13 Forbidden Touch, Forgotten Love...
The roster expands once more!
I think you're already familiar with the new additions… due to the 2nd part of the prophecy.
Bear with me.
I know I am posting short chapters, but I decided to give off the 2nd part of the prophecy before I brave my quarterly assessments.
Don't worry! I'll try to upload some good chapters throughout Christmas! Somewhere until January 8, in which I am back to school.
And it's time for Random Talks with Arcturus420!
And the topic today is… Restricted Themes.
(First of all, kids, you have the privilege to ask your parents concerning restricted themes. It's no wrongdoing to ask some helpful information that can retain your innocence. The wrongdoing is NOT retaining your innocence, something I want you to avoid.)
As far as I know, there are six themes under this category, mainly…
1. The theme itself (overall plot)
2. Offensive language or profanity (no-no in my review section)
3. Violence or Gore (minimalized in my story, but I may not keep my word in some instances)
4. Sexual Images or Obscenity (STOP IT RIGHT THERE.)
*This is so common nowadays. *cough*Rated M*cough* I have to note this, ladies and gents. I wouldn't mind if you were tempted IN ANY WAY and fall for it the first time. Just make sure you don't do so twice. Because that wouldn't be a mistake. It'd be a habit. And kids? Please, know your limits.
5. Horror or Scary, Disturbing Content (not present in my story)
6. Drugs or Illegal Chemicals (not included in my story)
All of these are what restrict the amount and type of viewers in a work of art. No matter what.
I may put K+, but I won't shy away with only the 3rd category, known as violence.
I won't use mindless gore in this time around. My purpose of usage is to make you feel. Sure, it's not that violent in a game. But in a real-life situation? Do you know how your favorite and hated heroes would have gone through, and how you were chilling in your couch, not having to deal with it? DO YOU NOW, YOU UNGRATEFUL SWINES?!
(It's okay, guys! I was messing around XD)
Which leads to a conclusion.
There will be deaths. Horrible, painful ones.
Remember what I said. They'll live again. But how?
Trust me, guys. The files don't lie. And they won't.
If you think I have the complete plot of the story via these files, you're wrong. I still need to arrange these files in order. Also, some words don't seem to fit in well.
Get ready for the new characters! The roster still remains incomplete, though.
And take note of this advice:
Don't go overboard.
If you cannot take in Restricted Themes, then don't. The most tolerable among these is Number Four and Number Two.
But that's the most common and most influential. So I only have Number 3 present.
And I will warn you when things get messy. Maybe. Depending on how cruel I am huehuehue…
ANYWAY!
After a couple of minutes, Bruno, Lolita, Alpha, Saber, Eudora and Estes joined Balmond and Hilda through a makeshift portal. Together, they watched the humongous yet peaceful stone titan, carrying his tower with ease. Surprisingly, even with his sheer size, he doesn't knock down any of the structures below him. Though, he can't help but stomp on the hi-tech cars. Oh, how expensive they were.
"When's the last time we've had a stone titan?" Eudora asks.
"Never in a multitude of lifetimes," Estes answered in awe. "When I was being made in the Emerald Woodlands, my consciousness was already present. Stone titans would bow down to me, while I was still being made a physical body. After the wars, they stopped appearing, due to their downfall. I thought all were gone, until now."
Bruno caught the word 'made'. "Wait, did you say that you were made?"
Saber says, "Elven Kings were made in the Emerald Woodlands, and Estes is for the current generation. He is born within the Tree of Life. He sustained great injuries from former battles, so he had to be put in hypersleep. But after all these occurrences, he awakened."
Lolita mutters, "Something new every day, huh? Great, Lolita. Now you feel out of place."
"Can we talk to the big dude?" Alpha questions. "We haven't seen something like him in our travels. No glimpse. This is a first. Take pictures, Beta!" He urges the drone, who whizzes around, making snapping sounds.
"We have to find a way to talk to him!" Eudora starts. "But how? He probably wouldn't hear us from this distance." She watches the stone titan apparently frolicking in the distance. They were half a hundred meters far, but they could feel the ground vibrate within every step of the titan.
"Let me try," Saber volunteers. He adjusts his antennae and then says, "Can you hear us?"
The voice echoed all around the deserted city. The stone titan jerked his head upward, but he seemed disturbed.
He turns to the group, still calm. Its mouth began to move. It said in a slow rumble, "Grock can hear you from far away."
"Okay, so it speaks," Hilda begins. "What was your name again?"
"Grock is me!" Grock happily answers. "Trying to find owner of tower. Feeling lonely."
"Have you seen others like you?" Balmond asks. "Other stone titans whom you seem to know?"
