Subj: [MW] Grande Finale Date: 00-09-11 22:29:02 EDT From: darklord@compusmart.ab.ca (His Dark Lordship) To: RaumKatze2@aol.com (RaumKatze), skyhall@hotmail.com (Sky), magus@cyberverse.com (Nemmers), cosmicchicken@death-star.com, larathia@mcs.net (Larathia), tojomojo62@yahoo.com (Tojo Mojo) * * * * * * Loltrek stared up at the great fortress. At his sides were his disciples, Kain and Cid. Cid held the Necronomicon nervously. He bit his lip. He and Rktktos had been planning this for ages, however, they never could actually strike due to the threat of Godzilla returning. But now, that problem was solved, and now they could eradicate evil once and for all. Slowly, a cloud began to block out the moonlight. Sullen raindrops began to pound the soft soil of the graveyard. * * * * * * Thanatos looked at the clouds surrounding his fortress. He had sent most of the castles inhabitants to the haven, due to a... feeling. Something was about to happen. Not just the great battle at southvale, but something else... something... world racking. Wilma stared at the clouds at his side, taking in the sight. "It's so beautiful..." she said. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." scoffed Thanatos as he turned away. -- The eternal lord of darkness... Subj: [ffml] [MW] Reach Out And Touch Someone (In more ways than one) Date: 00-09-12 02:56:01 EDT From: magus@cyberverse.com (Daniel Polcari) -=-=-=- "Ash!!" Chaerii shrieked. "What are you going to do with that!?" Ash turned to face Chaerii for a second, giving her a look that asked 'What, are you stupid?' "Ash! She may be a demon, but she's still Jeala! You can't just.." "I can't what? Chop her to pieces? She's posessed! It's the only way to save her!" He barked. E'ris stood steadfast, without fear of the Zombie, watching almost nervously for Pikachites that may enter. He heard the steady banging on the walls, but none had managed to enter. "No, Ash! She's our friend! There has to be another way!" Chaerii cried out. What was left of Jeala stood menacingly across the room from the three, dribbling a disgusting ichor from its mouth, but otherwise remaining passive. Ash grumbled and grabbed Chaerii by the shoulder as he began to head down a hallway of the huge cabin. E'ris stood for a moment, regarding the corpse of the Pikachite. It was smoldering where it lay. Registering this fact, E'ris followed the others, throwing the door shut behind him. -=-=-=- Hundreds of Gandarian Pikachites pounded Angrily against the cabin wherever they could. Several had become more twisted-looking than others, their breath bristling with static electricity. The crowds had massed so thickly that most were not even able to reach the cabin.. The beasts stood in ranks all around it, their cry now convoluted with the rage of their posession. "PICK-A-SHOE!" they screamed. The march of time went through their ranks as they pounded at the cabin walls. -=-=-=- "We oughtta be clear now.. That's three doors. She may be a demon, but it's gonna take her a little while to get through all that." Ash declared as he reloaded his shotgun. "That noise is maddening.." Chaerii complained. "I'm surprised they haven't levelled this place yet." "I think there's something you ought to know, Chaerii." E'ris spoke up. "The one that broke in earlier.. After I killed it.." "It caught fire, right?" Ash blurted out. "I thought that always happened?" "No. My sword does burn its victims, but it does so very precisely. The beast back there was nearly engulfed in flames." "So what? Something probably went haywire with whatever makes 'em shoot lightning, right?" Ash asked. "No. I don't think that's it. Both pieces caught fire, though they landed nowhere near each other. I am led to believe that this cabin holds some sort of enchantment." E'ris spoke. "Before-hand, they could care less, but now that they host demons, they are affected by some sort of ward on this cabin." "Wait, I know!" Said Chaerii. "Jeala's family is from Fabul.. They no doubt had some involvement in the priesthood there! Maybe they blessed this cabin when it was built!" Ash jumped in the air and twirled his shotgun. "Who cares why? They can't get in! That means we got a shot at making it outta here alive." He said. "But not much of one.. From the sound of it, there's a couple hundred 'a them things out there. How're we gonna get through them all?" E'ris stood up again and brandished his sword. "We could give them a run for their money, I'll wager." Chaerii shook her head and began pacing around the room. "No, no.. There's no way we can all get out of here like that... We'll be swarmed before we can step out the door." She said. Ash pounded his fist on a table. "Damn it all! If only there was some way of calling for help! What I wouldn't give for a train right now.. 