* Aika` clings tightly to Ambiel, glancing to the side every now and then as he and Cenn make their way to the first dark palace
<Aika`> ....
* Ambiel sits cradled in Aika's arms, staring wide eyed a the palace
* Cennarian` stares at the palace, a look of determination in his eyes
<Cennarian`> (Mack, we're coming for ya)
* Aika` looks behind them warily, and moves a bit closer to Cenn
<Aika`> ....how much longer do you think we'll have to walk?
<Cennarian`> I dunno..... we've been walking for two days now, and it seems to be another two days off.
<Aika`> ...do you think he's there?
<Cennarian`> I don't know.... I didn't see him in there when I did my little meditation bit, but they might have moved him.
<Aika`> ...what do you think they're doing to him?
<Cennarian`> dunno
<Aika`> . o O ( ...Mack... when we started, it seemed like it would be so easy, but now... )
* Cennarian` stares into space, trying to get a psychic lock on his friend
* Aika` concentrates on Mack, staring up at the Palace as he walks
<Cennarian`> He's..... he's.... he's...
* Cennarian` begins to spin like a compass needle
* Aika` blinks at Cenn
* Cennarian` points off to the left, in the complete opposite direction of the palace
* Aika` stares at him
<Aika`> ...Cenn?
<Cennarian`> sorry Ai
<Cennarian`> but I go where the psychic lock takes me
* Cennarian` suddenly whips around to point to the west
* Aika` tilts his head to one side
<Aika`> ...are you okay?
<Cennarian`> I.... I don't know...
* Cennarian` suddenly whips to the north and nearly sails from his feet
* Aika` watches him go
* Cennarian` falls flat on his face while pointing north
* Aika` drops into a crouch beside him
<Aika`> ...Cenn?
* Cennarian` spits out the mouthful of dirt he got while landing
<Cennarian`> my psychic compass is messed up
* Cennarian` feels himself being dragged to the north
<Cennarian`> or perhaps Mack is in that direction
* Aika` walks along by him
<Aika`> ...should I help you get up?
* Cennarian` stands up and winds up on his face again, his body being dragged by the pyschic force
* Aika` sighs and continues trotting alongside him
<Rapture`> help the master..... help him please
<Aika`> ...just try not to go over any sharp rocks or anything...
* Rapture` flaps down and sits on Cenn's head
* Aika` blinks at Rapture
<Cennarian`> easier said than done
* Aika` nods a bit
<Aika`> I'll try...
* Cennarian` crashes face first into a large boulder
* Aika` winces
<Cennarian`> owwwwwwwww......
* Aika` pads tentatively over to him and attempts to tug him to his feet
<Aika`> ...are you okay?
* Cennarian` feels himself being pulled into the boulder.... or to be more precise through the boulder
* Aika` squeaks and tries to pull him
<Aika`> Cenn@#%)(*#@(%)
<Cennarian`> spirits of earth, mother who nurtures all life, give me the strenght to break through my boundaries.
* Aika` chews his lower lip and looks on worriedly
* Cennarian` punches the rock with a glowing fist and cracks it in half
<Cennarian`> I forgot how to shut this psychic compass OFFFF!!!!
* Cennarian` gets dragged away again
* Aika` blinks and goes after him
* Cennarian` continues to be dragged away
* Rapture` flutters after her master before becoming the firebird again and grabbing Cenn around the waist with her talons
<Rapture`> master.... Cennarian. You must.... you must..... you must....
* Rapture` backflaps to keep steady
* Aika` watches them quietlyt
<Aika`> ...T_T
<Aika`> This isn't helping anything
<Cennarian`> AIIIIIII!!! How about a little help... I think I'm gonna be torn in half!
* Aika` squeaks and goes to grab onto Cenn's arms
<Aika`> ...what should we do?
<Cennarian`> I... I don't know. I can't shut it off
<Cennarian`> (Mack..... mack, help me. Help me please. I can't stop this psychic compass and I feel like I'm gonna be torn apart soon)
* Cennarian` feels a power flow through him, breaking down the psychic compass and leaving him weak
* Rapture` feels her master go limp and gently sets him down before reverting back to the tiny violet bird
* Aika` sits down next to him and rolls him to his back gently
<Aika`> ...Cenn?
