I will admit there are some faults within the story of my own naiive writing attempts ._.;;
Especially when it expands into the monster it has become around, oh, I think ch 20 was it?
And even though I try to stay true to character points I think I fall off the wagon XD Grr, I aim to entertain, I try... ^^;
CHEESE AND CRACKERS THIS WAS A ***** TO EDIT!!! DX
Disclaimer: Violence at the end written around, lalalalalalalalala~!!!
CONTINUATION OF 38-5!
Ch. 38-5 Kodomo’s Provoke: The Lost and Found Bin cont.
Car-runitwau Star: Konohagakure Village Ah this is only for Sora though, and this the Winged Group's Part ._.
“You better look out below!” – Wake Up, Arcade Fire
It was a warm sunny day in Tokeio Town when we “died.”
Nefero looked upon our ruined bodies, not with a smile or a frown; just looked.
“You know the Castle…..can preserve bodies pretty well….”
And ever since then, our Ghosts were caught in-between life and death. Unwilling to crossover with Reaper’s aid and unable to leave the home we’ve come to love so much, we wandered aloft; a part of everything and nothing.
I kind of remember our acknowledgement of existing being like, everything not being so big a deal. I knew of everything and it was okay, and then I’d suddenly pang to live again while in the same thought forget what living was.
When you’re ‘dead’ time isn’t such a big deal – that much was constant. Names didn’t matter, places, faces, distance, nothing did, because it was, just all okay; we could be anywhere we wanted though there was no reason to travel except only for the sake of moving, just moving.
We weren’t of any substance but a lost thread of life, a living emptiness. Sometimes memories from when we were ‘alive’ would toy with our state if we happened to pass by something that had known us when we were ‘alive’, the memories flowing around like a broken jigsaw puzzle. There was nothing coherent about us as individuals, yet our broken memories hinted towards our partnership from our past lives.
It was the only thing that kept us together as ghosts since we were in each other’s minds so frequently, but…with time…that bond was slipping away. My friendship with Dendjue, my love for Lorenia, it just didn’t matter anymore.
It’s like being in outer space, if you live out there too long, you begin to adjust to that state, and your body forgets the gravity it grew up with on earth.
Aimless wandering, panging for something that couldn’t be obtained; a dull pain with no logic or reason.
We were forgetting our gravity, our memories, everything about being alive because it was all okay; the state of purgatory was rotting us into mindless ghouls.
I can understand that feeling of powerlessness dripping from Reaper’s sullen form now, regret, that big scary Grim Reaper from our childhood lore was feeling regret he couldn’t help us.
About the only emotion we knew now was misery; endless, endless misery.
Then one day, Tumble-Stop screamed, and thus began the Development of our Ghosts for the impending Key Brawl by mysterious allies against the Lady.
It felt wonderful, eh, despite the conditions it was performed under. We were a photograph no longer decaying and blurred but an exposure becoming clearer and clearer – and then lighting struck twice when we were told that we could be revived, only, our bodies were being preserved by the Lady.
That was a bit of a problem.
However our allies were more than willing of retrieving them, and put their lives on the line to head straight into the hell that was Hollow Castle, completing their mission, while receiving nothing short than a beating that would’ve killed anyone else.
It felt weird to be treated to such selflessness.
Sephiroth told Lorenia and I that the reason we were getting called back was because of a shortage of Masters, that our services are greatly needed, and to me, that sounds like sugar coated crap Seritouge would spout out.
Despite that, as a Master, I don’t dare doubt his words….but as a person I suspect there to be more to it...I feel somewhat trapped to be obligated to trust the Winged Group with their ties to Reaper and, heh, my dear friend Dendjue….
As much as it pains me to think it, there has to be more to them than a simple alliance…and I will never let anyone get away with betraying us, ever again.
In-betwixt and Between
Sssssssssshhhhhhhhhkkkkkkkkk, shhhhhk, shh, shhhhhhhhk, skee-skeen~
Reaper lifted up his ebony scythe from drawing beneath the purple life sustaining fire ringed around the Anime Master’s bodies, leaning it against his head in contemplation; the embers that had latched onto the scythe slowly fading out.
He studied the circular symbol coated pattern all the while reciting to himself quietly the intricate details and scriptures that were needed to open the Door to the Other Side, in case he had forgotten to draw any.
It’s not every day such a ritual could be performed, much less with his own involvement.
“Pfft,” he expelled a flustered sigh, *Everything involving Astral Order requires nothing short of pulling teeth and breaking kneecaps.*
Enma tilted her ears back mirroring Reaper’s mental confession.
*This is going waaaaaay against your Design huh?* said Ragiel slowly, eyeing the breathing bodies of himself, his Love, and his best friend, *The Shepherd of Death helping to bring people back to life?*
“I look at it this way,” Reaper replied, scratching the back of his head with the same hand that held his scythe, “Can’t be any worse than what the Riders have been doing.”
Ragiel pursed his lips, *Having second thoughts?*
Reaper lightly chuckled. “I was joking dear Master~.”
*Hardy har har har.*
Reaper twirled his scythe landing the point-flat end perfectly even with the white floor, “I have my made my decision concerning everything I am able to do in order to help in this crisis. My loyalty resides with the Keyblade Masters, and of course the Spirit Children of Death. I am quite thankful they are on your side.”
*I know right?* breathed Ragiel with a smile even though he carried no breath, *I mean, it’s good to know that there are some Spirits on our side.*
“Spirit Children, there is a difference.”
*Oh! – Not even a full Spirit!* Ragiel tossed.
“Full Spirit?”
*Nevermind.*
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” piped Avera, coming out of his meditation for Developing their Ghosts.
*I was kidding too,* said Ragiel, *I mean….I don’t even know where to start in thanking you guys.*
Avera shifted his sitting pose into a standing one (keeping his eyes closed), bowing his head towards the bodies in preparation for the next Development dose, “There’s no need to thank us Ragiel, we’re just doing our part to help~”
*Hm,* Ragiel clasped his transparent hands. *You’re like, combing out what we were entitled to as Ghosts right? When Developing us? You’re imprinting back into our Ghosts what it’s like to be alive?*
“Something like that, yes. Mh, overriding what my dear step brother developed in you is taking a little bit longer than I thought, not to worry, I can still straighten it out~”
*What did he do?*
“He developed your Ghosts in a more, dry sense, not detailing too much on the more, oh how to put this……(*Sigh*) I dare say he isn’t educated well enough on theeeeeeeeeeee”–
Something hit the inside of the door of the room Sephiroth had retreated to tend to his wounds.
“Not that you haven’t come a long way~!” piped Avera, raising his voice to imitate Izzy’s and being met with an audible curse directed at the state of his own heart. The foul mood the eldest was in stemming from nothing Avera wasn’t familiar with; the younger sibling’s smile broadening, threatening a chuckle at the edge of his mouth –
*And you are well educated on said private matter?* tugged Ragiel, regretting the question as soon as it left his mouth since he didn’t have a clue on what the private matter was –
“Why yes,” Avera answered regardless, “Being raised by as great a Sovereign-level scientist that Isabella was, she shared with my twin and I some of life’s most undervalued secrets.”
