Neko

[size=1]Kia just sat there, staring at the space Kayla had been sitting in. A tiny little voice in the back of her head was beginning to scream at her to PK Kayla mercilessly until she apologised, much to Kia's surprise. She put the thought out of her head, wondering where it had come from. It was uncharacteristic, rude, and highly unlike her to think like that... After about fifteen minutes, she decided to take a little walk. She got about as far as the bridge before she stopped, listening to the various conversations going on around her. All sorts of things were going on. Experts ripping off new players who didn't know better. Three players huddled off near the back part of the town. There were even a couple perverts under the bridge, attempting to be 'naughty'. (it didn't work, of course; such actions don't function in 'the World') [COLOR=Navy]"I think after that little meeting we all just had, I've figured out a nickname for you!"[/COLOR] rang a whimsical, utterly annoying voice from behind her. She turned around and barely managed to recoginse Sora standing behind her, grinning his mischievious little smirk. He cleared his voice and turned to a rather large group of people passing by. [COLOR=Navy]"Attention, everyone! I'd like to introduce you to my little friend...the Temptress!"[/COLOR] he announced, obviously speaking of Kia. She immediately knew what he was talking about. He was naming her after Macha, for some reason. She tilted her head in confusion and looked at him as the equally confused crowd frowned and turned away and resumed their normal business. [COLOR=Navy]"Hey, what are you talking about?"[/COLOR] she demanded. [COLOR=Navy]"Oh, that's right! You seem to have missed our little 'staff meeting' just now!"[/COLOR] Sora replied with obvious playfullness and thoughtlessness, [COLOR=Navy]"It seems a certain someone, who's name I will not mention but her initials are KAYLA, has come under the silly impression that you could be the one, the only, Macha, our beloved little 'phase 6' thing!"[/COLOR] His cheery, uncaring voice was beginning to grate on Kia's ears like someone relentlessly playing a kazoo during a funeral progression. [COLOR=Navy]"What?! Kayla thinks I'm Macha? That I've just been working with you guys to gain your trust? That's...that's rediculous!" "Is it?"[/COLOR] Sora asked with that same annoying cantor he always spoke in, [COLOR=Navy]"Or is it so rediculous...it's the most rediculously perfect idea you've ever thought of?!"[/COLOR] he ended with a maniacal laugh. [COLOR=Navy]"No, just the regular sort of rediculous..."[/COLOR] Kia muttered, beginning to panic. What had been going on during the time Kayla had been gone? Had she really thought up the crazy idea that Kia was Macha? What was Sora doing here, making light of such an important matter? Sora gave her a sly, malicious grin. [COLOR=Navy]"Of course, Kayla said we should just act normal around you so you didn't think we were suspicious of you...but where's the fun in that?"[/COLOR] He extended his twin blades as he ended. Kia stepped cautiously away from him, glancing at those deadly-sharp blades. He [i]was[/i] a known PKer, after all. [COLOR=Navy]"Ummm...I-I have no idea...er...what you're talking about, Sora..."[/COLOR] she stammered. Then, her nerves got the best of her and she ran for dear life away from him, darting into her alley. She was a twinblade, after all, and there was no way he'd be able to catch her. What she hadn't realized was that he was also a twinblade and, for that matter, a much better player than she was. As she reached the opening at the end of the alley, she felt a whisk of air behind her and discovered her mistake. Sora stood close behind her with his blades crossed against her neck and his head resting lightly on her shoulders. She was cornered now, pressed up against one of the boxes and with Sora grinning smugly behind her. [COLOR=Navy]"Have I told you yet how much I hate a fair fight?"[/COLOR] he asked, breathing down her neck, [COLOR=Navy]"Whenever we go into these fights against these little 'phase' thingys, we always end up getting pounded until Kite does that wierd thing of his, then it's like we have to fight them [i]all over again[/i]. Now, Kayla may be fine with all this, and is okay with the idea of acting 'normal' around you, but on the other hand, if she's right, and you [i]are[/i] Macha, eventually you're going to try to kill us all. Personally..."[/COLOR] he said, lowering his voice down to a whisper... [COLOR=Navy]"Personally, I think I'd much prefer killing you instead, here and now."[/COLOR] [COLOR=Navy]"Just think of all the trouble it'll save the group, and I'm sure you'll understand.[/COLOR] he laughed in Kia's ear, and the only reason she didn't flinch at the noise was because doing so would send her head rolling across the floor. [COLOR=Navy]"Who knows?"[/COLOR] he said, cracking up, [COLOR=Navy]It might even be painless! I wouldn't know, I'm not 'trapped' (coughcoughyeahrightcoughcough) like you."[/COLOR] he tightened his hold on her, and began to slide his blades across each-other almost mockingly. In what she figured might be the last moments of her life, Kia tried to justify Kayla's seemingly traitorous theory on her being Macha. [i]Maybe she's right...I might not have always been Macha, but who knows? I've already had my data reprogrammed twice now...once when I...when I died, and once in that freak incident when Lios drained me. For all I know, turning me into Macha could be easy...and besides, Fidchell prophesized that this would happen... [CENTER]The avenger is coming for you...when he finds you...you shall become one with the wave...and share in our glory as we purge this place of the ones more fortunate than yourself![/CENTER] Could Fidchell possibly have rewritten me into Macha while I was passed out? Could I really be Macha, the Temptress? It actually seems highly probable, now that I think of it...If that's the case, Sora can kill me now...I don't want to hurt the others...[/i] Kia slowly closed her eyes and braced herself. [COLOR=Navy]"Go ahead, Sora...like you said, it's for the best, right?"[/COLOR] Sora smiled with satisfaction. [COLOR=Navy]"I thought you'd see it my way."[/COLOR] Kia felt the blades tighten up as Sora tensed himself, prepared to strike. The blades drew themselves closer to her neck. At the last possible second, however, both Kayla's and Sakura's voice shouted from around the corner. [COLOR=Navy]"SORA! WHAT THE *expletive deleted* ARE YOU DOING?!"[/COLOR] Kia felt the blades drop away from her. She breathed a sigh of relief, as well as disappointment. Somewhere behind her, she heard Sora complaining. [COLOR=Navy]"Hey, I was just trying to help!"[/COLOR] [COLOR=DarkRed]OOC: At this point, Kia starts believing that she actually [i]is[/i] Macha, regardless of what anyone else says or thinks.[/COLOR][/size]

