Home Here you can view your subscribed threads, work with private messages and edit your profile and preferences Registration is free! Calendar Find other members Frequently Asked Questions Search


 Final Fantasy Online Forums : Powered by vBulletin version 2.2.1Forums > Final Fantasy Online > General Chat > Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream - The Final Battle
    Post New Thread  Post A Reply

Pages (5): « First ... « 2 3 [4] 5 »
Soujiro Seta
SIN

The Eternal Dream - To Love One Another



Zeal saw the white light expand to envelop everything in the Crystal Realm. Rubicant...Driscoll...the Shapeshifter - what were their fates?

I myself am possessed of but one life Zeal told herself, looking at Yume's still form stretched over her shoulder, then at Saint, where he lay peacefully on the ground, his hand still clutching his sword. With that life, what greater thing can I do than to protect life? She tried again to summon the gravitational power to levitate Saint, but once again her power was not enough, and he fell to the floor.

To each person is granted the chance to truly become enlightened...each of us can confront the darkness and triumph... Her son's words from her dream seemed to bring back a bit of her spent energies as she repeated them over and over in her mind, steeling herself to the task. ...each of us can face the darkness...and triumph!

She spread her hand in front of her, not even knowing why. Before all of this, before these last few days, I lived a life only in penance for what I had done. Now...I feel as though I were underwater, and can only now breathe deeply... The people who depend on me...my lost children...my own self - all of these exist, and by doing so, defy the power of the Void!

"If I cannot take them away" Zeal shouted in the face of the immense explosion "I will their protection over all!" A field radiated from her hand, spreading before her as a wall of translucent light, a look of surprise written across her face. It consumed no power, came from no known source. But it was there, and Zeal could feel it shielding her, Yume, and Saint like a divine embrace.

Let us share....the dream....


---

~someday, the dream will end~


"The Queen is peerless in both power and beauty"
FFOS6 :: Queen Zeal :: Sidekick

Last edited by Soujiro Seta on 02-10-2002 at 02:46 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 12:24 AM
Soujiro Seta is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Soujiro Seta Click here to Send Soujiro Seta a Private Message Find more posts by Soujiro Seta Add Soujiro Seta to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
San Draco
The Fallen Dragon

Kudos to you, Kyo, for catching the FFT references. I'm not exactly sure what Duran would say for his techniques, so I'll put in my own 'something special' instead.

Thanks for the compliment. I'll try to make this as good as possible!
-----

Chaos held his left hand to his side, and drew it back. Dark, flowing blood covered his fingers. Chaos glared at the two Durans, finally understanding. "So, there are halves and pieces of your soul, each with different powers? Interesting..."

Chaos held the Excalibur out at arms-length, preparing for another strike. "The Fiend's Spirit of Destruction, Twain Split!"

A blade poked out of the ground, preparing to stab Duran. Duran, leaping aside, shouted, "Ensnare all in the magic sphere, Magic Circle!"

Chaos was caught in the effect, and his blade skill was caught in the circle, dissapating. As the blow entered, Chaos put another piece of the puzzle into his mind. So, he can adapt his style to block my techniques? Interesting...

Before he could fully recover, Duran rushed toward him. "The Swordsman's vengeance against all, Vacuum Blade!"

Chaos barely managed to hold up his shield, the Aegis. Slowly, Chaos could feel the effects of the sword technique go beyond the Aegis's protection. Whipping out his blade, Chaos then rushed toward the swordsman, his sword unsheathed. Just before the Fiend could reach, the two shouted their techniques at the same time.

"Darkness cries out to smite the Light, Redwolf Crush!"

"The guardians take swords of light, Holy Flare Sword!"

The two energies met, and canceled each other out. Duran smiled. "You cannot win at this rate, Chaos. Sooner or later, even your energy will fail. I am only now beginning to delve into my power!"

Chaos snarled. "Foolish mortal! Do you believe this is the fullest extent of this form? As I have said before, I have mastered this time! This form is nothing more than a veil, which I can cast aside at my wish!"

Large, golden wings appeared on Chaos's back. "Though I cannot return to my full form, I can retrieve enough power to defeat you!"

Flying, Chaos lept into the air. Duran followed, and the two fought in the air, slashing and blocking with all their might. While Duran was forced to return to the ground, Chaos remained above him, laughing at his weakness. "So, the mighty one has a lack of skill, after all. Do you understand now? My power is unbounded, my wrath will find fulfillment!"

The two continued fighting for some time, and both began to tire. "Surrender, mortal, and I shall spare your life!"

Duran smirked. "You are far closer to death than I, Chaos. Prepare yourself!"

The swordsman then used another Magic Circle, trapping Chaos in mid-air. When the damage came, Chaos was flung to the air, and landed on a pillar. Duran came, and once again assumed a fighting stance. "Are you ready to die, Chaos?"

Chaos smiled, and laughed. "Fool! Did you not hear me? I have mastered time here! You shall live your nightmare again!"

Standing up, Chaos raised both hands to the sky. "Open the door to where Nightmares roam! Time Loop!"

Duran was flung to the time when Koren died, unknowing that he had already lived this reality again.

A roar of pain sounded from Nihilim Tyrannus. Whipping around, Chaos saw what he feared most. Setzer had pulled out his strongest card, the Ace of Spades, and flung it at the monster. Chaos's eyes widened. "FOOL! You have risked your life on too great a chance! Now, and now alone, will I finally be avenged!"

Keir slashed at Chaos, flinging him into the Nihilum. The absolute void surrounded him, then let him go. But it was too late. The others had already gone. A loud voice shouted, "IT IS ENDED! THE DREAMS OF THE VOID HAVE BEEN NULLIFIED!"

Rydia summoned one last eidolon... Bahamut. Chaos's eyes widened. "No! Not again!"

The dragon breathed flame, knocking Chaos down. A field of energy surrounded him, preventing the fiend from moving. Keir appeared, almost taunting him. "You will await the judgement of the Lady Yume, now. I feel somewhat sorry for you. Since you have chosen the Void, to the Void you will go!"
-----

If anyone wants to continue this, then let me know. I'd be more than happy to do so. Otherwise, I'll wait for Yume's decision to continue my story.

Old Post 02-10-2002 12:43 AM
San Draco is offline Click Here to See the Profile for San Draco Click here to Send San Draco a Private Message Find more posts by San Draco Add San Draco to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Anoat
Ride ze shoopuf?

---------------------------------
Taking to the sky in his Raccoon Suit, Bowser witnessed the battles from above. It was then when he spotted Locke, the thief from the Gold Saucer. He was hanging on to a ledge, and it did not appear he could hang much longer. Swooping down, Bowser floated next to Locke and the Princess Zelda who herself was hanging on to Locke.

"Need some help Locke?" Bowser asked in a smartass tone, while fluttering his raccoon tail.

"It would be nice Bowser." came Locke's reply.

"Nice?" Bowser thought, "I really have been too nice today, maybe I should leave these two here and--"

"HEY! HELP US OUT YOU BIG TURTLE!" the voice from Zelda came.

"Aw, quit yer whining, and hold on." Bowser grabbed the two, one under each massive arm, and floated with them to safety. Once they had reached a secure location, he sat them down.

"Thank you Bowser, I will remember this for a long time." Zelda said. "And here is a token of my appreciation." Zelda leaned in and kissed Bowser innocently on the cheek. "Again, thank you." she said as she turned and began to walk away.

Bowser's face turned rose red, in an obvious moment of embarassment. Locke's face, meanwhile, turned rose red in an obvious moment of jealousy.

"Hey, watch it there Koopa! You're moving in on MY girl!" Locke muttered in Bowser's direction.

"Easy there stud. Don't get all hot and bothered. Which reminds me...take this. It is a Fire Flower. You should find a good use for it."

"Hmph, thanks." came Locke's reply. "Hey Zelda, wait up!" he said as he took off following the Princess.

"Huh, this Good Guy thing may turn out to be my strong point." Bowser said aloud. "Plus, the chicks seem to dig it!"


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

Bowser has given a Fire Flower to Locke. Good luck with it Kyle!

Old Post 02-10-2002 12:44 AM
Anoat is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Anoat Click here to Send Anoat a Private Message Find more posts by Anoat Add Anoat to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Yume
Daughter of the Creator

And now that I'm online...

The Final Round has ended.

Feel free to continue writing, however. This stuff shines brighter than a thousand Crystals.

Feel free to keep voting as well. I'll accept votes for the next hour...


---

~ I am you, and you are me ~ This defies reality ~ Whether this is false or true ~ You are me, and I am you ~
Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream ~ The Massive Insanity Has Begun! ~ Now, Cross Your Fingers And Hope For The Best!

Last edited by Yume on 02-10-2002 at 12:54 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 12:48 AM
Yume is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Yume Click here to Send Yume a Private Message Find more posts by Yume Add Yume to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Baka
WANZER!

And, uh, anyone who wants to read my post and reply to my message is welcome...

Old Post 02-10-2002 12:58 AM
Baka is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Baka Click here to Send Baka a Private Message Find more posts by Baka Add Baka to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Curley W
The Drano fiend

EDIT: *look's down* Oops. Didn't notice that bit Baka. Sorry.

Oh! And now, yet another trump card!
_____________________________________________

Hammers poured onto Nihilum Tyrannus as Umaro used the Hammer Bros. suit Bowser had tossed him. Mog followed up each hammer with a fireball, this power granted to him by the flower he was given. The two had been slowly digging away at the massive nightmare.

"Keep it up!" Mog shouted to his friend. "I think we're making progre- OOF!!" He was interuptted as Nihilum Tyrannus swung several of it's tentacles towards the Narshe natives, striking them, and causing the Koopa king's gift to leave them.

"Where hammers go?" Umaro asked.

"Don't worry about that now!" Mog ordered. "Use the megaelixer!.... The large bottle with blue liqiud!" Umaro complied. He took the final potion out of his bag, and slammed it onto the ground. A bright blue mist filled the area around the demihumans, fully healing them, and everyone else around them.

With his strength restored, Umaro roared at the mountain of nothingness."WE NOT GIVING UP! WE GONNA TEAR YOU APART!!!"
_____________________________________________

Pardon me, but doesn't anyone else think the good guy's should start winning now? It's about time for the old heroic comeback routine.

Last edited by Curley W on 02-10-2002 at 01:40 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 01:08 AM
Curley W is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Curley W Click here to Send Curley W a Private Message Find more posts by Curley W Add Curley W to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Baka
WANZER!

Curley - did I not say "I don't know how everyone's gonna hear that but they are, chalk it down to magic" or suchlike? Y'all hear it.


---

Baka // Evil Bishounen Mastermind // Otaku-in-Training

Old Post 02-10-2002 01:09 AM
Baka is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Baka Click here to Send Baka a Private Message Find more posts by Baka Add Baka to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Tenshi Kain
Nameless Eternal

World Revolution

Memoria continued to plummet into an abysmal wreck, time itself straining as the place gradually tore itself apart. Tiles and walls were flung apart like twigs at the top of the castle, the entire palace slowly shattering layer by layer. It would continue to do so, and slowly- agonizingly slow- until it inevitably reached the final layer and tore them all into oblivion. But Chaos was not yet finished- for all the trump cards they'd played on him, he still had one to reckon with. He strained against the invisible barrier the dragon Bahamut had placed against him, and he let out a howl of anger as his muscles contested the barrier. To the fighters' astonishment, Chaos was breaking the formless wall before him.

