FCGS - Chapter 40

Lack opened the door and frowned at them. "What is so important that you need to break my door down while I'm trying to get some sleep?" Syaoran and Phenomenon leaned back in surprise and Tadakono looked away. "Well?"

No one spoke. Tadakono looked down the hall and just saw Chibi's black tail slip out of sight. Turning back to Lack, he said. "One of Kashy's Hyegun brought a scroll for you. We decided that we should deliver it to you promptly just incase it is urgent."

"You could have given it to Chibi," Lack's voice broke slightly. "If she hasn't gone to the Alchemist Society today then she'd be around here somewhere." He caught Tadakono's eye and sighed. "But i guess you couldn't find her?" Breaking the seal, he opened the scroll. Just one word caught his eye: Contra. He scanned the scroll twice more before rolling it back up. "Run through the member list and give me a detailed analysis of everyone's fighting condition." Stepping out, he turned to close the door. "I need to step out for a bit."

***

Chibi sat near the exit to ice cave watching her butterfly tattoo. Its faint glow told her MikeRex was approaching the cave. It wasn't long before the low wark from the pecopeco and the sound of metal hitting the ground sounded near her.

"How did you know?" he asked her, watching her pull her glove back on. "It's been so long since I was released that I thought you would of come to release Kchan regardless of the consequences."

"I was actually hoping that either Jemini or Kagura would come to me about their sister," Chibi replied. She stood and walked into the cave. MikeRex tethered his pecopeco and followed her with his entourage following a few paces behind. "Lack wants Brotherhood to join the ranks who will fight against Contra. To do that, we need to release the two now. We just have to take a chance with defrosting them."

"So how do you propose we defrost them?" MikeRex asked watching Chibi light a long piece of fabric that she had stuck into a bottle of alcohol. "I mean the only one with flame ability is you and you could injure them."

"Well, not entirely," Chibi replied closing her eyes. Snapping them open again, stepped lightly over the ice hearing the crunch underfoot when she stepped on loose icicles. "I've sent for two very trusted Fight Club Members. Lack probably would have heard my message and knows what I'm doing. He might come too if he isn't too tied up."

She tapped on the ice around Kchan and Izual. "The problem we're going to have while we wait is trying to chip down the ice around them so it doesn't take long the defrost them," Tapping a finger to her lips lightly, thinking before turning and throwing a bomb at a block of ice. "Too strong…" She murmured softly pacing back and forth. A sharp ring of metal against ice rang in her ears.

"The problem with that is if you miss," Both Chibi and MikeRex jumped. "You could easily cut them. Or even create a crack that travels and splits into them." Furama and Tadakono moved close to Chibi and set their flames loose on the ice.

"Lack didn't come with you?" Chibi asked looking around. "I half expected he'd be here." She narrowed her eyes. "He's been overprotective lately."

"He's always overprotective," murmured Tadakono. He was close enough for Chibi to catch what he said. "He created the warp portal for us to come here. He's preparing plans to present at the Guildmasters meeting tonight," he added a little louder.

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Author's Notes: That's a wrap. I no longer have the inspiration to write this story. It's been over 10 years since I last played Ragnarok Online. I may come back to it but the likelihood of that happening is low.

Also... Happy Birthday to me!! Lol. See you in whatever I start to write next

FCGS - Chapter 39

Chibi sat on Lack's bed leaning against the wall. Her entire body ached from their mock battle earlier in the training room. She watched him carefully as he changed his torn shirt to a cleaner one. She smiled slightly at the burn mark covering the back of his left shoulder.

"What are you smiling at?" he asked curiously. He watched her reflection in the mirror. "Enjoying the view?" Chibi stuck her tongue out at him and laughed. "Then what?"

"Enjoying the fact that I managed to mark you and yet you're acting like I haven't," Chibi replied jumping up to poke the burn mark hard. Lack jumped in pain and spun to face her. "I was right! It does hurt quite a bit."

"When you touch it," Lack murmured in reply. Chibi glanced at the door before looking back to him. Lack tilted his head curiously for a second before realizing Chibi had used her command to seal his door shut. "You rarely use that. It's probably why Etami doesn't recognize you as my 2nd."

"Well I have reason to seal us in right now," Chibi replied softly taking his shirt out of his hands and placed it on the bed. "Eir told me that our link just a link. Nothing more, nothing less. It doesn't bind us by blood to cause us to be siblings nor does it force us to have feelings we don't want to have for each other."

Lack's eyes glittered for a few seconds before he cautiously stepped closer to her. She was between his bed and him. He wondered what it was that she wanted him to do. He watched her unbuckle her cape and gently lay it near his shirt. He smiled as Chibi's eyes closed and she tilted her head slightly upwards towards him.

Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he lowered his head and gently kissed her. Her lips felt soft against his. Different to any other feeling he had ever felt. He wondered if their link enhanced the feeling like this. He stepped forward, leaning towards her until she sat down onto his bed to balance herself.

"Lack?" She looked up at him with her deep blue eyes. "I…" Chibi moaned surprised in response to his hand. He squeezed her breast gently. Chibi reached up and touched his belt. Undoing the clasp quickly, she let his pants fall with a thump to the floor. She smiled and stoked his member gently with both hands.

Lack understood now what would eventually happen between them. Stretching, he pulled the zipper down along her back, loosening the tight bodice of her outfit. Lifting her up, he pulled the dress free of her body. He looked at her savoring the moment. It was the first time since they had met that he had seen Chibi completely naked.

Gently, he laid her down properly onto his bed. Her legs automatically remained together. Lack could sense her nervousness and gently ran his fingers along the outside of her thighs. Once reaching her knees, he pulled them apart with little effort. Moving between them, he leaned over and kissed each breast gently. Chibi giggled as she moved around under his touch.

"If you don't stay still I can't play with you," Lack whispered. His breath tickled her nipple as it passed over. Chibi looked towards him with a smile. Lack laid down onto her, his head level with her breasts. A rapid knocking sounded at the door. Lack, ignoring the knocking, blew her nipples gently. "If it's something urgent, they'll know how to open that door."

***

Outside Syaoran sighed and turned to face Tadakono and Phenomenon. "He's not answering." The three looked at the door frame curiously. The wood had definitely been sealed shut, like as if the fibers had been woven together. "Perhaps we shouldn't disturb him."

"You're the one who said we needed to give this message to him straight away," Tadakono burst erratically. He had a sneaking suspicion on why the door was sealed shut. He didn't want to be proven right.

"But one of Kashy's hyegun's brought it," Phenomenon added looking at the scroll in his hand. "It could be very important for all we know."

"Then we'll just have to find a way to break that door down," Syaoran replied fervently. "This scroll needs to get to Lack as soon as possible."

***

"Ready?" Lack asked Chibi softly. He held himself poised over her with one arm supporting. His other hand held his member ready between her legs. "Let me know if I hurt you."

He guided himself towards her and pushed as resistance against him grew. Chibi tensed at first, feeling him pressing on a place she never thought he'd ever touch her, before relaxing shakily. Lack pushed himself into her fully before lying down onto her body to give her a deep kiss.

"Lack…" she whispered softly into his ear. She felt him wrap his arms tightly around her body. "Lack… They haven't given up." A crash sounded against the door. She wrapped her arms around him. "What are you going to do if they open that door?"

Lack smiled and pushed his hips against her. Her eyes widened in response. He laughed and slowly began a rhythm of thrusts that kept in time with the sound of the clock. "Then they'll learn our secret." Chibi gasped and nestled her head between his neck and shoulder. "I'm not going to give up this time that I'm spending with you right now."

Chibi gripped his back tightly. "Lack…" It was a struggle to keep her voice normal as his thrusts increased with speed. She pressed her lips against the side of his neck to suppress her squeal. Lack laughed and held her head between his hands tightly. Kissing her, he continued on, faster and deeper than before.

***

Phenomenon leaned back against the wall opposite the door. "Maybe we're going about this the wrong way." Tadakono sat with his head resting in the palm of his hand watching them attempting to open the door. He knew the only way was by a command from one of them. He hoped that Lack will open the door on his own before Syaoran and Phenomenon worked it out.

Syaoran poked the door cautiously. "Why do you suppose Lack has sealed his door?" He glanced at the two quizzically. "Probably having some fun again."

"But with who?" Phenomenon asked half amused. "Everyone who Lack would normally be having fun with is out training…" His voice caught in his throat. He and Syaoran stared at each other with wide eyes. "Chibi…"

"They've said they're siblings," Tadakono interrupted unmercilessly. "I doubt they'd be getting into each others pants." Tadakono closed his eyes. In his heart, he knew that was exactly what was happening. The situation in the foyer earlier gave him enough proof to suspect as much. "Unless Eir has told them that their link didn't make them related in that way. But even then, it would have to be that they both like each other to be doing that."

"There's only one way to find out," Phenomenon replied with a cheeky grin. "We need to open the door." He glanced at the scroll with Kashy's seal in his hand. "And we have the perfect excuse as to why we had to."

"So then, how was it that Lack and Chibi sealed doors?" Syaoran asked looking at them. "They place their hand then do something." He placed his hand on the door...

FCGS - Chapter 38

No one moved. Chibi watched the darkness curiously. Slowly but surely, some guild members moved out the doors. Chibi realized these people were those who were new to the guild. Gently, she brushed her tail against Lack's hand before jumping onto his lap. Chibi blinked and stared out again into the darkness. No one else moved.

"You can open your eyes now Lack," she said quietly. "No one else is going." Lack opened his eyes and smiled. Majority of the guild had remained in their seats. "I hope you realize how lucky you are," she added in a murmur low enough for only him to hear.

~~~

Chibi bounded down the steps towards the foyer. The scent of flowers was enticing to her feline senses. Hands wrapped themselves around her and picked her up. She mewed angrily and extended her claws.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Lack asked her. Chibi took a swipe at him. Lack sighed and whispered. "Turn back into a human for a while. You're becoming too feline." Chibi relaxed and changed before he could release her. Lack jumped in surprise. His hands were now positioned around her waist, holding her in a tight hug. Chibi opened her eyes and it was the first time Lack had seen Chibi so close to his face before.

"You should probably let me go before anyone gets the wrong idea," Chibi murmured uncomfortably. "It feels strange to have you so close for reasons other than mock battle."

Lack stepped back and smiled. "Feel up for a mock battle? I know Eir has healed your Spiritual Power enough for you to stay human. I have no idea why you keep reverting to being a cat."

"Because Eir recommended it," Chibi touched her belt carefully. "I need to get my sword and pouches from my room." She glanced at Lack briefly before turning away. "Something else you what to tell me?"

Lack closed his eyes and replied. "No… Nothing…" Opening them again, he laughed and gave her a slap on the back. "Go get your stuff already." Chibi watched him turn away to walk stiffly to the training room.

Chibi stood waiting a little bit before speaking again. "You can come out." She turned her head towards a large pillar near the door. "How long do you think you could stay hiding from me?"

"That was awkward." Tadakono said stepping out from behind the pillar. "I wasn't expecting to walk in on that sort of scene." Chibi looked over her shoulder at him. "For some strange reason, I was expecting you and Lack to kiss since you were so close."

"Can you go to the training room and tell Lack that I can't make it," Chibi said softly. "I need to speak to Eir. I'm not sure if what I'm sensing with him is because of me or because of the link between us."

"You can't avoid him forever, you know." Tadakono replied with a sigh. "Somehow we all knew this was going to happen eventually. The closeness of the two of you was more than normal siblings would have no matter what either of you said."

"So you think it's me and not the link that's causing this," Chibi asked attempting to confirm his suspicions. Her senses prickled telling her that Lack had returned. "Because it feels incredibly awkward and I'm uneasy about even mentioning it to him."

"Then wait and see if he says anything to you," Tadakono blinked and noticed Lack. "Although it can be entirely possible that he feels the same way. Awkward and uneasy about mentioning it I mean." He came close to Chibi and held her in a tight hug. "To be perfectly honest, you two being 'siblings' because of the forged link makes partial sense. And remember what he said before that? 'When I broke the guild the last time and everyone went their separate ways, Chibi had married Mike.' Why would he break the guild because you had married Mike?"

"Either way," Chibi stepped out of Tadakono's hold. "I'm going to go have a talk to Eir to make sure it isn't our link that's causing this before I say anything to him. The last thing we both need is another heartbreak before a major battle." She disappeared down the hall with her voice floating back to him. "At least if it isn't link I'll know why he's so overprotective of me as well."

Tadakono turned to look at Lack and shrugged. "So she says." Lack's eyes narrowed and darkened. "Lack?"

Lack shook his head and smiled again. "It's alright. Feeling hungry? I know I am. Starving in fact. Let's go have something eat." He steered Tadakono towards the dining room before Tadakono could reply. "Everything is perfectly fine."

