Team 13
Aeryn pulled off the hwy and down a dirt road. She pulled up behind a bush and parked. "Well there it is the giants causeway," said Aeryn. they piled out of the vehicle. "Man I wish that van had a higher ceiling" said Hb he had been forced to ride in a reclining position to keep from hitting his head "so how are we going to find the prince?" said Liz. They all looked out over the landscape. It looked like a barren stretch of rock. They walked forward and searched for a way in. they were still looking when they heard a squeaking noise. It was a goblin or something with a wheeled cart or some sort of wheelchair.
"Excuse me vere looking for someone can you help us?" said Kraus. Aeryn walked up behind him. "Nope but I would be more than willing to help the young lass" said the goblin "why me?" said Aeryn "because he said he expected you and to let you in, though why you can't find the door on yer own is just plain strange" said the creature "yeah I've heard that a lot, so do you mind?" said Aeryn "you mean to stop him don't you?" said the goblin "yes" said Aeryn the creature seemed to think that was funny and started walking towards a pile of rocks.
"This way your highness" said the goblin, "he paid for your passage already" said the goblin "what about my friends?" said Aeryn "you got anything shiny?" he asked Aeryn pulled a necklace from her neck and reluctantly handed it to the goblin "ooh that's nice" he said seeing that she seemed reluctant to part with it. "All right this way step lively door doesn't stay open for long" said the goblin "so how do you know where he is?" said Aeryn "easy tis I who built the thrice blasted army, one of those furnaces cost me my legs" said the goblin.
The goblin tapped on the rock several times. The rocks rose from the ground and moved to reveal a door underground. "Hmm literally under hill" said Abe. the goblin chuckled again and went inside with them. They walked until they reached the foot of some stairs. Aeryn was looking over the sides. "Ah guys?" said Aeryn.
She pointed at the hundreds of golden bodies surrounding them on all sides of the chamber. "Yep there they are seventy times seventy soldiers, the golden hoard" he called it "I can go no further I have difficulties with stairs, please stop him he knows not what a horrible thing he wishes to unleash" said the goblin "we plan on it" said red. they started to climb the stairs. "Good luck your going to need it," said the goblin. They entered the hall with red in the lead.
"Demon you live?" said Nuada he sounded genuinely surprised "yeah seems you underestimated our healer again," said Red. He smirked at the prince and stuck a cigar in his mouth.
Nuada glared at him but Aeryn could tell it made him angry. "No matter her talents won't save you again," said Nuada. Aeryn snorted "And who are you to say what I use any of my talents on?" Aeryn retorted. "I see very well have it your way my lady, I shall miss you" said Nuada.
"Now Abraham my crown piece you can see that my sister is well I have kept my end of the bargain," said Nuada he held out his hand. "Ve haven't brought it but perhaps ve could," said Kraus "silence tin man I didn't address you" said Nuada. He held out his hand to Abe "Abraham?" said Nuada. Aeryn shook her head no as if pleading with him to reconsider it. Even Nuala said not to do it. Abe pulled the crown piece from his belt pouch.
"Abe no, we discussed this" said Aeryn. "Abe no!" said Red. "And you knew, you and I are having a little talk healer" said Red. "You knew he possessed the crown piece all along, healer"?" said Kraus "yeah" said Aeryn "we had a plan, didn't we Abe?" said Aeryn .Abe threw the piece to Nuada 'yes I know that is why I'm not approaching him" said Abe "Abe we are having a serious talk when this is over" said Red "you would do the same for Liz" said Abe.
"Thank you Abraham" said Nuada. Red glared at Abe and growled something under his breath. Nuada fitted the crown pieces together and placed the finished one on his head. "I am prince Nuada Silverlance Leader of the golden army does anyone dispute my right?" he said. Aeryn muttered beneath her breath "does anyone notice his name sounds like a porno title" said Aeryn. red snickered "Very funny kid" said red. Nuada had obviously heard her and, he snarled in response to her insult. "Oh crap," said Red. Nuada placed the crown on his head and the gears in the room began turning. The army was coming to life.
