VG Rumble

Everyone grinned at Warren. That boy was always trying to be a showoff! Knowing him, too, everything would be entertaining and creative.

Karana sighed as she rested her head against Ilum's chest, closing her eyes. She was getting dizzy; trying to sustain ice in that volcano had drained her. Ilum wrapped a protective arm around her as Izuki bounced to their sides.

"Karana?" Ilum asked.

"Is she okay? Karana?" Izuki watched the young woman carefully.

"I need to lay down...I can barely stand, I'm so tired," was the whispered response.

Ilum and Izuki turned to Rick as the others waited, listening. "Are there any spare cabins? Just somewhere she can rest?"

"Is she hurt?" Luke stepped up, ready to wave at Raven.

Karana shook her head. Ilum answered for her. "Just tired."

(I'm just going to do a little time skip to the day they get to the Wind Tower.)

After three days at sea they finally arrived at Wind Tower. It was just as everyone had said, a giant tower that was literally floating in the air. It was a few hundred miles up in the air, to be able to see it from that far away just showed how big the building was.

"...I have no words for what I'm seeing," Raven said, "it really is floating in the air!"

Luke turned to Warren then. "So, do you really have a plan to get up there or were you just showing off?"

"Come on, Luke. When have I ever let you guys down?" Luke began to think about that for a moment. "Thanks a lot," he said as he made his way to the side of the boat.

He lifted his arms into the air and closed his eyes. A few moments later static electricity began to jump from his hands. The sky suddenly went dark as storm clouds blocked out the eerie light from the eclipse. Thunder could be heard from above.

"Where'd this storm come from!?" Rick panicked. He began shouting orders to his men to ready the ship for a storm as the waves suddenly began to pick up.

A high-pitched cry pierced through everyone's ears as a giant bird descended from the clouds. It landed on the ship's deck with a loud thud. It was no ordinary bird, it had dragon-like scales instead of feathers that sparked with electricity. If it was any bigger it would have tipped the ship over onto its side.

Warren smiled as he faced his companions. "I've had a little adventure of my own while I was gone."
_____________________________

Warren may now summon Quezacotl!


Current Abilities:

Ilum:
Level 3 Ice
Level 3 Fire
Level 2 Gravity (Advanced)
Level 3 Burst of Strength (Skill)

Karana:
Level 3 Fire
Level 3 Lightning
Level 3 Ice
Level 2 Meteor (Advanced)
Level 3 Burst of Speed (Skill)
Level 3 Burst of Strength (Skill)
Ifrit (Summon)

Raven:
Level 3 Healing
Level 3 Water
Level 3 Lightning
Level 1 Holy (Advanced)
Level 2 Empathy (Skill)
Level 2 Metaphysical Shield (Skill)
Shiva (Summon)

Warren:
Level 3 Wind
Level 3 Lightning
Level 2 Time (Advanced)
Level 3 Enhanced Sight (Skill)
Quezacotl (Summon) NEW!!!

Luke:
Level 3 Lightning
Level 3 Void
Level 2 Healing
Level 2 Earth (Advanced)
Level 3 Shadow (Skill)
Level 3 Intimidate (Skill)
Leviathan (Summon)

Izuki:
Level 3 Void
Level 3 Wind
Level 1 Bio (Advanced)
Level 3 Unlock (Skill)
Level 2 Burst of Speed (Skill)

Ilum grinned while Izuki was entranced. Everyone else smiled.

"Nice! Where'd you get that thing?" Ilum came up beside his best friend, clapping him on the back.

"Long story."

"I bet," everyone seemed to chorus as Warren began to give instructions.



**All I've got.**

Ooooh, nice!

Warren

The large bird was generally a lucid green but where electricity spurted from its feathers the scales were a blend of orange and red hues. Warren petted him affectionately and climbed easily up onto the broad shoulders while Rick and his sailors cowered in awe.

"I have to admit, I'm impressed," Luke admitted as he looked up at the creature who seemed to enjoy the attention as much as Warren and issued more sparks of electricity. Warren grinned and reached down, offering his hand to Ilum.