~~~

"It's clearly you," Eir said softly after assessing Chibi's link to Lack. "All the link does is create a line of power between you and Lack. Nothing more. The idea you are both siblings arose because you both are so close. The fact that the link made you both closer so you both needed to draw a line. But now that everything is out in the open, both of you have opened yourselves to new possibilities which has in turn caused your true feeling about each other arise."

Chibi leaned against the back of her chair and sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that. This is going to be very difficult to talk to Lack about." Closing her eyes, she whispered. "Thanks Eir."

FCGS - Chapter 37

"You agreed to what?" Chibi's voice echoed throughout the infirmary. Her tail smacked Lack hard on the arm. "You've basically sentenced the whole guild to death! Do you realize that? Everyone's going to die!" She sank all of her claws into his right thigh and arched her back. "What possessed you to even consider such a plan without consulting the guild for their opinion? Ever thought they might not want to die?"

Lack picked her up and held her at arms length away from him to avoid getting clawed in the chest next. "That's why I'm not going to order the guild to fight. I'm going to tell them the full situation and let them decide what they want to do." Chibi stopped waving her paws around and stared at him. Against his better judgment, he brought her close to his face until their noses almost touched. "But I do feel that they will decide to fight him regardless off whether I order it or not."

"I thought I could hear Chibi's voice," Syaoran interrupted as he walked in with Phenomenon and Tadakono. "It's not possible for Lack to agree to anything if he's been asleep since our little meeting."

Chibi's eyes widened and all in the room felt fairly certain she was blushing as well despite the fact that all they could see was black fur. Lack set her down on his lap and looked up at them with the most annoyed expression they had ever seen. He glanced at Tadakono and sighed.

"Let the guild know there's a meeting in a few hours," he said softly. "In the sealed meeting hall in the old dungeon wing. What I am going to tell everyone is top secret. Anyone not there on time will be locked out." He looked up at the three, his eyes crystal clear. "I want absolutely everyone there if possible."

~~~

Chibi sat on the floor under her own chair that stood next to Lack's chair. As everyone walked in, she would dip a claw into the dish of ink and tick off their names. Her ears pricked up to the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs at the end of the stage.

Tadakono, Syaoran and Phenomenon helped Lack walk up the stairs and towards the chair. After Lack was seated, they arranged themselves on their own chairs in a half moon near his.

Lack leaned over and looked at Chibi's list. "Everyone here?" he whispered. She twitched her ears then nodded in reply. "You able to turn back to being human?"

"For a short time," she replied ticking off a few more names. "I'll turn back when you get to that part." Lack nodded and straightened once more to watch everyone take their places. He smiled as athan, L, Seryia and Etami slipped into the room as well. Chibi moved from under her chair and looked up at him. "Everyone's here now."

"Good," Lack focused his power into the old system. Doors and windows alike slammed shut sealing everyone into darkness. Mages-classes within the crowd summoned fireballs to light the room. Tadakono lit the stage with his own summoned flames. "It's time I tell you all what has been happening since the beginning of Fight Club itself. Everything has led up to this every point it time." Lack could tell that everyone's attentions were partially on Chibi's empty chair. "Chibi is in this room. When I get to that I will explain. But for now, attention to me please."

"Shortly after Fight Club was created, the Gods decided that the world needed to be mediated by those who were currently living in the world as it was. They called upon a man called Kashy to be the founder and ruler of the Hidden Gods. They imbued him with power to allow him to perform his duties without too much trouble. Kashy recruited Novus and Palidor to aid him and later on recruited Blackrose, Shadow and Balos.

We, along with other guild of the world, didn't understand who or what the Hidden Gods were and a war broke out. During this war, many of our guild fell. A few still remain to aid us to this day." He nodded his head towards L, Seryia and Etami. "It was during the war that Chibi and athan made a deal. Athan had found a secret that would strengthen someone physically in exchange for their life. Chibi gave athan the secret of creating gold from stone as an equal trade for the secret. Kashy found out and punished both. Athan became the guard to the entrance of yggdrasil in Niflheim. And Chibi…"

Chibi stood and moved into the firelight near Lack's side. Changing back to her normal self, she sat down carefully into her chair. "Chibi became a cat. After this, we discovered the true intentions of Kashy and the Hidden Gods. We've been working with them until now on various issues." Lack paused letting everyone digest the first guild secret before continuing. "When I broke the guild the last time and everyone went their separate ways, Chibi had married Mike. While she was in Velvet Touch of Enishi, she decided that it there was an ancient tool she needed in order to protect those close to her. She went on the quest to obtain Azoth and succeeded. Eir became her patron and gave her the ability to see a short distance into the future.

Chibi later altered Azoth to enable it to be also used by myself and Mike. In doing this, she tore her already broken Spiritual Power. Eir came to me and asked me if I would be her anchor to the human world. I agreed and we became siblings because of the link forged between us. Chibi became upset that Eir had asked me without asking her permission first and asked that the deal and knowledge of the link be sealed within me. Instead, Chibi and I developed a close relationship that siblings have without realising why. While we were in ice cave, Chibi reminded me and since I have been able to use the link between us.

I decided that it was time I recreated the guild. Fight Club returned and Chibi came back to her original position as my 2nd. Mike became unhappy with this and caused trouble not just for Chibi but also for myself. I dealt with it and everything went back to being normal again until the trouble with Contra started. Everyone knows about the battle in the foyer with him the first time, so no need to go into detail." Chibi tugged Lack's shirt. He paused and looked at her. Seeing how pale she was, he nodded and waited until she turned back into a cat before continuing. "After this, I learned that Contra had received Loki's medallion. Most of what has happened this past year with the doppelgangers, Hel and Contra everyone knows well.

However, this part I tell you now is what I need you all to think on. The Hidden Gods and I have determined that the only way to rid out world of Contra once and for all is to kill him. Kashy has granted Fight Club the resources to keep Contra sealed until our Guild as well as Velvet Touch of Enishi, 7 Deadly Sins, Brotherhood, Nothing, and Under the Shadows Guilds are at their best fighting capabilities before attempting to kill Contra. I won't deny that a lot of people will fall at Contra's hand, therefore, I won't force anyone who doesn't want to fight. All I ask is that you leave to one of the outer worlds before the battle with Contra starts. Our Guild HQ won't be a safe place to stay once the battle starts." Lack paused and shut his eyes. The windows and doors creaked as the opened slightly. "I won't stop you nor will I kick you out of the guild. This is one fight I won't insist on everyone fighting in."

FCGS - Chapter 36

With a silent apology to Lack and Chibi, Tadakono gestured lightly towards their bed. Pulling back the blanket, he revealed Chibi's tail wrapped tightly around Lack's wrist. Phenomenon and Syaoran looked at each other and with a shrug looked back to Tadakono questioningly.

"Lack and Chibi have a connenction that allows them to speak to each other through their power." Tadakono replied to their looks. " Within Lack's centre of power, they can communicate like we are now. Only Chibi can pull them into that though. Lack, on the other hand, can use Chibi's power as physical strength. That's why he's lately been carrying Chibi as a cat on his shoulder rather than have her support him as a Creator."

"So basically," Syaoran summarised perching himself back onto the bed next to Lack's. "Chibi has pulled Lack into his centre of power to talk to him."

"That's what I assume," Tadakono said with a nod. "But it's not like Chibi to pull him in half way through a conversation."

~~~

Lack tapped his fingers against the small glass mosaic table. Chibi sat near him glancing across the table, then to Eir, and back across the table. Opposite Lack and Chibi sat the three mediators, Kashy and Novus.

"Why is this all happening in my head?" Lack asked in a low voice to Chibi. She could tell he was irritated. "More to the point. Since when was there a garden in my head?"

"We aren't in your head anymore," Chibi replied quietly. "We passed into the part of Yggdrasil that connects the dreams of everyone in Rune-Midgard and beyond." She looked pointedly at Eir before adding. "It is the safest place next to being in your head where we can gather to talk without being spied on."

Eir cleared her throat. "I've been asked to facilitate this meeting between Kashy and Lack over the topic of Contra beneath Fight Club Headquarters."

Lack glanced at Kashy, his eyes boring imaginary holes into him. "Couldn't you of picked a better time to hold this meeting? I was holding a meeting of my own before we were rudely removed."

"You're just complaining for the sake of complaining," Shadow standing suddenly, snapped at him. BlackRose and Balos pulled her back into her chair roughly.

"Patience Shadow," BlackRose said softly as Shadow smacked their hands away. "Lack is Lack after all." Lack frowned at this comment.

"True," Balos added pointing his finger at Lack and Chibi. "That besides, they are always at some meeting so it's unavoidable. It's what humans do."

Lack felt Chibi elbow him. Looking down at her, he noticed she was drawing a few bombs and acids from her pouch. She placed them on the table with a very deliberate thump. Novus narrowed his eyes at her in response.

Eir sighed and slammed her hands on the table. "Enough!" Her voice pierced through all present like a bullet. "I didn't bring you here to attack each other. The longer you argue the less time you have to work out what to do."

"It's simple," Kashy said quietly. "There's no way we can bind Contra. So all we can do is kill him." Chibi stiffened at his words. Kashy gave her a faint smile and continued. "I don't propose Fight Club be the only ones to kill him. What I plan is to get the guilds who have been involved in this mess until now aid us," he indicated to all the Hidden Gods. "In killing Contra. I can't promise that no one will die, however, I'm hoping that with the sheer number of people, we can overwhelm Contra."

Chibi slammed her fists against the table and stood. "I refuse to believe that killing Contra is the only solution." Eir gently brushed Chibi's cheek. Chibi's eyes darkened and fell back into her seat, Lack catching her head before it hit the table.

"What did you do?" Lack asked arranging Chibi to look like she was sleeping. Eir blinked but didn't reply. Lack nodded, understanding her silence response and leaned back in his chair. Looking up at Kashy, he added. "While I agree with Chibi that it can't be the only solution, killing him is the most foolproof."

Eir coughed lightly. "Chibi is merely acting that way because of what she's seen," She spoke to no-one in particular. Sighing, she added "I don't blame her for snapping."

Lack sighed and closed his eyes. "You sure you want to kill Contra? From what Chibi has told me, it's going to be a very bloody battle." Resting his fingers against each other, he frowned. "Will you even have enough power?"

