Welcome to Gaia! ::

She had swung and Max fell. She had not even seen the ruler change into it’s violent form. She just swung and she didn’t care. There were more tears appearing, but she didn’t say anything more. She listened but at that moment, nothing was really registering in her mind.

But than there was something that caused the lack of tears to start rolling once more. It wasn’t the fact that she had caused blood on his pale neck. Nor was it the fact that she had caused physical harm to him.

It was his smile.

Max was looking at her as though he had a sense a pride for her. It went from it’s twisted toothy grin to the gentle and soft smile that she had seen in the hotel room. It was something that she herself was not used too. Especially on the amount of hate that she was managing to pump out of her at that moment, she hated him ever so much for ripping some people she cared about away from her. But at the same time she simply wanted to run out and hug him. For the feelings she gave to the members of the Black Hospital, she felt the same way towards the dark gentlemen.

Lightly his cool hand touched her cheek and he finally managed to utter some words to her.



She had made him proud and he than thunked against the desk rather heavily. It appeared that in her moment of rage she had done something to him that she never would have guessed was even possible.



“MAX!” Madison screamed only to have a bright light flashed up at her. Madison shot upwards from where she was gasping for air. She wasn’t in the office anymore, but rather in a cheerful sunny place. The birds were singing and everything was ever so peaceful as she rested on the cool grass. It was wet from the morning dew that had been gathered.
Despite how lovely the world around her was appearing Madison was not feeling the joy that was being spread. She could only feel pain and sorrow as she mourned over the loss of her family and now close friend. Slowly, she attempted to cover her face with her right hand only to find that she was still gripping something.

It was the blade.

Rather than screaming at it or running away, the rabbit continued to stare at it. It was almost she was in a daze over it. But before she could even continue, the scene played through her mind again. Every waking moment of what had just happened as she continued to look at her appearance. She was still wearing the armor, and she was still holding onto the blade. This could only mean one thing….

Everything that had happened was real.

She did not fall into her tear filled state again. Everything was indeed hurting inside, but she did not even scream. She only merely placed the blade down and removed the armor. Her clothing was still beneath it, but even with the removal of armor her guilt did not seem to fade. She was ever so silent as she removed every piece.

Madison’s mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about her loved ones that were now gone. From Madison waking up to Mary and sharing a glass of Hot Chocolate Carrot, meeting Squiggly, to having a private conversation with the doctor about her freak like nature. The filled her with happiness knowing that they had made her feel ever so happy for that brief period of time. But what she didn’t get was how she forgot them…

How could she forget anyone so important to her?

How did she forget who she was?

Madison finally removed the last bit of armor to and placed it softly on the grass to see the pot reflected back to her. There, she saw herself. The white rabbit. Her heart sank even more as she continued to look at it. How could she even see any bit of humanity in the woman looking back at her? All that was there was a monster looking back at her with eyes full of pain and hurt. Her mind had than jumped again to see the fight reflecting back to her between her and Maximos. He was every so cruel to her. Every word meaning to cause her harm and tears, but she continued to try to defend something she wasn’t.

No wonder he was disappointed to her…

A tear fell as she knew that she was going to miss him. He was the big brother that she never had, and now he was dead. And she knew that it was her own fault.

Quietly, the rabbit began to pick up the pieces of armor off the ground and moved them towards where a small tree sat. It was merely a sapling, but it would do the trick. Slowly she began to place each piece up on top of one another. Cautiously, her hands fiddled with each of the pieces of metal to create a masterpiece. After a few minutes Madison was finally done.

It appeared to be rather childish in comparison to any other pieces of art. But it did the trick. Madison had created what appeared to be a memorial to the ones that she had lost. From the way she had placed down the pots and pans it seemed to look a bit in a way like a metal creature of sorts.

“…Here lie the monsters of the dark.” Madison spoke ever so slightly in order for only herself to hear it. Shortly afterwards, she plopped herself down and stared at it., only spending time to think about each and every one of the people that it represented.

“…I am sorry I disappointed you…I am sorry I forgot you…” Madison could feel her eyes beginning to water again. But she bit her lip…

She wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

He saw her stop, and his heart leaped.

Max was like a lion rushing through the tall grass at full tilt, chasing a gazelle. Where the predator feline chased a fading scent, Max charged at a single faded glow visible in one eye.

Max charged like a war horse. His boot falls beat out a chaotic rhythm and the madness warn on his face and the crowd scattering in all directions. Whatever it took to get away, whatever it meant so that they wouldnt be the next one tossed.

She was there, and she wasnt moving. Closer, he had to get closer. Too many people not running fast enough or far enough to be out of his way.

About a dozen feet from the building Max jumped, tucking his legs in close and balling his right fist into a tight bandaged ball. Lashes of black swirled around the link like insane tendrils. Tendrils which slowly began to lay over his arm, wrapping it, armoring it.



