18 Old Ties

Witchhazel sighed, looking to the door. Issac walked over to Witchhazel, looking to her. "Thanks for helping back there... but... are you going to be alright?"

Witchhazel looked back to Issac, nodding. "I'll be okay. My sister is always causing problems for me, but she always sticks to her word. So, I know my cat will be alright. What about you, she didn't hurt you, did she?" Witchhazel looked over Issac a bit.

He gawked slightly, "I-I'm fine, really."

Witchhazel smiled softly, "Sorry, I get a bit worked up about my customers and clients."

Issac pocketed his hands, "Don't worry about it. So, You're name's Witchhazel then?"

She nodded, "Mhm! Witchhazel Lysander, and you're Issac Lundell, am I right?" She held her index finger to her chin smiling.

"Uh? How did you know that?" Issac sweat dropped.

"Oh, well I am a witch. You can say I know things." She giggled. "Might I offer you a store discount for the troubles? I feel just awful about my older sister." Witchhazel inquired.

"No-no, it's fine. Really. (Just keep her away and we're good.)" Issac held up his hands smiling uneasily.

The door opens, and a guy cloaked in black, adorned with three red sevens walked in. Another woman with spiky blonde hair, wearing black and white embroidered with Yin yang symbols, followed after him. "Hey Luck? Pretty interesting set up here, huh? You find that signature?"

The one called 'Luck' looks back to the blonde haired woman. "Just call me Seven. But...I think we're close...I sense Dark Dama.." The man says, looking Issac's direction.

Witchhazel looked over in surprise, poofing before them. "Oh Customers! Welcome to Witchhazel's Emporium, where we don't discriminate on who you are, or where you came from. please, enjoy you're stay, and let me know if you want to cut a deal." She smiled to them.

Issac glanced over, "(He said 'Dark Dama'....)"

Seven grabs Witchhazel by the neck, lifting her off the floor. "We'll be taking that one there. Don't make any sudden choices that would, well, try and hinder the situation." Seven says, as he swings her to the woman, who grips to Witchhazel's arms tightly.

"Y-You can't... just barge in here... and do this..." Witchhazel pouted.

"(Crap.. She's in trouble? Who are these guys ANYWAY!?)" Issac sneered their way.

The woman grips tighter around Witchhazel, "Hey now, with the right amount of money, we can all leave happily...How much you willing to take for him?"

Seven looks back to the woman. "Chisio. We're just taking him, according to Elusia, this broad won't sell live meat." Seven says, turning back to Issac.

Issac was already in range, leaping at Seven with laser sword swinging. "Why does everyone want a piece of me!?" He snapped, as the blade came at Seven.

Seven sways, avoiding Issac's attack, he then swings his foot, connecting with Issac's back. Issac is then tossed through a couple of shelves in the store. Seven sighs, "Not have been for the filth inside of you. You'd be dead." Seven says, proceeding to Issac slowly.

Issac lifted himself from the ground, some black blood dripping from his brow. He was gritting his teeth, looking sharply to Seven. "Rough me up all you like pal, I'm not coming along quietly. Leave the nice lady out of this!" He got to his feet, stumbling briefly.

"Pal? I don't associate myself with the likes of dark infested things, like yourself. As for the girl, she's collateral damage." Seven says, as he kept walking at Issac.

Chisio groans, "HEY SEVEN! We don't need him dead! He's gotta be alive for the games!"

"You want him alive, get over here and do it yourself. Honestly, this is more training for me." Seven says, grinning.

"Relax now... please don't be like that. Complimentary items from my shop?...I get it, you're not in a spending mood.... I wish my profits escalated this quickly... Please don't put me out of business... That's worse than wrecking my inventory..." Witchhazel pleaded.

"SHUT UP! Damn witch, I'm only dealing with your sister, because she has some good connections." Seven spat to Witchhazel.

"(Collateral damage... this again?... Not if I have something to say about it.) You two are barking up the wrong tree. I don't know what these 'games' are, but I won't be participating. Let go of miss Lysander, or I'll make you!" Issac sneered, laser sword still active.

