DING!

The door swung open as yet another group of customers walked into the diner. Business was rather busy, most of the tables filled in the rather large dining vicinity. As was to be expected of one of the city's most popular dining choices; Mukuan's Diner. The diner was large and lot up, all sorts of booths and tables set and ready with menu tablets. With a bright and delightful scenery and equally as wonderful food to go with it, it was no wonder that it was one of the most popular places around.

"Hello! How is everyone today?"

At the door was a bright and perky young woman acting as both hostess and waitress, it seemed. She was an averaged sized young woman, her long auburn hair fashioned into twin tails with two long black ribbons curling into her hair, fair skin, and bright brown eyes that greeted all her customer's with the utmost kindness. She wore a slim fitted white dress with black lacing and slit at the collar as well as a pair of white thigh high socks and nice black shoes.

"Here, I'll take you right this way!" the cheerful young woman told the customers leading them to the closest empty booth and leaving them to choose from their menus.

"Hey, Belle!"

The young woman looked to another waitress at the sound of her name, a young girl walking toward her. She wore similar staff attire, though the girl seemed much younger. With rose colored hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, the young girl seemed to have a bit of resemblance to Belle, though it was easy enough to see the relation.

"Can you keep an eye on the door?" The young girl asked. "I'm way up on tables and I can barely keep up."

"Sure thing, Melody," Belle reassured with a smile. "I'm more than capable handling a few more tables."

"That makes one of us..." Melody grumbled, spinning around and rushing to the kitchen.

Belle could merely sigh at the sight of her little sister working so hard as she made her way toward the bar, needing to take drinks. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of Melody working so hard at something she loved doing, though she'd never admit it. Was this what she wanted though? Melody was more than happy working in the restaurant, but Belle couldn't help becoming lost in thought at the thought of doing something more with herself...

The news of constant strife and warfare was not unheard of by those who did not want to partake. Even still, this seemingly meaningless conflict had affected the lives of eveyone, soldier and innocent alike. So why think of such bleak thoughts on a sunny day like this? Maybe because it was true? Regardless, it did not deter Kiara Bastion from navigating her way through Peak City, her brown eyes searching for a place to rest. Dressed in nothing but simple dark pants, a blue shirt, and her gray long coat, she took the look of a wanderer to its fullest. Brushing her long brown hair back from the increased speed of the wind, she almost passed the little diner completely before a small hand gripped into her own.

"There. I wanna eat there."

The voice was small and elegant, belonging to the short girl beside her. At first glance, the existence known only as Marianne looked nothing short of a princess; with the flowing black dress, the air of attitude she carried herself in, and even the way her equally black hair was styled to cover her left eye, it was anyone's guess just how rich young girl was. Too bad she wasn't at all and this was just her personel preference of style and fashion. Her single seen red eye shining with delight, she half-led, half-dragged her companion over to the front door of Mukuan's Diner.

"Alright, alright! Jeez, you don't have to pull," Kiara grumbled before entering the small establishment.

Such a normal looking place...certainly a change from the Destiny Conflict everyone was raving on and on about these days. That was what they were calling the war between the Ultimatum and Deux Corporation. It was a shock that his place had even managed to stayed in business at all. Taking in the change of pace, Kiara looked down at the pale hand still held in her grip.

"Anywhere you wanna sit, Marianne?"

The younger girl titlted her head to pause in thought, before glaring at the wide windows. "Some place away from the sun please."

"Right. Excuse me?" Kiara saw a girl about her age in a white outfit with auburn hair standing near the front door. "Uh, table for two please. Can you put us somewhere without a lot of sun? And uh, one kid's menu too."

Marianne directed her glare up at her companion, obviously disapproving of such treatment. In response, Kiara shrugged off her malice and gave her a coy smirk in return.

Belle looked up from her drinks as she heard the sound of customers at the front. A rather odd looking pair, as it turned out. They both seemed rather young, though the older girl looked as though she could be the same age as herself. At the moment, it left a twinge of pain in her chest, the sight of the two young women reminding her of her and Melody not too long ago...

"Um... Oh! I'll be right there!" Belle told the girls, blinking suddenly as she yanked her mind back to reality and made her way to the customers. "Sorry for the wait, I'll take you right this way."