Grock thinks deeply. "Nassus, Borin, Gilde… all gone. Didn't make it."
"Last of his kind," Saber whispers to Bruno.
Estes steps forward. "Grock, I am Estes, Elven King of the Land of the Dawn. We are here to help you."
Grock's eyes widened, and he tried to genuflect.
"No need to be too polite now, Grock. We need to take care of this place as well. Do you remember the owner of the tower?"
"Grock knows it's somewhere magical!" Grock answers. "Somewhere hidden, where no one can find it, but Grock! Called… um… S- S- S- can't pronounce it!"
Eudora pops out a word. "Swan?"
"Yes, yes! That's where Grock shall go!" the stone titan cheers, though he didn't stomp around. "I know location! We must go!"
"Wait!" Alpha commands.
Grock tilts his head in concern. "Something wrong? Any enemy gets their heads bashied with huge tower!"
Balmond looks around. "Anything, Alpha?"
Alpha looks somewhere on his right, then his left. "Surrounded."
Lolita's heart begin to race. "Surrounded? What do you mean?"
"Bad. Bad guys," Saber concludes.
Grock looks around him, and bellows, "PISS OFF, UGLIES!"
And the opposite happened.
By the way, I need to tell you how Eruditio is positioned.
Just think of a circle. The center is Zephyr Corps. The farther you get from the center, the buildings degrade and so does the lifestyle. The circumference of the circle is a huge wall, encasing all the contents and protecting them from interference.
And the demons have penetrated through the bay doors of the walls.
Alpha could see a miniature wave of demons ready to ambush the group. They're easy to take on, even if they were Hellbats, Stalkers and a few Reapers. They're easy to fend off, even if they numbered up to a few hundred. They're easy to take on, because the heroes were so used to killing them with ease.
But something else was in that mass.
Saber took notice. He activated his scanners. A few foreign characters were in place. They didn't seem like anything in Saber's database. They were irregular in form, but still symmetrical. They had purple scales with slightly deformed feet, like Karrie's. They had broad, pointed shoulders and heads that resembled an insect's.
What's even astonishing is the randomness of their secondary features, like their eyes, tails and scale formation. They all looked unique.
"What are those?" Balmond questioned. "They never looked like anything I've faced."
"My database is on hold," Saber adds. "It cannot identify."
"Stand your ground. They are Kastiyans, Zhask's soldiers," Estes answers.
Out of the blue, a red, metamorphing orb darted through the sky. It zipped to the group, and it coalesced. Out of the orb came the Queen of the Apocalypse herself. Her expression was taunting.
"Why, hello, my dears!" She greeted 'cheerfully'. "How did you like the surprise?"
The group eyed the woman down. It was not the time to engage. Grock readied his tower on his back, just in case Alice needs a whooping.
"What are you doing here?" Estes interrogates.
"I just wanted to check on how you're doing, my lovely! The lairs around here give me cramps."
Bruno gained the courage to say this. "Oh, you mean you wanted to check on how we're fortunately winning while you're undeniably losing?"
Eudora, Lolita and Alpha shushed him. Alice didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled.
"Ah, the Protector of Eruditio. I assumed you'd be brave! That makes it more satisfying when I leech that precious blood." Alice licks her lips, her eyes turning red. Balmond slowly backs off.
"Anyhow, what I say is true! I wanted to give you a little bit of target practice before the whole world falls under our regime. I assume you've met our new friends!"
Hilda asked, "How did you make connections with Zhask? I thought he would be selfish enough to take this world for himself!"
Alice shakes her head. "You don't understand. Zhask only wants the essence of this planet, not Gaius itself. Once he has it, the leftovers will be in our safekeeping. It's win-win!" She claps her hands. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some bodies to suck on. Enjoy your treat!" She flies away and materializes back into a red orb. After she disappears, the demons turned their gaze back to the heroes.
"Time to take out the party crashers," Bruno announced. The demons screeched and charged in a multitude of directions.
"Here we go again!" Alpha said, as he swipes his light spear upward from the ground, generating an artillery barrage that pokes through a line of Ravagers and Kastiyans. An alien launches a beam of light that Lolita easily deflects, helping Bruno in taking it out.
"What is Grock doing?" Saber asks. Estes sees the giant, softly stomping the ground. In truth, he was taking out the demons trying to crawl up to him, like a human against a swarm of ants.
"Death to weaklings for brethren!" Grock said as he stomped so hard this time that the shockwave made Hilda nearly lose her footing. Balmond charges and spins around with his axe like a top, slicing through the enemies like a pizza cutter.
Balmond laughed. "These imbeciles are mediocre! Why would Alice make them fight us?"