"You're a human trapped with filth of a Necroden inside of you. You're best just stopping, and letting me clean your pathetic soul, or, no..To press out that darkness. I think we can start with miss..Lysander. You'd hate that, wouldn't you?" Seven says, stopping close to Issac.

Issac clenched his fist tighter, with laser sword still gleaming. "I don't know who the heck you are buddy, but you're gonna wish you hadn't met me..." Issac growled, his eyes flicker black.

"Oh? And just wha-" Seven is instantly hit back hard with Issac's sword. Seven fell back holding his arm. "You little bastard...Did you really just hit me?" Seven says, standing up.

Chisio was stunned. "HEY LUCK! Are you okay over there?"

Seven looks back to Chisio slightly. "Silence, I've got this...You worry too much..." Seven says, as he turns his attention back to Issac. "So you're pulling it out now, huh? You have no idea how much that power is eating away at you. Simple humans though. Think they have all the answers, and use whatever Elementar give, or infect them with to their advantage...In the end you're just another accident waiting to happen."

"Do you think I care if it's eating away at me? Talk all you like, self righteous prick. Are we going to do this or what?" Issac stances himself again. "(I don't care if I have to die, As long as I can try and make a difference... Maybe then... Maybe, I'd be worth something...)"

"..." Witchhazel watched with furrowed brows.

Crystalites appear on Seven's back, which begin to glow white. They form angelic wings and a heavy pressure breaks the ground, and knocks over more shelves in the store. Windows shatter from the sheer pressure of the energy.

"My shop!" Witchhazel Gasped.

"Yeah, we'll do this you, half breed scum, or no, you're worse than a half breed. Words can't describe just how vile you compare to the true Necroden." Seven retorts to Issac.

Issac grins eerily, "I'll make you eat those words."

Seven rushes at Issac quickly, breaking up the floor. Issac's dark dama was reacting to the light dama, and makes him dodge quickly from Seven's attack. Seven had now punched through a wall, blowing it out into the desert. Witchhazel gasps again in horror. Issac then turns, slashing at Seven who swings clashing with Issac. They clash once more and Seven jumps away from Issac.

"(Dammit! The Dark Dama is using him...But if I can get around it...I'll be able to destroy both the virus and the host...)" Seven thinks to himself, charging up more Light Dama energy.

Issac changed his hand position, forming the whip on his glove. Seven darts at Issac quickly, but unknown to him, Issac was waiting, and uses his six sense to move again quickly. Issac swings his whip, latching onto one of Seven's wings, ripping it right off. Red blood smeared across the room, as the wing now missing from Sevens back, lay on the ground. A stringy bone hooked to some Crystalite was seen around the bloody mess. Seven's eyes widen to the impact on his back and he growls looking to Issac. "Y-YOU.....!!!"

Chisio gasps, "SEVEN! WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!!"

Seven shakes his head. "THERE'S NO WAY I'M ADMITTING DEFEAT TO SOMETHING THIS DARK OF NATURE!!!!! YOU TOOK MY WING!!! I'M GOING TO TAKE SOMETHING OF YOURS, YOU FILTHY HEATHEN!!!!" Seven says, rushing at Issac catching him by his neck. He then slams Issac into the ground, and runs with him through the store's floor. He then picks Issac up, who was grinning with dark blood escaping his pours. "W-WHY ARE YOU SMILING!?" Seven demands.

"My store's in shambles...." Witchhazel had tears, not fully noticing the battle and being more concerned with the shop.

Issac kept his eyes on Seven, they were black at this point. "We are delighted by your agony... Your humiliation... is very amusing... Ehhehehe...." A distorted tone mixed with Issac's voice spoke from Issac's mouth.

Seven squints to the voice of the dark dama coming from Issac. "Laugh all you want...I'm going to pound you into DIRT!!!!" Seven says, as he starts to pound Issac into the ground again, and again.

