"What the hell is that?!"
I barely heard Ban ask Elaine, or her answer, over the ringing in my ears even though they where right next to me. Groaning I forced myself to sit up, pushing the fallen branches off of me. My eyes widened in horror at the sight before me. The green lush forest that was there only a heartbeat ago was now up in flames. A huge red demon stood in the middle of all the destruction laughing. I jumped when I felt Ban's hand on my back.
"Kala are you alright?" Ban asked as he helped stand.
"Ya," I coughed, the taste of sulfur burning the back of my throat. "Just a bit stunned is all. Are Elaine and the Fountain of Youth alright?!"
"We're alright," Elaine spoke up from next to Ban, the silver cup that held the fountain's water wrapped in branches next to her.
"Kala take Elaine and the cup and get away from here." Ban said as he grabbed his staff. "I'll be behind you in a minute."
"Roger that, just be careful." I said grabbing Elaine's wrist and gently pulling her away.
"Ban come with us! It hasn't noticed us yet!" Elaine yelled at him, pulling me back. Persistent little thing she is.
"Shh! That's why I'm going to do a little surgery while it back is turned~." Ban sang.
The three section staff lit in a purple glow as he pressed his magic into the weapon. Swinging the staff at the demon the weapon easily clearing the wide distance, piercing clean though its hide. A flick of the wrist and the staff returned, bringing the beast heart with it, the demon slumping forward.
"See? One shot~." Ban grinned as he held up the still throbbing heart.
"No Ban!" Elaine yelled pulled away from me as the demon turned to look us. "Demons have more then one-"
Before Elaine could finish the demon attacked. The blast cut clean through Ban's right shoulder and through Elaine and I stomachs. I watched as they fell before I followed suit, my shoulder colliding hard with the ground. I barely registered Ban and Elaine's conversation, my grip on consciousness falling in and out. I forced myself up into my elbows to find Elaine at Ban's side, leaning down to kiss him with the pink water of the fountain in her mouth. A pained smile pulled at my lips as my arms gave out, rolling to my back, and let my eyes fall closed. I was accepting my death rather well in my opinion. I knew Ban would be safe, he'll be okay without me. One less burden for him to carry…
My eyes shot open at the feeling of cold metal being pressed agents my lips. Elaine was kneeling next to me with the silver cup, shaky hands feebly pressing it to my lips. The cool water filled my mouth as I tried to protest only to unwillingly swallow the sweet liquid to keep from chocking on it. A low growl rumbled in the back of my throat as the demon drew closer. I tried to force my body to move but it refused to budge as it healed. I felt an arm wrap around under my arms as the dark shadow of the demons foot fell over us. I heard a loud crash as the beast slammed its foot down but felt no pain. Looking up I found my brother holding me in one arm and Elaine in his other. He had her cradled like a fragile doll, head tucked into the side of his neck.
"You dummy…" Ban sighed as he lowered to the ground to lay her down and release me from his hold. "Wait right here. This won't take long. Ready Kala?"
Pushing myself to my feet I ran my finger tips over the exposed expanse of my abdomen. "Let's go."
"Then I won't have to hold back when I kick your ass!"
I cursed under my breath at hearing Ban yell. King must have followed us to the Capital and chased after us when we parted from the others. When did he become such persistent little brat? Sliding down the crystal I was perched on I took off after them. They weren't that far ahead and it was a relatively straight shot. I just hoped that I got there before there was to much bloodshed.
"-was my little sister Elaine!"
This time I knew my heart completely stopped functioning as I froze at the edge of the clearing that they where in. King's words echoed in my head as I processed them and the scene that was in front of me. Ban was pinned agents Chastiefol's second configuration guardian. King had his fist tightly clutching the front of Ban's red jacket. Anger and pain burned in his eyes as he floated eye level with Ban. The attack at the hamlet made sense now. King wanted to get revenge for Elaine's death. After a few long heartbeats King released his hold and floated back.
"I get it." Ban grinned. "You want to avenge her by killing us, only problem is we can't die!"
"If you'll recall my seared treasure has a variety of abilities." King grinned as he raised his hand. I'm getting real tired of that grin today. "Oh, that's right. If it doesn't interest you it's in one ear and out the other. Chastiefol third configuration: Fossilization."
