrayed her adult mind.

Eriol and Mintaka's glow faded, and both fell to the ground in a heap, completely unconscious. Excal and Valen ran up to check on them, but Daryl was too stunned.

--What . . . what . . . what . . .?-- her mind repeated like a mantra.

"You . . . you . . ." she couldn't bring herself to repeat it. A sudden feeling welled up inside her, drowning out all other stimuli.

And as she paused, X was walking away . . .

--I . . . I . . . I . . . waitaminuteDarylwhatthehellareyoudoinghesaidhelovesyouandhe'sleaving!!!!--

"X wait!! Please wait!!" Daryl took off running after him. "I . . . I can't let it end like this!!"

--Darylohki

SYE: "So, you say three moons ago a great pillar of fire appeared at the old Temple of the Sun?"

Sharif Abdullah: "Yes, Wanderer. I thought Allhyah himself had returned! We approached the Temple, but strange devils formed from the sand and pulled Nasser from his ride. We fought with all our skill, and managed to escape."

SYE: "That's where I need to go then. Anything else I should know about?"

Sharif Abdullah: "Yes. You are a fool. And you owe me 500 rupiya."

SYE mutters and passes Abdullah the money

Sharif Abdullah: "Ah, one more thing, friend Eighth."

SYE: arches eyebrow in inquiry

Sharif Abdullah: "Although my men are in no condition to help, seek out my cousin, Faysal. He is always looking for a challenge."

*SYE nodded, and rode off for the Temple of the Sun.*

*X Just Tried To Keep Walking.... He Didnt Want Her Involved.... Especially Because Of The Risk That Was Posed Just Being Around Him.... His Powers Were Still Unstable.... And Yet.... He Stopped Walking*

Something she never quite dared to do before . . .

She looped her arms around X's shoulders, her chibi arms hardly able to contain their breadth, and gave him a hug.

"X, I can't just let you go. I know you're concerned and that something awful's happening. Your aura is shifting colors so fast I can barely read it. But if I just stand by and let you walk off to face this on your own, I'm just a coward and don't deserve your love. Please take me seriously-- I didn't ask to be turned chibi and I'm worried you won't believe the words of a child. But if there's one thing that Dragon Ball Z taught me, it's that avoiding teamwork just adds to death on both sides. How many deaths could have been avoided if the whole group of them had just KILLED the damn thing without waiting for the almighty god-like Goku?"

Everyone acknowledged the truth of this statement. [Or they should.]

"Look, I don't care if you think I'm a Krillin to your Goku, I'm not as weak as I seem. And if things get really bad, you can bet I'll retreat and live to fight another day. But I just can't stand the thought of you going out there and dying alone without me being able to do anything about it."

--Darylohki

X Sighed And Shook His Head Sometimes I Dont Know Why I Even Bother Trying To Argue..... Allright, Lets Go.

with such happiness that everyone was startled.

"X-sama, I promise you won't regret this!" she smiled happily. "Guys, let's get out there and kick some butt! Being chibi after your first real declaration of love REALLY SUCKS!!"

Her joy was reflected in the extra bright aura eminating from her Tiara of Light, and even Bubbles looked elated.

"So, where to? Do you have any good ideas, X? Is there any particular place we should start?"

--Darylohki, WAI WAI BANZAI she's happy!

with a sour expression.

--Oh, so NOW since she's found another "-sama!" to adore, I get stuck taking care of her brats. This isn't fair . . .--

He sighed, and just then Eriol and Mintaka awoke.

:What happened?: Mintaka rubbed his head.

:Everything went dark . . .: Eriol added.

:You don't remember?: Valen blinked. :You guys reached an astronomical power level and were gonna take on X!:

:I don't remember a thing.: Mintaka looked concerned.

:Well, don't worry too much.: Excal shrugged. :You probably have some secret powers you don't know about. Just about everyone in this adventure does.:

Mintaka and Eriol looked at each other, then to Daryl who was ecstatically huggling Liquid X. A shadow crossed both faces, and twin fists clenched involuntarily.

Valen hated to admit it, but he knew just how they felt.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

[A poem by Agha Shahid Ali, edited for the sake of the story.]

"At a certain point I lost track of you.

(They make a desolation and call it peace.)

When you left even the stones were buried:

The defenseless would have no weapons.


When the ibex rubs itself against the rocks, who collects
its fallen fleece from the slopes?

O Weaver whose seams perfectly vanished, who weighs the
hairs on the jeweler's balance?

(They make a desolation and call it peace.)

Who is the guardian tonight of the Gates of Paradise?

My memory is again in the way of your history.

Army convoys all night like desert caravans:

In the smoking oil of dimmed lamps, time dissolved — all winter — its crushed fennel.

(We can't ask them: Are you done with the world?)

In the lake the arms of temples and palaces are locked
in each other's reflections.

Have you soaked saffron to pour on them when they are
found like this centuries later in this country
I have stitched to your shadow?

In this country we step out with doors in our arms.

Children run out with windows in their arms.

You drag it behind you in lit corridors.

If the switch is pulled you will be torn from everything.

At a certain point I lost track of you.

You needed me. You needed to perfect me:

In your absence you polished me into the Enemy.

Your history gets in the way of my memory.

I am everything you lost. You can't forgive me.

I am everything you lost. Your perfect enemy.

Your memory gets in the way of my memory:

I am being rowed through Paradise on a river of Hell:
Exquisite ghost, it is night.

The paddle is a heart; it breaks the porcelain waves:

It is still night. The paddle is a lotus:

I am rowed — as it withers — toward the breeze which is soft as if it had pity on me.

If only somehow you could have been mine, what wouldn't
have happened in this world?

I'm everything you lost. You won't forgive me.

My memory keeps getting in the way of your history.

There is nothing to forgive. You won't forgive me.

I hid my pain even from myself; I revealed my pain only to myself.

There is everything to forgive. You can't forgive me.

If only somehow you could have been mine,
what would not have been possible in the world?"

. . . . . ..
. . . . . ..
Indeed.

*X Thought For A Moment, Then Noticed Excal* So Far I Can See Two Goals Here. One, Excal Needs To Get Back To Full Strength. Were Gonna Need All The Fighting Power We Can Get Here. Second, Lardboy Was Dumb Enough To Clue Us In On The Location Of His Weakness. And Knowing Who Were Up Against, I Have Good Money That Says He Was Stupid Enough To Also Have More Of Excals Powers There. So, Im Gonna Head To The Ruins, At Least To Teach Fatboy A Lesson. X Got Ready To Head To The Ruins So Who's Comin With Me?

Excal: X, you can count on my support in the ruins. I think you summed up my reasons for heading there as well as I could. The next bit of my strength is there, so I must go.

Daryl: Hey, wait. You still haven't answered my question. How much does this crystal mean to you?

Excal: The better question is, how much does my getting it mean to you. Remember, from what I discovered from the first one, we know that Reako is basing his security on the belief that his forces will be able to stop a ten year old kid. Now that I've teamed up with you guys and X here. I don't need my strength to get my strongest powers back. However, without the seal being broken I doubt even X here could break into Reako's place. I mean, Reako was strong before he came here. And from what I can tell, he's stronger here by a lot. But if you don't wanna give it to me, then feel free not to. I have the song of time and can wait as long as you can.

*Excal thinks for a bit about how long it'll be until he can post again. Thinks about how many more posts are likely to have shown up here in that time. And then tries to think of some dialogue for the other characters. Failing to think of some extra lines, and figuring there will be far too many posts here, he decides to get one last thing off his chest.*

Excal: Oh yeah, X.

Liquid-X: Yeah.

Excal: I know we haven't met on speaking terms before. But, this is just to let you know. If what I heard is true, and you're like Eidolon. Then if you ever get taken over by whatever has Reako. I won't hold back.

Excal, who knows very well that at this moment his powers are nothing compared to Liquid-X's.

Daryl stuck her lip out in a pout.

"How dare you use logic on me!?" she said sulkily. "I was GONNA give it to you anyway."

She handed over the crystal, VERY disappointed that she was not getting a new page out of the deal.

"But you OWE me at LEAST one iced coffee for getting it away from that KARN guy." she added. "Think of WHERE it could be now!"

"Uh . . ." Excal blinked. "Just where WERE you keeping this thing? It's rather . . . warm . . ."

"Are you some kind of LOLITA-COMPLEX HENTAI!?!?!" she growled. "I just put it in my pocket!"

Excal wisely decided not to respond.

"Well, I'm coming too. Reako-san and Link-san helped me in the Bardic wars, so I'm gonna help them in whatever needs to be done." Daryl decided.

"Me too!" Mintaka put up a hand. "I follow Big Sister Daryl!"

"Me three!" Eriol raised a flipper.

All eyes turned to Valen.