"That's why I'm going to buy time by granting Fight Club the materials it needs to keep Contra in that prison until everyone is," Kashy glanced at Chibi then sighed. "Almost everyone is at 100%."

"Don't worry about Chibi," Eir replied before Lack could speak. "I'll make sure she's at 100% when the time comes." She stroked Chibi's hair gently.

Lack rested his head against the palm of his hand looking satisfied. The last thing he wanted was to have his guildsmen crushed unprepared. "Then Fight Club will cooperate with the Hidden Gods." Standing, he offered his hand to Kashy.

Kashy took his hand and shook it strongly. "And hopefully this will be the end of all the troubles within Rune-Midgard."

FCGS - Chapter 35

Lack sat in bed listening carefully to the conversation going on around him. Chibi sat perched at the foot of his bed, her paw rubbing her left ear from time to time. Tadakono, Syaoran and Phenomenon sat on the next bed. Each relayed their account of, what Syaoran had fondly called the 'Hel Invasion'.

"So Kashy is yet to move Contra from the cells below," Lack said softly, his strength still low. Chibi walked up the bed until she stood in his lap. "How long are you staying a cat?"

"Until my Spiritual Power is back up again," she mewed in reply. "Unlike you getting physically tired, I lose strength when I supply you with my own power. So I'm a cat until further notice."

"That doesn't help," Lack replied knowing his own situation didn't help things either. "According to Seyria, Contra will break through the inner cell in less than six hours. That doesn't give us much time to recover." Chibi leapt off him, curled up at his side and closed her eyes. "I need to know our capabilities incase Kashy isn't able to move him before the six hours is up."

"Face it Lack," Phenomenon said with a sigh. "We're going to need help from the other guilds on this." He laid back and looked at the ceiling. "Our guild is too physically and magically tired from the combined battle of Hel and Contra. It will take a while for everyone to recover." He raised his right hand up to look at the scars that snaked down his arm like flames. "For most it will take over six hours to recover fully."

"Within the six hour time frame," Tadakono added touching his Fight Club tattoo that had a newly healed scar running through the middle of it. "You'll only have us, brighteyes, illusions, and Minna. You'll be just over half strength, by my guess, and Chibi will be no where near half." He glanced at Chibi for confirmation on that piece of information. Noticing she was asleep, he continued. "That's not nearly enough guild strength to keep Contra at bay if he breaks through."

"What about the outer cell?" Syaoran asked coming out of deep thought. "He'd have to break through that to get into the guild. So shouldn't we have more than six hours?"

"The combined cells gave us a maximum of 24 hours tops," Lack explained absently patting Chibi. "The time he fell through to the time Seyria came and told me, almost 18 hours had passed. To be precise, the moment Seyria told me, Contra had already broken through to the outer cell."

The three looked at Lack in shock at this news. "There's no way to re-contain him?" Syaoran asked shaking slightly. Lack shook his head. "Etami can't do anything?"

"She can't because the resources to morph the building more aren't here," Lack replied with a sigh. "It's going to take a long time to gather the resources to allow her to morph the building again. She used the emergency supply when she did it the first time. So unless Chibi can become human again before the six hours is up, we have to think of another plan."

"Why Chibi?" Phenomenon asked quietly. "She's Alchemist-class not Blacksmith-class. How could she be able to help in terms of raw material?"

"Because of the secret to turn stone into gold," athan said stepping into the room. Giving a small wave, he added. "Kashy released me from guarding the Yggdrasil gate on the condition that I stay ethereal. I guess it's like I'm on bail for good behavior." Noticing Phenomenon's confused expression, he continued. "Lack is willing to bear Kashy's wrath, since Chibi herself already is bound and anything more could take her away from here completely, so that Chibi can create the gold needed to buy an large amount of raw materials that can allow Etami to morph the building as many times as needed." He looked at Lack with a frown. "The guild funds aren't high this month I suppose."

"They're incredibly low," Lack replied resting his head on one hand. "From rebuilding the guild, to the money lost while my copy was here, to the usual renewing and repairing of training materials, there just isn't enough to continuously buy materials for Etami to morph the building."

"Something that just occurred to me," Tadakono leaned back so he could see everyone. "Contra was with Loki. We defeated Loki. Now, he was with Hel. We defeat Hel… But he's still here."

"He's like a cockroach, isn't he." Chibi's voice floated from what how looked like a black ball at Lack's side. "Cockroaches always find a way to survive." Lack petted her gently. She shivered under his touch. "Aside from Loki and Hel, I don't think any more of Loki's family will attack us. Nidhoggr isn't the type to leave his post at Yggdrasil. There is a possibility that Fenrir might act on his own accord but like a big dog, he won't do much without his father's support. "

"Unlike a cockroach though," Syaoran replied drily. "He can easily squash all of us without breaking a sweat." For a brief second, he though he saw both Chibi and Lack stiffen at his words. Taking that possibly imagined hint, he added "It's true isn't it?"

Lack didn't answer. Phenomenon got up and gave him a little shake. Tadakono, realising what was happening, got up and eased Lack back down into lying position. "He's probably still really tired and shut down again like he did earlier. L did warn us when we came in that he might."

Syaoran and Phenomenon nodded. The three left Lack's side discussing strategies amongst themselves. A piece of Tadakono's mind stayed on Chibi and Lack. It's not like Chibi to draw him inwards in the middle of a conversation. I hope nothing is seriously wrong.

~~~

Lack sat with Chibi, in human form, leaning against his back. "You drew me in." He said tiredly. "And now you say you can't get me out."

"It wasn't me," Chibi replied, her voice sounding equally tired. "I was drawn here the same as you. The only other person who can do that to us aside from ourselves is Eir. But she hasn't appeared since we got here, so I have no idea what is going on."

"So there's no way this can be a malicious attempt of disabling us by one of Loki's family?" Lack was ready to believe anything in his tired state.

"Unless Eir sold her power," Chibi replied. Everything in her senses pointed towards something in the distance. "I think we have to go to her. She's somewhere in your consciousness." She got up and turned to help Lack up. "Why she is there and how she got there I have no idea."

~~~

"He's been asleep for an awfully long time," Phenomenon said with a sigh to Syaoran. His eyes darted from Lack to L and Tadakono not far off. "Tada's been acting strange too."

"You think so too," Syaoran confirmed quietly. "I have a feeling Tada knows more about this situation than we do." They nodded to each other and crept slowly up towards Tadakono and L.

"Eir says not to worry but it honestly looks like he's a living dead!" Tadakono cried, his hands clutching his cape tightly. "Even though I know about their link, it's still not helping anyone else if Lack looks like he's going to die on us."

"And you being afraid that he is actually on the verge of death isn't your true concern," L's voice curled around Tadakono like a serpent. "Honestly, if Eir says he's alright then he's alright. If you have to stress over anyone dying, then stress over Chibi. Goodness knows she's going to be a cat for a long while."

"Chibi knows how to survive as a cat," Tadakono's voice was dry. "However the guild doesn't know how to survive as a whole without Lack."

L placed his hands on Tadakono's shoulders. "You have nothing to worry about then. It wasn't Chibi who drew them into their link. It was Eir. So unless she's turned evil, which isn't possible without everyone under her care becoming evil also, she won't keep them for long."

Standing up and stepping out from the nearby bed, Phenomenon and Syaoran took a hold of each of Tadakono's arms. "You're going to need to explain everything." Phenomenon's voice was dark and cold. "We just heard some very interesting news."

~~~

"How far are we going Chibi?" Lack asked. He now blindly followed her with her hand in his as a guide. "I'm starting to sense Eir as well, but I don't see her."

"Just there," He looked up to where she was pointing. A bright doorway shone in the distance. "Just through there." She smiled and pulled him along. "Don't ask where it goes. I just know it leads to Eir."

FCGS - Chapter 34

(Pre-Chapter Notes: The Guild Control Room is a room like the Treasure Room in game. It's a room that only the Guild Master can enter. The Control Room is where the Guild Master can manipulate the look and structure of the actual building. Think of it as the Guild Extension skill. After having athan as a ethereal character, I thought about characters that are killed permanently can have a "second" life. I used 2 of Lack's game characters and one of another player's to create three guardians within Fight Club headquarters. All three are introduced in this chapter. Also, with Chibi as a cat able to touch an ethereal character, is an idea I took from the various stories about how a cat's perception of the supernatural being high and morphed it slightly. Any other character can't touch them but they can be affected and touched by them.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chibi stood in the hall and turned back to a Creator. She walked quickly towards the Guild Control Room. I wonder if the controls will obey me. Lack's the only one who should be able to manipulate them. She looked at the glove she still had from Lack. Unless… She touched the door to the control room with her right hand. Lack's glove resonated with the machinery inside to open the door.

"Lack!" An ethereal Sniper ran to her before skidding to a stop. "You're not Lack."

"I'm not," Chibi replied holding up her right hand. "But I am representing him at the present time."

The sniper drew her bow and pointed it at Chibi. "Who are you?"

Chibi drew out her insignia from the Alchemist Society and took off Lack's glove to reveal her Fight Club tattoo. The movement caused the Sniper to release an Immaterial Arrow at Chibi, burying itself into her shoulder and disintegrating to seep into her skin. Chibi tensed in pain and focused on getting her task done. "Recognise me now?"

"Chibi…" The Sniper lowered her bow, with another Immaterial Arrow in her free hand. "I can feel Lack within the guild. Why can't he come himself?"

"Because Contra and Hel are where he is," She pulled Lack's glove back on and tucked her insignia away. "I can't be there unless I'm in cat-form because Kashy is also there."

"So he sent you," The Sniper continued still not completely convinced.

Chibi sighed and leaned against the wall with mock confidence. She knew she hadn't given Lack her complete idea. "You could go ask him. But once he flattens you in response it'll probably be too late to do anything."

The Sniper put her bow away and asked, "What did he want me to do?"

"Create two jail cells that can hold a god. One inside the other," Chibi replied looking directly at the Sniper. "Make the bars only just big enough for a small cat to get through but not a human body."

"That will take some time," The Sniper replied realizing why Chibi had told her there wouldn't be enough time to do anything if she went and asked. She looked at Chibi carefully. "There's something else you need to do as well isn't there?"

Chibi nodded. "In my Lab… I'll be back here when I'm done and we'll implement it this plan." She stepped out of the room, only looking back briefly. "Thankyou… Etami."

~~~

Lack felt his left glove burn briefly. Ignoring it, he came in close and punched Contra hard with his left hand. The glove leaving a burn mark across his cheek. I didn't know my gloves could do that… Jumping back, he forced his magic into both gloves and punched at Contra again leaving burn marks where his fist connected.

Novus handed a purely metal sword to MikeRex. A silent message passed between them. MikeRex drove the sword deep into Contra's chest and moved back letting Novus cast Lord of Vermillion directly at the sword. Fire melted the sword forming a tight ring around Contra's body. The lightning dancing over the metal, biting and sparking over Contra's skin.
Contra growled angrily and lashed back at them. The metal right tight against his chest. He grabbed a hold of Lack and threw him. Moving faster than possible, he took a hold of MikeRex's armor and threw him in the same direction as he had thrown Lack.

Kashy threw golden chains to bind Contra's arms and legs. Lack landed on his feet and skidded, bringing his hands to the floor in an attempt to stop himself from hitting the wall. MikeRex flew towards him and planted his spear to prevent crashing into Lack.

Contra screamed and broke the chains. He looked around the room wildly. Tiredness slowly seeping into him. From the corner of his eye, he could see a blue figure running towards him, turning into a cat, and leaping at him with both claws bared.

