Dragon Flames
Chapter 15
By: Malaca
'No, I must fight this. I cannot hurt my friends. I cannot hurt her.'
Mia looked up and whispered weakly, "Sage, why?"
'Sorry Mia, I can't stop it. I've tried I don't know what to do. How did this happen? How had all of their plans gone up in smoke? Please, let me go. I don't want to do this. I love her......I love Mia.'
Ashira frowned and tightened her grip~Kill her...Kill her...Kill her...Kill her....now!~
'NO!!!!'
"Sage....I love you," whispered Mia again as Sage was poised over her in kill position.
'Mia?'
His sword struck down, only to miss Mia by a hairs width. Mia winced and looked up at Sage with surprise.
"Sage?"
Sage shook his head rapidly, 'Am I, free?'
"Mia," he cut the ropes from her form.
She tumbled weakly into his arms. Sage cradled Mia close to his body, comforting her with his presence. Mia snuggled closer to Sage.
'This can't be a dream...its real?'
"Mia, I love you too."
"Ah, isn't this sweet?" Ashira chuckled going in for the kill.
"BLACK LIGHTNING SLASH!"
The demon was thrown to the side roughly. Kale glanced over at Sage giving him a smile.
"Good to have you back Sage."
Sage nodded briefly, turning back to Mia and capturing her lips with his own. He whispered fiercely into her mouth.
"I'll never leave you again, I promise."
"That's good."
"Malaca, is that what they call you now Eclipse?" Daemon smirked twirling around gracefully dodging an energy ball.
Malaca smirked, "Actually they do, Dream Caster. Did anyone tell you that you stink like shit?"
"Did anybody tell you that you lie horribly?" Daemon laughed pulling Malaca's wrist in a circle and letting her fly.
Malaca rotated her body so that her feet slammed into the wall and used it to jump back viciously at Daemon. She landed a heavy jab with her elbow at his head. Daemon fell back clutching his head slightly. He then threw a wild attack at Malaca, who dodged.
"FIRE BALL!" screamed Malaca shoving a brilliant ball of green fire directly at Daemon.
Daemon had no time to dodge and was caught up in the vicious ball of flames. He screeched once before promptly placing up a rough barrier that blocked most of the attack, but not Malaca's smirking face.
"HELLIONS CHARGE!" Daemon called throwing his own energy attack.
Malaca retaliated, "COSMIC WHIRLWIND!"
The two energy calls slashed into each other determined to win. The wind of the Outer rings slammed into the fiery plague of hell. Daemon growled angrily as the powers were stalemated and thrown off. Neither had won that draw, but there was always others.
"Just give it up Eclipse! Your friends are under my control, and you can't stop them anyway but to kill them! Why don't you just join Talpa? He's a merciful master, as is the Demon Lord."
Malaca turned on him anger evident in her eyes, "YOU JOINED THE FUCKING DEMON LORD! DAEMON ARE YOU CRAZY?"
Daemon smirked, "If having power and being able to destroy the Demon Hunters is being crazy then bring it on!"
"You have no idea what you are bringing on, do you think he really cares what happens to Earth?"
"Why should I care what happens to Earth?"
"Because when the Earth is gone what will stop him from taking over the whole universe and destroying it? Then where will you be? You wouldn't have a place to live, therefore you die! HAPPY!" Malaca unsheathed her twin sais from her back and crossed them in front of her.
"You're lying."
"Try me, asshole," Malaca snapped lunging forward.
Daemon jumped backwards and drew his staff from his back. The glowing white crystal at the top flashed brightly. Malaca hissed and covered her eyes.
Daemon smiled, "Now what Eclipse?"
"Two can play that game, Daemon," she answered still keeping her eyes closed.
"LUNAR LIGHTING FLARE!" she screamed shoving the pure energy of both light and darkness at Daemon.
He cried out and the glow from his crystal diminished. Malaca took this opportunity to slash forward into Daemon's gut. He cried out once more before Malaca silenced him with a hilt into his temple. Daemon fell like a rock. Malaca shook her head and resheathed her swords.
She whispered silently as she walked away, "I will destroy the Demon Lord before he destroys us all."
Behind her, unnoticed by Malaca, Daemon stood up. His face twisted into a sick leer. The crystal glowed slightly as he called on its power.
"CRYSTAL ENSNARE!"
Malaca twirled around fast enough to see the glowing energy capture her. She struggled briefly before being subdued with a single command from Daemon.
