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bluepenguinstories · 3 years ago

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Remoras Full Chapter XXXVI: Winds of Change

Early spring, the rustle of the reeds against a gentle breeze. An indentation made among several rows of them as I lay, pressed into the damp soil. Arms under my head, eyes closed, thoughts floated away, just as they ought to. There were many reasons to worry, many wrongs to correct, and many mysteries to solve. But none of those things could happen unless I allowed myself a moment’s rest.

What of the others? Did I abandon them? No. But I wasn’t meant to stay for very long, it just wasn’t who I was. By nature, I was a drifter. By trade, almost, if such a thing were possible in the current age.

Ray gave me a phone so that he could call whenever things got bad again. It was like an ebb and flow, little tremors. Sometimes the activity would quiet down, but not long enough for anyone to think that the nightmares were over. Then they would build back up and people would show up with gashes, scrapes, bruises, all over their bodies with no explanation. Some reported whispers and little shadows that resembled people, but not quite. Whenever it slowed down, I went away again and found some place to hide out.

Why? Well, let’s just say I had my suspicions that I was just as much a target as were Ray and the others. Just the simple fact that an anonymous letter requested my death was enough to warrant such a suspicion. Ha. If whoever was behind that note wanted me so bad, they should have just fought me themselves. No games, no beating around the bush. My time could come any day now, but if someone wanted to take this life from me, by all means. But they ought to expect a fight.

Speaking of notes, there was one which was left for me that night when I met Remora in that abandoned building (well, not so much “abandoned” now, as I managed to get the electricity working before I left. Tragic as it may be, that was all I could do before I left and things turned south for me. I guess too many tip offs and “authorities” grew suspicious. So I bailed, as I often did, and I could only hope that those homeless friends I met weren’t so homeless, even if there was so much more I could have done had I managed to stay). It had Ray and Sunny’s address, as well as the phone number of the one who killed Rhea.

When I awoke, the piece of paper had been next to me, and curious, I picked it up. As soon as I looked over the contents, I scoffed, let out a little laugh.

“She’s really insistent, isn’t she?” I shook my head as I mused to myself. On the back of the paper was a further explanation of the events which transpired between ‘Ves’ and Rhea:

“Ves told me the story at the bar. Not that I needed to know the details from her, I already had an idea. Her original name was Etna Modelo. If that name rings a bell, it’s because she was part of the original ‘ETNA’ project. She had begun to grow unstable as the part of her that housed the angel of happiness clashed with the part of her that was human. Such a clash had adverse effects on those around her. The other ‘R’ and Douglas Fir were tasked with removing her from the world. Both met their end, although Ves seemed rather mournful of ‘R’ when we met, and although cured, it’s evident that the ordeal still effects her.

As I wasn’t there, I don’t know the full story, so I would still recommend asking her yourself. Your call, though. I’d just like to move on from it.”

Remora probably wrote that figuring I wouldn’t want to contact Ves myself. Yes, ‘Etna’, I’ve heard of her before: the girl on the run, the experiment, the artificial doctor. All of her incarnations. Hotheaded, explosive, short-tempered were all words that were used to describe her in reports and between eavesdrops of idle gossip from those who were aware of The Flashbulb’s pet project.

I considered contacting her, but felt it best not to. We were strangers, and she probably wanted to move on from such a thing as well. Besides, that was all I needed to know. Maybe whatever angel was with us now came here because they sensed one of their kin? Who the hell knew?

Rather than solve some cosmic mystery, some existential threat, I was instead relaxed in the fields of a small town in Idaho. As of late, I’ve been staying with this middle-aged man named Cleaver in his little shack. Two hammocks hung inside, he slept below, I above. Next to him was a wolf who he named Mange. Not my first choice of names for a wolf, but it wasn’t my place to judge.

I got up and stretched.

Still early in the day; a crisp air, a cerulean hue in the sky. Everything was early, yet not. As I made my way back to the shack, I caught a glimpse of cleaver with his sagged, sunken face and his potbelly hanging low out from his white T-shirt. Scruff all over his face, gray hairs all over.

“Fancy day for a squirrel barbecue,” he scratched his chin and announced in a low voice.

“Ha. You and your meals,” I replied as I brushed aside some tall grass. “You do realize there’s a restaurant nearby, right?”

“Bah! You just don’t get it, Zephyr: that shit costs money. You know, our ancestors got by just fine without money.”

What makes you think your ancestors are my ancestors?

“Sure, but are you really gonna subsist on corn and rodents?” I retorted.

“Hey, if it tastes good and it doesn’t kill me, what does it matter?”

I put my hands in my pockets and shrugged my shoulders. Fair, I guess.

My swords were laid inside his shack. Mange knew better than to knock them down. When it came to food, I had two options: The Garage Cafe, or run 8 miles to the nearest city and get some Wendy’s.

“I might be gone for a few hours,” I mentioned, “so see you later in the afternoon?”

“You know I don’t care where you go,” he waved off. That was something I liked about staying with him, is that neither of us ever minded the other’s business. He reminded me of an old man I once knew who I also crashed with. Rather literally, but I’d rather not get into that. He was kind enough, and I might not have survived without the help, but it was clear he wouldn’t last. I was just glad that I got to see off that old man. That was a few hundred years ago, but memories were funny that way, how they didn’t care how long ago something was, just how important they could have been.

Before I could depart to Wendy’s (let’s be real, while I knew it was junk food, I couldn’t help but love that place because of its name), I heard the sound of shoes against soft soil, someone running, and their short breaths.

Sounds of Mange’s growls could be heard from inside the shack. I scanned the area until I spotted the source of the running: a young woman, about a foot shorter than I, with messy, shoulder-length blonde hair. Still, there was no denying that I recognized that face.

“Fi...finally,” she huffed and hunched over to catch her breath once she approached me. “I found you. You wouldn’t believe how difficult it was to find you.”

Tell me about it.

I blinked. I opened my mouth, then closed it. It took a while before I could figure out what I wanted to say.

“How did you find me?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“I asked some of your friends in Chicago. Otis, I think was his name, told me how you said you were headed to Caldwell, Idaho. So I went there, asked around, and apparently an employee at the Wendy’s there says she’s seen you head over toward Notus.”

“Dammit, Otis,” I cursed under my breath.

Really, it’s my own fault for telling anyone where I’d be heading. I just figured after I returned from Ray’s diner that I’d check in on how some of those folks were doing.

“You know this girl, Zephyr?” Cleaver called over.

“Yeah. She’s fine. Tell your dog to knock it off,” I called back over to him.

“MANGE! SHUT IT!” Cleaver yelled to the shack. There was a low whimper, then nothing after that.

“Zephyr?” She asked.

“Yeah. That’s my name now. Demetria, was it?” I asked right back.

“Mm-hmm. That much hasn’t changed.”

I studied her but nothing looked all that different from when I met her. If she had an air about her that was different, I didn’t sense it.

“So, Demetria, what can I do for you? It’s clear you wanted me for something, but for what, I don’t know.”

She straightened up her stance and looked up at me, a more resolute expression took hold on her face. One which said that she was ready to get right down to business.

“I want you train me,” she stated.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me: I want to hone my skills with the blade.”

I puffed up my cheeks, desperate not to break into laughter.

“What?! You think I’m some wise, old master? Do you expect me to take you on as a pupil, and at the end bow and go ‘you have done well, my student?’ Is that it?”

“If that’s what you want to do, go ahead. But I’m serious.”

That much was obvious, but it still didn’t make sense to me.

“Why do you think I’d be a good fit to train you?” I questioned.

“Because our weapons of choice are similar. The way you fight, act, react, every movement has a purpose and it’s like you’re ready for anything. You don’t leave yourself with openings. If I had to pick someone whose style of attack was similar to my own, it would have to be you. Meanwhile, I’m reckless, less refined, and don’t know what I’m doing half of the time.”

“OK. But is there a particular reason why you want to be trained so bad?”

“Because I want to learn restraint.”

That still wasn’t good enough. I felt like I was missing the full picture, and despite how plain her answers were, it was like she was holding back, or avoiding giving anything away.

“Restraint, huh? And you think me, the cop killer, can teach you that?”

I glanced behind me. Cleaver didn’t seem to react to what I said. Strange, I thought that he would have. But I guess he figured it just wasn’t his business.

“You’re right,” she replied, “but I never said I wanted to be you, nor did I say what I meant by restraint.”

“Indeed. You didn’t.”

I paced about and thought it over.

“You use knives, I use large swords,” I pointed out, “each blade is different, with its own style and use. You don’t use a kitchen knife the same way you do a hunting knife. You don’t use an Oodachi the same way you use a Kodachi. Catch my drift?”

She nodded.

“What I can teach you, and let me be upfront, I’ve never taught anyone, may not help you.”

I continued to pace. While I explained such things, my mind was yet to be made up.

“That said, I do have some experience with small blades, but they’re not quite like the knives you’ve got,” I thought back to that night when we fought, “throwing knives and a hunting knife, right?”

“Yes. Although I’d like to broaden my horizons a bit.”

“Mm...I see. Short sword may do, then. But let’s not rush anything. Because if I’m going to train you, you’re going to need to learn more than just how to use a short sword.”

“Of course. So does that mean you’ll accept?” Her words were ones of excitement, anticipation, but her voice was flat. As for me, my smile widened and I let some teeth show through.

“Under one condition: every day, I want you to buy me Wendy’s.”

“Okay, sure, there’s one eight miles away, I can just take Cybele’s plane and head right back.”

“On foot,” I clarified. While I didn’t know who this ‘Cybele’ was, taking a plane would have defeated the whole purpose of such a training.

“What? Really? Do you know how long that would take me? Your food will get cold by the time I bring it back to you.”

“Then learn to get faster,” I shrugged. Wasn’t my problem, so long as I had my grub.

“Hey, don’t mean to butt in, but I got a solution,” Cleaver hobbled forward and chimed in.

“Oh yeah? What?”

“You and this girlie here should run together to the city, then you both can eat once there.”

“Ooh, like a race?” I liked the sound of that.

“Something like that. I’ll even take you back home in the back of the truck by the end of the day, since I can already tell she’s just starting out.”

“Hey! I bet I could run right back here!” Demetria protested.

“Go ahead and try, but I’m doin’ you a favor. Trust me,” he replied. He was right, of course, too, and that gross overconfidence of hers was all the more reason why she needed training.

“By the way, if you’re going to be running, you’re going to need a bottle of water,” I advised, then went into the shack to grab my water bottle: a nice and thick tin thermos. “Take this. We can stop at the Garage Cafe on our way to the city so you can fill it.”

“What about you?” She asked.

“I’ll get water once we get into the city. Plus, I can always get another thermos.”

“All right, all right, so when can we start?” She tapped her foot. Ever so impatient to be tortured, I see.

“Now,” I answered.

“What? Now? I just got he –”

Nope. Wouldn’t hear it. Especially after she begged. I took off toward town, then toward the highway right away. I’d glance back to see her in the distance, and it was clear that she was trying to run.

Okay, when we get to the city, I’ve got to teach her proper form.

Down on the highway, she was still quite behind, but she started to speed up.

“How...how much longer?” She huffed, short on breath, and still early in.

“Like, seven more miles?” I guessed. Really, we weren’t even a quarter of the way there. More like a quarter of a quarter.

She stopped and hunched over to catch her breath.

“You’re not going to get very far standing still,” I stopped too. Even though I was ahead of her, the training would have been moot if I just ran off without her. “It’s not about speed. If you try to sprint your way there, you’ll tire out fast. It’s about sustained motion.”

“How is anyone supposed to keep running for eight miles?!” She gasped out and threw her hands up.

“I just told you. You will get faster, eventually, but what’s important is to build up stamina and use up as little energy as possible. You can walk every now and then if you have to, but you need to keep moving.”

She gasped a few more breaths, then straightened up her posture.

“Okay. Let’s keep going.”

Throughout our run, she’d stop to walk for a few seconds, or take a sip from the thermos, then she kept going for a short burst before walking again. It wasn’t ideal, but I suppose she had to start somewhere. When we finally made it into the city, and Wendy’s, about two and a half hours have passed. Again, not ideal, but I suppose it wasn’t too bad.

She was collapsed at a booth in the Wendy’s, all huffing and puffing and complaining about feeling sick.

“You should get yourself something to eat,” I looked down at the suffering apprentice.

“I can’t. I feel like I’m gonna throw up,” she wheezed.

“Yeah, that’s how it is at first. But hey, I’m amazed you made it at all. It’s a good start. But seriously, some food will help you feel better. Plus you need the calories to replenish your energy.”

“...I’m...vegetarian…”

“Okay? So? Get a freakin’ salad. Go to another restaurant. But eat something.”

Her hands shook as she grabbed on to the edge of the table and struggled to sit up.

“I suppose I can do a salad,” she heaved out the words. I gave her a heavy pat on the back, which made her bellow out, “oof!”

“That’s the spirit!”

A few minutes later, she returned with a box salad, a large thing of fries, and refilled her water.

“Fries, huh?” I pointed out.

“It’s not meat,” she shrugged. Eh, fair point.

I myself had one of those big burgers, large fries, large soda, large chicken nuggets, large everything. Again, it was junk, but considering the name, I was biased.

“So, I should tell you this upfront: if you’re going to train under me, you need to have a reason. I don’t need to know what that reason is, but I won’t accept it if you don’t have one.”

“Trust me, I do,” she responded, not quite focused on me, and more looking listless as she dipped her fries in a pile of red sweetness.

“By the way, do you have a place to stay?”

“No, but I can check into a hotel. It’s not like I don’t have money.”

“If that’s what you wanna do, sure, but while you’re here, you can sleep over at the shack. It’s not the most comfortable, and you’d have to sleep on the floor, but it won’t cost ya anything. More convenient, too. Cleaver won’t mind.”

“Cleaver, huh? You sure seem to make friends easily,” she observed.

“Heh. It’s not quite like that, but I try to form connections where I can. I think you’ll find that it’s practical, pragmatic even, to get on someone’s good side wherever you go. Doesn’t matter if you think you’re stronger or weaker,” I shook my head and smiled, “it’s a lonely world. Universe, even. But there’s things you can do to make it less lonely. I’m a loner, both by trade and nature, but we’re all here on this Earth to help each other.”

“That’s a good philosophy. I’ve never given such things any thought.”

“You probably never needed to. It’s better if you don’t have to give it thought, but when you’ve lived as long as I have, with as many experiences as I have, you get plenty of moments to think. Reflect.”

“Huh?” She looked my way, as if I had caught her attention with my little musings.

“Huh what?”

“Oh, I thought you said my name.”

“What? ‘To think’? I guess that sounds like Demetria…”

‘My hearing’s probably off because of all that running,” she shook her head and groaned, “seriously, my ears won’t stop popping.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“How long do we have to keep this running for, anyway?”

“Until you can manage to do it without stopping to walk. Stopping for water is one thing, but even then, it shouldn’t take long. As I said, it’s not about speed. It’s fine if you run slow, just don’t stop running.”

We stretched outside after our meal and wandered around.

“I’m taking online classes, actually, so I may have to pass on your offer,” Demetria mentioned as we walked through the city.

“There’s Wi-Fi at the shack. I’m an engineer, it wasn’t too hard to do.”

“Oh, okay. You really think of everything, huh?”

I denied such a claim.

“I just try to see what’s possible. So tell me about these online classes of yours.”

“There’s not really much to tell. I’m studying marine biology, but I don’t really care for it. I’m just doing it to finish what I started,” she gestured toward me and I caught a glimpse of her reflection through the glass of an electronics store. She looked so animated, even as she told me how little interest she had in her studies.

“That’s still impressive in its own right,” I replied. It got me thinking about how many projects I left unfinished, how many times I had to leave a place and its people behind, how many missions went abandoned when new information made me see a different perspective. Even the times when I just abandoned a project out of a loss of faith or desire to see it complete. What could have come of them had I completed them?

We wandered around town for a little while, then sat at a park, although little was said. Just before sunset, Cleaver’s rusty pickup truck sputtered and screeched as it arrived at the base of the park. Both Demetria and I hopped in the back and we let the gentle breeze of early spring overtake us. Soon we were back at the shack and once we landed on the soft soil, I broke down the plan.

“While she’s training with me, can she stay here?” I asked.

“I don’t see a problem with that, but she’ll have to sleep on the floor next to Mange.”

“Who’s Mange?” Demetria leaped out from the side of the truck and landed on her feet with a thud.

“Eh, just my dog. He’s friendly. Might growl at ya. Might even bite your arm. Might even rip it off. But he’s friendly.”

She squinted.

“It’s a lone wolf he found,” I explained instead. As it turns out, Cleaver wasn’t very good with this stuff. “I think as far as Mange is concerned, as long as you don’t actively pose a threat, he’ll probably consider you part of the pack.”

“Hold up. Why do you have a pet wolf?” She turned to Cleaver. He scratched the back of his head.

“Helps keep away the cougars,” he answered all matter-of-fact.

“Why do you need to keep away older women for?” She questioned and I almost spat out the soda that had already been digested three hours ago.

“I like this one,” he pointed his thumb to her, “she knows what’s up.”

“Actually, I think it’s the opposite,” I refuted.

“So while we’re training, what if we practice sparring right outside the shack?”

Then it would get interesting, I thought the devious thought. Of course I wasn’t going to disclose that.

“We’d just have to keep the door closed, I guess,” I said instead.

We all made our way inside, a very cramped space. There was a bathroom in the back, complete with a shower, but aside from that, it was a bedroom with little room to house one person, let alone three plus a gray wolf. Besides the bunk bed hammock and the wooden planked floor, there was a dresser on the left end once we entered, and on the right was where Mange slept (when he wasn’t sleeping outside).

“You don’t mind if I have my laptop open while you sleep, do you?” Demetria asked Cleaver as he was already headed up to the top hammock to get some shut eye.

“Do what you want, but if the bright screen wakes Mange, don’t come cryin’ to me when he bites ya.”

“Here, I’ll sleep on the floor across from you,” I offered to her, “so don’t even worry about it.”

“Thanks,” she turned quiet and looked down to her side.

“She’s working toward her degree!” I cupped my hands to tell Cleaver. “Her studies are very important to her!”

“Really, now?”

“How the hell should I know? They’re her studies, not mine,” I hissed out the words, trying not to be too loud as to wake Mange.

“Bah, you know it’s all a scam,” he grumbled.

“You’re a scam,” I mimicked back.

“Are you gonna be okay sleeping on the floor?” Demetria seemed puzzled at my offer.

What about you? I bet you’re more used to sleeping on a bed than I am.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t care where I sleep. I’ve slept just about everywhere,” I reassured her.

“Bah, there she goes again. ‘Look at me, I’ve slept in penthouses and castles and trash cans alike’. We’ve heard it all before,” Cleaver started up again. I ignored him, and leaned in to whisper to Demetria:

“That’s him on his good days. Now type away.”

Sleep never came easy for me, if much at all. That’s always been true, or at least as far back as I could remember. The dim glow of Demetria’s laptop didn’t make much of a difference. Mange for his part stretched during a couple of intervals, but other than that, didn’t seem to pay Demetria any mind. Not even as she was leaned up against the back of his fur.

There wasn’t much else to do but watch. After a while, she started to yawn and her eyelids started to droop down. There were a few more clacks against the keyboard, then she pulled the laptop screen down slow and closed it before setting it aside. She didn’t seem to notice me at all. All the better for it. I wasn’t fixated on her, but my surrounding as a whole. It was a quirk of mine which I attributed to countless years of pursuit. Always alert, always looking forward. If someone were to try to kill me in their sleep, they would be left disappointed.

If somebody managed to kill me while I was asleep, I’d like to live long enough to thank them.

Still, for what it was worth, I was still human. Tiredness was still a thing. Sleep came eventually. Even if just a single wink, I would have liked that. An hour must have passed, and I felt ready to nod off when I heard Demetria mutter something. It was faint, but I had peachy keen ears, and was able to make out what she said:

“Games? Like having a snowball fight? Building a snowman? Then again, it doesn’t have to be a snowman…”

“Snowman?” I mouthed. I had to think about it, because it sounded familiar. I soon began to hum a little tune.

“Isn’t that...from a movie?” I asked myself in a low mutter.

Not something I ever watched, but I’ve probably passed by TVs in display windows playing that thing. Those kind of animated films with songs are inescapable, regardless of the quality of said tunes. Well, I’m not going to speak on the quality of something I’ve no interest in. It’s just kind of amusing that she’d be reciting such a song in her sleep. Despite her moody exterior, maybe she’s just a kid at heart.

Demetria started to stir and then her eyes crept open.

“So, Frozen, huh?” I asked, my voice a little hoarse. Likely due to my lack of sleep.

“Mm...what?” She yawned a sleepy little mumble.

“You were talking in your sleep. I think you were singing a song from Frozen,” I pointed out.

“Huh. The only Disney movie I like is Finding Nemo. So what song was I singing?”

“Hmm...’do you wanna build a snowman?’ I think it’s called.”

“Oh wow. Asleep me has poor taste. Can’t say awake me has any better taste, but still.”

“Whatever. Just let it go and get back to sleep.”

She nodded, then closed her eyes again and leaned back. Soon it seemed that sleep had taken her once more, though I did hear her mutter one more thing before departing to a soundless rest:

“Not like I plan on being around much longer, anyway.”

Heh, I leaned my head back against the dresser. You and me both.

In the morning, I stepped out of the shack and took in the crisp morning air. It was bliss, it was serene, it was –

“Ugh...so sore…”

Behind me, a shambling zombie-like figure groaned. Almost as if someone had raised the dead.

“Right. I should have taken that into consideration,” I groaned as well, realization of who was behind me set in.

“What are we going to do?” She scratched the back of her head and a look of general displeasure possessed her face.

“We eat some food, we do some stretches, we do some heavy lifting,” I ran through the check list.

