Fan Fiction ❯ The Goddess Sagas ❯ New pieces to the puzzle ( Chapter 59 )

Chapter Five: New pieces to the puzzle

Lime shifted uneasy under everyone gazes before opening his large gray eyes, frowning slightly, cheeks blushed shyly as he stared up at all the impatient faces.

"Umm, can you all stop stare at me?"

"Oh sorry." His friends turned away from him, but still glanced out the corner of their eyes as the little boy tried to use the locket Aria gave him to find the shard. Nothing happened at first but then the locket shimmered and a small silver light shot out of it, blasting across the sky in a sliver jet trail.

"Wow..." Lilli exclaimed dazzled, as did Meredy and Ein starring up at the silver streak ahead.

"Wow what? I don't see anything! Wow, where, what?" Gau looked around confused, as Raifan frowned, putting her hands on her hips.

"There is nothing there." She took off her glasses, cleaning the lenses just in case they were too foggy or something, but when she put them back on, all clean and spotless she still, not to her surprise, didn't see anything.

"Well, it just might have something to do with the fact you three can't see Oisa. Maybe only those who can't see Oisa can see the light, or maybe...."

"Ohh." Gau whistled. "There she goes again, come along kids or else we'll stay the rest of this chapter listening to Raifan's theories."

"That is true." Lilli agreed with her brother, as she and the others slowly sneaked away.

Raifan continued to ramble as she tried to figure out the reason, but as she snapped out of it she saw that the others had already left her behind. "The nerve!" she hissed, stomping her foot before taking after them.

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A man ran behind a building, panting for breath, his back was leaned up against a wall,

pale green eyes closed part way as he breathed heavily. His knee length black hair was messy and looked glued together with his sweat. His red trench coat was wrinkled and stuck uncomfortably to a muscular strong built yet slim form. He looked out onto the street through the corner of his eye. He could see them, Bio monsters, probably sent hear from earth, skin hanging off of distorted limbs. It was...disgusting to say the least. He slowly reached for a gun. Pointing it towards one of the beasts which made it's way through a terrified looking crowd of merchants and shoppers. He settled his face into a hard frown before muttering

"Die you god damn bastards."

and firing.

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"Damnit!" Raifan gasped for breath running up behind the group. "Would it of killed you to wait for me to finish talking!?"

"If we waited for that Rai, the world would already of ended!" Gau insulted.

"How dare you---"

BANG!!

The small group jumped startled, looking around themselves trying to find the source of the sound. It was rather easy, almost right away they saw the twisted looking monsters, one of them staggering around in pain, clutching a wound before finally stumbling smashing one of the merchants stands spilling apples out everywhere. While the

towns-people fled the group just watched as a boy, no older then sixteen walked out of the alleyway, forcing two of the beasts to back away as they were held at gun point. His face sat in a angry expression as he pulled back the trigger killing the two beasts on sight. He didn't seem to notice them yet and stood staring at the corpse, face showing hardly any expression except for cold hard anger.

Gau was about to say something when suddenly he saw something flicker in the corner of his vision, and he gasped, quickly taking his bow in his hands

"WATCH OUT, MAN!!"

The man gasped as the elf's arrow flew over his head, striking another one of the twisted looking creatures which fell down pierced threw the chest, writhing in agony on the ground. The startled expression on the man's face faded before he pointed his gun down at the beast and shot him in the head, putting it out of it misery executioners style. His face showed not even the slightest remorse throughout the whole thing.

He turned towards them, nodding curtly to Gau.

"Thank you."

"No problem. The name is Gau, these are my sisters Raifan and Lilli, and these are friends of mine, Lime and Ein."

"Humph!" Meredy sniffed.

Gau rolled his eyes. "And the deer is Meredy."

"My name is James." The man introduced.

"Nice to meet you." The rest of the group members bowed their head politely.

"So what was up with those creatures? They looked different then what I am use to seeing."

James gave Gau a strange look.

"What are you talking about? Never mind, these things...they are Bio creatures sent by the leader of NGC on earth."

"What?" Raifan looked startled. "How do you know that!?"

"My...my father told me before he disappeared. Why should it concern you?"

"Because." Gau began. "We are searching for the shards to get rid of the big old Oisa up there."

James followed his gaze, to the sky, eye brows creasing. "There is away to get rid of it?"

"Yes, the goddess stone shards." Raifan explained. "If you tell us what you know we'll tell you what we know."

James stared at her for a second and nodded. "All right, you got a deal. Come, I'll take you to my house."

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The moment James walked in he was greeted by a coughing sound. He turned worriedly towards the couch where a young girl, around fourteen laid sprawled on it, black hair reaching to the center of her neck fell limply and splashed against a pale face. Dim pale blue eyes looked up at him as the small puny little face smiled at him.

"James, I'm glad your home, I was worried about you..."

She pushed herself upward , coughing a few more times as she put a hand mannerly to her mouth. "Excuse me."

"Faith..." James mumbled worriedly, kneeling down beside the girl who was dressed in a long loose brown skirt that was opened the five buttons past the still button four tops ones, and made of leather. Her legs were covered in long black socks. Her top was a tight black, spaghetti strapped tank top, which showed the shape of her nipples. A small and thin brown jacket was drooped over her shoulders. A large black bow added fanciness to her rather dull hair. No makeup touched her face, only her long nails was coated with the vain accessories of a woman and that was jet black nail polish. She wore many gothic looking bracelets, rings and necklaces but still seemed to look like a sweet girl, but possessed a certain...a certain air about her that was not nearly so pleasant.

"I'm all right." The girl reassured, before getting to her feet weakly. The group gasped, seeing to their shock that the girl had a small pair of angel wings on her back. Just like Angel did except, hers were a midnight black.

"Hello." she nodded politely to the group.

A blush and a goofy grin crept up on Gau's face. "Heeeeey." he whistled. "I'm Gau, who are you?"

"My name is Faith. If you will pardon my coughing, you see I have a flu. James, are these your friends?"

"No, but they have some important information regarding that thing, Oisa in the sky."

Faith's interest seemed to have been sparked and she leaned forward, concerned. "Really, you know about that, thing?"

Gau shifted under the pretty girl's gaze uneasily, feeling his face heat up. "Well uh, not much just what we were told by this strange woman named Aria and her son."

"Oh, I see." The girl sounded genially disappointed.

"Aria?" James asked. "Wasn't she the `daughter' of a boy that fought in the Neo goddess wars? I thought I read that name somewhere."

"I don't know." Gau hunched his shoulders. "I can always ask her."

"Where is she?" Faith questioned, looking around herself confused.

Raifan took the little communication device in her hands and switch it on, never looking up at the pair as she spoke, starting to type. "Aria, her son, along with friends of ours went to earth to look for shards. We can type e-mail messages to each other using this."

"Raifan, ask how my sister is doing, please?" Lime asked softly, looking a little worried.

"Whatever." Raifan finishing typing her message and pushed send, after a few moments Aria's reply appeared on the scene reading.

We are all on earth safe, but something really bizzar is going on. Oisa is also hanging above this world. How can that be? How can Oisa be coming to both planets at once. It either strikes one first then the other, not spilt into two and hit at the same time! We did not find any shards yet, right now we are questioning people at the near by bar. We are in a town called Starry. There are these weird creatures, that looked like messed up experiments or something. So, did you guys find anything?

~Aria~

"Ask her if she is the same Aria in the Neo goddess wars." James demanded again, this elf just wasn't listening to him. Infact she seemed to be trying to ignore him. However the harshness of his tone caught her attention and she scowled up at him,

"Just a moment, sheesh!"

