Shake and Oddity's CYOA

A soldier’s demise..... On the shore of Leviathan river Dark spruce forest frowned on either side of the treacherous waterway. The trees had been stripped by the ancient winds of their leaves, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of laughter, but of laughter more terrible than any sadness—a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility of man. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life. It was Romaji, the savage, cruel, frozen heart of deep Romaji. But there was life, lonely in the land and defiant. On every side was the silence, pressing upon him with a tangible presence. It affected his mind as the many atmospheres of deep water affect the body of the diver. It crushed them with the weight of unending vastness and unalterable decree. The world was spinning around Snake. He couldn’t get his bearings, he couldn’t focus, and he was hurting. The pain was surpassing all his other senses. Then one item in the background of blurs came into focus, clear. It was the smoke of the cabin’s chimney. It looked like a bad joke. A wooden cabin exuding warmth and comfort, complete with smoking chimney in deep Romaji?! None of these thoughts entered Snake’s mind consciously, it was the realization of a mind trained and used to measuring situations and establishing the right action. But now that system was challenged. He was in a struggle of mind and body, his will to live against his body’s pain and fatigue. It longed for rest. Eternal rest. He felt a warm glow inside himself, accompanied by sharp stings of pain. He had numerous points of internal bleeding. On the outside he felt the ever blowing wind of Romaji, sharply cold and hostile, as if it was trying to keep him from his destination. He had but one goal. He had to reach the cabin. Every instinct, every fibre in his body screamed that the cabin meant safety. Snake had always trusted his gut-feeling. But it was nothing so conscious, it was a primal urge, one that had driven mankind since the Neanderthal, and it was this urge Snake had to follow. His arms felt heavy. Hell, he felt like he couldn’t move an inch. But he had no other choice. Even for Snake for whom physical pain was just a bother, not a deterrent, didn’t seem to be equipped to beat the odds this time. It wasn’t the pain; His body simply refused to move. Snake focused his eyes on the smoking chimney. He bit his lip until it bleed. The self-inflicted pain was of a different nature then the one inside him, and the harder he bit the more his senses returned. He flung his left arm forward. He grabbed a branch, and started to pull himself up. Normally Snake would be much more comfortable slithering on his belly , but his right arm wouldn’t move, and his left arm didn’t feel strong enough to push himself all the way there. If I’m going to die, I want be on my two feet, I ain’t dying with my face in the dirt. Snake got his left leg to support his weight; as soon as he was halfway standing his head began to spin much more rapidly. Snake felt a gagging sensation in his throat, and he threw up a mixture of blood and vomit over his clothes and face. The stench made this nightmare even worse. Doesn’t matter. I won’t go down. Not......like this. Snake let his weight rest against a tree, inhaling and exhaling faintly, stronger breaths caused pain. An hour went by, and a second hour. The pale light of the short sunless day was beginning to fade, when a faint far cry arose on the still air. It soared upward with a swift rush, till it reached its topmost note, where it persisted, palpitant and tense, and then slowly died away. It might have been a lost soul wailing, had it not been invested with a certain sad fierceness and hungry eagerness. When he heard the cry he was once again reminded of his vulnerability, a mere man against the forces of nature. No, not of nature. The forces of malice. He could see the front of the cabin through the thick of the forest; it was a mere hundred yards away. At this moment it could have been 20 miles, or 50 yards for that matter. It wouldn’t have made any difference. Snake wearily looked at the cabin. He heard his “lost soul”behind him, he knew it was coming. Loud footfalls and the sound of the tree’s are surrendering, making way for his arrival. It seemed more likely to be another towering predator then a lost soul. I have to move…… He tried stepping forward, almost toppling over. Suddenly, Snake felt a tremendous hammer-blow against the back of his head. It felt like it had caved in under the impact. For an instant that stretched to eternity, Snake rocked back, balanced on his heels. Then he slowly fell, gravity a gently, bright-painted rainbow. The pain in his right arm and shoulder vanished, replaced by a delicious, foggy shroud. Blackness. I should see blackness. Instead, every color of the prism of light swirled around his vision, though red predominated : blood-red, orange, and crimson . All his friends’ names began floating through his head in those last seconds. The last color stretched on and on, like live—never quite ending... Snake felt the life leaving his body. It was over. The soldier that always triumphed against the odds, finally tired and gave up the struggle. Finally there was the darkness............. I want to rest..........let me rest.... For a brief moment their was nothing. Then the blackness disappeared as a faint blue wave swept across Romaji. In the center of the blue blur inside his mind the image of a laughing Lord Kefka appeared........ NO ! Anything bu .......tha....... The body that used to be Snake’s rose, his head disfigured; a dent from a massive branch that had given him the final push into the abyss of death. A blue glow enveloped his body........it was now Kefka’s, to own and to command, from now until eternity....... Central Hub A man dressed in black is walking through endless hallways, looking around him in a state of confusion. I still ain’t used to this place. Max Payne was looking for the only friend he had made in this Alliance; Fox Mcloud. Link gave me a task......but I don’t know the procedure. I should have asked. I’m not even fully healed yet.... After encountering numerous security androids, Max finally found a regular soldier to point him in the right direction. He hurried to Fox’s quarters. Max was surprised to hear that Fox slept right here in the hub near Link., rather then the Airbase he was the head honcho off. Max knocked at the door. “Huh?” a sleepy voice answered. “Who is that?” Max felt awkward waking up his superior, but he needed some information. “It’s Max. I ehhhh.....I need to know sumptin”. “Hmpf. Gimme a second.” Fox answered grumpily. Max heard the sound of a door being unlocked, and he immediately opened it. There his friend was, dressed only in a yellow robe, orange fur sticking out wherever it could. Max couldn’t help but smile. Fox looked at him very seriously, which only added to the hilarious situation. He was obviously embarrassed. Max tried to withhold the laugh itching in his throat, and put on his most earnest expression. “Sorry to barge in here at this hour, but I just got an order from Link. He told me to check out Mario. “ Max heightened his eyebrows, as if to express: Yes, that Mario. “Then why are you still here? “ Fox asked. “Shouldn’t you be going? “ “So Link did mean tonight? I just got back, I’m still hurt and I don’t know how many troops I can take with me.” “Troops?” Fox laughed faintly. “No troops, Max. And he didn’t mean tonight. When Link gives you an order, he means this minute.” “Am I supposed to walk there?” Max asked cynically. “No. You are supposed to ask me for a vehicle. Take the flyer Lombardi. Its in hangar three. Launch code: ROB64.” Fox answered with a sigh. Max had done the right thing for the wrong reason. This guy was lucky. If it stayed with him it would all work out. “How are you feeling?” Fox asked him relaxed while moving to the bathroom. “Its hurting like hell. I can’t turn my upper body without cringing. Doesn’t matter, I’ve ha..-” Fox had returned from the bathroom, and gave Max 3 blue pills. “Here, take these if the pain gets worse.” “Thanks Fox. I owe you one.” Max said while he turned around and scurried out of the room. “You owe me TWO, you demented bastard.” Fox murmured as he locked his door. >Beoulve Castle Cloud was happy to command the team he was given. He had taken Aeris from Crono, with the strange but practical backpack that served its purpose well. Normally he would have delegated the care of a wounded to someone else, someone like Sabin, but this was about Aeris. His Aeris. And he wouldn’t trust anyone with her. Crono did this to keep her near me. If Aeris would have been with the other party, I know I would have been distracted. Leave it to him to consider even the smallest things. Aside from that, the rest of the team was outstanding. He felt like he got the lucky draw, working with Auron and Magus; both experienced veterans to the Resistance, and he felt that he could trust them to correct the two newcomers if they faltered.. They would soon learn what it was like to serve under Cloud Strife’s command. They have to. Where we are going there is no margin for error........... They stood before the shell that housed the Esper, two statues on either side of the door that would allow them entry. Cloud looked quizzically as both statues were in fact Magus; one portrayed him in a battle stance, the other typically with his arms crossed. On the pedestal of both there was a small inscription: Master. Magus glanced to both leaders, conveying that he did not want to speak about this. He did nothing to alleviate the curiosity of Sabin and Edge; he viewed them as a necessary evil. He eyed the statues up and down, and then centered his attention on the scythe of the right one. Strange..... Without warning Magus extended his gloved hands toward his own image. “LIGHTNING!” The statue crumbled with loud complaint, but the weapon seemed to be in perfect condition. Magus leapt forward and scooped it up, after which he examined it. Astonishing.......... it seems like an exact replica of my own. A bit heavier maybe............. Magus