'Next stops, Seattle, Boise, and THE HELL OUT OF HERE! All aboard!'" Chaerii's eyes lit up. "Ash! You're a genius!" She said. "What? What'd I say?" He asked. "We *can* call for help! Toroia's national treasure is the twinharp. It's a pair of harps whose strings react to each other, even when they're far away. One is in the keep of Toroia castle.." Ash finished her sentance.. "..And the other is in your home-town, Mysteria!" He shouted with joy. "Er.. Mysidia, Yes! But nonetheless, if we can get to the castle, we can use Twinharp to call for help!" She exclaimed. E'ris spoke suddenly. "I hate to break it to you, but Mysidia is quite a long way from here. Any help they send will probably arrive about 2 weeks too late to save us, and just in time to be slaughtered by the Pikachites." "Who cares! It's the best chance we've got! We have to give it a try!" Ash said. Chaerii's face became grim, however. "But.. there's still no way we can escape from here.." "Damn.. she's right. Too bad that thing's not a cordless.." Ash said. "Not so.." E'ris said. They turned once more to face him, and saw before them the epitome of warriors. His face hard-set and his stance perfect, E'ris held his sword before him, and it began to shine a luminous green color. A basso vibration filled the room and began shaking all the furniture, causing a flower jar to fall to the floor. "The hell, man? What're you gonna do!?" Ash inquired. "I will go to Toroia and send for help. The two of you will remain within the safety of this cabin and deal with Jeala." He spoke, full of confidence. "E'ris, you can't! They're too much even for you!" Chaerii said. E'ris chuckled briefly, and threw the door open without a word. Heading out down the hallway, he called back to her. "Just watch me. If there's one thing we never had where I came from, it was a rat problem!" -=-=-=- The Pikachite crowd's roaring had calmed down slightly as they saw the futility of their pounding on the walls. No matter; They were demons now, without need of food. They could wait. Suddenly, the crowd near the front of the cabin fell to total silence and stood at attention as they heard movement in the living room. Not the soft padding walk of the demon woman, but an enormous thudding as though the stove had grown legs and decided to go for a stroll. A trio of Pikachites gathered around the door, waiting for it to open. Their cheeks fumed with electricity as they prepared to strike whatever opened the door. Their plans were interrupted along with their mental functioning as several shards of crystal whiffed through the door and, following that, through their heads. The third one's head exploded as a result of the electrical charge, spewing brain and bone about. While their compatriots stared confusedly at the phenomenon, growling lowly, E'ris slammed the door off its hinges with a well-placed kick. A Pikachite wasted no time jumping at him. "Buh-bye, Sparky." He remarked as he moved his sword through space, splitting the beast open from navel to throat. It fell in a heap at his feet. "Hear me, Beasts! Today, I either live or die! But I fight not only for my own life! I am one of four today. And I shall fight as such.. May your deaths be numerous!" As he finished speaking, the collective crowd began to growl angrily, their faces flashing with comprehension and electricity. The pikachites that harassed the back of the cabin had all coalesced toward the front in hopes of gleaning some of this being's blood... Such was not the result. E'ris dashed head-on into the crowd, causing a large group of the Pikachites to receive a permanent height reduction as his sword flung ahead of him to make way for his charge. A surviving beast leapt onto his shoulder only to be shot into hamburger by a blast of force from E'ris' free hand. Surprisingly, they did not swarm, but attacked in consistent waves of yellow, matted fur and teeth and electricity. An artillery division had set up behind a wave of oncoming pikachites, and it proceeded to volley bursts of ball-lightning at him. He deflected several of the attacks off his forearm plates, but one struck him in the face, blinding him for a moment. The Pikachites leapt, and E'ris disappeared beneath an ocean of yellow, writhing bodies. -=-=-=- The Dark Lord chuckled at the vision before his eyes. Wilma sat uninterested beside him, a look of boredom on her face. "Why does this one concern you so much? If you're worried about him, why don't you kill him and get it over with?" She