Chapter Twenty Five: the Climax of the fesitival! (part one)

"so, how do people celebrate the last day of the festival?"

"wait, don't you know?"

(smirks) "'course i do! i'm the author, after all! read the chapter!"

-emperorwolf.

-the voice of reason in emperorwolf's head.

-emperorwolf.

zenef woke hours before Bailey or Collin.
they'd been given a room at Norido's residence and Zenef himself had been placed high up on the top of a cupboard for his safety, as the titans couldn't notice him at first glance.

it was still dark, the ocean outside the city sphere could be seen in place of the sky out the distant window.
Alpha materialised, transparent, unlike recently, as he had been appearing to be solid lately.
'Zenef, why are you awake? the time is still too early, it's 5:00AM...'
(i know,) he thought (but i'm awake now, i don't think i'll be getting back to sleep now.)
'that isn't all that's odd.'
(huh? what're you on about?)
the golden lupine ghost gestured to Zenef's back 'check your tail.'
he grabbed at where his tailbase was... and grabbed nothing.
(what?) he swiped all over the place his tail thould've been, finding nothing, then he grabbed at his head, failing to find his ears atop his head. (what the?! i'm human again?!) he panicked, unsure how this had happened as he hadn't said the release incantation.

the golden spectral wolf seemed to sigh and rubbed his eyes, it had happened suddenly as Zenef slept, and it had been over before he knew what had happened.
'thing is, it all happened so fast... it didn't register in my head what actually happened until it was too late...' he said sadly, his translucent face creased with what appeared to be a depressive expression.
(Alpha, tell me... what happened?) Zenef asked desperately.
'... okay... but just to be clear, i dunno how this happened.'

-Zenef's mind: Alpha's psyche space, 30 minutes earlier-

due to their recent commingling, Alpha had recovered some of his faded memories from Beta, and he was currently exploring the memories of his family, back before he signed up to the DSBIWO project, and even longer before the project was taken up by Harbinger.

the images were of his human self doing simple things; sitting around watching Tv, playing board games, eating dinner, all with his family... it made him very sad to know he could never get that back.
never before had the mundane been something he wanted, he'd always craved the abnormal in his life.
and look where that got him, where was he now?.
dead, that's where.

and then, he noticed something recurring in the memories, something that shouldn't have been there.
or rather, someone.

hanging back, just outside his human self's notice in the memories, was a figure wearing a navy blue hoodie over a dark green shirt and black jeans, and a white eyemask with black lenses.
the canine figure had light brown fur with white in it, and blue pupilless eyes, and he had a white ring hanging in the air just above his head, and a yellow crucifix hung on a black thread around his neck.

it was everywhere! in any memory he checked, there it was! standing just out of sight, watching him.
what was it? an angel? a stalker? a stalker angel?!
the answer eluded him.

"you seem to be confused."

Alpha spun around, finding the being standing only a few meters away from him.
the surprised wolf took a defensive stance "who are you? what are you?"
the figure seemed amused.
"why ask questions you already know the answer to?"
"but i don't..."
"don't you remember me?"
"no... i lost most of my memories when i died." the wolf admitted, growing annoyed.

the figure seemed hurt by that fact "it- it's me! it's Aster! Aster, your consience!!"
a bell sound toned through Alpha's mind.
he knew that name.
"m-my consience?"
he nodded in reply "you might say i'm your little shoulder-angel."

at that moment, another entity appeared; a black-scleraed, dark-brown furred wolf with black devil horns, clad in a black leather body suit with chains wrapped around each extremity.
this one wore three overlapping belts on each joint over his black clothes, and a tattered black cape hung from his shoulders. in addition, there was an inverted yellow triangular mark in his eyes in place of his pupils and he lacked irises.
"Please, like you're so special, Aster."
Aster growled at the ominous creature "Rilda! what are you doing here?!"
Rilda smiled, revealing a mouth full of shark-like fangs "what? i'm just as much a part of him as you are, mr good-for-nothing-shoulder-angel."
"damned id!"
"i'm no id, i'm a little shoulder-demon." Rilda corrected him in a mocking tone.

Alpha tried to process this, his consiences were inside his psyche space... arguing?
even more confusing was that they existed this long after his reincarnation.
"hold on!" Alpha shouted, interupting the entities' argument "what in the name of FUCK is going on here?!"
the consiences looked at each other blankly, and then back at Alpha, then shrugged in synch.
"you tell us."
Alpha's emerald green eyes widened in shock as it dawned on him.
he was regaining a 'life', therefore breaking away from Zenef's consiousness.
"SHI--!"
and then everything went white.

