FCGS - Chapter 23

Everyone sat breathing hard relieved that the trouble with Loki was all over. JohnFlora and Phenomenon focused on Healing Momo. Tadakono sat with them incase Momo's condition changed. Rena, Balawis and LadyDeathStrike sat in a ring opposite them.

"I hope they're alright," LadyDeathStrike said softly. "According to Tadakono, because he's resurrected Chibi so many times that he's developed a link to her, she's still alive. That means Mike would be too since they went through the same doorway. But I'm worried about Izzy, Kc and Lack."

"They're alive," Balawis said firmly. "There's no way those three would disappear off the planet without a fight." Balawis closed his eyes and added "Tyr and Eir said they're all alright. None of the Gods seem worried about their disappearance."

"Even so," Rena countered watching Momo carefully. "We can't rule out that Loki sent them somewhere that is incredibly dangerous." She sighed and looked back at them. "But I guess the most we can do is wait. We can trust Tada and Phen to take over leading Fight Club til Lack and Chibi return. John will be able to look after Velvet Touch of Enishi with Jemini's help too. Ara, Alastor and Haru should of already freed their guildsmen from the shards."

"So we wait…" LadyDeathStrike replied with a sigh.

~~~

"I can't reach her," Chibi said opening her eyes. Kchan nodded and let out a sigh. "Eir isn't responding at all." She glanced over at Izual, who also shook his head. "I wonder if our voices can really reach the Gods from here. Eir and Forseti could hear us at Loki's castle but now not even a whisper."

"I can't even reach the emergency network of my guild," MikeRex added standing. He held his poleaxe close and closed his eyes. "I hear someone coming." Everyone scrambled to their feet and drew their weapons.

"Mistress!" Chibi fell backwards as a green blur flew at her and wrapped it's small arms around her. "Mistress Chibi! You're alright!"

"Flyte?" Chibi felt dazed from hitting her head on the ground. MikeRex picked Flyte up off Chibi and held her tight so Chibi could get up. "If you're here, where's Lack?" She sat up and pressed a hand to the back of her head.

"Right here," Lack said offering her a hand. Chibi smiled and took it. He pulled her up and cast Heal at the same time. "Flyte led me here. I never knew your homunculus was so chatty."

Flyte made a face and folded her arms. "I didn't like the silence and you weren't saying much either." Kchan and Izual burst into laughter again from Flyte's expression.

"You two have changed," Izual laughed calming himself down. "You're closer than before."

Lack placed a hand on Chibi's head and ruffled her hair. "Chibi's my little sister. How could we not be close?" Kchan raised an eyebrow. "Not true sister but feels like it." His expression became serious. "Jokes aside, we need to find a way back to Rune Midgard. From walking around this place, I can tell. We aren't in Rune Midgard anymore. I'm not sure if this is part of the outer world or somewhere else."

"Nameless Island is part of Rune Midgard," Chibi informed him. She took out Azoth and knelt down. She drew a rough outline of the main landmass of Rune Midgard. "This is where we all live right?" She attached to the land mass, known lands of the outer world. "And these are the lands of Hugel, Rachel, Einbech and Einbroch that lay beyond Yuno." She drew a few islands near the land mass of Rune Midgard. "Then these are the islands of Izlude and Biblian." Finally, she drew an island near the divide between Rune Midgard and the outer lands. "This is Nameless Island. It's not usually shown on the maps of Rune Midgard because of the Cursed Monastery. The Gods felt that Nameless Island was better left alone. They sealed away any route leading too and from this island."

Lack placed a hand on her shoulder and narrowed his eyes at her. Chibi gave him a nervous smile. She could feel his anger rising slightly. Izual and MikeRex backed away a little leaving a noticeable gap between them and Lack.

"I know this because it's in the ancient texts within Yuno Library," Chibi said shaking slightly. Lack's aura didn't decrease but grew a little more. "There is one way to get off the Island. Within the bowels of the Cursed Monastery is a transportation device. It use to be used by the inhabitants of this island to go from here Freya's Temple in Rachel." Lack looked at her. He knew there was more that she wasn't saying. Chibi's eyes were downcast. "I don't know if it's there…"

Kchan gave Lack a sharp look and knelt down near Chibi. "I was wondering the same. Would the transportation device return after being used? We used it last time to get out of here."

"You've been here before?" MikeRex asked also giving Lack a sharp look because of Chibi's now depressed state. Lack gave him a dirty look back and sat down next to Chibi. "Both of you?"

Chibi nodded and glanced sideways at Lack, slightly scared of what she'd find. Lack gave her a small smile and she perked up a little not feeling his angry aura anymore. "I came with Kchan to find materials so she could attain the four elemental katars. We felt that having elemental katars would expand her ability a bit more than. Using poison element doesn't always work, especially against those of the Undead Race. We got trapped after our boat capsized in a freak storm just after we landed here."

