This post is by Larathia, Eric, Sky, Spacecat * * * * * * Nighthawk and Aelis-Re walked down the lines, glancing over the preparations of each one of the avariel soldiers. Both of them knew everysoldier's name, and their families, and offered such encouragement as eachone needed; a word, a touch, a smile, a nod. They radiated confidence and fierce pride. When each one had been greeted, they strode to the front of the ranks and faced them. "I have sworn unto Lord Tim that you are each able and willing to bring back a dead moogle for every arrow in your quivers. Not all of you will be able to keep that promise, but know that I have faith that if you cannot do so, it will not be any fault of yours. In the Battle Vale of our homeland, I called for those willing to die to keep our kingdom safe. You are those brave ones, and this is your battlefield. To survive this is to be truly great; to fall here is to be remembered a hero and martyr. For the glory of the Houses and the honor of the King!" "For the glory of the Houses and the honor of the King!" came the thundering response. "Triu and Torbeno, stand forth!" called Nighthawk. Quickly, the two named left their places and joined Nighthawk." These two will carry the word of Lord Tim and General Kat. If they call you, answer them. If they do not, do as you will. Fight well, my people." Triu and Torbeno bowed, Triu blushing fiercely at the attention but trying to maintain her dignity. As they left to their respective posts, the avariel lines dissolved into chaos and re-formed into flight groupings. Nighthawk and Aelis-Re left for the wall. He turned to her. "How do you think they'll do?" "As well as can be expected," replied Nighthawk. "They are trained as best I can provide, they are led by the Hero...what can be done for them is done. It may well be millenia before my debt to their sacrifice is paid, but it *will* be paid." She thought a moment. "I have penned a message for General Kat," she said. "I gave it to Torbeno to hand her, either at the end of the battle or upon his death. That debt, too, I will pay." Aelis-Re shook his head. "I don't think she regards releasing me to work with you as a favor requiring repayment," he said. "I think to her it was inconsequential." Nighthawk looked over at him. "If she did not understand your value, it is irrelevant," she replied. "Had she handed me a pretty stone because I asked it of her, and the stone when cleaned turned out to be a diamond, I would owe her for that generosity whether she knew the stone was diamond or not. It is more precious than diamonds, my love, that after so long I shall fight with thee at my side and on such a battlefield as this." Aelis smiled, the small shy smile that he always had, as though he didn't believe her but didn't really want to argue. "What music?" he asked to change the subject. Nighthawk grinned, showing teeth. "I've been thinking about that," she said. "Do you remember your lives on Earth?" "Oh, yes," he responded. "Something heavy, I take it? Do you remember the music spells?" "Indeed, something heavy, my love," laughed Nighthawk. "I intend to use the loudest, fastest, heaviest music I can keep up with, and have the moogles thinking I strike from the middle of a thunderstorm. I've been memorizing the spells to echo the music from my memory to their ears." "Plan on telling me? I'm a Henriksen, remember," he said, "I might not be able to keep up." "So follow one beat in four then," said Nighthawk. "As I did during the years you taught me. It will still work." "That it will, dear," he said. "So...are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" "Yes," grinned Nighthawk. "Time for some *fun* - or as much fun as one can have in a battle. I plan to shake their feet with a few thousand decibels-worth of Metallica. Think they're up for it?" Aelis-Re laughed, a sound of pure amusement. "Love, you're going to be lucky if any of them make it as far as your sword-point!" * * * * * * Drugga stared at the force on the bridge. "Awright, boyz, weez iz gotta go bash 'dem 'umiez, 'en weez bash da fuzziez. Weez iz 'pozed ta leave dat Toejam's force 'lone, tho." "Oi." grunted several Orks. "Awright! CHAAAAAAAARGE!" THe entire Ork force of 600 began to bellow a healthful "Waaagh" as they charged towards the carnage below. * * * * * * "Umaro..." began Turan. "Do you hear that?" Umaro nodded. Turan grabbed a spyglass. Looking beyond the human force he saw a small wave of green flowing towards the Doman host. TUran chuckled. "Guess old Cyan has a lot more than he bargained for." Just then, a horn pierced the sound of battle. Turan whirled about. From the haunted woods emerged two standards; The standard of the Moho and the standard of Aramarth. Turan slapped his forehead. "Fuck, RESERVES! HORSESHOE FORMATION! PREPARE FOR ATTACK!" Turan growled. As if anything worse could happen. * * * * * * Tim looked about, his face set in a grim mask. He stretched his neck, then put on his helmet. Before Tim was a line of men standing ready. Knights held the center, their shields, helmets, and breast plates shining a metallic glare all about in the clear morning air. To either side were phalanx soldiers, shifting uncomfortably in their new steel breastplates and holding their heavier iron tipped spears on the ground. They still bore their large wooden shields. Outside of that, the line ended with a mix of spearmen and swordsmen with shields. Right behind that line, was a single line of one hundred men of light infantry. These swordsmen were armed with either no shield or small shields and would patch up any holes made in the battleline. Behind that was the line of cavalry, Jayel and Ricca sitting proudly with their men. Evan had been promoted to First Lieutenant and would lead the infantry line. And behind them all, Tim sat atop his mount, Fluffy. He had been awake for a long time, two hours before dawn, though he had wanted to sleep more. But he came awake, drank coffee, and prepared his men for their upcoming battle. Now he faced Southvale, a hollow filling in the bottom of his stomach. "Thulio! Are you ready?" asked the colonel. The black robed war-mage stood a short ways to Tim's right, on a mound of raised earth, chanting softly and waving his hands in the air. He said nothing, but continued to stare straight at Southvale. He then raised his hands into the air, aiming them above Southvale. The air, a mile up, shimmered and a white mist began forming, soon swirling in a great spiral. The mist grew bigger and thicker, darkening. This continued till a large, dark, storm cloud had formed over Southvale. Thulio then lowered his hands quickly and as he did so, lightning leaped from the cloud in several places and struck all the high points of Southvale. Spires, towers, flagpoles, and the occasional spear tip held by a sentry moogle, exploded in sparks and shattered wood. The lightning continued to rain down and cause minimal destruction for another minute, but the cloud dissipated and soon disappeared. Thulio looked at Tim, wiping sweat off his brow. "How was that, sir?" "Not bad, Thulio," said Tim, smiling through his helmet. "You've done your family honor and shown your courage on the battlefield. Stay close, but out of harm's way in case the moogles try any strong magics." Thulio nodded. "Yes sir." "Now, signal the attack!" said Tim. At his command, a man next to him blew an impossibly loud note on a horn, the deep sound carrying across the entire open expanse that surrounded Southvale. Turning about, "Triu! Send them up." The young avariel nodded and signaled her brethern. * * * * * * Nighthawk watched the chaos of battle. "Looks like it's time," she remarked over her shoulder to Aelis-Re. The Lance Henriksen nodded. He was decked out in most of his available battle-gear, leaving off his shield and helmet. Most of the morning had been spent sharpening his rather over-used standard issue sword. "Yes. The order of the battle-lines has dissolved, and the fight is in pure chaos. Time to show them