The Way Back

~Kelphy & Derek~

*She smiles and remains silent, trying not to act awkward.*

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~Kari & Kentaro~

*Bahamut ZERO shoots a beam across the projectiles, consuming them, and drags it over to the three.*

Jade Rabbit: <Ahhh!>

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~Crowley & Creed~

Fahren: <I said I'd rather not find her in case she didn't want to be found. I never said I couldn't do it. And as my spell tells me, she's actually closer than we thought.>

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~Lucien & Allina~

*She nods.*

Allina: <...All right, let's do this then!>

"Shadow come forth and give me your strength!" Lucien speaks in a commanding but soft tone.

---

"Oh"

*Derek leans over and kisses Kelphy softly.*

Derek: <I love you, Kelphy.>

Crowley: <Then... what do we do now?>

*Kentaro runs over to join Kari and the Jade Rabbit, using Gale Shield.*

~Kelphy & Derek~

*She widens her eyes and nearly goes BSOD. She leans forward and lays her head on his shoulder, smiling. She's noticeably tired after spending the whole night up.*

Kelphy: <I lo...>

*She yawns slightly and seemingly dozes off.*

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~Kari & Kentaro~

*Kentaro feels that he's almost out of mana. The Gale Shield absorbs the blast and shatters.*

Bahamut ZERO: <What are you, rats? Stop running around so I can crush you!>

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~Crowley & Creed~

*The magic circle vanishes and Fahren opens his eyes.*

Fahren: <She's with Lucien. This I didn't expect.>

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~Lucien & Allina~

*He feels Shadow's power spread across his body. Allina steps closer to him.*

Allina: <Okay, so how do we do it?>

*The two turn and fire armor piercing shots at the dragon's face.*

You seem to be in a good mood today Shadow. What's the occasion and how will I be repaying you later? Or are you enjoying your trip off the island that much?

"Hold on tight" He wraps his arms around Allina and the wind picks up. Shadows extend from around him and encase them in a dome which sinks into the shadows with a wispy wiiiiiish sound.

After doing this twice more they arrive at the base of Fahren's tower at which point Lucien teeters and and grabs his stomach, "Uuuuugh... urp. That will take some getting use to."

---

"What? Seriously!!??"

Crowley: <Lucien... I've heard of him before.>

*Derek laughs a bit.*

Derek: <Good night.>

~Kelphy & Derek~

*He still hears the battle in the distance. A letter drops to the floor from Kelphy's body.*

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~Kari & Kentaro~

*He roars loudly as they shoot through his head and charges into the two.*

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~Crowley & Creed~

Fahren: <See for yourself. They're standing outside.>

*He points to a small crescent shaped window.*

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~Lucien & Allina~

[Shadow: <Shut up about it, jackass.>]

*She doesn't move after they arrived, still somewhat surprised about having been hugged.*

*Crowley goes over to the window and looks out.*

Lucien seems to recover quickly enough to hear...

"ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLINA!!" followed by the handsome form of Creed soaring majestically through the air glomping her. "I MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSED YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!"

*Derek takes the letter and examines it.*

~Kelphy & Derek~

*It contains several invitations to her 17th Birthday Ball, to Allina, Lucien, Alto, Creed, Kari, Kentaro, Crone, Aera, Fahren, and himself.*

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~Crowley, Creed, Lucien & Allina~

*He knocks her ever, falling on top of her.*

Allina: <Holy crap, you're heavy. Well, hi there!>

Lucien calmly lifts Creed off Allina with a shadow hand.

"No time to explain Allina get inside the tower quickly! Someone's dying and Fahren needs your help to heal him!" Creed says.

*Crowley walks over to the group.*

Crowley: <Well, hey there.. I assume that other guy's the Lucien I've heard so much about? And Allina? Well isn't that something... we were just talking about you.>

*The two split up each running in the opposite direction, firing.*

Derek: <Looks like I have to get a gift.>

*He laughs and takes her hand.*

~Kari & Kentaro~

*He opens his mouth and leps out serpent beams that head for both of them, intercepting some of the projectiles on the way.*

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~Creed, Crowley, Lucien & Allina~

Allina: <Okay!>

*Surprised, she runs into and up the tower to Fahren's room, shrieking the moment she opens the door.*

Fahren: <What's... What's wrong?>

*She just stands there for a few seconds, attempting to speak, and then sprints over to Spade.*

Allina: <RAZZ!! Razz, wake up!!>

Fahren: <But I thought his name was...>

*Kari continues to run while Kentaro turns and fires some more.*

"Its her brother" Lucien informs everyone as he walks in.

"Fahren start helping Allina heal him. Lucien, if worse comes to worse we'll have to use, that spell" Creed glares at Fahren.

*Crowley walks in and just watches everything going on.*

Crowley: <(Well, this was unexpected...)>

~Kari & Kentaro~

*Bahamut ZERO's head and neck are completely wrecked and he starts having trouble keeping his head up. He roars and shoots a large beam at Kari. One of the serpent beams blasts Kentaro in the belly.*

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~Creed, Crowley, Lucien & Allina~

Fahren: <Yes. Allina, you know what to do.>

*She nods, her eyes wide opened with tears sliding down her cheeks. Fahren stands on the other side of Spade and Allina stands up. They both close their eyes and hold their arms out towards the other and swirling blue energy surrounds Spade.*

[Please wake up. Please wake up. Please wake up. Please wake up.]

Lucien walks over to Allina and places a hand on her shoulder while looking at Creed.

"That spell is forbidden, you know that. Alto only taught me it just in case Shadow didn't cooperate and even though it was a rough start I believe that Shadow will help us in his own way."

"Desperate times Lucien! Spa- I mean, Razz is dying! If we have to sacrifice an Aeldi to do it then so be it!"

"And what of Celsius?" Lucien asks Creed an armor piercing question.

Creed is visibly shaken.

"She's an Aeldi too or did you forget that? You would so coldly sacrifice one of her of brethren right in front of her? I've seen you sparring with her before. There's more than just a pact holder relationship going on between you two. So if you actually DO care that much about Celsius shut up and put your faith in Allina!"