Ragiel, Reaper, and Enma heard a snort from behind Sephiroth’s door.
“And in being a Fabrication, Isabella wanted to make sure that my brother and I knew everything that there was to know about what went into constructing a living organism, both the natural and supposedly unnatural way; what our origins were. She also spent a great deal of time and care when constructing our auras as well in giving us the ability to channel and decipher the Lifestream itself which is why I am best suited in Developing your Ghosts. Isabella made sure my brother and I would feel all that the Natures had to offer.”
The length at which Avera went into detailing and hiding the answer spoke subtly to put a cap on the issue. Reaper motioned for Ragiel to not pursue the conversation further, but Ragiel was already hooked on the conversation lead. Isetzue and Lorenia were absent for the rituals of the continuation of containment magic within Lorenia for the Dark Atone disease (and to also inform Dendjue and Riku of things transpired), so only Avera could give the answers he sought with the tease of the rest of his earthly set of memories coming back to him bit by bit, piece by piece.
He wanted to expand his knowledge further concerning the connections between Isabella and the Winged Group anyway, ever since Avera muttered her name when coming back to world of the living from the hell that was Hollow Castle. Perhaps it would further explain Dendjue’s involvement with Isetzue, the ring of this hidden alliance…..
*You know Dendjue?!*
“Ah, yeah~ I do,” replied Isetzue nonchalantly, “Hello, he helped create my life by nearly giving his” –
*WHAT?!*
“Come on Lorenia, let’s get going” –
*WAIT A SECOND–!*
Could the Winged Group’s hidden agenda be repayment for that? That wouldn’t be so bad, er, yet Dendjue almost DIED during said act! Ooooh Ragiel was going to strangle Dendjue! Hug him first, but then strangle him for putting himself in such a position (and burying poor Ragiel’s mentality with all these questions! GAH!).
Ugth – get back on track mind, focus, focus, keep it together – Ragiel pleaded to himself, his head suddenly swaying into feeling like a mouth with stuffed grapes that still wanted more, Avera, Avera, so, Avera has a twin….whom I have yet to see….*In being so gifted with the Lifestream, you must be able to hide pretty well then, you know, from someone that could use it to track beings?*
“Isabella crafted our gifts and explained them to us so we wouldn’t feel like, monsters. We were just as much alive and part of existence as the next person, and she meant it when she said the word ‘person’. Admittedly, I wouldn’t put it past Isabella to have planned out any details that would have given us, protection from such things.”
Aha….*Not many have the power to create a Fabrication on Astral Terms, so, who made you?*
“My twin brother Annelle and I were top secret projects commissioned by the Sovereign Royalties to deal with a problem that would contribute to the one known as the Lady of Red; we were to have been kept secret even from the Spirits,” Avera’s words were spoken as if he was injecting poison, Ragiel’s eyes narrowing at the revelation, (Enma tightened up solid as a rock) but then Avera suddenly added brightly, “But alas we were a failure. ‘How do you correct a God’s mistake if you yourself are but a creation of the God?’ Isabella would say that a lot.”
“Depends on what the concept of ‘God’ is,” said Reaper intervening, “People need a reason for what they don’t understand be it for something as fickle as the need for justification.”
One who knows nothing, can understand nothing.
But that did squat to quell Ragiel with this information – So the Spirits did have a hand with that **** and used us – Ragiel threw out the bait – *Just come out and say it, you know where this ***** came from, don’t you? You and Reaper – Isabella got caught up in it, and then you – and then Dendjue and then* –
Halloween ‘09
“*It is no secret,*” Deity North responded quickly, “*…..Everyone who will be ensnared to the future will learn in time….*”
“Enough,” said Reaper gently raising his hand, “I know what it is you seek Master Ragiel, but I must beg for your patience in this matter” – and he said too much –
CH 33-4
Those few that know the Lady’s truthful Origins refuse to spread its publication, for it is a matter believed that can lead to the cracking of this plain down its spine; and produce an Astral Shift. And why would I aid to that in the first place? – Reaper
*So you do know,* Ragiel growled –
Avera cut in before Ragiel’s temper, “Friend, your anger is misplaced at us, you are responding to the Development, of the memories stirring within you” – *the grievance that has torn the lives of yourself and your friends apart* –
*And I’ll be damned if there’s gonna be a repeat performance of what happened to us! Just because we were – ARE – Keyblade Masters isn’t gonna cut it anymore!*
“And what if that’s the only explanation given?” queried Avera solemnly–
*Bull****! – Nothing is that simple with all this crap! Seritouge, wanted something from us, the Lady wanted something from us, and now you guys* – Ragiel grasped his head – *I should know it but I don’t* -
“I can only go so fast in Developing” –
“Please calm down Master Ragiel,” said Reaper, Enma twisting her head into a submissive stance showing Reaper’s true emotion – he wanted to yield but – “Let the memories come back at their own pace, the Seraph is doing all he can” –
Ragiel’s memories flipped like a roll-a-dex landing on:
[Edward looked off to the sunset almost totally hidden by Tokieo Town’s faded cityscape. The group was relaxing on a grassy hill with a single tree that overlooked the entire town……. “We know Seritouge has been looking to harness the power of Yahena,” he said, “But then all of a sudden, he’s also looking for something else through Keyblade Masters directly, or is his search to harness Yahena’s Gate, just a cover for Euphoria and Aurocile’s piece of mind?”]
*We didn’t have the whole picture! To be sacrificed as just ingredients, for experimental slaughter?! Because of what we were, what we were capable of becoming – there has to be more to it – to undermine life as such from a ****ing SPIRIT?! He’d have to have been so desperate to cover something up –*
*To wipe a bloodline out* - “Seritouge will pay for his crimes against existence,” said Reaper echoing all too well others with steeds –
[“Well with the way he so, masterfully manipulated these situations around other Masters and us,” said Dendjue sitting down on the stool Lorenia used to be on (Ragiel leaned himself and Lorenia over to rest on a leg), “I’d say his search for Yahena’s Gate is a cluster**** of a cover. Heh, that’s kinda creepy actually, he’s almost going a little eccentric in his, experimenting and scheming – just like the Lady,” Dendjue shook off the nerve twitching in his spine, “We seriously don’t need that so close to home,” he finished sarcastically. ]
Enough with this beating around the bush!
[There is no hiding,” said Dendjue peeling off his play talk, “Not for us.*]
The overlap of Ragiel’s transparent head and hands almost gave a solid impression, Dendjue, not you too, not you too….*Please, PLEASE! Give me some answers!*
“You’re being Developed,” said Reaper, a secret waver in his voice for feeling Avera’s temper rise with Radiel’s, “This…”…..Oh all of Nature would never forgive him, “Is something you want to remember in its entirety in being alive, and not like a haze as a Ghost once revived.” Reaper knew he was lying, partially at least, if he told Ragiel the truth now, he’d have turned into a ghoul on the spot from grief….Lorenia would have to be in company as well, and Dendjue, they needed to be present all together…..
*I know that tone,* Ragiel growled.
