[Message from Kingdom Come]: Sorry it took so long to update everyone :P life has been well...lifey. Anyway leave any questions, comments, concerns in the reviews page :P hope you guys enjoi. Happy Thursday!
Chapter XV.
The Red Palace Champion Showdown
"The match between Meno and Stork is set to start any moment now," Advent stated, looking out into the darkened skies that loomed over the arena.
"Do you think Stork will be okay?" Cloud asked, turning to look at Advent and the Doctor, "I mean…he made it this far right? He stands a chance…right?"
"I hate to say this," The Doctor stated sadly, looking over to Cloud, "But if Meno could best Aerrow, then I don't think Stork stands much of a chance."
"Had Aerrow kept his mind clear, we might not be in this situation," Advent stated, a bit bitterly. She turned away from both of them and looked back up to the sky, "We will just have to hope for a miracle at this point."
"Then a miracle you shall have," Farrah whispered into her ear as the ghostly image of the girl drifted up beside her aunt, though she was unseen by any eye. Farrah moved to slip the parchment into Advent's robe when suddenly she noticed Stork and Meno stepped out on to the arena floor. She let out a slight growl as she dropped the paper into Advent's robe and drifted back, out of the arena to watch from a safe distance. Advent's attention was peaked once she felt the paper drop into her pocket. She reached into it and pulled out the parchment.
"What is this," She whispered, moving to unfold the paper when the news crew began their commentary.
"The air here is tense," Stormy Skies began, standing at the edge of the obsidian arena with her camera crew as a cold wind blew through, "I'm Stormy Skies reporting to you live from the final match in the Red Palace tournament where Meno is about to take on Stork for a chance at fighting Carver for the championship title. OH! It looks like the match is about to start!" She stated, looking into the camera and speaking with a hushed tone.
"Are you scared yet Merb?" Meno asked contemptuously, looking over Stork as he walked towards her from across the arena.
"No," Stork replied immediately, even though inside he was absolutely terrified. Cloud and Doctor Constantine watched, clenching their fists nervously as Advent ignored the scene and began reading the paper. Her eyes widened as she gripped the parchment, reading over the notes Farrah had left for her.
"Alright," The MC began, meeting Stork and Meno in the center of the ring, "Let's make this a good, clean, fight…ready?" She called, backing far away from the pair as they extended their weapons out in front of them, "And begin!" She called.
Stork's immediate reaction was to jump out of the way, but Meno was too quick for him. She just barely scratched his forearm as he attempted to rush out of harm's reach. Stork hissed as he clasped his hand to the faint red line now seeping through his uniform. Meno began approaching him, a twisted smile on her face as she pointed her blade in his direction. Stork let out his own slightly crazed laugh as he looked up at Meno. She scoffed as she ceased her movement.
"What!" She demanded, "Surely, even having come from a race as pathetic as yours…even you would know when your back is against the ropes."
"You'd think," Stork replied, raising his eyebrow and giving Meno a slight smirk as he disappeared within the blink of an eye. Meno however, didn't appear to be phased by this. She stood still in the arena with her eyes closed and a confident smirk on her face. She then looked over to Cypress who smiled and nodded to her. Cypress then untied the leather chord of the reliquary from around her hips and tossed the item over to Meno, who caught it accordingly.
"Reliquary of Fallen Souls!" Meno commanded, holding the item above her head, "Let me call fourth from your font of powers!" She commanded. The item glowed violently and radiated with an intense green light as a bright vapor flew fourth from the ancient artifact. The greenish vapor flowed in to her veins, the green radiance shining through her skin. Meno's eyes opened and shone with an intense emerald shine as she looked around the arena with a wicked smile painted across her lips. Her soulless eyes then fell on Stork. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed that she could see him. She rushed up to the unseen entity and thrust her knee into his torso. Stork, still cloaked from the world, came crashing to the ground. He looked up at Meno, slightly horrified now that his only advantage had been taken from him.