"You never learned how to finish the job, Eclipse. Maybe you'll learn after this lesson. To bad you'll never be able to use it," Daemon smiled and hoisted Malaca over his shoulder and onto a web of connecting energies.
"Hurry up....Damn it!"
"Chill out Diagon, its not like I'm slacking you know," snorted Korin as he traced a triangle upon the ground with a piece of chalk.
Akira and Diagon moved into their respective places and waited for Korin to do the same. They linked their hands and slowly began to chant.
"Powers upon the blood stained Earth, Powers upon the crying planet we implore you. Give us the unholy ones your power, let us be part of your everlasting circle. We call upon your strength in our time of need, Mother Earth hear our cry!"
One flash of light and a rumble of thunder.
"We seek your wisdom in our time of need. Three times we are here, an outsider and two linked. We bid you to destroy thy link."
Another flash and a faint crackling sound. Akira and Korin hissed slightly in pain. Diagon glanced over at Akira with a concerned expression upon his face, before continuing on.
"Mother we ask that you unite our powers to destroy the wicked demon. She has destroyed many and deserves to die. Mother we ask you to consider."
The crackle is louder now. Diagon tenses as he feels the earth rumble and move allowing them to continue.
"I Diagon, I Akira, and I Korin ask for your power!"
A faint green glow is seen over the three mixing in with their own power. The pyramid blinks in and out hovering with pale lines over their heads.
"MOTHER WE CALL UPON YOUR STRENGTH! ASHIRA OF THE RA'KER FAMILY YOU ARE NOW DEAD TO OUR MOTHER! ASHIRA OF THE DEMONS, YOU ARE NOW DEAD TO US!"
Then all was dark and a faint hiss was heard mixed in with the wail of a dying demoness.
"NO!" screeched Ashira clutching her head tightly, "HOW DARE YOU!"
She yanked back her head and gave off an ear-piercing yell, "KILL THEM ALL NOW!"
The small force of demons that had been waiting moved forward with a chuckle. They would destroy all that would be in their path. They split off in two clusters determined to destroy the innocents first. Ashira withered and fell to the ground becoming dust before her cursed body fell upon the Earth.
The demons howled and converged on the two intertwined circles. The two adults cried out mercifully and the boy shuttered and tried to get away. The circle would not let him do so.
Sai, Kento, and Ryo blinked several times as the power of Ashira disappeared upon them. Kento blinked again and yelled out in dismay as he rushed forward to save Ulie.
Kento jumped over the masses and grabbed Ulie from the grip of a demon. The demon snarled and snapped as his prey was removed from his grasp. Kento frowned as he hit the demon hard over the head with his Nagatia as it tried to follow.
"Kento, is it really you?" Ulie asked.
"Yeah, its me kid."
"What about my Mama and Dad?" Ulie whimpered.
Kento sighed as he landed softly, "I'm sorry, I couldn't save them."
Ulie's eyes filled with tears, "MAMA, PAPA!"
"It'll be all right Ulie....they've gone to a better place. It's okay, we are here for you and we won't ever leave you again, okay?" Kento held the young boy close.
"Why Kento?"
Kento took a deep breath, "I don't know kid, I don't know."
Sage ducked underneath a particularly ugly demon's charge, holding Mia close to his body. Mia cringed and held tight, not exactly wanting to deal with demons that surrounded them.
"Mia, stay close."
Sage was frustrated. He was in too tight quarters to use his Thunder Bolt Cut without hitting Mia. He allowed little emotion to come through his mask, but inside he was worried. How was he going to get out of this one?
"ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"
Sage and Mia looked up in surprise as an energy tipped arrow slashed through the demon ranks missing them completely.
"Long time no see, Sage," chuckled Rowen.
Sage whirled around to face a grinning Rowen hanging from the sky in his blue energy ball.
"Need a lift?"
Sage nodded relieved. Rowen swooped down to catch Mia and Sage. He strained heavily not used to carrying passengers. Rowen panted, but managed to get them clear over to the Warlords where he collapsed upon his knees. Dais caught his shaking form before he fell to the ground.
"Rowen are you okay?" asked Kale sweeping a vampire with his blade.
Rowen nodded slightly as he wheezed, "Yeah, just tired."
Dais snorted and propped the tired warriors against a fallen piece of concrete. Mia sat down next to Rowen and sighed, while Sage moved up next to Kale and helped him keep the Demons at bay.
"Hey guys need some help? SUPER WAVE SMASHER!"
