41 Festival Tribulations

Mantis was about to strike at Barret, but his face was grabbed by an electrical fist, that flung him back harshly. He skidded along the ground, nearly crashing into the Shine. Barret could see from his spot on the ground, Denki had arrived. The older Lighton was sparking around, before gale jumping up to the top of the Gate.

"Shockz." Denki seemed uneasy, trying to get the barbed wire from his son.

Shockz weakly lifted his head to the sound of his father's voice. "...D-Dad...." He was barely able to speak.

Denki could see how bad the venom had spread in his body. His skin was discolored, with veins pulsing. His eyes were red, and he could barely see. As he looked to his father, blood began to leak from his nose. Denki was panicking to get him out of there.

"Urgh- I..I can't....urgh." Shockz was starting to struggle breathing.

Denki had got him from the wires, but Shockz's body was fairly limp. Denki was growing worried, tears escaping his eyes. There was a sudden spike in pain of Shockz's body.

"AHHH!!!" Shockz yells, as he begins to squirm, the pain was intense.

Shockz's breath suddenly stopped, his eyes left open. Denki couldn't hold back the tears, his son had died just then in his arms. He hugged to his boy, unable to do anything to save him, or his wife. Denki was motionless for a moment, but his eyes lit up with lightning, as he turned to see Mantis getting to his feet. The Lighton dropped to the ground, laying his son's body beside the others. He had a look of vengeance in his eyes.

Mantis kept his focus on Denki, spitting to the side. "You got lucky with that last strike, but even a one armed elementar won't be enough. You and the others WILL die here!" Mantis rushed at Denki, with blades at ready, Denki mirrored him, powering up with his lightning dama.

Denki collides with Mantis, breaking up the ground beneath him. Mantis gets jolted by the attack, flipping backward. Denki then smashes into the ground, rushing right at Mantis again. Seeing that taking Denki on up close was dangerous, Mantis tosses out smoke bombs, to blind Denki's sight. He escapes, as Denki stops, looking around for him. Mantis then appears out of the mist, slashing Denki from behind quickly, and disappears back into the mist. Denki sparks up, standing to his feet from the strike. His light dama starts to fight off the venom a bit, which started to remind Denki even more about how helpless his son was against Mantis's poison.

"Talk about a cheap maneuver. Poison is a woman's weapon!" Denki shouted.

Mantis was hiding behind the shrine, waiting for the right time to strike. "Sticks and stone, bro." He muttered.

Denki's ear perked, looking the direction of Mantis's voice.

He powers up, and rushes off into the direction of Mantis, smashing through part of the shrine. He catches Mantis by the neck, through the debris, and slams him into the ground. He begins to shock up Mantis, who then slips his way out of Denki's grip. Mantis falls to one knee, he was clearly under going a lot of pain. Denki simply turns, and looks to Mantis, he stretches his left arm. His right arm still in a sling.

"You're not escaping this alive." Denki leered at Mantis.

Mantis winced, bleeding fairly bad. "Go to Stykx... Your friends will die before they get the cure!"

"Fuggetaboutit." Denki exhaled, still enraged. He picked up Mantis, by the neck once more.

Mantis was gagging, trying to use his blade, but they dropped, the pressure of Denki's grip cutting off his breathing. He had started foaming at the mouth, as fresh lightning coursed through his body. Blood was escaping the corners of his eyes. Mantis was wincing, shakily grabbing a vile of venom from his pouch. He felt the electricity increase, more blood escaping his eyes, and now his ears. Blood was starting from his mouth even, when suddenly the glass cylinder exploded, the venom seeping into Mantis' wounds.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!" He screamed, in horrible, agonizing pain, as it began to burn through his flesh.

