The Way Back

~Kari & Kentaro~

*It's a perfectly normal observation room. They're flying over miles of desert, and the sky is clear.*

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~Kelphy & Derek~

*She looks up into his eyes.*

Kelphy: <I don't...>

[Did he just propose to me?]

Kelphy: <...I don't think that would work. B-Being discreet isn't possible for either of us.>
=====
~Crowley~

*The clone dashes towards him so quick he raises a cloud of sand. He lifts his fists back and leaps forward, swining them at Crowley's face.*

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~Creed~

*The clone's hurled down into the ground. He staggers to his feet, blood fowing from both nostrils, and tackles Creed with the strenght of a bull.*

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~Lucien & Allina~

*She smiles back and hesitantly goes to sit next to him.*

Allina: <Well, I... Thanks. So... are you going to ask Lin to come with us to the continent?>

"No" Lucien says honestly. "She wouldn't come anyway. Not yet. When she's ready she'll leave this tiny island" Lucien smiles warmly and, even though its hard to notice he may not be blushing.

---

Creed catches his younger clone and tosses him into the ground with equal force before delivering a downwards ice style pile bunker to it's chest.

*Kentaro laughs nervously.*

Kentaro:<I was hoping the view would be better.>

"It's fine."

*Crowley uses his left hand to catch the clone's fist in his palm, and then quickly stands up and slashes with the sword, aiming to cut off the arm of the clone that he's holding onto.*

Derek: <I'm trying my best here.>

~Kari & Kentaro~

*They fly over ocean for a while, and then the ship lands on a small island covered in deep vegetation, a jungle.*

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~Kelphy & Derek~

Kelphy: <I think I need-->

*The ship shakes and a sailor peeks in from the hallway.*

Sailor: <We've arrived at the island marked on the map, sir, ma'am.>
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~Crowley~

*The arm is chopped clean off. It desintegrates into grey sand that's blown off. The clone headbutts Crowley.*

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~Creed~

*The clone desintegrates into grey sand. Everything is calm for a few seconds, but then the ground starts shaking, and deep cracks appear. Lava glows deep inside of them as they grow in width and number. The grey sand solidifies for some reason, becoming solid black rock.*

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~Lucien & Allina~

Allina: <You just ... gotta wait. I'm sure it'll work out for the best, she seems pretty cool.>

Lucien stared up at the sky for a moment, "After she's become leader of the village... I think... it'll be time to start moving on with my life."

---

"What!?" Creed yells in surprise.

"The ocean was nice."

Kentaro:<I quite liked what bit of jungle we got to see.>

*Crowley feels the force of the headbutt, but temporarily puts aside the pain to do a few quick steps and maneuver behind the clone, and quickly bring the sword down, aiming to lunge through his stomach from behind.*

*Derek turns quickly.*

Derek: <Thank you.>

~Kari, Kentaro, Kelphy & Derek~

*The island is almost all jungle. The airship doesn't completely land so much as hover over the ocean and a bit over what little beach there is as well. Kelphy steps out to the beach down a ramp.*

Kelphy: <...The prototype must be here.>

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~Crowley & Creed~

*The clone completely desintegrates. The ground starts cracking up and the sand turns to solid black rock. He can see lava glowing within the growing cracks. The yellow sky distorts and shifts to reveal im to be in a large cavern chamber. Creed and Spade are nearby, also struggling not to fall into the cracks. Spade smirks at Crowley.*

Spade: <Oh hey, surprised to see you alive.>

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~Lucien & Allina~

*Allina widens her eyes in surprise and smiles awkwardly.*

Allina: <Don't say that, I'm sure that if you talk to her-->

*They hear what sounds like drum rolls.*

Allina: <Maybe it's starting. I can go check.>

*Angel wings of light spring out from her back.*

Lucien grabs her wrist gently to stop her and shakes his head, "Its fine Allina. I can't stay in the past forever. She's right. This isn't my place anymore. My place is with my friends."

He pauses briefly to formulate his thoughts before saying, "You said he couldn't save anyone but you saved me. You saved one life; it doesn't sound like much but what if I save someone in turn? If you never saved me that person wouldn't have been saved ether. Then that person saves someone and the person that person saved does the same in turn. If you never saved me... they wouldn't have been saved ether. In the end it all comes back to the one life you managed to save." He pushes her nose gently, "The one person who's life you've made a difference in could change the lives of a great many more."

---

"I don't think I like that guy Thief" Creed says to Crowley.

*The two step off the airship*

Kentaro:<Prototype?>

Derek: <Let's get going then.>

*He heads out ahead of the others.*

Crowley: <I could say the same for you.>

*Crowley sighs.*

~Kari, Kentaro, Kelphy & Derek~

Kelphy: <Y-Yes. Remember how I told you about an artificial Aeldi the people of Yurion were trying to create...? That map was in the folder, it was supposed to contain some clue to finding that Aeldi. It seems to have led the Jade Rabbit here...>

*A ways into the jungle they find what looks like a small metal building covered in moss, vines, bushes, fallen trees, and what not.*

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~Crowley & Creed~

{Only two of you may proceed beyond this point. Pick who is to be left behind... well, below.}

*The ground shakes and the cracks widen even further. Spade looks from the cracked up ground to Creed and Crowley.*

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~Lucien & Allina~

*Allina stares at him with her eyes wide open as he talks. By the time he's done, it seems as though she's tearing up. She smiles broadly and abruptly hugs him.*

Allina: <(...Thanks, Lucy!)>

Kentaro:<Yes.>

*He looks down at the Jade Rabbit.*

Kentaro:<I guess it's up to you to lead the way, little guy.>

Lucien hugs her back without missing a beat. "You know..." Lucien is actually blushing now, "It feels... kind of... nice to..."

---

"Touche but he's looking at us as if we're disposable. I propose a truce for now."

Crowley: <Fine, fine. I thought we were already at a truce right now anyway.>

*Crowley looks at the crack and then back up.*

Crowley: <Well, I'm up for going in further. Anyone else up for it?>

*Derek approaches the building and looks for a way inside.*

~Kari, Kentaro, Kelphy & Derek~

*He finds a metal door half-buried in the ground. Kelphy and the rabbit follow Derek to the door. What little sky they can see through the tree tops starts turning orange as the sun sets.*

Kelphy: <C-Can you melt it?>

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~Crowley & Creed~

Spade: <I am.>

{You all know what to do.}

*Spade draws a knife and starts leaping over the cracks towards Crowley and Creed. Suddenly, a large crack abruptly opens up beneath each of the three.*

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~Lucien & Allina~

*She pushes him away.*

Allina: <Ew, you pervert!>

*The sky starts turning orange and she looks at the sun as it goes down behind the ocean line, smiling.*

Kentaro:<No, I can't?>

[She's asking someone else, right?]

Lucien is pushed away and then starts smiling and laughing like she is. "Maybe a little. Sorry, I haven't really had anyone to just hold on to in awhile."

---

Creed moves quickly to avoid death.

*Crowley takes a few steps back, away from the crack.*

Derek: <...Yes.>

*He holds out his hand and lets an orb of fire melt through the door.*