Chapter 1 of 2
In a random bar inside of a random town, the sound of gunshots and shattering glass rings all around. The shots are being aimed at a large, round table turned over. The table conceals 2 characters, one very use to such a situation, the other with no clue of why it happened.
Squall: *Back pressed onto the other side of the table* All I wanted to do was ask a few simple questions! How the hell did it escelate into this!?
Vash: I don't know. Besides, *Shrugs* it's not like this hasn't happened before.
Squall: *Looks at Vash pointedly* People don't really like you, do they?
Vash: *Chuckles weakly* Let's just say I have a--
Vash is cut off sligtly by a bottle breaking over the top of a table, sprinkling them both with Vodka.
Vash: *Spits* ... a reputation.
Squall looks over the edge of the table only to duck back down as a bottle of Wiskey flies overhead.
Squall: You'd figure they'd run out by now. I'm going to finish this.
Vash: What are you gonna do? Knock the bottles and bullets back with your *Looks at the weapon in Squall's belt*.... sword... pistol... WHAT IS THAT THING ANYWAY???
Squall: It's called a GUNBLADE.
Vash: Does it Shoot?
Squall: Not exactly.
Vash: Then I don't suggest trying anything. Besides, that "Gunblade" is probably the reason this whole thing started.
Squall: If you had just stepped outside like I asked you to, this wouldn't have happened! We could have been...
Vash's eyes widen as he looks through the only shard of glass sticking out of the windowsil.
Squall: What?
Squall turns to the window shard to see a reflection of the bartender holding a wisky bottle with the top lit on fire.
Vash: Did I ever apologise for this?
Squall: No...
Vash: OK. Just checkin'...
The Bartender throws the Moltov Cocktail at the table setting it ablaze.
Squall: OK! WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!
Vash: Grab that leg of the table.
Squall: What!?
Vash: *Grabs a seperate leg* JUST DO IT!!
Squall: FINE!
Squall and Vash grab seperate legs of the table. As Vash hastily stands up, Squall follows suit, lifting the table. Vash and Squall make a dash for the exit as the bartender lights another bottle. As they reach the exit, the bottle smashes into the table coating it completely in fire. The two drop the table and run accross the street to dive behind a few bushes. The two of them pop their heads over the top to veiw the bar. A few cars carrying cops in them pull up to find the front door of the bar on fire.
Squall: Great... NOW the cops show up... They couldn't have been here earlier to get rid of the crazy barkeep.
Vash: They showed up TOO early for me, we need to leave.
?????: What are you 2 doing?
Vash turns around to see Gaara standing behind them, Squall keeps his eyes on the bar.
Vash: Hey there, Sandy.
Gaara: You didn't answer me.
Vash: Oh we're uh...
Squall: Trying to get away from a bunch of idiot cops.
Gaara: *Looking at Vash*
Gaara: Why is it that every time we--
Vash: SHH!! They'll hear us.
Squall: I think they did.
Vash looks toward the bar and notices policemen walking toward the bushes.
Squall: So what's your plan this time?
Vash: I vote "run". Running works!
Gaara: Follow me.
Squall: What, Why? Who are you anyway.
Garra: Can we save the introductions for AFTER we get to a safe place.
Vash: I'm with Sandy.
Gaara glares at Vash. Squall begins to question, but at that moment voices shout at them, questioning who they were. At this point, the three of them bolt into an alleyway. The cops give chase.
Squall: Great, What do we do NOW?
Gaara: Just follow me and I'll get us out of this.
Squall: Whatever you say, Sandy.
Gaara: That's NOT my name.
Gaara leads them to a childrens playground, built on a huge sand turf.
Vash: *Smiles* Oh, I get it.
Squall: Get what? We're in a stupid kiddy park.
Gaara walks into the sand. Vash and Squall stay clear.
Garra: Hold your breath, when you jump in.
As he says this, Gaara begins to sink into the sand until he is completely submerged. Squall stares at where Garra disappeared, shocked at what he had seen. Vash looks down. He shrugs his shoulders.
Vash: Well, what can you do?
Vash holds his nose and hops into the sand. As he touches down, he sinks into it like water. Squall takes a step back.
Squall: What the hell is going on?