Kchan sighed and looked up at Izual. "It was before we got engaged. I asked Chibi for her help because I knew that she knew the area." She looked at Chibi out of the corner of her eye. "She's practically read all the books in Yuno Library. She knew about the transportation device. It took us a long time to get to the bottom of Cursed Monastery, but when we did, we found what we were looking for and the transportation device to Freya's Temple."

"Then we have no choice but to get to the bottom of the Cursed Monastery and see if it's there," MikeRex replied extending his hands out to Kchan and Chibi helping them up. "Not much else we can do." Chibi and Kchan nodded in agreement. They all set off towards the Cursed Monastery.

Kchan slowed her pace to match Lack's and whispered "What's wrong? You really scared her you know."

"When you two use to travel together," he asked looking at Chibi's back as she walked between Izual and MikeRex. "Did she use to hide things from you? Like information you should know or things that she knows you'd protest against?"

"All the time," Kchan replied switching her jurs from her Triple Critical to Raging Blaze. "But I never forced her to tell me like you did earlier. There's a reason why Chibi doesn't say anything. Most of it is from her phobia of everyone disappearing on her. When you and her created the Chronic Future guild, something happened back then that caused everyone to disappear. She's always afraid now that if she says something to anyone close to her, it might make them go away. She doesn't realize that not saying anything can have that effect as well. Haven't you noticed though that if you ask her a direct quest she'll answer you properly."

"A phobia…" Lack mused watching Chibi laugh at something Izual had said to her. "She doesn't look like she has one. She's always is so relaxed when she speaks to people."

"People with phobias hide them," Kchan replied. She tightened the katars and stabbed the air with her right to test them. "If you want proof, she hasn't told you about the monsters inside Cursed Monastery. I don't know if that's because of something she can see about you or if she believes you can defeat them without pre-warning." Looking up, she gave a little shriek.

"Talking about me?" Chibi said with a smile. She had come up really close to Kchan. She pulled out a Blue Potion and shook it at Lack. "She told you about the monsters. They're small fry compared to doppelgangers. Easy win for you."

"Then why not tell me," Lack asked taking the Blue Potion and drinking it. Chibi took out another and shook it at him. "You can see it can't you. My magical power is low and you can see it even without us being linked for battle."

"I can't see it," Chibi replied tossing him the potion. "I can sense it. Being with you for so long now, I can tell when you've been weakened in some way. Since my Lif was able to speak when you got to us, your Spiritual Power was still fairly high, as would be your Life Power. But I could feel that you were hiding something by getting angry at me. So I assumed it had to be Magical Power since my Lif can neither heal nor be affected by that."

MikeRex and Izual joined them and Chibi took everyone's hands. She murmured softly to herself then looked around. "What are you doing?" MikeRex asked feeling a tingle flow over his body.

"I'll be support but I expect you guys to be aware that I won't be able to hold out a long time if we get into a long battle." She glanced at Lack. "Because of Holy Magic." She looked around. "Jeez… The monsters of Cursed Monastery may be small fry but you're all low in both Life and Magical Power." She handed potions out to everyone.

"You aren't going to pitch them?" Kchan asked after drinking her own. "And what do you mean by 'Because of Holy Magic'."

"You saw them," Chibi replied feeling satisfied they were all restored. "The Guardians of Thanatos. Because my Spiritual Power is mainly demonic in nature at this moment, Holy Magic affects me badly. Healing, or anything to do with Holy Magic hurts me physically. The potions I pitch contain Holy Magic, to retain enough Life Power to withstand supporting you all in battle, I'll give you potions instead when I don't need to pitch them."

Lack realized what Kchan said was true. Chibi answers questions without leaving things out. Asking her to explain gives her the option to leave things out that she feels he didn't need to know. He sighed and asked "What sort of monsters are we talking about?" It was obvious to him what she had left out in her response though.

"Mainly Beholder's, Agav's and Echio's," Chibi replied peeking into her one of her pouches. "There's a overseer called Gloom Under Night. He's a scary bastard but you know when he's coming since he glows in the dark. Small fry like I said. Well…" She glanced at Kchan then at Lack, MikeRex and Izual. "For Kchan and me they're difficult. But for you three, it's definitely small fry." Kchan nodded in agreement.

Flyte snuck up behind Chibi and wrapped its arms around her. Chibi jumped and almost dropped her pouch. "Your Life Power is already low." Flyte whispered in her ear and cast Heal. "You need me to focus on Healing you, yes?" Chibi nodded slightly, going red from being scared by her own homunculus.

"You can speak," Chibi said looking at the ground to avoid any eye contact with anyone. "Is that because of me or Lack?"

"You've lost a piece," Flyte replied still whispering. "I can't speak properly yet but I can at least converse with you in a whisper." Chibi smiled and gave it a pat on the head. "You just have Sorrow, Despair and Agony left. As long as you don't affect your Spiritual Power by doing anything really bad you'll return to normal soon."

