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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 20, 2010 1:08:13 GMT -5
....Dong..... Dong....... Dong....
The sounds of church bells sounded off in the distance, soft, yet strong enough to wake the relic knight up. Her eyes a brown, dim color, being broken by thoughts of having nothing to protect. She sat up, holding at her aching chest. She felt a tug at her ankle, and looked down upon it, to find a chain there six feet in length... connecting her with a shadow which began to take familiar shape... as if teleporting was in effect.
...badum....
Agrias stayed quiet, looking around to see where she, and the other prisoner were. The knight found, or felt something was missing; her weight too light, but she couldn't place it. The world around them was beautiful, and melancholic at the same time. They rested upon the soft grass of a cemetery in broad daylight, in what seemed a beautiful day... and they were the only ones there, or so it seemed.
BADUM!
"Tch.." The relic flinched, and continued to hold at her heart, hunching over in agonizing pain.
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383 
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 20, 2010 1:33:34 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix awoke face-down in the grass, and heard the blaring echoes of the church bells. She looked up, only to see blackness at eye level, along with the grass. When she turned, she saw the tombstones.
And, beside her, she found her compatriot, Agrias Oaks. And wouldn't you know it, they were chained together by the leg. The cuffs were tight, but the pain of it was overshadowed by an incessant clenching around her black heart.
"Ungh!" she coughed, balling her hand into a fist and tucking it deep near her heart.
....Ding....Ding...........DONG......[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 20, 2010 1:41:58 GMT -5
The blond haired woman slowly got up to her feet, her knees still weak from the weight they carried- and she would walk a bit closer to the two tombstones (both next to each other) nearest to them, only to stop, being held back by the chain and... General.
She looked to her, and seemed confused, so she looked away.
'What is she doing hither...?' the woman thought, though it did not stay for herself. Her silent question echoed around them, and the knight looked up at the sky, confused. It sounded like they were in a chamber of sorts, but they were outside. 'Did I sayeth that out loud?' her thoughts echoed again, ' What in heavens...?' she stopped, trying to make her mind clear.
There came a sting at her chest once more, and she panged the armor with a gloved fist, growing impatient with the feeling.
'God...this pain...'
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 20, 2010 1:54:03 GMT -5
'What is she doing hither?'
[glow=red,2,300]'What am I doing here?' she asked herself, and, like Agrias' thoughts, heard it echoing off the seemingly outside chamber. 'Blast this feeling of supreme omnipotence...'
She stood up, rather slowly, attempting to regain any composure she had, and moved to Agrias' side. Once she faced her respective tombstone, she knelt down and leaned in to see a name, only the stone was covered in moss; the name was invisible beneath it.
'Why are we here, anyway...' She looked over to Agrias reached out, only to pull back her hand an instant later, and frowned. 'Never mind; I doubt she wishes to speak to me now...'
"What is this place?" she said to no one in particular, and then she felt another tug at her heart; it was like she could feel the darkness wrapping around it, entering each crack, and seeping through, corroding it and killing her.[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 20, 2010 2:00:35 GMT -5
'Never mind; I doubt she wishes to speak to me now...'
She couldn't tell if that was her own thought or Beatrix's. She knelt down toward the tombstone facing her, and leaned forward, reaching out with a gloved hand to remove the dirt and leaves from the surface of the stone plaque... until it was revealed to her.
Agrias starred at the name, trying to understand the English she momentarily forgot. It was clear, this was her Princess' tombstone now. The pain in her chest got worse.
'Queen Ovelia Atkascha... Oh, God... Ovelia.' the thought echoed around. The blond tearing up, the pain increasing within her heart, '... please forgive me... to die for me... was...'
.......Ding.................ding................ding..............ding......
The knight rested back, until she fell sitting on the grass, holding her knees and squeezing them, resembling a lost child. Blackness began to seep out from her Queen's tombstone, suddenly, half of the world they were at was shrouded into darkness. , and Agrias was now sitting on pitch black ground, surrounded by nothingness except the plaque which read the name of Ivalice's Royal . It did not seem to affect Beatrix' side of the world... but the darkness stopped right before reaching the other tombstone.
'I feel....exhausted....' thought the knight, and it echoed around them. '...this pain... 'tis...'
........ding...............ding................dong.........
" Please Agrias... come back to me..."
' Lady Abigail...' Agrias looked around tiredly, her eyes darting this way and that, ' ...?'
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 20, 2010 20:50:25 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]As she watched Agrias move, she in turn did the same. She pulled at the vines and moss, and tore away at the clumps of dirt and clay that had caked over the tombstone's crest and title. When she saw the name, she was not surprised, but it still appreciated the same impact.
She leaned back and cupped a hand over her mouth, her other still clutching her heart. A tear fell down her cheek, followed by a stream.
