With the stakes so high... (The Mission. 1.2)

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Hey hey hey guys, I'm right here and I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions." Zeke spoke rapidly as he forced himself in between Alexander and Mark. "Mark, it's been a while and I'm afraid I've come out of our last battle a little less...capable than when I came in." Zeke brought his arms up and clutched his one wrist in hand as he looked them over. He stopped and felt an odd itch on his palm. Turning over he saw a fleck of something black and sticky imbedded there. Stupid reins. He dismissed it quickly and looked back up to Mark. "Afraid these guys didn't come cheap, huh?" He chuckled, a little self-pity slipping itself in awkwardly into his laugh.

"However," Zeke turned his attention to Alexander. "If you remember sire, we saw what that man did in Roccia, and those were just his lackeys. What are we gonna do when he decides Santo-Luce is next? We can't sit on the sidelines like we did in Roccia. I can't..." Zeke snapped his jaw shut, catching himself from making his plea anymore personal. After taking a quick calming breath Zeke slowly found the words he needed.

"Trucido showed us that there are threats bigger than a nation, and if the angels are coming down to help, we should at least hear them out. We should see if perhaps we can help, for all our sakes."

Gods he was starting to make a habit of this. While he refused to linger on it any longer than an instant he was starting to wonder if his relationship of Alexander was making the king clingy and overprotective of him, two things a leader could not afford when dealing with a soldier that owed him his life.

[Eli Ventus]

"He's right!" Eli chimed in to Alexander, "You guys may not rule Roccia and whatnot but you also have a moral responsibility here! When Trucido ruled you guys were all separate, no one backed the other unless Trucido allowed it. Those times are over now though, we need to help each other out now."

Juno couldn't help but admire Eli's passion, the way he spoke what he thought no matter what the circumstance. It was that same passion that had Juno say this, "You do have a kingdom to rule so I can understand why you would be hesitant, but any support you could lend us would help."

[alexanderthegreat]

And Alexander was going to tell Mark 'no, Zeke will not be joining you.' It was stupid, and Zeke was stupid for thinking Alexander would have allowed them to all just sit around twiddling their damn thumbs! He was more than happy to aid the fighters, not be the fighters--what was it with these people thinking if he didn't fight, he wasn't helping?!

But what spoke out to him more than that was watching Zeke trying to find a way to make his point in front of these people without 'oh no, offending the king'. He knew this conversation probably would have been way different if none of them were around, and at the same time he wished this were happening when no one else was around, Alexander couldn't help but feel there was more going on than what was being said aloud.
Alexander was absolutely clingy and highly over-protective of Zeke and it wasn't something he was going to admit, even to himself. All he could think of was that he was so happy, and felt that in a flash he was now having it taken away from him and there was even the risk of never even seeing Zeke again. Mark even said it himself, he couldn't guarantee anyone would survive this. He was friends with his captain Alex, but he had no issues detaching himself and sending him away to do anything that was required of him in duty. Zeke was right, and Alexander hated the facts.

Alexander just felt weird now. He looked into Zeke's eyes and everything just seemed to hurt and to the point he thought was going to get sick. Or have a breakdown. Oh no, that would be bad right here. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with a million emotions bubbling up but thankfully Eli decided to open his mouth at the right moment. The perfect moment, in fact.

Because the whip cracked hard now, and guess who got it...

"First of all, you obtuse bag of dull glass," Alexander's voice snapped loudly as he whipped his head in Eli's direction, "if you are going to so much as dare to enter my kingdom and attempt to speak down to me, you need to have your facts straight. Trucido didn't 'allow' many things but in his reign Santo-Luce backed several countries behind his back. Secondly, Santo-Luce may I remind you is a pacifistic country, though that doesn't mean we do nothing on your blood-splattered fields of brutal stupidity! Even during the war with Trucido's army, Santo-Luce had soldiers strictly on peacekeeping missions to aid the other nations by providing essential resources and protecting shelters. I spent many nights awake to maintain a barrier that protected my own nation and refugees in the time of war. Our doors were open, we were busy working to help, my military did something then and you are in no right to assume otherwise then or now, or challenge me on it! And lastly, my business isn't yours, so you have thirty seconds to disappear from my presence or I'll have my guards make you disappear from it!"

