Ryou awakens in the hold of two people. She blinks her eyes as Malik's sleeping face comes into focus. Memories of the night before fill her mind and tears once more well in her eyes. She quickly wipes them away and forces herself not to think about it. It's easier said then done. Mariku shifts behind her and then slowly sighs. "You awake?" he mumbles sleepily.
Ryou nods softly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," her response barely above a whisper. She feels him shake his head. "It wasn't you, I was already awake," he pauses for a moment. "How are you feeling? Last night you were pretty distraught." She lightly shrugs.
"I'll be okay. I'm sorry about stealing your bed." He grumbles and sits up. "It's fine, Malik would stab me if I kicked you out, not that I would."
"I'm going to stab you if you don't shut up," Malik sleepily grumbles. Mariku chuckles as Ryou pets Malik's blonde hair. Malik purrs and looks at Ryou. "Mornin' cutie," Malik's hand goes up and pinches her cheek softly. Ryou smiles and stands up as Mariku leans down giving Malik a kiss. A small pang hits Ryou and she chastises herself for becoming upset about this small act.
"I'm gonna go get some water," Ryou says pointing towards the flaps. Malik perks up and stumbles up following Ryou, "I'll go with you." Ryou nods and Malik holds her hand as they scurry off to the water hole. As they reach the pool Malik sinks to her knees and gratefully gulps down the water. Ryou follows her lead and looks down at her reflection afterwards.
A large bruise is on her cheek, right where Akefia hit her. She sighs and uses the water to rub against her cheek as if it were just a spot of dirt. Of course it's useless, the bruise still remains. She stares at her reflection until Malik's tanned hand comes and gently touches her bruised cheek. "Can you heal it?" Ryou shakes her head.
"I can't heal myself." She mumbles. Malik frowns. "Akefia's a fucking bastard. How could he do this to you?" Ryou looks over at the angry girl and shrugs.
"I don't know why, but, Malik, I don't really know how to explain it but something's wrong with Akefia."
"Yeah that's what I've been saying," Malik says rolling her lilac eyes.
Ryou shakes her head. "No, that not what I mean," she pauses. "It's like Akefia, how do I say it, it's like it's not only him inside of him." Malik gives her a look of confusion and she continues. "Last night when I went to see him, his whole tent was dark. I didn't notice it till now but it felt like there was someone else besides Akefia. I don't know who or what I felt but it just pure...darkness, evil."
Malik stares at her and then looks back down at the water, the hand on Ryou's cheek drops. "That would explain something." she mumbles. A few moments pass until Mariku's yelling causes both girls to look.
"Akefia, what the fuck do you think you're doing? You can't take the Rod!" Mariku is yelling looking angry as the other male turns away with the golden object in hand.
"I'm doing what I've been planning all these years! I'm getting my revenge!" Akefia looks rage written all over the male's face. "And no one's going to stop me!" Suddenly Akefia unsheathes the Rod revealing a blade and slices Mariku across his chest. Not deep enough to kill but deep enough to bleed and feel the pain.
"Mariku!" Malik screeches. She abandons Ryou's side running to Mariku who holds a hand to his wound, blood running between his fingers. Malik looks at it and then turns on Akefia. "I'm going to FUCKING kill you!" She lunges at him only for Mariku to latch onto her, holding the enrage female back.
Akefia simply scuffs and turns away again, covering the blade once more. Soon he's out of sight and Ryou rushes up to the two Egyptians. Mariku let's go of Malik once he is and grunt in pain as blood still freely flowing. Malik instead of running after Akefia, opts to stay with Mariku. Ryou looks at it before quickly healing him, a little white orb stitching his skin back together. Once it's over, Mariku runs a hand over the healed skin.
"Thank you, Ryou," Mariku says with a nod of the head. Ryou nods back and looks the way Akefia went. Why would he do that? A shiver runs down her spine. She felt it again. Someone that wasn't him.
"Why did he do that?" Malik growls. Mariku looks where Ryou is. "He took the Millennium Rod. We need to go after him now before he does what I pray to Ra he's not going to."
"Which is?" Malik asks. Mariku turns to his shared tent with Malik, "Destroy all of Egypt." Malik's eyes widen but she doesn't press for more, watching Mariku quickly dress and grab a few daggers and tosses one to Malik. "Use it if necessary." Malik nods and changes herself. Mariku comes up to Ryou, a sheathed dagger outstretched. She looks at it then up at him.
