VG Rumble

Karana held Ilum as he cried. She fought back her own tears; it tore her apart to see him so upset, so heartbroken, in so much grief... She just hushed him the best she could, offering words of comfort until he was calm enough to speak.

"What will she think?" he asked, tears still falling. "She'll hate me!"

"No, she won't. Ilum, it's okay - " She kept her voice calm, soothing, sweet.

"I killed him! I killed my own brother, Elizabeth's beloved! I could have saved him!"

"And you did! He was in hell, a mind slave, somewhere he didn't want to be, doing what he didn't want to do! You saved him by severing that hold, by putting him out of his misery."

He shook his head, hiding his face in his hands again.

"Ilum, listen to me, please. Elizabeth will not be mad at you for doing Izlude a favor, for saving him from his hell. She will understand. Okay?"

It took him a moment, but he finally nodded, looking up. He was still very upset about the whole situation, but it was understandable. He looked at Izlude once, then abruptly stood.

"Let's go somewhere else. I can't stay here."

Karana looked at the others, noticing Warren was missing, and mouthed, "I'll take care of him; don't worry."

She joined her fiance as he strode from the room, into a small hallway, and into what must have been a simple bedroom. Ilum crashed onto the bed, covered in a fine layer of dust, and steadied his breathing as Karana took her place by his side, continuing to comfort him in his moment of darkness.

Luke and Raven watched as Ilum and Karana left so they could be alone. "Let's wait for Ilum to calm down a bit before we suggest performing a burial for Izlude."

"I agree," Luke said, nodding his head. He looked down at the dead man at his feet and stared into his lifeless eyes. He kneeled down and closed Izlude's eyes so he at least looked like he was sleeping peacefully in his death.

"Where's Izuki?" Raven asked, worried.

Luke looked around and saw no sign of the child as well. "I don't know." They both went off to search for her, calling out her name as they looked. After a few minutes they heard her cries of sadness. They followed the sound of her tears and found her sitting behind the pedestal that held the Aerolith. Her face was buried in her arms as she cried.

Raven kneeled down beside the girl. "Izuki, are you okay?"

Izuki nodded her head, her face still buried in her arms. "Yes... (sniff)... I'm fine..."

She was obviously lying and Raven knew it. She wrapped her arms around the girls and held her tight. Luke kneeled down beside Raven and placed his hand on Izuki's shoulder, offering what comfort he could.

"We're all sad about what happened to Ilum's brother," Raven told the child. "There's no shame in crying." Izuki exploded into tears as she clung to Raven's body. Her sobs became muffled hiccups as she cried away the pain.

Ilum relaxed beneath Karana's touch, her hands working his shoulders and back gently as she hushed him. The comfort she offered was so sincere, so heartfelt, he knew she meant it. She meant everything she had said, and it helped. It didn't ease the pain of the death, but it eased his guilt.

He sighed, wiping the last tears away with the back of his hand. He was sore and tired, but it would be fine. A good night's rest would deal with that...

"I love you, Karana," he spoke softly. "I love you so much... I don't know what kind of man I'd be if I'd never met you. Maybe I'd be worse than now!"

"Don't say that, babe. Please. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes...to an extent."

"That's good, I guess. You know if you need me, I'm always here. I'll always be with you, through heaven and hell."

He nodded. "I know; I'll never let anything happen to you. I promise."

She smiled and laid down next to him, resting her chin against his shoulder. He shifted so that they laid face to face, cuddling. "And I promise I'll take care of you. Always."

They kissed to seal their promises, and their fate. The kiss was deep and passionate, something they had never done before, and it felt good. They pulled away after what seemed forever. They just laid there for a moment, enjoying the moment. Already, it seemed the atmosphere was lightening, the tension from the emotions lessening.

"We should do something for Izlude. A burial or something like that," Karana suggested.

Ilum nodded. It would be appropriate; after all, Izlude had been a great brother... He stood up and helped Karana to her feet. Finally, he felt ready to face his dead brother again, to give him the burial he deserved. Karana took his hand and held it firmly as they walked back into the large room.

It seemed everyone agreed that Izlude deserved a proper burial. They could not bury his body so the decided desecration was the best way to go. They went through the tower to collect wood from broken chairs and tables. They placed the wood all around Izlude's body. When they were ready they would light it with a fire spell.

"Would you like to say a few words, Ilum?" Luke asked.

(All I can think of at the moment.)

Ilum looked at Luke and nodded. He shifted uncomfortably as he turned his gaze back to Izlude, who lay as if he were merely asleep.

