Tikoras' return, A new evil revealed

It was dark, as it always was whenever she heard about this place, but this time, lightening was striking as her, and three others walked the rocky path to their destination. Marianee looked into the sky as it was darker than usual, and she titled her head in confusion.

"It couldn't actually rain here would it? This place is too evil for something that nice." Marianee questioned, and continued walking with them.

"You think rain is nice?" Zalin questioned her, shock on his face.

"Of course! Rain refreshes Elysea, as well as Asmodae, and helps life flourish, and helps the streams and river flow, allowing plant, and other living creatures to survive. I will admit that some places don't get that much rain, but still, it helps renew life, unlike fire." Marianee explained as they walked, and Zalin chuckled, while Zekina and Zwellos smiled at her wisdom.

"Well, I will admit, we get plenty of rain in Asmodae, especially since's it dark 24/7. But even in certain parts it doesn't rain." Zalin suggested, and Marianee smiled at him.

"Be that as it may, I would've loved to live in Asmodae. Everything there is so beautiful, plants and animal life glow brightly and beautifully, and surprisingly enough, the animals are docile enough to interact with those they're around. I mean, some are mean, but their beauty is hard to ignore." Marianee said, shocking them, and giving her a worried, look and she chuckled.

"Don't get me wrong, I love Elysea, but I'd like to see Asmodae more and more." Marianee said as they stopped at a cliff.

"Remember what we have to do here Comma-I mean, Marianee?" Zwellos asked, his black hair prickling as he corrected himself.

"We have to fly the rest of the length to reach the cave. Let's go!" Marianee said opening her wings that where tinted blue aside from the blue on the top of her wings.

Zwellos and Zekina were similar, but Zalins wings were completely different. His wings were black with purple specks, making it look like stars were in his wings. Her also had dark purple/brown/black on top of his wings. They stretched there wings out, and took off toward the cave, Marianee leading the way. She vaguely remembered the path, seeing as she went here before she a little while after she ascended again. They landed on another rocky path that lead toward a cave, and upon entering, the light reflecting off the walls, surprised them...it was completely crystallized!

"This isn't normal crystal." Zalin noted as they walked in.

"Your right. Crystal doesn't grow like this...in fact, gems don't grow at all. This type of crystal is made to preserve something...some kind of life." Zwellos said.

"That's why we all feel at ease. This crystal is made to preserve our life force...any kind of life, rather it be Asmo, Elyos, or an animal or plant, it's meant to preserve life." Marianee noted as she felt her body relax without her permission.

"Then we can't let our guard down." Zekina said, tensing herself forcefully since she knew they might get attacked.

All their bodies tensed and the crystal slowly turned red, so they relaxed, worried.

"If we tense up, something tells me we'll be attacked by things we don't wanna see." Zalin said, and shivered as images appeared.

Everyone paled, except Marianee who sighed, feeling like idiots surrounded her. They continued their walk, knowing who was at the end of the cave.

End of the cave: A man with long hair, bangs covering his eyes, and the rest pulled back over a spike sighed, his body completely light blue, and his eyes a dull blue. He was sitting on a chest, his arms laying on a pulled up knee, and a sword by his side, looking lonely.

"...Tikora?" a voice said, and he gasped, looking toward his right, away from the crystal that had formed from the ground toward the ceiling.

"Marianee?" He questioned, seeing what looked to be a younger version of his Commander.

She smiled, and he reached a hand toward her, but she suddenly faded away, and he sighed. His fist tightened, and he tried punching the crystal wall, but his ghostly hand went into it.

'Why must her memory haunt me...' Tikora wondered, as he laid his head on his knees' again, the only thing that felt solid to him.

'She's everywhere. Every time I fall asleep, every time my mind wanders, every time I daydream, she's always there, giving me a soft smile.' Tikora thought, putting a hand into his glowing hair.

"What am I going to do? I think I'm going insane!" He said to himself sadly, his voice that of a deep, mature voice.

Suddenly wing beats were heard, and he gasped. This wasn't another illusion was it? He shut his eyes tightly, and covered his ears, before letting everything relax, but sure enough the wing beats remained and was replaced by the click-click of feet on crystal ground.

"It can't be..." Tikora stated, standing up as the sounds came closer.

He hide inside the crystal pillar that went from floor to ceiling, not knowing if it was foe or friend yet. Wings where heard opening up again and he saw what looked to be three white wings, and one black wing.

