An audience with the Queen [Chapter V]

[Miracle]

Miracle didn't know what to say or do. When the young High Priestess saw Maricul at the entrance she froze in place, staring at her in a mix of shock and awe. She wasn't sure if the others could feel it but there was no doubt that the rebirth from destruction at the hand of the Arashi had changed her in more ways than one. Miracle didn't even realize just how much time had gone by until Maricul was suddenly crouched down in front of her with her hands on her cheeks, planting a light motherly kiss on the lips. At the question posed by the former vampiress Miracle only took a step back and looked at her sadly.

"All my life I've followed a set of principles not only dictated by my religion but by what I found to be right and the road you're going down violates every single one of those principles. As long as you insist on going down that path I cannot follow. Not now. Not ever. No matter what you offer me. I won't betray those principles."

The High Priestess' speech would be cut short at the outburst made by the Night Angel.

"Amoura, no!"

It was ok. That Darius fella was able to calm her down and then Sparda pulled her back altogether. Miracle turned her attention back to Maricul.

"If you will not see reason...."

Miracle moved over to her friends and took out her staff, raising it up over her head while staring into the eyes of the living deity.

"Then we are here to stop you!"

[Clash]

"Oh hey, you're that woman that got flash-fried by that laundry pile. You're the one everyone came here to find?" Clash had never met Maricul before, and finally getting to he could see what the big deal was about. She hot. He shrugged this off, Maricul and Luca sorta knew each other and sorta were each other, it was one of those arrangements, like a time share. "huh, and you're Sazan's... Wow a lot of this is coming into perspective, see? No one tells me anything yet they want me to fight their battles? Eh-Eh, Shark Cold don't swim that way. An' that's the bottom line." Clash felt suddenly very dirty, but shrugged the feeling off and looked around. Something about this world made his focus shift in and out, like being majorly stoned but having it fade slowly and return quickly.

Sparda made some snide comments to Maricul, always his style. "We can't all be born with a silver spoon in our mouths, Demon Knight." Clash gave him a sideways glance, like looking at a sub-par sculpture in the corner of an art exhibition. "Some people work to be where they are, lord knows you never lived up to your reputation, and considering your reputation was earned when you died the first time I don't think we should let you speak when the grown folk are talking." Clash tightened his grip on Shark and Awe's handle. "You never paid your respects, always wanting to be the head honcho, the big boss man... And you say you learned humility."

Then Miracle went all Gandalf and declared that YOU SHALL NOT PASS! "you" being Maricul, Luca, and Clash himself. He sighed, feeling those waves of disinterest starting to turn into a slight migraine, his patience wearing down through it grinding on itself more than anything else, his temples throbbing painfully yet his hands full...

Clash looked at Miracle, his voice trying to remain calm, straining slightly. "Miracle, lower your staff." He turned to face her, still holding his tea cup in one hand but his knuckles white on the other, still clutching tight to Shark and Awe. "Don't play the fool, this will accomplish nothing! You should save your strength for the real foe waiting back in your world." He held no hatred for Sazan or Michael or Miracle... And he didn't even KNOW Argus and Darius, but something was gunna snap in his head and he started trying to ready himself mentally if he had to come to blows with them. Though whatever gods these people made up knew he truly didn't want to.

[Ayen]

“Fears can be overcome.”

When Amoura’s claws came to sink into flesh they would only be shattered when they came into contact with the woman’s skin. Her body was now invulnerable since being forced to evolve beyond her means no thanks to The Arashi. In a way while trying to restore the balance, The Arashi had created a monster. A creature that no longer answered to fate or any laws of existence. One that can rise above the impossible and leave the cosmos in awe.

Maricul looked back to Miracle. Her reply wasn’t the one she wanted but it was the one she came to expect and in a way, it made her respect the child more. She stepped up to her throne and sat down, going into Luca Valentine until Luca herself vanished and all that remained was Maricul as she replied to Sparda.

“I’m no god. I’m better.”

Miracle raised up her staff at the front of her friends and allies and knew that despite Clash’s objection they would not yield. Maricul snapped her finger and soon from the left and right of the throne, two warriors emerged. On the right side was the seven foot monster who called himself The Angel of Death and the Mistress of Illusions Lemara. On the left was the female clone of Sparda named after the late Eva and….

