Geneforce Christmas; Curse of Endless Winter

A friend network is quite strange really... Ah. I'm getting ahead of myself. What? Who is this? Why, I'm insulted! How could you not know who I am! ...Well then. I'm the narrator, Neon! Vein didn't want to do it, and everyone else is in the story! OH! Anything written is Neon Pink will be me of course~ A-Anyways... Getting back on track...












"That doesn't answer my question!" The lady snapped. "Who ARE YOU?"


[ltr]"My name is Luminere Verla Cerzan Lumos. The Archer of Light and Final Shot of Princess Luna's Personal Guard." She said strongly, adding in a salute. "Now why don't you all introduce yourselves, so I can finally explain the situation."[/ltr]


[ltr]"My name is Rocky, and this is Fernia" she gestured to the ferret, "and Decoda." she waved to the guinea pig. "We're from Tropic... but we hardly know the princess."[/ltr]


[ltr]"I see... You probably have met on some accord... And you guys?" Luminere turned to Xanthos and his group.[/ltr]


[ltr]"I am Xanthos Ali-"[/ltr]


[ltr]"I know you! Luna speaks highly of you, as well as her Friends from Kokugen. I'm not entirely sure of the Tropican group however..." She grinned apologetically as the Tropicans growled at her. Luminere turned away and placed the bow on her back, the arrows dissolving from her hand. "Xanthos. Pennatus. Vaesyr. Blastion. Wrave. Castien. You all have done mi'lady a great service at some point. I'm honored to have you all here to help."[/ltr]


[ltr]"Well, Why don't you tell us what the damn problem is here!" Rocky began to sound incredibly annoyed.[/ltr]


[ltr]"...Please. Have a seat then." The fox-folk motioned to the floor, to which everyone sat down. "Those of you who know Miss Luna, know of her sister, Charisma. She's a dark, vile being. Tainting the world with her necromantic abilities. Luna has disappeared, as well as Charisma, and the Scepter that can control the great beast Deitengu." she began pacing, lighting up her fingertips. "I have all the reason to believe that she's the one who took them. So, I sent out invitations to people Luna knew or knew of. Resulting in you all being here."[/ltr]


[ltr]Everyone stared at Luminere trying to figure out how to even react. The turned and talked amongst themselves for a few, before they looked at the elf and nodded.[/ltr]


[ltr]"Fine," Decoda spoke up. "What do you need us to do?"[/ltr]


[ltr]Luminere smiled brightly, as she dropped to her knees with the rest of them. She pulled out a map and rolled it out; a layout of the castle.[/ltr]


[ltr]"Alrighty then~ This here is what the castle looks like. What we should do is split up into three groups. One searches in the Castle, one searches the outer grounds, and the last group can take the underground. They could be anywhere..." she looked around at everyone as they studied the map. "We'll have team Kokugen, Team Tropic, and Team Anount. Pick your mark, then pick a leader. Leader get this." she held up a small crystal disc. "Its a Holo-crystal. Think about the person or people that have a disc you want to communicate with, and presto! You'll appear as a hologram to whoever you wanna talk to!"[/ltr]


[ltr]Everyone looked to each other and nodded. Rocky, Xanthos, and Blastion all took a disc and stowed it away before deciding where to go. After a couple minutes of discussion, it was decided; Team Kokugen would search the Outside, Anount would search in the castle, and Tropic would get the underground. Luminere decided that she would pick up the skies since Luna, Charisma, AND Deitengu were capable of flight. When the front doors were thrown open and the search was to begin, the group was met with a harsh wind and the sting of frozen rain pelting their bodies.[/ltr]


[ltr]"Everyone stay close," Blastion warned as his body began to heat up rapidly. The lava coursing through his tail boiled as he produced enough heat so the could wouldn't affect them too badly as they searched. "I'll try to keep the heat on."[/ltr]


"Good luck on your search. I'll go into the town and see if anyone has seen them" Luminere shouted over the wind, then running out into the storm. A dragon's roar was heard, as well as the slight woosh of it's wings as it managed to take off.
























The three immediately scattered as a third arm, (yes, a third arm~) slammed down, a shock wave rippling through the battlefield. Castien stood towards the back, hands together like he was praying. Electricity crackled in the air around him as a seal appeared on the ground around him. It glowed in a bright yellow light, turning into a reddish-orange.


"COVER ME!" He shouted, shutting his eyes and starting to mutter an incantation.