Chisio noticed it was going too far, she lets go of Witchhazel, and rushes to Seven pulling him back from Issac. "It's over Luck, let's go! You're bleeding too badly." Chisio says, trying to calm Seven.

Seven pulls away from Chisio. "If that punk didn't have that dark dama...He'd be dead...But then..It's not him I was fighting. It was that infection...Ha ha ha..This has been quite a test....I must get stronger..." Seven turns back to Issac. "If you can hear me in there...This may not be the final time we meet..."

Chisio shakes her head to Seven's statement. "Gonna be a while. You're not going to be back on the field for a bit."

Seven sighs, "You...Don't die. If you do...I suppose taking out the darkness left around this universe, is somewhat of a good send off...I want to fight you again..."

Chisio sighs, "Hey Luck? We can get him now and go. You can face him all you like in the simulator. " Chisio says, as Seven was making his way beside her.

"That'd be too easy...He needs to grow, so stop trying to ruin good development.." Seven says, pushing Chisio out of his way.

"You know how far Terra is from the space station? HEY! Don't ignore me! We're loosing a lot of Zio here!" Chisio says, turning to Issac.

Chisio is suddenly pushed out of the store by a magical barrier. "Speaking of loosing money. Get out of my shop!" Witchhazel snapped.

Chisio gets up from the sand looking to the shop. "HEY! THAT'S MY MONEY IN THERE!!!" Chisio screams, running back to the shop. She gets booted backward by an invisible barrier. "What in the? YOU LOCKED ME OUT!?" Chisio was becoming furious.

Witchhazel looked over. "Assault and battery, then destruction of my property as well as my supplies. Acts like that get you banned from my store. I don't like violence, just Zio. You ruin my shop, I have the right to refuse service!"

"Urgh, this is why I wanted to pay you, but my unlucky associate decided to muck things up. Take care of that kid...Sorry for the damages." Chisio lays some zio on the ground. "That should cover some things. I got enough money to keep me running for a while." Chisio turns away from Witchhazel.

The money levitates over to the store. "I don't have a problem taking your zio,but you better catch up to your muscle, before he leaves you in the desert. Sorry, no complimentary water from non-shoppers." Witchhazel grabbed the money.

Chisio nods, "Understandable." A huge ship appears out of camouflage over head. "Good luck with your shop, hope the kid's okay. I'll be sure to let your sister know how this went down." Chisio is beamed up, into the ship as it takes off.

Witchhazel sets the zio down on her counter, "Those brutes made a horrible mess of the store.... Awe, I'm going to need to put it back in the pocket dimension until it recovers. Poor shop..." She sighed, glancing over to Issac, who seemed to be unconscious. Witchhazel walked over, sitting next to him, as she looked to his face. "Issac?...." She grimaced, placing her hand to his face. "He's only knocked out... well, that's good at least..." She sighed.

Elsewhere, in the desert. Barret was searching for Issac. "Where is Issac? He couldn't have traveled out this far by himself.." Barret says, looking around, he spots Chisio's space ship flying overhead. "Oh my goodness!!! IT'S A U.F.O!!! I've never seen one like that! I-I wonder what type it is. OH! Darn it! Myde! Why couldn't you be here right now!? I could bounce the ideas and possibl- A store?" Barret says, his attention now focused on the lone store in the desert.

The store had a massive hole in the side, from Seven's attack. Even at this distance, it was visible.

"Oh hmm, interesting, this isn't some land mark. I bet you anything the aliens had some hand to why it looks this way." Barret says to himself, walking closer. "The entire side is out. What happened here?"

Barret walks, and peaks his head through the hole. He spots Witchhazel sitting next to Issac, who was still unconscious on the ground. His head was on her lap. "I-ISSAC!?" Barret says rushing over to them quickly.

"Huh?" Witchhazel jumped slightly, looking to Barret.

"What happened here? I spotted a huge ship! Then I found this shop, is Issac okay? Who are you?" Barret also noticed the black blood. "Is that black blood?"