[size=1]OOC: Okay, let's see if I can sort this out... Kia looked left and right. No Kayla. Up, down, back, forward, no Kayla. So, Kayla wasn't here...okay, fair enough. The group probably had something important that came up, so Kayla couldn't come. [i]Well, it's not like I don't have the time to wait,[/i] Kia thought. Then, a noise caught Kia's attention. Someone was walking down the alley towards her. Kia recognized Kayla's player right away as she came around the side of the alley. In response to Kayla's presence, Kia merely nodded her head. [COLOR=Navy]"Hey, Kia,"[/COLOR] Kayla greeted as she picked a nice box to sit on, [COLOR=Navy]"What did you want to talk about?"[/COLOR] Kia looked up for a moment before answering. [COLOR=Navy]"I just was thinking...it's been such a long time now...I don't think it would be all that important in your eyes, but could you tell me something?" "Sure, Kia, what is it?"[/COLOR] Kia stared back down at her feet, as though she was embarrased about what she was about to ask. [COLOR=Navy]"Could you...tell me what it's like out there...?"[/COLOR] she asked. [COLOR=Navy]"What do you mean?" "You know, back home and all...what's it like? I've been here so long...I'm beginning to forget..."[/COLOR] Kia mumbled. [COLOR=Navy]I still don't get-" "On Earth, okay?! I've been stuck [i]here[/i] so long, I can't remember what it's like any more. Is it even worth saving all these people?"[/COLOR] Kia shouted. [COLOR=Navy]"Kia, I don't get it. Why are you talking like this? Of course it's worth it! We are talking about the potential lives of over six-billion people, here! It could be a resurgance of Pluto's Kiss!"[/COLOR] Kayla argued, irritated by Kia's mood. [COLOR=Navy]"That's not what I'm asking, Kayla,"[/COLOR] Kia replied, trying to get a grip on herself again. [COLOR=Navy]"I'm asking you about what it [i]is[/i] like out there. What time of year is it? What [i]year[/i] is it? Are the people still heartless snobs like they were when I was around?"[/COLOR] Kayla thought for about a half-second, collecting all the information Kia wanted, and relayed it to her. [COLOR=Navy]"Oh, I see what you mean now. Well, it's around the middle of the year now...all the trees are green, everyone's going about their own business...hardly anyone is any sort of 'snob', by any means."[/COLOR] [i]well, there are some exceptions,[/i] Kayla thought, thinking of Lios and CC Corp. Kia seemed satisfied by this. [COLOR=Navy]"I'm still having trouble seeing the point in all this..."[/COLOR] Kia said testily. [COLOR=Navy]"What do you mean?" "Look at it this way. Even if we [i]do[/i] defeat the Wave here and now, which I think is a big 'if', they're bound to come back. Like I said way back a while ago when we first met, me and my friends have already done it once. Now look what's happened: the Wave's back. Kayla, I think we're fighting a war we can't win. I'm beginning to think...that the Wave perpetuates itself in this 'game'." "Are you saying...you think even when we beat it, the Wave will come back?"[/COLOR] Kayla asked. [COLOR=Navy]"That's what I'm thinking. Still..."[/COLOR] Kia reasoned, [COLOR=Navy]"as long as we all stick together, and stay close in each-others' hearts, that's what makes it all worth fighting, isn't it?"[/COLOR] A gun went off in Kayla's head. [CENTER][i]How Macha is explained in the Epitaph and her particular role, do mean that it is a most defintely a girl and that she is someone that we know and trust.[/CENTER] [CENTER]Macha seduces with the sweet trap. Wave reaches the Pinnacle, and escape none can.[/CENTER] [CENTER]Seduces with the sweet trap...Seducing...that has something to do with, well, I'd say, love. So whomever this Phase is, she wants people to love her. To truly love her...Getting someone to love her so she can lure them into a trap...or something like that...[/CENTER] [CENTER]The sweet snare of conciliation...she wants to gain our trust, our friendship. It all helps her.[/i][/CENTER] Kayla looked shrewdly at Kia, putting everything she knew about her into sharp relief. [i]She can't log out like a normal player, something she blames on being trapped. It's common knowledge that a computer program wouldn't be able to log out. She also knows a lot about the Wave, and I don't seriously believe the Wave could 'perpetuate' itself like she said...Everyone else we know can log out...and just now, she really tried to make me believe that we should all trust one another...[/i] [COLOR=Navy]"Ummm...s-sorry, Kia...I...have to go now. Something just, uh...came up..."[/COLOR] Kayla stammered, quickly running out of the alley. On her way, she typed up a hurried message to Sakura. [COLOR=DarkRed][b]TO:[/b] Sakura [b]FROM:[/b] Kayla [b]SUBJECT:[/b] Macha[/COLOR] [COLOR=Red]I think I just figured out who Macha is! Meet me by the chaos gate at fort Ouph, and bring the group with.[/COLOR] [COLOR=DarkRed]OOC: Well, I thought this might be fun to play around with, so...yeah.[/COLOR][/size]

[SIZE=1][CENTER][i]The hands of time cannot be turned back...[/i][/CENTER] In the murk of her failing senses, Kia heard the prophecy. Nothing can be undone, it implied. When the Wave came, nothing would remain in the world Kia had regretfully begun to refer to as 'home', and Earth would fall, as well: like the Pluto's Kiss incident... [CENTER][i]There is no place to run... No hope of escape.[/i][/CENTER] Kia began to feel her senses returning slowly. She opened her eyes slightly, looking for some image of Fidchell. Everything was a blur...vague shapes flitted about in the background while the world flipped in and out of existance. [COLOR=Navy]"Kia...? Are you okay?"[/COLOR] Kayla's voice...[i]so, the fight must be going pretty well if she has time to wake me up...[/i]Kia thought to herself. She felt herself being shaken up, almost like it was time to get out of bed, and someone was trying to wake her up, or something. [COLOR=Navy]"Fidchell...where is he?"[/COLOR] Kia mumbled, gaining a bit more control of herself. [COLOR=Navy]"It's alright, Kia...Fidchell's gone. We killed it." "Huh...? I cant' have been gone [i]that[/i] long!"[/COLOR] Kia said with a start, trying to sit up. [i]Nope, not yet...[/i]she thought as she fell back down onto the ground. [COLOR=Navy]"Who's all left?"[/COLOR] she asked with a small hint of sarcasm in her voice. [COLOR=Navy]"Oh, very funny. We're all here. That prophecy startled us a bit when we defeated it, though..."[/COLOR] Kayla replied. The rest of the place was now in focus. They were in Net Slum. [COLOR=Navy]"We're heading back to Fort Ouph as soon as you think you can stand up again,"[/COLOR] she added. Kia tried her legs out again. This time it worked. [COLOR=Navy]"I think I can handle it,"[/COLOR] she said. [COLOR=Navy]"Good,"[/COLOR] Kayla smiled. Then, turning around, she got everyone's attention again, as they were all off by the gate, chatting and making light of the seriousness of what they were doing. The human mind has a wonderful ability to view something as 'funny' in order to relieve stress or pressure. Kayla cleared her throat before speaking. [COLOR=Navy]"Hey, everyone! Listen up! Great job with Fidchell back there. Kia's [i]finally[/i] come around, so we're all headed out to fort Ouph. Any questions?"[/COLOR] Everyone shook their heads as if to say 'no', and they all warped back to fort Ouph. Everyone, that is, except Kia. Kia went back to Mac Anu. She walked over the bridge, not even pausing to reflect on the general beauty of the river rolling softly along, and the boats shining in the light of the sun. The stunning scenery had long been a nuisance to Kia, seeming to mock her existance. After the bridge, she made a right-hand turn, past the magic shop, and left, down a place she knew all too well, the alley that was now her home. She walked down the alley and sat among the pile of boxes that had been there since the beginning of 'the World'. Here was her 'happy place'; the place she came to when she needed to be alone to think, or just sit and ponder the meaning of her pitiful life. [COLOR=DarkRed][b]TO:[/b] Kayla [b]FROM:[/b] Kia [b]SUBJECT:[/b] A very important question...[/COLOR] [COLOR=Red]Ummm...Kayla? I have something I feel I have to ask you. If you can find the time, could you come to Mac Anu? I'll be back in the alley behind the Magic Shop...[/COLOR] [COLOR=DarkRed]OOC: to my understanding, there is an important event in the plot going on right about here, so just get that done before worrying about me. Thanks![/COLOR][/size]

CKY...they did [i]escape from hell view[/i], right? they're awsome. I like how their songs are done. Is it just me, or are there two voices sing most of the time, one whole octave apart? It sounds funny, yet...strangely cool.

[size=1]Fidchell, the dark prophet. As Kia stood there, staring at it, she snickered a little, and not because of Kayla's elephant joke. [i]who thinks these names up, anyways?[/i] she wondered, looking at it's eye holes. Come to think of it, it [i]did[/i] kinda look like an elephant... Kia suddenly realized that the others were already fighting the thing hacking, slashing, and casting spells at it. Calling up her courage, she ran in and began slashing as well, only afraid that the thing would fall on her, as her HP was no longer specified. (There was no reason for it to be: if she suffered a wound that would kill a normal human in the real world, she wouldn't survive. Such is the life of a trapped player.) She knew from personal experience that Fidchell's attacks mainly consisted of somewhat cheesy-sounding 'prophecies' that inexplicably came true. For some odd reason, it refused to speak now...it just took the blows, as if it were waiting for something. There was a mutual feeling of unease throughout the group: what was the hold-up, here? As Kia looked at the mask she was swinging her twin daggers at, it looked more ominous now than amusing. [COLOR=Navy]"Hey, Kia, does this thing have any intention of taking a shot at us [i]today[/i]?"[/COLOR] Kayla shouted at her. [COLOR=Navy]"I don't know...it [i]is[/i] acting awfully strange..."[/COLOR] Kia answered hesitantly. [COLOR=Navy]"Well, if and when it [i]does[/i] attack, how will we know?"[/COLOR] As if in response to this, a ghostly voice rang out from Fidchell, some mystic-sounding stuff about lightning. Everyone was a little panicked by this, but Kia was affected especially, for Fichell had a special message for her. it turned to her, and as she gazed into it's empty eyes, she felt its presence in her mind. It spoke to her clearly above the din. [i]I remember you...the child forsaken from your world to become trapped in this place...For you I have this blessing: that you shall indeed be rid of your long journey soon...The avenger is coming for you...when he finds you...you shall become one with the wave...and share in our glory as we purge this place of the ones more fortunate than yourself![/i] Kia didn't have anything to say to this cryptic message, she was so stunned by it's straight-forwardness. She chose, for the moment at least, not to believe it. When the attack ended, deliberately missing her while hitting everyone else, however, there could be no doubt in her mind that something sinister was at work. Before it left her head, Fidchell assaulted Kia's mind with some sort of mental energy, and smote her to the ground, unconscious, as the battle resumed it's frantic pace. [COLOR=DarkRed]-OOC: Sorry I haven't been on for so long. If anyone has any objections to this post, just tell me and I'll delete it[/COLOR].[/size]

