The Observatory

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto was still hovering in place once her attack was unleashed. Her Claustrum still resonated about the room. Once again her attack would land with full force, leaving the heartless brighter and more angry than before. With a slight laugh to that of Shantotto's friend it spoke...[/glow]

[glow=red,2,300]"You can't stop me."[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto touched down to ground and began walking over to the heartless. Her Claustrum release a higher and higher tone as she became closer. The creature using such a tone to that of Ultimecia simply infuriated Shantotto. She wasn't about to let some worthless creature such as a heartless mimic Ultimecia. "Are you so dense as to l I will not tolerate such disrespect." But before Shantotto could finish, her Claustrum spoke but a whisper to the taru. "Blind are you?" As to not show the Claustum was an entity still around for the fight, Shantotto made no distinguishing movements to it's comment. She simply stopped walking before reaching the raging heartless.

Stopping when she did was in her best interests. The Claustrum had obviously spoke out to protect it's master. Sensing a second entity of darkness. Shantotto being in such a spiteful rage failed to notice and simply complied with it. Then from behind the raging heartless a more timid, mechanical speaking heartless spoke.[/glow]

[glow=yellow,2,300]"Or maybe ... What do you think, Shantotto? Will you be able to defeat her on your own? Do you need my assistance? I think you do. I mean look at her. She's on fire, and you are not. I mean-- you are only making her stronger with each passing second. Oh. Did I say that? Never mind. You did not hear a thing. What are you talking about? I said nothing. I was only trying to tell you that I could help you defeat her, because you do need help. Badly. Of course, for me to help you, I must have something of equal value. How about your heart?"[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto drew her stare to this new creature. She whispered under her breathe. "I see..." This was in reply to Claustrum. She listened intently as the creature seemed to emerge from the behind the bright burning heartless. As usual Shantotto would reply in that cocky, belittling and condescending tone to the creature. "Help!? In what universe would one as prestigious as I ask for something only a plebeian would need!? My words you should heed. There is but only one that can stand to my height, and only she stands with it's light." At this point Shantotto stood up quiet straight, and put a hand to her chin and hip. Glancing back to the fiery heartless. "Now to kill the fiery one you must let me be, so take your offer and off you flee, O~hohohoho!"

At this point Shantotto apparently struck a nerve in the fiery creatures nerve. Without much warning a massive inferno would erupt in a huge column of flame. Quickly, Shantotto prepared in almost the blink of an eye. As quickly as the inferno came, Shantotto stood in shock. Her eye slowly grew wide. Her arms and ears seemed to fall as limp as the pig tails in her hair, as this new creature redirected the attack into the nears wall. It now stood between Shantotto and the fiery creature as it spoke.[/glow]

[glow=yellow,2,300]"It isn't like you use it. Your heart. I am pretty sure it is in that small cavity of yours collecting dust. After all, if you did use it, you would at least be crying. I mean, your best friend just died after all... you monster. Well, she did not just die. She was murdered, I mean, did you miss the part were that scarecrow thing shishke-bob her? That was brutal, you had to be there to see it, It was bad. But let us put that behind us, you have a problem right now, and I can help for the right price..." [/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto at this point had always felt something had happened to Ultimecia. How bad was that thing that happened was simply shrouded in her mind. Shantotto knew Ultimecia's true power. Could it be, no it couldn't be not with the power she held. This was always in the back of her mind. The two of them had always been of the highest power. To even fathom of something that could stand and defeat one of them drew for the first time, a moment of absolute terror.

As the heartless went on, she started to remember the small cripts and phrases from the previous two heartless. The one that stood before her now would be the coup de grace in a sense. She was finally coming to the realization that Ultimecia's death was in fact a reality. And with it, as the heartless would finish speaking, a gut wrenching and sinking weight seemed to drag the short taru to her hands and knees.