“Heavy lifting?! I thought we’d be taking it easy today since I’m so worn out!” She was flabbergasted and most devastated.

“This is taking it easy. We’re not going to be running to the city today. Instead we’ll work the upper body.”

“What happened to ‘buy me Wendy’s every day?’” Demetria mentioned, something I didn’t expect to get brought up.

“Eh,” I shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be every day. How about just every time we go into town? Now, I’m going to make it so you hurt in other places, so are you ready?”

She gulped, being given an answer she didn’t expect, herself.

“If at any time you want to quit, just say the word,” I offered. “Because it’s not going to get any easier from here. You’ll just need to get better.”

She gulped, being given an answer she didn’t expect.

“If at any time you want to quit, just say the word. Because it’s not going to get any easier from here. You’ll just need to get better.”

Another gulp, then she shook her head.

“I’m not going to quit. I can’t afford to.”

Her determination was commendable. I had to give her that. If I didn’t end up breaking her spirit, she could very well end up a force to be reckoned with in her own right.

So it went: we stretched. We walked around the fields near the shack. Our day came and went with little word save for what was spoken on her resolute face. Another night. Another dim glow from her screen as she typed away at whatever project she had.

Dusk turned to daylight; we ran once more the following morning. There were still some stumbles, still some hurdles. She steadied her movements more, and with only being the second run, it was a startling improvement. Maybe minuscule in the grand scheme of themes, but I would have thought it would take longer for her to show any signs of improvement.

Two or three miles in, she stopped, slowed to a walk, then a few minutes later, built back into a jog. This happened another mile out, as well as the next. During the second half, however, whether it be a high or just having found a rhythm, she managed to keep pace the whole way through.

After our meal, we found a nearby park and wandered into a deeper portion of the park, less populated, with the thicket of trees concealing us from the potential misunderstood eyes of passerby.

“All right. Now it’s time to fight.”

She was slumped over as she had followed me into the park already worn out. However, upon the word ‘fight’, she perked up. That, or it was a look of shock. Either way, I had her attention.

“A...Already?! It’s only the second time running here and I’m still a little worn out.”

“Your enemies aren’t going to care if you’re worn out. Hell, they’ll use that to their advantage,” I corrected her. Not that she had enemies. Maybe I was just drawing from experience with that example.

“You’re right,” she agreed, something which took me by surprise. However, as poised as she looked, it was little more than show, and her knees wobbled before the fight even began.

I swerved my left leg to the side and dragged my foot against the soft grass, which tripped her and she fell before she could even attempt to avoid it. She landed right on her butt and struggled to get up. Before she could bring herself up, I stomped down, and that time, she reacted well enough to roll over.

“While the idea does turn me on, some things are more important,” she remarked with a grimace.

...What?

She hurried up that time and I swung my right fist in a slow and deliberate manner, slow enough that it would have given her enough time to do any number of things in response. She chose to block it with her left arm and although she reacted in time, I soon overpowered her. In spite of that, she tried to hold her arm up. As she was distracted, I once again swept my leg to the side and knocked her down.

“Don’t try to block if you can’t withstand the hit. Dodge instead. Also, don’t leave yourself open. Your enemy could find an array of maneuvers to attack you if you leave yourself an opening.”

She winced and gave a short nod.

Further days passed; what was one week turned to two. Run, stretch, block, dodge, react. After two weeks, she managed to run the whole way through. From Notus to Caldwell with a reserve of stamina left over. At the park, she jumped when I did a side-sweep. Either a short jump, or jumped back. When I swung my fist, rather than block it, she would either duck down, or lean back.

Another week went by and on the third week, I introduced weapons into the mix.

“Dodging, avoiding hits, all that’s well and good, but you’ll also need to fight back,” I instructed.

“Of course,” she replied.

I knew she had her knives on her. I also gave her a short sword to use. For my part, I had my signature katana, though to make it more fair for her, I pressed a button on the blade’s scabbard and split them into two kodachi-type blades.

“Wha – how did you do that?” Her eyes widened and she blinked, astonished at the sight.

“It’s not an ordinary blade. It came with my old profession, you could say.”

“You mean as a janitor? Did everyone have weapons like that?”

“Some. I’m sure you’re aware that Remora’s rifle can split into two smaller, pistol-like guns which fires off a wave of energy. My blade, or blades, are coated in an oil which repels a certain kind of creature.”

“Angels,” she answered.

So you know? Whatever the reason, I’m sure it’s not a good thing.

“That is one way to call them. But not angels in the biblical sense. No, more like the ‘beings beyond comprehension’ sense.”

“Yet we comprehend enough to craft weapons to deal with such things,” she added.

“Sorta. It’s hard to know when these weapons will be useful, or even how useful they will be. Especially when dealing with beings that are unheard of.”

Like what Ray and Sunny were dealing with up in the arctic. Whatever was behind it, I had little to go off of. If they even wished to stand a fighting chance, I would need to know more, but I didn’t know how to learn further.

What was known wasn’t comprehensible, either, as it didn’t seem to fit a specific pattern or intention – creatures that were an amalgamation of other creatures, contorted to a strange shape. Shadowy mass filled with various materials and limbs, like rope, wire, legs, and tentacles that could cause others to lose their sense of self. People whose limbs grew out from their backs, who could control such strange hybird creatures. Then the latest addition – a fog which blanketed the area near Ray’s diner and gave injuries to passerby. Some reported shadows of strange shapes, others reported voices.

What exactly did it feel? What did it embody? How did all of those phenomena correspond with what the source embodied?

At any moment, one of the diner’s proprietors would call me up to tell me that things got bad again and I’d have to cut the training off there so I could hurry to their aid. Remora’s rifle more than likely protected the diner from the inside, but the surrounding area was fair game for the entity and the beasts it produced. For now, however, I could focus on training Demetria, who still had a great deal to learn, even if she picked up on things at an alarming rate.

We clashed with the blades, and that time, she was able to block well. At one point, I swung down only for her to block it with the scimitar I let her borrow. When I swung the other blade to the right, she side-stepped to avoid the swing. Then the left, and the same. However, she kept up the block the whole way and even if she managed to dodge in spite of the openings she left, she was still overpowered when I swung both blades down against the scimitar. She tried to bend her knees and apply more pressure, but it wasn’t enough, and both blades were but a hair’s breath away from her face.

Without any more strength to give, she fell. I put aside my weapons before they could cut her down, then I scolded her.

“Again, don’t block if you know you can be overpowered. You did good blocking one blade, but you left yourself open. If the enemy starts adding more pressure and you can’t keep up, release and get out of the way.”

“Right…” She sounded wiped out. I couldn’t blame her, and she was improving, but she needed to know where her weak spots were.

“We’ll call it a day for now. Tomorrow we’ll spar by the shack.”

“Right on! I’ve been wanting to do that since the beginning!”

Are you that excited to get beaten up?

“What’s so special to you about training near the shack and training in this park?”

“Well, for starters...I’m always worried someone’s gonna show up and get concerned. It might scare someone and they could even call the cops!”

“Let the cops come. I’ll skewer them all with glee,” I dispelled any unease she had.

“It’s not just that! The field by the shack is really secluded so we can go ahead and go all out!”

Ah, yeah. That is a good point.

Our training continued the next day at Cleaver’s shack. We had an open dirt clearing where we weren’t as hindered by tall grass. Both of us stood on far ends of the circle with our weapons in hand.

“Come at me, bro!” She shouted.

I had a moment of weakness. As in, I hesitated, hearing such a ridiculous statement. Or phrase, rather. It only took a moment, though, and after that moment washed away, I rushed in.

Our blades clashed once more and she dodged the attacks, struck when she saw an opportunity, and timed her blocks well as well. Although I could also block and dodge each of her attempts, it had more to do with my experience.

You really are a fast learner, aren’t you?

However, another weak point showed through once more as soon as I struck with a side-slash. No, she managed to dodge it. That wasn’t the problem: the problem was that she pushed her legs in and jumped up. If she didn’t manage to jump high enough, or didn’t move in time…

“Wrong!” I shouted as I stood in place.

“What’s wrong?” Her voice squeaked and she scowled. To her it must have been just a disagreement of ideas, and she looked ready to protest my scolding, but it had to be done regardless.

“You dodged it, but the way you did so was way risky and took up more of your energy that it should have. You’ve built up a lot of stamina, but in a fierce battle, every bit of energy counts. It would have been less risky and have used up less of your energy to have stepped back, even jumped a little backward, than to try to jump over it.”

“Yeah...I see what you mean now,” she looked down and shook her fists, obvious shame written all over her.

“I’m not saying this to be rigid. If you didn’t jump high enough, you would have gotten slashed for sure.”

“I’ve been slashed in the stomach already,” her voice turned low, and a sullen look took over. She then lifted up her shirt, which made me take a step back. Across her stomach was, indeed, a long thin scar. “So it’s not so bad, right?”

“It’s true that slashes are generally less harmful than stabs. It’s said that in old wars, soldiers would slash rather than stab their enemies so they wouldn’t have to bear the weight of killing another person. But a slash can still be very harmful depending on how much force is placed, and the proximity. If you get a deep slash, like say you strike a vein, expect blood to spray out. An endless flow that you wouldn’t be able to stop, and if unable to be treated soon enough, death. Given enough force, one could even slash a limb clear off or cut someone in half.”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Sheesh. Such gory imagery,” she made little “ack, ack” sounds to accompany her statement so that she could further express her disgust.

“It’s just muscle memory is hard. I know the right moves but sometimes I do the wrong one because so used to a particular pattern,” she added, something which I understood.

“Which is why we need to take it from the top until you get it right.”

We continued through the afternoon until sunset hit. After we called it good, Demetria headed back into the shack.

“Well, this thesis isn’t going to bullshit itself,” she told me as she waved before entering the shack. I waved back, but sat out for a while, letting myself bask in dusk’s chill.

“Is this what I’ve been reduced to? A mentor? An escort?” No, such thoughts weren’t good, especially not when spoken out into the air.

It was too late, of course. Once those words were spoken, the rest of the thoughts followed. Like, was I ever alive at all? What did it look like when I had a life? What was I now but a ghost, a shade, a wandering remnant? It wasn’t even that I didn’t want to help others or be a mentor, but that the only semblance of a life I had was one that would never leave. Violence was ingrained in me, ran through my bloodstream as I lived and breathed. There could be no help without it and the only justice I knew was an unshaken, violent justice.

For a while longer, I let myself sit beside the comfort of darkness. Close to silence, with the only sounds to fill the air being the crickets and the frogs which hid out in any given direction.

With a sigh, I allowed myself back inside. Demetria sat there, as she had many nights, with her face glued to that laptop screen. However, when she saw me enter, she closed her laptop and addressed me.

“How are you feeling?” She looked up.

I sat down and crossed my legs. I smiled, for I knew no other way to express anything.

“Just how I always am,” I shook my head, it sounded like such a carefree dismissal. Part of me expected her to be satisfied by such an answer.

“And how is that?” She asked instead.

That was a more difficult thing to answer than it should have been. It wasn’t a sense of monotony, but something else. Loss of life, or a loss of humanity.

“Forgive me if I’m unable to give a straight answer,” I replied after some thought.

“That’s okay, I’m gay.”

Fine, but just know that you brought this on yourself.

“Some say that ghosts are just memories, so in that sense, nothing ever leaves, does it, so long as the memory is there?” I posed the question. As I said, I couldn’t give a straight answer.

“Are you saying that you feel like a ghost?”

I shook my head.

“Not quite. I told you once that I considered my old self dead, right?”

As well as my current self. But only in a different sense.

“Yeah. How you were accused of –”

“I told you what my original name was back then. It was a lie. Not the story, but the name. Considering how long ago it was, my name was more than likely a simple one. Like Kuso Gozen, or something. There were bits and pieces of that life, that girl, that I remember. Being accused of an assassination, being put to death...but much of the details are lost. Forgotten. Hell, it’s enough for me to question if what I remember is real or made up,” I let out a deep breath. I was doing this again, wasn’t I? And who was I to say that was to confide would be any more real than last time?

“It could have been that I did murder someone. That I was given due punishment, and chose to evade such punishment. Based on what I know of myself, I wouldn’t put it past me to take out a corrupt official. But that’s beside the point.”

“What is the point?”

I shook my head.

“Ha. If I knew...well, I suppose the point is: maybe it’s better that I don’t remember. Maybe it’s better to be forgotten. To be more than dead, less than a memory.”

“I think I can relate with that. I suppose most people would prefer to be remembered, but I suppose to some, it may be better to forget. Like if you did something bad.”

“Mm...that’s not quite what I mean. As for that old self, yes, she’s forgotten. But my current self? I don’t mind people knowing my deeds. But this life I’ve had...I don’t want to preserve it.”

“What? You mean you’re going to let yourself get killed?”

No, that wasn’t quite right, either. But then, what ever was?

“Hell no,” I refuted, “I wouldn’t go down without a fight. But I’m just waiting for my time. Some say I’m like a cockroach, the way I’ve survived so much and had so many lucky breaks. But for the sake of my own sanity, I hope that’s not the case.”

“Why live your life that way? Why are you so eager to die?”

“It’s not like that. Maybe it’s a curiosity. How it will end and when. Will it be a quiet one, or a roaring crescendo? Will I be remembered afterward? Talked about? Or will I be forgotten, not even a passing name.”

“I’ll remember you. I already met you. Plus you’ve got all those homeless friends,” she pointed out.

“Ha! I guess you’re right about that one. It’s easy to call anyone a friend when you know you’re just passing through! We form a connection, make small talk, and then I disappear into the wind. It’s not really any different than how life was like with that company – I’d visit different places in different timelines, meet some people, do my job, and then go onto the next one. That’s just how it was. I suspect everyone who worked there, it didn’t matter what their personalities were or how big of a heart they had, got that way: just passing through, not really being alive. If any of us ever were in the first place.”

“How do you even know others were like that?” concerned dripped from her lips. Despite her stoic front, she really couldn’t keep all of that in, could she?

“Let’s call it an observation. I’ve seen how others were: some cope by indulging in their vices. Sex, drugs, booze, you name it. Some go numb, others break down, unable to find a sense of calm. Some can try to settle down, live a quiet life, maybe try to start a family, but it never leaves them. That feeling, like life, death, it may as well be the same thing. I think it’s the job, it does something to you. To all of us. Maybe that’s why I think that the ones who died were the lucky ones. Otherwise you just end up like me, waiting for your time to come.”

I gave a hearty laugh and smiled, not caring who I would wake up.

“I guess that’s why it’s so easy to talk to you about all this, because it doesn’t really matter. I may as well be talking to myself.”

She turned her head, puffed up her cheeks, and scowled. I thought she was ready to blow up at me, talk about how unkind that statement was, that I shouldn’t have had that mindset, but when she finally spoke again, it was about something else entirely.

“Do you know how Rhea died?” She asked, a fun topic for the whole family.

“Yeah. Was assigned to get rid of someone who was possessed by the embodiment of happiness. It was a pretty big task: potential world at stake scenario. Anyone could have lost to something like that.”

“Are you sure? Because I’m not so sure.”

“Why do you say that?” I stroked my chin, eager for her explanation.

“Ves is my cousin’s wife. She’s still mournful about the whole thing. She never wanted to kill her, and in fact, I think Ves was the one who could have easily been defeated. Apparently the two actually talked, tried to work out a compromise. Rhea actually showed her mercy, and in the end, I think Rhea was holding back because she wanted to be the one to go.”

How interesting. Mercy. Well, I suppose I would have at least tried to figure out what all of the options were before going in for the kill. So it’s not too surprising if it happened to be the same way.

“Did your cousin’s wife tell you all that?”

She nodded.

“It may have been the case that she was holding back, who’s to say?”

“But why would she do that if she knew the world was at stake? Did she just forsake the world?”

I remember the first time I met up with Demetria, she said that she had little interest when it came to Rhea. So now the sudden interest struck me as a little odd. But then again, maybe there was something to spurn such interest and I just didn’t know it.

“It’s doubtful the world ever mattered in the first place. After all, it was just one instance of the world, out of an endless amount of instances.”

“Yeah, but it’s my world! It’s the only instance I have!”

I leaned over and pressed my finger to her lip.

“Shh. Others are sleeping.”

After I released my finger and returned to my original position, I continued.

“She didn’t have a world she belonged to. While I’m sure she understood the risk, the stakes weren’t the same for her as it may have been for you. Maybe she was just done, and knew of no other way to go but through a fight.”

“But why did she show Ves mercy? That’s just not like her, is it?”

“Maybe she had a last minute change of heart. It’s possible.”

“Do you think she was infected by the entity? Is that why?”

I shook my head.

“It’s a possibility. There’s no way to know that for certain, though. As much as it’s natural for many of us to speculate, the bottom line is that the only person who knew what was going through her head was herself, and she’s not around to give us any answers.”

“You’re right...I was just wondering: what would you have done if you were in her position?”

I thought it over some.

“I don’t think I would have done anything different,” I concluded.

“Do you think she was lucky as well?”

Ah. So maybe that’s why she brought it up. I had to close my eyes for that one, lest the piercing glare give anything away.

“What do you think the answer to that one is?”

There was a pause, and there was something serene about such a pause. The heavy breaths of the wolf behind her, the snoring of the middle aged man at the top hammock. It carried with it a peaceful wind.

“I’m worried about you,” she said at last.

“Don’t be,” I shook my head and smiled, “the student has no need to worry about the mentor. You should get some rest.”

When we picked up on the following day, her growth was more than apparent. I’d strike down, but she’d sidestep, then do a sweeping slash, which I blocked, then did a slash of my own. She surprised me next, by sliding down, then struck up. I had to react fast just to block it.

“Ha. You’re getting better at reacting, but you’ve yet to land a hit,” I remarked.

“Just you wait,” she shot back with a smug smile.

Such confidence. I wonder if it will last.

In an effort to show that it wasn’t just a bluff, she rolled once, did another side step, which made me turn around as she made her next strike. Again, our blades clashed, and I still had another blade in my other hand. However, this time, she pulled something out from her pocket and I leaned my head back just in time not to get hit by what turned out to be a knife.

When I realized what she just tried, I couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t a condescending laugh, in fact, I was quite impressed. All the same, I was as amused as I could ever be.

“Ha, good one. You fancy yourself a ninja or something?” I gave a hearty chuckle.

“Not quite. I just need to learn all that I can,” she dispelled any such idea. She didn’t look any short on energy, either. That was good.

We’ll have to hone that aim of hers, but she seems to already have some sort of grasp. Force and precision, two things to work on.

“Let’s make things more interesting, shall we?” The proposal slithered out from my mouth as I slipped a cunning grin.

“MANGE!” I called out.

She looked over, a sharpened glance. It wasn’t even so much of a reaction, but more of an acknowledgment.

Has she adopted some of my traits? Is it from the training? Or did it just come with the confidence?

Busted out through the door of the shack came Mange, all fired up. That tired old wolf may not have been much but a heavy sleeper on his good days, but he could still be tricked into thinking there was trouble.

“Now you’ll have to dodge both of us.”

Before, I’d have expected her to react like, “really? Wolves are much faster than people! And they’re huge!” But instead, once again, a single nod of acknowledgment.

We clashed further, clangs of our blades as we maneuvered around each other. But soon, Mange gave chase, and as expected, darted toward Demetria. She stepped back, but he was quick to turn. She stepped to the side, but that didn’t stop him in the slightest. It was getting to the point that she was backing further away from me without even realizing it.

Panic seemed to set in and she turned her head from side to side and noticed how much further she had gotten. Mange was seconds away, and Demetria rolled forward, which seemed to do her little good. I charged toward her, like a little nudge to remind her who her target was, and I watched as she knew she was cornered on both ends: Mange behind her, and I about to strike her down in front.

So in a twist of events, she crouched down, then when Mange got close enough, she leaped into the air and launched herself off of that poor wolf’s nose, which propelled her further. I watched as she tossed a knife down in my direction, and I blocked it with the sword at my right. However, she then swung her blade down from over her shoulder, and I reacted just in time, with the blade at my left hand overhead. However, the force was strong enough that I needed both arms free, and before I could lift the other sword, she swung her legs together and flung herself forward against my abdomen, knocking me to the ground.

With her on top, the blade raised against my head and her head close, I could feel her warm, heavy breaths on my face. They weren’t breaths of exhaustion, but excitement instead.

I wonder if that’s what she meant when she said she wanted me to teach her ‘restraint’.

“Well, you’ve got me pinned down. What’s next?” I flashed a sharp-toothed grin.

No answer. Mange didn’t seem so interested in pulling her off, despite the image present. So it was up to me: I grabbed her by the wrist, even with that sword firm in her hand, and tossed her off of me.

“Waah!” She squealed, caught off guard.

I got up and brushed off any dirt that had gotten on me.

“Good job. That was a risky move, but it paid off. To think I had just tried that today and you had already figured out a counter,” I commended her. However, she walked off and seemed to have brushed aside every word.

“It’s still not enough,” she grumbled.

“What is enough?” I demanded. As much as I hated to admit, her attitude got to me.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll know when I get there,” she huffed out a reply.

“Hey,” I called her out. That time, she turned around. “I know I said you didn’t need to tell me the reason, but what is it that you’re after, anyway?”

“I need to improve my aim when throwing knives, I need to improve my reaction time. My reflexes still aren’t enough.”

“Bullshit. What more do you need?”

“I need to be able to dodge a bullet,” she replied with such conviction that despite the absurdity of the statement, I had no choice but to take it seriously.

“If that’s your goal, you should give up right now. It’s never going to happen, no matter how good you get.”

“I need to.”

“Nobody’s fast enough,” I shot down once more, “you think I can dodge a bullet? You think I’m faster than what comes out of a gun? I just have to get lucky and hope there’s something I can shield myself behind. That, or hope that I’m faster than the one with their hand on the trigger.”

