All non-original musical piece will be tagged with '*' and will receive a proper sourcing.
This is based through the idea of "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" by Activision.
Guitar Hero – Dirge of Fantasia
Chapter 3: Inferno Unicorn Remix
The Captain of the Royalgard platoon leapt back up to his feet with a horrified look. As he stood, he swiped up a nearby sword from the ground and held it tightly with quivering hands.
"Stay back, Dirges! I'm warning you?"
As the Captain faltered back, step by step, a pair of boys followed. A young girl with long white hair and red eyes also followed behind them
One boy had a calm and free-spirited look and smile. His sea-cerulean eyes glinted under small bon fires of recently erupted chaos. The other was taller and more confident than the other. An air of arrogance hovered over his expression as his fire-red hair wavered from the night air. They both held uniquely designed electric guitars as they smirked in their own personal behaviour.
"Oh really," grinned Siren, "you and what army, might I ask?"
The Captain's mind froze for a moment. He eyed the ground. Sure enough, his knightly soldiers were all knocked out from the two boys' special performances. He eyed the two young ones with horrified eyes. They were not human, thought the Captain, but monsters.
"I'm sorry if I have to correct you again, sir, but we're not Dirges," smiled Echo, "we're Guitar Heroes."
"This is not the last of us, monsters! The Royalgard will return with a vengeance!" hollered the Captain, "We won't stop hunting all of you until every last one of your forsaken kind is ridden from the face of this planet!"
Siren casually shrugged, "Honestly, why do we have to suffer? We're only out-of-the-normal people who just love music…" A smirk crossed his lips, "only with a magical twist…"
"DIE!" In pure madness, the Captain threw his remaining life forward at the two Guitar Heroes. Siren sighed, but cut it short by glimpsing a smile at Echo.
"Up for a double-whammy?"
"Glad to."
The two strummed their guitars hard and a column of energy waves were projected. Like an invisible hand, the waves gripped the Captain square right in the chest and threw him high into the air. His body descended with a heavy thud and he choked on his own breath.
"Ooh, that was a nice throw!" smirked Siren, hopping with excitement.
The Captain turned over and reached for another spear. With anger, he pulled it forward and prepared to strike at Echo and Siren again.
"STOP!"
The voice broke the Captain's focus like a glass and he skidded to a halt. He raised his eyes forward to stare directly at a pair of ruby red eyes.
"Please! Stop fighting," cried Lucy. The Captain's voice fell flat as his mind began to hear echoes. She had a shocking resemblance to someone; someone he was meant to find.
"Lucy?" blinked Echo. Lucy turned around and faced Echo and Siren.
"Please stop this fighting! I don't want to see it anymore, please!"
"What's up with you? You look like you've seen a ghost…" uttered Siren.
Lucy looked like she was in fear and pain as she tried to keep herself straight on her feet. It was as if she was struggling with herself. Her hands flew to her head when sudden images appeared in her mind. She collapsed to the ground on her knees and Echo reached for her with surprise.
"Lucy!"
"No more! No more killing! Please!" screamed Lucy. The Captain felt his innards twist, "Stop it, please stop! Leave her alone!" Lucy looked like she lost control of herself as her eyes widen with shock. Echo wrapped an arm around her, hoping to return her to her senses.
"Leave who alone?! What's wrong? Lucy?!"
"O-oi!" wondered Siren.
"You can have the throne if that is what you want! But please, don't kill my mother!" Lucy let out a blood-curdling scream and Siren flinched. The Captain too winced from Lucy's cry of agony. Echo held his calm gaze over her. He then hugged Lucy in comfort.
"Everything's fine…no one will die…I promised I will never let anyone hurt you…Please…come back to me…" Lucy's eyes softened for a moment. Her pale hands slowly lowered and rested on Echo's arm. Tears started to cascade from her solemn gaze and she buried her head against his chest. Echo lightly stroked the back of Lucy's head as he let her cry, "Don't worry…I'm here…"
"Echo!" snapped Siren.