read the name that was inscribed on the blade of the reaper’s weapon aloud : “ Starscythe....” Everyone had looked on in surprise, but now Magus extended his hand invitingly to the white door with the picture of the snow-white woman. “After you.......we shouldn’t waste time.” Cloud Strife led the way as they entered South Tower. Auron followed slightly behind and to his right, Murasame clasped in both hands, eyes checking out all corners like an eagle. Magus was looking more tensed then usual; he always looked the same no matter what the circumstances. He was a bit quieter, and seemed more concentrated then he normally was: going into dangerous missions as relaxed as citizens take a bath or eat breakfast. He seemed a little more serious now. He’s on a mission of personal vengeance. Magus won’t leave until he has Kefka’s head on a stick.......and neither will I. ........ They ascended a circular stairway, one that seemed old and run down. Cloud could still remember how beautiful this castle had once been on the outside. This was his first time actually inside the castle, since entering was a right preserved to heroes, royalty, and servants. As a young boy he often looked up to the castle and wondered if he would ever be invited. He played out fantasies of saving the world from the grasp of evil and returning the lovely princess to Beoulve Castle. Frequently Crono joined him in his make-believe world. Cloud smiled. Little did I know he would go on to actually do it…… Ignoring the musky stench of the stairway that seemed long forgotten, they began to ascend. The stairs seemed to go on forever……….and then Cloud saw a blue glow reflected off the wet stone wall. He glanced at the already equipped Auron before drawing his Buster sword. He pointed the weapon up and slightly forward to keep it from connecting with the wall. Edge equipped and like a viper he snuck up the stairs, passing both Cloud and Auron. When he went further he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks……..and took two steps backward. The look of astonishment on Edge’s face made Auron frown, while Cloud gritted his teeth and prepared for the worst…… In the Lombardi Having crossed the border to Maral some time ago, Max was en route to Mario’s grocery store. The one with the most deadly groceries imaginable. Mario was the absolute number one when it came to weapons. He often had access to new models well before the Alliance had them. Mario was always cheerful and happy, but he hadn’t become the best at what he did by being nice. It was rumored he had a competing arms dealer killed, and a supplier for trying to sell him defective merchandise. Max knew from the Resistance that Mario often placed time-bombs to go off at night in certain neighborhoods to keep the people scared; to make the men arm themselves against “the dangers that this world posed”. Still, for the people who didn’t know better and were just looking for a hand weapon to protect their family with, Mario was a friendly guy. But I know better. Max knew the truth behind Mario, a truth even his wife Peach was oblivious too. He knew he was just another scumbag, another con-artist to stimulate the people’s fears in order to secure his future. Max still thought as a Resistance member, overlooking the fact that he wasn’t so different from Mario anymore. He couldn’t deny that he was, but it helped that this mission involved someone who was guilty, as Max was. It was easier to forget that he was part of the tyranny, part of the very organization he once sought to destroy. There it is….. Max Payne recognized the store; he had been here countless times with Crono and the others. Mario always claimed to give a special discount to the Resistance, but Crono knew he charged them more than the Alliance. The Alliance had their own line of weapons quite different from Mario, but he delivered the standard issue automatics for the regular soldiers, as well as an occasional custom-made piece for one of the higher ups. Max piloted the Lombardi admirably. He always was a quick study, having to adapt to new situations was something he was used to. He was determined to behave like a member of the Alliance would, a part of him was glad that he had the chance to finally wipe that ever-blooming smile off of Mario’s face. Once I’m through with him, he’ll wish he could hide behind that disgusting moustache of his. There was one person Max didn’t want hurt in there. Peach handled the grocery store, while Mario took people to the back where he had his weapons displayed. Peach was an innocent, always had a kind word and a smile for everybody. She was a lot like the first lady of Bhaktar, and Zelda frequented the shop to talk to Peach, often to the dismay of Link himself. The two women had grown to be close friends nonetheless. How she ever fell in love with that despicable man, I’ll never know. Max landed the flyer in plain view directly in front of the grocery store. It seemed like an uneventful day in the store, not much people. I’ll change that…. Max hopped out of the Lombardi and walked up to