Fan Fiction ❯ The Goddess Sagas ❯ Journey Begins! ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4 : Journey begins!

Ryan was sleeping a troubled sleep, his face beading with sweat as the images of his battle and the kidnapping of Parfait filled

his mind.

"Ryan...Ryan...." A voice whimpered, as if being carried on the wind. The voice awoke Ryan, and he sat up to find the

moonlight leaking in his room. And in the light of the moon he could see the ghostly figure of the mysterious girl who had

appeared out of the statue.

"Ryan, when the sun rises you begin your journey, this may be the last time you talk to me, but you will meet her when you

begin your journey. You must help her Ryan...do not let her fall into the demons grasp..."

"Please tell me who you are, and who is this 'her' you mention?"

"She is me, but she is not the one talking to you right now."

"How can that be? If she is you and you are talking to me, then how can she not be? How is that possible?"

"You'll find out in time Ryan, be brave, and...know, I'll always be by your side, watching you." The girl leaned forward her

ghostly lips coming into contact with his.

"Rya!! Rya!!"

Mara's surgery voice greeted him as he bolted upward startled and breathing hard. 'That ghost girl! Was it all just a dream?'

"Hey, Rya...what's wrong...?" Mara asked concerned.

"Nothing...I just had..."

"Oh, I know, a nightmare right!! No wonder, considering what happened, but don't worry, everything will be all right...we'll get

Parfait back..." Mara frowned then to lighten the mood she spun around asking "How do I look!? Do I look like a warrior or

what!?"

Mara's battle uniform was a short yellow no sleeved, sexualizing dress, which hugged tightly to her curvy shape and went low

showing the tops of her small breast. The end of the dress had a pattern of white triangles and around her wrists, feet, and forearms

were white straps, with little triangle shapes hanging off of them. Her shoes were simple but stylish cowboy boots which

matched the cow-hide bag she had strapped over he shoulder.

"Yeah, you look nice Mara." Ryan smiled as the cat-girl beamed proudly.

"Oh yeah! By the way, you know how good Karl Cabrera is at upgrading weapons, well, I asked him to up-grade mine. Take

a look." Mara said as she handed Ryan her weapon.

Mara's weapon was ironically, razor claws, made to resemble that of a cats. Razor claws were a weapon that hooked around

someone's wrist and it spread of the top of the hand, the ends were long huge blades that resembled claws. The claws Mara

had before were cooper but now with the upgrade they were gold, the blades were longer and as he could easily tell, much

more sharper.

"They look powerful."

"Thanks!" Mara chirped as she took the claws back and put them into her bag. "We better go get something to eat, the other

are already at the lunch room."

Now that he thought about it, he did not eat anything since the day before yesterday, and he was staving! Getting something to

eat would be good.

"HEY RYAN!! MARA!!" Genki grinned as he waved the pair over to the table he, Mimi, and Keith were eating at.

"Hi!! Thanks for saving a seat for us." Mara smiled sitting next to Mimi and pulling Ryan down beside her.

"No problem, dig in guys! All this food is for us, and it's free !!"

Ryan and Mara stared wide eyed at the table before them as they first noticed the huge amounts of food that covered it.

Hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, rice, brownies, shrimp, fish, steak, roast, cookies, pudding, and lots of other things.

"Do we really need to eat all that!?" Ryan exclaimed.

" Hey, we need to have lots of energy if were going to be traveling!! And heck! When were on the road without any food you'll

be wishing you have pigged out now while you still can." Genki smiled taking a big bite out of the hamburger he held in one

hand and then a equally large bite out of the hot dog he had in his other hand.

Mimi munched on her salad, with a smile on her face. "The food is really good, and it's all right to pig out once in awhile."

"And besides." Keith grinned taking a large animal sized bite out of his chicken leg. "None of us know how to cook, except for Mimi, and she's a vegetarian, so it will

be a long time before we get a meal this good again."

"H..Hey...Oh ever mind..." Mimi sighed quietly.

"Well, in that case, then...pass the those yummy looking fish and that mouth watering shrimp!!" Mara giggled, making everyone

at the table laugh also.

Ryan munched on his rare steak lost in deep thought. His mind kept on traveling back to the dream and the girl. She

was so beautiful, but that was not the thing the drew him to her, it was something about those eyes, something he could sense in

her soul that he just could not get out of his mind. What the hell was wrong with him!?