"Look alive. There might be something that's up," Estes warned, launching light projectiles to anyone that gets close to him. He casts an enhancement spell on Eudora which charges her power even faster. The lightning mage electrifies dozens of Kastiyans, roasting them to oblivion. A Hellbat dives to attack an unaware Alpha, but Saber stabs it in the air right on time as Beta shoots it down.
Grock continued on his stomping, desperately trying to prevent destroying the other structures, which seemed funny even with the current situation given. After a few minutes, the few hundred became less than ten. The leftovers were chased off by Hilda, but she didn't dare go farther.
"Is this a joke?" Hilda asks. "Alice might be messing with our heads." She sets down her axe.
"She's known for her mischief," Lolita answers. "We should get used to that."
"Where go next?" Grock asks. "Puny ants annoy me."
Estes calls the stone giant. "Grock, I need you to get to Swan and return your tower. I will send an escort to be alongside you. Okay?"
"Grock has buddies! Yay!" The giant stomped around, but then remembered where he was. "Oops. Sorry. Promise to go to owners." He trotted away, going to Swan, in a somewhat random direction.
"Why is he walking like that?" Bruno asks, confused.
Balmond replied. "A stone titan promises to not take down anyone else's structures. It's usually unnecessary, but Grock is the last of his kind. He tries to find ways to preserve the cities here."
"We need to inform the others about all this," Saber suggests. "We should also leave. Something bad might happen if we stay for too long."
"We make up a meeting with the others, and plan out for the 4th shard," Estes finalizes. The group walks out using a makeshift portal, leaving Grock to walk to Swan all by his lonesome.
Meanwhile…
"Wait, so you're supposed to be dead?"
Alucard facepalms as he is forced to explain to Chou about his past for the 5th time in the morning.
"Yeah. An angel's ichor helped me survive," Alucard sighs.
Yinsen adds, "Take note of the fact that that angel is what saved him FROM THE LAIR, not us. We simply found Alucard in the forest."
"Also, his father survived the ordeal, and thought Alucard and his first wife was dead, so he went to Malefic City and boom! Here I am," Layla finishes.
Chou nods. "This is confusing. Glad I got it this time."
"Phew. You good?" Alucard jokes. "It confuses me too. Don't worry, you're not alone."
Yun Zhao, Miya, Freya and Hayabusa walks up to the conversation. "Anything new?"
"Not really. I wonder who that angel could be. Not even Estes remembers."
Freya frowned. "Yeah. It would be neat if he, or she, would go fight with us. It would clarify your past as well."
Ruby sees Kagura in the distance. "Um… guys? You-know-who is back," she whispers. Hayabusa didn't budge. He didn't cry, too. But he looked away.
"Wait, you don't wanna go out, mate?" Yinsen asks, concerned. "We'll help you out if you need help. Just saying."
"Nothing can change it. I'll be fine," Hayabusa answers.
"If you need anything, we'll cover you!" Freya encourages. "You're not busy today, right, Zhao?"
"Nuh uh. I am only stuck for guard duty."
A steel cable locks on a nearby pillar, and Fanny zipped to the group, her scar already faded. "Estes and his ops are back. I think they've brought some interesting news."
The centaur, Hylos, trotted to the conversation, holding his scepter. "I sent them to inspect Eruditio. I felt an old presence, a familiar one."
Chou stood up from his seat. "What happened? Is the city alright?"
"Completely deserted. A few demons are on guard, but the defense systems are still operational."
Karrie and Irithel, along with Clint, joined in. "It's a boring day today, but at least we're making progress," the gunslinger started. "Three weeks before doomsday. How neat."
"My warriors from Alaghat are beginning to assemble," Karrie added. "They will join Yi Sun Shin's fleet and gather here after a few days."
Kagura, Akai, Tigreal and Natalia came into play in the crowded mess hall. "Here comes Estes," said the gilded knight. "Stay sharp."
Estes, along with his companions, went around with the group. The Minotaur gently walked along with his hammer.
"This is one big meeting," Ruby mutters to Alucard. "The fact that we're incomplete baffles me."
"Good day, my friends. We've now confirmed the presence Hylos has felt in Eruditio."
"What is it?" Karina asks. She appears right next to the ninja.
"It was a stone titan named Grock."
A few gasps arose. Johnson, who joined Saber and Alpha, questions the Elven King. "What's a stone titan?"
Lolita answers, "An old earth guardian meant to protect the structures of heirs. He has a tower that he must deliver, and it belongs to Swan."
"Swan? I suggest we follow the being. He doesn't travel too fast, I hope," Tigreal suggests.