"I told you..." Chaos snarled, his arm rising up into the air. "I...have...the power...to defeat...all of you!" Chaos's other arm forced itself forward, his tremendous Aegis shield pressed up against the barrier. His jaw muscles twitched wider, his chest began to rise and fall, and then the dark lord gave a tremendous cry-

-and ripped an arm out. Specifically, the arm that held Excalibur. Chaos poked his massive frame free, gnashing his teeth before the astonished Keir and Duran. Rydia, however, would not be bested so easily. The lady in green clapped her hands together once, her rod pointed up as she closed her face in concentration. "Bahamut, King of Flames," she muttered, her voice overridden by the crashing sounds of Memoria all around her, "destroy and bind, to oblivion confine-"

"Rydia!"

The green summoner's concentration broke, her eyes opening to find the Excalibur's blade darting for her head in a one-handed thrust. Chaos snarled as his heavy frame shot past the surprised Keir and Duran, howling for Rydia's blood. "I'll confine you to Hellgates!" he vowed with a yell that shook the entire existence of the haunted place. Keir and Duran flashed their swords in swings, but Chaos shot forward like a rocket across the mere three-meter gap between himself and the summoner. Rydia was already moving to the side, but even she knew it was too late to dodge a blow. Her mouth opened, a name dying on her lips. "Edg-"

-and then the sole of a foot struck the crown of her head, and she yelped and her head was forced down sheer moments before the Excalibur whipped forward, sheering a lock of sylvan hair from the summoner's head. Chaos's expression of ferocity turned even more savage, and as he skidded to a halt beside the stumbling Rydia, he craned his head up.

"Sword of red to reap woe and dread! Bad Impulse!"

Chaos's Aegis met the Slasher II, afire with such energy that it may as well have come from hell. Slash's form dropped to one knee as the strike connected and opened a searing scar against the Aegis shield, sending Chaos back a pace towards the screaming Nihilum Tyrannus. Finding himself caught off guard, Chaos kept the Aegis shield ready and swiped his Excalibur down in an overhead clubbing strike. Slash, however, whipped his blade up, a hand wrapped around the hilt and a hand pressed against the dull of the blade. As the Excalibur screamed down against the air, Slash pushed his form up, ramming the demon sword Slasher II like a rough brace against the powerful knight sword. Molecule edge met dark edge, and the muscles of Chaos and Slash strained as both combatants struggled against their blows.

"He's mine, crudes," Slash snapped to Rydia and the two swordsmen, turning his gaze immediately back to Chaos. "Offer me a chance in your festering Dark Alliance and then try to screw my entire existence over! Last mistake you'll ever make!"

Chaos gnashed his teeth and then smirked, running Excalibur up against the Slasher II's horizontally-levelled edge until the hilt firmed against it. "Foolish Mystic! You will be buried among the humans you so detest!"

Slash set his jaw and shoved against the Excalibur, hard. Chaos went along with it, allowing himself to be pressed back a pace, and then whipped the Aegis shield around and across in a clubbing strike for Slash's head. Slash weaved his own head out of the way, and then Chaos struck with an underhanded thrust. But as his sword raced for Slash's skull, Slash pushed his demon sword forward in a vertical forward block. The Excalibur glanced off the side and shot over Slash's right shoulder, slicing the cloth of the Mystic's tunic neatly. Slash moved quickly, grabbing the adamantine sheath from his belt and snapping it off in a swing. Chaos saw it coming, however, and followed his thrust, turning and slamming his shield against the edge of the scabbard. Slash stumbled forward from the shock of the blow, but he was not yet finished, for now Chaos' back was effectively in front of him.

"Bachiatari Hakuma Ryu- Amenomurakamo!" Slash spun slowly once more, his back whipping past Chaos's turning form, and then his blade shot straight down in a viper-fast overhead sideways slash. The edge slashed across the pocket between Chaos's left shoulder and neck, and he snarled in sudden pain. However, the dark one was not to be felled as easily, either.

"Fiend's Spirit of Destruction, Twain Split!"

The ground ruptured, and a cone-shaped, thin blade punched through its tiled surface. Slash felt a stinging pain lash lash along his left side, and then a thick, warm liquid streaming down his thigh. Snarling at such a counter, Slash whipped both arms up in a scissors-strike, the sheath lashing for Chaos' face and the Slasher II howling for the arteries in Chaos's throat. It was a strike designed to trap the opponent, so even if he ducked the sheath, the sword would cleave the top of his head off; if he blocked the sword with a reverse parry, the sheath would turn his lights out. Chaos, however, was well-reflexed. The dark one weaved his head down to the right, and the sheath whipped over his head. The Slasher II, however, struck home, striking the very left side of his head- but not deepening enough for a kill.

Chaos snarled, blood streaming down the left side of his face, and took advantage of Slash's temporarily crossed arms. He shoved up, hard, and rammed the Aegis shield against Slash's torso. Grunting from the shock of the blow, Slash stumbled back, nearly falling over, and he felt something shift painfully in his left side. A rib fracture, most likely, and it hurt like a son of a Heckran. But pain was not a necessity on the battlefield, and Slash banished it. He whipped his sheath forward again, and this time the Excalibur met it, parrying the blow, and Chaos followed with a fierce riposte towards Slash's heart.

Just what Slash needed.

The Slasher II whipped against the Excalibur's blade, batting it off course, and Slash put all his weight into his right shoulder, leaning in to ram Chaos dead-center in the chest. The dark lord was forced back a few more paces this time, and Slash capitalized, crossing both Slasher II and sheath in an "X" position. He rammed them forward, the blade and scabbard meant to shove Chaos back, but the dark lord's stamina rescued him. He pressed the Excalibur together with the Aegis shield and met the blade formation, locking his ankles tightly against the floor. Slash pushed just as hard, and before long, the two combatants' feet were straining even the tiles of Memoria. The floor broke underneath their feet, the strength of them was so intense!

"Now...you DIE!" Chaos vowed vehemently, the ferocity glinting murderously in his eyes.

"You...first!" Slash's own sallow eyes matched the animalistic shimmer, and on the two pushed, testing their strength against each other- Chaos to force Slash into the hell that was Memoria, Slash to drive Chaos into the endless oblivion of the Void.

----

Sorry for the delay, SD, but when I start writing, I start writing. <=)

Old Post 02-10-2002 04:18 AM
Tenshi Kain is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Tenshi Kain Click here to Send Tenshi Kain a Private Message Find more posts by Tenshi Kain Add Tenshi Kain to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Yume
Daughter of the Creator

Chapter 10: Dreams Come True

Rubicante, Driscoll, and Zeal watched as the Void began to consume the Crystal Realm. Shards of crystal floated into the inky blackness and were consumed instantly. The three looked towards the waiting portal to Memoria, but each knew that once the Void consumed the Crystal, Memoria would also cease to exist.

Driscoll finished calling into his communicator. “It’s no use. There’s nobody with the appropriate technology to respond to our call.” He dropped his communicator on the ground. “Well, I suppose all we have left is to wait for it to consume us.”

Rubicante nodded. “Indeed, it seems that fate has chosen us to be the first to fall at the hands of the Void.” He sighed. “Fate... Once again, my existence is ruled by this errant mistress...”

IT IS THE FATE OF ALL TO BE CONSUMED BY THE VOID!” The three turned to see the Shapeshifter standing there, completely reformed at seemingly unscathed. “I’ll admit that your explosive was rather painful, but did you think that it could truly defeat me? I have lived for eons and caused the death of countless realities! No mere bomb could destroy me!”

Rubicante flared up, his flames fuelled by his intense anger. “Then we shall see what can! Have at you!” Fire sprang forth from the Elemental’s arms and chest, it’s heat rivalling that of solar flares. The inferno engulfed the Shapeshifter, but it seemed unaffected.

“Elemental, it seems that you only have one type of trick up your sleeve,” the Shapeshifter called out, his voice rising above the roar of the flames. “And it is a trick that I grow tired of!” He struck the ground with his sword, and a dark shockwave ran across the ground, creating a fissure in what remained of the crystal platform. The wave ran underneath the torrent of fire, and struck Rubicante, sending him flying into a nearby crystal formation. The Elemental slumped to the ground unconscious.

The Shapeshifter turned to Zeal, who placed Yume next to Saint and prepared to face the being in whatever way she could. “Ahh, my Queen, I see you have decided to become the Guardian for this errant child.” His eyes moved to Saint’s body, and he smirked. “A good thing, seeing as her previous Guardian was not up to the task.”

“You will not speak ill of him while I stand. You will have to slay me first.” Zeal accessed the last wisp of magical energy in her being, and her hands began to glow in preparation.

“Well, if you insist...” The bishounen began to close the distance between himself and the wearied sorceress, but stopped halfway. “What is this?” He pressed his hand against seemingly nothing. “Ahh, so you truly are a Guardian, Zeal. You have used their trademark: a barrier, made not of magic, but of love and happiness and all those sappy things.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I could eventually break through this barrier, given enough time, but there is no need for me to. The Void shall soon shatter your barrier like glass, and consume both you and your cha-ARGH!” He screamed in pain as a sword pierced through his back and out of his chest.

Driscoll stood behind him, holding the hilt of Hexfire. “You seem to have chosen to ignore me. It would be in your best interest not to do that again.”

“You insolent mortal!” The Shapeshifter wheeled around, ripping the sword out of Driscoll’s hands. He then delivered a vicious backhand to the soldier, sending him flying back several metres. “Do you think I am intimidated by a mere sword?” He grasped the blade sticking out of his chest and pulled Hexfire through himself, the hilt widening the hole considerably as it went. As soon as the blade was removed, the wound began to heal. “I was going to allow the Void to consume you, to let you see it’s glory moments before it ripped apart your body and soul. But you do not deserve such a death!” He began to walk slowly towards Driscoll. “I will kill you myself!”

Driscoll attempted to get up, but the fall had broken his leg. Well, my time has come at last. I suppose that I die on a battlefield after all.

This is so typical of you. Driscoll turned his head, and saw Karen standing near him, her body faint and glowing. Welcoming the glory of death in battle, not caring about how it’ll affect anyone else.

Ahh, Karen, I see you’ve come to see me off into the afterlife...

No, you fool, I’m here to save you, Karen responded, and then Driscoll noticed that behind her stood six Wanzers, their forms as faint and insubstantial as hers. He turned his head and saw another six standing on the other side of him. And finally, he noticed that the Shapeshifter has stopped, and was looking at the Wanzers as well.

You called for reinforcements, and we came, Karen commented, and kneeled beside Driscoll, holding out her hand. In her ghostly and insubstantial palm was a very real communicator, the one that Driscoll had dropped before. The troops await your orders, Commander. Make me proud.

Driscoll took the communicator, and Karen stood back up. She faded away, only to be replaced with the ghostly image of Driscoll’s own Wanzer. Thank you, Karen. The fallen commander raised the device to his lips.

“All units, lock in on the enemy and fire!”

As one, the Wanzers around him fired their armaments. Missile shot out of the backs of some while others fired massive machine guns. The Shapeshifter smirked at this, until one of the bullets struck him. The ethereal bullet removed some of the nothingness that made up his being, and too late he realized that these weapons could hurt him. With a final defiant cry, he was struck by the ghostly missiles, and was consumed by existence.