In essence, Shantotto's ego was a good thing. It showed her power and struck a freighting and playful mood in battle. But the shroud she had pulled over to keep the truth hidden from herself had fallen. Her eyes simple peering at the ground, wide as anything before. She ran through what little of sequence she remembered from the orb. As she remember Ultimecia standing with some other out in the winters breeze, she started to feel each beating moment of her heart. Her hands started a slow trembling as the started to ball up. As the sequence finished, the imagery in her mind almost as vivid as if she were watching it through the orb, she watched. As soon as the gruesome impalement accrued she shut hears as she cringe. Whether this was do to sadness of indeed loosing her dear friend or the feeling of absolute terror, a tear feel to the floor and settled next to her hand.

It was obviously clear. Shantotto had finally come to realize Ultimecia's death.[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=red,2,800]"TCh" complained Anger, feeling her powers drained dramatically suddenly. That rage emitting from Shantotto died off, and was suddenly replaced with an emotion she did not understand. The red heartless weakened, and her fiery wings minimized until they turned to cloth again, her power gone. "Curse you!" she yelled about in Ultimecia's tone, "You have to be so weak of all times, Shantotto that--"[/glow]

[glow=gold,2,800]"You're done." called out the yellow Heartless, and in a blink of the eye, it had shot a beam of hot lightning through Anger's chest, shaped like one of Ultimecia's attacks (The one where she hits you with a mini planet.) The dark being with the red insignia screeched in pain, before combusting inwardly and turning into ashes from its injury. Anger was destroyed... now stood Bargain.

"There, there." It could council the fallen Tarutaru, kneeling next to her with its head tilted to catch sight of her eyes, her voice computerized like always. A logical sounding Ultimecia, "There is always a chance she can be brought back, I mean, she is the Time Witch. Maybe if you ask nicely, and give me your heart, I can do that for you. Would you not do anything to save your friend?" suddenly, there was a bright flash, and now Bargain was on the other side of Shantotto, standing up to look down at her, "I mean, she is your friend right? Why else would you be feeling this way for a stranger. She must of meant something to you for you to be on your knees feeling like the world is crumbling around you. Do not fret, because there is always a way out-- for the right price. Time is a playful thing, and it can be sped up, slowed down, or turned back. We can make it daylight savings, and go back an hour, if you'd like. There can be a chance to save her then-- but I require power, and that is your heart, to make it work."

The heartless with yellow stepped back now, making a few feet distance between them, and flexing her fingers.

"... Would you like me to make the decision for you?"[/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto still on her hands and knee’s, began to regain her composure. About this time she watched as the Heartless Bargain killed Rage where it stood with the flick of a wrist. As Rage fell before her, it made her eyes twitch slightly. Watching the act brought back that sheer feeling of terror that a creature could kill Ultimecia and possibly her. After a moment or two, she regained her composure and put a foot flat on the ground. She was now kneeling as she listened to the Heartless speak.[/glow]

[glow=yellow,2,300]“There is always a chance she can be brought back, I mean, she is the Time Witch. Maybe if you ask nicely, and give me your heart, I can do that for you. Would you not do anything to save your friend?"[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]“Friend…” Shantotto spoke softly. She was pondering what this Heartless could possibly do to bring her back. As it stood, the Heartless only needed her heart, but what would that accomplish she thought. Shantotto was indeed wiser than anyone of age, however, these Heartless creatures she knew very little. They, up until now, were not a problem for her. She simply ignored them.[/glow]

[glow=yellow,2,300]"I mean, she is your friend right? Why else would you be feeling this way for a stranger? She must have meant something to you for you to be on your knees feeling like the world is crumbling around you. Do not fret, because there is always a way out-- for the right price. Time is a playful thing, and it can be sped up, slowed down, or turned back. We can make it daylight savings, and go back an hour, if you'd like. There can be a chance to save her then-- but I require power, and that is your heart, to make it work."[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]The Heartless began to speak again. Shantotto listened as the Heartless mentioned it still had a way to make things right. Could this creature really bring back Ultimecia? Shantotto thought. At the cost of her heart she assumed, as she softly placed a hand on her chest. Then the Heartless said something the destroyed the all thought that it could help. Shantotto’s eyes squinted as she frowned at the Heartless when it mentioned time, and it could possibly manipulate time to bring back Ultimecia.[/glow]