Aria, we got this stupid guy wondering if you are the same Aria who was the daughter of one of the heroes in the Neo goddess wars our parents fought in? Are you? Anyway, him and this girl Faith (she has wings just like Angel, except black) know about the NGC, They didn't tell us anything though. Can you explain to them what you told us so they'll tell us what they know about these NGC people?

~Raifan~

"Stupid guy?" James repeated, sounding insulted as he quirked a eye brow, Faith giggled slightly, then turned a little serious about something, face setting it's self into a thoughtful expression. The elf was about to hit the send button when Lime looked up at her sadly, but stayed quiet, Raifan noticed his gaze and with a sigh added.

PS: Pan, your brother wants to know if your all right, he's fine so don't bother asking me.

As they waited for Aria to reply James and Faith stared at the group in disbelief. Ein caught them staring and crossed his arms angrily.

"I don't like being stared at."

"Um, sorry." Faith apologized, sounding more insulted then apologetic. She glanced up at James the two of them exchanging looks that said `We didn't even know these people for over a hour and already we are both feeling insulted.' The boy hunched his shoulders, glancing calmly down at the fuming Ein.

"Pardon the staring." he replied coolly. "But your telling me your the children of the heroes who fought against Saiyoua sixteen years ago?"

"Yup! Heh-heh, are parents are heroes!" Lilli looked proudly.

Faith smiled, glancing from Lilli, to Raifan and Gau. "Let me guess your the children of the elf Lima, who possessed strong magical powers over the elements of earth and water. She was a half cyborg cop from Angeles, right?"

"Mom, a cop?" Raifan raised an eye brow. "Are we talking about the same woman?"

"Well..." Faith walked over to a book shelf, coughing a little as she pulled a green hard covered book from the case, and flipped to a page, showing pictures and small BIOS of the heroes of the Neo goddess wars, their parents. "This book was written about the heroes of the Goddess wars and the Neo goddess wars. Dad would read it to me every night since I was born, I think that maybe he even knew your parents. The way he talked about them...it was as if they lived right next door. Look, tell me, is this your mother Gau, Raifan, Lilli?"

"Hey! That is mom!" Gau exclaimed looking at the picture of his mother amazed. "She really was a cop!? Imagine that....huh."

"I didn't even know she was a cyborg."

"Mommies a cop? I stole a cookie once, is she going to throw me in jail!?" Lilli looked worried, the cuteness of it caused Faith to laugh softly.

"No, little one, your mother was a cop, says hear she is a school teacher now. Besides, even if she was, she wouldn't throw you in jail for a cookie."

"Really!?"

"Yes."

"Then what's a cyborg?"

Raifan slapped her forehead. "It's someone with machine implants."

"AHH!! MOMMIES A MACHINE!?"

"NO!! Only part machine!"

"Does that mean Lilli and sister and brother are part machines too?"

"No!"

"Really!?"

"YES! NOW SHUT UP!!"

"What about you two?" Faith turned towards Ein and Lime. Lime shifted his foot shyly, and opened his mouth to speak, but Ein cut him off, boasting proudly.

"I'm the son of the powerful sorceress Carrie Fernandez and Prince Colt of the Coltisa clan of man-beast! Ha! I'm royalty!"

"A royal pain in the butt..." Lime muttered, one of the rare occasions he let his mothers sassiness take control of his tongue. Though it was said barely over a whisper, thanks to his enhanced hearing the young man-beast heard him and turned towards him with a growl.

"What was that!?"

"Ah...uh...n...nothing, Ein! I swear, I didn't say nothing!"

"Sure you didn't!"

Lilli watched as the two boys began to fist fight with each other, rolling on the ground in a argument, she giggled.

"Ein and Limey always act so silly at times! they always play this game, but they always end up accidentally hurting themselves. Silly, silly boys."

Faith and James exchanged looks. James could already read the girls mind. ` Doesn't she know that their fighting?' The boy shook his head, turning his attention away from the elf kid and spilt the fighting boys apart before it got to serious.

"There is no time for arguments." He scolded, before turning to Lime. "Let me guess, your Lime, the son of Squall and Lemon."

"How'd you know?" Lime asked, wide eyed.

Faith knelt down, showing the boy a picture of his mother that was in the book. "You look just like your mom."

"Oh, thanks." The little boy blushed shyly.

"Unlike his sister Pan and I and probably every other half-breed man beast on earth, he can't transform!" Ein teased.

Lime looked a little ashamed. "I...I have more vampire in me than Man-beast I guess. I can however talk too wolves and other animals."

"Yeah! Limey can talk to any animal! He is the best!" Lilli giggled, giving him a cute little hug, causing Lime's face to heat up and Ein to snarl jealously.

Raifan's e-mail thing beeped with a message from Aria. "About time, hear, you read." she handed the pocket sized machine to James and Faith, who peeked at it interested.

Information about the NGC? How do you know that? Well, in any case, we want to know who they are and what they are up to. The girl Faith has wings? That is strange, a friend of ours Angel has angel wings as well...

Anyway, as you can see Oisa is high above in the sky, but it is also hovering over earth. The only way we can stop it from crashing I think is to revive the goddess stone, but to do that we have to find the hundred shards that it shattered into. The shards are spread all over Gaia and earth. It seems like this NGC are after it as well. We can't let them get it. What is the NGC, what does the term stand for? Oh, and to answer your question, yes, I am the same Aria, the girl that was the `Daughter' of the boy named Genki Brief, who died and became the new god of the life stream, But that is of little importance right now. First I'll explain to you about Oisa. It seems that there was more then one and it has arrived hear to maybe carry out the mission of the first one? I don't know. I'm still lost on how there can be *two* Oisas. Just tell me, who and what are the NGC, and how do you know about them?

~Aria~

PS: I'm fine Lime ~Pan

James glanced at the group as he started to type. "Faith, would your please explain the details to them, while I write a letter explaining it to their friends? I don't want to explain the same thing twice."

"Ok, bro." The girl nodded turning to the group who waited anxiously for her to speak. "Our father..." She trailed off, looking sad. "Told us about the NGC....he learnt it, when some men came hear trying to take me away. They attacked James...and drugged me out of the house, father chased after them and beat them up. I must of fainted because I don't remember much else, but father looked horribly nerved and frightened after that. He told us that he learnt that the men was from earth and that NGC stood for..."

*************************

Aria's eyes went wide as she read the message James had sent her. Kip peered at it, dawning the same look while the rest just looked at the words in stunned disbelief

"Neo Goddess Creators."

*************************

The group had barely got over their shock before James sat down the e-mail messenger and turned to them, a serious look on his face.

"Father disappeared not all that long ago, I think he was taken by the Neo goddess creators, the NGC. Ever since these Bio made monsters from earth were showing up and attacking, slaughtering people. It's horrible. Our father was not the only one to go missing however, many, all over the world are disappearing. And even more confusing is the fact some don't see Oisa. Infact, many of those who remain does not see Oisa. I had a few friends, some of them told me they saw Oisa, some of them didn't. The ones that saw disappeared. Both my sister and I can see it, are we going to disappear next? Father saw it too and it scared him so much, can't say I blame him for his fear. But it was still nerving to see father so frightened...he is...or maybe was a proud man...he never got scared of anything...."

"Not only that....but..." Faith looked scared to speak. "But a few days ago, a woman was ripped apart, into shreds right on the street by a strange shadowy looking thing. She kept on screaming that she saw a huge rat, but all I and my brother saw were lumpy shadows, as did other members of the town, but others...others saw different things, all twisted, all frightening...all horrible."

"Shadows?" Raifan frowned, before turning to the three children in the group. "Didn't you guys say you saw shadows before?"

"Lilli see shadows now, there are shadows all the time, silly sis!"