"So Ryan, what do you think?" Mimi asked, bringing the demon-half out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention."

"Geeze, chicken wuss, your out of it today. Tinker Bell asked if we should stop at that little town near our school first to get

some supplies before we start our journey."

"Yeah, and I can also refill the gas in my air car, and you know also bring some extra fuel cases with me, so we

won't have to walk to much." Genki paused in his speech long enough to finish off another hot dog. "Hmmm...I LOVE hot

dogs, almost as much as I love sweet cakes!"

"Yeah, stopping at that town...what's it called...Trisu, would be a good idea."

"Trisu...It wont be that long of a walk, it's not at all far from the school, and we would probably end up having to pass threw it anywhere." Keith paused and seemed to think about something then finally he spoke up. "That was were

Nagisa and Arisu was born. It was tradition for a mayor of the town to name his first born child Krisu if it was a boy or Arisu if

it was a girl. Arisu was the first twin born in her and Nagisa. Anyway, Arisu told me allot about that town, supposedly, the west

edge off it leads out to the ocean, which leads to the small island Babracos. When we get to the town perhaps we can see if

one of the orbs are on that island."

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Mara agreed. "We should get going soon though, the shops in Trisu close at 5:00 pm. It's already

12:00."

"Yeah, I'm full, so whose ready to go?" Ryan asked getting ready signs from everyone except for Genki who was still

munching happily on hot dogs.

The hyper boy glanced at the group who stared at him eating and he put one of his untouched hot dogs back onto the table with

a pout.

"Fine, I'm ready too."

"So, Genki...do you have those capsules with you?" Mimi smiled. "They are really cool!"

Genki blushed and pulled out the case, opening it so Mimi could see the large amount of capsules inside.

"Wow...What do you keep in all of these?"

"Oh different things, a change of clothes, some judo sticks, my car, the air board, you know things like that."

"The people in my village would be amazed to see such things. You'll have to come to my home with me someday and show

them."

Genki turned bright red in the face and began to fiddle with his fingers nervously. "Sure thing."

"Ohh...Are you all right? You temperature is going up and up." Mimi gasped in alarm, causing small giggles to erupt from the

table.

"He likes you." Mara whispered to Mimi with a wide grin on her face. Mimi blushed pink.

"H...he does?" Mimi whispered back, shyly.

"Yeah, he was a Mimi Shrine in his dorm room. I know I saw it." Keith smirked watching Genki's face turn more redder, if that

was even possible.

"WHEN DID YOU GO IN MY ROOM!!!....I MEAN, NO!! NO I DON'T!!!"

"....A shrine...?" Mimi squeaked out.

"Oh yeah, pictures and poetry and clay statues and everything." Keith went on tormenting Genki. "Even some drawing of you in your

bathing suit, not to mention some rather...sexy ones..."

"WHAT!?" Mimi growled her face pink in anger as she glared in rage at Genki. If looks could kill, Genki would be dead in a

heart beat. Ryan laughed weakly. He supposed even the nicest person like Mimi had their limits of anger.

"KEITH!!! THOSE LAST TWO PARTS WEREN'T TRUE AND YOU KNOW IT!!!!" Genki whimpered.

Keith chuckled. "I know, I just said that to get you to admit that the rest was threw."

"Eppp." Genki realized his error everyone else at the table had a good laugh except for Mimi and Genki who both were burning

with embarrassment.

"W...Well." Genki stuttered out in hopes of getting everyone to forget about his 'Mimi Shrine.' "LET'S GET GOING!!" He

exclaimed running out of the lunch room.

" I guess, our journey starts." Ryan commented as he stood up, knowing that once he walked out of those school doors his life

would be changed forever.

The ride to Trisu went rather quickly, since the town was only a few miles away from the school. The small little city was filled

with little log houses, the towns people were friendly, a passing stranger nodding or saying hello as they passed. The fresh smell

of salt filled there nostrils as the sniffed the air. It was a beautiful place, if you did not mind the smell of fish and salt the is.

Nearly everyone in this town were fisherman, and they made lots of money from this job because everyone knew that the fish

from the waters of Trisu is the very best in the world.