"Slow down, alright? He's just out cold..." Witchhazel looks to the blood as well. "There was some people that came in here, must have been space pirates. They ruined my shop, in the process trying to get Issac. I don't know why they were, but those people are gone now."

"Why would space pirates be after Issac? Unless they work with Kaos? " Barret folds his arms thinking to himself.

"Kaos? I don't think so. The people said something about games, and darkness I think." Witchhazel sighed. "First my sister tries to buy him, then those goons show up... Wait! They said she informed them... That backstabbing, two-timing, witch! I need to ban her from the store too now...."

"woah, woah! Darkness? Then..." Barret looks back to the blood, he recalls the battle with Aiden. Barret's eyes become sharp, "That Necroden..He's..infected Issac....Dammit, no..NO!" Barret looks back to Issac. "(How did it go on this long without me noticing!?)" Barret then recalled another point by the ocean, he had noticed Issac acting strange. "I should have seen this sooner..Now he's so far in..His blood is..." Barret was shaking.

Witchhazel held her index finger to her chin. "I used to carry potions for this sort of thing, but someone cleared out my stock. Aside from that, Only ones I know who can fix issues with dark dama in humans, are the Lightons. Hope you guys have friends in high places, Issac really saved my hindquarters back there."

"These...Damn Elementar...." Barret was too angry over the issue. "Lightons? To solve this? If it was possible, then why hasn't it happened? I'll tell you why! THEY'RE TOO BUSY MAKING PROJECTS, AND RUINING THE WORLD! Issac...urgh...Then this alliance?" Barret holds a hand to his head. "I don't know if I want to risk it. I mean, yeah, you have to take chances, but Issac...He's carrying a lot of stress."

"I am aware." Witchhazel said, as she got to her feet, placing Issac down, gently from her lap. She was walking over grabbing some potions and her broomstick. "I don't discriminate on race, sure there are bad elementar out there, but there's also bad humans, and so forth. Forgetting that not all are bad will blind you. Seeing how I need to let the emporium recover from this mess, I think I'll it'll be wise for me to accompany you both. I have suppressants for DD, so having a witch around would help. Now I know what you're thinking, I won't take 'no' for an answer."

Barret sighs, "Wait, you're not human? And this shop has to recover? Like it's alive?"

Witchhazel smiled, "Bingo."

"Well then... I guess get your stuff, and I'll get Issac. We're going to head back to our base. I just can't think straight. " Barret picks up Issac. "(First my sister, the project, infections, Issac and now a Witch...If she can help, fine, but I'm just not sure about the Elementar...)" Barret walks off ahead of Witchhazel, "Come on, it's this way."

Witchhazel formed a bag, with supplies, following after Barret on broomstick. Her bag hung from the stick of it. She glanced to her shop, and it vanished into thin air. In her hand was an orb, that she placed in her bag. "I'm coming. You rush like there's a sale going on. I need to fix you up with something for those nerves of yours. My name is Witchhazel by the way, Witch by birth, a merchant by occupation."

"(Did she just?... Okay I am not questioning the logic...) Oh, umm, I'm Barret, good to meet you. I'm sorry I'm still a little worked up." Barret says, as he continues walking ahead of her.

Witchhazel floated beside him, side saddle. "I can remedy that for you. My specialty as a witch is potions."

Barret laughs to himself, "I'm sorry, but I don't mean to be rude. I don't think the strongest potion can cure what I'm feeling right now."

"Depression no, but anger I do have a few things that might work. A 'chip me up' potion might do the trick." Witchhazel mentioned.

"It's not that simple Witchhazel, if everyone could be cured of their ailments mentally from potions, or who knows what, I'm sure this world would be a much better place." Barret states keeping his sight ahead.

"Well, If I had a dream tear, it could work wonders. Too bad they're only on Vectrom." She glanced over, "When it comes to calming nerves though, I have a few different potions that work pretty well. Only one I haven't figured out is the love potion. I can't get the mix right." Witchhazel chuckled.

