Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.

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AN: Do forgive me if this chapter is a little... odd. I had a cold at the time of writing it and had just taken some cold medicine. Gotta love wintry days of snow, eh? lol Anyway, this is a crack!chapter full of laughs and surprises. Ever wondered what would happen if the characters got drunk? All kinds of secrets spew forward.

Heh, I myself have only been drunk once or twice before and cannot hold my liquor. I am such a lightweight. lol I thought a spirally straw would twist down the neck of the bottle that I was currently drinking. Um... it didn't. That's all I'm gonna say about it. lol Oh, and this FINALLY explains the connect between Nina and Strife.

Right-o. Well, the characters head back to Angel Tower for a little R&R. Hehehe.

Here’s the next chapter. Enjoy!

It took about a day to fully come up with another battle plan. The only thing that Nina could concentrate on was the fact that Ryu was alive and well. She knew that she almost lost him and it was eating at her. She knew how they had lost Yuki and possibly Wyatt. She couldn’t bare the idea of losing anyone else.

Yui and Jin had talked for a long time that night. She didn’t know what was said, but she figured that it was none of her business. She also figured there was much apologizing on Yui’s part. She also knew that Yui said she would go back to the Foundation with Wes, the old man, and Momo. .

The way that Momo and the old man had looked, however, said something entirely different. She didn’t know what they were planning, but from what she gathered, it wasn’t going to be pretty at the end of the day. .

It was surprisingly Troy’s idea as to who split into what group and where to go. He said that Ryu should go to Worent and he and Manna would go to Dragnier and try to find clues on Gideon’s whereabouts. Ryu had argued, of course, but Sari stepped in and said it was a fine idea. All urges to argue seemed dropped after that. .

Nina knew what was suggested next would be a bad idea from the very beginning. She knew when Troy suggested that they kick back and relax it wouldn’t end well. She knew this because of the evil grin that was plastered on Troy’s face as he suggested that since there was a hot springs location that had been connected to the new addition to Angel Tower, they should go there to relax. .

Everyone seemed to like that idea. She had hoped against hope that Sari or Manna would provide the voice of reason and that they would say to just get on with the mission, but no. Manna liked the idea of lounging around the hot springs and getting drunk. Sari, SARI, or all people even liked the idea. .

Nina wasn’t too thrilled. Mainly because she didn’t want people (read: Ryu) to see her in a bathing suit. Troy then happily said that the hot springs were not coed. There was a man’s side and a woman’s side to the hot springs. .

Nina seemed to like the idea a little better. She was still a little nervous, though. She just didn’t understand why. Fate had a funny way of proving her right, as she found out later. .

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Getting to Angel Tower was pretty fast this time, especially with Sari, Manna, and Jin teleporting everyone. The guards didn’t even give them a hard time, especially since they knew that Ryu and his party were their Guardian’s revered friends. And they were treated as such. .

Unfortunately, the group was unable to see Garr, due to the Guardian being held up in meetings and such. Nina was curious about Strife, so she went to his room. Upon entry, she found him still asleep, but looking much healthier. For that, she was glad. She had been kind of worried about him. .

Soon after, Mina came to greet the group. Troy asked where the hot springs were. Mina smiled and told them that she would take them there herself. Nina groaned. This was not going to end up being fun. .

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Deis wore a solemn look on her face as she walked through the ruins of the great city that was once known as Caer Xhan. Caer Xhan was created at the very beginning of the Techno Age. They invented the teleport pads to lessen the distance from region to region, as well as the Orbital Station. After an unknown time, war broke out and Caer Xhan was destroyed. .

There was a theory about that the city was wiped out in a nuclear war, which would explain why the Desert of Death started to expand, but no proof to that theory has been presented at this time. Now, the ruins are under constant study to try to learn about the First Techno Age. .

Luckily for Deis, there was no excavation crew out there that day. Besides, it was not like they would have been able to recognize the sorceress in the nondescript cloak that she wore over her long black and purple-sectioned dress. .

People thought they knew all about the ancient city. For the most part, they were right. But what they didn’t know was of the powers that once lied dormant there. Over five hundred years ago, the goddess Myria had named this place her home and ruled the world from there on high. Deis knew that this was the place where Myria had died. .

She still remembered the words that her sister spoke as she fell into the dark abyss. .

“My world... I tried, but it wasn't enough... I fear the world will be destroyed again. What should I have done...? What could I have done...? If there is a God, answer me! What should I have done with the Brood?” .

Deis also remembered the words she spoke to her dying sister….