Suddenly, Echo eyes caught something ahead. He swiftly brought up his guitar and blocked a direct blow from a sharp spear. The guitar remained unscratched as it firmly held back the tip of the blood-thirsty weapon. If Echo had reacted any later, it would have pierced Lucy back of her neck.
"So…" breathed the Captain. Echo stared at the man. The Captain held his spear against Echo's guitar as he looked at Lucy with a mad glare, "This is where you've been hiding…Princess Lucrecia…" Lucy gasped and her eyes widened, "I've finally found you…" Echo swung his guitar around and reflected the spear back. The Captain took a few steps backward and gripped his weapon tightly, "By the will of King Baldaroy…your life must cease to exist…"
Lucy shivered with horror as she turned. She could not even utter a sound as her eyes connected with the Captain. Siren leapt forward, in between Echo with Lucy, and the Captain. He readied his dragon-shaped guitar, Balrog.
"Amscray or else!"
"Do you have any idea who that girl is?!" Echo and Siren perked their heads up to the Captain's word. He madly stared at Lucy, "She is the unwanted heiress of the royal throne! I must kill her, by orders of King Baldaroy!"
Lucy clung onto Echo in sheer fear, "Please leave me alone! I said I don't want the throne anymore!"
The Captain narrowed his eyes, "As long as you exist, you are still an everlasting threat to his Majesty's reign…As a Royalgard, I must ease his pain and use all means to protect his position in dictatorship…"
Siren glared at the Captain spitefully, "I just had enough of your blabbering! Hit the skies creep!" The boy then slashed his hand across his strings and it blasted a massive wave at the Captain. The blast was so strong it practically shot the Captain into the air like a catapult. With an agonized cry, the Captain disappeared into the night. Siren smirked as he stroked his thumb under his nose, "Buh-bye!"
Echo held onto Lucy as tears kept rolling down her cheeks, "Are you alright?"
Lucy lightly shook her head, "My head…it hurts…"
Suddenly, a house nearby lit up its windows. It was soon followed by a series of lights as Echo and Siren watched them appear.
"Uh-oh…busted…" uttered Siren.
"Come on, we can't stay here like this…" said Echo.
Echo picked up Lucy in his arms and she blushed. He then led Siren into the woods close by as townspeople slowly emerged onto the street with curiosity. The people were puzzled at the small craters that were scattered across the town roads.
*****
From the sky, a flailing and screaming body descended over a dense forest. It went right passed the branches and fell straight to the ground with a dull thud. The body was encased in battered armor and his cape was torn to shreds. He struggled to his feet as he madly whirled around at his surroundings.
"Blast it all!" muttered the Captain, "And I was this close to killing that accursed princess!" He stood within a dark forest, some miles away from the town where he was launched from. The Captain cringed from the pain in his chest and stumbled towards a nearby cave. He rested his back against the cave mouth and huffed heavily.
"I swear…I will kill that girl…and those pesky Dirges!" A low growl echoed behind his shoulder and he froze.
Slowly, the Captain turned to peer inside the cave. It was deep, dark, and looked empty as far as the moonlight's shine could reach. There was nothing at all. Another groan echoed and he turned his entire body around. He hid behind the opening and forced his eyes to adjust to the darkness. His eyes widened.
He instantly slammed his back against the cave mouth and nearly screamed. He slapped his metal gloves at his mouth and quickly skirted away from the opening. When he felt safe enough to release his mouth, he revealed his pale lips, "A Dirge…" He peered back into the cave and ducked again, "A real Dirge monster…"
Frantically, the Captain searched his body for a weapon. To his shock, he remembered what happened with the fight against Dreamweaver and Firesplitter. He cursed under his breath and anxiously patted his belt. His hand then slapped onto a hard object and he turned. He stared at a pouch on his belt and he opened it, completely forgotten what was inside. A chill went down his spine. Within the pouch rested several fragile looking spheres with cyan liquid floating inside.
"H2Gs" shivered the Captain. He pulled his hands away from the specially forged explosives: the Royalgards' standard issue Holy Helm Grenades. A shudder crawled over his shoulders.
That was when the shudder gave him an idea. He grinned and peered back into the cave. With his left hand, he started to pull out a shiny H2G.