"I meant, the monsters. The monster that attacked outside the orphanage you, Lime and Ein all saw only shadows. I saw things that looked like crippled and twisted looking infants...and Gau saw." Raifan rolled her eyes. "Women."

"They were monstrous, woman! Twisted limbs, peeling skin!" Gau protested. "Oh, I'm getting the chills just thinking about it."

"That's weird, you all see different monsters?" James raised a eye brow. "Just like the people in the village?"

"Yes." Raifan nodded. "I know, it doesn't make sense, just like some seeing Oisa and others not. I use to think those who only saw shadows also couldn't see Oisa, because the children hear, they can't see Oisa at all. But if you guys saw the shadows but can see Oisa then my theory is gone down the drain."

The all stood in silence for a few moments when the messenger beeped, and James lazily turned around to pick it up, his eyes brows furrowed as he read the message. They all noticed the strange expression plastered on his face, and concerned his sister Faith put a hand on his shoulder, studying him with a questioning expression, her thick raven eye brows pushed upward in concern as she remained silent.

"The message is incomplete..." He turned to the group whom suddenly were dawning worried expressions.

"Incomplete?" Lime repeated sounding afraid.

"Why didn't Aria Finnish her message? Couldn't she think of what else to write?"

"No Lilli." Ein turned to her, his voice not containing any of the egotistic ruff manner it normally had. "Maybe, she couldn't finish it."

Lilli just looked at him with a surprised half understanding, half not understanding expression.

"They were attacked." Gau stated, it was not a question.

"They said earth was more dangerous then Gaia..." Raifan began in a soft tone, but shook her heard. "No, I doubt they are hurt. Just to busy now to write. Aria looks to be the strong type, I'm not so sure about Angel, or Ayane, but I know the beast-woman can fight, and that little boy had wings and he did say he was a fighter, so I guess they will be all right."

"The boy had wings?" Faith asked quietly.

"Yes."

"Hmmm...Sorry for asking, but Angel also had wings right? I read it in the e-mail. Do you know anyone else with wings?"

"That babe Aria has wings too, didn't she?" Gau looked at Raifan questioningly, unsure if his memory was serving him right.

"Yes she did, but she is hardly a babe. I mean, what kind of girl has a horn sticking out of her forehead, not to mention that skirt is so damn short, it would make that stupid slut Tifa Lockheart from your video game, and the many posters on your wall look modest."

"Phh! Your just jelouse because she has the body for sexy clothing. Geeze, Angel, Pan, Aria, all the cute girls had to go to earth and the only females I was left to travel with are my two sisters and a deer! Wonderful!"

"Hey, you forgot Ayane, didn't Gau think Ayane was cute?" Lilli asked childishly.

"Yuck, no way." Gau wrinkled his nose. "She is rather...Umm...very homely."

"Then why did you say before that she was cute?" Raifan raised an eye brow.

Gau shifted uneasily. "Well...she was standing right there, I did not want to hurt her feelings by only gesturing towards Aria, Pan and Angel, saying three hot babes, so I gestured towards her and said four. I mean, even if she is ugly and I don't know her, I...I don't want to bring myself to hurt her...I mean, I couldn't do that to any girl, ugly or not."

Raifan looked shocked. "Or my god! Gau actually thinking with his heart instead of his penis! Never thought I'd see the day...."

Gau opened his mouth to retort back at her sharply, but was halted when Lilli looked up at them confused, tilting her head to the side before asking.

"What's a penis?"

The rest of the people in the room choked, looking around wildly blushing waiting for someone else to answer the question. Gau finally knelt down infront of his sister, laughing nervously, one hand behind his head.

"Uhhh....Ummm, it's...a...a....well....it's another name for a....hot-dog. A hot-dog, that only men can have, but sometimes women occasionally like to su--"

"GAU!!!" Raifan snarled smacking him over the head with her fist, sending him slumping to the floor with a groan. "Stupid pervert...."

James made a irritated noise, and folded his arms looking very not amused. "If your done with your childish antics, shall we disgust more serious things?"

Raifan felt her cheeks heat up, feeling embarrassed at her childish and immature display of behavior. "Sure, ok."

*********************************

Bra sighed, staring up at the sky, feeling a sense of dread wash over her. She couldn't believe that...that this had happened. How could this horrible thing have reappeared? How and why?

"After all they went through to fight, The death of Alex, Mara, Ruto and my little brother all of it was for nothing...."

"Mother?"

She turned around to look at her two sons who stood behind her worriedly. The two twin boys looked identical to each other, both having brown hair and eyes. They had almost the same face and wore almost the same clothes, right now each had a concerned expression plastered on their faces.

"Keith, Genki...what is it?" She shuddered for a moment. She had named her children after the two boys she had raised like sons, as if to try and get a peice of them back into her life, but every time she said their names she felt sad, knowing that even though they were her sons, and she loved them more then life it's self, they would never be who they were named after, and the names she had named them would always remind her of what she had lost.

"You've been looking so sad lately." Genki, the tallest of the two remarked. His hair, much to Bra's pleads since he was small was tied back. It was not as long as her brother's had been, reaching only a little past the neck and done up in a braid. He wore a pair of gray pants, with a blue and white long sleeved shirt, which dawned the words Capsule Corp.

"Oisa, it overshadows the whole city....it's like a thick blanket of disappear and sadness...a grief...a pain we can't escape from. It covers all, trying to stop life...trying to stop existence from continuing."

The other fourteen year old twin, Keith frowned, hair cut in a short spiky style. His voice sounded a bit more youthful then that of Genki, and wore the same outfit except his shirt was red and white.

Bra turned around to look at them, tears shining in her eyes as she stood on the balcony in which Saiyoua not so long ago watched over the town like a devil.

"D...Don't talk like that." 'Your sounding to much like...like they did....'

"Mom..." Genki began, eye brows creasing as he took a step forward in concern.

Bra closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly. "Ryan....and his friends they will save us again....I know it."

Keith and Genki glanced and each other nodding and then turned back to Bra.

"Mom, I'm sorry but we have to do something."

The aged woman eyes went wide in shock. "K...Keith what are you saying!?"

"Mother..."

Bra twisted away from Keith to stare at Genki eyes blazing with tears. "Not you to Genki!"

"..........."

"I REFUSE!!" She screamed at them, clenching her fists together until her knuckles turned white. "I WONT LOOSE YOU TWO LIKE I LOST THE KEITH AND GENKI BOTH YOU!!! I COULDN'T BARE LOOSING KEITH AND GENKI AGAIN!! No....not again...please..."

"I'm sorry." Genki shook his head. "We understand that you are worried but...look at the city, look at Angeles. People are being hunted down and killed by beasts...can we really set back and play it safe while everyone we know is getting killed....can we just set back and watch as more people end up like father?"

"..........."

"Mom, you are the greatest." Keith began. "And it pains us to do this to you, but...we learnt from the stories you told us about your brother, his friends, and about how everyone worked together as one to save the worlds, well...This is our world, and we are part of it, and....we should fight for it."

"B...But what are you going to do....?" Bra asked slowly. "We don't even know who summoned this thing."

Genki smiled. "Not all enemies can be seen, but I'm sure that if a whole group of people, who hearts are brave and pure searches for the answers then...then it will come clear and we can defeat this thing!"

Keith beamed, sounding suddenly excited. "We will gather troops around the world that wish to see Oisa destroyed, we will gather people...across the worlds even to help us battle!"

"Think reasonable! How are you suppose to travel across the worlds, and what makes you think people will put themselves in danger to fight a enemy they don't even know?"

The twins exchanged looks, and slowly spoke together. "People will join the fight with us, for the same reason everyone all over the worlds and the life stream fought, giving their energy and power to help destory Saiyoua. They will fight because, they want to continue living."