Then the Wanzers turned towards the ever expanding Void, and trained all their weapons on it. But it was too large, too substantial, and they only succeeded in slowing down it’s growth. Damn it, it’s not enough! Driscoll thought angrily. We need more power. We need...

We need Yume.


---

I need access to my powers!

No, we don’t want those powers! They only cause us pain!

But if I don’t gain my powers, Saint will be dead forever!

Do you forget what happened the last time you tried bringing someone back?

That won’t happen again!

How do you know? How do you know that you won’t bring Saint back as a zombie?

I don’t. But I have to try something! I can’t let him die!

If you gain your full powers, you won’t be able to rid yourself of them! You’ll be a freak! An outcast! You’ll never be able to interact with anyone ever again, for fear of hurting them!

...I don’t care. If Saint is alright, I can live with the consequences.

...Are you sure of this?

...No. I’m not sure of anything. I just know that I need my powers.

...Very well.

The darkness in front of Yume’s eyes cleared, and she found herself lying over Saint’s body. Zeal stood over her, watching the Void with growing disquiet. “Zeal... why do you guard me?”

Zeal wheeled around. “You’ve finally awoken! I must apologize for my earlier actions, for I...”

“You were possessed by the Void.” Yume started to see into Zeal’s mind more clearly. “No, the Shapeshifter. You have been fighting with it for days.” She turned back towards Saint. “The Shapeshifter... He only destroyed... He never created...” Suddenly, as if by instinct, she placed her hands on Saint’s body, and concentrated. She saw what she had done wrong before, and she saw what she should do now.

She concentrated, and the wound in Saint’s chest disappeared. The Guardian began breathing easily, and Yume could feel, could hear his heart pumping strongly. Saint opened his eyes slowly, and looked at his charge. “Yume... is that you...”

Joy filled Yume’s heart. “Of course, it’s me! How could I be anyone else?” She laughed, the sound of which was like music.

Saint sat up, and blinked a few times. “You brought me back... I told you not to ever try that again...”

“It’s alright now. I can handle bringing people back. I can handle everything.” Yume hugged Saint fiercely. “I’ve received all of my powers, old man. I can look after myself now.”

“If you have your full power now, then perhaps you can do something about that.” Zeal gestured towards the growing darkness of the Void.

Yume nodded. “But first, I must repair the Crystal.” She stood up, raised her hand towards the Crystal, and concentrated. The crack in the Crystal swiftly mended under her power, and it’s light was renewed to it’s former strength. At the touch of this light, the Void stopped and wavered, as if unsure of itself. Then Yume floated upwards, and she spoke in a voice that was both hers, and much more.

“Consuming nothingness, you shall not have this reality, nor any of the realities under my care! I cast you back into the Void from whence you came!” Yume began to shine with a bright light, and the light drove back the Void. Quickly it retreated, until at last the portal shrank and vanished.

She floated down to Zeal and Saint. “Can you stand, Saint?”

“I believe I can.” Saint got up to his feet, wobbled a bit, and steadied himself. “Yes, I believe I’ll be fine.”

“Then I shall go retrieve the two warriors who helped us. Indeed, without them, all would have been lost.” Yume floated off, over to where Rubicante laid unconscious. “Valiant Elemental, I see the battle has taken a toll on you.” She picked up the sleeping warrior, unbothered by his fiery form. “And now, where is... Ahh! There we are!”

Driscoll sat alone, the spectral Wanzer having left him after the Void was defeated. “I see you have awakened. I was beginning to get worried about you.”

Yume smiled. “And I worried about you. But I see that you discovered power that exceeded that of the Shapeshifter.” She kneeled down and touched the soldier’s leg, and it was healed. “Come, Commander. Let us return to the other contestants.”

Yume and Driscoll rejoined Zeal and Saint, and they walked through the portal, back into the land of memory.

---

Final Round Results
First Phase: Rubicante - 8, Driscoll - 7
Second Phase: Driscoll - 7, Rubicante - 5
Third Phase: Driscoll - 7, Rubicante - 5

Driscoll wins two of the three phases, becoming the victor of Rurouni Taikai. Congratulations, Baka!


---

~ I am you, and you are me ~ This defies reality ~ Whether this is false or true ~ You are me, and I am you ~
Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream ~ The Massive Insanity Has Begun! ~ Now, Cross Your Fingers And Hope For The Best!

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:12 AM
Yume is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Yume Click here to Send Yume a Private Message Find more posts by Yume Add Yume to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
San Draco
The Fallen Dragon

Chaos stared at the blue-skinned mystic in front of him. "Fool! Can you not understand? Your petty dreams and desires are nothing to me! I used you, as I used all others! The hope of my defeat died with Zoma!"

The Excalibur again slashed, meeting Slash's blade equally. The two struggled, their powers almost equal. Chaos then leaped into the air, using his wings to aid in his agility. The Slasher II met the Aegis, and the energy crackled around them.

Chaos leaped back, staring at the mystic. "Why can't you simpletons understand? If you defeat the Void today, you will simply exchange my evil for that of anothers. There will never be a lack of ones like me. Can you not understand? How abominably low has your intelligence sunk?"

Slash snarled. "I will not accept any insults, not from you, doomed fiend of Time! Accept defeat, before I am forced to kill you!"

Chaos smiled. "No one has been able to truly defeat me, not in eight thousand years. Why do you believe your fate shall be different?"

Without another word, the two continued their battle. Garland lightly stepped back, and stared at the mortals around him. "From the Darkness of Time comes Retribution! Dark Holy!"

The dark energy flowed around Slash, seeking to rend his very soul from his body. At the last moment, Rydia put a shell around Slash, protecting him from most of the damage. Snarling, Chaos raised his right hand.

"Time and Space mean nothing to the Fallen! All is Forever Zero!"

A whirling vortex appeared on the ground in between Chaos and the other opponents. Pointing at them, the very space around them seemed to whirl into nothingness. Then, just as suddenly, they were ejected, lying on the ground.

Garland turned toward the fallen body of the Nihilum Tyrannus. "So, this is the work of Rubicante? He has truly worked hard, and succeeded where I have failed. He is truly the embodiment of evil, but he has tainted himself by denying his existence, and aiding the side of Light. There is none left in this place that can emphasize with me."

A slight rustling sound alerted Chaos. Turning around, Chaos saw Slash rise again from the rubble. Chaos snarled, "You mortals are truly unwilling to die! Can you not see the futility of this? You destroy each other, then claim the Void is evil when it seeks to do the same! You mortals disgust me, far above all others!"

Slash didn't say a word. Instead, he started fighting again. With a wave of the Slasher 2, Slash sent a wave of energy rushing at the Fiend. Chaos, barely able to ward it off, was then hit by a stab from Slash.

Chaos stepped back. "You leave me no choice. I truly pity you, now. But, feel fortunate. Not even the Light Warriors suffered from my full power, as you shall."

"My spirit of Darkness will overwhelm the purest souls! Dark Tempest!"

A wave of darkness covered Memoria, causing damage as it had been inflicted on him. The other warriors were leveled, but Chaos was also spent.

Falling on his knees, Chaos reached toward the Void portal. "Aid me, my allies!" But the portal closed, leaving Chaos alone and unaided. Slash rose again, with Duran. Both of them strode toward him, their swords unsheathed.

Chaos resorted to his last trick. "So, you believe you have defeated me. However, only one may claim the glory. Which of you will claim the final blow, to the glory of the striker?"

His voice lowered somewhat menacingly. "You fools cannot defeat me forever. This is only a shell. I shall return, and you and your friends shall die!"

Rubicante's voice sounded in pain. Suddenly, the Void seemed to close around itself. Chaos knelt down, the Excalibur falling from his hand. "It seems I have failed. I shall await Yume's judgement here, and your own efforts have failed. I shall see you again, for your spirits will find rest in the Darkness of Time, as mine cannot!"
-----

Congragulations, Baka. Slipstream, that was an excellent performance. Personally, I think you both won, writing-wise.

Tenshi Kane, Daigojhi, Kyo, and everyone else that agreed to duel with me: Many thanks. I hope that we will be able to do it again. This has been a lot of fun, all.

Last edited by San Draco on 02-10-2002 at 05:25 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:23 AM
San Draco is offline Click Here to See the Profile for San Draco Click here to Send San Draco a Private Message Find more posts by San Draco Add San Draco to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Curley W
The Drano fiend

Great job everyone! The whole tournament's been a complete blast! Congratulations on your second win, Baka. Just don't let it get to your head. Black holes are scary.

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:30 AM
Curley W is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Curley W Click here to Send Curley W a Private Message Find more posts by Curley W Add Curley W to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Anoat
Ride ze shoopuf?

As a famous announcer once said, "Its all over but the shouting." (mucho respect if you know who that is). And finally, the FFOS Tournament 6 is over. Congratulations everyone, especially to you Baka, for winning the darn thing. Congrats to everyone who wrote so wonderfully, making this a very enjoyable experience. I'll see you all in the Epilogue (hopefully there will be one!) where all the characters can say their goodbyes!

EDIT: ACK! How could I forget? Everyone, lets thank Krizak for hosting. All together now....THANK YOU KRIZAK!!! Thanks especially for putting up with Bowser's puppy love (to a point anyway, heh) and for continuing your duties as a host despite being ill. Great job all around.

Last edited by Anoat on 02-10-2002 at 05:34 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:31 AM
Anoat is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Anoat Click here to Send Anoat a Private Message Find more posts by Anoat Add Anoat to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Cirrus Veliious
Zelda - FFOS6

Great job to all the contestants, and Congratulations to Baka. Now we just have to be sure that his ego doesn't expand to such a size that we are all forced to bow down to him as our new God...

And thanks to Krizak for hosting this tournament, I can only imagine how much time it must take to come up with a story, make the story work, count the votes, modify the battle system, keep everyone from doing stupid things, and be an all around good host. I salute you Krizak....you did a truly... Krizakous job (don't expect to get that one guys, Saint might, and Krizak will do something like turn Zelda into a seventy year old man wth hair loss problems...but oh well, such is life )

A conclusion to Zelda's story is coming up. (Hey, Kyle, as long as Zelda and Locke are together at the moment, do you want to write somewhat of a joint conclusion, or seperate them? I'm good for either, so its up to you).

Good job everyone!


---
Formerly Cloud Stryfe

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:44 AM
Cirrus Veliious is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Cirrus Veliious Click here to Send Cirrus Veliious a Private Message Find more posts by Cirrus Veliious Add Cirrus Veliious to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
KyleIII
Member of Philanthropy

Congratulations Baka! Well folks, it's been a blast. I can't wait 'til the next tourny. Look's like FFO finally decided to cooperate with us too. Who'd a thunk it? Thanks for the good times, Krizak.

Anoat: Sorry I didn't do anything with the fire flower. I've had a horrible case of writer's block all day long.

Edit: I don't mind having a joint conclusion. You'll have to start it, though. Like I said above, my mind's been blank all day. Just don't forget Locke's waiting to go home to Celes. Don't get them too comfortable.

Last edited by KyleIII on 02-10-2002 at 05:48 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:45 AM
KyleIII is offline Click Here to See the Profile for KyleIII Click here to Send KyleIII a Private Message Visit KyleIII's homepage! Find more posts by KyleIII Add KyleIII to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Boko Mog
Buy my book! Buy my book!

Whoa. Great job everyone~ This was a fun tournament... I really had fun participating. =) And great job to Baka, for winning!~ WEEEEEEEEEE!!