--Darylohki, who WAITS.

Bob is in a very regal bedroom and he's seen kneeling down knocking twice on the side of a very extravagant-looking bed.

Bob: Come on it's gotta be in here... A small drawer pops out of the bed. It has a metal box in it

As soon as Bob picks up the box, Jamie walks into the room

Jamie: What is it?

Bob: Something I was intending on giving my heir...Bob opens the box to reveal a necklace with a red cat symbol

Jamie: What's it do?

Bob: In time Puts it around her neck you'll find out. I've already put some of the weapons from the armory on the ship. There's something else I should show you...

***

Jamie: This kinda looks like the hyperbolic time chamber you have at home.

Bob: Yes but instead of holding 2 people it only holds one and it can hold them for 5 days without them aging, so I can get 5 years of training instead of 1.

Jamie: Wait if you're going in for 5 days then...

Bob: Exactly, I need you in my place and in Eternima.

Jamie: A..are you sure?

Bob:smiles very.

Jamie: What should I do?

Bob starts to open the chamber

Bob: Make sure that the 2 I have listed in your computer are your top priority when protecting the others. Either might be able to stop the portal to the Void from spreading.

Jamie: You sound like you have a plan.

Bob: Yeah if it comes down to it I'll defeat Eternion in his own realm! with that Bob jumps into the chamber and the door closes behind him Till later!

Jamie starts to walk out of the castle and stops only when she is at the bottom of the outside stairway

Jamie: ....Ok dad I hope I can live up to your faith... Jamie gets into the ship that they came to the planet on

****
Bob: Simulation mode: demigod sigma code Bob-191220alpha. Let's get started. grins Just like old times...

***


Things are gonna get interesting >:-)

And by interesting I mean ugly...

Todays quotes:

Had enough? Then beat it fool!
and
Die Rebel!!
and
Repeat this after me: I'll never take on a God again.

:Oh, and what's THAT look supposed to mean?: Valen crossed his arms in front of him.

:Well, are you coming or not?: Daryl tapped a foot impatiently.

:Well, it hardly seems you need ME!: Valen snapped. :You've got your elementals, your 'X-sama', and your newest page. I'm just excess baggage.:

:Hmmm . . . I guess you're right.: Daryl turned on her heel and everyone began to walk off.

:HEY!! I WASN'T FINISHED YET!!!: Valen shrieked, running ahead and blocking her path. :YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO AGREE WITH MY ALLEGATIONS!!!!:

:So you WANT to come with us?: Daryl cocked her head to one side.

:Uh . . .: Chibi-Valen balked. :I . . . uh . . . yeah . . .:

:Good! Welcome to the club, Valen-chan!: Daryl grinned, and deep in her eyes Valen realized his mistake.

He had fallen RIGHT into her trap . . . AGAIN. She had used his own anger, frustration, and feelings of doubt against him . . . AGAIN!!!!

--DAMN that BARDIC BITCH!!-- his mind snarled, but in reality he grumpily climbed aboard Killer, who trotted behind the group obediently.

--I have to warn X.-- Valen chewed his thumb reflectively. --He has to know just WHAT kind of woman he's fallen for.--

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

Karn had just finished digging to the Ruins....

Karn: Whew, 2 hours non-stop can get tiring.

Karn then pulled out his arm cannon and installed it.

Karn: charges cannon up Alright, Let's kick some arse.

He fired 2 blasts from it and the ancient wall crumbled. Karn climbed out of his new hole in the wall of the Ruins and peered around.

Karn: Nobody here.

Karn then started sneaking to corners, and exploring the Ruins, Thief Style.

As eager as the little party was to get moving, night was falling, and all but ONE of the team members were small children. X agreed to stop for the night.

They drew straws and Eriol and Daryl pulled the short ones, so they were sent off to collect firewood while Excal and Mintaka hunted for food. X and Valen were left to tend the little fire they had started with immeadiate wood.

Daryl and Eriol weren't working too hard-- wood was plentiful in the field. They had left the beach far behind on their journey to the ruins, managing with some tricky negociating to get everyone there in spite of the wall (read: X blew the ever-living crap out of it).

"*YAWN!!* Gee I'm tired. I wonder if chibification ALWAYS does this to a person." Daryl mused.

"I wouldn't know." Eriol shrugged.

"Yes you would, silly." Daryl protested. "You grew about 4 times bigger than you are just a few hours ago."

"I don't remember it, so again, I wouldn't know." Eriol was getting a wee bit cranky, and the fact that everyone else knew about his powers but him irked the young Zora.

"Awww, Eriol-kun, don't get ruffled." Daryl said levelly. "Wow! a NICE piece of firewood!" she reached over to get it, only to discover . . .

--Darylohki ((OOOh, the suspense is KILLING me!))

Only the campfire between them. As soon as he judged that Daryl was a safe distance away, he pulled out some cigarette papers from his boot and rolled himself a homemade cigarette. He ignored X's raised eyebrow, lit it and took a good drag.

:I'm not usually a smoker, but sometimes events warrent a good cancerous habit.: he said simply.

X did not reply, so Valen began his soliloquoy.

:You probably think yourself lucky, having won her. Well, buddy, you don't know what you're dealing with. I wouldn't get your hopes up, and that's advice from someone who's been there before.

You think she's fallen at last? Done wandering for good? Ha! Not a chance. The girl's nutty for bishonen. One week it's Setzer-sama, then it's Chichiri-sama, then it's Ageha-sama, then it's Karsh-sama . . . and up until this afternoon, it was Link-sama. You're not anything special-- you're just X-sama. Next week, who knows? Maybe it'll be Reako-sama or Excal-sama. With the obsessions she has, it could be any decent-looking guy. But hey, that's how it goes.

I had the best chance of all of them. Heck, I worked my way up from ignored to chief page. She had all the iced coffee she could drink (which I think stunted her growth some-- she's short for a demi-goddess). She never really had to lift a finger or anything. Her life was too sweet for its own good. Then, I tried the logical next step, and she rejected me completely. She said I was moving too fast-- ME! of all people! The one that fetched and carried and obeyed most of her commands at the snap of a finger!

Then our parents got together, and decided on the forced marriage. I was actually happy about that-- I thought she'd give up and go along with it. Boy was I an idiot. She rebelled more than ever, and the hatred drove me over the edge. I was MORE than ready to kill her. You saw that during the war.

But . . . here I am. A Chibi, and in her service again. Tch, let this be a warning. X, you'll just end up like me, washed up and a living joke. Forced to wear bunny ears and watch a fire with Daryl's new '-sama!':

Bitterly Valen glanced over at X.

:I warn you-- the woman is trouble. Take my word for it and get rid of her as soon as possible.:

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters
[runs away before Daryl kills him-- oooooh, I SMEARED her precious character! OOOOH!]

*X Tossed A Peice Of Wood Into The Fire, Listening To Valen As He Spoke. X Sat There For A Few Minutes, Staring Into The Fire In Silence As Valen Finished. Finally, He Spoke* I Dont Care, Valen..... Its Probably Best If She Were To Find Someone Else Anyways.... All I Know Is Though... Is That I Love Her. No Matter What She Thinks Of Me. *X Went Quiet, And Just Continued To Stare Into The Fire*

-------------------------------------------------------
*Meanwhile, Daryl And Eriol Had Found Something Of Interest. As Daryl Had Bent Down To Pick Up The Firewood, She Had Noticed Something In The Distance. As She And Eriol Went To Check, They Found A Huge Crater In The Ground.... And A Room That Was Part Of Some Catacombs. It Looked Like Something Had Destroyed A Majority Of It....* <Eriol> What Happened Here...? <Daryl> I Dont... Hrm? Whats That? *Daryl Climbed Down Into The Room.... What Looked Like Destroyed Restraints Were On The Floor.... And... A Pendant. Daryl Picked It Up And Examined It... A Name Was Scratched Onto The Back. It Belonged To.... Liquid-X* <Daryl> NANI!?!?! X Was Here....?

With Trembling fingers, Daryl examined the pendant. She could FEEL the waves coming from it. It was hard to place-- old emotions, new fears . . . It was like all of them had been absorbed into the very material of it.

"What IS it?" Eriol could feel reverberations but nothing specific.

"What could have happened here?" Daryl pondered. Worry creased her brow. Then, she withdrew THE BAG! (Tm) from within her robes and put the pendant inside. "Eriol-kun-- perhaps its best if we don't mention this for the moment."

"Huh? What do you mean, Big-Sister Daryl?"

"I don't know. But . . . I don't want MY curiousity to be some catalyst for X leaving again. I'll ask him later, after this fight is over and I can really get him to talk. Promise you won't say anything, Eriol-kun?"

Reluctantly, Eriol nodded.

"Alright. But . . . I don't know if I like this X person."