[size=1]Death. Chaos. Destruction. War. Suffering. Deceit. Such words were not known in the village of Vail. People called them old-fashioned, the ones who lived there. Always doing things the long way, always at peace. Never even a television or radio to be found, not the slightest trace of a modern commodity. In that town men were [i]real[/i] men, women were [i]real[/i] women, and small pink things that looked suspiciously like frogs were [i]real[/i] small pink things that looked suspiciously like frogs. A person's word could be held as the truth without being questioned. That someone could hide some terrible secret, or house some evil will was never even questioned. For now, at least. A tall man walked up to an unusually modern-style house, hauling a huge log behind him. [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, kids, I'm back!"[/COLOR]he called. [COLOR=Indigo]"Daddy!"[/COLOR]came a cry from inside the house. Two young children came running out of the house and hugged him.[COLOR=Indigo]"You're back!"[/COLOR]one of them added, somewhat unnecesarrily. The mother soon followed.[COLOR=Indigo]"Hi, honey,"[/COLOR]she said. [COLOR=Indigo]"Hi, honey...???Hey, where's Kato?"[/COLOR]the father asked. [COLOR=Indigo]"Oh...well, your [i]son[/i] has gone off on one of his 'adventures' again...he should be back soon." "Ah, the wonders of the young adolesent mind..."[/COLOR]the father sighed,[COLOR=Indigo]"Well, he'll probably be back soon..."[/COLOR] So, the family went back inside the house. It was dinner time, and the table was already set with the dish of the day. While they were eating, the younger of the two little ones spoke up again. [COLOR=Indigo]"Daddy?" "Yes, Kia?" When's Kato coming back?" "Well, it's hard to say...he'll be back soon, don't worry."[/COLOR] Suddenly, a piercing scream resonated through the village. Curious, the whole family ran outside. A hulking green orc held a sword in one hand, [COLOR=DarkRed]and one of the villagers' heads in the other[/COLOR]. There was in fact a full troop of orcs ransacking the village. people were screaming, orcs were slashing, [COLOR=DarkRed]blood was being spilled[/COLOR]. Even as Kia looked on in horror, an orc swiftly ran up to her father and ran its sword fully through his body. He died a painful death by the orcish blade. Blood sputtered all over Kia's kimono. It sprayed into her eyes. It seeped into her light blue hair. She screamed. Similar fates met with the rest of her family. Her sister was speared through when an one of the hulking green brutes ran an orcish flag into the ground. It never even noticed that it had just killed a small child with the tall, ugly avatar of the orc race. Her mother was mugged for her wedding ring, then killed with an orcish axe. The city started to burn with the orcs' wrath. Death spread like a black, filth-ridden disease through the village. At last, she was the only one left. Orcs ran freely throughout the town. Homes burned. Blood flowed like a river down the streets. Kia, lone survivor of the entire village, stood there alone in front of the scene that would burn in the back of her mind forever. Rain began to pour down, almost as if to match her horror and despair. The leader of this particular pack of orcs finally noticed her standing among the chaos, eyes wide in terror. It walked up to her until it was about ten feet away. [COLOR=Indigo]"Are you scared, little girl?"[/COLOR]it laughed in a grating voice. Kia couldn't do any more than nod shakily. The orc laughed again. [COLOR=Indigo]"Don't worry,"[/COLOR]it laughed,[COLOR=Indigo]"you'll be with your precious family soon!"[/COLOR]The huge thing jumped the full ten feet between them and swung it's sword down upon her, full force... [i]Twang[/i] Kia looked up in surprise. Another sword, glittering in the rain, stood inches above her head, holding the orcish blade fast in its place. [COLOR=Indigo]"You shall not lay claw [i]or[/i] blade [i]or[/i] axe upon her, so long as I draw breath,"[/COLOR]a familiar voice said softly, yet sternly from somewhere above her. She looked up and saw her brother there standing above her. There would be no mistaking it; the sheen of his platinum-colored hair was immistakeable. He was clad in transparent armor which, the orc realized with awe and greed, was forged of pure diamond. Kia's brother's normal clothes could be seen through it, as though one was looking through glass. The orc's blade began to hiss, as if the presence of the glittering sword somehow afflicted it. It turned red briefly and exploded. [COLOR=Indigo]"My name is Kato Sasaki..."[/COLOR]Kia's brother whispered,[COLOR=Indigo]"you sought to slay my sister. Now suffer my wrath as your consequence!"[/COLOR]He now shouted, his voice doubling and tripling in resonance. He lifted the blade up to the stunned orc's neck. The orc stared down at it; for it was forged of the most intriguing material! It was white, as of a pearl, but it glittered so, that to name it of pearl would be a disgrace. [COLOR=Indigo]"That blade..."[/COLOR]the orc growled,[COLOR=Indigo]Is that...mythril?" "In it's purest of forms,"[/COLOR]Kato replied,[COLOR=Indigo]"and now you shall die by it!"[/COLOR]he finished, and as he did so he ran the entire blade through the orc's neck, making an odd wheezing sound eminate from it's throat. Black-tinted blood spattered all over as Kato withdrew the blade from the orc's windpipe. At the sight of their fallen commander, the orcs that had been watching stood there, stupefied. [COLOR=Indigo]"Let's get him, boys! That blade is made of the rarest metal on this planet!"[/COLOR]one of them yelled suddenly, and the entire orc legion charged on Kato. [i]Damn orcs aren't interested in anything that can't make them money...[/i]Kato thought. [COLOR=Indigo]"Kia!"[/COLOR]he shouted over the rushing of clawed feet to his little sister,[COLOR=Indigo]"You'd better get out of here while you still can! I'll hold them off for as long as possible, but...but I don't think...that I'll be able to hold this many off for long...NOW GO! MAKE HASTE!"[/COLOR]and as Kia ran for the village exit, his mithril sword claimed it's second victom. Kia looked back as she ran. She wanted to see her brother's bravery. Slashing down orcs like there would be no tomorrow (and, she thought sadly, there probably wouldn't be, for him), hewing away at the huge green monsters surrounding him. Now he beheaded one, now he ran another through the head, stabbing another one right behind it...now he clove a poorly crafted orc-sword in half before clearing its head from its shoulders. The black orc-blood mixed with the blood of Vail, the village on fire. This is the image Kia wanted to remember her brother by: [i]last stand of Kato Sasaki[/i]. On she ran, unnoticed, into the White Forest, the legendary land of the Spirits. [COLOR=Red]OOC: Sorry this took so long...but it was a lot of typing, you know?[/COLOR][/size]

[size=1]Yamimaku stood and gaped as Maru flew off with Atomsk's power's in the clutch of his hand, so to speak. Finally, he dropped down to his knees in a fit. [COLOR=Indigo]"No...he...it...damnit! It was right there! It could've been mine! It would've been mine!"[/COLOR]he muttered hopelessly. Unable to supress his anger any longer, he shouted at the world. [COLOR=Indigo]"IT SHOULD'VE BEEN MINE!"[/COLOR] What now? He couldn't just let Maru get away with his hopes and dreams, oh no, he'd have to chase him down and seize Atomsk from him...by force if need be. The power of Atomsk was far too great for him to compete with, but he didn't care! Why not risk your life for something so grand? Why not put it all on the line for something worth fighting for? Suddenly Yamimaku snapped back into the real world, recovered now from his rage. As he had burned in the heat of his anger, he had been completely oblivious to the thirty-some guards now surrounding him. [COLOR=Indigo]"Uhhh...sir?"[/COLOR]the head officer asked hesitantly, wondering if Yamimaku had even heard the long, businesslike speech he had just finished concerning why it's rather impolite to literally bust into the front door of a high-security building, and that he was now going to be forced to arrest him. Obviously, he hadn't. [COLOR=Indigo]"...Hmmm...?...?!...!!!What do you want?!"[/COLOR]Yamimaku screamed at them. [COLOR=Indigo]"Well, uh, sir, it's just that since you've just broken i-" "Spare me the long speech and cut to the chase. Are you here to try to arrest me?!" "Awww..."[/COLOR]the head guard moaned. He rather enjoyed long speeches, especially giving them, and had hoped to maybe make his speech again, now that Yamimaku was apparently listening to him. [COLOR=Indigo]"Yes...I am..."[/COLOR]he finally muttered. Two seconds later, he wished he hadn't. *Swish crack crunch snap squish* Yamimaku stood slowly up, his trenchcoat billowing ominously. His guitar dripped with blood which he had just forced the officer to shed. The officer, which now lay on the floor, never to move again... [COLOR=Indigo]"Allow me to make this really amazingly clear to your blunt idiotic faces..."[/COLOR]Yamimaku growled dangerously...[COLOR=Indigo]"No...one...here...is...taking...me...to...any...prison..."[/COLOR]he said, killing an officer in between each word,[COLOR=Indigo]NOBODY!"[/COLOR]he finished, knocking his eleventh victom through the steel wall. The rest died shortly after. To say Yamimaku's guitar was still black would be a lie. It now ran crimson with the blood of thirty-two police officers, all lying dead at the doorway of Meta Mechanica. He hijacked one of the police motorcycles and sped off toward where he figured Maru might be...if he was nearby, Yamimaku would know it...[/size]

