Me: Before I get to the story, I wanna say sorry for the lack of proper space during scene changes in previous chapters (I'd go back and fix it but some of the chapter files are gone so, I don't know that I could with all of them). From now all, I'll do my best to remember to space with three upper case I's
Mushra: Fail, Jordan, you ruined the flow of the story, now every ones confused, they can't follow the story.
Me: if they're on this chapter, it seems they're following it just fine. OH MY GOD MUSHRA, A SNAKE ON YOUR SHOULDER!
Mushra: WHAT?! WHERE IS IT- *looks and there's nothing there* You lair, there's nothi-DEAR GOD *is tackled by me as I scream*
Me: ENJOY!

Chapter 7—Only Just Beginning

Heather knew, she'd do what she had to. Whether it was wounding her friend for show, or taking hits herself, she'd do what was needed. Having the human traits of self-preservation, of course, she REALLY would like to avoid sacrificing herself, but she felt a conviction in herself about this—if they couldn't get out together, then Jaden would go on without her.

She was brought to the furthest end of the arena, carrying her spear with her all the while, as Jaden stayed at the end near where they had been prepared. Jaden stood with two blades in hand, that hung low in obvious reluctance. Heather looked to the stands, and found a throne set for the Lord, which he already sat relaxed in, smirking down at the two of them.

The two of them stood for only moments, before both of them impatiently looked to Ryuma, he took that chance to stand, as the arena was filling up halfway, mostly around him, but there were two entire lines on the bottom rows closest to where the girls would fight. It was then with a snap of his fingers that all attention was upon him. Guards set blue flames to the torches in the arena, and he looked to his subjects.

"You have all gathered, and for something absolutely glorious, that I can promise you. You have been without a Queen for far too long, and I seek to remedy that—and who better than the beloveds of Enterra's most renowned…and misinterpreted warriors?" he called out, and there was soft applaud of approval.

Heather had to roll her eyes, and Jaden too showed a bit of disdain by shaking her head.

"Not their beloveds, pal—that's one flaw in your plan." Heather stated, not seeing the look Jaden gave her, as if to tell her to shh.

Ryuma narrowed his gaze. "And yet they risked their lives to protect you—why would they do such if you were not precious to them?"

"Because that's what true leaders and warriors do—they protect those they believe need protecting."

There was little murmur among the people, but with a glance to all of them, Ryuma hissed to silence before he focused his gaze on Heather. "And what a job they did of protecting you…"

Heather, in turn, gave a dark smirk. "I said they believed we needed it—I didn't say we actually did."

"Then show your power you feel so confident you possess. And I ask of you…" he looked to them both as he sat down, his own look of disdain he wore briefly before smirking confidently, "..don't disappoint. Or the consequences will be swift."

Jaden and Heather looked to one another, and after a moment of speaking their regret and reluctance through their gazes, they nodded.

And with disgusting levels of excitement, Ryuma called, "Begin!"

Heather was the first to go into action, mainly because the flaming torches seem to burst for a moment with Ryuma's command. The short haired woman broke into a run, racing to Jaden, who was considering what to do. She was only prepared to defend herself; she didn't have it in her right away to attack. So, taking a few steps back, she settled in a stance, crossing her swords in front of herself to prepare.

Of course, as Heather squatted a bit, as if to prepare to jump, Jaden notice a spark of fire in the armored boots, and coming from her gloves, and her eyes widening, she took a step back and slashed her blades into the air and called out 'Aqua Tornado!' just as Heather leapt into the air with a 'Flaming Vortex!', her spear spinning the flames to collide into a misty blast with the water, knocking them both back and leaving them in steamy mist.

Following the clanking of the other, both women made their way through the mist until they caught each other's sight, and with a moment of hesitation, they launched into battles with weapons. They seem to both believe it best to only use the power in spurts for now, they would last longer with an act by doing so. And the fighting with weapons wasn't as hard to control the faking of—cosplay acting and attempts of training their selves in battle, coupled with actual knowledge of fighting styles thanks to the boys, did wonders for that.