"I-I don't know how to use one," she says panicking. He nods but doesn't withdraw it. Instead he puts it in her hand. "Hold onto it. I don't know what were up against and I might not be able to protect you. If something happens just make sure to try to use it, okay?" Ryou's hand closes around it and she nods.
"Let's go." Mariku demands hurrying off to his horse and grabs another one. Malik gets on one, helping Ryou up as Mariku climbs on his not even fully on before he jerks the horse forward. The three of them speed off in the direction Akefia went, following the hoof prints of his horse.
"What exactly is he going to do?" Malik yells over to Mariku. Ryou holds on tight to Malik's waist as she speeds up the horse. "He's going to do one of the most idiotic things. The Millennium Items put back in their places on the tablet will summon a demon. One who's going to destroy Egypt and the rest of the world. It'll plunge the world into darkness."
Ryou's eyes widen in fear. "Why would he do that?" she asks frantically. Mariku glances at the girl. "Because he wants revenge for his village. I assume he told you?" She nods.
"He told me he wants revenge against the Pharaoh but why the rest of the world?" she says.
"I don't know exactly. He's not himself. Something about those items is corrupting him." Ryou squeezes Malik burying her face into the other girl's back. She doesn't like where this is going. A sinking feeling falls in her guts. One that says, somebody isn't coming out of this alive.
"There he is!" Malik yells. Both horses speed u at the sight of a crimson cloak on horse back. Ryou's hand flies up to the golden necklace that Akefia gave her over a summer ago. She's never taken it off and the slight weight on her neck intensifies. Her heart pounds as they come up closer to... ruins?
Akefia has already dismounted his horse who looks incredibly nervous and is practically running into the ruined village. Mariku jumps off his horse at the edge of the village, once they caught up. "Stay here," he says to the two girls before running after the red cloaked male. Malik slides off the horse standing at the dge of the village with Ryou.
As Ryou stands there staring at the spot the two males disappears she can't help but feel like she's suppose to go with them. Just as before a piercing pain causes her to cry out loudly and fall to the ground holding her head.
"RYOU SAVE HIM!"
"IT'S GOING TO BE TOO LATE!"
Her image in the mirror adorned in red and white robes flashes in her mind shrieking at her. Tears fall from her eyes as the pain becomes unbearable. She can hardly hear Malik's voice calling to her in panic. 'What's going on?' she whimpers in her mind.
"Please Ryou you need to help him! You're the only one who can!" The reflection says. Tears are streaming down its own face as it pleads with her.
'Why me? I'm just a slave!' Ryou says wishing the pain would leave, it's becoming unbearable.
"This is why you were sent down to Earth, to Egypt! Akefia's heart is filled with so much rage and darkness! You are the one who can change that, you are pure light, you're the one who can defeat the demon and set Akefia free!" It says to her.
"RYOU!" Her eyes snap open, the image of her reflection leaving her sight.
She gasps for the air she didn't know she needed. The pain quickly leaves as if it was never there. "Ryou! Ryou," Malik sits her up carefully in shaking arms. "are you okay?" Ryou barely manages a nod as she thinks over what her reflection said. 'Sent down to Earth? What did she mean? Wasn't she born on Earth?'
"What was that?" Malik asks softly as if scared she'll trigger it again. Ryou just shakes her head. "I don't know, I saw myself, but not me at the same time."
"What do you mean?"
"It's happened before, the day Akefia and Mariku came back from their mission. The one where Akefia brought back the ring. I just finished healing one of the thieves and suddenly I had this huge amount of pain in my head. I saw myself in front of a mirror, I was wearing these robes that looked like they belonged on Royalty. It wasn't too weird until I saw these white wings on my back. I- she kept saying I needed to save Akefia from darkness. I don't know why this is happening," Ryou says holding back frustrated tears.
"Has this ever happened when you were a kid?" Malik asks, looking at the pale girl before her. Ryou blinks confused. "I-I don't remember anything from then. My only memories are only about 2 summers ago. I had fallen down a cavern and hit my head really hard. When I came too I was told I've been a slave all my life, but I don't think that's true."
"Why not?"