* Cennarian` moans
<Cennarian`> I feel like an explosion spell went off in my head
<Aika`> ...I'll heal you
<Cennarian`> I'm just glad the psychic compass stopped..... that spell is hazardous to my health in this dimension
* Aika` starts to mutter a healing spell
* Cennarian` closes his eyes and begins to mutter his mantra
<Cennarian`> I am flame, flame is light. I am fire, fire is sight...
* Aika` watches him
<Aika`> ....
<Cennarian`> (Mack..... Mack, reach out to me. Please Mack....)
* Cennarian` gets a mental image of Mack strapped into some sort of odd machine, his energies being drained by a man with no face
<Cennarian`> <<Professor TOmoe, eat your heart out>>
<Aika`> << heh ^^;; >>
* Aika` tenses at the sound of a footstep behind them followed by a loud squawk
<Aika`> ...Cenn...
<Aika`> ...what's behind us I_I
<Cennarian`> I don't know, but I can't hear Rapture any more
<Aika`> ...there's something out there ;_;
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> I'm what's out there
* Aika` freezes and continues staring at Cenn
<Aika`> C... Cenn...
* Cennarian` freezes and starts to turn his head
<Cennarian`> Ai..... I don't like the vibes I'm getting from this guy
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad tosses a very unconscious Rapture past Cenn and AIka
* Aika` jumps a bit and stares at Rapture a few seconds before turning and getting slowly to his feet
<Aika`> ...who are you?
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> Don't try anything or else I'll roast the both of you
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> I'm Dark Lord Arvaad, one of the masters of this land sent by my boss to stop you
<Aika`> ...who's that?
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad cackles maniacally
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> his name is so evil that none dare call him anything but.... HIM
* Aika` glances back at Cenn
* Cennarian` shrugs
<Cennarian`> we can't really go around fighting nameless dark lords
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad grumbles and sighs
<Aika`> ...he's creepy ;_;
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> if you need to know his name so badly, then call him Chibi Garv
* Aika` raises an eyebroiw
* Cennarian` arches an eyebrow
<Aika`> 'Chibi Garv'...?
* Cennarian` snickers
<Cennarian`> Chibi...... Garv??
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> What's so funny? Why are you making fun of my boss like that?
<Aika`> ...how unfortuanate for him ^.^
<Aika`> Don't you know what Chibi means?
* Cennarian` chuckles
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> Well, the lord is currently in the body of a six year old girl, but that doesn't mean he's not powerful
* Aika` bites his lip to keep from laughing
* Cennarian` covers his mouth, but nearly pops from trying to hold back his laughter
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad grumbles something and a barrier forms around AIka
* Aika` blinks
<Aika`> What are you doing?!
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> I'm going to take you away
* Cennarian` is on his feet instantly and has his sword in hand
* Aika` pales a bit and stares at him wide eyed
<Aika`> What'd I do?!?!
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> Your power is great, and it will go well with that of Lord Mack
* Aika` blinks
<Aika`> Where's Mack?!
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> He's high atop Mount Clef, in the castle of illusion with our lord Chibi Garv
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad laughs maniacally
* Aika` cringes a bit and glances at Cenn again
<Aika`> {{{ ...Cenn, just let him take me and hurry up to Mount Clef! Mack needs help more than I do... }}}
* Cennarian` leaps into the air and swings his sword at Arvaad
<Cennarian`> {Ai.... I can't do that. I need you here with me}
* Aika` glances at the ground
<Aika`> {{{ ...but Mack needs you with him now... I'll be fine. }}}
<Cennarian`> {Will you be ok with.... him?}
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad floats off with Aika in tow
<Aika`> {{{ I have the Goddess with me at all times... Don't be afraid, Cenn!! }}}
* Ambiel pops his head out of the top of Aika's shirt
<Cennarian`> AIKA!!!!
<Ambiel> {{{ I'm with him too ^^ }}}
* Aika` touches the barrier lightly and watches Cenn
<Cennarian`> {Am, take care of Ai.... Rapture and I will try to help you soon}
* Cennarian` drops to his knees in distress
<Aika`> {{{ ...don't be afraid... }}}
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> Take care, Sir Cennarian Ul Coptura. Good luck in trying to save your friends with that bird out of order
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad laughs maniacally even louder as he flies off
<Cennarian`> AIIIIIIIIKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
* Cennarian` picks Rapture up and begins to cast a healing spell
* Aika` bites his lip hard to force back tears
<Cennarian`> I'll.... we'll.... go and save Aika and Mack on our own. We have to. We're the only ones who *sniff* can do this.