asked. "Simple girl. You see, were I to do as you suggest, he would cease to be an object of amusement to me. At present, he provides me with a constant source of challenge and entertainment," he mused, stirring the vision with his finger as though it were merely smoke in the air. "Looks to me like he's just ceased to be much of anything.." She exclaimed, rubbing Thanatos's scaled hand. "I suppose I shall have to intervene after all, then. What a shame.. I suppose he's not the splendor I thought him to be. And to think he actually played a large part in Godzilla's release a few months ago.." He said as he stood from his chair, waving a hand over the vision. He grinned, looking at the spot where the Pikachites had swarmed over E'ris. "Elra!" He barked, touching the virtual crowd with a finger. -=-=-=- The Pikachites that had surrounded E'ris suddenly burst into purplish flame and melted into the ground like Mercury. Where they once stood, however, E'ris was nowhere to be seen. The other Pikachites were absolutely dumbfounded by these two occurrances, and began to scatter slightly, no longer confounding their individual forms into a solid mass of fur and joints. They looked around confusedly for E'ris and their companions, their sense of camaraderie altered by these incomprehensible events. -=-=-=- "What is it now!?" Wilma asked, laying a hand on Thanatos's shoulder. He quickly brushed her away, his face contorted with anger. "It's impossible! He could never have escaped from them without my noticing!" He shouted, thrusting his fist forward and shattering the vision. Material for only a moment, it fell to the ground like shards of glass before evaporating. "It seems that he's turning out to be more amusing than I gave him credit for. So.. earlier.. You said that beauty was in the eye of the beholder?" She spoke measuredly. "Yes.. what about it?" He asked. His eyes widened a bit as she dropped her clothing to the ground a piece at a time. "So.. what do you behold?" She asked. A few moments later, she was once again reduced to a moaning toy of the Dark Lord's desires. -=-=-=- E'ris smiled as he ran, finally breaking free of the forest. He turned to face six Pikachites that had been wiser than their brethren and had followed him. "Still hungry for my blood, are you? Here. Take it." He said, raising his voice toward the end. He nicked his wrist, spilling drium-laced blood onto his open hand. As the blood ran, the Pikachites watched with wonder as it formed slowly into a raven, its architecture comprised solely of hard, crystalline angles. As it completed its construction, the wound closed. E'ris threw up his hand, dismounting the bladed avian. He turned without a word or a concern and continued to run toward Toroia. The sounds of inhuman screeching coupled with phantasmagorical ripping noises filled the air as the mindless tool flashed through the air again and again, rending limbs and organs from the Pikachites. "Just like old times, Tyrmagest. It's like waking up from a long nap." He mused. "As for you, Thanatos, know that I will meet you in combat very soon..." He smiled. His comment fell on the deaf ears of a God engaged in the pleasures of human flesh. -=-=-=- Subj: [ffml] [MW] Getting your money's worth Date: 00-09-18 18:33:55 EDT From: raumkatze2@aol.com Reply-to: ffml@egroups.com To: ffml@egroups.com This post is by me and Daniel Polcari (mostly by Daniel). Enjoy. Morale was low in Toroia castle. Its inhabitants lived in fear of the Pikachu, whose cries they heard at night along with the screams of their victims. They could scarcely sleep through this grim cacophony. When they were able to sleep, they were plagued by nightmares in which they relived the horrors of seeing their friends and family slaughtered by these merciless creatures, or visions of their own demise at the hands of Pikachu. To make matters worse, the bountiful store of food the castle held two months ago was beginning to dwindle, and all had been forced down to a meager ration so as to preserve what little remained. There was an overall mood of dispair, hopelessness, and depression. Although most people at the castle had given up all hope, the eight Clerics who ruled the land remained ever-hopeful that sometime soon something would happen to deliver their people from this. That time had now come. "Clerics!" said a servant who burst into their room, "A man is outside the castle who wishes to come in." "Impossible! How does he survive?" Asked Epherimelda, a younger cleric. "Never mind that, let him in," said Marta, the eldest Cleric. Guards lowered the drawbridge cautiously. After the large man in black armor