Nostrils still flaring though tension easily seen draining in his shoulders, Alexander actually felt better ripping off some commoner's head. Now he understood why his dad did it. it was AWESOME he never knew his dad was so cool

He wouldn't even give Eli a chance to argue, he turned his attention back to Zeke fully though his voice dropped back to a much quieter volume. He still felt and probably looked devastated but the words that left him now were only a simple, "If you feel this is the best, do it. You are captain, afterall."
He had nothing else, he felt so broken right now.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

"If everyone is done..." Mark began after Alex's outburst, this was no time for arguing let alone about who did what in a conflict that is well over, "We have a job to do and time is not on our side."

Mark turned around and started walking towards the outskirts of the village, "Everyone who is coming? Let's go."

They walked about a mile until they reached the ocean, the waves that washed ashore were calming... it was like music, to be honest, between the chirping of the birds from the forest and the waves it was like being in a meditation.

"Do it." Mark said as the two other Archangels stepped around him, planting their blades firmly into the ground they started chanting in their angelic language. The calming waves started to twist and turn as the chanting got louder. The bird stopped chirping as the waves seemed to become very violent until suddenly they split and shaped into what looked like a tunnel.

A tunnel leading straight to the bottom of the ocean, to be exact. The chanting slowed to almost a whisper as the two Archangel stayed perfectly still, not daring to move for it could alter the heavy magic they were using.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please stay in a single line. Do not bother the two Archangels for it might lead to our immediate and very painful death." Mark said with a wave of his finger as he entered the tunnel. Before he took another step he glanced back behind him and called out, "Hey, Ramirez, are you coming or not?!" Mark had noticed Ramirez tailing them for awhile now and the last thing he wanted was the scientist staying out with two archangels who were holding all of their lives in their hands.

[Ramirez De Zoro]

"Guah! C-coming sir!" Ramirez said, as he quickly got out from behind some shrubbery, and quickly joined them. If the records on Mark Angelus Fri were anywhere near accurate, the best thing for you to do is to listen to him. "Such interesting magic... the mana flow is so... odd." He said as he quickly jolted more notes down and got to the end of the group.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke took a step aback, all to aware that while his words had pushed Alexander to the edge, it was Eli that had drawn in the aggro at the last minute. The boy was a stranger to Alexander, and had turned what would have been a defiant and curt 'no' to Zeke into a tirade against Eli's and Juno's speech. When all had passed, he might even have to thank them for taking the heat.

Yet now the ball was in his court, and it was his alone to handle. If Alexander refused to join, it was no longer about deciding who to help. He had to choose who to abandon. Zeke looked from Alexander, obstinate and unmoving, to Mark, busy leading the rest of the group out and away. To leave with Mark was to hope he'd be there to protect Santo-Luce, to protect Alexander if Duo came after them. To leave with Alexander was to hope the rest of them could find this ship, and man it with one less man in their party.

Zeke sighed, turning to Alexander as the party was moving slowly further and further out of sight. "You know I'm your Captain first, and I always will be. That means it's my job to protect you and all of your people, even at the cost of my life." Zeke was unusually morose as he spoke, and held a hand up before Alexander could even get a word in protest as he so often did when the matter of Zeke's life ever came up. "I have to do whatever I can to stop anything that might hurt you, so I hope to the Gods I know what I'm doing. Till I return." With that Zeke closed his arms around him and kissed him deeply, savouring the moment for as long as he could. No matter what Alexander had to say, Zeke moved silently towards his horse. Driven as he might be, it was a fragile drive, and a single look back in Alexander's eyes could destroy it all. Mounting it with a spring up he rushed past to join Mark's group.

When at last they reached the ocean, Zeke watched with amazement as the waters opened to the will of the Archangels. Realizing his steed would never fit he slid off and smacked it once on the butt before entering into the watery duct. It reared back before turning and galloping back to Alexander as all warhorses had been well trained to when they lost their rider.

Well Zeke, you've turned tail on everything you've worked for to possibly die in an ocean that will swallow you whole without mercy, that is if a crazy supervillain doesn't beat you to it. I hope I'm the loveable sidekick in this story, or I'm completely screwed. Silly as it was, falling back on his tropes and cliches gave him some comfort as they descended down.