"Chibi!" Lack yelled in fury watching the floor open up and both Contra and cat fall through it. "What the hell?!" Feeling claws up his back he jumped. "What did you do?"

"I morphed a part of Kiseki to act like me," Chibi mewed in his ear. "Etami created two cells that can hold a god beneath this room. Contra is in the inner cell, with the second cell around the one he's in. So if he breaks out of that one, he has the other to get through. Should buy Kashy time to work out what to do with him." She gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

"Etami listened to you?" Lack asked surprised feeling Chibi's power flow into him again. He darted towards the rest of the Fight Club guildsmen to help them with Hel. "I thought she would of come down to ask me."

"She wanted to," Chibi mewed swiping her claw at Hel when Lack was close enough. "But after I told her that you'd flatten her because she was wasting time she complied. I still have your other glove too so I guess that helped. Although I need you do heal me properly later… Her Immaterial Arrows still hurt even though she is ethereal."

Phenomenon, Tadakono and Syaoran came close to Lack. "How are we going to take her down?" Phenomenon asked breathing hard. "I've tried calling Tyr but he's not interested."

"Leave the God calling to me," Chibi mewed at him. "Hel hates Holy magic. So use things that are holy in nature. Poison, and other offensive style magic skills aren't going to work well on her." While Chibi continued to explain she asked Eir if she could get Forseti and Thor. Hearing an almost instant reply, she tapped her tail against Lack's back happily.

Lack nodded feeling her tail against his back. "Alright!" Waving his hand to his right, "Phen, take the Assassins and assault from that side." After preparing Asura, he pointed off to his left and added "Syao, take our Knights and attack from that side." MikeRex joined Lack. JohnFlora darted behind them and became their support. Caya moved to join Phenomenon. Minna moved to become Syao and the Knights support. Lack looked at Tadakono and nodded with a silent command.

Tadakono moved out of the room with the rest of the guildsmen and moved quickly through the hallways and came back into the first room through the doorway behind Hel. "No where to go now Hel!" Chibi stopped tapping her tail and smiled. Tadakono noticed and smiled back. Unless she goes back to hell.

With one sweep of his hand, Lack directed the entire guild to attack Hel. From the corner of his eye, he watched Kashy and the Hidden Gods deep in conversation about Contra. "How long will it take for them to get here?" he murmured quietly to himself.

"Them as in Forseti and Thor?" Chibi mewed picking up his murmur. Lack nodded slightly. "Eir says it'll take a while but they'll be here soon… But they're coming from a great distance."

"How great a distance are we talking?" Lack asked. The weight on his shoulders felt heavier. "Chibi?" Chibi didn't reply. Her claws held onto his shirt tightly. As long as she doesn't fall off it should be alright. Feeling a cold presence heal him, he looked back to see an ethereal High Priest.

"Chibi's not here?" The Priest asked not noticing the cat around Lack's neck. "I thought she'd be here supporting you." He cast every supportive spell in his knowledge on Lack.

"She's supporting me in another way," Lack replied feeling one of Chibi's ears tickle his cheek. "I thought you couldn't leave the Infirmary…"

"I can't if Chibi's here," The Priest replied looking around the room. "If she's within the grounds of the Guild then I can't leave the Infirmary." Noticing Lack's confused expression, he added "It's the condition on me being a spirit."

"And you can't sense her within the grounds," Lack confirmed slowly touching the cat on his shoulders to make sure it is there. The Priest nodded his head and watched Lack carefully. Chibi twitched her ears and Lack took her off his shoulders and held her in front of him. "How low is your Spiritual Power at the moment?"

"Low…" Chibi replied extending her claws at him. "You're holding me in the most uncomfortable and undignified way." She leapt out of his hands and sat on the ground next to the Priest. "L can't sense me because my Spiritual Power is low. I've been just supplying you the bare minimum just now." She licked her paw then rubbed her ear. "I can't turn back for a while but that's alright. You're able to defeat Hel without my help. Especially with L here to help you."

~~~

An ethereal Lord Knight stood in the outer cell with Etami. "Think he'll get out?" he asked her quietly watching Contra punch the wall of his cell repeatedly. "He's not to bright though."

"You doubting my ability to morph this building, Seyria?" Etami asked angrily. "Lack gave me the order and I did the best job of it possible."

"You mean Chibi gave you the order," Seyria said with a smile. "Chibi didn't tell Lack what she had planned until after it was done. She only told Lack that she was going to go to see you to help her with her plan." Etami shook with anger over being tricked by Chibi. "Don't worry. Lack would of still flattened you if you went to ask him. He just would of flattened her as well afterwards."

"I wanted to ask you something tho," Etami said quietly. "How did you… pass on?"

"I died in the same battle as you did," he replied not looking at her. His hand touching his neck unconsciously. "Lack, L and I were attacking Kashy and, I don't remember much, but I protected Lack and Kashy's sword came down across my neck, killing me instantly."

"I see," Etami sighed and watched the wall break away a little from Contra's fist. "And is that how L died also?"

"No…" Seyria blinked and listened carefully. "L died after that. I don't know the circumstances surrounding his death. But like you, Chibi bound him to his designation with Eir's help."

~~~

Hel sat tiredly on the floor. Her arms bound by Forseti's golden rope. Thor stood with Mjolnir in hand ready to attack her if she appeared to attack again. Lack dismissed a very tired guild. L and Chibi watched him carefully. They both knew the length of the battle would of taken it's toll on him.

"He'll collapse soon," L said quietly to Chibi. "What do you want me to do with him when he does?"

"Strap him to a bed in the infirmary until he's 100%," she replied flicking her tail from side to side. "Not much else we can do." Looking around, she noticed Etami coming up to them. "I'm not here." She scratched her ear and stretched like any other cat before curling up.

Etami glanced at Chibi then looked at L. "Seen Chibi?" L shook his head and gave her a smile. "Then maybe you can answer this question. How did you die?"

L froze and restrained himself from glancing at Chibi. Feeling her tail hit his leg hard, he took it as a warning. "I don't really remember. All I remember is that I was with Chibi and Lack, then I'm a spirit looking down at my body with a sword through my heart." He gave Etami a small smile. Both Chibi and Lack will murder me for telling how I died. Tho… He glanced down at Chibi before looking back at Etami. I guess I need to be more worried about what Chibi will do to me. Since she's the one I'm keeping the secret for.

"Just curious," Etami asked pressing Chibi gently with her foot. "Who's the cat? I've seen Lack carrying it from time to time but I've never gotten the chance to ask him about it." Chibi extended a claw at Etami forcing her to withdraw her foot.

"You'll need to ask Lack that," L replied once again feeling Chibi's tail against his leg. "This cat abuses me too much. So I can't really answer you. You're better off asking Lack." Etami gave him a confused expression. Chibi stood and left to bring Lack. "She's gone to get him."

Chibi returned with Lack following her. "What's going on?" he asked feeling Chibi climb up him to perch on his shoulder, her tail curled around his neck.

L gave him a small 'Help Me' expression. "Etami wanted to know who the cat is and where Chibi is."

Lack gave Chibi a little pat on the head. "This is Black," Giving a little wink, he added "She's kind of a little mascot character for the guild lately. She acts like a human from time to time." Glancing at L, he added "She also likes being mean to L. I'm not sure why that is but when she feels like it she can stop him from talking." Pausing for a second, he answered L's second point. "Chibi isn't within Fight Club at the moment. She went to the Alchemist Guild with a request from me. How else are you able to leave the Guild Control Room? If she's here neither you nor L can leave your posts."

Etami gave this information some thought before asking. "So then maybe you can answer this question with her sitting there." Lack looked at her confused. "L told me he doesn't remember how he died." Lack gave her an even more confused look. "He said you and Chibi know how it happened and Chibi isn't here at the moment to ask so…"

"I actually don't know either," Lack gave a sigh and felt Chibi's tail brush up and down his neck. "Chibi is truly the only person who knows exactly what happened. I was there but I didn't see it." He laughed and added "Good luck trying to get it out of her. I've tried to the point of almost being driven to beating it out of her." Lack's vision blurred slightly and he leaned forward, putting out his hand in time to stop himself from falling. "Huh? I was alright just a second ago."

"Come," L extended his arm out to Lack. "I'll take you somewhere to rest." Chibi jumped from Lack's shoulders and sat in Lack's field of vision with a worried expression. "You're worrying Black." L ducked under Lack's arm to support him with Etami under Lack's other arm. "You should know by now battles that drag on that long have this outcome when they're finally finished."

FCGS - Chapter 33

Chibi jumped and landed on Nidhogg's long arching neck. She brought her sword down and cast Magnum Break. A burst of flame spun down her sword and into Nidhogg causing him to move his head and neck around to throw her off.

"You're faster than I last remember," he said finally throwing her off. Chibi flew backwards into his wing, where she used her Azoth the create a long cut down the wing to slow her descent.

"You're more chatty than I remember," Chibi replied finally dropping to the floor. She glanced at Flyte who laid motionless on the ground. This is going to be difficult. Standing, she cast Heal. I wish I could pitch at myself.

"I see now what your future is suppose to be," Nidhogg swiped his claw and sent her flying into the darkness behind him to hit a door made of bloody red wood. "Go through the door." Chibi felt the link to her homunculus break. "You have a choice to make before you can get what you want."

Chibi shook, grieving the loss of her homunculus. She isn't dead yet completely. Chibi pushed the door open and walked in. Three maidens stood facing her, their faces hidden under long white hoods.

"You've finally made it here," The middle one said softly. Her hands held out a Seed of Life to Chibi. "Your life? Or your partner."

Chibi closed her eyes. Eir… Lack… Don't hate me. "I want my Lif back." Placing a hand on the seed, she called to her homunculus. Feeling a small hand on her shoulder, she opened her eyes. "Flyte…"

"For the truthfulness of your decision," The maiden on the left said. "You life thread from the past is strengthened."

"For your wish to save another life other than your own," The maiden on the right said. "Your life thread of the present is strengthened."

"And for your desire to destroy those who cut the life threads for personal gain," The maiden in the middle said. "Your future life thread is restored and strengthened. No God can cut your thread without our power."

Chibi smiled and bowed. "Thankyou… Skuld… " She nodded to the maiden on her left. "Urd…" Nodding to maiden in the middle. "And Verdandi." She nodded to the maiden on her right and bowed once more. She felt Lack's insignia glove go warm again.

"You must return home," Urd said softly. Her fingers touched an unseen thread nearby. "Someone's life thread near you is going to end soon unless you can stop it."

~~~

Lack jumped away from a sword falling in his direction. What the...? Lack threw spheres at Contra and moved back to BlackRose. "You should change back." he whispered. "Contra is willing to sacrifice everything. I can feel it in his strike. He won't care if there's just me, or if the whole guild was on him." Pressing his tattoo with two fingers he sent a warning to all guild members.

"I'll stay as Chibi," she hissed. "Hel is still to make an appearance." She pitched potions at him. She paused, her ears pricking up at voice Lack couldn't hear. "Call for Kashy when Hel arrives. He'll come when you do."

Lack nodded and cast Asura on Contra. Spinning, he stepped back quickly as Contra advanced on him without missing a beat. Asura still doesn't slow him down. BlackRose pitched Blue potions and raised her sword to block Contra's thrown shield. But he's predictable.

~~~

Syaoran walked through Velvet Touch of Enishi with JohnFlora at his side. The girls walked behind them looking around everywhere. "I want to speak to Mike if possible," Syaoran said quietly. Grabbing his forearm, he felt his tattoo burn. Looking back at the girls, they touched their tattoos as well. "As quickly as possible."

