Subj: [ffml] [HD] Into The Underground Date: 01-03-22 06:51:26 EST From: hiryuu@ffml-irc.org (Hiryuu) Reply-to: ffml@yahoogroups.com To: ffml@yahoogroups.com, HillionDynasty@yahoogroups.com Something was not right. The portal that lead to the Land Of Summoned Monsters was not behaving as it should, seemingly hundreds of alarms were screaming at Hiryuu. The gate should have sent him underground where the LOSM lied, instead something else was dragging him and his ship into a pocket dimension. "Damn!" Hiryuu banged on the controls without effect. It appeared he was going along for the ride. *** Rydia of mist had given up hope. She had been trapped in the cavernous, empty dimension for several days now. It was a dead place devoid of magic, she couldn't even summon. Unbeknownst to her, The normally void dimension naturally wanted to be rid of her as much as she wanted to be rid of it. It needed a way to be rid of her presence, and the ripples of a trans-dimension travel had brought it one. A large glowing gate appeared in the ceiling, out of which a mid-sized red ship descended. Was this Rydia's salvation? Hiryuu scanned the cavern. "Well this sure as hell ain't the land of summoned monsters." he muttered. It was a small cave without distinguishing features, except one that the sensor picked up. "A life form?" Hiryuu decided he would check it out. The ship landed unevenly on the rocky floor, and Hiryuu opened the hatch. Almost immediately a green haired girl appeared and yelled at him "We have to get out of here! Quickly, before the gate closes!" Hiryuu was confused, then he slowly understood the meaning. Glancing upward, he saw indeed the gate was slowly diminishing in size. "Oh shit." He lept into the pilot chair and quickly ignited the engines, lurching the ship upwards. "We're not going to make it!" his unwelcomed passenger was shouting. Hiryuu had the engines on maximum power, he could see the gate slowly squeezing to the size of the ship.... then they crossed through it. Hiryuu sat back and sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. He looked at his passenger for the first time. "Hey.. you're that girl from Calypso. Rinoa?" "Rydia." Rydia said. "You are.. that nudist martial artist! We thought you had drowned on the boatride.." Hiryuu shook his head at the memory. Not his finest hour. "Thats right, I am Hiryuu, and very much still alive. So what were you doing, uhm, wherever that was?" Rydia tried explaining, but Hiryuu didn't really understand. They emerged from the dimensional warp into another underground cavern, this one was much larger and had a city in the center. Rydia recognized the place. "The Land Of Summoned Monsters?" Hiryuu nodded. "I have some buisness here.. then we'll get out of this place." Hiryuu set the ship down near the center of the city, and the two of them disembarked. "Why don't you find something to do, I need to do this alone." Hiryuu said. Rydia was suspicious, but agreed. "We'll meet here back in an hour, I don't want to spend too much time in this place." Rydia knew why, the flow of time in The Land Of Summoned Monsters was accelerated in comparison to that of their home dimension. "Alright. See you then." *** Hiryuu crept around the perimeter of the time temple. The monsters here were not demi-gods unlike the legendary espers of Abterrus, mostly Chocobos, Bombs, and other creatures that low level summoners would conjur. Thus, Hiryuu didn't have to worry about detection as he silently infiltrated the temple. There might be one or two powerful monsters here, so he wanted to hurry. Peering into the central chamber, he saw the Crystal Of Time floating above the dias. It was unguarded, perfect. Ascending the stairs, Hiryuu took the crystal and placed it with the Crystal Of Force in his tunic. Too easy. "Halt." Hiryuu groaned. Turning around, he groaned again. There, on his six legged steed Sleipner, was Odin. "What art thou doing?" Odin commanded. Hiryuu was at a loss. "Uh.. I need this crystal, to fight evil.." He snickered. "If thou weildest the light, prove it by defeating me in battle." Odin drew his large scimitar. "Thou hast three minutes before I commence my attack." Hiryuu drew crusader, and unleashed his aura, his energy magnified several times by the crystal of force, although this was unknown to him. "Bring it on, bonehead." -- Hiryuu oft times Akuryuu Subj: [ffml] [HD] Deeper Underground Date: 01-03-22 06:51:59 EST From: hiryuu@ffml-irc.org (Hiryuu) Reply-to: ffml@yahoogroups.com To: HillionDynasty@yahoogroups.com, ffml@yahoogroups.com Hiryuu dispensed all formality and fired a Dragon Fury blast directly at Odin. The god absorbed it wothout flinching. "Two minutes, fifty seconds." Hiryuu frowned. "DEMON GOD ASSAULT BOMB!" The energy blasts impacted around Odin, creating a large explosion which enveloped him. Hiryuu wasted no time charging and firing a Hell Thunder blast into the destruction, creating another huge blast. When the smoke cleared, Odin was still standing. "Two minutes, twenty seconds." Hiryuu dived towards him and released the full power of the kupoken. It was augmented by the time crystal, making him almost as fast as light. He