Dragon Flames

Chapter 11

By: Malaca

In the beginning, the world was not a world to be honored. Demons and dark creatures ran amuck regardless of others, and aware of only the ones who tried to stop them. The Mystics guardians stepped up to the demons of Hell, and proclaimed that they would be banished to their home. The Mystics appointed lesser guardian's of each element imaginable, and every power that could be conceived. From them they made the Hunt. Clans of half breeds, immortals, humans, outworlders, children of the mystics, and the rarer descendants of the Mystics. Children of the Mystics are different from the actual decedents in one way. That they are not born from the Mystics, but selected. The Hunt spread over the land, sealing the portals, and guarding the gateways. Destroying any half breed demon that stood for the dark side. Their mark was the two crossed swords, one light, on dark signinfing the powers in which they were born, and in which they fought for. This is the beginning of the Hunt.

-Talon, Guardian of the Psychic

The soft hooves of a horse ran swiftly towards its riders destination. Puffing loudly the nostrils of the horse widened at every breath he took. But his rider urged him forward at a greater speed, desperate to reach the place. The city was eerily silent. Malaca pulled up Quickstrike quickly as she felt a presence to her right. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"It can't be!" she whispered.

Rowen watched from the building over head in only his sub armor. He frowned, something was going on that Malaca wasn't telling them. Malaca urged Quickstrike forwards towards the presence she felt. Rowen followed silently surprised that Malaca hadn't felt his presence like she usually did.

Quickstrike raced forward with a stiff Malaca on board.

'Oh, please let them be all right, oh, please let them be all right!' she mentally screamed.

Quickstrike stopped so suddenly, Malaca had to grab onto his mane undignified to stay on. When she looked up Malaca dropped her jaw. They were here! Her own clan of hunters were fighting demons right in front of her. She frowned deeply as she saw the hunters losing. She kicked Quickstrike forward with a vengeance. The hunters looked up when they heard a familiar war cry.

Diagon smiled before he collapsed, 'She's back!'

Malaca raced forward as she saw Diagon fall. Quickstrike leapt forward, and Malaca swung down and onto the demon that had struck her friend. She sliced with a lightning quick fist into the creatures jaw. The demon fell back dead. Malaca spun around with another quick attack throwing two demons down at the edge of her foot. She backhand springed out of the way of vampires charge, slamming her feet into the vampires head. Malaca grinned ruthlessly as she drew her knives and united the ends. She twirled them once around her hand, and they formed a silver charakram. She threw it into the air.

The charakram bounced around, slicing demons and vampires alike in half. The blade soared towards her again in a return motion. Malaca caught it out of the air. The charakram formed back into the united knives. Revenge appeared out of nowhere to guard Diagon's fallen body. Malaca turned around and winked at Revenge. Revenge nodded, understanding her look. Out of the corner of her eye, Malaca noted that Quickstrike was fighting with hoof and tooth. Malaca couldn't but grin, she had sure missed this action.

Malaca screamed out a war chant and dived back into the fight. The half demons opposing her and her clan split like a tidal wave. She stopped suddenly in surprise. A figure cloaked in darkness stepped forward. Malaca cocked her head as if she was trying to figure out who the person was. The shadow chuckled in amusement. Raising its hand towards the sky lightning struck down in a blinding flash of power. Malaca pulled her hand in front of her face to keep the light from blinding her.

The warlord chuckled, "I am Scarythes, warlord of the Shadows. Remember my name as you die!"

The clan was astonished. What was a warlord and why were they helping the demons? Malaca felt her fury light up. Talpa had done the unthinkable by joining with the demons of this world. She stepped forward in front of her clan.

"Hey Scarythes, tell Talpa I said that he would never win this battle!"

Akira frowned, 'Who is Talpa?'

Scarythes grinned beneath his faceplate, "And to from whom is this message from?"

"Tell him Malaca. He knows who that is!"

Scarythes laughed, "You are the Dragon that beat both Salee and Kazul? They were weak to fall to you. I am not that weak!"

"We shall see," Malaca called.

"ARMOR OF THE DRAGON, TAO KON!"