"Ready to fly my old friend?" Warren asked. Ilum nodded and lifted Karana up behind Warren before accepting his friend's help in boarding the Quezacotl which flapped its wings impatiently before hurtling upwards towards the Wind Tower. Warren called down to the others but his words were muffled by the large gust of wind and soon they were no more than a speck but just as quickly Warren and the bird were descending again, ready to take the second half of the passengers.

"Come along, Izuki, he doesn't bite so you've nothing to fear," Warren coaxed. The small girl placed her hand in his with a mixture of excitement and apprehension and then Raven joined them, holding Izuki in place carefully. Luke turned back to Rick and his crew who were now calmer but still amazed and slightly afraid.

"Thank you for your help, Rick.I think we can take it from here," Luke said before climbing up onto the bird who flew up theatrically, turning spirals in the air and shrieking as electricity exploded in a crash of colour like fireworks.

"Show off," Warren mumbled fondly, scratching his friend's neck.

(I just got a fantastic idea for the boss of the Wind Tower. It isn't going to be another monster. Instead it's going to be one of the Dark Knight's servants. I'll give you a hint, he's from one of our characters' pasts.)

Wind Tower wasn't so much an architectural wonder as it was a magical one. Every piece of the tower seemed to float in mid separate from everything else. Even the floor they stood on seemed to float on its own. Stairs spiraled around the entire tower, everyone followed them with their eyes until they found a platform at the very top of the building.

"That must be where the Aerolith is," Karana mused.

"How is this place able to float like this?" Ilum asked.

"I've heard about this place once before," Raven began as she started to pace around the main floor. "Wind Tower was originally a castle for an ancient civilization."

"You mean the advanced civilization from when the Husks were first created?" Ilum asked.

She shook her head. "No, after that. But also a few thousand years before our time. The tower was built by a magical race of people called the Kabel. The Kabel controlled the powers of nature themselves, they built this place as a testament of their powers to show the rest of the world that they were the most powerful of all races." Everyone else was entranced by Raven's story except Luke. He must have already heard it before.

"So, if these Kibal guys are so powerful then why aren't they here now?" Izuki asked.

Luke continued for Raven. "It is said that the Kebal became so strong in their search for power that they lost themselves. Their lust for power led to the downfall of their race. There is a lesson to be learned from such an event, that lusting for power will always lead to disaster."

Raven

"Shall we?" Warren prompted, approaching the nearest of the staircases that wound its way up to the platform. Luke nodded his agreement and together they all set off, ascending the stairs cautiously.

"I wonder what challenge we will face here," Raven murmured, shading her eyes from the sun as she looked upwards. Luke took her hand and squeezed it gently but absently and he did not follow the reassurance with words of comfort. Raven watched him carefully: he was deep in thought and she suspected the history of the Kebal was on his mind.

"Probably a few air elementals," Karana guessed, "but so long as we don't fall off the platform, everything should be fine." Izuki faltered.

"Could that really happen?" Izuki asked, her eyes wide. Karana patted her arm.

"Don't worry," she said. "You're doing great and we have Warren's bird on our side, remember?" Izuki nodded happily and gradually, as they climbed, the group rose above the clouds until all around them the air was filled with white and visibility was growing harder as they lost each other in a thick, swirling mist.

"Hold hands," Luke instructed.

(Just so we can move the story along I'm going to skip to the part where our characters find the boss. I've also been working on the information site for VG Rumble II. If you guys are interested in seeing how it's going you can check it out at this link: www.vgrumble2.piczo.com It's not finished yet but it will be by the time we start the sequel.)

Slowly but surely they made their way to the top of the tower, holding each other's hands as they climbed the winding staircase. A while later they made their way out of the mist and found themselves standing on the top floor. Across the platform they saw the Aerolith floating atop its pedestal. Its surface was a bright shade of teal and the wind from the tower seemed to emanate from it.

"There it is," Luke mused.

"Wait, who's that?" Karana asked, pointing to the base of the pedestal. In front of the pedestal stood a man in black armor similar to the dark knight but without a helmet. He stood with his back facing the group.

Ilum stepped forward and called out to the man. "Who are you, and why are you here? Are you in league with the dark knight?"