*****
"Okay, the coast is clear," replied Siren. Echo and Lucy sat upon a fallen log as Lucy dabbed her eyes with Echo's clean handkerchief. Siren joined them and sat on a stump, after he did a quick search for any unwanted followers.
They all huddled together within the woods, far from the town. It was dark and quiet as the chilly winds howled throughout the night. Lucy could not help as shiver as the cold got to her. Suddenly, a familiar yellow scarf was passed to her and she turned to Echo.
"Here," he smiled.
"But I−"
Echo simply gestured his scarf at Lucy. She hesitated at first and slowly accepted the offer. She gingerly wrapped the silk-like scarf around her neck. Soon, she felt the warmth coming back to her body as her shivering stopped.
"Better?" asked Echo. Lucy nodded.
"Eh…I don't mean to pry into your private life or anything, Lucy, but I was wondering," slowly wondered Siren, "…are you really the princess of the Kingdom Lanchastria?"
Lucy's air of bliss shattered around her and she lowered her gaze. She hesitated for a long and silent moment, but she stared at Echo. He returned a smile of understanding and nodded back to her. Lucy then turned to stare at the ground.
"I…am…"
Siren raised his eyebrows, "Whoa, that's big…"
"Y-yes…" uttered Lucy. She then straightened, half proudly and half fearfully. In an instant, she lost her pose and confidence as she felt frightened. A hand rested onto hers and her fears were washed away. Lucy turned to Echo, who kept his calm smile. He lightly squeezed Lucy's hand to give her the confidence she needed to speak. She nodded and took in a deep breath.
"I…am Princess Lucrecia Uvalairea Argentinae Lanchastria…Lucy is a special name my mother gave me as soon as I was born…I cherish it always…" Lucy felt her shoulders shudder and she took deep breaths. Both Siren and Echo waited patiently as she continued, "I am the heiress to the royal throne of Lanchastria…My father passed away half a year ago after a battle with the Dirges…"
"The real monsters of this world…" muttered Siren, "ha, and to think, that crummy Captain and his tin-can parade thinks we're the Dirges!" Echo gave him a quiet look. Siren returned a sheepish grin and made a zip-lips gesture.
"When my father passed on…things became chaotic. My mother had no choice but to take charge of the throne for my father…until the day my coronation will take place…" A tear clung on to Lucy and she tried to clear it. Echo helped as he held her hand to give her comfort, "But my uncle…he…" She placed a hand over her mouth and fought back her tears, "…killed my mother so he can become king!"
Siren grimaced and he rolled his eyes, "Geez, creeps like him should be the ones dead…whoa wait…King Baldaroy is your uncle?!"
Lucy hesitated before returning a nod. Siren blankly blinked, "Whoa that is big…"
"Because my mother wanted to protect me…she gave up her life so I can escape…I then ran, far away from the kingdom…That is when I came here. The townspeople took me in and cared for me like I was their child…I am indebted to their kindness and I don't know how to return the favour…"
Echo smiled, "You don't need to return the favour for unconditional kindness…"
Lucy nodded and wiped away her tears, "I know…but still…" Her hands stopped wiping at her tears as she started to cry sorrowfully, "It's my fault my mother died!" She then threw her head into Echo's chest and tightly hugged him. She let out her tears she had held back for many months. Echo lightly stroke the back of her head, as if comforting a sadden child.
Siren sighed and stared up into the sky, "Politics…can't live with them, barely can survive with or without them…"
"I'm sorry, Lucy…I hope now that you finally let out your words, you'll feel a lot better…" whispered Echo.
Lucy nodded and held Echo tightly, "I really miss my mother…"
Echo gave a faint smile, "I understand…"
Siren glimpsed at the two with uncomfortable eyes, but he never uttered a word. He let out a breath of frustration as he tried to understand the ways of royalty. Without any sort of words, he pulled out his guitar and started to play it with a hint of blues. The sound was normal and intriguing, which caught the attention of Lucy. She turned in Echo's arms and peeked at Siren playing his guitar.
"Wh…what is that anyways?" she asked. Siren perked his head up in realization.