"He's in a meeting with the rest of the guild," JohnFlora replied showing them into a smaller room. "Rest here and when he's done I'll bring him in."

"Let him know it's about Yggdrasil," Feeling his tattoo burn more intensely, he added "And Chibi…" JohnFlora nodded and quickly left to join his brother in the Meeting Room.

~~~

Chibi walked back towards the Niflheim door. Her tattoo burned angrily. Lack's fighting and calling for the guild to gather where he is. I have to hurry. Chibi quickened her pace and ignored Nidhogg as she passed him.

"So you have both your life thread and partner back," he said. "Better hurry. My sister is going to be at the place you're heading now." Chibi slowed and stared at Nidhogg, her eyes wide. "She wants Lack's head. To be honest, I don't see her fetish in owning heads. Eating them is much better."

"I'd prefer neither to happen to Lack," Chibi replied and focused her power into her right earring. Just for now. Chibi darted faster than any creature in Rune-Midgard towards the door. Bursting through it, she skidded to a halt.

"Chibi…"Tadakono said holding his neck tightly. "Lack's calling us."

"I know…" Chibi gave athan a little kiss on the cheek in thanks before jumping into the Warp Portal Phenomenon had cast. "I'll come by again when things have settled down athan. It's a promise."

~~~

"Just minutes away," Hel said with a smile holding BlackRose tightly around the neck. "Then you can die and become one of my personal puppets. I regret losing your knowledge but your strength alone will suffice." BlackRose pretended to struggle and lash out at Hel. Lack accented her struggle by yelling at Hel and trying to get past Contra. His medallion BlackRose had given him visible while he snapped around. Hel gave one glance at it and smiled. "Why don't you call the Mediators to help you?"

Lack's eyes widened, then narrowing. His voice low and dangerous. "I'll do one better." He drove Contra away from him and yelled at the top of his lungs. "KASHY!"

"You called?" Kashy appeared in the room with Novus and Palidor. He grabbed Contra's arm and threw him into the pole on the opposite end of the room. Lack snapped over to join him. "I see you're more interested in gaining the information Chibi has." Kashy said preparing Asura Strike. "But she isn't the only one who knows that information." He pulled his gloves tight and settled into an offensive attack position. "I know it too and you know that I know it. You took their blood while they were frozen." Feeling Chibi's presence behind him nearing the door he added "You can release yourself from Disguise, BlackRose. Having Hel hold you like that must be incredibly uncomfortable."

BlackRose changed and stabbed an Immaterial Arrow into Hel forcing her to release her. "Definitely uncomfortable." She flapped her wings and flew towards Kashy, landing behind him and Novus.

~~~

Chibi touched the door. A familiar feeling washed over her. "You go in first," Chibi said to Phenomenon and Tadakono. "Something is telling me to wait." Tadakono and Phenomenon pushed open the door and went inside. At the same time, BlackRose ducked outside. "BlackRose…"

"I need to give you a small briefing before you go inside," BlackRose said touching her neck feeling a little faint as a voice rippled through her mind. "Hel doesn't know where you are at the moment. I need to know what happened." Chibi's eyes widened as BlackRose traced the faint scar-like line that spiraled up her forearm. "Kashy will hear this directly as well."

"I have my life thread restored," Chibi said still looking at BlackRose's arm. "The Norns restored it…" Chibi paused wondering if she should continue. "I chose to revive my homunculus with the Seed of Life because Nidhogg had attacked her and they decided to restore my Life Thread because of the apparently pureness of the decision."

"So basically you got two things instead of one," Kashy's voice sounded near BlackRose. Chibi squeaked and turned into a cat. "Don't worry. I can't have you come inside. You're useless as a cat."

"Then remove the binding," Chibi mewed. BlackRose picked her up and gave her a pat. "Or do you really want to keep me as a cat? I've been one for almost five years now." She added crossly. "I'm not entirely useless as a cat."

"The problem is," Kashy's voice said a little strained. "Not whether I want to keep you as a cat, but whether I want to unbind athan as well. You two share a binding. He chose to shoulder most of the blame. That's why you're a cat and not something worse than that." BlackRose turned to face the door. "BlackRose… I need you to come back inside. Bring Chibi inside as well." BlackRose pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Chibi jumped out of her arms and climbed up Lack's leg to sit on his shoulder. "I'll lend you my strength to increase yours." she mewed in his ear. Giving him a little kiss on the cheek, her Spiritual Power began to flow into him. She closed her eyes, curled herself around his neck and sank her claws into his shirt.

Lack gave her a little pat on the head. "Safest place for you at the moment," He cast Fury in preparation for Asura Strike. Flyte cast Emergency Avoid on him and floated cautiously behind him. Darting from left to right, Lack came at Contra and brought his hand up to use Palm Push Strike.

"What are you doing?" Chibi mewed in his ear. "That's not going to hurt him." Her words punctuated by Contra hitting the wall opposite them. "… At least not kill him…."

"I wanted to see what my strength is now," Lack replied looking at his hands. "Your… " Chibi rubbed his head against his neck in response. "This is good." Gathering his power, he launched a full on assault on Contra.

On the other end of the room, Tadakono and Phenomenon directed the rest of the guild against Hel. "Seen Syao yet?" Tadakono called to Phenomenon casting a Storm Gust shield to allow Kakaxi and FerrariSin attack more freely.

"Haven't seen him at all," Phenomenon supported leafye and Trelawney. "Brighteyes, illusions and Minna are missing too."

~~~

"What's this about?" MikeRex asked sitting in front of the three. "I doubt Lack has given you permission to talk to me about anything."

Syaoran tested his ability to talk about the current situation. "When you went to Yggdrasil with Chibi. Was there any difficulties that you two met?" Syaoran's voice caught in his throat.

"I see Lack's used his Guild Master abilities on the information," MikeRex said with a sigh. "Yggdrasil itself is a labyrinth. If you aren't mentally prepared in what you are trying to attain by being there, it becomes a cage more than anything else. But once you are determined, it becomes a long corridor. The door to the heart of Yggdrasil is guarded by Nidhogg."

"One of Loki's children…" brighteyes said shocked. "There's no way…" Her voice also caught in her throat. MikeRex looked at them and then at their tattoos. Brighteyes covered hers and added "Lack's calling us because Contra is there and possibly Hel." She looked at him in the eyes. "Come help us. It is possible Lack will tell you himself."

"Contra and Hel…" MikeRex mused leaning back. "I can't enter armed without the permission of the Guild Master or his 2nd in Command. That means only Lack and Chibi can give me permission to enter Fight Club Headquarters without me being practically killed as soon as I step in the door."

"I'm next in line after Chibi," Syaoran said quietly. "Myself, Tadakono and Phenomenon. You can enter with my permission until Lack or Chibi certifies it. It's a fail-safe the two of them created after the first battle with Contra."

MikeRex looked surprised at him. "You'll risk Lack murdering you," Syaoran nodded in agreement. "Then go get John and Caya and we'll come with you."

~~~

Lack cast Asura Strike on Contra, pushing him hard into the ground. His sweat stinging his eyes from the prolonged battle. The fur around his neck shivered slightly every now and then. This battle is going for too long. It's taking it's effect on both of us. He brought his fist up towards Contra's rib cage. He's showing no signs of tiredness.

Kashy cast Asura Strike on Contra as well. His anger increasing with the knowledge that Contra was not wearing down. Novus swung his Axe through the air across Contra's chest and took a look at Lack before nodding to BlackRose and Palidor. Palidor darted around and moved in front of Lack to continue his assault.

Blackrose moved to stand beside Lack. Drawing her bow she said "Rest. We'll take care of him for the moment. Chibi's going to pass out soon anyway from supplying you power." Lack didn't move from his spot. BlackRose drew a Flash Arrow and shot it directly at Lack's neck. Lack dodged and moved away from her. "Go rest or I'll fire more." Lack stared at her incredulously before nodding and snapping away.

"You alright?" Lack asked Chibi stroking one of her ears. "Release your connection to me." Chibi relaxed completely and mentally snipped their connection. "Chibi?"

"Dizzy…" Chibi mewed feeling a very familiar presence nearby. "Mike's going to be here soon… With Syao."

"Good…" Lack sat down hard on the floor. He watched the rest of the guild fighting Hel. "I hope he brought help cause they're wearing out as well."

~~~

MikeRex cast Spiral Pierce. His spear thundering down on Contra with increasing speed. He glanced at those fighting Hel and at Lack every so often. This is difficult. Hel, being a God, wont tire as easily. Contra, on the other hand, should be tired. Skidding backwards from Contra's thrown shield, MikeRex crouched down near Lack. "What's going on here?"

Lack took Chibi off from around his neck and set her on the ground next to him. "Hel was originally here to watch Chibi die but now that that plan had failed she's here to kill us all. I still have no idea why Contra is able to battle for so long now like as if he is a Hidden God." He patted Chibi's black fur. He could feel her taking very deep, slow breaths like she was sleeping. "I drained her too much of her power. I don't know if I can handle Contra without her power. Especially after seeing you battle him."

MikeRex scratched his head frustrated. "You'll need to explain to me everything later. If you're alright, come back to the battle. At least both of us against him is better than fighting one at a time." Lack nodded and got up. They darted off towards Contra noticing Kashy falling back towards where Lack has been sitting.

Kashy knelt near Chibi's cat-like form. "Since when could you and Lack join your power?"

"Since the day I warped Azoth." Chibi mewed quietly, staying still with her eyes closed. "You knew that already."

"Wanted to see if you'd answer me truthfully," Kashy replied stroking her fur gently, his power flowing into her to assess her status. "Can you answer me truthfully… Why did you give athan the secret to creating gold from stone?"

"Because I needed a secret that he knew and he wanted a secret that I knew," Chibi replied evasively. "So it was a trade."

"And that was?" Kashy prompted impatiently. Chibi stayed silent for a while. "Your answer could set you both free from my bindings."

"Before Contra," Chibi replied slowly. "There was a war between us and you guys… You remember?"

"You were in Velvet Touch of Enishi at the time," Kashy said uncertain about what she was meaning. "You mean when we first appeared?"

"Yes," Chibi said softly. "When you first appeared, no one knew how what or who you were. Because of this, I became worried that if something was to happen to Mike or Lack… Athan had returned from the outer world, namely Rachel, and he had found a secret there within Freya's temple that would increase strength for life or magic. I asked for that secret, athan in turn, asked for the secret for creating gold. I know that everything is equal trade in alchemy so I gave him the secret in exchange for the one I wanted."

"Was it worth the trade?" Kashy asked looking up at the battle. He was dissatisfied at the level her Spiritual Power currently sat.

"I don't know," Chibi replied after a while. "I have never needed to use it on either of them. Especially now that I'm able to link to Lack. But the secret itself is incredibly dangerous. More so than creating legendary items. If I was to use that secret on either of them, I could possibly kill them." Kashy stood and snapped back into the battle. Flyte floated down and sat next to Chibi. "Can still talk?"

"A little," She whispered to her. Flyte tugged at her green hair. "Lack was cautious but drained more than he wanted to. You sure you don't want to use that secret?"

"Only if I have absolutely no choice," Chibi replied with a yawn. "Besides, I'm sure Lack can take down Contra without it. He just isn't trying his hardest at the moment. He hasn't had many adversaries that can draw out his fullest." Chibi lifted her head and then moved slowly until she was crouching. "Can you take me out of this room?"

Flyte nodded and picked her up, flying off towards the hall that led to Chibi's lab. Lack looked up took a mental note that Chibi and Flyte left the room. MikeRex fell back and stood next to Lack, his breathing labored and heavy. "Where did they go?"