“And you’ll do well to heed to it,” Avera snapped sending a submissive shock to Ragiel dropping the Ghost to his knees –
“Seraph!” Reaper gasped – Enma reared sharing in the shock of the sudden outburst of bottled pain and misery that had slipped from the container under a Seraph guise –
“Show some restraint, some moral compass that as a Master you are well informed of,” he spat.
The eldest sibling listening to the commotion debated swiftly if this would require his intervention or if it was just what both troubled Masters needed; the way it mirrored Avera’s own past was enough cause for his intervention with how it tormented his younger sibling’s heart yet–
Ch38-4
“You intend to keep the Seraph cooped up here then?”
“That’s impossible. I aim to awaken him from his needless doting.”
Reaper stayed silent for a moment.
“…..Your reach is wide, Sephiroth, but it is futile. Isn’t he capable of exacting revenge on his own?”
“He’s not the one I’m worried about.”
“That’s, true……”
“You’ll have all the time you need to decipher your second chance,” said Avera opening his eyes into Ragiel’s, Avera’s blue-yellow-green hazel piercing as a ray of light into the iris of Ragiel’s blue with that tinge of green, “As much as I myself would love to treat you to the holes that cloud your memory, I cannot do so until I have fully Developed your Ghost, so that with the whole of your memories, you can come to a fitting conclusion on how to pursue the future ahead.”
Reaper’s mind raced on how to quell the sour stroke, whilst Ragiel was never one to back down from a fight especially one provoked on him! *Keh, we’re just digging up all kinds of skeletons today huh?* Ragiel gathered himself up, *Even for someone as dumb as I am, it doesn’t take a genius to know that you’ve been wronged just as bad as we were, mister goody two-shoes preachin’ on how to deal with the past, so, Seraph, Fabrication, experiment of the Sovereigns* –
Sephiroth hauled himself out of bed, but curse it his wounds wouldn’t allow him to take a another step –
*Where is your brother?* Ragiel finished, standing up eye to eye with the Seraph.
The tension of the Inbetwixt Realm became like a block of ice that would shatter at the faintest touch; Reaper and Enma ready to subdue the Seraph even though the thought of threatening him left the foulest taste in their mouths.
Avera raised his hand, and pointed to Sephiroth’s door, “Over there resting” –
*I mean Annelle!*
“What about Annelle?” came Isetzue’s voice with a coat of ice, she and Lorenia arrived out of the white and red portal, “Prying into other’s people’s business are you?”
Lorenia instantly shot a look at Ragiel that had him crumbling at her, *What are you doing?*
*Wha – I’m just trying to get some answers! It’s not like* - he turned back to Avera who had silent tears trailing down his cheeks.
*RAGIEL!*
*EEK! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!*
“You have a funny way of showing your thanks for all we’re doing,” Isetzue stabbed, “Not that we’re demanding payment or anything oh no~! We’re just doing what we can with the means we have, spilling our own flesh and blood for our common allies, no, our friends,” each word she spoke a kick and a jab to Ragiel’s ghostly gut – “Poor Dendjue! To undermine our help is like spitting on your friendship itself.”
And Ragiel could no longer support himself up, the memory alone of feeling like a low-stock piece of crap knocking every ounce of ‘strength’ out from him as he balled up in a defeated fetal pose. [*Oh the drama* Sephiroth huffed peeking out from his room] He dared look to his love if not only to be slapped, but Lorenia’s crossed arms spoke that Isetzue was in command of this reprimand, (and perhaps a hint that she had been explained to (by Isetzue) of the length of how the Winged Group’s involvement tied in with the Anime Masters) –
“I’ll fill you in since you so fail at controlling yourself unlike Lorenia or Dendjue,” said Isetzue crossing her arms as well –
*No,* intervened Lorenia, *Ragiel, this is your punishment for making Avera cry and for undermining the ties that bind.* Ragiel’s body gave a violent shock – *You will control yourself.*
*THE TIES THAT BIND?!* Oh god…Ragiel felt lower than he ever had in his life, what he wouldn’t give for his friend Dendjue to have been here this very moment to say that he forgave him for doubting the one thing that made existence all worthwhile through the darkest of times….The ties that bind was the most sacred of code for a Keyblade Master, and could only be implemented to two agreeing parties to have their destiny’s intertwined.
Dendjue helped in giving Isetzue life.
He even introduced Isetzue to them.
He told them, Dendjue told them from his lips that these people were their friends through the ties that bind…..If Dendjue trusted them…he who analyzed and planned and….
“Of course this could all be bull****~”
…….Unfortunately for Ragiel that memory had yet to fully come back to him, and had come back all too powerfully for Lorenia.
And Reaper certainly didn’t want to add in to the agitation that was already steaming up the place by leveling the field to take off some of the shame Ragiel suffered under by pointing out the fault in Lorenia’s accusation; this the Master would just have to deal with (and he seemed pretty conditioned to be able to do so, that was nice). He glanced back at Sephiroth who also held his peeking tongue recalling in absolute disgust to have had to submit to the ties.
The One-Winged Angel remembered his justification being that the Anime Masters were only a tool to get closer to the Lady, and how he had failed to do anything of the sort when the opportunity presented itself, to respect the ties, or even the lie to himself. And he had lied again in regards to his sister when the Masters were taken on that day for why his assistance was absent. No doubt Isetzue would relay the lie to the Masters once fully developed and seeking further answers to questions, at least on Ragiel’s end, that was for damn sure. He closed his door before Isetzue had a chance to discover him out of bed. *What’s done is done.*
“As you wish,” bowed Izetsue in agreement of Lorenia’s punishment, going over to Avera’s side to soothe his aching heart.
*Lorenia, please Love, forgive me,* Ragiel bleated crawling over to her.
*Of course, I forgive you, but I’m still angry as hell at you.*
“Ney Ragiel,” came Avera’s voice as Isetzue wrapped him in a hug, Ragiel peeked an eye out filled with shame, “When, (*sniff*), you get all your memories back, when, you’re revived, you want, to cry together?”
Ragiel would have been knocked out by said statement had he not seen Avera’s little smirk –
*WHY YOU–!*
*LORENIA CHOP!* and down Ragiel went; true ghosts don’t sleep but Ragiel’s being had been developed enough to know what happens after receiving a pounding.
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Reaper expelled a deep forlorn sigh adjusting the symbols around the Anime Master’s bodies, studying the patter again.
*Ooh, the Lifestream doesn’t like to be meddled with.* “Please forgive me O Aevum, I but plead to you as a humble receiver of your flow,” he spoke the word quietly enough to not evoke any curiosity from his companions who need not dwell on his own misery.
His study slipped to their bodies, hands clasped and placed over their stomachs, eyes closed, legs together; mimicking the position of being within coffins.
Enma snorted.
How easily they all could have been mistaken to be asleep if placed elsewhere but in the middle of a ring of purple inscription fire; the empty bodies still breathing, their hearts still pumping, quite frankly all their bio-frequencies were merely on standby as a computer would be.
*On standby….*
Enma’s ears went back mirroring Reaper’s guilt ridden thought as his conscience refused him to look away from the bodies before him.
The scent of the flames were identical to the scent of the flower Celsia Cretica, flowers that some knew as tradition to decorate the gravesites of Keyblade Masters; he was schooled on the scent well.
