Another vision flashed through Sharumix's head. Slower this time than the last. Words, a place, people were actually visible and heard. Crowley stood with a blonde haired man standing over something dark hunched on a table. "Do you think you can fix her? The Superior would be furious to know that after all this effort it would be wasted." Crowley laughed, "Of course I can fix her. You think that I would've made another one if I couldn't fix my first creation?" a sharp look from the blonde man's blue eyes and Crowley smiled tightly and re-phrased his words, "Forgive me. Our creation." "No, I have no doubt in your skill Crowley. I mearly wonder how well your second creation works. Would it be able to do a better job than No. i?" Crowley frowned and turned to look at Sharumix, "She might.....and yet, Vexen, she is still incomplete. Do not forget that a lot of time and effort goes into them. I cannot simply whip one up out of thin air. The resources to make them take--" Vexen inturrupted him with a sharp snap of his teeth, "I know! I know exactly how much it takes to create one. The Replica's are not your project alone Crowley. Do not forget who asked your aid in this and who's original plans it was." Crowley grinned with a feralness that made Sharumix shudder and he spoke quietly. Still too quietly for the memory to preserve.
Crowley smiled, though her reactions disturbed him, he didn't mind that he'd shattered her own beliefs...again. Picking up his Xenree, as darkness healed her wounds, and warped away with her in his arms. He'd have to fix the small glitches in Xenree's mind too.
Crowley jerked his hand up and Xenree lurched to her feet like a puppet on strings and took Sharumix's attack fully. Her eyes were still closed as she now bled over on Sharumix's Keyblade. Crowley growled at her, "Do you see what failing has done to you?! It's made you weak and pathetic. I should've disposed of you when I had the chance."
Crowley shook his head, frowning just like in Sharumix's memory. "I've done nothing but guide you, No. ii. You failed me. You didn't turn out how I envisioned you to be and thus I gave up. How could I possible keep a failure like yourself. And yet..." his eyes opened and those golden/yellow irises focused on her, "You stand here before me now protesting that I am the one who made you faulty. Perhaps it was my fault....but perhaps it was yours to overcome your faults and glitches." Crowley leaned over Xenree, checked her pulse and smiled to himself, Maybe it'd be better for you if I left you here with them. You're old friends...right Xenree? he thought.
Alice flinched only slightly. "You mean my leg? It's fine. Only a scratch. I'll be better in a day. No worries!" she forced a smile and hoped it looked natural. If only he didn't ask to see, she'd be in the clear. Alice knew very well her wound pulsed under her skin with purple tendrils of darkness and poison rocketing through her body. Though her inner light held back the more serious of the effects.
Crowley's attention turned to Sharumix. "There's plenty to gain from controlling this young girl. The descendent of the Hero of Darkness. Riku's descendent. She holds great potential to control vast amounts of darkness. You on the other hand...." his yellow eyes narrowed on her, "Are a failure. I see no progress made in you since the beginning."
Lightning smiled slightly to herself and followed Shin. "Alright then." Walking felt good, it stretched her aching muscles and the flat ground soothed her headache. "Shinryu....isn't there anything you want to say? You haven't spoken all day." Akira dragged Ryou with her as she walked. Her blue eyes searching for Lightning or the others. "Where could they be!? Ryou! If we don't find them soon, we'll be killed!"
Crowley warped himself directly beside Xenree's unconscious body. A shield formed around him and her, guarding them from Orias' darkness attack. "You should learn to control your anger better than that Orias. One day, your anger will destroy the one you love." he smiled ominously, hinting that he knew of Orias' affection for Xenree.
Alice stared at Auran with wide golden hazel eyes, "Why're you sorry!? Auran! You can't control where Nova goes! Hell, I can't control where she goes! Please don't be sorry for something she did." Her eyes softened and she took his hand, "You have nothing to apologize for." Her resolve set in place, her face looked serene as she walked through the light.
Crowley snarled and sent a wave of energy to knock Hogson away from his prize. Xenree's breathing was shallow and slow. But she wouldn't wake up for a while.