[glow=yellow,2,300]"... Would you like me to make the decision for you?"[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto stood. Her ears drooping as she stared down at a small spot on the ground. She lifted a hand up and clutch a fist, as it looked like she was about to attack the Heartless for something it said. Her fist shook for a moment before dropped to her side, as Shantotto let out a long sigh, shacking her head. “Time… is what you speak? For my heart you seek.” She then slowly turned and slightly glanced to the Heartless. Standing there under it’s ominous glare she spoke “Your proposal is worthy of consideration. Pray allow me to ponder my decision.” Again for a time Shantotto was questioning to trust in this creature. No, there was only one that could manipulate time in such a way. “By shedding light on facts with which you have no familiarity, I shall relieve you of some ignorance…consider it a form of charity. Truth be told, that even with a simple heart, times true function you can not amplify, this I say is an outright lie. There is but one whom time can be strum, and this one whom can is simply gone.”

And with her frowned looked Shantotto began walking to the door of the Observatory. She had rejected Bargains plea.[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=blue,2,800]"Oh no... I was... rejected?" spoke the robotic sounding heartless with the yellow insignia encrusted on her face. She would stumble a little, feeling her power drain there, and without warning came heavy objects landing on it; for some reason or another in that charred observatory, the ceiling caved in, and kneeling upon the rubble over the murdered Heartless stood another bemoaning her existence and the extinction of her sister.

"Oh woe~ Oh sorrow~ Oooh boo hoo~" It would cry, the blue insignia on its face glowing brightly. This one also sounded like Ultimecia, if not a bit melodramatic as it continued to bawl, " It is with sweet lament that I cry for my sister's death~ Oh sadness... to which I cannot express in expression of face, I cry, boo hoo."

This heartless was known as Depression, and it would extend an icy claw to the hole on the ceiling, and weep, "To me, a sister similar to a close friend...a true friend, and with this I am left alone. No one to understand me as she did once, boo hoo." this strange one would sniffle, " To what I have, for what she has left is only a memory-- to what do I have, if the memory vanishes with her? Ah, by the Gods, I have already forgotten her face, her perfume, her voice... Oh, boo hoo." [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]From the time Shantotto had turned her back to the Heartless known as Bargain, was only a minute or two before she reached the door. Though it was very charismatic, she wanted little to do with a creature that held such little power. As she reached to open the door, a very load crash was heard from behind. Shantotto simply sighed at the noise as dust and debris was kicked around. She knew another Heartless had come to be bothersome.[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]“Oh woe, Oh sorrow, Ooh boo hoo. It is with sweet lament that I cry for my sister’s death. Oh sadness… to which I cannot express in expression of face, I cry, boo hoo.”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]With her back still turned, Shantotto listened as this new Heartless would talk, though this ones sound was different than the others. It sounded like it had feelings for loosing one of its brethren, even if it was a Heartless. And at the same time she felt as though it was mocking her. Turning her head slightly to this sound Shantotto spoke softly, “A… Heartless are you not? What could you possibly know of sadness? I see no more in you than destruction and madness.” She would interrupt as the Heartless continued to speak.[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]“To what I have, for what she has left is only a memory. To what do I have if the memory vanishes with her? Ah, by the Gods, I have already forgotten her face, her perfume, her voice… Oh, boo hoo.”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Then for a brief moment, Shantotto for once, took pity on these creatures. Turning to it she spoke again “Then for you I pity. Though you are a creature below that of my prestigious attention, my condolences for you I shall mention. Unlike you and your Heartless counters who are jaded, my memories have long but faded.”[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=blue,2,800]"The way she was always a challenge to I, the apprentice that would never surpass. It is I who killed her, with my impudence--I, who did not save her from my own arrogance." The heartless reached down, and picked up a singular piece of ceiling, "The fallen, that is what killed her... and I idly watched as it happened... so I killed her as well."