Jaden ducked, and as she rose, she rammed Heather just hard enough that she briefly lost balance, but Heather caught herself and spun and whacked Jaden with the end of the spear. Jaden knocked it away with a blade and when she noticed Heather had the spear held straight before her, she slashed at it with the other blade in a spin. It was affective in looking like an attack, especially when Heather followed it with bringing the spear down towards the blades and Jaden caught it by crossing the blades. They pushed at one another with their weapons for a time, it seeming almost like a realistic struggle. Though as Heather glanced a look at the crowd, she noticed a head shake or a two, and wasn't so sure.

She shoved her spear a little harder against the blades, Jaden catching herself for balance, and Heather took that chance to take a leap back and go back into more interactive battle. Once she noticed Jaden had her blade in the right position, she swung the blade of her spear at the other, Jaden just catching and blocking it. Heather swung the spear to do the same thing the opposite way and was blocked again. She brought the spear to her, then lunged, only for Jaden to spin out of the way and then bring her blade down on the spears shaft. Jaden swung a kick at Heathers leg, and slightly wincing, the other woman used the bottom of her spear to whack at her arm, seeing Jaden wince as well.

This sort of fighting continued for a time. The slight pains and accidental wounds were nothing new, as it wasn't new for them to try and battle and beat one another. They were used to the pain that comes with it. And getting so into the act, the both of them had completely forgotten they could use their power to fight.

But the crowd hadn't.

It was mumbling, at first, but as they were fighting the length and girth of the arena, they were getting close enough to the crowd to hear them.

"What fighting is this?"
"Where is the fire?! What warriors do not use their elements?!"
"They are not true warriors!"

Jaden and Heather were caught again, pushing their weapons against the others, and catching one another's eyes, they knew, they'd have to step it up. They tried a few attacks, but when the Flaming Vortex died out too soon before hitting Jaden, or the Aqua Dragon missed its mark, it was becoming too obvious. So obvious that, with a disappointed look upon his face, Ryuma stood.

"Do you take me for a fool?!" He called at them, making them stop abruptly to look to him.

Heather shrugged as she said, "Well…"

"Enough! You will give me the fight I have demanded. Or do you wish for the consequences of failing me?"

Jaden and Heather just glared…and then began to panic, as their vision began to distort. Where once they saw the Lord standing on his throne, surrounded by judging faces, they now saw…their nightmare. The piled mass of their friends, but now the boys were their younger selves and on top of the pile, Winter underneath them, and the vision ended with Ryuma bringing his blade down through them all.

Leaving the two woman gasping from pangs in their chests, he spoke once more. "You will fight, with all you have in you to do so. What you had before as well as what I gifted you!"

"Excuse us…if we're not…used to using…your stupid gifts, snake-for-brains!" Heather yelled at him. "We haven't had this power for long, we're used to fighting a different—"

"Excuses! Do as you are told! Or that nightmare of yours WILL become your reality!"

Jaden shook her head, trying to catch her breath, breathe normally as she grasped the hilts of her blades. She so wished to cut that snakes head off, and she almost, ALMOST would have. But doubting her ability to face him, as well as seeing the collection of guards up among him, she knew it would be a death sentence, for more than just her.

She looked to Heather then, who's eyes were on the ground. She could see, from the other woman's body language, there was a dark energy around her. She was angry. And it was a miracle she hadn't already launched at the Lord himself. No, instead…she launched at Jaden with an unspoken cast of flame, which was narrowly avoided before Jaden returned with blast of water. She feared how they might use the power up, but she knew, they would have to use it more now.

There was no place for annoyance at the lack of warning. They had little more chances to warn one another anymore. It would be more real, here. They really had no choice…

I I I

Winter stood there, just watching the tubes containing the boys. The light was lowering, low enough now for her to look without it hurting her eyes too much. Though it wasn't as if she could really look away right now. The longer she stared, the more she wished the light would turn into the morning light streaming into her room at home, waking her up.

