CHAPTER 37
FLARE'S POV

Groggy and slightly disoriented, I opened my eyes and felt a throbbing pain on my forehead. Reaching over that place with my paw, I felt a half healed wound and, retracting my hand, I saw my own blood. My vision was quite blurry but my surroundings came into focus eventually.

I was in what looked like a prison but I recognized this place after time. I wasn't in just any prison; I was in an underground prison run by the rebels. My cage was the only thing in the room.

I sighed and clutched my head and tried remembering what had happened. I remembered running towards the house, telling everyone to run, heading to the secret tunnel, encountering rebels, Dart showing up, Shade and his family being dragged away with him shouting, Dart punching me at the back of my head...

"Shana!" I yelled. I had to get to her before something bad happens. I blasted the bars with my Flamethrower but they didn't break. I tried again with my Extrasensory but I got the same result.

"Attack proof bars, aren't they great Flare?" a familiar voice said. Sitting in a chair I didn't notice the first time was Salem.

"Where's Shana?" I asked threateningly.

Salem yawned a bit. "In another cell with her parents. Dart will publicly execute soon."

"No..." I said horrified.

Salem just watched as I desperately blasted the bars with everything I had but to no avail. "Don't be stupid Flare. I promise; you'll be out eventually."

I stopped my attacks. "For what?"

He smiled mischievously. "Oh you'll see."

I growled angrily and sat down. Into my head came Shade yelling at me, saying that trusting me was a mistake. This was really all my fault; if I'd just left earlier, none of this would've happened. Now, they were gonna die because of me...

The door opened and a Cacturne appeared. Salem stood up and spoke to hm. "Finally, about time you got here."

The Cacturne just nodded and went over to my cell and opened it with a key. When the door swung open, I lunged forward to escape but then he caught me and stopped me from leaving.

"Let's go." Salem ordered as he left the room. Still being carried, I left the room and entered the underground tunnels which were surprisingly empty.

"Where're the rebels?" I asked Salem.

"On the surface slaughtering everyone in sight. Not many are left down here." Salem answered.

As I remained paralyzed with horror by what I did, we continued through the tunnels until we reached a door. The Cacturne opened it and we entered a large, circular cave with a high ceiling.

"Just throw him over there and close the door." Salem said. The Cacturne threw me across the room and I skidded a little until I stopped. Looking up, I saw the door being closed; Salem and I were the only ones in the room.

"Flare, I want you to listen closely to what I'm about to say." Salem said and he took out a key. "Shana and her family are being held in a cell at the end of this corridor. This is the only key that will free them."

For some strange reason, I believed him. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked as I stood up.

Salem surveyed me for a few seconds. "Do you remember what Peter said after they got that information from you?" he asked me.

I remembered it well. "He said...He said that I was the best intelligence gatherer the rebels had-"

"Exactly!" Salem shouted angrily and I flinched a little. "Despite everything I've done, you were still called that! While I was down here working the hell out of me, you were up there relaxing, not having to do much work at all! I've always worked harder than you; that title should be mine!"

"I never asked for that." I told him.

Unfortunately, he wasn't convinced. "I honestly don't care." He pointed at me. "You are my eternal rival Flare; d'you have any idea what it feels like to rival someone like you?"

I remembered all those time we trained under the rebels. Every time Salem and I were together, he would always try to out do me. Sometimes, I was better and he was at other times but I never really minded. For years, he's devoted his life to beating me at everything.

"You're one of the strongest guys I know Flare." Salem continued. "And I will beat you right here and now to prove that I'm stronger!"

He took out the key again. "The reason I told you where your precious Shana is is because I wanted you to go all out against me. Beat me and this key is yours. What's it going to be Flare?"

I just stared at him taking in the possibility to being able to save Shana and her family. Salem and I were equals in terms of strength; it's hard to determine the end of a battle between us but I had no choice.

"Alright, I'll fight you with everything I've got Salem." I said taking a battle stance.

He smiled and hid the key again. "In that case, allow me to make the first hit."

He opened his mouth and shot Dark Pulse at me. I used Quick Attack to dodge and then went straight for him. Salem readied a Night Slash and flew right at me. We collided causing an explosion; I jumped back and he took to the air. I fired Flamethrower at him but he used Aerial Ace to circle around the flames and headed for me. I countered with another Quick Attack and we collided head on. We were locked together and had to part.

Salem laughed. "I can't believe your strength Flare! I'm so happy to call you my equal!"

He fired another Dark Pulse and I countered with Flamethrower. After the ensuing explosion, I used the smoke as cover to sneak up close to him. I fired Heat Wave but he flew out of the way and came in quickly with Night Slash. I couldn't dodge and he struck me painfully. I was knocked aide but I landed on my feet and used Quick Attack. I hit him and knocked him a few feet away from me.

"Satisfied yet?" I asked him.

Salem recovered from my hit. "Not yet. We've only just started Flare."

He flew into the air and covered the area with Haze. I couldn't see him so I readied myself to dodge whenever he strikes. I felt a disturbance behind me and I jumped out of the way of Salem's Night Slash. I scanned the area for him but his black feathers blended in with the Haze making it hard to see him.

I had an idea. I spun around on my back while using Flamethrower just like what I did at the contest. Some of the Haze was blown away and I was able to see Salem fly around trying to dodge the arcs of flames.

"Two and play it that way!" Salem shouted. He spun in the air while firing Dark Pulse resulting in arms similar to mine. Every time our arcs collided, explosions ensued causing dust to fall from the ceiling.

We both got tired of spinning at the same time and we stopped our attacks. "I...I haven't fought like this in my whole life..." Salem said panting. "Thanks for the experience Flare..."

"Yeah, you're welcome..." I replied sarcastically. I was wasting time. Forget Salem's wish; I have to get that key.