"The shop is right near the local bar, we can get some supplies, then we'll get a drink or so. Damn, school hardly lets us have

any alcohol, I'm on a withdrawal."

"Keith, your always drinking." Ryan rolled his eyes. "Really stuff like that ain't good for you."

"That's not what you said a few days ago when you caught me with my wine..."

Ryan hit Keith in the side, hissing threw clenched teeth. "Shut up."

Since the town was so small it did not take them that long to find the store that was right near the boat docks. The prices were

fair but they did not buy all the stuff they would have liked because they knew they had to squeeze every penny if they did not

want to end up starving to death before the end of their mission.

"Arisu and Nagisa's cousin Juri owns the bar, she'll let us all drink for free if I....put on the right charms. The girl's in love with

me."

"Is all Arisu and Nagisa's relatives in love with you?" Genki asked sounding disgusted.

"Just as long as this Juri person does not call him 'Lord' or 'Master' I fine." Ryan sighed.

"Not all of there relatives do, I know their father just hates me." Keith answered with a smirk.

"I wonder why." Mara quipped sarcastically.

They entered the bar and saw it was almost entirely full, there seemed to be a loud commotion coming from one of the tables.

A teenage girl stood behind the counter, she was a pretty young thing with ash-blonde hair tied in two large puffy pig tails. Her

dark brown eyes darted towards them and a large grin spread across her round little face.

"KEITHY!!!!" She shouted jumping over the counter and into Keith's arms who looked at Ryan and Genki smugly.

"Keithy." Genki snorted, while the rest of the group tried to hide there chuckles.

"Hi, Juri, long time no see. Ah...what's going on over there?" Keith gestured towards the table were everyone was gathering.

"Oh, that." Juri frowned. "This strange girl came in, and she's making a big commotion, about trying to stop some kind of

demon...? Something like that. We've been having lots of trouble lately over hear, a huge water demon that lives on the island of

Babracos has been terrorizing our waters and are men cannot fish, meaning the village is not making much money."

"Trying to stop a demon?" Mara repeated cocking her head to the side.

"Does she mean Taromecika?" Mimi asked the group, even though she knew that they knew just as much as her.

"That girl...she couldn't be..." Ryan muttered and slowly began to approach the table. Peaking over the heads of the other

people he spotted the girl, and he gasped in surprise.

On top of the table stood a girl around his age with long dark brown shiny hair, the golden streaks that ran threw it glittered

beautifully in the same sunlight that caused her ocean like eyes to sparkle. Around her small figure she wore a white cloak with

golden engravings around the sides. Threw the cloak he could see a dark purple skirt, along with matching color boots and a

tam that rested on top of her beautiful hair. As she moved her hands in expression with her speech he could see that she was

wearing a dark silk pink top, matching gloves and a golden chain that dangled around her neck holding a symbol of a sold

golden triangle.

"Everyone! Listen to me! You can't just stay hear and hide from that sea demon, you have to fight! If you don't this whole

village will be destroyed and that demon Taromecika will have destroyed another home! We can not allow his evil to spread

any farther then it already has! The island of Babracos has been wiped out by the sea demon, we can not allow to let anything

like this is happen anywhere else! I will kill Taromecika and any demon I come across!! I will not allow the forces of

darkness to prevail! Whose with me!?"

"You better hide Ryan..." Keith smirked meanly, pulling the boy's demon-tail, whom yanked it back with a nasty growl.

The only sound the girl got was a cough or to from one of the villagers. The girl puffed out her cheeks angrily and narrowed her

ocean like eyes.

"Are you men or mice!? I asked WHOSE WITH ME!?"

"Your insane little missy." Was one of the only replies she received from an balding man to the crowd.

The girl clenched her fist in frustration and anger, trying to battle with herself to calm down. Her anger won.

"INSANE!? WELL AT LEAST I'M MORE SANER THEN YOU GUYS WHO WANT TO JUST STAND BY AND

WATCH AS YOUR HOME IS DESTROYED BY A WATER DEMON!!!! WHAT KIND OF COWARDS ARE

YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!?"

Everyone in the bar was forced to cover there ears unless if it was their desire to become deft. When the yelling stopped and

the only other sound was the girls heavy breathing as she sucked air in the make up for all the breath she had lost yelling at the

top of her lungs like that.