~~~

Eir sat in Fight Club Headquarters with Tadakono, Phenomenon and Syaoran. The three were overseeing repairs and had asked Eir to visit. Tadakono rested his head on the palm of his hands lost in thought, Phenomenon was writing down notes from the meeting and Syaoran looked at the stack of paperwork to be done.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Eir asked them. "I don't think you asked me to come for a social visit."

"It's been almost a month now since we Lack and Chibi disappeared through separate gates in Loki's castle. Are they still really alive?" Tadakono asked slowly. He knew his wording was bad but there was no way around it. "If they found each other then they'd of been back here in a flash. But…"

Eir raised a hand. "I know where they are but I can't go to get them. Odin placed a seal over the island they are on so they have to get back on their own by ancient means. They'll return eventually. Just trust them."

Phenomenon put down his quill and began to wipe the ink off his hands. "By the time they do get back, we'll have Fight Club Headquarters repaired. Lack will be very pleased."

"But," Syaoran stared at the pile. "How the two of them got through all this work, plus their own work at the Societies, and fighting against anything that stood in Fight Club's path, without asking for help is beyond me. This paperwork alone is too much for the three of us."

Eir got up and smiled. "It's because they are use to it by now. You three aren't just yet. Try and manage your time or if you have serious trouble then ask one of the other Guild Masters for help in management." She disappeared and both brighteyes and Trelawney came into the room.

"Here's where you three are," brighteyes said with a smile. "Minna and illusions were looking for you. Some of the Blacksmith Society from Einbroch have gone on strike because we don't have a merchant-class in our guild. I told them we had Chibi but they want proof."

Phenomenon let out a huge sigh and turned into a Champion. "I'll give them a belting instead of proof. I'm getting tired of this." Tadakono and Syaoran also stood in agreement. "We're paying them to do repairs and yet they go on strike. If they don't do repairs, they don't get paid." He stalked out of the room, pulling his gloves tight in anger. Everyone followed him out to where the Blacksmith Society had gathered.

~~~

Chibi slept resting against Lack. He was on first watch and she had decided to be spoilt for once and stayed with him. Flyte floated near him and shrugged. "I don't know why she didn't stay with the others," it whispered to him. "Maybe she's seen something and wanted to stay with you just incase."

"She and Kchan said we were almost there didn't they," He said feeling a tap on his shoulder. Izual sat next to him and rested his poleaxe on his lap. "They seem to know where they're going."

"We haven't met Gloom Under Night yet," Izual added adjusting his armor to get more comfortable. "Kchan told me that when she fought him, even with Chibi's support, it was a very close battle. I think they're deliberately trying to avoid meeting it."

"You got that feeling too?" Chibi moved and slid to the ground. Lack and Izual smothered their laughter. "I wonder if there's something about Gloom Under Night that they're afraid of." Izual shrugged.