"I never had any scars like other slaves. True I have some of them now but I never did before. If I had always been a slave wouldn't I know subconsciously how to act? I disobeyed every order I was given and it didn't end up well."
"That is rather odd," Malik says after a while. "I feel like whatever happened before you hit your head is connected to what's happening now. Who know's what it is? I mean no one I know can do the things you do. You brought Mariku back from near death. You heal people like it's nothing."
"What are you saying?" Ryou says panic in her voice. Malik looks her in the eye and sighs.
"Maybe... you aren't human." Silence covers them.
"What?" Ryou says so softly it's hard to hear.
"Think about it, you never learned magic as a slave and suddenly you're able heal people when you saw Mariku dying but have no memory of the ability to do so. It's odd. Not only that but you have these visions of yourself with WINGS."
Ryou's blood run cold. Malik couldn't be right, could she? It does make sense though. Her powers, these visions, her memories gone. But, if she's not human, what is she? Thoughts rampage her head and panic sets in. What is she?
"Ryou, I'm sure it's not it so-"
"MALIK, RYOU! RUN!"
Mariku runs after Akefia fast as the other man stumbles down the dirt road. "Akefia stop!" The man doesn't even glance back, too absorbed in his goal of destruction. "I'm going to kick your ass!" He grumbles under his breath. Akefia lifts a latch going down the stone staircase. Once at the bottom he moves elegantly towards the tablet.
Mariku sprints down the stairs, watching the spirits of Kul Eldna glide along curiously, watching the two males. Without hesitation Mariku tackles Akefia to the ground knocking the rod from his hand. The golden item skids across the floor causing the spirits around them to go into a frenzy. As Mariku tries to pin Akefia, the other male starts fighting back.
"Let go of me!" 'Akefia' growls, thrashing beneath the blonde man. Mariku takes his head and rams it into the stone floor, wincing at the cracking sound. Blood pours down the side of Akefia's face but it doesn't stall him like Mariku does, it only enrages him further along with the spirits. The same creatures swirl around him shrieking directly into his ear, disorientating him. One passes through him sending him into a cycle of visions. Burning bodies, people being killed and a burning cauldron.
Mariku curses and squeezes his eyes shut trying to get rid of the ringing in his ear and the passing images. Akefia takes this chance to overthrow Mariku kicking him in the gut almost immobilizing him. The man stands and his clouded lavender eyes scan the room for the rod seeing it no where in sight. The spirits circle it showing him where it lays.
Akefia lips stretch into a demonic smirk as he saunters over to the item that tinkles harmlessly in the torch light. He wipes blood out of his eye as his other hand picks up the last Millennium Item. He twirls it in his fingers and strokes the top of it gently, as if he's done it many times before. With an elegance only a king would have, he practically floats over to the tablet that will fulfill his goal.
Mariku stumbles up to stand. Once he does he hisses a curse and watches for a moment as Akefia is only two feet from the tablet before running after the crazed male. The spirits chase after him shrieking loudly. Mariku ignores them as he watches the images once more, another spirit passing through him angrily. Can't he see this is what they've been waiting for?
Mariku leaps for landing on the tablet hard, Akefia beneath him once more. Akefia growls and the spirits hover above angrily. If they go through Mariku they'll go through Akefia and that will upset his control on Akefia, this needed to happen one way or another. Akefia wrestles with Mariku punching him in the nose watching blood gush from it. Droplets hit his face as Mariku holds him by his throat cutting off the air supply. Akefia smirks and chuckles air leaving him.
"Snap out of it Akefia!" Mariku growls anger seeping into him. This isn't what's suppose to happen. Mariku knows it's useless to try to speak to Akefia, the other male has already gone to far. This has to end here, the sinking gut feeling in Mariku's stomach already tells him something he dreads. Someone isn't leaving this alive. And if that demon is summoned, no one will.
"This is my destiny! You won't get in the way of that!" Akefia's chocked words come out. Mariku wouldn't chock him to death, no that would only get him killed by the spirits and that demon inside the red cloak man. Mariku's eyes flicker onto the Rod, knowing he needs to get that out of here. But how? Akefia would get it back one way or another. He wouldn't have to hesitate to kill Mariku in this state.