stepped casually inside the gates, they raised it hastily in fear of allowing more Pikachu inside. The man was led into the chamber of the Clerics. "What is your name, sir?" asked Marta. "I am E'ris, of the Gage Seekers of Eyar. I am here on behalf of some people you might know. Their names are Ash, Chaerii, and Jeala." He spoke, saying each of the three names slowly with a grin on his face. There was a collective gasp among the Clerics. "They are still alive?!" "Where are they?" "Have they found the Necronomicon?" "I parted with them not long ago, and as far as I know they are still alive. They are held up in a cabin in the woods outside the city. As for the Necronomicon; they found it, but it was destroyed. We must be quick; The cabin is beseiged by demonaic pikachu, and they must be helped." "But how can we help them?" said one of the Clerics, "If we leave this castle, we will be killed." "Chaerii told me you have a device here called the TwinHarp which can be used to contact Mysidia." The Cleric seemed puzzled. "It would take days for anyone to get here from Mysidia, and even then, not even their powerful magic could erradicate these hellspawn, unless..." "You don't mean...?" said another. "The Big Whale!" said another. "Please fetch the TwinHarp for our guest," Marta said to the servant, who scampered off. "What is this.. 'Big Whale?'" inquired E'ris, intrigued. "It is a grand aircraft which was built long ago by the people of Lunaris. It sleeps under the ocean, but sometimes emerges when the the whole world is experiencing a crisis. The last time it flew was over 600 years ago," said Marta. "And how is that connected with Mysidia?" asked E'ris. "When the world enters such a crisis, the people of Mysidia pray for the Big Whale to fly again. It sleeps in the sea inside the Dragon's-mouth peninsula of Mysidia, and seems to be connected with their people." She said. E'ris did not remember such a place from his travels, strangely. Just then, the servant returned with the TwinHarp. "Very good. With this, the vibrations of your voice will reach out to the TwinHarp's sister in Mysidia.. Speak your plight to them." * * * * * Banar, the elder of Mysidia, sat in his chamber pondering an old scripture. He was noisily roused from his work when a messenger burst into the room in a sweat. He looked as though he'd been running full speed. "Elder! A message! It's important!" He gushed. "Hmm? A message from whom?" Banar asked, taking the note. He paused a moment to read it. "Oh, this is truly a dire situation the world faces if Mysidia is to be involved.. Nonetheless, I know what we must do. Messenger, take my servants with you and send for all the wise men of Mysidia." He said. "Where shall I send them, Elder?" he said, catching his breath. "To the Tower of Wishes..." Banar said, looking out the window at the horizon. * * * * * The messenger arrived in Tellah VII's office, sweating profusely from the run. "Honestly, what's the hurry, son? You stink to high heaven." He spoke in a semitic voice, like a lovable old Rabbi. "Master Tellah.. Why do you live so far from the Elder's house? I nearly killed myself running here!" He said, short of breath. "Bah. The elder's such a noisy old coot. I can't get a wink of sleep within 100 yards of that snore-shack." Tellah uttered. The messenger was in total shock at his words. None had ever rivalled the pith and vinegar of Tellah's line, ever since the great Tellah I mastered Meteo, assisted King Cecil of Baron, and enscribed upon history the witticism "You spoony bard!" "By the by.. The elder beseeches your present at the Tower of Wishes. It's... time." He spoke. "By all the Gods.." Tellah said, grabbing his Magus Robe and Pearl rod, and a belt of Megalixers. "Come, son, let's go. And don't be a putz in front of your elders." He said, bonking the messenger on the head. * * * * * "Good, then, are we all assembled?" Banar asked, standing with his back to the grand window at the top of the Tower of Wishes. Each man called back his reply. "Here, Banar." Galuf XII. "Here." Cid VI. "Here, your grace." Palom IV. "Also here. Dude." Porom IV. "Here. But not happy about it, oy!" Tellah VII. "Here." FuSoYa. "Excellent. This is as marvelous a congregation as any... What?!" Banar was interrupted by a loud crumbling sound outside, as if the earth had broken open. Everyone rushed downstairs to see what has happened. The first sight to greet Banar's eyes was the Ancient Library sitting in the middle of the courtyard. "By god! That schlamiel!! What's he done now!?" Tellah VII exclaimed. A moment later, as the dust settled, Gilgamesh and Professor Daravon stepped out