Sekhmet looked up to see the three missing Ronins join their circle. He nodded towards Kento who set a crying Ulie down to be comforted by Mia.
"So you are back on our side?" Dais asked.
"Back and ready for action, magic man," Kento chuckled showing off his arm muscles.
Dais rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "And I should be glad?"
"Guys, where is Malaca?" Ryo asked.
Kale looked up, "Haven't seen her since the beginning of the battle, Ryo."
Ryo cursed underneath his breath, "Shit!"
"Looking for someone?"
Ryo jerked up in surprise, but relaxed as he saw Malaca drifting overhead. Sekhmet frowned.
'I didn't know she could fly out of Dragon form.'
"Malaca, where were you?"
Malaca shook her head and pointed behind her, "Catching some scum."
Daemon was bound behind her, his body stretched between the web like prison. She smirked at the Ronins below her. Sekhmet frowned further and tapped Dais' shoulder. He glanced over at him, and Sekhmet motioned towards the web.
~Does this seem..familar?~
Dais nodded with a frown, "Get Kale."
Sekhmet grabbed blindly behind him and dragged Kale over, "HEY!"
"SSHHHHH!" the two warlords whispered.
"Um...did I miss something?" he asked confused.
Dais shook his head, "Just follow our example."
"RYO! HE'S ALIVE, KILL HIM!" Malaca yelled watching Daemon come to.
Daemon blinked his eyes and looked around~Oh shit, not again. REVENGE!~
Revenge looked up with a start, 'Malaca?'
~GET ME THE FUCK DOWN BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS!~
~WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!~
~I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!~
'Amateur.'
Revenge leapt out from behind a concrete slab and slammed his entire weight into the illusion of Malaca. He twirled around as he landed lightly on his feet and charged again.
"Revenge, what are you doing? Has Daemon taken you under his control?" the Malaca illusion asked as it dodged another snap from Revenge's mouth.
~Asshole, free her.~
"I am free Revenge, don't you remember?"
Revenge jumped over Malaca and snapped his mouth. His body lay close the ground as he snarled, every inch of fur standing on end.
"So, we were right," Dais whispered.
"I'm lost."
"Shut up, Kale!"
"RYO YOU HAVE TO KILL HIM BEFORE HE MAKES REVENGE KILL ME! I CAN'T FIGHT REVENGE!" shouted the Malaca illusion.
Ryo nodded and slashed forward with both katanas unsheathed. The Daemon image looked up.
'Oh shit.'
"RYO NO!" yelled the warlords waving their hands.
~STOP THIS WILDFIRE!~
"What's going on?" Rowen coughed.
"I don't know," answered Mia.
Ryo shoved both katanas through the Daemon image's stomach. The Daemon image cried out as the web dissolved and Ryo took his katanas from its body. The Malaca illusion began to cackle wickedly. The illusions dropped reveling that they had fallen for the same trick twice.
"Malaca?" Ryo whispered as her body landed on the ground with a wet thud.
~MALACA! YOU ASSHOLE, YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT! ANIMALS OF THE MYSTIC, WE MUST DESTROY THOSE WHO DESTROYED US!~ Revenge howled.
"Malaca," cried Ryo.
Malaca looked skyward, 'Well Dragon, looks like we won't get to play on death's doorway after all. I'm already there. Too bad, it was going to....be...fun.'
Her eyes closed for the last time as the breath left her body. The ground rumbled and shook spitting lava and fury through the cracks. Akira looked upwards.
"No, it can't be can it, Akira?" whispered Diagon.
Akira nodded and hung his head, hiding the tears that threatened to spill over. Diagon hugged Akira, hiding his tears as well. Korin looked on his hands clasped in front of him.
Horo jerked up in surprise, "No, its impossible!"
"What happened Rowen?" Mia asked trying to shake him out of his shock.
"Malaca's dead," he stated coldly.
Mia jerked back, "No."
Roars of fury and anger startled all who surrounded her broken body. Ryo continued to look down at her chanting softly in his head.
'No no no no no no no no no.'
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Ryo cried out loud.
"They'll pay, they'll pay, do you hear me? THEY'LL PAY!" Ryo could barely hold his anger in check.
~Fight with us Wildfire~they called him.
Ryo looked around, for he was surrounded by animals~Help us get revenge~
Revenge stepped forward~Call us to arms Wildfire.~
Ryo nodded, "RONIN WARRIORS TO ARMS!"
"Huh?"