“Fine. Then I need to be able to block a bullet,” she was adamant, which only served to irritate me further.

“With what? A sword? Even if you could react fast enough, it’s more likely that the bullet will break the sword. What then?”

“I’ll…” She grit her teeth, “I’ll think of something.

How stubborn. Looks like I’ll need to compromise.

“Fine. How about this? For the next few days, or however long it takes, I’ll borrow your throwing knives, toss them your way, and you’ll have to dodge them. I’ll paint some targets on trees and I’ll have you keep throwing until you can manage to hit the middle. I’ll make sure you’re using proper form. Does that sound good?”

She gave it a few seconds pause, then signaled her approval with a single nod.

“Good. Now, let’s practice some sprinting. Run around the field for a while until you get worn out. Mange will chase you around, but don’t worry, he won’t actually hurt. He may knock you down, and he is heavy, but he’s friendly enough.”

With a sprint, she took off. As she went busy with that, I returned to the shack and decided to lay down for a little while on the bottom hammock. For whatever reason, as I lay, a smile formed, then plastered its way onto my face. Above me came the gruff voice of Cleaver:

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I am,” I replied, “who’s to say?”

“You’re not fooling anyone. You’re getting a kick out of this.”

“Of course,” I gave in, “I’m most alive in a fight. Not to mention, it feels refreshing. Both to fight without such high stakes, and to be a mentor. It feels like I’m passing on my knowledge to the next generation.”

“I don’t really get it, but I could tell there was something up with you ever since you first showed up.”

“Oh?” Consider my interest piqued.

“I mean, c’mon, some tall Japanese swordswoman just shows up looking for a place to crash? Like, what time period do you think this is? Obviously there’s something up with that, either that, or you’re just a weirdo.”

To be honest, I’m more of an oddball than I’d care to admit.

“But you know,” he went on, “I never pried, I never asked about what your story was, because I just didn’t care. As long as you’re going to help me out and mean no trouble, then it’s none of my business.”

“See? That’s why we get along so well. I’ve never asked you what your deal was, either,” I threw at him. If it wasn’t clear, I was a little cheeky.

“You wanna know something else? When you and that girl are talking late at night, I can hear you. You’re not as quiet as you think you’re being.”

“Aw, Cleaver, at your age, you need your beauty sleep.”

“Guh,” he grunted, “you’re one to talk. What with your talks. I’ll be honest, I don’t understand most of it, but your whole ‘I’m just waitin’ for my time’ bullshit like you’re some old woman about to croak.”

“Heh. I am. I’ve lived a long life, Cleaver.”

“You’re younger than I am. I bet you haven’t even hit forty.”

“I bet you’re right. But I’m past my expiration date, so to speak. With the kind of life I’ve lived, I’d say I’m past the average life expectancy. It’s a little strange...just to exist at all.”

Large breaths of air lingered just before the last few words were uttered. It was as if I had gone speechless, starved of oxygen.

“Well, if you’re havin’ fun, that’s gotta count for something,” he seemed like he was trying to make some sort of attempt at encouragement.

“Never said it didn’t, but thank you for the sentiment.”

“Another thing, uh, for what it’s worth, what does it matter if you’re just passing by? Doesn’t mean it don’t got meaning. Plenty of people are just passing by, having chance encounters. But it still has value.”

“I agree. Try not to put too much stock into the things I say,” I advised him. Selfish as it may have been, part of me wanted to know what kind of life he had lived, and why he lived in a shack out in an open field. Was it choice or circumstance? Was there another option? But just like him, I was fine with not knowing.

I think it’s always been that I’ve gotten along most well with older folks of a certain kind. Lost souls, or those who were destitute, vagrant, fallen on bad luck and hard times. Hermits whose own lives had become a distant memory. There was nothing to be fascinated by it, nothing romantic. It was just a certain kinship I felt. I in no way ever wanted to just scrape by with whatever I could reach for. It was just what I developed into, and now I felt as if I could live no other way. If I could even live at all.

III

Even as the days passed, and another couple of weeks flew by, it proved not to scratch that itch she so desired. Despite every throw closer and closer to the bullseye, every projectile avoided, every knife caught in the grip of her gloves (that one surprised me the most. Another risky move, but one I allowed, despite the trouble that could have caused. It seemed like less of a mistake and something she wanted to do. Still, I made sure to drill in her head not to try that with bullets, because all that would do, best case scenario, is give her a bloody hand), it wasn’t enough.

Throughout the training, I had wondered what her reason was. Although I told her she didn’t need to tell me, it was still important enough to her that she sought me out. She could have sought out anyone, a professional trainer, for example. But no, it was me. There had to be something specific there, and I had my suspicions as to what it was.

“Satisfied?” I inquired after she had managed to hit the target, square in the middle.

“Not quite,” she shook her head. That all but confirmed it; no more beating around the bush, I had to ask:

“Are you trying to be like your crush?” I drilled to the center of the matter, hoping to find gold.

“Excuse me?” She asked in turn.

“Remora. You haven’t mentioned her since you got here. You mentioned Rhea, which is surprising in of itself, but she never mattered much to you. As I’m sure you’ve thought, yourself, her and your cousin’s battle had nothing to do with you. But it was Remora who you were interested in, wasn’t it?” Her brows creased, and I could tell she didn’t enjoy such a topic.

“I’ve just had nothing to tell. Feelings can change,” she replied, her voice lowered, guarded in its response.

“Indeed. So it was a falling out?”

“Something like that. It’s a period in my life that I’m done with, so I don’t need to think about it anymore,” she flat out stated. Still, she didn’t echo the same confidence that she did in our spars.

“So that’s just it? Yet you came here, to someone you knew worked the same job as her, and talk about wanting to dodge bullets. Even if you don’t feel like you don’t need to think about her, you either have her in mind, or something similar.”

That time, her defensive face relaxed, and she changed her expression: a smile took hold and stretched to a smug grin.

“Something similar, you could say that. You could say I want to be just like her.”

I figured as much, although a part of me hoped it wasn’t such a case.

“Or rather,” she added, then turned away, “I’d like to be strong enough to be able to kill someone like her.”

Such confidence. This could be interesting, if also disconcerting.

“Someone like me?” I suggested.

She shook her head.

“I’d rather not kill. That was the whole reason why I wanted to learn restraint. But if my suspicions are correct, then I may need to. Which means I have to make sure I’m strong enough to do so, even if it means becoming like one of you guys.”

“Suspicions? What are you talking about?”

It sounded like some delusion of hers, although I knew better than to think such a thing. If there was even a chance of someone else like Remora or I, even alive and out there, then what did she want with someone like that? Did she have some personal vendetta? Did someone kill someone close to her? What could have prompted such a desire?

“I think I’m ready to show you,” she paced about, then brought out her phone.

Yes. Please. Show me.

I watched her put her phone up to her ear, then speak into it.

“Hey Cybele. It’s me. I’m ready for you to pick me up. Oh, and I’ve got someone with me. There’s a place I want to show her. Both of you. I might be able to get you your money, there, too.”

There was a short pause.

“Cool, see you soon? Cool.”

She ended the call, then turned back to me.

“You can take your sword with you, if you want.”

Was planning on bringing it, anyway. I’ve got some bad vibes from all this.

“What is it you want to show me, anyway?” I asked her.

“You’ll understand when we get there,” her smile held as she assured me.

What was left in me was a sense of confusion. Before me wasn’t the same Demetria that showed up a couple of months ago, but then, she must have had such a thing planned out. So either she had been masking how she really was, or it was an alarming determination. Something which she was driven to see through.

“By the way, you should get that dog back inside. I don’t think my friend would like seeing them,” she advised.

“Mange is a wolf,” I corrected, then stuck two fingers in my mouth and whistled. “Hey Mange! Get inside!”

Mange let out a whimper as he slowly walked toward the shack. He looked over at me, let out a soft, “awoo,” then pouted and went inside.

“Yeah, yeah. Awoo to you too.”

About fifteen minutes later, a woman with a blonde ponytail and wearing a blue blouse and a pencil skirt walked approached us. At first, she stood up straight, but as soon as she saw us, she slumped over.

“Ugh, lemme tell you, it’s so hard to find parking when you fly a plane everywhere,” she bemoaned. Then she stood right back up and looked over to me. I raised an eyebrow and gave a short wave.

“Hey, who’s this?” She asked Demetria, who looked up at both of us.

“Cybele, this is Wen...err...Zephyr,” she introduced.

Cybele then smiled a big smile and held out her hand.

“Heya, nice to meet ya! Nice muscles,” she greeted. I took her hand and shook it, then tilted my head.

“Thanks, I made them myself?” I replied.

She let out an awkward laugh, then turned to Demetria.

“So, what’s this place we’re going to?”

“You’ll see,” was all she said in response, then made her way toward the plane.

“Oooookay. Looks like we’re off,” she strutted off. I followed behind.

Aboard her plane, I just realized that I had heard Cybele’s name before.

“I think Ray’s talked about you,” I mentioned to her.

“Oh?” She sounded curious.

“Yeah. He’s really serious about this thing that’s been going on.”

Demetria scowled and sat across from me, her arms folded.

“So you know what’s going on too? Was I the only one who didn’t?” She accused and stuck her nose up.

“Of course I know what’s going on, girl. I showed up at the diner a little after you left. You would have known too, had you stayed.”

“I was under no obligation to stay,” she rebutted.

“You’re right, but I take it you would have, had you known.”

“No shit.”

“Still, she knows now,” Cybele butted in.

“She found out?”

“Ray told me, then I told her. She seems pretty serious about saving them.”

My ears perked.

“Is that so?” I turned back to Demetria.

She shook her head, arms still crossed.

“Finishing up school is more important. They can handle themselves.”

“Wow, cold,” I reacted.

“Not as cold as the arctic,” she shrugged.

“Well, you’re right about one thing: there’s no reason for you to get involved. If it gets to be too much, Ray will call me back over there.”

She didn’t say anything after that. By the looks of her, she seemed disappointed, as she hung her head low, but she didn’t make any objections.

“Say Cybele, you got any drinks on this plane?” I called over to her. She walked over and got into stewardess mode.

“Yes, what would you like?”

“Got any alcoholic beverages?”

“We have spiced rum,” she offered.

“Cool. I’ll take it.”

“I’ll be right back with your drink, miss,” she did her best to sound polite, then raced off to the back of the plane. I leaned back and awaited our arrival to the mystery destination.

We landed a few hours later in a clearing through a forest. Demetria got out of the plane first, followed by myself. Demetria looked up to Cybele, who was still next to the door of the plane, then addressed her:

“Cybele, can I ask you to stay there? We’ll be out soon, promise.”

“Trust me, that place looks foreboding enough as it is. I’m totally cool with staying here,” she assured.

Demetria gave Cybele a thumbs up, then we walked toward the building in question: this long and high marble building with few windows. Around the perimeter was a barbed wire fence.

“Apparently this place used to be a prison,” Demetria explained. Not that I was interested in the building’s origins. My interest was more in what we were doing there in the first place.

She opened the door inside, then motioned me to follow her in. As if that was really necessary. I would have done so anyway.

Once we stepped foot inside, I noticed the thin tunnel-like corridor, many rooms on the floor above us, and an absence of sound. Another thing of note was that the lights were on, which made it appear less abandoned than it really was. Demetria looked around, then remarked in passing:

“Looks like she took care of the dead bodies like she said she would.”

That caught me off guard, and also made me take note of the floor. Indeed, there wasn’t any hint of bloodshed or anything of the sort.

“She?” I inquired.

“I encountered someone who wants to kill Remora. She said that Remora killed her father, so I take it it’s personal.”

Figures. That frosty bastard wasn’t as good at taking care of loose ends as she thought she was.

“Do you know whose father she might have killed?” Demetria asked.

“No idea. I never shared any missions with her, and I don’t know what kind of jobs she took on. Could’ve been anyone’s father.”

“That makes it difficult,” Demetria shook her head. I wonder, do you still have some concern for her?

“What is this place, anyway?”

Our journey took us to the end of the hall, where two flights of stairs to the upstairs were situated, and we stopped at a door along the back wall.

“There was this organization. They were trying to revive the janitor company. Don’t worry, though. I took them all out, so it’s not going to happen.”

“You mean, you killed them?” Was my first question, although there were many others which could have taken precedence. Like why anyone would want to do such a thing, let alone how they knew of such an organization in the first place.

“Their turret killed them,” she corrected. “They were too heavily armored for me to have done anything on my own.”

She opened the door, then stepped inside. I followed suit, and my jaw just about dropped at the sight of stacks of cash lined up along shelves on the walls. Aside from that, there were several guns strewn about the floor, and alongside those weapons, there was something else quite peculiar: minerals which appeared to change shape and color without end, going from smooth to jagged to crystalline. Brown, gold, blue, purple, green, black, white. No specific consistency, and yet at the same time as it made those constant changes, it was as if the ‘minerals’ or whatever they were, were still objects and objects which made no such movements to warrant such a change.

“Concentrated celestial aura…” I heaved out the words. Demetria turned to me as she shoveled stacks of cash.

“You know it?” She asked.

“They’re the materials created from the essence of angels, made solid. They were used to forge the weapons we use. What they’re doing here...no, how they got their hands on…” I was just about speechless.

“Yeah, I don’t have an explanation, either,” Demetria echoed my sentiment. “There’s many things I don’t know, but I figure with this, I’ll have a fighting chance.”

“Fighting chance? What are you talking about?” I snapped.

“I want a new weapon of my own created from this stuff. I’ve already got an idea as to what I want, it’s just a matter of finding someone who could forge with these.”

Astonishment turned to irritation, and I held my fist against the wall.

“That’s not what I mean! What do you expect to do with a weapon like that?”

Her face turned sullen, and her voice lowered.

“I have an idea of what’s causing these phenomena that Sunny and Ray have been dealing with at the diner. If my suspicion is correct, then I need to make sure I’m prepared.”

“Prepared? How the hell could you possibly know what’s going on up there?”

“Because I’ve dealt with it already!” She snapped right back. “There was a man who ate two people alive, two people who I tried and failed to save! Who claimed to serve an indescribable creature, and even though I burned that place down, I know it didn’t take care of anything! There were still monsters in the arctic, strange things that went on, and they’re still going on! I have to put a stop to him! It’s my responsibility!”

“No, it’s not. You need to stay out of it. I get that you’re worried about them, but you don’t have the experience that I do. So just go back home to your family, live a quiet life, and let me deal with it.”

She didn’t budge.

“I know I lack the experience, that’s why I had you train me, so I could be strong enough to take them on. Like it or not, they are my family just as much as my biological family, and you better believe that I will protect them.”

“So you were planning to go there after all? Was the education thing a lie?”

“Not at all. I’m graduating at the end of the month. After that, it will take another month or two to forge the weapon. Then, I’ll find a way to get there. Mark my words. I just hope that I’m not too late by the time I get there.”

I pulled out my sword.

“Maybe she no longer matters to you, but do you think Remora ever wanted you to be like her? What about me? We went through hell to become the kind of people we are, and you’re saying you want to be like that too?”

“You’re right: I wouldn’t want to go through the same things you guys did. I can’t even imagine how you dealt with it. But I’m willing to put myself through hell if I have to for those people, because damn it, they’re worth hell. So we can fight right now if you want to, but I’m not backing down from this. Not when their lives are at stake.”

I let out a single heavy breath, then eased my nerves as I sheathed my blade.

“Fine. I did tell you that I didn’t need to know your reason, but you better understand that there’s no guarantee of success and if you’re not careful, this will cost you your life. Are you still willing to proceed?”

“Without a doubt,” she answered without hesitation.

“Very well. We’ll take these materials with us,” and before we could get ready to do so, I spied something beside the boxes of celestial auras. “Hey. You said you wanted to be able to block a bullet?”

She nodded. I picked up the small devices and handed them to her.

“These are miniature bounded fields. I’ll train you how to use them.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

“I still don’t like the idea, but I can tell that your mind’s made up.”

So I grabbed a couple of boxes of the minerals while she carried stacks of cash and the miniature bounded field devices. My load was heavier, but I could take it.

“By the way,” she spoke up while we hauled the items back to the plane, “I don’t remember if I’ve asked, but did you know any janitors named Cronus?”

“No,” I replied, “do you think someone by that name is behind these attacks?”

“Yes. Or someone using that name as an alias. What about someone who ate people alive, or had a big mouth. Anyone like that?”

I had to think back a little, there were so many others, now lost to time.

“There is one person who comes to mind, but I don’t know much about him,” I suggested.

“Who?”

“He had the codename ‘Tarrare’. Apparently his specialty was more akin to a true janitor...as in, he cleaned up messes, all right. From what I heard, the higher ups would find jobs that had to do with disposing of dead bodies, and they’d send him out to devour the corpses. It’s kind of gross to think about, but I guess he had the stomach for that sorta thing.”

“Anything helps. It’s hard to believe there’s any other janitors alive, but I’m not going to rule it out.”

Just a few minutes later, we arrived back on the plane and took off. Demetria handed Cybele the cash, Cybele hugged Demetria tight, and few was spoken after that. In fact, I stewed in my thoughts.

I can’t believe I’m letting her do this. She must have been planning this a while, but how will she manage? For that matter, will she be okay with who she becomes? Or was it who she already was, and she just needed the resources? Then I considered that it must have been the latter.

We returned to the field later in the afternoon. Demetria waved goodbye to Cybele.

“How will you get around without me?” Cybele wondered.

“I’ll figure something out. Besides, I’m sure we’ll meet again soon enough,” Demetria assured Cybele.

“Okay. Stay safe, and remember: you’ve got friends!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Demetria waved off and dismissed. “You take care, yourself.”

As soon as Cybele took off, I turned to Demetria.

“What’s next?” I inquired.

“We keep training, I go to campus to get my degree, and then I take off to get my weapon forged.”

“I see. What kind of weapon do you have in mind?”

She flashed a smile.

“I dunno. I was thinking a sword,” she gave a little wink. So much for originality.

“All right, so we’ll train a bit more, you’ll graduate, but do you even know a blacksmith who can work with this stuff? For that matter, how will you get back to the diner? In case you aren’t aware, normal flights aren’t going near there, and if Ray knew you were coming, he’d try to pull out all stops to keep you away.”

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure it all out.”

I couldn’t help but smile in response to all that.

“Now I’m curious as to what you’ll come up with.”

She shrugged. Looks like I’d just have to wait and see.

The end of the month came, so too, did the end of spring. Demetria rushed out the door of the shack that morning, laptop and backpack in hand, and woke us all up.

“What’s the rush?” I turned to her, voice all hoarse and groggy.

“It’s my graduation. I’ve gotta get my degree in person. I think it’s dumb, but rules are rules. So going to take a Greyhound bus a few states over. See you in, like, a day at most.”

I clapped.

“Well good for you. It’s like you’re growing up and everything.”

“Oh, shut it,” she laughed. “Anyway, bye.”

“Have a good time,” I waved to her, then she was gone.

Cleaver sat up from his hammock and looked down.

“That kid gone?” He looked around.

“Yeah, but she’ll be back,” I informed him.

“I can’t believe it’s been three months already,” he shook his head. “Crazy, huh? She turned from a pipsqueak to a powerhouse.”

“She was already a powerhouse, she just needed for that power to come to the surface,” I corrected him, “now I wonder if she’s something more than a powerhouse.”

“Don’t know, don’t care,” he climbed down. “I’m going to find some possums to barbecue. Wanna join me in the hunt?”

“I’ll pass. But send my regards to Mange, will ya?”

He grumbled an incomprehensible grumble, then walked out the door.

“I suppose all that’s left for me to do now is wait,” I spoke into the air. Wait for Ray to send me that call, telling me that the place was in danger, or wait for Demetria to return. Wait for so many things, up to and including the prospect of an eternal rest.

So I went around town, I rested in the fields, I swung around the sword, but for the most part, I just sat and waited. On the following afternoon, Demetria returned running toward the shack, with plenty of stamina in tow.

“Hey, welcome back,” I greeted.

“Thanks!” She replied, and there was something different about her, as she was grinning and a glow seemed to surround her.

“You seem in a good mood. How was it?”

“Oh, you know, boring stuff. But you wouldn’t believe who I saw there. It was an old friend who I thought I’d never speak to again, let alone see! I guess we’re really still friends after all. It’s hard to believe,” she seemed to wipe a tear from her eye, and she continued to smile.

“Who was it?” I asked.

“Not who you’re thinking!” She backpedaled, and I was a little confused.

“I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular,” I argued.

“Well, it’s not who you weren’t thinking of in particular, I can tell you that much! It was just an old friend from college. We used to be roommates.”

“Look at you! Being all social and stuff!” I congratulated.

“Stop it. I doubt I’ll see her again. My life’s just heading in a different direction and I probably won’t be able to have as many bright and cheery moments as that one. I have to accept that.”

How unfortunate.

“You should at least allow yourself the moments of happiness you can find,” I advised her.

Her smile lowered down until her face turned more serious.

“Yeah...you’re right.”

Before either of us could say anything else, Demetria’s phone rang, and she answered.

“Would you look at that, perfect timing,” Demetria remarked as whoever was on the other end must have greeted her, “been a while, hasn’t it, Hera?”

Hera? Was that the friend Demetria knew back at her university? I didn’t know, but I continued to listen in.

“Oh my. You want me to come over? Gee, I’d love to do that, but I don’t have any way to get there. I don’t have...how do I put it...the coin.”

You need a coin to get...well, she was probably talking of transportation money. But still, doesn’t she have plenty of money considering what she took at that building?

“Wait. You’ll come get me? Well this changes everything. Okay. Hold on. Slow down. I’ll meet you in Caldwell, Idaho. You can probably find me at a coffee shop. Thanks so much,. Bye.”

She then hung up and looked down where I sat.

“Well, time for me to run down to the city while carrying rocks in my backpack,” she announced, then tossed me her phone.

