Noctoos

Well guys, after two years I am back and as you can see I have added a few chapters to Ainurauco's story. So post and tell me what you think. I hope to see some reviews good or bad.

Chapter 17: MAACA

“You’re talking to yourself again,” I said as I glanced at Piatra, who was brushing the fabric of her suit down.

“I am not” Piatra responded, just before whispering something to herself.

I couldn’t help but wonder about her sometimes, ever since we had become friends she had slowly became more and more weird. Some days I would watch her as she stood off to herself, always adjusting the suit and rubbing the fabric down as she talked to it, the suit I mean.

“You know Crey Industries has a newer version suit made for hand-to-hand combat” Piatra said from out of the blue.

“Now how could you know that?” I asked, of course she had hit my curiosity, a chance to make money always catches my ear.

“AP told me, it still has a ghost link to the main server database,” Piatra said smiling.

“Ok, ok, you’ve got me interested, tell me more about it” I said as I took a sit at a table in the club.

Piatra slide in the seat across from me, she didn’t worry about talking loud since we were the only ones there.

“It’s a prototype, like AP, but it functions differently. AP has an advanced neurological integration system, with an accompanied AI that responds to brain wave patterns, but the new suit they are working on is far different.” Piatra said smiling

I couldn’t help but laugh, “I understood that actually, keep going”

“Well the new suit is called MAACA, meaning Martial Arts Advanced Combat Armour. It acts like a second skin sort of. It’s ultra lightweight, strong as titanium, but flexible as rubber. It has no AI system like AP does, it instead works off of your reflexes and nervous system, that way it responds better for quick actions. It’s a new system they are working on.” Piatra said.

I thought for a moment, this new suit sounded rather intriguing. Yet at the same time I worried about Piatra, her suit was slowly making her insane, or at least it seemed like it. If this new suit was anything like her is, I did not want it, I rather enjoyed my sanity.

“So this new suit, it doesn’t mess with your brain doe sit,” I asked

“No, no, it doesn’t have an AI like AP, it responds to reflex and nerve responses only.” Piatra stated smiling.

“Alright than, how do we go about getting it?” I asked inquiring.
“We steal it of course” Piatra said grinning.

“I thought we were on the good side?” I stated bluntly.

“We are, and last time I checked, Crey industries was on the bad side, just pretending to be on the good” Piatra said.

“Ok you got a point there, so what’s the plan than.” I asked.

“Well I know the facility where MAACA is at, it’s a high security compound, with mid to high level officers. No one but security is there from 2 am till 4 am.” Piatra said, pulling out some blue prints from her briefcase.

She rolled them out on the table, using the candle jars to weight it down. She had blueprints for every floor, every vent system, ever sewer system for the compound, needless to say I was impressed with her attention to detail.

“We can go in here” she said pointing to a sewer entrance about a half mile away, “This will get us to under the sub basement floor were the suit is stored.”

“Hmmm, to be able to get to the very room were the suit is that easily…what’s the catch” I asked scanning over the blueprints.

“The room it is held in is the prototype and research data room, one of the largest concentrations of security is in this room at all times” Piatra said

“Numbers, give me numbers” I said glancing up at her.

“Thirty-three total, most are heavily armed. The stuff stored in this room at night is some of Crey’s latest technology” Piatra stated.

I rolled the numbers over in my head, thirty-three was a lot if we had to go through them at once, and I hope that is not going to be the case.

Piatra started explaining the layout of the room and the placement of the guards. It seemed that they were in small groups, placed at various locations.

“Three doors lead into the room, four guards at each door, five air vents with 2 guards each, two doors to the encased storage unit with five guards each, and the ten various patrols around the room.” Piatra said as she pointed out the various locations.

“So what’s the but… there is always a but.” I asked

Piatra started tapping various corner spots “Cameras, all have motion and heat signature readings, and all Crey employee’s wear a badge with a small circuit installed that the cameras can read and identify.”
“So basically if anything human or mechanical spots us, everyone will know we are there” I said.

“Pretty much, even if we do manage to take out every guard, if we swipe their badge, and the camera sees their body without it, it sets the alarm off.” Piatra said.

I studied the blueprints “So what’s the view radius on these cameras?”

“180 degrees, with a 20 yard range, each is secured directly in a corner and can pivot from one wall to the next” Piatra said.

“Have a pencil and a ruler in that brief case?” I asked

Piatra smiled and reached into he briefcase, handing me a slide rule and a pencil.

“Well let’s see what options we have for this,” I said as I began to mark the max range and radius of each camera in the room.

“Ok where is our entrance point?” I asked

Piatra pointed to a small alcove in the form of an L shape just off a corner of the room

“At least we have some coverage coming in,” I said.

“Now the cameras can’t see through the metal of the pillars and other objects of the room, so that will help us some” Piatra said pointing them out.

I sat for several minutes studying the layout and coming up with some kind of plan. The entry would be easy, and the cameras could easily be avoided, but the mix of guards about the room added to that, this was not going to be easy.

“So how many days till we try this” I asked glancing up at Piatra.

“I was thinking in two days, suppose ably they are having a meeting of the scientists tomorrow, a day after the meeting sounds good to try” Piatra said.

I nodded looking back over the blueprints, we would have to move fast and direct or this would go all wrong.

Chapter 16: Bubbles and Giggles

Red, blue, green, yellow, the laster lights cut through the smoky air, dancing in beat to the loud club music. It was hot in here, the palce was packed with Tsoo tonight. The dance floor was packed with bodies, both male and female, luckly I wasn't out there. The bar was packed as well, from water drinkers, to alcohol drinkers. Everyone was having fun, and my actions were leadign everyone to believe I was. But I wasn't.

I wasn't here to have fun, I wasn't here to party and dance, I was here to fullfill a contract. I wasn't wearing this skin tight black latex body suit because I wanted to. I had to set myself apart from the normal giggly party girls, to make myself look like a prize to be won. Otherwise I would never get a chance to get close to my target. So there I was doing the giggly, bubbly girly thing, and it was working.

Two large chinese men approach, I keep up the act, doing the laugh, the hair tosses. I look up at them as they stand, starign at me.

"And what can I do for you two handsome guys" I say, dang are they ugly.

"The boss want you to come sit with him" One drools out, I think he might need to bath.

"Only if he buys me a drinky" I giggle out, at which the other one motions to the bartender. He promptly fixes another rum and coke, handing it to the guy. The two step aside and escort me to the table in the back that their boss is sitting at. I hide the frown at seeing three other girls already there also, I would have to find a way to get past them to sit by the boss.

He is the one I'm after, he is the one that I will get paid for, the other Tsoo are just in my way. I giggly stupidly as I sit down, the one guy sitting my drink down in front of me. Perfect the girl besid eme as to go to the restroom, I let her out and slide over, only one girl between me and him now. The boss sits talking to his boys and all of us girls play the stupid giggly routine acting as if we have no idea what they are talking about.

"Rocko, did you get the details on that target" The boss asks.

"Sure did boss, her names Burgandy Wine, she's an ex stripper" Rocko responds.

"hmm interesting, I thought I had seen her before" the boss says nodding

"She is a hero now, the result of some council expirements. They thought she was unaffected, until she ripped her cell door off and mopped the place up with them" Rocko stated.

"So she was part of the Steel Skin Experiment, she's the one they spoke of when we were buying that knowledge from them." The boss said rubbing her chin.

I sat lsitening to the conversation, undoubtably they were planning to try and kidnap this Wine girl. To bad I /do/ have a concience, I added her to my lsit of people to try and save. The other girl came back from the restroom sliding inbeside me, not saying a word about me taking her spot. I sat for several more minutes giggling and sipping my drink. Luckly everything had been going good so far, that is until she showed up.

I know that voice, the bit of dread started to build. Maybe she won't recognize me dressed like this, I hope. When I saw Rocko glance at the bar, turning to walk over to it, I know I had little if any time left. I slowly glanced over at the bar as I faked another of those stupid laughs. I was right, RaucoAinu was standing there leaned back against the bar. If there is a such thing as luck, the bottom jsut fell out of mine and spilled on the floor. She was known well amoung many of the local gangs, if sh etold them who I was, they would not hesitate in coming after me.

I reached behind the girl sitting behind me and the boss, forcing myself to little start to rub his shoulder, which thankfully brought a slight grin to his face. I ahd to act fast but carefully, to fast and he would get suspecuse. I kept giggling, drinking and gettign his attention. The boss leaned down to the girl between, whispering into her ear, she giggled and nodded. Grabbing her little purse she slided past everyone and out onto the dance floor. What he said I don't know but it open the *** up I needed and I slide over next to the boss.

He looked down at me and smiled, his massive arm wrapping over my shoulders. He looked to the other girls and motioned, they left as well.

~the sound of mozart came from my little purse~

"Crap I thought, not a good time" I thought as I giggle dand reached for my phone.

"Hi Mom" I said covering that the comm link had went off.
"Oh is Dad and bro there also, tell them I said hi" I said

The boss acted as though what I was saying was no importance to him.

"Ok Mom, see you tonight" Is said as I did the giggly girl routine again, stuffing the phone back in my little purse. I had not told my colleges I was going undercover to snag this guy. I hope they picked that up by the way I was acting and the loud music, and not come busting in.

It was than I glanced again at the bar, Rocko still ahd his back to me and RaucoAinu was not looking at me. So far so good I thought, but I knew if anything did happen, I would ahve to be fast. In a one on one Rauco and I and equally matched, but I would also be facing every Tsoo in here if things went wrong.

The wieght of the bosses arm on my shoulders made me look up as if nothing was going on. He was smiling, that aweful Tsoo smile, great he wants to talk.

"So do you have a name or shall I call you what I please" He said, a snir in his voice.

"Rose" I said smooth and with a slight linger to it.

He nodded, thinking it over, "Fits you I guess, doesn't matter anyway"

"Oh and why does my name not matter" I asked, smiling stupidly.

"Cause you'll be dead soon, and your name woun't matter.

It was than I noticed, the wire from the edge of his collar to his ear, it had been hidden well under his hair. I glanced quickly from him to the bar, there was my answer, Rocko, the other thug and Rauco were looking at me, Rauco was smiling. This was not good, his arm wasn't resting on my shoulders, he was holding them in a nice vice grip, when he sent the to her girls off, he must have known than. Got to play this cool, got to get an advantage.

"So do you always kill little girls for no reason, or can I hope all those news stories I hear are wrong" I said still playign the act.

He glanced down at me, thinking for a moment on what I said. I knew I wasn't in a good position yet, his grip still on my shoulders, but I had made him think, got to get his grip to relax abit more.

"Rauco is agood friend of mine and she says your not who you say you are, I am thinking I should believe her over you" The boss said, a deep rumble in his voice.

This is not good, I had read the breifing on this guy, he could control the weather, and that rumble was not his stomach.

"She's just jeoulus that I am sitting with you and not her" I said playing the nasty part, "She just wants you to herself".

He laughed, thank goodness he laughed, I had gotten him to atleast for the moment to lossen his grip. This is it, my one and only chance to get a strike in.

Quickly I flung the table forward out of my way, all I needed was a second to focus, planting my foot squarely in the middle of his chest. It stunned him, giving me a few seconds to check my surrondings. The suddeness of my attack had shooked the two thugs and Rauco. I quickly slapped the teleport bracelet on the boss, flipping it on. In a haze of static he vanished, i would do the paper work later, I had bigger problems.

Rocko and his buddy came at me, this fight would not go as easy. Rauco jsut leaned abck on the bar and waited, she wanted to watch. Rocko made it to me first, his feet planted firmly as he swung his right hand. I dodged, he was strong I was sure, but his speed was lacking. His friend made it to me as I dodged, taking a swing with his left. I smiled a little avioding his attack.

"Ameaturs" I thought, as I dropped to the ground, knocking their feet out from under them. A good sweep kick always brings the odds to my side. The two hit the floor hard, only Rocko remained conciuos. Slowly he started to stand, only to recieve a foot to the side fo his head. The glazed look in his eye let me know he was out of it for a moment. Stepping back a step, I measured him up, stepping forward quickly and planted my right foot in his chest. The trip was not a good one for him as he hit the floor on his back and slide several feet. Thankfully he was out cold, for he lay where he stopped.

I breathed a few quick breaths, slowing my puls eand gettign my focus back. thsoe two were easy, they were well beneath my level of training, the real threat was still at the bar. Luckly the club had cleared when I first attacked the boss, the thought of fighting a club full of Tsoo had not been appealing. The clapping of two hands brought me out of my focus state. Rauco stood at the bar, clapping and grinning at me. This fight was not going to be pretty I thought, I fight hand to hand and she uses a sword. Not my idea of a pleasent dinner date.

"You fight well Ainu, almost as good as me" Rauco said.

"I fight better!" I shouted.

Rauco just laughed turning and starting to walk out of the club.

"We shall see Ainu, we shall see soon" Rauco said as she walked out the door.

I quickly put the teleport bracelets on the two thugs, and took off after Rauco. Coming out onto the street, I looked around.....she was gone.

"I hate that...that....that thing" I thought, turning to head towards headquarters, I had to get paid for this job.

Chapter 14: The simplest things, make the biggest difference

The way the sky slowly fades from a sea of death and blackness, to a palete of vibriant reds, blues and purples. The way the birds stretch their necks and wings and give that first chirp. The way a baby fawn raises its head and blinks slowly into the new light. The smell of the breeze as it carries the warmth of the sun. I still love to watch the sun rise in the morning.

I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with the fresh air of Atlas Park. It was thick with the smell of flowers, many of which did not grow in the anywhere else. I loved the month of December, the flowers in final bloom, the warmth in the sn against the cold air, the promise of a whole new year ahead. It is my favourite month of all.