".........I.....I guess I can't stop you...."

"Mom, we will be ok, don't worry." Genki said seriously. "But this is just something we have to do."

"Take care....We love you."

Bra watched as the two boys walked away, leaving her alone. "Good luck..." she mumbled but then the tears burning in her eyes over powered her and she fell to her knees with a sob, crying heavily, hands clenching the carpet.

"Why....why.....? I lost my brother and my cousin in which I raise like my own children and now....and now I stand a chance of loosing my own children...Just like I lost my husband....what did I do to deserve this?" She sobbed more heavily, gasps for breath escaping her mouth as she continued to cry. Anger suddenly over powered sadness and she gripped the tiny gold crucifix she wore around her neck, and went a hard pull she tore it off sending it flying across the room where it hit the wall and fell to the floor with a small cling.

"WHAT DID I DO!?!?...." She buried her face in her hands, shaking her head. "What did I do to deserve to loose everyone I care about....?"

Unnoticed behind her a figure appeared, wielding a large spear, pyramid like head making strange shadows against the walls. Feeling something standing over her she slowly turned around, a scream freezing in her throat.

"Sinful decedent of the family in which destroyed the ancient land of Hadsin, the land known as the home of the guilty in which the sinful were slain and their souls laid to be punished, your family and yourself has violated this scared place long enough, and now it is time for it to be reclaimed."

Bra slowly began to crawl backwards, staring up at the thing in horror. She knew she had no chance of getting away...but still fear made her try.

"Hadsin...the town use to be called this before Grandma and Grandpa came hear and created Angeles....They were from earth..." Her eyes went wide. "I understand now...You...you came hear with them. You were....you were the one killing the...the prisoners down stairs who became infected with Centan...You were hear all along...and I bet your the one responsible for Oisa."

".............." The creature spoke no more, but instead just raised his spear over the woman's head. Bra closed her eyes `Genki...Keith....if you two had stayed you would of been killed too...I wonder if by faith you were suppose to live...maybe you two might even save the worlds....maybe...."

The spear pierced through her, entering her right lung, leave her suspended on the point. Her eyes widened, blood trickling down her lip as slowly she moved her lips to speak one final time.

"....I know you can do it....Save the worlds...save them once and for all........"

********************************

Kip was about to send a punch to one of the monsters who attacked when suddenly he stopped a horrible pain filling his chest and he fell to his knees with a sudden sob, collapsing onto the ground.

***********************

"Genki....?" Keith turned to his brother as they flew in the little jet they had.

"Yes?"

"Do you think....mom will be ok?"

"......I hope.....I hope. I feel bad leaving her like that but....we have to fight...we have to do something, not just for ourselves or for our town but for everybody. I just wish we knew where to start."

"Lets just gather troops, people from all over Gaia to fight, maybe then...maybe then we can have a chance to beat whoever is responsible for this." Keith turned back to the window, staring up at Oisa, eyes turning sad. "....We have too....for the faith of all things alive...."

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"So the original heroes all disappeared?" Faith asked, looking concerned.

"Yeah..." Gau nodded sadly. "Taken away by vines and dark shadows. Mom and dad...taken by the shadows..."

"And Pan and my parents taken by vines..." Lime muttered sadly, looking at the scythe in his hands, all he had left of his mother.

"My mom was taken by the vines, and father by the shadows." Ein looked down, not willing to let anyone see the tears in his eyes.

Lilli stayed quite sniffling sadly as she remembered the disappearance of her parents. Even Raifan seemed to of let sadness get to her, but refused to show any tears and instead she spoke trying to voice a level headed voice.

"Everyone one else like Rose, Mimi, and Ryan....were taken away too."

"Hmmmm....I'm sorry, I know it must hurt...we don't know what took our father away, we just assumed it was the NGC. We don't know what do to get him back..." Faith looked sad. "Your freinds fighting on earth, who are they, they are also the children of the heroes?"

"Not all of them." Raifan explained. "There is Lime's sister, Pan, and There Is Angel, Ryan's daughter, There is Aria and Kip in which we already told you about and there is a man named Leon, I don't know but he has some kind of past with Angel from what I heard, and there is this girl Ayane that is from Ryan's orphanage."

"And you all are searching for the shards? Did you find any yet?"

"Yes." Lime spoke, reaching into the little bag Aria gave him and held out the shard he had found. Faith looked and it transfixed and slowly reached out her hand to touch it. As her fingers touched the cool surface she screamed out as a flicker of energy crackled form it, tossing her backwards.

"Faith!" James exclaimed, rushing to her side where she laid in a tangled position on the couch. Meanwhile the rest of the group was buzzing around in confusion.

"What, happened?" Meredy asked, nudging Lime's arm, while the boy just sat there blinking confused as though frozen. Slowly his gray eyes flickered downward to gaze at the shard in his hand.

"I...I don't know...some kind of energy just pasted through it and...." He looked over at Faith who was returning to her senses. 'I saw something...' the boy added to himself, quietly.

"Faith are you ok?" James asked concerned helping his sister set up.

"Uhh...y...yeah. I just got shocked by something. The shard....it wouldn't let me touch it..."

"That's odd...." Raifan frowned, cupping her chin in her hand as she tried to solve the mystery of it in her mind.

"Those shards are the only things that can save the world though..." Faith continued. ".....Can we join you guys in your search?"

The question caught the group as well as James by surprise. Gau thought about for only a moment before grinning widely, eyeing the pretty girl again.

"SURE!!"

"Why?" Raifan asked more seriously.

"Because....our father was taken just like your parents and we want to help get rid of Oisa."

"Faith....I'll go, you stay hear." James said seriously. "Your ill...it'll be to dangerous for you."

"No, brother, I have to go. I feel as though...as though this is my destiny...as though I am meant to do this."

"I WONT LET YOU!!" He protested. "THAT IS THAT, YOU HAVE NO SAY IN THE MATTER!!"

Faith's blue eyes flashed red for a quick second in time and she extended her hand foreword, and dark sphere of energy leaving it as she sent her brother crashing into the wall, sliding down it in a painful heap. Her cold expression became that of the cherry girl again, and she put her hand to her mouth, eye brows creasing in concern as she felt remorse for what she had just done.

"Oh, James I'm so sorry, but...I can't listen to you this time. I know all my life you and father did your best to protect me but....I know I have to do this. If there is a reason to why I was born, I feel as though this is it."

"....." He bowed his head in silent defeat.

Faith turned to the group, smiling politely. "Please allow us to join you."

The group members did a fast exchange of looks before finally Raifan came up with the discussion for all of them.

"All right. We could use the extra power, but one thing you keep in mind, I'm the brains and therefore the leader of this little group."

"Yeah right...." Gau muttered. "A leader needs to be strong and not a total snob."

His sister scowled at him. "Oh? And who do you think would make a good leader!? You!? Ha, don't make me laugh! You couldn't lead your way out of a paper bag!"

"What about me?" Ein smirked. "I would make a better leader then all of you!"

"Only if you were leading us off a cleft!" Meredy spoke one of her rare full sentenced insults. The only time she did speak in full sentences was to insult someone.

`Stupid deer, I'm a wolf....don't forget, dears are my pray...."

"Hey!" Lime defended, stepping infront of his pet defensively. "Don't you dare hurt Meredy!"

"Did you just threaten me!?"

Lilli looked at each of the fighting members before smiling widely, looking up at James. "Why not let James be our leader?"

This caught the man as well as the group off guard.

"Huh?"

"Yeah! James looks like he is smart and strong!" Lilli continued. "Let James be the leader!"

Ein and Lime both looked a little jelouse, while Gau hunched his shoulders not really caring, and Raifan looked pissed.