“Why did you give me this?” I looked down, confused.

“Can you hold onto it for me? Where I’m going, it’s best if I don’t have this.”

I was still confused.

“What am I supposed to do with it? I’m a homeless old bat!” I griped.

“Oh, come on. You’re not that old. Just pretend to be me if anyone texts.”

I shook my head and sighed.

“I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this, but what the hell?”

“Thanks! So I’ll see you around!” She rushed out the words and was in such a pose that suggested she was ready to run off then and there.

“I just hope you know what you’re doing,” I cautioned.

“Ha. Do I ever?”

We both allowed ourselves a little bit of a laugh, and then she ran off inside the shack, then ran back out with the backpack on her shoulders. Without so much as looking back, she ran off at once. Before long, her image faded from view. Then I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the shack.

“I think if fate will allow, I’d like to live at least long enough to see how this plays out. If not a little longer,” I sent my wish out into the air. It wasn’t so much of a wish as it was a certain sentimental idea. I wouldn’t have minded if my time came tomorrow, or that very instant.

#remoras full #writing #training montage #action #slice of life #fiction #sorry this took so long #turns out this chapter is even longer than chapter 27 was #sorry about that too

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spacedoutbunny · 3 years ago

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Chapter 1

She was perched on the rooftop like a bird would perch if birds perched on this particular rooftop. Except they didn`t. Birds avoided this particular rooftop because they knew she perched there. It was almost out of respect for her two leggedness of perching.

She stared into the street before a crowd of people had begun to form. Soon there would be too many. And so, she betook herself off from perching to sliding down the roof and then to the gutter and then to falling off. She had to fall just right and so she waited.

Two nights previously the Abegaineo Family had sat down to have a conference. It was to discuss who, if anyone wanted the job would become head of the family.

It was an annual discussion, that generally ended up with a vacant chair.

Mostly it was an opportunity to come together to discuss what had happend during the past year and have a rather nice party. Introductions for marriage were also discussed where necessary for family continuity was paramount. Each branch carefully chosen. But bloodlines always from outside the family. No one who was not family could attend. And this meant no one who was not family usually had no clue they were under discussion.

If rejected then the rejected one would never see or hear from his or her potential mate every again. There were rules in place for a reason.

Everyone took the name Abegaineo once chosen. No one ever left the family. Death was the only exit, but at this point even Death knew better than to take any within their ranks.

They all just took up positions “Elsewhere” it was just how it worked.

Those who had known when the chair had been filled had long since gone “elsewhere”. No one was here who remembered at this particular gathering.

There was light music coming from the ballroom. It had a slightly eerie edge as though something was a little off kilter. Listen too long and it could set your teeth on edge. Listen longer and the need to start a fight grew. After that it was too late and usually involved rubber rooms.

Chapter 2

Two days later and outside, the percher was close to falling. And so she did. The person who caught her however, was not who she was expecting to catch her.

One step back and two streets over the intended catcher walked on oblivious. She had been redirected by a series of events that did not seem contrived, but in fact were.

The recipient of the falling girl was surprised and not delighted. He had been carrying a painting at arms length so as not to bend or break it. So his arms had been extended in the correct position for falling into. The girl did not yet know it was the wrong person.

The painting fell out of his hands at the exact moment she hit. And a bunch of expletives followed after. The girls pride was a little hurt. The mans anger and concern for the painting over the person, put her back up. She stood up quickly enough and was about to lay into him when she really noticed his eyes, and then his hands which once again were holding the painting.

“She apologised. She actually apologised”

Across the street hidden in shadow Hecate stood talking to her companion, a sparrow. The bird perched on Hecate`s shoulder. “But it was the wrong one” he shrilled. “Where has Nona got to?Nona was supposed to catch her! This took bloody weeks to set up and it`s all but banjaxed, I`m going to check up on Nona” and the sparrow flew off.

Nona had wandered into a Cafe she sat looking out at the people walking past as she sipped her coffee. they all had the same bored expression. “Ruddy Robots”. She sighed and got up after finishing and continued down the street.

A sparrow flew past her head and hit a window, it fell to the ground.

Nona had not seen it. She was walking without really paying attention the projects in her head were outweighing the noises surround her, the people were a blur.

A sparrow flew right past her and it a window, it fell to the ground.

She did not see it.

The third time it happened and Nona ignored it the sparrow flew off muttering.

“Did you just say `for fucks sake?`”

The sparrow came back round and hit a window right in front of her face, and landed on the ground at her feet. She nearly trod on it but instead bent down to pick it up. “Bloody suicidal birds.” she placed it gently on a table. It fluttered its wings pathetically. “Good God you want me to take you home?” Flutter “Ah what the heck. People think I`m nuts anyway” and she picked the sparrow up. “Better find you a box or something.”

She rooted around in an recycling bin and found an empty box and put the sparrow inside. She continued to root around inside the bin. She found a bit of wood, some bubble wrap and an orange that was close to going mouldy and there was a painting just thrown to one side. The picture intrigued her and the rest she could find a use for. She carried it all along till she found a spare poly bag floating down the street, then placed most of the items into the bag.

The box with the sparrow in contained it and the bubble wrap, but no air holes. The sparrow was comfy but pissed off at the lack of air.

Nona finally made it back to her flat/studio. she opened the box. The sparrow fluttered weakly. “I bet you need water” she said. The sparrow was thinking it could do with a gin sling right about now.

Nona found a pipette. The sparrow was really hopeful when it saw the clear liquid and nearly choked when water went past its beak.

Chapter 3

Meanwhile Hecate was watching her main charge walk along with the man with the painting still held at arms length.

Arabat-Lile,better known as Lily, kept pace with the man and his painting. Still apologising, it fell on deaf ears. This man was a nightmare. He tripped over stuff and nearly fell, he bumped into people and got banged a lot. It was only because Lily steered him, that he made it to his destination. A museum. He almost tripped up the stairs but made it inside and down to the store room where he gingerly placed the painting on the floor against a wall.

He looked around and finally noticed Lily, and almost jumped out of his skin, falling backward. He might at that point, have crushed the painting, but Lily grabbed his arm and pulled him forward, so he fell into her. Once again their eyes met. She saw a flash of light, literally a flash, then it vanished. He saw her face and realised it was symmetrical. Both said “Wow”

Hecate still hiding in the shadows just said “shit” it was very deep.

Hecate needed information and quickly. Everything that could have gone wrong “had” gone wrong and she knew nothing about `Calamity` as she had begun to call him. Not his name, nor his purpose, not a damn thing except he couldn't function well at all. As human males went he was ... well ... clumsy.

Lily had managed to get them out of the storeroom and into a cafe on site at the museum.

“You mean you had no idea you were coming here?” Lily asked

“No, none at all. One minute I was rooting around in an antique shop and the next I found that painting and I knew I had to take it here directly.

Lily stared at him “It`s a Blue you know.” Calamity raised an eyebrow.

“Blue as in Ambrose Blue?. There were no known Ambrose Blue paintings left to be discovered unless perhaps it was in a private collection.” Lily said echoing what the curator had said.

The curator who had been passed the painting had been sceptical about its origin. “There are NO Ambrose Blue paintings left around” he snorted at the idea. And then on closer inspection he had nearly choked and having left a photograph and a paper of ownership with Calamity had whisked it off to be authenticated.

“if it is a Blue” Lily continued “then it would appear you may be quite well off”

Calamity sipped his coffee carefully “You think?” he asked. “You knew it could be a Blue but to be honest I know very little about art as a rule, I`m more a collector of old Games and consoles. I was rummaging around for an old Nintendo when I found the painting.”

“Games?” Lily asked. The blank look on her face spoke volumes

“You know PS4, Xbox, Nintendo, Game Cube.” He searched her face for signs of her taking the mickey.

“I`ve played Poker before does that count? Only I wasn`t very good at it and lost to be honest”

“Where have you been hiding all these years?” Calamity was thunderstruck. “The Moon?”

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justfangstvdto · 5 years ago

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Open Coffin 2 | Chapter 03 “Living On Borrowed Time”

Disclaimer: This is a sequel! Find Part 1 here. For some context, I´d advise you to watch The Originals to understand some occurrences.

Chapter warnings: a little bit of a slow breather chapter, timeline divergence, canon divergence, Also apologies for the long break in between...I allowed myself time to let it marinate a little, feel free to wait for more chapters to come before reading,

Word count: 5450

Tags & Author Note at the bottom. Feedback is my lifeblood and keeps the writing coming (eventually...lol).

Open Coffin 2 Masterlist

Your feet dragged over what was left of the road in the cemetery that had been split open by centuries of floods and moving earth. The white paint of a few sparsely placed tombs was so bright you had to shield your eyes from the reflecting light. The trees swayed in the gentle breeze, diluting the light above into a shaded mess. There had never been an English word for the way the sun and wind interplay with each other to create dappled sunlight, but it decorated the entire tree-lined walkway.

Leaving the shadows, you turned the corner towards the far end of the cemetery, skipping some of Lafayette´s prominent resting places, "Why the hell did I agree to this again?"

“Because you're taken with my personality?” Kaleb was walking behind you a step or two, taking his sweet time as if he had no trouble wasting seconds to nothing. He had convinced you to not kill him immediately with a promise of revealing his intentions. You agreed, knowing that if he walked you into a trap you could still end him with a rub of your fingers. It was a win-win, though a time consuming one so far.

And time was running out. You hid a bloody nose from his eyes when he was unconscious - the second one that day - and it was only going to get worse from here on out.

“You think if I´d be taken with you, I would´ve handcuffed you to a radiator?” You scoffed, ignoring his attempt to lighten your mood completely.

“I don´t know,” he shrugged, “you might be into that.”

You rolled your eyes at his comment, progressing further. Passing another set of stones older than dirt, you adjusted the straps of the bag that carried your letters, fastening the metal handler around your shoulder. It was comforting to know that they were with you again and that they only fell into the hands of the stranger next to you. After a few more steps, the sound of shoes crushing loose stones under his weight grew silent.

"This is it," he said and nudged his head towards the building on your left.

You looked at the building towering next to you and it took a moment for you to scramble together where you are. Like a squared lighthouse, the second story building had glass windows on the second floor that wrapped around all sides. The first floor was used by the local witches as a place to congregate and meet with each other, while the second floor was full of plants, herbs and other ingredients for all kinds of spells. You knew the place all too well. Besides plants, it currently housed a newly moved in leech that fed on people's weaknesses. One that was followed by her offspring and one - that despite the meaning of her name - was the worst of them all.

Esther.

"Of course you're working for her. I should've known.” You pinched the bridge of your nose, breathing out the weight of uncertainty from your lungs. Finally, the pieces revealing the stranger in front of you fell into place. Esther sends a distraction. Needless to say, you were not surprised.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you too are working with her?" He had a smug grin on his face as he replied as if he´d outfoxed your question. Smug Bastard.

"Let me guess, she's the one that wanted my letters?”You asked, and he confirmed with a nod “Why?”

“To exploit your secrets, I'd imagine." He shrugged, then opened the door to the building and stepped aside “After you.” You brushed past him, brushing against his torso trying to fit into the outlandish small door frame. At least this time you were not wearing any hindering clothes as you did 100 years ago. You remembered that once a part of your coat ripped trying to enter this building and if you'd look closely you might even find particles of the clothing still littering the doorframe.

Entering the room at the top of the building, you heard Kaleb breathe out in annoyance once he laid eyes on Finn. He- who was still inhabiting a local Voodoo master with the name of Vincent Griffith - stood at the table, ripping feathers from a dead crow that laid on it.

“Ah, Finn. Just the person I didn't want to see." Kaleb looked at him with such disdain one would have deduced that there was some sort of sour history there. Still, Finn said nothing and blankly stared through his borrowed eyes.

Looking at him, you wondered if the people underneath Esther´s and Finn's possession had any control left. Did they feel or see too? Or were they gone, totally locked away? You never wanted to find out first hand.

“Kaleb, Y/N. I see you two have been acquainted.” You heard Esther speaking from an adjoined room before you saw her. But now she wasn´t the teenage witch she had been inhabiting when you met, it was a local shop owner and witch that had been selling witch items not far from Marcel's new place. But even in another body, she remained the most questioned pawn on the board.

“I guess it was bound to happen since you sent him to steal from me. I don't appreciate you meddling in personal business. That wasn't part of the deal.”

“Did I, now?" She paused and shared a look of disapproval with Finn next to her "Very well. Since Kaleb revealed himself to you, you´ll join forces for the time being. Perhaps then I'll get what I seek."

"Yeah no, I don't do teams." You shook your head and glanced at Kaleb next to you “No offence.”

“You'll do as you're told," Finn said. His jaw was clenched and he tipped the tip of his finger against the table. Ah, the scolding finger. Another thing he had in common with his brothers.

"Oh, of course!” Kaleb scoffed, slicing his words in a sudden stern veer “Now Finn, the sycophant, speaks up! Are you gonna grovel at your mother's heels for eternity, or what?"

Finn dragged his eyes from the table and ogled him down as if he would implode to dust under his gaze “I advise you to stay your lane."

You rolled your eyes at their ongoing dick-sword fight, wishing they´d either attack each other for a little entertainment or simply hold their tongue until you´re out of the way.

“We should move this along.” Esther sounded annoyed as she ordered Finn to the back room with a nod of her head. He tore himself away from the hostile conversation with reluctance, yet he complied. “Now,” Esther looked at you with stern expectation “What brings you here? I do hope it is not another empty promise.”

"I come bearing gifts." You said, stepping forward to the table in the middle of the room. You brushed dried up leaves from the roses that grew in the room from the table with your elbow. Kaleb's eyes went wide when he saw what you held in your hands. The white oak stake in all its silver veined glory. You watched Esther's eyebrows ripple with surprise. She wasn't expecting you to bring the white oak to her as you promised.

She reached out to grasp it, but you brought the tip of the stake to the ceiling to withhold it from her “I need some repayment first. A part of the spell, an ingredient from the list, something."

"You haven't fulfilled your part of the deal." She stated with certainty in her voice.

“This is the start of it. You said you wanted to convince Klaus and Elijah to become human, right? But of course, they´re not as easy to persuade as you thought. If you can't convince them, pour salt into their wounds until they can't do anything but listen. You´re their mother. I´m sure you have secrets about them floating around in your head somewhere. Use them.”

“I am well aware of-”

“I'm not finished. They're hiding something big. Elijah went off like the attack dog he is without me doing anything to cause this, which means that they're hiding something. They have to be. He's too suspicious of me to not want to keep something hidden away. I can find out what it is if you give me something first.”

“You will give me the white oak stake and I will consider handing you a fraction of the spell”

So that's how this is gonna go. You're baiting the wrong person here, Esther...

You considered your options for a moment, going over the possible outcomes of any branch, but all led to disaster. All but one. That meant not playing her game anymore. It would never get to the point where she would keep up her end of the bargain. But this endeavour trying to gain her sympathies had no use. It was time for Plan B.

"Fine. I'll be back with more soon” You met her observing gaze, looking at her without a glimmer of fear she so hoped to spot. You let her grasp the white oak stake and let it fall into her hands.

“It's not like I'm living on borrowed time or anything." You muttered as you turned to leave through the door you came into.

What Esther will do with the white oak, that only her twisted mind would now. But at least it will give you time to come up with another plan. Including another obstacle that was your new companion who, if your senses were not completely obliterated, knew too much to not work against you.

For now, however, getting out of the fire line is what was important, or you´d not stand to see this through.

You stood on the corner, watching as Marcel paraded around in front of his new initiates. He was trying to rebuild his community, the one that Klaus took over with his scheming and intrigues. You never grasped why he thirsted for power as much as he did. Perhaps, you thought, he tried to eliminate the feelings of not possessing any power whatsoever when he was young. Or it was to outgrow Klaus' shadow that has been resting on him and this city. Even now exiled on the other side of the river, he tried to rebuild what Klaus took from him.

Marcel, similar to New Orleans was a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Burnt down countless times, defeated and broken, yet resilient. You wondered how he kept going after all this time. Possibly he was just better at moving past issues than you were. Or he was nothing but more skilled at concealing it.

“I'll be right back.” You informed Kaleb, as Marcel announced the end of his drafting process. Marcel spotted you walking towards him out the corner of his eye, smiled and outstretched his arms, waiting for your opinion of his recruits.

“So, what do you think?”

“I don´t know, a little too groupy for me, to be honest.” You shrugged, “But I'm not a team player so what do I know?”

“Fair enough.” He nodded and let his eyes wander for a second before he spotted Kaleb watching your conversation like a hawk. “Who is this guy?”

“A friend.” You answered, hoping he wouldn´t pester you with questions. You had no time to waste.

“Since when are you making friends? Especially ones with death stares.”

“Well, guys with death stares are kind of my brand.” You joked, but Marcel was nowhere near laughing. Your smile fell and you cleared your throat before you continued “Anyway, listen, do you still own that cabin out in Terrebonne? I could use a little retreat.”

Marcel cocked his eyebrow “Who do you have to hide from now? I know you´ve been going the extra mile to piss people off lately, but that has to be a new record.”

“Nobody yet, but there will be soon. I'm just getting the hell out of dodge before that.” You felt bad for only visiting Marcel to get something from him, but you were not exactly running on a lot of time. You were sure he understood.

“Cabin´s still there, but I had it warded against magic a while back, so no zapping in and out of the place. You can disable it if you want once you´re there.”

“Great. So a road trip it is.” You were not particularly thrilled of hanging out in a confined space with someone you barely knew. But there was no use in complaining.

"In that case,” Marcel continued “you´ll probably want your ride back. It's down at the docks, with all your stuff in it."

“Shit I haven't thought about that piece of metal since-” You paused, but there was no need to finish your sentence. Marcel understood.

“I assume you have a passcode for the doors? Or do you want me to blow the door up to get in?”

"Uh, yeah. It´s…" He scratched the back of his head in avoidance.

The second you knew why he was stalling, your face fell “Don't tell me the password is…password.”

“No, of course not.”

“It´s password, isn't it? You dumbass.”

“It's a car, not an atomic bomb! As if anyone's gonna steal that old thing.”

You slapped his shoulder, shoving him back a step or two “How dare you. You can insult me, but never that car, alright? It's been through a lot.”

He smiled before raising his hands in defeat. “Alright, alright. Call me if you need backup with this one.” He nudged his head to Kaleb still standing where you left him.

“Thanks, but I never need backup.”

----

You definitely needed backup. Even simply to hurl Kaleb out of the window for how annoying he was. Throughout the first few miles, he flipped radio channels with his magic, whistled along to every song that came on, or bumped his knees on the glove compartment repeatedly. He even asked about Marcel with such vigour, you barely managed to divert the topic. You knew many people had something against Marcel and his supernatural politics, you included, but Kaleb´s disapproval was on the upper spectrum. This only added to his questionable character.

You halted at a rest stop a few miles down the road after Kaleb insisted on getting road trip snacks. He had an extra pep in his step when he found the snack Aisle, you could see his excitement through the smudged storefront windows.You pulled out your phone when he disappeared into the back isles dialling a string of numbers you haven't thought about in the last decades. You tapped your foot throughout the beeping tone, anxiously waiting for the other person to pick up.

You heard a groggy moan before the scruffy voice of an old friend cut through. "Y/N ain't that a nice surprise.” Shank said, “It's been what 90 years?"

"Yeah not exactly. We saw each other about a year ago in New York. Or have you forgotten?"

Shank considered for a moment “Oh yeah something seems to brush through my drunken haze. I think. ”

Shank did not drink to forget like most, he drank to remember. He claimed that once he entered a state of non-sobriety, memories he had long forgotten would creep up. You always thought it was nice he even could forget anything at all.

“Anyway,” Clearing your throat, you continued “I need you to do some dirty work.”

“Dirty work?” He sounded surprised yet elated by the prospect of digging up some dirt by either burying someone or by digging up secrets “What are we talking about? Murder, mayhem? Mayhem with some murder?”

“Not that kind of dirty. I need you to pull up all the records you can find for a guy called Kaleb. I don't have his last name, but I'll send you a picture.” You looked over your shoulder to check if Kaleb was already finished with getting snacks, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“I see what I can do.” He agreed and you could hear him hammering on the keyboard through the phone “Is he a problem I need to know about?”

“I don't know yet. I just want to make sure we're on the same side.” You explained, leaving out the details he had no use of knowing about “Thanks for doing this, by the way, I know I haven´t exactly been around.”

“You can thank me by checking in with the boss.”

Of course, he would bring her up. How could he not? He was so blindly loyal to her, it was a wonder that he was not killed yet.

“I don't know what Mae told you but I don't want to speak to her ever again.”

“Just call in, kid.” He seemed impatient in his wish, but, you had no intention of following through with it. That chapter was closed.

“I'll think about stopping by instead.” You lied. You had no intention to go anywhere near the headquarters.

There was silence on the other end, then what sounded like a drink that was poured before Shank spoke once more "You can't. It's all gone."

"What do you mean it's gone?”

“Haven't you heard? The Guerra Werewolf pack bombed the place. Did the same to the crescents on the Bayou. Whole building collapsed in broad daylight, almost everyone died. Some of them people were dumb as a ton of bricks, but they were family.”

“Shit. I didn't know.”

"Nobody knows except Boss and I, and our high and mighty Mikaelson's of course."

"If there's anything I can do-”

“Nothing to be done.” He answered curtly, then returned to his task at hand. "I'll get you the info. Take care of yourself, kid.” And without another word, he hung up the phone.

Entering the car, you leaned forwards after terminating the call, head pressing into the steering wheel. How have you not heard of the explosions? If you had, you would have made the Guerra werewolves suffer longer. Or at least dragged some of them back to the surviving members they could do with them whatever they liked.

You pushed the thought away when Kaleb showed up at the register. You snapped a photo of Kaleb when he appeared at the register through the windshield, disguising your action as trying to find a signal.