"Vec? Dream Tears? Urgh never mind, well, it's interesting to know you have potions that can do things like that. However I'd rather get over this, the old fashioned way. Drinking away my sorrows isn't much my forte. Or well I'm not quite old enough yet." Barret says laughing. "Thanks Witchhazel."

"It's part of the job description, I like helping people." Witchhazel mentioned, looking to Issac briefly.

Barret nods, "So do I... (But how many can we really help? I hope we can get him back together somehow.)" Barret thought to himself.

Witchhazel swirled her finger, creating a spell that made a gentle breeze blow around them. "There, a nice breeze. Now it won't be so hot."

Barret smiles. "Yes, that does feel quite nice."

"Is it true that there are giant sand worms out here? I always was curious if the rumors were true." Witchhazel glanced around.

"Well, science suggests it, but I have yet to come across one. Hmm, seeing you have been out in the desert this long though, wouldn't you have seen one by now, if they were out here?" Barret says, shifting Issac a bit on his shoulder.

Witchhazel looked to him oddly, "You'd know better than me, seeing you know you're way around here. My emporium travels magically, it has no set location. It just appears to those who seek it, or need guidance. I do believe that's how Issac happened upon it."

"Hmm, I guess that explains it disappearing out of thin air. Here I was going to leave it at that." Barret says, laughing nervously. "But you mentioned guidance and help? Those combinations fall hand in hand pretty interestingly."

"Oh?" Witchhazel looked to him curiously.

"Well, as I said earlier, he's had stress. He's depressed, to a degree. It's hard to talk about, but with your shop showing up, as you mentioned. It might just had been there to help him." Barret states, looking over to Witchhazel.

"Oh I know. I was thinking of doing a tarot reading for him sometime, or maybe fix up a potion to help quell the emotions. I don't have anything for a permanent fix unfortunately." Witchhazel replied.

"Heh You did?... well anything to help calm him would be good. " Barret says, accepting Witchhazel's idea.

"Always happy to help!" Witchhazel giggled. "So, I have to wonder. Just where exactly are we going?" She smiled, with an unsure expression.

Barret turns to Witchhazel, 'We're nearly there. Just have to pass this hill, and we'll be to the base." Barret states, looking ahead. "Speaking of -" Barret quickly pulls Witchhazel over with him, as some Kaos robots flew by searching around. "Great..." Barret states, looking to the Kaos units searching.

Witchhazel's broom remained floated on it's own, however, Witchhazel had fallen on top of Barret and Isaac, from Barret's motion. "Whats the big idea?!" Witchhazel gawked, holding her skirt down, in embarrassment.

Barret looks to Witchhazel noticing her predicament. His face turns red. "I- Urgh oops sorry, I panicked, urgh.." He clears his throat. "I-" Barret is then slapped by Witchhazel.

"P-Pervert....." Witchhazel was red in the face.

Issac was laying on the ground, still unconscious. "... Just five more minutes...." Issac muttered.

Barret rubs his face laughing uneasily. "I'm sorry again, but could you watch him..I have to make sure the area is clear of Kaos robots. The last we want are legions of them on us." Barret says, turning back to look over the rocks.

"Just warn me next time..." Witchhazel sighs, as she uses her finger to call her broom over to her.

"Yes, I'm sorry again it was so sudden, but tha-" A blast had cut off Barret's statement. He looks over the rocks, spotting two shadows coming from dust. There was Sandra and Freya. Barret's eyes widen. "(S...SANDRA!?)"

Freya sniffs the air, "Can you smell that sulfur, Devatose dear. That is the very essence of what we're to stand for with our technology." Freya says, turning back to Sandra. "So, before you're sent back to that wrecking crew, I'm going to give you some training in proper fixing of units."

"Like whatever you say." Sandra crossed her arms, looking off boredly.

Barret walks out from behind the rocks. "...Sandra? It is you, SANDRA!" Barret yelled to her.

Sandra glanced over in surprise, "B-Barry!? You're alive!? OH MY GOSH!"

Freya turns to Barret. "Oh ho ho, the skinny stick returns. You know this man?"