"Huh?" Daryl raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I don't know-- he feels . . . so . . . uh . . ."

"Chaotic?" Daryl offered.

"Yeah! Like he could explode at any moment." Eriol looked worried.

"Look, Eriol, I know X would NEVER do anything deliberately to hurt ANY of us. He's . . . he's a really great guy, with a past that he probably can't help. Shit happens, and I'm sure when I can get him to talk I'll find out that A LOT happened to him."

"What's all this 'when I can get him to talk' business?" Eriol blinked. "You never hesitated to make anyone do anything before."

Daryl giggled a little at this. "He's so young yet so . . . so honest!"

Eriol sweatdropped.

"Look, what am I now?" Daryl asked, now serious.

"The Incarnation of the Bardic Spirit." Eriol answered like a schoolboy.

Daryl reveled in her title, then spoke: "Correction, I'm the CHIBI Incarnation of the Bardic Spririt. I don't want to get too close to X like this-- I mean, I think he'd get uncomfortable and people would think he had a Lolita complex! Eewww."

Eriol was about to comment on her Shouta complex, but wisely said nothing.

"And I still don't think people are taking me seriously as a kid. Geez, Valen thinks I didn't smell that cigarette smoke a MILE away! People think too lowly of kids, which is why I try to treat them well whenever I can. But THAT part of my life is over-- I want to enjoy the pleasures of womanhood."

"Eh!?" Eriol sweatdropped.

"WHERE IS YOUR MIND!?" Daryl squawked, turning red. "I Mean-- Well, being a kid is fun, but being a full-powered uncursed Demi-goddess is FUNNER!"

"Is that a real word?"

"I said it, didn't I?" Daryl's eyes narrowed.

"HAI HAI!" Eriol was quick to quench her wrath.

"Very well. Then, it's settled. Look, don't piss off X-- treat him nice. And if something wierd happens, promise me you'll grab Mintaka and Excal and Valen and get the hell out of the area. Ne?"

"Define Wierd." Eriol folded his arms in front of him.

"Smart kid." Daryl grinned, and launched into an explaination.

But at the back of her mind, worry still gnawed away with its ever-sharp jaws.

--Darylohki, the brave! Darylohki, the PURE! Darylohki, the Not appearing in that Movie!

by X's forthrightness.

:Geez, you don't waste any words do you?: he took another drag from his cigarette and then ground it out on a rock. :I hate to say it, but I think you stand a chance with her. However . . .: Here his face grew dark. :I will only warn you once. Do NOT hurt her. If you pull any of this running-off-and-getting-yourself-killed crap . . . you don't know how she reacts to things like that. When she watched the end of Fushigi Yuugi, she literally ran over to Yuu Watase's house, beat her up, and made her draw a new set of manga where no one died. Imagine what she'll do if a REAL person bites it. She'll dig through the most arcane magics, the worst trials, EVERYTHING to bring that person back. And let me warn you, being brought back from the dead-- and I mean REAL death, not Swooning-- is NOT fun. It's really bad, and hardly anyone has actually come back totally complete. But she'll do it, and risk her life numerous times to do so. I'm sure you don't want to put her through that.:

Valen closed his eyes, bracing himself for the next few words.

:Plus, I won't be able to let that lie. Even if you make it back, I'll just kill you again. Because I don't want ANYTHING traumatic happening to Daryl that I don't personally do. I trust myself with her pain-- I'm the master of Dischord, remember? Now, I'll not lie-- I'm scared shitless at the thought of what she'd do to me after I fought you, and also at the thought of facing you. We're talking a 40 days and 40 nights battle here, which I cannot foresee me surviving. And that's AFTER fighting you to the death with you, no small feat in itself. I'm just warning you-- I have to do what my disposition calls for.:

Valen looked at him piercingly. :So DON'T make me have to go through all that hell just because you decided to play "angsty hero who will conquor all danger on his own.":

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

X Stared Into The Fire As He Tossed Another Peice Of Wood In Valen.... I Know Exactly What Im Getting Into. I Also Know How Daryl Can Be. And Im Sure You Know This As Well As I Do, She Doesent Fully Realize The Danger Were All About To Head Off Into. She's Way To Optimistic, Always Believing Everything Has A Happy Outcome..... And Its Her Biggest Weakness. Some Of Us May Not Survive This, Valen, And I Know You Realize This. But I Dont Think She Does. But If The Shit Hits The Fan, Valen.... I Expect You To Get Her Out Of There. *Stands, And Starts To Walk Away, His Voice Trailing* And If It It Looks Like I Lose Controll, Valen.... I Expect You And Excal To Kill Me.... *And With That, X Vanishes Into The Night Of The Forest*

Karn: It's almost too quiet.

Karn peered around the next corner, and he saw a massive grand hall with an ancient chandalier hanging from the ceiling. A bright red sphere sat on a throne one floor up. And he saw Tubba Blubba patrolling around the Grand Hall, bored out of his mind waiting for Daryl's party to come.

Karn: Now this brings me to the question if I should take my chances at destroying the sphere or wait for Daryl's crowd to come along.

*X Travelled Into The Forest, Needing A Little Time To Himself. As He Walked, He Found A Small Cliff Overlooking A Stream. He Sat Down At The Edge, And Starting Tossing Rocks In, Watching As The Water Rippled. He Did This For A Few Minutes, Before Lying Down On His Back And Just Staring Up At The Moonlight Sky* ........Damn..... *X Lay There For What Seemed Like Hours, Going Over Things In His Mind..... Before Finally Speaking* .....Just How Long Do You Plan To Stand There Watching Me? *X Didnt Bother Getting Up, But Waited For The Reply....*

Little cat ears appeared on Daryl's head and she flushed with embarrassment.

"Myyaaa . . ." she let out. "You ARE good. Either that or I'm REALLY bad . . ." she shrugged.

Giving up on stealth, she went up and sat down next to X, the cat ears (suddenly inappropriate) disappearing.

"When me and Eriol got back to camp, Valen told me you had wandered off, and I was worried you'd left again. Well, sorry for just standing there but . . . hmm, how can I explain this?"

She thought steadily for a moment, gathering the choicest words from her vocabulary, quite a task now that she was a chibi-demi-goddess and not a full fledged one.

"Ok, let's put it this way. I'm the Incarnation of the Bardic Spirit. I'm drawn to Melody and Harmony, be it audible or visible. I like things that are aesthetically pleasing. Still with me?"

X nodded.

"Well,when I came through the trees, and saw you lying there, it was like . . . like looking at a piece of fine art. The shadows laying parallel to you, the moonlight shining softly off your hair, the contrast of your sharp form against the fuzzier grass-- it was nothing short of . . . artistic. I was completely awed and moved by the scene, and to break into it, even with something as melodic as the bardic voice, would have been utterly against my nature. I WAS about to speak up-- I do have manners-- but I just needed a few more moments to store that picture in my memory."

She drew her knees up to her body and hugged them tightly.

"You don't think that's utterly psycho and wierd, do you?" she said in a curiously subdued tone of voice.

--Darylohki, master of drama!

Valen muttered angrily to himself, at too low of a tone for Eriol (who was resting), Excal (who was cooking) and Mintaka (who was sulking) to properly hear him.

:SUUUURE X.: he growled softly. :Set up me and EXCAL as your caretakers. I don't think the BOTH of us could take you on NOW! Goku might as well tell Krillin and Yamcha to hold him back if he goes Super Saiyan!:

Valen was VERY grouchy. He had said more than he wanted to. If Daryl's weakness was optimism, his was a huge desire to elminate silence. He had to fill it with his voice, or whatever dischord was handy. He couldn't let it stay unbroken, and that man X was TOO SILENT!!

:At least I know he won't say anything to Daryl.: he said. :Well, at least I THINK he won't. DAMMIT!:

Sulkily, Valen stomped over to a bush and began hacking it apart with his sword, snarling and growling enough to make Killer back off with a whimper.

:Hey, lemme help you with that!: Mintaka leapt to his feet and ran over to the bush, and together they decimated it, snarling like wild beasts.

:Gee, what's up with those two?: Eriol blinked.

Mintaka shot a burst of flame at the bush, alighting it.

Excal only shrugged, turning the spit a little more.