I used Quick Attack and Salem flew upwards to avoid me. I jumped off the wall and charged at him again but he swatted me away with Night Slash. I landed on the ground and fired Heat Wave at him. He dodged and headed for me with Aerial Ace. Seeing this as an opportunity to steal the keys, I lunged at him with Quick Attack.

At the last second, I went slightly to the side and tried grabbing the key. But we were too fast and I wasn't able to grab it. We passed each other and I turned around and used Quick Attack again. Salem used Aerial Ace again and I made for the key again. I missed it and tried again.

But on my third attempt, it went wrong. Salem stopped in the middle of his Aerial Ace and fired Dark Pulse instead. I was in the middle of my Quick Attack when it happened and I wasn't able to dodge. I was hit and knocked aside. Before I could get up, Salem flew him and placed his foot on my chest, pinning me to the ground.

"You...You were trying to steal the key weren't you!" he asked angrily. "Damn it Flare, that isn't what I want!"

"I...I don't care Salem." I replied. "I just want to save-"

He pressed his foot against my chest painfully stopping me from completing my sentence. "Look me in the eye Flare. Tell me, do you love her?"

I paused for a while and looked into his eyes which were filled with rage. "Yes Salem. I love Shana with all my heart."

Salem leaned closer to my face. "The only way to get the key is by beating me. I'm the only thing that's standing between you and the girl you love is me! If you want to save her, then you have to beat me! And don't hold back because I won't!"

I could tell that he was motivating me to fight with all my strength. Stealing the key was no longer an option; I had to beat Salem to get it. In acceptance to his terms, I shot a Flamethrower right at his face. He was knocked off me and took to the air.

He turned around and fired Dark Pulse and I countered with Heat Wave. Our attacks missed each other and we were truck by the other's attack. I was knocked several feet away and Salem crashed into the ceiling. He started to fall and I launched a Flamethrower as he did. He was knocked back towards the wall but at the last second, he spun and hit with wall with his feet. After pausing for a split second, he kicked off and flew in with Night Slash. I countered with Quick Attack and we were both knocked aside again.

Salem was right; we were off the same level. He dove in with Aerial Ace and I spun on my back again while using Flamethrower. He successfully evaded the flames and went for me; at the last second, I jumped away and launched Flamethrower but Salem flew out of the way. My Flamethrower hit the wall causing a few stalactites to fall. when they hit the ground, they stuck out there.

That gave me and idea; looking up at the ceiling, I found several more stalactites. I could use them to my advantage. I fired another Flamethrower at the ceiling causing a few stalactites to fall. One fell right on top of Salem but he saw it and sliced it in half with Night Slash.

"Well that's that plan down the drain." Salem taunted. He fired another Dark Pulse and I dodged causing his attack to hit a stalactite. It exploded, sent up a dust cloud and gave me another idea.

I fired Extrasensory at the ceiling several times while dodging Salem's attacks. Several stalactites fell and after a few minutes, the entire floor was covered with them.

"You can't run now Flare!" Salem shouted. He was right but everything was going according to my plan. I spun on my back again but fired Extrasensory instead. Since Salem wouldn't be affected by it, he didn't bother dodging. Instead, my attacks struck every stalactite on the ground; every single one of them exploded violently and covered the entire care with dust. This was the moment I was waiting for.

I saw Salem coughing and trying to find me. Using the smoke as cover, I used Quick Attack to rebound off the wall and went for Salem whose back was turned against me. I grabbed him and pinned his wing to his side; as I fell, I lowered him and slammed his face into the ground. I wasn't through yet; I gave him a solid punch to his face. Then I threw his upwards and used Flamethrower which struck him and knocked him all the way to the ceiling. Several cracks appeared there. He finally fell down and collapsed on the ground. He tired getting up but his body remained downed.

"I...I won..." I said panting. Slowly, I walked over to Salem and got the key from him; he didn't protest at all. I turned around and headed for the door.

"Flare!" Salem suddenly shouted. I turned around and saw him panting tiredly. He then spoke in a tone I had never heard him use before.

"Flare...all I wanted is to become strong...I joined the rebels...to get stronger..." he told me. "When I first...saw you...I was so...so amazed by your strength...I just wanted to beat you...to get even stronger..."

So he never wanted to kill anyone? That was surprising news to me. "Why do you want strength so much?" I asked him.

Salem blinked and looked right at me. "Because...I"m afraid...I'm afraid that no one will remember me when I die..."

He coughed a little before continuing. "I have no family...and I'm just a lowly part of the rebels...No one would remember me if I die...I thought that...If I become...one of the strongest guys around...I would be remembered...Now that I lost...I just realized that...I'm weak...No one...will remember me..."

"Salem..." I said walking up to him. I paused a bit. "I'll remember you Salem."

He raised his head a bit. "You...will..."

"Of course. After all," I gave him a small smile. "You're my rival, aren't you Salem?"

He returned my smile and gave a small chuckle. "Y'know Flare...I never wanted you dead...You're...just too fun to compete with..."

"Salem...if we never joined the rebels...d'you think we could've been friends?" I asked him.

He gave a louder laugh ."I doubt it Flare...Now get outta here...Save your girl..."

I from the key to the door and then back to Salem. "Salem, d'you want to die right now?" I asked.

He sighed. "Honestly...I don't mind...since you'll remember me..."

"And if you lived, would you still want to beat me one day?"

"Yes...I would like that."

I extended my paw towards him. "Then join me Salem. If you still want to beat me one day, then join me."

He looked in wonder at me for several seconds. "Well...I guess I have to keep you alive until I beat you." Then, Salem slowly raised his right wing and grabbed my paw. I helped him to his feet and, after wobbling a little, he was able to stand on his own.

"Alright Flare, let's go save your girl." Salem said and we were off.