It had taken them no time to get into the tomb of the Golden Army after coaxing the troll that wheeled himself about. Hellboy had been to see the angel of death and was feeling more spry then ever. The group moved quickly as they knew Prince Nuada had been threatening Princess Nuala.
When they arrived Nuada stand at the top of a platform that had shifting gears. Nuala was next to him. "Have you brought the piece Abraham?" He asked.
Liz gasped in shock as Abraham Sapien gave the final piece of the crown to Prince Nuada to awaken the Golden Army. "Abe how could you?"
"I had no choice. He was going to harm the Princess." He said rather ashamed of himself.
The piece was placed in the crown.
Aerith stepped forward to the middle of the intricate room.
"Short stack, what are you doing?" Hellboy asked.
"Prince Nuada I implore you to stop this." came a voice from the small covered frame.
Hellboy had always thought Aerith a male as 'he' had never uncovered 'his' face or spoke. Aerith always had baggy clothes on concealing 'his' frame. Also always had a black cloth covering the lower half of 'his' face and hair. He always associated 'him' with a ninja. The only thing any of the group ever saw was Aerith's eyes. The left a deep and piercing gold while the other had been scarred and blinded, though if it was uninjured Hellboy was sure it would be the same piercing gold color of the left.
Now that 'he' spoke, Hellboy wasn't so sure that Aerith was a man. "Finally found your voice, Short Stack?"
His words fell on deaf ears. "Please do not wake the Golden Army dear Prince of the Unseen World." Aerith placed a gloved hand over 'his' heart and bowed slightly.
"And who is this who speaks to me in such a matter? You are no human. I demand you show yourself to me." The prince said still holding the golden crown in his hands. He remembered at the bureau how difficult it was to fight this hidden creature but he knew right away that it was no human. The staff it wielded hurt considerably but there was no sharp points to it. Nothing to kill anything with.
"If that is what you wish." Aerith pulled off the cloth that housed it's head. Bright white hair cascaded down ending in a beautiful raven color. Her face was unearthly pale but no where near the bright white of the two royal elves. Her scarred right side of her face showed much more prominent now, running from the top of her forehead and down to the end of her chin. Her lips were a pale pink and there were intricate lines and swirls on her marking her as Elven.
Nuada had never seen an Elf such as this. She was different. He was awestruck. His sister beside him bore a gentle smile even given the circumstances.
The group Aerith came with let out a gasp. They had never seen her before. If they were all quite honest they had never thought she was a 'she'. She was always so well hidden and never spoke resorting to short nods and bows.
"I am Aerith. Daughter of Cyran of the Elfin army. Mother to Isabella of the Human world." She said giving a low bow.
Nuada snapped out of his trance. He scoffed "Human and Elf? Cyran was a great warrior of my father's army when the great war began. He would choose a human as a life mate?" He asked skeptical. Aerith nodded. "So you serve them? The humans? As some slave? Do they force you to hide yourself?" The prince asked. There was a dark fire in his eyes.
"No my Prince. I work with the humans to keep our kind safe." She said reaching behind her back to grab the red and gold staff that was attached to it. She brought the staff to the front of her "I do not kill nor have the humans demanded I do." She said. "Not all humans are hollow creatures dear Prince Nuada. I implore you to stop this destructive path."
He scoffed again. "Our world has been over run by those creatures like a disease. It has wrought havoc on our lands. I refuse to end this by the mere words of a halfling." The prince placed the crown on his head. He called upon the golden army. Gears began to spring to life. The BPRD group stood at the ready.
Krauss and Hellboy went to Aerith in the middle of the room. "Well Short Stack, you tried but it looks like his Royal assness is going to do this anyway."
Aerith nodded. She readied herself. Though she knew their efforts would be fruitless she knew she had to fight. Like a warrior. Like her father. If the Golden Army was let loose there would be no stopping them. She had to try.
Prince Nuada demanded that the Army kill the three in the middle. The machines began to attack. Aerith gracefully flipped between each machine attacking them with her staff. The hard metal of her staff connecting with the hard metal of the Golden Soldiers. It dented one in the head as she brought the staff down to damage it.
"Damn Short Stack! What is that staff made of?" Hellboy asked as he parried hit after hit of the armies blows. Aerith simply smiled. She jumped and ran up the army of one of the soldiers making the one next to it stab through the one she was running on to try and get her.
Krauss had taken over one of the machines and started battling it out as well.
After a good while of battling the army the machines lie broken on the ground. Aerith had a bit of perspiration on her forehead. She had not had to fight like that for awhile. It was exhilarating though she knew this was far from over. Hellboy seemed pretty pleased but his face fell when he saw the machines begin to reattach themselves. When they were done the army stood before them as if they were not just lying on the ground broken into pieces.
Aerith readied herself again. She was unsure if she would last much longer. She would try but she knew deep down that they were no match for this Army.
It was then that Hellboy challenged Nuada. Nuada was skeptical at first but Nuala confirmed that the big red demon was in fact a prince in his own right.
Aerith and Krauss stepped away from the coming battle. Nuada threw Hellboy a sword. The fight ensued.
Aerith watched carefully as the battle between the two raged. It was a spectacular battle that they fought. Nuada had all his Elfin grace and Hellboy had the grace of a Neanderthal but in the end Hellboy triumphed.
"Kill me. For I will not stop." The prince pleaded.
Aerith closed her eyes. Hearing that from the Prince of her people was heart breaking.
"Sorry pal. I win, you live." Hellboy said taking the crown off the prince's head. He turned to come back to the group.
Aerith saw it. The prince's intent written on his face as he pulled the dagger hidden in his belt. She looked up at where Nuala still stood and knew what the Royal twin was prepared to do to stop her brother. Aerith could not let that happen. The Royal family was too precious to be destroyed as that would surely seal the fate of the destruction of the Unseen Kingdom.
She acted quick. She ran infront of Nuada as he raised the dagger high and plunged it down intent on damaging the demon again.
Nuada brought it down hard and into Aerith's chest. He gave a gasp seeing her eyes widen in shock. They softened just as quickly though.
"NO!" Liz shouted running to Aerith.
Nuada held onto the little halfling. She reached just up to his shoulder. "What have you done daughter of Cyran?" He asked in disbelief. He held her hand in his. Even though she was a halfling she was still an elf.
"My life does not matter dear Prince." She said softly. He slowly brought her down to the ground. She gave a deep rattled breath. "The Royal blood lines must be protected...I...I had to stop you from destroying yourself and that...of... Princess..." Aerith's breathing slowed even more. Her good eye becoming unfocused as she slipped into unconsciousness. Her words stung him and he was unsure why.
Liz knelt down beside the two while Hellboy watched in shock. Princess Nuala stayed where she was with sadness in her eyes. Abraham went to her.
"We have to get her out of here." She said frantically. "Red can you carry..."
Nuada interrupted her "I will carry her. The demon is not quick enough to get her help." He said picking up the halfling. "Quickly tell me where I need to bring her."
" There is a team waiting just outside the entrance to this place." Liz said standing up.
Nuada nodded and lifted the halfling off the ground and ran out as quick as he could without hurting Aerith.