Re: Org. XIV (story)

[Stormwolfex]

"Mission accomplished," the man snapped his fingers as he got to his feet, one hand reaching into his jacket to pull out a small, glimmering red gemstone. "I think it's about time we make our entrance."

"Well, finally," the female gave a low sigh as she too held a small gemstone the colour of amber. "Too bad, it was just getting good. He let his guard down, pity."

"Let's go," the man murmured as the gemstones radiated a brilliant light onto them.

"Soul Equip."

-Battle-

"Rexial!" Hercules gave an enraged howl as he lunged forward with incredible speed, the entity unable to bring up any form of defense as Hercules slammed a fist into its face. A thunderous sound echoed, the entity hurtling across the black mud as Hercules glowed a faint golden. The hole in his side hurt but Hercules ignored that as he gently picked up Rexial. "Rexial! Speak to me!"

The entity slowly staggered to its feet, its head stuck at an odd, lopsided angle as both hands came up to snap it into place. Then, it turned back to Hercules and the others. The mud pulsed as the entity glanced downwards, shaking its head slightly as pillars of darkness shot up from the ground and tore into the skies.

[Zeldaman2.0]

Jackie acutely noticed the lack of reaction to the spell, noting that the spell seemed to target a point, not a person. She looked around and noticed Al as he was bearing down on her. She planted her spear and aimed it at him so that if he didn't do anything he'd be hurt by his own momentum. Careful not to be so firm with her stance, she reprimands herself internally for being such a stone. (Bend more, move more. Gotta stay light.)

[NebulaGregarZX]

"Hey, not bad." Aleri muttered to himself as he concentrated, activating the skill he had learned from Soren: Focus, the ability to speed up his own perception and thought processes greatly... and effectively go into bullet time. The effects were amplified by Broken Soul, the tool that had been used to train him with this ability.

He swerved his body out of the way of the polearm, landing behind Jackie and taking a swing... only for his leg to buckle and his swing to stop short.





Rexial's eyes moved slightly, a flicker of recognition in them as he saw Hercules. But he didn't move beyond that, or make any sound. He could easily have been mistaken for a corpse at this point, given his frozen expression of pain and disbelief and his gaping wounds.

[khfreak358]

Necro stared on in horror. He may not have known Rexial long, but he could see the pain in Hercules' eyes. And he wasn't about to let that go unpunished.

He ignited his lightsaber the weapon letting off it's usual blck glow… before it started to crackle with electricity. Not being satisfied with that, he bolstered the lightning with a burst of telekinetic energy. He then reared his a back and hurled the weapon at the entity, immediately following that by darting after it with near-Mercurian speed, his arm crackling with the same energy as his weapon, ready to punch the entity in the jaw.

[Admin (HalcyonWandering)]

Thalia gasped as the entity skewered Rexial. She glared at the creature yet didn't make a move to attack it, Rexial was her priority right now.

"We need to leave, Necro! We can't risk more casualties!" Thalia cried out as she stabbed her star into the ground and twisted hard, conjuring a whirlwind to give them space. A portal opened near Hercules and Thalia shouted a frantic command, "Go! I'll try and hold it off until you're through!" A Thundaga spell crackled in her hands and blasted the entity likely to little avail but Thalia's goal was distraction not destruction.

The corridor led to the main hall of the organization's Castle, the only place that Thalia was certain that there'd be someone who could potentially help Rexial.

[Zeldaman2.0]

Jackie, seizing her moment, swung the butt of her spear hard up towards Aleri's face before realizing it was uncharacteristic of him to seize up like that, and remembering what he said about his arm. (Could he be pushing himself while fighting me? No good...) Unfortunately, the swing already made, Jackie couldn't stop the motion even if she wanted to.

[NebulaGregarZX]

Aleri reeled to the side a bit, rolling with the strike, making no motion to evade or block it. After a moment's pause, he raised his left hand to his cheek, taking to fingers off the hilt of his Keyblade to touch his stinging face.

Taking his hand away, he stood back up and shook his head. "No, no, gotta finish this up first... Miss Jacqueline, continue the match. I'm afraid I've become a little anxious to get it over with, though, so if you don't finish it, then I will." I just hope this feeling of mine is wrong.

He leapt back, making some space for himself before assuming a new stance.

[Zeldaman2.0]

"Fair enough. Sorry I took advantage of that." Brandishing her spear with calm, Jackie let off an extremely fast flurry of strikes with her spear. "Quicksilver!" Her spear went for his jugular, his right arm, and aimed to hamstring him in the many quick attacks. Jackie's stern gaze matched Aleri's own, and her posture no longer had a hint of defense.

[NebulaGregarZX]

"While I appreciate the concern, you don't need to apologize. It wouldn't be the first time I've been hit in the face while spacing out for one reason or another."

