| The 10th Warrior Chapter 10: Victory Over Evil |
| Author's note: I would like to specially thank Sailor Halo for helping me with this chapter when I was in a stump. I would also like to thank everyone who wrote and reviewed my story. It has been a great encouragement to me. ~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~ "Dais, stop fighting me. I am not your enemy!" shouted Anubis as he once again avoided a blast from Kayura. "Talpa is who you should be fighting. He is only using you so he can attain the armors. Once he has the Ronins, he will no longer need you and destroy you!" Dais, Sekhmet, and Kale all ceased their fighting and looked at Anubis. "He isss right," hissed Sekhmet. "He makes sense." Anubis noticed that Makoto began to occupy Kayura and took the opportunity to get closer to his three former allies. "You don't have to serve Talpa." "It's all we know," said Kale, his faceplate sliding back in unison with Dais and Sekhmet. "Not so. We all had lives before Talpa brought us into the Dynasty," reminded Anubis. "You are individuals. You don't have to serve Talpa!" "He...is...right," said Dais as the kanji of Serenity appeared on his forehead. The kanji of Obedience appeared on Kale's forehead and he nodded. "We don't have to serve him." Finally, the kanji of Piety glowed on Sekhmet's forehead as a look of pleasure lit up his eyes. "We will help the Ronins." Their thoughts were interrupted by Makoto's cry of pain and her form creating a ditch in the gground as she went plowing towards Anubis, and stopped at his feet. "Traitors!" exclaimed Kayura, throwing three objects at the Warlords. "Talpa will not tolerate your betrayal." The three objects hit their marks and static field surrounded the three stunned warriors. Anubis watched in horror as the three warriors were then lifted up into three waiting ships above. "We have to stop them!" exclaimed Makoto, coming up next to Anubis, clutching her side. "You try to free the Warlords. I'm going to try to speak to Kayura," said Anubis. He was moving towards her before she could say anything and Makoto looked up at the ships. "Here goes nothing then," she grumbled. The winds began to stir an dpick up around her and she was lifted off the ground and into the air. Directing the winds with as much concentration as she could without closing her eyes, she flew towards the closest ship. With a forceful gust, she clasped onto the edge of the ship and pulled herself up and onto the deck. She started towards Kale, where he stood struggling, but stopped in surprise as he was literally sucked into the ship. Five Nether Spirits rose up from the wood around the place and began to cry out, moving towards her. "I'm not going to win this one," she muttered, eyeing the spirits warily. As if on cue, the wood beneath her seemed to liquefy and she found her feet slowly sinking down. Makoto gasped in horrified surprise and used the rail next to her to pull herself out and she jumped over to the side of the boat. "I know you guys love me, but I need to go," she called over her shoulder before she leaped from the ship and teh groaning Nether Spirits. She landed on her feet in the shallow waters below and instantly ran for where she'd left Anubis and Lady Kayura. Makoto stood still and she gazed over the ruined fields, tears running down her cheeks. "He's dead," she whispered as she removed her helmet and sank to her knees. "I've failed everyone." ... Whirlwind. ... Makoto's head jerked upwards and she whipped her head around to see a glowing blue figure. "Anubis!" she gaped. ... Whirlwind, you must go help the other Ronins. I have given my armor to the Lady Kayura, but she will not be able to stand against Talpa alone. ... "You mean she's on our side now?" ... She has always been on the side of good, Whirlwind. Talpa merely controlled her mind, but we cannot talk of this now. The other Ronins are in grave danger, as is the mortal world. You must hurry to Talpa's fortress. ... "Do you know where I can find it?" ... Head South to find it. You must hurry. Once Talpa has reached full power, the two worlds will merge and all will be lost. ... Anubis's form slowly began to fade and Makoto leaped to her feet and ran before him. "Don't go, Anubis. Please!" ... I am sorry, Makoto. You must help your friends... Just remember... I will always be here. ... Makoto's eyes once again filled with tears as Anubis's form faded away and she stood weeping silently. A soft breeze blew across the battlefield and she defiantly wiped the tears from her cheek. "I'm coming, guys," she declared as the breeze intensified and she was lifted into the air. "Hold on...and I'll avenge you, Anubis. I'll see that Talpa pays for everything he's put you, the Warlords, Kayura, and my friends through." "Yuli! Hold on tight!" shouted Mia as White Blaze deftly made his way around the guards towards one of the ten pillars of Talpa's castle. "I'm trying, Mia!" returned Yuli, clutching his hands around her waist. White leaped high into the air as a javelin imbedded itself into the ground before the trio and Yuli cried out as he was flung into the air. "YULI!" screamed Mia, reaching back for the boy. Yuli looked back towards