the front door. A sign above it : Mario’s -- For All Your Everyday Needs -- Max couldn’t help but grin cynically at the surreal truth of the sign. He doesn’t mean just the groceries…..in this sick world you can advertise guns and ammo as ‘everyday needs’. Just my kinda place... Max opened the door, interrupting a conversation in doing so. “ –ust a-can’t keep her here, what if --- heeeey, Max-a ! “ the arms dealer noticed him. Mario made a gesture to the pregnant Peach, pointing to the back room. She waved and walked away, holding her belly as she went. Mario extended his hand………Max just looked at him like he was an insect, a disgusting bug he wanted to crush under his heel. ”Hey-a Max! Whats-a with the hostility?” the Maralan played dumb. He knew about the slaughter near Sephurst Stadium, and that Max had played a big part in it. He also heard the rumours that Max was with the Alliance and had betrayed Crono. Mario looked past Max Payne, over his shoulder. The glittering L paired with the golden triangle was staring back at him, on the flyer parked outside. Mario knew enough. This was a raid…….and if they found out, his life wouldn’t be worth a dime. Why-a now……….? Beoulve Castle Edge continued to back away, until he was up against the wall, the blue glow so nearby him it illuminated his face, almost making it seem he was dead himself. Sabin ran up to help his friend , but Auron held him back. There is no danger……it’s safe. Edge……and the blue light……are connected somehow… Auron nodded to Crono, and then ventured up himself. There was an undead descending the stairs, that much was certain. This sensation of knowing when I have no right to..........it feels so much greater then I am. Auron sheathed his Murasame and looked around the corner. There she was.......Princess Alma Beoulve., beautiful even in undeath. She walked down the stairs, and Auron untypically didn’t know what to do. She walked straight for Edge who tried to back up once again but couldn’t. Alma had her arms outstretched , Edge grabbed her by the wrists to keep her away. “I serve Lord Kefka. Turn around now, go back, or you will surely die and be enslaved. You have no chance.........love...” as the sound of the last whispered word slowly died , all heads turned to Alma. She seemed to have difficulty speaking after the first sentence, as if she was fighting against undeath, willing her own message through Kefka’s control. The young ninja was crying quietly, tears falling down his cheeks generously but refusing to make a sound. Magus had been standing watching the scene with a mixed expression ; one part annoyance, one part pity. With a resounding zing he grabbed his newly aquired Starscythe from behind his back. “This is not a worthy fate for a Beoulve. I’ll make it quick...” he enforced his words by stepping towards Alma. “Nooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!! “ Edge suddenly screamed as he threw off Alma, and lunged at Magus. The Ninja’s fist connected with a blunt thump just above Magus’ eye. The blow forced the wizard’s head to turn, but nothing more. “I will not allow you to kill her ! There might be a way to save Alma ! You heard what she said, there could be a way to break the spel-... Magus head slowly turned back until it faced the young ninja again, his cold eyes in a deadlock with Edge’s. “You....will pay for this. Foolish little thief. If we didn’t need you here, I would kill you where you stand. “ Magus voice was soft and controlled but threatening in its resolution. Auron grabbed Alma and directed her down the stairs gently, sending the undead to whatever destination it was heading for. “She is no more, Edge. We cannot save her. I doubt the message you recieved was hers to give. What you saw..........was an empty shell.“ Auron told the hotheaded youngster. Cloud whispered to Magus : “He’s young and foolish. Let it go.” Magus just smiled. Sabin was in doubt. He wanted to support his friend, but Magus’ aura was a powerful one. It stopped him from playing an active part and he was reduced to a spectator. Aeris felt uncomfortable. Whenever there were heated arguments, she would leave or stand at a respectable distance. Being on Cloud’s back made that rather difficult. Cloud turned to the rest: “Edge, follow orders or get the hell out of here. Auron, take the rear with Edge and Sabin, I’ll take point with Magus. Lets go!” The party continued up the stairway. Auron had been brooding and decided to try : “Edge.........when was Alma yours ? A member of Ganondorf’s faction and a Beoulve........” Edge looked away as he answered. He had known this question was coming, but it was not an easy topic for him. “ I would rather not discuss this. We fell in love when we were both 16...” “It was rumoured she was engaged to the son of Link and Zelda.” Auron persisted. “I lost her to him.........we were only together 2 short years.......too short..” Edge said flatly, obviously in deep thought. He seemed a thousand miles away. “I can’t understand how she ended up here........in this castle...” Auron nodded, satisfied with his answers. They