Sorry this one took so long! I lost my mojo for a little. I'll try to get back on it! X3
"Life and Death, huh?" Kuro asked the Dragon while they were flying towards the exit Persephone had created. "Funny, I've never taken you for a dark kind of spirit."
The Dragon's pupils narrowed to slits, and it bared its teeth ferociously. It looked menacing. A moment later it was back to normal, and swooped to bump into him with a happy expression.
Persephone laughed. "The Spirit Dragon is all about duality, Kuro. The ferocity to destroy, to kill... And the gentility to nurture and give life." Kuro saw her in his mind. Her usual veil had been embellished with silver jewels, her dress had an added sash connecting to her forearms, and it was longer, more elegant, wrapping around her... She knew she was on the stage. Kuro caught himself smiling and wiped it away in favor of a sharper focus.
The Peacekeepers flew around them. Winged shield-and-spear-wielders, sinuous feathered-snakes, any form that would get them to the surface, to the air, that could fight. Kuro sharpened his control of the winds that powered his wings, darting forward, looping around and up, practicing speed and direction and ways of changing the wind in the very area around him. He needed a way to punch through any gale Viridi could send. Once he was satisfied, he rejoined the Dragon at the front of the Peacekeepers.
They were nearly to the exit. Persephone apologized for its distance from the Soul Garden- she'd had to find an area close to the surface, where she could open a portal wide enough to let them through. Kuro himself would have come through one of the natural entrances, one he found himself some time ago. This was a wide portal on the "cieling" of the Underworld, one showing blue sky and edged by a twisting mist. He grinned a little to himself. Persephone had grown considerably in power.
Even now he was carrying an improved Persephone Blade. This one she'd actually commissioned from Dyntos, instead of making it from her own power. Unsurprisingly, Dyntos already knew about Persephone. He'd demanded a hefty price in hearts, which, fortunately, Persephone had been able to spare. She was strong enough now to not need hearts.
Kuro had to admit it had paid off. The silver weapon was more ornate and even more deadly. Its attacks could chill enemies. And now that Dyntos had crafted it, he could make it with combining and even collect it from the power of enemies.
Of course, that meant their enemies could, too.
But they wouldn't have it for a while yet- hopefully not until he defeated them.
They flooded out from the earth, in green rolling hills, up towards the sky. The Peacekeepers formed into ranks as Kuro spoke with Persephone. "Viridi's next target is just east of you, over the river," said Persephone. "I'll be following you every step of the way, Kuro. I'll try to advise you as best I can."
"Right," he muttered. "Alright, let's go." He turned back towards the troops and motioned for them to follow, and took off. They streamed over the river and towards the town, just as a dark cloud appeared on the horizon. They had to look like a silver cloud to Viridi's forces as well. Light and dark, Kuro thought. But this time, the light was from the Underworld. How ironic.
They reached opposite sides of the town at the same time. A preemptive gust of wind whirled through the Underworld forces- it passed right through them. They were solid enough to fight, but wind didn't affect them. It DID affect Kuro, who floundered before punching through on his own wind currents. The Dragon hovered behind him to catch him if his winds or wings failed. After a minute, the wind let down, and the two forces were left in the same position, staring at each other.
Viridi's voice punched into his mind. "What are YOU doing here, Dark Pit?" she asked. "And whose forces are you leading? I thought you worked alone."
Kuro heard Persephone take a deep breath before revealing herself to Viridi and replying, "He's leading my forces."
"Wha- who ARE you?" snorted Viridi. "Why are you here?"
Persephone's face fell with bitter pain. "My name is Persephone," she said slowly. "Goddess of the Underworld."
Viridi made several spluttering sounds.
"Hello, sister," murmured Persephone.