FCGS - Chapter 13

Ara paced the floor of the meeting room in front of Alastor, Tadakono, Furama, FerrariSin, Syaoran and Phenomenon. Her eyes narrowed, going over everything she just heard. "We're going to need to use Spirit of the Alchemist to assess her. But how to use it without her noticing."

"While she's sleeping?" Phenomenon suggested. "She wouldn't sense anything because she's not a Soul Linker."

"Does she sleep tho?" asked Alastor. Furama shrugged and looked questioningly at FerrariSin.

"From what I've seen," FerrariSin replied, his eyes looking down at his hands. "She doesn't sleep. She's up early and still up when I fall asleep." He took a deep breath and sighed. "Though I've noticed she touches her chest a lot." He raised his hand and placed it over his heart indicating where she touches.

"Then we'll have to risk it while she's awake then," Ara opened the door and walked with the others down the hall towards Chibi's Lab. "We don't have much time. If what's happening to her that's happening to the members of Velvet Touch of Enishi, then…"

"Wait," Syaoran said suddenly. "What's happening to the Velvet Touch of Enishi members?" Ara picked up speed and the others followed suit.

"Loki is taking control of their guild," Alastor replied walking next to Syaoran. "Rena found the their Guild Log. They were sided with the Gods against Loki, but Loki sent against them multiple doppelgangers. They were overrun and basically grievously injured. Something about the blue gem doppelgangers causes those injured by their swords to fall under Loki's command."

"Then you'll need to check us, brighteyes, illu, Minna, Tre and Lack as well," Tadakono informed him. "We've all been injured by a doppelganger's sword."

"It's not that simple," Ara said pausing just outside Lack's bedroom. "The requirements that cause one to fall under Loki's command isn't just an injury from a doppelganger's sword. It requires a moment of weakness. Where the body's life and spiritual power diminishes to almost absolute death. How badly harmed were you all?"

Phenomenon thought back. "Myself, Tre and Syao were burned and had shallow cuts. Tadakono had a deep cut but he never reached near death. Brighteyes, illu and Minna lost consciousness… So maybe. Lack too. He was cut deeply in the shoulder and lost consciousness."

"And Chibi?" Alastor asked. "What sort of wound did she receive?"

"She…" Syaoran paused remembering the sight he saw on that day. "She was run through the chest by a doppelganger. She didn't lose consciousness but her wound didn't heal until the doppelganger was dead."

"Then I'll check Lack," Alastor said to Ara. "You go and find brighteyes, illu and Minna and check them quickly. I think it will take both of us to check Chibi." Silence gave Furama a feeling that there was more to this than they were saying. "We'll meet back here before going to Chibi." Ara nodded and ran off quickly.

Alastor knocked on Lack's door. "You can come in. I heard everything you were saying out there," Alastor entered leaving the others near the door. Lack was sitting on the end of his bed pulling on his gloves. Chibi's blue ribbon sat curled on his desk. "There's more than what you told them isn't there?"

Alastor nodded. "But first," Alastor closed his eyes and cast Spirit of Monk. He moved his hand to touch where Lack's wound was. "I see. Can you change to a Stalker for me?" Lack nodded and changed. "Hmm,"

"What's wrong?" Lack asked slightly worried.

"Can you stay as a Stalker?" Alastor asked. "It seems that I'm going to need to call a Professor from my guild. Spell Break is the only thing that breaks the newly established link between Loki and an affected." Closing his eyes, he sent an emergency message to his guild. Receiving an almost instant reply, he sighed in relief. "Haru will be here soon."

"I'll wait for him in the Foyer," FerrariSin offered. Alastor nodded and watched FerrariSin leave.

"Why do I need to stay as a Stalker?" Lack asked confused.

"Because you can use two classes," Alastor replied sitting onto Lack's bed. "The link to Loki is attached to your Champion half not your Stalker half. You'll be safer as a Stalker until Haru gets here."

Ara stepped into the room followed by brighteyes. "I heard your call. I assumed it was cause Lack has a link. Brighteyes has it too. The others are safe."

Alastor and Lack got up. "We should go check Chibi."

~~~

Haru walked through the halls of Fight Club with FerrariSin. "This place is huge! But I guess you're use to it." Lmexperiment on just about anything. You should see her grimoire. It's full of recipes. Tho all except the common ones are encrypted in a code that only she knows." He thought back when he gave her the first grimoire she ever owned in celebration of becoming a Creator. I guess that means I'm the one responsible for getting her started experimenting in the first place. He gave a small smile.

"Anything wrong?" Haru asked noticing the smile.

"Nothing… Nothing at all."