Estes smiles. "I have assigned you and Natalia, along with Zhao and Miya, to follow the titan. Johnson will drive along for you."
"Another road trip with the bros," Johnson cheers.
"Get along now. After a few hours, your journey shall commence." Miya and Zhao nods as they leave.
"Freya, the naval fleet will arrive in a few days. The Ocular Sun speculates that they may arrive tomorrow, but we have detected a wave of sea serpents and Hellbats which are hot on their trail. You will stay with a few other heroes. We're still trying to find the exact coordinates for the 4th shard, but the navigator has confirmed its general location."
"Where is it?" Alucard asked. "Please tell me it's a decent place."
"It's somewhere between Iga and Onmyouji."
Hayabusa and Kagura simultaneously looked up to Estes, baffled. The ninja starts. "Wait, the next shard is there?"
"It's in between the two cities," Karrie says. "Probably in a forest or in a wide-open field. The heroes we will send shall be prone to any invasion, so stay sharp. We were prepared when we escorted the 3rd shard, which gave us the upper hand. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for now."
"We will send a reconnaissance group for this mission," Hylos adds. "Alucard, gather your friends and prepare. You shall begin your search tomorrow, along with Hayabusa, Kagura, Akai, Nana and Harley. Eudora and Gord shall stay to fortify the magical defenses of this place."
"What is my next command?" Fanny asks. "If it's a wide-open landscape, I won't operate well with my cables."
"If you wish, you can stay and map out the forests here. We'll put you in charge of overall guard rotations."
"I can tolerate that." Fanny launched a steel cable to a nearby building and zipped off.
"Karina, you shall gather the Night Elves under your command. It's time for them to regroup alongside the Land of Dawn."
"Working on it," the assassin replies. She bows to Hylos and sprints out of the hall.
"You're not alone in this endeavor, Alucard," Estes soothes. "After we've confirmed the exact coordinates of the shard, we shall form a mass recall to send in your fellow Demon Hunters if the need arises."
"Thanks for the heads up!" Bruno thanks. "Though, things seem too rushed."
"We cannot change that, Protector," Minotaur heaves. "We should be glad, though, that many things are coming our way. At least, we witness how we work as a functional unit."
"Minotaur, if all else fails, we will put you alongside the escort team for the 4th shard. I suggest you guard the other shards, which are in the underground vault. Do you agree?"
"I owe you my life, for you have helped me escape that wretched labyrinth. To atone for my recklessness, I shall do what I must." Minotaur pounds his fist to his left breast as he walks out of the hall to do his task.
"I think that's all for now," Freya says. "Wait, what about Irithel?"
"I will join Karrie in Alaghat to fix some matters there," Irithel answers. "Leo and I will be fine. We shall rendezvous as early as we can." The smilodon growls, and it speeds off along with the rider.
"Clint, do you have friends among the Wastelands?" Estes asks.
"Yes. I was planning to gather them. Thought the extra firepower will help us mates fight off those darn uglies."
"You can depart anytime. Just give the call," Hylos confirms. Clint nods as he walks away.
Akai wasn't listening, for he was busy eating.
"Is that your 4th noodle soup for this afternoon?!" Kagura exclaims.
"C'mon, I haven't had decent food ever since we got stuck in the forest. And besides, they taste good!"
The group laughs. Estes chuckles. "The new deliveries went off fine, my panda. Eat up if you shall. Our resources will suffice."
Suddenly, Alucard's head begin to hurt. The sharp spike was so sudden, he stumbled off his seat.
"Argh! Not again!" he yells, as the pain grows.
Layla began to fear. "Alucard? Alucard! What's wrong?"
"Not good!" Alpha yelps. "Beginning biometric scans. No physical trauma identified. Psychic relapses detected."
"He is recalling his memories!" Chou states. "He is also having visions as well!"
Estes and the others gathers and gives breathing room. "I can only alleviate the pain, but I will dull the clarity of the relapse! Alucard, what will you choose?"
"Let me recall! Let me… re… argh! It's too much!"
His mind flooded with visions he cannot fully contain.
He felt that he was back at the Wastelands. He saw a young adolescent shooting revolvers in the firing range. He recognized him.
"Clint? How?"
The young Clint shot down the targets with ease, which were a couple of whiskey bottles. Another person came into view. He was a grown, buff man. He was smoking a big cigar, holding a custom-made blunderbuss.
"Well done, my boy! Darn, you have surpassed my talent!" The man spoke. "Sadly, it is time I must depart."
"I hope we could spend longer time, old man," Clint said. "Will you be fine, Roger?"
"Roger?" Alucard thought.