As I walked through the garden of Atlas Park I could hear voices speaking. They were too far away for me to be able to hear what they were saying, but my keen ears had no problem identifying the voices. They belonged to Deshia, elf now avariel and Noctoos, the lady I had come to love as a mother. Presumably they were out for a walk in the garden while discussing Deshia's recent change, they both liked it better outdoors than indoors.

I continued my walk through the gardens, enjoying the scenery around me. I had never imagined there could be a place as green and rich of plants in a city like this, but I had been proven wrong during my long journeys. The gardens throughout Paragon were filled with the loveliest plantlife I had ever seen and I had to admit there was not a garden anywhere, which could measure up with these.

I strolled through the paths of the garden for quite some time, enjoying my morning away from crime fighting. I hummed a cheerful melody as I walked, one Noctoos had taught me. It was just something about the month of December which made me so full of energy and merriment. Noctoos always said I became a foal jumping with energy this time of year, and the simile was a pretty accurate description.

I came to a place in the garden where several stone benches had been placed for rest. I took this time to sit and think about what Noctoos had just recently told me. I Knew when I had heard Noctoos and Deshia earlier, that it was about the same thing. Noctoos was worried about Deshia and her changes. But what was I to do, I wondered. I figured now in this secluded and protect garden, would be a good time for me to think on the matter. Fighting crime in any city, not just this one is always a mix of danger and exitement. Excitment for all the new people, danger from the chance of dieing.

I am not afraid to die. I have never doubted that. I have eluded death so many times that it feels like a tiresome routine, a routine that must stop one day. And perhaps, if is best that if death finally catches up with me. I am not afraid to die; we all must die, sooner or later.

What do I fear? I fear her disappointment, her anger. I fear her voice saying to me, "You have failed me. " I fear her eyes telling me that I would return from a fight, nursing my wounds. And not just my physical wounds. I sit there on that bench thinking on things.

~The leather jacket seems too heavy. The leather pants cling to me. The distant in my mind makes every noise sound like a worthless, empty echo.~

~I was and am not a warrior. I am the strong one; I was the one that saw that what was given to me by Noctoos was done right. But since the day I was saved Noctoos, I had a path paved out for me: to be a hero and to defend Paragon City. To defend her people, as the ones before me have done so. To always have to go to battles first.~

~War is always the same for everyone, the same scene before leaving for battle. The heros are kissing their wives and children and sisters and mothers goodbye. "You must come home," says one. "I will," replies the heros. Will they? No one says anything to me. They give me sideward glances, as if they are curious to see my face. No one says anything to me.~

~It is warm as I walk down the streets of Pragon. Will this be the last time that I walk through the beloved streets? Will this be the last time when I gaze upon the faces of her people, all so sorrowful yet hopeful? What is dying like? I imagine my death: A hundred evil powers fly out at me, and it stings. Yet, I walk on, I walk straight into battle.~

~I do not fear death.~

~I am not afraid to die.~

Someone calls my name, breaking my thoughts. I slowly look up and see Noctoos standing there smiling. The memories that I had been thinking on slowly fade away into the back of my mind, like the tips of smoke from a campfire. You never realy forget anything, you just tuck it away to rememeber at a more pleasant time.

Shaking my head slightly I notice that Noctoos is not alone, Deshia is with her.

"Ainu, I hope your thoughts are not of bad ones" Noctoos said gentle.

"No more than the usual ones" I said.

We spoke for several more minutes about variuos subjects. Deshia had to ask if I liked her new wings. I didn't give her an answer at that moment, I choose to wait. Why I choose to wait to this day I do not know. But for that moment I hesitated.

"I believe it is time for us to take our leave, there is much to be done still" Noctoos said.

I nodded, remembering my own battles I had to fight.

The two nodded politely and started to walk away. As they left I turned my head becoming lost in thought again.

"Why am I do this?" I thought

Is it too late, to turn back to look at them.

"Is it really worth it, to be fighting for Paragon City?" I thought

A smile crossed my face, finally everything I had been thinking made sense. It didn't matter that their were wars. It didn't matter that these wars, caused people to leave their homes and travel hundreds of miles, at the chance of dieing. The wars had to be fought, there had to be people that were willing to give up the safety of their homes to defend the people of this land. Since Noctoos had released me, I now had that choose. It was my decision now. I turned my head and quick yelled to Deshia, who was just almost gone from sight.

"Deshia!" I yelled

"Aye?" she yelled back.

"I think your wings are cute!" I stated

She giggled happily and nodded, having hoped I liked them.

I waved and nodded. I knew she thought alot of others opions. She knew I didn't give happy compliments often, but in doing so I had made her smile.

Their are far harder things to fight, than wars.

Chapter 13: Reflections
~~~~~
RaucoAinu sits quietly outside the tent at the carnival, watching me and Noctoos leave.
"I never hated her, not once, I loved her, more than anyone. But things have a way of changing dont they? She tried to kill me in the end, tried to end the life that was granted to me. I never harmed her, never forced her to do things that she called "evil",and yet she tried to kill me. " RaucoAinu thinks to herself.

Forgive my slight ramble, it happens at times. My name is RaucoAinu, I am AinuRauco's ..... for lack of better words, reflection. I suppose I should explain what I mean, some never fully understand just what or who I am. Let us have a moment of reflection from Ainu's side.

~~~~~

"I don't want to go" I said.

"Ah come on, it will be fun" Noctoos said smiling and dragging me.

"Alright fine, I'll go" I said laughing

Noctoos and I headed past the ticket guy into the Carnival. The carnival workers all working hard and the other customers having fun. Ainu didn't smile much, but Noctoos was having a blast. Not often did Noc get to go out in public and relax, but at the carnival, no one even noticed her fangs and ears. To them she was just fitting in.

"Oh lets ride this ride" Noctoos said, pointing at the tea cups.

"Umm..No, I like to keep my lunch down" I said, right before Noctoos dragged her into the teacup seat.

Noctoos jsut smiled and laughed as the ride started. As they stepped off I cut Noc a looked,

"So not funny" I said, wabbling slightly.

Noctoos dragged me all over the carnival, riding this, tring to win that. I couldn't help but laugh a few times, not often did I see Noctoos having fun and laughing.

"Ok so we have ridden every ride, tried every game, So now what" I said as they stopped at a tent.

"Not every ride, but than again I can't go into one of them" Noctoos said.

"Oh, the mighty Nocy scared fo a ride" I said laughing.

Noctoos jsut smiled and pointed at the sign by the tent, "Not scared, just no point in it"

I looked at the sign

~Mirrors of Illusion~

"Oh, I see your point....no reflection" I said, tring to not be mean.

Noctoos simply nodded.

"Well I am not afraid, I'll try it" I said tring to get one up on Noctoos.

"Alright, I'll meet you at the ballon game" Noctoos said.

"Welcome to the house of Mirrors, come see your true future" The strange magician looking man said.

"Ok maybe this wasn't such a good idea", I thought, having that sudden deep down bad feeling start to build in my stomach. I shifted uneasily as I walked past each mirror, the wacky images casting eerie images.

"Step right this way" the man said motioning to a room with just one mirror.

Istepped into the room keeping my distance from the man. A large mirror with a fancy golden frame hang on a blacked out wall in the room.

"This mirror is a special mirror, it will show you your hidden self." The magician man said, "It will even show that which you keep hidden from the rest of the world" a slight eerie grin crossing his face.

The man walked out of the room, leaving me alone to look. At first I only saw my own reflection, nothign special. I signed and thought how silly all this was, jsut a mirror on a black wall. Yet slowly that changed, for my image in the mirror started to change.

"What in the ...." I said as my reflection started to shift. Slowly, my ears grew to points, my facaul features became more feline looking with yellow eyes. My hands became slightly clawed, and my figure slimed slightly. As I stood watching this transformation, I remembered the man's words.

"What you keep hidden..."

"Who is this reflection" Isaid quitely.

"I am all the bad you keep hidden", the reflection said.

"What in the fates name? My reflection is talking to me?", I said.

"Yes I am talking with you" the reflection said.

"ok I have officailly lost my mind, reflections don't change and talk" I said shaking her head.

It was than I noticed, that my reflection was not coping my movements, it was moving free of it's own.

It just stood there in the mirror and looked at me.

"So if your my reflection, what are you a reflection of?" I finally asked.

"I am all the evil, all the bad things, that you keep hidden from the world. Everyone has a side like me, and I am yours." the reflection said.

"So if I was evil, I would be you? is that what your saying?" I asked.

"In simple yes or no, the answer is yes" the reflection said.

"ok, so...." I was at a loss for words at this point.

"Do not fear me, for I am you, this mirror merely shows you your other side, I can notharm you, for we are the same person. I am jsut the reflection of that side you keep supressed and hidden." The reflection said.

"Well I supress you because I don't want you, evil deeds, bad thoughts, harm, despair, all of that I don't want or need" I said abruptly.

"But I have never harmed you, never pushed you to do bad things, I have been quiet and submissive" the reflection stated.

"I don't care, evil, hurt, pain, everything I strive to rid this city of, if your that part of me, I can live without it" I said rather quickly.

The reflection just lowered her head slightly, "You would rather kill me than?"

"Time to Move on to the next room" The magician man said, appearing out of nowhere. He motioned to the door on the other side of the room, acting as if he saw nothing in the mirror.

I turned to walk out of the room, but my reflection didn't disappear.

~~~~~
The reflection watched me walk away out the door, a tear rolling slowly down its cheek. It was than it realized it hadn't disappeared, instead it was standing in a black room, looking at a mirror on the wall.

"Why did I not return to inside Ainu" it thought, as a strange lady walked into the room I had been in.

"So she vould kill you if she could", the lady said is a strange german accent.

"So it would seem" the reflection said.

"Vould you fight to stay alive?" the lady asked.

"Aye I would, I no more desire to die, than I desire to harm Ainu, I mean her no ill" the reflection said.

"Than you shall live" the lady said as she raised her hand, a swirl of black light leaving her hand and striking the mirror.

The reflection felt herself pulled to the mirror, but instead of hitting it, she fell through it, landing in the room with the lady.

"Your name is RaucoAinu, you are the mirror reflection of AinuRauco, and you are freed from her restraints" the lady said with a wicked smile.

Rauco slowly stood and looked at herself, touching her hands and arms and face. She stood for several minutes thinking of what just happened. She had been freed, given life, and now she was without Ainu.

"So exactly what am I now" Rauco asked.

The lady laughed slightly, "You vare your vown person, everything you have alvays been, just given a life of your ovn"

~~~~~
"So anything interesting happen" Noctoos asked as I walked up to the ballon game.

"Just a goofy mirror, nothing special" I said as Noc popped another ballon and finished her game.

"Well that's enough fun for one night than, shall we go home" Noctoos asked

"Sure, been a long night, but fun" I said with a smile.

As the two turned to walk out of the carnival, Noctoos glanced back at the mirror house.

"We are in for many more long ones" Noctoos thought.

Chapter 12: New Friends?

"Why are we here?" I asked Noctoos, who had drug me off to meet someone she knew. Why I had to pack cloths to met people, Noctoos would not explain, she just told me to bring a few set sof cloths that I didn't mind giving away.

Noctoos just smiled and knocked on the door of the old odd house. The sound of seemingly softed light feet echoed from behind the door. Noctoos took a small step back fromt he door as it cracked open slightly.

"who...who is it" an almost scared little voice asked, the words slightly slurred and accented strangely

I couldn't see a face through the crack just a black hood. Noctoos spoke softly.

"Tis I, Noctoos little one, I bring a friend with me to see you."

"They are not going to hurt me are they" the little voice asked, the words slightly slurred and accented strangely again.

"Nah, they are friends little one" Noctoos said gently.

The sound of several chains being undone, was followed by the door opeing more. The hooded figure motioned to come in and Noctoos and I slowly walked in. The hodded figure closed the door and quickly fasten back all the locks and chains. What could be so drastic that someone lived like this I wondered.

The hooded figure, slowly lead us to what seemed to be the living room or meeting room of the house. I noticed that she, well I assumed a she, walked slowly and differently than a normal person. She walked carefully and her steps made almost no sound.

She motioned to the couch with a sleeved hand, the robe she wore covered all signs of her body and limbs. Noctoos and I took a seat on the couch, but she sat on the carpet in front of the fireplace.

"How are you little one?" Noctoos asked softly, bringing my attention to the hooded figure.

"I am making it, though the nights do get cold a bit" the hooded figure said.

Noctoos nodded and looked at me, "This is AinuRauco, a friend of mine that I also watch over"

I glanced at Noctoos and nodded slightly thinking to myself, "Like a mother at times"

Noctoos smiled, the candlelight from the room catching her fangs. I had noticed that the house seemed to have no power and the person living here was using candles and the fireplaces to light and stay warm.

"Ainu, this is also one I watch over, RoseDeath."Noctoos said motioning to Rose.

I stretched my hand out to shake hers, which is customery, in which she lowered her head and drew away from me. I looked at Noctoos and pulled my hand back thinking I had done something wrong.

"It is alright little one, she will not harm you" Noctoos said softly.

Rose slowly looked up, her hood still hiding her face. Slowly she stretched her hand out, the sleeve very slowly starting to pull back from the end of her hand. I stretched mine back out to shake hers, as the sleeve of her robe slowly started to show, not a hand but the paw of a cat.

Rose must have seen the look on m face as I saw her paw and stopped, but I went ahead and shook, I didn't want her to be scared of me. Although I must admit I think it was me that was scared.

"A pleasure to meet you RoseDeath," I said, making sure my voice was steady and seacure.

"S...S...same" Rose said, seeming as if the word was difficult for her to pronounce.

I watched as Rose drew her hand back, covering it with her sleeve, I placed my own back in my lap. I knew something was different about her, and I still didn't know why Noctoos ahd brought me here.

"Little one, you need not hide when I am here, you know this, Ainu will not harm you" Noctoos said softly.