"Wha, this?" pointed Siren at his instrument, "it's called a guitar…"
"A gui…tar? What a strange instrument…"
Echo continued to stroke Lucy as he held her in his arms, "It's our medium to use our powers as Guitar Heroes…"
Lucy sniffed back her tears and sat up as Echo released her, completely forgetting her pains and sorrows, "What is − *SNIFF* − a Guitar Hero?"
Lucy shook with surprise when a series of screeching notes blared out. Echo was calm as he turned to his left. Lucy turned as well just as the abrupt introduction of the music ended.
"Ha-ha!" chuckled Siren. He was on his feet, with one foot on top of a stump. He had an air of excitement and pride as he planted his palm against his guitar strings, "Us! We, my little friend, are the ones chosen to wield the sacred powers of Rock!"
Echo too stood up and tapped his guitar to the ground beside him, "Correct. We are particular individuals that have develop a natural talent for this new source of music. With this power and these guitars, we can tap into our Inner Circle."
"Inner Circle?" wondered Lucy.
Siren rapidly strummed his fingers across his keyboards, his body bopping to the beat, "The Inner Circle is a dimension where all living creatures and humans alike share one source of energy. We Guitar Heroes have a much stronger link to it and can access its energy at will in order to use Rock-Magic! Yeow!"
Echo started to play as well. He closed his eyes and leaned his head forward, in depth with the music he played. Lucy was amazed by the two as they played their soul out from it in their own peculiar fashion. As if created from their mixture of music, faint images started to appear around Lucy. To her surprise, the imaged condensed to become spectre-like Elf children. They playfully danced around Lucy as they laughed. Lucy smiled with bewilderment as she raised up her arms for the Elfen children to go under around in circles.
"We are Guitar Hero…our strengths and allegiances are crucial to this world…" spoke Echo, "though we may be young, we could either make the world…or break it…"
Lucy was surprised and she turned to Echo. A sad smile crossed his face as he ended his song on his guitar. Siren calmly grimaced and did the same. Soon, the Elfen children faded away from Lucy's sight. One of them waved a sad good-bye before it totally disappeared. Lucy lowered her gaze with a quiet air around her.
"It must be difficult…to be who you are…" she whispered.
Siren shrugged, not caring, "Ah…not exactly. We do have our perks though."
Echo nodded with a smile, "Not matter what…some of our kind merely prefer to spread this unique music around the world…"
Siren gazed up at the starry night with a hopeful grin, "We strife towards one common goal…no matter how impossible it may be to achieve…"
"We wish to be only accepted as who we are, among the people that fear and hate us…" ended Echo.
A gentle hand rested onto Echo's hand. He was taken aback and turned to the hand's owner. It was Lucy, who smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Echo. One day I know that you and your friends will finally live in peace…" she said, "I will help you as well…as a thank you for…protecting me…and…"
Echo cracked a grin, "And being your fiancé?" Lucy's face blushed madly as she threw her gaze to the ground. She returned an extremely shy nod.
Siren was aghast, "Whoa, what? Fiancé?! You two are−" Suddenly, a scent rolled into his nose and he sneezed.
"Bless you…" whispered Echo.
"No-no, it's not the cold," snuffed Siren, completely forgetting his last thought. He closed his eyes and focused on the scent, "It smells like something is burning…"
Lucy gently pulled away from Echo's embrace and sniffed back her tears, "B-but that can't be…It's nearly dawn and the only person making firewood would be…me…"
"Well…I smell smoke…that must mean−" wondered Siren.
An earth-breaking explosion shattered the night silence. Then a flash of scarlet red painted the dark sky as black smoke bled into the air.
The explosion nearly tossed Siren off his seat, "What the heck was that?!"
Echo was entirely taken aback, his calm face shattered under the eerie red aura. Lucy's eyes widen with absolute horror.
"The village!"
*****
Echo, Siren, and Lucy all ran back to the once peaceful village. As soon as they entered the village grounds, the air left their very souls.
Everything was in a massive sea of flames. Inferno raged uncontrollably as their blaze kicked over houses and old buildings. Nothing was with mercy.