The man chuckled. It was a deep evil sounding laugh that sent shivers up everyone's spines. "My, it's been a long time hasn't it, Ilum?"

Ilum froze. "That voice..."

The man turned finally to face the group. "Or should I say brother?"

(See? My custom title isn't just for show. I truly am the master of plot devices.)

**Damn, Tylor!**

**Thanks.**

Karana gasped as her gazed settled on Ilum's face. He was in shock, frozen in place by surprise and perhaps even confusion. She remembered the stories he had told her, how his brother, Izlude, had been killed by the dark knight...

God, no. This can't be happening. Not now! She went to her fiance's side and firmly took his hand. She was satisfied that he even glanced at her before returning the gesture.

"Now, as to me being here, isn't it obvious?" the man continued. "I'm here to stop you, the supposed heroes of this world, from getting this." The Aerolith. Karana snarled; that was not a good position. Ilum would have to help fight - and kill - Izlude!

(I just re-read Ilum's profile, his brother's name is Izlude.)

(I can't think of anything to post at the moment. Can someone else start off the fight?)

--Boss Battle!--

Izlude

Battle Length: 12 posts

**Sure thing. Sorry if it takes me a few to post. I'm having to coach my little cousin through Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. He's addicted to it, now! **

Karana reached up and grabbed her sword, hoping Ilum would snap out of his daze. She heard the others follow suit, and Izlude grinned.

"I look forward to killing you whelps," he snarled, drawing his own sword. Then he darted, rushing Ilum and Karana first. Ilum gasped, finally moving to grab his weapon, but he was too late. Karana knocked him aside as she brought her weapon up, barely saving herself from his attack. She struggled against his strength, her sword slipped against his.

"Interesting. You love him, don't you?" Izlude taunted. "Fine. You can die with him!"

His fist landed against her head, sending her rolling. The others moved in.

(Cool, I want to play that game so much! Is he playing the Wii version or the Gamecube one?)

Luke brought his sword up to block Izlude's before he could bring it down on Karana. His opponent was stronger than expected but he didn't give in. Izlude smiled and said, "You're Lucas, are you not?"

"How do you know my name?" he asked, his sword still pushing against Izlude's.

"The dark knight told me all about you, murderer."

Luke's expression hardened. "I've come to terms with that part of my past a long time ago."

"Really?" Izlude smiled. "Then answer me this, why are you still having the nightmares?"

"SHUT UP!!" Luke pushed his opponents sword to the side and raised his own to attack. Izlude's hand was suddenly in front of his face. All he remembered was a scorching sensation before he found himself on his back with burns on his face.

Raven

"Luke!" Raven rushed forwards to stand over her beloved and braced herself behind her mace that took Izlude's next blow. She staggered back a step but looked fiercely into Izlude's face.

"You will not defeat us," she said fiercely. Izlude grinned and applied more pressure to his sword, grating it against the mace with an awful screech but Warren thrust both of his swords towards Izlude who was forced to step back.

"You're outnumbered," Ilum said, helping Karana up as Raven reached down to touch Luke's shoulder, probing his body gently with her magic and easing sparks of healing his face before helping him to stand. They all crowded around in a semi circle, each just a body's breadth from Izlude.

"Do not try to stop us, brother. You can not," Ilum said. Izlude began to laugh and put away his sword. Could it really be over that easily? Raven thought not. Izlude raised his hands and a grey light sparked around them before it darkened, sizzling to a grimy black.

"Witness the powers that have been bestowed on me, brother," Izlude declared.

**It's the Gamecube, but he finally pissed me off. He won't listen to what I'm telling him, I do not feel good, and we've been at it for six hours straight! I need a fucking break!**

**I can't think of what to write. Got a headache.**

Izlude thrust one of his arms forward and out came a bolt of red energy that struck both Luke and Raven in the chest, sending them flying. Warren ran up with his sword ready to attack but Izlude fired a ball of black fire at him, throwing him back as well. He turned to Ilum and Karana next, ready to attack.

Izuki jumped and landed on his back, punching him repeatedly in the head as hard as she could. "Get off of me, child!"

"Take that! And that!" Izlude tried to reach over his shoulders to grab her but she stayed just out of reach as she continued to bash his head.