The meal was almost ready.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

*X Just Lay Back, Staring Into The Sky As He Spoke* No... It Doesent. Everyone Needs Some Beauty In Their Life... X Sighs Been Awhile Since I Could Just Look At The Moon Like This... And The Night Sky.... One Of The Few Comforting Sights I Had As A Child.... Feh... But The Past Is Dead And Buried.... *X Went Quiet, And Just Stared Into The Sky*

*Excal looked over at where Valen and Mintaka were currently destroying random bushes. Excal pondered briefly about whether or not to join them. But then, the food was almost done. And besides, Valen had probably misjudged how much attention Excal had payed to the cooking. Why else would he have let himself slip up like that and say something aloud?*

Excal: Hmmm, much as I hate to admit this, as of right now Valen is right. The two of us don't stand a chance. And I don't blame him for feeling that way either. Maybe if I ever get all of my powers back I'll be able to hold X off with Valen, but can I get them back? First there's Reako and his minions who are trying to stop me. Then there's this thief guy. He's the one that owrries me though. After all, I know the aim of Reako and why he has those seals. What I don't know is who this thief guy is and WHY he wanted that crystal. And without knowing that, I have to assume he's after the rest of my powers too. So...

Eriol: Huh? Who're you?

Excal: Huh, Leata, is that you?

Leata: Hello again, Excal.

Excal: I can't say the same to meet you. The only reason you'd see me right now is if something bad is happening.

Leata: Well, it's just that a person has been found inside the ruins. And it doesn't seem to be anybody from any of the parties that came from your world.

Excal: Do you know why this person is there?

Leata: Sorry, no.

Excal: I see. Thank you for the information.

Leata: Well, farewell for now then. And good luck on your quest.

Excal: Same to you.

Eriol: Huh, what's going on?

Excal: I think our little friend from the Ocean Shirne is in the ruins. I have to go and beat him to what I need.

Eriol: So you're gonna leave us?

Excal: Well, supper is finished cooking and my whole reason for joining you guys is so that Daryl could help me get around faster. But young like this, she cannot help anymore.

Eriol: Aren't you gonna at least say goodbye?

Excal: Nah. We're gonna meet again. But, (pulls out an iced tea and gives it to Eriol.) give this to Daryl when she gets back from wherever. Mintaka and I got it off a group of Yuppies we accidentaly ran into.

Eriol: Uh, bye...

Excal: Heh, I've always prefered 'til we meet again.

*Excal packs his stuff and over to where Valen and Mintaka are beatin on bushes.*

Excal: You two. Dinner's ready.

Mintaka: Huh? Food! (Runs off)

Valen: Hmmm, why the bag? Are you leaving us?

Excal: Yeah. I'm not much of a help right now. I mean, with your pendants and whatnot and X's natural power I'm useless as I am. And if X ever turns...

Valen: Yeah, I know...

Excal: So, I'm going off to try and get my powers back faster. Besides, I heard that thief guy has been poking around the ruins. So, I've got to go faster than you guys are moving. And what with the situation that seems to be brewing with X I don't think you guys are about to start moving much faster.

Valen: Yes, but what if he turns while you aren't here? How am I supposed to hold him by myself.

Excal: I think you put it pretty good yourself. I'm just trying to replace Yamcha with Trunks in your little equation. Besides, I know you may hate the idea, but I doubt your parents didn't include in those little pedants of yours the ability to run fast enough to get away from the likes of X. And if you ever run, you know around where I'll be. And if you don't find me, there's still Link, Aosloidion, and Miladi out there. All of them will be able to help you as well.

Valen: Very well then. Farewell, and good luck on your quest.

Excal: Yep. Keep an eye on X for me until I get back.

*And with that Excal cast a haste spell on himself and started running off towards the ruins.*

Excal, off into the sunset.

...Just in time to avoid a barrage of missles.

(OOC: Apologies if my portrayal of WarMech's a little off; I've never fought it before. And I may as well apologize if Link's combat actions are a bit off too; I never played Mask of Majora, either.)

"What's that?" He asked, as he crossed his blades and willed them to sharpen.

"I think I've heard of it...It's a WarMech!" Link said, running to the side and firing several arrows, not able to engage the mech in melee due to it's apparent advantages in size. As would have been expected, the arrows merely bounced off the Mech's metal hide.

Aosloidion grunted in acknowledgement, and charged at the mech with his claws and blades. This attack was largely ineffective as well, and the WarMech simply brushed Aosloidion away with it's bulk.

Then, the mech's main cannon began to glow with nuclear energy...

...and proceeded to where the fighting was, and he saw a Warmech charging up for his Nuke Attack.

Karn: I'll reveal my presence here, but who cares.

Karn then charged up his Arm blaster and fired.

The Blast shocked the Warmech, and it fell over, which lost all it's power as it was knocked down. The Warmech was then trying to get back up.

Karn: Time to go.

Karn then turned the corner and hid behind the wall, waiting for the results.

Daryl was quiet for a time.

"Hey, did I ever tell you how I got my name?" she began. "My father was the one that named me. Daddy was a great bard, the best in all the world. He even decended into the depths of Hades, charming the hellhound Cerebus with his music. The great Orpheus, king of music."

Her eyes misted slightly.

"He told me that while he was in Hades, he met a poor soul, the soul of a woman. She was pining for her lover, a man named Setzer. Her life had ended prematurely, and she was unable to rest peacefully without him, so she became an inhabitant of Hades until the day that he would also pass on. She wept incessantly, but told my father that his music gave her comfort. He asked her if there was anything else he could do for her, but she shook her head and said only to preserve her name somehow. Name a rock, a tree, a kitten-- just preserve her name on earth so that her love might always remember her. Orpheus one-upped her-- he named me Daryl, off of that sweet woman Daryl Gabbiani."

There was a brief silence, but Daryl quickly filled it herself.

"I loved my father so much-- but one day he simply vanished. My mother didn't know where he went, and niether did anyone else. He just . . . disappeared. I had to finish growing up without him. I was lucky at that point-- I had made several friends within that 500 year span he had been with me . . . oh yeah, that was a side effect of being around the gods. Orpheus was granted immortality-- Chocolate Song didn't want the bother of raising me. He wasn't bitter at all about it, but instead taught me in the ways of barddom. I couldn't give it up. So I am now the very incarnation of all my father stood for. I hope I might see him again one day, but . . . " here she paused, struggling for control. She shivered slightly.

"Boy, it's cold out here." She drew her robes up more on her shoulders.

--Darylohki

Mintaka, Eriol, and Valen ate voraciously and silently.

--That brat Daryl doesn't know what she's missing.-- Valen downed several bites one after another. --She's gonna regret going off galavanting with X when she gets back to no food.--

But even as he thought it, he spoke up.

:Don't forget to save some for Daryl and for that X guy.:

Mintaka bristled. :Why do we have to worry about HIM? It's not like he's really part of the group.:

:Yeah. He's just a hanger-on. Who says we need him?: Eriol scowled.

:Aw geez, you two are nuts!: Valen slapped his forehead. :You have a CRUSH on the Bardic Spirit!? Look, no relationship with her will EVER work out! She's . . . she's . . . she's impossible! I'll admit that X is the VERY FIRST I've met that MIGHT be able to pull it off, but, and no offense guys, you aren't even CLOSE!:

Mintaka glared at him. Eriol's normally gentle features were stony.

:Come OFF it already!: Valen groaned. :She's not even in your SPECIES . . .:

Valen was shocked. One moment he was sitting upright on his log, the next he was flat on his back with Mintaka's claws encircling his neck.

:Just WHAT were you SAYING!?!?!??: Mintaka hissed.

Valen began to turn blue, unable to breathe.

:Hey! Hey . . . Hey MINTAKA! Cut it OUT! You're gonna kill him!!: Eriol took a step towards him.

:You think you're better than me, buddy?!: Mintaka's eyes were crazed. :You think you can decide how I act and what I do!?!!?:

Valen's eyes bugged out of his head and he could do nothing but gag.

:I WON'T TAKE THAT FROM YOU!!!! I WON'T TAKE THAT FROM ANYONE!!!!!: Mintaka roared. :I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL FIRST . . .Oomph!!:

A ball of fur and teeth knocked Mintaka flat, and Valen sat up coughing. Mintaka tried to struggle free, but Killer growled warningly. The young dragon-child slumped, and began to cry softly.

:V-valen? Are you al-alright?: Eriol was subdued, a guilty look on his face.

Valen rubbed his neck.

:My powers are REALLY getting low if that was able to happen.: he wheezed, still in shock. :Killer, let him loose.:

Killer looked up questioningly.

:Don't worry, Killer, I think he's gotten the idea. Let him loose.: Valen waved a hand at the hellhound and took his seat by the fire again.

Mintaka curled himself into a ball after Killer trotted obediantly back to Valen's side. He concealed his face within his leathery wings, but it was clear that he was crying more than ever. Eriol looked unclear as to just what he should do, so finally decided to just sit down again.

:Hey, kid.: Valen finally approached Mintaka and knelt next to his prone form, just as he finished his cry.

:Hey kid yourself.: Mintaka said sulkily, his voice muffled by the wings.