Belle grabbed a child's menu tablet, as well as a regular one, from behind the podium before leading the two girls to a secluded corner of the restaurant. It was the only place that belle could think of where they wouldn't be in the sun, seeing as most would enjoy a window seat. But the customer was always right, Belle supposed.

"Here we are," Belle announced, placing the tablets on the table as she did so. "My name is Belle and I'll be serving you today."

She took a moment to take a closer look at the customers, seeing as the odd pair seemed even more odd up close. For one thing, the older girl wasn't dressed in the usual style as most Peak City Residents wore. If anything, she didn't look like she stayed in one place for very long to begin with. And the younger girl was he same, though she seemed over dressed than most. Still, it did suit her, she supposed.

"I take it you two aren't from around here," Belle said, trying to be as polite as possible. " We don't get too many travelers around here because... Well, you know." Belle paused for a moment, realizing she could very well be bringing up something very touchy. "Well, you couldn't have come to a better place. This is the only part of Peak City that hasn't been touched by the war, so feel free to stay as long as you'd like."

Belle tried her best to manage her specialty smile, one that scored her more ham enough tip money in her time working, but it just didn't seem right at the moment. "Umm, can I start you off with some drinks?"

"You're a fool to think that this place won't be untouched by the flames of war."

Marianne's voice was cold as she fixed a stare straight at Belle, one that hinted of hidden and unwavered wisdom. Sitting across from Kiara, the young girl shook her head in dark amusement. "Soon enough, this place shall be consumed as well-hey!" The eleganty dressed girl jumped a little as she felt a strong kick to her foot from the other side. "Ow! What'd you do that for?" Her icy stare had melted now, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment as she now glared at Kiara once more.

The other girl simply sighed as she turned to Belle to apologize. "Yeah, sorry about the whole doomsday apocalypse ramble. She kinda does that to...eveyone but me. I met her out in an abandoned town somewhere so she must have gotten a few dust particles stuck in her brain or something. We'll have two waters please."

"I don't have a dusty brain! And I don't want water!"

Kiara tried her best to ignore her companion's pouts. "Look, another soda will just add more sugar to your system. You'll crash and burn, and then that leaves me to carry you around."

"Don't you do that anyway?"

"....and a small juice please." Before Marianne could cheer for joy, Kiara directed a stern eye towards the other girl. "That's all you're getting for today, ok?"

What an odd pair.

Belle merely stared at the odd pair that sat in front of her, not quite sure what to make of them. These girls were... Different. That much was for sure. Even though what the young girl had said was odd for a girl her age, she wasn't necessarily wrong. As much as everyone didn't want to think of it, none of them knew how long it would take for this small area would remain unharmed. Who was to say that they weren't on borrowed time to begin with.

"A water and a juice, coming right up," Belle told the customers, flashing them a smile before, turning and strutting back to the bar.

"Hey, Belle?" She looked over her shoulder to see Melody approaching yet again, looking less panicked from moments before. "I think I'm all caught up. Need me to take that table?"

Belle shook her head, using the designated taps to pour the drinks. "No, I can handle it," she reassured her. "Besides, I don't know if you want them. They're a bit... Off."

"Off as in...?"

"As in I'm doing you a favor and telling you not to worry about them."

Melody merely rolled her eyes. "If you say so," she sighed, looking at the table from across the restaurant. "You think they're travelers?"

"You need to ask?" Belle retorted, following her sister's gaze to the table as well. "They're definitely not from around here..."

DING! THUD!

Bella's eyes shot to the front of the restaurant as the front door swung open, smacking into the wall as it did so. In came a man in strange armor, encasing and fitting his entire body. Intimidating and followed by two soldiers behind him, he left the entire diner silent by his presence. There were only so many that wore suites such as his, and with a golden scheme on both the suite and the garb of his soldiers, there was no doubt who they were; the an Ultimatum Elite and his soldiers.

(For an idea of what they look like. Just picture with a gold scheme I guess... =/)


Belle was frozen, merely staring at the Elite as he walked in slowly, looking about with each step he took. No one dared moved, what had brought the Elite here? What could he want?

"Belle...?" Melody asked in a hushed tone, but her older sister merely put herself in front of Melody, not once taking her eyes off of the man and his soldiers as she did so.