"Healer I offer you a place at my side you do not have to die with your friends" said Nuada "your right, so stop trying to kill them" said Aeryn. He chuckled "I don't think so" said Nuada. "Than you have my answer" said Aeryn "very well my lady I shall leave the invitation open for you to reconsider, kill them" said Nuada. The soldiers converged on them.
Aeryn drew the guns she brought and cocked them. flicked the safety off and began firing at the same time Liz did. Red did the same as did Abe. Liz soon ran out of bullets and began frying her enemies. While Kraus took one over and used it to damage its fellows. One of the soldiers swung its huge sword at Aeryn so she slid under it firing as she did so. It crashed to the ground but it left Aeryn literally surrounded by them.
For some reason they seemed reluctant to attack her despite her being easily within there grasp. She reasoned it must be some sort of remote control thing. She glanced at Nuada; he was concentrating on the battle. Just cause he didn't want to kill her didn't make her position a safe one. They still were trying to grab her. Apparently the kill order didn't apply to her.
. "Ah shit" said Aeryn and dodged when she realized she was completely out of bullets. She was just missed by the huge hand that tried to pick her up like a rag doll. She ended up relying on her metal talent to keep them off of her. She used it to literally throw one into the others. Then she noticed with a look of despair they were regenerating.
So she pushed a few pieces over the edge just to slow the process. "So that's why they were unstoppable" she muttered and for the first time worried that she and her friends might lose. Liz cried out and she turned. One of the soldiers seeing her distraction picked her up in its huge hand. It started towards the dais with her in its hand.
Aeryn angrily slammed power at its smaller fingers. The hands exploded into pieces, Aeryn rolled free and headed for Liz. She had a deep gash in her leg and red was busy defending her back. "Can you cover me?" said Aeryn "guess I have to" said Liz. She looked slightly green from blood loss. Aeryn touched her leg and the wound closed. She gave Liz a little bit of her strength just enough to keep her on her feet. They were surrounded on all sides and back to back now. Aeryn wondered how many times she would have to do this before they all fell and she couldn't save them.
"Any ideas because I'm fresh out" said Kraus "yeah I've got one" said Red "I challenge prince Nuada for the right to command this army" said Red "who are you that you dare challenge me your not a prince your not even royalty, your nothing more than a minor demon, stand down and do not waste my time" said Nuada. Aeryn stepped forward, Red looked stricken it was their last hope and Nuada had just dashed it. The metal soldiers paused for a few seconds to regard both the prince and red. Aeryn used that moment to think then she stood up. Liz was still seated on the ground. He had left her no choice, if this was the only way to stop him then so be it.
"He may not have the right to challenge you but I do," said Aeryn. Red smirked and clapped the kid on the back. "You? Would challenge me? You have no need to fight me besides you are hardly a match," said Nuada. He laughed, "it wouldn't even be a fair contest and I refuse to simply slaughter you," he said
" Yes I know it would be a short contest" said Aeryn " that's why I don't intend to fight you myself that's what champions are for, Red do you still want to kick his ass?" said Aeryn. "You bet kid," said Red with a smirk. Nuada looked genuinely shocked at her words. She didn't want him dead but his behavior did deserve a little bit of punishment. She was still smarting from the humiliation he had caused her and she wanted just a little pay back. "Very well I can see you need this so I will oblige you," said Nuada
He had no choice now she spoke the ritual words of challenge he had to answer her. Damn her foolish pride. He couldn't resist just one cruel barb though; his anger got the better of him. "You do know the price of failure my sweet healer, I shall look forward to the services you offer," he said
"Hb if you hurt him you also injure the princess" said Abe "relax Abe I can heal whatever damage he does, just don't behead him" said Aeryn. "Aeryn?" said Abe "gotcha everything else is fair game" said Red. "Are you not going to provide your champion with a weapon my lady" said Nuada. He said it in a mocking tone that irritated the shit out of Aeryn.
She mentally decided to give him a case of stomach flu just as payback later. She handed Red the short sword she had borrowed from Nuada and stepped back with the others. She smirked at Nuada; she hoped that stuck in his craw. Nuada drew his lance with a growl.
So this was what she wanted. He should have known she was pretending all along, damn treacherous human side of her. "Red?" Liz said in a worried tone "don't worry babe if I get hurt Aeryn will put me back together she's quite good at it" said Red "Red one thing, don't lose the rules give the winner the loser as a servant for a year and a day" said Aeryn "gotcha kid don't intend to" said Red.