Oops...yeah, I know this doesn't belong here, I had just been finished with the post, when I noticed I was in the wrong section. So, rather than waste the time re-typing, I just posted it. Don't even start to talk to me about cut/paste, because that hadn't even occurred to me. Ummm...I'm not really familiar with the whole moderator deal yet, even though I've been here for some time...Anyone here know how I can ask a moderator to move this? Once again, my sincerest apologies!

I built this banner for my friend, and I was just wondering if it's any good. So, I figured, 'why not just ask the people?' So, here I am. And, provided nothing wierd happens to the host... :shifty: ...here's the banner: [IMG]http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/Cursed_Vortex/JoshBanner1.jpg[/IMG] ...Well, while I'm at it, does anyone like the banner I built for myself...?It should be in my signature, but just in case: [IMG]http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/Cursed_Vortex/FlCl.gif[/IMG] Please just rate these things 1-10, and give your reasons for your answers. Thanks!

[b]NAME:[/b] Kia [b]AGE:[/b] 10 [b]RACE:[/b] Human [b]GENDER:[/b] Female [b]DESCRIPTION:[/b] A blue decorative kimono, blue hair, blue eyes, always wears a kinda sad expression. (Think along the lines of Mia from Golden Sun) [b]WEAPON(S):[/b] A 2' long staff with a small sapphire set in the upper end. (Turns out to be a magic staff) [b]BIO:[/b] Although she doesn't know it, Kia is a [i]Wavedancer[/i], or water mage, able to cojure the great forces of water in all it's forms. She also has immense healing powers, though again, she doesn't know this. The weather changes slightly with her mood (if she's sad, the clouds will sart to get darker, and if she's downright depressed, it could rain). Her fate has prophecised by wise mystics as 'the shadow of doom', and this comes to conclude that at some point in her life, by her hands, something great and terrible will happen to the world. Fearing the fact that she may someday accidentally use her water magic to aid in this awful fate, her parents never told her she was a Wavedancer. How's that? BTW, you're banner turned out nice Sephy! :laugh:

Well, I can't really think of anything to say here...Basically, I'm gonna start making banners for anyone interested, and they just have to post here. I can even make you a GIF (moving) banner, if you'd like... If this somewhat short thread offends any moderators, please just shut it down, because I really wouldn't like to be banned while I'm in three adventures... ;) Thanks! :eek: Oh, I almost forgot! I can make avitars for you, too!

[size=1]To walk down a dungeon inside a monster is a terrifying thing. The only way to know [i]exactly[/i] how horrible a place like this was, however, was to be trapped inside 'the World'. Kia was now experiencing the full effect of 'the World's awsome data programming. When you take a step, you can feel the ground as it yields to your weight, only to spring back up with a wet bouncing noise when you pick your foot back up. The air is stuffy and rancid with the stench of the wriggling walls which, if you dare touch them, leave a sticky, slimy residue on your hand. Kia felt she could nearly throw up with the general rottennes of the place. [COLOR=Indigo]"Who needs all this excess programming?"[/COLOR]she thought out loud. Puzzled, Kayla turned around.[COLOR=Indigo]"Huh?" "It's just that...you guys couldn't know...this place stinks. Everything is wet and sticky. So I was just thinking, someone must have had a lot of free time on their hands to program all this data, this...ungh..."[/COLOR]Kia couldn't finish, because at this point, she succeeded in 'losing her lunch', so to speak, all over the ground. [COLOR=Indigo]"...Okay, that's just gross...[/COLOR]Kana and Kayla both muttered as Kia pulled herself back up. She looked like she was about to cry, or something. Instead, she wiped off her mouth with the back of her left glove and started walking down the foul hallway again. [i]Squish, squish, squish...[/i] Finally, they arrived at the third-floor-basement. The data-corruption down here was really bad down here...the whole room was practically orange with holes in the visual layout. Afraid of what might happen if she actually touched them, Kia stayed away from the walls, and was very cautious about where she stepped. [i]Squish, squish, squish, zzzaaappp[/i] That funny sound of background noise started buzzing, and the field was wiped away from around the party. A few seconds later, they were standing on a pulsating blue rock with what looked loke mummification bandages wrapped poorly around it. A shrill, high-pitched ringing sound replaced the normal field music. All other sounds ceased, even the sound of their footsteps. And standing there, in the middle of it all, was Aura. Aura, child of light, the only gleam of something good and pure in this corrupted, foul game. [COLOR=Indigo]"I'm glad you have come so far..."[/COLOR]she said in her light, angelic voice,[COLOR=Indigo]"but...I'm afraid you're too late...It's coming...Skeith is almost here...you must destroy it!"[/COLOR] And as these last words parted with Aura, a huge staff, to which only Kite was familiar, appeared behind her. Seconds later, a strange figure, humanoid, yet seemingly made of rock, and with a stone halo protruding from it's head. It held out it's hand, and with a flash, Aura was no more, just, Kia realized, as Kiara had been. Yet somehow, Aura's voice trailed on for a moment... [COLOR=Indigo]"The shadow is come...you must fight on..."[/COLOR] [COLOR=Magenta][/COLOR][COLOR=DarkRed][B]Phase 1: Skeith-The Shadow of Death[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=Magenta][/COLOR][/size]

[size=1]*Knock knock knock* [COLOR=Indigo]"Yeah, waddaya want?!" "Excuse me, but would you happen to know where I could find someone by the name of Atomsk?" "Bug off, creep." "Thank you very much, sir."[/COLOR] *Whack* *Stomp, stomp, stomp* *Knock knock knock* [COLOR=Indigo]"Yes, who is it?" "Excuse me, miss, do [i]you[/i] know where I could find Atomsk?" "Why, I'm sorry, no." "Oh...well, thanks anyways."[/COLOR] *Whack* *Stomp, stomp, stomp* *Knock knock knock* [COLOR=Indigo]"Yo, what up, dude?"[/COLOR] *Pause* [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, dawg, why're you starin' at me like dat?!" "...Never mind, I can tell you wouldn't be able to help..." "Huh?!"[/COLOR] *Whack* [COLOR=Indigo]Ow, that hurt! Don't be hatin'!"[/COLOR] *Whack Crack Crunch* *Stomp, stomp, stomp, bump* Yamimaku looked up and completely failed to be surprised that he was standing face-to-face with Maru. Again. [COLOR=Indigo]"For Christ's sake, how many times can you run into a guy in one day?"[/COLOR]Yamimaku muttered. [COLOR=Indigo]"At least once more,"[/COLOR]Maru replied, loosening his rickenbacher from the strap slung over his back,[COLOR=Indigo]"'cause we never actually finished our 'business', did we?"[/COLOR] Yamimaku looked around them. They were on a relatively large hill, standing in front of what he could only assume was the front door of a large building that looked suspiciously like an anvil.[COLOR=Indigo]"Here?!" "No, you dolt, in a garbage can! Of course here!"[/COLOR]And with that, Maru swung his guitar around and at Yamimaku the exact second Yamimaku did exactly the same. The two ended up smashing each-other right across the face. Yamimaku's nose began to bleed. He ran his tongue across his upper lip, tasting the red gloss streaming down his face.[COLOR=Indigo]"Ahhh...so this time we're playing serious, huh?"[/COLOR]he smirked. Without even pausing to draw his weapon back, he swung backhand at Maru's torso, tearing a thin line through his shirt. Maru stepped back, then lunged forward with the head piece of his guitar, intent on skewering Yamimaku. Yamimaku dodged out of the way, and the guitar head instead made a rather unsightly large dent in the front door of the building. As Yamimaku swung forward to retaliate, Maru pulled the guitar back through the door, ramming the body straight into Yamimaku's back. He then stepped lightly to the left, twirling his Rickenbacher back into 'proper' position (with the body as the part he would hit Yamimaku with), and watched as Yamimaku straightened his body out. Yamimaku stretched out, as if trying to wake up, and cracked his back.[COLOR=Indigo]"That kinda hurt, you know,"[/COLOR]he said, grinning, as he started to crack his knuckles. They both jumped up about ten feet in the air and started battling up there, completely ignoring the laws of gravity for almost a full five minutes, during which time Yamimaku landed some really harsh blows on Maru's head, and Maru had come very close to gutting Yamimaku with the guitar head, but had instead missed, then swung backwards again, nearly snapping Yamimaku's spine in half. Finally, after having ignored physics for about six and a half minutes, an unexpected blow from Maru sent Yamimaku flying backward with so much force that when he slammed into the building, he actually slammed [i]into[/i] the building, making a large hole in the door. He got back up, brushing the dust and debris off his leather trenchcoat. Maru was in the building with him, sirens blaring out the intruder alert. The guards would be there any minute, and then he'd have to fight [i]them[/i] too. Still, this didn't seem like a terrible place to hold a fight, and, noticing the little sign at the door saying [i]Medical Mechanical[/i], and continued to fight Maru, anaware of what was about to happen to them...[/size]