Wrave raised his hand to the skies and spoke something. A dagger descended from the skies and placed itself gently in his hand. It wasn't anything special; just a simple dagger. No upgrades, no magical properties. Just... a dagger. He took a stance, and held out the hand with the dagger as small wisps of wind wrapped around it's hilt. It rose into the air and stayed there motionless, as if waiting a command. With a wave of his hand the dagger flew through the air, following his every motion. The weapon slashed and stabbed at the large creature, merely annoying it more then anything. The living corpse gripped the ground and charged at Wrave, but had it's actions halted by a blast of condensed lava. It shook it's head and let loose another roar, bits of flesh and unidentified fluids flew from its jaws.


"Any day now, Cas!" Blastion shouted, as a claw slammed him into a wall. He slid to the ground, blood dripping from his nose.


"...gla...thme...ere...ner!" Castien finished, his eyes lighting up. the electricity in the air flew to his hand and formed a ball of light. He aimed at the beast and exhaled launching a beam of light. It smashed through the frame of the large undead, frying most of it. The creature roared an ungodly sound and teetered, but caught itself. As it righted itself, a large rotted tail sprung from it's rear and swiped at Castien. He managed to dodge it, but not before the tip caught him in the chest. His clothes tore and a gash formed, electricity bursting from the wound. The mouse roared in pain as the energy sporadically ruptured from the wound. Castien's body crackled and sparked as electricity poured from his body.


"Cas!" Blastion picked himself up, leapt over a tail sweep, and grabbed onto his friend. He felt the electricity rip through his body, but he somehow managed to cling to consciousness as he coated his hand in lava and began to cauterize the wound. Castien let out another roar, which sounded more like a pained screech. "I got ya..." The firefox sat his friend against the wall and knelt down. "Wrave! Fight that shit so I can get Cas back in the fight!"


"On it!" Wrave leapt up as wings made up of condensed wind, mixed with small particles of a light blue energy, materialized at his shoulder blades. He flew around the beast, dodging it's swings and snapping jaws, slashing at it with zephyrs of wind and his floating dagger. The falchidna held his arms out to the sides and formed almost invisible blades then launched them at the monstrous creature. The wind slashed deep into its rotted flesh. Large chunks fell to the ground, but this creature wasn't done. It leapt into the air, jaws opened wide, and swallowed Wrave whole. 


"WRAVE!" Blastion yelled out, leaning his now unconscious friend up against the frozen wall. He ran over to the monster and dug his claws into it's leg, lava coursing up his appendage and over the creature's body. "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, SHIELD YOURSELF!" The creature was soon completely coated in lava, as was Blastion. With a loud ear splitting roar, the creature was dissolved into a pile of smoldering ash and cooling magma. A fluid and soot covered Wrave staggered out of the mess, the shield he put up finally dissolving. The bird dropped to his knees, most of his energy expended to keep himself from being burned alive.


"I'm... I'm alright..." He panted, crawling over to Castien. "Is he?"


"Yeah, he'll be alright." Blastion pulled out the disc and contacted Luminere, Rocky, and Xanthos. He was about to establish a connection with the fellow groups when a feminine laugh pierced the wintry air around them. Charisma stepped out of the Ice wall which sunk back into the ground, her winter cloak billowing in the harsh winds. Her violet eyes stared at the two conscious males and she smirked. A scythe shimmered on her back, glowing with an unnatural energy.


"I see you all managed to beat my little pet~" She giggled evilly. "You better be enjoying this little Metzir celebration, gentlemen. It's going to be a VERY long winter~"


"Wh-what...? What are you talking about..." Wrave gasped out, slowly getting back to his feet. They were in no shape to fight, be he would if he had to. Charisma laughed out loud, it echoing through their ears and sending chills rippling down their spines.


"How does an Endless winter sound?~ Everything will freeze over, Luna will no longer be herself, but Deitengu! I will finally rule, Winter will be endless, and Anyone who survives can celebrate Metzir by not freezing to death!" She laughed again. "It will only stop if you can beat me in the end!" She dissolved into nothing, revealing that it was only a clone.


Blastion slammed a fist into the ground and growled in rage. How dare she not see them as threatening! He looked at the disc and contacted the others.


"Nothing out here... Just a Charisma Clone and a giant undead beast she summoned to fight us. Castien is out cold (all of the puns intended), and Wrave just got out of the beast's stomach... Over and Out." he turned to Wrave and nodded. "Lets get back into the castle before we freeze out here..."


























It skidded across the slashed marble flooring, keeping itself upright by digging it serrated claws into the gashes it had made before. It stood there for a couple seconds, watching Pennatus fly about, and Xanthos move at lightning fast speeds. (Huehuehue more puns~ ... You don't get it? 'Cause he's a... lightning ninja...? I'll get back to the story now...) It swung itself around and body slammed into the lavaborn who was creeping up behind it. Vaesyr slammed into a pillar, the wind knocked out of him. He slid to the floor and coughed, standing up and staggering a bit out of dizziness. Once he shook of the disorientation, he was ready to fight again. Beowulf (As the pup will be known as now~) followed Pennatus's flight pattern, memorized it, then made it's leap. His jaws snapped shut on her leg and he dragged her to the ground. It pinned her under it's large paws and dove at her face.


