I believe in you

I can show you that I can see right through

All your empty lies, I won't last long

In this world so wrong

Say goodbye,

As we dance with the devil tonight

Don't you dare look at him in the eye

As we dance with the devil tonight

~ 'Dance with the Devil', Breaking Benjamin

"Okay, kids; let's play!" snickered Tira as she drew here wooden ring blade. The time had come, her children were of the right age for combat training and today would be their very first exercise. Tira felt so proud of both of them- it was their time to shine.

"All right, mother; here we come!" exclaimed the young Draga as he and Tela charged at their mother. They both attacked her at once hoping that they could out power her, but Tira blocked every blow with her cat-like reflexes.

"My turn!" said Tira with a smile as she kicked Draga and sent him flying backwards.

Tela tried to attack her before she could turn, but Tira dodged it, then she slammed her ring blade to the ground and slipped through the ring kicking Tela back. Tela hit the ground with a hard thump. "Ahhhhaaaa! Mommy, that hurt!" cried Tela.

Tira started to go to her, but suddenly Draco blocked her path. "No, they must learn that pain is part of combat," said Draco.

"But, Draco; she's just a child," said Tira.

"Tira, both of us had hard childhoods, they must learn," said Draco with a smile.

Draco walked back to sit down by a tree to continue observing his children's training. He saw Tela was still crying, and Draga had gone to her aid. "Tela, stop your whining!" demanded Draco.

"But, daddy; it hurt!" cried Tela.

"Get used to it, life is filled with pain!" yelled Draco. Tela lowered her head, though he was tough, she had deep respect for her father.

"Sister, I know how we can beat her," said Draga with a smirk. He began whispering in Tela's ear as Tira watched on.

"Are my two little imps ready to try again?!" yelled Tira.

"Yes, mother!" said Draga with a smile.

Tela and Draga began charging at Tira while side to side, but then Draga yelled "Now, Tela!" At that moment the two went in separate directions hoping to hit Tira from both sides.

"Impressive!" said Tira with a smile. At the moment they were closest to her Tira did a cartwheel and moved out of harms way, but Draga and Tela crashed into each other butting their heads together.

"What a foul..." thought Draco as he watched on.

Draga and Tela both sat with tears in their eyes. "Hehehe!" you two have very hard heads! I think I know where you get it from!" laughed Tira as she looked at Draco.

"Hahaha, very funny Tira," said Draco sarcastically.

"Aw, don't be such a grump!" said Tira.

"Enough, I'm your opponent now children. I won't be using a weapon at all, but you can still use yours," said Draco.

"Sure pops!" said Draga with a smile.

"Yes, we can easily pull this off!" added Tela.

The two siblings charged at their father and began swinging their training swords wildly. To their surprise Draco dodged every blow. Then he countered by punching Draga in the chest and then kneed Tela in the forehead. Then he grabbed them and slammed their heads together. "Arg! Dad, that hurt!" cried Draga.

"Live with it," said Draco has he looked down at them.

"What's wrong, Tela; are you going to cry again?" asked Draco.

Tela sat silent and then quickly attacked Draco. "Not bad, but not good enough!" said Draco as he grabbed her wooden training sword and sent her flying. "I must admit you two did well for your first combat training. I am proud," said Draco has he dusted his hands off. "Come on, Tira; we'll let these two rest," said Draco as he put his arm around her shoulder, and the two started to walk off.

Behind them Draga and Tela nodded at each other and charged at them. Draco and Tira stopped in their tracks when they sensed the twins were right behind them they jumped in the air and their feet snapped together which gave them both enough momentum to jump in nearby trees. When they landed, they drew their training weapons and jumped to attack the twins below. Tira attacked Tela with her wooden ring and Draco attack Draga with his wooden zweihander then they pointed their weapons at their children's chests.

"Check mate, kids!" said Draco with a smile.

"Aw, we failed," said Tela.

"No, you didn't. You proved your worth here today, Tela; so did you Draga. I'm proud of both of you!" said Draco.

