Dragon Flames

Epilogue

By: Malaca

She was silent as she sat not twitching a muscle content in watching the leaves fall in their exotic dances. She had yet to blink and was so frighteningly still it made most shiver as they looked upon her. Ryo sighed and leaned his full weight on the opposite hand. Rowen was also uncomfortable to watching Malaca sit on the porch chair like a servant waiting a command.

"What's wrong with her Ryo? She said it was bad, but this bad?"

Ryo glanced up at him sharply, "You know too?"

He nodded, "Yeah, she told me only a couple nights before this all happened, you?"

"Yeah, I guess they weren't kidding when I would see her past, I wonder if she sees mine?"

"I don't know, something has to be done though. This is tearing her and us, apart."

Ryo frowned, "Do you want to talk to her again?"

"No, you do it."

Ryo nodded and squatted down to be eye-level, "Malaca?"

She was silent in answer. Ryo shook his head and tried to grasp her hand. Malaca jerked away mechanically.

"Mia, what's wrong with her?" asked Ulie watching with the rest.

Mia shrugged and held the boy close, "I don't know Ulie. Ryo and Rowen won't tell us."

"Malaca listen to me. Put the past behind you, come out of your shell," whispered Ryo.

"It won't help," a voice sighed placing a hand on the wired Wildfire's shoulder.

Ryo jerked around and looked at the grim faced Akira with Horo, Korin, and Diagon not to far behind.

"What do you mean it won't help? She's been like this for almost two weeks! What do you want us to do? Just sit here and stare or become like her? Oh wait, that's all she is doing, sitting there and staring!" cried Rowen.

Dais leaned over to Kayura, who had missed the battle, "I think Strata is pissed. How much do you want to bet that he slugs him?"

Kayura turned around and glared at Dais, "Now is not the time."

"I'll take you up on that bet, I think he's got more willpower," stated Kale with a smile.

"Calm down young armor bearer, I meant no disrespect, but we have known her longer than you have," Akira answered coolly.

Ryo frowned, "What do you suggest?"

"Let us try."

Rowen snorted, "And what makes you think you'll be any different?"

"Because we'll try something different from you have," he sighed.

"Rowen, its okay. We might as well, we have nothing to lose that's for sure," Ryo sighed hanging his head.

Diagon looked at him sharply, but soon let his usual jokers mask fall firmly in place, "Akira do you think it'll work?"

"It's worked before Diagon," commented Akira in answer.

Kayura waved her hand, "Wait this has happened before?"

Diagon glared at her, "Yes, unfortunately, and there is only one solution."

"What?"

"Watch," Akira said stepping up on the porch and glared down at Malaca, "you are worthless you know that don't you? Why should anyone care for you when you act like such a spoiled brat? Do you hear me? The Eclipse leaders are dead, so what's one more? If you're really are a leader show me."

Malaca refused to respond and Diagon shifted worried, "Akira?"

"Shh. Malaca the Dragon Counsel wishes for you to go on another assignment. This one is to that dimension you mentioned once."

Silence.

Akira chewed his lip and his face lit up suddenly, "Malaca this is your father speaking. Do you like my new form? It suits me just fine and now I can show you what it can do."

That got a reaction out of her. Malaca looked up sharply her eyes startling calm and focused. Akira smiled.

"Come on pretty."

Malaca growled low in her throat. Rowen stepped forward to push Akira away from her.

"Leave her alone man, that's cruel."

Akira stopped him with a hand, "You know what I want, don't you? Come on, just let me. It'll be easier. I promise."

With an audible snap Malaca leapt forward with the grace of a hunter and attacked Akira. He barely managed to duck backwards in retreat. Diagon bristled, but remained still.

"Come on show me what you got."

Malaca twirled around to slam her weight into Akira and sent him flying several feet away. Akira managed to twirl around and land on the balls of his feet. Malaca crouched lower and snarled with an inhuman snarl. She slammed her hand down on the ground and the ground shook from her unheard command. Akira jumped away in time to miss spitting lava erupt from where he just was. He wasn't in time to dodge a pouncing Malaca. She pinned his arms down with little effort.