Mariku punches Akefia across the face leaving a bruise. The other male spits out a bit of blood before smirking even wider at Mariku. His legs wrap around Mariku's middle before flipping the two. Mariku finds the blade of the rod against his neck as pain blossoms on his back as the tablet digs in, as if trying to absorb him into it. "Give in!" Akefia scowls. Mariku breaths a laugh and saves up saliva in his mouth and spits in Akefia's face.
The taller man wrinkles his nose in disgust. Rubbing his face onto his sleeve, he growls and presses his knife harder against Mariku's neck. A line of blood wells up spilling over the blade and the tan man's neck. "I'll kill you Ishtar."
Mariku's eyes narrow dangerously at his name. He knees Akefia in the gut surprising the man before kicking him off him completely. Knife away from his neck and him free to use his limbs he watches the other male raise from his position on the tablet. Akefia sheathes the blade once more and his eyes flicker to the empty spot on the tablet. Mariku watches this and as Akefia tries to dive to place the rod in Mariku knocks him off the two males roll off and hit the ground hard, breath leaving and stunning both of them.
Mariku wheezes and tries to gain a grip on Akefia, unfortunately the spirits take advantage and ran themselves through him. They sent him into the images of the tragedy over and over and over again. During this Akefia stood up and watched the blonde man wither and squirm all but screaming as he watched the horrors unfold before him.
Mariku in between the flashing images of that night, saw Akefia begin to walk back to the stone, apparently not worried about Mariku anymore. He starts struggling to stand with the shrieking and images blinding him. The real world goes blurry as Akefia hovers right over the empty spot on the tablet, item ready to fall in place. In one final dive towards him Mariku prays he reaches Akefia in time.
Only, he was too late.
A loud click sounded as the final item fell into place. Akefia roars in laughter as black smoke seeped from his mouth into the tablet. The spirits around them swarmed the tablet as the earth began to rumble. Mariku's eye widen as he realizes what just happen. Akefia's body falls to the tablet unconscious and no longer possessed. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!" The curses fall from Mariku's mouth madly. He barely has enough time to grab Akefia's body and pull it off before the tablet cracks. Stumbling to his feet he hauls Akefia up and runs as well as he can up the stairs. Once he reaches the surface he tries his best to speed up but isn't able to.
The sight of the two girls comes into view and Mariku opens his dry mouth to yell.
"MALIK! RYOU! RUN!"
At the sound of Mariku's voice, the two girl's heads snap upwards. Instead of listening to the male, Malik run towards him. Ryou grabs the horses before following the blonde. Her eyes widen as they scan over briefly the injuries the two men have. Ryou forces herself to move forward and not dwell on them but Malik has other ideas. "Mariku what-," Mariku lifts Akefia onto Malik's horse then pushes the blonde girl over to it. "Get on the horse." He lifts Ryou onto his own before going to swing up onto it, only to be stopped. "Mariku! What happened? What's going on?"
He grabs her by her shoulders and looks her in the eye. "Get on your horse, we need to leave here now, if we don't we're going to die." Malik's eyes widen and before she can't press the issue Mariku growls and lifts her on her horse. Both horses begin to stomp and snort anxiously, sensing their rider's distress. Once Malik is safely on her horse Mariku hauls himself up in front of Ryou before cracking the reins, leading the group away from the chaos about to unfold.
Ryou tries to steady herself on the speeding horse with no avail. Instead she focuses on Mariku's wounds trying to heal them as they go. A flesh wound, bruises and possible broken nose will take a lot out of her but she'll do it. An orb of light forms and she watches the wounds heal. Mariku gives a sigh of relief before quickly thanking her. "What happened?" Ryou asks turning her head to look at the fading form of the village.
"The demon had control over Akefia. He put the last item in the tablet and summon him. We have to get our asses out of here and warn the others to leave right away." Just as he says these words the ground begins to rumble. The horses become frantic as they rear and try to shake their riders. Ryou clutches onto Mariku's waist as he skillfully tames his horse. She looks over at Malik who has tamed her as well.
Ryou looks behind them and watches the sky become shrouded in shadows. A gasp leaves her as she watches a huge dark figure form. Black skin forms on the creatures legs, arms and torso. She watches giant bat-like wings unfurl and stretch out covering the things around them and absorbing surrounding light. Two huge curled horns come out of the demon's head. It's teeth are pointed sharply and it's eye gleam red in the dark. Coming from the creature's legs is a dragon's head that seems to have a life of it's own.