“Did you find it?” He asked through the opened passenger window before throwing the three bags worth of snacks behind him on the backseat.

“Find what?" You asked him, confused about what he meant.

“The signal?” He said when he opened the passenger door and hopped in “I saw you from in there.”

“Oh, yeah I got like one and a half bars at best.” You lied. before reaching out for the key stuck in the lock cylinder. Turning it with the foot on the clutch you started the car, ready to continue the journey.

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

On a lonely stretch of road close to Morgan City, Kaleb had finally resorted to looking out of the window for the first time since leaving New Orleans. Silence at last. Ah, yes. Hair breezing in the wind, soft tunes that played on the radio and some nice peace and...

“So New York huh?” Kaleb asked and you had to stop yourself from burying your face in the steering wheel.

...Quiet, yeah not so much.

“Just because we're working together, doesn't mean we have to talk.” You blew him off, “Also, is there an encyclopedia of Y/N somewhere I don´t know about or how do you know where I was?”

He smiled and said "Touchy, are we?”

"I don't know why you're surprised. Do I look like the person that ́is offering free hugs or something?"

"Well, if you ́re offering, I wouldn't say no." He shrugged, flashing a pearly white smile that you figured was deadly to girls' hearts in the vicinity.

“Fine.” You sighed and turned the radio volume down. “Ask away. What about New York?” You hoped he would be satisfied with a few questions answered.

“You, uh, what do they say.”He tipped the tip of his finger against his lips as he considered “Ah yes dropped off the map. Then years later you resurface in New York. Why that filthy city out of the whole world to choose from?”

You stranded there, was the short answer. The real answer was much more complicated. “I did it for the Bagels.” You shrugged.

Kaleb almost choked on a corn chip as your words registered “The bagels?” He said through a cough or two.

“The bagels.” You confirmed, "And I spent some time there back in the '50s, so I knew my way around."

You did not tell him that you just found yourself in New York one night after you tried aimlessly to find something to dull the pain. You did not tell him that you spend weeks feeding through the drunkards that wandered the streets at night. Or how you made the top spot on the wanted list on several covens or small circles of witches for stealing spellwork. You had nothing to lose, and nothing to fear from any of them. You had your goal, and you did not care about casualties.

So you lied. He had no use hearing any of those things.

“And what about your family? Did they visit you there?” He asked further.

Why do you ask so many questions, Kaleb?

You dug your nails in the fabric of the steering wheel at the mention of your so-called family. You have not seen Stefan or Damon in years. But only thinking about them resurfaced memories of the last time you spoke to Stefan on a lonely winter night in New York, months after everything that happened.

You remembered how cold your hands were from the freezing storm that iced the city overnight. There was another blizzard predicted to roll through in the day to come, but people in New York had experienced harsher winter conditions than that. You watched them drink their mulled wine and cinnamon-spiked coffee from the bench you were sitting on. The snowed-over trees of Central Park were a perfect backdrop for the winter wonderland they were seeking.

The ring tone felt like an endless repetition of empty promises, each more disappointing than the last. What if he had no desire to pick up the phone? Or perhaps he was in trouble? Maybe you should- But then his voice cut through the silence. He didn't say your name just answered with a standard phrase you´d greet strangers with. You told him who you were and before you could explain that you wanted to make amends, he said: “Whatever it is, I can´t help you.” Then he hung up and left you in the cold with nothing but the light of your phone that remained the sole evidence for your conversation.

Clutching the steering wheel tighter, you shoved those memories back where they belonged; behind a door and forgotten as so many have been.

“I don't have a family” You finally said. “What about you? Got any family left?”

“They're all crazy as loons.” He shook his head “No, my family these days contains of one person. The only one that's never given up on me.”

Huh. So you were in the same boat after all. Interesting...

“Is that the reason you started working for Esther? To be reunited with them?”

“That's the primary goal, yes." He confirmed and reached for another chip in the bag. “So, New York.” He repeated once again “What did you do?”

“I'm sure you´ve heard the stories. Everyone has.”

“I rather get information from the source. Can´t trust chatter these days.”

“I've done what someone like me does.” You answered with the hope he would have the sense to stop pestering you with questions.

“Well, darling, there is nobody like you, so have to be a little more specific.” The familiarity of the word of endearment made you turn your head and you glanced at him, but he was already staring ahead.

“Murdered, maimed, pissed people off, you know, the usual. Bad things happen when people like me grieve.” You replied, focusing on the road ahead once more.

“All that to get your boyfriend back?”

You slammed your foot on the breaks, halting the car with a loud screech. You leaned over with fury dwelling in your eyes "Let's get one thing straight, you'll never bring him up. Ever. Matter of fact, why don't we keep our history to ourselves."

"I didn´t-"

You didn't let him finish. Instead, you turned the radio volume up, ending the conversation in an instant. You felt his stare every now and then and he nervously fumbled with his left hand and outstretched his fingers only to retreat them a moment later, as if he was regretting reaching out.

The song on the radio swallowed the silence as it played on, thick with grief as a man sang on about how he couldn't go on without his special person by his side. How absolutely cliche it was for the song to play right at this moment when you were reminded of him.

If Kol was here he would point his finger into the air and utter “See there's the universe again. Laughing at us, taunting us, but also telling us we ́re on the right path.”The memories of his smile and the way it would outshine your grimmest thoughts drifted over you, a cruel reminiscence of paradise lost but never forgotten. You relived flashes of memories every day, in the place you dared not to touch nor let go. As long as you remembered, nothing was lost. Kol still existed. You still existed.

The road ended in a mess of mud and overturned ground as the song played out. End of the road for now. And that meant digging through the outskirts of the swamp. On foot. At that point, you started thinking this was a bad idea.

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

Birds settle on a power line across the dirt road leading to the cabin. Most birds gathered as a group, some were scattered, but one was sitting next to them and tilted his head to observe them. They scattered into the wind when the cabin door behind you fell in the lock. You felt his eyes on you as he stepped forward on the roofed deck. Thanks to an invisible spell Kaleb was unable to see Mikael parading around with a wooden lance on the space before the cabin.

“I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry.”His voice sounded remorseful and quiet as he leaned against the brittle railing where chipped-away paint chips rained onto the dirt.

“It's fine. Just forget about it.”You brushed him off. You could have told him that he found your weak point, and that was not the mention of Kol, but the fact that you had forgotten about him for a moment and then Kaleb brought him up.

“It's nice here. If you ignore the blasting heat.”He was trying to establish some sort of small talk, but you were never one to care for it, and certainly not now.

“Yeah.” You glanced at him through the corners of your vision.

Above, the birds screeched and tore through the silence, and you looked up to see them retreat into the trees. It was getting dark now, stars had started to crack through the sky, some lighter patches, others clusters of faint and bold light. You gazed at those bright friends of the moon and the midnight blue canvas stole every thought from your mind. The carousel of worries was forgotten for a moment. That was one of the advantages of life outside of the city where stars were put to death every night by the shine of streetlights and suffocated by manmade pollution.

You turned your head again and caught Kaleb's gaze in the light the oil lamp that swayed in the breeze provided. You had to warn him. Warn him about the danger he put himself in being here with you. People around you either leave or end up six feet under. He at least deserved some cautious words.

“Listen,” You turned to him “everything I plan goes bad for me usually. And this time it's foolish too, so if you want out-”

“Nonsense. I'm with you. And I don't change my mind.” He said as a matter of fact as if standing by words was such a common thing to do "Besides, what am I supposed to do, play lapdog with Finn?" He scoffed and shook his head, the image alone too ridiculous to fathom.

The corners of your lips tugged into a smile, an expression which was mirrored on his face. But, when he looked at you next, his face went pale. Before you could ponder about what he saw, you felt the warm liquid run down your nose even before you smelt the copper that taste.

“Shit, sorry.” You wiped the blood away with the back of your hand which stained the fine lines that covered your skin with the crimson remnant ”You´re squeezy around blood, huh?”

"No-” He shook his head, then paused “that is why you said you´re living on borrowed time?”

You were surprised he heard that “Yeah. I just need to undo some things I´ve done before I kick the bucket. A monster seeking absolution. What a cliche, right? Whoever, be it the universe or whatever, that´s conducting my story has never heard of an original plot, that's for sure.”

“You're not a monster. “ He said.

“Isn't drinking blood enough cause to be one?”

“That describes what you are, but who you are isn't defined by the things you've done. Nobody can be summed up by the total of their wrongdoings. I don't believe that, and neither should you.” You opened your mouth to deny what he declared, then stopped yourself from saying it. Kaleb noted your silence as a sign to drop the topic “I might be capable to help you figure out what causes this. If you let me.”

“I have nothing to lose, so why not?” You shrugged, knowing that time would run out eventually. And at this rate, it won't be too long. “But first there's something you should know. I'm not working alone here.”

“I hope not, or I'd be nothing but a figment of your imagination.” He grinned and nudged your shoulder “As flattering as that is, I´d rather be real. Being invisible will drive you mad.”

“You better see it for yourself then.” You raised your hand towards the space Mikael had been training while you spoke, uttering one simple word to reveal him “Invisique.”

You watched Kaleb's expression closely as it dawned on him who remained only a few feet away from where he was standing.

“Mikael.” He swallowed and withdrew with a few steps backwards, until his back hit the rigid wooden wall. He was scared. Good. That meant he wasn't a fool.

“So you know who he is. Good, that spares me the history lesson.”

“How is he here?” He sliced his words in a sudden stern veer, and kept his back flush with the wall, not moving an inch.

“Let's get inside and I'll tell you what you need to know.” Opening the door you went inside first, holding the door open behind you. “Don´t worry, he won't come near us.”

Kaleb tore his eyes from Mikael and secured the door with his hand. Before entering he looked over his shoulder, suddenly feeling like he was being watched. He scanned the tree lines and the road up ahead but there was nothing to be seen. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something tussle the leaves in the distance beyond Mikael's training ground. And he feared that the storm above and the vampire that hunts vampires was the least of his worries.

And who or whatever was watching him, he thought, surely agreed.

-----

A/N: And we´re back with another one! This is a little bit of a slower one, but I hope you liked it! If there anything that stood out to you or anything that you liked or disliked, let me know!! I would love to hear your thoughts.

Open Coffin Series Taglist: (message me if you want on or off this list!)

@shadyladyperfection @thegoddessofvampire @newurleans @originalbish98 @acourtofhopeanddreams @bonniebird @imnoaingeal @vaniileiinkeks @relmi-llorrac @piercethepottorff @maliae14 @5-seconds-of-animals @the-geeky-engineer @rock-n-magick @flymeawayworld @givemesomehybrid @mikealsonlover @nuteller28 @fandoms-fandoms-everywhere99 @drkplum @fandooomqueenforyou @free-the-fangirl @clockworkballerina @twisted1ginger @superwholocksociopath474 @pacifyprincessxo @mustachio1616 @thealyana @sandyclaws @unicorntrooper @buckysummers @sanity-is-overratedxp @akshi8278 @lunna-star-8 @graysonmalfoy @woodworthti666 @elenavaldez02 @lilulo-12 @selmasemlan @thelostallycat @characterobsessed @cococola-cocaine @crazyinternetgirl @tvdplusriverdale @-thatgirloverthere- @alwxadria345 @trymexo @mizzezm @willieshakesqueer @spunky-89 @putyourherohaironstefan @xxdragonagequeenxx @thegingerthatwaited @shootingstarsaretearsofheaven @hinata7346 @controloffandoms @sabrielflowers

#kol x reader #kol mikaelson x reader #kol mikaelson imagine #the originals fanfiction #tvd imagine #the originals #kol mikaelson #open coffin 2 #open coffin

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holly-hep · 4 years ago

Text

The Beauty of Being Numb | Klaus Hargreeves x Reader

Index

Chapter 9: Sinner Man

In the afternoon, when (Y/N) arrives home, she can feel the tension all over the house, making her feel uneasy. She walks to the living room, where she hears altered voices:

-What about you stoner boy?- it's Diego-. What do you got?

-Oh, so, what? You need my help, now? Oh- he imitates Luther's voice-, "Get out of the van, Klaus." "Welcome back, to the van."

-What van?

Luther scoffs.

-What's it gonna be, Klaus?

-I'm with Diego, because screw you! And if Ben were here, he'd agree with me- Klaus hisses.

She opens the sliding doors and everyone turns to see her as she walks into the room.

-What's wrong? The vibe here is unbearable

-Nothing- Diego shuts her-. So that's three...?

-Wait...

-To two- Diego raises his fingers, mockingly.

-Votes not final yet- Allison says.

-What?

-Five's not here. The whole family has to vote. We owe each other that.

-Right- Luther agrees-. We should wait.

-If the whole family gets a saying, then (Y/N) has to get one too, right?- Klaus mentions.

-No!- Diego is quick to say as Luther looks at (Y/N) divided.

-Saying about what?

-Luther wants to turn off Mom.

-But this is a family...- Diego is interrupted by the girl.

-What? Nein!- she scowls at One-. I'm not letting you do anything to Grace.

-Ha!- Diego goes to her side-. I agree she should get a vote, she's got a tattoo anyway. We might as well call her Number Eight!

Vanya feels uncomfortable at the comment, but no one notices.

-So it's four against two- Klaus drinks what's left in his glass-. That solves it.

-What? No!

-Yes, even if Five sided with you, it'll be three against four.

-Whatever.

Luther storms out the room, followed by Allison.

-Thanks- Diego mutter as she walks past (Y/N).

-She's my friend.

She sits on the couch after everyone leaves, except for Klaus, who takes a seat beside her.

-Why does he even want to disconnect Grace?

-He thinks she's guilty of Dad's death. He's delusional- he offers her some chips-. Hey, you wanna go out tonight? There's this amazing club I want to go to.

-Can't- she stands up-. It's a friend's birthday and he's having a party at his apartment.

-Oh, which friend?- he follows her upstairs.

-You don't know him.

-Then describe him.

-He's redhead, tall, grey eyes- she enters her room-. A common customer at the shop, he's a lawyer.

-Oh, when you're going

-Ren and his sister will pass for me at 7.

-And when you'll ve back?

-At 10, I think- she looks at him worried-. Can you promise to stay out of trouble while I'm gone?

-Yeah- he didn't feel comfortable with her going out without him.

-We'll go out on Friday, okay? It's a promise.

At seven o'clock, Ren and Lile beep outside the Academy, and (Y/N) says goodbye to Klaus as she runs downstairs, a gift in her hands.

-I'll be back on time to sleep, ok?- she screams at Klaus, who's watching her from the stairs-. Oh! And I prepared you a bath, you stink!

-How considerate!- he says sarcastically, she smiles-. Have fun!

She closes the door behind her and Klaus sighs. Dragging his feet, he goes to his room, undresses and takes a box with some pot blunts inside. With the headphones on and a towel around his body, he walks through the corridor towards the bathroom.

He can't stop thinking about this Dylan guy. Was he the one who was (Y/N) attracted to? The one she talked about in the car?

He enters and the scent of oranges invades him: (Y/N) had put candles all over the bathroom as well as some flowers. He smiles and gets into the tub, some rubber ducks floating on the pink and purple water, and leaves the earphones and drugs beside him. Maybe he should stop taking them, that would make (Y/N) happy, right? He could at least try.

Deciding to skip his usual night dose, he dips in the water, closing his eyes. The warmth of it reminds him of his friend: he could picture her filling the tub and putting the bath bomb in it. Lighting up the orange-scented candles. Checking the water was at his favorite temperature. She had even put in ducks as if he was a kid.

She is so sweet, so tender and loving... Why does she waste her time taking care of him? He doesn't deserve it, at least he believes that.

His pacific thoughts are interrupted by voices, those voices he so much hated and tried so hard to repress. The drugs he took in the morning were wearing off.

-Klaus!

Various screams and overlapping whispering invaded his mind. He covers his ears as if that would hushed them, but they only become louder.

-Klaus!

He emerges from underneath the water, gasping for air in panic. Some water spills on the floor and a rubber duck falls. He shakes, the heat of the candles not being enough to calm his chills.

He grunts and hits the water, upset, and takes a cigarette, still shaking and panting. He lights it, then puts his earphone on and turns the music.

The first verse sounds as he lays back in the tub, trying to distract himself.

"I should be better off without you. You take a pride in making me blue."

After some minutes soaking, he gets out. He turns off the candles, lets the water go, and takes a duck with him. Klaus wraps a towel around his body and another on his head.

He dances his way out of the bathroom, dancing with the toy. The music is loud he can't even hear himself breathing.

"What's the matter with you, rock? Don't you see I need you, rock?"

He enters his room, eyes shut, and dancing. The duck falls to the ground with the cigarette box and the lighter.

"The Lord said run to the Devil, the Lord said."

Klaus can see Ben talking to him from the door, but he doesn't mind and completely ignores him.

He sits on his bed, mouthing the lyrics as he stares at the band in his ring finger. As he kisses the gold piece as if it was her hand, a shadow on the floor grabs his attention. Looking up, a corpulent figure with a blue bear points him with a knife.

-That was definitely not weed- he thinks he's imagining it. The figure approaches him-. Oh, Scheisse (shit).

Something hits him in the head and everything turns black.

#klaus hargreeves #klaus hargreeves imagine #klaus hargreeves x reader #klaus hargreeves x you #tua #the umbrella academy #robert sheehan

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septnautical · 6 years ago

Text

Brothers Under the Sun

Month 6

Jackie swam through the creepvines as silently as he could using the nearby scream of Stalkers to mask his presence. His target was just before him, unsuspecting and vulnerable. It was a perfect ambush opportunity. Jackie grinned and sunk back into the creepvines to circle around and wait for the his prey to turn its back on him.

The prey sifted through the sand and gasped as it grabbed something metallic, it was time. Jackie shot forward out of the creepvines and rammed into his prey’s back with a delighted roar. With a shriek Schneep was shoved face first into the sand by the force of Jackie.

“Jackie!” Schneep yelled as he lay partially winded with a giggling Jackie curled around him, “Vhat! Vas that!”

Nearby laughter had Schneep looking upside down as Jack calmly swam in and explained with a sheepish grin, “I was helping him with his hunting practice and you made the perfect prey.”

“Yeah,” Jackie exclaimed, “You were totally unawares Schneep! I’m gonna be the greatest hunter of all of us.” Jackie puffed his chest up and put a brave look on his face that was quickly ruined as Schneep flicked his nose.

“Not sure how great of a hunter you vill be if you still can not control those mandibles,” Schneep commented. Jack whapped him in the head with a tentacle and gave Schneep a look that said to play nice as Jackie began visibly pouting. Jackie made to swim off Schneep’s chest until Schneep grabbed him and began wrestling him into the sand while saying, “Better get my vins now before you are able to control zhem!”

“No!” Jackie shrieked in laughter as he attempted to escape Schneep’s hold. Above them Jack began laughing as the rest of their brothers swam in to see what the commotion was.

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

Jackie swam through the creepvines but was careful to not aggravate his still healing tail. It didn’t hurt as bad as the pain of losing Jack did and his brothers weren’t faring much better.

Anti traveled further from the shallows everyday, Chase was barely able to leave the cave on good days, Jamie was quieter, Marvin was distant and Schneep-. Schneep had taken to obsessing over metal more. It was worrying how often they had to go and get Schneep at night to come home as he stayed nearly all day at his metal pile making it bigger and defending it from other Stalkers.

A Stalker screamed at Jackie from where it swam around it’s pile but Jackie ignored it as he continued on to where he knew Schneep’s stash was. They had all tried talking to Schneep a few times, even Chase had left the cave to try and bring him home, but nothing seemed to have worked yet.

Jackie wanted his brother back, all of them.

The pile was bigger than it had ever been when Jack was still here, he had always just seemed to have a way to remind Schneep he had family. Jackie looked around but didn’t see Schneep anywhere so he settled on the seafloor next to the pile with a sigh. Swimming was still hard for him but he was one of the few predators who could go hunting.

The light was murkier here than it was in the shallows giving it a more mysterious feeling. Jackie remembered how he practiced his hunting skills here among these creepvines and the one memorable occasion Jack convinced him to ‘hunt’ Schneep. It was a happy memory from when they knew peace and thought they were free from the whitesuits. Jackie would give anything to get Jack back and regain the peace they had all lost.

“Jackie?”

Jackie popped his head up as Schneep swam into the clearing with a few small pieces of metal in his hands. His eyes were searching Jackie up and down, “Vhat is the matter are you hurt?”

“No, no no Schneep,” Jackie swam up so he was level with his brother, “I’m fine. I just wanted to know if you would go hunting with me tomorrow near Reaper territory? I’ve missed hunting with you.”

Anything to get Schneep away from his pile and hopefully reconnect with his brothers. Jackie still couldn’t believe Jack was gone but he missed his brothers he had left.

“Is your tail healed enough for this?” Schneep asked. He swam around and Jackie willingly let him pull the creepvine bandages off the wound and inspect it. “You should be good if you do not over do it.”

Jackie lit up, “So you’ll come?”

Schneep reached over to flick Jackie’s nose, “Of course I vill. Someone has to make sure you do not hurt yourself.”

“Ha! Nothing can harm me,” Jackie crowed even as he knew it was a lie. He swam in a tight circle and put both arms up to show off, it was less for himself and more to try and bring back a smile on Schneep’s face.

Schneep rolled his eyes instead and reached over to ruffle Jackie’s hair, “I sincerely doubt that little brother.”

Jackie growled as he swam away from Schneep’s reach, “I’m not that little anymore. See! I can even control my mandibles more!” Jackie screwed his face up as he concentrated and his mandibles twitched.

“It’s a vonder ve don’t go hungry with you hunting for us,” Schneep commented dryly.

Jackie puffed up and declared, “I’ll show you tomorrow how a real predator hunts.” Schneep nodded his head even as he ticked one eyebrow up. His shrieking over Jackie’s tail was worth it as Jackie rammed into him and wrestled Schneep down into the sand.