Her sub armor formed instantly in a ball of flame. Malaca started the kata of her formation of her armor. The kata was similar to Ryo except for the fact that instead of grabbing her wrist like his kata, she grabbed her shoulder. Her eyes widened at the sight of her armor; then arching her back her hand changed directions to be extended out in front of her. Sapphire lightning played at her balled up fist. Rolls of silken curtains flew up reaching at the peak exploding into thousands of cherry blossoms. The blossoms formed on to her sub armor to create the Dragon armor. The formation was complete. But before Malaca could draw her swords, something strange happened.

Revenge jumped over her shoulder and roared. Flickering flames colored sapphire and ruby red fell down from the sky in a cyclone of fury. The cyclone enveloped Revenge's form staying there for a short while. Peeling away, Revenge was left covered in armor. The armor he wore was similar to White Blaze's armor. Colored sapphire the armor starts from his nose bridge and works itself upwards towards his tail. No armor reached his tail or even his legs. Revenge howled once more, his eyes glowing with the power of the Dragon.

Malaca raised her eyebrows in surprise~Revenge, did you know that was going to happen?~

Revenge didn't even bother looking back~Of course~

Malaca muttered to herself, "Egotistical wolf."

~I heard that!~

~GOOD!~

Malaca unsheathed her twin katanas and shouted out, "LETS GET READY TO ROCK AND ROLL WARLORD!"

"Anytime, pathetic women."

They both darted forward to attack the other. Malaca shoved her knee into Scarythes' groin, and pushed him over her knee. She slammed her hilts of her katanas onto his back. Scarythes grunted in pain. He grabbed her wrists and shoved her over his shoulder. Malaca landed hard on her back, and cried out as the breath was knocked out of her lungs. Revenge growled darting forward to strike Scarythes away from Malaca. Revenge flipped over his shoulder, and growled as he stood over Malaca. Malaca pulled herself up and pushed forward to swipe Scarythes with her swords. Scarythes blocked with his Bo. The two weapons sizzled with power as their masters held on, fighting for supreme strength. Malaca shoved his Bo up, and flipped backwards hitting the warlord in the chin with both armored feet. Scarythes roared in anger. They both darted back.

"Time to die pathetic woman!" the warlord chuckled with glee.

"SHADOWS OF FAMINE!"

Malaca felt herself weaken. She fell to her knees. Scarythes laughed and pulled her chin up to make her look up into his face.

"Whose outclassed now?" he chuckled.

"Fuck...., y-ou!" Malaca squeezed out.

The warlords smile became a frown, "I'll teach you some manners insolent women!"

Malaca closed her eyes to the final blow. It never came.

"ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"

Scarythes cried out as his arm was caught in the energy wave. He fazed farther away from the energy blast. Malaca looked up weakly in surprise. Rowen landed next to her, but never took his eyes off Scarythes.

He lowered his voice threateningly, "You have some explaining to do Malaca."

She nodded and pulled herself up by leaning on her katanas, "I know Rowen, but can it wait?"

Rowen answered by charging Scarythes head on. Scarythes met him half way, sliding his Bo under and up through his haiku. The bow was wrenched from Rowen's grip. Rowen darted back out of the way, and followed up with his infamous flash kick to Scarythes' head. The warlord wobbled back dizzily. Malaca sighed and pounced on him while he was disoriented. She slammed her fist into his chin, and followed up with her trademark kick. First slashing him across the face with her left foot, she pivoted around as her left foot landed. Spinning in a tight circle, she attacked with her right foot in a lightning quick movement as she turned around. Scarythes fell flat on his back, and Rowen retrieved his bow.

Malaca looked over at him, "Double team him?"

Rowen shrugged without looking in her direction, and leapt into the air, "ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"

"DRAGON SWORDS SCREAM!"

Both attacks combined into one massive force. Scarythes looked up with a face filled with fear. The warlord hastily teleported away, back to Talpa's castle. The blinding light faded away. Malaca put her swords away in their scabbards.

"Did we get him?" she asked Rowen as he examined the charred ground.

Rowen tapped the ground with his bow questionably. He looked up to the sky abruptly, frowning his dark blue eyes thoughtful. Malaca watched him uncertainly.

