Org. XIV (story)

[Whats_Up4444]

"They made me wear a bow-tie" Zane jokingly said raising her chin up so they made eye contact.

[AKeybladeYouSay]

Sally looked up at him, a soft smile spreading across her face, a few tears springing from her eyes.
"Look how far we've come..."

[Whats_Up4444]

"This is only the start" Zane wiped her tears, almost smearing and having the markings shown.

[Maverick Entity]

"That's my cue" Roland said suddenly before throwing off his jacket, a small ring of light shrouding him for a moment before he reappeared, dressed in the cloth of a clergyman.

Amidst the puzzled expressions of all standing next to him but Gunamnex, Roland winked before stealthily making his way down the marble, quickly making his way through a back hall door and towards the stage, a small leather tome in hand.

Stepping behind the preacher platform, Roland smiled at the two standing before him, before clearing his throat to speak.

"Love, a force that coexists alongside light and darkness.  It burdens us with unrelenting emotions, yet grants us the full expression of our hearts.  As old as time itself, it drifts on within our hearts, regardless of who we are.  Human, sentient beings, heartless, nobodies, all have some connection to this force.  How each individual decides to use their love is an extension of their heart, mind, and soul."


"Today, we bear witness to two individuals who have decided to use their love to strengthen one another, to be intricately linked throughout eternity.  From today to the end of time, through trials unimaginable in scale, their love for each other will be tested.  They will succeed however, for today, their oaths of love stand as a testament to their devotion to one another, to support each other even when the ground they stand on is shaky."

"Will the two of you be reciting personal oaths?"

[lethalityComplex]

The boy watched as the 'clergyman' entered the room. He gave a suspicious look from under his invisibility spell. That does not look like any clergyman I've ever seen. Then again, I may just be overthinking things... he thought.

[AKeybladeYouSay]

"Yes, we will." Sally said to Roland.
"Zane... When we first met... We didn't get off to a great start... I was condescending, and I was self-centered, and I used to think that that was all because of the fact that I couldn't feel anything... But after reflecting on it for all this time we've been together, I know now that the reason I was like that was because of the way I was treated before I escaped the Organization... I was just an experiment... I felt worthless knowing that. But since we've been together, I've realized that you've helped me turn myself into something greater. Something more significant than just an experiment. If it weren't for you, I don't know what I would've done with myself... You've made me a better person, and you've allowed me to recognize what I could become, what I could do, what I could achieve and get out of myself. I know that as long as I have you, I will be much more significant than what I used to think of myself. And for that, I thank you... So very much. I will ecstatically agree to stay with you for the rest of my life, because... you are my life. I might not even be here today if it weren't for you. I owe my being to you, Zane. And I love you with every fiber of my being."
Sally was sobbing slightly by the end of her speech, and she lifted one of her hands to wipe the tears away, smudging the makeup off ofher cheeks, exposing her dark triangular markings.

[Whats_Up4444]

"Sally....we been through hell and back, and that just proves to me we're meant for each other. The odds of you, and me becoming Nobodies were slim as is, let alone ending up in the same world out of thousands. Doing things against our will, hurting each other without their conscious thoughts, yet ending up here. That's destiny" Zane gently wiped the tears.

"I want you in my life, forever. And a fruit isn't enough. I wouldn't forgive myself if I let you slip away into the arms of another....because we are meant for one another. I won't let you go".

[Maverick Entity]

Roland nods to both of them before looking straight at Zane.


"Herr Zane, do you take Sally to be your wife, your eternal love, and the keeper of your heart?"

[Whats_Up4444]

"Of course!" He looked at Roland, then back to Sally. "I mean 'I do'."

[Maverick Entity]

Looking to Sally now, Roland addressed her.

"Frau Sally, do you take Zane to be your husband, your eternal love, and the keeper of your heart?"

[AKeybladeYouSay]

Sally attempted to speak up, but she was too busy choking back tears. She simply nodded as vigorously as she could to express her enthusiasm.

[Maverick Entity]

Roland smiled at her response, and then looked between the two towards the audience.


"Who bears the rings for these two united souls?"

[Eques tenebrarum]

Dante looked at Lily who was directly next to him. 'Hopefully she doesn't hate me for the passed six minutes' he thought. He edged out of his row quickly, Lily hovering after him. He withdrew the rings from his suits pocket as lily floated by him, following his pace. He took one more step  half way through saying "I have the rings", instead all he said was "I have the- Gah!" Right as he got to the altar, Lily suddenly swept his feet from under him, he pitched forward like a brick tossed from a train. He got up slowly, casting a glare in the ghosts direction before holding out the rings to the lovers. "I have the rings"

[NebulaGregarZX]

Aleri's eyebrows went up a little. "Huh, strange. That didn't look like he stumbled on anything... More like somebody tripped him."