"You're such a fool," Meno laughed, her voice somewhat shrouded by one darker than her own as she stood over him, "So proud of your guardian spirit and yet you don't even bother to figure out what your so called friends can do!" She laughed, lifting Stork up by the neck, "the Scryer has never been known to be the best of the fighters in the triad…but their powers of foresight and seeing into the unseen realm can prove quite useful! Now…" She smiled, lifting the reliquary up to Stork's face, "Your little disappearing act would make a fine addition to my Master's collection."
"No!" Stork screamed in panic, writhing and trying to break free from her grip. He flung his legs wildly, trying to strike at her, but to no avail, she kept a firm grip. However, as the reliquary began to glow, Stork swung his leg in the direction of the relic, knocking it out of Meno's hands. She began to panic, dropping Stork to his knees and immediately diving for the reliquary. She managed to seize the object before it went shattering against the obsidian floor and she snapped back up, giving a dark look to Stork, just before looking to her master with a look that begged her for forgiveness.
Advent watched as Meno encroached on her invisible target, looking back from the mysterious paper slipped on to her person and the reliquary in Meno's hands. She thought quickly, absorbing as much information as she possibly could. Her mind raced if only for a moment as she thought of what to do.
"Stork!" She shouted, jumping into the ring. Cypress attempted to stop her sister but missed her just in time. Advent touched down in the space between Meno and Stork, and turned around to face him, even though he believed he could not be seen, "Follow my lead!" She commanded before turning back to a stunned Meno. She put her guard up, expecting Advent to retaliate with some attack, but to her surprise did not. Advent stood up, facing down Meno and her sister within the ring.
"What in God's name is she doing!" The Doctor shouted, wanting to rush into the arena to pull her out, only to be held back by Cloud.
"It appears Advent Dawnrunner has in fact jumped into the ring!" Stormy Skies shouted as her camera crew fixated on the center of the arena.
"Advent Dawnrunner!" The MC shouted angrily into her disconnected microphone, "If you do not exit the arena immediately Stork will be disqualified!"
"I understand now," Advent stated, clutching Farrah's parchment in her hands, "You use that reliquary to collect souls…don't you…"
"So you've got it all figured out then," Cypress smiled, stepping on to the arena floor, "Yes as a matter of fact I do…"
"This tournament," Advent stated angrily, walking towards her sister, "It was a trap! It was all just a ploy to trick us into entering…so you could steal our souls. That thing…" She stated, nodding towards the reliquary, "It makes you stronger the more souls you take into it…you just needed an excuse to collect souls. Our souls…"
"I'm actually surprised you all made it this far," Cypress smiled, "I'd have thought by now that my lieutenants would be taking Carver in the final match and I would be able to add yet another pawn to my collection…and you twilight knights would be out of my hair…" She smiled, taking the reliquary from Meno, "But I suppose having you as a sister does have a tendency to throw a stiff in my plans as it always does."
"You…" Carver shouted, entering the arena himself, "Sadistic… Condescending… BASTARD!" He shouted, unsheathing his blade and rushing towards Cypress. However, Meno stepped out in front of her Master and plunged her broadsword through Carver's torso. She gave him a slight smile as the life faded from Carver's eyes and she threw him lazily to the side. Carver's body then slowly began to fade away in a faint white light and dissipated into a thin vapor that drifted into the reliquary.
"I've been waiting to do that for years now," Meno laughed as she turned to the relic in her Master's hands.
"It appears that Meno has just bested Carver!" Stormy shouted as her crew focused on the arena floor.
"Stop doing my JOB!" The MC growled, pushing the newscaster out of the way and butting her head into the camera shot, "This makes Meno the new Red Palace Champion! Unless Stork can manage to defeat her and take the prize for himself!"
"That won't be happening," Cypress growled, as Stork reappeared and stood behind Advent, "It's time to end this…" She stated, unsheathing her blade and walking towards her sister.
