Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jon came up on the town quite quickly. Once he saw the lights from the buildings, he started considerably slowing down. My speed on these wet roads was definitely a dangerous act. I don't think I'll be doing something that daring for a while.

He parked the car and locked the door, taking his guitar with him. He had to leave the jacket behind to let it dry, so he cracked the windows just a bit to let some air get to it.

"Time for some enjoyment."

Jon saw the advertisement for a talent show and thought to himself. I'm a shoe-in. I can play like nobody else. I'm entering that thing. He walked over to the registration desk and wrote his name on the list. He noticed Shion and waved.

"So I see you've entered the talent show, too. I wish you the best of luck."

Jon took the stage a few entries later. It looks like I've got a band to play with. Jon grinned to see a few other musicians to back him, all of which looked like they knew what they were doing. He plugged in his guitar and the keyboardist played the first few notes.

(( Song ))

Then Jon started playing, accompanied by the drummer and the keyboardist. His intro solo wooed the crowd, while the rhythm guitarist picked up where Jon left off. After the solo, Jon and the mystery guitarist played back to back.

The keyboard break came next, then Jon started singing.

I foresee ages of chaos,
But my ordeal has yet just started
For these ominous signs,
Are bound to plague me
Haunt for centuries to coooooooooooooooooooome,

My healing incantations
Are destined for failure
My unremitting warnings and threeaaaaaaaaats

Here, the drummer started getting a bit more glory.

Will go unheeded, such is my curse.
Why should it be incumbent upon me
To redeem their fauuuuuuuuuuuuults?

Ah, the chorus. My favourite part, Jon thought to himself as he dipped for the break.

You, The one who spurns the past
Are now, But worthy to be last.
Thy choices are errors;
I shall thus abandon thou
To thy glooooooooooomyyyyyyyyyyyyyy faaaaaaaaaaaate.

I can see the future
In the light of the past.
I cannot stop this ineluctable doom
From raining over the world.
Alas, this obNOOOOOOOOOOOXIOUS portend
Will turn out...to be abiding truuuuuuuuuuuuth.

From time immemorial,
Man has taken refuge in oblivion.
They've exchanged their future
for the present enjoyment.

Nothing will chaaaaaaaange, History has set
Her implacable march into motion.
There will be no esCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPE!!!

The yell completely took the crowd by surprise, as Jon broke into the chorus once again.

You, The one who spurns the paaaaaaaaaaaast
Are now, But worthy to be laaaaaaaaaaaast.
Thy choices are errors;
I shall thus abandon thou
To thy gloooooooooooomyyyyyyyyyyyy faaaaaaaaaate.

SUCH IS MY CURSE!

Solo time had come at last. Jon was finally able to showcase a bit of what he was capable of.

Then the rhythm guitarist broke into a solo. They traded off, one after the other. This guy is good...

The keyboardist had switched to an old-fashioned harpsichord for his solo part. His hands flew up and down the keys as his part came to a close once again, and Jon reached the chorus for the final time.

You...the one who spurns the paaaaaaaaaaaaast...
Are now...but WORTHY to be laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast...
Thy choices are errors, I shall thus abandon thou...
To thy glooooooooooooooooomyyyyyyyyyyyyy faaaaaaaaaaaaaaate!!

And the song ended with the keyboardist playing a few final notes on the harpsichord.

Did it. Every member in the audience stood up at the incredible sight of musicianship, and Jon took a bow, smiling at Shion.

Jon unplugged his guitar and stepped down, while the other musicians who backed him gathered 'round. Jon bagged his guitar and walked a ways, since it was clear they wanted to chat with him in private.

"Thanks, fellas. That was a great performance. You guys know your stuff." The mystery guitarist burst out with laughter, and finally spoke up.

"We didn't expect you to recognize us, Jon." This puzzled Jon a great deal. Wha?

"Yeah, it's been a while since we've seen you." It hit him like a ton of bricks.

"G...guys?" Each one of them nodded. A reunion once again.

"It's us. Been a while, you dink. What's the news?" Andy, the drummer, spoke up that time.

"Y'know these things on my head?" Jon pointed at the horns underneath the hat, and they nodded.

"It was this that got me taken. I won't go into details, but unfortunately, this was the cause of it. They're probably lookin' for me." Matt frowned.

"Guess what? You're comin' back to the states with us, whether they like it or not." He had a look of determination in his eye, but Jon shook his head.

"I can't leave now. There's a young girl who has these same horns. Someone like me. I promised her a better life." Matt and the others looked at Jon in an odd manner.

"Have you lost it, dude? Everybody misses Paradigm Shift! The record label went NUTS after you got busted. They dropped us like a hot ********' potato. They want JOHNATHAN KING to play, not some rookie with no soul!" Matt was making a good point. However, Jon had to decline.

"I can't do it. I just can't do it right now." Jon looked down. Then he looked back up and smiled.

"I promise, though. I promise that once I help this girl, I'll come back. Okay?" They obviously weren't too pleased, but it seemed that they had no choice.

"Done deal. We'll catch you later, my man." Matt and the others waved their goodbyes, and Jon took off to search for Shion. Where could that girl have gone? She didn't wait around to hear who won!

Jon overheard the judge of the show finally make his decision.

"And the winner of this year's talent show is..." He opened the envelope and read the name aloud.

"Johnathan Ki..." He was interrupted by one of the lesser judges, who whispered something in his ear.

"I'm afraid we can't accept your entry, Mr. King. You see, you are the only one who put a name on the list. Unless you and the rest of your friends put their names on the list as well, I'm afraid we're going to have to disqualify you." Jon couldn't exactly pull his friends out of his a**, so he took what he knew to be inevitable.

"I understand. My friends are gone. It's too late for that." Jon looked down, and the judge nodded in understanding.

"Then the prize goes to...the young lady with the violin! Come on up!" Jon's face lit up. This will be good for her. He let out a signal for her, so she knew where he was.

Shion, get over here. You won.

When Shion didn't show, Jon got nervous. He closed his eyes and tried to focus. Suddenly, he caught a very faint signal coming from the far end of town. He ran to his car and started the engine, hoping that using the car would get him there faster.

That signal was so weak, something must be wrong... Jon could only hope that she would turn out okay.

Jon felt the signal get a bit stronger, so he slammed on the brakes and looked around.

"Shion! Shion!!! Where are you?"

Jon heard the cries for help and looked up. She's there. He used his vectors to jump up to the top of the building, and saw Shion lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

"Oh jeez...what happened to you?" He picked her up and jumped back down to the ground, sitting her in the passenger seat of his car.

"We'll get you some help, I promise. Let's go." Jon hopped in and started the engine. He spun the car around, looking for a hospital. He grabbed the hat from off his head and stuffed it on hers.

"We'll take you to the ER. This hat should keep your secret safe. Hopefully." He shifted into third and slammed the pedal into the floor. Not yet...there's still a chance.