'and that's pretty much it,' Alpha finished explaining 'after that, i manifested out here just in time to see your gliloutation form break down... it must have something to do with me, i'm guessing'
Zenef got up and retrieved his coat from beside his 'bedding'. (it's fine... but...)
'but what?'
"i think we've seen enough of Agnak," Zenef said, no longer bothering with mental communication, his voice was small enough that the sleeping giant and titans wouldn't hear him "let's go topside... i'm sick of this place, everything's too big."
'not arguing with you there.' Alpha said in agreement.
"can we breathe underwater?"
'of course... we cannot' Alpha said with what seemed to be a smile.
Zenef couldn't help but smile at his past-life's sense of humor "moron."
'you do realise we're the same person?'
Zenef groaned "crud."

a golden light began to shine dimly over Zenef's body, and he started to float in the air.
'there you go, now getting out of here will be easy.'
"thanks, Alpha."

Zenef looked over to the bed where Collin lay sleeping with Bailey curled up safely between his white paws, and cringed as a guilty feeling stabbed through his heart.
'Zenef...'
"i know, Alpha... it's too dangerous for me here, but i still feel like i'm betraying them... leaving like this..."
Alpha lay a ghostly golden paw on Zenef's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him 'surely they'll understand... you're beyond small compared to the titans here...'
Zenef's shoulders sagged "yeah, but..." he turned away "my consience is killing me over this."
Alpha put his ghostly arms around Zenef as if to hug him, a pleasant warmth radiated from the golden vapour the wolf was made of as he made a noise akin to a giggle 'no problem, i'll give the little angel and demon what for!'
Zenef gave him a bemused look "you being serious?"
Alpha seemed to smile as he started flying, pulling Zenef along through the air.
'maybe i am, maybe not.' he taunted him 'can't tell you secrets like that'
"you're a tease."
'then so are you, after all we're the same person.' Alpha reminded him with what appeared to be a smart-alecky smirk.

Zenef noticed Alpha speed up, heading for the closed window.
"um... Alpha?"
he didn't answer.
"Alpha, you know it's closed, don't you?"
'i know.'
"well... won't we crash?"
'we won't. it is okay.'
the glass was coming up fast.
"Jeez, Alpha, slow down!"
Alpha seemed to sigh 'Zenef...'
Zenef braced for impact...

but no impact came.

they passed seamlessly through the glass like it was water.

'... didn't i say we wouldn't crash?'
"how?!"
'i have many skills nobody has ever seen.'
Zenef looked up, finding what seemed to be a bemused look on Alpha's muzzle "huh? seriously?"
'very, although... passing through solids... i only learned it recently.'
"no kidding..."
'no, none at all.'

after rolling his eyes at the wolf, Zenef took the chance to admire the nighttime view of Agnak from up here at this amazingly dizzying height "oh, wow..."
'wow is right.' Alpha said, making a noise akin to hearty laughter 'now, Zenef...'
"hm?"
the next words offered little warning.

'hold your breath.'

Alpha suddenly shot upwards through the semi-permeable membrane of the barrier, out into the water beyond it.
Zenef had little air in his lungs, and was panicking (Alpha, i can't breathe!)
Alpha seemed to growl and used a very severe curse word before blasting through the water at a higher speed, shouting various curses as he realised his error in his inadequete warning.

Zenef was blacking out (A-Alpha...!)
'almost there, Zenef, hold on a bit longer!'
everything was fading away (Al...pha...)
'Come on! just a little more! we're nearly clear!!'
(I... I... can't.... Al... ph... a...)

and then everything went black, and he dimly heard Alpha screaming.

ZENEF!! NO, STAY WITH ME!!!

---

even inside Vagrant Eons Online, Alpha's cry had been heard by his counterpart, who was charging at speed toward the town gate, ignoring the curfew guards as he blew past them, taking a chunk of their HP with him as he travelled at a speed that defied his level.

and then, everything siezed up.

Beta suddenly materialised in his ebony couloured spirit form on the beach shore, where Alpha was hunched over Zenef's unconsious human body.

"Alpha."

the gold spectre turned 'Beta!!'

"we can save him," he said with determination "follow my lead!"
Beta leapt into Zenef's body, followed by Alpha.

together, they sent Zenef's nerves misfiring, making him spasm as they caused his lungs to forcibly expel the water inside them at an extent that was no doubt painful, confirmed by the strangled screams Zenef gave out.

once that was done, they exited Zenef's body, his panting and gasping for breath a sign he'd survive.

and then Beta's world faltered, and everything blacked out.

he came to back in VEO, once again as Draqis.
"damn..." he panted breathlessly, as the game unfroze and the guards ran out to retrieve him "... that was an ordeal and a half!!"

---

Zenef gratefully gulped in massive lungfulls of air as he lay, soaking wet, upon the dry sand.
'Zenef, i am SO sorry!!'
Zenef managed a smile "h-hey, it's alright... i'm alive..."
Alpha's translucent golden ears drooped 'only because Beta managed to get here... if it was just me you'd have....'
Zenef groaned "Alpha, calm down... you're freaking yourself out needlessly."
the wolf whimpered and his vapourous form retreated into Zenef's heart.