Jackie woke up bright and early the next day in order to go scouting for the perfect hunting spot. He knew Schneep was grouchy when first awoken so he entertained himself by chasing Peepers around. He could hear other Reaper’s roars in the distance but none close to the spot he had chosen.

Eventually Jackie went to rest on a nearby rock and the Peepers swam around him as if they had forgotten how scary he was. “He’ll be here soon,” Jackie yawned to a nearby Peeper. The sun was only just reaching the highest point in the sky and the light fell on Jackie’s scales making him sleepy.

Knowing Schneep would be by soon Jackie decided to just sunbathe until he arrived. Slowly he drifted off into a light doze.

It was a roar that woke Jackie up but it was pain that alerted him to what was happening. A Reaper was turning around to make another pass at Jackie and he gathered himself up to release a loud roar. The Reaper paused and both of them contemplated the other.

A Peeper swam by the Reaper’s face distracting it and Jackie took the chance to flee. He could hear the Reaper roaring at its lost prey behind him as he approached the Shallows.

Jackie slowed down and checked the sky. The sun was just setting meaning he had been napping there the whole day. Schneep had never come. Jackie swallowed back the anger and disappointment

Jackie’s side was bleeding and he groaned in pain as he twisted to look at the damage. It was bleeding only a little but it was long and in an annoying spot. It would mean he would have to stay in the shallows for a while until it healed.

He made his way back to the cave slowly where he could already see Anti’s tentacles draping out of the entrance. Jackie brushed by and Anti opened a single eye as he passed before closing it to return to his nap.

It was Chase who noticed with a shouted, “Jackie what happened!” Chase sped over and his shout brought the others along concerned over what was wrong.

Marvin touched the skin near the cut to examine it, “We should get Schneep, jeez Jackie what were you thinking?”

“It attacked me first,” Jackie shot back. He was distracted from Marvin though by Jamie clinging to his back and trembling.

Jackie reached back to ruffle Jamie’s hair, “Hey I’m ok bro. Nothing a few creepvines can’t fix.” Jamie hugged Jackie’s shoulders and refused to let go so Jackie left him alone.

“Vhat is all the commotion?” Schneep asked as he swam in with a small pile of metal in his arms.

Anti pointed at Jackie from where he lay, “Jackie got hurt.” Schneep dropped his metal and rushed over, “Again? Your tail is only just finished healing!”

“I had to go out hunting,” Jackie responded, “remember?”

Schneep frowned, “Did ve have plans today? Jackie I’m sorry vith everything zhat has happened and my pile...”

Jackie felt the corners of his eyes prickle but he blinked it away and forced a smile, “No need! I-I can take on creatures by myself!”

Someone poked Jackie’s hurt side and he flinched away. “Yeah, I can see that,” Chase said.

“You should see the other guy, nothing left of them!” Jackie boasted. His brothers laughed and rolled their eyes but backed off while Schneep patched him up. It was for the best Jackie thought, someone had to protect them since Jack was gone and Jackie would take on the role. He wouldn’t need any help and his brothers would eventually start opening up again.

Year 3

“Danan is calling me so I have to go,” Zara explained as she began quickly gathering the PDAs around her, “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Jackie pouted from where he was currently laying in the sand and floated up to twirl around Zara, “I know you have work so just...be careful?”

Zara laughed and pressed a kiss to the tips of her fingers through her mask and then put her fingertips on Jackie’s cheek, “I promise to be extra careful no matter what it is. It shouldn’t take me long so if you want to stay here and wait-.”

“I’ll wait,” Jackie said, “as long as I have to!”

“Sap,” Zara replied as she began swimming back.

Jackie watched her for a few moments before he began sinking down into the sand. It was a beautiful day out and the sun had been making Jackie sleepy for a while now. There weren’t any predators around the Ocean’s Arm’s base since Jackie and Schneep had taken to prowling around and chasing them off so Jackie felt safe enough letting himself drowsing.

He didn’t know how long he lay there before a shadow fell over him but Jackie’s eyes popped open and he mumbled, “Zara?”

“Not quite,” A familiar voice replied and Jackie laughed even as he was surprised.

Henrik settled into the sand next to Jackie and lay his tail over Jackie’s. He made a content sound as the sun’s rays began warming him.

“You found a perfect spot,” Henrik commented.

Jackie remembered this spot well, the rock nearby that he had once lay on waiting for Schneep who had never come. It was merely a coincidence that the Ocean’s Arms had set up base nearby. Jackie hadn’t realized what the area was until the one day when Zara dragged him over to help him with his reading.

“Zara helped pick it,” Jackie lied. It was still a good basking in the sun spot and Zara loved it a lot.

Henrik didn’t respond and they lay practically on top of each other drowsing. It was Schneep who shifted and nudged Jackie.

“Do you remember vhen you asked me to go hunting and I forgot to come?” Schneep ask. Jackie startled and stared at him with wide eyes. “I never did properly apologize for zhat day and for not being zhere,” Schneep continued.

Jackie could feel himself choking up and he curled up into Schneep’s side to hide his face. “It was so long ago and we were all dealing with Jack being gone. “I-I was just trying to hard,” Jackie mumbled.

“Nein nein Jackie you vere trying to help us, you vere trying to help me. I vill always appreciate and love you for it,” Schneep plopped his head on top of Jackie’s head, “you are my brother and I’ll alvays be zhere for you now.”

Jackie could feel his face heating up and he ducked more under Schneep who willingly lifted up his side up to let Jackie hide under him in embarrassment. He could feel Schneep laying his tail on him fully and Jackie settled a little.

“I love you too,” Jackie mumbled back as they lay curled up in the sun’s light.

“Jackie!” Zara shouted as she searched the sand outside the Ocean’s Arms base. She had to leave him earlier when Danan came by asking for help and he had said he would wait.

A flash of light nearby blinded Zara and she blinked away the spots in her eyes to see Schneep approaching, “Henrik hi.”

“Zara,” Schneep replied, “if you’re looking for Jackie he and I vere over sunbathing just beyond that crop of rocks. He should still be zhere he did say he was vaiting for someone.”

“Thanks Henrik!” Zara shouted as she swam off. Henrik waved an arm before turning and swimming back into the base. It was nice to see Jackie and his brothers being able to relax every now and then.

Zara swam over the rocks to see Jackie stretched out on the sun soaking in the sunlight. Before she could shout his name Jackie was already popping his head up in her direction with a grin, “Zara come over, I saved you a spot!” He waved his tail to indicate.

“Looks like you’re telling me you reserved the whole ocean for me,” Zara grinned as she swam down to sit at Jackie’s side, “now then, what did you need help with earlier?”

Jackie moved over so he was pressed against her before bring a PDA out from under him, “I was wondering what this word was?”

Zara took the PDA and glanced at it, “Oh brownie! It’s a type of food we eat. It’s made of chocolate and has the same texture as that cake you tried the other day.”

“Thanks Zara!” Jackie took the PDA back and tucked it under him, “we should try some. That cake was yummy.”

Zara laughed, “I’ll see what we can do. Still learning about your guys systems so we don’t want to give you something toxic.” She reached over and ruffled his hair, “And you know you can ask me for help whenever no need to thank me!”

There was something in Jackie’s gaze as he looked at Zara before he broke into a smile, “Yeah I know.” His tail curled around Zara so she was leaning snug against his side. Opening her PDA she flipped to a document Danan had sent earlier that needed some adjustments.

#juri tales #septnautical main story #brothers under the sun #stalker Schneep #reaper jackie #sea emperor jack #zara caley #brother cuddles

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arkus-rhapsode · 7 years ago

Text

Lucy vs Jacob

So this was a fight that was anonymously requested. Now this fight does not tire in with any of my posts or my rewrite of FT, this is just a straight forward simple fight between these characters. So kinda a revised version of canon. Anyway, enjoy

Magic

Thoughts

*Open inside the Fairy Tail guild hall after Jacob used Transport*

Jacob: That should take care of all the rabble. Now time to acquire Fairy Heart…

*Lucy suddenly appears out of nowhere and delivers a drop kick to the back of Jacob’s head, but Jacob quickly holds his arm up to block the incoming kick*

Jacob: *Blocking the kick with his elbow and holding back the kick* Well… quite the strong kick you have. Strength enhancement magic?

Lucy: Star Dress: Taurus Form!

*The struggle ends when Lucy is able to push Jacob away with what little power from the kick she has left*

Lucy: *Lands safety on the floor*

Jacob: *Regains his bearings from being pushed back* So there’s still one left?

Happy: Two left!

Lucy: Listen here, I’m Fairy Tail’s resident celestial spirit mage and I’m not letting you take Fairy Heart!

Jacob: *Smirks* Kids these days don’t have any respect for their elders…

Happy: *Floating down to the battle area* Alright Lucy, take him down!

Lucy: *Throws a few punches, but Jacob dodges them easily*

Jacob: That your best?

Lucy: *Tries to kick him, but Jacob grabs her leg*

Jacob: Your strength is impressive, but your technique is leagues below mine! *Gives a strong strike to her face and lets go of Lucy’s leg*

Lucy: *Tumbles backwards, but is able to regain her bearings*

Jacob: See, that’s the real difference between warriors that decides who wins battles, experience and strategy!

Happy: What he’s prattling on about?

Jacob: I can tell by your form that you only recently learned how to grapple. While I’m pretty shocked that you managed to be above average, it still means nothing against a man who’s been fighting for years!

Lucy: Well, guess I’ll just have to step it up! *Tries to drop kick Jacob*

Jacob: *Jumps up and avoids the kick*

Lucy: *Quickly recovering from missing Jacob, grabs her whip and uses it to wrap around Jacob’s ankle*

*Using the strength from her star dress, Lucy pull the whip down and slams Jacob into the ground*

Jacob: *Quickly pulls a knife out of his jacket and cuts the tip of the whip off, freeing his leg* Did you think that was gonna trip me up?!

Lucy: No. Based on your experience I’m sure you’d be able to break free.

Jacob: *smiles*

Lucy: But that doesn’t mean you’re one step ahead of me!

Jacob: ?

*Suddenly, from the upper level of the guild Taurus jumps down, aimed at Jacob*

Taurus: Tension Max! *Swings his axe downwards at Jacob*

*Jacob ducks out of the to avoid getting cut in half, but the force of the axe swing is so immense, it creates enough of a shockwave that both does damage to Jacob, and blows him into a few tables and chairs*

Jacob: *Trying to get up*

Happy: Lucy’s plan worked!

*Flashback*

*Lucy and Happy are stepping out of Horologium*

Lucy: Horologium, why did you summon yourself?

Horologium: Well as you know, young mistress, my duty is to always appear just in the nick of time.

Lucy: Could you be more specific?

Horologium: I could not allow you to be hit by that wave of spacial magic and be taken to who knows where.

Happy: Wave of Spacial Magic?

Lucy: What happened to the guild?!

Horologium: They most likely have been transported out of the guild hall with the wave of spatial magic originating from a single mage.

Happy: Wow, someone teleported the entire guild with one move, that’s a lot of magic. You think that Marin guy did it?

Lucy: There’s no way he could’ve gotten out of the magic restraining cuffs… One person… Immense magic… It’s got to be one of those Spriggans!

Happy: Then lets go kick their butt!

Lucy: No… Look at what Zeref could do to Natsu, as well as what Brandish did to Caracole Island, we can’t be reckless about this!

Happy: Then what do we do?

Lucy: *Holds up Taurus’s key* I’ve got an idea~

*Back in the present*

Happy: Lucy acting as a distraction followed up by Taurus’s surprise attack. This guy didn’t even see it coming!

Jacob: *Regaining his bearings*

Taurus: Looks like you didn’t Moo-ve out of the way fast enough! Did I do good Lucy-san?

Lucy: Yeah! Now let’s take this guy down quick!

Jacob: Y'know… I wanted to end this quick. I already wasted a lot of magic using that transport. But I guess I’ll have to show my fangs… *Extends his right arm out to his side, while making a fist. Then briefly clenches his fist, then stops. He then extends his right arm out in front of him*

*Suddenly Lucy and Taurus are caught in an explosion*

Lucy: What the?!

Taurus: Lucy-san! *Suddenly an explosion comes from his chest*

Lucy: *Regains her bearings*

Happy: He’s an assassin, his attacks must be invisible, but other than air space, what kind of magic is transparent?

Lucy: *Is hit by another invisible attack*

Taurus: Lucy-san! *runs to Lucy*

Jacob: Hold still, you little brat…

Taurus: *Jumps over Lucy’s body shielding her from another blast*

Lucy: T-Taurus…

Taurus: Ya think a simple attack like that is going knock me down?!

Jacob: *Starts unleashing several explosions on Taurus*

Taurus: Lucy… I don’t know how long I can last… Think of a way to beat this creep… *fades away to the celestial spirit realm*

Lucy: *Watches Taurus fade*

Jacob: Now that the bull is out of the way-huh?

Lucy: *Holding two keys up* Open gate of the giant crab and gate of the maiden! *Summons Cancer and Virgo*

Cancer: Need our assistance, shrimp!

Virgo: What’s your request, mistress?

Lucy: Virgo, I’m going to need you to do what you do best!

Virgo: Be punished!

Lucy: The other thing, you’re good at!

Virgo: Oh… But this floor-

Lucy: I know! *Changes into Cancer Star Dress* Cancer, your with me!

Cancer: Heh, let’s take a little off the top, shrimp!

Jacob: More of this spirit stuff, huh? *Pulls out two knives from his jacket and holds one in each hand*

Lucy: Let’s go! *Charges at Jacob and swings one of her scissor swords at Jacob*

Jacob: *stops to swing by blocking with both of his knives*

Cancer: *Appears behind Jacob and swings outwards at Jacob’s neck*

Jacob: *Breaks his block with Lucy so he can duck underneath Cancer’s swing, then slides back a bit and elbows Cancer in the abdomen*

Cancer: *Falls to one knee*

Jacob: *Standing above Cancer, swings one of his knives downwards at Cancer*

Cancer: *Blocks the knife with one of his scissors*

Lucy: *Runs up and gives a quick slash to Jacob’s side*

Jacob: *Breaks away from Cancer by jumping back*

Cancer: *Stands up and thrusts his scissors at Jacob*

Jacob: *Tries to block against the Scissors, but when doing so both of his knives are caught between the blades of Cancer’s scissors*

Cancer: *Little twinkle comes off his sunglasses* Snip… *with his scissors, he cuts the blades off the knives*

Jacob: *Pulls back and sees Lucy heading at him. He throws what’s left of each of his knives at her*

Lucy: *Bats them away with her scissor swords*

Cancer: How ‘bout a clean shave?! *Thrusts his scissor forward*

Jacob: *Swings his left arm outwards*

Cancer: *Suddenly has a massive and deep cut across his torso*

Happy: What was that?!

Lucy: Cancer!

Cancer: This… ain’t right… shrimp… *fades to the celestial realm*

Jacob: *Holds his right arm out, and hits Lucy with another invisible attack*

Lucy: *Regains her bearings, but then digs her scissor blades into the wall*

Jacob: What the…? *Notices that floor has a ton of holes in it* Where did those-That maid!

*Suddenly the entire wooden floor breaks underneath Jacob and he falls to the basement floor*

Lucy: *Avoided falling by holding on to her swords in the wall* Happy, take me down!

Happy: Aye, sir!

Jacob: *Trying to stand up. Veins bulging from his head* Damn you… What do you think this is, a playground fight?!

Virgo: *Suddenly pops out of the ground in front of Jacob and delivers a strong uppercut that knocks him slightly off the ground*

Jacob: *Falls on his back*

*Lucy and Happy arrive*

Lucy: Good job!

Virgo: Do I get punished?

Lucy: The fight isn’t over yet! Open gate of the lion! *Summons Loke*

Loke: You rang~

Jacob: *Back on his feet*

Lucy: Loke, I’m going to need you to get in and do some damage, but his attacks are invisible.

Loke: Invisible? Hmm… Nothing hides from the light of Regulus!

Jacob: Alright kid… *Holds up his hands in boxing-like fashion* Let’s go!

Loke: *Runs up and gives Jacob a quick punch, but Jacob blocks with his right elbow*

Jacob: *Swings his left arm outwards and gives a small cut across Loke’s right abdominal*

Loke: *Holds his ground and delivers a Regulus infused uppercut to Jacob’s chin*

Jacob: *Knocked back*

Loke: *Charges at Jacob*

Jacob: *Swings his left arm outwards at Loke in a chop-like motion*

Loke: *ducks under the chop and then delivers a Regulus punch to Jacob’s abdomen*

Jacob: *hunches over in pain*

Loke: *Gives Jacob a left hook across his face*

Jacob: *Is able to regain his bearings and holds his right arm out at Loke*

Lucy: Oh no… *Changes into her Virgo star dress*

Loke: *Knocked back by a sudden explosion*

Jacob: Heh, gotcha… *Tries to run at Loke, but finds that his leg was grabbed by Lucy and Virgo who appeared out of holes* Get off!

Loke: *Regains his bearings* Heh, thanks Lucy… *Runs up and gives Jacob a strong enough Regulus strike that sends Jacob flying and smacking into a wall*

Jacob: *Trying to regain his bearings*

Virgo: Spica Hole! *creates a large pit underneath Jacob which he falls into*

Jacob: *Getting out of the hole with his veins bulging even more* You shitty brats… *holds his right arm out in front of him*

Lucy: Loke, his attack follows where his arm is pointing at!

Loke: *Jumps up and dodges a sudden explosion*

Jacob: *Fully regained his bearings*

*As Loke comes at Jacob with his fist coated in light, but Jacob is ready for him and engages in a cross counter*

Loke: *While in the cross counter, notices his light is causing something on Jacob’s left arm to be covered in shadows* What the..?

Jacob: *Using his right arm, creates an explosion on Loke’s abdomen, which blasts Loke back*

Lucy: Loke!

Loke: *On his knee*

Virgo: Spica Hole!

Jacob: *A pitfall appears under him, but he jumps out of the way before it’s fully formed. While jumping, he holds his right arm out in front of him and hits Virgo with an explosion*

Virgo: Looks like… I was punished… *fades away*

Jacob: Time to finish this lion… *smiles*

Loke: This power…

Jacob: *Swings his arm down in a chop-like fashion*

Loke: *has a small flashback to when Lucy talks about how where his arm points is where an explosion occurs, as well as a Flashback to his cross counter and the light of regulus made this shadow on Jacob’s arm appear* That’s it! *Stops Jacob’s chop by grabbing on to something in front of Jacob’s hand*

Jacob: *shocked*

Happy: He stopped his attack, but how?! He’s not stopping his hand, but it isn’t moving. How’s he even blocking it!?

Loke: Time to show everyone your 'magic’… *With a strong pull he swings his arm outwards. In his hand appears a strange gauntlet looking object with a blade attached to it. He then throws it on the ground*

Happy: What the-?!

Lucy: I know those things! Aries! *summons Aries*

Jacob: *In a panic, jumps back and holds his right arm out*

Lucy: Hit him with all the wool you can!

Aries: 100% Fluffy fluffy wool! *Sends forth a massive flurry of pink wool that catches Jacob in it*

Jacob: *Struggling inside the wool*

Lucy: *Runs up to Loke* Are you okay?

Loke: Heh, I wouldn’t be the leader of the Zodiac if I couldn’t take a beating. But… It’s nice to have you by my side…

Jacob: *Breaks free of the wool* DIE! *suddenly an explosion appears above his arm* Damnit!

*Smoke also begins to pour out above Jacob’s arm until another gauntlet-like apparatus, only this one has a gun barrel on it*

Happy: He had a cannon strapped to him?!

Lucy: So those are your “fangs”...

Jacob: Guess the cat’s out of the bag…

Lucy: Those tools you have… They’re high-grade compact weaponry!

Happy: How do you know what they are?!

Lucy: Back when I worked for sorcerer weekly, I had to do an article on stuff like this. Experimental weapons made to be taken into combat, but light weight. The problem is, due to their compact nature, if one gear or trigger is messed with they become completely ineffectual. Or in this case, blow up in your face.

Happy: The wool must’ve messed it up!

Loke: He was able to hide it because his real magic is invisibility!

Jacob: Hmm *removes the gauntlet* Transport takes up a lot of magic, especially when it’s teleporting a bunch of people. To compensate and preserve my magic, I go into combat with these invisible weapons, to offset my opponent.

Loke: *standing up* Guess your out of options!

Jacob: *Grins* Who said I’m out of options? You kids have suffered way more damage than I have, and if you forget… *starts to turn invisible* I still have my magic… *fully disappears*

Happy: He disappeared!

Aries: Where could he have gone?

Jacob: *becomes visible behind Aries and cuts her across the back with a knife*

Aries: *fades away*

Lucy & Loke: Aries!

Jacob: *disappears*

*Lucy, Happy, and Loke are all on guard, but then the discarded gauntlet with the blade on it starts to rise. The gauntlet is hurled Lucy.*

Happy: Lucy, look out!

Lucy: *Changes into Aries Star Dress and by making a wall of wool, stops the gauntlet*

Jacob: * While invisible, cuts Lucy across the abdomen*

Lucy: *Is suddenly pushed to the ground*

Jacob: *Becomes visible and shows that he has his foot on top of Lucy’s head, then turns to look at Loke* Heh… What did ya say about me being out of options? *Smirks*

Loke: *Veins bulge* Lucy! *Tries to punch Jacob, but he turns invisible, avoiding the attack*

Loke: *gets struck by an ivisible punch* Damnit… His magic… *Small Flashback to seeing the shadow object on his arms* That’s it! Lucy, get ready!

Lucy: Huh?

Loke: Lion’s Brilliance! *bright light begins to radiate off of his body* Your powers are invisibility, not transparency! Which means you can still cast a shadow!