remained silent the rest of the way up. Magus was the first to emerge from the stairway. Another door.... Maral Sector “Mario...........the vilest scumbag ever to grace Bhaktar. They shouldn’t allow something like you to have kids,” Max sneered. “N-n-na-n-now, Max, you don’t mean that.. “ Mario said nervously. ”Are you-a here for Crono? I have a special offer-a fo—“ Max grabbed Mario violently by his collar, and brought his face up to the point the noses almost touched. "I know you ain’t as stupid as you look. I need to know the location of the Resistance. And I need it now." Max let his gun slide along Mario’s face, making the fat Italian sweat bullets. “M-m--max, I h-h-h-h-haven’t seen Crono-a in a very long time-a. R-really Max-a, you have to believe me. I swear it-a on the life of my precious Bella !” The plumber nodded his head toward Peach. Just then a loud clunk was heard, as Peach closed the large metal door to the backroom and locked it. Max looked at this scene with suspicion, which only grew after he witnessed how nervous Peach looked. “What’s in that room? “ Max asked urgently. “You’re hiding something in there, aren’t you?” “N-n-no Max-a, just the weapons. You’ve been in there before-a !” “Open it up. NOW.” Max hissed as he released Mario with a powerful shove. The plumber walked backwards, tripping over a basket of apples displayed for the customers. He quickly picked himself up and ran to the back as the apples spread out across the floor. I’ve got him scared alright, the little ****. Gotta keep it that way. Max leisurely began walking toward the backroom, picking up an apple along the way. He took a bite as he made his way over. Not half bad...........not half bad at all. Just as he got there he overheard Mario feverishly speaking to Peach “—at kinda trouble I’m in-a now ! Open the hatch, just to be-a safe-a. You should-a have never—Hey Max, I was just-a taking the keys from my Bella !” “Just do it, Mario. I ain’t got all day.” Max said as he tapped his foot impatiently. Mario quickly found the right key, but he took his time with turning the lock. Suddenly he twisted the key awkwardly and forcefully and broke it off, leaving half of it inside the door. He looked at Max with a remorceful expression, decidedly acted. “ I’m-a so sorry Max, I didn’t—” In a second Max had drawn his gun and shot the lock. Mario jolted at the attack his ears were subjected too. Max just moved in, looking too all corners. Mario followed. “You see-a , Max? Nothing here but dust and weapons.” he exclaimed. It was totally quiet in this small chamber, where Mario kept the good stuff. Max already saw a few things he would “confiscate” when he would leave. But first, he needed to investigate this. Max looked at Mario. He seemed at the point of nervous break-down. I know there is something here.......I just need to find it............or....frighten it. Max suddenly pulled a gun and fired a round into the floor. He heard a thud next to him, something had dropped from the ceiling. In a flash the room was filled with smoke. *cough* What the hell is going on ? Max was waving his hands in front of him, he couldn’t see anything, the smoke was making his eyes water. He tried to reach the door, but he had no idea where it was. A purple shadow of a lean figure entered and left his field of vision so fast he would have missed it had he blinked. He felt anxiety....panic even. A forceful blow to small of his back sent him reeling. Max held his hands high and anticipated a rather unfriendly encounter with a wall, but it never came. He was sent through the opening he had been searching for. Max turned around, dazzled but relieved. The smoke was absent here. YOU!!!!! “You AGAIN !! “ Max yelled. He was staring into the challenging, playful eyes of Sheik.....a glint in them both provoking and lethal. He was hiding an enemy of the state…….that idiot. He looked to his side to see a Mario that looked like he just wet himself.... Max focused on Sheik, but she was nowhere to be seen. Max looked frantic, pointing his guns everywhere in turn, expecting the little viper to strike again. For he first time in his life, Max feared a woman. The color purple entered his field of vision. He immediately shot two rounds, only to hit a piece of fruit. A stab of pain in his right ear coupled with the sound of something flying past him shocked Max. He closed his eyes and grabbed his ear…..all he got was a hand full of blood and pain in a part of his body that wasn’t there anymore. A metallic star-shaped object had cut his ear straight off. Max let out a growl. “ SHEIK ! You better hope I don’t find you !” I should have used my ability, goddamnit. I’m never this careless. Focus. Sheik was up against the ceiling, as she had been before. I’ll never understand why that woman hid me from the Alliance. And all those questions about Zelda……. Sheik saw Peach and Mario standing near an opening in the wall, behind one of the displays that had been shoved aside. An escape route……..alright, but you’re on your own after this. I am not going to be captured for a