'sorry Zenef... i'm so sorry...'

Zenef sat up awkwardly, and clutched at his chest as if to hold the golden soul that had flown into his heart.
"Alpha, it's okay... you can get random, impulsive, i know that... but that's okay, you try to control yourself, at least."

'you are very kind...' came Alpha's voice 'i am lucky i was reborn as such a nice person...'

"oh, you know i understand you, after all we're one-and-the-same."
a pleasant trembling traveled through his chest, accompanied by a growing warmth spreading throughout his body coming from Alpha moving around inside of him.

'the world of the living doesn't deserve someone like you, but neither does the otherworld just yet!'

"how flattering." Zenef chuckled "but flattery won't dry my clothes."
he vaguely heard Alpha giggling before steam rose from his body as his clothing dried out.
"what the...?"

'flattery might not, but my general magic might.'

Zenef raised an eyebrow, dispite the fact nobody would see it "wait, you have magic?"

'well... i admittedly only have a quite limited command over magic... but i have a lot of magical energy!'

"oh really?" Zenef said in a goading tone "prove it, wolf. show me your magic."

'what? drying you isn't good enough for you?'

"would it be enough for you?"

Alpha reemerged, and threw a ghostly arm around Zenef 'okay, you got me there.' he seemed to sigh, before adding 'but what would impress you? and for the record, Gliloutation and shadow-gained abilities don't count as magic.'

Zenef rubbed his chin as he thought about it.
"hrmmmm..."
as if a lightbulb went off in his head, he had the answer.
"something big, huge and spectacular!"

as Alpha pointed out a large crowd gathering on the nearby ridge to see the first rays of the final day of the festival, which was less than an hour away, he had his own answer.
'i have a little something i've been saving, and i bet they'd appreciate it, too.'

Alpha ceated a ball of light, a phantasmagoria of colour blazed inside it.

the crowd, made of assorted humans, Bukis, Gikis, and Morphics, noticed the sphere and watched on in amazement as it grew brighter, but could not see it's spectral caster.

Alpha tossed it into the air, shooting it upwards like a firework, and as it turned out, that was its intention of use.
Alpha raised a paw in its direction, and clenched his fist.
'explode with beauty!'

it erupted, magical wisps and shapes danced in the air, figures dancing, playing, of animals, humans, and Xlenians all captured in beautiful magical lights.

some of the sparkling mist covered Alpha, making him solid and come into colour, right down to his vibrant red vest and purple cape.
"everyone on their feet, today, we dance!"
Alpha clapped his gloved paws, and classical violin music started up, accompanied by an up-tempo, fast-paced round of techno music.
"take a paw, take a hand, take whatever you have!" he cheered to the crowd, who were rushing to join in "just enjoy yourselves and dance! dance!! dance!!!"

Zenef found his foot tapping involuntarily, although, it could've been due to his connection to the glowing wolf who was dancing like his afterlife depended on it.

he smiled "well, if you can't beat 'em..."
he jumped in, joining the wolf who stood at least twice his height, and as the music changed, the two began dancing the foxtrot... or rather, 'the wolf-trot' as it were.

"yeah!" Alpha cheered "whether you're a human, a Xlenian, a Buki, a Giki, a Morphic, a Ghost like me, or whatever you are, cast your worries aside, let's dance and enjoy ourselves until sunrise, whoo!!"
everyone cheered and danced away their inhibitions and worries, after all, the festival was to celebrate their freedom from danger and evil!

Zenef started singing his incantation, the other dancers acting as backup singers.
"The Successor allows...."
sucessort allows
"the council of his Predecessor, giving him the ex-per-i-ence to protect himself..."*
protect himself
"as he awakens to his true i-den-ti-ty..."*
what's his identity? what is it? tell us!
he spun elvis-style and pointed at the sky "THE PRINCE!"
he blasted with intense light as he took his canine form once more, making everyone cheer and get even more excited than before, likely relishing the fact that they were dancing with the ghost of 999 himself as well as his reincarnation!

Alpha beamed at him "you're enjoying yourself, i see!"

"well," he smiled back "gotta put on a good show, don't we?"

as the first rays of dawn came over the horison, Alpha smiled broadly.
"oh yeah, always give 'em what they want!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

(author note: if this chapter seems a bit rushed partway through... there's a reason for that... :(
see, I had written it clearly and descriptively, but suddenly my laptop went into Super-Hyper-Mega lag-mode, and continually refused to respond so I couldn't save, and it got so bad, I ended up having to restart my computer and lost all my unsaved work! D:
I lost a good chunk of text, but I managed to recall enough of the general gist of it to rewrite it, but I ended up omitting some parts in the rewrite... T_T
so... that's that explained.

next chapter covers the festival in detail from Carl and Syrus' perspective.)