"Oh shit, Diagon she's powering up!" yelled Akira.

Diagon's eyes widened, "Come on, we have to help. AKIRA!"

Diagon shaded his human form for the quicker speed of his demonic counterpart. He then slashed out at the insane Malaca. She jumped backwards and missed his claws without even looking up to acknowledge her new opponent. The diamond sharp claws shone in the fading sunlight.

"Malaca wake the hell up!" he snarled not looking back at where Korin was helping Akira to his feet with Horo standing guard not to far back.

Malaca roared in response. Diagon jerked up. Yellow skin stretched and he managed to squeak in surprise.

"Diagon, she's using her Dragon powers."

"I REALIZED THAT AKIRA! I thought you said she couldn't do that when she goes wild," snapped Diagon as he dodged a furious swipe from Malaca.

Akira frowned, "She never was able to do it before."

"WELL SHE CAN NOW!" shouted the exasperated Diagon who yet again did an impossible twist to dodge the angry huntress.

Malaca snarled her eyes alight with pure fury and power. Diagon cringed as he cartwheeled away from her vengeful power. Malaca snapped again as she leapt for Diagon. Diagon squawked as he was dragged from the air in one swoop. He wiggled slightly to escape her grasp. She merely tightened her grasp as they landed heavily on the ground with Diagon on the bottom. To his credit, Diagon only grunted as the air was forcefully shoved out of his lungs before rolling over to throw the Dragon off of him.

Horo stood ramrod straight, "We've got to help him."

"Yes, our odds are better at subduing her if we all fight at the same time," nodded Korin.

"Okay lets go then," snapped Akira jumping forward. "Idiots," he muttered, "they don't know who they are dealing with."

Horo smiled, he couldn't wait to see how he matched up to the legendary leader of the Eclipse. This made him exceptionally cocky seeking to start fighting before examining his opponent. A simple energy blast sent him flying. Akira shook his head is slight amusement. Korin snapped at how Horo was treated so roughly.

Diagon looked up barely winded, "So leader, what do we do?"

"I really don't have the foggiest," retorted Akira.

"Oh great plan," Diagon rolled his eyes, "I should take notes."

The sorcerer gave him an exasperated glare. Diagon couldn't help but grin in return. Horo moved up to Akira, rubbing his back slightly in pain with eyes intent on the growling huntress.

"So let me get this straight, we have to stop her without HURTING her!" he snapped.

Diagon nodded at Horo's frustrated face.

"That's impossible!"

"It's got to be done," retorted Akira.

Korin stepped up, "I agree with Horo, its more likely that she'll hurt us over us hurting her. Is it wise to let her rampage wild when we haven't given our full effort in subduing her?"

"See, I'm not the only one!" Horo flung up his arms with a wince.

Malaca was pacing back and forth in such a manner that made Akira anxious. She was powering up for another attack and right now was choosing a victim. The crackling of power and the green force that surrounded her body didn't make any of the hunters particularly happy to fight her at the moment. Her eyes were green with the wildness that exist in all Dragon's.

At that moment between attack and waiting was when Revenge choose to return from where he had been at since the battle. In tow were the several cats that they had seen at the battle. Revenge immediately dropped the small parchment he held in his mouth and jumped in front of Malaca, grabbing her hand with his mouth and bit down.

Malaca stopped confused and the green light in her hazel eyes faded away. Revenge rolled his eyes~Must you always be so melodramatic?~

She blinked and shook her head, but quickly grabbed it as she found that it hurt when she moved it so rapidly. Revenge dropped her hand and snorted.

"What just happened?"

Diagon grinned and swiftly shifted forms and hugged her tight. Malaca was once again startled but she returned the hug in force. Akira stepped towards her with the other hunters following warily.

"How do you feel?" Akira asked tired.

Malaca shrugged, "Like there is circus of elephants dancing inside my head, what else is new?"

Ryo ran down to meet her since she was no longer trying to make dinner out of her friends, but stopped a few feet away uncertain. Malaca looked up and caught his eyes before turning away ashamed.