"Well?"

"Go talk to the witnesses, tell them anything. But at least explain this in some way that they would understand," he told her quietly, still not looking at her.

Malaca huffed in frustration. She knew Rowen was angry at her for sneaking off like that, but this was unreasonable. Malaca watched him for several short minutes before throwing her hands skyward in frustration. She turned towards Akira and the others specifically noting that Diagon was up and walking around. Malaca powered down quickly to her street clothes. She walked towards them with her hands outspread to show that she was weaponless for the moment. Akira's confused face lit up in glee. He ran forward to meet her. They exchanged vigorous hugs, and slaps on the back.

"Akira, you old dog, what brings you to Japan?"

Akira laughed, "I could ask you the same thing."

He then lowered his voice dramatically, "The guardian of ice sent us here. Something about helping you out. What's going on here?"

Malaca lowered her voice as well, "Demons from the Nether Realm teamed up with the Demons of Hell. Their leader, Talpa wants the Yori. I don't know what the Demon Lord is after."

"What is their goal?"

Malaca pulled back looking at him like he was crazy, "Take over the world of course!"

Akira chuckled, "Of course, of course."

Diagon limped up, "No deaths to be recorded, although Warlock was weakened and struck down. Corista didn't fare to well either; she was knocked unconscious."

"Others?"

Malaca looked up in surprise. Akira sounded so sure of himself, like he was leader. Malaca then smiled; of course he was leader! Why else would the Guardian of Ice speak to him? A thought went to her mind.

"Diagon, are you going through cleansing?" Malaca asked abruptly.

Diagon looked up with surprise evident in his eyes, "How did you know that?"

"YOU ARE!" Malaca shouted with all her might.

Diagon didn't back down, "Yes."

"Why?"

He looked done, and Malaca could have sworn she saw a tear streak down his cheek.

"Because I am not pure. I am a freak of nature!"

"No, your not!"

He turned around sharply his bladed knives pointed at her throat. Malaca stood still, with her eyes glistening in sadness. Diagon's eyes were alit in predatorily fury.

His voice was deadly low, "And how do you know I wouldn't turn on you?"

Malaca was silent for several moments, before reaching to her throat and taking her golden medallion from underneath her shirt. The medallion of the two crossed swords shone in the mysterious light.

"Because you are one of the Hunt, and fight against evil."

Diagon sheathed his knives, "I am part evil, Eclipse. I always will be. From my birth to my death, and if I can find any way to die clean of the demonic side I will gladly take it without a second thought of any reparations."

She slapped him across the face, "I have loss to much, and I am not going to lose another friend again!"

Diagon looked at her in shock. Malaca would never had hit him, unless it was evident that it was needed. He took in her face. Oh, how it had changed. No longer haunted look upon her delicate features. She had a look of pride and threateningly vicious glare in her eyes. Diagon hugged her tight. Malaca was stiff with shock. Diagon pulled back to meet with her eyes.

"You've finally put your demons behind you. I'm so glad for you!"

"Don't change the subject, Diagon. At least promise you'll think about it?"

Diagon looked at her sternly, and nodded in agreement.

Rowen watched all of this from the corner of his eye. He tensed as he saw the dark haired one place knife blades at Malaca's exposed throat, but relaxed as the blades were retracted from her. Rowen glanced up at the brilliant sky. He sighed in frustration. He knew Malaca was hiding something, but something this BIG! Who were these people, and how did they know her? What exactly was going on?

Malaca glanced over at Rowen, still in his armor. He seemed uptight, and she didn't blame him. She lowered her voice to her two friends.

"I'll meet you in Dreamscape tonight, and explain everything in thought. I have to go now though, because my friend is troubled. Is that all right with ya'?"

Akira and Diagon looked over at Rowen, "That's fine Niccole; you know you don't have to explain anything to us."

Malaca nodded, "Bye my friends."

She walked over to Rowen, and didn't bother to look back. She already knew that they were gone from sight. Rowen felt her come up, but again didn't look at her.

"What did you tell them?" he asked.

"The truth."

Rowen turned and looked at her for the first time, "And that is?"

Malaca sighed, "You're right. You deserve to know what is going on."

