8 | [VOICEMAIL TO LLOYD]

[martelsnotmypeach]

[Mithos had decided to investigate the piece of knife... however, it hadn't taken him very long to realize that getting too close to it was a bad idea. However, that energy...

There's more than one way to get the information he wanted, and someone foolish enough to help him. The call is made.]

Lloyd? It's Mithos... I think there might be a way to access the Otherworldly Gate!

Comments

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd's response isn't immediate, but that's only because he didn't check his voicemail the minute Mithos called. Busy taking a bath, he hadn't had his Dreamberry on hand.

Mithos, has anyone ever told you what wonderful timing you have?

Fifteen minutes later, though, Lloyd's dressed and has his Dreamberry back. And that message that was left for him...

Something inside Lloyd jolts and he can't call Mithos back fast enough.]

You found something?! What is it?

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

This is something you should see for yourself. You know where the floating mountain is, right? Can you meet me there?

[redcladidealist]

Yeah, I know where it is. I've been there before. I'll be there as soon as I can, just give me ten minutes!

[Heart pounding with excitement, Lloyd barely thinks to grab his jacket and his swords before running out the door. The Otherworldly Gate. Finally! After all this time, they'll finally be able to go home! He'll get to see the others, and Genis. Maybe Kratos. The possibilities spiral endlessly in his mind. And if they know how to work the Gate, he can come back whenever he wants!]

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

[redcladidealist]

[Of course he will. How could you doubt him, Mithos? Look, there he is, coming up from the warp pad now. His face is lit up with excitement that hasn't faded a bit.]

Mithos!

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

Lloyd! There you are.

[redcladidealist]

I came as fast as I could.

[He looks around, half-expecting to see what Mithos was talking about.]

So, where is it? Where's the Otherworldly Gate?

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely sure if it's a way to access it, but... surely, the energy coming from this could be manipulated in our favor, right?

[redcladidealist]

[Following Mithos's gaze, Lloyd spots the blade half-buried in the ground. He blinks, surprised.]

Energy?

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

Yes! If you get closer, you can definitely feel that there's a lot of energy coming from that knife in the ground.

[redcladidealist]

[He looks from Mithos back to the blade. It looks like it's just a giant stone blade, but...

Well, only one way to find out! Lloyd smiles, excitement rising, and starts striding purposefully toward the blade.]

You think it might be like the moon? That's how the Gate opens in our world, right? Maybe the moon here doesn't have enough energy, and that's why the Otherworldly Gate hasn't opened here during the full moon!

[Hey, his theories are only wild if they're wrong~]

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

That's about how I was thinking, too...

[redcladidealist]

[That's really the only encouragement Lloyd needs at this point to pick that as his working theory and go on. Hope bubbles up inside him as he gets closer to the sword. Home. They could be going home!

Then something twinges in his gut. He barely notices it at first, still caught up in the rush of the moment, but with each step it gets worse, the feeling twisting uneasily. Finally, his step falters.

This is...

A shudder runs through him with the next step he takes.]

Something... something's wrong.

[He glances back at Mithos. What should he do?]

Something doesn't feel right.

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

[redcladidealist]

[The indecision lasts for another moment before Lloyd takes a deep breath. He can't stop now. Not for just a feeling. This could be their only chance! Taking another breath to steady himself, he starts forward again. Through sheer stubbornness he ignores the tightening feeling of dread.

Something's wrong something's wrong something's-

His head abruptly jerks up.]

Who's there?!

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

Lloyd...? Lloyd, the only ones here are you and me.

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd darts a glance at Mithos, but his eyes almost immediately snap back to the air above them. In an instant his swords are out and he drops into a fighting stance.]

Mithos, stay-

[Then, looking startled, he turns to the boy again.]

No, wait. You can call them off! [Jerking as though in response to a sudden movement, he slashes a sword through the air at - nothing. Desperation tinges his voice.] Mithos, tell them to stop!

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

L-Lloyd... nothing's here! It's just you and me!

[redcladidealist]

What do you mean, nothing's here?! They're-!

[He ducks, parrying nothing away. Twisting, tracking something, he spins and attacks!]

Mithos, they're your angels! Tell them to stop before I kill them!

[It's not a threat, it's a plea. He doesn't want to kill them even if they're lifeless beings.]

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

...angels...?



Stop!

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd tenses, taking a step back as though waiting for the command to take effect. Then his eyes widen, dismay and terror stark as he defends himself again.

Why didn't it work? Why didn't it work?]

I don't understand! He told you to stop! You have to listen to him! He's your leader-!

[He lashes out, with one sword, then the other, a dance that would have been deadly if there had actually been someone there. Both dance and words choke to a stop, though, when Lloyd's eyes fix on something else. Every drop of blood drains from his face as he listens to something only he can hear.]

...no. No, no, you're lying. You promised!

[martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com]

Lloyd, what's...?

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd eyes switch to Mithos again, then jolt back to that spot in the air. Panic flashes across his face.]

Mithos! No!

[He lunges, slashing the air, again and again, desperately driving back the air. He moves to place himself between Mithos and the threat.]

Leave him alone! I don't care what he's done anymore, Kratos! He's not the same person! He's my friend!