Oh yeah, and thanks to Krizak, who did a great job hosting the tournament! WEEEEEEEEEEE!!


---


"Everybody I know seems to know me well
But does anybody know I'm gonna move like hell?"


ٱٱDisciplinary CommitteeٱFinal Fantasy: ApocalypseٱRandom InsanityٱSurvivor: Rurouni Taikaiٱٱ

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:48 AM
Boko Mog is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Boko Mog Click here to Send Boko Mog a Private Message Visit Boko Mog's homepage! Find more posts by Boko Mog Add Boko Mog to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Cirrus Veliious
Zelda - FFOS6

eegh...you're not the only one with writers block Kyle....alright though....I'll think of something within the next hour or so...but until then...

*sits and waits for the wrath of Krizak*


---
Formerly Cloud Stryfe

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:53 AM
Cirrus Veliious is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Cirrus Veliious Click here to Send Cirrus Veliious a Private Message Find more posts by Cirrus Veliious Add Cirrus Veliious to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
KyleIII
Member of Philanthropy

Yeah, it'd probably be easier to wait for him anyway.

Old Post 02-10-2002 05:55 AM
KyleIII is offline Click Here to See the Profile for KyleIII Click here to Send KyleIII a Private Message Visit KyleIII's homepage! Find more posts by KyleIII Add KyleIII to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Yume
Daughter of the Creator

Please, may I request that nobody send their characters home first? I have something... SPECIAL... in store for them, but I currently lack the creative ability to make it a reality. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll post something for all of you to think about.

Old Post 02-10-2002 06:03 AM
Yume is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Yume Click here to Send Yume a Private Message Find more posts by Yume Add Yume to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Cirrus Veliious
Zelda - FFOS6

Yay, Krizak bought us some time....Okay, I'll write something after he posts tomorrow, that way we'll have his post to work off of, and we can think until then, and try to rid ourselves of writers block.

*Gets on his knees and worships Krizak (enjoy it now buddy, it isn't likely to happen again any time soon )*


---
Formerly Cloud Stryfe

Old Post 02-10-2002 06:07 AM
Cirrus Veliious is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Cirrus Veliious Click here to Send Cirrus Veliious a Private Message Find more posts by Cirrus Veliious Add Cirrus Veliious to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Anoat
Ride ze shoopuf?

quote:
Originally posted by Yume
Please, may I request that nobody send their characters home first? I have something... SPECIAL... in store for them, but I currently lack the creative ability to make it a reality. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll post something for all of you to think about.


Sure thing...just try not to take out too much revenge on Bowser when you send him home

KyleIII: Just have Locke hold onto that Fire Flower. I'm sure it would make a great present for Celes!

Old Post 02-10-2002 06:07 AM
Anoat is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Anoat Click here to Send Anoat a Private Message Find more posts by Anoat Add Anoat to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Dareon
The Second Gunman

ARGH! Okay, there's some idiot that got IP banned, and mine's close enough that I only have a 50/50 chance of being able to do ANYTHING on these forums, and the upshot is that I just lost a big post. The ONE time I don't copy it to the clipboard is the one time I lose it. Anyway, I'll try and reconstruct it.

---

"The crisis... is over."

Ito stumbled over to a fallen pillar and slumped to the ground beside it. Ejecting the clip from his gun, he flipped the remaining ammo out.

"That was close. One solitary Luminarius left..."

With a soft chuckle, he bounced the shell in his hand, then loaded it back into the clip. Sliding the clip home and standing, he raised the gun over his head.

"VICTORY!"

He fired, sending the pillar of Holy energy into the starry sky as a celebratory flare.

He collapsed onto the floor, body aching and mind searching for pattern in the chaos.

Everyone seeks to change their fate. All these competitors came in an attempt to change something in their worlds. What about me? If I had chosen to compete, what could I have changed? My death? The destiny of my company?

He frowned. My death has been pre-ordained. If I return to my world as I am now, I may try to change that, and upset the balance of forces. Perhaps if I ask Yume, she will grant me a small favor...

Old Post 02-10-2002 06:21 AM
Dareon is online now Click Here to See the Profile for Dareon Click here to Send Dareon a Private Message Find more posts by Dareon Add Dareon to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Sephiroth666
Gloriosa Generosa

Congratulations Baka! You've won Rorouni Taikai/Final Fantasy Online Survivor 6! What are you going to do now?

Baka: "I'm going to Disneyland!"

Good luck to you then! We have Slipstream here, who almost won the tournament, so what are your plans for a job well done?

Slipstream: "I'm going to burn Baka's house down!"

Well,... umm.... *clears throat*, and thanks to Krizak for hosting such a great tournament and , of course, the competitors who participated in the tournament!... (and who also took me out in the first round, tch...)


---


"I am the man who has never bled or cry,... The first disciple of Jenova,... Wielding the blood rusted blade that had been taken from the light of good to the darkness of evil... I am the master of the black relic and was born to lead the world to total damnation... I am god! I am Sephiroth!

Last edited by Sephiroth666 on 02-10-2002 at 06:58 AM

Old Post 02-10-2002 06:54 AM
Sephiroth666 is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Sephiroth666 Click here to Send Sephiroth666 a Private Message Visit Sephiroth666's homepage! Find more posts by Sephiroth666 Add Sephiroth666 to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Soujiro Seta
SIN

Celebration Bells

Well, that was intense! The fun of reading everyone's stories and writing my own made it more than worth it. Congrats to Baka and Slipstream and everyone, and much thanks to Krizak for masterminding the whole thing. Everyone helped make this a fun first tournament for me.

To tell the truth, I hadn't had much of an interest in these tournaments before, but Saint7 asked me personally if I'd like to play in this one, and for some reason or other, I accepted. I'm glad I did - writing is one of my hobbies, but I seldom make a public exhibition of my writings like this. I've never completed a fanfic either (well, the few I've tried), so in the beginning, I felt like I was a big newbie at the card table. However, I felt out of practice and wanted to refresh my writing, as well as to learn from the writing of others, and in that respect I feel as though I have won. I had wanted to choose a few other characters, but when I found out it was retro-RPGs only, Zeal immediately snapped to mind, and I had no idea how much I'd become drawn to her character through the writing. If anyone enjoyed Zeal's story, my purpose was a success.

It was a strain on my time sometimes, and certainly an odd situation with the use of my friends' computers when mine wasn't available, but worth every moment.

I'm glad I could contribute, and perhaps you may see me again in FFOS/RT 7. Thanks again!

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

Zeal's epilogue will follow Krizak's 'special surprise', but I feel like writing a celebratory thing too....

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


Zeal stood in Memoria, looking up at the night sky. Around her, contestants were milling about, finally realizing their absolute exhaustion from the fight for the multiverse.

"We did it...we changed the course of existence's history." She ran her fingers through her soft blue hair slowly, as if to caress each individual strand for the simple reason of its existence. A few contestants had started to munch on the snacks on the table provided by Yume before the Void's interference. "At long last...it is over. The world has never seemed so bright before." Zeal leaned on the railing of one of Memoria's balcony looking out at a sea of stars. Were they real? It didn't really matter - she and everyone else were there to see them, and they were beautiful indeed.

"I finally drove the Shapeshifter from my mind, Driscoll and Rubicant stood bravely against it, but without the people here, whose struggles are yet unknown to me, this realm may still have fallen before the Void." Zeal spoke to the night sky in a soft voice.

"Indeed, little lady..." Zeal turned her head to her right to see Saint standing a little way down the balcony, sipping a drink. "That was a very brave thing you did back there, so I'm told. To stand in the face of such adversity...it's an admirable trait. The darkness used to possess you, but now it has given way to the light."

"Thanks..." Zeal couldn't find the words to describe what she felt then; something between happiness, exhaustion, gratitude, and thankfulness. "Still, I feel such regret...I mean, the Shapeshifter used me for a purpose so horrible; I almost helped it destroy everything all of us hold dear."

"The key is that you didn't, dear woman!" Saint's eyes bespoke a forgiving kindness as he patted her back. "There is no 'totally' in 'almost'; with any chance, there is always a possibility for multiple outcomes. And you grasped the future you truly wanted, succeeding in taking back what is yours. For that, I thank you."

"But...." Zeal turned her gaze back to the stars "What will become of Yume's dream?"


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


---

~someday, the dream will end~


"The Queen is peerless in both power and beauty"
FFOS6 :: Queen Zeal :: Sidekick

Old Post 02-10-2002 07:11 AM
Soujiro Seta is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Soujiro Seta Click here to Send Soujiro Seta a Private Message Find more posts by Soujiro Seta Add Soujiro Seta to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Daigohji
Sponsor: Setzer

OOC: *clears throat* Well done, Baka!! And well done Slipstream, you both wrote very well through the loooong final round.

A big pat on the back to everyone who dared to sponsor a dark character, especially San Draco who made infernal wrath into an artform.

Congrats to Tenshi Kain, for written what were probably the most exciting sword fights in the tourny.

And to everyone who stuck it out for the length of this mammoth endeavor ... a hearty huzzah!!

Old Post 02-10-2002 11:24 AM
Daigohji is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Daigohji Click here to Send Daigohji a Private Message Visit Daigohji's homepage! Find more posts by Daigohji Add Daigohji to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Baka
WANZER!

*is woken up by large arguement in room next to him*

Ok, which fools let me win?

WOOOOOOOOOOO My god, I made it. Of course, I will now never make it past the first round again.

Thanks to everyone who supported me, and everyone who made
it a good fight. And special thanks to Krizak and Slipstream for general coolness. And now...

-----

Driscoll paused before he reached the portal, and the others paused with him.

"So.. is this over now?" he said in a quiet voice.

"Almost. All that remains is to get you all home." Yume smiled. "Congratulations, Commander. You've won."

Saint patted him on the shoulders too. "Yeah. You've vanquished the evil, slain the dark lord. Cheer up, Dris!"

Driscoll pushed Saint's hand away. "And what for? You say I've saved the universe, but I don't feel like it. I'm tired, hungry, and hurt. And your healing isn't going to change that. Do you realise what your little tournament does to us all?" He looked again at the broken crystal realm. "To all the worlds we've been too?"

Yume sighed. "I know, I'm sorry. I wasn't myself, didn't realise what I was doing."

"You think that helps? What's going to happen to us all now? Are we all supposed to go home to our happy homes? I've got news for you. I go home, I go home to war."

Saint sighed. "What's going to happen to you? Whatever you want, Dris. Whatever you want."

Driscoll looked at him slowly. "Whatever I want? So I could go to somewhere peaceful?"

"Any of the worlds can be your home."

Driscoll considered this for a minute, then shook his head. "No. I've got too much resting on me back home. And I can't absolve for my crimes until we win."

Finally, Zeal spoke up. "But you have done, Commander. You've saved the universe, I'd say that counts.."

Driscoll shook his head again, then pointed at it. "Not in here. Not where it counts. Take me home, Yume. There's a war to win."

Saying that, he walked forward and plunged through the portal. Behind him, Saint looked at Yume. "He's going to lose the war. Should we tell him?"

Yume looked back. "Funny. I could have sworn he was going to win."

Zeal laughed, a shrill laugh piercing the silence around them. "I guess not everything is set in stone. I think he'll do just fine whatever happens. Let's go."

-----

And that may be the end for Dris. I'll see what Krizzy comes up with!