"I shall. I hope you do your part as the new vigilante among these parts."
"They won't hunt me down, right?"
Roger chuckles. "Of course! Your reputation as my apprentice is deeply accepted by the Wastelands."
Clint looks down on the ground. "What if we meet again? What will happen?"
"I may be changed," the grown man said with a heavy heart. "If we meet again, Clint, remember this."
"Remember what?"
"If something wrong happens to me, then… never hesitate to shoot me."
"What?!" Clint exclaims in surprise.
The vision changes as Alucard's head hurt even more. He now sees himself in a dark cave.
"What's the point in negotiating, when I won't have this world?!" A warped voice shouts. "The essence of this planet shall be mine!"
"Zhask," Alucard grimaced.
"Take a look, Zhask!" a familiar voice said. It was Alice. "We want this planet! The Dark Lord shall reign after that wretched oaf Estes falls under his might!"
"But I am the Dominator! If you want to bargain-"
"Calm down. Let me speak!" Alice stops. "Listen! I know you want this planet, but you won't even take a second to care about Gaius after you leave it! So, how about this? You know of the Dawn Shards, I assume?"
Zhask comes out of the darkness, wielding a blunt staff. He has a deformed face with three spikes, which resembles his leadership. He has four long braids, each tipped with a flipper. "I know!"
"Here's the thing! Our want is to simply overthrow the current king and make this place ours. We have no desire for those Dawn Shards. However, they wield the power of life. Oh, how majestic it is! You get those shards, we get the planet. Deal?"
Zhask rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… you do have a point…"
"See?" Alice guffaws. "I told you! It's better that way!"
(Okay, guys! Heads up for Number 3.)
Alucard hears a moan somewhere in the dark.
"Ah, almost forgot," Alice said. "It seems so boring to finish my prey off quickly, and then I found out making them suffer nice and slow is even more exciting!" Out of the rocks, she fished out a small child… a girl. She remained unconscious, her clothes tattered and dusty. Alice dug her canines to the child's neck and sucked her blood slowly, which was very unlikely of the Apocalypse Queen.
"No!" Alucard shouts, trying to stop it. The pain in his head intensifies and the scene warps for one last time.
He was transported to a rough, uncharted plain. Valleys and rivers were coating the scenery. But that wasn't the case here. He sees a bright ray of light strike through the earth. Out of the light emerged an angel. She wore white robes and held a healing scepter. Alucard didn't need much time in order to recognize her.
"Rafaela? Why descend here out of all places?"
He tries to scan the environment, and a black figure catches his eye. But since he was so far away from the occurrence, he couldn't recognize the other person.
But he did hear these words from the Wings of Holiness.
"After all this time?" The Demon Hunter felt the angel's astonishment. Before he snapped out of the trance, he heard a familiar voice, probably that of the latter.
"Always."
"Alucard?! Wake up! Wake up!"
The Demon Hunter awoke to the sight of Chou slapping him hard in the face.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake- Oh… sorry," Chou said.
The pain in Alucard's head didn't linger anymore. Though, his cheeks were on fire.
"My boy! Are you all right?" Hylos asks in a worry. "You've been out for half an hour. None of our runes and spells help."
"Wait, it's been 30 minutes?!" Ruby exclaims. "I thought it's five!"
"Is he going to be alright?" Hayabusa questions. "I can confirm that the pain in his head is fading, but his mind is still racing. We can't question him right now."
"He had a few visions," Kagura answers. "He is going to be fine. We have to let him rest."
"Guys, do you see that?" Akai interrupts. He points to Alucard's greatsword using his cane. The weapon's edges began to glow in different spots.
"Are those runes, Estes?" Freya asks. "I cannot recognize them."
"They seem familiar…" Alucard moans. "Wait… why did I say that?"
"Familiar?" Estes checks the sword. "These are not the runes I make. They're completely different."
Lolita asks, "Where do they come from?"
Out of the blue, a bright ray of light hits the earth. The group covers their eyes from the blinding light. An angel emerges from the light.
"You're right," the angel says. "They're no Elven runes. They're of the Fall."
"Rafaela? It's been too long!" Estes starts. "What brings you here?"
The angel says, "Something has arisen. I have been sent by the Lords to aid you for now. They cannot grant reinforcements for the time being, so I shall be the one to guide you. What Alucard has seen is an indication of our expanding roster."
"There's this dude with this huge freaking shotgun or something… from the Wastelands! I forgot the name… It's…"
"We ask Clint later," Saber interrupts. "What next, Alucard?"
"Alice… and the others… they're here only to make this kingdom theirs. The shards are not their priority."
"What?" Hylos reacts. "Then, why are they being targeted?"