"Maybe it was his imaginary friend." Vita snickered.

He crossed his arms, adopting a different expression and generally trying too hard to look serious. "Don't be ridiculous. Now, then, time for Zane to take the ring and put it on his wife's finger... Weird, there's a bit of a pause in the proceedings. Maybe they're just as stunned as Dante is? C'mon, Zane, I know you've got it in you..."

[lethalityComplex]

The boy stood in the corner, a small smirk crossing his lips.

[Whats_Up4444]

<<I'M ALIVE AGAIN! Thanks to that witch. >_>>



H
Zane l leaned forward and took the rings and slid one into Sally's finger

[Whats_Up4444]

<all right, it's been a month, how do we advance this?>

[NebulaGregarZX]

<...By having Sally slide the other ring onto Zane's finger, or just having Zane put it on himself? Yusei disappeared again, so I think switching to KH introducing his villain into the story somewhere else would work, probably transitioning back with "You may kiss the bride". I don't want to cut the rest of the wedding, but we need Yusei...>

[khfreak358]

<Yeah, that's probably best. I can find another way to introduce my new villain, this would've just been a convenient way to do so. Nothing I can't work around.>

[ARanger]

"While I'm on the subject of Synthisle, I think I've been told about a group of mercenaries there... Sylvia and Archer are part of the group, as well as that Nick person, and it's lead by a woman named Phoenix. I sure hope I never have to cross blades with them... I mean, Sylvia probably doesn't want to cut off my limbs, make a noose out of my hair, tie it to the plank of a ship and throw me off, not anymore. Probably."

The Lost Woods


"Ahh!"

A shrill cry broke through the air, a startled flock of birds scattering from their nests as a young woman bolted through the forage in a wild panic, her eyes darting behind her as something dark and ferocious gave chase. She made a sharp turn to the left, hoping to lose the creature in hot pursuit even as she felt stray twigs graze her arms and neck. Misfortune smiled upon the woman as a knotted root made contact with her foot, tripping her over as she felt her body impact with the soft, muddy soil. "N-No...", she whimpered breathlessly as she rose herself shakily to her knees, her head turning quickly as she heard a branch snap from behind her. Her eyes widened in horror, as dark, razor sharp claws raked the earth, yellow, blank eyes boring into hers as she could feel the powerful force of darkness clench around her heart. "Please...", she bleated desperately, staggering away from the creature with a fearful, pleading look in her eyes. "Stop..."

"It ain't gonna listen to you, you know." A low, husky voice emanated from above as the woman's eyes widened like saucers, watery blue eyes looking around hopefully for the owner of the voice as the creature crept ever closer. "Geez lady, are you blind? I'm sitting up here."

Finally, the woman caught the sight of a young girl perched on a tree branch, a bitten apple in her hands as aquamarine eyes seemed to watch her actions with amusement. "Ya know, last I heard, screaming at Heartless don't exactly kill them. Then again, I ain't no scientist."

"I..." The woman was lost for words, a snap of a twig bringing her back to her senses as the Heartless creature prepared to lunge for her. "Oh, god! Help me, please!"

The woman's plea echoed through the forest as the Heartless leapt, toppling the young woman to the ground as darkness poured from its maw. Elongated claws rose, the pain in the woman's chest becoming unbearably tight as she felt the end of her life near...

Her eyes tightened shut as she heard a gutteral cry, followed by the sound of steel whistling through the air as the pressure immediately relieved from her body. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, a gasp leaving her throat as the creature's body dissolved into wisps of darkness. The young girl she had spotted in the trees was standing before her, holding a scimitar with an unnatural gleam in her hands and a disdainful look in her eyes. "Well, he certainly didn't like Sarah much," she scoffed. "And damn, it made me drop my apple..."

"Umm...th-thank you..." The young woman stammered, getting to her feet shakily as her eyes took in the other girl's strange appearance and demeanour. Her eyes travelled from her worn, toe-capped boots, to her dust-coloured, patched clothing and the innumerable scars that marred her skin.This girl certainly was not one she would ever approach in any other circumstance, but... "You saved my life."

"Damn right I did." The strange girl admitted cockily, sheathing her gleaming sword as she met the young woman's eyes evenly. "So what the hell are you doing around here anyway? Didn't your mum ever tell you not to go wandering into the woods alone?"

"I...I lost my way," The young woman's head bowed shamefully. "I needed to find an ingredient, and I...but that thing-"

"They call it the Lost Woods for a reason, you know," The girl sighed in exasperation. "Trust me, I had to learn it the hard way."

The young woman's eyes lifted from the floor to the other girl's face. "M-May I ask your name?"

