Chapter 4 - Back to Garden

[Storyteller]

Dark~

Terry was shocked and blown off his feet.

[Oh I'm sorry about this, I'm really sorry... I can't speak... very well... I'm sorry] Terry wrote on his pad in messy writing showing it to Justice's sister.

Terry looked down cast.

[Can you say hi for me at least? Thanks...] Terry smiled sadly while walking back his seat.

On his way back he catches Tomoe and Sym talking to each other. It's nice to know that this is starting to get to a closer group!

Terry takes a glancing look at Tomoe, not even realizing it, before taking his seat and flipping through a martial arts magazine.

[Storyteller]

seiferfetish~

Gaiea forced a smile. I just want to sleep.

"Yeah, I'm fine...was just kind of floating when Rayven and Justice happened by. Saved my ass." Her eyes were on Kyou's. "Usually good form to make sure someone has a specific spell before sending them out."

He flinched, but quickly recovered. "Yeah well, what kind of SeeD doesn't have a Float spell?" he spat.

Gaiea's eyes narrowed, but the sound of Zacke's voice caught her attention. Terry waved a note in her face, and she smiled, but Zacke was still yelling. Sighing, she got to her feet and strode over, placing a hand on Zacke's arm.

"Hey, let it go. It doesn't matter what she thinks, and it's sad that she's always miserable. Don't yell at her, just pity her. It's what she wants after all."

The tall girl turned to look at the sulking Stardust, gray eyes expressionless. Finally, she opened her mouth. "Die-hard is right. It takes more than a fall to get rid of me. Lucky for you. That said, I suggest you keep quiet until you actually contribute to this mission."

[Storyteller]

Ani~


Hearing those snide remarks, Stardust looked at Zacke in an angle. She wasn't sure what this guy wanted but he never ceased to boil her blood.

"I wasn't talking to you so shut up..." she said coldly. It was then that Terry stood between them with a goofy smile motioning for the two to stop. Stardust didn't care. All she wanted was to be alone but this jerk had to barge in and make things worse.

"Hey, let it go..." Gaiea placed her hand over Zacke's arms and said something more. Stardust's eyebrows met at the polyglot's incoherent nonsense. She gawked at them with despise.

"Die-hard is right. It takes more than a fall to get rid of me. Lucky for you. That said, I suggest you keep quiet until you actually contribute to this mission." Gaiea added as she walked away. A nerve hit Stardust. First the jerk, then this polyglot.

She should think first before opening that stupid mouth of her!

"And you? What did you do for this mission? You just gave us a burden!" She stood and glared at Gaiea. Nothing but anger was written in her eyes. One of the reasons why she believed the gem was stolen was because of the time they wasted on finding her. Stardust closed her fist, her temper rising.

If I knew that things would turn out like this then you should've died at least!

She was trying hard enough not blow up but she couldn't hold her disappointments anymore.

/Calm down, Stardust.../ Right then, her left hand ached slightly again. She took a deep breath, her eyes set on Gaiea. It was no use. She couldn't change what had happened no matter what. All she could do was brood until they get back on Garden.

"Leave me be!" she barked after a long pause.

Giving another glare at Zacke, she sat back and looked irritatedly outside the window.

[Storyteller]

Ash~


"Just shut the hell up!" Blaze jumped to her feet and stuck her face in front of Stardust's.

"I, no, ALL of us are sick and tired of your little tough girl act. We all know it's fake, how can you possibly expect us to take you seriously when you constantly act like a spoiled brat? If you hate us all so much, why don't you just resign when we get back to the Garden and do something "worth your time" since you obviously think we are not. Gaeia is ALIVE and you call her a die-hard? It's as if you WANT her to die."

/Blaze.../ Deathstrike mumbled /this isn't the time.../

Blaze narrowed her eyes, her GF never talked unless she thought that Blaze was getting out of hand. /hell, this is the time. You shut up or I might just summon you against Stardust./

Blaze drew out her claw-like weapons. "I'm tired of you. I'll take you on here and now. We are the best of the best, let's see who is better."

/stop it!/ Deathstrike screamed, but all Blaze could see was red.

[Storyteller]

Ani~


Stardust slammed her seat really hard and stood to face Blaze. She told them to leave her be, but they just wouldn't.

"You guys really won't shut up, do you?!"

"I'm tired of you. I'll take you on here and now. We are the best of the best, let's see who is better." Blaze mocked her.

Upon hearing those words, Stardust paused. Then she smirked slowly.

"You have a death wish?" A dark purple bolt sparked in her right hand.

If this was how Blaze wanted it to be, then let it be! She would never back down.