Before I could react, the twin headed spear pierced through Ban's back. I watched in horror as my brothers skin started to quickly turn to stone. I tried to yell but the caught in my throat.
"I've been waiting for this moment. Are you watching Elaine?" King asked as he watched the stone take over Ban's body, "If you have any final confessions to make, I'm listening. Though that's not to say I'll forgive you."
Ban's only response was a grin as the stone rapidly over took him. King watched as the fossilization finished, calling Chastiefol back to him after a moment. I knew King was talking to Ban but I couldn't hear him, not over the roaring pulse in my ears. My fists clenched at my sides as I watched King start to move away. I needed to hit something and King seamed like the perfect thing.
Bearing my fangs in a snarl I darted at King, quickly closing the distance between us. He spun to face me, startled by my sudden appearance, trying to back away from me before I could attack. Unfortunately for him I was quicker. My fist made solid contact with his chest sending him back several feet. A wolfish grin pulled at my lips as the hem of his jacket singed and the skin above that started to turn a warm red of a burn. I felt the lingering heat of my magic in my hand as I stood tall and meet King's glare.
"You saved me the trouble of hunting you down Kala."
"Release him from the fossilization King." My voice was calm but I knew he could hear the anger that threatened to come forward.
"I have a better idea." King said as Chastiefol raised, ready to attack. "How about you join him?"
"You have every right to hate us for what happened to her King." I said voice low. "But do you really think this is what Elaine would want? For you to turn your back on your comrades like you did on the forest and your responsibilities as Fairy King."
"What would you know about any of that?!" King yelled. "How could you possibly know what Elaine would want?!"
"More then you probably would like me to." I sighed. "I bear many sins I could only dream of atoning for. What happened in the forest that day is one of them that still burns at the front of my mind. I know how it feels to lose everything you love and have been powerless to stop it from happening. This isn't going to help any, believe me or not that's your choice."
"Shut up! Join Ban and be gone!" King growled.
"Not without a -" The words died on my tongue as a delicate hand brushed over the back of my shoulders.
I knew that feather light touch anywhere. Tearing my attention from King, I turned to follow the touch. Elaine smiled as our eyes meet before making her way over to Ban. I watched as she laid her hands on his cheeks before leaning in to kiss him. The stone shattered leaving a mildly shocked Ban in its wake. I gave an affectionate roll of my eyes, always with the life saving kisses with these two, before walking over to join them.
"Hey Elaine." Ban smiled recovering quickly.
"Ban." Elaine tapped a finger to her left cheek. "How did you get that scar?"
"I thought you guys watched over us from the other side." Ban tisked with mock disappointment.
"He was being an idiot like always." I sighed remembering the hour's long lecture I had given him.
"That voice, it's really her!" King shouted, his voice filled with disbelief. "Let me see you too, please! Don't you recognize your own brother Elaine?"
I looked back over my shoulder at King. I had almost forgotten he was still here being a pain in my side. I frowned as I glanced from him to Elaine and back. Could he really not see her? I could see her clear as day and I knew Ban could. So why couldn't King?
"Let him see you." Ban said look over to King.
Elaine shook her head. "You're in the Necropolis it's possible for the living and the dead to see each other again but only when bound by strong emotions."
Then you're still mad at me… aren't you?" King's head fell. "For abandoning you and the fountain. That I turned my back on everything and walked away."
It was silent for a few tense heartbeats before a loud explosion filled the void, large spikes in magical power followed. I could pick out two as the captain's and Diane's but the third was unknown to me.
"Wait a minute… is that a holy knight?!" Ban asked as we turn to the source.
"No doubt about it. That's a holy knight alright and it's coming from where we left the others." I let out a low growl. Something about this holy knight felt different then normal. It felt almost… demonic in a way.
"Wait, Ban! Kala!" Elaine called before we could take off. "Why did you two come? What was the reason?"
"No real reason. Just to tell you something." Ban said looking back at her over his shoulder. "One day I will take what's mine. I promas you that."
"Someone's got to keep him out of trouble or at lest try to anyway." I shrugged and gave a half hearted smile.
"Ban what more can you two take from her?!" King yelled.
"Thank you, Ban." Elaine smiled as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
With that Ban and I took off towards the fight to help our comrades.