"S...she will not make f..fun of me?" Rose asked, her voice shaking slightly as she had trouble saying the words.

What could be so bad that she was scared to show herself and stay locked in this house. Several thoughts ran through my head, but again we live in paragon city, nothing is unuasual here.

Noctoos smiled, sliding off the couch to in front of Rose, she placed her hands on the sleeved hands of Rose.

"Little one, I have always watched over you since the day I found you. You know I would never cause you harm." Noctoos said gently

Rose just slowly nodded, it seemed she was still unsure of me, and I could understand to some degree. Noctoos moved to Rose's side, looking at me.

"Rose is different Ainu, and may not be like people you are used to. I have watched over her since I found her in the Striga Isle." Noctoos said placing a hand on Rose's shoulder.

"you will n..not laugh at m..me?" Rose asked tilting her head towards me.

"I promise Rose, I will not laugh" I said, judging that most people often did and she was scared I would.

Slowly she reached up to her hood, the sleeves of the robe falling down her arms revealing to small black furred paws. I don't think I was truely ready for what I was about to see, but I did my best to maintain my composser.

As the paws reached her hood and slowly pulled it back, the sight before me was nothing I had seen before. I had expected a little girl, but instead, of skin their was fur, soft black fur. Her face had all the features of a cat, from the pointed little ears on the top of her head, to the little black wiskers under her little nose. She wa s a cat girl, and I must say a rather cute one.

"please d...don't laugh at me" Rose said, her little ears turning down as she looked at me.

I slide off the couch infront of her, taking her little paw in my hand. "I am not going to laugh Rose, I think your rather cute and lovely" I said softly.

She looked at me with those soft green eyes, instinctively purring from happiness. I smiled, I had never met a cat person before and although she seemed strange at first, she was rather cute I think.

"Tis warm enough inside little one, you may take off the robe now if you wish" Noctoos said softly.

"b..but my t...."Rose started to say before Noctoos interupted her.

"Ainu will not laugh, it is alright to show her" Noctoos said softly, nodding to me

Rose slowly stood up and unfastened her robe, letting it fall to the floor. I smiled on the outside, but inside I was rather shooked. Her legs were not normal people legs, they were animal like legs, bending backwards like a cats. But the most intriging part was her tail, she had a cats tail, that was swishing back and forth.

She looked at me as she sat back down, like a little kitten beside Noctoos.

"Am i s...s...still cute?' She asked, her little green eyes looking so innocently at me.

"Yes Rose, still cute" I said smiling at her.

She smiled and the purring started again, her little tail flicking happily. Noctoos reached down and softly scratched the top o fher head, which made her purr more.

"I believe Ainu brought you a few gifts little one" Noctoos said, glancing at the bag of cloths I had brought.

"gifts..f..for me?"Rose asked, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

"Yes, I thought you might like some cloths" I said givng Noc that "So thats the trick" look.

I reached behind me and brought the bag into my lap, Rose sittign up slightly forward, with that curiuos cat look on her face. Slowly I pulled out each set I had packed and showed them to her. The wide eyed look on her face making me smile each time. Rose glanced at Noctoos, who nodded, letting her knwo it was ok to try each one on.

Rose giggled happily as she tried each set on, taking care to not to tear them. Each time she would stand in front of the full length mirror that was against the wall, giggling at some, purring softly at others.

"I like this one" she said, thinking I would only let her have one.

"They are all yours" I said smiling, at which Rose giggled very happily, her little tail flicking around.

"Now you have a few sets of cloths, for when you go out" Noctoos said smiling

"g..go out, but I can't go out" Rose said with a rather disterned look.

"Of course you can, you can go out with me, trust me you'll be safe with me" I said

And with that Rose nodded and smiled, finally she had someone to take her out into the city.

Thanks fer the heads up Spider, btw could you post your build so I can where everything goes that you have. Thanks in advance

Ok So the build is working nicely so far and I am running SO's atm. I am wanting to switch them out for IO sets at 50. Besides Doctored Wounds and Touch of Death, which others should I use and in what slots?

Any help is appreciated.

Hi hi all,

I have been readign all the posts on this subject and it has brought to my mind a question. Before I ever started to play CoH, I had already written stories about a few characters. When I started to play I created those characters in game, and alter there stories slightly to fit.

If I create story arcs based off those stories, where in the player(aka anyone) is sent after one of the few villians. Is this considered bad writing? The mission would have the player going after a villian that my heroes commonly fight, but the player would be in the role, not my own heroes.

The reason I ask is, by doing the arc, the player would be drawn into the world of the stories that I write, but would not have contact with my own heroes, just the main villains.

Thansk for the advise guys, it will help alot, good to know I can still count on agreat community if I ahve questions , well off to virtue to respec and try it out.

Forgot to psot the build I am thinking of going with sorry.
Ainurauco: Level 50 Natural Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Martial Arts
Secondary Power Set: Regeneration
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Storm Kick -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(3), Dmg-I(3), Dmg-I(5), Dmg-I(5), EndRdx-I(7)
Level 1: Fast Healing -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(7), Heal-I(9)
Level 2: Reconstruction -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(9), Heal-I(11), RechRdx-I(11), RechRdx-I(13), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 4: Quick Recovery -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(15), EndMod-I(15)
Level 6: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 8: Crane Kick -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(17), Dmg-I(17), Dmg-I(19), Dmg-I(19), EndRdx-I(21)
Level 10: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(21), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 12: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 14: Super Speed -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 16: Integration -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(23), Heal-I(25), EndRdx-I(25)
Level 18: Crippling Axe Kick -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(27), Dmg-I(27), Dmg-I(29), Dmg-I(29), EndRdx-I(31)
Level 20: Dull Pain -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(31), Heal-I(31), RechRdx-I(33), RechRdx-I(33), RechRdx-I(33)
Level 22: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(34), Heal-I(34)
Level 24: Focus Chi -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(36)
Level 26: Dragon's Tail -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(36), Dmg-I(36), Dmg-I(37), Dmg-I(37), EndRdx-I(37)
Level 28: Instant Healing -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(39), RechRdx-I(39), Heal-I(46), Heal-I(50)
Level 30: Tough -- EndRdx-I(A), ResDam-I(39), ResDam-I(40), ResDam-I(40)
Level 32: Eagles Claw -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(40), Dmg-I(42), Dmg-I(42), Dmg-I(42), EndRdx-I(43)
Level 35: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(43), EndMod-I(43)
Level 38: Moment of Glory -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(45), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 41: Caltrops -- Slow-I(A)
Level 44: Targeting Drone -- EndRdx-I(A), ToHit-I(45), ToHit-I(46), ToHit-I(46)
Level 47: Exploding Shuriken -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(48), Dmg-I(48), Dmg-I(48), Dmg-I(50), EndRdx-I(50)
Level 49: Resilience -- ResDam-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)

I am worried about taking stam at 35.
Not sure about MoG at 38

Feel free to tear it apart and offer advise, I can use all I can get.

Hi hi, I am returning to CoH after a two year vacation. I got lost on the way back and jsut found my way home. Anyway I have a 33 MA/Regen Scrapper that I have relearned to play but and wondering about a good build. I haven't found any builds that I like, most are for lvl 50 and so the stam is low on the pole. I have superspeed as my travel set, boxing and fitness. ANy help is appreciated.

I never hated her, not once, I loved her, more than anyone. But things have a way of changing dont they?

She tried to kill me in the end, tried to end the life that was granted to me. I never harmed her, never

forced her to do things that she called "evil",and yet she tried to kill me.

Forgive my slight ramble, it happens at times. My name is RaucoAinu, I am AinuRauco's ..... for lack of

better words, reflection. I suppose I should explain what I mean, some never fully understand just what or

who I am. Let us have a moment of reflection.

~~~~~

"I don't want to go" AinuRauco said.

"Ah come on, it will be fun" Noctoos said smiling and dragging Ainu.

"Alright fine, I'll go" Ainu said laughing

AinuRauco and Noctoos headed past the ticket guy into the Carnival. The carnival workers all working hard

and the other customers having fun. Ainu didn't smile much, but Noctoso was having a blast. Not often did

Noc get to go out in public and relax, but at the carnival, no one even noticed her fangs and ears. To them

she was just fitting in.

"Oh lets ride this ride" Noctoos said, pointing at the tea cups.

"Umm..No, I like to keep my lunch down" Ainu said, right before Noctoos dragged her into the teacup seat.

Noctoos jsut smiled and laughed as the ride started. As they stepped off Ainu cut Noc a looked,

"So not funny" Ainu said, wabbling slightly.

Noctoos drag Ainu all over the carnival, riding this, tring to win that. Ainu couldn't help but laugh a few

times, not often did she see Noctoos having fun and laughing.

"Ok so we have ridden every ride, tried every game, So now what" Ainu said as they stopped at a tent.

"Not every ride, but than again I can't go into one of them" Noctoos said.

"Oh, the mighty Nocy scared fo a ride" Ainu said laughing.

Noctoos jsut smiled and pointed at the sign by the tent, "Not scared, just no point in it"

Ainu looked at the sign

~Mirrors of Illusion~

"Oh, I see your point....no reflection" Ainu said, tring to not be mean.

Noctoos simply nodded.

"Well I am not afraid, I'll try it" Ainu said tring to get one up on Noctoos.

"Alright, I'll meet you at the ballon game" Noctoos said.

"Welcome to the house of Mirrors, come see your true future" The strange magician looking man said.

"Ok maybe this wasn't such a good idea", Ainu thought, having that sudden deep down bad feeling start to

build in her stomach. Ainu shifted uneasily as she walked past each mirror, the wacky images casting eerie

images.

"Step right this way" the man said motioning to a room with just one mirror.

Ainu stepped into the room keeping her distance from the man. A large mirror with a fancy golden frame hang

on a blacked out wall in the room.

"This mirror is a special mirror, it will show you your hidden self." The magician man said, "It will even

show that which you keep hidden from the rest of the world" a slight eerie grin crossign his face.

The man walked out of the room, leaving Ainu alone to look. At first she only say her won reflection,

nothign special. Ainu signed and thought how silly all this was, jsut a mirror on a black wall.

Yet slowly that changed, for her image in the mirror started to change.

"What in the ...." Ainu said as her reflection started to shift. Slowly, her ears grew to points, her

facaul features became more feline looking with yellow eyes. Her hands became slightly clawed, and her

figure slimed slightly. As she stood watching this transformation, she remembered the man's words.

"What you keep hidden..."

"Who is this reflection" Ainu said quitely.

"I am all the bad you keep hidden", the reflection said.

"What in the fates name? My reflection is talking to me?", Ainu said.

"Yes I am talking with you" the reflection said.

"ok I have officailly lost my mind, reflections don't change and talk" Ainu said shaking her head.

It was than she noticed, that her reflection was not coping her movements, it was moving free of it's own.

It jsut stood there in the mirror and looked at her.

"So if your my reflection, what are you a reflection of?" Ainu finally asked.

"I am all the evil, all the bad things, that you keep hidden from the world. Everyone has a side like me,

and I am yours." the reflection said.

"So if I was evil, I would be you? is that what your saying?" Ainu asked.

"In simple yes or no, the answer is yes" the reflection said.

"ok, so...." Ainu was at a loss for words at this point.

"Do not fear me, for I am you, this mirror merely shows you your other side, I can harm you, for we are the

same person. I am jsut the reflection of that side you keep supressed and hidden." The reflection said.

"Well I supress you because Id on't want you, evil deeds, bad thoughts, harm, despair, all of that I don't

want or need" Ainu said abruptly.

"But I have never harmed you, never pushed you to do bad things, I have been quiet and submissive" the

reflection stated.

"I don't care, evil, hurt, pain, everything I strive to rid this city of, if your that part of me, I can

live without it" Ainu said rather quickly.

The reflection jsut lowered her head slightly, "You would rather kill me than?"

"Time to Move on to the next room" The magician man said, appearing out fo nowhere. He motioned to the door

on the other side of the room, acting as if he saw nothing in the mirror.

Ainu turned to walk out of the room, but her reflection didn't disappear.

~~~~~
The reflection watched Ainu walk away out the door, a tear rolling slowly down its cheek. It was than it

realized it hadn't disappeared, instead it was standing in a black room, looking at a mirror on the wall.

"Why did I not return to inside Ainu" it thought, as a strange lady walked into the room Ainu had been in.

"So she vould kill you if she could", the lady said is a strange german accent.

"So it would seem" the reflection said.

"Vould you fight to stay alive?" the lady asked.

"Aye I would, I no more desire to die, than I desire to harm Ainu, I mean her no ill" the reflection said.

"Than you shall live" the lady said as she raised her hand, a swirl of black light leaving her hand and

striking the mirror.

The reflection felt herself pulled to the mirror, but instead of hitting it, she fell through it, landing in

the room with the lady.

"Your name is RaucoAinu, you are the mirror reflection of AinuRauco, and you are freed from her restraints"

the lady said with a wicked smile.

Rauco slowly stood and looked at herself, touching her hands and arms and face. She stood for several

minutes thinking of what just happened. She had been freed, given life, and now she was without Ainu.

"So exactly what am I now" Rauco asked.