" Stop yer yellin' missy!" An old drunken fisherman scolded from the bar. "We don't need any, flat breasted youngens tell' us

what to do!"

The girl glanced down at her small chest looking almost ashamed but then she turned a rage full glare at the drunken fisherman.

"EXPLOSION!!!!!"

In a flash of magic the girl's hands glowed a bright pinkish purple and pointed them towards the man who was then caught in a

huge blast of light that sent him burnt and flying straight threw the roof of the bar. The crowd ran out of the bar in fear that they

may be attacked next.

"She's kind of hot headed..." Mara commented.

"It can't be!" Both Mimi, Genki and Ryan exclaimed at once, their eyes wide with shock.

The girl looked over at them questionably, her large eyes blinking in surprise.

"Well! Someone didn't run away! Heh, I guess I should start controlling my temper more..."The girl grinned, as though laughing at the people's panic.

"You think?" Keith taunted which only rewarded him with a sharp look from the girl.

"Excuse me....but....ah....aren't you the same girl that gave us the orbs or hope, innocence and the light sphere?" Mimi tilted her

head to her side confused.

"....What? Did you just mention the orbs of hope and innocence? Those are two of the seven magical orbs! And the sphere of

light....who is the new protector?" The excitement in the girls voice was obvious.

"Mimi has the orb of hope and Genki has the orb of innocence, I have the light sphere. It was you who gave them to us, don't

you remember?" Ryan asked approaching the girl.

"You...you have the light sphere...so you are the new savior of light. Every night I would have a dream...a voice would call out

to me telling me to find the savior of light...it's our mission to gather the stones together and save the goddess. We can not let

Taromecika destroy the light in this world...we just can't! You'll help me right?"

Ryan nodded, but felt his face go red as the girl took his hands in her, and gazed into his face with a sweet and thankful smile on

her face.

"Thank you so much!! Taromecika is in real trouble now!"

Mara growled at such a sign of affection and was at Ryan's side immediately, clutching his arm protectively.

"Hey!! Back off, tramp! He's mine!"

The girl stared at the cat girl in confusion before a mean smirk spread across her face and suddenly she clutched Ryan's other

arm and buried her head into his arm, causing Ryan to turn crimson.

"Really? I don't see your name anywhere, and besides, he's so cute!!"

"BACK OFF!!!" Mara hissed, her tail fluffing up in reaction to her rage.

The girl laugh softly letting go of Ryan's arm, flicking some thin brown hair over her shoulder.

"Calm down, kitty-cat! I was only teasing! It's fine that he's your boy friend, I'm not interested in such matters as love right now.

All I can think of is destroying Taromecika!"

Mara still fumed at the girl from where she clutched Ryan tightly and protectively.

Ryan sighed at Mara's actions but focused back on the girl in front of him.

"My name is Ryan."

"Ryan....I could swear I heard that name before...maybe it was in a dream...my name is....Ruto."

"Ruto, that's a nice name." Ryan commented, but to this he received Mara's nails in his arm as a warning.

"My name is Mimi Sakura."

"Genki Brief is my name!"

"Keith Soun, don't you forget it."

"....Mara Trail..." The cat glared.

Ruto bowed her head. "Nice to meet all of you. So you are all adventuring to destroy Taromecika? Can you please tell me how

you all got the orbs?"

"Ok...But it may take awhile." Ryan warned as the group went over to a small table.

"Juri!" Keith called causing the girl to jump startled.

"Yes, Keithy?"

"Get us a round of drinks."

"Good! I didn't have any hard alcohol for a long time!" Ruto smiled widely. " But of course, I'll try not to get drunk, considering

we are going to go battle the forces of darkness."

"That would be wise..." Genki commented dryly. "With a temper like yours....we don't want you drunk."

By the end of the story, Both Ruto and Keith were blushing red in the face from the large amount of beer they drank.

" That's so terrible, kidnapping little children!? Oh...I can't stand that bastard...his been kidnapping many children all over the

place, actually." Ruto frowned.

"But why would he steal children...?" Mimi asked sipping on her water. She had refused to take beer.

"I don't know. You can never tell what a sick bastard like that is thinking." Ruto responded as she gulped down another

mouthful of alcohol.

"Kidnapping children! That's just disgusting!!" Genki hissed threw clenched teeth.