just how chaotic Chaos really is. One in four?" "Or one to one if it's a slow part and you can keep up. I've stocked a few smokeshape spells also, if you get tired while we're out in the middle of that. No *way* am I going to try flying over this." "Let's go." He hopped off the fort's earthen wall. "You know, if they were smart, they'd shoot us now before we get started." "That's the beauty of chaos. They won't recognize the chance until it's gone." She concentrated a moment, setting her spell in motion. Soon, deafeningly loud music thundered through the air all around her, startling enemies and allies alike near her for a few moments. [Metallica: Battery] Aelis-Re shook his head in wry amusement but didn't try talking over the sound. Instead, he immediately began entering into the Bladesong, quickly coming to Nighthawk's side. [Lashing out the action, returning the reaction Weak are ripped and torn away ...] As the music thundered all around them, it became plain both that a) moogles had ordinarily fairly sensitive hearing, and b) not a one of them was wearing earplugs. Most were highly disoriented, but the ones who'd thought to wear helmets were furious. The sound drew enemies from all around towards the pair, as it was meant to do, but not a one could land a blow. [...Hungry violence seeker, feeding off the weaker Breeding on insanity...] The simple trick of the Bladesong, its big secret, was very simple. Just be where the enemy wasn't. Nighthawk's hands and feet matched every drumbeat for speed, and with nearly every thud a moogle found its throat cut or a limb severed. Blood flew from her black glassteel sword as if it were Teflon, and nothing broke the rhythm of her movements. If she hadn't been in a battlefield, and hadn't been leaving corpses and dying moogles in a steady stream behind her, observers would have said she was dancing. The incongruity between the beauty of the dance and the sheer carnage all around was mind-boggling. [...Whipping up a fury, Dominating flurry We create the Battery...] Aelis-Re was slower, his steps following only one beat in four of the fast-paced song, but it was evident that he knew a hell of a lot more about the Bladesong than did Nighthawk, for his kill-count was just the same. The simple grace of his movements blinded attackers to the fact of his location, and spears continually jabbed the air to the left and the right of him yet he remained unharmed. * * * * * * As Triu and the avariel took flight, a sudden blast of noise erupted from the north. Tim turned his head and saw what must have been waves of energy flying through the air. What he could make out was a shimmering, like a mirage was about to appear, in the space between the earthern fort and Southvale. Then there was a loud rending and crashing. "The hell is that?!" asked Captain Clive, his chocobo near Tim's. "I don't know, but I like the sound. It must be some awesome music." Tim looked to the south, and saw the lead elements of the Figaroan army coming forth through the brush of overgrown fields, trees, and burned out houses. The ten thousand man army had had very successful attacks against the two moogle encampments to the south. Both of those encampments held around ten thousand moogles, but where in poorly defended positions. The Figaroans sneaked up on the towns and overran the defenses, swarming the moogles and not allowing any to escape. Tim approved of the commander. He had given his green troops a taste of blood. * * * * * * Even though it was not what she had expected to be doing at Southvale, Kat Diligently guarded the earthen fort, with the help of her Lance Henriksen army. She didn't think there was a very good chance that the moogles would attack this fort, but then again, that's what she had thought about Hiel Keep. As she thought about this, a Henriksen approached her and told her that there was a Doman soldier approaching from the south. She instructed him to open the fort's gate to allow the man entry. General Kat met the man and saluted him. He returned the salute and spoke, "General. You're army is needed on the battlefield. General Wang himself sent me hear to summon you. You must hurry. Time is of the essence if we are to defeat the moogles!" 'Alright, finally some action,' Kat thought to herself. "Thank you for the message," she said to him, "you have served your King well." As Kat, Torbeno, and the Henriksens got busy preparing to go to battle, the messenger disapeared and changed his form back to that of a sinister-looking, anthropomorphic dog. "O sweet chaos, long have I thirsted for your delicious intoxication," he smiled. * * * * * * Ash looked out the window of the Big Whale at Southvale, while E'ris piloted. It looked like a war was going on down there. He saw an army of humans fighting against an army of small, white, furry creatures. "What are those white things?" he asked Chaerii. "Those," she said, "are moogles. Vicious creatures with an appitite for destruction. They are currently involved in a war with Doma and it's allies." Ash then noticed that some small-ish people with wings were also fighting against the moogles. "What are those guys with wings?" "I don't know," said Chaerii, "I've never seen anything like them before." "Things look brutal down there. I don't know if it's such a good idea for us to be going there now," said Ash "You want to go home, right?" said E'ris, from the pilot's seat. "No, I enjoy hanging out in this world with the likes of Pikachu, moogles, and you guys," Ash said sarcastically, "Of course I wanna go home!" "Well, like I told you before, the Necronomicon is here somewhere, and that is your best shot at getting home." Ash grumbled as E'ris landed the Big Whale about a mile away from the action, so as not to attract too much attention. * * * * * * Shortly after making it to the outskirts of the town, Kat and her men were attacked by a group of moogles. The Henriksens managed to surround the group of moogles, alternately jabbing them with spears and using their sheilds to block the moogles's attacks. Just when it seemed like the Henriksens were about to beat this group of moogles, another group attacked them from the side. Things became more hectic now, and the Henriksens had trouble fending off both attacking groups. But just as things started to look grim, three strangers appeared and entered the fray. One of them was a man wearing an impressive suit of armor, another was a small, albino woman in Mysidian garb, and the third was an attractive man with a chainsaw where his right hand was supposed to be. The man with the chainsaw drew a shotgun with his left hand and started blasting moogles, while butchering others with the chainsaw attached to his other arm. The woman began casting black magic spells, and fireballs, meteors, and blasts of Holy energy rained down upon the Moogles. The armored man dismembered moogles with his large sword while telekinetically hitting others with nearby objects such as stones and weapons which had been dropped by fallen moogles. * * * * * * Tim looked above and saw the avariel overhead, gaining altitude and staying in a firm line. The avariel mages came to the fore and began chanting. Within a few moments, great torents of air, bursts of water, and even the earth shaking about like snakes were underground erupted around the eastern wall of Southvale. Portions of the wall fell apart, large cracks erupted, and the mighty gates fell askew. "Yes!" said Tim. "We now have a way in." The mages, weakened, began descending, flying to the reserve lines. The avariel warriors readied their bows and began flying forward. They would rain hell upon the moogles within Southvale. As they neared the walls, a rocket shot up, it's white trail of smoke following it in a soft white billowing stream. Several other fireworks followed the first. The barrage sailed into the air, a little higher then the avariel warriors in altitude, and exploded, sending out plumes of smoke and glistening sparks. Tim pondered at why the moogles