"Come you can tell me all about it at the training center," he motioned behind him.

He walked on without checking to see if she followed. Malaca sighed, and ran faster to catch up with him. She got in front of him, and trotted backwards so she could face Rowen.

"Ya know," she said looking at him in the face, "it would be faster if we took Quickstrike."

Malaca pointed at the horse that was giving them the "oh my God, they are idiots" look. Rowen snorted and pushed forward. Malaca rolled her eyes and whistled. Quickstrike ran to her side. She pulled herself on to his back.

"I'll see you at Mia's," she whispered to him as Quickstrike ran away with Revenge close behind.

Ryo filled a cup of milk and placed it in the microwave to be warmed. He then sat on the counter deep in thought.

'I wonder where Malaca and Rowen are. They both are not in there rooms, so I guess they are out training, but knowing Rowen, he's probably watching the stars from some hidden place.'

Ryo sighed, 'He was always doing that when we were in the Nether Realm. It fascinated him to no ends that the stars were the same in their world and in ours.'

The little bell on the microwave dinged, but Ryo ignored it. None of the boys were around, they were all visiting there familles. All but for Rowen, himself, Malaca, and the warlords. Even Mia was off on some trip during Winter Break.

White Blaze walked up to Ryo and nudged him to bring his attention back to his warmed milk. Ryo smiled down at White Blaze, and rubbed his head behind the ears. The large cat purred softly in his throat. He laughed as the tiger rubbed up against his leg forcing him into the counter.

"All right, all right. I get the point, White Blaze."

White Blaze snorted and walked off to see who was awake. The large cat trodded up two flights of stairs to reach the attic. He pushed open the newly painted doorway to enter the recently cleaned room. The cobwebs that had been in the corners since the house had been built were no longer present, save for a few around Dais' area that he decided to keep. All of the warlords, except for Kayura, slept up in the main attic. Kayura herself taking up the smaller room next to it. They shared a single bathroom, which proved as hazardous as the Ronins sharing a bathroom with Sage. It turned out that the warlords were obsessed with their looks. Especially with the addition to their lives in the twentieth century.

White Blaze smiled a feline smile as he heard a loud snoring noise. He walked silently towards the beds at the end of the room behind several curtains. The cat pushed aside the cloth and stared at Kale propped upside down with his legs and arms hanging around the edges. A loud guttural noise emitted from his throat, and erupted into an uncontrollable, full fledged snore. White Blaze chuckled lowly, and then looked up. He saw Dais sleeping soundly on one of the overhead beams. The tiger shook his head in mock disbelief, and turned to find Sekhmet sleeping peacefully underneath a pile of blankets.

'How can he sleep with all that noise?' White Blaze wondered.

Sighing slightly the big cat moved towards Kayura's room. This room had a door instead of curtains. Kayura had exlpisedly insisted on that fact that there would be a door. White Blaze didn't understand the meaning of this, even with Malaca explaining the meaning of it. The stripped animal warrior pushed open the door to check on Kayura. She was asleep as well. White Blaze snorted in amazement at the fact that she was the only one not sleeping like a log, or hanging upside down. The cat sighed.

'Figures,' he muttered to himself as he walked off to recheck on Ryo.

He found his master rolling around on the couch in a fitful of nightmares. The cat jumped on to the end of the couch and licked Ryo's feet, trying to wake him up from the dreadful dream. It failed to work. White Blaze muttered beneath his breath before settling next to Ryo for a long restless night.

As he drifted into the land between sleep and wakefulness the cat managed to make a comprehendible thought, 'At least the on called Ashira is gone for a while. Having her around was making the warriors crazy. They were acting really strangely towards Malaca and Revenge. Wonder what it was all about?' he yawned sleepily before completely falling asleep.

Malaca looked down from the open loft. The training space that they had made out of the newly built barn was extensive to say the least. Equipped with uneven bars, several floor mats, two horses, three balance beams, two kendo mats, a room filled with weapons and equipment, rings, bars for pull-ups, and some unusual weights and training tools that she had insisted that they purchased. All was here for training against the Dynasty. Malaca paused as she heard a rustle at the doorway. Rowen was there leaning against the door waiting. She motioned for him to come in.