"EVERYONE!" screamed Lucy. She dashed towards the village inn, her only home and sanctuary. Echo immediately held her back.
"No! It's too dangerous! Stay back!" cried Echo. He and Lucy struggled against one another as she madly kicked and clawed at the air.
"MRS. LORIEE! MR. CORNIUS! EVERYONE! NOOOOOOO!"
Siren could not believe his eyes as he whirled around him. Suddenly, he raised his head up, "INCOMING!"
A giant figure came screeching down from the sky. With a devastating crash, the figure landed right on top of the remains of the inn. Lucy froze with a gasp. Echo kept his hold onto Lucy, but readied himself for an attack.
From the erupting ashes, a hideous creature rose to its feet. It had a long lizard-like neck and a ravenous vulture's head, connected to a small red scaled reptilian body. Above the fields of inferno its pterodactyl wings outstretched with a menacing sight. Its eyes flashed evil-crimson red and it pierced the night sky with a blood-curdling shriek.
Lucy screamed as she cupped her ears, unable to bear the pain. Siren too cupped his ears with a sneer, but Echo merely glared at the monstrous creature, unfazed.
"It's a Dirge!"
"I know, I know!" growled Siren. The fiery haired boy released his ears and whipped forth his guitar at the ready, "Still, why is it here?!"
"Ha-ha! Let the menacing wildfire consume all who resists against King Baldaroy's will!"
Echo and Siren turned to the menacing voice. Lucy snapped out of her fear and turned as well. He face blanched.
It was the Captain. His armor was battered and practically ripped to shreds. Scores of soot painted his armored body and face. He had a smug look on his face as he chuckled, tiny puffs of smoke wisped out of his lips.
"This is all your fault…Princess Lucrecia…" he muttered. Lucy gasped with fear and clung onto Echo tightly, "If you had not been a good girl and never ran away in the first place, you would never have been hunted down. It was because of your actions that eventually led me, Captain Morgan of the 26th Royalgard platoon, to your hiding place…" The Captain stepped forward with a mad grin, "Face it princess! Everything is destroyed because of you! Nothing will be at peace as long as you live! No one, not even your dead mother, can save you now! Submit your life to your fate! This is all your fault! HA-HA-HA-HA!"
Without warning, a pair of hands gripped at the exposed collar of the Captain's uniform. He glared down at the one who held him with angry eyes, Echo. The boy yanked the Captain closer to reveal the anger under his sea-cerulean glare.
"No…" breathed Echo, "this is all your fault!" Echo spun around and heavily tossed the Captain into the sky. He flailed in the air as he howled a bewildered cry. Right before he hit the ground, the winged Dirge swooped down from the sky. It swallowed him whole in one gulp.
Siren's face twisted in disgust, "Ew…did you have to throw him like that?"
Echo nervously blinked, "I was actually going for the fire…" The Dirge was about to screech, but choked and gagged.
"Ugh…I think you made it sick…I think you made me sick…" muttered Siren. The Dirge shook off its queasy feeling. It ignored everything with a howling screech that shook the ground.
Echo calmly gazed at the Dirge. Siren gently brought Lucy to his side. Together the boys stood side by side in front of her and stared at the dragon-like Dirge.
"Geez that buzzard's big!" whistled Siren.
Echo graciously retrieved his sun-yellow from Lucy and started to wrap it around his neck. He let it loosely hang off around his neck like a cape.
"I don't think either of us doing a solo performance is going to help…" wondered Echo. Soon, Lucy noticed that the two boys exchanged a widening grin.
"You up for a rockin' duet?" smirked Siren.
"Glad to," lightly bowed Echo.
Siren and Echo brandished forth their guitars, Balrog and Arbiter. They grinned as Echo caught onto his flapping yellow scarf and Siren held up his left hand with his red armband. The two objects slapped into each other, sparks danced from their touch. In reaction, they started to glow their colors. Echo and Siren's eyes flashed brightly, with electrifying sea-cerulean and burning flame-yellow.
To Lucy's surprise, a circular field was raised. A wall of transparent violet energy swirled around the entire burning village in a ringed-barrier. Once the wall connected to its starting point, a bright reflection pulsed across its strong surface.