"I'll take the Merb," Meno smiled, turning to Stork as the two slowly moved towards them.
"As I said," Advent stated quietly, but clearly, speaking to Stork out of the corner of her mouth, "Follow my lead…"
Advent bent down on one knee and lowered her head. Meno laughed as she placed her blade against her neck, ready to slit her throat, but Cypress stepped away from her sister, suspicious of her motives. Meno brought her broadsword above her head, moving to slice Advent's head from her shoulders.
"Take me…" Advent then whispered, just before Meno brought the sword down against her, "Into your vessel of Souls…"
"MENO NO!" Cypress exclaimed as she brought the blade swinging down. Advent's body burst into a ray of bright light. The reliquary seized, glowing violently as the light began to flood into the relic. Cypress began to scream as the relic singed with power, burning into her skin. Wind whipped through the arena, nearly blowing the few spectators out of the ring.
"CLOUD!" The Doctor shouted, shielding her eyes from the burning wind, "Get the MC and the news crew out of here!"
"What about you!" Cloud shouted, turning to her.
"Never mind me!" The Doctor shouted back, pushing the young druid towards the two screaming women at the edge of the arena, "Get them to safety!" Cloud nodded and in a puff of white smoke she transformed into a great grey horned owl. She was blown out of the arena but as she went falling to the ground, she flapped her wings and charged back up to the arena floor. The MC and Stormy were screaming hysterically with their arms covering their eyes as they stepped back from the sight. Not looking, both women stepped back off of the ledge and began plummeting down towards the ground. However, Cloud caught them both in her talons in the knick of time. She gently placed the two women on to the ground and flew back up to the arena, clutching the two camera men as well and flying them to safety. However, as Cloud was bringing them to the ground, the disgruntled employees dropped the cameras in order to cling on to her as she brought them to safety.
"Is everyone here alright?" Cloud inquired, looking over the four figures.
"Yeah I think so," The MC nodded, shaking as she was quite addled.
"Okay!" Stormy Skies screamed, pointing over to her two shattered cameras laying on the ground near to them, "No I'm not okay! All that footage! LOST! That was hard hitting reporting right there! I'll never be co-anchor now!"
"Who cares about your stupid story!" The MC shouted, pushing the disgruntled newscaster down, "There's lives at steak here! Is there anything we can do to help?"
"Get everyone out of the vicinity of the arena," Cloud nodded, turning to the MC and then looking up at the bright green light emitting from the arena floor, "It's too dangerous even for you."
"Right," The MC and the camera men nodded as they lifted Stormy off of the ground and dragged her out of the courtyard. Cloud made sure all four of them left the vicinity safely before turning her attention back to the arena. She let out a gasp as she transformed back into her owl form and flew back up to the arena floor once she noticed the great green light had dissipated.
In the center of the floor, Cypress stood. Her knees quivering as she clutched her hand, burnt and blackened by the sheer power emitted from the reliquary taking in the soul of a fallen Valkyrie. She still held the relic, gasping with anger as she looked at its glossy surface. Meno rushed to her master's side, only to be cast away. Cypress faltered, struggling to stay upright.
"Damn you…" Cypress began, collapsing to her knees, "Damn you Advent…" She hissed, falling unconscious on to the arena floor.
"What did you do!" Meno screamed, rushing over to Stork and lifting him up by his neck, "What have you DONE TO MY MASTER!"
"Nothing!" Stork exclaimed in a panic as Meno threw him to the ground. She seized the reliquary from her Master's hands and walked towards Stork. The item looked rather dormant and lifeless, but Meno hadn't noticed.
"Lend me your powers," She commanded of the reliquary. However, it stayed inactive. Meno let out a growl of frustration, "I said…LEND ME YOUR POWERS!" She shouted once again, but to no avail. Stork gulped as he closed his eyes and summoned up what little strength and courage he had left and disappeared once again. He took one of his daggers in hand and moved quickly while Meno was distracted. He rushed towards her, unseen and thrust the blade through her chest. Meno coughed as a splash of blood flew fourth from her mouth and her eyes glazed over as she fell backwards against the ground. Stork caught the reliquary in his hands as Meno's body began to fade away in a flash of white light, and was absorbed into the reliquary.