would want to put on a nice light show when he suddenly remembered something. "GET OUT OF THERE!!!" Tim screamed at the top of his lungs. But it was too late. In horror, Tim saw as the avariel, flapping their wings and staying in place, stunned at the moogles' display, were stunned when the sparks fell upon their wings and set fire. Then the screams began. Tim watched in horror as the avariel took on the form of butterflies with wings of fire. The sight was both enthralling and sickening at once. The screams of pain and terror echoed through the air. Tim realized he could do nothing. * * * * * * Turan looked at the flaming Avariel and snickered. "Smells like cooking chicken..." he laughed. While the Domans and Moogles had been meeting on the Southvale bridge, a seperate force of Moogles was dealing with the Figarons to the west. Turan chuckled. The day was his. * * * * * * The song ended. Hardly a breath passed before Nighthawk set another in motion. They were fighting from the edge to the center now, deliberately heading for the highest concentration of moogles. At least the pace was a *little* slower, Aelis-Re thought. [Metallica: Of Wolf And Man] Something was happening. Flashes of colored light filled the sky, but Nighthawk was concentrating completely on the battle before her, and didn't register the meaning of the light until the pain began. All through her wings there was a burning as though they were aflame, but a quick flick assured her they were not. Crushing pains in her head, chest, shoulders, arms....in a place beyond thought, it registered: her people were dead. Each pain was the pain that had killed one of her people; their last sensations before dying. Wings aflame, they had fallen to the earth and been killed on impact. [...I hunt therefore I am...] Glancing to the sky briefly, she saw the last vestiges of the things that had slain so many. Fireworks. Her eyes narrowed. Fireworks were not a weapon of war - unless someone had betrayed her people. Only Tim had known. [...bright is the moon high in starlight chill is the air cold as steel tonight...] That arrogant peacock had betrayed her people to the death they feared above all others save one. A new fury entered her dance, and she signaled Aelis-Re that they were changing direction. She would fight her way to Tim, allowing him time to fulfill whatever destiny Fate had set aside for him. And if it didn't kill him, she would. [Metallica: Disposable Heroes] Aelis-Re had also seen the fireworks, and unlike Nighthawk knew the dance well enough to look upward and see the fiery wings of avariel dying. So when she changed direction, he wasn't much surprised. Her choice of song made him snicker a bit inside; she never had been one to dance about a subject. [...Bodies fill the fields I see, hungry heroes end No one to play soldier now, no one to pretend...] For whatever reason, Aelis-Re understood Nighthawk meant to kill Tim. The fireworks certainly indicated *someone* knew far too much, but whether it was indeed Tim was beyond his ability to know; not enough information. He returned to concentrating on the task at hand. * * * * * * "MARCH!" cried Tim. Vengence spoke to him now, and made him say the word. The moogles would pay for this. How could they know? How did they figure out such a bold and deadly trick? With no wings to support them, avariel began falling to the earth. They struck the ground like meteors, smoking trails behind them as they hit the earth with thuds. Tim felt tears in his eyes. While the rest of his men had marched, he had stayed in position, unable to see what was going on around him on the ground, his eyes were transfixed on the air above. "Oh gods! Why?" asked Tim. He continued to watch for a moment, unsure of what to do. Avariel were plummeting to their deaths around his men. Tim saw one man vomit from the spectacle. Tim then saw something else which made his eyes widen. From the gates of Southvale, moogles began issuing forth. But they did so in mass. The broken gate of the east had been moved apart, and moogles packed tightly together began marching out, spreading out into a thick line. >From every portal, the moogles emerged and began forming a huge solid white line surrounding Southvale. "So they finally came out of their hole?" mused Roger, next to Tim. "Roger!" shouted Tim. Roger jumped, afraid he had said something untoward. "Ride back to the dragons and tell them to fly in and do a fire bombing run on the moogles. They won't have their cover in Southvale, and although the dragons will take damage, they need to do this since they will be able to do the most damage. GO!" Roger spurred his chocobo, the animal chirping loudly in displeasure, and galloped headlong to the rear. "HALT!" shouted Tim. As one, the soldiers stopped their march. "BATTLE... SQUARE!" ordered Tim. Without a second thought, officers began issuing orders. Cavalry turned and headed to the rear. A line of knights, two hundred long and two thick, stood their ground. Men from either side began wheeling about and turned to form the sides, one hundred men long and two thick. The rest formed the back line, two hundred long. As soon as the battlesquare had been formed, the knights from the second lines began shifting their locations, taking the lead positions. Shields where planted in the ground and buried in place. Armored men took the fore, with the lesser experienced and armored men behind. In the center, two hundred archers began furiously digging themselves raised mounds to shoot from. Tim had moved up to stand within the square. "Runner!" called Tim. A soldier approached on horseback and saluted. "Go to the Figaroans and tell them that we will hold a battlesquare here as long as we can. We'll use our cavalry for support, but tell their commander I want an eye kept on us. If our square folds, send help or all of us will be slaughtered. Understand?" "Yes sir!" "Go!" The man raced off. Tim sat atop of Fluffy, surveying the land around him. It was clear now, but a line of moogles, easily five thousand strong, would march forward and encircle his men. Already Tim could hear the twang of bows as archers began taking aim on the approaching moogles. Many of the moogles bore shields which blocked the shots. Tim looked up as a loud bellowing cry filled the air. A line of dragons flew over a line of trees to the east and flew west. Fast and menacing, the dragons aimed for the northern perimeter of the moogle line, which was beginning to cross the bridge to the earthern fort. A firey blast came forth and struck the packed moogles. The lead dragon then veered south, and followed the moogle line on the western edge, keeping his fire in check. A dragon behind him unleashed a blast from her maw and struck another thick patch of moogles. The line of dragons then veered east and followed the southern line a ways before turning north and following the eastern moogle line. The dragons rained hellish fire upon the white beasts, but the moogles responded by showering the air with crossbolts. Though many went wild, enough shots struck home that ten dragons fell from that pass, and enough were wounded that they flew east and out of harm's way. The damage done was relatively minor. From his vantage, Tim could see the dragons which had fallen to the earth among the moogle ranks. The great beasts flayed about, breathing their last gasps of fire in all directions, then taking on the moogles and their boar cousins with tail swipes, claw strikes, and powerfully snapping jaws. Tim saw one dragon with a moogleboar latched unto it's neck, the giant worm trying desperately to shake off the large brute. The great neck of the dragon whiped the air, but the boar would not let go. Soon, the dragon could not be seen anymore. Tim gritted his teeth. "We stand here and fight!" shouted Tim, loud enough that all of his men could hear. "We fight or we die. And if we die, we die killing these miserable white bastards! We are men, free men, and we shall never live under a tyranny of