---

Baka // Evil Bishounen Mastermind // Otaku-in-Training

Old Post 02-10-2002 12:19 PM
Baka is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Baka Click here to Send Baka a Private Message Find more posts by Baka Add Baka to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

<girly squeal>YAAAYYY! BAKA WON! XDDDD;</girly squeal>

I'm one of them, Baka.

What wonderful writers you all are. Baka, your Driscoll was great as ever, and Slipstream, you brought Rubicante to whole new heights!

What a shame that I had to be elsewhere. All of your stories were brilliant, even more so than in the last episode. But, thankfully, Kyo brought the SDIII storyline to a very worthy end. But still, had I been here, Koren could have had a more active role in the entire tournament... I would have fancied a small fight with Chaos, myself. Oh, well...

Soujiro, your writing was phenomenal! I'm envious... I would have liked to do the "final absolute enemy" gig, too. But then, I was absent, so I guess I have nothing to complain about... and there's always the next tournament to look forward to, isn't there?

Now, much as I'm a Driscoll supporter, one mustn't forget the other final contestant...

------

(TIME: Right after the final battle, just as Rubicante is recovering from being unconscious.)

The Emperor of Fire woke, only to find himself in a wholly different place. He tried to raise himself to have a better look, but he could feel his body was no longer co-operating.

"Fire..." he could hear a voice from behind him. A familiar voice. It was softer than before, much like the sound of the wind, but he could still recognize it.

"Koren, I presume?" Rubicante answered, undaunted by the Scarlet Magician's presence. He had heard but echoes about the battles elsewhere, but it seemed clear that he had died... died, giving his life after the battle with his old enemy.

"My judgement on fire may have been mistaken..." Koren's voice continued. "Fire is not only for destruction. It is also the fire that provides us with warmth, a gentle spark that brings life to the world."

Rubicante frowned. Couldn't this man stop talking in riddles, even in death?

"You have found your purpose, Emperor of Fire. Hold on to it, never let go of it, and look forwards as much as backwards, and you shall never lose it and become a puppet again."

Rubicante still could only lay, listening the words of the man he had once despised for his arrogance and indifference.

"Your tale is not yet told, and the end is yet to be written, noble spirit of fire. I bid you farewell, Rubicante..." the voice faded away.

"Koren... I want to th-" Rubicante started hastily, but then, suddenly, he could feel the presence of the wizard disappear. He arose, watching around. Not a glimpse of scarlet could be seen anywhere.

-----


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Last edited by Darkken on 02-10-2002 at 02:11 PM

Old Post 02-10-2002 02:07 PM
Darkken is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Darkken Click here to Send Darkken a Private Message Visit Darkken's homepage! Find more posts by Darkken Add Darkken to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Exeter
Cardboard Box Ninja

Well, I'll be. Congrats, Baka! Way to reclaim the title, eh? And Slipstream, well done. You certainly made my posts more interesting.

Hmm...Krizak, if you have something else to post that requires the other characters, please feel free to write Edge back into it, despite his fading away earlier. I'd do it myself, but since I don't really know what you have planned... I assume Mintaka would want the same thing for Rydia.

And now, three cheers for Driscoll! Hip-hip hurrah! Hip-hi...eh, you get the idea.


---
Another urban myth dispelled...ninjas don't bounce.

Old Post 02-10-2002 04:07 PM
Exeter is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Exeter Click here to Send Exeter a Private Message Find more posts by Exeter Add Exeter to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Izlude
Apocalyptic Dragoon

ack.. missed most of the final round. congrats again Baka! hopefully the next tourney wont last two weeks.. then *maybe* i'll be able to participate.. but who knows... good game people!


---

Old Post 02-10-2002 04:15 PM
Izlude is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Izlude Click here to Send Izlude a Private Message Find more posts by Izlude Add Izlude to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

By the way, since this is no longer a spam-free zone, I present you with a little something that just hit me while I was in shower. Gratuitous anime music parody... INCOMING!

-----

I don't mind hurting people

want to slash your guts
open and live a
murderous and truculent life.

I want to kill you because you
try to take from me the strength to go on.

I JUST FEEL 'DEATH ECSTACY'

Take all the glee and
victories away to the blackened night.

I JUST FEEL 'DEATH ECSTACY'

My heart stops beating

SO FARAWAY––

-----

Ten points and a parrot mark to the person who figures out what the original was. It shouldn't be too tough. Apologies to all possible fans of the song.

EDIT: Gah. When in the blue hell am I going to learn how to properly spell 'gratuitous'?


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Last edited by Darkken on 02-10-2002 at 04:58 PM

Old Post 02-10-2002 04:42 PM
Darkken is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Darkken Click here to Send Darkken a Private Message Visit Darkken's homepage! Find more posts by Darkken Add Darkken to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Slipstream
Elemental Fiend

*claps and cheers*

Wooo, Baka, congratulations! You deserved every bit of that victory, I loved what you did with your character and how he developed throughout the tournament. Much kudos to you, and also to Krizak for being a great host and to Tenken for his excellent writing and his work in bringing everyone's ideas together. Hell, thanks to everyone who took part in the tournament at all just for being here, for creating such great stories and bringing in such memorable characters.

I'll wait until Yume sends everyone home to wrap up Rubicante's story, but I just wanted to get a response in and to follow up on Darkken's post.

---

I reawaken in the ever-changing land of Memoria, my body gently resting against a crumbling wall of stone. I am too weakened to move at the moment, and somewhere behind me I hear a familiar voice, a ghost riding on the winds of memory. Koren, the Scarlet Magician. I cannot defend myself at the moment, but his intention is not to attack or chastise me but to offer his final words in passing. It was Koren who was the first to aid me in questioning my alliances, and I move to thank him when I suddenly feel his presence disappear.

"Koren!" I cry, slowly getting to my feet as feeling returns to my body. "I want to th - "

But it is no use, the magician nowhere in sight and his voice disappeared as I look around for him. I catch sight of the other contestants, and in a nearby corner I see Yume and Driscoll standing and talking, and even Queen Zeal - and Saint too!

The Shapeshifter!

"Yume! What happened to us?" I blurt out, recalling the Shifter's attack hammering into me and then nothingness. "Has - "

Yume smiles, which for the first time I have seen it does not appear to be hiding something. "Relax, Rubicante. Your efforts, and Driscoll's, held back the Shapeshifter long enough for others to come to our aid. The Shapeshifter has been destroyed, the Void pressed back once again and the Crystal healed. We have won."

"Have we all, Yume?" I ask sadly, walking over to them. "For to do such a thing must mean that you have retained your power, the very thing you created this tournament to rid yourself of."

Yume looks down at the marble flooring for the briefest of moments, then looks up again and matches her eyes with mine. "This is so, but I finally realised that it wasn't my powers I feared - it was my lack of control over them, the ways I could misuse them from inexperience or harm others."

"And I will always be there to teach you that control, Yume," Saint adds quietly but confidently, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder in comfort. "You have my word on this." I can still see the flickers of doubt and fear in her eyes, as though she is still unsure whether she means her words, but only she can decide where her path will lead her now.

"I... see. So we return to our own worlds now?" I ask them.

"Yeah, Crispy," Driscoll interjects, his injuries healed from when I last saw him. "Back to our own worlds, and back to a war in my case. I hope what you return to's better than what awaits me, pal."

The Void...

"I... I don't know..." I say, shaking my head in sorrow. "I was destroyed before I came here, defeated in combat, and oblivion awaits me when I return there. This was my only chance for recreation, and now it is lost to me."

:Not so.:, an avian voice chides me gently.

"Garuda!"

The icy, brilliant light builds itself in the air and moments later the crystalline phoenix apparates, stepping down onto my cloaked shoulder and settling itself there. The others save for Yume appear startled for the briefest of moments, but the young Goddess appears to recognise my unlikely ally and something in her posture hints some kind of recognition.

:You were not destroyed when Edge and his companions defeated you the second time, Rubicante,: the Phantom Beast says in its mental voice. :Your will was merely broken apart, your ability to reform your essense lost, as also with the other Fiends. Since you were incarnated again to participate in this tournament, you shall not lose your form when you return.:

"And what of the others?" I ask, thinking of my brethren.

:They regained themselves for the briefest of moments when they were summoned here by another's power, when they lent you control over their elements in your final battle. Now their essenses hang in Limbo, but you will be able to revive them when you return. You do not have the power to resurrect Zemus for he was mortal. But,: Garuda tells me, in an amused tone of voice, :I doubt you would wish to anyway, after what you learned here.:

I smile somewhat bitterly at that, but I am forced to agree. "And what of the path you spoke of earlier, Garuda? Something about my role in the world of Gaia, and it eventually falling were I to be destroyed at Rydia's hands?"

:You'll find out, Rubicante. You'll see.:


---

Maybe you'll be able to challenge me again. I look forward to our next encounter.

Last edited by Slipstream on 02-10-2002 at 07:38 PM

Old Post 02-10-2002 07:34 PM
Slipstream is online now Click Here to See the Profile for Slipstream Click here to Send Slipstream a Private Message Visit Slipstream's homepage! Find more posts by Slipstream Add Slipstream to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Luna
Goddess of Barrels

Well, congratulations to our winner! ^_^ And to Slipstream as well, for doing such an excellent job with Rubicant and making it this far. Lastly, a big thank-you to Krizak for hosting this tournament, and to everyone who participated and made it memorable. ^____^

Something special, huh? Hmmm....I'm intrigued. Can't wait to see THIS.

Old Post 02-10-2002 07:40 PM
Luna is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Luna Click here to Send Luna a Private Message Visit Luna's homepage! Find more posts by Luna Add Luna to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Yume
Daughter of the Creator

Epilogue: The Favour of a Goddess

Yume looked on the assembled crowd. Here were her warriors, the heroes and villains of a dozen realities, gathered once again under her command. Gathered for the last time.

"You have all fought valiantly against the Void, and I thank you. It is due to your actions that the bonds of reality still hold strong against non-existence, and all life owes you a debt of gratitude. I must apologize for my ruse; I kept my true intentions hidden, for I feared that if I announced the true prize, only those with a desire for power would join the tournament."

"Now has come the time for you to return home. But before you go, I would like to bestow my thanks upon each of you personally. I'm afraid that I cannot grant each of your wishes; such an action would disrupt your home realities severely. However, I would give each of you a small favour, one that may help you make your own dreams come true."

"Approach now, and state your desire. I shall grant it if I can, and then I shall whisk you back to your reality."

---

So, there's your final writing task: what small thing do you want from Yume? What could she give you that would help you in your future? It could be simply a second chance at life for those who have died in their realities, or it could be an item. It could even be a friendly little kiss. (And I MEAN a friendly little kiss, Anoat.)

Oh, and Cirrus, stop using my name as a word!


---

~ I am you, and you are me ~ This defies reality ~ Whether this is false or true ~ You are me, and I am you ~
Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream ~ The Massive Insanity Has Begun! ~ Now, Cross Your Fingers And Hope For The Best!

Old Post 02-10-2002 08:08 PM
Yume is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Yume Click here to Send Yume a Private Message Find more posts by Yume Add Yume to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Exeter
Cardboard Box Ninja

Edge blinked as reality came back into view. The energies he had released before...fading...had been more than he'd been used to.

Ugh...my head...

He scanned the crowd warily, a touch unsettled as he recognized a few faces from days past he'd have preferred not to, and some to whom he owed thanks.

The ninja walked over to Driscoll, and paused a moment to shake the hand of the man who had saved the multiverse, and introduce himself.

