His heart raced. His eyes glanced at the dark haired form of the unconscious woman and the man who had tried to defend her from the towering figure and the small girl. It was terrifying. A man smaller than the taller being, who had blades composed of bone instead of hands, began to laugh maniacally. "You'll never be able to save her," his voice echoed in Zachary's ears. His eyes widened in terror at this thought.

"Even now. Even after she's more than less likely forgotten you, boy, you still cling to your hope of saving her. You loved her once, but now she's been replaced by the gypsy. So why save her?"

"Because..." he said, biting him lip to the point of blood being drawn. "Because I promised her I'd protect her... and I failed to then. Even with Zorlo's help, I couldn't beat you freaks, but next time... I swear I'll kill you all!

"Bold words coming from a person who can't even protect himself."

Zachary stepped back, clenching his hand tightly into a fist. "I... I..."

"Exactly. Give up your hope. You can't protect anyone. Give your foolish ambitions and die like you should have then."

"I'll kill you!" Zachary said as he rushed forwards, forming Azul and Rosso in his hands. The large figure with bladed arms stepped forwards and the two warriors attacked. In a flash, the bone blade punched clean through Zachary's chest and out his back. A last cry of pain echoed from his lips as he felt himself die.

o=)----------- Rubato: Somewhere in the Desert -----------(=o

The ice mage sat up in his bed. Sweat covered him from head to toe as he looked out the window. It was the same time as before. The same nightmare that he had every so often. One of the many scars from his past that manifested itself in an inner conflict. The sun hadn't yet broken the horizon and the cool breeze into the open windows of the dry stone and mud building that Zachary and Rain were living in for now helped him feel refreshed.

The red haired warrior woke up and looked outside. Rain was nowhere to be seen, probably out to look around or possibly off to visit Cadenza. It didn't matter to Zachary which at this moment in time, since he was just happy Rain had agreed to help him. The Replicator looked outside and saw a figure standing in the sands, looking out at the soon rising sun.

The sorcerer grabbed his plate of armor and walked outside, looking at the man who stood just outside the hut. Who would come all the way out here anyway?

Monroe looked at Zachary and cast him a smile. "So you think this training you've asked for will help you? I doubt it. A person can't become stronger physically until they first become stronger mentally. For you, that is impossible," the Quincy stated as he placed down a box and slid it over to Zachary.

The ice mage bent down and opened the box, finding a trench coat and looking at it. "What's this?" he asked, trying it on to find a perfect fit.

"A gift from myself and your girlfriend to you for your training. Its enchanted and the fibers are somewhat magical, so no matter how much of a beating it takes, it'll regenerate good as new. You, however, aren't so lucky." The dark clad man turned and began to walk off.

"Monroe, wait!" the red haired warrior called out.

The archer stopped and glanced back very slightly. "I'll say it again. When it comes to fighting, Zachary Leos will die. There is only one thing you are capable of, so it is imperative that you master it. You must push everything else that's holding you back out of your mind and visualize yourself at your most powerful. Until you can do that, you'll never be able to help Cadenza or I."

Zachary looked down and smiled. "You're right... but where can I start?" he asked, hoping for some kind of answer.

"Dilly dally, shilly shally," the Quincy commented. "So long as you carry the thought that you are weak, you always will be. Until you can convince yourself that you are stronger than you were during your failures, then why are you training yourself? How can you hope to overcome Rain if you can't even overcome yourself?"

Zachary looked at Monroe and thought for a moment. "Overcome... myself?" he asked.

"Yes," Monroe said as he walked off. "I've wasted enough time trying to explain things to you. Get back to your training and hope that you don't die. Gods forbid that'd be the worst tragedy since the death of the green guy," the Quincy said as he became a black blur and vanished.

Overcome myself... what does he mean?