racist moogles. We shall be free men and we will pay the price of that freedom in moogle blood. Let not one man forgot what these moogles have done to us, to our home, to the human race even. "We shall destroy Turan and his army once and for all. And I shall lead you to that victory for I AM THE LORD OF ALL THAT KICKS ASS!!! GRAAAAAHHH!!!!" Tim yelled and the battlecry was picked up by his men. Their courage was now inspired, the flame of battle and the bloodlust within them all was kindled to a fever pitch. As if a spell had been cast upon them, the humans gripped their weapons and saw only the enemy bringing themselves in to be slaughtered. "For Doma and glory!" shouted Tim. "For Doma and glory!" echoed the men. "For Tim's Dragons!" shouted Evan. "For Tim's Dragons!" echoed the men. And the battle was on.... * * * * * * Umaro grunted as he looked to the south. "Hmmm? What is it, royal servent?" Umaro pointed to a large mass of fur attacking the rear guard. Turan stared. "What the hell..." * * * * * * Kilek roared again as he tore a Moogle's gut from his stomache. He then dangled it in front of the Moogles face, giggling like a mad fool. A second Moogle attempted to thrust his spear into him, but Kilek jumped forward and snapped the blade with his hand. The Moogle yelped as Kilek decided to relieve the pounding of the loins for the fifth time that day. * * * * * * "Grrr... Umaro kill bastard." "No, Umaro." Turan held up his hand to hold him back. "You're more needed here... but I did have someone in mind in case something like this happened." Umaro grunted. Turan pulled out from his sheath a dagger. Sort of a Dagger, that had air holes in the hilt and a blowhole in the guard. Slowly, he began to play a tune. The tune bellowed throughout the valley, across the bridge. And the ground began to burst. Many stared in disbelief. A giant latex... dildo began to rise from the ground. Turan laughed again. "Rise Dildo Weapon, and slay thine enemies!" Dildo weapon let out a terrible roar as he began to storm towards Kilek. [Nemmers never wrote the part about Kilek and Dildo weapon, but the plan was that they would fight, and then fall in love and live happily ever after, seriously.] * * * * * * Tim kicked the dead Moogle on his blade away and stared at the spectacle. "What the hell..." "It looks like a giant penis with arms and legs..." muttered a soldier beside him. "It *IS* a giant penis with arms and legs!" * * * * * * Drugga snarled as he slashed down a Doman soldier. "Wussie 'umiez." From what Drugga could tell, of his 600 Ork warriors, about 300 remained. Whatever. They all came here to die and bash things, so it wasn't like anyone cared. He swung Sephiroth's masamune again at a soldier. This one was different. Considerably larger than a Doman, but still nowhere near Drugga's size. He chopped the man down with little effort. Then, slowly, the crowd around him began to disperse. A lone man beyond him stood forward, bearing a terrible mask. "How dare you assault our forces from the rear..." he said coldly. "Wot? Oh, yooz... yooz Bacca, ain't yooz?" Drugga grinned. "I am Tim... the High Lord of All that Kicks Ass." "Well, yooz 'bout to 'ave yer ass kicked." grinned Drugga. He sheathed Sephiroth's Masamune and from his back produced a massive spiked club. "If yooz don't know, 'm Drugga... da Klubba!" "Prepare to die, vile beast..." muttered Tim. "Prapare ta suck ma ballz, 'umie!" Drugga charged Tim, delivering a massive blow which Tim parried expertly. Tim ducked and slashed his sword across Drugga's midsection, revealing some red blood. "Oooh, tough guy, eh?" * * * * * * The door to the Dark Lord's inner sanctum burst open. Thanatos quickly turned to see Loltrek march in. "Wilma... hide yourself..." he said. Behind Loltrek stood Kain and Cid, Kain bearing a large tome. "So, Loltrek, you finally found it. The Necromonicon Ex Mortus..." Loltrek smiled. "Aye, and now the evil that you are shalt be clensed from this earth." Kain handed Loltrek the Necromonicon as Loltrek slowly began to gather pure white energy in his palm. Thanatos sighed. So this was it, slain by his nemesis, Guroos. Thanatos blinked, an acidic tear began to dribble down his cheek. An unfitting end... Loltrek placed his hand on the page. "Goodbye, Lord of Darkness..." Wilma stared at all this. Thanatos stood patiently, awaiting his fate. She looked at Loltrek, sapping every moment. She looked at the energy bolt growing in his palm. Finally, Loltrek let loose the words... "KLATTU FERRATTA NICHTO!!" he bellowed as the Bolt burst from his hand, ready to demolish the first thing it touch. Thanatos closed his eyes. Soon he would be with his bride. Soon he would see Schala again. Soon-" A loud splat was heard, and a scrap of silk struck him in the face, followed by a rather loud obscenity coming from Loltrek. Thanatos opened his eyes. Across the room were strips of flesh, puddles of blood, stands of hair and chips of bone. Right in front of him sat, ironically, the head of Wilma, locked in eternal death pose of a determined woman. Thanatos stared at her long and hard. Finally, he bent over and closed her eyes. "You are my sunshine... my only sunshine... you make me...happy....when..." Acidic tears began to flow from his eyes as Loltrek stared. Kain and Cid slowly began to back away, while Loltrek just sat there in disbelief. How could anyone love Thanatos so much to give their life for him? Thanatos stared at Loltrek with tear stained eyes. He had placed his hopes and dreams in this woman. All his pain, all the suffering he had caused, finally vented away and hidden in a casket. But now, the casket was shattered. The Daemons he had defeated with her at his side were back again, mocking him, laughing, telling him what a complete shithead he was. Slowly he got up. "Loltrek... Champion of Light and Good..." He spat. HIs eyes were almost clear now. Now, while before they were the eyes of a schemer, one to take advantage of a situation, now they were the eyes of a man with a purpose. Loltrek stepped back. Kain and Cid made a full out run as the Dark Lord let out an ear piercing bellow rivalled only by Godzilla himself. Loltrek sighed. "Perhaps we will meet again, Thanatos." He turned to leave, only to find the doorway had disapeared. "Oh? Leaving already?" asked Thanatos. "Such a shame, and the party had just begun..." Loltrek turned around. Thanatos now bore in either hand a massive battle axe. "Turn thee, Loltrek, and look upon thy death." Loltrek snarled. From his own space he produced a pair of gleaming longswords. * * * * * * Kain and Cid ran down the hallway. "Christ!" yelled Kain. "How the hell could Loltrek miss?" "Nevermind that!" grumbled Cid. "It sounds like they're really going at it up there..." Kain nodded. "Let's just get the hell out of here." said Cid. Kain nodded. They were at a hallway of doors. "Wasn't there a stairway here?" asked Kain. Cid nodded. "Guess we'll have to try a door." They burst through a doorway. Inside was a bare room, with a man in black sitting on his knees, a great broadsword rested on his lap. He looked up. "I am called Nightmare. Are you my next challenger?" "Sorry, wrong door!" yelled Kain as he turned around and went face first into a wall. "What the..." The door was gone. Kain turned around to see Cid, urin leaking down his leg, litterally sliced into two by the black knight. He then looked at Kain, his crimson sword dripping. Kain sighed. "Great father... forgive me..." were the last words be gasped. * * * * * * Drugga made a kick to Tim's stomache. They were getting close to the edge of the bridge now. Tim, beyond pain, replied this with a slash to Drugga's leg. "Ugh. Yooz iz a bit betta fighta 'den yooz granpa." Tim snarled. Drugga laughed at this. "Oi, calm down, shortass." Tim parried another shot at him with his blade and made a kick to Drugga's chest. Drugga immediately bashed him in the shoulder with the spiked club. Blood oozed from Tim's left shoulder as Tim swore and made another slice against