FCGS - Chapter 10

"Someone created that Doppelganger?" Tadakono said sitting with Phenomenon and Syaoran watching the mirror. The three felt more at ease now with Lack and Chibi there helping Minna, illusions and brighteyes. "But who? And why?"

"Aside from that," Syaoran said looking around. "Do you get the feeling that we're being watched?" He drew his sword and rested it on his lap. Phenomenon turned into a Champion and summoned spheres.

"Now that you mention it," Phenomenon replied. "I do feel it. I can't see anything though. We're in a very bad position here. It's hard to defend and it's way too open. If we're attacked…"

Something howled faintly. Tadakono summoned a fireball and kept it. "There's something there alright." Colored lights flashed in the distance. Metal hitting metal rang out. Howling continued getting louder. The three stood facing towards the sound. A flutter of wings and a large gust of wind forced them backwards.

"Stay back! This isn't an enemy you can face by yourselves." Tadakono was first too look up. Large bat-like wings blocked his view. Metal rang out and an arrow flew past them hitting something causing light to flood the room.

"Shadow?" Syaoran said slowly in surprise. He looked around to where the arrow came from. He could only see a pair of eyes. "Blackrose?"

"The mediators are here," Phenomenon said his eyes finding Balos. "But why?"

~~~

Lack smashed the last gem with a well aimed throw of his blade. The Doppelganger screamed and exploded into many berries. Without a word, he transformed into a Champion and created a Warp Portal to headquarters. They leapt through.

"It's too quiet," illusions said as they walked towards the front doors. Stepping inside, they met Tadakono in the hallway.

"Where's Syao?" Tadakono asked surprised. "What happened? You all look really worn out." illusions opened her mouth to say something but Chibi took a hold of her wrist and gave her a sharp look. Lack noticed Chibi's look and understood.

We can't trust anyone here at the moment. Two doppelgangers are here and could be anyone. "Syao is running an errand for me at the moment. He was glad we were ok." Lack replied to Tadakono. "I would like to rest a bit before he gets back." He walked off deep in thought towards his room. He spun and snapped to a pillar close to where Chibi and the others stood.

"We'd like to train a bit," Minna said quickly dragging illusions and brighteyes towards the Training Room. They too doubled back and waited near Lack. "Are you sure it should be Chibi who determines if he is a Doppelganger or not?" She whispered to Lack.

"I'm sure," he replied. "Chibi is the only one who can sense Alchemical properties of things. If this person isn't truly Tadakono then she'd know. Although, I know it puts her in a very vulnerable position. She gave me this just in case." He held up an Yggdrasil leaf. They turned and watched Chibi and Tadakono quietly.

Chibi looked up at Tadakono. Her eyes seeing through his chemical structure. "Can I ask you something?" she said suddenly. She felt he wasn't the true Tadakono but she had to make sure. "What did you do to Phenomenon during the battle with Contra? I've never seen a wizard-class do that before."

Tadakono looked confused. "It was nothing really. I've always been able to do that." Lack could see Tadakono trying to answer Chibi's questions evasively. "Let me ask you something now."

Chibi blinked in surprise. "Go ahead." I can't give Lack the signal if I don't know for sure. His alchemical structure is confusing. He isn't human… I don't think. Though it could be someone trying to hide as Tadakono.

"Your Lif," Tadakono began. "Is it able to resurrect?" Chibi narrowed her eyes at him. That's it. It isn't Tadakono. Tadakono and I have had the discussion on my Lif before. He asked the same thing back then too. I doubt it's a guild member either. We know each other's abilities like me know our own. But is it a Doppelganger… Chibi pulled at her pouch signaling to Lack that the person in front of her isn't the true Tadakono. Only one way to find out now...

"Hold your position," Lack whispered to Minna, illusions and brighteyes. "She hasn't told me yet that he's a doppelganger. Only that he's not Tadakono."

"You've asked me that before…" Chibi said in a low voice. "Are you trying to trick me? I know what you are." Tadakono stepped back. "I am a Creator. Just like your master. I can see through Alchemical creations."

"What is she doing!" Lack said annoyed. "She's going to get herself killed." Lack stepped out from behind the pole. Minna, illusions and brighteyes followed suit.

"You will show me what you truly are," Chibi raised Azoth. Lack's eyes widened, he didn't know Chibi possessed Azoth. Chibi leapt and slashed Tadakono across the chest. The outer skin fell away revealing a doppelganger.

The doppelganger screamed. A yellow circle grew outwards from it's feet and spreading until it encompassed the entire room. Lack and the others froze in place. The doppelganger looked down at Chibi. "A fight between us. I won't let anyone interfere." It drew its sword and brought it down against Chibi. Blocking with her Azoth, Chibi leapt back and darted towards to back of the room. Lack struggled against the freeze spell. "Come out little Alchemist!" The doppelganger called hunting around for her.

"She's going to die if we don't do something," Minna murmured struggling. Her eyes opened wide. Lack stared at her questioningly. "I just felt something move near me."

"It's cause I'm here," Chibi whispered. "I'm going to set you all free but... It will cost me my life. I knew this from the start. A doppelganger won't show itself unless someone like it's master challenges it or it finds the target of it's mission. We weren't it's target so it didn't reveal itself. So I had to challenge it. If someone was in disguise, my Azoth would of broken their disguise spell. I gave Lack the Yggdrasil leaf knowing this."

Lack looked at where her voice was coming from. His eyes concerned that she didn't relay that piece of information to him. "There’s was no way around this?" he asked quietly. "Or is there something else that you've left out?"

Chibi softly sighed. "A doppelganger usually has only one spell that they can use. A specialty granted to them by their creator. There is no telling what spell it would be. I guess that with the blue gems that it would be a mage spell. The possibility of it being a freezing spell was high. What I need you to do is change your armor to be resistant to freeze spells. I can hold out til you get back but you need to be quick."

"Alright," Lack sighed. "I wish you told me this sooner. The armor we need is in the Training Room. I'll snap us there and back. I assume that's why you changed your armor earlier. I was wondering why you did that."

"Hmm," Chibi murmured in acknowledgement. "Get ready." Chibi leapt out from behind the pole breaking her Cloaking spell. The doppelganger leapt at her swinging his sword wildly. Chibi threw a Bomb straight at it and jumped backwards landing in a crouch position next to the pole. Using Azoth, she nicked her thumb and placed a drop of her blood into four Alchemical coating bottles. She coated Lack and the others with the bottles granting them temporary immunity from freeze.

"Take care til we get back," Lack murmured to her snapping away with Minna, Illusions and brighteyes. Chibi nodded and focused back to the doppelganger.