“Sazan? Sparda?”

The Red Devil Ranko.

“The five of you should be enough if they really insist on fighting here.”

[Chloe/Kat]

So much for peaceful talks, as if anyone thought those were going to be successful anyways. As the room kept getting full Chloe aimed her pistol at each of the four people that Maricul had summoned, then Maricul herself before looking back to the others. Everything from a calm look of determination or blatant pissed off was surrounding her after the woman in blue spoke. "I don't suppose anyone here has a plan?" Chloe hoped if the answer was yes it would be a lot more easier to follow than the conversation at hand. Nothing sucked more than being on the outside looking in. She hasn't been with this group long at all, she didn't fully understand where Clash was coming from with his hate, if any of it was justified to begin with, or why this woman was so hell-bent on merging the worlds together and ignoring the others warning. It was all just one big mesh of "What?" to her. Where were the cliff notes? And who the hell was that blind chick?

Then there were the four other people she didn't know that looked to be familiar to the overall group more than she. That seven-foot man didn't calm any nerves she was starting to have as shit was unfolding right before her very eyes. The person in the mask just looked like they came from the theater or something. That one woman looked like Sparda if he traded in his man parts for a woman upgrade and then the woman in red, she seem to know Sazan and Sparda but was the rest just chop liver to her? Chloe was asking herself too many complicated questions, maybe she was just better off asking one simple one. Which one of the six going up against them should she shoot at first?

[Silver Eyes]

Amoura looked at her damaged talons, snorted, and quickly came to a conclusion: they had to go but they were attached to her as was the rest of the gauntlet. It was almost like a prostetic limb, back when her healing powers weren't as efficient, and her badly injured arm had to be placed in a strong metal to make it useful again. Even after healing she had chosen to keep it.

Without sparing a further thought, or hesitating, she grasped her injured arm, gritted her teeth and tore it off. Bone snapped, splintered, veins tore, muscles parted and blood sprayed onto the floor. The completely useless arm was tossed aside and a new one began to grow in thanks to her familiars. Shadow burst forth, formed a forearm and hand, then solidified into a normal looking limb. This'll take some adjustment. Amoura wiggled her new fingers, flexed the wrist, saw it was in good condition and brought her mind back to the situation.

"Pity. Going to use cannon fodder to fight us, Maricul?" she spat. Amoura passed a quick glance to Chloe and that's all that was needed.

--

"Don't be alarmed, Chloe." The scene will fade from Chloe's vision and the two stand in darkness with light shining down on them. It was a simple casting of illusion, subtle in its presence, "I have an option for you if you don't wish to stay here. If you want to fight, then by all means, fight by our side and vanquish Maricul's 'pets'. If you don't, there's a very important job that must be done that you can accomplish."

Maricul's book fades into view.

"The location Argus and I hid it at is only known to us but if you choose this task, you'll be carrying something far more valuable than one could ever imagine. You will take it to Hallowton and bring it to the cellar where Michael keeps numerous tomes of all sorts of magics. It will be safe there for future research."

The book vanishes in a puff of smoke.

"If you wish to do this, tell Argus and he will take you there."

The vision was at its end.

--

Everything resumed like nothing had happened in those few moments. Indication of the different use of the Nightmare went unknown, except to Argus.

"Better than a god? Hardly." Michael rolled his eyes at Maricul's reply and didn't seem all that concerned about the new threats that had arrived. The same went for Argus but Amoura looked like she was getting irritated again.

"Is this such a good idea, everyone? We're in Maricul's territory, the dragon's den you might say, and we're going to 'stop' her here? In a place she's familiar with that bends to her will? Doesn't seem like a wise choice. We could fight another day at another place." Argus looked to everyone at his left.

[The Blind Assassin]

The time for talking was over and now Maricul's "champions" as it were, began to make their presence known in the throne as the others pondered on whether or not they should stay and fight. They could do whatever they wished as far as The Blind Assassin was concerned, she had a score to settle and she was planning to settle it here once and for all.

"They're here to hold us off but who's holding you up?"