the front door. "Here!?" Daravon was annoyed. "Yeap, old friend, looks like we took a wrong turn!" Gilgamesh said in his rasping voice. "I guess we're in the right place anyhow, though!" "Here!?" Daravon was puzzled. "Gilgamesh, you old fool! What brings you here!?" Banar asked. "Well, ya see, Banar, we were looking for some island where an ancient God was being brought back to this world. When we went under, Daravon here took the liberty of spilling his coffee in the engine! So off we went!" Gilgamesh explained. "Much am sorry!!" Daravon said. "Well, that explains that." Banar said. "I suppose you realise we're gathered here to make a wish for the world.. You're both welcome to assist if you feel up to it." Gilgamesh and Daravon exchanged glances. "Sure! Much am feeling like ready for all things!" Daravon said. "Hmm.." Banar muttered. "That fellow's English isn't too clear. I hope it won't muddle the wish up.." "Nahhh, not a chance! It'll be fine!" Gilgamesh exclaimed hastily. "Well, if you're sure.. Let us hasten to the top of the tower. I'll explain the situation along the way." * * * * * "Wait, so you mean Ash and company are still alive!? That's great! Let's get our butts in gear!" Gilgamesh said. "Very well. Let us all face our bodies, hearts, and minds toward the sea." Banar said. All did as he said, and took their hands up next to their hearts. Banar began the prayer... "Big Whale! The world is in crisis! Those who would deliver us from danger are in trouble! Your help is needed, o' chariot of Lunaris!" "Come to us, Big Whale! Assist the heroes in their time of need!" "Rise up from your bed in the ocean and carry them to their goal on wings of light!" "From the Dragon's mouth, breathe the hot wind of justice on their foes and end all evil!" "Like an arrow from the past, pierce all that stand in their path!" "Let the barrier of the landlocked fall beneath the heroes, whose footsteps shall be as wide as continents!" "As a child of Lunaris, I implore you--fulfill the rite of your creators and give hope to this world!" "Join this war in all your splendor.. And if there's time, put the library back where it goes!" (Tellah swung his cane at Gilgamesh.) "We are need have for flying power of all times! Banish those evil to wind and ghosts land! Be like black and as gun shoot at ungoodness!" At this part of the prayer, everyone turned and looked at Daravon. It was too late, however. The land began to rumble, slightly at first, but increasing steadily to a shake and then a roar. The ocean in the Dragon's mouth began to stir and fume, but it slowly died down to calmness again. The vibration transferred from the ground into the air a few hundred yards off from the Tower. Something was taking shape there, coalesceing into a massive, black shape in the air. It was not the Big Whale... "Our wish.. It's gone awry.." Banar said, his heart falling. Blue electricity pulsed in the air as the shape continued to form, its sheer size pulling at the ocean below. Huge waves began to crash on the shores of Mysidia. "Oh, no.." Said FuSoYa. "The Black Omen..." * * * * * The Dark Lord watched with a feeling almost like dismay. He felt sorry seeing the death of the last hope of the one with whom he'd formed a strange bond of rivarly. Mixed with this was the saddening nostalgia he felt at seeing the Black Omen.. It reminded him of Schala. Filtering his emotions before they reached his countenance, Thanatos silently placed his influence upon the Black Omen and shut off his vision. * * * * * "Banar, what shall we do!? It's coming this way, and we do not have time for another w..." Cid VI exclaimed. However, something caught Tellah VII's eye, and he interrupted Cid mid-sentence. "We shut up and get on the thing, you putz!" He said, pointing out the window as the Black Omen alighted in the air in front of the Tower's window, its gangplank perfectly lined up as a step. "It's our wish, Banar! Daravon changed it, he didn't destroy it!" Galuf exclaimed. "Let's go!" Everyone checked their gear and immediately headed onto the hovering giant. They encountered no monsters. * * * * * "How long will it take for them to arrive? My fr.. I mean, Ash and the others cannot defend themselves forever." E'ris said. "I cannot say. It depends upon how strong their wish is, and how fast the Big Whale can fly. We can only wait, my child." Marta said calmly. Just then, a high-pitched screech came from outside the window. The drium raven E'ris had sent out earlier came flying in and landed on his arm. After a second or so of transferring information to Tyrmagest, it decompiled itself back into liquid Drium and E'ris absorbed