Alucard answers, "Zhask wants the Dawn Shards for himself. Alice and her minions will only try to trek along to tamper with our plans."
"You had one more dream, Alucard," Rafaela says. "Can you tell them?"
The Demon Hunter thinks hard. He was beginning to get frustrated. Those visions were so clear! How on earth could he forget them?
"You were there, Rafaela! I saw you! I just…"
"Woah, you saw her?" Yinsen reacts. "Was it a war?"
"More like… a conversation. She's… talking to someone. But they're too far and I could only hear their voices. Argh."
"Don't pressure yourself," Chou suggests. "Ease it out slowly. Do you have a clue on who she was talking to?"
"Best not to think of it for now," Rafaela stops.
Estes seems worried. "Rafaela, you need not hide anything from us. We're your allies."
"The more you know, the sooner the demons would be really into killing you. I know about Alucard's visions, but for you to possess the thought would prove lethal in some circumstances. Believe it or not, when we step out of this place, the Queen would have the chance to watch our every move. However, it's the Dark Lord's wishes that they remain discreet, and to avoid any unnecessary interference until required."
"They could just do that now!" Alpha rebounds. "Why would they have to wait?"
"Both sides are not yet in order, cyborg," Rafaela explains. "The Dark Lord longs for our blood, but he is patient. He has millions of henchmen in his disposal, but they're in disarray. We may have a small force, which is more of a downside. The Dark Lord knows it's not yet the time. He's most likely expecting you to come for the Shards and to search for new allies."
"I assume that the convoy should be read within the next few hours," Hylos finishes. "We have allies in Swan Lake, where the stone titan will go."
The angel nods. "Best you continue your normal duties and plans. But… I'd stay out of trouble."
"We're rushing a lot," Ruby mumbles. "We can't take a break, huh?"
"Well, I didn't know that being involved in pastries will put you in a worldwide cataclysm."
The whole group laughed at Bruno's joke.
"That's a good one," Saber compliments. "Shall we resume the activities?"
"A proper choice," Rafaela ends. "You may go now. But… I have to talk to Alucard."
"Sure, no probs," Hayabusa replies. "C'mon, let's go."
The group leaves Alucard behind, who is standing up pretty fine.
"Why the sudden descent?" he asks.
"The Lords gave me permission to. I just knew that I had to fix some complications by myself."
It dawned on the Demon Hunter. "Hayabusa and Kagura."
"Yes. One day, I will appropriately disable their curse. It's wrong to do so today. The timing isn't right."
"Please be honest with me, Rafaela," Alucard insisted. "You know the person you talked to in my dream, right?"
Rafaela resisted answering, but gave in. "Yes."
"You don't have to tell me who he… or she, is. If it's a secret meant to be contained until the time arrives, I will respect that."
"All that I can say… is that you shall meet him soon."
"Him? Soon? That seems a bit vague, milady."
Rafaela smiles. "It's all that I could give you. Now, would you go along with your friends?"
Meanwhile…
Karina's senses are racing.
"Are you alright?" Tigreal asks. "You seem nervous."
"I have a bad feeling about something," the assassin replies. "I think one of my dreams are becoming true…"
"Which one?" Natalia responds. "Karina, all of your dreams are true."
"Not that! I just can't put this into words. There might be… um… what do you call that? A lawyer's squirrel?"
"A lovers' quarrel?" Miya guessed. "Whose?"
"You know whose, genius."
"Sheesh," Zhao adds. "Blow off the steam somewhere else, Karina. Were you referring to-"
"Sorry to barge in," Akai abruptly starts. "Have you seen Kagura?"
"Last time I checked, she was going to the citadel's balconies," Freya answered. "Why, what's wrong?"
Fanny's eyes widened. "Isn't that were Hayabusa is?"
All eyes trailed to each other's, then to Karina's.
"Guys?" Zhao begins. "Race for it."
"SCRAMBLE AND FIND THEM NOW!" Tigreal ordered.
Hayabusa was on the highest balcony of the citadel, arms crossed, admiring the view of the Land of Dawn. He liked how impossible such a view could be beheld, and that such a view was made in a matter of seconds.
"I think this moment of peace would work for now," he thought.
That is, until he heard footsteps from the staircase.
"Darn it. Not now. Please! Can't she just leave me be?"
(You might be asking. Why can't he simply teleport away? He can't. The sun was glaring against him, leaving no shadow. In other words, he is cornered.)
Yada yada yada, and yup. Kagura was making those footsteps, thank you very much. She stops as she sees the ninja. She wanted to talk to him so badly, to touch him at least for once. But no, they can't. All because of a curse.