"...Me?" James blinked.

"Yeah, why not?" His sister teased. "You always know what your doing, I'm sure you'd make a good leader."

"Hey! Hey!" Raifan snarled. "Let's take a vote, ok, those who want me as their leader put up there hand."

No one made a move.

"I said....put up your hand as in right now...."

Still no one made a move.

"I said...PUT YOUR GOD DAMN HAND UP, NOW!!!!!!"

The group shifted uneasily, looking at each other unsure of what to do.

"Those who want James as their leader?" Faith asked.

All hands except for Raifan who stood fuming, went up.

"Settled, then, My brother James is the leader of the Gaia group."

"Um...but I...." The boy tried to protest but to no avail as he was fully ignored.

"There is suppose to be a shard in this village, Aria's locket gives me the ability to search for them." Lime explained.

"Then lets go!" Faith grinned, pulling her brother out of the house as the rest of the group followed leaving Raifan behind who just stood, tapping her foot on the floor angrily.

"What mean people...."

****************************************

At Soya's Mercenary headquarters; Gaia location unknown

"I'm bored, Meow." Jane complained, setting on the floor in a cuddled position, holding her two legs close to her body as she rocked back and forth on her bed lazily.

The large, dark skinned man, John glanced at her from where he sat crossed legged in the far corner of the room before settling back into a quite state of mediation, obviously intent on ignoring the girl and her continued complaints.

Edward lit his cigarette from where he sat on his bed that was below Jane's top bunk, he hunched his shoulder as though she could actually see him.

"We're all bored Jane, just shut up, complaining makes it worse."

"MEOW!! Don't tell me to shut up!" The cat girl hissed in that thick Chinese and high pitched whiny voice of hers.

Michael paused from where he was hammering into a punching back, and turned to the two of them and large grin on his face.

"Aww, lovers quarrel, how cute."

Both the cat and the cigarette smoking boy made a nasty face at him.

"Michael, what the hell are you saying!?" Edward demanded. "Me and Jane? what the hell were you smoking man!?"

"Nothing, smoking is bad for you health."

"Aw, shit, not again with the fucking health speeches. What? Is this story being dubbed by one of those lousy Anime dubbing companies like Dic or Funimation who put in all these health and no violence speeches? I mean, just look at some of the crap they have Goku saying, "I'm strong because I have good fiber in my diet?' or `Stop Vegeta, that kind of violence in pointless.' I mean what the fuck...."

Genfuu, the old man sighed rolling his eyes as he ran fingers through his thinning balding hair. "Michele and his health speeches and Edward with his rants about dubbing companies...sheesh, the author is running low on humor ideas."

"Meowth , that's right!" Jane giggled.

"Oh great! Don't you start doing random well known catch phrases! Why am I stuck with such a stupid group of people?"

"My thoughts exactly." Soya frowned as she walked into the room, arms crossed over her chest looking pissed. "What are you all doing goofing around like this? We have a mission to accomplish."

"Meow!" Jane saluted, looking alarmed as slowly the other members followed suit.

Soya did not look amused by their behavior but held her tongue leaning against the nearest wall she huffed sourly.

"I'm not going to let Eijiro surpass me again. Do you all always want to be second to Eijiro and his team?"

The mercenary team shook their heads quickly, fearing Soya's wrath more then anything if they answered otherwise.

"Good." Their leader smiled faintly before turning sour again. "SO GET OF YOUR ASSES AND GET TO WORK!!!...Jane, I have to get some work done, you go get the next shard!"

"Meow!"

The rest of the mercenary squad just watched as the two girls left before turning to each other. Michael grinned.

"Hey, who wants to play a game of go fish?"

"Hey sure man!" Edward exclaimed while the rest of the mercenaries except for John who was still meditating went to play the card game. What a threatening bunch.....

******************************

"Hey...wow, I can see it." Faith looked up at the silver streak in the sky flabbergasted, slowly her brother nodded.

"I did not notice it before...I wasn't really trying too. So, this light leads to the shard?"

Lime nodded quietly as James looked back up at the sky.

"Hmmm, it seems to be pointing at the old abandoned theater."

"Theater!?" Lilli exclaimed happily. "Can we watch a play!?"

"Abandoned theater." Raifan huffed irritably.

"A-Ban-doned?" The youngest elf blinked up at her confused.

"Yes, as in, no one there. As in the place is shut down."

"...Did the plays stink that much?"

"No, it was probably because the theater wasn't making any money."

"....Because the plays stank?"

"............."

Gau laughed slapping the eldest elf on the back. "Ha, ha! Raifan you were out whited by Lilli! Oh, how low can you go, HA, HA, HA,HA,--OW!!!"

Raifan growled, letting her brother slump to the ground in a twitching and painful heap after having smashed him in the side of the head with her Flail Nunchaku, eye brow twitching, she was pissed but her pride was to wounded to speak.

"To get to the theater we will have to pass through Wonder Woods. It's not that far from the village, not even a half a mile away. The theater is far back in the woods though, and sometimes monsters attacks. But otherwise it is a rather peaceful place, I always go for walks there everyday." Faith smiled cheerfully.

"It might be a little dangerous with the Bio monsters though, but I'm sure we can handle it." James reasoned. "Well, I guess we should get moving...."

**************************

James shifted uneasily as he, his sister and the little group walked along the leafy and beautiful twisting path in Wonder Woods. He wasn't nervous or anything it was just that...he really wasn't use to traveling with others, and how it was decided that he was the leader still puzzled him.

He supposed that perhaps he was nervous, he knew that whatever it was theat was happening was important, and he didn't want to mess up.

"Hmm....."

Faith's depressed sigh startled him and he turned around worriedly. "Sis, are you ok?"

"Oh? Yeah, I'm just a little hungry. I didn't eat yet today and we were walking in these woods for awhile."

"I know how you feel." Lime commented. "I didn't eat for...." he blinked trying to remember. "I didn't eat since Pan and I left for Ryan's orphanage and still then it had only been toast."

"We did stop for food." Ein grinned. "But Lime got sick from the smell of the garlic."

The boy blushed embarrassed, why Meredy giggled softly.

"Very sick! It was gross!"

"Meredy...your not helping."

Faith smiled. "Well when we get out of these woods I'll cook us all something to eat."

"YES!" Gau cheered, rubbing his stomach. "I'm so hungry!!"

"Lilli hungry too!"

"As long as you don't make anything like Aria ordered at the restaurant I'm happy." Lime agreed.

"I kind of liked the galric breed and cheese." Ein said thoughtfully.

Raifan rolled her eyes, glancing at James, eyes growing big.

"Um...ah....ehhhh..."

James blinked at her nervous expression. "What is it?"

"Well, um they may be to busy talking about what to eat to notice but um...." Raifan smiled weakly. "We're surrounded by giant frogs."

The leader of the Gaia group looked startled and turned around to see indeed they had been surrounded by three giant frog monsters. Slowly, not looking to concerned he pulled out a little machine from his pocket and pointed it at one of the beasts.

T.P.R.A.

Frogots:

Mutated frogs which has grown to the size of large dogs. Not to dangerous but can get quite annoying. Is at home in the water but will often appear on land to stock prey. Unlike normal frogs, these prefer meat rather then insects. Are weak against any kind of normal weapon and fire magic. It can attack by pouncing on a enemy or by slapping them with their tongues.

"Hey where did you get that? Isn't those one of the Pocket race analyzers the students from Marlo use? How did you get one?"

James glanced at her and nodded. "Yes it is, but there is no time for chit-chat about it, lets take care of these toads."

"Ok, everyone...." Raifan's face fell as she watched the rest of the group still oblivious to their surroundings as they discussed what to eat. "Oh for goodness sakes!"