" I hope Parfait is all right...I wonder what he does to the children his captures?" Mara frowned in thought.

Ryan grimaced. He wish he knew the answered to Mara's question. Dear god, he wished he knew...

"He probably kidnaps kids because they are the easiest to corrupt. And being a demon, more darkened souls, the more

powerful he becomes." Ruto said dryly.

"What do you mean? How does the evil in people's soul make demons stronger?" Keith asked in interest.

"Well, you guys probably know, and if not then Ryan should at least know since he is half demon, that demons feed off of

human's emotions. Eating different emotions can have a few different effects. But nothing that will lead to gaining an large

amount of power. However, Demon gods like Taromecika has the ability to feed off of not only people's emotions but their

souls as well."

"Yeah so?" Keith interrupted rudely, causing Ruto to glare at him.

"Let me finish!! Anyway, you know how the power of the goodness in people's hearts had made the Goddess Key stronger.

The same thing goes for Taromecika. The more hate, grief, pain, anger, the more darkness he can gain from others souls and

emotions the more his power will grow...we can't stop the hate in people's hearts...But we can stop Taromecika!!" Ruto grinned

in confidence.

"Yeah!" Genki agreed a bright smile on his face.

"So, we should get to Babracos, and destroy that water demon. By doing that we can stop Taromecika from feeding off of the

hate from these villagers. As long as that demon stays, stopping the men hear from working then the anger will continue to grow

in these people's hearts and our demon will have a huge feast."

"We can not let him become any stronger..." Mimi frowned.

"Yeah!! We can't let that water demon stop the fish supply! I'll go crazy without my daily dose of sardines!" Mara exclaimed

Panicked, causing everyone else at the table to sigh at her comment.

" You have some strong powers..." Keith eyed the girl. "But...I can sense that you are no magic user. How are you suppose to

fight?"

Ruto looked at him surprised but then smirked. " You must be pretty skilled to know that I'm just a beginner when it comes to

the magic arts...I'm pretty good for a beginner." Ruto winked slyly. "But...I do have my own needs of protection if my magic

fails."

The group watched as Ruto pulled small shiny see-threw crystal-like wipe from out of her cloak, the end tipped with shiny

sliver.

"I know it's kind of kinky, but it does offer protection. Besides, It's a 'Holy Whip.' "

Ryan gasped in amazement. " You mean you have one of the legendary 'Holy weapons?"

"One of the whips blessed by the seven angels of Key?" Keith questioned, his voice and face betraying his normal attitude as it

dawned an amazed expression.

"Uh-huh!" Ruto nodded proudly. "I can't wait to use it in a real battle. I wonder how I'll do, I mostly only used it in training."

"I'm sure you'll do fine." Ryan assured.

Mara folded her arms angrily, giving a huff of frustration. ' That Ruto girl sure is pretty...But not as pretty as me. But still she

seems to be getting a lot of attention from MY Ryan! I'll have to keep an eye on her. And if she gets to close to him...she'll

regret it.'

It was not that hard to get a boat, none of them were being used by the villagers so they simply 'borrowed' one of the smaller

paddle boats. It was a little crowded but nothing that led to terrible discomfort. Well except in the case of Ryan whom had

Mara clinging to his arm all the while glaring at Mimi who had also been shoved up against him in the crowded little boat.

"So...You were saying that you saw an image of me in the temple?" Ruto asked suddenly, taking her eyes away from the water.

Ryan jumped startled at the sound of her voice, the girl looked at him with a small smile as she saw his reaction.

"Sorry, I did not mean to startle you."

"That's all right." Ryan reassured returning her smile. " Yeah, it was an image of you we saw at the temple."

"....Hmmm....I really don't know how that can really be. But I---" Ruto seemed to pause and think about she was going to say

then looked down at her feet, seeming slightly depressed.

"What is it?" Ryan asked, concern creeping up on him.

"It's nothing. Ryan, you're the new 'savior of the light', right? My mom often told me old stories about the goddess wars and

the savior of the light was often mentioned in them. The legend says that the golden sword can lead to the other orbs, have you

tried that yet?" Ruto questioned, Ryan shook his head.

"No, since we knew we would have to come to Trisu anyway, we did not yet try to use the sword."