~~~

Tadakono, Syaoran and Phenomenon stood before the three Mediators. "You're saying what?!" Syaoran cried. "We got to get back to Headquarters fast then!" Tadakono and Phenomenon nodded in agreement. Shadow, Balos and Blackrose took a hold of them and flew up out of the Labyrinth.

"I don't know if Lack and the others made it there yet," Blackrose told them. "But there are two more doppelgangers within Fight Club headquarters. They have your appearances. You were placed here to make their job easier. The one Minna, illusions and brighteyes were fighting was the one that took on Syaoran's appearance."

"We'll get there soon," Balos added as they flew over the Sograt Desert. "And hopefully we'll get there before the doppelgangers run riot within Fight Club."

~~~

Chibi flew backwards across the room. What am I going to do now? It's stronger than I thought. I'm already reaching my limit. Standing shakily, she leaned on her sword and faced the doppelganger determined not to let it pass her into Fight Club.

"What's wrong little Alchemist?" the doppelganger asked menacingly. "You're mates won't get here to save you. They're dead already. My partner is going to be here soon and we'll wipe this castle clean!" It darted towards her, sword high above its head. Chibi flicked two Bombs at it and braced herself. The explosion forced the doppelganger away from her. "That," it said moving towards her again. "Didn't hurt a bit!"

Chibi stood, her entire body hurt from the explosion. Where are they? They're taking too long. The doppelganger charged again bringing its sword down across her body. Chibi cried out in pain. Her eyed blurred as she stood and readied her sword. It's going to kill everyone if they don't get here soon.

"How about I tell you something good?" the doppelganger grabbed her neck before she could move. "It's not like you'll be able to relay this to anyone after you're dead." Raising it's sword, it smiled at her. "My Creator is…" It plunged it sword deep into Chibi's chest. "Loki!"