Reaper inhaled deeply their fragrance, sighing on the exhale, “How much…could I have prevented, if I had just acted sooner?”
Ch33-4
*’As the Reaper, it is not my position to interfere with such matters – only those that concern my Design, and catching her runaway soul is what I have been trying to do since the day she was born.*’
Enma stomped her right hoof flat in reply to Reaper’s question in judgment – ‘or how much more would lay waste?’ – Reaper picking up on her tut-tutting vibes.
True. Even if Reaper had chosen to be an even more active force than he was in the past, it was not wise of him to dwell into the ramification of the Natures as the ‘pure’ Design he was, at least not until he had well expanded his Foundation to encroach into protection other than, well reaping, to better protect his mentality. The Shepherd of Death (or Souls) is among the most powerful Designs Older Sister had ever created, if not the strongest, and so falling victim to the insanity that can befall a Design should they step outside of their boundaries, was a risk so very dangerous to take. As a ‘living’ Design, the Natures could have their way with his better judgment….
“If we do run astray, let it be for the right reasons.”
Which was more than he could say for his fellow Designs of Death, The Riders of the End of the World :/
The temptation began when he learned of his Spirit’s untimely call to her Coming’s End, and he knew in his heart of hearts that the young blasphemy of creation, the Lady, was responsible, she who had for all too long managed to escape the swing of his scythe.
Out of rage and revenge for not capturing her runaway soul sooner, Reaper pursued the Lady with a relentless onslaught to kill her – hunting the child ruthlessly when her dreams siphoned her possession of the Chrost-Weik – Enma’s only means to track her and further verification of her danger to existence – how could such an entity have come into existence?! All his fervor for naught since she had stepped upon the hallowed grounds of Hollow Castle; a place his Design could never approach (much less find) being the direct antithesis of it. The Laws would not allow it.
From these actions, the Shepherded of Death shelved the blame for inspiring the Riders to take up their arms in what would prove to be a futile attempt at protecting existence.
For together, they would right all the wrongs and claim the soul that had taken their Spirit from them!
Oh. How. That. Backfired.
Their ability to reason was mauled in an instant by the Chrost-Weik – Reaper quickly realizing with their corruption that he too was doomed to a similar path if he didn’t control his passion, restructure his Foundation – but no, no, the damage was done….The Riders were under the spell of the Chrost-Weik, and it was his fault! How he had shamed his Spirit!
Reaper retreated to the strict confines of his Design, swearing to obey the path his Spirit had left for him, swearing to never disgrace Death again, for added to his burden of subtly hunting the Lady, was shepherding the poor souls the Riders claimed.
For the longest time he stayed true to the persona of his Design.
That is until he tried the hands of fate once again by his involvement with the Ghosts of Keyblade Masters.
He had long dealt with the departure of many Masters before, just as any other living being that had met its end, but this time, in these current tides, it was different.
It was all her fault. She was behind it, there was enough blood from her hands he was cleaning up along now with her subordinates and the Riders…..He was but to shepherded souls, hunt her and shepherded souls….
So much grief, so much sadness and heartache from these crying Ghosts! The death rates were skyrocketing enough as it was and Keyblade Masters were dying at an exponential rate, none like the stars had ever witnessed before, and yet amongst all the chaos in the world of the living, he kept faithful to his Design, he would not become like his brethren, he would not become like his brethren, he would not become like his brethren….
It is his Design to guide souls to cross the Other Side – he had the power to force them to go – he had every right to do so….didn’t he? It was his Design, it was for their own good, and yet they still turned into ghouls; how many he had failed! Could he not even manage his own Design anymore?! Then what was his purpose?!
He smashed his turmoil under a lucidly placid guise, what more could he do, but his Design? He had already fueled this calamity enough as it was. And when his Spirit awoke again, he would have his punishment.
He let the Keyblade Master’s Ghosts stay if they wanted to, he would even check up on them, even though the notion was useless.
His involvement with the Masters helped him regain his better sense of self, guiding their Ghosts if he could, destroying the ghouls, doing what his Design said to do, and, what his heart bled to do.
Over time, his passion against the Lady reared compassion for the Masters. Reaper learned of Avera through his twin, and then of the Anime Masters by learning of their connection to the Lady, his heart going out to them to be tied to such a monster…..He let his curiosity bubble, and then learned of the full extent of the involvement of the Spirits….with the Lady.
On a warm sunny day, enough was enough. Everything of his Reason be damned! “The Lady is a catalyst of change… and so shall I be.”
Reaper set in motion the expanding of his Foundation, carefully and steadily, and though still abiding the persona of his Design, he put his heart into it as well, for honestly, why would he have such a thing?
“’We are not experimental slaughter! We must not suffer the same fate as our Masters, nor have our soon to be ‘new’ Masters culled. We are every bit as capable of defending our worlds as our very own Masters, otherwise, why would we be given Astral Abilities as a Natural Effect upon leaving our worlds? We, as the inhabitants, the inheritors of each heartbeat of our dear system, have as much responsibility to defend it.’”
As soon as Reaper finished expanding his Foundation, he was called to gather Lorenia’s Ghost, first.
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“AT ARMS!”
It was Sephiroth who yelled the command, bursting out his room, Masamune in hand – Isetzue, Avera, and Reaper all taking up their weapons and fighting stance at the ready to the wrinkle in the Inbetwixt Realm they all felt within a second of one another – Reaper driving Enma to stand over the Anime Master’s bodies – the Winged Group covering Ragiel and Lorena as the Riders of the End of the World breached their Inbetwixt Realm, the wrinkle exploding into their portals, revealing their newly refurbished selves dipped in pure Chrost-Weik madness.
******! Sephiroth cursed to himself, *How did they get through!? Even if dipped in the Chrost-Weik*–
From behind the Winged Group and Reaper, the realm was breached once again by the Deities, all dipped in a red, red light.
“You must be absolutely flabbergasted,” smiled the Black Rider, “The precursors of magic thought they could over-take us, to, heh heh, ease the burden of the Masters, but, once we convinced them of our ways, oh, they fell right in line~”
*Oh ****.*
“Now, we are not here for a fight. We are here for the blonde haired Master’s corpse, Master Lorenia, for within her body is the remnants of a baby our Lady squished, but those remnants are very important, it was Fabricated by Seritouge” –
“The baby was cleaned out!” yelled Isetzue, “When I healed their bodies, I fixed Lorenia. I destroyed whatever was left of that thing.”
Casting more containment magic within Lorenia wasn’t the only thing Isetzue did…Informing Lorenia of the grim discovery was something she felt the Master was entitled to.....Ragiel looked to his Love in utter horror, Lorenia looking back at him with an angered resolve, though her eyes glistened of pain.
Oh Isetzue could lie of her own to have healed thier bodies in complete privacy....There had to have been an under reason that the Lady didn't turn their bodies into Star Dust.....She didn't have to keep them in Hollow Castle......
The grips on the defending team's weapons tightened.
"These Masters will never be touched again," Reaper growled in a chilling voice that sent chills down his company's spines -
“Well then,” said the Black Rider raising his glowing red sword, “We’ve got a problem.”