But she wasn't foolish, and she soon shook that day dream out of her mind. She looked to the control panel with absolute dread, tears welling and a few spilling from her eyes. The rooms light was weakening more and she looked back once again to the boys, now starting to see their forms. They looked back to normal, even their previous clothing had returned, jewels and such returned but still lacking their glow.

Looking back to the panel as she neared it, her vision blurred for a moment and she couldn't see the buttons she needed to press. With an angry sigh, she wiped the tears and hovered a hand over the buttons. Swallowing hard, she clenched her shaking hand into a fist, before releasing and pressing the first four buttons. She hovered her hand over the begin button then, throwing a panicked glance up to the boys one last time.

"…I'm so sorry for this…" she said in a small voice, and smashed the button, leaping back from the panel as the screams of pain brought her attention to the lightning courses through each tube. She gasped, seeing the flashing, seeing each one of them twitched and writhing from the pain, before they all dissolved with their individual colors, and as they became cards, the electricity abruptly stopped.

As it stopped she suddenly fell to her knees, and broke into sudden sobs that she was struggling to gain control over.

I I I

There was a brief yelp as a stream of flame had singed Jaden's side through the fabric of the dress, and she returned to attack, with an Aqua Dragon ramming Heather to the ground, and twisting around her until Jaden ran to her rammed her to the ground again. Heather slashed at Jaden as she got to her feet, scrapping a small but bleeding wound on Jaden's arm. Jaden knew, she needed to be fighting back more, not just to keep up the act for Ryuma, but because Heather's determined mission, but every time she mustered the courage to just DO it, she saw her friend before her and just couldn't.

And Heather was catching on to it, and was worried she'd have to resort to really pushing her. Really threatening her with wounds, as well as reminding Jaden she's going to lose her sister if she doesn't put some fire behind her fight.

Though they heard Ryuma speaking up above to some people, they stole glances when they could, it seemed like he was speaking to guards. They couldn't hear what was being said, but Ryuma seemed very irritated. Heather suddenly flipped over Jaden, catching her on her back, seeming to choke her with the spear to her neck.

"Aqua Dragon, blast me up into the crowd so I can hear. It'll please'em, too, do it. Now flip me." Heather grunted under her breath in her friends ear, and Jaden was swift to act, turning as she grasped the spear shaft and she flung Heather off with a summersault.

Standing, she raised a blade, and called out the attacked, sending the watery dragon, one of her stronger ones, and it glided across the ground, taking Heather in its teeth, and it rose and flung her around before releasing her and she rammed into the seats just below Ryuma's thrown, wincing from the pain of the impact. Well, she did asked for it.

She just caught Ryuma still talking (he apparently didn't mind the body at his feet just yet), and heard, "They WILL witnessed this fight, go on and find Ungar, demand to know why he has not brought… Are you getting back into the fight, little one, or did I say you could stop?" Well, he finally noticed Heather.

She glared, he did NOT just call her little one. She literally growled before answering. "Sorry, My Lord, I was attempting the foolish task of assessing my injuries before jumping back into battle, but by all means, let me not delay." She moved to her feet, with a little effort, as her elbow and side hurt, but she didn't care. She even went so far to bow to him, even if it was a little off from the pained jerking she did once or twice.

"A lady does not bow unless told, she curtsies." Ryuma scoffed.

"Well, I bow, prissy face."

There was a hiss, and he suddenly grasped her by the nape of her neck when she'd turned to return to battling and he growled, "Watch. Your. Tongue."

Wincing, she contemplated getting some sense and doing as he said, or if it'd feel good to go any further with her remarks. She noticed Jaden, who looked panicked, but she didn't focus on her for long. Just as the guard Ryuma had just previously sent to seek out Ungar had leapt the corner of the arena and made his way to one of the doors, Ungar himself entered.

Ryuma released her, and Heather fell forward, catching herself and hopping down the each bench before leaping back into the arena (like going downhill) and then righting her balance. She looked to Ungar in confusion as he had entered…without Sago, Mushra, or Xavier. Heather made her way to Jaden, who was looking towards the other end as well, and she quickly whispered, "He was about to send for Ungar, the guy was supposed to bring the boys sooner and his Lord is miffed about that…"

"I think he's going to be miffed'ier now." Jaden huffed.