~~~

Lack skidded backwards breathing hard. "So your mission was to kill me?" The doppelganger ran at him sword level to Lack's chest. Lack summoned spheres and threw them forcing it backwards. It only has one gem. Good. Lack continued to force it away from him while he thought of a plan. Glancing at the girls, he noticed them running towards the doppelganger.

Illusions and brighteyes Meteor Striked and Minna brought her daggers hard onto the single blue gem on it's back. The doppelganger fell with a moan and turned to Moth Dust. Lack, without thinking about what happened, grabbed a hold of the three girls and snapped down the hall to where they left Chibi.

A scream rang out down the hall. "Lack!!"

~~~

The mediators reached Fight Club headquarters. Setting down in front of the main door, Shadow sensed something was really wrong. Upon touching the door they heard someone inside scream. Tadakono, Phenomenon and Syaoran burst inside. Blackrose held onto Shadow and Balos, her eyes towards the sky.

"We have company," she replied. "Not welcome company either." The three watched a man descend from the sky with a mischievous smile on his face. "Loki…"

~~~

Chibi stood, her hands holding the sword deep in her chest. Her eyes glazed over not seeing both the main door open and Lack snap into the room. The doppelganger smiled. "You're mine!" Chibi drew out a Bomb and threw it at the doppelgangers face. The explosion caused her to fly backwards hitting the wall near Lack.

Tadakono cast Lord of Vermillion and both Syaoran and Phenomenon darted at the doppelganger. Syaoran cast Berserk and slashed at the doppelganger. Phenomenon threw spheres and from the corner of his eye saw illusions and brighteyes leap in to join Syaoran. Minna turned into a High Priest and supported everyone against the doppelganger.

"I heard you," Lack said crouching down close to Chibi. "We found the other doppelganger. It's mission was to kill me. It had only one blue gem so I guess that means this one will have two." Chibi smiled and shut her eyes. "You did well." He held the Yggdrasil Leaf between his index and middle fingers and focused his power into it. Bright light surrounded Chibi restoring her life power. Her wounds, however, didn't heal. "I don't understand."

"It's alright for now," Chibi replied sitting up and leaning against the wall. "It's because of the freeze spell it cast earlier. It used it on me through it's sword. You'll need to kill it to break it's spell. So for now, it'll be alright."

"I hope so," Lack replied getting up. He turned to face the doppelganger. "If you die on me, I won't forgive you." he added before walking towards the doppelganger. The doppelganger cast freeze and sent everyone flying. "You have some nerve," Lack said to it in a low voice. "Harming my guildsmen like this and almost killing my second in command."

"She's not dead?" The doppelganger asked. "I failed? I don't think so. She can still die I see." The doppelganger looked up to the sky. "Master…?" Light surrounded it causing everyone to shield their eyes. The doppelganger laughed as the light died away. "Master gave me more power!" It threw spheres back at Phenomenon and cast Stone Curse. "Fight Club must die once and for all!" Lack snapped away from the spells and spheres coming closer and closer to the doppelganger.