Drugga's chest. "Fuck..." he thought. "Does this thing ever DIE?" * * * * * * [...More a man, more stripes you bear, glory seeker trends bodies fill the fields I see the slaughter never ends...] Flick - a cut throat. Slash - a severed arm. Blood never stained the black glassteel sword, as blindingly quick movements tossed the blood in all directions. Every sneering moogle now served as a model of Tim; a cloven skull, a severed neck. [...you will die when I say, you must die Back to the front...] But he didn't. Even as she finally reached the place where Tim was fighting, glimpsing him locked in mortal combat with a large creature she'd never seen before, both of them disappeared from view. She enacted a smoke-shape spell; the thing he'd been fighting was significantly larger than she, armed with a monstrous club. * * * * * * Loltrek threw an energy bolt at the charging, blood mad Thanatos. It was no use. Pain was a gift for him. A lightnight bolt stuck the wall beside him and opened a gaping hole. Loltrek chuckled. "Thanatos, you are still only equal to I. You cannot defeat me." Thanatos, using only one axe now, brought his axe down toward's Loltrek's head. The axe blade connected with Loltrek's holy longsword, snapping the blade. Loltrek gasped at the Axehead parted his snout. "SO you think." snarled Thanatos. THanatos made a swipe at Loltrek with his claw, connecting at the chest. Loltrek growled in pain. He was somehow defeated by this foul creature. As Loltrek felt his body collapse, Thanatos stared into his eyes cruelly. "I shall give ye a swift death, for I am kinder than ye..." Loltrek stared at the brown clouds, the thundering bellows of the wind raging across. He felt the sharp blades of Thanatos' teeth enter his throat, ripping his life away, lapping his blood. He felt his soul exit his body, and flee to the sanctuary. He swore. He had lost, and the world would be without a champion of light for eternity. Thanatos stared at the lifeless form of Loltrek before him. He licked his lips and cleaned some of the blood off his snout. Staring at the skyline before him, he gave Loltrek's form a swift kick, sending him falling into the moat below, where the worms would feast on his divine flesh. Thanatos turned around and picked up the Necromonicon, lying on the ground. "THere are still those who will pay for this." And in a heartbeat, he was gone. * * * * * * Tim screeched in agony as Drugga's club pierced his breastplate. "Not so tough now, eh?" grumbled Drugga. Tim groaned in pain. "Drugga..." Then, he felt the ground give way beneath him. He stared up, part of the bridge had crumbled. Slowly he was falling, falling... to the sea. But there was that damn Ork, only a few feet above him. "Running 'way, eh!?!" grumbled Drugga. "Ah'll show ya, ya coward!" Tim weakly held up his blade in defence, but it was no use. Drugga swung the club and it struck clear on his neck. Tim gurgled out some blood and fell limp. "Oi... stupid 'umie..." grumbled Drugga. Then, he felt a sharp pain penetrait him. He looked behind him. He was impaled on a rock, his entrails streaked across it. "Aw... fuck..." was the last thing he said before he boarded the ferry to the island of the dead. Tim's body sunk, weighed by his armour. Finally, as though his eyes would work, he saw a man standing over him. A fantastic example of a man, and to his side a beautiful maiden. Tim recognized this man, he was the statue in Norland. The man extended his hand to Tim. Tim graciously took it and got up. He looked about him, he was in a great field. "Welcome, High Lord of All that Kicks Ass." smiled the man. "I am Bacca..." Tim blinked. Was he really dead? Had he really been taken to the plane of the greatest heroes? Bacca chuckled. "Your great acts have saved humanity." he smiled as he put his arm around Tim's shoulder and began to walk him off to a building. "I had expected nothing less from you." "Ahh.. thanks." said Tim, somewhat speechless. The maiden nodded. "I shall see you later, Bacca." Bacca nodded back and kissed her. After she strolled off, Bacca looked at Tim. "Now then, you and I shall drink ale and tell of the tales of war." he grinned. "And make heroes out of fools." At this, Tim laughed, and the pair laughed all the way to the tavern. * * * * * * Leaving Aelis-Re to continue the song, Nighthawk darted forward...only to feel the strange psychic twist that told her one of her amulets had been destroyed. For a moment that puzzled her, for the power of the amulets was tied to the souls of the people who wore them. But then, Tim had never worn her gift. Only touched it, only enough for the barest of bonds. But he was the Hero, wasn't he? For the first time she looked around her. The carnage was near total; allies and enemies alike littered the field. The gods had robbed her of vengeance; the battle was ended, and Tim's purpose was fulfilled. A cry intruded on her senses. Aelis-Re! She ran back to where she had left him, but he was fallen. A moogle spear - actually, many moogle spears - pierced his back. She had not been with him to guard his back, and a few of the surviving moogles and taken advantage. The jutting spears had at least spared him kupo. The area was relatively quiet; the song had ended. Spears whistled through her smoke-shaped form, but she paid them no mind. She knelt down at his side. "Tim?" he gasped. "Dead," she replied flatly. "Something big and green got to him before I could." "Now?" he was having trouble breathing. "I could not kill Tim," she said. "So I will take my revenge on his ruler. The humans of this world are without any redeeming qualities, to betray an ally to death for the sake of pride. I will make an example of their king; do not ever expect to betray the avariel and hope to survive it." "Luck," her partner breathed, and then lay still. "Sleep well, my love," she said softly as she stroked his cheek. "When the debts are paid, we will meet again." * * * * * * Turan looked about the field. Most of the armies were decimated. The Moogles had made a fine stand but were ultimately in the same state as the other armies here today. Crushed... "Fuck... and I was to have the world next tuesday." "Perhaps now, your bloodlust will cease." said a familiar voice behind him. Turan bolted around. It was Junior. "Brother!" yelled Turan. "Where have you been?" "Attempting survival. Father left me with a rather large amount of time off..." Turan smiled. "At least you have returned. Come, join me in ruling of the world." Junior sighed. "I cannot be in the company of death any longer..." Turan smiled. "Very well, I shall handle such deeds, and you shall handle others. Think, brother, a worldwide kingdom ruled by Moogles! The way it was meant to be!" A messanger ran up. "Sire, I bear urgent news!" "And that would be?" asked Turan. Junior blinked. There was something odd about this messanger. Turan looked at him oddly as well. "What is your message?" he asked. "Your executioner is here." said the messanger. They both noticed it then. This wasn't a Moogle, only an illusion portrayed by... acting like a Moogle.. this didn't make sense. GoGo stood before Turan. "I have come to fufill my destiny." he said. Turan chuckled as he drew his sword. "Is that so, oh shrouded one?" GoGo nodded, and slowly undid the bandages around his face. A fair face, with red hair. The man smiled. "Hallo, Spaceboy..." "Good grief..." thought Junior. "It's..." "David Bowie..." snarled Turan. "I should have known." The Moogle Bodyguard around Turan slowly backed away in awe of the man before them. David Bowie chuckled. "That is correct. Are you ready to dig it?" Bowie drew his blade and grinned again. Turan took a swing at David, but he only mimmicked the move and then took a chunk of flesh off Turan's chest. Blood sprayed across the ground as Turan clutched the wound. "Y... you..." David smiled. "We can be heroes..." He then hacked Turan's head clear off, then turned away, sheathing the blade. "Just for one day." He looked to Junior. "The ball's