Disclaimer, own none except Ember and Valentine and the original plot.
Dedicated to Wise Night Raven, thanks for your review so got this posted up just for you.
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Valentine's quote: "turn your sadness into kindness, and your uniquness into strength, it's okay to get lost in the process and begin to walk,ONE MORE TIME!"
Matt looked on with shock but was shaken out of his reverie when he heard someone chuckling and was determined to permanently separate their head from their shoulders. He turned towards the sound but was stopped, shocked beyond belief at what he was now seeing. That Ember chick was laughing at her possibly dead friend; she seemed to be even more cold-hearted than himself. His disgust soon overwhelmed his feelings of admiration towards the fiery maiden and he stepped towards her, fists clenched and eyes blazing.
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Scarlet's mouth practically hit the floor when she saw the hot guy Matt bow to that bitch Ember before taking the traditional pose of -! She gasped with shock that was echoed by those others who had remained to watch this clash of the titans. Forgetting to breathe on account of her shock she fainted dead away in a heap on the floor, unnoticed in the midst of the drama unfolding between the two combatants.
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Ember's laughter gently died away as the dark-haired boy took a step towards her with black hair shadowing his burning eyes and surprisingly he commenced formally bow to her and with right fist crossed over his heart and left palm pushed towards her she saw his challenge and the raised eyebrow which accompanied it, questioning her for an answer. A slow smile spread across Ember's face and bowing in return she took the same position as the figure before her and waited with anticipation for it to begin.
A dark aura suddenly enveloped Matt, creating a raging pillar and Ember too was enveloped with her own burning power before the dancing flames blazed upwards, mirroring the pillar of darkness before her. Green eyes clashed with blue as their gazes locked and a battle of wills eschewed. Breaking from his gaze Ember closed her eyes, breathed deeply and raised her arms, reaching out to the walls of flames that hid her from view. Her palms were caressed by the dancing flames and then she spun with the flames mimicking her movement. The rising inferno began to spin and soon a flaming cyclone was formed, Ember within its eye, near invisible as her scarlet hair seeming to merge with the raging storm of fire she commanded.
As the flames ground against the containment shield that had been erected earlier sparks sprayed out and, falling like stars all were entranced by them as they fell in a graceful waterfall to the arena below. Ember was mesmerised by their fragile beauty as, when one landed on her open palm it flickered and faded and the star-like spark was destroyed in an instant.
Stepping out of the rotating flames she made a sweeping motion with her right hand and Matt emerged from his dark cyclone, making the same gesture, all was ready and the game could begin.
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It was now clear to the onlookers as to what was to take place, they were to witness a battle between high nobles, a match of power and control, a game only available to a certain few due to the power needed not only to initiate the match but to continue until one or the other failed, overall a trial of endurance, strength and power.
Prepared and in position both combatants began to move, as if to music only they could hear. Their respective weapons began to move forwards, preparing to clash. Suddenly Ember's power spiked and she clutched her left eye, knees buckling and she was left kneeling on the floor. When she then removed her hand it was seen that tears of blood were streaking down her face. She stood, legs shaking and crossed both arms in front of her before slicing downwards with another sharp gesture. Suddenly her flames vanished and a sudden silence fell upon the arena. She turned her back on Matt and his black cyclone and began to walk towards Alex and Valentine, uncaring of all that was going on around her. She suddenly heard shouts behind her and, without even turning raised a fist, pushing raw power out of it with force and walked on, fist still outstretched, with a jerking twist of her wrist she knelt down beside the form of Valentine and lowered her mouth to her friend's ear.
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The sudden vanishing of the flames surrounding the girl before him shocked Matt, only someone with high power was capable of such a feat, and even then they would be left unable even to stand, let alone walk. He gazed at the redhead with new admiration but then his eyes widened in horror as his creation began straining towards the girl of its own accord, falling to his knees he gasped; his energy was beginning to drain against his will. Watching as if from a distance he saw the dark cloud of his rogue power reaching the girl, he had no energy to be shocked or surprised when he felt something clamping down on his connection with the dark storm and he gave a low groan of pain as the connection shattered and he blacked out, his last image being of a scarlet aura suddenly clutching the dark power harshly.
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Ember's arm dropped to her side, shaking slightly as she closed her eyes, gathering her faltering strength she snapped her eyes open and somehow pushed outwards. Behind her the dark cloud hovered, hesitating before slowly allowing itself to be pushed back by a scarlet power towards the inert form of Matt, dissipating gradually as it went. Valentine's eyes were still closed and leaning down Ember whispered to her friend again. Eyelids flickered slightly as her breath ghosted across closed lids. When they remained unopened Ember repeated her words and violet eyes snapped open, glared into a pair of laughing green ones.
"It's not funny!" Valentine snapped, her weak voice making Ember smirk even more.
"What did you do?" Alex asked, his eyes dancing in confusion as they flickered between the two girls, his brow furrowing as he watched the scarlet haired girl lean close to her friend again
"Val, pull yourself together" she hissed, emerald eyes suddenly serious.
"What?" The raven-haired girl asked as she sat up, sweeping long hair out of her eyes, a look of confusion crossed her features.
Ember's hand clamped harshly onto Valentine's wrist and she leaned still closer, emerald eyes bored into the violet ones before her as she spoke pointedly,
"Pull – Yourself – Together!"
After hearing that Valentine gasped and glanced down, the 'fatal' wound across her body was no longer a wound as such, just seeming to be made of…
"Water?" Alex asked, leaning forward slightly, an expression of curiosity across his face, ignoring the warning hiss that came from Ember as he drew closer and stretched out a hand towards the girl on the ground. Valentine shuffled away from the outstretched limb that drew closer, eyes wide and panicked and he stopped, frowning slightly before apologising in a quiet voice. Ember still glared at him before she shrugged her jacket off to cover her friend from the many prying eyes that watched the scene avidly. Standing shakily on unsteady legs Ember stumbled before forcing her legs stiff. Reaching down towards her friend she gently levered the violet eyed girl to her feet and began to shuffle to the edge of the field and a welcome bench, careful of her friend's injury.
Supported by the red headed girl on one side and a curious Alex on the other Valentine was able to walk to the hastily cleared bench before them, evidently due to the look on Ember's face that promised pain for anyone stupid enough to get in her way. Valentine couldn't help but sigh in exhaustion after her match and some… other matters. She watched as many of the other male students rushed towards the prone form of Matt and gave a small smile when she saw her vicious friend relax subtly when they did and someone shouted out that the boy was just exhausted.
Ember leaned her back against the courtyard wall, head tilted upwards and her eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion claimed her and she felt herself falling. Alex left the sleeping girls in the care of some teachers while he made his way back to the arena. He knelt down slowly, his muscles trembling with the effort of not collapsing and he stood, turning back to the small procession that carried the two powerful girls away. He stood, eyes closed as a rush of hot air flowed over him, ruffling his blonde hair, his fist clenched tightly as the wind tugged playfully on the ribbon curled in his closed fist and he smiled before walking towards his unconscious friend.
Okay, that's all for now, next chap up soon. Enjoy it? REVIEW!
Ja ne Ember&Valentine