stranger......she was a fool for granting me a place to stay. I won't make the same mistake. Sheik threw yet another smoke-bomb and went straight through a high-up window in the process, causing pieces of glass to plummet down. Max turned towards the sound, but he already knew what happened. It was impossible to see a thing anyway. But he knew she had escaped again. He could feel a rage building up inside of him, that woman was a cause of frustration as well as anxiety. He knew he should have caught her, it would have meant a way up in the Alliance, hopefully to a rank where he wouldn't have to do the dirty work he so loathed anymore. Just giving orders.....that would make this so much easier. And now I let her slip away.. He started to tremble, angry at his own ineptness. "MARIO! Come out. I won't hurt you !" Mario........he's at fault here. He hid her, that disgusting little toad. I'll get him if it’s the last thing I do.......now.......focus... The world liquified as he had seen so many times, before returning to normal. Max Payne had utilized his ability, the reason why he was special. There was no doubt in his mind it would be too much for the little plumber to handle. He confidently moved through the smoke, which was as thick as a blanket, although clearing up a bit. Waving his hands he saw a sillhouette making its way toward what looked like an exit. So you've got an escape route, don't you coward? Let's see what good it'll do ya. A sweating Mario leaned over his workbench. Even in this smoke and dangerous situation he knew exactly where all his things were just by feeling his way over. Here it is-a! Mario put one hand against his sweating forehead. Was he really going to do this? I just need-a bit of luck-a. One-a shot. He looked up, hoping there was an entity somewhere that would answer his prayer. That's all I need-a. Max took aim. I got you by the balls, Mario. No cheap way out this time. Your luck has run......OUT. Max pulled the trigger. Mario almost bumped into Max from behind. Mamma mia, that was close. I can't miss now.. Mario swung his arm back, and prepared for to unleash the blow of the century....until he heard a brief high-pitched shriek that sounded awfully familiar. It-a couldn't be.... Looking past Max, he saw a body smacking into the ground with a flat thump. Mario's fingers went limp, and the hammer dropped down. Completely forgetting about everything else, he shoved Max aside and dove next to Peach's lifeless body, leaving a blustered Max Payne in his wake. Mario's face turned whiter then snow, and his hands automatically grabbed Peach's face. "Mon Cara Mia. Sweet Bella, wake up. Please, WAKE UP ! " Mario's voice revealed panic and helplessness. Sobbing like a displeased infant, releasing long, loud wails and cries, Mario bore no resemblance to the sleazy arms-dealer he always had been. Mario couldn't translate what he was feeling as anything but pain, but the truth is Peach was his anchor. As long as she, the epitome of innocence, believed in him, loved him even, he could go ahead with everything he wanted. He needed her purity so he could commit his below-the-belt policy. That's all he ever needed. Max was just standing there, watching it unfold. He felt like he had nothing to do with it. It just.......happened. Even though that's the way he felt, his conscience knew better. Over and over it repeated in his mind : I've murdered a woman and child.........I've murdered a woman....and child. Like a sledgehammer the irony smacked him in the face. "All those years ago....a g-g-guy from.....the Alliance....murdered my wife and child." Max spoke mostly to himself. He buried his face in his hands. " Oh God....what've I done? I've become what I spent all my ****in' life chasing, what HAVE I done?" Max muttered softly, his eyes switching rapidly. If there had been a shrink nearby he would have been taken in for examination immediately. His legs felt wobbly, his mind dazed, like he was on a tranquilizer. Mario........none of this would have happened if you hadn't hidden that fenix from me......I'm probably doing you a favor. I'll spare you the life...life?...what life.....the nightmares I've had for the last decade.. Moving like an automaton, Max walked forward until he was standing over Mario and now bluefaced Peach. Trembling all over his body, he slowly raised his gun. Mario looked up. His entire face was wet with tears. "You-a.....bastard." Max couldn't hear it anymore. He quickly pulled the trigger from up close, splattering Mario's brains all over his wife. With a snap in his step he turned around and walked out of the store. He grabbed a container of kerosene from the Lombardi, and spread the substance out across the shop. Then he picked up a grenade from one of the displays and went outside. Detached from all that he was doing, he pulled out the pin and threw in the grenade. He quickly entered the Lombardi and flew up. As the explosion faded away in the distance, Max Payne finally let it all out. He was sobbing, and no matter what he tried, there was no stopping it.... Beoulve Castle Magus