SORA'S PART IS NEXT!!
Especially when it expands into the monster it has become around, oh, I think ch 20 was it?
And even though I try to stay true to character points I think I fall off the wagon XD Grr, I aim to entertain, I try... ^^;
CHEESE AND CRACKERS THIS WAS A ***** TO EDIT!!! DX
Disclaimer: Violence at the end written around, lalalalalalalalala~!!!
CONTINUATION OF 38-5!
Ch. 38-5 Kodomo’s Provoke: The Lost and Found Bin cont.
Car-runitwau Star: Konohagakure Village Ah this is only for Sora though, and this the Winged Group's Part ._.
“You better look out below!” – Wake Up, Arcade Fire
It was a warm sunny day in Tokeio Town when we “died.”
Nefero looked upon our ruined bodies, not with a smile or a frown; just looked.
“You know the Castle…..can preserve bodies pretty well….”
And ever since then, our Ghosts were caught in-between life and death. Unwilling to crossover with Reaper’s aid and unable to leave the home we’ve come to love so much, we wandered aloft; a part of everything and nothing.
I kind of remember our acknowledgement of existing being like, everything not being so big a deal. I knew of everything and it was okay, and then I’d suddenly pang to live again while in the same thought forget what living was.
When you’re ‘dead’ time isn’t such a big deal – that much was constant. Names didn’t matter, places, faces, distance, nothing did, because it was, just all okay; we could be anywhere we wanted though there was no reason to travel except only for the sake of moving, just moving.
We weren’t of any substance but a lost thread of life, a living emptiness. Sometimes memories from when we were ‘alive’ would toy with our state if we happened to pass by something that had known us when we were ‘alive’, the memories flowing around like a broken jigsaw puzzle. There was nothing coherent about us as individuals, yet our broken memories hinted towards our partnership from our past lives.
It was the only thing that kept us together as ghosts since we were in each other’s minds so frequently, but…with time…that bond was slipping away. My friendship with Dendjue, my love for Lorenia, it just didn’t matter anymore.
It’s like being in outer space, if you live out there too long, you begin to adjust to that state, and your body forgets the gravity it grew up with on earth.
Aimless wandering, panging for something that couldn’t be obtained; a dull pain with no logic or reason.
We were forgetting our gravity, our memories, everything about being alive because it was all okay; the state of purgatory was rotting us into mindless ghouls.
I can understand that feeling of powerlessness dripping from Reaper’s sullen form now, regret, that big scary Grim Reaper from our childhood lore was feeling regret he couldn’t help us.
About the only emotion we knew now was misery; endless, endless misery.
Then one day, Tumble-Stop screamed, and thus began the Development of our Ghosts for the impending Key Brawl by mysterious allies against the Lady.
It felt wonderful, eh, despite the conditions it was performed under. We were a photograph no longer decaying and blurred but an exposure becoming clearer and clearer – and then lighting struck twice when we were told that we could be revived, only, our bodies were being preserved by the Lady.
That was a bit of a problem.
However our allies were more than willing of retrieving them, and put their lives on the line to head straight into the hell that was Hollow Castle, completing their mission, while receiving nothing short than a beating that would’ve killed anyone else.
It felt weird to be treated to such selflessness.
Sephiroth told Lorenia and I that the reason we were getting called back was because of a shortage of Masters, that our services are greatly needed, and to me, that sounds like sugar coated crap Seritouge would spout out.
Despite that, as a Master, I don’t dare doubt his words….but as a person I suspect there to be more to it...I feel somewhat trapped to be obligated to trust the Winged Group with their ties to Reaper and, heh, my dear friend Dendjue….
As much as it pains me to think it, there has to be more to them than a simple alliance…and I will never let anyone get away with betraying us, ever again.
In-betwixt and Between
Sssssssssshhhhhhhhhkkkkkkkkk, shhhhhk, shh, shhhhhhhhk, skee-skeen~
Reaper lifted up his ebony scythe from drawing beneath the purple life sustaining fire ringed around the Anime Master’s bodies, leaning it against his head in contemplation; the embers that had latched onto the scythe slowly fading out.
He studied the circular symbol coated pattern all the while reciting to himself quietly the intricate details and scriptures that were needed to open the Door to the Other Side, in case he had forgotten to draw any.
It’s not every day such a ritual could be performed, much less with his own involvement.
“Pfft,” he expelled a flustered sigh, *Everything involving Astral Order requires nothing short of pulling teeth and breaking kneecaps.*
Enma tilted her ears back mirroring Reaper’s mental confession.
*This is going waaaaaay against your Design huh?* said Ragiel slowly, eyeing the breathing bodies of himself, his Love, and his best friend, *The Shepherd of Death helping to bring people back to life?*
“I look at it this way,” Reaper replied, scratching the back of his head with the same hand that held his scythe, “Can’t be any worse than what the Riders have been doing.”
Ragiel pursed his lips, *Having second thoughts?*
Reaper lightly chuckled. “I was joking dear Master~.”
*Hardy har har har.*
Reaper twirled his scythe landing the point-flat end perfectly even with the white floor, “I have my made my decision concerning everything I am able to do in order to help in this crisis. My loyalty resides with the Keyblade Masters, and of course the Spirit Children of Death. I am quite thankful they are on your side.”
*I know right?* breathed Ragiel with a smile even though he carried no breath, *I mean, it’s good to know that there are some Spirits on our side.*
“Spirit Children, there is a difference.”
*Oh! – Not even a full Spirit!* Ragiel tossed.
“Full Spirit?”
*Nevermind.*
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” piped Avera, coming out of his meditation for Developing their Ghosts.
*I was kidding too,* said Ragiel, *I mean….I don’t even know where to start in thanking you guys.*
Avera shifted his sitting pose into a standing one (keeping his eyes closed), bowing his head towards the bodies in preparation for the next Development dose, “There’s no need to thank us Ragiel, we’re just doing our part to help~”
*Hm,* Ragiel clasped his transparent hands. *You’re like, combing out what we were entitled to as Ghosts right? When Developing us? You’re imprinting back into our Ghosts what it’s like to be alive?*
“Something like that, yes. Mh, overriding what my dear step brother developed in you is taking a little bit longer than I thought, not to worry, I can still straighten it out~”
*What did he do?*
“He developed your Ghosts in a more, dry sense, not detailing too much on the more, oh how to put this……(*Sigh*) I dare say he isn’t educated well enough on theeeeeeeeeeee”–
Something hit the inside of the door of the room Sephiroth had retreated to tend to his wounds.
“Not that you haven’t come a long way~!” piped Avera, raising his voice to imitate Izzy’s and being met with an audible curse directed at the state of his own heart. The foul mood the eldest was in stemming from nothing Avera wasn’t familiar with; the younger sibling’s smile broadening, threatening a chuckle at the edge of his mouth –
*And you are well educated on said private matter?* tugged Ragiel, regretting the question as soon as it left his mouth since he didn’t have a clue on what the private matter was –
“Why yes,” Avera answered regardless, “Being raised by as great a Sovereign-level scientist that Isabella was, she shared with my twin and I some of life’s most undervalued secrets.”