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander wasn't surprised that Zeke decided to leave with Mark, and for a moment he was tempted to do the crazy thing and go with him. But even Alexander knew that would have been a bad idea, and for several reasons the biggest being in light of Duo's attack on Roccia he kind of had a lot of work he had to do at the castle. He didn't like this, though. Had it not been for whatsisname and Mark prodding for Zeke to join them he probably would have said "no" and that would have been final, though he knew it wasn't what Zeke wanted. Zeke wanted to be a hero, and slay "super villains and evil minions" and everything else he foolishly rambled on about.

Zeke was a hero, though, for Santo-Luce and all of their people knew this. They had amazing faith in him, if anything Zeke helping in this mission should be a good thing.

He didn't want a goodbye this upsetting. Zeke kissed him, he wrapped his arms tightly around him as well and held on as long as Zeke would allow. Helplessly he watched him leave, a tightness in his throat when he really wanted to be able to shout after him "just come back alive!" though it wouldn't have made it any better or changed a thing. Zeke had his mind made up, Alexander could only watch him go.

Foxy formed beside him and she immediately rubbed against the side of his leg, knowing her master was distressed and desperately needed comforting. He turned, reaching down to scratch behind her ears and made to head back to the castle, Zeke's horse catching up and joining them.

[Ingway Desmodius]

Ingway pulled himself from his own daydream of undersea riches long enough to listen to Mark's words before the angel lead them all towards the coast, except for Ingway, who stood there as if bound by some unseen force, his eyes staring almost blankly towards the distant horizon.

"A reason to fight..."

The words echoed within his mind, bounding back and forth, giving pause to all matter of questions. What was he doing here? What was he fighting for? Better yet, why should he fight at all? The risk far outweighed the potential reward, and Ingway sure as hell knew he wasn't the altruistic type...but perhaps that's why he was nothing more then an self glorified treasure hunter, a spy, a thief...

His own thoughts cut him deep, and he couldn't help but look at the band of heroes ahead of him and feel a strange mix of adoration, confusion, and an almost crippling sense of exclusion. He didn't belong with these people, not with the men and women who fought for what mattered, be it their country, their Ruler, the ones they loved, or the things they held dear.

Ingway stood there in the encroaching void of his own thoughts and wondered if he should just turn away now, turn away and run as he had done all his life; from his family, from his nation, from the law, and from himself. And suddenly, as if staring in a mirror, Ingway saw himself for who he really was after all these years of running, and realized what it was the he not only fought for, but breathed and lived for; selfishness.

Forcing himself from the recesses of his memory addled mind, Ingway swallowed hard, hoping to removed the large lump that seemingly sat in his throat as he looked onwards once more at Mark's band of heroes, each one strolling, almost merrily, towards their potential demise, and somehow, it made a bit more sense now. It wasn't the rewards, it was the accomplishments that drove them; that which happened as opposed to that which was received, and realizing that, Ingway drove one foot hard against the ground as he forced himself forward, for if accomplishing what he had in mind was the reward, then suddenly the risk seemed negligible.

[Eli Ventus]

Alex didn't know Eli was a Lunar Knight, if he did, he would have kept quiet because if he thought Eli was frail then it would have been hilarious to watch Alex be thrown like a ragdoll when Eli's berserk mode was unleashed.

Luckily for him, Juno was a better person than that, she reach over and calmed Eli before his rage tripped his berserk state on.

Leaving with Mark was a good idea, otherwise Santo-Luce would have been nursing a bone-broken king. As the sea parted to form a tunnel he couldn't have been more geeked out, Eli didn't bother the Archangels but he did run around the group, looking at the watery walls that surrounded them with interest.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

It was a tight walk space and understandably people might have started to get a little claustrophobic, thankfully Mark had a way to resolve that fear.

"Widen the walkway a little bit, okay?" Even though Mark seemed like such a distance away from the Archangels the water suddenly parted further, going from a narrow walkway to more of a wide cave. With plenty of room to walk around (and air to breath) they continued their walk to the bottom of the ocean.

It was an incredible view, to say the least, the Santo-Lucian sun shined brightly down onto the ocean which illuminated the entire scenery, between the fishes that were seen swimming down and the flickering lights from the sun it was an astounding sight.

"Enjoy it while you can, people," Mark said with a small frown, "Once we go deeper into the ocean not even the sun will be able to illuminate the area..."