There was silence between them and Jaden slowly and hesitantly looked to see Heather was giving her a judgmental look.

Ryuma called to his loyal sorcerer. "What has kept you, Ungar? I do believe I demanded the men be brought here sooner, weak and ready to witness a devastation they can't stop…"

"I grievously apologize for the delay, My Lord, but they are on their way now. That excitable fool of a scientist wasn't working quick enough, but his scatterbrained problem has been remedied for the time being. Is there anything else I might be able to do for you, My Lord, before I assist in bringing the men here?" Ungar speaks calmly and surely, and it does nothing to help Jaden and Heather.

They look to one another, mumbling about how they might need to try their last effort of escape once the boys are actually here, though Heather says she fears that won't work and they should just go with what they were originally doing, and as Jaden tries to argue, Ryuma's voice sounded again, full of disdain and disappointment.

"I need no more from you, if you cannot keep up with a simple order. Truly, I have been wondering what need of you I will have any more when this is all finished!" Ryuma sat once more, glaring at his prized sorcerer, before turning a glare on the two women, completely missing the returned glare his sorcerer gave before taking his leave to return to his duties.

"You may continue!"

I I I

The sobbing was dying down finally, to be replaced by gasping. Winter didn't have the strength to stand again, not even to raise her head. She couldn't believe she'd just done that. She couldn't even bare to check on any of the three cards.

"Ungar….hurry back…please…"

That's when she heard feet outside and knew someone was nearing her. The guards, Ungar? Not sure, she glanced all around the room for some form of weapon. Spotting the remains of the ice cell, half of it was already melted and about nearly harmless. She seemed partial to the use of the ice, so she picked up the most threatening looking shard and hurried behind the door.

As it edged more and more upon, she hurried and aimed the ice, ready to point it to the most vulnerable spot of whatever guard might enter. Only for it to be Ungar, who gave her a look.

"I thought we got past you pointing things at me, girl."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know if it'd be you or guards, or… Well, are we ready to…to continue?" she looked to the cards, her throat thick. "…They're carded and ready…"

Ungar barely pat her arm, and gave a brief comforting 'you did well' compliment before shoving the door shut and locking it down. Winter watched in confusion, and began to worry.

"Why—"

"Ryuma believes I'm already bringing them. I had to use some sleep-inducing powder of mine to deter the guards who had been coming. As soon as I finish my work, they'll surely be coming. You had best be ready to help them see the light, and quick." Ungar stated in a rush as he assured the containers holding the power were still set correctly.

He then got down on his knees, and Winter came to watch as the sorcerer placed his hands on circular symbols on the ground that were linked by lines to the symbolic circles around each container, and as he began to chant low, it began to glow, as did their energy, stronger and stronger…and it began to float out of the containers, swirling and pulsing.

"Open the tubes, girl!"

Winter rushed to the panel, but halted. "W-what button?!"

"A half-moon shape, with a swerve on its side going through it!" Ungar told her.

Winter looked over the panel, and spotted what had to be it. It looked like half a circle, or half an O, with an S on its side going through it and she pressed it right away, the doors opening just as the glowing blue, green, and orange energy floated up towards them. It formed into a sphere, for a moment, as Winter walked carefully near, noticing Ungar had stopped. His head hung for a moment, before he looked up.

And as he did, the energy suddenly shot towards the cards, which then began to absorb it all at once in sudden great light.

I I I

"He's catching on, Jaden, he looks angry." Heather muttered as she had Jaden's arm locked behind her in a move they used to practice carefully with each other. "You need to get into to it, and soon."

"Heather, I can't." she whispered angrily, only to be shoved away, her arm hurting a bit. She looked to Heather, spotting her standing on the other blade she'd dropped admits their 'fighting'.

"You never were as good a fighter as me." Heather said, speaking loud enough then that Ryuma would hear. Jaden gave her a look as if to ask what she was doing, but she went on. "Always too scared to hurt someone, you don't have a natural fighting fire in your body or bones, never did."