The wall exploded inward sending chunks of brick in the black void beyond. With a woosh Max dove into the black, a breath fill his lungs as he prepared to demand his watch back.

But she was gone.

The breath escaped him as a frustrated growl, his eyes scanned the area. Into, and through the walls. There were alot. There too many. Too many magical items, too many strong life forces. Lindy was masked in the same way a haystack masks a needle. He could have tried to search them all, but in that time she would be gone. He had to pursue...alternative options.

In her quiet room, with her sleeping old person, Lindy would hear another boom as Maximos indiscriminately took down another wall. And then soon after, another.

People would run, and he would find her. He would find her if he had to go through each and every room one...at...a time.

The quiet night air was split by the roar of a sportbike's engine as it raced down a back road connecting the merchant city of Latent, and Leviathan Stadium Major. It was getting dark, and the rolling in thin fog was quickly aiding in the diminishing of visibility. The street lights buzzed and blinked on, illuminating the path already scouted out by red crotch-rocket's headlights.

On the back sat Silver Alexander, his red leather jacket whipping about violently in the wind protecting him from most of the elements, and, should an accident occur, hopefully some of the pavement. The long trail of the reflection of the street lights slowly glided over his visor, and along the top of polished sheen of his helmet, and down the back into oblivion. For the weather, he was probably driving a little recklessly, but he enjoyed these nice, quiet, solitary rides. He didn't get to do much joyriding these days.

Though it wasn't exactly joy riding. He was on a self-imposed mission, to gather information about his missing friend, as well Heaven or Hell's new benefactor who seemed to have more sinister ulterior motives than the people's entertainment in mind. Still, he found he could relax on the road.

Suddenly, his headlights caught something. There was someone traveling up the opposite side of the road, on foot no less. In an instant, the lights flashed over her as he sped past. It was enough to catch a glimpse of her face. A face he had not seen in a very long time...

Shyme...?! It can't be...!

The rate of travel and the quickly moving air had disrupted an accurate heat signature, but it had looked just like her. It had to be. But how? Silver's mind raced as he couldn't believe what he'd seen. Turning his head back to make sure it hadn't been an illusion of the night fog, he hit some uneven road and nearly lost control of his bike.

"OH SHI-"

Snapping his head back around, he managed to maintain control and eventually come to a complete stop, moving off to the side of the road and letting the bike idle. He tore off his helmet and looked back down the road, straining to see anyone, but he had gone far enough that it would be impossible to tell at night, with a light fog about no less. He took a deep breath.

"It couldn't have been... but I have to know..."

Replacing the helmet, Silver twisted the throttle and spun the rear tire to whip the bike around in the opposite direction. Much slower this time, he proceeded back up the road towards the stadium to see if there had in fact been anyone on it.

The dull roar of the sport bike steadily grew as Silver proceeded back up the road. He was barely giving it any gas now, wanting to make sure he didn't miss, or hit, anyone as he investigated for the person he had thought he saw coming down the road.

After a few moments, a cloaked figure came into view, gradually phasing in from the fog. Definitely female, she carried an air of confidence about her as she walked. She may have not wanted to be out here, but she at least definitely didn't look scared or lost. Still, he made sure to slow his approach even more so she knew he was coming, not wanting to startle her. Sometimes hoodlums rode these kinds of bikes, and she might think he was a mugger or worse, approaching a woman alone on the side of the road at night.

Silver pulled up beside the woman, slowing even further to match her speed, walking his bike if he had to. He didn't want to pull up in front of her and turn around, blocking her way. That might seem rude. He flipped up the reflective visor, and turned to her from the side, unnaturally vibrant green eyes peering out from within the helmet. As the lower part of the helmet covered his mouth, his speech would be slightly muffled.

"E... Excuse me, miss...?"

With a short gasp, Silver's heart skipped a beat. It had been true. It really was her. Taken aback, he staggered backward away from her, tripping and toppling over his bike, blemishing it's normally immaculate paint job, and landing on his rear in the street.

"SH-SHYMETAT?! It is... I didn't.... How did... what are you doing here?!"

Silver tore off his helmet, revealing his wild, platinum hair. He left the head gear lying in the road as he scrambled to his feet and over the mysterious woman, stepping over his fallen vehicle. He carefully approached and put both hands on her shoulders, leaning down slightly to look up at her face. There seemed to be genuine concern in his expression, but he was somewhat oblivious to her pain.

"Of course I remember. How could I forget you? But... but you shouldn't be here. Especially here. You should be back home in Cruton... This country... this place is dangerous. Especially now... The orcs are on the rise in these woods."

Silver's eyes widened a little when she looked up. He may have been dense, but even he realized he'd said something upsetting.

Oh shi-

SLAP!