?????: *Distant* I think they're over there!
Squall: Damn!
Squall steps back toward the sand and touches his boot down to it. The sand is ominously loose and his boot sinks as far as he pushes it down. As it gets to his ankle, he pulls his foot out. Squall, looking nervous, begins to place his foot back in the sand. As his foot touches the sand, Vash's gloved hand pops out of the sand and grabs Squall by his ankle, Dragging him down in an instant; the three of them are gone. The two Cops reach the playground.
Cop 1: I saw one of them over here.
Cop 1 steps down on the sandy playground, somehow not sinking like the others.
Cop 2: You sure? I don't see anybody.
Cop 1: I SWEAR I saw one with a sword. The barkeep said something about it.
Cop 2: Screw it, they're long gone by now. Besides, we got a big enough mess to clean up an the bar.
Cop 1: Yea, I guess you're right.
Cop 2: Comon, let's head back.
Cop 2 starts walking back toward the bar. Cop 1 makes one more quick sweep of the area.
Cop 1: Where the hell did he go?
Cop 1 starts to walk back to the bar. A minute or so later, Vash's hand pops out of the sand again. This time touching ground to pull himself out. He makes his way out, still holding Squall's boot in his hand, absent of Squall. Vash looks around, covered in sand.
Vash: Now, where did he go?
Squall crawls out of the sand about 20 feet away from Vash, gasping and hacking, spitting sand from his mouth. Squall, too, is covered.
Vash: Oh, there you are... How'd you get over there?
Squall: What...the FUCK...was that?
Gaara slowly lifts fom the sand, his arms crossed, not a sprinkle of sand on him it seems.
Gaara: I told you to hold your breath.
Squall gets up and goes to a small water fountain to wash out his mouth. Vash shakes the sand out of his coat and his hair. After the two clean themselves off, introductions are made between Gaara and Squall.
Vash: OK, now THAT is settled.
Squall: Now back to my questions.
Vash: AWW COMON!
Squall: I'm sorry, but I need to know how you're so different from others.
Gaara: You carry a Gunblade and I control sand, I think we're all different.
Squall: Granted, but at least you're Human.
Vash: *Wide eyed* Wait, hold on! How can you tell THAT!?
Squall: It's a bit complicated. But I guess I shouldn't worry about it. Besides, you aren't the reason I'm here anyway.
Gaara: Then what is?
Squall reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. He holds his hand out to reveal a fairly large key (about the size of a fork) with a lion's head for the loop, and a strange looking tooth.
Garra: An interesting looking key. Where did you get it?
Squall: Not really sure, but I've been trying to find the door that goes with it.
Vash: Well I guess it makes sense, find a key... gotta have a door.
Gaara: Now that I think about it... *Picks up the key, looking at the lion's head* I saw a design like this on a door somewhere in the alleys.
Squall: Do you remember where?
Gaara: I do.
Vash: WELL THEN! *Stands in attention toward the alley they ran out of. Points to the alley with a very stern expression* FORWARD MEN!!
Gaara gives the key back to Squall, who puts it in his pocket, and they start to walk toward an alley to Vash's left.
Gaara: Vash, it's this way.
Vash: *Keeping exact stance and expression* Right then!
Vash walks sideways toward the alleyway for about 10 feet or so, then runs up to catch up with Gaara and Squall. Halfway down the 3rd or so alleyway, Squall stops and motions for the others to do so.
Gaara: *Whispers* What is it?
Squall: I could swear there's...
Squall makes a quick sharp turn down an alley. Gaara and Vash follow. As they make the turn they see Squall about 5 feet in front of them, facing the other end of the alley. At the other end of the alley, Sesshomaru walks slowly forward.
Squall: You're kidding me... *Prepares to draw his Gunblade* another one!?
Sesshomaru: Well then, I take it I'm not the first demon you have seen...
Squall: Is that what you call yourself?
Vash: Wait... ANOTHER ONE!? I'm NOT a demon!
Squall: I didn't say either of you were! He just spoke of himself as a demon.
Sesshomaru: That's because I AM a demon. You can leave your weapon be; If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already.
Squall leers at Sesshomaru for a moment and lets go of the handle of his Gunblade.