"Go to the kitchen," Belle whispered cautiously. "Tell everyone-"

"Those two!"

Belle stopped short as the Elite spoke, watching as he pointed toward the table on the other side of the diner; to the odd pair Belle had been waiting on. He then turned his head toward her, her heart skipping a beat as he pointed straight toward her.

"And the young girl, bring them!"

The young...? No... He didn't mean... The soldiers split up, grabbing from they're sides they're coiled chain-linked whips, flicking they're wrists as they elongated into full length silver staffs. One made her way toward the table. The other, toward the bar with her eyes set on Melody.

"Crap."

Kiara immediately sat up and placed her right hand in her coat pocket, ready to fight back if the situation resorted to that. Marianne stood up as well, glaring at the approaching Ultimatum soldier. "A mongrel following orders like a toy soldier? Pathetic." Kiara made sure to keep the younger girl close to her.

The Ultimatum soldier paused before taking a few more steps. "Easy now. We're not here to hurt either of you; we only have the intent of questioning you. By order of Lord Asgard, you are to be taken immediately."

Kiara frowned. "Orders from Asgard, huh? What if I say no?" Taking her hand out of the pocket now, Kiara summoned forward a Japanese chokuto with two hand-guns melded to each side of the blade with a dark blue handle. The Volunta; a weapon said to consume a being's very existence. Raising it up, she pointed the weapon straight at the Ultimatum troop.

"I've heard of these things before you know. Recruiters from both sides trying to gain bulk for their armies. It doesn't matter the age to you people, as long as it's enough to keep your forces fighting..." Turning to look at Marianne, Kiara also noticed another troop near a young girl that looked a lot like their waitress. "I am not letting you force children to fight in your stupid war."

"Silence!" The voice of the Ultimatum Elite boomed throughout the small diner as he pointed directly at Kiara. "You speak like a soldier yourself girl. You shall make an excellent offering under the leadership of our divine Asgard. Cease her at once!"

Without hesitation, the Ultimatum soldier leapt forward to swing her weapon. Kiara was quick to react, raising her blade to block the attack and hold it in place. The other troop was heading for the waitress girl near Belle now...dammit! "Marianne! Can you help her out?"

The dark dressed girl knew it was better not to complain in situations like these, so instead of sending a scathing verbal retort to her companion, she instead hurled a blast of dark energy straight at the second soldier, knocking the woman backwards and stunning her.

That would at least buy them some time.

They could only watch, shocked by the scene that had occurred in front of them. The moment the traveler girl had pulled out her weapon, the customers in the restaurant erupted. Screaming and running, they rose from their seats and funneled into the exit, panicking and running as if their lives depended on it. Maybe they really did depend on it... It was the moment the little girl in black had sent the soldier hurtling into the wall that Belle was pulled out from her daze again, realizing that the situation had officially turned dangerous. She grabbed her sister by the arm, yanking Melody behind her as they ran out from behind the table.

"Run!" Belle barked at her little sister, though she didn't give her much choice to begin with. What did they want with Melody? What could they possibly want with a fifteen year old girl? She couldn't fight. Hell, she didn't even practice magic. None of them could. So why? Why her?

The Elite had appeared in front of them as if out of nowhere, dashing with amazing speed and cutting the girls off from Belle's destination, which had originally been the kitchen. Melody yelped at he sight, Belle putting her arm out to put herself in between her and the Elite.

"Melody, ru-"

With a swift sweep of his arm, the Elite smacked Belle away as if she were a mere bug, sending her flying into the wall before she could even realize she had been hit in the first place.

"Belle!" Melody screamed. She went to run to her sister's side, only to be yanked back by her arm with the cold, metallic grasp of the Elite.

"You will come with us, girl," the Elite said, pulling Melody back with ease. "By order of Lord Asgard, you will come with us immediately."

"L-Let me go!" Melody screamed, pulling away with all her might, though the attempts were futile. "Belle! Belle!"

Belle lay on the ground, the wind knocked out of her and her vision blurry. She could hear her sister's pleas just fine, though. Belle looked up from the ground, slowly regaining her vision to see he Elite dragging Melody toward the exit.