[size=1]War is Hell. Caught up in a war, being it only even a cyber war, one must accept the losses likely to be sustained in the midst of duty. But [i]this[/i]...to be betrayed by one's own ally, to be forced to look on helplessly as one you care for is destroyed by one you thought you could trust...Lios was, Kia was convinced now more than ever, consisted of about 99% pure evil, 1% complete idiot. She had felt, or at least as far as she could remember, some measure of this torturous thought before, when she watched Magus kill her best friend, then kill her afterwards, so she knew now [i]exactly[/i] how Kayla felt. Almost, that is... Kayla, after all, had been forced to experience the pain of loss [i]and[/i] betrayal first-hand, whereas Kia had only witnessed the unexpected premature fall of her only friend at the hands of an enemy. As Kia walked through Carmina Gadelica (without fear, now, of being killed by more experienced players, as they all knew they'd be dealing with two highly skilled Player-Killers if they so much as lay a finger on her), she saw Kayla standing there, looking downright miserable. [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, Kayla..."[/COLOR]she said gently as she approached her,[COLOR=Indigo]"I heard about what happened to Trevor...I'm really sorry..." "Yeah...Kia, could you do me a favor and not bring it up right now?"[/COLOR]Kayla replied,[COLOR=Indigo]"I'd rather not talk about it..." "Oh...yeah, I guess that'd be for the best...So, what's the plan right now?"[/COLOR]Kia asked, trying to change the subject. [COLOR=Indigo]"Me and Katsuki are on our way to San Fransisco. We're gonna pay a little visit to CC Corp." "Who's Katsuki? And San Fransisco? Isn't that in the United States?"[/COLOR]Kia asked, immediately interested in both topics. [COLOR=Indigo]"Oh, you didn't know Sakura's real name? She's Katsuki, and yes, we're on a plane to San Fransisco right now. I'm using my laptop." "A laptop, huh? What time of year is it around there? Not Winter, I hope? Be careful, Kayla...that's how I died..." "Huh? Oh, I forgot!" "yeah...froze to death...most unpleasant, if I can remember...right there in the middle of the park." "That was you all that time ago?" "Yeah,"[/COLOR]Kia nodded.[COLOR=Indigo]"That's beside the point, though. You guys are going to fight CC Corp, then? Like, In court?" If that's what it takes, yes..."[/COLOR]Kayla replied...[/size]

OCC: [COLOR=DarkRed]Seeker[/COLOR] ([COLOR=Navy]of Atomsk's Power[/COLOR]) IC:[size=1]Yamimaku, of course, never ate his meal. Instead, he walked up to the counter and started throwing all fourteen burgers (one by one) at the people working behind the ordering counter with enough intensity to knock them out. When everyone in the store was effectively unconscious and bleeding, he plainly said that he would like a refund, smacked the cash regiter with his Stratocaster, and took all the money. He walked outside (stuffing the money in his pocket) and sat on a bench nearby. A car came by, and as it passed him, it stopped abruptly. The woman inside whipped out her cell phone, dialed some number, and began ranting into the other line. Noticing he was looking at her menacingly, she snapped the phone shut, and the wheels began to screech. In a flash, Yamimaku had jumped out of the bench, smashed his guitar through the window, and was holding it softly, yet threateningly, up to her neck. [COLOR=Indigo]Okay, who did you just call?" "The UEDO. They told us to phone in any suspicious characters." "And do I look suspicious to you?" "Well...yeah." "Damnit,"[/COLOR]Yamimaku muttered,[COLOR=Indigo]"Fine. This never happened. If anyone asks you, the phone call you made was a total prank. Got it?"[/COLOR] The woman nooded as if to say 'sure, as long as you keep that guitar [i]at[/i] my neck, and not [i]in[/i] it.' [COLOR=Indigo]"Good,"[/COLOR]Yamimaku growled. [i]Well, now that the UEDO has been alerted to my presence, I should get a faster form of transportation. After all, how am I supposed to search for the Ultimate Power of Atomsk with them breathing down my neck?[/i] Yamimaku thought as he walked off in search of a motorcycle shop. [i]This Atomsk guy had better be worth all this trouble. This dumb rock of a planet is the last place I'd ever want to be. Then again, I've heard with his immense powers, Atomsk was able to steal entire worlds...what would a guy like that be doing here...?[/i][/size] OOC: Hehehe...Yamimaku wants to steal the world! Ha! :devil:

[size=1]Yamimaku was, for a brief moment, happy. he had found a new interest in life, one that he could mess around with, with one little change: this new subject could 'mess' back. He realized that if he was to be paying a visit to this 'Maru' person, he'd first need to find his wallet. For, he reasoned, if he was going to knock over a McDonald's just to get at one of it's employees, he'd want to grab a bite to eat first. He walked down the street...perhaps he would get hold of a better means of transportation soon...walking was so much more satisfying, though... Finally, he arrived at the kiosk he had been sitting next to that day, and supressed a wicked giggle as he watched a pickpocket thief fidgeting around with his wallet, as though it might attempt to bite him if he tried to steal any money. Yamimaku crept up behind the idiot, guitar raised... [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, remind me,"[/COLOR]he asked the idiot robber,[COLOR=Indigo]"do I have any money in there?"[/COLOR]The thief turned pale white before getting slammed clear across the street by Yamimaku's guitar.[COLOR=Indigo]"What a stupid idiot,"[/COLOR]Yamimaku said, smiling as he caught the wallet that had flung up into the air when he had hit the thief. Opening the wallet, he discovered, and none too much to his surprise, that he was completely broke.[COLOR=Indigo]"Awww...now I have to go mug someone..."[/COLOR] And so he did. Well, once again, he asked some random man *very politely* for the money. The man was very generous with his pocketbook. With the necessary amount of money in hand(about 300 American dollars worth), Yamimaku began the long walk to the McDonald's (with enormous ammounts of hitting people). He walked in through the front door, haphazardly whistling some nonsense of his own division. He walked up to the counter (completely failing to notice that he was about to order from Maru), and quite plainly ordered his lunch. [COLOR=Indigo]"Yeah, I'd like fourteen cheeseburgers, please,"[/COLOR]he said. [COLOR=Indigo]would you like fries with that?"[/COLOR]Maru asked with that adorable (if not to hateable) McDonald's smile you're actually [i]trained[/i] to give people if you actually feel like working at such a dismal place. Yamimaku recognized his voice. He looked up at him from under his huge hat. [COLOR=Indigo]"Oh, it's [i]you[/i]..."[/COLOR]he said flatly, and totally failed to be shocked about the coincidence.[COLOR=Indigo]"No, I don't think I would. Thanks for asking, though.[/COLOR] [COLOR=Indigo]"That'll be fourteen dollars, sir,"[/COLOR]Maru said airily. The whole McDonald's thing was starting to bug Yamimaku. [COLOR=Indigo]"You know, you really don't have to pull that 'hello world, may I take your order' crap on me."[/COLOR] [COLOR=Indigo]"Oh, but I [i]do[/i]. It's what I get payed for,"[/COLOR]Maru replied, bringing back the large platter of cheeseburgers that he somehow knew Yamimaku wouldn't be eating. [COLOR=Indigo]"Ah. Okay, then..."[/COLOR]Yamimaku said happily, taking the tray. He then walked over to one of the tables and sat down, haphazardly unwrapping his food...[/size]