Valen smiled a little. :Too true. Look, I'm sorry about what I said. I know what it's like to grow up different. And when you finally find someone that looks past that difference, you want nothing more than to make that person yours. In fact, it was the same person for both of us.:

:She'll hate me now.: Mintaka said softly. :After she finds out . . .:

:Finds out what?: Valen put a hand on the boy's shoulder. :I don't plan to tell her anything, and Eriol over there isn't gonna say anything either. Right, Eriol?:

Eriol nodded emphatically, which was the first thing Mintaka saw as he came out from behind his wings.

:But . . . but why!?: Mintaka looked horribly confused.

:Everyone screws up sometimes.: Valen shrugged. :And I have a pretty mean temper myself. Just don't do it again, ok?: he held out a hand.

Shyly, timidly, Mintaka shook it.

:Good. Come on back here and let's eat some more. I'll show Excal who's Yamcha! Jeez, the NERVE of that guy, thinking I'd be Krillin!!:

Mintaka didn't really know what Valen meant-- only that he now had a friend for life.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters
[And corrupter of Chibi Bishonens everywhere!]

A female figure can be seen standing on a beach at night. Her black hair in a ponytail blowing in the wind, she stands looking at the computer on her left hand...

Jamie: That's a bold plan dad sure has. Complete with a back-up plan b and c.

Jamie turns and starts to walk towards the land, then looks at her computer

Jamie: Well the bardic demi-goddess and her party complete with what appears to be Liquid-X is about 30 miles north. Hmm looks like dad's report was true, I'm not picking up SRGPI... no wait I think... nope nada. Must've been an echo of time or something... SYE is oh does a 360 spin the other way, and Krono is... well this is interesting, he's both her and not here, everywhere and nowhere... damn time mages always screw up the equipment.
Not picking up the Eidolon guy but I seem to be picking up the bug fellow and the kid in green not that far west of here, but I can't track the moogle, how odd.

Jamie stops and looks around her

Jamie: If the recording was right he merged with all the kiddies and still got smited. From what dad says that guy was pretty strong without em... shame.

Jamie jumps up onto a rock

Jamie: Well we've got 7 days till the spoon hits the fan and the universe gets screwed...

Jamie looks up

Jamie: So I bet the gals are worried sick back at home. smiles Better get a move on and find out who that thief fellow REALLY is and what his game plan is flies up...

****

Bob is still in the time chamber, doing you know, kicking serious crap


Bob: Huff huff, heh well looks like you guys might just have me... NOT takes off his trenchcoat come on!

Bob is surrounded by various sillouetes of demi-gods and demons

Bob: My foot your @SS, let's do lunch Jumps into the crowd

****

Jamie hears the familiar sound of an arm-blaster fired from the temple

Jamie: Which one of these things is not like the others...

Jamie scans the area

Jamie: Well that guy dad smote seems to still be trying to find Excal's stuff I see. As to why I don't know nor understand, when it would be more advantageous to look for Krono... gotta get a time crystal to get to the end of time... unless...

Jamie looks around

Jamie: Nah. Hope none of the guys were at the wrong end of that blast... starts to head off into the direction of the temple

Jamie: Where would a simple thief get that kind of technology... unless...


***
to be continued

Don't whizz on the electric fence!
I mean look at what happened to SYE back there... :-p

I wonder why Daryl didn't bite the doppleganger, I would've done it.







Todays quotes:

Had enough? Then beat it fool!
and
Good, Bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
and
Repeat this after me: I'll never take on a God again.

Karn: Must hide this...

Karn then hid the blaster inside his torso and formed a hand out of it. Karn then neared the corner, and he jumped Jamie.

Karn: Now what's a little girl doing here in a middle of a Dangerous ruins where a Warmech is fighting?

In one quick motion Karn ends up lifted off the ground by one hand around his neck and to make matters worse Jamie is also generating electricity from her hand, not enough to hurt the thief but enough to incapacitate him

Karn: Urgh..

Jamie: Only one person can call me "little girl" and not get the holy spoon smited outta them. Now, I've a better question for YOU. Just what in the heck is your interest with Excal's equipment? What failed as a Canuck knight and can't get your own stuff?

Karn: ugh how do you know about him?

Jamie: A not so old man happened to tell me alot
of things. So, why are YOU here?


Jamie still hold Karn in the air with one hand, which is quite a site to see a young woman in her mid-teens do


***

Stalemate, don'tcha think?





Todays quotes:

Had enough? Then beat it fool!
and
Good, Bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
and
Repeat this after me: I'll never take on a God again.

Karn: Underestimation is something i've got to get rid of....anyhow, what would happen if I don't tell you? Is there a big point of me having interest in artifacts that have more point in others than there is? And I am aware first of all of the fact that Daryl's group would be here sooner or later. So, if you don't mind taking care of those 2 people getting attacked by the warmech, I think i'll be getting out of here. Warp!

The Thief then suddenly flickered out.

Although when she wasn't looking, he then warped right back to the point where he waited outside Tubba Blubba's room.

Karn: Interesting...Bob's got a little girl. I'm going to have to keep a low body temperature to make sure her infrared goggles won't work on me, since around Tubba's Heart there is a huge disturbance disabling everything technological in a small radius. It's gonna be a little chilly here.

Karn started shivering after a few seconds, as he listened into the battle with the Warmech and Aosloidion and Link.

*X Sat Up, And Without A Word, Pulled Off His Trenchcoat, And Drapped It Over Chibi-Daryl Before Lying Back Down And Staring At The Night Sky. He Just Stared At The Sky For Awhile, Before Finally Breaking The Silence* Your Lucky, Daryl.... You've Always Had Someone There For You. You Know Your Past, Your Parents, Your Friends.... Me.... I Barely Understand Myself, Or My Powers. The Few Times Anyone Ever Showed Me Compassion As A Child....The Few Times I Ever Had What Could Be Called A Family.... It Was Snatched Away From Me.

He Sighed And I've Taken So Many Lives..... *He Stood, Turned, And Walked Away From Daryl To A Tree. He Placed The Palm Of His Hand Against The Tree. And Softly, He Spoke* You Wonder Why I Seem To Want To Go Things Alone.... And I Guess I Should Tell You. I Know You Probably Wonder Why I Destroyed The Whale.... And Why I Suddendly Had A Strange Shift In Attitude.... *He Inhaled, And Continued As She Listened* While We Were Fighting.... I Experienced A Vision. In It, We All Died Because Of A Billion In One Coincidence, And The Whale Was The Reason. Valen And Excal, Despite Siren, Were Going To Attack, And Me, You, And Reako Were All Gonna Return Fire. Those Powers Would Have All Intersected, And The Resulting Explosion Combined With The Whale Would Have Killed Us All. So I Figured The Only Way To Stop This Was To Get Everyone To Abandon The Ship, and Destroy The Ship To Insure That Coincindence Could Never Happen.

*He Stopped For A Minute, Letting Daryl Absorb What He Had Said. And Then He Continued* When The Ship Crashed, With Me, Zero, And The Griffin Still Inside. I Managed To Protect Both Of Them With A Last Minute Shielding, But Wasnt Able To Protect Myself Enough and Was Thrown Free. I Lay There, Bleeding, Broken, And Dying. Zero Watched Over. And While I Lay There.... I Saw It.... *X Inhaled, And Spoke, Slowly, Softly* The Whale.... Which I Had Caused To Crashed.... Had Landed On a Village......

*X Balled His Hand Into A Fist, His Voice, Quivering Slightly* A Small Village..... People Died Because Of My Carelessness.... And As I Realized What I Had Done.... I Noticed... The Body Of A Small Girl Clutching A Teddy Bear..... An Innocent Child.... Dead, Because Of Me... And Who Knows How Many More Children Died Because Of Me.... How Many Lives I Snuffed Out..... *As Daryl Sat In Silence, She Noticed That X Was.... Crying.....* And That Wasnt The First Time.... So Many Villages... Towns..... People... All Had Their Lives Ended Or Destroyed Because Of Me.... No Matter Where I Go, Destruction And Chaos Always Seems To Follow....

*X Slammed His Fist Into The Tree, And It Cracked And Split Like a Toothpick As It Collapsed To The Ground* Thats Why..... I Dont Want People Around Me..... Because Im A Danger To Them..... I Dont Want To Take Anymore Innocent Lives.... Because They Were Cursed By The Evil That Was My Having Existed....

Hmmm, everything feels as it should right now. I'm a little tired from the run, but the fact that I'm here in time makes it all worth it. Now... Huh? Why's this responding? (Takes out the nickle Eidolon had given him a long time ago and looks at it.) Hmmm, so it looks like Aosloidion is near here. Huh? The nickle tells me of danger though... Well, what else should I expect? Time to go and help him as best I can.