"......." James gave the rest of the group members a weird look before pulling out his gun and shooting at the frog that leap towards him causing it to fall dead instantly, after all, it was just a giant frog.

Raifan ducked, avoiding being jumped on and quickly twisted around slamming her Nunchaku into the mouth of a frog that was creeping up behind her. However the frog that she had just avoided slammed it's hard and slimy tongue into her back, sending her hitting the dirt.

James narrowed his eyes, looking angry as he fired his gun killing another one of the frogs, as Raifan pulled herself off of the ground, coming face to face with the last one, which slid it's large tongue right across her cheek

"GROSS!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs grabbing one of her large text books(out of no where) that she always had with her and slammed it over the toads head repeatedly.

"YOU JERK!!!! HOW DARE YOU PUT SLIME ALL OVER MY FACE!!?"

"Um, Raifan?" James began standing behind her frowning.

"DON'T YOU KNOW HOW DISGUSTING THAT IS!?"

"Raifan...."

"NO ONE DOES THAT TO MY BEAUTIFUL FACE, UNDERSTAND!?"

"Raifan...."

"NO ONE!!!!"

"Raifan...."

"WHAT!?"

James pointed down at the bashed in mass that was once the frog. "I think you killed it."

The girl blinked looking down to observe her handiwork, then back up at her text book. "Hmm...I guess so...Opps, oh well."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Dead by a math text book...what a way to go..."

Finally the group stopped talking and turned their attention to what was going on. They blinked at the frogs for a second until they cheered together. "Frog Legs!"

A few moments later

The frogs were quickly cooked and devoured by the group, James and Raifan who had killed them tough did not eat a piece but instead stared at the rest of the members as though they were nuts cases.

"Hmmm, that was good!" Gau burped, rubbing his belly.

"Ewww." Lilli wrinkled her nose. "Excuse yourself."

Gau just shrugged, and burped again.

"I'm still hungry." Ein pouted.

"Those frog legs were really good Faith!" Lime smiled.

"Meredy like grass better!" The dear commented still munching on the lush green grass.

"Thanks Lime, but those frogs weren't really filling, but I'll cook something better when we find the shard and get out of these woods."

"You know..." Raifan began, scowling. "You could of helped us kill those frogs, instead of just eating them."

Gau hunched his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess we could of, but hey, what are you going to do about it?"

"Grrr...."

James sighed. "Come on, don't start fighting again. Listening to childish arguments is not good to settle the stomach. I don't need to listen to anyone whine about belly aches."

Faith suddenly smiled widely. "You know what's good to settle the stomach? Music! You want to hear me sing?"

"Wow, sure!" Lilli smiled brightly. "Lilli love music!"

"You can sing? Cool." Gau grinned. " Your voice is already so beautiful I can't imagine just how perfect your singing voice can be."

"Thanks!" Faith reached into her small brown leather hand bag she had taken with her before leaveing her house and removed a little harp, made from ebony and glowing blue strings. She sat crossed legged on the ground and closed her eyes, fingers brushing on the harp strings, a pretty little melody starting.

"In the darkness of the night,

The stars light like thousands of little candles

The clouds cover the blackness like a blanket

keeping it safe and warm as tough still a child

I dream a sweet dream,

I can hear the night call out to me,

I dream a sweet dream,

Awaken the darkness

The moonlight washing over the planet,

Illuminating everything in a eclipse

Fire flies fluttering around the night time roses

Blooming in full in the light of the darkness.

A lone wolf cries mournfully to the moon

at the same time two children cries out for a dead mother.

I dream a sweet dream,

I can hear the night call out to me,

I dream a sweet dream,

Awaken the darkness

The moonlight washing over the planet,

Illuminating everything in a eclipse

Secrets awakening from deep inside,

fallen angels crying out for vengeance

A new mother crying tears,

for twins who are both slowly dying

I dream a sweet dream,

I can hear the night call out to me,

I dream a sweet dream,

Awaken the darkness

The moonlight washing over the planet,

Illuminating everything in a eclipse

Awaken the darkness

Awaken the darkness......"

Slowly the music stopped as Faith's fingers and voice came to slow halt. The group just sat speechless. James could only stare at his sister eye brows suddenly creasing.

`Faith's lullaby, the song she sang every day since she was a child...is wasn't until now that...that I realized that there is something...something wrong about it.' Slowly he found himself looking back up at Oisa, Raifan noticed where he was looking and frowned, however no one else seemed to be bothered by the lyrics.

"Wow!" Lilli clapped. "Amazing!"

"That was really good Faith." Lime complimented.

"Good!" Meredy agreed while Ein just nodded in agreement.

"Thanks." Faith blushed, turning even more red as Gau scooted over to her.

"I think it was really great, your lovely voice is only surpassed by your amazing beauty..."

"Uhhhh..." Raifan grunted. "There he goes again."

James picked up a rock tossing it at the other boy, not looking happy. "Stop hitting on my sister!"

"Eh...ah....." Gau slowly backed away nervously as Faith giggled slightly.

"Oh, James your so over protective! Thank you for your kind words Gau...as flirtatious as they may be. But come on everyone, lets go, we still have a shard to find!" she dashed forward but stopped short when she began to cough a bit, dropping over.

"Faith?" A look of worry crossed James's face and he was by her side in a heart beat.

"I'm ok..." She breathed tiredly, reaching back into her hand bag and pulling out a small bottle of pills, swallowing two of them before replacing the bottle. "I'm fine, just can't over stimulate myself."

He could only frowned worriedly as his sister was once again cheerfully calling to the others to hurry up. `Faith....what is making you sick anyway? Ever since Oisa appeared in the sky...Father...what can I do for her? Is there...anything?'

*****************************

"Hmmm, interesting..." Soya commented, watching from the tree tops the group as they neared the theater. "This could be her....I'll have to ask master what I should do with her since it seems that Eijiro and his men will be dealing with the other one."

*****************************

The group came to a small little clearing, it was a dead end and they stopped confused.

"That's weird." James observed. "I'm sure we went the right way. I haven't been hear a for a long time but these woods are no maze...."

"Weird." Faith tilted her head to the side. "Maybe the theater was tore down?"

Gau suddenly began to sniff the air. "Mmmmm, smells like BBQ...."

Ein followed his example along with Lilli, Lime and the deer.

"Yum, Gau's right!" The small man-beast exclaimed. "Someone is cooking BBQ really close by."

"I want some..." The elf drooled.

Raifan rewarded her brother with a exasperated shriek.

"Don't tell me you want to eat what your smelling! We got a world to save!!"

"Yeah, but...you can't save a world on a empty stomach! Everyone fallow my nose, the BBQ is right through those bushes!"

James and Raifan was left standing stunned as the group dashed trough the tress to the smell of the food. Slowly the two exchanged irritated looks.

"I don't think Gaia stands a chance..."

James nodded in agreement. "I can see why....with team mates like this. I swear do they only care about their damn stomachs? Even Faith is acting like a food crazy weirdo."

Raifan hunched her shoulders. "Well, if worst comes to worst, maybe they could always eat Oisa."

*********************************

As James and Raifan walked into the other little clearing they saw their friends standing outside of the little theater, the smell of the BBQ filled the air, and it seemed to be coming from the little wooden theater.

"Hey, somebody made the theater into a restaurant!" Faith called out to them happily.

"I can't wait to sink my teeth into some BBQ ribs!" Gau rubbed his hands together happily.

"Well, I want some BBQ chicken, what about you Lilli?"

Lilli turned to Ein looking thoughtful. "Lilli want ice creme!"

"....I don't think they serve ice creme Lilli." Ein frowned at her.