He used his Focus again and parried her thrusts, and during a slight lull, spread his palm and cast a Fira spell. She's not defending. Fair enough; I told her this would be the end of the match. It's kind of a shame I have to cut this short, but I'm not going to wait to check things out.

Expecting the force of the spell to knock her back, he quickly cast a Mine Shield spell behind her.

[Zeldaman2.0]

Realizing her mistake, Jackie quickly had two thoughts: firstly, she should invest in bucklers and train to use them, secondly, this was going to hurt. In retaliation, she stabbed at Aleri's hand before the first spell threw her backwards, straight into the mines, which launched her skyward. Both magical impacts seemed to have left her body limp.

[NebulaGregarZX]

Oh, crap, I think I overdid it...

Aleri cast Float on her to reduce her weight, unsummoning the Keyblade and diving to try and catch her. Of course, all he could really do was put his now-bleeding hand under her head to lessen the impact further. "Ow, ow, ow... brought that one on myself... Are you okay?"

[Zeldaman2.0]

Jackie was unable to respond, the front of her body a slightly different shade than the rest, the fire scorching her outer wear and revealing still-warm chainmail underneath. She was completely unconscious, and her breathing labored.

[NebulaGregarZX]

He cradled her in his one useable arm and looked at her face.

Yep, unconscious. Better heal her. Er, I should cool her down first. If I use an ice spell, that would damage her armor and might have adverse effects on her body.

Gently setting her back down, he cast Aero to air-cool her, then used Cura on her.

I should've been more careful... Sorry.

[Zeldaman2.0]

Jackie's eyes fluttered open, coughing up and belching out a little smoke. "Augh... Hey, sorry for your hand and all, but... consarn it all, that really hurt." Looking down, Jackie noticed she looked and felt... fine? Slowly standing up with Al's help, she bent this way and that, inspecting herself for damage. "So... fire, propulsion, healing, apparently... is there nothing you cannot do?" Upon speaking 'cannot', however, her eyes fell and she nearly fell over herself. "I didn't pass, did I?"

[NebulaGregarZX]

Aleri scratched his head. "Magic is an incredibly variable force. I'm not actually the greatest mage around, but I'm no slouch." His sheepish grin vanished as she nearly fell again. "Woah, steady. I know Rex would've said something about respecting you for getting in one last jab at me before going down. Besides, you did amazing."

He laughed. "The only people who actually did better in their initiations were Lance Willright and Eira Delacour. And, well, that second one's debatable. You passed with flying colors, and I'm sure that our leader will have no trouble accepting you into the organization. And, uh... sorry. I got carried away at the last moment."

[Zeldaman2.0]

Jackie's face lit up harder and faster than it had ever before. "I succeeded...? I actually did that admirably?! I...! I...! I can look for Dad properly now... I can assist with your search for Verde, look for Dad, and create a difference...." Jackie's voice cracked at the end, and she full-on burst into tears, covering her face and leaning against Aleri until her sobbing subsided. "I have never been this happy... I am sorry. I really am remorseful for acting this way and will make amends... but...."

[NebulaGregarZX]

"Ah, um, uhhh... no trouble! No trouble at all!" He blurted out, not really sure what to say. Forcing himself to calm down for a moment and think straight, he smiled. "Now we just need to tell the boss, and get you a number, a title, and a uniform. Let's go, miss Jacqueline."

Vita patted Kotank on the back as she stood up. "Buddy, I do not envy your job." She leapt down to the floor, walking over to the two with poorly-disguised irritation. "So, congrats! Who's supposed to train her?"

"Huh? Oh, right, I suppose a crash course couldn't hurt." Aleri tried lifting his right arm again, his body jerking in pain. "Ow... I dunno who should do it. I mean, the only person who uses a weapon with the same reach is our leader. I mean, if Dispatch were around, I think he knew how to use a spear, so I'd nominate him. As it stands, no clue. I think we can sort it out later."

The girl stepped briskly past them, towards the door. "Alright, let's just hurry up and talk to the boss..."

[Stormwolfex]

The sound of glass shattering reverberated throughout the battlefield, bolts of lightning and fire crashing onto the battlefield with devastating accuracy as Hercules fell to his knees from the impact but still holding on tightly to Rexial as he briefly spotted Necro being flung back with tremendous force.

"Sorry about that," someone murmured, a male voice, almost apologetically. "Sneak attacks aren't really my thing but I can't really let my guard down against monsters like you guys," the smoke cleared, revealing a man and a woman standing in front of the entity. The male had messy charcoal hair, clad in a suit of red and silver knight armour and a massive great sword slung across his back. His sapphire eyes surveyed the group carefully, no trace of arrogance or malice present. Just a tremendous pressure emanating from him.