“It's for the best, Myria. You went too far in your attempt to wipe out the Brood. You've protected this world until now. In the end, that was something your children had to overcome, to go beyond. In order to walk on their own. Don't worry. They can take care of themselves better than you think. They-- and the world-- are stronger than we think. I'm sure of it.” .

What she had said was true. She knew the strength of the mortals that she had fought along side of for countless Cycles, countless years. She also knew that her sister grew weary of the trouble that she had brought upon herself. She knew that Myria wanted the Cycles to end just as much as the Ladonites did. Just as much as Ryu and Ladon did. .

She knew that the balance of order and chaos was on the verge of collapse. But if the effort to resort the balance failed, she had a Plan B. Or so to speak. After all, that was what she created the Overseers of the Grand Design were for….

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Nina was right. The trip to the hot springs was not fun. She was beyond embarrassed. The hot springs themselves were divided up and separated by a tall wooden fence. The girls’ towels were laid out on the wooden benches, as well as their clothes. The girls, however, were in swimsuits. Or in Manna’s case, a bikini. .

Even Mina decided to get in on the fun and join the girls in the hot springs. Nina sighed as she slipped into the hot, scalding water and stretched out her small wings. It had been a while since she had last stretched them. It felt good. .

Manna wasted no time on getting relaxed. As per requested, there were several bottles of alcohol that had been delivered to their section of the hot springs. Manna was currently on her way of finishing up her second glass of the stuff. .

Nina never did understand Manna’s like for the stuff. Nina also never thought she would been seeing Sari drinking, even though Sari only had one drink. Apparently, the girl only drank on occasion. She was learning all kinds of new things from her friends. Apparently, despite being over a thousand years old, Mina didn’t drink. She said she had never developed a taste for the stuff. .

The girls talked about various things. Including much to Nina’s horror, her crush on Ryu. Manna asked Nina had she gotten very far with Ryu. Sari giggled and said that she didn’t even know they were an item. Then Sari decided to grill Nina for details on her new found relationship. .

Nina just couldn’t win. .

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On the men’s side of the hot springs, Ryu was quite enjoying a cup of alcohol. He knew that Jin and Troy were enjoying their drinks by the way they were getting smashed. Apparently it was something of a time-honored tradition with the two. .

“Ah, yes!” Troy said with a laugh. “I remember a many of a time when we would see who could out drink the rest. Apparently, Jin could not hold his liquor. I think this is the case because he always ended up paying the tab.” .

Jin scowled as he downed another glass. “I still can’t figure out how you could out drink me. I mean, I am not a lightweight!” .

Troy laughed once more. “Oh, it’s because of my wife, you see? She told me if I ever came home drunk, she would kill me. So, um yeah. I learned to drink with the best of them.” .

Ryu nodded and took a drink from his glass. The men had been swapping stories for over an hour. Ryu’s favorite story consisted of Jin, Troy, and Manna sneaking their way past one of the checkpoints in the far east. Apparently, Jin was a horrible actor and had pretended that Manna was his wife. Manna then slugged him and pounded on him for the next hour. When it was all said and done all Troy had done was bribe the guards into letting them pass. .

When Ryu asked them about Wyndia in their travels, both men stopped talking. Troy grimaced and explained that there was nothing to say. Jin, however, was getting a bit unbalanced and started to ramble on about the queen and some business she had been mixed up in. .

“You see,” Jin said. “There’s something about Strife that no ones knows… well not a llot of people anyways. Well, the thing is, I met him when Manna, Troy, and I were traveling through Wyndia. At the time, he was just a kid and had been kidnapped. For some strange reason, the queen asked us to retrieve the boy.”

“Why would the queen want you to go after Strife?” Ryu asked.

Jin made a face. “Virgil was I think eight or nine at the time. Apparently, the Taobashi Guild kidnapped him hoping to get some kind of ransom for him. He was the queen’s son from ah… a previous relationship… and they had somehow found out. The king knew, I think, but what was beside the point. Like I said, the queen asked us to rescue him and so we did. In the process, we learned who he was. The queen had an affair with a Brood nobleman and Virgil was born. I guess no one said anything because the queen was married to the king at the time,” Jin shrugged.

“Wait… WHAT?!” Ryu yelled in surprise.

Jin looked blankly at Ryu. “Yeah, that’s what we said.”

Troy smirked slightly. “So, it had to come out sometime, right? Just don’t tell Nina… hey! Ryu? RYU! Get back here!”

But it was too late. Ryu had jumped out of the water and was on his way over to the women’s side of the hot springs. Jin and Troy looked at each other, a look of dread and amusement on their faces.

“Are we drunk?” Jin asked.

“Ah, maybe a wee bit tipsy,” Troy grinned widely.

“I think that Ryu is going to tell Nina,” Jin said.

