Chapter 10! Finally a double-digit number!!!!! XD I'm proud of myself just for that :p Hmmhmm….sorry it took so long – I've had NO inspiration to write this whatsoever (I've…started working on a new story haha, so now I've made it even harder on myself --; I'm posting it on DeviantArt instead of Fanfiction since it isn't a fanfic – It's my own original idea) and kept changing my mind with what should happen in this chapter
Thank you daydreamin' angel, nazguldarkridersforadarklord and Karaeborg for reviewing! This chapter's dedicated to you three! (Sorry if the fight scene totally sucks…I try really hard!!!) Next chapter's the last actual chapter for this story then the next one's going to be an Epilogue/preview for the sequel!
Warning: medium swearing (1 or 2 serious swear words)…and violence/death…yeah also, I'm not being all too creative so I'm using the limited amount of Japanese words I know to use them as the ancient language…if anyone who reads this knows Japanese I'll let you know there are MAJOR grammar issues with it
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swish. Clang, screeeeeeeech!!!
Ruzac and Kile's swords bit into each other, they had dug into the other's blade from the force of their attack.
They had left Jade and Slate to fight their own battle and were currently on the ground, surrounded by soldiers from the Empire – they had killed off all the Varden soldiers in the area since Ane was forced to retreat for the moment and heal. Both riders duck and dodged to avoid getting stabbed, fighting with such smooth movements you would think they were dancing if the swords were not present.
"Getting tired?" Kile asked his brother aloud. Both were starting to pant slightly.
"I never tire in battle," Ruzac smirked, eyes flashing with the thrill of finally battling someone who was at his level.
More blurs of lavender and grey whizzed through the air as the two brothers exchanged and parried blows. Magic wasn't summoned since the riders agreed without telling one another it would be a traditional, fair swordfight. Black eyes contracted when Jade's voice roared horrendously in his head.
RUZAC GET OUT OF THERE NOW!!!! The amethyst dragon's voice bellowed urgently.
Why? Ruzac barely dodged the shade's sword – it still snipped off a piece of his hair, however.
HE'S HERE!!!! THE-! Their link was forcefully severed by a frighteningly-enormous power, and Ruzac began to panic even though he was commanding himself not to. He knew who Jade was talking about.
At the sound of a crazed bloodlust-filled cry the soldiers looked up, staring in admiration and fear alike at the black cloud in the sky.
Or at least Ruzac thought it was a cloud before he noticed it getting bigger and bigger and taking a more distinct shape.
It can't be, the boy started shaking in fear – he couldn't help it.
He felt Ane's mind trying to get across to his own but an amazing pressure was constricting his head. Was someone in his mind?! How could they be if he couldn't feel a foreign aura?!
"My lord," Kile had an evil smile set into his features as he looked at the huge, black winged creature descending upon them.
Jade and Slate streaked towards it, both combining each other's firepower and directing it at the airborne enemy.
Both riders were stunned – Kile especially – when the flames were reversed back towards the owners, not even getting a yard close to the winged creature which, as far as Ruzac could see, had scales and massive claws and teeth.
You think you can defeat me? A truly sinister and murderous man's voice barked in both the rider's heads, I will be the one to win this war and you puny kids will never come close to giving me a scratch!
Now the dark-eyed rider could see exactly who and what the flying adversary was. It was a rider and dragon. He knew about the flying monster with black scales were as big as shields and the obsidian eyes were glinting with the maniacal need to kill.
The rider wasn't a new face either. Sure, he wore pitch-black armor that obscured most of his body, but nobody could miss the insane sparks that flickered in those vibrant red-and-black eyes. He held a black sword in his right hand.
Ruzac, along with everyone else on the battlefield, knew exactly who they were.
And it froze the soldiers – both the Varden and the Empire - to the spot in fear.
But a rider isn't a soldier.
Three ear-shattering roars split the awed atmosphere as three dragons – one blue and one silver – sped through the sky and towards the evil duo.
"Ane," Ruzac breathed, actually trying to deny the fact that she was there, No, he's too strong – go back! He thought even though he knew she couldn't hear him.
"Let's continue our fight," Kile sneered, noticing his brother's worry while he waited for Slate to come.
"No," the younger brother refused and called as loud as he could, "JAAAADE!!!!"
In a flash the dark-plum-scaled dragon was at his rider's side. Ruzac leapt up into the saddle and Jade soared upwards towards their friends.
Eragon and Ane's – along with Saphira and Winix - presence was felt at the back of Ruzac's mind, but they could not break through because of the barrier that the evil rider had set up.
Instead, the three friends resorted to giving eachother different looks or making hand gestures. Eventually they agreed on a plan. First, Eragon would distract Galbatorix (Ruzac didn't disagree with that decision). After that, Ane would sneak up behind Shruiken and the king and Winix would start breathing fire at their backs while Ane cast multiple amounts of magic. Ruzac came into the plan during the end, when Jade and Saphira would try to grab hold of Shruiken's wings so Ane and Winix could deliver the final blow.
I hope it works, it could finally settle this war over Alagaesia, Ruzac thought.
I thought you weren't on either the Varden or the Empire's side, you could tell Jade was relieved his rider wanted Galbatorix gone.
That's only because I want Ane to be safe, he retorted, if Galbatorix continued ruling she'd be converted into some psychopathic freak controlled by his twisted mind. I'd rather die than see her killed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like they're planning something, Kile said to Slate as they watched Ane, Ruzac and Eragon try to get their points across using hand signals.
No kidding, the grey dragon replied, what do you think we should do?