The lady laughed slightly, "You are your own person, everything you have always been, just given a life of

your own"

~~~~~
"So anythign interesting happen" Noctoos asked as Ainu walked up to the ballon game.

"Just a goofy mirror, nothing special" Ainu said as Noc popped another ballon and finished her game.

"Well that's enough fun for one night than, shall we go home" Noctoos asked

"Sure, been a long night, but fun" Ainu said with a smile.

As the two turned to walk out of the carnival, Noctoos glanced back at the mirror house.

"We are in for many more long ones" Noctoos thought.

AinuRauco dashed across the floor, her fist pulled back, her eyes focused.

"Have to try to help" she thought

Before her the flash of flying plates and thorns, and what seemed to her an insane plate flinger. Jumping into the air, her right foot thrush forward as she started to deliver a jump kick.

PING

Her aim is not the best in the world, her foot hit a plate instead, sending her off balance and sailing over the front counter. As Ainu picked herself up off the floor, she turned her head.

"Poor ice cream machine" she thought.

I agree completely, and yes I have been the cruel giver of a few bad RP's in my time. I get so caught up in the story and see it playing out as I wirte, I have, at times, wrote the actions of another RP'er. One thing to remember is if you over step your writing lines, make sure to correct them, and appropriately appoligize.

And I agree also with the writing style, although you can't always go into the detailed version of writing out an action, sometimes it is greatly needed in order to set the stage for the next action.

Ex. 1

The day was rainy and it looked like something from a scary novel.

Ex. 2
Rolling gray clouds billow through the sky, every so often illuminating the grass with a flash of lightning. Rain is falling, blending with the blood and the mud, sometimes hiding the chaotic battle behind a silvery mist.

Just my two influence worth.

Aye, tis a great work indeed, very nicely done

Chapter 11: Worth Fighting For

"Listen at me rambling on at my life, ever how short it may be in the end. I guess my life has not always been a great thing, but I treasure each moment my mind is able to recall. These people, these heroes had pushed me to be of greatness. If not for me laying here waiting for the wings of death to carry me to the river crossing, I would be standing among them. Yet these are moments in my life that have stood out."

"Have you seen her, I lost her in the battle," a female voice said.

"Nah, I too have not seen her since the middle of the fight," a male voice shouted.

"AINURUACO," another female voice shouted.

"The sun must be going down, the light seems to be fading. Funny it was midday when the battle started. I guess time has gone by faster than I thought."

"AINURAUCO," a husky male voice shouted.

"I guess I need to sleep, yes sleep would be nice. Just a short nap, I know someone will come find me soon."

"Here, over here, quickly, she is here," a female voice shouted as if wanting even the dead to hear her. Wait that voice, I know that voice, it was LadyJasmin.

The sound of heavy steps mixed with light steps, they all were running to where I lay.

"Oh dear sister, is your spirit still among the living"" LadyJasmin said as she brushed the hair from my face.

"I am fine, just resting", I said, wait, why didn"t she not hear me; I said the words I know I did.

"She is wounded severely," LadyJasmin said to someone, but it must be night now, for I can"t see him or her.

I can feel a hand on my side, trying to loosen my tunic.

"Was close, any higher and it would have pierced her heart. But the blood lose has been great." A male voice said, ah it's Palmar.

I can feel a hand shaking me, trying to wake me, but I don"t want to wake, I am tired and need to rest.

"Ainurauco"..Ainurauco"..Ainurauco," FrozenDelight shouted,

The fight must have really drained me, it"s taking all my energy just to lift my eyelids and speak.

"hmm..mm"

"Wake up Ainurauco, you must not sleep, not right now", FrozenDelight said.

"Just a short nap to regain my strength," I said as my eyes closing back shut.

I can hear FrozenDelight speaking to someone, but I can"t hear his or her voice. A nap just a short nap and I"ll be fine.

Cold, so cold, a hand, wait two hands on my side. They're cold but gentle, almost like a mothers touch, just cold instead. I knew they were cold by the touch and the shiver my body was doing.

"Ainurauco," the voice was soft and gentle, soothing almost, and very familiar.

I feel a hand gently take mine and hold it, squeezing gently. I have to see who is holding my hand, so I force my eyes to open, so heavy. I did not expect to see what I saw, a face, a soft gentle face, and blonde hair falling gentle across her face. She is so worried, her eyes are so concerned but so soothing. I wish I had told her how I felt so long ago, but I know she knows. Some would say it is wrong, but I didn't care than and I don't care now.

She is holding my hand, but her hand is not cold, not like the hand I had felt.

"You must stay awake Ainurauco, no matter what. It will not take long but you must be strong and stay awake." Piatra said.

I nodded slowly, as I feel the cold hands on my side. I glance to my left and I see the person I thought it too be.

She smiles at me, a comforting smile. I can feel her checking the arrow and the wound.

"This is going to hurt Ainurauco, a lot, the arrow is barbed and will not remove pleasantly. But the pain will only last a moment, than you will be better." Noctoos said, her voice gentle.

I nodded, the only thing I could do. Than Piatra spoke to me, drawing my attention back to her face, her beautiful face. She squeezed my hand again, her way of saying to do so in return. I know what she means, the pain is going to be all I can bare, and the arrow will tear as it is removed. I stare at her eyes, those beautiful eyes, those soothing eyes.

I have to be strong; every heroe that had fought is here, watching. I will not scream, I think to myself, I cannot allow myself to show weakness. I start telling myself a thousand things to not do, I am a fighter after all, and I can't be weak.

I can feel Noctoos place her hands on my skin around the wound. The arrow jiggles a little as some one gently wraps their hands around it.

"Pull it straight out, if it angles to much it will cause to much pain for her to bare," Noctoos says softly.

"Do not worry, I have done this before," Vordin said.

It seemed like forever, either that or time stopped, which I am not sure.

Those eyes looking at me, so soft and gentle.

"Squeeze as hard as you need to Ainurauco, I can take it," Piatra said.

I nodded slightly, I can't show that I know this is going to hurt, hurt a lot.

"Ainurauco, are you ready," Noctoos asked, her hands already warming from her healing magic.

Be strong, act strong, I have to act strong,

"Just do it, I can take it," I said weakly. I hope I can take this; I can't scream, no, no screaming.

Noctoos nodded to Vordin, I heard him take a deep breath and his grip tightened around the arrow shaft.

Piatra started squeezing my hand, making me squeeze back, preparing me for the moment.

Noctoos started chanting her spell, the heat building on my skin.

"3""," Vordin said

I hope I can take this

"2"..,", Vordin counted

Maybe it wouldn"t hurt too much

"1".," Vordin counted

Boy was I wrong

Skirnir's arm jerked the shaft quickly, separating it from my side. Instantly I knew that barbed arrows are not nice little things. I hope I don't break Piatra's hand; my knuckles and hand are a mix of red and white. I think if I squeeze any tighter I am going to crush every bone in her hand. I bite my lip slightly, trying to hold my mouth shut, I will not scream, I don't scream.

This pain, oh fates this pain. It feels like a thousand blades coursing through my very veins. My skin is burning, and tearing. I want to scream, just one scream, just a peep, but I can't.

I am still squeezing Piatra's hand; I can't stand myself for hurting her like this. I look at her hoping she understands, and I see her eyes. Those soft gentle eyes looking at me, helping me. She is squeezing my hand back, just as hard, urging me to squeeze harder if I need too.

I can feel Noctoos's hands wrap over the wound that is left, her magic, forcing the wound to close and heal. This hurt, oh
fates all mighty, it hurts, but Piatra never let go. She's smiling, why is she smiling so much now.

Her hand is moving, how is she able to move her hand with me squeezing like this? Wait I have stopped squeezing,the pain, it's gone. I see her look down to my side and nod.

Is it over?

"You may sit up now little one," Noctoos says, as I feel her hands move from my side.

Little thing, I am not a little thing, but than again I am not going to argue with the person who just saved my life either.

I nod slightly, and Piatra helps me sit upright. Amazingly, there is no pain, none, I just feel tired. I look down to my
side; oh fates, my tunic, were is it. I hadn't noticed before, but I am wearing nothing but my thin slightly tight, cotton
shirt, the one I wear under my tunic.

I think I was blushing a lot, because Piatra is staring at me and smiling.

"No need to be embarrassed Ainu, you don't have anything we all haven't seen before," Deshia said, almost laughing at my childish act.

"Hmmpt, I said, as I reached for my tunic, a hand touched mine as I grabbed it.

"Let me help," Piatra said gently.

I made myself not blush this time, and simple nodded. I wanted to tell her, to show her, how much I cared for her, but I couldn't, not right now. I glanced at Noctoos who had seen what just happened, and to my surprise, she nodded slightly to me, giving her approval.

Piatra helped me dress back into my tunic, smoothing the fabric and fastening my corded belt. Fates, she is so beautiful. I jerked at my tunic slightly, getting that comfortable feeling that all people have to have.

I tried to stand, my legs a little wobbly but strong enough to hold me. More than once I almost lost my balance, but Piatra was there to steady me, she made sure not to grab me but instead just push me in the direction I needed to go. I couldn"t help but smile when she did. I wanted to hold onto her, but how could I tell her. My mother had taught me a lot about speaking, but not about this.

My strength slowly returned, in part due to the help of some the heroes. I smiled and thanked them, and after stretching my legs I felt like myself again. I picked up my gloves, when I noticed something I hadn't before.

The battle had been over for quiet some time. The bodies lay across the battle field, slwoly being handcuffed. This sight was nothing knew to me, having seen more battles than I care to remember. But it was some of the heroes that caught my attention.

FrozenDelight was busy collect salvage that she needed from theground; she always saw a chance to craft something new.

LadyJasmin standing alone on a ledge, stealing little moments to be alone. Vordin was walking around, gathering weapons and piling it up, the whole time doing little side shuffles and dance stuff. Deshia was walking though the lot, like a grand commander surveying the damage after a great war. Several of the others were doing similar activities; from collecting to cleaning others gear for them.

I smiled at all the activity, even with my close brush; it had been a good day. As I stood there wiping the blood from my arms, I couldn't help but laugh a little. I had tried so hard to be so strong. I had devoted my life to become this great fighter.

"What is funny may I ask"", a soft voice asked

"Just thinking a little, about things," I said, as I looked into those soft eyes I had come to love.

Piatra smiled and kissed my cheek, melting my heart.

So there I was, this great fighter, strong and powerful, beaten by a kiss. You know I don't think I have been this happy in a
long time. Piatra smiled as she placed a finger on my cheek, than she motioned with her head to look where she was looking. I turned my head, my eyes searching for the image she wished me to see.

On a slight rise by the empty lot, a figure stood against the light of the moon. Her long cloak waved gently in the breeze
as her eyes watched the movements of one single person. I could see the smile on her face, the bright glow of her eyes. I stood with Piatra, just staring at Noctoos.

Never in my years had I seen her look this happy as when she watched the two of us.

Chapter 10: The Best Wounds

At first I thought she was rather plain. Blonde, slightly straight, short hair, blue eyes, not very tall, pretty, but never flaunting it. Not someone you want to upset either, for her beauty hid her strength well at times.

She had traveled from the remote home of her family on Talos Island. It must have been hard, I've been to that island once and it is more a scarp of land in the ocean, than a full island. The sea on all sides, wide fields in the centerover run with crime families.

All in all, I'd completely forgotten about her existence until I returned from the battle against the vazhiloc in the deeper sewers.

We entered the city, and were all brought directly to the hospital. I don't think the news had gone around yet, we were all weary and wounded and I could not speak very well. At first they just assumed we came from a small group that had gotten in trouble. After all, a large task force had gone into the sewers, and who could have thought that only a few would return?

I don't think anyone recognized me at first, either. Understandable, as we were coated in mud and blood, and tangled hair.

We were put into beds, dirty as we were, and fell asleep. All of us were running up fever now, and I slept restlessly, my mind still in battle. The whole scene playing out as if I was still there.

We were backed against a wall, the pile of fallen corpses growing steadily in front of us. A tight corner, but a good position. Nothing could approach from the sides or behind, and we held the opening. It was dark, and the vazhilocs would not stop coming. I slayed another one, and cast a glance to my friends. They were holding. It was heavy, but they were holding. Turning back to the approaching bodies, a white hand suddenly shot out from behind and grabbed me by the throat.

I automatically held onto the wrist, very tightly, in an attempt to lessen the pressure on my windpipe. I brought up my other hand to slam at it with my fist, when I heard--

A gasp.

Not a growl or a snarl. A soft, human gasp.

I opened my eyes.

I was holding a hand, a human hand, and it was trembling. Clasped between the fingers was a damp cloth. My eyes traveled up the arm, a little dazedly, as I tried to remember where I was and how I had gotten there. Finally, I looked into her face. I recognized it faintly at the time, but I will never forget it again in my life.

Her hair was tied back, her face pale and drawn. I remember the eyes most clearly. Widened, with the breathlessly shocked look people get when they are trying to keep very still.

Suddenly I hated myself for bringing that look into her eyes.

My eyes went back to the hand I was still holding, and I softened my grip. She released her breath, and I could feel the warm blood starting to flow back into her hand. I could not look at her then, ashamed for my own reaction. A fighter should have more self-control, should they not? I let go of her hand and waited until she pulled it away, until she would leave, but she did not.

When I glanced back to her face, she smiled at me.

The most wondrous smile it was. It lit up her face like sudden dawn, erasing all that I might have thought plain before. It made her eyes sparkle, and her face suddenly appeared extraordinarily beautiful. I think I may have lost my heart right at that moment, but at the time I was to worn out to realize it.

She did not pull away her hand, instead letting her wrist rest under my fingers, With the other hand she took the cloth, gently wiping at a scratch on the side of my neck.

I dozed off again at this point, but my dreams were not so restless as they had been. I heard people talking at times, but could not make out what was said. I am told that I drifted in and out of consciousness for some time.

When I woke again, it was morning. The wound on my ribs had been cleaned and dressed, and the dried blood had been wiped from my forehead. My right hand was resting on my chest, the slender wrist of the woman still under my folded fingers. I looked up in surprise, wondering why she would still be there.

She was sitting in a straight-backed chair, the kind that makes the sitter look royal until the wooden smile betrays how uncomfortable they sre. She was clad in a rather simple dark red shirt and blue jeans, and she slept.

I did not move, suddenly anxious not to disturb her, and just watched for a while. First I was amazed to see that she slept at all, sitting upright as she was. Her head did not slump, and her posture was that of an awake person. There was a peace in her face such as I had not felt in a long time. The next time I woke up from hearing voices. I could not tell how much time had passed.

"It's a miracle that she has been conscious at all." A hushed male voice said. "I feared that the wound was poisoned. Was she delirious?"

"I could not tell doctor..." A soft, female voice answered. Her. I could hear that she was still in the same place.

"Well, you should get up for a while. Or at least have a more comfortable chair brought in." The male voice said.

Then, while the voice moved further away:
"And warn me when she wakes. I need to know what that wound was made with."

Then all was silent again, save for the soft breathing of the woman. I gave no sign that I was awake, but I listened.

After some time, the fever made it impossible to tell how long, she moved, slowly. I heard cloth rustling, and then her hand gently moved under mine. She wanted to pull it away, but without knowing why, I held onto it. I did not squeeze like I had before, but she stopped her movement immediately.

"Yes...", she said softly, and I thought I heard the smile in her voice. "I will stay. But I must get another chair now."

Her voice was soft and very low for a woman, in some places nearly passing out of hearing range. It was a very soothing sound, just as her presence soothed me. I didn't answer her, nor moved, except for the softening of my grip. Her hand slipped away from mine, and I missed its warmth instantly.

Her footfalls seemed loud in the stone silence, and they moved away from me. There was a soft crackling sound and I felt a rush of guilt on realizing that it was her back. As her footfalls faded away I felt my heartbeat speed up slightly, both wanting her to come back and resenting myself for wanting it.

It seemed like hours before I heard footsteps again. They were of several people, and I could not make out if she was among them.

"We need to close the leg wound also, luckily their will be no scars from either wounds," I heard the man say. A soft female voice gave an agreement response.

"Ainu?" A male voice asked tentatively. I recognized him as the doctor who had been there before, I tried to open my eyes, but everything felt heavy and slowed down. I could not have lifted my head had my life depended on it.

"Hmm?" I managed to mumble, just barely. My lips felt rough and a little cold, but the taste of blood was no longer on them.

"You have a deep wound in your side. We have cleaned it and mostly stopped the bleeding, but for closing the gash, it would help us to know what weapon made it?"

It was one of the long jagged hachets that the vazhiloc reapers use. But how was I going to tell them that?

"I don't think she can speak now, Doctor Johnson." The woman spoke.

"It seems so, Piatra." The answer came. Piatra? Her name was Piatra. It sounded faintly familiar, so I must have heard it before, but I could not remember because of the daze.

"Well," the doctor spoke. "I am going to close that leg wound I just spoke of."

It was silent for a long moment.

"You can come back here after that." He added, his voice understanding.

There was a sound as if something was put down, a chair perhaps, and then all left again. I must have drifted off again, because the next time I remember, Noctoos was there.

"She badly wounded?" Noctoos asked

"AinuRauco has lost a lot of blood. She traveled far with a deep side wound. The next day or so will tell. If the fever does not break soon?"

That was Piatra. She sounded, formal. The distant manner I had seen on ladies of the royal families.

"Didn't know it was that bad?" I remember thinking, hazily.

Piatra left, silently, and Noctoos sat down in the chair where Piatra had been.

"Everyone is worried about you, as am I." She began. I don"t think she expected an answer.

"They need not worry over me, I shall be well soon." I breathed out as best I could.

Noctoos sighed deeply, and I heard a movement I guessed to be a headshake. "Always the tough one it seems."

Soft footfalls entered the room, and I recognized them as those of Piatra. It did not, at that moment, bother me that I knew her by her footfalls, but in hindsight I see it.

I wanted to speak with Noctoos more, but I couldn't. She left without a word, and I sunk back into a hazy daydream. My side hurt, but the pain was dull and did not fully reach me.

"The fever causes that heavy feeling..." Piatra spoke from next to me. She felt my forehead, her hand cool, and then continued:
"If you sleep, Lady, it will pass."

I wanted to speak to her then, to comfort her that I would heal, for she seemed anxious. I wanted to tell her to stop calling me Lady ? the word brought on a distance that had not been there before. But my mind clouded, and I failed to bring out coherent words.

"Shhh..." was all she said

Some time later I woke, and the doctor came to make me drink a medicine. It tasted foul, but I did not have the strength to protest. He said that one of the people that had been there had told them what weapon had made the wound, and they would stitch it closed as soon as the medicine started working.

I don't know if I could talk at the time. I didn't try.

..starting to come to....

I awoke again, and the world seemed a little less hazy. My side throbbed with a dull pain. Someone felt my forehead. Piatra? I could not tell.

"Her temperature seems lower, but that could be the medicine..."

Yes, it was Piatra.

I opened my eyes.

First I didn't understand what I was looking at. Above me it was green and white, and it took a little while before things came into focus. The ceiling was of a veined tile I had not noticed before.

"Ah, AinuRauco." the doctor spoke. His face looked like a blur. "We have closed the wound in your side. Please tell someone if the pain grows worse, and more pain medicine will be brought."

I blinked at him, and managed to nod. I hate painkilling medicine with a passion, instead preferring to feel everything, but the world seemed still so hazy that it was hard to object to anything much.

He said something else, and then left.

I was still staring to the ceiling, unsure if I'd be able to open my eyes again if I closed them. A movement to my left caught my attention, and I turned my head a little. She sat down there, a thick book on her lap. Noticing my moving, she
smiled softly.

"I am pleased to see your eyes open, Lady."

Again it seemed just a little bit distant, and that bothered me.

"Not... Lady. A. inu." I mumbled, annoyed with my own tongue for making me sound like that.

She looked uncomprehending.

"Call me...", I sighed, exhausted from just saying my name. "Ainu..."

"Very well," she said after a moment. "I am called Piatra."

I already knew that, but I nodded all the same. Only now I realized that it was strange to find her in my hospital room at all, for heroes seldom came there if they had no direct business. Now I looked more closely, she looked as if she had
worked. A smear of grey was on her cheekbone, and there was dirt under her nails.

When she saw my look, she tried to hide this from me.

She must have guessed what I thought of.

"Yesterday many wounded came into the city, and the doctor sent for me. I have some skill in tending to the wounded and sick." she stated, it sounded almost apologetic.

But that didn't explain why she was still here, seemingly more comfortable here beside me, than out in the city fighting crime.

"Why... are you still..." I gestured weakly with one hand. "Here?"

She smiled that mild smile again.

"Most of the heroes have duties elsewhere, I asked to stay with you." she said smiling

I drifted off again, and my dreams were restless. The fever relapsed and I could not escape the nightmares.

"Ainu."

That soft, urgent tone called me away from something painful and horrible, and to my relief I was in the hospital again, safe, tended to.

In pain though.

The thought came to me that she had not touched me to wake me, instead using her voice. A brief flash of guilt ran through me, but it disappeared with the other thoughts when a new wave of pain came over me.

Something was poured into my mouth, and I drunk without question. Not much more than that realization would come through the haze, and some time later the pain dulled down again. This pattern repeated itself a few times, and large gaps exist in my memory. What remains is a vague impression of cool hands, damp cloth on my forehead, and being afraid to fall asleep again.

In the morning she was still there, or again there rather. She had freshened up and wore different clothes, but apart from
that it seemed to me like she had been next to me all the time. I had short moments of conscious thought and sight, and very long periods of darkness and agony. The pain was kept down with medicine, but the nightmares refused to leave.

And ever she sat there. When I stopped to wonder why, I could not think of a reason why she would want to sit next to me every moment. I cannot have been pleasant company for a young woman. But she did - sometimes reading a book, sometimes writing something, the pen scratching over the paper was a comforting sound, somehow, and some times just sitting, watching, Watching over me.

Most of the day I drifted between sleep and waking, never quite sure if I really was where I saw I was. In that time she seemed to become an angel. Sitting there ever to soothe my dreams or cool my forehead. When I woke up it was night, and she was gone. It took me a long moment to realize that I was really awake. My side hurt, but the dull haze was gone, and I could move my head without feeling exhausted. The chair was still standing there, on it the thick book I had seen before. The cover read "Series Blade Techniques". An empty mug stood to the side.

I pulled back the blanket and looked at my side.The wound on my ribs was superficial, though it had bruised up rather heavily. The wound in my side felt worse. An reaper hachet had sliced through my side, just below the edge of my belt, the jagged edge doing more damage, than I had thought..

I tried to sit up to have a better look, but I was still very weak. With my head spinning, I lowered myself back onto the
pillows.

"Good evening." came the famliar voice as Piatra entered the room.

I saw now that she was, in fact, human. Not an angel as I had imagined before, but a human female who looked tired and a
little pale. She was wiping her hands on a cloth, and I could not help noticing the bloodstains. Even though she was a brave fighter, I guess having none battle blood on her made here uncomfortable around me.

She would not look at me.

"Piatra." I rasped.

But she turned away and left. I wondered why, and had just begun to look back if I did anything to offend her, when she returned with a cup in her hands.

Her hands were clean now.

She came over and helped me sip the tea. I was so thirsty that I could have drunk it all, but it was too hot for that.
She seemed very shy now. Not distant like when in battles, but... I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I ached for information. About her, about the city and about the battles. What heroes were the "many wounded" she had spoken of? Where was Noctoos now? And what did she think of my fairing in the battle?

And most of all, why did it suddenly seem like she wasn't comfortable in my presence?

"I will tell the doctor that you are awake, he asked to speak to you," she said.

Someone brought me some food, and the doctor talked to me while I eat. Then Noctoos arrived.

"Good to see you again Ainu!" She greeted me with a smile. She seemed to be very happy I was all right. The smile made her seem a lot younger than she truly was.

I wondered if I would look younger if I smiled.

"It is good to be able to open my eyes." I answered her.

"How do you feel little one?" Noctoos asked

"I have felt better, but than again I have felt worse also." I reply trying to smile more. It felt good to smile I had thought at that time.

Noctoos spent some time giving me a detailed description of the current situation. I did not have to ask any questions, for
she explained all that I had wanted to ask. She knows me so well.

In the middle of her story, Piatra entered the room, very quietly. She seemed to have mastered the art of fading into the background, for Noctoos did not even notice her presence until she saw me look.

Piatra retrieved the book from where she had left it, and fled out again.

In hindsight, maybe Noctoos knew something about Piatra before I knew it myself.