"It's an honor, sir. We owe you our lives," Edge said.

"No problem, King Edge of Eblan," Driscoll replied. Edge nodded, and turned to scan the crowd again.

The ninja's eyes settled on Rubicante.

Edge carefully crept closer to the Fiend, but then the Lady Yume began her speech. The King listened with interest, though his attentions were a bit divided. Rubicante...Rydia...small wish...yeah, I'd say that's pretty divided.

After the speech drew to a close, and one of the participants stepped forward nervously, Edge made his way over to the Fiend, making no attempts at stealth.

The man turned as the ninja approached. "Edward Geraldine," he said quietly.

"Rubicante..."

...well, no time like the present, right?

"I...saw you fighting. Against Zeal. While I was...out...I heard things. Random voices. Yours, Rydia's. Almost like your thoughts, I guess. Anyway...uh..."

Rubicante waited expectantly.

Fiercely, Edge thrust his open hand forward, and looked at his feet. A moment later, his hand was grasped by Rubicante, and the two former enemies shook.

"I can't say this is easy, but...well, thanks. You know, for helping to save reality and all. I'm glad you're your own man after all, and not another of Zemus's pawns."

"Quite a compliment, young King. I appreciate it."

"No prob...uh...I don't suppose you've seen Rydia?"

Rubicante nodded and looked to the left. Edge turned, and saw the young woman searching the crowd urgently.

"Er...thanks again," Edge said over his shoulder as he made his way toward his love. Rubicante merely smiled.

With lightning speed, Edge picked Rydia up off the ground, spun her through the air, and set her back down gently.

"Edge!" she exclaimed. "Are you all right? I saw you fading, and..."

The ninja silenced her with a well placed kiss. It seemed the thing to do.

I could live the rest of my life like this...hmm...wonder what I'll wish for, now?

Reluctantly, Edge released Rydia from his embrace. He was pleased to note a hint of a blush on her face, though it faded almost immediately.

The ninja noticed the ring from the Arcane Sanctuary lying on the ground. Must've fallen out of her pocket.

"Oh! The ring!" Rydia said as Edge snatched the gold ring up off the ground. "It really came in handy against those Void creatures. My Black Magic seemed to increase in power."

Edge was silent, staring at the ring as if in a trance. "Edge...?" Rydia said concernedly.

No time like the present, indeed.

As he dropped to one knee, it seemed an aura of uncertainty and self-doubt was dispelled, banished forever into the Void. A few hushed murmurs came from a few in the crowd who had been watching, though most of the attention was still on Yume.

You are my light, my sun, my radiance. You fill me with peaceful serenity even when you are not by my side. You are the one person I know I can trust, depend on, and love. I love you, Rydia of Mist, and that will never change, no matter what fates may befall us.

Aloud, he spoke those words he had not even considered until just a moment ago.

"Rydia, will you marry me?"

********************

...what?

Hey, at least I didn't have a wedding in the middle of the tournament, unlike some people last time...

Next part'll come soon. Hopefully Minty'll be able to post sometime soon, otherwise, I'll continue in a bit.

Old Post 02-10-2002 09:08 PM
Exeter is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Exeter Click here to Send Exeter a Private Message Find more posts by Exeter Add Exeter to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Tenshi Kain
Nameless Eternal

Yume's eyes then found Slash standing before her. The blue Mystic had dressed his wounds from the standoff battle with Chaos, and stood with sword slung nonchalantly over one shoulder. He favored her with a rare smile, tapping a foot against the smooth ground as though expecting the wish to be obvious. To Yume, however, there were many "obvious" dreams for the chill-blue swordsman before her.

"It's been fun," Slash muttered, sucking in. "The tournament in and of itself was pretty beneficial to my sword skill. First time I've gotten to show off what a real fighter can do in front of so many people. But there's one small, almost trivial thing I'd like to ask for...heh, would you believe it, it doesn't involve killing somebody."

Slash ran a hand over his smooth head, looking somewhat embarassed. "Would it, uh...be asking too much to want to keep the sheath? Just to, uh...remind me of the good times I had here."

A few of the competitors snickered behind him, and Slash shot them a dark look. "You know, I'm not gone from here just yet. You want I should use this?" he muttered, waving the sheath at his obi menacingly. They were quiet, but he could see the imprint of their tongues against their cheeks. He groaned.

Yume only gave a small smile. "If that is what you really want."

"Actually, there is a little extra thing..." Slash twisted his lip, chewing the inside of his cheek. "That day when you were talking about me missing Flea and Ozzie...well, I just wanted to say, I'm sorry for being gruff. Just my style, ya know. I'm the best! I've got a little reputation to uphold. But, uh, at the same time, I don't want to come off as some kinda prick...you get what I'm saying? Er, well, I just wanted to say...thanks, Yume."

Yume's smile widened a bit. "Strange praise coming from you. You're welcome, Slash."

Slash rubbed the back of his head, glancing back at the competitors. "You're quite a bunch," he told them lowly. "Too bad I can't enlist you in the service of Great Magus! Ah, well. It's been fun." He glanced to Lemina and Mia, afterwards. "Can I ask you girls one tiny little favor?"

They blinked in unison, but did not voice any negatives. Slash rubbed his blue chin, unsure of how to put this. "Out of respect for my sanity, promise not to hug each other for five minutes after I leave. You would not believe the day I had back in that place 'Alaska.'" Turning from the bemused girls, Slash then glanced to the strange woman in a flowing cape. Huh, he thought. Just now, he noticed her hairstyle looked a lot like Great Magus's...

"I heard how you did in the Void...'Zeal', was it?" Slash frowned slightly. The name sure wasn't strange to him. "Cooky story if I ever heard one, but then, this entire thing is cooky. Ah, well." He turned his gaze to the large figure in armor, standing alone aside the other fighters. "Chaos," Slash said darkly, "we'll meet again. Keep the sword handy."

"Likewise, mortal," Chaos rasped.

Slash bared his teeth in a feral grin, then finally let his sallow vision settle on Driscoll. "I heard your little...message-thingy, earlier. Thanks, it did help. Better make your wish a good one, cru...uh, 'man.' You've earned this."

Slash gave them a little wave, then tipped his head to Yume. "I'm off my soap box, now. Send me back."

Yume nodded, resting a hand on Slash's shoulder. "Though you did not triumph, Slash, you still fight for what you believe in. Go now, Lord of the Sword. I entrust the best of luck to your future endeavors."

"Just a little 'see ya' will do, dollface."

For a moment, it looked like the eternal goddess rolled her eyes. "Farewell."

---

Waning sunlight blossomed into Slash's vision, and he found himself leaning against a wall of the large barricade outside Medina. The Mystic winced at the sudden harshness of the light, his vision settling to include the familiar wounded Mystics resting on the edges of the barricade. Alarmed despite himself, Slash glanced back and forth, as though in doubt of what time it was. No! It hasn't been that long, tell me we weren't defeated-

"Eeeow! Slash, baby, I could use a little help..."

Flea's voice. Slash spun, and he found his fellow Mystic commander standing with a forlorn expression behind him, holding her (?!) finger in her (?!) hand. Her (?!) lower lip quivered, and Flea held out the injured hand to Slash. "My nail's getting worse! It's a blemish, now! It's all ugly and purple and-"

"Flea, I haven't told you I love you yet, have I?" Slash took the startled Flea into his arms and crushed the pink-haired Mystic to him in a very tight, hips-grinding hug. Flea made an "eep!" sound, and Slash swayed back and forth with her. Yume had been thoughtful enough to place him back in his reality sheer moments after she'd come for him, so long ago.

A new voice sounded from behind Flea. "Mmmf, good pudding! So, Flea, about th- what the hell!?"

Slash glanced to the large green mass of Ozzie, and found it hard to resist a smirk. Ozzie had chocolate smeared over his pouted lips, his beady little eyes shrunken back into his head in shock. Slash uttered a rare chuckle and released Flea to smack the fatter Mystic against his gullet. Ozzie hacked, clawing at his throat. "Urrghhh! What the h-hell's going on?"

"Nada damn thing, Ozzie." Slash grabbed both his Mystic comrades and slung an arm around their shoulders. Flea's eyes widened as the Slasher II's edge dangled inches in front of her (?!) face. "Life's...relatively good," Slash said modestly. "I figure once we've got all those damn humans out of our hair, the three of us can kick back and have a little party somewhere. You guys'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Ozzie squinted in confusion. "You didn't hit your head or anything, right, Slash? Why're you being so niiiice," he wailed, Slash's muscles accidently tightening around his fleshy throat.

"Maybe a few times, Ozzie," Slash said, glancing up to the sky. "But a lot of times, it takes a few hits to reach people whom words cannot always reach."

-----

And with that cliche last liner, I'm out. Take a bow, Slash.



It has been an honor playing you, Blue Lord of the Sword. I'll be seeing you in Sprigg's Dopplegang.


---

Thanks to Serendipity for the schway sig.
"Your eyes...they burn with resolve! Beautiful!"
-- Seymour Guado, Final Fantasy X

Old Post 02-10-2002 09:43 PM
Tenshi Kain is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Tenshi Kain Click here to Send Tenshi Kain a Private Message Find more posts by Tenshi Kain Add Tenshi Kain to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Switchblade
Fire of Legend

Congrats to Baka and thanks to Kriz. It has been a joy and an honor to participate in this tourney and as I've said I will gladly return for the next. The main purpose of this post is to relocate the end to Julius's story. I've decided it will fit in better here than back where it was. Yeah, I know I'm a perfectionist.

Somewhere far from the war torn field of Memoria there lays a small meadow full of trees and wild
flowers. It is a place of unspoiled beauty, only lightly touched by the hands of mortal beings. The only artificial structure is a small house in the south of the meadow, a cozy little building with a small kitchen and a large bedroom.

Julius opens the door and steps out, refreshed from a long night's sleep. Tightly clutching his stuffed Moogle the boy runs out into the meadow, looking for his friends. Soon enough he finds them, playing around the largest tree in the whole valley. Julius laughs as he sees that Locke has taken one of Rydia's dolls and climbed up into the highest branches where she's too afraid to go. Edge seems to have tried to climb up after Locke, but he's clinging to a low branch and crying, his fear of heights overpowering his desire to help Rydia.

The rest of the children are all running around the base of the tree, some cheering on Locke, some
cheering on Edge, and some simply laughing at the events. Julius runs over to the tree, smiling as he joins his friends. He asks where breakfast is and Slash points him to the large picnic blanket that's been spread out on the ground, every inch of it covered in all manner of delicious food. Julius sits down next to Lemina and Mia, setting his plushy down as he reaches for an apple.

Suddenly there's a yell of surprise and a loud thud as Edge loses his grip and falls out of the tree. Rydia and Rubicant run over to their friend's side as Zoma starts climbing the tree to get Locke. Julius watches as Mog runs off to get Mother, Umaro and Gogo following him like always. Soon enough Mother runs over, a concerned look on her face and Bowser close on her heels. Arriving at Edge's side Mother gently lays a hand on the boy, using her magic powers to fix his light injuries, instantly restoring all his energy. With Mother there Zeal puts on her bossy face and demands that Locke climbs back down and gives back Rydia's doll.