~~~

"I feel much better!" Phenomenon said stretching. "I haven't had such a good workout in a long time." He faced the pile of Blacksmiths and Whitesmiths with his hands on his hips. "I don't care if you want proof that we have a merchant-class in our guild. I don't even care if you have to work your asses to the bone to get this done by the agreed date. But under the Merchant Society Code of Business, you are bound to fulfill any contract you take on. I made a contract with your High Seat that you will have these repairs done in two months. Half has been paid to him already. In the contract we agreed that it will be done quickly and overtime won't be paid if you all go on strike. Two months is more than enough for this little damage."

Syaoran pulled out his sword and added "I can have my own workout now if you don't get back to work. Or even better, we can call your High Seat here and tell him that you aren't following the Code you created."

They shivered and disappeared off to begin repairing. Tadakono rolled his eyes and brighteyes giggled. "Honestly," Tadakono said with a sigh. "If Lack was here he would of exploded."

"Chibi would of exploded you mean," Syaoran replied with a laugh. "She'd of blown them all up with her bombs. Lack would of flattened them all first then Chibi would of blown them up for good measure." The five of them laughed at the image in their heads. "I'm glad it's relatively quiet though. Anymore trouble and there might not of been a guild for them to come back to…" That brought silence. All that could be heard were the Lunatics bouncing through the grass.

~~~

Kchan woke up to find she was alone with MikeRex. Peeking out, she saw Chibi sleeping with her back against Lack's, her pouch open next to her on the ground. Izual sat next to Lack. All three looked pretty worn out. Chibi's Lif busily hovered near Chibi Healing her. She walked up to them and sat next to Izual. "What happened to you three?"

"We met Gloom Under Night," he replied after a long silence. He looked at Lack and noticed he was asleep as well. "Chibi is really good at supporting but I think because we were both using our Magical Power fast that she had trouble trying to heal both Life and Magical Power at the same speed. Lack didn't get any sleep prior to being attacked either." He noticed MikeRex come out and look at the two before settling near them. "Should we wait til they wake up, wake them up now, or carry them while they sleep?"

MikeRex leaned back and touched Chibi's cheek. "She's cold. She'll probably sleep for quite a while." Izual and Kchan stared at him strangely. "Even though we aren't married anymore, I still know what she's like. I think that question should be more directed at Lack. I'll carry Chibi since she's pretty light."

Kchan poked Lack in the side. He didn't move even a hair. Izual sighed. "I'll carry Lack. Doesn't look like he'll be waking up any time soon either."

"No one is carrying me anywhere," Lack murmured with his eyes closed. "As for Chibi," he opened them and looked at MikeRex. "She'll kill you. Even though you're both on good terms now, she'll still kill you."

"How do you know that?" MikeRex asked. "Did she say something to you?"

Lack's eyes glanced at Chibi before looking back at MikeRex. "I just know that she will." Kchan raised an eyebrow at Lack's defensive yet incomprehensible argument. "She'll definitely kill you."

"Did Chibi say something to you?" Kchan asked echoing MikeRex's question. Lack didn't move. Chibi opened her eyes and rubbed them, her hand like a cats paw.

"You're all so noisy," Chibi whined. She looked at MikeRex and Lack then tilted her head. "What's going on?"

"Chibi," MikeRex said ignoring Lack's sharp look. "I have a hypothetical for you. If you were asleep and I was to carry you so you could sleep longer. What would you do when you wake up?"

Chibi stood up and stretched more before replying. "I'd kill you then thank you for carrying me." She said without a second thought. She gave Lack a questioning look. Lack who shook his head furiously, raising his hands for emphasis. "At any rate, I'd kill you regardless."