"Heather…" Jaden didn't know what to say, she was too worried about Heather's intentions.

"Even now, you're scared to hurt me. Is it really because you care?"

"Heather!"

"Or is it because you're scared you'll fail? Come out, Jaden-Jump-scare! Never outside, too scared of what might hurt her there!"

Bullies. They used to tease her, she was always a home body, and Heather was the one that got her out; the one that helped her overcome them and her discomfort. Why was Heather bringing this up? To anger her? All it was doing was reminding her of the woman she as being pushed to kill, how much Heather was trying to do, and how much she didn't want to kill her.

"Flame of the Phoenix!"

She panicked, and called out Aqua Dragon and Tornado both, losing control of both mostly, though one did move her half out of harm's way, but not before her hand was burned and she screamed out. She glared at Heather, in tears from the pain.

"Fight back, or your sister is dead!" Ryuma called, now out of his seat, and a smile on his face.

Jaden huffed, her breathing increasing before she ran at Heather then, slashing out at her spear, her arms when she thought them reachable, and she blasted her back off her feet. She regretted it the moment she did it, but she saw Heather seemed relieved. This is what she was trying to accomplish…

Though, as soon as Heather thought Jaden was going to do what needed to be done, the both of them cried out, from a small pain inside, but more so for the blinding light that was followed by a loud shatter. As they opened their eyes, they knew they felt different, and they looked to one another, confused, and then they heard Ryuma's yell of anger and looked to him, and then around, and then they noticed…at their feat…the shards of the jewels that had given them power, and snakes that had held them on their heads, slithering away.

Their power was gone. Jaden had to wonder how, because it hadn't felt any weaker when they were using it. And Ryuma seemed too angry for them to just be 'used up'.

"What have you done?!" he's descended, stairs and then into the Arena, marching to them. "Who has done this!?" he yelled out into the crowds, taking out his sword and aiming it at the audience. "Who has turned against me!?"

His people seemed shocked that he would believe any wrong from them, and go so far as to threaten them, but he didn't seem to care.

"No one will answer me?! I am your Lord!" he cried and his eyes seemed to spark for a moment.

"Doesn't seem…to matter, buddy…" Heather commented in a huff, nudging away the shards of the jewel with her boot and looking to Ryuma as Jaden came to stand with her.

He turned on them, and he hissed, like a provoked snake ready to strike. Still gripping his blade, he faced them completely. "No matter… You will STILL fight! It changes nothing—nothing but the body count that will follow once I find out who is to blame for this!"

Jaden and Heather look to one another. Something has happened, and though neither of them could explain it, they weren't going to waste time trying, especially when they saw in each other's eyes that it was a mutual feeling. Now was the chance they'd been desperately hoping for. Now was their chance to turn this hell around.

"Did you not hear me?!"

"At the volume you're screaming, how can we not?" Jaden retorted, glaring him down and gripping her blades, despite the pain and weariness.

"We're not fighting anymore. You're not forcing us."

"Am I not?!"

"Give us all the visions you won't, we're not going to kill each other!" Jaden spat.

Silence fell as he glared them down, and they glared back, and it seemed everyone was watching with bated breath. Until he straightened, and then suddenly aimed his swords tip at them, his gaze like the ice of his castle—cold and chilling.

"Then one of you will die at MY hand, and the other SHALL be my bride!"

Jaden groaned as she prepared herself. This was going to be dangerous, especially now without the power that had been so useful before. Heather, however, complained. "REALLY, dude? Are you seriously keeping up with this? GIVE IT UP, get an eHarmony account or something!"

The confusion that gave him just turned into anger, as if he really didn't like being confused.

"Keep running that mouth of yours, child, and you will be the one to die!" he yelled at her.

"Prepare yourself!"

Me: You know, even if he might have ruined the reputation for snakes where Mushra is concerned, I would so adopt all his little snakes and turn them good.
Mushra: I hope they bite you
Me: Nope, they'll just be biting you. NEW CHAP COMING SOON~!