"Awww, what kind of restaurant don't have ice creme?"

"The kind that serves only BBQ, look." Raifan pointed towards a sign near the front steps that said.

`BBQ house only! Welcome!'

"The light ended hear." Lime informed looking up at the silver streak which stopped over head of the theater.

"Well, I guess we should check inside then." James reasoned.

"And sink our teeth into some FOOD!" Gau laughed loudly as he dashed inside, the group calmly following except for Meredy who stood out side worried.

"What's wrong Meredy?" Lime paused asking.

"Meredy not like restaurants."

"Why not?"

"People eat dear."

Lime smiled weakly, shaking his head. "I wouldn't let anyone eat you, Meredy-chan."

"Meredy want to eat grass anyway."

"Ok." The little boy smiled, petting the dears head. "We'll be back out side soon, ok?"

"Kay!"

Lime dashed inside after his friends leaving his pet staring after him, the dear looked a little sad for a moment. `I wonder how Lemon is doing...I sense....I sense something terrible is going to happen to him...such is the link between the original and the beta vampire....but I can't bring myself to tell Lime....'

****************************

"Hello!" Gau called out loudly, as the group looked around themselves confused. The entrance to the restaurant was a huge room, wooden walls, three small tables in the corner of the room, each covered with fancy table toppings and black and white checkered floors so clean one could see their face in them. Right near then entrance was a large wooden counter but there was no one behind it, no one anywhere.

"Where is everyone?" Faith frowned walking into the middle of the room looking around herself.

"Hey, there is a note on the counter." James observed and Raifan scooped it up and proceeded to read it out loud.

"Throughout the restaurant we have placed obstacles for you to over come as to make your meal more appreciable and taste even better."

`Well....' James thought. `That's a idea make people work for their food.'

"Where do we go to find these obstacles?" Ein frowned crossing his arms.

Lime glanced up at three doors which were in the far end of the room, and barely able to be sighted in the darkness of the corner.

"Through one of these doors, perhaps, Ein?"

The man-beast growled at the teasing tone in the Vampbe's voice, as rare as that tone was heard he always hated to hear it.

"Three doors?" James repeated walking over to them, above each one had a inscription. The first on the right read `Light eaters go through hear' the middle said `Normal eaters go through hear.' and the last `Big eaters in here.'

"Well!" Gau grinned. "I guess we know what door we go through."

James rewarded him a exasperated expression. "The last one?"

"BINGO!"

******************************

The room they walked into was small, but as clean as the first and as empty. On the door was another note in which Raifan once again read. At the end of the small room was another little door.

"Food is always better after a good sweat, lets do some exercise."

"Not a bad idea." Gau began to a teasing tone. "You are putting on some weight Raifan."

"YOU---!!"

"Eeep!" Lilli whimpered, backing into James frightened. He turned to see what had scared her and immediately took out his gun. Five toads and two Dukie scrubs had gathered in front of them.

"MONSTERS!?" Raifan screamed. "THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT BY EXERCISE!?"

"Guess so...." Faith backed as they came closer.

"Come on, they aren't anything to be afraid of!" James snapped.

"Yeah! last time James and I battle the toads all by ourselves and you just ate them! Well work for your food this time! There is seven each of you kill one!"

"But..." Gau began to protest.

"DO IT!!"

"Kay...."

James chuckled, turning to the elf holding back a smile just barely. "You know, you can be really handy to have around."

Raifan grinned before smashing one of the dukie scrubs with her Nunchaku sending it flying back into the wall, causing the wooden monster to crack right down the middle. "Of course I am."

James smiled turning to shoot one of the giant toads in-between the eyes. He turned to the rest of the group who just watched them. "Well, we did our job, you finish the rest."

"Hey, hey, you aren't serious!" Faith protested."Your not really go to make us fight."

"We aren't?" Raifan teased as she and James leaned up against the wall, not looking to be attacking anything any time soon.

James wanted to laugh at the expression on the others faces. He was never a fan of humor or childishness, but he had to admit it was kind of funny. He would of helped but since he and the elf were left to battle before while they just talked about food it just seemed like the right thing to do to get back at them for their lack of help before. The battle wasn't hard, it was easily one sided, after all, these monsters weren't really tuff. It only took one attack each person to take one out.

"Try!" Lilli shouted her fairy-tale staff glowing as it amplified her magic sending a stronger then usual try angle shaped sphere crashing into a Dukie scrub.

Lime just swiped at a toad cutting in half with his scythe and promptly bowed his head sadly. "I'm sorry."

Ein just grinned firing another one of the toads with his magic sling shot. "I can't believe you apologized for killing it Lime, your such a softy!"

"............"

Gau fired one of his arrows getting the toad right in the chest, piercing through it's heart, kneeling down next to it he plucked his arrow out of it cleaning it off with his index finger. "Hey maybe we could have some more frog legs later."

Raifan slapped her forehead, shaking her head. "Oh my god what a loser....."

Meanwhile Faith had backed in the corner the toad standing infront of her before sticking out it's tongue and licking her leaving a trail of gross spit and slime smeared across her face. The girl just stood their stunned before a dark look over took her face and she extended her hand.

"Star fragment!"

From out of her hand several small black glowing spears shot forth and plowed their way through the toad leaving little holes bleeding intensely all through it's body before it slumped down dead. The cheerful look returned to her face and she smiled.

"Yeah! Your right, we could take some of these toads back with us and make some more frog legs!"

"Yes!"

James and Raifan exchanged looks, and just shook their heads in utter disbelief.

******************************

The next room looked just like the last one they were in except everything was...well...

"Why is the whole floor covered in salt!?" Raifan exclaimed as the mess.

James shook his head, this restaurant was just getting weirder and weirder he was about to suggest turning back when Faith pulled the next note off of a chalk board on the wall and read.

"Roll in the salt to revitalize your body...?"

Lilli giggled dashing into the salt and instantly began to wave her arms back and forth like one would do in the snow.

"Heh-heh, salt angles!!"

"Lilli, get out of that." Her sister scolded picking her up off the ground. "There is something suspicious about this place."

"Well we can't turn back." Lime began but was cut off by Gau.

"We are almost to the food!"

"That's not what I was going to say....I was going to say that the shard is in hear somewhere."

James nodded. "Yeah, your right, well we might as well just continue. Besides if there are anymore monsters like before we can easily dispose of them."

*********************************

"Oh my god..." Faith coughed. "It's so hot in hear..."

The next room was all shaded in red, and was burning hot like a oven, sweat was already gushing out of their every pore.

Wiping her brow Lilli moaned. "I don't like this room..."

"It's burns....so....hot..." Lime began to cough. "Almost...like the sun..."

James blinked worriedly seeing the Vampbe slump over a little and

instinctively went over to his side, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

FLASH

A younger Faith was huddled down in the corner of a room, slumped over face drawn and pale. A younger James walked over to her placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

Slowly she began to turn around....

FlASH

James blinked startled. `What was that....that vision?' he just stood there confused and stunned not really noticeing as Lime turned around a smiled weakly.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just don't like the heat that much."

"..............."

"Big brother..." Faith began noticing the look on his face. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head as to regain his compositor. "Nothing. Lets get going."

"Um...Ok...."

***************************

Finally the last room was different but it wasn't the restaurant meal they had planned. A cat girl with long purple hair was setting on the large table, green eyes shimmering, skin dark and obviously Chinese in racial background.

At the table sat many Katos. Katos were creatures that got stuck between the evolution between forming from ordinary cats to human forms like cat-people. They looked like ordinary house cats except they stood on two feet but were still short like regular cats, however unlike Cat people lacked any human appearances and much intelligence. There were around five Katos.