* Rapture` opens her eyes slowly and blinks a bit at Cenn
<Rapture`> ...Mister Aika...?
<Cennarian`> Goddess of light and earth and wind, grant me the power I need to save my friend...
<Aika`> |Arvaad's Palace...|
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad blinks at his prize catch
* Aika` clings tightly to Ambiel, staring back at Arvaad
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> Wow.... you're good looking
* Aika` blushes a bit and looks away
<Aika`> ....
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad blinks at Aika while untying his cape
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad leans down and looks at Aika up close and personal
<Aika`> . o O ( ...I wonder where Cenn is right now... I hope he makes it in time )
* Aika` blinks at him and backs up a bit
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> hello
<Aika`> ...hi...
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad grins a big grin
* Rapture` blinks up at him
* Ambiel blinks up at him
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad closes his eyes while grinning
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> I hope the flight wasn't too rough
<Ambiel> . o O ( ...what's wrong with him? o_o )
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad unclips the straps to his shoulder armor
* Aika` shakes his head a bit
* Aika` grimaces a bit at all the cracks coming from him
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad winces at one especially loud one from his left shoulder
<Aika`> ....
* Aika` gets a slightly ill look
<Aika`> ....
<Aika`> . o O ( I hate it when people crack their bones ;_; )
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad opens one eye and smiles half heartedly
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> um... can you help me please? I think my left shoulder just came out of joint again
* Aika` approaches him tentatively
<Aika`> ...wh... what should I do?
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> don't worry.... I won't bite
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> Um... can you cast healing spells?
* Aika` nods a bit
<Aika`> . o O ( ...it's in my code and pledge to help everyone who needs or requests it T_T Damn the code >_< )
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> can you concentrate one around that shoulder while I push it back into joint?
<Aika`> ...okay...
* Aika` starts muttering the words to a healing spell
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad has a single tear run down his left cheek as he winces while trying to rotate the joint into place
* Ambiel watches Arvaad warily, growling softly
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> (This..... is the most painful thing that's happened to me lately. Damn Chibi Garv. I hated to take this assignment, but he said he would hurt my beloved Cid if I didn't do as he said.)
<Aika`> << Ciiiid :D >>
<Aika`> << my boob feels numb o_o >>
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> <<why does your boob feel numb?>>
<Aika`> << I dunno o_o >>
<Aika`> << It's odd >>
* Aika` finishes the healing spell and glances at him to make sure he doesn't need anymore
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad hears a loud POP as the joint goes back together, then he screams in excrutiating pain
* Aika` jumps and steps back a bit
<Aika`> ...s.. sorry
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad smiles half heartedly and looks at Aika with one eye open.
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> it's.... not your fault. You did your best, and I needed to pop it back into place.
* Aika` nods a bit and glances around the room
<Aika`> ...why do you need me here?
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad sighs and lowers his head
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> it's not my choice to have you here. My master told me to take you from the elf spell caster, and if I didn't then he would hurt Cid.
<Ambiel> ...who's Cid?
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> my..... beloved
<Ambiel> ...Cenn and I are trying to get Lord Mack back.
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad sighs
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> so we're both trying to save our loved ones.
* Ambiel nods a bit
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> I just wish I didn't have to hurt others in order to do so
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad glances at a picture on the wall of a young man with short blonde hair, some stubble, and piercing blue eyes standing next to himself.
* Aika` follows Arvaad's eyes to the picture
<Aika`> ...is that Cid?
* Dark_Lord_Arvaad nods
<Aika`> I'm sure he'll be alright.
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> yeah, that's Cid. He's a co rider on one of the larger dragons. He handles the firestone sacks.
* Ambiel perks up a bit a the mention of firestone
<Dark_Lord_Arvaad> <<Cid from FF7 is who Arvaad is more or less in love with>>
* Ambiel chirps loudly
<Cennarian`> To Be Continued....