haha this chapter is so cheesy. =D enjoy. it would have been up sooner if not for the problems with fanfic.


Artemis practiced her fencing with Jack as Merlin and Ava read off spells for her to memorize. Arthur, meanwhile, was asleep in Artemis's bed. Artemis had knocked him out earlier against his will. He needed rest, and he would get it no other way but by force.

"Watch your feet," Jack told her nearly slashing her feet.

"You watch your feet," she joked before knocking his feet right from under him. She helped him up. "So… are they charging you with treason?" she asked as they clashed again.

"Nah, dad sorted it out. He um… convinced Erus that I was an idiot whose in love with you. So I would have done anything you said. Erus has never met me personally. Damn! Careful! I would rather not gain a stump thanks!" Artemis laughed.

"Well, can't say I disagree with your father about you being an idiot," Artemis laughed.

"Well, I'm smarter than that prat," Jack said nodding his head toward the bed Arthur was sleeping in.

"Jack," Artemis warned.

"I'm just saying that this whole mess is his fault. You may die because of him." Jack's view on Arthur had gained even more hatred. An unfortunate side effect

"No, Jack. I may die because I want my name cleared."

"She's stronger than you," Jack said. "You can't beat her."

"I don't plan to."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to show her the wrong."

"I don't understand," Jack said.

"And you won't," Artemis said with a smile. They continued sparing. A groan from Arthur made them stop.

"Time to get out," Ava said shoving both Merlin and Jack out the door. The door was slammed as they left. Artemis walked over to the bed and leaned over Arthur. His eyes were still shut.

"Arthur," she whispered. He didn't move. Evidently, Ava was wrong about Arthur waking up. Artemis turned away to go back to training alone when a hand grabbed her and pulled her into the bed. She was laying on her side facing Arthur. He was awake. "Evening," she grinned. He laughed.

"That's all you can say after you knock me out?"

"Well, you seem in very good humor despite it."

"Mm, well… I suppose I must have faith that you know what you're doing," he replied. "That is what I've decided. I had to live without you in the last two lives. I'm not doing that in real life." Artemis smiled and kissed him. "You need to rest."

"No, I need to train," she replied starting to get up, but he stopped her.

"No. Sleep. It's late into the night."

"Arthur."

"Artemis." They stared each other down, but Arthur won. She laid back down. She curled up next to him and allowed sleep to take over.

The sun rose as Artemis did. Thin leather armor was all she had on. Ava, Jack, Merlin, and Arthur were all giving her different advice, but Artemis knew that she would not and could not win. She may be strong, but Erus was the head of the Electus for a reason. She was a prodigy in the art of magic and combat. Artemis could see one of two things happening. She could see Erus killing her, and she could see Erus suddenly being persuaded. She was hoping for the latter.

Into the stadium she walked. Erus stood there in a similar outfit, a sword at her side. They faced each other. Her eyes were cold. Cassandra stood. She had taken the place Erus would usually sit in.

"By our laws, shall Erus loose this battle, Lady Ambrosine will take her place as head of the Electus. The battle is to the death. Shall one surrender partly through, they will be imprisoned and what shall be done with them will be decided by the winner. Bow to each other." Erus and Artemis bowed in respect. Though they hated each other, they did respect each other.

The battle started with Artemis dodging a fireball thrown expertly at her followed by air and earth. Artemis dodged and dodged and dodged. There was a brief opening in which Erus had to stop using so much magic. She needed to take a breather. Artemis unsheathed her sword and extended her arm. Erus unsheathed hers, and they clashed in sword fighting. Artemis ducked from her swing. Erus followed up, and Artemis was slashed in the side. Artemis jumped back and avoided another fireball. Artemis herself threw lightning at Erus. Erus managed to shield it. Artemis used the edge of the stadium to increase her power. She used the stadium to kick off of and swung her sword down. Erus had to dodge her. Artemis swung back around. Their swords clashed. Artemis was pressured by Erus onto her knees. Artemis pulled back. Erus pulled around and slashed her cheek. Artemis was lucky she was not closer, or her head would have been cut in half.

Artemis rolled out of the way just as Erus brought her sword down. Artemis was thrown down with magic by Erus. She stood and threw a fireball. Erus blocked it and threw one back. It hit Artemis in the stomach sending her flying back and leaving a burn on her stomach. Artemis got up in pain. Letting hit her, and she fell again. It wasn't looking good. The noise echoed through the stadium. Artemis tried to stand again. She was kicked down. Again. She was thrown into the wall.

Her head was bleeding. Several ribs were broken as well as a shattered knee. She had multiple burns, but still she got back up. Erus pulled her sword back. The blade buried into her shoulder. Artemis let a scream of pain. Erus pulled the blade out, and Artemis collapsed. Erus didn't expect her to get up. She turned away to claim her victory to Cassandra, but Artemis using her good arm pulled herself up bloodied and near beaten.

"Stop being a fool," Erus said harshly. "Just stay down, and maybe I'll let you live." Artemis shook her head.

"No," she replied. "I won't… I won't give."

"Very well." Artemis was blasted off her feet again and thrown into the wall. Erus stared at her broken body satisfied that she would not get up again, but still she rose with great effort and with great pain.

"Why! Why are you doing this!"

"I… I… contested your rule, because I believe in what the Servants once stood for. Honor, freedom, peace. I fight you not to gain my own freedom, but to gain the world's. They say when two truly fight with everything in their heart they understand each other, so I fight you hoping you'll remember."

"Remember what?"

"The meaning of mercy, hope, and love. We must change for the better as the world does." There was silence between the two. "So Erus fight me with everything you have, so that I may have the hope that you will understand and see what I do." They both collided one last time. A collision of pure magical energy. They were both thrown into the stadium's ring wall. Artemis was the loser in this fight. Erus slowly stood; Artemis did not move. Erus could have finished Artemis. She could have killed her, but when she didn't, and when the guards went to collect Artemis to arrest her Erus looked on coolly.

"Place her in the room she has been staying it," Erus struggled to say. She most certainly broke something. "I revoke my sentence." Erus collapsed. Zhi of the green rushed to her.

Cassandra looked on with what seemed like apathy, but if one was to look closer they could see a small smile on the prophetess's lips and joy and hope lingering in her eyes. She had seen this coming, and she knew this was the start of a change.