Come on!

[Storyteller]

Mari~

Rika watched the events unfold with a raised eyebrow. It was quickly getting out of hand, and as much as she wanted to sit back and watch the rest of it play out, she felt compelled to step in.

Might be a bad move, but I don't exactly see anyone else jumping in here. This really has gone far enough.

She whispered, "shell," and placed her fingertips on her chest. The magic at once permeated into her body and fortified it. This done, she stepped in between Blaze and Stardust; the dagger-sharp looks they were casting at each other seemed to bore into her.

Her lips formed a small snarl, and she looked around the helicopter. "This will end now!" she barked. "You two will NOT fight aboard this copter; one stray attack could hurt someone, or damage this vehicle. Please act like SeeDs, not children, and solve this conflict on solid ground! Do not act so foolishly, and jeopardize the safety of everyone here!

"If I'm not mistaken, I'm the youngest person on board. I find it appalling and disgraceful that people here can not act their age, and I must do so in place of them."

She turned on her heel and daintily sat in her seat. Passing another look around the copter, she smirked and asked, "Now, is anyone going to challenge me because I act like a SeeD and take responsibility?" with a clear sarcastic tone.

Well aware that that outburst was the loudest and most verbose she had been throughout the entire mission, she gave a small "Hmph!" and crossed her legs.

[Storyteller]

Ash~


death wish?? Blaze almost laughed out loud. There was no way that this pink haired brat could put up a decent fight against Blaze.

"You two will NOT fight aboard this copter; one stray attack could hurt someone, or damage this vehicle. Please act like SeeDs, not children, and solve this conflict on solid ground! Do not act so foolishly, and jeopardize the safety of everyone here!" Rika scolded.

Blaze's eyes slowly softened and she lowered her arms. But her anger had not lessened in the tiniest. She had expected someone to stop them, and she was glad that someone did, although she would never admit it.

Blaze retracted her claws with a 'clink'. "Alright ... On the ground we shall continue. You better hope that this is a long ride." She hissed at Stardust.

[Storyteller]

Ani~


Stardust's glare didn't fade. She was incredibly angry now. If ever Blaze gave out the first move, she would definitely take her on regardless of what Rika had said. She wouldn't have any second thoughts about it.

"Alright ... On the ground we shall continue. You better hope that this is a long ride." Blaze hissed.

Much to her expectancy, Blaze retreated. She had no choice but to back down as well. She concluded that a stupid girl like this would never get the best of her, a combatant specialist.

If you're not going to fight...

"Shut up and don't bother me then!" She looked at Blaze with undervalue then turned away.

[Storyteller]

Dark~

Terry was going to jump in but then he felt someone cast a shell, a magical barrier, and sensed it from... Rika. Terry stood there astonished. As quick as the outburst started, it ended. Much from the help of Rika and a little of her magic.

Wow that was amazing. Rika handled that really well... Terry thought with wide eyes from the display of furiousness of the crew.

Terry slowly sat back down looking at the group of raging women. Definitely it didn't seem like they needed to show others that they were the best of the best. Terry smiled a bit, glad to be part of the family... even if it was a slightly dysfunctional one.

Terry looked up and noticed something different. Rika's hair was all mushy and out of place. Completely different from the casual pinned up look of before. Out of curiosity and nothing else. Terry went up to Rika and wrote casually, well as casual as a person writing to another to communicate at least.

[You handled the matter really well, great job... but your hair it looks funny.] Terry looked in a confused manner. [What happened to it?] Good old Terry never knew when to keep his pen down and write something stupid.

[Storyteller]

Auria~


Zacke listened to Gaiea, but kept his stare at Stardust.

"Yeah, well I've never been good with tolerance." he muttered. Just then Blaze's yelling caught his attention. Her and Stardust were about ready to rip each other’s throats out, but Rika stepped in. He just watched. Then Rika returned to her seat. Then more less than kind words between Stardust and Blaze...

Hyne, how long is it going to be like this?

"We can't even get along in the same chopper." he said loudly, mostly just to himself. "How in the hell are we supposed to work together on the battle field?"

He flopped down into his seat and leaned back, closing his eyes.

/You know, you are part of the problem. You started the argument./

Well if she would keep her cruel opinions to herself no one would be upset.

[Storyteller]

Spiffy~

Sym watched the scene between Blaze and Stardust unfold with what looked like a cold, hard face on the outside, her eyes the only things betraying what she felt inside. They were out to save the world, not try and frickin' kill each other! The group needed everyone to work as a team to succeed. . . . Sym's hands and arms started to shake with anger. Was she the only one to see this, the only SeeD to realize a team was stronger than a few solitary people? That wasn't possible, but it was the way things seemed at the moment. If they don't stop this, I'm going to make them stop! Goddess, we need a team right now!