Her reaction time was flawless. His snout smashed into a shield she summoned to protect herself. A bit confused, he dove again, meeting the same result. So instead of continuing to fail, her snarled in her face and tossed her aside like a broken toy. Beowulf turned his attention to the ninja leaping about. He let out a sudden roar, startling the cat who instinctively clung to a curtain draped between a couple pillars. The beast leapt up and snapped at Xanthos like it did Pennatus, but missed by mere inches. Xanthos charged his claws with lightning and slashed at Beowulf when he jumped up again, catching him in the nose. The dog backed off and tried nursing it's new would that crackled with lightning. While it was tending to itself, Vaesyr jumped onto it's back and held onto it's mangy fur. Beowulf ran about, slamming into wall, doors, doors and pillars to try and knock it's unwanted rider off.


"Vae, what the hell are you doing?!" Pennatus shouted, trying to figure out the reasoning behind the super clone's actions. She couldn't hear his response over the cracking of ice and mable. Instead, she raised her staff, pointed it at where Vaesyr would be in a few seconds, and fired a light green ray. As she predicted, it hit the lavaborne. "I boosted your durability! I'd rather your tombstone not say 'Died whilst riding a demented dog from Hell!'!" 


Vaesyr was finally thrown from the back of the hound and she skidded across the floor. A hole was burned into his shirt from the momentum, as well as some fur brush burned away. He got back up and spoke gently to his teammates.


"We can do this. We're like clockwork."


Wisps of red energy swirled about his teammates as his inspiration manifested as a boost to their fighting. Xanthos grinned as he pulled out a few shuriken, charged them with electricity, and threw them. Pennatus waved her staff, increasing the attack speed of her feline ninja friend. Vaesyr was right; they were like clockwork as they worked in time with each other. The floor around Beowulf became superheated as the young lavaborn focused his energy into his role.


Everything hit Beowulf at once, his howl of defeat slowly turning into a young puppy's whimper of pain. When the smoke the fight caused, cleared, the tiny pup was slowly starting to limp away. A large trail of blood following. It wouldn't last much longer if it wasn't treated. Xanthos, Pennatus, and Vaesyr looked at each other, and had a quick discussion about what to do with the dog.


"Well we sure as hell aren't keeping it." Vaesyr grunted, crossing his arms and wincing as he touched the burn. It stung quite a bit, but it would heal eventually.


"I don't want to leave it to die!" Pennatus argued, gently placing a hand to try and stop the bleeding. 


"...Then heal it and let it go. We're not bringing it with us, and it looks like it was lost here in the first place. Perhaps it will find where it's trying to go." concluded Xanthos as he brushed battle dust from his scarf. 


Pennatus smiled down at the little dog and began placing different buffs on it. After several long minutes and a lot of the Koko's energy being spent, the dog got up and walked away. She then explained that the buffs would wear off, but the effects has stopped it's suffering and allowed it to live. It would still be in quite a bit of pain for a while, but it would make a recovery.


"How cute~ You actually saved it in the end!" It was Charisma again. "I would have thrown something more difficult, but I need my strength to annihilate you all in my end game!" She stepped out from behind a pillar and sighed, looking around at the far less destruction she had hoped to cause. "It seems that was a bit too easy for you. Perhaps when you find the real me, I can provide a Challenge!"


Poof.


Xanthos grunted in annoyance as she disappeared. They always seem to think running from the good guys was the best option, but in the end, the good guys would catch up and win. He pulled out the small disc and reported in what happened. All that was left was Team Tropic...






























Rocky stamped her foot, earthen spick erupting from the ground below Deitengu. The large hound gave a single powerful flap of it's wings and rose into the air to avoid the spikes. Flight wasn't really an option for something of her size, but she would have to do it if she wanted to not be skewered by the rocks. With a flick of her hand, the spicks condensed into large boulders that were flung at Deitengu. She managed to dodge several, only to be hit by the rest. The rocks that struck the demon slowly began to melt into molten lava, searing Deitengu's flesh. The beast roared loudly and the launched large balls of ice down at the groups, who all managed to scatter. 


"Careful Blas!" Xanthos shouted, electrifying his muscles as he ran up the wall and leaped onto Deitengu's back. "This is still Luna!"


"I know! Otherwise it'd be completely melted by now!" Blastion retorted. He looked over at Castien who was finally getting up. The lightning mouse looked like he had seen better days, but the look in his eye told Blastion he wasn't about to keel over just yet. They both looked up at the demon who landed once more, trying to formulate a plan. The watched Wrave fly right for Deitengu, only to get swatted away fairly easily.