attacked with the battle dance, Bum Rush. He followed by delivering rapid succession moonlight cuts with Crusader. He then lept skyward and landed a huge meteo kick. "One minute." "Arc Impulse!" Hiryuu's glowing, power laden limbs lashed out at the speed of light hundreds of times. He circled Odin attacking from every possible direction. When the dust settled Odin was leaning and breathing ragged. He dismounted and extended his hand to Hiryuu. Hiryuu tentatively shook it. "Thou art the winner. Take the crystal, and prevail." Odin then remounted and held his fist skyward. "At last, I shall rest. To Abterrus!" Odin then began glowing with a blinding light, causing Hiryuu to shield his eyes. When he recovered, Only a glowing green gem remained where Odin stood. Not knowing what it was, Hiryuu pocketed the crystal. Subj: [ffml] [HD] Homecoming Date: 01-03-22 14:04:04 EST From: aramarth@home.com (Drew Woolley) Reply-to: ffml@yahoogroups.com To: ffml@yahoogroups.com Rydia couldnt belive her eyes.. After so many years she had returned to the place that she still thought of as home, the Land of Summoned Monsters. She stood wide-eyed, barely moving. Several people were standing a distance away from the strange craft, seemingly waiting for someone. Rydia looked at them, still so in shock that she couldnt even try to recognize any of them. Most of the people she had known would have been gone by now she realized. Even if the time dilation didnt happen, it had been far more then a thousand years since she had stood where she now did. Only the very powerful could deny the fate that death placed on them. Seemingly out of nowhere a giant disimbodied head appeared, floating in the air at chest height in front of the green haired summoner. It blinked, almost sending shivers up and down her spine, even though she had been here before. A voice spoke into her head. < You are known to us little one, even if you appear as you did when you were here before. You are called. Lord Leviathan summons you. Little has changed here, even in the aeons since you were here last. Im sure you remember the way. > And with that, it dissapeared. Rydia stood transfixed, not moving for several moments until she realized that the crowd in front of her had moved to the sides, apparently to let her pass through. Self-concious of looking like a fool, she started walking in what she hoped was the right way to the mystic library where she knew that Lord Leviathan and Lady Asura ruled. She pushed the door of the Library open, and was suddenly enveloped by memories. The smell of aged parchment, and of dust, a smell that all scholars lived in, washed over her. Suddenly she was a child again, surrouned by strangers and fearing that this was the afterlife, and that she -had- drowned when she fell off of the boat on the way to Baron. It was only by a supreme force of will that she didnt run, and after more then a couple of moments, she regained enough composure to step into the library proper. Many beings were here studying the art. Quiet discussions were held here and there, discussing the more theoretical concepts of Magic. Again, she fought off memories, this time of pain, when she was asked to leave this world, to go and help the world fight for its freedom. Finally she stood in front of a bookshelf. Seemingly no different from the others around it, she jumped slightly, and tugged on a book on one of the shelves. The book did not come loose, nor was it supposed to. Without warning the shelf seemed to twist and dissapear in front of her eyes, opening the way up to the next floor, where she would meet Lord Leviathan. Before she knew it, she had entered into the Royal Chamber, and saw His Majesty, Lord Leviathan, and his Queen, Lady Asura for the first time in what seemed like forever. < So you have returned Rydia > she heard in her mind < It has been so very long indeed, the world has changed, but here all is as it was. Just as you are. > Feeling the question in her mind more then hearing it, she told the story of how she had come to be bound in the body of a child once more. Both Leviathan and Asura looked slightly agast, and when Rydia described the old man, they looked startled. Knowing better then to ask about him, she finished her story and stood quietly. Both of the Lords of the Summoned Monsters spent several moments in silent discussion. Rydia stood uncomfortably, waiting for a responce. Leviathan spoke, the voice in her mind deep and rich, like the bounty that existed on the bottom of the oceans, Rydia nodded, dumbstruck for the second time in less then ten minutes. To return to the Land of Summoned Monsters, -and- to hear that perhaps the spell on her, while not able to be lifted, could be made less of a problem. She nodded slowly, her eyes tearing up 'Thank you.. thank you both,' she spoke. Leviathan and Asura moved to either side of Rydia, and began forming the spell. Rydia felt the power flow over her, and then through her. She felt the familiar barrier of the enchantment make itself known, and try to stop her reverting to her old form. Like oil on water, the spell being cast layered itself over the already existing enchantment, and then