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Standard disclaimer: uh, I no ownies…
AN: yeah, so I didn’t post chapter 13 last week for a reason. I had to do some edits in the story in order to make it seem a little more believable.
You know, I probably could make the chapters longer, therefor making the story have fewer chapters. But you know, for some reason, I just can’t seem to do that. I mean in my other mutli-chaptered BoF fic Dragon Legend, some of the chapters pushed past 20 pages. I dunno if its just that I got old, or my attention span ain’t what it use to be, but I cannot write long chapters anymore. I think the longest chapter was chapter one, and that one was 15 pages, including the Author Notes. It seems like the average chapter lasts anywhere between 9 to 12 pages.
All well. I haven’t had any complaints about it yet, so I guess that the length of chapters is fine. Hm, right.
Ah, now for the title. Oh boy… Too much shojo manga will do that to you… The Power of Love! Gees, what was I thinking??? Oh, and… I have definitely been playing too much Xenosaga…
Well, enjoy the fight between Zig and Lee!
(I know that I am going to regret the title later…)
“Fight Zig?!” Lee harshly whispered to Ryu. “Are you crazy?!”
Ryu shrugged. “You’re the one that has a thing for Shayd.”
Shayd cocked her head to the side. “What?”
“Enough of this!” Zig yelled. “I want to settle this fair and square! We will fight, and the winner will handle the lighthouse!”
Lee shook his head. “You know, this could all be settled without fighting…” Lee said in vain. Zig just didn’t want to listen to reason.
Zig started to list the rules for their little bout. It was basically a one-on-one match between Zig and Lee. The match would be directed by Zig’s faithful toady, Iggy, who would be the one who would declare the winner. If anyone, say like four annoying kids, intervened, then Lee would be disqualified. The winner would get to fix the lighthouse and marry Shayd.
Lee figured he was screwed. He wondered why he let four preteens talk him into such a crazy idea in the first place. The 22-year-old was known to be down to earth and very passive. He hated confrontation and violence of any kind. Always the peacekeeper. So, once again, he found himself trying to figure out how four kids he didn’t even know three hours ago managed to talk him into fighting his longtime rival.
He thought it had something to do with how the boy acted. Something about Ryu made Lee trust him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but Ryu just saying he could win gave him the confidence he needed to fight Zig.
Besides, he had the unnerving feeling that if he didn’t go through with this, he would lose his chance with Shayd forever. That and he had the feeling that Yuki and Nina would never let him live this down. Never. And Yuki seemed like she had a really big mouth on her.
So, here he stood, sword in hand, staring straight at Zig. Everything was on the line now. No turning back for him. He was Lee Atwright, Guild Bookkeeper and accountant. It was time he stopped being a coward and fight for what he believed it!
Iggy gave the cue to fight. Lee never saw Zig coming…
“You are sure you want to go through with this…?” Garr asked Deis.
The two had left Rhalpha for a little while and were currently watching the sun set. Deis was sitting on the ground with her legs underneath her, while Garr stood behind her, hood down, with his arms crossed.
“I am sure,” Deis said. She eyed the orb at the end of her Snake-Eye staff. “As much as I hate to do this, it needs to be done. I can already start to feel the dark energy infusing itself into vunerable mortals.”
“Indeed,” Garr said as he stared forwards, his eyes not really focusing on anything. Garr finally looked down at Deis, his face neutral. “So, when are they coming?”
Deis grinned. “Oh, sometime soon. What? Are you getting impatient already? It’s not like we don’t have time to kill. We can’t do anything while that Guildmaster is drunk off his arse. Besides, don’t you think that Ryu and the other children can fix the lighthouse?”
“Its not that Deis,” Garr said. “I am worried about how Ryu is reacting to how Miyuki is treating him.”
“That’s none of our business,” Deis mused. “They will sort it out. It’s not Ryu that Miyuki hates, but Dragons in general. Her lack of knowledge of what happened at Lahan only makes the matter worse.”