/That wouldn't do any good, Lady. They would only be angrier afterward. They're all mad and disapointed at their failure, and now is the time they chose for releasing that anger./ Die-sha commented, earning a snort from his master, /Fine, do what you want, it's not as though I could stop you Lady. Just don't get hurt./

Oh, no worries on that part, old friend. Sym thought, her stomach aching with the rage she kept inside. Rising to her feet, the woman made her way to the middle of the chopper, her eyes a blaze of green ire, "Okay, either everyone's going to calm down and get along, or I'm gonna cast stop on all of you and keep it on 'till we get back to the Garden! I've had enough of this bickering! Gaiea's back, we ought to be happy damnit, not trying to kill each other!"

[Storyteller]

Mari~

Rika and looked out into the rolling, glassy ocean waves, and tried to steady her rapid heartbeat. However, her quiet moment was broken into by Terry. She read the note he had written to her, and clenched a fist, pursing her lips.

"Thanks, and thank you for noticing," she said, patting her messy hairdo. "When I was out in the water, I was pulled under by a monster, and it was quickly dragging me further down; I had to fight it, and eventually stab it with one of my hairpins so it would let go of me. Hence, I lost it. That's also why I resurfaced on a different island. Now, does that satisfy your insatiable curiosity for the time being?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow.

[Storyteller]

Bunny~

Tomoe surveyed the situation after Liani's outburst. She certainly doesn't act like the youngest, Tomoe thought to herself, crossing her arms. Blaze and Infinity, however-- Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Sym.

"Okay, either everyone's going to calm down and get along, or I'm gonna cast stop on all of you and keep it on 'till we get back to the Garden! I've had enough of this bickering! Gaiea's back, we ought to be happy damnit, not trying to kill each other!"

Tomoe blinked and stared at Sym. Why must I always make friends with the spitfires? Softly sighing, Tomoe turned her attention to Blaze, knowing that Blaze wouldn't forget her confrontation with Infinity anytime soon. And she decided to voice her thoughts.

"I know everyone's been on edge as of late, myself included. But that doesn't give us the right to start snapping at each other for every little thing that goes wrong. Granted, we've all been getting under each other's skin--" Tomoe glanced at Infinity, "--but please think about what might happen if we keep going on like this. This isn't just a silly little mission where we get a scolding and a slap on the hand if we fail. This is important." She paused and bit her lip, reluctant, but decided that she had to say it. "I'm sorry if you think everyone's criticizing you, Infinity, and I'm sorry for my outburst at you before. But the truth is the truth--you've been b*bitching about how everyone's been doing absolutely nothing, but that includes you. So please stop voicing everyone's shortcomings, because you've got some serious issues of your own. Deal with that stuff yourself."

Letting out a silent breath, Tomoe leaned back in her seat, then shot Walker a sideways glance. "By the way, Walker," she said softly, "I'm glad you're somewhat alive, even if you look like a drowned...thing."

[Storyteller]

Ash~


Blaze sat down in her chair and stared at Stardust, who stared back. Their hatred towards each other was so obvious that everyone in the chopper could feel it. Blaze could hear Tomoe, Zacke, Sym and Rika try to lecture them on their unacceptable behavior but she wasn't listening. All of their words floated in one of her ears and out the other. Blaze clenched her fists.

I'm not the only one who hates Stardust, I'm just the only one who will take any action against her. The others must be afraid. Why else wouldn't they be attacking her?

Stardust's gaze was as hard as stone. her face looked like it had been cemented to stay in that position forever. Blaze made a barely visible smile and clenched her fists even tighter, digging her nails into her skin. Hot, red blood began to flow and drip down her wrists. Blaze's smile began to widen now, she dug her nails deeper and deeper until she began to feel faint. She could feel, but not see the look of horror that the others were giving her. This was only meant for Stardust's eyes to see.

Blaze held up her right palm and cast cure. The skin began to heal itself, but the blood stayed puddle in her hand. Blaze turned and looked out the window. What she did was a clear threat to Stardust, a way to show that Blaze could handle pain. Back at the Garden, she did it when men tried to eye her.

"we've arrived, I see the Garden." She said.

[Storyteller]

Bunny~

Tomoe watched the rivers of red, running down Blaze's wrist. And she knew that Blaze would go after Infinity. She had promised, after all. Tomoe tensed. The minute this thing lands, Infinity's in for it...