became -part- of the enchantment. Rydia stiffened, in pain for a brief moment as the two spells fought eachother within her. Suddenly she felt as if something had been snapped inside of her, and she gasped as she her form shimmered slightly, and grew, into her adult self. The stress of the spell, and of the transformation proved too much though, and she fell to the ground unconsious. She woke slightly, to see the forms of Leviathan and Asura looking over her concernedly. < It will not do that when you change next, > Leviathan spoke. Rydia, looking down along her body realized that she was once again in the body of a child, now however she felt the break in the enchantment that would let her for a brief time to resume her adult body. < You were unconcious for more then half an hour > Asura added, < Your companion is on his way back to his craft. You should go now, and meet him there. > Rydia tried not to cry with that announcment, it being ovious that both of the Summoned Monsters fully expected her to go with Hiryuu when he left. < We understand your wish to remain here, little one > both of them spoke, < But as before, something is happening to the world. You have a role to play out. Many lives are depending upon you. > Rydia sighed dispondently, and nodded slightly. Barely aware of it she felt the teleport spell that Asura cast flow over her. Her surroundings shimmered, and suddenly she found herself in front of Hiryuus craft. Seeing Hiryuu approaching, she called out, 'So we goin yet?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subj: [ffml] [HD] Deeper Underground Date: 01-03-22 06:51:59 EST From: hiryuu@ffml-irc.org (Hiryuu) Rydia was waiting at the ship when he returned. "Merry Christmas." He tossed her the gem. Rydia held it and recognized the stone. "Magicite?!" "Heh, I figured you would know what it was. Now lets get out of here." They climbed onboard and Hiryuu began to lift off. Rydia stopped him. "I feel a presence.. It is terribly evil and powerful." I hope she hasn't figured me out, Hiryuu thought. He looked outside, and saw a man in a dark cloak looking at their ship. "That doesn't look like any normal monster." He muttered. His suspiscions were confirmed when he felt the ship being dragged to the ground by some outside force. Glancing out the side he saw it was.. tree roots? He increased the output to the engine, and the ship screamed. "Rydia! can you do something?!" "Fire!" The flames withered the roots and the ship broke free, lurching into flight. The cloaked man gathered air about himself, and prepared to give chase. Hiryuu saw the cloaked man seemingly appear in front of him, and the ship was hammered by a blast of wind. It went spiraling downward, as Hiryuu and Rydia held on for dear life. Hiryuu managed to correct its descent right before they impacted with the earth. The turbines turned but would not ignite, Hiryuu was flipping the ignition and pumping the gas. "Damn Baronian imported crap!" The door to the ship was ripped from its hinges as Hiryuu struggled. "What do you want?!" Rydia yelled. Drasandin chuckled. "Only the crystal of time. give it to me and I might let you die quickly." Hiryuu froze before jamming on the ignition with renewed vigor. "Crystal Of Time? Thats back in the city, over there!" Rydia pointed. The cloaked man slowly shook his head. "No. It is here." Rydia figured out what Hiryuu was up to back in Monster Town. Then the engine roared to life and the ship arced into the air. "Hiryuu! did you take the Crystal Of Time?" Hiryuu admitted and removed it from his tunic. "After I fell off that boat a lot of things happened. Lets just say for now we are on the same side." They were interrupted by a loud thud. Drasandin was dropping stalagmites from the ceiling onto the ship. "Damn, where is that gate!" Hiryuu cursed. He saw the faint point of sunlight in the distance. More rocks barraged the ship. Rydia took the stone Hiryuu gave her out of her pocket. "Odin the all father, come to me!" The figure of Odin appeared behind the ship, riding Sleipnir across the air. He unsheathed his mighty sword and rode at Drasandin. "ZANTETSUKEN!" Odin cut Drasandin from several angles. Drasandin laughed. "Miss! Did you really think Odin would work?!" Rydia was shocked. They were taking heavy damage now, it didn't look like they would make it. "Hiryuu, give him the crystal!" Hiryuu didn't even consider it. "I can't." Rydia then grabbed the crystal and flung it out the doorless hole in the side of the ship. "NO!" Hiryuu and Drasandin shouted simultaneously. Hiryuu turned the ship and flew low to try and catch it, but didn't forsee the pillar of earth Drasandin erected directly in the path of the ship. He tried to swerve but clipped the rock and they tumbled towards the ground. "AAAAHHHHHH!!!" Hiryuu and Rydia both yelled. Drasandin picked up the Crystal Of Time off the blanket of air he had caught it with and laughed. Then he was gone. -- Hiryuu oft times Akuryuu hiryuu@ffml-irc.org http://www.ffml-irc.org/ ICQ: 16479634 --------------- Reality is so boring. I'd choose to sleep forever, If it meant I'd never stop dreaming. - Mystina, Valkyrie Profile --------------- --