He motioned for them to step back. The soldiers moved back as well, to give the combatants room. They lowered their weapons to separate the onlookers from the fight. Aeryn swallowed and if Red lost they would be using those to hack us up or worse she would be forced to watch them hack her friends up.
. She dashed that morbid thought from her mind and concentrated on the fight. Red was going to win he had to. Nuada had striped off his gloves and back flipped down to the arena floor. He drew his weapon and attacked. Damn he was fast. Red was forced to dance away from him several times just to keep from being sliced up.
The prince was good, she would give him that. She watched him move and remembered watching him practice some of the same moves he was using now. It saddened her so she gripped Liz's hand. She felt a flutter in her mind of two more heartbeats. She looked at Liz in shock. Tilting her head sideways and mouthed are you pregnant? Liz nodded yes and lifted her finger to her lips.
Red didn't need to be distracted right now. Aeryn turned back to the fight in time to see Red's blade skitter across the floor and go over the edge. Liz clutched her arm in fear. She wanted to interfere Aeryn could see that Aeryn shook her head no and pleaded with her eyes for her not to.
Red followed it into the gears in time to avoid the prince beheading him. Aeryn glared at Nuada obviously he didn't intend to show red the same mercy she did to him. He smirked and watched the gears his spear at the ready. Aeryn seethed there was nothing she could do without forfeiting the whole contest, which would make Nuada the winner automatically.
Red had to win this or lose it on his own. While the prince watched one set of gears Red came up the set Nuada had come down to reach the floor area. "Nice ride huh?" said Red. he smirked at Nuada deliberately goading him. Nuada took the bait and led forward into an attack but this time red caught him by the throat. He slammed him bodily to the floor. Nuada's lance slid across the floor.
"Gotcha you slippery little devil" said red. Nuada made as if to flip onto his feet and red instinctively kicked him in the leg. Aeryn heard the crunch of bone breaking and Nuala screamed. She collapsed on the ground. "Nuala?" said Nuada. Red retrieved the prince's lance and held it to his throat.
"Finish it demon kill me for I will not stop I cannot" said Nuada "that isn't up to me" said Red. he glanced at Aeryn the soldiers uncrossed their blades in front of her. "Well?" what do you think kid?" said Red. Aeryn approached the prince he looked forlorn and beat to hell. Red had managed to land a few telling blows.
'My lady please" he said softly Aeryn stayed a few feet from him but kneeled down to his level. "You don't have to stop just change directions" said Aeryn "directions?" said Nuada "if you put just half of the effort you've been putting into destroying my mother's people into saving ours you could restore them" said Aeryn softly. "Ours?" he said softly she touched his face and gently removed the crown from his head. "I believe this is mine," said Aeryn. His face fell and he looked downright lost. She leaned down and kissed him.
"As are you if I remember the challenge rules correctly" said Aeryn. He closed his eyes and laid his head on the concrete. "Very well what is your command?" said Nuada. The soldiers started to move towards him. They were Intent on finishing off the prince as the loser. "Aeryn?" said red. Aeryn put the crown on her head and yelled, "stand down!" the soldiers stopped moving forward and stood at attention simultaneously.
Aeryn looked sideways at them. "I wonder, " she mused "Aeryn?" said red "sit!" Aeryn ordered. the army sat on command. Aeryn started laughing in delight "oh yeah that's just wonderful, that is so cool" said Aeryn "I wonder if I can get them to rollover?" said Aeryn "all right healer that's enough" said Kraus.
The others looked at her funny, even the prince was. "Oh all right, spoilsports" Aeryn muttered."Still a kid remember?" said Aeryn .she handed the crown to Liz. "Do you mind?" said Aeryn "no problem" said Liz. Nuada watched in shock as Liz reduced the crown to liquid in her hands. He shook his head in disbelief. Aeryn kneeled near him again. He looked stricken. "I know what your trying to do but it won't work this way," said Aeryn
Softly. "How else am I supposed to do this?" said Nuada "you can start by not doing it alone" said Aeryn. "I've had no choice but to stand alone" he said. He sounded so sad and forlorn. "Only cause you've never asked for some help" said Aeryn. Red and the others just stood around and watched her. "Who would aid me lady you? You don't even know your people and by the time you do they will be gone" he said sadly.