~~~

"Chibi!" Lack called dodging a Bomb. Furama looked at her eyes. They were pure blue, no light reflecting on them, almost glazed over. Lack jumped onto the long table separating them from her. "Chibi! Listen to me!"

"Grant me my Homunculus for this battle," Chibi called throwing her embryo into the air. Her Lif appeared, it's coloring a deep red instead of it's forest green. Chibi threw out Plant Bottles while her Lif healed her. "Summon Flora!" Several large Parasit created a wall around Chibi. Lack leapt and cast Sightless Raid. He landed directly in front of her. Chibi drew her sword and slashed Lack across the chest. He stepped back clutching his clothes. "Stay where you are." he barked at Tadakono and Phenomenon. "Let me deal with Chibi."

~~~

Haru and FerrariSin ran through the door as another Bomb rocked the room. Ara and brighteyes looked back at them. "What's going on?" FerrariSin yelled holding onto a table for support.

"Chibi's losing control," Ara replied pulling brighteyes with her to Haru. "You need to use Spell Break on brighteyes, Lack, and Chibi... if we can get her still."

Haru closed his eyes and placed a hand on brighteyes' chest. He delved deep to her life source and found the thread linking her to Loki. "Spell Break!" he whispered mentally snipping the thread. Brighteyes took a deep breath in. Her body felt lighter than before. "Weight lifted?" Haru asked her. Brighteyes nodded and gave a small smile. "Now, where's Lack?"

"He's dealing with Chibi," Ara replied pointing to the battle on the other end of the room. They joined Tadakono and the others. Lack leaped back to them as well. "Not going well?" Ara asked him while Haru laid a hand on Lack's shoulder to delve into Lack's life source.

"If I was a Champion it would be easier," Lack replied. He stood and drew his twin blades.

"No need," Ara said with a smile. "When Haru is done, you can change to your Champion half safely."

Spell Break!

Lack leapt at Chibi again transforming into Champion form. His Knuckle met with her sword. He looked at her in the eyes. Chibi return his stare and swung her sword hard, just missing his neck. Lack slid sideways and switched snapped around her. Chibi stood still watching him. Her sword held ready in attack position. Lack continued to snap and prepared himself.

"He's not going to…" Phenomenon said with a gasp.

"It's going to be overkill on her!" Syaoran cried starting forward. "Don't do it Lack!"

Tadakono gathered his power to use on Resurrect.

Ara looked at them confused. "What is he going to do?"

"He's going to cast Asura Strike." Tadakono replied as the room rumbled from Lack's Fury.

Haru shrugged. "It'll keep her still though," Tadakono, Syaoran and Phenomenon stared at him in disbelief.

"He's never cast an Asura on a guild member," brighteyes said with a sigh. "He's pushed us with Palm Strike and thrown spheres at us but never Asura." She looked at Haru. "But you're right. It would make her stay still. And I'm sure he'd use just enough strength to knock her out but not kill her."

"Asura Strike!" screamed Lack. Chibi's eyes widened in disbelief as she fell to the floor. Lack sat down hard next to Chibi and poked her in the side a little worried.

Tadakono and Haru rushed over. "What were you thinking?!" Tadakono asked casting Resurrect. Haru delved deep into Chibi's life source and cut the link.

Lack sighed. "I wasn't. I hope I didn't hurt her too badly." Chibi moved and grabbed his wrist. Turning her head, she stared at him with clear sky blue eyes.

"I can't believe you Asura'd me," she murmured to him. Her Lif floated down, it colour changing from deep red to forest green, and patted her on the head. "Couldn't you think of anything else?"

"Nope," he replied with a smile. "Besides, I'm sure you could of withstood it from me. That was full power by the way." Chibi squeezed his wrist hard in a mock attempt to break it. Her blue eyes clouded again before returning to sky blue. "Uh…" Lack looked up at Haru who looked confused.

"I broke her link to Loki for sure," Haru said. Ara and Alastor came forward with everyone and together cast Spirit of Alchemist. "It was difficult because the link was almost fully developed." Chibi sat up and Ara placed her hand on Chibi's heart.

"I see now," Ara said softly. She looked up at Tadakono and Phenomenon. "You'll need to cast Resurrect as soon as I start." She looked at Chibi. "This is going to hurt... A lot."

"What are you going to do?" Lack asked staring hard at Ara. Ara drew her dagger. "Ara!"

"She has a shard in her chest from the sword," Ara replied and plunged the dagger deep into Chibi's chest.