Eh, I've killed bigger Douglas thought to himself as he sized up his opponent. He winced as the fatigue began setting in. Summoning Oblivion was easy when done in regular intervals. But it had been some time since he needed her, so summoning her cut his power down by half, at least. Still, half was more than enough to break this beast.
The dragon bellowed, swinging its claw down at Douglas. Douglas jumped out of the way, the claw smashing the ground he once stood on. Douglas landed and launched himself again, this time up to the dragon itself. Douglas swiped oblivion at the dragon's face, slicing off a tooth from the monster's maw. Though no blood was spilt, the dragon screamed in pain all the same. The dragon swung another claw, this time striking Douglas's side and sending him crashing to the floor.
Before Douglas could pull himself out of the small crater created by his crash, the dragon stomped down on his back, sending him back into the ground.
Okay, this may be tougher than he thought...
Meanwhile…
Amina's eyes finally creaked open, allowing the multicolored blobs around her to shape into her friends standing above her. "Amina! You're awake!" said Abby, who pulled her into a hug.
"Ab...Abby?" Amina asked.
"Yeah, it's a long story," said Sora. "The important thing is that you're awake, now let's go kick some dragon ass!" Sora bounded down the hall. "Nico, look after Amina and the other two!"
Abby shot up. "Oh gods, Douglas! I forgot!" Abby stood up and followed Sora down the hallway back to the fight.
Douglas. The name crept in her mind like a spider in her brain. The logical side of her screamed for her to see reason. Douglas Murdoch couldn't possibly be here. It was impossible.
But she needed to see. She needed to be sure. Amina forced herself to her feet, clutching onto the wall for support.
Nico immediately ran over to Amina. "Just what the 'ell do you think you're doin'?" he asked.
"Abby and Sora...they don't, they don't know who they're dealing with in there. I need to, need to help them," she said.
Nico caught her before she could collapse. "Woah there, big girl. You need another minute to get your bearin's."
Amina wanted to fight him, but seeing as how she didn't even know which Nico to punch, she had to admit to herself that he was right.
All she could do now was pray she was wrong.
Meanwhile…
Douglas's vision blurred back into focus, and he realized he was now in a wall. Before he could crawl out, a stone claw put him further into the wall.
The dragon loosened, believing its victory assured. Until a slicing, twisting pain ran up its arm. The artificial dragon screeched in agony as its stone arm fell into neatly cut pieces. Douglas flew out of the hole and onto the ground behind the dragon. Douglas wiped a trail of blood from his mouth and pointed his sword at the dragon. "Over here, beast!" he yelled.
The dragon turned to Douglas and let out another roar. Green flame erupted from its maw and flew towards the swordsman. Douglas's eyes widened, not expecting such an attack. "Ah, shit…" he said as the flames threatened to engulf him.
Before they could, however, Abby tackled Douglas to the ground, out of the way of the attack. The flames continued past them, scorching and destroying the ground as well as the wall behind them. "Sora!" Abby shouted. "Finish it off!"
Through the flames, Douglas saw Sora standing there, staring down the dragon with a crazed smirk gracing her face. Sora braced herself for the fight. "Here we go," she said. "Try not to bore me, stoney!"
The dragon roared, charging at her with flaming maw. Sora held out her arms, and the beast simply stopped. Obviously not of its volition, as Douglas could plainly see the beast straining to break free of its mysterious binding. Sora's smile grew as she lifted her hands into the air. The dragon as well floated into the air. "What did I say about boring me?!" Sora yelled, throwing her arms to the side, sending the dragon crashing along the ground and into the wall, where it and the wall and a portion of the ceiling collapsed into rubble.
Douglas and Abby watched the entire fight, Douglas's eyes widened in awe at Sora's power. He had seen earth magic before, but that was on a whole other level. "Amazing, isn't she?" He heard Abby ask him.
Douglas was about to answer her when he noticed that she was still laying on top of him. "Um, Ms. Copperfield…" he said.
Abby looked down at Douglas, then noticed their position as well. She immediately shot up. "Gah! D-douglas, I, I am so sorry I…" Abby looked down, realizing she was now straddling him. Abby practically jumped off of him, her face bright red. "I'm so sorry!"
Douglas chuckled, standing up. "It's nothing really," he said, offering her a hand. Abby took it and Douglas helped her to her feet. Abby took a deep breath and the red lessened on her face.
"So, Scarface McGee, what's your story?" asked Sora, who poked Douglas on the shoulder from behind.
Mood effectively killed, Douglas took a breath, walked past Sora, and retrieved his trenchcoat. "Well, beansprout," Douglas said, returning the hurtful nicknames. "I am Douglas Murdoch. I am pleased to meet you." Douglas offered the Earth Mage his hand.
Sora smirked and took Douglas's hand. "Good work on the dragon. Sorry to steal your thunder." Her smirk maintained, signifying her sarcasm.
"I had it handled," Douglas replied, his hand still clasped with Sora's. "At the very least, I wouldn't have almost brought the castle down on our heads."
Sora scoffed. "Oh great, you're one of those types." Her grip on Douglas's hand got just a bit tighter.