"Probably either to Chibi's lab or to the Guild Control room," Lack replied throwing spheres at Contra. "Either destination means Chibi has an idea she wants to try."

"And you don't mind her not telling you?"

"She already has…" Lack replied with a smile and Asura'd Contra three times in a row. MikeRex looked stunned before striking Contra with his spear again.

FCGS - Chapter 32

BlackRose walked through the halls of Fight Club a little nervous. She could feel eyes on her from everywhere. Is this what Chibi goes through every day or am I doing something unusual?

"Chibs?" illusions came up and gave her a pat on the back. BlackRose turned to look at her causing a slight reaction from illusions. "Not preoccupied today?" BlackRose shook her head. Illusions smiled and BlackRose gave a mental sigh of relief. "Lack asked me and brighteyes if we could go hunting for Dead and Bloody Branches. Want to come along?"

BlackRose froze not knowing how to respond. Shit what do I say?

"Chibi and I had a prior agreement this morning," Lack said stepping into the hallway. BlackRose kept still not giving away her surprise. Lack came up and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Illusions eyes narrowed at Lack. "We'll get going then." She turned and disappeared down the hall.

Lack turned to face BlackRose. "I can't keep bailing you out. They're bound to notice if they haven't already."

"I can't help it," BlackRose replied knowing that he was meaning Chibi's death sentence and her disguise. Choosing her words carefully, she added "I just don't feel right at the moment."

Lack gave her a small smile and took her arm. "Then how about I set things right…" he added in a whisper. "I'll need you to turn back to yourself if you're willing. I can't… With you looking like Chibi that is…"

BlackRose searched his face for any signs that he was joking. Finding none, she said "Alright."

~~~

"Lack and Chibi are acting weird," illusions said suddenly to brighteyes and Syaoran. "They're definitely hiding something."

Syaoran disappeared into a bush and gave a quiet sigh before adding "Maybe they've started to have feelings for each other." Lack's going to murder me for saying that. Hearing nothing, he peeked out at the two girls. "You two are quiet."

"That makes sense though," brighteyes said to him. Her eyes sparkling with interest at the new topic. "They're always sparring together."

Syaoran's body went cold. Lack's going to really murder me. BlackRose too. "Í said maybe. There could be something else that has them acting weird…"

"Like what?" illusions asked looking at him. "You know something. You look really pale."

"I'm always pale!" Syaoran cried and darted deeper into the bushes. "Find branches or Lack will have all our hides."

Brighteyes leaned over to illusions and whispered "Syao's acting strange as well."

~~~

BlackRose sat on the end of Lack's bed and recast Disguise to return to looking like Chibi. "You really like enjoying yourself don't you," Lack gave a small shiver then smiled. "Why can't you with Chibi? I'm sure if you asked her she would."

"Because it really does feel like she's my sister," Lack replied pulling on his shirt. "Its like I'm doing it with family."

"Then why me?" BlackRose asked quietly. "I'm more closer to being family to the both of you than you are to each other."

"Because I don't get that feeling with you," Lack replied walking to the door and opening it to look around. "Besides…" He looked back with a smile. "It's not everyday you can get into bed with a Hidden God."

BlackRose threw his pillow at him only to hit the back of the door. "Not funny." Getting up, she placed her ear on the door listening for any sound. What am I doing?

"Lack's all happy again for some reason," brighteyes said to illusions with a sneaky smile. "I wonder…" They whispered to each other causing BlackRose's face to go red. "That's go to be it! Syaoran was right!"

BlackRose waited for them to move away before she left Lack's room. He's going to murder the guild at this rate. It would have been easier to tell them Chibi's situation and work from there. Spotting him walking into the Foyer, she hissed in his ear. "You know what they're saying about you and Chibi now?" Lack shook his head and leaned against the wall as if waiting for someone. BlackRose whispered quickly what she had heard from brighteyes and illusions. Lack gave a visible shiver and closed his eyes.

"I'll deal with it somehow," he said softly. "That aside, you… As in Chibi… Have to go to the Alchemist Society soon. Just like I have to go and make my own appearance at the Monk Society to try and keep the peace there."

~~~

Chibi jumped from rock to rock to a small village in the middle of nowhere. "Follow me," she called to Tadakono and Phenomenon. "I'll lead you the short way. I don't want to be attacked by Lord of Death or any other monster in Niflheim." They walked into the small village lined with pumpkins on every side.

"It's been a while," An ethereal Assassin Cross walked towards her, his Fight Club tattoo a dark spot on his neck against his pale translucent skin. "No one has visited me in a long time."

"I need to enter Yggdrasil… athan." Chibi said softly. She smiled and rested against a nearby tree. "You can probably tell why."

"Your life thread is incredibly short," athan said looking at her up and down. "Not because of an experiment either. Hel has cut it. I can see how much time you have left," Seeing Chibi's expression, he added. "I can't tell you. It's part of Kashy's binding on me." He looked up to the sky. "You're in luck. I just received permission from Forseti to let you into Yggdrasil." He looked at Tadakono and Phenomenon. "But only you. Your bodyguards need to stay here."

"But in Yggdrasil there's…" Chibi trailed off noticing athan look back up to the sky. "What is it?"

"Forseti wants to make sure that it is fated for you to return your life thread this way," athan said listening to Forseti's voice. "He says that if it's not to be then the fated way will appear..."

Chibi shivered at the way athan trailed off. A tear trickled from athan's eye. "So if it's fated for me to be killed by Nidhogg…" She looked at athan who nodded in answer to her question. "When I return, do I return here?" Again athan nodded. "Then I'll go."

Athan walked down the stairs leading to a very ancient doorway that was twisted and gnarled like it was created from a tree root. He opened it and bowed. Chibi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt something clip onto her left ear and someone replace her left glove for a coarser, heavier glove.

"My Marine Sphere earring," Tadakono whispered in her ear. "It will allow you to use Magnum Break." He placed a hand gently on her head. "Make sure you come back."

"Something I use to use as an Acolyte before I learnt how to Heal," Phenomenon whispered in her other ear. "A Vitata glove," His hands held her left one. "Make sure you return it to me."

Chibi opened her eyes and stepped towards athan. She felt, if she said anything, that she would cry and not be able to continue on with her determination to restore her life thread. Athan raised his hands and clipped another earring to her right ear. Chibi looked at him curiously.

"You made this for me in return for the favor you asked," athan said softly. "Do you remember?" Chibi nodded with a smile. "You keep it. I can't use it anymore in this state."

"But," Chibi replied with tears trickling down her face. "This is yours. Made with your Doppelganger Card." Athan shook his head and took her arm, directing her into the door. "I don't need it back. But I want you to come back." He said and closed the door leaving Chibi at the entrance to Yggdrasil.

~~~

Lack sat in front of the guild in the Dining Room. His finger tapping at the table in a steady rhythm that mimicked his heart beat. His ears picked up all the voices and conversations in the room. BlackRose sat next to Lack looking at him. They decided to tell them the truth. Touching his tattoo, he gave a silent command to the room to remove and seal out all non-fight club members. He paused and placed an added command to leave BlackRose where she was. The doors around the Dining Room slammed shut making everyone jump in fright.

"If I can have all of you seated," Lack said, his voice carrying without him projecting it over normal tones. "And quiet, I have something to tell you all." The guild fell silent and drew their attention to Lack. He stood and looked around the room. "As you all know that myself and Chibi were frozen in the Ice Cavern. The ones who froze us there were Hel and Contra." Contra's name caused everyone to break out in whispers. "Silence please." He moved his left hand and took BlackRose's hand.

BlackRose stood and closed her eyes and gave a small nod to everyone before opening them again. "Since then, Hel has been after…" She paused and looked at Lack who nodded. "Been after the knowledge Chibi possesses." Whispers broke out again. BlackRose turned back to her true self and looked at them. "Hel tried to attain information from Chibi to create a force stronger than doppelgangers that Loki made. Chibi refused and Hel cut her life thread short to force her to reveal the information out of desperation." Shocked silence greeted her words. "Chibi has gone to Yggdrasil with Tadakono and Phenomenon to search for a way to restore her life thread." She changed back to looking like Chibi and softly added. "I am here to keep the flow going. Originally, we had decided to hide it as you all are hold loyalty to each other that knowing this would hurt some of you."

"But because of the absurd gossip you are all spreading," Lack said slightly angry. "We decided to give you the truth and see how that sits with your annoying gossipy theories." He sat back down heavily in his chair. BlackRose sat down a bit more delicately and looked at him. "I don't want to hear about how Chibi and I are together. Chibi is my sister and it'll always stay that way." He touched his insignia glove lightly before leaning back in his chair.

~~~

It's warm. Chibi walked along the thick roots of Yggdrasil with Flyte floating at her side. I wonder why. She tugged on the glove sharply. Feeling it go to normal temperature again, she sighed. I guess it's alright. If anything had happened to Lack it would of gone cold and disappeared completely.

"Who dares to enter the sacred realm of Yggdrasil?" A voice called from a distance. Chibi froze and looked in the direction the voice had come from. "It is forbidden for those who have been here once to come again."

"Let me pass Nidhogg," Chibi called out towards the giant dragon in the distance. "I have been given permission by Forseti to be here."

"Come closer so I can see you," he called back. Chibi walked towards him until she was just outside of flame range. "You won't come closer?"

"I have been captured by Loki and fooled by Hel once," Chibi replied keeping her eyes on the dragon. "I won't been made a fool of by another of Loki's family again." She gave a small bow. "Even if it is you Nidhogg, I fear I can't come any closer."

"Being cautious…" Nidhogg laid down and rested with his wings curled around either side of his body. "While you may have Forseti's permission. I know that if you are alone that it's also a test." He flapped his wings. "Sit, rest, and then we'll fight. I'm the barrier between here and the heart of Yggdrasil."

~~~

Lack felt a sharp tug within. She got angry at me from that distance? He sat in the Training Room, his eyes dark and looking inwards. I'll be stronger when you get back. Falling into his Spiritual Power, he sat down in the centre of the circle and began his meditation.

Syaoran watched him from the doorway for a while before leaving for Velvet Touch of Enishi. I need to ask Mike… He's was with Chibi the last time so he'd know. His memories of when Tadakono, Phenomenon and himself were trapped in Yggdrasil left him feeling uneasy.

"Off to see Mike?" Minna asked quietly. She stepped into the foyer with brighteyes and illusions to meet him at the door. Syaoran nodded with his hand resting on his sword. "Mind if we come as well?"

"I don't mind," Syaoran replied looking back towards where he came from. "I haven't told Lack though. So it'll be absence without leave from Lack."

"It should be alright," brighteyes said with a smile. "We all know that after Chibi it's you, Tadakono and Phenomenon that run the guild. Therefore, Lack would be more lenient with you than he would be with me."

"Better yet," BlackRose stepped into the Foyer. "I'll let him know you have gone out. I don't want to know where in case it's something he'd protest against." Noticing Syaoran's expression, she added "Don't tell Mike that Chibi is in Yggdrasil. Lack wants to keep the information within the guild." She blinked then smiled. "Actually I don't think you'll be able to say it now. Lack just used his Guild Master abilities to seal the information. No one in this guild can say anything about it now."

"So that's what he was doing," Syaoran said with a small nod. "I want to know that the inside of Yggdrasil is like. Asking you would be different because you're a Hidden God. You're restricted to saying anything. Where as Mike isn't." Syaoran gave BlackRose a nod and waved his hand in a sweeping motion to the girls. "We'll be going now."