The female was slightly shorter, her hairs done up in curly twintails and also holding a massive, oversized hammer that seemed almost comical on her petite figure. Her amour was less ornate than her male partner beside her, looking like a mix between light metallic armour surrounded by a brown pelt as a coat. "We're just here to collect what belongs to us, so I would rather not have to kill you..." the female added coolly, her emerald eyes flickering to each of the fighters calmly.

Hercules's entire body trembled, his teeth grinding against each other as he tried to get to his feet. But try as he might, the lightning seemed to have paralyzed his limbs and he could tell the others were not well off either.

[Admin (HalcyonWandering)]

Thalia shuddered against the pressure of electricity, her mastery of the element being the only thing allowing her to stand let alone move, "W-Who are you?" She willed her body to move but she could barely muster a bolstering gust.

"W-Why?" She took an unsteady step forward, her blade primed. Working through her paralysis, Thalia was having trouble moving but had no intention of giving up. Finally, an Aeroga spell picked up around her and the crackling energy that was disabling her started to disperse.

"I can't let you hurt any more people. What do you want with this world?" Thalia finally managed to speak in proper sentences, her stance was ready for bursts of action as her wind spell fended off the debilitating lightning. Unvoluntarily, she trembled. These people had a power emanating from them unlike any enemy she had faced before.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A young woman's voice spoke up from behind the group, "You're looking for a weapons expert?"

Pheonix, her long hair done up in a braid and dressed in training fatigues, stepped into the training room.

"I decided to stop by to limber up a bit. But, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation..." The young woman looked downcast, "I'm probably not qualified though. I was never officially initiated into the organization like Lance was."

[NebulaGregarZX]

Vita shrugged. "Last I checked, you were in the same league as us. I'm pretty sure you're qualified enough that the boss would let you teach Jackie here. Don't look so down. Even if he says no, I'll change his mind!" She pounded a fist into her open palm. "Of course, it's partially up to Jackie herself."

"Her training would include weapon skills, and being taught about Heartless and how our missions work. I'm sure Xeromus would rather an actual member do that part, but you could teach her how to use her spear better." Aleri cradled his chin in the crook of his fingers, thinking. "...Yeah, you're well-known enough by the organization that we can trust you with this. It's not like we're as uptight as we were when the group started."

[Zeldaman2.0]

Jackie, having been following along and having calmed down at that point, smiled openly and honestly through her red, puffy cheeks and eyes. "Anyone who can help me better myself would be much appreciated. Though, and I hope you'll forgive my arrogance in requesting this so suddenly, but additionally I'd like to study under a proficient Thunder magic user in order to heighten my proficiency. I'm not quite as good as Dad, and from what I've seen he might be far from the best."

[Stormwolfex]

"This world," the man's nose wrinkled in distaste. "Nothing, actually. This planet was just an unfortunate casualty of the experiment." He glanced at the shadow being with a hint of interest. "Oh, but how rude of me. We forgot to introduce ourselves to the spouse of Willright," he gave a thin smile. "Terath, at your service."

"..." The female beside Terath gave a low sigh,"Code of honour, as usual..." she gave a careless shrug. "Bryn," the female introduced herself while fixing Thalia with a warning look. "I wouldn't try anything funny if I were you. I honestly don't want to have to fight you. The rage of King Willright might be a little too much for me handle..."

The two looked up as the dark pillars of energy rending the skies converged into a single point, swirling and combining as a tremendous surge of energy crackled in the rumbling skies. "Looks like it's starting," Terath murmured, his eyes gleaming in anticipation.

[NebulaGregarZX]

"I could teach you." Aleri offered. "I'm no specialist, but I know enough about magic. Of course, that means less time for my own training, but I don't mind if it's to help you out."

[Admin (HalcyonWandering)]

The queen nodded with a hint of poise, her whirlwind growing larger. Her blade rest calmly in her hands. Debating on her next move, Thalia twirled the weapon in thought.

She looked between the pair. Both of them seemed rather full of themselves. Either arrogant or aware, she couldn't tell. Thalia decided it best to talk.

"So, you heard of me." Thalia smiled, veiling her internal irritation.

"Perhaps you'd like to explain why you find it proper to experiment with inhabited worlds." The young woman deflected the warning look casually as if unaware of the threat. Her court training was pulling its weight.

------------------

Pheonix shrugged at that idea, "Personally, if you're looking for a specialist, you wouldn't want Aleri."

She looked apologetically at the young man, "Your magic is probably the greatest I've seen but if you want a Thunder mage, I'm pretty sure there are better tutors."

"Although I'm sure that her time is no less limited than yours, Thalia's specialty is Thunder and Aero, for example."

[NebulaGregarZX]

"Hey! ...But she does make a good point. Thalia might make a better teacher than I would. But mind if I make a suggestion? Why not ask Merlin? He lives in Traverse Town, but he's a bit of a recluse. It's possible you've never met him."

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