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| Scroll Ten: Final Sacrifice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The wizards backed away as the two masters of the land prepared to face off. It had been well over a century since the last time the two openly battled - and many places on the Isles still bore the scars of those dark days. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Enchantress - get back - this is my fight," Markys stated seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My place is by your side," she retorted stubbornly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That can be arranged princess," the Mountain King taunted. It was then that a power unlike he had ever seen in Markys flared! "Touched a nerve did I? Don't tell me you fell for this one too? My nerves! Two in as many trips," he muttered in disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shut up," Markys hissed. Enchantress's eyes began to glow white. Just then Markys began to age until she was an adult. "If you think I will let you lay one of your filthy hands on her - you are dumber than you are," she hissed. The Mountain king blinked in modest disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He backed away from the sorceress as he could feel the balance shifting. She was once again the supreme being on the isle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is the matter?" Markys taunted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - grew - how the hell did you grow so fast?" he asked. Markys blinked as she looked down and saw that her body was full-grown again. She looked over her shoulder and saw Enchantress extending her hand at her. Her eyes were glowing white. "The girl? That little plaything is empowering you?" he asked as a flaming sword appeared in his hand. He leaped up and prepared to come down - bringing his weapon down in an arching motion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Markys believed she knew how the girl was doing what she was and decided to put it to the test. She extended her hand. Magically - the Mana Sword - Enchanter's most powerful weapon appeared. She held the weapon out and blocked the demon's strike. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Naughty - naughty. Have you been holding out on me honey?" the Mountain king taunted as Markys flipped him away. Markys looked at the girl who was concentrating on using her powers for her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A wish master - another existed," Markys muttered. She shook her head. She could figure it out after she dealt with her enemy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over where the wizards were... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She knows," Tithian muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The child is a wish master," another wizard added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She revealed herself - she will kill her as soon as the fight is over," Lithian added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If - the child is lucky," Tithian added - the dragon shook its head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back where the fight was - Enchantress could hear the words of the wizards - although it sounded like an echo carried by the fog. She knew that she had given away her secret - but there was no other way for her to protect Markys from the demon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Be strong," Enchantress whispered as she fell to her knees. In her mind she could see Markys and the Mountain King fighting through a dense fog. "I will not let him hurt you," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over where the two demons were fighting the Mountain King laughed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have the girl completely brainwashed. Why fight? Together we could rule the world - or even better - expand our power beyond these paltry islands," the demon suggested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will not let you do to her what you did to me!" Markys shouted as she savagely knocked the Mountain King back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't tell me that you - actually love the whelp," he remarked. Just by the look in her eyes he knew the answer. "My nerves - you do," he laughed. "How touching - just as I corrupted you - so too did you corrupt her. The only difference is - you did so out of greed," he mocked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shut up," she muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Look at her," the demon taunted her. Markys looked over and could see that Enchantress was in pain. "Know why she is hurting? Because she allowed herself to be seduced by a demon," he remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fight my love - do not let the demon into your head," the voice of Enchantress whispered in Markys' head. Markys leaped to the side as the Mountain King's sword dug into the ground where she had been standing. "The power is within you," the voice whispered. Markys spun around. The Mana Sword shattered the Mountain King's sword and cut the demon lord deep across the chest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Mountain King staggered back as he glared at the child. The wound on his chest hurt like hell - but he had dealt with far worse. He tossed the remnants of his sword aside and held his arms out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Go on whore. Strike me down. Remember? Your zealousness bound us together. You think you know hell? You think you know of suffering? Just wait until the two of us - bound together are returned to the ether," he remarked. Markys blinked. He was right. if she killed him - she too would die. "Tell me honey - what was the point of this little exercise in futility?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It can not continue like this," she muttered as uncertainty took hold of her. The Mountain King smiled. His claws extended. Enchantress blinked - her eyes were normal. She saw the demon lord charging towards Markys. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No!" she exclaimed as she flew over and threw herself in front of Markys. The Mountain King slammed his claws into Enchantress's stomach with such force that he knocked the two woman down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Enchantress?" Markys muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fight him - my last wish - is that - you be free," she strained weakly as the last bit of life left her body. Markys twitched as she looked at the body of the girl that had sacrificed herself for her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What a sweetie," The Mountain King remarked. She looked up at the beast that had killed Enchantress. "The dying wish of a wish master was that you be free of me. That being the case - I don't need you alive any more," he rationalized. A powerful kick knocked Markys away from the dead djinn. Markys flipped herself up to her feet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For too long - I have allowed you to take and take from me. If you think I will let you be free - if you think I will let you continue to exist after everything you have done to me - you are more a fool than I could have ever imagined," Markys hissed as she floated up to her feet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In her mind she could see the spirit of Enchantress floating in the air over her dead body. Tears escaped her eyes as another person she loved slipped through her fingers because of that demon lord. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| That feeling began to churn within her again - a rage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mana swirled around her as the armor of Chaos appeared on her. She extended her hand - the sword of Chaos appeared in her hand. When her eyes opened - they were glowing red. A whip of flames appeared in the hands of the Mountain King. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One last dance honey. Only one of us will walk away from this free - and that one - will be me!" he taunted as he raced at her. Markys closed her eyes and took on a fighting stance. She felt the lash of the Mountain King dig into her flesh - cutting through her armor - almost all the way to the bone. But in spite of this she stood her ground. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was then - when the Mountain King was close enough that she attacked! She spun around like a dervish. One cut completely severed the hand that held the whip from his body. Another cut cleaved his opposing arm clean off. Another cut slashed him from his shoulder to hip. A series of powerful punches and kicks then knocked the demon lord up and over into the rocky surface of the mountain. Through the haze of rage and pain - he saw Markys standing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am lord and master here demon - your taint will no longer burden these lands," she said as she spun around and threw the Mana Sword and Chaos Sword at the immobile demon. The Mountain King screamed out as the two legendary blades imbedded deep into his chest. Pinning him to the mountain like a butterfly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Just then - a jolt of pain stabbed at Markys! It was as though the death stroke that she used against the Mountain King was hurting her as well. The dying demon saw Markys staggering and began to laugh. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Looks like your little girlfriend lied," he mocked laughing as though going insane. "I - will see you in hell," he added. Markys fell to her knees and looked over to where Enchantress fell and saw the spirit of the dead djinn walking towards her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - lied to me - why?" the dying demon asked. Enchantress knelt before her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never lied. You are free," the sprit said as she began to kiss the dying master of the island. The other wizards watched as Markys fell over. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Behind them Markys found herself standing. She looked at her hands - she was alive? She looked over at her dead body and watched as the souls of the wizards she and the Mountain King had consumed to steal their powers escaped. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She gasped as she saw Toy Maker and Tuly walk by her. They smiled at her - there was no hate in them. She looked to the wizards that were present amidst the crowd of spirits - it was as though they didn't notice them - or couldn't. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She jerked her head to the side and saw Lord Arachnid and Nibbles walking amidst the crowd of spirits. He looked over at her and smiled. Frantically she looked around and hoped to see the spirit of Enchantress. She tensed up as she saw Enchanter smiling at her - behind him - emerged Enchantress. Enchantress smiled at her as she then vanished into Enchanter. Only then did she realize - who Enchantress really was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "His wish," she muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Was for you," a familiar voice replied. She quickly turned around and saw Tydiss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She can't be gone," Markys muttered. Tydiss stepped forward and put her arms around her to console her. "Why are you here?" she asked bitterly. "Have you come to mock me?" she asked - pushing herself away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - I - I've come to bring you home," she replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That ain't going to happen sister," a familiar voice hissed. The two looked over and saw the spirit of the Mountain King standing before an ethereal flaming portal. "Me and the lady have an appointment elsewhere," he hissed as he raced through the crowd of spirits. Markys raised her hands to protect herself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No," she muttered. It was then that the hands of the demon's spirit passed harmlessly through her. Markys opened her eyes and saw the demon doing everything in his power to get a grip on her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This can't be," he stammered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Return from whence you came foul one," Tydiss whispered. It was then that flaming tentacles shot out from the portal coiled around the Mountain King and dragged him through the portal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How?" Markys muttered. It was then that the small army of spirits began to fly up into the heavens and other unmentionable places of afterlife. Her eyes fixated on Enchanter - the man that had saved her - in spite of everything she had done to him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are no longer a demon Markys," Tydiss replied. Hesitantly Markys tried to tap into the power of the lands - but the power was gone to her. She fell to her knees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My powers are gone," she muttered. It was then that the wizards realized that Markys was alive and behind them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Powerless you say?" Lithian remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She is under the protection of my people. If you wish to try - to take her- you will have to do so through me and my followers," Tydiss interrupted - a magical spear appearing in her hands. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not to burst your bubble Tydiss - but - you are a long way from home," Tithian pointed out. It was then that the clouds seemingly fell as an army of djinns surrounded the gathering with weapon's ready to strike. "I stand corrected. But do you think that this will change a thing? Do you think this will sate her hunger?" the dragon asked. Tydiss looked over at her sister and could see the emptiness that hid within. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know - that she has learned - how much power can cost. Not just physically - but emotionally - and spiritually. She is our concern - not yours," Tydiss rebutted seriously. The dragon smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So be it. If she wishes to return home - none here will oppose. However - should she leave the protection of your valley - she will be free game. She has much to answer for - in spite of this," Lithian stated as the dragon flew away. Tydiss watched as the other wizards walked away as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Am I being a fool Markys?" Tydiss asked. She watched as her sister walked over and cradled the dead body of Enchantress. "Was all of this for nothing? All of the pain - all of the sacrifice? Will you return down that hungry path for power - or will you come home?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have lost everything," she muttered. Tydiss walked over and knelt down behind her sister. "She would be alive if not for me? Why did she have to come? I don't deserve," she began but broke down. Tydiss put her arms around her sobbing sister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She came because it was the wish of Enchanter. He saw that you were in pain and knew that - you were worth saving. When she came of age - she wanted to find you. Because that part of him - still lived in her," Tydiss began as she put her hands on her sister's shoulders. "And as for deserve - she loved you - with all her heart. That was why she was willing to give everything of herself - body and soul - to make sure you could survive and live," she added. "And sister - never question that you deserve that kind of love," she whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I thought you hated me," Markys muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hated what you became. And the further down that path you went - the harder it became to see you as the sister I knew and loved - instead of the demon you were turning into," she whispered. Markys timidly lifted Enchantress up - refusing to let her go. "Do you want to come home?' she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If - if I am welcome," she stammered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You will always be welcome," Tydiss reassured with a friendly smile she leaned over towards Markys. "Enchantress - she gave you a special gift," she whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have the power - to dream," she whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - I can? She did so much for me - how can I ever?" Markys stammered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Live - bring love and honor to her memory. Come sister - this land has to heal - and we have much to do," Tydiss said with a smile as the djinns flew up and headed back towards their home in paradise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The End | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||