Denki dropped the Zodiac to the ground, as he kept screaming, blood flowing further. Without warning, everything went silent. Denki stared to him, but noticed the hilt of his sword had detached with a vile inside. It was a blue color, different that the darker shades of the toxin. He picked it up, returning to the others. However, upon arrival, noticed that Shockz's body was missing. He seemed a bit frenzied, dropping the cure. It landed on top of Barret's chest. Denki however, stepped from them, and fell to his knees, with his one good hand to the ground. He was hurting, more emotionally, then physically.

Barret quickly, as fast as he could grabs to the antidote. He drinks a bit of it, and some of his symptoms vanish. He was able to move himself more easily, and helps Drone to some of the cure. Soon they both were able to maneuver, and walk over to Denki.

"Denki?" Barret says. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything to stop it...I'm really,really sorry Denki."

"..." Denki remained silent, staring through glossed over eyes.

"If it helps any...I did see the one who took Shockz's....Body." Barret says uneasily.

Denki glanced briefly to Barret, still not expressing anything verbally. "....."

"It was a man and his wife...I was so out of it. I couldn't really stop them...I was helpless...Urgh.." Barret held his head down.

Denki got to his feet, ".... I need some time..." Denki said, walking off from Barret and Drone.

Drone looks to Denki seriously, keeping silent until Denki was out of ears reach. "Denki has been through a lot, not just living all these years, but having his fair share of tragedy...This very place. He proposed to his late wife....Never did I think, he would loose his only son in the same location..."

Barret shakes his head, "That's mad...I mean...Oh man... I really have no words...Denki..." He says, feeling confused, yet jumbled.

Drone looks to Mantis's remains. "Listen, regroup with the others, I'll take care of the body. If you run across Denki, give him time...But something like this can really change a man....Denki is strong, but even they fall...I pray for his recovery. You all take care of him."

Barret quirks a brow. "Hm? Where are you going?"

Drone shuts his eyes, "This Zodiac organization is far more dangerous than I expected, if they are in cahoots with Kaos, it could be disastrous. I'm going to try infiltrating them to get more information. I will keep the director posted."

Barret shakes his head. "You're crazy! These guys are dangerous, you should stick with us, and we'll come up with a plan. Going lone wolf will get you killed. You saw what happened to Shockz here...If Denki hadn't shown up, we'd be dead too. I can't count how many times Katinka saved me, and she's still not yet an adult! Elementar are more powerful than us, I...I don't know...We could be too in over our heads here.."

Drone sighs, "You have a lot of heart, but you also cannot let circumstances stop you, from doing the right thing when you can. It may be risky, but this is a war. In saying, we have to do what we must to keep the peace. That is why you joined this organization, correct? Yes, we are human, but we can't let our limitations stop us."

"Then what about just then!? We were poisoned! Denki shook it off, because his body isn't like ours...But then..Urgh Shockz was a Lighton, but also a child..." Barret sighs, to himself. "I guess your right...It all depends on what we do, and how go about it. I'm sure if Shockz were more ready, he would still be with us. Being human or Elementar really isn't that different I guess.." Barret holds his head.

Drone nods, "Exactly. So what are you going to do?"

"I need to find Katinka, and make sure she's okay, then find the others." Barret says, turning back to Drone.

Drone smiles, "Good, now be sure to inform the director of my mission, when you return. I will stay in touch. You and the others should enjoy your time off while you have it. Because after tonight, who knows how much time you might have left."

Barret agrees to Drone's comment. "Yeah. you're right about that, be careful..."

Drone nods, and turns to the body. "Time to take out the trash."

Unknown to them, Chris had been watching the incident unfold. "(What in the hell? I know what Kaos is capable of, but that was just...Urgh...Poor Shockz...Denki's going to be out of the picture, I know I would...)" He says turning away. Chris heads back to the festival, though where he was headed was unknown.

Barret was now searching for Katinka, and runs into Issac, who happened to be by himself for the first time during the night. "Oh? Issac hey, huh? Cynder's isn't clinging to you?" He inquired holding a hand to his head.