FCGS - Chapter 31

Chibi stood in the Training Room breaking Dead Branches and killing the spawns they produce. Her mind occupied on fighting and nothing else. Lack stood at the door watching her with Phenomenon, Tadakono and Syaoran.

"I've never seen her like this before," Tadakono said softly. "It's like she's possessed."

"I wouldn't say possessed," Lack replied watching Chibi stab a Gibbet and move on to a new Branch without stopping. "I'd say she's trying to escape from something." He looked at the three of them. "You remember? She was shaking so badly last night and refused to say anything. Also with Hel saying 'your days are numbered'. I'm pretty sure that's related too."

"You think Hel did something to her?" Phenomenon asked quietly.

Lack nodded and noticed Chibi pick up a Bloody Branch. "Chibi! Not that one!" Lack darted into the room as an Incantation Samurai appeared. Chibi blinked and spread Bombs all over the place catching the Tengu and Shinobi slaves. Coating her armor and sword, she darted at the Incantation Samurai. Lack skidded to a stop just short of the field of fire.

"If that was anything but an Incant," Phenomenon said watching Chibi cut the Incantation Samurai down. "Chibi would have been dead before you reached her."

"Who would have been dead?" Chibi asked, the Incantation Samurai falling. She turned to look at them. Her cheeks wet with tears.

Lack walked towards her frustrated. Grabbing her wrist, he knocked her to the ground, pinning both her wrist under his hands. "Enough!" Lack's voice low and angry. "Tell us. Holding it in is going to hurt you much more!"

Chibi shook, her eyes holding more fear than Lack had expected. "Want to know why Hel is the Goddess of the Underworld?" Chibi said repeating automatically what Hel had said to her. "Because she takes pleasure in torturing humans to death."

"Torturing…" Lack let Chibi go and looked at her with softer eyes. "What did she do?"

Chibi sat up, her shaking starting again. "She cut my life thread short." She stared at Lack directly. "You know what that means? I won't be back. Resurrect won't work. There's no way out either. I asked Eir and she has no idea what to do." She closed her eyes and moved forwards til her head rested against his chest. "Lack…" He could hear the sadness in her voice. "I don't want to die." Lack hugged her unsure what to say.

A gust of wind blew into the room. Hel walked towards them with a smile on her face. Phenomenon, Tadakono and Syaoran stood in front of Lack and Chibi prepared to fight. Hel laughed at them. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to congratulate Chibi on finally acknowledging it."

"It's not going to change what you did!" Chibi cried getting up with her sword in her hand. "Why are you here now? To taunt me? Or to try and find out who else might have the information you seek."

"I'm here to cut a deal with you," Hel said with an evil smile. She looked at the boys and then back to Chibi. "I'll assume you've told them the first deal I made. So here's what I propose. If you give me the information, I will restore your life thread to what it was before I cut it."

"How do I have any guarantee that you'll actually do that," Chibi asked slightly tempted. "You didn't say that you'd shorten my life thread if I refused you the first time. Yet you did it." Lack placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to meet clear serious eyes.

"She doesn't need to give you the information," Lack said to Hel, his aura physically sparking all over the place. "So unless you have any other business here I want you to leave."

"You've just given her a death sentence," Hel said with a smile as Chibi fell to her knees at Lack's words. Hel began to fade away with the biggest smile on her face. "I'll come again before you die... Chibi."

Chibi began punching Lack hard. "What was that?! You want me to die?" Lack caught her wrists and held her still. His eyes still clear. "You have a plan…" Chibi stared at him incredulously.

"Call Eir for me," Lack said calmly. "Also, you'd of given all of us a death sentence if you give her the information. That's why she's trying so hard to get it out of you. It's possible she has no way of defeating us without the information she wants from you."

~~~

Hel stormed angrily into her room. Contra stood upright and away from a Lunatics cage quickly. "She's not giving me the information."

"I didn't expect Chibi would," Contra replied with a sigh. "She's the High Seat of the Alchemist Society. It's expected she'd hold to the Code more strongly than any other Alchemist."

"She wasn't the one who refused me this time," Hel said feeding a Lunatic a carrot with blood from the three mediators. "Lack did."

"That's a surprise," Contra replied a little shocked. "I heard that Lack would do anything to protect the lives of his guildsmen. I thought she'd be high on his list being 2nd in Command."

"I guess not." Hel replied with a shrug.

~~~

"Possible," Eir said listening to Lack's idea. "But that shortens your life thread as well. I've been looking into things after Chibi told me and there is a way. But it's dangerous." Chibi gave Lack a punch on the head for suggesting his idea. Eir coughed and continued. "It involves you re-attaining the Seed of Life."

"Forseti will murder me," Chibi cried. "Not to mention Kashy will put a stronger binding on me." Chibi paused before the deeper problem to the plan emerged. "I can't see the Seed of Life anymore."

"Does all that matter?" Eir asked her. "Aside from not seeing the seed, does the other two really matter?" Chibi thought about it carefully. "It doesn't but if I'm able to get the seed and Kashy slaps an even more difficult binding on me or Forseti murders me, it'd all be for nothing."

"I'll handle Forseti," Eir replied satisfied with Chibi's answer. "And I'm sure Lack can get BlackRose to take him to see Kashy. Under the circumstances, Kashy can't blame you because of Hel."

Chibi glanced at Lack, who nodded at her, before continuing. "Then I'll call you once I have it. Yet I'm still not sure how I'm going to see it. But I'll work out how once I get to Yggdrasil." She turned to Tadakono and Phenomenon. "If Lack's going to talk to Kashy, would you two accompany me?" She winked at Syaoran and added. "I need you to keep Lack out of trouble."

"Not funny," Lack grumbled. "Come by my room before you go. I want to give you something." Chibi jumped and hid behind Tadakono. Lack gave her a dirty look before adding "Not what you're thinking."

~~~

Lack stood outside in the night sky. Pressing the medallion, he waited. "You wanted to see me?" BlackRose asked setting down near him.

"I wasn't sure if you'd come," Lack replied tucking the medallion back into his pocket. "I haven't used this medallion in a long time." BlackRose waited listening to the wind. "Can you take me to see Kashy?"

BlackRose looked at his gloves and then asked "It's about Chibi isn't it?"

"How'd you know?" Lack said in surprise. BlackRose placed an arm around his waist and flapped her wings to fly up towards the Cloud Castle.

"Because you have one insignia glove one normal glove," BlackRose replied. "I assumed Chibi would have the other because you have no way of knowing if she's alright from the distance she's going."

"Then Kashy already knows," Lack said strained from the pressure of the wind from the speed BlackRose was flying at. "About what happened to Chibi."

"He knows that Hel needs information from Chibi and that she cut Chibi's life thread to attain it," BlackRose replied setting down onto the walkway leading to the castle. "He doesn't know what you need to talk about with him now."

"But you do?" Lack walked with her to the castle. "How do you know but he doesn't?"

"You're not the only one who has a special link to Chibi…"

~~~

Chibi pulled on the insignia glove Lack gave her onto her right hand. "This is why I hate leaving Lack behind," she murmured to Tadakono and Phenomenon. "He gets all over-protective then gives me one of his gloves to make sure I'm ok."

"If I remember correctly," Tadakono said giving her a small poke. "You took it once."

"That was to fight my shadow," Chibi snapped back. "And I guess in a small way to let him know if I needed him as soon as possible." I hope nothing happens to Lack while I'm gone. I'll murder BlackRose if she breaks her promise. "Shall we get going? Warpra doesn't have a function to warp to the base of Yggdrasil. We need to go to Niflheim and make our way from there."

~~~

Lack sat with Kashy in his tower with a cup of tea nestled in his hands. "So explain to me again why Chibi needs to get the Seed of Life a second time?" Kashy asked with his fingers pressed to his forehead. "Because I want to understand this fully before I decide overlook her going for the Seed."

"Chibi told me that Hel wants the blood combinations that can create Valkyries," Lack said slowly for the third time. "Chibi asked my advice and I told her to refuse because it would be like the doppelgangers all over again only worse. Hel decided to try another way and cut Chibi's life short in the hope that it might get her desperate enough to tell her the information she wants." Kashy nodded and Lack continued on. "Eir told us there was a way but Chibi has to attain the Seed of Life again in order to have a chance."

"And that is why you want me to overlook her entering Yggdrasil to get the Seed of Life a second time," Kashy said pacing the floor. "Under the circumstances I would overlook this instance but…" He looked at Lack. "There is the small matter of Forseti."

"Eir said that she'd talk to Forseti about it," Lack replied taking a sip of the tea. Strawberry Milk Tea… Chibi… "You'll probably hear from at least Forseti soon."

"Has Chibi already gone?" Kashy asked as he looked down from his tower to the three Mediators below.

"She would of left for Niflheim this morning with Tadakono and Phenomenon," Lack confirmed watching Kashy. "Something is bothering me though. How was Contra able to break out of the Hidden Gods binding?"

~~~

"You're going to be absent for a while?" Shadow cried watching BlackRose brush her hair. "Did you really need to make that promise?"

"You know how we three were created right?" BlackRose asked putting down her brush and picking up her cup of tea. Sensing them shake their heads, she continued. "We aren't human like Kashy, Novus and Palidor. We lack memories from the time before we became Mediators."

"But…" Shadow touched her chest knowing it was true. "What are we really?"

"Alchemical creations made by Kashy aren't we?" Balos said softly looking up and noticed Kashy watching them. "He created us with the blood from various strong people. Much like what Hel is trying to do now."

"Correct," BlackRose closed her eyes. "Normally that knowledge isn't accessible to us. But I know where the blood that created me came from, because I've been so close to them all this time. Been hard not to notice."

"Chibi and Lack?" Shadow asked a little surprised. "I guess that's true since you do possess qualities from both."

"While you and Balos must have the same blood but in differing amounts," BlackRose added. "Because you both look very similar. Like siblings almost. And you're very much in sync with each other, even when I first met you."

"I guess so…" Shadow said glancing at Balos. "I wonder who's blood we were created from."

"I'm going to be absent because I'm going to be taking Chibi's place for a while," She stood and used Disguise. Wind sprang up around her, hiding her from view. When it died, a small blue Creator stood in her place. "I spoke to Kashy about it already. I'm going to be taking on Chibi's aura and appearance in the hopes to fool Hel and find out her true plans."

"Does Lack know this?" Shadow asked getting up and looking over every inch of BlackRose's disguise. "He does mock battles with Chibi often."

"As far as I know," BlackRose replied sitting down with a sigh. "Kashy hasn't said anything to Lack. But he probably will…" She looked up to see Kashy and Lack approaching them. With a smile, she got up and did a small bow, an almost perfect impression of Chibi.

"Good but not quite," Kashy said with a smothered laugh. "And Chibi wouldn't bow to me. She likes to joke around more than anything else. She'd probably only bow to Odin and Eir."

"You look so much like her," Lack said surprised. "But even I can spot the difference." He came up and gave BlackRose a slap on the back causing her to lean slightly forward. "Chibi usually looks relaxed but she has a slight slouch in her posture. She straightens if she's worried about something or deep in thought." He leaned back looking at her up and down with a satisfied nod. "Much better."

"But still not quite," Kashy added glancing at Lack. "There's no way that BlackRose will be able to perfectly emulate Chibi's personality."

"We'll see…"

FCGS - Chapter 30

Contra stared at a row of glass vials filled with red liquid. "So how is this suppose to work?"