the approaching soldiers in horror while Mia and White Blaze began to come back around for him, but even he could see that the soldiers would be on him before they could rescue him. I guess I'm going to see mom and dad soon, he thought dismally. Suddenly, a white blur shot in front of him and blew the soldiers away. "Makoto!" exclaimed Yuli joyfully, his face breaking into a grin. Makoto glanced back. "Hi, Yuli, did you miss me?" Yuli laughed, braver for the moment as White Blaze took a moment to deposit Mia and then go to Makoto's side. He released a terrific growl and Yuli watched as the white tiger changed into Black Blaze. He never grew tired of seeing Black Blaze. "Black Blaze, I want you to take Mia and Yuli to safety. I'll keep these guys occupied." Black Blaze growled in afffirmation and with a final lethal swipe to a soldier, jumped over to where Mia and Yuli stood. "...But I want to..." started Yuli, but quieted when Makoto casted him a no-nonense look, stopped him from continuing. "Come on, Yuli," Mia said gently as she took his hand and ran for the nearest tower. Meanwhile, Makoto maneuvered her way over to another tower and began to run up its long stairs, dozens of soldiers pouring in after her. "Shoot. Where does Talpa get you guys, in bulk or something?" she exclaimed with a roundhouse kick that sent the leaders crashing down the staircase; taking the rest with them. She continued her run up the stairs to a trap door that she pushed open and slammed shut behind her, adding a number of barrels to keep it closed. Then she turned and hewr eyes widened as her eyes recognized none other than Sage sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, unconscious. "Sage! Wake up, I've come to get you out!" she exclaimed. Sage didn't budge and Makoto quickly moved in front of him and gently shook him. "sage?" she whispered, her heart beginning to beat faster. "Please...wake up." The violet eyes she had grown so fond of didn't open and Makoto began to panic, all the while the sounds of the soldiers drawing nearer. "Sage you can't leave me, too," she exclaimed desperately. "I've lost so many people. Don't let Talpa win." White Blaze was flung back and the soldiers advanced on the defenseless boy and girl, their weapons glinting in the light. "Why won't Ryo wake up!" shouted Yuli, backing away from the soldiers alongside Mia. "I don't know, Yuli," returned Mia, her voice filled with grief. "It must be this tower somehow." A soldier made a slash for Yuli and the young boy was saved by tripping backwards into Ryo's legs. "Ryo, help me!" screamed Yuli in pure fear. Suddenly, the Jewel of Life burst into light, and Ryo's eyes opened while the soldiers in the tower room vanished into piles of ashes. "Yuli?" Makoto turned as the door to the tower was blown in and she raised her sword. "Don't mess with me!" she screamed in pure anger. "SPIRAL WHIRLWIND!" The side of the tower exploded in a bright light as the winds tore through it, along with the soldiers. Makoto was temporarily blinded by white light and tehn saw Sage standing up with No Dachi in his hand. "Sage!" she exclaimed, running to him. Without a second thought, she threw her arms around him, and kissed him square on the lips. Sage's eyes widened in shock and then he began to participate in the kiss before Makoto suddenly pulled away, blushing terribly. Sage smiled down at her and gently lifted her chin to look her in the eyes. He was about to say something when the tower began to shake. Wordlessly, he took her hand and they ran to the hole made by Makoto's sure-kill and jumped out. "What's going on?" asked Kento once the two had landed, while eyeing the three Warlords that were being held at bay by Rowen, Cye, and Ryo. Makoto pulled away from Sage and ran between them. "Stop! They're on our side now." "Yeah, listen to Whirlwind," Kale exclaimed. "Makoto, what's going on?" demanded Kento, slightly cross. "Lady Kayura is fighting Talpa by now, so I'll tell you on the way," Makoto said quickly, pointing to the inner castle. "She's on our side now?" "There they are!" shouted Rowen from above in his blue bubble. Makoto and the eight other warriors nodded and spread out, running to different positions till Ryo gave the word. "You never should have tried to control me, Talpa," shouted Kayura, who had found temporary safety on a pillar. Talpa laughed from within his black armor. Makoto strained to see what he was doing from her perch in the shadows of a balcony. "Foolish woman. Do you honestly think you alone can defeat me?" "She's not alone, Talpa!" shouted Ryo, suddenly coming from his hiding place across the battle arena. Makoto stepped out from hiding, along with the other Ronins and the Warlords, and they circled Talpa. "Not so big, are we, Talpa?" taunted Kento, spinning his weapon in his hand. Talpa began to laugh and turned his head towards Makoto. "So I fight all of the armors now." An uneasy feeling gripped Makoto and she withdrew her sword, while the other warriors did the same, instinctively knowing Talpa was up to something. "Let's begin," said Talpa before anything could be done. Without moving his hands, a ring of red fire shot out from around his