'Oh Alexander, what have I done?' she thought, and almost screamed when the grass below her gave out; she thought she might fall, but indeed that was not the case. As the grass fell like confetti below, it was as if she were standing on a glass floor, watching it rain beneath her feet. Soon the skies around her blackened, disappearing completely. The once grey stormclouds were now nothing more than a memory.
All that remained in this place were the two women, chained together like common prisoners, and then the tombstones of their queens. That was, however, until the chamber began rumbling, the chanting of blades echoing all around, of war cries deafening the women, and a thousand footsteps marching as one.
Something was coming fast, and a golden platform was being raised behind the tombstones, several layers stacking up high, until a single golden chair, lined and cushioned with red velvet appeared.[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 20, 2010 21:05:39 GMT -5
[glow=orange,2,800] "Knight and General bestowed the highest of honors..." boomed a low, educated voice of a man from the very throne that had appeared in front of them. A figure began to form, and golden armor was revealed. If left to a simpleton, one would believe that this man was a royal, or a king, but they would not be far from the truth. A dimension would open behind him, and the the hilts of many swords would be revealed, as a background to his glory over the many blades he possessed. "Your trial has arrived.... and I... will be your Judge." Before them... stood the Sword King...[/glow]  "G-...." Agrias spoke in shock, getting up from her spot, energy suddenly coursing through her veins, out of respect...and fear. The knight knelt and rested a hand over her chest, bowing her head ever so lightly, "Hail Gilgamesh!" she spoke strongly.
The blonde woman averted her gaze to look at his armor before starring into his eyes, in question, "... Trial?... Judge...? ... What doeth thou mean?" |
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 20, 2010 21:18:40 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix' eye widened the moment the great King of Blades made his grand appearance. She, like Lady Agrias, threw her fist to her heart and bowed her head. Then, feeling that this was insufficient, threw herself on the ground, arms outstretched, and called with Agrias:
"Hail, Gilgamesh!"
She, too, wished to know of this trial the great demigod spoke of, and feared for the worst. What reason would the great King of Weapons and Master of Thieves have to summon these two knights?
"Please, Master Gilgamesh," she called out, but then stopped, knowing full well that you wait for a demigod to speak before you open your mouth. Instead, she asked herself. 'What is he doing here?'[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 20, 2010 21:34:43 GMT -5
[glow=orange,2,800]The man rested down upon his throne and leaned forward until he rested his lips behind his armored hands, his eyes starring deep into the two hearts before him. His expression serious, and dull at the same time, as he spoke, looking to his left, toward the General,
"Beatrix Lilian Flint," boomed his voice again, "Captain of the Red Rose, General of the Alexandrian Soldiers, " his eyes narrowed at this point, " and Ex-General of Alexandria. A question."
Gilgamesh held out a hand, and pointed at Beatrix to rise for this question, ".... What is it that you fight to protect?" his voice echoed.[/glow]
Agrias continued to kneel there, her eyes
the only thing moving, as to not to be rude to the
demi-god. Her amber hues darted to see Beatrix, or what
she could of her, for her answer. Her heart continued to
beat painfully under her chest-plate.
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 20, 2010 21:51:38 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]What do I fight to protect? she repeated, unsure of that answer, herself. Both Queen Brahne and her daughter, Queen Garnet, had perished, the latter at the general's own hands. She had no more world, no country to defend, and no queen to serve and protect.
"G-g-Great Gilgamesh, I am afraid that the only answer I can give you is...well, my devotion. I fight to protect my devotion...to whatever and whomever it is I serve...there is nothing else."[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 20, 2010 22:04:43 GMT -5
[glow=orange,2,800]"Hm... Devotion to whom you serve..." Gilgamesh repeated, retracting his hand so it would rest on the arm of the chair, " Yet, whoever you serve is met with swift or painful end, and betrayal." The demi-god leaned back to rest against the chair fully, " Your devotion is temporary, at best, since your heart sways so frailly. You have the gull to tell me you fight... for whom you serve, full well knowing this?" [/glow]
Agrias continued to remained quiet, though
she was getting a little upset at how Beatrix was being
talked to... King of Swords or not... The General was still
her friend. The hand which rested upon the black soil
underneath them clenched into a fist, trying to control
herself.
[glow=orange,2,800]"Have you nothing else... General?" He asked after a long pause of considering this question, "... I wait." he hinted that this was timed, and he wanted a quick answer. [/glow]
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 21, 2010 14:17:29 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix listened to the great demigod speak, her head lowered in both respect and fear of the King. She took in his words like stabs to the back with adamantine daggers frosted over, but nodded anyway.
"I u-understand, Your Excellency," said the General, raising her head slightly to meet the golden King. "All of those I serve do wind up dying...and, well, there is no answer I can properly offer up to you...as I can not say. I do not understand what Your Excellency wishes for me to divulge..."