The blue insignia across her face would glow a vivid blue, and the room around them began to cool down, and soon chill from the dropping temperature. The water that was once ice from Shantotto's attack began to freeze and expand, pinning her feet in place, although she would feel not the frostbite that would soon creep up her ankles, she would notice the icy sensation wrapping around her own heart as the Heartless continued its sad speech. The heartless stood over the rubble ignoring still the the presence of the little Taru-- or did she?


"Never again to hear her chuckle-- nor her chide. Her chastising ways, or her loving ways lost now to the ashes and the nothing that is air. Those golden hues I will miss dearly, though I will eventually forget them. I am alone now, and there is no challenge... for that which has Fallen has taken her away."

Casually, with a flick of the wrist, and the relaxation of her fingers, she allowed the piece of rubble to slip past her grasp and fall unceremoniously to the pile bellow. The room was cold now, to a point that the previous ashes were now blocks of ice across the ruined Observatory.[/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=blue,2,300]"The way she was always a challenge to I, the apprentice that would never surpass. It is I who killed her, with my impudence--I, who did not save her from my own arrogance. The fallen that is what killed her... and I idly watched as it happened... so I killed her as well."[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto still at the door watching as this Heartless fumbled with the rubble that had befallen its brethren.
The Heartless standing before her seemed to reference itself, and at the same time, belittle itself. Although as Shantotto listened to the Heartless, she couldn’t help but look closer at her own life. Brazenly immodest, and arrogant, two things Shantotto excelled at. However, these words didn’t simply describe her without cause. Her power, knowledge, and actions of the past, these words were almost a give in with her abilities. As she thought back, she realized that she had little concern for much else other than her own ideas. Simply put, you were either on the hero’s side or Shantotto’s side. And Shantotto’s side… always won. [/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]“Never again to hear her chuckle, nor her chide. Her chastising ways, or her loving ways lost now to the ashes and the nothing that is air. Those golden hues I will miss dearly, though I will eventually forget them. I am alone now, and there is no challenge... for that which has fallen has taken her away."[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]The air began to grow with a chilling breeze. The taru hardly noticed the change in temperature, as she continued to think of her past actions while listening to this new Heartless. She began remembering the days of the omnipotent women. Her first encounter ending short from war, she sought out to find her once again to finish her bout. Time and time again she would find Ultimecia and challenge her for supremacy.

For every battle waged would breed destruction. Many events, through the many worlds had sir come to their fighting. Even though Shantotto was never able to entirely crush Ultimecia, there was an unspoken respect for the witch that she would never admit… at least to others. From their battles came compromise and their truce was formed.

They now, rather had spent ages as the caretakers. Shantotto understood this new concept that was bestowed upon her, but she always had her own agenda. Being a keeper of time, several worlds were now at her very own disposal. Each would be used to create her own empire. This was something Ultimecia for some reason or another always forbid, something about balance. Shantotto always found little worry and carried out her plans only to have the foiled by the “un-fun” witch. What else was there to do? Fighting a battle that would simply end in a stalemate wasn’t as enjoying, as the complete annihilation of a world.

To Shantotto, Ultimecia put simply, was a desire of power. One she had continued to strive for to become the mage supreme. Now with all the events come to flourish, she began to realize that her desire for supremacy, had come with little reward.[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=blue,2,800]"How would you know of mine suffering, unless you, yourself has had a similar experience...?" The Heartless turned here, the symbol upon its face glowing a depressing blue. She swayed herself over in a familiar movement, and knelt in front of the almost frozen over Taru.

The small master mage was already frozen up to the waist, and a bit of ice had collected over her little pig tails and shoulders. Within the room, it would continue to snow a soft, almost inviting way, depending of the mood of the sad void within a heart..

The Time Witch's copy reached over with a frozen touch, and rested it upon Shantotto's cheek, brushing the bit of ice from it in question, "Do you wallow in sadness, such as I...for someone you lost? Someone dear... Shantotto...?" it spoke like she would, a sad tone in what would be Ultimecia's voice. [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=blue,2,300]“How would you know of my suffering, unless you yourself have a similar experience?”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]While Shantotto was still in her own state of self loathing, she was still quick to ignore the icy tomb that continued to encase her. Upon hearing the Heartless speak, she raised her head to it and with a firm yet soft antagonizing voice she replied, “An experience similar to one of such darkness? I believe you’ve mistaken me for your brethren Heartless. My loss is far more severe…” She paused for a moment, tilting her head and slowly raising her small hand to the towering Hearless. The cold encasement was starting to wear on her vitality.