Alice smiled at him, though her leg stung with pain, she lied through her teeth, "I'm alright Auran. No need to be so concerned. I'm sure....Nova will be fine without me....she knows how to take care of herself." Alice wasn't sure if Auran knew Nova had left her or not. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.
Xenree's bloodlust had taken control of her. Her mind realized what happened and was shocked that she'd been hit so badly. A burn sizzled on her chest from the fire but her body still struggled to stand. Leaning heavily on her Keyblade, Xenree stood and wobbled on her feet. Pain glazed her eyes that now shone with an intensity no normal human had. "I will...not....lose!" she rushed again at Sharumix, but before she could take two steps, she blacked out and fell unconscious to the floor. Crowley sighed almost dramatically even though no one could hear him from the distance he was. "She may be beautiful and strong and determined, but she lacks a sense of when to quit. I'll have to teach her some manners." He smiled at the thought of the up coming lessons.
Xenree growled but Crowley's voice stopped her, That's enough Xenree. I've seen what I needed to. Go back to your job I assigned. Xenree shook her head, I don't take orders to stop a fight! she snarled back to him and pressed onward. Slamming her Keyblade onto Sharumix's with enough force to knock it out of her hands.
Luce listened without moving to Adam's outburst and Lenny. Most of Adam's speech was drowned out by the roar of blood in her ears. "So you think....it's better to not know love...." she mumbled quietly. She kept her eyes fastened on Adam and her temper boiled over. Luce stood so quickly she upturned her stool she sat on and her cheeks reddened with fury, "WELL AREN'T YOU A SORRY LITTLE PIECE OF SH!T!" She screamed blindly at him. She picked up the bottle of Everclear and chucked it at Adam's head. "You think that by not knowing love you'd be better off?! I'll tell you something! I lived with my father for eight years! I was eight years old when he killed himself! Leaving me alone with his body, blood and debts to pay and fend for myself!" Stepping closer, threatening him with only her posture, Luce continued, "I'd rather have been beaten and loved than raped as a child! You hear me, boy!? You've no idea what kind of trouble you can find when suddenly those who raped you have this control over your life! You don't know what it's like! To be afraid by the mear presence of a man because you know how much damage he can cause when you're alone with him!" Her anger kept burning at the memories, "I'd rather have more scars of knives and broken bones from repeated punches and kicks than to never be able to be touched by another! To fear the second you let down your guard that they'll do something you don't want! DON'T YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT FAMILY AND LOVE, YOU STUPID SON OF A B!TCH!"
ooc: It's never too late and I do so enjoy the story. Accepted!
Lightning held him tightly to her and softly murmured to him, "You're alright Shinryu. It was a dream, nothing more." She still wasn't very good at comforting people but she was trying her best. Everything about this small boy reminded her of Hope and it made her heart ache with the loss of her young companion. Lightning sighed inwardly and brushed the boy's tears away from his cheeks.
Xenree rushed toward Sharumix and sliced at her with Dark Void's wicked sharp edge. "Unfortunately...I don't!" she snarled. Crowley frowned at Sharumix's hesitation again. Could it be possible that she was experiencing someone else's memories? Surely she didn't remember anything from her own past. As he thought that Sharumix experienced a vision. A flash of red covered Sharumix's vision and then she saw a younger version of Crowley frowning over a hunk of red and black. He knew she'd ask so he spoke before she could open her mouth, "This is what remains of a poor soul that had the unfortunate opportunity to fight with his opposite and lost. This is what happens when you lose Marushi. Remember that. You must never lose. Unless you want your body to be torn apart." Crowley glanced over at her with his golden eyes and actually smiled gently. The vision ended and Xenree's attack was closer.
Xenree kept going and kept her Keyblade close to her body, connecting with Sharumix's intended attack. It was an awkward position but she'd been in worse. Xenree snarled in her face and dark energy released from Xenree's body in a gale force meant to push Sharumix and Orias away from her.
Xenree dove and rolled out of the way of Sharumix's lunge. Her boot came whirling around as she turned to kick Sharumix in the back.
Sharumix's Keyblade cut a line across Xenree's cheekbone, drawing a thin line of blood. A small smile spread across her lips and Xenree punched Sharumix in the face.