*****

*Excal runs into the ruins letting the nickle lead him. He eventually comes across a scene of both Aosloidion and Link were fighting with a Warmech. He also noticed that there was little they were able to do against it. With that situation clear, he did the only thing he could do. He jumped into the battle with a sizzling flash of Bolt 2.*

Aosloidion: What the? Lightning!

Link: Hey, Excal! What're you doing here?

Excal: Heard you guys were in trouble. So I had to help. Besides, the next bit of the seal is here.

Link: Great, can you distract this thing while I try to light a few bombs underneath this thing?

Excal: Don't see why not. Slow!

Excal, who's wondering if he'll finally meet up with this Karn.

Daryl stood, wishing more than ever that she wasn't a little kid. His words struck her to the very core.

--Never before have I seen such a wounded soul.-- tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, and she allowed a few their wish. However, she knew just standing around crying would accompish nothing. She pulled X's trenchcoat closer around her, since the chill in the air had gotten rather sharp, and began to speak in soft, melodious tones.

"X . . . I guess I was a little hard on you. I mean, to me-- it just makes sense for people to fight on a team. Compare the great figures in history-- Odysseus had no constant friends, and suffered constantly. It was only when he and his son joined forces that he was finally able to get a hold on his life. Was it because his son was more powerful than him? Hardly. He was just a willing friend and true, a good son with a desire to help his father. Also look at my father, Orpheus. Before he agreed to seduce Chocolate Song, he lost a woman that was very dear to him-- the whole reason he went to the underworld in the first place. He had no allies to help him, and he had a constant regret that no one had been there to tell him those simple words-- Don't Turn Around. Look at the Chinese figures in Saiyuki. Those four stuck together through everything, and even when one of them had a breakdown, the other three were there to build him up. Heh, if a particularly destructive youkai, a mass-murderer, a human/youkai half-breed, and a monk that had no faith could conquor the world together, I don't know who can't."

She paused, getting her words straight.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is this-- if you had let the rest of us in on your plan, maybe we could have prevented the tragedy, somehow. Or at least kept the blame from resting soully on you. From what you say, I discern that you grew up depending on people, only to have them fail you. I have a small taste of that myself from my mother. You're going to have a hard time trusting anyone. But . . . we're your friends, X. Like it or lump it, I know that both Valen and I have a a bond of friendship with you. The kids are another story, but can you blame them for not knowing much after knowing you for about half a day? Look, if you were trying to avoid making ties that could be severed . . . you failed."

This was getting hard. Daryl had to reconcile adult advice from a child's mouth, and her emotions were threatening to drown her before she could get out what she desperately needed to say.

"But here's the upside-- I know, deep within my heart, that we can win this. I'll tell you a secret-- I didn't feel that way in the Bardic Wars. As cocky and self-assured as I seemed, I was so scared that it was all I could do to muster my strength to fight. But fight I did, because fight I had to. And fight I do, because fight I must. I will not hold back anything in this battle. Neither will Valen, neither will the kids, and neither will you."

Here, she finally finished approaching him and laid a single hand on his arm. It would have been his shoulder, but she was hardly tall enough to do that.

"X, it would be one thing if you killed all of those people and felt no remorse. But your eyes have betrayed your feelings. You hurt deeply for each life lost, and actually mourn. Several people as powerful as you simply would not care. Take Eternion and this Infinija character, for example. And I know that your day of redemption is coming. The day when everything will be solved. You're in a dark valley now, on your way towards a high mountain. Your existence isn't Evil-- Evil does not cry or mourn innocence lost. You've had evil things happen to you, but you can conquor it. Call me optimistic, but I've not been proven wrong in the long run in a LONG time."

Here she stepped up until she was facing him.

"X, if I AM wrong, please tell me how. If there's anything that I'm getting incorrect, or conjectures I'm making that are contridicted by details I don't know, please tell me now. I'm ready to listen to anything you want. Say anything, whatever you want to say to me. I'll listen, and I won't hate you. I CAN'T hate you. I can't ever hate a man that behaves the way you do, no matter WHAT you say of the past. Please tell me."

--Darylohki

Karn: So, Excal's finally arrived, but where did Daryl and Liquid X disappear to? Guess he purposely came alone. Welp, time to go to work.

Karn then stealthily moved across the Grand Hall, making sure not to wake up Tubba Blubba that had fallen asleep on his patrol. He now hid under a curtain at the other side of the room.

Karn: Now to wait for the show to begin.

Karn then loomed there like a stalker, and he waited for Excal to come.

Jamie watched as the boys fought off the Warmech

Jamie: Guess that Excal isn't the weakling I thought he was... but this thief worries me... he's no simple thief like I previously thought...

Jamie tries to use her computer but it seems to be jammed

Jamie: Hmmm this kind of technology back here? Curiouser and curiouser...

Jamie then continued to hide waiting for the thief and the Canuck knight to make their moves...

***

Spoon happens



Todays quotes:

Had enough? Then beat it fool!
and
Good, Bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
and
Repeat this after me: I'll never take on a God again.

Valen sat up waiting.

:I'm gonna be REALLY angry if they left too.: he grumped. :It's BORING waiting here.:

He gazed up at the moon, ignoring pretty white part and instead concentrating on the shadows.

:*sigh* This sux.: he growled.

:Hey!!: a little voice said suddenly.

:*sigh* sigh *sigh*: Valen ignored it.

:H-hello?:

:*SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHH*:

:YO!! DUDE IN BLACK!!!:

Valen started. :Guh!?:

He looked up . . . and spotted . ..

:Konnichiwa!!: The little fairy grinned.

:WAH! OH GOD NO!!! IT'S Not! IT'S NOT!!: Valen covered his chibi eyes. :IT'S NAVIIIIIIII!!!:

Suddenly the fairy was wielding a 20 ton mallet.

:VALEN NO BAKA!!!!!!: she smacked him.

He crumpled to the ground, mumbling something about all the pretty stars.

:Oops. I guess that was . . . a little much.: The fairy flew around Valen's form, sprinkling him with dust from her wings. He stirred and got up.

:WAH!! NAVI'S GONNA KILL ME!!: Valen whimpered.

:Calm down! I'm not Navi.: The fairy said soothingly. :My name is Pirotess, and I'm a dark Fairy.:

Valen suddenly noticed that she was incased in a dark aura. She resembled a small person, dressed in skimpy leather armor, with elfy ears and exotic make-up. Her attitude was so sunny, however, it belied her appearance.

:A . . . Dark . . . fairy?: Chibi-Valen said in disbelief.

:Haii!: She grinned. :The Great Baka tree sent me.:

:Baka tree??: Valen's lip quivered.

:HAI HAI!!: She smiled bigger. :I was sent by the great Baka tree to find a fairy boy. Then I was to accompany him on a quest. I even brought you an Ocarina, see?: She held up a black ocarina.

:What, did you FART that out of your ASS?: Valen curled his lip in derision.

:Nani!?: Pirotess blinked. :What do you mean?:

:This sounds WAY too damn bardic.: Valen growled. :I refuse.: And with that, Valen swatted her out of the air, and she flew, screaming into a tree. Then he sat to further ruminate on the situation.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of The Bard Hunters

...And sliced at it with his sharpened claws and blades. The attack merely bounced off the mech's armor more or less ineffectively, as Aosloidion had expected, but pure damage was not the intent of the attack. In fact, the attack had worked just as planned, and the mecha was distracted for a brief moment. And in that moment, Aosloidion struck.

In the same motion as the leap, with surprising grace for an insectoid, Aosloidion jumped to one side of the mech, and then leapt to the other side in a mighty bound that could almost have been called flying, slashing all the while. There was a pause, and then scalding steam suddenly blew throughout the chamber, obscuring everything. There was the sound of something large and heavy - the WarMech - collapsing with a thud, the tubes on it's back that allowed it life severed.

Aosloidion moved away from the Mech's corpse, towards the chamber where Tubba's heart was - or at least, where he thought it was; he could sense stored power in this direction, so he went towards it. And eventually, he came to a chamber.

In the middle of the chamber, there was a dais. In the middle of the dais was a pedestal. And, upon the pedestal, the heart of Tubba Bubba lay.

Aosloidion opened his mouth in anticipation of the feast, and stalked towards the dais. A forcefield sprung up around the dais, but that was the only obstacle - apparently Tubba was confident enough in his WarMech that he did not bother to invest in other protections. That would prove to be his undoing.

Aosloidion ripped through the forcefield easily, and proceeded to the dais. He grabbed the heart, and the heart's pulse quickened in fear of it's doom. Grinning cruelly, Aosloidion squeezed the heart with his claws ever so slightly, and caught the blood that began to dribble from the heart's wounds in his mouth. His eyes glew insanely, and he squeezed harder, lacerating the heart. Before he burst it, though, he threw it up in the air, and caught it in his mouth, where he devoured it with greed, mashing it between his teeth and enjoying the taste of blood upon his lips. Aosloidion's blue exoskeleton was now thouroughly stained with crimson red...