Chibi 's eyes began to blur once more. I'm losing too much blood. She looked up and caught Tadakono's eyes. He darted over and cast Safety Wall around himself and Chibi. "Tada…" Chibi said softly. "I couldn't tell Lack. But I think he knows already. This wound will kill me faster than it will take to kill that doppelganger. I…"

"Chibs," Tadakono replied casting Resurrection. "I already understand what you're asking. It's alright. Just rest and I'll take care of it." Chibi leaned back and relaxed letting Tadakono's spell wash over her.

~~~

Sitting in the meeting room, Fight Club members waited for Lack to come. Syaoran, Tadakono and Phenomenon sat in their usual chairs. They glanced every now and then at Chibi's empty chair. Lack entered the room. A blue ribbon wrapped around his wrist in place of one of his gloves.

"Right then," he said to the seated Fight Club members. "Everyone knows now about the doppelgangers that invaded our headquarters. Let me give you all the details incase you all face similar situations. Loki, has declared war against the gods. Because we fought on the side of the Gods, and because we were victorious over Contra, Loki has decided to wipe us off the planet first. The doppelgangers were part of his plan. I'm unsure whether Loki himself created them or if there is an alchemist-class somewhere that created them for him. Velvet Touch of Enishi also seems to be under his control. I'm unsure as yet whether it is voluntary or not on their part."

Trelawney stood. Her eyes glistening. "We're not all here. Chibi, illusions, and brighteyes aren't here. Something happened to them didn't it?"

Lack nodded. "They fell during the battle that took place in the Foyer. Chibi is in her room…" His voice trailed off and fingered the ribbon around his wrist. "illusions and brighteyes are in the infirmary. All three are doing alright and will take some time to recover even with Healing."

After the meeting, Tadakono, Syaoran and Phenomenon stayed back. They were worried about Lack's reaction when he mentioned Chibi. Lack tugged on the blue ribbon around his wrist, lost in thought.

"Lack," Tadakono started. "Are those three really ok? Or is something wrong?"

"illusions and brighteyes need to go through a tougher training regime to get stronger," Lack replied. "Chibi, on the other hand, worries me a bit. That wound she received during that last battle isn't healing as well as it should. She keeps telling me it's alright and she'll be good as new in no time…"

"Don't you worry Lack," Tadakono said with a smile. "Phenomenon and I will give her our special treatment. Right?" Tadakono winked at Phenomenon trying to get the hint across.

"Don't worry Lack," Phenomenon added picking up where Tadakono left off. "We'll take care of Chibi." He got up and dragged Tadakono with him out of the room and halfway down the hallway before bursting out. "Are you crazy? If something happens to Chibs and we've said that Lack will murder us both."

"It's alright," Tadakono said with a smile steering Phenomenon towards Chibi's room. "We just have to make sure she gets better." Tadakono knocked on Chibi's bedroom door.

"She's not answering," Phenomenon said giving a small knock as well. "Maybe she's asleep. She gets really angry if we enter her room without her permission."

"She's in no position to get angry at the moment," Tadakono opened the door. Chibi looked up from her desk. Her clothes stained with blood. "You shouldn't be moving!" Tadakono cried as Phenomenon cast Heal.

"Been working on something," Chibi replied. "The doppelgangers got me thinking. If a doppelganger can be created with basic ingredients and a blue gem. Then many can be produced at once, right? There's got to be an easier way to kill them. One on one is ok but if there was three or four we'd all be dead."

"Even so," Phenomenon said to her. "You should leave that up to Lack to work out." He kept up his healing, draining his spiritual power.

"Lack doesn't have all the information," Chibi replied dipping her quill into the ink pot nearby. "I wanted to write down the alchemical stuff in an easy-to-understand format for him to analyze. I know you're both worried but I want to do this then let myself recover."

"Chibs," Tadakono sat near her. "Lack's worried too. He's carrying around one of your ribbons for some strange reason." Chibi gave him a small smile.

"So he was the one who took it off my door," Chibi said with a smile. "Finished!" Turning to Tadakono, she added "I left it hanging on my door because there was blood on it. He's probably using it as a reminder on how badly a doppelganger can hurt one of his Guildsmen. Don't worry. Look, after I get into bed, use you're duo treatment on me and by tomorrow afternoon I should be all healed." She got up causing her wound to break open again. Picking up a blue potion she flicked it at Phenomenon. "Ah, can you give that notebook to Lack."