Ragiel, Reaper, and Enma heard a snort from behind Sephiroth’s door.
“And in being a Fabrication, Isabella wanted to make sure that my brother and I knew everything that there was to know about what went into constructing a living organism, both the natural and supposedly unnatural way; what our origins were. She also spent a great deal of time and care when constructing our auras as well in giving us the ability to channel and decipher the Lifestream itself which is why I am best suited in Developing your Ghosts. Isabella made sure my brother and I would feel all that the Natures had to offer.”
The length at which Avera went into detailing and hiding the answer spoke subtly to put a cap on the issue. Reaper motioned for Ragiel to not pursue the conversation further, but Ragiel was already hooked on the conversation lead. Isetzue and Lorenia were absent for the rituals of the continuation of containment magic within Lorenia for the Dark Atone disease (and to also inform Dendjue and Riku of things transpired), so only Avera could give the answers he sought with the tease of the rest of his earthly set of memories coming back to him bit by bit, piece by piece.
He wanted to expand his knowledge further concerning the connections between Isabella and the Winged Group anyway, ever since Avera muttered her name when coming back to world of the living from the hell that was Hollow Castle. Perhaps it would further explain Dendjue’s involvement with Isetzue, the ring of this hidden alliance…..
*You know Dendjue?!*
“Ah, yeah~ I do,” replied Isetzue nonchalantly, “Hello, he helped create my life by nearly giving his” –
*WHAT?!*
“Come on Lorenia, let’s get going” –
*WAIT A SECOND–!*
Could the Winged Group’s hidden agenda be repayment for that? That wouldn’t be so bad, er, yet Dendjue almost DIED during said act! Ooooh Ragiel was going to strangle Dendjue! Hug him first, but then strangle him for putting himself in such a position (and burying poor Ragiel’s mentality with all these questions! GAH!).
Ugth – get back on track mind, focus, focus, keep it together – Ragiel pleaded to himself, his head suddenly swaying into feeling like a mouth with stuffed grapes that still wanted more, Avera, Avera, so, Avera has a twin….whom I have yet to see….*In being so gifted with the Lifestream, you must be able to hide pretty well then, you know, from someone that could use it to track beings?*
“Isabella crafted our gifts and explained them to us so we wouldn’t feel like, monsters. We were just as much alive and part of existence as the next person, and she meant it when she said the word ‘person’. Admittedly, I wouldn’t put it past Isabella to have planned out any details that would have given us, protection from such things.”
Aha….*Not many have the power to create a Fabrication on Astral Terms, so, who made you?*
“My twin brother Annelle and I were top secret projects commissioned by the Sovereign Royalties to deal with a problem that would contribute to the one known as the Lady of Red; we were to have been kept secret even from the Spirits,” Avera’s words were spoken as if he was injecting poison, Ragiel’s eyes narrowing at the revelation, (Enma tightened up solid as a rock) but then Avera suddenly added brightly, “But alas we were a failure. ‘How do you correct a God’s mistake if you yourself are but a creation of the God?’ Isabella would say that a lot.”
“Depends on what the concept of ‘God’ is,” said Reaper intervening, “People need a reason for what they don’t understand be it for something as fickle as the need for justification.”
One who knows nothing, can understand nothing.
But that did squat to quell Ragiel with this information – So the Spirits did have a hand with that **** and used us – Ragiel threw out the bait – *Just come out and say it, you know where this ***** came from, don’t you? You and Reaper – Isabella got caught up in it, and then you – and then Dendjue and then* –
Halloween ‘09
“*It is no secret,*” Deity North responded quickly, “*…..Everyone who will be ensnared to the future will learn in time….*”
“Enough,” said Reaper gently raising his hand, “I know what it is you seek Master Ragiel, but I must beg for your patience in this matter” – and he said too much –
CH 33-4
Those few that know the Lady’s truthful Origins refuse to spread its publication, for it is a matter believed that can lead to the cracking of this plain down its spine; and produce an Astral Shift. And why would I aid to that in the first place? – Reaper
*So you do know,* Ragiel growled –
Avera cut in before Ragiel’s temper, “Friend, your anger is misplaced at us, you are responding to the Development, of the memories stirring within you” – *the grievance that has torn the lives of yourself and your friends apart* –
*And I’ll be damned if there’s gonna be a repeat performance of what happened to us! Just because we were – ARE – Keyblade Masters isn’t gonna cut it anymore!*
“And what if that’s the only explanation given?” queried Avera solemnly–
*Bull****! – Nothing is that simple with all this crap! Seritouge, wanted something from us, the Lady wanted something from us, and now you guys* – Ragiel grasped his head – *I should know it but I don’t* -
“I can only go so fast in Developing” –
“Please calm down Master Ragiel,” said Reaper, Enma twisting her head into a submissive stance showing Reaper’s true emotion – he wanted to yield but – “Let the memories come back at their own pace, the Seraph is doing all he can” –
Ragiel’s memories flipped like a roll-a-dex landing on:
[Edward looked off to the sunset almost totally hidden by Tokieo Town’s faded cityscape. The group was relaxing on a grassy hill with a single tree that overlooked the entire town……. “We know Seritouge has been looking to harness the power of Yahena,” he said, “But then all of a sudden, he’s also looking for something else through Keyblade Masters directly, or is his search to harness Yahena’s Gate, just a cover for Euphoria and Aurocile’s piece of mind?”]
*We didn’t have the whole picture! To be sacrificed as just ingredients, for experimental slaughter?! Because of what we were, what we were capable of becoming – there has to be more to it – to undermine life as such from a ****ing SPIRIT?! He’d have to have been so desperate to cover something up –*
*To wipe a bloodline out* - “Seritouge will pay for his crimes against existence,” said Reaper echoing all too well others with steeds –
[“Well with the way he so, masterfully manipulated these situations around other Masters and us,” said Dendjue sitting down on the stool Lorenia used to be on (Ragiel leaned himself and Lorenia over to rest on a leg), “I’d say his search for Yahena’s Gate is a cluster**** of a cover. Heh, that’s kinda creepy actually, he’s almost going a little eccentric in his, experimenting and scheming – just like the Lady,” Dendjue shook off the nerve twitching in his spine, “We seriously don’t need that so close to home,” he finished sarcastically. ]
Enough with this beating around the bush!
[There is no hiding,” said Dendjue peeling off his play talk, “Not for us.*]
The overlap of Ragiel’s transparent head and hands almost gave a solid impression, Dendjue, not you too, not you too….*Please, PLEASE! Give me some answers!*
“You’re being Developed,” said Reaper, a secret waver in his voice for feeling Avera’s temper rise with Radiel’s, “This…”…..Oh all of Nature would never forgive him, “Is something you want to remember in its entirety in being alive, and not like a haze as a Ghost once revived.” Reaper knew he was lying, partially at least, if he told Ragiel the truth now, he’d have turned into a ghoul on the spot from grief….Lorenia would have to be in company as well, and Dendjue, they needed to be present all together…..
*I know that tone,* Ragiel growled.