stepped through the door into a hallway of freezing cold. The biting frost etched itself on all the walls in some sort of pattern. The frost seemed to be a series of symbols, some archaic dialect of a long forgotten language. The hallway sloped upward and curled around to the right. They gathered themselves as they continued onward. Every footstep they took brought them into a colder climate and an eerie mist seemed to emanate from some source up ahead. The party stopped all as one when they heard the drawing of a blade up ahead. Whatever that is up ahead, it’s not the worst... Somehow Auron knew this, and that knowledge sent shivers up his spine. He drew the Murasame, his faithful companion, “Show yourself, warrior, and meet your match!” Only cruel laughter came from the mist ahead, the insane cackle of pure madness, “Did you hear that Cyrus? He wants to challenge you!” There was a long silence, “Of course you’re right Cyrus, you must kill him for his insolence!” Cloud let Aeris out of her harness and put her on the ground as he stood over her to defend her. The rest of the party readied themselves for battle, “Look at that! His friends want to play, too! Voldo can play rough, though! Voldo has his own playmates!” Again that insane laughter echoed through the hallway. And then there was an enemy before him. A fallen warrior in armor bearing the beoulve crest, his eyes burned red with a demonic light as he raised his sword to attack. The Murasame went up to meet it in a flash, and then the deadly dance of steel began. Magus was surprised to see a snowy wolf appear out of nowhere, furious to do battle. The first thing it did was breathe a cloud of frost at him. He dodged just in time. He prepared to return the blast in kind. The ferocious blast of fire he sent raging at the feral beast missed as it showed surprising agility. Magus readied his Starscythe. A fist made of ice crashed into Edge, sending him flying into the wall. A towering Ice Golem turned to face Sabin. The brawler welcomed the challenge as he prepared to Suplex the giant brute. Using superhuman strength he lifted the golem high into the air and brought it crashing to the ground. The indestructible menace didn’t even seem to feel it. Meanwhile, Cloud faced the cruel man he assumed to be Voldo. With twin katars and a pale face hidden by wicked straps, the fell warrior grinned malevolently, “I shall feast on her flesh...” Cloud sprang into action, his Buster Sword came at Voldo from every angle, yet he managed to block every blow with his twin katars. Auron grinned as he cut into Cyrus with ruthless efficiency. With the Triforce had come great increases in his skills. Auron could also sense that all Cyrus’ soul really wanted was rest. Finally finding a fault in the man’s near flawless defense, Auron split the noble warrior in two with one mighty stroke of his Murasame. After receiving various wounds from the beast’s claws, Magus was finally gaining the upper hand. He had inflicted several wounds on the wolf and it was tiring. In one last desperate charge the wolf leapt for his throat, only to meet the cruel blade of Magus’ scythe. Sabin was barely holding his own as he dodged blow after blow from the Ice Golem. It was incredibly fast for its size and he needed a little time to concentrate on one of his special blitzes. Suddenly, out of nowhere a huge burst of fire plunged into the colossal giant. Edge drew his katana and nodded to Sabin as he went to do battle with it. Sabin focused all of his energy inward. Finally, with a cry of “Fire Dance!” beings of fire started leaping out of Sabin’s body. Each one looked exactly like Sabin. The Ice Golem, still recovering from Edge’s fiery blast as well as his unexpected onslaught, was caught completely by surprise as the “Fire Sabins” plowed into it with burning fists. It could not stand up to that assault for long and quickly collapsed into a harmless puddle of water. Cloud, frustrated with Voldo’s quick moves, cast haste on himself to compensate for the disadvantage. Voldo had no chance once his edge in speed was taken away, he quickly fell to Cloud’s implacable wrath. The group gathered close together so they could see each other in the blinding mist. Magus brushed some frost off of his shoulder, “Amateurs.... these pathetic imbeciles sicken me.” Auron looked at him intently, “Show some respect for the dead. One of them, at least, knew honor once...” with that he turned away and gazed off towards their destination. Cloud put Aeris back in the harness, getting ready to continue forward, “This is no time for cheap talk, people. We need to get moving.” And they travelled through the bleak drudgery of the endless white. Finally Auron called a halt as he found yet another door etched with frost covered runes. This is it... this is the true menace... All of them readied themselves for whatever lay on the other side of the door. Cloud gave them a plan of attack, they would all use fire magic on the esper on the other side of the door if it was, indeed, a creature of ice. Of them all, only Auron was left without