"St... Stop..." She groaned, shakily pulling herself up from the ground. She wouldn't let them take her, she couldn't let them take her. She was all she had, she was the only family she had left... Belle looked to her side, the groaning soldier laying on the ground a few feet away. Next to Belle, however, was the soldier's staff. She took it in her hands, rising to her feet slowly and regaining her vision and balance. She felt a surge through her body, the more she thought about them taking Melody away the stronger they became. "I... Won't... Let you..." They would take her away, force her into battle. Force her into danger. "I... Won't let you..." What if something happened to her, what if...

"I won't let you take her!"

Her eyes burning with anger and power, her body went I to auto pilot. With a swift gesture of her free hand, Belle sent sudden gale of wind at the Elite, knocking him off balance for a mere moment. It was just enough for him to release Melody, who wobbly ran to safety behind a table.

"Damn it! Get back-"

She never even gave him a chance to finish, Belle letting her hand slide to the end of the staff, flicking her wrist, and swinging the staff at the Elite as it disconnected into it's chain-linked form. It slashed at him from such a distance, causing him to stagger back from the blow. Belle flicked her wrist again, letting the staff regain it's shape. She had never in her life felt so in control, so powerful. It felt so... Natural.

"You... You're challenging me?!" The Elite scoffed angrily, reaching back behind him as he summoned forth his own gold and black halberd. "I am and Elite of the Ultimatum forces! You shall learn your place, girl!"

The soldier facing off against Kiara flinched at the sudden gusts of wind that began to engulf the entire diner. Was one of their own actually fighting against them? Looking around, she realized that it wasn't a rebellion, but rather one of the waitresses trying to be a hero. "That brat! How dare you taint the tools of the mighty Ultimat-" Before she could finish her statement, a powerful exertion of force pushed her back, sending her flinging away.

Kiara grinned as Volunta became enveloped in a stream of pouring gray energy. "First rule of fighting is to always keep an eye on your enemy. Didn't you learn that miss soldier?" Narrowing her eyes in anger, the troop let out a battle cry as she charged toward the traveler, extending her staff into a whip and lashing about.

Nearly three feet away from them, the Ultimatum Elite pointed his golden halberd directly at Belle. "So you choose to defy fate for the sake of one life? Then I shall make sure you regret your insolence towards the Ultimatum and your salvation!" Not caring for casualty or damage, the halberd's end began lighting up with power as he fired off short bursts of energy right at the waitress.

The attacks never connected however, as a large shield of purple mirror materialized in front of Belle, absorbing the shots and sending them right back to its owner. Marianne ran up to Belle's side, ready to support her if needed. "Don't think I like you," she said to her. "I'm only helping you because Kiara asked me to."

Mildly taken aback by the counterattack, the Ultimatum Elite staggered a few steps as he took the full brunt of his own attack before deciding that close combat was more effective. Rocketing forward, he swung his heavy weapon with an overhand and the intent on cleaving the girls in two. "You shall join or die!"

Not far from them, Kiara gritted her teeth as she realized her attacks weren't getting through and that she was getting forced backwards slowly. By now, the second troop had made a recovery and was helping her partner, each of them slicing with their whips in a frenzied manner. Kiara grunted as she felt several of the slashes connect; she wouldn't last much longer like this.

Thankfully, Marianne was safe as long as she stayed close with their waitress. Noticing her cornered state, both Ultimatum troops quickly switched their whips back into staffs and relased a tornado of wind simultaneously. Gripping Volunta, Kiara bravely stood her ground, ready to use her magic to end this fight. Suddenly, the massive winds ceased without warning; caught off guard, Kiara couldn't react in time as one of the troops placed a well timed punch in her gut.

"Wha-"

Spluttering, Kiara crumbled forward right into an awaiting strike to the head by the second troop. Eyes dilating, Kiara collapsed to the ground as darkness began to encircle her vision. Her final sight before blacking out was of Marianne and the waitress holding their own.

"D...Damnit...."

The Elite sent forth a flurry of energy bursts, too quickly for Belle to even react to. Though she never had to. Before she knew it, purple mirrors of light had appeared before her, absorbing the bursts and sending them back at the attacker. Belle looked to her side as the girl in black rushed to her side. It was her doing? It seemed to be as such, for she didn't seem all that thrilled with having to do so in the first place. Kiara had asked her to... The girl with the sword then? They had seemed rather familiar with battle, which made Belle happy they had been on her side as well.