Mother just laughs at all the chaos. Suddenly she looks over at Julius, casually pushing back a
strand of her purple hair. Her lips don't move, but Julius can hear her voice just as clearly as if she were speaking out loud. Only somehow it isn't Mother's voice. It sounds the same, but at the same time it sounds completely different, as if it was another Mother speaking, a Mother Julius had never met, but who sounded very familiar for some reason. "Sometimes," the strange Mother said, "When you lose, you also win. Congratulations, Julius."

Julius bit into his apple as he gestured for Ito to pass the waffles.

The End

EDIT: The copy and pasting process messed up the spacing. All better now.

Last edited by Switchblade on 02-10-2002 at 10:28 PM

Old Post 02-10-2002 10:10 PM
Switchblade is online now Click Here to See the Profile for Switchblade Click here to Send Switchblade a Private Message Find more posts by Switchblade Add Switchblade to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Dareon
The Second Gunman

Ito glanced up from the buffet table.

(On the sidelines:
Mia: Eew, what's this? Did someone bleed on the cheesecake?
Slash: (Dips finger in reddish topping) Nope. Strawberry. Pity.
Lemina: Huh? What's a pity?
Slash: (Evil grin)
Mia + Lemina: ...Eeew! MEGA-Eeew!
)

He sighed and looked around at the people he had fought with, the people he had come to know.

Do I really want to change my fate? Do I want to go back with my head filled with the knowledge I've gleaned from this tourney? He took a bite of the piece of cake on his plate. Well, maybe there's one piece of knowledge I'd really like to take back with me.

Smiling, and still carrying the paper plate with the cake on it, he approached Lady Yume.

"Ah, Ito. You have a request, do you not? Allow me to guess. You wish not to remember this tournament, so as not to endanger your own reality."

Ito smiled and shook his head. "No, Lady. I want to remember all of this, for the time I have left. My request is most likely much simpler to fulfill."

"Speak, then."

"Lady Yume, may I please have the secret of your delicious bagels?"

Yume raised one eyebrow. Ito grinned and continued.

"Though actually, I'd be quite happy to merely get the recipe for this cake. My sister's quite a little chef, and I figured this cake would make a very nice surprise for her. You see, I promised myself I'd call her after this."

Yume smiled and reached behind her back, producing a sheet of lavender-colored paper. "Here you are, Ogami-san. Yume's Cake Fit For A Goddess. I hope your sister enjoys it."

Ito bowed, folding the paper and placing it in his breast pocket. "Arigato, Yume-megami."

"Will you be leaving us now?"

"Hmm... No, I believe I'll stay here for a while. I haven't eaten since Shadow Moses. And thank you again."

Still smiling, Ito wandered back to the table, accepting a cup of punch from Mia.

Ito now has:
1 Recipe
No ammo
1 large appetite


Great job, everyone, and Krizak as well. I look forward to sponsoring in RT2.

Old Post 02-10-2002 10:15 PM
Dareon is online now Click Here to See the Profile for Dareon Click here to Send Dareon a Private Message Find more posts by Dareon Add Dareon to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

Well, it's been quite a ride, everyone. I hope everyone (who bothered to read, that is) enjoyed my Koren. Those who played the game will know that I made most of it up - in the game, Koren is in many ways just another run-of-the-mill villain with a nasty demeanor who is just a jerk to everyone, and not much more. Still, it was great fun to mess around with the entire Seiken Densetsu story triangle - Nev would have loved this - and a few Grahf references as far as motives go didn't hurt too much, either.

Still, I doubt I'll take Koren the next time. I don't think I could find much room for development on his character, and taking him along for the ride just because would be so...movie sequel-ish. On the other hand, there's a certain red-haired, pigtailed man/woman whom I think I might want to play... assuming, of course, that the rules will allow it.

------

Koren watched Duran from afar. It was like a dream... he didn't move, he just floated around.

I wonder if this is what death feels like?

He saw his face. He seemed oddly down, despite his victory. But why? Koren couldn't understand. For a second, he wondered if he could talk to him, like had talked to that spirit of fire, Rubicante. But as he opened his mouth, he concluded that talking would make no difference. He was dead, after all. Duran had defeated him. There was nothing left to say. Letting out a sigh, he fell deeper into the depths...

-----

Koren lay, defeated, and Duran's blade was on his throat... his final spell had been too slow.

"Now... will you kill me?" Koren had asked, solemnly, without mockery or arrogance. There was a long silence, and then, Duran said simply:

"No."

He removed his sword from his throat, but did not unsheathe it yet.

"There is work to be done. This world is collapsing. We must fight them, or we're both going to die."

Koren stared into his eyes, his eyes narrowing and widening, his mouth curling in short pulses. Suddenly, he heard a sound from behind him, and he could feel the entire balcony shaking. The Void? Not now! Not now...

Koren jumped instantly into his feet. Duran grabbed his sword, but he barely even noticed. Koren flew straight towards the emptiness and oblivion, his final spell on his lips.

"Break down and wail, Jinn! Lead on and burn, Salamando! Weep tears of death, Undine! Heed my call, spirits, and combine your forces! DOUBLE SPELL!" Koren screamed, but he didn't feel it. All around him was just darkness. His spell broke a path, as the entire small citadel begun to shatter.

Did Duran make it?

Darkness...

Falling...



"Koren!" Yume's voice called.

Koren opened his eyes. "This is the second time you have revived me against my wishes", Koren said. He perceived that he was, effectively, standing on nothingness. Am I still dead? Or am I still alive? Or... something in between?

"And what if I have?" Yume's voice reflected the coldness of his voice.

Koren rose wearily and stretched. "I saw the ceremony of the departing of your heroes..." he said. "I assume that you offer me, too, a last request?"

"Indeed I do", Yume said.

"I told you once. I have no dreams to fulfill." Koren said, turning away. "I have said my farewells... nothing remains here for me."

He turned around, his face wearing a bitter, stern grimace. Suddenly, he felt something hit his right cheek, and, weak as he still was, he fell down to the ground.

Yume was standing there, his hand outstretched, tears of rage forming in her eyes. "Watch yourself!" she screamed, in rage. Koren had never seen her like that before. "Did you learn nothing of the lesson you tought others!? You dare speak to others of hope and paths, when you, yourself, can't even harness to walk a path that is laid out for you!?"

"I've already died... twice..." Koren said, weakly. Yume's words meant nothing to him. Had he not thought so too, for all this time? But it was, he had thought, because he was trying to stop others from making the mistakes he had done. So what was she driving after?

"No." Yume said firmly. "You did not die, nor did I revive you, on that day I first came to you." Koren's eyes flased in disbelief.

She sighed, and sat down in front of him. "Koren... I understand what you tried to do. You stood against a fate that you thought was cruel, unjust, and wrong. You were ready to sacrifice all that you had ever had, and more, to destroy that cycle that you and Duran were bound to. Not many would have been ready to do such a deed."

Koren looked at her, disbelief turning into astonishment. His actions had been wrong, anyway. He had nearly slain Duran, and he had nearly destroyed himself for the second time.

"But that wasn't all. If it weren't for you, Duran would have certainly died. What's more, Rubicante would, perhaps, never have discovered himself. And had it not been for the potion that you took from Gogo and gave to Driscoll, he may, perhaps, have died to the wounds Rubicante inflicted upon him."

Koren's astonishment turned into amusement. "Are you", he said, unable to prevent a smile from rising to his lips, "are you, by any chance, trying to cheer me up?"

"More than that", Yume said. "I'm trying to make you realize that everyone, even you, have a mission to fulfill. No, not fate", she said, laughing, as Koren's eyes sharpened. "The cycle of Mana is but one more manifestation of the eternal conflict of light and shadow, and though it cannot be prevented by you, or anyone - not even me - you mustn't lose hope. Thanks to your actions, your soul is now free from that cycle, as is Duran's. Tragedy and suffering exist in the world, and no one can stop that. However, that is precisely why people must have hope, and believe in each other."

"You, Lady Yume, sound like a... a self-help booklet, as I'm sure a certain clown I know would have said", Koren pointed out, but lacking hostility.

"Perhaps", Yume said. "However, you must understand that more than by fate, the world is controlled by human emotion. Hate, sorrow, compassion, love... such small feelings may, in the end, change the world. You, Koren, are free from the grip of the fate you fought valiantly. That doesn't mean you can't have a destination."

Koren stood up, understanding. "I have crimes for which I have yet to repent... and a princess to whom I owe my soul, I believe. And" - Koren turned his face towards the field on which the other warriors had been gathered - "someone is grieving my death for naught."

Koren turned towards Yume, only to see her vanish, with her lips turned into a smile.

-----

Duran turned his head on the field, wondering what he would wish from Yume. He had received more than he could have ever believed possible... he already possessed the strength for the mission that awaited him as he returned. Koren and many others had taught him a lesson that he would not soon forget.

Koren...

Could Yume revive Koren? But would it be selfish to ask that... Koren, after all, had given his life to protect him, and it had always seemed to him that death was the sole comfort that he was seeking. Koren died a winner... for the first time in his life, he was no one's puppet. Perhaps he can rest in peace, after that...

After a short analysis, Duran chose that as crazy as it sounded, he simply missed the Scarlet Magician. He thought it was odd, seeing how every time they'd met, they had tried to kill each other... but, then, Duran owed him his life. Several times over, quite possibly. The thought that he would never see the Scarlet Magician simply hadn't struck him for real.

Duran rose from the ground, sighing. Since when did he harbor any feelings like this? He walked closer towards the place where Yume stood, expecting his turn so he could return. But suddenly, he heard a sound from behind, and as he turned, he saw a flicker of scarlet.

"Koren!" Duran said, in amazement. The figure was pale, but it seemed solid. Koren's face now lacked the terrible scars of hate and bitterness that casting the Death Ecstacy had given him. "What-" Duran started.

"Be at ease." Koren smiled, a genuine, friendly smile. "There is no death in the universe, Duran... I want to thank you for teaching me that", he said, and then turned around and walked away, giving him one last glance over his shoulder before disappearing.

-----

Somewhere far, far away, Koren stood, feeling the arctic wind blow through his hair. He could feel his magic powers disappear forever, but that only left him strangely refreshed. Soon, he would see Queen Valda and Angela again... and perhaps Duran, too. He wondered how they would take his return, but then discarded the thought. What mattered was that he was home.

Home...


-----

If someone wants to use Koren in his ending, you may, of course, have him make additional appearances.


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Last edited by Darkken on 02-10-2002 at 11:16 PM

New Post 02-10-2002 10:34 PM
Darkken is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Darkken Click here to Send Darkken a Private Message Visit Darkken's homepage! Find more posts by Darkken Add Darkken to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
San Draco
The Fallen Dragon

Chaos looked around him. So, the Void was defeated. All of my hopes have been crushed at last. I, too, have been defeated, though by many foes all at once.

Chaos then heard Yume's proposal. Of course, she doesn't know what I have done, not yet, at any rate. She is still vulnerable!

Chaos strode towards her, most of his wounds healed by the time lapse. The knight then knelt before Yume, and asked for one thing: "A kiss, Lady Yume. That is my one desire, to know how it feels."

Yume smiled slightly. "You have it, Chaos. It is truly a lowly thing for the Fiend of Time to ask for, but you have it."

Just before Yume could muster up the courage to do so, Chaos smiled. "FOOL! You believed that I would care about your petty emotions? You are pathetic!"

Chaos leaped forward, preparing to stab Yume through. Just before he could do so, however, a whip caught his arm. Turning around, Chaos saw Rubicante, holding onto the whip with all the strength the Fire Fiend could muster.