-----------

No! Brother! How...how could you...be so cruel...even if...even if it is a monster...

-----------

The scrying image, saw through the connection he had established earlier, faded.

How strange. Something seems to be wrong. She has memories of something that never happened in the universe that they know. She has memories of something that, from all that happened, was rendered impossible.

And yet...she remembers it. As do I, but I am outside of their time. Is she in a different timeline then the others...or...in a different theory-line?

Eidolon's realm slipped more.

...No. Though it is partially like Krono's realm, I will not allow this realm to solely exist as the End of Eidolons or ideas. That it may be, but it is only the ideas of a single soul. And yet...it seems like a good idea...

He performed the mental equivelant of shaking his head.

No. This realm shall stay undefined forever. If I define it in any way, it shall be forced to except that definition forever. But if I allow it to be undefined, it can be all things when needed. I am pleased with that. But...just what did Liquid-X plant in this realm?

------

((OOC: Final thought of the post: Damn you, IE, for crashing 3 consequtive times while I try to post! >:/))

*Eighth slowly winches his way down from the ceiling. It had taken an obscene amount of effort, but he had managed a feat heretofore unheard of in any Zelda game: found the exit to the dungeon. Normally, the Hero would dash through this passageway (typically represented as an concealed elevator or telepipe) upon crushing the evil boss thingie beneath his/her/its/their mighty feet/claws/appendages/lips, but with a little ingenuity and a 57-dimensional jimmy...*

SYE: .oO(There's a lot of noise coming from behind that huge door...must be the boss room. Don't have much time before Those Who Are Not Excal get in here to grab this beaut. Let's see...)

*Eighth squints, and espies the typical lattice of deadly detection devices of doom.*

SYE: .oO(...floor's pressure rigged; any change in the pressure upon it will trigger the victory music and the exit. Same with the beams. And it looks like there's a Indy-Jonesian self-destruct-as-soon-as-idol-grabbed thing too. Just got to open the chest and replace the crystal with an equivalent object before that irritating thief-type person gets in here and does something unlikely.)

*Eighth winches down so the bejewelled lock is before him, upside-down and twisted into a position Dhalsim could only achieve in a train accident. With extraoridinary caution, he sets to work with his picks.*

Karn mumbled to himself.

Karn: He has grown more than I expected. But now....

He heard Tubba moan as his heart was ripped to pieces by Aosloidion's disgestive system. Tubba would soon be nothing more than a carcass. Karn had taken this opportunity to transform himself into a dark-robed figure, and he jumped from his hiding place, and grabbed something that was inside Tubba's Body. When Aosloidion saw him, a light gleamed form the shining object that was in Tubba's body, Excal's Sword.

Karn: You've done well so far, nephew, but yet, I'll be going with this.

Karn then casted a warp spell and he faded away, since Tubba's heart is no more he can warp away.

*A faint click, and Eighth edges the chest open.*

Chest: "Da da daaaahahhhhhhh!!!!!! lights and celebratory sound effects

SYE: "Shush! Keep it down! Now, let's see what's in here...blorg?"

pulls out a note

SYE: "'Note to self: remember to hack up magic sword of Excal into this box later. Tubbles.' Fudge."

rope breaks

SYE: "Oomph!"

*ruins start to rumble and become...ruinous...*

SYE: "Oh fudge."

Karn: I don't have all day....

???: Alright Alright, It's done already.

Excal's Sword was in a processor of some kind, and soon, out of a hatch, rolled a rune that could easily fit in a hatch on the Arm Blaster.

Karn: Alright, time to test.

Karn attached the rune onto an engravement on the Blaster of his.

The rune glowed, and the Blaster fired a blue ball at a target instead of the normal yellow balls, decimating the target in seconds.

Karn: Yep, this machine works.

???: Good, now that the Rune is able to power the characteristic 'Honor' into the blaster, it will bring you one step closer in completing that Blaster I gave you.

Karn: Alright, What's the next Target I have to retrieve to find the next rune?

???: It's a crystal that has confined a sage of magic, which it would probably produce the rune 'Wisdom'.

Karn: Excal's High-Magic Crystal huh? Hopefully Daryl and the others won't get in the way again....Welp, thanks for your time.

???: No problem.

Karn then transformed himself into an eagle, and his claws grabbed Excal's Sword.

___________

Moments Later....

While Daryl and Liquid were talking, an Eagle flew over head, and a sword was dropped, the hilt knocking Daryl on the head.

Daryl fell heavily as the hilt of the sword connected with her head.

--No!!-- her mind screamed. --I was just gonna get him to talk . . . ugh . . .--

Daryl slumped into unconsciousness, a good amount of blood trickling down her face from the wound on her head as Excal's sword buried itself in the soft turf.

--Darylohki

Jamie is no longer in the ruins but now in the wilderness

Jamie: Damn that guy... the scan indicates that he's made from the same material as the bug

Jamie runs through the forest

Jamie: So it looks like there are some unfinished relics from the old Eidolon conflict...

Jamie stops and looks all around

Jamie: Where should I go now, it's almost daylight, so scanning for time wraiths might be a more productive idea. looks like the bug and the moogle have even more extended families...

Jamie then teleports away

***

I saw this coming a mile away little man.



Todays quotes:

Had enough? Then beat it fool!
and
Good, Bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
and
Repeat this after me: I'll never take on a God again.

Karn: (Crap, that wasn't suppost to happen....hopefully Liquid doesn't fry me out of the sky right now.)

Karn flew on, and he soon saw the peaks of The Frost Peaks.

Karn: (Now if the old man's information is right, Excal's High-Magic Crystal should be in a temple on one of the peaks....)

There was a flash of ice energy within the sphere of ice containing Zero, and with it, an intense chill. The bird's coat of feathers became thicker, but even still, he was chilled to the bone and rendered unconcious.

The psionicist on the mountain chuckled, and disappeared, teleporting elsewhere on the mountain, and taking Zero and the sphere that held his unconcious form with him...

------

Liquid-X heard chanting from the bushes. He thought he recognized the voice, and he was sure when he heard the incantation's finish: "Forces of the spirit, bind the wounds of this eidolon of harmony and restore her to the land of conciousness."

A gentle, soothing breeze came, and with it, a flash of warm light upon the form of the unconcious incarnation of the bardic spirit. She awakened, and looked up to see Milidi...

"...Hello..." The moogle said.

"Milidi...How'd you get here?" Liquid-X asked.

"...I'm not sure...after father sent me from his domain, I found myself lying on a grove of grass with the sun hovering overhead. It's normally gentle warmth was harshly hot and near...then I remembered the threat to this world...so I wandered for a while...and came here." Milidi said.

Then, she frowned. "At least...I think that's what happened...my memory's...fuzzy..."

*Excal looks through the remains of Tubba Blubba while Link and Aosloidion look through the rest of the ruins.*

Aosloidion: Find anything, Excal?

Excal: Well, I found most of my old equipment. I mean, all of my old armour is here. As is my old Aura Gun. And these have given me back most of my sword skills. However... my Juno Blade is missing. And without it all of my vigilante skills are still locked.

Aosloidion: So how powerful are you now.

Excal: Well, without my powerful magics and vigilante skills I'm as powerful as I was when I faced off against Epsilon X a year ago.

Aosloidion: You think the thief took your Juno Blade?

Excal: I'm sure of it. Sooner or later I'm gonna catch him and then it shall be quite the fight.

Link: Hey! I just finished searching my half and look what I found. (holds out the TNT)

Excal: Alright! Enough high explosive to blast any possible obsticle into the mountains.

Link: So that's our next objective?

Excal: Bingo. Of course, we have to head back to Clocktown first, but if we're lucky, we'll meet up with Daryl and her crew as they head here.

Aosloidion: Then it's settled. Let's go.

Excal, who thought that Yamcha was weaker than Krellen.

*Just then, something tripped over Excal*

Excal: "!!! You?"

SYE: "Oi, mine head!"

Link: "Hey, it's that strange person from the desert!" [see most recent Bard war]

Excal: "What are you doing here?"

SYE: "Well, I thought I'd help you out by grabbing the treasure for you--"

Excal: "So the Blade was here! Spoon!"

SYE: "--except only the boss guy ate it and OH MY $%$#$@%#@$ THAT'S SICK!!!!" *finally sees gooey remains of TB's heart*

Alsososollosoossissddiddle: "What? shakes some disquencing flesh off one claw What's sick?"

Excal: "Any idea where it could be?"

SYE: "No, but I did have something to tell you...but for the life of me I can't remember!"

5 tonne pillar smashes down beside him

SYE: "....oh yeah. I seem to have triggered some sort of dramatic self-destruct thingy."