[size=1]Yamimaku looked up and down the guy standing in front of him. Despite his huge black hat, the sun was beginning to irritate him. The guy's apparent wanting to speak with him also set him off his mood, which had been just starting to recover from his frustrating walk to the guitar shop. [COLOR=Indigo]"I would like to speak with you,"[/COLOR]the guy repeated. [COLOR=Indigo]"No, you don't,"[/COLOR]Yamimaku replied flatly. He noticed that the guy had a guitar of his own...a Rickenbacker Bass Guitar. A coincidence, he decided. [COLOR=Indigo]"Yes, I-" "listen, bub. I just got these new strings not five minutes ago. Do you have any idea how much damage this guitar would sustain if I were to simply hit you with it?" "No. How much?" [/COLOR]Yamimaku grinned.[COLOR=Indigo]"Absolutely none."[/COLOR]And with that, he whipped his hand over his shoulder to the neck of his guitar and swung it with all his force at the insolent fool standing before him. *THUD* As Yamimaku opened his eyes, he almost dropped his guitar in surprise; the fool stood there with an equally defiant look on his face, was holding the neck of his Rickenbacker, which now stood directly between Yamimaku's Stratocaster and his head. [COLOR=Indigo]"Oh, so we [i]are[/i] in the mood for a beating today, are we?"[/COLOR]Yamimaku said acidly. [COLOR=Indigo]"A beating?"[/COLOR]the guy replied,[COLOR=Indigo]"have you ever even [i]been[/i] to a McDonald's?"[/COLOR] And so it became a sword-fight between the two, except instead of swords, they wielded guitars. Amidst the chaotic strikes, Yamimaku shouted,[COLOR=Indigo]"You've some skill with your weapon! What's your name?!" My name is Maru Maku Masu, but you can call me Maru!" "Maru it is, then!"[/COLOR]Yamimaku shouted. Then, as an afterthought, he decided it was only appropriate that since the stranger had graciously given him his name, that it was only appropriate that he return the favor.[COLOR=Indigo]"I'm Yamimaku, but do yourself a favor and call me Maku!"[/COLOR] They continued fighting for the longest time. After a full hour (at which point they had not only completely failed to land a single blow on each-other, but had also caused great injury to anyone that tried to watch the action), Yamimaku noticed that he was just beginning to tire. He knew he could still fight for a few more days if he had to, but no-one had ever lasted more than ten seconds against him, much less an hour. This made Maru seem much less of a "fool" in his eyes. He withdrew himself from the fight, simply allowing Maru's last swing spend itself in dead air. [COLOR=Indigo]"Excellent. You are...a magnificant fighter,"[/COLOR]Yamimaku said, and he actually meant it for a change. A thought struck him, and he decided to play around with the thought a bit.[COLOR=Indigo]"You...I know no-one from this town-"[/COLOR][i]or indeed from this world,[/i] he thought,[COLOR=Indigo]"-knows how to fight as well as you. You're...you're not from around here, are you?" "Bingo,"[/COLOR]Maru replied. [COLOR=Indigo]"I thought as much,"[/COLOR]mused Yamimaku,[COLOR=Indigo]"Well, in that case, I guess I'll be seeing you again..."[/COLOR] He began to walk down the street, and another equally interesting thought struck him. He glanced back briefly. [COLOR=Indigo]"By the way, how much does a cheeseburger cost at your job nowadays?" "Dude, don't you have a TV? It's been on the dollar menu for about a year now,"[/COLOR]Maru replied, seeming less than happy about it. [COLOR=Indigo]"One dollar..."[/COLOR]Yamimaku chuckled quietly to himself as he resumed his leisurely walk down the street,[COLOR=Indigo]"One dollar..."[/COLOR][/size]

[size=1]One thing Yamimaku had never fully gotten used to was how incredibly stupid the local populace was. It seemed as though they couldn't get the idea that he would break his guitar's strings over their head (literally) if they tried to catch his attention. As a matter of fact, some of them managed to strike up some alarmingly civilized conversations with him... [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, how're ya doin'?"[/COLOR] *WHACK* Stomp, stomp, stomp. [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey there! I like your guit-"[/COLOR] *WHACK* Stomp, stomp, stomp. [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, I couldn't help but notice that-"[/COLOR] *WHACK* Stomp, stomp, stomp. [COLOR=Indigo]"Hey, I'll give you a dollar if you play that there guitar for me!"[/COLOR] *Pause...* *WHACK WHACK SLAM BASH BANG THWACK CRUNCH CRUNCH CRACK SNAP BASH BANG TWANG* This last sound was made by the succesive snapping of every string on Yamimaku's guitar. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp... This sort of completely random violence went on for the better half of the day, and by the time Yamimaku actually got to the guitar repair shop, he had succeeded in beating up most of the pedestrians on that street. Looking through his pockets, however, he realized that he had left all his money in his wallet, which he had left by the phone some time ago. Nevertheless, he went into the store and *very politely* asked the store manager to give him the new strings free of charge. It is truly amazing how generous people are when there is a guitar ready to slam down on their head if they refuse. With the new strings in hand, Yamimaku calmly left the shop, plugging his CD player back in, listening to his "killer tunes".[/size]

[size=1]All Yamimaku Sakishi had ever cared about was his guitar. Period. Right now, he was playing his Jet-Black custom Stratocaster, just for a change. He just sat there on a bench by a phone kiosk near the highway. He played with expert skill, he played his favorite songs. [COLOR=Indigo]"Ride on, shooting star..."[/COLOR]he hummed, playing in perfect tune with his CD player. He was about halfway through the song, plucking at the strings with masterful expertise. What time was it? Insignificant. The sun...it was nearly ninety degrees out. Did [i]that[/i] matter? No. His large black 'warlock' novelty hat shaded him with it's massive rim. At length, a jogger came up the street. Yamimaku's guitar caught his ear, and he came running up. He fished around in his pocket, unaware that Yamimaku was glaring at him from under the huge hat. His final mistake was in attempting to actually [i]pay[/i] him. As he tossed the change to Yamimaku for a job well done, Yamimaku looked up, and for a moment the two's eyes met. [COLOR=Indigo]"Damn you..."[/COLOR]Yamimaku growled, and with one fluid motion he grabbed the upper half of his guitar and smashed it into the side of the man's neck.[COLOR=Indigo]"I was only practicing!"[/COLOR]Yamimaku yelled after the man as the poor jogger careened up over the nearest building. Unfortunately, the impact of this beating had popped one of his guitar's strings out. Yamimaku stared in horror at the misshapen steel cord dangling out over the road. In about two seconds, however, he regained his composure and walked off towards the nearest guitar shop. On his way, passing by an alley, a strange robot-looking object came flying down from the roof above and left quite a nasty dent in the alley wall. Yamimaku shrugged, muttering something about how ****ed up this town was...[/size]

Okay, here's a little thread out there for those of you who know you've got mad gaming skills, but never found anyone you could talk to about it. Pick a game. Any game. Post the most INSANE thing you've ever done in that game. Then, just see what others think! My most insane moment was in Devil May Cry, when I hit up a 413-hit combo (yes, I counted them all) against a group of Marionettes in the hallway of the second level where they just keep spawning for about 5 minutes. Of course, I had to get cheap with pistols 6 or 7 times, but what can you do? If I hadn't gotten a STYLISH rating on that, someone would've gotten hurt, and I'm not talking in the game. What about you guys?