a plan of attack, but he would improvise. Inside was the thick fog that pervaded the tower, all of it was up hovering near the ceiling. They were walking on a floor of ice and all throughout the cold was nearly unbearable. In the center of it all was a woman made of ice, not crystalline clear ice, but ice that froze the heart. Her eyes suddenly opened, chips of cruel malice, and she seemed about to speak. The party didn’t let her, they wanted to dispose of her as soon as possible. Magus cast a powerful fire spell, Edge used his own ninja blitz techniques to hurl fire at her, Cloud cast the most powerful fire spell he knew, and Sabin used his fire dance again. Unfortunately, the heat from all of these spells was so intense, that it melted the ice beneath their casters’ very feet, plunging them into the icy water below. All of the spells hit the frigid maiden dead on and she shrieked in agony. The inferno had not been enough to destroy her and she was enraged, “You dare to challenge me, Shiva, Queen of Despair!? Then die, worms!” The warriors had just gotten up for air when she hurled them down again with chilling breath. Then she closed up all the openings in sheets of ice, leaving the warriors no place to surface. Cloud desperately beat against the clear shield, trying to gain air for both himself and Aeris, while Magus, Sabin and Edge did the same. It was useless, the ice was simply too thick. Auron‘s sword plunged into her side and she howled in rage. She hurled him away from her, flew into the air and cast ice spell after cruel ice spell, pouring all of her rage into him. Auron despaired as he saw his friends uselessly beating their fists against the thick ice Shiva had put into place. He began to lose consciousness, but something inside his mind refused to give up. Suddenly a course of action became clear to him. His right hand glowed with a golden light as he took the Murasame in hand and plunged it into the frozen floor. Shiva looked on in shock as cracks spread like spider webs all over the floor, completely decimating it. The Power of the Triforce lifted Auron up into the air as he plunged his sword into her cold heart. Her last piercing scream tore through the room as she melted into nothingness. With her death the biting cold cut out and the water and mist disappeared as if they had never existed. The companions found themselves on the true ground, several feet beneath the door. They took a good amount of time to rest up and recover from their ordeal. Auron felt compelled to investigate the room, ever since he had acquired the Triforce, he had learned to trust his instincts.. As he circled it a portion of the wall started to glow, he glanced at it warily. The thing was like some incredibly tall doorway, it spread all the way up to a point a bit above the place where the sheet of ice had been. Magus was baffled, “Are you a Beoulve, Auron? I’ve heard tell of these ‘shining portals’ that they used, but only members of the family could use them. How can this be?” Auron withdrew the Murasame and examined it intently, near the hilt there was still blood on his sword from killing Cyrus, “It’s Cyrus’ blood on my sword. That’s the only explanation. It would also explain why the light is so weak...” Cloud looked at the thing dubiously as he made sure Aeris was alright, “Where would it take us?” Auron felt a deep sense of right, “I don’t know, but... something tells me that it is the right path to walk.” Magus concurred, “It will probably take us somewhere in the castle.” Cloud nodded, “Alright, but we all go in, ready to fight! Who knows what’s over there.” The others nodded and geared up. Cloud carried Aeris through first, then came Edge and Sabin. Magus’ eyes met Auron’s, “You’re the only one with sense left in the Resistance. If I should die... keep Crono in line.” Auron merely nodded as Magus stepped through, Auron entered last. Cloud had already set Aeris down as they all stared at the back of a man, a man with a blue aura surrounding him. They were in what seemed to be a reception chamber for the Throne room, and torches lit it up only dimly. The place where one would expect the door to the throne room to be was shrouded in darkness and the man simply looked into it. Auron looked behind them to see a skeletal mage in purple robes staring at them and quickly alerted the others. “So, you’re finally here!” The man turned around. Everybody gasped in surprise, it was Ryu! “I see you’ve met my friend Thanatos over there. But have you met Mother?” An abomination floated out of the darkness, with a hideously deformed face. Magus’ eyes widened, “Jenova!” Choice 3 What should the party do? 1)Magus should attack Thanatos; Sabin should attack Ryu; Auron, Edge, and Cloud should attack Jenova. 2)Edge and Sabin should attack Thanatos; Cloud should attack Ryu; Auron and Magus should attack Jenova. CHOSEN 3)The party should focus all their firepower on Jenova and then take out the rest. 4)The party should charge Thanatos, overpower him, and flee in search of the rest of their comrades. Authors: Shake & Oddity Back Home