Squall: So, what's your name, demon?
Sesshomaru: I am called Sesshomaru. And yourself?
Squall: Squall Leonheart.
Sesshomaru: Now that introductions have been made, will you tell me what you meant by "Another one"?
Squall: It's just that you're the second person I've run across that has the same aura signature as a GF, the first being Vash over there. Sesshomaru: GF? What is that?
Vash: *Mimicing a cat face* It stand for Girlfriend!
Squall: *Raised eyebrow* Wha?
Vash: It because you have such beautiful girlish looks that he want's... *Remembers Squall saying HE was the first* *Eyes Widen* HEY!!
Squall: *Grim expression* That's not what it means.
Vash: Oh... *Looks around wide eyed* Ok... *Walks behind Gaara to keep from Squall*
Squall: *Sigh* GF stands for "Guardian Force". A Guardian Force is a Sentient, Non-Human Creature that has well above average power.
Vash: Oh, ok... I get it now. So... how is it that you can tell we aren't human?
Squall: I've had traning in sensing creatures like that.
Sesshomaru: I see...
Squall: Ok, so you call yourself a demon.
Sesshomaru: Correct.
Squall: Ok, but Vash...
Vash: *Chuckles weakley* Well... I guess you could call me a... plant?
Squall: *Wide Eyed* Be-beg... pardon?
Vash: Heh... yea, that's why I don't really talk about it... Kinda don't make sense.
Sesshomaru: So, what exactly are you people doing wandering the alleyways?
Gaara: We have a key that leads to a door I found. We were going to open the door and see where it leads.
Sesshomaru: What key?
Squall pulls out the key and hands it to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru holds the key in his hands and feels a strong energy emenating from it. Sesshomaru's eye flash red for an instant, and he gives the key back to Squall.
Squall: You alright?
Sesshomaru: It's nothing. I think I'll accompany you in your endeavor.
Gaara: The more, the merrier.
Squall: I guess...
?????: HEY YOU!
They all turn to the direction of the voice to see 3 cops at the end of the alley Sesshomaru just came from.
Vash: IIIEEE!!!!!
Squall: Run!
Sesshomaru: Let me handle this.
Squall: What? NO! We aren't hurting any cops around here...
Sesshomaru: Grr... Fine...
They run down the alleyway avoiding the cops as best as possible. After about a 15 minute persuit, they lose them.
Vash: Well, that was fun.
Sesshomaru: You should have just let me kill them.
Squall: Next time, you can. I don't even care anymore.
Gaara: We're here.
Gaara faces an old-looking door with a Lion's head matching that of the key carved into the key panel. Sesshomaru feels a strong energy similar to that of the key coming from the door and whatever may beyond.
Sesshomaru: Indeed.
Vash: The key?
Squall: Yeah.
Squall reaches for the key. As he starts to pull it out:
?????: There they are!
Squall: Damnit!
Cops are on both sides of the alley way. They begin to move forward. Sesshomaru begins to make a move toward them.
Gaara: Sesshomaru, get back!
Sesshomaru Leaps back to Gaara, and 2 pillars of sand shoot up and block both sides from entry.
Gaara: Hurry up!
Squall: Alright! Shut up!
Squall pushes the key into the keyhole, and turns the key. The door flies open and a bright light shines from within and a loud roaring sound pierces their ears. The cops try to push through the sand shooting up, but the force of which its coming up is too strong.
Squall: What the hell!?
Vash: What's going on!?
The light from the door gets brighter and the roaring sound gets louder, until they are completely engulfed into the light.
Suddenly the sand stops shooting and falls to the ground. The cops have their guns ready, but the only thing they see is the other cops across from them.
No light.
No door.
The only thing that seems to be left is the sand on the ground, and the distant echo of the roar that was.
Chapter 2a of 2ab
The four of them find themselves In a large, cylindrical room made of large stones. There are windows sealed by wooden caging. Sunlight billows from the four windows in the room. Aside from the four of them, the only thing in this large room is an alter and a large statue of a beautiful woman with 3 pairs of feathered wings wearing a gown. The woman has her arms laying at her side, and her head down. The door is nowhere to be found.
Vash: Um... where are we?