Nobody would have to wait long for Fukari's question to make sense as an explosion suddenly erupted in the room, the floor directly underneath the throne chair of Maricul caved away sending both the chair and Maricul through it abruptly and to follow it up, the walls to the east and west of her position went out, huge chunks of it ramming into the champions of Maricul all thanks to the explosives she was able to set up all over the castle while the others were busy. Fukari made damn sure Maricul wouldn't be able to see it coming either. What she would see coming however, is her castle, falling.

[Chloe/Kat]

Everything suddenly went dark bar the single ray of light shinning down on her position. Chloe turned to face Amoura and just about shot her in the face with the pistol she gave her. "Dammit, Amoura! Hasn't my mind been through enough?" After she was done being startled by the illusion cast on her mind the vampiress listened carefully to what the Night Angel had to say, finding the offer tempting. Very tempting. She was dumbfounded that Amoura trusted her enough wish such an important task. Her blue eyes looked around to notice everything suddenly fade back into view as quickly as it faded to black, looking towards Argus as the intensity in the room only grew worse. Hoping the others wouldn't take this the wrong way Chloe looked over to Argus. Argus, I wish to go back to Hallowton. Chloe wouldn't say why and hoped that Argus knew what she was referring to in case Maricul somehow managed to listen in. That request couldn't have came at a better time as everything around them started to explode.

[Zira Firestone]

The Firebird moved quickly and pulled Miracle out of the way from a piece of the ceiling that threatened to crush Miracle from above. Spinning around, both Ebony and Ivory was now aimed on the Blind Assassin as a pissed off Zira Firestone stared her down for what she found to be a reckless display of talent on the half devil's part.

"Are you trying to kill all of us at once!?"

"Zira, please. Now is not the time!"

Zira turned her head to look at Miracle who was looking towards where Maricul would have fallen. It couldn't be this easy to destroy a part of Utopia. Could it?

[Ayen]

Thud, thud! Thud, thud! Thud, thud!

In the seconds to past during the explosion things began to change.

Hearts that was unbeating jump started, oxygen filled the air of the once dead bodies as Maricul fell down to the castle floor below. Her chosen warriors falling to the ground by the debris caused from the explosion at the hands of The Blind Assassin.

Thud, thud!

Suddenly Maricul’s throne chair was back in its rightful place in the throne room, her warriors standing in their proper place as if nothing happened.

Thud, thud!

Amoura awareness would finally kick in towards the heart that was now beating inside her chest, pumping blood through her veins. The oxygen going into her lungs and requiring her body to breathe would be felt and the realization would hit her like a brick once the telepathic connection with the others were shattered as fear made the heart thud even harder.

Amoura was human.

A sick grin appeared on the living deity’s face as she watched to see each individual reaction. The realization that they were now at their most vulnerable. To some it would be seen as a miracle, to others a nightmare. One thing was certain; as long as they remained in Utopia they would remain mortal.

“How does it feel to have your heart beat again?”

Maricul focus was primarily on Amoura now.

“How does it feel to need the oxygen filling up your lungs to live? To feel the weight of your weapons? Fatigue? Hunger? Thirst? To not be able to communicate to your friends mentally anymore?”

Maricul sat up from her throne and in an instant changed back to the far more innocent-looking Luca Valentine.

“You are now human. All of you. You cannot activate your Devil Triggers, call upon the power of your familiars to do battle, open up portals to travel wherever you wish within a realm. Magic in general is now beyond your reach through my will alone, and prayers to Yahweh will not reach him here. You require food and water. You need the very air you breathe to live. You cannot track the speed of the supernatural, nor shrug off the weapons of man. It’s fitting, do you not agree? You’ve protected them for centuries. Now you can know what it’s like to be the most vulnerable species in the world. I give you and your comrades, three choices. You can choose to live here and experience life as a human, which you either never have or have wanted to return to---”

Maricul made a point of looking towards Chloe.

“---You can leave now and my people will not try to kill you. Or you can know what it’s like to face the legions of hell as a mere mortal and die. The choice is yours. Choose wisely.”