in your court, kid." As the Moogleboars began to rush to him, he disapeared, slowly. Finding him gone, the all stared at Turan's corpse and roared. "The King is dead! Long live king Mog!" Junior blinked. That was him. He was king. King of the Moogles. * * * * * * After much fighting, and little non-moogle blood spilled, the Henriksens' attackers were mostly dead, and the remaining few retreated. "Thanks for the help," Kat said to the three strangers, who all looked very different from each other, "Who are you?" "I am E'ris," said E'ris, "and my companions are Ash and Chaerii. We are looking for someone named Loltrek. He is a lizard man, very tall wtih scales of white. I have reason to believe that he has something which we need." "Sorry, I've never heard of him," said Kat. Just then in front of Kat appeared Poochie. "Poochie!" Kat exclaimed, "I'm so glad to see you!" "I'm glad too see you too," said Poochie, "and I'm here to warn you about something. There is a traitor in your midst." "What? Who?" said Kat. Poochie addressed the Henriksens in a louder voice, "I'm sure you've all noticed that one of your own kind was different from the rest. And I'm sure you've heard the rumors that he left your army to join the avariel." There was a collective nod among the Henriksens. Poochie continued, "You've probably that if these rumors are true, this Henriksen's strange behavior can be explained by environmental factors or possibly genetic mutation. But the truth is something much more diabolical." He turned to Torbeno. "The avariel," said Poochie, "are in fact the cause." "What?!" said Torbeno. "The avariel bewitched the Henriksen, as they will bewitch the rest of you. They have been plotting against you and your allies ever since they entered the conflict with the moogles. They see Henriksenia and Doma as threats to their plans of world domination, just as the see the moogles. That is why this scoundrel is hear in the first place," Poochie said, pointing to Torbeno. "Poochie," said Kat angrily, "How exactly do you know that the avariel are against us. I think you're mistaken, just like you were about Ladice." "Well, if you can't believe me, maybe you can believe your own eyes. Look there," he said, pointing in the direction of the fort, "and then you will see the true intentions of Nighthawk and her lackeys." Kat got out her binoculars and looked northward. * * * * * * Uninterested in hunting the remaining few moogles when there was a bigger fish to fry, Nighthawk launched herself skyward and sped back to the fort. Seeing Cyan's encampment, and the guards around it, for a moment common sense intruded. She called on her people through the ring on her finger. From around the camp, only twenty answered her call. "Hold off his guards," Nighthawk said to them. "I'm going to make the flight-captains happy; I will take the madman down in a duel." Her soot-covered people nodded grimly, the screams of the fallen still echoing in their ears. They fell in step behind her, and when they reached Cyan's camp, each one kept an eye on the guards. Fortunately for the avariel, the scores of Henriksens which had been guarding the fort earlier were nowhere to be seen. Nighthawk strode through, and when she finally met up with Cyan, dealt him a ringing blow to the ears. As his face transformed from surprise to anger, she challenged him. "For the deaths of my people and your betrayal, I will have your head. Draw your sword or I will take it!" Cyan touched the side of his face even as his guards prepared to fight. The avariel sighted down their arrows at the guards. Cyan waved them off. "I understand the duel," he said. "Get out of here, all of you but two each." At Nighthawk's nod, two avariel remained and the rest left - and Cyan's guards did likewise. He turned to Nighthawk. "I need no help to lesson a presumptuous puppy, whelp." He drew his sword, and quickly tried for a midline cut. Nighthawk parried, and tried a high strike at his shoulder. She made no comment, no reply. Just stared Cyan right in the eyes, and let the full force of her fury show. "Honestly, I have no idea what thou art talking about. I have not betrayed thy people, nor Tim either. But no one may take a hand to a King and walk free." He parried the strike at his shoulder and twirled his sword in an overhead Dispatch chop. Which Nighthawk simply sidestepped, snaking her sword out in a slash at groin-height. Cyan parried, but the closeness of the blade was enough to enrage him. He lashed out in a stunning Quadra Slice, his sword moving too fast to see. Nighthawk could not dodge or parry. Four times the blade struck home; in each shoulder, in the left leg, in the stomach. She fell to her knees, lurching to the right on her uninjured leg. Cyan, thinking her finished, stepped in for the slash that would remove her head. Which Nighthawk used to drive her sword up through his gut, under his ribs, to pierce his heart. Gasping his last, King Cyan fell to the floor. Holding her stomach wound closed, she nodded to her guards. "It is done, we are avenged." Swaying on her feet, the strength leaving her arms and leg, she whispered, "Get the priests, damnit..." The world grew dark. * * * * * * "Oh my God!" exclaimed Kat, "She killed Killed Cyan!" "See? I told you," said Poochie. Kat glared at Torbeno, who returned the look with the expression of apologetic disbelief. "The interloper must be terminated before he turns the Henriksens against each other and then summons his people to finish them all off." "Seize him," Kat said to her men. Two Henriksens grabbed Torbeno's arms, but he made no resistance. "The only way to stop him from ensorcelling you all now is to terminate him!" said Poochie. Kat cringed. "Are you sure about that?" "Yes," said Poochie, "I was right about Nighthawk, wasn't I?" Kat sighed. "Now," said Poochie, "KILL HIM!!" "I'm sorry we didn't get to know each other better," Torbeno said to Kat, you are a very charming person." Kat turned away, feeling some very strong conflicting emotions, and reluctantly signalled the Henriksens to do as Poochie said. A Henriksen ran a spear through Torbeno's midsection, as Ash and E'ris looked on, and Chaerii buried her face in Ash's shoulder. Kat walked to the dying man. As blood dripped from his smirking mouth, he produced a scroll, which he offered to Kat. After she warily accepted it, the avariel's body fell limp and began to combust as a result of the enchantment of his amulet, which was intended as a deterent for anyone who dared to hunt avariel for their feathers. Kat opened the scroll and began to read. * * * * * * To the General Kat, from Guard Captain Nighthawk, greetings. This missive should reach thee from the hands of my Flight-Captain, Torbeno. I have instructed him to present it to thee upon the end of the battle, or upon his death, whichever should come first. It has taken some time, General Kat, to decide exactly what I should reveal to thee, since I did not have the time to become acquainted with thee before the battle, and should we both survive it I will have other concerns. That I should spend time with my own people and with Lord Tim rather than with thee, do not take ill. I will not - indeed, cannot - explain all to thee; some things I think only age has allowed me to understand and I have no wish to confuse thee. Firstly, the primary reason for this missive: I owe thee a great debt, and it is fundamental to me that I pay my debts. I recognize thou mightest not be aware of the debt to which I refer; allow me to refresh thy recall. A Lance Henriksen came to thee not long ago, behaving differently from the others; this was the reincarnation of my bondmate. Perhaps thou wouldst think of us as husband and wife. I can only say that the difference between a spouse and a bondmate is that the vows of a spouse release thee at death - either yours or theirs - but the vows of a bondmate bind for eternity. He was once an elf of mighty gifts; a swordsman greater than any I have seen upon this world. We met and