Vaesyr studied the battle, watching Blastion's movements as he controlled the magma with great ease. That was something he yearned to do as easily. He scratched his head and thought to himself, not flinching as Wrave was smashed into the wall next to him. The falchidna placed a hand on Vaesyr's shoulder and used him as a boost to get back up.


"Note to self; Headfirst is almost never the answer..." Wrave muttered.


Pennatus waved her staff around, bolstering the defences of her allies. She took a breath and began placing buffs on herself before she took to the air. She flew about, buffing each and every ally, more so a distraction for the Great Deitengu than anything at the moment.


Vaesyr stepped over to Rocky, Fernia, and Decoda and tilted his head at them. He blinked at them, studied them. When he was satisfied, he finally spoke.


"It will take a lot of energy, but If you can Fascinate and make it dizzy, you could cage it. If we can subdue the thing, we can win." As he spoke to them, red wisps of inspiration whirled about this group of fighters. "We trust in you."


He stepped over to Blastion and began copying his movements, working with the flow of molten rock not to hurt Deitengu, but keep it at bay. Xanthos climbed his way up to it's large ear and Yelled into it.


"LUNA, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I KNOW YOU'RE STILL IN THERE! YOU NEED TO CONTROL YOURSELF!"


A flick of her ear sent Xanthos crashing to the ground, however Penny was there in time to keep him from hitting the dirt. He smiled at her in thanks as she lowered him to the ground. He looked over to Decoda, who had pulled out a guitar and began playing it. Chords of music spiraled out of the instrument, mixing with the sound of the lullaby he was singing. It filled the cavern, and caused everyone to relax a bit, even Deitengu. While Decoda played his music, Fernia pulled a shit-ton of rope from her bag and tied it to the front paw of the demon. Once the knot was secure, she began to run around it's legs, wrapping it in rope until she was out.


Wrave flew up to ear level carrying Blastion (who needs to lay off the fire flakes, since I can see Wrave struggling from here! Jeez! Do you eat enough at home, you tubby fox!?) and setting him down where Xanthos was before he was thrown off. He stroked the thick fur behind the large beast's ear as they listened to the lullaby. Castien and Xanthos places their hand on several of the crystals and began channeling and transforming the energies in the rocks into their own personal supply. The light from the crystals dimmed, making the atmosphere very relaxing. Deitengu stumbled a bit, then fell over, as she tripped over the roping around her legs. 


"Now Rocky!" Fernia shouted.


The geomancer's eyes took on a bright green hue as the earth around Deitengu rumbled. Curved earthen spires rose up and around the now sleeping demon, caging it. Everyone slowly approached, eyes on Blastion, who was still in there with Deitengu.


"Luna~" He said softly, still stroking the fur. "Wake up. Everyone's here for Metzir, and you're missing out on all the fun~"


The room was filled with a bright glow as the demon's hold was resolved. Luna lay in the arms of the firefox, breathing peacefully. Her heterochromatic eyes slowly opening up as the crystals regained their bright glow. She sat up and looked at Blastion, then the cage around her, then everyone outside the cage.


"...What happened?" she asked, getting up off the ground and brushing some dust from her clothing. 


"Charisma has Deitengu's scepter" Xanthos explained as Rocky lowered the caging. "She ran off deeper into the caverns."


"Then we need to go get it!" Luna proposed heading off in the direction Xanthis inclined. Everyone nodded in agreement and followed the Ice Princess.


They finally reached the room Charisma had fled to, and were amazed at what they found. This room was much like the first crystal room, only bigger. Tables of ice and stone were placed everywhere, and there were many different foods set up. A large Tree stood in the center of the room, decorated in thousands of tiny crystals and dancing lights. Music was playing from some unknown source.


"...What is all this?" Rocky wondered in amazement. She approached the tree and reached for one of the lights which seemed to dance just out of her grasp.


"It's... It's a Metzir Celebration..." Charisma said as she approached from one of the sides. She was in a deep purple gown with little pink hearts along the hem. She held out the Scepter to Luna. "Think of it as a temporary truce..."


Luna took the scepter with wide eyes, then hugged her sister tightly. She giggled and looked the Black and pink hedgehog in the eyes.


"There's good in you yet!"


"Ho ho hold the f up, brat." she started, pushing Luna away. "As of tomorrow, I'm back to trying to murder your ass and taking over Iciaura for my own." she scowled, but then smiled a bit as she looked over at Xanthos, hiding her blush the best she could (It was still totally obvious!) and nodding. "But for now... We're acquaintances. Enjoy yourselves, everyone. Happy Metzir~"


"MERRY CHRISTMAS!!"