"The type who prefers not to die a rocky crushing death, yes." Douglas returned the grip. One could practically see the sparks forming between the two's glares.
Abby rolled her eyes. Apparently it WAS possible to have a dick measuring contest with a woman. "Guys, can we please focus on the larger task?" she asked.
Douglas almost immediately released his grip on Sora. "Sorry about that," he said with a courteous smile. "So, what's our next move?"
"Simple..." said a voice from behind Douglas that made his eyes shoot open. Before he could turn around all the way, a hand clamped around his neck and slammed him into a wall, denting the stone. Douglas winced from the pain, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the burning coals of Amina Dreyheart searing into his face. "...You die. RIGHT. NOW!" Amina drew back her fist, prepared to crush Douglas's head. Before she could, however, Sora and Abby grabbed onto her, trying to pull back the woman who was twice their size.
"Amina, what the fuck are you doing?!" Sora asked, holding onto Amina's drawn back fist for dear life.
"Let go of me, Sora!" Amina shouted. "This son of a bitch needs to die!"
"Amina, please, put him down, and let's talk about this," Abby said.
"No," Amina growled, her eyes bloodshot. "Never again. NEVER AGAIN!"
"Enough!" Sora shouted, jumping off of Amina and summoning a large fist of earth from the ground to lift Amina into the air. And another one to hold Douglas in place.
"Wait, why me?" Douglas asked.
"You shut up until we figure this out," Sora said, poking Douglas in the chest. Sora then turned to face Amina. "Now Amina, I know things are probably really disorienting right now. It's 8 years later somehow, there's a giant stone dragon, Abby has a rack, it's all madness. But attacking random hooded guys doesn't get anyone anywhere."
"Oh trust me Sora, he's not just some random hooded man," Amina said. "You could say he and I have...history." Amina gave Sora a look that instantly made Sora realize what she was talking about.
Sora turned back to Douglas, walked up to him, and grabbed him by the throat. "Who are you?"
Douglas gave a heavy sigh, and opened his mouth to say it, but then he saw Nico running up from behind Sora with the other three behind him.
"Woah woah woah, everyone, let's just calm down, okay?" Nico said. He walked up to Sora and put a hand on her shoulder. "Sora, why don't you stop choking the guy who helped Abby save our asses, kay? We kinda got bigger fish to fry."
Sora looked at Nico, who flashed her that annoying smile that for some reason refused to let her be angry at anything. Sora sighed and released Douglas and Amina.
Douglas dusted himself off and walked out of the group. "Perhaps it would be best if I just left," he said, pulling up his hood so that he wouldn't have to look at Abby as he walked away.
However, Amina reached out and grabbed Douglas by the shoulder. "Hold it, buddy," she said, turning him around. "I don't know if you're who I think you are, but until I know for sure, I'm not letting you out of my sight. Got it?"
Douglas stood there, silent for a few moments before sighing. "Very well," he said.
Amina stepped back and turned to Sora."So, the mission still on?"
"After those bastards just sealed us in time for 8 fucking years, you bet it's still on," Sora said, cracking her knuckles. Sora turned around and pointed to the door that lead further into the castle. "Team Sora's back, bitches. First order of business: find out where they're hiding."
"I know," said Sara, who walked up to Sora. "I know this castle like the back of my hand, remember? I know exactly where the best place would be for them to hide."
Amina growled at Sara. "Give us one good reason to trust you," she said.
"Do YOU know where they are?' asked Sara. "If I did have some kind of grand scheme, it's obviously been thwarted due to myself being frozen for so long. As for whether or not you know if I'll attack you or not, me and Darius were brainwashed, we harbor no ill will against you now. Isn't that right, honey?" Darius, who had fallen flat on his face from disorientation, merely held up a thumbs up. "Thank you dear. Now then, do we want to take out Pan and Theodoros or not?"
Sora thought about it for several moments before groaning and rubbing the back of her head. "Fine. I guess we really don't have any other alternatives. Lead the way, but know you're being watched."
Sara smiled. "Thank you Sora." Sara turned to Amina with a smirk. "Good to know some of you are capable of reason."
Amina growled and her muscles bulked up. Abby held onto her shoulder to keep her from eating the shorter girl.
Sara took to the front of the group and walked down the hall, followed by the rest of the team.
Douglas kept his hood up and remained at the back of the group. Short glances and subtle body language told him that Abby was trying to avoid looking at him, if not out of anger, then out of suspicion. It was only natural, inevitable in fact. The best thing he could do for that girl was be on his way once this was done.
Douglas felt a friendly pat on his shoulder that brought him out of his funk. He looked to his side to see Darius smiling at him. "Don't worry about Amina, she hates everything that isn't named Sora," he said, chuckling heartily. "Hell, even then, there are some days, lemme tell ya."
Douglas nodded. "Thank you, Mr Maki," he said. Douglas could tell that Darius didn't really know what he was talking about, but the man meant well. Douglas looked past the group and down the winding halls before them.
If there was one thing Douglas Murdoch knew more than anything, it was when shit was about to hit the fan.
Douglas only needed one look down that hall to know that they were gonna need a mop, soon...