loved so long ago the house from which thou didst spring had not even been concieved of, let alone founded. But before he died, I became a worldwalker, and so his fate is sealed. Until I die and leave the world, his soul is reborn again and again to whatever species is near me at the time of his death. He is whatever he was born to be until our paths cross again, when he remembers who he was, who he is, and we are together again. So it happens that when the moogles slew him near Heil Keep, he was reborn as a Lance Henricksen when thy army split. ... * * * * * * Kat rolled up the scroll without reading the rest, and placed it in her satchel. She looked at Poochie angrily. "I believe I just killed an innocent man because of you." There were tears in her eyes. "Believe what you want," said Poochie, "But by killing him, you just saved many lives. Speaking of saving lives, I've got some business to attend to." As he flew away, Kat decided that something about him was different now, definately. Once he was out of her view, Poochie changed shape again, this time assuming the form of an avariel. * * * * * * Things were a lot clearer now. The priests, overworked already healing the other survivors, hadn't managed to completely heal Nighthawk. But they had managed to heal her enough so that she would survive, and they'd bandaged the wounds. She stood, somewhat shaky, and picked up her sword. "One thing left to do." Walking over to Cyan's body, she swung her sword and neatly severed his head. Picking it up by the hair, she turned to the survivors of her race. "The war is won; the moogles are crushed. But I will have no further dealings with the human race. That they felt they could use us and discard us tells me that in all the universe, there are no kingdoms of humans with even a shred of honor towards one not of their own kind. Individuals I will see; but nations are our enemies from this day forward. Let's head out, my friends." But before she took flight, she felt a sharp pain tearing through her midsection. Somewhere, one of her people had been stabbed with a spear. Just then, an avariel man landed before her. "Captain Nighthawk," he said with desparation in his voice, "Kat just murdered Flight Captain Torbeno! She would have killed me too, but I was quick enough to escape with my life. As we speak, they are making plans on using their knowledge of our weakness to finish what the moogles started." Nighthawk looked at the avariel keenly. "You're missing something important, you know," she remarked casually. "I know every single warrior I brought with me. But y'know, I don't know who you are. On top of *that*, while you've managed to imitate the appearance of the amulet quite well, I can feel at this range it's not real. Not to mention the simple fact that Torbeno was alone, and the others with me - so even if you *were* real, you'd be facing serious punishment for disobeying orders. Fellas, go ahead and shoot him." But before any of the survivors could take aim, whatever it was changed its shape and flew off much faster than any avariel could catch. Nighthawk waved her soldiers' bows down and sighed. The spells to heal her had taken much of her stamina, and the day-long battle hadn't helped her reserves. So she opted to walk. "All right," she said. "I'm going to find out what the hell is going on. I've still got a few smoke-shape spells left, so a few of you can come along, but the rest of you make for that ridge over there, out of the way." She looked over the soot-coated survivors. "Laris of House Jay, Yassir of House Macaw, you come with me. The rest of you get the hell out of here." The remaining avariel quickly took off, flying as fast as they could to get out of the way. The blue-winged priest and the green-winged mage she'd chosen stood by respectfully. "I don't know what -- whatever that was -- has done, but I'm sick of death today," she said. "I have no faith the humans could see through its tricks, so they're likely to be unfriendly. Let's keep things defensive until we discover whether they really want to start another war, shall we?" As Nighthawk enacted the smokeshape spells, Laris used his priestly gifts to cast magical shields around them, and regenerative spells that would keep any wounds from bleeding. Yassir augmented this with a spell that would - for a while - cause swords to glance off their skins without cutting. When all the spells were cast, the three walked off towards the battlefield. However his death had been caused, the Henriksens owed her for the life of an innocent man. * * * * * * "Damn," Poochie said to himself, "She is smarter than I gave her credit for. No matter, there is still fun to be had." He made himself invisible, and then went among the Henriksens and disguised himself as one of them. Kat looked towards the fort again with her binoculars, and she saw that Nighthawk and two other avariel were walking quickly in their direction. "Prepare for combat," Kat said. It didn't matter now whether or not Torbeno had been innocent. A conflict with the avariel was inevitable now. "I think we should leave," said E'ris, "Fighting here will not help us find the Necronomicon." Ash and Chaerii nodded in agreement. "Good luck, General," E'ris said to Kat, "But there are things we must take care of." Kat sighed. She really did not want to fight the avariel, but it seemed that she had no choice. Now, Nighthawk and her assitents were almost upon them. The Henriksens readied their spears and the avariel drew their crossbows. But just as they were about to fight, they were knocked down by by a tremendous force as were E'ris, Ash, and Chaerii, who had just started to walk away. Coming down from the Sky was a huge dragon, who breathed a stream of white-hot energy at one of the Henriksens. When the dragon finally stopped the assault, all that was remained on the scorched patch of ground were two shiny stones, which the dragon picked up. At the sight of this terrible dragon, the avariel were paralyzed with fear. Even Nighthawk felt more than a little apprehensive. When the dragon saw the effect his appearence had on the avariel, he changed his form to that of a young-looking, blonde haired man wearing royal robes. "Allow me to explain," he said to everyone with his large voice, "I am Bahamut, King of the Esper nation. I accept accept all responsibility for the death of your friend. It occured because I sent my servant Poochie to complete a task which I should have done myself. I overestimated the will of Poochie, and underestimated the power of Denar." "Denar?" said Kat, "I thought he was dead." "Yes, he was murdered by the Moogles, but when an Esper dies, they leave behind a piece of magicite, which contains their essence. I sent Poochie to retrieve Denar's magicite, but it's evil influence was too much for him. He became posessed with Denar's spirit, and then used his shapeshifting abilities to attempt to deceive both of your armies, so as to turn them against each other. I had to stop him." "So, Poochie is dead now?" asked Kat. "In a manner of speaking," said Bahamut, "but his spirit lives on inside his magicite. And the next time Poochie is needed, I will resurrect him." "You have the power to bring the dead back to life?" asked Nighthawk. "Yes, but only espers," said Bahamut, "I would bring back your flight captain if I could, but I cannot. And now that I've completed my task, I will leave. But first, I have something for you, Kat." He presented her with a impressive-looking sword, with a blade of shining steel and a hilt of gold and diamonds. Etched into the blade was the name, "B. Deets." "Wait," said E'ris, "before you go, could you tell me where we can find a man named Loltrek?" "Loltrek is dead," said Bahamut, "But the Necromonicon you seek will be to the north. But I would stay clear of there if I were you. A conflict is about to take place that is much bigger in scale than the moogle war." "I think we can handle ourselves," said E'ris, "We've made it this far after all." Bahamut