“She’s just being childish about the whole thing,” a male voice said from behind Garr and Deis. “She’ll just have to get over it.”
The two turned about and saw two very familiar faces staring back at them. One was in his mid-twenties with long black hair pulled into a ponytail and the other was in his forties and had long brown hair and beard. Deis regarded the two men for a moment.
“’Bout time,” Deis grumbled.
“Ah, my apologies. We had some… problems to take care of,” Jin said with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“You know how Myria’s followers can be sometimes,” Bunyan explained.
“Yes, I know. The Seeker, right?” Deis asked.
Jin nodded. “Yes.”
Deis stood up and crossed her arms. “He was a scientist in Lahan, right? Did he work with your father?”
Jin’s eyes went dark for a moment. “If my memory serves me right, I do believe so. But… they did not share the same work ethics.”
“One trying to create a cure and the other trying to spread the disease,” Deis said. “Nina managed to stop him before he was able to infect her or anyone else.”
“Not exactly,” Jin said. “He was able to infect that young girl with green hair. Sari, right? But, there’s something I don’t understand. How is it that she is not infected or at least showing signs of infection?”
“Did a background check on the child?” Deis smirked.
“Some… informants told me about the child. People she will soon meet. But, ah it would seem like we have our work cut out for us.”
“Can you contact Aaron?” Deis asked. Jin shook his head.
“I do not know where he is right now. The man is very good at hiding himself. I think, though, if I can get a hold of his notes, I think I can create some kind of cure for the Cymosion. At least, that the theory.”
“How long does Ryu have?” Bunyan glanced over at Jin.
“Ah, I am not sure. I would need a blood sample in order to do a more detailed analysis,” Jin said. Jin then turned to Deis. “What would you like us to do now?”
Deis smiled. “Ah, I think you two should continue to do what you have been doing. Garr and I will watch over Ryu and the others… unless Garr falls asleep on the job again.” Garr gave Deis a withering glare.
“I see,” Jin said. “We will meet at Angel Tower then.”
Jin and Bunyan turned to leave, but Jin turned back around and gave Deis a sheepish look. “Oh, yes. One more thing. She says she’s ready when you are. The Avatars are in consensus with the current situation and will act only when the order to do so is given. By you or by her, it doesn’t matter. ”
Deis nodded. “Then we will do what must be done. Now go, my minions and do good works in my name!”
Jin gave Deis a withering look as Bunyan just laughed. Jin shook his head and merely grinned back. “Of course, my goddess! And shall I bequeath unto thee some Prozac as well?”
Deis hollered as Garr gave the two an odd look. He looked over at Bunyan, who just shrugged.
The muscle head knew how to hit, apparently. Lee knew he was going to be feeling that one in the morning. The young man was right back in his feet, albeit a little wobbly. He wasn’t sure what to do next, especially since Zig was coming right at him again.
Lee remembered his one hour training and barely dodged Zig’s wide swing. He glanced over at the side and saw Shayd standing there, looking really nervous with her hands over her mouth.
Zig punched Lee in the stomach again and sent him flying to the ground with the force of a mack truck. At least, it felt like a mack truck. One had never hit him, so he really didn’t know what it felt like…
Oh, right!
Lee scrambled to his feet just as Zig’s fists landed some punches on his back. Lee thought of an odd idea. It was odd because Yuki was the one who gave him the idea. Oh dear, he must be desperate to use an idea from Yuki.
Zig grinned as he spun around and proceeded to pounce Lee. Lee took a deep breath. All or nothing.
“WINK CHAIN SWORD!!!” Lee yelled in embarrassment.
Zig looked confused. “What?”
“It’s called… distraction!” Lee yelled as he lunged at Zig.
Zig merely looked bored as he clothesline Lee.
Lee staggered to his feet. “I will never give up!”
Zig looked slightly annoyed. “What are you talking about?”
Lee rose to his feet and leaned on his sword for support. With a look of pure determination on his face, he pointed his pointer finger in Zig’s direction.