~~~~~

Well I didn't always know what was going on around me I guess. There I had been at that moment, my heart, and my mind all knew I was eternally grateful to her, but I never told her. I never just came right out and said it, I guess I should have. Noctoos knew, but like the stubborn human I am, I didn't. I guess I should have stopped for a second and told her, but judging from the situation I am in right now, I never will. But there was one moment, one chance I had that I let slip, and it happened just as I was leaving the hospital..

~~~~~

I spent eleven more days in the hospital, but Piatra no longer spent all her time with me. It wasn't needed any longer either, though I would have liked it.

On the twelfth day I dressed in my own clothes that had been cleaned, which had been brought by Piatra, and walked out. On my way I saw Piatra in one of the training fields. I noticed how she looked different outside, more alive. Without quite knowing why, I walked over to her. She straightened up and waited.

"I wanted to thank you, for your care." I opened. It seemed like the most logical thing to say.

She smiled that wonderful smile.

"It was a pleasure.," she said softly.

It amused me faintly that she wasn't going to make this conversation any easier for me.

"Will I see you around the city again"

A strand of hair drifted down, tickling her cheek. My hand itched to stroke it away.

"You might." She nodded. "I still sleep in my apartment."

"Sleep? I don't recall you sleeping an awful lot." I replied with a slight smile.

"Only when."
And then she trailed off, because I had gathered my courage and stroked the hair out of her face. She blushed. It looked strangely appealing on her.

Not breaking eye contact, I reached for her hands. There was earth on them, she had been training hard this day, but I would not let her pull them away.

"No, Piatra. No hiding anymore..."

It was than I notice the two eyes watching me from the shadows. It was late day and the sun had already starting setting. Noctoos had been coming to meet me as I left. As I had apporached Piatra she had stopped in the shadows and just watched. I could see the smile on her face I had been wounded and in the hospital for nearly two weeks, and I could not let anyone think that I was a lesser person because of it. Besides that, I was convinced everyone suspected I had grown weaker, and I had to prove I was strong.

I insisted that I go right back to fighting crime to prove that I was as strong and ready as I had been before the battle with the vazhiloc, and to prove that I was prepared to leave for a long time, be there a friendship or not.

"Thanks for sitting with me Piatra" I said politely.

She just nodded and looked a tme.

"I guess its time to get back to arresting these criminals" I said.

Sadly she let me.

So I left her there, with pain in my heart, for Piatra was saddened when I saw her last.

Maybe deep in my heart I had hoped that she would stop me, but she took my claim and made me prove it.

I will not fail this city.

Chapter 9: Snow doesn't always fall

Ah those were fun times, I will miss them. Funny how the longer you lay with an arrow in you, the less it starts to hurt. Or maybe it hasn't been that long after all, just seems that way, who knows. At any rate, I am glad you have stayed this long, my tales do tend to get long at times.

Not everyone I met however was such that I stood in awe to start with. There have been several that at first even I called them little things. But I soon learned that sometimes age is not as important, as it is the heart.

~~~~

"Hurry up please, we need to reach the camp before sunrise." I shouted to the light girl, doing her best to keep up.

Oh this is great I thought, here I am going to arrest some circle of thorns and Frozendelight asked to tag along. She was so slow, and she was younger than me, a lot younger. She had not trained enough to have stamina to maintain a good speed. I had to keep stopping and waiting on her, but not once did she complain. We had traveled several miles to an encampment of mages on the outskirts of town, and not once did she ask to stop. She just kept right on running trying to catch me. I had to admire FrozenDelight's conviction, she was determined.