"No one else knew him like I did," Ilum began softly. "He wasn't a treacherous man. He was very kind, very noble, a gentleman. He took care of those he loved, and put them before himself. He never meant to hurt anyone, and he always apologized when he made a mistake. I'll miss you, brother."

Karana took Ilum's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We all will."

She knew where Ilum's heart was; it was laying next to Izlude's, ready to go with him to heaven. She was certain Ilum would mourn for days... A tear fell from her eyes as she looked at her fiance's pained expression. She hated seeing him like this, witnessing his guilt, seeing Izlude's death. She looked around and saw she wasn't the only one; Izuki was sobbing quietly into Raven as well.

Raven

As soon as the burial was over, Warren walked off again, ignoring the anger he saw on Karana's face but she caught up to him.

"What is your problem?" she demanded. "Ilum's brother died, show some respect!" The last was said in a low hiss that barely reached Raven's ears. Warren turned to face Karana, his expression a mask of calm.

"Since our journey began, many have died, and many more will. We have to be vigilant. You and Ilum should rest and prepare for the next step of our mission." Warren turned away again and this time Karana let him go, fuming over his lack of care.

"Give him time," Raven murmured, gently rocking a now sleeping Izuki back and forth. Karana made no reply, stalking back towards Ilum.

"Would you like to do the honors, Ilum?" Luke asked.

Ilum nodded. "He's my brother, so yes, I do." He conjured up a small flame and lit one of the many pieces of wood surrounding his brother. The flames slowly spread all around until Izlude was laying inside a circle of fire. As Ilum watched the fire grow he whispered, "Good-bye, Izlude... Good-bye, brother..."

(Can you guys get our characters on their way in your next posts so we can start the final battle?)

They were on their way the next morning, upon Warren's summon (sorry, had a brain fart here...ugh...lol). Izuki sat with Raven and Luke, Warren sat alone, and Karana stayed with Ilum. Even then, the next morning, he was still upset about his brother.

We can't dwell on the past too long. Yes, it hurts, but we have to let go. After all, we'll kill the one truly responsible soon enough, they had told him. Thankfully, he had listened, and it lightened his mood even a little bit.

They all had their gazes on the beam of light on the horizon. Their destination.



**All I've got... Like I said, blank mind. lol**

Warren

They didn't understand... how could they? Warren sat alone at the head of the Quezacotl which seemed to sense his mood, flying low over the water without a twist or a somersault.

"Warren..." Izuki hesitated.

"Yes?" Warren asked coolly without turning around.

"Do you know where to go?" she asked bravely. Her eyes were now dry of tears and a strange ferocity clung to the little girl. Gone was the laughter and pranks, leaving her the perfect vessel for revenge.

"Yes," Warren replied simply. "I know it well." Home... Warren's heart quivered at the thought but he ignored it. He could not allow himself to be distracted my sentimental feelings about a place that did not exist. The fortress had grown cold with his mother's absence and with it, Warren's heart had chilled and he had looked upon his father with new eyes.

I will not disapoint you father. I will show you how strong your son can be.

Luke looked over the large bird's body to look for someplace they could land. He found a small ledge within the mountain's crater that was large enough for them to land. He tapped Warren on the shoulder to get his attention and pointed to the spot. "Bring us down over there."

Warren nodded and told Quezacotl told land. When they were all off the bird's back and back on solid ground Warren dismissed the creature. Quezacotl rose up to the clouds where it disappeared within the clouds.

Luke turned to his comrades, ready to make a speech. "Everyone, I have something I want to say." They all listened intently. "We have all come a long way. We have all faced difficult challenges, and together we have overcome them. This is our final battle, our opponent is the dark knight, Ethric Vanhiel. Even now he is using the Soul Forge to sap the life of every living creature on the planet. This is not a battle for our survival, but for the survival of our planet, our future, and our childrens' future. Many people have suffered from the dark knight's actions," he looked at Ilum when he said, "some of which were people we cared for very much. But when the day is over the world will once again be free of such pain and sorrow and return to its original state as a peaceful place rich with life."

Luke sighed before continuing. "I may not get another chance to say this, so I'll say it now. It was an honor to fight along side you all. When you all first arrived at that town to stop the disappearances I had thought of you as children. But now, standing before me, I only see great warriors who would gladly give their lives in battle for the people they love and the planet they hold so dear. If this truly is our last battle together, then I will have no regrets, because I will have fought it with all of you by my side."

(Five days, people.)

**Sorry.**

Karana put a hand against Ilum's back as everyone smiled, even the suddenly-stoic Warren. Raven swiftly approached Luke and kissed him deeply, holding onto him with only love in her heart. Izuki held onto Karana's free arm and leaned against her.