"You shall join or die!"

Belle looked to the Elite as he rocketed toward them, halberd at the ready to impale all in his way. She took her staff in both hands, taking a readied stance and blocking the halberd's mighty blow. Just barely, however, for the might the attack was enough to make her slide back and even buckled under the pressure. It took everything in her to hold back the Elite, pressing her down with ease. Belle merely scoffed though, gritting her teeth as she held her own.

"And to think... I was going to... Sneak you some soda... Instead of juice..." Belle teased through clenched teeth. She could hardly focus though, between the pressure of the Elite and the sight of Kiara falling to the ground. Things were not looking good for them, only having the soldiers stalking toward Melody's table make it worse. This was just wrong... This wasn't supposed to be happening. Belle's grip on the staff tightened as the thoughts circled her mind. "I'm seriously.. Getting... Ticked off!"

Belle faltered back suddenly, letting the Elite come forward and swinging her staff into his abdomen. A mighty blast of wind sent him bashing into the ceiling, Belle quickly moving to her feet and swinging her staff with a flick of her wrist, the chained linked whip reaching across to the soldiers and slashing them back suddenly. Belle twirled as she stepped forward, gaining momentum as she swung her whip at them again, only this time with swirls of flames forming and encasing the whip. The soldiers shrieked as they we knocked back, embers dancing about as the whip slashed into them. Belle merely flicked her whip back into a staff, still encased in swirls of magical flame.

"You don't have to like me," Belle admitted finally, referring to the girl in black as if nothing had happened. She then finally looked to the girl with a genuine smile, her eyes bright with confidence. "But at least we can have each other's backs, right?"

THWACK!

Belle felt a sudden blow to her side, sending her tumbling to the ground. It was the Elite, back on his feet and striking her out of nowhere. But how? What did it take to keep him down? Belle gasped for air, the wind knocked right out of her, as the Elite stalked toward the girl in black.

"I've had about enough of all these antics and acts of rebellion," he said sternly, sounding more and more aggravated with each step he took. "You WILL come with us, whether it be dead or alive. And if it must be by death..." The Elite stopped suddenly in from of the girl, raising his halberd high above his head. "So be it."

"Stop..." The Elite held his position, looking down as something took hold of his leg. Belle had grabbed him by the ankle, pulling herself toward him as best as she could. "I... Won't let... You..."

The man merely scoffed, kicking Belle away as if she were a piece of trash. "Fine, the waitress wants to be the hero now? I'll start with you!"

Marianne rolled her eyes at Belle's kind words. "I don't need your sentiments....but you're not half-bad yourself you know." With her arms still crossed, Marianne turned to meet the waitress' smile with one of her own rare ones. "Are you sure you haven't picked up a weapon before?" Her light teasing was replaced by a sudden gasp as she saw Belle be struck down by the Elite. "N-No...." The young girl glared daggers at their opressor, backing away in the corner as the armored man approached her.

As such, she couldn't help but feel a guilty pang of relief when he focused his blade now on Belle instead. Time to leave before things got out of hand...wait, where was Kiara? Suddenly feeling like a lost little girl in the woods, Marianne shook her head to scan for her partner until she heard a loud thud followed by a low groan. Kiara's unconscious body had been deposited next to the Belle's fallen form, the troops carrying her grumbling in irritation.

"No!" With a flick of her wrist, she hurled a dark energy blast right at the Elite'a back. However, she tensed in horror when the soldier swiftly turned on instinct and deflected the oncoming projectile.

"Your tricks will no longer work child." Gritting her teeth, Marianne tossed style and strategy aside as she lunged forward to grab the Elite's armored boot in some sort of desperation tactic. Annoyed by this futile struggle, the Elite kicked her to the side, forcing her to land next to Belle. "Pathetic. Children such as you three need discipline and punishment," he said icily.

A light red mark began to well up on Marianne's cheek where the blow had connected, and faint tears pricked the edge of her eyes. "That hurt you know...doesn't the Ultimatum treat their dogs better than this? Hitting minors such as myself. What nerve...."

"What did you say?" The dark dressed girl couldn't help but flinch back as the Elite took a step forward and raised his weapon high. "I shall bring you all to Lord Asgard in pieces."