Hel placed a drop of liquid from each vial onto a Lunatic in a glass cage. "According to what I learn by listening to Chibi when she spoke to Father, blood of those exceptionally strong can be manipulated into objects. This manipulation can either allow or deny. Like a Guardian in a castle. To be used in a doppelganger, blood can create an almost perfect fighter known as a Valkyrie. But the chances of creating an actual Valkyrie are slim so you get hybrids. The look of them are the same but there can be imperfections such as low stamina or small wings. It's the roll of the dice what imperfection is created from mixing different bloods."

"I understood none of that," Contra said feeling dizzy. "Do I need to understand?"

"Not really," Hel replied watching the Lunatic sprout dark wings. "All you need to know is that I'll create a formidable force to trample everyone in our path."

"I'm not enough?" he asked. The Lunatic grew sharp fangs. Contra shivered at it's transformation.

"You're not enough," Hel confirmed stroking the Lunatics still soft fur. "Not with your current strength anyway. Even with a brand from myself and Father, you aren't strong enough."

"Then what do you want me to do?" he asked watching her repeat the experiment on the numerous cages of Lunatics that lined the walls.

"Finish what I told you to do," Hel replied. "Bring me Lack's head for my collection."

~~~

Chibi sat in her room. Her chest still stinging from her previous battle with Lack. I always get caught with Palm Strike. She touched her chest and sighed. He really didn't need to lock me in here. She flopped onto her side and closed her eyes. Nothing to do but actually rest.

Sitting bolt upright again, her ears pricked hearing a distant sound. Getting up, she pulled at the door trying to force it open. I hope that sound isn't what I think it is.

~~~

Phenomenon swung his Mjolnir causing a Lunatic to fly way from him. "What the heck are these?" The Lunatic bounced off the wall and flew at him again.

Lack ducked and threw spheres and one attacking him. "Whatever they are they're annoying!"

Tadakono cast Storm Gust over the entire room catching numerous Lunatics and freezing them on the spot. "They look like Lunatics but aren't."

"You can say that again," Syaoran called slicing one in half. "Last I remember, Lunatics don't have fangs and wings." He spun and caught another with the flat part of the blade and sent it flying.

Tadakono shook, his anger rising. "I've had enough." He cast Lord of Vermillion multiple times bringing a rain of fire and lightning down on the entire room. With barely any time to react, Syaoran, Lack and Phenomenon ran out of the room.

"I think he's lost it," Phenomenon said peeking in at the door and watching the Lunatics being burned to a crisp."Didn't think he had that much power either."

"Anger brings out powers deeper than you know consciously," Lack mused with amazement. "He must have been still hurt from getting a royal beating from me." Tadakono sat heavily onto the ground out of breath. "I think it's safe now."

"You almost burnt us to a crisp too!" Syaoran cried giving Tadakono a slap on the back. "What got you so fired up?"

"I got tired of little furry things trying to bite me," Tadakono replied with a sigh. His ears twitched. "Did you hear that?" They all fell quiet and listened carefully. A scream sounded from down the hall. Tadakono's eyes widened and they ran together towards the scream.

~~~

"Go… A-way!" Kakaxi screamed casting Meteor Assault to force the Lunatics away from herself. FerrariSin spun using himself like a human shuriken to slice through Lunatics that were flying at him. Furama cast Lord of Vermillion to burn those near him.

"It's an invasion…" Lack said stunned as he and the others reached the room. He took a closer look at the Lunatics in the room. "They look different…"

Tadakono ran to help Furama. They stood back to back casting Storm Gust and Lord of Vermillion. Syaoran and Phenomenon darted in as well to take care of more Lunatics. Lack just stared feeling weird. Lunatics… Why hybridize Lunatics? A Lunatic with giant claws leapt at him. He brought his Mjolnir down and crushed it. I'm going loony from just watching all this… He turned into a Stalker and waited. Lunatics leapt at him, latching onto his clothing. That's it, come to me… More gathered clawing and scratching at him. Lack raised his daggers to his chest and cast Sightless Raid.

"You're the one who lost it now," Phenomenon said with a laugh. Lack let out a sigh and changed back to a Champion to cast Heal on himself. "I wonder if there's more around."

~~~

Chibi sat on the floor of her room listening to the sound. I heard a scream a while ago. I wonder if they found it. Looking around the room she wondered how she could get out. I'm going to murder Lack next time we spar. "He knows how to keep me locked up well."

"But not perfectly," a voice said near her. Chibi looked around. "You can't see me. I've only come for a greeting. When you see me, we'll battle."

"Who are you?" she called laying back until she was lying down.

"You know me well," the voice said sounding closer to her ear. "We met at Father's castle."

"Why did you come to greet me then… Hel," Chibi said knowing she was in a very vulnerable position with nothing to protect herself with. "We both know that talking to me won't give you any new information."

"Which is why I want to strike a deal with you," Hel replied her voice full of false cheer. "I want to know the possible combinations to create a Valkyrie."

"And what do I get in return," Chibi replied entertaining the idea hoping that Lack came to get her soon. "It better be something really good because the information you want is something I discovered myself. I'd be breaking the Alchemist Code not to mention my own moral code."

"I will spare Fight Club and it's allies from being destroyed by Contra," Hel replied. Chibi's ears twitched. "I'll also make certain that Lack will survive…"

Shit. Chibi laid still not giving away her thoughts. She knows… "And if I refuse?"

"I'll make sure that Fight Club is first to die off starting with Lack and those you hold dear." Hel replied. "Ah! And if you tell me false combinations will have the same effect as well."

"Do I have time to think about this?" Chibi asked closing her eyes and hoping for footsteps to come near to her room. "It's a very big decision to make."

"You have until sunset tomorrow," Hel replied her voice fading. "You cannot tell anyone what we just spoke about. Or I will void this deal."

Chibi laid waiting to hear her voice again. I'm in deep trouble now… Lack…

~~~

"They're like vampires now!" Lack called as a Lunatic bit into his arm drawing blood. Something in his chest twinges painfully. Chibi? He threw spheres at the Lunatics near him and snapped to Phenomenon. "Would you all be alright here?"

"They're vampire Lunatics," Phenomenon replied. "We should be alright for now." Noticing Lack's concerned expression, he added "Go. It'll be alright."

Lack nodded and snapped down the hall towards Chibi's room. A strong breeze blew past him much like Eir had at the Alchemist Society. Unlocking Chibi's door, he looked in. "You alright?" he asked seeing her lying on the floor.

"If you had to make a decision," Chibi said not looking at him. "Where you had little choice in what you had to choose, and you can't trust the person who is making you choose, what would you do?" Lack sat down next to her and saw her cheeks were wet. "I'll tell you now that I can't tell you what I'm going on about. So you'll have to bare with my abstractness."

Lack blinked and sighed. "You're question is difficult to answer without knowing specifics. I guess if you have little choice then you go for the choice you have to make." He glanced at Chibi, who still wasn't making eye contact with him. "It isn't as simple as that is it?" Chibi nodded. Lack looked worriedly at her. "Then I suppose you've been given a do this or they die choice. Saying that you don’t' trust the person means that if you don't do it that they might break the deal anyway after getting the information they want…" It's got to be Hel. Who else could try and get information from Chibi while she's in a locked room. "I'd refuse. Basically it comes down to how much you trust the person making you choose. And if you can't trust them, then you can't trust them to keep their end of the deal."

Chibi touched his hand. Lack felt faint, falling mentally into his own Spiritual Power. Standing on the circle of light, he noticed Chibi lying in the same position in the centre of the circle. "Hel can't read minds. When I stalled for time and entertained her idea, she didn't seem to know I was only stalling."

Lack sat down near her, his eyes narrowed. "You forced me into my Spiritual Power. This is serious isn't it?"

"Hel asked me for the combinations of creating Valkyries from blood," Chibi said knowing he didn't understand a word she was saying. "Because I'm the only one who knows this information, she wanted to make a deal. Either I give the information and everyone but our guild and our allies die. Or I refuse and everyone dies starting from you. If she finds out that I've told you, it's the same as me refusing her." She began to cry. "I have until sunset tomorrow to decide. I don't know how she plans on trying to kill you but she was confident when she said it."

Lack sat her up and gave her a hug. "Refuse her. Don't worry about me. If we all pool together, there's nothing Hel can throw at us."

"I hope so," Chibi sensed someone sit her physical body up. "Someone's in my room."

Lack nodded and they pulled out into their physical bodies. Lack was first to open his eyes. Tadakono was shaking him gently. "Nothing to worry about. I was assessing her Spiritual Power."

Tadakono got the hint and asked "How is she?"

"Tired," Lack got up and pulled back the blankets on Chibi's bed so Phenomenon and Syaoran could put her there. Chibi pretended to be asleep, keeping up with Lack's lie. "I'll leave her door unlocked." He leaned down and whispered to her. "Your sword and pouch are in my room. When you're ready, go get them."

~~~

Chibi sat on her bed waiting for Hel. "I can feel you here." Chibi called, her sword sitting on her lap. "You won't get the information you seek from me." A breeze blew around her room pushing her until Hel appeared before her.

"No matter what?" Hel asked with a nasty smile playing on her face. "No matter what I say or do, you won't change your mind?"

"No matter what." Chibi replied standing, her sword ready in her hand. Hel leaped at her, Chibi dodged, Hel's sword sliced into Chibi's blankets.

Chibi ran down the hall with Hel directly behind her. I need to get to the Dining Room. Hel grabbed a hold of Chibi's cape and pulled her back. Spinning, Chibi brought her sword out to block Hel's before she fell onto her back. Lack… Chibi kicked upwards catching Hel in the stomach and darted off again.

"Come back here," Hel called angrily. She flew and grabbed Chibi's arm. Dropping her sword, she closed her hand around Chibi's neck and lifted her off the ground. "Want to know why I'm the Goddess of the Underworld?" Chibi's eyes watered in pain. "Because I take pleasure in torturing humans to death." She moved her hand off Chibi's arm and pressed it against Chibi's chest.

Chibi cried out as her whole body became burning hot. No… She kicked out at Hel again forcing her back towards the opposite wall. Chibi crouched down coughing, trying to catch her breath before Hel recovered. Looking up, she saw Hel smiling. No!

"It's not possible that you don't know what I just did," Hel said with a laugh. "Yet you still fight. Most in your position would of cried, run away in fear, deny they're going to die." She leaned down and took a hold of Chibi's neck again. "But you… You fight. I wonder why." Chibi brought her sword across Hel's chest before her hand around her neck could tighten.

Lack… Chibi took off down the hall and ran as fast as she could towards the Dining Room door. Fear gripping her tightly as the knowledge of what Hel had done took hold. Deal with fear later. Get to the Dining Room.

~~~

Lack, Tadakono, Phenomenon and Syaoran sat in the Dining Room. Chibi's chair remained empty. Lack glanced at it before looking over the room at the rest of the guild. It's sunset… Chibi will tell me her answer soon. A twinge in his chest told him something was wrong. He touched his chest wondering what to do. If I go to Chibi's room, Hel will know she told me. But if she's refused Hel…

The door to the Dining Room flew open and Chibi leaped in and stood near Lack's chair. Hel stepped into the room with a smile on her face. "How long are you going to be able to move like that?" She looked around the Dining Room noticing everyone had their weapons out and ready. Looking back to Chibi, she added before disappearing. "Your days are numbered."

Chibi fell to her knees then sat onto the ground. Lack turned around in his chair. "What did she mean 'your days are numbered'?" Chibi didn't look up at him, her body shaking from battling Hel. "Chibi?"

"Nothing to worry about," Chibi said looking up with a forced smile. "Nothing to worry about right? All choices come with their problems." Lack could see her shaking. "Nothing to worry about…."