Issac glanced to Barret, "Hm? Oh hey, haven't seen you for a while... Uh..." Issac glanced off, "Yeah, she stepped away just a moment ago... Have you seen where she might have gone?"

"Wait you're really searching for her?" Barret coughs a bit, looking away from Issac. "Excuse me, but did I hear you correctly?"

Issac raised a brow, as he crossed his arms. "Did I stutter? Yes I am looking for her." Isac glanced away. "I know somethings were rocky, but... I guess I'm getting used to her, and stuff..."

Barret crosses his arms, letting out a sigh. "I suppose we all find our matches after a bit somewhere...Speaking of which, have you seen Katinka?"

"Say what? You and Katinka, dude? For reals?" Issac gawked.

"Well urm..I'll explain it later, some heavy stuff came up, and I just need to talk with her." He explained to Issac.

Issac's excited face went a bit melancholy. "Oh, I see. I saw her over by the bridge. Anyways, catch you later, gotta find that cat." Issac ran off, seeming a bit more at ease.

Barret smiles looking off to Issac, "Well it's good he's found someone to help keep him thinking on the brighter side of things." He says, heading off to Katinka's location.

He reaches the bridge Issac spoke about earlier, and spots Katinka, she was sitting down. "Katinka?" Barret called out to her, as he walked closer.

She looked over to Barret, "You're okay? What happened? Sensei told me to stay put." She looked to him, seeming unnerved.

Barret became silent, hesitant to speak. He walks closer, and sits down beside Katinka. "...Katinka...Just stay calm, okay?...Try and keep it together..."

Her eye movement became more rapid, looking to him in worry. "W-What happened?"

"It's Shockz. We didn't make it in time..." Barret says, his voice dry.

Katinka looked horrified, tearing from her eyes. "He's....." She wasn't sure how to take this, her hands went to her face, she was breathing heavy.

Barret reaches over, hugging Katinka tightly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything, I'm so useless..."

Katinka had tears streaming down her face, as she buried it into his chest. She clung to him, crying under her breath. "...I....."

Barret sat with a straight face holding tightly to Katinka. "I don't know how to fix this...But I promise I will not leave you."

Katinka continue to cry into his chest. "......"

Barret strokes her hair, to help comfort Katinka. "...."

Stevonne had been walking by, and spots the two of them hugging. She instantly becomes infuriated, and walks over.

"BARRET!? W-What is this!?" She yells in his direction.

Barret looks to her, holding Katinka. "St-Stevonne...What is it?"

"What do you mean 'what is it'!? You told me...Straight up, that our kind of people can't work together! Now you're with Katinka!? AN ELEMENTAR!?" Stevonne inquired.

"You don't understand the circumstances!" Barret yelled back to her.

"Then tell me! Tell me what this is? Because apparently, I'm not seeing the entire picture. WHEN I CLEARLY SEE YOU WITH 'THAT' ELEMENTAR!" Stevonne growled.

Lightning struck next to Stevonne's foot suddenly. Stevonne became startled. Katinka lifts her head, with a sharp glare, and teeth exposed. Her face was damp, but her blood was boiling by now. "You INCONSIDERATE BITCH! You have NO idea what is even going on! My friend Shockz, who was like a younger brother to me, just died! ARE YOU HAPPY!?"

Stevonne was stunned at the response, stepping back, "Perhaps he wouldn't be dead if you had taken my advice for help, but seeing it ended this way, perhaps you two are good for each other. A human and Elementar who KILL anyone their around, even those who were to be close to them. I wish I could feel for you. Though, Barret or that...Hairless monkey, can carry your burdens now, and rot. I've seen the type of people you are...And I don't like them..." Stevonne turns away, "I get death, but when it's to those who don't deserve my sorrow. I feel no empathy."

Barret grunts, "NOW STEVONNE! THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR! How could you say such things!?"