Marianne whimpered as she brought herself closer to both Belle and Kiara, shutting her eyes close. The end was...wait, what was that? Time seemed to have halted, just for a brief moment. Marianne widened her eyes as a new presence was sensed through her. One of incredible.....inmeasurable, no, divine power. The mere pressure that suddenly began radiating within the diner was enough to make her choke out, and she struggled to breathe.

Such force...who was here? Who was powerful enough to make mere mortals fall to their knees? The Ultimatum troops paused as well; apparently they could feel it the most. The presence...even the Elite halted in his death strike.

Could it really be...out here among the mortals?

"That's enough."

The Elite, spun around suddenly, the sound of a man coming from right behind. And there he stood; a man in dazzling golden armor, arms folded behind him and face expressionless. His hair was spiky and golden, his eyes a crimson red like blood. He towered over the Elite, though his presence alone was enough to intimidate.

"Stand down," he told the Elite calmly, his expression wavering not even once.

"L-Lord Asgard..." The Elite stated nervously. "Bu-"

Stand. Down." The man repeated, his voice even more sternly and somehow with more intimidation. And it was enough to make the Elite withdraw, not daring to defy him. Asgard merely took a few steps forward, looking over the group of girls closely. Belle looked up to the man as best as she could, his presence making her sick to her stomach. It took everything in her to merely stay conscious. "The wanderer, the orphan, and the child..." He said under his breathe, as if it weren't meant to be heard at all. He then turned his back to them, facing the door as even more soldier came marching into diner. "Bring them to me," he told them. And then, a sudden ripple in the air formed over his appearance, as if the scenery around him was engulfing his being. "They are the ones."

And he was gone.

The soldiers began grabbing the girls, hoisting them up whether they wanted to go or not. Belle could hardly even fight back, though she saw no point in doing so. That presence... It was familiar somehow, and it left her stomach feeling twisted and vile. And if he could come and go so easily, who was to say he wouldn't come back again...

Belle looked back as the soldiers dragged her out of the diner, searching for any sight of Melody. She was nowhere to be seen though. That should have made her feel relieved, knowing that her little sister had made it out alright and wasn't caught. At the same time though, she couldn't even say goodbye...

"Oof!" Belle grunted as the soldiers tossed her into the back of the carrier craft, along with the others. She barely got a glimpse of the street before they were shut in, the sight of civilians staring and talking to one another in hushed tones.

And then darkness. Followed by the sound of the vehicle being thrown into motion. Belle could merely sit there, hunched on the ground as she stared at the metal doors. Her mind was blank, she could hardly think straight or focus on a single hung at once. They had come out of nowhere, they had come for her sister, but they took her instead. And the fight... What had happened back there...? Belle had just... Fought. And semi well, for that matter. And using magic... When she had picked that up, she had no clue, but...

Tossed into the vehicle like spare pieces of luggage, Marianne was finally able to breathe normally again once the metal doors had been sealed shut. "Asgard," she whispered to herself after recovering. "The Golden Knight of legend..." Obviously she knew more than what she was letting on. Frowning at what this could all mean, the dark dressed girl immediately turned to her guardian when she heard Kiara groan out. Blinking awake, the traveler felt her head throb violently as the vehicle began to move forward in motion.

It felt like they were being lifted off of the ground...an aircraft then? Kiara shook her head as her gaze focused now on both Belle and Marianne in the low light. "Let me guess, we got our asses kicked pretty bad right?"

Marianne rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Crude as ever...I see that blow to the head didn't do much for your personality, as much as I would have liked that...but yes, we've been captured. Or in your tone, "got our asses kicked". Good old Marianne.

Sitting up, Kiara nodded at Belle politely. "You're our waitress, aren't you? Er, was our waitress. Something tells me we're gonna be partners in this crazy little story for a while. Might as well introduce ourselves, right?" Kiara smiled to reassure whatever doubts the waitress may have held towards the pair. "I'm Kiara Bastion, though the surname doesn't mean anything anymore. And this little brat right here is my companion, Marianne. Everyone's little doomsday prophecy maker."