"Outer Field set up!" grinned Siren.
"Inner Circle, linked!" replied Echo.
Siren took a step forward, "I'll take the lead."
Echo smiled with an affirmative nod, "Go right on ahead."
Siren thrust out his hand and pointed directly at the winged Dirge. A wide and confident grin stretched on his face, "Let's get this party started, Through the Fire and the Flames*!"
"Inferno Unicorn Remix!" called out Echo.
Instantly, Siren started to rapidly pluck his fingers across his guitar strings. With unbelievable speed and accuracy, he chained the guitars into a beginning verse of a fast paced song. Soon, Echo followed in suit as he too rapidly played his guitar, skilfully following Siren's pace.
A glowing white portal opened up above Echo and he called out, "Twilights, assemble!" From the portal flew out his four glimmering unicorns with armored heads, energy rail guns across their backs, sabre-like wings, and a jagged dagger horn: the Twilight Pegasus.
"Let's Burn! Flare Basilisk!" called out Siren. Two glowing orange portals opened up around him. From them, a pair of large cobras made out of flames lashed out. Like streamers, they elegantly flew through the air.
The Dirge let out an ear-piercing shriek to bring fear into the hearts of the Guitar Heroes. It proved to be useless. Together, the Fire Basilisk and the Twilight Pegasus charged at the Dirge and begun their assault. So did the Guitar Heroes.
Echo instantly ended the song's intro by curling his finger around one string and pulled it hard. A high-pitch screech followed as the string stretched dynamically from his pull. He immediately caught onto his guitar and continued to play normally, the string unaffected.
Siren: On a cold winter morning – in a time before the light! In flames of death's eternal reign – we ride towards the fight!
Echo: When the darkness has fallen down – and the times are tough alri~ght! The sound of e~vil laughter falls – around the world to-ni~ght!
They rapidly played a chain of notes across their guitars. In cadence, their summoned creatures flew forward and struck out at the Dirge from all sides. The Twilights flew around the Dirge, firing bolts of plasma straight at its head and chest. The Flares slithered tightly around the Dirge's body, blasting tongues of flames from their sides against its flesh. The Dirge screeched as it thrashed the air with its claws, attempting to take down one Twilight or Flare.
Lucy stared in utter bewilderment. She watched both the battle of mystical creatures and the rapid song being played by the two Guitar Heroes as she stood in awe.
Siren & Echo: On the blackest plains – in [death's] domain – we watch them as they go~…In fire and pain – now once again we kno~w!
Suddenly, the Flares and Twilights backed away from the Dirge. Lucy kept her eyes on them as they started to flash brightly. Magically, the Twilights and Flares merged together, becoming a new force of mystical creatures.
The Twlights have now become burning winged horses with fire-orange skin. Flames danced across their hooves as they reared back in a wild manner. With a whinny, the four burning Flare/Twilights marched forward at the Dirge. In their blazing storm, trails of flames followed in their fierce gallop.
Siren: So now we fly ever free~ we're free before the thun-dersto~rm!
Echo: On towa~rds – the wilderness – our quest carries o~n!
Siren & Echo: Far beyond the sun~down – far beyond the moon~light! Deep inside – our hearts and all our sou~ls!
The Dirge insantly took flight and charged against the Flare/Twilights head-on. Lucy braced against a strong gust of wind. Echo and Siren stood side-by side and blocked it from her altogether.
Siren & Echo: So – far – away – we wait for the da~y! For the lives – all so wasted – and go~ne!
They rapidly strummed their fingers like mad, with utmost precision and skilled accuracy.
Siren & Echo: We feel the pa~in – of a lifetime lost in a thou~sand days! Through the fire – and the flames – we carry o~n!
The Dirge and the Flare/Twilights clashed. The Flare/Twilights broke their tight formation and dispersed around the Dirge. The trails of flames soared around the creature as it seared its purple flesh. The Flare/Twilights zipped across the Dirge's body and relentlessly fired fiery bolts of energy at it in a nimble strafe.