“And you’ll do well to heed to it,” Avera snapped sending a submissive shock to Ragiel dropping the Ghost to his knees –
“Seraph!” Reaper gasped – Enma reared sharing in the shock of the sudden outburst of bottled pain and misery that had slipped from the container under a Seraph guise –
“Show some restraint, some moral compass that as a Master you are well informed of,” he spat.
The eldest sibling listening to the commotion debated swiftly if this would require his intervention or if it was just what both troubled Masters needed; the way it mirrored Avera’s own past was enough cause for his intervention with how it tormented his younger sibling’s heart yet–
Ch38-4
“You intend to keep the Seraph cooped up here then?”
“That’s impossible. I aim to awaken him from his needless doting.”
Reaper stayed silent for a moment.
“…..Your reach is wide, Sephiroth, but it is futile. Isn’t he capable of exacting revenge on his own?”
“He’s not the one I’m worried about.”
“That’s, true……”
“You’ll have all the time you need to decipher your second chance,” said Avera opening his eyes into Ragiel’s, Avera’s blue-yellow-green hazel piercing as a ray of light into the iris of Ragiel’s blue with that tinge of green, “As much as I myself would love to treat you to the holes that cloud your memory, I cannot do so until I have fully Developed your Ghost, so that with the whole of your memories, you can come to a fitting conclusion on how to pursue the future ahead.”
Reaper’s mind raced on how to quell the sour stroke, whilst Ragiel was never one to back down from a fight especially one provoked on him! *Keh, we’re just digging up all kinds of skeletons today huh?* Ragiel gathered himself up, *Even for someone as dumb as I am, it doesn’t take a genius to know that you’ve been wronged just as bad as we were, mister goody two-shoes preachin’ on how to deal with the past, so, Seraph, Fabrication, experiment of the Sovereigns* –
Sephiroth hauled himself out of bed, but curse it his wounds wouldn’t allow him to take a another step –
*Where is your brother?* Ragiel finished, standing up eye to eye with the Seraph.
The tension of the Inbetwixt Realm became like a block of ice that would shatter at the faintest touch; Reaper and Enma ready to subdue the Seraph even though the thought of threatening him left the foulest taste in their mouths.
Avera raised his hand, and pointed to Sephiroth’s door, “Over there resting” –
*I mean Annelle!*
“What about Annelle?” came Isetzue’s voice with a coat of ice, she and Lorenia arrived out of the white and red portal, “Prying into other’s people’s business are you?”
Lorenia instantly shot a look at Ragiel that had him crumbling at her, *What are you doing?*
*Wha – I’m just trying to get some answers! It’s not like* - he turned back to Avera who had silent tears trailing down his cheeks.
*RAGIEL!*
*EEK! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!*
“You have a funny way of showing your thanks for all we’re doing,” Isetzue stabbed, “Not that we’re demanding payment or anything oh no~! We’re just doing what we can with the means we have, spilling our own flesh and blood for our common allies, no, our friends,” each word she spoke a kick and a jab to Ragiel’s ghostly gut – “Poor Dendjue! To undermine our help is like spitting on your friendship itself.”
And Ragiel could no longer support himself up, the memory alone of feeling like a low-stock piece of crap knocking every ounce of ‘strength’ out from him as he balled up in a defeated fetal pose. [*Oh the drama* Sephiroth huffed peeking out from his room] He dared look to his love if not only to be slapped, but Lorenia’s crossed arms spoke that Isetzue was in command of this reprimand, (and perhaps a hint that she had been explained to (by Isetzue) of the length of how the Winged Group’s involvement tied in with the Anime Masters) –
“I’ll fill you in since you so fail at controlling yourself unlike Lorenia or Dendjue,” said Isetzue crossing her arms as well –
*No,* intervened Lorenia, *Ragiel, this is your punishment for making Avera cry and for undermining the ties that bind.* Ragiel’s body gave a violent shock – *You will control yourself.*
*THE TIES THAT BIND?!* Oh god…Ragiel felt lower than he ever had in his life, what he wouldn’t give for his friend Dendjue to have been here this very moment to say that he forgave him for doubting the one thing that made existence all worthwhile through the darkest of times….The ties that bind was the most sacred of code for a Keyblade Master, and could only be implemented to two agreeing parties to have their destiny’s intertwined.
Dendjue helped in giving Isetzue life.
He even introduced Isetzue to them.
He told them, Dendjue told them from his lips that these people were their friends through the ties that bind…..If Dendjue trusted them…he who analyzed and planned and….
“Of course this could all be bull****~”
…….Unfortunately for Ragiel that memory had yet to fully come back to him, and had come back all too powerfully for Lorenia.
And Reaper certainly didn’t want to add in to the agitation that was already steaming up the place by leveling the field to take off some of the shame Ragiel suffered under by pointing out the fault in Lorenia’s accusation; this the Master would just have to deal with (and he seemed pretty conditioned to be able to do so, that was nice). He glanced back at Sephiroth who also held his peeking tongue recalling in absolute disgust to have had to submit to the ties.
The One-Winged Angel remembered his justification being that the Anime Masters were only a tool to get closer to the Lady, and how he had failed to do anything of the sort when the opportunity presented itself, to respect the ties, or even the lie to himself. And he had lied again in regards to his sister when the Masters were taken on that day for why his assistance was absent. No doubt Isetzue would relay the lie to the Masters once fully developed and seeking further answers to questions, at least on Ragiel’s end, that was for damn sure. He closed his door before Isetzue had a chance to discover him out of bed. *What’s done is done.*
“As you wish,” bowed Izetsue in agreement of Lorenia’s punishment, going over to Avera’s side to soothe his aching heart.
*Lorenia, please Love, forgive me,* Ragiel bleated crawling over to her.
*Of course, I forgive you, but I’m still angry as hell at you.*
“Ney Ragiel,” came Avera’s voice as Isetzue wrapped him in a hug, Ragiel peeked an eye out filled with shame, “When, (*sniff*), you get all your memories back, when, you’re revived, you want, to cry together?”
Ragiel would have been knocked out by said statement had he not seen Avera’s little smirk –
*WHY YOU–!*
*LORENIA CHOP!* and down Ragiel went; true ghosts don’t sleep but Ragiel’s being had been developed enough to know what happens after receiving a pounding.
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.
Reaper expelled a deep forlorn sigh adjusting the symbols around the Anime Master’s bodies, studying the patter again.
*Ooh, the Lifestream doesn’t like to be meddled with.* “Please forgive me O Aevum, I but plead to you as a humble receiver of your flow,” he spoke the word quietly enough to not evoke any curiosity from his companions who need not dwell on his own misery.
His study slipped to their bodies, hands clasped and placed over their stomachs, eyes closed, legs together; mimicking the position of being within coffins.
Enma snorted.
How easily they all could have been mistaken to be asleep if placed elsewhere but in the middle of a ring of purple inscription fire; the empty bodies still breathing, their hearts still pumping, quite frankly all their bio-frequencies were merely on standby as a computer would be.
*On standby….*
Enma’s ears went back mirroring Reaper’s guilt ridden thought as his conscience refused him to look away from the bodies before him.
The scent of the flames were identical to the scent of the flower Celsia Cretica, flowers that some knew as tradition to decorate the gravesites of Keyblade Masters; he was schooled on the scent well.