[size=1]The Cubia Core was sliding silently off the platform. Kia knew that this meant Cubia was unleashing another devastating move. The others, too, were uneasy; they felt the change come over the arena...a sickly stillness that choked the air and swept your breath from you. Kia chased after the core as it flitted soundlessly across the circular warzone, slashing at it best she could (it was currently magic tolerant). Suddenly, the floor was gone beneath Kia's feet; she had misjudged the distance between her, the core, and the ledge. She fell, screaming, twisting around only just in time to grasp the edge of the platform with the tips of one of her hands. She looked down and got a good idea of what infinity looked like: down, down, down the field went, bottomless, eternal, and dark. One of her daggers twirled away into nothingness. She felt the strength in her fingers leaving her... [COLOR=Indigo]"HELP ME! ANYONE!"[/COLOR]she yelled; if she let herself fall, she'd have a long time to think about it before hitting the ground, if there was one. Shadow was the one to answer her cry, grasping her wrist tightly.[COLOR=Indigo]"Gotcha!"[/COLOR]he said triumphantly. His plated gauntlets cut into her skin, but he kept hold, determined not to let her fall. The others ran over, too, desperate to get away from the choking stillness above on the platform. Kayla was wondering what the next attack was...Cubia had stood silent for some time now, it's skeletal face grimacing. [COLOR=Indigo]"Shadow, I'm slipping! Help!"[/COLOR]Kia sqealed, and indeed, her hand was beginning to slip out of it's glove. Shadow worked feverishly, pulling her up. The others helped out too, everyone grabbed Kia's arm and starting to pull her up. Then, without warning, Cubia's long-delayed attack made itsself known. Long, cold, bony fingers wrapped around her legs, and yanked her down with such force that she was torn from everyone's grasp, leaving only her pink glove in Shadow's hand. The Legion Reach-induced skeletal hands hauled Kia up over the platform now, now wrapping it's skeleton hands around her entire body. It began to sqeeze, ever harder, until Kia felt she might burst. She drew up her head, as if it took great ammounts of effort, and stared helplessly at them. [COLOR=Indigo]"Guys...help...me..."[/COLOR]she moaned in agony, as she lost her breath under the crushing grip of the Legion's Reach. [COLOR=Indigo]"KIA!"[/COLOR]everyone screamed, trying to find a way to help her as the Cubia Core and Gomurae returned. [COLOR=Red]OOC-Heh...I hate the Legion Reach attack...[/color][/size]

[b]NAME:[/b]Yamimaku Sakishi [b]AGE:[/b]19 [b]SEX:[/b]Male [b]RACE:[/b]Alien [b]JOB:[/b]The local crazy masachistic guy. [b]WEAPON:[/b]jet-black custom Stratocaster [b]CLOTHING:[/b]Tye-Die T-Shirt, Black Jeans, Black Leather Trenchcoat ([i]a la[/i] the Matrix), a black Warlock's hat. -think basically along the lines of a younger Vincent from the Cowboy Bebop movie- [b]FAVORITE COLOR:[/b]black [b]TRANSPORTATION:[/b]actually enjoys walking [b]LIKES:[/b]Playing guitar at ear-blowing sound levels, hitting people at random [b]DISLIKES:[/b]Kids, stupid people that try to give him money when he's playing his guitar [b]BIO:[/b]Trys hard to never be happy, but he just has so much fun bashing people for the sake of sheer random insanity, it's kinda hard not to. He is THE BEST guitar player in town. Period. Of course, no-one would want to listen to him, unless from at a safe distance, so he's not really getting anything out of it. In any case, he doesn't particularly care what others think of him, and wouldn't think twice about smashing his guitar over anyone's head who tryed to compliment him. [b]ALL IN ALL:[/b]not the friendliest guy in the neighborhood. [b]ALIGNMENT:[/b]Alien. how's that?

[size=1]Kia and Sakura ran through the dungeon, Sakura admittedly doing most of the work (as Kia was technically level 1), whe na disturbing thought struck Kia. At that moment, however, a monster attacked, and the thought was driven out of her mind. Sakura took care of it easily enough, but now Kia wondered what it was that had disturbed her before. Something big was supposed to be happening, that much she knew, but what? She couldn't remember what it had been... [COLOR=Indigo]"Um...Kia?"[/COLOR]Sakura asked,[COLOR=Indigo]"what's wrong?"[/COLOR]Kia had just been standing there, thinking, and as Sakura finished off the monster (decapitating it it with a massive swing to it's neck), she waited a few minutes before asking what was up.[COLOR=Indigo]"Kia, I asked you what was wrong...what's up?"[/COLOR]she repeated." [COLOR=Indigo]"Hmmm...I was just thinking...something's about to happen, but I can't figure out what..."[/COLOR]Kia muttered. From that point on, they didn't find another single monster nor portal until they got down to the third basement floor of the dungeon. Something...something bad...something evil was coming...Kia felt it...lurking through the system. A vague form arose in her mind, a shadow...of a tree, or something. [i]thump, thump[/i]. [COLOR=Indigo]"Huh?!"[/COLOR]Kia squealed, surprised. [COLOR=Indigo]"What is it, Kia?"[/COLOR]Sakura asked, surprised at seeing Kia snap rigid, like a statue, her hands clenched in little fists at her sides. [i]thump, thump[/i]. [COLOR=Indigo]"Shhh! It's coming! Don't you hear it?"[/COLOR] [COLOR=Indigo]What are you talking abo-"[/COLOR] [i]THUMP, THUMP[/i]. The screen blacked out for Sakura, aside from her character, and Kia. Then, they were standing on what looked like a huge Bracelet, like Kite's. [COLOR=Indigo]"Oh, god!"[/COLOR]Kia screamed, looking up. There, descending down upon them...Cubia, the Hidden One, had arrived, the one thing Kia had forgotten...[/size]

[size=1]Too much...Far, far too much. Now lios had the power of the Bracelet, along with the other lesser administrators, moderators, and such. Kayla obviously thought that these one-time Bracelets [i]could[/i] be beneficial, but Kia believed otherwise. Kayla saw it as a new way to defeat the Phases; a weapon. Kia saw it as yet another symbol of her inevitable doom. Kia knew, after all, that CC Corp. were a bunch of dolts, but they weren't complete pin-heads. Lios, in any case, would use the bracelet to his advantage, she figured. There would be Research teams at CC Corp, working on the miracle/curse that was the Bracelet of Twilight. How long...how long until they figured out how to create a complete, permanent version of the Data-Drain? How long until Lios found her again, and then, what if Helba wasn't there to save her? No...it couldn't happen. Kia decided to confront Kayla on the matter. Amidst the confusion of the others' sudden departure, Kia slipped through the small knot of players lucky enough to only be 'comatose'. She hated them, every one of them, naturally. Carefully climbing down the slope, making sure the others didn't spot her. They'd send her back up for sure, if they spotted her. Once she was satisfied that the others couldn't see, Kia quickly ran up to Kayla, who, as she had predicted, was extremely upset about her coming. [COLOR=Indigo]"what the heck do you think you're doing?! You could get killed down here!"[/COLOR]she said. [COLOR=Indigo]"Kayla, we need to talk about this whole Bracelet thing,"[/COLOR]Kia replied. [COLOR=Indigo]"you see, you may think this could be a great asset to us. Hell, for all I know, you could be right. But I can't just sit here and watch Lios kill everyone while our backs are turned! You know he will, Kia. He hates me. He hates [i]us[/i]. I'm not going to stand here and wait for that to happen..."[/COLOR] [COLOR=Indigo]"Kia, I know this is rough. Especially for you. I still can't believe you joined us, when it's so dangerous to you. But just think: what if we could pull the pig-head over to our side? We could each have our ow-" "Lios?! Side with us?! Please, Kayla. I know you're smarter than that. What reason does he have to side with us? As far as he's concerned, he could wrap this whole thing up in five minutes, the stupid fool. And then him and the other idiots at CC Corp. could deny any of this had ever happened, having just turned...all...us...trapped...players...into...CANNON FODDER!"[/COLOR]Kia screamed. Kayla recoiled slightly. Kia was acting very...uncharacteristic. [COLOR=Indigo]"Kia...I know you have your own reasons for...disliking Lios, but seriously, how can you be of any help to us if you get killed? Any player-Killer would be more than up to it, you know...and anyhow, even if somehow you [i]do[/i] make it to Magus, how do you expect to fight it? You don't have a Data-Drain,"[/COLOR]Kayla reasoned. [COLOR=Indigo]"I don't care. Me and Magus...we have unfinished business. I think I told you about my long-ago friend, Kiara?"[/COLOR]Kia asked. [COLOR=Indigo]"Yeah...she was your friend that went into a coma a little over four years ago..."[/COLOR]Kayla remembered. [COLOR=Indigo]"A coma...but at whose hands?"[/COLOR]Kia prodded. [COLOR=Indigo]"Lemme guess...Magus?"[/COLOR]Kayla guessed, 'taking the hint', as they say.[COLOR=Indigo]"Okay, so I can get that. But Kia, does it really make sense? You can't fight it alone and-" "Oh, I give up! You just don't get it, do you? I'm going to fight Magus RIGHT NOW, and nothing between Heaven, Hell, [i]or[/i] this...this [i]purgatory[/i] is going to stop me!"[/COLOR]Kia exclaimed, suddenly racing off towards the Chaos Gate. [COLOR=Indigo]Kia, wait!"[/COLOR]Kayla shouted, running after Kia. As she ran, she sesnt a message to everyone. [b]TO:[/b] everyone [b]FROM:[/b]Kayla Everyone meet me at the field we discovered Magus to be at, ASAP! I'm chasing Kia there. Kayla got to the portal just in time to see the last magic rings; proof of Kia's blind stupidity. She yelled out the key-words and followed Kia to the corrupted field. She got to the dungeon entrance just in time to see Kia staring at her from the entrance to the dungeon. Then, Kia closed her eyes and turned off into the dungeon, flicking her hair as she went. [Color=red]OOC-Owch! Fingers hurt![/color][/size]