"Um excuse me...." Gau began. "Is this um....a restaurant?"

"Meow, yessss, of coursssse." The girl purred.

"Then could you tell us what your serving we are really hungry."

"You." She pointed at them cutely.

"EXCUSE ME!?" Raifan squealed out in surprise.

"First some exercise to burn off unnecessary fat, and then some salt to add flavor followed by a little bit of pre-heating." The Katos chanted.

"What kind of restaurant is this!?" Faith gasped. "We're the meal!?"

"Bingo! Heh-heh, but Meow, commander Soya tell me to get shard, but you get in way. Nevertheless my pets are hungry, meow!"

"A shard..." James began. "Isn't that what you guys are looking for?"

"Yes." Raifan nodded. "She is working for that girl who attacked us earlier looking for a shard, they work for the NGC, the Neo Goddess Creators."

"Heh-heh, Bingo! You must be the enemy Soya talked about. But I'll beat you, no one stops commander or the NGC!"

"Now is time to tenderize, tenderize, tenderize the meat!!" The Katos began to exclaimed.

Jane chuckled. "My kitties will take care of you now!"

"Wait!" Faith called out to her. "Where is my father!? The NGC took him, I know it!"

"Hmmm?" Jane's eyes went wide noticing the wings for the first time. "Why! Your one of the girls the master wants!"

`What?' James eyes went wide. `What do they want with Faith? The other girl...who is that...what does she and Faith have to common and...what would the NGC want with them?'

"Me....?" The black winged girl just looked surprised.

"Yes you! Wow, Soya will be so pleased with me if I brought you back with me!"

"Hey! No one harms my sister without going through me first!" James growled, stepping infront of the girl protectively.

"It is none of my interest to fight, Katos, GET THEM!!!"

"Yes Master!" The Katos exclaimed.

Gau laughed. "How tuff could those little fur balls be?"

The Katos suddenly grinned evily, showing huge and I mean HUGE razor sharp jagged teeth.

The elf looked close to tears. "Oh shit...."

"Gau!!" Faith, Raifan and Lilli exclaimed as the five cats jumped on him and began to bite...hard.

"OWWWWW GOD DAMMNIT, GET THEM OFF OF ME!!!! OWWWWWW!!!!" He ran around the room in agony the Katos hanging off of his flesh as they sank their teeth in.

"Hold still!" James shouted to him but to no avail, Gau only continued to run around screaming in agony trying to knock the Katos off, shielding his face at the same time trying to protect it from any bites.

"Gau! Stop running around!!"

"EASY FOR YOU TO SAY--OWWW!!!"

"Gau!" Raifan shouted to him in half concerned half scolding tone.

"Oh well, if he wont stop running around it'll just make this harder for him. FLAME WAVE!!"

A burst of fire magic left James's hand and struck Gau burning the Katos that hung biting his flesh, to cinders. The elf boy stood there for a moment, luckly only a little scorched by the flames. But the bite wounds were bad, and painful looking, blood trailing down the rips in the flesh.

"Gau, are you ok?" Lime asked slowly looking frightened.

"....I'm in tremendous pain and agony." He responded flatly before falling to a unconscious heap on the floor.

Jane was laughing loudly pointing at the display. Lilli turned to her frowning angrily.

"You hurt Lilli's brother! Lilli mad! RAINBOW LAZIER!!!"

The cat-girl blinked puzzled as the little elf raised her staff into the air which shimmered with different color lights as beams of Red, green, pink, yellow, and orange came flying towards her smacking her hard in the chest knocking her a few steps backwards along with knocking her wind out.

"Ow! That hurt you little brat!" Jane sneered touching a burn mark on her chest. "You pay for that! CANDY-CANE TWIST!!"

"Candy-cane?" Lilli blinked confused until she saw two energy beams red and white entwined together coming towards her. "AHHHH!!"

James turned towards the child horrified and began to try and run to her in time together out of the way, but the attack was coming to fast.

"Lilli!!" Ein suddenly exclaimed dashing infront of her, shielding her from the blow the best he could but it did little help, the attack crashed them sending them both flying backwards painfully. The two of them laid on the ground slightly burnt and unconscious.

James gasped in horror, staring down at the children with wide eyes before looking back up at a pissed off looking Jane. "You monster! How could you attack children!?"

"........." The cat did not answer but instead got into a fighting position. "You don't scare me! Try your best shot!"

James reached for his gun but another voice in the door way stopped them, they turned around to see Soya. Jane gasped and bowed her head.

"Commander! Forgive me, I didn't find the shard yet!"

"Forget it." Soya waved off the subject unconcerned. "We'll pry it from their dead fingers next time. The master wants to have a word with us at the NGC meeting. Understand? We can't keep them waiting."

"Uhh....y...yes, of course. Next time!" Jane hissed before disappearing. Soya stayed behind for a moment and turned to the group, a serious look on her face.

"Don't oppose the NGC if you want to continue living."

James clenched his fist, uttering a low growl. "Where is my father being held!? I know the NGC has him!"

Soya did not respond, just teleaported away like her follower leaving nothing of herself behind.

"Oh....Lilli, Ein!!" Lime sobbed looking down at his two friends.

"Gau..." Raifan began looking over her older brother concerned.

Faith approached the two unconscious children, staring down at them for a moment, eyes brow creasing before a smile slowly spread over her face.

"They are alive, I can see them breathing. The power I sensed from her, it was enough too....but she couldn't do it, she couldn't kill them....she held back."

"Will they be ok?" Lime asked worriedly.

The girl nodded kneeling down next to them and slowly spreading her hands over them casting a healing spell which slowly knitted up their wounds, the color returning to their cheeks.

"They'll be awake soon..." Faith breathed tiredly, setting back on her knees.

"Faith...." James began concerned.

"I'm ok, healing people just takes alot out of me."

"Well let's go find that shard I guess." Raifan turned to them. "It has to be close."

".....Ehhhhhh...h....hey doesn't anyone...care about me?" Gau sputtered from where he lay on the floor.

"Oh Gau!" Raifan scowled putting her hands on her hips. "You'll live."

"B...but I need medical attention...!"

"From a pretty nurse I bet. Hear, take a healing drink." She tossed him a potion which he took pouting. He really did want a pretty nurse to check him up.

"Well...where is the shard?" Raifan asked looking around.

"I don't know." James admitted. "Lime you see it?"

"Ahhh....well....no."

Faith turned around a bit, looking around the area until in the corner of the room she spotted a strange lever of some kind.

"Hey what does that do?"

James and Raifan followed her gaze and slowly made there way to it. Shrugging, figuring he might as well try it James pulled down the lever and the wall slid aside revealing a little room filled with puppets and costumes. Probably the old prop room for the once theater, and in the rather dull room was one little puppet with a straw hat, dirty and dusty everywhere except for it's left eye which sparkled. James knelt down removing the sparkling eye, feeling a slight pain and a tingling go up him arm as he did so. In his fingers he held carefully a small glowing silver fragment.

"The shard." Raifan smiled.

"Hmmm.....well I suppose it is."

"Yeah!" Faith cheered in the background. "We found it! Now lets go find the others!"

James stood up straight a serious look on his face. `I know in my heart this is going to be a dangerous adventure, it wont be any play in the park. But I feel as though I have to do this, not only for myself or Faith, or even father by for the planets....this meeting is to important to of just been a fluke it was destiny. Now is time to choose, fright and save the world or cower and die. Either way I might die but at least this way Faith and I have a chance....maybe, maybe we might even find father....dad...I don't know what mistake you did in the past, but I wont make a mistake as well, I will fight....even though I don't want this destiny...I will...fight...'

He turned around to look at the group and nodded his head. "Let's go."