“You could never understand!” Lee said. “You are only interested in your selfish desires and have never once taken Shayd’s feelings into consideration! You have never asked her what it was SHE wanted!”
“I know exactly what she wants!” Zig growled. “She wants a strong man that will take care of her and Guild operations! What can a pathetic, weak little man like you do?! What do you know?!”
Lee gritted his teeth. “You don't understand Shayd’s feelings like I do. I understand her feelings, her pain and her sadness. And despite that, she struggled alone, to do everything that she possibly could! You don't have any idea how much she's been hurt... or how she's suffered. How could anyone like you understand? You have no idea how much she's cried!”
Shayd’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Lee…”
Zig lunged at Lee, but Lee dodged the attack just in time.
Lee wore a look of determination on his face. “You see, I wanted to cry in her place. And I wanted to be the one to feel her pain. Because... I wanted to spend my life together with her. I know that I may not be able to do much in this world, but I would do absolutely anything for her!”
Zig cracked his knuckles. “So then, do you think you can take her away from me? Shayd may find your feelings to be too much of a burden for her.”
Lee nodded. “Even if that was the case, the feelings I have won't ever change for her. Like you said, I'm a pathetic man. All I could ever do was watch her from afar. But, there's no way I would ever abandon her! I won't lose to someone like you!”
Zig nodded and took a step forward. “Very well then…” and on that note, Zig lunged forward and sucker punched Lee in the stomach.
Lee staggered back and fell on his rear. Zig rushed forward and grabbed Lee up by the collar of his shirt, jerking him to his feet. He then punched Lee in the face repeatedly. He finally stopped punching Lee and slammed him into the concrete.
Ryu growled as Nina and Yuki grimaced. Only Sari watched with any fascination.
There was something… noble about fighting for what one believed in. She knew that Lee was risking something very important during this fight. He was fighting for the right to love Shayd.
By Shayd’s reactions, she was at the very least concerned about him. Ryu and Yuki cheered Lee as the young man stood his ground once more, only to be brought down once again by the meat-head.
Zig couldn’t even give the man his dignity. The moron was flexing his muscles as Lee laid on the ground, flinching in pain.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Zig said as he flexed his muscles to Shayd. “Who’s da man?!”
“You are ZIG!” Iggy clapped his hands in excitement.
Sari frowned. Such… actions when his opponent was on the ground, hurting. This wasn’t even a fair match. Sari grinned slightly to herself. Zig was distracted. This gave her an idea.
Lee stood shakily to his feet as Zig and Iggy were still trying to impress Shayd. Sari made a slight hand gesture with her pointer and middle fingers as Lee swung his sword forward. The sword flashed and made contact with Zig.
Zig wailed as he went flying into the air at a speed that was impossible for a normal human to see. Ryu blinked. Zig hovered in midair for a moment, before smashing right to the ground, unconscious.
Iggy blinked and realized that Lee had won.
Lee looked down in surprise and shock. “I... I won...!”
Iggy panicked. “Oh no! Boss! I don't believe it! How could big old Zig here lose to Lee?”
Shayd quickly ran over to Lee and helped him to his feet. “Lee... Are you all right? Look at you...you're all beat up...”
Lee smiled weakly and glanced over at Ryu and the others. “If it hadn't been for... all your help, I wouldn't have been able to beat Zig! If you hadn't convinced me to fight Zig, then... I guess... I would have stayed the same old Lee... a 98-pound weakling.”
Lee then turned to Shayd and smiled. “Shayd... I want to help you. Let's take care of the guild... together.”
Shayd nodded and smiled into Lee’s shoulder. “Yes, we will take care of the Guild together…”
Iggy freaked. “Boss! Boss! Did you hear that!? Boss! Boss! Wake up, Boss!”
Zig groaned and sat up. He looked over as Shayd and Lee, who were apparently in the middle of a nice lip-lock. He stood up and shrugged and walked off in defeat. Iggy was quickly right behind him.