'He's so strange a minute ago he was ruthless now he's talking so sweetly to them. He's a great teacher, much better than mine were,' thought Tira.

"Now then you two, your mother and I are going to show you how true warriors fight, so meet us on the other side of the castle okay?" said Draco.

"Of course, dad!" exclaimed the two children, the thought of seeing a real battle intrigued them.

.::~::.

Draco and Tira quickly made there way to other side of the castle. "How long as it been since we've fought in combat?" asked Draco.

"A very long time and if I remember correctly neither of our two battles were decisive," said Tira with a smile.

"Well today we'll find out who's the strongest won't we?" asked Draco.

"Hahaha, sure and may the best woman win!" laughed Tira.

"Not falling for that one!" said Draco.

"Aww, you have to take the fun out of everything, you're soooo boring sometimes!" yelped Tira.

"Only when you're around, Tira!" said Draco as he drew his wooden blade.

"Wise ass!" said Tira as she drew her wooden ring blade.

"Then let's dance!" said Draco.

Just then Draga and Tela had caught up with them. "Cool! Mom and dad are gonna fight!" exclaimed Draga. The two siblings watched as their parents battled matching each other blow for blow.

"What's the matter, Tira; rusty are we?" asked Draco as he avoided her attack.

"Ha, I'm just warming up!" replied Tira as she attacked again.

"You're so predicable!" said Draco.

"Wanna bet!" replied Tira as she caught him off guard and smashed her wooden ring into his face.

"Mom's kicking dad's butt!" yelled Draga.

"Aww, did that hurt? How lame you're the rusty one!" said Tira.

Draco stood still as blood came down his mouth, then he turned his head and locked eyes with Tira as he spit the blood from his mouth. "I've not yet begun to fight!" replied Draco as he attacked wildly.

Tira couldn't keep up and he finally landed a few hits. After Tira fell to the ground Draco jumped in the air to finish her, but Tira dodged, and then attacked him with her glass slippers attack.

"This is so awesome!" yelled Draga.

"Sure is!" replied Tela, though deep down Tela never understood why fighting was so important.

Tira pointed her weapon at Draco's chest. "Had enough?" asked Tira with a grin?

"You underestimate me, Tira!" replied Draco as he grabbed her legs, and used his Flapjack move to send her into the air. Then he grabbed her, and followed up with his darkness bite move. Tira's weapon had fallen from her hands. Draco pointed his wooden sword at her chest, and said "Looks like I win this fight."

"Yes..." replied Tira with a smug look. Draco sheathed his weapon and helped Tira to her feet.

"Mom, dad, that was awesome! You two were great!" cried Draga.

Thanks son!" replied Tira with a smile she rubbed his head.

"Too bad you got whooped!" replied Draga.

"What did you say Draga?!" yelled Tira.

"Hahaha! Like you faired better little man!" said Draco.

"Why you little come here!" yelled Tira as she began chasing Draga.

"Aaaaaah! Dad help!" shrieked Draga as Tira began chasing him.

"So what did you think about the fight, Tela?" asked Draco ignoring his wife immaturely fighting with their son.

"You both did well, and I've learned a lot from watching you two, but..." replied Tela.

"But what?" asked Draco.

"Nothing, father, nothing at all," replied Tela as she looked up at the sky.

"I see, you know, Tela; I think the same way you are. Fighting does seem pointless, but we must fight to obtain peace," said Draco.

"How did you know I was thinking that?" asked Tela.

"Trust me, I just do," said Draco as he hugged Tela.

The two were having a father daughter moment, meanwhile... "Say uncle!" demanded Tira as she stretched Draga's jaw.

"Ungle, ungle!" cried Draga.

"Say it right!" demanded Tira.

"Uncle!" screamed Draga.

"That's better," said Tira as she released him.

"And that son is why you never tell your mother she got whooped," laughed Draco.

"Thanks pops, I'll remember that next time," said Draga.

Everyone laughed, for once in their life it seemed Tira and Draco could enjoy life without the smell of blood, but days like this were rare, so both of them cherished those days above all else.