"A curse simply means restriction," the ninja suddenly whispers.
"And ours is perpetual," Kagura clearly adds. "You still remember."
"I always will. Why would I forget?"
Kagura starts to walk up to Hayabusa, but stops after making the first step. She hung her head low.
"Why are you here?" Hayabusa asks.
"I've been looking for you. I thought you were gone, and that you don't want to see me." Kagura began to cry, but she remained silent.
"Do you know how I have longed to see you again? It hurts whenever I think of you, but I still reminisce, because you're a part of me, and we can't deny that." Hayabusa's hands balled into fists, and his arms had to support him via the balcony's concrete barrier. He restrained himself, trying not to punch it.
"It's been too long," the girl says, her voice breaking. "We haven't seen each other for a decade! Do you even know the troubles I had to face just to know you once more?!"
"I don't! I don't know why fate is so unfair to us! I really don't! I love you, and I want to hold you, but we're forced not to touch, because our passion is our demise!" Hayabusa's knees became weak and he began crying as well. He was so tempted to get closer, but he knew he had to avoid her.
"Do you remember it?" Kagura asks. "Do you remember it all?"
"It haunts me every day. I wanted to… I wanted… to make it s-stop." The ninja began to shiver. Kagura walked up to try to hug him but their auras mixed and became volatile. She instantly held back.
"Don't say that! Don't think of those, Hayabusa. You're not alone! Don't say that!"
"It always feels like it. I can't… I can't!" The pair became completely wasted… well, without the liquor part. "I wanted to make it stop. I want to end myself. I just can't do this. Please…"
(Now, boys and girls. I have to inform you of one thing. When someone you know has suicidal thoughts such as these, try to fix them in the most humane way possible. Suicide is no joke.)
"Hayabusa… What… Why are you saying this?"
The ninja hugged his knees and buried his head. "There's… too much expected of me. I'm… I'm…"
"You're what?" Kagura asks. "I'm right here. You don't have to lock yourself out! Please, Haya! Tell me."
"I'm drowning."
Those two words were enough to send a painful wave of dread to the mage.
Kagura couldn't speak. She didn't have the strength to reply.
"Hey, dude!" Zhao pops. "Are you al- Oh?" He sees the pair. His face became as red as a tomato. "Um… Uh…"
Miya appears into view as well. "Yo. What happened here?"
"I dunno. Let's just separate them. Nothing else we can do."
Fanny flies to the balcony with her steel cables. "What's wrong?"
"Long story," Miya replies. "C'mon. Let's keep this discreet."
*insert weird transition XD
"What did Rafaela say to you?" Layla asked.
"Well, she confirmed to me that she knew who she was talking to in my vision, and that it was a he."
Yinsen grins. "Well, at least that narrows the possible culprits down to… 50%?"
"49%, actually," Alpha corrected. "There are more male subjects than female."
"Yeah, yeah. Same thing. Anyway, have you seen Victor? I wanna clear my attendance for now. Can't let him think I'm away."
"Last I checked," Alucard replied. "He was still in the camp. I'll meet you there later."
"Sure, man. Thanks. Gotta go," Yinsen runs off.
Beta suddenly blipped. "Alert. Negative emotional responses detected."
"Um, what?" Alpha was dumbfounded. "Beta, who is it?"
"Standing by. Subject confirmed." The data was then applied to Alpha's visor. He turned around and saw Zhao escorting Hayabusa, who was hiding his face.
"C'mon, buddy! Let's get you somewhere warm," Zhao comforted.
"No! Just leave me alone, Zhao. I don't want help!" Hayabusa rebounded.
"What's wrong with Hayabusa?" Chou asked.
Alucard reads Hayabusa's mind. "Ah, darn. I knew it."
"Knew what?" Bruno interrogates.
"He talked with Kagura."
Ruby's response nearly startled Lolita off her shoes. "WHAT?! WHAT?! NO! IS HE ALRIGHT?"
"Woah, calm down, Ruby. Jeez, I thought you were the one going cray," Alucard joked. "Nah, I don't think Hayabusa seems well."
"Look, you may not want help, but you need it! I don't want to leave you crumbling down, Haya. I am your best bro."
"Can't you see? My life is just a freaking waste. I'm just used for personal gain, and when I needed it the most, I get perpetually locked out! It's useless, Yun. You can't help me!"
Saber and Alpha rushed to the scene. Alucard and his friends couldn't think much on how to help the ninja, so they watched.
"Hayabusa!" Saber called. "It's okay. You don't have to keep your negative thoughts to yourself. We can help."
"What makes you think you can help?" the ninja spat. "You don't know this pain I'm feeling."