[Silver Eyes]

Argus went to grab Chloe but his eyes widened in surprise from something he never suspected: his powers weren't responding. The portals weren't opening, his silver eyes were dimming. Shocked, he spun to look at Maricul. What in the nine hells did she do?! Argus couldn't even summon his blade and his guns were far too heavy to lift. For the first time in years, he was as vulnerable as vulnerable could get...

So much for getting that important task done.

---

Michael swayed in place, placed his hand on his head and felt a rush of weakness wash over him, draining him of his powers. His senses were duller and the sudden thought of not being able to protect his fiance from any dangers made his now beating heart sink in dismay. What could he do now?! Argus and Michael looked gazes, blinked, then looked to see how Amoura was going to react to this.

---

Something was happening. There was a consistent thudding against her rib cage and her lungs were burning for oxygen. Amoura took in a sharp breath, found herself needing more, and kept forcing her out-of-shape lungs to continue the intakes. The armor on her felt heavy, her temperature rising from the cloak she wore and she immediately took it off along with her chest piece—she was wearing a brown tank top underneath it.

Everything Luca said didn't reach her ears; it could easily be compared to someone yelling at another who was far too deep underwater, fascinated by something. Amoura's silver eyes faded to chocolate brown, her pale skin gained a healthy color but her features were red due to how warm she suddenly got. While the sensations were uncomfortable it was strangely soothing to some degree.

There was no power or other influences on her shoulders trying to weigh her down; she was freed. Was this the answer to avoid her fate as the final Arashi? It wasn't. As much as she wanted to stay here and forget about everything and anything, it wasn't right. Amoura got to her feet, calmly brushed back her purple hair, held her chest piece over her shoulder kept inhaling and exhaling, and finally acknowledged Luca like she was a third wheel.

"I don't care if Tajna said I should seek you out." Amoura looked at everyone else, turned from Luca and began walking away from the room, "We're done here. Let's go"

[Sparda]

Though outwardly, he looked as if he had more or less shrugged off this unnatural powerlessness that overcame him, Sparda had very much acknowledged it... though anger was all he felt. Anger at Maricul's ability to nullify any threat they presented with such utter impunity. The arrogance, the sheer hubris she exuded, was absolutely infuriating.

But Sparda knew better than to act on that fury.

So what if Utopia had been ruled out as a battleground? All that meant was that they had to find away to bring the fight to them; to drag the Seductress off her high horse by the hair and make sure she and hers got what was coming to them. First and foremost, however, it was time for them to leave.

Lucky for them, Sparda had come prepared. Fixing Maricul with a glare of contempt, he reached into his coat and pulled from an inside pocket a thin leaf of paper, inscribed with demonic runes and sigils which pulsed with light from the magical energy stored within.

"Enjoy your little paradise while you can," he growled at Maricul. "Sooner or later we'll bring it all crashing down, and you with it."

Scowling, he took the slip of paper in both hands and quickly tore it in half down the middle - thereby casting the teleportation spell inscribed upon it, targeted at Crystal City. Fields of blue energy whirled into life around him and his companions, now barring Clash. Though he could not use his own power to extract them, there was nothing stopping this pre-prepared spellseal from operating as normal.

In a pulse of azure light that filled the room, they were gone.

[Clash]

A grin crossed Clash's human face as he hefted Shark and Awe. "Fair terms for a change, Dumbass Knight!" He rushed at Sparda, ready to skewer him through now that they were the same species. Clash knew Sparda was a weak man, he was a strong demon and only a fool would deny that, but his soul, the force behind him, was weak. He relied on powers and brute force, on demonic abilities, he had no skill, no intelligence, HE was just a weapon, like Clash was when he worked for them. "I'm a SHAAAAAAAAAAAARK!" Clash thrust, knowing Sparda would be unable to stop him, even if he drew up whatever weapons he wanted, as a human with no abilities, with no powers, he was just another victim.

Then the fucker and everyone around him poofed out.

Clash sighed. "A coward and a smug little shit all to the end, I can see where his son gets it from." He threw his sword like a javalin, watching it stab into the ground and wobble in place. "Typical, and to think I was a lesser being like them once." He turned to look at Maricul, Luca, and their coterie of borrowed forces. "They'll be back, they're thick-headed and determined. Unaware of real threats while playing their little games, those kids like to pretend at the hero game a fair deal..." He looked around at the group of them. "Well, I've thrown my lot in with all of you, and I'm a part of Utopia now, I'll guard your world and your ideals 'til my last breath." He looked around and smiled. "Anyone wanna make out?"