"Hey, You said your mom told you stories of the goddess wars, how much do you know?" Keith asked studying Ruto

carefully.

Ruto seemed a little surprised by his question and the sharp tone it was asked in but then smiled warmly.

"I know plenty. My mother...she was a child hood friend of Cid's, the old savior of the light...he's probably dead now...we

can't find a trace of him anywhere. Anyway, he told my mother so many stories. It seems like there had been two goddess that

looked down apon us. One, the kind and gentle Key, the second Saiyoua, the evil goddess of destruction and death. In most

stories of the goddess wars it was said that the people battled Key for her power to gain favor and riches. That is not the true

story."

"Really?" Mara asked surprised. "But, are head-master Jabora, he was on the quest with Sid, why would he not tell us the true

story?"

Ruto blinked confused. "Oh, so you all were sent hear by Jabora? He and Cid never ever got along that well....but that still does

not explain why he would not tell you the truth. Oh well, I guess he figured it would be to much for you to handle. Maybe I

should not tell you...it is a rather...disturbing story that will change your views of the goddess forever."

"We can handle much more then what people thinks." Ryan spoke up. "If we do not know the truth how can we ever win?

How will I ever save Parfait, or the goddess."

Ruto's face softened as she stared into his eyes which had became sad as he spoke his sisters name.

"All right.... Well the goddess wars started when Saiyoua wanted to gain power and the souls of those whom live on our earth.

She corrupted many souls using the evil within there own hearts, with wings as black as a ravens she flew across the sky,

gaining more and more followers. Some were not able to be corrupted by the evil of Saiyoua which is why Cid and his group

could battle against Saiyoua. However the forces of Saiyoua were so strong and powerful, Cid and company was not able to

defeat her no matter how hard they tried. Then one night in the final battle Cid was able to strike Saiyoua into the chest with his

'sword of light.' The attack left Saiyoua weakened, but there was still no way for any human to destroy her, so using her full

power and the advantage of Saiyoua's weakened state, Key locked Saiyoua's soul within her own body."

Gasps came from everyone on the boat.

"You mean, Key and Saiyoua are one being?" Mara asked sounding frightened.

"Oh....poor Key! This is so unbelievable." Mimi shock her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts.

" It really makes us think about everything we have believed in...I mean, good and evil coexisting in one being? How is it

possible?" Genki wondered, dipping his fingers into the cool water.

"Good and evil really depends on how your views are. " Keith said absent mindly, staring

ahead at the slowly approaching island of Babracos.

"...Good and evil becoming one..." Ryan repeated looking down at his sword. 'My sword was said to be a 'dark sword.' But

the orb of light attached it's self to it...my sword is like Key....both the 'light sword' and the 'dark sword.' At the same time...but

how...how did I end up with this sword anyway...that woman in the dream...she handed it to that little boy...could it be..."

"Ruto...um..." Genki began. "There is three goddesses, Messiah, the protector of the life stream...Do you think she would be able to help us on our journey?"

Ruto looked at him surprised. "Messiah? How...How do you know about her? Non one remembers the lost goddess...."

She was interrupted as the boat began to rock back and forth violently, throwing them off balance.

"WAHH!! What's going on!?" Mara searched throwing her arms around Ryan for support.

"It...It must be that water demon!" Ruto concluded, sticking her hands out for balance but as the boat gave one more wild rock

she fell backwards landing into Keith's arms, but also from the force of the rocking and the force of the fall this cause both

Keith and Ruto to fall out of the boat.

"RUTO!!" Ryan screamed at the same time Mara called "KEITH!!"

"I can feel something moving beneath the boat!" Mimi informed, tightening her grip around Genki's waist in hopes of the not

falling into the water.

"IT'S GOING TO DESTROY THE BOAT!!!" Genki exclaimed.

Ryan did not have time to think before the wooden floor of the boat splintered into thousands of little pieces, as a huge head

came up from the water ramming into it. They were sent flying into the air. They all hit the water hard except for Mimi who was

able to stay in the air by flapping her wings.

"Guys!? Are you all ok?" She called down worriedly as she gazed at her friends in the water.

"NO I'M IN THE WATER WITH A SEA-DEMON, OF COURSE I'M NOT ALL RIGHT!!" Mara yelled angrily. It was a

well known fact that all cat-people hated water unless it involved a nice hot bat.