"We do," Alpha replied. "You just don't know, but we do. I always have, along with Saber. We may look completely different, but we're all alike."
It dawned on Zhao. "Alpha? Are you telling me…?"
"Yes," Saber said. "Alpha had Beta. Had."
Bruno couldn't believe it. "Alpha had Beta?"
Alpha hung his head low. "It's not that easy to explain. Hayabusa, listen to me. Be glad that Kagura is still there for you in one piece, even if you couldn't touch her. I may have Beta, but that's not her." He looks on the drone. The drone that lacked emotion. "That's not the real her."
Hayabusa stopped crying. "What happened?"
"C'mon," Chou urged. "We have to listen."
"Beta and I… We were made in that laboratory," Alpha began. "That accursed laboratory."
"Laboratory 1718, where I came from," Saber adds.
"We were custom-made by the scientists so that we could become the ultimate fighting machines. I was the first before Beta. But after our complete production, we were locked into these med-bays with restraints. We had no chance to escape. We never thought of doing so. We only did what we were told to do. Avoid all the projectiles. Kill all live targets. That's it.
"But in Day 23 of our initial activation… something happened. Something mysterious… Not even scientific minds can comprehend."
"You've become self-aware," Alucard said. "How did it affect you and Beta?"
"I no longer identified Beta as a random ops partner. It was the first time I identified anyone as my friend. I assumed she felt the same thing."
"Beta was a girl then?" Layla abruptly says.
"Yes, Layla. She was. We began to talk a lot. We'd have dreams of the real world out there. She'd always want to go to the grassy plains and watch the stars that people were talking about. But most of all, she'd prefer it if I'd tag along with her. And I elicited the first emotional response in all of A.I."
"Love," Ruby replied as it dawned on her. She was smiling.
"Weeks passed as we began to feel different emotions. We were always there for each other to appreciate the good and to comfort ourselves from the bad. Then… we heard of the scientists' plan to launch our first real mission: the assassination of the hierarchy.
"Saber has reached that alternate dimension in time to prevent the cataclysm. The both of us worked together to plow our way through all the defenses. Unfortunately, one more thing stood in our way, and that was the ultimate version of our existence."
Saber adds, "It was Omega. He was already outfitted with all the artillery and melee weps. We tried all our might to stop him, but we were barely a challenge for him."
"It took us long to be able to chip out his tough torso, which was the one thing that blocked off his volatile reactor. Saber and I couldn't get close. Omega's feet pinned the two of us to the ground. He raised his sword, but before he got the chance…" Alpha began to cry.
"What next?" Lolita asks. "Alpha, what happened next?"
"If… if it wasn't for him… then… Beta wouldn't have to sacrifice herself."
"Oh, no," Ruby gasped as she put her hands on her mouth.
"She charged through his reactor with her whole body, because none of our weapons could work. It obliterated the machine, but the blowback damaged Beta's internal processors. She couldn't be saved, not even her memories and thoughts. Not even her soul, no matter how artificial it was. And every day, I keep hearing her last words before she died. 'Wherever you go, I will follow you.'"
Bruno began to sniffle. "Layla, do you have a freaking tissue? I can't, mate."
"Uh… um… no?" The group began to cry for the cyborg. Alucard wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket. Zhao covered his eyes. Saber simply hung his head low.
"We got out of that place and into this," the swordsman continued. "We went to Rooney, and asked for his help. He was young back then. He was willing to convert Beta's arm to something else. And that drone is what's left of her." He pointed to the drone with his katana. "We're men of sad stories. And yet, here we are, fighting for a noble and holy cause. Alpha and I? We're not afraid to die. We've suffered internally throughout our lives. Hayabusa, we have the option to end our own lives, but we didn't do that. If anything, Beta would want us to accomplish her goals for her. That's what Kagura would wish for you to do."
Alpha said, "She once told me that a life without suffering is a life not worth living, and that she'd rather feel pain than feel nothing at all. You're lucky, Hayabusa. You may not touch Kagura, but you could at least see the real her. I understand if you don't feel content, but there will come the time that you will. There's always a rainbow after every storm."
Hayabusa put his hand on his eyes. "Why haven't you told us all this before, Alpha?"
"I thought you wouldn't comprehend."
"Why wouldn't we?" Alucard replies. "We're not just your friends, Alpha. If anything, we're family. And that's what matters."
The group hugs each other for a couple of minutes, and Freya smiles in the distance, wishing them peace.
"It's what we need right now," Eudora says to her. "However, it might not be something that we deserve."
"It shall be," Freya replies. "It shall. And when the time comes, our bravery is indestructible."