Siren and Echo furiously strummed their fingers across their guitars. The song was unbelievably fast, but both Guitar Heroes were so in depth in playing that they completely ignored with ease. They played out a powerful and long bridge, which made them switch roles in extremely difficult soloing. Still, they were able to crack excited grins and chuckles as the flames raged around them. To Lucy, she was surprised that they were actually enjoying it.
The Dirge thrashed at the air with its wings. The Flare/Twilights regrouped and dove under the attack. Together they transformed into an arrowhead of raging flames and struck into the Dirge's chest. Both the Dirge and Flare/Twilights attack drove them all straight into the heart of the burning village.
Siren: …And – on the – wings – of – a – dream – so far be-yond re~ality!
Echo: All alone – in desperation – now the time has co~me!
Siren: Lost inside – you'll ne~ver find…
Echo: …Lost within – my own mind…
Siren & Echo: DAY AFTER DAY – THIS MISERY – MUST GO O~N!
They slapped their hands across their guitar strings, sparks danced into the air.
The Flare/Twilights arose from the ashes like magnificent phoenixs. Even Lucy was captivated by their flight. The Dirge struggled to stand as it laid across its back in a deep and smoldering crater. Above, the Flare/Twilight circled the sky like a halo. Suddenly, a magical ring, with arrays of symbolic Runes inside it, appeared within their circle. The ring condensed to become sharper and clearer. It started to glow brightly, shining a beam of light over the Dirge. The Dirge's body thrashed around in pain, but its twisted body was soon frozen stiff.
Siren & Echo: So far awa~y – we wait – for the da~y!
Echo: For the lives – all – so – wasted – and go~ne!
Siren: We – feel – the pa~in – of a – lifetime lost in a thou~sand days!
Siren & Echo: THROUGH – THE FIRE – AND THE FLAMES – WE CARRY O~N!
The two's fingers blazed across their guitar as they played the song's outro. Siren strummed his final solo to the song. Both he and Echo glared at the trapped Dirge as they came near to the end of their song. The two had ecstatic grins on their faces.
"Finale Overdrive: Fire Storm Edge!" they cried in unison.
Together, at the last sharp note, the Flare/Twilights rose up into the air and dove straight through the center of the magical ring. In a flash, a massive blade of burning orange energy was created and struck dead center into the Dirge.
In one last burst of light, the Dirge was shattered like a paint-glass window. Its shards flew up into the air and faded towards the skies. The Outer Field unwounded itself from around the village and too vanished. Slowly, the blaze of the unfortunate village died down. Soon, silence overwhelmed the heated air.
The Flare/Twilights faded into evaporating smoke, as their work was completed. Echo and Siren lowered their guitars with a smile of relief. Echo finally let out a sigh, breaking the silence.
"Looks like that Dirge won't be coming back…" he grinned.
Siren scoffed. He hefted his guitar onto his left shoulder, "If it does we'll just have to kick its butt again, won't we…"
Echo chuckled. He stopped halfway when he remembered something very important. He turned to Lucy. She was quiet, still shakened and bewildered from the recent series of events.
"Everyone…" she whispered under her breath, "I…forgive me…" A hand rested onto her shoulder. She was surprised and looked up. It was Echo who stood before her, calmly smiling.
"Don't worry…it's not your fault…I know that it isn't, trust me," he replied. Lucy's red eyes instantly welled up with tears. She tried to hold them back, but eventually gave in and rested her face against Echo's chest.
Siren sighed as he turned back to the burnt village. To his dismay, no one was seen standing. Not even bodies were found on the spot.
Echo gently embraced Lucy in his arms. He lightly stroked the back of her head as she cried.
"I promise you, Lucy…I will take care of you…I will protect you…" whispered Echo. He cracks a sheepish grin, "but it's gonna be a rough trip when you're with us…I hope you don't mind…""
Lucy wrapped her arms around Echo. She lightly shook her head and closed her eyes, hearing the truth in his heart-beat.
"Thank you…Echo…"
Author's Notes
"Guitar Hero" rock-music game series produced by Activision.
"Through the Fires and the Flames" by Dragonforce (2006)
Lyrics from LyricsWiki.