It was still dark when we arrived at the edge of the camp. Why had I been given this task, these mages were well below my skills, but I was sent anyway. Frozendelight stood there silently, watching me as I survived the camp. She was careful to not get in my way as I shifted this way and that, trying to get a count and positions of the mages.

"Seems to be about thirty or so," I whispered to her. Even though I wasn"t sure about having a young one with me, I wanted her to know what was going on.

"Thirty-five, theirs five more in the side tent," She whispered back, hoping not to sound rude.

I glanced over at the tent and saw the lantern light flickering in the night air, she was right; the shadows of five mages clear as ever. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all I thought. I turned and sat with my back to the fence and thought, what would be the best way. She saw the look in my eyes and knew I was thinking.

"I believe we should wait for first light, the rising sun's shadows would aid us, and the light would help your sight." I whispered

"What ever you think is best for the chore," she whispered back smiling

I knew she was being polite, but sometimes young ones say it the wrong way I guess. I brushed off any ideas I had of her meaning it rude. I turned and looked at the camp again, taking into account where the sun would rise.

"We need to move to the east side of the camp," I told FrozenDelight and she nodded in agreement.

We quietly slipped along the fence to the east side of the camp. The rising sun would break over the ridge, right at first light. An attack from the east would put the sun's rays in their eyes. We had moved into the spot I thought would be best, just as the sky started to change to vibrant shadows of purple and orange.

"Quietly enchant us, but be quiet," I whispered.

FrozenDelight nodded and set to enchanting the two of us, making almost no sound. I crouched up in my toes, ready to move at the slightest sound. FrozenDelight could tell I was ready, as my muscles tensed and my fists tightened.

I had to be swift and direct, one missed swing and they might go after FrozenDelight. I had laid the entire battle out in my head, every swing, ever body that fell to my kicks. I was a little worried over the ice blaster, but I knew she could hold well, as long as my plan went correctly. Little did I know, their was more to her than I had thought.

I caught the body as it slump forward and laid it quietly on the ground. The art of stealth was not my strong point, but I know how to be sneaky at times. The guard never saw me coming, since he had been looking away from the rising sun. I wasn't so lucky with the second however; he had shielded his eyes just as I approached. The clash of hands and feet drove the whole camp into frenzy. Luckily I was able to fight them as they approached, almost keeping it in one on one battle. FrozenDelights had done as I planned and stayed right behind me, making sure to freeze them as they came and which my strength from fading. Not once did I worry for her, she knew what she was doing. The battle was going well, just her, and me against an entire camp, until I heard the sound I had hoped I wouldn't.

A scream, not a scream of joy, or fright, not one of disgust or distrust, but one of fear. I turned as I fought my way to her, she was trapped. Two guards were advancing on her and behind her was a tent wall. She had nowhere to go, and I was fighting hard to get to her.

"This is not good, I have to get to her, this was not in my pla..,"my thought was cut short, a guard flew passed me, hitting the ground several feet from me. I felt the strong current of cold air fade.

"What in the fates name," escaped my lips, I would have thought more, but the battle did not seem to pause from the strange occurrence. I looked back to FrozenDelight and noticed that only one guard was there now. I wonder where the other one went? As guard after guard dropped to the ground, my eyes saw what had happened earlier.

FrozenDelight stood facing the approaching guard, her feet firm and planted. Her hands swirling in circles as I saw the very air freeze and pull into a ball in her hands. The guard jumps at her, and just as he did, FrozenDelight released the ball towards the lunging form. I was amazed as I saw the guard's body knocked out of the air and thrown backwards. He hit the ground and that's where he stayed, little ice crystals falling off him. As I kicked the last guard, I glanced at FrozenDelight who was whipping her hands together, a smile on her face.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew how to do that," I asked

She looked up at me, the smile of satisfaction on her face, she replied almost giggling, "You didn't ask."

I couldn't help but laugh, she was right I didn't. All this time I thought she was to young to know how to do things like that, and her she was holding her own in battle. She may have been named after ice, but in this battle, snow never fell.

Chapter 8: The Dancing Times

The hustle and bustle of the people in the mall tempted me. The busy mall stores sent smells of freshly baked food wafting past our noses at the outside pool area. The sound of laughter followed and mingled beautifully with the shouting of the vendors trying to sell their products, creating the song of Paragon, the lure that brought most people into the city.

How I would have loved to be out there, walking around the mall with the other people, trying the sweet, warm bread and adding to the sound of that glorious melody.

Instead I was with a few of the friends I had made, super heroes like my self as we were called. Splashing around in the water and having fun, except LadyJasmin, she hates the water. But like anyone else, some people have their own likes and dislikes.

I closed my eyes against the sun, but accepted its warmth gladly, absently toying with my hair as it dried.

"Having fun Ainu", Jasmin greeted, breaking the lazy torpor I'd fallen into.

"Hi hi," I replied, although it still sounded childish, it had become a habit for me.

Jasmin just laughed, calling me a giggly thing, at which as usual I giggled. I had grown quiet attached to Jasmin, we had even exchanged sister bonds. She sat down beside me, her own hair still wet from were she had had gotten tossed in once. The sun had been very hot this day, and the pool water had been a good way to cool off, as well as have some fun. Jasmin sat down beside me, heating herself up to dry off. A lot of the heroes had done the same, all of us having a fun time and trying not to use any special powers, splashing and having fun, although a few times a few had but just in fun.

As Jasmin and I sat talking, and the sun begin to set low,Noctoos joined us, shaking her hair from where she had just jumped in the water and of course getting us wet again. I rememeber she had laughed, finding the sight of Jasmin and I jumping up, very amusing.. It was not often she pulled little pranks like that, her nature forcing her to always show strength, but she had her moments. Today was a good day for all, a day without war or fighting. I sat next to Jasmin, for at that time she was the closest to family I had, besides Noctoos. No don't get me wrong, Noctoos had become like a mother to me, but I can only see her at night, Jasmin is here all the time, and so we had grown clsoe as sisters.

I should have known, that on a day like today, things were bound to go crazy. I noticed Noctoos had that usual grin that she has when something is about to happen. And just as I thought it did, and quickly too.

It started with a strange sound from Jasmin "Eep!"

I turned quickly to see Jasmin standing straight up and start chasing Piatra.

"I'll sneak tickle you if I get my hands on you gladiator," Jasmin shouted.

Undoubtedly Piatra had snuck up behind her and poked her ribs. Oh she hated that and piatra knew it. The chase lasted a few minutes but Jasmin gave up and walked back. She was breathing slightly heavy and just flopped back down.

"Dang that Piatra, sneak attack tickling, sheesh," Jasmin said.

Noctoos and I couldn't help but laugh, Jasmin just huffed than laughed herself. If I hadn't known any better, I could have swore she liked people, I found out later that she is just a different person than I am used to. She is a sad lonely person after the circle of thorns incident.

Noctoos smiled and stood gettign everyones attention to her. She looked over the group that stood before her, and started to ask people to do little jobs. At first I thought great, a day of nothing to do and she finds stuff to do, another day of work. But slowly I noticed that the jobs were odd jobs, fun jobs I thought. She gave everyone jobs,but me. As the last person ran off to get what it was Noctoos had asked for, she sat back down beside me. I was heart broken, hurt even. Finally after sitting a few minutes, I broke the silence.

"Why did I not get a job?" I asked

Noctoos looked at me and smiled as she spoke, "Because today is not a day for work little one. Today is a fun day for everyone. You have been working hard to achieve the goals laid for you."

I almost got upset at her; I am not a little one. Well to me I'm not, to her I probably am. Old vampires, just because I'm just over 25 years old, they call me little. Hmmpt. Anyways, everyone came back with whatever Noctoos had sent them after, and they set about preparing,..well something. A stream of cord here, a flag of something there, heck I had no idea what they were doing. After several minutes, well maybe more than several, they proclaimed they had finished. Noctoos stood slowly and looked around, a stern look on her face. She seemed to be inspecting this strange work she had asked the heroes to do. She nodded a few times and adjusts a few times, finally nodded in satisfaction. She turned to me, and taking my hand pulled me to my feet, and out onto the field.

"What is all this?" I asked, half confused, half amazed, "Football??

Noctoos smiled at me, "Not exactly", and turned me to face all the people with her.

"Today is a good day for us, a pleasant day. Many the hour have we all worked and toiled to better the life of all those in Paragon City. We have had many a friend and family come and go in the years that we have been together. Recently we grow by two, AinuRuaco and LadyJasmin. Both are unique, as are all of us. Jasmin has worked hard to prove herself in this world, doing what she has felt best. But now she has the freedom to choose her path and she has choosen, like us, to fight for this city's citizens." Noctoos said.

I felt her hand on my back push slightly, letting me know to step forward a bit. I was greatly embarrassed, I was not used to attention like this anyway. Some heroes cheered, some nodded, others like Jasmin just stood quietly, the ones I knew, event he ones I didn't. Than what she said next caught me off guard.

"It seems that all are here today, which is a rare occasion indeed. So let us welcome Jasmin properly." Noctoos said, than grinned and nodded to Palmar. He promptly threw a ball of leather to me, which I somehow managed to catch. As soon as I caught it I realized I had done something wrong. Was I not supposed to touch it? Was it a sacred magic artifact? I didn't know, all I know is, the moment I caught it everyone abruptly came after me. So I did the only thing I knew to do, I screamed and threw it straight up. Suddenly they all stopped and watched the leather ball as it started to fall back down, pushing and shoving to try and catch it.

Piatra caught it and off she ran, almost the whole group chasing her. She reach a spot marked by a piece of bright red fabric, at which point she throw the ball straight up and watched as another person caught it and ran the other direction. Noctoos just laughed and I stood wondering. Noctoos looked at me still laughing and explained that it was a game. I tried to hide my embarrassment, but she knew I had no idea what had happened. We watched the people chase each other, tackle the ball holder, having fun. I tried several times to join in, but I never lasted long, I was not used to the rules, and would just throw the ball straight up if someone came at me. They played this game for an hour or so, before most just sat where they stood, exhausted but happy. Even Noctoos had jumped in once or twice, launching the ball high in the air with a gravity lift, the others just stood and waited for it come down, most avoided it when it did, except the tankers, that could take the harsh hit when it came down. She would just laugh, and walk back to the side.

As everyone cooled off, the night had set to its task of pushing the moon into the sky. Noctoos asked that the fires be lit and the candles placed. I was in awe of the spot of land they had transformed into mixture of light and air. All the people made this strange circle; I thought they were going to chant of something. Than a few started playing instruments and instantly I knew what was going on. I felt a hand grab mine and drag me to the center.

The hand belong to a very large man, a demon I had noticed during the day. So there I stood in the center of this group, with a demon smiling and staring at me. I had no idea what to do, and the demon noticed my tension.

He leaned over and whispers to me, "My name is Vordin, just do what I do."

I nodded gently and looked around me slightly, everyone was watching. Vordin started doing some movements that seemed to me like smashing grapes. I watched him for a few seconds and thought to myself "why not". So I started mimicking his movements, at which point the other people started cheering and hooting. I have to admit that at first I thought I would explode from blushing, until I noticed everyone else started dancing also. Vordin just smiled and told me to follow his movements, and I tried to, but I messed up a lot. He moved in swift motions, tring to keep slow enough for me to learn. At one point he spun around, and I did know how to do that. Being a martial artist helps with pivoting of course. So I spun on my tiptoes and stopped facing him with a leg out to one side. He just laughed and smiled.

"See there, you do know what your doing after, so just have fun with it," Vordin said

He showed me a lot of cool dances and helped me to learn them, of course I never got the spinning on my head thing down, but I did learn from him how to glide, while walking backwards. Than there was that lean thing he did, just leaning forward and than back without falling. I thought he was great for helping me, I didn't feel like an outsider now, thanks to everyone. Than he motioned for me to step out of the way, as FrozenDelight and LadyJasmin stepped quietly to the center.

What I saw next is almost beyond my words to explain. It was not the carefree dancing we had been doing but was something more. The two stood quietly as people started to fan back. FrozenDelight and Jasmin looked at Noctoosand both smiled.

"Everyone, thank you for the festivities this day", LadyJasmin said.

"We would like to honor everyone with a gift", FrozenDelight said.

The crowd grew quiet as the two spoke, for some reason I got the feeling that to have said a word at that moment might have been wrong. Vordin leaned close to my and whispered what was going on.

"They are doing a ritual elemental dance for everyone" Vordin said.

I had never heard of such a thing. Sure I knew of mystic dances and their magic properties, but nothing like what I was about to see.

The two started moving their bodies and arms, and as the ice and fire started to swirl they began. At first it was just movements I thought, fluid and matching. Several times at the beginning I noticed Jasmin glancing at Frozendelight, who glanced back. They exchanged eyes and smiles. Those two I knew where puttign meaning into this. And in a way I knew they danced for everyone. FrozenDelight and Jasmin continued the dance, as I watched the magic from it, grow and rise. The whole area we sat was covered in the spirals that slowly rose towards the sky, made of ice and fire. Even the very ground we sat on seemed to respond to the gentle movements of the two. I sat in awe.

Vordin leaned and told me, that the two that were are dancing together know what the other is doing at all times. He was so kind to me that night, explaining everything that was going on, teaching me to do those funky dance, and that big laugh of his. I was glad to add him to my list of friends.

As I watched the two I never once felt in fear of the dance. Instead there was the sense that, should it become necessary, they could easily alter the movement of their magics and use them to defend themselves and all of us.

Oh that was a fun night, but as with all things, the next day brought back the hard work, I do wish for another night like that one.

Chapter 7: LadyJasmin, the demon

King's Row in high summer. City Streets, rolling mounds oftrash, turf studded potholes, and steaming sewer grats. Bright sunlight that hurt my eyes, and warm winds that made the smell of garbage carry for blocks.

I hated it.