"Then let me help you stop that," said Aeryn. She touched the side of his face gently. He turned to look at her "I thought you hated me" he said softly. Aeryn sighed "you made me angry but I think I've long since forgiven you" said Aeryn
"We need to reset your leg before I heal them" said Aeryn "just leave me healer you have caused me enough pain already" he said angrily "I'm sorry but I just couldn't let you do this" said Aeryn "that was not what I was referring to" he retorted "I'm sorry for that too but I had to save Red he is my friend and I don't have enough of those I can afford to lose them" said Aeryn.
"Then why did you have to trick me? Why did you make me think you cared for me when it is plain you don't." he said sullenly. Aeryn kneeled beside him and touched his face, he tried to turn away. "I have never pretended anything with you" she said softly "I do feel for you so strong it scares the hell out of me maybe that's why I ran to but I never did it to hurt you" said Aeryn. "Can't you see the only one that made us enemies was you?" said Aeryn. "Besides you had no intention of letting me go," said Aeryn.
He looked up at her and met her eyes "I scare you?" he said softly "yes you do, now will you let me help you?" said Aeryn. He sighed and laid back down "very well, I matters not I am yours regardless " he sighed. "Red we need to realign both their legs before I heal one of them just to prevent them from healing crooked. "Ok so who's first?" said Red. Aeryn looked over at Nuala, she was currently passed out.
"We should do Nuala while she is out, I'll numb her leg" said Aeryn. "Abe stay with Nuada you will not like this part" said Aeryn. Abe started to protest; the prince still scared him a great deal. "Abe stay" said red. She climbed up on the gears and rode them to the dais. Nuada watched Abe for a few minutes. He stayed a careful distance from him. Nuada noticed that he kept glancing in his sister's direction with a worried look on his face.
"You really do care for her, don't you" said Nuada. Abe blinked and looked down at him "yes I always have" said Abe. "If I allow you to court her you must be true to her or I will kill you" said Nuada. Abe nodded "I would sooner hurt myself than her" said Abe. Nuada nodded and glanced at Aeryn she was kneeling next to his sister
. Nuada reached his hand into his shirt; he could still force the healer to his side maybe kill the demon anyways. He hadn't surrendered so her champion's death would still count as a victory. He felt for his knife and it was gone, the little Manx disarmed him. He smiled and laid his head back down he had no other choice but to trust her now.
Red kneeled beside Nuala's legs. "Please say you only broke the one?" said Aeryn softly "I did that bastard was much too jumpy to do much else I needed to stop him, sorry" said Red "its ok. Now on three straighten her leg and pull down on it. " Said Aeryn
"Ok healer you're the boss" said Red. he grabbed the princess' leg and on three pulled on it hard. She grunted in her sleep but otherwise gave no indication that it had hurt. Red remembered that sensation from his impromptu open-heart surgery; the princess would be feeling no pain for a while. Aeryn left her there and had Abe go sit by her while they reset Nuada's leg. "Ready?" said Red he had a perverse smirk on his face.
"You find this amusing demon?' said Nuada in irritation. Red just smiled "Red knock it off and help me" said Aeryn "on three" said Aeryn. Aeryn made as if to numb it but Nuada insisted on being tough so she relented and just said now. Red grabbed and pulled hard before he had a chance to protest. Nuada promptly arched his back and swore. Red laughed he thought his response was funny.
"Red stop she also feels what he does." said Aeryn "then he should show a little concern for his sister and take the pain killer" said red. Hb stormed away from them both. The prince looked slightly paler than he did before which said a lot because he was normally paper white. "Are you ok?" asked Aeryn "yes healer I've survived worse" he said in irritation
"Just get on with it," said Nuada Aeryn rested her hand gently on his knees and sent the power coursing through him. He gasped as the strange sensation over took him and then sighed when the pain gradually vanished. Nuala stirred on the dais and opened her eyes. Abe asked her how she felt. "Is it over?" asked Nuala "as far as we know," said Abe