Stevonne turns to Barret, now holding a straight face. "Because you humans, as I've witnessed, crush hearts all the time. I'm not doing anything different. Heh, it really makes me think of Sosa, just what really runs your minds? You can pretend to care for her problems, but you know this imaginary figure known as Sosa, is nothing but a myth created by humans, to make Joan seem more like the hero, and to make someone else the villain."

"What? You've lost it...I always thought you getting more knowledge about things was a sign, of something to look into. However, I'm seeing now, it was declining your intellect. You're spouting nonsense! It doesn't add up to anything here!" Barret yelled, becoming frustrated.

Stevonne laughs, taking her natural form. "You're funny. I'm replying exactly as you would want me to. You tell people what they want to hear, and they follow...Heh... Your reasons for evil existing in the world, is nothing more than an imaginary deity you named Sosa. If you humans truly want a devil, then I'll become her. "

"Huh? You're really serious, aren't you?" Barret says, his expression straight.

"Yes. I no longer hold any feelings for you, only hatred. Enjoy the funeral. That is, If you can find the body..." Stevonne says, turning away from them. Her form returned to the human state, as she walked off.

"....." Katinka looked stunned, unsure what she meant.

Barret looks back to Katinka. "Come on...Let's go somewhere, where people won't bother us, okay?"

Katinka was still crying, "Uh... okay... But... What did she mean by that?"

"I was pretty drowsy, due to poison in the fight but...Some people took Shockz's body....I didn't get a good look at their faces." Barret explained.

"...." Katinka was having a hard time coming to terms with this. Katinka looked to Barret in worry, but her eyes were growing heavy. They closed, and she fell ward, fainting from the overload.

"Katinka!" Barret says caching her. "(I should take her back to the room...Dammit all..)"

As Barret picked up Katinka, elsewhere, Issac was seeking out Cynder. He was going through the crowds of people, but she was no where to be found. He was getting nervous about her.

"(Cynder... Where are you...?...)" He thought, his expression growing concerned.

He was looking everywhere, but stopped, standing under the cherry blossoms.

"Maybe she's waiting for me somewhere... Would be typical, to surprise me with..." Issac muttered, envisioning her naked form. He blushed a bit, shaking his head. "Dude, chill!" He huffed, heading off further. As he was going around, he came across a bathhouse. He slowly went from a run, to a walk, his eyes on the sign. Issac scoffed, with a smirk, and a raised brow. "I bet she inside there, no doubt about that. She was hinting about it before." He remarked, heading inside the building. He came up to the counter, where the attendant was. "Excuse me, but have you seen a pink haired Ferline? She's fairly muscular, and kinda pushy."

"Oh. Um, yes, she's right inside, but-" The attendant spoke, but was cut off, seeing Issac head for the room. "Sir? Sir, you can't go in there."

Issac didn't listen, heading through the doorway to the bath. There was water and steam, but he clearly spotted Cynder inside.

"Cyn-" Issac was starting to speak, when his eyes caught someone else.

She was kissing Dylan, and they were naked together in the bath, with Dylan's doll watching them like a creeper. Issac was frozen, staring in horror. His heart felt like it was ripping from his chest. Sinking deeper, and deeper. Cynder broke the kiss, as the two were huffing from their bodies touching, and rubbing along one another. Cynder was sitting on Dylan's lap, with her legs ground around his back.

"I'm getting sick of this charade." Cynder mentioned, as she was getting physical with Dylan.

Dylan had his hands to her hips, his face leaning to her chest as he huffed. "It's... not.. sooo bad." He spoke through gasps of air. "Skratch likes it."

"It's boring, the sex isn't even that great... If I have to distract someone, I need more passion... Oooh... Dylan..." Cynder held to him. "Don't stop."

"Then ...why don't.. we just split?... Zodiac's not really paying us that well for this... and Myde's already become some... pet..." Dylan's voice sounded exhausted. "Skratch thinks so too."

"Ahhhh... We can crash their parties on our own time-" She was moaning louder, but her eyes spotted Issac as she was leaning over Dylan's shoulder. "Blue?!"