Not Paragon city as a whole, not at all. It was gorgeous, city of parks and beautiful lands altogether, a true paradise. But each section of town alone, tore that vision to pieces. But all the beauty under the sky is no good to a girl if she's got no one to share it with.

But at least now, I had a bit of experience, and an inkling of a plan. I thought back to the all my days as a child roaming aorund the town, and where I had began to notice thugs hanging out, so I set to walk abit around today and refresh my mind.

I had been walking awhile and memorizing the thug hangouts, I stayed to the main streets. Despite the bright sun, I shuddered, and, feeling my knees went weak, I sat on a set of steps. Okay, AinuRuaco, 'cause that's your name now, it's time to figure out what the world you're going to do. This isn't an adventure any more. It's real life, and you're going to get yourself killed real quickly if you don't figure out what you're going to do next.

I contemplated my options; I had several possibilities open to me.

The Sewers, The prospect terrified me. That would take me to the sewer and waste plannt area. I had heard rumors about half dead, body part things that were seen there. Not number one on my list of Must-See Locations in Paragon City. So, my next option was...

Dark astoria. I'd heard disturbing tales as a child, about a haunted land, where ghosts hovered and dead walk the streets that way. I was quite a bit older now, but the idea of heading in that direction chilled me to the core, so I discarded it.

Perez Park. I had no business there right now. I knew that I wouldn't need to go anywhere near that place for awhile. That left me only one choice.

Steel Canyon

Towards the better shops, toward places I was now able to venture into

I felt a smile split my face, probably my first real smile since I had started my adventure months ago when my mother had passed.

Steel Canyon it is.

The sun was setting that evening as round the next street corner which I swore would be the last for the day. I chuckled at my ambition getting the best of me. But the laughter froze in my throat as I rounded the corner.

Oh. Sweet. Fates.

The stench was the first thing that hit me. The reek of rot and corruption, of decay and foul things that feed on death. My knees buckled underneath me, and my behind hit the ground rather unceremoniously. But I didn't even notice, my eyes never left the sight before me.

The Sewer Plant, how did I get here, sheesh. I had went East I knew I had, the position of the sun, all the roadsigns, I had went?..west. Oh some navigator I am. I would have laughed if the stench that hit my nose had let me. That smell, oh fates, that smell it was beyond my thinking.

I almost retched all over my boots, my stomach turning flips and made the world spin. I would have fallen over if I hadn't already been on the ground. As it was, I drew my knees up to my stomach, moaning, trying to steady myself.

It seemed like hours had passed by the time my limbs stopped shaking, and I could sit up and sip water from my bottle of water. I am glad I had gotten somewhat used to foul things, but nothing like this.

I tried to observe my situation objectively, allowing the rational part of my mind to take control. I knew this place; Noctoos had heard news of it, and had told me it one night while training after she had been there. During the last years, a strange and horrible disease had afflicted everything here, turning it to rot and decay. The citizens and police were terrified of this rot, and quite suspicious that it had been the work of Dr vazhiloc. At any rate, to wind up here was not a good thing. They had called it the deadman plaque, and Noctoos had said that it chilled and sickened her to the very core.

I could sympathize completely. The smell of corruption, the sight of decay and rot, and death, I imagined an enormous meeting of all the keepers of death meeting, and this place was where it had happened.

The image was so real that I began to shake, and then I scolded myself. Only a child invents ghost stories to scare herself, and in this case, it could only make my situation worse. So I stood up, and tried to think logically. The sun had dropped below the horizon, and stars had begun to dot the sky. Soon, the moon would rise, and I reckoned that it would be just shy of full; I was in for a bright night, the kind that is best suited for traveling. The city streets were almsot empty, jsut these livign dead things roamed around. I glanced around me, determined to think my situation through; traveling around this plant of death would take a long time, longer than I could afford. I had to get out fo here soon; otherwise I'd be found by these things.

So, I made what was quite possibly the most rash, foolish, and downright stupid decision of my life. I decided to take my chances going through the plant and throught the mounds of bodies that lay about.

Oops.

The moon had raised, a full, gleaming eye amid the stars, lighting my path as I descended the steel steps. I had decided to travel through the night, when the flies and other carrion insects wouldn't be so active. I'd mapped the distance to the far side of the area as being a mile, maybe two, but even so, I had no intention of losing myself in this labyrinth of horrors. I'd pulled a florecent marker out fo my pocket, one I kept on me at all times, and when I reached the main floor, I dotted a cross beam, leaving a little bright pink dot.

This way, I could find my way out if I lost my bearings, or needed to leave in a hurry. I had taken my jacket off, and had wrapped it around my mouth and nose, trying to lessen the stench. It wasn't really working, so I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore it, as I was trying to ignore the bodies that seemed to be resting, yet I dared not get to close to find out. It seemed to me that dead eyes tracked my slow, mincing steps.

The nighttime stroll through the sewer plant was the scariest experience of my entire life. Even now, bleeding and cold on some forsaken battlefield, it doesn't even come close. I can still remember the stench, the shadows, the leering eyes, and the sickening fear that coiled in my belly and crawled like a liquid snake towards my heart.

And then I heard the voices.

I hadn't thought at the time that the night could get any more terrifying, but oh, look, I was wrong. Was I *ever* wrong. For, as I was rounding one of the catwalks, I heard voices, jabbering and snarling. And I knew, though I denied it for a moment, that no person ever spoke in such a slurry narled tongue, hisses and snarls all rolled together into a hideous, nightmarish sound.

vazhiloc.

A small group, some 6 or so, standing there, as if waiting for something. Slavering, decaying creatures, staggering and mindless and speaking in their horrible grating voices. They were standign around a fire build right on the metal floor.

Understand, this was my rational mind that catalogued these things. The rest of me was frantically stuffing my fist in my mouth, fighting down the scream that was trying to erupt from my throat. Oh no oh no oh no oh no...

"Rotting human flesh. Rotted and ripe, and not a hint of anything else for weeks!"

"Shut your mouth, minion! Lucky enough to have parts at all, and yet you whine like a hellion!"

The other minions laughed as the two reapers fought, scattering embers from the fire, cursing as they were spattered with blood and knocking body parts around.

I stood, rooted to the spot, unable to back up even as mind screamed to run away. I thought of my skills, of my quickness, but I knew, knew that while I might be able to fight off as many as 2 at once...there were too many now. So, inch-by-inch, I forced my legs backwards, feet falling heavily to the floor, backing away from the firelight, away from the nightmarish creatures, my back brushing against a particularly ripe corpse, dislodging a flood of writhing, gleaming maggots. I began to wheeze, my hands clamped over my mouth and nose, but tears leaking from my eyes as sobs or screams tried to force their way out.

One step, then another, backing away slowly, oh so slowly. Then I froze, as one of them, a enormous tall creature, stood up from it's place by the fire, it's chest flaring as it sucked in air. A voice that paralyzed my bones, hard and grating.

"I smell human flesh...alive!", it said in a voice that made my very core shudder.

That did it. The scream finally tore loose, and I turned and fled, driven by mindless panic. Behind me, the yowls and screeches of the pursuing minions split the night, each one desperate for something fresher than dead meat. I ran, every ounce of terror fuelling my legs, crashing through rotting skeletons, heedless of the insects and foul creatures that I was disgorging. But I knew I couldn't outrun them, knew I couldn't hide, couldn't fight, knew I was doomed...

Then something struck me hard in the head, and everything exploded into starlight, then blackness.

I suppose, due to the terror of that night, the utter panic and absolute hideousness, my mind simply shut down, for I have no memory of what happened the rest of that night. What I remembered next was this.

The blackness had been warm and soothing, and I had welcomed it. Then, what seemed like mere moments later,

I felt icy, sloshing water on my face? My eyes snapped open, and I frantically sucked in a lungful of river water. Strong fingers gripped the back of my neck, and hauled my head out the water. Choking and gasping, I groped at the matted black strands that hung soaking and cold over my eyes. When I finally blinked away the water and the blurriness, I wondered if I was still dreaming.

The sun was shining, a bird was singing somewhere, and I was a dripping, muddy mess, dumped in a slovenly heap beside a swiftly flowing stream. What dominated my attention, however, was the figure sitting perched beside me.

Oh. Sweet. Fates.

A set of firey orange eyes looked down at me, above them two fire tipped horns protruded from her forehead.

Black leather pants that clung like a second skin to long, shapely legs, with grey rune type symbols. Lean hands, their slender fingers tapping on the cunning smooth leather gloves of each hand. A slender figure under with nothing more than a leather vest, a vest that showed a lot of skin, skin that was dark tanned. I quickly realized she was not just a human.

I'd stared at her, speechless, for a long moment as she'd swept her eyes down my narrow, disheveled frame.

Then she raised one eyebrow sardonically, and LadyJasmin said the words that placed her in my life for good.

"Eewwww."

I was taken back at the comment, and looked down to where her eyes where. She was looking at my bellybutton. She was looking at my little ring that I had recently gotten.

Friendships start the strangest ways it seems.

LadyJasmin
by Noctoos

The pitch black darkness of the night, did little to hide the two orange glowing eyes that looked out over the city. The tips of each of the two horns glimmer every so often as the city lights made their way to them. Perched high on the ledge of one of the buildings of Atlas park, sat a lone and confused creature. At one time she was a human just like any of the regualr citizens, but not anymore.

The glowing eyes looked out over the streets and buildings, a terrible sadness held within them.

"I did not ask for this" She thought, as a figure apeared on the leadge beside her, stepping out of a teleportation portal.

"I figured I would find you here, you seem to come here alot." Sharalisa said

LadyJasmin looked up slightly, than back out over the city, "It is peaceful here"

"Just wanted to check on you and make sure you was alright" Sharalisa said as she step back into her portal and vanished.

Ladyjasmin shook her head slightly, "But I am not alright", mostly saying it to herself.

The half human, half demon was far from alright. She did not ask to be this way, she did not want to be this way. She had a scholiship for college, she had plans she had made for her life, she had a boyfriend.

The last thought made her drop her head and if she could have cried she would have.