transformed back into a dragon and flew back into the Sky, towards the moon. E'ris and his companions made their way northward. Nighthawk approached Kat and spoke, "An innocent life is gone. Taken without malice, but taken nevertheless. There has been enough death today to last for a thousand years. If you would honor Torbeno's life, do what he would have done with it. There are few humans left anywhere around here. Take an hundred acres of their land, those humans who are dead, and build a park. Plant it with tall trees such as Torbeno would have lived in; plant tall seeding grasses that bring the finches of his House. Make it a place of peace and beauty and birdsong. Do this, and we will ask no more of you." "Yes," said Kat, "I will do that." * * * * * * Thanatos stood at the battleground. "Rktktos!!!" he bellowed. "Come from thy hiding, for I shall execute ye!" A doman soldier stared at him in disbelief. Thanatos looked at him accusingly. "Do you know where I can find him? Of course not." Thanatos snapped his fingers and the soldier burst into flames. He looked south. He smelt him coming. Finally, the feathered cloaked Rktktos, the Grey, appeared. "Yes?" "You betrayed my trust..." uttered Thanatos. "And now you will pay for it." "Ah... Thanatos, you must understand my reasoning." smiled Rktktos. "Someday, Godzilla will rise again, and we will only be able to repel him if our energies are focused into one of us. After you die, I shall claim you and Loltrek's strength at the Sanctuary. "Bastard..." swore Thanatos. Rktktos smiled. "I would be careful. You have been weakened by your hatred." "I have been augmented by your assholeness." sword Thanatos. He drew his battle axe. Rktktos sighed and drew his Katana. This time, Rktktos took the first swing, which Thanatos parried with the hilt of the blade. Slowly, around them, the clouds began to bleed in red. Thunder was bellowing through the hills. THanatos swung his axe with full strength, and Rktktos barely dodged the killing blow. Rktktos ducked under and took a swing at Thanatos' chest. Thanatos jumped to the side and delivered a swift kick to the head. Then, as Rktktos reeled back, a lightningbolt struck him, causing him to fall back further. Thanatos growled as he held out the Necromonicon, and opened it to the page. "Guroos was always a buffoon, but I, Tyrquah, will finally acomplish what I set out to do those many thousands of years ago." Rktktos snarled. "Don't, THanatos. I am your ally..." "You are nothing." said Thanatos coldly. "Klattu Ferrata Nichto." Rktktos screamed in agony as lightning pierced his flesh from all angles. He writhed and bellowed in horror. THanatos threw the book aside and took his axe with both hands. "Goodbye old friend.." he snarled as he swung at Rktktos again, with full strength, sending Rktktos' head clear off. He fell to his knee. Now, he was the last... he had to get to the Sanctuary... "Wilma... Schala... Glenn... Seral... Lyqila... thine deaths are avenged..." He heard the Necromonicon lifted. He had no need for it now. Then, he heard a blade drawn. "I have been waiting for this, Dark Lord..." Thanatos slowly opened his eyes. It was E'ris, the man he had toyed with many times. "Ah, so now ye seeks to attempt the life of a broken man." chuckled Thanatos. THanatos hoisted himself up. E'ris looked at Ash, clutching the Necromonicon, with Chaerii at his side. "Get out of here." Ash started to say something, but nodded and the pair walked off. E'ris and Thanatos began to circle each other. "I sense new strengths in ye..." chuckled Thanatos. "Perhaps you have finally awakened." E'ris said nothing. The two met, blades singing off eachother, E'ris parrying Thanatos' axe with stunning technique, and Thanatos blocking the blade with the hilt of his axe. Up, left, down, parry, advance, defend, parry, advance, down, up. They met each other's blows stunningly, neither refusing to give. "Interesting..." growled Thanatos. "You have put up more of a fight than either of my counterparts." "And you..." said E'ris. "Have disapointed me, since I am still alive." Thanatos chuckled. He parried E'ris blow and then threw him back a few fight. "If you seek to kill me, you may do so at your leisure, but I sense a greater force behind your actions than revenge." chuckled Thanatos. "You have earned my respect, at least." E'ris chuckled. "Perhaps that was all I truely wanted, for the dignity of the seeker caste." Thanatos chuckled. Then, the pair suddenly stopped, as a terrible chill grew up their spine. Slowly, on the horizon, the form of the great Godzilla came into view. "Impossible..." uttered Thanatos. "You've made a fatal error, Thanatos..." bellowed Godzilla as he came near. "I was merely sent back six hundred years, and was able to wait you out. I knew Loltrek would turn against you, so I..." He let out a fiery set of breath onto a farm, incinerating it. "Bided my time." E'ris looked at THanatos. He looked positively miffed. "Anyways, Thanatos, I will now claim my rulership of this earth again. You have five minutes to disapear." Thanatos blinked. E'ris looked at him. "We can defeat him." "No we cannot." said Thanatos. "His power is equal to Loltrek, Rktktos and I combined, and he knows of the Sanctuary." "The Sanctuary?" "I would explain if I could..." "Well, you are not going to allow him to slay you?" THanatos sighed. "I will withdraw to my grove, and bury my dearest Wilma there." Thanatos began to walk off. E'ris sighed. "Might I join ye?" Thanatos looked at him. "I don't see why not." And the pair faded away. Godzilla roared in glee. * * * * * * Junior stared at the spectacle. The Doman forces had fled back to the city, and Figarons were embanked on the Northern coast. The Moho had fought and gone, and the Elven forces of Aramarth had returned to the wood. The Orks all lie dead, having killed many, many humans and Moogle. The remaining Moogle force, once fifty thousand strong, sat encamped at the southern part of the bridge, numbering at about 2000. "We are witnessing the beginning of a new era..." said Junior. "No longer will our world be ruled by Thanatos, Loltrek and Rktktos, but under the one known as Godzilla..." Umaro nodded. "As tribute to this ruler, I hereby order the remaining Moogle host to pull out of Southern Doma and offer it to him. We shall return to Vector and rebuild." The Moogles all looked among themselves. They certainly weren't interested in another fight, with the severe beating they took. Slowly, they began to take down their tents and march to the south. The war, so to speak, was over. * * * * * * Ash sat in the S-Mart, talking with a few friends. "And that is how I was able to come home." "So you battled deadly Pikachites and moogles, and witnessed the evil incarnate?" asked some nerdy freak. "Well, yes." smiled Ash. "Are you *SURE* you got the words right this time?" Ash looked at him angrily. "Of course! Well... maybe I didn't get every single syllable down, but yes, I said them." Just then, from behind them, a Pikachu appeared! "Pika-CHU!" It sent a lightning bolt at Ash. "Ow!" Ash flew back. Then, it saw a young maiden. "Pika-Swallow your soul-CHOO!" It began to bound down the hall after her. Just then, it stopped as it heard a click. Ash stood there, bearing a shotgun. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the store." The Pikachu stared at him angrily. "Pika-CHU!" "Come get some." said Ash snidely. The Pikachu began to charge him. Ash quickly jumped on a charge and rolled towards it, firing six shots which splattered the vile Pikachu across the isle. Ash jumped off at the ladies' side. He smiled. "Hail to the king, baby." -- The eternal lord of darkness... "And if our dreams sometimes come true, then what of our nightmares?" -The undisputed Master of Final Fantasy 2 -GM of FF2c -Member in good standing of Sky's Posse ICQ UIN# 23424269 IRC Nicks: TheDarkLord, GannondorfDragmire, occasionally Blackthorne System: Amiga 4000/040 Cybervision64 & Opalvision ---INTEL/MICROSOFT FREE---