Lee smiled as he and Shayd withdrew from each other. “Thank you... Thank you so very much... I don't know what'll happen next, but... Shayd and I will work everything out somehow... together!”
Shayd smiled as she reached for Lee’s hand. Lee yelped and pulled his arm back. “Lee? What’s wrong…?”
“I… think I broke my arm during the fight…” Lee said. “I can’t go fix the lighthouse with injuries like this.”
“Now what are we gonna do?” Ryu asked as he placed his arms behind his head.
Lee scratched his head with his good hand. “Um… I shouldn’t be doing this,” he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a Guild badge. “But after everything you have done for us… Just show this to the postman at the lighthouse and tell him that Lee said to let you in.”
Ryu took the badge. “Thanks!”
“No, thank you,” Shayd said.
The four had no problem getting into the lighthouse. The postman seemed a little confused when four children showed up and said that Lee Atwright told them that they could fix the lighthouse.
The postman figured that the Guildmaster was just drunk off his ass again. When Ryu showed the man the pass, however, all doubts about it being a prank were dismissed, and new ones about Lee’s sanity were created.
Lee wanted four CHILDREN to fix the lighthouse? The postman wanted to tell them no, that he would have nothing to do with the deaths of three children, but the kids persisted. He finally let them go just to get them out of his hair.
Before the children could enter the lighthouse, however, a young man with blond, spiked hair, dressed in black clothes and a red cape that covered his lower face walked slowly towards them.
Nina blinked and shook her head in denial. What the heck was STRIFE doing in Rhalpha of all places?!
Nina looked at Ryu and the others with a freaked out expression on her face. Ryu gave her a questioning look.
“That’s my bodyguard!” Nina shrieked. “He’s come to take me back to Wyndia!”
Sari looked over at the man, and then back to Nina. She grabbed Nina’s hand and started off into the entrance of the lighthouse. Sari shot Ryu and Yuki a look before she and Nina disappeared from sight.
Yuki grinned slightly and nodded her head to show she understood. She grabbed Ryu’s hand and headed in the opposite direction from the lighthouse. Ryu tried to protest, but quickly shut his mouth when this Strife fellow walked up to them.“Out of my way,” Strife said in a cool voice.
“Just one question,” Yuki said. “Do you like beans?”
Ryu and Strife merely looked at Yuki like she had gone crazy. “Beans???” Ryu asked in confusion. He then stopped when he realized what Yuki was doings. She was providing a distraction so Nina and Sari could fix the lighthouse.
Well, he and Yuki would just have to join up with them later then…
If Yuki would ever shut up about this bean thing.
Nina definitely owed Sari for the quick save.
How Strife found her, she’d never know. She suspected it might have had something to do with the televised fight between them and Demus. Someone must have recognized her after all.
She had managed to slip away from Strife. Now, she and Sari were currently embarking on the World’s Greatest Fitness Regiment. Nina thought she was going to collapse. How in Ladon’s name that Sari of all people could not even be winded was beyond her.
Nina had noticed something odd during the fight. Sari had made some kind of weird hand gesture, then Lee’s sword lit up and laid the smack down on Zig. What did Sari do? Was she a magic caster?
She glanced over at Sari, who was currently four or five steps in front of her. Princesses did not usually have to do so much walking. Nina was almost wishing that she were back at the castle, wonderful air-conditioned rooms and all. Then she remembered that she left the castle for the sole purpose of getting away from her overbearing parents.
“What’s that?” Sari asked.
Nina looked over where Sari was pointing. It was some sort of… thing… standing a few feet away from them. It looked like some sort of lizard or something. It didn’t seem to be a monster. It didn’t seem to be alive.
Sari shook her head. “C’mon. Let’s get going and repair the lighthouse…”
And with those words, a giant eyeball bounced down the stairs behind the lizards. The lizard suddenly sprang to life and caught the eyeball. The eyeball flashed and let loose a laser and knocked the two of them off their feet and onto the floor.
“What the heck is that thing?!” Nina shrieked. “Are we suppose to fight that thing?!”
To be continued…