"Sylvia Mulieres. Mercenary by trade, ex-pirate by nature," Sylvia answered with a shrug. "I've been at this gig for two years now. Killing those nasties that hide in your closet's pretty much my job these days."

"I...see." The woman's expression turned apologetic. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused..."

"It ain't my nature to let those things prey on whoever they like." Sylvia frowned. "Besides, it pays the bills..."

The hint in the young pirate's voice was undeniable, which only made the stray villager flush deeper in mortification. "I-I'm sorry. I don't have any Munny on me, and my family, they-"

"Figures," Sylvia interrupted with a long sigh. "Forget it. I'll lead ya home. You owe me an apple though, lady," she added with a wink as she led the other woman towards the path that would take them to Synthisle.

---

Eventually, Sylvia guided the young woman home, feeling slightly embittered from the lack of payment for her deeds, and even more so for her ruined fruit. "Some people are just asking to get attacked...", she grumbled to herself as she perched herself on the wall with a lazy stretch. It was hard to believe that two years ago, she was a scared, reckless young girl shipwrecked in the woods without a clue on what her future entailed. And now, here she was, fighting Heartless hordes for a living for a meagre salary. Her skills still couldn't scale the powers of the Organization, but Sylvia had honed her own fighting style, and an upgraded weapon to boot.

"One day, Sarah...", she spoke softly to herself as her fingers traced the hilt of her precious sword. "We're gonna hit the jackpot. And then, we'll have enough Gummi Blocks to build our ship. The whole universe will be ours to explore..."

[Haar_Dragon]

<I have characters, too!>

Tatsu stirred, finally waking up after...it must have been an hour. "Geez," he groaned. "The hell was that for?"

"Ever think it might be the fact that you keep leering at us and telling her she should wear a skirt more often?" asked Ai. "I mean, seriously, I don't think you could be any more perverted!"

Tatsu threw up his hands as if giving up. "I'm a guy, how much do you want from me?"

"Izanagi's a guy too," said Ai. "I don't see him trying to throw a breeze our way every time he passes us by. But forget it."

A cold breeze blew past Tatsu as Ayame walked into the room. Her relatively-cheerful demeanor changed as soon as she saw him. "Oh. You're awake. Ai, you ready to go? Please say yes so I don't have to wait around with him."

"Actually, I was waiting on you! Uh, what was it we needed again?"

"Supplies, Ai, supplies! Like food, toilet paper--"

"We have a bathroom?"

"...We have a bucket."

Ai shrugged. "Anyway, born ready!"

Ayame nodded. "Let's get going then."

"Mind if I come along?" asked Tatsu, optimistic.

"Stay here," said both girls, and turned to leave.

Tatsu sighed as the doors closed behind them. "Why do girls hate me?"

"Because you're a lecherous idiot," replied Izanagi from the doorway.

"And you have no masculine pride," said Tatsu. "Come on, man, you're surrounded by girls every day, how do you manage not to--"

"Because I have more important things on my mind than how many girls' skirts I can look up. Like, for example, the reason Sensei is training us."

"Are you still on about that? I'm telling you, dude, it doesn't matter!"

Izanagi shook his head. "You're getting his training, too. How can it possibly not matter?"

"I figure what matters is what we're getting, not why. And all I'm getting is bruises..."

Izanagi smirked. "Better hope you're not paired up with me for tomorrow's training session, then. Anyway, I'm leaving now. Something's been bothering me, and I think the stars might point me in the right direction."

Tatsu just stared at him. "The stars might point you?" he repeated. "How much more sentimental can you get?"

"And this is why I don't like you very much," said Izanagi, walking out the door.

"Geez...I don't get ANYONE here..."

[khfreak358]

<I have character interaction.>

"Pro-tip, rookie," came a voice from Sylvia's far left. "If you want to get paid for your work, always get it in writing."

[Haar_Dragon]

<Well, so would I, but Artemia is kinda far away from Synthisle. And by that, all I mean is that they're two different worlds.>

[NebulaGregarZX]

<I miss being able to do stuff... and I'd be ecstatic if Yusei would get back here, so the damn wedding could finish! I'd interrupt with a flashback or something, but I had a BETTER time to show a bunch of flashbacks set up later, with a little bit of REASON attached to it. You know, so it's not just Aleri saying "Hey, Rex, remember that one time we trained in the most suicidal way possible?" and then launching into a huge flashback? Sheesh, if Yusei isn't back real soon, we may just have to cut to after the wedding. Or, just have What'sUp write the rest of it without Yusei, but I don't think he's comfortable with that, so I don't want to pressure him unless my patience runs out entirely. Problem is, it's running short already...>

[Haar_Dragon]

<That dirty, dirty punk.>

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