Jacob: *His shadow appears on the wall as well as a vague shape outlined by the shadows*

Lucy: I see him!*Changes into her Leo star dress* Regulus Lucy Kick! *With a light infused kick, she delivers a powerful blow to Jacob’s face*

Jacob: *Becomes fully visible and shows that he now has a bloody nose*

Lucy: Charges in for another kick, but Jacob grabs her foot in his hand* Didn’t I tell you at the start of this fight? When it comes to hand-to-hand combat you can’t best me!

Loke: *light fades* But I can…

Jacob: *Let’s go of Lucy’s foot and becomes invisible*

Loke: It’s no use! *Light begins to radiate off his body and reveal where Jacob is* Here’s for all my guild mates you sealed away and for all of my fellow spirits you brutalized… *Fists begin to glow with Regulus light* Regulus Gatling Impact! * attacks with a barrage of rapid punches and then finishes up with a even stronger punch that blows away Jacob*

Jacob: *Becomes visible, looking very disheveled and struggling to fully stand up. Covered in blood and bruises* You…

Lucy: It’s over, give up!

Jacob: *Puts his hands up in front of him* I don’t care anymore if I’ll have used up all my magic, but I’m sick of you little brats making a monkey out of a Spriggan like me! Transport!

Happy: Max speed!

Jacob: *In the motion of clapping his hands together, Happy flies in between it stopping him from fully clapping* A cat!

Happy: Heh heh…

Jacob: *Throws Happy on the ground but looks up and notices Lucy and Loke with each of them holding a hand out and light engulfing them*

Lucy & Loke: Regulus Dual Impact! *They send to lion heads composed of regulus light at Jacob, One taking the form of a male lion with a mane and the other taking the shape of a female lion without a mane*

Jacob: *Is hit by the dual impact and blasted into a wall so hard that he cracks it. His body now having small streams of smoke coming off him* So… Bright… *Passes out*

*The whole guild suddenly reappears*

Cana: We’re back!

Makarov: What happened to the guild hall!

Lucy: Thanks Loke…

Loke: Hey this is my war too. There’s no way I’d want you guys to fight it alone…

Lucy: *Smiles*

END

#fairy tail #lucy heartfilia #jacob lessio #loke #celestial spirit #leo #Happy the Exceed #happy the cat #aries #taurus #cancer #makarov dreyar #spriggan 12 #cana alberona #lolu #rhapsode fights

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transtrendhumanity · 8 years ago

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system role call, this time guided by tyto & corian.

nika is in the loft reading a magazine. sie paints a stylish picture, all white and grey minimalism both in dress and in surrounding furniture. nine, garishly out of place in nika’s territory, is draped across an ottoman. since i’m up here, i’m bringing them tea. we’ve made the yuuri fandom blend this evening.

kestrel and ailecent are in the living room, conversing in hushed tones. corian decides i don’t really need their supervision and floats over to join them. i decide not to disturb them.

outside on the porch, my chair looks like a tempting place to sit and drink tea for a while. the air is crisp, not quite cold but still sweater weather.

but today i have other things to do. i can sense vyrn watching me as i approach azdien’s mansion. since being banned from our cabin, xyr curiosity about it seems ever-piqued, but we have no intention of allowed xyr to disturb kestrel & ailecent.

when i enter the mansion, kisoquine is hanging back a few feet from vyrn, clearly wanting the attention of xyr new friend. i take a moment to reflect on the isolation xe’s suffered; i’m glad xe has a close friend now. as i stay close to them, their impulse towards sugar consumption leaks into front. i decide to move on before they can ruin our tea with sweets.

in the dining room, drohen and darion are kicked back, drinking what seems to be coffee. the room is scaled up to darion’s canon proportions today, and i am small in comparison. azdien is no where to be seen, but vaer aura lingers around the mansion, curling like smoke around corners and table legs.

trysten had been sound asleep, having tired sierself out getting excited about various things. but smelling the coffee, a spiced and creamy blend to match the tea we’re drinking in meatspace, sie comes out of sier room. nose first, still half-asleep, wearing a large house coat in sier signature colour and little else.

micah, as usual, is present only in the form of blinking lights coming from their room. when i approach it, a shadow snake extends towards me and puts forth a dark invitation. i decline, but i am glad they are still in good health. their energy-conserving form seems like a good idea.

i walk down the hallway towards tobias’s room, and knock at his door. there is no answer. continuing into the library, i find him curled up in a chair by one of the windows, paging through one of azdien’s leather-bound books but not absorbing the contents. i offer him some tea, and he accepts, but does not extend his hand. i set it on the table and move on.

checking our directory for stragglers, i notice i’ve not seen jody yet. i wonder if they were with kestrel and i didn’t notice, but i’m not about to go back and check. they are likely either there or in their own room. i’m unconcerned either way.

i dont intend to climb all the way up the mountain, so i project an airborne form to investigate. shadow wings climb faster than human legs, and soon i am perched on skye’s porch, peering into faer cabin. i can see aloe on a table, looking significantly more lively and excited than usual. it seems ae is still pleased about the picture we drew of aer earlier. i can’t see skye through the window, but fae seems to be speaking to aloe, and faer calm aura spills out through cracks in the wooden cabin.

i take wing again, and swoop over gail’s lean-to quickly. they are slumbering, but lightly, prepared to awaken at any time.

i head towards the main house. gabbi opens the door to let me in before i can knock. the house has a lively air to it. the door to nitexx’s room is open, zir and nessie are having an involved conversation inside. nitexx seems to be acting as an interviewer, while nessie talks about her willingness to kill.

riley is on the couch, echo curled against its side. floret is sitting on the coffee table across from it, and they’re talking about pronouns. gabbi seems a bit annoyed about floret sitting on the table, but isn’t saying anything about it. ne sets a plate of snacks beside cir. amelia seems eager to talk to me. i don’t often visit the main house. i promise to return once ive done my rounds.

raliel seems to have left the main house, and is standing over the cliffs, watching the waves hit against the shore. kayden is sitting on the ground nearby, hugging their knees. i decide not to disturb them. i have a quiet moment of admiration for raliel’s ongoing support of the others in here.

i head back into the main house, and knock on vex’s door. ey tells me to go away without hesitation, but jace invites me in, and i accept their invitation. they are eager to tell me about the project they’ve been working on, mixing various ocean sounds recorded with rayn by the beach with their own beats. i’m glad to hear they’ve been visiting rayn.

upstairs, remm’s door is open wide, but ve does not seem to be inside. i wonder if vir and nessie really are one and the same, or subsystemed in such a way that they cannot both be active.

haze’s door is cracked just slightly open. er blinds are drawn, and e is lying in the dark, not quite asleep. i ask er why e doesn’t join the others downstairs, and e replies that it’s just not er style. i leave a cup of tea on er nightstand, but i know e will let it go cold.

vite is in nitexx’s room, just out of sight, listening eagerly to nessie’s violent conversation. zie seems to be thinking about duels on bicycles.

kei, for once, is in echo’s usual chair, snacking on a sandwich provided by gabbi. it’s unusual to see them in the main house these days, but they are in no way out of place.

perien is indoors as well, finding the overcast weather a bit chill for relaxing in the gardens. kye stands in the kitchen, watching fondly over the others.

i fly to the treehouse instead of troubling them to let down the rope. inside, yacinthe is teaching nero to duel, both of them cross-legged on the floor. kitt, in is wolf form, takes up most of the couch, watching them with only passing interest.

i don’t linger long. i fly down over the beach, and find callon crouched in the water, listening to rayn’s excited babbling about starflaps. even the water around it is sparkling, in spite of the dull day.

cyrren is circling overhead. we haven’t seen aer in a while, and i don’t expect that ae is planning to stay long. but it’s comforting to know that ae is well.

having completed my duties, i make my way back to the main house.

#[roll call]

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high-lady-of-dreams · 8 years ago

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Hello, lovelies!

Spring has sprung big-time in Sweden and the trees are growing greener by the day (yay!). Even if I´m currently staying up way past my bedtime to read ACOWAR (oops) the weather has been so lovely and the sun is getting me through 5 hours of sleep.

So, April was an okay reading month for me. Not the best but not bad. I got through a few of the books I put on my TBR last month and I´m so excited for all the books coming this month!

If you want to see some more of the books releasing in May, I posted about it yesterday here.

Anyways, here are the books I read in April:

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1) Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

The Magnus Chase series is the first series I´ve started by Rick Riordan and I have to admit it´s becoming one of my favorites. It´s funny, it adventurous and the characters are diverse and interesting. The whole story is action packed from start to finish and I found myself kind of marveling at how Riordan comes up with everything.

I´ve written a review on it here and it was a 4-star rating for me!

2) The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

For me, this was a little bit of a let-down. I had expected more from this book as it had been floating around Goodreads praised by booktubers and reviewers but I personally didn´t see the charm. The concept and idea behind the story I like, but the execution plot-wise dragged it down and let the idea as well as Johansen’s beautiful writing down if you ask me.

You can find my full review on it here, I rated it 2,75 stars out of 5.

3) Ett Drömspel by August Strindberg

I hadn´t originally been planning to read this wonderful drama this month but on a whim, I sat down a couple weeks ago and spent my Sunday afternoon plowing through it – and it felt like a dream. This drama is written by Swedish author August Strindberg (I read the Swedish original) and it´s very unique in its style and form. Steinberg’s writing is beautiful and descriptive and he managed to replicate the kind of lucidness of dreaming really well.

This was a clear 5-stars for me and I´m definitely planning on getting my hands on some more of his work soon.

You can find my full review here.

4) Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

This book – my ladies and gents – is what good writing is.

This was my first read by Laini Taylor (how haven´t I read anything by her before!?) and I´M IN LOVE with her writing. The prose is poetic and it has a wonderful fluentness and the metaphors and descriptions make me want to travel and dream my way to my own city of gold.

I´m currently writing a review on it that is being posted later this week but I can already tell you it was a bright and shining 5-stars.

May TBR:

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

I don´t know if I really have to say more about this book. I´m currently reading it (and LOVING it) and I´m longing for the weekend to come so I can properly sit down and enjoy it for more than 20-min train rides.

If you´re interested in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, get reading now folks! It´s a brilliant series and I would highly recommend it!

Fröken Julie by August Strindberg

This is one of the books I have assigned to read in my literature class (I´m reading this in Swedish) and after loving Ett Drömspel (A Dream Play) so much I´m really excited to get to this! I´ve made my way through the first little bit (it´s quite short) and I can already tell I´m going to have a long review trying to spell out all my feelings about Jean.

If you´re interested, here is a bit of the blurb for you:

August Strindberg’s disturbing and enduring drama of the transgressive affair between the daughter of a count and the count’s man-servant has an eerie feel of the contemporary about it. It´s about the fight between high and low, noble and peasant and the downfall of someone once high up.

Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant

Netgalley kindly provided me with a copy of this book that was quite recently released (April 4th) and it sounded really interesting so I´m hoping to get to it soon. It´s a YA Romance/Contemporary and while it´s about math – which I´m usually less fond of – the blurb actually made me really intrigued:

“The more I touch someone, the more I can see and understand, and the more I think I can help. But that’s my mistake. I can’t help. You can’t fix people like you can solve a math problem.

Math genius. Freak of nature. Loner.

Eva Walker has literally one friend—if you don’t count her quadruplet three-year-old-siblings—and it’s not even because she’s a math nerd. No, Eva is a loner out of necessity, because everyone and everything around her is an emotional minefield. All she has to do is touch someone, or their shirt, or their cell phone, and she can read all their secrets, their insecurities, their fears.”

It´s sounds really cool and like there might be some magic-type stuff going on, so with some hope I´ll have time for this sometime during may!

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

This is the book of the month for my Goodreads group A Book Nirvana this month and I´m really excited about it. It´s a YA Fantasy/Magical Realism book and it´s supposed to have very beautiful prose. It´s the story about Ava Lavender, a sixteen-year-old girl born with the wings of a bird and how it is to be born with hearts that are tragically and exquisitely human.

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Once again, what else is there to say about this?

It´s Cassie Clare, it´s Shadowhunters, it´s the sequel to the lovely Lady Midnight and I´m so freaking excited for May 23rd when it´s being released.

I wrote a Waiting for Wednesday post on it here if you want to read more.

But, for now, that´s all! Stay tuned for a Strange the Dreamer review later this week and a happy May the Fourth to all my fellow Star Wars nerds out there!

/Amanda

April Wrap-Up and May TBR! Hello, lovelies! Spring has sprung big-time in Sweden and the trees are growing greener by the day (yay!).

#books #Reviews #TBR #Wrap-up

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allcheatscodes · 8 years ago

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sonic adventure 2 battle gamecube

http://allcheatscodes.com/sonic-adventure-2-battle-gamecube/

sonic adventure 2 battle gamecube

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle cheats & more for GameCube (GameCube)

Cheats

Unlockables

Hints

Easter Eggs

Glitches

Guides

Get the updated and latest Sonic Adventure 2 Battle cheats, unlockables, codes, hints, Easter eggs, glitches, tricks, tips, hacks, downloads, guides, hints, FAQs, walkthroughs, and more for GameCube (GameCube). AllCheatsCodes.com has all the codes you need to win every game you play!

Use the links above or scroll down to see all the GameCube cheats we have available for Sonic Adventure 2 Battle.

Also Known As: Sonic Adventure 2: Battle

Genre: Action, Adventure Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: Sega ESRB Rating: Everyone Release Date: February 12, 2002

Hints

Shadow Chao

Hatch a regular Chao egg and only let shadow pet it until its black. Then keep only giving it only green Chao drives until speed is level 15. Also the stamina has to be at level 15. When it transforms it will have green stripes. Keep giving it the chao drives to turn it red. Do the same thing to make a sonic chao but pet it with only sonic until its white. And same thing with the stamina.

Ghost Chao

To make a ghost chao you must buy a white egg from the black market. Its simple after you hatch the egg. Just keep giving it bats and make it a dark chao. Then it will be a ghost chao.

Shadow’s Ancient Light

In the Sky Rail stage, go past the shortcut rocket and jump across the gap. Go past the chao box. The G.U.N. robots will appear. Use your homing attack on them and use it again to access the spring. You will go up and in between a circle of rings is Ancient Light,which allows Shadow to use Light Attack.

Chaos Chao

Feed every kind of animal to your chao only once! After he get the last kind of animal, he will go and turn into a chaos chao. Chaos chaos are immortal, they will never die. There is a neutral, hero, and dark chaos chao.

LOL!!!

Sometimes when you’re watching your chao, s/he will. Um. *sigh*. Fart.

Use Omochao As A Weapon

The best stages for this one are City Escape or Dry Lagoon. First get close enough without touching him then pick him up. Run around for a little bit to gain speed then throw him at a robot. The robot will blow and Omochao will fall ready to be picked up again.

How To Make Your Chao Breath Fire

To make your chao breath fire simply go to stage select and then go to the wild canyon stage and get all three chao boxes in any order and you will get a dragon then don’t complete the level go back to stage select do this about two three time till you get at least three dragons give them to one chao and my chao Emmy only breathed fire after I gave her a nut!

Jump Head-Head Game

It�s with Sonic and Shadow in 2 player battle grind race stage. When the rails spin in a certain part of the stage wait for the turning, at the first second jump and aim into an Anubis head, and when you�ve landed, try to make “super jumps” making a spin dash and jumping, you�ll go really high and really fast going forward, and try to land in the next head. If you notice you will no make it to the head make an extra homing attack.

Skull Head Chao

Go to the dark choa garden as knuckles or rouge. Keep diging until you see a skull pot out. Pick up the skull and give it to one of your choas. (if you don’t want the chao to have anything on it’s head you have to jump on it)

Medal On Chao

Win a Chao race or Chao Karate. (I think it only works for Chao race) Your Chao will have a Chao medal on his or her chest.

3rd Mission “Finding the Lost Chao”

This hint will help you if you cant figure out how to find the Lost Chao on the 3rd mission for every level. What you need the most is the mystic melody. You should jump on top of the little statues you find (the ruins) and play it. Something will happen that will help you with finding the chao. EX City Escape: Go through the level until you hit the ground after falling down the building. Go to the left of the tree and *WOW* there is a statue. Play mystic melody on it and a spring will appear by the tree jump in it and you will grab a pulley. It pulls you up and there it is! THE LOST CHAO!!

2P Mini-Kart Racing

To unlock 2P mini-Kart Racing beat the stages “Route 280” and “Route 101”.

Break Through Force Field

This is a very weird glitch and very simple. Just turn the camera to where you are facing the water fall. Go to the far left of the water fall by the plant. Keep doing homing attacks until you break through the force field and split into two. You can float around in the sky and stuff It’s really cool. If you can’t do it look it up on another website or just keep trying.

Speed Up In Single And Multiplayer

First you must obtain the light attack first. Then you go to any of sonic or shadow stages. Find a apeed up item or collect 80 rings and head to a checkpoint. Once you have got the speed up item use the light attack skill and wait until the music is over then let it go. This you got a speed up. Note that if you get hit by any attack you will lose it. You can fall or restart and still keep it. In 2p you have to collect 80 rings and use speed up before you touch a checkpoint or you find a speed up with 20 rings.

Speed Up In Single And Multiplayer

In 1p Obtain the light attack skill then go to any of sonic or shadow stages in the stage select menu. To use speed up find a speed up item or collect 80-89 rings and head to any checkpoints. Once you got the speed up item charge it by using the light attack and wait until the music sequence is over and then let it go and boom you can now go faster. Note that if you get hit by a hazard or get hit by any enemy while still using light attack you will lose it so be careful. If you fall or restart you can still keep it. In 2p with sonic or shadow you can either collect 20 rings and find a speed up item or you can find any checkpoint with 80 rings. Make sure you always use speed first before you get the speed up item otherwise if you use it during the speed up you will run slower. You can fall, restart, etc. And still keep it.

How To Get The Chao In Security Hall

First, kill the spike robot on-screen by continously pressing B. Then, go to your left & jump on the platform where the hint thingy usually is. Jump on the spring & move towards the platform with the hint thingy & omochao are. Jump to grab the lift & jump when you reach the top. Climb up to the top & you will see the yellow A, B, & C thing. Then, without find ur way across the room without dying or falling off. Jump & grab the wall in front of you and climb on ur left to reach the platform where the mystic melody statue is. Then, turn around & glide to the next platform then jump & you will see the chao sitting there.

Quick Way To Get Rings

This way is different then any of the ones i’ve seen. Go to the stage select screen, and choose Route 101 with Tails, it’s the little picture of tails on the highway. Sorry I don’t know where it is in Story Mode. Well play this a couple times, I normaly get aout 200 to 300 rings each time I play, and I suck at the level. Either way, this is a great way to also entertain yourself while your Chao are sleeping!

Hint: Chao Swimming Or Flying:#2

For a swimming type, give a Chao a lot of animals that can swim and yellow Chaos Drives. Note: Swim type animals may decrease other abilities, such as running, power, or flying. At level 3, your Chao will be able to swim. You will soon notice that your Chao swims on its belly.

Hint: Chao Swimming Or Flying:

To get your Chao to swim, give it lots of animals that can swim. To make them fly, give them some flying type animals and bring them to the tallest cliff. Set it by the edge and he/she will walk off and start flying. Note: It may not fly the first time — keep trying.

Useful Shortcuts In

Shortcut #1 There are 2 rockets (the small silver ones you hold onto) in this level. This shortcut comes after the first rocket. You land on a road with one of those rotating pillars you have to somersault underneath. Pass under it and there is a downward hill you have to traverse. When going down, use the spindash to gain speed. At the bottom of the hill you can jump off to the left. Go forward through the air and try to land on a red balloon. This will direct you and get you back on the road, after skipping a chunk of the level. This is quite difficult to do and will require practice.

Shortcut #2 This shortcut is also quite difficult, but more useful and looks very cool if you can do it right. After the second rocket in the level, you go through a checkpoint and down another hill. Do the same thing on this hill, using the spindash to gain speed, but this time jump off to the right. This is hard because there is a loop to the right of the road you are jumping off of. You must master the tight squeeze between the road and the loop in order to make it, because if you hit the loop it will interrupt your path and make you fall. So when you jump off the road and through that tight squeeze, there will be a red, narrow platform below you with a spring on it. If you get close enough you can use homing attack to hit the spring. If this is done correctly you should be able to grind on the whole “golden gate bridge”, skipping another chunk of the level, instead of just grinding on the last segment. NOTE: this shortcut is necessary to use in order to do the 3rd mission of this level.

Easy Chaos Chao

First you have to make shore the chao transformed 2 times (goes into a teared shape cocoon twice) and then make a list of all 21 animals no chaos drives. Cheetah rabbit boar seal penguin otter parrot peacock condor bear tiger gorilla raccoon skunk sheep unicorn dragon phoenix bat skeleton dog and sea monster. Last you have to get the animals and give your chao 1 of each animal and soon after it becomes a chaos chao. There are 3 types the hero dark and neutral chaos chao, to get a specific chaos chao you raise it as a hero dark or neutral chao.

Level Up Tip

There is 1 level up item in each stage for all thecharacters.

Easy Rings Fast

For easy rings go to the chao garden as Knuckles.(Need digging ability) Then Just jump and dig andabout every 8 times you’ll get a pumpkin. When youget one go to the black market and sell it for 50rings, repeat again and again for a fast way toget rings.

When Is My Chao Going In The Cacoon

Your chao will go in the cocoon at ether levelsof 9,1 0 or 11. when its done it will probably be an angel or devil chao.

Shiny Nomal Chao

To get a shiny normal chao, you have to mate with a shiny white chao and a nomal chao.

Transparent Chao!

First buy a shiny Brown egg and a shiny sky blue egg. Then after they become adults breed them. Note: They should have a transparent chao. if they don’t, experiment a little:)

Chaos Chao Garden

To get the “Chaos Chao, garden” raise a “Nuetral, Chaos Chao” you can probably can find out how somewhere on this site.