"It happened again didn't it?" she asked quietly.

Silence was her answer and that's all she needed to confirm her worst fears. She sighed and pulled away from Diagon still refusing to look Ryo in the eye.

"I guess I got some explaining to do?"

~That's the understatement of the year~snorted Revenge.

Hey Guys!

Well I'm happy to say that the battle between the Ronins and the demon force over here is over for now. We won, thank God, with little casualties. The only one I truly regret is Quickstrike, he was a loyal friend and mount. I hope he rests in peace knowing that we remember him. Ulie's parents died as well, only more innocent blood that stains our hands. After the battle the possession and controlling that Ryo, Sage, Sai, and Kento went through wore off, they were full of questions. That's when I realized that I couldn't hide anymore, so I relented and told them the majority of my life and of the demons. They took it well for humans. I guess having magical armor does that to you. I finally realized with the help of my armor and kanji that they truly are my friends.

Rowen, bless him, has become very close to me. If I had a brother I would want him to be like Ro. He knows of my past with my father and he also knows how it feels. He himself has had a hard life with his father, at least I can tell that with the sketchy details I drug up from him and the haunted look he has in his eyes. I mean his mother took the dog over him and his brother. I don't know where his brother is now, but I sense that he is no longer in this plane. I know I'll have to be here for Ro just like he was here for me.

Mia has become close to me as well, there are just things that you can't talk to even your closest guy friend. You know girl stuff. She's supportive of my past and makes sure that I'm comfortable. I guess with her grandfather's death at the hand of the Dynasty she has demons still to put behind her. Ulie's trouble is help to her. His parents death at the last battle leaves Mia to take care of him. A personal mission that she can focus on.

Akira and Diagon have finally started to discover their feelings for each other and all that I have to say about this is ABOUT TIME! Yep, that's me in a nutshell. They're on the way back to Miami tomorrow and I wish them luck. Akira even gave up his position as leader and I'm happy for him. He never liked leading anyway. Guess who I recommended to the Guardian of Ice to take over? Diagon of course! He's a good people's person and will unite the clan. Especially with him finally accepting his bloodlines and using it to fight the evil instead of giving up.

Surprisingly Korin is actually an undercover hunter! After all that time of doubting. *sigh* I need to learn to trust more. Actually I'll leave that to Sai, it's his department. Anyway Horo and Korin are actually partners and belong to the clan in Tokyo, Japan. Surprise surprise. I'm glad that I'll have backup from now on and some close relations in the nearby clan. I'm too use to clan life I guess.

Ryo, what can I say about Ryo. There is something that draws me to him, no doubt, but I guess you can say I'm afraid. Now don't laugh! I get scared just like everyone else. But I know Ryo is different and won't intentionally hurt me. I just don't won't to associate him with my father.

Life is pretty much grand over here. Revenge has located the other familiars to the Mystic armors, so I think that I'm supposed to revive the owners. *shrugs* Who knows? I also learned something about Ryo. He's afraid of lions. Spade went up to say hi and he freaked out. Something about the death of his father. It took some calming but I think he knows now that Spade wouldn't kill him or anything.

I have a new mission that actually Mia found out for me. It seems that my search for the Demon Lord has ended. The demonic activity is rising in Sunnydale, California so it looks like I'm off to America again to see if the Demon Lord can be stopped. The Ronins will be backup, but will stay over here unless I'm sure I'll need help. After all, I'm the one who's got to get rid of him.

On a lighter note, I've pretty much put the past behind me. I mean it's the present right now, so why worry about something that I can't take back? Yeah, I know optimist me is pretty unusual, but I'm trying. I love you all guys. I hope to see you all soon. Ja!

Malaca

*wipes sweat off of forehead* Whew, this took forever to get out. With my computer shutting down right when I finished this, I was definitely not a happy camper. I had to rewrite the entire thing. Oh well, the second came out better. I'm so glad I finally finished this series, it was getting old. Anyway, look forward to me actually finishing Demon Lord and a serious rewrite of Dragon Wars and Out of Character. I didn't realize how bad they were until I read them again. Ja!

Malaca

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