it. "What was that, my child?" Marta asked. Several of the other clerics were noticeably perplexed. "My charge has flown around this castle, and destroyed many Pikachu. It reports that the Pikachu, however, still mass outside the gates of this castle and around the Cabin where I left Ash, Chaerii, and Jeala. I do hope the Mysidians hurry.." He said. As if in answer, the quiet sound of the wind outside was split by a great roaring vibration. A shadow fell over the castle from something huge. Everyone rushed out onto the promenade to see what had come.. "Oh, no! It is not the Big Whale..! It's.. the Black Omen!?" Marta exclaimed. "Black Omen?" E'ris inquired. "A relic of an ancient conflict written of in scriptures. There is no mistaking that this is the very thing told of in our Legends! In the legend, an insane mage-woman used the Black Omen as a gate to reach a powerful evil creature.. She was stopped when a group of heroes defeated her and grounded the machine.." A young cleric explained. "But here it is! We're doomed!" Another said. Suddenly, a voice came from above them. Amplified by strange mechanical devices, Marta could hardly recognize it as the voice of the Mysidian Elder, Banar. "We have come, Marta! Make haste to the roof, and join us aboard the Black Omen!" Without question, she did as she was told, bringing the clerics with her. Once on board, the look on her face demanded weeks of explaining. "Sorry, my lady Marta, but there is no time for our story. We have people to save." E'ris was already busy on the ground rounding up survivors from the castle and the town. Several lone Pikachites dared to attack him, but in the sight of the Black Omen, few others had the courage to move. E'ris arrived just in time to find a child running from two Pikachites. As their cheeks began to glow, E'ris jumped in front of them, his mass providing a sufficient barrier for them to slam into. "No, actually, I'll take those." He said, slamming one fist into each Pikachite's forehead and ripping out their electricity glands. When E'ris was satisfied that he had found everyone he could, the Black Omen was brought down low enough for everyone to climb a high roof and get aboard. Back on the bridge, there were many happy reunions and relieved sighs. "Now, you must go at once to the forest and rescue Ash's party. I must do something down below." E'ris said, clutching a book with a runic image of the Black Omen on its cover. "What is that book, child?" Marta asked, but she knew. "Just a little history lesson, Marta. I look forward to a blast from the past.." Banar began piloting the Black Omen back toward the forest while the others nervously waited to see the results. E'ris headed down into the bowels of the ship. * * * * * "What's that noise?" said Chaerii. "Sounds like breaking wood to me," said Ash, "Sounds like Jeala misses our company." "You mean she broke down one of the doors?!" Ash nodded. The sound came again, this time closer, and Ash loaded his shotgun. "No, Ash!" said Chaerii, "She's my friend!" "Friends don't let friends eat them," Ash smirked, "And that's why I'm a designated zombie killer!" "Hey, that was rude." Chaerii said. A new sound echoed in the room--the sound of many Pikachites climbing up onto the roof and jumping up and down. "Great. It doesn't sound like this cabin has much time left.." Chaerii said. Something in the bedroom caught her eye.. Hanging from a half-open drawer-chest in the corner was a small locket on a silver chain. She retreived it quickly and opened the locket, revealing a picture of Jeala with her fiance. Ash's eyes lit up a bit and he grabbed it. "Ya know, Chaerii, for a ghosty-lookin' chick, you ain't half bad at all!" Ash said, full of glee. "You know what this means!?" "No.. what?" She asked. "If she sees this thing, and IF she loved this guy enough, it just might kick that demon outta her like a project tenant 3 months late on the rent!!" he said. "Yes!" Chaerii exclaimed. "Let's take it to her!" Without a word, they entered the hallway just in time to see Jeala break through the third door. The zombified woman regarded them menacingly, the original wound on her neck now hosting a second mouth. "Oh, gross!" Ash said, brandishing the open locket. The effect was as they had hoped. Jeala's eyes softened for a moment and she stood down, shaking her head. Chaerii abandoned all concern and ran over to console her deformed friend. Jeala reached out and grabbed the locket, admiring it. Her face began to lose its contortion and some vestige or normal color returned to her flesh. Ash heard a sound and ran back into the bedroom. His shotgun barked twice