Find Your Lost Chao

Find the place where you play the Mystic Melody,and then go to the obstacle. Warning: If you do not find the lost Chao, you will find a free life.

Lost Chao In Metal Harbor

Having trouble finding that chao? Well, you have to have Sonic’s bounce bracelet and mystic melody in order to get it. Go through the level until you come to the area (after you do your first ring dash) where the jets bomb you. When you come to the second set of rings, don’t do the ring dash! Go to the left and there’s a little building like thing with different levels. If there’s a chao box, your in the right place. Get in front of the building and bounce with the bracelet to get to the second level. In the room, there’s the infamous ruins. Do the mystic melody and follow the platforms. Soon, you’ll get to that chao. Good luck!

Pool Quest Cheat

In the 2 player mode treasure hunt race in the Pool Quest stage you have to find a enerald underwater this can be hard because you may drown but Chaos Zero will not drown he is made of water try it.

Free Master Emerald Piece

This is very alike to the secret room in Dry Lagoon except it doesn’t take that long. To get a free emerald piece in Wild Canyon, you will see boulders and stones going up with the wind. As you are going up, crash into one of the stones and an emerald piece will be inside. I beat the level in 40.7 seconds and a rank “A” with this hint.

Realistic Effects

I am not sure how this happened, but somehow there is a way to break the screen. I have only done this in City Escape and I think you have to make a GUN robot shoot the screen. When you complete the level, the crack goes away.

Watch TV With Your Chao

If you beat the final challenge race in Chao Stadium, the prize is a miniture red TV. The TV show is Sonic snowboarding down City Escape.

Horse Animal For Chao

In Rouges Dry Lagoon stage find and destroy all 3 chao boxes in the last one their should be a horse animal.

Two Of The Same Chao!

Do you have a very good chao that you want another just like well now you can this is how. First you need a GBA and a GBA and GC link and two memory cards. Put the chao you want two of into the GBA KEEP IT ON get out of the chao place. go on the other memory card go into the chao place and take the chao out and than put it on to the other memory go back to the first memory card and youll see two of the same chao.

A Sad Chao Death

Well, if you have a chao you don’t like, go to the dark garden. Then, go over to the gravestone right below the birdcage hanging from the tree. Next, jump onto the gravestone. From there, jump into the cage and put the chao down. Eventually, the chao will run out of food and die. But, if you put a hero chao in there, they have a VERY limited time to live. NOTE: I have never done this to any of my chao because I think its cruel.*sigh*

Unlimited Chaos Drives Or Animals

O.K, listen up chao breeders, this is a slight glitch that makes it easier to give your chao animals and chaos drives. This takes away the trouble of going and getting more animals/chaos drives. First, you will need to go to the garden with the animal/chaos drive of your choice. Second, get your chao and place him down facing you, and pet him so he won’t move. Then, get the selected animal/chaos drive and stand infront of your chao leaving a chao space inbetween. Then, press the B button and your character will put the animal/chaos drive in the space. Then, your chao will grab it, but intead of raising its stats and the item disapearing, it raises stats and the item bounces right back! Go try it!

Secret Room

Go to the Dry Lagoon stage with Rouge. Go on the ground and walk around until you find a turtle gaurded by two robots. Kill the two robots and follow the turtle. When he is in the water jump on him and press B. When the turtle comes up jump in the water. You should see a smaller turtle swimming (if you don’t, wait until you do). Go very close behind the turtle and press B. You will go through a strong current. When you are out of the current press and hold A until you are above water. I think you can get it from there. Good luck!!!

Sonic Chao

To get a Sonic Chao buy any color egg then when you go back to the garden after buying an egg rock it buy holding B when you pick it up. Give it only green Chao drives and after 2 hrs. of only giving it run/green Chao drives it will be a Sonic Chao.

Shadow Chao

Buy any color egg, when you go back to the garden after buying an egg throw it at a wall and feed it only green chao drives for an hour.

Rouge’s Treasure Scope

Ok. Here is what you need. Rouge’s mistic melady, and the power kick thing. Here is what you do. First, go to the Security hall stage. Then, as soon as you start, turn arround and jump and grab the red handle thing that pulls you up, then go left past the floating robot with a sheld untill you see the box,where you play the mistic meadly. Then, hop on the platforms untill you get to the last one, then break the boxes and, TA-DA! There it is.(For an extra life,turn around and put on the scope.)

Super Fast Money

First get any item that is worth money. Bring it to the chao garden black market. go to sell item and right after you hit sell item and it begins to give you the money press RESET on the box. Don’t shut it off cause it won’t save unless you go to the garden and exit. When you go back to the garden it will be like nothing happened. you’ll have your item and th money you got from selling. so if you hit your chao it will be O.K. cause you didn’t save it before you hit reset.

Chao Trasformation

To get a chao to transform, you must spend a lot of time in the Chao Garden. (I mean A LOT) You need to make your chao 4 years old in game time. (To know how old your chao is, go to the Health Center in the Kindergarten) Once at age four, your chao will either trasform or die. If you treat it poorly, it’ll get a gray caccoon around and die. But if you treat it nicely, a pink caccoon will go around the chao and will come back into an egg. This is what you do to get an Ultimate Light(Hero) Chao, Ultimate Dark Chao, or Ultimate Chaos Chao. Yay!

A Hint To Get Dark Chao

Ok. First, get a Dark fruit. More than 5 at least. Then give them to your chao, if it doesn’t work, go to a action stage and get some rings.(Get more than 120 rings to get a Dark fruit.)Then try to give any kind of fruit, if he doesn’t get it, then bingo, if he does, give him more dark fruits.

Secret Story

When you beat both Hero and Dark story you get another story called last.To get to it go the story select screen.

How To Defeat The Robots W/ Tentacles

When you fight the robots you try to attack them but they hide in their shells. To defeat them just keep attacking eventually they pop out to attack. If you keep attacking you should end up hitting their head. Note: This works best with Tails or Eggman.

Forest In The City ?!?!

This is more of a Glitch than a hint. On the City Escape level when your running away from the G.U.N. Truck you should come to a ramp. DO NOT JUMP OFF IT. You must have a sheild/ring grabber to do this trick. After going past that first rampyou will come to a turn. Jump while your turning. You should hit the top of the truck and lose your sheild/ring grabber and fly over the buildings. Then you will fall and fall and the buildings will become invisible and you will hit a invisible ground and lose all your rings. You will then continue to fall and you will fall into a forest and die.

Chao Evolutions

If you spend 1 hour with wour chao, it will evolve. After another hour it will evolve again. If you give it 1 of every animal, after another hour it will evolve again into a chaos chao. If you don’t give it the animals, the cocoon may turn grey, in which case your chao will be reborn as a baby. If it does not turn grey, it will evolve again to the same chao with a different look. This processcan repeat over and over.

Second Chao Evolution

After a Chao’s first Cocoon evolution, it does evolve once more. However this second evolution is just a gradual change in the appearance.

How To Get Blue Flame On Your Dark Or Hero Choa

Go to pumkin hill and destroy all three choa boxes and there will be a fish animal at the last box. Give that fish to your choa and it will have a blue flame! Warning: It might take more then one,if u give it choa drives the flame will go away,and it will take away the animal parts.

Beat The Bio-Lizard Easily

Start the fight by standing for about 1 second, just enough for him to catch up with you, then run the opisite was, but don’t run to far or you will be chased by his tail. After about 30 seconds he will rest, leaving you on oppertunaty to hit him, grind up the flashing pipe and Home-attack the Red Life Suport System. Now run around again and this time when he stops he will try to shoot you with energy balls, to avoid the high ones, do a sumersalt, to avoid the lower ones, just jump. He should be resting again after about 5 shots. Grind and Home-attack again. For the 3rd hit, he will shoot faster energy balls. Do the same as the last ones, just be quicker with it since he fires more at a faster rate, again when he rests, grind and Home-attack. For the 4th hit, he will now create tiny eggs to atack you, Home-attack them to reach the Life Support System. For the 5th hit, he will make more eggs, but now, like the energy balls they are faster, just Home-attack and hit the Life System. For the 6th and final hit, he will mess with the gravity after the 5th hit and make some more eggs that move in a circle, to make it the his Life System, carefuly make your way to it and Home-attack it.

Make Your Chao A Chaos Chao

To make your Chao the ultimight life form you must let your chao reincarnat at least twice and gie him 1 of evey animal then when he reincarnat’s the 3rd time he should be a adult imortal chaos chao you can see what these chao will look like by racing in hero races and dark races.

Beat Finalhazard Easily

Finalhazard: This guy is fun! The Bio-Lizard hoocked whats left of him to the ARK and plans to still destroy Earth. For the 1st hit, he fires some aggs at you on and off. Just hit the A button to fly up, or the B button to fly down and push forward to move, and if you start to lose rings, go behind the Bio-Lizard to switch Sonic to Shadow and vise versa, but you should just switch when you are about at 5-10 rings. Now that you know the controls, move toward the red swelling area and try to dodge the eggs. (they are easy to dodge on the first hit), press B or A near the swelling area to damage him. For the 2nd hit, he fires some lasers now, just dodge them and hit the swelling area. For the 3rd hit, he keeps the lasers on this time and tries to hit you, they are harder to dodge now, just hit the swelling area. For the 4th hit, he shoots 2 lasers this time, this gets difficult now, try to dodge both lasers and get to the swelling area also, he shoots eggs out after about 20 seconds if you havent hit him yet. For the 5th hit, he shoots eggs and lasers now, try to dodge and hit the swelling area. For the 6th and final hit, he shoots even more eggs and his lasers are more accurate, it is very hard to hit him now, but when you do, you have beat the game!

Dark/Hero Trait Fruit

To make a choa turn hero of dark faster, have them win a couple of races, then feed them a lot of food. After that go to choa kindergarten and buy either hero trait fruit, or dark trait fruit. Then leave your choa alone for a while buy playing with another choa in the same garden, your choa will transform faster than if yo just train and feed it.

Pure Black Chao

To get a pure black chao (not the ones you pet with a dark character) you have to buy it in the tiny chao garden. It 20000 rings but its worth it.

Call Chao

Instead of having to chase down an energetic chao, you can call him to you side. Use the same character to give upgrades to the chow for a little more than 2 years of it’s life.(game time not real time) Use the doctor to determine how long this is. After two years, if th3e chow can walk, you can use the same character it knows to and whistle to call it over. If It’s not sleeping or swimming, it will run over with a smile on it’s face. This won’t work if you hit the chao or do anything that would ordinarily remove a hat.

Hide The Pause Menu

When the game is paused, push and hold X and Y to hide the menu.

Tails Can FLY

Find a place where tails is on foot (chao garden) press and hold A and tails will fly!

Shadow’s Mystic Melody

In the Final Chase get to the pole that has an electric fence all around it get to the top and you will see a square platform with Mystic melody.

Trick

While doing a jump press A down the whole time and you’ll do a trick!

Rouge’s Mystic Melody

First you need to go to the Dry Lagoon stage and you need the Pick Nails and Iron Boots power-up items. Next go to the ledge of the top area. (in the small oasis) Then you destroy the iron containers. Then you will see a painting that you can dig into. The Mystic Melody is behind the painting. (if i remember correctly there might be two paintings that you can dig into, if you dont find the Mystic Melody in the one you dug into then try and find the other one)

Tails’ Mystic Melody

First you need to go to the Hidden Base stage andyou need the bazooka power-up. Next you keep going until you see a small pat with a chao box on it. (you might see a chao box before the one that you need to go on but still ckeck it out just in case its the right one and you go past it) Then after you destroy the chao box destroy the iron containers behind the chao box and then you will see the Mystic Melody.

Knuckles’ Mystic Melody

You will need this item if you want to get past the 3rd mission on all of knuckles’ levels. firstgo to the Wild Canyon stage, then go up the air tube then go look around until you find a statue thats alone, then go above it’s head (on the wall)there will be a painting, you have to dig into thepainting then you will drop into another room in there you will find it. Use Mystic Melody when youcome by a little shrine then you will have to do (or go on) whatever happens after a while you willcomplete the 3rd mission. (which is find a lost chao)

Knuckles Sunglasses

Go to the meteor level,when you start you should see a big platform in the middle of the level, go on there and blow every locked door open with the big meteors that are blue to open them. Once you find the metel crate, break it open and there should be a switch, once you hit it, you should see a very short clip of where you need to go and it opening, go down there to get the sunglasses. They will let knuckles see invisibal stuff.

Ring Trick

Beat hero story level final rush, get the mystic melody there. In stage select beat collect 100 rings, when you do the misson, find the lost chao, collect as much rings as possible through the level and go through the back ring at the end, do this until you have 999 rings, this is useful for getting the shiny eggs. NOTE: Don’t get hit by ANY enemy, or you will lose all your rings and only 20 will appear!! When you have 999 rings look for the ruins and play the mystic melody by it, and bounce your way up to the chao!

Review The Cinema

To make it simple, just beat the story’s once and then you can go back to a certain scene and start from there. Each time you exit the story mode you can start from a different scene. This works with the Hero, Dark, and Last scenes.

Extra Abilities

Magic Gloves (Sonic): They allow sonic to change nearby enemies into balls that you can throw at other enemies. After aquiring the bounce attack, go back to the city escape stage. Right after you run vertically down a building, you will see four metal boxes on the floor in front of you. Using the bounce attack, destroy the boxes. Under you are the Magic Gloves.Laser Blaster (Tails): The laser blaster is a booster for your cannon. Whenever you destroy an enemy, there will be an explosion destroying any enemies near it. To get it, go the Prison Lane stage after aquiring the Vulcan blaster. In the last hallway, in which you are separated from the goal by a barred wall, you will see enemies in the room. Destroy them all, and the door will open, allowing you to finish the stage. Instead of finishing the stage though, turn around. There is one enemy in the top left corner. Once destroyed, a door to the left of the goal will open. This reveals four metal boxes. Destroy them and behind them is the laser blaster.

Secret Beetles

You know when you find gold-like beetles. Destroy them very quickly or else they will dissapear. Kill one, you will have an extra 1000 points (not coins).

Secret Dragon In Aquatic Mine

Climb around the tops of the walls in the small circuler room where you get the air necklace.

Knuckles: Air Neckalace

To get knuckles`s air necklace, go to Aqatic mine and lower the water down to 3 (the switch is on the top floor right across from the mystic melody platform). Now go to the floor you started on and run around. Sooner or later you will find a small opening near a GHOST DANGER sign. Drop in and walk down till you find water. Swim down and go through each tube and down into the little drop off. After that you have keep on pressing A to swim up faster. Finally, jump once to reach the Air Neckalace. Swim back down on your way, you will never loose air.

Alternate Costumes In 2-Player Mode

Finish all of the character’s missions.

Unlock Green Hill Zone

Get all 180 Emblems and unlock the 3D version of Green Hill Zone from Sonic The Hedgehog 1.

Challenge Races

To Unlock the challenge races complete all of the chao races.

Alien Chao

Feed your chao lots of yellow animals (this takes time to do so be patient!).Then keep on feeding your chao tellow chao drives.After a while it will starn to turn dark and greenish.Note: This works best in the dark chao garden.Also it will start forming antlers just like alien.

De-leg Your Chao

In Dr.Eggman’s level Lost Colony, when you start go down the hall and in the room to the left should be a bat. Pick it up then go to the choa garden. Give it to your choa. He will lose his legs.

E102 Appearance

In Rouge’s Inside the Pyramid stage, one of the robots you blow up is E-102.

Big The Cat Appearances

In Knuckles’ Pumpkin Hill stage, go to the one of the train gates. You can see Big The Cat hiding behind the gate, waving to you. In the City Escape stage, Big The Cat appears after the last corner in the G.U.N. truck vs. Sonic scene. Look for him at the right of the screen, running downhill on the sidewalk away from the truck. In the Tails stage where you are running from the police and you first get your hover ability, Big The Cat can be seen again. There is a part in the level where you need to knock a column over in order to use it as a step to reach a higher level, from which you hover over to a platform with a police barricade and two robots. If you miss the platform and fall in the hole, you will see Big the Cat sitting on the girders underneath the platform. You can also see him in the battle against Sonic while playing as Shadow.

Quickly Complete Security Hall Stage

In the Security Hall stage you play as Rouge The Bat and are given 5 minutes to complete it. This can be quite difficult. If you have enough lives you can do this trick. If you cannot seem to find the Emeralds, intentionally die. You will keep the existing Emeralds that you have collected. You will begin at the start of the level and the Emeralds will move to different places. This is the fastest method for completing the stage if you are having trouble.

Run On Foot In City Escape Stage

At the start of the City Escape stage, instead of landing on the ground with the board, scrape the roads on the board. When on foot run full speed at a wall and get knocked down. Pause the game if you fall after hitting the wall. Choose to restart the stage to run on foot and not on the board.

Chao Pillow

Go to a Chao Garden and get a coconut. Then with a sleeping Chao, pick up the coconut and put it by the its head. The coconut will act as a pillow.

Pumpkin Head For Chao

Find one of the Skeleton Dogs; the easiest place to do so is the Pumpkin Hill stage with Knuckles, and combine it with your Chao. With either Knuckles or Rouge, start digging around in the Chao Garden. Eventually a pumpkin will appear. If you give it to the Chao mixed with the Skeleton Dog it will put it on its head. If you want to take it off, either throw or hit your Chao.

Good And Evil Chao Races

Get a good Chao and a bad Chao to unlock the good and evil Chao races.

Hero Garden For Chao

Raise a Hero Chao with one of the three Hero characters. Continually feed and train the Hero Chao and it should evolve (creates a tear-shaped “cocoon”). Once it evolves, ascending stairs should appear at the main Chao lobby leading to the Hero Garden.

Dark Garden For Chao

Raise a Dark Chao with one of the three Dark characters. Continually feed and train the Dark Chao and it should evolve (creates a tear-shaped “cocoon”). Once it evolves, descending stairs should appear at the main Chao lobby leading to the Dark Garden.

Hero Or Dark Chao

To make a Chao a Hero, simply use a Hero character and keep petting them. If done long enough, it will go white and be a Hero. To make it Dark, just use a Dark character and do the same thing.

Multi-player Characters

Collect all 180 Emblems to unlock the following hidden multi-player characters:

Racing: Hero Sonic Space Sonic Amy Racing: Dark Shadow Space Shadow Mecha Sonic Shooting: Hero Tails Space Tails Choa Shooting: Dark Eggman Space Eggman Big Hunting: Hero Knuckles Space Knuckles Tikal Hunting: Dark Rouge Space Rouge Chaos

Play As Tikal The Echinda In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Knuckles’ stages and missions with an “A” ranking to unlock Tikal The Echinda in kart mode.

Play As Metal Sonic In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Shadow’s stages and missions with an “A” ranking to unlock Metal Sonic in kart mode.

Play As Amy Rose In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Sonic’s stages and missions with an “A” ranking to unlock Amy Rose in kart mode.

Play As Rouge In Alternate Costume In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Rouge’s stages and missions to unlock her in an alternate costume in kart mode.

Play As Knuckles In Alternate Form In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Knuckles’ stages and missions to unlock him in his alternate form in kart mode.

Play As Tails In The Tornado 1 In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Tails’ stages and missions to unlock him in the Tornado 1 in kart mode.

Play As Shadow In Alternate Costume In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Shadow’s stages and missions to unlock him in an alternate costume in kart mode.

Play As Sonic In Alternate Costume In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Sonic’s stages and missions to unlock him in the PSO suit in Kart mode.

Bonus Stage

To get a 3D version of the Green Hills Zone stage, from Sonic The Hedgehog, you must get all the Emblems, including Kart, Timed Boss, and the emblems for all “A” rating. Once you have them all, which should total 180, the island next to the Green Forest stage will have the face of Sonic on it.

Last Stage

Successfully complete the Hero and Dark side story modes. Then, enter story mode and a “Last Stage?” selection will appear on the menu between the Hero and Dark selections.

Boss Attack Mode

Successfully complete the Hero or Dark side story modes to unlock boss attack mode. You will be able to fight the bosses from the side of the story you completed.

Kart Racing Mini-game

Successfully complete Tails’ driving quest in the Hero side story to unlock the kart racing mini-game in the Hero side story. Successfully complete Rouge’s chase mission in the Dark side story to unlock the kart racing mini-game in the Dark side story.

Cheats

Currently we have no cheats or codes for Sonic Adventure 2 Battle yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Unlockables

Additional Gardens For Chao

There are 2 additional gamrdens for your Chao to play in. To unlock them, you merely have to get a corresponding chao. To unlock the Hero Garden, Get a Hero Chao. To get the Dark Garden, get a dark chao.

Easter eggs

Eggman’s Volkan Blaster

Go to the iron gate stage when you see a room with a circle of rings stop. There will be two tanks destroy them. I think you can figure out the rest on your own.

Dr. Eggman’s Mystic Melody

You need to go to the Sand Ocean stage and you need the Jet Engine power-up. Then right at the biggening of the stage you will see a spinning platform, then go off to the left and use your Jet Engine to fly over to it. Another hint is that when you get Mystic Melody you will bummed out because you have to finish therest of the stage right? well think again i found out that when you get Mystic Melody for Dr. Eggmanthat if you press start and go to exit that you will still have Mystic Melody! (beware though, i dont know if will work for everyone else but it probally does)

Play As Eggman In Alternate Eggwalker In Kart Mode

Successfully complete all of Eggman’s stages and missions to unlock him in his alternate Eggwalker in kart mode.

Glitches

Warning/Danger Glitch

This code can only be used in the dark story mode. When you complete the dark story a vidio should come up that shows eggman putting in the last Chaos Emerald. Then the computer screen should say “Warning!”. Then the credits will come up and at the very end, it will show the last scene only the computer will say “Danger!”. It’s very weird.

Guides

Currently no guide available.

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