Each on of the Ronin armors began to glow with power. Daemon stepped back in surprise and then began to run. Revenge intercepted him with a snarl, pushing him back towards the angry Ryo. Others joined him, each armored in several armors. Revenge looked on as the only unarmed figure. A tiger armored in red armor jumped forward.
~LIGHT FLARE!~
Daemon screamed and covered his eyes, "Who are you?"
A small panther ripped into his chest~TIDAL WAVE!~
"Who are you!" he cried again.
They ignored him giving Ryo time to armor up to the ultimate armor.
"ARMOR OF INFERNO!"
Revenge smirked, it was time.
"RAGE OF INFERNO!"
The armored familiars jumped out of the way and landed next to the furious Wildfire. They all shared a collective smirk. Daemon screamed out once before he was evaporated into dust.
"WHOOHOOO!" a shout came from the surrounding air.
Ryo glanced around confused, 'I must be going crazy, I could swear that I just heard her,' he choked back a sob, 'No that's impossible, she's dead.'
Revenge let out an ear-piercing howl as Ryo fell down beside Malaca's dead body. He released a single tear to fall upon her face. Ryo began to sob uncontrollably. Rowen came up behind him, still weak and leaning heavily upon Kento. He laid a hand on one of Ryo's shoulders. Kento hung his own head in defeat.
'Was I wrong about her?'
"Ryo, she's gone."
"No, Rowen she's not....she's just pretending. Yeah, that's it pretending."
Dais shook his head, "Wildfire, she's gone."
"NO!" Ryo cried glaring at Dais with a bloodshot eye, "she's not. Damn it, she's not!"
~Wildfire~
"Who's calling me?"
Sai looked down at Revenge. Revenge shrugged.
~Don't look at me, I didn't do anything.~
~Wildfire, you can still save her.~
"How?" he whispered.
"Come on man, let her rest in piece," Kento moved up and tried to pull Ryo away, Rowen still leaning upon him.
Ryo jerked away and glared at them again, "Leave...me...alone!"
"He's going crazy," Kale shook his head.
~Wildfire, you know how to save her.~
"How?"
"Ryo, stop it! You're going insane! Snap out of it!"
"No, he's not."
The remaining Ronins looked up at the three coming figures. Korin was looking intently at Ryo. He cocked his head in amazed puzzlement. Akira looked slightly confused, while Diagon shrugged. He had no idea what they were talking about.
"Don't you see? They're helping him," Korin whispered.
"Who are helping him?" Sekhmet stepped forward in Korin's way.
Korin looked up dazed, "The Elementals are helping him bring back Malaca."
Sekhmet jerked back, "Why would they be helping her?"
"The prophesy," Akira stated shortly. Diagon grimaced.
"What prophesy?"
"Not now, watch."
~Wildfire, follow us. We will show you how to save the lifeblood. Reach inside of her soul. You can only do this once, so listen carefully.~
Ryo nodded and placed his hand upon her forehead. His armor power began to blink in and out. Ryo felt his kanji of virtue lit up on his forehead in answer to her dead power.
~Now, link your soul to hers. You will feel her pain, and she will feel yours. You'll see her past, and she'll see yours. You will be able to sense where she is and her to you.~
Ryo shivered not liking seeing the past, but reluctant to give up the chance to bring her back.
~Now call her Wildfire, she's waiting.~
He extended both hands so that they hovered over her prone form. Ryo frowned in concentration as he closed his eyes. Mia gasped as a white glow began to form over his armored hands. Sage held her close and she watched wide-eyed, clutching on to Ulie to keep him from interfering.
Ryo felt her soul coming nearer to his and he smiled slightly, diving ahead to meet up with her. The two souls collided into each other, allowing a bright flash of light to explode. Ryo fell backwards squinting from the bright light.
Kale swept up his cape to hold in front of his eyes. He looked down to noticed Ulie holding his hand in front of his own, and not succeeding in holding out the light. Kale shook his head and bent down to cover Ulie's face with his cape. Ulie looked up at him and smiled, while Kale winked at him.
"Malaca?" Ryo called as the light faded.
He jerked as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Akira smiled down at him with an anxious Diagon behind him.
"Give her time to heal, young armor bearer. She's alive don't worry. Just give her time to heal."
Hey all-
*yawns* Well its late at night by the time I finally finished this chapter, and I think I'm almost at the end. Only a real long epilogue to finish it out.
*Rolls eyes* don't you just hate those? Ja ne!
Malaca