Link: "We'd better get out of here!"

SYE: sprints past him "No s#@$, shrimp!"

*X Leaped Into The Air Above The Tree's, And Hovered There, Trying To Spot The Eagle* Damn! To Far Away..... ggggggGGRRRRRR!!!! DAMN YOU! TAKE THIS! *Holding His Right Palm Outward, He Gripped His Wrist With His Left Hand* PSYCHO BURST! *A Dark Blue Flame Seemed To Explode, Encasing His Hand, As A Stream Of Ten Energy Blasts Shot Forth In The Griffins Direction. As The Flame Dissapated, X Dropped To The Ground* Damnit... Milidi, Lets Get Daryl Back To Camp.... *X Grabbed The Blade, The Hilt Coating With Daryl's Blood. Picking Up The Unconcious Daryl, X Carried Her, Milidi Following*

-------------------------------------------------------
*Mintaka And Eriol Awoke With Suprise, As Valen Lept To His Feet As The Sound And Light Of Energy Blasts Filled The Night Sky* <Valen> Dammit! What The Hell Is X DOING?!?! *A Few Minutes Later, X Emerged From The Forest, Daryl In His Arms, And Milidi Following Behind Him. As He Set Daryl On The Ground, Eriol Noticed The Blade In His Hand, And The Blood* <Eriol> Wha... Mistress Daryl?! Y....You KILLED HER! *X Looked Up, Emotionless.* No... I Di.... *X Was Cut Off, As He Was Tackled By Mintaka* <Mintaka> LIAR! YOU MURDERER! *Mintaka Wailed Into X, Punching Him In The Face, Over In Over. Valen Grabbed Him, Trying To Pull Him Off. As He Did, X Stood, His Face Bleeding* <Eriol> WHY!?! WHY DID YOU KILL HER??? *Mintaka Wrenched Free From Valens Grasp, As Eriol Ran Forward, The Two Beating On X, Who Made No Attempt To Protect Himself Or Stop Them, Knowing That Any Attempt He Made Would Risk Seriously Injuring Them. He Dropped To The Ground, His Blood Coating The Dirt, As The Two Tried To Tear Him Apart. Finally, In A Fit Of Anger, Mintaka Grabbed The Nearby Sword, And Prepared To Strike.....*

As Mintaka lifted the sword to strike, another sword knocked it out his hands. Mintaka turned to look at the person who had appeared.

Mintaka: Who are?! Never mind I don't care!

Mintaka tried to charge the person. The figure spoke a few words and Mintaka froze in place, his eye full of astonishment. The figure then cast a spell that lifted Eriol off of Liquid and held him in the air. After looking around and shaking his head, the figure sheathed his sword.

Krono: Ok, a few things. First, always know who it is that your trying to attack. I'm Krono a time mage. If you knew that before you tried to jump me, then you would know it wouldn't work. Second, a couple rules about revenge. One, make sure the person your attempting to avenge is actually dead. Daryl's fine the blood is on the hilt of the sword, if Liquid actually tried to kill her with it the blood would be on the blade. Second if someone is carrying someone back and refuses to strike back when you attack them in a blind rage, odds are they aren't guilty of hurting the person. Now, if I let the two of you go, will you help tend the wounds of Daryl and Liquid? Or are you going to keep trying to kill us?



Krono
"Sanity is relative."

Valen slapped his head with a hand. The dark fairy Pirotess had just wobbled shakily into flight.

:Hey-- Baka fairy.: he said.

:Hai!!: Pirotess smiled, seemingly forgetting about his cruel treatment from earlier.

:We got some wounded people here-- can you take care of them?:

:HAI VALEN-SAMA!!: She saluted then flew around sprinkling dust on the wounded.

Valen shuddered. --I guess I have another Shiva to fight off now . . .--

Both Mintaka and Eriol were released, and stood around shamefacedly. Eriol was crying again, and he wandered over to X.

:Gomen nasai.: he said simply. :I didn't think . . . I . . . I'm very sorry.:

Then, he went over and knelt at Daryl's side, studying her face carefully.

Mintaka was another story. He trembled violently, and looked ready to explode into another frenzy, if for no reason than to erase his mistake from the minds of everyone, even if it meant killing them in the process. Shame began to eat him alive . . . then he feld the hand on his shoulder.

:Let it go.: Valen whispered. :Just let it go.:

Mintaka grabbed Valen and began to cry himself.

--Geez, I hate playing big mama bird.-- Valen sighed, but he put up with it admirably. He didn't know why, but he really wanted to help this young child, with enough dischord in his soul to make them practical blood-brothers.

:X, don't be angry.: he said over Mintaka's sobbing head. :These two are very attached to Daryl, you understand. She rescued them from bondage-- a bondage that robbed them of their very powers. She's their savior and now, miracle of miracles, she's their age now. You do the math.:

Then he turned to Krono.

:Hmmmm . . . Krono. Don't believe I've met you before . . . I know who you are, though. What brings you to this clime? Are you here to stop Mintaka from doing something stupid or just to watch unconscious Daryl like the rest of us?:

Pirotess finished her healing job.

:WAI! VALEN-SAMA I'M DONE!!: she flew over and nestled herself into Valen's shoulder, cuddling him fondly. :I LOOOOVE You Valen-sama!!:

Valen sweatdropped. :Uhhh . . . that's nice. Krono?:

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

Pirotess had done her job well. Daryl swam towards consciousness.

"Itaiiiiiiiii . . . ." she murmured, struggling into a sitting position.

"Daryl! DARYL! YOU'RE ALRIGHT!!" Eriol grabbed Daryl around the neck and cried more, hugging her tightly.

"Huh?" Daryl blinked slowly, looking around at all the expectant faces.

Valen, Mintaka, Krono, Eriol, Pirotess . . . and X.

"Who are all of you?" Daryl blinked. She pointed at X. "You I seem to fuzzily remember . . . that's right! I was FIGHTING YOU!!" She stood and threw off Eriol, but gently. "Aha! I will . . . GUH!!? I'm CHIBI!! That's DIRTY POOL!! NOW I WILL WIN IN THE NAME OF BARDDOM!! DEFEND YOURSELF, X!!!!"

--Darylohki ^o^

Excal: Wow, I don't believe I'm still alive.

Link: Yeah, how'd we get out of there anyways.

Aosloidion: Don't know, don't care... Just want to spend a good quality five seconds at an inn.

Link: Inn? Don't you mean visit a fairy?

Excal: Nevere mind that. Now that I have my bag back we can all use this santuary stone. It's like a tent, but can be used anywhere and it's instant.

Aosloidion: Nice.

*Link goes over and prods SYE's unconsious form.*

Link: So, what're we going to do with the crazy guy?

Excal: We're gonna take him with us. I mean, he's somewhat useful even if he doesn't act like it. Besides, at the very least we can use him as a decoy.

Link: How can you talk about using somebody as a decoy? Even if it is him.

Excal: Because he'd probably enjoy the idea of being a decoy.

Aosloidion: Guys, time isn't slowing here. We better get going.

Link: Yep. I'll carry this guy first then.

Excal, wondering if there's going to be an original bardic war rematch right now.

Karn: So this is probably where Excal's High-Magic Crystal is.

Karn scanned the temple, to see a frozen bird encased in a block of ice, and a lone psionist resting near him.

Karn: Zero.....

Karn then shapeshifted into a Slime on the floor, and moved stealthily until he got near Zero.

Karn: I'll get ya out buddy.....

Karn then shapeshifted into his normal form, pulled out his Arm Cannon, and fired a blue shot at the Ice block, which Karn named along the way Honor Blast, and it shattered the casing of Ice, to wake up the Psionist.

???: It's been a whole dimension of waiting, Karn, or Should I say SRGPI?

Karn: H-How did you know!

???: Oh ho ho ho....because I am yet....

The mysterious psionist unveiled himself, to be a man with robotic implants that enhance his psionic abilities.

???: ....I am one of your defeated adversaries, Psycho Mantis!

Karn: How the heck did you get to this dimension in the first place?!

Psycho Mantis: Oh, the same way you got here; I created a dimensional portal myself to follow you here, waiting to exact my revenge! And now that the Angelic Alliance was stored back home, you have no way of defeating me with that pathetic blaster of yours!

Karn: I'll still try even though it may cause my demise, but Zero will yet survive to tell the others!

Psycho Mantis: Hah! He is yet unconscious, what can he do?

Karn: This!

Karn then picked up Zero, transferred some of his body heat to him to wake him up soon, and threw him over the side of the temple, intending on him to escape.

Psycho Mantis: Shall we battle again, my adversary?

Karn: By all means.

Psycho Mantis and Karn then started circling each other exchanging shots.

n/t