The Heartless now standing before Shantotto had brushed a finger against her cheek, which caused a slight burning sensation. While she was regaining her breathe the Heartless spoke.[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]“Do you wallow in sadness such as me, for someone you lost? Someone dear… Shantotto…?”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]As she began to finish her previous declaim, she started to speak over the Heartless. “…for the one lost was in fact most dear …and one I have begun to endear.” She said as she clutched her fist, a warming aura began to ensue.[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=blue,2,800]"Oh, such sweet words of kindness and love," The Heartless would swoon into a dramatic pose, sighing, "How morbidly unoriginal, these things called kindness and love~"

The blue heartless would huff a little, seeing the small Taru work on a spell in mid sentence, "Oh, and now a cliche of love expressed in heat and passion, my silly one fifth of a heart." she spoke between sobs, kneeling in front of the small creature, " How droll you are becoming... so--so bland... as If I have seen this before, and oh yes...This has been seen before, my dear predictable Shantotto... although I do sympathize, for her death has brought upon you your unoriginality."

Without the Taru's awareness, icy claws began to form at the tip of the copy's fingers, getting herself ready for the final blow. [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto simply glancing to the ground arm extended, with an ever looming red and black aura still emitting from her person. Ice was still slowly encasing her where she stood, but the Heartless had overlooked one thing… Shantotto for now was not standing alone.[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]“How droll you are becoming… so, so bland… as if I have seen this before and oh yes… this has been seen before, my dear predictable Shantotto. Although I do sympathize, for her death has brought upon you your, unoriginality.”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]She tried her best to ignore the words from the Heartless, as to concentrate on her escape, although a few words did prod the small Taru. Unoriginal, bland and predictable, these brought rise to the inner darkness of Shantotto. While Shantotto concentrated on her escape, a deep and heavy pulse emitted from behind her. Her head still glancing to the ground, she closed her eyes and began to mutter something to herself. “I can shed tears that she is gone, or smile because she has lived. I could remain empty and turn my back, or I can do what she would want and open my eyes and go on.” By this point, the emanating pulse from behind her grew heavier, as did her ominous aura.

Soon after Shantotto had muttered to herself, the Heartless readied to strike with icy claws from the tips of its fingers. As it began its attack, the pulse emanating from behind Shantotto had subsided, and between her and the Heartless’ attack appeared the ghostly spirit of Claustrum. Though Shantotto was unaware of the icy attack, Claustrum was well aware of its approach. Stepping forth, the spirit readied Gates of Tartarus as this was to absorb anything that came into its swell. While Shantotto was dwelling on the Heartless’ words, a loud crunch echoed and quickly became a shattering crash. She had broken free from her ice encasement and quickly turned her glance to the Heartless. “Sometimes it comes as quite a shock, how much damage you can deal with a simple rock!” Quickly spoke in a renewed confidence, Shantotto snapped her fingers and six lines several feet in length grew in a triangular fashion in the ground, at its cent the Heartless. Just as quickly as she spoke three massive columns broke free from the ground slamming together on the Heartless.[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=teal,2,800]“I can shed tears that she is gone,
or smile because she has lived.
I could remain empty and turn my back,
or I can do what she would want and
open my eyes and go on.” [/glow]

[glow=blue,2,800]It was not rhythmic to say the least, but it was proving a point; The small Taru was opening her eyes and mind to the horrible conclusion that Ultimecia, had indeed, passed...she was accepting! This caused the blue heartless to twitch a bit, and her attack faltered as it lost power. The confused creature looked down to her icy claws to notice they were melting, and all around them, the spells of ice were beginning to melt.