"I'm glad my capsules are water proof." Genki commented still sounding a little dazed from the attack.

"So, no one is hurt?" Ryan called out looking at his friends.

"Yeah, but we won't stay that way if...WE DON'T GET OUT OF THIS WATER THAT THE WATER DEMON IS

SWIMMING IN!!!!!" Ruto hissed as she began to swim as fast as she could to Babracos island that was a few feet away.

"...It's coming out of the water..." Genki sang in a tiny sing-song voice as a large blue head filled with sliver scales began to rise

out of the water.

"HURRY EVERYONE! SWIM TO LAND!" Ryan exclaimed and the others immediately took off.

' Oh! I wish I learned to swim better...' Mara coughed as she was beginning to be left behind as the other swam for their lives.

'I need to be faster...just a little faster...Ohh! I HATE WATER!!'

Suddenly Mara's desperate struggle to swim was quickly put to an end when something grabbed her foot from underneath the

water. All she had time to do was let loose a blood curling scream as she was pulled up into the air upside-down buy a huge

long arm.

"MARA!!" Ryan screamed, his eyes going wide as he watched his friend dangle in the air, screaming in fear.

' What was I doing, how could I swim right ahead in my panic and forget that Mara can't swim? I'm such a coward! Mara...I'm

so sorry...I'll save you, I wont let you down again!' The demon-half cursed himself in his head, as he gripped his hand around

his sword.

Keith narrowed his eyes bitterly at the beast. "LET HER GO, YOU WORTHLESS WATER BEAST!!"

The best stared at them for a moment or so then suddenly lashed it's long, small and slick tail out, wiping Ryan, Genki and

Keith out of the water landing roughly into the sand on the island. Ruto who had already climbed onto the island, put her hand

to her mouth in surprise as the boys came crashing down.

"Whoa...and to think, this is one of Taromecika's lesser demons..."

The boys stared at Ruto in disbelief.

"Lesser demon?" Genki squeaked. "You mean...as in...weak?"

"Damn...I wouldn't want to see one of his top demons." Keith muttered.

A loud cry silenced Ryan before he could speak as Mimi fell from the sky, but luckily for her she fell into Genki's arms, and

both began to blush wildly.

"SOMEBODY! HELP!! HELP!!" Mara screamed frantically as the demon opened it's huge mouth, and held her over the large

black hole as it prepared to drop her in for a quick lunch.

"MARA!!" The group exclaimed.

'We need to get her away from the demon, quick!' Ryan thought nervously as his mind tried to come up with an plan, but Keith

it seems had already thought of something.

"DAMN SEA DEMON!! YOU'LL DIE!!" Keith screamed, his body glowing a faint red as he powered up.

"STOP YOU FOOL!!" Ryan yelled, while the others just stared in horror at Keith's obvious mistake.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, CHICKEN-WUSS, I'M NOT GOING TO STAND AROUND LIKE YOU BUNCH

OF LOSERS WHILE MARA GETS EATEN!!!" His body began to glow more intensely and a ball of power began to form in

his hands.

"But, you don't understand!!" Mimi protested.

"Damn it Keith! Stop and thi--!"

"QUITE!!" Keith snapped, the red light fading away and forming a ball in his hands. "REOKISON-JIN!!!"

"Reokison-jin!?" Ruto gasped in surprise as she watched the ball of red light blast forward and smash into the demons gut,

causing it to roar in pain and drop Mara who still began to fall forward into the black depths of it's mouth.

"I'll just close my eyes...and it'll disappear..." Mara gulped as she saw herself fall towards the jaws of the best and closed her

eyes, which she opened a few moments later, and saw that the best was still there. The large eyes began to fill with tears as she

wailed at the top of her lungs. "I'M GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Mara!!" Keith gasped, his eyes going wide as he realized the mistake he made.

"NO!!" Ryan screamed, feeling totally helpless, tears starting to brim in his eyes as he watched his best friend fall to her death,

knowing there was nothing her could do.

'Oh...so many things left undone... now I'm going to die and that Ruto is going to be all over my Ryan and...oh...who ever

thought, me a cat being ate by a fish...my sisters would laugh at this one...' Mara sniffed as she neared her end but then felt

something sting her skin as it wrapped around her leg and with a strong thug she was pulled away from the mouth and into the

water close to the island.