in response to a pair of Pikachites that had fallen through the cieling. Their still-beating hearts exploded as the enchantment on the cabin went to work, burning their bodies. The other Pikachites did not enter, but began attempting to wildly fire bolts of electricity into the hole. Ash grabbed Chaerii and Jeala and began running off to another part of the cabin. "Looks like everything's coming together at just the right time!" Chaerii said as they arrived in the bedroom. "Yeah, too bad those glorified rats're part of the equation. I failed Algebra.." He said, pushing Jeala aside so he could fire out the window, disintegrating a Pikachite's head. "..But I got an A+ in kickin' ass!" Jeala had nearly returned to normal, but she was still in shock. The wound on her neck began to bleed normal blood, and Chaerii administered a healing spell. "You'll be okay, Jeala.. as long as we get out of here.." From off in the distance, the sound of breaking wood and tearing roots began to enter the window. Taking a good look up and out, Ash saw line after line of trees lift up from the ground and levitate up into the air for a moment before falling again. "The hell is going on!?" He asked. "Looks like our ride's here.. But I don't remember it being so huge!" Chaerii said. As the Black Omen passed over the cabin, the Pikachites adorning the roof were scattered away along with the roof itself as the gravity of the Black Omen did its work. Suddenly, three bright-blue beams shot down and picked up Ash, Chaerii, and Jeala. * * * * * "We've got them!" Banar said. "Now, let's head to Mysidia." Before he could engage the drive and take off, however, the TwinHarp in Marta's hand began to vibrate out a message. The words were unintelligible because of the Black Omen's effect, however she could discern the words "Wait" and "Big Whale Coming." "Impossible!" Banar said to this. "How could the Big Whale be coming?" However, sure enough, on the South horizon the Chariot of Lunaris was visible rushing toward the Black Omen. It docked with the Black Omen, and out of the entryway came forth Ekidnu. "Boss! This thing popped outta the ocean just after you guys left! I was tired of sitting around, so... Here I am!" he said. "Ekidnu!" Gilgamesh responded. "You freaking genius! C'mere and gimme a hug!" "This is all very nice, but it seems that the Black Omen has nicely served in the Big Whale's stead.." Banar said. "Yes, Banar, but the Black Omen has another job to do now." Said E'ris, emerging from below. As he finished speaking, the main port on the Black Omen's underside opened and a thick, whitish beam of light began cutting into the ground below them. "What is it doing, E'ris?" Chaerii asked. "What it was meant to do. The Pikachites are far too numerous for us to deal with, and they're still breeding. If we don't stop them, they'll turn their sights from Toroia to some other innocent kingdom.. And I can only think of one way to muster the firepower to take them all out at once.." He said. "You couldn't mean.." Marta blurted. "Yes, I think he does." Said Gilgamesh. "Lavos." A hush passed through those in the room with knowledge of the Black Omen and Lavos. "How can you hope to control such an ancient, evil beast as Lavos!?" Tellah VII asked, angry. "I have a way. But overall, what is important now is that we all get the hell out of here.. Except for me." He said. "Whoa, dude! Why do you have to stay behind!?" Ash asked, incredulous. "We've been through so much crap! No *way* am I letting you die!" "I'm sorry, Ash. But if nobody stays here to deal with Lavos, it will not stop with Toroia. It will go on to destroy anything it can reach." He said. "Using the Black Omen, I can stop it.." "E'ris! It's crazy! You cannot do this! Even the ancients eventually saw the need to contain Lavos and his brethren! They have destroyed entire planets!" FuSoYa said. "Enough." A voice came from behind the crowd. E'ris recognized it as Jeala. "Enough. I thank all of you for saving me from the fate worse than dying, but now.. I can tell. My body is not going to last much longer. I'll stay here, and stop Lavos.." She said. "Jeala! NO!" Chaerii said. Jeala merely ignored her and walked over to E'ris. "E'ris.. Teach me how to stop Lavos. I've seen you do it before.. Talk to people with your mind. You can see I won't.. live much longer anyway.. So please. Go on to help the rest of the world. Vincent already died for this quest.. I don't want to see you die as well. There's still so much to do." E'ris nodded briefly, and placed his hand on Jeala's shoulder. Chaerii was in tears.. Ash led her off following the others as they left the Black