'AN ASMO?!' He thought in panic, but saw that he recognized one person in particular.

'Marianee...' He thought in joy.

Marianee and the others released their wings, the soul feathers hitting the ground before disappearing altogether. Marianee looked around, wondering where Tikora was, a hand rising and hovering over her heart.

"Is this the place Marianee?" Zekina asked in her youthful voice, and Marianee nodded.

"Yes, but...I don't know where he is. Zalin, can anyone aside from me see him?" Marianee asked, worried.

"Yes, everyone would be able to see him. Tikora should be here somewhere." Zalin questioned, looking worried.

"Tikora!" Zwellos shouted, but Marianee scolded him.

"Quiet! If that reaper is around, you'll have alerted it, and I really don't want to fight today, and I'm sure neither of you want to fight it either." Marianee stated harshly, and he nodded with a gulp.

'Ah Marianee. Always the leader and thoughtful. She was always looking out and voicing her thoughts, but knew if push comes to shove, she'll make sure those around her lived.' Tikora thought, smiling.

Zalin looked at the pillar, and his eyes narrow, his slits becoming mere lines as he looked at the pillar.

"Someone's here." Zalin stated, feeling the presence of someone aside from them.

"Is it Icaronix or the reaper?" Marianee asked, and Tikora twitched in anger.

'That bastard! He put Marianee through hell at his betrayal! He got close to her, too close, but she only smiled at him, oblivious to the fact he liked her. He figured if he couldn't have her, no one could, turned on us, trying to kill her and lead her into a Baluar attack! He was close to her heart, but his betrayal shattered her, and I know she went through a emotional turmoil right after his betrayal.' Tikora thought, but suddenly saw Marianee walk toward the pillar, as though she saw him.

"Tikora, please show yourself." She asked, and he heard the desperation in her voice.

'...I can't refuse her like that' Tikora thought, giving a small smile, and came into view.

"Tikora!" she shouted, happy to see him, while the others smiled at him.

"Hey Marianee." He said simply, and tears almost came to her eyes at hearing his voice again.

"Tikora, surely you remember me?" Zalin asked, walking toward him.

"...*gasp*! It can't be...Zalin?" Tikora asked, his eyes wide, and Zalin nodded.

"Yes, it's me. Zwellos is here, as is Zekina, a new member. She recently joined the guild a little while before you died...literally." Zalin said, giving a small shiver as he remembered seeing Tikora get killed...right before he was killed and fell.

"I see. I remember everyone, even Zekina...though vaguely. Sorry Zekina." Tikora said, but she only shrugged, a smile on her face.

"But...why are you all here?" He asked them, and Marianee held a crystal up, and pointed to a dark, frozen crystal.

"We're freeing you." Marianee said.

"Wha-?!" He questioned, shocked they could do that.

Zalin explained everything to Tikora. About how they could free him, how he'll be freed, and what would happen during the process.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT'D HURT HIM!" Marianee shouted at him, making Tikora look at her confused.

'Is she that worried about me?' Tikora wondered.

"Because I knew how'd you react, but it's the only way. With this blue crystal, and the soul crystal you possess, and the chant, he'll feel pain, but that's a sign he's coming back." Zalin said to her sternly.

"Any side effects I should know about?" Tikora asked, wanting more info.

"None that are permanent. You'll twitch violently for a week tops." Zalin stated, and he cringed, but if it meant being with Marianee again, he'd do it.

"...Alright, start the resurrection. My body resides inside the dark crystal there." Tikora said pointing toward it, and Marianee gasped.

"Tikora..." She said softly, and he smiled at her.

"Maybe this time I can give you a proper hug." Tikora teased, and she sighed in relief, he was still his old self.

"Alright, let's begin." Zalin said, taking the soul crystal from Marianee.

Marianee walked to stand beside Zekina and Zwellos, watching as Zalin held the two crystals over the body that belonged to Tikora. Tikora sat atop the crystal, similar to the pose his body was. Zalin began chanting, and the two crystals glowed and hovered above Tikoras' body, and his own body glowed as did his soul body. Suddenly the crystal around Tikora began to melt like ice, and Tikora felt himself slowly going into his body. He felt a sharp pain rip through him as he entered, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold the pain back. Marianee clasped her hands together before her heart, and began to pray, hoping everything would turn out alright.

