Chapter 20

The three Xanders grinned, took out their swords and charged; the fight began.

Instantly, as one of them lunged at her, Roni felt Zikanda jumping upwards in her hand, shielding her from the blow she didn't even register coming. Before she could comprehend what she was doing, the sword started another glorious performance on its own accord. The clone (or the real Xander, who knows?) attacked, and Roni dodged, Zikanda's blade flashed and he moved out of its way. As Xander had warned, sort of, he was very good swordsman, and even Zikanda couldn't take him down as quickly as it did the knights. In fact, it couldn't even cut her opponents sword in half, something it also was capable of with others. Apparently, Xander's weapons were enchanted also.

But even though it wasn't able to destroy Roni's opponent in a blink of an eye, there was no denying that without it, she would probably be dead already. Having zero training in that aspect, and never before holding a sword in her hands, Roni appeared like a professional fighter with Zikanda doing most of the work, all she had to do was to follow its lead.

Several meters away, Atreyu was also fighting his own personal Xander. Even without the advantage of a magical sword, he was once again proving to be the excellent fighter he was. His sword sliced through the air and went for Xander's shoulder, where it was blocked by the challenger. Atreyu saw the blade rising up and ducked just in time, practically hearing the steel glide through the space just above his head.

On the other half of the place, Bastian was not doing so well. The absence of his enchanted "friend" was visibly reducing his fighting skills. After all, being raised on Earth, it was only natural he didn't have much combat practice. The only thing he could do, was to remember the moves Zikanda performed when it was with him and try to copy them. Luckily, that was enough to keep his opponent in check and not being an easy target, even though Bastian kind of accepted the fact that he's not going to win this fight any time soon. At that moment he caught himself thinking the same thing he was when he was ten, before he went to Fantasia: he wished he was more like Atreyu.

And just as Atreyu's rival tried to hit his legs, Atreyu jumped nimbly above the blade, crossing it with his, and with a little more force, Xander's weapon was sent flying out of his hands, and Atreyu's sword went through his stomach.

But instead of falling on the ground, the defeated opponent just turned to ashes and dissolved in the air, proving to be just one of the clones. Nevertheless, Atreyu was now free-handed and able to help either Roni or Bastian.

He first checked on Roni and was quite relieved when he saw Zikanda proving most useful. Then his eyes fell on Bastian and he instantly knew that if anyone could use his help right then, it was him.

Meanwhile, Bastian's Xander had just succeeded in knocking him down, by hitting his knees hard with the flat side of his blade. As he fell back, he involuntary let go of his sword, and it landed several inches out of his reach. Bastian began crawling backwards, but just when Xander raised up his blade and was about to strike down

"HEY!"

He turned around rapidly and was met by Atreyu's sword handle hammering his temple powerfully, making him collapse on the ground, his head accidentally landing at a very unfortunate angel, thus, breaking his neck.

Bastian looked at his friend, slightly panting "Thanks." «for saving my life again» he added mentally.

"Don't mention it…" he watched as another clone slowly dissolved in the air.

That only left one…

Bastian got up to his feet, picked up his sword, and they both turned to Roni, who was obviously left fighting the real Xander.

As Xander dodged another attack, he angled his sword and went for Roni's neck; luckily Zikanda was quick in its track and got in the way of the blade only several inches away from death. The swords clashed together, forming a cross, and neither wanted to let go. Roni concentrated in putting all her strength in that moment, and in a second, Zikanda finally went through Xander's sword, literally slicing it in half.

At that point Atreyu and Bastian come closer to them, and Bastian struck his sword handle on the back of Xander's head, forcing him to fall to his knees. Atreyu came to his side and placed the tip of his blade at Xander's throat, as if saying "one move and you're dead".

Seeing this as her chance, Roni automatically raised Zikanda above her head, blade downwards, preparing to attack. But then…something stopped her. Her mind was slowly kicking in again, preventing her from finishing this. She knew this was what they came here for, this was what they had to do, and she was in the perfect position to end this but…

"What's wrong, sweet thing, can't do this?" Xander looked at her.

Roni forced a smirk "Heady tonic, holding life and death in the palm of one's hand." i

Xander grinned "Indeed. Well, what are you waiting for? Go on."

He was taunting her on purpose and she knew it. Yet, she still couldn't bring herself to…she was not a murderer, no matter who she was to slay!

As she was fighting with herself, Bastian decided to end this on his own and raised his sword

"DAD, NO!" Roni cried and he held his attack, looking at her questioningly

Roni lowered Zikanda and placed the tip at Xander's throat, just like Atreyu "First, you will release the Impress."

Xander's grin grew wider "Hmm, very good, I knew you were a clever girl."

Bastian quickly shook his head in protest "We don't need him for that! We kill him, and his spell, or whatever it is, dies with him!"

"How do we know?" Roni countered her voice an octave higher than she'd expected "The only thing we can be sure about, is that if we kill him now, and the spell isn't lifted, the Impress will be trapped in the tower forever!"

"How can the spell not be lifted, if we kill the one who placed it?"

"Easily! Do you know exactly how magic works here? No, neither do I, so I suggest we not risk it!"

"Oh, so you suggest we trust him to just lift the spell, and then leave with his promise to "not do it again?" Bastian retorted sarcastically, his voice also getting a bit louder.

"Don't put words in my mouth, that's not what I said!"

"Urgh, this is impossible, Roni, you are so stubborn!"

"Yeah, I believe I got that from my daddy!"

"Roni, Bastian, that's enough!" Atreyu finally interfered, subconsciously easing his grip on the sword "Roni, remember what the Southern Oracle said? Xander IS the Nothing, we destroy him-we free the Impress!"

Roni slowly nodded her head "Yeah…it did say that…" Maybe it really was the only solution, the Southern Oracle couldn't be wrong. She was merely a second away from nodding Bastian that he could kill him but suddenly…

Xander, taking advantage of Atreyu being distracted, grasped the blade with his bare hand and snatched it away from his throat. In a quarter of a second he sprang from his knees and punched Atreyu in the stomach, so he won't stand in the way for at least a few moments.

It all happened so fast, and before the three could comprehend what was happening, Xander sneered "So long", snapped his fingers and disappeared.

A/N. Thank you, Curious Reader for some tips for this chapter)

Please don't forget to review!

i Virtual cookies to you if you know which movie that's from, and who said it! (no googling!) =)