Fear seeps into her very being as the demon's dragon head opens its mouth and lets out an ear piercing roar. Everyone covers their ears as the whole earth rumbles at the sound. The ground shakes even more after the sound leaves and the horse begin to move faster without a command. Ryou looks back once more and almost screams as she notices the demon is looking straight at them.
It raises it's fist and slams it onto the ground causing a giant crack to form and break the ground beneath them. "Mariku! The ground!" The male looks down and watches helplessly as the ground splits between the two horses and breaks creating a huge cavern. Malik skillfully is able to avoid falling in and makes the jump over to Mariku's side but the other horse isn't so lucky. Mariku's horse rides too close to the edge and is barely able to avoid falling to its death. In turn it rears and throws both Mariku and Ryou from the horse.
As the two fall Mariku grabs Ryou to keep her from falling in but isn't able to stop her head from colliding with the ground. Causing her world to fall into darkness...
Ryou's eyes flutter open and she finds herself somewhere else entirely. Instead of the sands of Egypt, she's laying on stone flooring. Everything around her is white and prefect, nothing like where she was. It all seemed too bright. She hesitantly stood up, feeling no pain in her skull like she previously did. Where was she? Around her were marble pillars that had been polished and no signs of wearing or even aging.
As she walks down the hallway she notices the sun light coming from the open spaces in the wall. Once she reaches it she looks out seeing a beautiful garden filled with green grass and white flowers she's never even seen. In the middle of everything is a stone well with green vines running up the sides. The image before he seems almost distorted in a sense. She reaches her hand out to feel the outside only for her hand to meet something clear and solid. She presses her hand against trying to move it but it doesn't budge. "It's call glass."
Ryou squeaks and spins around eyes widening at the person before her. It's herself.
The girl before her is the one she's been seeing for the past few days. She's adorned in a dress this time. It has no straps and is made of fabric Ryou's never seen. Little pink flowers start at her waist and pour down making up the skirt with as a pastel pink fabric clings to her upper body. Her white hair is pearl white and has the same little flowers braided in her hair. Unlike Ryou's face her face is clear and unblemished, creamy white and soft. A pale pink ribbon is tied to her wrist and two others to her ankles. Her feet are bare and what amazes Ryou most is the fact her nails are perfectly formed and trimmed. There isn't any damage to them at all.
"It's good to be able to talk to you," her other self says. Ryou snaps up to her face seeing a soft smile and sparkling emerald eyes. Ryou softly bites her lip giving a small nod. "Who exactly are you?" Ryou asks softly. Her other self giggles, the sound coming out like little bells. It's then that Ryou notices the white wings the stretch out a bit as she giggles.
"I'm you silly," she says. Ryou blinks and doesn't say anything. "Don't worry you'll understand soon. Come along," the other girl says waving a perfect hand. She walks elegantly to the opening in the pillars not covered in that "glass". She leads her into the garden and over to the well. Ryou looks down it noticing it's only leg deep with crystal clear water.
"So," Ryou looks up at the other version. "What would you like to know?" Ryou looks down at the water.
"What did you mean I had to save Akefia?"
"Akefia, as you know, had his whole village murdered. From that moment on his heart has been slowly filling with darkness. So in turn they sent me-you, down to Earth to save him before he summoned Zork."
"Zork?"
"That demon you saw being summoned." Ryou nods in understanding. Then something else comes to mind.
"Wait, if you- I, whoever, was sent down then where are we?"
"We're in your mind, Ryou. I am merely your memories. In case of emergency you made sure to have me, your memory, safely sealed so if you somehow forgot you'd have me appear and remind you. Only for some reason I wasn't triggered until a few days ago. This," the girl gestures around," is the memory of the afterlife."
"The afterlife? Does that mean I died?" Ryou says eyes widening. Her other self chuckles.
"Oh no, not at all! You in fact are a messenger of the gods. You're an angel."
"An angel?" Her other self nods and smiles watching her counterpart think this over. "How exactly am I suppose to defeat Zork? He's been summoned and I don't even know how to do anything besides healing."
Her other half smiles. "If you choose to do so you can have your memories back and go down to save everyone but in turn you'll have a hefty price to pay. If you don't want to, you can stay here until your summoned by the gods again."