"Ah!" Tikora screamed out, feeling the pain become harsher, as if forcing him to submit to it.

"Tikora, you must relax." Zalin warned, but continued to chant away.

"Easier said than done." Tikora said, but suddenly felt a hand on his actual body.

He looked to his left, and saw Marianee smile at him, and she wrapped her arms around his soul body, but it was becoming solid as he slipped into his actual body.

"Marianee, get away!" Zalin warned, his eyes panicked as he continued to chant.

"Why?" Marianee asked.

"Do as he says." Tikora said, and she nodded, sighing sadly, and moved back to Zwellos and Zekina.

"Enter and be bound!" Zalin finished, thrusting his hands out toward Tikora.

Tikora screamed as pain rippled across his whole body, and a blinding light shot out from him, and everyone shielded their eyes. Soon the light subsided, as did some of the dust that sprang up from a tremor, and they watched as everything subsided. They looked at the body of Tikora, and Marianee slowly walked toward him.

"Tikora?" She asked, and saw his body twitch, and shift.

"Ugh...that was painful." Tikora said, but his voice was cracked, and seemed to croak.

Marianee felt tears spring to her eyes, and she smiled, running back toward him.

"Tikora!" She shouted, kneeling down to him and hugging him, shocking him.

"M-Marianee?" He questioned, confused she was hugging him instead of him hugging her.

He sighed either way, and hugged her back, a smile plastered on his face. Zalin sighed, and stood stretching himself while Zekina and Zwellos high-fived each other. Tikora felt something wet hit his clothed shoulder, and felt Marianees' body tremble, and he hugged her tighter. She was crying now, but he knew it was tears of joy, not disappointment or sadness.

"I-I was so...so worried it w-wouldn't work." Marianee stated, and Tikora only shushed her.

"Hey, I'm here now. Don't worry." Tikora assured her, and she nodded.

Zalin and Zwellos couldn't help but watch in envy as Marianee and Tikora hugged. Tikora slowly stood, Marianee helping him, and when he stood he smiled at Zalin.

"Thanks, I really owe you now don't I? When did you want that armor set?" Tikora joked, and they all laughed.

Zalin suddenly felt arms around his back, and he looked down to see Marianee hugging him.

"Thank you so much. Without your knowledge, he wouldn't be back." She whispered, and he blushed deeply, but rubbed her head, and looked away.

"D-don't mention it." Zalin said, scratching a cheek as well.

She smiled at him, before walking toward Tikora.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, and he chuckled at her.

"Better than ever. Oh, almost forgot..." He said, confusing her, until she felt him hugging her, and she giggled.

"Well, Marianees' slap-happy." Zekina said, an amused look on her face, and Zwellos with Zalin chuckled.

"Ain't that true." Zwellos said, but clapped his hands, causing Marianee and Tikora to jump away from the other.

"We need to get outta here though. Who knows if someone was alerted." Zwellos said, but suddenly Zalin went pale.

"We do need to leave...now!" Zalin shouted, opening his wings.

Everyone else did, but Zwellos picked Tikora up, seeing as he was having trouble, and they all left the cave.

"What's up?" Marianee asked Zalin, flying beside him.

"Icaronix noticed, and the spies told me he was on his way." Zalin said as they all got outside, and teleported back to Yutseil's Aion, not a trace left of their visit.

Guild: Everyone stood in the lobby, and Tikora thanked Zwellos, before looking around, noticing the Guild had changed slightly.

"It's gotten newer." Tikora said, and Marianee smiled.

The rest of the day was spent with Marianee giving Tikora a tour about the newest additions to the guild, and everyone celebrating about Tikoras' return...those who knew him at least. Little did they know that a certain person was enraged beyond belief.

Cave: An Asmo, one with long hair going to his shoulder blades, picked up a white feather as it disappeared, and his clawed hands fisted together, baring his teeth.

"Icaronix, Captain, are you alright?" An asmo asked the Captain, known to be Icaronix.

"Yeah...I'm fine. It just seems as though I'll have to speed my progress up a little bit." Icaronix said, an angered look on his face as he turned to look at the moon.

"When I'm finished, Marianee will be begging for forgiveness, and begging for more. When I'm done, she'll regret never loving me." Icaronix stated, a sadistic look on his face.