"What?" Dylan gawked. "Skratch! You were supposed to be look out!"

Issac was standing there, tears escaping his eyes, as he looked angrily to her. "....." He turned fast, dashing from the scene.

Cynder observed him leave, "We.. should get out of here... soon."

"Uh... Just let me finish first!" Dylan whined.

Issac ran, tears flies from his eyes. "(How could she do something like this!? She played with my feelings, after traumatizing me?! I-I can't deal with this! I was finally excepting her, I was feeling something! WHY!?)" He squinted his eyes tightly, blasting passed people, as fast as his feet could carry him.

He passed by Witchhazel's shop, her eyes lifted to him, watching in worry, as he fled further. His legs eventually gave out, as he dropped to his knees at the pier of the festival. Drops of tears flew from his face, and crashed to the ground roughly. Issac was a mess, he had his eyes shut, and teeth flared as he tried to hold back his pain. He was breathing erratically, and didn't even bother to get back up to his feet.

"WHY!? WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU!?" He screamed, in great sorrow. His tears continued to fly, as he gripped the ground. "(This hurts too much! I want to die!)" He was in agony, stuck in his position.

Footsteps approached from behind him, but he didn't bother turning. Crouching down beside him, was Witchhazel. Without any word, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close to her.

"(When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.)"Issac hugged her back, still crying, but now into her shoulder. Witchhazel just held him close, letting him cry. No words could express what he was feeling, but she was there to comfort him.

After a while, his tears ran dry, and he quieted down. Witchhazel got to her feet, to help him up. Issac was fairly silent, still hurting. He glanced to her briefly, but then to his feet. "... I need some time... by myself..."

Witchhazel placed her hand to his shoulder, as she looked to him. "She's not worth it, Issac. If she really cared about you, then she wouldn't have done that to you. I know it hurts right now, but things will get better. I promise."

Issac sniffed, glancing up to her. "T-Thanks... Witchhazel..."

She patted his shoulder, where it laid, before turning from him. "I'll be close if you need me, alright. I'll be here, free of charge, no catch."

Issac smiled faintly, before looking off to the sky. Witchhazel headed off, giving Issac the space he needed. Issac stepped to the bridge, sitting down at the edge of the water. "(If I fell in, I'd drown.... but..Witchhazel... she was here for me... I can try again.... right? Maybe I'll have a chance with her, finally...)" He sighed, the moons hanging in the sky.

As the wind blew by him, he watched the water, chuckling is heard in his right ear. His eyes widened, that laugh started to make him shake. This feeling was all too familiar. "Issac?" A sinister, female voice called out to him.

Issac began breathing heavy, as he slowly turned to see who was there. He was trembling. "(Not this...)"

There stood Inchgo, with her arms crossed. She smiles to Issac, walking forward to him. "I can feel a lot of pain from you. Things didn't work out, I take it?" She inquired calmly.

Issac got to his feet, his legs buckling from fear. He was shaking, his anxious eyes focused on the Princess of the Dread. "Not you... anything but you...." He tried to step back, but the edge was too close. He froze, glancing back to the water fearfully.

Inchgo laughs to herself, "You want death, don't you? Well, it's not going to come that easily...You're lucky though. I'm an expert when it comes to that kind of thing...Or maybe, you just want to escape this reality?" She says, glowing around with dark dama. Issac's shadow catches around him, restraining his movement.

Issac struggled, trying to break it. "Stop it! Just leave me alone!!" He cried out.

Inchgo walks up to Issac, and places a hand under his chin, "You belong to me now, but first, I need to get to know you better. Trust me, Issac. You'll be just fine." She says, forming a void in the air. It was glowing red, and Issac's shadows lures him over to it.

"LET ME GO!! STOOOOOOOOOOP!" Issac screamed.

"Stop whinnying! Besides, your darker side is calling for it." Inchgo says, pushing Issac into the portal. She then enters herself, as it shuts behind them.