Chaos snarled. "How dare you stop my plans! You, of all fiends, should know how dearly this dream is to me!"

Rubicante shook his head. "Even after all of this time with the mortals, you do not understand. Your dreams cannot be fulfilled, because they are nightmares to all others. You will have to kill every last mortal in order for your dream to become reality."

Chaos savagely pulled on his sword, wrenching it free from Rubicante's grip. "Fool! Have you become so beguiled by their talk that you, also, wish to join their side? I see. In that case, I have been betrayed, and you shall be the first to feel my wrath."

Chaos leaped toward the Fire Fiend, slashing with his Excalibur. Rubicante, on the other hand, used a flame saber to ward off the blow. Chaos slashed again and again, but to no avail. Yume, by this time, had finally realized how impossible it would be for Chaos to be redeemed.

Chaos finally hit Rubicante, sending him crashing to the ground. Chaos shouted, "Fiend! Go to the place where you belong! OPEN PORTAL!"

A whirling vortex, which lead to the Void, appeared. Chaos struck toward Rubicante, but was parried. Suddenly, all of the ground around them split, leaving them on a slender bridge of land, suspended over a long fall to the Void-portal. Chaos laughed. "Either way, fool, you shall be defeated here!"

Once again Chaos focused his magical energy, and chanted, "All becomes nothing with this blow! Darkness Storage!" Rubicante's form was surrounded by flames, apparently hot but freezing to the touch.

Chaos smirked. "How does it feel, fiend? How does it feel to finally be hurt by your own element? It burns, doesn't it? It burns with intense cold, as terrifying to you as a flamestorm to others!"

Rubicante finally managed to work his way out of the spell, only to find Chaos flying above him. Rubicante shouted, "Cease this immediantly, Chaos, or I will be forced to destroy you!"

Chaos shouted back, "You cannot destroy me, follower of Light! Many have tried before, but none can now! Prepare yourself for the Void!"

With that, Chaos hurtled himself toward the fire fiend, catching the fiend's robe and lifting him far above the bridge. Chaos then whispered in the Fiend's ear, "As you have doomed me, so now I shall doom you. Prepare for the Void!"

Rubicante, twisting around, managed to raise his hand to Chaos's face. "Fiend as you are, Chaos, I doubt you can withstand this! SCORCH!"

A wave of intense heat washed over Chaos's face, temporarily blinding him. Rubicante, taking this chance, fell to the bridge below. There, the Fire Fiend prepared for Chaos's next attack. It quickly came.

Chaos landed softly on the bridge, opposite to Rubicante. "Does this remind you of someplace, Rubicante? Both times you were killed, it was on a long, narrow place. This time, however, you will wish you were dead, as soon as you enter the Void!"

The two blades crackled with energy, and their meeting was as thunder. The two exchanged blow after blow, neither ready nor willing to surrender. Finally, however, a long-forgotten force returned to the battlefield.

Its deathly voice whispered into Chaos's mind, Chaos...

Chaos, far too busy in the battlefield, paid it no heed. He did not notice the blue-skinned, Cloak of Darkness-shrouded figure behind him. Suddenly, a large claw rested on Chaos's now-small shoulder.

Spinning around, Chaos saw the visage of Zoma. "Y-you! How did you come here?"

Zoma merely smiled. "It is assuredly a good day to meet thyself, Chaos. I wast content to wait, and observe thy struggles, but now I see the depths of thine heart. You art willing to sacrifice all to achieve thine goals, and I shall not allow it. Preparest thou for the VOID!"

The Fiend of Magic raised his hands, and fired an Explodet at the Fiend of Time. At the same time, Rubicante fired a Nuke at Chaos, and the combined effects knocked Chaos off the bridge.

As he fell, Chaos saw the other participants staring at him, some with elation, some with a small tinge of regret. Chaos shouted, "I may be going to the Void, but I shall return! No matter how many mortal lives it shall take, I shall return!"

Just before he disappeared, Chaos turned toward the two Fiends that had betrayed him. "Your time is up, Rubicante and Zoma. When you return to your worlds, the inhabitants shall hate you forever! I have marked both of you with my seal, though you may not see it. No matter how hard you try, Darkness shall always cover your path! I SWEAR IT!"
---

With one last burst of strength, Chaos flung the Excalibur and the Aegis Shield into Memoria, where they landed in his own timeline. The Excalibur was broken, and the pieces were sent to Sky Palace.

The Aegis, on the other hand, was put in the Sea Castle. And, it is said, that if the two were ever to be recovered and put on the altar in the Temple of Fiends, Chaos could be pulled from the Void.

Yes, Chaos was sent to the Void, the side which he had allied himself with. His hatred and power grew, but there was nothing for him there, nothing but memories and regrets. Still, it is prophesied, that he shall return once again, when the worlds least expect him. That is the Fate of Chaos.
-----

*OOC* I would like to thank Krizak, Daigojhi, Kyo, Slipstream, UFO Z, ArchKnightWayne, and all other members of the Dark Alliance or people I duelled with. This has been the best writing experience I've ever had.

I would also like to thank all other participants. This was, without a doubt, the best experience I've had yet. Thank you, everyone.

EDIT: I thought of a better wish! Heheheheheh!

Last edited by San Draco on 02-10-2002 at 10:52 PM

New Post 02-10-2002 10:45 PM
San Draco is offline Click Here to See the Profile for San Draco Click here to Send San Draco a Private Message Find more posts by San Draco Add San Draco to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
KyleIII
Member of Philanthropy

After listening to Yume's speech, Locke knew it was time to say goodbye. First turning to Zelda, he said, "Hey, it was good fighting with you. You're quite the woman."

"Well, you're quite the treasure hunter. It was only a short while, but I'm going to miss you Locke." Zelda replied.

"Right back at ya," Locke responded, embracing the princess, "Good luck, maybe we'll see each again someday."

"You know that's impossible," she said.

"After today, I don't think anything's impossible," Locke responded, "Good bye Zelda."

"Good bye Locke."

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

Leaving his former comrade-in-arms, Locke went to say his remaining goodbyes. He spyed Edge, and snuck up behind the ninja. (Note, this is before the proposal) Pulling his leg back, Locke asked, "You didn't forget me, did you."

As Edge turned around, Locke swung his leg forward, stopping inches from Edge's crotch. The ninja instinctively jumped backwards. "What're you so jumpy for?" Locke asked with a laugh.

"I think you could probably guess," Edge responded.

"Listen," Locke said, "I know we were rivals during the tournament, but... at least we can leave as friends. What do ya say?" Locke asked, extending his hand.

Staring at it for a moment, Edge grabbed Locke's outstretched hand, "Very well treasure hunter. You know I'll never be able to forgive you for that, though." he said with a laugh.

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

Going next to Slash, Locke once again extended his hand, "Good tournament Slash."

Not sure of how to respond, Slash didn't immediately take the outstretched hand, "Yes, it was. You didn't fare too poorly yourself, thief."

Raising his eyebrow, Locke said, "That's treasure hunter! Look, the real reason I wanted to talk to you was to thank you."

"Thank me?" Slash asked, obviously confused.

"For introducing me to hot dogs. Best meal I've ever tasted in my life. I'm even thinking of selling them on my own world. Locke Cole brand Hot Dogs, has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Slash let out a rare laugh, and took Locke's hand, "That is at least one thing we can agree on human. Who'd have thought hog anus could be so delicious. Um... I wish you luck."

"Thanks, same to you."

"Now get out of here while I'm still in a good mood," Slash demanded.

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

Before finally going to Yume, Locke thanked Bowser for the flower, apologized to Lemina for throwing up on her, and told his comrades from home they'd definitely have to get together again one of these days.

Finally taking the opportunity to approach Yume, Locke told the young godess, "Yume, I just wanted to thank you for everything. I joined this tournament for a little excitement, and I got much more then I ever bargained for. It made me realize how much I already have, and how stupid I was for wanting more."

Yume smiled, "I'm glad I could help you realize that. You fought well Locke, if a little unorthadox at times. Now, do you have a request?"

"Well, first off, will I be able to take this revolver and this flower home? Ya know, as souviniers?"

"Of course," Yume said.

Somewhat embaressed, Locke continued, "And, er, well this might sound kind of silly. I'm sure everybody else is wishing for much bigger things, but..."

"Go on," Yume said.

"Well, would you teach me how to make hot dogs?"

Yume laughed, "You are not the only one who has wished for food," reaching behind her back, she produced a sheet with the instructions for how to make hot dogs, as well as two small packages labelled 'Oscar Meyer'.

"What's this?" Locke asked.

"This is how they package hot dogs in the world in which we visited Alaska," she responded, "These'll have to tide you over until you can get the meat to make your own."

"Wow, thanks!" Locke said.

"Do you wish to return home now?" she asked him.

"No, I think I'll stick around for a little while. At least until everybody else has started to leave." Locke answered.

"Very well," Yume said.

"Yume, thanks. For everything."

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

OOC: Well, that's all for now. Stay tuned for Locke's homecoming.

Last edited by KyleIII on 02-10-2002 at 11:37 PM

New Post 02-10-2002 11:32 PM
KyleIII is offline Click Here to See the Profile for KyleIII Click here to Send KyleIII a Private Message Visit KyleIII's homepage! Find more posts by KyleIII Add KyleIII to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Ufo Z
Ph33r the bunnies!

Wow, so it ended.... GJ Baka, and very good posting from everyone!

___________________________________

Kefka woke once again to realize that it was all over. He saw Yume standing in front of him.

"What do you want from me now? Can't I just die in peace?"

He eyed the girl suspiciously, not knowing exactly what happened in the tournament after he died all too messily. He had Yume explain the rough details, and the announcement of the winner, Commander Driscoll.

"What an unlikely winner... Well, I guess that's the way it had to be.... Uwe he he.."

"That's not all, Kefka. You get a wish. Not any wish, just something small."

Kefka pondered this for a minute. This could be his chance for world domination, at least his own world. The question was..... Did he want that? Was there any point in reigning over a world? Hell yes!!!

"Very well... I wish to keep all the magic I obtained from these strange foreign places, and return to my own world."

Yume thought for a while, because the wish was a bit more than a little gesture. However, she felt a little sorry for the insane clown, and agreed.

"Fine. You'll get another chance for world domination... As long as you keep it in your own world."

"Agreed. Uwee hee he he heee!!!"

With that, Kefka looked around for any last bits of stray magic to absorb before being sent back to his World of Ruin....

___________________________

It's been a great tournament guys. Playing a villain does have its morals, but it was wicked fun. Looking forward to the next game. Greetings to everyone who played, especially the Ex-Dark Alliance. Good game, everyone!


---

Ph33r TEH 1337 Translat0r!!! v1.05

Last edited by Ufo Z on 02-10-2002 at 11:42 PM

New Post 02-10-2002 11:39 PM
Ufo Z is offline Click Here to See the Profile for Ufo Z Click here to Send Ufo Z a Private Message Visit Ufo Z's homepage! Find more posts by Ufo Z Add Ufo Z to your buddy list Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
06:24 AM (GMT) Pages (5): « First ... « 2 3 [4] 5 »

        Post New Thread  Post A Reply

Forum Jump:
Admin Options:
Forum Rules
You may post new threads
You may post replies
You may post attachments
You may edit your posts
HTML code is OFF
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON

Powered by: vBulletin Version 2.2.1
Copyright ©2000, 2001, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.