Rowen rolled his eyes~I want the whole truth Malaca, not partial.~

Malaca winced, 'Here we go, another innocent in dragged into the painful life I exist in. Poor Rowen, I wish I didn't have to do this!'

Rowen moved his way up the ladder to sit next to her with little remorse. Malaca looked painfully into his eyes and sighed. He waited for her to start.

She held in tears of the past as she began, "I guess it all started when I was younger. My Mom enrolled me in gymnastics at an early age. I think I was four at the time. After a while it began evident that I was a natural, which doesn't happen very often in that business. I started to compete at age seven and became junior world champion three years consecutive starting when I was eight. I had a good trainer, who was dedicated with his work, and I everything was fine. My trainer introduced me to martial arts, and that too I was extremely good at. That's when the trouble started."

Malaca paused again before continuing, "My Dad fired my trainer and took the job himself. He wasn't very good, but he didn't have to be. I was good enough for the both of us. I continued my martial arts training even after my original trainer left. Then things began to change. My Dad would touch me in weird ways. I thought at first he was just playing you know?"

Malaca looked up at Rowen. His face was stony, and she soon looked away.

"But the touching continued. I was eleven at the time. I had just turned like a month before. One night, my Mom was on a business trip and wasn't home. I had the door closed, and was almost asleep. I heard the door open, but didn't look to see who it was. The next thing I knew, he was on top of me and had my mouth covered. My father told me if I did anything he didn't want me to do, that he'd go and do the same thing to my six-year-old sister. I was quiet, and did as he told me," tears sprung freely from her eyes.

She didn't look up at Rowen, for she wasn't sure what he would do. If she did, she would have seen a look of utter disbelief, and sympathy.

"He stole my virginity that day, and many days after. He threatened me saying if I told anyone, that he'd hurt my Mom. I didn't want my family to be hurt so I let him. This continued on for about a year and a half. Every night that he would come to me, I would leave for the rest of the night to stay on the streets. I lived in New York then, so there was a lot of crime. I satisfied my anger by taking it out on the thieves and criminals that were on the street. After a while I started fighting otherworldly creatures. They were half breeds, demons of the worst kind. My family had inherited my weapons. The Lunar Weapons of the old. We lost one of them through the years. The whip. But the rest still were in good order. So I fought with all my might."

"My mother soon found out about my Dad. She walked in when he was on top of me. She screamed and hit him. Dad attacked her and was going to kill her. I attacked. That was the first time of two times I have used the attack I call the Rage. It's unstoppable, uncontrollable, and leaves a heck of a drain. Sure I use forms of it, but the true attack shows very little. My body can't take the strain. Well, he left after that and threatened to come back. I knew I had hurt him bad, but I didn't care at the moment. We moved away to Miami were my mother remarried and had my youngest little sister. I soon met up with the Hunters. Demon Hunters is what they were. But they were also called the Slayers. I saved one of them, Diagon, and joined their cause. Together they are a collection of demons, half breeds, outworlders and humans that were all dedicated to the cause of good. I became their leader, Eclipse. About three years later I met you guys and became a Ronin. I really don't care what you think of me now. But at least you know the truth. I am a fighter and always will be. I'm not a virgin, and not by choice."

With that a huddled Malaca burst into tears. Rowen stood motionless, as in shock. He frowned sharply.

'I guess I wanted the truth. I deserve to get everything with it.'

Rowen moved stiffly to her side, and crouched low to be at the same level. He then took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Malaca for once had the chance to let it all go, no matter how painful it was to release her hidden demons.

Unknown to either, a hidden shadow watched and listened. Content of what he learned, the shadow ran away into the night to formulate a plan.

The shadow cackled, 'I will get you Eclipse. Then I will rule the world!"

Malaca here-

Sorry people for taking so long to finish this Chapter. I have been having problems with my wrist, so these chapters will be coming out a lot slower than usual. I will not give up on this story yet; I will still continue with this Epic, as I like to call it. I got a new e-mail address for all of those who do not have AOL and can't e-mail me with comments, concerns, flames, and etc. You can e-mail me at [email protected]. Ja ne!