Stork then reappeared, the reliquary in one hand, his dagger in the other. He collapsed to his knees, absolutely shocked and terrified by what he had just done. He placed the relic down in front of him, still shaking and breathing heavily from fear. He looked down at the reliquary and let out a cry as he lifted his dagger above his head.
"No!" A voice boomed throughout the air. Lightning flashed in the sky and a single bolt came crashing through the arena, just behind Stork. He was about to plunge his blade into the glassy surface of the artifact when he suddenly felt something seize his hand.
"Mother of God…" The Doctor exclaimed, bowing before the entity holding Stork back from destroying Cypress' artifact.
"Not quite…" Jevanni stated with a slight smile as she pulled her blonde hair out of her face, "But close enough…" She stated, taking the dagger from Stork's hand, "Your intentions were noble, but destroying this now while the souls of your friends are trapped inside would have dire consequences."
"W-what should we do!" Stork exclaimed, holding the reliquary in his hands and trembling as he stood up before the Valkyrie mother.
"We wait," Jevanni sighed, placing her hand on Stork's shoulder as her great grey wings folded inwards, "As long as Advent's soul is trapped inside…there is hope."
"But what hope is there?" Cloud asked as she and the Doctor walked up to Jevanni and Stork from behind.
"There is always hope," Jevanni stated, taking the reliquary from Stork, "There's always a light in every darkness. Have faith in Advent…I am sure she will know what to do…"
"Well that's all well and good," The Doctor sighed, looking at the three faces before her, "But what are we going to do about that?" She inquired, nodding towards Cypress, who lay unconscious in the center of the ring.
"Let's just end this now," Stork growled, taking his dagger in hand and moving towards her. He felt something tug on his shoulder however, and turned to note that Jevanni was holding him back.
"It won't matter," She replied, shaking her head, "Cypress is an immortal and you can't kill her…all that will accomplish is making her more angry than she already is."
"Just leave her here," Cloud stated nervously, "Let's bring this back to the resistance headquarters!" She suggested, looking down at the reliquary, "Maybe if Advent doesn't find a way out soon, we can!"
"Then we'd best hurry," Jevanni stated, holding out her hands to the three individuals, "Once Cypress awakens and realizes that the Reliquary of Fallen Souls is no longer in her possession, she will tear apart every terra in Atmos until she finds it!"
"Then there's no time to waste!" The Doctor shouted, taking Jevanni's arm as did Stork and Cloud. There was a loud clap of thunder and a clash of lighting, and in the flash, the four disappeared from the arena, leaving only the fallen Cypress alone in the center.
Several hours passed by as Cypress finally awoke. She looked around the empty arena floor, and up to the thundering sky above her head. She then looked down at her burnt hand and a wave of panic flooded her person. She began looking frantically around the arena floor for any sign of her reliquary. Her heart was racing but as it would appear, her precious item was nowhere in sight. She let out a scream of anger as she pulled her communicator out of her uniform.
"Anaximander…" She hissed into the device, awaiting her immediate reply.
"Yes my Master," The last of the triplets stated quietly from the other side of the communicator.
"I need you to come to Lumina City…" Cypress growled, clutching the communicator so tightly in her hands she could have very well crushed it, "Immediately! And bring my amulet!"
"Already done my Master," Anaximander's voice called, but not at the other end of the communicator, but rather, over the sound of a roaring skimmer engine hovering just outside the arena floor.
"I've underestimated my sister once again…and the Twilight Knights have taken my reliquary!" Cypress spat, climbing on to the back of the skimmer, "My plans have faltered yet again Anaximander…"
"As they always do…" Anaximander thought out loud, thankfully, just quiet enough that his master could not hear.