“Oh, this will be good,” Troy said as he downed another glass.

“Manna will kill us,” Jin mused.

“Yeah, but at least Nina will now know…”

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All the girls but Manna screamed when Ryu came crashing through the gate with nothing but his boxers on. Nina yelled and covered her eyes. Manna took one look a Ryu and sighed. She decided she really didn’t want to know and downed another drink.

Sari stood up and walked over to Ryu.

“What’s going on?” Sari asked.

Ryu cleared his throat and blushed like mad. “Um…” he covered his eyes. “Sorry, sorry! I just… um…”

“Ryu?” Mina asked. She had covered herself with her wings and was currently sitting down as far as she could without her face hitting the water. “What’s wrong?” Manna cleared her throat. “Ryu,” Manna said plainly.

“Urm,” Ryu stuttered. “Nina, its about Strife…”

“Oh?” Nina asked. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, nothing’s wrong…” Ryu muttered darkly. “Jin and Troy just told me something about Strife… and it pertains to you, too.”

“What’s it about?” Nina asked.

Manna let loose a loud sigh and refilled her glass. Mina and Sari gave Manna a confused look, but decided it was best not to say anything. Nina stood up and grabbed her towel off of the bench. She wrapped it around her waist and walked over to Ryu.

“What’s up?” Nina asked.

“Strife’s your… um…” Ryu just couldn’t come up with the words.

“Is it really that bad?” Nina asked.

“Uh,” Ryu mumbled. “I’m just not really sure how to word it…”

“Virgil’s your half-brother,” Manna said with a loud sigh. “Geez, how hard was it to say that?”

Nina paled. “What…?”

Ryu was about to say something else, but Nina had already bolted from the hot springs and was currently on her way to find Strife. She wanted answers and she was going to get them.

Ryu cautiously glanced over at the other women. Sari and Mina were still confused and Manna had just emptied another bottle. Manna glanced up at Ryu and have him a wry grin.

“What? She was going to figure it out sooner or later. Might as well be now, right?” Manna said with a grin.

Ryu rolled his eyes and ran off after Nina. Manna merely went back to her drink. She grinned to herself.

“Troy and Jin are in big time trouble.”

“From who?” Mina asked.

“Eheh, from Strife?” Sari nervously giggled.

“Dunno,” Manna said as she took another drink. “Maybe from me for being a couple of blabber mouths. Or maybe not. Who knows?”

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Nina finally got to Strife’s room. She pushed the door open and was glad to see that Strife was awake and alert. Good, this would make it easier to kill him, Nina mused. She wanted answers and she was going to get them.

“Strife,” Nina said in an even voice.

Ryu appeared in the doorway a second later. He gave Strife a warning look. Strife merely glanced up and noted the look. He knew Nina was angry with something. He just didn’t know what.

“Is it true?” Nina asked. “Are you my brother?”

That was not was Strife expected to hear. The color from his face drained as he stood up and shakily walked over to Nina. He placed his hands on Nina’s shoulders and took a deep breath.

“Yes,” Strife said after a long pause. “I am your brother… well, more like half-brother.”

Ryu watched the two closely. Nina was close to tears and Strife looked like he didn’t know what to say. Ryu was about to say something, then decided to stop at the last second. Nina and Strife needed to talk.

“I am the product of an affair the queen had with a Brood nobleman. The king knew of my illegitimate birth, but never said anything. The official story was that the queen had a miscarriage when giving birth to me. I was given to my father and was raised by him. My ties to the Wyndian royals were kept secret from everyone, but I knew the truth. When I was eight, the Taobashi Guild kidnapped me hoping to get some kind of ransom for me.

“The queen asked Jin, Troy, and Manna to rescue me and so they did. In the process, they learned who I was.”

“Oh,” Nina said.

Strife cleared his throat. “The queen decided not to tell you for that very reason. I have no legitimate claim to the throne for the sole fact that the queen married into the royal family. I wanted to get to know you, protect you… but I couldn’t reveal who I was. So… I talked to the king and he trained me to be your bodyguard…”

Nina merely shook her head. “This was not what I was expecting to hear…”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Strife muttered. “But, I took an oath to keep you safe, and that’s what I am going to do. I can do nothing now that you are Destined… but I trust that your Ryu will keep you from harm.”

As Strife said that, he looked straight at Ryu. Ryu saw the look in Strife’s eyes and nodded solemnly. “I swear that I will keep Nina safe and bring her home in one piece.”

Strife nodded. “Good. You better do that or I will kill you. Understand?”

Ryu nodded. “Completely.”

Nina shrugged. She knew that this wasn’t going to be a good day.

 

To be continued…