"Like he's my brother you fat pig. Barry!" Sandra ran towards him.

Freya growls, and hits a button on her glove shocking up Sandra. Sandra had collapsed on the ground, wincing painfully. "Don't forget who is over you now." Freya says, licking her lips.

"SANDRA!!! HOW DARE YOU!!! You obnoxious tub of lard!!! " Barret readies his weapon, looking at Freya.

"Mmm, sweet revenge. You thought it was over after you made a fool of me before, but seeing, you two know each other. I want to teach 'Sandra' how converting really works..." Freya shocks up Sandra a little more. "We all go through this process sweetheart..Now..get up.." Freya says turning her attention to Sandra.

"Ergh..." Sandra held herself.

Barret rushes over Sandra's direction, but is then shot in the arm from Freya's metal arm-gun. "Grr!" Barret grunts, looking to Freya.

"You can't help her now...Sandra? Pull out your gun, and show him exactly how we work." Freya says smiling. "Remember, you'll only get shocked dear, if the results yield otherwise."

Barret growls, "Sandra...Won't...Do it...Sis...I know you're...in pain..But you have..to fight them."

"B-Barry..." Sandra stumbled to her feet. She held her gun, looking to Barret with furrowed brows.

"S-Sandra, don't give in!" Barret says, frantically.

"BARRY,IM SORRY!!" Sandra cried, as she aimed the gun, firing it at Barret.

The bullet came flying at him, but he felt himself behind knocked back to the ground, as something tackled him out of the way, and tumbled slightly from where they hit the ground. Barret's eyes open, with a chest nearly inches from his face. On top of him was Myde, who was sitting up to look over to Freya and Sandra.

"M-Myde? Urgh..." Barret was blushing profusely.

Freya sneers, and shocks Sandra once more. She then walks over yanking Sandra by the hair, pulling her in the direction of Myde and Barret. "Darling, it's time I show you how to GET THINGS DONE."

"O-Oww.." Sandra whimpered.

"I see the kitty wanted to stop the home coming, of a brother and sister departing from each other. Do you also want to join this dear?" Freya states to Myde, letting off of Sandra' hair.

Myde got to her feet, looking sharply to Freya, as she kept in front of Barret. "I'm really not in the mood." Myde was sweating from the heat, and her tail swishing.

Freya moves hair out of her face. "Oh? You're not in a good mood? Same here sweetie. Sandra? Go get the test unit...Hurry now. I don't want to have to kick you into gear."

Barret growls, still on the ground. Sandra jumped uneasily, looking with furrowed brows. She quickly did as directed. Myde kept her gaze on Freya, making growling sounds as her tail flipped. Ice was forming at the sand by her feet, trailing to Freya.

Freya laughs, as a elemental shield appears breaking the ice around her. "Ohhh, I could make a snow cone from all this ice. Thinking, why don't you freeze yourself, if your so hot dear. Such a waste of ice. Ho ho ho."

"You're absurdly vacuous." Myde hissed.

"I beg your pardon? What does vacuous mean?" Freya states, looking dumbfounded.

Myde looked to her in annoyance, lunging forward as she grabbed Freya's mechanized arm. It began to freeze over intensely. "It means, you're an imbecile!"

Freya gasps, as she pulls back, and swings her arm quickly. A heating function switches on blowing the ice away at Myde, which forms little ice spikes. Myde slashes through the spikes using her chained sword-staffs. Frost flies up from the impact.

Barret stands to his feet, still shaken from what happened earlier. "Myde...Thank you...As for this fat glutton. We're going to stuff her into a casket, and make her fit."

Freya gasps, "ENOUGH ON MY WEIGHT! I'm a voluptuous goddess. What is taking Devatose so long?"

"How does this thing work anyway?...." Sandra sighed.

Freya looks to Sandra, who was in a desert shark robot. "You're suppose to drive those under the sand dear.." Freya sighs, placing a hand to her head. "Are you still mad you lost your sister? She seems in better hands." Freya jokes darkly to Barret.

Barret gritted his teeth. "Dammit.."