"..."

Silver just stared blinked at her for a moment, staring blankly as she yelled at him while his brain caught up with what had just happened. A big red hand print swelled up on his face. His brow furrowed in both physical and emotional pain.

"AAHHHHAHAOWWW! What'd you slap me for?!"

Or was it confusion? Was he even paying attention?

"And calm down! You're gonna attract the attention of a patrol or something! I can probably take a few of them, but if they're armed, we'll be in big trouble. Calm d-CALM DOWN!"

He had to raise his voice to talk over hers, pretty much contradicting everything he'd just said. He swallowed hard as she stared daggers at him, lowering his voice to a whisper, as if it helped. He waves his hands about frantically as some sort of substitute for volume to convey the urgency of the situation.

"Look, I understand you're upset. I get that. Things have gotten really... complicated since I arrived here. I had to stay longer than I planned... but it was all to protect you, I swear. I can explain everything. I've never forgotten about you..."

Silver's eyes were pleading now, as well as the rest of his body all but groveling before her. He stared at her for another long moment, before letting out a soft sigh.

"Look..."

He undid the velcro strap on his left hand of his leather riding glove that doubled for his fighting attire that he was rarely seen without. Slowly peeling it off, he held up his bare hand to eye level to reveal a simple, silver band on his left ring finger. It glinted even in the dim light.

"I've never taken it off."

Silver flashed Shyme a big, hearty grin that he was known for. She was finally starting to warm up, which was nice considering it was kind of disheartening that his estranged wife of four years had suddenly shown up out of no where to yell at him. He really did love her, and no one liked being yelled at.

He stepped up and wrapped his arms around her, encircling her shoulders and pulling his close to him. She might have remembered that he had always been warm, warmer than most people, and that about him at least seemed to have not changed. He hugged her tight for a few moments, his slap mark glowing cartoonishly bright in the dark as she fought back her tears.

"It's okay... I've had worse, believe me..."

Silver stepped back, taking her by the shoulders again, and peering into her eyes. She looked tired now, and being out near the forest wasn't getting any safer for them.

"Where do we live...?"

He just stared at her. That was a good question. He glanced at down the road, the top of the massive Leviathan Stadium Major standing tall above the trees, then down the other way to the lighted path toward Latent. Where did he live right now? Either would have been sufficient, he could have easily found a room for them to sleep anywhere... But the plan!

Silver's expression brightened.

"I know of a safe house in Latent that we can lie low in for as long as we need to. It's run by a few friends of mine. Plus, there's someone there I need to talk to... Here. Take this. Even if you're not cold, it'll keep you safe... Well, relatively safer."

He stepped back and removed his padded leather jacket, and draped it over her shoulders. He then turned and quickly sprinted out into the street to retrieve his forgotten helmet, and brought it back to Shyme, depositing it onto her head for her. It was a little big, but it could be adjusted by a strap on the inside.

He then turned once again to pick up his bike, briefly inspecting the damage before setting it upright. His intent should have been obvious now. With a bright smile, he would glance back at her.

"You ever ridden on one of these before?"

"Huh, trouble? Oh, uh, nothing... I'm just doing a little investigating, that's all. There's a new face on the scene I don't like, and one of my nakama has gone missing... plus, I feel like someone's been watching me, lately. It's been bothering me..."

Even if she hadn't expected an answer, he had still given one after the fact. He'd always had that problem of justifying himself. He wanted to do what was right by him, and was often honest to a fault.

Silver restarted his bike, revving the engine just enough to make sure no serious damage had been done. It hadn't take much of a fall, but it was a precision machine, after all. Couldn't be too careful. He wasn't worried about it attracting attention, they'd be outta there inna few seconds, anyway, and no orc was gonna catch this thing.

Silver looked hurt when Shyme expressed her dislike for the machine, puffing out his lips into a big pout.

"Wha? You don't like it? I thought chicks were supposed to dig these things..."

His eyes suddenly widened and he glanced around in panic, biting his lip.

"Er, NOT that that's why I got one... Aheh... heh...?"

Oh boy...

He quickly turned around to hop on the bike, the large sweat drop of uneasiness hanging over his head, as he scooted up as far as he could, even to the point of being uncomfortable on the small seat. These things were never made for more than one person, especially a top of the line racing bike like his, but he at least tried to give her as much room as he could. It was more important that the lady was comfortable, of course. Maybe she'd forget his little glib remark...

"Alright, your majesty, your chariot awaits. Make sure you hold on tight."

Once she was securely on board, Silver started up the road to the stadium before making a wide turn around back towards Latent. He made sure to take it slow, easing it into acceleration this time by not going dangerously fast or doing any other stunts that might scare her. Though usually having a blatant disregard for his own wellbeing, he had precious cargo with him now. He had to keep it safe.