Watch, and see who's going to win, the shade smiled a cruel smile, we'll help whoever has the upper hand.
Sounds good enough to me, Slate grinned, but not so much to let someone see his teeth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three, two, one!!!
Ruzac counted down for the moment of the attack. Eragon glanced in his direction and Saphira flew straight towards Galbatorix, Ruzac and Ane followed with Jade and Winix to make it look like all six of them were attacking. Just before they reached the twisted rider and dragon, Jade veered to the left and Winix looped around behind the evil lord and partner. Sparks of fire and lightning alike sped at Galbatorix's armored back but were deflected by a strong barrier of magic. In a flash, Saphira was alongside Jade and gripping Shruiken's huge, leathery left wing while Jade grabbed the right.
"ANE!! FOLLOW OUT WITH THE PLAN!!!" Ruzac had to scream as loud as he could to the girl who looked a little doubtful about the plan working.
She nodded and, in a streak of silver, Winix had Shruiken's tale lodged firmly between her teeth and Ane's sword was sent right into Galbatorix's side.
Dark eyes, glazed with pain, hatred and madness, glared fiercely at Ane as the evil king slumped to the side, dark-red blood dripping from the wound. An eruption of ashy-grey fire was reflected in those sadistic orbs when Slate flew up towards Shruiken's underside.
"YEAAAAAAAH!!!!" Kile yelled in pure excitement, "FINALLY!!!" I thought I'd NEVER get a part in this!!!! The last part rang loudly in everyone's heads.
"Kile…?" Ruzac asked in a whisper to himself.
Foolish, foolish shade, Shruiken's slimy, cold and evil mind squirmed its way into everyone's head as well, you think you and these imbeciles can defeat me?
Oh, not think, I know we can beat you, the shade seemed a bit…out of character – more like Jake.
Then try all you want, the evil dragon hissed.
All right then, I will, Kile smirked and Slate raced after the darker dragon.
Ruzac sighed and redirected his attention to Galbatorix. When Shruiken had rolled over and made his rider lose balance, the king had fallen to a bloody heap on the ground. All of the Empire's soldiers had fled at the sight of their weakened lord so now it was only the riders.
"Come to finish me off have you?" Galbatorix growled hatefully, blood spurting from his mouth.
"That I have," Ruzac said, eyes narrowed, and held his sword at the ready.
"Then come, kill me," the evil man smirked.
With black eyes glaring with an infinite death wish for Galbatorix, Ruzac charged at the defenseless lord. He was too weak to use magic, after all.
"What a brainless fool!" Galbatorix roared, laughing, and took two long daggers from beneath his armor.
Oh, Ruzac started, noticing his mistake.
"FUCK!!!" he screamed as he ran straight at the sadistic ruler, not able to stop himself, and the blades were brought straight down from the top of his eyelids to nearly the bottom of his cheeks. They just-missed his actual eyes.
RUZAC!! Jade, Saphira, Ane and Winix yelled from their positions in the clouds horrified.
The rider felt a splash of warmth on his hands and, through the gory sheen that covered his eyes, the glint of a second blade sticking out of Galbatorix's chest.
"Wrong…," he croaked, "move."
The man muttered something from the ancient language and sent both daggers flying in Ane's direction, equipped with 100 accuracy due to magic.
"ANEEEEEE!!!!!!" Ruzac screamed when the blades sliced right through the girl. Shock was a major understatement for the condition Eragon was in, for he sat wide-eyed and mouth agape as he watched the scene unravel.
Both Ruzac and Galbatorix's cries of agony drowned out all else as the king was shrouded with deadly unconsciousness and both Saphira and Winix landed, causing Ruzac to leap out of the saddle and over to Ane's limp form just before she fell to the ground.
"Ane," the cursed rider peered at her face, blood trickled out of her mouth and the black-bladed weapons protruded rudely from her heart.
"Ruzac," her words were barely above a whisper, "don't be sad. I…I'm glad I got to meet you. Oh, almost forgot, take care of the dragon eggs, alright? Travel with them throughout the land and find their riders…maybe everything will return to when the riders flourished and…I'll miss you," the very last words were so quiet Ruzac had to lean closer to Ane and strain his ears. Tears leaked from the girl's beautiful eyes as the life left them.
"No…no, this isn't real," Ruzac sobbed, shaking with tears forcing their way from between his closed eyelids.
Hey, kid, a familiar, comforting presence entered the boy's mind.
Black eyes glanced over to where Kile was propped up against Slate's side, staring into his brother's eyes. Ruzac could see little black particles starting to flake off from the older rider's skin. But something was different, and Ruzac's eyes widened in disbelief when he saw it.
The 'shade's hair had turned to a light-brown color and his eyes were now a rich hazel. He no longer looked threatening, but calm and kind. Ruzac's heart was in his throat when he realized who it really was.
"J…Jake?" he breathed, overjoyed at the sight of his brother, "Jake! It's you!"
"Ruzac," Jake stopped as the boy toppled to the side, having lost too much blood. The vertical gashes made it appear he was still crying crimson tears.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy !&W&&$ Daydreamin' angel, do you hate me for killing off Ane? T.T that's why I told you you'd probably hate me by the time this fic's over…Oh, and you see? Jade and Ruzac the EVER WEEPING RIDER?! See? See?? Oww…I bet those eye-wounds really hurt…they'll scar too – make it look like he's always crying T.T poor guy – I'm so friggin evil to all my (and daydreamin' angel's) characters!!
Anyways, next chapter is pretty much the funeral, sadness BUT!!!!! Someone makes their debut!!!! stay tuned – such a depressing ending --;