[font=garamond][size=4]H[/size][size=2]elix walked into Kia's bedroom, only to find that she was still asleep. He crept up silently beside her and gently nudged her, trying to wake her up. As her eyes opened slowly, he spoke softly to her: [color=teal]"It is time for your studies, your highness."[/color]Even as Helix spoke these words, he cringed at the thought. Studies with Kia were another way of saying 'disaster'. Her mind was ever wandering, her thoughts elsewhere. Kia slowly rose up out of her bed, rubbing the exhaustion from her eyes. [color=blue]"...? Oh! I'm sorry, sir, I must've dozed off..."[/color]Kia managed to sort of mutter, still trying to stay awake. 'figures,' Helix thought, as he helped Kia up out of her bed. [color=teal]"Please try to refrain from calling me 'sir', your highness,"[/color]Helix said slowly. [color=teal]"It is most...unfitting,"[/color]he added after a moment. Helix was quite unaccustomed to this sort of behavior; here he stood, a lowly demon, in front of a new Demon Lord who seemed, at least for the moment, completely different from the Lords he had seen before...[i]kind[/i], even. The most highly respected Demon Lord supervisor in the world, Helix had [i]never[/i] had to actually [i]train[/i] one of his lords and masters before.[color=teal]"And I must ask you to [i]never[/i] apologize to anyone again. [i]Ever[/i]."[/color] [color=blue]"I'm sorry. Why shouldn't I?"[/color]Kia asked. She was totally new to this whole 'Demon Lord' thing. Ever since she had been told that this beautiful castle was hers, she had somehow gotten the idea that it was a terribly important job, but she still wasn't sure at all what the job was. 'This does not bode well,' Helix thought. [color=teal]"Because,"[/color]he explained,[color=teal]"it is inappropriate for one so important as yourself to be so [i]polite[/i] to inferiors. And to a Demon Lord, [i]everyone[/i] is inferior. Do you understand now, your highness?"[/color] [color=blue]"Yes, I think so,"[/color]Kia replied.[color=blue]"Um, Helix? How do I get to the library again?"[/color]she asked, glancing around at the castle which seemed to go on forever in each direction. She knew Helix couldn't have told her any less than four times already, but, once again, she had forgotten. Helix growled.[color=teal]"For the last time,"[/color]he shouted,[color=teal]"you have but to envision the location you wish to go to in your mind, firmly state it's name, and say 'now', and you will be immediately taken there!"[/color]Helix immediately regretted shouting at her; any decent Demon Lord would have killed him on the spot for so much as raising his voice to them. [color=blue]"Okay, okay, sorry!"[/color]Kia apologized, shrinking away from Helix. Kia had always been scared when people screamed, and old habits, they say, die hard. Quickly, she closed her eyes and recited the location of the study, and said 'now'. Suddenly, she blinked out of space, vanishing to the library. Helix smirked.[color=teal]"This is going to be a very...trying service."[/color]Then he too was gone. When Helix opened his eyes, he was slightly surprised to find Kia there, staring in wonder at the endless shelves of books lined up all around them. 'Well, at least she teleports without difficulty,' he thought. Kia turned around and, seeing him standing there, actually leapt up 'at attention'. [color=teal]"I beg of you, you highness...stop being so polite. It is difficult to maintain one's respect for another who humbles themself in front of their own subordinates,"[/color]Helix groaned. Kia seemed somewhat taken aback by the thought; she had never [i]ever[/i] considered being impolite to [i]anyone[/i]. Before she got a chance to apologize, Helix cut in again.[color=teal]"Let's just begin the studies, your highness."[/color]He began to search the expansive shelves in front of him for the necessary books for the studies. [color=teal]"Today's lesson,"[/color]he noted,[color=teal]"concerns the basics of elemental magic. After you have completed the study, we shall go to the courtyard to practice magic configuration. Does this schedule suit you, your highness?"[/color] [color=blue]"Um...sure, Helix, whatever you say..."[/color]Kia drifted off, not quite following what he was talking about. She sat down at one of the tables lined up in the section they were in just as Helix finally pulled two dusty, old-looking books from the shelf he had been going through. He set them down gently on the table and slid them across to the side Kia was sitting on. She opened the book carefully, as it seemed too much strain would tear it apart. She then began to read from it's tanned, but well-kept pages. This is what it said...[/size] [center][size=4][color=sienna]Concerning Elemental Magic[/center] A[/size][size=2]ccording to the ancient ones, one's ability to cast magic depends entirely upon his or her attributes. Every being, upon being born, encounters an elemental influence. Upon this encounter, the element manifests itself, to become the person's attribute. There are five possible attributes:[/size] [size=4]Fire[/size][size=2], the power of strength and courage. One with Fire attributes may cast Fire magic. Fire magic can be used in several different ways, such as to create light or heat. Fire magic [i]can[/i] be used as a weapon, but one must be aware of the sometimes explosive side-effects.[/size] [size=4]Water[/size][size=2], the power of healing and serenity. One with Water attributes may cast Water magic. Water magic tends towards the healing side with spells that heal, prevent injury, or purify. Water magic has few attacking spells, but there are some potent ones.[/size] [size=4]Wind[/size][size=2], the power of agility and sagacity. One with Wind attributes can cast Wind magic. Wind magic specializes in the alteration of time (speeding or hindering the movement of others). There are also several powerful offensive spells involving cyclone-type effects.[/size] [size=4]Light[/size][size=2], the power of life and kindness. One with Light attributes may cast Holy magic. The most potent healing spells in existance are cast using Holy magic. One may even revive others who have recently passed away. For the amazing healing abilities of Holy magic, there are very few attack-worthy Holy spells known.[/size] [size=4]Darkness[/size][size=2], the power of destruction and malice. One with Dark attributes may cast Black magic. Dark magic comes in many forms, every one of which are used to harm others. Poisons, voodoos, pain, and death spells can be found in Black magic. Black magic can't heal [i]directly[/i], though there are a few drain spells, and one spell to raise the dead (although the dead will be 'zombified', and unable to think or be healed).[/size] [size=2]Unfortunately, if one is not associated with a particular element, that individual cannot use magic from that attribute. Exceptional beings MAY be able to conjure a non-characteristic spell if they exert themselves, but the end result wouldn't be worth the effort.[/size] [size=2]Magic is cast using Mezreaz. Mezreaz is the standard measurement of magical energy. To collect mezreaz, one simply draws the energy into one's body. The average magic-caster draws in about fifty mezreaz worth of energy each day. Beginning magic-casters need only about ten mezreaz worth. Once mezreaz is gathered, it stays inside the magic-caster until used. -Ω[/color][/size] [size=2][color=blue]"Wow, that's fascinating, Helix! I wonder what attribute I have..."[/color]Kia said. There was a long silence. After this there was another long silence. Veins started to appear on Helix's forehead. An extremely aggravated look crossed his face. 'Uh oh,' Kia thought, 'I must've said something wrong again...' Helix somehow managed to maintain his composure and explained to her, with great patience,[color=teal]"Your highness, you are a Dark-attributed person. Also, the gods chose to gift you with the responsibility of being a Demon-lord. As such, I am your humble servant. I've taken an oath to always do your bidding."[/color]With that, he bowed down to the floor and looked up at her. [color=blue]"Um...Helix, you can stop bowing now,"[/color]Kia said after a while. Helix got up off the floor.[color=teal]"I am at your service, your highness,"[/color]he said with another, slightly less full bow, more of a nod than an actual bow. [color=teal]"You should have some time to gather the mezreaz we'll be using for practice today. I am going to go to the front gate, in case some smartass knight tries to break in while you gather your mezreaz,"[/color]Helix said with a smile, as though this idea brought him some satisfaction. Kia thought this was fair; it would give her a chance to change out of her nightgown, in any case. [color=blue]"Okay, have fun, Helix!"[/color]she shouted after him as he left, waving and smiling. She teleported up to her chambers and rummaged around in the huge closet in it.[/font][/size]