She "had" a boyfriend, his name was Jason, and he is the reason she is what she is now.

~~~~

"Come on Natashia, just go with me to the meeting one time" Jason asked, not aggressive, but in that persasive way.

"But I hear those meetings are not good Jason" Natashia said

"Nah, they are harmless, we just talk and read spells from good honest books" Jason said calmly.

"Are you sure, I don't want mixed up in some stuff that will get me in trouble" Natashia portested.

"I promise, look afterwards, we can go catch a movie and a bite to eat" Jason said tring to smooth it all out.

"Ok fine, that sounds good, but what should I wear?" Natashia asked

"Ummm cloths is always a good option, but hey you choose." Jason said jokingly

"Very Funny, alright how much time do I have?" Natashia asked

"Pick you up in an hour" Jason said.

"Alright see you than" Natashia said as she hung up the phone. A meeting of the Circle of Thorns, I can't believe I'm going. I had heard lots of bad things about them, but Jason had assured me they were untrue. I trusted him, we had been together for 7 months and he had never given me a reason not to.

The hour passed quickly with me gettng ready, and I heard the familiar knock of Jason at my door. I opened the door and saw him in his usual red robe that her wore to the meetings. I may have my doubts aobut the Thorns but he did look good in that color.

He took my hand and we walked to his car, the normal routine of us going out. The drive to the meeting was a p leasant one, more than usual. We talked aobut everything, for a change he was talkative back, looking back I see that it was just part of his plan.

The group was gathering in a wooded area in Perez Park, away from the eyes and ears of passer-byes. Each member made it a point to intruduce themselves and was very polite. Jason never left my side though, making sure I felt safe and secure around them.

The last to intruduce themselves was, as far as I could tell, the leader fo the group. He was tall, about 6'3 I would say. He had short gray hair and a short grey beard. He was polite and gentle, thanking me for coming, and all the usual nice to meet you things. He asked if I would like to participate in the meeting, but leaving it completely up to me if I wanted to. This of course made me want to, all this politness was making all the rumors i had heard clearly untrue.

I said I would like to, and he smiled and nodded.

"Now you have to go through a very short cleansing ceremony, its merely an act of releasing negative energies so that your mind is clear." The old man had said. Looking back, I realize how stupid I was, but that can't be changed now.

The old man took my hand gentle, I glanced at Jason who gave me that "it's ok" nod. He lead me to the center of the group, who had made a circle type formation.

"This one has come willing today to be amoung us, and wishes to participate today" The old man said.

The group clapped and smiled at me, which was a bit embarressing.

"OF course you all know that in order to participate, one must go through the cleansing ceremony the first time, and as such she has agreed to do it as well" The old man said.

The group nodded in agreement. Why do I have a bad feeling all of a sudden?

The old man stepped back and smiled at me, but not the same smile as before, the corners of his smile where twisted slightly. Really bad feeling now, really bad.

I looked at Jason who was in the circle, his head was lowered slightly, not the same way he usually stands.

The old man, raised his hand towards me, and suddenly I was frozen in my tracks.

OH boy!

I can't move, and slowly I feel my body rising slightly off the ground.

I try to scream, I try to call out to Jason, but not a sound escapes my lips. The group starts to chant and circle me, the old man speaking in some language I have never heard. I can't move, except for my eyes, I can look around. I see Jason, he is staring right at me, but he is not the same as I knew him, his face, his eyes, their evil.

The chant grows louder, the words hasten as they speak them. The old man lowers both hands to the ground,than quickly draws them upwards to this shoudlers.

It is than I see the glow around my body, like pure green energy erupting from the ground beneath me. I know this is not a cleansing ceremony, I had seen such things on TV, this was soemthing evil, and I was in the middle of it.

The old man did the same hand motions again, chanting something different than before. Than I heard it, a sound I will never forget. It wasn't a screech, or a howl, or anything I had ever heard before. It was some dark and evil, the white spirit hand reaching out of the ground tipped me off to that.

What ever it was that was being summoned or called or what ever they were doing, was coming for me. I try to look away and see Jason, he is now just a blur amoung the cirle of bodies. The hand grabs the ground as if tring to get a hold, than I see what it is attached to pulling itself out of the ground. Well through the ground actually, it is some kind of spirt or demon or something, heck I dont know.

The old man speaks more words, does more arm motions and the thing pulls itself free of the ground. Its hugh, like massively hugh, with wings they must have been over 6 foot across. Ok for me, that is hugh. When your paralized and floating off the ground about to be soemthings dinner, everything looks hugh.

The group stops circling at this point and starts pushing their arms towards me and jerking them back, while chanting something. I can feel my body growing lighter and lighter. It didn't take long to figure out what they were doing. The thing, the spirit, the what ever it is, is floating right on me, and as I grow lighter, it grows fainter. They are tring to posess me, I try to scream, silence from my lips. There is nothing I can do, so this is what powerless feels like.

I can see the old man grinning, an evil snerring grin, the kind that lets you know you are a victim. The group chants louder and hard, as if they were putting thier whole being into each chant. I feel as if I am outside myself almost, the thing almsot completely faded. My eyes want to close, so tired, so sleepy now. The world around me starts to fade into a peacful soft black.

"SHHHIZZZZZ"

"No you must interupt, the ceremony is almost over!!!" The old man screams.

"Correction, it be over" A gruff male voice shouts.

"SHHHIZZZZ"

The group draws daggers, as the second electric bolt slams one of them in the chest, knocking him out cold.
The wolrd is fading back slightly, I can make out very blurry images now.

"You must not interupt, who knows what will happen!!" The old man screamed, trng to draw as much power from those nearby to finish the ritual.

"Not my worry, ye tring to take another innocent life is me concern" The gruff sounding man said.

"siiiiiizzzzz, sizzzzzzz"

Two more member fallout, the old man can't continue the ritaul, slowly my eyes began to refocus. I can see what is going on now. A man in blue and white, the group members rushing towards him, the old man glowing with some kind of energy. The man in blue is smiling as they run towards him.

"Bad idea, bad guys." He shouts a second before they all are thrown back by a gale of winds.

All lay where they landed, the old man screamed, words I would rather not repeat. The man in blue just laughed and with a flick of his hand, sent a ball of what looked like electricity at the old man. Knocking him back a few feet, he too lay where he landed. If they were dead I didn't know.

The man in blue ran to me and caught me as I fell, when the old man fell the energy holding me stopped. The man in blue, lowered me slowly to the ground, I was awake but felt drained of all my energy. The man in blue was nice and spoke softly to me, I could feel my strength coming back as a green glow swept over me.

"I ner an expert healer mam, but ye just be taken it easy, I do all I can fer ye." The man in blue said.

I laid there several minutes, and it was than I noticed the look on his face. Not one of pity or concern, but one of marveling.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked

"Well miss, I thinking ye might not know what has happened to ye" the man in blue said.

"Happened to me, what do you mean "Happened to me"?" I asked in surprise.

"I tried ta be gettn her as fast as I could Miss, to stop em before ner thing happened. But I fears I didn't make it ner soon nuff" the man in blue said.

I raised my hand to rub my eyes, and it was than I first caught on to what he said. Reaching for my eye I raised my hand a little high and bumped something, something hard and rough. Slowly I touched what ever it was, it was coming out of my forehead. The look in my eyes told the man I had been clueless and now I was scared.

"They be horns Miss, two of em to be exact." the man in blue said.

"Now the first ye need to do is stay clam Miss, the ceremony made a few changes to ye" he said.

"Changes? What changes?" I half asked half stammered out.

"They be tring to posess ye with a demon, the ceremony was almost over when I gots here and interupted" the man said.

"Almost over? so i was almost a goner than? But what did they do to me?" I asked, I would be cring but for soem reason my eyes no longer would shed tears. Slowly I lowered my hand from the now protruding horns and looked down, the rest of me looked normal, well as normal as I could tell.

"Can ye be walking Miss, we needn't linger here to long" the man said.

"I think I can," I said as I tried to get to my feet, "Who are you?"

"The name be StaticGust," he said, " I been followng that boyfriend of ye for a few months now"

"So you knew what was going to happen?" I asked

"nah, I just knew he was a member of this here circle. It weren't till an hour ago I figured out what he had planned for ye" Static said.

"I am glad you did figure it out, although I am not sure I wanted you too after what I have become." I said half hearted.

We both took to running out of the park, and to my surpise, I was no longer the slow girl I once was. Static must have seen the look on my face as I ran faster.

"Although ye may not be liking what ye have become Miss, sometimes curses can really be blessings, just with a bad book cover." static said

I nodded slightly, and kept running, concentratign to run faster. Static had no trouble keeping up and was out running me by a long shot. I was determined to catch him, being left alone in this park was not what I wanted.

"Poof"

What the?

"poof"

I stopped instantly and so did Static.

"What the heck was that?' I asked. Having just disappear back there and appeared up here beside Static.

"Ah, it look like, your new form has a few powers as well." Static said laughing and smiling

"powers?...you mean like real magical powers like you see in movies and comic books type powers?" I asked half surpised.

"Aye, that be the powers I speak off." static mused

Ok, so here I am now, a half demon and I have make believe turned real powers. Kinda cool, but kinda scary. I stood for a second and concentrated on a spot on the ground a few feet away.

"poof" ...."poof"

Again

"poof" ....."poof"
"poof" ....."poof"
"poof" ....."poof"

"ok that is kinda cool." I said laughing

"Aye, make traveling easier, and use less gas in ye car" Static said laughing.

~Agent StaticGust....report~

Static reaches for a gadget on his wrist

~Ritual averted.....Target alive...merger incompelte~
~Good....report to charlie base Bravo immediatly...sector issue~
~Roger...on me way~

"I gots to be going Miss, another one to prevet I fear" Static said.

All I could do was nod, we were at the security gate so I was safe, well safe was a reletive word as this point, with how I looked, I feared more of being killed by scared citizens than anything.

Static was gone and I stood there alone, my first of many days of feeling lost.

I made my way in the shadows to the a little lake on the outskirt sof town. THe calm water and peacefulness did much to calm me down. I knew that I could no longer go back to my old life. No way most would accept me as I am now.

"But I am still a lady", I thought,"that can never be taken from me"

As I sat there by the water, I noticed the Jasmin growing along the edge of the rocks and a smile crossed my face.

~~~~

Slowly I closed my eyes, shaking my head. I can't change what I am now, I can't go back and not go to the meeting. I am this....this creature, and I can't just sit here and let this happen to someone else.

Standing up and I breath deeply, the warm air feeling good in my lungs as I heat up my surrondings to make it comfortable. I dont heat up to much though, I dont want to burn anything.

That day at that meeting Natashia died in that energy and ceremony, and LadyJasmin was born.

Taking a step back, Ainu focuses for a moment, drawing on her years of training (martial arts), and tapping into her inner energy pathways (focus chi) and remember the words of her mtoher (enrage insppiration), she plants her feet firmly and launches a crippling axe kick to the zombie.

"miss"

A round house kick..

"miss"

A crane kick

"miss"

COBRA STRIKE..

The last one finally lands, doing little more that getting the zombies attention again.

"I should have found my car" Aniu thinks to herself.

Launching another crane kick, by some twist of fate it lands, planting the zombie against the wall, were it finally stays, sliding to the floor.

Ainu looks aorund, gettign her bearings on the fight, everything was moving fast. Arms, legs, heads, all moving at eerie speeds.

"I hate zombies" she thought.

Chapter 6: Bad time to Day Dream

The thing most unbearable for me is waiting. And waiting now? who knows what for? My death, my life, No, it would be a lie to say so. I know what I still hope to hear with the shreds of my long-forgotten hopes.I want to hear her voice. And I want her to hear mine, one last time. Then, I would finally tell her everything I kept to myself all those long years. And, maybe, she could forgive me for dieing today. I keep wondering when it all began. Many would say it was right after she passed away, and yet I know it was not so,it was much sooner. Ah their I go again rambling, the lose of blood tends to do that. Now let's see who did I do next, hmm, yes I remember now. That was a fun day indeed, an interesting day.

~~~~~

-----The sun bent its withered head, bowing to the last of the day-its lover. Although leaving her for the night he knew he would return in the morning and be greeted with open arms. The day however was weeping. Weeping with the loss of so many of her children, to the eternal night from whence there was no returning.

The village was burning.

The smell of death and despair hung in the air about all the huts that were still standing. Sobbing echoed all around. Children clinging to what was left of their parents, as if they could will the life back into them. A figure watched over the sight silently. Alas! It was not the first image of this kind he had seen.

He sheathed his sword, which was coated to the hilt in orc blood. His blue eyes burned with anger. He could kill a whole troupe of orcs again and again and still it would not stem his hatred. He felt a tugging at his leg and looked down, a young girl looked up at him. The little one was covered in soot and ashes, her bony elbows dug into his thigh.

The girl choked, "Sir knight, my mother......please lay her...to rest......no one will help.?

He slowly nodded and followed the child to a hut on the outskirts of the village, a sad pile awaited him. The girl had obviously pulled her mother from the burning tent. How he wondered as he sighed, another life lost because of greed. The urge to vomit welled up inside of him but he restrained himself as he turned to the crying child.

"Come I will carry her to the pyre." he said as calmly as he could.

Lifting the bundle over his shoulder, heading off the direction of the funeral pyre. It saddened him that in these times no proper burial could be arranged. The voices of the priestesses washed over him, mournful songs of the dead. Carefully he placed the girls mother on the pyre.-----

I sat on the couch with my legs drawn up to my chest. I love this old fantasy movies, even if they are jsut Pollywood productions. I sat for the remaining hour, transfixed on the screen, watching the fight sceens and laughing at the funny parts.

The sound mozart broke me from my daze, grabbing my cellphone I flipped it open.

"Hello..." I said casually

"AinuRuaco...." the voice said

"This is she.." I replid

"Your needed at the Gish, 4th alleyway west..." the voice said

"Confirmed.." was my reply as I closed my phone.

Without a word I walked out of my apartment towards the alleyway in the Gish area of King's Row. The alleyway was long and not well lite. It was not wide enough for a car to go down, and the garbage cans and dumpsters filled most of it. I walked about halfway down and propped up against the wall beside a dumpster, and waited.

Soon I was lost in my thoughts, times when I was happy, at peace or otherwise in a carefree mood. I liked this city, even though it was overrun with crime. I lived in a decent neighborhood, still had crime but not much. I made it a point to ask about everyone and try to learn about them through the stories I was told. I was really lost in my thoughts so I did not hear the soft footfalls approaching. In fact I did not notice anything strange until I felt the sharp tip of a dagger pointing into my neck.

A smooth voice whispered. "I wouldn't move if I was you, my lady."

The dagger seemed to be resting slightly on my neck. For the first time in years someone had got the drop on me. A situation, which I could not get out of.I was quickly brought sharply back to reality. I tried to take the lapse of concentration from my captor as an opportunity to attempt a defense. Tilting my head forward, I used the dumpster as a lever and pulled myself upwards.

A strange sight awaited me. A dark shrouded figure was standing at the spot I had just moved from. Her dagger was point where my neck had been. I could it was a she by certain noticable features. She was shroud in an odd black smoke, a hood over her head. It took her a second to realize I was no longer against the wall.

"What a moron," I thought as I caught my balance.

However as soon as this thought passed my mind I felt her body capture mine from behind in an arm lock, holding me firm.

"Day Dreaming again was you, little one." The stranger stated coldly

I struggled but to no good, her grip was strong.

"I thought fighters were supposed to aware at all times, my lady. But clearly as with any race there are exceptions!" she said sternly

I didn't say anything, stepping back I managed to break free, "I can handle the likes of you," I said as I turned, only to see her dagger pointed sharply at my throat.

"Never speak too soon my lady, situations change," the stranger said curtly.

So there I stood in my trapped position, murmured; "so it would seem."

The stranger laughed slightly at me, her hand not even wavering.

"So what"s the plan? Going to stab me now... or shall we converse some more first?" I stated

The stranger surveyed me with cold eyes, her full face hidden in the shadow of her hood.

"I am guessing you are choosing to kill?", I asked.To my surprise she laughed.

"No my lady, I was merely testing you." She said in her cold vioce.

I couldn't help but frown slightly, "Testing me?"

"Of course, do you not think I would let you go fight crime if you wasn't in top shape," She said

I could have laughed out loud had the dagger not been almost touching my skin and the thought of slicing my own throat was not that interesting. This was unbelievable! First she was rude, and now she acts all nice.The hood she wore had hidden her face from me this whole time. She seemed to know whom I was but who was she.

"If you really want to be nice, step into the light and let me see who you are than," I stated plainly.

The woman laughed and removed her hood. I almost dropped my mouth open, for the woman was Noctoos.She laughed again, seeing my reaction. Putting her dagger back in it's sheath.

"My sincere apologies Ainu. But you needed to be tested, as we all do at times."

I shot her a look. "I agree, but that's a heck of a way to do it."

At this Noctoos stepped forward, "You are skilled but still you need to learn more."

I leaned back against the nearby wall, shocked, "Learn more,"

"A fighter is always aware of their surroundings, even when in deep thought. You were not aware, next time it might not be me, and you might be dead." Noctoos stated bluntly.

Than stepped back, a grin crossing her face. She seemed to merge into the very air and then disappear before my eyes so that I was alone.

Reaction...nope....
Skill...nope..
Perfected martial arts....nope

Empty ketchep pack on the floor....yeap

Aniu slipped and fell quick to the floor, the disc wizzing past her head and smacking the wall befor eexploding.

She flipped back to her feet and Crane kicked the zombie she had been fighting, sending it against the wall.