body and slammed into the warriors surrounding him. They all gave a cry of pain as they slammed into the walls behind them, but Ryo recovered quickly and just back into the fight. "Call on the white armor!" shouted Cye from one side. "Right!" chorused Rowen, Sage, and Kento. As one, they raised their armors and released their armor's powers and Makoto watched Ryo transform into the Armor of Inferno and was joined by Black Blaze, who gave him the Soul Swords of Fervor. "Makoto!" shouted Sage, indicating to her to give her power next. Just as she was raising her arm, however, she was surprised by a second blast from Talpa that sent her flying through the wall and hurtling down into a moat below. When she came back up from beneath the water, she saw the bright flashes from the battle. "I won't fail this time," she promised herself as she swam to the edge of the cliff and began to climb upwards. "I can do this." She felt the warm presence of her kanji on her forehead and a fierce wind lifted her up into the air and carried her up to the top of the castle wall. Down below, Talpa and Ryo met against each other with tremendous explosions that shook the ground. Around them lay the Warlords and Ronins in various states of consciousness. Then she turned to see Ryo trip backwards over a rock. Talpa was going to use it to his advantage and Makoto watched as he raised his sword. "Talpa!" she screamed, tearing he sword from the sheath on her back and leaping at his exposed backside. Talpa turned faster than she thought he could and met her sword with his. "Makoto! No!" exclaimed Ryo. "You should have run away, child," hissed Talpa, knocking her sword away with his easily. "Now you will be the first to be within me." Makoto was unable to move as his hand wrapped around her throat and she screamed out in pure agony as she felt herself literally absorbed into his body. "MAKOTO!" screamed Ryo and the other Ronins. Talpa laughed and turned to Ryo as his body suddenly began to shift grow. Mia and Yulia watched in horror as Talp grew once again the horrednous size he'd been when Ryo had last been forced to fight the demon. Ryo's face was filled with rage as he viciously attacked Talpa and pressed him back towards the very walls that Talpa had sent Makoto through earlier till he blasted Talpa through it completely and down to the moat below. ... Wildfire, only from within can Talpa be defeated. ... "Ancient?" ... You can only defeat him from within. ... Mia watched in despair as Talpa was again pulled himself up from the moat and watched as Ryo continued to stare off into space. "Mia, what's going on?" asked Yuli fearfully, clutching her skirt in his hands. "I wish I knew, Yuli," said Mia sadly, watching everything with sorrow. She didn't think Ryo would be able to defeat Talpa without Makoto'a swords. Talpa must have known that since he absorbed her first. Suddenly, a bubble surrounded Ryo and he was lifted into the air. "No! Ryo, don't give in!" screamed Sage, who looked both emotionally and physically beaten. "RYO!" screamed Yuli. Ryo didn't say a word as he was lifted upwards and Mia let out her own scream of sorrow as Ryo vanished into Talpa's body. < "Where am I?" > < "We're in Talpa's body." > < "Makoto? Are you all right?" > < "I'm very tired, Ryo. I'm trying to resist him, but he keeps drawing on my power. He's fighting the others as we speak." > < "Keep fighting, Makoto. We need to paralyze Talpa so the others can defeat him." > < "I don't understand." > < "Just trust me. Focus your mind on freesing Talpa." > < "I'll try." > Yuli's eyes grew wide with horror as Talpa turned towards him and Mia. "Now to take care of you. Give me the Jewel of Life and I will allow you to live for now," demanded Talp, holding out a large armored hand twice Yuli's own size. "No!" shouted Yuli, clutching the jewel close to him while backing into Mia. "Idiotic child. I could kill you f... aghhh!" Talpa stumled forward as his turned a slight gray tint. "Ryo?" whispered Mia in wonder. "Guys! Makoto and I are holding Talpa. Get him now. You have to destroy him." "But what about you?" asked Rowen from beyond Yuli's sight. "Don't worry about us," came Makoto's more strained voice. "It's two or a world of people. Don't put us over them." Some of the grayed armor began to melt back into its black color. Cye said something to the others tha Yuli couldn't decipher and they quickly surrounded Talpa. "No," whispered Yuli as the cold realization of death entered his nine-year-old mind. The Warlords joined the remaining Ronins in a circle and all the armors began to glow while the Jewel of Life began to glow as well. Tears fell from everyone's eyes as the lights radiating from the armors suddenly shot over to where Yuli stood and then from it to Talpa. Talpa screamed out in pure agony, still unable to move and after a magnificent flash of light, the demon was gone and the warriors were left to mourn for the loss of their two friends. Secondary note: I apologize if this battle ended so abruptly for some. I hope to rewrite it some day when I am actually done with everything. ^_^ Please write to me and/or review this story so I know what you thought of it. Thanks! |