Sure enough down the line all you could see was pitch black, the area rapidly got colder with every step and there was a growing feeling of despair; the ever so slight whisper of the damned or maybe a quick sight of human-looking creature watching you from the darkness. The only thing darker and filled with more despair than the ocean floor was Hellius itself. Old tales often said that the ocean floor was the gateway to Hellius... perhaps they weren't far off.

Mark glanced back to the team and smiled, "Just stay close and I'll keep the walkway bright and shiny!" Suddenly Mark's eyes started to glow, his body starting to emit a strong light that slowly began to flow through the group, it was warm and comforting in a place so dark and cold.

"We're not far now!" Mark called back as they dived deeper towards the bottom.

[Yeligar Maelstrom]

Yeligar had the red blade in his lance, and it gave off a light that shone a red hue. He looked at the water, and shook his head. "It's a terrible way to die... Being sunk to the bottom of the sea, no hope of seeing the light..." He sighed to himself, as if he recalled a terrible dream.
"So Mark, if this ship is at the bottom of the ocean, what is your plan to make it float again?" He asked him.

[Brea Cao-Wei]

"Well... We live in a world of magic that in all sense, defies every piece of logic that we could come up. We're walking through a tunnel made of water, with some Archangels to get a ship at the bottom of the ocean, to fight an all-powerful being who can do pretty much whatever he wants and bend reality to his will..." He grinned and looked across at Yeligar, giving a small shrug.

"My guess? We're gonna' use magic." He chuckled softly to himself.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

"Something very close..." Mark started to explain as they went deeper in the ocean, "You see, I had mentioned that the crew suffered a very similar fate as the Saints, right? Well they're still there, in a sense..."

Mark took one last step before stopping, glancing around before yelling out, "We're here, give me a 360 length with at least a four mile radius!" The area around them suddenly started to expand in such a quick fashion that the water looked like it was being shaped like clay. The length they could now see was very large and covered a large amount of the area, in that area you could see trinkets from all ages scattered around. But the prize they were looking for was hardly any small trinket.

"There it is..." Mark said taking a step forward to a large ship that looked like it had ran into the ground, "Undian Warship 'Arinna', a name that all female rulers of Eastern Unda had shared for thousands of years."

Mark stepped up to its large wooden hull, placing his hand on it he closed his eyes, before looking at the group and smiling, "Looks like we managed to make it here without that thing-"

Suddenly something large reached out from beyond the water barrier, wrapped itself around Mark and with a swift pull, it pulled him all the way out of the barrier and into the water.

"Oh fu-" Mark managed to get out before his body vanished into the water. Now the group was left without their light, in the darkness and with a creature about to pull another person into its 'playing ground'.

[Ingway Desmodius]

Darkness was something Ingway was all to accustomed to, and by instinct, his body acted before he could fully pull his mind from it's ambivalent state. With a well practiced motion of his hands, a small alchemic flare sprang into existence and lit the surrounding area after a quick snapping the concoctions cylindrical casing.

Peering out into the watery abyss, at least what he could see of it, Ingway's eyes darted side to side, catching but vestigial glimpses of shadows flickering across his peripheral vision, hoping that he might be able to see something, anything at all really, that would allow him to prepare the proper tools. No such luck though, forcing Ingway to play it safe as opposed to the usual opportunist role he preferred.

Dropping his flare where he stood and drawing his dual rings, Sturmhimmel, Ingway drew forth several arcane bolts and waited, eyes peeled, hoping the creature might present something for him to work with.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Are you trying to saw we're going to run into ghosts? Man I always hated the phantom ships in games. They freak me out." The whole idea sent a shiver up his spine and for a while he felt all too aware of the eerie darkness that sat just beyond the barrier the Archangels put up. However fear gave way to amazement as he saw the first bit of the enormous battleship slip into view.

"Holy cow!" Zeke's jaw hung wide at the sheer size of the thing. He could only stand and gawk until he noticed most of the crowd had moved well past him. Seeing the barrier's edge get closer Zeke panicked briefly and rushed back to the centre. "Jeez I hope you guys don't expect us to lift this thing up. Even with magic it'd be like lifting a mountain-CRAP!" Zeke all of a sudden lost his train of thought as Mark was snatched up by some monster of the deep. In an instant only the barest glow from Yeligar's lance illuminated the area. Suffice to say Zeke rushed close to the old warlord and drew his chained blades with his back to the man. "What the heck was that? I thought you guys had a barrier to protect us!" Zeke shouted to the Archangels, wherever they were.