Reaper inhaled deeply their fragrance, sighing on the exhale, “How much…could I have prevented, if I had just acted sooner?”
Ch33-4
*’As the Reaper, it is not my position to interfere with such matters – only those that concern my Design, and catching her runaway soul is what I have been trying to do since the day she was born.*’
Enma stomped her right hoof flat in reply to Reaper’s question in judgment – ‘or how much more would lay waste?’ – Reaper picking up on her tut-tutting vibes.
True. Even if Reaper had chosen to be an even more active force than he was in the past, it was not wise of him to dwell into the ramification of the Natures as the ‘pure’ Design he was, at least not until he had well expanded his Foundation to encroach into protection other than, well reaping, to better protect his mentality. The Shepherd of Death (or Souls) is among the most powerful Designs Older Sister had ever created, if not the strongest, and so falling victim to the insanity that can befall a Design should they step outside of their boundaries, was a risk so very dangerous to take. As a ‘living’ Design, the Natures could have their way with his better judgment….
“If we do run astray, let it be for the right reasons.”
Which was more than he could say for his fellow Designs of Death, The Riders of the End of the World :/
The temptation began when he learned of his Spirit’s untimely call to her Coming’s End, and he knew in his heart of hearts that the young blasphemy of creation, the Lady, was responsible, she who had for all too long managed to escape the swing of his scythe.
Out of rage and revenge for not capturing her runaway soul sooner, Reaper pursued the Lady with a relentless onslaught to kill her – hunting the child ruthlessly when her dreams siphoned her possession of the Chrost-Weik – Enma’s only means to track her and further verification of her danger to existence – how could such an entity have come into existence?! All his fervor for naught since she had stepped upon the hallowed grounds of Hollow Castle; a place his Design could never approach (much less find) being the direct antithesis of it. The Laws would not allow it.
From these actions, the Shepherded of Death shelved the blame for inspiring the Riders to take up their arms in what would prove to be a futile attempt at protecting existence.
For together, they would right all the wrongs and claim the soul that had taken their Spirit from them!
Oh. How. That. Backfired.
Their ability to reason was mauled in an instant by the Chrost-Weik – Reaper quickly realizing with their corruption that he too was doomed to a similar path if he didn’t control his passion, restructure his Foundation – but no, no, the damage was done….The Riders were under the spell of the Chrost-Weik, and it was his fault! How he had shamed his Spirit!
Reaper retreated to the strict confines of his Design, swearing to obey the path his Spirit had left for him, swearing to never disgrace Death again, for added to his burden of subtly hunting the Lady, was shepherding the poor souls the Riders claimed.
For the longest time he stayed true to the persona of his Design.
That is until he tried the hands of fate once again by his involvement with the Ghosts of Keyblade Masters.
He had long dealt with the departure of many Masters before, just as any other living being that had met its end, but this time, in these current tides, it was different.
It was all her fault. She was behind it, there was enough blood from her hands he was cleaning up along now with her subordinates and the Riders…..He was but to shepherded souls, hunt her and shepherded souls….
So much grief, so much sadness and heartache from these crying Ghosts! The death rates were skyrocketing enough as it was and Keyblade Masters were dying at an exponential rate, none like the stars had ever witnessed before, and yet amongst all the chaos in the world of the living, he kept faithful to his Design, he would not become like his brethren, he would not become like his brethren, he would not become like his brethren….
It is his Design to guide souls to cross the Other Side – he had the power to force them to go – he had every right to do so….didn’t he? It was his Design, it was for their own good, and yet they still turned into ghouls; how many he had failed! Could he not even manage his own Design anymore?! Then what was his purpose?!
He smashed his turmoil under a lucidly placid guise, what more could he do, but his Design? He had already fueled this calamity enough as it was. And when his Spirit awoke again, he would have his punishment.
He let the Keyblade Master’s Ghosts stay if they wanted to, he would even check up on them, even though the notion was useless.
His involvement with the Masters helped him regain his better sense of self, guiding their Ghosts if he could, destroying the ghouls, doing what his Design said to do, and, what his heart bled to do.
Over time, his passion against the Lady reared compassion for the Masters. Reaper learned of Avera through his twin, and then of the Anime Masters by learning of their connection to the Lady, his heart going out to them to be tied to such a monster…..He let his curiosity bubble, and then learned of the full extent of the involvement of the Spirits….with the Lady.
On a warm sunny day, enough was enough. Everything of his Reason be damned! “The Lady is a catalyst of change… and so shall I be.”
Reaper set in motion the expanding of his Foundation, carefully and steadily, and though still abiding the persona of his Design, he put his heart into it as well, for honestly, why would he have such a thing?
“’We are not experimental slaughter! We must not suffer the same fate as our Masters, nor have our soon to be ‘new’ Masters culled. We are every bit as capable of defending our worlds as our very own Masters, otherwise, why would we be given Astral Abilities as a Natural Effect upon leaving our worlds? We, as the inhabitants, the inheritors of each heartbeat of our dear system, have as much responsibility to defend it.’”
As soon as Reaper finished expanding his Foundation, he was called to gather Lorenia’s Ghost, first.
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“AT ARMS!”
It was Sephiroth who yelled the command, bursting out his room, Masamune in hand – Isetzue, Avera, and Reaper all taking up their weapons and fighting stance at the ready to the wrinkle in the Inbetwixt Realm they all felt within a second of one another – Reaper driving Enma to stand over the Anime Master’s bodies – the Winged Group covering Ragiel and Lorena as the Riders of the End of the World breached their Inbetwixt Realm, the wrinkle exploding into their portals, revealing their newly refurbished selves dipped in pure Chrost-Weik madness.
******! Sephiroth cursed to himself, *How did they get through!? Even if dipped in the Chrost-Weik*–
From behind the Winged Group and Reaper, the realm was breached once again by the Deities, all dipped in a red, red light.
“You must be absolutely flabbergasted,” smiled the Black Rider, “The precursors of magic thought they could over-take us, to, heh heh, ease the burden of the Masters, but, once we convinced them of our ways, oh, they fell right in line~”
*Oh ****.*
“Now, we are not here for a fight. We are here for the blonde haired Master’s corpse, Master Lorenia, for within her body is the remnants of a baby our Lady squished, but those remnants are very important, it was Fabricated by Seritouge” –
“The baby was cleaned out!” yelled Isetzue, “When I healed their bodies, I fixed Lorenia. I destroyed whatever was left of that thing.”
Casting more containment magic within Lorenia wasn’t the only thing Isetzue did…Informing Lorenia of the grim discovery was something she felt the Master was entitled to.....Ragiel looked to his Love in utter horror, Lorenia looking back at him with an angered resolve, though her eyes glistened of pain.
Oh Isetzue could lie of her own to have healed thier bodies in complete privacy....There had to have been an under reason that the Lady didn't turn their bodies into Star Dust.....She didn't have to keep them in Hollow Castle......
The grips on the defending team's weapons tightened.
"These Masters will never be touched again," Reaper growled in a chilling voice that sent chills down his company's spines -
“Well then,” said the Black Rider raising his glowing red sword, “We’ve got a problem.”
SORA'S PART IS NEXT!!
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