Omen. "That's all there is to it, eh?" Jeala snickered. E'ris offered her a consoling smile and beckoned to her neck. "You threw the amulet away a long time ago, didn't you? You knew this would happen.." He said. "Maybe. What's important is that I'm doing my part.. and now I'll see my love again.." She said, clutching the locket. "Good luck, Jeala. And congratulations.. You swing a mean rock to the head." She laughed at this. E'ris began to leave, but stopped when Jeala called to him. "E'ris?" she asked. "Yes?" "Take good care of Ash and Chaerii. They're good friends to have.." She said. Chaerii burst into tears and gave her friend one last embrace. Ash sniffled, and gave Jeala a pat on the back. "Damn allergies..." he said to no one in particular. E'ris nodded and walked off the ship. Ash and Chaerii reluctantly followed. * * * * * The Big Whale's slow-trans turbine engine propelled it away from the Black Omen and Toroia at an admirable speed. The Black Omen had taken up a position a fair distance from the spot where the Laser had penetrated deep into the Earth's crust. Oblivious to the enormous vibration in the ground from the air, the passengers on the Big Whale only caught a Glimpse of Lavos erupting from the Earth. Its shrill cry filled the air for what seemed like forever, and was quickly replaced with enormous arcing bolts of energy which rained down over Toroia. Pikachites everywhere were struck dead by the explosive bursts, their bodies either consumed in the energy or blown apart by the blasts. Toroia disappeared in a cloud of flames and dust.. The underside of the Black Omen was struck repeatedly by the bursts of energy, but it continued to hover.. As Lavos's assault began to expand out of Toroia, The Black Omen began to move.. Inside, Jeala smiled. "E'ris.. such a funny person. Making the simplest things seem so complicated." She reflected. Piloting the Black Omen skillfully, she drove it straight toward Lavos's crested faceplate. Unsure of what to think, the beast bellowed one last time. "That sound is annoying." Jeala said. The Black Omen drove with full force into Lavos, cracking both into pieces. Once the Black Omen's Zohar modifier was breeched, Toroia became a crater. * * * * * The Big Whale arrived in Mysidia. Banar called to the Tower of Wishes via the TwinHarp.. "Ready about a hundred extra beds. We have guests." That night, E'ris had another dream about The Dark Lord. But this time, rather than being in a position to interact with the acting master of evil, E'ris was an invisible observer. He watched as Thanatos talked down to another being.. It was a human, who looked to be very young.. 12 years old or so. The boy was wearing a red baseball cap and tacky-looking black gloves. "You didn't do a very good job, Ash. I hired you to destroy Toroia, not harass it for a while and then get your ass kicked." E'ris was perplexed. Had he called the kid "Ash?" Of course! Jeala had mentioned that they had been trying to summon one "Ash Ketchum" when they got Chainsaw-maniac Ash instead. So this was the one they'd been trying to reach.. How ironic that he had been at the root of the problem in the first place.. "It's not my fault, Thanatos! I did my best job! Someone else was helping them, from the outside!" "No excuses, you loser! You lost. And to think, you have all those Pokémon badges.. They must not be worth very much!" Thanatos screamed at the boy, who began to cower. "Thanatos, really! Spare me! It wasn't my...!" Thanatos had heard enough. His foot flew out at Ash and sent him into the next world. Who cared if it had been his own fault that Ash had failed? He didn't like the annoying little brat in the first place. Suddenly, E'ris's perspective shifted. Now he could see another being, a tall lizard-man like Thanatos, but with scales of pure white. He was followed by two knights wearing helms which resembled the heads of dragons. They were travelling in the direction of a place which E'ris recognized from his travels as Southvale. The tall Lizard was carrying a book... A black book. * * * * * "Sleepy time is over." Ash awoke to the sight of E'ris before him. "Ug, what do you want? Don't you know what time it is?" He glanced out the window, to see the day's first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon. "It's too-damn-early o'clock!" "Save the one-liners," said E'ris, "We've got to leave right now for a place called Southvale. I'll fill you and Chaerii in on the flight there," said E'ris. He then left for Chaerii's room to wake her. "I never liked morning people," said Ash. The Final Fantasy Mailing List: Now available in Cherry, Strawberry or Tofu