She understood his method; this was a timed question, and he glowered down at her, the lack of response feeding his enmity towards her.
"I just do not know..."[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 21, 2010 14:38:56 GMT -5
[glow=orange,2,800]Gilgamesh suddenly had a look of... disinterest. He blinked once before starring now at the still, kneeling knight. "Agrias Oaks, Ex-Leader of the Lionsguard Brigade and Ex-Royal Guard of the Late Queen Ovelia Atkascha " he started, holding his hand up for her to rise, " Seen in history as a Legendary Knight, who fought Ultima, to the very end...even remarked as King of Knights."
The man leaned forward upon his throne, the gold he wore scraping lightly as he moved, " Everything was taken from you... that world is no more... that Queen, lost to the ages as a fairytale, and I am curious..." he tilted his head to the side, in a questioning manner, "What do you fight to protect now?"[/glow]
The knight arose when spoken to, but kept
her head down, and a hand upon her chest, she swallowed
lightly, before looking just up enough to stare at his armor,
and not his eyes, " Your Grace..." she started, pausing,
" ... I, myself am at a loss..." she whispered, "As you say...
the Queen has met a horrible fate, and she was the world
to me... now, I feel as if I have nothing..."
[glow=orange,2,800]Gilgamesh's eyes seemed like half moons as his eyelids lowered low enough to make him seem bored, or disappointed, " You had promised her to return, as well... you seem incompetent when it comes to keeping promises." he sighed, unamused, " Not only that, but you were the one who gave her the very dagger which ended her life, Oh, Legendary Knight." he seemed to mock her, "Your actions seem poor in my eyes... it is sickening. I see no Legendary in you. You are just a girl... an Incompetent girl in the end." [/glow]
The woman twitched, keeping her head lowered,
the words piercing her very being like daggers, especially at
her already wounded heart.
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General Beatrix
Another Heart
I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy.
Posts: 383
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Post by General Beatrix on Jun 21, 2010 14:52:49 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix kept silent, listening as the King spoke, and even glowered, peeking up at the man as he spoke. Agrias was not incompetent! Was it truly her fault Ultima had plunged the woman and her allies into an abyss of probability? Beatrix did not think so, but then...
Looking back to Radiant Garden, she thought of her capture; 'Was it I who gave in so easily? Or indeed was it I had fallen under Agrias' spell? She said she would protect me, and yet...I fell once more into the darkness. There is no saving the damned...' Maybe Gilgamesh was right? Beatrix did not wish to believe that, coming from the Great King, but when considering the evidence?
She also thought about Lady Agrias' answer. Princess--Queen--Ovelia...was the world to the knight. Beatrix was right, then, to be confused of her actions. Being kind and then cold...it was because Agrias returned none of the love which the general offered, it seemed.
Love? Did I really just think that? No, aren't I in love with Steiner? My duty? No, that can not be right. I do not understand. I truly do not understand... She glanced over at Agrias, and smiled, but it soon faded to a look of disgust as she thought this over.
'I am such a fool!' she thought, shaking her head and returning to stare at the ground.[/glow]
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Post by Agrias Oaks on Jun 21, 2010 15:15:23 GMT -5
[glow=orange,2,800]The King of Swords rested up against the throne once more, his eyes darting from Knight to General, sighing, "Such... a disappointment, you two are... " he spoke after a moment of silence, standing up and leaving, disappearing behind the throne, grinning to himself, "I shall come back... to deliberate on my answer." [/glow]
With that, him and the many hilts of swords vanished, leaving
the two to the darkness once more. Agrias had her eyes glued
to the floor, having listened to everything that was going through Beatrix's mind...
being that thoughts here were
not kept for one self. Her eyes were covered by her bangs,
standing in place, and making firsts,
" Don't you EVER believe you are damned!" she turned to look
at the woman, nearly yelling the command. Her eyes serious as she walked to her, " Am I also so guilty, as to think of Ovelia as my world?! Did you naught feel the same for your Queen?! For YOUR Steiner?!" the knight shivered, closing her eyes, ".... to look upon me in disgust... after I said she was my world...!" she accentuated on the past tense.
"I... apologize a million times, and a million times again, yet certain such actions would not be ENOUGH for your pardon!" She gritted her teeth, "But I tried, and I've gone through HELL to understand your world, and to find you... to FIND you, Beatrix!! To where you were being held... to take you back! To have you back to us...to me... If that is not love, I do not know what is!"
The knight lowered her head, glancing to the side, now in thought, " 'Tis true what he said... of your devotion then? Did it truly take ONE conversation with the great king to turn you against me?! Am I the fool?!"
Agrias huffed and turned to walk back to the plaque of her queen, standing over it and holding her face. She felt like such a failure at everything she did...it wasn't fair! It was NOT fair at all!
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