Narrowing her gaze, Marianne flipped her hair in aggravation; in doing so, a brief glimpse of her dark purple eye was seen, a stark contrast to her crimson right one. "This is no mere foretelling," she warned to both of the older girls. Again, she had the aura of someone much wiser than the child sitting before them. "Asgard himself arrived to bear witness of our capture...as if we could hardly catch his interest. In fact, this whole war has been worrying me for quite some time."

"Please enlighten us then oh great one!" Kiara crossed her legs to sit, patiently waiting for whatever advice she had no doubt already heard before. Marianne just gave her a sour look in return to her words.

"I'm getting to that! Anyway....according to legend, the Ultimatum was said to have guarded all realities under their watch. Thus, they never interfered in mortal affairs. As time passed, so too did the proof of their existence. Obviously that's not the case today thanks to Ms. Yggdrasil." Marianne sniffed.

"Honestly, what the hell was that woman thinking? In any case, apparently there are also myths of another organization, but unfortunately I'm not too familiar on their background. Some say both groups were eternal rivals locked in endless strife. Sounds a lot like what we're seeing now. And yet, some actively maintain that the two separate groups were once a complete whole. One and the same."

Kiara clapped in approval. "Thank you Ms. Exposition. How does this relate again?"

"Well if you would let me finish, then perhaps I shall inform you! Both groups sought out a well of incredible power...the force of a deity...it was called-"

"Zyaxomort."

Both Kiara and Marianne whirled towards the new voice, each widening their eyes at the impossible sight. A young man that looked saged all at the same time, and yet not at all, sat directly across from the trio. He wore dark pants and a shirt and what appeared to be a silver jacket of sorts. His hair was a pure snow white, while his eyes reflected a deep crimson. A smirk lay ever present on his pale face

When did he get here? How did he get here?

"Zyaxomort. That's what the legend says, right? Both were searching for Zyaxomort."

Belle listened idly, merely smiling as the two introduced themselves. Kiara and Marianne... They seemed nice enough, and the more they spoke the more Belle caught onto their dynamic. It was almost humorous, watching the two interact as they did. They seemed to get along, and the bickering only proved as much. It wasn't as if it was truly an argument, it was like watching sisters argue. It's just how they were. Even so, they were still quite odd. The way Marianne spoke was even more eerie. She was knowledgable, more knowledgable for any girl her age should be. She seemed to know much more about their current situation than any of them could have. This, of course, led Belle to question why it was Marianne knew so much to begin with.

"Zyaxomort. That's what the legend says, right? Both were searching for Zyaxomort."

Belle looked to the back as the others did, spotting the sudden figure. Had it always been there? No, Belle would have remembered something like that. Then how exactly had he gotten in there with them? This question was of course followed by many others, such as who the man was and what he was doing there, as well as whose side he was on. At that moment though, Belle didn't even care. She rose to her feet as best as she could, her hands folding into fists and closing her eyes in frustration.

"So what?!" She blurted out suddenly, like a child who didn't understand what was going on around her. She don't care though, because at the moment she was just that; a child who didn't understand what was going on around her. "Why should this matter to me! The gods, what they want, that doesn't affect me! I'm a waitress! I make my way in tips and free employee meals at the end of the night! What does any of this have to do with us?! With ME?!"

"You, you, you. I didn't take you as the genuinely selfish type, Belle Valor." Belle. So that was her name then. Kiara glanced at their waitress-she should really stop viewing her as that-before tuning back to the white-haired boy sitting casually in front of them. Still, how had he known her name? Belle didn't introduce herself like the rest of them did...

"I know a great deal of many things Kiara Bastion. I know how you met Marianne. I know about your past, your present...maybe your future?" Kiara stood up in a heartbeat and summoned her weapon, pointing the tip at the stranger threateningly.

"Who are you? How do you know about us-"

"Did I not tell you? I know a great deal of many things. Let's keep it at that." The boy smirked casually as he rounded up on Belle again, finally noticing that she was still having a temper tantrum. Or was he doing it purposely? "Back to you Belle. Why you, of all possible existences? Frankly, why should I know? Actually I do, but I'm not telling you. You see, one can't question their own role in the story; they simply have to embrace it. Isn't that right?"

Sighing in annoyance, Kiara sat back down but made sure to keep Volunta out and by her side. This man...the way he spoke made no sense. Not to mention she was beginning to her a migraine just trying to comprehend it all. "Look, at least give us a name. I take it you were taken by the Ultimatum too?"