Sesshomaru: On the other side of the door, it would seem. Where that is or even where the door is...
Gaara: So we're stuck in here, I'm guessing.
Squall paces the outer area of the room, looking for any signs of a door, but finds noting. He attempts to move the wdden bars, but they have no give at all. All he sees when he looks outside is the sky surrounding them.
Sesshomaru: We should look for a way out.
Gaara: No shit. But judging from our only member NOT in this conversation, I'd say there's no door out; he's been pacing the edge of the room for a while now.
Vash: Well has anyone thought to try looking at the only other two things in here besides us?
Sesshomaru: *Walks to the alter* There's a tablet inbedded into the stone alter.
As he says this, the others walk to the alter to look at the tablet that is written upon as such:
lay in wait For thee, doth the trial Of fate.
ever changing throUghout foR its champions.
Beyond the veil of tribulations, Your destiny dOth lie.
maNy have followEd the paTh tHat liEs before you.
maNy have lOst themselves to the NightmarE Buried whithin.
Yet, throughouT the eons, Would-be herOes
find Themselves witHin thE lair.
ever Changing foR anY who believe to be
Strong enough To chAllenge what Lies in wait.
Some hAve found Remnants of thEir pasTs.
otHers havE faced demons wiThin.
all walking the path to Reveal that beyond the veIl.
speak to the goddess, your pAth to the veiL, and the doorS shall open.
Gaara: O...k... We need to speak to the Goddess.
Sesshomaru: I'll venture that the statue is the goddess.
Vash: *Staring at the Goddess's chest* Wooooow.... she's pretty...
Gaara: Thank you Vash. What would we do without you?
Sesshomaru: We need to find a way out of here. That stone is the key, somehow.
Gaara: Vash...
Vash: *Drools*
Gaara: VASH!!!
Vash: *Snaps back into reality* Huh? What?
Gaara: We're trying to figure out how to get out, and Sesshomaru thinks the tablet may hold a secret.
Vash: *Still looking a the Goddess* Well maybe it has something to do with the capitalised letters.
Gaara: Come again?
Vash walks over to the tablet. Everyone follows him. They circle the alter, all looking upon it.
Vash: Look at it. Only certain letters are capitalised. It probably means something.
Squall looks down at it and searches for capitalised letters.
Vash: Hey Squall, do you--
Squall: SHH!!!
Gaara: Let's just let him do it, since he's so into it right now...
After about three minutes or so:
Squall: *Wispering to himself* F O... E N O N E B Y T W O T H... S T A L S A R... L S F O... T H E... T W O T H E... C R Y S T A L... H E T... I've got it.
Sesshomaru: You had better. I've waited long enough...
Squall walks over to the goddess statue in the middle of the room. The goddess moves her head to stare into Squall's eyes.
Goddess: What is your path to the Veil?
Squall: Four by one, then one by two. The crystals are the trials.
The Goddess nods her head and begins to fade.
Goddess: Good luck...
As the goddess fades away, a spiral stairway begins to fade in. When the goddess has completely vanished, the stairway leading up causes the roof to shift, and the stones around the stairway dissappear, leaving a hole where the stairs continue.
Squall: looks like we're going up...
Sesshomaru: Finaly, some progress...
Vash: So who's goin in first?
Everyone is looking at Vash.
Vash: Sigh... Like I didn't see THAT one coming...
Vash slumps up the sairway, muttering to himself something about how he "Always has to go in first".
After a few moment of nothing, Vash shouts at them that the coast is clear, and the team ventures up the stairs. After a small bit of climbing, they reach a room similar to the one they just left exept instead of an alter or statue, there is a long crystal touching the floor on a long point, reaching about 5 feet up from the floor.
Vash: Ok, I played scout, you guys get to figure out the puzzle.
Squall: Fine...
The three of them look for clues around the area before examining the crystal. Vash falls asleep on the floor as they approach the crystal.
Gaara: The crystals are the trials... Does that mean we have to destroy it?
Sesshomaru: I doubt it is that easy.
Squall: Well, we need to try something. Just staring at it will accomplish nothing.
Sesshomaru: Well, then by all means... have at it.
Sesshomaru and Gaara step away from the crystal. Squall stares into it for a moment.