[The Blind Assassin]

The Blind Assassin's transaction from half devil to full fledged human was less extreme when compared to the others. Her other senses were still sharpened due to her training but nowhere near the height they were previously and she made a point not to wield any weapons that a human could carry. Fukari felt a sudden wave of peace washed over her mind, the split personalities between human and devil was gone, no longer did Fukari possess the urges that came with being a monster. Instead, for the first time in her existence The Blind Assassin was at peace in mind, body and soul. All thanks to her worst enemy.

It was because of Maricul that Fukari was able to see for the first time in her life back in Isafaro, now it was because of Maricul that the torn sense of morality, the battle of self, was over. Never again did she want to endure the pain and misery that came from being a child of two worlds. As the others left Fukari took a step forward, to show her intentions to Maricul she dropped her sword and looked in her direction. This was hard for her to admit but now was no time for foolish pride. She had a chance at a normal life and wasn't as willing to cast it aside as the others.

"I wish to stay here."

Fukari may never be able to see again through her demon side but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make if it mean she could finally be at peace. What cruel irony. Fukari came here with the intention of destruction and now, she never wanted to leave.

[Ayen]

Luca watched the core group of Clash’s former allies teleport away via a pre-planned spell by Sparda. Talk about thinking ahead, guess nobody feels like walking in this day and age. Upon their departure Luca eyes fell onto Clash, who took it upon himself to attack The Legendary Dark Knight when she did not give orders for her crew to attack. With the wave of a finger Clash was sent into the air, now hovering above the ground under Luca’s might.

“Bad, Clash. I gave them a chance to leave in peace and had it not been for the Dark Knight’s thinking ahead you would have caused quite the little incident in my castle. Say you’re sorry.”

Luca wasn’t about to release him from her power until he did. She then looked over to Fukari who was still here, honestly shocked to hear what the half-breed said, even though she didn’t show it on her face. Smiling Luca slowly approached the former enemy of Maricul and gently started to remove the bandages from her eyes.

“Then allow me to be the first one to welcome you to Utopia, and also to bestow unto you, a special gift.”

With the bandages removed Luca leaned forward, kissing the eyes of The Blind Assassin, allowing her power to flow through her for a brief moment. In the seconds to past, just like it occurred back on Isafaro, Fukari vision would be completely restored as if it was never blinded, enabling her to see this time, for good.

[Darius Rulios]

Darius watched them all the explosions. As he had said fighting Maricul here would be pointless. Moments later not only was his point proved, but it was proved at a price to all of them. They became human. Not that there was anything wrong with being a human. He himself was already human, so the spell did not affect him. As for his power he honestly had nothing to claim as his. All of his came from his world. A bond that was not cut so easily.

Like Maricul he studied everyones expression finally letting his own spell collapse. Most were not very amused by the whole thing. The odds were not in their favor at this point. He watched the whole situation. Until Clash tried to take advantage of it. He took a step forward to stop him. He still cared for neither side, however taking advantage of someone while they were down was inexcusable.

That was until Sparda revealed his own trick and teleported the whole group minus Clash to another location. Now he had two options. Follow them or stay here and discuss matters. The group would not have much to discuss so he would stay here if only for a while longer. The assassin decided to stay, it seems she would wish her sight over anything else. He watched the rest of the display as well including Clash being suspended in the air before announcing his own presence as still here.

”I must agree with Luca, Clash.” he said. Not that he expected better from him. He was impulsive and didn’t think things through. He briefly eyed the warriors still here before dismissing them as not a threat. The only person in this room that might concern him was Maricul, but he had no intentions of fighting her.

It seemed this whole adventure had gained her two new allies and weakened the others by one, but they were both aiming for the same thing it seemed, if only at different ways. ”Luca, I trust you are trying to keep Maricul in check?”

____________________________________________________


Tag: Person to post next
Song: ”Unfolding Time” by Broken Iris
Key: Thoughts “Dialouge”