Chapter 7
I really don't have time for this. Thought Raimundo as Marissa approached. It's time. Time to end this nightmare. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for what he had to do. However, there wasn't enough time to summon his power. His sister was right in front of him, dark fire blazing in both hands. There was only one option now, an option he would only take if there was no other way.
"Sorry, sis." he whispered. "It's the only way." Raimundo shut his eyes tight so he wouldn't see what was about to happen. He raised a hand and a blast of light shot out of his palm. He knew from the cry of pain and shock that he'd hit her, and once again summoned the power to bring the world out of darkness.
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"Star Hanabi, FIRE!" yelled Kimiko. The man dodged the blast, but suddenly there was a huge explosion from the top of Wuya's palace. A thousand or more heads turned to see the tip of the mountain-like structure blown into a million pieces. The light of the blast illuminated the battlefield momentarily, long enough for Kimiko to see two figures standing beside one another at the top of the palace- one small and one large. As the smoke rose into the sky, Kimiko noticed someone falling. The body was limp, and the hands were clutching at thin air, trying to grasp what was not there. Whoever it was abruptly hit the ground with a resonating THUMP! Kimiko ran over to the body, hoping with all her heart that it wasn't Raimundo…
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Marissa was still curled up in the dark, Wuya's words ringing around her head. You are the Heylin Dragon of Darkness…She wondered if she had already destroyed the world, and this was what came after. These thoughts were dispelled as a sparking beam of light broke through the darkness. It was beautiful, gleaming and ever-changing in the empty black space. It sparkled invitingly and Marissa stretched out her arm, but she couldn't reach the source. She noticed the pain that had spread over her body had disappeared in the place where the light touched her hand. Suddenly, another beam shot out of the dark, illuminating the place where Marissa lay.
"Rai?" she breathed. "Is that you?"
The light grew brighter, and she shut her eyes, it was almost blinding. There was a flash of white light, and then it was gone. Marissa dared to open her eyes, and she smiled at what she saw.
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The last thing Wuya remembered seeing was the sparkling aura around Raimundo's body growing brighter and brighter, until there was only an unrecognisable shape of radiant power. Then shining bright whiteness. An explosion. Falling, tumbling through the air. A loud, echoing THUMP. Then-nothing.
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Raimundo ran to his sister, who was lying sprawled on the elaborately decorated stone steps.
"Marissa! MARISSA!"
She blinked, her face now free of hate and anger. She looked at him and smiled.
"It's alright." she stood up. "I'm out of the dark now."
Raimundo smiled. She was unusually knowledgeable for a seven-year-old. Perhaps it came from being a descendant of Wuya.
"Can we go home now?" she asked, suddenly looking very tired.
"I've got something to do first." her brother replied. He closed his eyes, but something was wrong. He didn't have enough power.
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Raimundo opened his eyes.
"It's no good." he sighed. "I can't find enough power."
Marissa stared at him, wide eyed.
"Did you really really try?" she asked. She always said that, sometimes even to herself.
Raimundo tried again, to please his sister. He reached deep into his soul, where two elements existed, side by side. There wasn't enough Light to banish the Darkness, but combined with Wind…
"I've got an idea." he said at last. "It just might work.
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Marissa followed her brother to the hole in the side of the palace. She bit her lip as Raimundo stood on the edge, the armies of Xiaolin and Heylin staring up at him. It's a long way to fall… Marissa thought nervously.
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Raimundo swallowed and closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about the consequences if this didn't work. He took a step into thin air. The power of wind allowed him to hover above the battlefield, a glowing circle of light beneath his feet. Raimundo glided to the centre of the paused battle, and cried-
"By the twin powers of Light and Wind, let the world be darkened no more!" A globe of golden light materialised in his cupped hands, emitting waves of glittering power across the world. The sun rose on the darkened land, and there was life in the dead plants and trees. A strong breeze swept the battlefield, and Wuya's army suddenly looked dazed. They were confused and lost, a long way from home.
Kimiko, standing beside Wuya's half-dead body, watched as it slowly vanished into nothing. She looked up at Raimundo, his brown hair lifted by the strong wind. The familiar pendant around his neck was glowing, the spiral shape radiating the strength of Light. Suddenly, Raimundo opened his eyes, but they were no longer green, they were pale yellow, almost white. Behind him, there was a ghostly form. It slowly took shape, the shape of a girl. This was Light, and she spoke as one with Raimundo.
"The prophecy has been fulfilled." They said. "The Dragon of Darkness shall no longer be so. May the force of good always prevail…" The image of Light faded, and Raimundo fell to the ground, exhausted. Marissa floated down from the top of Wuya's palace as it crumbled, on a beam of dark magic. This was the last time she would ever use her powers of Darkness. Kimiko ran to Raimundo, across the battlefield. She was horrified. Was this the end of the prophecy? That the Dragon of Light would banish the darkness, but perish in the attempt? However, when she reached him, Raimundo was still alive, but barely. His eyes were closed, and he was breathing with difficulty.
"Rai, it's ok." She whispered, taking his hand. He was ice cold. "Just hang on, Dojo will come."
"My sister…" he said, every word an effort. "Where is she?"
"I'm here." Marissa replied. "It's all right." She stepped off the magical beam and knelt beside her brother. Raimundo sighed and slipped into unconsciousness, both girls waiting by his side.
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