A twist of her head was all it took to notice an ominous looking thing hovering between her and the midget, glowing away a strange aura. The creature would huff a little, and look over to Shantotto in time to see her breaking away from her icy hold. Depression jumped back, and took a defensive position against the attack, only to find herself in a trap!

It shrieked a little, and sobbed at the columns closing in on her, looking to the small one, and extending a hand to her.

"Oh woe, shall death become her image again? To this, an act by you, Shantotto..." it would sob, the stone beginning to crush at her body-- only a bit of its blue symbol could be seen flickering, " The ever growing pain... to think it could ever come from you---!"

...and a loud crack could be heard-- the columns fully closing on the Heartless' form, rendering it of life...[/glow]

[glow=white,2,800]...

...

...

... A moment or two later, from above, would stand a being made of light flow... a white heartless... skin, insignia and all. This one continued to stare down at the wizard, in silent thought.

Suddenly, from the tomb that Shantotto created burst a bright blue orb...[/glow]

[glow=red,2,800]...from ash arose a glowing red orb...[/glow]

[glow=gold,2,800]...from the rubble arose a gold orb... [/glow]

[glow=gray,2,800]... and from the snow, a gray orb levitated. [/glow]

[glow=white,2,800] The remaining heartless slowly held a familiar looking claw up, and all the glowing spheres would come to her. She glowed a bright white momentarily when all orbs merged together through this ones insignia... then silence again, as the brightness dissipated.

Slowly, the creature looked down to both Claustrum and Taru, and a soft chuckle escaped it, and as if paint, the insignia across its face would melt away, revealing a face underneath...her golden hues swimming in a pool of darkness was the difference in the face, the eyes...

... Ultimecia!

"My, my..." She spoke like her true self as well, " ...Shantotto... it seems that... you have grown strong again."

This one jumped off the little ledge above and hovered down a few feet away from the wizard's with a calm aura.

"Walk with me..." she would add, and walked past Shantotto. The creature walked down the ever changing hallways without mistake, until she was outside in that snowy field again, "... There is much to be done, and little time left... can you really... be trusted with such important tasks? ...of Tera? ... of Jenova? ... Time?" to the last part, the creature would turn to face the small one with an inquisitive look, awaiting an answer. [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Once the Heartless was encased with stone, Shantotto began brushing off what was left of the snow and ice on her sleeves. The mystical being of Claustrum returned to its home, as a small flash entered through the room. The Claustrum was gone and the Jupiter’s staff took its place.

She let out a long sigh. Shantotto was growing weary of the troublesome Heartless running amok through what was now her castle. She simply ignored anything the worthless creature had to say in its final moments of deaths embrace. Her thoughts at this time were directed to her next step. What is there to do now but… clean this mess perhaps?

Yet once again these mimics know just how to ruin a good moment. Shortly after depressions demise, a small, blue orb emerged from its tomb of stone. Shantotto’s ears perked a bit from the flash. Glancing atop the stone tomb she saw this orb. Soon after a red, gold, and gray orb emerged and followed the same path, all merging as one above the tomb. From the merge another Heartless stood. This white Heartless gave a small chuckle while it peered at Shantotto. This Heartless compared to its previous, almost seemed to mimic Ultimecia’s form to a T. [/glow]

[glow=white,2,300]“My, my Shantotto, it seems that… you have grown strong again.”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto couldn’t help but give a confused and exhausted expression while glancing at yet again, another Heartless. She spoke this time it was with a tired and irritating tone, “Again… Your mimics simply gave me a chance to exercise my intellectual might, something with which your mimes are not so bright.” She watched as the new Heartless floated down before her. It seemed as this one wasn’t interested in a fight as its presence was calmer than the others.[/glow]