"What price will I have to pay?" the question hangs in the air for a few minutes before her other self smiles sadly and runs a hand through the clear water of the well. As she lifts her hand a few droplets hang from her skin before the fall back to the water. As they hit the surface, ripples form and make small sounds.
"Your life."
Ryou's breath halts at the words. In order to stop Zork, she has to...die. "What would happen to everyone else if I don't go?"
"They'd die, Zork is the the destroyer of all. Since he's been summon he's been causing chaos."
"So I die, or they all do?" Her other half nods softly, playing with the water again.
"So, Ryou, what will you do?" the counterpart questions. Ryou looks around the garden then down at the well. Her eyes lock onto her other's
"I want to-"
Akefia stands at the cliff edge near the camp. In front of him is the demon who he summoned destroying the earth and hillsides. His heart pangs as the reality of the situation hits him. What has he done?
Behind him is the camping scrambling to get necessities to leave. Akefia knows it's useless though. They're all doomed because he had to get his revenge. Not that it matters, he's going to die to. Why did he have to do this?
"Akefia!" He doesn't turn as Malik runs to his side. "Let's go we need to leave now."
He scoffs. "Where the hell are we going to go? There's no where to go!" He shouts. He turns to face the blonde girl who rolls her eyes that are so similar to his own.
"I know that dumbass. But they don't," Malik says pointing to the thieves. "They need their leader to guide them. Even though it's going to end we need to keep moving. Thieves don't stay in one place for too long remember." She says smugly.
Akefia shakes his head and just keeps looking forward. He doesn't have the motivation to move. Malik sighs and turns around and gasps. Coming up tot the two are Mariku and surprisingly Ryou. Ryou's bruised cheek has been healed and she walks with an elegance Malik's never seen in the shy girl. Malik's almost afraid to walk up to the girl. Of course she brushes that aside and runs up to Ryou with a cry of her name, never noticing the wince Akefia gives.
Malik scoops the girl into a hug the other girl was ready for. "Thank god you're okay! You hit your head pretty hard I was so worried when you didn't wake up." Ryou just nods and catches a glance of Akefia feeling her heart aches for him.
"I'm fine," Ryou says in a smooth voice, Malik doesn't even recognize. Instead of questioning the girl's new aura she grabs her hand and starts to tug her towards camp.
"Come on we gotta pack," instead of Ryou following though, the other girl stays put. Malik stops and looks at the girl who's smiling softly at her. Malik gives a gentle tug but Ryou slips her hand from Malik's.
"We don't need to pack it's going to be alright Malik." Malik gives her the look of confusion as Ryou turns completely away from her and starts to walk to the cliff edge. As she walks a light pink glow mixed with white ribbons encases the girl. Her clothing begins to turn into little butterflies the fade as they flutter until they disappear completely. When the glow stops she's the image of herself in her memory. Pastel pink clothing and flowers not of this world astonish Malik and Mariku who look at the girl jaws dropped. They both watch as two white wings stretch out from the girl's back.
Akefia doesn't look at her though. Refusing to look at her. How can he face her after what he's done? Ryou stands near the cliff a little ways from Akefia, taking a deep breath in. She knows what she has to do. She turns around as Zork gives an ear piercing shriek. "You know I remember who I am now. I am a messenger of the gods, an angel if you will. I was sent down to Earth to dispel the darkness growing. When I was sent down I wasn't careful, I had never been to Earth before. I ended up slipping down a cavern and losing my memories. Everything else is history. When I hit my head again I remembered once more." Ryou keeps the other details to herself.
"What are you saying Ryou?" Mariku asks, confusion in his voice.
"I'm the only one who can stop Zork. Before I do I just want to tell you thank you. Malik, you've been my best friend since I first time I saw you. I will never forget the time we spent together and I will treasure it forever," tears well up in the angel girl's eyes as she turns to Mariku. "Mariku, make sure to look after Malik. You know how much of a troublemaker she is. You two were made for each other, I'm not just saying that either. Hathor told me me so. You two will forever be in my heart."