Squall: The crystals are the trials...
Squall reaches to touch the crystal, as his hand moves closer, he feels as if a vacuum is pulling him to it. He pulls his hand back.
Gaara: What is it.
Vash: *mumbling* mm...smore... d'nuts please
Squall places his hand onto the crystal and he is swept by a tempest, not strong enough to move him, but not weak by any means. A bright flash and the room changes. The others are gone. The stone room has been replaced with a floor made of what looks like clear crystal tiles. The floor streches beyond view. Above and below him, he sees the night sky. Though a light from a unknown source seems to radiate so that all can be seen. A crystal similar to the one in the room before hangs in the sky upside-down from how it stood before. It now resembled a drop of water streched out a bit longer.
Squall: Hmph... So, now what?
?????: *From behind* Well, well... What do we have here?
Squall turns around just in time to dodge a steely blade coming at him. He jumps back to look at his opponent, who sneers at him, mockingly.
Squall: ... Seifer.
Seifer: Glad to see you know me, that saves time for introductions.
Squall: What are you talking about?
Seifer: So, who might I be killing today, hmm? You got a name or just a death wish?
Squall: You know who I am, Seifer. Stop playing games.
Seifer: *Shrugs* 'fraid not. But, I guess it doesn't matter anyway. I don't mind killing another nameless weakling.
Squall: If you really think you can take me down, *Draws his Gunblade* then come at me.
Seifer lunges forward with a yell, holding his Gunblade into the air. Squall dodges to the side, avoiding the blade.
Fast-talkng Spokesperson:
AND THE BATTLE BEGINS!!! The two opponents are coming at each other in full swing, LITERALLY! There they go with a swing and a block and a swing and a block and a swing and a block and a swing and a SLICE! whooo... That's gonna leave a scar. And, Seifer has drawn first blood. Hope Squall can get that jacket fixed. But, he doesn't have time to call a tailor now. Seifer's comin' a him, without giving Squall time to catch his breath. Wow, that hit seemed to knock Squall for a loop. He can barely block Seifer's blows now. But don't count Squall out yet, now Seifer's been put on the defensive. Squall managed to sneak a blow in there. What's that behind Seifer's back? OH NO!!! Squall is blasted back by the Fire spell. Squall needs to regain his composure before Seifer puts a second scar on his face. HA! Looks like Squall won't fall for that a second time. Squall's got Seifer's blade in his hand, holding it back, man that's gotta sting... but better that a vital hit I guess. OH MAN!! ! Seifer fired a shot, blowing squall's hand off the blade! I'm surprised he even HAS a hand after that! Squall's other arm has gone limp from the shock, it seems. Seifer shoots another Fire spell, but what's this?! Squall bats the fireball back to Seifer like a baseball! Seifer's stunned! What's gonna happen now? Wait! What is Squall doing? Could that be? IT IS! Squall unleashes LIONHEART while Seifer is defenseless! Wow... look at those damage numbers! 5000, 6000, man I can't even count that high! Seifer plummets to the ground. It looks like he's not moving...
AND THAT'S THE GAME!!! SQUALL WINS!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
For those of you tuning in, no I'm not doing this for all the battles... boredom is the devil...
Squall reappears in the stone room with the other three, somehow healed of the damage bestowed from his fight. As Squall returns, the crystal shatters and melts into the floor.
Gaara: *Kicks Vash* Get up! He's back.
Vash: Alright! STOP KICKING ME!!!
Sesshomaru: Well?
Squall: It seems we have to fight something involving ourselves when we touch the crystals.
Vash: *Sitting on the floor* Well, who did you have to fight?
Squall: No one worth mentioning really...
And another stairway appears, and they walk up. Blah, blah, blah... Another room and another crystal.
Squall: So, who's gonna do this one?
Gaara: I'll do it.
Vash: Can I go LAST?
Squall: ...Whatever...
Vash smiles as Gaara vanishes the moment he touches the crystal.
Rewards:
Squall receives 4,861 Experience and a Pandemona card.
Sesshomaru receives 10,334 Experience and a Tonberry card.
Vash receives 6,891 Experience and a Quezacotl card.
Gaara receives 6,891 Experience and a Brothers card.