[glow=white,2,300]“Walk with me… There is much to be done, and little time left. Can you really… be trusted with such important tasks, of Terra, of Jenova, or Time?”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]Seeing as how the only way for Shantotto to get piece and quiet was to rid her presence of these Heartless creatures, she followed willingly throughout the halls. She listened to the Heartless wondering what cleaver snip the creature would speak. She was just hoping there was an end to all of this. About the time they reached the castle doors which lead to the snowy field, she heard the Heartless mutter “Terra” and “Jenova.” These names were mentioned to her before. Looking up at the Heartless, which now stood a few feet away in the snow, Shantotto spoke up, “I see no reason to explain our plans, since your presence and time are soon to expire. So let us begin, and I shall show you my ire.”[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=white,2,800]The creature would chuckle softly at the midget's behavior, shaking its head like Ultimecia would at the Taru's insolence, "As arrogant as ever, Shantotto." it would sound sweetly, almost motherly, "You always wanted to truly prove yourself to me, to my true self... before I, eventually aged, and so did my abilities." she would sigh, extending her hands to her sides, and looking up toward the dark sky, "Do you really believe, that now is the time for such trifle battles?"

The creature relaxed, and looked down to the small woman, its lips curling upward to form a grin, and blinking its golden eyes to focus them better, " You wanted to fight something worth your while... to defeat the great guardian of time when you could not even defeat me when I was at my weakest... it always ended in a draw." the heartless' white wings seemed visible now, fluttering slightly behind it, " That anger of yours blinds you from your surroundings, Shantotto... you are so angry at the thought of your equal being defeated by an insignificant wyrm that you fail to notice the big picture." her look grew serious, "...are you really capable of handling time with such emotions!?"

Unlike the other Heartless kind, this some seemed to be neutral almost, like the true time guardian, when it came to making the wisest decisions, "While you meddle here, what do you think is happening out there? Have you been watching? Do you know of Jenova, or Terra's whereabouts? Because if you continue at this pace, you might NEVER attain the opportunity to go against the Time Witch's true power at her brightest!"

The false's eyes seemed to narrow here, looking deadly, "... but it seems you want to waste even more time? Very well, if this is what you truly wish... let all my work go in vain."

...something was FAR different with this heartless.... could it truly speak from Ultimecia's memories? [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Now outside of her castle, in the chilling, cold wind and snow Shantotto stood with the new Heartless. She yawned as the Heartless spoke of her arrogance. Her arrogance had always been known. She practically had a birth-right to it. Still she stood awaiting for the creature to make it’s attack or show some kind of aggression, so the fun could begin.[/glow]

[glow=white,2,300]“You wanted to fight something worth your while… to defeat the great guardian of time when you could not defeat me when I was at my weakest… it always ended in a draw.”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]A draw, now that was something that peaked her attention. Quick to interrupt the Heartless she spoke out with a calm, careless demeanor, “Every battle waged with a draw, was just another page with a simple flaw. Our war is far from done, but in the end it will be I that has won! O~hohohoh” She pointed to the Heartless and simply waved her small hand as to brush off any mention of the word “draw”. Even with Shantotto’s outburst the Heartless continued on her tirade.[/glow]

[glow=white,2,300]“Your anger blinds you from your surroundings Shantotto… you are so angry at the thought of your equal being defeated by a insignificant wyrm that you fail to notice the big picture… are you really capable of handling time with such emotions!?”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]As the Heartless continued to ruffle the small Taru’s feathers, Shantotto’s patients began to grow thin. Who was this Heartless creature to question the intelligence of such an omnipotent mage?! Furious rage beginning to grow, her look was almost similar to the Heartless’ itself.

Shantotto held herself back as the creature mentioned a couple of names, “Jenova” and “Terra”. Two names that had been mention before, but how or what the Heartless knew of them was unknown. Furthermore how much the Heartless knew of what they meant to Shantotto made her speculate something more was behind these plans? [/glow]

[glow=white,2,300]“… but it seems you want to waste even more time? Very well, if this is what you truly wish… let all my works go in vain!”[/glow]

[glow=teal,2,300]With her last words spoke, a powerful swirling wind of purple and black hues began to spin around the Taru’s feet. As it swirled a dark ominous light could be seen flashing from beneath Shantotto. Shortly after her outburst of energy began, three portals twice the size of Shantotto appeared one after another behind her. Out stepped her three Cardian aces, fully recovered and ready for battle. “Now for your lesson, my class is now in session!” [/glow]