"I don't know what you're thinking," Raven finally spoke, still embracing her lover. "We will still be together after this. All of us."

Izuki bounced, going into somersaults around them. "That's right!"

Karana and Ilum held hands - firmly - as they stepped closer to Luke and Raven. "We won't fail. And none of us will die."

Warren was the only one who hadn't said anything. No matter; everyone knew where his heart was: with them. Even if he was silent, they would all collaborate and succeed. Ethric Vanheil would die.

**Gotta go. Later!**

Warren

The fortress loomed before them and Warren took a hesitant step forward, his mind awash with memories. He led his friends towards the large, black iron gate and was surprised to see that there, entwined into the fretwork, his mother's roses still grew. They sprouted from the soil on the far side of the gate and dipped and dived, twisting in and out of the metal; a flash of colour in a dark world.

"The flowers-" Izuki gasped with a tiny smile.

"But where are the guards?" Luke wondered. Warren took a thick, heavy key from a pocket deep within his clothes and unlocked the gate.

"He forbids guards to enter his garden," Warren replied, easing the gates open. "They'll all be inside." The 'garden' was a poor affair, made of black concrete and shiny, black pillars. Not a plant in sight. But to Warren, it was so much more, filled with the colour of his memories, of a mother who had run and played with him across the concrete, of a mother who had sat on the black bench dressed in reds, yellows, purples. Any colour that wasn't dark and dreary.

"This way," Warren said crisply.

(When we're doing the last battle can you guys try to use your advanced spells at least once each so we can make it a little more flashy? I know Ayumi's character hasn't used Meteor once since she first got the spell, and I`d like to see her character use it. Izuki`s advanced magic attack is a spell called Bio, from Final Fantasy. The caster conjures up a blob of toxic goo that he/she hurls at an enemy to deal damage and adds a poisonous effect. Although not as flashy as all the other spells, it is one of the most useful tactically speaking.)

After going through the garden, they entered through two huge, metal double doors that led to a throne room of some sort. It was just as big as the throne room of the king of Arcadia. The were some noticeable differences, though. The walls and pillars were pure marble black, and the floor was dull-gray stone. The carpet was a dark shade of red that blended well with the red light shining through the stain glass windows. The dark knight was no where to be seen.

The one thing that seemed out of place in the entire room was the gaping hole in the floor. They looked into the whole to see where it went and found it was never ending. "This wasn't here before," Warren said.

Raven turned to him and said, "Warren, you've been acting strange ever since our fight with Izlude. What's the matter, and why are you acting like you've been here before?"

Warren looked at Raven for a moment before turning his attention to Luke. They stared at each other for a moment, as if saying things that could only be read through their eyes. Warren's eyes seemed to be asking a question, and Luke's eyes were set in his usual, "It's your choice," gaze. Warren sighed and said, "That's because-"

"Wait, did you hear that?" Ilum asked as he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"Hear what?" Izuki asked.

That's when they all heard it, the clank of armour and the sound of metal being dragged against the stone floor. It was coming from all directions. Everyone huddled together in a formation that left nobody's backs exposed. Guards emerged from the shadows. At first they thought they were regular humans, but that was before they saw their faces. Or should they say, skulls?


--Random Encounter!--

x10 Skeleton Warriors


(Just so you know, the Soul Forge is going to be at the bottom of that hole in a large underground cavern. It wouldn't have made much sense if it was in the basement of the fortress, seeing as it is part of the planet itself so it would be impossible to move.)

Raven

"Looks like father's made a few more changes too," Warren mumbled as the skeletal guards approached from all sides of the room, forcing the group back towards the hole.

"Father?" Izuki demanded, backing up beside her friends. "You mean the dark knight is your-"

"Not now, Izuki," Raven hissed, summoning a vast wave of water which she flung at the guards but it rattled through their bones, barely slowing them. Karana moved closer to Ilum and together they summoned fire, creating a wall of it to either side of the group. They were hemmed in on all sides. Fire to the right, fire to the left, the hole to their backs and before them, gathering together, ten fierce skeletons.

"Good idea," Luke said. "Now we face them head on." He called lightening to his hands and fired at the guards but they were made of bone and the lightening sizzled out, having little effecti on their bodies.

"Their swords and shields," Warren said. "They will conduct and if we can disarm them, even better." Luke nodded and tried again, concentrating his beam to hit just one of the guards. It sparked through the shield, flashing brightly and the skeleton shook a little and cast the object aside. It's bones were still unharmed.

"Then let's smash them," Ilum decided, drawing his weapon.