The cat girl looked around her confused and then spotted Ruto with her whip out, it was then everyone realized that Mara had

been pulled to safety by Ruto's Holy Whip.

"..."

Ruto smirked at the cat. "No need to say thanks, now, everyone! Let's get that demon, he's not so strong, his life force has been

very much lessened by Keith's attack. If we were all to attack at once we can destroy it right away! Use magical attacks,

preferably lightning attacks if you have any!"

"None of us know any lighting..." Mimi frowned.

"Then use your strongest attacks! EVERYONE NOW!!" Ruto took a glance at Mara who still sat in the water looking dazed.

"You too, kitty, we need all the help we can get!"

"Don't call me kitty, and I'm not helping you, I'm only going to fight for Ryan!"

Ruto rolled her eyes. "I don't care who you fight for! Just get off you ass and attack so we can finish this thing right away!

EXPLOSION!!"

" GALLET GUN!!" Genki exclaimed.

"PETAL DANCE!!" Mimi called.

"REOKISON-JIN!!!"

"PANCAKE ATTACK!!" Mara exclaimed.

"...Pancake attack...?" Ruto asked, watching as her, Genki's, Mimi's and Keith's attacks hit and then as a large shadowy figure

fell from the sky, her eyes widened in surprise as five huge pancakes fell on top of the best almost crushing it to death.

"....I did not even know a magical attack like that even existed..." Ruto frowned in thought.

With a warrior cry Ryan leapt forward with his sword in the air, cutting threw the demons body. Purple blood sprayed over his

body as the blood left the beasts body and the creature slowly died.

"YEAH!!!" Genki exclaimed, jumping into the air. "We defeated our first demon!!"

"I...don't see...what's so great...about killing something...." Mimi whispered sadly and so softly no one could hear her.

"Oh, Ryan!!" Mara squealed as she leapt into his arms, giving his cheek a wet lick. "You saved me!!"

"Wha---but I---" Ryan stuttered, face turning red. "I...I didn't even do...."

Keith clenched his first, uttering a low growl. "It was my magic made that beast let go of you...Ryan did nothing."

Ruto shook her head as she over heard Keith, but turned away to get a closer look at the island. As she turned around a sharp

gasp rose in throat, causing everyone to turn and look in the direction she was staring. They all had different reactions of

horror at what they saw. Dozens of lesser demons crawling on the hot sand towards them.

"OH SHIT!!!" Genki swore, dropping into a fighting position.

"...There are so many..." Mimi gulped, eye brows creasing in fear.

"Mara, get behind me... they look dangerous." Ryan pushed the cat-girl behind him as he reached for his sword.

"Looks like these creatures want to join their friend in hell as well." Keith smirked, drawing his gun-blade.

"Are you crazy or just ignorant?" Ruto frowned at Keith, narrowing her eyes. " We can't take on that many beasts at once!"

"Who you calling ignorant!?" Keith hissed.

"Oh let me see..." Ruto said sweetly before shouting. "YOU!!!"

"Shut up!!!"

"No you shut up!!"

"RYAN I'M SCARED!!!" Mara screamed over the noise of Ruto and Keith's argument.

Ryan closed his eyes to try and regain his patients but it was not much use. He was finally about to snap when...

"DEADLY FORCE!!!"

The commotion among the group stopped instantly as a wall of purple light passed threw the beats, causing them to cry out in

agony as they were burned to cinders. When the light faded the group got it's first look at their savior.

A man with messy red hair and blue eyes stared back at them. He was old, with a few wrinkles hear and there but not too

old. Around his tall, and surprisingly very strong looking body laid a black cloak.

"So, you are the one's who will save this world? Hmmm...not the most impressive bunch, but I guess you're the only hope we

have. Good luck, your going to be needing it. Next battle you face, don't expect me to show up and save your sorry asses

again."

The group watched in silent shock as the mystery man turned and began to walk away, he stopped after a few steps and turned

his head around to grin at them nodding his head in the direction of Ryan and Ruto.

"...We will meet again, ...savior of the light...you too, dear sweet lady." With those words the man disappeared leaving the group standing in confusion in the ashes of the beasts that were just slain.