"Oh no Kiara. You see, I'm here for a much higher purpose than the three of you. For starters, my name is Zenov. I'd prefer if you think of me as...an observer to this entertaining little tale of yours. As for why I'm here, let's see....I'm a priest just like your gothic friend over there. Yes, let's go with that."

Marianne bristled at what she took to be an insult. "Gothic? You arrogant little...which crony group are you working for here exactly? The Ultimatum or Deux Corporation?" Zenov smiled to ponder the question presented.

"Sides? Ah, I forgot there's a war going on here. The conflict of our story. Hmm, which to choose...if I have to answer honestly, I've gotta say...both of them. And yet, no one at all." Marianne stared blankly at the self-proclaimed "priest."

"Wha...what does that even mean!" This boy was trying her patience....

"Selfish?!" Belle repeated in disbelief. Who was he to make such an accusation? "You've got a lot of-"

She stopped short though, almost completely missing the obvious red flag at the moment; he knew her name. Her ENTIRE name, first and last, with out it have even being said. She had only introduced herself once before as Kiara and Marianne's waitress, and even then he most certainly was NOT there when she had done so. Held could remember a face, and she had never seen him before in his life. And as he spoke more, he made himself seem even more and more riddle in mystery, even going as far as making Marianne more questionable with all this talk of "priests" and whatnot.

As much as Belle wanted to continue her "I don't care" fiasco, it was hard not to with everything that had been going on around her. All she wanted was for all of this to be some sort of bad dream and to wake up and find out that the worst thing that was happening was that she may be late for her morning shift. It didn't seem life would be that simple, though.

"Fine..." Belle sighed, folding her arms over her chest and shifting her weight as she thought. "This isn't getting us anywhere, and I think it's safe to say that none of us have much more patience at the moment. So, why are you here? If you don't have a side, I'm guessing it's safe to say you're not on ours. And I doubt you came here because this is what you do with your spare time."

Belle reached to her side for a moment, as if to grab something that was not even there. She didn't like the feeling of being unarmed around this guy, but she had nothing with her and had left that staff she "borrowed" back in the diner. And with little to no knowledge on how to control that new little trick she had learned, the magic and whatnot, she didn't exactly feel very prepared at the moment.

"Oh, but you're wrong Belle. In fact, this is what I do in my spare time. I observe all the pieces of the story. All the main components, the antagonist, the central characters, even the comic relief...it amuses me." Kiara didn't like him as much as the next person, but she couldn't help but feel...something. It wasn't fear or awe...just a feeling. The way he spoke, as if they were pieces of a game...it was too alien for her. And that sent shivers down her spine.

On the other hand, Marianne continued to glare at him with increasing irritation. "Honestly...first off I'm not a priest; I'm just knowledgable. Second, if there's no point in you talking here with us, then why should we listen to you at all?"

"Hmm? I would assume that me merely knowing your names was enough to garner my trust. Very well then. Hmm...well, let's just say I'm waiting for a...bump. Something to get this plot moving."

"What are yo-"

A sudden jolt almost sent the small girl flying, and the vehicle they were in abruptly came to a screeching halt. They had reached their destination. Zenov was nowhere to be seen, vanished out of thin air. Kiara frowned; if he was powerful enough to cause these events...then there was absolutely nothing holding him back or stopping him from murdering them all only a few seconds before. "Zenov," she muttered the strange name to herself. "Who...what are..."

The large metal door began open up as soldiers donning shimmering golden armor stepped forward inside the carrier. With two flanking each girl's side, they half-carried, half-dragged the trio out of the ship and outside into new light. Her eyes adjusting from the darkness, Kiara's eyes widened as she took in the full extent of the Ultimatum.

The first thing she noticed was the sky. It looked like the very elements of the universe were dancing before them, ripping black holes and causing miniature big bangs. All around them were the hues of gold; a pure golden city with massive fortified walls and several domes to contain it all. It was as if they had found themselves entering a new reality all together. The visual evidence certainly made it seem so

It was beautiful. It was breathtaking. And it was soon over as the Ultimatum soldiers carried them within the citadel walls, blocking their view forevermore.

"Lord Asgard wishes to see you personally," one of the troops informed then.