At this point Ryou has beautiful tears falling down from her eyes. Malik's anger overflows at this point, her own tears welling up. "What the hell are you talking about?! Stop talking like you're going to die!" Malik makes her way over to Ryou but only gets to the point where Mariku stands before a pink orb encases the two of them. Malik starts pounding on the sides only for nothing to happen. Mariku tries as well with his dagger but nothing happens. Malik starts screaming but no sound comes from the outside. Ryou tearfully looks away and over to Akefia who's looking at the blonde bubbled couple.
Ryou holds out a hand freezing the male in place and taking his ability to speak, so he doesn't ruin what she's going to say. Slowly she moves forward and gently takes his face in her hands. She freezes him and makes sure he can't talk. She thanks him for making her feel loved. Saying hes the first person to ever do so and even if it was fake she's still grateful. She kisses him and holds his face as she glows brightly when she hovers infront of him.
She tells him she's going to free him from his darkness an flies off. "Thank you, Akefia. You gave me the best year of my life. Even the heavens didn't compare to that year. Thank you, for making me feel so loved. You made me feel so happy and I couldn't ask for anything more. I know you told me you didn't really love me and that's okay because I'm still so grateful. I love you so much Akefia. I'm glad I got to meet you. I wish I could've made you happy like you did to me. But this is where our time ends. Goodbye Akefia."
Ryou's wings flutter as she gives Akefia a sweet and gentle kiss. The last kiss they'll ever share.
"I'm going to free you from your darkness." She whispers in his ear. She steps back and wipes her tears. Her body once again is absorbed with the pink and white ribbons of light. Her wings stretch out and in one down stroke she soars in the air. The ribbons form a bow as big as Ryou, engraved with flowers and vines. A beautiful bow a human wouldn't have. As she glides through the air, wings carrying her the way, Zork turns her way giving a roar. He starts moving her way and Ryou leads him away form the village he was about to attack.
A breath passes her lips as a column of fire is sent her way from the dragon head. She nearly loses a wing but ready's herself. An arrow of light forms in the bow and Ryou draws it. As Zork grows closer to her she takes her last breath and releases the arrow. As the arrow hits Zork the world is filled with a blinding white light.
As it leaves, the orbs encasing Mariku, Malik, and Akefia turn to pink butterflies that fade quickly. They look forward and notice Zork's presence is gone. But so is Ryou.
It hits everyone like a bag of stones.
She's dead.
Malik is the first to react. "RYOU!" She runs to the cliff and barely stopped by Mariku before she fell off. "Ryou! Ryou! No! Let me go! RYOU!" Tears fall from Malik's eyes as Mariku forces Malik into his arms and squeezes her against his chest falling to the ground. Silent tears fall from his eyes as he tries to silence the fierce sobs coming from his lover. Looking over at Akefia he notices the strong male on his knees facing away from the two blondes.
She was gone. She was really gone.
The world begins to rebuild itself. The thieves mourning went on ahead leaving Mariku, Malik and Akefia behind by the cliff. The night sky brings little comfort than normal. Having the world plagued with darkness doesn't help.
Akefia stands at the cliff looking out similar to how he was earlier. Only this time, there's no danger. He hears footsteps behind him and doesn't turn to know it's Mariku. A tanned hand lands on his shoulder comfortingly. Silence stretches out between them until Akefia breaks it. "She thought I didn't love her. She thought I was faking the whole thing." His shoulders shake with sobs. "I loved her so much and she DIED thinking I hated her. Why did I ever do that to her?"
"I think she knew deep down there was some affection from you. It's not your fault, you didn't know the items would cause this. You weren't at fault," Mariku's voice is low and gruff trying to hide so emotion. Akefia shakes his head.
"It was my fault. I knew the items were evil but I still did it to get revenge. Why am I such a fool?" At this time, Malik comes up and hugs Mariku's arm, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Mariku doesn't answer knowing nothing will comfort the other male. Silence stretches out between them.
A soft giggling brings them out of it. All three heads snap up towards the source and eyes widen at the sight.
Ryou.
Her image is transparent. She wears the outfit from earlier, her wings spread wide and glowing in the moon light. The necklace Akefia gave her a summer ago shines brightly on her neck. Her whole being is other worldly. A bright smile shines on her face. Akefia reaches a hand out to her almost as if to grab her but she's already fading into little butterflies. Her soft giggling rings out like little bells.
As she completely fades there are three bright white feathers left on the cliff edge.
Ryou's angel feathers.